Thomas Tuchel dished out another warning to an England defender over his conduct on the pitch. Tuchel has been very particular with the on and off-field behaviour of the players who represent the Three Lions and the former Chelsea manager is in no mood to compromise when it comes to discipline. Tuchel recently oversaw England's historic World Cup qualifying campaign, where they won all eight of their matches.
Djed Spence ignored Thomas Frank after Spurs loss to Chelsea
Following a terrible performance against Chelsea earlier this month, which produced just one shot on target, the home supporters made their feelings clear as boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the conclusion of the match. Despite the jeering, as is customary, Spurs boss Frank went onto the pitch as he and the rest of the players planned to show their appreciation for their fans' support during the game.
However, later in a video which was widely shared across social media, Spurs duo Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence opted to leave the pitch instead of greeting supporters, to the anger of head coach Frank.
The Spurs, though, later downplayed the incident as he told reporters: "All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that. I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that. I understand why you ask the question. But I think that’s one of, how you can say, small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can. They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem."
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Spence warned by Tuchel
Following the misconduct on the pitch for his club, England boss Tuchel has now spoken to the defender and warned against repeating such behaviour. The German coach later told reporters, "I didn’t like it. Because the players know they are not only national players when they are ten days in camp. They are always national players, and the standard of behaviour is always important."
Tuchel slammed Bellingham earlier
During England's World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday, Jude Bellingham finally got a chance to shine as he displayed an impressive performance. However, he was disappointed at being substituted in the 84th minute and was later accused of not "embracing the collective"
On Bellingham's behaviour, Tuchel later said: "That is a bad impression. It should be about the collective. What we did in camp is all about the collective. I have to then review it – I was happy about the goal. I had a quick talk with Morgan Rogers and I was sure that everyone celebrated together. I will have a look at it. That is not the image we want to transport. We feel everyone is committed and that everyone accepts tough decisions, be it before the match or in the match.
"He [Bellingham] has to accept it, he has to accept it. We should not make more out of it than it is. Rogers was not happy when he couldn't start today because he deserves to play, and he wants to play all the time. We gave him a bit of a rest because he came with a lot of minutes playing at club [level] and played for us against Serbia. I also don't want to make more out of it. I stick to my words – behaviour is key. Decisions are made, and you have to accept it as a player."
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England's historic World Cup qualifying journey
England scripted history as they became the first team to win all of their eight World Cup qualifying matches without conceding a single goal, as they scored 22 times in this period. In their latest win over Albania, courtesy of a brace from Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich star took his international goals tally to 78 as he surpassed Brazil icon Pele in the list of all-time highest goalscorers in the international arena.
Five teams, including Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, are still in contention for a spot in the WTC final
S Rajesh26-Oct-2024India
Two shocking defeats against New Zealand means that India have left themselves with plenty to do to make a third consecutive WTC final, although they are still hanging on to the top spot currently with a slender lead over Australia. To be certain of a place in the top two in this cycle, India need to win the last Test of the ongoing series against New Zealand – in Mumbai – and then beat Australia 3-2. That will take them to 64.04% points (assuming they don’t lose any points due to slow over rates).Even if Australia win 2-0 in Sri Lanka, they can still only get to 60.53% with two wins against India, while New Zealand will end up at 57.14% if they lose in Mumbai and then beat England 3-0 at home. In that case, South Africa will be the only team which can top India. A 2-2 series result in Australia will leave India on 60.53% in comparison to Australia’s 62.28% (assuming India win in Mumbai, and Australia beat Sri Lanka 2-0).Related
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If India lose in Mumbai, New Zealand can finish on 64.29%, but only with a 3-0 result against England. Then India will need four wins and a draw in Australia to make sure of a place in the final, regardless of other results.However, India can still finish in the top two with fewer wins if the other teams in contention don’t maximise their points. For example, if New Zealand lose in Mumbai and beat England 2-0, they will only get to 52.38%; if South Africa lose one of their five remaining Tests, they will finish on 61.11%; and if Australia beat India 3-2 but draw 1-1 in Sri Lanka, they will finish on 60.53%.New Zealand
At the start of the series in India, it seemed highly improbable that New Zealand would still be in contention for a place in the final. But their stunning wins after two out of the three Tests have given them a chance to dream. If they win each of their four remaining Tests, they will finish on 64.29%. It won’t ensure qualification, but it will certainly keep them in the mix. If they lose one of those Tests, though, their percentage will drop to 57.14%.South Africa
If South Africa win each of their five remaining Tests, they will finish with 69.44%, which will surely be enough for qualification, as only one out of India or Australia can go past that number. Four wins and a draw will leave South Africa with 63.89%, while four wins and a defeat will lower the percentage marginally to 61.11%, which could still give them a chance if other results go their way. They have a favourable schedule, though, with home Tests to come against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, after the second Test of their ongoing series against Bangladesh.If South Africa win their five remaining Tests, it will be enough for a place in the WTC final•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia
India’s defeats against New Zealand have improved Australia’s chances of making it to the final. A 3-2 series win against India and a 1-0 victory in Sri Lanka will take them to 62.28%, ensuring they finish ahead of India. New Zealand can still surpass that, but only if they win each of their remaining games. If New Zealand slip up, then South Africa is the only team which can go past Australia. To ensure qualification without depending on other results, Australia need five wins from their seven remaining matches.Sri Lanka
With a full 24 points gained from their last two Tests, Sri Lanka have made a strong push towards a top-two finish in this WTC cycle. Their four remaining Tests are against two opponents who are also contenders for the final. If they win each of those matches and take home 48 more points, they will finish on 69.23% and assure themselves of a place in the final regardless of other results. If they lose one and win three, they will end up at 61.54%, which will still leave them with a chance of qualifying, depending on other results.England
The two defeats in Pakistan means that England can finish with a maximum of 48.86% even if they beat New Zealand 3-0 in their last series of the current cycle. That won’t be enough for a place in the final.Even if Pakistan win their last four Tests, it will be too late to make a difference in this WTC•Getty ImagesPakistan
Pakistan’s home form has shown some revival, but it is too late to make a difference in this cycle. Even if they win each of their last four Tests, they can only finish on 52.38%, with no chance of making it to the final.Bangladesh
The three defeats in their last three Tests against India and South Africa have hurt Bangladesh badly – from having 45.83% points at one stage, they have dropped to 30.56% now. Even if they win each of their three remaining Tests, they will only improve to 47.92%, which won’t be enough for a place in the top two.West Indies
West Indies have already played four series and have only scored 20 points out of a possible 108. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%, and are hence out of the race for a spot in the WTC final.
O Palmeiras treinou nesta manhã de sexta-feira (23), na Academia de Futebol e finalizou a sua preparação para encarar o Mirassol, neste sábado (24), na Arena Barueri, em jogo válido pela 10ª rodada do Paulistão 2024.
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Provável titular de Abel Ferreira após a contusão de Gustavo Gómez, o zagueiro Luan foi o grande personagem do dia alviverde, ao receber das mãos do vice-presidente Paulo Buosi, a camisa comemorativa do seu jovo de número 250 pelo clube, marca alcançada diante do Corinthians.
– Feliz e honrado. É motivo de muito orgulho representar este clube, que é o maior do Brasil. Atingir essa marca de 250 jogos é um privilégio muito grande, algo que consegui alcançar junto aos meus companheiros, que também têm marcas expressivas aqui dentro. Fico feliz porque realmente somos uma família, vivemos o clube intensamente. Acima de tudo, gostamos e somos apaixonados pelo que vivemos aqui. Como o Abel fala, vamos sentir saudades, então procuro desfrutar e viver intensamente todos os momentos aqui com meus amigos. Sem dúvida, daqui um tempo, quando eu parar de jogar, sentirei falta do que vivo aqui – disse o camisa 13.
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Desde 2017 no clube e com 10 títulos conquistados, Luan pregou respeito ao bom time do Mirassol e elogiou o potencial do zagueiro Naves, que pode receber chance diante do time do Interior:
– O Mirassol é uma boa equipe, assisti a alguns jogos, tem o artilheiro do campeonato… O Mozart é um bom treinador, trabalha muito bem. O time deles é consistente, acredito que será um grande jogo. Temos um plano de jogo e vamos seguir para conseguir a vitória. “Muito feliz pelo Naves, vendo ele crescer. O desenvolvimento dele está sendo muito rápido, surpreendente. Ele tem muito potencial. Sou suspeito para falar porque eu vejo o estilo de jogo dele e lembro um pouco de mim quando era mais novo. Para mim, ele tem mais potencial do que eu tinha na idade dele e acredito que ele pode ter uma grande carreira – finalizou Luan Garcia.
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O provável Palmeiras para encarar o Mirassol neste sábado é: Weverton, Rocha, Luan, Murilo e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Rios, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Endrick e Flaco López.
➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão
A bola rola para Palmeiras x Mirassol neste sábado (24), a partir das 18h e o jogo terá transmissão apenas do Paulistão Play e da Cazé TV.
It was recently reported that Tonda Eckert is in pole position to be named the permanent Southampton manager after an impressive performance as the interim head coach.
The German tactician has won four of his five Championship games in the dugout, notably beating Charlton 5-1 away from home, but did lose 3-2 to Millwall last weekend.
It would be understandable if Sport Republic feel that Eckert has done enough in his interim spell in charge to earn the job on a permanent basis, but there is cause for concern with the former U21s boss.
Why Southampton should not appoint Tonda Eckert
The Saints are in a position, having just come down from the Premier League, where this may be their best chance to return to the top-flight before they have to cash in on more of their top talents with parachute payments dwindling.
Manager Focus
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This means that it would be a big risk to appoint a permanent manager based on five games as a first-team manager in England, as he had never managed a game at any level in any country before this run of matches, per Transfermarkt.
It is hard, therefore, to judge whether the first four wins were a byproduct of a ‘manager bounce’ or if they were down to his coaching, as he does not have a managerial history to back up his credentials.
Southampton need to find their next Nigel Adkins, who joined from Scunthorpe United to lead Saints to promotion from League One and the Championship and left the club in 15th place in the Premier League in his only season in the top-flight.
Instead of appointing Eckert, Sport Republic could hire their own version of Adkins by making a move for reported target and free agent manager Michael Carrick.
Why Carrick could be Southampton's next Adkins
Like Adkins, Carrick would arrive at St. Mary’s with a wealth of experience in English football already under his belt, thanks to his time with Middlesbrough.
The former Saints boss had managed Scunthorpe for four seasons, including two in the Championship, and won promotion from League One on two occasions, before taking Southampton from League One to the Premier League.
Carrick, of course, will not have to get the club out of the third tier, thankfully, but he is an English manager who has the potential to be a brilliant appointment.
Middlesbrough – 22/23
Pre-Carrick
Under Carrick
Matches
16
30
Wins
4
18
Draws
5
4
Losses
7
8
Points
17
58
Points per game
1.06
1.93
League position
18th
4th
Stats via Transfermarkt
One of the reasons why he could be a great hire for the Saints is that he has achieved success in the position that they currently find themselves in, as he took Boro from 18th to 4th in his first season with the club.
The former Manchester United midfielder then led Middlesbrough to 8th and 10th place finishes in the second tier, but they ranked 5th and 6th for Expected Points in those two seasons, per FotMob, which suggests that his coaching deserved higher league finishes than it got.
Carrick, who Tom Cleverley once claimed “oozes class” as a manager, is a proven Championship head coach who has shown, over three seasons, that he can coach a team to deliver play-off quality performances, which Eckert, through no fault of his own, does not have in his corner.
The ex-Boro boss also picked up seven points in two games as interim manager at Manchester United in the Premier League before his spell in the Championship, and played 481 games in the division as a player, per Transfermarkt.
This suggests that he could also be an appointment with the Premier League in mind, because of his experience at that level, whilst Eckert has never played, managed, or coached in that league.
Therefore, Carrick appears more likely to be Southampton’s next Adkins than Eckert is, because of both his proven quality in the Championship as a manager and his potential to be a successful Premier League boss.
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This is why Sport Republic should consider pushing to appoint the English tactician as their next permanent manager, rather than giving the interim German boss the job on a permanent basis.
Sunderland ended a run of three matches without a win by turning around a 2-0 deficit to beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday in the Premier League.
Summer signing Bertrand Traore grabbed his first goal for the club to make it 2-2, before substitute Brian Brobbey scored for the second time in three matches off the bench to secure all three points.
The work done by Kristjaan Speakman and his team in the summer transfer window can only be described as miraculous at this moment in time, given that the Black Cats are fighting for European football, rather than battling against relegation.
Ranking Sunderland's top five summer signings
Sunderland, including permanent deals, free agents, and loans, made a whopping 15 additions to the team that earned promotion from the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign.
It is hard to look past Robin Roefs and Granit Xhaka as being the two best signings made by the club, as they are both undroppable stars within Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Black Cats number one has prevented 3.28 xG more than expected in 13 Premier League games, per Sofascore, whilst Xhaka has showcased his vast experience, starting all 13 matches and providing one goal and four assists from the middle of the park.
1
Robin Roefs
2
Granit Xhaka
3
Nordi Mukiele
4
Noah Sadiki
5
Omar Alderete
As you can see in the table above, we have put experienced signings Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete, as they have played a role in Sunderland only conceding 13 goals in 13 games so far.
Noah Sadiki also has to be up there because of his brilliant work rate in the middle of the park, averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game across 13 starts, per Sofascore, after his £15m summer move from USG.
Of course, not every single signing goes to plan, and Sunderland are no exception. For example, Simon Adingra is currently on track to become the new Jeremain Lens on Wearside.
Why Simon Adingra may be the new Jeremain Lens
The Black Cats splashed £8m to sign Lens from Dynamo Kiev in 2015 to bolster their wide options, but he only went on to play 24 matches for the club, per Transfermarkt, with four goals and three assists to show for his efforts.
Lens found game time hard to come by after Dick Advocaat was replaced by Sam Allardyce. The winger went as far as to call it “annoying” and stated “I did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench”.
He then went out on loan to Fenerbahce and Bestikas before signing for the latter permanently in 2018, ultimately leaving the Stadium of Light as a flop.
Unfortunately, Adingra may already be on the same path as the Dutchman after the club paid £21m to sign him from Brighton in the summer, making him the second-most expensive signing in the team’s history, behind the £27m deal for Habib Diarra.
Sporting director Speakman noted in the Ivorian star’s unveiling that he was “excited” to see the 23-year-old in action for the Black Cats, after the youngster had scored 12 goals in 73 games for Brighton, per Transfermarkt.
However, Adingra has not hit the ground running at the Stadium of Light, playing in eight of the 13 Premier League games this season, and is yet to register a goal or an assist, per Sofascore.
The right-footed flanker has struggled badly for game time in the top-flight his season, with one minute played in the last two matches, which will not be what the Black Cats were expecting when they decided to splash £21m on his services.
Bournemouth
0
Fulham
1
Arsenal
26
Everton
0
Wolves
0
Man Utd
37
Nottingham Forest
12
Aston Villa
0
Crystal Palace
69
Brentford
25
Burnley
63
West Ham
76
Adingra has been a bit-part player for Le Bris, with the likes of Traore and Chemsdine Talbi ahead of him in the pecking order, and it remains to be seen whether or not he can turn things around to become a key player for Sunderland.
If it gets to January, or next summer, and he is still struggling for minutes and rarely getting off the bench, the former Brighton man may end up in the position that Lens found himself in, where a loan will be needed for him to go out and play regular football again.
Not Ballard: Sunderland have signed their new O'Shea in £100k-per-week star
Regis Le Bris now has his very own John O’Shea at Sunderland in this £100k-per-week warrior.
The left hander, who doesn’t hold a state contract, hit 35 sixes in a remarkable display in Sydney on Saturday
Andrew McGlashan04-Oct-2025
Harjas Singh top-scored for Australia in the 2024 U-19 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images
Former Australia Under-19 batter Harjas Singh, who was part of the side that won the World Cup in South Africa last year, produced an extraordinary display in Sydney grade cricket on Saturday with 314 off 141 balls, including 35 sixes, for Western Suburbs.The phenomenal display from the left hander, who top-scored with 55 in the World Cup final against India, came against Sydney Cricket Club at Pratten Park. The next highest score in the innings was 37.For a little while there was a discrepancy with the online scoring available – perhaps Singh’s onslaught had created a meltdown – but his final tally was confirmed as placing him third on the all-time list in New South Wales Premier first grade history, behind Victor Trumper’s 335 in 1903 and Phil Jaques’ 321 in 2007.It is also comfortably the highest limited-overs score in first grade premier cricket anywhere in Australia.The match was available to follow on YouTube via a single-camera stream (it’s worth noting the current India A vs Australia A series isn’t available to watch) and there was a roar of delight from Singh when he brought up his triple century with a six off left-arm spinner Tom Mullen.
“Definitely that’s the cleanest ball-striking I’ve ever witnessed from myself, for sure,” Singh told after the match. “It’s something I’m quite proud of because I’ve worked in the off-season quite a bit on my power-hitting, and for it to come off today was quite special.”Singh had reached his century in the 35th over, from 74 balls, before making 214 from his next 67.In 2023, Singh made a century in a Test against England U-19s in Northampton. Many of Singh’s U-19 team-mates have gone into state cricket, including captain Hugh Weibgen who made his first-class debut for Queensland on Saturday, but Singh was overlooked for a NSW rookie contract.”I’ve missed out the last season or two, worrying about stuff outside my own game,” he said. “But I feel like I’ve brought myself to just worrying about what’s going on with my own game.”
Casemiro wasn’t just on the brink at Manchester United, he looked to have gone over the cliff.
Who can forget that night at Selhurst Park in May 2024, with the Brazilian – albeit deployed in an unorthodox centre-back role – looking all at sea as Crystal Palace ran riot to romp to a 4-0 victory.
Jamie Carragher’s infamous “leave the football before the football leaves you” quotes appeared to hint that the end was nigh for the ageing midfielder, a fact only heightened amid the former Real Madrid man’s dismal start to the following campaign, having been hooked at the break following a disastrous 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool in September.
The arrival of Ruben Amorim, and the shift to a midfield pairing, looked like the final nail in the coffin for his Old Trafford career, with all eyes on the January window and a potential Saudi exit.
Fast forward almost 12 months, however, and the 33-year-old – as he was back in his debut campaign in Manchester – is the glue in this side again, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur outlining the stark drop off that occurs when the five-time Champions League winner is withdrawn.
Manuel Ugarte seemingly can’t cut it, while Kobbie Mainoo is being groomed as Bruno Fernandes’ successor, ensuring a long-term replacement for Casemiro still needs to be found.
Man Utd's record with & without Casemiro this season
It is telling – and rather frustrating – that even in a season of largely just one game a week for the Red Devils, Casemiro still appears unable to complete a full 90 minutes, having been substituted off in seven of his nine Premier League starts this term.
Indeed, the solitary 90 minutes that he has played came recently against Nottingham Forest, in which the £350k-per-week star opened the scoring, with the veteran destroyer far too often withdrawn in the closing stages.
Against Brighton, for instance, United were coasting at 3-0 when the one-time Porto man was replaced on the 70-minute mark, before the Seagulls swiftly staged a stirring comeback in his absence.
A similar scenario occurred last time out, with the away side’s 1-0 lead in north London quickly flipped on its head after Ugarte slotted in alongside Fernandes instead, rubber-stamping Casemiro’s status as arguably one of the most important players in Amorim’s lineup.
That importance is emphasised most notably by the fact of the 20 goals the Old Trafford side have conceded in all competitions this season – including the grim night at Grimsby – 15 of those came when the Brazil skipper wasn’t on the pitch.
Ugarte, a ball-winner and workman-like midfielder by trade, looked to be the perfect successor to his fellow South American upon arrival in Manchester, although now well into his second season, the 24-year-old remains a polarising figure, with Amorim reportedly telling the Uruguayan he no longer recognised the player he had previously coached at Sporting CP.
Hope remains that the aforementioned Mainoo could still thrive alongside Fernandes, rather than act as his deputy, although whether the young Englishman has the defensive nous remains to be seen, with United crumbling when the changes were made in that 4-2 thriller against Brighton.
Casemiro vs European midfielders
Stat
Rank
Non-penalty goals
Top 10%
Total shots
Top 15%
Assists
Top 34%
Pass completion
Top 29%
Progressive passes
Bottom 29%
Progressive carries
Top 35%
Successful take-ons
Bottom 1%
Touches (att pen)
Top 15%
Tackles
Top 1%
Interceptions
Bottom 47%
Aerials won
Top 5%
Clearances
Top 10%
Stats via FBref
With options limited beyond that in the midfield department, Amorim might have to get creative to find a perfect replacement for Casemiro moving forward.
Man Utd's wildcard Casemiro replacement
Ugarte – unused in the Europa League final – looks destined for an exit before too long. Mainoo, meanwhile, is facing his own uncertainty, having yet to start a Premier League game in 2025/26.
Neither has taken their chance when introduced off the bench, ensuring Amorim could look elsewhere to fill that midfield void, with a potential solution already in-house in the form of ex-Arsenal starlet, Ayden Heaven.
Still just 19, the England youth star has quietly impressed since his arrival from the capital back in January on a £1m deal, with only a cruel injury sustained against Leicester City cutting short his early progress in the first-team ranks.
A powerful, athletic presence, the 6 foot 2 teenager has thus far been deployed in a left-sided centre-back role under Amorim, albeit with his hopes of game time having been hampered this term by the form of Luke Shaw in that starting berth.
With Lisandro Martinez also nearing a return from injury, Heaven could then be nudged into third choice, with a player of his talent and potential arguably far too good to simply be pushed into the periphery.
That is why shifting the Hale End graduate back into midfield could be the answer, with the rangy left-footer having largely featured as a number six or number eight in the Gunners youth ranks in the past.
In the view of respected analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – the Islington-born sensation “is a midfielder, not a centre-back”, highlighting “his ability to receive the ball under pressure”.
So calm and composed during his early United outings thus far, Heaven has that ability to drive forward from deep with the ball at his feet with ease, with comparisons to a certain Paul Pogba having previously been made by his grassroots football coach Terry Bobie:
The type of player who can dominate a midfield, like Pogba, it would certainly be worth giving Heaven a chance to shine in a more advanced role, having largely passed every test so far in a United shirt.
Indeed, his solitary Europa League start against Real Sociedad saw him win 100% of his duels, while not being dribbled past once, as per Sofascore, producing a performance that simply belied his youth.
With the physical prowess that United appear to be in need of in the absence of Casemiro, the £1m man might just be a bargain solution to Amorim’s longstanding midfield problem.
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O Flamengo superou o entrave com o Lille, da França, e encaminhou a venda de Thiago Maia ao Internacional. Os clubes correm contra o tempo para regularizar a transferência no Boletim Informativo Diário (BID) da CBF.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
O Colorado já havia acordado o valor de 4 milhões de euros (R$ 21,65 milhões na cotação atual) ao Rubro-Negro por Thiago Maia. A negociação ficou travada por algumas semanas, pois o Lille, dono de 50% dos direitos, queria que os cariocas repassassem uma quantia maior para ceder 25% dos direitos.
Nas últimas horas da janela de transferências do Brasil, o Flamengo se acertou com os franceses, e o Rubro-Negro irá receber 2,85 milhões de euros (R$ 15,39 milhões) por 25%. O Lille irá embolsar 1,15 milhão de euros (R$ 6,21 milhões) e vai manter 25% dos direitos econômicos. A informação é do jornalista Venê Casagrande.
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No início da temporada, Thiago Maia foi comunicado que não estaria nos planos da comissão técnica de Tite e passou a treinar separado no Ninho do Urubu. O volante, que atraiu interesse do Corinthians no início da temporada, chegou ao Flamengo desde 2020.
➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão
No Internacional, o volante disputaria posição com Charles Aránguiz e chega para o time de Eduardo Coudet para suprir a saída de Johnny, que está no Real Bétis, da Espanha.
With a few big names out, Mauricio Pochettino has brought in some old faces who are set to prove they deserve a shot at the roster going forward
A national team camp is a strange thing – especially when there’s nothing tangible to play for. The USMNT find themselves in an unusual position: World Cup qualification is already secured, and there’s no real pressure to win over the next two weeks. But with the tournament on home soil fast approaching, the vibes for friendlies have never been more intense. And with public scrutiny only intensifying, what actually happens on the pitch matters way more than in any normal friendly.
Of course, if the U.S. were full strength, this would be more of a test than an uncertain couple of weeks. Christian Pulisic has just returned from injury and was reportedly held out of this camp by AC Milan as a precaution. Tyler Adams is also sidelined, while Chris Richards was reportedly kept back by Crystal Palace. Yunus Musah has fallen out of favor recently, and Weston McKennie will watch from home after being left out of the squad.
That does leave a little room for some people to impress. Gio Reyna is the headline addition. But there are others, too, who could make an impact in what most will hope is set to be the final camp of uncertainty ahead of the 2026 cycle…
Getty Images SportGio Reyna
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. By all of Pochettino's supposed metrics, Reyna should not be here. Pochettino himself admitted that Reyna does not fit his vibe of "only call in guys who are playing consistent minutes." Reyna, he claimed, is a special case.
And so the rollercoaster ride of Reyna and USMNT will continue. Pochettino has seen, in glimpses, what Gio Reyna can look like, full of creativity and verve. The manager, then, is probably hoping to use the next two weeks – and, by extension, next summer – to get that version out of him. Of course, this is a coaching job. But it is also a little bit on Reyna. Odds are, he will get his chances here, especially with Christian Pulisic still recovering from injury.
"Success", in this case, is mightily subjective. But at a bare minimum, Reyna needs to show that some of that maverick quality that made him so good, so young, can be rediscovered on the national team stage.
AdvertisementGettyAuston Trusty
This one feels a little like a math equation. Pochettino, we know, is probably going to use three center backs going forward. Two of them seem to be nailed on starters. Chris Richards is entering the too-good-for-Crystal-Palace phase of his career. Tim Ream is old, but incredibly reliable and the closest thing soccer can offer to a "glue guy." That leaves one spot up for grabs.
And right now, there are a slew of options. Mark McKenzie has been solid for Toulouse. Miles Robinson has done his part for FC Cincinnati. Cameron Carter-Vickers, who partners Trusty at Celtic, is certainly in the mix – albeit injured for the next few months. Noahkai Banks might have the highest ceiling of all of them, but this cycle is probably four years too early for the Augsburg man – talent notwithstanding.
With that, we return to Trusty, who might be the kind of seasoned presence to make an impact. He's played in MLS, the Premier League, the EFL Championship, and, now, the Scottish Premier League (albeit for a struggling Celtic). Whether that makes him a starter or not remains to be seen, but a good camp could certainly have him in the mix.
GettyTanner Tessmann
Tessmann is a puzzling one. He didn't quite hit the ground running at Lyon last season after an encouraging three years at Venezia yo-yoing between Serie A and Serie B. He struggled at times, and was in and out of the lineup. But this season, thus far, he has impressed. The midfielder has added goals to his game, and looks freed in a more attacking Lyon set up.
But translating his form to the national team has been difficult. Tessmann was arguably the U.S.'s best player against Ecuador in the first of two friendlies in October, but has otherwise been rather inconsistent. And with Pochettino favoring some of his counterparts in MLS, Tessmann finds himself on the bubble – despite having the talent to push for a spot in Pochettino's best XI. The good news? There would seem to be an opportunity here for him to show what he can do. Tyler Adams is out, which leaves Tessmann and Roldan as the most likely midfield pivot. There's a world in which that duo works a charm and propels Tessmann into genuine conversations about sealing a spot for the World Cup.
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Getty Images SportBrenden Aaronson
This isn't a question of "should Brenden Aaronson make the U.S. squad?" He has proven, consistently, that he deserves to be in the mix on effort alone. It is no secret, either, that managers love him for his work rate and willingness to run with and without the ball. Aaronson is a coach's darling, and even if that doesn't always manifest itself in goals and assists, he will be on the plane.
Rather, this is more of a depth chart thing. Aaronson is unfortunate, in a sense, that he plays at the U.S.'s deepest position. Pulisic will start on the left, through the middle, or one of the dual 10s that Pochettino seems to like. Malik Tillman probably has the other spot nailed down, while Diego Luna, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie are all in the mix. This depends on tactical tweaks, of course, but the broader point is that there isn't an easy path to minutes for Aaronson. That's not something that can be sorted overnight. It might not even be sealed in a couple of games, either. But Aaronson has stood out for a struggling Leeds side, and shown that, just maybe, there might be a bit of attacking quality creeping into his game. Prove that to his manager, and there could be a pathway to minutes.
Liverpool have now moved into pole position in the race for a Real Madrid attacker, amid Mohamed Salah offering himself to three Champions League clubs.
Salah may never play for Liverpool again after Slot comments
Arne Slot has now admitted that he doesn’t know if Salah will play for the Reds again, in the wake of the Egyptian’s bombshell interview after the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.
The manager said: “After tomorrow we will look at the situation. There is always the possibility to return for a player. I have no clue [if he has played his last game for Liverpool] – I cannot answer that question at this point in time.”
It remains to be seen whether Salah can return to the fold after AFCON, but one thing that is for certain is that he won’t be featuring against Inter Milan in the Champions League this evening.
In the wake of his comments about Slot, the forward has now offered himself to three Champions League clubs, namely Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, according to a report from Spain.
Of course, no Liverpool fan wants to see a club legend leave in this fashion, but if he does depart, Slot will need to bring in another attacker, and the Merseyside club are now leading the race for Real Madrid star Arda Guler.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states the Reds are now the frontrunners to sign Guler, despite Manchester United and Arsenal also stepping up their interest.
The Turk is viewed as the perfect addition to Slot’s attack, with the manager keen to bring in a creative forward, amid the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s long-term future, and the 20-year-old is capable of playing at both right-wing and through the middle. It’s previously been reported that Madrid values Guler as high as £130m.
Signing "magic" Guler could soften blow of losing Salah
The Liverpool talisman hasn’t reached his usual lofty heights this season, failing to make it off the bench in two of the last three Premier League matches, but it would still be a real blow to lose the 33-year-old, who has scored 250 goals since arriving at Anfield.
As such, fans will no doubt be hoping the Egypt international hasn’t played his last game for the Reds, and returns to action after he gets back from AFCON.
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That said, Salah may find it difficult to force his way back into Slot’s plans, with Jamie Carragher recently branding his comments a “disgrace.”
New attacking options may be needed in 2026 regardless, with Federico Chiesa’s future also up in the air, and Guler could be a top signing, with scout Ben Mattinson praising the impact he’s made for Turkey.
Having registered three goals and seven assists for Real Madrid this season, the 26-time Turkey international clearly has the quality to succeed at Anfield, so it is promising news that Liverpool are leading the race for his signature.