🔎 Valencia look to Germany to strengthen their technical department — and more

The Valencia CF continues to shape its sports organization for the upcoming season. As reported by Plaza Deportiva, the name of José Viñas is strongly featured on the list of candidates to join the technical secretariat at Mestalla.

Viñas, originally from Valencia, has an enviable track record in international football.

He is currently working as a scout for Schalke 04, a team leading the 2. Bundesliga and on the verge of promotion. His work in Germany has been crucial in rebuilding a historic club during tough times, contributing his ability to spot young and competitive talent.

Successes with Eintracht Frankfurt

His greatest professional success came with Eintracht Frankfurt. As the head of scouting in Spain, he was part of the team that led the German club to win the German Cup in 2018 and the Europa League in 2022.

This experience in successful projects is the main credential that the CEO of Football, Ron Gourlay, is considering for his potential incorporation.

Knowledgeable in the football business

Beyond the offices, Viñas possesses a comprehensive vision of the business. He has been on the benches of Villarreal CF and Torre Levante, and worked for eleven years as a football agent.

This triple background (coach, agent, and scout) gives him a competitive edge in the current market. The coach has an active contract in Germany but is seeking new professional challenges. 

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

Cristiano Ronaldo has purchased a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria.

The Al-Nassr superstar has invested in Almeria, who currently play in Spain's Segunda Division, as part of his post-football business strategy. Almeria are currently third in Spain's second tier and pushing for promotion back toLa Liga, after relegation from the top flight in 2023-24.

Almeria are currently owned by Saudi investment consortium SMC Group, led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, who acquired the club from Turki Al-Sheikh in May 2025.

Ronaldo has now joined the ownership after completing his investment through the recently formed CR7 Sports Investments. The terms of the investment remain undisclosed.

“It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch. UD Almería is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” Ronaldo said in the statement.

Almeria owner Al-Khereiji said that Ronaldo's knowledge of the Spanish league can help aid Almeria's ascent. Ronaldo spent nine seasons atReal Madrid and is the club's all-time record goalscorer.

“We are very pleased that Cristiano has chosen our club to invest in,” Al-Khereiji said in the statement.

“He is regarded as the greatest player ever to play the game. He knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy.”

Onana’s Manchester United Future Hinges on Pre Season Opportunity

André Onana, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, is said to be intent on reclaiming his place at United and believes he will be afforded the opportunity to do so when pre season begins., according to The Guardian.

Onana’s situation is layered with context. Signed from Inter in July 2023 on a five year contract for an initial £44.1m, he arrived as a statement acquisition. Erik ten Hag made him first choice, valuing his distribution and personality. Yet inconsistency defined much of his tenure. A sequence of high profile errors eroded confidence, culminating in his omission for April’s trip to Newcastle after he was culpable for both goals in a 2-2 draw at Lyon. By the start of this season, he was no longer in possession of the shirt.

Loan Spell and Renewed Determination

The 29 year old joined Trabzonspor on 11 September, a move prompted by United’s decision to recruit Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18m. Onana is due back in May and, according to the report, feels he will be given a chance to compete.

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That ambition collides with reality. Lammens has been quietly impressive in his debut Premier League campaign. Five clean sheets in 21 appearances underline consistency. In Monday’s 1-0 win at Everton, he produced a string of vital saves and commanded his area confidently.

Michael Carrick’s assessment was telling. “You want a goalkeeper to be reliable, trustworthy and, instead of creating the chaos, you want him to take the chaos away and calm things down,” said the interim manager. “I think Senne is that. He’s quite quiet at times and unassuming but he’s got a real steeliness. To step in, it’s a big role – for some.”

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Financial Context Shapes Squad Decisions

Beyond the goalkeeping debate lies a broader financial picture. United have reported a net profit of £4.2m in the financial year’s second quarter, a marked improvement on a £27.7m loss in the same period last year. However, the approximate £10m cost of sacking Ruben Amorim will appear as exceptional items in the third quarter. Previous exceptional items included £14.5m compensation to Ten Hag and his staff.

Current borrowings have risen to £295.7m from £268m, a reminder that squad decisions carry financial weight. Whether United can afford sentiment will be a decisive factor.

Onana may well be granted a platform in pre season. Reclaiming the jersey, though, demands more than opportunity. It requires authority, reliability and trust, qualities that currently define his younger rival.

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ForManchester United supporters, this feels like familiar territory. Big fee, big personality, flashes of brilliance, followed by costly errors at critical moments. Promises of redemption are easy in May. Delivering consistency in October at a packed Old Trafford is harder.

There is also a sense that the club cannot afford another prolonged audition. Lammens has shown composure and steadiness, attributes that United have lacked in recent seasons. Fans crave calmness behind a defence that has already endured upheaval.

Onana’s confidence has never been in doubt. The concern is judgement under pressure. When Carrick speaks of taking chaos away, supporters hear a subtle critique of what came before. Trust, once lost, is slow to rebuild.

Financially, United’s improved quarterly figures offer breathing room, yet rising borrowings temper optimism. Supporters will question whether rotating between two expensive goalkeepers represents prudent planning.

Pre season may provide a clean slate. For many fans, however, the threshold for belief is high. Sentiment will not outweigh evidence. If Onana is to reclaim the No 1 shirt, he must do so decisively, without ambiguity, and without the errors that shaped the narrative in the first place.

Troy Trojans (24-5, 15-2 Sun Belt) at South Alabama Jaguars (11-17, 4-13 Sun Belt)

Mobile, Alabama; Friday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: South Alabama plays Troy after Chrysta Narcisse scored 21 points in South Alabama's 57-43 win over the Southern Miss Lady Eagles.

The Jaguars are 8-7 on their home court. South Alabama has a 0-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Trojans are 15-2 in Sun Belt play. Troy is the best team in the Sun Belt scoring 15.0 fast break points per game.

South Alabama makes 40.5% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.1 percentage points higher than Troy has allowed to its opponents (37.4%). Troy averages 7.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 5.6 per game South Alabama gives up.

The teams square off for the second time this season in Sun Belt play. Troy won the last meeting 84-73 on Feb. 19. Emani Jenkins scored 18 points to help lead the Trojans to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Amyah Sutton is averaging 11.8 points for the Jaguars. Daniela Gonzalez is averaging 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Jenkins averages 3.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Trojans, scoring 12.3 points while shooting 43.2% from beyond the arc. Zay Dyer is shooting 47.0% and averaging 17.1 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jaguars: 2-8, averaging 59.3 points, 36.1 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 37.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.1 points per game.

Trojans: 9-1, averaging 81.9 points, 48.0 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Real Madrid have launched an investigation after a supporter allegedly performed a Nazi salute before the club's Champions League win against Benfica on Wednesday.

Prior to the kick-off at the Bernabeu, a fan appeared to make the fascist gesture as the television cameras panned around the 83,000-seater stadium.

The fan was identified by security staff moments later and ejected from the ground.

Real beat Portuguese side Benfica 2-1 in the second leg of their knockout round play-off tie to progress 3-1 on aggregate to the last 16 of the Champions League.

In a statement, the Spanish club said they have asked its disciplinary committee "to initiate an immediate expulsion procedure" for the fan.

"Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society," it added.

• Real Madrid win 'for everyone who stands against racism'
• 'He was always going to score' - Real beat Benfica to reach last 16

The incident comes after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg in Lisbon.

The 25-year-old Brazilian, who scored the only goal of the game, informed the referee he had been racially abused by Prestianni and the game was halted for 10 minutes after he and his Madrid team-mates left the pitch.

Argentine winger Prestianni was subsequently handed a provisional one-match ban and missed the second leg after Uefa rejected Benfica's appeal against his suspension. He could still face further punishment, pending the result of a full Uefa investigation.

Vinicius, who scored Madrid's winner on 80 minutes, received support by the home fans as a banner with the words "no to racism" in Spanish was displayed in the stands before kick-off.

His team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni also said the win was "for everyone who stands against racism".

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