Alvaro Arbeloa is a former Spain international defender and Real Madrid alumnus who moved into coaching/management after retiring, now making headlines in Premier League-linked news.
Fulham hosts Chelsea in a London derby as Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso begin their managerial debuts. Chelsea has spent heavily this summer, including a £117m signing for Morgan Rogers, while Fulham aims to avoid regression after a post-Marco Silva era. The match kicks off at 8pm BST with coverage on Sky Sports.
Spain has named its 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Lamine Yamal as a star presence. For the first time since 1950, no Real Madrid player features as Dean Huijsen is injured and Dani Carvajal is left out. Mikel Merino has returned from injury, and Yamal faces a potential hamstring issue ahead of the tournament.
Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles has joined Fulham for £30m, becoming the country’s most expensive player. Former international Stuart Dallas backs Charles and teammate Ethan Galbraith for Premier League success, while NI boss Michael O’Neill has built the side around him.
Vinicius Jr is at the center of renewed contract negotiations with Real Madrid as Arsenal watch for a potential bid. Real Madrid is seeking to renew terms before the transfer window closes; Arsenal is prepared to accelerate if talks stall. Other clubs are weighing interest as Vinicius weighs his future.
Malaga has equalised late to force a 2-2 draw with Fulham in a pre-season friendly. A stoppage-time spot-kick by Eneko Jauregi appeared to seal penalties, but disputes over a shootout led to both teams leaving the pitch under unclear terms. Fulham later contested the decision as a shootout was reportedly not in the contract.
Real Madrid reunites with Jose Mourinho to start a season aimed at reclaiming La Liga from Barcelona, who are reshaping under Hansi Flick. The opening fixtures pit Madrid against Espanyol and Barca against Elche, with questions about balance, depth, and the path to early momentum.