NSWE to make January move for "amazing" £40m CF with 6 goals vs Aston Villa

Aston Villa are now set to make a move for an “amazing” striker, who has been identified as a priority target for the January transfer window.

Villa eyeing striker after Watkins' slow start

Ollie Watkins has been one of the driving forces behind Villa’s resurgence under the helm of Unai Emery, with the striker maintaining a fantastic goal and assist record across the past five Premier League seasons.

Season

PL appearances

Goal contributions

2020-21

37

19

2021-22

35

13

2022-23

37

21

2023-24

37

34

2024-25

38

24

However, it would be fair to say the striker has made a slow start to the new campaign, having failed to register a single goal contribution despite featuring for 90 minutes in each of the Villans’ opening three games.

Of course, it is still very early days, and the 29-year-old still has plenty of time to get back on track, but it now appears as though Emery wants to bring in another striker during the January transfer window.

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa and NSWE are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, with the Europa League side planning to maintain pressure on the Eagles throughout the January window.

With Villa aiming to secure qualification for the Champions League once again, they are keen to bring in more depth in attacking areas, and Mateta has been identified as a priority target, but there is set to be competition for his signature.

Leeds United and Newcastle United have also pinpointed the striker as a priority target, given the level of his performances last season, but any deal may be relatively expensive, given that Palace are set to hold out for a fee of around £40m.

"Amazing" Mateta would provide Emery with great depth

Given that Emery implements a 4-2-3-1 system, it is difficult to see how the 28-year-old would fit into the side, although Emery has been willing to drop Watkins in the past, with the England international hitting out after not starting against Paris Saint-Germain last season.

The striker said: “I was fuming I wasn’t playing. I let him (Emery) know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.

Aston Villa's most expensive signings of all time

NSWE have splashed the cash in recent years.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

“It’s something I haven’t experienced before, missing out on the biggest stage. You always want to play, especially in the Champions League.

Given that Mateta is the main man at Palace, scoring 17 goals in all competitions last season, he is also unlikely to be willing to sit on the bench, but the signing of the Frenchman would provide Emery with great depth in attack. He has also loved playing against Villa in the past, scoring six goals in 10 appearances.

Lauded as “amazing in the box” by manager Oliver Glasner, Mateta is a proven Premier League striker in the prime of his career, but Emery would be a real selection dilemma in attack if Villa were to win the race for his signature.

Grace Scrivens to captain England A in four-day tour finale

Essex captain given chance to finish tour as she started it in T20I leg

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2025

England A captain Grace Scrivens made 35 in the first T20I•Getty Images

Grace Scrivens will be given another chance to enhance her captaincy credentials as she leads England A’s red-ball team in their four-day match against Australia A in Sydney this week, at the conclusion of their multi-format series.Scrivens, 21, was handed the captaincy of the T20I leg of the seven-match tour, and succeeded at the first attempt where her senior counterparts had failed in their Women’s Ashes whitewash earlier this year.England A won that opening match of the series by three wickets at Hurstville Oval in Sydney, with Scrivens herself making 35 from 38 balls, before the remaining two matches were washed out.Hollie Armitage, Durham’s captain, then took over the reins for the three 50-over matches that followed, with England’s thrilling one-wicket win in Monday’s third ODI leaving the teams with two wins each in the four completed games so far.Although there are no official points at stake in the multi-format series, the series finale has an element of winner-takes-all to it, and will take place at Cricket Central from April 12-15.Scrivens, Essex’s captain, has yet to make her full England debut and so is unlikely to be considered as Heather Knight’s replacement, following the latter’s removal from the role after a nine-year tenure.However, Scrivens is widely considered as an England captain in the making, having led the Under-19 team to the T20 World Cup final in South Africa in 2023. Andy Tennant, her director of cricket at Essex, recently described her as “the English Graeme Smith”, in reference to the South Africa captain who led his side for 11 years after taking over at the age of 22 in 2003.With Charlotte Edwards now installed as England’s head coach, a new captain is due to be announced ahead of the team’s first series of the summer, against West Indies in May. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current vice-captain, is currently on maternity leave following the recent birth of her son, Theodore.

Com mudanças, Palmeiras entrega lista de inscritos nas oitavas de final da Libertadores

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras entregou neste sábado (29) a lista de inscritos para as oitavas de final da Libertadores. O clube enviou os nomes para a Conmebol dentro do prazo estabelecido pela entidade, que é de 72 horas antes do início da fase (1º de agosto). Mesmo sem os esperados reforços, o Verdão precisou fazer mudanças nos 50 jogadores que foram inicialmente registrados para a fase de grupos da competição.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras ainda pode acionar ’emergência’ para garantir reforço nas oitavas da LibertadoresPalmeiras29/07/2023PalmeirasSaiba quanto a atual patrocinadora do Palmeiras investiu no clube desde o início da parceriaPalmeiras29/07/2023PalmeirasDe olho no futuro, Palmeiras contrata jovem que pode ter multa de mais R$ 500 milhõesPalmeiras28/07/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Na sexta-feira (28), segundo o diretor de futebol, Anderson Barros, o Alviverde foi “ao limite” na tentativa de contratar o volante Aníbal Moreno, do Racing-ARG. No entanto, os argentinos estavam irredutíveis e não abriram mão do valor que vinham pedindo. Dessa forma, a diretoria palmeirense acabou desistindo de contratar um atleta a tempo de atuar pelas oitavas da Libertadores.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O clube poderia fazer até cinco alterações dentro da lista de 50 nomes que havia sido entregue para a fase de grupos. Como não trouxe novos jogadores, restou ao Palmeiras fazer outro tipo de mudança: retirar os atletas que foram negociados e não estão mais no grupo.

continua após a publicidade

São os casos de Vinicius Silvestre, que está no Portimonense-POR, de Rafael Navarro, que está no Colorado Rapids-EUA, de Giovani, que está no Al Sadd-QAT, e de Bruno Tabata, que está no Qatar SC-QAT. Todos eles foram removidos da lista, restando 46 nomes disponíveis para Abel Ferreira. Desses, 27 estão na base, no grupo de transição ou acabaram de subir para o profissional.

+ Racing-ARG recusa oferta por Aníbal Moreno, e Palmeiras fica mais longe de se reforçar para a Libertadores

Caso passe para as quartas de final e consiga contratar um reforço até o dia 2 de agosto, quando se encerra a janela de transferências, o Palmeiras poderá inscrevê-lo até o dia 19 de agosto, quando serão permitidas três trocas na lista.

continua após a publicidade

Confira a lista de inscritos do Palmeiras na Libertadores:

Goleiros

21 – Weverton
42 – Marcelo Lomba
51 – Kaique
24 – Natan

Laterais-direitos

02 – Marcos Rocha
12 – Mayke
32 – Garcia
52 – Gilberto

Zagueiros

15 – Gustavo Gómez
26 – Murilo
13 – Luan
34 – Naves
33 – Michel
43 – Vitor Reis
44 – Vareta
53 – Pedro Felipe
54 – Benedetti

Laterais-esquerdos

22 – Piquerez
06 – Vanderlan
36 – Ian

Meio-campistas

08 – Zé Rafael
25 – Gabriel Menino
23 – Raphael Veiga
20 – Atuesta
27 – Richard Ríos
30 – Jailson
35 – Fabinho
40 – Jhon Jhon
31 – Luis Guilherme
38 – Patrick
45 – Léo
48 – David Kauã
50 – Pedro Lima
55 – Vitor André
60 – Thalys

Atacantes

07 – Dudu
09 – Endrick
10 – Rony
14 – Artur
18 – López
19 – Breno Lopes
37 – Kevin
39 – Daniel
41 – Riquelme Fillipi
47 – Kauan Santos
49 – Wendell

Not Sesko: Bruno has found his new Martial & Rashford in Man Utd "machine"

It may have ultimately proved to be fleeting and flawed, although there was a time where it looked as if Manchester United were fashioning a new fearsome forward line under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

2019/20 – albeit while latterly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic – was a particularly fruitful campaign for the Norwegian’s bright young attack, with the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea on the opening day setting the tone for what was to come.

Reinstated as the number nine once again, amid Romelu Lukaku’s swift exit, Anthony Martial was in fine fettle leading the line, having got off the mark himself after bundling home against the Blues.

In all, the mercurial Frenchman reached career-best figures of 17 Premier League goals, a tally matched by teammate Marcus Rashford for his own joint-best top-flight record.

While Rashford – who bagged a brace on the opening weekend – would be hampered by injury in the latter stages of the campaign, it is noteworthy that nine of Martial’s league goals came in February onwards.

Wonder what could have happened to help spark that scoring spree….

Bruno Fernandes' connection with Martial & Rashford

Ah yes, the 2020 January transfer window marked the arrival of a certain Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker instantly hitting the ground running with a Man of the Match display on debut against Wolves.

As Luke Shaw stated later that year, Fernandes struck up a particularly “flowing” partnership with Martial straight off the bat, with the pair memorably combining for that inventive Manchester derby free-kick in March.

According to Transfermarkt, the pair enjoyed a joint goal participation of 14, with that the third highest of Fernandes’ career to date, behind ex-Sporting CP teammate Bas Dost (17), and the aforementioned Rashford (26).

To see the Englishman leading the way is perhaps no surprise, with his ability to run in behind and put a defence on the back foot, partnered with Fernandes’ creative brilliance, proving a simply deadly combination.

In 2020/21, for instance, five of Rashford’s goals were assisted by the one-time Udinese man, as per WhoScored. That figure rose to six in 2022/23, with only Erling Haaland and Manchester City’s chief provider, Kevin De Bruyne, enjoying a more fruitful marriage that season (8).

The way in which United’s two main men combined that season, in particular, was a joy to behold, with Fernandes speaking at the time about his ‘connection’ with the United academy graduate:

While both Rashford – now out on loan at Barcelona – and Martial have since departed, the opportunity remains for the 31-year-old to strike up a new bond under Ruben Amorim’s watch.

Why Fernandes may have found his new Fernandes & Martial

As time goes on, hopefully marquee summer signing Benjamin Sesko will begin to catch fire in his new surroundings, with six games having now come and gone without a goal for the £74m Slovenian.

Still just 22, the ex-RB Leipzig man has largely been restricted to cameos thus far, with chances so far at a premium.

There was a neat one-two with Fernandes in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, although the United skipper uncharacteristically overhit his return pass, forcing Sesko wider than he would have liked with the goal in sight.

That connection will need to be struck – as it seemingly wasn’t with Sesko’s predecessor, Rasmus Hojlund – if United are to have a fruitful season, albeit with the early signs at least promising regarding Bryan Mbeumo.

Off the mark already with goals against both Grimsby and Burnley, the £65m signing from Brentford has undoubtedly been the shining light of 2025/26 so far for Amorim and co, putting in his “best game yet” against the Blues, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Mbeumo’s PL record

Season

Games

Goals

21/22

35

4

22/23

38

9

23/24

25

9

24/25

38

20

25/26

5

1

Total

139

43

Stats via Transfermarkt

Direct, dynamic and remarkably unfazed, the 26-year-old – described as an “output machine” by content creator Ronaldo Brown – appears to have the best of Martial and Rashford rolled into one, if the early evidence is anything to go by.

As his composed, calm finish against the Clarets indicated, Mbeumo is truly an elite finisher, having notably scored 20 league goals last term in west London. The manner in which he can almost stroke the ball home does evoke memories of Martial at his best, with it worth re-watching some of the Frenchman’s early days, in particular.

That unerring ability to almost caress the ball into the corner hasn’t been evident among many United forwards of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, yet Martial – when fit and firing – was a master. As Mbeumo’s strike against Grimsby showcased, he too possesses that silky quality in front of goal.

Like Rashford too, however, the pacy left footer has the speed and power to stretch a defence, having expertly latched onto Sesko’s flick on in the build-up to Robert Sanchez’s red card at the weekend.

The early connection with Fernandes also looks promising, with the playmaker notably picking out his new teammate with a delightful, searching pass in the early knockings of the Burnley win.

Mbeumo pulled away from his man in Rashford style to get on the end of that chance, before expertly killing the ball dead, a la Martial, to cut inside and test Martin Dubravka from range.

It is, of course, still early days, yet the Cameroon international looks set to be central to everything good about United, both this season and beyond.

Having briefly struck gold with both Rashford and Martial, Fernandes may well have found a new, exciting partner-in-crime to dovetail with at the Theatre of Dreams. He no longer has to do it all on his own.

Worth more than Bruno: Man Utd star could soon be a "Ballon d'Or candidate"

Manchester United boast a few rising talents with the potential to become superstars.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 22, 2025

Maxwell makes way for Stoinis as PBKS bowl in 14-overs-a-side game

The toss was delayed by close to two hours due to a persistent drizzle

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2025

RCB captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field•BCCI

Toss Punjab Kings chose to bowl vs Royal Challengers BengaluruAfter rain kept the players waiting for two-plus hours, Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and unsurprisingly, chose to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The game has been reduced to a 14-overs-a-side affair with three bowlers being allotted a maximum of four overs and one bowler being allotted a maximum of two.Shreyas Iyer, PBKS’ captain, said that this being a rain-interrupted game with the overs being reduced was the reason behind his decision. The visitors made one big change: Glenn Maxwell, who has had a lean season so far, made way for Marcus Stoinis. Harpreet Brar also came in for the visitors.Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, said that they have to be smart in adapting to the situation and conditions. When asked what he made of the conditions, he said it might be “a bit sticky, but the surface looks pretty hard and good to put up a total.”RCB XI: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Tim David, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Suyash SharmaImpact players list: Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil SinghPBKS XI: 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 3 Shashank Singh, 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Xavier Bartlett, 11 Arshdeep SinghImpact players list: Prabhsimran Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey

رابطة البريميرليج توضح مدى صحة هدف برينتفورد الثاني أمام ليفربول

ردت رابطة البريميرليج على الجدل الدائر حول إحدى اللقطات لفريق ليفربول في الدقائق الأخيرة من عمر الشوط الأول أمام برينتفورد، في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان برينتفورد قد أنهى الشوط الأول متقدمًا على ليفربول بهدفين لهدف على ملعبه ووسط جماهيره.

وافتتح دانجو كواترا التسجيل لصالح برينتفورد في الدقيقة 5، وأضاف كيفن شايد الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 45.

وفي الوقت بدل الضائع من الشوط الأول قلص ميلوس كيركيز ظهير ليفربول الفارق بتسجيل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 50.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سبب تأخير انطلاق الشوط الثاني من مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد

وكانت لقطة الهدف الثاني لصالح برينتفورد، قد بدأت بعد أن تم افتكاك الكرة من كودي جاكبو داخل منطقة جزاء برينتفورد وقد تظاهر اللاعب الهولندي أنم تم عرقلته قبل أن يفقد الكرة.

وأشار حساب الدوري الإنجليزي عبر منصة “إكس” في توضيح لعدم احتساب هذه اللقطة ضربة جزاء لصالح ليفربول: “تم التحقق من نداء الحكم بعدم احتساب ركلة جزاء لصالح ليفربول وتأكيده بواسطة تقنية الفيديو المساعد، حيث تبين أنه لم يكن هناك خطأ من كولينز على جاكبو”.

Shubman Gill relishing 'ultimate honour' of Test captaincy

India’s new Test captain says it will be important for him to compartmentalise his roles as batter and leader

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20255:54

Kumble: Gill has to establish himself as a Test batter first

Shubman Gill has said being appointed India’s Test captain is the “ultimate honour” and that he aims to lead by example through performances on the field and through his “discipline and hard work” off it.Gill, 25, will begin his tenure as captain with a five-Test series in England starting on June 20, also the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle. As he leads a team going through a transition, Gill underlined the importance of understanding his team-mates to get the best out of them.”As a captain, a leader should be able to know when to step in but also when to give space to the players, because everyone has kind of had a different life and grown up differently,” Gill told BCCI.tv. “Everyone has a different personality, so a good leader should always be able to know what makes his players to be able to have the best performance or the best outcome.”That is always exciting to be able to have those conversations with the players, to be able to know them on a deeper level than just cricket, because then you’re really able to know what can get the best out of them.”Related

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Confident and assertive, Gill must now chart his own path

Why India picked Nair and Arshdeep and left out Sarfaraz and Shami

Gill, who captained India during a T20I series in Zimbabwe last year, emphasised the importance of compartmentalising his roles as a batter and a leader.”One of the things that I learned was if I’m a batsman, I’m batting out there. I want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not as a captain,” Gill said. “If I start thinking about other things, it just puts more pressure on me which is not required, because when you’re batting out there, you want to be able to take those risks.”You want to be able to make decisions that you would make when you are playing just as a batsman because that gives you the freedom. That is one of the things that I learned that when whenever I am batting out there, I just want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not really want to think that I’m the captain.”Shubman Gill will be leading India in their first series since Kohli and Rohit’s Test retirements•AFP/Getty Images

Gill considers himself fortunate to have had the chance to learn leadership traits from his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have now retired from Test cricket.”When I was a kid, always inspired by the greats and the legends of Indian cricket and been very fortunate to be able to play with so many of them be it Virat or Rohit ,” he said. “Both were very contrasting in terms of their style, but it was very inspiring to see both of them working towards a common goal.”You want to be able to win as a captain and your styles can be different, but they both were very different but also similar in their own sense. Virat was always very aggressive, always wanting to lead from the front with hunger and passion whereas Rohit was also aggressive, but you might not see that on their reaction or on their expressions, but he was also someone who was always very attacking on the field.”Rohit was someone who was very calm and tactically always very present. He’s very communicative to the players, what he wants from the players and so these are the qualities that I learned from him.”Guys like Rohit , Virat and Ashwin , they have given us a blueprint on how to tour away from home and win matches and series. Yes, it’s one thing to be able to deliver and execute but because we have that blueprint, we know how to tour away from home and win matches and series.”Looking ahead to the England tour, Gill was excited to take on the challenges of playing a five-Test series.”My favourite series that I played was also a five-Test series when England came to India [in January-February 2024] and I think there’s a different essence when you’re playing a five-Test series,” he said. “It’s long, it’s mentally and physically very challenging and I think that’s the most exciting part about Test cricket because there are different areas and aspects that it challenges you at.”It’s not one-dimensional. There’s a lot more things that go on in red-ball cricket and that’s the most exciting thing … It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’re ready for any challenge.”

هل يخضع لامين يامال إلى عملية جراحية بعد اللعب مصابًا أمام ريال مدريد؟

ظل لامين يامال محط أنظار الجميع لأسابيع، بعد أن أثار الجدل قبل مباراة ريال مدريد وما قاله سلط الضوء عليه خاصة بعد هزيمة برشلونة وأصبح حديث الساعة.

وقد توقع الكثيرون خسارة برشلونة لهذه المباراة وقدم لامين يامال أداء باهتا في المباراة، وزادت النتيجة من حدة الجدل حول اللاعب بسبب تصريحاته المتكررة التي قلل فيها من نادي ريال مدريد.

ونشرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أن لامين يامال أمام ريال مدريد لم يقدم أفضل أداء له بسبب ألم في العانة مما أثر على قدرته في تغيير وتيرة اللعب وقدرته على التحمل.

وعلى الرغم من أن لامين قد أظهر لمحات من إمكانياته لكنه افتقر لمستواه المعهود، وقد لاحظ الجهاز الفني لبرشلونة ذلك فقام بتعديل دوره لتجنب إرهاقه، على الرغم من ذلك قام فليك بتثبيت لامين في الملعب ولم يقم باستبداله حتى مع دخول روني باردجي وذلك على الرغم من أن مباراة ريال مدريد لم تكن أفضل مباريات اللاعب.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ألبا يوضح سبب اعتزاله كرة القدم.. ويصرح: برشلونة حاليا يواجه “الصعب”

ويعرف لامين يامال أنه ليس في 100% من لياقته البدنية ومع ذلك لا يفكر في إجراء عملية جراحية لتخفيف الألم ويخطط للقيام بالعلاج التحفظي لبضعة أسابيع أخرىن وتقييم حالته.

وفي حالة إذا استمر الألم على لامين يامال فإن لاعب برشلونة قد يدرس في هذا الوقت الخضوع لعملية جراحية، ومع ذلك يبدو أن هذا الخيار ليس معروضا على اللاعب ولم يتخذ أي قرار أو خطوات.

وكان لامين يامال قد سعى للحصول على آراء طبية أخرى من خارج النادي كاستشارات بسيطة لتحديد ما إذا كان الألم ضمن الإطار الزمني الطبيعي وكيف يمكن للجراحة أن تساعد إذا لزم الأمر، ولكن لا نية حتى الآن لإجراء الجراحة.

ويركز لامين يامال على القيام بدوره اليومي بنشاط ويتدرب مع المجموعة ويقوم بأداء خطة التدريب، ولا يقم لاعب برشلونة بذلك بأقصى كثافة لأن جدول المباريات مزدحم ويعد الهدف أن يكون في كامل لياقته للمباريات.

ويحاول لامين يامال الابتعاد عن الأضواء والاستفادة القصوى من كل دقيقة ومساعدة الفريق في هذه المرحلة الصعبة من الموسم، وكان ليونيل ميسي قد عانى في وقت سابق من هذا الألم وغاب عن عدة مباريات بسبب ذلك حيث تعرض لهذه الإصابة في مناسبتين مختلفتين، وقد تعافى بدون إجراء جراحة.

Neymar pode superar marca de Pelé pela Seleção no estádio em que nunca passou em branco

MatériaMais Notícias

Se marcar contra a Bolívia na noite desta sexta-feira (8), Neymar se tornará o maior artilheiro da Seleção Brasileira, superando simplesmente o Rei Pelé. Pelas contas da Fifa, o atacante tem os mesmos 77 gols que o Atleta do Século com a camisa amarela.

RelacionadasFora de CampoJornalista fala em ‘ingratidão’ de Tite com Cássio por período na Seleção: ‘Ele salvou seu emprego’Fora de Campo07/09/2023Seleção BrasileiraEscalação do Brasil: Fernando Diniz esboça time titular para a sua estreia pela Seleção BrasileiraSeleção Brasileira07/09/2023PalmeirasAmanda Gutierres, do Palmeiras, celebra convocação para a Seleção: ‘Realizando mais um sonho’Palmeiras07/09/2023

Possível palco histórico para Neymar e todo o Brasil, o Mangueirão sempre foi cenário de bons capítulos do jogador, que disputou duas partidas no estádio e sempre deixou a sua marca.

+ É dia de faturar com a Lance! Betting nas Eliminatórias! Aposte R$10 e ganhe R$65 para goleada do Brasil sobre a Bolívia!

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Em 2010, foram dois gols e duas assistências na vitória do Santos sobre o Remo pela Copa do Brasil, que foi conquistada pelo Peixe. No ano seguinte, a única vez que defendeu a Seleção em Belém, no Pará, e um tento anotado no Superclássico das Américas, contra a Argentina. A Seleção Brasileira venceu por 2 a 0, com Lucas Moura também deixando a sua marca.

Doze anos e 70 gols pela Amarelinha depois, o menino Ney virou adulto e tem três Copas do Mundo disputadas no currículo. Do desejo juvenil de representar o seu país, o jogador hoje sabe bem a responsabilidade que carrega quando atua pela Seleção Brasileira.

— Mudou muita coisa. Quando tinha essa idade, jamais sonhei em alcançar tudo que alcancei com a Seleção Brasileira. Eu só queria ter uma oportunidade de jogar pela Seleção, uma oportunidade de jogar uma Copa do Mundo. Era o que eu sonhava. Mas Deus me deu mais que isso. Me deu muitos gols, (oportunidade de) jogar três Copas, e fazer história na Seleção. Estou muito feliz por esses anos que passei na Seleção. Vou fazer mais de 13 anos na Seleção. É uma história longa, de muito orgulho. Cada vez que venho para cá, sinto muita felicidade. Orgulho muito grande. Para muitos, parece que não vale a pena estar aqui. Por tudo que temos na carreira, pelo que a gente conquistou, pelo dinheiro. Mas não tem dinheiro que paga poder representar a seleção brasileira — disse Neymar na entrevista coletiva que concedeu na quinta-feira (7).

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MAIS GOLS QUE O REI

Neymar é o jogador do elenco brasileiro atual que mais sabe, de forma especial, a dimensão de Pelé. Além de ser ‘Menino da Vila’, revelado pelo Santos Futebol Clube, o atacante é o dono da camisa 10 da Seleção Brasileira desde 2013, quando conquistou a Copa das Confederações, no Brasil.

Ele cogitou se aposentar da Seleção após a eliminação na Copa do Mundo do Qatar, disputada no ano passado, mas repensou a decisão e agora pode voltar em grande estilo, fazendo algo que humano algum conseguiu com a camisa amarela: superar o Rei em gols marcados.

— É difícil responder isso, o que essa marca significa. Acho que significa muita coisa. Pelé, para todos aqui, para nós, é unanimidade que é o Rei do Futebol. Imagina superar alguém nisso. Coisa que ninguém nunca imaginou que iria superar. Eu posso dizer isso, mas é algo que vou responder depois. Depois que eu fizer, vou falar. Com certeza vai ser sensação de muita felicidade, muito orgulho — destacou Neymar.

Além de Neymar, o lateral Caio Henrique e o atacante Rodrygo também são crias do Peixe. Mas, ainda que sejam grandes destaques no futebol mundial, nunca tiveram o protagonista do camisa 10.

Se pela Fifa, um possível gol marcado no Mangueirão será histórico, colocando Ney no topo de maiores artilheiros pelo Brasil, para a CBF isso não acontecerá. Como considera jogos contra clubes e combinados, a entidade máxima do futebol nacional contabiliza 95 gols marcados por Pelé na história da Seleção Brasileira.

Drop him: Arteta must now ditch Arsenal's "signing of the summer"

It’s been a brilliant few days for Arsenal.

On Saturday, they got to sit back and watch Chelsea, Manchester United, and, most crucially, Liverpool lose, while they went on to claim all three points in dramatic fashion away to Newcastle United.

However, there is no time to get distracted, as Mikel Arteta and Co have another game to prepare for against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

With games coming thick and fast, the manager should be looking to make a host of changes to the starting lineup, including dropping one promising player for a world-beater.

The changes Arteta needs to make to the Arsenal lineup

It was a gruelling game at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, and with another potentially testing match against an improving West Ham United this weekend, Arteta should consider making some changes to the starting lineup to face Olympiacos.

Chalkboard

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

The first of those changes should come between the sticks, with Kepa Arrizabalaga coming in for David Raya, and while the former Chelsea keeper didn’t play in the last UCL game, this one should be a slightly easier affair and a real chance to rest the Gunners’ number one.

At right-back, Ben White deserves a chance to start another game in place of Jurrien White, who was unreal against the Toon. On the other flank, it should be a second start of the season for young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who added some real dynamism when he came off the bench on Sunday.

In the middle of the park, it might be worth keeping Martin Zubimendi at the base of midfield, especially as this game could provide an opportunity for the manager to start Martin Odegaard alongside Eberechi Eze.

The latter is still getting to grips with how the team plays, so keeping him in the lineup makes sense to help him with that, and then when it comes to the latter, he needs to get back his match sharpness as quickly as possible if he’s going to play a significant role over the coming months.

Moreover, playing both of them in midfield should give the side a far more cutting edge and help deal with a stubborn low block, if that’s how the Greek side opts to play.

Finally, up-top Arteta should keep Viktor Gyokeres in the side as he was looking better on Sunday, and the more chances he gets to bolster his goal tally, the more confident and therefore effective he should become.

Gabriel Martinelli should come in off the Swede’s left, and then on the right, Ethan Nwaneri should be handed another start, as Bukayo Saka no longer needs to be run into the ground anymore, especially when the teenager is more than good enough to cover for him.

With all that said, there is one more area of the lineup that needs to be addressed – an area where Arteta should make another bold call.

Arteta should axe one of Arsenal's most exciting players

So, one of the players who should retain their position at centre-back for the game is Gabriel Magalhães, as he will not want to sit out after scoring that goal against Newcastle.

However, alongside him, Arteta should bring William Saliba back into the side.

Yes, that means dropping the incredible Cristhian Mosquera, who has looked so good already this season that one content creator has already branded him the club’s “signing of the summer.”

However, there is really one key reason why he should be dropped, and no, it’s not because he made the mistake that led to the goal on the weekend.

Instead, it’s the fact that he is still relatively young for a defender – 21 years old – and inexperienced at this level, so it might be wise to take him out of the lineup for a game or two and ensure he’s not overplayed.

However, when it really comes down to it, the reason the former Valencia gem should be dropped is so that Saliba can come back into the team.

The “world-class” titan, as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano, came on at half-time at St James’ Park due to minor fitness issues, and that is one of the reasons he should be in from the start against Olympiacos, so he can build up his fitness and match sharpness ahead of the weekend.

Saliba’s Arsenal Career

Appearances

140

Starts

137

Minutes

12193′

Goals

7

Assists

3

Points per Game

2.06

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, if the manager opts to play several of his young stars, such as Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, and possibly even Max Dowman, it would make sense to ensure the centre-back pairing is as strong as it can possibly be.

Ultimately, while Mosquera is an incredible talent, Saliba should be in from the start to regain his fitness and provide balance for what could be a relatively inexperienced team.

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