Xabi Alonso
January 2026
Real Madrid ended Alonso’s tenure by “mutual agreement” and installed Arbeloa as interim; Mendieta said Alonso’s high-press approach was never going to work at Madrid. Mendieta argued Madrid historically do not sustain compact, high-press defending across matches, so Alonso’s Leverkusen-style system failed to translate and the team “broke” during games.
Marcus Rashford
January 2026
Barcelona reportedly intend to sign Rashford permanently at season’s end, despite Amorim’s exit potentially reopening a path back to United. Rashford has contributed goals and assists, Barca are top of La Liga, and the loan includes a €30m option to buy. A member survey reportedly leaned in favour of making the move permanent.
Kobbie Mainoo
January 2026
Mendieta suggested Rashford could influence Mainoo towards Barcelona amid speculation over Mainoo’s future and Rashford’s own strong loan spell in Spain. He argued La Liga suits Mainoo’s style and hinted Rashford may already be discussing Barcelona life with him. A United managerial change could offer Mainoo a reset, but Barcelona interest remains a talking point.
Quique Setien
January 2026
Quique Setien says Barcelona took three to four years to pay the wages owed after his 2020 dismissal, confirming the matter is now fully resolved and the club owes him nothing. Setien said he pursued what he was owed and eventually received all payments. He also reflected on a short, chaotic tenure that ended after the 8-2 Bayern defeat and was shaped by injuries and instability.
Harry Kane
January 2026
Michael Owen says Barcelona and Real Madrid should avoid signing Harry Kane despite a reported £57m release clause, arguing the deal would be short-term and poor value given Kane’s age. Owen claims elite moves need perfect timing and demand. He suggests Kane’s options are narrower now, and buying him would be for immediate impact only, with limited years of top output to justify the cost.
Marcus Rashford
January 2026
A report claims Marcus Rashford is unlikely to return to Manchester United soon, with his Barcelona loan described as driven by club hierarchy rather than Ruben Amorim. Rashford has stated he wants to stay at Barcelona and is focused on winning trophies, while the report links his situation to broader United outgoings also framed as board decisions.
Joao Cancelo
January 2026
Joao Cancelo is reportedly on the verge of rejoining Barcelona, with Fabrizio Romano signalling the move is effectively done. Cancelo has prioritised a Camp Nou return after a difficult spell at Al-Hilal. Reduced playing time, physical issues, and reported tensions in Saudi Arabia have opened the door for an exit, with Al-Hilal needing a foreign-player slot. Barcelona have moved ahead of Inter Milan to secure the deal.
Marcus Rashford
January 2026
Marc Guehi
December 2025
Real Madrid have made contact over Marc Guehi as the Crystal Palace captain heads toward a free-agent exit. Guehi has reportedly told Palace he will not extend, setting up a major battle for his signature. With his deal running down to summer 2026, Guehi will enter the window where non-Premier League clubs can hold pre-contract talks from January 1. Real Madrid have opened discussions with his representatives and he is said to prioritise Madrid if the interest becomes concrete.
Dusan Vlahovic
December 2025
Barcelona are lining up Dusan Vlahovic as a possible successor to Robert Lewandowski, with reports claiming the club is considering a free-transfer move once the Juventus striker’s deal expires. Lewandowski has not committed to extending his Barcelona contract yet. Lewandowski has said a decision on his future can wait, and Barcelona are assessing options. Marca says Vlahovic is viewed as a like-for-like target for summer 2026, while Hansi Flick still rates Ferran Torres as an internal solution to cover the role.
