Tag Futebol

Mohammad Hafeez chats about his leadership style, his batting form, and his love for cars

Interview by Umar Farooq30-Oct-2013We heard you started a construction business.
It’s my brother who started it. I am just a brand ambassador. But I am a better cricketer than a businessman.Do you think you have leadership qualities?
I am captaining in the domestic level over the last ten years and leading the Pakistan T20 side for one and a half years. It’s a learning process. You learn every day and earn experience.Were you always able to lead?
Actually right from my childhood I always loved to contribute from the front to make a difference. I don’t know if it was a leadership thing in me but I have been this way since my early days in cricket.What is your weakness?
Speaking the truth and being honest, I have realised, is one of my key weaknesses.Do you also have a weakness against quality seam bowling?
As an opener you are always out there facing fresh bowlers and fresh pitches. So yes, someone might have felt that I struggle, but I can say this: every day I try to work on my technique. It’s good to be analysed, but I don’t think it really is one of my weaknesses.As a batsman, are you afraid of facing any bowler?
No. I never had any fear in my mind. I only have a fear of God in my heart.Do you have any secrets?
What secrets? I don’t have any. I am a simple person. Whatever I am from the inside is a true reflection of what you see outside. So there is no secret to share.How keenly do you follow your religion?
I try to do my best and follow it. Wherever I can, I push myself into it. And a lot of my success is mainly because of this. Do you think you are a safe Test prospect?
There is no doubt at all. I believe a team should be made up of the best players. The selectors thought I am not the best so they moved on without me. It’s a challenge for me to get back into the side.Did you know you were going to be dropped when you played your final innings, against Zimbabwe?
I never had such feelings in my life, thinking that something bad is going to happen and starting to rue it. I have always taken every innings as my last so that I can deliver my best.Who is your best friend in the dressing room?
Misbah. Because we debuted in domestic cricket together and he is the one with whom I have shared the dressing room a lot for regional, departmental, and international teams.You are a man of taste when it comes to cars.
Well, yes, I love to spend on my family and me. Apart from cars, I also follow fashion.Name a player who didn’t listen to you in dressing room?
I am enjoying high respect as a captain, probably because I respect everyone. But yes, as a captain you have to manage a lot of things, things that sometimes are unmanageable.Do you cook?
Not really, but I love eating different kinds of food. My wife doesn’t allow me into the kitchen. She cooks so well and her cooking always improves my mood.Do you watch movies?
Yes, mostly Bollywood but randomly and not very keenly because of my busy cricketing routine.

With his selection uncertain and his role in the side fluctuating, New Zealand selectors are failing to lure the best out of James Franklin

Andrew Fernando in Pallekele29-Sep-2012James Franklin is one of the most enigmatic figures in New Zealand cricket. When he first made it into the national side 11 years ago, he was a bowler who could bat a bit. Strangely, he was mediocre with the ball and surprisingly talented with the bat.The selectors may have been tempted to drop him for failing to perform in the role he was picked for, but given he became a bona-fide member of New Zealand’s lower-order bailout squad in the mid 2000s, alongside Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, they often couldn’t afford to leave him out. Innings like his brilliant unbeaten 45 in Queenstown, where he brought home a difficult chase against Sri Lanka from No. 8 with only the tail for company, prevented him from slipping back down into the domestic circuit completely.Franklin is a polarising figure at home. To some, he epitomises everything that is wrong with New Zealand’s selection policy; another jack-of-all-trades whose lack of consistency continues to scuttle New Zealand’s efforts to become a major cricketing power. The detractors need only to look at Franklin’s numbers to find fuel for their fire. His ODI bowling average is over 40, and his Test and Twenty20 figures don’t inspire a lot of confidence either. With the bat, he averages in the low twenties in all three formats. A few years ago, Franklin was told by the national selectors to put his bowling on the backburner, and focus on his batting, which they believed had potential but was not getting the attention it deserved. He is now picked in the side primarily as a batsman – but his scores have not shot up dramatically enough to justify his selection on that discipline alone.That he was left out of the New Zealand tour of West Indies, so he could focus on his Twenty20 cricket for Essex with the World Twenty20 approaching, then called up for the India Tests after 18 months away, sums up the muddled thinking.But occasionally, Franklin comes off. And to cloud the issue even more, he has lately performed as a bowler. In the Super Eights opener, his 2 for 34 was the catalyst in Sri Lanka’s slowdown. The hosts seemed destined to reel in New Zealand’s score at a canter, but Franklin proved difficult to get away and counted the explosive Thisara Perera among his scalps when it was crucial New Zealand didn’t allow Perera the room to explode. In the recent T20 against India in Chennai too, Franklin failed with the bat, but his 2 for 26 was instrumental in New Zealand’s victory and their taking momentum into the World T20. But with good bowling form behind him, he was not required until the 12th over against England in a crucial match.Franklin’s batting, though, clicked against England, and he played the kind of innings that first marked him out as a batting talent. With New Zealand threatening to collapse at 67 for 4 in the 12th over, Franklin rebuilt alongside Ross Taylor, before letting rip with a spate of boundaries at the death. His 50 off 33 balls will justify his selection on batting grounds, but perhaps it should not gloss over a failure to consistently produce results since being asked to play as a batsman. In his last 30 innings across all formats, Franklin has made fifty only three timesPerhaps this inconsistency is not entirely Franklin’s fault. Eleven years after making his debut, New Zealand’s team management have failed to stick to a clear plan for him. If he is to play as a batsman, is he a finisher, as he was against England, or an opener, as he was against Bangladesh early in the tournament. At other times in his career, he has been given extended runs in the middle order and even higher up.The Franklin detractors will be quietened for a while after a decent all-round showing at this tournament, but they are sure to make themselves known as soon as failures return. The New Zealand selectors have shown they will have Franklin do almost anything to bring him into the team. If they are going to be so persistent with picking him, perhaps they would do well to define what they want from him. If they play him as a batsman, or as a bowler or as an allrounder, rather than all three when it suits, perhaps consistency in their demands will help Franklin build dependability into his own game. As he has proved repeatedly, he has the talent to be successful; it just needs to be pushed in one very specific direction.

The side’s only hope lay in a burst of genius but that goes against the very
ethos of modern New Zealand sides

Osman Samiuddin in Centurion06-Oct-2009After a while you have to wonder about New Zealand. They have been immense
getting to this final, spirited and resolute. But a brief spell with the
ball apart, for about 20 overs, they didn’t look like they were going to
go further. They fought and made sure Australia had to break sweat, which
is an achievement also because this was an Australia really in the mood.
But the deed always seemed done and the ceiling not in danger of being
broken.So the gods have not been kind to New Zealand in this tournament and the
highest cruelty was reserved for the final, with Daniel Vettori’s late
withdrawal. Having been up against it right through, this was the one blow
from which they really couldn’t be expected to recover. The only hope then
lay in a burst of genius from somewhere, some individual, most likely
Brendon McCullum, but maybe even Ross Taylor. It goes against the very
ethos of modern New Zealand sides but it is what was needed and it never
came.They will and should be proud of what they have achieved here, especially
with the circumstances in which they did it. But somewhere alongside,
there might also be creeping in this feeling about just when and how and
if they will break through that final barrier. The bottom line, harsh as
it is, concerns itself only with winning big tournaments and New Zealand
have won just one. They had then, in Chris Cairns, precisely the kind of
individual who could and did change the course of matches and make a
contribution greater than that made by the rest of their parts. Theirs is
famously a small pool of talent and their history has been about squeezing
out of that just about as much as they can. Occasionally they unearth a
diamond and hopes brighten. But when they don’t have that kind of player,
how to go further, past that last obstacle? Is it even possible with what
they have? The dilemma isn’t easily resolved.At moments tonight when they were batting, they looked hopelessly limited
against this Australian attack. Typically they hung on, for few New
Zealand sides will surrender abruptly, to make a total they could at least
think about defending. Shane Bond and Kyle Mills went about the task with
mighty hearts and no little skill. Their opening bursts were the most
captivating moments of the match. Each ball carried the threat of wickets.
In particular Bond was a sight, a reminder of what a special bowler he is.Injuries and the ICL have taken away from him the aura of old. But he has
had a good tournament, slowly working his way back and up to something
resembling what he once was. In his first spell he was the famous Bond of
2002, the one who humbled great Australian sides often enough. The lengths
he bowled, the pace, and the movement in and out; a solitary wicket was
unjust reward.But once he and Mills were done, New Zealand were again struggling,
searching, striving for anything to put them on something remotely
resembling an even keel. Ian Butler and James Franklin did all they could,
and they bowled well in patches, but they never looked like changing the
game. The last hope was the sky-high, top-edged pull off Cameron White,
only to be dropped by McCullum. It wasn’t simple but it was absolutely
vital. A buzz of boundaries came immediately after – as so often seems to
be the case when an Australian gets a life – the pressure was released and
that was that.More fancied teams have lost to Australia in big finals so there is no
shame in this. But there isn’t much joy in it either. That kind of sums up
New Zealand not only in this final, another ICC final cursed to eventually
be a dud, but beyond that, until and if they ever break through.

Lucknow Super Giants beat the Chennai Super Kings for the second time in the space of five days

Hemant Brar23-Apr-20242:43

Why No. 3 is the best position for Stoinis at LSG

“Fortress Chepauk,” proclaimed a huge banner in CSK colours in the stands. By the end of the contest, though, Lucknow Super Giants had breached it to hand Chennai Super Kings their first defeat at home this season. It was their second loss against LSG in five days.The star of the night was Marcus Stoinis, whose unbeaten 124 off 63 balls helped LSG pull off the highest successful chase at Chepauk in T20 cricket. He was batting at No. 3 for the first time this season and achieved the target of 211 with three balls and six wickets to spare.Stoinis’ century came off 56 balls, just like Ruturaj Gaikwad’s did earlier in the night after the CSK captain lost his seventh toss in eight games. Gaikwad’s unbeaten 108 off 60 balls and Shivam Dube’s 66 off 27 powered the Super Kings to 210 for 4.CSK had looked in control for the majority of the defence. LSG needed 74 from the last five overs but Stoinis, with help from Nicholas Pooran and Deepak Hooda, silenced the Chennai crowd. The result took LSG to fourth place with ten points from eight games; CSK are fifth with eight points after eight games.Gaikwad powers CSKAfter LSG opted to bowl, Matt Henry struck in the first over. He bowled four balls on a good length, one slightly short of it, and then pitched the last one full. Ajinkya Rahane edged the drive, and with first slip wider than usual, KL Rahul dived full length to his right and completed a stunning, one-handed catch.Rahul’s athleticism, though, was followed by some shoddy fielding from LSG. In the second over, Yash Thakur dropped Daryl Mitchell off Mohsin Khan at short third. A little later, at the same position, Henry could not get his hand to a tougher chance from Gaikwad off Ravi Bishnoi.Mitchell could not take advantage of the reprieve and fell for 11 off 10 but Gaikwad did not miss out. He was on 20 when he was dropped and hit two fours off Henry in the next over. CSK ended the powerplay on 49 for 2, with Gaikwad scoring 37 off 19 balls. While the other CSK batters struggled for timing, he looked sublime and brought up his fifty off 28 balls, with seven fours.Gaikwad, Dube take CSK past 200Ravindra Jadeja, sent in at No. 4, got out in the 12th over for 16 off 19 balls. By that time, Gaikwad had scored 71 off 39; the other CSK batters 29 off 32.Gaikwad found an ideal partner in Dube, who also hit the first six of the innings in the 13th over. After that, there was no respite for the LSG bowlers. Given Dube’s reputation of being a spin-hitter, Rahul did not risk bringing on either Bishnoi or Krunal Pandya – both turn the ball in to Dube – for the rest of the innings.Dube showed he had improved his game against pace as well. He hit Yash for three successive sixes in the 16th over and Mohsin for two sixes and a four in the 19th.Gaikwad, too, was severe on Yash, hitting him for 6, 4, 4 off successive balls – a sequence during which he also brought up his hundred.Marcus Stoinis is mobbed by his team-mates after his match-winning century•Getty Images

LSG’s stuttering startDeepak Chahar got the new ball to swing in both directions and had Quinton de Kock chopping one onto his stumps in the opening over. Rahul and Stoinis kept LSG on track with a flurry of boundaries before CSK struck again.Having hit a boundary earlier in the over, Rahul tried to go aerial against Mustafizur Rahman but failed to clear Gaikwad at extra cover. LSG finished the powerplay on 45 for 2.Stoinis keeps LSG in contestDevdutt Padikkal came in as Impact Player but struggled with timing. Meanwhile, Stoinis singlehandedly kept LSG in the contest by hitting boundaries at regular intervals. He brought up his fifty off 26 balls, with six fours and two sixes.Still, it was an uphill task. LSG needed 128 from the last ten overs, of which Matheesha Pathirana was to bowl four and Mustafizur three. Pathirana ended Padikkal’s struggle on 13 off 19 balls with a 151.4kph length ball that uprooted leg stump.The dew effectDew in the second half of the game was the only reason LSG had opted to chase. They have otherwise preferred to set the target this season. The first obvious sign of dew having an impact came in the 13th over, when Tushar Deshpande bowled a beamer. Stoinis hit it for four. And when Mustafizur dug a cutter into the pitch, the ball came onto the bat nicely, and Stoinis launched it to the straight boundary off the back foot.When Shardul Thakur got the 16th over, Stoinis and Pooran knew they had to cash in, with the remaining four shared by Mustafizur and Pathirana. Pooran hit the first three balls for 6, 4, 6 and LSG eventually took 20 runs off Shardul.Stoinis silences ChepaukPooran holed out to long-off against Pathirana when LSG needed 53 from 22 balls. Once again, it was all up to Stoinis. He hit Pathirana for a four before pulling Mustafizur for a six in the 18th over. Two balls later, he brought up his hundred.With 32 required from two overs, Stoinis and Hooda picked up three boundaries in the first four balls from Pathirana. It left them needing 17 from six balls.Stoinis launched the first delivery from Mustafizur over long-on before drilling the next straight back for four. Luck, too, favoured him as the next one raced past short third for another boundary. It turned out, Mustafizur had overstepped as well, which reduced the equation to two needed from four balls. Stoinis then moved across and pulled a short-of-length ball over backward square leg to complete the job.At the toss, Rahul had said that it was not easy to silence Chepauk. By the end of the day, LSG had done that too.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is reluctant to alter his starting XI, even after Vinicius Jr’s match-winning cameo against Real Oviedo.

• Alonso hints Vinicius Jr may continue as a substitute
• Praised attacker's 'big impact' as a substitute
• Madrid face Mallorca next in La Liga match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alonso has hinted that Vinicius could continue in an impact substitute role after being dropped from the starting lineup. Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Mallorca, Alonso praised the Brazilian's performance from the bench against Real Oviedo and suggested his status as an automatic starter is not guaranteed.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius was a surprise omission from the starting XI for last weekend's 3-0 victory over Oviedo, with compatriot Rodrygo preferred on the left wing. The 25-year-old responded emphatically, coming on as a substitute to score one goal and provide an assist. The decision to bench him comes amid a standoff in contract talks between the Brazil star and Madrid, while club legend Pedja Mijatovic recently said the club should sell him.

• WHAT ALONSO SAID

  During his pre-match press conference, Alonso said: "I'm very happy with Vini. Against Oviedo, he showed he can have a big impact off the bench," the manager stated. He stressed the importance of squad unity, adding: "In a locker room, the key is that everyone is willing to contribute, whether on the pitch or off… and he's going to be crucial.

  "In a locker room, the key is that everyone is willing to contribute, whether on the pitch or off. Truly believing in this is fundamental. And everyone here does. Vinicius is important in this, [Federico] Valverde, [Thibaut] Courtois… they're all very important."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS JR?

  It remains to be seen whether Vinicius will be restored to the starting XI for Madrid's home fixture against Mallorca on Saturday evening. Alonso has kept his cards close to his chest, but his comments suggest he is considering using the Brazilian as a high-impact player from the bench as Los Blancos look to secure a third straight win before the international break.

In the stands for England’s 2010 triumph, the opener is now integral to their World Cup defence 14 years on

Andrew Miller03-Jun-2024

Fourteen years ago, in May 2010, Phil Salt was a kid in the stands at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, watching England’s cricketers parading their first piece of global silverware, after victory over Australia in the final of that year’s World T20. Now he’s back as an England star in his own right, seeking to launch his team’s defence of the same trophy at the same venue, when they take on Scotland in Bridgetown on Tuesday morning.By his own admission, Salt’s is not a homecoming to rival that of Jofra Archer or Chris Jordan, the two born-and-bred Bajans in England’s anticipated starting XI. Even so, having spent six formative years in Barbados – honing his love of cricket from the age of nine to 15, while his father Chris was working as a property developer – he acknowledges it’s an extraordinary turn of events.”To be back here and have the opportunity to play for England in a World Cup isn’t something I ever thought I’d be doing, but it’s certainly very special,” Salt said. “Everything about the place suits me. Pretty laid-back, a lot of cricket, a lot of sport, still got a lot of friends on the island. I don’t think there’s too many people that disagree that living in Barbados is a touch. But yeah, I loved it.”Salt played a small part in England’s T20 World Cup victory in Australia two years ago. After coming into the starting XI as a replacement for the injured Dawid Malan, he did not bat in the semi-final against India as Jos Buttler and Alex Hales romped to a ten-wicket victory, then made 10 from 9 balls at No.3 in a low-scoring final against Pakistan.Now, however, is very much his moment. Six months ago, he nailed his audition to be Buttler’s regular opening partner with back-to-back centuries against West Indies in Grenada and Trinidad, then ran hot at a crucial juncture of Kolkata Knight Riders’ recent IPL triumph, with a run of 290 runs from 144 balls in five innings, including 89 not out from 47 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.Salt had always had the ability to start an innings strongly – two years ago, he marked his T20I debut (coincidentally, also at Bridgetown) with 57 from 24 balls. And yet, he recognises his game has gone to a new level in recent months, to the extent that he enters this tournament as one of the most dangerous batters on display.”It’s been a combination of things,” he said. “The opportunity to gain more experience in international cricket has definitely been the biggest part of it in my own head. I’ve also had a look at where I’m strong, where I’m not, used the analysis, learnt from the coaches, to make those movements in my game.”I can’t put my finger on any one thing, but it’s maybe a mindset shift, that I want to be the person winning more games for England. You like to think [that people fear you] as an opening batter, but the moment you recognise that and you start thinking, ‘I’m the big guy I am’, the game’s always going to bite you. I try not to think about anything like that and keep it one ball at a time.”Salt’s form was integral to KKR’s third IPL title•BCCI

Another key facet of his growth, he says, has been the opportunity to bat alongside his England captain in the Hundred – an alliance that has been instrumental in Manchester Originals reaching the final for two years running. In 2022, Salt’s tally of 353 runs in ten innings was second only to Malan (377), while his 232 the following year may have been dwarfed by Buttler’s haul of 391, but they came at a blistering strike-rate of 194.95.The pair reprised their antics in an opening stand of 82 in 6.2 overs against Pakistan at The Oval on Thursday – England’s final warm-up ahead of the Scotland encounter. Though Salt admitted their partnership had taken a while to click, he felt the dynamic was now similar to the one he had enjoyed in the Vitality Blast with his former Sussex captain, and now England selector, Luke Wright.”[Luke] liked to take a few balls. So, my role at the time was just to get us off to a flyer,” Salt said. “That probably stood me in good stead for batting with someone like Jos.”We do have different styles. In my career I’ve always been the aggressor and I suppose I am the aggressor early on in this partnership. I feel like we both showcased it pretty well at The Oval the other night. I didn’t get a flyer, but we sort of hung in and then Jos went and then we dovetailed nicely.”It’s good because we both communicate a lot out there and we realise that when one goes, we feed the strike to the other person, so there’s no ego about it. It’s whoever goes first. We just communicate and it sounds really simple, but I’ve batted with a lot of people and it’s not always the case. So, it’s nice when you have that connection with your partner.”It remains to be seen whether it’s a partnership that can carry England all the way to their third T20 World Cup title. But, auspiciously for Salt, when they won the first of those back in 2010, it was once again the opening partnership that laid the foundations for everything that followed. As the impressionable youngster in the stands remembers well.Related

Why Phil Salt bats for a good time

Clash of batting powerhouses as KKR and DC prepare for another run-fest

England and Scotland grudge match set to break new ground

England have 'no preconceived ideas' about used Barbados pitch

“Craig Kieswetter was definitely one [role-model],” Salt said, recalling the Somerset opener who burst to prominence alongside Michael Lumb, after the pair were hastily thrown together on the eve of the tournament, and contributed a match-winning half-century in the final.”He was a bit of an unknown at the time and then he came out, and I was in awe of him. I thought he was brilliant, he took some incredible catches and the way he played, he was certainly someone I tried to model myself on at the time. I watched a lot of good cricket here. People like Chris Gayle … when I was a kid, anybody who hit the ball hard or kept, I’d watch them on YouTube and just try and try and emulate them.”And though he played down any similarities between the class of 2010 and the team he’s fronting up for now, Salt did recall the highlight of his day out at that original final. If he gets to emulate it this time around, he really will have fulfilled his childhood dream.”Colly [Paul Collingwood] came past up this stand here – the Hall and Griffith where I was sat upstairs watching the final – with the trophy and said, ‘here, touch it while you can’. So, I got a touch of the trophy that day. That’s the thing that always sticks with me when I think about that day.”

تحدث الإسباني لويس إنريكي، المدير الفني لفريق باريس سان جيرمان عن أزمة الصراع السياسي بين روسيا وأوكرانيا على لاعبيه ودوناروما.

ويريد الإيطالي دوناروما الرحيل عن صفوف باريس سان جيرمان نظرًا لعدم قناعته بالمقابل المادي الحالي، مع عدم اتخاذ الإدارة أي قرار يخص تعديل عقده وفقًا للأداء الذي قدمه الموسم الماضي باعتباره عاملًا مؤثرًا في تتويج الفريق الفرنسي ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا لأول مرة في تاريخهم.

وقال لويس إنريكي في مؤتمر صحفي قبل مباراة الجولة الثانية من الدوري الفرنسي في تصريحات نقلتها “موندو ديبورتيفو”: “نحن منفتحون، صحيح أننا سعداء بما وقعناه ولكن كما هو الحال دائمًا، نحن مستعدون لأي مواقف قد تنشأ”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا يكشف موقفه من تعاقد مانشستر سيتي مع دوناروما

وعن دوناروما: “إنها قرارات صعبة دائمًا، لا مشكلة لدي في اتخاذها، لكنني لن أشرح أي شيء عن لاعبي باريس سان جيرمان، لست مهتمًا بذلك، أتفهم الانتقادات الموجهة لقرارنا وقراري”.

وبسؤاله عن التوترات المحتملة التي يمكن أن تنشأ بين الأوكراني زابارني وحارس المرمى الروسي ماتفي سافانوف، أتم: “الرياضة وخاصة كرة القدم، هي أفضل وسيلة لجمع الناس لا لتفريقهم، الرياضة واللاعبون يتفوقون على المصالح السياسية والاقتصادية للسياسيين”.

Inter are unwilling to drag Hakan Calhanoglu’s case and want to end it soon as they have now issued an ultimatum to his agent.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Calhanoglu issued transfer ultimatum by InterGalatasaray yet to make offer for midfielderMight be forced to stay after deadline issuedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report by Gazzetta, Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio contacted Calhanoglu's agent Gordon Stipic and informed him that if there is no offer for the player by July 13, he will have to stay at the Nerazzuri. Inter are set to commence their pre-season on August 1, and Ausilio wants new manager Christian Chivu to have a full squad at his disposal when he arrives at training, and no conflicts once the preparations begin.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Nerazzuri have witnessed a conflict inside the dressing room, and skipper Lautaro Martinez had publicly criticised Calhanoglu after the Fluminense game, without naming him, and stated that if someone wants to leave, they are free to do so. Club president Beppe Marotta later revealed that the dig was aimed at the Turkish international, with the midfielder trying to switch to Galatasaray. As of now, the Super Lig outfit's representatives are in Milan but have neither met the Nerazzuri officials nor placed any bid for Calhanoglu; however, his agent Stipic is said to be working on the deal. Moreover, the Turkish midfielder's shift to Galatasaray also depends on whether they are able to sell Victor Osimhen is a favourable price and offer Inter a satisfactory amount for Calhanoglu; something which is believed to have stalled the developments.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who won the Europa League with Atlanta in the 2023-24 season, is interested in joining Inter. He has two years left on his contract and is believed to be a like-for-like replacement for Calhanoglu.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CALHANOGLU?

Calhanoglu will have to rely on Galatasaray and how they go about accumulating the sum asked by Inter, which has now dropped to €32m ($37m/£28m) from the initial €40m ($47m/£34m). He had previously made his intentions clear of heading to TurkiyeTurkey, however, in case the deal doesn't go through, he would be forced to joined the pre-season scheduled.

Barcelona have been rejected for the second year running by Athletic Club's Nico Williams as the Spain international has signed a new deal with the Basque club. The 22-year-old seemed certain to move to the Catalan side this summer after weeks of rather talks between Barcelona and the player's camp. The Spanish winger has now signed a 10-year deal with Los Leones.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Williams makes massive Barcelona U-turnSigns a 10-year extension with Athletic ClubRelease clause increased by 50%Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

On Friday morning, Athletic Club made the surprise announcement that Williams has signed a new contract with his boyhood club. The 22-year-old was expected to be announced as a new Barcelona player in the coming weeks, with reports suggesting that the Catalan side had agreed to personal terms with Williams. The Spain international has signed a massive 10-year deal at San Mames until the summer of 2035.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT WILLIAMS SAID

Speaking to club media, Williams said: "When it comes to making decisions, the most important thing is to listen to your heart.

"I am in the place where I want to be, with my people. This is my home. Aupa Athletic!"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Athletic Club have been involved in what can only be described as a spat with Barcelona since last summer; however, it was this season where the real throw-down took place between the two La Liga sides. After Barcelona pushed on to try and sign Williams this summer, Athletic reached out to La Liga to inspect the Catalan side's finances. Having confirmed Williams' extension, Athletic included a dig at Barcelona as they added a hashtag which read: AthleticWIN.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Hansi Flick's Barcelona are likely to now make a move for Manchester United's Marcus Rashford or Liverpool's Luis Diaz. They will be hoping that they can improve the squad heading into next season and potentially beat Athletic Club through the campaign.

Javier Aguirre's team advanced as Group A leader with seven points

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Giménez hasn’t scored in an official match since 2023Mexico will face Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinalsCosta Rica will take on the United States in the quarterfinalsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico striker Santiago Giménez voiced his frustration following a controversial VAR decision that denied him a stunning last-minute winner in 0-0 draw against Costa Rica – their final group-stage match at the 2025 Gold Cup.

“I wasn’t sure if the offside was on Quiñones or me – they said it was on me,” the AC Milan forward said. “But it wasn’t a touch, it was a deflection. I saw the replay. These are the kinds of things that happen in football. If I were the ref and saw a goal like that, I’d let it stand. But there are people who are just against football.”

Despite the frustration, Giménez acknowledged the team’s progress.

“I really wanted that goal and the three points,” he added. “Still, it’s a draw that feels like a win because we topped the group. Now it’s time to move forward—every match is a new story, and we’re focused on defending the Gold Cup title.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite scoring in Mexico’s pre-Gold Cup friendly against Switzerland – ending an almost two-year scoring drought – Giménez hadn’t netted in an official match since the 2023 Gold Cup final.

On Sunday night, he seemed to finally break that spell in stoppage time, launching a stunning overhead kick in the 94th minute after a free kick from Luis Chávez deflected off Orlando Galo. The ball landed perfectly for Giménez, who fired it past Keylor Navas. However, the goal was ultimately disallowed after the referee reviewed the play on VAR and ruled him offside.

Getty Images SportWHAT SANTIAGO GIMÉNEZ SAID

Gimenez remains content with Mexico's showing in the group stage following their 0-0 draw.

“The main goal was to finish top of the group," he said. "We need to sharpen both our starters and our substitutes. We’re a family, and we’re committed. In games like this, you need to find a way to win. But a draw works for us.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

Mexico now prepare for the Gold Cup quarterfinals, where they will face Saudi Arabia next Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.