Santos protect academy, speed up renewals to avoid losses

Santos protect academy, speed up renewals to avoid losses: Santos protect academy, speed up renewals to avoid losses

Santos has changed its approach in the transfer market and has started adopting an aggressive pace to extend the contracts of its top youth academy prospects, according to ge.

The board's objective is clear: to prevent the "Meninos da Vila" from earning space and visibility in the first team only to then leave for free or for lower-than-expected fees to clubs abroad.

Over the last year, the Santos board secured contract extensions for at least 13 youth players.

The coaching staff and football management have been carrying out individualized monitoring with each young player, designing specific career plans to maximize each one’s performance.

The Latest Players Protected

The most recent wave of renewals involved players who had been gaining prominence under coach Cuca before the break for the FIFA World Cup:

Miguelito: The Bolivian midfielder had his contract extended until May 2029. Under Cuca, he was moved into a central playmaking role and responded with one goal and two assists in the last four matches.

Gabriel Bontempo, Samuel Pierri and Gustavo Henrique: The trio had been used frequently by the coach, with Gustavo Henrique and Bontempo standing out after finishing the semester as starters.

Robinho Jr.: The forward also renewed his deal and has been going through a tactical adaptation process similar to Miguelito’s, being tested by Cuca as a playmaker.

Long-Term Contracts Secured

In addition to the names above, Santos guaranteed the stay of a youth core with deals running at least until 2028. The list includes:

Goalkeeper: João Pedro

Center-backs: João Ananias and João Alencar

Left-backs: Rafael Gonzaga and Vinícius Lira

Midfielder: Pepê Fermino

Forwards: Mateus Xavier, Davizinho and David Nogueira

On the other hand, some names from the under-20 squad are still waiting for talks to begin over renewals, such as midfielder Vinícius Fabri, defensive midfielder Nicola Profeta, center-back Marcelo Contreras and forward Fernando Pradella (who recently made his professional debut against Chapecoense).

The Past Traumas That Set Off the Alarm

Santos’s urgency in signing new contracts is justified by bitter sagas experienced this decade:

Kaio Jorge (2021): The club took too long to act, the striker ended up signing a pre-contract with Juventus, and Santos had to accept an immediate sale for only 3 million euros so as not to lose him for free.

Marcos Leonardo (2022): A long and exhausting saga meant that the renewal agreement was only completed five months before the center-forward became free to sign with another club at no cost.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Grêmio hits six months without a main sponsor

Grêmio hits six months without a main sponsor: Grêmio hits six months without a main sponsor

Grêmio has reached an uncomfortable milestone behind the scenes of its commercial operations: the club has now gone six months without a master sponsor to occupy the prime spot on its jersey.

The last time the Tricolor Gaúcho filled the front space was on December 8, at the end of last year’s Brasileirão, through a one-off two-match deal with the Energia Bet brand.

Since then, the club has remained without a fixed partner and is dealing with a considerable financial loss.

Amid this uncertain scenario, ge detailed the current financial situation and the search for partners.

Check it out below!

Estimated loss: According to projections based on the previous contract with Alfa Bet, Grêmio has failed to collect at least R$ 24.9 million over this six-month period. The previous deal provided for annual payments of R$ 50 million (around R$ 4.16 million per month).

The termination with Alfa Bet: The contract with the former partner had been announced in February 2025, in a joint partnership with Internacional. However, Grêmio requested the termination in December due to late payments that had been occurring since September.

Ignored agreement: In March of this year, the club from Rio Grande do Sul had reached a debt acknowledgment agreement with Alfa Bet to receive R$ 12 million in eight installments starting in April. However, the company has not paid any of the installments so far.

History of problems: Last year, Grêmio had already faced issues with sponsors when it ended its deal with the company Pix das Estrelas. At the time, the brand sparked controversy by proposing a kind of “Pix task force” among fans to fund the signing of a reinforcement during the transfer window, which ultimately did not materialize.

The Search for New Partners in the Market

The process of finding a new main sponsor is being led by the club’s CEO, Alex Leitão. Grêmio has opened talks with at least five companies — two betting firms and three from various sectors — but no proposal has moved forward to signing. The internal expectation is that negotiations will gain momentum after the end of the FIFA World Cup.

Despite the lack of a master sponsor, the CEO highlighted that the club managed to generate around R$ 150 million in the first half of the year through nine new commercial contracts, four of them for the kit.

Currently, the tricolor jersey features the Havan brand on the shoulders (announced in February) and Tintas Coral on the upper front area (deal renewed in January). Leitão recently took part in meetings in New York with the CBF to discuss business models and the creation of a single football league.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Image: Real Madrid’s third kit design for 2026-27 season leaked

Image: Real Madrid’s third kit design for 2026-27 season leaked: Image: Real Madrid’s third kit design for 2026-27 season leaked

While the world’s gaze is heavily fixated on the ongoing FIFA World Cup, Real Madrid is working hard to ensure they have a solid foundation for the next club season.

After two unlucky trophy-less seasons, they are after all looking to bounce back.

Their kit sponsor, Adidas, have meanwhile been concurrently working on the team’s kits for the 2026-27 campaign. A few designs have been leaked, but none have been confirmed.

In another recent update, Footy Headlines bring to light the leaked design of the team’s third kit for the 2026-27 season, and it is safe to say that it has a special and unique touch to it.

Going back to pink

Indeed, the 2026-27 third kit features a bold dark pink base, bringing the colour back to the lineup after six seasons. It is heavily inspired by geometric shapes and Latin American artistry.

Courtesy: Footy Headlines

The pattern in itself is an intricate combination of circles and diamonds that interlock with each other and are made of fine dotted lines. That design continues as the background for both the front and back of the kit.

An ivory colour, meanwhile, provides all the required highlights and contrast including the V-neck collar, the thick shoulder cuffs and the three stripes running down the shoulders.

The Adidas logo, club crest and sponsor details, meanwhile, feature in a monochromatic white colour. Meanwhile, the back of the shirt has an elegant ‘RMCF’ printed at the top.

Third time in history

Real Madrid’s rumoured third kit for 2026/27 season. (Picture credit: Footy Headlines)

The first time Real Madrid featured a pink colour jersey was back in the 2014-15 season when the famous trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale headed the attack.

It came across as an unconventional colour back then, but earned critical acclaim as well.

In the 2020-21 season, the club repeated the idea with a lighter shade of pink. That year, however, they did not win a single trophy and eventually saw Zinedine Zidane depart as the manager.

Now taking on the pink colour again, Los Blancos will hope to undo that curse for they cannot afford a third straight trophyless season. The pink, on this occasion, must harbour luck.

Real Madrid prodigy not engaged in any talks with Serie A champions regarding summer move – Romano

Real Madrid prodigy not engaged in any talks with Serie A champions regarding summer move – Romano: Real Madrid prodigy not engaged in any talks with Serie A champions regarding summer move – Romano

Real Madrid have no intention of parting ways with Endrick this summer despite reports linking the Brazilian forward with a move to Inter Milan.

Earlier today, speculation gathered momentum when reports emerged suggesting Inter were exploring a deal for the 19-year-old, potentially involving a loan with an obligation to buy worth between €35 million and €40 million.

However, transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano has now dismissed those reports, insisting there is no truth to the rumours and no ongoing discussions between the parties.

No truth in Inter Milan links

The story initially gained traction after reports claimed Inter Milan had identified Endrick as a priority target and were evaluating possible formulas to bring him to Serie A.

Given the fierce competition for places in Real Madrid’s attack, the rumours inevitably sparked questions about the Brazilian’s future, but according to Romano, there is currently nothing to discuss.

Endrick was linked to Inter Milan. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

The Italian journalist has stated that there have been no contacts between Inter Milan and Endrick, effectively shutting down the speculation before it could gather further momentum.

More importantly, Real Madrid recently held conversations with the player’s representatives and used those meetings to reaffirm their faith in the youngster while communicating that he will have a prominent role next season.

Understandably, Endrick is considered a player for the future and someone Real Madrid fully expect to continue developing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have a plan in place

One of the most significant details from Romano’s update concerns the direct communication between Real Madrid and Endrick’s camp.

It is said that the club officials met with the player’s agents towards the end of May and reiterated that they continue to believe strongly in his potential.

Endrick will not leave Real Madrid. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Getty Images)

That conversation removed any uncertainty regarding his immediate future.

Rather than discussing possible exits, Real Madrid used the opportunity to reassure the player’s entourage that he remains an important part of their plans moving forward.

Furthermore, another important factor working in Endrick’s favour is the arrival of Jose Mourinho.

As such, the young forward has already spoken with the new Real Madrid manager, which could prove decisive heading into the new season.

Simply put, there seems to be no concrete basis for the Brazilian’s links with Serie A as Real Madrid will be counting on him for next season.

Julen Lopetegui reflects on his Real Madrid dismissal: ‘I had the dressing room’s confidence’

Julen Lopetegui reflects on his Real Madrid dismissal: ‘I had the dressing room’s confidence’: Julen Lopetegui reflects on his Real Madrid dismissal: ‘I had the dressing room’s confidence’

Few managerial careers have taken a turn as dramatic as Julen Lopetegui’s in the summer of 2018.

One moment, he was leading Spain into the World Cup as one of the tournament favourites. Days later, he was out of a job before a single ball had been kicked. 

Then came the opportunity to manage Real Madrid, a dream appointment that ultimately lasted just four months.

Now, eight years later, Lopetegui has reflected on one of the most turbulent periods of his career, insisting that circumstances beyond football played a major role in how events unfolded.

A trip down the memory lane

By the time Spain arrived in Russia for the 2018 World Cup, optimism around the national team was growing.

Lopetegui had overseen an impressive rebuilding process, guiding Spain through qualification without defeat and restoring confidence after a difficult period following the country’s golden generation.

Looking back on that time in an interview with El Mundo, the current Qatar manager believes the team were in an excellent position heading into the tournament.

“A sabbatical wasn’t part of my plans (laughs). That’s how I see it, and I’ve tried to explain it before. 

“I was coming off two wonderful years with the national team, with extraordinary results, beating most of the big sides andplaying very well. 

Julen Lopetegui never got the chance to manage the Spanish team at the World Cup. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

“We managed to win over a group of players again, because when we arrived, the style was being questioned, but we went into the tournament in top form. 

“We were very well prepared, but due to the circumstances we all know about, we had to leave. It wasn’t up to us and it wasn’t down to football.”

Spain’s decision to dismiss Lopetegui after it emerged that he had agreed to become Real Madrid manager remains one of the most controversial moments in the country’s recent football history.

For the coach himself, it is clearly an episode that still lingers years later.

Lopetegui feels he never got a fair chance

Following his departure from Spain, Lopetegui immediately turned his attention to Real Madrid.

It was one of the most challenging moments imaginable to take charge of the club. 

Cristiano Ronaldo had left for Juventus, several key players returned late after deep World Cup runs and expectations remained as high as ever.

The Spaniard believes those circumstances made the job far more difficult than many appreciated at the time.

“From there, the challenge at Madrid began. The start was a challenge because many players were at the World Cup, their return was delayed, and it was the year Cristiano left. 

Real Madrid dismissed Lopetegui after just 14 matches. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

“It wasn’t easy for many reasons. Despite that, we started well. I had the dressing room’s confidence and we were on the right track, building something.”

Despite a promising start, the situation quickly unravelled. A poor run of results led to mounting pressure and eventually his dismissal in October after just 14 matches in charge.

Reflecting on the difficult run that ultimately cost him his position, he explained,

“And we had two weeks where everything that could go wrong went wrong. Football has those moments. 

“An own goal in Moscow, Isco’s appendicitis… And we fell seven points behind Barça and I left the team in October.”

The former Real Madrid coach then pointed to what happened after his departure as evidence that the problems ran deeper than many initially thought.

“I think the impact of the World Cup was starting to fade. Modric, for example, came back tired from the tournament 

“We would have liked to have seen that through. We were seven points behind Barça and then the team finished more than 20 points adrift and were knocked out by Ajax in the Champions League,” he concluded.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MARTA MASCARELLO

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MARTA MASCARELLO: OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MARTA MASCARELLO

AC Milan is delighted to announce that Marta Mascarellohas renewed her contract with the Club until 30 June 2028. 

Born in 1998, Marta joined the Rossonere in the summer of 2022 and quickly became an integral part of the team, making 93 appearances to date. Her development at AC Milan has been marked by hard work, professionalism and a strong sense of belonging - qualities that have made her an important reference point within the squad.

Real Madrid to receive €15m as Newcastle United near winger deal

Real Madrid to receive €15m as Newcastle United near winger deal: Real Madrid to receive €15m as Newcastle United near winger deal

It should be another summer where Real Madrid manage to rake in a significant amount of money in the transfer market. There will be at least one or two players leaving the Bernabeu, but some of the funds will come via the activation of sell-on clauses – which is exactly what will soon happen in the case of Victor Munoz.

Last summer, Real Madrid sold Munoz to Osasuna for €6m. As part of that agreement, they retained a buy-back clause, while they also hung on to 50% of his rights – and this decision has proven to be masterstroke, as the 22-year-old has been excellent during his first season at El Sadar.

Seven goals and five assists in 36 appearances does not tell the full story, as Munoz has been a constant threat for opposition teams whenever he has played. Understandably, his performances have caught the attention of numerous clubs across Europe, and one of them is Newcastle United. The Premier League club have been searching for a replacement for Anthony Gordon, whom they sold to Barcelona a few weeks ago. They have landed on Munoz as their leading target, and according to Diario AS, a deal to take him to the North East of England is almost done.

Real Madrid decide against triggering buy-back clause

Image via Alex Caparros/Getty Images

A €30m deal has been agreed in principle, with only minor details to be resolved before Newcastle can get their man. Real Madrid decided against activating their buy-back clause, but by retaining 50% of rights, they will be entitled to receive at least €15m.

Real Madrid may well continue to keep tabs on Munoz during his time in the Premier League, although they will lose control of his future. However, that €15m will come in handy, as they continue searching for possible additions to Jose Mourinho’s squad for the 2026-27 season.