La Liga rivalries already simmering

Spain's World Cup confetti has barely been swept away, but La Liga is looming large with Barcelona defending its domestic title and Real Madrid, bruised by two trophy-less seasons, throwing money, muscle and Jose Mourinho at the problem.

A little under a month after Spain beat Argentina in New Jersey to claim its second men's world title, adding global supremacy to its 2024 European Championship triumph, the country's soccer gaze has swung from national euphoria to club intrigue.

At the center of it all are familiar combatants: back-to-back champion Barcelona and a Real Madrid side whose summer has carried the unmistakable whiff of urgency. Newly re-elected Real president Florentino Perez has overseen one of the club's most aggressive transfer windows in years, bringing Mourinho back to the Bernabeu from Benfica in a move that is bold, nostalgic and loaded with risk.

Once known as "The Special One", Mourinho returns to old territory with plenty to prove. He has gone 11 years without winning a league title and four without any trophy, bouncing between jobs and collecting controversies rather than medals.

For Perez, the gamble is equally stark.

Real's 2024 La Liga and Champions League double, which delivered its 15th European Cup and sixth in 11 seasons, feels oddly distant after two successive campaigns without any silverware.

The signing of Kylian Mbappe had looked like the rich getting richer, especially alongside Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, but the glittering attack failed to produce the expected trophies. Perez has responded with a summer of high stakes signings.

Real has signed Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva and Carlos Espi, while also tying Vinicius to a million-euro contract extension after more than a year of tense negotiations.

The club unveiled the signing of the 19-year-old Cote d'Ivoire winger Diomande from Leipzig for what Spanish media reported was a club-record fee of 140 million euros ($161 million) including bonuses.

Los Blancos said in a statement that the deal with the Bundesliga side would keep Diomande in the Spanish capital "for the next seven seasons, until June 30, 2033".

"Moving to Real Madrid is a childhood dream come true for me," Diomande was quoted as saying in a Leipzig statement.

Yet the question nagging supporters and pundits remains in midfield, where Real still appears to be dealing with the aftershocks of the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

Flick's core remains

Barcelona, by contrast, has chosen continuity with a garnish of ambition.

German manager Hansi Flick remains the central figure in its title defense, with the club placing faith in the squad balance that helped it dominate La Liga and supplied key pieces of Spain's World Cup-winning side.

Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and Ferran Torres all played important roles in Spain's triumph in North America, with Torres scoring the extra-time winner against Argentina in the final.

Yet, Torres could still be heading for the exit.

Local media has reported that Paris Saint-Germain has approached Barcelona with an offer for the 26-year-old forward following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.

Barcelona is also reported to be pushing for a blockbuster move for Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City, a signing that would sharpen its midfield and send a loud message to Madrid.

Barca winger Roony Bardghji has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the champion said on Tuesday, dealing a major blow to the 20-year-old after a previous serious knee injury derailed his progress.

Bardghji, who was born in Kuwait but plays for Sweden, suffered a serious knee problem during training in 2024 that sidelined him for nearly a year.

"The player will undergo surgery in the coming days," Barcelona posted on social media platform X after the latest setback.

He joined Barca from Copenhagen last year on a contract that runs until June 2029.

He has made 28 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing four assists.

Chasing a third straight La Liga title, Barca opens it league campaign at Elche on Aug 23.

"This preseason isn't normal," Flick said after Barcelona played in a three-team tournament against Nottingham Forest and Udinese on Saturday without any of his players who featured at the World Cup.

"We aren't going to be 100 percent until after the international break," warned Flick.

Alvarez looks to move

Across the capital, Atletico Madrid enters the new season with familiar questions and new turbulence.

Diego Simeone begins his 15th season in charge under mounting pressure after a five-year wait for a league title, despite heavy investment and lofty ambitions.

Last season brought promise, but no prize. Atletico reached the Copa del Rey final, losing to Real Sociedad on penalties, and was knocked out by Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals.

Now it faces a more awkward headache, with forward Julian Alvarez publicly asking for a move, and Barcelona openly expressing interest.

Atletico has made clear it will not sell Alvarez to its Catalan rival, and with tensions simmering before a ball has even been kicked, La Liga's title race may begin with as much drama in the boardroom as on the pitch.

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