VILA REAL (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Marcelino will not be leading Villarreal next season: the Yellow Submarine has announced that the 60-year-old coach will step down in June. Having arrived in 2023 after a stint at Marseille, Marcelino led the team to a third-place finish in La Liga this season, securing a spot in next season’s Champions League with four matches to spare.

Marcelino previously led Villarreal from 2013 to 2016, leading them back to La Liga and reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey (2015) and Europa League (2016). In his second spell at the Estadio de la Ceramica, he led the club to two consecutive Champions League qualification seasons.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has established itself as one of the best-performing countries in the European Union in terms of public administration, with 56% of citizens reporting satisfaction, according to a Eurobarometer survey.

The percentage, based on 17% “very satisfied” and 39% “satisfied,” places Malta in joint fifth place among EU member states, tied with Latvia. It is preceded only by leading countries such as Luxembourg (75%), Denmark (70%), Estonia (68%), and Belgium (64%).

The survey, conducted in August 2025 among 500 Maltese respondents, shows Malta outperforming several Mediterranean and Southern European countries. Satisfaction levels in Malta significantly exceed those in Greece (40%), Cyprus (29%), Bulgaria (26%), and Italy (13%).

Malta also ranks third in the EU for the share of “very satisfied” citizens, while maintaining a relatively low dissatisfaction rate of 16%, with only 5% reporting “very dissatisfied.”

One of the key strengths identified is the predictability of its administrative processes. Malta ranks first in the EU for citizens reporting minimal need for unexpected additional contact when interacting with public services. Approximately 65% ​​said additional contact is only occasionally necessary, citing clear and efficient procedures.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has promised that the next parliamentary term will revitalize the pending media reform package. Abela defended his government’s work, while acknowledging delays and a complex legislative process. The proposed measures—including tougher penalties for attacks on journalists and measures to reduce the cost of defamation lawsuits—would already be in place if the process had continued.

He also emphasized that Malta has nevertheless adopted key elements, including the European Union’s anti-SLAPP rules to protect journalists from abusive lawsuits. Looking ahead, Abela confirmed that the package will be resubmitted, but indicated a shift in strategy toward faster adoption and fewer drawn-out consultations. He added that the government’s legislative agenda will depend on voter support as the country enters the midst of the election campaign.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s longtime manager, was taken to hospital after falling ill at Old Trafford shortly before the Premier League match between the Red Devils and Liverpool. BBC Sport reports that the hospitalization was a precautionary measure and not an emergency. Ferguson, 84, who spent 27 years in charge of United and suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2018, is a regular at his old team’s games and was photographed with guests at the stadium a few hours before kick-off. However, there is some optimism within the Manchester club regarding the former manager’s condition, and he could be discharged soon.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The government has unveiled plans for a third electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily, as part of a national energy strategy set for public consultation this week during the electoral campaign. The proposed link, known as IC3, will connect to Sicily’s higher-capacity 380kV transmission network, unlike the existing and planned interconnectors that use the 220kV grid. Officials say this change will diversify Malta’s energy sources and reduce vulnerability to disruptions. IC3 is designed to initially carry 200MW, with the option to expand to 400MW without major new infrastructure. It will also operate bidirectionally, enabling Malta to both import electricity and export renewable energy when conditions permit. The project has been included in the European network development plan for 2026, a step towards qualifying for EU funding. Technical and environmental studies are expected to begin in Malta and Italy to determine cable routes and infrastructure locations. Prime Minister Robert Abela said the initiative builds on reforms since 2013, when Malta shifted from heavy fuel oil to gas and invested in its first interconnector. He described the new plan as a move towards a more secure and cleaner energy sector. The broader strategy outlines five priorities: affordability, security of supply, sustainability, diversification, and consumer focus. It aims to reduce carbon dependence while maintaining stable energy prices. The plan also emphasizes offshore renewable projects, including a proposed 300MW floating wind farm, and continued investment in energy efficiency, transport electrification, and cleaner infrastructure.
(ITALPRESS).
photo: Doi

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Rumors about the bench, a rift with Ceballos, and the risk of having to go to Camp Nou next week to pay tribute to Barcelona as already crowned champions. It’s far from a calm eve for Real Madrid, who face Espanyol tomorrow: if the Blaugrana win today, a defeat for Los Blancos would mathematically seal the La Liga title race. And on Sunday, May 10, Real would find themselves at Camp Nou having to perform the traditional “pasillo” (guard of honour) for their eternal rivals.

That’s why a win tomorrow is needed, “but that’s not my main motivation. My motivation is to get the three points, it’s what we need,” said Álvaro Arbeloa bluntly. He is unlikely to remain on the bench much longer, with the shadow of Mourinho looming. “I’m focused on tomorrow’s match. The future is tomorrow. Every game is my life.”

Another delicate issue involves Ceballos, with whom there was reportedly a tense exchange in recent days. “I don’t discuss situations with my players in public. I entered this dressing room more than 20 years ago, and the first thing I learned is that what happens there stays there. It has always been like that and will continue to be.”

Arbeloa was also asked whether this Real Madrid side lacks leadership. “I’m not disappointed with my players; on the contrary, I always defend them publicly. On the other hand, we are a very young team. There have certainly been situations we need to manage better, but a young squad can have these growing pains. Still, there are already leaders here and players with strong personalities.”

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – PSG and Bayern? Excellent teams, but playing in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga helps. Mikel Arteta, whose Arsenal drew in Madrid against Atletico in the other first-leg Champions League semifinal, returned to discuss the spectacular clash at the Parc des Princes, emphasizing that “to express that much quality you need to be very fresh, and the difference between the leagues and the way competition works is like night and day. Just look at many statistics on the matter. We are comparing two different worlds,” said the Spanish coach, comparing Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga on one side with the Premier League and La Liga on the other.

After all, the Gunners’ starting eleven have accumulated 32,508 minutes this season, more than Atletico (31,701 minutes), Bayern (31,522), and PSG (29,968), with the latter two playing in leagues with 34 matchdays compared to the 38 in England and Spain. “If we consider the quality of the two teams, and especially the individual quality of the players, I have never seen anything like it,” Arteta added. “But when I look at the number of minutes and the freshness of those players, I’m not surprised.”

That’s why some help from the Premier League regarding the schedule wouldn’t hurt: “If they could do it, it would be fantastic.”

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – His first season with Juventus was a flop, and Juve will still have to buy him for €40 million, but the Premier League could offer him a chance to redeem himself. Lois Openda hasn’t been convincing in Turin, but his performances in previous seasons at Leipzig still give him a chance to spend.

Leeds are interested in the 26-year-old Belgian, but according to “Sport Witness,” Coventry City, fresh from promotion to the Premier League, are reportedly making moves: manager Frank Lampard is a big fan of Openda, and a loan with an option to buy could be the solution everyone agrees on.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Real Madrid is without Dani Carvajal. The defender, the club announced, has suffered “a fracture of the distal phalanx of the fifth toe in his right foot.”

His recovery time has not been disclosed, but according to Spanish media, he will be out for at least a couple of weeks. He will certainly miss the matches against Espanyol, Barcelona, ​​and Real Oviedo, but he could be fit enough for the match against Sevilla or, in the worst-case scenario, the final league match against Athletic Bilbao, which could also be his last match for Real Madrid.

Carvajal, who has played little this season (885 minutes in total in La Liga), is out of contract in June.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LISBON (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – “I can guarantee that no one from Real Madrid has contacted me. I’ve been in football for many years, we’re used to these things. I’m only concerned with giving my all; I care more about the club and the players than about myself.” José Mourinho thus deflects transfer market questions about himself. His name has been persistently linked with the Real Madrid bench for next season, a return that would be sensational.

However, reports from Spain indicate that Benfica wants to keep the Special One and have already scheduled a meeting for next week to discuss a renewal.

“I can’t say anything in advance. I’ve already said that, regarding Real Madrid, there’s nothing. And as for Benfica, you know the situation: I have one year left on my contract with Benfica, and that’s it,” the Portuguese coach cut short.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews