“Indian team very, very disappointed they are not coming,” says president of Cricket Association for the Blind in India

PTI06-Dec-2022

Pakistan’s cricket team has been denied visas to travel to India for the ongoing T20 World Cup for the Blind. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) said that the team could not get clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs in India.”This unfortunate incident has left the Pakistan blind cricket team in the lurch,” the PBCC said. “It was highly likely that Pakistan and India would have locked horns in the final of ongoing World Cup and considering the current form of the Green Shirts, Pakistan had high chances to win the World Cup.”The PBCC said “it strongly condemns this discriminating act of India as sports should be above regional politics”.”Our counterpart in India pleaded with their government for Pakistan’s clearance but nothing was heard,” the statement said. “This discriminating act will have serious consequences on global blind cricket as we at the World Blind Cricket will take stern action against them and may not allow India to host future international events.””Indian team very, very disappointed they are not coming”
Mahantesh GK, the president of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), told ESPNcricinfo that the hosts were “very, very disappointed” about the Pakistan team not making it to the tournament. “I heard from our colleagues from Pakistan that they didn’t couldn’t get the visas; they had received this afternoon a call from the Indian High Commission saying that they wouldn’t be able to process the visas,” Mahantesh said. “It is very, very unfortunate because yesterday we had the inauguration [of the tournament]. Pakistan are one of the best teams and we were keen to play with them. The Indian team is very, very disappointed that they are not coming.”India’s blind cricket team at the inauguration of this year’s tournament•Getty Images

Mahantesh said CABI had approached the concerned ministries in the Indian government – the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs – regarding facilitating the visas.CABI had been optimistic about the Pakistan team travelling to India for the World Cup, Mahantesh said, because they had played it India in 2012 and 2017. “But today when I heard Pakistan team had not got the clearance, it was a bit shocking.”CABI will release an updated schedule for the tournament. Pakistan were originally scheduled to play against India on Wednesday and the game could yet be rescheduled to December 9 or December 11, subject to visa clearance.Apart from India, the remaining participating teams are Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and South Africa. Pakistan had finished second in the previous T20 World Cup for the Blind. The current tournament is being played from December 5 to 17, in Faridabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Indore and Bengaluru, where the final will be held.

“If we are not in a good situation and if I play a rash shot, it will let the team down.”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jan-2023

Ishan Kishan is known for his big shots. He loves them so much he went to hit boundaries with the very first balls he played in ODI and T20I cricket. But now, having been brought into India’s Test squad, he knows the importance of playing within himself and not succumbing to what he called “youngsters’ trait”.Speaking to team-mate Shubman Gill on the BCCI website, Kishan said, “I do think about [hitting] fours and sixes but there is a lot of difference in white-ball and red-ball cricket. In white-ball, if you walk out to bat at no. 6 there is no swing. But with the red ball, bowlers use the swing and you have to use your brain instead of showing your youngsters’ trait.”India will not have their first-choice wicketkeeper for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia with Rishabh Pant in rehab following a serious car crash. So they face a choice between his longtime understudy Srikar Bharat, one of the safest hands behind the stumps in the country, and Kishan, among the most attacking batters they have, although he has recognised that he may need to temper his game to succeed in the longest format.”With experience, I know it is not about fours and sixes [in red-ball cricket] but about getting the team in a good situation,” Kishan said. “If the ball is in my zone and the field is up then I will try. But if the bowling is good, I will look to respect it.”I think the position where I bat – at No. 6 – in the longer format, it is very important [for me] to read the situation. If we are not in a good situation and if I play a rash shot, it will let the team down.”After the men’s T20 World Cup last year, Kishan toured New Zealand with the T20I squad and played just the one ODI in Bangladesh – where he cracked a double-hundred. He opened the batting in the T20Is at home against Sri Lanka but could not find a spot in the XI in the ODIs. Along the way, he also represented Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, where he hit a century against Kerala walking in at No. 6.Kishan said he liked playing against the red-ball and the challenges it brings along. “When I was playing white-ball cricket, my father used to say Tests are the real deal where the batter is challenged and their skill is put to test. It is a big deal to play Test cricket. When I got to know of my selection in India’s Test squad I was elated and called home [to give the news], because there are so many good players… Test cricket is considered to bring out your real skill and real game. I will try to win games for India if given a chance.”I love playing with the red ball. There is a bit of swing, there is sledging and lots of time [there is] no pressure to score runs. The situations are sometimes easy and sometimes tough. So I enjoy all those scenarios in Ranji Trophy.”

Sussex won their opening match in the LV= Insurance County Championship for the first time since 2015 after Oli Carter’s unbeaten 33 guided them to a two-wicket victory against Durham.Carter, the 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, fittingly hit the winning runs when he pulled Brydon Carse for the second of two fours in an over, having supervised what was at times a nervy run chase.Sussex began the final day at the 1st Central County Ground on 172 for 5 and requiring a further 59 runs and things initially went smoothly on a Hove pitch showing little sign of deterioration.Carter and nightwatcher Sean Hunt added 29 with Hunt taking boundaries in successive overs off Matthew Potts to ease the nerves.Potts was replaced by left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann after bowling just two overs but it was Carse, during a fine six-over spell, who made the breakthrough when he angled the ball across Hunt and wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson dived in front of slip to take a fine catch. Nonetheless, with 14 runs, Hunt had done his job.Durham sensed an opportunity and Kuhnemann took two wickets in four overs from the sea end to make them favourites, although neither of his victims – Fynn Hudson-Prentice or Nathan McAndrew – will be rushing to see replays of their dismissals.Hudson-Prentice got a top-edge sweeping and was caught at short fine leg and McAndrew, tied down by the accuracy of his compatriot, was stumped after coming down the pitch aiming to heave Kuhnemann over long on.Sussex were suddenly 208 for 8 and still 23 short of their target, Durham having taken 3 for 15 in 11 overs. But Carter found a reliable partner in Jack Carson, and they were helped when Kuhnemann fired two balls down the leg side in successive overs which were missed by Robinson and went for a total of seven wides.Durham brought back Carse in a final throw of the dice but Carter pulled his third and fifth deliveries through square to the boundary before being embraced by his partner.Sussex have only won once in each of their last three Championship campaigns so this will do wonders for their confidence, while Durham, who had a first-innings lead of 41, will reflect that poor second-innings batting cost them victory.Paul Farbrace, the Sussex head coach, said: “It was a bit nervy today but great to get over the line. The way our four seamers bowled on the third day, when they backed each other up, was outstanding and set the game up for us.”If there was a man of the match I’d give it to Oli Carter. The way he kept wicket in both innings and the way he batted in the first innings, when we were 91 for 4 and he put together a partnership with [Cheteshwar] Pujara, and then again today was outstanding. In both innings he played really calmly and particularly this morning showed a lot of composure. He deserved to be the bloke who got us over the line.”It’s a great lesson for our team because it has shown they can beat good opponents. Hopefully the confidence this result gives our players, to have played in a really tough game on a fantastic cricket pitch, gives us something to really build on going forward.”Carse said: “We’re obviously disappointed to be on the losing side but over the last four days the way we have gone about our business and the cricket we are trying to play has been really positive.”We came into today fully believing that we were going to win but maybe if we’d got 20 or 30 more runs in our second innings we could have won. Obviously that’s in hindsight.”

The USWNT boss continues to turn over the player pool, and this squad features intriguing choices

While discussing her latest roster selections, Emma Hayes was asked to reflect on it all. It has been almost exactly a year since she arrived as U.S. women's national team coach. With an Olympic gold in her back pocket and now with the experience of starting a fresh cycle, this was a time to take stock.

"The truth is I'm in love with my job every day," she said, then detailed the best aspects of the role – the challenges, the leadership lessons, the culture. And ahead of upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica, Hayes' favorite part? The opportunities.

This camp will represent exactly that for many: an opportunity. Hayes named a 24-player squad for these two matches, which will be held on May 31 and June 3. The roster features a key return, two first-time call-ups, a further uncapped player and a whole lot of young faces, all of whom are looking to take their own leap toward the 2027 Women's World Cup.

The USWNT split a pair of friendlies with Brazil in April, winning the first match 2-0 before falling 2-1 in the second. Facing Brazil wasn't going to be easy, and that proved to be the case. The games marked a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, so there was a lot on the line despite it being labeled a "friendly." Yet given that the 2027 World Cup is still two years away, Hayes made it very clear that once again she would be experimenting with players – because she can.

The USWNT isn't a finished product, and it isn't meant to be at this point in the cycle. For Hayes, the player pool continues to expand, and this camp will give her a chance to learn multiple lessons about those in it.

GOAL takes a look at the five big takeaways from Hayes' squad selection.

• Getty Images
  

  Girma's return

  For fans of the USWNT, one name stood out immediately in this roster. She's back!

  Naomi Girma is making her USWNT return, having missed all previous matches since the start of the year. Injury issues plagued her initial days at Chelsea, but she returned in time to win trophies and, more importantly for the USWNT, be ready for this camp.

  The USWNT has missed Girma dearly. There are few, if any, center-backs that can go toe-to-toe with her these days, and having her back gives the U.S. arguably the world's best safety net. It also gives the backline a vital boost in leadership from a player who has become one of the faces of this national team.

  "You cannot underestimate the importance of players like Naomi Girma to this team," Hayes said in a news conference Tuesday. "We've been without a lot of experienced players over the last six, seven or eight months, so getting some of that back in this camp with Naomi, we'll add not just quality, but that leadership piece. She's the vice captain of the team. She's someone who is growing into that role.

  "I know she's missed it terribly and, when you make as big of a move as she did, it does take a little bit of time to settle in. It's taken her body some time to adjust, but she's in a great place. She's very, very excited to be back with us."

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• AFP
  

  Thompson as Rodman replacement?

  Trinity Rodman isn't here, along with here Triple Espresso mates, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson. That pesky back injury has flared again, and the USWNT will be very cautious with her treatment and return.

  "It's a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting Trin," Hayes said. "That's club, country and the NWSL, so there's good communication and support provided to her. With regard to the issue in her back, she wants to get to a place where it doesn't keep coming back, so I think these are the right steps for her.

  "I've definitely seen a lot of progress this week but, unfortunately, I can't put a time frame on it because we want to ensure, again, that she's not carrying that pain any further. I think we're definitely heading in the right direction. I don't know when she will be back, but I know that Trinity is being given all of the support."

  Rodman's absence creates an opportunity. Hayes tipped a surprising player as a potential answer, though: Gisele Thompson. Typically a right-back, Alyssa Thompson's younger sister has been recognized as a forward by U.S. Soccer, and Hayes says that isn't by accident.

  "No Trinity Rodman available and no Yasmeen Ryan available, and Gisele is an attacking fullback, there's no question," Hayes said. "She's been playing as a right-back for her club, but I'd like to see her as a wide forward. One, because it's natural for her to go forward and, two, because I think there are other players ahead of her in the fullback position, specifically Emily Fox. It feels like a win-win with a lack of wide options in this camp."

• Getty Images
  

  Shaw, Albert and Fishel U23 bound

  There were some notable absences from this squad. Jaedyn Shaw was left out, as was Korbin Albert. Mia Fishel has recently recovered from her long-term injury and, given the lack of strikers, could be a valuable player for the USWNT. None were on the roster, but all will be active within the program.

  Hayes confirmed that all three will be part of the U.S. U23 roster, which will be released on Wednesday.

  "I think that's the beautiful thing about the U23s, going to Germany and playing high-level opponents," she said. "This is what I felt has been really missing for a lot of players. They make that jump from Under-20 to seniors and they don't have a body of games. Yes, they could come sit on the bench for us, but it's much better to go and play in Germany and get those experiences so that these players are tracking to compete in the place we want them to come 2027."

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  A feel-good callup

  With those familiar players switching to the U23s for this camp, there was room to expand the pool and call in some newer faces. The standout newcomer is, of course, Lo’eau LaBonta, who could make some history if she does feature.

  At 32, Labonta would become the oldest player to earn her first USWNT cap. An 11-year NWSL veteran, Labonta hasn't worn a national team shirt since her time with the U23s while she was at Stanford. This is a feel-good moment for her, one that is the culmination of years of hard work on the club level.

  Hayes was quick to point out, though, that this isn't just about creating a special moment.

  "She's deserving of the call-up," Hayes said. "She's been consistent in everything that she has done and I think, with the volume of young players – or less-experienced players – we're bringing in, I think we have to get that balance right.

  "Obviously, with the U23s program and two fantastic games in Germany, it's an opportunity for us to use that for less developed players who are strong candidates for the 2027 pool. You look at someone like Lo’eau, who is a super player and someone, like I said, is deserving of that. This is the right moment to do it."

West Ham United recorded their first win since January 14th, having lost three and drawn one in between. Graham Potter’s side beat 2nd-placed Arsenal 1-0, despite only having 32% possession, taking five shots, creating just one “big chance” and generating 1.20 xG.

The Hammers managed to frustrate Arsenal, sitting in a compact mid-block defensively, only allowing the Gunners to create one “big chance” from their 20 shots in the game, as Mikel Arteta’s side only generated 1.23 xG in the match.

Whilst performances have been improving under Potter since his arrival, the results hadn’t quite followed until now, but this sort of victory against their London rivals could be exactly what his side needs to really kick on for the back end of the season.

And it was the goal from Jarrod Bowen that secured all three points for Potter’s side, earning them a huge London Derby victory at the Emirates.

Jarrod Bowen's performance vs Arsenal

Bowen has made 23 appearances for the Hammers so far this season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in all competitions.

Performance in Numbers

Not only playing as a right-winger but also filling in as a centre-forward at times, Bowen is a crucial part of the team’s success.

The 28-year-old winger scored his goal, took two shots in the game (one on target), completed six out of seven accurate passes and won two of his six ground duels in the match. Despite not being overly involved, only having 17 touches, it was his important touch that secured all three points.

But it wasn’t just Bowen who helped West Ham to this huge victory, as the man of the match went to another individual was crucial in that first-half clincher…

West Ham's standout star vs Arsenal

A man of the match display from Aaron Wan-Bissaka included a lovely assist for Bowen’s goal, a 75% aerial duel win rate, a 75% successful dribbles rate and two key passes from his 48 touches, showing his creative essence for the side, alongside his usual defensive dominance.

Stat

Wan-Bissaka

Minutes

90

Assists

1

Touches

48

Clearances

6

Blocked Shots

1

Tackles

1

Ground Duels Won

6/10

Aerial Duels Won

3/4

Key Passes

2

Successful Dribbles

3/4

Wan-Bissaka has made 27 appearances so far this season for the Hammers, scoring two goals and providing two assists, showing he can play as a nominal right-back under Julen Lopetegui, but also showing something slightly different under Potter.

The Mail’s James Sharpe described Wan-Bissaka as a “rampaging” wingback after his display against Arsenal, stating that he never knew he had it in him. The 27-year-old is largely seen as a “frequent source of genuine excitement” within the fanbase, despite the poor season they are having.

Potter will be hoping Wan-Bissaka can continue in this fine form, as he looks to climb the table with West Ham, dragging them as far away from the relegation zone as possible, and perhaps mounting a top-half charge in the final third of the season.

As for the former Manchester United man, it looks as if the Hammers have well and truly hit the jackpot with his bargain £15m capture.

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West Ham United have reportedly made contact with a £34m striker as Graham Potter looks ahead to his first full season in charge at the London Stadium.

West Ham transfer rumours

The Irons are currently 16 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, sitting in 15th position. However, they are closer to the top four than they are the bottom three, with the club’s campaign on course to fizzle out.

There will be more optimism under Potter next season, though, and after a big summer spending spree last year, transfer rumours are already circulating ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Recent speculation has linked West Ham with a move to sign Club Brugge full-back Maxim de Cupyer ahead of Arsenal, whereas Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis is also on West Ham’s radar.

West Ham could also move for "magnificent" 11-goal striker alongside David

Graham Potter is keen to sign a striker this summer.

ByDominic Lund Mar 5, 2025

A new striker is once again set to be on the agenda for the Hammers, even though West Ham managed to sign Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in January.

The Irishman is unlikely to make his move to the London Stadium permanent, though, resulting in rumours linking West Ham with a move to sign Jonathan David and Tammy Abraham.

David, currently at Lille, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and appears to be Potter’s top target. Reports have even claimed West Ham have tabled a £16.5m contract offer to sign the Canada international ahead of Barcelona.

Roma paid £34m to sign Abraham from Chelsea, and he is now on loan at AC Milan. The Irons were exploring the possibility of a move earlier this month, and a new update on the Englishman has now emerged.

West Ham in contact to sign Abraham from Roma

According to TEAMtalk, AC Milan have no intention of making a move for Abraham permanent at the end of the season, opening the door for a return to the Premier League.

The 138-career goal forward is open to the idea of returning to England, and West Ham have made contact by asking for preliminary information on Abraham.

West Ham aren’t alone though, with Everton doing the same in their own attempts to sign the 27-year-old, who actually shares the same agent as Irons star Mohammed Kudus.

AS Roma

120

37

11

Chelsea

82

30

9

Bristol City

48

26

4

Aston Villa

40

26

3

Swansea City

39

8

4

AC Milan

34

8

4

England

11

3

1

Abraham has come in for praise during his time in Italy from former England boss Gareth Southgate, who previously said the forward has “improved” after leaving England: “Tammy is having very good matches with the Roma shirt. Sometimes, a player is considered new by the staff, the team, but also by the fans. However, he has only improved and we are happy with what he has given on the field.

“He plays in a team that is fighting to be at the top, so every game is important. In Italy you have to work hard to find spaces. The fact that he plays in Serie A is a very good opportunity for him.”

Manchester United are now eyeing up a new defender for Ruben Amorim as they look to continue to revamp their side ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with their current Premier League season already well beyond repair.

Manchester United target youth

As part of the club’s plan to return to the top of English football in an economically sustainable way, Manchester United have switched their focus away from older, more established players following a string of failed signings.

Casemiro is the latest player to fail to justify his hefty price tag, following the likes of Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund, with the Brazilian now seemingly out of favour following the arrival of Amorim and consigned to a spot on the substitutes bench every week.

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This change of policy has been evident in recent windows, with the Red Devils signing Leny Yoro (18) and Joshua Zirkzee (21) in the most recent summer window before adding Ayden Heaven (18) and Patrick Dorgu (20) last month.

It certainly prevents immediate success, with Manchester United turning down the chance to sign Champions League top scorer Serhou Guirassy last January for just £15m over fears he was too old at 27, instead opting to wait six months to sign Zirkzee while Guirassy moved to Borussia Dortmund.

However, the hope is that it will lead to longer term success, and with signings needed all over the pitch, they cannot afford massive transfer fees across the board. As a result, they are now reportedly exploring what could prove a bargain move to sign a new defender.

Manchester United tracking EURO 2024 winnner

Now, reports in Spain claim that Manchester United are one of a trio of clubs tracking Athletic Club centre-back Dani Vivian ahead of a potential bargain move for the defender this summer.

Vivian, who was part of Spain’s EURO 2024 winning squad, has impressed in the Basque Country in recent seasons, and now 25, he is entering into his peak years. Dubbed “colossal” by The Athletic’s data writer Thom Harris, the Spaniard has started 18 times in LaLiga this season, scoring three goals in the process.

His performances have caught the eye of clubs in the Premier League and in Spain, with the report claiming that Atlético Madrid, Liverpool and United all “see him as a key piece to strengthen their respective defences for next season”.

Meanwhile, he has a release clause in his contract set at just €40m (£33m), which could prove excellent value for money given his recent performances.

At Old Trafford, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are set to depart as free agents at the end of the season, while Matthijs De Ligt has done little to inspire confidence since his arrival and Harry Maguire is entering the final 18 months of his own contract with the Red Devils.

With Lisandro Martinez also likely to be sidelined for much of the rest of 2025 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, a new centre-back is almost certain to be high on Amorim’s wishlist this summer, and Vivian could provide a perfect market opportunity.

Manchester United face one of the most crucial games of the season in just over 48 hours, yet, as ever, it is talk off the field that is dominating the back pages.

Speaking to a raft of outlets on Monday afternoon, INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe attempted to justify the key decisions that have been made at Old Trafford under the new regime, while also seeking to outline the plan for moving forward following what has been a wretched decade or so in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The vision for Ratcliffe and Co, it would seem, is to steer the club toward winning a 21st league title by 2028, a goal that to some may be viewed as ‘Mission Impossible’ with Ruben Amorim’s side currently languishing in 14th in the Premier League table.

While the billionaire businessman appeared unwilling to shift the blame onto the previous leadership set-up, there was an obvious frustration directed toward the mammoth signings that he has now inherited.

Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Antony and Jadon Sancho were all name-checked by the Englishman as costly signings of the pre-INEOS period, while he also went on to state that there are those who are simply “not good enough” among the current crop.

If those words suggest anything, it’s that the ruthless decisions at Old Trafford are only set to continue in the near future – and not just related to those high-profile stars who Ratcliffe mentioned…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Famous Five

While there will be an appreciation of the honesty of the 72-year-old, quite what Ratcliffe intends to gain by mentioning those names above remains to be seen, with it likely to prove another dent in the already dwindling confidence of Amorim’s side.

Of course, in the case of Sancho and Antony, the pair are currently away from the club on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis, respectively, with the Englishman, in particular, already destined to depart with the Blues holding an obligation to buy the winger this summer.

As for Casemiro, reports did the rounds prior to Ratcliffe’s arrival that he had questioned the prior £70m capture of the then 30-year-old Brazilian, with INEOS now attempting to find a way to shift the £350k-per-week star from the wage bill.

An exit for the veteran had appeared inevitable even prior to Ratcliffe’s comments, yet for Onana and Hojlund, where does this leave them?

United’s number one has endured a dismal last few months or so under Amorim, having already made three errors leading to a goal in the top flight this season, yet such scrutiny from the ownership will likely do little to aid his spiralling form.

Meanwhile, for Hojlund, the promising Dane is on a run of 20 games without a goal and has only scored twice in the league this season, having notably laboured on the ball when presented with a chance against Arsenal last time out.

What the future now holds for the 22-year-old remains to be seen, although there could well be another inherited star facing an uncertain future under the regime…

Man Utd's 'best signing' is now on borrowed time

As Amorim has rightly stated, “nothing” – not even a Europa League triumph – would save United’s season, with the performances having failed to lift off even after the change in the dugout.

There is an acceptance that it will take time to adjust to the manager’s 3-4-3 system, however, with the recent signings of Patrick Dorgu and teenager Ayden Heaven providing reason for optimism.

In the case of Heaven, the £1.5m January arrival has caught the eye during his two substitute cameos in recent weeks, having been described as “so relaxed” by his manager after shining against the Gunners on Sunday.

Heaven’s game in numbers vs Arsenal

30 minutes played

11 touches

2/2 aerial duels won

0/1 ground duels won

100% pass accuracy

1/1 long balls completed

3 clearances

1 shot off target

1x possession lost

Stats via Sofascore

The introduction of the 18-year-old has been a welcome surprise for United, with it looking as if the Hale End graduate could be a long-term fit in that left centre-back berth, if all goes to plan.

Heaven’s emergence could then ensure that the stricken Lisandro Martinez is now on borrowed time at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Argentine currently enduring yet another injury lay-off which will likely keep him out for much of the calendar year.

The former Ajax man – who was signed for £56.7m in the summer of 2022 – had looked to be one of the club’s “best signings” in years, in the words of Patrice Evra, following a standout first season, although the 27-year-old’s repeated injury woes have since made him far too unreliable.

Indeed, the World Cup winner made just 14 appearances last season due to repeated setbacks, while his form at the start of this campaign was also reason for concern, having been branded “appalling” by Gary Neville for his tame clearance in the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

It had been a solid start to 2025 for Martinez it must be said, a point validated by his stunning strikes against both Liverpool and Fulham, yet with it looking as if he will definitely miss the start of next season, can Amorim really factor him too greatly into his plans?

At his best, the 5 foot 10 ace is a “warrior” – as hailed by Erik ten Hag – and a real outlet on the ball. At his worst, however, the £120k-per-week asset can be exposed defensively, with journalist Alex Turk writing that he had “cost United far too often inside his own box” in the early months of 2024/25.

The diminutive ‘Butcher’ is a cult hero and a fan favourite, yet at a time when Ratcliffe and co will be desperate to ensure they are getting value for money, it might not be too long before Martinez finds himself shown the door.

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Former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba and his wife Zulay have launched their own jewellery collection.

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Pogba trying to get back into footballLaunches new jewellery collection with wife'Unbreakable' to be unveiled at Cannes Film FestivalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Pogbas have come together with Elke Berr, the founder and designer of the Swiss high jewelry and bespoke jewelry house bearing her name, to unveil 'Unbreakable'. The collection is said to feature a masculine-unisex line and a feminine line, reflecting the couple's 'unbreakable' bond.

AdvertisementWHAT POGBA SAID

The Frenchman said: "UNBREAKABLE is more than a word. It’s a truth. For both of us. We held on, we resisted, and today, we turn that into beauty."

A joint statement from the Pogbas and Berr reads: “What we want is to capture hearts and imaginations. This collection will transcend the boundaries of sport and fashion, becoming a symbol of empowerment and inspiration. And in the hearts of those who wear these pieces, its spirit will endure — a constant reminder of the power within each of us to defy the odds and write our own stories."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pogba has been without a club since November after Juventus terminated his contract by mutual consent, with the 32-year-old now trying to reignite his career that was nearly ruined by a four-year doping ban – that was reduced on appeal. The France international has been linked with moves across the planet and while he waits for his next club, he appears to be getting into the world of jewellery.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

While the footballing world waits for what is next for Pogba, the 'Unbreakable' collection will be unveiled in a private preview event during the Cannes Film Festival at Villa Forbes on May 21.

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O Palmeiras está muito perto de vender Gabriel Veron ao Porto-POR, mas a fonte parece estar longe de secar, pois a base tem fornecido joias aos montes, como é o caso de Estevão Willian, de 15 anos, conhecido como “Messinho”. Nesta quarta-feira ele foi destaque no jornal Mundo Deportivo, em que falou de seu apelido e do sonho de jogar no Barcelona, mas antes quer se profissionalizar no Verdão.

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Apesar de colocar Messi como um de seus ídolos e uma de suas referências no futebol. Estevão prefere que o chamem pelo seu nome e não pelo apelido que lhe deram por conta da maneira com que conduz a bola, parecida com forma de jogar do craque argentino.

– Sempre que podia, eu o via jogar pelo Barcelona, e tentava me fixar no que ele fazia. Com certeza é alguém em quem me inspiro. Desde criança sonho em ser como ele – disse ao veículo espanhol.

– Prefiro que me chamem de Estevão Willian, porque é o meu nome, vou tentar torná-lo grande, porque Deus me deu qualidades e é o que vou tentar fazer – completou a joia alviverde.

Estevão ainda revelou para o Mundo Deportivo que tem o sonho de jogar pelo Barcelona, algo que sonha desde a infância. Antes, no entanto, seu foco é se tornar profissional no Palmeiras, que é o seu clube do coração, onde está desde 2021, chegando com 14 anos.

– Meu sonho é ir para a Europa e jogar no Barcelona, que é meu sonho de criança. Agora penso em me profissionalizar pelo Palmeiras, que é o meu time de infância – afirmou ao site espanhol.

Por fim, Estevão descreveu suas qualidades e no que ainda precisa melhorar durante sua formação de base, onde atua tanto pelo sub-17, quanto pelo sub-15, que é a sua categoria por conta da idade.

– Tenho que melhorar a finalização de cabeça e de fora da área. Já as qualidades, considero que conduzo bem a bola e dou bastante assistências – argumentou o jovem palmeirense.

Estevão foi campeão da Copa do Brasil sub-17 com o Palmeiras recentemente e agora vai disputar a Copa Nike com o sub-15.