6:10 AM ET Barcelona and Atletico Madrid discussed a possible swap deal involving Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN. There is a dispute, though, over which club initiated the talks, identified the players involved, and ultimately rejected the idea. – Insider Notebook: Real Madrid stars stunned by Messi exit talk–
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6:34 AM ET ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email Thiago Silva has signed a one-year deal with Chelsea after leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, the club have announced. The Brazil defender ended his time in the French capital after PSG decided not to offer their captain an extension. – Insider Notebook: Real
5:01 AM ET Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey is set miss a large part of the club’s preseason after Jamaican authorities imposed a 14-day quarantine on him after he attended Usain Bolt’s birthday party. Bailey, 23, was present at the party last Friday after which eight-time Olympic gold medalist Bolt tested positive for the coronavirus.
4:42 AM ET Welcome to ESPN’s Insider Notebook, featuring contributions from our reporters across the top leagues around the world. In this edition, there’s reaction from Barcelona’s bitter rivals on Lionel Messi’s shock news. Plus: Sadio Mane could have joined Manchester United … but for Louis van Gaal. Jump to: Mane rejected United over LVG
6:43 PM ET Shaun Reynolds The coronavirus pandemic has made the transfer market uncertain — and you can find out when the windows open and close here — but here are the rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond. Mane stalls on new deal in hopes of Barca move Shock reports in Europe today
7:38 PM ET Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar talked to Lionel Messi over the phone on Thursday about the possibility of the Barcelona captain joining the French club, sources have told ESPN. Messi’s future has become a considerable point of discussion after he shocked Barcelona by telling them he wants to leave on Tuesday. — Lowe:
8:27 PM ET Fans of Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys made their case to sign Lionel Messi on Thursday by taking to the streets of the 33-year-old’s native Rosario as speculation over where the Barcelona star will play next season dominates sports headlines worldwide. A parade of Newell’s fans, mainly in cars due to the
5:49 PM ET Manchester United captain Harry Maguire told the BBC on Thursday that he feared for his life and thought he was being kidnapped as he was arrested by plainclothes police officers following a fracas on the Greek island of Mykonos. – Stream LIVE games, replays on ESPN+ – Don’t have ESPN? Get instant
11:34 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Josep Maria Bartomeu is ready to step down from his role as Barcelona president if Lionel Messi performs a U-turn on his decision to leave the club, sources have told ESPN. However, various sources insist Messi’s decision is firm, so they believe Bartomeu will not need to act
4:31 PM ET Arsenal are confident striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will sign a new contract which would tie him to the club for a “long time,” manager Mikel Arteta said on Thursday. Gabon international Aubameyang, 31, has been Arsenal’s top scorer in each of the past two seasons and has only one year left on his