MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Saudi Arabia will not be played in 2027, and the event will be postponed to 2028. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced that next year’s Super Cup will be held in Istanbul from February 2 to 7, rather than in Saudi Arabia as in recent editions, as the Asian Cup is scheduled for that period.

The final four, as usual, will pit Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad against league runners-up Real Madrid in the semifinals. The other semifinal will feature Spanish champions Barcelona and the Spanish Cup finalist, Atlético Madrid.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Jeremy Doku and Manchester City are reunited. The English club has officially announced the contract renewal of the Belgian winger, who has extended his deal with the Citizens until the summer of 2031. Having arrived at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2023 from Rennes, Doku has established himself as one of the most talented and unpredictable wingers in the Premier League.

At 24, the Belgian has already made 131 appearances and scored 22 goals for City, appearing primarily on the left flank but also on the right and, on occasion, in a more central position. During his time in Manchester, he has contributed to five trophies: a Premier League, an FA Cup, a Carabao Cup, a Club World Cup, and a Community Shield.

Doku is also a key member of the Belgian national team, having made 48 appearances. At the last World Cup, he helped Belgium reach the quarterfinals. After signing his new contract, the winger expressed his satisfaction, also emphasizing his enthusiasm for the start of Enzo Maresca’s new era: “I‘ve loved my time at City so far, so having the opportunity to stay longer is a fantastic feeling. This club means so much to me: I’ve grown both as a player and as a person. I feel at home and I know I’m improving every day thanks to the hard work of the staff.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Zlatko Dalic is back on track, and he’s doing so again as a national team coach. After his time with Croatia, where he reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third four years later in Qatar, ended with elimination by Portugal in the Americas, the 59-year-old coach has been named the new head coach of the United Arab Emirates.

This isn’t a new environment for Dalic, who won the local championship in 2015 with Al Ain. The Croatian coach, who replaces Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu, will make his debut at the Gulf Cup of Nations, scheduled for September 23 to October 6 in Jeddah.

The UAE is in Group B with Bahrain, Qatar, and Yemen. Their main objective, however, remains the Asian Cup, which will be played in Saudi Arabia in early 2027.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Manchester City is sending a clear message to Barcelona: Rodri will only leave on his terms. According to English media, at the Etihad, they have rejected the Blaugrana’s latest offer of €60 million plus €10 million in bonuses, reiterating that the Spanish midfielder, even though his contract expires next June, will only leave for €80 million.

After all, the City need that money to pursue Enzo Fernandez, the Argentine midfielder from Chelsea identified as Rodri’s ideal replacement. Barcelona, ​​however, are not giving up hope, also strengthened by the player’s determination, and according to the Catalan press, a new offer will be presented that could even closer to City’s demands, namely €65 million plus €10 million in bonuses, €5 million of which are tied to easily achievable objectives.

The next few hours could be crucial: Rodri is expected to return from vacation tomorrow but hopes to travel directly to Barcelona to begin his new adventure.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Xavi Hernández is officially the new coach of the Netherlands men’s national team. The 46-year-old Spanish coach succeeds Ronald Koeman. Xavi has reached an agreement with the Dutch Football Federation for a contract until 2030, the year of the World Cup.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – Public authorities have taken all necessary measures to counter any attempt at illegal crossing to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla and to intercept anyone seeking to participate in it, said Interior Ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi on Wednesday in Rabat.

In a statement to the press regarding the calls related to August 15, 2026, El Khalfi specified that the Ministry of the Interior has detected, during the last few days, the circulation of anonymous publications and messages on certain social networks inciting the organization of attempts at collective and illegal crossing to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, practices which carry serious risks to the safety of people and aim to instrumentalize migration issues in acts of incitement, which are criminalized by law.

In response to these calls, the Ministry of the Interior assures that the public authorities are closely monitoring the situation, knowing that all necessary measures have been taken to counter any attempt at illegal crossing and to intercept any person seeking to participate in it, while initiating the required legal procedures against any person whose involvement in acts contrary to the law is proven, including those who spread such calls on social networks, it continued.

In this context, El Khalfi added, the authorities have arrested a group of individuals suspected of being involved in acts of incitement, noting that they have been subjected to the judicial investigation procedure under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office.

The ministry emphasizes that the operational readiness of the security services is not linked to a specific circumstance, but rather is part of a continuous monitoring system, particularly in areas near the crossings of Ceuta and Melilla, a system which is constantly reinforced and adapted according to the evolution of the situation and the nature of the risks identified.

The ministry reaffirms that the fight against irregular migration is being carried out in compliance with the law and the protection of the safety of persons and calls on everyone to be vigilant and responsible and not to be led astray by such suspicious and false appeals which could endanger people’s lives, it noted.

He went on to say that the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking networks cannot depend on the efforts of one party alone, but requires that the various parties assume their responsibilities and honor their commitments, within the framework of shared responsibility.

In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior calls on the Spanish authorities, within the framework of the coordination and cooperation linking the two countries, to assume their responsibilities and accelerate the return process of unaccompanied minors who are in the city of Ceuta to their families in Morocco, in order to preserve their interests while working to overcome the administrative and judicial obstacles preventing their return as soon as possible.

Recognizing that the fight against the challenges related to irregular migration is a shared responsibility, which requires effective and balanced cooperation, as well as a commitment from all parties, and in view of the results and positive effects of the immediate return mechanism, the ministry reaffirms the central importance of this mechanism, whose previous experiences have demonstrated its effectiveness and effective contribution to meeting the challenges posed and strengthening interventions on the ground, it argued.

The Ministry of the Interior affirms that the Moroccan authorities will continue to fulfill their obligations firmly and responsibly, in order to guarantee the protection of public order as well as the safety of persons and property, and to combat irregular migration and human trafficking networks, while maintaining a high level of vigilance, operationality and permanent coordination, in order to deal with the various risks, and this in strict compliance with the provisions of the law, El Khalfi concluded.

-Photo MAP-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – While waiting to reach an agreement with Barcelona for Rodri—the Catalans have offered as much as €60 million, but that’s not enough—Manchester City is already searching for an heir. According to the Guardian, the identified candidate is Enzo Fernandez, a 25-year-old Argentine midfielder known to Enzo Maresca for having coached him at Chelsea and with whom he shared success in the Champions League and Club World Cup.

The Blues, however, are aiming high, €140 million, even if that figure includes bonuses. At the Etihad, however, they’re not giving up—Chelsea have reportedly already made inquiries with Bournemouth about Alex Scott as the Argentine’s replacement—and if Fernandez’s arrival materializes, another departure cannot be ruled out: the leading candidate is former AC Milan player Tijjani Reijnders.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “I convinced him because I told him what I think. I believe he’s a player who has always been a leader at big teams. I think that here, in a rebuilding phase where we can build something lasting in Europe’s toughest league, he can carve out a role as a leader. He was when I watched Brescia, whom I support: already at 18, he was playing for a veteran. Tottenham and I could offer him this more than other teams.“ This was Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi’s comment on Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder joined Tottenham this summer from Newcastle.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares praised Morocco’s “essential cooperation” in managing the migration events that took place in Ceuta on July 30, highlighting Rabat’s full readiness to facilitate the return of individuals who had entered the city irregularly.

During a visit to Ceuta, where he met with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, Albares assured that Spain would ensure that “every single person” who entered irregularly is returned to Morocco. According to Spain’s top diplomat, Rabat demonstrated total willingness from the outset to proceed with immediate returns, without imposing any conditions.

“From the very first moment, Morocco was in favor of immediate returns. It asked for nothing in return,” Albares emphasized, noting that the Moroccan stance stands in stark contrast to the difficulties European countries frequently face when countries of origin fail to cooperate with repatriation procedures.

The Spanish minister also ruled out any Moroccan responsibility for the arrivals recorded in Ceuta, instead stressing the decisive role played by the Kingdom in managing the situation and in the return of the individuals who had managed to reach the city.

Albares attributed a significant portion of the events to misinformation circulating on social media—specifically, a misinterpretation of a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling regarding individuals reaching Spanish territory by sea. False information reportedly fueled the belief that anyone managing to swim into Ceuta could not be immediately repatriated.

“Those who enter Ceuta or Melilla illegally must know that they will be sent back. No court ruling—distorted as it may be on social media—has changed our position,” Albares reiterated, urging potential migrants not to risk “their lives, their money, and their futures on an adventure doomed to failure.”

Madrid aims to send a deterrent message, particularly in light of a possible new mobilization announced on social media for Saturday, August 15. The minister stated that the Spanish government and the European Commission are working with digital platforms to counter the spread of false content that could encourage further attempts to enter.
For their part, Moroccan authorities indicated that approximately 40,000 people were involved in attempts to cross into Ceuta, while 1,135 tried to reach Melilla. Rabat also reported that everyone who managed to reach Melilla was immediately sent back.
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According to Moroccan authorities, the events stem from a combination of factors: misinformation on social media, the activities of human trafficking networks, and a misinterpretation of recent Spanish judicial rulings.

Finally, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close cooperation with Spain, both to facilitate returns and to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Flight cancellations continued at Malta International Airport on Wednesday morning as an ash cloud from Sicily’s Mount Etna drifted into the flight path to Malta.

Nineteen flights were cancelled on Tuesday, causing disruption for passengers travelling to and from the island.

Among Wednesday morning’s cancellations were a Swiss/KM Malta Airlines flight to Zurich and a Jet2.com service to Edinburgh. Transavia also cancelled an afternoon flight due to arrive from Paris Orly.

Several other flights were delayed as aircraft altered their usual routes to avoid the ash cloud. One pilot reported that the cloud was clearly visible from high altitude.

Some aircraft have been approaching Malta from a more westerly direction and at a lower altitude than usual.

Malta International Airport advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.

The airport said passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being guided by ground handlers towards alternative arrangements before entering the departures lounge.

Mount Etna, about 220 kilometres north of Malta, is Europe’s most active volcano. Its ash clouds have occasionally forced aircraft travelling to and from Malta to alter course, although a direct impact on Malta airport operations is rare.

Catania Airport, just a few kilometres from Etna, has been forced to close several times in recent weeks, with flights cancelled or diverted to Palermo.

The disruption also affected local festivities. Attard’s Soċjeta Mużikali la Stella Levantina postponed a planned fireworks display on Tuesday because of the ash cloud and airport restrictions.

The society said the fireworks site is close to the runway approach and that, after consulting authorities, it decided to postpone the display while restrictions remain in place.

– photo Maltese Islands Weather –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews