Barcelona Extends Contract of Women's Ballon d'Or Winner Bonmatí to 2028

FILE - FC Barcelona's and Spain's national team's midfielder Aitana Bonmati holds the trophy as she receives the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE - FC Barcelona's and Spain's national team's midfielder Aitana Bonmati holds the trophy as she receives the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
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Barcelona Extends Contract of Women's Ballon d'Or Winner Bonmatí to 2028

FILE - FC Barcelona's and Spain's national team's midfielder Aitana Bonmati holds the trophy as she receives the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE - FC Barcelona's and Spain's national team's midfielder Aitana Bonmati holds the trophy as she receives the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Barcelona extended the contract of women's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí on Monday until 2028.
The 26-year-old playmaker signed a new contract to June 30, 2028, The Associated Press quoted the club as saying.
Bonmatí has played 275 games for Barcelona, scoring 96 competitive goals. She is the club’s all-time top goalscorer and is tied with Alexia Putellas for the Champions League record of 22.
One of her Champions League goals came in last season's final, where Barcelona defeated Lyon for its third European title.
Bonmati, also a Spain international, has won 23 trophies with Barcelona, the eighth most in the club's history.



Man City Will Adapt to Busy Week, Guardiola Says

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Man City Will Adapt to Busy Week, Guardiola Says

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2024. (AFP)

Manchester City will adjust to a demanding week ahead by using their academy players, manager Pep Guardiola said before the start of their Champions League campaign.

Guardiola's side are bracing for a whirlwind, as an independent hearing into City´s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations is set to begin on Monday, two days before they host Serie A champions Inter Milan in the Champions League.

City will then host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday and Watford in the third round of the League Cup next Tuesday. Guardiola said his side will need to acclimatize to the season ahead, in which they are projected to play about 75 games.

Many City players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Manuel Akanji, and Bernardo Silva, have voiced concerns about the crammed calendar this season with an expanded Champions League format and the Club World Cup.

"I have no opinion (on the format)," Guardiola told reporters. "UEFA decided this and we want to be there so we will play that format.

"Yes, there are more games (in the calendar), but it is what it is. What can we do? On Wednesday, we play the best team in Italy then on Sunday we play best contender of last two seasons.

"Then Tuesday another game. We have an Academy. We have to adapt and go. I like to play Champions League, so we are going to play."

All three European club competitions have been expanded to 36 teams this season and FIFPRO's European member unions have started legal action against FIFA over the expanded men's 32-team Club World Cup, starting next June in the United States.

Last season, England recorded the highest number of domestic back-to-back matches, 87, among top European leagues, with Premier League clubs averaging the shortest recovery time between games at 67.3 hours.