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AC Milan have stepped up their pursuit of Robert Lewandowski, scheduling a new round of talks with his agent Pini Zahavi as the Barcelona striker weighs his future as his contract nears its end. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic pushing internally to bring the 37-year-old to San Siro and Milan rebuilding under Max Allegri, the Rossoneri sense an opening, but salary demands remain a major hurdle.

• Milan accelerate pursuit as Lewandowski weighs future

  According to , Milan are preparing a fresh approach for Lewandowski, with a new meeting scheduled between sporting director Igli Tare and the striker’s agent Pini Zahavi in the coming weeks. The Rossoneri have made the 37-year-old a priority target for June, convinced that his arrival could transform the club’s rebuild under Allegri. Lewandowski’s contract with Barca runs until June 2026, but uncertainty around his long-term role coupled with the club’s plan to sign a new No.9 next summer has placed his future firmly in play.

  Milan rejected the idea of approaching him last year due to salary constraints, but with Champions League qualification now a central objective, the Rossoneri believe the timing may be right to formalise negotiations. The San Siro hierarchy have already tested the waters with Lewandowski’s entourage. This next meeting is expected to focus on possible salary parameters, with the Pole currently earning €20 million (£17m/$22m) net at Barcelona, almost triple the wages of Milan’s highest earner, Rafael Leao.

  With Barcelona evaluating replacements and Lewandowski keeping all options open, the situation is edging into a crucial phase, one that could reshape the summer transfer market.

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  Ibrahimovic’s influence and Barcelona’s search for a new No.9

  This renewed push from the Rossoneri comes with the backing of their former striker Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor at RedBird and one of the most influential voices behind Milan’s sporting strategy. He views Lewandowski as the type of elite striker who can immediately elevate the squad, much like his own transformative return to the club in 2020.

  On the Barcelona side, their search for a new striker highlights how the club is preparing for life after Lewandowski. Reports indicate that Harry Kane sits at the top of their shortlist, with the England captain scoring 108 goals in 113 games for Bayern Munich since 2023. Other names include Julian Alvarez, long admired by Barca, and even a dream move for Erling Haaland, described internally as Joan Laporta’s “obsession”. Financial realities, however, mean the Catalan giants are also analysing cheaper alternatives such as Etta Eyong, underlining the scale of the transition being planned.

  Lewandowski’s reduced role this season, a result of injuries and the emergence of Ferran Torres has only added to uncertainty. Despite this, he remains Barca’s leading scorer with seven goals in nine La Liga matches, second only to Mbappe in the Spanish scoring charts.

• Lewandowski speaks out and Milan’s project takes shape

  The ex-Bayern striker has been open about his indecision regarding the next step in his career. While on duty with Poland, he made it clear that he does not intend to rush any decision: “I still don’t know the answer. That’s why I’m not in a hurry, I’m at peace with myself. Even if, for example, the club contacted me now, I still wouldn’t answer that question. Because I also have to feel what’s best for me. Now I’m calm, I’m not in a hurry and, at the moment, I don’t expect anything else.”

  His stance aligns with Milan’s long-term approach under Allegri and Tare, who are intent on recruiting experienced leaders to stabilise the squad. Zahavi’s strong relationship with Milan further strengthens their position. For Milan, landing Lewandowski would represent both a sporting coup and a symbolic statement that their project is entering a new era.

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  The next meeting could shape the summer market

  The Rossoneri's upcoming talks with Zahavi will be pivotal. If the two sides can find common ground on salary structure, potentially through bonuses or multi-year guarantees, negotiations could accelerate rapidly ahead of June. Barcelona, meanwhile, are expected to continue planning for a major reshuffle in the forward department, with the Lewandowski decision acting as the first domino.

  As interest from multiple European clubs quietly grows, all eyes now turn to Milan’s next meeting. The battle for Lewandowski is only just beginning and the outcome could define one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas.

After claiming the MLS Golden Boot, Lionel Messi has been named to the MLS Best XI for the second time since joining Inter Miami. The recognition comes after Messi finished with the second-most goal contributions in a single season in MLS history and became the second player in league history to lead the league in goals and assists.

• Getty Images
  

  A star-studded team

  The squad features six first-time honorees and players representing nine different clubs, with the Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps each seeing two players recognized. The team features multiple award winners, too, including Golden Boot winner (and MVP favorite) Messi, MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon, MLS Young Player of the Year Alex Freeman, and MLS Newcomer of the Year Anders Dreyer.

  Freeman is the youngest player named to the Best XI in five years (Brenden Aaronson in 2020), while Dreyer joins Roman Burki and Walker Zimmerman in making the list from a first-year expansion team in the 2020s. Denis Bouanga, meanwhile, became the first player since Josef Martinez to make the team three consecutive times as he joins Dreyer and Messi as the three attackers in the team.

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  Best XI in full

  Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)

  Defenders: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

  Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

  Forwards: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)

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  Local flavor

  Four players in the side have played for the U.S. men's national team this year: Freeman, Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan. All four were in the U.S. squad for the September camp, with Roldan and Freeman returning for the October camp as well. Berhalter, meanwhile, joined Freeman this summer in representing the U.S. on the run to the Gold Cup final.

  Canada, too, is represented by St. Clair, who becomes the second Canadian player to be named to the MLS Best XI in the last decade, following Tajon Buchanan in 2021.

  The five domestic selections are the most since 2015, when there were also five: Luis Robles, Matt Hedges, Benny Feilhaber, Ethan Finlay and Dax McCarty, all American.

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  What comes next?

  Of the Best XI selections, Freeman is the only one not left in the playoffs after Orlando City were knocked out in the Wild Card round. All five deciding Game 3s of the current round will be played this weekend.

Turning their attention towards South America, one PIF chief reportedly personally wants to sign a Brazilian rising star for Newcastle United in 2026.

Ross Wilson closing in on first Newcastle signing

It was a busy international break at St James’ Park, as PIF welcomed new sporting director, Ross Wilson, from Nottingham Forest.

The 41-year-old arrives hoping to add some much-needed stability to Newcastle’s transfer department and has already been welcomed with open arms by manager Eddie Howe.

Wilson hasn’t taken long to make his mark, either.

According to reports, he’s already closing in on his first signing for the club in the form of Barnsley youngster Josh Kenchington. The England Under-15s star is reportedly set to arrive after the Magpies agreed a deal to secure his signature ahead of 2026.

Compared to John Stones, who also started out at Barnsley, Kenchington could turn into a major coup for Newcastle if he realises his impressive potential in years to come.

That said, he’s not the only young player that Newcastle have set their sights on.

Those at St James’ are also reportedly targeting a major South American talent who’s making serious noise across the Atlantic.

PIF chief personally wants to sign Rayan for Newcastle

According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, PIF and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan now personally wants to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama in 2026 — telling an agent that he sees massive potential in the winger.

Al-Rumayyan has apparently “expressed his wish” for Newcastle to do a deal behind-the-scenes, and it is clear to see why.

The 19-year-old winger has really impressed in Brazil.

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With a release clause as cheap as €40m (£35m), Newcastle should be in a strong position to afford the talented winger if they fend off any competition from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

Rayan recently became the youngest player in Vasco history to reach 10 Brazilian top flight goals since Dinamite in 1973, breaking a 52-year record, and he’s been in top form throughout the 2025 season with 15 strikes in all competitions — including eight in his last 13 league games.

What’s more, even with that release clause, Vasco value Rayan at just €30m (£26m), which hands Newcastle yet another boost if they push for his arrival.

Described as a “monster” by South American expert Nathan Joyes, Rayan is undoubtedly one to watch.

A number of South American talents have taken the Premier League by storm in recent years, and he could now be next in line.

It would be some statement from Wilson if he managed to pull off such a transfer coup so early into his Newcastle tenure.

Looking beyond results and Manchester United’s on-field woes, there is a lingering frustration and bemusement regarding Ruben Amorim’s use of the academy ranks, having thus far yet to put faith in the youth set-up.

From the Busby Babes to the Class of ’92, United is a club synonymous with promoting from within. Even in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, every manager has had their prized asset, a statement starlet who’s risen up into the first-team squad.

Under David Moyes, there was Adnan Januzaj. Under Louis van Gaal, there was Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Jose Mourinho welcomed a young Scott McTominay into the fold, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer promoted Mason Greenwood.

Even interim boss Ralf Rangnick was quick to parachute Anthony Elanga into his struggling side, while Erik ten Hag was rewarded for his faith in Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, following the duo’s FA Cup final heroics.

Yes, Amorim did turn to 17-year-old Chido Obi in a desperate act last term, having handed the ex-Arsenal striker eight first-team appearances, although he hasn’t been seen again this time around.

From the days of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, the only significant academy poster boy is 20-year-old Mainoo – a player who hasn’t yet started a Premier League game in 2025/26.

Amorim is in danger of abandoning the essence of Man United, unless he does unearth a gem in the near future…

Who the next Man Utd academy breakout star could be

It’s fair to say that the dismal penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town has provided a further obstacle to game time for United’s rising stars, with Amorim having little time nor need to rotate his starting lineup right now.

That has ensured that 20-year-old centre-back Tyler Fredricson has drifted back into the background following that tough night at Blundell Park, with the club’s number 33 even returning to Under 21 action last week in order to get minutes under his belt.

Fredricson had been one of eight teenagers who formed part of a makeshift bench against Tottenham Hotspur last term, amid a first-team injury crisis, albeit with Obi the only one of those to take to the field during that 1-0 away defeat.

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Ayden Heaven

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Harry Amass

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Sheff Weds (loan)

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Tyler Fredricson

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Elyh Harrison

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Among that young group, the likes of Elyh Harrison, Jack Moorhouse and Harry Amass have since moved out on loan, while January arrival Ayden Heaven – still just 19 – has also yet to feature again since Grimsby.

If any of that bench is to make the breakthrough this term, it is likely to be the midfield duo of Jack Fletcher and Sekou Kone, albeit with the latter man having unfortunately seen his progress halted by a head injury earlier in the campaign.

Kone should be seen sooner rather than later at first-team level once he recovers, while hopes are also high in the long-term for 15-year-old wonderkid, JJ Gabriel, a player whom United fought tooth and nail to keep at the club.

Shea Lacey, too, remains a much discussed name at Carrington, as is versatile winger Bendito Mantato, although the starlet creating the most fuss right now appears to be 17-year-old, Jim Thwaites.

Man Utd's academy midfield solution

For one reason or another, Amorim simply does not view the aforementioned Mainoo as a suitable partner to Bruno Fernandes in central midfield, with reports suggesting that the England international could again push for an exit in January.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

So far this term, the Portuguese coach has flitted between the ageing Casemiro and the much-maligned Manuel Ugarte as Fernandes’ partner, albeit with neither man seemingly providing a long-term solution.

Indeed, at 33 and now into the final year of his contract, Casemiro’s days are numbered at Old Trafford. As for Ugarte, the man who was an unused substitute in the Europa League final has yet to convince under his former Sporting CP boss, described as “not good enough” by club legend Gary Neville following the Manchester derby.

A solution, both in the short-term and long-term, needs to be found, with it worth considering handing an opportunity to young Thwaites before too long, amid the teenager’s sparkling displays in the youth ranks.

Lauded as a “cheat code” by one academy expert, the promising Englishman has already trained with Amorim’s first-team set-up, after scoring twice in six U18 Premier League games so far in 2025/26.

With 16 goals and assists in 44 recorded games in total for United at that age group, as per Transfermarkt, Thwaites has showcased his forward-thinking quality, even while typically lining up in a deep-lying midfield role.

There may be concerns over his slight frame and stature, although the Bolton-born sensation could look to a figure like Scholes for inspiration, with the 718-game genius having hardly been a physical specimen himself when bursting onto the scene as a teenager.

That link to Scholes can also be seen in Thwaites’ much lauded technical prowess, with reports this week outlining that comparisons are being made between the teenager and Barcelona superstar, Pedri – a man described as Scholes’ “new favourite footballer” last month.

More in the mould of Scholes in his latter years than in the early days, with regard to his positional deployment, Thwaites is the man to dictate the tempo in the centre of the park, regularly receiving the ball in between the two centre-backs.

At ease on the ball and at driving out from the back, the talented number six has that gift for being able to glide past his opponent, having also been recognised as one of the ‘best technical talents in the academy’.

A player who has already caught the eye of Amorim by all accounts, Thwaites must certainly not be rushed into the first-team fold, yet at a time when the midfield department appears to be crying out for a fresh injection, he could well be the wildcard solution.

The new Yorke & Cole: Man Utd's "superb double-act" could save Amorim's job

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke famously scored 53 goals as Manchester United won the treble in 1998/99, but has Rúben Amorim found a new “electric” duo?

ByBen Gray Oct 7, 2025

The defending champions dismissed the visitors for just 119 in their second innings leaving them 36 to win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Apr-2025Surrey 367 (Burns 76, Smith 58, Lawrence 55*, Sibley 53, Gregory 3-46) and 36 for 2 (Burns 20*, Smith 12*) beat Somerset 283 (Lammonby 76, Gregory 62, Clark 5-68) and 119 (Pretorius 54, Worrall 3-16, Clark 3-24) by eight wicketsChampions Surrey recorded their first win of the season in emphatic style, beating Somerset by eight wickets at the Kia Oval.Dan Worrall and Jordan Clark shared six wickets as Somerset were bowled out for 119, having conceded a first-innings deficit of 84. Surrey knocked off their target of 36 in 5.2 overs and moved up to second in the table. behind early leaders Nottinghamshire.At one stage Somerset lost six wickets for 13 runs in eight overs and were 38 for 7 after Clark and Worrall proved too good with a new ball that swung nicely.Somerset, winless after four games, were complicit in their own downfall with some soft dismissals in the post-lunch period when five wickets went down in 34 balls for just four runs. Migael Pretorius held up Surrey with 54 but it was only delaying the inevitable.Somerset had dismissed Surrey for 367 an hour into the third day but were soon in trouble. They lost Archie Vaughan to the sixth ball of the innings thanks to a fine catch by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who dived full length when Vaughan leg-glanced Worrall.With Sean Dickson unable to bat because of a broken finger, Josh Davey came in at three and he and Tom Lammonby did well to get through the rest of Worrall’s skilful five-over opening spell. Davey, who batted at ten in the first innings, appeared to relish the extra responsibility when he took two boundaries off Gus Atkinson in an over with a straight drive and sweetly timed clip through mid-wicket.But the stand was broken in off-spinner Dan Lawrence’s first over when he skidded his fifth ball into Lammonby’s pads. Surrey sensed blood, and they ran through Somerset in a remarkable period after lunch.Tom Abell clipped the first ball of the session from Jordan Clark off middle stump to fine leg for four but shouldered arms to the next delivery and lost his off stump. Davey (17) unluckily played on two balls later and in the next over Dan Worrall dived low to his left to intercept a full-blooded drive by Tom Banton in his follow through which was followed by an elaborate celebration.It got worse for Somerset. They were 38 for 6 in the 18th over after Kasey Aldridge’s attempted pull at Clark cannoned off the bottom edge into his stumps. Worrall struck again in his next over when James Rew’s clip off his pads was caught by the diving Lawrence at backward square leg to leave Somerset staring down the barrel at 38 for 7.Pretorious kept them waiting with an attacking 54 off 45 balls, including eight fours, as he and skipper Lewis Gregory put on 79 for the eighth wicket and it took a fine one-handed catch by Foakes to break the stand and give James Taylor a deserved wicket. Taylor finished the innings when he had Jack Leach caught at slip.Dom Sibley was caught at square leg and Ollie Pope played across a straight ball from Davey before Jamie Smith hit the winning boundary to mid-wicket. Victory lifted them into second place behind Nottinghamshire, who also enjoyed a three-day victory, over Sussex.At the start of the day, Surrey’s final three wickets added a further 46 runs. Lawrence followed up his 117 against Sussex last week with an unbeaten 55 off 74 balls with seven fours as Pretorius, Davey and Aldridge took a wicket apiece.

Aston Villa are now making advances in their pursuit of a “fabulous” attacker, with Unai Emery keen to bolster his forward line before the September 1st transfer deadline.

Emery keen on new forward after disappointing start

The 0-0 draw against Newcastle United on the opening day wasn’t the worst result, but Emery is likely to be a little more concerned by his side’s most recent performance, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday.

The Villans dominated possession throughout the match, and arguably should have at least drawn the game on the balance of play, recording an xG of 1.23, compared to Brentford’s 1.27, but they were ultimately unable to take their chances.

As such, it is no surprise that Emery wants to bring in at least one new attacker before the deadline, and Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that three forwards with Premier League experience remain on the manager’s shortlist.

However, according to a report from A Bola (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have also submitted an offer for a Liga Portugal forward, namely Sporting CP’s Geny Catamo, with a €20m (£17m) proposal being tabled.

The Villans are said to be making advances in their pursuit of Catamo, but there is set to be competition for his signature from Fenerbahce, and the most recent offer was deemed too low by Sporting.

The Portuguese club are looking to hold out for around €25m – €30m (£22m – £26m) for the forward, meaning Monchi will have to increase his offer to tempt them into a sale.

He's like Duran & Benteke: Aston Villa make £65m star their top target

Aston Villa are eyeing up a new striker who is a mix of Jhon Durán and Christian Benteke.

By
Will Miller

Aug 23, 2025

Catamo could be "fabulous" Ramsey replacement

With Jacob Ramsey departing to join Newcastle United, Emery could do with bringing in another versatile midfielder, and the Sporting star certainly fits the bill in that regard, given that he is capable of playing on both wings and in attacking midfield.

Once lauded as “fabulous” by former coach Filipe Celikkaya, the 24-year-old also played a major role in Sporting CP’s back-to-back Liga Portugal title triumphs in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, regularly chipping in with goals and assists.

That said, it would be a risk to sign Catamo, given that he is unproven in one of Europe’s top leagues, and with Villa known to be treading a fine line PSR-wise, it may be better to only bring in Jackson, who could set them back £65m.

Van der Dussen, who turned 36 earlier this month, has accepted that his time in the team will not be forever

Firdose Moonda27-Feb-2025

While most in South African white-ball cricket see every step of the next two years as building a path to the home ODI World Cup in 2027, Rassie van der Dussen is entertaining the idea that the Champions Trophy 2025 could be his last multi-team event.Van der Dussen turned 36 earlier this month and currently plays only one format for South Africa, though he has been capped in all three. As he gets older and a younger crop of batters start coming through, he has accepted that his time in the team might be nearing an end.”It’s definitely a possibility that it’s my last ICC tournament. I’m not saying that with any preconceived ideas that I’ll call time on it, or management will call time on my career. It’s just the reality,” van der Dussen said in Karachi, where South Africa are preparing for their last group stage match against England.Related

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Van der Dussen: 'Don't have to be a rocket scientist' to know India have advantage

“It’s such a great thing that there’s so many young players coming through, guys really playing well. A guy like Tristan Stubbs, he’s sitting on the sidelines. Or Tony de Zorzi. And even if you go into the domestic structure, Matthew Breetzke came in and made that 150. You can even go further back, Lhuan-dre Pretorius just made a hundred against Western Province in the one-day cup. Ryan’s [Rickelton] only starting out now actually so there’s so many good players.”I’m not blind to the possibility that if I don’t perform that someone won’t be there to take my place. I certainly don’t expect any preferential treatment because I think in a healthy environment, guys push each other organically and that pushes everyone to be better.”Three of the players van der Dussen mentioned – Stubbs, de Zorzi and Rickelton – are in South Africa’s Champions Trophy squad and along with him are competing for, at most, two spots in the top order. One of those positions is to open alongside captain Temba Bavuma – and that role has shifted between de Zorzi and Rickelton – and the other to bat at No. 3 (though de Zorzi and Rickelton both played the tournament opener against Afghanistan as Heinrich Klaasen was out injured).Van der Dussen knows Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi are pushing him for a spot in the South Africa line-up•ICC/Getty Images

Since 2019, van der Dussen has been South Africa’s most regular No. 3 and with good reason – he has their third-highest batting average in ODIs and has built a reputation for reliability. But over the last year, that has started to wane.Before his 52 against Afghanistan, van der Dussen had gone ten innings without a half-century and it has been 13 since the last time he scored a hundred. Though there is no suggestion of it – and him being at a press conference suggests also no danger of it – when Klaasen returns to full fitness, van der Dussen could be in the firing line if all of Bavuma, de Zorzi and Rickelton are retained. In the immediate term, it is more likely, de Zorzi will sit out and van der Dussen could get a shot at a title he has been working towards. “For me I always wanted to get to the Champions Trophy, which is now, and then we’ll reassess after that,” he said. “My national contract is coming up at the end of April.”I’ll have discussions with Rob [Walter, the white-ball coach] and with Enoch [Nkwe, director of national teams and high performance] and see where they see me and what my role is going forward. I feel like I’m playing well. Physically, I’m putting a lot of time into my body. If I’m still good enough in two years, I’d like to think that I’m in the mix. If not, if other guys are pushing me and I can’t keep up with the youngsters, then that’s also fine.”Unlike some players in the twilight of their careers around the world – Trent Boult, Devon Conway and Tabraiz Shamsi are some examples – van der Dussen does not appear inclined to reject a national contract for league opportunities.”My ultimate goal has always been to play for the Proteas,” van der Dussen said. “People are asking me, are you going to play leagues afterwards? I don’t know. I don’t know if the prospect of not playing for the Proteas goes away, I’ll have that hunger to play in the leagues. Representing my country has always been one of my big and only goals so if that falls away, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. If I’m offered another contract, I’ll definitely take it and commit for that time period.”And even if that contract does not take him all the way to 2027, van der Dussen wants to play a part in helping South Africa’s ODI side move towards their best ahead of the World Cup. “I would suspect that, from a management point of view, your 2027 World Cup side has to start playing more regularly and start playing together. But there’s a lot of leagues happening in the next few months and everyone won’t be available all the time, so even if it’s in a transitional sort of role, I’ll definitely commit to that. Being here is for me the ultimate thing. Leagues are nice, but that’s not my be-all and end-all.”Rassie van der Dussen is focusing on upskilling his game and believes leagues like T10 have helped in that regard•Sportzpics

He confirmed that while he has not retired from red-ball cricket, in “the last year or two of my career, I can’t see myself playing any more red-ball cricket”, and that he turned down an offer to do so later this year. “I did have a county offer thrown my way, which I declined.”Instead, he is focusing on upskilling his short format game and seeing how far it takes him. “I’ve played in a few leagues and done well. Even leagues like T10 have taken my game forward. That’s why I’m feeling now that I’m still hungry and I’m still playing well.”As things stand, South Africa have at least one more Champions Trophy game and, depending on the outcome of the Afghanistan vs Australia match, may not even need to win it to progress to the semi-finals.They take on England, who are already eliminated, but who van der Dussen believes could still be dangerous opposition. “We were always coming into this match saying that it will possibly be a quarter-final type of situation. Whoever wins that will go through. A little bit changes for them because they can’t go through anymore but for us, it’s a match against England. We don’t need any extra motivation to play England.”

Pep Guardiola has hailed Mikel Arteta as "extraordinary" and claimed that Arsenal are "one of the toughest opponents" to beat in Europe ahead of Manchester City's trip to the Emirates Stadium. Other than Liverpool, Arteta's Gunners have given Guardiola's City the toughest competition in the Premier League title race in the last decade and they are unbeaten in their last five head-to-head clashes.

• Arteta bolstered Gunners squad with quality signings in summer

  The last time City and Arsenal clashed in the Premier League was just seven months back in north London, where Arteta's side dominated and won the fixture 5-1. Ahead of the new season, Arteta spent heavily to bolster his squad, bringing in quality attacking options like Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze to the roster.

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  Guardiola hailed Arteta as "extraordinary"

  Ahead of Sunday's fixture, Guardiola hailed his former assistant as "extraordinary". He also spoke highly of the Gunners squad, who, according to the Cityzens boss, are one of the most balanced and strongest teams in Europe.

• "Arsenal is getting better"

  Recalling the last meeting between the two clubs, Guardiola said: "The last 15-20 minutes were a disaster. We forgot to do what we have to do. After that, it was easy for Arsenal. Hopefully, it is an unbelievable squad, and this season we can make more of a challenge because Mikel is an extraordinary manager.

  "They increase the squad in four or five transfer windows, it is an unbelievable squad and unbelievable team. It is one of the toughest opponents you can find right now in Europe. Step by step, window by window, Arsenal is getting better. Last season in Europe, they made an incredible step forward. For me, it is the most solid team; they don't make mistakes, it's an incredibly solid team. They have pace up front. They have set pieces with Nico [Jover], who was here, in every department we know. I know the quality they have."

  He added: "We'll see what we have to do and how players are fit, are expected to play a role in deciding the winner, with Arsenal in a good place for one of those, and we try to complete and be a better team than last season, especially in the last 20, 25 minutes."

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  Arsenal off to flying start

  The Gunners have made a solid start to their 2025-26 campaign, having won four out of the five matches they have played thus far, including a Champions League fixture. They have conceded just one goal and have scored 11. They will hope to continue their stunning form and extend their unbeaten run against City on Sunday afternoon.

They were reacting to reports that the Taliban had closed down institutes for women training as nurses and midwives

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2024

Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, the biggest names in Afghanistan cricket, have come out strongly against the Taliban’s reported closure of institutes for women training as nurses and midwives.The closures are a new setback for women’s rights in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The Taliban has banned secondary and higher education for girls and women, though exemptions had till now existed in the medical sector. With girls and women also banned from participating in sport, Afghanistan’s status as an ICC Full Member has come under increasing scrutiny.Related

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No bilateral cricket with Afghanistan till there's 'a level of progress', says CA

Afghanistan women request ICC to help set up a refugee team in Australia

“Education holds a central place in Islamic teachings, emphasizing the pursuit of knowledge for both men and women,” Rashid wrote in an Instagram story. “The Quran highlights the importance of learning and acknowledges the equal spiritual worth of both genders.”It is with deep sadness and disappointment that I reflect on the recent closures of educational and medical institutions for the sisters and mothers of Afghanistan. This decision has profoundly affected not only their future but also the broader fabric of our society. The pain and sorrow they express through social media serve as a poignant reminder of the struggles they face.”Afghanistan, our beloved homeland, stands at a critical juncture. The country desperately needs professionals in every field, especially the medical sector. The acute shortage of female doctors and nurses is particularly concerning, as it directly impacts the healthcare and dignity of women. It is essential for our sisters and mothers to have access to care provided by medical professionals who truly understand their needs.”I sincerely appeal for the reconsideration of this decision so that Afghan girls may reclaim their right to education and contribute to the nation’s development. Providing education to all is not just a societal responsibility but a moral obligation deeply rooted in our faith and values.”Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Nabi echoed Rashid’s views: “The Taliban’s decision to ban girls from studying medicine is not only heartbreaking but deeply unjust. Islam has always emphasised the importance of education for everyone, and history is full of inspiring examples of Muslim women who made vital contributions to many generations through knowledge.”I urge the Taliban to reflect on these values. Denying girls the chance to learn and serve their people is a betrayal of both their dreams and our nation’s future. Let our daughters study, grow, and build a better Afghanistan for everyone. This is their right, and it is our duty to protect it.”Rahmanullah Gurbaz also put out a post on Facebook, voicing his support for women’s education.GMT 1800 The article was updated with Nabi’s post on X.

Saurashtra have started the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season on a disappointing note. In four games so far, they have drawn and lost two each. Those results have put them seventh in their group, but their captain Jaydev Unadkat believes that his side is going “through a period of transition”. This season, Saurashtra have already had three debutants in the four matches they have played so far.”Efforts are being made to give opportunities to youngsters. As captain, I want this change to be smooth,” Unadkat told ESPNcricinfo. “We want young players to come forward, and we want them to be given maximum opportunities. I want young players to settle in our team during my captaincy.”Saurashtra’s debutants this season include pace bowlers Navneet Vora and Hiten Kanbi, and batter Parswaraj Rana. While Vora has three wickets in two games at an average of 41, Rana contributed only 21 runs across two innings against Tamil Nadu. Kanbi, though, had a promising debut against Jharkhand, as he picked up 5 for 70 in the first innings, before grabbing one more in the second.Related

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Over the last five Ranji seasons dating back to 2018-19, Saurashtra have made the final three times. Unadkat was their captain on each occasion, having even led his side to the title twice – in 2019-20 and 2022-23. Saurashtra also made the quarter-final last year, but this season, they run the risk of getting eliminated in the group stages. But Unadkat understands that a change of guard is inevitable, as seniors like Sheldon Jackson (38), Cheteshwar Pujara (36) and Arpit Vasavada (36) are near the end of their careers. Even Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is 34 while Unadkat himself is 33 years old.”It is not that players keep coming and going,” he said. “We know that when a transition period comes for a team, the performance goes up and down; but this is a part of this game.”Despite that, as captain, Unadkat remains focused on how to guide his side to a win each time he takes the field.”If you ask me what is most important for me, then I would say that I keep thinking about ways of taking Saurashtra to victory. I think about my team. When I wake up in the morning, the first thought that comes to my mind is how our team will win, and how it will become better. This is the biggest motivation for me right now.”Jaydev Unadkat had played 11 games for SRH in IPL 2024•Associated Press

‘IPL auction nothing new for me’

Unadkat is one of 1574 players to enter the mega auction for IPL 2025, which will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah. Last year, he played 11 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was the eighth different side he was representing since his debut in 2010. While Unadkat is hopeful to make it back to SRH for the 2025 tournament, he doesn’t mind getting a new team either.”I am definitely very excited about the auction. The auction is nothing new for me,” he said. “Mega auction is a big opportunity, but whatever the results of the auction, I am fully prepared to accept it… Hopefully, SRH will select me in their team again. But even if they don’t – or something else happens – I am ready for it.”I played for eight teams; now even if there is a ninth team – or I get a chance for any team – I don’t have any problem. If I get my bowling role and I get to play, I will be satisfied. Earlier, I was with Lucknow [Super Giants, in 2023]; before that, I was in Mumbai [Indians, in 2022]. I got [to play] very few matches there, but still I was very happy in that set-up.”