Joao Felix is expected to undergo a medical ahead of a €30m (£26m/$35m) switch to Al Nassr from Chelsea.

Felix authorised to travel to Saudi Arabia for medicalAdd-ons and 'heavy sell-on clause' make up large part of dealChelsea value Portuguese at €50mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

reports the deal includes "add-ons and heavy sell-on clause" in order to meet Chelsea's valuation. The Stamford Bridge club had slapped a €50m price-tag on the 24-year-old.

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The former prodigy has been given the green light to travel to Saudi Arabia ahead of the deal. It bring's Felix's second spell with the west London club to an end. Across this latest stint, and an initial period on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2023, Felix has made 40 appearances, and scored 11 goals for Chelsea. He spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at AC Milan.

DID YOU KNOW?

This is the latest change of scene for a player that promised so much early on in his career. The guaranteed €30m fee brings the total disclosed spending by clubs on Felix to €209m; €225.5m, when including loan fees.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FELIX?

The 24-year-old needs regular first-team football to re-capture the form that made him one of world football's hottest properties. Perhaps a couple of seasons linking up with his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, could be the impetus Felix needs to extract more from his undeniable talents.

Harry Brook says his performances this summer are dedicated to his late grandmother Pauline, who passed away in March.Pauline Brook was visible throughout her grandson’s career and became a cult hero within English cricket. She often collected awards on Harry’s behalf, of which there have already been many in the player’s short career. She was the figurehead of the Brook family and lived next to Burley-in-Wharfedale Cricket Club, where Harry learned the game.Pauline fell ill in January, while Brook was preparing for England’s Test tour of India in the UAE. The 25-year-old subsequently pulled out of the five-match series, before missing the Indian Premier League with Delhi Capitals after she passed away.Brook has since returned to action with Yorkshire and marked his first match for the county since July 2022 with an emotional 69-ball century against Leicestershire, looking to the sky upon reaching three figures. It was his first competitive appearance since England’s fifth T20I against West Indies in December. A second century – 126 not out – came on Saturday against Derbyshire at Headingley, as Yorkshire posted 450 for 5 declared in their first innings.Speaking publicly for the first time since Pauline’s death, Brook dedicated both his centuries to his grandmother and reflected on a tough time for the family. He was also grateful for the time he had with her at the start of the year before her condition deteriorated.”Both of those hundreds [for Yorkshire this season] and all of the runs I’ve scored so far this year are all dedicated to her,” Brook told the ECB Reporters Network.”When I came home from Abu Dhabi, it was a very tough time, and I’m glad I did come home. Obviously, it was a big decision to make. I hadn’t played hundreds of games for England, so to just turn down a big Test tour like that [India] was a big decision to make.”But she comes before all of that. She would have come out there a couple of years ago, so I had to come back and support her as much as I could. I managed to take her out for a coffee and whatnot in that first week I was back.”I was still training with a mindset of trying to get back out for the last couple of Tests, all being well. It all disintegrated fairly quickly, so that didn’t happen. I just tried to support her as best as I could and everyone around us.”Following the conclusion of Yorkshire’s match with Derbyshire, in which rain washed out the entirety of the scheduled third day’s play on Sunday, Brook will play his final County Championship match of this portion of the season, against Glamorgan next week. He will then join England for their T20I series against Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Brook was an ever-present in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup triumph and will be integral to their title defence. Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott announce their provisional squad on Tuesday (April 30) with Brook set to be a pivotal figure in a relatively young group. He will then return to the Test side this summer for series against West Indies and Sri Lanka from July.”I’m looking forward to it, if selected,” Brook said of the World Cup. “We join up at the end of next month. I’m looking forward to being back with the lads and hopefully producing the goods for England again.”

Inconsistency has led to Cowell falling out of the USMNT picture, but the Leagues Cup presents him with a platform to change that

Cade Cowell's career has hit a lull.

In July 2024, “El Vaquero” was named Liga MX Player of the Month, starting the Apertura with three goals in five games and fueling hopes of a breakout. For a U.S. men’s national team in need of winger depth, Cowell’s blend of pace, power, and size made his rise all the more promising. But the momentum didn’t last.

Despite playing a key role throughout Olympic qualifying and pre-Games friendlies, Cowell was left off the final roster for Paris – a surprise to many. Rumors swirled that Chivas blocked his participation, though nothing was confirmed. Regardless, it was a major missed opportunity.

He returned to the senior USMNT in September under interim manager Mikey Varas, logging just 17 minutes over two matches. He missed Mauricio Pochettino’s first camp in October, then earned a Nations League call-up in November – only to play 12 minutes. A player once trending upward was now slipping out of the picture.

In 2025, he's scored just one goal since the flip of the calendar year, and it arrived on Saturday in an Apertura match against Atletico San Luis, Chivas' final match before they begin their Leagues Cup campaign against the New York Red Bulls on Thursday. Was it a sign the still-developing winger is back to his best? The USMNT could certainly use his skillset if he's on form.

Cowell may be struggling overall, but he's not out of the USMNT picture – and the Leagues Cup might be his best shot at turning things around.

GOAL looks at why the MLS–Liga MX tournament could be the spark he needs.

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  Early setbacks, late promise in 2025

  Cowell's 2025 began with a 21-match scoreless streak for Chivas. He was in and out of the starting XI, and criticism was raining in over his performances from across all parts of Mexico; the 21-year-old was not living up to the standards of a club like Chivas.

  In April, former Chivas star and Mexico legend Jared Borgetti told GOAL that it might not all be Cowell's fault, citing the toxic culture around the club making it difficult for young players to find success with the Liga MX franchise.

  "Very few players have stood out at Chivas in recent years," Borgetti told GOAL. "The team's overall performance hasn't helped any player truly shine or meet expectations. The coaches and playing style haven't been ideal for maximizing the potential of the squad."

  He added, "The pressure of playing for a struggling team has made it difficult for players to enjoy their football. That’s why we've seen players leave Chivas and then thrive elsewhere, like Alexis Vega and Jesús Angulo. The same thing is happening with Cowell."

  It's a stark contrast to what he showed in the 2024 Apertura, where he had a standout few months, where he scored five goals and recorded two assists in 12 matches. It's likely why he was looked at in USMNT camps across September and November.

  In the Clausura in 2025, though, his minutes were heavily diminished, and the dip in his form followed. Borgetti added that external stressors, like him being a dual-national with both Mexico and the United States, but opting to represent the USMNT, were a factor.

  "He joined a team filled with Mexican-born players, and as someone of Mexican descent with a non-Mexican last name, he naturally draws more attention," Borgetti said. "He's also held to higher standards because he's taking up a spot that could have gone to a player with two Mexican-born parents."

  With his first strike of the year in the bag now, though, it could be a sign that Cowell is getting back in form at a critical time for his club.

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  USMNT crying for width

  The USMNT, meanwhile, could certainly use a player with Cowell’s tools – he just needs to prove he belongs.

  Under Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. fell short in back-to-back competitions in 2025, finishing fourth in the Nations League and second in the Gold Cup. In both tournaments, the team’s lack of depth and game-changers in wide areas was glaring.

  In March’s Nations League semifinal, the U.S. lost to Panama with Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah rotating ineffectively in wide midfield roles. The bench offered little in terms of true wingers – only an unproven Diego Luna and Gio Reyna, a natural central player.

  Luna impressed in the third-place match against Canada, providing an assist from a wide position, but the rest of the front four – including Christian Pulisic (as a No. 10) and Tim Weah – failed to spark.

  Across both matches, the U.S. lacked a direct, touchline winger who could change the game off the bench. That didn’t change at the Gold Cup.

  Pochettino’s roster choices deserve scrutiny, but once again, outside of Luna, there were no reliable wide options. Quinn Sullivan made the squad but saw just one cameo after a poor pre-tournament showing against Switzerland. Pulisic and Weah were absent, Haji Wright was injured early in camp, and the likes of Alex Zendejas, Griffin Yow, and Cowell – among others – were left out.

  The U.S. winger pool isn't in crisis mode, but it's at a point where, outside of Luna, nobody is stepping up to push Weah and Pulisic for minutes. With the player pool still being open, it's now or never for Cowell to make his claim.

  The U.S. lacks a true X-factor off the bench – someone who brings pace, size, physicality, and goal-scoring threat in wide areas. The only player besides Cowell who fits that mold is Wright, but he’s sidelined with an Achilles injury and has no clear return timeline.

  For Cowell, the opportunity is there. He already has 11 caps with a goal and an assist – and now is the time to build on that.

  In three seasons with Chivas, Cowell has 11 goals and four assists in 51 appearances. Primarily a left winger, his skill set could be an asset for the USMNT – but only if he starts producing consistently at the club level.

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  Leagues Cup opportunity

  In the 2024 Leagues Cup, Cowell made four appearances for Chivas and scored one crucial goal – a stoppage-time equalizer against the LA Galaxy to force a 2-2 draw and send the match to penalties. He converted his spot kick, but Chivas ultimately fell 5-4 in the shootout. Still, Cowell delivered in a big moment for the Mexican side.

  This year, Chivas will once again look to him as they face a tough group in the tournament.

  They open against MLS Cup runners-up New York Red Bulls, followed by matches against Wilfried Zaha’s in-form Charlotte FC and Evander-led FC Cincinnati. Each opponent features current U.S. internationals – Miles Robinson with Cincy, Tim Ream with Charlotte – while the Red Bulls enter the competition months removed from an MLS Cup appearance.

  If Cowell can make an impact in these high-profile matchups, it could put him back on the radar. And he’ll benefit from his familiarity with MLS opposition, having launched his career with the San Jose Earthquakes.

  Similar to how Benjamin Cremaschi effectively became a club mainstay at Inter Miami following his strong run in the 2023 Leagues Cup, Cowell could mirror his efforts. And as Pochettino has shown in the past, it doesn't necessarily matter where you play, as long as you're playing and in good form. All of these factors could potentially work towards his benefit.

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  Eleven months to prove himself

  The USMNT has just five windows and 10 potential matches left until the start of the World Cup. There is little to no room left for error on the pitch, and off it, the same goes for Pochettino with his roster selection. Come the flip of the calendar year, odds are that the Argentine will have his player pool confirmed, and the group that competes in the March FIFA international window will consist of the players that make up the roster for next summer's World Cup.

  For Cowell, that means, realistically, he has three windows left to break into the team: September, October, and November. After that, it would be difficult to see any player who hasn't featured leap into the squad after not featuring across the three fall windows.

  Make no mistake, this is a big summer for the Chivas winger. Now is the time to make his case.

The home side how face a crucial clash against New South Wales with Western Australia also in the race

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2024Jake Fraser-McGurk was sent packing early as Victoria rocketed to top spot on the One-Day Cup table with a three-wicket win over South Australia at Junction Oval.Chasing 232 for victory on Thursday, Victoria reached the target with 35 balls to spare courtesy of solid knocks from Tom Rogers (67), Nic Maddinson (54) and Marcus Harris (43).The win catapulted Victoria from third to first on the table ahead of the final round of the season, however they missed the chance for what could prove a crucial bonus, losing 5 for 41 in their chase for it before getting over the line.Victoria take on second-placed NSW in their final match, with both sides aiming to lock in a spot in the February 25 decider. Defending champions Western Australia, one point behind NSW and four points behind Victoria, are the only other team capable of snaring a spot in the final.South Australia remain last with five losses and a no result from their six matches.Adding to their woes was a suspected broken nose to opener Henry Hunt, who was struck flush in the face after dropping a catch while fielding at mid-off.Hunt had blood streaming from his nose after his attempted catch at mid-off from a powerful Rogers shot. As Hunt was falling to ground, the ball slipped through his hands and struck him flush on the nose, with blood immediately gushing out.Henry Hunt suffered a nasty injury when he was struck in the face•Getty ImagesTeam-mates rushed to Hunt’s aid, with Rogers also showing his concern. After receiving some on-field treatment, Hunt walked off with a towel covering his nose to contain the blood and went to hospital for scansSouth Australia recovered from 132 for 7 to reach a defendable 231 for 9 after being sent in to bat. Peter Siddle snared the first wicket of the day when Hunt edged through to the keeper with an attempted hook.Five balls later, X-factor Fraser-McGurk departed for 6 after dancing down the wicket and striking the impressive Fergus O’Neill straight to cover. It came just two days after Fraser-McGurk cracked 41 off 18 balls for Australia against West Indies.Nathan McSweeney and debutant Jake Winter helped the Redbacks move from 19 for 2 to 81 for 2. But when both were caught behind in quick succession, South Australia were in trouble again at 85 for 4.Wickets continued to fall before Harry Nielsen and Harry Conway lifted the visitors to a defendable total.Conway also provided one of the highlights of the match with a juggling catch on the boundary to dismiss Peter Handscomb for 17.

Matheesha Pathirana has become the most expensive Lanka Premier League (LPL) player ever, commanding a US$120,000 price tag as he ended up with his old team, Colombo Strikers, for the 2024 edition of the tournament.The other big winner of the day was seamer Isuru Udana, who was bought by the new Galle Marvels franchise for $100,000, despite his base price being $30,000 and Marvels being the only franchise that bid for him. The auctioneer checked three times whether he had heard the bid from Marvels correctly. He had. They wanted to pay that much for Udana, who has not played for Sri Lanka since 2021.Dasun Shanaka also commanded a serious price tag, going to B-Love Kandy for $85,000. In his case, though, Jaffna Kings had been in a bidding war with B-Love.Related

• Kandy have big names, Galle boast of power-hitters, and Dambulla bag the fast bowlers

• As it happened – the Lanka Premier League auction

Among the fresh overseas signings, Afghanistan allrounder Karim Janat attracted the biggest bid, going for $80,000 to Dambulla Thunders, a franchise under new ownership this year. Rilee Rossouw was another headliner, joining Kings for $60,000.Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz – a wicketkeeper batter – and Hazratullah Zazai – a top-order batter – also got bids worth $50,000, going to Strikers and Thunders respectively. Spin-bowling allrounder Fabian Allen went to Kings for $32,000, and seam-bowling allrounder Dwaine Pretorius was bought by Marvels for $30,000.In general, it wasn’t a profitable auction for many overseas players. The likes of Lungi Ngidi, David Wiese, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, Shoaib Malik, and Mushfiqur Rahim went unsold.Local spin-bowling allrounders like Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage did okay, though, going for $50,000 to Kings and Strikers respectively. Kusal Perera was the most high-profile local player to not attract a bid, with even former Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne getting a gig for $10,000 with B-Love Kandy.This version of the LPL has two new sets of owners. Thunders have replaced last year’s owners Dambulla Aura, while Marvels have taken over from Galle Gladiators.Kings, Strikers, and B-Love Kandy are the surviving franchises from last year. Kings are the only owners that have been around since 2022 or before.B-Love Kandy
Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamindu Mendis, AndreFletcher, Kyle Mayers, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Mohammed Hasnain, Chamath Gomez, Pawan Rathnayake, Chaturanga de Silva, Kavindu Pathirathne, Lakshan Sandakan, Sammu Ashan, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammed Ali, Kasun RajithaColombo Strikers
Chamika Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nipun Dhananjaya, ShadabKhan, Glenn Phillips, Chamika Gunasekara, Dunith Wellalage, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Taskin Ahmed, Angelo Perera, Shevon Daniel, Garuka Sanketh, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Shehan Fernando, Kavin Bandara, Isitha Wijesundara, Muhammed Waseem, Allah GhazanfarGalle Marvels
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim Seifert, Alex Hales, Janith Liyanage, Dwaine Pretorius, Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Sean Williams, Zahoor Khan, Malsha Tharupathi, Isuru Udana, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sadeesha Rajapaksa, Mohommed Shiraz, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Jeffrey Vandersay, Yuri KoththigodaDambulla Thunders
Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Dushan Hemantha, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mustafizur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Lahiru Udara, Akila Dananjaya, Danushka Gunathilaka, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Ranesh Silva, Sohan de Livera, Hazratullah Zazai, Karim Janat, Asela Gunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Rusanda Gamage, Mithun Jayawickrama, Ayana Siriwardhana, Sonal Dinusha, Haider Ali, Santhush GunathilakaJaffna Kings
Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, AzmatullahOmarzai, Noor Ahmad, Rilee Roussow, Fabian Allen, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pramod Madushan, Jason Behrendorff, Asitha Fernando, Vishad Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Wanuja Sahan, Eshan Malinga, Alex Ross, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Murvin Abinash, Arul Pragasam, Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Theesan Vithushan, Nisala Tharaka

Scotland’s chase never took off as spinners and Prabodhani helped Sri Lanka defend 169

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2024Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s 102 off 63 balls helped Sri Lanka win the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier against Scotland in Abu Dhabi.As a result, Sri Lanka will slot into Group A alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan, while Scotland will be part of Group B alongside South Africa, England, West Indies and Bangladesh in the World Cup proper in October.After Scotland asked Sri Lanka to bat, Athapaththu lost her opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne in the third over. Harshitha Samarawickrama was the next one to depart in the sixth over, after being pinned in front by Katherine Fraser. Kavisha Dilhari at No. 4 then contributed 15 off 13 balls before being stumped off Abtaha Maqsood.Athapaththu, meanwhile, continued to pile on the runs single-handedly, contributing 83 runs in her 106-run stand with Nilakshika Silva. She brought up her century in the 19th over, off 60 balls. Athapaththu hit 13 fours and four sixes in her 63-ball stay before falling to Rachel Slater with four balls remaining in Sri Lanka’s innings. A six by Silva off the penultimate ball then set Scotland a target of 170.In return, Scotland got off to a decent start in the chase, with openers Saskia Horley and Megan McColl hitting three fours between them before the collapse began. After Horley was run-out in the third over, left-arm medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhani produced a double-wicket maiden in the fourth.Sri Lanka’s spinners then took over, stifling Scotland in the middle overs. Priyanaz Chatterji fought hard with a 34-ball 30, but didn’t find much help at the other end, as Scotland eventually fell 68 runs short.Before they met on Tuesday, both Sri Lanka and Scotland had already booked their spot at the T20 World Cup proper, set to be played in Bangladesh later this year, after beating UAE and Ireland, respectively, on Friday.

MatériaMais Notícias

A superação move o Capital em sua trajetória no Grupo 29 da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. Adversário do Vasco nesta quarta-feira (4), às 19h30, no Estádio Mário José Liberati, o clube tocantinense busca sua primeira vitória na história da competição. Em três participações anteriores, foram oito derrotas e apenas um empate (em 0 a 0 com o Osvaldo Cruz).

O Rei do Cerrado ainda lida com um obstáculo mais complicado: sua rotina é sazonal. Foram apenas 12 jogos na temporada passada.

Dirigente das categorias de base, Denir Maurício não escondeu que há uma sucessão de desafios para a montagem.

– Trata-se de uma base que disputou o Estadual mas não tem um calendário ajustado. Nossa competição acabou no meio de setembro e voltamos só agora. Nosso planejamento fica muito difícil – constatou ao LANCE!, acrescentando:

– De qualquer forma, acredito que, com nossa luta, vamos chegar da melhor forma possível. Temos um planejamento muito criterioso de mapeamento de jogadores – completou.

A equipe tenta compensar a falta de uma sequência de jogos.

– Neste retorno fazemos muitos treinos, tentamos organizar amistosos, mas quer queira ou não, não é a mesma coisa. Sabemos que o Vasco tem uma realidade bem diferente, jogadores melhores, só que buscamos captadores de confiança para formar um time forte – disse.

NA BASE DA SUPERAÇÃO

Em meio a tantos desafios, o técnico Wilsomar Sena luta para deixar o Capital em plenas condições de sonhar com um novo rumo na Copinha.

– Estamos trabalhando dia a dia a construção da equipe. Sabemos que é difícil, que nosso período de trabalho é curto, mas tentamos dar qualidade ao que fazemos – afirmou.

O treinador constatou que a falta de ritmo pesa para o elenco.

– Nossa rotina é sazonal. Temos o Estadual Sub-20, no qual fizemos 11 jogos, e fizemos outro pela Copa do Brasil Sub-20. Além disso, perdemos cinco atletas por lesão – disse.

Sena valoriza a maneira como o Capital se empenha para fortalecer a sua base. Porém, está ciente dos desafios.

– Nossa estrutura zela pela construção da equipe com pés no chão. Mas sabemos que não dá para competir com a maneira como o Vasco é organizado – disse.

Ao projetar o duelo com o Cruz-Maltino, Wilsomar Sena foi taxativo.

– Estaria mentido se dissesse que vamos de peito aberto. Temos 29 dias de trabalho. Não conseguimos impor do jeito que queríamos nosso peito aberto. Sabemos que nossos adversários no grupo, a começar pelo Vasco, estão num nível acima. Por isso, devemos jogar de maneira mais reativa – afirmou.

O treinador traçou um panorama do que os torcedores podem esperar do Rei do Cerrado nessa Copinha.

– Um time bastante aguerrido, brigando pelos sonhos. Talvez alguns não consigam realizar, mas podem ajudar a outros a realizarem. Nosso grupo é fantástico em vontade e companheirismo – definiu.

Aos seus olhos, o Capital quer usar a vontade a seu favor.

– Muito tempo sem competir, pouco tempo de treinamento é bem complicado, mas podemos utilizar a superação para fazer o nosso melhor. Tentaremos fazer o possível dentro do impossível – disse.

O Capital vai na base da luta nessa quarta-feira (4) diante do Vasco.

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi hits back at Ademola Lookman, accusing the forward of breaking a two-condition transfer pact by demanding a move to Inter.

• Lookman formally requests transfer
• Atalanta CEO says Lookman not honouring his side of deal
• Conflict stems from forward's demand to join Inter

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In an escalating transfer saga, Lookman's future at Atalanta has reached a critical point. The 27-year-old striker has publicly demanded a transfer, accusing the club of reneging on a verbal agreement to let him leave. Lookman's frustration is reportedly aimed at forcing a move to Inter, with whom he has already agreed to personal terms on a five-year contract. In response to the player's public push, Atalanta's CEO, Percassi, has directly addressed the matter, providing the club's version of events and clarifying that the transfer promise Lookman is referring to was conditional and did not include a move to a rival Serie A club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The dispute between Lookman and Atalanta has its roots in the previous transfer window. After an impressive season, the club received an offer of €20m (£17m/$23m) from Paris Saint-Germain, which the player's camp wanted to accept. Atalanta, however, refused to sell and reportedly made a "gentleman's agreement" with Lookman: if he stayed for another season, the club would permit a transfer this year under two key conditions. The first was that the destination had to be a "super-top European club," and the second, was that he would not be sold to another Italian team.

  Fast-forward to this summer and Lookman has a clear objective: a move to Inter. He has already rejected a lucrative offer from Napoli and turned down interest from top European clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. This singular focus on joining a Serie A rival has put him in direct violation of the conditions he reportedly agreed to.

• WHAT PERCASSI SAID

  When asked about Lookman's situation, Percassi said in a press conference: "Last year, we promised ourselves that in Italy he would never be seen wearing a jersey other than Atalanta's. Things have changed now, but we decide when and how."

  Setting the record straight about the two conditions, the CEO added: "Last year, faced with an offer of €20 million from PSG, the player asked us to sell him. Since Atalanta is a credible club made up of good people, they promised to be able to sell the player in this transfer window on two conditions , which he asked us: that he could join a super-top European club and that, in Italy, he would never play for any team other than Atalanta , given what this player has given and received to and from the club.

  "I hope I have responded concisely to the premises that we had brought to this commitment. Today's situation, which you know, is very different, and I reiterate the fact that the club is always careful to evaluate the timing and value of its players' exits. And it is always the Atalanta club that ultimately decides."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LOOKMAN?

  By submitting a transfer request and making public statements, Lookman has pushed the situation to a "point of no return" with the club. His relationship with Atalanta management is now severely strained and he has been left out of pre-season squads as the conflict intensifies. The player's actions have also led to fan backlash, with Atalanta ultras displaying protest banners at the training ground. For a deal to happen, either Inter will have to meet Atalanta's firm €50m (£43m/$58m) asking price or Lookman will need to attract a club to meet the original conditions.

استقر الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، على قرار بشأن تدريبات واستعدادات الفريق قبل مباراة وادي دجلة المقبلة في إطار منافسات الدوري المصري.

ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة نظيره وادي دجلة يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 31 أغسطس الجاري في الجولة الخامسة لمسابقة الدوري.

طالع | شوبير: معجب بما فعله الزمالك.. وخطة بديلة لـ أزمة أرض أكتوبر

وقرر يانيك فيريرا منح اللاعبين راحة من التدريبات الجماعية، اليوم الخميس على أن يتم استئناف التدريبات غداً الجمعة.

وسيخوض الزمالك تدريباته غدًا الجمعة على ستاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد لمباراة وادي دجلة المقبلة في مسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

وكان الزمالك قد فاز على فاركو بهدف دون رد في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما مساء يوم الثلاثاء الماضي على استاد السلام، في الجولة الرابعة لمسابقة الدوري، ليرفع الأبيض رصيده إلى 10 نقاط يتصدر بهم جدول ترتيب المسابقة.

For Ireland, Lorcan Tucker’s 41-ball 73 and Mark Adair’s 3 for 28 were the standout performances

Danyal Rasool14-May-2024

An imperiously accurate bowling spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi and quick half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam took Pakistan to a six-wicket win over Ireland to complete a 2-1 T20I series victory in Dublin on Tuesday.Ireland, inspired by a 41-ball 73 from stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker, put up a competitive 178. But Babar and Rizwan made light work of what was, in truth, a below-par total, and another tame bowling performance and sloppy fielding effort from Ireland meant the result was beyond doubt long before the winning runs were struck.After Babar won the toss and asked Ireland to bat as in the second game, Shaheen and Mohammad Amir bowled a tidy first three overs in stark contrast to the manner in which the two were taken apart two days earlier. Shaheen got his first wicket in that period, but Hasan Ali conceded 16 in his first over as Andy Balbirnie and Tucker began to make up for lost time. Off 49 eventful deliveries as Pakistan’s bowling plans fell apart slightly, Ireland’s second-wicket partnership plundered 85, seemingly setting themselves up for a score around 200.Related

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But, spearheaded by a spell from Shaheen during which he nailed his yorkers almost at will, Ireland collapsed. His four overs allowed a miserly 14 runs and yielded three wickets while his team-mates chipped in around him. Tucker holed out against a typically tidy Imad Wasim and the men who followed never came close to carrying on from where he left off. Ireland managed just 49 in the last seven as Pakistan’s quality shone through, and ceded momentum.The most significant setback for Pakistan was the continuation of Saim Ayub’s lean run, the opener top-edging one to short third early on. But in the sort of middling chase they thrive on, Rizwan and Babar took full advantage, Babar bedding himself in while Rizwan lit the powerplay up. The two swapped roles once the fielding restrictions lifted, and Babar benefitted from George Dockrell putting him down on 19. As on Sunday, Ireland fell away after that, with Babar capitalising on uninspiring bowling to steamroll his way to a 42-ball 75. Ireland managed a late cluster of wickets as Pakistan galloped towards the finishing line, but the inevitable end came with a full three overs to spare.Shaheen gets it right, and how!After he was punished for an errant showing in the second game, Shaheen struck back with the fire of a thousand suns. The first over was ordinary as Balbirnie picked him off for two boundaries, but Shaheen ended up landing just about every one of his remaining 18 deliveries on a sixpence, conceding just six more runs and taking three wickets.Most impressive was his ability to nail the yorker on command, initially utilising inswing to shatter Ross Adair’s stumps. His final two overs were an exhibition of pace and accuracy as Ireland’s momentum ground to a halt, and Shaheen signed off the series with a performance that could be the start of his return to vintage, world-beating rhythm.Babar Azam scored at a high strike rate•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Babar – power hitter?The confusion around who should bat in Pakistan’s top four – and in what order – was summed up by a slightly surreal 14th over of Pakistan’s chase. Babar, the man so often accused of showing parsimony with his batting intent, was briefly in with a shot of hitting six sixes in an over from a hapless Ben White.Three gentle, looping deliveries were dispatched with aplomb, and when Babar missed a flat fourth one, he made up by smashing the next down the ground for another six. The 25 in that over took his strike rate zooming up, making up for another somewhat slow start in an innings where, had Dockrell held on to a simple chance, Babar would have been on his way for a 16-ball 19. Instead, he struck as many sixes as the rest of his team-mates combined.Lorcan Tucker scored a 29-ball half-century•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Tucker leads from the frontPaul Stirling, rested after a poor first couple of games, was replaced as captain by wicketkeeper Tucker. Tucker had topped Ireland’s batting card with a half-century in the second game, and, in the decider, punished a rusty Hasan right from the outset. Once he was off, Pakistan never quite found a way to stem the scoring from that end.Even Balbirnie, who was going at a run a ball at that point, found an extra gear, ensuring Pakistan were always under pressure as long as that partnership lasted.Tucker also ensured the immediate post-powerplay slowdown against spin never quite materialised, highlighted by his takedown of Saim Ayub in the tenth over. He took advantage of Pakistan’s curious decision not to bowl Imad in the first ten as well.He signed off with three successive fours in Hasan’s third over, hitting him out of the attack and potentially sealing his fate ahead of Pakistan’s squad announcement for the T20 World Cup. That Ireland’s gears ground to a half immediately after Tucker fell perhaps illustrated the difference in class between him and the batters he was surrounded by.