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The Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, but India may be a little shocked by what they see compared to what they remember

Alex Malcolm24-Dec-2024Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald must have had flashbacks to their club cricket days as they walked to the middle of the MCG on Monday.With the exception of the MCG’s head curator Matt Page, there were no ground staff around, and the Test pitch was fully covered after some morning rain. Cummins and McDonald had to peel the covers back themselves to take a look at the strip. Their eyebrows might have gone up at seeing how green it looked, but they would not have been surprised.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” McDonald said on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a big decision, though, come the day of the game. I think traditionally it’s been bowl-first, but with the heat around and it looks similar but probably a little bit better than what it has in previous years. So a decision for the captains to make at the toss, I think.”Related

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Should India opt for bowling depth over batting insurance at the MCG?

While the Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, India may be shocked by what they see compared to what they remember.The MCG has been a home away from home for them in each of the last two Test tours. The Gabba will always hold a special place in Indian hearts, but the MCG has been the lifeblood of both series triumphs.In 2018-19, they came here having been rocked by a pace barrage in Perth. They batted first on a slightly less turgid surface than the one Alistair Cook made 244 on the previous year. But Cheteshwar Pujara batted for 11 hours as India racked up 443 for 7 in 169.4 overs before Jasprit Bumrah put on a masterclass of fast bowling as the surface began to go up and down.The blueprint was pretty similar two summers later. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja thrived in slower conditions more akin to home than Australia. And after being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Ajinkya Rahane ground out a famous match-winning century.But the MCG has undergone a complete transformation since then under Page’s watch. The nadir of 2017 sparked a five-year plan to revitalise a drop-in square that had become one of the worst in Australia. The complete transformation of that plan did not take effect until 2021, when the last four of the new drop-in pitch trays were installed after India’s most recent visit.”We sat down seven years ago, after 2017, and discussed where we wanted to go as an organisation and what we wanted to be renowned for and that’s producing Test matches that are going to provide a thrilling contest,” Page said. “It gives the bowlers an opportunity at various points in the game, but it also gives the batters a chance if you play well. We then tried and played around with our grass lengths, our compaction levels, moisture levels, and that probably took us three years to where we wanted to get to, and then I would say the last two or three years, we’ve been quite consistent in what we’ve rolled out. We leave a bit more grass on them now than what we used to but it’s provided thrilling contests, and that’s what we want to do.”Since 2018-19, the MCG has had the lowest bowling average of the major venues in Australia at 26.57. Pace has dominated, averaging 24.50. But spin has averaged 35.24, the second lowest of all venues behind Perth, remarkably.For the 2021 Boxing Day Ashes Test, Page left 10mm of grass on the surface, having experimented with 12mm in a Sheffield Shield game earlier in the summer. Australia won inside seven sessions, with Scott Boland famously taking 6 for 7 and England losing by an innings despite Australia only scoring 267.

“I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment – how do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on”Andrew McDonald

The following year, when South Africa arrived, Page trimmed it back to 6mm and produced a Test pitch where Cameron Green took 5 for 27 on the first day, David Warner made 200 on a 40-degree second day, Alex Carey plundered 111 on the third, and Nathan Lyon took three wickets on the fourth.Page rolled out a similar surface last year when Pakistan toured. The highest innings total in the match was 318, the lowest was 237. Cummins took ten for the match and Lyon bagged four in Pakistan’s first innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza took six wickets each across two innings and had Australia 16 for 4 in their second innings before Mitchell Marsh made 96. Pakistan reached 219 for 5 chasing just 317 to win in the fourth innings before collapsing to an extraordinary spell from Cummins.Some of India’s players have already seen the new MCG pitch. The Australia A vs India A game in early November was a rollicking affair where the seam bowlers held sway, much like they do in Shield matches at this venue. But it is arguable that KL Rahul’s two brief innings in that game and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s performance with bat and ball prepared both of them well for the Test series that has unfolded. Australia’s debutant Sam Konstas made 73 not out in that game and India are pondering whether to bring in Prasidh Krishna, who also took six wickets for India A.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” Andrew McDonald said after he and Pat Cummins looked at the MCG pitch•AFP/Getty ImagesBut any fears that the Test pitch will be as lively as that are unfounded, according to Page, who does trim the grass according to the quality of bowling on show.”It probably won’t be as much seam in this as probably the Shield games,” Page said. “As you go to that next level, bowlers get a bit more out of it than in the Shield. So we tend to pull it back just that fraction for Test match cricket, because the quality of players goes up. But in terms of pace, bounce and the excitement, then we’re looking for exactly the same in all our long-format pitches.”What does that mean for this Boxing Day? Can India renew their love affair with the MCG pitch despite it being nothing like the flame they fell for the last two trips they had here?”I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment,” McDonald said. “How do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on.”But I’m not a big believer in history repeating itself, so it starts afresh. Different groups, different challenges. We’ll go in with an open mind to what it looks like.”

The New York Yankees managed to avoid being swept during their World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. After losing Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday and Saturday, the Yankees managed to get one back in Game 3, coming away with a 7–3 victory on Sunday evening.

But it wasn't all good news for New York.

Left fielder Jasson Dominguez exited Sunday's game early with what the team is calling a left thumb contusion. He seemingly hurt his hand while attempting to steal second base in the fifth inning. He remained on the base paths and came around to score, but was then replaced by Cody Bellinger.

After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about Dominguez's status, but he told reporters he did not yet have an update on the 22-year-old.

Dominguez also spoke to reporters and indicated that he's "not too concerned" about the thumb.

The left fielder wasn't the only one dealing with an ailment. Luke Weaver was supposed to come on and pitch the ninth inning for the Yankees, but instead, it was Tim Hill who took the mound. Boone said Weaver "felt something" in his hamstring, per Boland.

Boone didn't offer a detailed update on either player, but the team hopes they can avoid a trip to the IL. New York has the day off on Monday before starting a home series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, June 3.

تحدث أحمد عبد الرؤوف، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، عن تحقيق الفوز في أولى مواجهات الفريق بدور مجموعات الكونفدرالية أمام نظيره زيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.

وفاز الزمالك على زيسكو، بهدف دون رد، في إطار الجولة الأولى من مواجهات المجموعة الرابعة لمنافسات كأس الكونفدرالية، في المباراة التي أقيمت في القاهرة.

وقال عبد الرؤوف خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “بي إن سبورت”: “كنا نستطيع إنهاء المباراة من الشوط الأول، ولكن كان يوجد إهمال في الفرص”.

طالع | موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة بعد الفوز على زيسكو يونايتد في الكونفدرالية

وأضاف: “كنا نصعب المباراة على أنفسنا، لدينا عدد من اللاعبين مضغوطين بسبب المشاركات المتتالية، لاعبو المنتخب انضموا في وقت متأخر”.

ووصل: “أقول للجماهير هذه الفترة طالما نعبر بالفوز هذا هو المكسب الحقيقي، ونعاني من ظروف إصابات، أتمنى أن نتخطى هذه الفترة بمكاسب والفترة القادمة ستكون مختلفة”.

وأكمل: “في بعض الأوقات لم أكن راضيًا عن الأداء اليوم، غدًا راحة، وسنتدرب بعد غد ونستعد للمباراة القادمة، كل الظروف التي تحدث لا بد أن أتعامل معها وأجد لها حلول وهذا ما أعد به الجمهور”.

وأتم: “هناك ظروف صعبة مثل عدم وجود بديل لفتوح وقلبي الدفاع، لكن علينا الفوز في المباراة القادمة أمام كايزر تشيفز، هذا سيعطينا أريحية إن شاء الله”.

Northamptonshire delay trophy presentation but can’t escape defeat

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025Leicestershire 429 (Eskinazi 155) and 260 for 5 dec (Patel 76, Cox 51*, Budinger 50) beat Northamptonshire 189 (Zaib 62, Wright 3-19, Holland 3-28) and 333 (van der Merwe 116, Zaib 58, Bartlett 50, Trevaskis 6-85) by 167 runsNorthamptonshire’s Stuart van der Merwe held up Leicestershire’s Division Two trophy presentation with a century on debut on the final day of this Rothesay County Championship match at Wantage Road.The 20-year-old who trialled at Leicester earlier this season was recently awarded a two-year rookie deal by Northamptonshire after impressing in the One-Day Cup and duly celebrated by scoring 116 from 209 balls, with 12 fours, to frustrate Leicestershire’s push for their seventh win of the season.Already assured of promotion and the Division Two title, Leicestershire finally wrapped up victory by 167 runs just before tea, bowling out Northamptonshire for 333, Liam Trevaskis taking a career best 6 for 85.Van der Merwe shared a sixth-wicket stand worth 80 with Saif Zaib who rounded off a spectacular year with 58, finishing as county cricket’s leading run-scorer with 1425 runs. With six centuries and seven half-centuries, Zaib has scored the third most runs in a Championship season for Northamptonshire this century.Van der Merwe also shared a seventh-wicket stand with of 128 off 187 balls with George Bartlett who scored his third half-century of the season.Earlier Northamptonshire resumed on 120 for 5, chasing an improbable 501 to win. van der Merwe was dropped off Trevaskis by Rishi Patel at wide first slip, but Zaib soon worked Holland off his legs to bring up Northamptonshire’s 150 in the 53rd over.He straight drove Holland for four before running a single off the next delivery to reach his 50, before bringing up the 50 partnership with van der Merwe in style by pulling Trevaskis over midwicket for six.Van der Merwe also started to locate the boundary ropes, dispatching two short balls through the off side in the first over of a fresh Josh Hull spell before driving Holland through the covers.Zaib’s long summer of batting finally ended though when he drove loosely at one from Hull, Stephen Eskinazi taking the catch at gully.Trevaskis had two lbw shouts turned down against van der Merwe as he went to sweep but the Northamptonshire youngster deposited him over deep midwicket when he served up a juicy full toss. With the floodlights on, van der Merwe then took a single off Trevaskis to reach 50 off 103 balls. Bartlett, meanwhile, pulled Chris Wright square for four to get off the mark.After lunch, van der Merwe and Bartlett both swept the spinners for boundaries, while van der Merwe drove Patel through midwicket to bring up Northamptonshire’s 250 and then pulled him for another four next ball.Bartlett hit a wide ball from Wright over the vacant gully position to the ropes before driving Ian Holland straight down the ground as the partnership gathered pace.Van der Merwe had a couple of nervous moments during a testing spell from Wright, playing his final game, but drove Holland confidently through the covers, while Bartlett drove Wright sweetly through midwicket and then punched Holland off the back foot through cover to bring up the 100 partnership off 160 balls.In an eventful over from Logan van Beek, van der Merwe hooked for four before running a single which allowed Bartlett to run one and reach his half-century. Van der Merwe reached three figures off the final ball of the over as he pulled to fine leg, becoming only the third man to score a century on first-class debut for Northamptonshire after Alastair Storie in 1985 and David Sales in 1996.Bartlett fell to the very next ball though when he steered Hull straight to backward point, with Trevaskis soon trapping both George Scrimshaw and Ben Whitehouse lbw. Finally, the left-arm spinner then had van der Merwe brilliantly caught by Budinger at short leg to allow the celebrations began.

Veteran opener steps away from the game after 16 seasons at Bristol

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2025Chris Dent, Gloucestershire’s long-serving opening batter, has announced his retirement from professional cricket with immediate effect.Dent, 34, represented Gloucestershire in 356 matches, scoring over 15,000 runs across all formats, including 11,237 at 36.01 in first-class cricket, placing him 28th on the club’s all-time list.Born in Bristol, Dent joined Gloucestershire’s Pathway at the age of 12, and made his senior debut in 2009 during a Pro40 match against Nottinghamshire. He passed 1,000 first-class runs in a season on four occasions, most recently in 2019, when he captained the side to promotion to Division One, their first such appearance since 2005.This season, however, he struggled for form in the opening round of Championship games, and had not featured for the first team since April.”After 16 memorable seasons playing professional cricket, I’ve decided that the time is right to step away from the game,” Dent said. “It’s hard to put into words what cricket has given me, but I will always be truly grateful.”I want to thank Gloucestershire CCC for giving me my opportunity 16 years ago. The support and faith you’ve shown me have been a huge part of any success I’ve had over the years.”To the fans – your encouragement throughout my career has meant everything. What stands out most, especially over these last few difficult years, is the love and kindness you’ve shown me. That support helped me more than you’ll ever know.”The biggest thank you goes to all the players. You guys are what made the last 16 years so memorable. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared the field with so many brilliant people. When I look back on my career, my favourite memories are special because of the people I shared them with. Even though my time as a cricketer is over, I hope there are still more memories to be made with you all.”Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire’s head coach, said: “Reaching the end of a first-class playing career is always a daunting time, but I am sure Denty will look back with brilliant memories of his time with Gloucestershire.”I remember him in his teenage years, knocking around in the Academy, and I am not surprised he became one of our most valued players to come through our Pathway.”Batting at the top for most of his career in England is an unenviable task, but once again he managed to impact games from that position on a regular basis. His presence there kept him perennially in England’s shortlist, though he never quite got the call. I believe the international stage could have seen him flourish.”Although still in great physical shape, it has been more challenging mentally, and on that sad note, his appearances have been somewhat restricted.”The last few years will not define what has been a stellar career with the Glorious, and I would like to thank him for his immense contributions over the years.”

Hale End continues to be an invaluable talent factor for Arsenal.

Right now, Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and the returning Eberechi Eze are all key figures in Mikel Arteta’s first team, while Saturday’s trip to Fulham was a reminder of departed Hale End graduates, given that Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe were in action for the hosts at Craven Cottage.

Given the sheer volume of academy graduates now plying their trade far and wide, there will be one or two Arsenal may regret allowing to leave, one in particular is starting to showcase his talent this season, having once been compared to the Hale End poster boy, Saka.

Bukayo Saka's performance in numbers vs Fulham

As Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, Saka was, yet again, named Premier League man of the match.

It was his corner, flicked on by Gabriel and turned home by Leandro Trossard, that proved to be the difference, pinching all three points on the banks of the River Thames.

Overall though, Saka was the Gunners’ most dangerous player throughout the evening.

He was in staggering form, completing seven key passes, six dribbles and being fouled five times. In fact, despite missing three matches due to injury, Saka remains the Gunners’ main man in attack.

Bukayo Saka statistics 2025/26

Statistics

Saka

Arsenal rank

Minutes

516

10th

Goals

3

1st

Shots

12

5th

Goals – xG

+1.4

2nd

Key passes

14

2nd

Big chances created

3

1st

Shot-creating actions

27

2nd

Attempted take-ons

29

1st

Progressive carries

26

1st

Average rating

7.43

1st

Stats via FBref and SofaScore

As the table outlines, despite limited minutes, Saka continues to be central to Arsenal as an attacking force, ranked first for a whole host of metrics, including goals, big chances created and dribbles.

Appearing for Thomas Tuchel for only the second time, the 24-year-old certainly showcased his talent at Wembley during the international break, scoring that sublime strike as England steamrollered Wales.

Saka joined Arsenal at the age of seven, making 271 appearances for the first team to date, and counting, very much the gold standard Hale End graduate, but is there another, once compared to him, currently impressing elsewhere?

What happened to Arsenal's "Saka regen"

There are plenty of Hale End academy graduates plying their trade away from Arsenal.

The aforementioned Smith Rowe and Iwobi, as well as Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Folarin Balogun, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Héctor Bellerín, Ayden Heaven, Omari Hutchinson and Mika Biereth are among some of the most prominent.

However, few were as highly rated as Amario Cozier-Duberry.

After spending six years at Chettle Court Rangers, he joined Arsenal as a 14-year-old, making 31 appearances for the U18s as well as 48 for the U21s, most notably scoring a brace against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Youth League, as well as netting against Northampton and Stevenage in the EFL Trophy.

During this period, analyst Ben Mattinson labelled him a “Saka regen”, while Art de Roché of the Athletic noted that his “super-strength is his ball-carrying and ability”, adding that he’s an “exciting” talent.

However, just when he was seemingly on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough, Cozier-Duberry turned down a new contract, instead making the move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2024 as Edu and Co were forced to let him go on a free transfer.

He is yet to be seen representing the Seagulls at senior level, immediately loaned out to Blackburn Rovers last season, albeit he scored just one goal in 24 outings for the Riversiders, this coming against Luton at Ewood Park in December.

However, a mere 13 miles south across Lancashire, he is loving life rather more at Bolton Wanderers.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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Already this season, Cozier-Duberry has scored four goals and registered five assists for the Trotters, on target against Sheffield Wednesday, AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient, subsequently actually outperforming Saka who has three goals.

Then, on Thursday night, Bolton pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks you’re ever likely to see, scoring in the 93rd and then 95th minutes to beat Huddersfield Town 2-1, with the youngster’s winner sparking wild celebrations from those in the away end at Kirklees.

Of course, the obvious caveat is that Cozier-Duberry is currently impressing at EFL League One level, which Global Football Rankings believes to be the 41st strongest division in the world.

So, while he would not be a first-team contributor right now, at 20 years old, he still has room to develop and improve, so may end up playing in Brighton’s first team in years to come.

Also, from a more cynical point of view, Arsenal need to get better at selling, and Cozier-Duberry’s performances this season are only going to increase his transfer value, potentially earning Brighton a decent fee, while the Gunners let him leave for nothing during Edu’s mixed time as sporting director, which must sting.

Related Arsenal star is "biggest talent in England" & he could take Saka's #7 shirt

The incredible Arsenal gem could become Mikel Arteta’s future Bukayo Saka replacement.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 16, 2025

Chelsea legend John Terry has found himself at the centre of social media ridicule after performing a rap with British artist ArrDee at the Baller League UK. The former Blues defender, who lifted 15 trophies with the club, was labelled "cringe" and "embarrassing" by fans following his appearance alongside the rapper during Monday night’s event.

Terry’s rap shocks fans at Baller League

Terry, one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players, made headlines this week after taking part in a musical performance during the Baller League UK, an indoor six-a-side competition that blends football with online entertainment and features content creators alongside former pros.

The 44-year-old, who manages a team named the 26ers, joined ArrDee during the team's entrance for what appeared to be a playful diss track aimed at influencer Angry Ginge. Footage of the pair walking out together and performing quickly spread across social media, with many supporters expressing their disbelief at the sight of their former captain trying his hand at rap.

Terry, who spent his entire 22-year playing career at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League five times, appeared in good spirits during the performance, but the online reaction was the opposite, with sections of the Chelsea fanbase calling it "painful to watch" and questioning why a club legend would involve himself in such antics.

AdvertisementSocial media reaction: ‘Cringe’, ‘embarrassing’, and ‘tops the slip’

It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, and fans across were quick to pile in with a mix of humour, disbelief, and second-hand embarrassment.

One user, @saxon_davi67265, wrote: "He's topped his most embarrassing moment in his life of slipping in a Champions League final."

Another, @ONLYONEWEEDA, admitted he felt incredibly uncomfortable watching the scenes unfold. He posted: "Jesus christ that was cringe"

@NikBoReid simply added: "Embarrassing nonsense."

Meanwhile, @jordymaui commented: “What the f*ck is this?", followed by several crying laughing emojis. 

And @pusb1991 questioned those who watch the competition in the first place, adding: "Who watches this sh*te genuinely?".

The negative wave of reaction didn’t stop there. On Reddit and other platforms, fans described the moment as "super cringe" and "hard to watch", while others urged Terry to "stick to coaching" instead of pursuing a career in the music industry.

From captain to content creator

While the reaction was mostly mocking, Terry’s involvement in the Baller League reflects his growing interest in football-based entertainment. The competition features former professionals, influencers, and content creators, mixing sport with live performances and plenty of viral moments. Terry has served as one of the Baller League’s headline figures since its launch, managing the 26ers team and making regular appearances in promotional content. His collaboration with ArrDee was clearly meant to be light-hearted, though it appears many fans took it less kindly.

The former England international retired from playing in 2018 before moving into assistant coaching roles at Aston Villa and Leicester City. He’s also been open about his desire to one day manage Chelsea, describing it as his "final dream" in football.

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Getty ImagesTerry’s legacy damaged?

Despite the backlash, Terry remains one of Chelsea’s most decorated figures, having made 717 appearances and captained the club to its first Champions League title in 2012. Yet, his off-pitch persona has often divided opinion, from controversial posts on social media to now, an unexpected rap performance.

Some supporters took the criticism in stride, noting that the clip was likely meant to be fun and part of the Baller League’s entertainment approach. Others, though, saw it as another "PR own goal" for a figure who once embodied the club’s old-school toughness.

The contrast between the former captain who lifted trophies under Jose Mourinho and the man rapping in a tracksuit beside ArrDee was too much for many to process. Although it is worth noting that the reaction the clip sparked on social media served its purpose. Terry will have been well aware that purist fans of the game will have picked up on his performance, and while he may face the brunt of the backlash, the moment draws more eyes to the Baller League.

It's a weird time to be Endrick. The immensely talented Brazilian was supposed to be part of a new era, but instead finds himself in complete limbo. He hasn't played for five months, and everything suggests that he probably should have left over the summer. Injuries and a reluctance from the manager to play him have resulted in successive games sat on the bench, and now the 19-year-old faces a huge decision on his future.

But Endrick has the No.9 shirt now. This seems like a good thing. After all, when a footballer is handed a jersey of such prestige, they tend to be doing something right. It implies a certain amount of faith, a backing from higher-ups. In other words, Madrid supposedly trust him.

Well, that's all very nice and symbolic, but the actual footballing reality is wildly different. It has been over 150 days since Endrick last kicked a ball in a competitive game. There was plenty of hype when he was signed, and that will remain. Endrick is 19, an immense talent, and has shown, in brief spells, that he can be a game-changing attacking presence. 

Yet he remains flawed; Endrick isn't particularly tall. He also isn't a great fit in Xabi Alonso's system. And with plentiful talk of a loan move that could take him away from Madrid, it's hard to envisage a future for him at the club. There are, every so often, now or never moments for a footballer. Endrick feels like he's right on the precipice of one. An exit in January might be the only way to salvage his budding career.

(C)Getty ImagesA worthy move

Madrid signing Endrick, at the time, felt right. It was one of those high-profile chases for a Brazilian child superstar – a bit of a throwback in that sense. Everyone was supposedly in for his signature: Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were all mentioned.

But him going to Real was needed. Barca had pipped them to a few Brazilian talents over the years – not least Neymar – and Los Blancos needed one of their own. All of the pieces were in place for success, too. The transfer fee €60 million (£52m/$64m) was massive, but so was his potential. Endrick might have been 16, but it was impossible not to get excited about the player he might become. Playing at Palmeiras, it was assumed, would only toughen him up. He had 18 months to grow into his body, get used to being clattered, and arrive in the Spanish capital battle-hardened.

And the hype was tangible; in 2023, Endrick did a high-profile tour of Madrid's training ground before making his move official. Los Blancos pushed it all over their social media. Here was Endrick, hugging Carlo Ancelotti. There was Endrick, bro-hugging Jude Bellingham while the England international called him a superstar. This just reeked of success.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe right fit?

But there were some reasons for caution. When Madrid signed Endrick in 2022, they were slightly in between eras up front. Karim Benzema might have won the Ballon d'Or a few months before, but he picked up a number of injurie, and when he was available, his levels dropped rapidly. Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo were both immense talents, but neither was a striker. That season, Barcelona regained the league title under Xavi. 

There were options on the transfer market; Madrid can get pretty much whoever they want. They went for Bellingham after a long, drawn-out transfer saga. The Englishman was sublime, and enjoyed a memorable debut campaign – helping carry Los Blancos to a La Liga and Champions League double in 2024. And while Joselu became a cult hero that year, Madrid still needed a young forward. Endrick figured to be that guy.  

But it became very clear, very quickly, that they would be signing Kylian Mbappe at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He would be the undisputed main man, loosely playing as a No.9 and serving as the focal point of an hugely imbalanced Attack. Where was the room for the Brazilian talent?

GettyTough time in Brazil

While Madrid pieced together their new-look side, Endrick was having a miserable time in the background. What was so quickly lost in the rush of excitement around his signing was the fact that Endrick was not yet 18. Neymar may have tore up the Brazilian Serie A, but it is an often unforgiving league for younger players, defined by its physicality and hard-nosed nature. This is not always a place for a future Madrid kid to cut his teeth. 

So it proved. Endrick was in and out of the Palmeiras XI. He scored a few goals, and enjoyed some promising runs here and there, but was otherwise a bit-part player. He managed 11 goals in 1,600 minutes in the league – a fine return for a teenager, but hardly Madrid-esque numbers. The cameras were never off him, either, and when he was pictured crying on the bench, the Spanish media was quick to strike. 

His manager effectively admitted that he should have been more forgiving after the match. "Yes, it's true, he covered his face because he cried. I'm not his father, but I should have given him a hug," Abel Ferreira said. "You have to be calm. Nobody likes criticism. There is tremendous pressure on him to score five or six goals and he tries to deal with it himself. The goal will appear at the right time. You just have to be calm and keep smiling."

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Getty Images SportMixed debut season

Madrid is a hard place to reset. There's no room for error there. Miss a few chances, struggle to find the net, and you're quickly written off. Endrick could not afford the kind of double-digit goalless streak he endured at Palmeiras. And the early days were a bit mixed. He was full of energy and clinical in front of goal, but he never quite settled into the side and was mostly a used as a Copa del Rey rotation option. 

Yet the stats, in context, were reasonable. He made 37 appearances in all competitions, and bagged seven goals. He contributed to more goals per 90 minutes than Rodrygo and Vinicius in their respective debut seasons at the club. Ancelotti is famously reluctant to give youngsters a chance. Arda Guler – a similarly impressive talent who has come into his own under Alonso – was told that he should be prepared to "warm the bench" as others got their chance.

That made sense, in some ways. Mbappe was the main man. Vinicius was fighting for minutes. Throw in an already-phased-out Rodrygo, and it was tough to see where the minutes would come from for Endrick. 

And then, there was an injury. The last game of the season was a dead-rubber. Endrick started up front with Mbappe, and had to be withdrawn with a leg injury. Subsequent scans revealed a hamstring problem – ruling him out for the Club World Cup where he was expected to make an impact. 

Saudi sports promoter Turki Al-Sheikh, who has helped to bring major boxing events to the Middle East, has sensationally claimed that Manchester United are up for sale once more and are “finalising a deal” that will see the club passed on to new owners. The Red Devils were involved in a protracted takeover saga throughout 2023 that ended when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club and took control of football operations at Old Trafford.

• Ratcliffe & INEOS acquired stake after protracted takeover saga

  Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani formed part of that process prior to walking away from discussions once it became apparent that an agreement would be impossible to reach with the Glazer family. Ratcliffe went on to claim: “Still nobody’s ever seen him (Sheikh Jassim), actually. The Glazers never met him… he never… I’m not sure he exists!” 

  Joe Ravitch – who formed part of discussions as co-founder and partner at Raine Group, the company that mediated talks – told : “We met Jassim. He was in New York. He’s a lovely guy; a very smart guy. The Qataris were very real. They were very smart guys, very thoughtful. I don’t know why they didn’t appreciate the value [of the club] but we were not their adviser. We tried as the seller to explain the value to them, and they put what they thought was a series of very serious bids on the table.”

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  Takeover claim amid Man Utd's bid to arrange friendlies

  A major player may be back at the negotiating table, with Al-Sheikh saying in a cryptic post on social media: “The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor – I hope he’s better than the previous owners.” Said comments are being considered a dig at Ratcliffe and the Glazers, with it unclear whether there is any substance to the claims, with no sale noises coming out of Old Trafford.

  When it comes to Middle Eastern money, United’s focus at present is locked on lining up potentially money-spinning friendly fixtures. They have gaps in their calendar to fill, and a £100 million ($134m) shortfall to make up, after missing out on qualification for European competition. They also tumbled out of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two side Grimsby.

  They have midweek windows that could be filled by arranging games outside of England. The Red Devils earned £8m ($11m) in May from a post-season trip to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. It is being suggested by the that they could pull in £10m ($13m) from a visit to Saudi Arabia.

• Getty
  

  Riyadh Cup or Saudi All-Stars: Options for Man Utd

  The General Entertainment Authority, who are responsible for bringing some of the world’s highest-profile sports events to Saudi Arabia and have Al-Sheikh at the helm, have released a schedule that includes space for a prominent football event.

  It has been suggested that United could be absorbed into the Riyadh Season Cup, allowing them to line up against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – with Inter Miami having formed part of that event in February 2025. The Red Devils would earn £5m ($7m) per game from the three-team tournament – with even more funds on offer if they were to emerge victorious.

  Another option said to be up for consideration is to arrange a glamour friendly against a Saudi All-Star team. Paris Saint-Germain – who still had Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe on their books at the time – were involved in a similar fixture back in January 2023. An exhibition match would land United around £5m.

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• Amorim admission & questions of Man Utd sale claim

  Under-fire Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim has admitted that United are exploring warm-weather training and friendly options. There has, however, been no word out of Manchester regarding potential sale talks – despite serious questions being asked of the Glazers and INEOS – with Al-Sheikh seemingly stirring the pot as he generates more buzz around major sporting attractions heading to the Middle East.

حقق فريق ريال مدريد فوزًا صعبًا أمام خيتافي، خلال المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين مساء اليوم الأحد بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على خيتافي، في إطار مباريات الجولة التاسعة لبطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا” موسم 2025-2026.

وتغلب ريال مدريد على خيتافي بهدف دون مقابل سجله المهاجم الفرنسي كيليان مبابي في الدقيقة 80 من عمر المباراة.

وأصبح رصيد ريال مدريد 24 نقطة في صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، متقدمًا بفارق نقطتين عن برشلونة الذي يحتل الوصافة.

ويخوض ريال مدريد مباراته القادمة في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث يلاقي نظيره يوفنتوس الإيطالي.

كان يوفنتوس قد تعرض للهزيمة من كومو يوم الأحد بهدفين دون مقابل، في إطار مواجهات الدوري الإيطالي يوم الأحد. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد ويوفنتوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تقام مباراة ريال مدريد ويوفنتوس يوم الأربعاء القادم الموافق 22 أكتوبر الجاري، وتنطلق في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ضمن مباريات مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.