كشف ماركوس راشفورد مهاجم برشلونة أن عرض النادي لضمه لم يكن المرة الأولى في الصيف الماضي، لكنه يعتقد أن التوقيت كان مناسباً لاتخاذ هذه الخطوة بعد سعيه للتغيير بعد أكثر من 20 عاماً في مانشستر يونايتد.

وقدم مهاجم برشلونة أداء رائعًا مع فريفه وسجل خمسة أهداف خلال 12 مباراة بعد انضمامه على سبيل الإعارة من مانشستر يونايتد.

وأكد المهاجم الدولي الإنجليزي أنه يستفيد من تواجده في أجواء جديدة بعد إنهاء ارتباطه مع مانشستر يونايتد في الصيف الماضي.

وقال راشفورد لشبكة “ESPN” في مقابلة جرت مع اللاعب قبل لقاء الكلاسيكو: “لقد قضيت سنوات طويلة في مكان واحد”.

وأضاف :”ينسى الناس هذا لكن 24 أو 23 عاماً من حياتي قضيتها مع مانشستر يونايتد لذا أحياناً نحتاج للتغيير، أعتقد أن هذا هو حالي وأنا أستمتع بكل شيء”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. راشفورد: الكلاسيكو أعظم مباراة في تاريخ كرة القدم.. وهذه لحظتي الأفضل مع برشلونة

وكشف راشفورد أنه كان من الممكن أن يتم هذا الانتقال بشكل مبكر أكثر لو سارت مسيرته مع يونايتد بشكل مختلف: “أؤمن فقط أن الأمور تحدث في وقتها المناسب”.

وواصل: “هذه ليست المرة الأولى التي أتحدث فيها مع برشلونة عن إمكانية قدومي إلى هنا، لكن لسبب ما لم يحدث ذلك في الماضي والآن فرصتي لتحقيق ذلك، أشعر أنه لا يوجد وقت أفضل من الحاضر لذلك أتعامل مع الأمور يوماً بيوم والأهم أن أواصل التحسن، لأنه عند الاعتزال، ستفتقد كل شيء، الإيجابيات والسلبيات وستفتقد الرياضة، كل يوم أتعامل مع الأمر يوماً بيوم وأحاول التحسن عن اليوم السابق”.

ويلعب راشفورد مع برشلونة على سبيل الإعارة مع خيار الشراء وسيتخذ النادي قراراً بشأن مستقبله، ويرتبط الدولي الإنجليزي بعقد مع مانشستر يونايتد حتى عام 2028.

وعما إذا كان يرغب في الاستمرار مع بطل الدوري الإسباني: “بالتأكيد، استمتع باللعب مع برشلونة وأعتقد أن برشلونة لكل من يحب كرة القدم هو أحد أهم الأندية في تاريخ اللعبة، إنه شرف كبير لي كلاعب”.

وشدد: “أستمتع بوقتي في إسبانيا حقاً، التوقيت مثالي، ولكنه كان تغييراً كبيراً أتعلم كل يوم، آمل أن أبقى في برشلونة لفترة طويلة، أتوافق جيدًا مع روني (باردجي)، وكذلك مع كوندي وفرينكي، إنه فريق نتكامل فيه جميعاً نحن متحدون”.

واختتم: “الفريق رائع، سأواصل السعي، علينا أن نستمر على هذا المنوال لنكون في أفضل حالاتنا، أمامنا الكثير لنفعله هذا الموسم”.  

MatériaMais Notícias

Os finalistas da Copa do Brasil, principal competição mata-mata do calendário nacional, foram conhecidos nesta quarta-feira (16). São Paulo e Flamengo se enfrentarão na decisão da competição, que deve ocorrer nos dias 17 (ida) e 24 (volta) de setembro.

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Para tanto, o Tricolor do Morumbi superou o Timão pelo placar de 2 a 0, revertendo o resultado negativo do jogo de ida (2 a 1 para o Corinthians). Já o Rubro-Negro poderia perder por até um gol de diferença que ainda chegaria à final, mas acabou superando o Imortal novamente pelo placar de 1 a 0.

+ Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

Abaixo, o Lance! separou uma lista com as equipes que mais fizeram finais de Copa do Brasil e quantos títulos conquistaram. Confira:

!MUITA GRANA!

A edição de 2023 tem valores recordes na história da Copa do Brasil. Os clubes que avançarem à decisão irão desembolsar, no mínimo, R$ 30 milhões, referente ao vice-campeonato. O campeão irá receber R$ 70 milhões.

Kylian Mbappe, who needs just six goals to become his country's all-time top scorer, believes he "can score against anyone" ahead of France's World Cup qualifying clash against Azerbaijan on Friday. His participation in the game, however, remains uncertain, with the Frenchman picking up a minor ankle sprain in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga last weekend.

Mbappe eyeing Giroud's throne as France's all-time top scorer

Giroud retired from international football in 2024 after making 137 appearances and a record 57 goals for Les Bleus. Mbappe currently sits in second position, having scored 52 goals in 92 games. The Frenchman, who has been in breathtaking form at the start of the season, will be aiming to eclipse Giroud in France's next two games – two relatively easy fixtures against Azerbaijan on Friday and Iceland next Monday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGiroud record not on Mbappe's mind at the moment

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the France captain said: "I'm not breaking any taboos when I say I can score goals against anyone. Every match has its own reality. [Azerbaijan] is a team that held Ukraine to a draw, where we didn't have it easy. The stakes are higher than just scoring goals, even if we're not going to deprive ourselves of that.

"I think I'll beat [Giroud], but when, I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, who knows? Maybe later. It's something that will come naturally and I'll move on from there."

Mbappe finally the player Real Madrid thought they signed in 2024

A record-breaking individual season was overshadowed by Real Madrid's failure to secure major silverware. The Frenchman often struggled, especially during the first half of the 2024-25 season, before finding his feet and finishing the season with the Pichichi and European Golden Shoe awards. 

This season, though, Mbappe has been in transcendental form, scoring 14 goals in 10 games for Los Blancos and finally giving the impression that the version of Mbappe Madrid thought they signed in the summer of 2024 has arrived.

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GettyWill Mbappe feature for France on Friday?

In Madrid's most recent outing, a 3-1 win over Villarreal last weekend, Mbappe came off in the 82nd minute, just moments after he scored a goal. After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that the 26-year-old had only suffered a minor ankle sprain. 

Regardless, he was called up by France boss Didier Deschamps in hopes that he would recover from his knock in time for Friday's clash against Azerbaijan. The former Paris Saint-Germain player missed team training this week, but Mbappe confirmed he would participate in training with the rest of his squad on Thursday.

"I want to play, the coach wants me to play, I don't think there will be any problems," Mbappe said. "I feel good, we're talking to the coach. I'm going to train today, it's the last test but I'm not particularly worried."

Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged the Bundesliga champions to reconsider a reported early contract extension for Harry Kane, labelling the idea "madness" despite the star striker's incredible form. The club legend warned that Kane's age and defensive workload pose a risk, and he fears Bayern could suffer a mid-season collapse.

• Hamann slams timing of proposed new contract

  Despite the England captain's phenomenal goalscoring form, Hamann believes offering a new deal to the 32-year-old would be a serious misstep, citing concerns over his age and long-term impact.

  He strongly advised against the club's apparent plan to extend Kane's contract, which is not due to expire until June 2027. Hamann was unequivocal in his assessment of the situation, questioning the logic of renegotiating with more than a year and a half still remaining on the current agreement.

  "That would be madness. He'll be 34 when the contract expires," Hamann said on . "You can't extend a contract that still has 20 months to run. It would be madness." 

  The former Liverpool player also cast doubt on Kane's ability to consistently deliver against the very best opposition. "At the European Championship, England won their games when Kane came off," he said. "Whether he scores against the best teams like Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal remains to be seen."

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  Concerns raised over Kane's defensive workload

  Kane's incredible start to life in Bavaria has been built on more than just goals. His all-round contribution and work rate have been widely praised, particularly his defensive efforts in the crucial 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. However, Hamann sees this as a potential negative, warning that it could detract from the striker's primary role.

  "It shouldn't become common practice for Kane to slide tackle 20 meters from his own goal," the 52-year-old warned. "The first thing that could suffer is that he stops scoring goals." This concern comes despite Kane opening the scoring in the 22nd minute of that very match, a result which sent Bayern seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

• Bayern's perfect start not enough to convince Hamann

  While Vincent Kompany's side have enjoyed a flawless start to the season, winning all eleven of their competitive matches, Hamann remains cautious. He pointed to last season's dip in form after a strong start as a reason to temper expectations and warned that the team's high-energy style may not be sustainable with a small squad.

  "They're still the team that runs the most in the Bundesliga. That has little to do with efficiency," said Hamann. "We'll see whether they can keep it up with the small squad they have… The awards will be handed out in April and May. They played good football last fall as well, but after that, it became less and less. That's why I'm cautious with superlatives." He even claimed that Bayern were "standing knocked out" during the final 25 minutes against Dortmund.

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• Kane the best?

  Kane’s career statistics highlight his status as one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. The vast majority of his career was spent at Tottenham, where he became the club's all-time top scorer with 280 goals in 435 appearances, 213 of which came in the Premier League. Since transferring to Bayern Munich in 2023, Kane has maintained a phenomenal strike rate, netting 104 goals in just 107 games. His dominance in Germany includes 74 goals in 70 Bundesliga matches. In the Champions League, he holds a combined 44 goals across 59 appearances for both clubs. For England, Kane is his nation's all-time top scorer, finding the net 76 times in 110 caps.

Vice-captain brushes off speculation about his place in the side and Jacob Bethell’s return

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-May-20251:10

Stokes on Bashir: ‘Impossible for him to not get even better’

“I’m in the media talking about the media,” said Ollie Pope, rolling his eyes as he broke the fourth wall on the outfield at Trent Bridge, not long after England’s victory over Zimbabwe.The first Test of the summer had a bit of the ouroboros about it, and not because Shoaib Bashir made light work of the tourist’s tail on Saturday to confirm a simple innings victory inside three days.Ben Stokes’ pre-match quotes when asked about the reintroduction of Jacob Bethell after his IPL stint seemed to suggest Pope – and, by association, Zak Crawley – might be at risk when it came to turning 12 into an XI. Stokes bristled at the subsequent coverage, believing he had made it clear he meant Bethell’s return to the was a no-brainer, and went a step further in his post-match briefings, suggesting the misunderstanding was wilful as part of an agenda against Pope.Related

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Pressure on Pope and Crawley with Bethell in line for role against India

In between, Stokes also spoke to Pope about those circulating comments, though the man himself did the best job of quelling any awkwardness by strumming a breezy 171 to all but cement his usual spot at No. 3 for next month’s India series, having selflessly vacated the position in New Zealand to take the wicketkeeping gloves, allowing Bethell to state such a compelling case.”Whenever I do media now I get asked if I’m reading what’s in the media,” Pope said. “So I try not to read what’s in the media and focus on scoring my runs.”[I’m] just trying to ignore it and try to become a better player. Whenever I’ve stood still, that’s when I’ve not become a better player. It’s trying to block it out, trying not to let it affect me in the Test match week. Every time I go into a series, trying to make sure I’m a better player than I was before, and hopefully cash in when it counts.”It’s all noise to us, we have a tight-knit unit, we will keep chatting amongst ourselves.”He even grasped the nettle on Bethell’s return, with something of a smile: “It’ll be good to have him back in the squad and the selectors can make their decision, and I will try to score my runs.”Ollie Pope notched his eighth Test hundred•Getty ImagesThat bolshiness is nothing new, particularly given how much of Pope’s career recently has been underpinned by external uncertainty as to what his best role may be, and even whether he is in England’s strongest team outright.Right now, the answer to both those questions seems to be No. 3 – where he averages 43.06 – and an unequivocal yes from Stokes. “He’s my vice-captain, and he’s been incredible for me at number three and the team,” Stokes said.Nevertheless, Pope acknowledges the variety of roles undertaken means much of his work behind the scenes has been geared towards being more adaptable. In the last year alone, he has batted at first drop, at No. 6 with the gloves and even captained four Tests.”I’ve been trying to work on my all-round game and everything that will make me successful in Test cricket,” Pope said, accepting his future may well be as a high-calibre utility pick. “I’ve done a lot of different roles. I’ve kept, I’ve captained, batted six, batted three. It’s focusing on my main job at No. 3 and making sure my game is in as good an order as it can be.”That immediate focus will come to the fore against India at Headingley on June 20, the first of 10 huge, legacy-defining Tests, finishing off with the Ashes in Australia. Barring a stunning 196 in Hyderabad at the start of 2024, Pope has a poor record against both of England’s biggest rivals. His average against India, against whom he debuted in 2018, is a lowly 24.60, but almost 10 runs higher than his 15.70 against Australia. He accepts the next engagements are as much a defining period for himself as the team.”Yeah absolutely,” he said, when asked if he had something to prove over the next two series. “But I also feel I am a much better player now than I was [four years ago] when we last played India at home and Australia away.”I completely own that my numbers aren’t good enough against those guys, and I accept that. But I think I am a better player to deal with the competition ahead this summer. Hopefully over the next year I can prove that. I did that a little bit in India last year, but look forward to doing it this summer and winter.”

علق خالد مرتجي، عضو مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، على ترشحه في انتخابات القلعة الحمراء المقبلة، ورفضه الترشح في منصب النائب.

وقال مرتجي في تصريحات على قناة إم بي سي مصر 2، بسؤاله عن تنازله 3 مرات عن الترشح على منصب نائب الرئيس: “أنا أتولدت واتغرس فيا حب الأهلي، لا أنظر إلى مناصب، بعد وفاة العامري فاروق الخطيب قال لى هذا دورك لتكون نائب الرئيس، بعد وفاة العامري نريد عمل انتخابات وتترشح على المنصب”.

وتابع: “لو كنت أفكر في نفسي كنا عملنا انتخابات وترشحت على منصب النائب، ولكن أنا فكرت في الأهلي وما تربيت عليه، فأبي غرس فيا إنكار الذات”.

طالع|الأهلي يخوض اختبارًا قويًا أمام بتروجيت لاستعادة صدارة الدوري

وأضاف خالد مرتجي: “قلت للخطيب يشرفني أكون في منصب النائب معك، هو بمثابة شقيقي الكبير، ولكن لو تركت منصب أمين الصندوق وأمامنا سنتين على مدة المجلس وسنقوم بإجراء انتخابات النادي سيتكبد أموالا كثيرة، لو كنت أفكر في نفسي لأصبحت نائب رئيس النادي”.

وكشف: “اقترحت على محمود الخطيب، مصطفى مراد فهمي أو ياسين منصور لمنصب نائب الرئيس، أكثر شيء كان يقلقني أن الخطيب يرحل الآن، الخطيب صمام أمان ومصد كبير للنادي الأهلي”.

وأردف: “ياسين منصور من الناس القريبة مني، وهو متواجد في النادي الأهلي قبل ما أكون متواجد في مجلس الإدارة، عمل أشياء للنادي لا يوجد أحد يعرفها ولم يريد أن يفصح عنها، أعتبر رئيس النادي ونائب وأمين الصندوق أي واحد فيهم قادر أن يكون رئيس النادي، ياسين منصور عقلية اقتصادية ومن مصلحة الأهلي وجوده في مجلس الإدارة، المرحلة الحالية تحتاج لشخص مثله”.

وأكمل: “القيمة التسويقية للفريق الكرة بالنادي الأهلي 36 مليون يورو تقريبًا، نصرف على النشاط الرياضي فوق 650 مليون جنيه لم نحصل منه ولا مليم، الجمهور يريد الأهلي يكون أول العالم وليس مركز ثالث، قطاع الناشئين يحتاج إلى تطوير ولذلك تعاقدنا مع الهولندي أرت لانجلر، وسيد عبد الحفيظ تولى ملف الكرة مع الخطيب بجانب وجود محمد يوسف، التركيز أكثر سيكون في قطاع الناشئين”.

وبين: “لو تحدثنا عن ريبيرو أخذ الفريق قبل كأس العالم للأندية بـ3 أو 4 أيام، ولا نريد نحمله فوق طاقته هو لم يوفق وجمهور الأهلي لا يرحم وكنا نأمل أكثر من ذلك، الاشتراك في محفل كبير مثل كأس العالم للأندية شرف، كنت متواجدا في مباراة الافتتاح وبيكهام كان جالسا خلفي وقال لي لازم تكسبوا”.

وأشار: “الأجواء في أمريكا كانت صعبة وحارة جدًا والرطوبة مرتفعة، الملعب كان صهد أكيد كان يوجد أفضل من ذلك وكنت أتمنى ذلك، ومتفائل بتوروب هو صارم جدًا واللاعبون يحبوه وبدايته جيدة، وعمل نجاحات في الخارج ونتمنى التوفيق له، كل ما يطلبه ننفذه سواء من خلال المشرف العام على الكرة أو لجنة التخطيط”.

وبسؤاله هل كانت هناك جلسة جمعت بينك وبين محمود الخطيب وياسين منصور؟، قال: “نعم، ياسين منصور من أقرب الناس لي وعلى تواصل حتى بعد رحيله عن النادي، وهو إضافة كبيرة واحنا الثلاثة في ظهر بعض مع باقي المجلس المحترم”.

وعن المدرب الجديد، أكمل: “توروب يعلم حجم الضغط المتواجد عليه، النادي الأهلي يجب أن يكون رقم واحد، رقم اثنين مثله مثل الأخير، الفترة المقبلة ستكون أفضل، لدينا أفضل لاعبين في مصر وإفريقيا ولا ينقصنا شيء غير توفيق الله، وتنقصنا عودة الجماهير للمدرجات مرة أخرى، الكرة بدون جماهير مثل العرس بدون المعازيم، أناشد كل المسؤولين ووزير الشباب والرياضة، حزين عندما نشاهد مباراة فيها 5 آلاف متفرج”.

وواصل: “كل ما يقال عن أوضة اللبس بالنادي الأهلي غير حقيقي بالمرة، بدليل الكاميرا عندما تأتي على الفريق الكل يحب بعضه، ومن أفضل القرارات عودة وليد صلاح الدين كمدير للكرة، ابن النادي فعلا ومن افضل المحللين في مصر، منضبط واللاعبون يحبونه وكان قرارا موفقا من الخطيب ولجنة التخطيط”.

وبسؤاله هل حزنت على رحيل وسام أبو علي؟، أجاب: “نحن في عصر الأحتراف، هناك أفضل من وسام رحلوا والأهلي لم يتأثر، الأهلي لا يتأثر برحيل لاعب بالعكس الأهلي هو من يصنع النجوم، من كان يعرف وسام أبو علي قبل الانضمام للقلعة الحمراء ويلعب في كأس العالم للأندية؟”.

Arsenal cantered their way past Nottingham Forest at the Emirates to return to winning ways in the Premier League and put the pressure back on Liverpool.

Having fallen to a slender defeat at Anfield before the international break after Dominik Szoboszlai’s late free-kick, the Gunners knew they needed a big performance, and Mikel Arteta must be delighted with the slick and stylish showing from a side lacking the injured Bukayo Saka and with Declan Rice on the bench ahead of the midweek return to the Champions League.

That’s four defeats in a row for Ange Postecoglou against Arsenal, the Aussie coach making his bow for Forest after being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur before the summer.

But few will care of an Arsenal persuasion. This is no time for point-scoring, not in that way. With new signings starting to come together, the Londoners are gearing up for a shot at the Premier League title, having finished runners-up three years in a row.

And there’s so much to like about this side; something feels different. Arsenal are more complete, more polished and tuned in an attacking sense. Andrea Berta has overseen some impactful summer transfer business.

Arsenal's impressive summer signings

Arsenal enjoyed a spree of signings throughout the summer transfer window, and they all look to be coming together nicely.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

In particular, Martin Zubimendi’s spectacular strike got things rolling against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and he scored again but only after Viktor Gyokeres had bagged himself another after the break, making it three goals from four games in the Premier League.

Zubimendi struggled against Liverpool two weeks ago, but the midfield maestro adds such control and flair to Arsenal’s midfield. He contributes to defensive security and fluency in attack. He scored two goals.

And his controlled passing and enterprising nature on the ball fed into Noni Madueke’s latest standout performance. Saka is injured, but it hasn’t mattered too much for a side showing a new level of depth.

The former Chelsea winger won nine duels and created five key passes as he zipped up the right wing, with journalist Miguel Delaney noting that he was “shredding Morato” in the opening period, in particular.

He didn’t score, but Eberechi Eze enjoyed a fantastic full debut himself, setting up his striker’s finish and threatening throughout.

Perhaps the biggest testament that this new crop could be awarded is that they look like they have been playing under Arteta’s wing for months. Years.

They haven’t. These are new players, integrated into a new system and adopting new variations to new roles. It doesn’t look that way, and the quiet pick of the bunch might actually have played at the other end of the field, with Cristhian Mosquera standing tall against the Tricky Trees’ frontline.

Mosquera looks like "one of the best signings in the PL"

Chris Wood might have fancied his chances at the Emirates. After all, William Saliba was absent after picking up that injury against Liverpool before the international break.

But Forest’s powerful striker was subdued by a collective defensive effort that has become a given for Arsenal, who have kept three clean sheets from four matches so far and have been breached only by a stunning set-piece.

Long gone are the days of fragility at the rear, and Mosquera already looks the part in what reinforces the tactical brilliance that has shaped Arsenal into a superpower once more.

Gabriel Magalhaes is one of the best centre-backs around, and he played well against Forest, but Mosquera more than held his own beside the Brazilian, maybe even putting in the better performance all told.

Minutes played

90′

90′

Goals conceded

0

0

Touches

83

93

Accurate passes

62/66 (94%)

76/83 (92%)

Key passes

0

0

Dribbles

1/1

0/0

Tackles

4

4

Interceptions

2

2

Clearances

2

2

Ground duels

5/5

2/2

Aerial duels

1/4

1/2

Arsenal only paid around £13m when bringing the 6 foot 3 defender over from Valencia in the summer, and already that looks to be a bargain.

Mosquera, 21 years old and with one cap for the Spanish national team, has even been described as “one of the best signings in the Premier League this season” by pundit Leo DaSilva, who made the comment after watching the player’s performance.

Football.london even handed the young star an 8/10 match rating for his labours, drawing attention to his defensive efforts in keeping the enemy at bay with a series of well-timed challenges and stooping headers.

Gabriel, by the way, was handed a 7/10 match score following his dependable display.

But how could we do anything other than circuit back to Mosquera’s imperiousness, and his meagre price tag, which seems a steal? Could it be that this young centre-half is quietly establishing himself as the signing of the summer in a team bearing superstars like Eze, Gyokeres and Zubimendi?

Madueke would fancy himself a shrewd purchase, even though he cost a pretty penny at £48.5m. And anyway, Madueke just played out his 71st Premier League match, whereas Mosquera completed his maiden 90 minutes in a Premier League setting.

There’s no doubt that Arteta and Arsenal have a knack for finding talented young defenders and fashioning them into stars, but they must feel all the same that they have hit the jackpot on Mosquera, who plays with such poise and power and purpose.

Arsenal were missing Saliba, you say? It didn’t feel like it. Arsenal have the tools to forge a successful campaign for themselves, with depth and dimensions to compete across multiple fronts and finally get their hands on some silverware.

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Manchester United went into the summer in desperate need of a squad overhaul following their record-low Premier League finish last season.

The main area that needed improvement was the attack, with players like Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund being pushed out of the club. The deals to sign Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko seemed like the easiest ones that the club completed in the summer, as they were both completed in a matter of days.

However, not every deal was as smooth. United spent a significant portion of the transfer window locked in transfer negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo. They also appeared to have a protracted back and forth with Brighton about the signing of Carlos Baleba, but that deal did not materialise due to the south coast club’s reluctance to drop their asking price below the £100 million mark.

With limited time left in the transfer window, United still wanted a goalkeeper and a midfielder, with only the former being recruited in time. A former Arsenal star who played a significant role in the goalkeeper signing has now shared how the deal unfolded and how his club acted differently to Brentford and Brighton.

How the Lammens deal unfolded

The last signing that United managed to complete in the summer was that of Royal Antwerp keeper Senne Lammens. The 23-year-old cost United just over £18 million on deadline day.

One of the key figures at Royal Antwerp is Director of Football Marc Overmars, who spent three seasons playing for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Reports from the Netherlands via Sports Witness have seen Overmars share that Antwerp’s approach to transfers is a more amicable one than United would have experienced dealing with some of the Premier League teams.

Going into deadline day, it seemed certain that United would sign a keeper, but it was unclear whether that would be Lammens or Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.

If Martinez were to join United, then Villa would have signed Lammens instead, but as the day progressed, it became clear that United favoured the younger of the two and actually had an offer accepted lower than Villa’s, hijacking a transfer in the process.

Man Utd's plan for Lammens

Lammens is yet to make his debut for United, with Altay Bayindir currently retaining the number one spot. However, with Andre Onana’s departure to Trabzonspor, it looks likely that Lammens will be given a chance between the sticks this season.

One reason why Lammens may not have started yet is that the first games he was eligible for were against Manchester City and Chelsea, which could have been daunting opening games. United’s next games are against Brentford and Sunderland, and despite strong starts to the season, they were both teams in the relegation conversation and are the perfect opportunity for Lammens to find his feet.

It’s hard to argue that even with his Premier League experience, Martinez would have walked straight into the first team, as he has only featured twice this season, with Unai Emery opting for Marco Bizot in goal on a number of occasions.

Only time will tell whether or not United came to the correct decision on deadline day, but with Lammens being the younger player by 10 years, he does look like the better option in the long term.

Liverpool are considering making an offer for a “huge talent” in the near future, having sent scouts to watch him alongside interest from some of their biggest rivals.

Neville calls Liverpool underdogs in title race

The Reds’ 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon was a tough one to take for the Premier League champions, but it was a result that had been coming, following too many unconvincing performances.

Speaking on Sunday after Arsenal’s late 2-1 win at Newcastle United, Gary Neville hinted that the Gunners are now already favourites after just six games, despite Liverpool beginning the campaign as the front-runners, and still being two points clear at the top.

“Only two teams can win this league: Liverpool or Arsenal. When the first goal went in, I said, ‘big’, and I thought the second one was coming, I genuinely did. I thought I could feel something happening in the ground. Those Arsenal players did too and it did happen.

“I think it’s a big moment. Look, it’s September, it’s ridiculous… it [the title race] doesn’t start until March. But what you’ve got to do along the way is send out some calling cards. You’ve got to send out some clear messages that we’re here and we’re proper, and that’s what I think Arsenal have done today.”

Away from the current on-field action, Liverpool continue to be linked with possible new signings, including one big talent with a huge future in the game.

Liverpool send scouts to watch "huge talent"

According to a fresh claim from journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Genk starlet Konstantinos Karetsas in action, with an offer potentially being tabled for him soon. The £20m-rated 17-year-old could be sold in January or next summer, with Everton, Sunderland, Newcastle United and Bournemouth eyeing a move for him, too.

Karetsas is a massive talent who is already impressing so much at the age of just 17, scoring three goals and bagging six assists in 53 appearances for Genk.

The attacking midfielder also has two goals in five caps for Greece, having switched his allegiances from Belgium, as well as being hailed as a “huge talent” by scout Jacek Kulig.

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Karetsas would surely love the idea of moving to Liverpool over the other clubs mentioned, with all due respect to them, and he has the talent to be a long-term star at Anfield.

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has argued that Barcelona and Villarreal’s upcoming match in Miami is part of a broader plan to reward global fans and expand La Liga's international reach. However, he revealed that the Women’s Super Cup, originally proposed to be held in the United States from January 20 to 25, could not go ahead after Real Madrid refused to approve the move.

RFEF had full backing from Spanish giants for Miami plan

Louzan revealed that the RFEF had reached an agreement to stage the Supercopa de Espana Femenina in Miami, with full support from Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club, who will participate alongside Real Madrid in the four-team format introduced when the competition was reinstated in 2020, but Los Blancos angered their rivals by refusing to give their backing.

Before turning to Miami, the federation had first explored taking the tournament to Saudi Arabia, following the format used for the men’s Super Cup, which was also held there. But the idea quickly received criticism over the country’s human rights record. Things got even more complicated when a court investigation began into a deal signed by former RFEF president Luis Rubiales, allegedly involving illegal commissions tied to moving Spanish competitions to the Middle East. After facing strong objections from women’s football, the Saudi Arabia plan was eventually dropped.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNot the first time Real Madrid have vetoed a move to the USA

Speaking at the World Football Summit in Madrid on Wednesday, he said the project aimed to promote women’s football globally following the success of the men’s Supercopa de Espana. However, the federation has yet to confirm a venue.

"We already made a proposal, which couldn't be held this year, to move the Women's Super Cup to the United States, Louzan revealed. "We had already reached an agreement, but in the end, it won't be possible because one of the clubs said it didn't see it happening this year."

Notably, this isn’t the first time Madrid has opposed plans to take Spanish football to the United States. Earlier, the Spanish giants voiced their displeasure over the Villarreal vs Barcelona match being played in Miami.

Louzan backs Javier Tebas plan to promote La Liga in abroad

Amid criticism from fans and pundits over the Villarreal vs Barcelona clash being moved to the United States, the RFEF chief has thrown his support behind La Liga president Javier Tebas’ long-running plan to promote Spanish football overseas. UEFA granted 'exceptional' permission on October 6 for the match to take place in Miami, marking the first official La Liga game to be played outside Spain.

Louzan, who has supported the idea since taking office last December, defended the move and called it a step toward connecting with global fans.

"Television rights are important, and now there are two stadiums: the physical one where the match is played, and the one on your sofa at home. Many people pay to watch football on their screens, and this is in line with the authorization to play the match in Miami. It's a reward for the fans behind the screens," the 57-year-old added.

It is not the only match set to be played on foreign soil this season. UEFA has also approved Serie A’s plan to stage the AC Milan vs Como fixture in Perth, Australia, on February 8, which also received sharp criticism from fans.

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Getty Images SportRFEF still struggling to revive Women’s Super Cup

The RFEF’s efforts to bring the Women’s Super Cup back to life haven’t gone as planned. After returning in 2020 following a 20-year break, the tournament has struggled to get financial backing. This year’s edition at Butarque Stadium in Leganes was announced only 26 days before kickoff. The move frustrated both clubs and fans, especially those of Barcelona and Real Sociedad, who faced visa and travel issues.

A big reason the tournament hasn’t caught on is also its lack of competition. Barcelona women's dominance (15 titles) in the tournament has made the event predictable and left little excitement for neutral fans. With the next edition just three months away, time is running out for the RFEF to find a venue and a vision. The federation now faces mounting pressure to give the competition a clear direction, both for the players and the future of women’s football in Spain.