The 26 finalists include the two players with the most Ballons d'Or in history, with all winners set to be announced next week
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Jogando no Estádio dos Aflitos, o Náutico brilhou contra o líder Coritiba e arrancou mais uma vitória por 2 a 1. O duelo deste sábado é válidopela 34ª rodada do Brasileirão Série B.
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COMEÇO MOVIMENTADO
A partida iniciou com bastante pressão. Aos 2, o Coritiba apareceu com Léo Gamalho. Livre, o jogador quase marcou, mas parou na defesa de Anderson.
RESPOSTA À ALTURA!
O Náutico não tardou a responder e pressionar o Coxa. Aos 8, Caio Dantas desviou um cruzamento rasteiro de Thássio. A bola, porém, passou raspando na trave. Quatro minutos depois, Caio Dantas cabeceou, mas desperdiçou nova chance.
DEPOIS DE DUAS CHANCES…
Depois de duas oportunidades desperdiçadas, Caio Dantas aproveitou um desvio de Vinicius, após cobrança de escanteio. Assim, o jogador tocou de primeira, marcando o primeiro do Timbu.
BUSCANDO O EMPATE!
O Coxa aumentou a intensidade e chegou com perigo em algumas oportunidades. Aos 27, Igor Paixão arriscou de fora da área. Dois minutos depois, Igor chutou. A bola desviou em Camutanga e foi na trave superior. Aos 35, Robinho aproveitou e, de primeira, quase empatou para o Coritiba.
NA VANTAGEM!
O Nautico voltou para a segunda etapa com maior intensidade. Aos 7, Júnior Tavares cruzou. A bola sobrou para Vinícius, que fez outro cruzamento. No rebote, Rhalaldney recebeu de Júnior Tavares, de canhota.
CORRENDO ATRÁS DO PREJUÍZO…
Aos 10, o Coxa respondeu à altura. Waguininho aproveitou uma saída de bola errada de Anderson e chutou por cobertura. No entanto, a bola foi para fora. Como resposta, o Náutico quase marcou o terceiro. Porém, Caio Dantas chegou atrasado e deixou passar o cruzamento de Vinicius.
NO FINALZINHO!
Quando o jogo estava se encerrando, o Coxa conseguiu diminuir a vantagem dos adversários. Na jogada,Rafinha cruzou bola na área do Náutico, e Luciano Castán subiu para diminuir o placar. Após o apito final, Marciel levou um cartão vermelho e se tornou desfalque para a próxima rodada da Série B.
FICHA TÉCNICA
NÁUTICO 2 x 1 CORITIBA
Local: Aflitos, em Recife (PE)
Data: 06/11/2021 – às 16h30 (de Brasília
Árbitro: Flavio Rodrigues de Souza (FIFA/SP)
Assistentes: Daniel Paulo Ziolli (FIFA/SP) e Evandro de Melo Lima (FIFA/SP)
Cartões amarelos: Matheus Trindade e Jean Carlos (Náutico); Gustavo Bochecha (Coritiba)
Cartões vermelhos: Marciel e Jean Carlos (Náutico); Gustavo Bochecha (Coritiba)
Gols: Caio Dantas, aos 18’/1°T (1-0), Rhaldney, aos 7’/2°T (2-0) e Luciano Castán, aos 50’/2°T (2-1)
NÁUTICO (Técnico: Hélio dos Anjos)
Anderson; Thássio, Rafael Ribeiro, Camutanga (Carlão, aos 9’/2°T) e Júnior Tavares; Rhaldney (Djavan, aos 24’/2°T), Matheus Trindade (Jailson, aos 26’/2°T), Matheus Jesus (Marciel, aos 26’/2°T) e Jean Carlos; Vinicius e Caio Dantas.
CORITIBA (Técnico: Gustavo Morínigo)
Wilson; Natanael (Matheus Alexandre, aos 14’/2°T), Henrique, Luciano Castán e Guilherme Biro; Willian Farias, Val (Gustavo Bochecha, aos 15’/2°T) e Robinho (Rafinha, aos 15’/2°T); Waguininho, Léo Gamalho (William Alves, aos 37’/2°T) e Igor Paixão (João Vitor, aos 41’/2°T).
The Enzo Maresca revolution is underway, at Chelsea, with the Italian already taking charge and making his mark on the Blues squad.
He’s overseen three matches, a draw with Wrexham, and a defeat to Celtic whilst winning the most recent friendly outing against CF America during their tour of the US.
Maresca has implemented his three-back system, placing expectations on his centre-backs to be comfortable in possession, whilst being strong defensively to allow for his system to be a success at Stamford Bridge.
French defender Benoit Badiashile has struggled during pre-season, making an unforgivable mistake against Celtic, gifting possession away in his own penalty area before being punished by the opposition.
It comes as no surprise to see the club targeting more defensive reinforcements after their defensive frailties in recent matches, with one player once again on the club’s radar.
Chelsea want £60m defensive ace this summer
According to journalist Sami Mokbel, Chelsea continue to monitor the situation of Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo ahead of a potential move to west London this summer.
The Brazilian youngster enjoyed a stellar campaign at the City Ground during his debut season in English football, featuring in 32 straight matches and claiming the club’s Player of the Year award.
Murillo only joined the Reds for a fee in the region of £15m this time last year, but as a result of his excellent season on Trentside, he could be on the move with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis demanding a £60m fee to part ways with his defensive wonderkid.
It may seem a huge figure and one that is slightly inflated given his limited time in the Premier League, however, he would be a phenomenal signing, potentially taking the place of one current Blues star.
Why Murillo would be better than Colwill for Chelsea
Levi Colwill came through the Chelsea academy after joining the club at the age of nine, making his first team debut back in the previous season after two previous loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Brighton.
He made an immediate impact on the first team for his boyhood club, making 23 appearances last season, looking more than comfortable at the back under then-boss Mauricio Pochettino.
However, despite his immediate impact, he could find himself without a spot in the starting lineup, should Murillo arrive at the club, with the Brazilian producing some impressive figures despite featuring for a side in a relegation battle.
The “exceptional” ace, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to complete more progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90, demonstrating his comfortability on the ball – making him perfect for Maresca’s system.
Games
32
23
Goals + assists
2
2
Progressive passes
89
73
Clearances per 90
6.1
3.3
Blocks per 90
1.4
1.4
Successful take-ons per 90
0.7
0.5
The Brazilian has also completed more clearances and blocks in 2023/24, showcasing his defensive capabilities despite featuring in a side that, at times, were constantly bombarded in games against higher-quality opposition.
Murillo has showcased his ball-striking ability, nearly scoring two goal of the season contenders from his own half, with the youngster certainly not afraid to produce a spectacular moment or two from the back.
He may be an expensive addition, but given his impressive first season in England, there is huge potential for him to improve further.
His attributes with and without the ball make him perfect for the new Chelsea boss, with his talents hugely improving the current options available at Maresca’s disposal.
Chelsea could land a bigger talent than Osimhen in £75m "nightmare"
The Blues are still on the hunt for a new centre-forward.
ByEthan Lamb Aug 2, 2024
After suffering a 6-2 mauling at the hands of Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly turned to the Serie A in search of a replacement for Pedro Neto.
Wolves transfer news
It looked as though Wolves were on course to get one over on Chelsea for the third-consecutive time, before Noni Madueke – of all people – stole the show by scoring a hat-trick and Joao Felix added the cherry on top courtesy of a Pedro Neto assist to rub salt in the wounds. The defeat exposed some glaring problems that those in the Midlands must solve in the next four days, with their task to replace Neto among those issues despite the obvious need for defensive reinforcements.
That's not to say that Wolves haven't already been on the hunt for a replacement, of course. They've been linked with moves for the likes of Carlos Forbs and former Celtic star Jota, who now plies his trade at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.
The latter would be a particularly impressive arrival, given how he rose to stardom under Ange Postecoglou in Scotland, only to head down a different path when it came to a departure. With Sporting Club reportedly interested in re-signing the winger, however, those at the Molinuex may turn to Italy in search of replacing Neto.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Wolves are now leading the race to sign Jonathan Ikone after making contact with his camp. Ikone was reportedly left out of Fiorentina's squad to face Venezia amid the ongoing transfer speculation.
Wolves make first move to sign "dominant" new £17m Kilman replacement
He’s a man in demand…
ByTom Cunningham Aug 24, 2024
With Leicester City also reportedly interested, Wolves will need to accelerate their move in the coming days to beat both the Foxes and the deadline in pursuit of the 26-year-old. Earning a reported £36k-a-week, Kone likely wouldn't break the bank, but it remains to be seen just how much Fiorentina demand to sell their winger in the closing days of the summer window.
"Stellar" Ikone can rediscover best form at Wolves
For so long, Ikone was a name full of potential at Lille before sealing a move to Fiorentina in 2022. Since then, however, he has struggled in Italian football, scoring just five goals and assisting a further three last season after managing six goals and eight assists in his debut campaign. Gradually seeing his end product decrease, Ikone seemingly has the chance to start afresh with a move to the Premier League.
The winger wouldn't be the first player to rediscover his best form in the Midlands either. Matheus Cunha wasn't always the thriving attacker that Gary O'Neil now has at his disposal, having seen his career stall at Atletico Madrid before finding his feet at Wolves.
Dubbed a "stellar" player by Zach Lowy when at his best during his time at Lille, Wolves could be performing an act of genius by pursuing the 26-year-old's signature amid a period to forget in the Serie A. Of course, replacing Neto is no easy task, but Ikone has more than enough experience by now to step into the Premier League for the first time and follow in Cunha's footsteps by finding form.
Kurtis Patterson and Lloyd Pope are among the players nominated to take part in the new Northern Territory Cricket 365 programme during the Australian winter.The new venture, which will take place between June and August, aims to make use of the dry season in northern Australia at a time when it is not possible for players without international cricket or major domestic deals to travel overseas although the aim is to make it a long-term option.The concept for the interstate cricketers is largely aimed at young and emerging players although it is also viewed as being an option for more senior players who want to keep playing during the traditional off-season in the rest of Australia or who are returning from injury.Patterson is the only player with Test experience involved having played two matches against Sri Lanka in 2019 which included scoring a century in Canberra. Apart from one hundred against South Australia the 2020-21 season was a lean one for him as he averaged 21.29 in the Sheffield Shield.The interstate players will combine with the Territory’s best players to form squads for the City Cyclones, Desert Blaze, Northern Tide and Southern Storm who will each take part in the Men’s Strike League one-day series (June 20-July 25) and T20 tournament (August 15-27). These four teams are also set to be joined by invitational teams in the T20 tournament during August.Between the one-day and T20 tournaments there is also set to be a three-match one-day series between a Cricket Australia XI, comprising the state-nominated players, and the best players from the Northern Territory.”We’re delighted to have the support of Cricket Australia and every state cricket association around the country to launch Cricket 365 in June,” NT Cricket CEO Joel Morrison said. “With a mix of Australian Test, state contracted and emerging young players signed up to play cricket across Darwin and Palmerston, the quality of cricket on display this dry season will be first class.”It’s an exciting time to be involved in cricket in the Territory, especially for our local players, coaches and match officials who will have the unique opportunity to mix with some of Australia’s best cricketers in their own backyard.”New South Wales have provided the largest group of players including Jack Edwards, who scored a century in the Marsh Cup final, and former Australia quick Chris Tremain who could not break into the NSW side in his first season with the state.Pope, the South Australia legspinner, is joined by Redbacks first-team regulars Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt.”We have said, and continue to believe, that it is vitally important to find ways for players to continue their development in a competitive environment,” Cricket Australia’s national talent and pathways manager Graham Manou said”With such a high calibre of players involved this year, we expect the benefits of Cricket 365 to be far-reaching and we hope it sets a platform for others to benefit in years to come.”
Since 2005, 85 players have appeared in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 – none more than Messi, who has been voted in 17 times
Lionel Messi is very good at football. This much is known. There are the endless accolades: eight Ballons d'Or, 850 goals, 46 career trophies. And then there are the fun bits in between. The drops of the shoulder, the left footed curlers, that one pass against the Netherlands in the World Cup in which he did not look up once – but knew exactly where Nahuel Molina would be.
The GOAT case is well established at this point. And his 17 FIFPRO Men's World 11 spots underscore now just how great he is, but for how long. Since 2005, 85 players have appeared in the Men’s World 11 – none more than Messi. And while the 2024 list is not yet final – it will be revealed Dec. 9 – Messi is again one of the nominees. How has this all happened for the Argentine? GOAL takes a look.
The beginnings
It was no secret that Messi was going to be the next big thing. Coaches from La Masia, Barca's famed youth academy, had seen this coming for years. There was a kid from Argentina who needed special growth hormones to make it to 5-7 – with cleats on. But he was always going to be special. He may not have cracked the FIFPRO 11 until 2007, but it was clear in 2005 that something special was happening.
On Aug. 24, 2005, Barca hosted Juventus for the Joan Gamper trophy – a glorified preseason friendly. Juve won on penalties after the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in normal time. That day a diminutive right winger – wearing Nike boots – ran the show. He assisted Barca's first goal, and set Camp Nou alight. Just 18 at the time, Messi had arrived.
It took a couple years, of course, for the stratospheric launch. But even before he was a regular, there was a sense that Messi could be massive.
AdvertisementAFPThe 'breakout' season
Can it really be considered a breakout season if there was never any doubt that a footballer would be world-class? Maybe not, but Messi went about his meteoric rise all the same. He broke into the Barcelona first team for good in the 2006-07 season.
Then 19, he turned in quality performance after quality performance. In 23 La Liga starts, he tallied 17 goal contributions, including a hat-trick against Real Madrid (becoming the first player to bag three in El Clasico in 12 years in the process.) His first FIFPRO World 11 acknowledgment came after that. And from there, he never dropped out.
Perhaps the most important moment in his young career, though, was the promotion of a former Barca midfielder through the coaching ranks. Pep Guardiola had been a stalwart for the Blaugrana as a player, and was proving himself as a coach. And he was the perfect manager for Messi. After Frank Rijkaard was let go following a trophy-less 2007-08 campaign, Guardiola came in.
The results were immediate. Barca won the treble in his first season in charge – becoming the first team in Spanish history to do so.
AFP100 goals in a year
The rest of the story is well known. From right winger, to false nine, Messi thrived under Guardiola. They won 14 trophies across four seasons, becoming the envy of Europe with their fluid, innovative style. The Spanish manager constantly fiddled with his side, but Messi was always the focal point. If all else failed, give him the ball and things would happen.
It is fair to debate which version of Messi is the best. There are certainly appeals to all of them, from frantic teenager to cerebral veteran. Statistically, though, the most effective version of the great Argentine was the one from Feb. 19, 2012 to Feb. 16, 2013. It was an uncharacteristically dry year for Barca, who were still wavering after Guardiola's departure.
For Messi, though, it was record breaking. Over 363 days, Messi scored 100 goals and added 21 assists. The numbers over that period are staggering: 68 games played, nine hat-tricks, 21 braces, 10 goals in one week. Everything came together, at least in a statistical sense.
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AFPThose around him
Messi has never been a one-man team, though. It helped, of course, that he had Ronaldinho, then the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, playing on the opposite wing during his breakout year. And when he left, there was always quality in the side. First, it was Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry – the trio combining for 100 goal contributions in Guardiola's first campaign in charge. Later came David Villa and Pedro.
Then, in 2014, one of the most deadly attacking trios in football history formed. Luis Suarez had just come off one of the better campaigns in Premier League history when he joined Barca in August 2014, while Neymar had just shown signs that he had found his feet in Catalonia. The three were unstoppable for two years, winning a treble under Luis Enrique in 2015. Admittedly, they probably spent too little time together.
But it wasn't just the attacking talent. Messi spent large parts of his career surrounded by some of the most talented midfielders and defenders out there. He operated in front of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets for almost 10 years. And there are the others: Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba, et al. Even his latter-day Argentina teams have been packed with Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul – some of the best connective tissue around.
كشف أحمد شوبير مقدم البرامج، حقيقة تقدم أعضاء مجلس إدارة الزمالك بـ استقالتهم عن منصبهم خلال الساعات الماضية، معلقًا على غضب جمهور الأبيض من انتقال أشرف بن شرقي إلى صفوف الأهلي.
وكان بطولات قد كشف وصول أشرف بن شرقي إلى القاهرة صباح أمس الأربعاء، تمهيدًا للانضمام للأهلي بعد فسخ العقد بينه وبين نادي الريان القطري، وكذلك اجتاز الكشف الطبي بنجاح، ووقع اللاعب على عقود انضمامه للقلعة الحمراء.
وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات إذاعية عبر “أون سبورت اف ام”: “انتشرت شائعة أمس أن هناك بعض أعضاء مجلس الزمالك تقدموا بـ استقالتهم في وزارة الشباب والرياضة، وتوجهت بـ السؤال لـ أحد المسؤولين في الوزارة لتوضيح الأمر”.
طالع | تقارير مغربية تكشف التفاصيل المادية لعقد أشرف بن شرقي مع الأهلي
وأكمل: “المسؤول أبلغني أن مجالس الأندية منتخبة من قبل الجمعية العمومية، ووزير الرياضة ليس متواجدا في مصر وليس لنا دور في هذا الأمر، ونفى جملة وتفصيلًا ما تردد”.
وأضاف: “أتعجب بسبب غضب جمهور الزمالك من انضمام أشرف بن شرقي لـ الأهلي، واللاعب انضم إلى ناديين بعد رحيله من الأبيض وفي نهاية الأمر أصبح على أعتاب القلعة الحمراء استعدادا للإعلان عنها”.
واستطرد: “أشرف بن شرقي ليس مثل رضا عبد العال الذي انضم للأهلي قادمًا من الزمالك مباشرة خلال فترة التسعينيات، وهناك حملة عنيفة من جمهور الأبيض ضد مجلس الإدارة”.
وتابع: “مجلس الزمالك تحمل تركة مثقلة بسبب الأزمات والديون التي كان يعاني منها النادي، والأهلي شاطر في استغلال قيمته التسويقية ببراعة”.
واختتم: “الأهلي سيعلن عن مفاجأة وإن لم تكن مفاجأتين اليوم”.
Batsman 46 not out after 88-run stand with Kraigg Brathwaite in pursuit of Hampshire’s big first innings
ECB Reporters Network23-Apr-2021Gloucestershire 114 for 2 (Brathwaite 60, Bracey 46*) trail Hampshire 470 (Alsop 149, Holland 114, Dawson 65, Vince 52) by 356 runsJames Bracey once again underlined his Test credentials in front of England batting coach Marcus Trescothick to help Gloucestershire lay a solid platform in response to Hampshire’s big first-innings total.Bracey and Kraigg Brathwaite put on 88 for the second wicket before the West Indies opener fell late in the day for 60 to leave the visitors on 114 for 2 at the close, having earlier bowled out the hosts for 470.Bracey, who was named as a reserve batsman for England’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, was 46 not out against a strong Hampshire attack spearheaded by Mohammad Abbas, Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson, with Tom Lace yet to score.Related
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Things looked ominous for Gloucestershire when skipper Chris Dent fell for six to Abbas to a ball that kept low and pinned him on the crease.But Brathwaite and Bracey, watched from the boundary by Trescothick after scoring 118 and 83 in the win over Somerset last week, calmly saw off the new ball.With the pair looking relatively untroubled, Liam Dawson then managed to get a ball to spit off the surface and had Brathwaite caught by Lewis McManus.It led to a tense passage of play but Bracey and Lace survived despite the presence of several fielders around the bat for Dawson’s final three overs.After starting the day on 292 for 3, Hampshire lost nightwatchman Mason Crane early before Tom Alsop fell before lunch for a superbly made 149 – one shy of his highest score. Alsop, who made a century against Leicestershire two weeks ago, struck 19 fours in his 290-ball vigil before being caught down the leg-side by Bracey off Ryan Higgins.Tom Alsop reached 149•Getty ImagesJames Vince hit a trademark sumptuous cover-drive to the boundary before lunch on his way to a half-century. The Hampshire skipper wasn’t at his fluent best in his innings, but still showed glimpses of class, including successive fours off the bowling of Dan Worrall. However, in a dramatic over, Vince inside-edged the very next delivery to Bracey, with McManus then controversially dismissed to what appeared to be a bump ball, putting Worrall on a hat-trick.The Australian seamer who was the pick of the visiting bowlers, claimed his fourth wicket when Abbott was struck on the pad as the hosts lost 3 for 16 after the restart.Dawson smashed two sixes and five fours on his way to an entertaining 65 before being cleaned up by Higgins, who then bowled Abbas to finish with 4 for 78.
After a long summer of rumours and deals, the transfer window slams shut this Friday, and while Tottenham Hotspur has been relatively busy this summer, there is still time to make a couple more signings.
Ange Postecoglou must go one better than last season and lead the club back into the Champions League places come May, but to help him do that, Daniel Levy and Co must bring him more firepower.
Interestingly, the club were linked with an exciting winger outside of Europe's top five leagues earlier this month, and while he might not be a name fans are overly familiar with, he could challenge Brennan Johnson for his place in the team.
More importantly, though, there are shades of a certain Gareth Bale in him as well.
Bale's Spurs legacy
So, when it comes to the best Tottenham players in recent history, the top two in the eyes of most fans will probably be Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and for good reason.
However, if you go back just a bit further, it's hard to deny that Bale is almost unmatched in terms of pure technical skill and ability to single-handedly win games.
The Welshman spent six years in North London, and while he struggled to begin with, he gradually moved up the pitch and established himself as one of the best wingers in Europe, let alone the Premier League.
In his final campaign with the Lilywhites, before he moved to Real Madrid for a world record £85m, he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in 44 appearances, equating to an unreal average of a goal involvement once every 1.22 games from left midfield and left wing.
There is no denying that at his peak, he was one of the greatest attackers in the world, and while this latest start touted for a move to Tottenham shouldn't be held up to that standard, he shares some characteristics with the icon.
The player in question is Club Brugge gem Andreas Skov Olsen, who caught the North Londoners' attention back in March, per a report from Voetbalkrant, and while there was no mention of a concrete price for the winger then, more recent reports touting other sides for the star claim that offers of around £25m would be enough to get the deal done.
Now, the similarities between the Danish international and the former Real star stem from their style of play, with data analyst Ben Mattinson claiming that the 24-year-old loves "cutting in on his left foot" and "shooting from distance", which sounds a lot like the player the Welshman was during his final campaign in England.
Moreover, Mattinson describes the Brugge ace as a "quality goal-scoring, physical winger" who possesses a "deadly left-foot", and like the Welshman, he's also over 6 foot, coming in at a strong 6 foot 2, which would only help him keep Premier League defenders at bay.
Lastly, the former Bologna gem has also proven himself to be a real goal threat in recent seasons, and this last similarity he shares with Bale could also be why he'd offer Johnson so much competition at Tottenham.
How Skov Olsen compares to Johnson
Okay, so if Skov Olsen was to come in as some extra competition for Johnson out on the right, it's worth comparing their output from last season, and unfortunately for the former Nottingham Forest ace, it's not a comparison that goes well for him.
For example, in his 38 appearances across both teams last season, the Welshman scored five goals and provided ten assists, and while that means he maintained an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.53 games, it pales in comparison to the Dane.
In his 50 appearances for Brugge last season, the left-footed dynamo scored a whopping 26 goals and provided eight assists for good measure.
Skov Olsen vs Johnson in 23/24
Player
Skov Olsen
Johnson
Appearances
50
38
Goals
26
5
Assists
8
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.68
0.39
All Stats via Transfermarkt
This means that he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.47 games, and while you have to take into account the weaker league, that is still an outrageously impressive level of output and should certainly encourage Spurs to pursue the exciting talent.
Ultimately, Tottenham are not going to find the next Bale in Skov Olsen, but he shares some similarities with the iconic winger, and from his incredible form last season, he looks like an ideal candidate to help get even more out of Postecoglou's attacking style of football.
Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to bring him to N17 this summer.
Spurs could avenge Lenglet mistake in swoop for "extraordinary" £21m star
The Lilywhites have been linked with an interest in the talented central defender.
4 ByDan Emery Aug 25, 2024
It's set to be a big campaign for Manchester United next season, as Erik ten Hag looks to remedy his side's poor performances in the Premier League last year and build upon their success in the FA Cup.
However, to ensure they aren't left behind by those teams in and around them, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co must provide the Dutchman with additional talent to bolster the first team.
One of the players who's been heavily touted for a move to Old Trafford this summer has been Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte, but that transfer now looks to be dead in the water due to an unwillingness to meet his hefty £51m price tag.
However, fans shouldn't be too down, as recent reports have now linked the club to another talented midfielder who could be the perfect alternative.
According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, United have now turned their attention to Atalanta star Ederson following the cessation of their efforts to land Ugarte.
The report claims that the Brazilian midfielder is one of the names the Red Devils are considering as an alternative to the PSG ace and that Ten Hag is currently 'mulling over whether to attempt to land Ederson.'
It is not entirely clear how much the 25-year-old would cost, but the report quotes an article from the Standard earlier this summer that reported on a potential £38m deal that would have seen the player move to Liverpool – a move that obviously never transpired.
In all, while Ugarte is off the table, fans should be excited at the prospect of Ederson moving to Old Trafford, as he looks like he could be the perfect alternative.
So, if United are now focused on signing Éderson over Ugarte this summer, how do the two midfielders stack up against one another?
Well, the first thing to look at is their attacking output, as while the pair primarily play in central and defensive midfield positions, they would still be expected to chip in with the occasional goal or assist at Old Trafford, and in this metric, the Brazilian comes out way ahead.
For example, in his 53 appearances for the Europa League winners last season, the 6 foot "machine", as dubbed by football writer Carlo Garganese, scored seven goals and provided one assist, which equates to an average of a goal involvement every 6.62 games.
In contrast, the PSG ace provided just three assists in his 37 appearances last season, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 12.33 games. While this is inferior, it's still not too concerning for someone who started more games as an out-and-out six.
That said, when you compare the 23-year-old's Ligue 1 heatmap last season to the player who could be signed in his place, it's clear that while he started as the six, he didn't really play like one.
Okay, so now that it is clear that the Atalanta star is more productive while actually playing deeper than his younger competition, does he also come out on top when we examine their underlying numbers?
Indeed, he does. For example, he ranks far better in the vast majority of underlying metrics, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions, blocks, aerial duels won, and he even makes fewer errors that lead to a shot, all per 90.
|
Éderson vs Ugarte |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats per 90 |
Éderson |
Ugarte |
|
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists |
0.17 |
0.06 |
|
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists |
0.17 |
0.07 |
|
Progressive Passes |
6.56 |
3.91 |
|
Progressive Carries |
0.97 |
0.78 |
|
Shots |
1.17 |
0.51 |
|
Shots on Target |
0.37 |
0.04 |
|
Passing Accuracy |
83.1% |
91.2% |
|
Key Passes |
0.74 |
0.54 |
|
Passes into the Penalty Area |
1.16 |
0.23 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
2.24 |
1.63 |
|
Goal-Creating Actions |
0.17 |
0.19 |
|
Tackles Won |
1.56 |
2.35 |
|
Blocks |
1.40 |
1.12 |
|
Interceptions |
1.43 |
1.76 |
|
Errors That Lead to a Shot |
0.02 |
0.08 |
|
Aerial Duels Won |
1.09 |
0.66 |
|
Ball Recoveries |
6.08 |
8.14 |
|
All Stats via FBref for 23/24 Season |
||
In his defence, the Uruguayan does come out on top in a few metrics such as passing accuracy, goal-creating actions, tackles won, interceptions and ball recoveries per 90, but that is about it.
Ultimately, while missing out on Ugarte has left some United fans feeling understandably disappointed, they should be excited about the prospect of signing Éderson, as in every measurable metric, he appears to be the better option. Therefore, Ratcliffe and Co should do what they can to secure his services this summer.
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