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Erling Haaland was left out of Manchester City's squad for the FA Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea with an injury.

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Haaland not in squad for FA Cup tieNorwegian suffered 'muscular issue' vs Real MadridCould not play in extra-time on WednesdayWHAT HAPPENED?

Haaland was substituted after 90 minutes of City's Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola subsequently revealed that the Norwegian had asked to come off before extra-time as he was not feeling right. The manager went on to confirm that his top scorer was injured ahead of the game with Chelsea.

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"He's injured. I don't think it's much but he's not available for today. I don't know [if he will be back for the next game]," Guardiola told the .

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Guardiola had said the day before the game that Haaland had felt "a muscular issue" against Madrid but had played down the severity of the injury, putting it down to fatigue. Kevin De Bruyne, who was also forced off before extra-time against Madrid, was named in the starting line-up against Chelsea. Julian Alvarez replaces Haaland in City's attack.

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Haaland missed two months earlier in the season with a foot injury. He has scored 30 goals this campaign but has been frequently criticised for not delivering in the biggest matches, drawing blanks in both games against Arsenal, Real Madrid and against Liverpool at Anfield.

The tour game against Sri Lanka will be a pace-setter for the upcoming series rather than a rush to grab individual Test spots, says CA XI captain

Andrew McGlashan16-Jan-2019Tim Paine is not part of Australia’s selection panel but he will have the chance to cast his eye over the new faces in the Test squad if he so wishes when the CA XI take on the Sri Lankans in the day-night tour match starting in Hobart on Thursday. The contest has been elevated in significance by the inclusion of the trio of batsmen called up to the Test squad – Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and the uncapped Will Pucovski – alongside incumbent Marcus Labuschange.Paine is back at home, having resisted the temptation to play in the Big Bash in the small gap between facing India and Sri Lanka, and was at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday doing some work with fellow Tasmania player and CA XI wicketkeeper Jake Doran. The three-day match, which won’t have first-class status to allow the Sri Lankans to utilise their squad, is being billed as a bat-off for three places in the final XI for the first Test at the Gabba.Burns, who captains the CA XI, will open with Queensland team-mate Renshaw in what looks like a contest to partner Marcus Harris at the top of the order. Burns’ Sheffield Shield numbers for the season are far superior – an average of 47.20 compared to Renshaw’s 19.90 – while Renshaw was warned by Justin Langer not to take his eye off the ball after dips in form when he had previously been earmarked for the Test side. Burns played down the potential of the match becoming a very individual affair with Test places on the line.”The fact we work together doing the same role, building a partnership as an opener pair, you are just happy to see team-mates going well,” he said. “Hopefully we can both get the opportunity, I’ve never seen myself as competing with Renners. It’s just how we can get the job done for Queensland.”There will also be much interest around Pucovski, who has played just eight first-class matches before his first Test call-up. The match could work both ways: a chance for the Australian players to claim early points against Sri Lanka’s bowlers, but also the opportunity for the visitors to make a mark against some of those they will be playing next week in Brisbane.”We don’t see ourselves as here to service Sri Lanka in any way, it’s about hopefully setting the tone for the Test series,” Burns said. “I’m not sure about a bat-off, it’s just a chance to spend time in the middle with a big Test series coming up and get exposed to the Sri Lanka bowlers. The selectors want to see players in certain positions and we have an eye on the Test series as well.”The fact this game now resembles an Australia A side is also because there is currently no domestic first-class cricket being played, and hasn’t been since early December due to the Big Bash. The structure of the season is due to come under review although it would appear unlikely that there will be space for regular multi-day cricket at this time of the season. Burns was diplomatic when asked about the challenges of presenting a Test case in the midst of a T20 season.”It’s always a tricky talking point. We had the opportunity to play six Shield games back-to-back which as a player you really appreciate,” he said. “I know a lot has been made that guys haven’t been playing long-form cricket but you don’t lose your skills overnight. Games like this serve a really valuable purpose. In an ideal world we are coming out of a few long format games but reality you can’t always have them on when there are three formats.”Although now back in the Test squad, Burns has also been cited as an example of the perception that the selectors have backed potential over performance in recent times. He was parachuted back into the Test side for the final Test against South Africa following the ball-tampering but then left out of the series against Pakistan and India.”Everyone who gets selected for Australia is a really, really good player,” Burns said. “You don’t even get a job in professional cricket at state level without being an excellent player. All the guys who get opportunities are very talented, sometimes it can be a simple judgement call from selectors. It’s just the way the game is with the three formats, players coming in and out of competitions all around the world, it’s very hard to throw a blanket over a group of players and compare them all evenly.”While it’s the Test players who have most to gain or lose immediately, there are other eye-catching names involved with the New South Wales pair of Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson part of the batting line-up, while seamers Chris Tremain and Scott Boland can push their claims to be back-up Ashes quicks.

Casemiro has revealed how Carlo Ancelotti's emotional response to the news that he was joining Manchester United almost made him back out of the move.

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Casemiro completed United move in 2022Ancelotti's reaction created some doubtsInitially made big impact but form has dropped offWHAT HAPPENED?

Casemiro moved to United in summer 2022 and instantly bolstered Ten Hag's midfield, but he recently revealed that there was a moment where he doubted his decision to switch allegiances. Speaking to Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones, Casemiro has opened up about how Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti's emotional reaction to his departure had a big impact.

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"I only doubted my move to Manchester once," Casemiro said. "I went to speak with Ancelotti. I went into his office and he already knew. I opened the door and when I turned [towards him], Ancelotti was crying. I told him: 'You can't be crying. Anyone but you.' He told me: 'Case, I don't know why I'm crying, but I'm very fond of you and I don't want you to leave.' That was the moment [I doubted]… I realised how many people loved me there. But I had already given my word, and my word is more important than anything else."

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Casemiro bossed Madrid's midfield for almost a decade, so it's no surprise that moving away was such a big deal. So far, his time in Manchester has been mixed; he played a pivotal role in securing Champions League qualification and a League Cup win in 2022/23, but his form during the 2023/24 campaign has been poor and there has been speculation about a potential move to Saudi Arabia.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CASEMIRO?

Last weekend, Casemiro attracted plenty of criticism for his performance in United's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, with former Red Devils goalkeeper Ben Foster calling his display a "disgrace". It's the latest in a long line of disappointing showings that have led many people to think that United should cut their losses on the Brazilian this summer.

Selectors claimed they picked Sabbir Rahman for the New Zealand ODI series because the captain specifically asked for him

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2019Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has refuted chief selector Minhajl Abedin’s claim that he had asked for Sabbir Rahman to be part of the ODI series in New Zealand starting February 13.Sabbir was suspended for six months in September 2018 but the BCB reduced that sentence so that he can be part of the squad. When the squad was named two days ago, Abedin said, “Let me make one thing clear, he is totally the captain’s choice”.However, on Thursday, Mashrafe told that he only “suggested” Sabbir’s name because he wanted Mahmudullah to bat higher up the order and was in need of a good No. 7. “[Mahmudullah] Riyad definitely does this job quite well but should we be playing him at No 7 for so long? Isn’t it unfair on him to be batting so low? He doesn’t complain but as a captain I have to understand everyone. We have Shakib and Mushfiqur at No 4 and 5, so we should at least have Riyad batting at No 6.”I want a 15-ball 25 or a 20-ball 35 from my No 7. Imagine who he will be facing at the World Cup – Starc, Cummins, Bumrah, Shami, Bhuvneshwar, Rabada, Steyn, Woakes, Stokes, Boult, Southee, Hasan Ali or Amir. Give me one batsman who can play shots with power or improvise against these bowlers. I think Sabbir has the ability. We don’t have any batsman doing this in the BPL even, and we have all seen how others have done in this position recently. I am not saying that he has proved himself but Sabbir’s strike-rate at No. 7 and his batting style tells me that he has the ability. In theory, he has the most ability among those who have batted in this position.”Since his ODI debut, Sabbir has a strike-rate of 99.41, which is the highest among all Bangladesh batsmen who have batted at least five times between Nos. 6 and 8.Mashrafe also reiterated that he didn’t strongarm the selectors into making any decisions. “Do I have the authority to place a demand?” he said. “Am I part of the selection committee? I gave my opinion when they asked for it. There was cricketing logic behind my opinion. It is up to the selectors if they want to pick someone in the side. They possibly thought that my logic was good enough. We would see a different side had they not agreed with my logic. I never asked them to pick Sabbir. I only gave logic behind my opinion.”The coach and selectors had picked 14 out of the 15 players. They wanted my opinion about the 15th member. They placed several options in front of me, asking me who would be better to pick among Imrul [Kayes], Mosaddek [Hossain], [Abu Hider] Rony, [Nazmul Islam] Apu or Sabbir [Rahman].”Soumya and Liton were there to open with Tamim. Nayeem [Islam] is there for spin cover for Shakib and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz. We didn’t need the extra spinner. I have Mustafizur, Rubel and Saifuddin in the pace department. If it was a 16-member squad, I could have kept another pacer.”I had Sabbir and Mosaddek as choices for No 6 or 7. Mosaddek hadn’t done that well in the BPL till Wednesday, and whether he is right for the No. 7 role is something that even the media has questioned a number of times. Was there an option other than Sabbir?Mashrafe did add, however, that if Sabbir doesn’t mend his ways after getting suspended twice in 2018 for beating up one fan and abusing another on Facebook, it could spell the end of his career. “What could be more example-setting than the board suspending a cricketer like Shakib [in the past]? Still Sabbir did wrong things and got banned. You can’t do much when a player fails to understand.”He got an opportunity this time but that doesn’t mean he got it all. If he cannot manage himself, then he has a dark future.”Sabbir, meanwhile, termed the recall as a “second life”, and said he will try to focus on batting in his own way. “When I will play the first game, it will be my second debut. I will try to do better from here. I will try to bring back the old Sabbir. If I fail, I will keep faith in myself and do what the team management tells me to do.”

Coach’s focus on the ‘soft dismissals’ of Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, with talk emerging of ‘big changes’ in the next Test

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-2018Pakistan’s latest batting disaster led to a heated team meeting post-play in Centurion and it could yet lead to some big changes ahead of the second Test in Cape Town next week.Pakistan were well-placed at tea on the second day of the first Test, 100 for 1 at the break with a lead of 58 and two set batsmen in Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood. Imam, however, chopped on in the first over after tea and, as has happened so often over the last couple of years, Pakistan’s batting fell apart, failing even to see out the session.The collapses have been a regular feature through the tenure of Mickey Arthur but the problem has become acute since the departures of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan in April 2017. But perhaps because Pakistan were in such a promising position this time, the anger and frustration in the dressing room post-play tipped over.Arthur is understood to have had, what several sources described variously as a “strong” and “honest” discussion with his batsmen. A few of the batsmen “were reminded of their responsibilities”, according to a team source, though particular focus fell on the dismissals of the senior-most trio in the side: captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.Sarfraz fell for a duck – a pair for the Test – chasing a wide ball and edging to slip; Shafiq edged a lazy waft behind, the ball after having he was reprieved by DRS which over-ruled an lbw decision; Azhar got into a terrible tangle off a short ball, unsure whether to defend or pull. They were told, in clear terms, that their dismissals were “soft”.It was the latest in a series of cheap dismissals for the trio in crunch situations. Twice in the recent home series against New Zealand, the three failed or fell at inopportune moments in chasing a low total or trying to bat out less than a day to save a Test.But it is a trend since Sarfraz took over the Test captaincy last year. It began with all three failing in a low chase against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. Sarfraz and Shafiq briefly raised hopes of a successful 300-plus chase in the very next Test in Dubai, before the captain fell sweeping early on the fifth day. Azhar and Shafiq were part of a mini-collapse in a chase of 160 against Ireland in Malahide, which left Pakistan tottering at 14 for 3 before Babar Azam and Imam saw them home (Sarfraz failed in that chase too, though the win was all but sealed by then).And then, against New Zealand, having taken Pakistan all but home at 130 for 3 in a chase of 176, Shafiq fell on the stroke of lunch, precipitating a collapse in which Sarfraz fell for 3. Azhar was last man out for 65, unable to find ways to score the five runs that would’ve won the Test.In the final Test, again in Abu Dhabi, Azhar and Shafiq both made first-innings hundreds, but careless dismissals led to a collapse which let the advantage slip. And when tasked to bat out an hour less than a full day on the final day, the trio once again failed, contributing 33 runs between them (Shafiq fell for a first-ball duck).There were even suggestions in the meeting of “big changes” ahead of the next Test. The nature of those is as yet unclear, however, and would depend on the result of this Test – South Africa need 149 runs to go one-up in the series.Though Sarfraz has been under pressure for some time now, and acknowledged as much before this tour, it is difficult to see Pakistan doing anything drastic with their captain mid-tour. Azhar’s experience at the top of the order with an inexperienced opening pair insulates him to a degree for now, and he does average 40.36 since the start of Pakistan’s home season.That leaves Shafiq in greatest danger. He holds the Pakistan record for the most number of consecutive Tests played (62 and counting), but not only have his returns been poor this year, the manner and timing of his dismissals have started attracting attention. It will not be easy convincing Sarfraz to drop him but, especially if Pakistan lose in Centurion, that might become an easier option.Reports in Pakistan suggest the meeting was more than just heated, with words exchanged between Sarfraz and Arthur. There are even suggestions that equipment was thrown around but that has been denied by players and staff, some of whom are unhappy that news of the dressing-room meeting leaked out.The PCB issued a statement, reiterating that nothing untoward had happened: “As per the norm, Mickey held a debriefing meeting at the end of the day’s play which was held in a cordial atmosphere with inputs from team members and management as is the usual practice.”Any speculation about coach’s angry behaviour towards the players is grossly exaggerated.”

Jesse Lingard has been told the “famous retired player” jibe aimed in his direction by FC Seoul’s coach was meant to be motivational, not an insult.

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Former England star now in South KoreaStruggled to make the desired impactBoasts support of fans & coachesWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United and England star Lingard has struggled to make the desired impact since completing a shock switch to South Korea. He has failed to register a goal or assist through six appearances and is back on the sidelines at present after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT KIM SAID ABOUT LINGARD

Seoul boss Kim Ki-dong said after one underwhelming performance from Lingard: “He only played a few minutes, and yet he didn't work hard and avoided tussle. Fame doesn't win football games. If it did, I would have brought in a famous retired player.”

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That was considered to be a dig at Lingard’s attitude and application, but journalist Lee Sung-mo has told : “It happens quite often when you translate English to Korean or Korean to English without context. In Korean culture, Kim's comments were closer to motivation for Lingard as he wanted him to show more passion on the pitch because he had belief in the player. But when you just translate it in English without context, it could be understood as aggressive criticism. It's very unlikely Kim intended that way.”

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Despite playing just 105 minutes so far, Lingard has the support of Seoul supporters and Lee added on the impact that he can make in a new division and culture: “Lingard has been a bit unlucky so far and he's clearly showing his commitment for his new club even when he cannot play for them. We need to wait to see until he fully recovers from injuries. There's still a chance that he could be a success in the K-League.”

Both players had missed Bangladesh’s previous ODI series, against Zimbabwe, due to fitness issues

Mohammad Isam02-Dec-2018Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have returned to Bangladesh’s ODI side for the three-match series against West Indies, which starts from December 9. Both players had missed Bangladesh’s previous ODI series, against Zimbabwe in October, due to fitness issues.Shakib made his return from a finger injury by leading the Test side to a 2-0 win over West Indies. Tamim, who suffered multiple injuries, has taken longer. He had fractured his wrist during the Asia Cup in September and then missed the West Indies Tests due to a side strain. He was named in the BCB XI squad for a one-day practice match against the West Indians on December 6.Their inclusions have forced Najmul Hossain Shanto and Fazle Mahmud out. Mahmud had made two ducks against Zimbabwe.With the return of Tamim and Shakib, the Bangladesh team management will have a problem of plenty in the top order. They will have to pick one out of Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das as Tamim’s opening partner, with Shakib set to bat at No. 3. Among the three contenders, Imrul had a good run recently, emerging as the top run-getter in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, scoring 349 runs in three matches with two centuries and a fifty.Bangladesh Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abu Hider, Ariful Haque.
In: Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal
Out: Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Fazle Mahmud

Barcelona are reportedly on track to complete the permanent signing of Joao Cancelo this summer but will have to negotiate with Manchester City.

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Barcelona will try to sign CanceloWill have to enter talks with Man CityCan't afford €40 million asking priceWHAT HAPPENED?

As per reports from , Barcelona have intimated to the Premier League side that they intend to sign the full-back this summer. They signed the 29-year-old from Pep Guardiola's side on loan after he was frozen out of the squad by the Spaniard following multiple disagreements between the duo.

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The Catalans will still have to enter talks with the Premier League champions as they cannot afford the Cityzen's asking price of €40 million (£34m/$43m) for the Portugal international. It is likely that the treble holders will agree to a reduced price or another loan deal with a mandatory buy clause in 2025.

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Cancelo himself is very keen to stay with the defending La Liga champions past the summer and has also shown a lot of promise under Xavi this season, having scored four goals for the club as more of an inverted wing-back. He has appeared in 33 games for the Blaugrana.

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Cancelo will be one of the first names of the teamsheet for Xavi when Barcelona take on Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on April 10 for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals clash.

TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan believes that it is now or never for Marcus Rashford's career, suggesting he should leave Manchester United immediately.

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Rashford told to leave Man Utd Has lost place as starter for England Simon Jordan calls him 'not world-class' GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford has all but lost his place as a starter in Gareth Southgate's plans for England at Euro 2024 and Jordan believes that the forward has to leave the Red Devils this summer if he doesn't want his career to stagnate even further than it already has.

AdvertisementWHAT JORDAN SAID

Writing for Daily Mail, the talkSort pundit said: "He came off the bench for 15 minutes against Brazil and didn’t get on against Belgium. He’s not been a central figure for some time and his career appears to be going backwards. He’s become an impact substitute, someone who can come on for the last 20 minutes when the game is stretched. He might not like it but that’s where he is at the moment.

"I do, however, find a lot of what has been said about Rashford unfair. He’s not a world-class player so I always felt that judging him by those standards put him in a position where he’s always going to fall short. What he needs to do is apply himself, look like he’s interested, engaged and motivated again otherwise he may never reach the levels we saw from him at the beginning of his career.

"For whatever reason, whether it’s the life that he leads or the way he views the world, the pressure of playing for United or having too much money and too many distractions, I don’t see a player who has evolved," he continued.

"The best we saw of him was at the start of his career and a brief rally last season. It’s certainly hard to argue he has become a better player in the last five years. I think he’s got worse, I don’t see any area of his game that has developed. Normally when you get older and move into your prime in sport, and in life, you get better or you find your level. I would suggest he’s found his level.

"For a man who protests to love Manchester United so much it’s a difficult situation but I think it’s perhaps time for him to move on. He’s run his course at Old Trafford and could flourish again at a new club," he explained.

"There has been endless links to Paris Saint-Germain which could be an option if it’s a move he’d be interested in. He won’t go short of a bob or two in France, he’ll win league titles, play in the Champions League and be away from the goldfish bowl of United and the British media. That has its benefits. But I don’t see him moving to a top-six rival which speaks volumes about where both he and United currently are, so he’s limited to potential interest from overseas."

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Rashford broke onto the world football scene in 2016 having come up through Manchester United's academy. On his debut with the club, he scored a brace in the Europa League and followed it up with a winner on his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later. He also scored in his first Manchester derby, as well as on his Carabao Cup and Champions League debuts. However, Rashford's career has seen multiple ups and downs due to inconsistency in form.

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WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

The 26-year-old will now work hard until the end of the club season with Manchester United as he hopes to regain his lost form before he joins Southgate's England side for the European Championship in Germany.

The Bavarians are no strangers to pinching talent from their domestic rivals, but hiring the Bayer Leverkusen manager would be on another level

By all indications, Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The team that he has built and fine-tuned seems set to collapse after its greatest achievement – the eyes of big-spenders all over Europe turning their gaze to the presumptive Bundesliga champions.

This, of course, will be a shame. Leverkusen are an immensely exciting team to watch and have destabilised what was becoming a dull, well-established order at the top of the German top flight. They could yet finish the season unbeaten in all competitions, with three trophies well within their grasp. And even if things go awry, Alonso has still coached Leverkusen to one of, if not the great season in club history.

Bigger things, therefore, will soon beckon, though Alonso next move isn't yet clear, with it still a toss-up between Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich and Premier League title-chasers Liverpool as to which of his former clubs he will take charge of this summer.

Still, there is an ominous sense that Bayern are pulling narrowly ahead in the race to hire Europe's most coveted coach. If they pull it off, it will be the ultimate coup in a lengthy history of the club picking off best talent from their domestic rivals.

Getty ImagesEurope's most wanted

It's hard to remember a summer where there is expected to be so much managerial change at the very top of the game. Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona all already know that they need to be looking for new faces in the dugout, while Manchester United and Chelsea could yet join them in that search. Factor in potential departures from top international jobs following the European Championship and Copa America, and the number of elite-level vacancies could be at an all-time high.

With a finite number of top-tier candidates to go around, Alonso would seem to be the best. Barring a legendary collapse, the Spain legend will end Bayern's 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga, all while playing eye-catching football on a limited budget.

When he took over just 18 months ago, Leverkusen were in the relegation zone, were poor defensively and had no real attacking direction. Since then, despite losing some of his top talents, Alonso has reinvented the team. They are yet to lose this season, will probably claim the league crown by at least 10 points, and are among the favourties to win the Europa League, too.

The Spaniard has united a disillusioned fan base, got the best out of some of Europe's best young talents, and found the kind of value in the transfer market that big clubs across Europe consistently fail to seek out. It is only natural, then, that Alonso is the manager everyone wants. In a game that relies so heavily on marginal gains and minute advantages, Alonso would seem to be the kind of coach that could get the best out of any team.

Advertisementgetty imagesBoost for Bayern

For Bayern, then, hiring Alonso would make a lot of sense. For all of their domestic success, it has been a tricky two years in Bavaria. Julian Nageslmann never truly convinced as a manager, and things had become unsustainable when he was sacked in March 2023 – despite the fact that he had the side alive in domestic and European competitions.

Thomas Tuchel seemed set to turn things around. The smart tactician worked wonders at Chelsea, and was handed the kind of squad at Bayern that could not only retain their Bundesliga crown with ease, but also push for European success. The reality proved somewhat different; Bayern were handily beaten by Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals and required a remarkable Borussia Dortmund collapse to snag the Bundesliga title in the dying stages of the final day.

And they haven't improved since then. Losses in cup competitions and inconsistent league form have them out of the picture for a domestic prize. European success would also seem unlikely at this point, with first Arsenal and then either Man City or Real Madrid in their path when it comes to reaching the Champions League final.

There is a real chance this could be a trophy-less season at the Allianz Arena, and Tuchel has already agreed to leave at the end of the campaign. Bayern need a new manager, and Alonso is the best available.

GettyLiverpool's interest

But they're not the only club looking to snag Alonso. The next few months are poised to be the playing out of a high-profile race between two of the manager's former clubs to secure his services as Liverpool, too, are looking for a new face in the dugout after Jurgen Klopp announced his intent to leave at the end of the season.

The Reds would seem to have similar criteria for a new manager. Not only are they looking for a clever tactician, they also require a prominent leader, one that can connect to a fanbase that will undoubtedly have questions following the departure of such a legendary figure in Klopp. Alonso is perhaps the only manager on the market who would fit both remits.

Early reports suggested that he was the most likely man to take the job – and was leaning towards a move to England at the end of the season, but talk of him favouring Bayern has since gathered steam, as have reports of Liverpool considering alternatives. Alonso, for his part, has stayed quiet, denying links to both clubs.

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Getty ImagesBayern's BuLi robberies

Looking within the Bundesliga for their next game-changer is hardly new territory for Bayern, who have made it part of their business model to bring in the best talents from their domestic rivals.

Klopp knows that all too well. In April 2013, Mario Gotze, Borussia Dortmund's attacking midfielder and presumed next star of the Bundesliga, agreed to join Bayern in a €37 million deal, making him then the most-expensive German player of all time. The transfer severed already fractious relations between the two clubs, and Klopp implied that the timing of the deal – breaking just 24 hours before his side's Champions League semi-final – was engineered to destabilise his team's season.

Gotze wasn't the only one, though. Robert Lewandowski followed him the following year, agreeing to join Bayern on a free transfer after Dortmund refused to sell him in the summer of 2013 – even though they knew he had no plans to sign a new contract the following year.

And that pattern has only continued since. Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Niklas Sule, Mats Hummels and Benjamin Pavard were all stolen from Bayern's domestic rivals, while even further back in time, Michael Ballack and Manuel Neuer also arrived from key competitors.