The Mumbai captain credited his coach Omkar Salvi for creating a vision focussed on player fitness and freedom

Abhimanyu Bose14-Mar-2024Ending a wait that lasted eight years, Mumbai lifted their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Wankhede. Up against a stubborn Vidarbha team that refused to give in, Mumbai were eventually comfortable in defending 538 to win the final. Captain Ajinkya Rahane credited the triumph to the vision instilled in the team by head coach Omkar Salvi.”I think our journey started in June and it was all because of Omkar’s vision. We all had a vision as a team, but it came from Omkar,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference. “We focused on player fitness, creating a great culture in the team and giving freedom to all the players, not only on the field but off the field as well.”And you know, when someone is not doing well, you have to back that individual. It’s a team sport. Some players will do well in the team, few players won’t do well. But it’s all about backing all the players in the right time,” Rahane said. “So I think massive credit to Omkar. He has worked hard for this moment. Today I am really proud of him, really happy for him. His hard work has really paid off.”Related

• Mumbai find a way to ensure the Vidarbha miracle wasn't to be

• 'Our mentality is that we can win from any situation' – Mumbai players celebrate 42nd Ranji triumph

• Mumbai win 42nd Ranji title to end eight-year wait

• Shreyas Iyer off the field in Ranji final for second day in a row

Rahane said that the title win, and the fact that there are several players from Mumbai representing India, bodes well for the team.”This victory means a lot. 42nd title, waiting seven-eight years. Last year we played really good cricket but unfortunately because of one run we couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. But this 42nd title means a lot. And as you mentioned, ten players representing Indian cricket, it’s massive.”He also underlined the importance of players turning up in domestic cricket.”I want to mention one thing about BCCI giving importance to domestic cricket which is a very good thing, telling players to play domestic cricket. Which is very important,” Rahane said.”From here on, for Mumbai cricket, it is important to keep growing, to keep thinking about how can we get better in all formats,” he said. “Winning the championship after eight years, we did this, but again, we want to repeat this in the coming years. Our focus will be on that.”But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mumbai on the fifth day of the final as Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar and rookie Harsh Dubey played out a wicket-less morning session, sparking chatter about a potential upset of epic proportions. It wasn’t to be, but Rahane was the first to tip his hat to Vidarbha’s resilience.”The way they played cricket, the way they have fought in this match. When you concede a 120-run first-innings lead and are chasing 538, it’s easy to give up. But the sport teaches you that if you don’t give up and believe in your abilities, anything can happen,” Rahane said.”Chasing 538, the character which they have shown in the second innings was a great learning experience for all of us. The grit and determination with which they batted was very good.”The last 7-8 years they have been doing really good. They had a couple of championships and they won Irani Trophy once or twice. They are playing really good cricket.”Dhawal Kulkarni took the final wicket to seal Mumbai’s victory•PTI

Wadkar: ‘Never thought we were out of the game’

At stumps on the fourth day, Karun Nair had said that Vidarbha, 290 runs away with five wickets in hand, were faced with a “tough task” but also that they are a team that would not quit.Wadkar and Dubey exemplified that in their defiant partnership that saw Vidarbha go into lunch on the final day 85 runs closer to their target with no more damage to the wickets column. Wadkar scored his second century in Ranji Trophy finals, while Dubey brought up his second first-class fifty.”When we had our huddle, when we spoke in our team meeting, when we were speaking in our partnership, we didn’t think even 1% that we are out of the match,” Wadkar said.”We were just thinking that all the batters together, we’ll win the match. Because it’s the final and the last inning, so there was no scope of giving up or thinking negative. You have to go for the win, so we just believed that we will win.”Wadkar said that the Mumbai team kept having many discussions on their tactics since the fourth day, when he put on a 90-run stand with Nair and started his 130-run partnership with Dubey, but at no point did Rahane or his team look flustered, which meant that he knew Vidarbha still had a long way to go in the match.”[Mumbai] were having discussions since yesterday. When I was batting with Karun, when I was batting with Harsh. So they had discussions on field changes and bowling changes,” Wadkar said. “I was just observing their captain, Rahane, that what are his expressions? Is he talking a little harshly with the bowlers? Because then we would know that we are in the game.”But from his attitude, it looked like he was cool and calm. He didn’t let it show if he was getting frustrated or that we were getting close to the game.”So we also felt that we are quite far in the game and we have to go a long way. We did have a long way to go, of course, but from the attitude of the opponents, you get vibes about what they are thinking. But from his attitude, it didn’t look like [they were getting frustrated].”Akshay Wadkar scored his second century in a Ranji final•PTI

MCA increases prize money for Mumbai

While Mumbai were already receiving INR 5 crore from the BCCI for winning the Ranji Trophy, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided to double the prize money with a prize of INR 5 crore of their own.”MCA President Amol Kale and Apex Council has decided to double the Ranji Trophy prize money. The MCA will pay additional sum of Rs 5 crore to the winning Mumbai Ranji Trophy team,” the MCA said in a statement.Mumbai coach Salvi praised the board for the move, saying it would give the players more security.”I think nowadays there are very less institutions that provide jobs [to players]. I think BCCI taking that step and giving that money and along with that MCA putting that step forward to equal that amount is a great help for the players who don’t have jobs or other sources of earning,” Salvi said.”It also gives an inspiration. Definitely I feel [Inspiration] should be intrinsic but the monetary help will give them the security and it will stabilise them mentally and financially and they will give more to the game.”

Los Blancos have already begun making moves in the market, but could still do with re-jigging their attack and clearing out some big names

Real Madrid mean business this summer. There were three glaring items on the Blancos' to-do list heading into the off-season, and they have moved through them mightily quickly. The first was a new manager; hello, Xabi Alonso. The second was a new centre-back who could be a long-term face of the backline; welcome to Madrid, Dean Huijsen. The third was a new Galactico, a statement signing who could do many things very well, and embody the Madrid aura that this club craves; get ready to learn Spanish, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But Madrid aren't done there. They may have checked off their post-season priorities, but there are still some moves to be made if they are to hunt down both Barcelona in La Liga and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The obvious issue is the crowded attack, which features Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, among others. There are too many forwards with similar skillsets in the Madrid squad, and at least one has to go. Elsewhere, there are needs for reinforcement at left-back while another midfielder – if only for the legs – would also be mightily handy.

It's a good thing, then, that this is Madrid, where money doesn't seem to matter and the pull is relentless. Los Blancos proved with the luring of Alexander-Arnold away from Liverpool that they can get who they want, when they want, and they will need to showcase that again before the summer is out.

GOAL looks at some of the moves Madrid need to make in the transfer market as they aim to become European football's top dogs once again…

Getty Images SportCut Rodrygo loose

It was a case of too many cooks in the kitchen for Madrid's attack last season, and while Rodrygo is a fine talent, he simply didn't fit in a team that already has too may left wingers. For all of the talk about how unselfish the Brazilian is, there remains the reality that Madrid need more width on the right. Rodrygo, who looks as if he's constantly trying to avoid drifting inside, can't provide that.

Things will only get more complicated if Alonso opts to go for the 3-4-2-1 system that served him so well at Bayer Leverkusen, as Rodrygo isn't a natural inside right forward, either, and seems an even poorer fit at that position.

An amicable exit seems the best solution for all parties here. The good news is that Rodrygo can fetch a handsome return, and there will certainly be some interested buyers. Arsenal have been linked, and the fit is obvious as they need to upgrade on the inconsistent Gabriel Martinelli. Madrid would demand heavy compensation, but this seems a pretty clear solution.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesListen to Vinicius offers

Let's make something absolutely, categorically, irrefutably clear: Real Madrid do not to sell Vinicius, and it would be pretty foolish of them to shop him around. Vinicius is an elite footballer, a consistent Ballon d'Or contender, and arguably the best left winger in the world. Mbappe, though, is the most famous left winger in the world, and that trumps everything at Madrid.

Alonso will want to implement a clear style, and Mbappe isn't reliable enough through the middle, while Vinicius isn't versatile enough positionally. That leaves Madrid with two potential solutions: either find a system that consistently gets the best out of both players, or let Vinicius go while accepting that this is now Mbappe's team. They only have to look at PSG's Champions League win to see that modern football is about selflessness. You can make up for one reluctant presser; two is tricky.

But who can afford him? Madrid won't shop Vinicius around, but if rumoured Saudi Pro League interest crops up again, Los Blancos will have to think long and hard about it given they could demand an astronomical fee and reinvest it in the rest of the squad.

Getty ImagesLoan out Endrick

What is Endrick good at? Well, he runs a lot, is fast, powerful, and skilful with the ball at his feet. But he is also an immensely strange fit for high-level European football.

Right now, Endrick's best position is as a left inside forward without possessing the height to be a central striker. He has fine finishing instincts, and it is not hard to imagine him being a deadly presence for a team that likes to play on the break.

More than anything, though, Endrick needs minutes. The kid is 19. He needs to hone his craft, learn how to operate positionally, and figure out where he can best make an impact in a modern football team. That simply isn't possible at Madrid, who don't do charity projects or sympathy minutes. If you're good enough you play; if you're not, get ready to sit on the bench.

Endrick needs to be loaned out, plain and simple. With the right financial structure, he could be an excellent asset for a team who still play European football, but operate outside of the spotlight (are you listening, Real Betis?).

If things go well, and he develops, Madrid have a serious player on their hands. It's certainly a risk, but one worth taking on a youngster who needs to get reps.

AFPBring in left-back help

The left-back situation at Real Madrid always felt a bit overblown. Between Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia, Los Blancos have three good options to rotate. Sure, none of them are world-class at the position, but with Vinicius in front of them, it was more about caution than virtuosic skill. Still, that doesn't appear to be enough for Florentino Perez and co.

Madrid are keen on Benfica's Alvaro Carreras, who would be an intriguing long-term solution. The 22-year-old impressed immensely at Benfica after being let go by Manchester United, and has the kind of physicality needed to play in an Alonso team. Whether he would slip right into the line up remains to be seen, but if Madrid want to think years down the line, he's certainly a fine option.

First things first, why did Babar Azam resign?

Well, some degree of change invariably tends to follow poor ODI World Cup campaigns. When Pakistan failed to make the semi-finals in 2019, head coach Mickey Arthur and batting coach Grant Flower were sent packing. Within a year, Sarfaraz Ahmed was gone as ODI captain.Related

• Mohammad Rizwan named Pakistan T20I vice-captain

• 'This will hurt Pakistan cricket' – Wahab slams Rauf for opting out of Australia Tests

• Wahab Riaz is Pakistan's new chief selector

• Mohammad Hafeez to serve as Pakistan head coach for tour of Australia and NZ

• Babar Azam resigns as Pakistan captain in all formats

Pressure had begun to mount on Babar’s captaincy, and lingering concerns about his decision-making, particularly when it came to in-game situations, never really went away. When Babar was appointed Pakistan captain, it wasn’t for technical astuteness; that was widely believed to be a weak spot in his game. Rather, he was the best batter in the side, and the only guaranteed all-format starter at the time.He oversaw a poor run of late with the Test side, including home defeats against Australia and England, the latter Pakistan’s first ever home whitewash. A home series draw against New Zealand was followed by an impressive 2-0 away win in Sri Lanka, but those were Pakistan’s first Test wins in a year. Aside from his first series as captain in January 2021, Babar never oversaw a Test match win at home.The 2023 Asia Cup was viewed as a disappointment, with Pakistan finishing fourth and, at the 2023 World Cup, they lost five of nine games, including one against Afghanistan, which sent them tumbling out in the first round.

Reluctant resignation, you say?

There is limited evidence Babar truly wanted to step aside. Following Pakistan’s final match at the World Cup, he told Michael Atherton at the post-match presentation that he wished to lead the rebuild, and he reiterated that at the press conference. The PCB said it told him yesterday it had decided to remove him as white-ball captain, and offered him the chance to keep the Test captaincy. Babar appears to have seen the writing on the wall after that, and decided to resign across formats.While still key to Pakistan’s fortunes with the bat, Babar Azam has not had a good time of it as captain of late•ICC/Getty Images

Wait, this is an interim management committee. Can it really sack a captain?

Almost certainly not. The PCB chairman has the authority to appoint and remove captains, and while Zaka Ashraf is currently performing that duty, he is the head of the PCB management committee on a temporary basis, a role he had extended for three months by the Pakistan caretaker prime minister. A court in Pakistan ruled the committee did not have the power to make significant changes during its tenure, and was to operate only on a caretaker basis.So to get rid of Babar as captain, it needed Babar to offer his resignation himself. Theoretically, had he refused, he would have remained Pakistan captain in all formats, and the PCB would have no mechanism for removing him.Well, it would still have one avenue: simply not selecting him. But for obvious cricketing reasons, that always seemed untenable.

So who replaces him? Is it one person across formats?

We know the answer to that is no. The PCB seemed extremely prepared for his resignation, some would say suspiciously so. Within an hour, it appointed Shan Masood, summoned to PCB headquarters in Lahore – even though the committee had ostensibly offered Babar the option to continue as Test captain – as the new Test captain. Shaheen Afridi is the T20I captain. In a moment that perfectly encapsulates the workings of this PCB administration, it also announced Shaheen as ODI captain on social media, before that graphic was swiftly deleted. It later said the ODI captain would be announced “in due course”.

You mentioned Mickey Arthur was sacked after the 2019 World Cup. What’s his deal now? Is he still with Pakistan cricket?

Well, yes and no. The PCB announced team director Mickey Arthur, as well as head coach Grant Bradburn, have had their roles “reassigned”. There is no information on what they have been reassigned to do, but ESPNcricinfo understands this means neither will travel to Australia next month for Pakistan’s next assignment, a three-match Test series.Mickey Arthur: to stay or not to stay?•Getty Images

So if coaches won’t travel with the team, why not remove them?

Because at this point the board probably can’t. It also likely falls outside the scope of what this PCB management committee can do. In the absence of Arthur or Bradburn offering their resignations, as Babar did, the PCB has to keep them on. It is understood that resignations from either are not expected anytime soon.

So who’s going to coach in their steads in Australia, then?

Zaka Ashraf met, among others, Mohammad Hafeez on Tuesday, and it seems that meeting went rather well, because he offered him Arthur’s job. Hafeez will take over as team director, and it is understood he will go to Australia and New Zealand with the side. Hafeez will also take over as head coach, effectively ending the practice of appointing two separate people as team director and head coach. The practice only started with Mickey Arthur’s ascension to team director while grant Bradburn was already in situ.

Well, all this seems quite chaotic. When will we get a PCB administration that is allowed to make actual decisions?

We thought we’d have one by now when Ashraf came into the role, but with Pakistan’s caretaker government having stretched its role beyond the constitutionally allotted three months, the caretaker prime minister also handed Ashraf and the management committee a further three months.That should take us through to February, when Pakistan is due to hold general elections. Any prime minister that emerges out of those will have the authority to nominate a PCB chairman, and once PCB elections are held, a full PCB administration will have all the powers they have traditionally possessed.Shan Masood takes charge of Pakistan in red-ball cricket – for now at least•Getty Images

What does this mean for Babar, Arthur, Bradburn, Masood and Shaheen?

Simply that any developments that have occurred in the past 24 hours are liable to be reversed. If Najam Sethi returns as chairman in February, a definite possibility, it could mean good news for Arthur and Bradburn. He had made clear his desire that Pakistan hire foreign coaches, and publicly pursued Arthur for months before landing a deal for him to return. He would also have the authority to appoint or remove any captain or coach.

So these changes are only going to be in effect for the tour of Australia?

That, and the following five T20Is in New Zealand, yes. After that, as ever in Pakistan cricket, all bets are off.

The Arsenal team today is undoubtedly better than the one from a few years ago.

Bukayo Saka has reached another level entirely, Declan Rice is a monster in midfield, David Raya is a reliable presence between the sticks and the defence looks set to be the best in the Premier League for the second year running.

However, one area that is probably weaker than it was at the start of the decade is striker; as for all their hard work, neither Kai Havertz nor Gabriel Jesus are prolific, at least not compared to former goalscorer extraordinaire Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international was a force of nature for most of his time at the Emirates – he was the fastest Arsenal player to hit 50 Premier League goals and left with a tally of 112 goal involvements – but now it looks as if Andrea Berta and Co could be about to sign someone who’d be the club’s best striker since the former captain.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal’s most acute area of need heading into the summer window being the striker positions, it’s not a shock that they’ve been linked with a mountain of potential signings over the last month or so.

Transfer Focus

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

One of the most talked-about links has undoubtedly been to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who has already racked up a sensational haul of 24 goals and five assists in 34 appearances this term – an average of a goal involvement every 1.17 games.

However, with the Toon reportedly after £150m for their star man, a move this summer feels increasingly unlikely, so reports have also touted the more affordable Benjamin Sesko for a transfer to the Emirates.

The Slovenian international could be available for around £67m, although at just 21 years old, there is a risk that Arteta and Co would be signing another project player when what they really need at this point is the finished article, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

Fortunately, according to a recent report from Italy, the Sporting CP phenomenon is not only a target for the Gunners but also their primary striker target.

Moreover, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have now opened talks to try and sign the Swede and that the talks have been “positive” thus far.

A potential price for the marksman is not mentioned in the report, but stories from late last month claimed that he could be available for as little as £58m.

While that is still a sizable sum of money, it could prove to be incredible value for money in this case, and as Gyokeres could be the club’s best striker since Aubameyang, Arsenal should do all they can to get this deal over the line as soon as possible.

Why Gyokeres would be Arsenal's best striker since Aubameyang

Unsurprisingly, when it comes down to it, the reason Gyokeres would be Arsenal’s best centre-forward since Aubameyang was in his pomp is the simple fact that he is a lean, mean, goalscoring machine.

For example, in just 50 appearances last season, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game.

This year, the Swedish monster has done even better, racking up a sensational tally of 42 goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances, which comes out to an average of 1.26 goal involvements every game.

Appearances

42

34

27

MIinutes

3340′

2776′

1204′

Goals

42

15

7

Assists

11

5

2

Goal Involvements per Match

1.26

0.58

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.01′

138.8′

133.77′

In contrast, Havertz produced 20 goal involvements in 34 appearances prior to his injury this term and Jesus nine in 27 appearances, meaning the German was averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games and the Brazilian every three games.

Finally, on top of maintaining a level of output that is simply out of this world at the club level, the 26-year-old Sporting star is also incredibly effective at the international level.

For example, in 26 senior caps for Sweden, totalling 1568 minutes, he has scored 15 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.23 games, or every 74.66 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal are already an incredible team, but they lack a genuinely prolific number nine; if they sign Gyokeres, that won’t be a problem anymore.

Better than Nico Williams: Arsenal lead race to sign "Bergkamp-esque" star

The incredible international would make Arsenal a far scarier proposition.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 3, 2025

As the international break slowly comes to an end, managers and supporters will be praying their players return healthy, but that may not be the case for Nottingham Forest after Chris Wood limped off the pitch in the early hours of Monday morning.

How Forest players are getting along on international duty

Given how the season has gone for the Reds so far, it is no surprise to see a lot of their key players away on international duty representing their national teams.

Nottingham Forest and Marinakis may now sign striker target for just £15m

Nuno Espirito Santo is scaling up his Nottingham Forest squad and has a cut-price deal on the agenda.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 23, 2025

Forest captain and talisman Morgan Gibbs-White is the only player from the City Ground to be representing England during this break after he was called up to the squad as a replacement for Cole Palmer. Gibbs-White was not named in the 23-man squad for England’s game against Albania on Friday but has been recalled to the squad for their game against Latvia.

Meanwhile, defenders Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Ola Aina are away representing Brazil, Serbia and Nigeria respectively. Milenkovic left the Serbian media impressed after his defensive display in a 1-1 draw in Austria, which he followed up with a clean sheet in a 2-0 win in the return leg on Sunday.

“He had his moments of hesitation, especially at the start of the game in the 9th minute when he came forward and left a gap for Strahinja Pavlović, but he did his job very well until the end, showing that he is one of the best stoppers in the Premier League this season for a reason.

“He also tried his head, and it seems that he was very happy when he saw Arnautović as a new task. He successfully stopped him as well as Grilič.”

Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are both representing the Ivory Coast as they play their final game on Monday evening against Gambia – the defender was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win in Burundi while Sangare got some minutes off the bench.

Neco Williams, Anthony Elanga, Matz Sels, Elliot Anderson and Wood are all away representing their respective countries, and while Williams produced a fabulous display in a 3-1 Wales win over Kazakhstan, there is serious concern for Wood, who limped out of New Zealand’s 3-0 win against New Caledonia on Monday.

Darren Bazeley shares update on Chris Wood injury

New Zealand manager Darren Bazeley spoke to the press on Monday and confirmed Wood has picked up an injury but was hesitant to provide too many details. He did, however, state the issue is “not ideal”.

New Zealand became the second nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a 3-0 win over New Caledonia, but theirs and Forest’s talisman had to be replaced 54 minutes into the game with what appeared to be a hip injury.

Apps

40

Goals

28

Assists

3

The 33-year-old, who has 18 goals to his name in the Premier League this season, bagged a hat-trick in New Zealand’s win over Fiji on Friday night, making it back-to-back hat-tricks for his country in the World Cup qualification campaign before blanking against New Caledonia.

Forest and their fans will now be sweating as they await the results of any further tests and scans before they face Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday, with a huge Premier League game against Manchester United then looming on Tuesday.

MatériaMais Notícias

da marjack bet： O Botafogo e a SAF que controla o futebol do clube foram acionados na Justiça. De acordo com o “Blog do Ancelmo”, em “O Globo”, a empresa do ex-diretor de negócios Lênin Franco entrou com uma ação que tramita na 36ª Vara Cível da Comarca da Capital.

Franco, que foi contratado em 2021 para comandar a área de negócios do Alvinegro, afirma que tem direito a comissões não pagas pelo clube por metas alcançadas e também solicita indenização. O montante cobrado chega a R$ 569.178,11.

RelacionadasBotafogoEm um ano de SAF, Botafogo passa por frustrações e encara pressãoBotafogo11/03/2023BotafogoBotafogo demonstra interesse em contratar Ademir, do Atlético-MGBotafogo11/03/2023Fora de CampoSecretário Nacional do Futebol fala sobre torcida única nos estádiosFora de Campo11/03/2023

da jogodeouro： Entre as queixas está o fato de John Textor, acionista da SAF do Botafogo, ter rescindido unilateralmente todos contratos de patrocínio em curso de maneira unilateral bruscamente, inclusive os firmador por Lênin Franco. O ex-diretor reclama de “capricho” do norte-americano.

“Todo o trabalho idealizado, construído e mantido foi simplesmente destruído da noite para o dia, por capricho do investidor, sendo o sócio da Autora (Lênin) automática e repentinamente bombardeado por parceiros comerciais atônitos, fato que gerou enorme desgaste, inclusive, para a sua imagem”, diz a petição.

Chelsea added another two players to their growing collection of sparkling young talent when they officially confirmed the signings of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo this week.

Both players are poised to join from Sporting at the start of the summer transfer window, although Quenda will return to the Portuguese side to spend next season on loan with his boyhood club.

Essugo, on the other hand, is reportedly viewed as a ‘ball-winner’ who can provide depth for Enzo Maresca next term, as per this report by Sky Sports News.

The Chelsea head coach has a plethora of young talent at his disposal ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and it will be interesting to see which ones will make the step up.

The Chelsea youngsters who could break through next season

Essugo is one of those players who could have an eye on making the first-team, as he has made 17 appearances in LaLiga on loan at Las Palmas in the current campaign.

Tyrique George, who has come up through the academy system, has now played 17 times for the senior side and registered four assists this season.

The 19-year-old sensation, who has one assist in five Premier League outings, may look to use his experience this term to push on and secure a regular spot in Maresca’s side next year.

Andrey Santos, who is currently on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, is another player who could make a breakthrough, having averaged 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game across 24 starts this season.

Another player who could make an impact at Stamford Bridge next season is Brazil international Estevao Willian, who can finally join the club this summer.

Chelsea have the world's second-best wonderkid on their hands

The Brazilian forward turns 18 in April and this means that he can officially make the move to England in the summer transfer window, ready to push for a place in Maresca’s team next term.

In The Pipeline

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

Estevao, who was described as a “phenomenon” by his agent Andre Cury, was recently named in GOAL’s NXGN top 50 wonderkids in football in 2025 list.

He ranked second on the list, only behind Lamine Yamal, and was above the likes of Endrick, Pau Cubarsi, and Warren Zaire-Emery, among others, which suggests that the Blues have the second-best wonderkid in the world on their hands.

GOAL.com's 10 best wonderkids in world football.

Yamal has already won the European Championship and LaLiga, whilst racking up 20 goals and 24 assists for Barcelona, before the age of 18, which illustrates what a generational talent he is.

Estevao, who was described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has been capped four times by Brazil and produced 20 goals and ten assists in 59 matches for Palmeiras to date.

Appearances (starts)

31 (26)

xG

10.54

Goals

13

Big chances created

11

Assists

9

As you can see in the table above, the future Chelsea star produced regular quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the Brazilian top-flight in the 2024 campaign as a right-sided winger, cutting in on his left-foot.

These statistics show that the potential is there for him to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer as a player who can make an instant impact, despite the fact that he will have only just turned 18, because the young gem is already shining at first-team level.

Boehly must sell Chelsea's "waste of money" who earns more than Nkunku

Chelsea should ruthlessly move on from the central defender in the summer window.

3 ByDan Emery Mar 19, 2025

Chelsea must, now, ensure that they provide Estevao with the right environment to develop and thrive at Cobham, to ensure that he can fulfill his potential and be a future Ballon d’Or winner with the club.

Mexico will kick off their 2025 Gold Cup campaign on June 14 against the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• will play two warm-up friendlies—against Switzerland and Turkey
• Aguirre shared his thoughts on Pochettino
• Mexico and the USMNT could face each other as early as the quarterfinals, or potentially meet in a highly anticipated final

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  For the Mexico national team, winning any CONCACAF tournament is not just a goal—it’s an expectation. That pressure is something veteran manager Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre fully embraces as he prepares to lead into the 2025 Gold Cup, where Mexico will aim to defend their 2023 title and capture a record-extending 10th championship.

  Fresh off winning the CONCACAF Nations League—ending the recent dominance of the United States—Aguirre made it clear that Mexico welcome the favorites tag but recognizes the level of competition they’ll face.

  “Yes, we are favorites. The numbers and history speak for themselves—we have the responsibility to be title contenders. I accept that label, but we also respect every opponent,” Aguirre said during a press conference. “We’re not the only favorites. The teams that reached the Nations League Final Four—Canada, the U.S., and some strong Central American sides—will also be tough rivals.”

  One of the more emotionally charged matchups in the upcoming Gold Cup will see Mexico face off against Costa Rica, now coached by Miguel Herrera—a familiar name in Mexican football.

  “It fills me with pride to see Miguel building his career abroad,” said Aguirre. “We all take a risk when we leave Mexico. I’ve been in that position. Miguel Herrera Aguirre, he’s my 'cousin', and facing him will be special—both professionally and personally.”

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aguirre also shared his thoughts on the evolving U.S. national team, now under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino. While acknowledging the Americans are not at their peak, Aguirre sees them as a formidable opponent.

  “Mauricio’s track record speaks for itself. I actually replaced him at Espanyol before he went on to succeed in England,” Aguirre recalled. “He’s a coach who values possession and control. International football is never easy, but with the kind of talent the U.S. has in Europe, they’ll be a serious threat.”

  Mexico recently snapped a long winless streak against the United States with a 2-0 victory in a 2024 friendly match. Prior to that, El Tri had failed to defeat the USMNT in seven consecutive games—losing five and drawing two.

  The two regional powerhouses could meet again in this summer’s Gold Cup. If both sides top their respective groups, a potential showdown awaits in the final. However, should either team finish second, they may cross paths as early as the quarterfinals.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT JAVIER AGUIRRE SAID

  With Club América set to face LAFC in a play-in match for a spot in the Club World Cup on May 31 — a spot left vacant after León’s withdrawal— Aguirre acknowledged that scheduling conflicts with the Gold Cup could impact national team call-ups. Still, he hopes players will prioritize international duty.

  “If América qualifies, yes, it could affect our roster,” he admitted. “But we have a pool of 60 players, and we can put together a competitive squad. Personally, I believe most players would choose to represent their country at the Gold Cup, especially with the World Cup just a year away. I know I would.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

  As part of their final preparations, El Tri will play two friendly matches on U.S. soil — facing Switzerland on June 7 and Turkey on June 10. These games will serve as key tune-ups ahead of their Gold Cup opener.

نجح مسؤولو النادي الأهلي، في التوصل إلي اتفاق لتجديد عقد أحد لاعبي القلعة الحمراء، لمدة 4 مواسم جديدة، ,ذلك ضمن الحفاظ على الركائز الأساسية.

وأفاد مصدر لـ بطولات، أن إيهاب أمين لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة السلة، توصل لاتفاق مع النادي الأهلي لتجديد تعاقده لمدة أربعة مواسم.

وكان من المقرر أن ينتهي عقد اللاعب إيهاب أمين مع الأهلي بنهاية الموسم الجاري 2025-2026.

طالع | الأهلي يعلن الجهاز الفني المؤقت بعد رحيل ريبيرو.. قائم بأعمال مدرب ومدير كرة جديد

وتوج إيهاب أمين مع الأهلي بالعديد من البطولات، أبرزها الدوري وكأس مصر والسوبر المصري وبطولة إفريقيا والبطولة العربية.

إيهاب أمين كان قد إنضم إلى صفوف فريق سلة الأهلي في 2019 قادما من صفوف سبورتنج بعد رحلة احتراف في دوري الجامعات الأمريكي.

Plus, we have our list of quarter-finalists and preliminary quarter-finalists for 2023

Abhimanyu Bose30-Oct-2023The group stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy concluded on Sunday, with six teams qualifying directly for the quarter-finals and four making it to the preliminary quarter-finals. The second week of the league stage featured some thrilling matches and some brilliant individual displays.How the tables lookAfter seven rounds of matches, it’s Mumbai, Baroda, Punjab, Delhi, Vidarbha and Kerala who have made it directly to the quarter-finals. Assam, Bengal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, will have to qualify for the final eight via the preliminary quarter-finals.Group A saw a close contest, with Mumbai, Baroda and Hyderabad all winning six of their seven games. But Hyderabad missed out due to inferior net run rate (NRR).In Group B, Kerala also won six games, and Assam finished second with 20 points. Himachal Pradesh also finished with 20 points, but missed out, having lost their game against Assam – the head-to-head record is what matters when two teams are level on points; when more than two teams are on level points, NRR comes into play.Punjab won all but one of their Group C matches and topped the table, with Gujarat behind them with five wins. Saurashtra also finished level on points with Gujarat, and had a better net run rate, but Gujarat pipped them due to the head-to-head record.Defending champions Mumbai have made it to the quarter-finals•CABGroup D saw a three-way tie at the top of the table, with Vidarbha, Bengal and Jharkhand all finishing with four wins, but Jharkhand had the worst net run rate of the three.Delhi dominated Group E, winning five of their six games. Uttar Pradesh managed the best net run rate among the four teams that finished below Delhi with 14 points.Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh will face off in Mohali on Tuesday, followed by the second preliminary quarter-final between Assam and Bengal at the same venue.Riyan Parag helps Assam clinch a thrillerRiyan Parag has been Assam’s star man in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and he once again came to the party when Assam took on Himachal Pradesh in what was practically a must-win encounter. And the game turned out to be an absolute humdinger.After being put in to bat, Assam smashed 231, with wicketkeeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar hitting 71 off 43 balls and Parag smashing 72 off 37, as the two put on a 120-run stand.But Himachal Pradesh fought back hard and looked like they would take the game away. Opener Prashant Chopra set the platform with his 51-ball 88 and it was Rishi Dhawan who almost led his team to victory with an unbeaten 31-ball 72, but they fell just two runs short in the end.In the end, the win helped Assam not just finish level on points with Himachal Pradesh, but also get the head-to-head advantage they needed to finish second in the group.Parag himself has been in terrific form, hitting six half-centuries in seven games and leading the run charts at the end of the group stage.Ravi Teja shines but Hyderabad miss outRight arm medium pacer Ravi Teja has enjoyed a stellar season, picking 19 wickets in seven matches. Having raced to 14 wickets in the first week, he ran through the Mumbai top order to help Hyderabad defend 156.Hit for 16 runs by a marauding Yashasvi Jaiswal in his first three balls, he hit back by dismissing Jaiswal on the fourth. He then dismissed Ajinka Rahane, Shivam Dube and Shams Mulani as Mumbai were restricted to 132 for 8. It was Mumbai’s only defeat in the group stage.Sai Kishore retires outSai Kishore walked out to bat at the start of the 18th over against Madhya Pradesh, with Tamil Nadu at 132 and looking to finish strong. He couldn’t get going though, making 1 off 3 before he was retired out in the penultimate over.Tamil Nadu finished with 154, which was not enough as Madhya Pradesh recorded a comfortable victory. It turned out to be a disappointing season overall for Tamil Nadu, managing just three wins and finishing fifth in their group.