Carlos Espi is Real Madrid’s most intriguing summer signing.

There was little reporting around Espi’s move from Levante until it was announced on July 30, when Madrid paid the 21-year-old striker’s €25million ($29m; £21m) release clause.

Espi is used to flying under the radar — even though he stands at 6ft 4in (194cm).

Last season was his first in La Liga, and he only played five top-flight games before January.

Things changed when Levante appointed Portuguese coach Luis Castro in December. Espi went on to score 11 goals for the Valencia-based side and became one of the heroes of their unexpected survival.

Three months later, English, German and Italian clubs were lining up to sign him. Then Real Madrid entered the picture, with academy graduate striker Gonzalo Garcia on his way out. At that point, sources close to Espi say his decision became easy.

But what makes Espi different, and why was his move to the Bernabeu kept under wraps?

Espi was born into a working-class family with no connection to football, 40 kilometres from Valencia, in the neighbouring municipality of Tavernes de Valldigna. He started playing for his local club before moving to Alzira, another team from the province.

It was not until he went through a physical growth spurt that he attracted Levante’s attention, joining them in 2022.

“What stood out was his physique — his height and his frame,” says Levante academy director Joaqui Navarro, who brought Espi to the club, in an interview with The Athletic. “At 16, to be over 1.9 metres tall for that position was very important.

“Although he was coordinated, there were still plenty of areas of his game that needed work, particularly his play with his back to goal.”

Carlos Espi scored 13 goals for Levante last season (Cristina Quicler/AFP via Getty Images)

A 19-year-old Espi played a key role in Levante’s promotion to La Liga in 2025, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 36 second-division appearances.

Last season was more complicated. Levante signed another highly rated striker, Karl Etta Eyong, who had been on Barcelona’s and Real Madrid’s radars. The former Villarreal forward was given a starting role, with Espi benched and then suffering a muscle injury that kept him out for four games across November and December.

“We were in a very bad situation, we had 10 points by the winter break,” Levante club president Pablo Sanchez tells The Athletic. “We could have been relegated, but we had a clear idea: if we went down, we would go down sticking to our principles.

“We have a very good academy. Our foundation and our business model is to work through the academy. That is why we hired Castro. Espi’s emergence came from Castro’s decision to trust him.

“He scores goals, but above all, important goals. It also happened in the promotion season. It is true that he often scored in the final minutes of games and people said that was what he was for, but in the first division he showed he was a 90-minute player.”

Espi scored goals against several direct relegation rivals, including Alaves, Girona, Real Oviedo and Real Mallorca, and displaced Etta Eyong as the starting No 9.

He has learned to use his size to devastating effect from set pieces, one of his main routes to goal.

Espi’s performances even led to him being named in Luis de la Fuente’s preliminary Spain squad for the World Cup, according to sources — who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships — but he did not make the final cut. De la Fuente opted for a more established reserve striker in Borja Iglesias, the 33-year-old Celta Vigo forward.

Madrid came in for him after interest from other clubs, particularly in the Premier League, with Brighton and Hove Albion having seriously considered signing him. Those close to Espi say his mind was made up as soon as the record 15-time European champions showed interest.

A call from Jose Mourinho was also significant. The returning Portuguese manager explained what Espi’s role would be as Madrid targeted a traditional ‘No 9’. Things began to fall into place as Garcia’s €40million move to Fulham was finalised, eventually being announced four days after Espi’s arrival.

A call from Jose Mourinho proved crucial in Carlos Espi’s transfer (Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

Madrid asked everyone involved to move with extreme discretion. That was one of the reasons the transfer remained a secret until so late.

“Horrible, it has been horrible,” Espi’s father, Juanjo, told radio station Cope after the announcement. “Keeping it secret, not being able to talk about it — not even to my mother or to my brother, nobody.”

“I was already expecting Madrid to come for him the previous year because I could see the potential Espi had,” says Levante president Sanchez. “It was almost a wish of mine. He is a Spanish player and Madrid are looking particularly hard at that profile as they try to make the squad more Spanish.”

Espi became the most expensive academy sale in Levante’s history. The only player they have sold for more is Jefferson Lerma, who joined Bournemouth in a €30million deal in 2018.

Real Madrid have experienced success signing players from Levante. Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas joined from the Valencia club in 2014 after an outstanding season in La Liga and an impressive World Cup in Brazil, and went on to help them win three Champions Leagues in a row from 2016 to 2018.

Centre-back Joan Martinez, one of Madrid’s most promising academy players at 18 years old, also joined from Levante’s youth system in 2023.

Espi joins a Madrid squad packed with stars, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and headline summer signings such as Yan Diomande, who joined in a deal worth up to €140million.

Those close to Espi believe he will adapt easily and say he understands what his role will be. Espi can be reserved at first, but is described by those close to him as being affectionate, sociable and outgoing when he feels comfortable. That should help him settle into a dressing room full of strong personalities.

With Mbappe as the focal point and Endrick expected to stay at least until January, Espi knows he will have to earn his minutes and establish himself as a reliable alternative. He may take encouragement from the example of Joselu, another direct backup striker who played a crucial role in their La Liga-Champions League double two years ago.

Joselu became a hero for Real Madrid during his 2023-24 loan spell from Espanyol (David Ramos/Getty Images)

So far, things are going well.

Barely a week after his transfer was completed, Espi scored his first goal, producing a classic poacher’s finish in Madrid’s 2-1 friendly victory against Ferencvaros in Budapest. They face German side Schalke in another pre-season game tonight (Sunday).

“Espi is special because of his ability to score from very few chances,” says Navarro.

“The coach, Castro, was already saying it last year: he has no ceiling,” adds Sanchez, who has no doubts about Espi making the step up.

“That kid will be a star. But he will also be a good person.”

Islam Makhachev didn’t just walk out of UFC 330 in Philadelphia with his welterweight title still over his shoulder; he walked away with arguably the most revered record in mixed martial arts: a 17th consecutive UFC win, one more than the mark set by legendary middleweight Anderson Silva.

Makhachev’s record-setting victory came over Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) in one of Makhachev’s closest fights. After dominating with his trademark grappling in the first round and flashing his improved stand-up striking in the second, Makhachev looked uncharacteristically fatigued for the final two rounds and seemed to have run out of answers for Machado Garry’s spindly striking.

But in fitting fashion, it was a key takedown with just under three minutes left in the bout that sealed the victory — and the record — for Makhachev.

“Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and he gave me a hard time,” Makhachev said in the cage after the win. “But I still prove (myself) every fight.”

His streak began in September 2016 with a unanimous decision victory over Chris Wade, and 11 of those fights ended in finishes. Saturday night marked his seventh consecutive title-fight victory since October 2022 — the first five for the lightweight title and the past two for the welterweight strap. After the bout, Makhachev suggested his first fight against Alexander Volkanovski, in February 2023, was the toughest bout of the streak. But Saturday certainly was one of the closest.

Machado Garry entered the night seeking to become this generation’s star UFC champion from Ireland and represented one of the most physically complex challenges of Makhachev’s streak. Standing several inches taller and weaponizing sharp kicks that left Makhachev breathing with his mouth wide open starting in the third round, Machado Garry used his frame to stuff several Makhachev takedowns and force Makhachev to spend much of the third and fourth rounds in the clinch rather than on the ground, where the Dagestani champion has steamrolled many of the world’s best fighters.

But in the fifth, with Makhachev seemingly on the ropes, the champion showed his heart. After another two minutes of dangerous Machado Garry strikes, Makhachev deftly tripped the challenger and quickly scrambled to take Machado Garry’s back and eventually take Silva’s record.

“Nothing surprised me,” Machado Garry said after the defeat. “I have nothing but respect for Islam.”

Silva’s streak spanned June 2006 to October 2012 and featured 10 consecutive title finishes, a UFC record. But while Silva’s streak ended in a minute of overconfidence, allowing Chris Weidman to capitalize with one of the most stunning knockouts in MMA history, Makhachev has shown no signs of letting his guard down or slowing his pace as the promotion’s top pound-for-pound star.

In recent years, the winning-streak record had numerous promising challengers. Kamaru Usman racked up 15 straight wins before getting knocked out by a stunning last-minute headkick by Leon Edwards in 2022. Merab Dvalishvili had his streak of 14 straight wins snapped in December as he was going for a UFC-record fourth title defense in a calendar year. The shortcomings of Usman and Dvalishvili, future Hall of Famers, only point to how difficult the historic mark was to reach.

Makhachev’s mentor, legendary lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, but he retired with a career record of 29-0 and a 12-0 record in the UFC. Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, who have trained together for much of their lives, were both coached by Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap. Before Khabib retired, his father promised that Makhachev would carry the championship torch of their gym.

With Saturday’s win, Makhachev has carried that torch to heights the UFC has never previously charted. And as he promised in a recorded interview before UFC 330, he has plans for far more than 17 consecutive wins.

Michael Carrick’s first pre-season as Manchester United head coach has largely been positive, with new players making a good impression, nearly a fully healthy squad, and fluid football on display.

But United’s performance against AC Milan was a reminder of the improvements that still need to be made, especially if Carrick and his players are to turn their words about doing “something special” into reality.

The fact this 4-2 defeat came against a team managed by Ruben Amorim, using the system that proved an ill fit at United, only added sharper focus to that perspective. Amorim was searching for his first win in charge of Milan after two draws and a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, but his side blew United away in the second half at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw.

Samuel Chukwueze, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, repeatedly found joy when getting forwards from his position at right wing-back. He set up Alphadjo Cisse and Goncalo Ramos by crossing with his left foot when found via a quick switch of play that allowed him yards of space to run into.

On each occasion Luke Shaw, shuffling across to cover, was unable to close him down to stop the cross. While that is partly a system issue, with Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 designed to get overloads on the flanks, it feeds into the ongoing consideration United are putting into the next signing in the market.

Michael Carrick has been clear he needs more players (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Carrick wants more players, that much was clear from his interview with the media in Dublin, and left-back is the prime position on the agenda. Shaw was excellent last season, starting all 38 Premier League games, but he will not play two games a week consistently, which is why United have looked at Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and others.

Shaw played the entire 90 minutes against Milan, his first full game of pre-season, and undoubtedly the 34-degree heat played a part in a low-energy second half from United in general. Players also wanted to avoid injury a week ahead of the Premier League starting.

But having genuine competition for Shaw, given United are back in the Champions League, would surely be prudent.

Milan’s final goal also came down United’s left, but Lisandro Martinez was the player most caught out. Shaw was coming back after advancing upfield, so it was Martinez who was up against Ruben Loftus-Cheek as he burst clear following a one-two with Ramos. Loftus-Cheek left Martinez in his wake and calmly finished past Senne Lammens. Martinez was making his first appearance since returning after reaching the final of the World Cup and it showed in that move.

Ayden Heaven is Martinez’s rival for that left centre-half spot, and he is primed to start against Hull City as Martinez works his way to full match fitness, while Shaw will play at left-back. Whether Carrick will have an alternative option he feels he can genuinely consider — with Harry Amass still developing at 19 — by the time the window closes remains to be seen. Amass is talented, but the club are considering a loan to get him regular minutes.

Amorim’s presence as Carrick’s final opposing manager of pre-season gave a certain irony to this whole conversation, a reminder of how United did sign a player of that ilk 18 months ago. Patrick Dorgu was brought in to fit Amorim’s system though, more attacking than a traditional full-back and deemed, so far, to be a left winger by Carrick.

Amorim was backed last summer through the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, then United went further than anticipated by pouncing for Benjamin Sesko too – acutely conscious of the need to add goals to the team. Those three arrived on transfers worth around £207million. So far, under Carrick, United have committed £85m to incomings.

Ruben Amorim’s Milan exploited Manchester United’s weaknesses in the second half (Sergei GAPON / AFP via Getty Images)

Conversely, by finishing 15th, Amorim got greater resources than Carrick has enjoyed for coming third, securing the Champions League revenue that is so crucial to United’s operation. That could shift with a little more than a fortnight left of the window, but United are giving a strong impression spending will continue to be disciplined.

Carrick knows, of course, that coaching can also change the picture. He is giving his players Monday off before getting back to work at Carrington. “Five days of training in different ways,” he said. “Sometimes a little bit harder, sometimes a bit more of recovery. But we’ll work through the week and be better for it. We’re looking forward to it.”

As far as Carrick’s predecessor is concerned, here was a full stop to his United story. Despite issues between Amorim and his players at times during his tenure, many of them acknowledged their former manager after the game, with Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee in the first group to hug him after the trophy presentation.

Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, had shaken Amorim’s hand in the tunnel before kick-off, seven months on from Amorim bringing their relationship into the spotlight following an explosive row behind the scenes over the formation.

After a draw at Leeds in January, Amorim said: “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United — not to be the coach of Manchester United. Every department, the scouting department, the sporting director, needs to do their job.”

Amorim was much happier in the bowels of the Tarczynski Arena as he signed autographs and posed for pictures with United fans in the mixed zone. He then referenced his tendency for unpredictable moments in press conferences when spotting familiar faces among the group of journalists. Amorim asked if he was missed. “We miss your press conferences,” came the reply.

“More boring now,” he laughed.

It was a joke aimed at himself rather than a dig at Carrick, whose calm, measured approach has restored order at United. Carrick’s record since replacing Amorim is the best in the Premier League.

But Amorim’s friendly win was a timely warning that United cannot rely solely on more magic from Carrick with the players he currently has.