Pep Guardiola has said he would have no problem with Manchester City selling players to Manchester United for the right price.
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Gerardo Martino has sent a message to Inter Miami fans regarding Lionel Messi ahead of the MLS 2024 season.
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Martino sends message on MessiInter Miami begin new season on February 22Messi and Suarez reunited at Inter Miami this seasonWHAT HAPPENED?
The Inter Miami manager has made it clear that he will occasionally bench star players including Lionel Messi during the new Major League Soccer season to protect against injury. Last season, the Argentine started his journey on a bright note but as the season progressed, he started facing injury problems and had to sit out several games towards end of the campaign.
AdvertisementWHAT GERARDO MARTINO SAID
Speaking to the , the former Barcelona coach said, "We have a responsibility to make sure the fans feel well represented on the field when our big stars aren’t playing. If the fans know that for different reasons Leo won’t be there or [Busquets] won’t be there or Jordi, but we will have a very competitive team, that is an important message.
"The best players are usually on the field, but we also must make sure our team is healthy and can last an entire season. That was difficult last season, the issue of if we were selling more tickets or fewer tickets, people wanting to know who was playing. I would love for them to play every single game, but we can’t be worried about ticket sales. If they are healthy, they will play the majority of the games."
(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In his debut season in America, the 36-year-old played in 14 matches across all competitions where he scored 11 goals and provided five assists. Ahead of the 2024 season, he has reunited with his former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez who joined the club as a free agent.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?
The Herons have started pre-season training and will begin their season on February 22 against Real Salt Lake. Before the start of the new campaign, the club are set to play a host of friendly matches including their clash against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in the Riyadh Cup on February 1.
India have made a last-minute change to their support staff in the lead-up to the tour of South Africa with analyst CKM Dhananjai coming back to the fold to replace Ashish Tulli. ESPNcricinfo understands the team management made a specific request to get Dhananjai back in order to travel with the “best support staff and technology support possible” as the next year features tough tours of South Africa, England and Australia.Dhananjai was the team analyst when India won the World T20 in 2007, the World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. He was also part of the support staff when India reached the No. 1 Test ranking in 2009. He has also been the analyst of the defending IPL champions Mumbai Indians, a role he will now have to give up as part of BCCI regulations to avoid conflict of interest.Dhananjai is a vice president of SportsMechanics, a technology and analytics company set up by S Ramakrishnan, the first analyst India had. SportsMechanics provides analytics support to many sports team, including Mumbai Indians.Tulli, formerly with Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, was brought in when Anurag Thakur was the BCCI president. Until then, a SportsMechanics representative used to travel with the national team. Despite Tulli coming in, India retained the back-end support of SportsMechanics. In 2016, though, India cut ties with Sports Mechanics and moved to Agaram InfoTech Pvt. Ltd., who were technology partners of Chennai Super Kings among other teams.Now, though, on insistence of the team management, India have re-established their ties with with Dhananjai and SportsMechanics.
While KL Rahul will miss Karnataka’s quarter-final due to a niggle, the fast bowlers selected for the South Africa tour have all been rested
Arun Venugopal06-Dec-2017KL Rahul and Umesh Yadav will not turn out for Karnataka and Vidarbha respectively in the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy beginning on Thursday. While Rahul misses out with a niggle, none of the fast bowlers selected for the South Africa tour next month will be released for the Ranji Trophy knockouts. That means Ishant Sharma, Umesh and Mohammed Shami, whose teams have made the last eight, will not be available for Delhi, Vidarbha and Bengal respectively in the quarter-finals and the semis, if their teams advance. Jasprit Bumrah, the other seamer in India’s 17-member squad, will also miss Gujarat’s knockout games as he is in the squads for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.A BCCI official said it was unwise to risk the fast bowlers ahead of a major overseas tour. “We all know these guys have played so much cricket. Everyone is looking jaded and since the [Ranji Trophy] teams have already done well without them, it makes more sense for these guys to be rested,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “The fast bowlers are going to be the most important guys for the South Africa series and you can’t take a risk at this stage.”The official, however, indicated the India think-tank was inclined towards the batsmen getting some red-ball cricket under their belt. Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane, who has been going through a bad patch, could use a hit but their participation looks unlikely. Rahane aggregated 17 runs in five innings during the Sri Lanka series, and scored a 49 and 45, bookended by two ducks, for Mumbai in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy.”KL has a niggle and Rahane is part of the ODI series, so where is the chance for them to play? Had Rahul been well, it would have been nice for him to play” the official said. “At the moment, all these guys have to go to the NCA (National Cricket Academy) [for conditioning and rehab].Rahul has played two games for Karnataka this season and has managed scores of 4, 23, 9 and 92. He has since played the first two Tests against Sri Lanka where he has produced 86 runs from three innings. Umesh, on the other hand, has picked up nine wickets from the two games he turned out for Vidarbha. He played the Kolkata and Nagpur Tests and claimed a total of five wickets. Karnataka will take on Mumbai in Nagpur, while Vidarbha will take on Kerala in Surat in the quarter-finals.
Crystal Palace could complete a move that proves potentially game-changing for one of their star attackers.
Who do Crystal Palace want to sign?
According to the Evening Standard, Roy Hodgson is keen on signing a forward, but Palace will wait as they assess their alternative options.
It is understood that Che Adams is the man in question and indeed, he would favour a move back to the Premier League following the Saints’ relegation to the Championship in May.
Palace are ‘considering’ a £10m offer for the 27-year-old but remain ‘undecided on their preferred striking target.’
The outlet revealed Hodgson is on the hunt for an experienced attacker to fill the gaping hole left by the talismanic Wilfried Zaha, who departed for Galatasaray earlier in the window.
The South Londoner’s frontline could be dealt another monumental blow, with Michael Olise attracting serious interest from Chelsea.
This heightens the need for depth and Adams could emerge as one of the most attainable and intelligent targets.
What does Che Adams offer?
Although we are just two games into the new Championship season, Adams has swiftly demonstrated that he is one of the division’s most productive and dangerous assets.
In the opening game away at Sheffield Wednesday, the 23-cap international came on as a substitute and netted a late winner to secure the Saints a 2-1 victory.
After this, manager Russell Martin confirmed that Adams has been the subject of transfer speculation, but praised his attitude and influence, saying: “The way Che reacted to not playing was amazing – brilliant energy and so respectful.
“There was a lot of noise around him, we turned down a bid for him a couple of weeks ago and nothing has happened since. The way he dealt with that is amazing.”
Last weekend Adams continued his impressive form when he netted in an enthralling 4-4 draw against Norwich.
In total, the Scot has recorded 39 goal contributions in 124 Premier League appearances – this includes five goals and three assists from last term, as he ranked second for each metric in the squad, only behind the indefatigable James Ward-Prowse.
Adams’ energy, endless running, and effervescence would give Eberechi Eze a dangerous partner for Palace in attacks.
The playmaker was in a typically irrepressible mood on the weekend as the South London outfit secured a 1-0 victory over newly-promoted Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Eze managed seven key passes, registered five accurate crosses, won seven ground duels, and completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.
The Englishman continued his impeccable form last season in which he notched ten goals and four assists in 30 top-flight starts, and also ranks within the top 4% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers over the past 365 days for successful take-ons per 90 and shot-creating actions per 90.
His teammate Joel Ward has previously lauded Eze’s talent, saying: “Ebs’ quality is incredible, with what he does on the ball, the way he manipulates it and the way he just seems to glide over the pitch – it’s mesmerising at times.”
Therefore, Adams’ numbers could hit new heights due to Eze’s dazzling creativity and skill, giving Palace a strong platform to mount another top-flight campaign unthreatened by relegation.
As Harry Kane’s future in North London remains uncertain, Tottenham Hotspur may turn their attentions to Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson. Ryan Taylor of the Daily Express has spoken to GIVEMESPORT about just how likely this transfer is.
What does the future hold for Brennan Johnson?
Replacing Harry Kane is a nigh-on impossible task, hence why the rumoured fee for Tottenham’s attacking star is so high, despite the fact his contract is soon to expire. It would be ridiculous to think that Brennan Johnson would be directly filling the Kane-sized void but he could prove to be a worthy option in the frontline alongside the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-Min.
The Daily Mail have previously reported that the new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is interested in Johnson and could pull the trigger on a deal. Forest are rumoured to have priced Johnson at, at least £50 million, something which doesn’t seem to have deterred the Tottenham hierarchy.
Following on from a very cash heavy 2022 summer, the Reds may need to move on one or two key assets. At the heart of that could be their prized asset, Brennan Johnson, who has been hailed as a "top player".
Brentford were another club keeping tabs on the winger but they saw a £35 million bid rejected in the last couple of weeks. The Bees have already broken their transfer record once when they brought Nathan Collins in from Wolves and so any renewed interest in the Welshman would see them break it again.
What is Ryan Taylor's transfer update on Spurs?
“If Kane goes, I know Johnson isn’t the same kind of player as him, but I think Tottenham are going to have to sign more diverse attacking options.
“I think that will be the way to deal with losing Kane. I don't think you're going to replace someone like Kane, so you're better off having different options in changing the style.
“From what I understand their interest is actually very, very credible in Johnson.
“That said, there are other clubs in for Johnson, not least Brentford who have had a club record £35 million bid rejected.
“But there are other teams in the mix from the Premier League for Johnson as well. So I think that could be one to watch.”
Where would the Nottingham Forest ace fit in at Tottenham?
As previously mentioned, there are much more differences than similarities between Harry Kane and Brennan Johnson. For starters, the former is far more experienced and is also a recognized centre forward.
Tottenham have been heavily reliant on Kane’s goals for a number of years, meaning that Johnson would arrive and have to hit the ground running. That being said, James Maddison, Richarlison and Kulusevski are a few attacking players who have a number of years left in them. Between them all, they could tally together to go some way to replacing Kane’s output.
Spurs may have underperformed in 2022/23 but that didn’t stop the English icon from scoring 30 Premier League goals. Meanwhile, in his first season in the top flight, Johnson scored eight and assisted three in just under 3,000 minutes. This may not be on the level of the man who he would be replacing but it is a sign of things to come.
Tottenham Hotspur continued their preparations for the upcoming Premier League campaign with a convincing 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the weekend, with talisman Harry Kane bagging four goals on what could well have been his farewell appearance at N17.
With speculation still rife that the 30-year-old is set to be on his way to German giants, Bayern Munich – despite an agreement having yet to be reached between the two clubs – the England skipper enjoyed a potential perfect send-off with a typically ruthless display in front of goal.
The long-serving centre-forward may not have been the only figure saying his goodbyes during Sunday's clash, however, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also starting in midfield despite reports that the Danish maestro is set to join La Liga side, Atletico Madrid.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
As per Football Insider, the Lilywhites are likely to try and acquire a replacement for the 27-year-old before sanctioning a sale, with manager Ange Postecoglou potentially set to be able to find a perfect option in the form of Hojbjerg's former Southampton teammate, James Ward-Prowse.
How much would Ward-Prowse cost?
According to a recent report from the Daily Star, the north Londoners are potentially ready to hijack West Ham United's move for the England international, with the 28-year-old having been watched by Spurs scouts on numerous occasions at the tail-end of last season.
As per the piece, the Saints are not likely to sell their influential captain 'on the cheap' having already knocked back bids from the Hammers, with the south coast side said to be demanding a fee in the region of £40m.
The Portsmouth-born ace has spent his whole career with his current side and thus is not set to 'push for a transfer', although with Russell Martin's men now plying their trade in the Championship, a move away could be on the cards.
Should Tottenham sign Ward-Prowse?
It would not be the first time that Tottenham have snapped up a stellar talent from Southampton, with chairman Daniel Levy having previously overseen the £10m signing of Gareth Bale from the St Mary's side back in 2007.
While unlike Ward-Prowse, the Welshman was a raw, teenage talent at the time of the move, the explosive forward went on to sparkle over the next few years having made a stellar impact in a Spurs shirt, despite enduring a difficult opening period in which he failed to taste victory in his first 25 Premier League outings.
Having been snapped up following the Saints' failed promotion charge during the 2006/07 campaign, the now-retired superstar would go on to score 72 goals and provide 58 assists in 237 games in all competitions across his two spells at the club, including netting 21 league goals during the 2012/13 season prior to his move to Real Madrid.
One notable trait that the wing wizard mastered during his time at White Hart Lane was his dead-ball brilliance, having memorably scored two free-kicks in the same game in a Europa League clash with Lyon back in February 2013.
That is a gift that is certainly shared by "set-piece master", Ward Prowse – as described by broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos – with the Englishman having scored 17 Premier League free-kicks to date, ranking him just behind David Beckham as the most prolific in that regard in the competition's history.
For Spurs to then be able to have another Bale-esque figure who can conjure up moments of magic in the form of Ward-Prowse would be a truly exciting prospect, with the latter man seemingly a "great fit" for the club, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.
With Levy having reaped the rewards of plucking Bale from the south coast in the past, he could look to repeat that masterclass by signing the experienced Ward-Prowse this summer.
Nottinghamshire’s T20 batting line-up will look different this year but the overseas pairing of Dan Christian and Ish Sodhi offers stability
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2018Birmingham Bears have announced the return of explosive New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme as the dedicated T20 overseas player for 2018.De Grandhomme, who scored the second fastest Test century by a New Zealander in December off just 71 balls, will be available for all games in next year’s T20 Blast campaign after helping the Bears to the final at Edgbaston in 2017.Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s sport director, said: “I spoke about Colin being a moneyball player when we announced his signing last year. He was still establishing himself in the international game, but had made plenty of game-changing performances for Auckland. We also recognised that he is an outstanding character who would be a good addition to the dressing room.”He went on to play a huge role on our path to the final last year and we saw him change the outlook of several games very quickly, particularly his innings against Derbyshire Falcons at home, and Northants Steelbacks and Surrey away.”He’s incredibly popular with everyone at Edgbaston and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to the club in July ahead of our first game away to Notts Outlaws.”De Grandhomme played in Birmingham Bears’ 16 NatWest T20 Blast games in 2017, scoring 322 runs at a prodigious strike rate of 170.32 and taking five wickets.”We came very close to winning the T20 Blast on Finals Day,” Grandhomme said. “We’ve got a young squad with plenty of firepower, and I believe that we have every chance of going one step further in 2018.”
Moeen is the only man from the Test team defeated in Adelaide to play in the two-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at Richardson Park this weekend
George Dobell07-Dec-2017Moeen Ali has been named captain of the England XI that will play a two-day warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at Richardson Park in Perth this weekend.Moeen is the only man from the Test team defeated in Adelaide to play in the game. While the England camp insist he has recovered from a cut finger that compromised his effectiveness in Brisbane, they feel he failed to gain sufficient bowling ahead of the Test series due to a side strain that limited his involvement in the warm-up matches. Partially as a result, he has been comprehensively out-bowled by Nathan Lyon in the series to date. Moeen has taken two wickets at a cost of 98 apiece from 63 overs; Lyon has taken 11 at a cost of 22.72 from 109.1 overs.The variation in performance between Moeen and Lyon has been one of the key differences in the series to date. While Australia have been able to rest and rotate their seamers to maintain an attacking edge to their game (Lyon has conceded just 2.29 runs per over and taken a wicket every 59.50 balls), Moeen has failed to pose much threat (he has taken a wicket every 189 deliveries) or control the run-rate as much as England would have liked (he is conceding 3.11 runs per over). England hope he will gain some rhythm and confidence form the two-day match with both the coach, Trevor Bayliss, and the captain, Joe Root, suggesting he will retain his place for the Perth Test.Moeen will be joined in the side by the five members of the England squad who did not feature in Adelaide (Gary Ballance, Ben Foakes, Mason Crane, Jake Ball and Tom Curran) while six members of the England Lions squad (Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood), who are now based in Perth at a training camp, have also been included to make-up the rest of the team. Foakes will keep wicket.Perhaps the most intriguing of those inclusions from the Lions is Wood. If he is able to prove his fitness and bowl at his full pace, he could be added to the squad and could yet play a part in the Ashes. Leach, the left-arm spinner, is also included alongside other spinners Crane and Moeen.England 12-man squad: Moeen Ali (capt), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wk), Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Mark Wood.
Alex Morgan's San Diego Wave were in fine form as they returned to pre-season training in the California sunshine.
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