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The midfielder reminded the world of what he brings, taking a big step forward as the clock ticks towards next summer's big tournament

CHESTER, Pa. – Gio Reyna insisted he didn’t remember what he shouted into the camera after scoring his early goal on Saturday against Paraguay in a 2-1 win for the USMNT. Later, he admitted he did – he just didn’t want to repeat it.

No matter. His celebration made it clear: he’s back

"I was just happy to score," Reyna said after scoring one and setting up another in the USMNT's 2-1 win. "Just happy to be back."

After all this time, Reyna offered reminders of the player he can still be. He delivered a big goal – something that has long been his calling card – and found ways to influence the game throughout. And he remained, as always, at the center of attention when he pulls on a USMNT shirt, for better or worse.

His teammates, though, insist this is a new version of Reyna – a bit smarter and a bit more mature. Whether this Reyna can help lead the USMNT into a World Cup is the lingering question. Even after his goal, the debates around him haven’t faded; if anything, they’ve only grown sharper.

"I feel really good," Reyna said. "I feel valued, feel important, feel ready to go. Obviously, when you feel better mentally, you can definitely play better on the field, too. So yeah, I'm definitely building up, but I feel great. I'm just happy, but I have to keep working now."

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  'Always had confidence'

  After the match, Reyna acknowledged that, despite a Man of the Match-level performance, he’s still not quite himself.

  Following several rollercoaster years and an early-season injury that delayed his start at new club Borussia Mönchengladbach, the midfielder is still finding his footing.

  "Probably 80-85 percent," Reyna said when asked about his fitness levels. "It's hard to say when [I'll be 100 percent], but I'm not far. I'm definitely getting there. I feel really good."

  If this was 80-85 percent, then Reyna is on a good path. 

  It took less than four minutes for him to make his mark. After seeing Max Arfsten break through on the right side, Reyna found himself in position to head home the Columbus Crew wingback's perfectly-weighted cross. Reyna made no mistake, smashing the ball off the underside of the bar and in for his first USMNT goal since netting in the Nations League final in March 2024.

  "I always had confidence in myself," Reyna said. "To see a goal going into the back of the net, it's always nice. I just want to stay in dangerous areas and continue to work."

  Then, with the match level in the second half, Reyna popped up again, playing a ball across the box and into danger. It banked off a defender and right to Folarin Balogun, who made no mistake. In the end, Reyna completed 39 of his 47 passes, created two chances, won two tackles, and had an interception. It was an emphatic performance from a player who clearly felt he needed one to impress USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

  "I knew it was an opportunity for me to show him that I belong here," Reyna said after the match. "He's been great with me all week. Working with him, it's just giving me the freedom and the confidence to sort of be myself. I can't thank him enough, obviously, for the start and just for the relationship that we've built this camp."

  The 23-year-old midfielder is, of course, still getting to know Pochettino. This is his second camp under the USMNT boss, with the only other one coming in that ill-fated March Nations League window. Reyna is a familiar face for most of the USMNT, though, and there is the sense that this go around does feel different for the midfielder.

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  'His focus is so much greater now'

  Heading into camp, there were obvious questions about Reyna. He hadn’t played meaningful USMNT minutes in over a year, and much of the work he did earlier in the cycle came with a cloud hanging over it. As long as former manager Gregg Berhalter was in charge, the tension stemming from the 2022 World Cup was always going to linger.

  Now, with that finally behind everyone, Reyna can simply be himself – free of the weight of the past.

  That said, there have been new struggles. Unable to crack the Borussia Dortmund XI over the last few years, largely due to injuries, Reyna swapped clubs this summer by moving to Borussia Monchengladbach. That move hasn't gotten off to a strong start, as another injury has limited him to just one appearance in the starting lineup so far this season.

  "They've been fantastic with building me up to full fitness, and I'm slowly getting there, as you can see tonight," Reyna said. "I definitely expect, when I get back, to start more matches."

  Those in the USMNT camp have already seen a change in him. Starting from the first training session, Reyna has had some extra pep in his step and some extra intensity in everything he does.

  "He's not really let the challenges overseas seep into this camp, which is great to see," veteran defender Tim Ream said. "I've had a few conversations with him, nothing crazy, but he's speaking up a lot more in training in terms of, 'Okay, I see this, what are you seeing?' He's getting really involved in the understanding of the movements and what we're doing in the build-up and the defensive shape. I feel like he's more tuned and more focused on the field than I've seen in the past, which is a great thing. I think his focus is so much greater now."

  That said, this wasn’t a total reinvention. Reyna is still doing what he has always done for the USMNT: make an impact.

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  'He always shows up'

  Following the game, Brenden Aaronson made a point to say it.

  “He always shows up for the national team,” he said after starting next to Reyna as the USMNT's two attacking midfielders. "He deserves it [the opportunity]. He’s been through a lot with injuries, with all this stuff, but whenever he plays for the national team, he's always there, and it's awesome to see.”

  Even after so long away, old relationships remain. Chief among them? Reyna's chemistry with Balogun, who has been one of Reyna's favorite teammates to play with since his own USMNT arrival in 2023. The two have combined to wreak havoc whenever they've been on the field together, dating back to a Reyna-to-Balogun assist all the way back in the 2023 Nations League final win over Canada.

  "Gio wanted to come into this camp and do his thing and wanted to put the noise behind him, " Balogun said. "I feel like he did that today. It was a really strong performance in a difficult game. He got the goal early for us and helped create the second goal. I'm really happy for him, and it's a fantastic night for him."

  Reyna, for his part, was just happy to be back with the group. It has been a turbulent year for the U.S., prompting Pochettino to reset things after the March Nations League camp. The team rebuilt chemistry during the Gold Cup and carried it into the fall, producing a four-game unbeaten run with three wins.

  "I definitely felt the energy and the collectiveness," Reyna said. "The will to win games and the want to represent your country has been taken to the next level. Of course, there are tactical things that I try to adjust to and learn when I get in as quickly as possible, but we've had some camps that have not been as good, but, in the end, I've been with this team for the most part, and it's always really positive. 

  "We're a group that loves to work together and play together, and we've had some success in the past, too. In the tough moments, I was never concerned for the team. It was just working the kinks out and taking things and learning and getting better."

  The time for getting better is running out, though. The World Cup is around the corner – will Reyna be a part of it?

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  'I want to be at the World Cup'

  Reyna says he doesn't think about the World Cup, at least not too often. Still, it's there, and it's coming soon. He, like all players, wants to be a part of it. He knows, though, that his path there has to begin with his club, not necessarily his national team.

  "You try not to think about the national team every day," he said. "Of course, it's important and I want to be here and I want to be at the World Cup and be an important player for the team, but I was just moreso trying to focus on my club situation and getting minutes there and really building up. I believe if I do my work there, then it'll fall into place here, too."

  Still, Saturday was a good start. Given an opportunity to impress Pochettino, he seized it, leaving the USMNT boss with plenty to praise following the 2-1 win.

  "He scored and I think he did a very good job," Pochettino said. "I am so happy with him, and he showed why he started. He confirmed that he's a player who needs to improve, because he needs to play more in his club, but we can see today that he was great. He scored, he assisted, and his capacity to read the game and find space between the lines, it was a nightmare for Paraguay. He did a very good job."

  He'll have to keep doing that. Competition will be fierce for the World Cup spot in that attacking midfield spot. Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman seem like locks. Diego Luna, Brenden Aaronson, and Alejandro Zendejas will have something to say, too. You can add Weston McKennie into that mix as well, despite the Juventus star's absence from this camp.

  The pressure is on Reyna, but then again, it almost always is. He answered that pressure with a goal on Saturday, which leads to the next question: now what?

  "In the end, it’s performances like this that can help everybody here," he said. "I want to have, more importantly, seven or eight good months in the rest of the season with Gladbach, and then I believe if I keep performing like I did tonight, then I'll have a good chance to make the team and have an impact there too."

تحدث الحكم الدولي، محمود البنا، عن أسباب إعلان قرار اعتزاله مبكرًا، ليضع حدًا لمسيرته التحكيمية التي امتدت لأربعة وعشرين عامًا.

وكان محمود البنا، قد أكد في بيان رسمي نشره عبر صفحته الرسمية على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيسبوك”، أن قرار اعتزاله جاء نتيجة ظروف غير عادلة، طالع التفاصيل

وقال محمود البنا، ضيف برنامج “الكورة مع فايق”، على قناة “إم بي سي مصر”، عن سبب الاعتزال المبكر: “قرار الاعتزال هو الأصعب لأي شخص يعمل في كرة القدم، خاصة للحكم الذي يتحمل الضغط وحده، سواء في التدريب أو العلاج أو مواجهة الجماهير والسوشيال ميديا”.

وتابع: “تحملت كل ذلك لأنني أحب التحكيم وأشعر بالتقدير، لكن حين شعرت بأني لم أعد مقدرًا رغم تاريخي المحلي والدولي، قررت الاعتزال”.

وبسؤاله هل الاعتزال بسبب عدم القدرة على العطاء؟، نفى ذلك تمامًا، مؤكدا أنه ما زال في قمة مستواه، وكان ضمن نخبة حكام “A” في كاف، ومعه محمد معروف وأمين عمر المرشحان لكأس العالم، مضيفًا أن وجوده في هذه النخبة أكبر دليل على جاهزيته.

وذكر أنه تم استبعاده من القائمة الدولية، وبالتالي استبعد تلقائيًا من بطولة أمم إفريقيا 2026، رغم أن أحد مسؤولي كاف أكد له أنه سيكون موجودًا في البطولة.

وكشف أنه عندما صدرت القائمة تفاجأ باختفاء اسمه، وهو ما أدى أيضًا إلى فقدان مصر مقعدًا من مقاعد الحكام في البطولة، بعد أن انخفض العدد من سبعة حكام العام الماضي إلى ستة هذا الموسم، رغم خبرته ومشاركته السابقة في بطولتين لأمم إفريقيا.

وعن أزمته مع أوسكار رويز، رئيس لجنة الحكام، أوضح أن مشكلته بدأت بعد تولي أوسكار رويز مسؤولية التحكيم؛ إذ شعر بأن استبعاده كان شخصيًا، وخلال الفترة التي عمل فيها معه أدار فقط أربع مباريات، وهو ما رآه غير منطقي مقارنة بتاريخه، إذ يعد أكثر حكام جيله إدارة للمباريات (188 مباراة)، وأدار أكبر عدد من لقاءات الأندية الجماهيرية والمباريات الكبرى محليا وإفريقيا.

وأشار إلى أنه عندما تواصل مع لجنة الحكام، أخبروه أن رويز يستبعده دون أسباب واضحة، فتحدث معه ليعرفه بتاريخه وخبرته الدولية، لكن رويز، بحسب حديث البنا، لم يتقبل الحوار، وتكرر الاستبعاد عند بداية الموسم الجديد.

البنا أكد أن استبعاده من القائمة الدولية كان “المسمار الأخير” في قراره، فالقائمة لم تعلن رغم أن كل دول إفريقيا أعلنت قوائمها، وهو يرى أن استبعاده بلا مبرر، خاصة أن معايير اختيار القائمة واضحة: اللياقة البدنية، اللياقة الطبية، المستوى الفني، وفيفا يطلب أفضل سبعة حكام في هذه المعايير، متسائلا: “كيف لا أكون من بين السبعة وأنا الذي أدرت أهم مباريات الموسم مثل السوبر؟”.

ورغم أن رويز أسند له السوبر المصري، يرى البنا أن ذلك لا ينفي استبعاده المتعمد، إذ إن القرار النهائي بيد الاتحاد، الذي، بحسب قوله، منح رويز كل الصلاحيات.

وعن “تجديد الدماء”، رفض البنا مبرر تجديد القائمة، لأن مصر لديها بالفعل حكمان مرشحان لكأس العالم (معروف وأمين عمر)، والقائمة ليست بها أزمة تستدعي الإطاحة بحكم صاحب خبرات ومشاركات كبرى، كما أن التحكيم المصري ممثل في بطولات الكاف بعدد جيد من الحكام.

Manchester City moved to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, until they play on Wednesday night, with a thrilling 5-4 win over Fulham.

Supporters of their title rivals may have turned off the game when Phil Foden made it 3-0 before half-time, expecting a simple victory for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the Cityzens made hard work of their three points in the end.

Some questionable game management and defensive work from City almost led to them drawing the match, and there are several players who may not be too pleased with their own contributions to the result.

Ranking Man City's worst performers against Fulham

Whilst the likes of Erling Haaland, Tiijani Rijnders, and Phil Foden shone at Craven Cottage, some of Guardiola’s players failed to deliver quality displays on Tuesday night.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was one of those players. The Italy number one conceded four goals from five shots on target against him, letting in 1.95 more goals than expected, per Sofascore.

Full-back Matheus Nunes also failed to put in a convincing performance. The Portuguese defender was dribbled past twice, per Sofascore, and found defending the likes of Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kevin a bit too difficult at times.

1

Bernardo Silva

2

Matheus Nunes

3

Gianluigi Donnarumma

4

Nico O’Reilly

5

Savinho

The same was true of Nico O’Reilly, who lost ten of his 15 duels and was dribbled past once, on the other flank, whilst at the other end of the pitch, Savinho struggled off the bench, wasting several chances to counter and put the game to bed late on.

It was Bernardo Silva, though, who was arguably the worst performer on the night for the Cityzens, which is why Guardiola should ruthlessly drop him from the side.

Why Pep Guardiola should drop Bernardo Silva

The Portuguese central midfielder should be put on the bench for the clash with Sunderland at The Etihad on Saturday after an underwhelming display against Fulham.

Chalkboard

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

Commentating for Sky Sports, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described Bernardo’s flicked clearance that fell for Samuel Chukwueze to score his first goal of the game as “careless”.

A few minutes after that comment, Sutton added that he could not understand why the Portugal international was still on the pitch because he “doesn’t have the legs” that he once did, and that Fulham had “run around” him.

Those comments from the Premier League title winner are backed up by the fact that Bernardo failed to complete three of his four attempted tackles on the night, per Sofascore, which shows that he was a yard off the pace when attempting to challenge Fulham players.

Bernardo also struggled to get up the pitch to influence matters in the final third, with no key passes or ‘big chances’ created from 69 touches of the ball, albeit that was not as important on a night where City scored five goals by the 54th minute.

Minutes

90

90

Tackles won

3/5

1/4

Duels won

9/13

7/11

Ball recoveries

3

2

Pass accuracy

83%

86%

Key passes

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the experienced midfielder was even worse than Nunes, who won more tackles, more duels, and made more ball recoveries, whilst also making more key passes.

Bernardo did well in moments towards the end of the match with his ability to retain possession and calm the play down, but it was partially down to his struggles out of possession and defensively that City were in a position where they had to manage the game in the final minutes.

The left-footed star is, of course, still an important player for Guardiola, having started nine league games this season, but the clash with the Black Cats is one that he should be dropped for after this disappointing showing.

Guardiola could provide Rico Lewis with a chance to play in the middle of the park or play Lewis at right-back and bring Nunes back into his natural role in midfield to see if he can improve on his own underwhelming performance.

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A game on the bench for Bernardo could, also, keep him fresh ahead of the big match against Real Madrid in the Champions League next week, which is another reason why this could be a good move by the Spanish head coach at the weekend.

Barcelona have confirmed a fresh injury setback as midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out for around two weeks with a soleus problem in his right leg. The midfielder, who has been key for Hansi Flick this season, will now miss crucial La Liga and Champions League clashes. His absence arrives just as Pedri nears his return, reshaping the midfield picture during a demanding run of fixtures.

• Barcelona lose midfield mainstay

  Barca have confirmed that midfielder Lopez will miss the next two weeks after suffering a minor injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg during Thursday’s training session. It is a major setback for Hansi Flick, who had only just received good news with Pedri cleared for a return against Alaves. 

  The club explained in a statement that the midfielder "has a small injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg, and his estimated recovery time is around two weeks.”

  The timing is damaging for Flick, as this lay-off rules Fermin out of key La Liga and Champions League fixtures after a heavy 3-0 defeat against Chelsea. And, now the midfielder is expected to miss matches against Alaves, Atletico Madrid, Betis and Eintracht Frankfurt, and it remains uncertain whether he will recover in time to face Osasuna on December 13, only two days after the predicted recovery window ends.

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  Injury sustained in Athletic Club clash

  Fermín had been enjoying a strong season and recently reached 100 appearances for the first team. While highlighting his contribution. His availability had been particularly valuable at a moment when Barca are visibly struggling in the midfield marked with injuries, making this injury even more disruptive for Flick’s squad planning.

  Beyond the medical report, the context of Fermin’s injury offers insight into why his absence could weigh heavily on the team. reported that the midfielder is still dealing with the effects of a forceful challenge suffered against Athletic Club, a tackle from Oihan Sancet that resulted in a red card for the Bilbao player. Despite continued discomfort, Fermin pushed himself to start Barca’s Champions League match at Stamford Bridge, where the team suffered a heavy defeat.

  He played just over an hour before being substituted, and the accumulated strain appears to have contributed to Thursday’s setback in training. This latest issue marks his second injury of the season and arrives at a time when Barca’s injury list had finally begun to shrink, with only long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi still out.

• Pedri returns but midfield still a challenge for Flick

  While the loss of Fermin is a concern, Barca did receive a boost in the form of Pedri’s recovery. The midfielder trained normally on Thursday and is expected to be available for the Alaves clash. His return offers Flick more options and could allow the club to manage workloads more carefully, particularly after the intense calendar that has carried the squad into physical fatigue.

  Pedri’s return also opens the door for Dani Olmo to reclaim a starting role in attacking midfield, especially with Flick keen to rotate and protect key players. Fermin’s absence had already influenced Tuesday’s lineup in London, where Barcelona struggled without midfield balance and control.

  This period demands careful squad management, with Barca chasing ground in La Liga following their Champions League setback. Flick must now rely on the depth of his midfield, including Pedri, Olmo and Frenkie de Jong to navigate the next two weeks.

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  What next?

  Fermin is expected to miss at least four matches, most importantly a key matchup when Atletico Madrid visit Camp Nou, and the crucial Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. 

  Should recovery go as planned, the midfielder could return around December 13, which places Osasuna at home as his earliest realistic comeback match. However, Barcelona will not rush him, especially given the recurring nature of soleus injuries. But, the club will hope the setback lasts no longer than the two-week window and that the young midfielder returns in time for a crucial December period.

Thomas Tuchel dished out another warning to an England defender over his conduct on the pitch. Tuchel has been very particular with the on and off-field behaviour of the players who represent the Three Lions and the former Chelsea manager is in no mood to compromise when it comes to discipline. Tuchel recently oversaw England's historic World Cup qualifying campaign, where they won all eight of their matches.

Djed Spence ignored Thomas Frank after Spurs loss to Chelsea

Following a terrible performance against Chelsea earlier this month, which produced just one shot on target, the home supporters made their feelings clear as boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the conclusion of the match. Despite the jeering, as is customary, Spurs boss Frank went onto the pitch as he and the rest of the players planned to show their appreciation for their fans' support during the game. 

However, later in a video which was widely shared across social media, Spurs duo Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence opted to leave the pitch instead of greeting supporters, to the anger of head coach Frank. 

The Spurs, though, later downplayed the incident as he told reporters: "All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that. I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that. I understand why you ask the question. But I think that’s one of, how you can say, small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can. They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSpence warned by Tuchel

Following the misconduct on the pitch for his club, England boss Tuchel has now spoken to the defender and warned against repeating such behaviour. The German coach later told reporters, "I didn’t like it. Because the players know they are not only national players when they are ten days in camp. They are always national players, and the standard of behaviour is always important."

Tuchel slammed Bellingham earlier

During England's World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday, Jude Bellingham finally got a chance to shine as he displayed an impressive performance. However, he was disappointed at being substituted in the 84th minute and was later accused of not "embracing the collective"

On Bellingham's behaviour, Tuchel later said: "That is a bad impression. It should be about the collective. What we did in camp is all about the collective. I have to then review it – I was happy about the goal. I had a quick talk with Morgan Rogers and I was sure that everyone celebrated together. I will have a look at it. That is not the image we want to transport. We feel everyone is committed and that everyone accepts tough decisions, be it before the match or in the match.

"He [Bellingham] has to accept it, he has to accept it. We should not make more out of it than it is. Rogers was not happy when he couldn't start today because he deserves to play, and he wants to play all the time. We gave him a bit of a rest because he came with a lot of minutes playing at club [level] and played for us against Serbia. I also don't want to make more out of it. I stick to my words – behaviour is key. Decisions are made, and you have to accept it as a player."

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GettyEngland's historic World Cup qualifying journey

England scripted history as they became the first team to win all of their eight World Cup qualifying matches without conceding a single goal, as they scored 22 times in this period. In their latest win over Albania, courtesy of a brace from Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich star took his international goals tally to 78 as he surpassed Brazil icon Pele in the list of all-time highest goalscorers in the international arena.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo termina a primeira janela de transferências de 2024 com “apenas” três contratações, mas trouxe nomes certeiros que elevam o nível da equipe. Nicolás de la Cruz, Matías Vinã e Léo Ortiz chegam ao Rubro-Negro já consagrados no futebol brasileiro e sul-americano e brigarão pela titularidade em posições antes carentes do time.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

O perfil de contratações do Flamengo segue o pensamento de Tite, já externado à imprensa. O treinador afirmou que gostaria de reforços que qualificassem a equipe imediatamente. Caso contrário, daria preferência ao desenvolvimento de atletas da base. Assim, o clube investiu em jogadores mais “prontos”, todos com passagens por suas seleções.

DE LA CRUZ

Primeiro contratado pelo Rubro-Negro em 2024, De La Cruz era sonho antigo da diretoria e chega com status de titular no time de Tite. Polivalente, meio-campista já foi utilizado tanto aberto pela direita quanto como segundo volante e tem tido boas atuações. Um dos melhores jogadores da América do Sul nos últimos anos, o uruguaio custou US$ 16 milhões aos cofres do Flamengo para tirá-lo do River Plate

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MATÍAS VIÑA

Compatriota de Nico, Viña retorna ao Brasil após passagem na Europa. Destaque do Palmeiras na Libertadores de 2020 e 2021, o titular da seleção do Uruguai pertencia à Roma e estava emprestado ao Sassuolo. Custou ao Rubro-Negro oito milhões de euros (mais um milhão em possíveis bônus) e disputará posição com Ayrton Lucas, após saída de Filipe Luís.

LÉO ORTIZ

Último reforço do Flamengo nesta janela de transferências, Léo Ortiz chega para surprir um buraco no elenco e brigar pela titularidade no time. Após as saídas de Pablo e Rodrigo Caio, Tite contava apenas com Léo Pereira, Fabrício Bruno e David Luiz para o setor, além do jovem da base Cleiton. Já convocado pelo técnico para a Seleção Brasileira, o zagueiro foi adquirido por sete milhões de euros (mais um milhão em possíveis bônus).

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Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out* of the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies having picked up a groin strain during his match-winning century in Christchurch.Mitchell, who made 119 off 118 balls in New Zealand’s seven-run victory, remained in Christchurch to undergo a scan, which confirmed a minor left groin tear. He is expected to need two weeks of rehabilitation but should be in contention for the first Test, also at Hagley Oval, starting on December 2.”It’s always tough being ruled out of a series early on with injury, particularly when you’re in hot form like Daryl is,” New Zealand head coach, Rob Walter. “He has been our standout performer in the ODI format so far this summer, so he’ll be missed for two important matches.”The positive is that the injury is only minor, and we should see Daryl recovered and fit for the Test series.”Left hander Henry Nicholls, who played the most recent of his 81 ODIs in early April, has been called into the squad for the second match in Napier on Wednesday. Nicholls is currently the leading scorer in the Ford Trophy with 306 runs at 76.50 including back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.”Henry has been in top form in the Ford Trophy and is an experienced international cricketer, so it’s great to welcome him back into the side,” Walter said. “It’s always pleasing to be able to reward players who are in good touch, and we know Henry will be raring to go if given an opportunity.”Mark Chapman is the other spare batter in the squad and is averaging 101.33 from four ODIs this year.Mitchell has been in fine form this season, taking the player of the series award against England.”He is a man for crisis,” captain Mitchell Santner said after the century. “He played extremely well, on one leg at the end.”New Zealand are without several players for this series including Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring).Kane Williamson, who picked up a groin niggle against England, was also not considered as he focuses on preparing for the Tests against West Indies.*8pm GMT – This story was updated with confirmation of Mitchell being ruled out

Mikel Arteta has built a truly world-class squad at Arsenal over the last few years.

From front to back, the likes of William Saliba, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze would comfortably get into any side in the Premier League.

Yet, even though he’s not been at his very best this season, Bukayo Saka still stands as the club’s most important player.

The Hale Ender is their talisman, someone capable of winning games on his own, so fans should be delighted by reports linking Arsenal to someone even better than Saka.

Arsenal target a better player than Saka

Arsenal have already been linked with several truly brilliant players ahead of the winter window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız has been touted for a £88m move to the Emirates, as has Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

However, while both of these wingers are sensational talents and would undoubtedly improve the Gunners’ squad, neither one is better than Saka.

Vinícius Júnior, on the other hand, just might be.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now interested in the Madrid superstar.

The report has revealed that with talks over a new deal at the Bernabéu going poorly, the Gunners are now ‘pursuing the Brazilian.’

A potential price is not mentioned, but with Transfermarkt valuing the winger at €150m – about £132m – it would likely require a new British record transfer fee.

With that said, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Vini Jr, they should take it, not least because he’s one of the few attackers in the world better than Saka.

How Vini compares to Saka

Now, the first thing to make clear is that Saka is a genuinely world-class footballer, and not only that, but he has the chance to become a legend at Arsenal.

However, what is equally true is that Vini Jr might just be a marginally better player, but one who could form a devastating partnership with him on the opposite flank.

With that out of the way, which international superstar comes out on top when we look at their output this season?

Well, so far this year, the Gunners’ number seven has scored six goals in 15 appearances, totalling 1053 minutes, coming out to an average of a goal every 2.5 games, or every 175.5 minutes.

For his efforts, the former Flamengo gem has scored five goals and provided four assists in 17 appearances, totalling 1172 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 130.22 minutes.

Which game-changing wideman comes out on top when taking a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers?

Well, perhaps a little surprisingly, the Brazilian dynamo doesn’t just come out better in most metrics, but practically every single relevant one.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.57

0.47

Progressive Passes

4.80

2.21

Progressive Carries

8.90

4.07

Shots

3.21

2.22

Shots on Target

1.40

1.05

Passing Accuracy

79.9%

72.4%

Key Passes

2.90

2.21

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.10

1.74

Shot-Creating Actions

6.92

4.55

Goal-Creating Actions

0.80

0.12

Tackles Won

0.80

0.58

Successful Take-Ons

3.00

1.98

For example, these include metrics like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Saka is an exceptional player, but as Ronaldo once pointed out, Vini Jr is arguably “the best player in the world”, and therefore, if Arsenal have even the slightest chance to sign him, they should go all out to do so.

Trossard upgrade: Arsenal hold talks to sign "one of the world's best wingers"

Despite his brilliant form, Arsenal could soon sign an upgrade on Leandro Trossard.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 25, 2025

Celtic are consulting the managerial market in an attempt to bring in a new boss and are reportedly now ready to present a formal approach to their preferred candidate.

Undoubtedly, the feeling around Parkhead has changed dramatically in the last couple of weeks since Martin O’Neill was appointed in interim charge to lead the Scottish Premiership champions.

Joyous scenes against Falkirk and Rangers were tempered by a disappointing first-half collapse against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last Thursday. However, Celtic signed off for the international break with a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock to close the gap on Heart of Midlothian to seven points.

Furthermore, a game in hand will serve as an opportunity to move within four points of the league leaders, though, who will be in charge to lead the Bhoys’ defence of the Scottish top-flight crown?

Wales boss Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of the Celtic vacancy. Nevertheless, Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is the latest name to enter the running after his strong start to the campaign at the League One outfit.

Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Nicky Hayen, and Efrain Juarez are also on the Bhoys’ radar. Meanwhile, Wilfried Nancy is the wildcard choice after his sterling work at Columbus Crew.

With several pivotal fixtures to come and off-field tension between supporters and the hierarchy continuing to linger, there is a feeling that Celtic must get this appointment right to move forward in unison.

Difficult away clashes against St Mirren, Feyenoord and Hibernian linger on the other side of the international break, so it is fair to say time if of the essence if the Bhoys are to bring someone into the fold on a full-time basis, and they may just be about to pull off that feat.

Celtic readying formal approach for Kjetil Knutsen

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are readying an official approach for Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen after discovering that the 57-year-old is keen to take on a new challenge and is excited by the thought of taking over at Parkhead.

The report make it clear that he is still the standout foreign candidate, albeit the Bhoys also want an interview with Ipswich boss McKenna despite the fact Dermot Desmond may have to pay £5 million to secure him from Portman Road.

Kjetil Knutsen’s record at Bodo/Glimt

Wins

209

Draws

72

Losses

70

Trophies

Eliteserien x4

Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane, a former Celtic player, has yet to receive a phone call regarding the vacant position. Still, it is said that he would ‘sprint to the table if asked’ to succeed O’Neill at the helm of the Scottish champions.

The Bhoys want to come to a resolution by December at the latest and they could now be closer to finding their next permanent manager if Knutsen was able to finalise contract terms.

An alternative Celtic manager candidate has a secret release clause

Nevertheless, nothing is signed and sealed until ink physically exists on paper, so there is still a long way to go before supporters know who their next leader will be.

Stats highlights from Newlands, where South Africa posted their fourth-highest total in Tests

Shubh Agarwal04-Jan-2025615 – South Africa amassed their fourth-highest total at Newlands, Cape Town in the second Test against Pakistan, also their fourth 600-plus total at this venue. They fell only five runs short of 620 for 7d when they punished the Pakistan bowlers in the New Year Test in 2003. Their other two top scores are 627 for 7 against England in 2016 and 651 against Australia in 2009.259 – Ryan Rickelton was the nucleus around whom the hosts made the most of the batting-friendly conditions. Scoring his second Test ton, Rickelton broke a number of records during his 259 off 343 balls. He became the first South African batter to score a double-hundred since Hashim Amla’s 201, also in Cape Town, in 2016. Among openers, he is the first South African since Graeme Smith who scored a match-winning 234 against Pakistan in Dubai in 2013. His 259 is also the second-highest individual score at this venue, only behind Stephen Fleming’s 262 in 2006.235 – Rickelton added 235 runs for the fourth wicket with Temba Bavuma, who contributed 106 to South Africa’s mammoth total. It is the highest fourth-wicket stand for South Africa against Pakistan, surpassing the previous record set by Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers – 179 in Abu Dhabi 2010. Overall, it is the fourth-highest partnership for South Africa against Pakistan.Related

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3 – Kyle Verreynne was the third centurion of the innings, scoring 100 off 147 deliveries including five sixes. It has been a productive season for Verreynne. He had only one hundred in 18 Tests at the start of the season and now he has added three more to his tally in six Tests, with hundreds against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He has leveled Denis Lindsay (1966/67) and AB de Villiers (2012/13 and 2013/14) for the most Test hundreds by a South African wicketkeeper in a season.4 – Pakistan’s sorry bowling card had Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, Aamer Jamal and Salman Agha going for more than 100 runs. Meanwhile, Mohammad Abbas finished with 3 for 94. This is the second time in three months that four or more Pakistan bowlers have conceded more than 100 runs in an innings. In the first Test against England in Multan, six Pakistan bowlers went for over a 100 runs as England eased to 823/7d.33.76 – Pakistan now average 33.76 with the ball in this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the worst among all teams. On the contrary, South Africa average the best at 23.23 runs per wicket. It is also a function of the kind of pitches these teams have played on – Pakistan mostly on flatter tracks at home and South Africa on spicy pitches. But adding to their woes, Pakistan also have a poor record in Cape Town. In the 21st century, they now average 43.3 in Cape Town, the poorest among all venues in South Africa.6 – On a positive note, Mohammad Rizwan took six catches in the innings, leveling Rashid Latif (against Zimbabwe in 1998) and Adnan Akmal (against New Zealand in 2011) for most catches for a Pakistani wicketkeeper in an innings. The record belongs to Wasim Bari with seven catches against New Zealand in 1979.