Barcelona players have been showing plenty of love for Raphinha during the post-season as they enjoy their holidays.

Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal have all been spotted wearing Raphinha’s iconic Brazil No. 11 shirt while enjoying their time off.

It’s a massive compliment to Raphinha who enjoyed a stellar campaign last time out as Hansi Flick’s side won the double.

Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal et Fermin Lopez avec le maillot de Raphinha. pic.twitter.com/tlVsiQB8aI

Raphinha scored 34 goals and bagged 22 assists in all competitions last season and was also named La Liga’s Player of the Season.

The Brazilian’s form ensured that Barcelona handed him a new contract at the end of the season which will ensure he remains at the club until 2028.

Raphinha was in Brazil action after the domestic season ended in World Cup qualifying but is now also enjoying some time off before Barcelona are due to return to action next month for pre-season.

Barcablaugranes.com

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla kick-started a dramatic comeback as Real Oviedo won the La Liga 2 play-off final to return to the Spanish top flight after a 24-year absence.

40-year-old Cazorla – who returned to his boyhood club in 2023 – converted a penalty late in the first half of Saturday’s second leg with his side 2-0 down on aggregate to CD Mirandes.

Oviedo levelled the tie in the second half through Ilyas Chaira before Francisco Portillo scored a stunning winner in extra-time to secure promotion.

Cazorla claimed the decisive goal in the play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Cazorla was a product of Oviedo’s academy, but was forced to leave the club in 2003 when financial issues decimated the club’s youth system and saw the first team re-enter in the third tier.

When Oviedo faced another crisis a decade later, Cazorla was one of thousands of fans and former players who purchased shares in the club to keep it alive.

A two-time European champion with Spain, the midfielder spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in 2018.

He suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, going on to have 11 operations to cure the problem.

One of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again, never mind play.

Bbc.com

He spoke ahead of the Club World Cup game against Pachuca

Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, before facing Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois addressed speculation surrounding his future by saying, “I hope I can renew. I’m very happy at Real Madrid, playing here is a dream and every year that passes is another dream. I’m at the club’s complete disposal, they know I want to stay here… and hopefully retire here. But now it’s time to prove myself on the pitch. The rest will be easy to resolve.”

Courtois on how long the team needs to gel
“I can’t give an exact date or number of days. But we’ve been at it for a week now and we’re getting closer and closer to what the coach wants. We’re watching videos, having meetings… and there’s no choice but to go through trial and error, trial and error. Normally, there’s a pre-season with three, four or five matches, but here it’s the opposite. This is starting and we’re already in a tournament. That’s what Xabi said: we have to go out there to win, give it our all and wait.”

Courtois on his comments about Ancelotti’s influence still showing
“I didn’t say it as a criticism. Not at all. We’ve won so much in the last four years! I just meant that now it’s a bit different. But it’s not a criticism, it’s just that there comes a time when you have to adapt to something different, get closer to that style. It’s not a criticism of the last four years, it’s just something different.”

Courtois on his relationship with Dean Huijsen
“We almost always speak Dutch, it just comes naturally. He’s a great centre-back… Also huge in size! You have to get used to playing with him. The first game went well, but all these processes take time. He’s a smart guy and he’ll do well.”

Courtois on Pachuca
“Of course, we played them in December! They’re a great team and they’ve signed Kennedy, who I played with at Chelsea. They’re a great team and they’ll make it difficult.”

Managingmadrid.com