Barcelona Coach Setien: 'Too Soon' to Discuss Future

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 18, 2020 Barcelona coach Quique Setien during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 18, 2020 Barcelona coach Quique Setien during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea
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Barcelona Coach Setien: 'Too Soon' to Discuss Future

Soccer Football - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 18, 2020 Barcelona coach Quique Setien during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 18, 2020 Barcelona coach Quique Setien during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea

Barcelona's embattled coach Quique Setien offered no indication that he would resign in the immediate aftermath of Friday's 8-2 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich, as club president Josep Maria Bartomeu promised to "take decisions" in the coming days.

"It's too soon to think about whether or not I will continue," Setien said. "It doesn't depend on me. There needs to be a wider reflection, taking into account the situation and the importance of this defeat which is so painful."

Defender Gerard Pique called for sweeping changes at the Camp Nou in the wake of the defeat, the worst in Barcelona's distinguished European history.

Setien was already under huge pressure, despite only being appointed as the successor to Ernesto Valverde in January, with Barcelona having relinquished the Spanish title on his watch, finishing second to Real Madrid in La Liga.

They were hoping to make up for a disappointing domestic campaign in the 'Final Eight' in Lisbon but were instead utterly outclassed by Bayern at the Estadio da Luz.

Speaking to Spanish television station Movistar Plus, Bartomeu said: "Now is not the time for decisions, it is the time to apologize to the members, the Barcelona fans, because it was not a good day for them."

"We are hurting, but once we get to next week we will start making decisions."

Setien called the defeat "tremendously painful" and hinted that he knew what was coming.

"I am aware of what such a defeat means. I think what happens today needs to be analyzed with a bit more perspective," he said.

"The credibility of a coach is diminished when this happens, clearly. That is obvious, but that does not bother me right now."



Crystal Palace Signs Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise after Inter Milan Move Breaks Down

FILE - Union SG's Charles Vanhoutte, right, and Union SG's Anan Khalaili, center, fight for the ball against Glimt's Philip Zinckernagel during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Bodo/Glimt at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
FILE - Union SG's Charles Vanhoutte, right, and Union SG's Anan Khalaili, center, fight for the ball against Glimt's Philip Zinckernagel during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Bodo/Glimt at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
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Crystal Palace Signs Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise after Inter Milan Move Breaks Down

FILE - Union SG's Charles Vanhoutte, right, and Union SG's Anan Khalaili, center, fight for the ball against Glimt's Philip Zinckernagel during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Bodo/Glimt at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
FILE - Union SG's Charles Vanhoutte, right, and Union SG's Anan Khalaili, center, fight for the ball against Glimt's Philip Zinckernagel during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Union SG and Bodo/Glimt at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)

Crystal Palace announced the signing of Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday, weeks after the Israel winger’s proposed move to Inter Milan broke down.

The 21-year-old Khalaili, who primarily plays on the right, signed a five-year deal “subject to international clearance,” the Premier League team said on its website. British media reported the transfer fee was 24.5 million euros ($28 million).

The transfer comes a month after Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said at a press conference that Khalaili had not been given medical clearance to join after the sides had agreed on a transfer, The Associated Press reported.

Marotta said: “Italy has very strict legislation protecting players’ health, with decisions made by an independent body rather than the club’s medical staff. We have to abide by this decision.”

Inter’s loss is seemingly Palace’s gain.

Khalaili developed at hometown club Maccabi Haifa before moving to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgum in 2024.

Khalaili has made 16 appearances for Israel. He is the fifth summer signing for Palace after Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand.


World Cup Winner Ferran Torres Signs for Paris Saint-Germain

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 19, 2026 Spain's Ferran Torres reacts REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 19, 2026 Spain's Ferran Torres reacts REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo
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World Cup Winner Ferran Torres Signs for Paris Saint-Germain

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 19, 2026 Spain's Ferran Torres reacts REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 19, 2026 Spain's Ferran Torres reacts REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo

Spain international Ferran Torres, who scored the only goal in last month's World Cup final, signed for two-time Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona on Saturday.

The 26-year-old striker cost the Ligue 1 champions a reported 50 million euros ($58 million), AFP reported.

"Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce it has secured the services of Ferran Torres. The Spanish World Cup-winning forward has signed with the Club until 2031," read the club statement.

The former Valencia and Manchester City star is reunited with PSG coach Luis Enrique, who as Spain coach gave him his international debut in a Nations League match against Germany in 2020.

Torres, who won three La Liga titles while at Barcelona, came on as a substitute in the World Cup final and the 65-times capped marksman scored in extra-time to dash Argentina's hopes of retaining their title.

Nicknamed 'The Shark', he joined Barcelona in the 2021/22 season transfer window and in 207 matches for FC Barcelona, he found the net 65 times, including in the Copa del Rey final victory against Real Madrid in 2025.

"The Club would like to express its gratitude to Ferran Torres for his commitment over the last four and a half seasons as a blaugrana and wishes him all the best for the next stage of his professional career," said Barcelona in a statement on their website.

His arrival in the French capital may raise Premier League side Liverpool's hopes of signing PSG's 23-year-old livewire wing Bradley Barcola, who sparkled for France at the World Cup.

The two clubs have been in discussions for weeks, with PSG's apparent asking price of around 150 million euros ($173 million) proving the stumbling block.


Spain's Perez Sets Women's Half Marathon Race Walk World Record

(L-R) Silver medalist Alexandrina Mihai of Italy, gold medalist Maria Perez of Spain, and Lyudmila Olyanovska of Ukraine pose after the Women's Half Marathon Walk at the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026, in Birmingham, Britain, 15 August 2026.  EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
(L-R) Silver medalist Alexandrina Mihai of Italy, gold medalist Maria Perez of Spain, and Lyudmila Olyanovska of Ukraine pose after the Women's Half Marathon Walk at the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026, in Birmingham, Britain, 15 August 2026. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
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Spain's Perez Sets Women's Half Marathon Race Walk World Record

(L-R) Silver medalist Alexandrina Mihai of Italy, gold medalist Maria Perez of Spain, and Lyudmila Olyanovska of Ukraine pose after the Women's Half Marathon Walk at the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026, in Birmingham, Britain, 15 August 2026.  EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
(L-R) Silver medalist Alexandrina Mihai of Italy, gold medalist Maria Perez of Spain, and Lyudmila Olyanovska of Ukraine pose after the Women's Half Marathon Walk at the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026, in Birmingham, Britain, 15 August 2026. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Spain's Maria Perez established the inaugural world record for the women's half-marathon race walk with a time of one hour 30 minutes and six seconds when winning the gold medal at ⁠the European Athletics ⁠Championships on Saturday.

Perez's time was well inside the world record standard of 1:30:30 set by World ⁠Athletics in December, and the Spaniard claimed European gold for the first time since winning the 20 km-race in 2018.

Italian Alexandrina Mihai was second and Ukraine's Lyudmila Olyanovska took bronze, ⁠in ⁠the half-marathon race walk which replaces the 20-km race, Reuters reported.

Perez already holds the world record for the 35-km event, which she set in 2023, and is a four-time world champion.