Chelsea have received plenty of stick over the last few years for their transfer policy.

While some of that criticism is certainly justified – every team gets things wrong – much of it isn’t.

While they aren’t the finished article, Enzo Maresca now has a squad full to bursting with exciting young talents, and he’s only going to get his hands more ahead of next season.

Chelsea have already secured the services of several brilliant prospects set to join the side at the end of the season, including one who has been compared to Erling Haaland of all people, and no, it’s not Joao Pedro or Liam Delap.

Players set to join Chelsea in the summer

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting gems set to join Chelsea next summer, like Brazilian left-back Denner.

Chalkboard

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

The Blues agreed to sign the young Corinthians gem in March of this year, but due to him not turning 18 until next February, he has had to stay in his homeland.

Described as a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be used as backup for Marc Cucurella or sent back out on loan – either way, it’s an exciting addition.

Moving up the pitch to the attack, and to a youngster who looks set to be a star for years to come, Geovany Quenda.

The West Londoners agreed a deal to sign the 18-year-old the same month they signed Denner, but while the Brazilian is thought to have cost around £11m, the Sporting CP prospect could end up costing as much as £40m.

The frankly absurd price tag – for someone his age – is a reflection of just how highly-rated the dynamic winger is, with Mattinson describing him as “relentless” and “highly unpredictable.”

Despite still being so young, the Bissau-born gem has already made 64 senior appearances for the Lisbon outfit, in which he’s scored four goals and provided 12 assists.

However, while these two players will likely need time to adapt next year, there is another attacking addition that will be arriving in the summer, someone a few years older, someone who has been compared to Haaland.

The Chelsea player compared to Haaland

For a young striker to be compared to the otherworldly goal machine that is Haaland, they’ve got to be something quite special.

Fortunately for Chelsea, Emanuel Emegha, who is set to join the squad in the summer, looks to be quite the special forward.

The comparison to the Norwegian powerhouse comes from FBref, which examines all forwards across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League.

In this instance, it has been concluded that the Manchester City striker is the fourth most similar forward to the Dutchman.

You can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

These metrics include key attacking statistics like non-penalty goals plus assists, goals per shot, key passes, passes into the final third, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Now, while they share some key statistical similarities with one another, nobody is going to claim that the Strasbourg player will be as prolific for the Blues as the Norwegian is for City.

However, that’s not to see he’s a slouch in front of goal either.

For example, in 29 appearances last season, the “simply phenomenal” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 14 goals and provided three assists, and then this season, he’s put the ball in the back of the net four times and provided two assists in just six games.

Ultimately, while it remains to be seen how he fares in the Premier League, Chelsea look set to secure a brilliant goalscorer in Emegha.

Chelsea have signed "a future rival to Lamine Yamal" and it's not Estevao

The incredible young talent is about to sign for Chelsea and could rival both Yamal and Estevao in the future.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 3, 2025

Liverpool star Mo Salah risks causing huge anger in his native Egypt as he prepares for showdown talks with national boss Hossam Hassan to discuss missing a key warm-up match ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have a friendly with Nigeria planned in early December, but lands in the same week as key matches for the Reds setting up a potential club-v-country row, which Salah hopes to avoid.

Liverpool braced for Salah exit

Hassan would be expected to call-up Salah for the training camp and friendly match which has been scheduled for December 12th. But Liverpool face vital Champions League and Premier League fixtures against Inter Milan and Brighton that same week. The Liverpool talisman has endured a tricky season for the champions and is understood to prefer staying with his club for these competitive matches, according to a report in the . This follows a previous disagreement two years ago when Liverpool successfully requested Salah's delayed release, angering some fans in Egypt. The upcoming talks aim to find a resolution that satisfies both parties and prevents a repeat of past tensions. 

AdvertisementAFPFixture congestion for Liverpool during AFCON

Salah's upcoming meeting carries significant weight, as the two parties look to finalise the player's release date for the tournament in Morocco which runs from December 21st to January 18th. The talks follow the Egyptian King’s controversial early departure from the last tournament due to injury, which caused frustration among Egyptian fans. The forward, who is just six goals shy of Hassan's own national team scoring record, could miss crucial games for Liverpool. If Egypt, one of the tournament favourites, reach the final on January 18, Salah could be unavailable for up to ten matches, including Tottenham (a), Wolves (h), Leeds (h), Fulham (a), Arsenal (a) and Burnley (h) plus a Champions League game at Marseille and an FA Cup third round tie. These negotiations aim to prevent a repeat of past tensions and find a resolution that works for both the club and country.

High praise from Reds boss

Salah has struggled at times this season, seemingly struggling in a new playing system and a number of key new players in attacking positions at Anfield. But boss Slot was clear in explaining why Salah remains so important to his team after reaching the incredible milestone of 250 goals for the Merseysiders.

Slot said: "It is huge. It's almost unbelievable he has scored 250 goals at one club. Scoring 250 goals is already unbelievable, let alone at one club. You don’t see it that much in football anymore. Apart from the goal he scored tonight he had a very good performance. When we had to play long we played mainly long towards him and he could hold the ball and because of that the rest of the team could come to him and we could keep playing. 

Slot added: "What I also liked is that he didn’t only do his offensive work really well, but he helped the team out defensively as well. After the 1-0 he was helping Virgil (van Dijk) around the halfway line and this combination of things led to me liking his performance tonight. It’s special for him to score 250 but for him to score is not special as we always know he will score."

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Getty Images SportMan City boss relaxed about AFCON

City boss Pep Guardiola isn't worried about losing Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri for an extended period of time. Marmoush only returned to the starting XI following injury in the recent 3-1 win over Swansea, a game the 26-year-old scored in. Asked about the scheduling of the tournament, Guardiola said: "This competition (is) for their countries so they have to go. Always I try to solve the problem when the problem is in front of me. Right now I don’t think (about it). I have to use them for Sunday and next Wednesday and next Sunday before the international break. When it is going to happen they cannot be here and we will see the situation and take the decisions."

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are riding high at the top of the Premier League table, and supporters have been told one player doesn’t get the praise he deserves.

Arsenal's set-piece kings on course to win the Premier League

Their explosive start has not just positioned them as Premier League title favourites, but also as the current kings of set pieces — a deadly weapon that’s wreaking havoc on opposition sides domestically and in Europe.

Arsenal have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other top-flight side so far (11), with star defender Gabriel at the heart of it with four contributions to those strikes as the Gunners make their best weapon known.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Corners, free kicks and even throw-ins have become golden scoring opportunities, as Arsenal turn these situations into major results with surgical precision.

Their aerial strength, combined with clever routines, has made them a nightmare for defenders who can’t afford to lose focus for even a moment.

However, at the heart of Arsenal’s success is their impenetrable defence which has conceded the joint-fewest goals, not only in the Premier League, but across Europe’s top leagues (3), with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma also conceding just three.

The arrival of no-nonsense new backroom coach Gabriel Heinze is viewed as a real contributor to Arsenal’s increasingly water-tight backline, which has somehow become even more solid, despite already leaking the fewest league goals of any Premier League side in each of the last two seasons.

David Raya is in line for this third-successive Golden Glove award, and only a complete disaster in terms of injuries to key defenders would disrupt Arteta’s side right now.

That being said, even when William Saliba was briefly forced out of the side through injury, Cristhian Mosquera performed exceptionally well next to Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, and fellow summer signing Piero Hincapie is also on hand to step in.

Given their imperiousness at the back, Viktor Gyokeres has been somewhat overshadowed.

The Swede, who was brought in to take the mantle of Arsenal’s new prolific number nine, got off to a flying start but went seven games without a goal before his much-needed brace against Atlético Madrid last week.

Gyokeres has attracted some criticism for his fairly underwhelming return so far, but journalist Graeme Bailey insists that he’s actually a pretty underrated new member of the team.

Viktor Gyokeres adds extra element to Arsenal that people don't see

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey says that Gyokeres brings an “extra element” to Arsenal that “people don’t really see”.

Interestingly, this thought is echoed by Arteta, who says that Gyokeres makes Arsenal a much more “unpredictable” side.

His in-game play is there for all to see, and the former Sporting CP star has already proved a handful for defenders since his blockbuster summer switch.

Now, Gyokeres just needs to add more goals, then the critics will soon be silenced.

قضت برشلونة صباحاً مميزاً وسعيداً بعودة الفريق لأرضية ملعب الكامب نو بعد فترة توقف طويلة، وأجرى الفريق حصة تدريبية في وقت سابق من اليوم.

وتوافد 23 ألف مشجع على المدرجات لإلقاء نظرة على اللاعبين في الملعب بعد انقطاع دام أكثر من 890 يوماً، وغمرهم أجواء الحماس والسعادة.

وتحدث العديد من لاعبي برشلونة عبر حسابات النادي على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي عن تجربة العودة لملعب الكامب نو وشعورهم بهذه المناسبة المميزة.

وقال رونالد أراوخو: “أنا سعيد للغاية، من الرائع العودة لملعب كامب نو ورؤية ما أصبح عليه، إنه رائع للغاية وخاصة مع جماهيرنا، إنه حقاً أمر رائع”.

وعن شعور أراوخو بالعودة للملعب بعد غياب طويل وتأثير ذلك العاطفي: “كنت متأثراً بعض الشيء، شعرت بالحماس بالعودة لكامب نو، الجميع يعلم ما يعنيه هذا الملعب وما يثيره من رهبة في قلوب الجميع”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | أخبار سارة في تدريبات برشلونة بعد عودته لملعب “كامب نو”

واعترف الأوروجواياني بأنه من اللاعبين القلائل الذين سبق لهم اللعب في هذا الملعب: “هناك زملاء في الفريق لم يسبق لهم اللعب هنا ولم يدخلوا هنا من قبل، كان كل شيء في غاية الجمال، أنا سعيد جداً بما أراه وبما أصبح عليه الملعب، وسعيد جداً بحضور الجماهير الغفيرة اليوم لدعمنا، نحن متشوقون للغاية”.

واختتم عن رسالته لجماهير برشلونة على دعمهم الدائم للفريق وحضورهم بأعداد كبيرة: “هما حاضرين دائماً ويدعمونا في كل الأوقات،هذا يمنحنا دافع كبير لما هو قادم ولا يزال أمامنا الكثير وسنسعدهم كثيراً وهذا ما أتمناه”.

بينما تحدث مارك كاسادو عن شعور العودة لملعب الكامب نو: “شعور مذهل، استمتعت حقاً، ليست عودة كاملة ولكن تجربة تدريبية رائعة، شعرنا وكأننا في بيتنا، سواء كنا جماهير أو لاعبين، أشكر الجماهير رغم أنها كانت مجرد جلسة تدريبية ونأمل العودة لهنا قريباً”.

وأضاف: “لم ألعب في كامب نو بعد، كنت جزءًا من بعض الفرق لكني مازالت أحلم بلعب مباراة رسمية مع برشلونة وآمل أن يتحقق ذلك قريباً، الملعب رائع والأمر مختلف تماماً، الأجواء في المدرجات كانت استثنائية حقاً”.

بينما أعرب ماركوس راشفورد عن سعادته بالتدريب في الكامب نو: “كان شعور رائع وملعب رائع، وامتلائه بالجماهير أمر لا يصدق، لا أطيق الانتظار للعب هنا، من الرائع حضور جماهيرنا معنا وأرضية الملعب رائعة ومتحمس جداً باللعب هنا”.

وحول لعبه مع مانشستر يونايتد في وقت سابق ضد برشلونة على ملعب الكامب نو: “سيكون شعورًا مختلفا تماماً، كامب نو أحد ملاعبي المفضلة ولطالما رغبت في اللعب فيه، اللعب بقميص برشلونة مختلف ولا أعرف ما سيكون الأمر بعد ذلك لكني أتطلع بشوق وسأستمتع بالتأكيد”.

واختتم عن تجربة التدريب في ملعب الكامب نو: “كانت تجربة جيدة، مازالنا في مرحلة التعافي من المباراة السابقة ونستعد للمباراة القادمة، ولكن فرصة مثالية للجماهير للشعور بمزيد من التواصل معنا كلاعبين في لحظات مميزة حقاً”.

West Ham chiefs have one eye fixed on the January transfer window as Nuno Espírito Santo reportedly pleads for new signings behind-the-scenes.

Nuno Espírito Santo set to be backed by West Ham in January

It has been a disastrous start to the season for West Ham, who are surely candidates for this year’s relegation dogfight.

The east Londoners have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League so far and would be at the foot of the table, if not for Wolves being that bit worse, with Vitor Pereira’s side yet to win a single game.

Nuno is also still waiting for his first victory as West Ham boss since replacing Graham Potter at the end of last month, but judging by their torrid performance at home to Brentford, he could be forced to wait a while longer.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

The Bees ran riot at the London Stadium, attempting 17 shots at goal, and the 2-0 defeat flattered a West Ham side who looked bereft of answers.

Nuno’s much-changed line-up against Keith Andrews’ men raised plenty of eyebrows as the Portuguese experiments to find his best team, but it doesn’t get any easier for West Ham, who travel to face newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Road on Friday.

Concerns surround whether West Ham really have enough quality and depth in their squad to compete in world football’s most glamorous division, with chairman David Sullivan and the board reportedly planning a small spending spree in the winter.

According to Sky Sports this week, West Ham are targeting a new defender, midfielder and forward once the winter window opens, and Nuno has got “confirmation” that funds will be available to strengthen the team.

Other reports claim that Nuno has urged West Ham chiefs to bring in much-needed January additions, and this is backed by GiveMeSport, who’ve shared an update of their own on Sullivan’s recruitment plans.

West Ham hold internal talks over signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos

As per GMS, Nuno has told Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to attack the market once it reopens past the turn of the year.

The tactician personally wants a new addition to his backline, a technician for the engine room and an attacker to provide that extra injection of creativity going forward.

In terms of the midfield, West Ham have set their sights on a very intriguing option — Chelsea star Andrey Santos — and they’ve held internal talks over a potential move.

The Brazil international, who bagged 11 goals and five assists on loan at Strasbourg last season, has featured in nearly every game for Chelsea so far, with Maresca showing real faith in Santos as a key component of his midfield.

Santos can play anywhere in the centre, whether that be further forward as a CAM or in a deep-lying anchor role, so the appeal for West Ham is pretty obvious, especially considering the 21-year-old’s excellent form over the last 12 months.

Nuno apparently wants a box-to-box style midfielder who can add pace in the middle of the park, something which West Ham sorely lack right now, even if highly-rated youngster Freddie Potts is ready and raring for selection.

That being said, Maresca appears to be a massive fan of Santos, so it remains to be seen whether the Italian would sanction a mid-season departure for a player he’s used very often so far.

Interestingly, Santos isn’t the only Brazilian who West Ham are considering.

According to other reports, West Ham have already spoken to Real Madrid about signing Endrick, and that deal looks far more likely with Los Blancos prepared to green-light a loan move away for the striker amid his limited minutes at the Bernabeu.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur haven’t been afraid to splash the cash, with the ownership handing various managers the tools to achieve success.

The Lilywhites have spent around £400m on new signings in the last four years, numerous of which have made a huge impact on their ability to create new history for the club.

Brennan Johnson is one of the players who arrived during such a period, with his £47.5m transfer fee now appearing to be an excellent piece of business, given his record in North London.

The Welshman netted 18 goals across all competitions last campaign, but undoubtedly his most important came in the Europa League final as he helped end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.

Despite the 24-year-old’s positive impact in the first-team, the same can’t be said for one player who fell way below the expectations placed upon him after his own big-money transfer.

Tanguy Ndombele’s failed spell at Spurs

In the summer of 2019, Spurs forked out a then club-record fee of £62m for the signature of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

Such a move generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, but it’s safe to say his time in North London was one of bitter disappointment, given his failure to impress.

He would feature a total of 91 times for the Lilywhites over a three-year period, spending two separate spells on loan at Napoli and Galatasaray before his contract was cut short – allowing him to depart on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

Whilst he produced some moments of magic, including his superb effort against Sheffield United, he was unable to produce such levels on a regular basis – with concerns being voiced around his attitude and fitness.

His tally of 10 goals and nine assists highlight the lack of impact he had, with the hierarchy subsequently losing a small fortune on their investment – especially after he departed for nothing.

However, he’s not the only player to fall below the standards expected of him, with one current first-team player currently finding himself in a similar situation.

The Spurs player who’s becoming the biggest waste since Ndombele

Current boss Thomas Frank has made a solid start to his Spurs career so far, only losing one of his nine games in charge across all competitions in 2025/26.

The Dane has created a settled 4-3-3 side that has allowed them to make some major scalps, including a 2-0 triumph against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, with the 51-year-old unable to secure a win against Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites found themselves two goals down with just 24 minutes remaining, but managed to fight back to secure a 2-2 draw and maintain their unbeaten record in Europe this season.

Many players had an off night during the stalemate, but Richarlison once again continued to disappoint and was unable to shake off his recent poor form.

Despite netting three goals in his first six games this campaign, many supporters have become frustrated with the Brazilian, leading to criticism being directed his way.

In the last two games combined, he’s only managed a total of 30 touches combined, completing just seven passes – often unable to get himself into the game.

Minutes played

90

Touches

10

Passes completed

2

Possession lost

5

Big chances missed

1

Chances created

0

Fouls committed

1

Match rating

3/10

When in front of goal, the 28-year-old has also been just as dreadful, missing two big chances in as many games – leading to one analyst stating that he “offers nothing”.

To further highlight his lack of impact in North London, he’s only scored 23 times in his 100 appearances for the club, with departed fan-favourite Harry Kane managing to score over 100 goals for Bayern Munich since his transfer two years ago.

If the Brazilian joined in a bargain deal, the lack of impact wouldn’t be as concerning, but the hierarchy forked out £50m for his signature three years ago – with such a decision now looking like an awful one.

There’s no doubt he’s failed to live up to the hype in North London, but the hierarchy must look to offload him and replace him with a top-level player in the months ahead.

They desperately need to recoup a competitive fee for his services, subsequently avoiding losing him for nothing – just as they did with Ndombele a little over 12 months ago.

100% dribbles, 78 touches: Spurs star is now emulating Kane under Frank

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record in the Champions League last night against Bodo Glimt.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Just when Manchester City were starting to build some momentum, it all came crashing down.

On Sunday afternoon, debuting their raindrop kit, well there was an air of pathetic fallacy, with Aston Villa finding a leak in Pep Guardiola’s defence early on, enough to secure a 1-0 win, this the Citizens’ third successive defeat at Villa Park, something that last happened in 1966.

Before this, the Sky Blues had been unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions, collecting 13 points out of a possible 15 in the Premier League, leading to many suggesting they were bona fide title challengers again.

Now though, they’ve slipped down to fifth, six points adrift leaders Arsenal, facing second-placed Bournemouth next Sunday, before Liverpool visit the Etihad a week later.

With these huge games on the horizon, which player, who contributed very little at Villa Park, should be cast aside by Guardiola?

Erling Haaland's scoring streak comes to an end

Already this season, Erling Braut Håland has scored 11 goals in the Premier League and four in the Champions League, thereby responsible for more than 65% of all goals Manchester City have managed across the two competitions.

Prior to Sunday’s visit to Villa Park, the goalbot had scored in 12 consecutive appearances for club and country, netting 22 times across these outings, including finding the target in six successive Premier League games.

Of course, that record is 11, set a decade ago by Jamie Vardy, with some suggesting that could soon be under threat, but Håland’s streak is over.

Nevertheless, at his current scoring rate, he is still currently on course to score 46 goals in the Premier League this season, which would smash his own record of 36 set in 2022/23, while he is four away from becoming the 35th member of the competition’s 100 club.

So, while Håland remains simply undroppable and usually unstoppable for Guardiola, one of his teammates underlined why he certainly no longer is in the Midlands on Sunday.

The Manchester City stalwart who struggled at Villa Park

A fair few Manchester City players came in for some scathing criticism following this weekend’s defeat.

Tijjani Reijnders struggled to imitate Rodri as the lone number six, while Savinho, following his sparkling display in mid-week, was labelled ‘largely poor’.

However, it was Bernardo Silva who underwhelmed the most.

The Portuguese international has made more appearances for Guardiola than any other player during his illustrious coaching career (419), but Sunday was certainly not one of his best, as the table below documents.

Shots

0

17th

Attempted dribbles

0

18th

Accurate passes

15

20th

Big chances created

1

1st

Key passes

1

2nd

Interceptions

1

11th

Tackles

0

17th

Duels contested

3

25th

Duels won

1

24th

Touches

24

23rd

The table does not make good reading for Silva, attempting zero dribbles and tackles, winning only one of the three duels he contested, while registering only 24 touches, a mere five more than Gianluigi Donnarumma and three fewer than Jadon Sancho, who came off the bench for the Villans.

In fairness to the captain, he did create one of Manchester City’s two clear opportunities on the day, playing Håland in-behind shortly after Aston Villa’s opener, but he uncharacteristically tamely rolled it straight at Emi Martínez.

Silva was awarded a 4/10 rating by Goal, who stated that ‘his influence waned’ following ‘a bright start’, with the 31-year-old ‘unable to impose himself on proceedings’, thereby swiftly substituted on the hour mark with the team in need of a spark.

The midfielder himself admitted that the Citizens “were really bad defensively,” adding “our pressing was really bad…. it felt like we arrived late… to every duel”.

On the flip side, as recently as Tuesday night, Silva had reiterated his worth to this team by heading home the second against Villarreal in a 2-0 Champions League victory at Estadio de la Cerámica.

Now though, with serious competition for those attacking midfield positions, every performance is under the microscope.

Jérémy Doku as well as fit again duo Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki came off the bench on Sunday, with Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb and Savinho having all started; that’s quite the array of options.

Chalkboard

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

It will be interesting to see who Guardiola deploys for Wednesday night’s EFL Cup trip to Swansea but, with games against Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and then Liverpool to come thereafter, Silva’s display in Birmingham could mean he is watching those key clashes from the substitutes bench.

Worse than Reijnders: Pep must drop Man City star who lost possession 18x

Manchester City fell to their first Premier League defeat since August away at Aston Villa.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 27, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti has conquered everything club football has to offer but his biggest dream now lies on the world stage. As Brazil’s head coach, the Italian tactician is chasing the one title missing from his glittering resume, the FIFA World Cup. With the 2026 tournament looming, Ancelotti’s mission is as emotional as it is historic, to end Brazil’s 24-year drought and perhaps, face his homeland, Italy, in the final.

• Carlo Ancelotti wants to win the World Cup with Brazil

  When Ancelotti left Real Madrid after guiding them to yet another Champions League crown in 2024, few could have predicted his next destination. Yet, for the man who has lifted 29 major trophies across Europe, the allure of leading the world’s most successful footballing nation proved irresistible.

  “Managing the Brazilian national team – the most successful in history – was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse,” Ancelotti said when asked earlier why he chose to take up the role of Selcao's head coach. “I knew about the passion here, but living it is different. When Brazil play, the country stops."

  Appointed in mid-2024, Ancelotti’s arrival marked a new era for the Selecao. By June 2025, he had guided Brazil to World Cup qualification, sealing the spot with a narrow 1-0 win over Paraguay thanks to Vinicius Jr.’s strike. His record of two wins, one draw, and one loss in his first four games reflected a pragmatic approach built on defensive solidity and tactical discipline, qualities Brazil had been missing in recent years.

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• Getty Images
  

  Ancelotti's Brazil is finally taking shape

  Ancelotti’s Brazil is not about flamboyance alone; it’s about control. Known for his calm leadership and man-management, he has tried to mould a side that balances flair with efficiency. “We want to win, and we’re not hiding it,” he declared. “The dream is for Brazil to win their sixth World Cup. There are great expectations, but also great enthusiasm. The fact that we haven't won in 24 years is a burden. Let's hope it doesn't become 28!,” Ancelotti said in an interview with Dribbling on Rai Due.

  His selections have sparked debate. Neymar’s absence due to long-term injury, along with the temporary exclusions of Vinicius and Rodrygo, raised eyebrows. But Ancelotti was clear: fitness, form, and balance come before fame. “It’s important to know every player personally,” he explained after calling up several fresh faces like Caio Henrique and Kaio Jorge during 2025 qualifiers.

• Critics, challenges, and the pressure of being the Brazil coach

  Yet, not everyone is convinced. Former Brazil goalkeeper and manager Emerson Leao criticised Ancelotti’s appointment, calling it “a sad reflection” of the state of Brazilian coaching. “I’m disappointed that a foreigner had to come because our own coaches haven’t delivered,” Leao told CNN. “Managing Brazil is much harder than managing Real Madrid – here, an entire nation judges you.”

  He questioned Ancelotti’s familiarity with domestic talent and communication style, warning that “his work will be very difficult.” The criticism underscores the immense scrutiny that comes with the Brazil job – where every lineup choice becomes a national debate and every result, a referendum.

  Ancelotti, however, remains unfazed. Having succeeded under the most intense club pressures, he knows how to shield his players. “I focus on preparation, unity, and belief,” he said in a press-conference. “The World Cup will be competitive, but our goal is clear.”

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• AFP
  

  A dream final and a shot at immortality

  For all his trophies with league titles in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain, plus a record five Champions Leagues, Ancelotti’s heart still beats for the game’s most poetic moments. And his dream is deeply personal.

  “I would like a final between Brazil and Italy,” he admitted in an interview. “It would be beautiful for me on an emotional level.”

  The image of Ancelotti leading Brazil and perhaps against his homeland in the 2026 World Cup final is the stuff of cinematic drama. For Brazil, it’s a chance to end 24 years of frustration; for Ancelotti, a chance to achieve what no foreign manager ever has, winning the World Cup with the Selecao.

  “I’ve won everything else. But the dream is to make Brazil world champions again,” he said during an interview with FIFA.

MatériaMais Notícias

Volante do Corinthians, Maycon lamentou o momento ruim da equipe alvinegra, eliminada na Conmebol Sul-Americana para o Fortaleza, na noite desta terça-feira (3). O jogador reconheceu que a temporada atual é a pior dele no Timão, mas deu a solução para deixar a má fase. 

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– Difícil. Ano difícil. Talvez seja o meu pior ano no Corinthians, em termos de resultados, mas eles também vêm, mas temos que ter força para superar isso juntos e terminar bem essa temporada. Não tem outro caminho, não tem o que fazer. Temos que trabalhar, pensar jogo a jogo, pensarmos três pontos a cada jogo. Trabalhar, melhorar. Esse é o caminho. A gente não tem outra saída – disse o meio-campista revelado pela equipe alvinegra e que está emprestado pelo Shakhtar Donetsk, da Ucrânia, até o fim do ano. 

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Maycon reconheceu que a troca de treinadores durante a temporada foi um grande problema, mas também ressaltou que os jogadores que defendem o Corinthians precisam estar preparados para ocasiões como essa, por conta da pressão natural que cerca o clube. 

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+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

– A gente sabe que quando o treinador tem um tempo de trabalho maior os resultados tendem a acontecer. As trocas complicam. Mas a gente está no Corinthians e temos que estar preparados, a gente sabe a pressão que é. É entender os movimentos que temos e tentar responder da melhor forma.

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Maycon dificilmente vai permanecer no Timão em 2024 e deve fazer parte da barca que dará espaço para novos atletas a partir do ano que vem. Ele pertence ao Shakhtar até o fim de 2025 e já foi emprestado pelos ucranianos em duas temporadas consecutivas. Mesmo com o camisa 7 tendo evoluído durante a temporada e retomado a condição de titular, a tendência é que ele não seja comprado em definitivo, independentemente de qual diretoria esteja no comando da equipe. No dia 25 de dezembro terá eleição para definir o novo presidente corintiano. 

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Najmul Hossain Shanto’s run-out in the 17th over and the two-wicket 18th over, Taskin said, turned the match in Sri Lanka’s favour

Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Jul-2025″I was expecting we would win with five to seven overs in hand,”Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed said after the first ODI. He was right to think that that was the strongest possibility, as Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto took them to 96 for 1 at the end of 16 overs in a chase of 245.But frequently, expectations are not reality. And collapses happen. Bangladesh lost seven wickets in the time it took them to score five runs.What sparked the collapse was a good piece of fielding by debutant Milan Rathnayake, which helped run Shanto out for 23. Not long after, Wanindu Hasaranga had Litton Das and Tanzid in the same over.Related

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“Those two wickets in one over was the turning point for them,” Taskin said. “Definitely, we batted badly in the middle phase, but we had a great start with 100 runs in 16 overs. Then 100 for 2 and 107 [105] for 8 – that was very costly.Perhaps Bangladesh’s best batter of the evening was Jaker Ali, who hit 51 off 64 balls.”When Jaker got set, he was batting very well,” Taskin said. “He scored a fifty. With him, if we had two or three batters left, then we could have won the match. Yes, it’s accepted that we didn’t bat well, but seeing two or three guys bat on this wicket, it doesn’t feel like the wicket was that bad. That was our failure.”Taskin said that perhaps “panic” had been the reason for the loss.”Yeah, after that great start, we were a bit relaxed that everything was going our way, and suddenly, that run-out and one of our set batters, Tamim [Tanzid], got out,” he said. “Then we panicked a bit. We didn’t play our natural game, and under pressure, we collapsed. That’s how we lost this match.”