It’s many years since Real Madrid fans have been as happy going into a new campaign.

Brechin City’s financial structure for the upcoming season could be thrown into disarray if their Ramsden’s Cup tie with Rangers is called off, the club’s vice-chairman Martin Smith has warned.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claimed midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson’s increased wage demands scuppered his move to Anfield.

Jordi Alba’s €14m transfer to Barcelona that was completed on Wednesday has taken the number of Barca players in the current Spanish squad to eight and he has been welcomed with open arms by another new team-mate who did not make it to the European Championship.

Ben Lyttleton on the young guns who’ll fire in Poland and the Ukraine

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was today handed a maiden call-up to the Spain squad for the friendlies against Serbia and South Korea which precede this summer’s European Championships.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and other leaders in the left-leaning ALBA bloc have backed Argentina in its long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Argos owner Home Retail Group today bought household names Alba and Bush from their struggling owner for £15.25m (€18m).

UK electrical goods group Alba today agreed to offload household brands including Breville and Dirt Devil in a £51.5m (€75m) deal.

Electronics group Alba today posted a sharp fall in full-year revenues following an intensive shake-up of its business.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in charge again after undergoing intestinal surgery, according to friend and ally Hugo Chavez.

A Hong Kong property tycoon and his wife have reportedly paid around €131,200 for a huge Italian white truffle, which may be the most expensive purchased.

Electronics firm Alba today announced a major management shake-up after a sharp drop in annual profits.

Higher metal prices boosted mining stocks today as the London market ended the week on a positive note.

Stronger mining stocks and a better-than-expected update from Alliance & Leicester gave the FTSE 100 Index reason to break the 5500 barrier today.

British consumer electronics maker Alba today said it was a victim of low consumer spending and price-cutting in the high street as it returned losses of £6.6m (€9.7m) for the first half of the financial year.

The London market ended today back above the 5000 level after investors took heart from news about US interest rates.

Interest rates weighed on the minds of investors on both sides of the Atlantic as the FTSE 100 Index dropped below the 5000 level today.

The FTSE 100 Index overcame a slow day for corporate news and losses by mining stocks to creep into positive territory today.

Electrical appliances group Alba today provided further evidence that consumers have become more cautious about splashing out on expensive items.

Another rise in interest rates failed to make its mark today as the London market remained broadly unchanged.