Tag Futebol

Is MS Dhoni the oldest man to captain in all T20 matches?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

And has anyone gone in at every batting position in the IPL?

Steven Lynch15-Apr-2025Has anyone gone in at every batting position in the IPL? asked Mahesh Gupta from India

There’s only one man who fits the bill here: the West Indian spinner Sunil Narine started as a tailender with the bat – he had only two innings in 15 matches in his first IPL, in 2012. He batted in three innings at No. 11, then started to move up the order.Gradually Narine developed his left-hand pinch-hitting to the extent that he now usually goes in first, and he has scored more than 1300 IPL runs as an opener. In 2024 he clobbered his maiden century – 109 from 56 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens.Narine has also taken 185 wickets so far in the IPL – only three men have more as I write. He’s one of only five men to have done the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the IPL, the others being Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Andre Russell.Two Bangladesh bowlers took five wickets in a recent women’s one-day international. Has this ever happened before in an ODI? asked Ahmedul Kabir from Bangladesh

The match you’re talking about was a Women’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand in Lahore last week: Bangladesh’s legspinner Fahima Khatun took 5 for 21, while offspinner Jannatul Ferdus had the eye-catching figures of 5-3-7-5 as Thailand slid from 65 for 3 to 93 all out.This was the first case in a women’s ODI of two bowlers taking five wickets apiece. It’s also happened just once in men’s ODIs, back in 1977 when Greg Chappell took 5 for 20 and Gary Cosier 5 for 18 for Australia against England with their medium pace at Edgbaston. “It wasn’t a day for the regular bowlers,” wrote Chappell, Australia’s captain that day. “At our lower pace we made the ball bend in the air and seam off the pitch, and with the help of some undistinguished batting by the England batsmen, whose footwork often left a lot to be desired, we finished off the innings for 171.”Is MS Dhoni the oldest man to captain in the IPL? How about in all T20 matches? asked Ajit Venugopal from India

The Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is due to celebrate his 44th birthday on July 7. He’s actually been the oldest IPL captain for a couple of years already: the previous record was held by Adam Gilchrist, who was 41 when he captained Kings XI Punjab for the last time, in Dharamsala in 2013. Gilchrist celebrated his impending retirement by bowling the last over of the innings – he was fairly safe, as Mumbai Indians needed 51 to win with the last pair at the crease – and took a wicket with the only ball he ever bowled in a senior T20 game.The table of the oldest captains in all T20 matches is skewed by the weird and wonderful selection of teams who now play official T20 internationals: there was a recent change at the top when 56-year-old Alan Dawson skippered the Falkland Islands against Costa Rica in Guacima last month.In all T20s, Ajit Ekanayake (46), Imran Tahir (45), Pearson Best of the Cayman Islands (44) and Misbah-ul-Haq (43) have captained when older than Dhoni, although Misbah is about to be overtaken.Imran Tahir (centre), who leads Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, is currently the oldest captain on the T20 circuit, at age 45•Getty ImagesWhat’s the connection between Garry Sobers and the 1991 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner? asked Trent Jackson from England

I smell a sports-quiz question here! The Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of Britain’s premier National Hunt (jumps) horse races, was won in 1991 by Garrison Savannah, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by her son Mark. The same year, the horse finished second in the Grand National at Aintree, just failing to pull off a double achieved only by Golden Miller in 1934.The horse got its name from the Garrison Savannah racecourse in Barbados, just outside Bridgetown. The track’s most famous race is the Barbados Gold Cup. Horse racing has taken place there since the area was an army garrison, hence the name. And the link with arguably the island’s most famous son is that the former West Indies captain Garry Sobers was knighted there by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, becoming Sir Garfield Sobers in front of a crowd of around 50,000.You wrote in last week’s column about the players who played the most Test matches without ever appearing in a white-ball international. What’s the reverse – who has played the most white-ball internationals without ever winning a Test cap? Is it David Miller? asked Liam Binyon from Australia

You’ve got it in one: the South African batter David Miller has so far appeared in 308 white-ball internationals (170 ODIs and 138 T20s) without ever playing in a Test match. Kieron Pollard, the West Indian, played 234 white-ball games (123 ODIs and 101 T20s), while Scotland’s Richie Berrington has so far appeared in 230 (123 ODIs and 97 T20s; Scotland haven’t yet played a Test). Another current player, the Australian legspinner Adam Zampa, comes next with 216 (111 ODIs and 95 T20s).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

الاتحاد الأوروبي يوجه دفعة إيجابية لـ بايرن ميونخ بشأن لويس دياز

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

تلقى بايرن ميونخ، دفعة إيجابية بشأن لاعبه الكولومبي الدولي لويس دياز والذي تلقى بطاقة حمراء مباشرة خلال الفوز ضد باريس سان جيرمان بهدفين لهدف، في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكان لويس دياز قد تدخل بشكل قوي على أشرف حكيمي الدولي المغربي، ظهير باريس سان جيرمان، وتسبب بإصابته في الكاحل والتي سيغيب على إثرها لأربعة أشهر.

وقرر الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم في وقت سابق، معاقبة الكولومبي لويس دياز بالإيقاف ثلاث مباريات، لكن بايرن ميونخ أستأنف ضد القرار مرة أخرى.

وأفادت “ONE FOOTBALL” أنه تم تخفيض إيقاف لويس دياز في دوري أبطال أوروبا من ثلاث مباريات إلى مباراتين.

اقرا أيضًا.. مارك جويهي يحسم رغبته بشأن وجهته القادمة بين بايرن ميونخ وقطبي إسبانيا

وأكد الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم تخفيض عقوبة لويس دياز، ما يعني أن الدولي الكولومبي سيغيب عن مباراة الثلاثاء المقبل فقط ضد سبورتينج لشبونة، على ملعب أليانز أرينا، بعد أن غاب عن الخسارة ضد آرسنال بثلاثية لهدف واحد على ملعب الامارات يوم الأربعاء 26 نوفمبر.

وسيعود لويس دياز للمشاركة ضد يونيون سانت جيلواز في الجولة السابعة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا، في قرار يمثل دفعة قوية لبايرن ميونخ، الذي يواجه جدولًا مزدحمًا بالمباريات.

This Ump Cam View of the Mariners’ Grand Slam vs. Astros Is Absolutely Mesmerizing

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Seattle Mariners have gotten red hot at the perfect time, winning nine of their last 10 games heading into the final week of the MLB season. On Sunday night they finished off a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston, taking the finale 7-3. They now own a three-game lead over the Astros in the AL West and are in position to get one of the top two seeds in the AL playoff race.

The Mariners scored all seven of their runs in the second inning on Sunday night, with a towering grand slam by J.P. Crawford opening the game wide open for the road team.

His blast was a moonshot to right field and it looked even cooler from ESPN's ump cam. The video of it below comes with an important warning: You may end up watching this over and over again while not getting much work done.

That has to be the coolest ump cam shot of all time.

The Mariners have a day off before hosting the lowly Rockies for three games and then they finish off the season by hosting the Dodgers for three games.

While the Mariners have jumped up the standings with their stellar play, the Astros are now tied with the Guardians for third and final wild-card spot in the AL.

The final week of the season should be an exciting one.

Gennaro Gattuso told he must 'teach the alphabet to school children' as ex-Italy coach blasts unacceptable errors that leave Azzurri facing World Cup play-offs

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi has slammed the Italy squad after their 4-1 loss to Norway in World Cup qualification, saying that manager Gennaro Gattuso may need to take them back to the basics to rebuild their confidence and overall structure. The Azzurri, having missed out on the last two World Cups, will have to navigate the play-offs to secure a place at the competition next year after finishing second in their qualifying group.

Italy collapse in 4-1 loss to Norway

Italy entered the match needing an improbable 9-0 victory to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup, but their hopes quickly faded despite a positive start. Pio Esposito opened the scoring early, and Italy defended well to hold a 1-0 lead at half-time. However, the second half saw a complete shift in momentum. Antonio Nusa equalised in the 60th minute, sparking Norway’s comeback. Erling Haaland then delivered a swift and decisive brace, effectively taking the game out of Italy’s reach. Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen added a late goal to complete the rout. The heavy defeat ended Italy’s hopes of automatic qualification, leaving them to face the pressure of the play-offs once again.

Gattuso apologised to the fans after the heavy defeat, saying: “We must apologise to our fans because 4-1 is a heavy defeat. It's a shame because we had a very good first half, where we played as a real team.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSacchi suggests Italy to go back to basics

In an interview to , ex-Azzurri coach Sacchi criticised the Italian players for committing errors that cannot be made at the highest level. 

"We need to acknowledge our limitations," he said. To do so, however, requires a generous dose of humility. Here, we need to behave like a teacher teaching the alphabet to first-grade children, and mind you, I'm not exaggerating. I hear talk of formations, playbooks, attacking tactics, but do we really understand that we need to work in depth on the basic concepts? In my opinion, a training camp at Coverciano would be useful before the March match. But I'm sure the clubs would oppose such a request from the coach. I remember well the battles I had to fight when I was on the national team bench. In Italy, individual interests and selfishness always prevail, and people don't want to understand that building a team—and the national team is a team—takes time, patience, and training, lots of training. But mine, I already know, are just empty words.

"I saw individual and team errors that, at a certain level, just can't be made. I'm looking for an explanation in the psychological attitude, perhaps in the second half. The Azzurri got a bit scared, they lost heart and were afraid to win, I don't know… The fact remains that in all four goals we conceded on Sunday night there were glaring errors that a Serie A player cannot make. The defenders made all sorts of mistakes, some turned their backs on the opponent who was crossing, some left Haaland free to shoot in the middle of our area, some botched the pass while building up, some got fooled by counterattack feints. No, we really won't get far like this."

Sacchi believes Italy have no need to feel the pressure

Italy have not featured at a World Cup since 2014. Their last two attempts ended in play-off heartbreak – first against Sweden in 2018, then in a stunning defeat to North Macedonia in 2022. With that history looming in the background, the upcoming play-offs carry enormous weight. Sacchi believes that after the damaging loss to Norway, Gattuso should look to rebuild the team's morale before the play offs.

"No fear [for the play-offs], ever. But I see a lot of unknowns. After taking four slaps like that, I don't think the atmosphere is calm and relaxed," he  said. "Therefore, we need to rebuild the morale of the entire group. I'm worried, and not a little, about the pressure the national team will be under before the decisive matches. This is not a team that, in my opinion, can handle such a heavy burden. I think it would be wise, after analysing the mistakes made and looking for suitable solutions, to put an end to the controversy, eliminate the doubts and focus everyone on the objective. Right now, everything is needed except tension."

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Getty Images SportGattus's preparations for the play offs

Gattuso will seek to build on Sacchi’s suggestions as he guides Italy toward the play-offs. He plans to study the 4-1 loss to Norway in detail, identifying both strengths and weaknesses within the squad. His focus now is on assembling the best possible team, refining tactics, and ensuring Italy are fully prepared to win the play-offs and secure World Cup qualification.

Rock and Roll it podcast: Analysing India's Test team under coach Gambhir

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Dustin Silgardo, Sidharth Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy get together to discuss India’s Test series against West Indies, Gambhir’s time so far as the India head coach, and more

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2025Why was India’s decision to follow on in the Delhi Test puzzling? Did India underestimate West Indies’ batting? Why didn’t Nitish Kumar Reddy bowl in the Test? Dustin Silgardo, Sidharth Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy get together on the Rock and Roll It podcast to discuss India’s Test series against West Indies, Gautam Gambhir’s time so far as the India head coach and whether he needs to manage his bowlers’ workload better.

Nortje set to make comeback from injury at CSA T20 Challenge

by csb10.top Uncategorized

South African quick Anrich Nortje, who has not played any cricket since the IPL in May, will return to action in the CSA T20 Challenge this weekend. Nortje, who is no longer on a national contract, has been signed by the Durban-based team, the Dolphins, for this season’s T20 competition and is expected to play in their opener against the Tuskers at Kingsmead on Saturday.Nortje has now fully recovered from his latest injury setback, a stress reaction which made him unavailable for South Africa’s winter fixtures. Nortje was not named in the squad to play a T20 series in Zimbabwe or on white-ball tours to Australia and England. He last played for South Africa at the T20 World Cup final in June 2024.Since then, Nortje has come into consideration, and was even on the verge of a Test comeback last summer, but a fractured toe and then a back injury put paid to those thoughts. He missed out on the SA20, came back briefly at the IPL, where he played two matches for Kolkata Knight Riders, but did not play the MLC or any international cricket as he embarked on an extensive rehabilitation program.”From a personal perspective and a group perspective it’s going to be great to get back out on the park,” Nortje said in a statement issued by the Dolphins on Tuesday. “I’m always positive, always motivated, and excited but when you get towards the end of rehab, you want to get going because you know what is around the corner. So the last week or two have probably been more frustrating than the other months”The T20 Challenge runs from October 29 to November 30 and sees all eight Division 1 teams play each other once before an IPL-style Eliminator and two Qualifiers ahead of the final. That means Nortje could have a maximum of 10 matches over the next month albeit not for his home union, Eastern Province. Although Nortje has not indicated he is aiming for a national comeback, he could push for one if he stays fit and also has a good SA20, where he will play for Sunrisers Eastern Cape.”It’s always been about trying to see the positives and working towards a new goal of being better than I was before so I’m really happy where I am now and it’s all about getting out there and getting some games under my belt,” he said.The Dolphins reached the final of last year’s CSA T20 Challenge, where they lost to the Johannesburg-based Lions.

Spurs have another Kane in the making but he's likely to leave like Parrott

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur have levels still to reach under Thomas Frank’s management, but with such an exciting academy underbelly, there’s every reason for fans to be excited about the club’s long-term success.

There has been a real wave of youth investment in recent years, with Lucas Bergvall and Luka Vuskovic among the formative additions landed after showing signs of prodigious potential. However, the next superstar has yet to present himself.

Harry Kane is the most notable alumnus kicking a ball today, with the Three Lions captain in devastating form for club and country this season. Kane is one of the Londoners’ greatest players of all time, for sure.

Harry Kane

435

280

Jimmy Greaves

376

266

Bobby Smith

316

211

Heung-min Son

454

173

Martin Chivers

350

167

How Frank must long for the 32-year-old’s qualities. He would be the icing on the cake down N17 this season. However, Kane isn’t the only one-time Spurs striker making headway at the moment, with Troy Parrott in the form of his life.

Parrott's record since leaving Spurs

Parrott left Tottenham for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie in July 2024, completing a transfer worth around £7m. He had only featured four times for Spurs’ senior side and had completed five separate loan spells away, the last of which was a prolific year in Holland with Excelsior.

However, his 2024/25 campaign stood as the opus of his young career. The 23-year-old has been thriving with Alkmaar, and he has used that platform as a springboard toward new heights with the Irish national team too.

Indeed, after scoring 13 goals and supplying two assists across 14 matches in all competitions for his club this season, Parrott has headed out with his nation and dragged them to the World Cup qualifiers, scoring a brace in last week’s surprise victory over Portugal.

But it was the sublime hat-trick over Hungary on Sunday evening that consolidated Parrott’s new reputation as a hero in his homeland and one of the most talented up-and-coming strikers out there.

How Spurs must regret letting him leave, especially considering the current conundrum Frank is dealing with at number nine. That said, they do have a potential replacement in the wings who could be seen as the club’s new version of Kane.

Spurs' new version of Harry Kane

Dane Scarlett may have envisaged a bigger role at this stage of his career, but the 21-year-old Tottenham talent is undoubtedly still in with a shot of making it at the club.

Having been praised by former coach Jose Mourinho in the past for being a “diamond” of a prospect, Scarlett found a way back into the reckoning after a series of loan spells last season, and in this, he could emulate Kane and take a step forward where Parrott was unable to.

Curiously, Kane completed a series of loan spells away from Tottenham before establishing himself as one of the finest strikers of his generation. He was 21 when it all came together in London.

Scarlett must not be written off, not yet. The “fantastic finisher”, as he has been called by Frank, scored his first goal for the club in the Europa League last season, and while Frank has not yet unleashed him in the Premier League, the 5 foot 11 striker has made the bench five times across the club’s past seven matches.

TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch said after that win over Elfborg last season that Scarlett reminded him of Kane back in his younger days, having displayed such resilience to kick on after a series of loan spells and become one of Tottenham’s greatest players.

While Parrott might have seen the chance for such success pass him by, it’s certainly not too late for Scarlett, and given the current attacking issues at the club, one golden chance may bloom into a prosperous future down N17.

However, given his record at senior level to date, it would not be a huge surprise if things ended in the same way it did for Parrott; a move elsewhere.

Keown called Spurs star "embarrassing" in 2024, now they must "double" his wages

This Tottenham Hotspur star has turned his fortunes around after being called “embarrassing” last year.

ByDan Emery Nov 17, 2025

Arteta must now unleash "aggressive" Arsenal star to silence Granit Xhaka

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Will Arsenal’s winning streak continue?

On Tuesday night, the Gunners swatted aside Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League, with Bukayo Saka breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot in the Czech capital, before makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino scored twice to rubber stamp the points.

That made it ten successive victories for Mikel Arteta, as well as being an eighth consecutive clean sheet, equaling Arsenal’s club record set in 1903, a sequence ended by Glossop North End all those years ago.

Only once before has a top-flight English club won eight games in a row all without conceding, this achieved by Liverpool in February 1920, a record the Gunners can break with victory at the Stadium of Light when they take on Sunderland on Saturday evening.

However, if they’re going to leave Wearside victorious, they will need to silence a familiar foe.

Granit Xhaka's roller coaster Arsenal career

Few players in football history have ever enjoyed quite the character arc at one club experienced by Granit Xhaka during his seven seasons at Arsenal.

The Swiss international was a key figure in the team that won the FA Cup under Arsène Wenger in his first season, but was then part of a team in decline, which ultimately led to Wenger’s departure and Unai Emery’s, at best, mixed reign.

This came to a head in October 2019 when Xhaka was infamously jeered off against Crystal Palace but, as someone who was in attendance that afternoon, it was all a massive misunderstanding.

Arsenal had raced into a 2-0 lead inside nine minutes only to, in trademark fashion under Emery, sit back, allowing Palace to grow into the game and equalise shortly after half time.

Thus, Emery decided to introduce a teenager by the name of Bukayo Saka, whatever happened to him?, and as fourth official Tim Robinson raises his board with a red number 34 on it, Xhaka trudged off the pitch at the speed of a naughty schoolboy sent to the head teacher’s office.

Having seen their side relinquish a two goal advantage, at first, supporters began shouting “get off”, meaning get off the pitch so we can resume this match and beat Crystal Palace, but Xhaka interpreted this as a personal attack, thereby emphatically cupping his ear and removing his shirt before angrily storming down the tunnel.

At this point, it appeared as though the midfielder would never play for the club again, but Emery was sacked later that month and everything changed following the appointment of Arteta.

Xhaka would go on to make 297 appearances for the club, only 12 men have made more for Arsenal in the Premier League, departing a hero, having been a key figure in the 2022/23 side that unexpectedly came so close to winning the title, laying the foundations for where the team is now.

After helping Bayer Leverkusen claim a first-ever Meisterschale, winning the unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, Xhaka surprisingly returned to English football this summer, joining newly-promoted Sunderland, playing every minute of every game with the Black Cats flying high, sat fourth in the Premier League table, scoring his first goal for the club against Everton on Monday night.

Barry Glendenning of the Guardian asserts that the Swiss international has been the ‘most influential’ member of Régis Le Bris’ team so far this season, meaning stopping Xhaka will surely be key to Arteta’s game plan, so which current member of the Arsenal team is best equipped to do just that?

Arsenal's "aggressive" star who can silence Granit Xhaka

A concern for Gooners is their growing injury list, given that Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus will all miss this weekend’s trip to Wearside due to injury.

Others, such as Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber and Declan Rice are having to take on a high workload while, in contrast, it has been a quiet week for Martín Zubimendi, so he will be raring to go at the Stadium of Light.

Having been booked in each of the first three Champions League matches, the Spaniard did not travel to Prague due to suspension, with Christian Nørgaard deputising at the base of midfield.

Largely because it was finalised right at the start of the window, Zubimendi’s arrival in North London was not met with the fanfare it deserved, but he has pretty inarguably been the Gunners’ most impressive summer recruit so far, with the table below supporting this assertion.

Zubimendi Arsenal stats

Stats

Zubimendi

Arsenal rank

Minutes

1,099

4th

Goals

2

6th

Completed passes

721

3rd

Pass completion %

88.5%

3rd*

Key passes

11

5th

Passes into final 3rd

59

2nd

Progressive passes

79

2nd

Shot-creating actions

30

4th

Tackles

21

2nd

Interceptions

13

1st

Distance covered per 90

11kms

6th

Touches

917

3rd

Average rating

7.31

4th

*minimum 300 passes completed.

Stats via FBref & SofaScore

As the numbers highlight, Zubimendi ranks highly for pretty much every metric this season, most notably when it comes to passing, defending, distance covered and touches.

The Spaniard opened his account against Nottingham Forest in September, actually scoring twice that afternoon, this jaw-dropping strike named the Premier League’s goal of the month.

His performances have led to Football Transfers believing his estimated market valuation has increased to around £48m.

Meantime, Adam Keys notes that Zubimendi both “positions himself perfectly for second balls” while also orchestrating play when in possession, while Hand of Arsenal adds that he is a “sublime” player who is “deceptively aggressive” and “knows how to control the tempo and when to break lines and progress”

All of this is going to be needed if the Gunners are going to beat Sunderland on Saturday, thereby moving nine points clear of Manchester City, for 23 hours at least.

With the Black Cats likely to set up in a low block to start, while also posing a threat, often through their midfield general Xhaka, Zubimendi’s overall quality will be vital, with Tuesday acting as a timely reminder, without wanting to denigrate Nørgaard, of how important the Spaniard is, this crystallised in his absence.

Forget Rice & Gabriel: Arsenal "monster" deserves to win PL Player of the Year

The outrageous international has been even better than Rice and Gabriel for Arsenal this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 6, 2025

Aston Villa now lining up January move for £50m striker, Emery's a big fan

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for a “sensational” £50m striker, with Unai Emery looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins.

Villa eyeing new striker amid Watkins' slow start

Watkins isn’t having the season he would’ve wanted ahead of the World Cup next summer, having scored just one goal in the Premier League thus far, and Donyell Malen has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for Villa going forward as of late.

Indeed, Malen is in a rich vein of form at the moment, having scored a brace to secure a 2-1 victory against Young Boys in the Europa League, following on from an impressive cameo against Leeds United, assisting Morgan Rogers’ equalising goal.

However, given that Malen isn’t an out-and-out striker, Emery wants to bring in a more traditional centre-forward in the January transfer window, with one of the Premier League’s breakout stars recently being identified as a target.

That is according to a report from The Mirror, which states Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, although it could be a costly operation, with a £50m fee being touted.

Emery is a big fan of the striker, having been keen to bring in a new forward since last summer, while Villa may also need to refresh their forward line due to concerns over Watkins’ form.

Thiago could be "sensational" Watkins heir

It is perhaps a little early to lose faith in the England international, as he is still only 29, but it is important to plan for the future, and the Brentford star has emerged as one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League this season, scoring 11 goals in 13 outings.

Most recently, the Brazilian bagged a brace to ensure his side overcame Burnley in a 3-1 victory, and he is now behind only Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s goalscoring charts.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews has been left impressed by the 24-year-old’s performances too, saying: “He has been pretty good, hasn’t he? He is growing in stature and confidence and he has been pretty sensational this season,”

Thiago is at the right age to be a long-term success at Villa Park, and having proven himself in the Premier League, Aston Villa should undoubtedly launch a January move.

Aston Villa plotting £18m bid for "tremendous" defender, Martinez is a big fan

The Villans are planning a move for a new centre-back, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

Emery has never really managed to replace Jhon Duran since the striker signed for Al-Nassr back in January, and with the Villans looking to compete in both the Premier League and Europe, it would certainly be beneficial to bring in another striker this winter.

Sergio Ramos heading back to Europe? Real Madrid legend ready to leave Monterrey to chase shock Spain return ahead of World Cup

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos is reportedly poised to leave Mexican club Monterrey and return to European football, driven by a desire to represent Spain at the 2026 World Cup. The 39-year-old defender has decided against renewing his contract with Rayados, which is nearing its expiry, hoping to bow out with a Liga MX title.

  • Ramos prioritises family and national team ambitions

    Ramos’s decision to depart Mexico stems from two primary factors: a preference for family life in Europe compared to Mexico, and a lingering ambition to play for the Spanish national team again. The states that Ramos believes consistent playing time in a top-level European competition brings him closer to the style of play preferred by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, thereby increasing his chances of a recall.

    Despite turning 40 next March, just months before the World Cup in North America, Ramos has not given up on adding to his record 180 caps for La Roja. He last played for his country in March 2021 and was subsequently omitted from the squads for Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Euro 2024 by former coach Luis Enrique and current boss De la Fuente respectively.

    A report from draws a parallel with Aymeric Laporte, who left Saudi Arabia to return to Europe with Athletic Club, a move that bolstered his standing with the national team. Ramos hopes a similar path will convince De la Fuente that he can still contribute at the highest international level.

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    Impact during Monterrey spell

    Ramos joined Monterrey on a one-year deal in 2025 and has made his mark during his brief time in Liga MX. He featured in the Club World Cup for the Mexican side, where he became the oldest goalscorer in the tournament's history. His time there also saw him receive the 30th red card of his illustrious career, further cementing his reputation as a fierce, if sometimes ill-disciplined, competitor.

    Beyond his on-field contributions, where he provided defensive solidity for one of Mexico's biggest clubs, Ramos's presence brought significant commercial and media impact to Monterrey. However, with his contract running down, his departure now seems inevitable as he seeks a new challenge closer to home for the second half of the season.

  • Potential European destinations emerge

    While a return to La Liga remains a possibility, it is considered difficult to imagine Ramos playing for any Spanish clubs other than his former teams, Real Madrid and Sevilla. Consequently, several other European options are reportedly being explored.

    Reports suggest that Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille are among the clubs that could offer Ramos a route back into European football. Roma are currently mounting a surprising title challenge in Serie A under Gian Piero Gasperini and boast the league's meanest defence. Ramos's vast experience and leadership could prove invaluable to their relatively young backline during the title run-in.

    Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are recovering from a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign. Following a managerial change, they are looking to close the eight-point gap to leaders Bayern Munich. Having lost several key players in the summer, Ramos is viewed as a potential stopgap signing who could provide direction and stability.

    In Ligue 1, Marseille are enjoying an excellent season under Roberto De Zerbi, sitting just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Given Ramos’s history with PSG, his arrival at their arch-rivals would add significant intrigue to the title race. His experience in high-pressure situations could help Marseille sustain their pursuit of a first league title in years.

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    What next for Sergio Ramos?

    Ramos will now focus on finalising his departure from Monterrey as his contract winds down. His representatives will be aiming to secure a move to a European club in the upcoming January transfer window, ensuring he is playing regularly at a high level in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. His performance in the second half of the European season will be crucial in determining whether his dream of a final international recall can become a reality.

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