Lanterna do Campeonato Brasileiro, a Chapecoense terá pela frente a semana livre, onde encara o Corinthians no próximo domingo, na NeoQuímica Arena.
+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada
Com o intuito de surpreender o Timão, o Verdão terá dois jogadores que não entraram em campo no duelo contra o Bahia.
Um deles é o zagueiro Ignácio, que pode dar mais estabilidade defensiva. O outro é o meia Geuvânio, que cumpriu suspensão.
Com 13 pontos conquistados, a Chapecoense tem pouco tempo para reverter o seu destino na elite do futebol nacional.
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T20I and ODI vice-captain acknowledges his role is that of a bowling allrounder
Umar Farooq21-Mar-2021After recovering from his groin injury, Shadab Khan – the Pakistan limited-overs vice-captain – has set his focus on reviving his bowling form as his primary objective. As for his batting, he wants to mould that part of his game as per the team’s demands, clear in his head that his role in the team is of a “bowling allrounder.”His bowling form has taken a hit for a few seasons now, but Shadab believes it was the pain from the injury that was having an adverse effect on him. In his first two years of international cricket that began in 2017, Shadab averaged 18.59, with an economy rate of 6.84 and 44 wickets in T20Is, but thereafter his last nine wickets – since October 2019 when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan – have come at an average of 42.33 and an economy rate of 8.46.”There were injuries, but now I am fully fit and putting a lot of hard work with the ball and I am expecting to get a better result,” Shadab said. “I still haven’t moved away from my role as a bowling allrounder. Bowling is crucial as I started my career in 2017 with the Champions Trophy, and my bowling was the highlight there. I am very much focused to have it back. Batting is a plus point and if my team is demanding something from me as a batsman, then it’s a good skill to have.”I know I wasn’t up to the mark and haven’t done well with the ball lately that is mainly because of the groin injury. My bowling action takes a lot of energy and causes pain and was directly affecting it. Batting is different and it wasn’t affected by my injury, so it gave an impression that I am into batting only. But I still see myself as a bowling allrounder. I have evolved with the bat, but there were mistakes identified this year as I was struggling in the PSL. Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach) and Younis Khan (batting coach) are working in the nets to rectify that.”He had missed the home white-ball series against Zimbabwe late last year when he first complained about his groin injury but had recovered in time for the New Zealand tour. The problem, however, got worse during a tour game in Christchurch, but he was cleared to lead Pakistan in the T20Is after Babar Azam picked up a finger injury. Shadab was later ruled out of the Test series and remained with the squad for his rehabilitation. He returned to the field during PSL 2021 but averaged 56.50 with the ball in four games taking only two wickets for 8.69 runs per over.Shadab Khan’s batting has been impressive in the last 12 months in T20s•PCBHis batting, meanwhile, turned heads, with a strike rate of 144.73 in T20s in the last 12 months, across the PSL, the National T20 Cup, and the T20Is against England and New Zealand. But the allrounder wants to get back to his old way with the ball. He is preparing for the South Africa series with a training camp currently undergoing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan do not have a spin-bowling coach but Shadab said Waqar Younis is good enough to work with his bowling. In the camp, he is understood to have bowled spells that are longer than four overs to regain confidence.”His primary job is to pick up wickets and win games for Pakistan,” Waqar said. “He is our premier cricketer and with the ball in hand, he can do wonders for the team. With the bat, it’s a bonus and we do consider him as an allrounder with bowling as his main role.”Unfortunately, he has been struggling with the injury but he is a fighter and gives his all for the country, even when he is in pain. Because of the pain, his bowling was not in control. But I am making him bowl a little longer in the nets to get his method right and he is getting his rhythm back. I am hopeful he will do the job for Pakistan.”With Shadab’s fluctuating returns, the selectors couldn’t resist looking for other options. In his absence last year, Pakistan got in legspinners Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood in the side along with left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz. Shadab has, however, remained the side’s vice-captain and acknowledges that nobody’s spot in the starting XI is guaranteed.”I know there is big competition around me which I see as a healthy one for the team,” Shadab said. “It’s not my team, it’s Pakistan, and if the team is winning with me or another player that is eventually what we all want for the country. The team right now has become so rich that we have back-ups for every position. It’s a good sign for a good team in the world. Such competition is useful. It puts a bit of pressure on every player, but that anyway is always there when you play international cricket.”And there should be pressure all the time. It keeps you alive and you enjoy playing in it. The sense of competition is important as well. Like how good Usman is doing in his career since he got in and look at Zahid’s debut. And Nawaz is picking up his chances well. So I know that we all know that whoever performs will remain in the team.”
Pep Guardiola refused to join Rodri in his victory speech as the midfielder returned to the club with the Ballon d'Or trophy.
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Rodri returned to Man City with Ballon d'OrGave victory speech in front of colleaguesMan City face Spurs on SaturdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rodri, who is currently sidelined with an ACL injury, won the prestigious Ballon d'Or last month in Paris as he trumped Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior in the race. The Spaniard finally returned to Manchester City on Friday with the Golden Ball, having been recovering in Spain, and caught up with his colleagues and manager Guardiola. The midfielder had initially asked the head coach about what to say in front of his team-mates, to which Guardiola jokingly said: "I've never won a Ballon d'Or, my friend!"
AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPWHAT RODRI SAID ABOUT WINNING BALLON D'OR
In his speech, the 28-year-old said: "I don't know what to say, guys. It's a privilege. I miss you, I miss you a lot. It's a privilege to win this. So happy to come back. For me, you guys are my family and this is for the club, for you guys. Congratulations."
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Rodri, who still has two years left in his current deal, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the future. The player recently addressed the rumours while hinting he could consider joining Los Blancos who he considers the "best and most successful club in history".
A £162,000-per-week star is tempted by the possibility of joining Chelsea as two ex-Stamford Bridge favourites privately urge him to sign for Enzo Maresca's side.
Chelsea in market for striker after botched Omorodion deal
Despite agreeing a £35 million deal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion last week, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano giving his famous 'here we go', the transfer collapsed in last minute fashion to leave Chelsea still without a new number nine.
£200k-per-week star prepared to leave Chelsea after message from Maresca
The Italian’s words have not gone down well.
ByEmilio Galantini Aug 14, 2024
Everything was formalised and documents were ready for Omorodion's move to go ahead, but it all collapsed at the eleventh hour due to contractual issues, according to Sky Sports.
It was meant to be Omorodion in, Conor Gallagher out, with the Englishman travelling to Spain and having a medical at Atletico Madrid before the 24-year-old was sent back to London – as Diego Simeone's side couldn't announce his signing without first selling their striker to Chelsea.
Gallagher's future hangs in the balance as a result, with Chelsea opening talks over a deal for Atletico forward Joao Felix as an alternative, and one who could reopen the door for their midfielder to complete his move to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano.
While a return for Felix sounds intriguing on paper, the Portuguese still isn't an out-and-out centre-forward. Maresca has reportedly made it clear he wants a natural new striker at Chelsea and one who can compete with Nicolas Jackson for the role.
Cole Palmer
7.48
Conor Gallagher
7.13
Nicolas Jackson
7.07
Moises Caicedo
6.85
Noni Madueke
6.84
This has potentially led to one of the biggest transfer stories of this summer window. Napoli are hot on the heels of wantaway Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku, which could open the door for Maresca to bring in Victor Osimhen.
There has been talk of Osimhen joining Chelsea with Lukaku going the other way to Napoli, and Standard Sport journalist Nick Purewal has an update on the saga this week.
Osimhen tempted by Chelsea as Drogba and Obi-Mikel urge him to join
According to Purewal and The Standard, Chelsea are back in talks over a swap deal for Osimhen which would see Lukaku head in the opposite direction and reunite with former boss Antonio Conte in Italy.
Todd Boehly and BlueCo would be killing two birds with one stone, by getting rid of their unwanted high-earner whilst also supplying their new head coach with a proven talisman up front.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen
It is also believed Osimhen remains tempted by the prospect of joining Chelsea, as both Didier Drogba and John Obi-Mikel have been in constant contact with the Nigerian, urging him to make the move to west London.
The £162,000-per-week star has been one of Serie A's most prolific goalscorers since joining from Lille in 2020, as Boehly and co attempt to find a way around his £100 million-plus release clause.
After losing to Hyderabad in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League opener on Friday, defending champions Mumbai bounced back to hunt down 235 against Haryana in Pune.Yashasvi Jaiswal led the steep chase with a 48-ball century – his fourth in T20 cricket – with 16 fours and a six. He eventually holed out with Mumbai seven away from victory. Atharva Ankolekar wrapped it up for Mumbai with a six and a four, in the company of allrounder Sairaj Patil.After Ajinkya Rahane fell for 21 off ten balls, Jaiswal combined with Sarfaraz Khan for an 88-run second-wicket partnership off just 37 balls. Sarfaraz, who is part of capped batters up for bidding in the first set of the IPL 2026 auction, boosted his chances with 64 off 25 balls, including nine fours and three sixes. After winning the Player-of-the-Match award, Jaiswal called up Sarfaraz and shared it with him. Though Mumbai suffered a late wobble, they cruised to victory with 15 balls and four wickets to spare.Earlier in the day, after Mumbai had opted to bowl, Patil emerged as their only wicket-taker, coming away with 2 for 44. Shardul Thakur also kept things tight on a small ground, prompting Haryana to retire Samant Jakhar out on 31 off 14 after the batter had struggled to get the Mumbai captain away in the 19th over. Haryana’s captain Ankit Kumar hit 89 off 42 balls, his joint-highest T20 score, but it went in vain.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Hemanth Reddy, Prasad stun Punjab
Andhra handed Punjab their second successive defeat in the Super League, at the MCA Stadium in Pune. M Hemanth Reddy, 23, was the hero for Andhra, clattering a 48-ball hundred – his first in only his second T20. He finished unbeaten on 109 off 53 balls as Andhra chased 206 from 56 for 5 for their first win in the Super League.Reddy was well supported by No. 7 SDNV Prasad, who scored an unbeaten 53 off 35 balls, after Andhra were reduced to 56 for 5 in the ninth over. Their unbroken 155-run partnership is the highest for any wicket for Andhra in men’s T20 cricket. It is also the second-highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in men’s T20 cricket behind Andre Russell and Kennar Lewis’s 161-run stand for the sixth wicket for Jamaica Tallawahs in CPL 2018.After being asked to bat first, Punjab had posted 205 for 5 on the back of forty-somethings from Harnoor Singh Pannu (42), Anmolpreet Singh (47), Salil Arora (42*) and Ramandeep Singh (43). After bagging a hat-trick in the previous game, India international Nitish Kumar Reddy returned 1 for 39 in his four overs.File photo – Ishan Kishan’s 63 set up Jharkhand’s thrilling win•PTI
Jharkhand prevail in last-over finish vs MPVenkatesh Iyer took 3 for 17 from his three overs for Madhya Pradesh, but they fell short by just one run against Jharkhand after requiring 13 runs to win off the final over, bowled by Sushant Mishra.Earlier, Ishan Kishan was the architect of Jharkhand’s innings, making another quick start at the top after his 47 against Punjab in their previous game. He scored even quicker against MP, getting to 63 off 30 deliveries, including four fours and five sixes, before Iyer snared him up.Iyer’s two more wickets slowed down a Jharkhand innings where no other batter managed to cross 30. However, Iyer did not have much luck with the bat in hand himself as he fell for 8 at the top of the order. Harpreet Singh (77*) and Harsh Gawli (61) put up a 122-run partnership afterwards. By the time Gawli fell, MP needed just 41 more runs from 25 balls.The required rate rose thereafter, and the equation eventually became too steep as Jharkhand solidified their spot at the top of their Super Group table.File photo – Tanmay Agarwal’s 73 helped Hyderabad breeze through their chase•PTI
Agarwal helps Hyderabad breeze past Rajasthan
Hyderabad opener Tanmay Agarwal led their chase of 179 against Rajasthan, hitting eight fours and four sixes during his 41-ball 73. By the time he was dismissed in the 17th over, the scores were level, and they eventually won with six wickets and 17 balls to spare. Agarwal played most of innings in the company of Rahul Buddhi – who made 55 off 36 – during a 95-run partnership for the third wicket.Earlier, No. 4 Mahipal Lomror led Rajasthan’s comeback after they had slipped to 17 for 2, then 85 for 5. His 48 was the highest score of a stop-start innings where four of the top seven got into the 20s but no one could kick on.Manav Suthar (2-20) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (2-35) were the only wicket-takers for Rajasthan as they struggled to keep up in the chase. Hyderabad now sit at the top of their own Super League table, as the only unbeaten side in Group B after two matches.
Decision made due to return flights needing to be rerouted after UAE was classed as a ‘red list’ country
Mohammad Isam13-Mar-2021
Cricket Ireland said in a statement that both boards had agreed to change the itinerary•Cricket Ireland
Ireland Wolves’ tour of Bangladesh has been reduced by three days, with the second T20 match that was scheduled being cancelled on account of Covid-19 related restrictions in Ireland about their transit country on the flight back home.The Wolves have already played one unofficial Test and four unofficial one-dayers against the Bangladesh Emerging Team. They will play the fifth and final ODI in Dhaka on Sunday, and a solitary T20 match on March 16, following which the Wolves will fly back home.Related
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Cricket Ireland said in a statement that both boards had agreed to the change in the itinerary, which originally had two T20 matches scheduled for March 17 and 18. The change was brought about because the team will have to reroute their return flight that was originally transiting through the UAE, and fly back home via a different country. With the UAE being a Category 2 ‘red list’ country as per Ireland, even transiting through would force the squad into a two-week hotel quarantine.Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland’s High Performance director, said the Irish authorities had intimated the board of the quarantine regulations,.”While unfortunate that we will be sacrificing one T20, Irish authorities have advised that extensions of quarantining regulations for in-bound passengers to Ireland flying through Category 2 ‘red list’ countries mean a compulsory 14-day hotel quarantine,” Holdsworth said. “As our route home was via the UAE, that would mean our squad would be caught up under these regulations – regardless of whether we were stopping over or simply transiting through – so we have had to re-route the players home via another country not on the red-list.”We have always said that the mental and physical health and welfare of our squads are our first priority, so avoiding a 14-day hotel quarantine was essential. Given the rigorous bubble conditions these players have already abided by over the last four weeks, the fact that some of the squad would have experienced similar bio-bubbles in the UAE not so long ago, and the possibility that countries could be added to the red-list at any time, we considered the sacrifice of one T20 a reasonable compromise in order to get the squad home as quickly as possible, via a non-category 2 country.”Last month, the Pakistan women’s tour of Zimbabwe was cut short after its carrier, Emirates, announced it was suspending the Harare-Dubai route.The Wolves’ tour of Bangladesh has already had the first one-dayer called off after Ruhan Pretorius was found Covid positive during the game in Chattogram. He was found to be negative within two days, after which the third game was delayed by two hours when one of Ireland’s local support staff was found Covid positive.
Just hours after Manchester United confirmed their second deal of the summer transfer window, an update has been forthcoming on a potential third as life under Sir Jim Ratcliffe kicks into overdrive.
United complete Leny Yoro deal
With Joshua Zirkzee's arrival already confirmed, Manchester United stepped up their transfer business once more on Thursday with the arrival of Leny Yoro from French side Lille.
Erik ten Hag's side saw off competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool and European champions Real Madrid to complete a deal, which is believed to have set them back around £53m and has seen Yoro sign a lucrative £113,000 a week deal at Old Trafford valid until 2029.
LOSC Lille defender Leny Yoro
Speaking to the club media on his arrival, Yoro explained: “Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour.
“Since my first conversations with the club, they set out a clear plan for how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project, and showed a lot of care for me and my family.
“I know about the history of young players at Manchester United and feel it can be the perfect place to reach my potential and achieve my ambitions, together with my new team-mates. I cannot wait to get started.”
Man Utd want to sign £84m "superstar" who's more exciting than Yoro
Manchester United are closing in on their second signing of the summer.
By
Matt Dawson
Jul 17, 2024
Yoro's arrival offsets the departure of Raphael Varane, who left the club on a free transfer at the end of the season, and while Manchester United are still open to signing another defender this transfer window, attention has currently turned to midfield with Casemiro having struggled towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Midfielder agrees personal terms
Now, it has emerged that their hunt for reinforcements in the centre of the pitch could be concluded soon too, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano providing an altogether positive update on their chase of PSG's Manuel Ugarte.
The midfielder only arrived at the Parc des Princes 12 months ago, with PSG beating off competition from Chelsea to land the Uruguayan midfielder and handing him a contract worth £100,000 a week, which runs until 2028.
How Ugarte compares to Casemiro (domestic league 23/24)
FBref
Manuel Ugarte
Casemiro
Appearances
25
25
Tackles and interceptions per 90
6.42
4.59
Clearances
1.16
3.23
Pass accuracy
91.2%
81.8%
Fouls committed per 90
2.14
1.36
Yellow Cards
5
7
Though he had a tough season with PSG under Luis Enrique, he was dubbed a "really promising defensive midfielder" by journalist Zach Lowry on X back in May, but appears to have fallen out of favour in the French capital.
As a result, they are open to his departure, and United are ready to pounce. Romano explained on X that the Red Devils have "agreed personal terms" with the midfielder, though a fee is still yet to be negotiated with the French champions.
For his part, Ugarte is said to be "keen on moving to United even without Champions League football", and that talks between the two clubs are continuing. Could he be the long term heir to Casemiro in the Old Trafford engine room?
The Bretons had never previously played in continental competition, but they've already almost guaranteed a spot in this season's knockout stage
Brest were beaten 3-2 by Monaco on Friday night. It was their third defeat in a row in Ligue 1 and left them placed in 12th, just three points above the drop zone. Coach Eric Roy admitted afterwards that there was every chance his side could be dragged into a relegation battle: "I think we'll have to look behind us rather than in front of ourselves in the coming weeks."
However, if the league table makes for worrying reading for Brest, the Champions League standings are a very different story altogether. As it stands, just three teams sit above them, and only the leaders, Liverpool (12) have amassed more points than the Bretons (10). Even more incredibly, Brest's next opponents, Barcelona, the best team in Spain right now, actually trail Roy's team going into Tuesday's game at the Montjuic.
So, what is going on?! How is a tiny club from the north-west of France outperforming some of Europe's elite? And could the Champions League debutants actually progress directly to the last 16 while battling relegation back home?…
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An unlikely hero
Roy didn't look like the potential protagonist of one of the most remarkable underdog success stories in football history. The former Nice boss had been a good player in his day (he represented both Lyon and Marseille at his peak, and also spent a season at Sunderland), but when he took over at Brest in January 2023, he'd been out of the coaching game for more than a decade.
Roy had spent the majority of the preceding 12 years working as a sporting director (first at Lens, then at Watford), but was probably best known to younger audiences as a TV pundit on French football coverage.
It certainly looked like he'd been away from the dugout for a while during his first couple of months in charge, with Brest winning just one of their first eight league games under Roy – a rotten run of form that saw them fall into the relegation zone.
However, the ex-midfielder belatedly sparked a remarkable recovery. Brest lost just three games from March onwards and went from 18th in the table to the relatively heady heights of 14th by the end of the 2022-23 season.
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'No longer being underestimated'
Despite the strong finish to the preceding campaign, little was expected of Brest going into the following season, as most pundits predicted another battle to beat the drop. After all, Brest's budget was just €40 million (£33m/$42m) – the fourth-smallest in France's top flight.
However, by the time they arrived at Parc des Princes in January of this year and drew 2-2 with perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain, it was clear that something special was happening. Brest were third in the table and there was already giddy talk of qualifying for the Champions League.
Roy was keen to point out that his side had already lost their surprise factor, meaning it was only going to get more difficult to sustain their remarkable results. "The hardest part of the season for us is starting now," he warned. "We're no longer being underestimated."
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'Are you kidding or what?!'
Brest president Denis Le Saint – who runs a food distribution company with his brother that was founded by their parents – was even more dismissive of the idea that a top-four finish was a realistic target. It was unthinkable as far as he was concerned.
Brest had been declared bankrupt after being demoted from Ligue 1 in 1991 and ended up languishing in France's amateur divisions for a decade before slowly dragging their way back up the professional ranks. When Le Saint took over in 2016, though, the Bretons were still in Ligue 2 and success, as far as he was concerned, was stability.
Ever since securing a return to Ligue 1 in 2019, the sole objective has been retaining their top-flight status while constructing a new stadium. So, when he was asked towards the tail end of last season if the Champions League was the new target, he scoffed, "Are you kidding or what?! We have to be serious, our past alone reminds us of that. Just keep going. Then, finishing in the top 10 will be the goal."
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'Football is often like love'
However, despite suffering back-to-back defeats in the middle of April, to Lyon and Monaco, Brest ensured a top-four finish with a 1-1 draw at home to Reims in their penultimate Ligue 1 fixture.
Roy was inevitably asked afterwards which European heavyweight he'd like to play in the Champions League and admitted, "I haven't really thought about the potential opponents, but it feels surreal just talking about it!"
He also pointed out that they'd only done enough to ensure a place in the qualifying rounds. Automatic qualification would only be achieved if they managed to overtake Lille on the last day of the season – and that looked unlikely, especially when Benjamin Andre put Paulo Fonseca's then-side 2-1 up in the closing stags of their final game, against Nice.
However, Jordan Lotomba's 93rd-minute equaliser saw Brest finish third thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win in Toulouse. A team that had never even played in European competition before had just qualified for the Champions League proper.
"If a scriptwriter writes something like that, people call him crazy and tell him it can't possibly exist," Roy enthused. "But football is often like love: it has its reasons that reason ignores, and that's what we've experienced throughout this season, which has defied all the odds. We've done it! It's quite incredible!"
أصدر نادي بلد الوليد الإسباني، بيانًا رسميًا اليوم الأربعاء، يوجه من خلاله اتهامًا صريحًا لمانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي.
ويأتي ذلك بسبب اللاعب السيراليوني، عبد الله باه، البالغ من العمر 18 عامًا، والذي تمرد على نادي بلد الوليد.
وارتبط عبد الله باه بالانضمام إلى مانشستر سيتي، خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوي في يناير الجاري.
اقرأ أيضًا | تقارير: ميلان يحسم تعاقده مع لاعب مانشستر سيتي في انتقالات يناير بيان بلد الوليد بشأن مانشستر سيتي
“أبلغ عبد الله جمعه باه ووكيله، نادي بلد الواليد، في مساء يوم أمس نيتهما في فسخ العقد من طرف واحد وقبل ذلك، في نفس المساء، أرسل مانشستر سيتي بيانًا يطلب فيه من بلد الوليد فتح مفاوضات من أجل انتقال اللاعب بشكل نهائي.
اليوم، قرر اللاعب السيراليوني عدم التوجه إلى تدريبات الفريق في الصباح، وبناءً على ذلك، يُحمّل النادي اللاعب مسؤولية إخلاله بالتزاماته التعاقدية، وقد طلب من قسمه القانوني اتخاذ الإجراءات التأديبية المناسبة في هذا الصدد.
يرى النادي أن مانشستر سيتي هو السبب وراء قرار اللاعب، ويبدو أنه قد وجه اللاعب نحو اتخاذ هذا الطريق الذي وضع بلد الوليد في موقف الدفاع، خاصة بعد أن رفض مؤخرًا عروضًا مالية أعلى.
هذا بالإضافة إلى أن اللاعب لا يزال في فترة الحماية القانونية الخاصة بالفئة العمرية الشابة، وقد رفض في الآونة الأخيرة توقيع رخصة لاعب لفريق بالدرجة الأعلى لنادي بلد الوليد، حيث كان ذلك سيؤدي إلى زيادة تلقائية في قيمة شرط فسخ عقده.
وقد حذر النادي الأطراف الثلاثة من العواقب المحتملة لأفعالهم من خلال عدة مطالبات أمس.
وصل عبد الله باه إلى بلد الوليد في الصيف الماضي على سبيل الإعارة من نادي فريتاون السيراليوني.
وكان عقد الإعارة مع النادي السيراليوني سينتهي في 30 يونيو من الموسم الحالي، ويشمل بندًا يمنح بلد الوليد خيار شراء اللاعب، وهو البند الذي استخدمه النادي في الأول من يناير لانتقال حقوق اللاعب ليصبح جزءًا من الفريق بموجب عقد جديد لفترة أطول وبشروط أفضل.
لقد أحدثت نية اللاعب، المدعومة والموجهة على ما يبدو من مانشستر سيتي ووكيله، خيبة أمل كبيرة وغضبًا في صفوف بلد الوليد، الذي استقبل عبد الله باه بالأذرع المفتوحة ومنحه فرصة حياته.
وقد أكد الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم مؤخرًا أن اللاعب قد أودع المبلغ اللازم لفسخ العقد من طرف واحد.
وفي هذا الصدد، يعلن بلد أنه يحتفظ بحقه في اللجوء إلى الجهات القضائية والرياضية المناسبة للدفاع عن حقوقه ومصالحه”.
وتعاقد مانشستر سيتي مؤخرًا مع عبد القادر خوسانوف من لانس الفرنسي، وفيتور ريس من بالميراس البرازيلي، ومن المنتظر أن يضم المصري عمر مرموش من آينتراخت فرانكفورت الألماني.
Celtic enjoyed the perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign on Sunday as they secured an emphatic 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead in their first game.
The Hoops are now top of the Scottish Premiership table after just one match and will be hoping to stay there for the remainder of the season.
Only one new signing featured in Glasgow, though, as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel lined up between the sticks as Joe Hart's heir, and kept a relatively easy clean sheet.
Paulo Bernardo and Viljami Sinisalo, the club's only other signings this summer, were both unused substitutes at Paradise, watching on as the team dismantled Kilmarnock with ease.
There is still plenty of time left in the summer transfer window for the reigning Premiership champions to make further additions to their squad, though.
The window does not officially slam shut until the end of the month and that means that the Bhoys have over three weeks left to do business.
Brendan Rodgers could yet add more quality to his team in the short-term but the Northern Irish boss is also reportedly eyeing up a signing that could be with the future in mind.
Celtic eyeing swoop for teen marksman
According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign St Patrick's wonderkid Mason Melia this summer.
The report claims that the Hoops are preparing a bid to bring the 16-year-old sensation to Glasgow to bolster their attacking options for the 2024/25 campaign.
It states that Celtic and Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion are both readying formal offers for the teenage starlet, but there is no mention of how much the Irish side are set to demand for his services.
Football Insider adds that Manchester City previously held an interest in Melia and had him on trial last year. However, that did not lead to a contract offer from Pep Guardiola's team.
Everton are also said to have been keen on him in the past but Brighton and Celtic are the two teams leading the race for his signature right now.
The report suggests that the Hoops' strong links to Irish football, with the likes of Liam Scales, Bosun Lawal, and Mikey Johnston on their books, could show a clear pathway to first-team football for Melia, potentially giving them a leg up.
If Rodgers can beat Brighton to the 16-year-old striker's services then he could land his future Luis Suarez 2.0 for Celtic, as the young star has already been compared to the legendary forward.
Luis Suarez's progress under Rodgers
Speaking to The Herald earlier this year, the former Liverpool boss made the point that the Uruguay international was not a prolific scorer for the Reds before his appointment in the summer of 2012.
Rodgers claimed that his style of play, with attacking, aggressive, football, suits centre-forwards and that Suarez benefitted from narrowing his game to focus on his work in the box – finding the back of the net rather than moving about the pitch to find the ball.
Luis Suarez Liverpool graphic
The striker had scored 15 goals in 44 Premier League matches for Liverpool in his first 18 months at the club, after a move from Ajax in January 2011, prior to the current Celtic manager's arrival.
Rodgers, as explained above, helped the attacker to narrow his game and focus on his movement inside the box and it made a gigantic difference to his performances on the pitch.
In his two seasons under the Northern Irishman in the Premier League, Suarez emerged as a prolific scorer for Liverpool, after his average return in the top-flight prior to that.
Appearances
33
33
Goals
23
31
Assists
5
12
Shots per game
5.7
5.5
Key passes per game
2.8
2.7
As you can see in the table above, the Uruguayan sensation plundered a staggering 54 goals in 66 appearances in the Premier League for the Reds under Rodgers.
His 5.7 and 5.5 shots per game across the two campaigns show that he was given plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net as the focal point of the attack, focusing on getting shots off rather than dropping deep to collect the ball.
Why Mason Melia could be Brendan Rodgers' next Luis Suarez
Firstly, analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Melia's instincts and dribbling skills remind him of Suarez, due to his quick feet and diminutive nature as a centre-forward.
Mattinson described the 16-year-old talent as a "relentless" and "aggressive" striker who can force his way past opposition defenders with the ball at his feet, just like the former Liverpool and Barcelona superstar.
The analyst added that the St Patrick's star is also a "confident" finisher who can find the back of the net with both feet and has great power in his shots.
Despite these rave reviews, Melia is not a signing Celtic supporters should expect to come in and hit the ground running as an immediate Suarez 2.0 for Rodgers, as he is only 16 and is yet to play outside of his home country.
The teenage starlet has shown plenty of promise at club and international level in his short career so far, though, and could develop into the manager's next version of the ex-Liverpool marksman.
Appearances
25
Starts
12
Goals
3
Assists
1
Ground duel success rate
50%
As you can see in the table above, Melia has produced four goal contributions in 12 league starts and held his own in physical duels, which is an impressive set of stats for a player who does not turn 17 until September.
The Irish whiz has scored seven goals in 43 senior games for his club to date, to go along with an eye-catching return of nine goals in 19 caps for Ireland at U17 level.
He is over a year away from turning 18 and has already scored goals at first-team level and showcased his potential to score goals regularly for his country, which is why Melia is such an exciting talent and target for the Hoops.
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Rodgers must now ensure that he can win the race for his services so that work can then be put in on the training pitch to help him fulfill his potential and eventually develop into the Hoops' own version of Suarez in the future.