رودريجو: كنت سألعب في برشلونة.. ورونالدو سبب تشجيعي لريال مدريد

تحدث الدولي البرازيلي رودريجو جوس، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد عن حقيقة اقترابه من الانتقال إلى برشلونة

وأجرى الدولي البرازيلي حوارًا مطولًا مع صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تحدث من خلاله حول كارلو أنشيلوتي وعلاقته القوية به ومنتخب البرازيلي وأسرار كثيرة من كواليس انتقاله إلى الفريق الملكي.

وقال رودريجو، إنه كان قريبًا من الانتقال إلى برشلونة قبل مجيئه لريال مدريد، موضحاً: “قبل التوقيع مع ريال مدريد، كان كل شيء جاهزًا، وكنت قد وقعت لبرشلونة، هذا صحيح لكن والدي أخبرني أن ريال مدريد اتصل بنا وكان يجب أن أختار، بالنسبة لي كان الأمر سهلًا للغاية، كنت أعرف ما أريد وما هو حلمي، لم أتردد أبدًا”.

وأكمل: “كنت في سانتوس وبدأت ألعب بشكل جيد، سعى برشلونة للتعاقد معي ​​ولطالما قلت إنه نادي عظيم وأكن له احترامًا كبيرًا لكن ريال مدريد كان حلمي وكان قراري سهلًا في هذا الوقت، لم أستطع الانتظار أكثر من أجل ريال مدريد، وعندما حان الوقت، فعلنا ذلك بالطريقة الصحيحة”.

وعن القميص الذي أهداه له والده في سن السادسة: “شجعت ريال مدريد وكنت مندمجًا مع إنجازات الفريق. إضافةً إلى ذلك، كان هناك العديد من البرازيليين في الفريق، وبدأتُ أتابعهم خاصة بعد التعاقد مع كريستيانو رونالدو، تابعت جميع مباريات ريال مدريد لمجرد رؤيته، أنا من مشجعي سانتوس في البرازيل لكنني لطالما أحببتُ ريال مدريد منذ صغري، كان حلمي أن ألعب في أوروبا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | رودريجو يكشف عن تعليمات ألونسو.. ويؤكد: لا أستمتع بالكرة الذهبية ومودريتش أبي

وعن الفترة الصعبة التي عانى منها في الصيف الماضي قال: “الحقيقة هي أنني مررت بوقت عصيب للغاية على المستوى الشخصي، قضيت وقتًا طويلًا دون التحدث مع أحد، لم يكن أحد يعلم بما أمر به، كانت فترة عصيبة للغاية، لم أكن على ما يرام لا جسديًا ولا نفسيًا، كان ذلك صعبًا جدًا، أولًا بفضل الله، ثم بفضل عائلتي والمدرب أنشيلوتي ساعدني على تجاوز كل ذلك”.

وأوضح: “كارلو ساعدني كثيرًا، كان يرى كل يوم أنني لست على ما يرام وأنني لست لائقًا للعب، ولا أستطيع مساعدة الفريق لكن لم يكن هناك وقت للتعافي لأننا كنا نلعب كل ثلاثة أيام، وعندها لا يمكن التوقف لحل المشكلة، رأى أنني إنسان، وأن لدي مشاكل حقيقية، لقد فهم لحظتي ووضعي المعقد، قال لي ابق هنا بهدوء، أنت لست لائقًا للعب الآن، شكرته وطلبت اللعب لكنه كان يعلم أنه يجب عليه استعادة نفسي أولًا قبل الملعب، المهم هو أن أكون في حالة بدنية جيدة”.

واستطرد: “لقد كانت فترة عصيبة للغاية في حياتي لكنني الآن تجاوزت كل شيء، وأنا بخير، كلما سنحت لي الفرصة، أشكر كارليتو وابنه دافيد والجهاز الفني، الجميع ساعدني وبالطبع عائلتي، الآن لا أشعر إلا بالفرح، أنا سعيد ومتحمس جدًا لتقديم موسم رائع”.

وعن مغادرته الصيف الماضي: “في كل صيف يحدث لي الشيء نفسه، أتلقى عروضًا من هذا النادي أو ذاك، كل أسبوع كنت ألعب في فريق إذا انتبهت لما يُنشر، بالطبع هناك دائمًا عروض ولن أكذب بشأن ذلك لكنني أوضحت دائمًا للنادي أنني أريد مواصلة النجاح هنا، أكثر مما حققته بالفعل”.

واسترسل: “الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا مرتين في سني أمر كبير لكنني الآن أريد المزيد من الكؤوس الأوروبية بهذا القميص، أقول دائمًا طالما يريدني ريال مدريد، سأكون هنا، إذا قال لي ريال مدريد يومًا ما ابحث عن فريق جديد فسأقول حسنًا”.

وأتم: “لكن هذا لم يحدث لطالما أخبرني النادي أنهم يعتمدون عليّ، وعندما واجهت مشكلة كانوا بجانبي تكهن الناس لأنني التزمت الصمت لكنني كنت أعرف ما سأفعله هذا الموسم مع مدريد، وأنني سأركز على تقديم أفضل ما عندي، لم يزعجني ذلك، كنت هادئًا، وها أنا كالعادة، هذا موسمي السابع”.

Rangers and 49ers now looking to sign 3 new players for Russell Martin

Glasgow Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are now eyeing as many as three more specific signings for manager Russell Martin this summer, according to a promising new Ibrox transfer claim.

10 signings for Rangers already this summer

The Gers have had an extremely busy summer to date, bringing in 10 new signings in total, with some arriving permanently and others coming in on loan.

Oscar Cortes’ loan switch to Ibrox from Ligue 1 side Lens has been made permanent, for example, and Oliver Antman is an exciting attacking addition from Go Ahead Eagles.

Meanwhile, highly-rated Tottenham teenager Mike Moore was an eye-catching loan addition, with Martin no doubt wanting to take him up a level before he likely returns to north London next summer, and Djeidi Gassama has added an attacking threat out wide after his move from Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite this, Rangers’ start to the season has been unconvincing, with back-to-back draws in their opening two Scottish Premiership matches, highlighting the need for further signings this month. A fresh update bodes well in that respect.

Rangers’ summer signings in 2025 to date

Signed from

Price

Oscar Cortes

Lens

£4.5m

Oliver Antman

Go Ahead Eagles

£3.8m

Thelo Aasgaard

Luton Town

£3.4m

Emmanuel Fernandez

Peterborough United

£2.5m

Djeidi Gassama

Sheffield Wednesday

£2m

Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth

£397,000

Lyall Cameron

Dundee FC

Unknown

Mikey Moore

Tottenham

Loan

Nasser Djiga

Wolves

Loan

Max Aarons

Bournemouth

Loan

Jayden Meghoma

Brentford

Loan

Rangers looking to sign three more players

According to a new report from Football Insider, Rangers and 49ers Enterprises are now targeting three different positions to strengthen in before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion.

It is claimed that a striker, winger and centre-back are the “priority targets” for Gers currently, with Martin “keen to upgrade on the likes of Cyriel Dessers after a slow start to the season.”

This will be music to the ears of Rangers supporters, who will no doubt be frustrated at the start they have made to the 2025/26 season, with Martin possibly already under some pressure from a section of the fanbase.

The Gers have already shown that their squad doesn’t possess the depth and quality to fight Celtic until the end in the Scottish Premiership title race this season, and Hearts are posing a bigger threat than them after two matches.

A new striker is a must, in order to boost the firepower at Martin’s disposal, including in Europe, with Maccabi Tel Aviv marksman Dor Turgeman a potentially excellent option to lead the line.

Meanwhile, Brentford left-back Jayden Meghoma is the most recent player who the Gers have signed and said after joining:

“I am very excited to be here, it is a fantastic club, and I know a lot about the rich history of Rangers. When the deal was presented to me, I thought straight away that it would be a fantastic opportunity for myself and my family. The main thing for me is getting results. Rangers is a big club, and I am ready, I am hungry and excited to get going.”

Rangers submit opening £1m+ offer to sign another Championship ace

The Gers are still waiting for a response…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 15, 2025

It promises to be a busy remaining few weeks of the transfer window at Ibrox, with 49ers looking to work their magic, giving Martin the best possible chance of success, both this season and beyond.

Heather Knight puts ECB sanction behind her as England prepare for World Cup opener

England captain says line has been drawn under “blackface” issue ahead of Bangladesh challenge

Andrew Miller04-Oct-2024Heather Knight, England’s captain, says that the challenge of leading her team into the Women’s T20 World Cup has her full focus, and insists that “the line has already been drawn” on the disciplinary measures taken against her for a historic “blackface” photograph that appeared on social media recently.Knight, 33, was last week reprimanded and given a suspended £1000 fine by the Cricket Discipline Commission, after a compromising fancy-dress photograph surfaced on Facebook, dating back to a party in 2012, when she was 21. While it was accepted by the Cricket Regulator that there was “no racist intent in her conduct”, Knight said in a statement that she was “truly sorry” and had “long regretted it”.Now, speaking on the eve of England’s T20 World Cup opener, against Bangladesh in Sharjah on Saturday, Knight turned the focus squarely to the task at hand for her team, as they seek to improve on their semi-final finish at the last event in South Africa two years ago, and land their first ICC global title since 2017.Related

Chaos abounds and England wouldn't have it any other way

Knight admits racism charge over 2012 blackface photo

October 5 at T20 World Cup: spin-heavy England meet Bangladesh

Linsey Smith on being recalled: My mindset has completely flipped from six years ago

“It was obviously something that has been ongoing the last couple of months and it is something, as far as I am concerned, that has been addressed, and something that was a long time ago, so it hasn’t been in my mind at all,” Knight said.”The line has already been drawn, in my opinion, so I am really excited, obviously, for what is to come. We have got super supportive group, there is no doubt about that, so yeah, I’m pretty happy to get cracking with the cricket.”England came through an unbeaten home summer, winning 13 out of 14 matches against New Zealand and Pakistan, with only a washout at Taunton denying them a clean sweep. In addition to Bangladesh, they will play against Scotland, West Indies and South Africa in the World Cup group stage, with their two likeliest rivals for the title, Australia and India, awaiting them in the other half of the draw.”Australia are going to be favourites, for sure,” Knight said of the defending champions, who have won six of the last seven stagings of the T20 World Cup, dating back to 2010. “Obviously, their success in this event has been huge, but we feel in a really good place. We’ve been playing some brilliant cricket, and while the first goal is to get out of the group stages, we’re pretty confident in what we bring. We believe we can beat anyone on our best day.”Much of England’s summer was spent honing a side that could compete in spinning conditions, with Bangladesh having been the World Cup’s original host country. The event has since moved to the UAE for security reasons, but Knight is confident that England’s spin contingent – led by the ICC’s No.1-ranked bowler in white-ball cricket, Sophie Ecclestone – will thrive at a tournament that, to judge by the tournament’s opening fixtures, already appears to favour slow bowling.”We feel very prepared for what we’ve got to come, and now it’s just about executing it and being really smart about how we do things in-game,” Knight said. “We’ve obviously got the quality spin attack. It’s been our big strength, particularly through those middle overs, how we really squeeze teams and try and rush them in that middle period.”England opted to overlook the extra pace of Lauren Filer for this tournament, instead relying on Lauren Bell as a sole specialist seamer, backed up by a trio of seam-bowling allrounders in Nat Sciver-Brunt, Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson. Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn also offer batting depth as spinning allrounders, meaning that England – on paper, at least – have an enviably versatile squad.”We’ve got really good options, which is the nice thing,” Knight said. “The depth that we’ve got allows us to play based on the conditions that we face, and the team that we’re playing against.”It’s not going to be easy picking the team, but we’re pretty set on the little tweaks that we might need to make to get the most out of the conditions and teams that we’re playing against.”There are going to be times where we are going to have to graft a little bit, the boundaries are big and there might be times when we get on slow wickets where we are going to have to adapt to what is in front of us and be really smart with how we go about things.”Both Kemp and Sciver-Brunt were managed back to bowling fitness during the summer, after coming through back and knee issues respectively. But Knight was adamant that each was in the right place to deliver a full all-round role for the cause.”The allrounders are the fittest in the team, because of the role they have to do,” she said. “Freya, in particular, she’s super impressive with how she’s come back from that [second] stress fracture, and the work that she’s put in to be in a place to perform, it’s been brilliant.”

Shakib's Bangla Tigers knocked out of Global T20 after refusing to play Super Over

Rain meant time had run out to play a longer game but Bangla Tigers were not happy to decide their campaign based on a one-over eliminator, and the game was declared forfeited

Shashank Kishore11-Aug-2024

File photo: Shakib Al Hasan refused to turn up at the toss for the Super Over•Raton Gomes/BCB

A controversy erupted at the Global T20 Canada on Friday when Bangla Tigers Mississauga were knocked out of the competition after they forfeited their eliminator to Toronto Nationals.It all started when persistent rain in Brampton kept players waiting for the eliminator to start. But with the clock ticking towards the cut-off time, the match officials decided only a Super Over would be possible and communicated the same to both teams, a decision that was in line with the playing regulations.Shakib Al Hasan the Bangla Tigers captain, however, didn’t turn up at the toss for the Super Over in protest. Had the game been completely washed out, Bangla Tigers would have automatically qualified for Qualifier 2 by virtue of finishing higher on the points table in the group stage.Zafir Yasin, the Bangla Tigers owner, argued that they shouldn’t have decided the result via a Super Over. GLT20 CEO Joy Bhattacharjya, however, explained the decision to play wasn’t arbitrary.”We were trying to ensure there was a result either way, however heartbreaking as it may be for the team that loses a one-over shootout,” Bhattacharjya told ESPNcricinfo. “And it was all part of the regulations.”When asked why the regulations were distributed via WhatsApp (by tournament director Ingleton Liburd), Bhattacharjya said, “they were sent to the managers’ group for immediate action, and all tournament-related updates had been provided on the same group until then”.Earlier in the day, efforts to ensure a Super Over for Qualifier 1 between Brampton Wolves and Montreal Tigers at the same venue had been futile because of rain and the ground conditions. Montreal eventually progressed to the final by virtue of topping the group-stage table.Bhattacharjya explained the Super Over wasn’t a sudden addition to the regulations.”It’s not like the Super Over provision was brought in for just the game involving Bangla Tigers,” he said. “It was in place for both games [Qualifier 1 and eliminator]. It’s just that it wasn’t possible for the first game, and because the second game happened much later in the day, there was a little more time for the ground staff to work on the outfield.”In the eliminator, after initial delays, a decision was taken to have a toss at 7.10pm, with the Super Over beginning at 7.30pm. As per regulations sent to both teams, there was a provision to call off the game if the Super Over didn’t begin by 7.50pm.”At the time of the toss, the Toronto Nationals captain was present, but the Bangla Tigers team refused to appear,” GLT20 said in a statement. “The match referee explained the plausible consequences of the said action to the captain [Shakib Al Hasan] and thereafter the umpire subsequently awarded the match to Toronto Nationals.”Yasin insists they had sought to have a minimum of five overs per innings, and not just a Super Over to decide the result. Bhattacharjya said the rules could not be changed just like that.”Where’s the credibility for a league if rules are changed on the fly?” he said. “If we changed rules for one team, Brampton Wolves would’ve had every reason to argue they were robbed of an opportunity to directly qualify for the final instead of now having to play in the eliminator. The credibility was at stake.”Bangla Tigers were also displeased that the boundaries were shortened before the official cut-off time to “remove the dangerous area of play from consideration”. Yasin said the organisers had “compromised the integrity of the competition” by seeking assistance from the Toronto owners to procure additional covers on the day of the playoffs.”If the team owner intended to assist the tournament by purchasing covers, such a contribution should have been made before the tournament began, not before a crucial match,” Yasin said. “This situation raises concerns about the integrity of the league and the possibility that the league’s management decisions were influenced in favour of that team.”Bhattacharjya explained this was done simply to ensure a crucial stage of the competition wouldn’t be decided by the elements and that these calls were made entirely by the match officials, who were the deciding authority.”In a country like Canada, where such infrastructure isn’t always easily available, procuring additional covers was only done to ensure we did everything to have play,” Bhattacharjya said. “We readily accepted any help we could get, so that we didn’t leave anything to chance with the weather around.”Despite the match being awarded to Toronto, Bangla Tigers turned up at the venue on Saturday morning to play Qualifier 2, only to be informed by the officials that no fresh requests would be entertained. Brampton, who lost Qualifier 1 by virtue of finishing lower on the table, eventually lost Qualifier 2 to Toronto, who will play Sunday’s final against Montreal.

More career goals than Tavernier: Rangers eyeing 'legendary' Igamane upgrade

Rangers are almost back in action and it’s a particularly exciting time for the new man in the Ibrox dug-out Russell Martin.

He will take charge of the Gers for the very first time in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, with last season’s Belgian Pro League runners-up in town, and a fair few players could be debuting in light blue.

Southampton manager Russell Martin.

Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez have all arrived in Govan so far this summer, but could the biggest name of the lot be on his way to Glasgow’s West End soon?

The latest on Rangers' striker search

It appears as though all three Rangers players who scored more than six goals across all competitions last season could depart.

Transfer Focus

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

Václav Černý won’t be back, he has returned to Wolfsburg following his loan, while Cyriel Dessers is seemingly on his way to AEK Athens, if the two clubs can agree a fee, with Rangers holding out for £5m, as relayed by The National.

The biggest departure of them all though, could be Hamza Igamane, who is reportedly being targeted by Ligue 1 side Lille, in a deal which could be worth as much as £20m, thereby becoming Rangers’ all-time record sale.

Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times claims that les Dogues have put their interest in the Moroccan striker ‘on hold’, but it does appear more likely than not that Igamane will be sold this summer, either ending up at Stade Pierre-Mauroy or elsewhere.

So, as Martin searches for attacking reinforcements, Mark Pirie of the Daily Record has reiterated Rangers’ interest in Jamie Vardy, stating that the Glasgow giants remain ‘keen’ on a move, citing the Daily Mail.

Meantime, Mike McGrath of the Telegraph has previously documented that, wherever he goes, Vardy wants to be a ‘regular starter’ and, well, given Rangers’ need for a centre-forward right now, with a Champions League tie against Panathinaikos less than three weeks away, the veteran would surely be guaranteed game time from the jump.

How Jamie Vardy would improve Rangers

Despite the fact he is now 38 years old, Vardy still scored ten goals last season, made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing for a generally hopeless Leicester City side, who were relegated from the Premier League.

By netting against Bournemouth in May, Vardy took his tally to 200 goals in 500 appearances for Leicester, which is very pleasing for fans of symmetry. In total, the veteran has scored 237 club career goals at professional level, ahead of what free-scoring Rangers skipper James Tavernier (138 career goals) has achieved to date.

His most recent manager at the Foxes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, labelled him a “living legend”, while Rob Tanner of the Athletic believes he is, unquestionably, Leicester’s greatest-ever player.

So, let’s assess how his statistics compare to Igamane, a player 16 years his junior, but one he could soon be replacing.

Jamie Vardy vs Hamza Igamane 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Vardy

Igamane

Appearances

36

46

Minutes

2,899

2,651

Goals

10

16

Assists

4

3

Shots per 90

1.5

3

Shots on target per 90

0.9

1.6

Shots on target %

55.32%

51.52%

Big chances missed

14

7

Touches per 90

20.1

50.3

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, SofaScore and Squawka

As the table outlines, Igamane did score six more goals than Vardy last season, while the Moroccan came out on top when it came to shots, shots on target and touches per 90, which all makes sense when you think about it.

Igamane was playing for a dominant team in, according to Global Football Rankings, the 43rd strongest league on the planet.

In complete contrast, Vardy was plying his trade for one of the worst teams in the Premier League, so was very much feeding off scraps, underlined by his miserly 20 touches per 90, making his tally of ten goals actually incredibly impressive.

The season before last, when Leicester were in the EFL Championship, still ranked all the way up at 11th by the aforementioned Global Football Rankings, Vardy scored 20 goals in all competitions, so just imagine how many he would get in the Premiership.

Offer made: Rangers at risk of losing another "complete" star after Igamane

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Man Utd in talks to sign £40m+ Aston Villa star keen on Old Trafford move

Aston Villa have a busy couple of weeks ahead amid their need to ensure they don’t overstep the FFP mark and one of their star men is now being lined up for a move ato Manchester United.

Aston Villa's balancing act in light of PSR

Profit and Sustainability Rules have become a contentious topic for fans who don’t support one of the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs. However, they have become a frustrating reality that everyone now has to abide by.

Unfortunately, Aston Villa are now at risk of breaching regulations after recording £202.6 million in pre-tax losses over the past two years, which is the most out of anyone in the Premier League.

Aston Villa manager UnaiEmeryduring the press conference

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three consecutive years is the limit for top-flight clubs, which has created plenty of speculation regarding potential sales to bridge the gap.

BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams has named Jacob Ramsey as a player Aston Villa could sell to make ends meet, as she said: “It does feel like Aston Villa will have to sell some key players this summer if they are to bring others in and keep within PSR regulations.

“There has been a lot of rumours around it and I believe Jacob Ramsey was a name being mentioned who, as a homegrown player, they would make more money from.”

Aston Villa make offer to sign Serie A champion who’s now tempted by move

The Villans could tempt the defender into a move.

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The Villans have also passed on signing Marcus Rashford permanently, prioritising Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho as a more affordable alternative.

Nevertheless, the feeling around the West Midlands is one that Aston Villa must sell before they can buy, and Unai Emery could now have a dilemma on his hands following recent developments.

Emiliano Martinez in talks with Man Utd

Now, according to reports via CaughtOffside, Emiliano Martinez is in talks over a move to Manchester United and may be a sacrificial lamb for Aston Villa amid their current PSR state of limbo, and he is thought to be open to the idea of moving to Old Trafford.

Emiliano Martinez in action for Argentina.

Due to the Red Devils’ status as a domestic rival, the Villans are reportedly demanding a fee north of £40 million to sell the World Cup-winning stopper this summer, who has been identified as a successor to Andre Onana under Ruben Amorim.

Emiliano Martinez in 2024/25 – Premier League (Fotmob)

Appearances

37

Goals conceded

45

Clean sheets

8

Penalties saved from penalties faced

1/2

Labelled “magnificent” by Alan Shearer, Martinez now appears primed for a move elsewhere, begging the question of who could replace the Argentina international between the sticks.

Going off recent times, OGC Nice stopper Marcin Bulka is a prominent target for Aston Villa, illustrating that Emery may have his eyes on a younger alternative in the event he is left searching for new blood.

Either way, Martinez has been a brilliant servant in the West Midlands and would be sorely missed, even if his departure feels like the best source of action for all parties involved.

He's Corberan 2.0: West Brom could hire "one of the best young coaches"

West Bromwich Albion fans will no doubt still be missing the presence of the passionate Carlos Corberan on the sidelines at the Hawthorns.

After all, when the much-loved Spaniard departed the club for Valencia in late December, the Baggies had only lost three league clashes and were just outside the playoff picture in seventh spot.

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

Fast forward to the end of the season, however, and West Brom ended up finishing in a lower ninth position, with the experiment of bringing back Tony Mowbray not working whatsoever.

Therefore, it’s crucial that the bruised Baggies get this next managerial appointment spot on, with an ever-growing list of intriguing names being rumoured to step in and replace Mowbray.

West Brom could now appoint Corberan 2.0

In an ideal world, West Brom will be able to unearth their next iteration of Corberan with whoever takes on the ongoing vacancy.

There is a shout to say Ryan Mason could be Corberan 2.0, considering he’s been a background figure at Tottenham Hotspur for most of his coaching career to date – much like the Spaniard was at Leeds United – before exploding into life as the main presence in the dug-out.

Tottenham's Ryan Mason

But, the Championship outfit could look to a more left-field shout than Mason in ex-Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay, with new reports suggesting the 33-year-old is now one of the frontrunners over the much-talked-about Spurs man.

Much like Mason, Ramsay arriving on the scene at the Hawthorns could have the same impact Corberan once had on proceedings, with an argument to be had that the former Wales assistant manager has more in his arsenal than his Tottenham counterpart in the main manager game with Minnesota United.

Manager Focus

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Why Ramsay could be Corberan 2.0

Whilst his name is more recognisable for being a second-in-command figure to Erik ten Hag and Rob Page for Manchester United and Wales, Ramsay is beginning to forge an impressive name for himself in the MLS with Minnesota.

Amazingly, his blistering Minnesota side downed a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami 4-1 last time out in MLS action, with that comprehensive victory taking him all the way up an impressive 23 wins in total from 49 games in charge.

Wins

23

16

Draws

10

7

Defeats

16

26

Corberan will be able to resonate with Ramsay’s unorthodox start to management out in America, with the now Valencia boss having to start his own journey in the lower leagues of Cyprus and he would initially struggle, before his first EFL opportunity as a main manager would come about with Huddersfield Town.

Amazingly, Ramsay can boast seven more victories from his first 49 games in charge of Minnesota than Corberan was able to pick during his first 49 games as a head coach, but the Spaniard would go on to grow and improve past this point to turn both the Terriers and the Baggies into Championship playoff candidates.

Eric Ramsay coaching while with Manchester United.

Moreover, the former Man United coach’s growing experience of the game he’s managed to achieve from the dug-out in the MLS makes him a far more capable option than the alternative face of Mason, with the promising coach picking up just six career wins when handed the temporary Spurs reins.

Once hailed as “one of the best young coaches in football” by Page when appointed Wales assistant manager, the proof could soon be in the pudding if he can transform West Brom’s fortunes on his potential return to England.

If it does work out, it would be another worthwhile gamble taken by the powers that be at the Hawthorns, with Corberan once just a plucky coach trying to cut his teeth in the men’s game like Ramsay, before very nearly turning West Brom back into a Premier League side.

West Brom could sign a "sensational" star who'd be Fellows 2.0

West Bromwich Albion could soon land their next Tom Fellows with this summer purchase.

ByKelan Sarson May 12, 2025

Their next Rooney: Man Utd preparing bid to sign £50m "beast"

Manchester United are still clinging on by their fingernails this season, with the Red Devils having been left with a slim chance to end the campaign on a high, should they triumph in the Europa League.

Much like eight years earlier, when Jose Mourinho claimed glory in the competition during his debut season in charge, United have been forced to throw all their eggs in one basket, ahead of Thursday’s first-leg tie away at Ligue 1 side, Lyon.

Should Ruben Amorim steer his side to victory in Bilbao in May, not only would it help to paper over the cracks of another wretched year at Old Trafford, but – more importantly – it would also book the club’s place back in the promised land of the Champions League.

In essence, success and failure in Europe could have long-standing consequences for Amorim’s side moving forward, with the lack of continental action potentially set to hamper the club’s transfer activity.

The United hierarchy will be drawing up potential targets with those two outcomes in mind, albeit with there seemingly such targets who the Manchester side will be desperate to land regardless of what happens between now and the start of the window.

It may have passed many supporters by, yet the Red Devils have actually already landed their first signing ahead of next season, with the club having secured the signature of Paraguayan teenager, Diego Leon, back in January, with the 17-year-old set to link up with Amorim and co this summer.

The £6m capture of the exciting wing-back follows on from the £1.5m addition of Arsenal’s Ayden Heaven during the winter window, with the INEOS model seemingly centred on scouring the globe for the best young talent out there.

That search may also go hand in hand with acquiring players who are ready-made for Premier League action, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite – who is still only 22 – seemingly fitting the brief in that regard.

Transfer Focus

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

The England international was the subject of bids from United last summer – the last of which totalled £45m – and according to Caught Offside, the club could revive that interest this time around, with those at Old Trafford said to be preparing a bid for the 6 foot 5 sensation.

It remains to be seen if that offer – which is likely to be in the region of £50m – would be enough to tempt the Toffees into a sale, with the report indicating that both Liverpol and Real Madrid are also keeping close tabs on the centre-back’s situation.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite

It could then be a ‘complicated’ deal to do, as the piece notes, although landing the young Englishman from the Merseyside outfit could represent a real coup – just like Wayne Rooney before him.

Why Man Utd could be set to land Rooney 2.0

There was a time when it seemed the norm for United to be able to poach the very best that the Premier League had to offer, be it Louis Saha, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and, of course, Rooney.

Wayne Rooney

Snapped up from Goodison Park on a £27m deal back in 2004, following his explosive exploits at that summer’s European Championships, ‘Wazza’ went on to cement hero status over the next 13 years in Manchester, having claimed a raft of silverware while scoring 253 goals in all competitions – surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record in the process.

While Rooney’s United spell may have ended somewhat abruptly amid his departure for Everton in 2017, at the age of just 31, few can forget his heroics in his pomp, with United certainly securing value for money on their initial investment.

Hopefully, a similar scenario could occur if Branthwaite rocks up at the Theatre of Dreams over the coming months, with the towering defender possessing the stature and the youth to be able to cement a role for himself over the next decade or so at United.

The Carlisle native was signed from his boyhood club for just £1m back in 2020, before notably announcing himself while on loan at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season, with then-boss Ruud van Nistelrooy hailing his rising star as “very complete” during that fruitful stint in Holland.

Branthwaite’s Eredivisie stats – 22/23

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games (starts)

27 (21)

Goals

2

Assists

1

Key passes*

0.3

Pass accuracy*

87%

Tackles*

0.9

Interceptions*

1.4

Dribbled past*

0.3

Total duels won*

56%

Aerial duels won*

57%

Stats via Sofascore

Since forcing his way into the Everton first-team ranks at the start of the following campaign, Branthwaite simply hasn’t looked back, in truth, with data analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “ball-playing physical beast” due to the full array of his talents.

While he has perhaps been unable to showcase that ‘ball-playing’ quality in a defensive-minded Everton side, his ball-winning prowess is there for all to see. Indeed, in the top-flight this season, he ranks in the top 2% for clearances made per 90, while last term, he ranked in the top 15% for interceptions and the top 18% for aerial duels won, as per FBref.

Like Rooney – who had two years in the Toffees’ senior ranks before moving to United – Branthwaite has proven himself enough during his two full campaigns in the Premier League to suggest he could thrive at Old Trafford, with the loss of Lisandro Martinez to injury seemingly opening up the door to a role as the left-sided centre-back under Amorim.

Such a deal may not prove as exciting nor glamorous as the capture of Rooney just over 20 years ago, yet moving for another promising English talent could help to build the foundation for success in the years to come in Manchester.

Let’s just hope David Moyes doesn’t play hard ball…

Bad news for Mainoo: Man Utd ready move for "out of this world" £52m star

Man Utd are seeking to bolster their midfield ranks this summer

1

By
Robbie Walls

Apr 8, 2025

New Hazard & Costa: Chelsea's young striker will be unreal next to Estevao

Like all clubs of their size and with their history, Chelsea have had some incredible players represent them over the years.

Moreover, those players have often formed brilliant duos, such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba and John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

Another pairing that enjoyed immense success during their time at Stamford Bridge was Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who played 107 matches together, averaged two points per game and won two Premier League titles.

So, fans should be excited that the club might be able to recreate a partnership similar to that one with the sensational Estêvãoand one of Cobham’s most promising gems.

Estêvão's start to his Chelsea career

There has long been plenty of hype around Estêvão and the kind of player he could develop into.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

In fact, just a few months before Chelsea signed him, respected analyst Ben Mattinson labelled the teenage phenom a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

Of course, there is still a long way to go before that could happen, but so far this season, it would probably be fair to say that the young Brazilian has met, or even exceeded, expectations.

For example, in 17 appearances, totalling just 740 minutes, he has already scored five goals and provided one assist.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.83 games, or more importantly, every 123.33 minutes.

Furthermore, the Franca-born superstar in the making has also already shown an ability to thrive and score in the club’s biggest games.

For example, he came on against Liverpool a couple of months ago and scored the winner and then, against Barcelona this week, he scored the all-important second goal to take the game away from the Spanish side.

Finally, on top of the output, the former Palmeiras prospect also passes the eye-test with flying colours, as Hazard did; he’s a tremendously fun footballer to watch, and it feels like something is going to happen with a ball at his feet.

Now, as if one young superstar in the making wasn’t enough, Chelsea also have a goalscoring machine in the academy who could become Estêvão’s Costa.

The Cobham gem who could be Estêvão's Costa

As always seems to be the case, Chelsea have plenty of seriously exciting youngsters coming through the academy at the moment, with chief among them, and the player who could form a game-breaking partnership with Estevao, being Shumaira Mheuka.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion prospect joined the Blues’ youth setup in 2022 and, in the time since, has become one of the most promising strikers in academy football.

Now, that might sound hyperbolic, but his output over the last couple of years proves that it very much is not.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.

Yet, while that is an impressive return, he’s taken another massive step forward this year.

So far, the Birmingham-born monster has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 13 appearances for the junior sides, totalling 1,067 minutes.

Appearances

63

Goals

34

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.68

That means the prolific number nine is averaging 1.23 goal involvements every game, or one every 66.68 minutes, which is surely a rate of return that warrants him getting more first-team action this season.

It’s not just at club level where the youngster is making a name, though: in 20 appearances for England’s u19s, he has chalked up a huge tally of 14 goals and three assists.

With numbers like these, it’s not hard to see why respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, while it might not happen this year, Chelsea need to play Estevao alongside Mheuka at some point, as they could end up being the club’s new Hazard and Costa.

Chelsea join Arsenal in transfer battle to sign "leader" dubbed the new Saliba

The Blues could get their own version of the Arsenal star.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 27, 2025

Mooney masterclass sets up easy win for Scorchers

Heat, who dropped crucial catches in the field, were all out for 149 in response to Scorchers’ 172

AAP12-Nov-2025A trademark Beth Mooney masterclass century set up Perth Scorchers for a 23-run win over Brisbane Heat to get their WBBL season up and running.Mooney made a scintillating 105 off 73 deliveries to power the Scorchers to 172 for 3 at Allan Border Field. Heat, who dropped crucial catches in the field, were all out for 149 in 19.1 overs. Mooney finished the match as she started it with a brilliant direct hit at the non-striker’s end to run out Nicola Hancock.Mooney was at her composed best from the get-go. She was particularly severe on the leg side initially, where she flicked several deliveries to the fence with consummate ease. She brought up her half-century off 42 balls without breaking stride before upping the ante in an innings that included three sixes. A straight six off Jess Jonassen was sublime, as was a ramp to the boundary off Nadine de Klerk that went straight over wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne’s head.She took to the first over of the power surge, flipping a six off Nicola Hancock in an over that went for 21 runs.”I probably just went through different phases. I was hitting it really nicely early and then was trying to hit it a little bit hard through the middle and then came good towards the end,” Mooney told AAP.”In those innings you have to hang in there when it is getting a bit tough. I thought Brisbane bowled really well, Lucy Hamilton in particular in the surge. It just showed if you bowled in the right areas it was tough to score. We managed a decent score and held them off at the end.”Mooney received outstanding support from opening partner Katie Mack (31) in an 89-run opening stand. She was dropped on 32 by Charli Knott when she splayed a drive towards third man.Mack was put down at slip by Annie O’Neil first ball off Lucy Hamilton and then again by Knott at short fine leg when on 19 from the bowling off Jess Jonassen. Paige Scholfield (22) came to the crease and continued the momentum.In reply, the big-hitting Grace Harris – playing her first match of the campaign for the Heat after recovering from a calf injury – made 46 off 30 balls before being bowled.Jonassen was then run out without scoring in a horrible mix-up with Knott (32), and it was 4-84. It was always going to be a bridge too far from there despite big hitting from West Indies powerhouse Chinelle Henry (39 off 23).In the end it was Mooney who owned the match at a venue she knows so well.

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