Jadon Sancho was reportedly left frustrated after he was left out of Manchester United's clash with Fulham last weekend.
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Sancho played no part In Man Utd's PL opener
Forward was vexed with Erik ten Hag's decision
Juventus keen to sign the disgruntled English star
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Sancho reaffirmed his desire to leave Old Trafford after being once again ignored by Erik ten Hag. Although the Dutch manager addressed the situation by explaining that an ear infection contributed to the decision, insiders have confirmed that the final choice to leave Sancho out of the squad was a tactical one. Despite the disappointment, Sancho maintained a professional demeanour around his teammates in the dressing room prior to the match but was not spotted in the directors' box with other sidelined players like Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro, and Tom Heaton, further fueling rumours of discontent.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
While there have been rumours linking Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a potential move for Sancho, sources close to the French giants have dismissed these claims. They assert that Sancho was never part of PSG's transfer plans this summer. This leaves the door open for other interested parties to make a move, with Juventus emerging as the most likely destination. They have already begun negotiations for Sancho and it remains to be seen if they can match United's financial demands – with the Red Devils reportedly setting a £40 million ($52.8 million) price tag.
DID YOU KNOW?
Earlier this year, Juventus showed interest in Sancho but ultimately pulled back due to then-manager Massimiliano Allegri's tactical preferences. Allegri's 3-5-2 system did not suit Sancho's style of play, leading the club to pause their pursuit. However, with Thiago Motta now at the helm, the landscape has changed. Motta's tactical flexibility has renewed Juventus' interest in Sancho, and the club's sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, is reportedly keen on bringing the Englishman to Turin.
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WHAT NEXT?
United would prefer a permanent sale and is open to a loan only if it aligns with the club's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). They would demand full coverage of Sancho's salary, a loan fee, and an obligation for a permanent transfer at the loan's conclusion. These financial demands aim to ensure that any temporary deal contributes significantly to United's future transfer plans, potentially facilitating the acquisition of other targets like Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. In case their demands are not met, they would rather retain Sancho than allow him to leave on a loan deal that does not provide substantial financial benefits.
Alvaro Morata and Rodri have been given one-match bans by UEFA for misconduct during Spain's Euro 2024 winners' parade.
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Rodri and Morata bannedSpain beat England in Euro 2024 finalPunished for chant about GibraltarWHAT HAPPENED?
UEFA have handed Morata and Rodri a one-match ban each for misconduct during Spain's Euro 2024 winners' parade, per The Athletic. The pair were filmed singing 'It's Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish", with Gibraltar's FA subsequently submitting a complaint to UEFA. They claimed the song was "extremely provocative and insulting".
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The ban for Morata and Rodri will stand for all UEFA competitions, meaning that it will take effect for their Nations League campaign. Spain will be without the striker and the midfielder for their fixture against Serbia on September 5.
WHAT UEFA SAID
UEFA's statement explained that the pair have been banned due to them "failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sporting events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute".
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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
While the ban has taken immediate effect, it will not affect domestic fixtures. Rodri will likely play for Manchester City against Manchester United in the Community Shield this weekend, while Morata is set to make his AC Milan debut against Torino later this month.
Arsenal are set for discussions over signing a £40 million Brazilian for manager Mikel Arteta, and a bid is seen as very possible.
Brazil stars impressing at Arsenal
The Gunners possess a small contingent of Brazil's finest in their squad, who have proved pivotal over the last two seasons with Arsenal involved in multiple Premier League title races.
£69m player now excited by chance of joining Arsenal this summer
He prefers a move to Hale End.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024
Since the beginning of 2022/2023, Gabriel Magalhaes has been showered for his defensive contribution after forming an excellent partnership with William Saliba at the heart of Arteta's back line.
The 26-year-old is ranked as one of Arsenal's best-performing players by average match rating per 90 (WhoScored), and has been a fixture for the north Londoners over 29 top-flight outings this campaign.
Bukayo Saka
7.64
Declan Rice
7.35
Martin Odegaard
7.31
Gabriel Magalhaes
7.05
Gabriel Martinelli
7.00
Further forward, both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have been vital to Arsenal's success – chipping in with a combined 10 goals and seven assists in the top flight alone over 2023/2024 as they look to help their side win a first league title in 20 years.
Reports suggest that sporting director Edu could look to his homeland again in search of reinforcements for next season. Leading up to 2024, Arsenal were heavily linked with Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, but it is unclear whether that interest remains.
The same can be said of striker Marcos Leonardo, who was on Edu's radar before he opted for a move to Benfica instead. You cannot rule out the possibility of Arsenal looking towards Brazil again for more talent, it would seem, with an interesting report now shedding light on their interest in Wolves sensation Joao Gomes.
Arsenal set for Gomes discussions with bid possible
The 23-year-old has been an ever-present under Gary O'Neil this term, earning praise for his impressive displays since signing from Flamengo last summer.
According to newspaper O Dia, as translated by Sport Witness, Arsenal will go into discussions to sign Gomes and may make an offer for him at the end of this season.
Wolves' Joao Gomes.
Man United are named as other competitors for the defensive midfielder, but Erik ten Hag's side are not viewed as seriously as Arsenal, who appear to be taking further steps than the Red Devils as things stand.
Gomes has been called a "super talent" already by his manager, and reports suggest he's valued at around £40 million.
“He’s a super talent. There’s that language barrier as well that he works hard on," said O'Neil earlier this season.
“He’s been very impressive. At his age and with his lack of experience of Premier League football, it’s still something you have to work with him on and try to improve, but as a starting point with the qualities he has, he’s at a very, very good level.”
Batsman’s captaincy and run-scoring in the spotlight as hosts seek to close rankings gap with India
The Preview by Matt Roller27-Nov-2019Big pictureIf it wasn’t already clear that New Zealand are the closest challengers to India’s current dominance of Test cricket, then their comprehensive victory at Bay Oval last week came close to confirming it.While there are no Test Championship points at stake in this series, New Zealand do, at least, have the chance to close the gap on the runaway leaders of the ICC’s rankings with a win at Seddon Park, and assert themselves as the side best equipped to beat them in a one-off final in two years’ time.That status will only be confirmed with a competitive showing on their tour of Australia next month, but the Hamilton Test this week provides an opportunity for them to demonstrate a quality not always associated with a country so sparsely populated: depth.New Zealand coped perfectly well without Trent Boult on the final day of the first Test, but the news that he has been joined on the treatment table by prolific allrounder Colin de Grandhomme leaves them two key bowlers down.The likelihood is that Daryl Mitchell – the seam-bowling allrounder – will make his Test debut in a straight swap for de Grandhomme, but it seems that New Zealand are not willing to let Lockie Ferguson off the leash just yet. Instead, Matt Henry – whose bowling average in the high-40s does little service to his control and pace – is set to come in for Boult; some English fans will remember his devastating spell as Kent’s overseas player in 2018, which saw him take 75 Division Two wickets at 15.48 apiece.Watch cricket on ESPN+
New Zealand v England is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the Test series.
For England, the past week could hardly have gone worse. It quickly became clear as BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner ground them into the dirt while scoring at just over two runs per over that their hotly-anticipated new blueprint for Test cricket was little more than an attempt to play more like New Zealand, by batting long and bowling dry, and as Stuart Broad admitted on the final morning, the first-innings effort of 353 all out was anywhere up to 150 runs short of a good score on a flat pitch.Indeed, much of the post-match analysis has focused on Joe Root’s captaincy, and perhaps with good reason. No Englishman has captained as many overseas Tests as Root’s 14 with a worse win/loss ratio, and his ability to get the most out of Jofra Archer’s talents in particular has been up for debate ever since the fast bowler’s debut at Lord’s. The rest of the squad and the management have both publicly stood by their man, though Ashley Giles illustrated the hollow nature of that in his press conference this week. “I’m not quite sure what anyone is expecting me to say,” Giles said. “‘We’ll see how we go’? That’s not a great vote of confidence in a captain.”Add into the mix the sad news that Chris Silverwood will return home after the second day of the Hamilton Test due to a family bereavement, and the racist abuse suffered by Archer on the final day at Bay Oval – not to mention an injury scare to Jos Buttler* – and it is clear that any attempt to start afresh has been wracked with difficulty.The best way to remove the spotlight from Root before next month’s tour of South Africa would be to win convincingly and end England’s miserable record overseas under his leadership. But given they are winless in their last 16 games in Australasia – their last victory in this part of the world was the Sydney Test in 2011 – that is easier said than done.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)New Zealand WWLWW England LWLWDIn the spotlightJoe Root needs runs, and desperately. His batting average as captain has dipped below 40. He has slipped out of the top 10 of the ICC’s batting rankings for the first time since 2014. Since the start of the English home summer in July, he has scored just 371 runs in 14 innings, averaging 26.50, with almost as many ducks (three) as half-centuries (four). Root insists that his batting has “just clicked” in training, and that a return to form is “round the corner”; England will be desperate for him to demonstrate that those are not empty words.It scarcely takes one wicketless spell for a section of New Zealand fans to start questioning the purpose of Tim Southee, whose tight control over line, angle and seam position makes him the precision engineer to Lockie Ferguson’s boy racer. But his three wickets on the second morning were not far short of decisive in keeping England to 353 in their first innings, and his record at home in the past five summers – 84 wickets at 24.59 – is a fair reflection of his supreme ability in familiar conditions.Team newsMitchell is set to make his debut as the swing-bowling allrounder, while Henry is likely to edge out Ferguson and replace the injured Boult. The rest of the side is unlikely to change, though Jeet Raval’s spot might come under pressure ahead of the Australia tour with another unconvincing display.New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham, 2 Jeet Raval, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Daryl Mitchell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Neil Wagner.The likelihood of England going into the Test unchanged took a hit on Thursday*, with news of Buttler suffering a back spasm while in the gym. If he is ruled out, that would mean Ollie Pope taking the gloves for only the sixth time in a first-class match. Zak Crawley would probably come in as batting cover, although England were pondering the use of Chris Woakes as another allrounder; Woakes could come into contention anyway, with Jack Leach’s place far from certain after taking 2 for 153 in Mount Maunganui.England: 1 Rory Burns, 2 Dom Sibley, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Zak Crawley, 7 Ollie Pope (wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Chris Woakes/Jack Leach, 11 Stuart Broad.Pitch and conditionsThe pitch was very green on Tuesday – it looked as you’d expect a surface to look three days out, rather than two – but is likely to be cut. It has been hot in Hamilton, and the groundstaff have watered the pitch heavily. Seddon Park is one of the lower-scoring grounds in New Zealand, where the ball swings a bit more due to the humidity, and it is a typical ‘look up, not down’ surface.Stats and trivia New Zealand have won five and drawn one of their last six Tests at Seddon Park. Ross Taylor has made five of his 18 Test hundreds at Hamilton, and is 92 runs away from scoring 1000 at the venue. In his 12 first-class games at the ground, Daryl Mitchell averages 39.33 with the bat, and 23.60 with the ball. Dom Sibley’s strength off his pads is offset by a weakness outside his off stump. On his debut last week, he scored five runs from the 87 balls that arrived outside off, and was dismissed twice. England have lost five of their six internationals in Hamilton across formats, with their only victory a two-run win in a T20I in February 2018.Quotes”It’s fantastic opportunity for Daryl if he’s selected. I think he has the capability to do what Colin has [done] in recent times. We’re lucky we have Daryl to come in.” New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hopes Daryl Mitchell can fill Colin de Grandhomme’s big shoes“When they were 600 declared, we knew our first innings wasn’t quite good enough.” Ben Stokes took longer than most to realise England were in trouble*0900 GMT – This story was updated with news of Buttler’s injury
Peça que foi importante na Chapecoense especialmente no ano de 2019, o jovem goleiro Tiepo renovou seu acordo com o clube catarinense na última segunda-feira (3) tendo, agora, um vínculo com duração até 2022. Em palavras ditas ao site oficial do clube, Tiepo se disse “muito motivado” por conta do prolongamento contratual e espera poder retribuir com atuações destacadas na posição onde, atualmente, João Ricardo detêm a titularidade:
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>Status da disputa do Campeonato Catarinense
– Estou muito feliz e muito motivado. Agradeço a confiança de todo o pessoal da Chape por acreditar no meu trabalho. Espero retribuir da melhor forma, ajudando meus companheiros e todo o estafe do clube, para que possamos fazer uma temporada brilhante.
Quem também comentou sobre o fato foi o presidente da Chape, Mano dal Piva, exaltando a formação do atleta de apenas 23 anos de idade na base do Verdão do Oeste e suas aparições no Brasileirão de 2019 onde foi não apenas titular como uma das revelações do torneio.
– Com muita alegria, assinamos a renovação de contrato do Tiepo. Ele é um atleta nosso, formado aqui dentro, com um potencial enorme e no qual nós acreditamos muito. Já jogou Série A, comprovou o seu grande nível e a sua grande capacidade, e é por isso que renovar o vínculo com ele é motivo de satisfação. Além disso, finalmente ele está recuperado da grave lesão que sofreu, trabalhando normalmente com o grupo e aguardando a sua oportunidade. Temos certeza de que ele nos ajudará muito no decorrer das competições.
Ao todo, Tiepo fez 35 partidas pela equipe profissional onde, na curta carreira, teve como período mais complicado quando sofreu uma luxação no ombro direito na reta final de 2020. Entre o procedimento cirúrgico em novembro do ano passado e a completa recuperação, foram quatro meses.
– Depois de quatro meses em recuperação, hoje, graças a Deus, estou zerado. Treinando normalmente com os meus companheiros. Agora é trabalhar firme pra ajudar a Chape nos objetivos do ano – garantiu.
Leeds United enjoyed a relatively quiet January transfer window as the deadline passed without much movement in or out of Elland Road ahead of the second half of the season.
Leo Hjelde was allowed to leave on a permanent deal as Championship rivals Sunderland swooped in to secure the versatile defender's services.
Darko Gyabi, Luke Ayling, and Ian Poveda were also all sent out on loan to Plymouth Argyle, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, whilst Djed Spence's loan in Yorkshire from Tottenham Hotspur was cut short.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Daniel Farke then moved to sign Wales international Connor Roberts from Premier League side Burnley on deadline day as his only addition of the window, to bolster his options in the full-back position after Ayling and Spence's exits.
The Whites now reportedly have one eye on the summer transfer window as they are said to be considering a big swoop for a former player if they win promotion to the Premier League in May.
Latest Leeds transfer news
According to Football Insider, Farke is eyeing up a possible move for Manchester City central midfielder Kalvin Phillips ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The report claims that the Yorkshire-based side will be in the 'market' to sign the England international on a permanent deal if they make their way out of the Championship.
It states that the Whites are expected to spend heavily in the summer if they are promoted to the top-flight, and they have already identified their former star as one of their top targets.
Kalvin Phillips for West Ham
Football Insider claims that Leeds expect Phillips to return to Manchester City at the end of his current loan spell with West Ham United and then be sold on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
This comes just under two years after his £45m move away from Elland Road to sign for Pep Guardiola's side in the summer of 2022 – a switch that earned him a wage of £140k-per-week.
However, the report does not reveal how much it would cost to secure his services on a permanent basis this summer, or how much Leeds are prepared to pay for him.
Before they worry about the financial implications of any swoop for Phillips, Leeds must, first, ensure that they win promotion back to the Premier League.
Current Championship top six (25/02/24)
Team
Position
Matches played
Points
Leicester City
1
34
78
Leeds United
2
34
72
Ipswich Town
3
34
72
Southampton
4
34
67
West Brom
5
34
56
Hull
6
34
55
As you can see in the table above, Farke's side are currently in the automatic promotion places and are, therefore, on course to make an instant return to the top-flight.
However, Ipswich are level on points with the Whites and there could be plenty more twists and turns, with Southampton also not far behind, with 12 matches left to play before the end of the campaign.
If Leeds do end up in the top two and make their way back to the top of the footballing pyramid in England then they could land an upgrade on current star Glen Kamara by securing a deal to sign Phillips.
Glen Kamara's metronomic performances
The club swooped in to sign the Finland international from Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, and he has enjoyed a strong season in the middle of the park.
FFC recently picked Kamara out as the real hero of the night for Leeds as they beat Leicester 3-1 at Elland Road on Friday night, as the 28-year-old maestro showcased his qualities in and out of possession.
23/24 Championship
Glen Kamara
Appearances
26
Goals + assists
Two
Key passes per game
1.2
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
Duel success rate
59%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the former Arsenal prospect has offered quality as a creator in midfield whilst also being a strong presence off the ball as he has won the majority of his physical duels.
Kamara has also completed 93% of his attempted passes and made 7.28 progressive passes per 90, which places him within the top 6% of his positional peers in the Championship this season.
These statistics show that the Leeds dynamo is reliable in possession and looks to create for his teammates with progressive passing, to go along with tackles and interceptions to win the ball back for his side.
Why Phillips could be an upgrade on Kamara
Farke could, however, land an upgrade on Kamara by securing a deal to sign Phillips, who has proven his quality in the Championship and the Premier League.
During the 2019/20 campaign, in which Leeds won the second tier title, the English maestro made 37 league appearances for the club and caught the eye in and out of possession.
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips, who was hailed as "excellent" by Marcelo Bielsa, made 1.8 key passes and 4.0 tackles and interceptions per match for the Whites.
This means that he produced 0.6 more key passes and made 2.1 more tackles and interceptions per game for Leeds than Kamara has managed so far this season, which suggests that he has the quality to offer more to the team at both ends of the pitch.
The 28-year-old gem has also proven himself in the Premier League as he impressed under Bielsa during the 2020/21 top-flight campaign.
Kalvin Phillips vs midfielders (via FBref)
20/21 Premier League (per 90)
Percentile rank
Tackles (2.74)
Top 12%
Interceptions (1.67)
Top 18%
Blocks (1.82)
Top 9%
Clearances (1.96)
Top 9%
As you can see in the table above, Bielsa's 'excellent' star was defensively outstanding for Leeds in their first season back in the big time, as he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key defensive metrics.
Phillips, as evidenced by his Championship and Premier League statistics, has more quality out of possession than Kamara as he can win possession back far more frequently by cutting out opposition attacks.
That is a crucial trait to have in the top-flight as a newly-promoted team as it would be naive to expect to go up and dominate matches in the same way that they do in the second tier, which is why being strong defensively is key.
Therefore, Phillips, who also made more key passes per game than Kamara in his last season in the second division, could be a big upgrade on the current Leeds star if he can return to Elland Road and get back to his best.
One concern, however, would be that he has only started four Premier League games since the start of last term. At the age of 28, though, the talented whiz still has plenty of years left to give and could get back to match sharpness with a regular run of games in Yorkshire.
يستضيف نادي برشلونة نظيره ديبورتيفو الأفيس، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.
وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة الخامسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة على ملعب “مينديزوروتزا” في إطار منافسات الدوري الإسباني.
اقرأ ايضاً.. سبورت: برشلونة قد يدخل في صراع شرس مع ليفربول على بديل محمد صلاح
ويحتل برشلونة صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 21 نقطة، بينما يأتي ألافيس بالمركز الحادي عشر برصيد 10 نقاط.
ويقود روبرت ليفاندوفسكي هجوم فريق برشلونة في مواجهة اليوم أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس.
🚨 BARÇA XI 🚨#AlavésBarça pic.twitter.com/SZUgQAbz9A — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 6, 2024
تشكيل برشلونة اليوم أمام ألافيس في الدوري الإسباني
حراسة المرمى: إينياكي بينيا.
خط الدفاع: باو كوبارسي، إينيجو مارتينيز، هيكتور فورت، بالدي.
خط الوسط: بيدري، كاسادو، رافينها.
خط الهجوم: روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، فيران توريس، لامين يامال. بدلاء برشلونة اليوم أمام ألافيس في الدوري الإسبانيأسترالاجا، ياكوبيشفيلي، كوندي، جارسيا، دومينجيز، مارتن، دي يونج، توري، فيكتور، فاتي.
Whilst Everton's focus may well be on the potential punishment awaiting them for breaking the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules for a second time, reports suggest that they could still strengthen through the addition of a top-flight champion.
Everton break FFP rules for a second time
Having been handed a 10-point deduction earlier in the season, before fighting back to remain outside of the relegation zone, the last thing Everton needed was to face another punishment. Fighting back after losing 10 points was defiant. Climbing back after another deduction may prove to be an impossible task. Yet, here they are, in breach of the rules again.
The Premier League released a statement confirming the news that Everton and Nottingham Forest had breached their profit and sustainability rules, which read via BBC Sport:
"This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23. In accordance with Premier League rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, who will appoint separate commissions to determine the appropriate sanction."
Everton, in turn, issued a response, posting a club statement on X:
It remains to be seen just what Everton's punishment could be if they are indeed hit with another one. Currently one point above the dropzone, any deductions could prove to be fatal to their survival chances this season.
Everton make first move to sign Phillips
Even amid the aforementioned chaos away from the pitch, the Toffees could still sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this month. According to Ben Jacobs, Everton have made contact over a deal for Phillips, with Atletico Madrid and West Ham United doing the same. Jacobs posted the news on X:
Given Phillips' lack of game-time, it's more clear than ever that he desperately needs a move away from the Etihad this month if he is to stand any chance of earning a place in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 team this summer. And what better way to impress the England boss than by helping to keep Everton afloat in England's top flight?
If Sean Dyche can secure the defensive midfielder's signature and get him back to the type of form that initially earned the interest of Manchester City, then he could discover the key to survival even amid further FFP punishment. The fact that Jordan Pickford's agent is the same as Phillips' could also go a long way in helping the potential move.
At his best, Phillips has earned high praise, including from Southgate. The Three Lions boss previously said: “He’s been excellent. The way he has taken to international football, it hasn’t surprised us because what we’d seen with Leeds, even in the Championship, we felt could convert into our team. We felt he could play an important role with us."
The winger, for all of his talents, is an often puzzling omission from the conversation around the game's best
In recent months, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been repeatedly pestered about the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish capital. And on every occasion, the great Italian manager has pivoted, avoided the question, and insisted that he already has the best player in the world at his disposal in Vinicius Jr.
This is, of course, partially manager's jargon. Ancelotti has dubbed Thibaut Courtois the greatest goalkeeper in the world (potentially true). He has also insisted that he has the remainder of the top six behind Vinicius in Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos.
Accurate or not, it is a coach's job to talk up the achievements of his players. While his claims about Rodrygo, Camavinga, Kroos and Valverde might be hyperbolic, Ancelotti could just have a point when it comes to Vinicius.
The Brazilian, for all of his quality, is somehow regarded as a step under the game's greats – short of the prestige saved for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. But on the evidence of his last three years of work – including some crucial Champions League performances that have carried this Madrid side to European silverware – he belongs only at the top.
Getty
Finding his feet in Madrid
This has hardly been a simple journey for the Brazilian. For a long time, Vinicius was the talented player who couldn't quite figure it out. Thrown into the Madrid XI perhaps before he was ready, the winger made countless mistakes in key areas, and developed an unfortunate reputation for missing big chances. He drew the ire of not only Madrid fans but also his teammates, with Karim Benzema infamously discouraging Ferland Mendy from passing the ball to him for fear that he was "playing against us."
It didn't help that he came into a Madrid side that was undergoing a transition in attacking areas. The midfield trio behind him of Luka Modric, Kroos and Casemiro was long established as the best in the world. However, things were less certain in attacking areas.
Benzema was a bonafide superstar, but Madrid faced uncertainty on the wings. Eden Hazard turned out to be an expensive waste of money, while Gareth Bale's constant injuries and apparent disinterest left Los Blancos struggling in wide areas. This forced a teenage Vinicius into the starting XI, charged with carrying some of the attacking load for a Madrid side short of their best. His six goals and four assists in La Liga across his first two seasons in the Spanish capital hardly inspired confidence.
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The new Galactico
But something changed with the onset of the 2021-22 campaign. Madrid were different that year, with Ancelotti returning to the helm after six seasons away. He stripped down Los Blancos' playing style, asking his creative players to operate in moments of individual inspiration, rather than follow the sort of choreographed attacking systems that have consumed European football in recent years. Benzema was at the centre of it all, the forward allowed to roam in and out of space, collecting the ball deep, while offering gaps for others.
And although Benzema scored the bulk of the goals – and claimed the Ballon d'Or that season – Vinicius was perhaps the primary beneficiary. No longer constrained to the whites of the left touchline, the Brazilian scampered all over the pitch, encouraged to take on his man or run in behind. His understanding with Benzema – the same player who once disparaged his footballing abilities, turned into something resembling telepathy.
The Brazilian's numbers made for tidy reading: 17 goals in La Liga, four in the Champions League. He threw in 16 assists in all competitions for good measure. Still just 21, Vinicius had arrived for good.
Getty
Constant big goals
Perhaps the biggest moment of that season was his final act. Madrid turned in a typical Champions League performance against Liverpool in May 2022. Los Blancos spent the majority of the contest under immense pressure, and often lent on the brilliance of Courtois – who made 12 saves on the night – to stay in the game. In the end, they had just one clear chance, a well-constructed counter-attack. And Vinicius was the one who finished it.
It was his most important contribution in Madrid white to date, and started a streak of important European goals on the biggest of stages. He bagged two against Liverpool the following year at Anfield, and one against Manchester City in that year's semi-final. This season, he's only been more impactful. Vinicius tore up Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory. And against Bayern Munich last month, he was even better. Vinicius scored a fine goal to give Madrid the lead at the Allianz Arena, and found the net again from the penalty spot to secure a hard-fought 2-2 first-leg draw in Munich. He then backed that up by scoring the second goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Dortmund in the final at Wembley.
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Becoming the main man
All of this has happened in the midst of the growth of Vinicius as a brand. He has always caught the eye with his array of tricks, flicks and cuts. Even when he was missing chances, the Brazilian was must-see TV, if only for the way in which he did it, and the highlight-reel skills that filled the gaps in between. And as his footballing quality has developed, his star power has only grown.
These days, Vinicius is a Galactico in the traditional sense. He makes playing the game look fun, and has a persona that spreads beyond the football pitch. He has an immense social media following, spends time hanging out with Neymar, and has championed countless on-and-off field causes for the game and beyond.
There is also the unfortunate way in which he has been thrust into the spotlight. It is no secret that Spanish football – and the sport in general – has a racism problem. Vinicius, unfortunately, has been at the centre of that debate. So often chided and chanted at by rival fans, the winger has been forced into the conversation as a voice against the vitriol and anti-blackness he has faced his whole career.
There is no good way for a young man, at just 23, to be able to manage that pressure. Vinicius is, after all, an elite footballer – not a full time civil rights activist. Still, he has taken on the systemic hatred in football, and become a crucial voice against the kind of abuse he, and countless other black players have been subject to. Greatness in sport goes beyond what happens on the pitch, and Vinicius – under enforced circumstances or not – has achieved it.
أصدرت اللجنة القانونية في رابطة الدوري الفرنسي قرارًا جديدًا بشأن قضية المهاجم الفرنسي، كيليان مبابي، مع ناديه السابق باريس سان جيرمان.
وغادر مبابي باريس سان جيرمان، بعد 7 سنوات قضاها مع الفريق الفرنسي، وانضم إلى ريال مدريد في صفقة انتقال حر.
ويطالب مبابي باريس سان جيرمان بمبلغ قدره 47 مليون جنيه إسترليني، يتضمن مكافأة التوقيع، والتي كان من المفترض أن يتلقاها اللاعب في فبراير، بالإضافة إلى آخر ثلاثة أشهر من راتبه.
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وأمرت اللجنة القانونية في رابطة الدوري الفرنسي، نادي باريس سان جيرمان بدفع 55 مليون يورو الذي يطالب بها كيليان مبابي.
وتعد هذه الأموال هي أجور غير مدفوعة من قبل النادي الفرنسي لـ كيليان مبابي عن مستحقاته في شهر أبريل، مايو ويونيه لعام 2024.
وبحسب ما ورد في الصحف الفرنسية في وقت سابق، فإن نادي العاصمة الفرنسية أصبح مهدداً بالغياب عن مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا لمخالفة اللوائح المالية والقانونية في قضية مبابي.
ومن المقرر أن يحصل مبابي على جميع مستحقاته المالية من نادي باريس سان جيرمان خلال الأيام القلية القادمة.