Let it happen when it has to, the India coach says of the wicketkeeper-batsman’s retirement
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2019India coach Ravi Shastri feels that speculating about MS Dhoni’s future is “downright disrespectful” and wants to see the debate end “once and for all”.Questions about his future have been thrown at everyone connected with the Indian team in the past couple of months. Chief selector MSK Prasad was asked the question earlier in the week and he said “we are moving on”, adding fuel to the speculation fire.”Half the guys commenting on MS Dhoni can’t even tie their shoelaces,” Shastri told the . “Look at what he’s achieved for the country. Why are people in a hurry to see him off? Maybe, they don’t find enough talking points. He and everybody who knows him know he’ll be going away soon. So, let it happen when it has to.”Making statements at his expense is downright disrespectful. After 15 years of playing for India, wouldn’t he know what’s the right thing to do? When he retired from Test cricket, what did he say? That Wriddhiman Saha was good enough to be handed over the wicket-keeping gloves. He was correct. He’s been a shadow when it comes to the team, always sharing his mind, lending his views.”
MS Dhoni has earned the right to retire when he wants to. And let this debate end once and for allRavi Shastri
While Dhoni has been silent on the subject, he dropped in to the Indian dressing room in Ranchi, his hometown, following their 3-0 sweep of South Africa in the recent Test series.”The other day, he came over to the dressing room in Ranchi to meet Shahbaz Nadeem [a Jharkhand statemate, who had made his debut in the Test] and had a chat – how motivating is that for a guy making his debut at home,” Shastri said. “Let me say this: MS Dhoni has earned the right to retire when he wants to. And let this debate end once and for all.”Earlier in the week, Sourav Ganguly, the new BCCI president, also threw his weight behind Dhoni when asked if he was rooting for a “Gangulyesque comeback”.”It depends on him,” the former India captain said. “I’ve always said – even when I was left out and when the entire world said that, ‘he’ll never make it’ – I believed in myself and came back and played for four years. You know champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s in his mind, what he thinks about his career, so we’ll deal with that.”He’s one of the greats of the game. India is very proud to have MS Dhoni. His achievements, when you sit down and take note of what he’s done, you say, ‘Wow, MS Dhoni!’ So, till I’m around, everybody will be respected. That doesn’t change.”
While the Sydney Sixers want the runs to keep flowing, other teams are feeling differently
Andrew McGlashan15-Oct-2019
Alyssa Healy’s maiden T20I century landed her a world record•Getty Images
Australia’s players have been able to savour every moment of Alyssa Healy’s phenomenal form in recent weeks, but from Friday some of them will be hoping the runs dry up as they become the opposition in the Women’s Big Bash.Healy plundered a world record T20 score of 148 not out against Sri Lanka in Sydney before adding a 71-ball century in the final ODI of Australia’s record-breaking 18th win in a row.She will now be part of a power-packed top order for the Sydney Sixers in the first standalone WBBL alongside Australia team-mates Ellyse Perry – who scored a record-breaking 777 runs in last year’s competition – and Ashleigh Gardner.While Perry and Gardner will be happy to watch Healy continue the mayhem from the non-striker’s end, for others there is a different feeling.”It’s pretty hard to [stop her], she’s been pretty consistent in the last few weeks,” Meg Lanning, the Australia and Perth Scorchers captain, told ESPNcricinfo. “We talked about it when she was whacking it all around the park against Sri Lanka that hopefully she’s getting all her runs out now and won’t have any left for the Big Bash, but I find that hard to believe. I think she’ll keep dominating and make plenty of runs, just not against Perth.”Nicola Carey, who has moved from the Sydney Thunder to Hobart Hurricanes, is one of those who could be tasked at bowling to Healy when the teams meet next month.”I’ve certainly been watching Alyssa smack the ball around, I haven’t seen her get out too many times,” Carey said. “She’ll certainly be hard to bowl to, as will all the top order who have been in the runs recently. We’ve got our plans against them, we’ll see if it comes off I guess.”It’s really funny, I go into net sessions sometimes and I know the Big Bash is around the corner and all of you don’t play in my team, so you can work a few things out and it will make things very interesting against each other.”For Healy’s Sydney Sixers team-mates, however, they hope it’s business as usual.”The way she is hitting the ball at the moment is a little bit scary,” Gardner told ESPNcricinfo. “I have said to her a few times that hopefully she can do it in the magenta. We know how good a cricketer she is and she’s just hitting the peak of her career, so the likes of her and Ellyse Perry – who hasn’t had much time in the middle and is raring to go – they play a massive role starting off our innings.”The WBBL starts with a Sydney derby between the Sixers and Thunder at North Sydney Oval on Friday before six matches over the week across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide which includes a re-run of last year’s final between the Sixers and Brisbane Heat.
أعلن النادي الأهلي على لسان المدير الرياضي للفريق، محمد رمضان، بشكل رسمي، رحيل اللاعب التونسي علي معلول بنهاية الموسم الحالي 2024-2025.
ويعاني علي معلول من إصابة بقطع جزئي في وتر أكيلس، منذ مباراة الأهلي ضد الترجي التونسي في نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا الموسم الماضي 2023-2024.
وعلى إثر تلك الإصابة استقر الجهاز الفني للنادي الأهلي، على عدم قيد اللاعب في قائمة الفريق خلال الفترة الحالية حتى يناير المقبل 2025.
وقال رمضان عبر برنامج “حارس الأهلي” المذاع على قناة الأهلي: “تم الاتفاق مع علي معلول أن الموسم الحالي هو الأخير له مع الأهلي”.
طالع | “لا أعرف تفكيره”.. محمد رمضان يُفجّر مفاجأة بشأن مصير علي معلول مع الأهلي
علي معلول كان قد انضم إلي صفوف النادي الأهلي قادماً من فريق الصفاقسي التونسي في موسم 2016.
“بطولات” يوضح أرقام وبطولات علي معلول مع الأهلي
علي معلول نجح في تحقيق العديد من الألقاب رفقة النادي الأهلي، خلال 8 سنوات قضاها داخل جدران القلعة الحمراء.
– حقق 21 بطولة مع الأهلي على النحو التالي
6 ألقاب الدوري المصري، 4 كأس مصر، 5 كأس سوبر مصري، 4 دوري أبطال إفريقيا، 2 كأس السوبر الإفريقي.
– حصل على 3 ميداليات برونزية مع الأهلي في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.
– تصدر علي معلول، قائمة هدافي بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2023 التي أقيمت بالسعودية، مع كل من كريم بنزيما نجم اتحاد جدة السعودي وجوليان ألفاريز نجم مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي برصيد هدفين لكل منهم، حيث سجل معلول هدفين الأول في مرمى اتحاد جدة والثاني في مرمي أوراوا الياباني في مباراة تحديد الفريق الفائز بالميدالة البرونزية.
– خاص علي معلول 287 مباراة مع الأهلي في مختلف البطولات، تمكن خلالهم من تسجيل 51 هدفاً وتقديم 83 تمريرة حاسمة.
– ترشح علي معلول لجائزة أفضل لاعب داخل القارة الإفريقية مع الأهلي في عامي 2019 و2023.
– يعد علي معلول هو ثاني هدافي الأهلي الأجانب في تاريخ الدوري برصيد 35 هدفًا بالتساوي مع الأنجولي فلافيو، وخلف المتصدر أحمد فيليكس.
Lisa Keightley, the Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach, has signed a contract to become England women’s first full-time head coach.Keightley will join up with her squad for the first time in January, after the WBBL season ends, meaning Ali Maiden – the interim coach after Mark Robinson left his role at the end of a disappointing home summer – will lead the side on their tour to Malaysia.Keightley, 48, had been appointed coach of London Spirit in the Hundred, but will now vacate that role.A former Australia international who played nearly 100 times for her country in all formats, Keightley previously spent seven years as coach of the England Academy until 2015.Keightley said she was “massively excited” about her appointment.”It’s a huge opportunity,” she said. “It’s a team full of world-class players and to be given the chance to work with some of the players who I worked with a few years ago is really exciting. I can’t wait to get started and see where we can get to.”England are the current 50-over World Champions and they made it to the final of the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. They’re a very competitive side and they wouldn’t be in big matches like that if they didn’t have a really strong group of players who can perform on the big stage. I’m really looking forward to getting underway and helping the team progress.”The immediate focus for Keightley will be the T20 World Cup in Australia next spring. Her first challenge will be a T20 tri-series against India and Australia directly before that tournament, and England will be among the favourites to win back the title they last won in 2009.Lisa Keightley will join up with England for the first time in January•Getty Images
Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director for women’s cricket said: “Lisa was the stand-out candidate from a varied and highly talented group of applicants.”The interview panel were unanimously impressed by Lisa’s demonstration of her suitability for the role, her impressive knowledge of the game and her passion for coaching and developing players.”She outlined clear plans as to how she believes she can take the team and this group of players forward.”Lisa will become the first full-time female Head Coach of the England Women’s team. I am excited about the progress our sport continues to make and I’m sure that Lisa’s appointment will rightly be seen as another huge step for women’s cricket.”
It's no secret that Arsenal want to sign attacking reinforcements, with Ivan Toney the main name mentioned among potential summer options for Mikel Arteta. Now, however, an alternative option has reportedly emerged.
Arsenal transfer news
Whilst the Gunners remain in the race to win the Premier League title, they've lacked a clinical forward at times with the output of their attacking front three painting quite the picture.
Arsenal's front three in the Premier League (via FBref)
Stat
Bukayo Saka
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Martinelli
Starts
25
13
12
Goals
13
4
5
Assists
7
3
3
With that said, it's no surprise that Arsenal have reportedly turned their attention towards Toney, who could leave Brentford this summer in a deal worth as much as £80m. The forward recently returned from a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules, instantly finding his goalscoring boots to send reminders around the Premier League about his clear talent.
Reports suggest that the Gunners could turn to an alternative option, however. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have scouted Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres multiple times.
Romano said in his CaughtOffside column: "Although there are many clubs that are attentive to Viktor Gyokeres at the moment, none have made a move as yet, nothing is happening now. It’s one for the summer.
Sporting CP strikerViktor Gyokeres.
"His conditions are that he has a €100m release clause then we will see what happens in the summer – but we know how difficult is to negotiate with Portuguese clubs. Many clubs have also sent their scouts to watch him, Arsenal for sure multiple times – but also others are closely monitoring the situation."
With that said, when the summer window arrives, it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal choose €100m (£86m)Gyokeres over Toney.
"Outstanding" Gyokeres is one of Europe's best
Since leaving Coventry City last season, Gyokeres has been one of the best strikers in Europe, making the interest in the forward little surprise. It is the type of rise that analyst and former player Adrian Clarke saw coming too, having praised the Swede when speaking to talkSPORT last May.
Clarke said (via Football League World): “You two [Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist] know what a good striker looks like, and at that level, he is mustard. I think he’s Premier League-ready, actually. Viktor Gyokeres, he was outstanding.”
If Arsenal are looking for a killer in front of goal, then everything is pointing towards Gyokeres. The former Coventry striker is enjoying a season to remember in Portugal and is long overdue a move to the Premier League. As the Gunners weigh up their options this summer, it should be Gyokeres who stands above the rest, including Brentford forward and current target Toney.
Reserva durante grande parte da última temporada, Mateus Vital tem sido um dos destaques do Corinthians em 2021. Nesta quarta-feira, na goleada por 4 a 0 sobre o River Plate, do Paraguai, pela Copa Sul-Americana, o meia marcou o seu 5º gol em apenas 13 jogos e reassumiu a artilharia da equipe de forma isolada.
O curioso é que, mesmo com poucas partidas disputadas – ficou um mês e meio sem jogar após passar por uma artroscopia no joelho direito -, esse já é o maior volume de gols de Vital em uma temporada desde que se tornou profissional, em 2015, ainda no Vasco. E chama a atenção também a evolução na conclusão das jogadas ano a ano.
Mateus marcou seus dois primeiros gols apenas em 2017, ainda no Cruz-Maltino, e repetiu a dose em 2018, já vestindo a camisa do Corinthians. Em 2019, foram três bolas na rede. No ano seguinte, com menos jogos, marcou quatro vezes. E agora já são cinco.
Aos 23 anos de idade, Mateus Vital vive o seu melhor início de temporada da carreira e se torna uma das armas corintianas para surpreender no Campeonato Brasileiro.
MATEUS VITAL ANO A ANO
2015 – 1 jogo e 0 gols 2016 – 5 jogos e 0 gols 2017 – 31 jogos e 2 gols 2018 – 58 jogos e 2 gols 2019 – 52 jogos e 3 gols 2020 – 40 jogos e 4 gols 2021 – 13 jogos e 5 gols
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Everton may well be unsure in which division they will spend next season, but that has not stopped them already looking ahead to the summer transfer window, and they are set to join a whole host of clubs chasing one man tearing up English football.
Everton on tenterhooks over FFP charges
The Toffees are in something of a sticky situation as things stand. Already having been docked points once by the Premier League this season (initially 10, reduced to 6 on appeal), they remain on trial for a second breach of financial fair play regulations. A decision for that breach is not expected soon, though the deadline for any outcome is April 8th.
BBC man makes claim on when Everton will hear about second PSR charge
They could be docked yet more points this season.
ByBen Browning Mar 19, 2024
Currently on 25 points, were the Toffees to be docked another six points they would find themselves in the relegation zone and two points from safety, with what could be as few as seven games left to save their season (they play three times before April 8th).
Having seen Nottingham Forest docked just four points for their latest breach, Sean Dyche's side will be hoping that their outcome is similar at worst, a fate that would allow them to keep fighting for Premier League survival on the pitch rather than in the law courts.
The Premier League relegation race
Club
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Goal Difference
Points
Everton
28
8
7
13
-10
25*
Luton Town
29
5
7
17
-18
22
Nottingham Forest
29
6
7
16
-16
21*
Burnley
29
4
5
20
-34
17
Sheffield United
28
3
5
20
-50
14
But departures this summer seem inevitable regardless, with both Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana strongly linked with big money moves away from Goodison Park ahead of the new season, moves that could however free up some much needed cash to bolster the Toffees ranks.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
Having been burnt by big money signings in the past, it seems that they are set to try and mix it up this summer.
Toffees in chasing pack for League One star
Now, one report has linked Everton with a potentially cut price move for ex-Celtic talent Karamoko Dembele, who is now starring in League One with Blackpool. The South London born youngster came through the ranks in Glasgow and caught the eye for his dribbling prowess, leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig to compare his style to that of Mohamed Salah.
He has yet to reach that potential, but is showing signs of it this season on loan in England's third tier from French side Stade Brest, having grabbed six goals and 11 assists in 32 League One outings for the Tangerines and helping them into playoff contention.
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley believes there is something special about Dembele. "He plays the game in a unique way, and has football personality", he told the media. "He will take the ball in any situation and can make things happen. He’s exciting and can be beautiful to watch."
His ability has certainly caught the eye of plenty of clubs, and HITC report that Everton are keen on signing the Stade Brest man, but there is also competition from Premier League rivals West Ham United, Fulham, Wolves and Nottingham Forest, as well as Championship heavyweights Leeds United and Leicester City.
No price is named in the report, though it is unlikely to be a massive fee for a player in the final two years of his contract and shining in the third tier of English football. Nonetheless, the 21-year-old could be an exciting addition to Dyche's side, if they can find a way to fight off the competition this summer.
تألق اللاعبون المحترفون المصريون في القارة الأوروبية مع أنديتهم، خلال منافسات بطولات الدوري هذا الأسبوع.
وشارك كل من محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش ومحمد عبد المنعم ومصطفى محمد، وسام مرسي.
وجاء ظهور عمر مرموش مع فريقه آينتراخت فرانكفورت في الدوري الألماني أمام بوخوم.
وعاد سام مرسي للمشاركة مع إيبسويتش تاون ضد ليستر سيتي، بعد غيابه عن مواجهة برينتفورد بسبب الإصابة.
وقاد محمد صلاح فريقه ليفربول للعودة أمام برايتون بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ومحمد عبد المنعم لعب أساسيًا مع نيس ضد بريست، وكذلك مصطفى محمد مع نانت أمام مارسيليا بالدوري الفرنسي. عمر مرموش في مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت وبوخوم
لعب مرموش أساسيًا، واستمر حتى الدقيقة 73 من عمر المباراة وقد تم استبداله بزميله إيجور ماتانوفيتش، في مباراة انتهت بفوز ساحق لفرانكورت بنتيجة 7-2.
مرموش سجل هدفًا خلال المباراة، وصنع هدفين، وحصل مرموش على تقييم 9.2 من 10.
طالع ترتيب هدافي الدوري الألماني بعد هدف عمر مرموش وثنائية هاري كين ملخص لمسات عمر مرموش في مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت وبوخوم
محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وبرايتون
واصل محمد صلاح تألقه وسجل هدفًا حاسمًا في فوز ليفربول أمام برايتون بهدفين لهدف بمنافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
اقرأ أيضًا | ديلي ميل: علاقات مضطربة وسامة.. خلافات حادة لـ محمد صلاح داخل ليفربول
ورفع محمد صلاح رصيده إلى 7 أهداف في ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بالموسم الجاري.
كما أعلنت رابطة البريمرليج فوز محمد صلاح بجائزة رجل المباراة بتصويت الجمهور بنسبة 78.6%. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وبرايتون
سام مرسي في مباراة إيبسويتش تاون وليستر سيتي
تعادل ليستر سيتي مع إيبسويتش تاون بهدف لكل فريق، في إطار مواجهات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب بورتمان رود.
وشارك سام مرسي أساسيًا مع إيبسويتش تاون، وصنع هدف فريقه بإرسال عرضية تجاه ليف دافيز الذي سجل الهدف.
وتمكن ليستر سيتي في النهاية من إدراك التعادل قبل إطلاق صافرة نهاية المباراة بين الفريقين. أسيست سام مرسي لـ هدف إيبسويتش تاون الرائع في مرمي ليستر سيتي محمد عبد المنعم في مباراة نيس وبريست
لعب عبد المنعم المباراة كاملة وحقق فريقه الفوز بهدف دون مقابل بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الفرنسي.
وحصل على تقييم 7.1 من 10 درجات، ولمس عبد المنعم الكرة 53 مرة، وبلغت دقة تمريراته 95% بواقع 35 من أصل 37 تمريرة
اقرأ أيضًا | محمد عبد المنعم بعد مشاركته أمام بريست: فوز يمنحنا الثقة بملعب صعب ملخص لمسات محمد عبد المنعم في مباراة نيس وبريست
مصطفى محمد في مباراة نانت ومارسيليا
لعب مصطفى محمد أساسيًا مع نانت في المباراة أمام مارسيليا بالدوري الفرنسي، قبل استبداله في الدقيقة 68.
ولم يتمكن من التسجيل أو الصناعة، وخسر نانت بهدفين مقابل هدف، وحصل مصطفى محمد على تقييم 6.6 من 10 درجات، وبلغت نسبة تمريراته الصحيحة 67 %. ملخص لمسات مصطفى محمد في مباراة نانت ومارسيليا
The midfielder's struggles in pedestrian pre-season friendlies do not bode well for next season with the Red Devils – but there's no easy solution
While his Manchester United team-mates were dripping with sweat at the Copa America, or being soaked in rain at the European Championship in Germany, Casemiro was able to enjoy his holidays. And if his Instagram account is anything to go by, he’s had quite the summer.
He and his young family jetted off to Orlando to visit Disney World, a trip he famously cancelled in 2019 to rush back to training after Real Madrid had been hammered 7-2 by Atletico Madrid in pre-season. He drove a classic Volkswagen Beatle around Brazil and then he and his wife celebrated their 10-year anniversary with a helicopter ride and by drinking the finest wine.
And who can blame him for enjoying his holiday after the awful season he had just endured? Casemiro’s reputation as a world-class midfielder and serial winner had been dragged through the mud by a dire campaign for him and his club. He was one of the main scapegoats of United’s lowest ever finish in the Premier League, while Jamie Carragher had urged him to quit elite football for his own good.
He was absent from the Red Devils’ one positive episode, missing the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City amid confusion as to whether he was injured or had refused to be a substitute. His woeful performances saw him axed from the Brazil squad for the first time in a decade, leaving him with no Copa America.
The upside of that was he got a rare extended break and some time to relax away from the glare of anxious United fans and the critical media. But now his holidays are over, he is back to work, and the time off appears to have made very little difference. And that presents a big problem for him and the Red Devils.
Getty
Off the pace
Casemiro put his thumb up as he posed for a photo upon returning to Carrington for pre-season training in July but his early showings have been given a firm thumbs down. The Brazilian wore the captain’s armband for the games against Rosenborg and Rangers but he had very little authority on the pitch.
He was sluggish in Norway, unconvincingly scuffing a clearance and getting dispossessed on the edge of his own area before getting hacked by Tomas Nemcik. He was able to continue and completed the first half like the rest of his outfield team-mates but had looked off the pace in the eventual 1-0 defeat.
It might have only been a pre-season friendly but Erik ten Hag was furious with what he saw and did not mince his words, calling the performance "below standards". He also took aim at the more experienced players and it was hard not to assume he had Casemiro in mind when he said: "As an individual you must make sure you are fit. They (young players) are looking to listen and want to transfer that – it didn’t work."
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Getty
Head-in-hands
The Brazilian skippered United again against Rangers in Edinburgh and once more he was one of the worst performers. He misplaced simple passes, was easily beaten whenever Rangers attacked and he lost the ball in dangerous areas.
The nadir came when he squandered a decent United counter with an overhit ball towards Aaron Wan-Bissaka which went out of play. Casemiro knew he had messed up and did not hide his shame. He sank to his knees and put his head in his hands. How he must have wished he was still on holiday, still riding in helicopters or shaking hands with Mickey Mouse.
After all, these were hardly difficult opponents, from Norway and Scotland, ranked 12th and 17th respectively according to UEFA. "Good test in Scotland" Casemiro wrote with a brave face on his Instagram account after the Rangers game. The tests are going to get much harder. United face Arsenal in Los Angeles on Saturday and then Real Betis in San Diego before rounding off their tour of the USA against Liverpool in South Carolina.
Then it’s the Community Shield against Manchester City before United begin the Premier League season at home to Fulham. Casemiro does not have long to get in shape and time is running out to either prove he is still good enough for United or for any prospective suitors.
Getty
Horror show
Casemiro had an excellent debut season with United, powering their return to the Champions League and their Carabao Cup triumph, their first trophy in seven years. So his drop-off last season took everyone by surprise.
It began with a leggy performance in the curtain raiser against Wolves and got steadily worse, his declining physical capabilities being particularly evident in the 4-3 defeat by Bayern Munich – despite him scoring twice – and in the home defeats by Brighton, Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, getting sent off in the latter.
When it was revealed he had injured his ankle while on Brazil duty in October and would be out for several months, it was not the blow it would have been the previous campaign. If anything it was seen as a blessing.
Casemiro returned to action in late January and though there were some positives, such as a last-minute winner in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest and a decent display against West Ham, the decline continued, culminating in the horror show at Selhurst Park, when he was dribbled past eight times and which led to Carragher’s brutal character assassination.
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Expensive fix
Carragher had emphatically told Casemiro: "Leave the game before it leaves you", suggesting he left United immediately and sought refuge in Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League. Not many United fans would have disagreed with the former Liverpool defender. Fast forward a few months and moving him on is proving difficult.
When United signed Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70m ($90m) late in the summer of 2022 in a panic after defeats by Brighton and Brentford, they offered him a four-year contract worth £350,000 ($450,000) per week, the equivalent of more than £18m ($23m) per year.
The Brazilian had told his agent at the time that he would fix United’s problems and that he did, but only in the short term and for a huge cost.
His signing was the equivalent of not repairing a broken window in your home and cranking up the heating to stay warm. United have been left with a huge bill but the same problem: a porous midfield which teams can play through for fun. And no one seems to be willing to bail them out.
Celtic went into the international break in first place in the Scottish Premiership after they beat St. Johnstone 3-1 in Glasgow in their last match.
The Hoops picked up all three points at Parkhead thanks to goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, James Forrest, and Nicolas Kuhn, which sent them to the top of the division after their rivals had their game postponed to a waterlogged pitch at Dundee.
Brendan Rodgers' side need to have a strong end to the 2023/24 campaign to avoid a trophyless season, after they were knocked out of the League Cup by Kilmarnock in August and finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the fans.
This international break has provided a chance for some of Celtic's crop of injured players to nurse their way back to fitness, and – in some cases – it has offered players who are not playing many first-team minutes an opportunity to catch the eye whilst playing for their country.
Hoops teen Rocco Vata is yet to establish himself as a regular in the senior side but Rodgers may now want to finally unleash the young gem after his phenomenal display for Ireland at U21 level on Friday.
Rocco Vata's performance against San Marino
The 18-year-old magician lined up as one of the three attacking midfielders behind Sinclair Armstrong against San Marino in the U21 clash at the end of last week.
He recorded a sensational Sofascore rating of 9.9/10 for his performances in the match, with three goals scored and one chance created in a 7-0 thumping.
Vata's first goal came after a series of errors at the back by the opposition defence. They failed to deal with Tony Springett's initial shot and then a sliced clearance allowed the Celtic teen to volley the ball into an empty net.
As you can see in the clip above, his second goal came just after the hour-mark as the midfielder picked the ball up on the half-turn in the opposition's half before brilliantly jinking past one defender before rifling a long-range effort into the bottom corner.
He completed his hat-trick in stoppage time at the end of the match after Bosun Lawal – his former B team teammate who is currently on loan with Fleetwood Town in England – fired a shot towards goal that the midfielder deflected in, much to the versatile defender's frustration as he appeared to be gutted that Vata got a touch on the ball that seemed to be going in anyway.
The Celtic starlet, who also completed four dribbles during the game, showcased his lethal finishing at the top end of the pitch from an attacking midfield position, and Rodgers should take notice of that.
Daniel Kelly has had plenty of first-team opportunities in recent weeks and should now be moved over to make room for Vata to make his mark at senior level, or be played alongside his B team colleague.
Daniel Kelly's season in numbers
The Scotland U19 international, who did not score or assist a goal in his side's 3-1 defeat to Italy last week, has made five first-team appearances for the club this season.
His emergence for Rodgers' men came after a return of one goal and zero assists in 15 appearances in the Lowland League, along with two goals in six UEFA Youth League outings as a central and attacking midfielder.
Last season, Kelly was predominantly deployed as a defensive or central midfielder and failed to contribute with a goal or an assist in 20 matches for the B team and Youth League side.
23/24 Premiership
Daniel Kelly
Appearances
3
Minutes played
84
Goals
1
Key passes
0
Pass accuracy
84%
Duel success rate
33%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old maestro has almost racked up 90 minutes of Premiership action for the Scottish giants this season, and has scored his first senior goal.
The teenage dynamo brilliantly curled the ball into the far corner from Hyun-jun Yang's cross into the box in a 7-1 win over Dundee towards the end of February.
However, his aforementioned statistics at youth level do not suggest that the midfielder is likely to provide consistent quality as a scorer or creator of goals from the middle of the park.
Whereas, Vata's form for Celtic B, and his exceptional performance for Ireland, shows that the potential is there for him to emerge as a lethal option for Rodgers in the final third.
Rocco Vata's goalscoring quality
The 18-year-old star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has an "exciting" future ahead, has only played 11 minutes in one appearance in the Premiership this season.
His goalscoring exploits for the B team, however, suggest that there is a quality attacking midfielder to be unearthed for the Scottish giants.
Vata, who scored his first senior goal against Buckie Thistle in the SFA Cup earlier this year, has racked up 13 goals in 16 matches across the Lowland League and Challenge Cup this season.
Rocco Vata
The Irish youngster, who can play anywhere in the frontline, as an attacking midfielder, winger, or striker, has scored 14 goals in 24 games for the academy and first-team combined this term.
Meanwhile, Kyogo Furuhashi (15) is the only Celtic player with more than 11 goals for the senior side in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign so far, which speaks to how impressive Vata's scoring rate has been.
22/23 Premiership
Rocco Vata
Appearances
4
Minutes played
44
Key passes
3
Big chances created
2
Pass accuracy
89%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Ange Postecoglou offered the youngster a chance to shine in the Premiership last season, and the teen starlet produced an eye-catching two 'big chances' created in just 44 minutes of action.
This suggests that Vata, who scored nine goals in 16 Lowland Leage appearances during the 2022/23 campaign, also has the quality to create high-quality chances for his teammates, whilst also being able to carry a big goalscoring threat of his own.
Therefore, Rodgers must finally unleash the Ireland U21 international, whether that is from the start or as a substitute on a regular basis, ahead of Kelly after his sensational performance during the international break, and due to his general form for the B team and first-team over the last 18 months.