La Liga Daily Report - 2026-08-09

La Liga president Javier Tebas intensified his attack on FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, saying the Swiss administrator is 'destroying the very essence of football' and declaring that 'the Infantino era is over'. Speaking in an interview with Le Monde, Tebas argued that reform at the top of the game must be genuine and should move beyond the current elite, a pointed rebuke that lands amid the fallout from FIFA's abandoned plan to sell stakes in World Cup-related ventures to private investors. The comments keep Tebas at the forefront of Europe’s anti-Infantino camp and underline how badly FIFA’s governance has fractured.

The timing matters because Tebas is not speaking in isolation: the failed investment proposal triggered a wider backlash, with UEFA and the Football Association among those urging Infantino to resign. FIFA has already apologised for how the plan was handled and said it would not proceed, but the pressure has not eased, especially after reports of a 'departure payment' linked to a female employee and Infantino's time at UEFA. Tebas has been La Liga president since 2013, and his latest intervention reinforces the sense that the FIFA president's support base is narrowing before next year's election cycle.

Lionel Messi has travelled back to Rosario after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68 following a long illness. Reports from Argentina said the Inter Miami forward flew from the United States with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children, while his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys and CONMEBOL joined FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in offering condolences. Jorge Messi was far more than a family figure: he was Lionel's representative and adviser throughout a career that took him from Rosario to Barcelona and on to global superstardom.

The news has resonated across football because Jorge was central to Messi's rise from teenage prodigy to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion. Messi missed Inter Miami's Leagues Cup game against Monterrey as he returned home for the funeral, and his absence was felt on the pitch when Rodrigo De Paul paid tribute by revealing Messi's No. 10 shirt after scoring. The outpouring from rival clubs in Spain underlines how widely Jorge was respected, and it places Messi's family loss at the centre of the sport on a day usually dominated by transfer and pre-season chatter.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Ronald Araujo is on the verge of joining Liverpool on a season-long loan, with the move expected to include an option to buy. The 27-year-old Uruguay international has made 213 first-team appearances for Barcelona and scored 14 goals, but his role has diminished sharply, with only 36 La Liga appearances across the past two campaigns and just 11 league starts last season. Flick's comments suggest the club have accepted that the defender needs a fresh challenge after injuries and off-field struggles disrupted his rhythm.

The deal would be significant for Barcelona's squad planning because Liverpool are reportedly taking on the defender's wages, which would free up room in the wage bill for further business. Araujo once looked indispensable, even captaining the side last season, but the rise of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin pushed him down the pecking order. With the new La Liga season approaching, Barcelona are trying to balance financial flexibility with competitive stability, and this departure would be one of the clearest signs yet that Flick is reshaping the squad around younger, more available options.

Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with reports saying the Catalan club have already submitted a second offer for the Spain international. Manchester City are holding out for €80 million, and coach Enzo Maresca has indicated he expects Rodri to remain in Manchester at least until next Wednesday. The transfer battle is being framed as more than a simple midfield upgrade: if Barcelona can land Rodri, it would be a statement signing against Real Madrid in a market where the biggest names often drift toward the Bernabéu. The move is also being linked to Hansi Flick's desire to have the player integrated quickly.

The significance is amplified by Barcelona's wider summer strategy. The New York Times' Athletic reported that the club believe their finances are stronger thanks to increased revenues after returning to the Camp Nou, and that a Rodri bid would not prevent them from continuing to chase Atlético Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. In other words, Barca are trying to operate like a heavyweight again, not merely as a club managing registrations and escape routes. With Madrid having recently won the biggest names in Europe, Barcelona's attempt to outmuscle City for Rodri would be one of the clearest tests of whether the club's financial recovery is real.

Spain's top flight is heading into the new campaign with a familiar power struggle at the centre of the story: Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid and Barcelona's bid for a third straight title. Multiple previews on the eve of the season say Mourinho is back at the Bernabéu after 13 years away, tasked with restoring Madrid after two seasons without a major trophy. Madrid have been busy, adding Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Yan Diomande, while also tying Vinicius Jr to a contract through 2032. Barcelona, meanwhile, are being tipped to chase a three-peat after recent league success and a stronger financial footing.

The new season is also being presented as a broader reset for the league. Analysts say the post-World Cup calendar, new rule changes and the arrival of high-profile names should produce a more volatile title race than in recent years. Mourinho's return gives Real Madrid a more authoritarian edge, but it also creates pressure around his relationship with Vinicius after last season's alleged racism incident involving Mourinho's Benfica. Barcelona's challenge is different: they are trying to prove that their recent recruitment and revenue growth can sustain another title run while Madrid attempt to reassert control of the Clasico rivalry.

Marseille defeated Athletic Club 3-1 at the Stade Velodrome in a pre-season friendly, with first-half goals from Angel Gomes and Igor Paixao setting the tone before Tadjidine Mmadi added a late third. Gomes opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a move started by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while Oihan Sancet briefly levelled for Athletic Club just after the half-hour mark. Paixao then restored the lead with a long-range strike in the 40th minute, and Marseille controlled the second half before Mmadi's 86th-minute finish sealed the result. The win extended Marseille's pre-season run to three straight victories.

For Athletic Club, the defeat is a reminder that even summer friendlies can expose defensive fragility, especially against a side with confidence and sharpness in attack. For Marseille, the performance offered encouraging signs ahead of their Ligue 1 opener against Strasbourg on August 21, with Angel Gomes showing he can compete for a starting role and Paixao adding another layer of threat. The match also matters for La Liga followers because Athletic's preparations feed directly into the competitive shape of the Spanish season, even when the result itself does not count in the table.