The Argentine shared his favorite aspects of American culture in a lighthearted Instagram video, revealing preferences ranging from cities to sports
Pochettino names Chicago as his favorite American city while appreciating several othersArgentine picks with Teddy Swims as favourite American musicianNFL emerges as Pochettino's favorite American sport beyond soccerAFPWHAT HAPPENED
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino participated in a rapid-fire Q&A about his favorite American experiences since taking charge of the national team. The Argentine manager named Chicago as his top U.S. city, though he also expressed fondness for Miami, Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and Nashville. When asked about American music, Pochettino selected soul singer Teddy Swims as his favorite artist, while naming Chick-fil-A as his preferred American fast-food option.
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The video represents part of U.S. Soccer's ongoing efforts to build Pochettino's profile among American fans who may be less familiar with the former Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea manager. By highlighting his engagement with American culture through cities, food, entertainment, and other sports, the federation continues positioning Pochettino as someone committed to understanding the country he now represents.
AFPWHAT’S NEXT?
The USMNT will participate in the 2025 Gold Cup as one of the co-hosts and will face Trinidad and Tobago in their first game of the tournament on June 14.
Month-long red-ball tour will coincide with start of England men’s five-match Test series in India
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2023England Lions have announced a 15-man squad for their red-ball tour of India in the New Year, designed to run parallel with the men’s five-match Test series at the start of 2024.Hosted entirely in Ahmedabad, the Lions will play a two-day warm-up match against India A, followed by three four-day matches against the same opponents at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The group will be in situ from January 12 to February 4, coinciding with the first Test in Hyderabad (starting January 25) and the first half of the second Test in Visakhapatnam (February 2).The squad will ultimately shadow the main tour and as such has more of a “second XI” feel than the spin and allrounder heavy group who recently completed a three-week training camp in the UAE. Recent Test openers Alex Lees and Keaton Jennings are part of the 15, along with internationally capped fast bowlers Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Matt Fisher.Related
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Spin-heavy England Lions to go to UAE keeping India Test tour in mind
Uncapped Lancashire batter Josh Bohannon, long considered the next cab off the ranks, will captain after leading the County Championship Division One run charts last summer with 1,257 at an average of 59.85 with four centuries. Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson and left-arm orthodox Callum Parkinson, who has moved from Leicestershire to Durham, are also included. Both were shots for the main tour before Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum picked precocious Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir. James Coles (Sussex) and Dan Mousley (Warwickshire) are the two other slow bowlers in the travelling party.England Men’s performance director Mo Bobat said: “Playing a series in India at any level is a challenge to get excited about, it’s one of the truest tests for any cricketer. It’s great that our Lions team can experience that challenge and have the opportunity to showcase their skills in those conditions.”The squad has a strong core of players in it that were out in Abu Dhabi recently for the training camp, with some of those players already selected into the Test squad. There’s also a return for some more experienced players which aligns with supporting England’s more immediate needs.”England Lions squad: Josh Bohannon (Lancashire, captain), Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jack Carson (Sussex), James Coles (Sussex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Alex Lees (Durham), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Callum Parkinson (Durham), Matt Potts (Durham), Ollie Price (Gloucestershire), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Durham)Schedule12-13 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium – Ground B, Ahmedabad17-20 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad24-27 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad1-4 February: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The Bangladesh players look like they are enjoying the mildness of everything here, even the seeming lack of buzz surrounding their campaign
Mohammad Isam at The Oval01-Jun-2019Apart from seeing how the injured Tamim Iqbal did in the nets, Bangladesh’s training session on the day before their World Cup opener against South Africa was an unexciting affair. After going back to the hotel, some of them would have iftar in their rooms while others may go out for dinner. In a foreign land where cricket is not exactly a national obsession, the players enjoy a mildness of everything.That is usually not how Bangladesh does cricket. The hype, especially when they play at home, is suffocating. Everything becomes manic, a trigger for something bigger. from MS Dhoni-Mustafizur colliding mid-pitch or Shakib Al Hasan giving Ben Stokes the salute. Nothing can be swept under the carpet. Heck, there are no carpets. The Bangladesh team now operates on a crystal-clear floor where everything is seen clearly and heard loudly.The main stirrer of the pot is the BCB president himself. Nazmul Hassan is very hands-on. He often goes out and tells the media exactly how he feels about the team, from who should be in the XI and how they should be playing.That obviously gets picked up by the mainstream media. Then social media. And on and on it goes, spawning fake news. Recently, Imrul Kayes had to dispel rumors of his retirement after he was ignored from the World Cup squad.But the thing is, this time, even at home, there isn’t much of a buzz. Don’t get me wrong. People still plan to hold watching parties or go out to restaurants or outdoor screenings or just watch with family and friends. There is no drop in interest, but there is a pleasant drop in intensity.Mashrafe Mortaza makes sure everyone knows he is fit•BCBThe Bangladesh players spent 17 days in Ireland where they won a tri-series against the hosts and West Indies. But because it was in the shadow of the World Cup, the victory almost went unnoticed. It was their first trophy out of a multi-team tournament. It should have come with some fanfare – which was the case when they beat Pakistan and India and South Africa in the space of four months in 2015. But maybe the change in tone is not a bad thing.When asked about the lack of buzz around the Bangladesh team, the captain Mashrafe Mortaza said, “It depends whether the hype is necessary or unnecessary. Many people are boasting that we have already reached the semi-finals, or even won the World Cup. We are nowhere near favourites in the World Cup. South Africa are favourites tomorrow. Having said that, we will also try to give our best, up to our preparations and ability.”Some people create unnecessary hype. But those who analyse cricket, they keep us long way back but we are fighting against their opinion. These things go on ahead of the tournament. I think the players should focus on what has produced this expectation.”Mashrafe has been part of World Cup campaigns in 2003, 2007 and 2015. He watched the 2011 edition, co-hosted by Bangladesh, from the sidelines. And he believes the hype is more now.”I think there was less expectations last time. Your lot have also been talking it up. Maybe some of our players have started to believe in it. Sometimes it brings out the best in them, but I am wary that it might also create pressure. Players should be focused on their main job, and not what the talk is about.”We are treating this as another tournament, and our players have to understand that this game is another international match. We will feel more pressure if we take all the talks of expectations to the field.”Mashrafe is correct in saying that the No. 7-ranked team cannot be tipped to win the World Cup even before they play a single match. But that doesn’t really stop the team’s more radical fans from amping them up on Facebook and Twitter. And that is exactly why some in the know are happy the players don’t pay too much mind to all the noise that is around them.”I am not surprised but I am relieved that the players are not so active on social media,” Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, a BCB director and well-known cricket administrator since the late 1970s, said. “Sometimes unnecessary activities can be counterproductive. It has never helped the players in any way. Perhaps it is a way to connect with your fans, so sticking to that is okay. The tournament has started couple of days ago but it is about to start for our team. So I don’t want to pre-empt anything.”Bobby also said that his colleagues should not be in the news so often. “I think for us, it is best to stay away from the media. I don’t know what purpose it serves,” he said. “We should leave the playing to the players, coaching staff, management and selectors.”And, according to Bobby, this low-key setting ahead of a very big match against South Africa, has been several years in the making. “In 1999, it was about participation, which was a matter of great elation for all of us. In 2011, we hosted the tournament which raised the expectations level. We also realised that we should make some headway in the field too”In 2019, it is no longer about only participation. We are seeking real achievements, so maybe we are a bit cautious about expressing ourselves. Which is why the ecstasy may be missing.”
The selectors are again planning for the possibility of needing to call on fast bowling depth against India
Tristan Lavalette15-Oct-2024Australia fielding an unchanged frontline pace attack last summer might have been an “outlier” as selectors strategise over their seam options in the wake of losing allrounder Cameron Green.Emphasising their remarkable durability, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have played in Australia’s last nine Tests stretching back to the Ashes tour.Related
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Last summer they were aided by bowler-friendly conditions at home and in New Zealand where none of the seven matches went into a fifth day. In only three of the innings did Australia need to bowl more than 78 overs which helped them keep fresh.But India’s imposing batting line-up represents a different challenge with the expectation that Australia will be made to toil in the upcoming five-match series played over seven weeks. There are doubts over whether Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood can replicate what they did last season and play the entirety of what should be a gruelling series.Australia’s pace depth has been tested with several fringe bowlers working their way back from injuries. Quick Lance Morris, uncapped at Test level but a regular squad member over the last couple of years, suffered an injury setback having picked up a quad strain in training recently but should return before the end of the month.Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who had a five-wicket haul for Queensland against Western Australia to start the Sheffield Shield season, have overcome off-season niggles and will be part of Australia A’s upcoming red-ball series against India A.”If you look at the quicks last year we were certainly prepared that they might not be able to play all the Tests and they did,” George Bailey, Australia chair of selectors, said on Monday.”Potentially that might have been an outlier and again this summer we’ll be prepared that if we do need to make some adjustments throughout the summer that we are ready to go.”The triumvirate’s workload could increase with Green sidelined for the entire summer due to a stress fracture of his back. Green’s bowling has been cautiously utilised in his Test career, but he was set to play a bigger role with the ball against India.”Someone like Cam basically started in Shield cricket as a bowler but hasn’t had to bowl heaps in Test matches. Now he is a few years older, I think we will be leaning on him a bit more,” Cummins said in August.1:08
Can India risk taking Shami to Aus if he misses the NZ Tests?
Mitchell Marsh might be required to help cover Green’s absence, but has bowled just four overs – all of which were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s – since tearing his hamstring during the IPL. He blasted 94 at No. 4 for WA in their second innings against Queensland, but did not bowl in the match as he mostly fielded in the slips and occasionally helped carry the drinks.If selectors decide on a like-for-like replacement then Aaron Hardie and Beau Webster will be in the frame. Hardie did not play in the opening Shield round due to a quad injury he picked up at the end of the England tour, but he is set to return for WA’s next match against Tasmania at the WACA starting on October 20.Bailey believed having an allrounder was a “luxury” rather than a necessity. “Even looking at the three quicks that we generally play in Test cricket, they’ve played a lot of Test cricket together where they haven’t had an allrounder as well”, he said.”Think it certainly depends on the personnel that are available. Guess the role that Cam and Mitch have played is that they’ve been able to hold down a spot purely on the back of their batting and think that’s still fundamentally what’s most important in that top six.”Will continue preparing for Mitch Marsh to bowl some overs as well, that’s been part of his management for the last couple of months.”Australia’s hierarchy have carefully managed workloads of the quicks ahead of the India series, with Cummins missing the entire white-ball England tour to give him a break from bowling.Cummins is unlikely to play a Shield game before the India series and will instead prepare by leading Australia in their ODI series against Pakistan. But Hazlewood and Starc are set to play in at least one Shield match before the Pakistan series.”Pat’s obviously had an individual prep, but if you go through the Test team from the end of last year and their build up to the first Test this year, everyone’s slightly nuanced,” Bailey said.”There’s always an eye to the individual as to what their best preparation is for any Test summer. I think the proliferation of franchise cricket means that there are plenty of opportunities and temptations for players to fill gaps.”Pat, Mitch and Josh have been pretty amazing over how they’ve been able to select which franchise tournaments they play. And they always give themselves good breaks when it’s appropriate as well.”
Manchester United face a dilemma over Rasmus Hojlund after Fulham contacted the Red Devils about a potential deal for the Denmark striker.
Fulham make Hojlund enquiryUnited expected to move striker onAC Milan previously tipped with interestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
United would prefer to sell unwanted striker Hojlund to a foreign team rather than a Premier League rival, according to . The Danish forward is expected to leave Old Trafford during the final few weeks of the summer transfer window following the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, having endured two difficult seasons after joining the Red Devils from Atalanta.
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Fulham may be in for a new striker if Rodrigo Muniz – who earned the Cottagers a point at Brighton on Saturday having been heavily linked with Atalanta – moves on during the next fortnight or so, but the Red Devils would prefer to strike a deal with a club from abroad. AC Milan are thought to be one such interested party, with the Italian giants' sporting director recently admitting the 22-year-old is "a good option for us".
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Hojlund himself previously asserted his desire to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, though his measly haul of four Premier League goals last season coupled with Sesko's signing seems to suggest manager Ruben Amorim is forging a path forward without him. He was also completely left out of the United squad that lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR HOJLUND?
United are thought to want around £40 million (€46.3m/$54.1m) to part ways with Hojlund this summer but there's every chance the Dane is sent out on loan temporarily if no permanent deal materialises soon.
Lamine Yamal this, Lamine Yamal that. Arsenal have their very own budding wonderkid in the effervescent Ethan Nwaneri.
Making his Premier League debut in 2022 at the age of just 15, making him the top-flight’s youngest-ever player, Nwaneri has now become a household, truly bursting onto the scene in 2024/25.
The teenager is now 18 and has cemented himself as one of the best young players in Europe, having scored nine goals in his 37 senior appearances last season.
He scored in the Champions League, he scored against Manchester City and now he’s rivalling teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly for the PFA Young Player of the Season award.
Nwaneri then crowned his campaign off by winning the U21 European Championships with Lee Carsley’s England a week ago.
So, surely he’ll go on to become a modern-day Arsenal great, right? Well, he could actually leave.
The latest on Ethan Nwaneri's future at Arsenal
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2023, before Nwaneri signed his first professional deal at the Emirates Stadium, and there were rumours that the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City could land the talented youngster.
Thankfully for those of an Arsenal persuasion, Nwaneri stayed to develop under Mikel Arteta’s watchful eyes.
However, his first pro deal actually expires in a year’s time and according to Fabrizio Romano, he wants assurances over game time before committing his future to the club.
It’s a worrying development for the Gunners, particularly as Romano actually reveals that Chelsea have been showing interest in the player and could move if he fails to agree a new deal in north London.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, with assurances over playing time in mind, perhaps signing another creative midfielder might not be the best idea if they want to keep him.
Arsenal targeting move for a new no.10
One of the club’s main targets this summer has been Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. Some reports suggest that personal terms have already been agreed but club-to-club talks are yet to take place.
A potential alternative could be RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons. That’s according to Italian journalist Orazio Accomando, who has revealed that Andrea Berta is ‘working to deliver another coup’ for Arsenal.
He reveals that ‘talks are ongoing’ with Leipzig over a deal and although no fee has been mentioned, previous reports have indicated it may take £68.8m to prise him away from the Bundesliga.
Why Xavi Simons is bad news for Ethan Nwaneri
While a certain Emmanuel Eboue isn’t always the voice of football, he has delivered one statement that reveals why Arsenal need to do all they can to keep hold of Nwaneri.
“I think Ethan can be better than Yamal if he works hard and respects the game,” the former Arsenal defender once commented.
Whether or not you believe that remark, it shows the considerable amount of hype the teen has been generating.
“The touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi,” Joe Cole also once said.
Losing him, therefore, would be a colossal blow. So, Arsenal need to present him with game time. Where is that most likely? Well, at the moment, he’s done a mighty fine job playing second fiddle to Saka on the right wing but he’s an attacking midfielder by trade, a central player blessed with close-touch control and a goalscoring ability.
During the 2023/24 season, his final as an academy player, Nwaneri played 18 times as a no.10 and scored 13 goals in the process. His best position is clearly there but he has to get past Martin Odegaard first.
Attacking midfield
45
20
7
Right wing
20
4
2
Centre-forward
9
11
2
Left wing
1
0
1
Despite scoring just three Premier League goals last term, the club captain isn’t going to be moved aside very easily. Thus, if the Gunners sign Simons too, Nwaneri surely isn’t going to get much of a look in his favoured role.
That isn’t to say the Dutchman wouldn’t be a good signing though. Born out of Barcelona’s famed La Masia, Simons was once a wonderkid with the world at his feet, just like Nwaneri.
Xavi Simons celebrates
However, after never making the grade as a senior pro at Barca and struggling for game time at PSG after moving to France, he’s gone the long way round to find a home in senior football at Leipzig.
During his time with the German outfit, the 22-year-old has cemented himself as “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one data analyst.
Why? Well, he’s not only a brilliant creator, but he’s also full of goals. In 2023/24, the young Netherlands international scored ten and supplied 15 goals. In 2024/25, he found the net on 11 occasions and registered eight assists.
Goals
0.42
0.40
Assists
0.40
0.20
Shots
2.09
2.42
Key passes
2.13
1.62
Progressive passes
5.86
3.33
Shot-creating actions
4.52
2.93
Progressive carries
3.56
4.65
Successful take-ons
1.38
3.74
On that evidence, he is the ideal player to provide competition for an out-of-form Odegaard.
Now, while he would certainly add an undoubted amount of extra quality to the Arsenal side, Arteta and Berta must weigh up what this move means for Nwaneri, particularly with Chelsea registering an interest.
The Gunners feel like they’re in a win the title at all costs scenario, but they must think of the long-term here too. Either way, it’s not as though Nwaneri, one of England’s best young prospects, couldn’t help them win a title now either.
Xavi Simons for RB Leipzig
Just look at Lewis-Skelly. Also aged 18, he is now a regular starter and starred in the Bernabeu as Arteta’s men defeated Real Madrid.
This will be an intriguing dilemma should Arsenal decide to further their interest in Simons.
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New Zealand had plenty of positives in the first Test, and will want to go one step further and square the series
Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Sep-2024Big picture – Teams hope to keep WTC final chances aliveNew Zealand lost their first ever Test in Galle by an innings and 16 runs, their next by 202 runs, the one after that by 10 wickets, the next by six wickets, and the match that ended on Monday by 63 runs. They might be zero for five here, but at least those margins have grown slimmer with each outing.With luck, they can close the gap even further in the Test starting Thursday. They could really do with a win here, though, to keep their hopes of making the World Test Championship final alive if nothing else; their next assignment is three Tests in India, which is very likely the toughest tour in the game.Related
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New Zealand weren’t especially far away in the first Test, either. If Daryl Mitchell – batting nicely on 57 at the time – hadn’t been run out on the second morning, they could have pushed on to a commanding first-innings lead. And then, on a wearing track, who knows how Sri Lanka would have responded? Sri Lanka are obviously a skilled team playing in familiar conditions, but through the likes of Ajaz Patel, Mitchell, Will O’Rourke and Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand brought plenty of skill on a dusty Galle surface.Sri Lanka, however, will be brimming with good vibes. They are on a bit of a hot streak under interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya. There was one disastrous Test at Lord’s, but before that, they had competed in Manchester, and won an ODI series against India for the first time since the late 1990s.Now, they have notched up two consecutive Test victories for the second time this year, having also defeated Bangladesh twice (away from home, no less) earlier in the year. Their bowlers have been the heart of this success, but the batters have found ways to contribute too.Another win at Galle will put their WTC percentage points at 56 – not very far away from Australia (62.5), who are second on that table at the moment.Form guide – NZ on a losing streakSri Lanka WWLLW New Zealand LLLWWIn six Test innings in Galle, Kane Williamson averages 16.50•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight – Dinesh Chandimal and Kane WilliamsonDinesh Chandimal has been asked to shuffle up the order to No. 3. He will have known he doesn’t have a stellar record in that position, having made just one fifty in eight innings before the first Test. But he took the spot anyway, to allow the team to make two other moves – sending Kamindu Mendis up to No. 5, and Kusal Mendis down, as wicketkeeper-batter, to No. 7.Chandimal has, however, made a strong start in his new role, producing a vital 61 in the second innings of the first Test. Dimuth Karunaratne, his partner for much of that knock, praised Chandimal for his positivity at the crease. It’s not often that batters with 15 hundreds on their record agree to move for less-established players. More good scores at No. 3, at a venue he generally likes, may put him in a better frame of mind for challenges to come.Kane Williamson has played with other New Zealand greats (and still does so long as Tim Southee is around), but the greatest predictor of a New Zealand victory over the past 15 years has been whether Williamson gets runs. He averages 81.86 when New Zealand win. This is largely backed by an immense record at home, but even in Asia, it holds true – he averages 71.70 in the six wins he’s played in on the continent. He hasn’t quite cracked Galle, though. In six innings at the venue, he averages 16.50. But then his two best scores here – 55 and 30 – came in the last match. Perhaps he is building to something big.Pitch and conditionsIt’s Galle. Expect another rank turner. But also, given the evidence of the first Test, expect O’Rourke, Southee and Asitha Fernando to dig up the pitch on one side, creating big footmarks outside the left-hand batters’ off stump (or right-hand batters’ leg stump) on either side of the pitch as the game wears on.And it’s southern Sri Lanka in September. Expect short, sharp showers.Milan Rathnayake has been brought into the Sri Lanka XI for the second Test•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam news – Rathnayake and Peiris come into Sri Lanka XIDespite their win, Sri Lanka have made two changes to their XI. Milan Rathnayake, who was impressive with bat and ball on his debut tour in England, has been included in the XI in place of Lahiru Kumara, who did not take a wicket in the first Test. They have also dropped Ramesh Mendis, who at times lacked control in the first Test. In his place, they have named a debutant in Nishan Peiris, another offspinner, aged 27. He has 172 first-class wickets at an average of 24.37.Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karuanaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Milan Rathnayake, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Nishan Peiris, 11 Asitha FernandoIf there’s a change New Zealand may be tempted to make, it is to swap out Mitchell Santner for Michael Bracewell. Santner had a modest first Test, taking 1 for 115 with his left-arm spin (Glenn Phillips felt like a more threatening bowler) and he made 2 in each innings.New Zealand (possible): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner/Michael Bracewell, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Will O’RourkeStats and trivia Two of Ajaz Patel’s five career five-wicket hauls have come in Galle. He averages 22.35 at the venue. Roy Dias was the fastest Sri Lanka batter to 1000 Test runs, getting there in 23 innings. Kamindu has 822 runs from 12 knocks so far. Prabath Jayasuriya has an outside shot of becoming the equal-fastest to 100 Test wickets in the game’s history, if he gets 12 wickets in this match. The only bowler to get there in 16 matches was George Lohmann, who achieved the feat way back in 1896. Of Jayasuriya’s 88 wickets, 62 have come in Galle.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is certain to leave European champions Paris Saint-Germain after being excluded from their matchday squad that will face Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur in the midweek in the UEFA Super Cup. Donnarumma has been linked with a move away from PSG after refusing to put pen to paper on a new contract and his likely destination is the Premier League.
Donnarumma left out of UEFA Super Cup clashItalian goalkeeper likely to join an English clubPSG face Spurs on WednesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Donnarumma has been left out of PSG's matchday squad by manager Enrique for their upcoming UEFA Super Cup clash against Spurs. The Italian goalkeeper will not travel to Udine in the midweek with the rest of the first team squad for the club's 2025-26 season opener.
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reports Donnarumma's exclusion from the squad is a clear sign he will exit the Ligue 1 giants, either this summer or next season. The relationship between the club and the player is completely broken after he refused to sign a new contract.
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While there is no clarity on Donnarumma's future yet, Romano further claims he is likely to head to England and join a Premier League team amid strong interest from Manchester United, who are looking for Andre Onana's replacement.
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After the heartbreak in the Club World Cup in the US this summer, Enrique's side will aim to bounce back and claim another European title on Wednesday when they face Spurs.
The Mexican midfielder is not part of West Ham United’s plans and is set to leave during this transfer window.
Already played four seasons with AjaxMonaco will compete in the Champions LeagueCurrent market value is $29 millionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
A few days ago, it was reported that Edson Álvarez is no longer in West Ham United’s plans, with the club now looking to move him on during this transfer window.
Multiple reports are now suggesting that Ajax – where the Mexican international played from 2019 to 2023 – are interested in bringing him back. Meanwhile, French side AS Monaco, set to compete in the upcoming Champions League, is also keen on signing the Mexico captain.
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Álvarez lost prominence at the Hammers following the arrival of Graham Potter, making his potential departure an expected one. Borussia Dortmund had previously been linked with him as well, but it now appears as if he will be heading to either Ligue 1 or Eredivisie.
In total, Álvarez played 73 matches for West Ham United, scoring twice.
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Edson's move to Ajax in 2019 remains the most expensive outgoing transfer in Liga MX history, with the Dutch club paying $15.6 million to América. Now, the midfielder is seeking a new opportunity to regain valuable minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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Mexico will face Japan on Sept. 6 and South Korea on Sept. 9, with both friendlies taking place in the United States.
Manchester United have been desperately hunting for a new striker throughout this summer transfer window, understandably so, too, given their lack of clinical edge.
Ruben Amorim’s side registered just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League outings this season, with only four sides scoring fewer – three of which were relegated to the Championship.
Their inability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis undoubtedly contributed to their lowly league standing, with no player in the squad managing to hit double figures for goals.
Rasmus Hojlund, who was the Red Devils’ main talisman, only netted four goals, highlighting the need for reinforcements in such a department this window.
Countless players have already been touted with summer moves to Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen which talisman the hierarchy will go after for the manager.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer
Viktor Gyokeres is a player who appeared out of reach this window, but it appears United have been handed a lifeline after it was confirmed he would be open to a reunion with Amorim in 2025/26.
He’s not the only talent on their radar, with Juventus star Dušan Vlahović also considered as an option, potentially leading to a swap deal with Jadon Sancho moving to Italy as a result.
However, the aforementioned duo aren’t the only ones being considered, as work is being done over a potential deal to land RB Leipzig talisman Benjamin Sesko, according to TBR Football.
They claim that internal talks have been held behind the scenes at Old Trafford in recent weeks, with the Slovenian popping up as an option after netting 21 goals in 45 appearances this year.
It also states that the staff behind the scenes have been extensively monitoring the 22-year-old in recent times, but confirmed that no deal is yet at an advanced stage.
Why United’s latest target would become world class alongside Bruno
Bruno Fernandes will go down as one of United’s best ever additions, thriving beyond all imagination after his £47m move from Sporting CP back in January 2020.
The Portuguese international rapidly made himself a fan favourite, offering a creative and clinical threat that the side had often been lacking before his arrival.
However, he’s sustained such levels, registering over 20 combined goals and assists in each of his seasons in Manchester, often being the shining light in tricky periods – none more so than this campaign
The 30-year-old accumulated a total of 37 combined goals and assists, with it unimaginable to think where the side would be without his contributions in 2024/25.
He undoubtedly has the creative nature, but has been lacking that lethal striker ahead of him, which could further bolster his tallies should the hierarchy land one in the coming months.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
Sesko could prove to be the beneficiary should he move to Old Trafford, having the chance to thrive alongside Bruno, who managed to create 2.7 chances per 90 this season.
He also registered a pass accuracy of 82%, which aided him, allowing him to notch 18 assists, something which the Slovenian could take his game to the next level with.
The Leipzig star, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Antonio Mango, registered 1.2 shots on target per 90 at an accuracy rate of 44% – handing Amorim’s side the talisman they’ve needed.
The youngster has also completed 52% of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in 59% of aerial battles, with his all-round nature certainly handing the side a new dimension.
Games played
33
Goals & assists
18
Shots on target per 90
1.2
Shot on target accuracy
44%
Take-ons completed
52%
Aerials won
59%
Progressive carries
1.8
He’s also demonstrated his desire to run in behind and play off the shoulder of the defender, a skillset that is extremely rare in today’s game, making himself a real nuisance to the opposition backline.
Such a deal would be a phenomenal one for the Red Devils, allowing them to take a huge step under the guidance of Amorim throughout 2025/26.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
If he can strike up a partnership with Fernandes next season, it would massively help the Red Devils catapult up the table, making the club a force to be reckoned with once again.
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