GOAL gets the measure of the latest from the football zeitgeist, from CR7's big birthday to a fresh boot drop from Nike

Welcome to the Culture & Clobber Axis, where GOAL runs the rule over all the latest from the intersection of football and culture – from the sublime to the ridiculous, to what's fire and what misses completely.

The longest January on record is finally over, with the end of the transfer window and the turn of the month throwing up storylines and new drops aplenty, as an icon of the game turns 40, Nike reveal some new boots and Joao Felix has a very big week.

But where do the week's biggest talking points from the football zeitgeist place in our comprehensive axis? Let's get into it…

GOAL Ronaldo turns 40

There's nothing technically wrong with Cristiano Ronaldo turning 40, it just makes us feel very, very old. Now an icon of the game, CR7 was just 18 years old when he signed for Manchester United in 2003. The 22 years since have been quite incredible.

Having hit the big 4-0, the attacker has declared himself the unequivocal GOAT… we're not so sure about that, but it's hard to argue with him being considered the greatest the sport has ever seen.

GOAL's shout: Blatant own goal

AdvertisementTiote's son is a mascot vs Arsenal

Newcastle gave a poignant tribute to late former midfielder Cheick Tiote when they hosted Arsenal in midweek, with his son Rafael among the mascots on the 14th anniversary of his father's brilliant volley in the exact same fixture in 2011, when the Magpies came from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 courtesy of his strike.

The Toon honoured him on the pitch too, downing the Gunners with a relentless performance to secure a Carabao Cup final place and a huge chance to pick up major silverware. Lovely stuff.

GOAL's shout: Maverick worldie

Getty Images SportMan City don't like rivalries

The fallout from Arsenal's 5-1 thumping of Manchester City at the weekend has been tiresome, to say the least, with most of the rhetoric centring on Erling Haaland's now-infamous 'stay humble' jibe.

Suffice to say, the Gunners probably stay humble' as they indulged in plenty of sh*thousery in their rout of their new-found northern foes, but certain City fans' refusal to take it on the chin and flat-out denial that a rivalry can even exist before Arsenal win a trophy is downright bizarre. This is what it's all about, lads.

GOAL's shout: Maverick own goal

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NikeNike's unisex United pack

Nike has shown its commitment to the women's game by bringing together some of the world's leading ballers to form the Nike United collective, with a new boot drop to go with it.

The unisex United pack features their Tiempo, Phantom and Mercurial silos in a fresh purple and 'volt' colourway, all featuring a bold look inspired by shattered glass that was co-designed by the likes of Lauren James, Naomi Girma and Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith).

GOAL's shout: Maverick worldie

Those who play sport at a professional level are often more disciplined and talented in other areas, having spent time during their youth focusing on multiple events in order to broaden their experiences.

While some athletes have to prioritise one sport over another, several footballers have given other sports a go following retirement. Some have even played another sport to a high standard while playing football at the top level.

Former Manchester United and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan made headlines in November 2024 as he made his pro tennis debut at the ripe old age of 45 – though it ended in defeat in his hometown of Montevideo.

Varane, Van Basten, Zidane: 11 footballers who retired early

Following Raphael Varane’s recent decision to bring an end to his career, here’s a look at players who retired earlier than expected.

ByMark Marston Sep 25, 2024

We have taken a look at those who have managed to pursue another sport after retiring, or even those who have managed to perform at a high level across two sports at the same time…

1 Diego Forlán Tennis

The Uruguayan is best remembered on these shores for his poor spell with Manchester United, scoring just 17 goals for the Old Trafford side before joining Villarreal.

He lived up to his potential in Spain and led Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, scoring five goals in the process. He has taken up tennis since retiring, making his professional debut in 2024.

Playing in the doubles alongside Federico Coria at the Uruguay Open, the former striker and his partner ended up losing 6-1 6-2 in the first round.

2 Andy Goram Cricket

Andy Goram will be remembered as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Glasgow Rangers history, playing under Walter Smith for seven years and being a key component of the team that claimed nine league titles in a row.

However, he could well have made it as a cricketer. Goram is the last person to represent Scotland at both football and cricket, playing five times in the latter between 1989 and 1991.

He even faced Australia, scoring six runs against them in the process.

3 Curtis Woodhouse Boxing

Curtis Woodhouse played in the Premier League during his spell at Birmingham City, while also enjoying stints with Sheffield United, Peterborough United and Hull City, eventually making over 300 professional appearances.

After he retired, Woodhouse began making a name for himself on the boxing scene, turning professional in 2006.

During his second career, the former defender fought 31 times in total, winning 24 of those bouts, with 13 of those coming via knockout. A solid record indeed.

4 Petr Cech Ice hockey

Petr Cech was arguably one of Chelsea’s finest signings during the Roman Abramovich era, making nearly 500 competitive appearances for the Blues over 11 years, winning the Champions League, four Premier League titles and a host of other honours in London.

Once he hung up his gloves, Cech started playing ice hockey for Guildford Phoenix, before making his professional debut for the Belfast Giants in the Elite League last November.

The 42-year-old has certainly transferred his skills over from football to hockey, and he could well be a fixture in the latter sport for the next few years.

Todd Boehly's worst transfers at Chelsea… so far

There are plenty to choose from, but who has been Boehly’s biggest mistake at Stamford Bridge?

2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 5 Tim Wiese Wrestling

Tim Wiese was known for his seven seasons with German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen between 2005/06 and 2011/12, where he made a total of 266 appearances for the club, winning the German Cup in 2009.

The former goalkeeper kept 81 clean sheets for the club during his spell while receiving six caps for the German national team. Wiese was part of the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship squads, but didn’t make an appearance in either competition.

Following his retirement, Wiese revealed that he had been offered a WWE developmental contract, making the transition from football to wrestling.

He went on to sign for WWE in 2016, wrestling for them in November 2016, where he acquitted himself fairly well, possible due to the incredible physique he had developed since retiring from football.

6 Rafael van der Vaart Darts

In recent years, darts and the Netherlands have become as synonymous as football and Brazil, producing players such as Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen.

Former Ajax and Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart, who played over 100 times for his country, turned to darts following his retirement from football, although he wasn’t exactly destined to be like Van Gerwen.

Playing in the BDO Denmark Open in 2019, the former attacking midfielder made an impressive start, winning his first tie, but he lost in the following round to Mogens Christensen, averaging just 54 in the process.

7 Bixente Lizarazu Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Bixente Lizarazu made over 600 appearances in a career which saw him shine for France as they won the World Cup and European Championship in 1998 and 2000 respectively, before claiming the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2001.

After retirement, the defender turned his eye to something new – Brazilian jiu-jitsu – which he started in 2009. He even became the European champion of the sport in the senior division, showing how good Lizarazu had become at the sport.

8 Gareth Bale Golf

After Wales secured qualification for Euro 2020, Gareth Bale unfurled a banner which read: “Wales. Golf. Madrid.,” which worsened his relations with the club side Real Madrid.

It was no secret that Bale’s love of golf had seen him get out on the course more often than playing for his club, but since retirement, the Welshman took it up a notch.

He has played in several events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, BMW PGA Pro-Am, and the All-Star Ryder Cup. At the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am, Bale shot under par during his round at Carnoustie – no mean feat considering how difficult the course is, even for professionals.

With plenty of time to spare now he has retired, Bale has the chance to play as often as he likes, wherever he likes. He is also an ambassador for Underrated Golf, which provides opportunities for youngsters in Wales to hone their skills on the course.

In what could be the first signing of the Ruben Amorim era, INEOS have reportedly now made contact to sign a Champions League forward for Manchester United in 2025.

Man Utd transfer news

There’s work to be done at Old Trafford. The final few months of the Erik ten Hag era only set the Red Devils back – arguably to square one – to give Amorim the ultimate task of turning things around. The former Sporting Club boss officially arrives this week and will square off against Ipswich Town in his first game after the forthcoming international break.

Amorim wants to sign "important" ex-Man City star in first Man Utd arrival

This would be a controversial move…

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 9, 2024

With a new manager appointed and one they’ll be hoping finally solves their problems for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United look set to get ruthless, showing the door to a number of players. Among those looks likely to be Victor Lindelof, who is on course to leave as a free agent upon the expiry of his current contract at the end of the campaign.

Given recent reports linking Lindelof to AC Milan, the Swede seems almost certain to be among the departures. As he and others potentially leave, however, the Red Devils could welcome a Champions League forward.

According to reports in Spain, INEOS have made contact to sign Randal Kolo Muani for Manchester United and Amorim. The Frenchman has struggled at Paris Saint-Germain and now looks destined to leave the Ligue 1 champions just two years after arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt. In need of a revival, Manchester United could step in, with Amorim seeing the player as an interesting option.

It must be said though, that the 25-year-old could cost a hefty fee if PSG are looking to regain as much of the initial £64m that they splashed out in 2023, which would give United plenty to think about. The Red Devils have made several transfer mistakes in the past and do not need to add the £203,000-a-week forward to that list.

"Superb" Kolo Muani would be a risk

Whilst he showed potential at Nantes before truly bursting into life at Frankfurt – scoring 23 goals and assisting a further 17 in the 2022/23 campaign – Kolo Muani has simply struggled on the big stage. Even in the absence of Kylian Mbappe, he has failed to establish himself as the main man at PSG, culminating in just two Ligue 1 starts so far this season.

The 25-year-old was once described as a “superb player” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, but is not currently operating at that level. There is, of course, plenty of time to turn things around but Old Trafford is not the place to do that. In a transitional period of struggle themselves, Manchester United are in no position to help players back to their best form.

As Manchester United and Kolo Muani look to rebuild, it’d arguably be best to take a separate path.

Bernardo Silva is expecting Manchester City to make "some changes" this summer amid a "frustrating" season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man City out of Champions League
• Silva reflects on "frustrating" season
• Wants to bring club back to the top level

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City suffered their earliest Champions League exit since 2012-13 when they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the play-offs on Wednesday. Following their 6-3 aggregate defeat to Los Blancos, Portuguese star Silva is already looking to next season and trying to bring City "back to the level it should be at".

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT BERNARDO SILVA SAID

  He told : "Of course, this season so far has been very frustrating. There are things that we can no longer recover: the Champions League, winning the Premier League. We're out of the two most important competitions so we're very, very sad. I'm sure that with some changes that the club will probably make at the end of the season because that's how it is when you don't win in football, we will try to bring this club back to the level it should be at."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City won four straight Premier League titles but now they are in a real fight to qualify for next season's Champions League and could have a trophyless season for the first time since 2017. And they have the 115 charges hanging over them, too.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Silva's City will hope to bounce back from their Madrid heartache when they host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 2020 summer transfer window was a significant time for Leeds United. The Whites spent millions of pounds to prepare for their first season back in the Premier League in 16 years and even broke their record transfer fee to sign Spanish attacker Rodrygo from Valencia.

Some of the other incomings included French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who is still the club’s number one today, and Spanish centre-back Diego Llorente. However, perhaps the signing with the most significance that summer proved to be Brazilian winger Raphinha, who became a key player at the club and made crucial contributions to the Yorkshire outfit.

Raphinha’s Leeds career

Leeds paid £17m plus add-ons for the wing wizard, who joined on a four-year deal from French outfit Stade Rennais. Although he stayed at the club just two seasons, his contributions were significant and he played a huge part in keeping the club in the Premier League.

It was the winger’s penalty against Brentford on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign that ensured Leeds’ survival in the Premier League. That proved to be his last game for the club, and he made a big move to La Liga giants Barcelona that summer, for £49m up front with a potential for the deal to rise to £55m.

Indeed, he left the club with a superb record. Leeds’ former number 18 played 67 times in that famous White shirt, scoring 17 times and registering 12 assists. There were some impressive goals for the club, but none more important than the strike against Brentford.

Since his departure to Catalonia, the former Sporting star has been superb, especially this season under Hansi Flick. He has made 100 appearances for the club, scoring 29 times and grabbing 33 assists. This term, he already has nine goals and eight assists in 13 appearances, including a wonderful hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.

Raphinha has been a revelation since leaving Elland Road, and will always be remembered fondly by the Leeds faithful for his contributions to the club. Although they have never really managed to find his replacement, there could be one player they reignite interest in before long.

Who Leeds could sign to replace Raphinha

The player in question here is Marseille winger Jonathan Rowe. The English winger was a player chased by the club over the summer, but he ended up making the move to the South of France on a loan with an obligation to buy him for a package of £17m.

Pundit Don Goodman explained – in an interview with MOT Leeds News – that the Yorkshire outfit might “be there for him again” if the 21-year-old decides to return to England one day, something that Goodman has “no doubt” will happen.

So far, the England under-21 international has performed well for French outfit Marseille, who are managed by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. He has played seven times, scoring twice and grabbing an assist. However, it is worth noting that he has played just 209 minutes in Ligue 1, the equivalent of just 2.3 full 90-minute games.

This deal would certainly mirror the move that Raphinha made to Elland Road. Should this deal get over the line, it would see the Whites sign a tricky winger from Ligue 1, just as they did when the Brazilian joined four years ago. He is someone of “EPL potential” according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and would hope to prove that just as Raphinha did.

Like the Barcelona man, he is a versatile player, capable of playing in multiple attacking positions, as his time at Norwich City showed. Indeed, Barcelona’s number 11 has played in several positions this season, including on the left wing to accommodate young star Lamine Yamal.

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

Left-wing

15

1

2

Right-wing

11

4

0

Right midfield

8

5

0

Left midfield

3

1

0

Attacking midfield

3

1

1

Second striker

1

0

0

Signing Rowe could be an inspirational move from Leeds. Not only is he a quality winger who has an impressive record in few minutes this term, but signing a winger from Ligue 1 has been incredibly successful in the past for Leeds.

If this deal was to be anywhere near as good as the one that brought Raphinha to Elland Road, then Leeds supporters are in for a real treat.

Worth more than Raphinha: Leeds star has seen value soar by £40m since exit

This former Leeds United star has come on leaps and bounds since exiting Elland Road.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 24, 2024

Over the last couple of years, Everton have managed to stabilise a sinking ship on the pitch, since the appointment of Sean Dyche back in January 2023.

The 53-year-old builds his side with the impetus of being solid defensively, often nicking the game with the odd goal after managing to shut out the opposition’s attackers.

James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were two of the Toffees’ star performers in the Premier League last campaign, forming an impressive partnership that helped their defensive record tenfold.

They contributed to the tally of just 51 goals conceded in the 38 outings – with only the division’s top three of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City conceding fewer.

However, their attack has always been the part of their game that has prevented them from progressing, scoring just 40 times in 2023/24, with the same issue rearing its head once more this time around.

Everton’s attacking stats in the Premier League during 2024/25

Over the summer, the Everton hierarchy attempted to combat the club’s biggest issue in the final third, looking to add more firepower to Dyche’s side, subsequently allowing for improved results.

Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja were all signed as a result, with the latter still yet to feature following his arrival due to his ongoing injury issues.

The trio, combined with the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Dwight McNeil, offers a plethora of quality, forming a variety of combinations that should easily be of a mid-table Premier League side.

However, 11 matches into the new league season, the Toffees faithful are still yet to see the new look forward line click, posting a tally of just ten goals scored.

Dyche’s side have already failed to find the back of the net in five of the matches – which works out to a measly 45% of games they’ve played so far this campaign.

McNeil is currently the leading scorer within the first-team squad, netting three times in matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – with his double against Oliver Glasner’s side claiming all three points for the first time in six attempts.

However, the Toffees wouldn’t find themselves in the current disarray they are in within the final third, had they kept hold of one star who’s found his shooting boots after leaving Goodison Park.

The former Everton ace who’s outscoring Salah

Striker Moise Kean arrived on Merseyside with huge expectations following his huge £25m move from Italian side Juventus during the summer of 2019.

However, his time in England was nothing short of a disaster, featuring for a total of just 39 matches, scoring on just four occasions – costing the club £6.25m every time he found the back of the net.

The then-youngster would be sent on multiple loans to PSG and back to former side Juve, before rejoining the Serie A side for the same fee that they forked out for him four years prior.

However, he’s now plying his trade for another Italian side in the form of Fiorentina, making a phenomenal start to life with his new outfit after his transfer early this summer.

The “world-class” 24-year-old, as dubbed by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has already registered 11 goals in all competitions since the start of the season, including a hat-trick against Hellas Verona last weekend.

His subsequent tally is higher than that of Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, who’s notched ten since the appointment of Arne Slot during the off-season.

Serie A’s top goalscorers in 2024/25 so far

Player

Tally

1) Mateo Retegui

11

2) Moise Kean

8

3) Marcus Thuram

7

4) Ademola Lookman

6

= Dušan Vlahović

6

5) Láutaro Martínez

5

Stats via FotMob

Kean’s league tally of eight goals is only two fewer than the entirety of Dyche’s current side put together – further highlighting his impressive form away from Merseyside.

Given the fact he was only 19 upon his big-money transfer to Goodison, more leeway should’ve been handed his way, handing him more time to settle into life in England.

However, the Italian international – who now has a peak value of around €54m (£45m), according to CIES Football Observatory – has proven that he’s still capable of producing the goods at the top level, with the Toffees undoubtedly ruing their decision to allow him to leave.

Related Sold by Dyche: Everton must rue losing ace now worth more than Branthwaite

Everton sold a high-class talent under Dyche’s wing, and now he’s worth more than Branthwaite.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 13, 2024

Todd Greenberg, the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) chief, has assured the country’s cricketers that he would travel to Pakistan with the squad if the tour gets the go-ahead, and would be fine with “one or two players” backing out of the trip.”I’ve made an assurance to the players that they won’t go alone,” Greenberg was quoted as saying by the . “If they’re going to Pakistan, I’ll be going with them and I think that’s important. It’s an opportunity to show the players that we’re in this together.”The ACA accompanied Cricket Australia on a pre-tour of Pakistan late last year, and the reports were all very positive. But we’ll continue to take the advice of DFAT [Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] and other government organisations, as we need to be able to satisfy not just the players, but their families, that it’s safe to tour.”International teams have been reluctant to travel to Pakistan since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009, though international cricket has taken place in fits and starts in the country recently. If Australia get the security clearance to travel, it would be Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998, when Mark Taylor’s side won the three-Test series 1-0.”There may be one or two players who won’t be comfortable despite the best advice we give, and that’s OK, we need to respect that,” Greenberg said.He stressed that while Australia were keen to fulfil their international commitments, they would allow players to make their own choices. “We have to be kind and patient with each other, and there’ll be a player or two who say, ‘You know what, this is not for me at this particular point in my life and career, I’m not comfortable going’,” he told SEN Radio during the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney. “If that’s the case, we need to have great respect for that.”CA chief executive Nick Hockley is also planning to travel to Pakistan for at least a part of the tour, while the interim chair Richard Freudenstein may visit for a period to meet with his counterpart Ramiz Raja, unless a new permanent chair is chosen by then, according to the report in the newspaper.Pakistan are scheduled to host Australia in March-April for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I, with the Tests in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, which will also host all the limited-overs matches.

The former Nepal coach will return to the position following the resignation of Dav Whatmore

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2021

Pubudu Dassanayake has been reappointed as head coach of the Nepal men’s national team, Cricket Association of Nepal announced at the end of their board meeting held earlier today. Dassanayake will fill the vacancy that opened up after Dav Whatmore stepped down from the position in September at the end of Nepal’s ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Oman.Dassanayake has had a successful run as coach at the Associate level over the years. From 2007 to 2011, he was with Canada, who he represented as a cricketer after migrating from Sri Lanka in 2001. He helped the team qualify for their third straight ODI World Cup, and was then appointed as Nepal coach.”I am simply gratified and blessed that I have got this opportunity to work with Cricket Association of Nepal,” he said after his appointment. “I am hopeful I would be able now to take Nepal cricket to a great height as we have immense talent not only in senior level but also in the junior level.”Related

Sandeep Lamichhane hopes to steer Nepal past 'every thick and thin' of dispute with board

Sandeep Lamichhane replaces Gyanendra Malla as Nepal captain

The Associate coach who changes fortunes

Dassanayake lost 'freedom' after USA secured ODI status

He was involved with the Nepal set-up from 2011 to 2016, guiding them from Division Four of the World Cricket League (WCL) to Division One, the WCL Championship, and to their first major ICC tournament, the 2014 T20 World Cup.After that, he served as the head coach of USA for just under three years, before resigning in July 2019. He was in charge as USA moved up from Division Four of the WCL, in November 2016, to ODI status in April 2019 after they secured a top-four finish at WCL Division Two.As a cricketer, Dassanayake, now 51, played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs as a wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 1994, before Romesh Kaluwitharana became the preferred keeper for the national team. By the turn of the millennium, he was spending his off seasons playing as an overseas club pro for Centurions CC in the Toronto suburb of Brampton. By 2001, he had left Sri Lanka for good.Though he didn’t have hopes of continuing as a cricketer in Canada, his performances with Centurions CC helped him make the Canada team once he had completed his four-year residency requirement. He made his debut at 34 in the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland, where he helped Canada qualify for the 2007 World Cup. He couldn’t take part in the tournament, though, because of his commitments as a duty manager at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club.At 36, after the 2007 World Cup, he took over as the coach of the Canada side, and has been a professional coach since.Whatmore, whose shoes Dassanayake will fill, was appointed to the position in Nepal in December 2020 and took charge in early 2021, with qualification for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia the stated focus. Whatmore, however, decided to step down shortly into his job, and it was understood at the time that his decision was influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, which had made it difficult for him to see his family because of travel restrictions.

Elsewhere, Sunzamul Islam’s 11-wicket match haul powered North Zone to a six-wicket win against East Zone

Mohammad Isam29-Dec-2021A drawn game between Central Zone and South Zone took both sides to the Bangladesh Cricket League final. Centuries from Amite Hasan, Towhid Hridoy and Zakir Hasan helped South Zone take a 13-run first-innings lead after Central Zone made 481.Hridoy top scored with 122, striking 13 fours and four sixes in his 155-ball knock. He added 201 runs for the third wicket with Amite, who made 117 with 17 fours. Amite had earlier added 108 for the second wicket with opener Pinak Ghosh, who chipped in with 74.Left-hand batter Zakir piled on the runs after the two big partnerships, hammering nine fours and two sixes in his 109 off 185 balls. He was the last man out on 494 in 158.3 overs.Earlier, Soumya Sarkar and Shuvagata Hom made 150 and 152 respectively to help Central Zone to their big first-innings total. The pair added 193 runs for the fifth wicket; Soumya struck 12 fours and three sixes in his 292-ball stay while Shuvagata hit 18 fours in his 211-ball knock.Legspinner Rishad Hossain took 5 for 129 from his 34.5 overs, his second five-for in first-class cricket. Central made 99 for 4 in the final session, with Soumya top-scoring with 43. Rishad picked up two wickets.Sunzamul Islam picked up 11 wickets in the game•WaltonLeft-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam took a match haul of 11 for 145 to power North Zone to a six-wicket win against East Zone at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. Sunzamul took an eight-wicket haul in the second innings, but it was only after left-arm quick Shafiqul Islam took 5 for 35 in the first innings that helped North Zone control the game.North Zone bowled out East Zone for 166 before taking a 144-run lead. Tanzid Hasan made 91 with the help of 14 boundaries, while Mahidul Islam Ankon and Sharifullah contributed with 48 and 49 respectively. Ifran Hossain took 5 for 56 while Tanvir Islam took three wickets.Sunzamul then took matters into his own hands, taking 8 for 98 in East Zone’s second innings to help bowl them out for 254. It was the fourth occasion that Sunzamul took eight or more wickets in an innings.North Zone then knocked off the required 111 runs in 28 overs, with Junaid Siddique top-scoring with 38.

MatériaMais Notícias

O primeiro passo da aventura internacional do Botafogo será dado. Durcesio Mello, presidente do clube, e Eduardo Freeland, com nova função nas categorias de base, embarcam para Londres na tarde desta quarta-feira. A intenção é conhecer as instalações do Crystal Palace, clube que John Textor possui ações.

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+ Inspirado no Manchester City, John Textor quer que o Botafogo tenha ‘identidade definida’ em cinco anos

A dupla ficará menos de uma semana na Inglaterra. O retorno está previsto para a próxima segunda ou terça-feira. O intuito da viagem é que eles conheçam de perto o centro de treinamento do time principal e o do plantel da base do Crystal Palace – um fica do lado do outro.

Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Reformado recentemente, o local onde os times inferiores dos Eagles treinam é considerado um dos melhores da Inglaterra. Durcesio e Freeland vão conhecer o local e conversar com dirigentes do Crystal Palace para saber mais sobre a estrutura e tentar trazer ideias ao Brasil.

John Textor deve encontrá-los durante o fim de semana. O trio vai assistir ao jogo entre Crystal Palace e Chelsea no Selhurst Park no próximo sábado às 12h (de Brasília). A partida é válida pela Premier League.

Depois, o destino de John Textor é o Brasil. O norte-americano, nas vias finais de assinar o contrato definitivo para comprar 90% da SAF do Alvinegro, desembarcará em solos tupiniquins no começo da próxima semana.