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يستعد ريال مدريد لاستكمال مبارياته في الموسم الحالي 2025/2026 بعد الفوز الكبير والمهم الذي حققه أمام أتلتيك بلباو، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

حقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، فوزًا مهمًا على حساب أتلتيك بلباو، بثلاثية نظيفة، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وواجه ريال مدريد نظيره أتلتيك بلباو، مساء اليوم، الأربعاء، في إطار منافسات الجولة 19 المقدمة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

واستضاف ملعب “سان ماميس” مباراة ريال مدريد بقيادة تشابي ألونسو وأتلتيك بلباو، في الجولة الاستثنائية من “لا ليجا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ألونسو يعاني.. إصابة جديدة تضرب ريال مدريد أمام أتلتيك بلباو

كان كيليان مبابي تألق في المباراة ونجح في تسجيل هدفين رائعين أمام بلباو، كما قدم تمريرة حاسمة أيضًا في الهدف الثاني الذي أحرزه كامافينجا ليساهم في الثلاثة أهداف كاملة. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد القادمة بعد الفوز على أتلتيك بلباو في الدوري الإسباني

ومن المقرر أن يواجه ريال مدريد في مباراته القادمة نظيره سيلتا فيجو، في إطار منافسات الجولة الـ16 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويواجه ريال مدريد بقيادة تشابي ألونسو نظيره سيلتا فيجو مساء يوم الأحد، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر مساءً بتوقيت مكة المكرمة، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

Big-money transfers certainly haven’t been alien to Manchester United in recent seasons, with the hierarchy forking out a pretty penny on players in the transfer market.

The Red Devils’ transfer record currently sits at £89m, with such a fee being forked out for the signature of Paul Pogba back in the summer of 2016.

However, the club have previously come close to breaking such a record, especially after forking out a deal with £86m for Antony’s signature just a couple of years ago.

The hierarchy have seen first hand that spending big on such players doesn’t equal Premier League success, especially with the Brazilian leaving for just £19m last summer.

That hasn’t stopped the board from wanting to replicate such deals in the upcoming window, with numerous big-money deals touted ahead of the January market.

Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have ramped up their efforts to land Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the Red Devils even entering talks to land the Englishman.

However, a deal would likely be another expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature in the coming months.

Ruben Amorim’s men aren’t alone in the pursuit for Anderson’s services, as rivals Manchester City have stormed into the race to land the 23-year-old in the near future.

He’s not the only big-money player currently in the Red Devils’ sights, as the hierarchy have identified Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior as a potential transfer target.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are currently preparing a club-record €150m (£131m) bid for the Brazilian, with the forward having just over 18 months left on his deal at the Bernabeu.

They also state that the player himself could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, especially given his recent fall-out with manager Xabi Alonso.

Why United’s £131m target would be Amorim’s next Garnacho

Not all of United’s stars have joined in massive transfers, as seen with winger Alejandro Garnacho, who joined for a minimal fee from Atlético Madrid as a teenager.

The Argentine managed to force himself into the first-team reckoning a couple of years ago, with the youngster registering nine combined goals and assists in his first season as a professional.

His next two seasons with the Red Devils would follow in a similar vein, as the 21-year-old scored 21 times and registered 15 assists – one of the best returns in the first-team squad.

However, it wouldn’t be enough to maintain his future at Old Trafford, as Amorim constantly made an example of him for his attitude issues which resulted in him being frozen out of the squad.

Garnacho would depart the club during the summer, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea in a deal worth a reported £40m – a decent fee given his failures in Manchester.

Despite the sale, Amorim could get his next version of the Argentine in January, especially if the hierarchy sanction a club-record move to land Vinicius.

As previously mentioned, he’s constantly had his own disciplinary issues, with it all coming to a head in the meeting with Barcelona, as the Brazilian reacted furiously to being substituted.

Such issues could lead to his exit from the Bernabeu, potentially leading to a switch to England and finally getting a taste of the greatest division in the world.

However, despite his struggles, he’s managed to impress on the pitch in recent times, with his numbers leading to Thierry Henry labelling him the “best in the world”.

Games played

13

Goals & assists

9

Progressive carries

8.9

Progressive passes

4.8

Pass accuracy

80%

Key passes

2.9

Passes into final third

1.9

Take-on success

38%

Carries into final third

2.9

Vinicius has already registered nine combined goals and assists in LaLiga this campaign, a tally that would make him the most effective player in Amorim’s current side.

Tallies such as 8.9 progressive carries and his 38% take-one success further highlight the talent he possesses with the ball, potentially having the creative nature to provide those around him with opportunities.

His passing stats also make for excellent reading, with the Brazilian making 2.9 key passes per 90, 1.9 of which going into the final third – arguably making him the perfect all-round attacker.

£131m would be a massive statement of intent from the board, but it’s a deal that would no doubt hand the first-team yet another world-class attacking option.

However, his attitude will certainly need to be watched, especially given the recent decline of Garnacho, with Amorim needing to keep the attackers’ feet firmly on the ground.

Haaland 2.0: Man Utd can sign "one of the best STs in Europe" for £44m

Manchester United could be about to sign a new talisman like Erling Haaland in January.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 29, 2025

Liverpool suffered yet another defeat, their eighth in 11 games across all competitions, as the troubles continue to mount at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side were thrashed 3-0 at the hands of Nottingham Forest, who have now won away to the Reds in two consecutive seasons.

It was a dire performance once again from the Merseysiders, who looked short of any sort of creative ideas and weak at the back. The first goal came from a corner again, with Murillo peeling away into space and picking up a loose ball, which he fired past the returning Alisson to put Forest 1-0 up.

The East Midlands outfit thought they had a second, but Igor Jesus saw his goal disallowed for a contentious handball. Their second came seconds into the second half, with right-back Nicolo Savona ghosting into the penalty box and hammering home from ten yards or so.

Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White capped off a wonderful day out for his side in the 78th minute. After brilliant play from Omari Hutchinson, he saw his shot saved by Alisson. However, the Brazilian could only palm it into the path of Gibbs-White, who clinically finished to seal the win.

It was another poor showing from the Reds, with Alexander Isak struggling once again.

Alexander Isak’s stats vs. Forest

The start of Isak’s Liverpool career has been very stop-start. He’s missed six games in total, for various reasons, and hasn’t played in the Premier League since the 19th of October.

His return to top-flight action against Forest was disappointing.

The Sweden international, who is still searching for his first Premier League goal in Red, was hooked by Slot after just 68 minutes, with his side still searching for two goals to bring them back into the game.

Indeed, his numbers reflect just how poor a performance it was from Isak. He managed just 15 touches, losing possession seven times, and only had one shot, which accumulated an expected goals tally of 0.13xG.

Isak stats vs. Forest

Stat

Number

Touches

15

Number of times ball lost

7

Passes completed

6

Duels won

0/7

Shots

1

Expected goals

0.13xG

Stats from Sofascore

One person who was critical of the Liverpool number nine was Goal journalist Stephen Darwin. He gave the Swede a 2/10 for his performance at Anfield, pointing out that he ‘wasn’t even close to breaking his duck’ when it comes to Premier League goals.

However, the blame cannot solely lie with the striker, who didn’t necessarily get the service he needed.

Two players who struggled to get the ball to Isak

One of the key things that Darwin stressed in his review of Isak’s performance was the fact that he ‘hardly had a kick’ of the ball. Of course, 15 touches makes for poor reading, but you still have to provide the ball for your centre-forward.

Two of the players who struggled with exactly that were wingers Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Generally speaking, it was not the worst performance, with Salah creating three chances and Gakpo one, although they were sloppy in possession, losing the ball a combined 53 times.

However, it was their service to the Reds centre-forward which was inadequate at best. According to Stats Zone, the Liverpool number ten passes to Isak just three times, and Dutch international Gakpo twice.

That is certainly not the level of service he needs to help him start finding his best form in front of goal. Perhaps it is due to the clash of profiles. Both Salah and Gakpo are inside forwards who like to cut inside, entering similar areas to those Isak operates in.

Alternatively, the problem could simply be a lack of time spent on the pitch with their new teammate. Isak has missed such a large portion of the season that it simply might take some time for the trio to gel.

Regardless, it is a problem Slot must fix quickly. The Reds’ form is a huge concern, as they slip further down the Premier League table. The Dutchman must get his big-money striker and first-choice wingers firing, as they look to rectify this poor form.

Related Better signing than Semenyo: Liverpool enter race for £100m "superstar"

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 21, 2025

Ben McKinney played with textbook orthodoxy and mature assurance in helping Durham to frustrate Essex for much of a sun-kissed day at Chelmsford with the second first-class century of his burgeoning career.The 20-year-old left-hander, so strong in the V between mid-on and mid-off where a large proportion of his 18 fours and two sixes were caressed, faced 228 balls in compiling an elegant 121 to help Durham to 316 for 8 at stumps in the battle to avoid relegation from Division One of the Rothesay County Championship against their fellow candidates.McKinney was joined by captain Alex Lees, who made 94 from 152 balls, in a 134-run second-wicket partnership that looked to have laid firm foundations for a commanding score on a lifeless Chelmsford pitch.But a new-ball burst from Jamie Porter saw three wickets fall in five balls, starting with McKinney’s departure, in the middle of an evening collapse in which Durham crashed from 240 for 3 to 291 for 8 in 22 overs. Porter finished the day with 3 for 63, backed up by New Zealander Doug Bracewell, who took 2 for 67 at the start of his second spell with Essex.Durham’s decision to bat on the green-tinged wicket was justified for a large part of day one. Apart from a bit of nip and spite in the first couple of overs, it became a batsmen’s paradise and Lees and McKinney in particular took full advantage in laying down a solid platform.Lees lost opening partner Emilio Gay with 55 on the board. Lees had just welcomed Bracewell back to Chelmsford for his second stint by taking 13 from his first five balls. But with delivery No.6 Bracewell had Gay flicking the ball off his legs into midwicket’s hands. It was redemption of a kind for Bracewell, who had dropped a regulation chance early on that reprieved Gay in the same spot where the wicket fell.Lees adopted the anchor role initially as McKinney contributed 35 of the partnership’s first fifty, but only 20 of the second. Though McKinney was outwardly the more aggressive, with two notable firmly-struck straight drives for four off Bracewell and Simon Harmer, it was Lees who clocked marginally the quicker half-century.Lees reached the milestone when he drove Noah Thain for his eighth boundary from 75 balls. McKinney needed three more balls to pass his fifty for only the second time this season, though he did it with his 11th four, a well-placed drive off Porter through mid-off.The partnership was finally broken when Lees played down the wrong line to Harmer and was lbw. David Bedingham followed almost instantly, run out to a throw from mid-off by Porter as he looked to get off the mark first ball. McKinney, at the other end, recognised there was no possibility of a run and barely moved a muscle.Harmer thought he had McKinney on 83 with a sharp caught-and-bowled low down, even throwing the ball to the umpire as he celebrated prematurely with team-mates. However, the umpires conferred and confirmed the ball had not carried. To rub salt in the wound, McKinney reached three figures from 156 balls with a four and a six from successive balls off Harmer, both crossing the long-off boundary.Shane Snater switched ends for the first over after tea and induced Colin Ackermann into an inside-edge to the fifth ball to be caught behind. And when Bracewell replaced Snater he had Ollie Robinson strangled down the legside with his third ball.Essex took the second new-ball after 80 overs and required a third one immediately: the original one lasted just two deliveries after Graham Clark pulled Porter’s loosener over square leg for six and knocked it out of shape.The change of balls finally paid dividends as Porter struck in short order, ending McKinney’s stay by bowling him, then having Ben Raine trapped lbw before disturbing Matthew Potts’s stumps

MatériaMais Notícias

O desafio de Lúcio Flávio em ajeitar o Botafogo e fazê-lo engrenar rumo ao título brasileiro não se restringirá à equipe titular. Prestes a ter um período intenso de jogos, o Alvinegro precisará contar também com opções em boas condições para se manter em alto nível nesta caminhada.

Em meio à rotina de treinos táticos e técnicos no CT Lonier, o comandante vem deixando os demais atletas atentos para serem acionados em campo. Um dos motivos é a série de jogadores pendurados que o Botafogo tem nesta vigésima-sétima rodada.

+ Eles têm o faro! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$750 com Sané, Højlund e Chiesa na Data Fifa!

+ Sábado recheado! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$830 com combinada da Série B

+ Transforme sua paixão pelo futebol em profissão. Descubra o caminho com o curso Gestor de Futebol!

Os zagueiros Adryelson e Philipe Sampaio, o lateral-esquerdo Hugo, o meio-campista Marlon Freitas e os atacantes Victor Sá e Janderson estão com dois cartões amarelos. Além disso, o lateral Marçal e o atacante Diego Costa serão julgados pelo STJD e podem pegar um gancho.

Diante disso, especialmente os mais jovens tendem a ser apurados. Lúcio Flávio conta com seu auxiliar Joel Carli para fazer o aperfeiçoamento. O argentino conhece bem o atual elenco e, além disso, costuma ser muito receptivo em relação a quem está em começo de carreira.

O Botafogo passará por uma mudança logo que retornar a campo. No dia 18, quarta-feira, a equipe não contará com Tchê Tchê que, suspenso, dá lugar a Gabriel Pires.

Outro fator que é levado em conta é a sequência de jogos. Serão oito partidas em 25 dias. Para evitar “armadilhas” como o desgaste excessivo de jogadores, Lúcio Flávio conta com um planejamento minucioso.

Afinal, após o América-MG, no dia 18, o Glorioso enfrentará Athletico-PR, Fortaleza, Cuiabá, Palmeiras, Vasco, Grêmio e Bragantino de três em três dias. Apostando no aprimoramento físico de seus jogadores e na evolução de talismãs, o Botafogo vai a campo novamente no Independência, às 20h, contra o Coelho, quarta-feira.

تتجه أنظار جماهير كرة القدم في مصر والقارة الإفريقية، اليوم الإثنين، نحو حفل سحب قرعة دور المجموعات لدوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026، والتي ستحدد ملامح المنافسة في البطولة الأعرق على مستوى الأندية داخل القارة السمراء.

وقد حجز 16 ناديًا مقعدهم في هذا الدور، من بينهم ممثلا الكرة المصرية الأهلي المتوج بـ 12 لقب بطل دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وبيراميدز حامل لقب النسخة الماضية لأول مرة في تاريخه.

وجاء تأهل الأهلي بعد تجاوزه فريق إيجل نوار البوروندي بنتيجة (2-0) في مجموع المباراتين ضمن الدور التمهيدي الثاني، فيما نجح بيراميدز في بلوغ المجموعات عقب فوزه على التأمين الإثيوبي بنتيجة إجمالية (3-1).

ومن المنتظر أن يتواجد الأهلي في التصنيف الأول خلال القرعة، بينما يأتي بيراميدز في التصنيف الثاني، مما يفتح الباب لاحتمالية وقوع الفريقين في مجموعة واحدة.

طالع أيضًا | موعد قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026 اليوم القنوات الناقلة لـ قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا اليوم

تنقل قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا اليوم الإثنين، عبر قنوات “أون سبورت” و”بي إن سبورت” الإخبارية المفتوحة على النايل سات.

Konstas reflects on managing nerves in his early Test outings, learning to stay composed under pressure, and growing within a stacked Australian squad

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2025

For Sam Konstas, the biggest challenge in his early taste of Test cricket wasn’t the batting – it was managing the emotion of playing in front of a huge crowd at the MCG last December. At just 19, he is learning to steady his breath, trust his game, and find calm in the chaos of the international stage.”It was my first few Test matches, and the emotions probably got to me with the crowd,” Konstas told reporters in Barbados, reflecting on his debut series against India which started with his 60 off 65 balls at the MCG. “But having a bit of time off to reflect and strengthen my game has helped.”Konstas is a confirmed starter for Australia’s first Test against West Indies in Bridgetown, beginning June 25, with selectors announcing he and Josh Inglis will return to the side. Marnus Labuschagne was dropped while Steven Smith was ruled out with a dislocated finger.Related

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Labuschagne dropped, Smith ruled out of first WI Test

This will be his third Test cap after not playing in Sri Lanka, where Travis Head opened in a tactical switch, and narrowly missing out on the XI for the World Test Championship final when Labuschagne was promoted. With a week to prepare for the Barbados Test after landing in the Caribbean, Konstas spoke about his personal diary, which he started at school, becoming a key tool to revisit the basics.”The diary’s been important,” Konstas, who has Test cap No. 468 tattooed on his forearm, said. “Just reflecting on games, going back to my checkpoints, especially when you’re overseas. It helps me get grounded again.”He also credited much of his early learning to the senior players in the Australian squad. “I’m just trying to control my breath and have a good relationship with my batting partner to talk about things and how to go through, especially heated moments, when the game changes,” he said.”I always try to get advice from Uzi [Usman Khawaja], Marnus, Smith, just seeing how they go about things. I’m lucky to be around them, especially at 19. Playing for your country, travelling the world, it really is a dream come true.””For me, I just hope to grab an opportunity because it’s such a strong side. I’m very grateful for that.”It is expected that Konstas, who is favoured to open although the batting order has yet to be confirmed, will have all three Tests against West Indies to try and bed himself into the side ahead of the Ashes later this year after a period where Australia have had a revolving door of openers since David Warner’s retirement.After the first Test in Bridgetown, the series will move to Grenada for the second Test from July 3 and then to Jamaica for the third Test from July 12.

Ruben Amorim's secret message to Manchester United players has been revealed after they managed to pick up a vital win before the international break. The Portuguese manager is said to have drawn a bold line in the sand at Carrington, demanding 'no more heart attacks' from his players after finally seeing his team deliver a composed, professional performance in their 2-0 victory over Sunderland.

• Amorim's dressing room command

  Last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland brought a sigh of relief around Old Trafford. It wasn’t spectacular and it wasn’t wild, but it was exactly what Amorim wanted: measured, organised, and professional. The Portuguese boss, under increasing pressure after a turbulent start to life at Old Trafford, reportedly told his squad behind closed doors that he doesn’t want drama, chaos, or last-minute heroics anymore, just maturity and control. Amorim praised his side for keeping their cool under pressure, and the more calculated style must now become the standard if United want to rediscover their winning rhythm.

  A source quoted by said: "Amorim told the players that while the fans want drama, he doesn’t. He was very happy with the Sunderland game, he thought it was a professional performance and different to some of the heart attack-inducing football they have played this season and last. He told them that’s one of the reasons they haven’t been able to string a run of wins together. The games they have been involved in are too mentally draining and that’s causing them problems. Too many heart attack games which is mentally draining. That's what we want. Mature professional performances."

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  Locked-in and United firmly behind the manager

  Despite the noise outside the club, United’s top brass believe the dressing room remains firmly behind Amorim. CEO Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox have both held informal chats with senior players, including skipper Bruno Fernandes, to gauge the squad’s mood. Sources told that while those conversations weren’t designed to test Amorim’s job security, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The mood around Carrington has improved, and the players appear united in their backing for their boss.

  Even after United’s painful 3-1 loss to Brentford last month, Matthijs de Ligt put his weight behind the manager. When questioned about Amorim’s controversial 3-4-2-1 system, the Dutch defender was quick to shut down talk of tactical failure.

  "Of course, I mean it's always easy to look to the manager, but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it," said De Ligt. "We can't say the goals we conceded, or the chances we conceded, are because of what… I don't know, you guys always talk about the system. That also has a lot to do with focus, concentration, and, if that's lacking in key moments, it's going to make a difference."

  Whereas, after the win over Sunderland, Mount echoed De Ligt's sentiment and added: "We're 100% behind the gaffer. We've had some difficult results that hurt us, have been painful for the team, the staff and the fans, but it was important to win. It needs to be [the start of a winning streak] – we thought after Chelsea it would be the start of something, and then we go to Brentford and have a disappointing result. It starts [with the win over Sunderland], and we'll be working hard over the break. We want to get back-to-back wins, then three in a row and push on for the top four."

• Critics circling but Amorim stands tall

  With just 20 wins from 50 matches, Amorim’s win rate sits at a worrying 40 per cent, well below United’s sky-high expectations. Hence, outside the club, Amorim remains a lightning rod for criticism. United legends like Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney have taken aim at the club’s performances, with Scholes even suggesting Amorim has been given "too much time."

  Speaking on , Scholes said: "I feel like with Ruben Amorim it’s got to the point where we don’t want to talk about sacking managers all the time and Manchester United do give managers enough time. "He’ll never get booed by the fans and it wasn’t until that Brentford game [where they lost 3-1] where I thought, ‘He’s getting a little bit too much time’ and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things come to an end."

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  Big test for Man Utd as Anfield awaits

  Despite mounting criticism, the message from inside the club is clear: Amorim is safe, for now. The board recognises the turmoil he inherited and is willing to give him more time to steady the ship, especially as the players continue to rally behind him. But patience has its limits. If the new sense of calm doesn’t translate into points soon, questions will return louder than ever. When United return from the international break, they face the biggest test of all: Liverpool at Anfield on October 19. With their arch-rivals licking their wounds after back-to-back defeats, United sense a rare opportunity to strike. A win at Anfield could silence the doubters, reignite their season, and, perhaps most importantly, buy Amorim breathing room in the hot seat.

Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to numerous top-level talents over recent years, with the hierarchy nailing the club’s recruitment strategy.

Big money has undoubtedly been splashed to improve their squad as of late, but many of their additions have been worthwhile and have improved the options already in North London.

Eyebrows were raised when Brennan Johnson joined the Lilywhites, with the board forking out £47.5m to secure his services from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

His early days were tricky to say the least, leading to abuse from sections of the fanbase, but he’s endured a magnificent rise that saw him end last season as the club’s top-scorer, even netting the winner in the Europa League final.

At just 24, he has bags of time to build on his impressive start to life in North London, potentially following in the footsteps of one of his compatriots at the club.

Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

Winger Gareth Bale will go down as one of Spurs’ best-ever players after his impact during his time in the first team, starring for the Lilywhites on two separate occasions.

The Welsh international originally featured at left-back, before his hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League catapulted him into a forward role – one that would change his career trajectory massively.

He registered 71 goals during his two stints in North London, with 26 of his efforts coming in the 2012/13 season, leading to his eventual £85m move to European giants Real Madrid.

However, he returned in the 2020/21 campaign on loan from the LaLiga side, scoring 16 times in his 34 appearances – being one of three players to register double figures that campaign.

The Welshman became renowned for his ability to cut inside onto his stronger left foot, often creating a moment of magic that allowed supporters to get off their seats.

Current boss Thomas Frank must wish he had a player of his quality currently at his disposal, potentially having just that had former chairman Daniel Levy kept hold of one talent.

The former Spurs player who could’ve been Frank’s own Bale

As previously mentioned, Spurs have shifted their attention to recruiting younger talents in recent months – a strategy that allows the club to have players to make an immediate and long-term impact in North London.

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, the Lilywhites first-team squad currently has an average age of 25.1 – the fourth youngest in the division – with Frank able to develop the players into the side he desires.

Their starting eleven against Bournemouth last weekend contained just one player over the age of 29, which hugely highlights the current recruitment operation in North London.

Such a focus has been evident in the past, when the hierarchy decided to fork out £25m for the signature of 18-year-old Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham back in 2019.

Despite his tender age, he racked up over 100 appearances for the Cottagers, scoring 25 times, leading to his big-money move to North London – similar to that of Bale from Southampton in 2007.

Both possessed a similar style of play, subsequently able to operate in any position down the left-hand side or even able to feature in any attacking position on the opposite flank.

Such a move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but it’s safe to say that the move was slightly unsuccessful, with injuries massively plaguing his time at the club.

Ryan Sessegnon – PL stats (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

16

Goals & assists

6

Pass accuracy

82%

Chances created

1.9

Cross success

31%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

2.1

Duels won

7.3

Stats via FotMob

Sessegnon, who was labelled an “incredible” talent by Jacek Kulig, only made 57 appearances over a five-year spell at the Lilywhites, with numerous hamstring issues preventing him from making an impact.

The 25-year-old racked up three goals during such a time period, but was let go at the end of his contract in 2024, rejoining former side Fulham on a free transfer last summer.

Whilst there’s no denying he didn’t possess the same talent as Bale, his playstyle was similar to that of the Lilywhites legend – but ultimately struggled to demonstrate that on a regular basis.

It’s a shame such a move failed to work out, but Frank missed out on the opportunity to try and work with the Englishman, with Sessegnon forever remaining a case of what could’ve been in North London.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 5, 2025

SA and Victoria will compete for the Dean Jones Trophy after the tournament was renamed earlier this season

AAP28-Feb-2025

Nathan McSweeney was a 12-year-old Queenslander when his recently-adopted South Australia last won the domestic one-day cricket competition.McSweeney remembers watching on television when SA captured the trophy in 2011-12 amid drama. Scores in the final against Tasmania were tied but SA was deemed the winner as they finished above the Tasmanians during the preliminary rounds.Related

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South Australia haven’t won the one-day trophy since. But McSweeney hopes to end the state’s drought when hosting Victoria at Adelaide Oval on Saturday for the freshly-named Dean Jones Trophy.”We all know that it has been a long time since we have been able to win something,” McSweeney told reporters on Friday. “So it would be special if we could do it. Our preparation this week has been elite so hopefully it translates to some good performances.”SA also hold top position with two rounds remaining in the Sheffield Shield. The state hasn’t won the four-day competition since 1995-96.”We haven’t had the success we would have like over the last few years,” McSweeney said. “But at the start of the year, this is exactly where we wanted to be, so everyone is super excited.”And hopefully our best cricket is to come. We have got an obviously very important game tomorrow and hopefully a couple more shield games to finish the year.”In the one-day competition, both SA and Victoria won four games, with McSweeney’s side banking three bonus point triumphs to secure hosting rights.The states met only once, when ex-Victorian Mackenzie Harvey blasted an unbeaten 136 to lead SA to victory. Harvey, who shifted to Adelaide when cut from Victoria’s contracted player list at the end of last season, went on to top the run-scorer’s list in the tournament, with 311 at an average of 62.20.”He has been elite for us,” McSweeney said of the 24-year-old. “He is batting beautifully, knows the bowlers really well being from Victoria – hopefully he has got another good knock in him.”The cup competition was this season re-named the Dean Jones Trophy after the batting legend who died in 2020.”Dean Jones obviously played a lot for Victoria and did so much for Victorian cricket,” Victorian captain Will Sutherland said. “It is sad that Dean has passed away but I am sure a lot of the boys, and I, had a little bit to do with him – a superstar. And it just makes it extra special that it is named after him.”The player of the final will be awarded the Michael Bevan medal for the first time. South Australia allrounder Liam Scott was named the tournament’s player of the year earlier this week.One-Day Cup final squdsSouth Australia Nathan McSweeney (capt), Jordan Buckingham, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Mackenzie Harvey, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry ThorntonVictoria Will Sutherland (capt), Scott Boland, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle