Saudi Arabian soccer team Al-Hilal has made a record-breaking €300 million ($332 million) bid for French soccer icon Kylian Mbappe, in a sign of their ambition to become a major player in the sport. Mbappe is currently under contract with Paris Saint-Germaine, but is reportedly seeking to join Real Madrid starting in the 2024-25 campaign. If the transfer to Al-Hilal goes through, it would open the door for an even more lucrative deal, even if it's just for one year.
Posts tagged as “Spanish”
Spain's national elections on Sunday left the country in political gridlock, with neither the right nor the left able to secure a majority. The Socialists, who finished in second place, were able to call on the predicted 31 seats of the left-wing Sumar, or Joining Forces alliance, and several smaller parties, giving them a combined total of 172 seats. This means that neither side has a clear path toward forging a new government, leaving the country in a state of political uncertainty with no clear majority.
Two Iowa teenagers, Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale, were sentenced to life in prison and a minimum of 25 years respectively for the fatal beating of their high school Spanish teacher, Nohema Graber, with a baseball bat in 2021. At the sentencing hearing, the judge and Graber's family members expressed their grief and sadness, while Miller and Goodale expressed remorse for their actions. The sentences serve as a reminder of the gravity of the crime and the consequences of taking another person's life.
On Tuesday morning, a woman was killed in an alligator attack while walking her dog near a lagoon in South Carolina. Rescue efforts were interrupted by an alligator guarding the woman, who was later found dead at the edge of the lagoon. This marks the second fatal alligator attack in Beaufort County in less than a year. The sheriff’s office is currently investigating the incident and has urged residents to be aware of their surroundings and to take necessary precautions when near bodies of water.
Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta has denied allegations of emotional and sexual abuse made against him by musician María Elena Ríos, which have sparked a larger conversation about the prevalence of sexual assault and abuse of power in the entertainment industry. Huerta characterized the accusations as “false and completely unsubstantiated” and said that the relationship between himself and Ríos began as a friendship and was consensual. He added that after it ended, Ríos began to misrepresent their relationship.
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has announced his decision to join Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club led by David Beckham. After months of speculation, Messi chose to join Inter Miami instead of Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where fellow great Cristiano Ronaldo plays. Inter Miami’s owner, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision, and soccer fans around the world are excited to see what Messi brings to the MLS.
Seven people have been arrested in Spain for racially abusing Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior, with four of the suspects arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January and the other three detained in Valencia for alleged abuse during a Spanish league match on Sunday. Real Madrid and the Spanish government have expressed their support for Vinícius, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez tweeting, “We will not tolerate racism in any form.” The seven suspects are currently in police custody and are awaiting trial.
Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist abuse during a match against Valencia on Sunday, prompting the club to issue a statement and promise a lifetime ban for those responsible. Valencia police have identified a fan who made racist gestures and are using footage to identify any others. Vinícius has faced racism throughout his time in Spain, and has expressed his frustration, while La Liga president Javier Tebas has criticized his response. The incident has sparked a larger conversation about racism in Spanish football and the need for the league and clubs to take a stronger stance.