“I’m not vengeful, I’m grateful.” Paul Pogba’s excitement was clear at his Monaco presentation, 669 days after his last competitive appearance. He still commands the same attention, but when will we see him back on the pitch? My report The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/64722…

It felt very different from the #POGBACK circus when Paul Pogba rejoined Manchester United in 2016. This week Monaco released a clip of him crying as he signed his contract with the club. After 669 days since his last appearance, and having served a doping ban, Pogba is a

The Nico Williams-to-Barça fallout: ▪️Exit clause refusal triggered the meltdown ▪️Deco rejected it with Olmo past saga in mind ▪️Athletic's new contract footage recorded late hours last night ▪️Luis Diaz and Rashford, next targets & more ⤵️ nytimes.com/athletic/64733…

Being here, among the queuing locals waiting to pay tribute at the Matriz de Gondomar church, it was impossible not to think about roots: those that ground us, that keep us connected to where we come from, if we allow them to. It is obvious that Diogo Jota nourished his.

Almost all the Liverpool squad had travelled to Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, last Friday for the funeral of their teammate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. All looked haunted. It is only two months since Arne Slot became a title winner in his first season in

One regular day of Barcelona. All we ask. Will never happen. Wed, 6pm: Marcus Rashford is unveiled as a Barcelona player. Wed, 8pm: Barcelona say they are not travelling to Japan the following day for the start of their pre-season tour. Wed, 10pm: One of the companies

Charlie Patiño has found a home from home at Deportivo La Coruña since leaving Arsenal last year. Spoke to him for The Athletic | Football on his advice to youngsters including Max Dowman, the family ties that took him to Spain and his La Liga promotion dreams. nytimes.com/athletic/65299…

■ His “magical” Gunners debut ■ Advice for youngsters like Max Dowman ■ A new start at Deportivo La Coruna Charlie Patino left Arsenal for Spain in a £1m transfer last summer. He spoke to Tomás about that decision - and what came next.

Disney+ is set to show one La Liga game per week in the UK and Ireland during the 2025-26 season. Sources said the games shown would be on Saturday evenings, beginning with Valencia vs. Real Sociedad on August 16. More from Dermot Corrigan and Tomás ⤵️

🚨 Villarreal complete acquisition of Thomas Partey as free agent. 32yo midfielder has signed 2yr deal at #VillarrealCF after departing Arsenal when terms ended. Ghana international’s arrival set to be officially confirmed. W/ Guillermo Rai The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/65334…

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack — the world’s longest-running sports book — has been published every year from 1864; through war, disease & several enforced cancellations of cricket itself. Here's my look at its place in the sporting & collectibles' worlds: nytimes.com/athletic/64974…

We asked The Athletic | Football readers what they thought of La Liga's plans to take Villarreal-Barcelona to Miami — the results were pretty conclusive. More than 80% don't think it's a good idea but almost 70% think it will be popular in the U.S. ⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/65512…

⚡️Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono signing: How they won the race for the Argentine wonderkid ➕ Calafat and Xabi Alonso’s involvement ➕Beating PSG or Atletico ➕The explanation to the 63.2m€ figure The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/64345…

La Liga season starting today. Barça playing tomorrow. New signings’ registration still pending, but the Catalans still braced for an exciting campaign. Send us any questions in here! Q&A in a short bit at The Athletic | Football ⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/65537…

Real Madrid will play Kairat of Almaty, Kazakhstan away in the Champions League. Madrid is closer to both New York City, USA and Bridgetown, Barbados than it is to Almaty. #ChampionsLeague

🚩New: La Liga files complaint about alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe by Oviedo fans ⁦The Athletic | Football⁩ nytimes.com/athletic/65837…

The European Cup/Champions League, the biggest club football competition in the world, started 70 years ago today. So I've charted the tournament's history by numbers, exploring how it has evolved as well as the key names and records from over the years: nytimes.com/athletic/65811…

"According to a recent survey by The Athletic | Football, more than 80% of fans were against LALIGA games being played in the US, with many citing a "disconnection from community & tradition." 2/6 nyti.ms/4gcCCLB

A post-apocalyptic Madrid, a statue of an ancient goddess shedding a single tear and Sergio Ramos singing in a vest. No, this is not some strange fever dream, but rather the new single written and performed by the 39-year-old former Real Madrid and Spain centre-back: ‘Cibeles.’