Outclassed by Rashford: Newcastle must drop 5-pass star & it's not Trippier

Newcastle United were defeated at St. James’ Park as their Champions League campaign started on the wrong footing.

Then again, let’s not be too pessimistic. Eddie Howe’s side met Barcelona, after all, and the La Liga champions were pressed against the ropes at points in the first half, and more clinical finishing might have shaped a different narrative. A talking point, inevitably, will prick at the decision to have left club-record signing Nick Woltemade on the bench.

Anthony Gordon got himself on the scoresheet, but sadly, it was another English winger who stole the plaudits, with Marcus Rashford netting an emphatic second-half brace for the visitors.

And while the Magpies fought the good fight, Kieran Trippier struggled to contain his countryman.

Kieran Trippier loses out to Rashford

Trippier played against Barcelona on the eve of his 35th birthday, but he held his own against a forward who, on his day, can be a stern test for any defender worth their salt.

And Rashford was on his A-game, all right. The 27-year-old scored a precise header after 58 minutes before unleashing a wonderful strike from range. Past Nick Pope the ball went and into the inside netting.

The veteran was withdrawn with an injury toward the closing stages of the game, and Howe will need his tenacity and experience going forward, two facets showcased at St. James’ Park last night.

Trippier might have won all five of his ground duels on the night, but he was spun by Rashford in the second half, the Manchester United player, on loan with the Spaniards, showcasing the gulf in pace to break away down United’s right channel.

While Trippier battled well, he left plenty to be desired, and there will be many who might advocate a return to the starting line-up for the fit-again Lewis Hall, thus shifting Tino Livramento back into his right-back berth.

Minutes played

62′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

49

Accurate passes

21/30 (70%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

0/0

Tackles

4

Clearances

2

Ground duels

5/5

Aerial duels

0/5

Perhaps Hall’s inclusion would open up a greater sense of attacking fluency down the left. Joelinton flattered to deceive in the centre, but Harvey Barnes in particular had a game to forget, and Howe will no doubt be thinking about dropping the £80k-per-week star.

Why Howe must drop Harvey Barnes

Howe made a contentious call to bench Woltemade and start Gordon in his stead at number nine. Gordon is a winger, not a striker, but he plays the role dutifully when asked to provide, and he toiled away, albeit sliding home a consolation goal in stoppage time.

With an important tie against Bournemouth forthcoming in the Premier League on Sunday, Howe will need to shuffle the pack, but it’s not Gordon who should be dropped, but Barnes.

The 27-year-old is a direct and clinical left winger, but he was nullified by Hansi Flick’s men and failed to provide convincing creative support, completing only five passes and failing with all three of his attempted crosses into the box.

More than that, Barnes failed to win even a single duel. He did not even attempt to complete a dribble before being hooked shortly after the hour mark.

Chronicle Live were scathing in their assessment of Barnes’ performance, writing that he produced a ‘half-attempted’ effort to prevent Jules Kounde’s cross for Rashford’s opener while missing a big chance and indeed proving wasteful with his crossing. A 5/10 match rating was what he got.

There’s no doubt about it: Rashford outclassed his compatriot on his trip back to England, and Gordon must replace him as Newcastle’s left winger at the weekend, with Woltemade returning to the starting line-up.

A frustrating evening for Newcastle and Howe. There are improvements that need to be made, but if this defeat against Barcelona has taught us one thing, it’s that the Toon have the tools to compete in the Champions League this season.

Bigger bargain than Burn: Newcastle star is cementing himself as a "legend"

Newcastle United are readying for another big night in Europe, with Dan Burn – and others – keen to step up again.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 17, 2025

Kohli: 'Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young kid'

When a young Virat Kohli first came to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2008, in a dressing room filled with the Indian greats like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, it was South Africa’s Mark Boucher who had the biggest impact on him.Speaking on RCB’s podcast , Kohli said Boucher “stunned him” with the conversations he had with him. Unprompted, Boucher told Kohli what his weaknesses were and worked with him on them.”Out of all the players that I played with initially, Mark Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young kid,” Kohli said. “He was the only guy I saw who came with the mindset that ‘Okay, I’m going to come in and help some of the young Indian players’.Related

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“He saw me play and saw a bit of potential. He figured out what my weaknesses could be, like if I wanted to go to the next level, this is what I need to do, without me asking him anything. He said, ‘Okay, I’ve seen you play this and we need to work on this, that, and a couple more things.’ So he took me to the nets, he said, ‘You need to work on the short ball. No one’s going to give you a chance in international cricket if you can’t pull the ball.'”He was hitting these tennis balls at me at a pace where I was like, if this is what it’s going to take, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the next level. But he really kept at it. I started becoming better. I remember a game we were playing in Chennai or Kolkata, and he told me, ‘When I come to commentate in India in four years from now, if I don’t see you playing for India, you would do a disservice to yourself.'”He really stunned me with the conversations that he had with me. And that really pushed me in the direction where I said I needed to start looking at how I could keep becoming better.”Later that year, Kohli made his ODI debut in Sri Lanka. He came into the side in place of Sachin Tendulkar, who was out with a niggle. But once Tendulkar returned, there was no place for Kohli.Kohli knew he was not the “most technically sound” batter but his willingness to improve and to fight it out in the middle helped him raise his game. His next big opportunity came when Yuvraj Singh got injured ahead of the 2009 Champions Trophy, and he was called up just before India’s opening game, against Pakistan in Centurion.”That was my first India-Pakistan game. I scored about 16. I tried to hit Shahid Afridi for a six straight down the ground and got caught at long-on [long-off], and we lost that game. It was an important moment in the game. And my heart was beating so fast through the whole innings. I could not process everything that happened within those four days.Virat Kohli was full of self-doubt after falling to Shahid Afridi at the 2009 Champions Trophy•Getty Images

“It was a big loss, and I just could not sleep. I was awake till five in the morning, staring at the ceiling. I was like, ‘This is it. I’ve been called after a year and I’ve just messed it all up. I don’t know how this is going to shape up.’ I had a lot of moments like that where I really, really doubted myself and I had to again kind of recalibrate and find a way to slowly build up again.”

On 2024 T20 World Cup: ‘I was walking in with no confidence’

From looking to hit the ball instinctively to being the best anchor in the world, the journey for Kohli came full circle a couple of years ago, when he decided to shed inhibitions to keep pace with T20 cricket.”In the last couple of seasons, I have consciously made an effort to evolve my game,” he said. “And I’ve seen the results of it. Again, to the point where I had to let go of people wanting to see me, this is who I am, and just go and hit the ball.”You start from wanting to hit the ball and then you go through this whole journey of becoming someone. Expectations, this and that, to a point where you feel like this is actually pulling me back. And you have to push through and again get to the point where you say, just hit the ball. That’s the only constant that remains for a cricketer.Kohli hit three boundaries in the first over of the 2024 T20 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images

“I looked to make a few changes, which I’m very happy about, because I had to kind of go out of my comfort zone and try different things. Again, the fear of failure cannot enter that space. So I knew that I was going to get out a few times [cheaply] and that’s okay. I’m not going to expect myself to get 70, 80, 90 every game. Even an impactful 35-40 that helps the team is good enough for me.”Kohli went into the 2024 T20 World Cup with this mindset. However, he had just 75 runs in nine innings before the final. In the final against South Africa, with India 34 for 3 in the fifth over, Kohli switched back to his natural game. He scored 76 off 59 balls as India posted, and just about defended, 176.”I was not able to get runs through the tournament and I am grateful that I was put in that pressure situation again. I was walking in with no confidence, and then when things are supposed to unfold for you, I get three balls, I get three boundaries and I’m like, what is this game? One day you feel like you can’t get a run and suddenly you walk into one of the biggest days of your career and things just start happening.”And then you are put in this situation where the team needs you, and this performance happens through you. And you’re like, how? And that’s when you kind of understand, okay, this is the amount of hard work, and then you arrive at the ground. And then whatever has to take place will take place. The preparation is in my hands. The results are not in my hands. I just have to stay true to my instinct. If I have to hit the ball, I have to hit the ball. That is my only responsibility. Where that ball goes, how the execution will happen – that all depends on [other factors] because there are other people playing as well. We tend to forget this.”

Andrea Berta told £70m Arsenal bid for unsettled PSG star could be accepted

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been told by one source that a potential £70 million bid could be accepted for an unsettled PSG star, with Mikel Arteta’s side now taking a “concrete” interest.

Arsenal back Mikel Arteta with new deals and £255m summer spend

Arteta is under serious pressure to deliver the club’s first Premier League title in over 20 years, especially following Berta’s undisputed backing.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

After spending north of £250 million on eight major signings in the summer transfer window, Berta also tied down star defender William Saliba with a brand-new contract which will run until 2030 — thwarting Real Madrid in the process.

This comes after he agreed fresh terms with Gabriel earlier this year too, with reports suggesting that Arsenal are also in talks with Bukayo Saka over a new deal which could be sorted before Christmas (Football Transfers).

Defender Jurrien Timber could also be rewarded for his exceptionally consistent displays over the last 12 months, as Arsenal are in negotiations to take his Emirates Stadium stay past 2028.

Off the field, Arsenal are doing basically everything right (except maybe player sales), and Berta is still showing some intent in the transfer market even after a record-breaking transfer window for the Gunners.

Now, as per reporter Mark Brus, the Arsenal transfer chief is registering a serious fondness for PSG sensation Warren Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal told £70m bid for Warren Zaire-Emery could be accepted

Sharing what he calls “exciting information” via the journalist’s Daily Briefing, Brus says that the “elite” Ligue 1 starlet is growing unsettled under Luis Enrique and wants more clarity over his role in the team.

The 19-year-old has played as the defensive midfield anchor, a traditional centre-midfielder and even at right-back over his nine games in all competitions so far, and this is believed to be slightly frustrating Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal are described as having a “concrete” interest in signing Zaire-Emery, alongside the likes of Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to be the biggest admirers, as City’s boss is a major fan.

As well as this, the source goes on to state that a £70 million offer from Arsenal, or any interested side, could be enough.

The teenager has already drawn comparisons to Cesc Fàbregas, and club legend Thierry Henry was effusive in his praise of Zaire-Emery’s star potential when speaking on CBS Sports in late 2023.

"Sensational" Arsenal star could now help Gyokeres reach Haaland numbers

The last week or so has been a good one for Arsenal.

First, Liverpool dropped points to Crystal Palace in the Premier League and then, thanks to a last-minute goal of their own, Mikel Arteta’s side capitalised by beating Newcastle United.

On top of that, the Gunners picked up another three points and a clean sheet in the Champions League, and while he didn’t score, it was another game in which Viktor Gyokeres looked more like the top-level striker so many hoped he’d be.

Finally, another important Arsenal player appears to have found some real form of late as well, someone who could potentially help the Swedish striker reach Erling Haaland-esque numbers by season’s end.

How Gyokeres compared to Haaland last season

The first thing to note is that this article isn’t suggesting Gyokeres will ever be on the same level as Haaland; that would be rather absurd.

However, there is no reason to think the Swede couldn’t find himself in a hot streak at some point this season and match his numbers-wise during that period.

After all, while he was playing in a far weaker league last season, the Stockholm-born star was a goalscoring monster for Sporting CP.

For example, in 52 appearances for the Portuguese outfit, totalling 4248 minutes, he was able to score a staggering 54 goals and provide 13 assists.

That comes out to a mind-blowing average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes, and if that isn’t a world-class rate of return, nothing is.

Appearances

52

48

Minutes

4248′

4042′

Goals

54

34

Assists

13

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.28

0.81

Minutes per Goal Involvements

63.40′

103.64′

For his efforts, the Manchester City striker’s racked up a tally of 34 goals and five assists in 48 appearances, totalling 4042 minutes.

That comes out to a still outrageously impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.23 games, or one every 103.64 minutes.

Now, the level of opposition is a clear caveat with these numbers, but given his improvement over the last few games, his physicality, and incredible shot power, there is no reason why Gyokeres couldn’t rival Haaland with the right service.

Fortunately, someone who could be the chief provider of said service looks to be back in form.

The Arsenal star who could help Gyokeres reach Haaland numbers

The brilliant news for Arteta this season is that with Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke in the team, there is no shortage of players who could supply Gyokeres with chances.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, in this instance, the player who could be the most crucial in helping the Swede rival his fellow Scandinavian this season is Martin Odegaard.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that the Gunners’ captain had a poor campaign last year, but it’s easy to forget that he was named the club’s Player of the Year for the two seasons prior.

Moreover, the Norwegian international was battling with an ankle injury that was clearly impacting his ability to play late into the season.

Regardless, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson, seems to be getting back to his mercurial best at the moment.

For example, his cameo off the bench against Newcastle United last week was incredibly impactful, with his persistent passes in behind leading to Declan Rice’s cross, which ultimately resulted in Mikel Merino’s equaliser.

Then, against Olympiacos, he was in from the start and put in what might’ve been his best performance for the club in quite some time.

The “sensational” international, as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, was all over the pitch and supplied the attackers, specifically Gyokeres, with a constant stream of balls over the top and passes through the back line for them to latch onto.

In fact, during his 95 minutes of action, the 26-year-old produced an incredible expected assists figure of 0.93 and was finally rewarded when Bukayo Saka drilled a wonderful ball between the goalkeepers’ legs late on.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

0.72

Expected Assists

0.93

Assists

1

Key Passes

4

Touches

86

Long Balls (Accurate)

10 (7)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Clearances

1

Tackles

1

Ultimately, Gyokeres might not be quite as good a striker as Haaland, but with the players in this Arsenal team and Odegaard playing as well as he is at the moment, he might just be able to match his output for a period.

Arsenal planning new deal for "one of the best in the world" after Saliba and Saka

Contract extensions are a key priority for Andrea Berta.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 3, 2025

Not Romero or Van de Ven: Spurs star looks like the CB version of Dembele

Last season Tottenham Hotspur may have won the Europa League but there is no hiding behind the fact that domestically, things were a complete write-off.

Former boss Ange Postecoglou proclaimed that things are always better in season three, but sadly for the craggy-faced Aussie, he didn’t see in his third campaign at the helm.

The writing had been on the wall for a while, really. Spurs were a mess at the back. It’s “who we are, mate” Ange also exclaimed when asked about his philosophy and high line. Yet, those who fail to adapt and change…ahem, Ruben Amorim, often fail.

The truth is that Postecoglou did not change his ways, leading to the concession of 65 Premier League goals, the fifth-worst record in the division last term.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, he made an immediate attempt to improve the backline before anything else and that decision has been vindicated.

Spurs look like a different outfit now. They are more organised, more structured, and the numbers showcase that. They have kept five clean sheets already in 2025/26 across all competitions and have shipped just five goals. Only Arsenal (3) have let in fewer.

While Frank will take a lot of the plaudits, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero’s partnership has looked like one of the best in the division.

Why Van de Ven and Romero complement each other so well at Spurs

Since arriving in north London, Romero has attracted his fair share of criticism.

He’s too hot-headed, too rash, too ill-disciplined to ever be a competent defender. Those were the cries from certain sections of the media and fanbase. Alas, there is a reason that he is captaining the side and there is a reason that Real Madrid have reportedly courted him.

The Argentine is a typical South American defender. He’s brutish, has a never-say-die attitude and when faced with a striker, it’s not often they get the better of him.

Indeed, he’s only been dribbled past 0.3 times per match under Frank so far, winning 65% of his ground duels and another 65% of his aerial duels.

To put those numbers into context, he’s winning more aerial battles than Arsenal’s imperious Brazilian, Gabriel (60%) and a similar number of ground duels to William Saliba (66%).

Romero is the more aggressive of he and Van de Ven, but the Dutchman’s recovery speed and ability to sweep in behind his defensive colleague is why they work so well.

Last term, no player was quicker in the English top-flight than Spurs’ number 37.

The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)

Yet despite all of that, the club have a defender in their ranks who stands an excellent chance of disrupting this fine partnership. Step forward Spurs’ new Mousa Dembele.

Spurs have found the defensive version of Dembele

What a player Dembele was in his prime. Part of a very special Spurs team including the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, the Belgian was the glue that held everything together.

In the words of Kyle Walker, “Dembele was probably the best player I’ve ever seen play football” while Eric Dier, now of Monaco, stated that he was “a freak of nature”.

Dembele in his prime – 2015/16

Shots

0.8

Key passes

1.0

Dribbles

2.9

Times fouled

1.1

Tackles

3.6

All stats per game.

An all-action machine, it was nigh on impossible to get the ball off Dembele. He was a fine dribbler but he was also a duel monster.

From 2012 to 2019, no player in the Premier League had a better success rate for dribbles than Dembele’s tally of 77.9%. The next best during that time frame was Nemanja Matic on 73.1%.

As for winning duels, during the 2015/16 season, only three players, of which one was N’Golo Kante, won more tackles per match. Dembele won 3.6 while Kante topped the charts with 4.7.

Mousa Dembele

Why is this all relevant now? Well, it looks like Spurs have found another duel machine, someone capable of dominating play in a similar manner, albeit from defensive phases of play.

That player is Luka Vuskovic. Spurs first reached an agreement to sign the centre-back in 2023 for £12m from Hajduk Split when he was only 16.

They had to wait until 2025 for the young Croatian to finally arrive but it was worth the wait. Vuskovic scored in pre-season against Reading and more than looks the part.

Now 18, the teenager has already made a habit of scoring regular goals. At KVC Westerlo in the Belgian top-flight last season, he scored seven goals in 36 outings.

Now on loan at Hamburg in Germany, he’s already showcasing why he’s so highly rated. The youngster has featured on four occasions, scoring once and breaking a little bit of history along the way.

During Hamburg’s clash against Union Berlin last weekend, he won a mind-blowing 18 aerial duels. To sum up just how incredible that statistic is, no player has won more aerial duels in a Bundesliga game across the last ten seasons and he is the first player to win 18 aerial duels in a single match in Europe’s top five leagues over the last five seasons.

While Dembele may not have been as menacing in the air as that, it demonstrates Vuskovic’s imperious duel-winning ability and his capability to overpower his opponents.

When asked what he thought of his teammate, Hamburg full-back Miro Muheim simply described him as a “monster” after the game. Rather apt if you ask us.

But, as the Athletic’s German Football correspondent, Seb Stafford-Bloor, outlines, the Croat is also “good with the ball at his feet”, emulating Dembele with that area of the game too.

Vuskovic has completed 85% of his passes in the Bundesliga so far and has also been successful with 100% of his dribble attempts, according to Sofascore.

Not just a beast physically, he’s technically brilliant, just as Dembele was from further forward. An exciting player no doubt, and one who could well make this Spurs backline even better.

You bet Frank can’t wait to get him back in the fold next season.

17-year-old Spurs prodigy is their most exciting academy star since Kane

Tottenham Hotspur have been on the look out for the next Harry Kane ever since he left for Bayern Munich.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 1, 2025

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi wins MLS October Player of the Month after recording league-best 10 goal contributions

After closing out the MLS regular season on a dominant streak, Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi has been named MLS Player of the Month for October 2025, following a stunning run of five goals and five assists in his last three matches. Thanks to his influence, the Herons finished the month with a perfect record of three wins and no losses, securing third place in the Eastern Conference.

  • In peak form

    Messi has added yet another accolade to his spectacular MLS journey, earning his third Player of the Month award of the 2025 season-and the fifth since arriving in North America. His 10 goal contributions were the highest in the league for October. 

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    Sealing the Golden Boot

    His dominant surge couldn’t have come at a better time, driving the Herons to a perfect October and ultimately earning him the MLS Golden Boot. Decision Day against Nashville SC served as the exclamation point: Messi delivered a hat-trick and an assist, bringing his season total to an astonishing 48 goal contributions (29 goals and 19 assists) – the second-highest single-season mark in league history.

  • Getty Images Sport

    More milestones for Messi

    Messi continues to rewrite MLS records. He remains the only player to surpass 36 goal involvements in consecutive seasons, first doing so in 2024 with a 20-goal, 16-assist campaign that earned him the Landon Donovan MVP award.

    Now, with the regular season concluded, the 38-year-old has his sights set on making history again by becoming the first player in league history to win back-to-back MVP honors. 

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    What comes next?

    Inter Miami head into the MLS Cup playoffs full of confidence. The club will open its best-of-three series against Nashville this Friday at Chase Stadium, with Messi once again at the forefront of their title ambitions.

AC Milan confirm extent of Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic injuries after double blow for Serie A side

AC Milan are facing a mounting injury crisis after Adrien Rabiot was ruled out for at least a month with a calf lesion sustained on France duty. Christian Pulisic has also been sidelined with a hamstring tear he sustained in a friendly for the United States, leaving Milan short-handed ahead of a crucial run of Serie A fixtures for Massimiliano Allegri's title hopefuls.

Rabiot injury blow confirmed after France duty setback

Rabiot’s return from international duty has brought bad news for Milan, with scans confirming a left calf muscle lesion that will sideline him for at least four weeks, according to . The injury, sustained during France’s recent fixture against Iceland in the World Cup qualifiers, was initially thought to be minor, but further tests revealed the true extent of the problem.

The ex-Juventus midfielder has quickly become one of Milan’s most dependable midfielders since joining from Marseille on deadline day. His ability to dictate tempo and control transitions has been vital to Max Allegri’s tactical setup, making his absence a major blow. The Frenchman’s condition will be reassessed in 10 days, but an early return appears unlikely.

The timing of the setback adds to Milan’s woes, with Rabiot’s absence expected to overlap with a critical run of fixtures that includes Fiorentina, Pisa, and Atalanta before the international break.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPulisic joins growing injury list amid fitness worries

Milan’s troubles don’t end in midfield, Pulisic’s hamstring injury compounds the situation further. The American winger limped off just 30 minutes into his latest international appearance, and subsequent MRI scans confirmed a low-grade tear in his right hamstring. He is expected to miss at least three matches, including Fiorentina, Pisa, and Atalanta, with the club confirming that his condition will also be evaluated again in 10 days.

The Rossoneri hope to have the current Serie A joint-top scorer back for the match against Roma on November 2 at San Siro. Failing that, they would target the away match against Parma six days later. The club do not expect him to be in danger of missing the Milan derby against Inter on November 23.

Winger Rafael Leao had also been sent home from Portugal duty earlier in the week due to fitness concerns, while Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Saelemaekers remain doubts. The cluster of injuries is testing the Rossoneri’s depth and forcing Allegri to reconsider his attacking structure ahead of a demanding October schedule.

Tactical reshuffle looms as Allegri searches for balance

Allegri now faces a tactical puzzle: how to preserve balance and momentum with key players missing. Early reports indicate Ruben Loftus-Cheek will slot into Rabiot’s role in midfield. His box-to-box style and physicality make him the closest fit, though he lacks the same control in possession.

Some fans have called for Samuele Ricci, signed from Torino, to get his chance, but he remains lower in the pecking order. Ardon Jashari is another potential candidate once fully recovered from a fibula fracture. The injuries could also prompt subtle shifts in formation, possibly a flatter midfield three or a more defensive setup against top opponents. Milan’s next few games will reveal how flexible Allegri can be when faced with adversity.

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AFPUpcoming fixtures and recovery outlook

The Rossoneri currently sit third in Serie A with 13 points from their opening six matches, and they’ll look to maintain their strong start despite the setbacks. A 2-1 loss in their first Serie A game of the season was followed by a four-game winning run in the top-flight before they played out a 0-0 draw with Juventus before the international break. Up next for Allegri's men is a visit from Fiorentina at San Siro on October 19, followed by clashes with Pisa and Atalanta before the next international break.

Both Rabiot and Pulisic are scheduled for reassessment within 10 days, with hopes they can return by late November if rehabilitation progresses smoothly. Until then, Allegri will rely on depth, discipline, and resilience to navigate a crucial stretch.

Corinthians confirma venda de Adson para time da França

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians informou na tarde deste domingo (20) que recebeu uma proposta do Nantes, da França, pelo atacante Adson. Segundo comunicado oficial do clube, o atleta foi liberado para viajar e realizar os exames médicos com a equipe europeia.

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Os franceses pagarão 5 milhões de euros (R$ 27 milhões, na cotação atual) por 50% dos direitos econômicos do atleta, que tem 70% do ‘passe’ pertencentes ao clube do Parque São Jorge.

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O jovem de 22 anos vinha sendo o escolhido pelo técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo para ocupar a vaga deixada por Róger Guedes, que trocou o Time do Povo pelo Al-Rayyan, do Qatar.

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Formado nas categorias de base do clube e no elenco profissional do Timão desde 2021, o camisa 28 deixará o Corinthians com 114 jogos disputados, 13 gols e oito assistências.

England seek the same again as West Indies go west in search of answers

England wouldn’t mind the one-way traffic continuing while WI will hope Lewis’ return adds impetus up top

Andrew Miller31-May-2025Big picture: England lay down their markerEdgbaston 2015 was the scene of England’s original white-ball reboot, when Eoin Morgan’s unfettered underachievers shed the reticence and blazed their way to a then-record total of 408 for 6 against New Zealand. Ten years later, the same venue produced a similar onslaught, an even 400 against West Indies, after a remarkable run of 30-plus scores from each of the top seven, with Jacob Bethell’s 82 from 53 balls the stand-out.There, for the time being, however, the parallels end. Because, while there was plenty in this latest performance for England to take pleasure in, the standard of the challenge wasn’t quite on a par with the Brendon McCullum-inspired Kiwis who had reached their first World Cup final only months earlier.West Indies have missed each of their last two ICC 50-over tournaments – the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy – and on Thursday’s evidence, it’s not hard to see why. A guileless bowling display bled into a batting performance that lacked body or substance, and had it not been for an unlikely top-score of 29 not out from Jayden Seales at No.11, this would have been the heaviest defeat in their once-proud ODI history.It doesn’t augur well for the remainder of the series, though England – it should be stressed – will not mind a jot if the one-way traffic continues. A win is a win is a win, especially when you have come into the contest off the back of seven consecutive defeats, their worst run since the dog days of 2001. That includes a Champions Trophy display so bad that they might have preferred the West Indies option of watching on helplessly from the sidelines, rather than the middle.Jamie Overton’s finger injury is the only lasting cloud from that contest – he has now been ruled out of the rest of the white-ball series after being diagnosed with a fracture. Saqib Mahmood’s impeccable command of line and length once again marked him out as a real asset in the powerplay, while Brydon Carse’s successful return from a gruesome toe injury was no less significant given his likely workload across formats this summer.In the batting stakes, Jamie Smith’s promotion to open proved an immediate success. He’ll face more challenging new-ball spells, no doubt, but the power and placement of his strokeplay brooked no argument. And talking of which, Harry Brook’s happy knack of rising to the responsibility of leadership shows no sign of abating. His sixth match in charge, and first in an official capacity, produced a fourth consecutive half-century, and it took a fine catch to dislodge him when well set.West Indies haven’t got a lot to write home about just yet. Gudakesh Motie was the pick of their bowlers at Edgbaston, though 7-0-39-0 is not exactly tearing up trees, while Seales’ 4 for 84 from nine overs at least provided some reward for his willingness to go to the well. Their batting, however, never got started. Maybe Evin Lewis’ recovery from a groin injury could offer some more impetus at the top. But, with the IPL’s latter stages having taken Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd out of contention for this campaign, it’s clear the issues that beset West Indies cricket aren’t simply related to individuals.Form guideEngland WLLLL
West Indies LWLWWIn the spotlight: Jacob Bethell and Shai HopeThe golden child was at it again on Thursday. Bethell has still not made a century in his brief professional career, but already he’s one of the most sought-after all-format players in England’s ranks. His Test-best 96 in New Zealand came amid a run of three half-centuries at No.3 that have stirred the pot ahead of India’s visit next month, while his cameo for IPL finalists RCB impressed no less a figure than Mr Aura himself, Virat Kohli. And now, an effortlessly competent 82 from 53 balls in only his tenth ODI. All of England’s new-look team are learning the format on the hoof. He’s got to grips with it as quickly as anyone.A lot has happened since that famous Headingley Test in 2017, when Shai Hope’s twin hundreds secured an extraordinary win against the head (straight after a shellacking at Edgbaston, no less). And if his role in Test cricket has fallen away in recent times, then it’s worth remembering it wasn’t so long ago that he was teaching England a few lessons in how to pace an ODI innings. In consecutive winters in 2023 and 2024, he produced superb centuries in Antigua. The former secured a memorable 326-run chase, the latter required the rarely-seen best of Liam Livingstone to outgun it. If anyone is to provide some traction to their batting, Hope must spring eternal.Brook enjoyed a good day out in his first match as captain•Getty ImagesTeam news: Overton out, Potts inThere was never any danger of wholesale changes from England just yet – their batting is in fine order, and Gujarat Titans’ IPL elimination removes any threat of Jos Buttler negotiating an early release to take on RCB in the final. Overton’s finger injury gives Matthew Potts a chance to feature after being named in every squad so far this summer, even though they may have been tempted by the point of difference offered by Luke Wood’s left-armers.England: 1 Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Matthew Potts, 11 Saqib MahmoodEvin Lewis was struck in the groin while batting on the eve of the first ODI, so assuming he’s recovered, he’s likely to slot back in at the top, potentially at the expense of Jewel Andrew, who nevertheless looked as competent as anyone in his brief stay at Edgbaston. Justin Greaves opened in Lewis’s absence, and may slip back down the order. Seales’ four expensive wickets may keep him ahead of Shamar Joseph.West Indies: (possible) 1 Brandon King, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Amir Jangoo, 6 Justin Greaves, 7 Roston Chase, 8 Matthew Forde, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Jayden SealesPitch and conditions: Bright weather in prospectThe sun has returned in time for the weekend in Wales, so hot weather (by British standards) is in prospect. Cardiff is notorious for its short straight boundaries and deep pockets square of the wicket, so hit-the-deck, cross-seam bowling might prove fruitful through the middle overs.Stats and trivia West Indies haven’t won a bilateral ODI series in England since 2007. Their last such visit, in 2017, resulted in a 4-0 defeat. Root needs 42 runs to overtake Eoin Morgan as England’s leading scorer in ODIs. Another 84 will make him the first Englishman to 7000. Roston Chase is 47 runs short of 1000 in ODIs.Quotes”We know we’ve got to match that intensity and the performance from the other day, because it’s going to be a tough challenge. They’ve got a lot of match winners… Even though we played well, we still left a lot of things out there and we had good chats about that.
Will Jacks is not resting on his laurels after the opening ODI“It’s good when batsmen play out of their skin, but when you know you have a plan and you’ve not really given it a chance to work, that’s the most annoying thing.”
West Indies’ coach, Daren Sammy, was less impressed with his team’s performance.

محمد عمر: حلمي طولان محق في تصريحاته. وشخص وحيد قادر على حل أزمة المنتخب الثاني

كشف محمد عمر عضو اللجنة الفنية لـ اتحاد الكرة، عن تفاصيل أزمة تضارب مواعيد مباريات الدوري المصري، مع معسكر منتخب مصر الثاني قبل المشاركة ببطولة كأس العرب.

ويشارك منتخب مصر، في بطولة كأس العرب خلال الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر المقبل بقطر، ويتواجد في المجموعة الثالثة، بجانب الأردن والإمارات والفائز من (الكويت ضد موريتانيا).

وكان حلمي طولان، قد خرج في تصريحات مساء أمس الإثنين، اشتكى فيها من عدم الاهتمام باستعدادات المنتخب لبطولة كأس العرب.

طالع | حلمي طولان يهاجم رابطة الأندية: لن أقبل الإهانة.. ومنتخب مصر يُعامل بدون احترام

وقال محمد عمر في تصريحات إذاعية عبر آثير ميجا اف ام: “حلمي طولان المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الثاني، محق في تصريحاته، ويجب الحفاظ على استقرار المنتخب قبل انطلاق بطولة كأس العرب”.

وأكمل: “المهندس هاني أبو ريدة، رئيس اتحاد الكرة، هو الوحيد القادر على حل أزمة المنتخب الثاني مع رابطة الأندية فيما يتعلق بتأجيل مباريات بيراميدز، والأهلي والزمالك لن يعترضا على هذا التأجيل”.

واختتم: “رابطة الأندية عليها التعامل مع أزمة حلمي طولان بهدوء، ولديها القدرة على توفيق الأوضاع في جدول الدوري المصري الممتاز، لأن الهدف الأساسي هو الحفاظ على صورة منتخب مصر”.