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Manchester City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan, and the Italian club’s asking price has been revealed.

Man City made a real statement by defeating reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Guardiola was left particularly impressed by Jeremy Doku’s performance, describing the winger as “outstanding.”

Doku completed a remarkable seven dribbles throughout the match, six more than any other player, in what was a top performance, but the 23-year-old was not the only City forward that caught the eye.

Indeed, Erling Haaland once again found the back of the net, with the Norwegian putting his first-half penalty miss behind him and bagging his 14th Premier League goal of the season, which puts the 25-year-old six clear of nearest-rival Igor Thiago in the goalscoring charts.

Guardiola is clearly blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, but the manager remains keen on strengthening his forward line even further…

Man City closely monitoring Rafael Leao

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Leao, who has a €150m (£131m) release clause included in his contract, although the Serie A club have set a more affordable asking price of €80m – €85m (£70m – £75m).

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are also in the race for the Portugal international, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, but City could rival their Premier League title rivals for his signature, given that Guardiola is a fan.

Indeed, the Spaniard admires the 26-year-old’s versatility, given that he is capable of playing out wide, in attacking midfield or even at striker.

At the moment, Milan are hopeful they will be able to keep hold of their star forward, but a January exit could be on the cards if talks over a new deal do not progress.

There are signs the Portuguese forward could be capable of taking City’s attack to the next level, having been lauded as “world-class” by journalist Carlo Garganese, while also proving himself as a reliable goalscorer over a number of years at AC Milan.

The Milan star has amassed a whopping 75 goals and 63 assists in 268 games for the Serie A giants, scoring a brace in what was a fantastic display against Fiorentina earlier this season.

The former Lille man clearly has the ability to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, but Doku’s recent performances suggest the Belgian winger could now be entering his prime, with his all-round display against Liverpool particularly eye-catching.

Jeremy Doku’s statistics vs Liverpool

Number completed

Dribbles (successful)

8 (7)

Duels (won)

14 (11)

Key passes

3

Shots on target

3

As such, Leao would perhaps be a luxury signing, rather than a necessary addition to Guardiola’s squad.

Rafael Leao has been named as one of the best wingers in the world Related The Best 15 Wingers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best wide man in world football right now?

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 28, 2025

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has explained why Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and the rest of the club’s board are already planning for life in the Premier League. The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under Hollywood co-owners and continue to make no secret of the fact that their ultimate objective is to deliver top-flight football to the Racecourse Ground.

History makers: Record run of promotions for Wrexham

A historic run of three successive promotions, lifting them out of the National League and into the Championship, has the Welsh outfit needed to take just one more step up the ladder in order to reach the big time. Big money has been invested while chasing that dream.

The odd stumble has been endured this season – with the second tier presenting more problems than the third, fourth and fifth did – but Phil Parkinson’s side are aiming high and cannot be written out of the top-six picture just yet.

Play-off heartache has been endured in the past, but Wrexham are prepared to tread that path again if necessary. They have cleared every hurdle placed in front of them so far and remain confident that they can be competitive among the elite once a standing at that level is secured.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALUltimate target: Premier League now within reach

Ambitious projects on and off the pitch are being lined up, with Williamson telling of how Wrexham are preparing for a Premier League future: “I think during pre-season, before we had announced a lot of players, I made the comment that I want us to be competitive. I want us to be in and around a play-off spot, which if you're sitting 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, you can see how tight this league is and how many points make the difference between that.

“I felt if we were in that kind of position in the table, that if we gave ourselves a chance to make a run for a play-off spot and then ultimately if we were in the play-offs, with the momentum we have and the mentality that this group has and the mentality that our supporters have, I know we haven't done historically well in play-offs but I felt that this was one of those situations where I wouldn't put anything by us.

“The objective was to be competitive and to show that we could go toe-to-toe with any club in the Championship and so far this season, that's what you've seen. In fact, I'd argue that you could see us with several more points if you look at some of the matches where we've had leads that we've given it up for a draw or even starting from the very first one at Southampton where we gave up a goal in the 89th and the 95th minute to lose three points or even one point there.

“I think we could definitely be higher in the table than we are today but the important part is that we've shown that it doesn't matter which club we're playing against in this league, we can go to toe-to-toe with anyone and come out ahead of it.

“From my perspective now, how do we build on and off the pitch to prepare ourselves for when that time comes that we do arrive to the Premier League? It's ultimately our objective, I think everyone is clear of that by now.”

Ambitious plans: Wrexham ready for the top-flight

Williamson added on the Red Dragons facing every challenge head on: “It will be interesting to see where this ends up at the end of the season but for us, we need to be ready whether it's the end of this season, the season after that, or the season after that.

“We need to be prepared on and off the pitch for what it means to arrive to the Premier League because as much of a step up, with challenges both on and off the pitch, that it was going from League One to the Championship – and it is a massive step – it's an even larger, more significant step from the Championship to the Premier League in all those areas.

“It's just making sure that we are in the best position possible so that when we do arrive, just like we did when we were in League One when we arrived at the Championship, that we were in a place where we could build off the foundations and be prepared for it. It's the same thing we're trying to do for when we arrive in the Premier League.”

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GettyWrexham 2025-26: League standing, points total & next fixture

Wrexham have reached the third international break of the 2025-26 campaign sat 13th in the Championship table. They have picked up 21 points from 15 games, leaving them only four adrift of the play-offs in what is a congested division.

The odd question has been asked of Parkinson’s methods this term, despite all that has been achieved during his tenure, and he will be looking to silence more doubters when the Red Dragons return to action on November 22 with a trip to Ipswich.

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CRB e Fortaleza se enfrentam neste domingo (9), às 16h30, no estádio Rei Pelé (AL), pelo jogo de volta da final da Copa do Nordeste. O Leão do Pici tem a vantagem por dois gols e o CRB precisa buscar o resultado para impedir o tri do Tricolor. Além da vantagem no placar, o Fortaleza tem uma certeza: seu prêmio será maior que o do Galo de Campina.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Na Copa do Nordeste, o pagamento que os clubes recebem é de acordo com o pote que eles saíram na fase de grupos. O Fortaleza saiu do porte 1, ao lado de Ceará, Bahia e Sport, e garantirá R$ 3,36 milhões. Já o CRB, que integrava o pote 2, com Náutico, Vitória e ABC, ficará com R$ 2,52 milhões,

Somando todas as fases, da preliminar à decisão, a Copa do Nordeste de 2024 vai distribuir R$ 48,9 milhões em cotas e premiações aos clubes. O valor representa um aumento perto de 15% em relação à edição anterior, quando foram repassados R$ 42 milhões.

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Na fase seguinte, os dois clubes receberam o mesmo valor. A classificação às quartas de final rendeu R$ 524 mil, e para as semis, mais R$ 733 mil. Com isso, mesmo que o Fortaleza perca a final para o CRB, o Tricolor terá recebido uma premiação maior.

CRB e Fortaleza já se enfrentaram em 33 jogos na história, com 14 vitórias do Laion, 11 empates e oito vitórias do CRB. Com uma necessidade de vencer por três gols, o Galo conseguiu esse placar apenas uma vez na história, há 10 anos, no Rei Pelé.

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💰 SAIBA MAIS DETALHES SOBRE A PREMIAÇÃO DA COPA DO NORDESTE 2024:

Fases preliminares

Fase Pré 1:R$ 125 mil (8 eliminados)Fase Pré 2:R$ 185 mil (4 eliminados)

Fase de grupos

Pote 1:Fortaleza, Ceará, Bahia e Sport | R$ 3,36 milhõesPote 2:Náutico, CRB, Vitória e ABC | R$ 2,52 milhõesPote 3:Botafogo-PB, América-RN, Altos e Juazeirense | R$ 1,99 milhãoPote 4: Treze, Itabaiana, River-PI e Maranhão | R$ 1,26 milhão

Mata-mata

Quartas de final: R$ 524 mil(8 clubes)Semifinal: R$ 733 mil(4 clubes)Vice-campeão: R$ 1,36 milhãoCampeão: R$ 2,1 milhões

Tudo sobre

Copa do NordesteCRBFortalezaFutebol Nacional

Josh Hazlewood is confident one Sheffield Shield game will be enough for him and Mitchell Starc before the Ashes, with the quick likely to skip three T20Is against India to play for New South Wales.Hazlewood and Starc were on Tuesday both named in Australia’s squad to face India in three ODIs later this month, which kicks off the main part of the home summer.Related

• 'He doesn't need much' – Starc says Cummins can play off limited preparation

• Maxwell hopes to be fit for back-end of T20I series against India

• Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow, return remains unknown

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

• Hazlewood: England will bring an 'unbelievable' batting line-up for the Ashes

Five T20Is then follow, and while Starc has retired from that format, Hazlewood has been listed in the squad for the first two of those games on October 29 and 31.Australian officials are keeping an open mind to Ashes preparations, ahead of the first Test in Perth beginning on November 21.But the most likely scenario remains having the duo play for NSW against Victoria in a Shield match from November 10, before a one-week preparation into the first Test.”We’ve definitely had chats about fitting in a Shield game,” Hazlewood said at a Cricket Australia sponsorship announcement with Woolworths on Monday. “I do think it’s important when there’s time for it. You don’t want to squeeze things in or rush for it.”This year I’m going to miss a couple of T20s to do that. Which I certainly don’t like doing, missing games for Australia. But in the long run it is about getting the best prep for the Ashes as well. You can’t have everything and that’s the trade off at the moment.”Josh Hazlewood will work through ODIs and T20Is during October•Getty Images

It creates the potential for a star-studded NSW side to take the field at the SCG. Nathan Lyon is eyeing three out of the first four Shield matches before the first Test and is expected to miss the round two fixture at Junction Oval which would leave him to face Queensland at the Gabba then Victoria in Sydney.It’s understood that Steve Smith is also in line to play while Sam Konstas will likely line up, although by then he will know his Test fate with the squad due to be named after the third round of Shield fixtures.Pat Cummins will sit out the white-ball matches against India as he fights to recover from his back issues in time for the first Test.Hazlewood said playing the ODIs would also help with preparation, with three games in the space of a week offering a reasonable workload.There is a fine balance for the 34-year-old to strike, given he is still eying off playing in the T20 World Cup in February before another ODI tournament in 2027.”That’s why I put my hand up for as many tours as I can,” Hazlewood said. “Even if I only play two out of three on a tour, it just means I am still touching base with those formats.”My game doesn’t change too much. I have been around long enough to duck and dive in each format and chop and change.”Hazlewood said it was possible for him to play all five Ashes Tests, with lengthy gaps between the first three helping bowlers manage their fitness.

With everything on the line, here's how the Spirit can top the Gotham FC for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

San Jose, Calif. – For the second year in a row, the Washington Spirit are headed to the NWSL Championship. Their journey to the final this year has been a bit different, with several setbacks, staffing changes, transfers, and more. Yet, the Spirit have made one thing clear, they're not about to repeat history in the finals. Last year, the Spirit fell to the Orlando Pride in the Championship 1-0. This year, they finished second overall in the league standings, and just last wee,k they punched their ticket to the finals after a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns at Audi Field. 

So, how will the Spirit do against a Cinderella-run team like Gotham? Let's break it down.

Getty ImagesNo. 1: The Gift of Monday

Nigerian international Gift Monday has been the secret weapon to the Spirit's success this season. Monday has a team-best seven goals this season, and one of her most important goals came in the semifinals against Portland. 

In just the 27th minute of play in the semis, Monday slotted home the game's first goal to push the Spirit ahead 1-0. It was the connection between Rosemonde Kouassi to Monday that truly set the tone for the match. 

This is Monday's first year in the league, and she's now heading to her first final. She's known for her cheeky goals and celebrations, and mentioned Lo'eau LaBonta at media day as being her inspiration for goal celebrations. 

Monday has been a natural fit for the Spirit's frontline, gelling naturally with Kouassi, Brittany Ratcliffe, Trinity Rodman, and, of course, the crafty midfielders like Croix Bethune, Leicy Santos, and Hal Hershfelt. Finding Monday hasn't been hard for any of her teammates, as she naturally finds space and has a nose for the goal.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNo. 2: Defensive prowess

Tara McKeown took home the 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year award, being instrumental in leading the Spirit's backline all season. She had a total of 140 clearances, 55 interceptions, and 44 blocks so far. She's also been in this position before, being a critical defender during the playoffs last year, too. 

McKeown's chemistry with the rest of her backline is obvious and one of the reasons they are going to be challenging to break down. Aubrey Kingsbury has been the tried and true keeper for the Spirit, and her calm presence keeps the entire team organized and in line. English international defender Esme Morgan has been a threat both on the attack and in the back, showcasing the versatility on the team. An important factor of this Spirit squad is the way they play defense all over the field. The defense truly starts with the attacking group, who put endless pressure on the ball and set the tone. 

Hershfelt is bullish in the midfield and won't let anyone through unscathed.

From top to bottom, the Spirit have made their case as a shutdown team and even with the star power up top, the pride is in the defense and will be crucial as they look to take home the 2025 NWSL Championship.

Getty ImagesNo. 3: Cohesive grit

The Washington Spirit finished second in the NWSL in goals scored (45) and first in shots on target (146) – numbers that reflect their all-in approach. If they need a goal, they’ll claw their way to one. If they need to protect their own box, they defend with a body-on-the-line mentality.

During Media Day, nearly every Spirit player echoed the same ethos: “connected,” “family,” “team.” When one steps, another follows. The way they talk about each other is rooted in genuine admiration and respect. Great teams are built on that foundation, and the Spirit have found the balance between veteran leadership – like Andi Sullivan’s steady influence – and the new energy brought by players such as Gift Monday.

Against Gotham FC, the Spirit will need to win individual battles without drifting from what’s worked all season. As Paige Metayer Hershfelt told GOAL on Media Day, preparing for a championship game “means not going away from what you’ve been doing – because it’s worked.”

A win on Saturday would give Washington just their second NWSL Championship, and their first since 2021.

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Getty ImagesLooking ahead

The Spirit will face Gotham FC on Saturday, November 22 at 5pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.

Lord’s-based team will stick with Spirit name but new branding expected for 2026 season

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Aug-2025The Lord’s-based Hundred franchise will continue to be known as London Spirit following the sale of a 49% stake to the Silicon Valley consortium known as the “Tech Titans”, with former England performance director Mo Bobat announced as the incoming director of cricket.MCC has been in discussions with its new equity partner for some time and is expected to unveil new team branding – possibly including the club’s famous egg-and-bacon colours – ahead of the 2026 season. But they have opted to keep the name as part of an identity that reflects “the capital’s energy, diversity, and cricketing heritage”.Bobat’s appointment is the first significant move by any of the Hundred teams after six of the eight equity sale deals were signed off by the ECB last month. Bobat, who will retain his role in the IPL as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s director of cricket, is set to join up with Spirit from October.Related

• Andy Flower replaces Justin Langer as London Spirit head coach

• Titans land at Lord's as London Spirit sink to new low

• Warner, Spirit take spoils despite Bairstow fire

“It’s an honour to join London Spirit at such an exciting time,” Bobat said. “The opportunity to shape the cricketing future of this franchise, working with MCC and our new partners, the Tech Titans, is incredibly exciting. I’m looking forward to building something special – on and off the field.”London Spirit chairman, Julian Metherell, said: “Today marks a significant moment for London Spirit. Mo Bobat brings unmatched expertise and vision to the role of Director of Cricket, and we’re thrilled to welcome him. At the same time, retaining the London Spirit name reflects our belief in the identity that’s been built – one that resonates with the capital, our fans, and our values. We now look ahead to a new era, with fresh energy and clear purpose.”London Spirit men, currently coached by Justin Langer, lost their opening game of the 2025 season after being bowled out for 80 in front of their new owners – but bounced back to record victory against Welsh Fire at the weekend.

The National League Division Series between the Brewers and Cubs hasn't had any shortage of runs thus far.

Milwaukee won Game 1 by a score of 9-3, then each team hit a three-run home run to open Game 2 Monday, marking the first postseason game in MLB history in which both sides hit a three-run homer (or grand slam) in the first inning.

As Game 2 was tied at three runs apiece, Brewers catcher William Contreras hit a monster 411-foot bomb to give his squad the lead.

Perhaps the best part of Contreras's big home run was his celebration afterward, just watching the ball sail over the left-field fence at American Family Field and putting his hand up toward the dugout before rounding the bases. Check out the electric moment below:

After the third-inning homer, the Brewers opened their lead up to four runs in the next inning thanks to another three-run shot to center field off the bat of Jackson Chourio. Milwaukee hopes to extend their lead in the series to 2-0 Monday before they head to Chicago to try and earn a trip to the NL Championship Series.

They've already given their home fans plenty to root for with three home runs Monday night. The Brewers' offense is providing all the electricity to start their playoff schedule.

Eberechi Eze reacted with a sheepish grin and quickly moved on when asked about his failed move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, after the Arsenal star and boyhood Gunners fan scored a stunning hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of Spurs at the Emirates. Eze came close to completing a move to Arsenal's biggest rivals in the summer, before a late hijack saw the former Crystal Palace star complete his dream £67.5million ($88m) transfer.

Eze avoids Spurs question after dream derby day hat-trick

Eze was understandably reluctant to answer when asked by Sky Sports at full-time about the possibility that he may have been wearing different colours for Sunday’s North London Derby if things had gone differently.

The 27-year-old England international completed his dream move to his boyhood club in August and put in the performance of a lifetime as he scored past arch-rivals three times to earn the derby day match ball, reaching five goals for his new club in the process.

Bagging his side’s second goal in controversial circumstances just before half-time, Eze struck two goals from the edge of the box in the second period to secure a huge victory for Arsenal, which puts the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League table – with second-placed Chelsea to come next weekend at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking post-match, Eze was quick to brush past the question regarding his high-profile transfer saga in the summer, where the Gunners completed a stunning hijack to secure a game-changing signing.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEze's hilarious response to Spurs transfer question

“Let’s not speak about that”, said Eze when asked if he could have been wearing the opposition colours for the derby, breaking into a smile after his cheeky response live on Sky Sports. “I thought you might say that”, responded the reporter.

“That’s a good [feeling],” Eze said of emphatic derby victory. “Enjoyable day, happy to help the team and to win today is special.

“It feels special, man. I’m grateful again, this is what I pray for. I prayed for it today, a hat-trick, and I got it today so I’m grateful to God.”

Eze reflects on his favourite goal of match-winning treble

“That was the prayer today, a hat-trick, and God gave it to me. That’s faith. All my family is here again, which makes it even more special to do it in front of them," Eze continued.

When asked for his pick of the goals, Eze said: “They were all good, I don’t know. Maybe the second one, that was my favourite.

“Just the timing of it, it was the right time,” he continued. “Honestly, it’s just special, all of them are good for me, because I know that I’ve been working on the process to get in those positions, so it’s worked out.”

On scoring his first professional hat-trick, he added: “Yeah, it is. Special one. As I say, words can’t explain this one today.”

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Getty Images Sport'Special day for us' – Arteta speaks

Mikel Arteta said to BBC Match of the Day:"It's a very special day for us. We knew the importance of the match and what it means to our fans. To be able to give them that joy, it's a beautiful day."

On Eze becoming the fourth-ever player to score a hat-trick in the North London derby: "That tells you about the difficulty and what he's done today. To be fair he could have scored four or five. He's a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team.

"We dominated every part of the game. We created massive chances and had a lot of actions that we were very close to scoring. We stayed patient.

"Whoever we put in there they do the jobs for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently.

"We have really good momentum but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It's a long run, let's go game by game. Let's enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week."

Manuel Neuer’s illness and Serge Gnabry’s fresh fitness concerns have unsettled Vincent Kompany’s preparations for Bayern Munich's upcoming matches against Freiburg and Arsenal. With squad fatigue and strategic decisions piling up, Bayern face fitness concerns ahead of the Bundesliga and Champions League clashes.

• Neuer and Gnabry add to Bayern’s worries as Kompany reassures

  Bayern’s stupendous league form faces its first real moment of strain as Kompany confirmed that both Neuer and Gnabry are doubts heading into the Freiburg match and, more critically, the Champions League showdown with Arsenal. Neuer has been struggling with a gastrointestinal infection and missed consecutive training sessions, leaving Bayern unsure whether their veteran captain will recover in time. But the uncertainty around his condition comes at the worst possible moment for a side preparing for one of their biggest European nights.

  Gnabry’s status is even more worrying. After picking up a knock during Germany duty, he has not responded well to early treatment and has already been ruled unlikely for Freiburg, and possibly Arsenal as well. Kompany admitted the winger “isn’t looking so good” and stressed that the medical team would determine the next steps.

  "We'll have to see about Manuel; he had a bit of a cold," Kompany told reporters. "Serge Gnabry's situation isn't looking so good. He's had some problems since returning from international duty. The medical department will have to provide details."

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• AFP
  

  Diaz suspension clouds Bayern’s plans before Arsenal clash

  If injuries were not enough, Bayern must also navigate the fallout from Luis Díaz’s suspension, a consequence of his reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi during the Champions League match against PSG. The tackle, first shown as a yellow but upgraded to a straight red via VAR, left Hakimi with a severe syndesmosis injury and ligament damage that will sideline him for weeks. Diaz expressed remorse publicly, but UEFA’s disciplinary panel is now reviewing the case, and Bayern privately expect the ban to extend beyond the minimum.

  The rules allow for a three-match suspension, but both Kompany and sporting director Christoph Freund doubt he will be handed such a severe punishment. 

  “My information is one match. I don't know when it will be communicated, but I would be disappointed if my information is not correct," Kompany said.

  "For Diaz, load management is definitely out of the question. He has to give it his all tomorrow and help us. Then it's up to the others on Wednesday against Arsenal. The Arsenal game doesn't really have much of an impact on Freiburg anyway. The lads are coming into the Freiburg game with a lot of energy. We want to win the game and aren't thinking about Arsenal yet," Kompany reveals.

• Kompany glad to have Kimmich back

  Several players have returned fatigued from international duty, something Kompany acknowledged but refused to use as an excuse. With Hiroki Ito only just back from a long injury spell, Alphonso Davies still being eased in, and the schedule crammed, Bayern’s depth will be tested more than at any point this season. Kompany praised Freiburg’s consistency and warned that even with Arsenal in sight, his team “cannot afford to look beyond the next match.”

  "Joshua Kimmich will definitely be available, and Hiroki Ito is also returning. Alphonso Davies is also making progress; he's probably already the fastest player in the squad again. If he could play one or two more games this year, that would be a great success. However, we need to be patient with him," said Kompany.

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• AFP
  

  Bayern brace for Arsenal test

  Ahead of the crucial matches, Kompany has emphasised tunnel-vision focus, win the league match, stabilise rhythm, and adjust the plan for Arsenal depending on Neuer, Gnabry and Diaz’s final availability. The Belgian made it clear that Bayern’s strength lies in preparation and adaptability, not excuses. His message to the squad has been consistent control what you can, manage what you must, and keep the standards of a team built to compete on every front.

تحدث أندريه كوري، وكيل الدولي البرازيلي إستيفاو، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي تشيلسي عن إمكانية رحيله إلى برشلونة.

وحقق تشيلسي فوزًا كبيرًا بثلاثية نظيفة أمام نظيره برشلونة في المباراة التي جمعتهما مساء أمس، الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتألق النجم البرازيلي تألقًا كبيرًا في المباراة واستطاع أن يسجل الهدف الثاني لصالح البلوز بطريقة رائعة إذ راوغ مدافعي برشلونة بطريقة مميزة وسدد الكرة أعلى مرمى الحارس خوان جارسيا.

كان وكيل اللاعب قد صرح وقال إنه عرض على إدارة برشلونة التعاقد مع إستيفاو في 4 مناسبات سابقة وإدارة برشلونة كانت مقتنعة به فنيًا لكن الأزمة المالية كانت سببًا في عدم اكتمال الصفقة.

اقرأ أيضًا | وكيل نجم تشيلسي يعترف: برشلونة كان قريبًا من التعاقد معه

ونقلت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” تصريحات كوري، وكيل إستيفاو، حول إمكانية لعبه مع لامين يامال: “انظروا إلى ميسي ونيمار، يمكن لـ إستيفاو ولامين يامال أن يكونا مثلهما، ثنائية ميسي ونيمار كانت أفضل من مجرد وجود ميسي أو نيمار وحدهما”.

وأضاف: “بدأت باستكشاف إستيفاو في عام 2018 إذ اصطحبت أبيدال إلى البرازيل لمشاهدته يلعب وحتى عندما كان في الحادية عشرة من عمره، كان بإمكانكم رؤية اختلافه ورغبته في الفوز بالكرة الذهبية”.

وأتم حول استمراره مع تشيلسي: “إستيفاو لديه الآن عقد لمدة 5 سنوات وهو يستمتع بوقته في تشيلسي لكن لديه عاطفة خاصة تجاه برشلونة”.