TouchlineWire

⚽ Football moves fast. We move faster.
🚨 Transfers • Rumours • Matchday • Controversy
🌍 Football news from around the world.

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🔴 BREAKING: Cody Gakpo to STAY at Liverpool! 🇳🇱✅

Manchester City had a £75m + £5m add-ons bid rejected by Liverpool, with all sides now confirming that Gakpo will remain at Anfield. ❌🔵

City have ended their pursuit and are now fully focused on trying to sign Enzo Fernández from Chelsea. 💣🇦🇷

ℹ️ @TheAthleticFC

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🔵⚪ EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City make contact again with Iliman Ndiaye’s agents! 🇸🇳

City have made fresh contact today as the Cody Gakpo deal is now in danger. 💣

Liverpool do not rule out keeping Gakpo if they fail to find a replacement. 🔴

Meanwhile, Ndiaye’s move to Tottenham is NOT done yet, with doubts over Richarlison’s potential return to Everton. 👀

ℹ️ @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal are exploring a move for Malick Fofana! 🇧🇪🔴

Arsenal have made initial enquiries to assess the feasibility of a deal for the Lyon winger. 🔍🤝

Fofana is interested in the possibility of joining Arsenal, but the Gunners are not the only option. 👀

Crystal Palace were in a position to reach an agreement with Lyon, but Fofana does not want to join Palace. ❌

ℹ️ @RMCsport

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🇦🇷 LIONEL MESSI’S RETIREMENT STATEMENT:

“After this time since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the Argentina national team…”

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deeply, but I understand that the time has come. I always gave everything for this shirt, to give you joy and make you proud to be Argentine.” 💔

“I love, have loved and will always love being with the national team. I have given everything I had, I have nothing more to give.”

“Thank you for all the love over these 20 years. I’ll miss hearing you from inside the stadium. Now I’ll be one of you, supporting Argentina from the outside, in the good times and the bad.” 🥺

“I leave with peace and pride after giving you, together with my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of.”

“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. LET’S GO ARGENTINA! 🇦🇷💙”

📝 Written on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I am more convinced than ever.

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🔴⚪ EXCLUSIVE: Rayo Vallecano in talks to sign Derek Cornelius from OM! 🇨🇦

Negotiations are underway over a loan deal with a buy option for the Canadian international centre-back from Olympique Marseille. 🤝

Talks are ongoing between the clubs. ⏳

ℹ️ @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨💥 EXCLUSIVE: Arthur to Werder Bremen — DONE DEAL! 🇧🇷✅

Werder Bremen have reached a full agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for the 23-year-old right-back. 🤝

➡️ Straight loan
❌ No buy option
Medical and contract signing are scheduled for Tuesday, provided Guéla Doué passes his medical at Leverkusen. ⏳

ℹ️ @SkySportDE

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🥺🇦🇷 THE END OF AN ERA.

Lionel Messi has officially called time on his Argentina career. 💔👑

👕 207 appearances
⚽ 125 goals
🅰️ 68 assists
🏆 FIFA World Cup
🏆🏆 2× Copa América
🏆 Finalissima
Messi gave Argentina everything — and delivered the greatest chapter in the nation’s football history. 🇦🇷🐐

Thank you, Leo. Forever eternal. 💙✨

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨📲 NEW: Ángel Di María sends emotional tribute to Lionel Messi! 🇦🇷🐐

“We’ll be grateful to you for the rest of our lives, for being Argentine and for taking Argentina to the top of the world. For choosing to represent Argentina when you could easily have chosen something else.”

“Thank you, Captain. Thank you for everything. The greatest in history.” 💙💙💙💙💙

ℹ️ Ángel Di María on Instagram

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨⚫🔵 HERE WE GO! Jonathan Rowe to Atalanta is DONE! 🇬🇧

Atalanta have reached an agreement to sign Jonathan Rowe from Bologna. 🤝

💰 €35m fixed fee on loan with a guaranteed obligation to buy
➕ €5m in add-ons
Rowe only wanted Atalanta. ✅

🔓 Mbangula to Bologna unlocks Rowe’s move to Atalanta.

ℹ️ @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨📲 NEW: Rodrigo De Paul sends emotional message to Lionel Messi! 🇦🇷🐐

“Your unconditional love for our country, your inner battles to never give up, your strength to always endure injustice, your leadership and humanity with every player who stepped onto the training ground…”

“Just thank you. The greatest of all time. Thank you for making us so incredibly happy. You can’t imagine how many smiles you brought to our faces!! You are eternal.” 😢❤️

A heartfelt tribute from De Paul to Messi. 🇦🇷👑

ℹ️ Rodrigo De Paul on Instagram

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🔵 BREAKING: Chelsea and Manchester City remain in constant contact over Enzo Fernández! 🇦🇷

Chelsea are open to letting the midfielder leave this summer, with Manchester City already making an initial verbal offer for Fernández. 💣

Meanwhile, the Blues are working on a potential move for Manu Koné, while Lamine Camara remains on their shortlist. 🔄👀

The situation is developing. ⏳

ℹ️ Source: As reported by multiple reports

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨💣 CONFIRMED: Borussia Dortmund are pushing to sign Ethan Nwaneri! 🟡⚫🏴🇬🇧

Discussions are ongoing between the parties as BVB work on a deal for the highly-rated English talent. 💎🤝

More developments expected soon. ⏳

ℹ️ @sachatavolieri

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨💣 BREAKING! Manchester City have made contact again with Iliman Ndiaye’s camp today as the Cody Gakpo deal is now in danger. 🇸🇳

Liverpool do not rule out keeping Cody Gakpo if they fail to find a suitable replacement. 🔴🤝

The situation is developing with City exploring Ndiaye as an alternative option.

ℹ️ @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

🚨🇦🇷 BREAKING: LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL! 🐐💔

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina duty, bringing one of the greatest international careers in football history to an end. 🥹

The 39-year-old bows out after more than two decades with La Albiceleste, winning:
🏆 2022 FIFA World Cup
🏆 2021 Copa América
🏆 2024 Copa América
His final World Cup ended with Argentina finishing runners-up to Spain in the 2026 final. 🇪🇸
Messi will continue playing club football for Inter Miami. 🇺🇸
👑 An era ends. The legacy is eternal. 🐐✨

ℹ️ Source: Reported announcement

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

𝗡𝗘𝗪: Samuele Ricci has a verbal agreement to join Como from AC Milan. 🔵

The move is a loan with a €20.5m buy option plus bonuses, and documents are now being exchanged.

— @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG. 🔴

The initial fee is worth around £100m, with add-ons potentially taking the total package to €140m. Documents to follow.

— @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

Alvarez's condition is growing serious day by day.

Lets see his next step..

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🇦🇷 Julián Álvarez has missed training for the second consecutive day.

Álvarez has told the club that he “feels unwell and unable to train with the group”, reports @medinamarca.

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: Kylian Mbappé has hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1. ⚪️

He's now up to 101 goal contributions for Madrid, with Vinícius Jr also on the scoresheet on José Mourinho's big night.

— @FabrizioRomano

[TouchlineWire @TouchlineWireFc]

𝗡𝗘𝗪: The Italian FA have withdrawn their support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. 🇮🇹

It follows Denmark's FA also publicly questioning his leadership ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election.

— @JacobsBen