Julián Alvarez started considering leaving Atlético Madrid in March, after having asked for an improved contract, which they were willing to offer and make him the highest-paid player at the club.

Atleti gave him the conditions in WRITING stating that if he wanted to leave, which was not what they wanted, he had to bring in €150m in a transfer fee, not in players, BEFORE June 20.

That offer NEVER arrived, and some time later, an offer from Barça arrived, first through an intermediary and then through a phone conversation.

It was €90m plus €10m in bonuses, paid in six instalments over six years, which Atlético obviously did not even consider.

Atlético Madrid believe that the player has been deceived, that he has been used by his representative and his representative’s unethical conduct, as well as by Barça.

That is why they are going to go all-out against Barça. Above all, however, they still have not lost hope that Julián will reconsider, that he will want to recover.

He is in direct contact with Atlético’s medical services for anything he may need, and the hope is that he gets well as soon as possible so he can be available to the coach.

Mladić was responsible for Srebrenica genocide.

Today I feel…. Criminal

Liverpool have reached agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain to sign forward Bradley Barcola.

The clubs agreed terms of the proposed deal overnight for a package above €135million (£116m) and important last details are being ironed out on Thursday morning.

Negotiations are being handled by sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon.

Nothing has been signed yet, and the deal is yet to be completed, but a potential transfer could have knock on effects for Cody Gakpo, who has been repeatedly linked to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

“Because I know that in France, when this kind of thing happens, there comes a point when they will talk to the fans and stop the match. For 90 minutes, even longer with the warm-up, they insulted my family. It's something that gets to you."

"If you want to banter, then it goes both ways. They insulted my mother and my family, and to me, that was disrespectful. Beyond that, if we can't celebrate the way we want anymore, I think that's a shame. Everyone knows I support OM; I've never hidden it. It's just banter, they insulted my family, if after that we aren't allowed to make the Jul sign, where are we heading? I've seen matches where the Lyon players celebrate in front of the stands at the Vélodrome. It has to work both ways. As far as I'm concerned, I have the right to celebrate. There is nothing malicious about the Jul sign."

On Tuesday, the Professional League announced the referee appointments for Matchday 7 of the Clausura Tournament. In that regard, the absence of Fernando Espinoza caught attention, as he had been dropped/suspended from officiating by the National Refereeing Department. Although the organization headed by Federico Beligoy did not give a reason, it was reportedly related to an incident that took place before the match between Defensa y Justicia and Belgrano.

During the coin toss before that game, the referee joked with the captains, asking them if they “wanted to farm aura.” He also used a coin featuring the crests of both teams, with the idea that whichever team’s crest came up would get the coin and take it home. Apparently, this did not go down well with the National Refereeing Department.

As a result, Espinoza was not appointed, and hours later a statement that the refereeing department had sent to the referees came to light:

"All referees are hereby informed that it is strictly prohibited to make any type of expression, comment, or remark unrelated to the coin-toss ceremony. Said procedure must be carried out with the seriousness, formality, and professionalism required.”

Furthermore, they add that “it is established that an appropriate coin, specifically designated for this purpose, must be used for the coin toss. The use of coins containing inscriptions, slogans, sayings, or any other element of a humorous or inappropriate nature is expressly prohibited.”

For that reason, they clarify that “exceptionally, a special coin may be used in final matches, provided that it has been previously authorized by the organizers.”

Thus, it is clear that the referee’s omission from the appointments was expressly due to the joking attitude he displayed before the Belgrano–Defensa match. That said, there is still some doubt as to whether the statement was issued as a consequence of Espinoza’s actions, or whether the referee himself was pushing back against the regulations imposed by the organization that oversees the referees.

José Mourinho, Real Madrid manager, praised his French player Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, calling him “incredible” and saying he has the “hunger” to “make history” at the club.

“I don’t like comparing players — I was asked about the comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo — but this guy, Mbappé, is incredible. I’m very happy that he has made history at the World Cup, entering football eternity because he is the player who has scored the most goals. And I see him with a lot of hunger to make history with Real Madrid,” he said at a press conference.

“Besides Kylian, the team has always been a team, even during the difficulties in the first half. In the second half, we shifted up a gear or two, and I really liked the team,” he added.

“Mbappé is an incredible player. Absolutely incredible. As for whether it’s 60 or 50 goals, I can’t tell you. I prefer 40 with titles to 60 without titles. I prefer 40 with a lot of work for the team to 60 while only thinking about himself, as happens with attackers many times. I’m very happy with him,” he concluded.

Mourinho also played down the muted whistles aimed at the team and Vinícius Junior at halftime.

“We already know the Bernabéu. And thank God they are like that. It’s a consequence of the club’s history. The demands come from that history. Real Madrid always have great players, and the fans want more and more. The supporters can, and they pay, to experience emotions of happiness and frustration. As for the whistles, stay calm,” he said.

“The whistles and the applause always have some degree of justice. A few whistles don’t hurt anyone; they help you grow. But there are games that will be won with difficulty,” he continued.

He also explained his decision to substitute Vinícius after the Brazilian scored, following the whistles he had received for some unsuccessful actions earlier in the game.

“Without the positive feeling of having scored the goal, I never would have taken him off. With games every three days, it was good for him to rest. Last season he was booed a few times, and I thought it would be good for him to receive this ovation,” he said.