Lamine Yamal seemingly confirmed his plans to buy the €14 million (£12.5m) Barcelona mansion once owned by pop sensation Shakira & Gerard Pique through a social media post. In a now-viral photodump shared with his 14 million followers, the forward was pictured standing with his back to the camera, facing the spectacular modern property and its sparkling swimming pool.
Tom Verducci: The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers under duress and paid down none of his contract, which limited his value. So why trade him? When you sign someone to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, that’s the kind of commitment to consider the player “the face of the franchise.” And your face of the franchise should set a culture that young players can emulate.
Not playing first base or third base when starters go down at those positions—positions in the spectrum of your defensive prowess, not moving from infield to outfield or corner to middle—is certainly Devers’s right. But it’s also the club's right to expect more. Taking pregame grounders at shortstop last week was just another layer of weirdness to what became a parlor game of guessing Raffy’s mindset.
The Red Sox are not faultless. Owner John Henry, GM Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora failed to get out in front of potential problems when it came to communicating. But nothing they did changed the fact that the team was in transition to a new, young core and Devers's intransigence was an obstacle. He should be happier in San Francisco after losing faith in the Boston front office.
The Giants are the winners of this deal today because they added an impact hitter in his prime without disrupting the major league team. Their pitching depth made Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison superfluous. The Giants have not had a left-handed hitter hit 30 home runs since Barry Bonds in 2004, and none other than Bonds since Will Clark 38 years ago. They must pay Devers, a full-time DH when Matt Chapman gets off the IL, $250 million over eight and a half years. That’s a worry for another day. His contract already doesn’t look so bad after the money paid to Juan Soto and Vlad Guerrero Jr.
Will Laws: This deal is being widely compared to the Red Sox’s disastrous trade of Mookie Betts in 2020. But I’d be shocked if this deal ages nearly as poorly as that one has. Yes, that’s setting a low bar. But Devers has never been the sort of player Betts is and his contract very well could’ve turned into an albatross long before it expires in 2033.
Devers has been a top-15 player this season in terms of offensive value, according to FanGraphs. But he’s 35th in terms of fWAR largely due to his poor baserunning and lack of defensive value. Devers has never finished in the top 10 of American League MVP voting. Betts has seven top-10 MVP placements. Betts likewise has seven seasons where he’s been more valuable by bWAR than Devers was in his best season—and that was back in 2019, the year of the juiced ball. And let’s not forget that while Devers refused to pick his glove back up in his team’s time of need after being slated as Boston’s full-time designated hitter before this season—which he was well within his rights to do—Betts has not only been willing to play multiple positions for the Dodgers over the last several years but has excelled at doing so.
Devers is a fearsome slugger, and the Red Sox are now worse than they were Sunday morning. This should also be an excellent deal for the Giants, who have long needed an infusion of power into their lineup. But Boston boasts a wealth of hitting talent and a pitching staff in need of some reinforcements, and now has the opportunity to spend the $245 million or so it still owed Devers elsewhere.
Former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was forced by team ownership to trade Betts and never did enough to improve the roster to fill the void left by the former MVP’s departure. He was fired after the 2023 season as a result.
Bloom’s successor, Craig Breslow, just acquired the Giants’ former top prospect, 23-year-old pitcher Kyle Harrison, as part of the return for Devers, as well as pitcher Jordan Hicks and San Francisco’s No. 2 prospect in outfielder James Tibbs III. It’s not enough to make up for the loss of Devers, but it’s a start. Let’s see if Breslow uses some of his newfound payroll space to further upgrade Boston’s pitching staff this season before prematurely sentencing him to the same fate as Bloom.
Rishabh Pant has received a “return to play” clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence following two stages of rehab for a fractured foot and if fit and in form, could make the squad for the two-Test series against South Africa
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2025
Rishabh Pant has been out of action since July•Getty Images
Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket following a foot injury will begin with him captaining India A in the two four-day fixtures against South Africa A in Bengaluru starting October 30.Pant has received a ‘return to play’ clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence following two stages of rehab for the fractured foot that he suffered during the fourth England vs India Test in Manchester in July. Pant’s India A selection means he will not be playing for Delhi in the second round of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy from October 25 as earlier envisaged.India A vs South Africa A fixtures
1st four-dayer – Oct 30 to Nov 2
2nd four-dayer – Nov 6 to Nov 9
Pant and vice-captain B Sai Sudharsan are set to feature in both the matches, while the likes of KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna ad Mohammed Siraj will feature in only the second four-day fixture, to be played from November 6. It’s likely that all of them will make the cut for India’s Test squad for the South Africa series, which starts on November 14 in Kolkata.The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has had to balance out the squads to ensure there’s also a bit of continuity with those featuring for their respective state teams in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.This is possibly why Rajat Patidar (captaining Madhya Pradesh), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran (captaining Bengal) and Akash Deep, among others, are part of the squad for just one of the two matches. Meanwhile, the likes of N Jagadeesan, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey have been rewarded for their domestic form.KL Rahul is among a host of internationals who will come in for the second game•AFP/Getty Images
If the selectors are convinced with his form and fitness, Pant is likely to make his Test comeback at the first India vs South Africa Test.India squad for first four-day matchRishabh Pant (capt, wk), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed.India squad for second four-day matchRishabh Pant (capt, wk), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
And who has the highest individual score on IPL debut?
Steven Lynch04-Apr-2023Mark Wood took five wickets in his first IPL match the other day. Was this a record? asked Brian McMaster from England
The England fast bowler Mark Wood took 5 for 14 – his best figures in all T20 cricket – for Lucknow Super Giants against Delhi Capitals in Lucknow last weekend. However, it wasn’t Wood’s IPL debut – he played one match for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in 2018 (he failed to take a wicket, and his four overs cost 49).In any case, the best figures on debut in the IPL are 6 for 12, by the West Indian Alzarri Joseph for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad in 2019. Those are actually the best figures overall in IPL history: Wood currently sits joint eighth on that list.There was one notable record though: Wood’s figures were the best by an English bowler in the IPL, beating 5 for 25 by Dimitri Mascarenhas for Kings XI Punjab against Pune Warriors in Mohali in 2012.Has anyone made a higher score in the IPL season curtain-raiser than Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 92? asked Nilu Banerjee from India
That six-packed 92 from Ruturaj Gaikwad for Chennai Super Kings against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad the other day was actually the third-highest individual score in the opening match of an IPL season. Back in April 2008, in the very first IPL game of all, Brendon McCullum lit up the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru with an undefeated 158 (still the second-highest in IPL history) for Kolkata Knight Riders against RCB. And in 2015, Rohit Sharma made 98 not out in the opening match for Mumbai Indians against KKR in Kolkata.Kyle Mayers hit 73 in his first IPL match the other day. What’s the highest score on IPL debut? asked Joseph Findlay from Barbados
Kyle Mayers hit 73 in his first match for Super Giants against Delhi Capitals in Lucknow at the weekend. That’s the highest score on IPL debut by anyone since the Brendon McCullum innings mentioned above – 158 not out for KKR against RCB in Bangalore in 2008, in the very first IPL match of all.Two others have made higher scores on IPL debut than Mayers’ 73 – both Australians, and both also in that inaugural season of 2008. The day after McCullum’s blitz, Michael Hussey hit 116 not out for CSK against Kings XI in Mohali, and a few days later Shaun Marsh made 84 not out for Kings XI vs Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad. So Mayers’ 73 was the fourth-highest individual score on IPL debut, and the highest since the first season.Travis Head is one of three batters to make five hundreds at home and none away•Getty ImagesI noticed that Mayank Agarwal has scored four Test centuries, all of them in India. What’s the most that one batter has made without any away from home? asked Devang Patel from India
At the moment there are three men who have scored five Test centuries, all of them on home soil: the old England captain Stanley Jackson, whose five hundreds all came against Australia, India’s Chandu Borde, and the current Australian batter Travis Head, who will no doubt be hoping to escape this particular list during the Ashes series in England later this year.Mayank Agarwal is one of five batters whose four Test centuries all came at home, along with Joe Hardstaff junior of England, Zimbabwe’s Guy Whittall, and the Sri Lankan pair of Roshan Mahanamaand Arjuna Ranatunga.What’s the lowest highest score in a completed Test innings? asked Jamie Lewcock from Ireland
If I’ve understood the question correctly, the answer is 7 – when South Africa were bowled out by England for 30 at Edgbaston in 1924, the highest individual contribution was 7, by their captain Herbie Taylor.The only other completed Test innings to include 11 single-figure scores was India’s 36 against Australia in Adelaide in 2020-21, when the biggest contribution was Mayank Agarwal’s 9.There have been several instances of ten batters failing to reach double figures in a Test innings. It includes Australia’s 35 for 8 at Old Trafford during the 1953 Ashes series.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
Liverpool are now reportedly ready to launch an offer worth over £35m to sign a key defensive addition instead of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi in 2026.
Carragher admits it's "crisis time" at Liverpool
Liverpool look out on their feet. Mentally and physically, they have simply not competed in the last month. Defeat against Crystal Palace was a warning sign, before games to forget against Chelsea, Manchester United and now Brentford arrived to compile the Reds’ misery.
Off the back of four Premier League defeats in a row, the Premier League champions no longer look inevitable. They look like one of the most beatable sides in the top flight. It has been an inescapable disaster for Arne Slot in the last month, who couldn’t help but admit that even he’s not sure how to solve his side’s current problems after defeat at Brentford.
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher went as far as to say that it’s “crisis time” for those at Anfield: “To see the champions lose 4 games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now.”
Serious questions have now been asked about Liverpool’s summer spending. They finally broke the bank, handing Slot the keys to the kingdom with a spending spree worth over £400m.
They broke records to sign Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz while also welcoming Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez, among others, all arrived. It was, barring Guehi’s collapsed move, the perfect summer.
Yet, months later, and only Ekitike has shown signs of real instant quality and the Reds have seemingly been forced back to the drawing board in need of defensive improvements.
Liverpool ready to launch Ordonez offer
As reported by South American outlet Bolavip and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now ready to launch an offer to sign Joel Ordonez ahead of Inter Milan worth over €40m (£35m) in 2026.
Liverpool lining up January move for starting calibre centre-back wanted by Real Madrid
Would this be a dream addition for Arne Slot?
ByHenry Jackson Oct 27, 2025
The Club Brugge defender would act as an alternative to Guehi, who has interest from Anfield and elsewhere ahead of becoming a free agent next summer.
With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new deal and Virgil van Dijk approaching his final year, Liverpool desperately need to organize the future of their backline. If they are to miss out on Guehi, then they must go all out on an alternative like the Ecuador international.
Minutes
532
742
810
Progressive Passes
4.83
4.51
6.22
Tackles Won
0.52
1.22
0.44
Successful Aerial Duels
2.41
4.27
5.11
Whilst there should be concerns about Ordonez’s aerial ability, his work in possession would at least help provide a solution for Liverpool, who have struggled to progress play without Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Described as “hyper aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 21-year-old will be one to watch if Liverpool miss out on Guehi and Konate departs in 2026.
Liverpool’s quality has been such across the past decade that blips are met with dismay across the red half of Merseyside. Anfield and its supporters, quite simply, are used to winning.
Ten years ago, Liverpool appointed Jurgen Klopp following Brendan Rodgers’ dismissal. Ten years ago, everything changed. Now, the Reds are considered among the most ferocious and feared in Europe; beating Liverpool is a trophy in itself.
But Arne Slot has work to do, with Liverpool having lost three in a row, including successive league outings in the final moments.
Superstar signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have yet to hit their stride on Merseyside, and there’s no denying there are tactical balances from head to toe. This is all grist for the mill of negativity, but Liverpool are sure to click into gear soon.
However, not all problems can be fixed so simply. For example, Mohamed Salah has been one of the most disappointing stars so far,
Liverpool preparing for Salah departure
Salah is of an age that poor form is viewed through the lens of the inevitable decline, which claims footballers into their thirties. But this is short-sighted.
Only last season, the 33-year-old scored 34 goals and laid on 23 assists across all competitions, broke the Premier League record for goal involvements in a 38-game season (47).
There’s no denying the Egyptian has been poor this term, anonymous for large sections of games and enduring his slowest start to a Liverpool campaign with three goals and assists apiece from ten matches. But he is still Salah, and Liverpool’s problems reach every area of the field.
While the long-serving superstar is expected to find a purple patch once again this term, there’s no denying he is getting older, and Liverpool need to find themselves a successor.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as the man for the job.
According to Spanish sources, the in-form Premier League star is right at the top of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes’ shopping list as he plans for the future, though competition is sure to be thick.
The Ghana international is valued at £75m and Bournemouth resisted an effort from Tottenham this summer. He has since signed a new contract at the Vitality, running until 2029, so the Cherries’ position is strong.
Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool’s chaotic season opener was a sign of things to come, winning 4-3 against Bournemouth. Semenyo bagged a brace and played with incredible quality and composure.
Now seven matches deep into the league campaign, Semenyo has scored six times all told and provided three assists too. This is a remarkable return; this is Salah-like territory.
Indeed, while Salah is well below his best, there’s a sense that even if the £400k-per-week star was on his A-game, he might not be on the same level as Bournemouth’s main man, whose efforts thus far have even led one Premier League analyst to suggest he is “one of the best players in the world”.
Matches (starts)
7 (7)
7 (7)
Goals
2
6
Assists
2
3
Shots (on target)*
1.7 (0.7)
2.4 (1.3)
Touches*
42.1
50.0
Pass completion
74%
75%
Chances created*
1.7
1.4
Dribbles*
0.1
2.1
Ball recoveries*
3.4
5.6
Tackles*
0.0
1.7
Duels won*
1.4
6.7
It is, quite frankly, a staggering drop-off, with Semenyo outstripping the legendary winger across every area in the Premier League this season. The Ghanaian has been sharper in attack, more intelligent on the ball and far more combative and engaged in the build-up.
Salah remains one of the deadliest forwards in English football history, though, and his two-goal haul so far this season has lifted him above Andy Cole and into fourth place in the all-time scoring charts.
But with Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong stood as Salah’s back-up options on the attacking right flank this term, it’s very clear that a high-level replacement would be needed.
It might be worth drawing attention to the fact that Semenyo is of an age with a 25-year-old version of Salah, a version who waved goodbye to a career in Italy and signed for Klopp’s Liverpool in a £34m deal.
And the signs, to be sure, are promising. While the data pool is shallow, statistical site FBref have crunched the data to reveal Semenyo ranks not only among the best for output in the English top flight this season, but among the top 10% for ball recoveries and the top 3% for aerial battles won per 90.
There is little to suggest he would not be a star at Liverpool. Two-footed and dynamic, the £75k-per-week talent feels very Liverpool-esque, with a hunger for success at the highest level and a fearsome, high-octane take on the game.
Last season, Semenyo scored 11 goals and posted six assists in the Premier League. This gave him praise from many and it provided Bournemouth with a £70m bid from Spurs to chew on. Now, he is levels higher. Imagine the heights he could hit in Slot’s Liverpool squad.
In April, Salah penned new terms at Liverpool. The greatest player in the Anfield side’s recent chapter will play his football in red until the end of next season. But what if Salah fails to reclaim his one-time level? Can Slot afford such a weak link dominating his frontline for much time to come?
With Semenyo added to the fold, there’s a sense Liverpool would have all they need to come together and hit that vein of form which would carry them to titles and sustained success.
Better than Guehi: Liverpool dreaming of signing "best U21 player in the PL"
Liverpool may need to dip back into the transfer market in 2026 after a disjointed start to the season.
ByAngus Sinclair Oct 8, 2025
Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and has said that he wishes to play all three formats. Shakib has not played international cricket in over a year and had announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.”I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.”I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”Related
BCB says door still open for Shakib to play for Bangladesh
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Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, once the Awami League government was dethroned on August 5. Shakib was an MP for that party. He was named in an FIR in an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then went on to play Tests in Pakistan and India. The second Test against India in Kanpur was his last international game.When asked whether he will return to Bangladesh, Shakib said, “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen.”Shakib further said that he will not be burdened by results and he wants to “give something back to the fans” for years of support in a home series.”I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words,” he said. “They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that.”I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series.”Shakib Al Hasan last played a Test in late 2024•AFP/Getty Images
Ahead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced he wasn’t going to play T20Is anymore, while expressing his desire to play his last Test in the home South Africa series that was scheduled for October.There were some protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of the Test series, after which Shakib issued an apology for his silence during the students-led protest which led to hundreds of deaths in July and August.The BCB then dropped Shakib for the Tests against South Africa, mainly because Bangladesh’s interim government couldn’t guarantee his safe exit from the country.Earlier this year, a BCB official said that Shakib was welcome to return to the Bangladesh team. In September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after Shakib wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown Magura in January 2024, also suggested that he wasn’t done with his political career when he was asked what legacy he wants to leave. “[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe political side is left,” he said. “It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”
Newcastle United are still searching for form, over a month into the 2025/26 campaign, but it’s hardly as if there is anything to worry about for Eddie Howe and co.
After all, the Magpies have only conceded in one of their five Premier League games, a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at St. James’ Park that was as infuriating as it was compelling.
Attacking fluency will return, and no mistake. Nick Woltemade is integrating after his big-money move from Stuttgart, the record-fee striker replacing Alexander Isak after the rebellious forward forced his way out and over to Anfield.
In the end, the Toon completed a quietly impressive transfer window, signing players of different shapes and sizes to bolster the pre-existing ranks.
However, Newcastle are still guided through by their leading light, the skipper, Bruno Guimaraes.
He’s been ever-present right through Howe’s tenure.
Guimaraes was one of the first to join this nascent Newcastle project, signing from French side Lyon for £40m and never looking back.
Almost four years later, the 27-year-old remains one of the nuclei at Newcastle, one of the first names on the teamsheet. Isak might have been considered in the same breath, but Isak has gone, whereas Bruno has not, despite fierce summer interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
He’s started four Premier League fixtures so far this season, absent against Bournemouth after that European clash with Barcelona, covering so much ground and working tirelessly both to protect the defence and progress his team’s attacking play.
Against the backdrop of Isak’s absence, Guimaraes put in a captain’s performance against the Premier League champions, and he spoke of his deep-seated love for the Magpies post-game.
However, it would also be fair to say that the Brazilian is lacking his usual fluency in attack at the moment, yet to create a big chance across his five matches in the Premier League.
We all know Bruno will hit his stride, but he hasn’t been Howe’s standout performer so far this season.
It would be an outrage to award this figurative title to anyone north of the backline at Newcastle, whose three-goal haul in the Premier League this term betters only that of lowly Aston Villa, one strike to their name.
Defensively, though, United have been redoubtable, and Dan Burn stakes a claim for being the standout performer, indeed boasting four clean sheets across five league outings and having been one of the chief organisers in defence, ensuring everyone is where they should be and that they understand their duties, just so.
Like Guimaraes, Burn was one of the first to sign for Newcastle after the PIF takeover, leaving Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2022 to join his boyhood club after so many years, having plyed his boyish trade at Newcastle until being released when he was 11.
Now, he’s shaped into a mainstay for one of the most exciting projects in world football, and, aged 33, he is showing little sign of slowing down.
|
Howe’s Most-used Newcastle Players |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Seasons |
Apps |
|
Fabian Schar |
5 |
159 |
|
Bruno Guimaraes |
5 |
159 |
|
Dan Burn |
5 |
154 |
|
Jacob Murphy |
5 |
142 |
|
Joelinton |
5 |
134 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
||
Guimaraes and Fabian Schar, who was already part of the toon squad, are the only players to have eclipsed his 154 appearances in black and white under Howe’s wing, and there’s a good reason that Big Dan Burn has played with such regularity, for in many ways he epitomises Howe and his tactics: gritty and tenacious, balanced against a technical undercurrent which has led to silverware and European escapades.
It was Burn who rose highest before the break at Wembley in March, striking first to set Newcastle on their way in the Carabao Cup final. He has been written into club folklore, and there he will remain.
There will come a point when Sven Botman will expect to return to the starting line-up without fail, playing from the first whistle each and every week.
But we can’t ignore the industrious and composed presence Burn projects in front of Pope’s goal, with Sofascore recording that he has averaged a whopping 6.4 successful duels and 6.2 clearances per game, yet to make an error.
The 6 foot 6 defender made his England debut earlier in 2025, called up by the Three Lions hierarchy for the first time when he was 32 years old. Truly, development is not linear in football.
And that emphatic form of 2024/25 has indeed lifted over the disruptive summer transfer window, Burn travelling a smooth through line which has seen him retain his defensive solidity and his unflappable manner besides. Nick Pope boasts four clean sheets already this year, and he ranks only 11th in the division for saves made thus far (ten).
His leadership skills and organisation on the left side of the central defence eliminate and concerns over his lanky frame and limited passing range and mobility. Howe, after all, hailed the veteran as “an incredible signing” who has exceeded expectations.
The defensive giant may not match Botman’s athleticism or technical command, but he has been an essential part of this wonderful patch in Newcastle’s modern history – a period which may well be remembered as the foundation of a new age on Tyneside.
Last year, Burn got the ball rolling at Wembley, putting paid to a woeful Liverpool side and sparking the victory that led to gold.
It was a career-defining moment from the boy from Blyth, but he’s not done yet, this boyhood Toon, and he’s ready to write another chapter into an incredible journey.
Newcastle’s “explosive” star once looked like Shearer, now he needs to go
Newcastle star’s struggles mirror team’s attacking woes in Bournemouth draw.
By
Will Miller
Sep 22, 2025
انتقد الإعلامي أحمد شوبير الطريقة التي جرى بها التعامل مع لاعب نادي زد أحمد عاطف خلال معسكر منتخب مصر استعدادًا لبطولة كأس العرب في قطر، مؤكدًا أن اللاعب تعرض لموقف غير عادل بعدما تم استبعاده بدعوى الإصابة رغم تأكيده أنه سليم تمامًا.
وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الاثنين: “حق الاختيار والاستبعاد هو حق أصيل للمدرب، ولكن عندما أظهر أمام الجمهور ومعي اللاعبين وكل الأمور على ما يرام، أجد اللاعب في غاية السعادة، أسرته تودّعه وتدعو له، والدته تقبّله وتقول له: يا بُني ربنا يوفقك ويكرمك، والبيت كله يدعو له قبل سفره، وهو يقول لهم: ادعوا لي ولا تنسوني من الدعاء. أمور جميلة بالفعل، كلام جميل وكله فرحة”.
وتابع: “ما حدث أنّ أحمد عاطف، وهو أحد المهاجمين المحترمين في نادي زد، وكان قبل ذلك في نادي مودرن، سافر مع بعثة منتخب مصر الثاني إلى قطر، كانت هناك محاولات لضم مروان حمدي، مهاجم بيراميدز، ولكن أحمد عاطف كان موجودًا بالفعل، ولوائح الاتحاد العربي لا تسمح باستبدال لاعب إلا في حالة الإصابة”.
وأضاف: “وعندما فشلت محاولات ضم مروان حمدي، قُدّم تقرير يفيد بأن أحمد عاطف مصاب، فقال لهم اللاعب: والله العظيم لست مصابًا، ولا يمكن أن أكذب في مثل هذه الأمور، لكنهم قالوا له: لا، أنت مصاب، فأكد لهم أنه غير مصاب وأنه سليم تمامًا، لكنهم أصرّوا على موقفهم بدعوى أنهم يعرفون مصلحته أكثر منه”.
طالع أيضًا | أحمد حسن عن أزمة أحمد عاطف: اللاعب أساء لنفسه.. وتصريحاته غير مبرّرة
وواصل: “دخل أحمد عاطف بعد ذلك في أزمة، وفي النهاية بدا وكأنه هو المخطئ! وهذا نوع من الظلم، ضع نفسك مكان اللاعب.. مثلًا الكابتن أحمد حسن، مدير المنتخب: لو كنت مكان أحمد عاطف وتعرضت لمثل هذا الموقف، ماذا ستفعل؟ اللاعب لم يقل شيئًا مسيئًا، لكنه كان يشعر بالظلم وبالألم الكبير في داخله”.
وأضاف: “أنا أيضًا كنت متألمًا جدًّا مما حدث، ومُنع الحديث في الأمر حتى لا تُكتب مذكرة ويتم تحويلها إلى هيئة التحكيم الدولية، رغم أن اللاعب لم يرتكب أي خطأ، هو فقط عبّر عن شعوره، لكن حتى هذا لم يُسمح له به، هناك وجع حقيقي، والموضوع لا يحتاج إلى الكثير من الكلام”.
واختتم: “أنا لست مختلفًا على أن مروان حمدي لاعب مهم وسيُضيف للمنتخب بإذن الله، وهذه وجهة نظر فنية تُحترم، لكن ما حدث مع أحمد عاطف لم يكن جيدًا.. لم يكن لطيفًا على الإطلاق”.
For the first time this century, the Blue Jays are officially back in the World Series.
After defeating the Yankees in the American League Division Series, the Blue Jays returned to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016. Toronto quickly fell behind to the Mariners, dropping their first two games of the series before winning the next two games to even it out. The Mariners won Game 5, but the Blue Jays rebounded by winning Game 6. Toronto again fell in a 3–1 hole to Seattle in Game 7, but propelled themselves to the pennant off a three-run home run by George Springer in the seventh inning.
The Blue Jays are now set to face the Dodgers in the World Series, which begins on Friday. Before the World Series begins, here's a look at the Blue Jay's prior World Series history.
The Blue Jays last won the World Series in 1993, when they defeated the Phillies in six games and Paul Molitor was named the MVP of the series in his first season with the team. Molitor hit two doubles, two triples and two home runs in the World Series victory to claim MVP.
Toronto won the 1993 World Series in dramatic fashion. They entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing Philadelphia 6–5, who were on the verge of forcing Game 7 before Joe Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run to win the title. Carter became just the second player to win the World Series with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Blue Jays' last World Series appearance came the same year as their most recent championship victory in 1993. Following that win, it took the Blue Jays over 20 years before they returned to the postseason again in '15, when Josh Donaldson won the American League MVP award. Toronto is in its sixth postseason appearance since 2015, and made it to the ALCS for the third time since their last World Series appearance. This time though, they advanced.
The Blue Jays have won a total of two World Series titles, winning them in back-to-back years in 1992 and '93. They became the second expansion team to win multiple World Series titles, along with the Mets. The 1977 expansion team made their first postseason appearance during their ninth season in '85, and then their first World Series in '92.
The Blue Jays are one of seven franchises to win the World Series in consecutive seasons, joining the Yankees, Athletics, Reds, Giants, Red Sox and Cubs. The Yankees and Athletics are the only teams that have won back-to-back World Series multiple times.
Toronto was unable to achieve a three-peat after their two World Series wins. They finished 55–60 in '94, but even if they did finish with a better result, they would not have been able to try for a third straight title due to a player's strike which caused the postseason to be canceled that year.