Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged the Reds to avoid making a transfer error by signing out-of-favour Real Madrid star Arda Guler.
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Hamann wants Liverpool to sign Guler
Warns the Reds of making a transfer 'mistake'
Turkish youngster facing uncertain future
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Liverpool midfielder Hamann believes Guler can become a "huge" player for Liverpool in the future, and has warned his former team that they would be making a "mistake" if they fail to sign the youngster should an opportunity arise this summer.
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WHAT DIDI HAMANN SAID
Spealong to CoinCasino, Hamann said: "I think Liverpool ending their interest in Arda Guler would be a mistake because we’ve seen young players leave big clubs and get a new lease of life.
"Alexander Isak was at Borussia Dortmund when he was 17 and it came too early, Guler went to Real Madrid and I think he is a huge talent who doesn’t get enough playing time because of the competition.
"Guler is the type of player who has huge potential, if you can find a role for him I think he will grow in confidence, he could be a huge player in the future and why not for Liverpool."
getty images
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Guler has found playing time hard to come by under Carlo Ancelotti this season. The 20-year-old has played only 1,388 minutes for Real Madrid in 2024-25, spread across 37 games, with just 13 starts.
Although Guler has struggled ever since leaving Fenerbahce almost two years ago, reports from Spain have mentioned time and again that the higher-ups at Madrid are convinced of his potential, and that he is not for sale.
However, he has attracted interest from the Bundesliga as well as Serie A, with both clubs from Milan reportedly keeping a keen eye on Guler's situation in the Spanish capital. Not just that, but Aston Villa have also joined the race if sporting director Pablo Monchi's words are to be believed.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ARDA GULER?
In Madrid's previous two fixtures, the 1-0 win against Getafe and the 3-2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, Guler proved his mettle. Against Getafe, he started in a deeper playmaking role and scored the game's only goal to keep his team afloat in the La Liga title race. Against Barca, he came on early on in the second half and helped Madrid turn the tide for a period, assisting Aurelien Tchouameni to put Los Blancos 2-1 in front. Those last few performances might just change Guler's standing in the pecking order for the last five games of the season and give him the chance to impress Real's next manager, most likely to be Xabi Alonso.
Ben Chilwell’s loan move from Chelsea to Crystal Palace has been given the famous “here we go” from Fabrizio Romano. He is set to undergo his medical on deadline day and will sign on loan at Selhurst Park until the end of the season.
Chilwell is the second player the Eagles have signed on loan from Stamford Bridge this season after Trevoh Chalobah joined the club for the season. However, he was recalled by the Blues in the middle of January. Palace may well have his replacement lined up on deadline day.
Palace target new defender
According to a report from CaughtOffside, the Eagles ‘want to add’ 24-year-old Portuguese defender Tiago Djlao to their squad in order to reinforce Oliver Glasner’s defensive options for the second half of the season. The reports reads that Palace are ‘pushing hard’ to get their man.
Deadline Day
They could face difficulties with a potential move for the centre-back. He is currently on loan at Portuguese side FC Porto, meaning parent club Juventus will have to break the current loan in order for Palace to bring him in.
Why Djalo would be a good signing
Frustratingly for Djalo, he has not had much involvement for Porto during the first half of the season, which is potentially a hint they may be willing to break his loan. The 24-year-old has featured just 12 times across all competitions, managing two goals in that time.
However, despite a tough campaign so far, the defender has been a key player in a top European side during his career. He made 102 appearances for LOSC Lille between 2019 and 2023, even featuring in the Champions League.
Djalo would be a key signing for Palace if they are aiming to replace Chalobah on deadline day. The former Eagles loanee was vital for Glasner, playing 14 times in all competitions, starting each game he featured in.
Chalobah
The South London side will certainly be glad Djalo can find the back of the net because it was something Chalobah excelled at. He managed three goals during his short stint at Selhurst Park, including one against Brighton.
To get an idea of how similar the players are, statistical comparisons on Sofascore for Djlao and Chalobah can be drawn. For this comparison, league stats from the 2024/25 campaign have been used despite the smaller sample size.
Both players are impressive on the ball, with the Portuguese defender averaging a pass accuracy of 95% in the Portuguese top flight this term, and Chalobah slightly lower at 82%. The Palace target will certainly raise the technical floor of the side.
In terms of their ability out of possession, the 24-year-old Porto man averages 5.3 ball recoveries per game, compared to 4.4 for the Chelsea man, and wins 65% of his ground duels as opposed to 59% for Chalobah.
Stat (per 90)
Djalo
Chalobah
Pass accuracy
95%
82%
Tackles and interceptions
1.6
3.1
Duels won
3.4
5.3
Ground duel win rate
65%
59%
Ball recoveries
5.3
4.4
If the Eagles can get Juve to break the loan, this could be a smart signing on deadline day. Djalo, described as a “dominant” defender by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, could raise the technical floor of the Palace side whilst also being an imposing defender.
Whether it is on a short-term loan deal or a permanent move, this could be a perfect signing for Palace and be a fantastic replacement for Chalobah. Hopefully, the addition of Chilwell isn’t the end of their deadline day business.
Romano: Crystal Palace reach deadline day agreement to sign £200k-p/w ace
Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace are closing in on a signing on transfer deadline day.
Australia, meanwhile, have moved past Pakistan to go to No. 4
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2022England have lost their top spot in the ICC ODI rankings to New Zealand after losing 3-0 to Australia in the series that ended on Tuesday. As a result, New Zealand, who had lost pole position to England in September this year, have regained their place atop the rankings chart. Australia, meanwhile, moved past Pakistan to go to No. 4 in the rankings.England, the current ODI world champions, had 119 rating points going into the series in Australia but lost six points with the three defeats. Australia now have 112 rating points, the same as third-placed India, but India have more overall points (3802 overall points to Australia’s 3572).New Zealand and England have taken turns in occupying the No. 1 spot in the ODI rankings for the last two years. New Zealand had replaced England – who had then slipped to No. 4 – at the top in May 2021 and stayed No. 1 till September 2022. A series defeat to Australia then pushed them behind England again.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland had gone into the series against Australia having just won the T20 World Cup. But the likes of David Warner, Travis Head, Steven Smith and Adam Zampa were all in brilliant touch as the hosts proved to be too good for Jos Buttler’s team.Related
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England suffered a big defeat in the third ODI after losing the first two ODIs by six wickets and 71 runs respectively. Warner and Head both hit centuries in a record partnership as Australia raced to 355 for 5 in 48 overs, with the match curtailed by rain. England never managed to get back in the game and were bowled out for 142.England’s next ODI assignment will be a three-match away series against South Africa in January next year. Australia too play South Africa in three ODIs in January, but at home.
“One-day cricket was probably my best format in international cricket, so it’s nice to be playing some white-ball and Ford Trophy,” he says
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2022
Ross Taylor smashed a 49-ball century in the previous Ford Trophy season•Margot Butcher
Ross Taylor is set to return to the Ford Trophy on Thursday for Central Districts’ first one-day match of the season. Taylor had retired from international cricket earlier this year but is still available for domestic games and is among the 13 names for Central Districts’ opening game against Otago.This will be Taylor’s 20th season for Central Districts, the only team he has represented in New Zealand domestic cricket. He was their top-scorer last season on their way to the final with a tally of 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 137.43, which included two half-centuries and a 49-ball hundred against Wellington.”It was good to make the final last year, but hopefully we’ll go one better this year,” Taylor said. “I haven’t played for CD for a while after the BLACKCAPS retirement, so it’s nice to be back playing cricket in New Zealand again, and with a lot of team-mates whom I’ve played a lot of cricket with.”One-day cricket was probably my best format in international cricket, so it’s nice to be playing some white-ball and Ford Trophy. I’m really looking forward to it.”Taylor has been training with Central Districts in recent weeks after returning from India where he played in the Road Safety World Series and Legends League Cricket – two tournaments that feature retired international players – in September and October.Will Young will lead Central Districts for the first six rounds of the Ford Trophy to give Tom Bruce a break, and Bruce will take over the captaincy for the Super Smash and the remainder of their Ford Trophy campaign.Central Districts squad Will Young (capt), Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk), Jayden Lennox, Ajaz Patel, Brett Randell, Seth Rance, Brad Schmulian, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Ray Toole
After confirming the arrivals of Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu from Arsenal and Lecce respectively, Manchester United have now reportedly joined the race to land Ruben Amorim’s next signing.
Man Utd transfer news
After struggling in his first 13 games in charge, Amorim will be desperate for Dorgu to particulalry hit the ground running in a Manchester United shirt and provide a solution to their wingback problems at long last. Heaven, meanwhile, has arrived at the Red Devils as one for the future and a player who they will hope to see provide Arsenal with one of their most frustrating regrets.
Speaking to the Manchester United website for the first time after putting pen to paper, Dorgu said: “I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family.
“I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting. There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions.”
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By
Joe Nuttall
Feb 3, 2025
Both Dorgu and Heaven may yet be the first of many arrivals under Amorim at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils already setting their sights on the summer transfer window. According to reports in Spain, INEOS have now joined the race to sign Paulo Dybala as Amorim’s next Manchester United arrival.
The AS Roma star has just over a year remaining on his current deal, but United could yet make an early summer swoop and sign an attacking midfielder who is arguably ready-made for Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. A World Cup winner with Argentina, Dybala would certainly steal plenty of headlines.
"Gem" Dybala would perfectly suit Amorim's system
As talented a manager as Amorim is, it’s been clear throughout his Manchester United reign that his new side simply does not currently suit what has been a complex system. Far too often, the former Sporting boss has been forced to use square pegs in round holes at both wingback and in the two attacking midfield roles, but both the current window and the summer should help solve those problems.
Roma's Paulo Dybala
Already, the young manager has been handed Dorgu to at least ease his wingback concerns. Now, when the summer arrives, Dybala could follow suit and provide him with an ideal attacking midfield option.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Paulo Dybala
Bruno Fernandes
Starts
14
23
Goals
5
5
Assists
2
6
Key Passes
33
49
Described as a “gem” by former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo, Dybala could yet tick the Premier League and Manchester United off his list of impressive clubs after Juventus and Roma.
Whilst there may be concerns about his age at 31 years old, Manchester United undoubtedly need players capable of stealing the spotlight sooner rather than later under Amorim.
Celtic are down but not yet out of this season’s Champions League.
On Wednesday night, in the first leg of their knockout phase tie against Bayern Munich, the Hoops were beaten 2-1, leaving them with a mountain to climb in Bavaria next Tuesday.
Daizen Maeda’s header 11 minutes from time did spark a late onslaught, but the Bundesliga leaders held on for victory.
That goal, while it may ultimately not be enough to see Brendan Rodgers’ reach the round of 16, did set some Celtic history, but it’s a star from the last time Celtic reached the Champions League knockout stages 12 years ago who’s been in the news since.
Daizen Maeda's record-breaking tally
Maeda’s late goal in mid-week was his fourth in this season’s Champions League, having previously netted against Slovan Bratislava, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge during the league phase.
Daizen Maeda
This makes the Japanese forward the first Celtic player since Joe Craig in 1977/78 to score four or more goals in a single European Cup campaign; three of Craig’s four goals came against Luxembourgish outfit Jeunesse Esch, the other when then Austrian champions Wacker Innsbruck visited Glasgow.
Some seriously talented strikers have reached three goals in the intervening years, as the table below documents.
Players
Goals
Season
Daizen Maeda
4
2024/25
Adam Idah
3
2024/25
Moussa Dembélé
3
2016/17
Georgios Samaras
3
2012/13
Kenny Miller
3
2006/07
Chris Sutton
3
2003/04
Henrik Larsson
3
2001/02
Mo Johnston
3
1986/87
Of course, Adam Idah could join his teammate on four goals, albeit next Tuesday’s trip to the Allianz Arena appears likely to be his last chance to do so.
However, another former Celtic centre-forward, who played a starring role in the historic Champions League campaign of 2012/13, has been in the news this week, after making a rather unusual career choice.
Celtic's 'best striker' after Larsson
On Thursday evening, Isthmian League North Division club Maldon & Tiptree announced the signing of Gary Hooper.
Nicknamed the Jammers, they ply their trade in England’s eighth tier, but have just been the subject of a ‘multi-million pound’ takeover by Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow.
Former Manchester City and West Ham midfielder Kevin Horlock, who’s just been appointed manager, says the club’s aim is to get into the Football League, a feat they would require four promotions to achieve.
Where Are They Now
Well, the new owners are certainly spending big to achieve this objective, first signing goalkeeper Elliot Justham from National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on Wednesday, but Hooper is certainly the biggest name addition they’ve made so far.
Maldon & Tiptree, who are currently 15th in the table, visit Cambridge City at their brand-new stadium in Sawston on Saturday, so it’ll be interesting to see if Hooper debuts.
During his time at Celtic, Hooper was, as Phil Gordon of the Times puts it, absolutely ‘clinical’, described by then manager Neil Lennon as the club’s “best striker [here] since Henrik Larsson”, and his numbers are certainly comparable to the very best.
Player
Years at Celtic
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Minutes per goal
Gary Hooper
2010-13
138
82
30
136
Kyōgo Furuhashi
2021-25
165
85
19
126
Daizen Maeda
2022-present
145
52
24
194
Odsonne Édouard
2017-2021
179
87
38
140
Moussa Dembélé
2016-2018
94
51
18
121
Leigh Griffiths
2014-2022
261
123
51
118
As the table shows, Hooper’s numbers at Celtic are on par with all the best strikers who’ve come since, boasting a better minutes-per-goal ratio than both Odsonne Édouard and Maeda, scoring only three fewer goals than Kyōgo Furuhashi in 27 fewer games.
The Englishman’s contribution to the 2012 Champions League campaign, scoring home and away during victories over Spartak Moskva, as the Hoops reached the round of 16, will never be forgotten.
This form earned Hooper a move to Norwich for £5m, but he didn’t live up to expectations in Norfolk, and his career has never really recovered.
He was then moved to Sheffield Wednesday, and since departing the Owls in 2019, he has represented Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand, Kerala Blasters in India, Omonia in Cyprus and Gulf United of the UAE, before returning to England, first with Barnet, then at Kettering Town and now Maldon & Tiptree, who he previously played for as a teenager.
Celtic, Maeda, Hooper
Just a few weeks on from his 37th birthday, will Hooper still have his goal-scoring instincts at Isthmian League North Division level?
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Football is a brutal business, and while he still has his supporters, Ange Postecoglou’s time as Tottenham Hotspur manager could be coming to an end.
The Australian has transformed the Lilywhites from a dismally dull team into one of the most entertaining ones to watch in English football.
However, his ultra-attacking brand of football and horrendous luck with injuries has seen his side fall to 14th place in the Premier League and be knocked out of both domestic cup competitions this season.
TottenhamHotspur manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the match
While he might be able to steady the ship when his players start to return, he may not have the chance, as recent reports have suggested that he might be just a game away from the sack, which could see the club bring in a manager who’d be perfect for Mathys Tel and the other youngsters in the squad.
Tottenham's manager search
According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Tottenham board are set to decide on Postecoglou’s future following the game against Manchester United on the weekend, which looks like it could be a tough test for the weary Lilywhites side.
In worse news for the Australian, the report has revealed that the club has recently identified two potential replacements already plying their trade in the Premier League: Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Bournemouth’s Adoni Iraola.
However, it seems incredibly unlikely that either of them will leave their current sides mid-way through the campaign, which could mean Daniel Levy and Co turn their attention to a European manager who’s currently out of a job and was quite heavily linked with Spurs last month: Edin Terzić.
Terzić vs Postecoglou
Manager
Terzić
Postecoglou
Games
96
80
Wins
55
39
Draws
20
11
Losses
21
30
Points per game
1.93
1.60
All Stats via Sofascore
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has been out of work since leaving the German behemoths in June last year, and while appointing him as the new Spurs boss could raise a few eyebrows, there are some reasons why it could be a brilliant idea.
Why appointing Terzić would be a great idea
There are two main reasons why Terzić could be the perfect manager to replace Postecoglou at Spurs, and the first is how he develops young stars.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
It would be fair to say one of the few positives to come out of this season for Spurs is the emergence of Mikey Moore from the academy and how well Archie Gray, Lucas Bergval, and now even Tel have adapted to the first-team.
Therefore, it would make sense to bring in a head coach with a proven track record of developing talent, and thanks to his time with Dortmund, the German certainly has that.
For example, while the talent has always been there, he was able to platform Jude Bellingham in a way that took him from a prospect to a Galactico in the space of a few years.
He helped Erling Haaland continue his development as well, and in an interview with the Bundesliga website, the Norwegian superstar was more than happy to praise his then-manager, saying, “Edin and I have a good relationship ever since I came here and we’ve been talking a lot about different things.”
Highest scorers under Terzic
Player
Games
Goals
1. Marco Reus
104
25
2. Donyell Malen
73
25
3. Erling Haaland
27
24
4. Julian Brandt
115
23
5. Jude Bellingham
71
17
6. Youssoufa Moukoko
72
16
7. Jadon Sancho
44
16
Stats via Transfermarkt.
So, if he has been able to help incredible prospects reach world-class status in the past, why wouldn’t he be able to do the same with someone like Tel, who produced 16 goal involvements in just 1406 minutes of first-team football last season?
The second reason hiring the “incredible” 42-year-old, as dubbed by former Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, would be a good idea is that he led Dortmund to German Cup glory in 2021, came painfully close to winning the league and Champions League, and has a better record in his last stint with the team than Postecoglou has with Spurs.
For example, in 96 games, he oversaw 55 wins, 20 draws, 21 defeats and an average of 1.93 points per game, while the Australian has taken charge of 80 games since getting the job in 2023 and overseen 39 wins, 11 draws, 30 losses and an average of just 1.60 points per game.
Ultimately, if Spurs are going to get rid of Ange in the middle of the season, then signing Terzic might be their best option, not only because he did well with Dortmund but also because he has a proven track record of getting the most out of young talents, which could be perfect for the likes of Moore, Gray and Tel.
Instead of signing Tel: Spurs could unleash sensational Hotspur Way talent
A chase of 134 became severely dicey at 72 for 6 but the captain stood up big time
Tristan Lavalette26-Dec-2022
Ashton Turner led Perth Scorchers to a tight victory•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Captain Ashton Turner held his nerve to steer Perth Scorchers past league-leaders Adelaide Strikers in a low-scoring thriller at Optus Stadium.Chasing a modest 134, Scorchers were in disarray at 72 for 6 before Turner and Jhye Richardson combined for a 43-run partnership.It came down to the decisive 19th over with Turner smashing 16 runs off three deliveries from quick Henry Thornton to effectively ice the match.Turner superbly rescues Scorchers Scorchers’ new-look batting order has had a mixed bag this season. They smashed their highest ever total with 229 for 7 against Melbourne Stars last time but were brought back to earth against Strikers.Their batting largely revolves around Faf du Plessis and Josh Inglis, both of whom smashed rapid half-centuries against Stars, but fell amid a disastrous first 10 overs here.Scorchers’ chances appeared slim but Turner never lost his composure and received strong support from Richardson. Turner wisely kept the power surge up his sleeve and finally claimed it in the 19th over with Scorchers needing 19 runs for victory.Richardson fell first ball in the over before Turner flipped the match on its head with a trio of big blows to whip the home crowd into a frenzy. It was a return to form for Turner whose batting across formats has nosedived in recent years.Turner, who has played nine ODIs and 18 T20Is for Australia, is highly regarded for his tactical nous and is seen as arguably the best captain in the BBL.More performances like this could see him return to the national fold, especially with Australia looking for more leadership options in limited-overs cricket.Strikers gamble with spin until decisive over Wes Agar was a shock omission having memorably claimed 4 for 6 in Strikers’ extraordinary rout of Sydney Thunder, while he also claimed a three-wicket haul last start against Brisbane Heat.Adelaide Strikers’ spinners put in a massive shift trying to defend 133•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
But Strikers’ brains trust had a plan. They believed Scorchers’ batters weren’t as proficient with the pace off so selected offspinner Ben Manenti for his Strikers debut after crossing over from Sydney Sixers.It looked like a masterstroke with Manenti snaring the key wicket of Inglis. It was one of four picked up by Strikers’ three spinners.A tense game went down to the wire and the captain Peter Siddle had a major decision to make ahead of the 19th over. He was deliberating between in-form quick Thornton, who had been expensive, and spinners Manenti and Matt Short, who had both performed well earlier in the innings.Siddle went with Thornton in a move that ultimately backfired.Spinner Hatzoglou justifies selection Scorchers’ strong pace attack has been the backbone of their success since the BBL’s inception, particularly on bouncy home surfaces. But for this game, they decided to back legspinner Peter Hatzoglou over seamer Matt Kelly, who was expensive in their season opener against Sixers at Optus Stadium.Hatzoglou, a key part of Scorchers’ title-winning team last season, didn’t put a foot wrong in their games on the road against Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars. Against Strikers, he repaid the faith with a miserly performance to concede just 22 runs from his four overs.He bowled well after the powerplay in conjunction with frontline spinner Ashton Agar, which is a blueprint for their attack on the slower pitches on the east coast.Hatzoglou might just have to be an automatic selection at home too as Scorchers’ spinners superbly backed up a trademark clinical effort from their quicks.Lynn again fails to capitalise on start There has obviously been a lot of attention on Chris Lynn, whose long career with Heat netted him the most runs in BBL history. With his new team, Lynn has shown glimpses of his muscular batting but hasn’t been able to play a signature innings yet.Lynn had a golden opportunity after coming to the crease when Henry Hunt fell in the opening over. Against trademark accuracy from Scorchers’ quicks, Lynn was tied down as Strikers endured their lowest ever four-over powerplay with just 18 runs.A determined Lynn shed the big shots as he played within himself. Working into his innings, Lynn looked ready to put the foot down with a thumping drive to the boundary off Agar but once again it proved a tease.Scampering for a quick single, Lynn was brilliantly run out by a direct underarm throw from Jason Behrendorff at cover. His 33-ball 35 top-scored for Strikers, but he would have hoped for so much more.
The BCCI’s top brass will review India’s underwhelming performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup with captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid on January 1.NCA chief VVS Laxman, who has also been with the Indian team in Dravid’s absence, is expected to be part of the meeting as well.The meeting in Mumbai is scheduled ahead of the limited-overs against Sri Lanka, which begins on January 3.England had hammered India by ten wickets in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, extending their barren run in ICC events since 2013, when they won the Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s leadership. India’s last World Cup title came in 2011 at home.The selection panel, led by Chetan Sharma, was shown the door post the World Cup, but a new panel is yet to be formed.The committee was sacked in November but it continues to track the ongoing Ranji Trophy and also picked the team for the three T20s and ODIs against Sri Lanka.The Cricket Advisory Committee, which was formed earlier this month, met in Mumbai on Friday to shortlist the list of candidates for the selectors’ posts.The panel comprises Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshana Naik.Chetan Sharma and Harvinder Singh have reapplied for the job while the others who have applied include former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad and former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia.
تحدث أرماندو مارتينيز رئيس نادي باتشوكا، عن المباراة الودية التي سيخوضها فريقه أمام الأهلي قبل انطلاق منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.
ويلاقي الأهلي نظيره باتشوكا، في معسكره المقام بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، في أولى مواجهاته مع الجهاز الفني الجديد بقيادة البرتغالي خوسيه ريبيرو.
وكان الأهلي قد وصل إلى أمريكا يوم الخميس الماضي، من أجل خوض منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، والتي تنطلق خلال الفترة من 14 يونيو حتى 13 يوليو بمشاركة 32 فريقًا لأول مرة في التاريخ.
وقال أرماندو مارتينيز في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “المباراة الودية أمام الأهلي أراها في غاية الأهمية، وستكون مفيدة جدًا لنا، لأنها عمليًا ستكون آخر مباراة نخوضها بمستوى تنافسي قبل انطلاق كأس العالم للأندية، وهي آخر مباراة تحضيرية لنا، لذا سندخلها بحماس كبير”.
وتابع: “نأمل أن نخوض مباراة رائعة نستفيد منها كثيرًا، لقد أضفنا بعض التدعيمات الجديدة للفريق، ونأمل أن ينسجموا بسرعة لنقدم أداءً جيدًا في كأس العالم للأندية”.
وأردف: “ممتن جدًا لنادي الأهلي على اهتمامه بخوض هذه المباراة معنا، وفي الحقيقة، حسبما فهمت، الأهلي هو من اختارنا، وكان خيارهم الأول فريق ليون، لكن لسبب ما لم تكتمل الأمور معهم، فاتجهوا إلينا ووافقنا بكل سرور، خصوصًا بعد التجربة الرائعة التي خضناها معهم في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال، وكانت مباراة مذهلة وتنافسية وصلت إلى ركلات الترجيح”.
واستطرد: “أعتقد أن الأهلي يمتلك فرصة، رغم أن المنافسين مثل الأندية البرازيلية والبرتغالية والأمريكية فرق قوية جدًا، لكن الأهلي يتمتع بمستوى تنافسي عالٍ، وقد أظهر ذلك في كأس إفريقيا، التي يتأهل من خلالها دائمًا إلى كأس العالم للأندية”.
واختتم: “أرى أنه يمتلك خبرة كبيرة في البطولات الدولية، وهذا سيكون له أثر إيجابي، أتمنى لهم كل التوفيق”.