Boland picked up two key wickets including Khawaja leaving Queensland 106 for 5 at stumps after Victoria declared at 300 for 7 on day two

AAP17-Nov-2023Victoria’s generous declaration has paid dividends as Queensland’s top-order faltered and Usman Khawaja fell late during the Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.Victoria declared at 300 for 7 soon after lunch on day two. In reply, Queensland slumped to 42 for 3 before limping to 106 for 6 at stumps, with Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth both unbeaten.Khawaja put up stiff resistance with 31 off 101 balls, but he was out five minutes before stumps when he edged paceman Scott Boland behind. The late scalp has put Queensland well and truly on the back foot in the bottom-of-the-table clash.Boland was the standout bowler with figures of 2 for 25 from 17 overs, while Fergus O’Neill and Will Sutherland also tied down Queensland’s batters.Victoria resumed play on Friday at 201 for 4, but Sutherland only added two runs to his overnight score before shouldering arms to a Gurinder Sandhu delivery that jagged back and struck the top of off stump. Sam Harper fell for a 17-ball duck to reduce Victoria to 213 for 6.Campbell Kellaway dug in to help steady the ship making 48 from 159 balls, but he was sent packing when he was also bowled after shouldering arms.Mitchell Perry and O’Neill both made 33 not out in an important 61-run stand before Victoria declared. Wildermuth was the pick of the Queensland bowlers with 3 for 49 off 27 overs, while Liam Guthrie chipped in with 2 for 72.Queensland’s innings started poorly, with Matt Renshaw edging O’Neill to first slip. The Bulls went from 37 for 1 to 42 for 3 when Joe Burns and Bryce Street failed to capitalise on solid foundations.Jack Clayton became the next batter to waste a steady start when he was trapped LBW by debutant spinner Doug Warren for 21.”It’s pretty much what dreams are made of,” Warren said about his maiden first-class wicket at the MCG. “It’s what everyone wants to do.”Warren was spurred on by a parochial supporter group in the crowd.”They were carrying on like pork chops today,” he said with a smile. “I’ve got a couple of hooligans from school, a couple of uni mates, and then the old man and a couple of his friends – they’ve had a couple in the bar.”They’re a bit intoxicated, but having a bit of fun.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Gatito é um dos grandes nomes da história recente do Botafogo e vem participando de todo processo de evolução da equipe alvinegra. Apesar das oscilações no início do ano, o goleiro acredita que ainda é possível buscar uma vaga para Libertadores.

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+Veja as chances de título, Libertadores e rebaixamento no Brasileirão após o término da rodada com os jogos desta quinta-feira

– Acredito que, em termo de finalizações, no decorrer nessa reta final do campeonato, a gente melhorou bastante. A nossa organização defensiva está muito melhor, está muito firme, em comparação ao que foi no começo do ano. Nosso time vai engrenando, ganhando confiança e todo mundo vai se entendendo – declarou Gatito ao “ge”.

+Lesão de Eduardo vira dor de cabeça para Botafogo nesta reta final de Brasileirão

– Como time grande, a gente chega para buscar uma copa internacional, né? Estamos perto da Copa Libertadores, da pré-Libertadores. A gente gostaria de alcançar, ainda faltam quatro jogos. Acho que a gente tem que encarar cada jogo como uma final, sabendo que não tem jogo fácil – completou.

O Glorioso volta a campo na próxima terça-feira, contra o Cuiabá, às 19h, no Nilton Santos, em partida válida pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O time de Luís Castro vai em busca da segunda vitória consecutiva da competição.

Galatasaray have reportedly resumed 'direct talks' with Napoli for Victor Osimhen as the Turkish champions push to finalise a €70 million (£60m) deal for the Nigerian striker. An improved offer is on the table as Galatasaray have offered a staggered payment structure which would see them pay €40 million upfront with €35 million in add-ons and installments.

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Galatasaray table €70m bid for OsimhenNapoli demand revised payment structure and firm guaranteesTurkish club confident of record-breaking dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported Galatasaray have submitted a new proposal to Napoli worth €70m, structured as €40m upfront with €17.5m in instalments and another €17.5m in add-ons. The report suggested that talks resumed on Sunday as both clubs aim to find a compromise on payment terms and bank guarantees. The deal would be the most expensive in Turkish football history and a landmark statement by Galatasaray.

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Osimhen has already given the green light to the transfer, prioritising Galatasaray over other interested clubs. Napoli previously rejected a lower offer but are now closer to accepting the Super Lig champions' latest bid. Napoli are open to the deal but want tighter financial security on the deal regarding the instalments.

DID YOU KNOW?

Further reports have suggested that negotiations have accelerated following Galatasaray delivering the bank guarantees Napoli requested. The Turkish giants want to wrap up the deal before pre-season begins and have made Osimhen their primary target. Napoli, meanwhile, are planning to use the funds to plan a summer renovation of the squad.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GALATASARAY?

Further meetings are scheduled this week to finalise payment schedules and paperwork. Galatasaray are confident of landing Osimhen but face a race against time to seal the deal before the squad departs for their summer tour.

Ashton Agar returned remarkable figures of 2 for 6, while Zak Crawley led the chase for the winners with a 56-ball 58

AAP08-Jan-2024Ricky Ponting has lashed the Sydney Showground pitch after Sydney Thunder’s low-scoring loss to Perth Scorchers on Monday, calling it “substandard” and wondering if Thunder should abandon the stadium for Canberra.Scorchers returned to the BBL’s top two with the seven-wicket win, chasing down Thunder’s 137 for 8 with five balls to spare. The result left Thunder needing results to fall in their favour to reach the finals, sitting in seventh place on the ladder with three games to play.But the major talking point remained the pitch, after Ashton Agar took 2 for 6 from four overs and Cooper Connolly 3 for 25 from his four. Thunder spinner Tanveer Sangha also went for just 14 from his four overs, and Chris Green got 1 for 22 from 3.1.Data from the Seven network showed an average spin of 3.9 degrees in Scorchers’ bowling innings, well in excess of the 2.2-degree average across the BBL.

“The Thunder for years have talked about how much they love playing in Canberra, maybe that’s a solution. They have some good young players in this squad, but they might not have them forever if the wicket continues to be this way”Ricky Ponting

“We shouldn’t be seeing balls react like that in the BBL,” Ponting said in commentary. “That’s unplayable, you can’t hit that.”We shouldn’t be seeing balls react like that in the BBL. As far as I am concerned, this is substandard as far as BBL wickets are concerned.”Scorchers wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman also remarked that it “looked like Chennai”, with Agar’s figures the second-most economical in BBL history.The pitch has become a problem for Cricket Australia, given that the league is viewed as a gateway to the sport for youngsters. In one of the most populated and culturally-diverse regions of Australia, the run rate of 7.76 at the venue throughout the competition’s history is lower than at any other major BBL stadium.Only one score of over 160 has been made in the past two seasons, with spin and off-pace deliveries generally dominating. So slow did things move in the Thunder innings that they scored only 19 runs in a six-over period late in the innings in front of a crowd of 8672.Ponting went on to question if Thunder should move to Canberra permanently given the state of the Showground pitch, with the club already playing two games a season at Manuka Oval.Ashton Agar returned the second-most economical figures in the history of the BBL•Getty Images”The Sydney Thunder have been a struggling team for the last few years,” Ponting said. “And how are you going to attract young players from around the team or overseas, if they’re going to be batting on a wicket like that?”The Thunder for years have talked about how much they love playing in Canberra, maybe that’s a solution. They have some good young players in this squad, but they might not have them forever if the wicket continues to be this way.”Agar, however, defended the groundstaff after play. “I don’t envy the groundsman, with conditions that were dished up. It poured down rain all day,” he said. “Obviously the Big Bash is an entertaining game, and you want to see high scores and balls flying over the fence. But there’s a lot to be learned from games like that. Things to be learned for guys who go overseas.”Alex Hales played a lone hand with the bat for Thunder, whacking three sixes over the leg side in his 72 from 55 balls. But he was also close to being the villain for Thunder, with three men run out at the other end while he batted.In reply, Zak Crawley hit 58 from 56 balls to help steer Scorchers home in the last over.

Wayne Rooney has been warned he could find it difficult to return to management after signing a punditry deal with Match of the Day.

• Rooney signs Match of the Day contract
• Has struggled during management career
• Could find it difficult to return

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rooney has already been warned by former Manchester United team-mate Louis Saha that he could find it difficult to return to management having signed a contract with the BBC's flagship football highlights programme, which will also see the former England international give his thoughts at the 2026 World Cup.

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  Rooney has had short head coach stints with Derby, D.C. United, Birmingham and most recently Plymouth since retiring as a player in 2021. However, he could only win five of his 25 matches in charge of Argyle and looks to have shelved those ambitions for the time being to concentrate on punditry work. Former England defender Stuart Pearce has now given his opinion, insisting the 39-year-old's arrival is a big coup for the BBC.

• WHAT PEARCE SAID

  Pearce was speaking to , who offer the latest Premier League odds, and said: “Wayne Rooney is going to be a good asset for the BBC. He's got a wealth of experience. He's been one of the best players ever to grace the Premier League, no doubt about that.

  “The management situation doesn't seem to have worked out for him particularly well for whatever reason. I suppose if you're working in the game at the moment, if you're a chairman looking to recruit, Wayne Rooney wouldn't be on your list of candidates potentially at present.

  “But, you never know, a year away from the game, he might quite enjoy working in the media and from that moment on rekindle the fact that he wants to come and have another go at management again, who knows.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rooney has been advised alongside Steven Gerrard to take a gamble and develop his coaching skills in a less high-profile environment by former England boss Roy Hodgson, who spent time abroad in countries like Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and Denmark during his managerial career.

MatériaMais Notícias

Enquanto se concentram para os desafios da Copa do Mundo, os jogadores da Seleção Brasileira recebem folgas para curtirem familiares e amigos em Doha. A estratégia da comissão técnica encabeçada por Tite é fazer com que os atletas consigam se distrair em meio aos treinos e jogos do Mundial do Qatar.

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O tema foi muito debatido logo assim que o Brasil desembarcou no Oriente Médio, quando Lucas Paquetá apareceu junto com os filhos na primeira sessão de treinamento no Estádio Grand Hamad. Enquanto um dos meninos chorava com a mãe do lado de fora, o camisa 7 foi acalmar a criança.

+ Veja a tabela, os jogos e os grupos da Copa do Mundo de 2022

– A comissão técnica já passou para nós os dias que os familiares podem vir assistir ao treino. No estádio nem todos vão, mas é muito bom ter a família junto. A gente tem contato mais por mensagem, mas às vezes é bom estar junto com eles. Você pode falar com eles, relaxar um pouco mais… Nas outras seleções também tem isso, é normal – disse Fabinho em entrevista coletiva na última quarta-feira.

Na Rússia, na Copa do Mundo de 2018, o mesmo também acontecia. Em dias pré-determinados pela comissão técnica os jogadores tinham um momento de folga e podiam aproveitar com amigos e familiares.

Nesta semana, os jogadores puderam aproveitar mais um destes momentos. Na terça-feira, o atacante Gabriel Jesus, por exemplo, encontrou com Ronaldo Fenômeno em um jantar. Vini Jr foi outro que também saiu. O camisa 20 foi a um restaurante e foi flagrado com a influenciadora digitalJulia Rodrigues.

+Seleção Brasileira tem mais um lesionado: relembre desfalques do Brasil com a Copa em andamento na história

NEM TANTO AO CÉU, NEM TANTO À TERRA

A CBF tem a preocupação de não cometer excesso com os jogadores, mas também não quer deixar os atletas presos. Com experiências dos dois lados, os Mundiais da Alemanha e da África do Sul tiveram histórias distintas.

Em 2006, por exemplo, a preparação da Seleção Brasileira emWeggis, na Suíça, foi marcada por um clima de festa que atrapalhou os jogadores. Já em 2010, o time de Dunga ficou completamente isolado, num cenário completamente diferente de quatro anos antes.

Dosando para obter o melhor dos dois lados, a Seleção Brasileira segue a programação em Doha. O próximo desafio da equipe de Tite é na sexta-feira, contra Camarões, no Estádio 974.

أجرى روبن أموريم مدرب مانشستر يونايتد مؤتمراً صحفياً للحديث عن استعدادات فريقه لمواجهة آرسنال في الجولة الأولى من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي يوم الأحد المقبل.

وحول موقف لاعبيه من مباراة آرسنال، قال أموريم في المؤتمر الصحفي: “لن يشارك ليساندرو مارتينيز ونصير مزراوي، ولن يتمكنا من المشاركة في هذه المباراة، زيركزي وأونانا يتعافيان وهما خياران متاحان، سنرى”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. تقارير: مانشستر يونايتد يُفسد خطة برشلونة لتأمين خليفة ليفاندوفسكي

وحول بنجامين سيسكو المنضم هذا الصيف من لايبزيج، قال: “أتوقع أن يكون مهاجماً لسنوات عديدة لهذا السبب أنفقنا مبلغا كبيرا، لم يكن لديه وقتا كافيا للتدريب لكنه جاهز بدنياً، هذا عامل مهم في دورينا، إنه جاهز للعب وسنرى إن كان سيبدأ أساسياً، إنه يستمتع ويرغب في اللعب وتقديم مستوى جيد”.

وحول آمال أموريم للموسم الجديد رد: “من الصعب تحديد ذلك، لا يمكن تغيير كل شئ في أربع أسابيع لكننا أفضل حالاً، نتدرب بجدية أكبر وأكثر استعداداً للمنافسة، أنا أكثر ثقة وخطوة بخطوة سنصبح فريق أفضل”.

وحول الهدف من الموسم الحالي: “نريد العودة إلى أوروبا، علينا أن نكون واقعيين مع جماهيرنا، علينا أن نبذل قصارى جهدنا لأن هناك فرق أكثر تماسكاً منا، علينا أن نركز مباراة بمباراة، نريد الفوز ضد أرسنال”.

وحول فيكتور جيوكيريس مهاجم آرسنال الجديد قال: “هذا سؤال يتعلق بأرتيتا، فيكتور في مستوى مختلف، سبورتينج يتمتع بكشافة مواهب ممتازة لأنهم يعتمدون على اللاعبين الذين يشترونهم ويبيعونهم لضمان بقائهم، أعتقد أنه لاعب ممتاز وليس من المستغرب رؤيته مع نادي كبير في إنجلترا”.

وحول لعب ماونت في عمق وسط الملعب: “ربما يكون قادراً على اللعب في هذا المركز إذا أردنا شئ مختلف لكن لدينا لاعبون قادرون على التأقلم والفوز بالمباريات في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز”.

وفيما يتعلق بما تعلمه من الموسم الماضي كشف أموريم: ” لقد تعلمت الكثير، لست بحاجة للتركيز على المستقبل وهذا لا يهمني، يجب أن أعيش اليوم بيومه، أزيل كل ما يشكل ضجيجاً لنا من الصورة، لذا أستعد فقط لمواجهة آرسنال”.

وحول دور برونو فرنانديز الموسم الجديد: “حتى في الموسم الماضي عندما كان يلعب كلاعب وسط، كان اللاعب الأكثر تسديداً قرب منطقة الجزاء لذا أعتقد أن بقاء برونو في مركز واحد خلال التدريبات أمر جيد، وهو أمر بالغ الأهمية لفريقنا، الآن لدينا لاعبون بمواصفات مختلفة قادرين على التعامل مع ذلك لذا سنحاول إدارة كل مباراة على حدة واختيار أفضل اللاعبين في المراكز”.

وحول مهاجمي الفريق في الموسم الجديد أتم أموريم: “لدينا أكثر من ثلاث لاعبين هم كونيا ومبيومو وسيسكو لذا فهم يتنافسون على مراكزهم لكنني سعيد للغاية، أعتقد أن سيسكو على وجه الأخص يتمتع بإمكانيات هائلة في كل ما يفعله، يمكنه لعب أنواع مختلفة وسيشعر أن البريميرليج قوي للغاية وسيتعلم الكثير ولديه إمكانيات هائلة”.

وعن راسموس هويلوند الذي يرتبط بالرحيل عن مانشستر يونايتد ذكر أموريم: “إنه خيار آخر لنا، نحن نركز على المباراة وراسموس لا يزال لاعبنا”.

وختم أموريم: “أنا سعيد للغاية بلاعبينا فهم يعملون بشكل جيد للغاية ولدينا لاعبون في هذا المركز، لذلك نحن مستعدون للفوز بأي مباراة مع لاعبينا”.

Sri Lanka stole to their target for the second time this tour, scoring the winning runs off the last ball to deny a tenacious Zimbabwe defence of a modest target. A top-edged four off the bat of No. 9 Dushmantha Chameera and a chip into the legside outfield were the final acts of a chase in which Sri Lanka had struggled to stay afloat.Angelo Mathews, playing his first T20I in almost three years, had produced the most substantial Sri Lankan innings, making 46 off 38 to take the game deep. Dasun Shanaka was not out on 26 off 18, having also struck important boundaries.Their work overtook Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza’s outstanding all-round efforts. Raza had first made 62 off 42 with the bat, then claimed 3 for 13 with the ball – both the most runs, and best figures in the game. But just as they had been pipped at the finish in the second ODI, earlier on tour, Zimbabwe were left visibly dejected again.The final overThe experienced pair of Mathews and Shanaka had come together at the end of the 14th over, with 61 to get off 36 balls, and no recognised batters to come. As such they had batted sagely, picking off boundaries and keeping the requirement manageable, with well-calculated boundaries.When it came to the final over, bowled by Blessing Muzarabani who had been economical thus far, Sri Lanka needed 12. Mathews went deep in his crease and clattered Muzarabani down the ground for a one-bounce four first ball – the bowler punished for missing his yorker. Then, expecting Muzarabani to go short, Mathews stayed on his back foot and played a delectable late cut that bisected the keeper and short third for another four.Sri Lanka only required six off four now, but Muzarabani would bowl a dot ball, and then have Mathews hole out to deep midwicket, trying to hit the game-winning six.Some of what happened next was pure luck. Muzarabani went at Chameera’s body, and the ball took a top edge and sailed over the wicketkeeper as the batter swiped at it. Last ball, a fullish one, Chameera chipped towards deep midwicket, and the batters scampered the last two.Sikandar Raza had a great game with bat and ball•SLC

Raza rocks it with the bat…Raza arrived at the crease just after the powerplay, took a few balls to get settled, then began to open his shoulders. Three fours – all square of the wicket – off Chameera in the ninth over, was his first serious statement. He was then methodical during a 45-run third-wicket stand with Sean Williams while the spinners operated (he was just 31 off 27 balls at one stage), before adopting a more aggressive mode again once Williams departed. He slog-swept Wanindu Hasaranga over the deep midwicket boundary, smoked Nuwan Thushara down the ground to get past 50, and reaped 31 runs off the last 15 balls he faced.…and with the ballWith Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, and Blessing Muzarabani all having claimed a wicket in the powerplay, Sri Lanka were already reeling when Raza came on to bowl. He then delivered an excellent spell that decked the rest of the top order. He clipped the top of Sadeera Samarawickrama’s off stump with a sharp offbreak first ball, before in his final over, having Charith Asalanka caught off a leading edge, then sending a skidding offbreak into the stumps of Wanindu Hasaranga. He’d conceded only a single boundary in his four overs.Sri Lanka’s spinners keep a lid on Zimbabwe’s scoringThough Zimbabwe lost two powerplay wickets, the Raza-Williams partnership had delivered them to a decent position in the middle overs. Maheesh Theekshana – who had taken those powerplay wickets – conceded only 11 in his last two overs. New captain Wanindu Hasaranga took 2 for 19 himself, and finished with excellent figures of 2 for 19, bowling entirely through the middle.Sri Lanka’s excellent ground fielding also helped rein the scoring in.

Heat crumbled to 113 all out in 153 chase as Dwarshuis finished with his career-best T20 figures of 5 for 21

Tristan Lavalette19-Jan-2024

Sydney Sixers secured a home BBL final after seamer Ben Dwarshuis tore into Brisbane Heat on a two-paced Gold Coast surface. Earlier, captain Moises Henriques and Daniel Hughes combined for a valuable partnership to take Sixers to 152 for 8.In the Qualifier between this season’s top two teams, Sixers were set up by a 94-run third-wicket partnership from Henriques and Hughes. The pair had inspired their team’s remarkable three-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers in the previous match that propelled Sixers into second spot.Sixers’ disciplined quicks were excellent in helpful bowling conditions with Dwarshuis claiming 5 for 21 while allrounder Jack Edwards took a stunning one-handed return catch to finish with two wickets. Sixers will host the final at the SCG on January 24 as they seek a fourth BBL title.Heat’s hopes to end an 11-year title drought goes on the line in the Challenger on Monday against the winner of Saturday’s knockout final between Scorchers and in-form Adelaide Strikers.Top-ranked Heat had lost just one regular season match but failed to ease concerns over their batting order which has been gutted after a number of withdrawals.There had been an unknown over the surface in the first match played on the Gold Coast this season after Heat shifted grounds due to the Gabba’s unavailability ahead of the second Test between Australia and West Indies.Heat elected to bowl in humid conditions and spearhead Michael Neser immediately produced menacing movement. Edwards, who made a golden duck against Scorchers, was moved up the order after the departure of opener James Vince to the UAE’s ILT20.Moises Henriques picked up speed after a slow start•Getty Images

He countered swing by effectively taking the aerial route to force Heat captain Nathan McSweeney to remove the lone slip. But Edwards holed out to Neser in the third over after Paul Walter took a fine catch running back.Heat were on top when left-arm quick Spencer Johnson nicked off Josh Philippe in a decision overturned on review to cap a wicket maiden in his first over. Reaching speeds of 147 kph, Johnson was unplayable early as Hughes and Henriques were forced to rebuild.In contrast to his late heroics against Scorchers, Henriques played sedately and scored just nine runs off his first 20 deliveries. But in trademark fashion, he remained calm and made his move just before drinks with a six down the ground off legspinner Mitchell Swepson and went on to add a boundary moments later.Heat were left to rue dropping Henriques twice after the resumption and he made them pay by dominating the power surge across overs 13 and 14. Seamer Xavier Bartlett has enjoyed a breakout BBL season by bowling an accurate hard length, but an adventurous Henriques rattled him by shuffling across his stumps to thump him over the legside. Bartlett leaked 25 runs as Sixers smashed a season-high 38 runs in the power surge. But Hughes was outfoxed by a slower short delivery from Walter in the 15th over to trigger a collapse.Sixers lost 5 for 23 with Henriques struggling to regain his earlier momentum and he fell in the 18th over to a relieved Bartlett, who again showed his death bowling specialty.In reply, Heat were tied up early with big-hitting opener Josh Brown struggling to handle the two-paced pitch. He scored just two off his first 13 balls before skipping down the wicket and smashing seamer Sean Abbott for six over mid-off. But Brown and Jimmy Peirson succumbed to accurate Sixers bowling as the run rate required soared to above 10 an over by the midpoint.The pressure fell on Matt Renshaw, who just two days earlier was released from Australia’s first Test squad to play in this match. Heat sought the power surge in the 12th over and Renshaw tried to turn the game by blasting two sixes.But he fell in the 13th over to Dwarshuis, who with his next delivery removed Walter and it was just a matter of time before Sixers reached their seventh BBL final.

Florian Wirtz's father, Hans-Joachim, has lifted the lid on the decision behind his son’s sensational move to Liverpool, praising Arne Slot's 'pleasant' approach and tactical clarity. Despite strong interest from Bayern Munich, the German star opted for a Premier League switch, with his father now revealing just how tough it was to turn down Die Rekordmeister this summer.

Wirtz’s father praises Slot’s empathy and tactical clarityBayern’s Hoeness left disappointed after personal involvementLiverpool fans excited to see £116m star make debut soonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Florian completed a British record £116 million ($156m) move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool earlier this summer. The 22-year-old rejected long-time suitors Bayern Munich after Slot presented a compelling tactical vision and development plan, and his father has now revealed how the 'pleasant' Dutchman helped the German make his decision.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT FLORIAN'S FATHER SAID

Speaking to Der Spiegel, Hans-Joachim said: "Arne Slot has impressed Florian on the pitch. He's also a very pleasant person.

"Florian's best coaches have always been those who gave him plenty of freedom. And those with the greatest empathy have also reached Florian. He finds the game in England interesting because it thrives on pace and dynamism.

"Arne Slot presented his playing philosophy, the team tactics in possession and pressing, and how Florian can develop his strengths in these areas. This made a decisive impression on Florian. The training conditions in Liverpool were also totally impressive."

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Bayern Munich made a strong push to land Wirtz, with Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge personally involved in talks. Wirtz’s father admitted it was emotionally difficult to turn down the Bundesliga giants, especially given Hoeness’ past support during his son’s injury in 2022.

Hans-Joachim added: "The situation with Bayern was difficult because Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made incredible efforts and also clearly analysed the sporting possibilities. I have the greatest respect for Uli Hoeness and his lifetime achievements.

"After Florian's cruciate ligament tear in 2022, he selflessly helped us quickly get an appointment for the surgery in Innsbruck. We are still grateful to him for that. That's why the final phone call with Uli Hoeness was very difficult for me.

"We had spoken several times beforehand, so he was as objective and fair as I'd ever known him. But of course, he couldn't hide his disappointment. After all, he had personally worked hard to secure this transfer."

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WHAT NEXT FOR FOR WIRTZ?

The Germany international is expected to slot into a creative role under Slot, though his exact position remains unclear. His versatility means he could feature in midfield or across the front line, depending on tactical needs. With his pedigree and potential, Liverpool may look to build their next great team around the German star.