Unai Emery may have already identified the next piece of his Aston Villa jigsaw, with the former Arsenal boss tipped to make a mega move for a Premier League star early in the transfer window.
Villa gearing up for Champions League football
After a historic season, Aston Villa will be playing Champions League football for the first time under its current name, and are already moving to ensure that their squad is strong enough to do so.
They have been strongly linked with a move for free agent Mario Hermoso, while the likes of Wilfried Ndidi, Michael Olise and most recently defender Archie Brown are all also thought to be on their radar.
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They have already made their most important signing of the window, tying Unai Emery down to a new long term deal that keeps him at the club until 2029 amid widespread interest in the Spaniard.
But attentions now turn back to the pitch, and there is one man Villa are hoping to snag on the cheap.
Villa keen on Chelsea midfielder
That comes in the shape of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. As per the Independent, Villa are eyeing a move for the 24-year-old, who is widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer amid interest from across the Premier League.
It is claimed that there is "hope a deal can be done" as "Chelsea need to make major sales before 30 June", though the Villans are also somewhat hamstrung by financial restrictions.
They can offer Champions League football though, and Emery is said to be a massive fan since he "believes can suit their new approach" and help bolster his midfield ahead of the new season.
How Gallagher compares to Aston Villa midfielders (23/24 PL)
Conor Gallagher
John McGinn
Douglas Luiz
Appearances
37
35
35
Goals
5
6
9
Assists
7
4
5
Pass accuracy
89.2%
79.5%
85.7%
Fouls commited per 90
2.39
1.17
1.53
Yellow cards
9
9
12
Stats taken from fbref
Though not necessarily the most stylish and easy on the eye player, Gallagher's value is recognised by those he plays with. This season, Moises Caicedo has been stationed in midfield with the Englishman, and has spoken highly of the Cobham youth product.
tottenham-conor-gallagher-dream-xi-jan-opinion
"Conor is like a machine, you know? I like to play alongside Conor and Enzo. With Conor, he has different characteristics. Enzo is more an offensive player and Conor is more defensive and he helps me a lot when we need to recover the ball. It’s amazing to play with both of them", the ex-Brighton man told the Chelsea website.
But whether or not they are playing together next season remains unclear, with Gallagher having long been touted as a potential sale this summer due to his status as home grown, which makes navigating financial fair play easier for the Blues.
With one year left on his £50,000 a week deal in west London, Gallagher has made no secret of his desire to play for Chelsea, but may not have a choice and though Chelsea may have to compromise somewhat on their £50m asking price, he could be moved on.
Gabriel called it "a war" in response to Erling Haaland throwing the ball at his head as the Arsenal man issued a warning to Manchester City.
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City clawed back a point against ArsenalJohn Stones scored a stoppage-time equaliserGabriel warned City that Arsenal are "waiting"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Despite being reduced to ten men following Leandro Trossard's red card, Arsenal fought valiantly to hold onto a 2-1 lead until deep in stoppage time. However, City managed to claw their way back into the game with John Stones scoring the equaliser for Pep Guardiola’s side.
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The late goal sparked tempers and a fired-up Haaland threw the ball at Gabriel’s head in a provocative gesture. After the final whistle, players from both teams exchanged heated words and Haaland was even caught on camera telling Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble.”
WHAT GABRIEL SAID
However, Gabriel kept his composure and downplayed the incident after the match.
"I don’t even remember this," Gabriel remarked in an interview with TNT Sports Brazil.
"It’s normal, they were happy after scoring in the last minute. They were playing at home, so their duty was to win the match, but our team did really well to resist. It’s a battle, a war, so it’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game. Now this is over and we are waiting for them at our ground.”
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The incident was reviewed by VAR at the time, but it was deemed not to be an act of violent conduct. As such, the FA has also decided not to impose any retrospective punishment on the Manchester City forward.
Players from both teams will arrive in the UAE on September 17, he says
Nagraj Gollapudi and Varun Shetty20-Aug-2020There is a likelihood England and Australia players may not need to skip their teams’ initial matches in the upcoming IPL as long as they undergo “stringent” testing processes once they land in the UAE. The group of players from both teams, which will be involved in a limited-overs series from September 2 to 16, will arrive in the UAE on September 17, according to Sanjeev Churiwala, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chairman.According to Churiwala, the Royal Challengers squad’s Indian contingent, led by their captain Virat Kohli, will land in Dubai on Friday. The squad, Churiwala pointed out, would also be joined by the South African trio of AB de Villiers, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn, who will fly out of South Africa this weekend. Sri Lanka pacer Isuru Udana, meanwhile, will join the squad on September 1.Also, the squad will have a preparatory camp from August 29, with support staff receiving clearances to fly to the UAE and set to arrive soon.There has been uncertainty over the participation of England and Australia players for the first few matches as the IPL had recently indicated to franchises that it was unlikely to relax the mandatory seven-day quarantine period that players had to undergo after arriving in the UAE. That period also includes team members clearing three tests before they can start training.A total of 29 Australian and English players are set to feature in IPL 2020•ESPNcricinfo LtdAs many as 29 England and Australia players are spread across the eight IPL squads. The worst hit could be Rajasthan Royals as some of their main players – such as Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Steven Smith, Ben Stokes and Tom Curran – could be playing the bilateral series in England until September 16. The Royals COO, Jake Lush McCrum, had recently said even though those players “may miss the first match due to the protocols”, the franchise would benefit overall as the England-Australia players would be “competing against each other in a high-quality series right before the IPL, which has many positives because it’ll enable them to be at full match fitness”.Churiwala clarified that the as per the final set of the tournament’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the players travelling from the England-Australia series will need to follow strict protocols to ensure they seamlessly pass from one biosecure bubble (in England) to the other (in the UAE).”For the players landing after the England and Australia series, on September 17, that is very close to our matches,” Churiwala said. “The BCCI have also issued very detailed SOPs and procedures to be followed by these players in terms of their participation.”What the SOPs say very clearly [is] that they can participate without quarantine, provided they satisfy certain very stringent conditions. And they’re very, very stringent. Very clearly after the players have played the [international] series, they have to continue to be in the biosecure bubble. Right from the biosecure bubble, they have to go straight to the charter flight without getting into the extensive migration procedures, and without getting in touch with the general public.”Churiwala said if any member from the travelling group breached any protocol, that person would need to undergo the six-day quarantine upon landing in the UAE and clear three Covid-19 tests in that week before joining the squad.
Given that they [England, Australia players] are already serving a bio-bubble requirement, it will be an extended bio-bubble for them as and when they land. Under no circumstances are BCCI or franchise owners saying we will compromise on the procedures.Sanjeev Churiwala, RCB’s chairman
“All these players will be travelling by exclusive charter flights. They will undergo tests before arrival and if everything is [fine], they’ll be fit to play the game. If not, of course, they will have to quarantine and have to undergo three rounds of tests before participating.”Churiwala said he was optimistic only because all the boards and the IPL had placed safety as a priority and the safety protocols were “mutually aligned”. “Given that they [the group from the England-Australia series] are already serving a bio-bubble requirement, it will be an extended bio-bubble for them as and when they land. Under no circumstances are BCCI or franchise owners saying we will compromise on the procedures. I am very clear.”Churiwala said without the IPL schedule in hand it was difficult to predict to “what extent” the players from England and Australia could possibly miss out. “At the moment, even the [IPL] schedule has not been very clearly announced, we will just see if all players can play or some of them will have to miss matches. We don’t know as yet.”Barring English and Australian players, most of players would be available on time for the games. We’ll have to see the exact schedule of the matches and to what extent our English, Australian players can participate. We just hope they don’t breach any of the bio-bubble procedure requirements, so that they can make themselves available as and when we start our first match.”De Villiers, Morris, Steyn to reach UAE on August 22 According to Churiwala, Royal Challengers’ South African contingent will arrive in the UAE by August 22. ESPNcricinfo understands the trio of de Villiers, Morris and Steyn have got the permission from the South African government to travel for the IPL, and they are expected to take a flight this weekend to join up with the Royal Challengers squad in Dubai.Churiwala said it is “all clear” as far as the South African players participation was concerned – de Villiers, Steyn and Morris are currently without central contracts and hence do not need to participate in the ongoing culture camp organised by Cricket South Africa for contracted players. ESPNcricinfo understands that non-contracted players were free to leave earlier than the contracted players, who will be at the camp until August 22.
The Portugal international was sent off in a dire United performance that saw them thumped 3-0 by a much-superior Spurs side.
Erik ten Hag is surely on the brink after witnessing yet another dismal Manchester United performance on Sunday against Tottenham, as Ange Postecoglou's men ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
While Bruno Fernandes was sent off, it would be too easy to suggest all of United's woes stem from the red card; they were 1-0 down at the time and looked abysmal with 11. With 10, they briefly threatened in the second half, but overall, played as though they had met a few hours beforehand.
After just three minutes, Spurs had the lead, as Brennan Johnson tapped home Micky van de Ven's superb cross after a charging run through the middle of the pitch.
Despite Tottenham dominating the first half, United almost drew level on 36 minutes as Alejandro Garnacho slammed a volley against the post.
Before half-time, Fernandes was sent off for a lunge on James Maddison in the middle of the pitch; replays showed his foot was raised and the decision was likely correct.
At half-time, United introduced Casemiro for Joshua Zirkzee, but they fell 2-0 behind within three minutes once again, as Dejan Kulusevski finished a cross from Johnson.
And Spurs made it 3-0 on 76 minutes as Dominic Solanke simply tapped home Pape Sarr's flick-on from a corner to rub salt in United's wounds and raise serious questions over Ten Hag's future in the United hot seat.
GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (5/10):
Beaten all ends up by Johnson's finish thanks to Van de Ven's superb cross. Could have done better with Kulusevski's volleyed effort but was perhaps taken by surprise. Rooted as Solanke scored.
Noussair Mazraoui (5/10):
Excellent defending to deny Timo Werner at the back post in the first half. Booked for a clumsy challenge on Destiny Udogie and struggled with Werner's pace, although he was grateful for his profligacy.
Matthijs de Ligt (6/10):
Seemed astonished at what he was witnessing in front of him. Attempted to challenge Johnson before Kulusevski's goal but only succeeded in deflecting the ball into the Swede's path. Got forward when he could and is the only United defender to emerge with any credit.
Lisandro Martinez (5/10):
Slipped on the halfway line in the buildup to Spurs' second goal. Booked for a wild challenge on Maddison. Can be such a good defender but he was erratic here.
Diogo Dalot (4/10):
Nowhere to be seen as the man he should have been marking, Johnson, opened the scoring. Never got a handle on the Spurs winger.
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Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):
Struggled with Spurs' press before he was substituted after Fernandes' red card. Appeared to sustain an injury so may also miss upcoming fixtures.
Manuel Ugarte (5/10):
Tried to track Maddison with limited success. Booked for a late challenge on Kulusevski. His game is all-action with his tackling and running but he struggled here, so limited was his support. Subbed for Christian Eriksen.
Bruno Fernandes (3/10):
Some lovely passing but let his team down with an ugly lunge on Maddison that saw him deservedly sent off.
GettyAttack
Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):
Always willing to track back. Hit the post in the first half with a back-post volley. One of the few United players with some urgency to his play.
Joshua Zirkzee (5/10):
Denied by a great Vicario save in the first half. It was his only meaningful touch, as he was replaced by Casemiro at half-time.
Marcus Rashford (3/10):
Terrible giveaway led to Spurs' opener and summed up his day. Seems to lack the motivation to track back and press, and also seems short of the kind of confidence required to make an impact. Tough to watch.
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Mason Mount (5/10):
On for Mainoo, who went off after Fernandes' sending off. Booked almost immediately. Left bloodied by a clash with Radu Dragusin. Could do nothing to bring United back from the dead.
Casemiro (6/10):
On at half-time for Zirkzee. Sent an effort just wide after getting on the end of a nice Martinez through ball. Did what he could to get forward but he's limited in this poor United team.
Christian Eriksen (5/10):
On for Ugarte. Bypassed time and again by Spurs' slick movement after his introduction.
Rasmus Hojlund (5/10):
Replaced Rashford. United went 3-0 down very quickly, though, so he couldn't impact the game.
Amad Diallo (6/10)
On for the final five minutes, replacing Mount after his head injury. The game was gone.
Erik ten Hag (1/10):
It isn't clear what United do in training on this evidence. A performance as chaotic and disorganised as United have ever been; they look like strangers. He's surely on borrowed time.
Aston Villa are set to continue their transfer spree this summer as they look to sign one of their long-term targets this summer, it has been claimed.
Villa set to agree to strange deal
Unai Emery's side are looking to strengthen ahead of their first season in the Champions League, and to that end are closing in on a move for Ross Barkley, who was relegated from the Premier League last season with Luton Town despite an excellent campaign on a personal note.
Beyond that, however, the club appear to be struggling with financial fair play regulations after posting losses of £120m last year, and as a result are on the verge of completing a somewhat strange player plus cash deal with Juventus.
Douglas Luiz for Aston Villa
According to Fabrizio Romano, a deal to send key man Douglas Luiz to Turin is "advancing", with the agreement between the two clubs "at the final stages". In return for their midfield maestro, Villa are set to receive 20m euros, plus Juve duo Weston McKennie (last seen in the Premier League during a disastrous loan spell with Leeds United) and Samuel Iling-Junior, a raw talent rather than finished article.
It is a deal that makes little sense from the outside, with both of the players set to join Villa in the final year of their contract in Turin and Juve receiving a player in the prime of his career in return, but it may be a move that allows the Midlands outfit to spend more liberally heading forwards.
To that end, they have already shown an interest in Chelsea man Conor Gallagher, who is valued at £50m, while another player has now been linked with a Villa Park switch.
Villa want creative defender
That comes in the shape of Stade Rennes defender Adrien Truffert, who Villa were reportedly keen to sign in January and even had a bid knocked back for.
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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2024
Now, the 22-year-old is heading into the final two years of his £17,00 per week deal at the French side, and is attracting plenty of attention from around Europe. Dubbed a "creative outlet" on the left flank by analyst Ben Mattinson on X, he registered seven assists last season.
And a report form France [via Sport Witness] claim that Villa are once again eyeing up the defender, who Rennes will let leave this summer rather than risk losing him for less than a fair fee as his contract runs down.
Truffert's career to date
Appearances
117
Goals
5
Assists
13
Key Passes per 90
0.88
They are not alone, however, with a hefty list of clubs incluiding Bayern Munich and Monaco all thought to hold an interest in the young talent, though any move to Villa Park would be likely to spell the end for Lucas Digne or Alex Moreno.
It is unclear whether Villa will follow up their £12m January offer with another bid this summer, expecially with the impending arrival of Iling-Junior, but Truffert is certainly one Emery is keeping a close eye on.
Neser has recovered from a groin injury to take his place as he pushes to stay in the Australia Test squad
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2020Queensland could field a top order with 17 Test centuries under their belt after naming a 15-man squad for the Adelaide Sheffield Shield hub during October and November.Incumbent Test opener Joe Burns will be joined by Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja in the likely top four with Matt Renshaw a chance to bat at No. 5. Bryce Street, who enjoyed a breakout first season with 489 runs at 37.61, is expected to open with Burns.Consistent top-order runs has been a challenge for Queensland in recent seasons. In the 2018-19 Sheffield Shield there was just one individual century although that improved to four last season – two of them from Street. Part of that may be attributable to conditions at the Gabba which can often aid pace bowling, something which won’t be a factor in the first part of this season.Pace bowler Michael Neser, who has recovered from a groin injury, and legspinner Mitchell Swepson will both be in the mix to join Australia’s Test squad for the India series which will need to be larger than usual to cover for travel restrictions.Benji Floros, a Queensland contracted player for the first time this season, and left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann are the two uncapped players in the squad – the first to be confirmed ahead of the start of the competition.The squad will begin a self-quarantine period on Monday and travel to Adelaide later in the week. Queensland’s opening game is against Tasmania at Park 25 on October 10.Queensland squad Usman Khawaja (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Blake Edwards, Benji Floros, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Lachy Pfeffer, Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.
In the modern history of football, Spain have often competed right at the top of the tree both in club and international football, thanks to their ability to develop technically gifted stars who have graced many pitches over the years.
From World Cup and European Championship winners to Champions League and La Liga heroes, these sensational players defined their respective eras and inspired millions with their terrific performances and achievements on the pitch for both club and country.
With that, here is a list of who we believe are the ten greatest Spanish footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…
1
Andres Iniesta
2000-2024
2
Sergio Ramos
2003-present
3
David Villa
2000-2020
4
Xavi
1997-2019
5
Raul
1994-2015
6
Emilio Butragueno
1982-1998
7
Sergio Busquets
2007-present
8
Iker Casillas
1998-2020
9
Carles Puyol
1996-2014
10
Fernando Torres
2001-2019
10 Fernando Torres 2001-2019
The former Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool marksman enjoyed a terrific career at club and international level as an impressive centre-forward.
His work for Spain was particularly eye-catching as he scored the winning goal in the 2008 European Championship final against Germany and scored one of his country’s four goals in the win over Italy in the final of the same competition in 2012.
Torres scored 38 goals in 110 caps for Spain by the end of his career, to go along with 262 goals in 762 club games.
9 Carles Puyol 1996-2014
A rock at the heart of the defence for Barcelona and Spain for many years, Carles Puyol simply had to be on this list of the best Spanish players to ever grace the field.
He was named in the UEFA Team of the Year on six occasions, and won three Champions League trophies and six La Liga titles during his career, to go along with the World Cup and the European Championship with Spain.
The legendary centre-back amassed 100 caps for his country and made 593 appearances for Barcelona at senior level, as he dominated matches domestically and internationally throughout his time on the pitch.
Trophy
Year(s)
World Cup
2010
European Championship
1964, 2008, 2012, 2024
Nations League
2023
8 Iker Casillas 1998-2020
The first and only goalkeeper on the list is, of course, the iconic Iker Casillas, who starred for both Spain and Real Madrid, among other clubs, over a more than 20-year career.
He caught the eye with his cat-like reflexes and exceptional saves on the biggest stages, winning the World Cup and two European Championship trophies during his time with the national team.
Casillas racked up a staggering 725 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions, and was capped 167 times by Spain, which speaks to the longevity of his career at the very top level.
Tournament
Stage reached
2002 World Cup
Quarter-finals
2006 World Cup
Round of 16
2010 World Cup
Winners
2014 World Cup
Group stage
2018 World Cup
Round of 16
2022 World Cup
Round of 16
7 Sergio Busquets 2007-present
Sergio Busquets for Spain
The first player on this list who is still actively playing is the metronomic Sergio Busquets, who currently plays for Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the MLS.
Now 36, the Spanish titan has been capped 143 times by his country and made 722 appearances for Barcelona before his switch to America last year.
Busquets won a sensational nine La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies with the Catalan giants, alongside a World Cup and a European Championship medal with Spain.
Tournament
Stage reached
Euro 2000
Quarter-finals
Euro 2004
Group stage
Euro 2008
Winners
Euro 2012
Winners
Euro 2016
Round of 16
Euro 2020
Semi-finals
Euro 2024
Winners
6 Emilio Butragueno 1982-1998
The oldest player on this list is iconic forward Emilio Butragueno, who was a star for club and country over the course of a number of years.
He showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Real Madrid with a stunning return of 168 goals and 113 assists in 452 matches, and struck 26 times in 69 caps for Spain.
Butragueno, who retired in 1998, was a lethal attacker throughout his time on the pitch and caused defenders constant problems with his finishing quality and creative spark.
Rank
Player
Caps
1
Sergio Ramos
180
2
Iker Casillas
167
3
Sergio Busquets
143
4
Xavi
133
5
Andres Iniesta
131
5 Raul 1994-2015
The legendary Raul had to make this list because of his glittering career for both club and country before his retirement back in 2015.
A mind-blowing 383 goals and 157 assists in 916 matches at club level, combined with 44 goals in 102 caps for his country, shows that the former Real Madrid star was a consistently dangerous player at the top end of the pitch.
His 44 goals for Spain had made him the top scorer in the country’s history, before a player who will be revealed later in this list went on to overtake him, which speaks to the quality he displayed at international level.
Rank
Player
Caps
Goals
1
David Villa
98
59
2
Raul
102
44
3
Fernando Torres
110
38
4
Alvaro Morata
85
37
5
David Silva
125
35
4 Xavi 1997-2019
There could not be a list of the greatest players to play for Spain without including the iconic former Barcelona midfielder, and now current manager, Xavi.
The metronomic maestro was named in France Football’s all-time Ballon d’Or dream team back in 2020, alongside the likes of Messi, Lothar Matthaus, and Cafu.
Xavi scored 12 goals in 133 caps for Spain and racked up 85 goals and 185 assists in 767 appearances for Barcelona during his club career.
Manager
Tenure
Luis de la Fuente
2019-present
Luis Enrique
2018-2022
Robert Moreno
2019
Fernando Hierro
2018
Julen Lopetegui
2016-2018
3 David Villa 2000-2020
One of Spain’s all-time greats is, for sure, David Villa. The prolific marksman took on Raul’s iconic number seven shirt for his country in 2008 and never looked back.
His sensational 59 goals for Spain make him the top scorer in the history of the team, with a whopping 14 more goals than any other player over the years.
The greatest scorer in the country’s history simply had to be among the best to do ever do it in this list, especially when you also consider that he scored 341 goals in 666 games at club level – for the likes of Barcelona, Valencia, and New York City FC.
2006 World Cup
4
3
0
2008 European Championship
4
4
0
2010 World Cup
7
5
1
2014 World Cup
1
1
0
2 Sergio Ramos 2003-present
Second on this list is the most-capped player in the history of Spanish international football – legendary centre-back Sergio Ramos.
The iconic colossus has been capped a staggering 180 times by Spain, and has played 813 games at club level to date – currently playing for Mexican side Monterrey at the age of 39.
Ramos won four Champions League trophies and five La Liga titles during his time with Real Madrid, to go along with a World Cup and two European Championship successes with Spain.
He was even once dubbed the “best defender in the world” by former Italy and AC Milan legend Paulo Maldini.
1 Andres Iniesta 2000-present
The best player in Spanish football history is, arguably, the iconic Andres Iniesta, who was last playing for Emirates Club in the UAE, prior to his retirement in 2024.
One of his greatest, if not the greatest, moments of his career to date came in the final of the 2010 World Cup against the Netherlands.
Iniesta struck in extra-time to win the World Cup for his country for the first time, which cemented his place in Spanish football history forever.
He scored 14 goals in 131 caps for his country and racked up 57 strikes and 136 assists in 674 matches for Barcelona during his time at the Nou Camp.
Xavi once called him Spain’s most “complete” player and David Silva claimed that Iniesta was the best player in world football ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, which illustrates how highly he was rated by his peers.
Spain's top international goalscorers of all time
Here are the very best in front of goal for La Roja…
Fifteen others from a training camp held in BKSP are symptomatic
Mohammad Isam21-Oct-2020Three Bangladesh Under-19 cricketers have tested positive for Covid-19, while 15 others from a training camp held in BKSP are symptomatic, according to the BCB’s game development manager AEM Kawser. The training camp was being held to help the team prepare for the Under-19 Asia Cup, originally scheduled to be held in the UAE next month. The camp has now been closed and could be held again only next month after further tests.”According to our protocol, we have to isolate everyone who has come into contact with the symptomatic person,” Kawser told the Dhaka-based . “There were a few symptomatic cases so we had to isolate their room-mates, as well as those they did nets with. Our medical team told us that there are three who were found to be positive. We cannot reveal the names, but we have isolated them and those who came in contact with them.”Kawser said that since the Under-19 Asia Cup has been postponed, they are not in a hurry to restart the camp.”We are not running the camp since the Asia Cup has been postponed. In addition there is a bit of risk now, so we have closed the camp and will only start the camp when things improve in November,” he said.The camp had begun on October 1, featuring the 28 cricketers who were selected in the preliminary squad for the U-19 Asia Cup.
The newly-minted U.S. manager hailed Leo Messi's influence, with the eight time Ballon d'Or winner in hunt of an MLS Cup
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Mauricio Pochettino praised Messi's impact on MLSSaid U.S. players will benefit from competing against the bestWill manage USMNT for the first time Saturday eveningFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Mauricio Pochettino, who once played for Newell's Old Boys – the same team where Inter Miami's Lionel Messi spent his youth academy days – hailed the Argentine's influence on MLS.
In an interview with CNN Mexico, the new USMNT manager suggested that Messi's presence alone has helped raise the standard of the league – and predicted further success in the future.
Pochettino also touched the U.S. vs. Mexico rivalry and potentially coaching in his native Argentina one day in a wide-ranging interview.
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Pochettino's comments come ahead of his first two matches as U.S. boss – friendlies against Panama and Mexico. He accepted the USMNT job last month, and will face the task of preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in America, Mexico and Canada.
WHAT POCHETTINO SAID ABOUT MESSI
Pochettino praised Messi's influence on MLS: "The impact is impossible to measure because it is incredible. Not only on the fans, but on everything. The ability to motivate everyone, the entire structure around him, but the impact of seeing him compete with the players, especially those in the MLS… It will have an impact not only in the present, but over time, in the medium and long term. One thing that has been given is having the possibility of having the best player in the world competing there, being able to see him and touch him. I think that generates confidence and the ability to believe in the objectives that can be achieved in the future. Incredible."
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WHAT POCHETTINO SAID ABOUT MEXICO
The new manager also spoke about the rivalry between the USMNT and Mexico: "It's clear that the mentality is always to win. And I can't say that I don't want to win the next game. We're going to want to win every game…But it's clear that the long-term approach is the World Cup and the goal is to arrive with the best possible preparation to compete in the best way possible at the World Cup. That said, we want to win every game, we want to win against Panama, we want to win against Mexico, with the circumstances we face in these games and obviously knowing that it is our first contact with these players and that time is limited. But the players also have to understand that time is limited. We have to adapt in the best way possible and that is through believing in what we are doing and being as willing as possible to understand the way in which we are going to apply all the concepts, and the philosophy in which we want to develop our game."
West Ham United are expected to sign a new teenage defender after it was confirmed he’ll be leaving his current club.
West Ham’s summer transfer window so far
The Hammers, new manager Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten have already made moves in the summer transfer market when it comes to new arrivals ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
First to join was teenage winger Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras and this week, Wes Foderingham was also confirmed as a Hammers player, arriving on a free transfer after leaving Sheffield United.
Not all of the club’s additions this summer look likely to be at first-team level, though, with West Ham set to sign David Chigwada from Manchester City.
The teenage attacker looks set to go into the club’s youth ranks, and it appears as if the Hammers could soon make another academy signing.
West Ham set to sign boyhood Hammers supporter
West Ham insider Sean Whetstone, relayed by Hammers News, has stated that teenage defender Luis Brown is set to sign for the Irons on Monday after recently training with the club. The 18-year-old is set to depart Arsenal and already has ties to West Ham, with his father academy manager Kenny Brown and his grandfather, Ken, playing more than 350 games for the Hammers.
“Arsenal defender Luis Brown has confirmed that he will be leaving Arsenal when his scholarship contract expires at the end of June. The 18-year-old son of West Ham Academy Manager Kenny Brown progressed all the way through the ranks at the club’s Hale End Arsenal academy, wasn’t offered a professional contract by Arsenal.
“Brown has been training with West Ham and is now expected to sign for the Hammers on 1 July. During his time at Arsenal Brown, who can play at left-back or centre-back, made 31 appearances for the U18s, scoring three goals. He often captained the team last season. Brown also made his Premier League 2 debut as a substitute against Southampton and was named on the bench in the UEFA Youth League.”
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Brown, who understandably grew up an Irons supporter due to family connections, has actually previously been on the books at West Ham before he chose Arsenal at under-9 level. He said on the decision to join Arsenal instead of West Ham:
“Alongside Sunday league, I played for Arsenal, Chelsea, and West Ham until under-9 level, which is the year you have to choose one team. Growing up in a die-hard West Ham household didn’t make it an easy choice, but after speaking with my family it became clear that there was only one option. Arsenal had the better coaches, the better facilities and the better players. Once I’d decided, there was no turning back. It was time for Hale End.”
It looks as if he’ll now link up with the Hammers once more, looking to progress into the first team ranks in years to come.