United News of Bangladesh

Nicolas Otamendi announced his retirement from Argentina's national team on Thursday after an international career spanning more than 17 years. The 38-year-old said on social media that he departed with his "head held high" after 139 caps, a World Cup title and two Copa America crowns. "Today I have to write the hardest words of my entire career," he said in a social media post. "I dreamed from a very young age of wearing the Argentina national team jersey; it was the greatest privilege football ever gave me. I defended it with my soul, with pride, and with the responsibility of knowing what it means to millions of Argentines." Otamendi made his last appearance for Argentina in its 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday. Despite the disappointing end to his career, Otamendi said he would only take positive memories from his time with the Albiceleste. "Fate willed that my final match would be a World Cup final," he said. "It wasn't the result we wanted, but I leave with my head held high knowing that this group tried until the very last second. "I say goodbye with the peace of mind of having left everything out on the pitch. I never held back a single drop of effort, I never stopped believing, and I never stopped feeling that this jersey was the greatest honor of my life." Otamendi, whose club career has included spells at Porto, Manchester City, Valencia and Benfica, will continue playing with River Plate in Argentina's top flight.

Luka Modric will continue his playing career with AC Milan, as the Croatia veteran signed a new contract with the Rossoneri, the club confirmed on Thursday. Modric, who turns 41 in September, joined AC Milan last year after 13 seasons with Real Madrid. His original contract had expired on June 30. He had previously stated he would make a decision on whether to stay at the club or retire after the 2026 World Cup, where Croatia lost to Portugal and exited in the round of 32. "AC Milan is pleased to announce that Luka Modric has signed a contract for a further season, until June 30, 2027," read a club statement. "A key figure in the Rossoneri midfield since his arrival, Luka has brought his experience and quality to the service of the team, both on and off the pitch, with humility and great passion. One of the finest and most iconic players in world football, the Croatian will continue his journey in the Rossoneri shirt - with which he made 37 appearances and scored two goals last season - with the ambition to reach new, important milestones." The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner will continue to wear the No. 14 shirt next season.

Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho has joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea, moving to a Champions League club after a difficult campaign at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old completed the switch on Thursday, just days after Aston Villa sold Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a record fee for an English player. Garnacho, who previously represented Spain at youth level before choosing Argentina, was left out of Argentina’s World Cup squad. He has made eight appearances for the national team, including during their victorious 2024 Copa América campaign while he was still a Manchester United player. The winger spent only one season at Chelsea following his £40 million ($53 million) move from Manchester United. His arrival coincided with a turbulent period for the club, with coaches Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior losing their jobs as Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League despite winning the 2025 Club World Cup. Aston Villa, meanwhile, are preparing for their fifth season under manager Unai Emery after securing a fourth-place league finish and winning the Europa League title. Elsewhere in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest signed Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager on a two-year contract as a free agent after his deal with Leipzig expired. The 28-year-old Schlager started all four of Austria’s matches at the World Cup and will reunite with coach Oliver Glasner, whom he previously worked with at Wolfsburg. "This was another big reason why I wanted to come here," Schlager said after completing the move. The midfielder is expected to help fill the gap left by England international Elliot Anderson, who joined Manchester City earlier this month. Anderson’s transfer briefly became a record fee for an English player before Chelsea broke the mark by signing Rogers.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has held discussions with former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti as it looks to appoint a new national team coach following Italy's latest World Cup disappointment. The federation hopes to name a new coach within the week after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for a third consecutive time. Former Italy captain and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, who was appointed FIGC technical director earlier this month, confirmed on Thursday that both Guardiola and Ancelotti had been approached. Speaking after a meeting with Serie A clubs alongside new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special adviser Leonardo, Maldini said the federation initially contacted Ancelotti before opening talks with Guardiola. "We wanted to begin by speaking with the best coaches in the world to understand whether they would be interested," Maldini said, while declining to provide further details on the negotiations. Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season after a highly successful 10-year spell in which he guided the club to numerous domestic and international titles. Over his managerial career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, the 55-year-old has won 35 major trophies. According to Maldini, he and Leonardo recently travelled to Barcelona for discussions with Guardiola about the Italy job. He said the federation aims to appoint the preferred candidate as soon as possible but is prepared to wait if necessary. Ancelotti, meanwhile, recently extended his contract with Brazil through the 2030 World Cup. However, Brazil endured a disappointing campaign, exiting the tournament in the round of 16 following a 2-1 defeat to Norway. The 67-year-old Italian is one of football's most decorated coaches, having won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany, along with a record five UEFA Champions League trophies. Italy's latest failure to qualify for the World Cup came after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. The setback prompted the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and national team coach Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso had taken charge only last June after replacing Luciano Spalletti, whose tenure ended following Italy's poor start to the qualifying campaign. Former Italy managers Roberto Mancini, who led the Azzurri to the UEFA Euro 2021 title, and Antonio Conte are also being considered for the role. Former World Cup-winning midfielder Andrea Pirlo has likewise been linked with the vacancy.

Inter Miami said Wednesday it completed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro as a free agent, adding one of the biggest names in world football to a squad that already features Lionel Messi. The announcement was followed by news that the MLS had launched an investigation into alleged irregularities involving the move. Inter Miami said the 34-year-old, who left Manchester United in June, agreed to a contract that runs until the end of 2027, with an option to extend to June 2029. Casemiro confirmed in January that he and United had mutually decided to part ways after four years. In its statement, Inter Miami said it had obtained Casemiro's discovery rights from LA Galaxy as part of the transfer. Under MLS rules, a club may place up to five players on a discovery list, giving it first option to sign any of them ahead of other league clubs. Galaxy had held that priority over Casemiro, meaning Inter Miami needed to reach an agreement with the Californian club before it could pursue him. Casemiro won five Champions League titles at Real Madrid before joining Manchester United in 2022, going on to help the club lift the League Cup and FA Cup. He has earned 91 caps for Brazil and started all five of Brazil's matches at this year's World Cup before the team's round of 16 exit. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham welcomed the signing, calling Casemiro "a winner who has achieved so much in the game" over his career at Real Madrid and Manchester United. Casemiro himself said in the club's statement: "What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow." MLS said Inter Miami and LA Galaxy had reached a settlement over Casemiro's discovery rights, though the terms of that agreement will not be made public until the tampering investigation concludes. LA Galaxy confirmed the settlement in a statement of its own, saying the terms "will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation currently open with Major League Soccer." MLS said: "The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete," adding, "While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority [first rights] to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation." Under MLS regulations, tampering covers any attempt by a club to negotiate with or make an offer to a player under contract with, or subject to the priority rights of, another club, without league clearance. It is not the first time Inter Miami's transfer dealings have drawn league scrutiny. The club was fined 2 million U.S. dollars in 2021 after MLS found it had breached roster rules in its signing of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, effectively giving the team four "designated players" rather than the permitted three under a rule introduced when Beckham himself joined LA Galaxy in 2007.  

Sam Surridge scored from the penalty spot on Wednesday night as Nashville SC defeated CF Montreal 1-0 to extend its winning streak to five matches. Nashville (12-1-3), which also edged Atlanta United 1-0 on Friday, is now unbeaten in 10 consecutive matches and tops Major League Soccer with 39 points. Surridge converted the penalty in the 68th minute for the game's only goal. The 27-year-old forward has now scored 10 goals in 10 appearances, including six starts, this season. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake made two saves to secure the clean sheet for Nashville. Montreal (4-9-3), which played out a scoreless draw against Toronto last Thursday in its first match after the World Cup break, has now gone five games without a victory. Nashville remains unbeaten at home this season with an 8-0-1 record, while Montreal has struggled on the road, going 1-7-1 away from home.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has cast doubt over his international future after the team's defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He said he would use the aftermath of the loss to consider what comes next. Writing on Instagram after Argentina returned to Buenos Aires on Monday, Martinez spoke of the disappointment of missing out on a second straight World Cup title and questioned whether it was time to step away from the national team. "We dreamed of winning the World Cup again, of bringing the trophy back to Argentina and making history once more," he wrote. "It's hard to put this pain into words. Now it's time to think about many things, about how to move forward. And maybe it's also time to ask whether my moment to step aside has come." Martinez made no attempt to point fingers after the defeat. Instead, he apologized to Argentina supporters, saying he had given everything he could for the team. "I'm truly sorry," he wrote. "I tried to give everything I had to help my country and my teammates." The 33-year-old was one of Argentina's best players during the tournament. In the final, he produced 11 saves but could not keep out Ferran Torres, whose extra-time goal gave Spain a 1-0 victory. Thousands of supporters welcomed the squad home in Buenos Aires despite cold and rainy weather, applauding the players after their run to a second consecutive World Cup final. Martinez made his Argentina debut in a World Cup qualifier against Chile in June 2021 and quickly established himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper. He played a central role in Argentina's Copa América and World Cup triumphs and has become one of the senior figures in Lionel Messi's squad. Martinez stopped short of announcing his retirement, but his comments left open the possibility that the World Cup final could prove to be his last appearance for Argentina.

FIFA has opened an investigation into the scuffle involving players and coaching staff from Spain and Argentina after Sunday's World Cup final. The governing body said it has appointed an investigator under Article 36 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code after reviewing the referee's report. "Following an assessment of the match report from the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, disciplinary proceedings have been opened," FIFA said in a statement. It said the disciplinary committee would decide on the next steps after receiving the investigator's report. Spain beat Argentina to lift the World Cup, but celebrations after the final whistle gave way to a confrontation involving players from both teams and members of Argentina's coaching staff. Videos shared on social media showed Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes arguing with Spain defender Eric Garcia before appearing to punch him, setting off a melee.

Spain's World Cup-winning football team is set to receive a heroes' welcome on Monday as the 26-man squad returns home following its 1-0 victory over defending champion Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The players will be welcomed by King Felipe VI, other members of the Spanish royal family and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before boarding an open-top bus for a victory parade through central Madrid. Thousands of supporters are expected to line the route from near Moncloa Palace, the prime minister's official residence, to Cibeles Square, where a public celebration will be held. The square has traditionally hosted celebrations for Spain's national teams and their supporters. Spain secured only its second men's World Cup title, having previously lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

Spain defender Pedro Porro said he kept a promise to his grandfather by helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday, setting up the extra-time winner that brought a second star home. Substitute Ferran Torres swept the ball into the roof of the net in the 106th minute after Nico Williams had headed Porro's cross back across goal, giving Spain its first world title since 2010. But the moment carried a deeper personal meaning for the Tottenham right-back. "A few days ago my grandfather told me, 'Bring the cup home, son,'" Porro said in the mixed zone. "Today I fulfilled those words. I can't wait to get out of here and call him, because he will be very happy, very emotional and so am I." Porro, one of the revelations of the tournament, admitted he was still struggling to process the achievement. "I don't believe it. I think the first days will pass and I still won't believe it. But I want to thank all the people who have supported us from the first minute. I don't even want to imagine what Spain is like right now." The 26-year-old has spent much of his club career away from the Spanish spotlight, and said reaching the summit of international football felt like a reward for years of quiet work. "I play in the Premier League, I'm outside of Spain, so a lot of people don't see me much. Since I debuted for the national team, it's never been easy to establish myself here. Now life has given this back to me." Porro's message to the nation was one of shared pride, stressing the unity that carried the squad through the tournament together. "This isn't just about the 11 on the pitch, it's about the 26 of us who lived together. I hope Spain feels proud that we have brought a second star home."