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Ancelotti: Bellingham is Great, but I'll Stick with Madrid Youngsters

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and Real Madrid at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid, Spain, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and Real Madrid at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid, Spain, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)
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Ancelotti: Bellingham is Great, but I'll Stick with Madrid Youngsters

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and Real Madrid at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid, Spain, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and Real Madrid at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid, Spain, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia)

Carlo Ancelotti hailed English midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has been linked with a move to his Real Madrid team, but said Friday he has plenty of young talent at his fingertips already.

Los Blancos have three of the most exciting midfield prospects in world football in Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde, AFP said.

Borussia Dortmund's Bellingham played well for England during the World Cup in Qatar until Gareth Southgate's side were knocked out by Tchouameni and Camavinga's France in the quarter-finals.

"Bellingham showed at the World Cup that he is a great midfielder," Ancelotti told reporters on Friday ahead of his team's La Liga clash with Villarreal.

"A lot of youngsters stood out, like Enzo (Fernandez) with Argentina, and the Spaniards Pedri and Gavi had a very nice tournament.

"There are a lot of young midfielders emerging but I'll stick with mine. We have very good ones, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde. We have a lot of youngsters."

French duo Tchouameni and Camavinga finished as runners-up, defeated in the final by Argentina.

Bellingham's deal with Dortmund expires in 2025 and the 19-year-old has been linked with various teams, including Spanish champions Madrid, who sold Casemiro to Manchester United last summer.

Long-serving Madrid midfielders Toni Kroos and 37-year-old Luka Modric have contracts that expire in the summer of 2023.

Los Blancos signed Camavinga, 20, from Rennes in 2021 and then last year brought in Tchouameni, 22, from Monaco.

Valverde, 24, joined Madrid's youth ranks from Penarol in 2016, but has often been deployed on the right flank instead of in central midfield.

They are all establishing themselves at Madrid, who are level on points with league leaders Barcelona ahead of their first match of 2023, a tricky test at Quique Setien's Villarreal on Saturday.

"They have changed a bit, they have a very clear identity, different from (Unai) Emery's Villarreal," added Ancelotti.

"Setien likes attacking football, their players are well positioned on the pitch. To win there, you have to be at your best."

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Sports

Saudi Sports Facilities Advance Under Vision 2030 to Host Global Championships

Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
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Saudi Sports Facilities Advance Under Vision 2030 to Host Global Championships

Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA
Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities - SPA

Driven by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom continues to upgrade its sports infrastructure to the highest international standards, establishing itself as a global hub for premier tournaments backed by an expanding network of world-class venues.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has hosted major global and continental competitions across its premier facilities. Leading the way is King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, with a capacity exceeding 62,000 spectators and an established record of hosting regional and international championships, supported by the recently redeveloped Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City, SPA reported.

In Riyadh, comprehensive modernization is underway at King Fahd Sports City to elevate its facilities to premier global standards ahead of future international events. Concurrently, construction is advancing on multiple state-of-the-art venues, led by the 47,000-seat Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, scheduled for completion next month, which will host matches during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Future pipeline projects feature the Jeddah Central Stadium, designed to reflect local architectural heritage, and the multi-purpose Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya, alongside numerous venues being developed across the Kingdom.

Anchoring these developments, the Kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup plans include 15 stadiums distributed across five major cities, comprising 11 newly built venues and four extensively upgraded sports cities. This large-scale infrastructure program underscores Saudi Arabia's rising prominence on the international sporting map and its sustained readiness to deliver global tournaments.

Sports

Europe's Top Leagues Add to Pressure on Infantino by Calling for FIFA Reform

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
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Europe's Top Leagues Add to Pressure on Infantino by Calling for FIFA Reform

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup - Group A - Poland v Argentina - Arena Katowice, Katowice, Poland - September 5, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

The Premier League and three other top European leagues have called for governance reform of FIFA following Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

A joint statement with leagues from Spain, Italy and Germany accused FIFA's president of actively promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them.”

The Premier League is soccer's richest and most popular league. Its collaboration with Europe's other leading leagues adds to the growing pressure on Infantino, who plans for stand for re-election despite losing the support of many national federation over his controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary.

“Football’s longstanding foundations have, in recent years, been threatened by a fundamental governance problem,” the statement said.

Sports

Alcaraz Calls for End to Late-night Finishes at Grand Slams

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
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Alcaraz Calls for End to Late-night Finishes at Grand Slams

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the black carpet upon arrival to attend the Laver Cup opening night gala, in Greenwich, east London on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz has had enough of pulling all-nighters at Grand Slams, urging organizers to finish play by 11 p.m. after his US Open title defense came to an end in a grueling 3:33 a.m. finish earlier this month.

Ben Shelton beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the US Open in the latest-ever finish at the year's final Grand Slam.

Prior to that, three matches ended after 2 a.m. during the tournament's opening week, while two more ran well beyond midnight and Venus Williams was involved in the latest-starting clash that began at 12:13 a.m.

"I think it's too much," seven-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz told reporters in London on Thursday ahead of the Laver Cup.

"The last match people stayed but if ⁠that match was ⁠played earlier, the court could have been packed.

"I would like to change the schedule a little with a maximum finish at 11 p.m., or whatever would be better."

The United States Tennis Association, which organizes the US Open, did not immediately respond to a Reuters emailed request for comment outside regular business hours, but the body has said it will evaluate scheduling options in ⁠the future.

Other Grand Slams have taken action to curb late finishes, with Wimbledon halting play under an 11 p.m. local curfew and the French Open limiting night sessions to one match.

The issue has gained traction amid a broader pushback by top players over working conditions, including a packed competitive calendar.

Andre Agassi, captain of Team World at the Laver Cup, stressed the need for guaranteed downtime at the end of the season.

"It would be my hope (for) an off-season of some relative form of security for both the players, but also for the fans so that ⁠they look ⁠forward to the game," the eight-times Grand Slam champion told reporters.

"I think in a lot of cases, tennis would benefit from that."

Asked about where the Laver Cup, which is named after Australian great Rod Laver and borders on being an exhibition event, fits into the tennis schedule, Agassi replied: "I think this is a fantastic event.

"I'd hate to see the compromise ever come on an event like this that is hosted under such a magnificent name and person that none of us would be here today without in this game.

"So this wouldn't be the place I would choose to cut some edges. But I would like to see these awesome athletes always be at their best. I think everybody wins with that."