Tag Futebol

MatériaMais Notícias

O lateral Fábio foi apresentado noGrêmiona tarde desta terça-feira. O jogador exaltou o projeto do clube e deixou claro que retornou ao futebol brasileiro para ganhar títulos. Para Fábio, a reconstrução do Imortal, após disputar a Série B em 2022, é uma motivação extra.

-O projeto é esse, de reconstrução, busca por ganhar títulos. Foi por isso que eu voltei, pra ganhar, sem dúvida nenhuma. Foi isso que me motivou. Eu sou competitivo e por isso que eu voltei pra um clube que possa ganhar, brigar e, com os jogadores que eu vejo nessa reconstrução, é possível.

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Fábio também explicou sua evolução no futebol europeu. No Velho Continente, o jogador, de 32 anos, teve passagens pelo Manchester United, QPR, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough e Nantes. Para Fábio, a noção defensiva em relação a fechar espaços e a recomposição foram os principais ensinamentos.

– Claro que eu aprendi muito taticamente, evolui muito. No futebol lá fora, isso te ensina muito. Quando eu saí daqui, eu era um jogador que só queria atacar, fazer gols, dar assistências. Lá fora eu aprendi muito taticamente, defensivamente, contribuiu muito para o meu futebol – detalhou.

Ashwin blames India’s “cinema culture” for the treatment meted out to Hardik at various grounds this season

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2024R Ashwin has come out in strong support of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, blaming India’s “fan wars” and “cinema culture” for the vehement booing Hardik has been subjected to at various grounds this IPL season.Hardik, who took over the Mumbai captaincy from Rohit Sharma this season, was given a hostile reception by the fans in Ahmedabad last week when he faced his former team Gujarat Titans, whom he had led to successive IPL finals including the title in 2022. The booing continued when Hardik faced Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, as Mumbai began their campaign with back-to-back defeats.Answering a question from a viewer on his YouTube channel on whether Mumbai should issue a statement to diffuse the situation, Ashwin said that the onus lay with the fans, not the team, to “get our act together” and put an end to such “ugly” scenes.Related

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“People should remember which country these players represent. It’s our country, ” Ashwin said. “Fan wars should never take such an ugly route. I’ve said it many times, this is cinema culture, that happens only here.”I know there are many things like marketing, branding, and positioning. I don’t deny it, but have you seen these fights happen in any other country? Have you seen, for instance, Joe Root and Zak Crawley fans have a fight? Or Joe Root and Jos Buttler fans fight? It’s crazy. Do you see Steven Smith fans fighting with Pat Cummins fans in Australia?”Ashwin brought up examples from the past, when several Indian greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid all played under each other’s captaincies, with minimal fuss or backlash from the fans.”I don’t understand. If you don’t like a player and boo him, why should the club come out and issue a clarification? We act like this has not happened before.”Sourav Ganguly played under Sachin Tendulkar and vice versa. These two have both played under Rahul Dravid. These three have played under Anil Kumble and all of them have played under MS Dhoni. When they were under Dhoni, these players were cricket (giants). Dhoni too played under Virat Kohli.”Ashwin said he believes that all fans have a collective responsibility to “correct ourselves” before blaming others, explaining that cinema can’t be compared directly to sports.”You know what the issue is? We all happily sit inside our houses and look at the trash outside. We expect someone else to pick it up instead of doing it ourselves.”This is real-time sport. Sport has real players with real emotions, nothing is scripted. Hero and hero worshiping is great, but sport should never be compared to cinema. How we go beyond that, counter it and find balance to play cricket is what this is all about.”You are free to enjoy what you like about your favourite players or team, but not at the cost of putting another player down. This is one thing I’d love to see disappear from the face of the earth in our country.”Mumbai will play their first home game of the season against Ashwin’s Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede on Monday.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Portuguesa iniciou, enfim, a sua preparação para a disputa do Campeonato Paulista de 2023, competição que marca a volta da tradicional equipe à elite estadual após oito anos de calvário na Série A-2. E o primeiro passo foi a contratação do técnico Mazola Júnior para substituir Sérgio Soares, demitido após a eliminação da equipe rubro-verde na Copa Paulista deste ano.

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Durante sua apresentação oficial como novo comandante lusitano, Júnior mostrou otimismo e prometeu à torcida que ajudará na busca por reforços, principalmente de jogadores que tenham atuado na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, competição que disputou neste ano pelo Novorizontino.

– Vai se basear, mais ou menos, em jogadores da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, que é o campeonato que eu domino e conheço 85% de todos os jogadores. Vamos trabalhar. Estamos em um clube que a camisa é muito pesada. Volto a dizer, o quinto grande do estado de São Paulo. Isso é um atrativo para esses atletas da Série B. A Portuguesa é um clube gigantesco.

Na avaliação do novo treinador da Lusa, é natural que haja uma reformulação no elenco que conquistou o título da segunda divisão estadual deste ano.

– Os jogadores da Série A-2 que ficaram, ele ficaram porque a diretoria quis e eu também. É normal que haja essa mudança grande que houve, porque o campeonato da Série A-2 é de um jeito e o da A-1 é outro. Eu respeito muito essas situações. Os campeonatos são diferentes, automaticamente os jogadores são diferentes. Sabemos, principalmente, por não termos ainda o calendário nacional no segundo semestre, teremos uma dificuldade grande para montar o time que a gente quer.

Com os lusitanos receosos por esse retorno à elite depois de tanto tempo, Júnior assegurou que o objetivo é, acima de tudo, de fazer a torcida feliz nesse reencontro com os grandes do Estado.

– Fazer a torcida da Lusa ficar feliz. Isso é com a gente. É o compromisso: fazer com que a Portuguesa faça um campeonato extremamente competitivo, que volte a ser da tradição deste clube gigantesco. A Portuguesa sempre foi e deve voltar a ser o grande calo dos grandes clubes de São Paulo. E nós vamos, com certeza, fazer um grande trabalho aqui, abraçados, como se fosse uma nação.

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TREINADOR RELEMBROU RAÍZES LUSAS

– Vou mandar uma letra para a torcida da Portuguesa: vamos parar de dizer que a torcida está machucada. Vamos pensar para frente. O projeto é grandioso, gigantesco. A torcida está machucada, mas vamos deixar no passado. Faz parte do passado. Vamos trazer de novo a alma Portuguesa aqui para dentro. Vamos, todo mundo, trazer a alma portuguesa, que é o coração a frente de tudo. Vamos abraçar mesmo. Chegou mais um português aqui. A gente vai abraçar o projeto e vamos colocar a Portuguesa onde ela deve estar – completou Mazola Júnior.

O novo treinador rubro-verde se refere à carreira como um todo. Mazola possui raízes muito fortes com a comunidade portuguesa, ainda quando jogador, atuou por cinco anos em solo português. O ex-atacante defendeu Portimonense, Mirandela, Sanjoanense e R. D. Águeda, até interromper a sua carreira por uma sequência de lesões graves.

– Eu estou em um clube de camisa pesada, o quinto grande clube de São Paulo. A Portuguesa é gigantesca! Por isso precisamos de todos, o projeto é grandioso, vamos trazer a alma portuguesa, que é o coração acima de tudo, que é o coração que quer ganhar, quer crescer, quer voltar a ser grande, a tristeza tem que estar longe daqui, a cobrança tem que ser forte, mas temos que ser positivos.

Mazola iniciou como técnico em 2003, em Portugal, no Futebol Clube do Marco, na sequência na Associação Esportiva Ovarense e Futebol Clube de Nelas. No Brasil, o Ituano, em 2009, foi a sua primeira experiência.

Suas conquistas mais recentes foram com Ituano e CRB. Em 2016, com o CRB, conseguiu um Campeonato Alagoano. No ano passado, com o time de Itu, Mazola conquistou o título da Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro com 70% de aproveitamento em 24 jogos.

Em 2021, no Paulistão, pela equipe de Itú, garantiu a classificação da equipe a Copa do Brasil, conquistou o título do interior e fez a quinta melhor campanha da competição estadual. Já na sequência da temporada 2022, disputou o Brasileirão Série B com o Novorizontino onde pegou a equipe com risco de descenso mas conseguiu manter o time na competição.

A Lusa se reapresenta com o elenco remanescente da Copa Paulista no dia 21 de novembro. Segundo a diretoria, contudo, antes disso diversos contatos já devem ter sido realizados para a efetivação da chegada de reforços. A Federação Paulista de Futebol ainda não divulgou as datas dos jogos.

Captain Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 49 drove the chase after Bangladesh were kept to 94 for 6

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2023A sensational opening burst from debutant Ayanda Hlubi coupled with Masabata Klaas’ discipline set South Africa up for a series-levelling win in the last women’s T20I against Bangladesh in Kimberley. South Africa restricted Bangladesh to 94 for 6 and then romped home by eight wickets, thanks to captain Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 49.Opting to bowl first, Hlubi struck on her fourth ball in international cricket, getting Murshida Khatun caught behind in an attempted drive. On the very next ball, she had Sobhana Mostary caught at slip, courtesy late outswing off a full ball outside off.After Shamima Sultana also fell inside the powerplay – leaving Bangladesh reeling at 17 for 3 – Bangladesh almost shut shop. They added only 12 runs in the next 29 balls to be 29 for 3 at the ten-over mark. Lata Mondal and Nigar Sultana added 29 runs off 55 balls before the latter fell.Shorna Akter then injected momentum into the Bangladesh innings as they scored 26 in the 16 balls after Nigar’s dismissal. Shorna, who picked up a five-for in Bangladesh’s win in the opening T20I, scored 23 off 16 in the 31-ball 46-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mondal. She was run-out in the last over before Mondal, who top-scored with 42, was bowled on the final ball of the innings.In the 95-run chase, Tazmin Brits attacked spinner Nahida Akter by using her feet even as Wolvaardt began steadily. The pair added 35 inside five overs before Brits was adjudged lbw off Marufa Akter, even though the ball appeared to be heading down leg.Offspinner Shorifa Khatun then got one to spin back in sharply to trap Anneke Bosch, who hit a half-century in the first T20I, lbw for nine. But Wolvaardt and Sune Luus ensured South Africa faced no further hiccups in their bid to square the series. Wolvaardt was only helped by Shorna bowling three loose balls, including a no-ball, all of which she despatched to the ropes to hasten the end.The hosts had lost the opening T20I and the second one was washed out.

ينتظر نادي برشلونة القرار النهائي للحارس الألماني مارك تير شتيجن بشأن مشاكل الظهر المستمرة التي أبقته يتدرب في صالة الألعاب الرياضية بالمدينة الرياضية منذ بدء التدريبات يوم الاثنين الماضي.

ويفكر حارس المرمى الألماني في الخضوع لعملية جراحية في الأسابيع المقبلة، مما قد يبعده عن الملاعب لمدة تصل إلى أربعة أشهر.

أقرأ أيضاً.. استطلاع رأي يكشف المرشح الأبرز للفوز بـ الكرة الذهبية هذا العام.. موقف محمد صلاح

وسيخصص 80% من راتب مارك تير شتيجن لقواعد اللعب المالي النظيف في الدوري الإسباني، وسيسهل ذلك من تسجيل خوان جارسيا حارس الفريق، لكنه سيستمر في تلقي راتبه كاملاً.

وبحسب صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو ” فإن برشلونة يمكن أن يوفر جزء كبيرا يزيد عن مليوني يورو من الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”بعد أن شعر تير شتيجن بآلام بعد مباراتي نصف نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية ضد البرتغال وفرنسا يوم 4 و8 يونيو.

وقد تم إبلاغ برشلونة منذ البداية بهذه المشاكل في الظهر الناتجة عن مباريات شتيجن الأخيرة مع المنتخب الألماني، وبالتالي قد يتعين على الفيفا تعويض البارسا إذا غاب الحارس لأكثر من 28 يوما متتاليا نتيجة إصابات جسدية أثناء المباريات التي خاضها في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

وقد استفاد برشلونة مالياً من برنامج حماية الأندية التابع للفيفا عندما تعرض جافي لإصابة خطيرة مع منتخب إسبانيا في نوفمبر 2023.

وكذلك تعرض رونالد أراوخو لإصابة خطيرة مع منتخب أوروجواي في كوبا أمريكا في يوليو 2024، وفي حالة تير شتيجن سيصل التعويض إلى 20.548 مليون يورو وقد يصل في حالة غيابه 4 أشهر إلى 2.465 مليون يورو.

Teenager Allison, playing his third first-team innings, shines

ECB Reporters Network11-Aug-2023Charlie Allison struck a maiden half-century in only his third first-team innings to help Essex pull off an extraordinary first victory of the season in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.The 18-year-old younger brother of seamer Ben lived up to his promise in the second eleven with a mature knock of 70 that included three sixes and even outshone his captain Tom Westley’s patient 80 from 90 balls.However, Middlesex looked well on track to record their own first win of the campaign when they reached 236 for 3 with 15 overs left chasing 299 to win.But despite Mark Stoneman setting the foundations for their reply with a dozen fours and two sixes in a 97-ball 93, Middlesex collapsed to lose by three runs with seven balls left to the delight of a large Chelmsford crowd.And it was Allison whose throw from the third-man boundary ran out Ethan Bamber as the final Middlesex pair tried to steal the runs to decide the match.Middlesex had 100 on the board inside the 15 overs of their reply with Stoneman reaching his fifty from just 39 balls. It included two sixes, one scooped off Aaron Beard and another pulled off Jamie Porter. He might have perished there and then had Michael Pepper’s throw been more accurate into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.He capitalised on the reprieve with an extravagant reverse-sweep for four off Simon Harmer. James Cracknell had been slightly overshadowed in the stand of 124, though he took two successive boundaries off Harmer before he was brilliantly caught in the covers by Robin Das for 48.The wicket had no significant impact on Middlesex’s progress and they were halfway to their target in 22 overs, though Sam Robson was dropped on 20 at backward point by Das.Essex thought they had Robson soon after for a catch behind off Beau Webster that left umpire Paul Nicholls unmoved and the bowler showing his frustration by slamming the ball to the ground. Robson was finally removed for 26, driving at Aaron Beard and being bowled.Stoneman’s stay eight minutes shy of two hours was ended when he swung Beard to Porter on the deep fine-leg boundary.At that point Middlesex threatened to implode with three wickets going down in 14 balls. Jack Davies was bamboozled by one from Harmer before Ryan Higgins dragged on from Webster and Luke Hollman was run out without facing a ball. It got worse when Josh de Caires was bowled by Porter to leave Middlesex still 42 runs short with 10 overs remaining.Martin Andersson had helped Simpson take them within nine runs of victory when he was bowled by Webster. He was followed, two runs later, by Simpson, bowled by Westley. And then came the unlikely denouement.On a pitch that took spin early on, de Caires’s three wickets in eight balls halted an Essex onslaught led by Pepper, who took a liking to Middlesex debutant Isaan Kaushal, hitting him for four fours and a six over extra cover before the 21-year-old seamer was withdrawn from the attack. However, when Kaushel returned late on he claimed his maiden first-team wicket when Will Buttleman picked out deep mid-on.Pepper swept de Caires’s first ball for his sixth boundary but fell next ball for an 18-ball 31 to a stupendous running catch over his shoulder at deep long leg by Andersson. Das then pulled de Caires invitingly to deep square leg, and two balls later Webster advanced too far and turned in dismay to see John Simpson removing the bails.Luc Benkenstein helped steady the ship in a 55-run partnership with Westley. But after lofting de Caires for six over long leg, he took a wild swipe at Luke Hollman, who then had Harmer playing all round one to be lbw.Westley’s innings had few thrills, though he carved Robson through extra cover for his sixth boundary the ball before he was beaten by one that turned from outside off and took middle stump.Allsion had played calmly alongside Westley but cut loose once his captain had departed. He reached his fifty from 59 balls with a six to long-off in a Robson over that also went for a maximum over long-leg by Buttleman. Allison’s 65-ball innings ended when he played over a ball from Bamber.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Andrea Berta had agreed to become Arsenal’s new Sporting Director, and while he’ll be joining a team who have fought for the Premier League title three seasons on the bounce now, he’ll have a lot of work to do.

Mikel Arteta’s side are undoubtedly one of the very best in the country, but this season has proven that attacking reinforcements are desperately needed.

One of the stars most heavily linked with the club in recent months has been Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, although, with reports claiming he could cost up to £150m, it’d be a Herculean deal to get over the line.

That said, with several players set to leave this summer, a significant amount of the wage bill should be freed up, which could help the ownership secure the Swede’s services.

However, there is another star player who almost certainly won’t be leaving this year but should be one of the players Berta looks to move on as soon as possible, as they make more than twice as much as Isak.

Arsenal's decreasing wage bill

So, before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at how much Arsenal’s wage bill could decrease by this summer, with certain players’ contracts expiring and others potentially being sold.

Starting with those who are in the former group, it seems almost guaranteed now that Thomas Partey, who makes £200k-per-week, and Jorginho, on £110k-per-week, will be leaving the club at the end of June alongside Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney, who also makes £110k-per-week.

Raheem Sterling, who has been earning around £110k-per-week and Neto, who makes £50k-per-week, will also come off the wage bill when their loan spells end in the summer.

Finally, while there is a chance the club will fail to sell any of their fringe players in the transfer window, it feels increasingly likely that Oleksandr Zinchenko, who earns £150k-per-week, will finally be moved on, as he’ll have just a year left on his contract if not.

So, when you add together the wages of those who are out of contract, those on loan and Zinchenko, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched that Arsenal could reduce their wage bill by an astounding £730k-per-week before making any signings in the summer, which comes out to a massive figure of £37.96m per year.

Such an incredible sum of money being saved could help Berta and Co raise the finances needed to complete their summer transfer plans, although there is still another big earner in the club who needs to be moved on as soon as possible.

The Arsenal star Berta needs to sell

With a lot of Arsenal’s big earners either making good on their wage packets or mentioned above, it will likely come as no surprise that the player we are talking about is Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian forward joined the Gunners for around £45m in the summer of 2022, and while he was truly sensational for the first half of that season, he has not been the same player since suffering a serious knee injury at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Since then, it would be hard to argue that the former Manchester City star has been deserving of his enormous £265k-per-week wage when potentially world-class strikers like Isak are earning less than half of that, coming in at around £120k-per-week.

For example, while the Sao Paulo-born nine wasn’t bad last season, he was, as pundit Micah Richards put it, “frustrating,” as for all the silky footwork and innate skill he has, he was only able to muster up a tally of eight goals and eight assists in 36 appearances, which wasn’t enough to stop Kai Havertz eventually replacing him as Arteta’s go-to striker.

In contrast, the Toon star, who has endured his own injury problems, was able to amass a haul of 25 goals and two assists in 40 appearances and looks set to do even better this year, already hitting 23 goals and five assists in just 33 games.

Appearances

33

36

27

Minutes

2347′

1910′

1204′

Goals

11

8

7

Assists

7

8

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.54

0.44

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

130.38′

119.37′

133.77′

For his efforts, the Gunners’ forward was only able to score seven goals and provide two assists in his 27 appearances before his ACL injury this season, which is what will keep him at the Emirates this summer.

However, once he is back to full fitness at some point in 2026, Berta and Co need to move him on as soon as they can, as not only is he no longer at the level required to push the team forward, but his bumper contract expires in June 2027, meaning the window to get a decent fee for him will be slight.

Ultimately, Jesus is an undeniably talented footballer, but his inefficiency in front of goal, poor injury record and monster wages mean that he has to be sold by Arsenal as soon as they get the chance.

Arsenal have a future England superstar & it's not Nwaneri or Lewis-Skelly

The incredible prospect could be a game-changer for Arsenal and England.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 25, 2025

Just a week on from having opted not to bring in any new attacking recruits in the January transfer window, Manchester United were dealt a cruel and untimely blow in mid-February, with man of the moment, Amad Diallo, having been struck down by injury.

The diminutive Ivorian had emerged as the shining light in an otherwise grim campaign for the Red Devils prior to that, impressing, in particular, following Ruben Amorim’s arrival at the club, with 11 goals and assists chalked up in just 20 games under the Portuguese coach.

It was Amorim then who had to break the news that his wing wizard would likely be out for the rest of the campaign, albeit while having since offered a flicker of hope that the 22-year-old could actually return before the season is over.

Whatever does occur with regard to the former Atalanta man in the remainder of 2024/25, it does appear that he will be a central part of Amorim’s side next term, be it as a wing-back or in a more advanced number ten berth.

That said, if recent reports are to be believed, INEOS could actually be looking at acquiring an upgrade on the £19m signing, ahead of next season.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

As noted above, the decision was made in the winter window not to add to Amorim’s forward ranks, with that coming despite the ‘loss’ of two somewhat exiled figures from the 40-year-old’s first-team squad, in the form of Antony and Marcus Rashford.

With the pair looking unlikely to be welcomed back into the fold next term – with Jadon Sancho also still in line to join Chelsea on a permanent basis – the Red Devils’ attacking ranks remain rather depleted, with Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund currently the only fit, senior forwards available to the former Sporting CP boss.

It is no surprise then that adding a new attacker is likely to be a priority this summer, with reports in Spain indicating that INEOS are already pressing ahead with their market moves, having reportedly lodged a bid to sign Barcelona sensation, Raphinha.

Transfer Focus

The claim is that the Old Trafford side have made an offer worth in the region of €70m (£59m), with Amorim keen to bring the former Leeds United man back to England, amid his fine form of late in Catalonia.

As per the reports, it remains to be seen whether the LaLiga giants would be willing to accept what is described as a ‘generous’ offer for the player, with the Red Devils having taken the ‘firmest step so far’ toward landing the 28-year-old this summer.

Should that marquee move be made, it could see Raphinha cement a place for himself as the attacking figurehead in Amorim’s forward line.

How Raphinha compares to Amad

There may be a hint of controversy of signing a man with Elland Road connections, but make no mistake, if INEOS can get Raphinha in the door this summer, it would be a real coup for the club.

The one-time Sporting star – who played alongside Bruno Fernandes during his solitary season in Lisbon – has elevated his talents since shining in Yorkshire a few years ago, having chipped in with 29 goals and assists in 67 games during his prior spell in English football.

Now, however, it could be said he is arguably “Europe’s best player in 2024/25”, in the words of Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, having been simply electric under Hansi Flick, both domestically and in the Champions League.

In all, the 31-cap Brazil international – who can operate on either flank or in a central attacking midfield berth – has racked up a mammoth total of 48 goal involvements in just 41 games this season, forming a devastating partnership with teen superstar, Lamine Yamal, under Flick’s watch.

Amad, of course, had delighted in the early months of the campaign, although the one-time Sunderland loanee doesn’t come close to those kinds of numbers, having recorded ‘just’ 16 goals and assists prior to his injury blow.

Stat (*per game)

Amad (PL)

Raphinha (LaLiga)

Games

22

27

Goals

6

13

Assists

6

8

Big chances missed

1

17

Big chances created

5

23

Key passes*

1.8

2.8

Pass accuracy*

85%

78%

Successful dribbles*

1.6

1.5

Possession lost*

11x

17x

Both men appear to be at their best when operating off the right flank, with the ability to cut in onto their favoured left foot, although unsurprisingly, it is the more experienced Barca man who is currently at the peak of his powers, as evidenced further by his club total of 93 goals and assists in just 129 games.

Amad, by contrast, has just 21 goals and assists in 52 games for the Red Devils, having endured a slow rise since initially joining the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in January 2021.

The United man certainly has time to progress and reach loftier heights, yet if Amorim is looking for a Premier League-proven, ready-made upgrade, then Raphinha would surely be the perfect solution.

Amorim has saved Man Utd millions on Quenda by unleashing "powerful" teen

Man Utd could have saved themselves a £40m fee by unleashing a perfect Quenda alternative

1 ByRobbie Walls Mar 18, 2025

Enzo Maresca was flying high in his first few months at Chelsea, leading them to second in the Premier League, finishing top of the UEFA Conference League group phase and implementing a clear style of play for all to see.

However, in the past few months, things have taken a turn for the worst, dropping to sixth place in the league, being knocked out of both the EFL Cup and FA Cup, and having a poor January transfer window where plenty of issues were not addressed by Todd Boehly and co.

Chelsea have had some huge issues since their injury troubles began to arise, leading to a run of only three wins in their last ten games, one of which coming against Morecambe in the FA Cup.

Chelsea's injury issues

The first big injury blow this season was the loss of Wesley Fofana, who had settled into a solid defensive unit alongside Levi Colwill, the two complimenting each other brilliantly and beginning to provide the Blues with a stability they hadn’t had previously.

Fofana’s hamstring injury was the first to really affect the first-team squad, as he had started 12 of the first 13 Premier League games. Since then, Roméo Lavia and Reece James have both struggled for fitness, whilst James is currently available, the two have been suffering from reoccurring injuries this season.

In the past few weeks, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu and Noni Madueke have all suffered injuries too, leaving Chelsea with a thin squad despite being able to field two different starting lineups earlier in the season.

Availability is one of the most important things in this modern era of football, and one man Chelsea sold in the summer had that in abundance.

The former Chelsea star who's worth more than Lavia

Conor Gallagher was sold to Atlético Madrid in the summer transfer window, joining the Spanish giants for around £35.8m.

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In his time at Chelsea, the English midfielder made 95 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals, providing ten assists and totalling 6,061 minutes played.

But more importantly, Gallagher has never been ruled out through injury, which is something Chelsea could use in their current squad.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Gallagher

Lavia

Goals + Assists

0.30

0.16

Progressive Carries

1.07

0.51

Progressive Passes

2.80

2.88

Shots Total

1.16

0.16

Pass Completion %

86.0%

91.6%

Passes into Pen Area

0.53

0.51

Shot-Creating Actions

1.13

1.86

Tackles + Interceptions

3.60

4.67

Blocks

1.40

1.02

Ball Recoveries

4.80

4.75

When comparing Gallagher and Lavia’s underlying metrics this season, you can see Lavia clearly has a bit more quality on the ball, making more progressive passes and completing a higher percentage of his passes.

However, Gallagher offers similar defensive qualities with ball recoveries, blocks and can even add goals from midfield, crashing the box and working hard from end to end.

Mauricio Pochettino labelled Gallagher as “priceless” last season, but the 25-year-old, who was sold for £35.8m is now worth €73m (£61m) according to Football Observatory, which is more than the injury-prone Lavia, who is only valued at €25m (£21m).

Due to the injury issues of Lavia this season, Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo have experienced an incredibly big workload in midfield, and having a player like Gallagher, in hindsight, who is always available and willing to work hard, could have been very helpful for the squad.

Perhaps, Boehly and co will live to regret that transfer decision, as the battle for a Champions League berth hots up…

Chelsea can fix Jackson blow by unleashing 17 y/o who's “Cobham’s finest”

Maresca can fix his Jackson and Guiu issues by unleashing “Cobham’s finest” for Chelsea

1 ByConnor Holden Feb 17, 2025

Federico Chiesa is likely to leave Liverpool less than a year after joining, and Napoli could reportedly offer him an Anfield exit this summer.

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Article continues below

Chiesa likely to leave Liverpool this summerNapoli said to be interested in the wingerGli Azzurri also showing interest in De BruyneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chiesa had a very hectic last summer at Juventus after he was informed by new boss Thiago Motta that he was not in the Bianconeri's plans for the future. After a number of clubs showed interest in the Euro 2020 star, Liverpool managed to strike a cut-price deal for the Italian international for a reported fee of £11 million ($14.4m).

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However, Chiesa's stay at Liverpool has not proven very fruitful as the Italian's early-season injury struggles left him out of the team dynamics before his lack of form limited his number of minutes with the Reds. The 27-year-old has now been linked with a potential exit from the Merseyside club.

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As per Gazzetta dello Sport's Carlo Laudisa, Napoli are now considering making a move for Chiesa as their new superstar signing, as they look to build up the squad that has been fighting for the Serie A title against Inter Milan this season. Gli Azzurri have been interested in signing Manchester City legend Kevin de Bruyne, and Chiesa remains open as their second option for the summer.

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WHAT NEXT FOR CHIESA?

Regardless of whether or not Napoli actually make their move for Chiesa, it is almost certain that Liverpool will sell the Italian attacker this summer in a move that would be benefical for both parties.