Cristiano Ronaldo showed off a new celebration after scoring a brace in Al-Nassr's thumping win over Al Wasl.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ronaldo came up with a new celebrationScored a brace against Al WaslAl-Nassr clinched a 4-0 winFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese scored twice as Al-Nassr thrashed UAE's Al Wasl 4-0 in an AFC Champions League clash on Monday. Ronaldo, who turns 40 on Wednesday, revealed a new celebration as he guided his team to a dominant win. With his team-mates around him during the celebration of his second, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star raised his hand, emulating an aeroplane flying and then gestured as if it crashed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Colombian forward Jhon Duran made his debut for Al-Nassr in the game after he completed his big-money transfer to the Saudi club from Aston Villa last week. Duran was deployed in attack alongside Ronaldo, who operated slightly behind the former Villa star. Duran had an underwhelming outing in his maiden game but the result will surely make his debut memorable.

DID YOU KNOW?

With the brace against Al Wasl, Ronaldo is now the joint second-highest goalscorer in the Champions League with six strikes to his name.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

Stefano Pioli's men will be back in action on Friday as they take on Al-Feiha in an important Saudi Pro League encounter.

Declan Rice’s sale was poignant, to be sure, but the West Ham United general won the Conference League in his final match for the club and served as a centrepiece of the meteoric rise under David Moyes.

Indeed, the England international completed 245 appearances for the Irons, scoring 15 goals and supplying 13 assists. His efforts at the club led to widespread acclaim, with his former manager hailing his “incomparable” qualities.

Of course, his sale called for replacements. Arsenal won the race and purchased Rice for £105m, a club record in both directions, but a player of that calibre was never going to be directly recovered.

Instead, West Ham replaced him in the aggregate, with James Ward-Prowse among the incomings.

Why West Ham signed James-Ward Prowse

James Ward-Prowse completed a transfer worth £30m to West Ham in August 2023, joining Edson Alvarez in bolstering the Hammers midfield after losing their linchpin.

1.

David Beckham

18

2.

James Ward-Prowse

17

3.

Thierry Henry

12

3=

Gianfranco Zola

12

3=

Cristiano Ronaldo

12

The former Southampton captain had made a career from his expertise in dead-ball situations. Indeed, only David Beckham has scored more direct free-kicks than the England international, which is quite something. Moreover, one more free-kick goal would place him alongside the Manchester United legend.

The midfielder might have finished the 2023/24 campaign, his sole term in West Ham garb, with a respectable haul of seven goals and 11 assists across 51 matches, however, outside of that aforementioned dead-ball prowess, he left plenty to be desired.

Lopetegui clearly wasn’t a big fan, allowing him to be loaned out to Nottingham Forest this summer after bringing in his own bunch of players.

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas remarked that “he would have been a good option from the bench”, but perhaps a marginal role was something that the 29-year-old would not abide.

He’s since played four times for Forest and was sent off against Chelsea last weekend after stopping a counter-attack with a peculiar diving effort to stifle Nicolas Jackson.

It’s clearly not been the trajectory anyone would have wished for after just one season of football, and he’s definitely not proved himself to be money-well-spent after Rice’s departure from east London.

It’s a shame that West Ham failed to sign their first-choice target last year, with efforts made to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea but coming short. Imagine what could have been.

West Ham missed a trick with Conor Gallagher

In July 2023, West Ham bid £40m in an attempt to sign Gallagher from Chelsea, though their efforts fell flat with Mauricio Pochettino unwilling to part with a player he would later call “priceless”. It would have been a significant move from United, who would have benefitted greatly from the player’s industriousness.

Gallagher had risen through the ranks with Chelsea and played 95 times, scoring ten goals and assisting as many more, after a series of successful loan spells with the likes of West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

Despite playing a central role under Pochettino’s wing last season, very much the lifeblood of Chelsea’s campaign as they sought to put the woes of recent years behind them, the spinning of the managerial wheel at Stamford Bridge spelt the end of the boyhood Blues’ stay, for he was about to enter the final year of his contract and looked set to play a peripheral role under Enzo Maresca.

Atletico Madrid came a-calling, offering the 24-year-old a fresh start. In August, he was signed for a fee of around £33m, ending his career in English football – for now, at least – and snapping any frayed cord from West Ham that clung to the prospect of keeping the centre-midfielder on the radar.

He’s averaged 2.6 tackles and 5.6 successful duels per game in La Liga this season, as per Sofascore, underscoring the defensive quality that has not yet been refined and shaped to Diego Simeone’s design, not fully.

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

37 (34)

Non-penalty goals

5

5

Assists

7

12

Pass completion

92%

90%

Big chances created

11

12

Key passes*

1.4

1.7

Ball recoveries*

6.0

3.9

Dribbles completed*

1.3

0.3

Tackles + interceptions

3.5

2.2

Total duels won*

5.7

2.8

It’s clear that he would have been able to operate in a dynamic and tactically flexible role for the Irons, having been praised in the past as a “pressing and transition monster” by one analyst.

Ward-Prowse might appear, on the surface level, to have matched his fellow Englishman for creativity last season, but the lion’s share of his playmaking came from dead-ball situations. Gallagher was far more rounded and effective across different roles and scenarios.

Gallagher performs like a veritable workhorse in the middle of the park, offering a rounded skillset that is truly a thing to behold when purring.

West Ham missed a real trick with this one. Gallagher is now starring for Atletico over in La Liga and could have been the steely presence required last season.

He might have kept Moyes in a job, had he signed. Gallagher might have been the catalyst for sustained success in the wake of conquering the Conference League. Ward-Prowse certainly wasn’t.

West Ham nearly signed £38m star to partner Bowen but got Kudus instead

West Ham nearly signed an “efficient” partner for Bowen, but ended up with Kudus

ByConnor Holden Oct 6, 2024

Big picture

You could go with Albert Einstein reminding you madness is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. You could try a variant of Richard Feynman’s famous quote about quantum theory and apply it to Pakistan cricket: if you think you understand it, you probably don’t. But it doesn’t take a genius of any sort to figure out that at present, India’s dominant record over Pakistan stems no longer from voodoo, superstition, jinxes, or even spooky quantum mechanical equations. When Virat Kohli’s men walk out against Babar Azam’s on Sunday, they’re heavily fancied to maintain their perfect World Cup record because of the rather boring, plain fact that they possess the better players.It’s worth acknowledging the elephant in the room: a Pakistan win tomorrow would be good for cricket. The longer India’s streak continues, the weaker this fixture’s claim to being an elite, top-tier contest becomes. An India-Pakistan contest that no longer commands the same prestige cannot be good for a sport that desperately needs this rivalry to deliver every chance it gets because – to acknowledge the second elephant in this rather overcrowded room – these games don’t come around as often as they should. The reasons for that are not cricketing, but it’s the sport that bears the brunt of it.Worryingly, games between these sides at ICC tournament level of late haven’t produced engaging, high-quality cricket for the best part of the last decade. The contest has owed its jeopardy for the most part to the historical rivalry between the Indian and Pakistan camps – on and off the field – rather than to finely poised matches between two evenly matched sides. Since the 2011 ODI World Cup semifinal, five World Cup games between these two sides have all produced comprehensive Indian wins, by eight wickets, seven wickets, 76 runs, six wickets and 89 runs respectively. India pulled ahead early in all those games, and stayed there until Pakistan were eventually ground out.For India, there seems to be little to worry about. Their two warm-up games against England and Australia tells the story of a side in complete control of their preparations, settled despite the various combinations and personnel they can choose to deploy on any given day. The second half of IPL 2021 concluded last week in the UAE; India could scarcely have enjoyed a better lead-up to the tournament. Their T20 record against Pakistan reads seven wins in eight games. On paper, there’s little to worry them, and for all of the drama and theatre of an India-Pakistan fixture, no World Cup game has ever been quite as predictable as this.If all of that seems confronting for Pakistan, that’s because it is. That Pakistan go into their opener such heavy underdogs isn’t captain Babar’s fault, but it is his problem to try and solve. Pakistan, too, have had recent practice in the UAE; the second half of the Pakistan Super League took place there in June. But while the Indian squad was taking part in the IPL, Pakistan were watching their preparation plans go up in smoke as New Zealand and England pulled out of tours last-minute. A National T20 Cup pushed forward to give the World Cup squad some competitive practice will have helped, even if it isn’t quite the same thing.India’s only problem, if you can call it that, may revolve around how to fit the hugely talented Ishan Kishan into a top four that will likely comprise of KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Pakistan, meanwhile, are more of less settled with their line-up, in the way someone who can’t afford a luxury car doesn’t have to worry about which might be the best one to buy. The only conundrum for Pakistan seems to be how to fit Haider Ali into a middle order currently occupied by Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, two players who have over the past proven famously difficult to dislodge from the side.

Form guide

India: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan: WLLWW

In the spotlight

KL Rahul has mastered the art of getting runs in T20 cricket, but over the past couple of years, the question that has dogged him is whether he has been getting them at the optimum pace. Rahul said at the end of IPL 2021 that he didn’t always bat “the way he wanted to” with Punjab Kings because the team dynamics dictated something else. He ended IPL 2021 with a breaking-the-shackles 98* off 42, and in the warm-ups, he’s hit 51 off 24 and 39 off 31. Will India’s greater depth free Rahul up to be a no-inhibitions T20 batter? It’ll be interesting to see.4:08

Talking Tactics – Where does Fakhar fit in the XI? Is the batting order too fluid?

Pakistan don’t so much have a template for triumph so much as a hope that Fakhar Zaman can hit the heights he did four years ago in a high-stakes game against India. And while India wised after that Champions Trophy final in the way they bowled to him, the left-hander has started to hit form at just the right time. He was Pakistan’s best player in the warm-ups against West Indies and South Africa, smashing 98 in 52 balls without once being dismissed. Batting one drop rather than opener might free him off the pressure of getting his team off to a flyer. With Babar and Mohammad Rizwan masters at setting an innings up, Fakhar has the license to free his arms.

Team news

There isn’t much between R Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy for the main spinner’s role. The KKR man is perhaps a slight favourite to get the nod based on recent form. Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Mohammed Shami for a fast-bowling berth is also perhaps a toss-up. Neither was brilliant in the warm-ups, though Shami didn’t bowl in the second, so Bhuvneshwar may just edge it.India (probable): 1 KL Rahul 2 Rohit Sharma 3 Virat Kohli (capt) 4 Suryakumar Yadav 5 Rishabh Pant (wk) 6 Hardik Pandya 7 Ravindra Jadeja 8 Shardul Thakur 9 Varun Chakravarthy/R Ashwin 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Mohammed Shami 11 Jasprit BumrahPakistan have named a 12-man squad already. One of Haider Ali or Mohammad Hafeez are likely to miss out.Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt) 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Mohammad Hafeez/Haider Ali 5 Shoaib Malik 6 Asif Ali 7 Shadab Khan 8 Imad Wasim 9 Hasan Ali 10 Haris Rauf 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pitch and conditions

The first round of the T20 World Cup saw the UAE fixtures take place in Abu Dhabi, but the pitch in Dubai is expected to favour the slower bowlers. Even the quicks are likely best served by varying their pace and bowling more cutters than express pace, with lower scores likely to be competitive.

Stats and trivia

• India’s current streak of five successive T20 World Cup wins over Pakistan is the joint longest in the competition, along with West Indies over England and Pakistan over Bangladesh.
• In the last three years, no one has scored more T20I runs than Babar’s 1173. Kohli is second on the list, with 993.
• Since 2018, Indian have lost all eight T20Is where they posted a first-innings total lower than 160, but only lost 2 of 11 when they set a target between 161 and 180.

Since being handed his Liverpool debut by Jurgen Klopp back in 2016 when he was just 18 years old, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been an integral figure for the Reds.

He’s played over 300 times in total, mostly at right-back, and has wowed fans with his impressive attacking output, scoring 23 goals and producing an astonishing 92 assists.

His attacking prowess from the right flank has helped Liverpool lift nearly every major trophy possible, including the Champions League and the Premier League on two occasions.

5 potential replacements for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah has been linked with a move away from Liverpool, but who could be in line to succeed him at Anfield?

ByBarney Lane Oct 19, 2024

“An outstanding talent and he has turned into a world-class football player,” Klopp said of Alexander-Arnold just before he left the club at the end of last season.

“He’s one people will talk about 20, 30, 40 years,” the German added.

Sadly for Liverpool fans, a future without their star right-back is now a reality. The Englishman is in the final year of his contract at Anfield and has now officially confirmed that he’ll be heading to Real Madrid.

So, with that now finally out in the open, here are five players the Reds could turn to as a replacement for their iconic academy graduate.

1 Denzel Dumfries Inter

In the later stages of last year, it was reported that the Reds had an agreement in place to bring Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries to Anfield in the summer. Dumfries was initially out of contract at the end of the season at the time of the reports, meaning he could have been brought to Merseyside on a free transfer.

However, in November of 2024, he penned new terms at the San Siro, making this a deal that’s rather trickier to complete.

Last season, the 28-year-old Dutchman, who joined Inter in 2021 from PSV, racked up four goals and six assists in 36 appearances for Inter, helping them lift the Serie A title.

Dumfries has also been linked with Manchester United and Aston Villa, both of whom reportedly tried and failed to land him in the summer transfer window.

2 Jeremie Frimpong Bayer Leverkusen

Another Dutch right-back who has been on Liverpool’s radar is Jeremie Frimpong, according to the Liverpool Echo.

In 2024, it was said that the Reds were one of a number of clubs keeping tabs on the Bayer Leverkusen star, who was a key player for Xabi Alonso’s side as they lifted the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history last term.

Like Alexander-Arnold, Frimpong is an attack-minded full-back. Last season, he hit 14 goals and produced 12 assists in all competitions.

However, Frimpong usually plays as a right wing-back, which could pose an issue for Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who typically plays with a traditional back four.

3 Vanderson Monaco

While Frimpong and Dumfries can be considered more attacking full-backs, AS Monaco’s Vanderson is quite the opposite.

Though he does nab the occasional goal or assist, the Brazilian is a truly outstanding defender. According to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th for interceptions when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

And according to reports in Spain, the 23-year-old, who recently made his senior debut for Brazil, is one of the names Liverpool are considering as a potential replacement for Alexander-Arnold.

Speaking about the player during the start of his second season at Monaco in September 2022, former Monaco boss Philippe Clemente described him as “very ambitious and a huge perfectionist”.

“Every day he wants to be better than the last,” Clemente said.

4 Pedro Porro Tottenham Hotspur

According to more recent reports elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro is “right at the top” of Liverpool’s list of potential Alexander-Arnold replacements.

Porro, 25, has been one of the Premier League’s outstanding full-backs over the past two seasons, impressing with his defensive stability, smart wing play and eye for goal – the latter of which was best demonstrated by his thumping long-range strike against Burnley, which won Spurs’ Goal of the Season award last year.

Of Liverpool’s proposed right-back targets, Porro is arguably the most similar to Alexander-Arnold. Both players are excellent progressive passers, boast exceptional outputs in the final third and are extremely comfortable in possession.

However, what’s most interesting about Liverpool’s links with Porro is that the Spaniard and Alexander-Arnold are both thought to be wanted by Real Madrid. Indeed, Porro has not been shy about his desire to play for Los Blancos one day.

So if Madrid do move for Alexander-Arnold, do Liverpool fans really want to then bring in a player who they know will still be dreaming of a move to the Santiago Bernabeu himself? Maybe not.

5 Conor Bradley Liverpool

In life, sometimes you find that the thing you’ve been looking for has been right in front of you all along. For Liverpool, that thing could be Conor Bradley.

Like Alexander-Arnold, Bradley came through Liverpool’s academy and was handed his first-team debut by Klopp in January 2024. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength, filling in for the England ace on a number of occasions, including in the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

Bradley, while nowhere near as attack-minded as his teammate, is a tenacious tackler and a good header of the ball. He offers the sort of defensive solidity that Alexander-Arnold has often been criticised for during his Liverpool career.

Last season, for example, albeit within far fewer minutes, Bradley went the whole season without making an error – which FBref defines as a mistake leading to a shot. Alexander-Arnold made five of those, which was the most of any player in Liverpool’s squad.

Bradley’s not glamorous, but he’s already shown himself to be a solid player when called upon, and at just 21 years of age, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Plus, he wouldn’t cost the Reds a penny, which is always a bonus.

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson thinks the Northern Ireland international is the man for the job. “I think Conor Bradley has the makings of an outstanding full-back if Trent were to leave,” he recently told SportsCasting. “He’s shown that he’s ready to start more for the first team and already has a number of good displays to point to.”

Rafael Benitez is reportedly set for a return to management with Botafogo as the ex-Liverpool boss gears up for a fresh challenge.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Benitez could replace Artur Jorge at Botafogo
• Negotiations have taken place between the two camps
• Vasco Matos was also in the running for the job

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Brazilian outlet the Spanish coach, who has been without a club since leaving Celta Vigo in March 2024, is among the leading candidates for the position following Artur Jorge's departure last month. However, while Benitez has impressed club officials and remains owner John Textor’s preferred choice for the job, the 64-year-old has reportedly expressed reluctance about managing in Brazil.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Benitez is the third coach Botafogo has approached as part of their search for a new manager. Before discussions with the Spaniard, the club pursued André Jardine, who currently manages América do México, and Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, who was ultimately appointed by French club Lyon.

  Additionally, Argentine coach Tata Martino was on Botafogo’s radar, but he publicly stated in an interview that he is not looking to take on a new club role at the moment. Another name considered was Vasco Matos, currently with Santa Clara, who showed interest in moving to Brazil. However, while he impressed the club’s decision-makers, there are concerns that his appointment would be a gamble due to his limited experience at the top level.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Had Benitez taken the Botafogo job, it would have marked a significant shift in his managerial career, which has been primarily rooted in European football. The Spaniard is best known for his successful tenure at Liverpool, where he led the team to a dramatic Champions League victory in 2005. Beyond Anfield, he has managed several top clubs, including Chelsea, Valencia, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Everton, and Newcastle United.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Ultimately, the choice of Botafogo’s next manager will be made by Textor, who is carefully evaluating his options. He remains committed to maintaining the dynamic playing style that helped the club secure the 2024 Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores titles. He is particularly keen on hiring a European coach who can blend high-intensity tactical discipline with the technical brilliance of South American footballers. With Botafogo set to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup later this year, securing an experienced and reputable coach is a top priority. Hence, the club wants to ensure they remain competitive on the global stage as they prepare to face elite teams from different continents.

MatériaMais Notícias

Palmeiras e Santos decidem, nesta terça-feira, às 10h, no Allianz Parque, quem será o campeão da Copinha de 2022. Mas o torneio não serve apenas para revelar jogadores. A decisão mostra que a base também ganha espaço em termos de arbitragem, visto que o escolhido para apitar o clássico, Gustavo Holanda Souza, tem apenas 23 anos e uma edição da competição no currículo.

RelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras desmente fake news relacionada a zagueiro da CopinhaPalmeiras24/01/2022PalmeirasJá com desfalques da Data Fifa, Palmeiras se reapresenta após vitóriaPalmeiras24/01/2022PalmeirasTécnico do Palmeiras na Copinha exalta espírito coletivo de Endrick: ‘Potencializa a individualidade’Palmeiras24/01/2022

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
> Confira a pré-lista de inscritos do Palmeiras para o Mundial de Clubes

Nascido em 28 de agosto de 1998, Gustavo é um dos árbitros da nova geração que têm aparecido nos torneios organizados pela Federação Paulista de Futebol. A idade baixa o torna apenas um pouco mais velho do que os atletas que disputarão a final desta terça. Vale lembrar que nesta edição da Copinha, a idade limite é 21 anos, ou seja, dois a menos do que tem o jovem árbitro.

Apesar de jovem, Gustavo carrega a vocação em seu sangue, uma vez que é sobrinho da árbitra Regildenia Holanda Moura, atualmente aposentada, que ostentou o escudo da Fifa entre 2012 e 2018, ou seja, a referência da profissão vem de casa. Em 2019, no jogo em que se retirou do futebol, ela teve como quarto árbitro justamente o sobrinho Gustavo Holanda. A partida, válida pelo Paulistão sub-20, também ateve dois sobrinhos como auxiliares.

É a segunda edição de Copinha que Gustavo apita. A primeira foi a de 2020, quando apitou cinco partidas e fez outra como quarto árbitro. Vale lembrar que em 2021 não houve a competição por conta da pandemia de Covid-19. Neste ano, ele já foi responsável por um confronto do Palmeiras, contra o internacional, nas oitavas de final, em Diadema, quando o Verdão venceu por 2 a 1 e teve um pênalti marcado a seu favor, mas desperdiçou a cobrança.

Em meio a isso, o árbitro foi responsável pela arbitragem de outros torneios de base, de partidas pelas divisões de acesso do Paulistão e de duelos pelo estadual feminino. Aliás, em um desses jogos pelo feminino, ele chegou a ser quarto árbitro de um Palmeiras x Santos, no ano passado, quando o Peixe levou a melhor ao vencer por 1 a 0. Ele, inclusive, já está escalado para ser o quarto árbitro de Ituano e Novorizontino, quarta-feira, pelo Paulistão-2022.

A significant behind-the-scenes update regarding Erik ten Hag has emerged at Manchester United, regarding his treatment of two Red Devils players.

Ten Hag fighting to save Man Utd job

This season has been a largely dire one at Old Trafford to date, with Ten Hag failing to kick on from last season’s FA Cup success, which included beating Manchester City in the final. Many felt the Dutchman may have been sacked if he had lost that game at Wembley, but INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe instead retained him and gave the manager a new deal.

It hasn’t been close to good enough from United this time around, however, with 3-0 defeats at home to both Liverpool and Tottenham summing up their struggles, not to mention failing to win either of their opening couple of Europa League group stage matches.

Ten Hag has still been bullish about keeping his job, but replacements have been constantly linked in recent weeks, including Thomas Tuchel, who was most recently in charge at Bayern Munich.

Former Juventus boss Max Allegri has also been mentioned as a potential appointment, having enjoyed so much success during his stint with the Turin giants, winning five Serie A titles and Italian Cups apiece, as well as picking up one league crown in charge of AC Milan.

Concern from Man Utd on Ten Hag and £155,000-a-week duo

According to a new report from Caught Offside, INEOS are concerned and surprised about Ten Hag’s treatment of Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho respectively.

It is claimed that “while results and performances have clearly not been good enough, there is also real concern behind the scenes” about the Dutchman’s inability to get the best of the £155,000-a-week-combined pair.

That especially applies to Zirkzee, whereas the biggest issue surrounding Garnacho is why he isn’t being played more, given the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

This is just the latest concern about Ten Hag and the job he is doing at United, and it surely raises huge question marks over whether he is the right man for the job in the long run.

Zirkzee has struggled since arriving at United in the summer, failing to justify the fee that the Red Devils paid Bologna for his services, with the 23-year-old only scoring once in his first six appearances in the Premier League, coming on the opening night of the season against Fulham at Old Trafford.

As for Garnacho, he still looks like one of his side’s biggest attacking threats when he plays, bagging two goals and assists apiece in the 7-0 win over Barnsley in the EFL Cup, and it seems strange that he isn’t being used more.

Man Utd now preparing £46m bid to sign "incredible" Champions League winner

The Red Devils are not messing about…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 6, 2024

The manager is arguably the one to blame for such failings, and it is one of many reasons why a lot of United supporters want to see a change in the dugout.

Looking to compete with some of Europe’s best both on and off the pitch, Monchi now reportedly wants Aston Villa to sign a player who’s been compared to John Obi Mikel ahead of Chelsea.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans proved in the summer that they’re here to stay when it comes to competing for a European place in the Premier League and they’ve since backed that up in the form of results. Losing just once in their opening seven league games – sitting fifth as a result – and even defeating European giants Bayern Munich in between in the Champions League, things can’t get much better for those at Villa Park.

They won’t want to stop there under Unai Emery, however. Whilst they’ve got the chance, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa will want to put their Champions League status to good use by adding further reinforcements to their side in 2025.

Aston Villa wonderkid who earns 3x more than Duran is "wasted" at new club

Aston Villa sold him in 2022

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 18, 2024

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Monchi now wants Aston Villa to sign Mario Dorgeles ahead of Chelsea after scouts compared the Nordsjaelland midfielder to former Premier League star John Obi Mikel. It’s not just Chelsea that the Villans will be competing against, however, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Brentford also reportedly keeping tabs on the 20-year-old in a busy battle for his signature.

Having won the race to sign Amadou Onana from Everton a few months ago, Aston Villa should be confident in their pursuit of yet another reinforcement and perhaps one that will complete Emery’s midfield once and for all. When 2025 arrives, Dorgeles will be one to watch.

Why Dorgeles is a man in-demand

After making an excellent start to the campaign at Danish side Nordsjaelland, Dorgeles has become a man in-demand around European football. At just 20 years old, his best is still to come in what is an exciting thought given that only four midfielders in world football managed better ball retention than the Ivorian in the 2023/24 season.

What’s more, if he is to follow in Obi Mikel’s footsteps, then swapping Scandinavia for the Premier League certainly makes sense with Villa left hoping that he decides to add a fresh twist by moving to the Midlands instead of Stamford Bridge.

It’s in the Midlands that Dorgeles could form an impressive partnership with current Villa star Onana. The Belgian has got off to the perfect start at Villa Park, quickly becoming one of Emery’s most important players, and could now receive a boost in the form of a midfield partner when 2025 arrives.

With so many of Europe’s top clubs keeping tabs on his progress, Dorgeles has the ultimate decision to make next year. Whether that ends in another vital addition to Emery’s ever-advancing Aston Villa project remains to be seen, however, as they continue to take strides on and off the pitch.

واصل المهندس هاني أبو ريدة، رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، تعزيز مكانته في المشهد الكروي الدولي، بعدما احتفظ بمقعده في مجلس الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، عقب منافسة قوية مع 13 مرشحًا آخرين.

وجاء فوز أبو ريدة خلال اجتماع الجمعية العمومية للاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، الذي عُقد اليوم الأربعاء في القاهرة، وحصل على 35 صوتًا، ليواصل مسيرته في تمثيل الكرة الإفريقية داخل أروقة “فيفا”.

وإلى جانب أبو ريدة، فاز كل من فوزي لقجع (المغرب) 49 صوتا – جبريلا هيما حميدو (النيجر) 35 صوتا – كنيزات إبراهيم (جزر القمر) 30 صوتا – أحمد ولد يحيى (موريتانيا) 29 صوتا – سليمان حسن وابيري (جيبوتي) 29 صوتا، بمقاعد في مجلس “فيفا”، ليكونوا ضمن الأعضاء الممثلين للقارة السمراء في الاتحاد الدولي.

طالع أيضًا | مصر تطلب استضافة إحدى مجموعات كأس العالم 2034

ويمتلك أبو ريدة مسيرة إدارية طويلة بدأت في الثمانينيات، حيث تولى رئاسة منطقة بورسعيد لكرة القدم، ثم انضم إلى مجلس إدارة الاتحاد المصري عام 1991، وشغل منصب أمين الصندوق لثلاث دورات متتالية حتى عام 2003، قبل أن يتولى رئاسة الاتحاد للمرة الأولى عام 2016، ثم يعود للفوز بها مجددًا عام 2024.

وامتد تأثيره إلى الساحة الإفريقية، حيث حصل على عضوية اللجنة التنفيذية لـ”كاف” عام 2004، وترأس لجنة التسويق بالاتحاد، ما منحه ثقة الجمعية العمومية، التي جدّدت انتخابه عدة مرات.

وفي عام 2009، انتقل إلى الساحة الدولية بعد انتخابه عضوًا في اللجنة التنفيذية لـ”فيفا”، كما أوكلت إليه مهام الإشراف على عدة فعاليات ومشروعات دولية تحت مظلة الاتحاد الدولي، ليستمر حتى الآن في الحفاظ على موقعه كممثل بارز للكرة الإفريقية والمصرية على المستوى العالمي.

Pathum Nissanka’s 58-ball 72 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s hat-trick go in vain as Sri Lanka lose their second game

Andrew Fidel Fernando30-Oct-20215:33

Jayawardene: A bit disappointed that the Sri Lanka bowlers bowled in the slot to Miller

South Africa’s chase veered, almost stalled, and threatened to careen off a cliff – particularly when Wanindu Hasaranga claimed a T20I hat-trick to go with the ODI one he took on debut. But, in the end, taking the game deep, trusting their finisher, and hoping Sri Lanka’s inexperience would show, ended up working for them.With 14 required off the last five balls, Lahiru Kumara missed his length twice, put two balls in David Miller’s arc, and the batter cleared his front leg, brought that big back lift down, and smoked Kumara waaay over deep midwicket, for two sixes that very nearly cleared the stands. He got a single off the next ball, meaning South Africa were tied, with two balls remaining. Kagiso Rabada, who had fielded brilliantly, then edged the next ball for four, and South Africa were home with a ball to spare.The victory means South Africa stay in the running for a semi-final spot, while Sri Lanka find themselves needing several other results to go their way if they are to be in contention.Earlier, Sri Lanka had stumbled through the middle overs – not for the first time – against spin. Tabraiz Shamsi took 3 for 17, as Sri Lanka slumped from 61 for 1 to 110 for 6, the run rate slowing substantially as those wickets fell. They ended with a total of 142, the last wicket falling off the last delivery. It never really seemed enough, even if their bowlers did well to make it seem a good total.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of South Africa vs Sri Lanka is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

Nissanka shows his T20 smarts
It wasn’t necessarily an exemplary T20 knock. But for this very flawed Sri Lanka side, it was good enough. Pathum Nissanka made only 18 from his first 20 deliveries, in the powerplay. But he stuck around, surviving a close lbw chance off Keshav Maharaj through the middle overs, to accelerate later in the innings, hitting three fours and a six off the last nine deliveries he raced to finish with 72 off 58.Shamsi bosses it yet again
The world’s top-ranked T20I bowler showed why he is so highly rated. He gave away only a single run in his first over, which suggested Sri Lanka were looking just to play him out safely. But then he got wickets in each of his remaining three overs, even when batters weren’t trying to be especially aggressive against him. He got two caught-and-bowleds – Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Avishka Fernando coming down the track looking for singles, but failing to get to the pitch, and spooning catches right back at Shamsi. For his third scalp, Shamsi got Hasaranga to hole out to long-on. He finished with the game’s best figures of 3 for 17.Wanindu Hasaranga pegged South Africa back with a hat-trick•ICC via Getty

Hasaranga hat-tricks Sri Lanka back into the game
As if totally unwilling to be done by Shamsi – the only bowler above him on the T20I rankings – Hasaranga got three wickets of his own, all in a row. The first of these was probably the most important wicket. It wasn’t Hasaranga’s best googly, but he deceived the in-form Aiden Markram nonetheless, and knocked back his off stump. That wicket had come off the last ball of the 15th over, and then when he next came back to the bowling crease, in the 18th, Hasaranga got two wickets first up. He had Bavuma caught at deep midwicket off a genuine half-tracker – Bavuma not managing to clear the fielder, or miss him. Next ball, Dwaine Pretorius holed out to long-on, and South Africa seemed in serious trouble, with six wickets down and 31 still needed from 16 balls.The big finish
Miller just bided his time, and waited for Sri Lanka’s weakest death bowler. Rabada had thankfully struck a six off Dushmantha Chameera in the penultimate over, to keep South Africa in touch. Rabada had the strike at the start of the last over too, but he got a single first ball, and when Miller got to the crease, he was just intent on hitting sixes, and Kumara bowled him the two perfect balls to smash. Miller finished with 23 not out off 13.