Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Ballon d'Or winner and Barcelona star opens door to future England move

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 October 2024, 07:57
Barcelona Women midfielder Aitana Bonmati has left the door open to joining an English club in the Women's Super League in the future.

The Spain international - regarded as one of the best female players in the world - is the current Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Women's Player award holder after another exceptional year for club and country.

Bonmati was an integral force in Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in 2023, being bestowed with the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, before winning a magnificent quadruple with Barcelona last season.

The 26-year-old collected her third Champions League title in four years with the all-conquering Catalan giants, in addition to the Primera Division, Copa de la Reina and Supercopa de Espana titles.

Back in September, Bonmati extended her Barcelona contract for another four years until the end of the 2027-28 season, and the deal is believed to have made her the highest-paid female player on the planet.

However, speaking to Sky Sports News during the launch of the latest EA FC game in Madrid, Bonmati refused to close the door on joining a WSL team, in spite of her desire to be a one-club woman.

"Yes, that would be nice to be a one-club player. For now, I've been playing for Barcelona since I was 13 years old. It would be nice if I could end my career like this... but you never know," the midfielder said.

"I'd never close the door. You never know what might happen in the future. But for now, I'm here for four more years, so I want to enjoy."

Bonmati: 'England is an example for women's football'

Bonmati played the full 90 minutes during Spain's World Cup final triumph over England last year, but the result was overshadowed by the Luis Rubiales scandal, as the former president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips, allegedly without her consent.

Rubiales - who affirmed that the kiss was consensual - was subsequently banned from all football-related activities for three years and is set to face trial for one count of sexual assault and one count of coercion.

In addition, female players in the top flight of Spanish football took strike action over low pay at the start of last season, which led to an increase in the minimum wage, but the average still falls far below the WSL.

"[The WSL] is a league that is so nice because England are investing a lot in women's football since the Euros - I cannot say the same about here in Spain," Bonmati added.

"I would say that England is an example off the field. Barca as a club is the same, but I would say England as a country. They won the Euros and took this as an opportunity to invest and help to grow women's football. And they are doing things so good - they are putting a lot of people in the stadiums.

"They are opening their (men's teams') stadiums every single week - this is so nice. Also, they are investing in brands, publicity and marketing. They are an example for everything."

Bonmati has scored 96 goals in 270 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions, and the reigning Champions League holders face Manchester City in their opening group-stage game on Wednesday.

Top News

14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Bayern Munich over a potential deal for forward Mathys Tel. 14 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RKC Waalwijk and FC Utrecht will battle it out for a quarter-final berth in the 2024-25 KNVB Beker when they go head to head at the Mandemakers Stadion on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is reportedly determined to join Bayern Munich in the winter transfer window. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk League-leaders Bayern Munich will hope to maintain their four-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga table when they host Hoffenheim at Allianz Arena on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly reached an agreement with Palmeiras to sign teenage defender Vitor Reis. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a match that could have significant ramifications on the race for Champions League football in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart will welcome RB Leipzig to MHPArena on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Lazio have released a statement after sacking the eagle handler who has been part of their pre-match entertainment for over a decade. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Union Berlin will hope to distance themselves from the relegation zone when they welcome fellow strugglers Augsburg to Stadion An der Alten Forsterei in the Bundesliga on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals will be at stake when Barcelona face fellow La Liga side Real Betis in Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ligue 2 side Troyes will hope to cause an upset in the Coupe de France round of 32 when they host Ligue 1 club Rennes on Wednesday at Stade de l'Aube. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is expected to start Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-16 clash against Real Betis despite being linked with a potential move to Juventus. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Ligue 1 have issued a statement to hit back at Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor's explosive comments about Paris Saint-Germain. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eredivisie runners-up Feyenoord travel to Sportpark Middelmors on Wednesday to take on third-tier side Rijnsburgse Boys in the KNVB Beker round of 16. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that defender Joe Gomez is not close to a return from injury ahead of the Reds' Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from their Spanish Super Cup disappointment when they welcome Celta Vigo to the Santiago Bernabeu for Thursday's Copa del Rey clash. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be looking to maintain their perfect start to 2025 when they welcome Real Betis to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-16 tie. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly made direct contact with Bayern Munich regarding a potential transfer for Joshua Kimmich as a possible replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor appears to be in hot water having reportedly called of one of his Lyon players an 'a**hole'. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Buoyed by their Spanish Super Cup success, Barcelona will be looking to claim another victory when they play host to Real Betis in Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Everton winger Pat Nevin has paid tribute to Sean Dyche following his dismissal last week and has commended the Toffees for picking the perfect managerial replacement in David Moyes. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A Premier League clash of unexpected epic proportions is in store at the City Ground on Tuesday evening, where leaders Liverpool pit their wits against third-placed Nottingham Forest. 13 January 2025 talksport.com West Ham are interested in signing Marseille striker Elye Wahi, talkSPORT understands. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Having both put lower-division sides to the sword in FA Cup action over the weekend, Chelsea and Bournemouth hope to carry that momentum forward into Tuesday's Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting third-round results in the FA Cup, Brentford and Manchester City resume Premier League action in Tuesday's meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bourgoin-Jallieu welcome top-flight opponents Lyon to Stade Pierre Rajon on Wednesday evening for their round of 32 Coupe de France clash in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kyle Walker is reportedly in the running to feature in Manchester City's Premier League match against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday night. 13 January 2025 talksport.com The concept of inflation is set to join Erik ten Hag and Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo's hate list. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides in impressive form will face off this Wednesday as Quevilly host top-flight side Angers at Stade Robert Diochon in Coupe de France round of 32.