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The Premier League is just over two weeks away, and while Tottenham Hotspur have looked good so far in pre-season, they still need to strengthen to ensure Ange Postecoglou can lead them up the table this year.

The club have been linked to a plethora of talented players this summer, from Eberechi Eze to Jonathan David, but at the moment, the only signings Daniel Levy and Co have made have been Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok.

However, that could be about to change, as recent reports have revealed that the club are making progress towards signing an incredibly talented attacker who has been compared to Dejan Kulusevski in the past.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Pedro Neto and have 'intensified their efforts' to secure his services this summer.

The report claims that the Lilywhites have now held further talks with the winger, who remains high on Postecoglou's wish list this summer.

A potential fee for the £50k-per-week star is not mentioned in the story, but previous reports from this month indicate that he could cost as much as £50m to £60m.

From a purely financial perspective, that might be too high a fee for Spurs to stomach, but considering how talented Neto is, maybe Levy and Co should splash the cash a little bit on this one – his comparison to Kulusevski is just a nice bonus.

Why Neto would be a great signing and his comparison to Kulusevski

Okay, so before we look at Neto's impressive output and why he'd be so good for Spurs, let's first examine this comparison to the Lilywhites' Swedish international and where it came from.

Well, aside from their obvious positional similarity, this comparison stems from FBref, which compared all attacking midfielders and wingers in the 2022/23 Premier League season, created a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and concluded that Kulusevski was the most similar to the Wolves ace in the entire competition that year.

The way they came to this conclusion is by looking at their underlying numbers and then comparing how closely they rank in several key metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, passing accuracy, crosses into the penalty area, through balls, goal-creating actions, tackles won, clearances and carries, all per 90.

However, while it's a nice bonus and interesting to think about, Levy and Co are obviously not going to base their decision to sign the Portuguese star soley on his similarity to the former Juventus ace. Instead, they'll focus on his impressive form last season.

For example, in just 24 appearances for the Old Gold, the Viana do Castelo-born "monster", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, found the back of the net on three occasions and provided 11 assists for his teammates, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.71 games.

Moreover, this haul of 14 goals and assists would have made the 24-year-old the fourth most productive Spurs player last season, despite the lack of games he played. This brings us to the one significant drawback in signing him: his fitness, or lack thereof.

Across the entirety of last season, the former Lazio winger missed 23 games for club and country, and while that is certainly something to consider, the upside of him moving to Tottenham is that, with the brilliant wide talent already at Postecoglou's disposal, he may well get more time to rest, thus minimising his injury risk.

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Ultimately, Neto is an undeniably talented player who could light up the Premier League with the Lilywhites, and while his fee and injury history are significant, so is the potential upside. Therefore, the North Londoners should push ahead and bring him to N17 this summer, as it may just be a gamble that pays off.

Glamorgan recover from 132 for 7 through van der Gugten and Dan Douthwaite fifties

David Hopps08-Apr-2021There has surely never been a bleaker start to the Championship season than this, well, not since last year anyway. Cricket took place at Headingley, but it was cold comfort, staged stoically in front of empty stands in the hope of better times ahead.Perhaps Yorkshire can be grateful the stands were empty. As Glamorgan played with startling enterprise to turn 132 for 7 into 310 for 8 by the close, Headingley was not quite the same without a few derisive cries of “Rubbish, Yorkshire!” and “Call yourself Champions!” (They’re not but that’s just unnecessary detail). They’ll all be watching on in-house streaming services and can be trusted to store up resentment for when the crowds finally return.Timm van der Gugten was Glamorgan’s unlikely batting stalwart. His career-best 80 not out at No. 9, from 134 balls, was an innings of optimistic muscularity and only the fourth time he had passed 50. A rebellious stand of 122 in 33 overs with Dan Douthwaite was followed by some hearty wind-ups by Michael Hogan, who walked off with 40 and will have visions of his fourth first-class fifty in the morning.Batting mayhem from the lower orders is hard enough to bear on the hottest days when the pitch is flat and the sun beats down, but somehow it is crueller still when a fast bowler can’t feel his fingers and a pitch he imagined might be his friend has lost interest.Douthwaite produced the most considered resistance in that late spree. He failed to break through at Surrey and Warwickshire and was given his chance at Glamorgan during studies at Cardiff University. After a decent all-round season in 2019, he had a stint at No. 6 last summer, but he was back at eight, at least for now.Douthwaite was finally silenced with the second new ball five overs old when he allowed a delivery from Ben Coad to strike his off stump. He will relish memories of a hooked six against Duanne Olivier which was high enough to have required stepladders. Telling Olivier it’s not a pitch for bouncers is like advising Piers Morgan to avoid publicity.Even Douthwaite’s belligerence came with moments of fortune, most notably in a wild slog against Matthew Fisher which careered over slips. As the seamers flagged, he deposited the offspin of Joe Root over long-on for six in a manner that informed Root that part-time offspin might have its moments in international cricket, but it had no place on a freezing day of the Championship in April.Six years have now passed since Yorkshire’s back-to-back Championships under the stewardship of Jason Gillespie, and Mark Arthur, Yorkshire’s chief executive, has told the annual meeting on Zoom that the county can boast its strongest squad in his near-decade in charge.In these parts that represents title talk – and leaving out David Willey did suggest either strength in depth, misguided selection or a little bit of both. Willey appeared as 12th man at one point in a hi-vis jacket, Yorkshire woolly hat and face mask which was not how it used to be done in the days of Lord Hawke.Douthwaite’s misjudgement extended the disastrous leave-alones to three, one in each session. Without them, Glamorgan’s situation could have been even better. Fisher, who, at 23, needs to kick on this summer to justify the expectations of his teenaged years, tailed the ball in slightly to hit the off stumps of David Lloyd in the morning and Callum Taylor after lunch.Glamorgan’s gusto brought life to these strange, slightly artificial proceedings. Infection rates may be falling fast, but Yorkshire is now Covid Central according to figures from Centre for Cities, which suggests that seven of the top eight towns and cities for new infections are in the county. The storm is not yet weathered.Nevertheless, Championship cricket has withstood jokes for at least half-a-century about how nobody watches it, which suggests it is perfectly designed to play to quarter-full grounds from May 17. Even those who do turn up tend to prefer their own company so much that they inventing social distancing long before anybody had even heard of the phrase.Before van der Gugten and Douthwaite wrested attention, pre-match interest had centred upon only the second cricket meeting of the Root brothers, the previous being a Royal London Cup tie four years ago. “I’ve not seen him since September,” observed Billy, who has been locked down in Wales while Joe pushed his Test batting average towards 50 with impressive shows in Sri Lanka and India.Reintroductions were made from third slip as Billy reached the wicket at 29 for 3. He fashioned Glamorgan’s early resistance with a workmanlike 43, and narrowly survived being run out by Joe on 38 when he pushed Fisher into the off side, chanced a single and was short of his ground when the throw missed the stumps. Coad eventually dismissed him, from around the wicket, leaving him for Jonny Tattersall to hold a low catch to his left. There was a flirty half-century, too, for Kiran Carlson, who seems to like a square drive.Yorkshire will need to be more resourceful when they are up against it if their imagined title challenge is to materialise. The new-ball pair of Fisher and Coad can sustain them, but the captain, Steve Patterson, is 37 now, and Olivier must dream on days like this of the hot sun and fast, bouncy pitches of his native South Africa.

Robin van Persie does not believe that he will ever work at Arsenal as the Dutchman fears that bridges were burnt with his Manchester United switch.

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Van Persie played for Arsenal from 2004 to 2012Man Utd move made him a villain at the Emirates Ruled out a return to Arsenal in the futureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

During his tenure as a player, Van Persie dazzled fans at Arsenal from 2004 to 2012, before making the high-profile switch to Old Trafford – a transfer that turned him into a villain to the Gooners. Although it has been more than a decade since the infamous transfer, the former striker believes that it is still a "sensitive" topic in North London and it will be better if he kept that chapter closed for good.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT VAN PERSIE SAID

Now 41 years old, the Dutch football icon transitioned to management in 2024, taking charge of Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen. Speaking about his future aspirations, Van Persie candidly acknowledged that returning to Arsenal in a coaching role is improbable.

"I don’t expect to work at Arsenal. I think that door is closed," he admitted in an interview with . "Because of my switch to Manchester United, that is my assessment. You never know in football, but that is my assessment.

"It is still sensitive for them, not for me. It is especially sensitive for the Arsenal fans. I have learned that planning so far ahead makes no sense at all. I don’t want that either. I mainly live in the here and now. I really enjoy it here and I am very proud to be the coach of SC Heerenveen. I feel I feel very welcome within the club and among the fans. I also think that is important that you feel welcome."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Van Persie enjoyed remarkable success during his time with Arsenal, scoring 132 goals and providing 56 assists in 278 appearances. He played a crucial role in securing the FA Cup for the club in 2005, marking a memorable chapter in his career. However, his decision to join Manchester United in 2012 altered his relationship with Arsenal fans. Nonetheless, at United, Van Persie continued to shine, contributing 58 goals and 15 assists in 105 games and led the Red Devils to the Premier League title in 2013.

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

For many Arsenal supporters, Van Persie’s legacy remains a complex one. His years of brilliance at the Emirates are often overshadowed by his controversial departure. However, his achievements as a player are undeniable, and his current stint as a coach hints at a promising future in football management – just not one likely to involve Arsenal.

Now that the summer's international tournaments have wrapped up, focus on the transfer window will be accentuated, though, much to the frustration of the fanbase, all remains quiet at Liverpool.

Arne Slot is assessing his newly inherited squad and still awaits the returns of multiple first-team stars following international commitments, with sporting director Richard Hughes revealing that business is more likely to be conducted later down the line.

However, FSG are always willing to move for a shrewd deal, and there's one such market opportunity that might just prove to be too good to turn down.

Liverpool transfer news

According to Calcio Mercato, Juventus are struggling to meet Atalanta's demands in the pursuit of centre-midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, which could see Liverpool steal ahead.

The Merseysiders are long-time admirers of the Netherlands international, who played under Slot at AZ Alkmaar, and while Juventus are hoping to seal the deal, finances are proving to be a sticking point.

Liverpool are understood to hold the funds to complete a deal, however, and given that Atalanta are holding for €60m (£50m), the Reds may yet find themselves in the driving seat, having already moved ahead to learn conditions of a possible transfer.

What Teun Koopmeiners would bring to Liverpool

A multi-functioning midfielder, Koopmeiners is creative in possession and crisp and combative out of it, with a wide range of technical strengths that could see him excel in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old was forced to watch his nation's Euro 2024 campaign from the sidelines after picking up an injury on the cusp of the tournament, though there's no question that he earned his stripes last season, instrumental in Atalanta's Europa League triumph – ending Bayer Leverkusen's record unbeaten streak to lift the trophy and defeating Liverpool on the way to the final.

He was described as "very versatile" by his Serie A manager, Piero Gian Gasperini, though he spent much of the 2023/24 campaign in a forward-driving midfield position, scoring 15 goals across 51 appearances and adding seven assists.

Matches played

34

12

Matches started

29

10

Goals

12

0

Assists

5

2

Pass completion

82%

79%

Big chances created

9

4

Touches per game

54.0

55.5

Key passes per game

1.8

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.4

4.0

Dribbles per game

0.6

0.8

Tackles per game

1.1

1.8

Duels won per game

3.2

3.8

Marvelling at the player's ability, his former coach Pascal Jansen has said: "His stamina is amazing. His pressing and chasing abilities when out of possession, I would almost say they are inhuman."

It's almost like he's tailor-made for Slot's high-octane, control-focused system, even ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Italian top flight last term for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Why Liverpool need Teun Koopmeiners

Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre of the park, though if Slot and Co opt against signing a specialist No. 6 it is highly likely that Alexis Mac Allister will operate in a deeper-lying role, as he did on many occasions under Jurgen Klopp last year. Wataru Endo enjoyed a solid campaign last term too but the 31-year-old has his limitations.

Despite the wealth of talent at Slot's disposal in the middle of the field, Koopmeiners could make a marked impact on the squad, not least because he embodies many of Thiago Alcantara's standout attributes.

Thiago has recently retired from football after his Liverpool contract expired last month. The 33-year-old is one of the game's superlative technicians, distinguished across the globe, though his final professional term was wrecked by injuries that limited him to just five minutes of action, coming in a defeat against Arsenal in February.

Still, while his Liverpool career didn't reach the heights dreamily envisaged, Thiago still excelled across his 98 appearances, with talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino even remarking that he's "up there with the very best".

Statistical data from the 2023/24 campaign is negligible, but the previous term illustrates quite clearly how good the maestro was, despite suffering significant injury issues again. He ranked among the top 2% of Premier League midfielders in 2022/23 for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90, showcasing how he was one of the most complete midfielders around.

Once praised as the "complete" midfielder by Dutch legend Ruud Krol, Koopmeiners could prove to be a brilliant Thiago replacement, not quite stylistically identical but carrying some of the Spaniard's principal ball-playing characteristics – and a sharp intelligence besides.

It would be unjust to say that the Anfield side need a Thiago replacement: he didn't play last season. That said, one can only imagine the heights that could have been reached with the midfield magician pulling strings from the heart of the field, perhaps instilling the perfect chemistry and coherence through his passing prowess to have seen Liverpool swerve the late-season slump that unravelled Klopp's swansong.

Slot is working hard to drill his philosophy into the Red Merseysiders, and while he's lost one of the Premier League's brightest midfield talents in Thiago, he could swiftly replace him with a player he knows well: Koopmeiners. The Dutchman is tenacious and supremely talented, willing to chip in defensively and boasting the motor requisite for success in the fast-paced Slot system.

Whether FSG decide to make such a move this summer remains to be seen, but there's no doubting Koopmeiners' quality, and there's no question that he would be a credit to Slot's outfit.

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O volante João Mafra marcou o seu primeiro gol pelo São Bernardo, na vitória de 2 a 0 diante do Atibaia pelo Campeonato Paulista Sub-20. Ele balançou a rede adversária após uma bela cobrança de falta, no canto do goleiro.

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O jogador comemorou o tento marcado e projetou o futuro da equipe do ABC Paulista na competição estadual.

– Fiquei muito feliz de marcar esse primeiro gol pela equipe e ter ajudado meus companheiros e o time a sair com a vitória no jogo. Estamos bem no campeonato e vamos lutar por grandes coisas na competição – afirmou o jogador.

Pelo Tigre do ABC, onde é capitão, Mafra disputou 4 jogos e marcou um gol. Ele começou a sua carreira no Londrina, onde atuou na Copa São Paulo de Futebol Jr, Copa do Brasil Sub-20 e Paranaense Sub-19. No Tubarão, jogou 32 partidas e marcou dois gols.

Depois teve a oportunidade de estrear no profissional pelo Cianorte (PR), quando entrou em campo diante do Santos pela Copa do Brasil. Ainda atuou no empate contra o Boavista (RJ) pelo Campeonato Brasileiro da Série D. Logo após, se transferiu ao time Sub-20 do São Bernardo, onde atualmente joga no Campeonato Paulista da categoria.

O atleta de 19 anos já foi campeão paranaense pelo Sub-15 do Coritiba e Sub-20 do Londrina. Mafra é a grande aposta da diretoria para o time profissional e uma das grandes esperanças de venda para clubes maiores do futebol brasileiro e internacional.

The 2023/24 season was not as fruitful for Manchester United as many fans would no doubt have hoped. The Red Devils arguably went backwards compared to their successes in the previous campaign, something that almost cost manager Erik ten Hag his job.

However, following the season review commissioned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Dutchman was kept in his post as United manager.

Last season, United finished in a very disappointing eighth in the Premier League. They ended on 60 points, the same as seventh-place Newcastle United, but finished lower than the Magpies due to their far inferior goal difference of minus one, compared to Newcastle’s plus 23.

Although they finished out of the spots for an automatic European qualification spot, United will still play continental football next season; their historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City ensured they will play in next season’s Europa League. Goals from academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo made sure of that.

Ten Hag will no doubt be desperate to improve on last season’s standings, and United will certainly dip into the transfer market to add to their squad. They have recently been linked with one Premier League star who could bolster their attacking options.

Man Utd target Premier League striker

The player in question here is Brentford and England international striker Ivan Toney. The 28-year-old has struggled to find his feet at times since returning from an eight-month ban for gambling, but could still be in for a big move over the summer.

As per a report from The Independent earlier this week, Toney is one of three centre-forwards on United’s 'striking shortlist' this summer. Ideally, the Red Devils are looking to strengthen the options up front and reduce the workload on young 2023 summer signing Rasmus Hojlund.

The report outlined that the England international is 'expected to leave Brentford over the summer and that Toney is 'reluctant to sign a new deal' at the Gtech Community Stadium. This has put United on high alert, and Ten Hag’s side could look to try and sign Toney as a result. However, he is not the only player on their shortlist, with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee and Lille’s Jonathan David as their other two options.

According to a recent report from talkSPORT, the Bees have slashed their asking price for Toney. The England international was valued at £80m, but Brentford will likely ask for £60m, with anything less likely to be refused. United are not the only side interested, with Arsenal also thought to be considering a move for Toney, as per TalkSport.

How Toney could fit in at Man Utd

Despite struggling to find the back of the net since his return to football in January, there is no doubt that Toney is a superb striker. Football analyst H described him on X as “the real deal” in 2022, before going on to explain that the England international is “the perfect modern CF” in the same post.

Indeed, Toney will likely be disappointed with his Premier League return in 2023/24. In 17 games, he scored just four times and registered two assists. Those four goals came in his first five appearances since returning from his ban. He did get on the score sheet against Tottenham and Liverpool in two of those games.

However, the striker has got a superb record in league football since the 2018/19 season. In that time, he has scored 107 times, hitting double figures every time aside from the most recent campaign. He is someone who knows where the back of the net is, which is exactly what United need. He has also maintained his form in progressive higher divisions, showing how lethal he can be against the best.

If there is one thing Toney will add to this United side, it is goals. Despite a tough season, his quality is undeniable. In 2022/23, his 20 Premier League goals were bettered by only Erling Haaland with 36 goals, and Harry Kane with 30 goals. He is an elite goalscorer who possesses elite movement and killer instinct in the penalty box. Based on that, he could be the ideal candidate to partner with Hojlund.

In terms of his profile, Toney could be exactly what United need to complement Hojlund. Many believe that the young Denmark striker has been misused by Ten Hag so far, having been asked to hold the ball up lots and play with his back to goal. In actual fact, his strength lies in running the channels in behind opposition defences.

This was something that football analyst Adam Bate pointed out in an article for Sky Sports. He highlighted that Hojlund prefers to be 'finding space with his movement' rather than holding up play to help teammates around him.

Instead, this is something that Toney could help add to United’s squad. In a separate post discussing the England international in May 2023, H explained on X that he is one of the very best “back to goal” strikers in the Premier League. He also added that Toney has “so many tools when holding up the play” which make him so effective.

Statistically, this can be reflected in some of his passing numbers from last season in the Premier League. According to FBref, the Englishman averaged 1.12 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 21%, 0.31 through balls, placing him in the top 15% and 2.48 progressive passes per 90.

This shows how comfortable Toney is at dropping deeper, holding up play and then finding passes to teammates ahead of him. He would excel with runners such as Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho in behind him, and he could well bring out the best in those players.

However, it is not just the way he holds the ball up which can help his teammates. Note the above goal from Brentford striker Neal Maupay against Manchester City. The way Toney uses his body to shield the ball from Nathan Ake and allow Maupay to run onto and score is extremely effective. He has not touched the ball once in this phase of play but is able to create a chance for Maupay using his upper body strength and game intelligence.

Whilst it may be a move straight from the training ground, he has the skill to execute it at the first time of trying. Imagine Rashford running into that ball. It is an extremely effective scoring method, which only works with a profile like Toney. It really showcases just how smart the 28-year-old is.

For a fee of around £60m, signing Toney could be a masterstroke from Ratcliffe. He brings guaranteed goals, a unique profile that the squad lacks, and could bring the best out of Marcus Rashford. Toney could be the centre-forward who helps return United to the top of English football.

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Newcastle United's injury troubles during the 2023/24 are well known, with Eddie Howe's side hit with multiple long-term absentees, subsequently missing out on any form of European football for next season.

Players such as Sven Botman and Nick Pope missed large spells of the last campaign with various issues, with Howe’s defence massively suffering as a result of their respective absences.

However, the attacking department was just as affected, with Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron both suffering their own fitness issues, restricting their minutes on the pitch.

The latter saw a drop in performance when he returned to action, failing to score a single goal in the Premier League for the Magpies in 2024, and unable to get anywhere near his tally of 11 goals from the season prior.

As a result, Howe must look to offload the Paraguayan this summer, with the club willing to part ways with the former Atlanta United attacker.

Miguel Almiron could be set to leave Newcastle this summer

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Almiron's future at Newcastle remains unclear ahead of the transfer window which opens over the coming days.

The Magpies reportedly agreed to sell Almiron to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab during the January window, but Howe decided to keep hold of the attacker, with the 30-year-old potentially one step closer to the exit this time around.

However, the transfer guru confirmed that Newcastle are open to parting ways with the Paraguayan during the off-season, with the club needing to raise funds to avoid any form of punishment for breaking the Premier League’s FFP rules.

Games

33

Minutes played

1,947

Goals

3

Assists

1

Minutes per goal or assist

486

When delving into his weekly earnings on Tyneside, it’s no surprise that Howe and Co are willing to offload the attacker, with his wages massively more than one player who has impressed during the closing stages of 2023/24.

How much Miguel Almiron earns at Newcastle

Over the last couple of years under the Saudi PIF, the club have been able to hand out more lucrative contracts to the playing squad, allowing them to attract numerous top-quality players.

Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes are just two examples, with the pair, who earn £120k-per-week and £160k-per-week respectively, as per Capology, both arriving at the club, transforming Howe’s side and pushing them back towards European football.

Almiron was another beneficiary, earning a reported £60k-per-week on Tyneside, with the forward taking home just over £3.1m per season at St James’ Park.

His subsequent weekly earnings see him pocket eight times more than £28m signing Lewis Hall, who only earns £7k-per-week despite his excellent end to the season, which saw him score his first Premier League goal in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

Given Almiron’s recent injury troubles and lack of impact when called upon, Howe should look to offload him upon the opening of the transfer window, with this summer potentially the last chance to make a profit on the £20m they paid for him over five years ago.

His wage and any fee generated would go a long way towards the club’s battle to avoid an FFP punishment, with the club still in danger of a breach should they splash the cash once more this summer.

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قال رمزي صالح حارس مرمى الأهلي السابق، إنه يجب على الشعب المصري أن يكون فخورًا بالقلعة الحمراء، حيث أنه دائم التواجد في المحافل العالمية.

ويستعد الأهلي لخوض مواجهة مرتقبة أمام باتشوكا المكسيكي في مباراة كأس التحدي والمؤهلة لنهائي كأس إنتركونتتيننتال 2024.

وأضاف صالح في تصريحات تلفزيونية لفضائية “بي إن سبورتس”: “لاعبو الأهلي على قدر المسؤولية، ولا خوف على المارد الأحمر أمام جماهيره، لكنها مباراة صعبة”.

تشكيل الأهلي أمام باتشوكا في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال.. وسام أبو علي والشحات يقودان الهجوم

وأكد: “حتى وإن كان الأهلي لا يمر بأفضل حالاته لكنه يعرف كيف يلعب المباريات الكبيرة”.

وتابع: “باتشوكا فريق صعب ومنظم ويجيد التحولات الهجومية السريعة، وشراسة وقتال، لكنه يحتل مركزًا متأخرًا في جدول الدوري المكسيكي”.

واستكمل: “على الأهلي أن يتعلم من درس بوتافوجو، الذي أصر على البناء من الخلف، وعلى الأهلي أن يلعب كرات طولية من الخلف ليتفادى هجوم باتشوكا”.

واستطرد: “باتشوكا لعب ضغطًا عاليًا لمدة 70 دقيقة أمام بوتافوجو، لكن الفريق البرازيلي تأثر بحكم السفر والإرهاق، والإصرار على البناء من الخلف، وأتمنى آلا يرتكب كولر نفس الخطأ ويُصر على البناء من الخلف مثلهم”.

وأتم: إن شاء الله يستغل لاعبو الأهلي الفرص التي تتاح لهم، ويسجلون منها أهدافًا، فريق باتشوكا ينوع في هجماته ويستفيد من أخطاء المنافس، يُهاجم بقوة ويمتلك لاعبين في هذا الخط ذوي إمكانيات جيدة”.

واختتم: “أسامة إدريسي لاعب لديه مهارة قوية، وعلى لاعبي الأهلي عدم ترك المساحات له”.

ظهر مدرب ليفربول آرني سلوت في مؤتمر صحفي، اليوم الجمعة، للحديث قبل مباراة فولهام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتطرق سلوت للحديث عن محمد صلاح ومستقبله مع ليفربول، وتجديد عقده هو والثنائي ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وفيرجيل فان دايك.

وتنتهي عقود محمد صلاح وأرنولد وفان دايك مع ليفربول في نهاية الموسم الجاري، ولم يُعلن بعد عن التوصل لاتفاق للتجديد.

وقال سلوت عن العقود: “لا يقلقني هذا، نحن نقبل الوضع كما هو، إنهم يلعبون في نادٍ جيد للغاية ويقدمون أداءً جيدًا للغاية في الوقت الحالي”.

وتابع موجهًا حديثه للمراسل: “إنها طريقة إبداعية للسؤال، هل ساعدك رئيسك؟، إنه نفس الوضع كما هو، لكنهم يلعبون في نادٍ جيد للغاية، إنهم يلعبون بشكل جيد حقًا في الوقت الحالي، ونأمل أن نتمكن من الحفاظ على هذا المستوى لفترة طويلة جدًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | 3 أرقام مميزة بانتظار محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وفولهام

وأضاف بشأن محمد صلاح: “أعمل مع العديد من اللاعبين المميزين هنا، ومحمد صلاح هو بالتأكيد واحد منهم”.

وأكد: “إنه أحد اللاعبين الذين يجب أن يسجلوا الأهداف، وهو أيضًا أحد الأسباب التي تجعلنا نحافظ على نظافة شباكنا في العديد من المباريات”.

واستطرد: “وهو أحد اللاعبين الذين يشكلون المنتج النهائي لهجماتنا، لقد كان يفعل ذلك لسنوات مع ليفربول، دعونا نأمل أن يتمكن من الاستمرار في القيام بذلك أيضًا”.

وأردف: “بشكل عام، فهو يعمل بجدية كبيرة من أجل الفريق عندما لا نمتلك الكرة، وهذا أمر مهم للغاية بالنسبة لنا كفريق أيضًا”.

Casemiro has reportedly made a decision on his Manchester United future as Galatasaray plot a move for the Brazilian after Liverpool nightmare.

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• Casemiro was poor against Liverpool
• His mistakes led to two of the goals
• United are ready to ship him to Turkey

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following a string of unimpressive performances, including a particularly difficult outing against Liverpool, speculation had arisen about Casemiro's potential departure from Old Trafford. Galatasaray have been considering a move for Casemiro, with their transfer window still open until next Friday but the former Real Madrid star has no intention of leaving Manchester United, according to

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Casemiro’s debut season at Manchester United was highly successful after his £70 million ($92m) transfer from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022. The Brazilian played a key role in United’s resurgence, helping the team secure a top-four finish and a place in the UEFA Champions League. However, the 2023-24 season had been less kind to the 32-year-old as his form noticeably dipped, with errors creeping into his performances. And the recent struggles against the Reds have put his future in uncertain waters under Erik ten Hag.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Casemiro has been left out of the national team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. The exclusion adds to the midfielder’s recent woes and raises questions about his current standing both at club and international levels. Moreover, his position at United has been further complicated by the arrival of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan midfielder, who joined the Red Devils in a £50.5 million deal (£42.3m/$55m), poses direct competition for Casemiro's starting spot in midfield and could potentially find himself on the bench more often this season after his latest stinker against Liverpool.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CASEMIRO?

  It is understood that Casemiro is not fazed by the competition as he backs his abilities to reclaim his place in the starting lineup. He is currently Manchester United’s highest-paid player, earning a reported £375,000 ($394,000) per week and it is unlikely that Galatasaray would be able to match these wages. The Red Devils were hoping to get a formal offer from one of the clubs in the Saudi Pro League but with the transfer window now closed, the prospect of Casemiro moving to the Middle East has dissipated.