The shoulder injury is not as serious as earlier expected, and the middle-order batsman is likely to be fully fit in time for the team’s departure

Nagraj Gollapudi08-May-2019Kedar Jadhav’s IPL may have come to a premature end because of a shoulder injury, but his World Cup spot is likely to remain intact. ESPNcricinfo understands that the Indian selection committee, led by MSK Prasad, has been told that Jadhav’s injury might not be as serious as was earlier feared.With the ICC’s playing conditions for the World Cup allowing teams to make changes to their preliminary squads of 15 until May 23, it is believed that Prasad’s panel will wait till as close as possible to the Indian team’s departure before naming a replacement for Jadhav, if they are forced to.Last Sunday, playing in Chennai Super Kings’ final league match in the IPL, against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, Jadhav hurt his left shoulder while fielding in the deep. He left the field immediately and did not return.It was understood at the time that Jadhav’s IPL was likely over, and on Tuesday evening, Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the news to the host broadcaster on the sidelines of his team’s Qualifier 1 face-off against Mumbai Indians, which they lost.”Well, he is out for us, and then it is just about being accurate with that assessment,” Fleming said. “He was going through the scans and working with Patrick Farhart (the Indian team physiotherapist), so there’s obviously one eye now on the World Cup and getting him fit.”But from our point of view, he is certainly out of the tournament.”The selection panel is understood to have received an update from Farhart, which indicates that Jadhav is likely to be fully fit before the Indian squad departs for the World Cup on May 22. India play their first match at the World Cup on June 5, against South Africa.In case Jadhav can’t make the trip, the selectors will pick a replacement from the standby list of five players: Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma. Incidentally, Saini is also part of the quartet of fast bowlers who will travel with the squad to the World Cup to function as net bowlers, the other three being Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.

Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign a "criminally underrated" alternative to heavily-linked midfielder Amadou Onana this month, according to reports.

Edu eyeing new midfielder for Arsenal

As per widespread rumours in the last few months, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are eager to bring in a new central midfielder this month.

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They've been linked with the likes of Onana and Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz beforehand, with journalist Sacha Tavolieiri making a big claim last week that Arsenal had opened talks for the former.

Thomas Partey's reoccurring injury problems have been a source of real frustration for Arteta and co this season, with Mohamed Elneny and Jorginho also looking set to leave when their contracts expire at the end of 2023/2024.

Onana, though, is rumoured to cost around £50 million, and it is believed that Arsenal will have to weigh on the cautionary side when it comes to abiding by Financial Fair Play laws.

The north Londoners spent over £200m on new recruits in the summer window, including a deal for club-record signing Declan Rice, so their January budget may also be limited as a result.

Amadou Onana

January 9th

Youssouf Fofana

December 8th

Douglas Luiz

December 22nd

Pedri

January 3rd

Alternative options to Onana may well be a prudent idea from Edu's perspective, if Arteta is indeed determined to shore up his numbers in the middle of the park.

Arsenal offered Jordan Henderson deal

According to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, sharing information to HITC, former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is a name who's been floated to the club. The Al-Ettifaq star is apparently eager to make a return to Europe, with Arsenal offered the chance to sign Henderson and make that dream a reality.

However, it is believed Ajax is a far more likely destination for the 33-year-old, as the player and his representatives prepare to open exit talks with Al-Ettifaq.

Henderson is a player of real English top flight experience, though his age and high salary could be a sticking point for Arsenal.

That being said, Trent Alexander-Arnold has sung the praises of his ex-teammate, calling him "criminally underrated".

“I think he is criminally underrated as a footballer,” said Alexander-Arnold. “He is someone who can influence games. When people think of him, they think about shouting, running and the dirty side of the game, but on the ball, he is technically an outstanding footballer.

“He is a natural-born leader and you can tell it is not forced, it’s completely natural."

Leeds United return to action on Saturday afternoon as they host Ipswich Town in a mammoth Championship clash at Elland Road.

The Tractor Boys are currently second and ten points clear of the Whites in the race to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

A win for Daniel Farke's side will cut the gap to single digits but three points for the opposition would put them 13 points clear and give Leeds a mountain to climb during the second half of the season.

The Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by Coventry at Elland Road last time out and the German tactician could look to make some changes to his starting XI from that match.

With this in mind, here is FFC's predicted Leeds line-up to face Kieran McKenna's Ipswich in Yorkshire this weekend…

1 Illan Meslier

Starting off between the sticks, French giant Illan Meslier should maintain his position as the number one ahead of Karl Darlow. He has started every single Championship game so far this season and there has not been anything to indicate that will change this weekend.

2 Djed Spence

At right-back, Djed Spence could start in his natural position for the first time this season in order to facilitate a change on the other flank for the Whites.

The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender is a dynamic full-back who could provide an attacking thrust down the right on his favoured foot against the Tractor Boys, instead of being shifted onto his weaker foot.

3 Joe Rodon

At the heart of the defence, the Wales international Joe Rodon could be tasked with keeping out the likes of George Hirst, Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson.

The Spurs loanee won eight of his nine duels and made three tackles, one interception, one block, and one clearance last time out against Coventry.

4 Pascal Struijk

Alongside Rodon, Pascal Struijk could don the armband once again to lead the Whites into battle. The Dutch central defender made three interceptions and two tackles against Coventry last weekend.

5 Junior Firpo

The first personnel change to the XI could come at left-back as Junior Firpo has been back in training and is likely to be in contention to feature on Saturday.

Stuart Dallas, Sam Byram, and Jamie Shackleton, who are all capable of playing on the left side of the defence, are all unavailable for selection through injury.

Firpo is a natural left-footer and would, therefore, offer more balance in possession down that flank, rather than Spence having to come inside onto his right.

The former Barcelona full-back's last start came in the 1-1 draw away at Rotherham earlier this season and he won eight of his 16 duels and created one chance in 70 minutes on the pitch.

6 Glen Kamara

In midfield, Glen Kamara could once again line up in the middle of the park. The summer signing from Rangers has been a metronome for the Whites with his pass success rate of 92%.

He has also provided a bit of bite with 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game to go along with a duel success rate of 66%, which shows that the Finland international is able to dominate opposition players in physical contests.

7 Ethan Ampadu

Alongside Kamara, the Wales international Ethan Ampadu could retain his position as Leeds' midfield enforcer in front of the back four.

He has made 3.6 tackles and interceptions combined and 7.6 ball recoveries per match across 22 Championship starts since his transfer from Chelsea.

Ahead of this match, Farke revealed that the central midfielder is ready to feature once again in spite of the workload he has been put through so far this season.

8 Jaidon Anthony

The second alteration to the XI could come on the right side of the attack as Jaidon Anthony could be unleashed from the start over Daniel James.

Farke has confirmed that there will be rotation in order to manage the busy festive schedule and that could open the door for the Bournemouth loanee to come in.

Anthony has only started two league matches so far this season, and has scored one goal, and could be given a rare chance to impress.

James managed zero goals, zero assists, and one key pass in the last two matches – both of which he started – and could be rested for this clash.

9 Mateo Joseph

In the number ten role, Farke could spring a surprise by finally unleashing academy starlet Mateo Joseph from the start ahead of Joel Piroe.

This may seem like a risk on paper, given the opposition, but the head coach has previously made bold decisions with young players.

For example, he handed a full league debut to Max Aarons at Norwich against Ipswich in their East Anglian derby clash at Portman Road in 2018 at the age of 18.

Of course, the England U21 international went on to be a crucial player for the Canaries and Joseph could follow in his footsteps with a breakthrough performance on Saturday.

Joseph has scored 19 goals in 33 U21 matches for Leeds and could provide a "threat" – as was once claimed by his former boss Michael Skubala – at the top end of the pitch.

Piroe has failed to register a goal or an assist in his last three league outings and could be ditched to make way for the talented young ace.

10 Crysencio Summerville

On the left flank, Crysencio Summerville should keep his place as the Dutch winger has consistently been a standout performer for the Whites out wide this season.

He has produced ten goals, six assists, and ten 'big chances' created in 19 league appearances from the left wing, which shows that the talented young gem has the potential to be a match-winner for the Whites.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is walking a tight-rope at the moment and the side's 3-1 loss at home to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day was their sixth in the last seven outings in all competitions.

Furthermore, the Magpies travel to Anfield to take on league-leaders Liverpool on New Year's Day which could potentially be the club's seventh loss since the beginning of December.

Howe's 3/10 Newcastle star was as bad as Almiron in shock Forest defeat

The Magpies lost their sixth match from seven across all competitions, with multiple aces flattering to deceive.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 26, 2023

If the Geordie outfit are to climb their way back up the Premier League table, the upcoming January transfer window will be of paramount importance and Howe has previously eyed up one potential target who could take Newcastle to the next level.

Newcastle transfer news – Pedro Goncalves

Reports back in September suggested that Newcastle were keen to battle it out with Liverpool for Sporting Clube de Portugal's star playmaker Pedro Goncalves. The Portuguese giants confirmed that Goncalves has a £70m release clause inserted into his contract, having penned a new deal with the club back in August to fend off any interest.

The Portugal international is not a rookie to English football, having joined Wolverhampton Wanderers' youth academy back in 2017 when Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge, although the versatile midfielder made merely one appearance for the Midlands club which came in August 2018 as a substitute in a 2-0 away win over Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup.

Nevertheless, Goncalves has done sensationally well since returning to his native country for £5.4m back in 2020 and has registered 104 goal contributions in 164 matches for Sporting, including 64 goals and 40 assists and was labelled a "superstar" by journalist Jack Collins. Now, Goncalves could be Howe's saviour.

Pedro Goncalves' stats this season

Newcastle have been struggling to score in recent weeks. Across the club's six defeats in all competitions since the start of December, the side have scored merely three goals. One of the reasons for this has been Sean Longstaff's inability to create chances for his teammates.

Against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, the 26-year-old failed to create a single opportunity and ended the game with a measly expected assists tally of 0.03. Furthermore, the boyhood Newcastle fan made merely three passes into the final third throughout the match, according to FotMob, before being replaced in the 71st minute.

Alexander Isak is currently the Magpies' top goalscorer this season but has found the net once in his last six matches. Meanwhile, Newcastle's second-highest scorer Callum Wilson has bagged one goal in his last nine appearances in all competitions.

Nonetheless, it's not a case of the pair not being able to tuck away chances. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Isak has scored ten goals this season from an xG of 9, while Wilson has scored 8 goals from an xG of 7.6, as per FBref. The duo are very capable of finishing opportunities but high-quality chances are coming few and far between for them. This is where Goncalves can offer a helping hand.

The 25-year-old has registered six assists this season to complement his six goals in 26 matches. Overall with Sporting, Goncalves has recorded 40 assists in 152 matches which is an average of one assist every 3.8 games.

In contrast, Longstaff has registered ten assists in 159 appearances for the Magpies, an average of one assist every 15.9 games. Additionally, Goncalves has been a much more productive player this term than the man he could potentially replace at St. James' Park.

Per 90 Metrics	Pedro Goncalves	Sean Longstaff
Goals	0.35	0.17
Expected Goals	0.48	0.13
Assists	0.23	0.06
Expected Assists	0.29	0.1
Progressive Carries	3.22	0.65
Progressive Passes	5.32	5.03
Key Passes	2.28	0.92
Passes To Penalty Area	1.52	0.78
Crosses	5.91	0.85
Stats via FBref

This could be a really expensive acquisition but one that could save Newcastle from downing this season and a deal should certainly be explored this winter – handing Howe not only an upgrade on Longstaff, but also the man to truly unlock Isak in attack.

Tottenham have been named as a credible landing spot for one club's "underrated" striker who's even been likened to their record goalscorer Harry Kane.

Postecoglou lacks out and out number nine at Spurs

Apart from Richarlison, who's recently started to turn a corner at Spurs, manager Ange Postecoglou is arguably bereft of natural centre-forward options.

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This hasn't deterred Tottenham's chase for Champions League qualification for the most part, as captain Son Heung-min has often thrived in the role this season. When the South Korea star isn't taking up Kane's former mantle, Richarlison is put there, with the Brazilian now showcasing his best form since joining Spurs from Everton in 2022.

Richarlison boasts six goals in his last seven top-flight appearances for the Lilywhites, and Postecoglou will be absolutely thrilled by his striker's real turnaround lately.

Nevertheless, there have still been recent suggestions that Tottenham could move to sign a striker this year. While Postecoglou has coped extremely well in his first season without club legend Kane, a few injuries up top would put them in a more precarious position.

Young striker Alejo Veliz is also out for months after picking up a knee injury in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth earlier this month, so the South American isn't even an option they can turn to. Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke is on Tottenham's radar among other names, like Brentford forward Ivan Toney.

The England international has been linked with a move to north London, whether it be with Spurs or Arsenal, who are billed as the major contenders for Toney's signature.

Tottenham named as credible destination for Toney

While they're thought to be underdogs in the race, journalist Ryan Taylor has refused to discount Spurs and names them as a credible destination. Indeed, the journalist suggests Toney could still end up joining Tottenham in 2024, when speaking on The Spurs Chat Podcast this week.

“I have always understood that Spurs are a team that have been looking at Toney," said Taylor.

"I don’t know if they have the muscle to compete with Chelsea and Arsenal at the end of the season. People have shot down Spurs’ interest in Toney, whereas the information I’ve had is don’t rule out Spurs."

The 27-year-old was a star player for Brentford last season, scoring 20 league goals, and he is now eligible to return from his ban for alleged gambling breaches in their next game.

Timo Werner

Arrival (loan)

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (permanent)

Eric Dier

Departure (loan)

Djed Spence

Departure (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Departure (loan)

Called "underrated" by sections of the press (Dean Jones), Arsenal captain Declan Rice has also likened him to Kane for his playmaking ability.

"He's kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he's not only an out-and-out striker, he's a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have," said Rice to talkSPORT.

If RCB win both their remaining matches and other results work out well for them, they can still make the last four

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-2019Though Royal Challengers Bangalore are at the bottom of the table with just eight points, there are still a couple of ways by which they can reach the playoffs.The first condition, of course, is that they win their remaining two games, which gives them 12 points. That would obviously mean a loss each for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, which will mean Royals reach a maximum of 12 points, that if they beat Delhi Capitals.The second condition is that Sunrisers must lose to Mumbai Indians on May 2, and stay on 12 points.Whoever wins the Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders match must then lose their final game. Kings XI play theirs at home against Chennai Super Kings, while Knight Riders play theirs away, in Mumbai.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe winners of the Kings XI v Knight Riders game will then have 12 points, while the losers will have either 10 or 12 points depending on the result of their final game.So, basically, if Royal Challengers win their final two games, Sunrisers lose theirs, Royals beat Capitals, the Kings XI v Knight Riders winners lose their final game and the losers win theirs, then five teams – Royals, Royal Challengers, Kings XI, Sunrisers and Knight Riders – will be on 12 points, leaving net run-rate to decide who qualify for the playoffs.The best-case scenario for Royal Challengers is (a) Royals lose to Capitals, and (b) Kings XI and Knight Riders both lose their final games. That will leave just three teams on 12 points: Sunrisers, Royal Challengers and the winners of Kings XI v Knight Riders, while the other two teams will be on 10.The other part, though, is that Royal Challengers need to get their net run-rate up. It’s currently the lowest (-0.694), so they need to win their remaining two games by big margins and hope the teams around them lose by big margins too. Sunrisers’ net run-rate of +0.709 is a big problem for them. They not only have to beat Sunrisers by a big margin but hope Mumbai do too, so that net run-rate slides. Knight Riders also have a positive net run-rate (+0.1), so ideally Royal Challengers would want Kings XI to beat them and stop them getting to 12 points. If Royal Challengers, Kings XI and Sunrisers are the teams to finish on 12 points, then there’s some hope for Royal Challengers, but again, only if Sunrisers lose their last two emphatically.

Jorge Mendes has put Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao forward as a possible replacement for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.

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Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consentBlues linked to several possible replacementsMendes hopes to bring Porto boss to LondonWHAT HAPPENED?

The agent, who previously represented Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, has formed a close relationship with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, according to a report from and has suggested to the American that Conceicao would be a good option to appoint as the next Blues boss.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea are in the market for a new manager after Pochettino's departure by mutual consent was announced on Tuesday. The Argentine has left after just one season in charge, despite delivering European qualification after a strong end to the season in which they won five consecutive games.

DID YOU KNOW?

Conceicao, 49, took charge of Porto seven years ago and is contracted to the club until 2028. The former Portugal player has won three league titles as the club's manager and lifted the Taca de Portugal on three occasions, too. He has also been linked with the AC Milan job this summer.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

The Blues will start talks with candidates to replace Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna said to be among the options. However, Thomas Tuchel has also been linked with a move back to the London club and Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness is seen as a candidate, too.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo tem dois objetivos principais na partida diante da Inter de Limeira, às 17h, no estádio Major Levy Sobrinho, em Limeira, pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Paulista. O primeiro é não levar gols pela primeira vez em 2021.

TABELA
Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2021 clicando aqui

Contando as partidas, já são 12 seguidas em que Volpi precisa buscar a bola no fundo das redes. A última vez em que o São Paulo saiu ileso foi no empate por 0 a 0 contra o Grêmio, dia 30 de dezembro, pelas semifinais da Copa do Brasil. Bruno Alves, Arboleda e Diego Costa devem formar o trio defensivo.

GALERIA
Começou o Paulistão: relembre as campanhas do São Paulo no estadual neste século

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Em 2021, o São Paulo tomou 20 gols em 12 partidas, equivalente a uma média de 1,66 por jogo. No entanto, o Tricolor busca soluções para melhorar o desempenho defensivo, principalmente no começo da ‘Era Crespo’. Diante do Bota-SP, a equipe jogou com três zagueiros, mesma formação na vitória sobre o Flamengo, por 2 a 1, na última rodada do Brasileirão.

Crespo falou sobre o assunto na coletiva após o empate contra o Pantera e falou sobre a adaptação dos defensores.

– Hoje optamos por três zagueiros, mas também podemos jogar com uma linha de quatro, porque nem todas as partidas e adversários são iguais. Para jogar com uma linha de quatro ou com três zagueiros é necessário tempo e trabalho. Vamos tentar nos adaptar às necessidades da partida, mas o que não vai mudar é a ideia, a proposta de sermos protagonistas – afirmou.

Primeira vitória de Crespo
É bem verdade que o novo treinador teve somente uma partida no comando do São Paulo – empate por 1 a 1 contra o Botafogo-SP. Porém, uma vitória diante da Inter de Limeira pode trazer mais tranquilidade ao trabalho do treinador.

O São Paulo está com novidades na rotina de treinamentos. Com a chegada da comissão técnica, o elenco vem realizando atividades em dias de jogos como mandante.

Foi assim contra o Botafogo-SP, no último domingo e será repetido no sábado, quando a equipe treina na parte da manhã e joga diante do Santos, no Morumbi, às 19h, pela terceira rodada do Paulistão. A ideia da comissão técnica do Tricolor é dar mais consistência ao novo estilo de jogo e facilitar o entendimento das ideias para um bom aproveitamento em campo.

Southampton are now staggeringly 19 games unbeaten in the Championship after a thumping 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend. Russell Martin's Saints are on song and look like a tough nut to crack at the top end of the division.

The south coast side are now within touching distance of the top two places in the division, with the whole squad playing their part against the Owls – four different goalscorers chipping in against Danny Rohl's beleaguered away side to secure a comprehensive win.

Yet, although Adam Armstrong got on the scoresheet himself for the high-flyers in the victory, the prolific Southampton man could be supercharged even further with this potential addition in through the door at St Mary's this month.

Southampton going after Premier League winger

talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook revealed on social media late last month that the promotion-chasing Saints were interested in bringing David Brooks to the club on loan, with a further development recently only adding more fuel to the fire over a potential deal.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT in the past few days, journalist Dean Jones confirmed that Martin's side are going after Brooks with the transfer 'one to genuinely keep an open mind about' from a Southampton perspective.

A deal to bring in the current AFC Bournemouth winger could see Armstrong moved back to a far more comfortable centre-forward position, Martin shoehorning his star-man into a right-wing role owing to Che Adams' upturn in form.

Acknowledging that this decision to play the Saints number nine out wide recently has made Armstrong a 'bit annoyed' when speaking to BBC Radio Solent directly after the Wednesday demolition job, bringing in Brooks could see Martin opt to start the exciting Cherries attacker there instead to link up with Armstrong up top.

If Adams also decides to move on from St Mary's this transfer window, it's a win-win deal for all involved.

Why Brooks would benefit Armstrong

Brooks and Armstrong could make the Southampton attack even more terrifying for Championship defences to attempt to thwart, 4-0 and 5-0 wins on their own patch becoming customary now even without the additional firepower of the Welsh winger in the side.

During his last full campaign at this level for the Cherries, the slick attacker managed to contribute to 11 goals in total with five goals and six assists tallied from 32 games.

With those numbers in the Saints set-up now, Brooks wouldn't be far off the likes of Samuel Edozie and Ryan Fraser who both have five and seven assists next to their name respectively in an attack just oozing strength in numbers.

Yet, the 26-year-old can stand out from the pack making the short trip across the South Coast from Bournemouth to Southampton if signed.

Boasting a promotion to the Premier League on his Cherries CV could make him a worthwhile buy alone, alongside glowing comments from previous managers who single out how dazzling Brooks can be on his day.

At the peak of his powers in the top flight during the 2018/19 season – helping himself to five goals and seven assists across a breakthrough season – the then Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe praised Brooks for his "intelligent" play on the ball after scoring in a 2-0 win over Brighton. Further praise would be forthcoming during Scott Parker's time at the helm, the former midfielder labelling Brooks as "first-class".

Armstrong being unleashed back in a lone striker role is a no-brainer move, the 26-year-old becoming more of an assist machine than a goalscoring one in recent weeks but could well be the prolific finisher Southampton require to mount a more aggressive charge for the automatic promotion spaces.

Finding the back of the net an astounding 70 times at second-tier level during his career to date, Martin will hope the goals continue to flow with Brooks next to him in the team with a promotion to celebrate come the end of the season as a result.

David Beckham says he does not see himself as Lionel Messi's "boss", despite being the co-owner of MLS outfit Inter Miami.

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• Messi in awesome form for Inter Miami
• Beckham refuses to call himself star man's boss
• Legend can't believe he signed him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Beckham helped lure the Argentine icon to the United States after he left Paris Saint-Germain in June last year. The ex-Barcelona star has been a sensation in MLS and former Manchester United star Beckham admits that it still feels "surreal" having the attacker in the team.

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  WHAT BECKHAM SAID

  Asked what it's like to be Messi's boss, Beckham told the podcast: "I can’t look at it like that, I can’t! I just can’t."

  He added: “It felt unbelievable [bringing Messi to Miami]. And I still can’t believe it. Every time someone turns around to me and says: ‘You have Messi on your team, you realize that, don’t you?,’ it really is surreal to say that we have probably the greatest player to have ever played the game, the most successful player to have ever played the game, and he’s playing in Miami in the MLS."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi has been awesome for Inter Miami this season. The 36-year-old has scored 10 goals in MLS and assisted a further nine to help lift the Herons to the top of the Eastern Conference. He also struck twice and set up two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, though they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Beckham and his fellow Inter Miami directors will hope to see Messi lead Tata Martino's team to victory again when they travel to Canada to face Vancouver Whitecaps in their next MLS match at the weekend.