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Arsenal put in a performance that stunned the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as they blew away table toppers Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta's men looked dominant from the first whistle and even scored the visitors' only goal when William Saliba and David Raya had a mix-up at the back.

The team's performance was so good that singling out one individual would be challenging, but an area of the pitch where the Gunners excelled was midfield.

The pair of Jorginho and Declan Rice have been deservedly getting plaudits for their display, but there was one player who was like a metronome in attack, a player whom Arsenal took a gamble on and is now worth a king's ransom.

Martin Odegaard's valuation before Arsenal

The player in question is Norwegian maestro and captain of Arsenal, Martin Odegaard.

The Drammen-born dynamo first caught the world's attention when he signed for Real Madrid in 2015 at just 16 years old for a fee believed to be in the region of £2m.

During his time as a Madrid player, the technically gifted midfielder would go on several loan spells to Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad and finally to Arsenal.

During his loan spells prior to the one with the Gunners, he slowly built back his reputation, which was hurt by his ultimately failed move to Madrid.

He made 118 appearances across the three loan moves, scored 21 goals and provided 27 assists, meaning he was averaging 0.40 goal involvements per match, and while that might not sound outrageous, he was just 16 when he went to Heerenveen.

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His final spell away from Los Blancos saw him move to north London for the second half of the 2020/21 season, and while his two goals and two assists in 20 appearances didn't look that impressive on paper, Arteta saw something in him, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Martin Odegaard's valuation in 2024

The loan move to the Emirates and the ones that came before did a great job at reminding the world just why so many were excited about his emergence back in 2015. So, when he signed for the club on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021, it cost a relatively respectable fee of £34m.

In the two and a half years since, however, his stock has gone through the roof, and in July 2022, he was named club captain, meaning that at just 23 years old, he was the skipper of one of the biggest clubs in the world and his national team – talk about responsibility.

His performances have also come on leaps and bounds from his showing in that initial loan spell, with the dynamic midfielder making 134 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 31 times and providing 19 goals.

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That said, in the last year and a half, the "phenomenal" gem, as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has truly developed into one of the league's premier midfielders, as he scored 15 goals, provided seven assists in 37 league starts last season, and has seven goal involvements to his name this campaign.

While he has yet to lift a major trophy in the red and white of Arsenal, he has helped guide the team back onto a path that, for now anyway, looks destined to end in glory.

So, with that said, it's hardly surprising that the CIES Football Observatory valued the Norwegian dynamo at around €150m, which is around £128m, or 3.7 times (276% more) what Arsenal paid for him in 2021.

Arsenal struck gold on Emery signing whose value has skyrocketed 1333%

The 22-year-old has become a star in N5.The 22-year-old has become a star in N5.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 6, 2024

It's hard to think of a better bit of business in the Premier League over the last few seasons, and excitingly for the Gunners, there's still a lot of room for him to develop.

Former Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani sold his remaining 56% stake in the club to 49ers Enterprises in July of last year to put his reign in Yorkshire to an end.

The Italian took full control from Massimo Cellino in May 2017 and enjoyed six years with the club in total, which included a Championship title and three seasons in the Premier League.

Radrizzani was not without his blunders, though, and one of his early errors came in the transfer market with a permanent deal to sign Hadi Sacko.

How much Leeds paid to sign Hadi Sacko

The winger had already spent the 2016/17 campaign on loan with the Whites from Portuguese giants Sporting CP and the young forward struggled to find consistent form.

Sacko made 38 appearances and started 28 times in the Championship that season, which shows that he was provided with plenty of opportunities to impress.

However, the Mali international only contributed with two goals and three assists from a wide position in those 38 outings. This is a return of one goal involvement every 7.6 matches on average.

Radrizzani, who had completed his takeover of the club earlier that summer, then decided to splash a reported fee of £1.5m to sign him from Sporting in 2017.

That signing turned out to be a nightmare as the attacker then played just 14 times in the Championship, starting once, and failed to provide a single goal or assist in the 2017/18 campaign.

He was then loaned out to Las Palmas and Ankaragücü during the first and second half of the 2018/19 season respectively, after Sacko was not given a shirt number by Marcelo Bielsa – who had arrived that summer.

Hadi Sacko's current club

The 29-year-old Leeds flop currently plays in the second tier of Turkish football for Sakaryaspor, who he joined from Adanaspor in February 2023.

Sacko departed from Elland Road to sign for Denizlispor in Turkey in the summer of 2019 for an undisclosed fee, which means that it remains unknown as to how much the Whites recouped on the £1.5m they paid for him.

The Mali international then had a spell in Romania with CFR Cluj between his time with Denizlispor and Adanaspor, prior to his move to second-division side Sakaryaspor last year.

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Career since 2019 Leeds exit (via Transfermarkt)

He failed to score or assist any goals during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign after his transfer to the 1.Lig outfit, and has not made a single appearance so far this season.

Transfermarkt state that his most recent injury kept him out for six matches up to May of last year, which suggests that Sacko has not been in favour this term, rather than his absence being down to injuries.

Overall, the forward, who turns 30 next month, has failed to find consistent success at any of his clubs since moving on from Elland Road in the summer of 2019.

This came after he also struggled with consistency at the top end of the pitch in Yorkshire, which shows that Radrizzani had a nightmare by signing him on a permanent deal as Sacko ended his career in England with two league goals – both of which came during his time on loan from Sporting.

SLC held a meeting on Monday with the players who were part of the preliminary squad for the tour, to inform them about the security arrangements

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Sep-2019Pakistan’s hopes for Test cricket to return to the country have suffered a substantial blow, as ten prominent Sri Lanka cricketers have refused to travel to the country for the forthcoming limited-overs tour.By hosting the limited-overs series first, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intended to prove to Sri Lanka players and officials that the nation was secure enough to host Test cricket, starting with the teams’ World Test Championship matches, presently scheduled for December. But with Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne all pulling out of the limited-overs tour PCB’s plans have been significantly dented.Even if this tour goes off without a hitch, Sri Lanka’s frontline Test players may remain unconvinced about the December tour. And, if that is the case, Sri Lanka Cricket is almost certain to refuse to play those Tests in Pakistan. While in this case the board is prepared to send a weakened limited-overs side to the country, it is unlikely to do so for Tests that have championship points at stake.SLC had held a meeting on Monday with the players who were part of the preliminary squad for the tour, to inform them about the security arrangements in Pakistan, which the board itself is largely happy with. In fact, a former Sri Lankan Air Force Commander had conveyed his confidence in those arrangements to the players. But the board has ultimately respected the players’ wishes. According to an SLC release, chief selector Ashantha de Mel had told players that refusal to tour Pakistan on this occasion would not affect their selection for future series.Both the present ODI captain, Karunaratne, and the T20 captain, Malinga, have refused to tour.For its part, the PCB has had to accept the decision of the Sri Lankan cricketers, while confirming that the tour will go on as planned. “The PCB understands and respects it is the prerogative of Sri Lanka Cricket to select the best available players for the upcoming tour for white-ball cricket. As far as the PCB is concerned, the tour is on and we look forward to welcoming the Sri Lanka team in Karachi later this month,” a spokesperson said.This is not Sri Lanka’s first trip to Pakistan since the Lahore attack on the Sri Lanka team. In fact, they had played a solitary T20 there in 2017, also with a weakened squad. But Thisara, who captained the Sri Lanka side in that match in Lahore, is this time among the players who have refused to travel. This, however, is understood to largely be because of his commitments at the Caribbean Premier League with the St Lucia Zouks. He did not make the XI for Sri Lanka’s two most recent ODIs, nor their most recent T20 squad, in any case.Of the players currently in the frame for selection, only Suranga Lakmal had been on the team bus that was attacked by gunmen in 2009. Nevertheless, many younger players will have heard of the ordeal from former players, some of whom remain scarred by the experience. Among the arguments this current group of players mounted their refusal on, is that some other team should be the first to resume Tests in Pakistan, rather than another Sri Lanka side.The PCB will be especially disheartened at the development, because they had been the first to send a team to Sri Lanka following this year’s Easter Sunday attacks. There was a time, in the weeks immediately following the bombings, when cricket tours on the island faced an uncertain future. But the PCB had sent its Under-19 team to Sri Lanka for five ODIs only a month after the attacks, which helped demonstrate the improved security situation. Since then, Sri Lanka has hosted Bangladesh and New Zealand at venues around the country.But although SLC had at one stage said it had received “very positive” feedback from the security team it had sent to assess the situation in Pakistan, their players have ultimately made their own decisions. The PCB will hope there is still a chance the limited-overs tour can still be a springboard to hosting Tests at some point in the near future. But the chances of Sri Lanka being that touring Test team have diminished significantly.The limited-overs series, which features three ODIs and three T20Is, is set to run from September 27 to October 9. The ODIs will all be played in Karachi, before Lahore hosts the T20s.

Christian Pulisic has been hailed as a “selfless leader”, after starring in the USMNT's Copa America opener on home soil.

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AC Milan star handed the armbandGoal & assist in tournament openerHead coach sees room for improvementWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States got their quest for Copa America glory off to the perfect start when facing Bolivia in their tournament opener. Pulisic was handed the armband for that contest and proceeded to deliver a goal and assist in an important 2-0 win.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT BERHALTER SAID

Head coach Gregg Berhalter was full of praise for his inspirational skipper afterwards, telling reporters: “He's a selfless leader. He goes out and competes and works, works really hard and that helps the team and then you add to the fact that he's highly skilled and can make plays on the offensive end and create chances on the offensive end. It's a great combination, and what you see is him supporting his teammates, him backing guys, him pushing guys. To me, it was an outstanding performance. He got coach's man of the match and it was much deserved.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The USMNT could have run out more convincing winners on the day, with Berhalter adding on the room for improvement within his ranks: “We'll always look at chance creation as a marker of performance, and I think we created enough chances. And on most days, those chances are going to go in – and today they didn't, and that's fine. I think we're pleased with the result. The game was never in doubt, and I think it's a good starting point on which to build throughout this tournament.”

He went on to say: “For us, it's just about analyzing and improving. I talked about one of our objectives throughout this tournament was to keep trying to get better. I like the performance for an opening game against a difficult opponent. We're in a good position.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

Pulisic and Co are now heading to Atlanta for their second Group C fixture against Panama, with that match taking place on Thursday. They will hope to have done enough by the end of that encounter to have reached the knockout stages, with a final outing against Uruguay in Kansas City to come on July 1.

Jack Grealish has announced on Instagram that he and his partner Sasha Attwood are expecting their first child.

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Grealish posts sweet Instagram messageExpecting first child with partnerMissed out on England's Euro 2024 squadWHAT HAPPENED?

Grealish took to Instagram on Sunday to reveal that he and his partner Sasha Attwood are expecting their first child. The pair have been together since they were teenagers, having met at their school in Solihull.

AdvertisementGetty THE BIGGER PICTURE

Both Grealish and Attwood posted on Instagram to confirm that they are expecting. The City star, of course, missed out on England's Euro 2024 squad after an inconsistent season, but he now has something to celebrate this summer.

WHAT GREALISH SAID

Grealish posted a picture of Attwood's baby bump, with the caption: "Life's biggest blessing."

Attwood posted the same picture, writing: "Half of me, half of you – beyond blessed."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Grealish will hope to return to form this season with City. He recently posted an image of himself on holiday, revealing a remarkable body transformation.

Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham are thought to be keen on signing a club's duo of star players, and one is a name supporters will be very familiar with.

Spurs planning forward transfer this summer

Spurs are said to be planning to make a wide forward their major signing this summer, according to reports this week, leading to their serious interest in the likes of Wolves winger Pedro Neto and Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Tottenham want to sign £64m star who Pep said has "absolutely everything"

He’d be a very ambitious capture.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 29, 2024

Postecoglou's side have often thrived without the presence of a traditional goalscoring number nine at points this season, as the Tottenham head coach's fluid, interchanging attacking system places more emphasis on their wide men.

Richarlison is the exception to this, with the Brazilian enjoying a fantastic run of form over Spurs' last 10-12 league games, but reliable reports suggest that Postecoglou is keen to add a star new wide player who can chip in with goals/assists.

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Spurs are also likely to maintain their policy of attracting young, rising stars across Europe. They beat Barcelona to the signing of Lucas Bergvall on deadline day in January, and could still make a move for Club Brugge starlet Antonio Nusa.

“You can try to sell a vision to someone, but if there’s tangible physical evidence of it… Anyone who has watched us since I’ve joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be," said Postecoglou on Tottenham becoming a dream destination for talent.

“That’s not just me saying it, we’re actually doing it. OK, we’re not the finished product by any stretch. But we’re giving young players an opportunity. Destiny, Pape and Micky, all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles.

“We’re building a team. From our perspective, it’s pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players."

Going back to Nusa in this respect, Belgian outlet Walfoot now have an update which claims a move to Spurs is still definitely not ruled out.

Tottenham eyeing both Skov Olsen and Nusa from Brugge

Indeed, according to the outlet, as translated by Sport Witness, Tottenham are interested in signing both Nusa and his teammate Andreas Skov Olsen.

The 24-year-old latter player, called "perfect" by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, has bagged nine goals and four assists this season. He could also represent a cheaper option for the wide area over marquee stars like Neto or Eze.

Nusa, meanwhile, has been coveted by Spurs for a while – with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard lavishing the teenager.

“Fantastic! He is an incredibly exciting player," Odegaard told TV2 (via Sport Witness). "You see it, everything he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him. He deserved to get the chance that he takes it to such an extent. Incredibly cool!"

Harry Kane received massive praise from Jamal Musiala as the Bayern Munich star took aim at the England striker's Euro 2024 critics.

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Kane under scrutiny after poor form at EuroMusiala jumps to his defenceGerman playmaker hailed striker as "one of the best"WHAT HAPPENED?

Kane has faced considerable backlash from fans and the media due to England's underwhelming performances in the tournament. Despite this, Musiala strongly believes that the criticism directed at Kane is unjustified.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT MUSIALA SAID

Kane scored the winner against Slovakia in the round-of-16 after Jude Bellingham's stoppage-time equaliser and Musiala, in an interview with heaped praise on him for having the typical striker instincts inside the box.

"The last goal he scored was a typical striker's goal. Not many players would have been in the position to score that goal. He's there for those moments," said Musiala. "He may not get many chances, but when he gets that one chance, he can decide the game for his team."

Musiala also underscored Kane's goal-scoring abilities, which were on full display during his time with Bayern Munich last season. "We have all seen what he has done for us at Bayern this season," he said.

"He is an important player, an incredible player, one of the best in the world. That's why we have him at FC Bayern – and that's why he is one of the most important players for England."

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Former German international Dietmar Hamann has been particularly vocal about Kane's performances. In his column on Sky, Hamann suggested that England's manager, Gareth Southgate, should reconsider Kane's role in the team and proposed that an agile striker like Ollie Watkins might be a better fit for the current squad.

"Gareth Southgate (England coach; editor's note) has to think about what he does with Harry Kane. With Ollie Watkins you have an agile striker who goes into spaces that Kane doesn't go into or can't get into at all," Hamann wrote.

"Kane will be 31 in July and has three years left on his contract in Munich. Bayern is in transition and wants to get back to the top of the world, but when I look at the top of the world, Kane's performance has nothing to do with that. I also don't have the feeling that he will be any better at Bayern next year. Kane scored 36 Bundesliga goals last season, but when they needed him, he wasn't there."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR HARRY KANE?

Despite the criticism, Southgate trusts his striker and remains confident in his abilities to lead the team to victory. And as England prepare for their quarter-final clash against Switzerland on Saturday, Kane is expected to be a key player in the starting eleven.

The India captain can reclaim the top spot in the third Test in Ranchi

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2019Virat Kohli’s career-best 254 not out in India’s second Test win over South Africa in Pune has vaulted him back above the 900-point mark in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen, and has put him within touching distance of top-ranked Steven Smith.Kohli’s tally stands at 936 points, while Smith sits on 937. The India captain will have the opportunity to regain the top spot, which Smith wrested from him on his return to Test cricket in the 2019 Ashes, when India face South Africa in the third Test in Ranchi, starting October 19.Among the bowlers in action in Pune, R Ashwin moved from tenth to seventh, having picked up six wickets in the innings-and-137-run win inside four days, which helped India get a winning 2-0 lead in the series.ESPNcricinfo LtdKohli overcame a mini-slump on the way to his first triple-figure score in Test cricket in 2019. After the first Test – which India had won by 203 runs – Kohli had fallen below 900 rating points for the first time since January 2018.Ashwin followed his seven-for in the first innings of the first Test with another good show in the second, to move ahead of Vernon Philander on the bowlers’ table. Philander fell three places and is now sitting on eighth.Other players who made significant movements included India opener Mayank Agarwal, who followed a double-century in the first Test with a century in the second to rise to a career-high 17th spot. Umesh Yadav, who was making a comeback to the Test side, took six wickets and jumped six places to at 25th spot.

It might seem that Liverpool are riding the crest of a wave right now, and indeed Jurgen Klopp's side have produced some emphatic recent results including triumph in the Carabao Cup final, but there's no doubt that the squad is held together by a thread after a torrent of injury problems.

Still, the Reds will feel that they have the means to continue the recent winning feeling and will have the opportunity to do just that away to Nottingham Forest this afternoon in the Premier League.

Klopp did provide a positive update in his pre-match press conference, revealing that Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez have returned to first-team training and are in contention for the City Ground clash, though talisman Mohamed Salah remains sidelined.

Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson both missed the midweek FA Cup win over Southampton but trained on Friday and could also be involved.

Of course, Liverpool's issues do not stop there, with a long-term list of absentees consisting of Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip.

With all this in mind, Klopp could make four changes to the side that defeated Saints on Wednesday as he looks to maintain his side's position at the summit of the Premier League.

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Caoimhin Kelleher has left supporters and pundits alike gushing over his excellent performances since Alisson's injury, with Klopp even remarking that he is "the best no.2 in the world" after his recent efforts.

He's not infallible between the sticks but he will be up to the task against a spirited Forest side.

2 RB – Conor Bradley

Alexander-Arnold's injury, this time last year, would have felt a detrimental blow to any sense of cohesion and influence from right-back, but times have changed and the emerging Conor Bradley is here to stay.

The 20-year-old was crowned the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for January after an incredible breakthrough, with one goal and five assists only one element of a many-faceted skill set.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate was described as an “absolute beast" by one marvelling analyst for his performances over the past few months, with these words duly delivered, it must be said.

Jarell Quansah was typically impressive in midweek but he will return to the bench.

Konate's imperious partner in the defensive axis might take most of the plaudits but the France international is truly excellent, with a blend of strength, athleticism and defensive acumen making for a formidable force.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Withdrawn for Konate at half-time against Southampton earlier in the week, Virgil van Dijk has played a lot of football recently and this was just a precaution ahead of a tough test in Nottingham.

The Anfield skipper has been in phenomenal fettle this term. A real force of nature, he'll fancy his odds against the Forest frontline.

5 LB – Joe Gomez

Robertson returned to training yesterday but Joe Gomez is fit and hasn't exactly done a bad job when called to serve in an unnatural left-back role this season.

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The dynamic defender is enjoying quite the revival after being harangued for his displays before the summer. Long may it continue.

6 DM – Alexis Mac Allister

With Endo picking up a knock against Chelsea, Alexis Mac Allister will hold down the foot as the midfield anchor, with his supreme technical ability and intelligence maybe the way to go against Forest anyway.

As per Sofascore, the Argentinian World Cup winner has scored two goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League for Liverpool across 21 matches, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 2.8 tackles and 5.7 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 63% of his dribbles.

7 CM – Harvey Elliott

It's great news that Szoboszlai is back in the mix but the Hungarian ace last featured at the backend of January and Klopp might refrain from plunging him straight back in, with Harvey Elliott continuing his fine run of form in the engine room.

The diminutive dynamo also ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

8 CM – Bobby Clark

More Liverpool talents are shooting into first-team action than Erling Haaland is scoring goals right now, with midfielder Bobby Clark one of the most exciting prospects around.

He's elegant and assured and energetic and he will be confident of completing another good performance against the Tricky Trees.

9 RW – Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo doesn't play his finest football on the right wing but there's little choice for Klopp with Salah still out, unless Elliott moves forward and Szoboszlai is risked from the opening whistle.

The Dutchman has posted 11 goals and five assists this term, however, and having bagged in both of his recent Premier League appearances he might continue his purple patch against a leaky backline.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz was rested against Southampton after playing 120 intense minutes against Chelsea on Sunday but his fleet-footed swagger will be a welcome tool, with burgeoning potency in front of goal over recent fixtures too.

Albeit still wasteful, Diaz is a fantastic player and Forest fans will be worried out his blistering pace and dynamic quality.

Real Madrid handed Lucas Vazquez a one-year contract extension after securing Luka Modric's services until 2025.

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Real Madrid hold on to their proven starsTied down Vazquez for another campaignJoined Castilla when he was 16 WHAT HAPPENED?

Los Blancos are on a roll as Vazquez's extension comes on the heels of unveiling Kylian Mbappe on July 16 and extending Modric’s contract on July 18, marking a significant week for the club. The Spain international is the epitome of a utility player for Carlo Ancelotti due to his versatility as he can slot in at right-back and also as a right-winger depending on the situation and the requirements of the team.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

During the previous season, Vazquez made 38 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid. His contributions were pivotal as the club clinched both La Liga and the Champions League titles. His standout performance in April’s Clasico victory over Barcelona highlighted his capacity to step up in critical moments, showcasing his skill and dedication.

DID YOU KNOW?

Vazquez’s journey with Real Madrid began in 2007 when he joined the club's youth academy at the age of 16. Progressing through the ranks from the U-17s to Castilla by 2014, Vázquez eventually made his mark on the first team. Over his nine seasons with the senior squad, he has amassed 349 first-team appearances, scoring 36 goals and has been integral to one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. His impressive resume includes winning 21 titles: 5 Champions Leagues, 4 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 4 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, and 4 Spanish Super Cups.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Vazquez has already joined Carlo Ancelotti's pre-season preparations at Valdebeas and will fly out to the United States next week where they are set to play three friendlies against AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea. Their first competitive match is scheduled on August 14 against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup final.