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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be a huge admirer of one PSG star, as the Gunners and sporting director Andrea Berta lead initial talks for his signature ahead of January.

After a near-£270 million spend on new signings last summer, Arsenal are already in dreamland.

Arteta’s side sit pretty atop the Premier League table, boasting the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues with just three goals conceded in all competitions.

They’re also top of the pile in England for goals scored from set pieces with 11 so far.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

While some critics are bemoaning this statistic and lambasting Arsenal’s ‘boring’ style of play, Arteta and supporters alike won’t care in the slightest if they get to celebrate the club’s first league crown in 22 years at the end of 2025/2026.

So far, that looks like a very serious possibility, with current champions Liverpool currently on a torrid run of form and Arsenal looking like the team to beat.

Whichever way you look at it, the fact Arsenal haven’t conceded a single goal in all competitions since their dramatic 2-1 win at Newcastle is quite simply astounding.

The arrivals of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie in the summer have also ensured that Arteta has quality cover for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes — who are two of the best centre-backs in Europe — if one or both of the duo succumb to injury.

Mosquera has impressed when called upon by Arsenal in Saliba’s stead, and depending on the latter’s fitness status, Berta’s recruit is potentially set for another run in the team.

Make no mistake, Arsenal are shored up defensively, but the same cannot be said for other areas of the squad.

With the long-term futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard uncertain (both of their contracts expire in 2027), Arsenal are believed to be weighing up the possibility of signing a left-winger in the near future.

In centre-midfield, Arsenal are one serious injury to Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi or Mikel Merino away from a potential problem, with Christian Norgaard not there for the long-term by his own admission.

Arsenal hold 'preliminary talks' over PSG star Fabian Ruiz

According to reports in Spain, Berta and co are targeting PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz as an option for the engine room.

The former Napoli star was a firm regular of Luis Enrique’s treble-winning side last season, making 61 appearances in all competitions whilst bagging eight goals and 11 assists to boot.

His brace against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup helped PSG to the final, before they lost to Chelsea, with Ruiz maintaining his place in Enrique’s side this season before picking up a groin injury.

Ruiz has missed their last six matches as a result, but while the Spain international sits on the sidelines, Arsenal are believed to be plotting a move.

Arteta personally “dreams” of signing the 29-year-old, as per this latest murmur from the continent, and it is also claimed that Arsenal have held “preliminary” talks over signing Ruiz.

With the midfielder’s contract expiring in under two years, PSG have set a price tag of around £44 million — which could be obtainable from Berta’s perspective.

That being said, Enrique definitely won’t be keen on losing a player who’s one of the key cogs in his midfield machine.

The left-footed ace can play as a defensive anchor, a traditional centre-midfielder and in the number 10 role — adding to the appeal — but a lot will depend on Ruiz’s stance when it comes to leaving the champions of Europe.

Mikel Arteta shares what's impressed him most about Harriman-Annous after Arsenal debut

It feels like Chelsea’s momentum is starting to build this season.

Enzo Maresca’s side had a few poor results earlier in the campaign, but have just come off a week that saw them demolish Barcelona in the Champions League.

Then, a few days later, they held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw, despite being a man down for over half the game.

One of Chelsea’s best players in this uptick in form has been Marc Cucurella, but if reports are to be believed, he could soon have some extra competition for his place in the team.

Chelsea target Cucurella rival

With the winter transfer window now so close, Chelsea have unsurprisingly been linked with a huge number of players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, the West Londoners have been one of several sides linked with an audacious move for Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız, and if that wasn’t exciting enough, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga has also been touted for a £70m move to Stamford Bridge.

However, while these two players would most certainly improve Maresca’s squad, if not his starting lineup, they cannot really be described as competition for Cucurella, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the French defender.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all keen on the 22-year-old, but the good news is that it is the West Londoners who are leading the race at the moment.

Interestingly, while he has a release clause worth up to €90m in his contract, which is about £79m, the report has revealed that RB Leipzig may be willing to let him leave for around €60m, which is just £53m.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how talented Lukeba is, one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he could provide more competition for Cucurella.

How Lukeba compares to Cucurella

Now, the first thing to say is that it feels incredibly unlikely that any defender would come into this Chelsea side in January and immediately displace Cucurella.

After all, the Spaniard is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.

However, all great teams need serious competition in all areas of the pitch, and by signing Lukeba, Maresca would be ensuring that he has that at left-back and extra cover at centre-back.

Yes, the Frenchman has spent most of his career playing in the centre of a defence, but he has got some experience out on the left, and players like Jorrel Hato, Jurrien Timber and even Riccardo Calafiori all prove that centre-backs can transition to become more of a full-back.

Moreover, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Ben Mattinson has even described the 22-year-old as a “perfect LB/LCB hybrid for the modern game.”

Mattinon goes on to describe the Frenchman as “defensively exceptional,” pointing out his “outstanding timing of last man tackles” as one of the reasons why.

However, he’s not just a lockdown defender, as u23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who “excels on the ball” and has “that line breaking ability” so many managers want from their full-backs and centre-backs.

With all that said, his most significant advantage over Cucurella, and the reason he could seriously challenge him for game time, is his defensive solidity, and the numbers back that up.

According to FBref, the Leipzig star outperforms the Blues ace in most defensive metrics, including ball recoveries, aerial duels won, blocks, interceptions and clearances.

Lukeba vs Cucurella
Statistics per 90	Lukeba	Cucurella
Blocks	1.91	1.42
Interceptions	1.45	1.00
Clearances	5.82	3.33
Aerial Duels Won	1.18	1.00
Ball Recoveries	5.73	3.83
All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

Ultimately, Cucurella’s place in Chelsea’s starting lineup is guaranteed at the moment, but were Maresca to get his hands on Lukeba, he could have some serious competition.

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Australia’s dominance with the bat masked a surprisingly sloppy day in the field as they dropped six chances

Vishal Dikshit16-Oct-20253:44

Review – Watch out, Healy is back!

The edges were flying off Bangladesh left-hand opener Rubya Haider’s bat against the new ball, off both Megan Schutt’s swing as well as Darcie Brown’s pace. One landed short of first slip, one flew wide, another just managed to get out of a diving Phoebe Litchfield’s hands in the slips, and one leading edge fell safe not far from the pitch.At the start of the tenth over, Brown drew another edge off Haider’s bat and this time the ball was headed straight into Alyssa Healy’s mitts. Healy barely had to take a step to her left for the catch around waist height, her gloves right behind the ball, but when she clasped her hands around it, the ball just popped out. Healy wore a rueful look while stealing a glance at her team-mates. She couldn’t seem to believe she had put down a sitter.Healy wouldn’t have blamed herself as much when she sprinted to the stumps to try and get her gloves under a Shorna Akter leading edge in the 28th over – she couldn’t make it, but this was the toughest of the lot. The list, however, kept getting longer for Australia. Three overs later, the safe hands of Beth Mooney couldn’t hold on to one at first slip, and by the time the Bangladesh innings ended, Australia had put down six chances in all, four of them requiring diving efforts.Related

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Healy was the first to admit after Australia’s ten-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh that she “was a little bit poor behind the stumps” and their overall fielding effort was something to “reflect on” as they head to Indore for their last two league matches.Player-of-the-Match Alana King, who finished with 10-4-18-2, said, “I think they were all probably tough catches. I don’t think there was an easy catch. And no doubt we’ll definitely review that. We pride ourselves on our fielding and something that we want to be putting on display. So I think just with those high balls and us probably being a bit aggressive in the field, we wanted to get the players to hit over us. So to have an attacking option and players diving for the ball, we love to see that. I think that creates great energy amongst the group and a positive mindset as well. So no doubt we’d love every catch to stick, but unfortunately the nature of cricket, that doesn’t happen too often.”Just cricket – despite your best attempts, the laurels of the past, and all the trophies in the cabinet, some off-days slip in without a major reason.Healy had gone through her intensive keeping drills each time Australia have turned out for a nets session. Yet, the ball had been evading her in strange ways. When King was turning the ball viciously from outside leg to around off, one just went straight past the batter’s pads down leg and Healy was left watching with a sheepish grin. Against India too, one went right through her. Healy had more time to collect that ball off Annabel Sutherland. The ball went on to rattle the helmet behind her for five penalty runs.Alyssa Healy hit 20 fours in her century•ICC/Getty ImagesJust like her keeping sessions, Healy had been sweating it out in the batting nets too, calling it a “frustrating experience” earlier because she had “no rhythm whatsoever”. Since the last ODI World Cup, which Australia won under Meg Lanning in 2022 with Healy hitting back-to-back hundreds in the knockouts against West Indies and England, she hadn’t scored the kind of runs she was used to.Australia didn’t play any more ODIs in 2022 after that World Cup, and when they returned to action in early 2023, Healy picked up a calf injury. When she turned out in the 2023 Ashes, she lasted all of 28 deliveries in three ODIs for scores of 8, 13 and 7. It took her another six innings to score a half-century. Though she started 2024 on a slightly better note, a foot injury at the T20 World Cup, a knee issue, and a recurrence of the foot injury kept her out of action for much of 2025.After intense rehabilitation, she made it in time for this World Cup, but scored 30, 9 and 27 in the three bilateral ODIs against India in the lead-up. The big scores were still proving elusive when she fell for 19 and 20 in the opening two games, against New Zealand and Pakistan.Sobhana Mostary was dropped by Alyssa Healy•ICC/Getty ImagesBut like she did in the 2022 edition, it was only a matter of time before she brought out her best, in a high-profile game against India in front of a sold-out crowd in Visakhapatnam while chasing a record 331. She appeared a bit watchful for the first four overs, but took off with her trademark short-arm jab for four and soon dispatched Kranti Gaud, who had dismissed Healy three times in 35 balls in the bilaterals, for 6, 4, 4 and 4 for a 19-run over. Healy went on to knock the stuffing out of the India attack for her seventh ODI century that finally made her feel “it was my day today” after over three years.She had to wait three years for that century but the next one took just three days, this time while chasing a modest 199 against Bangladesh. That she was now at ease and back in her rhythm was evident in how she let out a beaming smile from under the helmet after her 43-ball half-century. She made room with ease, shuffled across the crease for sweeps, raced from 50 to 100 in just 30 balls, and there were signs of the fear she used to make her oppositions feel. And she’s back at the top of the run chart at this World Cup, like it was 2022.”[It’s] just incredible to see what she’s done,” King said of her captain after the game. “First of all, to do it against India, it was massive and she was pretty bloody determined to do so. But then to not let the foot off the throat and do it again tonight just shows where her mindset’s at. And she’s pinged the ball beautifully and to have Phoebe [Litchfield] down the other end in tandem, hitting the ball as clean as I’ve seen her, and to chase down a pretty big total, none down, I think that’s something that’s going to ooze confidence in our whole line-up.”Who knows how much Bangladesh would have scored had Healy taken that catch early on; who knows what would have happened if Fargana Hoque had held on to one at short fine-leg when she misjudged one completely with Healy on 67. For now, even though Australia are not at their best, they wouldn’t want to take the “foot off the throat” of opponents, but hope that the catches stick – it’s not really Australia till that happens.

The Tigers had lost eight consecutive games entering Thursday night's matchup with the Guardians in Cleveland. Once up by 15.5 games in the American League Central, Detroit needed a win in order to get back even with the Guardians as the regular season enters its final weekend. A.J. Hinch turned to rookie Troy Melton to deliver in the biggest spot of the year and the young righthander rewarded that confidence by throwing 3 2/3 innings and surrendering a single run.

Upon getting relieved from the game, Melton savored the moment by singing along to Blink-182's "All The Small Things" as it blared throughout the stadium.

Here's that cool moment.

Detroit and Cleveland now have a three-game race to the division crown. The Guardians hold the tiebreaker so it would have been all but over had Melton not stepped in to stop the historic skid. It's a good sign for the Tigers that Melton can be this cool in such a huge moment.

And kudos to the Fan Duel Sports Detroit broadcast for catching on to what was happening.

Liverpool didn’t just keep an eye on developments at Anfield last weekend, with Fulham winger Kevin coming to the attention of the Reds’ recruitment chiefs.

Arne Slot has found himself under a bit of pressure recently due to a frustrating run of results for the Reds, which has seen them fall behind Arsenal in the league standings.

Nevertheless, Liverpool got back on track after defeating Aston Villa on Merseyside last weekend, putting in a controlled performance to move within seven points of top spot, and the Dutch boss paid tribute to the home support for their role in cheering their side onto all three points.

He said: “To get the support the players got, the support I got, is what makes this club special. They don’t forget if you have been a part of something special and they help you when things are difficult.

“We were not winning games, we were losing them and the fans felt the players needed some support – that’s what you get from these supporters.”

The going doesn’t get any easier for Liverpool, who will now prepare for a mouthwatering Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.

Debates are there to be had over whether Dominik Szoboszlai or Florian Wirtz start, and there could be an awkward reunion in store with former icon Trent Alexander-Arnold, adding another layer to the spectacle.

Either way, there is plenty to look forward to after a turbulent Premier League run for Liverpool over the last few weeks, and it appears that they also had eyes elsewhere in the top-flight last weekend as club scouts took a detailed look at a rising star.

Liverpool chief scout blown away by Fulham winger Kevin

According to Football Insider, Liverpool chief scout Barry Hunter watched Fulham winger Kevin against Wolves over the weekend, and it is fair to say the Brazilian made an impression on his first Premier League start.

Becoming a landmark arrival at Craven Cottage for £34.6 million, he shone in a 3-0 victory for the hosts, making a mark due to his flair and versatility.

Kevin vs Wolves – how did he fare?

Successful dribbles

5

Touches in opposition box

5

Passes into final third

4

Ground duels won

7/13

Statistics from Fotmob

While he is still finding his feet in the top-flight, Kevin registered his first assist for the Cottagers against Wycombe Wanderers last week and looks to be someone who, in the long-term, could be an asset to any Premier League club.

Capable of playing on either flank, he could be a suitable rotation option in the future for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa, albeit it would be difficult to land him so soon after his move to Fulham.

Mohamed Salah could leave next summer to open up space for Kevin

Ultimately, Liverpool’s scouting team are merely putting in the groundwork necessary to profile signings in windows to come, though their admiration of Kevin may be one to watch in the coming months.

Tottenham striker Richarlison faces an uncertain future in N17, with his contract expiring in under two years as he struggles to deliver a consistent return.

The Brazil international, who will have one eye on a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, got off to a flyer at the start of this campaign.

His early goal of the season contender, a bicycle kick against Premier League newcomers Burnley on the opening day, was seen as a hopeful sign of things to come, with Richarlison bagging two against Scott Parker’s side that day.

However, since then, his contributions have been few and far between despite the 28-year-old’s best efforts.

Thomas Frank started Richarlison for the first time in four domestic games against Newcastle on Wednesday evening, with the striker failing to get on the end of a whizzed ball across the box in the first half.

He also had a decent attempt at the near post saved by Aaron Ramsdale in the second period, but it was another tough evening for Richarlison, who couldn’t quite get on the scoresheet.

Once Dominic Solanke returns to full fitness and removes himself from Spurs’ rather long injury list, the jury is out on whether Frank will continue to select Richarlison on a regular basis.

Dejan Kulusevski

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via Premier Injuries

Tottenham are also believed to be weighing up a new striker ahead of January, with the likes of Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli) and Dušan Vlahović (Juventus) reportedly attracting their interest.

This could spell more trouble for Richarlison, so a winter exit could be on the cards amid serious interest from Everton.

Tottenham stance on selling Richarlison as exit hinges on key factor

According to TEAMtalk, the striker is very keen to return to Everton and “would jump at the chance” to re-join his former club.

However, Tottenham’s willingness to let Richarlison leave in the January transfer window depends heavily on securing a replacement striker. The key sticking point for Spurs is finding the right forward to fill the void left by his departure.

After a mixed spell at Tottenham, Richarlison sees Everton as the ideal destination to reignite his career.

The Toffees remain an attractive option for the South American, where he previously enjoyed success and a strong rapport with the club and fans. A return would give him the platform to regain form and confidence in familiar surroundings.

However, despite Richarlison’s own desire to move, Frank’s side are not prepared to let him go without first addressing their own striking options.

The club is keenly aware that selling him without bringing in a suitable replacement could weaken their frontline and disrupt their season’s momentum, with Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange determined to not leave Tottenham’s manager short.

Described by TT as a player who “always gives 100 per cent”, his return simply just hasn’t been up to the standard since arriving from Everton over three years ago for £60 million.

Despite a brief purple patch under Ange Postecoglou midway through the Australian’s debut season at Tottenham, that is as good as it’s got for Richarlison scoring-wise, so perhaps a move back to Goodison Park will suit all parties.

By the time January comes around, Richarlison will have just under a year and a half left on his contract, so it will be interesting to see just how much Paratici and Lange could demand for the forward’s signature.

Alongside the likes of Toney and Vlahovic, Spurs are believed to be weighing up other blockbuster number nines.

Tottenham hold discussions to sign "elite" £87m striker who Paratici loves

Talks are underway between Manchester United and Wrexham for the two clubs to take part in a headline-grabbing friendly next summer in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Scandinavia has been touted as a possible destination but nothing is yet confirmed, as discussions continue. The two clubs last faced each other in a friendly in July 2023 in San Diego in the United States, with Wrexham coming out 3-1 winners against a youthful Red Devils side.

• Wrexham could face Man United again in 2026 friendly

  The Athletic report that United and Wrexham may do battle once again in pre-season next summer, with the Red Devils no doubt hoping to come out on top at the second time of asking, after their 2023 defeat in front of a record 34,248 crowd at Snapdragon Stadium.

  Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s side will be acutely aware of the lucrative business opportunity that another friendly against United represents, as Wrexham look to increase their ever-growing global profile in the game. The Red Dragons currently sit in 14th place in the Championship, just four points off the play-offs and harboring ambitions of forcing their way into the top six come the end of the season.

  Meanwhile, United are sixth in the Premier League, level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, and will hope to have regained their spot in Europe by the time a prospective pre-season friendly with Wrexham comes around.

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• Getty Images
  

  United and Wrexham's dramatic previous encounters

  The last time the two clubs faced off, Wrexham striker Paul Mullin was seriously injured in an incident which resulted in him suffering a punctured lung following a challenge by United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, with Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson describing it as a “clumsy, reckless challenge”.

  Mullin is somewhat of a modern-day Wrexham legend after scoring 110 goals in 172 matches for the club, and spearheaded the Hollywood-backed outfit’s rise up the Football League. Now 31, he is out on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One.

  Wrexham and Man United last did battle in a competitive clash back in 1995, in an FA Cup Fourth Round tie which ended 5-2 to the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Wrexham were in the third tier at the time and took a shock 1-0 lead into half-time, before Dennis Irwin, Ryan Giggs and Brian McClair were all on the score-sheet in a comeback win for the Premier League giants.

  Should Wrexham’s current club trajectory continue as it has in recent seasons, Reynolds and Mac will dream of facing United in a competitive scenario once again – maybe even in the league, if their ultimate goal of reaching the top flight is realized.

• Wrexham confirm new investment amidst Man United friendly news

  As Wrexham continue to grow on and off the pitch, it was revealed earlier this week that the Welsh outfit and their A-list owners have sold a minor stake in the club to Apollo Sports Capital. The American sports investment firm – which recently bought a majority stake in Atletico Madrid – will join the club’s ownership and contribute to their ambitions of seeing the side establish themselves in the Championship and sustain themselves in preparation for a push to gain promotion to the Premier League. 

  Wrexham have already gained three promotions from the National League to the second tier since Reynolds and Mac bought the club in 2021 and immediately injected £2million ($2.7m) into what became the shoots of a highly memorable run up the pyramid.

  Manager Parkinson said of the latest investment, reported by BBC Sport Wales: "I think it's really positive news for the club. It helps the club moving forward and building a sustainable club for the future. It's a great, positive story. Everybody's looking forward to working with the new investors.

  "Everything stays the same football-wise, but Michael [Williamson, club chief executive officer] has kept me informed over the last few weeks. I was aware that there was something going on a while ago," added Parkinson.

  "It's about putting those building blocks in place for the short and long-term. This is another step towards that. We're a club that's building all the time, on and off the pitch, and this is another step in that direction."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Wrexham continue to build towards their lofty ambitions

  Amidst the arrival of ASC as investors and the prospect of a friendly with Man United on the horizon, Wrexham’s future off the pitch continues to look in very healthy shape. On the pitch, the Red Dragons will look to push for a play-off place in the Championship and see where the remainder of the season takes them.

With Kagiso Rabada missing the Kolkata Test with a rib injury, the visitors have bolstered their fast bowling stocks

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2025

Lungi Ngidi has played just three Tests since the start of 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been added to South Africa’s squad for the second Test against India in Guwahati which starts on Saturday.Ngidi’s inclusion suggests Kagiso Rabada, who missed South Africa’s sensational victory in Kolkata with a rib injury, is a doubtful starter again. The visitors’ other fast bowling options on tour are Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder.Ngidi joined the team at their Kolkata hotel on Tuesday before their scheduled departure to Guwahati on Wednesday.Ngidi has played 20 Tests in his career so far, but only three since making a comeback in Cape Town against India in January 2024. His last red-ball appearance was the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. He has played just one Test match in India, going wicketless in Ranchi in 2019.Related

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Ngidi does have overs in his legs having been part of South Africa’s ODI and T20I series in Pakistan in October and November. Last week, he played a game for Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge.At Eden Gardens, South Africa’s quicks sent down 40 overs and returned six wickets as the team registered their first Test win in India since 2010. That Kolkata pitch provided enough assistance for the seamers but it is still unclear what the conditions in Guwahati will be like given the venue has never hosted Test cricket before.

أثار خوان لابورتا رئيس نادي برشلونة الجدل مجددًا وقام بالمقارنة بين فريقه والغريم التقليدي ريال مدريد، موضحًا أن البرسا يمثل الحرية وريال مدريد يمثل القوة.

ودخل لابورتا في مناوشات خلال الفترة الماضية مع رئيس ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز وذلك بعد اتهام الأخير للجنة الحكام بالوقوف مع برشلونة.

وقام لابورتا بعد ذلك بالرد على تصريحات بيريز، موضحًا أن ريال مدريد مهووس ببرشلونة، وأن البلوجرانا لم يستفد من التحكيم.

وتحدث لابورتا عن الفارق بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، موضحًا أن علاقته جيدة مع بيريز، وذلك في منتدى فوروس دي فانجارديا، عبر صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”.

وقال لابورتا: “ريال مدريد يمثل القوة وبرشلونة يمثل الحرية، لا أعرف إن كانت تعقد صفقات تجارية في مقصورة كبار الشخصيات في برنابيو، ريال مدريد يتمتع بالقوة أما هنا، فالأمر مختلف، فنحن أكثر تأييدًا للديمقراطية والحرية، تربطنا علاقة وطيدة وودية مع فلورنتينو بيريز”.

وسئل لابورتا عما إذا كان بإمكان برشلونة السير على خطى ريال مدريد، بعد أن طرح بيريز إمكانية بيع 5% من أسهم النادي في الجمعية العمومية الأخيرة.

طالع .. جوهرة برشلونة يثير إعجاب خوان لابورتا بعد عودته للمشاركة في المباريات

وأجاب لابورتا قائلاً: “في برشلونة لا نفكر في أيًٍ من هذا، لقد سمعت منذ أربع سنوات أننا سنصبح شركة مساهمة عامة، نحن نضمن أن يكون برشلونة ملكًا دائمًا لأعضائه، إنها قيمة مضافة لدينا وتربطنا بالمجتمع”.

وأردف:”المستثمرون الذين استحوذوا على شركة جولدمان ساكس للملعب أعجبوا بفكرة أننا لسنا شركة مساهمة عامة، لقد أنشأنا هيكلًا ماليًا لتجنب الرهون العقارية ولم نفكر في الأمر حتى، سيضرنا ذلك كثيرًا لأنه جزء من جوهرنا وهناك أشخاص لا يرون برشلونة في جوهره”.

وتابع لابورتا: ”برشلونة ليس شركة بل مؤسسة، لدينا قواعد مختلفة ونحن مؤسسة حديثة ملتزمة بالاستدامة والمساواة والتنوع، نحن مؤسسة كاتالونية منفتحة على العالم، وكل هذا يدفعني للاعتقاد بأن برشلونة يجب أن ينتمي دائمًا لأعضائه”.

واختتم: ”أنا وزملائي في مجلس الإدارة الوحيدون الذين يمكنهم ضمان ذلك، لقد تحدثت مع بايرن ميونيخ وآخرين حول هذا الموضوع ودائمًا ما ينتهي بهم الأمر إلى مشاكل مع أعضائهم”.

Rio Ferdinand has now claimed Thomas Tuchel “has to” select Danny Welbeck in England’s World Cup squad next summer, having emerged as the second-best striker behind Harry Kane.

Captain Kane will almost certainly be a nailed-on starter at the World Cup, should he remain fit, given that the 32-year-old is the Three Lions’ leading all-time goalscorer, having scored 76 goals in 110 appearances.

The Bayern Munich star has also made an incredible start to the season, amassing 20 goals in 13 matches in all competitions, blowing existing records set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi out of the water.

England’s back-up options aren’t quite as reliable, however, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who scored the winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, netting just one goal in nine Premier League appearances this season.

There may also be doubts about the inclusion of Ivan Toney, given that the 29-year-old arguably isn’t testing himself at the highest level week in week out, having signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024.

Ferdinand urges Tuchel to take Welbeck to the World Cup

As such, Ferdinand has now made the bold claim that Welbeck should be re-introduced to the England squad, saying: “He’s second to Harry Kane. If you’re talking form right now and the squad was being picked tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?

“I would take him. If he finishes the season in the form he’s in right now, there’s no way you can’t take him because he’s only going there for a month, it ain’t like we’re saying to him he has to play a full season, you’ve got to be ready and that role he can do that, coming in and out, be a support act for someone like Harry Kane.”

“Right this second, right this moment in time, form wise he’s [Welbeck] above all of them [Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney], and playing in the best league in the world. He’s second, for me.”

The ex-Manchester United defender also added: “He’s a class act on and off the pitch, a great guy.”

In fairness, the Brighton striker is in far better form than Watkins, having scored five goals in his last four Premier League games, most recently finding the back of the net against former club Man United with a remarkable free-kick.

That said, it may be a risk for Tuchel to reintroduce the striker to the squad, given that it has been a long time since he was involved in the England set-up, with the 34-year-old’s last cap coming in a friendly against Switzerland way back in 2018.

There is also still plenty of football to be played before the England boss decides his squad, and Toney should arguably be on the plane as the main back-up for Kane, having proven he can handle big-game pressure by coolly converting a penalty against Switzerland in the 2024 Euros quarter-final.

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