Riquelme doubles down on Haaland after camp denial
Presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme is not backing down. After Erling Haaland's camp and Manchester City both denied his claims of contact, Riquelme fired back: "Cumplo mis promesas", I keep my promises (3). He had previously told Marca: "He hablado con Haaland" (2). City dismissed the Spanish reports as "untrue" and are reportedly considering legal action (1). Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alf-Inge have also pushed back. This election is getting messy, and it's only heating up.
Riquelme wants Vinicius sold to make room
Here's where it gets wild. Riquelme's plan reportedly involves selling Vinícius Júnior this summer to clear space for Haaland (5). Yes, the same Vinícius who just wore Brazil's number 7 shirt and remains one of your most dangerous attacking weapons. The Bernabéu Digital report has rattled plenty of fans, and the timing, days before Sunday's election, is no coincidence.
Mourinho's hit list: six players out, including Ceballos
José Mourinho is reportedly already laying down conditions if he returns to the Bernabéu. Six current players are not in his plans, with Dani Ceballos, an Ajax target, among those told to move on (4). No squad is safe when Mourinho's involved, and his shadow looms large over this election cycle.
Dumfries deal confirmed by Dutch sources
Denzel Dumfries is reportedly heading to Real Madrid, with former Netherlands international Hedwiges Maduro saying the move was predictable: "Nog meer een reden om te kijken", even more reason to watch (6). The Inter full-back would bring experience and physicality to the right flank.
Valverde: "I never imagined being captain"
Fede Valverde has opened up about wearing the armband. "I never imagined being captain for Real Madrid, and I thoroughly enjoy every opportunity to wear the armband. It carries some pressure too," he said (8). He also touched on his Champions League hat-trick against City and moving past his clash with Aurélien Tchouaméni. For a midfielder who gives everything every shift, it's a deserved honor, and you can hear how much it means to him (7) (8).
Fan reactions
The mood among Madridistas is split right down the middle. Some are alarmed by Riquelme's plan to sell Vinícius and warn against another Galáctico era built on star power alone, while others are intrigued by the sheer ambition of landing Haaland. A separate wave of chatter surrounds Mourinho's wishlist, with Sporting CP's Morten Hjulmand and Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck both linked as potential targets. One thing is clear: nobody is bored this election week. Join the discussion
