Sam Northeast and unbeaten Colin Ingram also pass fifty against Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay02-May-2025

Glamorgan claimed the ascendency at 336 for 6 as they still search for a first win in the Rothesay County Championship in 2025.Young Jersey international Asa Tribe led the way with a proactive half-century in his first start this season making Derbyshire’s bowlers toil in the first hour.Captain Sam Northeast and unbeaten Colin Ingram also passed 50 in experienced knocks to send the hosts past 300 for the first time on the opening day this season.There was frustration for high flyers Derbyshire as Luis Reece pulled up injured for a second consecutive game with a suspected hamstring problem after finding his form with two wickets in quick succession and Ingram was dropped twice, once on 32, again on 70.After being inserted by Derbyshire on a green pitch under sunny skies at Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan took little time in making their presence at the crease known. A loose full toss by Reece was carved to the boundary off just second ball of the game by Zain Ul Hassan, followed by Tribe clipping New Zealand quick Blair Tickner away off the pads with comfort for a three on his first ball faced in a sign of things to come.The decision to bring in recent second XI double-centurion Tribe for Eddie Byrom continued to reap rewards, with three straight drives for four off the same Reece over. Ul Hassan also continued to show increasing enjoyment as an opening batter until he was dismissed just short of the century partnership hooking a Reece short delivery, then Tribe was bowled attempting a drive with his continued confidence, both within 10 balls of the left-armer’s second spell.Despite the momentum ending with Derbyshire, it was still Glamorgan’s session at lunch at 102 for 2.Tickner continued to show extra pace and looked troublesome when the ball did move around off the wicket, Northeast fending past gully to get off the mark and Kiran Carlson edging past three lurking slips first ball after lunch.Elsewhere, the balance of the attack still had to work hard as Wayne Madsen’s decision to field for a third consecutive innings across two matches showed its effect: bowlers withering and batters comfortable when not playing recklessly.Carlson came and went after a brisk 35, another falling to a hook, Zak Chappell with a well-deserved reward after an economical start. Ingram showed the wicket not to be as easy as the scorecard suggested being on just three from 24 balls before hitting Alex Thomson for a straight six in more Ingram-like fashion.Just one wicket came in the second session as the third half-century partnership passed, but still Glamorgan struggled to accelerate since Tribe’s blistering start and Carlson’s flamboyant knock ending prematurely.Ingram’s patience alongside the captain’s season best frustrated the ever-changing bowlers as they both passed 50s before Anuj Dal struck, Northeast out lbw after tea.Despite Thomson’s 38th-over introduction, the off-spinner with a 12-wicket haul in Cardiff last season went wicketless in 21 overs as the final session hung in the balance, the visitors claiming three wickets for 99 runs. Importantly for the hosts, Ingram will enter day two at the crease.

تحدث الدولي الدولي الإنجليزي جود بيلينجهام، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد عن هدف الفوز الذي أحرزه في مرمى يوفنتوس بالمباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتمكن ريال مدريد من تحقيق فوز مهم على يوفنتوس، بهدف نظيف، جعله مستعدًا بقوة للقاء الكلاسيكو المقبل أمام برشلونة.

ويواجه ريال مدريد غريمه برشلونة في “كلاسيكو” الدوري الإسباني لأول مرة بقيادة تشابي ألونسو، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، في تمام الساعة السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة، يوم الأحد المقبل.

وقال بيلينجهام في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “إنه شعور لا يُصدق، لم أسجل منذ فترة طويلة وأحلم بتلك اللحظة في دوري أبطال أوروبا ضد فريق عظيم، وأسجل هدف الفوز، إنه لأمر لا يصدق”.

وأكمل: “هنا على أرضنا وفي أول مباراة لي هذا الموسم، شعرت براحة كبيرة، وشعور رائع، واستمتعت بها كثيرًا، لأكون صادقًا، اللعب الجيد مهم لكن تسجيل هدف الفوز يُساعد الفريق كثيرًا أيضًا، أنا سعيد جدًا، لقد عشت ليلة رائعة”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أننا لعبنا في السنة الأولى بتشكيلات مختلفة تحت قيادة كارلو، إنه يحب أن يكون مرنًا في أسلوب لعبه وفي طريقة نقله للاعبين، لا أعرف ما الذي تغير بين السنة الأولى والثانية، أعتقد أنني إذا خصصت وقتًا للتفكير في الأمر، فأنا متأكد من أنني سأتمكن من استخلاص رؤية حول أماكن لعبي وأدائي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جاهزية ثنائي برشلونة وإصابة جديدة صادمة قبل كلاسيكو ريال مدريد

وأوضح: “لم أكن أعتقد أن العام الماضي كان كارثيًا، بل على العكس تمامًا، أعتقد أنني مع ذلك سجلت 15 هدفًا، وقدمت 14 تمريرة حاسمة، وحظيت بالعديد من اللحظات الجيدة، أعلم أن الشعور السائد أنه كان أسوأ موسم لكنه ليس كذلك”.

وأردف: “لقد شاركت في ذلك أيضًا فيما يتعلق بضعف أدائنا العام الماضي، مع ذلك كانت هناك لحظات جيدة ولكن ليس بالمستوى الذي أرغب في تقديمه، لم أعُد بنفس مستوايا الذي كنت عليه في موسمي الأول”.

وأوضح: “خضعت لجراحة في الكتف، لدي مدرب جديد لديه هذا النهج فيما يتعلق بطريقة لعبنا، ستكون هناك سنوات نلعب فيها جيدًا، ثم لا نفوز على الإطلاق، ولا نلعب جيدًا، ثم نفقد تلك اللمسة التي ربما كانت لدينا في موسمنا الأول، علينا أن نتعلم من ذلك”.

واستطرد لاعب ريال مدريد: “أحد الفروقات بين العام الماضي والأول هو أننا كنا نملك هذا التفاؤل حتى عندما لم نلعب بشكل جيد، تمكنا في بعض المراحل الأخيرة من دوري أبطال أوروبا من إيجاد طريقة للفوز”.

وأتم: “في العام الماضي لم نفعل ذلك، إذا لعبنا بشكل سيء وكنا نتعرض للعقاب الفوري من الخصوم، كان الأمر سيئًا، في مباراة يوفنتوس أهدرنا فرصًا، المهم هو أننا حافظنا على نظافة شباكنا، وكنا بحاجة لهدف واحد فقط للفوز بالطبع، من الآن فصاعدًا، نريد أن نلعب بشكل أفضل ونسجل المزيد من الأهداف لكن علينا أن نتخذ ذلك الفوز نقطة انطلاق قوية”.

Manchester City are now lining up a move for a Xabi Alonso-esque midfielder as a successor for Rodri, with Pep Guardiola personally keen.

Guardiola identifies replacement for Rodri

Rodri missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to an ACL injury, but Paul Scholes has recently named him the second-best midfielder in the world, despite not quite reaching his previous level just yet.

Scholes said (56:30): “He’s not started well this season but he’s had that horrific injury. He was by far the best midfielder that year, which is why he won the Ballon d’Or, he controlled everything, and I feel that’s probably why City are struggling a little bit at this minute to keep the ball, because he’s not quite up to speed physically yet.”

It remains to be seen whether the Spaniard is able to get back to his best, but he certainly has plenty of time on his side, given that he only turned 29 in June.

However, according to a report from SportsBoom, Guardiola has now personally identified Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic as a long-term successor to Rodri, as the City boss believes he has the personality and pedigree to replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

City possess the financial power to lure Bayern to the negotiating table, and given that the midfielder is just 21-years-old, it is reported that even a ‘huge’ transfer fee could be a ‘sensible investment’.

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At the moment, Rodri remains a key player for Guardiola, but the manager is planning for the future, amid interest from Real Madrid back in the summer, and Pavlovic’s ability in possession of the ball could make him an ideal option.

Pavlovic beginning to prove himself at Bayern Munich

The German has featured relatively sporadically for Bayern across the previous two campaigns, but this season he has been a major part of Vincent Kompany’s plans, featuring in all four Bundesliga games and scoring in the 5-0 win against Hamburg.

However, much like Rodri, goal-scoring isn’t the starlet’s main strength, with scout Jacek Kulig previously describing him as a “deep-lying orchestrator”, who is “similar” to Alonso and Michael Carrick.

The £30k-a-week Bayern maestro’s ability in possession means he is a similar type of player to Rodri too, averaging a whopping 96.85 passes per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 98th percentile for his pass-completion rate, when compared to other midfielders.

Pavlovic could be the perfect long-term replacement for Rodri, but the Spain international should still have a number of years left at the top level, after overcoming his ACL injury.

Manchester United spent big, around £207m to be exact, recruiting a brand-new front three this summer, so how are they getting on?

Well, Bryan Mbeumo scored against both Grimsby Town and Burnley in August, albeit his missed penalty that decided the EFL Cup tie at Blundell Park is what will live longest in the memory.

Meantime, Benjamin Šeško has scored in the last two matches, opening his account at Brentford before bagging his first at Old Trafford during Saturday’s victory over Sunderland.

Thus, Matheus Cunha is the only member of the trio yet to score this season, although the Red Devils’ next fixture, an away game against Liverpool at Anfield, would be a good time to change that fact.

Elsewhere, the phenomenon of players leaving Manchester United and thriving elsewhere is nothing new, but even a forward described as the “worst player” in the club’s entire history is outscoring the Šeško, Mbeumo and Cunha trident so far this season.

Man United alumni lighting it up elsewhere

As a society we’ve all become accustomed to the idea of players revitalising their careers by leaving Old Trafford.

Scott McTominay is the prime example of this, scoring 13 goals for Napoli last season, the key man as the Partenopei won only their fourth Scudetto, named Serie A’s player of the year.

This summer, the Scotland international has been joined by Rasmus Højlund at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona who, after only scoring four Premier League goals throughout the entirety of last season, has bagged four in just six games for Napoli, notching a Champions League brace against Sporting, before bagging the winner against Genoa last Sunday.

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Elsewhere, after scoring nine times during his short loan spell, Antony made his move to Real Betis permanent on deadline day, bagging his first of the season as los Verdiblancos held Nottingham Forest to a 2-2 draw at the Cartuja in the Europa League.

The Brazilian scored just 12 times in 96 appearances for the Red Devils, but has ten in 31 for Betis.

There are countless other players we could have cited for whom leaving Manchester United was the best career decision they’ve ever made, but one in particular, you may have completely forgotten about, is still scoring at a high level at the age of 33.

Manchester United's worst-ever attacker is now thriving

Let’s all enter our metaphorical DeLoreans and time travel back to November 2022.

The World Cup is about to begin in Qatar while, and this feels unthinkable now, Manchester United under Erik ten Hag were in a title race, going on to finish third that season with 75 points. For comparison, their 58 most recent Premier League matches have yielded just 68 points.

However, all was not well because, having been sidelined by Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear that he felt “betrayed” and would leave the club “with immediate effect”.

Thus, in the January transfer window, the Red Devils desperately needed a new striker, but the Glazers said they simply did not have the funds available to make a permanent signing.

So, a creative solution was found, with Man United paying a reported fee of £2.6m to end Wout Weghorst’s loan move from Burnley to Beşiktaş and bring him to Old Trafford instead.

The Netherlands international had scored nine times in just 18 appearances for the İstanbul-based giants, but did not really bring that form to England, scoring only twice for United, on target against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup and Real Betis in the Europa League.

Thus, onlookers were not impressed, with Jamie Redknapp, speaking on Sky Sports, describing him as simply “not good enough”, while Richard Keys asserted that he is the ‘worst player I’ve ever seen in a [Manchester] United jersey’.

After finally leaving Burnley, Weghorst returned to the Netherlands by joining Ajax in August 2024.

He scored 11 goals during his first season in Amsterdam, while he has started the new Eredivisie season on fire, netting five times already, including a brace against Sparta Rotterdam at Het Kasteel on Saturday.

This means, to date, he has scored more goals than Mbeumo, Cunha and Šeško combined to start the new campaign.

Does this mean Manchester United should have kept hold of Weghorst?

Well, probably not no, but it is further evidence that the curse of players leaving the club and thriving elsewhere is real.

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Arsenal are now battling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a Real Madrid star, with both clubs conducting scouting missions.

Gunners battling Tottenham and Newcastle for new attacker

The Gunners made major improvements to their already fearsome attack during the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish striker making an impressive start to life in north London.

Having pushed Liverpool and Manchester City close over the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s side clearly have the quality to end their long wait for a Premier League title, and the manager’s tactics are arguably the main thing holding them back.

After the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, Gary Neville criticised Arteta for his cautious approach to the game, saying: “He could have been more attacking at Anfield and he wasn’t and certainly against City from the start he could have been more attacking.”

As such, Arteta adopting a more attacking mindset may be the key to the Gunners winning the league, but there has also now been a suggestion that the manager remains keen on improving his options in forward areas.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now battling Tottenham and Newcastle for the signature of Real Madrid star Arda Guler, who has emerged as a crucial player since the arrival of Xabi Alonso as manager.

Consequently, the Spanish giants have no desire to cash in on Guler, but that hardline stance hasn’t halted the interest from elsewhere, with the Gunners sending scouts to watch the attacking midfielder in action in La Liga.

With Madrid expressing no interest in selling the 20-year-old, who is focused on his future at the club, it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, but there is certainly interest on the north Londoners’ behalf.

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ByEmilio Galantini Sep 27, 2025 "Exceptional" Guler finding his form in La Liga

After a solid, if not spectacular, first season in Spain, during which the youngster picked up eight La Liga goal contributions, he has really started to find his form this season, picking up three goals and three assists in the opening seven matches.

The Turkey international is particularly adept at setting up chances for his teammates, while he is also an impressive passer of the ball, and strong at winning back possession.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Assists

0.37 (92nd percentile)

Passes attempted

64.58 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

86.3% (99th percentile)

Tackles

1.99 (93rd percentile)

Jose Mourinho has been left particularly impressed with the £87k-a-week starlet in the past, describing him as “exceptional”, and he clearly has the ability to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, having established himself as a key player for Real Madrid.

That said, it will not be too disappointing if Arsenal miss out, given that they are already blessed with options in attacking midfield, having signed Eze in the summer.

The IPL 2025 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) could be hit by rain after the met department issued a yellow alert for Mumbai on Tuesday evening for the next four days.As per the met department, the city is expected to receive thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and heavy rainfall. There was rain forecast for Tuesday, too, but it did not arrive until about 8pm IST. By then MI had completed their practice but KL Rahul’s batting session in the DC nets was cut short. For most of the evening, dark clouds hovered over the Wankhede Stadium before it became windy and was followed by a downpour. The suburbs of the city experienced heavy rainfall and thunderstorm on Tuesday evening too.If the MI-DC contest gets washed out, the teams will split the points. And a lot would hinge on their last league games – against Punjab Kings (PBKS) for both of them. MI’s last game at the Wankhede – against Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 6 – was also affected by rain. There were multiple short stoppages, with MI eventually losing by the DLS method.Related

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The drainage system at the Wankhede Stadium prevents waterlogging on the field. But the outfield is sand-based, because of which it often remain soggy even if there are no puddles. Covers are used only for the pitches and the square at the venue.The BCCI had announced on Tuesday that the remaining league games of this IPL would have an extra 120 minutes added to boost the chances of having a full 40-over game even with rain interruptions.This will be the last IPL 2025 game at the Wankhede Stadium, which is also set to host the T20 Mumbai tournament, Mumbai Cricket Association’s T20 league, from June 4 to 12.

Manchester United have an exciting squad to choose from as they look to drum up a run of form this season, but many supporters will also be wondering when Lisandro Martinez is expected to return from injury.

Lisandro Martinez and his Man Utd absence

Argentina international Martinez has become a fan favourite since joining from Ajax back in 2022, registering three goals and three assists in 91 appearances.

However, injury problems have limited his scope for an even greater impact at Old Trafford, none more so than his ACL tear in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace back in February.

In what was a season-ending blow for Martinez, Ruben Amorim has since been forced back to the drawing board for defensive solutions and the former Sporting boss has maintained a heavy reliance on Harry Maguire, Mathijs De Ligt and Leny Yoro to fill the void.

Nevertheless, Martinez’s capabilities in possession are difficult to replicate. The World Cup winner averaged a 90% pass accuracy in the Premier League last term, while he also made 32 interceptions, per Fotmob, sparing nobody on his way to stopping dangerous attacking moves.

Ayden Heaven has emerged as a naturally left-sided alternative and has impressed supporters. Still, the former Arsenal youth may be one for the longer term, given he is only 18 years of age. Luke Shaw has also featured centrally.

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Updates on Martinez’s status have been few and far between, even if Fabrizio Romano recently claimed on his YouTube channel that the World Cup winner may be offered a new contract once he returns from injury.

When will that be? It may be sooner than alot of Manchester United fans believe if recent developments are anything to go by.

Lisandro Martinez's Manchester United return timeframe

Per BBC Sport chief reporter Simon Stone, Martinez could be back in contention after the October international break for Manchester United, providing his rehab has gone to schedule, albeit Amorim is likely to take a cautious approach in light of the recovery process he will have to adhere to.

He later went on to suggest that it would be a surprise to see Martinez back before the conclusion of the October break, pointing out that it may take longer for him to actually get back into a flow of starting matches.

Ultimately, the delicate nature of cruciate-related injuries require specialist care and management, so it may be a little while yet before he starts to get up to speed at Old Trafford.

In what would hand their promotion hopes a major boost, Southampton are now plotting a January move to sign a Premier League star who’s been told to leave his current club.

Will Still "delighted" after much-needed Sheffield United win

Prior to their 2-1 victory over a struggling Sheffield United side, Southampton had gone as many as six Championship games without a win. It’s a run that included frustrating draws against Watford and Portsmouth and one that could have quite easily led to several questions about Will Still’s position. But, at long last, it is now a run that has come to an end courtesy of Sheffield United.

In the end, it was Ross Stewart who was the hero of the hour as his brace secured the Saints’ 2-1 victory against Chris Wilder’s side in what Still described as the “ultimate Championship game”.

Asked if Southampton deserved all three points, the manager told reporters: “Overall, yes. I think we’ve been in control of large parts of it. We probably conceded another one of those annoying goals.

“You then miss a penalty and think, ‘Jesus, it’s going to happen again’, but we’ve not done that at all. We’ve made a few tweaks. We bought a bit of energy on the pitch and managed to turn it around. Getting back into the game is always tough when you’re away here.

“Then we’ve just kept at it and not felt sorry for ourselves. We’ve dug deep and got a brilliant win from Roscoe. It was the ultimate Championship game.”

Even after getting back to winning ways, however, there’s still work to be done at St Mary’s and the January transfer window will present Southampton with the perfect opportunity to welcome one particular upgrade.

Southampton plotting Ward-Prowse return

As reported by GiveMeSport, Southampton are now plotting a move to sign James Ward-Prowse in the January transfer window. The West Ham United midfielder has been told that he’s not in new manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans and could now return to the Saints less than three years on from sealing a £30m exit.

It would be a sensational return for the Southampton academy graduate, who could certainly do with a return to where it all started. Already dropped by Nuno, Ward-Prowse arguably needs the Saints just as much as they need him.

Whilst it’s been a frustrating couple of years, Ward-Prowse is still capable of taking Southampton to promotion if he completes his return in January. The 30-year-old could instantly partner Shea Charles at the heart of Still’s midfield and suddenly take the Saints from play-off hopefuls into automatic promotion contenders.

There will, of course, be question marks over their ability to afford such a player but West Ham could yet set a cut-price amid Nuno’s desire to show the midfielder the door. If that proves to be the case, then Southampton should take full advantage.

The New Zealand allrounder had been recalled to the T20I squad earlier this year before injury struck

ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2025

New Zealand allrounder Hayley Jensen has announced her retirement from international cricket after an 11-year career.Jensen, 32, played 35 ODIs and 53 T20Is having made her debut in 2014. She was part of four T20 World Cup squads – finishing as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker at the 2020 edition in Australia – and also the 2022 ODI World Cup on home soil. She had not featured in ODIs since late 2022 but had been recalled to the T20I squad for the series against Sri Lanka in March after a two-year absence before being ruled out through injury.She also played in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, claiming 3 for 24 in the bronze medal match where New Zealand beat England by eight wickets.”Ever since I was 10 years old, I came home from my first cricket tournament and knew I wanted to be a White Fern,” Jensen said. “To have had the chance to live that dream is something I’ll always treasure.”It’s been an incredible journey – filled with challenges, growth, unforgettable experiences, and the best group of people I could’ve hoped to share it with.”It’s never easy to move on from something that’s meant this much, but I know in my heart it’s time. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and even prouder to have been part of the White Ferns environment.”New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer said: “I want to congratulate Hayley on a fantastic international career and thank her for her contributions to the White Ferns environment”Hayley has made key contributions to the team with both bat and ball on the field and always brought a genuine passion and love for the game. We wish her all the best for whatever the future holds.”Jensen will make a decision on whether to continue her domestic career at a later date.

Maya Jama unveiled a new tattoo celebrating her mixed heritage as she shared a series of intimate snaps with Manchester City star Ruben Dias. The 31-year-old TV presenter proudly displayed her fresh inking — a trio of connected countries symbolising her Scottish, Swedish, and Somalian roots — while cuddling up with her footballer boyfriend in a heartwarming post.

• Jama shows off new tattoo in photo dump

  Jama, host of Love Island and The Masked Singer, showcased a brand-new arm tattoo on Thursday, offering fans a glimpse into her pride in her cultural heritage. The intricate design features the shapes of Scotland, Sweden, and Somalia — the three nations that make up her family background — drawn side by side on her upper arm.

  Sharing the moment with her followers, Maya posted photos from a tattoo studio before uploading a loved-up snap with boyfriend Dias, who wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek as they relaxed in the back of a car. The presenter also documented her recent trip to Lisbon, where she watched Dias play for Portugal in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Hungary, cheering him on alongside his family. Dressed casually in a white t-shirt and black leather bomber jacket, Maya was seen chatting with Ines Tomaz, the wife of Dias’ Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva, while enjoying a glass of wine.

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• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  Jama and Dias go from strength to strength

  Jama and Dias have been dating for nearly a year, with their relationship going public in April 2025 after months of speculation. The pair reportedly first met at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2024, with early rumours circulating after fans spotted hints of Maya in Dias’ New Year’s Eve photo.

  Their romance became official when they were seen together at KSI’s Baller League event in London, before later confirming things on social media with affectionate posts. Since then, the couple have balanced a high-profile relationship with a desire for privacy — a challenge given both of their celebrity statuses.

  In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Dias addressed the media attention, saying: "No, I think that's the last thing you think about. We are just both aware of it, and there's no way around it. But at the end of the day, you don't make it about it. You make it about everything else, and then that's an extra you have to deal with and, obviously, be smart with it."

  Reports in August suggested that Maya was preparing to spend more time in Manchester, possibly moving in with Dias as their relationship continues to strengthen.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dias returning to form this season

  On the pitch, Dias has been a steady and vital presence for Manchester City so far this season, maintaining his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most dependable defenders. As of mid-October 2025, he has made nine appearances across all competitions — seven in the league and two in the Champions League — amassing 725 minutes of action.

  His performances and strong leadership in the back line have been key despite City’s mixed start to the campaign. Having recently signed a contract extension until 2029, Dias remains central to Pep Guardiola’s plans as City chase domestic and European success once again. His availability and fitness have also been positive, with no injuries reported so far this term, unlike the last couple of seasons.

  Internationally, Dias continues to be a cornerstone for Portugal, having featured prominently in their World Cup qualifying campaign, including the recent win over Hungary that Maya attended.

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• Dias' attention turns to Man City as Jama juggles busy schedule

  Jama’s new tattoo and her growing bond with Rúben Dias have once again captured fans’ attention — both for the personal meaning behind the ink and for the couple’s continued show of unity. As she juggles her busy filming schedule with The Masked Singer and Love Island, Maya seems to be striking a balance between her career and her relationship with the Portuguese defender.

  For Dias, focus now returns to Manchester City duties after the international break, with key fixtures on the horizon as City aim to close the gap in the Premier League. Guardiola's side will take on Everton and Aston Villa on either side of a Champions League clash with Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica.