Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has surprised the media by revealing that Thibaut Courtois could return to action as early as next week. The Belgian goalkeeper had been ruled out for the rest of the season after a meniscus tear in his knee, but has recovered in double-quick time. Courtois was believed to be out for the rest of the campaign, with an original diagnosis of 6 weeks to 3 months out following surgery. It was an injury he suffered on his way back to fitness from an anterior cruciate ligament tear days before the season started. The 31-year-old could return just a month or so on f ..read more

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has never been afraid of speaking directly and honestly, something he tends to do on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen. Days after El Clasico, he sent another stinging barb in the direction of rivals Barcelona. Kroos spoke about how years ago Real Madrid were some way behind Barcelona, and used to lose games by a margin, but in the last few years those roles had reversed. The most recent Clasico stood out for its sloppy play in Kroos’ mind, explaining that Real Madrid were inaccurate in spite of their win. “It was actually a game that if we had played well, we co ..read more

Barcelona’s board of directors left their meeting on Wednesday afternoon under the impression that Xavi Hernandez would be leaving the club in the summer. Finding out through the press on Wednesday evening that President Joan Laporta had U-turned on what he had told them, has caused a ‘crisis’ in the Blaugrana boardroom. It was reported late on Wednesday night that Barcelona’s board had been told that Xavi would be leaving at the end of the season, but after a meeting between Xavi and Deco, and then Laporta and Xavi, it was decided that he would continue for the final year of his contract. Xa ..read more

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez had already announced his exit from the club in the summer, and it looked as if the club were happy to consummate that departure – until a meeting between Xavi and President Joan Laporta. It has been reported that Xavi explained that he felt he had the energy and strength to continue in the role, while Sporting Director Deco and Laporta had promised to do what they could to improve the squad in the summer transfer market. These meetings came after Laporta had told the board that Xavi would be leaving earlier on Wednesday afternoon. Now, Jordi Baste has reported ..read more

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez will begin next season at Montjuic, despite announcing his exit this summer in January. It looked as if the Blaugrana were all set to confirm his departure, but a meeting between Xavi and President Joan Laporta seems to have changed the course of events. Laporta had reportedly told the Barcelona board that Xavi would be leaving on Wednesday afternoon, and even after the announcement, Barcelona’s sporting directorate could not agree on whethe everyone agreed with the call. As per Cadena Cope, the decision was brought forward due to the intense speculation and th ..read more

Barcelona Vice-President Rafa Yuste announced on Wednesday night that Xavi Hernandez would continue at the helm of the club for another season, fulfilling his contract untill 2025, despite announcing that he would be leaving at the end of the season. It is a decision that has been received with no shortage of disbelief in Catalonia. Reports in Barcelona say that President Joan Laporta had told the board that Xavi would be leaving the club this summer on Wednesday afternoon, and by the evening, after a meeting with Xavi, the decision to keep him on had been made. Meanwhile Yuste told the press ..read more

Nico Williams has had a fine season with Athletic Club, and it’s far from over. The next six matches will determine whether the Bilbao-based side will be playing in next season’s Champions League, and he could play a major role in the pursuit of Atletico Madrid, who are only three points ahead. Even if Athletic don’t finish inside the top four, Williams could be playing in the Champions League next season. That’s because Aston Villa are one of the clubs interested in securing his signature in the summer, as reported by GiveMeSport. Unai Emery, who signed a new deal with Villa earlier this week ..read more

On Wednesday, it was widely reported that Xavi Hernandez will be staying on as head coach of Barcelona for next season. In January, the 44-year-old announced his intention to step down in the summer, but he has now been convinced to remain in the position until the end of his contract. Official announcement of the news is expected to be portrayed by Joan Laporta on Thursday, but his number two has jumped the gun. Rafa Yuste, Barcelona vice-president, has confirmed that Xavi will be staying on as manager for another 12 months, as per Fabrizio Romano. “Xavi will stay, he’s really happy. We’ve ne ..read more

On Wednesday, Iker Muniain announced that he would be leaving Athletic Club at the end of the season, having spent 15 years in the first team. The 31-year-old has struggled for prominence in Ernesto Valverde’s squad over the course of the current campaign, but after helping Los Leones win their first Copa del Rey in 40 years, he’s decided that the time is right to go his own way. It was Muniain’s decision to walk away, as Athletic were willing to offer him a new contract. He is keen for a new challenge, and according to Diario AS, his preference would be to head to the MLS. He would also welco ..read more

Almeria will be without forward Largie Ramazani for five or their final six matches of the La Liga season, with the Belgian having been handed a strong suspended from the Spanish Football Federation’s Competition Committee. Ramazani was sent off late on during Almeria’s defeat to Villarreal at the weekend, but he did not go quietly. After full time, he was furious with referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, and unloaded an X-rated rant in his direction. The incident was noted in Ortiz Arias’ referee report, and it was handed on to the Competition Committee. They returned their verdict on Wednesday ..read more