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Cal Raleigh won the 2025 Home Run Derby, but he only made it out of the first round by less than an inch.

Raleigh was nearly eliminated in the first round after he hit just 17 home runs, which was the fourth highest total, tying him with the A's Brent Rooker. Rather than go to a swing off, MLB decided Raleigh would advance because he hit the longest home run of the round between he and Rooker.

The thing is, they both had their longest home runs measured at 470 feet and then out of nowhere MLB produced an exact measurement ten places past the decimal. It was determined that Raleigh's home run had traveled less than an inch further and thus he would advance while Rooker was eliminated.

While Raleigh and the contest continued, Rooker spoke with the media and lightheartedly questioned MLB's incredibly accurate measurements.

"You know, maybe if they have it to the decimal point, they should display that during the Derby and not wait till everyone's done to bring out that information that might be helpful," said Rooker.

He also added, "It is what it is" and he had fun, but "the rules are the rules." All in all, a pretty measured reaction with a million dollars on the line.

Their qualification to the final is a testament to the resourcefulness of South Africa’s system that has consistently found the Mr Right Nows

Firdose Moonda29-Dec-2024Progress not perfection, is a modern mantra that prioritises the journey and not the destination and sums up South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. As one of the least-favoured teams and despite a schedule that excluded England and Australia entirely and only had them playing India at home, they’ve qualified with a game to spare in a testament to the resourcefulness of a system that may not always have a full XI of Mr Rights but has consistently found the Mr Right Nows.At SuperSport Park, the first of those was Dane Paterson. After Kagiso Rabada produced one of the best wicketless spells by a seamer in recent memory, which clearly marinated in the Pakistan batters minds, Paterson took over as braai master, so to speak. He picked up a second successive career five-for on the back of believing that the stand-in role he played in New Zealand would be his last international appearance. At the other end Corbin Bosch benefitted from some brainless shot selection and on debut, scooped a four-for. Then it was over to Aiden Markram. Under siege for T20 form that has resulted in only one score over 30 in 18 matches this year, his first innings 89 was crucial to South Africa taking a lead.Even though their bowlers burned through it so quickly that their coach Shukri Conrad called it “the worst bowling performance for the first 40 minutes that I’ve seen for this side”, it provided enough cushioning for Marco Jansen to exploit later on. A target of 148 should have been reached without the rollercoaster of losing four wickets for three runs but when that happened, South Africa’s tail took them home. In an ideal, and some would say boring, world, that should not have happened but things in South African sport (and life) are rarely flawless which only makes them more interesting.Related

• There and back again: South Africa look to come full circle at Lord's

• Australia book WTC final date with South Africa at Lord's

• Bavuma, Rickelton prove, in their own special ways, that they can and they will

• 'I don't buy this thing about us beating nobody' – Conrad responds to Vaughan's criticism

• Mulder: 'I'm here to win games for my country, I'm not here to fill a spot'

“If you look at our campaign, as much as we’re in a position where we’re in the (WTC) final, we haven’t been super dominant in our performances,” Temba Bavuma said afterwards. “We definitely haven’t been clinical or ruthless when the opportunity or the situation is called upon. But I think what we’ve done is that we’ve found ways to make sure that the result is on our side.”And that, folks, is the South African way. Make a plan. Find a way. Call up 30 players across 11 Tests – the most by any team in this WTC cycle. Effectively forfeit a series to prioritise your money-making T20 league, like they did against New Zealand in February. Understand that you only have to beat West Indies and Bangladesh away and Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. Ignore everything else. Believe. Even when half the cricketing world doesn’t and the other half is too preoccupied with everything else going on (read: BGT, Bazball and other Big Three stuff).Be honest: Did you really think South Africa, the team that has been through a complete administrative overhaul, near bankruptcy and a brutal reckoning with injustices past, could reach the WTC final?Be honest: Did you really, really think South Africa, in the post Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn era, could reach the WTC final?Be honest, because not even Conrad or Bavuma were sure. “I think it only got real when we came back after Bangladesh,” Conrad said.There, South Africa won a first series in the subcontinent in a decade and seemed to find some semblance of batting rhythm. After no centuries on their tour of West Indies, and only three in the cycle (Dean Elgar – Boxing Day 2023, Markram – Cape Town 2024 and David Bedingham – New Zealand 2024), they scored four and there were firsts. Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder all scored hundreds in Bangladesh to suggest a corner had been turned. Still, with every match a must-win, South Africa kept their expectations realistic and understood it would take more something special to get to the WTC final. “I didn’t think it was possible, but with a little bit of luck, I thought we’ve got it in us to scare some people.”

“We definitely haven’t been clinical or ruthless when the opportunity or the situation is called upon. But I think what we’ve done is that we’ve found ways to make sure that the result is on our side.”Temba Bavuma after the victory

Conrad acknowledges “people abroad will be shouting, ‘easy draw'” and said he is “certainly not going to sit here and apologise for that” while Bavuma recognised the lack of superstars. “If I look at our batting group, we don’t have batters that are averaging 45-plus. All of us are mid-30s, late-30s, which shows that at some point guys are going to make some contribution to the team,” Bavuma said. “Our bowling line-up has pretty much changed almost every series. And guys have come in and have done the business.”How and why is a question that could be answered with the cold, hard logic of numbers and match situations and who did what, when and there are months between now and the WTC final when we can do that. For now, the answer lies in something far more abstract, alchemical even. It’s best summed up by what Rabada told Conrad on that mindset-changing Bangladesh tour.”KG and I were sitting outside somewhere, and he said to me something that will stick with me for a long time, He said ‘Shuks, coach, I played in some great South African sides with legends like Dale and Vernon [Philander] and Morne [Morkel] and Graeme and Faf [du Plessis] but I’m playing with my mates now’. And that for me, like, rings so true because that’s what they are.”They’re a bunch of mates together that want to have a hell lot of fun and win. And they’re going to be some hiccups along the way, but I think they’ve got each other’s backs. There’s a really strong bond that’s in that change room and that’s probably the biggest thing that we’ve got right there. Everybody pulls in the same direction, and we just get on with things.”That may sound “windgat” (the Afrikaans word for arrogant) as Conrad sometimes says but it isn’t. It just explains how well South Africa have stayed the moment when it mattered most; when they needed 32 runs with two wickets post lunch at SuperSport Park and when Rabada and Jansen took them home. The players did a lap of honour around the field then, which felt a little strange considering the series is alive and the final has not been won, but which told the story of a side that has progressed in search of their perfection.

With just four days left until the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, baseball has named two more replacements on the American League side.

Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen will join the Junior Circuit's squad, MLB announced Friday afternoon. Arozarena will replace resting Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, while Rasmussen will replace Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

Arozarena is making his second appearance in the game following his initial selection with the Rays in 2023. He has rebounded nicely from a down 2024 this season, slashing .247/.354/.466 with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs.

Rasmussen, once a teammate of Arozarena's on Tampa Bay, is also enjoying his best season in several years following surgery that cost him most of '24. He is 7–5 with a 2.82 ERA and 76 strikeouts, and his 2.2 bWAR is his highest since 2022—his only full season as a starter.

The Rays currently hold the AL's second wild-card playoff position, while Seattle is one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the race for the third and final spot.

Netherlands legend Marco van Basten took a swipe at Mohamed Salah as he said the Liverpool star has the 'brains of a beetle' in a brutal response to him 'attacking' Reds boss Arne Slot. After being left out on the bench for the third consecutive Premier League game against Leeds United last weekend, Salah went on an explosive rant as he hinted he could even exit Anfield in January.

• Salah's explosive rant against Slot

  After win the Premier League Golden Boot for a record-equalling fourth time last season, Salah has experienced a sudden dip in form in 2025-26. So far this season, the Egyptian winger has scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 matches across all competitions. 

  Salah's latest run of form prompted Slot to drop the star player from the Reds' starting lineup in their last three Premier League fixtures. After being left out as an unused substitute for a third consecutive game, Salah burst out in front of the media as he said: "I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. "Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club."

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  Egyptian left out of Champions League squad

  Following his public outburst against the club and manager, Liverpool have taken the extreme step of omitting Salah from their travelling squad to Italy for their crucial Champions League fixture against Inter in midweek. With such a huge decision, the reigning Premier League champions made clear to their star player that everybody – regardless of their standing at Anfield – must earn their place in the team. Salah will be left to reflect on that stance when his team-mates line up against Inter on Tuesday evening in Milan.

• Dutch legend slams Salah

  Former Netherlands international legendary forward Marco van Basten took a brutal dig at Salah for his behaviour against Slot and the Reds as he told : "I'd say: the brains of a cockchafer. If you react like that… He did very well last year, but this season he's not good. He's just been bad these past few months. I always find Slot honest and straightforward. He doesn't shy away from a fight and ultimately doesn't say anything unwise. Salah, on the other hand, really started attacking the man and reacting incorrectly."

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  How did Slot react to Salah's outburst?

  A day after Salah went public with his frustration over the lack of game time, Reds boss Slot addressed the media to offer a response, as he said: "I don't feel that my authority has been undermined. It's not the way I feel it. It's not about me, if my life is difficult, yes or no, that's not very important in a situation like this. It's if it is more difficult for the team and for the club. No one likes us to be in the situation we're in at the moment. First of all, it's difficult to see staff members who work so hard are affected by the situation we're in now. Mainly because of the results. I'm the manager, I have to pick a team so to a certain extent I'm important, but my focus is on the team and not on me."

  When asked if the winger had played his last game for the English champions, Slot added: "I have no clue. I cannot answer that question at this moment in time."

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl must surely be looking forward to the January transfer window after his side were beaten 2-1 by Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

The Light Blues boss arrived after the summer transfer window, led by Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell, which means that he has not had a chance to bring in any of his own players.

Rangers made 12 signings in the summer, though, and that means that they may have to part ways with a few players to make room for new signings to come through the door at Ibrox.

Players who could leave Rangers in January

Clinton Nsiala and Rabbi Matondo could be candidates to move on because they are the only two senior outfield players who have yet to play a single minute in any competition, per Transfermarkt.

If they want to play regular football in the second half of the campaign, Nsiala and Matondo may need to force their way out of Ibrox, on loan or permanently, next month.

Kieran Dowell, meanwhile, played six games under Russell Martin at the start of the season and has now been linked with a loan move to Hull, which could see him see out the rest of his Rangers contract down south.

Another player who has been linked with a move away from Ibrox in January is Djeidi Gassama. He is a reported target for Spanish side Villarreal, who are said to be ‘exploring’ the possibility of a deal for the winger next month.

Villarreal’s interest in signing the Frenchman presents the Light Blues with an intriguing dilemma ahead of the January transfer window, as they may have a big decision to make.

Why Rangers should sell Djeidi Gassama

Rangers signed the 22-year-old attacker from Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £2.2m in the summer, and they should ruthlessly cash in on him if the Spanish team are willing to offer a decent profit on that.

The Frenchman’s performances for the Gers this season have been inconsistent, at best, and his recent displays on the pitch suggest that he should be dropped from the team.

Rangers have four more Scottish Premiership matches before the January window opens and he should not start another match for Rohl before being sold to Villarreal in January, as he has not done enough to warrant a starting berth.

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has only produced two goals in 21 appearances in the Premiership and the Europa League, despite starting almost every game, which shows that he has not been reliable in front of goal.

His dismal form in the final third in those competitions came as a bit of a surprise after he started his career at Ibrox with four goals in six matches in the Champions League qualifiers.

The 23-year-old attacker has been unable to live up to the hype that his early burst of goals created, with just two goals in all competitions since the end of the Champions League qualifiers.

Rangers Journal creator Kai Watson said that Gassama has “been a ghost” since those early weeks of the season, and it is hard to argue with that assessment when you consider his form in the Premiership and the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Mikey Moore, who has scored two goals in his last three appearances, and Findlay Curtis, who created a ‘big chance’ off the bench against Ferencvaros (Sofascore), are waiting in the wings to take his place on the left flank.

As Rangers have two other viable left-sided options, in Moore and Curtis, Rohl can afford to take Gassama out of the starting line-up for the next four matches, using him as an impact substitute instead.

This would then give the other two players a chance to prove that they have what it takes to hold down that position moving forward, allowing Rangers to ruthlessly cash in on Gassama if Villarreal come knocking in January.

Selling the French ‘ghost’ could also provide Rohl with funds to bring in his own players in other positions, depending on how much the Spaniards are willing to pay for his services.

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Therefore, placing Gassama on the bench for the next few weeks before selling him in January could be a move that is in the club’s best interests, if Villarreal’s interest is serious.

They made 263 with Rossouw and Nawaz scoring centuries in the same innings, which was a first for the league

Sampath Bandarupalli07-May-2025263 for 3 Quetta Gladiators’ total against Islamabad United is the highest by any team in the PSL. Gladiators were on the receiving end of the previous highest total – 262 for 3 by Multan Sultans in 2023, also in Rawalpindi. This is also the highest total by any team in men’s T20s in Pakistan.1 Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz are the first pair to score hundreds in the same innings in the PSL. They are only the tenth pair in men’s T20s to score centuries in the same innings.Two players scored hundreds in a PSL match twice before: Babar Azam for Peshawar Zalmi and Jason Roy for Gladiators in 2023, and Mohammad Rizwan for Sultans and James Vince for Karachi Kings earlier this year.ESPNcricinfo Ltd160 Runs scored by Gladiators in their last ten overs on Wednesday, the joint-most by any team between 11th and 20th overs in a PSL innings. Lahore Qalandars also scored 160 against Zalmi in 2023.88.46 Percentage of runs that Rossouw scored through boundaries, the highest for a centurion in the PSL. The previous highest was 85% by Usman Khan, who scored 120 with 102 runs in boundaries, against Gladiators in 2023.9 Number of sixes hit by Nawaz during his unbeaten 100, the most by any batter for Gladiators in a PSL innings.3 Centuries for Rossouw in the PSL, the joint-most by any batter, alongside Kamran Akmal and Usman Khan. All three hundreds by Rossouw have come in 44 or fewer deliveries.ESPNcricinfo Ltd9 Hundreds for Rossouw in T20 cricket. Only two men have scored more – Chris Gayle (22) and Babar (11), while Virat Kohli also has nine.56 Imad Wasim’s score while batting at No. 9 for United on Wednesday. It is the highest individual score batting at No. 8 or lower in the PSL.3 Number of 250-plus totals in the PSL, all of which have come at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Rawalpindi is one of seven venues to have hosted three 250-plus totals in men’s T20s.4 Consecutive defeats for United, including their record defeat on Wednesday. This is the first instance of them losing four on the trot in the PSL. United started PSL 2025 with five consecutive wins, extending their winning streak to ten matches as they won their last five in 2024. It is the longest winning streak for any team in the league’s history.

The Toronto Blue Jays pulled off a wild 4-3 extra-innings win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday to earn their sixth straight victory.

The Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning, but the Angels tied up the game the next inning on a three-run homer from Jo Adell. With the game tied through the ninth, the two teams went into extra innings.

The Angels were held scoreless through the top of the 10th inning. To start the bottom half of the inning, Los Angeles pitcher Sam Bachman walked Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes. Disaster then struck for the Angels. With automatic runner Myles Straw at second and Lukes at first, Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice bunt. Bachman quickly recovered the bunt, but committed an error as he soared a throw over first base, allowing Straw to run home and earn the walk-off win.

The Blue Jays quickly raced onto the field to celebrate the win, which puts them two games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Blue Jays recent win streak has them atop the AL East with a 50-38 record, and feeling optimistic about their chances to win the division for the first time in a decade.

Meanwhile, the crushing loss puts the Angels one game below .500 once again. The Angels are trying to remain in contention in the American League playoff race, but these kinds of losses will keep them on the outside looking in for now.

Celtic are building up ahead of steam with the summer window around the corner but could now be set to lose a young talent to a divisional rival, per a report.

Celtic begin to accelerate summer window plans

The Bhoys are on course to claim a domestic treble and only have to beat Aberdeen later this month in the Scottish Cup final for Brendan Rodgers to cap a fine season.

With the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup already wrapped up, coupled with a strong showing in the Champions League, Celtic are on a strong footing as they bid to keep striving forward under the Irishman’s stewardship.

Making some early inroads as the opening of the transfer window nears, the Hoops could make a surprise move for Ross Doohan once his Aberdeen contract comes to an end.

Seeking homegrown additions to meet European squad registration requirements, the Lennoxtown graduate could be joined by Lennon Miller at Celtic should they manage to prize the Scotland Under-21 international away from Motherwell.

Youngsters appear to be at the top of the agenda, given that Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic may also end up at Parkhead in the near future.

Celtic could sign £11m star who'd be their best striker since Edouard

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Realistically, the focus on incomings will lead to inevitable departures over the coming months. Celtic are in a great position, but not everyone is deemed good enough to make the grade in a ruthless environment.

Rodgers and his backroom staff have to make tough decisions, especially when it boils down to who to retain in the long run at Parkhead.

Now, one youngster that is set to leave Parkhead could make a move to one of their Scottish Premiership rivals if reports are to be believed.

Falkirk evaluate Celtic youngster Alasdair Davidson

According to Scott Burns of the Daily Record, Falkirk have taken a look at Celtic youngster Alasdair Davidson, who is set to leave Parkhead at the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been joined by Daniel Cummings, Lewis Dobbie and Joe Morrison in departing the club, with the former passing up the opportunity of a new contract and the latter two not being offered extensions.

Predominantly a central defender, Davidson looks set to join a long line of Hoops academy products destined to continue their journey elsewhere, though Falkirk have recently been promoted to the top-flight and could be a stable environment to develop.

From a Celtic standpoint, their focus will now be on bringing first-team recruits into the fold to prepare for next term, where they face the prospect of entering the Champions League at the final playoff hurdle.

Unlike the last couple of summers, swift additions will be needed to ensure Rodgers’ men can handle the strain of qualifiers, with a place in Europe’s premier competition on the line alongside a sweet financial bounty.

The David Moyes revival has already taken Everton so far; Goodison Park is unrecognisable from the tumbledown slump that the Scotsman inherited, confidence at a low ebb after colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.

Dyche did a good job, all told, but he couldn’t take the Toffees any further and rightly parted ways when The Friedkin Group looked to christen their ownership with an uplifting appointment.

Moyes has done very well indeed, losing just four of his 16 Premier League games at the helm. However, he needs new recruits this summer, especially at the front of the ship.

With Everton stepping into a new home at the Bramley-Moore dock, it feels the right time to replace the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a new number nine.

Everton's search for a new striker

Calvert-Lewin has been a stalwart for Everton, playing 270 matches across nine seasons, scoring 71 goals. He’s out of contract this summer, though, with brittle fitness levels and consequent struggles for form suggesting he should be allowed to leave.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Beto’s resurgent as a focal frontman, but Everton want more, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst identified as the perfect player to join Moyes’ project.

According to Caught Offside, TFG are ready to pay the €35m (£30m) asking price for the powerful striker, though the same could be said for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Further interest from overseas complicates matters, but Everton’s willingness to place a bid suggests that Moyes and the owners are driven toward making improvements during the off-season.

Why Everton want Tim Kleindienst

Time was when Everton would cede swift defeat in a jam-packed race for a talented striker, Goodison Park devolving into something of a hotbed for disappointment in recent years.

But this is a new era, and Moyes has restored the feel-good factor. Kleindienst, 29, could make this new feeling even better still, with a clinical track record in Germany denoting his capacity to confidently take Calvert-Lewin’s place in the squad.

The Germany international has scored 16 goals and added ten assists across 32 matches for Gladbach this season, arriving from Heidenheim last summer.

Standing at 6 foot 4, he carries the imposing physicality that Moyes has made such good use of throughout his managerial career, and with Kleindienst winning 4.7 aerial duels per Bundesliga match this season, he has what it takes to flourish in the area Calvert-Lewin so expertly excels.

The two strikers have a lot in common. Both strong and tall, they win many duels through their focal role in the air; each forward dribbles infrequently, with neither proving the most accurate in his passing.

However, therein lies the disparity. Kleindienst is far more fruitful in his passing, so creative and intelligent with his knock-ons, his lay-offs. Indeed, as per The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the German is “an exquisite one-touch player”.

Defensively, there’s a lot to admire too. FBref record Kleindienst ranks among the top 19% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 1% for both blocks and clearances made per 90.

To be sure, signing a striker on the brink of their thirties would be something of a risk, but Kleinsdienst’s athleticism, power and dynamism would be perfect for an Everton side on the up.

Profiled in a similar way to Calvert-Lewin and coveted by divisional rivals, Everton will want to make this statement of intent.

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Manchester United are now showing the “greatest interest” in signing a “true football artist”, but they will have to fork out his €45m (£38m) release clause to secure his signature, according to a journalist.

Man Utd set to bolster attacking options

Much of the goalscoring burden has fallen on Bruno Fernandes this season, while the Portugal international also leads the way for Man United on the assist charts, with Amad the only other forward to regularly chip in with attacking contributions.

As such, it is little wonder that Ruben Amorim wants to bolster his attacking options this summer, and a new striker is of particular interest, with progress now being made in the pursuit of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, having reached an agreement on personal terms.

Not only is Amorim keen on a new striker, but a new playmaker could also be brought in to ease the burden on Fernandes, and the Red Devils have reportedly submitted a monster £115.7m bid for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Xavi Simons.

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Simons has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Bundesliga, picking up nine goals and five assists this season, but there have also been suggestions that United could take a chance on more of an unknown quantity.

In a recent update on X, journalist Cesar Luis Merlo has now revealed Man United are showing the “greatest interest” in signing River Plate attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, with a view to getting a deal done this summer.

Amorim’s side are “constantly following” Mastantuono, having already watched him in action, but they know the only way to prise him away from River Plate will be to stump up the €45m (£38m) release clause included in his contract.

"True football artist" Mastantuono likened to Palmer

The River Plate youngster is only 17, but he already has a great deal of first-team experience, making 54 appearances for the Argentine side, during which time he has picked up six goals and five assists.

In light of his attacking capabilities, the Argentine has even been likened to Chelsea star Cole Palmer by scout Ben Mattinson.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also clearly been impressed by the starlet, describing him as a “true football artist” and “one of the most enjoyable youngsters to watch in world football” back in November.

It would, of course, be a risk to shell out £38m on Mastantuono, given that he is unproven outside Argentina, but there are clear signs he could adapt to life in the Premier League and make a name for himself at Manchester United.