da luck： Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are extremely keen on signing a £50 million player, following other reliable reports that talks have already been held with his representatives ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal set for summer rebuild under Andrea Berta

da bet sport： The season is by no means over for Mikel Arteta and co, who have a golden opportunity to make history and win the club’s first ever Champions League title after sensationally knocking out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 22, 2025

Ligue 1 champions PSG await the Gunners in a mouthwatering semi-final clash, and it is truly a tie which will make or break Arsenal’s campaign.

However, another hot topic at the Emirates Stadium right now is new sporting director Andrea Berta’s looming summer rebuild ahead of next season. There are suggestions that Arsenal are looking to strengthen all areas of the squad, including between the sticks, in defence, midfield and further forward.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Crystal Palace (home)

Tonight

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

£300 million could even be spent doing so, according to GiveMeSport, amid Berta’s “insatiable” desire to build winning teams.

“Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure,” said co-chairman Josh Kroenke after Berta’s appointment.

“He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams. Andrea will be a great addition to our club. He understands our values and what we stand for, and we have no doubt he will help us push on and take the next steps in our bid to win major trophies.

“We undertook a thorough recruitment process, and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea’s experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out.”

Defensively, it is believed Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is emerging as a top target for Berta.

The reliable David Ornstein recently reported that Arsenal have held talks with Huijsen’s representatives, alongside the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, with elite clubs taking note of the Spaniard’s £50 million release clause.

Arsenal "really" interested in signing Dean Huijsen

Following this development, another credible and trusted media source in Romano has shared another update on Berta’s pursuit of the former Juventus defender.

He reports to GiveMeSport that Arsenal are “really” interested in signing Huijsen this summer after his excellent debut campaign in the Premier League, but the competition remains fierce.

“From what I’m hearing, Arsenal are also interested. Newcastle dream of him, but I think for Newcastle, it is going to be very difficult to get the deal done now with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal. These three clubs are really interested, so I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League.”

Huijsen recently expressed his excitement over being linked with a move to Real Madrid, but right now, it is unclear whether Los Blancos view the “sensational” centre-back as a priority target.

Arsenal’s sensational showing against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu last night secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League, setting up a clash with PSG.

Mikel Arteta’s men produced a perfect showing in Spain, restricting the hosts to minimal chances and shutting down any chances of another famous comeback.

Two second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up a 5-1 aggregate triumph, dumping the current holders out of the competition.

Such a result has moved the Gunners within touching distance of a first Champions League final since 2006, with Arteta having the chance to write himself into the club’s history forever.

If they are to go all the way and lift the trophy, the side will have to replicate such a display in the following rounds, with numerous players catching the eye during the victory in Madrid.

Arsenal’s star performers against Real Madrid

After his huge rise to stardom in recent months, it’s easy to forget that left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly is just 18 years of age, with his showing last night way beyond his tender years.

He managed to win 80% of the ground duels he entered, making five clearances and two interceptions, playing a key role in preventing the hosts from getting back into the tie.

However, another academy graduate in the form of Saka also managed to produce an incredible display, with his latest goal taking him to four Champions League goals this campaign.

The 23-year-old registered a 100% shot accuracy, getting all three of his efforts on target, but also starring defensively, winning 100% of the tackles he entered against the Spanish giants.

The aforementioned pair certainly played a vital role in the quarter-final victory, but one other star has managed to repeat the feat of a fan favourite, given his showing in Madrid last night.

The player who has become Arteta’s new Henry

Back in the last campaign in which Arsenal reached the Champions League final, they also defeated Madrid en route, with forward Thierry Henry tearing the opposition apart.

His stupendous solo effort at the Bernabeu was the difference between the two sides over the two legs, with his moment of magic making the Gunners the first English side to win at the stadium.

Such a showing catapulted Arsène Wenger’s side to the latter stages of the competition, with his outing that night 19 years ago still living long in the memory of supporters.

However, the current generation has their own version of the Frenchman in the form of midfielder Declan Rice after his own showing against Carlo Ancelotti’s men last night.

The England international built on his two-goal haul in the first leg, securing the Man of the Match award for the second successive outing against the LaLiga outfit, highlighting how impressive he was in the triumph.

The 26-year-old completed 96% of the passes he attempted against the European giants, with three of which going into the final third, allowing the likes of Saka to kill off the tie.

However, despite his impressive showing with the ball, he was also just as effective without, winning 100% of the tackles he entered, offering a real commanding force at the base of Arteta’s midfield.

Minutes played

89

Passes completed

25/26 (96%)

Passes into final third

3

Tackles won

2/2 (100%)

Interceptions made

4

Clearances made

3

Blocks made

2

He also made four interceptions, three clearances and two blocks – leading to journalist Paul Hayward labelling him “superb” in what was one of his best performances for the club.

As a result of his display, Rice was handed a 10/10 match rating by The Express’ Fraser Watson, further indicating how sensational his showing was against the defending champions.

Whilst he operates in a completely different role to Henry, his outing at the Bernabeu was similar to that in stature of the forward, helping the side advance to the next stage of the Champions League.

If the Gunners are to finally get their hands on the trophy in the coming months, there’s no denying Rice will have a crucial part to play, with his big-money fee a bargain should he lead the side to European glory.

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Following news that Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, reports have indicated that another player could yet be on his way out of the Etihad.

De Bruyne confirms Man City departure

After 10 incredible years full of every achievement imaginable, De Bruyne took to social media to confirm that he is, indeed, set to move on from Manchester City this summer. One of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, the Belgian will bow out as a free agent when his current deal comes to an end in the coming months.

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Saying his goodbyes, De Bruyne released a statement which read: “Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first. Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. “Manchester” will forever be on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.”

Ortega could follow De Bruyne out Man City exit door

Whilst De Bruyne’s exit is bound to be emotional, he’s unlikely to be the only one saying goodbye. According to reports in Germany as relayed by Sports Witness, Bayer Leverkusen have now made contact to sign Stefan Ortega, who will be allowed to leave Manchester City for around €8m (£7m) this summer.

The second-choice goalkeeper will go under the radar compared to the legendary De Bruyne if he leaves this summer, but that doesn’t mean he has been without his own moments to remember at the club.

Pep Guardiola has been among those at the Etihad to praise the 32-year-old, telling reporters after Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur last season: “He make incredible, incredible saves many, many times.”

With the exit door seemingly swinging open nonetheless, Ortega could yet be on his way to Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

MatériaMais Notícias

da apostaganha： Desde o início da temporada, o Botafogo convive com um paradoxo que irrita a torcida. Por um lado, Luís Castro tem a manutenção da espinha dorsal do trabalho de 2022. No entanto, o primeiro trimestre da equipe deixou a desejar, sobretudo quando mediu forças com os principais rivais, ficando de fora das semifinais do Carioca. A meta era estrear bem no Brasileirão para recuperar a confiança também para a Sul-Americana.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Para triunfar sobre o São Paulo, era necessário encontrar o equilíbrio e quebrar um jejum de onze anos sem vencer em estreias na competição nacional. Somado a isso, o time tinha dois aliados importantes para o restante da temporada. O retorno ao Nilton Santos, que passou por reforma com a troca para o gramado sintético, e a presença da torcida.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoJohn Textor fala sobre possibilidade do Botafogo contratar James RodríguezBotafogo15/04/2023BotafogoTextor assume responsabilidade por fraco início de ano do Botafogo e destaca: ‘Temporada começou hoje’Botafogo15/04/2023BotafogoEduardo critica árbitro em vitória do Botafogo e fala sobre fase goleadora na temporada: ‘Quero só ajudar’Botafogo15/04/2023

da fezbet： Sem Marçal, Luís Castro optou por escalar Rafael e viu o Alvinegro ter os melhores dez primeiros minutos do ano. Com intensidade e volume de jogo, a equipe entendeu que a bola aérea era o caminho, e Eduardo a colocou na cabeça de Tiquinho Soares para abrir o placar. Parecia que a grama sintética ajudaria o estilo de jogo em velocidade e que o Alvinegro construiria uma boa vantagem no primeiro tempo.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho e Eduardo marcam e Lucas Perri fecha o gol em triunfo do Botafogo pelo Brasileirão

Entretanto, a partir disso, o Glorioso voltou a oscilar e teve dificuldade em oferecer perigo. Com a bola nos pés, o time produzia pouco e só era efetivo quando recuperava o domínio e partia para o contra-ataque. Foram dois momentos completamente distintos dentro dos primeiros quarenta e cinco minutos. Indo da intensidade à apatia mesmo tendo a vantagem no placar.

Diante da queda de rendimento, a defesa do Botafogo voltou a falhar, e Calleri aproveitou. Para o segundo tempo, o português teria que fazer mudanças para encontrar o equilíbrio e perceber o ponto fraco do adversário. O lado direito do São Paulo era o mais frágil, com Rafinha dando espaço para Júnior Santos se infiltrar. Mas somente no etapa final o atacante finalizou com perigo, assim como Luís Henrique, que entrou na volta do intervalo no lugar de Gustavo Sauer, apagado no jogo, e explorou os lados do campo

Outro grande nome da partida foi Lucas Perri. O goleiro, mais uma vez, mostrou que irá brigar pela posição mesmo com a volta de Gatito Fernández. Duas defesas seguras que impediram uma possível virada do adversário e deixaram o Alvinegro vivo no jogo. Ao longo do ano, o arqueiro tem dado demonstrações de estar no auge de sua forma física e ser um trunfo do time nos momentos mais difíceis.

+John Textor fala sobre possibilidade do Botafogo contratar James Rodríguez

Ao perceber o caminho das pedras, o português lançou Matías Segovia para dar velocidade e incomodar. Mas foi novamente pelo alto que os donos da casa se destacaram e sacramentaram o triunfo. Víctor Cuesta achou Eduardo na área para, de cabeça, recolocar o time carioca na frente e trazer os três pontos em uma estreia de Brasileirão. Algo que não acontecia há onze anos, contra o mesmo adversário.

O triunfo é importante para dar confiança ao grupo que disputa três competições e sonha em alçar voos maiores no segundo ano de SAF. Luís Castro terá que trabalhar as oscilações e fazer com que a equipe tenha a mesma intensidade dos dez primeiros minutos, sobretudo em casa. Ao contrário da temporada passada, o foco é utilizar o Nilton Santos como alçapão e mostrar força diante da torcida não só com bom desempenho, como também com resultados.

Estreias do Botafogo nos últimos onze anos
​
2012 – Botafogo 4 x 2 São Paulo
2013 – Corinthians 1 x 1 Botafogo
2014 – São Paulo 3 x 0 Botafogo
2016 – Botafogo 0 x 1 São Paulo
2017 – Grêmio 2 x 0 Botafogo
2018 – Botafogo 1 x 1 Palmeiras
2019 – São Paulo 2 x 0 Botafogo
2020 – Bragantino 1 x 1 Botafogo
2022 – Botafogo 1 x 3 Corinthians
2023 – Botafogo 2 x 1 São Paulo

The former USMNT striker has defended the head coach following the 2-1 loss, suggesting individual player errors were primarily responsible

• Gomez acknowledges need for culture change
• He highlights positive first-half performance despite a depleted lineup
• Former striker places blame on player execution

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Following the USMNT’s defeat to Turkey in an international friendly, former U.S. striker and ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez offered a nuanced assessment that partially shielded head coach Mauricio Pochettino from growing criticism. The U.S. struck early, scoring inside the first minute, but conceded twice in quick succession, struggled to equalize, and ultimately fell 2–1.

  “I think he did do something about it,” Gomez said on when asked whether Pochettino addressed the team's issues at halftime. “At halftime, Tyler Adams comes on, Johnny Cardoso comes off, there’s a new center back, Mark Mackenzie, and Miles Robinson comes off. So the two players who essentially took part in the two goals, they come, and that’s a clear message, that’s a clear posture of we're gonna go about this a different way.

  While acknowledging that Pochettino needs to shift the mentality and culture of a team that tends to back down, Gomez stressed that individual mistakes played a major role in undermining the coach’s game plan.

  “Listen, I’m with you on the culture, as that’s [on] Mauricio Pochettino, you have to do something, change something, and I think his leniency with players…I think those things set the tone," Gomez explained. "I think when it’s OK to lose and you verbally say that, it sets a certain cultural tone. But this game, if you think about it and really look at how they weren’t better on the night to how they didn’t score, I think there’s some bad individual performances. More bad individual performances than there are good."

  Gomez added: “But Mauricio Pochettino, to what Ale [Moreno] was saying, he can’t say, ‘Come on migo, have some confidence here, don’t let your knees shake so much on this play, think that you can play this ball, put it over there to the forward.’ I think there’s some players that let themselves down and they let Mauricio Pochettino down.”

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• WHAT HERCULEZ GOMEZ SAID

  The USMNT took the lead early on in the game, with Jack McGlynn scoring 59 seconds after kick-off only to watch Turkiye score twice inside three minutes via Arder Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu. Yet despite that, Gomez admitted that he’s feeling a bit more positive and saw a lot of good things in that first half from the team.

  “Do you know, believe it or not, I’m feeling a bit more positive than I was before,” Gomez said. “I’m going to give Pochettino some credit here. There were realistically one starter on the field and that was Chris Richards, and the rest was a makeshift team that he got in a short time to play as a cohesive unit. And we saw a lot of interesting things, like the message and the identity.

  Gomez also touched upon the fact that Pochettino gave a few players a chance to shine but they failed to grab their chance when it arrived.

  “Maximilian Arfsten, a player who was given an opportunity. You have the opportunity to make a statement and [are] easily at fault for not putting the USMNT in a better position, at least one goal out of the two that he botches. And both of those, he should have made a better decision. Jack McGlynn, how many times did we see him get the ball? And he wants to shoot, instead of getting his head up.

  “Patrick Agyemang, this was a home game for him. His family literally walked to the stadium, and [he] didn’t take advantage of it. So here, I’m willing to give Pochettino somewhat of a pass, because I think he did set up some of these players in a position to shine, I just think a lot of those players let him down."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT continue to search for consistency and identity under Pochettino, with results falling short of expectations. This highlights the complex challenges facing a program attempting to build toward a home World Cup amid heightened expectations and limited preparation time.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The USMNT face Switzerland in another international friendly on June 10 before the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup begins later this month.

Rehan Ahmed’s tour of India has been cut short, with the England legspinner returning home for an urgent family matter. In a statement, the ECB also said Rehan will not be returning for the rest of the series, and neither will England seek a squad replacement.Rehan, the 19-year-old, featured in England’s first three Tests against India. He picked up 11 wickets at an average of 44, including a match-haul of 6 for 153 in Visakhapatnam. He was, however, left out of the England XI for the fourth Test beginning in Ranchi. It is understood Ben Stokes’ decision to omit Rehan was not related to him having to return home, which only emerged after the team had been announced at 1pm on Thursday. Rehan was present at England’s final training session that afternoon, helping out with various drills. He flies home on Friday, day one of the fourth Test.Earlier this month, England had to wait on Rehan’s availability for the third Test after learning of “paperwork discrepancies” with him on arrival from the UAE before the third Test. However, it was resolved, and Rehan picked up three wickets in England’s 434-run defeat in Rajkot.For the fourth Test, England are lining up with offspinner Shoaib Bashir replacing Rehan. The other spinner in the England XI is left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, their highest wicket-taker on the tour with 16.

A closer look at how Perth Scorchers, Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes have built up to the 2017-18 season of the BBL

Alex Malcolm17-Dec-20171:42

The Perth Scorchers tell us why they’re so good

Perth Scorchers

What you need to knowLast year’s champions, and the league’s most successful franchise with three titles from six editions, have a very similar squad to last season. But Justin Langer’s group faces some challenges on a number of fronts. Firstly, the top order has been compromised by national service for the first half of the tournament at least. Shaun Marsh, Cameron Bancroft and Mitchell Marsh would all ordinarily occupy roles in the top six and Bancroft would likely keep wicket due to the long-term injury to Sam Whiteman, who also filled an important opening role in the final last season.Ian Bell hasn’t returned and the Scorchers will need to experiment around their veteran opener Michael Klinger. Josh Inglis will take the gloves and has the talent and temperament to open but he is set to be shifted around the order depending on the needs of the side. England International David Willey is a viable option while the Test matches are still going. He opened the batting to great effect in the Scorchers’ practice match at Optus Stadium against the England Lions and has had great success in the role for Northants prior to moving to Yorkshire. He will also form part of a formidable attack if all are fit and firing.But question marks surround the fitness of Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff, who opened the bowling together in Australia’s last T20I. Coulter-Nile is edging closer to a return from a hot spot in his back but Behrendorff is still resting a similar injury and his return date is unknown.Key playerKlinger remains the key man for the Scorchers. Their attack, no matter the composition, will always be able to blow away top orders, particularly at the WACA. But Klinger’s skill and adaptability on all surfaces, both setting totals and chasing, is pivotal to the Scorchers’ ability to compile winning scores.ChancesThe Scorchers are likely to be right there at the business end again. They have never finished worse than third and have made the final in five out of six seasons. They are so hard to beat at the WACA and should find enough away wins to qualify for the knockouts. They have the experience and the talent to go back-to-back.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Brisbane Heat

What you need to knowThe Heat were the surprise packet of last year’s tournament and went within a Super Over of playing the final. Brendon McCullum is a proven winner and he is sure to sprinkle some of his magic over the Heat again after winning the Bangladesh Premier League only a week ago playing for the Rangpur Riders alongside Chris Gayle.McCullum is in good nick as well, coming off 78 in the semi-final and 51 not out in the final. He and Chris Lynn form the backbone of the batting. Lynn appears healthy after forgoing first-class cricket to rehabilitate his long-term shoulder injury. He is learning to throw with his opposite arm to reduce risk of further damage. The danger for the Heat is that if the “Bash Brothers” misfire on the same night, the batting depth isn’t quite as potent as some of the other line-ups.There has been a shift in philosophy from a bowling perspective. Coach Daniel Vettori clearly sees value in legspin at the Gabba and in the BBL in general, adding the young Pakistan wristspinner Shadab Khan to the roster alongside the highly regarded Queensland youngster Mitchell Swepson. They have also signed the experienced Test legspinner Yasir Shah as a replacement player for Shadab, who is likely to be called up to Pakistan’s limited-overs squads for their January tour of New Zealand.Key playerInstinctively it would be Lynn who holds the key to the Heat’s chances but McCullum‘s value goes beyond just his power-hitting. His leadership and tactical nous are two intangibles for this team as they were when he led New Zealand in international cricket. He has an incredible knack of getting the very best out of his players and his group as a collective. He reads the game as well as, if not better than, any other captain in the tournament. Good captaincy in T20 cricket can have a greater impact than in almost any other format although more luck is probably required than the longer forms of the game.ChancesThe Heat have won the tournament previously, coming from fourth to beat the Scorchers at the WACA in the 2012-13 final. But outside of last year’s semi-final heartbreak they have not had a major impact in the other four editions. On paper the squad does not look as strong as others, but McCullum and Vettori bring experience in getting their teams to punch above their weight.Getty Images

Adelaide Strikers

What you need to knowJason Gillespie and the Strikers management have opted for a complete overhaul of their squad and the result is they have a lot of young talent but not a lot of experience. They have lost their two highest run-scorers from last season in Ben Dunk and Brad Hodge, and signed Jonathan Wells (Hurricanes) and the South African Colin Ingram in their place.The bulk of the run-scoring will need to be done by the South Australian trio of Travis Head, Jake Weatherald and Alex Carey. Weatherald and Carey provided a lethal combination for the Redbacks in the JLT One-Day Cup, Australia’s domestic 50-over competition, but the BBL is a different beast. Carey is not as experienced in T20 batting but has the talent to be a replacement for Dunk.Peter Siddle brings some experience with the ball, while the speed of Billy Stanlake and the smarts of Ben Laughlin and Michael Neser give the Strikers the basis of a good attack at the Adelaide Oval. The Afghanistan wristspinner Rashid Khan could be an X-factor. Adil Rashid and Ish Sodhi have both bowled well previously for the Strikers. Rashid and the young West Australian legspinner Liam O’Connor will have roles to play.Key playerWeatherald needs to have a tournament like Ben Dunk did last season and he’s capable of doing it. He is powerful stroke-maker off both feet but also has developed his batting craft in all formats. The left-hander has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket this season and a big tournament would not only give the Strikers a chance, but also put him right in the frame to play for Australia.ChancesOn paper the Strikers look like one of the weaker squads in the BBL mainly due to inexperience rather than lack of talent. The BBL winners in previous seasons have proven that experience counts for a great deal in the big moments. They will need some of their young talent to step up to avoid this season being a development year.Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes

What you need to knowThe Hurricanes have not made the BBL final since the 2013-14 season but Tasmanian cricket has made some big changes during the winter, one of which was to acquire Gary Kirsten as the new coach. The Hurricanes have assembled a unique squad that has produced some impressive results during the warm-up matches.The loss of Tim Paine to Test-match duty forced a late trade with the Renegades for wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. But Paine’s dual role as an opener also requires filling. The addition of Alex Doolan has almost gone unnoticed given his relatively poor T20 record, but he enters the tournament in good form having put together two quick-fire 50-plus opening stands with D’Arcy Short in the practice matches.George Bailey, Matthew Wade, Ben McDermott and Daniel Christian look like a solid and versatile middle-order combination. They appear to be thin on power-hitting in the lower order, but what they lack in pyrotechnics with the bat they more than make up for with electric pace with the ball.Tymal Mills, Jofra Archer and Aaron Summers can all crank it up to above 140kph and they made a mess of the Stars top order in the last practice match. Cameron Boyce’s legspin, Clive Rose’s left-arm orthodox and Short’s left-arm wristspin also give the attack good variety.Key playerD’Arcy Short turned heads last season with a couple of scintillating displays out of the blue. He could be a match-winner for the Hurricanes. He is an unorthodox left-hander who stays leg-side of the ball and hits powerfully through and over the off side and he’s an excellent player against pace and short-pitched bowling. But with some maturity has come some craft and he now knows how to slip up and down the gears depending on the situation. His left-arm wristspin is also a handy asset for George Bailey.ChancesNot many will look at the Hurricanes on paper and see a tournament contender but on evidence of their performances in the practice matches they look a force to be reckoned with after handling the Sixers and Stars with ease. The only weak spot is batting depth but their attack could win games on their own. They will be a great team to watch this tournament.

أثارت تصريحات هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة التي انتقد فيها تعامل لويس دي لا فوينتي مدرب منتخب إسبانيا مع لامين يامال خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الأخيرة، مفاجأة كبيرة داخل الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم.

ونشرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أنه من المنتظر أن تصبح هذه القضية بلا شك أحد الموضوعات التي ستثير النقاش في الأيام المقبلة، خاصة أن هناك مباراتين دوليتين آخريتين حتى نهاية 2025، ضد جورجيا 11 أكتوبر وبلغاريا 14 أكتوبر.

وأكد أعضاء الجهاز الطبي للمنتخب الإسباني، أنه لم يتصل أحد من برشلونة في أي وقت بنظرائهم في الاتحاد، للتنبيه عن أي انزعاج شعر به لامين يامال عندما كان تحت قيادة لويس دي لا فوينتي في بداية فترة التوقف الدولي لمباراتي بلغاريا وتركيا.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لويس إنريكي يتفق مع فليك قبل لقاء برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا

ولعب لامين يامال أساسياً بشكل رئيسي في مباراتي منتخب إسبانيا لمدة 79 دقيقة في المباراة الأولى و73 دقيقة في المباراة الثانية.

ويعد فرناندو جالان أحد أخصائيي العلاج الطبي في المنتخب والذي يعمل مع لاعبي برشلونة بشكل منفرد خلال معسكراتهم التدريبية في إسبانيا، ويسلط الاتحاد الإسباني الضوء على هذه التفاصيل كمثال واضح على حرصه على جميع اللاعبين المستدعين للتشكيلة ويعتقد بأن جالان كان سيبلغ لويس دي لا فوينتي إذا كان قد اكتشف أي مشكلة ما لدى اللاعب ولما شارك في هذه المباريات.

ويشير الاتحاد الإسباني إلى استدعاء لويس دي لا فوينتي الأخير للمنتخب كمثال على التواصل الجيد بينه وبين الاتحاد والأندية بما في ذلك برشلونة.

Arsenal drew against Everton on Saturday to end the fleeting hopes of beating Liverpool to the Premier League title; the Reds will move 16 points clear at the summit should they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side are still likely to finish second for the third season running, with attention now turned toward Tuesday evening’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Hosting Los Blancos – who lost at home to Valencia on Saturday – before travelling to Spain one week later, Arteta rested a host of his stars, but there was one man who played from the outset at Goodison Park who will hope to reprise their berth in midweek.

Indeed, Leandro Trossard opened the scoring with a cool finish, latching onto Raheem Sterling’s pass.

Leandro Trossard's performance vs Everton

Trossard has ebbed and flowed somewhat this season, but he came up with the goods on Merseyside, ending a nine-game barren run in the Premier League with his strike past Jordan Pickford.

Starting in the centre-forward spot, the Belgian will hope to keep his starting role against Carlo Ancelotti’s intimidating outfit, with one football analyst noting that his ability to shoot from multiple areas with both feet makes him “unstoppable.”

Playing the talismanic role well, Trossard got off three shots, hitting the target twice, while also seeing plenty of action with 46 touches and completing 90% of his passes, as per Sofascore.

Maintaining fluency will be important against a Real Madrid side who are susceptible defensively. To be sure, with Bukayo Saka and maybe Gabriel Martinelli installed on either attacking flank, supplied by Martin Odegaard behind, Arsenal have enough firepower to do some damage.

While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain sidelined, there is, of course, another man whose skills have been called upon in the final third recently.

He put in an industrious display against Everton and will be looking to start against Madrid.

The Arsenal star reaching "cult status"

While Arteta will be working closely with new sporting director Andrea Berta to make improvements in the transfer market this summer, some of Edu’s signings from last year have come up trumps at times this season.

Mikel Merino is chief among them.

The Spaniard, who joined from Real Sociedad for a £32m fee in August 2024, scored five goals from eight games as a makeshift centre-forward to combat the club’s injury woes.

But he returned to the middle of the park against Everton, something that added more mettle and crunch to Arteta’s engine room. Given that Trossard scored, too, it feels like it was a good move from the Gunners gaffer.

Indeed, Merino’s duelling success is truly a thing to behold. Standing at 6 foot 2 and expertly using his frame, he is one of football’s foremost aerial experts.

Praised for covering multiple areas of the field by The Daily Mail, who also heralded his efforts in the duel, Merino blended his fighting spirit with a willingness to drive the play forward, as evidenced by the data below.

Trossard might have got the goal, but Merino offered a lot more in regard to his overall performance. Everton, let’s not forget, are a different beast with Moyes back at the helm, and having such steel in the middle of the park was always going to be imperative.

Touches

48

Passes completed

26/31 (84%)

Touches in att. pen

4

Possession won

6x

Successful take-ons

1

Tackles

3

Duels won

14/17

Arsenal podcaster Matt Kendala even remarked before the game that Merino is “approaching cult status” with his recent performances, a “mentality monster” who has been “emptying the tank for the team.”

His combativeness and attacking instinct make for a dynamic and dangerous player, and you wouldn’t put it past him to nick an all-important goal across the two-legged Champions League tie coming right up.

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Batter withdrew from India Test tour and IPL but is focussed on World Cup comeback

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-2024Harry Brook says his performances this summer are dedicated to his late grandmother Pauline, who passed away in March.Pauline Brook was visible throughout her grandson’s career and became a cult hero within English cricket. She often collected awards on Harry’s behalf, of which there have already been many in the player’s short career. She was the figurehead of the Brook family and lived next to Burley-in-Wharfedale Cricket Club, where Harry learned the game.Pauline fell ill in January, while Brook was preparing for England’s Test tour of India in the UAE. The 25-year-old subsequently pulled out of the five-match series, before missing the Indian Premier League with Delhi Capitals after she passed away.Brook has since returned to action with Yorkshire and marked his first match for the county since July 2022 with an emotional 69-ball century against Leicestershire, looking to the sky upon reaching three figures. It was his first competitive appearance since England’s fifth T20I against West Indies in December. A second century – 126 not out – came on Saturday against Derbyshire at Headingley, as Yorkshire posted 450 for 5 declared in their first innings.Speaking publicly for the first time since Pauline’s death, Brook dedicated both his centuries to his grandmother and reflected on a tough time for the family. He was also grateful for the time he had with her at the start of the year before her condition deteriorated.”Both of those hundreds [for Yorkshire this season] and all of the runs I’ve scored so far this year are all dedicated to her,” Brook told the ECB Reporters Network.”When I came home from Abu Dhabi, it was a very tough time, and I’m glad I did come home. Obviously, it was a big decision to make. I hadn’t played hundreds of games for England, so to just turn down a big Test tour like that [India] was a big decision to make.”But she comes before all of that. She would have come out there a couple of years ago, so I had to come back and support her as much as I could. I managed to take her out for a coffee and whatnot in that first week I was back.”I was still training with a mindset of trying to get back out for the last couple of Tests, all being well. It all disintegrated fairly quickly, so that didn’t happen. I just tried to support her as best as I could and everyone around us.”Following the conclusion of Yorkshire’s match with Derbyshire, in which rain washed out the entirety of the scheduled third day’s play on Sunday, Brook will play his final County Championship match of this portion of the season, against Glamorgan next week. He will then join England for their T20I series against Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Brook was an ever-present in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup triumph and will be integral to their title defence. Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott announce their provisional squad on Tuesday (April 30) with Brook set to be a pivotal figure in a relatively young group. He will then return to the Test side this summer for series against West Indies and Sri Lanka from July.”I’m looking forward to it, if selected,” Brook said of the World Cup. “We join up at the end of next month. I’m looking forward to being back with the lads and hopefully producing the goods for England again.”