Thiago Alcantara has retired from football after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The former Spain midfielder, 33, was restricted to just one appearance during the 2023-24 season because of injury. Thiago had hip surgery towards the end of the 2022-23 season but was unable to return until February 2024, when he came on as a late substitute in a defeat at Arsenal and suffered another injury.
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France forward Kylian Mbappe says it is a “dream come true” as his long-awaited move to Real Madrid was confirmed, external on Monday evening. Mbappe, 25, will move to the Bernabeu Stadium on a five-year deal when his Paris St-Germain contract expires on 30 June. He will earn €15m a season, plus a €150m signing-on bonus to be paid over five years, and he will keep a percentage of his image rights.
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Hansi Flick has been confirmed as the new coach of Barcelona, after the sacking of Xavi Hernández. The former Bayern Munich manager joins on a two-year deal, worth about €3.5m a year plus incentives. The 59-year-old had been out of work since his sacking as Germany’s coach in September last year. Barcelona described Flick as a manager “known for his intense, ambitious high press” and cited a “wide experience at club and international level, in which he has won practically every title that can be won in world football”.
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FC Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi Hernandez with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick set to replace him. Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday, when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season. The 44-year-old, who had been contracted until 2025, was informed of the club’s decision during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday – exactly one month since it was announced that he would remain at the club.
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Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has announced he will retire after this summer’s European Championship. The 34-year-old is to hang up his boots after a trophy-laden decade at the Bernabeu. The 2014 World Cup-winner, who came out of international retirement to play at Euro 2024 in his home country, has instead decided to call time on his career after the tournament.
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