Real Madrid have appointed their former midfielder Xabi Alonso as manager on a three-year deal. Alonso, who made 236 appearances for Real Madrid as a player, announced earlier this month that he would leave his role as Bayer Leverkusen boss at the end of the season. Former Liverpool and Spain midfielder Alonso, who has signed a deal running until 30 June 2028, succeeds Carlo Ancelotti.
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Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as the new manager of Brazil’s men’s national team, the first foreign national to take sole charge of the world’s most successful side since 1925. After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that the 65-year-old Italian is to leave Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish domestic season to take up what will be his first international coaching role. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) revealed the news in a statement on Monday, welcoming Ancelotti, a man they described as a “legend” of the game.
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England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he will leave Premier League champions Liverpool at the end of the season. The 26-year-old, who has been at the club since he was six, is out of contract on 30 June and is expected to join Real Madrid. The Liverpool-born defender has made 352 appearances, scored 23 goals and provided 86 assists for the club since making his debut in 2016.
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Bukayo Saka scored a goal and missed a penalty as Arsenal held off Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals in an incident-packed match at the Bernabeu. Saka stepped up but his weak, dinked effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois. However he made amends when he effectively killed off the tie with a fantastic chipped second-half finish. Real hit back through Vinicius Junior but a late winner from Gabriel Martinelli capped off a glorious night for the Gunners.
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Declan Rice stunned Real Madrid with two brilliant free kicks – the first scored in his career – as Arsenal took a commanding 3-0 first leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final. Mikel Merino made sure it was a memorable night for Arsenal when he curled a shot into the bottom corner from inside the area during a sensational second half spell for Mikel Arteta’s men.
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