Christian Ordóñez scored for Parma in their 1-0 win against Bologna.
Ordonez got his first goal for Parma since joining them from Velez. With the score at 0-0 and both teams playing with 10 men, the Argentine’s effort from outside of the penalty area beat the goalkeeper to give Parma the 1-0 lead, five minutes into injury time.
Santiago Castro was substituted in for Parma. Mateo Pellegrino also started the match for Parma while Franco Carboni was substituted into the match.
Lionel Messi scored and assisted for Inter Miami in their 2-2 pre-season draw against Barcelona SC.
Messi got his first goal of pre-season for Inter Miami in their draw in Quito, Ecuador. The Argentine received the ball outside of the penalty area, dribbled towards the defenders and scored to give Inter Miami the 1-0 lead.
Barcelona SC would draw level but Inter Miami would score. Messi would play a pass to Germán Berterame who would score Inter Miami’s second goal of the match before Barcelona SC would draw level.
Taty Castellanos scored for West Ham United in their 2-0 win against Burnley.
Castellanos got his first goal in the Premier League, scoring for West Ham United in their win. With West Ham United leading 1-0, it was a cross inside the penalty area which found Castellanos and the Argentine would score a header to give West Ham the 2-0 lead.
The 27 year old joined West Ham United from Lazio in the January transfer market and has two goals for the club.
With less than two months remaining before the Finalissima against Argentina national football team, Spain’s outlook is far from ideal. A series of significant injuries, lack of continuity among key players, and unanswered questions in crucial positions have created a worrying scenario for the side coached by Luis de la Fuente, who still has several issues to resolve before traveling to Qatar.
One of the most serious setbacks is the injury to Mikel Merino, a player considered central to Spain’s structure. His absence puts his availability for the 2026 World Cup at risk, and his influence goes beyond technical aspects, providing balance, goals, leadership, and tactical flexibility. While optimism remains that he could return in time after surgery, his situation is currently uncertain.
In goal, Spain’s situation is more stable. Unai Simón remains the undisputed starter and team captain. Behind him, the rise of Joan García has added competition to a group that also includes David Raya and Álex Remiro, giving the coaching staff several options to evaluate.
Defensive concerns are more pronounced. At right-back, Dani Carvajal has struggled to regain consistency after another surgery, leaving doubts about his match fitness. Pedro Porro has taken control of the position, while Marcos Llorente has also emerged as an alternative, though not in his natural role.
The center-back position presents the most delicate situation. Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined through injury, Robin Le Normand has lost prominence at club level, and both Dani Vivian and Dean Huijsen are struggling for form. At present, only Pau Cubarsí has maintained regularity. Meanwhile, other names are pushing for consideration, including Eric García, Marc Pubill, Jacobo Ramón, Christian Mosquera—who has confirmed his commitment to Spain—and Yarek Gasiorowski.
In midfield, there is more positive news. Rodri has gradually returned to form after a serious knee injury and has completed full matches in the Premier League. Alongside him, Martín Zubimendi continues to perform at a high level, restoring quality and depth to an area where Spain has multiple options.
Further forward, uncertainty remains. Pedri is aiming to be fit for the Finalissima after overcoming injury issues, while Gavi and Isco are still question marks due to extended periods without regular football. In contrast, players such as Fermín López, Pablo Barrios, and Pablo Fornals are emerging as viable alternatives.
Another concern lies on the wing. Nico Williams has been dealing with ongoing pubis issues that have affected his performances for months. Surgery remains an option, but the timing complicates his chances of being fully fit for the clash against Argentina.
As the Finalissima approaches, Spain faces a dual challenge: recovering key players and clarifying tactical decisions across the pitch. Time is limited, and the margin for error continues to shrink ahead of a high-profile meeting with the reigning world champions led by Lionel Messi.
Cristian Romero is expected to leave Tottenham Hotspur in June, despite being one of the team’s defensive leaders and serving as club captain. According to reports from Argentina, the center-back has attracted interest from clubs in Spain, with Atlético de Madrid currently standing out as a potential next step in his career.
Romero has been a consistent presence at Tottenham and has also contributed at the attacking end, enjoying one of the most productive scoring seasons of his career. His performances have not gone unnoticed, and interest has emerged from La Liga in recent weeks. Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone publicly expressed his admiration for the defender following a heavy defeat suffered by his side at the FIFA Club World Cup, stating his clear desire to work with Romero.
In Spain, media outlets have also linked Romero with Real Madrid, suggesting the club could be willing to make a significant financial offer for the Argentine defender. While figures of up to €100 million have been mentioned, no formal bid has been made so far. Romero has also reportedly received approaches from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Any potential transfer, however, is expected to be complex. Tottenham currently value Romero at around £60 million, and his contract runs until June 2029. In addition, club chairman Daniel Levy is known for taking a firm stance in negotiations, particularly when it comes to key players.
Beyond transfer speculation, Romero has recently voiced his frustration with Tottenham’s leadership. Following a 3–2 defeat against Brentford and a poor run of results, he posted a message on Instagram thanking supporters while criticizing the club’s hierarchy for not speaking out during difficult moments. Several teammates publicly supported his comments.
Days later, after Tottenham recovered from a two-goal deficit against Manchester City, Romero shared another post praising his teammates while again questioning squad depth. He pointed out that the team had only 11 available players and described the situation as unacceptable, before reaffirming his commitment to supporting his teammates and the fans.
From a sporting perspective, Romero is enjoying a standout season offensively. In 27 appearances, he has already recorded six goals and four assists, including a notable overhead kick goal against Newcastle.
