Real Sociedad manager bullish on future of Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi | 24F596N | 2024-05-12 16:08:01
Martin Zubimendi has attracted a lot of attention at Real Sociedad (Picture: Getty Images)
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil has insisted that Martin Zubimendi will still be at the club next season, despite interest from the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The central midfielder has been at Real Sociedad for his entire professional career and they are keen to keep hold of the Spain international despite interest from huge clubs.
The 25-year-old has been an incredibly reliable performer since breaking into the first team on a regular basis in the 2020/21 season, making over 40 appearances in each of the last four campaigns.
His reliability has attracted the attention of Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich but Alguacil is certain that he will not be leaving the club this summer.
Alguacil told reporters: 'Martin Zubimendi wants to stay here and for sure he will stay with us at Real Sociedad next season. I have no doubts, he's staying with us.'
Last month Zubimendi spoke to Spanish newspaper Marca on his future, saying: 'They are just rumours, I am happy at Real Sociedad, it is like my home.
'I cannot say that I will play my entire career at Real Sociedad, perhaps the club won't want me to continue in the future. But I do not concern myself with these rumours.'
Zubimendi appears in no rush to leave Real Sociedad (Picture: Getty Images)
The holding midfielder is under contract until 2027 so there is no rush to cash in on him this summer, although that might be more of a concern next year.
Real Sociedad are currently sixth in La Liga and on course to qualify for the Europa League next season, but are extremely unlikely to be able to offer Champions League football next season.
Bec + Bridge's designer duo on AFW, motherhood and friendship | TEZOM3U | 2024-05-12 14:08:01
Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston on motherhood, friendship, and their 20th anniversary at Australian Fashion Week
The designer duo behind Bec + Bridge reflect on their friendship, their lives juggling business and motherhood, and the 20th anniversary of their first runway at Australian Fashion Week. By Dani Maher
Speaking to Harper's BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand a week before they're set to unveil their latest runway for Australian Fashion Week, the duo say they feel lucky to have the partnership they do as both friends and designers. "It's something we don't take for granted," they say.
Their unique journey over the past two decades has seen them evolve as businesswomen and simply as people, and they've supported each other through it all — even as they entered new phases of their life as mothers. Cooper has two sons, nine-year-old Max, and seven-year-old Teddy; while Bridget has three children: 13-year-old Tommy, 11-year-old George, and eight-year-old Matilda. As Mother's Day looms — on the eve of Fashion Week, no less — they admit that "naturally, things change when becoming a mother," but it's a change they've embraced wholeheartedly.
"We've always prioritised balance and perspective in how we approach life and business, but that certainly plays out on a whole new level once becoming a mother," they say.
Embracing "flexibility and balance" has been key, they say, as has maintaining a sense of self beyond the part of their identity that is motherhood. In that regard, fashion has been a liberating tool. "Being able to express personal style, creativity and individuality can be empowering for mothers in maintaining a sense of self," they advise.
Below, discover our full conversation with the fashionable pair — including what they say we can expect from the runway which will mark 20 years since their debut at Australian Fashion Week.
Harper's BAZAAR: What is your first memory of meeting each other at university? What were your first impressions of each other?
We met on our very first day of university. We were being taken on a tour of the textile print rooms and we ended up introducing ourselves. We had no idea what lay ahead for us…
Studying together at UTS was the catalyst for you two becoming friends, and ultimately creating Bec+Bridge after you graduated. What were those earliest discussions of starting your own label like? Did it seem like a dream or something you knew you were going to embark upon together?
We never set out to start a label. It all started with a friend coming to us with an old pair of jeans that he wanted us to revamp for his party that night. We screen printed our names all over them, stitched them, dyed them, embroidered them… they had a full makeover. It was 2001 and denim was having a big moment… that pair of jeans set the wheels in motion. Before we knew it, we were registering our business name.
Bec + Bridge's designer duo on AFW, motherhood and friendship
Some say you shouldn't go into business with your friends. What advice do you have for friends wanting to team up professionally?
We've been incredibly fortunate with our partnership. It's hard to offer up advice in this area… it's something we don't take for granted. Always keeping things in perspective is a good start.
Did becoming mothers change the way you approached your business?
Naturally things change when becoming a mother. We've always prioritised balance and perspective in how we approach life and business but that certainly plays out on a whole new level once becoming a mother.
What do you see as the relationship between motherhood and fashion?
The relationship between motherhood and fashion is certainly a personal one. Apart from the practical aspect, being able to express personal style, creativity and individuality can be empowering for mothers in maintaining a sense of self.
Being able to EXPRESS personal style, CREATIVITY and individuality can be EMPOWERING for mothers in maintaining a SENSE of SELF.
The world of business is still evolving to accommodate women as they enter different stages of their lives, like motherhood. How have you noticed it change as you've become mothers, and how do you hope it can continue to evolve to support women and mothers?
As business owners we've been very fortunate that we're able navigate motherhood with the necessary flexibility and balance we need. We hope that at Bec + Bridge we've built a culture that makes mothers feel supported through encouraging work life balance as well as an environment that allows them to thrive in their careers.
Next week, at Australian Fashion Week, you'll be presenting your 20th anniversary runway. What can fans expect?
A fresh, elevated and edgy collection.
Bec + Bridge's designer duo on AFW, motherhood and friendship
Xbox fans are baffled as head requests 'prestige' games after shutting down some of its best studiosTango GameworksHi-Fi Rush was one of the best Xbox exclusives from last year[/caption]
There was obvious backlash, and Steam developer Valve began refunding everyone who owned Helldivers 2 no matter how many hours they had played.
Fortunately, this caused PlayStation to backtrack on its consumer-unfriendly demand, even though the damage to its reputation had already been done.
PlayStation didn't need to worry about losing good will, as Xbox came back strong this week with an announcement that has devastated the industry.
Xbox shut down four studios, including Dishonored's Arkane Austin, and Hi-Fi Rush's Tango Gameworks, with the latter game being one of Xbox's most successful titles last year.
Hi-Fi Rush received a huge 90 rating on review aggregate site Metacritic, it also won five awards last year including Best Audio Design at The Game Awards, and Best Animation at the BAFTAs.
It was nominated for a further 19 awards, including Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
To say Hi-Fi Rush was a breakout hit is an understatement. Its hugely successful shadow launch has changed the way games have been marketed and released in the year since and possibly forever.
However, it seems that this success wasn't enough to save the developer, even as it was pitching a sequel according to a report by Bloomberg.
The same report suggests that Arkane Austin was pitching an immersive sim similar to its previous works like Dishonored, which is even more decorated than Hi-Fi Rush winning the BAFTA for Best Game.
Fans were baffled by the decision to shut down these two studios which have incredible games to offer, particularly when Xbox has been struggling with the quality of its first-party games.
However, new comments from head of Xbox Games Studios Matt Booty has left Xbox fans even more stunned.
According to a report by The Verge, in internal messages Booty said: "We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards."
It feels confusing to many that Booty would make remarks like this on the day after the company fired the developers who were making these games.
While PlayStation and Xbox are upsetting fans at least Nintendo has good news for the console community.
Among all of the turmoil, Nintendo announced the Switch 2, revealing that more details would come within the next nine months.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Xbox releases from our expert reviewers.
I have over a hundred hours spent in Hades and the sequel has me obsessed | 9Z731N6 | 2024-05-12 15:08:01
HADES 2 was one of the most-anticipated games of 2024, and everyone was shocked by its release.
While we knew that it would launch on Steam in Early Access 'soon' it suddenly dropped to everyone's surprise.
I have over a hundred hours spent in Hades and the sequel has me obsessedSupergiant GamesHades 2 is far more than a new playable character[/caption]
I've been playing Hades 2 in Early Access for a few weeks now, and as someone with more than a hundred hours in the original game, I couldn't wait to play.
I will admit that when I started playing Hades 2 during the technical test I came away disappointed.
It initially felt more like DLC to the original game with a new playable character than something fresh.
So many aspects of the game are the same, such as the collecting resources, making friends, and your journey through multiple levels of the underworld.
However, once you get past the first area the hub world opens up, and the new mechanics slowly unfold.
Even in this Early Access version there are six layers to explore, which is two more than the first game's full release.
Without giving too much away the areas mix up the game's formula far more than they did in the original, giving more variety as you dig deeper.
This is aside from all the extra things you can unlock the more you play, giving you different ways to improve Melinoë.
She's the new protagonist, and has a substantial upgrade to her cast which offers some protection when she's standing inside it.
All of the weapons are also new, and there is a mix of old and new keepsakes to change up your playstyle.
With all the new additions, Hades 2 is an improvement over the original, even if it can occasionally get bogged down with collecting resources.
This version is incomplete but still features as much content as a full game, so it's worth taking the plunge.
