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Liverpool have a “growing interest” in completing the signing of a “crazy” talent who has already held contract negotiations with Real Madrid, leaving the Spanish club trying to speed things up.

Liverpool rivlary with Madrid continues over Huijsen deal

The Reds have almost become renowned for being relatively frugal in the transfer market under owners FGS, with both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot often tasked with working their magic with a smaller squad than some of their rivals.

This summer is reportedly going to be one of the busiest in years at Liverpool, however, with Slot set to be handed lots of funds for new signings, as they seek to replace Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold for starters, with a deal for Jeremie Frimpong nearing completion.

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk has put an element of pressure on owners FSG, saying he expects lots of money to be spent in the coming weeks and months.

The man who could have become the skipper’s successor looks to be following Alexander-Arnold to Madrid however, with the Spaniards pulling ahead in the race for Dean Huijsen. Indeed, Florentino Perez’s side have approached Bournemouth over a £50m deal and are discussing personal terms with the young defender.

Madrid are now leading the race for the Cherries star ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, and after seemingly missing out to their European rivals again, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have turned their attentions further up the pitch.

Liverpool have "growing interest" in Messi-like youngster

According to a fresh report from Sport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool have a “growing interest” in River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who has a £38m release clause in his current deal.

The 17-year-old is considered one of Argentina’s brightest young talents, with Manchester United and Madrid also interested in signing him. In fact, Madrid even agreed a contract with the player last year, and while a deal didn’t go through then, they are now hurriedly speeding up their interest in fear of missing out to the Reds.

Mastantuono looks like an incredible prospect, so Liverpool should be doing all they can to beat United and Madrid to his signature in the summer window.

At just 17, the Argentine has already racked up 59 appearances for River Plate, bagging 16 goal contributions in that time (nine goals and seven assists), and analyst Ben Mattinson has called his talent “crazy”, also saying he is a “leader”.

Meanwhile, FIFA have even compared him to Lionel Messi, which is the ultimate praise: “He has a different, special aesthetic. The stretched, slender, elegant body. He receives with his foot and the game options seem to multiply. From right to left. With the inside edge or the instep. With the toe or the outside of the boot. Franco Mastantuono, the new promise -figure- of River Plate, 17 years old, has the complete repertoire.”

An attacking midfielder by trade, Mastantuono could arrive at Liverpool as a squad player to begin with, but given the heights he is reaching in his homeland, he could end up becoming a superstar at Anfield.

Bramley Moore looms large for those of an Everton persuasion. In fact, David Moyes will lead his troops out just twice more before hallowed Goodison Park will be consigned to history.

Time was when Everton would fail to mark this new era with impactful activity on the transfer front, in the planning room. But this is an exciting new project on Merseyside and Moyes is back to front it.

While the Scottish tactician will expect powers to bring in a wealth of fresh quality this summer, he will of course need to part with a few of the rusted-over parts of the Toffees make-up.

And he won’t be afraid to do it.

Why Moyes will get rid of Everton's deadwood

Everton have no less than 15 players reaching the conclusion of their contracts this summer – some are out on loan or indeed are reaching the end of their loan stints at Goodison Park.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example, is expected to leave. Sure, he scored the winning goal at the City Ground last weekend, but the 32-year-old isn’t popping up with such moments with the frequency to justify his £130k-per-week salary, the loftiest at the club.

Moyes isn’t afraid to cut ties with his higher-profile stars, something he’s going to need to enact with another member of the squad, a player shaping up to be the 61-year-old’s next version of James Beattie.

Beattie spent two-and-a-half seasons under Moyes’ management at Everton, signed from Southampton for £6m in January 2005 after rejecting a move to Aston Villa.

Beattie was a talented centre-forward, hard to handle and powerful in the final third. He likely didn’t make too many friends with opposing defenders. He also didn’t make a friend out of Moyes, it would appear…

Across 85 appearances for the Merseysiders, Beattie only managed to score 15 goals, interestingly with 11 of them posted across the 2005/06 season before he provided a woeful product on his final term as a Toffee.

A five-cap England international, Beattie moved on to Sheffield United in 2007, the Blades breaking their transfer record and paying £4m for a player who had fallen by the wayside at Everton.

In fact, Moyes and his number nine had come to blows on numerous occasions, having to discipline his man after a headbutt on William Gallas in 2005 and Beattie later suggesting Everton didn’t treat him with respect while he played there.

His talent and focal presence got him far, but Moyes showed that he’s willing to make a tough decision for his team, and he’s going to have to make a similar one in the weeks ahead, with Everton needing to part ways with their new version of Beattie.

Moyes' new James Beattie

While he’s served at the club for a long time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s best days appear to be long past, with The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland noting he has been “struggling” through the 2024/25 season.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Calvert-Lewin – who the Toffees signed from Sheffield United in 2016 – has toiled through what looks to be his final campaign as an Everton player, with a cruel injury picked up in January stunting any budding rebirth hinted at after Moyes’ return.

Still out of action, the 27-year-old surely needs to be axed this summer, with his inconsistencies and past successes suggesting that he is in a similar boat to Beattie way back when, albeit the older man being actively shoved out to sign for the Blades.

24/25

22

3

6.11 (-3.11)

23/24

32

7

12.93 (-5.93)

22/23

17

2

5.84 (-3.84)

Though DCL doesn’t share Beattie’s supposedly volatile temperment, he has been chained down by injuries and consequent issues, with his wasteful finishing and heavy wage rubber-stamping the expected decision to cut ties.

Calvert-Lewin has given Goodison Park so many fond memories. In his pomp, the long-discarded England international was among the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to remark in 2020 that “Carlo Ancelotti created a monster.”

But the truth is Calvert-Lewin’s finest days are behind him, at least in Evertonian Blue. With Beto looking like twice the player he was since Moyes came along and funding being handed ahead of the summer window, parting with the striker is sure to be the right decision.

Moyes proved before, with Beattie, that he’s not afraid to make a cut for the greater good of the team, and he must maintain this approach now.

He won't start again: Everton's £40k-p/w star looks finished under Moyes

Everton are undergoing a series of changes with David Moyes back at the wheel.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 15, 2025

With the WPL auction, and before that retention day, coming up, some of these cricketers are likely to create interest following their World Cup performances

S Sudarshanan04-Nov-2025

Nadine de Klerk was at her absolute best in the league-phase win over India•ICC/Getty Images

Nadine de KlerkA pace-bowling allrounder who can nail the yorkers and whack more than just a few at the death? Yes, please! De Klerk is one of those whose stocks would have risen big time ahead of the WPL auction. In Indian conditions, she put up quite a show with the bat – against India, no less – rescuing South Africa from a seemingly impossible situation in a chase in the league stage. Her strike rate of 131.64 in the World Cup was second only to Richa Ghosh’s 133.52 (minimum 20 balls faced). She also picked up nine wickets, the third-most for South Africa. That she can keep her calm at the death was evident in the final, where she gave away just six singles bowling the 50th. She was with Mumbai Indians (MI) in WPL 2025 but did not get a single game. If they retain her, it will be tough not to give her a spot in the XI?Amanjot Kaur made big contributions at crucial moments at the World Cup•Getty ImagesAmanjot KaurThe start of WPL 2025 and the recent World Cup was similar for Amanjot – she was returning from a stress fracture of the back earlier this year, for MI, and she was out with niggle for two months before the World Cup. Both the competitions ended with her team winning the trophy. The World Cup would have given a massive boost to MI, who can now retain her as the Indian seam-bowling allrounder ahead of Pooja Vastrakar, who has had a long injury layoff. Amanjot has shown she could be the second seamer, she can float in the batting order, and that she is a gun fielder is no secret.Annabel Sutherland emerged from a brief run of low scores•ICC/Getty ImagesAnnabel Sutherland and Marizanne KappEven though Australia were knocked out in the semi-final, Sutherland had a memorable World Cup, outshining the likes of Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath. Only Deepti Sharma (22) had more wickets than Sutherland’s 17 in the competition. Her death-over exploits often helped Australia rein opponents in.Related

WPL 2026: Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Rodrigues among players retained; Healy, Lanning released

Team of the tournament: Mandhana, Wolvaardt, Gardner, Ecclestone and…?

Her Delhi Capitals (DC) team-mate Kapp had a relatively sedate World Cup, where she finished with 12 wickets but went wicketless in four of the nine outings including the final. Her five-wicket haul against England in the semi-final proved she still has it in her to deliver when the stakes are high.In WPL 2025, Sutherland was the third-highest wicket-taker for DC with nine wickets, one more than Kapp’s eight. This is why DC could face a tricky choice if they have to retain one of them. Both of them have shown at the World Cup that they can rescue their teams from tricky situations with the bat, too. Whoever finds themselves in the auction is likely to trigger a bidding war.N Shree Charani was the point of difference in the games against Australia•BCCIN Shree CharaniShe played only two games for DC in WPL 2025 but that was enough for India to get her into the World Cup squad. Her ability to vary her pace, get some drift as well as enough bite from the surface makes her stand out from some of the other left-arm spinners. That made India prefer her over the more experienced Radha Yadav, and she delivered with 14 wickets, the second-most for them. She was the best bowler on show in both of India’s matches against Australia, and a prime reason why the defending champions were kept to a lower-than-par total in the semi-final. If she is not retained by DC, expect her to make a splash at the auction.Laura Wolvaardt raised her game to a higher level at the World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesLaura WolvaardtFor three World Cups in a row, across ODIs and T20Is, Wolvaardt has topped the run chart. In this tournament, her evolution and growth were visible. She opened up scoring areas that she hadn’t accessed before, batted at a higher gear and hit seven of her 18 ODI sixes in the last four weeks. No one doubts Wolvaardt’s ability to score runs even in T20 cricket. The fact she features in our list is because she played only three matches in WPL 2025, where her team Gujarat Giants (GG) used five opening combinations in nine matches. If GG do not retain her – but why wouldn’t they? – there are a few teams who could do with a versatile batter, and leader, like Wolvaardt.

They have done it before but will have to do it with a shuffling batting order finding its feet

Karthik Krishnaswamy12-Feb-20241:33

Can the Vizag pitch be replicated in other Indian venues?

R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav.Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root.One of these spin attacks began this India-England series with 849 wickets at a combined average of 23.35, and the other with 191 wickets at 36.83.Two Tests into the series, one of them has taken 33 wickets at 33.90, and the other 23 at 38.39.It’s one thing that the averages are as close to each other as they are, given how brutally India’s spinners had outperformed their opposite numbers over their decade of home dominance leading into this series. It’s another thing entirely that those averages are the wrong way round.There’s reason to believe, too, that luck has contributed significantly to England’s returns so far. Where India’s batters have achieved a significantly better control percentage against spin than their England counterparts, their errors have cost them a lot more often. Roughly one in eight false shots from India’s batters has cost them their wicket, while England’s batters have survived 12 false shots per dismissal on average.Luck tends to even out over long series, but so far in this one, it has felt like India have contributed to their own misfortune, failing to turn their control into dominant positions.On day two in Hyderabad, a string of their batters were out to attacking shots against spin, with none of their top five falling to the traditional modes of dismissal: bowled, lbw, caught by keeper, slips or bat-pad. It was a passage of play that Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, singled out as critical to their failure to convert a dominant position into one from which they could not lose. India’s first-innings lead of 190 was a tall order to overturn, but not one immune to a once-in-a-lifetime innings from Ollie Pope.Related

India vs England, round three: scores level, stakes high

India's selection puzzle for Rajkot: is there room for both Kuldeep and Axar?

Rohit 'proud' of winning with inexperienced squad, but wants more from batters

Dravid: We were under pressure but individual performances kept us in the game

Iyer left out for remaining three Tests against England; Kohli unavailable

“I thought we left probably 70 runs on the board in the first innings,” Dravid said. “You know, I think in our first innings, when conditions were pretty good to bat in on day two, I thought in the kinds of situations we got ourselves into, some good starts and we didn’t really capitalise. We didn’t get a hundred, you know, we didn’t get somebody getting a really big hundred for us. So, in some ways, in India, I just felt we left those 70-80 runs back in the hut in the first innings.”The feeling that India were leaving scorable runs unscored persisted into the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Five of their top six got past 20 in their first innings, and one of them scored a double-hundred, but their total fell just short of 400. In the second innings, India were at one point 354 ahead with six wickets in hand, but the target they set England fell, once again, just short of 400.Both innings were peppered with strange, hard-to-diagnose dismissals. In the first innings, Rohit Sharma glanced an offbreak straight into the lap of leg slip, and Axar and KS Bharat hit uppish square cuts straight to backward point. Shubman Gill gloved a reverse-sweep soon after reaching his hundred in the second innings, and Bharat pulled a long-hop straight into midwicket’s hands. On that Visakhapatnam pitch, spinners occasionally got the ball to stop and bounce awkwardly, so all those shots came with a certain amount of room for things to go wrong. Individually, it was hard to say whether the batters chose the wrong shot or executed the right shot poorly or happened to get that one ball that turned or bounced just that little bit more. Collectively, they added up to a picture of a line-up failing to cash in against a not-particularly-threatening attack, and failing to bat their opposition out of the game, for the second time in a row.1:13

Manjrekar: ‘India can’t expect Bumrah to bail them out’

It cost India a Test match in Hyderabad, and without Jasprit Bumrah doing Jasprit Bumrah things, who knows what could have happened in Visakhapatnam.It can happen when a batting line-up loses experienced heads. Virat Kohli is out of the entire series, and India seem to have moved on fully from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. They began the series with a top six of whom only three had played more than 30 Tests, and two of these three – KL Rahul and Jadeja – missed the second Test with injuries. Even the more experienced batters who have featured in this series are getting used to new roles: Gill and Rahul are still new to the middle order, and Axar in Visakhapatnam was designated to bat in the top six for the first timeMost of these players, meanwhile, are white-ball regulars, so the only red-ball cricket they have played in recent months is the Test series at the turn of the year in South Africa – a series played on extravagantly seam-friendly pitches where they didn’t face a single ball of spin. It isn’t surprising then, that these batters have seemed a little rusty when it’s come to milking inexperienced spinners for session after session, keeping the runs flowing steadily while keeping certain risks – hitting the ball in the air, sweeping from the line of the stumps – to a minimum.It’s a skill that viewers often take for granted when they watch Indian batters, but it needs constant polishing like every other skill. India are no doubt working assiduously on it in the lead-up to the third Test in Rajkot, hoping that their batters can do their bit to restore the balance of power between the two spin attacks.

Australia have qualified already, with South Africa, India, England and West Indies still in contention

S Rajesh22-Mar-2022
India
India’s convincing win against Bangladesh has not only lifted their points tally to six, but also pushed their net run rate (NRR) to a healthy 0.768, which is easily the best among all the teams in contention. That means India’s fortunes now rest in their own hands: if they beat South Africa on Sunday, then they qualify for sure, regardless of other results. Even if India beat South Africa by just one run after scoring 225, their NRR will be 0.656. Neither South Africa nor West Indies can match that if it comes down to NRR.If South Africa beat West Indies on Thursday, India can qualify even if they lose to South Africa and stay on six points. In that case, India, West Indies and New Zealand will all be on six points with England on eight, assuming New Zealand beat Pakistan and England win their last two games. India’s NRR should be enough to see them prevail over West Indies and New Zealand. For instance, if India, chasing 251, lose by 100 runs, and New Zealand score 300 and win by 150, then India’s NRR will be 0.363, and New Zealand’s 0.272.However, if South Africa lose to West Indies but beat India, then Australia, England, South Africa and West Indies could all finish on more than India’s six points.For West Indies to qualify, they will have to beat South Africa, who will in turn have to beat India•ICC via GettySouth Africa
West Indies’ defeat against Pakistan means South Africa should be through unless they suffer big defeats in their last two games. That is because West Indies can only get to a maximum of eight points, and among the five who can get there, their NRR will probably be the worst.For South Africa to be knocked out, they will have to lose their last two games by huge margins. If, say, they lose by a combined margin of 200 runs, with West Indies beating them by 100, then South Africa’s NRR will slip to -0.509, and West Indies’ will lift to -0.417. However, if the margins aren’t so big, then South Africa will still qualify as the fourth team behind Australia, India and England (if England win their last two) despite losing both their remaining matches.West Indies
For West Indies to qualify, they will have to beat South Africa, who will in turn have to beat India. In that case, India get eliminated, and Australia, South Africa, England – assuming they win their last two – and West Indies qualify.West Indies’ NRR is so poor that they will have no chance of qualifying with six points.Two wins for England against Bangladesh and Pakistan will confirm their qualification for the semi-final•Getty ImagesEngland
Two wins for England against the relatively weaker Bangladesh and Pakistan will confirm their qualification for the semi-final, given that their NRR is already impressive at 0.327. If they don’t take the full four points, though, then South Africa, India and West Indies could all finish ahead of them.Even if Bangladesh or Pakistan pull off an upset win, England’s NRR will still give them a good chance of qualifying if West Indies lose to South Africa and stay on six points.New Zealand
As mentioned earlier, even a 150-run win against Pakistan in their last match will only improve New Zealand’s NRR to 0.272, which will almost certainly be below that of India’s even if India lose their last game. With England’s NRR much higher too, New Zealand’s only chance is if South Africa beat West Indies, and England get no more than one point from their last two games. (Or if England get to six points with both their matches rained out, as the number of wins takes precedence over NRR if teams are level on points.) For all practical purposes, New Zealand can consider their home campaign over.Bangladesh and Pakistan have both had their moments in the tournament, but they are languishing on two points with poor NRRs. Given the quality of opposition they are up against, neither team has a realistic chance of going further in the tournament.

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A daily guide to football on TV in the UK for the upcoming round of fixtures in the major European leagues. This includes where to watch live football streams, as well as the fixtures and kick-off times. As well as this, all the info on Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup football can be found here.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has apologised to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni after a bizarre mix-up at the 2026 World Cup draw forced the reigning world champion coach to wear gloves before touching the trophy. The incident caused confusion and frustration, prompting FIFA to stage a corrective ceremony the next day to make amends publicly.

• Scaloni told to wear gloves before holding World Cup trophy

  The confusion unfolded during Friday’s draw for the 2026 World Cup, where organisers unexpectedly asked Lionel Scaloni to put on white gloves before handling the World Cup trophy. The requirement, normally reserved for non-champions or those without authorised access, appeared to stem from officials not recognising the manager who guided Argentina to the 2022 title. Scaloni looked visibly surprised and later admitted he believed staff had mistaken him for someone else.

  The moment quickly circulated across social media, with many fans and pundits questioning how FIFA personnel failed to recognise the reigning world champion coach. Argentina’s delegation reportedly felt the incident was disrespectful, especially given Scaloni’s central role in the Albiceleste’s most recent triumph. The awkwardness overshadowed the draw itself, in which Argentina were placed into Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

  To address the situation, FIFA arranged a separate ceremony the following day as part of the tournament schedule presentation. This time, Scaloni was invited onto the stage without gloves and handed the trophy in a more fitting manner. Infantino used the occasion to deliver a public apology and defuse the controversy.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  FIFA president Infantino apologizes to the World Cup winner…

  Speaking at the FIFA World Cup scheduling ceremony, Infantino said: “I apologise on behalf of FIFA. I didn’t know.”

  Calling Scaloni back on stage with the trophy in hand, he added: “Of course, the world champions can touch the cup. I apologise, I didn’t know. What an outrage! It’s just that when you’re a world champion, you look younger every day.”

  Scaloni responded in good humour, saying: “I think they mistook me for someone else and wouldn’t let me touch it yesterday.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Incident took place in highly-controversial World Cup draw

  The incident took place during a high-profile event in Washington, where FIFA unveiled the group-stage draw for the expanded 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Scaloni’s unexpected treatment sparked immediate reaction across Argentina, a nation deeply protective of its icons following the emotional World Cup triumph in Qatar. Many fans considered the moment emblematic of FIFA’s organisational missteps, while others took a more humorous view given Scaloni’s calm response.

  Infantino’s apology was designed not only to correct the error but also to reinforce FIFA’s respect for champions at a time when public perception of the organisation often comes under scrutiny. By bringing Scaloni onto the stage and allowing him to lift the trophy bare-handed, the president attempted to close the narrative before it generated further controversy. The moment also created a symbolic snapshot ahead of Argentina’s attempt to defend their title on North American soil.

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• AFP
  

  Argentina prepare for for World Cup title defence

  Argentina will now prepare to open their World Cup campaign against Algeria on 16 June, before facing Austria and Jordan in what is viewed as a manageable yet unpredictable group. The defending champions aim to maintain continuity and avoid distractions, and Scaloni’s composed handling of the incident ensured it did not escalate into a prolonged story. With expectations sky-high once again, the team will look to build early momentum as they begin their road toward back-to-back titles.

MatériaMais NotíciasVer Resumo da matéria por IAGérson Caçapa, revelado no Palmeiras nos anos 1980, era um volante de força física e excelente leitura de jogo.Após se destacar no Brasil, teve passagens pela Itália e Turquia, jogando em clubes como Bari e Fenerbahçe.Ele encerrou sua carreira no início dos anos 2000 e atualmente atua como coach na Europa, focando no desenvolvimento de jovens jogadores.Resumo supervisionado pelo jornalista!

Gérson Cândido de Paula, conhecido nacionalmente como Gérson Caçapa, surgiu no Palmeiras como uma das principais revelações da base nos anos 1980. Volante de muita força física, leitura tática e movimentação constante, rapidamente foi promovido ao time profissional. Sua ascensão coincide com um período de transição do clube, que buscava retomar protagonismo no cenário nacional. O Lance! conta por onde anda Gérson Caçapa.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasLancepédiaPor onde anda João Paulo, ex-atacante do Santos?Lancepédia13/12/2025LancepédiaPor onde anda Lopes Tigrão, ex-meia do Palmeiras?Lancepédia12/12/2025

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Nas categorias Infantil, Juvenil e Juniores, Caçapa era referência pela entrega e pela capacidade de cobrir grandes espaços no meio-campo. Ele participou da Copa São Paulo de 1985, torneio em que despertou atenção da comissão técnica palmeirense. Ao lado de outros jovens talentos — como o goleiro Ivan e o lateral Mariovaldo — ganhou espaço no elenco principal.

O estilo de jogo de Caçapa se destacava pela intensidade sem a bola e pela participação contínua na construção ofensiva. Embora fosse essencialmente marcador, tinha facilidade para conduzir jogadas pela meia direita, função que cumpriu com regularidade no início da carreira. Em pouco tempo, tornou-se peça frequente no sistema tático alviverde.

continua após a publicidade

Essa versatilidade chamou atenção de observadores internacionais. Em 1989, quando ainda vivia seu auge físico, Caçapa recebeu a primeira proposta do exterior — convite que abriria um novo capítulo na sua carreira. A partir dali, o volante deixaria o Brasil para viver uma sequência de desafios na Itália e na Turquia.

A transferência de Gérson Caçapa para o futebol europeu

O destino inicial foi o Bari, clube tradicional do sul da Itália que buscava reforçar o setor defensivo. Lá, Caçapa rapidamente se adaptou ao ritmo mais físico e ao jogo compacto da Serie A. Seu desempenho sólido garantiu minutos regulares, o que lhe abriu portas para outras experiências dentro do continente.

continua após a publicidade

Durante o período italiano, Caçapa também foi emprestado ao Lecce, reforçando o meio-campo da equipe em competições nacionais. Sua capacidade de pressionar e interceptar jogadas continuou sendo um trunfo. Ao mesmo tempo, o jogador recebeu convites do futebol turco, mercado que investia fortemente em atletas brasileiros no início da década de 1990.

Foi aí que surgiu a passagem pelo Fenerbahçe, um dos maiores clubes do país. Com camisa pesada, torcida exigente e jogos intensos, Caçapa atuou em um ambiente de grande pressão — mas novamente conseguiu se firmar. Ele também teve experiência no Istanbulspor, ampliando o repertório internacional.

O retorno ao Brasil e o ciclo final da carreira

No fim dos anos 1990, Caçapa retornou ao país para defender o Atlético Paranaense, clube em ascensão no cenário nacional. Atuando pelo Furacão, tinha a missão de liderar o setor de marcação e oferecer suporte ao sistema ofensivo. Em 1998, fez parte da campanha que levou o clube ao título do Campeonato Paranaense, coroando seu retorno ao futebol brasileiro.

Depois dessa fase, o volante seguiu para outros desafios no país, atuando pelo União São João, América de Natal e São José-RS. Ao longo dessas experiências, manteve a característica que sempre o definiu: a versatilidade para ocupar várias funções no meio-campo sem perder intensidade.

A carreira foi encerrada no início dos anos 2000, após quase duas décadas de atividade, somando passagens por quatro países e acumulando experiência em diferentes modelos de jogo. Sua trajetória é lembrada por consistência, disciplina e uma longevidade rara para volantes da época.

A importância do atleta no Palmeiras

No Palmeiras, Caçapa não apenas se destacou pela entrega e capacidade defensiva, mas também pelo perfil profissional. Foi peça constante durante toda sua permanência, mesmo em tempos de menor protagonismo da equipe no futebol brasileiro.

Entre 1985 e 1989, disputou competições nacionais e estaduais, enfrentando elencos poderosos e contribuindo para a manutenção de competitividade do clube. Seu estilo “multifuncional”, como se diria hoje, antecipava características exigidas do volante moderno.

O sucesso na base e a firmeza apresentada no profissional o credenciam como um dos jogadores mais completos formados pelo Palmeiras na década de 1980.

Por onde anda Gérson Caçapa

As passagens por Itália e Turquia representam um período de forte evolução tática para Caçapa. Na Serie A, enfrentou atacantes de alto nível, teve contato com treinadores exigentes e ampliou a leitura de jogo. Já no Fenerbahçe e no Istanbulspor, desenvolveu a capacidade de atuar em sistemas táticos diferentes, adaptando-se a ritmos e estilos variados.

Isso fez de Caçapa um atleta adaptável, preparado para momentos de pressão e, sobretudo, disciplinado. Ele sempre foi visto como jogador de grupo — peça tática importante que se dedicava a cumprir funções específicas determinadas por cada técnico.

Hoje, Gérson Caçapa (@gersoncacapa) mantém carreira no futebol, mas agora longe dos gramados. Licenciado pela UEFA com a categoria B, ele atua como coach, profissional voltado ao desenvolvimento individual de atletas, especialmente na Europa. Além disso, mantém presença ativa nas redes sociais, onde compartilha conteúdos sobre formação, disciplina e cultura do futebol.

Vive entre Brasil e Europa, participando de clínicas, cursos e atividades relacionadas ao esporte. A transição para o coaching reflete muito de sua trajetória: um jogador disciplinado, estudioso e comprometido com o crescimento dentro do futebol. Caçapa segue ligado ao esporte que marcou sua vida, agora ajudando jovens jogadores na formação técnica, tática e comportamental.

Clubes em que Gérson Caçapa atuouPalmeirasBari (Itália)Fenerbahçe (Turquia) – empréstimoLecce (Itália) – empréstimoIstanbulspor (Turquia)Atlético ParanaenseUnião São JoãoAmérica de NatalSão José-RS

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Harmer ran through Pakistan on the fourth morning before South Africa made short work of the chase

Danyal Rasool23-Oct-2025Ultimately, Pakistan’s overnight hope was built on a bed of straw. South Africa did not even need to huff or puff particularly hard to blow the house down. It took them five balls to dismiss an ostensibly back-to-form Babar Azam, nine runs to take four wickets that put the conclusion beyond doubt, and one session to dispatch the paltry 68 they had been set for victory. Along the way, Simon Harmer took six wickets to take his tally to exactly 1000 first-class wickets, becoming the fourth South African to do so.It took South Africa to a thumping eight-wicket series-levelling win, their first in their defence of the World Test Championship title. For Pakistan, it is their first home defeat after winning the toss since they resorted to spin-friendly tracks at home, their recent third innings malaise coming back to haunt them in its full splendour. Babar’s little tickle into the onside off the day’s second ball got him to a first home Test half-century since 2022, but what should have been the bedrock of his innings was instead its culmination point. Three balls later, he stepped back into his crease off a similar, gentle off spinner, but this one kept slightly low, and rapped him just below the knee roll to begin Pakistan’s slide.A superb Harmer kept the pressure on, but there was assistance aplenty from a Pakistan side that immediately began to go to pieces. Harmer gave Rizwan generous flight, who stretched out well beyond his crease try and get to the pitch to defend. Instead, he got an inside edge onto the pad, which looped up to Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and Harmer went to 999.Related

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The four-figure dismissal was all about Harmer, though, and a microcosm of what has made him so successful for so long. He went around the wicket to Noman Ali, flighting it well and landing on a sixpence into some of the footmarks the left-arm bowlers have created. It spat up and away from Noman, kissing the outside edge on its way into Kyle Verreynne’s hands. Harmer threw his head up into the sky and let out a roar to rouse any part of Pindi that might still have been asleep.But Pakistan kept hoisting themselves by their own petard. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Agha worked themselves up into calling for a run, taking on Ryan Rickelton who dived forward to effect a direct hit that sent Shaheen on his way, and Pakistan had gone from 105 for 5 to 105 for 8 – yet another middle and lower order collapse in a series they have been sprinkled like confetti.Ryan Rickelton collided with Shaheen Shah Afridi while running him out•AFP/Getty ImagesAt the other end stood Agha, not so much like a rock of resistance as a young oak waiting to be felled. Maharaj duly did the honours in his first over, the arm ball cutting Agha in half as he chopped back on. Sajid Khan tried to take him on the following over, only to find himself well adrift of his crease for Verreynne to do the honours.Pakistan turned immediately to spin, but there was no intimidating South Africa with a target this shallow. They were off and away with an Aiden Markram mow across the line for four, and Rickelton began to get his kicks in shortly after. Pakistan kept recycling through some combination of their three finger spinners, and South Africa kept putting them away for four, speeding towards the target as lunch approached.Noman got Pakistan the dubious consolation prize of a late couple of wickets when South Africa’s target was in single digits. Markram was trapped in front as he went for another one of his productive sweeps that had fetched him six of his eight fours in the innings, and found Tristan Stubbs’ outside edge for a duck three balls later. But Rickelton made the ignominy official with a whack over long-off for six in the following over.After the previous Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood had talked about how Pakistan would look to play if they lost the toss to try and stay competitive. South Africa showed they had been listening carefully, and across these four days, executed that plan to perfection.

The international break is something of a blessing and a curse for Arsenal.

On the one hand, it gives the club respite from their current injury crisis, but on the other, they have to wait two weeks to make amends for the draw away to Sunderland.

However, even though they saw their lead cut on Sunday evening, Mikel Arteta’s side are in a great spot in the Premier League.

Moreover, despite injuries, the side is full to bursting with talent, including one player who’s starting to look like another Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The latest on Lewis-Skelly's future at Arsenal

It would be fair to say that, aside from their run in the Champions League, last season was something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there were at least a couple of positives to come from it, such as the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly.

The latter was more of a surprise to most, and yet over the course of the campaign, he became a far more significant part of the side, effectively becoming Arteta’s first-choice left-back.

In fact, by the end of the season, the 19-year-old had made 39 first-team appearances, totalling 2306 minutes, and even made his full debut for England, during which he scored.

However, so far this season has been a totally different story for the youngster, as while he has still made 12 appearances, only four of those have been starts, and overall, he has played just 463 minutes of action.

During the last international break, Thomas Tuchel said that this lack of game time could result in him not picking the Islington-born ace.

Unfortunately, that’s what’s happened this international break.

Appearances

39

12

Starts

26

4

Minutes

2306′

463′

Goals

1

0

Assists

2

3

Unsurprisingly, this has led to reports that other Premier League clubs are now interested in signing the youngster in the winter transfer window.

However, the same reports make it clear that Arteta and Co are keen to keep the Hale Ender at the club, and that they expect him to play more minutes as the season progresses.

With that said, if Arsenal do decide to cash in, they do have another youngster in the side who is showing shades of Lewis-Skelly in his game.

Arsenal's new Lewis-Skelly

Even though Riccardo Calafiori and Pieiro Hincapie are his competition at left-back, the Arsenal player who is showing shades of Lewis-Skelly in his game this season is Cristhian Mosquera.

Now, that might sound like a leap to begin with, but “similarly to Lewis-Skelly,” per analyst Ben Mattinson, the Spaniard has shown an immense level of “physical maturity for his age.”

More than that, though, the 21-year-old has also shown a remarkable mental maturity, which was on full display when he came on and played almost the whole game away to Liverpool, and then started the club’s opening Champions League game against Athletic Bilbao.

While he may have been described as a “monster” by Gunners insider Hand of Arsenal, where most young defenders would need their hand held by a senior teammate or go crashing into ridiculous challenges, the former Valencia gem is thoughtful about when he goes in for a tackle or block.

However, that’s not to say he is adverse to the more physical side of the game, as, just like Lewis-Skelly, he is someone who “loves to battle with physical attackers,” according to Mattinson.

Moreover, while most fans and pundits alike expected the exciting youngster to play a minor role this season, the Valencia-born titan is following in the Hale Ender’s footsteps from last season and playing a far more significant role than most predicted.

For example, he has already made 12 appearances, five of which have been starts, totalling 597 minutes.

Finally, like the Englishman, he is not solely limited to playing a single position, as in addition to playing at centre-back, he can do a job at right-back.

Ultimately, there are some differences between them, but in terms of mentality, raw ability, and attitude, there are plenty of similarities between Mosquera and Lewis-Skelly.

After Dowman: Hale End has given Arsenal a future star who's "like Vieira"

The incredible prospect could be another Max Dowman-style star for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025