La Liga has conquered Europe yet again, as the competition which has provided the Champions League winners for the sixth time in the last decade.
Real Madrid won their 14th European Crown with a 1-0 win over Liverpool in Paris, as Brazilian striker Vincius Junior scored the winner. Los Blancos made it a Premier League treble with their win over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, having already beaten Chelsea and Manchester City and the celebrations are set to go on for days in Madrid.
But fans at the club will also say goodbye to one of their best players of all time as defender Marcelo announced his departure in the aftermath of the showcase match. He skippered Los Blancos in the Champions League final and the Brazilian star was clearly emotional as he spoke to the mass of media, saying: “I’m leaving Real Madrid; and to leave this club while winning a Champions League and being the most decorated player in the history of the club gives me immense joy. It’s not a sad day, it’s a happy day. I spent many years here, many magical nights at the Bernabeu and obviously this is something that makes me and my family very proud”.
The departure of Marcelo after 15 sparkling years at the club is a big moment for Los Blancos fans; but what a way for the legendary left back to bow out.
Barca close to landing Lewi
What else is happening in the La Liga 2022 news this week?
Well, Barcelona head coach Xavi has continued negotiations to bring Robert Lewandowski to Catalonia and it could be that the move is inching ever closer. The pursuit of Lewandowski is the most important job of the summer for Barca as they try to put together a squad that can challenge for trophies. This has been a season of transition at the club and it has ended with the team in better shape than at the start of the campaign.
But the Catalans remained trophyless and that’s something Xavi is determined to put right. The signing of Lewandowski would show Barca’s rivals they are serious, especially Real Madrid who have just completed the La Liga/Champions League double.
The arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January was a masterstroke on Xavi’s behalf but the signing of the Polish star would eclipse that move. The 33 year old has one year left to run on his FC Bayern contract and, having dominated the Bundesliga for so long, he has stated his ambition to test himself in a different league. The Bavarians would dearly love to keep hold of their star striker but they have already started to plan for his departure, preparing a move for Liverpool’s Senegalese striker Sadio Mane. If that transfer happens it could be a difficult week for the Reds. On the back of losing the Champions League final and the Premier League race, there have been suggestions circulating that Real Madrid might try to lure Mo Salah from Anfield to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Back in Catalonia; if Xavi can pull off this deal to buy Lewandowski in the next few days, the La Liga 2022 betting odds will take a closer look at the Blaugrana for next season’s title race.
La Liga and Ligue 1 fight over Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe’s decision to stay at Paris Saint-Germain last week sent shock waves around European football, especially in Spain where Real Madrid were furious that they had failed to land the French scoring sensation. Here at SBOTOP we reported the news and no-one thought that would be the end of the story.
And so it wasn’t, as bosses the Spanish and French leagues have continued to row over the player. Following the Bleus star’s announcement that he was happy to sign a new three year contract at the Parc des Princes, La Liga president Javier Tebas described the development as an insult to the game and La Liga are preparing an attack on PSG’s alleged financial irregularities.
Following Tebas’ comments, the president of the French Professional League, Vincent Labrune, has demanded the Spaniard ‘treats players in our league with respect’ while taking a well aimed swipe at La Liga. He said: “Two of your clubs – Real Madrid and Barcelona – have broken a multitude of records in the past decade. In terms of transfer fees, these two clubs have broken the world record six times. In terms of player salaries, Real Madrid currently has two of the highest-paid players in the world sat on their bench.”
Labrune’s irritation may have something to do with Real Madrid dumping PSG out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage. Who knows? But it’s fun watching this squabble!
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