Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 64 sets up hosts before three wickets apiece for Sonny Baker, Josh Tongue take Superchargers down

ECB Media17-Aug-2025Originals are right back in the shake-up of the Hundred men’s competition after an ultimately emphatic victory against in-form Northern Superchargers.Jos Buttler’s rich vein of form continued, registering his seventh fifty in the history of tournament to go top of this year’s run-scorers chart.He was ably supported by the classy New Zealander Rachin Ravindra, playing his first match for this year’s edition and striking 31 from just 14 balls, and then Heinrich Klaasen, who roared back into nick with a savage 25-ball 50.Only Matthew Potts offered much counter-thrust, picking up two wickets; but even he was helpless to halt the carnage at the death as Buttler and Klaasen combined for 27 runs from the final 11 balls. In all the Superchargers gave up nine sixes.Much then hinged on the Superchargers getting off to a flyer. Zak Crawley clattered two cover drives from the first set bowled by Sonny Baker, and then smashed a six off his England team-mate Josh Tongue. But a sharp catch at backward point from Matty Hurst saw Crawley depart for a nine-ball 16, and thereafter their chase flatlined.The key moment was the dismissal of Harry Brook, who top-edged an attempted sweep for 11 to give Ravindra his first wicket of this year’s competition.Originals have an enviably varied attack, with Tongue, Scott Currie and the effervescent Baker – last week called into England’s white-ball squads – providing the cutting edge and the Afghan mystery spinner Noor Ahmad offering the sparkle.Tongue and Baker shared three wickets apiece – Baker taking a hat-trick after bowling Dawid Malan for 19 off the 50th ball before returning to claim the final two dismissals, Tom Lawes caught by Lewis Gregory at deep midwicket and yorking Jacob Duffy next ball to wrap up victory.Tongue is now top of the wicket-takers’ list with nine, one ahead of his teammate Currie – while Ahmad was irresistible, taking two wickets and conceding less than a run a ball. Ravindra, with his left-arm spin, offered further control in the middle sets.For the Superchargers it was an afternoon to forget. Only David Miller, with 38, managed to make it past 19. They nonetheless remain in the mix, in a three-way tie at the top, ahead of a crucial week in this intriguing tournament.Meerkat Match Hero Buttler said: “It was hard work but I tried not to get frustrated. We built some partnerships and having guys set was crucial. We’ve played a couple of games here, and seen how the wicket can be. We tried to keep it simple and not to put pressure on our bowlers.”There’s nice variety in our attack, Josh and Sonny complement each other, and adding someone like Noor is a trump card. To put together a performance like that with bat and ball is very exciting.”Phil Salt, Originals skipper, was thrilled with the performance. “It’s been a chasing competition so far, so we’re really pleased with what the top order did today, batting first. Bowling-wise we’ve been pretty strong, with Sonny [Baker] and Scottie [Currie] and the rest doing really well.”Sonny’s brilliant as always, mad as a box of frogs. You just wind him up and let him go! In the last couple of weeks, he’s executed more often than not. It’s now about picking up momentum.”

Allrounder Cameron Green suffered low grade side soreness and will miss the entire series in order to rehabilitate before WA’s next Shield match on October 28

Alex Malcolm17-Oct-2025Australia have copped another major injury blow with Cameron Green ruled out of the ODI series against India with low grade side soreness, which could have significant implications for the upcoming Ashes.The 26-year-old Green was ruled out of the series on Friday with Marnus Labuschagne called into the squad to replace him. Labuschagne will fly from Adelaide at the completion of the Sheffield Shield match on Saturday night to join Australia’s squad in Perth ahead of the first ODI on Sunday.Green had only just returned to competitive bowling following back surgery last year, and missed the T20I tour of New Zealand to play in the opening Shield round for Western Australia against New South Wales in Perth last week. He was due to bowl eight overs in the match but only bowled four, and took a wicket – he was not allowed to bowl on consecutive days by Cricket Australia’s medical staff when Western Australia were unable to bat long enough in their first innings to allow for a full day’s rest between four-over spells.Related

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Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad

He was unlikely to bowl in the first two ODIs against India but was continuing to build his loads with a view to bowling more overs in round three of the Shield, which starts on October 28. He was going to be rested from the third and final ODI in Sydney and was also going to miss the T20I series that follows in order to play in the third and fourth rounds of the Shield to prepare for the Ashes.Green pulled up sore after bowling at training this week and will undergo a short rehabilitation period with the hope that he can still play and bowl in Western Australia’s third Shield game against South Australia at the WACA starting in 11 days’ time.The injury is a concern for Australia, who had been banking on Green being fully fit to bowl without any restrictions in the Ashes. Australia are already sweating on the fitness of Test skipper Pat Cummins, who said earlier this week he was “less likely than likely” to play in the first Test against England starting November 21 in Perth.Australia’s other Test allrounder Beau Webster is also carrying an injury concern at the moment, having missed the opening two Shield matches for Tasmania after rolling his ankle at training two weeks ago. But it is understood that CA has been ultra cautious with him and that he will be fit for Tasmania’s next Shield game on October 28.Marnus Labuschagne has been in prolific early-season form•Getty Images”I’m sure he’s going alright, he’s in good hands,” Travis Head said. “We’ll work through it, like anything else with guys who have some injuries. We’ve got Josh [Inglis] in the same position as well.”I don’t think it will have any impact on the Ashes. It’s more disappointing that he’s not here at the moment for the next three games, so he’ll work through that.I I don’t think it’s too serious, so probably more precautionary leading into the next five weeks.”Green’s injury has shorn Australia’s ODI team of yet another first-choice player. He made 118 not out off 55 balls in Australia’s last ODI, against South Africa in August.World Cup-winning skipper Cummins is unavailable for the entire India series, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will miss at least the first two ODIs as he recovers from a calf strain.Adam Zampa is missing the Perth ODI to remain at home in northern New South Wales with his pregnant wife. Alex Carey, who is normally in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI as a specialist bat and is also the back-up wicketkeeper to Inglis, is also missing the first ODI in Perth to prioritise playing the Shield match between South Australia and Queensland in Adelaide as part of his Ashes preparation.Labuschagne has been recalled to the ODI squad after peeling off 159, his fourth century in five domestic innings. Labuschagne was dropped from the ODI squad ahead of the India series after lean returns over the last 12 months. But he has been the form player in the One-Day Cup for Queensland since posting scores of 130 off 118 against Victoria and 105 off 91 against Tasmania.

Managing director Vikram Banerjee on tournament’s challenges ahead of transformative sixth edition

Matt Roller28-Aug-2025The Hundred’s squads will be overhauled ahead of the 2026 season in a “reset” evoking the IPL’s mega-auction, marking the arrival of new investors in the eight franchises. Vikram Banerjee, the tournament’s managing director, expects the move to prove unpopular with coaches but believes it is necessary to maintain the league’s competitive balance.Teams were allowed to retain up to 10 players from their 2024 squads for the ongoing season, which concludes at Lord’s on Sunday. Women’s squads were overhauled between the second and third seasons but some men’s teams – most notably Oval Invincibles, who are hunting a third successive title – have kept a consistent core throughout the Hundred’s short history.The ECB have started to discuss retention rules with teams, with some new investors pushing for an auction model to replace a draft. The regulations are yet to be finalised, but Banerjee – who has spent every day of the Hundred’s fifth season at a match – believes the timing is right to refresh squads as he bids to “supercharge” the tournament in its new era.”I’d like next year to be a bit of a reset,” Banerjee told ESPNcricinfo. “All these leagues do it over time, and next year should be one of those. There are three things that are non-negotiable. You want to make sure whatever you do brings the very best players in; whatever the mix is between draft, auction, direct signings, retentions, the very best players in the world choose to play here.Related

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“But you also need competitive balance… That ‘Any Given Sunday’ philosophy, that you don’t know who’s going to win this game, that’s a good thing. Coaches won’t like that, but from a league level, that’s an important thing. The third thing is that it has to work [for both] men and women, and that’s really important to us.”A handful of men’s players signed contracts this year aligning with new investors – such as Rashid Khan at the Invincibles (Reliance) and Steven Smith at Welsh Fire (Washington Freedom) – and that trend is likely to accelerate, with the four IPL owners involved seeking greater continuity across their global networks of franchises.The risk of a “reset” is that significant player turnover will further dilute the identities of teams that have only existed for five years. The Hundred will undergo significant change over the next 11 months, with centralised kit manufacture (New Balance) and sponsorship (KP Snacks) deals expiring. At least three team names are set to change, along with some colourways.But Banerjee believes the 2025 season has shown that the “tribalism” he hoped would develop around Hundred teams has started to emerge. “I stand by that objective,” he said. “I love the amount of yellow [in the stands] when I go to Nottingham, or green when I go down to Southampton… That fan affinity is something that we need to keep building on.”He was buoyed by the occasional needle between teams, most evident when Liam Livingstone, riled by Tom Curran allegedly calling him a “fat slob”, blazed a match-winning 69 not out: “I can’t condone the exact choice of words, but the fact that this means something to them is great… It’s so important for the high-performance element that this is the [league] that they love playing in.”The glut of flags in the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston has been a sign of the Hundred’s growing ‘tribalism’, according to Banerjee•Matt Lewis/ECB via Getty ImagesWhile new investors will not assume operational control of their franchises until October 1, they have all attended games this season: Sanjiv Goenka rang the bell at Emirates Old Trafford, the ‘Tech Titans’ posed for photos on the Lord’s pitch, and Akash Ambani visited the dressing room after an Oval Invincibles home win.”We take a lot of what we do for granted, but a full house at The Oval or Emirates Old Trafford, or 6,000 flags in the Hollies Stand, is something special,” Banerjee said. “We’re having some great conversations already about the tournament in general and while the 2026 season will come around fast, we’ve got a decent amount of time.”I would like us to be the unmissable event of the summer for families… If we can be that, then in season 20 – or whatever the number is, season 50 – I would love us to be standing shoulder to shoulder with all of the great sports brands… If I ask you what the very best sporting leagues are in the world, I would like us to be in that list [with] NFL, IPL, Wimbledon.”It is a lofty ambition, and one that many believe will only be possible if the Hundred becomes a T20 tournament. The 100-ball format does have some advantages – it suits the double-header model well, shaving an hour off each matchday, and fits into a tighter broadcast window – but has also proved unexpectedly bowler-friendly.While overwhelming support for a shift to T20 among new investors could, in theory, prompt the ECB to attempt to change ongoing broadcast contracts, a change appears highly unlikely for at least three more seasons. “People have bought into a product that is hugely successful,” Banerjee said. “[The format] allows it to go onto the BBC… It’s quite a complex conversation.”Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, set a long-term target to sell out a women’s Hundred match earlier this year, but the double-header model will remain for next season. Banerjee said he is “absolutely not” concerned that investors will only focus on the men’s competition: “The excitement, growth and equality that we’re trying to drive, they have all bought into that.”

I can’t condone the exact choice of words, but the fact that this means something to them is greatBanerjee on the ‘fat slob’ spat between Curran and Livingstone

Slow pitches remain a concern, with groundstaff stretched by the sheer volume of fixtures staged at major venues by the time the Hundred starts. “It’s easy for me to say, in my position, that I’d like, on every pitch, the ball to fly through at 90mph and scream into the middle of everyone’s bat so it goes flying out of the park,” Banerjee said. “They have a lot on their plate.”This season has been something of a holding year for the Hundred, the bridge between the tournament’s inception as a product run entirely by the ECB and its reincarnation as a league between privately-owned franchises from 2026. But Banerjee believes it has been the best edition yet, citing strong ticket sales and high attendances at women’s fixtures.”We were really keen that it wasn’t a transition year and it wasn’t a nothing year. Actually, I think this year has been the best year. It’s important that the tournament that people have bought into continues to grow, continues to be successful… It is a great tournament and it’s great fun to be at. I’m very pleased that it’s not really been a ‘transition’ [season]. It’s been a great start.”I see no reason why we can’t be that unmissable event of the summer… We need to be brilliant at knowing our fanbase on TV, digital, and in-bowl, and serving them brilliant cricket and brilliant entertainment… If we continue with our fan-first approach and philosophy and continue to invest in the things that are important to us, we can achieve that aim.”

Former Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe has signed with Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Sofia. The 29-year-old will represent the club until 2027. The sensational switch comes just two weeks after Ibe put pen to paper at Kent-based side Sittingbourne. Once considered a future star of English football, the nomadic midfielder has bounced around non-league football in recent years.

• Ibe looks to revive career in Bulgaria

  The 'Railway Workers' announced the deal on their Facebook account earlier today. 

  Ibe had signed with Sittingbourne, currently playing in eighth tier of the English football pyramid, on October 31. He said he hoped the deal would help him "rediscover his love of football", after a switch to the Swedish second division with Umea fell through in the summer due to work permit issues. The ex-Bournemouth star has been open about his struggles with depression in the past few years. 

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• Jordan Ibe: Future Liverpool star to football nomad

  Ibe's move to Bulgaria is adds another chapter to a nomadic career that started with immense promise. He first caught the attention of the football public as an academy star with Wycombe Wanderers. In 2011, he joined Liverpool's youth setup and was widely tipped to be a future regular in the England team. During his tenure at Anfield, he made 58 appearances, scoring four goals and logging seven assists. 

  A £15m transfer to Bournemouth in 2016 was supposed to accelerate his development, however an inconsistent four-year spell on the south coast ended in his release in 2020. Ibe made 92 appearances for the Cherries in all competitions. 

  A year on the books at Derby County resulted in just one league appearance, as Ibe revealed he was suffering from depression. The club and player agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent. 

  After a few months in Turkiye with Adanaspor, Ibe would spend the next few years bouncing around non-league outfits, making appearances for Ebbsfleet United, Hayes & Yeading United, Hungerford Town and Sittingbourne. 

• Lokomotiv Sofia's statement on Ibe's arrival

  Lokomotiv Sofia currently sit in 11th place in Bulgaria's First League. Originally founded in 1929, the club was wound up in 2015 due to insolvency, with a phoenix club founded in the resulting year. The original club won four league titles and four Bulgarian cups, and is historically considered one of the country's biggest clubs. 

  A club statement announcing Ibe's arrival read: "After a few difficult seasons, Jordan is ready to revive his career, and we all believe that this will happen at Lokomotiv.

  "The management of Lokomotiv wishes Jordon Ibe much health, happiness and success with the red and black jersey."

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• Lokomotiv Sofia
  

  When will Ibe make his Lokomotiv Sofia debut?

  Due to a lengthy winter break, Lokomotiv have already played half of their 30 league fixtures this season. The club has just four league games left this year, before play pauses until the first week in February, giving Ibe little time to get games under his belt if he's not deemed fit enough to start immediately. The Railway Workers' season continues with an away trip to Cherno More on November 22, with a home game against Arfa on November 28. 

Steven Smith projected a sense of calm sitting in front of a huge media throng as Australia’s captain on the eve of a home Ashes series.He’s been there and done this many times before. But this is a little different. That Smith was sitting there as the stand-in captain was not plan A for Australia.That they are playing without two of their big three fast bowlers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, in a home Test for the first time since 2022 was definitely not plan B.That they have picked two players, Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald, to debut in the same Test for the first time since 2019, and a seventh different opening partner for Usman Khawaja in 16 Tests, was not even plan C.Australia are unsettled and vulnerable. But while there is a popular belief, at least externally, that England must win in Perth to have any chance in the series, there is no sense that Australia feel Perth is make or break. The lessons of last year’s loss to India in Perth before winning the series 3-1 are fresh in their minds.”I think you want to try and win the first Test match and get yourself ahead of the game, I suppose, or the series,” Smith said on Thursday. “But I think either way we look at last summer, we lost the first Test match and we were able to claw the series back.”We’ve got a lot of belief in that change room, if the result doesn’t go our way this week, that we can turn it around. We saw it last year. So ideally, we play well this week, and we’ve got potentially Patty on the table next game. Josh, I don’t know, but I think we’ll see how this week pans out.”Steven Smith: There’s always so many words said before the [Ashes] series•Getty Images

Australia have learnt some clear lessons from 12 months ago. Despite their public protestations after copping a shellacking from India in Perth that caused a firestorm of criticism from home fans, they knew internally they had been undercooked going into that series.Related

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Every member of the squad bar Khawaja played the most recent Sheffield Shield round to prepare for the opening Test, something that didn’t happen last year. Every member of the chosen XI bar Travis Head and Mitchell Starc have played at least two first-class games in the last month, which again was not the case last summer. Perth golf courses have been frequented this week, but quantifiably less often than in the training period last year.The hype has been unprecedented. On another scale to last year, even with the inflation that India can bring. But for Smith, entering his ninth Ashes series as a player and his fifth on home soil, it has felt like par for the course.”It’s pretty standard,” Smith said. “I’ve been involved in a few now, and there’s always so many words said before the series. But for us, I think it’s about just ignoring the outside noise, concentrating on our processes, what we do well as a team and trusting and backing that throughout. It’s exciting that we’re starting tomorrow. Everyone’s been raring to go for the last few days of training and even before that.”Australia have maintained their own bubble. There were no leaks to the media of the initial Ashes squad. There was no leaks of the XI until Thursday morning, which was a pretty good achievement given the binary nature of the choices the selectors had.Even the public pontifications on how Bazball will fare in Australia have been left to ex-players, the media and the punters. Australia’s current players have consistently spoken kindly this week about the quality of England’s team and the brand of cricket they play.There were moments in the 2023 Ashes in England when Australia did look “rattled” in the field as England’s Bazballers swung momentum violently at times as only they can.The proof will be in the pudding, but Smith certainly portrayed a sense that Bazball is not “in their heads” as the Barmy Army’s song suggests.”I think it’s just playing the tempo of the game that needs to be played at each certain time,” Smith said. “I’ve no doubt throughout this series, there’s going to be periods of the game where a few of their batters get off and they score some runs quickly. And for us, it might be about being a little bit defensive in those moments. And then finding the moments where we can attack a bit more and just playing the game, really, that’s in front of us, and not letting it drift too far before we implement the plans that need to be played at that certain time. I guess that’s as simple as I can put it right now.”There are as many unknowns about Australia as there are about England ahead of this series. But it is clear Australia are not gripping the steering wheel tight in Perth. The result will be the result. Reinforcements are almost certain to come soon given how good Cummins looks in the nets.It might be the calm before the storm. But even if the storm comes, an understrength Australia appear prepared for it.

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس، عن وجود تطورات جديدة متعلقة بمستقبل موهبة نادي ريال مدريد وحقيقة انتقاله إلى الدوري الألماني الممتاز خلال الفترة المقبلة.

ويرتبط عدد من اللاعبين بالرحيل عن صفوف ريال مدريد خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل في يناير، في ظل عدم مشاركتهم بشكل منتظم مع النادي الإسباني.

ويأتي على رأس هؤلاء اللاعبين جونزالو جارسيا، موهبة ريال مدريد الشابة، والذي يعتبر من أهم اللاعبين الشباب في إسبانيا خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

ويلعب جارسيا في مركز المهاجم الصريح بجانب الجناحين الأيمن والأيسر، وقدم أوراق اعتماده مع ريال مدريد خلال مسابقة كأس العالم للأندية الأخيرة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

تقرأ أيضًا.. لاعب ريال مدريد المصاب يزف نبأً سعيدًا بعد الهزيمة أمام مانشستر سيتي

وذكر صحفي شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” فلوريان بليتينبيرج، أن جارسيا مطلوب بالفعل في الدوري الألماني، حيث يرغب شتوتجارت في ضم اللاعب البالغ من العمر 21 عامًا خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل.

وأضاف بليتينبيرج في حديثه، أن شتوتجارت يحلم بضم جارسيا، حيث يعتبر اللاعب الشاب حلمًا بالنسبة للنادي الألماني وقد جرت بالفعل مفاوضات لضمه، لكن الصفقة تبدو صعبة للغاية.

وأوضح بليتينبيرج، أن جارسيا على الأرجح مستمر مع ريال مدريد، ويرتبط بعقد مع الفريق الملكي إلى نهاية موسم 2030 المقبل.

وشارك جارسيا بشكل أساسي خلال لقاء ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي يوم أمس الأربعاء في دوري أبطال أوروبا بدلًا من كيليان مبابي المصاب، حيث انتهت هذه المباراة بخسارة الميرنجي 2-1.

Weatherley was accompanied by India batter Tilak Varma as Hampshire chased down 286

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 07-Aug-2025

Hampshire 288 for 5 (Weatherley 116*, Varma 54) beat Essex 285 (Allison 80, Neal 2-44) by 5 wicketsJoe Weatherley classily struck his third Metro Bank One-Day Cup men’s competition hundred as Hampshire beat Essex at Utilita Bowl.Weatherley provided the backbone to a well-managed chase of 286 – after Charlie Allison, Tom Westley and Robin Das all posted half-centuries for Essex.Tilak Varma also reached the landmark, but it was Weatherley’s personal best unbeaten 116 – his first century in two years – that made sure Hampshire made it two wins from two, while Essex remain winless.Hampshire stuck Essex into bat and almost immediately struck as Kyle Abbott drew an outside edge out of Matt Critchley.Robin Das and Tom Westley set the innings into place with a 99-run stand in double-quick time, the pair peppering the boundary in their better-than-a-run-a-ball half-centuries.But a middle-over squeeze slowed the run-rate and brought a succession of regular wickets.Left-arm spinner Andrew Neal broke the Das/Westley alliance when Das clipped off-balance to midwicket, before Westley followed when Tilak Varma brilliantly caught him at short fine leg.Luc Benkenstein slashed to short cover, Noah Thain powered to midwicket, and Nick Browne drove to first slip to hand Abbott his second.At 189 for 6 in the 35th over, the visitors were in danger of a seriously under-par score but Allison and Simon Fernandes revved things back into life with a no thrills partnership.Allison has had a stand-out 2025 having scored three centuries in the Rothesay County Championship, and continued that form with an unhurried 80.Fernandes had begun his One-Day Cup campaign with an unbeaten 46, and followed that with 41. But as the pair looked to accelerate Essex suffered their second slump to get bowled out for 285.Both fell in back-to-back deliveries, both caught trying to go big, while Shane Snater was bowled and Jamie Porter was caught behind.The hosts needed to go at under a run-a-ball and they stuck to that mission like a limpet.Ali Orr and Nick Gubbins eased through the new ball until the former fell to the final ball of the powerplay when Charlie Bennett bowled a snorter to get a tickle behind.Gubbins followed his century against Glamorgan with 40 but top-edged a sweep to short fine but Hampshire gained control through Tilak Varma and Weatherley.The pair put on 98 to take a huge bite into the target. Indian Varma was mostly circumspect apart from crisp shots down the ground and an incredible reverse six.He was bowled trying to charge Westley having reached a fifty before Tom Prest gifted Westley his third wicket – he returned three for 39.Weatherley had a strong Vitality Blast before a successful return to the Championship side, and oozed class throughout his innings.He dominated a 47-run partnership with Ben Mayes and then joined with Felix Organ to rush to the winning line.Weatherley reached three figures with a luscious strike through long on as part of three boundaries in a row which took the runs required to single figures. A six in the following over secured the points.

Bayern Munich are racing to extend Dayot Upamecano's contract, with sporting director Christoph Freund calling it the club's "main goal". The defender is in the final months of his deal, and reports claim Real Madrid have opened talks for a free transfer ahead of next season, which comes as no surprise to the German club's director.

Freund confirms 'main goal' to extend Upamecano deal

The 27-year-old defender's contract at the Allianz Arena is set to expire on 30 June. With the France international now in the final year of his deal, he will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in less than two months.

This precarious situation has reportedly alerted Europe's elite, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, forcing Bayern to accelerate negotiations. The public confirmation from Freund comes after president Herbert Hainer recently emphasised the club's hope that Upamecano will sign a new deal.

"It's no secret that our main goal is to extend Upamecano's contract," Freund said in a press conference. "It's also not surprising that many clubs, I don't know which ones, are interested in Upamecano because he's simply performing really, really well, is a great guy, and one of the best centre-backs in the world."

Freund noted that the player's current form, which has seen him make 19 appearances across all competitions this season, is a sign of his contentment in Munich.

The French international feels "very, very comfortable," Freund added, stating that is evident in "the energy he exudes" on the field.

However, the sporting director conceded that an agreement is not imminent, stating: "We are in talks, but there is nothing new to report at the moment."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReal Madrid 'open talks' for 2026 free transfer

The pressure on Bayern is mounting, with reports claiming that Real Madrid have already opened discussions with Upamecano's representatives regarding a free transfer in the summer of 2026.

Los Blancos have reportedly made defensive reinforcement a top priority. With uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, the club are seeking a new leader for their backline.

Upamecano is seen as a perfect fit for this next-generation blueprint, possessing Champions League experience and familiarity with Real Madrid's strong French contingent, which includes Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. His commanding performance in Bayern's 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain is said to have solidified Madrid's interest.

Kahn slams 'very weak' negotiating position

The situation has drawn sharp criticism from Bayern legend Oliver Kahn, who blasted the club for allowing a key player to enter the final year of his contract.

"The way he's playing now, at the very highest level, it's not just going to be expensive, not just very expensive, it's going to be very, very expensive for Bayern," Kahn told

The former CEO questioned the club's foresight, placing the blame for their difficult negotiating stance squarely on the board.

“The question that always arises is: why did you let Dayot Upamecano enter the final year of his contract in the first place?” Kahn said. “The only explanation is that Bayern weren't so happy with him a year or two ago. Now he's performing at the top of his game. When you're in the final year of a contract, you're in a very bad position as a club unless you pay a lot of money.”

Reports suggest those demands are high, with the defender allegedly seeking a salary of around €15 million per year plus a significant signing bonus.

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Upamecano's resurgence under Kompany fuels interest

Upamecano's exceptional form, which has triggered this contract race, is widely credited to new manager Vincent Kompany. After struggling for consistency under previous bosses Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, the Frenchman has thrived under the former Manchester City captain.

The defender, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 for €42.5m, has publicly praised Kompany's influence.

"We all watched him when we were young; he was a legend for Belgium and Manchester City," Upamecano said in a recent interview. "He was a very aggressive defender in duels, a leader on the pitch too, a good example for me. He helps me a lot; we do a lot of videos, he talks to me about my positioning. With him, it's always very intense.”

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O Botafogo anunciou a demissão do técnico Tiago Nunes. O treinador, que dirigiu o Glorioso por apenas três meses, foi desligado do cargo após reunião realizada na manhã desta quinta-feira (22), que contou com a presença das principais lideranças do Glorioso.

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As negociações para repor o antigo comandante estão sendo lideradas por John Textor, presidente do clube, em conjunto com o departamento de futebol.

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Fábio Mathias, auxiliar-técnico permanente do Botafogo, assume de forma interina o comando técnico da equipe e comandará o Glorioso no duelo contra o Audax Rio, no Nilton Santos, pelo estadual.

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Ao todo, Tiago Nunes comandou o Botafogo em 15 oportunidades, No período, acumulou quatro vitórias, sete empates e quatro derrotas, com 42,2% de aproveitamento.

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“O Botafogo informa que Tiago Nunes não é mais o técnico da equipe profissional. Em reunião das lideranças da Clube na manhã desta quinta-feira (22), foi decidido o término do vínculo com o treinador. John Textor e o Departamento de Futebol estão no mercado em busca de um novo comandante para liderar a equipe nos desafios da temporada.

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O Botafogo agradece Tiago Nunes e sua comissão técnica pelos serviços prestados e deseja sucesso nos próximos desafios. Apesar da dedicação e trabalho realizado no dia a dia, os resultados apresentados não foram esperados.

O auxiliar-técnico permanente do Botafogo, Fabio Mathias, assume interinamente e inicia as suas atividades no posto no treino desta sexta-feira. Mathias estará na beira do campo na partida contra o Audax Rio, no Nilton Santos, válida pela 10ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca.”

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Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is set to miss more time this season with a "significant" left ankle sprain, Houston manager Joe Espada said on Tuesday.

Espada said Alvarez will be "out for a while," so a long-term plan hasn't been decided on yet. There is a chance he could return this season, which ends on Sunday, Sept. 28. The Astros currently sit in the last AL wild-card spot, so Alvarez could be needed for the postseason, too.

“Let’s not get into days or weeks or anything like that,” Espada said, via . “We are going to take one day at a time, but this is going to take some time to heal. We don’t have that many days left in the regular season. He’s in there getting some treatment, getting some work done. Hopefully he’s not out for a long period of time.”

Alvarez suffered the injury during Monday night's game vs. the Rangers. Alvarez was sprinting from third base and opted against sliding into home. He touched home plate with his left foot and appeared to roll his ankle after scoring. Alvarez could barely walk off the field under his own power, and was removed from the game as a result of the injury.

The three-time All-Star just returned to the majors on Aug. 26 after being out since May 2 while he dealt with a small fracture in his hand.

Through 48 games this season, Alvarez has averaged .273/.367/.430 with 45 hits, 17 runs, 27 RBIs and six home runs.