Mourinho denies Real Madrid contact

Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui featured in Morocco's 1-1 draw against Brazil at the MetLife Stadium in the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first Roma player to debut in the tournament. He was satisfied with his team's performance despite the challenging match. "For the content of the game, I think we played the match we wanted to play. We are satisfied with the performance and now we are focused on Scotland," he said in the post-match zone. El Aynaoui spoke positively about his midfield partnership with Ayoub El Kaabi, noting their understanding both on and off the pitch. The midfielder addressed his future at Roma directly, confirming his commitment to the club ahead of the new season. "I am doing well at Roma, very well. Will I stay? Yes, of course," he stated. Looking ahead, El Aynaoui and Morocco are now preparing for their next World Cup fixture against Scotland, shifting focus from their opening match against Brazil. He expressed confidence in the squad's ability to compete at the highest level: "We know we can play matches of this level. We are convinced that this squad has the qualities to do great things in the tournament."

Manu Koné, Roma's midfielder, addressed his immediate future while on France national team duty ahead of the nation's World Cup 2026 opener against Senegal on Tuesday. When asked about reported interest from Inter, Koné stated: "Sincerely at this moment I think only about the World Cup. It's my first big international competition, a tournament I've always dreamed of playing in. I want to stay focused exclusively on this. We'll talk about the future after the World Cup and we'll see what happens." Koné's final months at Roma were disrupted by two hamstring injuries that affected his season. Despite these setbacks, he expressed confidence in his recovery and his ability to contribute for France. He emphasized his readiness to serve the team when called upon, noting that he featured regularly during qualifying. The midfielder reflected on his journey with pride, recalling watching France's 2022 final campaign from Germany while playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach at that time. Regarding the Senegal match, Koné stressed France's preparation and intentions: "We've prepared well. We've played two friendlies that will be useful to us in the future. We're adapting to the heat and I hope we'll be ready against Senegal to start well in the competition. It's the first match and we must win it to get off on the right foot."

Donyell Malen has spoken about his approach to handling criticism in football, ahead of his first World Cup with the Netherlands. The Roma attacker will face Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia in the tournament. In an interview with Men's Health, Malen reflected on the nature of professional football, saying: "In football, if you score you're a hero. If you don't touch the ball or miss a goal, you immediately come under fire from criticism. I talk a lot with my wife and the people closest to me: they are the only opinions that can really hurt me. Everything else I let slide off me. And then, when things don't go well, often I'm the first to notice." Malen explained that expectations from supporters reflect their appreciation. He emphasized that he trusts the counsel of his inner circle rather than external judgment, and maintains self-awareness about his own performances. On the World Cup, Malen expressed the significance of the tournament: "It's something you dream about as a kid. Wearing this shirt is a source of pride." The attacker is preparing for what represents a major milestone in his international career with the Dutch national team.