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Roma are determined to add a prolific striker this summer and have revived their pursuit of Youssef En-Nesyri. He has been on their radar since early in the summer and also in previous windows, Gianluca Di Marzio relays.
The Giallorossi face competition from Fenerbahçe, led by their former coach José Mourinho, and the ambitious Al Qadsiah. They have already swayed Real Madrid’s Nacho. The Saudi team is preparing a particularly lucrative offer.
Sevilla want €20M for En-Nesyri, which could be feasible for Roma. They will leave the choice entirely up to the player. He’s likely to depart since there’s just a year left on his contract. He has posted 20 goals and 3 assists in 41 matches in 2024/2025, one of his most prolific campaigns.
The 27-year-old has been in Andalusia since 2020 after starting his career at Malaga and Leganes. He has racked up 196 appearances, hitting the net on 73 occasions. He has 73 caps and 20 goals with Morocco under his belt. The marksman has contributed to winning the Europa League twice.
The Giallorossi, which are trying to offload Tammy Abraham, have also been linked to Villarreal’s Alexander Sorloth, who’s more expensive, and Metz’s George Mikautadze.
Our Take on Roma and En-Nesyri
It looks like they aim to land a sure thing to lead their attack rather than rolling the dice with a youngster with potential. It’s somewhat understandable even though not particularly juicy. It remains to be seen whether a strong no.9 and a top winger are mutually exclusive economically speaking.
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Gonzalo García Named Real Madrid’s New Number 9: Why He’s Edged Out Endrick for the Role
In a decision that’s caught many by surprise but makes complete sense to those following closely, Real Madrid have officially handed their famous number 9 shirt to Gonzalo García, a homegrown talent who’s quietly risen through the ranks. While fans expected Brazilian wonderkid Endrick to step into that role, it’s the boy from Madrid who’s earned the trust of the coaching staff and sealed his place in the starting lineup. This is more than just a shirt number. It’s a symbol of belief, faith, and the direction Madrid wants to go with their next generation of stars. Gonzalo García: From Castilla Hero to Club World Cup García’s journey hasn’t been one splashed across headlines, until now. After spending a brief period away at Mallorca, the forward returned to Madrid and lit up Castilla with a phenomenal 2024–25 campaign. He bagged 25 goals, equalling Mariano Díaz’s single-season record for Real Madrid B. Even that didn’t fully prepare fans for what was to come. His big break arrived during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament where he wasn’t even expected to feature much. With Mbappé out due to illness and Endrick sidelined with a hamstring issue, García was thrown into the deep end, and he swam. He scored against Al-Hilal, set up a goal against Pachuca, and found the net again versus Salzburg, Juventus, and Dortmund. By the end of the tournament, he had clinched the Golden Boot, finishing as the top scorer. It wasn’t just the goals, it was the maturity, the link-up play, the composure under pressure. He looked like a player born to wear white. Why García Fits the Number 9 Role Perfectly When Mbappé took over the number 10 shirt following Luka Modrić’s departure, the number 9 was up for grabs. Madrid didn’t take this decision lightly. Internally, there was a lot of thought about whether both García and Endrick could coexist and thrive. The club ultimately decided that having both players fighting for the same position might hold them back and that’s where García’s consistency gave him the edge. Club officials, including new manager Xabi Alonso, were reportedly swayed by García’s strong Club World Cup showing and his day-to-day professionalism in training. He wasn’t just in form, he was ready. In today’s Madrid, where the emphasis is on performance over hype, it was refreshing to see a player from La Fábrica get rewarded purely on merit. The Endrick Situation Let’s be clear, Endrick is still a sensational talent. The Brazilian teenager joined Madrid in 2024 amidst massive expectations and didn’t disappoint. He scored on his La Liga debut, showed flashes of brilliance, and looked like a future star. Timing matters. Unfortunately, an untimely injury and a lack of minutes in the business end of the season hindered his momentum. Madrid had even lined up a loan deal to Real Sociedad, a move that would’ve guaranteed him regular playing time, but both Endrick and the club eventually backed out. Madrid wanted clarity and structure in their attack heading into the 2025–26 season. García was already playing, already scoring, and already winning. Endrick, despite his immense potential, simply wasn’t in the same rhythm. This isn’t the end of the road for Endrick at Real Madrid, not even close. But for now, he’ll have to fight his way back, possibly from a deeper role or even a temporary move elsewhere. What This Means for Madrid’s Attack and the Season Ahead For Gonzalo García, this is a dream realized. He’s gone from Castilla standout to starting striker at the biggest club in the world, and the number 9 on his back is proof that the club sees him as part of their immediate and long-term future. He reportedly turned down interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, to stay at Madrid and fight for his place. That loyalty, and his performances, have paid off. For Endrick, this is a challenge. The club’s philosophy of not crowding one position means he’ll have to adapt, wait for his chance, or consider a short-term move where he can play regularly and keep growing. For Real Madrid, this is a moment of evolution. With Mbappé wearing 10, Vinícius still electric out wide, and young names like Mastantuono emerging, this team is being shaped to dominate for the next decade. Final Thoughts Handing the number 9 shirt to Gonzalo García is a message to the football world that at Real Madrid, performance trumps potential. While Endrick remains a massive part of the club’s future, García is the man for the now. He’s earned it, not with flashy headlines, but with goals, grit, and growth. And if his Club World Cup form is anything to go by, Madrid fans might just be watching the rise of their next homegrown legend.
NFL, ESPN agree to two expansive non-binding agreements
Despite the day belonging to ESPN and its reporters, it was Mark Maske of The Washington Post who broke the news first. Per Maske, the NFL and Disney-owned ESPN have completed the long-rumored deal, giving ESPN NFL Network and certain other media assets (including RedZone and NFL Fantasy) in exchange for 10% equity stake in ESPN. The second non-binding agreement, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, sees the NFL license to ESPN certain NFL content and intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets. “Today’s announcement paves the way for the world’s leading sports media brand and America’s most popular sport to deliver an even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,” CEO of The Walt Disney Company Roger Iger said in a statement released by ESPN’s Lily Blum. He continued, “Commissioner (Roger Goodell) and the NFL have built outstanding media assets, and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth and value proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.” Given ESPN’s streaming abilities — through multiple streaming apps such as ESPN Watch, ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — the agreements should make available lots of content exclusive to the NFL and NFL Network available in multiple formats in addition to the usual cable and satellite option. The statement also cites an additional platform in what they’re calling “ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service.” While YouTube TV still owns the rights to air NFL Sunday Ticket and ABC/ESPN/Disney/NFL Network, FOX, CBS/Paramount/Nickelodeon, NBC/Peacock, Amazon and Netflix all have individual rights to air certain games, ESPN gets “broad rights to the RedZone brand and will distribute the NFL RedZone Channel to pay TV operators for continued inclusion into their sports packages.” Though ESPN gets broad rights to the brand and TV distribution rights, the NFL will continue to own, operate and produce NFL RedZone and retain the rights to distribute it digitally. ESPN’s platforms will now license an additional three NFL games per season (all to air on NFL Network) and will adjust its overall NFL game schedule with four games shifting to NFL Network, as well. The league will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses such as NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel and the official sites for all 32 teams. The two parties’ fantasy applications, NFL Fantasy Football and ESPN Fantasy Football, will merge, “creating the official Fantasy season-long game of the NFL and one best-in-class digital experience.” While much of the news is being presented by the parties involved as a shiny new present for NFL fans, there are some perceived negatives to the agreements. While Iger calls the transactions additions “to consumer choice,” in reality this is a step closer to a monopoly. At the moment, existing contracts keep the NFL readily available from several different streamers and television channels, but when those contracts expire, how willing will the NFL be to dole out games to networks other than the one it has a 10% stake in? ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio offered his usual candor in a making another relevant point about ESPN’s reporting responsibilities. When issues such as the ownership collusion case we’ve seen this summer break the NFL news circuit, how critical will ESPN be towards its minority owner? Ultimately, the transactions are still subject to the parties’ negotiation of definitive agreements, various approvals (including those of NFL team owners and federal regulators) and customary closing conditions. There’s still quite a ways to go, but Tuesday’s agreement gives a peek into what the NFL media future will look like.
Kevin Love reportedly has preferred buyout destination
Kevin Love is eyeing a return to his roots. The five-time NBA All-Star big man Love has a preferred destination on the buyout market, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Tuesday. Love would like to end up in Los Angeles. Now 36 years old, Love spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Miami Heat. He averaged just 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds over 10.9 minutes per game in 2024-25 but still managed to shoot 35.8 percent from three on the year. Earlier this summer however, the Heat traded Love to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team blockbuster deal. Now Love, a 17-year NBA veteran, is pursuing a contract buyout from the rebuilding Jazz. Though he is a native of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Love played his college ball in Los Angeles at UCLA. He also has ties to both L.A. teams — he won an NBA championship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and was also coached on that team by Tyronn Lue, who is now head coach of the L.A. Clippers. Both the Lakers and Clippers are currently sitting at 14 guaranteed contracts each. While they still have spots for two-way and Exhibit 10 players, that means the Lakers and Clippers are both down to their final open roster spot. The ex-rebounding leader Love still has some value, though probably more so as a jokester than as a contributing rotation piece. While Love clearly wants a homecoming to Los Angeles, he may have some convincing to do for either the Lakers or the Clippers to give him that final open roster spot.
Calls Mount for Aaron Boone to Be Fired After Fifth Straight Yankees Loss
The New York Yankees continue to play like one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball. Despite their American League, MVP candidate, Aaron Judge, being reinstated from the injured list on Tuesday, the Yankees struggled mightily -- again. The Yankees took on the Texas rangers in the second game of a three-game-series, on the road. Judge was slotted into the No. 3 slot in the batting order, as the designated hitter, and Will Warren took the mound against the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi. Warren was solid, giving up just three hits and issuing three walks while striking out five batters in five innings pitched. Trade deadline acquisition, Camilo Doval, and Luke Weaver held down the bullpen, keeping this game scoreless as it headed into the eighth inning. Then, Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, did the inexplicable. He brought struggling reliever, Devin Williams, into a 0-0 game, despite blowing two consecutive saves and giving up earned runs in three consecutive appearances. In the least surprising outcome ever, Williams loaded the bases before giving up a two-run single to Rowdy Tellez. The Yankees freefall continues, as they have an 18-29 record since June 12. The only team in the AL with a worse record over that timeframe is the Minnesota Twins (16-29). With the frustration seemingly at an All-Time high amongst Yankees fans, they've descended upon social media, and calls are mounting for Boone to be fired. Within minutes of the 2-0 Rangers win over the Yankees going final on Tuesday night, "Aaron Boone" and "Devin Williams" were both trending on X. And "#FireBoone" was popping up everywhere. The Yankees got just two hits on Tuesday and have scored just eight runs over their past four games. To make matters worse, recent trade deadline acquisition, reliever, Jake Bird, was sent down to the Minors prior to Tuesday's game. The Yankees traded away two prospects in exchange for Bird. Time will tell if the Yankees front office will make a change at manager by firing Boone, but it is apparent that Yankees fans overwhelmingly want to see that transpire. The Yankees next game comes on Wednesday afternoon, against the Rangers, when Carlos Rodon will take the mound against Jack Leiter. First pitch is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. EDT.
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