Lionel Messi gave his Argentina team-mate Leandro Paredes the silent treatment after his insulting comments against Barcelona.
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Paredes opened up on getting silent treatment from MessiStopped speaking after his derogatory comments on BarcaArgentina will face Uruguay and Brazil in MarchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona legend Messi bid an emotional goodbye to his boyhood club in 2021 as he moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. While he parted company with the Blaugrana, the legendary footballer still has a lot of respect for his former club. It got reflected in his treatment of fellow World Cup-winning Argentina star Paredes, after he insulted the Catalan side.
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The incident happened during PSG's Champions League clash against Barcelona in February 2021. The French champions had won the game 4-1 courtesy of Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick. Paredes, who then played for PSG, made derogatory comments towards the opponent to motivate his team-mates and Messi overheard the communication. Following the incident, the Argentina skipper stopped speaking to the midfielder for the next three months.
WHAT LEANDRO PAREDES SAID
Speaking to , Paredes said: "We didn’t talk to each other for about three months. I had a really bad time. I sent him a message the next day, then another one 15 days later. I told him: ‘It wasn’t for you, it wasn’t meant to offend.’ But he didn’t respond. He didn’t answer for three months.
"It had been three months without us talking, and I thought: ‘Now I have to see how he reacts.’ But no, a phenomenon, a phenomenon. We arrived at the training camp on the same day, I arrived a little early and he appeared in my room. I was brushing my teeth, it was very early, and he threw water on me and said: ‘What are you doing up so early?"
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
Messi and Paredes will be back in action for the reigning world champions later this month as Argentina are scheduled to face Uruguay and Brazil on March 22 and March 26 respectively in 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying matches.
The three games will be played in Edinburgh on July 27, 29 and 31
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Mar-2022Scotland will host New Zealand in July 2022 for two T20Is and a one-off ODI after New Zealand finish their tour of Ireland on July 22 in Belfast. The three matches in Scotland will be played at the Grange in Edinburgh, on July 27, 29 and 31.Scotland and New Zealand last faced each other in the Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup last year when Scotland scared their opponents by falling just 16 runs short while chasing 173.”We are excited to welcome the BLACKCAPS to our shores this summer,” Scotland head coach Shane Burger said. “We want to keep challenging ourselves versus ICC Full Members and New Zealand are up there as one of the best.”Having reached both of the most recent T20 and 50 over ICC world cup finals, they have proven to be the most consistent team across all formats of the game in recent years.”We have 12 international ODIs to be played prior to the New Zealand series and so the squad are training well and looking forward to a busy 2022.”New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said touring Scotland would be a “great occasion” for his team.”Over the past decade we’ve seen Scotland improve as a cricketing nation and develop into a force in international cricket,” Stead said. “Having played there personally myself at Brechin Cricket Club, I know how passionate the people are about the game and I have no doubt they will be eagerly looking forward to this tour.”Playing against associate teams as a major nation is a really important part of helping them grow and that growth can only benefit the world game long term.”Cricket Scotland is likely to announce further information on the tickets and crowd in mid-April.New Zealand will fly to the UK in May-end for the three Tests against England in June, followed by the three ODIs and as many T20Is starting July 10, before they head to Scotland.
Preparing to do battle with the Premier League’s best clubs on and off the pitch, Aston Villa are now reportedly monitoring a young defender who’s already been compared to Paris Saint-Germain star Marquinhos.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans were in the middle of their first rough patch for some time, with the balancing act of European and domestic football proving to be a difficult task for those in the Midlands, making the comfortable victory over Brentford all the more important. Goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash ensured that Unai Emery’s side picked up three points for the first time in eight games in all competitions.
Hoping to be out of their recent rut, those at Villa Park can now turn their attention towards the January transfer window, which is just under a month away. On that front, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast. Names such as Nicolo Fagioli and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez have both had mentions in two deals that would undoubtedly improve the depth in Emery’s side.
They’re not the only names that have stolen the headlines, however. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Aston Villa are now monitoring Matte Smets alongside the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The 20-year-old defender has played a vital part in KRC Genk’s title push in the Belgium Pro League so far this season, having only arrived in the summer.
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Now, be it six months on from his arrival or, indeed, a full year, Smets could find himself heading for the exit door amid such interest. Compared to PSG defender Marquinhos by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, the Beglian is certainly one to watch.
"Elegant" Smets could replace Diego Carlos
When 2025 arrives, it may well be a case of out with the old and in with the new for Aston Villa, with an ageing Diego Carlos potentially making way for Smets. Now 31 years old alongside Tyrone Mings, Carlos is among the replaceable players in the Midlands and ones that they should consider showing the door in an attempt to prevent the consequences of an ageing squad.
Smets wouldn’t exactly be a bad option to turn to, either. The 20-year-old is already at the centre of a title race despite his young age and has seemingly emerged on the shortlist of other top Premier League sides – earning Kulig’s Marquinhos comparison and “elegant” tag as a result.
It would send yet another statement of intent if Aston Villa managed to win the race for Smets’ signature ahead of their top four rivals, especially following a recent dip in form.
No one foresaw this. Even the most optimistic of Liverpool supporters wouldn’t have dreamed up a world where Arne Slot basked in an eight-point lead in the Premier League heading into December.
December 1st marks quite the date: Liverpool host Manchester City in the league as Pep Guardiola seeks to stop the rot that has sent his season into a tailspin.
Early days. Early days. Liverpool are champions elect after climbing back to beat Southampton? More fool the fan who is subscribed to that notion.
There are plenty of twists and turns left as Liverpool move through this crooked season, and a Citizen victory by the River Mersey would change the narrative with the swiftness of a Redmen counter-attack.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool do look good though, it must be said. Even when the parts don’t combine to the most rip-roaring effect, Slot’s squad still find a way. Of course, with Mohamed Salah at the spearhead, such things are child’s play.
Mohamed Salah's talismanic season
Salah’s days on Merseyside might be numbered, but he’s not letting that affect his performances for Liverpool this season. In fact, the Egyptian sensation is supercharged by a sense of urgency that perhaps speaks of a man on borrowed time.
That’s a downcast thought that would be fit for the conditions that Slot’s side faced at the St. Mary’s Stadium. The thing is, though, this is a team with a moveless mindset. Salah’s brace turned the game on its head and Liverpool are now eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
We’ve met too many false dawns to get excited yet – after all, Manchester City journey to Anfield next weekend. Salah said post-match that “hopefully we can beat City,” and he’s certain to be confident after his performance on the South Coast.
The 32-year-old’s two late goals negated Southampton’s fine work in turning the game on its head, with his effort now leaving him with ten goals and six assists across 12 Premier League matches. Salah’s consistency on English shores is frankly absurd and he is undisputedly one of the finest players to have graced the division.
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Wayne Rooney
Man United
276
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Ryan Giggs
Man United
271
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Harry Kane
Tottenham
259
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Thierry Henry
Arsenal
249
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Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
239
Salah wasn’t the only one to produce an emphatic display though, with Dominik Szoboszlai opening the scoring and putting in a high-class performance that might just leave him undroppable going forward.
Performance in Numbers
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Why Dominik Szoboszlai is now undroppable
Admittedly, Szoboszlai can be frustrating to watch sometimes. Do more, we cry. Please, channel that energy and electricity into something prolific and potent and all the rest.
His “sublime” finish against Southampton, as Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher put it, proved that he can produce those moments of genuine quality to illuminate his name on the big board, but it’s perhaps important to dig deeper into the underlying data and understand that the attacking midfielder is quietly becoming one of Liverpool’s most important players.
Having been benched in two of the previous three top-flight outings, this was a welcome return to form and something that the Hungary captain will feel he can use as a springboard to more positive noise.
Journalist Bence Bocsak hailed the 23-year-old’s “brilliant performance” and rightly so. As per Sofascore, he notably completed 100% (2/2) of his dribbles, made three key passes and won six of his eight contested ground duels.
Dominik Szoboszlai scores for Liverpool
That duel success is particularly interesting, a step up from his campaign average of 2.2 per game. It’s the tactical dimension that would speak volumes to Slot, proving to him that Szoboszlai is deserving of an unmoving starting berth in Liverpool’s Premier League line-up.
He also made four tackles, four ball recoveries, and completed all four of his long balls, showcasing a technical range that indeed compelled Jurgen Klopp and Jorg Schmadtke to fork out £60m for the RB Leipzig talent’s transfer in the dog days of 2023.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle awarded Szoboszlai with an 8/10 match score – the same as Salah – and wrote: ‘Led the Liverpool press, used ball well, had some shots and curled in a fine finish for the opening goal. Energy and work-rate made such a difference.’
It’s important to note that Szoboszlai’s athleticism could be a decisive factor against Guardiola’s beleaguered outfit next week, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski – a player of similarly indefatigable energy and powerful dribbling – running roughshod over the Sky Blues’ defences on Saturday.
The Swede claimed an assist but more importantly, succeeded with all four of his dribbles and won each of his six contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, which pertains to Szoboszlai’s potential continuation of form next weekend given he has the quality, and demonstrated as such against Saints, to adopt that blueprint.
Szoboszlai’s ball-carrying and -playing skills have been discernible from the get-go at Anfield, but fluency in crucial moments has been choppy across the past 15 months.
To be sure, there’s more in the attacking midfielder’s locker, but if he performs as he did against Southampton going forward, there’s no way that Slot will want to demote him to the bench, for his energy and impact on the other forwards is so important.
Salah, for example, is an extraordinary forward, but his life is made easier by Szoboszlai’s movements and they will be called into play once again next.
Liverpool are flying, but there’s so much football still to be played. The quality of a player like Szoboszlai ensures that even when not flourishing, three points can still be secured.
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Liverpool were made to work hard for their win over Southampton on Sunday afternoon.
Powerful Singapore-born hitter has enjoyed rapid rise over last 12 months
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2022Lancashire have signed Tim David as one of their overseas players for the Vitality T20 Blast.David, who has played T20Is for Singapore but is also eligible to represent Australia, has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last year. A powerful hitter, he impressed for Lahore Qalanders in the 2021 PSL, joined Surrey and then Southern Brave via a trip to play club cricket in the Netherlands, before spells in the CPL and the IPL.Related
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He is currently featuring in the PSL for reigning champions Multan Sultans, for whom he has made scores of 71 from 29 balls and 51 off 19 in the first fortnight of this year’s competition.”Tim fits the profile of player which we have been looking to bring into our T20 squad and his addition will give us more power in the middle order,” Lancashire’s head coach, Glen Chapple, said. “His impressive T20 record – both at international level and in various leagues around the world – speaks for itself and we are really looking forward to him joining us in May.”David, whose career strike rate in T20 is 158.52, has also featured in the Big Bash for Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes.He was signed on a short-term contract by Surrey last summer, after the club experienced an injury crisis during the latter stages of the Blast, and went on to feature in the Royal London Cup, scoring two hundreds and averaging 68.00. David then joined up with Southern Brave as an injury replacement, playing in the final as they won the inaugural men’s Hundred.”I am really excited that this opportunity has come about, and I can’t wait to join up with the rest of the Lancashire Lightning squad for the start of the Vitality Blast in May,” David said. “There is such a strong squad at Emirates Old Trafford and hopefully I can contribute with the bat and the ball to help the team go well this summer.”I thoroughly enjoyed my brief spell with Surrey and the Brave in England last year and I am looking forward to building on that experience with the Red Rose.”
Christian Pulisic and Co. have been told how Mauricio Pochettino will take the USMNT to a "new level", with Tim Ream discussing their evolution.
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Argentine tactician calling the shotsGame growing internationally and domesticallyBuilding towards home World Cup in 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino inherited the managerial reins with the United States in September 2024. Positive progress has been made during his short reign, with five victories collected from six matches so far.
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Improvement in the present is considered to be important, but the USMNT are building towards the longer-term goal of being fiercely competitive at a home World Cup in 2026. Ream believes a squad loaded with talent will be firing on all cylinders by then, courtesy of their Argentine tactician.
Getty/GOALWHAT TIM REAM SAID
Veteran defender Ream has told FIFA’s of the benefits that Pochettino brings: “He just brings an intensity and a focus in everything that he does, and he translates that into the players. Over the first couple of camps, that’s what we’ve seen and it’s been evident. He's going to continue that. He's going to evolve us. He’ll improve us in the way we want to play, in our transitions, movements, and rotations, trying to confuse opposition with different setups. He’s going to lead the evolution of who we are as players and as a nation. He's going to take that to a new level.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
It is not just in the international arena that the American game is growing, with the likes of Lionel Messi – who is starring at Inter Miami – helping to boost the MLS brand. Ream is also back on that stage, after 12 years in England with Bolton and Fulham, and is impressed with what he has seen since heading home.
Former India bowling coach has previously had an IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2022Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has been appointed in the same position by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the upcoming 15th edition of the IPL.”We are very excited to have someone of the calibre of Bharat Arun joining us as our bowling coach,” Venky Mysore, Knight Riders’ CEO & MD, said in a statement. “He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to KKR’s strong support staff. We are delighted to welcome him to the Knight Riders family.”Related
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Arun, a medium-pacer who played two Tests and four ODIs between 1986 and 1987, brings with himself considerable coaching experience, having had two stints with India’s national side – first from 2014 to 2015, and then from 2017 till the end of the T20 World Cup in 2021.Before that, he was part of the India team which won the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, and has also been a part of the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, other than being with India’s domestic teams Tamil Nadu and Bengal.”I’m very excited and looking forward to becoming part of a highly successful franchise, such as the Knight Riders,” Arun said. “I have admired the Knight Riders franchise for not only being very successful in the IPL and around the world in T20 leagues but also for the way it is very professionally run.”His time with Knight Riders will not be the first time in the IPL. He spent three seasons – 2015 to 2017 – with Royal Challengers Bangalore as their bowling coach before he became part of the India set-up.”With a strong and successful pedigree in the international game, I’m sure Arun will complement the current staff we have and I look forward to working with him,” Brendon McCullum, the Knight Riders head coach, said. “His experience at international level and the ability to give confidence and clarity to our bowling group will be important, as we attempt to quickly align a new group of players to the values and style of play for KKR.”
Moise Kean was stretchered off and taken to hospital after sustaining a head injury during Fiorentina's Serie A clash against Verona.
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Kean suffered a serious head injuryHad to be stretchered off the pitch after he collapsedVerona beat Fiorentina 1-0Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Everton and Juventus forward Kean collapsed on the pitch just after the hour mark after sustaining a head injury following a collision with Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola. The player was initially allowed to return to the pitch after suffering the knock but he soon fell on the ground near the centre circle and was then stretchered off the pitch with a neck brace.
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The visuals from the pitch were scary as players from both teams rushed towards the player after the incident. The club's medical staff quickly attended the Fiorentina star before he was taken off the ground on a stretcher. Fiorentina have since confirmed Kean has been taken to hospital.
FIORENTINA ISSUE STATEMENT
A club statement read: "ACF Fiorentina announces that the footballer Moise Kean, during the match against Verona, suffered a head trauma. The footballer is in hospital for tests.
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WHAT FIORENTINA SAID
Manager Raffaele Palladino also spoke of his concern for his player: "I was very worried on the touchline and hope it is nothing serious. Health is the most important thing."
The “wonderful” Omar Marmoush has reportedly made it his “dream” to seal a move to Liverpool, following a stunning start to the season in Germany.
Liverpool transfer news
Transfer rumours regarding the Reds are coming thick and fast currently, with exciting young Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado the latest to be linked with a move to Anfield. It has been claimed that Liverpool scouts think the 21-year-old could be perfect for Arne Slot’s controlled style of play, bringing poise and technical quality in the middle of the park, completing 91.2% of his passes in La Liga this season.
Another player who the Reds have reportedly scouted is Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who has been one of the Premier League’s standout attacking players in 2024/25 so far. The Cameroon international could be considered an ideal long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, as doubts persist over the Egyptian King’s future.
The lack of a new midfield signing irritated some Liverpool fans during the summer transfer window, and while a move for Martin Zubimendi may now be out of the question, Real Madrid ace Aurelien Tchouameni is a rumoured target for the Merseysiders.
"Wonderful" player dreams of Liverpool move
According to a new update from Bild [via Sport Witness], Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Omar Marmoush has made it his “dream” to join Liverpool and eventually replace Salah.
The report claims that “things look different” regarding the 25-year-old’s current suitors, with the Reds seen as “above all” in pole position in the race to acquire his signature. Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are all thought to be eyeing him up.
With every report that emerges regarding Marmoush, the more it looks as though the Egyptian is a primary transfer target for Liverpool moving forward. The Frankfurt star is enjoying an incredible start to the season, registering a remarkable 16 goal contributions (10 goals and six assists) in just nine Bundesliga appearances, outlining his relentless end product.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Schubert has said of him: “I think that what Omar Marmoush has done in the German League since last season deserves greater praise and attention. Marmoush confirms day after day that he is a distinguished talent and a wonderful player. There is no doubt that his move to one of the big clubs in Europe is very close.”
The future of Salah is such a major talking point at the moment, but even if the 32-year-old ends up signing a new deal at Liverpool, long-term planning is essential, in terms of ensuring the Reds have the perfect successor lined up.
Hopefully, the Anfield legend extends his stay and remains at his highest level for several more years, but he will need to be managed more carefully and a player of Marmoush’s ilk could be perfect to gradually usurp him as time passes.
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If his form this season is anything to go by, Liverpool would be signing a future superstar who delivers goals and assists consistently, with his peak years still ahead of him.
He is the favourite to join Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in the Test squad to face India in December
Firdose Moonda29-Nov-2021Duanne Olivier has made himself available for an international comeback but is not allowing himself to think too far ahead. Olivier, who returned to South African cricket following the end of the Kolpak system earlier this year, is the leading wicket-taker in the domestic first-class competition and has had contact from the national selectors but wants to focus on the Lions, who are the top of the points table.”I am open to everything but I am trying to think of the present and not the future at the moment. Victor Mpitsang (convener of selectors) phoned me and asked me if I was open to playing for South Africa again and I said of course I am. It’s up to the selectors if they want to include me,” Olivier told ESPNcricinfo.Olivier’s eight wickets in their match against the Knights included his second five-for of the season and second in successive matches as he bowled the Lions to a big win after a brave declaration. After knocking the Knights out for 124, the Lions declared on 193 for 3, 69 runs ahead and then dismissed the Knights for 103, leaving themselves a small target of 35 to win. “There was loads of rain around in this match and we thought it was going to be quite difficult to get a result. We made a risky declaration and luckily it paid off,” Olivier said.The Lions, led by Olivier, are the only team to have dismissed all their opposition twice so far, taking 80 wickets from four matches. Although he credited the whole attack for their efforts, he also indicated his time in the county circuit had made him a more skilful seamer. Specifically, Olivier has adjusted his length in order to challenge batters more. “I am bowling a bit fuller here in South Africa, which is something I worked on in the UK. At the Wanderers, you can easily bowl a touch shorter, that normal South African length but that may not be that effective and I really believe you should make the new ball count,” he said. “It’s a bit of a risk and reward playoff. If you bowl a bit fuller you might get hit for a few boundaries but you’re testing the batter’s technique. You’re not just allowing him to leave and get himself in.”Olivier has also had the opportunity to perfect the fuller length on his new home ground, the Wanderers, where, if all goes well, India will play the first of their three Tests from mid-December. With Lungi Ngidi severely lacking match practice after missing the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka for personal reasons, not playing during the T20 World Cup and contracting Covid-19 ahead of the matches against the Netherlands, Olivier is the favourite to join Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje in the Test squad.But at the moment, he is not setting his sights that far. “For now, I am enjoying being back, enjoying the warmer weather and playing cricket in South Africa again. The quality and standard of the cricket has been very good and it’s nice to be back.” In other resultsThe Warriors beat Western Province inside two days to remain in second place on the points table and leave the Cape Town based side winless after four matches. Matthew Breetzke scored a century and Rudi Second 76 as Warriors totalled 366. Then, they bowled Western Province out for 79 to force the follow-on and bowled them out again for 173. Left-arm spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa finished with 5 for 46.
With the third day lost to rain in Potchefstroom, the Dolphins and North West played out a draw. Honours were shared between several players. Marques Ackerman scored 123 and Delano Potgieter took 5 for 85 in the first innings, which the Dolphins declared closed on 400 for 9. In response, North West had a second-wicket stand of 169 with Lesego Senokwane scoring 91 and Shaylen Pillay an unbeaten 156. They were 313 for 2 when no further play was possible. The big runs allowed North West to sneak above Western Province on the table, with a 0.78 point advantage.
An exciting clash between Boland and the Titans was also curtailed early, with no play on the fourth day. The Titans were well placed after captain Neil Brand’s 111 helped them to 308 in their first innings and he was unbeaten on 32 as they reached 96 for 3 in their second. That gave them a 170-run lead after they bowled Boland out for 234 with Isma-eel Gafieldien top-scoring with 97. Simon Harmer and Ayabulela Gqamane claimed three wickets each. The match also marked a return for allrounder Chris Morris to the domestic set up. He played his first red-ball match for the Titans since October 2019, scored 36 in the first innings and bowled 17 overs with a return of 0 for 40.