Leagues ·
European Football Roundup: Mbappé Prepares for El Clásico, Haaland Sues Airline, and Kane Eyes Ballon d'Or
Kylian Mbappé will skip Real Madrid's next fixture to prepare for El Clásico, while Erling Haaland files a lawsuit over unauthorised image use, and Harry Kane discusses his Ballon d'Or ambitions alongside Bayern contract extension talks.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé is expected to sit out the team's upcoming La Liga clash against Villarreal on October 10 as the club prioritizes a cautious recovery plan. Mbappé was officially diagnosed on September 26 with a hyperextension of the posterior capsule in his left knee. According to reports from journalist José Félix Díaz on October 1, manager José Mourinho's coaching staff and medical personnel are managing his workload gradually to ensure he is at peak fitness for El Clásico against Barcelona on October 25. Mbappé has enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, scoring seven goals in seven La Liga matches.
In off-the-pitch developments, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and his management company York Promotions Ltd filed a lawsuit on October 1 against Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA in Oslo District Court. The legal dispute centers on an unauthorized promotional campaign during the football World Cup, where the airline published a social media image featuring a photoshopped airplane bearing Haaland's trademark ponytail alongside the caption "We've never looked more Norwegian." Haaland's legal representative Thomas Hagen emphasized that the suit addresses the unlawful commercial use of the striker's distinctive image. Airline spokeswoman Catharina Solli described the legal action as "hard to understand" and regrettable, expressing hope for a reasonable dialogue.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane shared his outlook for October in an interview published October 1, highlighting key upcoming events including the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, a Champions League clash against Arsenal, and playing on artificial turf in Stavanger. Kane noted that no English player has won the award in over two decades, adding that winning it would represent a massive success for him. On the club front, Bayern supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed that discussions between CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Kane's representatives regarding a contract extension until at least 2029 are progressing very well.
Sources: https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQH0vou2xwfc6Sa7M4f8Zm0rs_1Yecak82ryqo_wGFPg8Tv8fjSIhBfe6SCgDafwAo-F9u9IHakkofPmoeXWpQB93s1nHOEMsOfX61xC3ce1Po-LMQpKQN5X1Lrj1L5ntrg9JzupD184Re2X00SeXkvvYsj3gEHBbBIPeMq0xj7cSzzim-kC · https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHmvSQdvBEva695ZzqisZDi2VZoBLBaAO2ZTZWOrVlsr5xDsmFco1M87QSLFh0Nkl9CYPUDyk4qcRQZdOAgrs3zdCDBhk42kQQPlapBE1ifDet2AprEGQmWDvueegF-xfWQFLAWN9RGQLjeHLlZ3n2qmcMdhauFAdBmERnqMtVRoLtjhKP08VpzBu7C1yWI4w4w5tHt_ycLx3_CVpB7aCjCzZ7yzaRR8Akq2yZjdIwSuw8fOrLbZeV8eFjCliIp0NUngBQZcqN3GtyrHUPJBDIJ1C75_NIYoDLXzUv_hpL_pSKIMQ== · https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGmh-jN3cxtKTGt-p7I5Nf82pePYzkXx3mytyfGrhxfPZ138NlkbQfJMv0d5b9joc_y1BThnqGtwDxhj-28KU2DS5qmqsA90ftm2K6ZjjnUR-GIzyfYF9Ho51sbJN0rdkptZpvqibhq1t1Wzz4F-ZZPS0_M6VnI0LPxJuDTdkKfmt8iEfWcC2YqKABqnzzXm4atOykJfnMd_2ytYJqMl6EbEyitQlgpvYuhkQHUZZFQiK3NPFgPoMjbYLz0OUzczac=
Mbappé · Haaland · Harry Kane · Real Madrid · Bayern Munich