Atletico Madrid CEO Gil Marin has spoken out on the Julian Alvarez transfer saga once again in a statement that may well finally spell the end of Barcelona’s interest in the player.

Marin has once again said Atletico have no intention of selling Alvarez, despite the forward saying during the World Cup he wants to leave, and also responded to Joan Laporta’s claim that Barca’s offer wasn’t unlimited.

“Atlético, like all great clubs, is built with great players, and I’m certain that Julián is one, as well as a great professional. We must compete based on our values, with homegrown talent and with the best players from outside that we can bring in,” he told EFE .

“My opinion is clear, the club’s will is clear, we have made this clear to the player and his agent, and to the Barça president. I have no doubt that Atlético is the right place in the world for Julián, and Julián is the perfect striker for Atlético Madrid. We want to keep him,

“I simply heard some statements from the president (Laporta), saying that his offer wasn’t open-ended. And our response is that our answer is indeed open-ended; we don’t want to transfer him. We didn’t accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one of €150 million or €200 million.”

Marin went on to say that Alvarez would stay at the club and insisted he had not had the best people advising him throughout the summer.

“We are going to help Julián and continue to take care of him so that he can give us his full potential, because we need him to keep competing among the best in Europe. We must understand that Julián hasn’t had the best advisors around him regarding his professional career in recent months,” he added.

“That other clubs and their affiliated media tell us what to do, dictate our sporting strategy, and disrespect us. That’s precisely what they want: to divide us. It’s clear we’re not as powerful as them, but we have values. We Atlético fans won’t allow them to corrupt us. Atleti is strong when we’re all together.”

Barcelona must surely now look elsewhere for a new forward, while Alvarez looks destined to stay and faces a tough time after riling many Atletico fans by asking to leave.

CHAPEL HILL — Long before Billy Edwards Jr. was named UNC football's starting quarterback, his teammates noticed the qualities that made him a leader.

Wide receiver Trech Kekahuna saw it first hand at Wisconsin in 2025, when Edwards' season was cut short after just 34 snaps because of a season-ending knee injury. Despite the setback, Edwards remained a constant presence from the sidelines.

“A majority of players, when they get hurt, they kind of isolate themselves from the room. Billy, he’s not that type of player,” said Kekahuna, who will get to play with Edwards again when the Tar Heels face TCU in Ireland to kick off the 2026 college football season.

“He was always on the sideline motivating us. Whether he was in shoulder pads or not, every time we would go out, he’d just say, ‘Hey, next-play mentality.’ He’s just always coaching up the little things.” 

BELICHICK ON QB1: Bill Belichick explains why Billy Edwards will be UNC football's starting QB vs TCU

Kekahuna and fellow wide receiver Mason Humphrey, a Lehigh transfer, have seen Edwards lean into that vocal leadership on and off the field. It’s not a surprising trait for a player who has more than 1,000 snaps as a starter across four seasons in the Big Ten. 

“He’s always vocal. He always wants to be better,” Kekahuna said. 

“Whether it’s a Cover Two and he wants you to come snap inside, just little things like that, little minute things to get separation, he’s always just a coaching type of player. … He just tries to bring you under his wing.” 

Humphrey, a 6-foot-4 target on the outside for Edwards, says he “didn’t know who was gonna be QB 1” for the Tar Heels, but “whoever won it, they deserved it.” When asked about what Edwards brings as a QB, Humphrey noted the veteran has a “good deep ball” and “all around, Billy’s a great player.” 

Off the field, Humphrey sees the funny side of Edwards as a guy capable of bringing together teammates through shared experiences. On the field, Humphrey added, “it’s straight business” and “fiery” leadership from Edwards. 

“He definitely takes control, even during practice. That’s the first thing that I noticed when I got here: he took control of the huddle,” Humphrey said. “He’ll talk with you after practice, like, ‘Let’s watch this, let’s look at this, let’s get this route better.’ He just loves the game. I love seeing that from a quarterback, especially being a transfer. I know he’s gonna do good.” 

UNC coach Bill Belichick noted that Edwards has been “a little more consistent” and brings plenty of experience, something a pair of returners in wide receiver Jordan Shipp and running back Jaylen McGill have noticed throughout the offseason.

“Billy’s an older guy, a lot more experienced,” Shipp said. “He’s seen a lot of different defenses. … He’s played a lot of football.” 

McGill echoed those thoughts, adding "you can tell Billy has a lot of experience. He throws a catchable ball. … I’m very excited to see what Billy does this year.” 

For Kekahuna, "happy" is the word that keeps coming to mind as Edwards readies for a return against the Horned Frogs in Dublin.

“I’ve seen Billy come a long way. … Happy to see him staying healthy, making plays,” Kekahuna said. “Just seeing him push through those hard times is what we need in a quarterback. Happy to be out there with him.” 

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Billy Edwards Jr's rise as UNC football QB has Tar Heels saying the same thing

It's crowded atop the leaderboard through 36 at the CPKC Women's Open in Alberta, Canada, but there's a surprise name among those in the hunt.

That would be Kiara Romero, playing her first LPGA tournament this since turning pro. The McCormack Medal, awarded to the world's top-ranked amateur, gave Romero the 20 points needed to become the second graduate of the LPGA’s LEAP program, joining two-time LPGA winner Lottie Woad. Romero will forgo her senior season at Oregon to live the life of a pro golfer.

And so far, so good. With her brother Kyreece on the bag, who will finish his college studies online and caddie full-time for her, Kiara followed up Thursday's 64 with a Friday 67. She sits 9 under, in a three-way tie for the lead through two rounds.

She had six birdies Thursday and was bogey-free in the tournament until her ninth hole Friday. She started on No. 10 in the second round and made another bogey on the sixth, but she collected five birdies Friday, giving her 11 overall at Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Soo Bin Yoo of Korea and Yuri Yoshida of Japan are tied with Romero for the lead. Romero is trying to follow Woad in another way, as Woad was the last LPGA golfer to win her first event on the circuit after turning pro. Romero has put herself in position to match that.

Todd Kelly is an assistant managing editor at Golfweek.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Kiara Romero contending at CPKC Women's Open, her first LPGA event since turning pro

MILWAUKEE – Fiserv Forum is host to some of the best volleyball teams in the country on Friday, Aug. 21.

No. 7 Louisville will kick off the season against No. 8 Texas A&M as part of the AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee. Then No. 6 Wisconsin will look to avenge its Final Four loss against No. 3 Kentucky in the latter part of the doubleheader.

It's the first of four days of volleyball matches at Fiserv Forum. Other teams in the event include No. 2 Texas, No. 12 Arizona State.

The Louisville-Texas A&M match will start at 5 p.m. and air on ESPN2, and the Wisconsin-Kentucky match will start at 8 p.m. and air on ESPN. The Journal Sentinel will have live coverage from both matches. Follow below for all the updates:

• No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 8 Texas A&M at 5 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
• No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Wisconsin at 8 p.m. (ESPN)

• No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Louisville at 3 p.m. (Fox)
• No. 2 Texas vs. No. 12 Arizona State at 6 p.m. (FS1)

• No. 8 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 SMU at noon (ESPN2)
• No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. (ESPN)

• No. 4 Pittsburgh vs. Xavier at 5 p.m. (FS2)
• No. 2 Texas vs. Marquette at 7 p.m. (FS2)

• TV: ESPN2
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin-Kentucky, Louisville-Texas A&M live updates at AVCA First Serve