Real Madrid target in ‘positive talks’ over a renewal with current club
Earlier this week, word had it that Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano had reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid over a transfer in the summer.After all, it is no secret that Los Blancos are...
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Name every England bowler with five-wicket haul in Australia since 2005
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Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo prepares for ‘wine toast’ with record-breaking teammate Christian Günter
SC Freiburg were able to commemorate a highly significant Europa League victory on Thursday night. One player hoping to commemorate a milestone will nevertheless have to wait a little while longer. Sq...
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Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter speaks on deflated match balls in Europa League match at Nice
Much as was the case for Mainz during one of their recent away matches, Bundesliga Europa League representatives SC Freiburg had to deal with the indignity of deflated footballs on Thursday night. Thi...
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![](/<figure><img alt="Real Madrid target in ‘positive talks’ over a renewal with current club" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/madrid_universal_articles_561/d1c51be23810962008bc3f9b8ab8f182" data-uuid="a666ac82-60aa-3bab-89af-94c0a7fe125d"><figcaption>Real Madrid target in ‘positive talks’ over a renewal with current club</figcaption></figure><p>Earlier this week, word had it that Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano had reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid over a transfer in the summer.</p><p>After all, it is no secret that <em>Los Blancos </em>are desperately looking for a quality option to play at centre-back next summer, one who would preferably arrive on a low-cost or free signing and provide a relatively long-term solution.</p><p>As a player who is in the final year of his contract, Upamecano ticked all the boxes and news of the verbal agreement with him was seemingly groundbreaking. </p><p>Soon after, however, it was revealed that there was indeed <a href="https://madriduniversal.com/real-madrid-have-no-verbal-agreement-with-top-defensive-target-yet/" target="_blank">no verbal agreement yet</a> although both parties were indeed in contact.</p><h2>Moving away from Madrid</h2><p>If news of Upamecano’s agreement with Real Madrid being false was a blow, <a href="https://x.com/plettigoal/status/1986479590236397930?s=46&t=1Rw1VYaHMEKKfPCZNK0SVg" target="_blank">Florian Plettenberg’s</a> latest update adds another setback to Real Madrid. </p><p>After all, the journalist states that the player is in positive talks with Bayern Munich over a renewal. </p><img height="0" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/madrid_universal_articles_561/7dddf542e1bc5a127f50305a19879d1e" width="2048" data-uuid="2c301ad4-64a7-3a14-a2c3-4e3bc7c1fbec"><p>Bayern Munich want to renew Dayot Upamecano’s contract. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)</p><p>While Real Madrid do indeed have a concrete interest in the defender, they will reportedly go for his signing only if his talks with the Bavarians over an extension fall apart. </p><p>There is no agreement with him in any capacity currently, neither for Real Madrid nor Bayern Munich.</p><p>Talks between Upamecano and the German club are currently moving in the right direction and his new deal is expected to run until 2030 or 2031. </p><p>Further, he could earn up to €20 million gross per year as part of his renewed package.</p><p>With the Upamecano option looking less likely with every passing day, it remains to be seen which of the remaining targets the club prioritise. </p><p>Ibrahima Konate and Marc Guehi would likely remain the standout options.</p>)
![](/<figure><img alt="Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo prepares for ‘wine toast’ with record-breaking teammate Christian Günter" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/get_german_football_news_articles_128/ea96f84a27b2fd855568cdd830b0ed46" data-uuid="183ac0ce-074b-3316-b4f3-8686f25c49b8"><figcaption>Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo prepares for ‘wine toast’ with record-breaking teammate Christian Günter</figcaption></figure><p>SC Freiburg were able to commemorate <a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/freiburgs-matthias-ginter-speaks-on-deflated-match-balls-in-europa-league-match-at-nice/">a highly significant Europa League victory on Thursday night.</a> One player hoping to commemorate a milestone will nevertheless have to wait a little while longer. Squad captain Christian Günter (32) remained on the bench throughout for the second consecutive fixture. Günter closes in on a club record. </p><p>Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster – as <a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/bundesliga-europa-league-check-sc-freiburg/">has been the case increasingly more this season</a> – has been turning to youngster Jordy Makengo at Günter’s right back position. Günter, who came up through the Freiburg ranks and has never represented another club since his professional debut, is one appearance away from surpassing Andreas Zeyer as the most featured player at the club. </p><p>Günter has been working in the SCF academy since 2007. He made his first appearance with the senior team in December 2012. Since then, the Villingen-Schwenningen-native has made 441 SCF appearances. Freiburg – allowing themselves to count one 3. Liga appearance from Günter – are prepared to crown him the all-time record holder once he sets foot on the pitch. </p><p>Günter will surpass midfielder Andreas Zeyer, who also made 441 appearances for Freiburg during two stints with the club in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Günter’s fellow club man Vincenzo Grifo (himself a #2 on the all-time club record charts behind legendary leading goal-scorer Nils Petersen) commented on the possibility of celebrating with Günter after Sunday’s Bundesliga fixture against St. Pauli.</p><p>“<em>I hope he can celebrate on Sunday,</em>” Grifo said of his close friend. “<em>If he asks me to and wants me to have a glass of wine in the evening, then I’ll have two sips.</em>“</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/">GGFN</a> | <a href="https://x.com/PeterVicey"><strong>Peter Weis</strong></a></p>)
![](/<figure><img alt="Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter speaks on deflated match balls in Europa League match at Nice" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/get_german_football_news_articles_128/61dd5c1650db24ac35ec0bfb38ccad60" data-uuid="73c5aa8b-3ea0-353c-a0fc-92996cc69564"><figcaption>Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter speaks on deflated match balls in Europa League match at Nice</figcaption></figure><p>Much <a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/mainzs-danny-da-costa-reports-that-omonia-nicosia-deliberately-deflated-practice-balls-ahead-of-conference-league-match/">as was the case for Mainz during one of their recent away matches</a>, Bundesliga Europa League representatives SC Freiburg had to deal with the indignity of deflated footballs on Thursday night. This time, however, it wasn’t a simple matter of deflated practice balls. Freiburg had to play almost the entirety of the first half without properly inflated match balls. </p><p>Thrice before the opening half hour was completed, the match ball had to be replaced due to it being flat. Greek referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos finally lost his patience and complained vehemently to the officials. Pitch-side microphones caught Sidiropoulos angrily chastising stadium staff members. </p><p>Thankfully for Freiburg, the matter didn’t end up swaying the result. Germany’s <em>Breisgauer </em>ended up scoring three goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half en route to a 1-3 away victory over their French hosts. Veteran German defender Matthias Ginter, who assisted on the first goal, spoke on the balls afterwards.</p><p>“<em>Tonight was totally weird,</em>” Günter told <strong>RTL</strong>. “<em>Sometimes I look in on my friends playing in the [tenth tier, fully unprofessional] Kreisliga, where the ball is sometimes a little flat. [The ref] complained that the ball in use wasn’t properly inflated. Luckily, they pumped it up at halftime</em>.”</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/">GGFN</a> | <a href="https://x.com/PeterVicey"><strong>Peter Weis</strong></a></p>)