Sports
Real Madrid’s €150m Bid for ‘Total Galactico’ Narrowed Down to Two Players
Florentino Perez has announced that Real Madrid will submit a record-breaking €150 million offer for a ‘total Galactico’ next week.
The 79-year-old is currently locked in a battle with Enrique Riquelme to be re-elected as Real Madrid president. The vote will be held this weekend and Perez, who has been in charge at the Bernabeu since 2009, is the strong favourite to win this year’s presidential race.
Enrique Riquelme caused a stir earlier this week by promising to sign Manchester City’s Erling Haaland if elected. The 37-year-old held up a Real Madrid shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back before also promising to sign the Norwegian’s teammate Rodri. Man City have subsequently threatened legal action.
Florentino Perez Rules Out Four Players
Not taking victory for granted, Perez confirmed on Thursday night, via the Spanish TV show Horizonte, per Marca: “I want to share some news. On Tuesday, I will make a major offer to a Champions League club for a great player.
“It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history. It would be around €150 million. A clue? I can’t give one – I’m already telling you what we’re going to do.”
Perez, describing Enrique’s campaign promise to sign Haaland as a “bluff”, ruled out the possibility that the player in question is Man City’s prolific No. 9.
The current president added, per ESPN: “It isn’t [Michael] Olise, he’s a great player, but it isn’t Olise.
“It isn’t [Jeremy] Doku, it isn’t Haaland. It isn’t [Harry] Kane. It’s a player who plays from the midfield, or further forwards. And he isn’t a Premier League player.”
Perez added: “He’s a total Galactico. But first we’ll talk to his club.”
He also hinted the footballer is a “Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka level player”, according to Fabrizio Romano.
A host of top-level European clubs will now be sweating after Perez’s announcement. One of them is about to receive a gigantic €150 million offer for one of their top stars.
Needless to say, there’s been constant speculation on social media following Perez’s cryptic announcement, with fans attempting to work out the mystery player’s identity.
Paris Saint-Germain’s world-class winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and even Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are all being mentioned.
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However, according to El Partidazo de COPE, there are only two possibilities: and they both play for PSG in midfield.
Portugal internationals Vitinha and Joao Neves have both cemented their reputations as world-class midfielders with PSG over the past couple of seasons. Both players would also cost a fortune to sign.
They tick many of the boxes, although it’s debatable whether either are at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka, two previous Galactico signings who joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2009.
Both Vitinha and Joao Neves, who come from the same country as returning manager Jose Mourinho, are among the early contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Sports
11 Highest-Paid Managers at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is nearly here. Excitement is building for this summer’s tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
For the first time in World Cup history, 48 teams will be vying for the title, and each nation, regardless of whether they are a global powerhouse or a rank outsider, will be dreaming of lifting the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
Some of the managers that will be at the 2026 World Cup are being paid a huge amount of money to lead their respective nations to glory.
SalaryLeaks have listed the 11 highest-paid managers at this summer’s tournament, with England boss Thomas Tuchel featuring.
Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni Earns More Than Spain’s Luis de la Fuente
Euro 2024 winners Spain are the favourites to win this summer’s tournament. They boast an incredibly strong squad, with the likes of Lamine Yamal and Pedri featuring. Surprisingly, despite his success as manager of La Roja, Luis de la Fuente doesn’t even make the top 10 highest-paid managers at the World Cup.
Three managers earn £2.61 million per-year: Netherlands’ Ronald Koeman, Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. The latter is bidding to become just the second manager to win two World Cup titles.
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Didier Deschamps will depart as France manager following this summer’s tournament. The 57-year-old, who is earning an annual salary of £3.31 million, will be hoping he can bow out with his second World Cup trophy.
Portugal are yet to win the World Cup. Roberto Martinez is the man who they have trusted to break their duck. He earns £3.5 million-per-year.
|
Highest-paid managers at the 2026 World Cup |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Manager |
Nation |
Annual Salary |
|
11 |
Luis de la Fuente |
Spain |
£1.74 million |
|
10 |
Ronald Koeman |
Netherlands |
£2.61 million |
|
9 |
Marcelo Bielsa |
Uruguay |
£2.61 million |
|
8 |
Lionel Scaloni |
Argentina |
£2.61 million |
|
7 |
Didier Deschamps |
France |
£3.31 million |
|
6 |
Roberto Martinez |
Portugal |
£3.5 million |
Only Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti Earns More Than England’s Thomas Tuchel
Surprisingly, Uzbekistan’s manager, Fabio Cannavaro, is the fifth highest-paid manager at this summer’s tournament. Cannavaro has justified his £3.5 million annual salary given he has led the nation to the World Cup for the first time. They have been placed in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo.
Four-time World Cup winners Germany are led by Julian Nagelsmann. The 38-year-old, appointed in 2023, earns £4.2 million per-year.
The United States turned heads when they appointed former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino in 2024.
The Argentine, who has won 14 of his 25 matches as the United States boss at the time of writing, is the third-highest-paid manager at the World Cup, earning £4.53 million-per-year.
England’s decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel didn’t go down well with some. He initially signed an -18-month deal which expired after the World Cup, but, after early success as Three Lions manager, he penned a two-year extension at the beginning of 2026. He is earning just over £5 million-per-year.
Carlo Ancelotti is comfortably the highest-paid international manager in the world. Brazil gave Ancelotti, considered one of the greatest managers in football history, an £8.28 million-per-year deal in 2025.
Can the Italian justify his salary and end Seleção’s 22-year World Cup trophy drought? Time will tell.
|
Highest-paid managers at the 2026 World Cup |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Manager |
Nation |
Annual Salary |
|
5 |
Fabio Cannavaro |
Uzbekistan |
£3.5 million |
|
4 |
Julian Nagelsmann |
Germany |
£4.2 million |
|
3 |
Mauricio Pochettino |
United States |
£4.53 million |
|
2 |
Thomas Tuchel |
England |
£5.06 million |
|
1 |
Carlo Ancelotti |
Brazil |
£8.28 million |
Sports
Bournemouth in Talks to Sign Tottenham’s Mathys Tel
One Tottenham star wants to leave Spurs in the summer transfer window, and Bournemouth have already opened talks to secure his signature.
Unfortunately for Tottenham, there could be a host of players who look to leave the club during the summer transfer window after they failed to qualify for European football.
Last summer, Tottenham still had Champions League football to attract players after they won the Europa League in the previous campaign.
Now, it’s going to be a tricky task for Tottenham to bring in new additions while some of their key stars will likely be looking for fresh challenges.
As a result, it could be an incredibly busy summer for the North London club in terms of incomings and outgoings.
Opening Bid Prepared: Arsenal and Tottenham Battling It Out to Sign £65m ‘Baller’
Tottenham and Arsenal are battling it out for a new addition.
Tottenham Star Wants to Leave
According to journalist Joao Van Boysen, Premier League side Bournemouth have opened talks to secure the signature of Tottenham forward Mathys Tel ahead of the summer transfer window.
The journalist claims that Tel wants to leave Spurs with a loan with an option to buy, the likely solution.
A host of clubs are in the race to secure his signature this summer, with Porto emerging as the main interested party.
Tel was signed on a permanent deal by Tottenham last summer, but it appears he could already be on the move.
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England World Cup Quiz
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Tottenham Need to Try Keep Hold of Tel
Tel is one of the players Tottenham need to try to keep at the club heading into the 2026-2027 season.
The French youngster hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip just yet, and he’s looked fretful almost every time he’s played for the club.
Tel was one of Tottenham’s most positive players since Roberto De Zerbi joined last season, and it wouldn’t make sense for them to allow him to go out on loan this summer.
Tottenham are already likely to lose a host of their players in the upcoming window, so keeping some of their youngsters will be imperative as they look to turn things around.
Sports
How Charles Leclerc’s New Ferrari Salary Compares to Lewis Hamilton’s
Following the announcement of Charles Leclerc‘s multi-year contract extension with Ferrari, it is estimated that the Italian giants are the first team on the grid to surpass the €100 million wage bill (£86.5 million), as the 28-year-old has been rewarded with an extended contract that sees him stay at the Prancing Horse into his 30s, while also receiving a hefty pay rise.
Despite his previous contract not expiring until the 2029 season, Ferrari revealed on Wednesday, two days prior to the beginning of Leclerc’s home race weekend, that they have agreed a new deal to keep the Monegasque driver at the team for a few years longer.
Ferrari revealed that Leclerc’s new contract will commit him to stay at the team “for the coming seasons.” This new deal comes at a significant time for both the driver and the team, as rumours started to circulate and questions were beginning to be asked about whether they could offer him a car capable of winning the world championship following their inability to provide him with one necessary to compete for and win a world championship since his arrival back in 2019.
After receiving heavy interest from Ferrari’s competitors, Leclerc had been linked with a potential departure and a stunning move to the likes of McLaren, Red Bull, and even Aston Martin. However, following the announcement of his new deal, many F1 fans now believe that Leclerc will see out his Formula 1 career in the red of Ferrari, with the hopes of winning his first-ever Drivers’ Championship.
Finances Behind Charles Leclerc’s New Ferrari Deal
His brand-new contract extension also reportedly sees him receive a significant pay rise, which will now see the Monegasque earning €50 million per year (£43 million). This has gone up from his previous deal, which was worth €34m a year (£29.5m).
His pay rise, however, still sees him earn less than seven-time champion and Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, as it is reported that he has a deal that steered him away from Mercedes, worth €60 million per year (£52 million), and it potentially will keep the most decorated Formula One driver in history at Ferrari until the 2027 season.
F1 Team Charles Leclerc Had ‘Behind the Scenes’ Talks With Before New Ferrari Deal Revealed
Before putting pen to paper on a new Ferrari deal, Charles Leclerc reportedly had secret talks with a Formula 1 rival.
With Hamilton’s hefty wage and Leclerc’s increased salary, Ferrari have become the first team on the current grid to surpass the €100 million (£86.5 million) barrier for their drivers’ combined salaries, ahead of Red Bull, who pay their drivers a combined amount of €75 million (£65 million), with Max Verstappen receiving €70 million per year (£60.5 million).
Despite Ferrari seeming reluctant to reveal the full duration of Leclerc’s contract extension, it has been reported that he will stay at Ferrari beyond the 2030 season, while many fans, pundits, and paddock insiders begin to wonder if he has been offered an exit clause similar to the one of his previous contract that would have allowed him to depart after the 2026 season if he wasn’t provided with a championship-competing car.
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