Valentín Castellanos is set to join West Ham from Lazio.
As reported earlier, West Ham are interested in signing the Argentine forward. According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal for €29 million has been agreed from Lazio for the Argentine to join West Ham.
Castellanos joined Lazio in 2023 and has scored two goals and provided three assists in 10 league matches.
Guido Rodríguez has been proposed to Juventus in recent days, with the initiative coming from people close to the player. According to Italian journalists Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, the midfielder is fully open to the move and is now waiting to understand whether Juventus intend to proceed.
Rodríguez would represent a low-cost option for Juventus if the club decide to reinforce their midfield without making a major financial investment. As explained by the journalists, Juventus are currently assessing whether to move for a budget-friendly profile like Rodríguez or to pursue a more high-profile signing in that position.
From West Ham United’s perspective, Rodríguez is considered a player who could leave during the January window. The English club are working on reshaping the squad and several players are expected to move on.
At this stage, the situation is entirely in Juventus’ hands. The club will take its time to evaluate its midfield options before making a final decision in the coming days.
Valentín Carboni is expected to leave Inter once again after his loan spell at Genoa, where he struggled to secure regular playing time. According to Italian journalists Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, this scenario had already been anticipated earlier in the season.
Carboni will return to Inter following the interruption of his loan, but not with the intention of remaining in the squad. The plan, as explained by the journalists, is for the Argentine midfielder to be sent out on a new loan in order to gain minutes and continuity during the second half of the campaign.
A return to Argentina is becoming an increasingly concrete possibility. Racing Club have opened talks to sign Carboni on loan and see him as a potential reinforcement for the remainder of the season. Contacts between the parties are ongoing, and Racing are pushing to bring him back to Argentine football.
There is also interest from Italian clubs, including Cagliari, but the overall feeling around the player suggests a preference for returning to Argentina at this stage of his career. The coming days are expected to be decisive in determining whether the move to Racing can be finalized.
Valentín Castellanos is a player to closely monitor during the January transfer window, with growing interest from West Ham United. According to Italian journalists Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, contacts have already taken place between the English club and the player.
Castellanos is open to the possibility of a transfer and is expected to seriously evaluate the option in the coming hours. The Argentine forward would be pleased with a move to London and sees the Premier League as an attractive next step in his career.
At the moment, the Flamengo option is not appealing to the player. While the Brazilian club has shown interest, Castellanos has not shown willingness to return to South American football and remains focused on continuing his career in Europe.
The situation is still developing, and Lazio’s stance will be key in determining whether the deal can progress, with reports suggesting a potential fee around 30 million euros.
The Argentina national team are preparing for a demanding 2026, with the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada as the main objective of the year. The World Cup will not be the only major competition on Argentina’s schedule, as the team will also contest the Finalissima and take part in several FIFA international windows.
Argentina’s first official match of 2026 will be the Finalissima against the Spain national team on Friday, March 27. The match will be played at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Argentina and Spain earned their places in this one-off final as the reigning champions of the Copa América and the UEFA European Championship respectively. No additional friendly has been confirmed for this international window, and given the importance of the match, it is unlikely that another game will be scheduled.
In the first week of June, Argentina will have a FIFA window prior to the World Cup. These matches are traditionally used as farewell games before the tournament. At the moment, the opponents and venues have not been confirmed, and it remains unclear whether the matches will be played on Argentine soil.
The World Cup will begin in mid-June, marking the most important competition of the year for Argentina. The Albiceleste were drawn into Group J and will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stage. Argentina will open the tournament against Algeria in Kansas City, then play Austria in Dallas, and close the group against Jordan at the same venue.
If Argentina finish first in Group J, they will face the second-placed team from Group H, which includes Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde, in the Round of 16 in Miami. Finishing second would mean a matchup against the group winner, while advancing as one of the best third-placed teams would depend on FIFA’s tie-breaking criteria such as points and goal difference.
Argentina will defend the title they won at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The final of the 2026 tournament is scheduled to be played on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in the New York–New Jersey area.
Once the World Cup concludes, Argentina are expected to reunite at the end of September for another FIFA window, which could include up to four friendly matches. However, the most likely scenario is that only two games will be played.
The final FIFA window of 2026 will take place between November 9 and 17 and will also feature two friendly matches. As of now, dates, venues, and opponents for these games have not yet been confirmed.
Confirmed Argentina national team schedule in 2026:
Argentina vs. Spain | Finalissima | March 27 | Lusail Stadium Argentina vs. Algeria | World Cup group stage | June 16 | Kansas City Stadium Argentina vs. Austria | World Cup group stage | June 22 | Dallas Stadium Argentina vs. Jordan | World Cup group stage | June 27 | Dallas Stadium