There were, however, no eye-catching major deals in the final 24 hours of transfer activity for European clubs which continues the trend of recent January windows.
Real Madrid will not take any risk in rushing forward Gareth Bale back from injury and the Wales international will only return when he is ready, manager Zinedine Zidane said. Bale has not played since Jan. 17 after damaging a calf muscle in a La Liga match against Sporting Gijon. Spanish media have reported that Bale, whose Real career has been blighted by a succession of injuries, suffered a setback in his recovery. Zidane said Real needed to be "calm" about an injury that has been "going on for a bit more time for him". "If he's uncomfortable and it hurts him, it's normal that he could have a setback," Zidane told a news conference on Friday. "He's a very important player for us and we're not going to take any risks. We want him at 100 percent, not at 80 or 85." Zidane said Bale was "in good spirits" although he is set to miss at least the first leg of Real's Champions League last-16 clash with AS Roma in Italy on Wednesday.
Juventus have completed the signing of Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid returned to winning ways after two defeats, making light of playing most of the second half with 10 men to triumph 3-0 at home to mid-table Espanyol on Saturday.
The Euro 2016 has come to an end with Portugal defeating hosts France on Sunday to lift their biggest football title. UEFA, the organising body of European Championships has now revealed the Team of the Tournament for Euro 2016. Four Portugal players, three Germans and two each from France and Wales have made this team, which is selected by a 13-strong panel of technical observers also including legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 2-1 home defeat by Leganes on Wednesday to exit the King's Cup at the quarter-final stage on away goals.
Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his apology to teammates for his controversial remark that the club would be at the top of La Liga if every player was on his level.
France midfielder Paul Pogba is to undergo a medical at Manchester United ahead of a transfer from Serie A champions Juventus, the English Premier League club said on Sunday. United have been widely reported as being prepared to pay a world record fee of 120 million euros (101.78 million) for the 23-year-old who joined Juventus on a free transfer from the Old Trafford club in 2012. "Paul Pogba has been granted permission to have a medical in order to finalise his transfer from Juventus to Manchester United," said the statement.
Meanwhile, Real Mallorca made a dream return to La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Eibar at the Estadi Son Moix on Saturday, less than two months after sealing back-to-back promotions to rejoin Spain's soccer elite.
Colombia's James Rodriquez is once again looking to showcase his skills at the showpiece event and remind the world of his talent.
Chris Coleman's team, featuring in a major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World Cup, exceeded all expectations by reaching the semi-finals in France before being knocked out by Portugal.
Gijon spoiled Asier Illarramendi's return to Real Sociedad's midfield after rejoining from Real Madrid this week when they held the Basque club, coached by Scot David Moyes, to a 0-0 draw in San Sebastian.
Real Madrid have exonerated Argentina winger Angel Di Maria over an incident in Monday's La Liga game at home to Celta Vigo when he was caught on camera grabbing his crotch while being substituted.
England will beat Wales in their Euro 2016 Group B clash in Lens on Thursday if they match the team spirit of Chris Coleman's side, according to former captain David Beckham. Wales top the group after their 2-1 victory over Slovakia at the weekend while England were held 1-1 by Russia in Marseille. "It's a big game," Beckham said in a BBC interview.
Real Madrid wasted a chance to keep the pressure on the top two in La Liga with a 2-2 draw away to Osasuna where Sergio Ramos was sent off and record signing Gareth Bale substituted.
Belgium will boast the most valuable squad at Euro 2016, with their 23 players worth over 50 million pounds ($72.54 million) more than world champions Germany, according to a study. Marc Wilmots's squad are worth 318.9 million pounds, according to an analysis by bookmakers Profit Accumulator, which looked at the most recent transfer fees paid for the 23 players representing each nation at the tournament in France. That puts Belgium well ahead of the next most valuable squads from Germany (264.5 million), England (189.7m) and France (183m). Belgium's squad have an average transfer fee of 13.9 million pounds, with Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne topping the list having joined the English club for 55 million.
Santiago Solari got off to the perfect start as Real Madrid's interim coach when his side thrashed Melilla 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Real Madrid can bury Atletico's hopes of winning La Liga with a third straight victory against their city neighbours on Sunday that would leave the capital's second club trailing by six points.
Russian made amends for their opening loss to Belgium as the group remains wide open.
Manchester City move a step closer to the Premier League title after a game in which both sides finished with 10 men.
Both sides had shots cleared off the line but Real were left feeling more disappointed after winning the tactical battle but failing to take their chances.
A summary of the Euro 2016 qualifying group matches, played on Friday.
Juventus shattered Real Madrid's dream of a record-extending 11th European crown when Alvaro Morata scored against his former club to secure a 1-1 Champions League draw with the holders on Wednesday and send Juve into the final 3-2 on aggregate.
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off as leaders Real Madrid beat Cordoba 2-1 in La Liga on Saturday thanks to late Gareth Bale penalty.
New coach Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with rebuilding the side following the Portugal forward's departure and the early signs are good, with Real already looking more of a unit than a collection of individuals.
Real Madrid got their Champions League title defence off to a strong start on Wednesday by convincingly beating AS Roma 3-0 at home with goals from Isco, Gareth Bale and a stoppage-time strike from returning striker Mariano Diaz.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas said the club could fine forward Gareth Bale for failing to attend training ahead of an expected world record "dream" move to Real Madrid. Bale, who has not been training with the squad due to injury, was granted three days off but did not report back to the club on Tuesday despite being pictured in London.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Giampaolo Pazzini struck an 89th-minute equaliser on his Levante debut to earn his side a deserved 2-2 draw against struggling giants Real Madrid on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in a new row with Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez, according to reports in the Spanish media. The reports claim that the Portuguese striker was left fuming and walked out of the room after he was asked by Benitez to undergo a biometric analysis in order to improve his free-kick scoring rate.
According to a report in as.com, speaking at a Madrid fans' meeting on Saturday, De Bla said: "Carlo Ancelotti is a phenomenon. We're eternally grateful to him. For me, up to three days ago he was the best coach in the world, as was Jose Mourinho a couple of years ago and as of next week it will be Rafa Bentez."
Karim Benzema netted a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday.
Chelsea moved into the Premier League's top four as Mason Mount's superb first-half goal earned them a 1-0 win at champions Liverpool who suffered a club-record fifth straight home league defeat on Thursday.
Round-up of World Cup qualifiers played on Friday
Aymeric Laporte's late header sealed a deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur
Touching tributes have poured in from Manchester's two football clubs, as well as a number of prominent players have expressed their condolences to the family and friends of the victims, some of whom were young children.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo ended his early-season drought in emphatic style when he hit five goals in a 6-0 romp at Espanyol on Saturday to become the club's record scorer in La Liga.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Tottenham Hotspur's American international forward Clint Dempsey has returned home to the United States to play Major League Soccer (MLS).
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