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Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has admitted that he found it strange how Queens Park Rangers played the final moments of their historic game against Manchester City in May 2012, adding fuel to a longstanding conspiracy theory peddled by Wayne Rooney that Manchester United were done out of the title. Sergio Aguero's last-ditch winner famously secured the title for City instead.

• Rooney questions QPR's approach

  Rooney has always openly questioned whether QPR allowed City to win the game in question at the Etihad Stadium a little too easily. Roberto Mancini's team, who had hauled Manchester United back in during a rollercoaster title race up to that point, needed three points in their final match of the season to be sure of a first English league championship in 44 years. But QPR, who were fighting relegation, led 2-1 going into the final stages.

  It meant that because United won their own fixture away at Sunderland, they finished their season as champions. But City were still playing and had enough time to turn things around, through Edin Dzeko and then Aguero. What has always rankled with Rooney is that QPR survived relegation, even in defeat, because of Bolton’s 1-1 draw with Stoke. He has implied that they may have already before the end of the game they were safe, although that has always been unclear.

  "Paddy Kenny should have done better for a couple of the goals," Rooney said in 2022. "City get the second goal and QPR kick it straight back to them and that's never been questioned – I find that strange. Djibril Cisse celebrating after the game with the City players, but yeah listen it's a historic moment in the Premier League so I'm sure that, if you are not involved as a Manchester United player, that's probably one of the greatest moments in the league."

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• AFP
  

  Dean adds weight to Rooney's claims

  Speaking on, brought to you by , Mike Dean gave his opinion on what happened that day. He was the referee for the game and considered it odd the way QPR surrendered possession so easily after City had got back level at 2-2 through Dzeko's equaliser.

  "[City] make it 2-2, and [QPR] just kick it back and give it to them. And we [the match officials] were like, 'What's going on, why are they giving the ball back straightaway?' I said [that] in the ear piece. To kick off and give the ball straight back to them. Neil Swarbrick, the fourth official, said, 'Keep switched on, something is going to happen.'

  "You just knew something was going to happen. You could just tell. What was strange about it, once QPR found out they were safe, Jamie Mackie was on the pitch celebrating while the game was still going on."

  Rooney was also appearing on the show and cheekily added: "They had loads of ex-City players in there as well," referencing Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onuoha and Joey Barton in the QPR side – Barton had earlier been sent off for violent conduct.

• Cisse denies foul play

  QPR and former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse was seen celebrating with City players afterwards, but recently denied that had anything to do with wanting the club to win the title over United. He told this year that it was only because close friend Samir Nasri was in the City team, combined with QPR's own survival.

  "I was celebrating with Samir Nasri," he said. "I didn't celebrate with Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero or anybody else. I celebrated with my brother, Samir, who had been a friend of mine for 15 years.

  "Manchester United lost the Premier League title because they dropped points throughout the season. It was nothing to do with me or QPR. What Rooney said isn't cool. He took out his frustrations on me. It's not my fault. If we had wanted Man City to win the league, would it not have been a little risky to have waited until the very last minute to let them score? We could have let them win 4–0 or 5–0 and gone home. But we played a strong team, the manager wanted to win that game. It wasn't our reserve team."

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• AFP
  

  Man City still await Premier League charges verdict

  Theoretically, United could still be retrospectively awarded the 2011-12 Premier League title. The season falls within the period of time for which City face at least 115 charges for alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.

  A verdict is still to be given on the case that has dragged on for years, with the long-awaited hearing concluding almost 12 months ago without any further updates. Nobody really knows what sanctions and punishments could be applied if City, who fiercely deny wrongdoing, are deemed guilty. But nothing, including titles being stripped, is off the table at this stage.

Rookie batter Tommy Boorman compiled a superb match-winning innings of 38 not out under intense pressure to carry Gloucestershire to an impressive three-wicket victory over Leicestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Making only his third List-A appearance, Boorman struck two fours and two sixes and staged an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 35 in 18 balls with Craig Miles, who helped himself to a brace of sixes in making 18 not out as Gloucestershire reached their victory target of 286 with nine balls to spare.Gloucestershire appeared to be cruising when James Bracey compiled an eye-catching 96 from 106 balls and staged an opening stand of 105 with Cameron Bancroft, who contributed 40. But seamer Alex Green turned the tide back in Leicestershire’s favour, taking 5-52, dismissing both openers and dangermen Ben Charlesworth and Jack Taylor to set up a tense finale.Peter Handscomb could count himself unlucky to finish on the losing side, Leicestershire’s skipper raising a brilliant 107 from 125 balls with nine fours and a six and sharing in a substantial partnership of 115 for the fifth wicket with Ben Cox, who contributed a run-a-ball 61, as the Foxes recovered from 76 for 4 to post 285 for 7.Liam Trevaskis produced a hard-hitting 30 not out as the visitors added 61 runs in the final five overs, but Gloucestershire seamer Josh Shaw excelled with the new ball, returning figures of 3 for 40 to keep last season’s beaten semi-finalists in check.Gloucestershire’s decision to bowl first was justified when Shaw claimed 3 for 20 with the new ball to reduce the Foxes to 22 for 3. The Yorkshireman bowled Rishi Patel between bat and pad without scoring, had Sol Budinger held at deep third via a top-edged cut and then had Lewis Hill caught at the wicket in the act of cutting, at which point he had dismantled Leicestershire’s top order in the space of 15 deliveries from the Ashley Down Road end.Having mustered just three boundaries in the powerplay, the visitors were under duress in the face of variable bounce on a slow pitch. But Shan Masood and Handscomb effected a partial recovery, staging an important alliance of 54 in 13.3 overs. The fourth-wicket partnership was beginning to flourish when Ben Charlesworth made a breakthrough with his first ball, persuading Pakistan Test captain Masood to top-edge a pull shot to deep fine leg and depart for 35 with the score 76 for 4 in the 19th.That was as good as it got for Gloucestershire. New batter Cox looked to disrupt the home side’s smooth progress from the outset, clearing the rope behind square for the first six of the innings when Matt Taylor dropped short as the Foxes reached halfway on 113 for 4.The batters managed to get on top for the first time against spinners Ollie Price and Jack Taylor, Handscomb and Cox combining excellent running between the wickets and clever placement in raising a 50 partnership from 57 balls. Averaging a half-century every four innings in List-A cricket, Handscomb went to his 42nd fifty from 76 balls, while Cox attained the same landmark via 45 deliveries with five fours and a six.Gloucestershire needed a wicket and Akhter obliged, bowling Cox to terminate a partnership that had revitalised Leicestershire. Cox had scored a run-a-ball 61 and helped establish a platform from which the visitors could launch a late assault.Matt Taylor removed Ian Holland cheaply, but there was no shifting Handscomb, the Australian going to his ninth List-A hundred by launching Akhter over long-off for six. He received staunch support from Liam Trevaskis with a quickfire unbeaten 30 from 22 deliveries in a valuable seventh-wicket alliance of 51 in 35 balls as the Foxes smashed 61 runs in the final five overs.Gloucestershire openers Bracey and Bancroft were initially circumspect in the face of the new-ball threat. But Bracey soon warmed to his task, greeting Tom Scriven with a pick-up for six over midwicket and a pull for four next ball as the home side advanced to 47 without loss at the end of 10 overs. So dominant was Bracey, that Bancroft contributed just seven runs to the 50 partnership.Bracey went to an authoritative half-century from 58 deliveries, reaching that landmark with his ninth four, causing Handscomb to turn to spin. The opening partnership had realised three figures before the Foxes made the breakthrough they so desperately needed, Bancroft edging a catch behind off Chris Wright in the 20th over.Ollie Price proved adept at rotating the strike thereafter and Gloucestershire were well-placed on 134 for 1 at the halfway stage, requiring a further 152 at 6.1 an over. These two posted a 50 partnership from 65 balls, but Price fell for 29, hitting Green straight to Handscomb at midwicket.Green then struck a telling blow, having Bracey held at deep square leg, at which point Gloucestershire still needed 108 to win with two new batters at the crease. Charlesworth hit a quickfire 19, only to succumb to a leg-side strangle as Green made another important intervention.Sensing an opportunity, Leicestershire kept up the pressure and Trevaskis dismissed Joe Phillips for 14 to further reduce the home side, still 61 short of their target with nine overs remaining.Boorman helped himself to a six and a four off Holland, but Gloucestershire’s task was made harder when Green accounted for Jack Taylor and Akhter with successive deliveries in the 46th over.Miles hit a straight six off Green and Boorman repeated the feat off Trevaskis as the eighth wicket pair held their nerve. Miles hit the winning six in the penultimate over.

In search of a much-needed attacking spark, Newcastle United are now reportedly among the most active clubs in the race to sign a Champions League wonderkid.

Howe: Benfica win "sets the standard" for Newcastle

Bouncing back from their Brighton defeat in style, Newcastle eased past Benfica in the Champions League to make it two wins from three. In contrast to their Premier League displays, the Magpies were in free-scoring form and sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s side at St James’ Park thanks to Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.

After a mixed week of results, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted that his side’s victory over Benfica “sets the standard” for what he expects going forward.

Howe told reporters: “I think it is that kind of game that sets a standard. That we have to take forward to our next few games that we’ve got coming up. That’s the level that we have to be at.

“I thought we’ve been threatening putting a performance like that together. Even at Brighton, there were some really positive moments, but that gets lost in the result. Today, we got both. We got another clean sheet and we scored some goals. Confidence returned to our attacking players, so it’s a great night for us.”

Howe can forget Barnes to unleash Newcastle teen who's "similar to Mbappe"

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ByJoe Nuttall Oct 23, 2025

Finding that attacking spark in the Premier League is now the challenge for those in Tyneside. Even with record signing Nick Woltemade already firing on all cylinders and Yoane Wissa to return from injury, however, they may yet turn towards the January transfer market for some much-needed quality going forward.

In a World Cup year, there are certainly plenty of players who could do with a chance, including one teenage sensation who’s been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Newcastle active in race to sign Endrick

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are now active in the race to sign Endrick in January now that Real Madrid are willing to let the Brazilian leave on loan.

The 19-year-old wonderkid has not played a single minute under new manager Xabi Alonso and desperately needs a winter move if he is to secure a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad next summer.

Given Newcastle’s attacking struggles, welcoming a player as exciting as Endrick wouldn’t exactly be a bad idea, either. Whilst he has struggled to impress enough to get Alonso’s attention, he could yet find his feet at St James’ Park in January.

If the praise of former Palmeiras sporting director Joao Paulo Sampaio is anything to go by, then Newcastle have a rare opportunity to land a generational star on loan this season.

The door has opened for the Magpies to make their move and they should take full advantage when the January transfer window arrives.

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed in a new interview with Piers Morgan that he doesn't expect to extend his history-making football career for that much longer, also admitting that his interests in retirement will ultimately lie outside the sport he has dedicated his life to. It comes after the Portuguese icon had been billed as "perfect" for a role upstairs at former club Manchester United.

Ronaldo has retirement planned out

Having chosen Piers Morgan for an incendiary interview marking his exit from Manchester United in 2022, Ronaldo again linked up with the divisive media personality, this time on YouTube channel .

The 40-year-old forward, who has a contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League until the end of the 2026-27 season, was asked outright about eventual retirement. "Soon," Ronaldo replied, revealing he has been thinking about how it will go for years. "I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. Will be difficult, yes. Probably I will cry, yes…

"It will be very, very difficult but I've prepared my future since [I was] 25, 26, 27 years old. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFuture outside football

There will be lots of calls for Ronaldo to stay in football when he eventually does hang up his boots, with a wealth of expertise and experience to share. But coaching, management or executive roles within the sport don’t appear to appeal to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"Nothing will compare to the adrenaline we have for football to score a goal," Ronaldo explained, revealing that retiring from football will finally give him the time to pursue other things.

"But I have other passions. [When I retire] I'm going to have more time for me, have more time for my family, to raise my kids. I want to be more a family person, more present. Also, to have my own hobbies. I like to see UFC, the fights. I like padel. I like and I want to learn more about my companies.

"I'll never be a [full-time] YouTuber, of course, but I want to be there. I'm going to spend more time on that to learn. I think I'm going to do funny things and things I'm not used to doing before. Because I live football 24 hours [each day] to do the right things and perform."

Post-playing role at Man Utd now unlikely

Ronaldo's desire to do things with his life other than football suggests leaving the sport altogether, which means recent speculation that he could consider a post-playing career in the boardroom, potentially even back at Manchester United, is quite unlikely to come to fruition.

Former team-mate Wes Brown, who won the Champions League alongside Ronaldo in 2008, had said he wouldn't put it past Ronaldo to remain involved in football that way. "He could definitely move into the boardroom," Brown said. "He's got the ability to swerve away from coaching and into the executive level, 100 per cent. Why not? If he's enjoying it, it'll be perfect for him."

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Getty Images SportIn pursuit of more trophies

Ronaldo probably isn't going to call time on his career before the end of his Al-Nassr contract. Aside from it being incredibly lucrative – worth a reported €257m (£235m/$280m) per year – the veteran forward is still freely scoring for the club and continues to chase trophies.

The lack of a major domestic or international trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia – the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup is the only silverware so far – is a notable blot on Ronaldo's record. Al-Nassr have seen both Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal win the Pro League in recent seasons, while the King's Cup and wider continental success has also been beyond them.

So far in 2025-26, though, Al-Nassr lead the way in the domestic table with a 100 per cent record after seven games. They are only competing in the secondary AFC club competitions this season, but could feasibly be back in the Champions League Elite next year – potentially Ronaldo's last dance in football.

Next summer also comes Ronaldo's last crack at the World Cup with Portugal.

The lack of Premier League football might be a drag, but West Ham United fans were at least able to watch Jarrod Bowen on Tuesday night.

The sensationally talented winger didn’t feature in the drab 2-0 win over Andorra, but he did come off the bench in the 5-0 demolition of Serbia.

It was the Hammers star’s 17th cap for the country, and while that’s a great achievement, plenty would argue his talent and form suggest he should have plenty more under his belt.

The Englishman has been one of the Irons’ best players for years now, but he might have some welcome competition in the shape of an academy gem pretty soon.

Bowen's West Ham career

Bowen joined West Ham in January 2020 from Hull City for a fairly hefty fee – for a Championship player – of £20m.

While it’s easy to forget today, the then 23-year-old wasn’t an instant hit in East London, scoring just a single goal and providing four assists in his 13 appearances that season.

However, we started to see the player we recognise today the following season, as he bolstered his return to eight goals and six assists and, from that point on, was one of the club’s key players.

Undoubtedly, the 28-year-old’s best moment for the Hammers came in the 2023 Conference League final, in which he scored the match-winning goal in the 90th minute to hand the club their first European trophy.

In all, the Leominster-born monster has made 242 appearances for West Ham, totalling 19251 minutes, in which he’s scored 75 goals and provided 52 assists.

That means the legend in the making has managed to average a goal involvement every 1.90 games, or every 151.58 minutes since making the move to the London Stadium over five years ago.

With all that said, it’s certainly encouraging that the academy might be about to provide the club with their own homegrown version of Bowen.

West Ham's homegrown Bowen

West Ham have a proud history of developing some seriously top talent, and the latest star to come out of their academy may just be Elisha Sowunmi.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The 18-year-old prospect joined the club at the under-9s level and put pen to paper on his first professional contract earlier this summer.

It’s not hard to see why the Hammers were keen to tie him down, as he’s come on leaps and bounds in the junior sides and had a campaign to remember last season.

For example, in 25 appearances totalling just 2081 minutes, the promising talent put the ball in the back of the net 14 times and provided two assists to boot.

That means he was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.56 games, or every 130.06 and suggests he could be a real goal threat when he progresses to the first team, like Bowen.

Appearances

25

Minutes

2081′

Goals

14

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

Minutes per Goal Involvement

130.06′

However, that isn’t the only trait he shares with the 28-year-old, as he’s also incredibly versatile, having played all over the pitch from attacking midfield to up top and off the right, which is now considered his primary role.

It should be said that the step-up to senior football is massive, and it may take a few years before fans see him on a regular basis, but as academy manager Kenny Brown points out, “he has all the talent in the world.”

Ultimately, Bowen is without question West Ham’s best player and probably will remain so for at least a few more years, but keep an eye out for Sowunmi – he looks like the real deal.

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Despite having to settle for a 0-0 draw last time out in the Premier League, the vibes are still at an all-time high at Everton.

After all, on another day, the Toffees would have picked up another victory in that unfortunate stalemate versus Aston Villa, with David Moyes and Co. somehow squandering 20 efforts in total across the course of the frustrating clash.

With Everton sitting in a pretty sixth position at the moment, Moyes will be hopeful that the glory days of his previous long reign as boss are back to stay, with the much-loved Scotsman once consistently steering the Merseyside outfit to top-half finishes.

No relegation worries seem to be seeping in, with the former West Ham United boss-turned-returning Toffees manager even possessing his next Wayne Rooney now, arguably, to ramp up the nostalgia even more.

Rooney's heroics at Everton

Much like Moyes, Rooney would also return to Merseyside in 2017.

The celebrated attacker had gone on to Manchester United in 2004 and won trophies galore, with a sublime tally of 253 goals and 142 assists coming his way. Safe to say, Rooney was correct to originally leave his hometown club behind, even if it was so early into his fledgling career.

He still showed he could turn on the style on his return, too, with this memorable effort against West Ham United, sending the Goodison Park masses into raptures.

Across the full 40 games on his return, there were no signs that his legs had gone, which might well have been a worry so deep into his esteemed playing days, with 13 goal contributions notched up in total, making it a special reunion for the magical forward.

Amazingly, despite Rooney being such an enigmatic, one-off presence on the pitch, Moyes might well feel he has his next coming of the entertaining great at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, even so early into life in their brand-new home.

Everton's new "game changer"

Everton fans will be far happier going to watch their team now than the gloom and doom tenure of Sean Dyche, with the attractive football being served up.

Indeed, away from firing blanks against the Villans last time out and Leeds United on the opening day, the Toffees have managed to bag an electric five goals from their other clashes this season, with Jack Grealish often at the heart of a vibrant attacking move working out.

Many would have surely anticipated that this move for Grealish to leave Manchester City for pastures new on Merseyside would pay off, with the former Villa midfielder a star on the same level as Rooney’s excellence when on top form.

But, nobody would have quite expected how easy the 30-year-old would find it to instantly hit the ground running in the manner he has.

From just five games under Moyes’ wing, Grealish already has a blistering four assists next to his name, with his split-second ability to carve out an opening or excite the Toffees contingent with an effort of his own making him a Rooney-like presence already.

Grealish’s PL record

Club

Games

Goals + Assists

Aston Villa

96

15 + 22

Manchester City

94

12 + 11

Everton

4

0 + 4

Sourced by Transfermarkt

To further validate the comparison point, it’s clear that Grealish – much like his revered counterpart – needed a switch like the one he sealed to Everton to get his waning career back on track, with the three-time Premier League winner losing his way somewhat in Manchester.

Similarly, it was clear from Rooney’s final few seasons at Old Trafford that he wasn’t the spritely star he once was, with rampant injuries often getting the better of him.

But, as is clear now with the two mavericks in question, form might be temporary, but class is permanent.

Grealish’s class has been so prominent so far at Everton that he has even been hailed as a “game changer” for his standout efforts by analyst Matt Smith.

Amazingly, this resurrection of the skilful Englishman might well stand him in good stead to be remembered as an all-time great in the Premier League, alongside Rooney, with the Toffees faithful already heralding him as an icon in the here and now, that’s for sure.

Related An Isak-esque signing: Moyes has struck gold on "incredible" Everton star

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 17, 2025

كشفت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو، عن رد فعل إدارة نادي برشلونة وذلك بعد قرار الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم بإيقاف المدرب هانز فليك لمباراة واحدة، وبالتالي غيابه عن الكلاسيكو ضد ريال مدريد.

برشلونة سوف يحل ضيفًا على نظيره ريال مدريد يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 26 أكتوبر، وذلك لحساب قمة الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الفوز على ريال مدريد من أجل استعادة صدارة الدوري الإسباني، والتي فقدها البرسا بعد الخسارة بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد أمام إشبيلية قبل أسبوعين.

وكانت لجنة الانظباط بالاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، قد قررت إيقاف فليك لمباراة واحدة بعد طرده أمام جيرونا يوم السبت الماضي، حيث حصل المدرب الألماني على إنذارين ليطرد في النهاية بسبب اعتراضه على قرارات التحكيم.

عاجل ورسميًا | المرشحون لجائزة أفضل لاعب في إفريقيا 2025.. محمد صلاح وظهور مصري آخر

وأكدت الصحيفة، أن برشلونة لن يقف مكتوف الأيدي في وجه هذا القرار وسوف يقدم استثناف اليوم الأربعاء، من أجل محاولة رفع الإيقاف عن فليك ولكي يتواجد في الكلاسيكو ضد ريال مدريد.

وأضاف المصدر، أن لجنة الانظباط بالاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم لم تقتنع بالمبررات التي قدمها برشلونة حول رفع إيقاف طرد فليك، بعدد أن أشهر الحكم خيسوس جيل مانزانو إنذارين، حيث اعترض المدرب الألماني في البداية وأخذ الإنذار الأول، ثم تم استنكار أحد قرارات الحكم ليحصل على الإنذار الثاني ومن ثم الطرد.

وأتمت الصحيفة قائلة، أن إدارة برشلونة ستتحدث مع لجنة الانظباط المكونة من ميجيل دياز وجارسيا كونيليدو، من أجل رفع العقوبة والسماح لفليك بالتواجد ضد ريال مدريد.

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Que desfalque! O Palmeiras não terá o zagueiro Gustavo Gómez para o clássico deste domingo (11) diante do São Paulo, já que o capitão alviverde recebeu o terceiro cartão amarelo na última rodada, contra o Coritiba, e cumprirá suspensão. Com isso, o técnico Abel Ferreira terá que escalar uma nova dupla de zaga para o duelo, tendo diferentes opções. A bola rola às 16h, no Morumbi, pela décima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

O treinador português já vem lidando com a ausência de Murilo, que passou por cirurgia no ombro. Logo, não tendo também o defensor paraguaio à sua disposição, teoricamente, Abel tem três opções para a zaga do Verdão. A escolha mais provável é a entrada do zagueiro Naves ao lado de Luan, que é o único atleta da posição disponível no elenco.

Porém, Abel Ferreira pode optar por improvisar jogadores de outras posições: Jailson ou Piquerez. O volante já atuou assim na vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Ituano nas quartas de final do Campeonato Paulista de 2022, e pode novamente ser utilizado. Já o lateral jogou praticamente como terceiro zagueiro em variações táticas durante algumas partidas, como diante do Flamengo na final da Libertadores de 2021, quando Mayke e Gustavo Scarpa desempenharam as funções de alas.

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Caso opte pelo uruguaio na zaga, é provável que Vanderlan ocupe a lateral-esquerda do Palmeiras. Uma provável escalação do Verdão para encarar o São Paulo é: Weverton; Mayke, Naves (Jailson ou Piquerez), Luan e Piquerez (Vanderlan); Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Dudu, Rony e Artur.

+ Saiba a origem da música-tema das viradas do Palmeiras que virou paixão de Abel Ferreira

Já classificado para as oitavas de final da Libertadores após a vitória de virada por 4 a 2 diante do Barcelona-EQU nesta quarta-feira (7), o Palmeiras é o atual vice-líder e único invicto do Brasileirão com 19 pontos, dois a menos que o primeiro colocado Botafogo. Dessa forma, vai em busca da liderança no Choque-Rei torcendo para um tropeço da equipe carioca, que enfrenta o Fortaleza neste sábado (10), no Engenhão, às 16h.

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Five-wicket win opens series at Western Province CC in Cape Town

ECB Reporters Network17-Jan-2025

England Under-19 91 for 5 (Mayes 51) beat South Africa Under-19 87 (Minto 3-15) by five wicketsA dominant bowling performance from England Men U19s paved the way for a comfortable five-wicket win over South Africa Men U19s in the opening Youth ODI at Cape Town.New-ball duo Harry Moore and James Minto did the damage up top taking five wickets between them as the hosts were skittled for just 87.Opener Ben Mayes then broke the back of the chase with 51 from 48 balls while debutant captain Archie Vaughan added 26 as the Young Lions reach their target in 18.3 overs.Moore and Minto immediately got to work after the hosts opted to bat and subsided to 33 for six.The tone was set for an impressive Lions display in the field when Joe Moores held a sharp catch at backward point when Adnaan Lagadien arrowed a backfoot drive off Derbyshire right-armer Moore.Durham left-armer Minto had already had opener Shaylen Pillay caught by wicketkeeper Thomas Rew on his way to figures of innings-best three for 15.Spinners Taz Ali and Farhan Ali ensured the wickets continued to tumble before Worcestershire’s Jack Home – one of three debutants alongside Vaughan and Aaryan Sawant – ended the innings.Home first had Enathi Kitshini caught at backward point by Moores before pulling off a direct hit at the non-striker’s end to run out Nqobani Mokoena.Mayes and Vaughan then combined in a 64-run stand for the second wicket to ensure there were no jitters for the Young Lions. Mayes took the lead role, reaching his half-century from 45 balls, and despite some late wickets the tourists were always on course for a comfortable win.The Lions can secure the three-match Youth ODI series on Sunday when the second match is also played at Western Province CC in Cape Town.

Last year, Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for the third successive season, but who can deny that Mikel Arteta’s burgeoning side have gotten better and better since the start of his reign?

Injuries ruined what could have been the year for the Gunners, but Arteta and new Emirates technical director Andrea Berta have come together and devised a summer plan, which is angled toward trophy-winning success in 2025/26.

A host of signings have been welcomed to north London over the past two months, but it’s the latest which is the most exciting, the most emphatic.

Maybe, having signed Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal have what they need to crown the Arteta era.

Why Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal have needed a reliable frontman for some time, one who will provide a confident stream of goals across the campaign.

And in Gyokeres, they have their man. Having bagged 97 goals and 28 assists besides over just two years with Sporting Lisbon, it’s inconceivable that the 27-year-old won’t bring a degree of prolificness beyond that of the Gunners’ current crop.

Despite interest from elsewhere – namely from Manchester United – Arsenal have agreed a deal worth £64m for the Swede, who will finalise his big-money move this weekend.

Many supporters, no doubt, would have liked to have signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. The Sweden striker, Gyokeres’ countryman, has informed his club that he wishes to explore a move away, with Liverpool leading the race for his signature.

Arsenal might not sign Isak, but they have one of the game’s most clinical strikers all the same. And anyway, with Bukayo Saka fully fit and raring to take the division by storm next year, the soon-to-be No. 14 is in safe hands.

In fact, it is Saka who stands above these other players. Arsenal have hit the jackpot on their homegrown hero, who is undoubtedly the cream of the crop.

The Arsenal star worth more than Isak & Gyokeres

Saka, 23, is one of the Premier League’s leading players. Pundit Karen Carney has said that “it’s scary how good he will be in three or four years”, and she’s right.

He’s the real deal, all right, and he’s already proven himself to be a game-changing player of the highest standard. After breaking out of the famed Hale End academy, he has made 263 senior appearances for Arsenal, scoring 70 goals and providing 71 assists.

You felt this throughout the 2024/25 campaign, with Saka sidelined for a significant stretch after Christmas that ultimately proved detrimental in the quest for silverware.

24/25

25

6

11

23/24

35

16

12

22/23

38

14

12

21/22

38

11

7

20/21

32

5

4

19/20

26

1

5

18/19

1

0

0

But he is, of course, fit again, and will play an instrumental role for club and country next season, challenging for the biggest prizes in red before donning that white shirt and fighting for gold over the pond with Thomas Tuchel’s England.

There’s indeed a case to be made that he is one of the most valuable players in the game, worldwide. This is actually backed up by the numbers, with one site penning him down above two aforementioned names.

Well, according to the renowned research centre CIES Football Observatory, the £98m-rated Saka is valued higher than both Isak and Gyokeres.

Newcastle’s centre-forward is only marginally behind the Three Lions sensation at £97m, while Gyokeres falls some way below at £68m, and this is reflected in the sealed deal for the number nine in north London.

Isak, of course, has a price tag of £130m as Newcastle prepare for his potential, but Saka, too, would demand an astronomical amount if any suitors approached Arsenal.

It bears testament to Saka’s inborn ability, his work-rate and indeed Arteta’s shrewd coaching that he has reached this level. He has many levels yet to go, but at this stage already, he is undoubtedly “world-class”, as has been said by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Arsenal might have a prolific marksman in Gyokeres, and Isak may have been labelled “the best striker in the Premier League” last season by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, but Saka is something special, something different.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

As long as he remains the nucleus of this thrilling Gunners project, glory days will surely rain down on the Emirates Stadium once again.

Bigger talent than Simons: Arsenal lining up "world-class" £87m talent

Arsenal are hoping to follow the signing of Viktor Gyokeres with more attacking quality.

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