da betcris： De volta ao futebol brasileiro e ao Internacional, o técnico Diego Aguirre não deixou o zagueiro Rodrigo Caio com uma impressão positiva do seu trabalho. Ambos trabalharam juntos no São Paulo, em 2018, e, em entrevista ao programa ‘Coisa de Crente’, da NETFÉ.TV, o atual jogador falou sobre a relação com o treinador uruguaio, a qual deu início a sua decisão de deixar o Morumbi.
– Chegou um treinador que na minha visão não foi leal comigo da forma que eu gosto de ser com as pessoas. E ali foi o primeiro momento que eu senti que era hora de eu sair do São Paulo, senão eu acabaria com a minha carreira. Não era mais feliz e não estava me sentido bem – afirmou Rodrigo, antes de completar:
– Era muito jovem quando estreei no São Paulo, tinha 17 anos. Infelizmente, não tive a oportunidade de ganhar títulos, que é o que marca. Em 2018 tive uma lesão, duas semanas antes da Copa do Mundo. Estava na disputa com o Geromel e não consegui ir, acredito muito pela questão da minha lesão.
RelacionadasFlamengoSábado é de vitórias para três times da base do Flamengo; veja os gols!Flamengo26/06/2021FlamengoFlamengo atuará contra o Juventude com números das cores da bandeira LGBTQIA+Flamengo26/06/2021FlamengoFlamengo embarca para Caxias do Sul, onde enfrenta o JuventudeFlamengo26/06/2021
da pixbet： A saída do São Paulo acabou se confirmando em 2019, quando foi contratado pelo Flamengo e se firmou como um dos principais nomes da equipe multicampeã. O zagueiro já levantou nove troféus pelo Rubro-Negro: dois Brasileiros, três Cariocas, duas Supercopas do Brasil, uma Libertadores e uma Recopa Sul-Americana. Além disso, segue no radar da Seleção Brasileira.
Real Madrid legend Guti has claimed that Los Blancos ignored his advice to sign "ridiculous" Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho.
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Guti recalled spotting Felix & Sancho's talent earlyReal didn't follow up on his recommendation Felix set to join Chelsea on a six-year dealWHAT HAPPENED?
Guti, who managed the youth teams of Real Madrid between 2013 and 2018, revealed that he recommended the names of Felix and Sancho after watching them play at youth level. However, Los Blancos officials did not formally pursue either player after the recommendation from the ex-Spain international.
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Felix later joined Real's rivals Atletico Madrid from Benfica in 2019, and has since taken in loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona. The Portuguese attacker is now on the verge of reuniting with the Blues as he has agreed to join them permanently on a six-year deal.
Sancho, on the other hand, joined Manchester United in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund and has had a topsy-turvy journey with the Red Devils thus far. During the 2023-24 campaign, Sancho had a fallout with manager Erik ten Hag after which he was banished from the first team and was then sent out on a short-term loan deal to Dortmund in January 2024. The winger is now back in the United setup.
WHAT GUTI SAID
Speaking on , former Real midfielder Guti said: "I saw him (Joao Felix) in the Youth League and this kid was valuable, it was ridiculous how he played against the others. He passed everyone. This kid had to be signed. I told Real Madrid that. I was coaching Real Madrid’s youth teams in the Youth League and were in the semi-finals against João Félix.
"He scored three goals. But I didn’t even need to tell Real Madrid, the club followed this type of player. In the end, you pass on information and the club does what it wants with it. I saw players like him, like [Jadon] Sancho from Dortmund, in the Youth League, about whom I also said ‘This player is worth signing’."
When asked about Felix's recent struggles as a player, Guti added: "That's what happened (about being signed for €126 million), he was 19 years old, he came from a slightly lower league, he came as a star, paying what he was paid for and to a club where they're going to demand a lot from him from day one. Maybe he wasn't ready for that."
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WHAT NEXT?
The Portugal international has already reached London ahead of his medical, after which he is expected to formally put pen to paper on the Blues' contract. Sancho, who missed United's season opener against Fulham due to an ear infection, is likely to be next seen in action on Saturday as his club face Brighton.
Ex-player says he ‘lost faith in humanity’ after claiming racist behaviour was ignored by club
George Dobell02-Sep-2020
Azeem Rafiq has spoken out about racism at Yorkshire•Getty Images
Azeem Rafiq has claimed his experiences of racism at Yorkshire left him on the brink of suicide.Rafiq, a former England U19 and Yorkshire captain, says he “lost faith in humanity” after his reports of racist behaviour were “ignored” by the club.Originally seen as a symbol of the club’s desire to embrace the ethnic diversity of the urban areas around its Leeds home, Rafiq came to believe that “institutional racism” at the club is “worse than it’s ever been”.Now aged 29 and pursuing a career away from the game, Rafiq has chosen to speak out in the hope that he can “prevent anyone else feeling the same pain.””I know how close I was to committing suicide during my time at Yorkshire,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was living my family’s dream as a professional cricketer, but inside I was dying. I was dreading going to work. I was in pain every day.”There were times I did things to try and fit in that, as a Muslim, I now look back on and regret. I’m not proud of it at all.”But as soon as I stopped trying to fit in, I was an outsider. There were no coaches on the staff from a similar background who understood what it was like.”Look at the facts and figures. Look at a squad photograph. Look at the coaches. How many non-white faces do you see? Despite the ethnic diversity of the cities in Yorkshire, despite the love for the game from Asian communities, how many people from those backgrounds are making it into the first team?”It’s obvious to anyone who cares that there’s a problem. Do I think there is institutional racism? It’s at its peak in my opinion. It’s worse than it’s ever been.”My only motivation now is to prevent anyone else feeling the same pain.”Yorkshire have so far declined ESPNcricinfo’s request to make a public response to Rafiq’s claims.They have, though, told ESPNcricinfo a board member is in touch with him and will file a report to the committee. For reasons of “sensitivity and confidentiality” they say it would be inappropriate to comment further.This, however, was news to Rafiq. “Someone called me a week or so ago,” he says. “It was made very clear that the conversation we had was as friends and not in any official capacity. It now seems it was an attempt to show they were doing something. I feel quite misled, to be honest.”This is an example of what I mean. When Michael Carberry came out with his comments, the ECB put out a statement which basically said ‘we’re sorry to hear this; we need to listen and we need to do better.’ That was, I think, exactly the right reaction. I have quite a lot of faith in Tom Harrison.”But Yorkshire don’t want to listen and they don’t want to change. And part of the reason for that is the people who were involved in the incidents I’m talking about are still at the club. They just want to sweep it under the carpet.”But not this time. Not again. I know what I’m doing here. I know that by speaking out I’m damaging my chances of working in the game again. But I also know it’s the right thing to do and if I have to stand alone to do it, I will.”Azeem Rafiq bowls on debut for Derbyshire after arriving on loan from Yorkshire•Getty Images
Rafiq’s views first came to light in an interview with Taha Hashim for Wisden.com. While the conversation was meant to be about his new business in catering – and his decision to provide free meals for care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic – he became, in his words, “emotional” when asked about his great friend and mentor, Adil Rashid. “And then a lot more came out.”That was then followed up with further exploration on the theme in The Cricket Badger podcast with James Buttler. But his expectations that someone in power within the game would be in touch and ask for more details were disappointed. Nobody called. For a sport that is apparently trying to become more accessible to people from ethnic communities, it seems an oddly passive response.”When I first spoke about this subject, to Wisden on-line, I didn’t mention the club by name,” he says now. “As a result, Yorkshire claimed I might not have been talking about them. So let me make it really clear: I am talking about Yorkshire. I believe the club is institutionally racist and I don’t believe they are prepared to acknowledge the fact or willing to change.”There were times while he was on the staff when Rafiq did try to change things. During one game in Scarborough, a spectator kept shouting his negative views about the performance of the “Paki” players. The comments were reported by both another member of the crowd and by Rafiq. It turned out the individual concerned was the grandfather of one of the players. This incident, it transpires, was also reported to the ECB and the police. Both investigated and replied to the complainant; Yorkshire did not.”Everyone in the dressing room laughed when they found out,” Rafiq remembers. “Well, everyone but me. How was that meant to make me feel? Nothing was done.”On another occasion, a Muslim boy in the crowd had a pint of beer thrown over his face. Again, Rafiq says the reaction in the dressing room was laughter when they were informed. “The boy was given a jumper by the club,” Rafiq says, “but the laughter told me what people really thought.”ALSO READ: What has English cricket been like for black players?He told Wisden.com another story about his early days in the game. “There was me, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. We’re walking onto the field and one player said: ‘There’s too many of you lot. We need to have a word about that.'”You can imagine the sort of thing that leaves on you, and you hear these things all day, every day. I’ve been in that system for nearly the best part of two decades. I know how it works. I’d love to see change.”On another occasion, a Yorkshire player was disciplined by the ECB for an on-field outburst that was, at best, clumsy and at worst racist. “But instead of the club disciplining him, a board member employed Luis Suárez’s lawyers to ensure he got off. What was I meant to think of that?”I’m talking some very high-profile players here. Some very high-profile administrators and media figures. I know they can make life difficult for me. I know I’ll be labelled as a trouble-maker. But if I don’t stand and raise a voice, I couldn’t forgive myself.”He is keen to point out that not everyone at the club was the same. Joe Root comes in for particular praise. Paul Farbrace and Jason Gillespie are described as “amazing” and he distinguishes between some who he believes would benefit from greater education in this area and some who are, in his words, “simply racist”.”I had a captain who was openly racist,” he says. “There’s no two ways about it. Everyone else seemed to find him funny.”But I just felt isolated. It’s a horrible feeling. And I knew I should speak out and say something and I nearly always didn’t. But when I finally did I was immediately isolated. I was made to feel like I was the one who had done something wrong.”Azeem Rafiq in action during his return to Yorkshire in 2016•Getty Images
Rafiq’s career at Yorkshire reached a particularly tragic end. After a difficult pregnancy which had involved numerous emergency trips to the hospital, his son was still-born. While some of the players – notably Root – contacted him to express their condolences and the PCA were, in Rafiq’s words, “amazing”, he felt the club’s reaction was cold.”I took my son straight from the hospital to the funeral,” he says. “Nothing can be harder than that.”Yorkshire told me they would look after me professionally and personally. But all I heard after that was a short email. I was told I was being released. I felt it was used against me, really. The way it was done was horrible.”It killed me for a while. I lost all trust in anything and anyone. I’d spent the best part of a decade around those people. I thought they had my best interests at heart. I lost faith in humanity.”He has now moved on. He has a healthy son, a thriving young business and, he says, has found fulfilment elsewhere. He’s no longer pursuing a career in the professional game.But he still wants change. And what he feels is required now is for the club to embark on a period of introspection and accept they have lessons to learn.”I want the authorities to wake up,” he says. “I want them to stop looking at the issue of race as a PR activity or a marketing activity. I want them to really engage and listen and change. Someone is going to be tipped over the edge if we’re not careful.”
Manchester City have hit something of a snag in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz this summer, it has emerged.
Kevin De Bruyne's swansong season?
Before the season started it was hard to imagine a Pep Guardiola side without Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings, but it has become something of a norm in the months since.
Kevin De Bruyne for Manchester City
The Belgian talisman remains as deadly as ever when he is on the pitch, but has missed much of the Premier League season through injury and, now 32-years-old, may be the wrong side of the peak of his powers.
Man City now chasing to sign "monster" who they think can replace Walker
The Cityzens are one of a number of clubs interested in the talented full-back ahead of the summer.
ByDan Emery Apr 11, 2024
He will be into the final 12 months of his contract this summer, and amid repeated reported interest in the veteran midfielder from Saudi Arabia, he could finally leave the Etihad for pastures new, with City likely to be keen to recoup some sort of fee for their heroic figure.
Phil Foden has stepped into the De Bruyne sized void admirably this season, but with Pep Guardiola always keen to have two players per position and Foden versatile enough to be employed across the frontline, it is likely that City would be in the market for a replacement for KDB as they look to extend their dominance both domestically and across Europe.
Florian Wirtz move hits a snag
That replacement is unlikely to be Bayer Leverkusen Wunderkind Florian Wirtz this summer though, after an already unlikely deal for the German hit another snag according to reports.
Wirtz has been a crown jewel in Leverkusen's impressive unbeaten campaign to date, with the 20-year-old supplying 8 goals and 10 assists in the German top flight, alongside 14 goal contributions in 11 appearances across the Europa League and DFB Pokal.
He has been subject to interest from Liverpool and Manchester City but, according to TeamTalk, Xabi Alonso's decision to remain with Leverkusen for at least another season has dented any hopes of luring Wirtz away from Germany, and any deal would cost a whopping £111m even if it does happen.
Florian Wirtz in the Bundesliga 23/24
Appearances
28
Goals + assists
18
Progressive passes (per 90)
8.45
Key Passes (per 90)
2.75
Shot creating actions (per 90)
6.29
That is due to the fact that Wirtz "loves playing under Alonso" and is "more than happy to stay at the German club after the manager committed his future to them", with the youngster under contract until 2027 as it stands. Previously, Wirtz's father Hans-Joachim Wirtz had also suggested he was happy to stay at the Bay Arena for years to come.
“Florian has a contract in Leverkusen until 2027. That will also roughly be the amount of time he will spend in Leverkusen,” he told Kicker. “Then we will see where the path leads. There is no answer to what happens then.”
Thanks to this, City are set to have to look elsewhere for reinforcements this summer, and have reportedly identified Premier League duo Lucas Paqueta and Eberechi Eze as two options to bolster their ranks ahead of the new season.
His wife “saw god in her dream” – Kumble recalls his family’s brush with death during the 2004 tsunami
Varun Shetty31-Jul-20203:52
Kumble reveals Srinath’s hand in historic 10-for
Travelling to Perth after Monkeygate in 2008 You know as a captain you’re generally tuned to take decisions on the field. Here I was faced with something, which was off the field, to take a decision in the larger interest of the game. And one of our players [Harbhajan Singh] was obviously banned for three matches because of a racist remark – that was what the pronouncement was and we appealed. I felt he was wronged. We had to obviously be together as a team but the challenge was that there was a lot of talk about the team wanting to come back at that point in time, and leave the tour and come back. Yes, you know, probably [people] would have accepted that the Indian team was wronged and that’s why they came back.But I think as a captain, or as a team, we had gone there to win the series. Unfortunately, with the first two results not going our way, the best result could have been a drawn series because two more Test matches remained and I just wanted to rally around the team. I was fortunate enough to have senior players, former captains, in the team.We got around as a unit and then we sort of took a decision to continue and make sure that we go on and win the next couple of matches because that would be the best message that we can give back to our fans. Because whenever an Indian team travels abroad, the fans expect the team to do really well and win the series. I certainly believe that we had the ability to do that.
In 2001-02, the famous Australia series [in India], that was the first time that suddenly things changed. That irrespective of what the situation is, we can certainly win from any situation. And then the Headingley Test match in 2002, that again changed the way we sort of thought about exploring Test matches and similarly the Perth Test match
I think you need to have clarity of thought when you are encountered with such situations and I had extreme clarity that no matter what, if I win the toss I’m going to bat first because that’s the best way of winning the Test match. The only thought to me was how can I win this Test match, what’s the best way of putting pressure? In fact, when I went out to toss, just a few minutes before… there are a lot of former cricketers as commentators hanging around near the pitch, and some of them said it’s a field-first pitch. So I said, “okay, that’s your way of thinking, but I’m going to bat first no matter what”. So we batted first. Rahul [Dravid] batted really well and Irfan [Pathan] had a great game in that in that Test match. RP Singh bowled brilliantly. And then Viru [Virender Sehwag] got those couple of breakthroughs in the second innings. So beating Australia in Perth, I think, changed the entire way that we sort of looked at… In 2001-02, the famous Australia series [in India], that was the first time that suddenly things changed. That irrespective of what the situation is, we can certainly win from any situation. And then the Headingley Test match in 2002, that again changed the way we sort of thought about exploring Test matches and similarly the Perth Test match. Irrespective of what the sort of lead up to that Test was, outside of the game itself I think this team just came together. We were really strong as a unit and it showed on the field as well.Anil Kumble acknowledges the cheers after picking up his 600th Test wicket, in Perth in January 2008•Getty ImagesReturning after shoulder surgery, away recordI think, you know, I always had the belief that I can go out there and do well. You know, although people sort of have have their own views about what you can do, what you can’t do. People believe that I needed doctored pitches in India to perform, and I won’t perform outside of India. It’s not easy performing on any surface. Whether in India or outside, it takes time for you to mature, for you to understand the conditions and then make subtle changes in your game to up your skill to be able to perform there. So even I had those challenges and I had to make sure that I would be able to adapt to those kind of situations. So yeah, I mean there were a few situations like the shoulder surgery which I guess it was like you just have to go through it as a professional cricketer.It was tough being out of the game for almost a year, it took me almost three months to lift my hand up, and those were testing times when you start thinking whether you can come back and play, whether you can bowl the way you were bowling before. So all those negative thoughts keep coming and that’s where the family and the friends that you have close to you certainly help. Their support really is important. So for me it was that kind of a situation.Monkey off the backAnd then when I went to Australia [2003], where I didn’t play the first Test [in Brisbane], and then I barely made it to the second Test match in Adelaide. End of day one, Australia were 400 for four [400 for 5] or something like that, and I had one for 100 [1 for 115] or something. It was a very flat deck, and when I came back [from the ground] that evening I realised, “look it doesn’t really matter, I know there’s been a lot of talk about this, perhaps could be my last chance, If I can perform then I’ll continue to play”. So I just took the pressure off me saying, “look it doesn’t matter if this could be my last game, but let me go out there and enjoy, and bowl differently, and set different fields”.
“It was tough being out of the game for almost a year, it took me almost three months to lift my hand up, and those were testing times when you start thinking whether you can come back and play, whether you can bowl the way you were bowling before.”Anil Kumble
You know the googly was getting bounce, and the batsmen were not picking that well. So when I went into the second day, I knew that they would be going for runs, and if I can pick up a couple of wickets then the pressure will be back on the batting side. So I set fields like how you set for an off-spinner. I had a short midwicket, a square leg, a short leg, and then even sometimes a backward short leg, and then bowled a lot of googlies, and picked up a fifer [5 for 154] in that first innings.On surviving the Tsunami in 2004We were staying at Fisherman’s Cove [in Chennai]. It was my wife and I and our son – just the three of us. My son was about eight-nine-ten months old and we traveled by air. We didn’t want to drive down because it would take six hours and we didn’t want my son to travel that long. We enjoyed a holiday and the day the tsunami happened, we were leaving, so I was to check out early because we had, I think, a 11.30 flight.Somehow, you know my wife, kept waking up that night very uneasy. She kept waking me up saying, “look, what’s the time?” “I’m not feeling well I’m feeling a bit uneasy.” So we woke up early, we had a coffee looking at the sea. Everything was calm, it was cloudy.[…] we went to the breakfast area and as you’re aware, the breakfast area is slightly at an elevation. And we were having breakfast probably when the first wave hit. I was not even aware that this had happened.As we were checking out I saw a young couple in their bathrobes, you know literally drenched, and they were shivering.I couldn’t make out what it was. We just walked out and sat in the car. […] After Fisherman’s Cove there’s a bridge, and I could literally touch the water because the level of the water was barely one foot from the bridge and it was frothing.We could see a lot of people, you know how you see in the movies, where people carry whatever they can and walking with pots and pans, kids on their shoulder and whatever bags they could have.Our driver kept getting calls on his phone then we asked him to focus on driving, but he kept saying [in Tamil] that there’s a lot of water everywhere.When I came back to Bangalore and then switched on the television that’s when I realized that a tsunami had happened so we were totally unaware as to what had happened.A couple of years back I met the [hotel] manager [he said] once we passed the bridge, the second wave which came, I believe, submerged the bridge. So we were probably destined and saved just in the nick of time.She [Kumble’s wife] did tell she saw god in her dream. I said okay that’s fine. You can’t really relate to that. But now, yes, you can you can relate to what she said. Maybe, you know, all these things certainly there was a divine blessing on us to make it.
da apostebet： O Palmeiras conseguiu a vaga na final do Campeonato Paulista após derrotar o Corinthians por 2 a 0, no último domingo, na casa do arquirrival. E o último gol gerou uma cena curiosa: autor da marca, Luiz Adriano comemorou com o “vapo”, cujo gesto se popularizou recentemente com Gerson, do Flamengo.
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da lvbet： A comemoração virou tendência instantânea dentre os assuntos mais comentados do Twitter, inflamado também com uma publicação doSportsbet.io Brasil, site de apostas eparceiro oficial do Flamengo, que fez uma postagem com as imagens de Gerson e Luiz Adriano.
+ Veja a tabela completa da Libertadores
A rivalidade entre os clubes foi acirrada pois o perfil oficial do site pôs a comemoração do meio-campista do Rubro-Negro como superior, com a seguinte legenda para as imagens: “Quando se trata de Vapo…”. Veja:
Quando se trata de Vapo…. pic.twitter.com/GH8OB9vbMu
— Sportsbet.io Brasil (@sportsbetiobr) May 16, 2021
A recente rivalidade entre Flamengo e Palmeiras,donos dos títulos mais expressivos do calendário nas últimas duas temporadas, teve um último capítulo há poucos meses, quando o Rubro-Negro bateu o Alviverde nos pênaltis, faturando o título da Supercopa do Brasil.
Aston Villa saw one of their chances at ending a near three-decade wait for a major trophy end in midweek as they crashed out of the FA Cup following a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.
Unai Emery now arguably has only the Europa Conference League to aim for if he wishes to win something this season, and considering West Ham United were victorious last term, it could pave the way for Villa to follow suit in May.
The Spaniard will now turn his attention to the Premier League clash against Manchester United tomorrow afternoon, as the Red Devils make their way to the Midlands.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during a Premier League game.
Erik ten Hag’s side are on a decent run of form, winning four of their previous five matches and remaining undefeated in 2024.
The 52-year-old manager may make some changes to his team following the below-par performance against a struggling Blues side in midweek…
1
GK – Emiliano Martínez
The Argentine will not be displaced from the starting XI ahead of what could be a vital fixture for both teams tomorrow.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper conceded three times against United during the 3-2 defeat on Boxing Day last year, yet he has kept a clean sheet in two of his previous three league matches, and hopefully he will secure another one on Sunday.
2
RB – Matty Cash
Matty Cash.
The English-born Poland international will start his first league match since the 3-1 defeat against Newcastle United at the end of January and Emery will be looking for him to make an impact against United.
Cash did win four out of his five duels against Chelsea and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts and made two key passes. Another display like this could help Villa massively.
3
CB – Diego Carlos
With Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa out injured, the Brazilian has come into the starting XI and performed solidly enough.
He completed 91% of his passes and won four out of six aerial duels against the Blues, but they still found the back of the net three times, and he will have to be wary against United, especially with the form they are in currently.
4
CB – Pau Torres
Aston Villa central defender Pau Torres.
The towering "Rolls-Royce" – as described by journalist Graeme Bailey – was named on the bench for the defeat in midweek but could make his return form injury tomorrow, with the pairing of Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet shipping three goals.
The £100k-per-week talent was reportedly a target for the Red Devils prior to the signing of Lisandro Martinez in 2022 and could prove a key figure in dowing Ten Hag's men at Villa Park.
5
LB – Alex Moreno
Aston Villa defender Alex Moreno.
Lucas Digne is nearing a return to action, but the clash against Ten Hag’s men tomorrow could come too soon for the Frenchman.
This means Moreno will make his eighth start in a row and, since returning to the first team following an injury, he has scored three goals in just 15 matches, suggesting that he is a decent goal threat.
6
CM – Douglas Luiz
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz
Arguably one of Villa’s most important players this season. Luiz has transformed his game and has emerged as a more attacking threat this season.
This is evidenced by the fact he has registered 14 goal contributions in all competitions – seven goals and seven assists, while his influence will be crucial against United tomorrow.
7
CM – Boubacar Kamara
The Frenchman has missed just four league matches during the 2023/24 campaign – all down to suspension – and when he is fit and available, he forms a solid partnership with Luiz in the middle of the pitch.
The Brazilian tends to push forward more often than Kamara, but the former Marseille gem provides a reliable defensive acumen which helps protect the back four.
8
RW – Leon Bailey
Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey.
If Luiz is one of Villa’s most important players this term, then Bailey has every right to be considered as one of the most improved.
Last term, he managed only nine goal contributions – five goals and four assists – while this season, the Jamaican has already scored ten times and grabbed nine assists in all competitions, firmly establishing himself as the main attacking outlet on the right flank, and he will start against the Red Devils.
9
AM – Moussa Diaby
Although usually deployed on the wing for Bayer Leverkusen, Diaby has found himself operating in a number of positions this season and against the Red Devils, he could play in the number ten role, just behind Watkins.
He scored his sixth goal of the season against Chelsea in midweek after coming off the bench, and he will replace Youri Tielemans in the starting XI.
The Belgian completed just 60% of his passes and lost possession ten times during his time on the pitch, thus meaning he should drop to the bench.
10
LW – John McGinn
John McGinn
The captain is another name who finds himself as a key performer under Emery, with the Scot starting all but two matches this season, scoring eight goals in the process.
He found the back of the net during the last clash against the Old Trafford side and Emery will be hoping he can repeat the trick tomorrow, albeit with a different result at the end of the game.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is still “dreaming” of a transfer that would reunite Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.
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Argentine icon in MLSCR7 settled in Middle EastUnlikely to grace same teamGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Portuguese superstar Ronaldo made his way to the Middle East at Al-Nassr in 2023, shortly after being released by Premier League giants Manchester United as a free agent. Messi was given the opportunity to tread a similar path that summer when severing ties with Ligue 1 heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain.
AdvertisementWHAT GERRARD SAID
Messi opted against following the lead of eternal rival Ronaldo, with the Argentine instead linking up with ex-England captain David Beckham at MLS side Inter Miami. Gerrard, though, is clinging to the hope that Messi may yet be lured to Saudi Arabia. The current Al-Ettifaq boss has told : “It’s a dream for me to have Messi at Al-Ettifaq. He is an incredible player and would be a great asset for the club. I know it’s difficult for him to move to Saudi Arabia, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming.”
Getty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Former Liverpool skipper Gerrard, who moved to Dammam in July 2023, added on the long-running GOAT debate that continues to divide world football: “Both Cristiano and Messi are incredible players with incredible stories in football. Ronaldo is a great individual goal-scorer, while Messi is a more complete team player. I can’t really choose between them, they are both legends.”
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Messi and Ronaldo have never played together at club level, with many of their battles taking place will filling spots on opposing sides of the Clasico divide at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Time is running out for them to be team-mates, with CR7 now 39 years of age and both men working on contracts that are due to expire in 2025 – although extensions to their remarkable playing careers are expected beyond that point.
While three of Afghanistan’s bowlers conceded more than 9.75 per over, Rashid Khan’s four-over spell of 3 for 22 ensured Ireland could post only 172 for 6 in their 20 overs. After that, brisk scoring from opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the No. 6 Najibullah Zadran, who both maintained strike rates of over 200, kept Afghanistan 11 runs ahead of the DLS par score when the rain arrived 15 overs into the chase, handing the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.Ireland had won the toss, and on the back of a 63-run stand between Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien inside the powerplay, they got off to a flying start. But then Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck off the powerplay’s last delivery to remove O’Brien for 35. Stirling, however, continued his charge, hitting a half-century before being dismissed for a 41-ball 60. Khan, who dismissed Stirling via a caught and bowled, then dismissed Andy Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker to keep Ireland’s run-scoring in check. Despite some late hitting from No. 5 Harry Tector, what Ireland could post was 22 runs fewer than the average first-innings score in the three T20Is that had been played at the ground previously.Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Gurbaz got a fifty stand by the fifth over of the chase, but the latter was soon trapped lbw by offspinner Simi Singh. Zazai was then bowled trying to cut Singh three balls later, and at the end of five overs, Afghanistan were 55 for 2. Karim Janat and Asghar Afghan were then both run-out in quick succession, which reduced Afghanistan to 70 for 4, but then Samiullah Shinwari and Najibullah put on 63-run partnership to drag Afghanistan out of trouble.They batted under a steady drizzle, with one eye on the DLS par score – that they were always ahead of – but then Shinwari perished trying to slog Boyd Rankin in the 15th over. With 30 balls to go, Afghanistan needed 40 runs, but that’s when the rain got heavier. Najibullah did not wait for his new partner as the umpires asked both teams to exit the field, and 25 minutes later, they confirmed that no more play would be possible. The win was Afghanistan’s seventh-straight T20I win over Ireland in India.
After finishing inside the Premier League's top four last season, Newcastle United may have expected to have at least been in the fight for a Champions League place a year later, but that's not been the case. Now, in need of reinforcements, Graeme Bailey has revealed the Magpies' transfer plans before the end of this month.
Newcastle transfer news
It's been a difficult transfer window for Newcastle so far, who have seen the likes of Kieran Tripper, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson all linked with moves away from St James' Park in an attempt to balance the books.
The Magpies are walking a fine line when it comes to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, having recorded a reported loss of £155m over the last three seasons. The rules state that clubs can only record a loss of £105m, though investments into the academy, women's team and charity foundation do not count towards the figure – potentially saving PIF.
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With that said, even among the chaos of potential sales, those at St James' Park still reportedly want one particular reinforcement. According to Bailey, Newcastle want to sign a number eight this month. He told Geordie Boot Boys that there are conflicting whispers emerging however, making narrowing down the specific target difficult: "They want a number eight, that’s what we’re hearing. Who that is – not sure. It’s a strange one. Different people are saying different things connected to the club so it’s hard to get a real message out.”
Newcastle, of course, believed they had solved their midfield problem during the summer transfer window when they signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, only for the Italian to be hit with a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules shortly after arriving. Left with a void to fill, those in Tyneside have been linked with the likes of Atalanta's Ederson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, albeit without either of those moves nearing anything close to advanced stages.
Joelinton has given Howe a headache
Before Joelinton's injury, which has potentially ruled him out until the end of the season, Newcastle may have felt comfortable with sticking with their current options for the remainder of the campaign. Now without the Brazilian for a number of months, the Magpies may have no choice but to act, however. Whoever arrives could quickly turn into a replacement for Joelinton too, with Eddie Howe admitting that his future isn't certain.
Howe said via BBC Sport: "He has 18 months left on his contract so it's a possibility he'll be sold in the summer. I'm not a fortune teller but it's a possibility. I hope that's not the case. I want him to stay. I love him as a person and player. But before a player signs a contract he has to be happy with everything and we are not there yet."
Progressive Carrries Per 90 (2.03)
76th percentile
Successful Take-ons Per 90 (1.72)
93rd percentile
Progressive Passes Recieved Per 90 (4.43)
87th percentile
Interceptions Per 90 (1.51)
86th percentile
Ending the January transfer window without welcoming another midfielder and Joelinton suddenly on course to potentially depart would summarise the season that Newcastle have so endured so far. With just under a week to go before the window slams shut, the Magpies must turn things around at St James' Park.