Football in Spain | GlobalPost

Football: Valverde to leave Valencia

Agence France-PresseJune 2, 2013 14:01

Valencia manager Ernesto Valverde said that Saturday's 4-3 defeat to Sevilla will be his final match in charge of the side. Defeat at the Sanchez Pizjuan meant that Valencia missed out on qualification for the Champions League as Real Sociedad's 1-0 win at Deportivo la Coruna saw them clinch fourth place. "It is true that this has been my final game with Valencia," he told a press conference. And the 49-year-old blamed the lack of institutional security at the club since the resignation of president Manuel Llorente in April for his decision to leave.

Football: Mourinho exits with win, boos, Barca hit 100 points

Agence France-PresseJune 1, 2013 20:30

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was booed by the majority of a sparse home crowd as he ended his controversial three-year spell in charge with a 4-2 win over Osasuna. Champions Barcelona rounded off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Malaga to match Real's league record of 100 points from last season on the final day. Mourinho's name was met with a chorus of whistles when it was read out before kick-off, but he did receive support from a small group of the club's ultra fanbase who chanted his name throughout.

Barca equals record 100 points set by Mourinho's Real Madrid

Agencia EFEJune 1, 2013 19:45

Barcelona, Jun 1 (EFE).- Barcelona, with its 4-1 drubbing of Malaga on the last day of La Liga, not only equaled the record of 100 points that Real Madrid set last season, it scored the highest number of goals in the club's history with 115. In his first year heading Barca, Tito Vilanova equaled the scoring record achieved the year before by Real Madrid's Portuguese trainer, Jose Mourinho, though coming up six goals short of the 121 the Madrid squad scored then.

Football: Vilanova hopeful of Valdes stay

Agence France-PresseJune 1, 2013 18:15

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has said he hopes to hold onto goalkeeper Victor Valdes for at least the final year of his contract. The Spanish international confirmed on Friday that he plans to leave the Spanish champions when his current deal expires in 2014. And the 31-year-old was an unused substitute as Barca sealed their title triumph by matching Real Madrid's league record 100 points tally with a 4-1 win over Malaga. "Victor didn't ask me to play the game. We spoke and we decided that (Jose Manuel) Pinto would play," Vilanova told a press conference afterwards.

Football: Higuain wants out of Madrid

Agence France-PresseJune 1, 2013 16:17

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has said he wants to leave the club after seven years in the Spanish capital. The Argentine was captain and scored his 121st goal for Madrid in their 4-2 victory over Osasuna in Jose Mourinho's final game in charge on Saturday. However, he told reporters afterwards that he has already told the club of his desire to leave. "I feel that my time has ended, I want a change of scene," he said.

Football: Mourinho exits with win, Barca reach 100 points

Agence France-PresseJune 1, 2013 15:47

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was booed by the majority of a sparse home crowd as he ended his three-year spell in charge with a 4-2 win over Osasuna. And Barcelona also rounded off their league season with a 4-1 win over Malaga to match Real's league record of 100 points from last season on the final day of the campaign in Spain. Mourinho's name was met with a chorus of whistles when it was read out before kick-off, but he did receive support from a small group of the club's ultra fanbase who chanted his name throughout the match.

Football: Puyol considering retirement after knee op

Agence France-PresseMay 31, 2013 15:36

Barcelona's talismanic defender Carles Puyol said on Friday he is considering retirement after a glittering career, but added he has never entertained the thought of playing for another club. After a career in which he has won everything in both domestic and international football, Puyol has run into a spate of injury problems and at 35-years-old may decide to bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

Real Madrid signs shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates

Agencia EFEMay 30, 2013 16:45

Madrid, May 30 (EFE).- Real Madrid signed a five-year jersey sponsorship deal Thursday with Dubai-based Emirates airline that is reportedly worth up to 30 million euros ($39 million) per season. Emirates replaces online gambling company Bwin, whose name had appeared on the jerseys worn by Real Madrid's players the past six seasons. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez unveiled the new agreement at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, where all of the team's players posed with the new gear featuring the phrase "Fly Emirates" on the front.

Falcao back on practice field after reaching deal with Monaco

Agencia EFEMay 30, 2013 11:15

Majadahonda, Spain, May 30 (EFE).- Radamel Falcao was back on the field for Atletico Madrid Thursday after spending the past two days putting the final touches on the deal that will send him to French club AS Monaco FC, a transfer that is to be made official in the coming hours and bring an end to the Colombian striker's tenure in Spain. Falcao returned to work Thursday morning at Sports City in this Madrid suburb, where he endured some ribbing from teammates while practicing for his team's last match of the Spanish league season on Saturday at Zaragoza.

Real Madrid agree new shirt deal with Emirates

Thomson ReutersMay 30, 2013 10:48

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid have agreed a new shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates airline for the next five seasons. "It is a new era for two global brands that will help us in our quest for new triumphs," club president Florentino Perez told a news conference at the Bernabeu stadium on Thursday. "It is one of the most important agreements in the history of the club," said the construction magnate who is likely to be returned to the presidency unopposed next week as no rival candidates have yet challenged him in an election.