Inter Miami officially announced the addition of De Paul, who will initially join the club on loan
Inter Miami add De Paul from Atletico on loanArgentina international joins Messi at South Beach clubMidfielder was on La Liga Team of the Year last seasonGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
Inter Miami have officially added Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid, signing the midfielder initially on loan with a purchase option in 2026 to make the deal permanent through 2029. Miami co-owner David Beckham acknowledged he's "excited" to bring in a player he's admired for years.
“Rodrigo is a player I've admired for many years," he said in a statement. "As a leader he has brought so much to the teams he has played for – especially with his national team Argentina. He brings experience, passion and quality to our team and to our city. I'm excited to welcome another World Cup-winning player not just to Inter Miami, but also to MLS."
The move was initially tipped by Atletico Madrid posting a farewell to their midfield star on social media hours before Miami officially announced the deal.
The 31-year-old spent four seasons at Atletico after joining from Serie A side Udinese. For Diego Simeone's side, he made 187 appearances for Atlético, scoring 14 goals and providing 26 assists.
"From our club, we wish Rodrigo de Paul the best of luck in his future personal and professional endeavors," the La Liga side said in a statement.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
At Miami, De Paul will join a midfield alongside U.S. international Benjamin Cremaschi, former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets, and fellow Argentine Federico Redondo.
The 31-year-old will be viewed as one of the best midfielders in the league. It also ends months of speculation over Miami aiming to add another superstar. The team had previously been linked with Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne.
De Paul won't come cheap for The Herons, with reports suggesting a purchase option of $17 million for the midfielder. Still, it is a massive upgrade for the team overall.
READ MORE:
DID YOU KNOW?
Internationally, De Paul has been nicknamed "Messi's bodyguard" for his physical and aggressive play for
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT JORGE MAS SAID
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas pointed to the move as a sign of the club's ambitions.
“Assembling a team that inspires our fans to dream continues to be one of our primary aspirations, so we’re thrilled to sign a player of Rodrigo’s caliber. He is a winner who has conquered the world stage; his ambitions match ours at Inter Miami, and we are hungry to achieve these goals together,” he said in a statement. “Several of the best players in global fútbol have already chosen Inter Miami as their home, and Rodrigo joining our roster is another landmark as we continue on this journey to change the trajectory of the sport in this country and make our fans proud.”
Trio set to feature for Azzurri in July with 2024 T20 World Cup qualification on the line
Matt Roller22-Feb-2023A 90mph/145kph left-arm fast bowler, a legend of modern county cricket, and a double Big Bash League-winner are among the players set to lead Italy’s bid to qualify for the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup.Italy will vie for one of two available spots in the tournament when they play in July’s seven-team T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in Scotland, where the hosts and Ireland are clear favourites.But ESPNcricinfo can reveal that Spencer Johnson – the breakout star of the 2022-23 Big Bash – is set to feature along with Wayne Madsen and Ben Manenti, after months of discussions with players around the world led by captain-coach Gareth Berg.The Europe Qualifier will be held in Edinburgh from July 20-28, in round-robin format. The seven teams involved are Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jersey and Scotland, with the winners and runners-up progressing to the 2024 T20 World Cup. Two European sides, England and the Netherlands, have already qualified for the tournament.Related
Berg named playing head coach of Italy
Which Australian opener went on to play T20s for Italy?
Tall, left-arm and fast: Johnson grasps his second chance
Italy are ranked 32nd in the world in T20Is, sandwiched between Tanzania and Saudi Arabia, but Berg and his assistant Kevin O’Brien have led a drive towards semi-professionalism in recent months, running regular weekend training camps in Milan, Bologna and Rome.They hope to supplement the leading Italian-based players with a handful of full-time players from around the world, with Berg himself continuing as captain at the age of 42 alongside his commitments with Northamptonshire in county cricket.Johnson, the left-arm seamer, starred for Brisbane Heat on their recent run to the BBL final, taking nine wickets in the tournament and bowling several fast, hostile spells with the new ball. Johnson’s grandfather moved to Australia from Italy as a young man, and his manager confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he has recently obtained his Italian passport and intends to play in July’s qualifier.”He’s dead keen,” Berg told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s going to be a huge boost for us. It’s always nice to have someone that can bowl close to 150 clicks at that level. He’s had quite a tough time with injuries but he’s coming back pretty strong now. He’s raring to get involved in July.”Joe Burns could soon qualify for Italy•Getty ImagesMadsen, meanwhile, has scored nearly 20,000 runs across formats for Derbyshire since signing for the county in 2009, playing thanks to his Italian passport. “He’s wanted to play for the last few years now,” Berg said. “He’s at the stage of his career where he could probably slip away for a week or two to play in a big tournament like this.”Madsen would miss two County Championship fixtures if selected. Kent’s Grant Stewart – who has already played 10 T20Is for Italy – is also expected to miss two games in order to play in the qualifier.Manenti, the offspinning allrounder who was part of Sydney Sixers’ BBL title wins in 2019/20 and 2020/21, is also due to debut and could play alongside his younger brother, Harry. He has thrived with the bat for South Australia this season, and also provides a reliable offspin option.Joe Burns, the former Australia opener, is expected to qualify at the end of 2023. While Italy do not anticipate having him available this summer, Berg believes Burns will be in the mix for World Cup selection “if we pull off a miracle and qualify in July”.’They’re coming to play for the Azzurri’The prospect of Italy turning up to the Europe Qualifier with a handful of professionals in their ranks will not be universally popular in the Associate game. “But at the end of the day, they all have the entitlement to come in and play for us through their passports or through their bloodlines,” Berg said. “I’m more than happy for them to represent the national team.”It’s not like we’re throwing cash at them or anything like that. They are coming to play for the love of the blue blood, coming to play for the Azzurri. As soon as I mention it, they’re straight on board with it and willing to help out. Yes, we have pros available, but we also have our local players that are pushing for spots. It’s heartwarming for me and the guys working with me that these guys are pushing themselves really hard.”Berg still plays county cricket for Northants•Getty ImagesBerg, the South African-born allrounder who has enjoyed an extensive county career with Middlesex, Hampshire and Northants, first played for Italy in 2012. He has become extensively involved over the last three years, initially as captain and later as playing head coach.”When I came into the job, I wanted to push and direct Italian cricket into a more professional set-up,” he said. “”he one thing that we struggle with at times is players getting time off work. A few of the guys work double shifts or double jobs, so time away from work is tough. We have to play in advance and it can be really tough.”Our squad for this summer on paper looks as good as any in that tournament, but our biggest focus has to be the week before the tournament. That’s key for us: the bonding, gelling, getting to know each other and working out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”Hopefully we can catch teams like Scotland and Ireland on a bad day and knock them over. But we are generally moving in the right direction. If this July tournament doesn’t work out for us, then hopefully we have everything in place to push for the next one.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore have decided against naming a replacement just yet
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-2023Rajat Patidar has been ruled out of IPL 2023, after having failed to recover sufficiently from a heel injury. His team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said as much while announcing the update that they “have decided not to name a replacement player for Rajat just yet”.Patidar, 29, had been undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru over the past few days, and it was understood that he would miss the first half of the IPL 2023 season; he had initially been advised rest till mid-April. Patidar had picked up the injury prior to joining the Royal Challengers pre-season camp.
Unfortunately, Rajat Patidar has been ruled out of #IPL2023 due to an Achilles Heel injury.
We wish Rajat a speedy recovery and will continue to support him during the process.
The coaches and management have decided not to name a replacement player for Rajat just yet. pic.twitter.com/c76d2u70SY
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 4, 2023
IPL 2022 was Patidar’s breakout season. He hadn’t been picked up at the mega auction prior to the season, but joined Royal Challengers as a replacement midway through the season following an injury to Luvnith Sisodia. He announced himself in the Eliminator by hitting the fastest hundred by an Indian in the tournament’s history, an innings rated by ESPNcricinfo’s panellists as the best in men’s franchise cricket in 2022.He finished the season as the third-highest run-scorer for Royal Challengers, behind Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. He made 333 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 152.75. His IPL exploits, along with stellar returns in a title-winning Ranji Trophy campaign with Madhya Pradesh, earned Patidar a berth in India’s ODI squad during their home summer last year, though he hasn’t made his international debut yet.Patidar’s unavailability isn’t the only concern for Royal Challengers, who started the 2023 season on a strong note with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians.There are also doubts over Josh Hazlewood’s participation, with the Australian quick recovering from Achilles tendonitis. They are also without Will Jacks, who was ruled out of the tournament a couple of weeks before the start, and was replaced by Michael Bracewell. Reece Topley also picked up a shoulder injury during the first game and played no further part in it, though he has since travelled with the team to Kolkata, where Royal Challengers play their next game, against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.
The Colombian musician was seen with the San Diego FC trio following his sold-out concert at Pechanga Arena during his San Diego stop
The music sensation posed with the three San Diego starsPlayers present J Balvin with customized No. 25 SDFC kitSDFC face St. Louis CITY next in MLSGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
Following his energetic performance at Pechanga Arena as part of his 2025 North American tour, J Balvin welcomed San Diego FC stars Christopher McVey, Tomas Angel, and Pablo Sisniega backstage. The trio posed with the reggaeton superstar and even presented him with a personalized San Diego FC jersey featuring his name and the number 25. Balvin, a known soccer fan, spent time discussing both music and soccer with the players.
AdvertisementWHAT SAN DIEGO FC POSTEDTHE BIGGER PICTURE
San Diego FC have actively sought to establish cultural relevance within Southern California's diverse community since joining MLS as an expansion team in 2025. The club's outreach to global entertainment figures like J Balvin reflects the broader strategy of modern sports franchises to build fan connections through music, fashion, and cultural touchpoints beyond the pitch.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
J Balvin will continue his North American tour with upcoming stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Houston. San Diego FC, on the other hand, return to action with a match against St. Louis CITY SC. They currently sit fourth on the Western Conference table with 17 points after 11 league games, thanks to a recent 5-0 win over FC Dallas.
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has torn into the Gunners, declaring them the Premier League's flops of the season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Ex-Arsenal defender tears into GunnersBrands them flops of the seasonBelieves injuries are no excuseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Gallas, who played for Arsenal between 2006-10, insists his former side have not been good enough and that he is "disappointed" with their efforts, despite their progression to the Champions League semi-finals.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT GALLAS SAID
Gallas told : "In the Premier League, Arsenal are my flops of the season. If you compare last season and the one two years ago with this season, their performance has not been good at all. I’m sorry, I’m still disappointed in them, regardless of the Champions League. After those high quality and world class performances against Real Madrid, I wanted more from them in the league."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Gunners have been missing Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for long spells of the campaign, falling behind newly-crowned champions Liverpool. Gallas is "furious" about their domestic efforts and says they have one level of performance in the Premier League and another in the Champions League.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
The Gunners take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, but much of their focus will be on the second leg of their European semi-final against PSG on Wednesday. They trail the tie 1-0.
Leeds United went through the January transfer window, which closed for business at the start of this month, without making an addition to their first-team squad.
The Whites were reportedly looking at potential signings to come in and bolster their squad, however, as they were said to be interested in a deal to sign Emiliano Buendia on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.
Bayer Leverkusen eventually swooped in to sign the Argentina international on loan from the Villans, which ended Daniel Farke’s chances of a reunion with the former Norwich playmaker.
Farke and his team have been flying without any extra help, from Buendia or anyone else, as they smashed Watford 4-0 away from home in their last match in the Championship.
The West Yorkshire outfit are now five points clear of Burnley in third place, and two ahead of Sheffield United in second, as they aim to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Despite there still being plenty of football left to be played, Leeds are reportedly looking ahead to the summer transfer window and who they could bring in to bolster their squad for a season in the top-flight.
Leeds eyeing German forward
The recruitment team at Thorp Arch are already hard at work to identify targets who could come in to improve Farke’s options across the pitch to deal with the step up to Premier League football.
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are now one of a number of clubs eyeing up Celtic forward Nicolas Kuhn ahead of a potential swoop for his services at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
The report claims that Premier League sides Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion have both sent scouts to watch the left-footed forward in action this season, whilst other unnamed teams in England and abroad are interested in the attacker.
TEAMtalk adds that the Whites have a long-standing interest in the former Bayern Munich academy star and that they will have a chance to secure his signature if they win promotion out of the Championship this season.
The outlet reveals, though, that Celtic are not going to let the German dynamo leave without a fight and that they want a club-record fee of £26m from any team looking to sign Kuhn in the summer transfer window.
Transfer Focus
It also states that Leeds have an interest in Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer, Manchester City playmaker James McAtee, and Krasnodar star Eduard Spertsyan, which shows that they have plenty of targets that they are ready to pursue upon promotion later this year.
Leeds are fully aware of how difficult the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is, which is why they will need to get their recruitment spot on, and current star Dan James is a great example of the difference between the two divisions.
The duality of Dan James
The Wales international’s career at Leeds is the perfect example of how big the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is, if you look at his production at the top end of the pitch.
James joined the Whites from Manchester United on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021 and ended his first season with a return of four goals and four assists in 34 appearances in the top-flight.
The 27-year-old flop was then sent out on loan to Fulham for the 2022/23 campaign and only managed a haul of two goals and one assist for the Cottagers, before returning to Elland Road to play in the Championship.
Appearances
58
66
Goals
6
23
Big chances created
8
26
Assists
5
13
As you can see in the table above, James has been incredibly more productive at the top end of the pitch at Championship level in comparison to his form in the Premier League with Leeds and Fulham.
These statistics suggest that he is more suited to second division football and that, despite his impressive form this season, he could be one of the players who Farke needs to sign an upgrade on in the summer transfer window.
Why Nicolas Kuhn could be a Dan James
Signing Kuhn from Celtic could ensure that the German head coach has the upgrade that he needs on the right flank, as his form in Scotland this season suggests that he has the potential to offer more than the Welshman.
Nicolas Kuhn
The left-footed wizard has racked up an eye-catching return of 17 goals and 12 assists in 34 matches in all competitions for the Scottish giants so far this term.
That is particularly impressive when you consider that Leeds’ top-scorer, Joel Piroe, has only managed 14 goals and six assists in 34 matches for the Whites this season.
This illustrates how big of a threat Kuhn could be for the Whites at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals, in comparison to both Piroe and James.
There could be questions raised about the quality of the Scottish Premiership compared to the Premier League, but the German winger has also excelled in the Champions League for Brendan Rodgers this term – playing against the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa, and RB Leipzig.
Appearances
9
xG
0.88
Goals
2
Big chances created
4
Assists
1
As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has produced six goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in nine appearances in Europe’s premier cup competition for the Hoops this season.
The 25-year-old star, who was once hailed as “magical” by Rodgers, is also unfortunate not to be on three goals in the Champions League, as he had a strike chalked off because of Adam Idah being ‘involved’ with play in an offside position against Bayern Munich.
Overall, Kuhn has shown that he has the quality to make a difference at the top end of the pitch against some of Europe’s best teams, whilst he has also been on fire across all competitions for Celtic, as shown by his return of 29 goals and assists.
The left-footed wizard has the potential to come in as a big upgrade on Dan James, who has consistently struggled against high-quality opposition in the Premier League, and as a bigger goal threat than Piroe, who he has outscored in all competitions this season.
Leeds now in transfer talks to sell "League One" level player for just £5m
The transfer window has only just closed, but a permanent exit out of Leeds could be on the cards.
ByBrett Worthington Feb 13, 2025
Therefore, Farke should push for the recruitment team to win the race for the former Bayern starlet’s signature if Leeds secure promotion to the top-flight ahead of the summer.
West Ham United are now keen on signing a “superstar” striker, having identified him as their top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
West Ham's striker issues
The Hammers never seem to have much luck when it comes to signing strikers, with some big-name signings such as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca failing to adapt to life in the Premier League.
Niclas Fullkrug was also brought in last summer, but the German struggled to replicate his form in the Bundesliga prior to picking up a hamstring injury, while Michail Antonio is set to be ruled out for the foreseeable future due to a car crash.
Jarrod Bowen is always a reliable source of goals, once again getting on the scoresheet in the 1-0 victory against Arsenal yesterday, but Graham Potter is keen to bring in an out-and-out striker in the summer transfer window.
West Ham player "in talks" to leave with February transfer expected
He’s keen on a new challenge.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 22, 2025
Talks have been opened with Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto, but the 23-year-old may just be a back-up option, as The Guardian have now revealed West Ham’s top striker target is Lille’s Jonathan David.
David is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer, upon the expiration of his Lille contract, and he is attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Inter Milan and Juventus also keen.
The report claims the Canadian now looks certain to leave Lille at the end of the season, but it remains to be seen whether the Hammers will be able to meet his high wage demands.
"Superstar" David destined for the top
The 25-year-old has been lauded as a “superstar” by Canada teammate Jonathan Osorio, and he has a very impressive goal record over the course of a number of years in Ligue 1, arriving in 2020 after impressing in Belgium with Gent.
Season
Appearances
Goals
2020-21
37
13
2021-22
38
15
2022-23
37
24
2023-24
34
19
2024-25
21
12
The Brooklyn-born forward also has 31 goals in 59 games for his national side, so it is little wonder he is attracting the attention of some big clubs, and it is promising news that West Ham are in the race for his signature.
Fullkrug has struggled in his debut season at the London Stadium, scoring just twice in the Premier League, but even if he finds his feet, the 32-year-old is not of an age to lead the line for the long-term future.
The same applies to Antonio, who is now arguably in the twilight years of his career, so a younger striker will be a necessary signing in the summer, and David fits the bill at 25-years-old.
Given the Lille star’s ability, it may be difficult for the Hammers to get a deal done this summer, especially considering they are very unlikely to have European football on offer, but if they are able to pull it off, he could be an excellent long-term addition to the squad.
Matthew Mott backs star to “do what’s right for English cricket” ahead of 2023 tournament
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2022After his starring roles in two gripping World Cup final victories, could Ben Stokes be persuaded to go for the hat-trick by coming out of ODI retirement in time for England’s defence of their 50-over crown in India next year? Matthew Mott, England’s white-ball head coach, is hopeful that he can be tempted.Stokes made a crucial 52 not out in England’s T20 final run-chase against Pakistan in Melbourne, to follow on from his 92 unbeaten runs (84 plus eight more in the Super Over) against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2019, to cement his status as one of the greatest “clutch” players in international history.However, he stepped down from the 50-over format earlier this year, stating that it was “unsustainable” for him to maintain his peak levels of performance across all three formats of international cricket, given that he is also captain of a Test team that has transformed its own reputation in recent months, with six wins in seven memorable performances in the 2022 home season.Mott, who took over as England white-ball coach at the start of the summer after a record-breaking stint in charge of Australia women, told reporters in Melbourne that he had not yet discussed the notion of Stokes reversing his ODI retirement. However, Mott added, he backed Stokes to “do what’s right for English cricket”.”When he spoke to me about his ODI retirement one of the first things I said was that I’d back any decision he made,” Mott said. “But I said to him he didn’t necessarily have to retire – he could just not play 50-overs for a while.”I did say you could always unretire. That’s his decision. It’s going to be a World Cup year and we don’t play much T20 cricket for a while but it will be a decision that’s up to him.”The more we can get him is great. He’s doing an amazing job with the Test captaincy but he is a very big cog in the wheel when he comes back to white-ball.”Speaking at the time, Stokes spelt out in some detail the reasons for his ODI retirement. He admitted that his body was unable to take the strain of staying match-fit across three formats, and added that – with Jos Buttler new in the role of white-ball captain following the retirement of Eoin Morgan – he did not want to feel that “I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all”.”The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” he concluded.Stokes’ decision is vindicated by the relentless nature of England’s winter schedule, with three ODIs coming up against Australia this week, even as the Test squad gathers in the UAE ahead of their three-match tour of Pakistan.Moeen Ali – who will be involved in those matches only days after the World Cup win – described the prospect as “horrible”, with Mott adding that “it’s not ideal, I can’t lie”. And yet, the sudden switch of emphasis, from 20 overs to 50, reinforces the sense of a change of priority in the white-ball schedule, with the 2023 World Cup looming in India in less than 12 months’ time.Rob Key, the managing director of men’s cricket, was guarded when asked about the prospect of Stokes reversing his retirement in an interview with Sky Sports on Monday. “Nothing is forever, but who knows what will happen,” he said. “At the moment, we’ll just keep thinking about trying to enjoy what we’ve done now and then we’ll be thinking about Test cricket.”Ben Stokes will be thinking about Test cricket and I don’t want him to have to worry about anything else apart from what’s in front of him right now, which is the Test series in Pakistan; and then you’ve got New Zealand and then Australia after that. You don’t have to worry about anything else.”What will be, will be. I don’t think you ever rule anything out but at the moment, we’ll just try and enjoy what we’ve done so far and Ben can enjoy it. I’m sure he’s enjoying it as much as he possibly can.”While Stokes made it clear that he did not wish to treated as an exception in England’s white-ball planning, his record as a World Cup match-winner would seem to make the case for him.Related
Mott hits right notes with Buttler as coach lifts second World Cup at the MCG
'England have created a new set of rules in white-ball cricket'
ESPNcricinfo's T20 World Cup XI: Suryakumar, Nortje, Raza, Phillips and Little make big impacts
Sam Curran, England's unassuming superstar, delivers at the death in style
England's approach might lead other teams into the T20 era
“He’s a three-dimensional player and he has so much to offer,” Mott added. “In this team he was the glue – I think we have a lot of guys who can do extraordinary things but he was the player you knew that if he was in you’d win the game.”I’ll let him dust off today. He’s his own man and he’ll make his own decisions. He’ll do what’s right for English cricket and he always has.”That was part of his decision to retire from ODI cricket. He didn’t think he could give it his all and credit to him for making that decision because he’s such a special commodity for English cricket. We want what’s best for the whole system as well.”In the midst of England’s celebrations – which included a shaved head for Mott after a wager with Sam Curran (whose hair is set to be dyed a colour of the coach’s choice in return) – Mott admitted that his thoughts had turned to those integral members of the squad who had not been present at the moment of victory, most particularly Reece Topley, who suffered an ankle injury after arriving in Australia, and Jonny Bairstow, who is recovering from a freak golfing accident in which he broke his leg.”Reece Topley was a big part of our preparation for here,” Mott said. “I was absolutely gutted for him, such an innocuous injury. Seeing him leave our group was hard.”I must admit he was one of the first blokes I thought of – and Jonny as well.”
Setting their sights on the future, Newcastle United have now reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star who’s been dubbed the Swedish Lionel Messi and attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies may have disappointed in the January transfer window, but that’s quickly been forgotten thanks to Eddie Howe’s side and their success in the Carabao Cup. Reaching the final after easing past Arsenal to win 4-0 across two legs, Newcastle will now square off against Liverpool in search of their first piece of domestic silverware since 1955.
What certainly helped that search was their FA Cup victory over Birmingham City, in which Joe Willock netted a well-timed brace to get his side over the line in a frantic 3-2 victory against the League One opposition.
Meanwhile, sat just two points outside the Premier League’s top four, the prospect of completing a move to St James’ Park is certainly becoming increasingly attractive for potential reinforcements, which could yet include a rising star.
According to The Boot Room, Newcastle are now racing to sign Roony Bardghji from FC Copenhagen ahead of huge teams like Barcelona and Manchester United when his contract comes to an end this summer.
The young winger, who’s been dubbed the Swedish Messi, is certainly one to watch and already knows how to hurt English opposition, having scored against Manchester United in the Champions League in November 2023.
Howe has struck gold on Newcastle "machine" who's worth more than Khusanov
Newcastle are flying this season despite frustrations stemming from the transfer market.
ByAngus Sinclair Feb 10, 2025
Yet to feature this season after suffering an ACL injury in the last campaign, Europe’s biggest clubs are eagerly anticipating Bardghji’s return, including those in Tyneside.
Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic in action with FC Copenhagen's RoonyBardghji
Still just 19 years old, concerns over Bardghji’s ability to bounce back from such a serious injury should be eased by just how young he is and, therefore, how much time he has to hit previous heights once again.
"Unreal" Bardghji could be ultimate bargain
Winning the race to sign Bardghji, alone, would be an impressive achievement for Newcastle, but to secure his signature for free would represent an act of genius from those at St James’ Park. A future star who’d undoubtedly be worth a hefty fee if it wasn’t for his contract situation, the Magpies could be about to land the ultimate bargain.
Dubbed “unreal” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig before his injury, the future is certainly still bright for Bardghji when he recovers from what was an ill-timed blow last season.
After scoring 11 goals in the previous campaign, the teenager will be desperate to make his return sooner rather than later and instantly hit the ground running wherever he finds himself.
Newcastle, meanwhile, could finally end their search for an impressive reinforcement by securing one of the bargains of the summer.
Veteran of 2005 tour prepares to play first Test in country in 19-year international career
Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Nov-2022If you’ve been paying even vague attention, you’ll have heard that James Anderson is the only member of this England touring party to have played international cricket in Pakistan prior to this winter.Back in the winter of 2005, a younger, sprightlier but no less downbeat Anderson was part of the squad that last played Test cricket in the country. He did not get on the park during the three-match series, which the hosts took 2-0, but did take part in the subsequent ODI series, finishing with seven wickets. That included 4 for 48 in the final match – a consolation win with England losing 3-2 overall – at Rawalpindi, the venue for the first Test of this series.Given his lack of red-ball action on that tour and the time between visits, the 40-year-old Anderson is reluctant to play the role of wise old sage when it comes to predicting how things could pan out. Heading into the first Test, he and the rest of the team are happy to take cues from the conditions, while maintaining Brendon McCullum’s assertion earlier in the week that, however things pan out, a draw is not on the agenda.”No, not at all,” Anderson said, when asked if he had anything to pass on. “Seventeen years is a long time. It would be wrong if I said ‘the pitch is going to play like this, or this is what to expect’. It’s a completely different team we’re playing against, completely different conditions.”It’s about adapting when we get out there. We talk a little bit about the opposition but mainly concentrate on what we do well – that’s what we did in the summer. We don’t know how it’s going to play. Traditionally it is flat. We’ve seen Tests in recent times – the Australia game was very flat. It ended in a draw. We’ve got a captain and coach that don’t want draws. We’re not playing for draws. We’ll come out and try to win the game – we might have to be creative in how we do that.”The extent of England’s adaptation will be dictated by the varying conditions over the next month, and indeed over this first Rawalpindi Test match. England have noticed there has been dew for their morning training sessions, which will no doubt play a part early on given the 10am starts on match days, adding a bit of juice in the air and moisture into the pitch. Both of which bring Anderson to the front and centre of their plans.England have also been concentrating on honing their reverse-swing skills in anticipation of what might lie ahead. The training camp in Abu Dhabi last week saw them experiment with an assortment of balls worn to varying degrees. Anderson had also been fine-tuning his technique with the Lions in Dubai since the start of November. Both he and Ben Stokes will be the main proponents of the craft this week, with Mark Wood out recovering from injury. However, Anderson doesn’t expect it will play too big a part in the first Test.Related
Morning decision for Rawalpindi Test as sickness bug disrupts England plans
First Test could be delayed by 24 hours after illness sweeps through England squad
Brendon McCullum: 'We'll be pushing for results. If we get outplayed, that's okay'
Ben Duckett: 'There's no better time to play Test cricket than under Stokes and McCullum'
Brendon McCullum puts best feet forward as England brace for test of new resolve
“Just looking at the pitch out here and the outfield, it looks quite lush so whether reverse will play a huge part here, I’m not sure, at this particular ground,” he said. “But we will try and cover all bases and make sure we’ve got options, if and when we need them.”As Anderson approaches the 20th anniversary of his England debut, this Test bow in Pakistan represents a new and final frontier. It will be the ninth country he has graced in the format, and even coming into this series with 175 caps and a seam bowler’s record haul of 667 wickets, there is a palpable excitement from the usually reserved Lancastrian.”Firstly, it’s amazing to be back here,” he said. “I want to say thank you on behalf of, not just myself, but the whole team for the welcome we’ve had. We know how many cricket fans there are in Pakistan and how much they love and support, not just Pakistani cricket, but cricket in general around the world. I’ve not played a Test match here so I’m delighted to have the chance to be able to play here.As for who that first red-ball victim in Pakistan might be, Anderson claims he isn’t fussed, even if he recognises that one man in particular is likely to be a key adversary in the days ahead.”We are well aware how important a wicket Babar is for Pakistan, being the captain, as well as I’d say their best player. Yes, we will give him attention, but also we need to focus on the other guys as well because they’re very strong.”And I don’t care who it is, as long as I get a wicket and try and help the team towards a win. That’s what we’ve come here for – we want to win the series, so that’s our main focus.”