Tag Futebol

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.

A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.

Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man City scouting Bundesliga star

One thing that the Cityzens do not have in abundance is players with real speed who can run off the last line, but they are now looking at a star who could provide that.

Transfer Focus

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

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.

It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.

CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.

Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.

In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.

The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.

Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.

Man City’s all-time leading scorers and assisters
Goals	Assists
Sergio Aguero (260)	Kevin De Bruyne (177)
Joe Hayes (146)	David Silva (136)
Eric Brook (145)	Raheem Sterling (86)
Erling Haaland (144)	Bernardo Silva (75)
Colin Bell (149)	Phil Foden (65)
Francis Lee (138)	Sergio Aguero (65)
Raheem Sterling (131)	Riyad Mahrez (59)
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.

The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.

Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.

Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.

Man City make approach for 'frustrated' Arsenal star as three more clubs line up

The Gunners have responded.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 5, 2025

This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.

Celtic look set to finally confirm the appointment of their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead with the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

Rodgers tendered his resignation at the end of October, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, and experienced manager Martin O’Neill has taken the reins as interim head coach for the past month or so.

The former Celtic boss, as shown in the graphic above, won the Scottish Premiership title in his first two seasons back at Parkhead, and it will be down to Nancy to overcome Hearts to win the division in his first season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Hoops are set to confirm the appointment of the MLS boss before the weekend, but that means that it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout for the weekend’s clash with Hibernian.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna were also said to be in the running for the role, but it is the Frenchman who is poised to replace Rodgers.

Whilst Nancy will have to deal with the players that he inherits for the first month or so of his reign in Glasgow, the incoming boss has already been linked with a move to bring one of his Columbus Crew stars to Scotland.

The Columbus Crew star Wilfried Nancy could bring to Celtic

Earlier this week, it was reported that Celtic are lining up a move to bolster their attack by swooping for one of the French head coach’s key players from the MLS side.

Chalkboard

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

Nancy is reportedly set to swoop for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali to provide him with a proven and lethal number nine at Parkhead for the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The Palestine international scored three goals in five MLS games for Nancy towards the end of the 2025 campaign, per Sofascore, after a £5.7m move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly back in July.

Prior to his almost £6m move to the MLS in July, Abou Ali’s form for Al Ahly in Egypt caught the eye, as he showcased his reliability in front of goal in the Egyptian Premier League.

Abou Ali – Egyptian Premier League	23/24	24/25
Appearances	19	16
Goals	18	10
Minutes per goal	76	118
Big chances missed	5	1
Conversion rate	40%	23%
Big chances created	3	2
Assists	4	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old frontman scored a staggering 28 goals in 35 appearances in those two seasons, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Columbus Crew would want for the prolific striker because they paid almost £6m for him earlier this year, and he has already scored three goals in five league games.

If the MLS side demand a hefty fee that Celtic are either unable or unwilling to pay in the January transfer window, Nancy will have to look at alternative ways to bolster his attacking ranks at Parkhead.

For example, the French boss could unearth his next version of Abou Ali by helping young striker Callum Osmand fulfill his potential when he is back fit and available for selection.

Why Osmand could be Celtic's own version of Abou Ali

The Jersey-born star is currently out with a hamstring injury and a timeline has not been given on his return date, so it remains to be seen when he will be available to the incoming Hoops boss.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Osmand both missing through injury, Ireland international Johnny Kenny is the first-choice number nine at Parkhead. The young forward has had an impressive run under interim boss O’Neill with four goals in five matches, per Sofascore.

However, it may be the former Fulham youngster who is the most likely to emerge as the star goalscorer of the Nancy era when you consider his record at first-team and academy level to date.

The battle to be Celtic’s number nine
Academy + first-team	Kenny	Osmand
Appearances	150	83
Goals	47	49
Games per goal	3.19	1.69
Assists	11	13
Games per assist	13.64	6.38
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Osmand has scored and created goals at a much more impressive rate than Kenny has throughout his career to date, with an exceptional haul of 49 goals in 83 matches.

Whilst the majority of those goals have been at youth level, the 20-year-old star also showcased his quality in the first-team with a poacher’s finish against Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Unfortunately, Osmand then suffered his hamstring injury off the bench against Midtjylland in the Europa League in the very next game, shortly after winning a penalty from which Reo Hatate scored.

The ex-Fulham youngster, who was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, scored one goal and won a penalty in his first three first-team outings for the Scottish giants, which is an impressive start to senior football for the young attacker.

His exceptional goalscoring record in his career suggests that he has the potential to emerge as a real star for Celtic in the future, once he is back from injury, because he has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, the summer signing could be unearthed as Nancy’s next version of Abou Ali, who has been a prolific scorer for his last two teams, as another number nine who can provide a lethal presence in front of goal, if the Hoops are unable to get a deal done for the MLS star.

£1.5m Celtic flop has been an even bigger waste of time than Balikwisha

This Celtic flop has been an even worse signing than Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the Scottish giants.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 25, 2025

During the second inning of the Los Angeles Angels' game against the Houston Astros on Saturday, the Astros' Yainer Diaz hit the baseball far toward right field by the stands. Angels outfielder Mike Trout came running to catch the ball, but as he jumped up to haul it in, an Astros fan named Jared Whalen snatched the baseball out of his hand, reminiscent of when a fan tried grabbing a ball from Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the World Series last fall.

Trout was frustrated in the moment, especially as the play was ruled a foul ball, not fan interference. Soon after, security escorted Whalen out of the section.

Whalen later explained that he was simply trying to guard his son from the incoming baseball, and apologized to Trout.

“I just didn’t know what was going on,” Whalen told  “I didn’t realize it was a play. It was coming at my son’s face. I just reached out.”

“I was more looking at the ball coming for my son’s face,” Whalen said. “I made sure I wasn’t in the field of play. I apologized, and [Trout] nodded his head and we’re good, I think.”

Whalen and his son ended up meeting with Trout after the game. Trout shook hands with both Whalen and his son, and signed a baseball for the son.

“I got kids myself. The way he reacted, he obviously didn’t do it on purpose,” Trout said to . “Well, I don’t know if he didn’t do it on purpose. But just the way he reacted, and his kid, and they got moved. They probably spent hard [earned] money on those tickets.”

An MLB umpire unintentionally made the highlight reels during Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park.

With the Dodgers up 5–0 and looking to add to their lead, Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani worked a walk in the top of the fourth inning, then advanced to second on a Mookie Betts flyout. The next batter, Teoscar Hernandez, grounded an 0–2 pitch down the third base line for what surely seemed like extra bases—and an easy trot home for the speedy Ohtani.

Only, the ball was stopped in its tracks when it collided with third base umpire Mark Ripperger, who was unable to get out of the way in time after it deflected off Padres third baseman Manny Machado’s glove. Machado was then able to make a play on the ball and promptly threw out Ohtani as he was attempting to score.

What a play by Ripperger! In all seriousness, this was just a case of the umpire being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even still, Ohtani was visibly upset with Ripperger from the Dodgers dugout.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, the bizarre play seems like it won't have any adverse effect on the final result of Game 4, as the club is still in the driver's seat with an 8–0 lead.

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.

Sunderland, after returning to the Premier League in 2025 for the first time in eight years, splashed the cash in the transfer market.

The Black Cats spent more than £150m on new players, however, they also cashed in on a couple of Stadium of Light stars.

Sunderland's most expensive signings of all time

Who is the Black Cats’ record addition?

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Here’s a look at Sunderland’s 20 biggest sales of all time, with a detailed view of the top 10.

1

Jobe Bellingham

£27.8m

Borussia Dortmund

2025

2

Jordan Pickford

£25m

Everton

2017

3

Jordan Henderson

£20m

Liverpool

2011

4

Darren Bent

£18m

Aston Villa

2011

5

Jack Clarke

£15m

Ipswich

2024

6

Patrick van Aanholt

£12m

Crystal Palace

2017

7

Simon Mignolet

£11m

Liverpool

2013

8

Tom Watson

£10m

Brighton

2025

9

Connor Wickham

£9m

Crystal Palace

2015

=10

Kenwyne Jones

£8m

Stoke

2010

=10

Ross Stewart

£8m

Southampton

2023

=12

Wahbi Khazri

£6m

Saint-Etienne

2018

=12

Asamoah Gyan

£6m

Al-Ain

2012

14

Stephane Sessegnon

£5.5m

West Brom

2013

15

Fabio Borini

£5.3m

AC Milan

2017

=16

Pierre Ekwah

£5m

Saint-Etienne

2024

=16

Paddy McNair

£5m

Middlesbrough

2018

=16

Don Hutchison

£5m

West Ham

2001

=16

Michael Bridges

£5m

Leeds

1999

20

Sebastian Coates

£4.25m

Sporting CP

2017

10 Kenwyne Jones £8m to Stoke, 2010

Starting the top 10 list is Kenwyne Jones, who moved to the Stadium of Light in 2007 from Southampton.

The powerful forward made just over 100 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring 28 times, and he appeared to love playing in red and white stripes, as the Trinidad and Tobago striker would go on to join Stoke City.

9 Connor Wickham £9m to Crystal Palace, 2015

Connor Wickham made more appearances for Sunderland than any of the other 10 clubs he represented during his career, with the forward spending four years in the north east.

Signed for around £8m, Wickham was sold to Crystal Palace in 2015 but would struggle with numerous injuries on the books at Selhurst Park.

8 Tom Watson £10m to Brighton, 2025

Sunderland’s playoff hero at Wembley against Sheffield United was Tom Watson, who’s last kick as a Black Cats player was a stoppage time winner to send the club up.

A deal with Brighton was already done which saw Watson head south for £10m.

7 Simon Mignolet £11m to Liverpool, 2013

Simon Mignolet’s first taste of English football came with Sunderland, with the goalkeeper costing just £2m back in 2010 from Club Brugge.

Steve Bruce was in charge at the time, and Mignolet would go on to make over 100 appearances before being sold for a tidy profit to Liverpool.

6 Patrick van Aanholt £12m to Crystal Palace, 2017

Two years after sealing a deal for Wickham, Crystal Palace called Sunderland again, this time to sign left-back Patrick van Aanholt.

After coming through at Chelsea, Sunderland was Van Aanholt’s next permanent home, costing under £2m. Three years later, the Black Cats made £10m on the speedy Dutch full-back.

5 Jack Clarke £15m to Ipswich, 2024

Jack Clarke got his career back on track at Sunderland following a failed move to Tottenham from Leeds.

The winger initially helped the Black Cats win promotion from League One and would spend two full seasons at the Stadium of Light before Ipswich Town offered him Premier League football in a deal worth £15m.

4 Darren Bent £18m to Aston Villa, 2011

Scorer of that beachball goal against Liverpool in 2009 at the Stadium of Light, Darren Bent netted 24 Premier League goals in his first season as a Sunderland player.

Costing an initial £10m from Spurs, Sunderland would only have Bent for 18 months, and after handing in a transfer request, was sold to Aston Villa for £18m.

3 Jordan Henderson £20m to Liverpool, 2011

Boyhood Sunderland fan Jordan Henderson came through the club’s academy and would go on to captain the Black Cats, making 79 appearances prior to his move to Liverpool.

The Reds paid £20m for the midfielder, who would go on to captain at Anfield, lifting the Premier League and Champions League.

2 Jordan Pickford £25m to Everton, 2017

Another Black Cats supporter who came through Sunderland’s academy to earn the club big money was goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

England’s number one only made 35 first team appearances at the Stadium of Light and was loaned out to six different sides as a youngster before Everton came in and offered £25m.

1 Jobe Bellingham £27.8m to Borussia Dortmund, 2025

Top of the list as Sunderland’s record sale is Jobe Bellingham, who followed in the footsteps of his brother Jude by joining Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham made 90 appearances for the Black Cats, the last of which was the playoff final, and he scored 11 goals, leaving for just under £28m at the age of 19.

Russell Martin remains Rangers manager, but for how much longer will this be the case?

The current events at Ibrox are historic, but not in a good way, with Martin still yet to win a league match in five attempts, following last weekend’s embarrassing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hearts, making this the club’s worst start to a campaign since 1978.

Before the Gers are next in Premiership action, they’ll host Hibernian in a League Cup quarter-final on Saturday and then commence their Europa League campaign with a visit from Genk the following Thursday.

However, defeat at the hands of Hibs this weekend would surely signal the end for under-fire Martin, so should 49ers Enterprises already be making an ambitious move for an “outstanding” manager, one who would get the best out of Rangers’ best players?

Bojan Miovski's difficult start at Rangers

Bojan Miovski has only made two appearances in a Rangers jersey so far, but it is already clear that the team are not playing to his strengths.

The North Macedonian striker joined the club in late August from Girona for a fee that could rise to £4.2m.

He endured a pretty miserable spell in Catalonia, but was on fire when he was last seen in Scotland, scoring 44 times in 98 appearances for Aberdeen, four of which came against Rangers.

Against Heart of Midlothian last weekend, Miovski did miss one big chance, but touched the ball only 21 times, 12 Rangers players accumulated more, clearly not involved in general play enough.

He has previously proven that if you give him chances he will score goals, so could a change in manager transform the 26-year-old and help him rediscover his best form?

Rangers' dream Russell Martin upgrade

Matt Smith of Give Me Sport asserts that Rangers should replace Martin with Nuno Espírito Santo, which would certainly be a statement appointment should it come to pass.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The 51-year-old was controversially sacked as Nottingham Forest manager earlier this month, following a public falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis, who chose to appoint Ange Postecoglou as his successor.

Well, the early signs are that this wasn’t the wisest move, with Postecoglou losing his first two matches in charge, battered 3-0 at Arsenal, before Wednesday night’s complete collapse in the EFL Cup, 2-0 up at Swansea only to lose 3-2, conceding twice in injury time.

Commentator Adam Summerton praises the “outstanding job” Nuno did at Forest, with writer Henry Winter praising his “counterattacking style” that was so effective, able to make a team both compact and threatening in attack, something Rangers are neither right now.

When Nuno arrived at the City Ground in December 2023, Forest were in genuine danger of relegation, also hit with a four-point deduction, but he guided them to safety, before last season’s shock seventh-place finish saw them qualify for Europe for the first time in 30 years.

Overall, this was his seventh managerial role, boasting an impressive CV, as the table below documents.

Nuno’s managerial career
Clubs	Matches	Wins
Rio Ave	80	32
Valencia	62	32
Porto	49	27
Wolves	199	96
Tottenham	17	9
Al-Ittihad	53	37
Nott’m Forest	71	30
via Transfermarkt

Among Nuno’s achievements, he has won the EFL Championship and Saudi Pro League titles, also leading Rio Ave to both domestic cup finals in 2014, as well as achieving back-to-back top seven finishes in the Premier League with Wolves, the club doing so for the first time since 1961.

He didn’t do quite so well in charge of Valencia, Porto and Spurs, but is a master at getting his team to punch above their weight, as was very much the case at Nottingham Forest last season.

So why would Nuno be the right man to get the best out of Miovski?

Well, using his Nottingham Forest side as the blueprint, their primary attacking threat came from wingers Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi driving the ball forward at pace, something Rangers’ summer signings Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama have already proven themselves capable of replicating, as this goal against Viktoria Plzeň during Champions League qualifying demonstrates.

This style helped Chris Wood enjoy a late-career renaissance that surely no one could’ve foreseen.

Last season, the New Zealander scored 20 Premier League goals, only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Braut Håland managed more, beating his previous best-ever top-flight tally of 14, doing so as a 33-year-old.

Thus, if Nuno was able to implement his counter-attacking style, this could revitalise the attacking options Rangers have, and set them up for another deep run in the Europa League.

Having previously managed massive clubs in Portugal, Spain, Saudi Arabia and England, he would represent quite the coup, but most did expect the 49ers to target a big name when they arrived in the summer, so he would certainly galvanise the bereft and furious Rangers support.

45 y/o Mourinho alternative is serious option to replace Martin at Rangers

Time is running out for Martin to save his job…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 17, 2025

تحدث البولندي فوتشيك تشيزني، حارس مرمى الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة عن مواجهة ريال مدريد في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني.

ويواجه برشلونة نظيره ريال مدريد في “كلاسيكو” الدوري الإسباني ولأول مرة بقيادة تشابي ألونسو، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، غدًا الأحد، في تمام الساعة السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 22 نقطة، فيما يتصدر ريال مدريد الجدول برصيد 24 نقطة.

واستطاع كيليان مبابي أن يسجل خمسة أهداف في 3 مباريات للكلاسيكو الموسم الماضي، كانت جميعها في مرمى الحارس تشيزني.

اقرأ أيضًا | بيلينجهام يكشف مفاتيح الفوز في الكلاسيكو ويحذر برشلونة: أنا في أفضل حالاتي

وعن تألق مبابي أمامه، كشف تشيزني في تصريحات لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو: “: “هذا ليس خوفًا بل احترامًا كبيرًا، أعتقد أن كيليان حاليًا من أفضل لاعبي العالم إن لم يكن الأفضل، وهو يُشكل تهديدًا دائمًا أمام المرمى”.

وأكمل: “مبابي يمتلك موهبة كبيرة وظهر ذلك أمامي أيضًا، لا أعتقد أن هناك لاعبًا اقترب من تسجيل هذا العدد من الأهداف في مواجهتي”.

وأتم: “لم نلعب سوى خمس مباريات فقط واستطاع أن يسجل تلك الأهداف، لذلك هذا دليل على موهبة هذا اللاعب الكبيرة”.

Attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic departed the club late in the season, but the front office has restructured on the fly

Colorado Rapids did not want to let Djordje Mihailovic leave. After all, he was their star player, the center of the franchise. A creative No.10 with a true eye for goal, he was the spark, the guy that made things tick. 

But he walked into Team President Padraig Smith's office all the same, and made it clear: he wanted out. Smith didn't want to sell him, of course. And there were conversations, he said. But Mihailovic's mind was made up. Their main man was out the door. That was early August, and it left the Rapids in a difficult situation. The guy who was supposed to lead a postseason charge had one foot out of the door – effectively waiting for the Rapids to execute the right deal to move him on. And even in those circumstances, Smith was eager to come to an agreement that would keep him there until at least the end of the campaign.

"We felt it was going to be in his best interest and our best interest at the time that he did stay, and at least saw out the season," Smith told GOAL. "But he had made his mind up."

There were fewer than three weeks left in the transfer window. They did not necessarily plan to have to buy a attacking fulcrum. Meanwhile, they were in the thick of a playoff hunt, picking up pieces here and there, but confronting the fact that they might have to navigate the final few weeks of the season without the guy they rely on the most. 

Fast forward to now, and the results are a little inconsistent. But the outlook is far sunnier in Commerce City – a Denver suburb where the Rapids call home. Mihailovic is gone. But they continue to focus on USMNT talent as the core of the team, with a shiny new franchise player in Paxten Aaronson, and the pieces of a plan that might just come together in time. What might have been a disaster has instead pivoted. The Rapids aren't perfect – they might not even make the playoffs – but they have reacted wonderfully to what, for most teams, would be a season-ruining scenario with an eye to building a strong future for the club. 

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  'Getting the best return you can'

  This is not, it must be emphasized, the perfect scenario. Squad building tends to take time, pieces layered into place to form a cohesive unit. When Smith peered over the team he had assembled for head coach Chris Armas at the start of the 2025 season, he did not foresee it potentially operating without his best player. 

  But sometimes, Smith emphasized, you simply have to react.

  "At that point in time, from our perspective, you're focused on two things. You're focused on getting the best return you can from him in the transfer. And then secondly, make sure that you're replacing him with players that are going to help the team get better. Ultimately, we achieved on both of those fronts," he said.

  There were a few options out there for Mihailovic, scattered talk of MLS clubs interested here and there. Eventually, Toronto was the right fit, agreed by the club and player. But perhaps the biggest appeal? The up to $9 million of his sale to the Canadian club represented a club record fee for the Rapids – something that would come to be significant going forward. 

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  'A player that we felt was better'

  And it wasn't like they were short of options. This is modern football, of course. Clubs have to have targets here and there, players in mind. MLS scouting goes far beyond laptops and football manager. And the Rapids were no different. Their network was ready to react immediately, Smith said. 

  "I'll give real credit to our our kind of front office, our scouting team, and the guys there, you know, to make sure that we had targets that were lined up to replace [Mihailovic] in that situation, and that we were able to go down a number of different paths concurrently and ultimately identify a player that we felt was better," Smith said. 

  The man they settled on was Paxten Aaronson. He was in something of a state of flux in his career. A star season on loan at Utrecht would figure to have him in the mix at Frankfurt, his parent club. But his pathway into the first team was blocked by Mario Gotze. 

  "I just couldn't do 15-20 minutes a game because, as a person, for my headspace, it wouldn't have been good for another year," he told GOAL. 

  So, he started exploring options. Other clubs in Europe were interested, compelling options that many other players might have chosen. But Aaronson had something of an MLS connection already. A product of the Philadelphia Union academy, there were reasons for him to come back to America. His family still lives here. Europe was kind to him, but there was something to be said for a homecoming.

  "Coming back to MLS, it's something I'm familiar with," he said. "I'll have friends and family close by. I haven't been anywhere where I could really establish a home or a lifestyle. I've been on the road every year for the three and a half years I was in Europe."

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  'The option of coming back is appealing'

  There was also, Smith explained, the appeal of the model Colorado had built. A look over the roster shows a mixture of foreign and domestic talent. But the Rapids, in particular, have made a conscious effort to find value in American players coming back from Europe. Starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen – someone Smith hails as one of the best shot-stoppers in the league – is perhaps the perfect example. He played at four European clubs, including Manchester City, with varying degrees of success, before returning to play for Colorado in 2024. The same goes for Mihailovic, as well as former USMNTer Reggie Cannon. 

  "We think there's just a wealth of talent that's going over to Europe from the U.S. and Canada at the moment. But we're also acutely aware that as MLS continues to grow and as this league continues to improve, the option of coming back is one that's more and more appealing to some of these young players," Smith said. 

  They're not alone in this sense. Transfers are far more back-and-forth over the Atlantic than they used to be. But Aaronson is the perfect case study as to how it might all work. It was, in the end, part of the pitch to the player. After all, it had worked before.

  "Steffen and Mihailovic mentioned it when we brought them in… They kind of ran each other and asked, Hey, are you going to Colorado? I'm thinking about it. And then it snowballs. It's a wonderful thing," Smith said. 

  Smith sees it as an ideal way to continue to attract talent.

  "There are other players as well that have had maybe the opportunity to go to Europe; we were able to show them that there's a real pathway here to an incredible career for each of them, both on and off the field, by staying here in MLS and ultimately staying here in Colorado. And I think it's going to be a big part of our strategy going forward," he said.

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  Adding center back help

  As the story goes, Rob Holding really liked country singer Zach Bryan. 

  The former Arsenal defender had fallen out of favor at Crystal Palace. New manager Oliver Glasner had made it clear that the one-time England youth international was not part of his plans. Holding was looking for a new home. The Rapids had checked in a few years before, hoping to use their affiliation with as a way to attract Holding to the States (both franchises are principally owned by the Kroenke family). At the time, he said no, hoping to fight for his place in the Premier League (still in his mid-20s, it made sense).

  But this summer, when they checked in again, the center back was far more eager. He loved country music. He had been to the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater for concerts. Somehow, there was a bit of Colorado in this bruising defender from Greater Manchester. 

  "He had a really strong desire to come to the U.S. and to play in MLS," Smith said. "He was 29 when we signed him, a player with still plenty of time left and plenty of good career left. It was just a really interesting opportunity for us to bring someone like that in, a leader who's played in FA Cup final-winning teams, played in really talented Arsenal groups at the very highest level." 

  And so they added Holding, a fine defender turned country boy primed to perform at this level. 

كشف تقارير صحفية، عن تطورات مستقبل المهاجم الدولي البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، حال رحيله عن الفريق.

وشارك ليفاندوفسكي في مباراة بولندا، أمس، ضد ليتوانيا في تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم نسخة 2026، حيث فاز منتخب بلاده بهدفين وسجل هدفًا.

وتزداد التكهنات حول مستقبل ليفاندوفسكي، خلال الفترة المقبلة، حيث من المقرر أن ينتهي عقده الصيف المقبل.

وقدم ليفاندوفسكي مستويات متميزة مع برشلونة خلال السنوات الماضية، ولعب صاحب الـ37 عامًا دورًا كبيرًا في حصول الفريق الكتالوني الموسم الماضي على ثلاثية الدوري الإسباني وكأس السوبر الإسباني وكأس ملك إسبانيا.

اقرأ أيضًا | سبورت توضح حقيقة رحيل ليفاندوفسكي عن برشلونة

وقالت مصادر لموقع Football Insider إن روبرت ليفاندوفسكي سيكون أمام قائمة طويلة من الفرق التي ترغب في التعاقد معهم، في حال رحيله عن برشلونة.

وينتهي عقد المهاجم البولندي البالغ من العمر 37 عامًا مع النادي الكتالوني في صيف 2026 المقبل.

وفقًا للموقع فإنه في أغسطس المقبل، سيبلغ ليفاندوفسكي 38 عامًا لكنه أظهر في الآونة الأخيرة أنه لا يزال يمتلك الجودة المطلوبة ليكون مهاجمًا على أعلى مستوى.

لم يلعب ليفاندوفسكي، طوال مشواره في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج” ورغم بلوغه سن الـ37 إلا أن هناك أندية إنجليزية ترغب في التعاقد معه.

ولم تكشف الشبكة عن ماهية تلك الأندية ولكنها أكدت أن ليفاندوفسكي سيكون هدفًا لعدد من أندية الدوري الإنجليزي وكذلك السعودي والأمريكي.

كانت صحيفة “سبورت” قد نشرت في وقت سابق أن الاتجاه الأقرب لإدارة برشلونة هو عدم تجديد عقد ليفانكوفسكي وترك مهاجم بايرن ميونخ السابق يغادر في صفقة انتقال حر.