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The USWNT star hadn't scored a Champions League goal since the 2022 final, but that long wait for another ended at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday

Catarina Macario's first Champions League goal in two and a half years set Chelsea on their way to a dominant 6-1 win over Twente on Wednesday night, as Sonia Bompastor's 100 percent start to life in charge of the English champions extended to a remarkable 14 wins from 14 games. With the Blues already through to the knockout rounds, the coach tried out a few different things in this fixture, including pairing Macario with Mayra Ramirez in a 4-4-2 set-up. It was a choice that produced favourable returns too, as the two ran Twente ragged in a first half that saw the visitors blown out of the water.

There were just three minutes on the clock when Macario broke the deadlock, her first European goal since helping Lyon to win the 2022 UWCL final taking the form of a cheeky half volley which looped over Twente goalkeeper Olivia Clark. There was briefly parity in this game, when Kayleigh van Dooren converted from the spot after Maika Hamano gave away a needless penalty, but it was only for two minutes, as Oriane Jean-Francois ensured Chelsea led again on the half hour mark.

From there, it was smooth sailing. Ramirez scored an outstanding goal from range, lobbing Clark after latching onto a loose ball some 35 yards out, and Erin Cuthbert burst into the box to make it 4-1 before half time. Things would settle down after the break, though only after Sjoeke Nusken headed in a fifth within minutes of the restart, with the scoring concluding late on when Eve Perisset added further gloss to a very one-sided affair.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Zecira Musovic (6/10):

  Stopped anything Twente threw at her with the exception of the penalty, which she was very close to as well.

  Eve Perisset (7/10):

  Solid, hard-working display in which she rarely lost a duel. Deserved her goal.

  Nathalie Bjorn (6/10):

  Slow reactions almost let Twente get another goal back in the first half. That summed up an imperfect defensive display, though not a torrid one. Only played the first half.

  Millie Bright (7/10):

  Her and Bjorn were slightly off it in the first half and a better team would've got a few goals. Improved after the break and was fantastic on the ball, spraying some really nice passes around at times.

  Niamh Charles (6/10):

  Got forward well and created a fair few chances, though that sometimes let Twente in behind on the counter.

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  Midfield

  Maika Hamano (6/10):

  Gave away a really needless penalty to allow Twente to level the scores and get herself a booking. Was at least lively in attack to somewhat make amends.

  Erin Cuthbert (7/10):

  Battled brilliantly, winning possession back more than any other player, and got herself on the scoresheet after a great run.

  Oriane Jean-Francois (6/10):

  Limped off before half time with an injury, which was a sad way for a game in which she scored a nice individual goal to end.

  Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

  Had some really bright moments out wide, including a brilliant nutmeg. Moved more central in the second half but lacked service.

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  Attack

  Catarina Macario (8/10):

  That she was the striker tasked with dropping back more often really suited her, as it allowed her to showcase her passing range while also providing a significant goal threat. Cute finish for the opener.

  Mayra Ramirez (8/10):

  Decision-making and finishing wasn't always accurate, otherwise she could've had a hatful. Ran Twente absolutely ragged and scored a brilliant goal from range. Opposing defenders will have been delighted to see her go off at half time.

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  Subs & Manager

  Wieke Kaptein (6/10):

  Replaced Jean-Francois just before the break and supported the attack well with runs from deep. Good in possession.

  Guro Reiten (6/10):

  Should've had at least one goal, if not two, after coming on at the interval. Brought plenty of energy going forward.

  Sjoeke Nusken (7/10):

  Made an immediate impact as a half time sub when she headed in Hamano's cross within 90 seconds of coming on the pitch. Allowed Bompastor to rest Bjorn by showcasing her versatility as a centre-back.

  Ashley Lawrence (6/10):

  Came into the game when Twente's threat had cooled a little, so she didn't have much to do defensively. Still, she settled well.

  Lola Brown (7/10):

  The highly-rated teenager got a good half an hour run out here and she approached it really positively, constantly running at her marker and trying to make things happen.

  Sonia Bompastor (7/10):

  With her team already qualified for the knockout stages, Bompastor used this opportunity to rest key players and give others minutes and she struck the balance well to ensure a dominant display. Was nice to see Brown get a good run out in the second half especially.

Sekou Kone has revealed his reaction when Manchester United first tried to sign him and how he wants to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps.

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• Kone joined Man Utd this summer
• Said they were too good to turn down
• Wants to follow in Ronaldo's footsteps

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kone swapped Malian side Guidars FC for United this summer and since then he has played for the club's under-19 and under-21 sides. The 18-year-old admitted "you don't turn down" the Red Devils if they come calling and that he wants to succeed where other United youngsters, such as Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, have done before him.

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  WHAT SEKOU KONE SAID

  He told Africa Foot: “At first, I didn’t expect to sign for Manchester United. When I was presented with the offer, I was on cloud nine. Manchester United are a great club in world football and I can only be delighted with this choice, which will enable me to move up the ladder.

  “It’s a demanding club that has won the title 20 times. It’s also a club that knows how to spot good opportunities. They made a big offer for a kid from Mali, despite the fact that I had everything to prove. And to be honest, you can’t turn down Manchester United. I’ve always said to myself that it was a choice of the heart, because I’ve loved Manchester United since I was a kid.

  “I understand the concern about my future in the short term, but I’m not worried at all. A lot of youngsters have been launched, like CR7, Rashford and most recently Mainoo, and the new coach is a fan of the beautiful game and loves youngsters too. I just need to work really hard and grab my chance when it comes.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kone joined United despite interest from Liverpool and Wolves earlier this year. The Mali teenager will have had an excellent career if he is mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldo and Rashford when it comes to young United gems.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Kone, who has made two appearances for United's under-21 side this season, will be targeting a first-team debut under head coach Ruben Amorim at some point in the not-so-distant future.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement managed to get a few high earners off the wage bill at the end of last season.

John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic all departed Ibrox after varying degrees of success, but the clearout helped Clement bring in several new players during the summer transfer window.

Lundstram was perhaps the most polarising figure out of the four. Capable of producing wonder purple patches during his spell at the Light Blues, the Englishman was never consistent enough to perform solidly on a regular basis.

Having signed the likes of Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande, Lundstram is now a thing of the past.

John Lundstram’s Rangers statistics

Lundstram was signed in the immediate aftermath of the successful 2020/21 campaign, which saw the Gers win their first league title in a decade under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard.

Having played in the Premier League with Sheffield United, luring him north of the border on a free transfer was seen as a major coup for the club, one that Gerrard hoped could carry the momentum from the 2020/21 campaign into the new season.

The midfielder ended up playing 48 matches across all competitions for the Gers, yet he failed to really shine in the top flight as the club lost their title to Celtic.

Europe was a different story, however. Lundstram appeared in all but one of the club’s Europa League fixtures as they reached the final after a stunning run after Christmas, seeing off the likes of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

The Englishman scored against both sides, including the winner against the latter in the semifinals, endearing himself to the Ibrox faithful.

This led Ally McCoist to lavish praise on the player ahead of the Europa League final, saying: "His form the last couple of months has been nothing short of magnificent. He's become a cult hero."

The following two seasons failed to see him perform the way he did during this wonderful run in Europe, struggling domestically as Celtic won every trophy minus the 2023 League Cup.

Overall, Lundstram made more than 150 appearances for Rangers, registering 20 goal contributions in the process, but there is a feeling that his spell in Scotland could have been better if he was more consistent, rather than sparkling in spells.

His departure freed up a good chunk of the wage bill. Might Clement forget all about him by signing another midfielder before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month?

Rangers' search to replace Lundstram

According to a report from the Daily Record earlier this week, the Light Blues are keeping tabs on Benfica starlet Martim Nemo as a loan deal has been touted for the player.

Nemo has played just once for Benfica, but was given some minutes during pre-season and manager Roger Schmidt stated the midfielder could depart again if he so wishes, saying:

"Martim has done well at Gil Vicente after the injury he sustained. "Regardless of whether the players go on loan or not, we have to accept things as they are. With all the players who leave Benfica, the idea is to give them the opportunity to develop and gain confidence.

"And of course it is always an excellent opportunity for Benfica. The idea is to have a good overview of all the players, but we have to make difficult decisions later on because we have to respect the player's own wishes."

This could give Clement an ideal chance to sign the youngster on a temporary deal, which could turn into a £2.5m purchase next summer should the Ibrox side decide to sign him permanently.

Why Martim Nemo could be a dream signing for Connor Barron

Nemo spent last season on loan at Portuguese side Gil Vicente, operating in a deep lying role as he made a total of 33 appearances for the club, scoring once and grabbing two assists.

The 21-year-old showed a willingness to get on the ball often, averaging over 40 touches per game, while he also succeeded with 0.9 dribbles per match – a success rate of 82% – showing that he enjoys getting forward often and beating his man.

Lauded by scout Jacek Kulig as an “exciting” talent along with several other Benfica youngsters back in 2021, Nemo may soon have to leave the club in order to secure regular first-team football.

In the Portuguese top flight last term, Nemo ranked in the top 20% for progressive carries (2.22), the top 4% for successful take-on percentage (77.1%), the top 10% for ball recoveries (7.13) and the top 17% for tackles in the middle third (1.25) per 90 when compared to his positional peers.

This clearly showcases his talents, despite playing for a team that finished in 12th position last season, underlining his importance.

Alongside Barron, Nemo could form a dream partnership with the former Aberdeen gem, as the two would look to control things in the middle of the pitch, allowing those in front of them to operate more freely.

This could see a young, vibrant, central midfielder duo formed by Clement. With Barron already shining for the club since moving from the Dons, adding another young sensation into the starting XI may give him add room for some extra freedom.

Much will depend who Clement can shift out of the door between now and the deadline on Friday evening, but bringing in a talent like Nemo could be a stroke of genius.

Of course, adding in another one or two experienced players may be the route the Belgian goes down, but if a chance to sign Nemo arises, then it must be taken.

This initial £2.5m investment could soon see the Light Blues make a substantial profit on their investment in the next few years.

There could be a flurry of activity happening at Ibrox over the next five days. Watch this space.

On the shortlist: Rangers chasing "outstanding" £2m Wright upgrade

Philippe Clement will need to sell players before he can seal any new signings

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 23, 2024

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has admitted uncertainity over Joshua Zirkzee's future amid interest from Juventus.

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• Zirkzee linked with January exit
• Amorim opens up on striker's future
• Juventus offer Vlahovic swap deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Zirkzee joined Manchester United last summer as part of the Red Devils' massive recruitment drive for former manager Erik ten Hag as INEOS wanted to back the Dutchman with his preferred signings. However, the summer spending did not work in Ten Hag's favour as he was sacked in October and replaced by Amorim, who has backed Zirkzee but the Dutch striker has failed to impress the Portuguese coach.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Zirkzee has been linked with a potential return to Italy, where he showed his best form at Bologna. As per Corriere dello Sport, Juventus are interested in signing the Dutch striker on loan this winter as they struggle with form in front of goal. As per talkSPORT, Juventus have also offered Dusan Vlahovic in a swap deal as United are very keen on selling Zirkzee in a permanent deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Amorim has now opened up about Zirkzee's first six months at Manchester United and claimed that he wants the Dutch striker to remain at Old Trafford but admitted uncertainty over the situation.

  Speaking to talkSPORT, Amorim said: “I want to keep Josh because he gives everything and he’s trying in training but we don’t know.

  “The window is open and we will see what happens. We just need to focus on training and to take this for the other games. It’s just one point so let’s focus on the performance for the next games."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ZIRKZEE?

  The Dutch striker is highly unlikely to move away from United on a permanent basis this January, however, a loan move could likely be on the cards as Juventus and other Italian clubs show interest this month.

After missing out on Marc Guehi, Newcastle United reportedly went all out to sign an attacking reinforcement on deadline day, offering a package worth as much as £50m.

Newcastle transfer news

The final day of the transfer window was one of desperation for Newcastle. Every time the Magpies' offer for Guehi increased, Crystal Palace's asking price seemingly did the same before any chance of the deal taking place collapsed. After an unsuccessful summer-long saga, the Magpies are back to square one and still need a central defender with the window closed.

"Incredible" Newcastle player set to travel for talks as shock move nears

The Magpies are set to lose the defender…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 1, 2024

As things stand, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles injured, Eddie Howe has Lloyd Kelly and Fabian Schar to call on when it comes to natural central defenders to call on, with Dan Burn and Emil Krafth filling in. Those options are unlikely to improve anytime soon unless Newcastle turn towards the free agent market.

What's more, their failure to sign Guehi didn't see them go for an alternative option. Instead, those at St James' Park reportedly went all out in pursuit of an attacking reinforcement, ditching their need for a centre-back altogether.

According to The Athletic's Daniel Taylor, Newcastle included Miguel Almiron in a player-plus-cash offer worth £50m for Anthony Elanga, only for Nottingham Forest to stand firm and hand them their second rejection in quick succession.

In the end, Almiron remained a Newcastle player, despite being linked with a move away throughout the window, while Elanga stayed put at Forest. But things could yet change in January, with Sky Sports pundit Curtis Davies recently backing the Magpies to return for the winger.

"Brilliant" Elanga is better than Almiron

When the January window opens, signing an upgrade on Almiron alongside another central defender should be the two biggest priorities for Newcastle. Solving that first problem may well involve Elanga, who has come to life at Forest to earn such interest and become a player capable of offering Howe a much-needed upgrade on his current winger.

Outperforming Almiron in several key areas, Elanga's output was particularly impressive compared to the Newcastle man last time out, with 16 goal involvements to his name as Forest battled to survive.

The Swede has earned plenty of praise throughout his Premier League career, including from former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, who told the club's official website when Elanga was breaking through at Old Trafford: "Anthony Elanga has been absolutely brilliant. It's just the energy he brings – he starts it from the front, he tries to run in behind, he's a player we need at the moment.

"He puts pressure on defenders and he has scored some good goals for us as well. As a young player, you want him to do all the best because you know how hard it can be, and he has definitely been a spark for us. He is somebody that we need at the moment."

Mohamed Salah has explained the reasons behind his Vinicius Junior The Best vote, with the Liverpool star still hoping to land the Ballon d'Or.

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• Egypt captain formed part of FIFA voting process
• Vinicius won The Best award but lost Ballon d'Or
• Reds forward is an early frontrunner in 2025

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As captain of the Egypt national team, Salah formed part of the poll that resulted in Vinicius walking away with The Best FIFA Men's Player award. However, journalists voted Manchester City midfielder Rodri as the Ballon d'Or winner a few months earlier. His Premier League title-winning exploits, alongside a Euro 2024 triumph with Spain, saw him come away with a prestigious prize.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Many have questioned why Brazilian forward Vinicius was nudged into second place, with the South American helping Real Madrid to La Liga and Champions League titles. Salah was among those to offer his support to a ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu.

• WHAT SALAH SAID

  Quizzed on that vote by , Salah – who remains a talismanic presence for Premier League leaders Liverpool – said: "Vinicius Jr is a very good player, that’s why! He’s improving every year and hopefully he can continue… I voted for him because he deserves it."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Salah has finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or vote on two occasions, but is considered to be an early frontrunner for the 2025 award after hitting the 20-goal mark at Anfield for an eighth successive season. He added on winning a Golden Ball at some stage: "Best in the world? It’s tricky! People have different preferences. I always see myself as the best and I want to give my best for the team."

An experienced international has reportedly held private talks with Mikel Arteta over the possibility of joining Arsenal on deadline day, with the 11pm cut-off fast approaching.

Edu and Arteta looking at signing attacker for Arsenal

Sporting director Edu Gaspar and the recruitment team are still at work over transfers, but time is quickly running out for the Gunners to make new additions, with just hours remaining to get any proposed new transfers over the line.

£50,000-per-week ace set for Arsenal medical with deadline day deal agreed

The Gunners have reportedly sealed another signing.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 30, 2024

Arsenal agreed a season-long loan for goalkeeper Neto last night, who will join on a temporary deal with no buy option or obligation included – securing a replacement for ex-second choice shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale after his £25 million move to Southampton.

Alongside Neto, there are suggestions that Arsenal are looking at a last-minute opportunity to sign a new forward, and Arteta has refused to rule out the possibility of one joining in the coming hours – specifically ex-Man City star and current Chelsea wantaway Raheem Sterling.

“Let's see, it's always possible”, said Arteta on last-minute deals at Arsenal.

“In the last 24 hours of the transfer window, never rule out anything. Sterling? I cannot talk about a player of another team, you know I never do”.

The 29-year-old, who worked under Arteta at City for many years, has been frozen out of Enzo Mareca's squad at Stamford Bridge as he frantically looks for a way out before the 11pm deadline.

Other reports suggest that Sterling has been offered out to Arsenal in the last few days, and it is something which the north Londoners are genuinely considering, as they scour the market for alternatives to Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.

Sterling holds private talks with Arteta over joining Arsenal

According to journalist 'Sam C', who works for The United Stand and That's Football TV under that alias, Sterling has already spoken with Arteta about joining Arsenal on deadline day.

"As per others, Understand that possibility of Raheem Sterling joining Arsenal is alive," said the reporter.

"It’s not advanced, as it stands, but club working out internally if they want to go for it and what formula they’d like to go with, if so. Told Raheem has already spoken to Mikel Arteta about the possibility of this happening. Chelsea – still interested in Sancho deal."

The Premier League star has quite a record in the English top flight, having scored 123 goals while registering a further 62 assists across 379 appearances. He's enjoyed spells at Liverpool, City and Chelsea, all while winning trophies galore and amassing 82 caps for England.

Depending on the fee and finances involved, he'd be quite the final day capture, just two years after joining Chelsea for an initial fee of around £48 million.

Chelsea need to make headway under Enzo Maresca this season; if the Blues suffer a regression from last season's performances, the atmosphere could turn sour.

But rest assured, the Italian tactician has plenty of tactical intelligence and a slick and control-focused game that stems from his former tutor Pep Guardiola.

The scattergun approach to transfer dealings has been something of a mixed bag across the past few years, but the signing of Cole Palmer has been one of the finest pieces of business in Chelsea's history – is that fair to say?

Chelsea hit the jackpot with Cole Palmer

Palmer is as yet trophyless at Chelsea, but despite this, he's been an extraordinary addition to the side, a beacon of hope for supporters during a testing period in their club's storied history.

With 26 goals and 19 assists across just 50 appearances, the 22-year-old is fast establishing himself as one of football's foremost attacking players, hailed as "exceptionally talented" by presenter Gary Lineker.

Indeed, as per FBref, he currently ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both goals and assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90.

Signed from Manchester City for just £42.5m, Chelsea have paid a bargain fee for a talent who's on his way toward superstar status. However, he can't do it alone, and while the Blues have a rich and varied attacking line, there's one former star whose sale continues to be a rueful thing for the west Londoners.

His name is Kai Havertz.

Why Chelsea must rue selling Kai Havertz

When Chelsea sold Havertz to rivals Arsenal for a £65m fee last summer, many Premier League fans chuckled. Havertz is a player of unquestionable quality but he hadn't applied his dynamic and protean attacking threat with the desired consistency and fluency during his time at Chelsea.

That's evidenced through his strike record at Stamford Bridge, something that has been made all the most frustrating since hitting a rich vein of form under Mikel Arteta's wing last year and now sustaining his level, a crucial part of Arsenal's ongoing fight against Manchester City.

Chelsea signed Havertz from German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £71m in 2020, when he was only 21 years old. The Germany international scored the winning goal in Chelsea's Champions League final showdown against Man City, immortalising his name somewhat, but his overall contribution was patchy, his prolificness leaving things to be desired.

He was significantly less clinical at Chelsea than he has been elsewhere. Moreover, the 25-year-old has scored two goals and claimed one assist across his opening three matches of the 2024/25 campaign with the Gunners, carrying over his form from the second half of last season.

That form came as he was placed into a focal role at number nine after spending the lion's share of his early days at the Emirates in central midfield, repurposed as a mobile attacking midfielder.

Chelsea have an overload of attacking options but Havertz is now starting to show the level that the Blyes paid so much money for four years ago, and it's frustrating to watch him bloom at a rival such as Arsenal – who are chasing down the Premier League title besides.

And anyway, had they nurtured him closer toward his full potential, Chelsea could have cashed in for a profit, rather than suffering a slight loss.

As per Football Transfers' player valuation model, Havertz's value has skyrocketed since his sale just one year ago, now bearing a market price of £80m.

Remarkably, Football Transfers' number crunch puts him above any player in Maresca's Chelsea squad – and that includes Palmer, who is valued at £47m right now but, of course, is only going to see that figure balloon further over the coming years.

It also puts him above Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea for a whopping £107m fee back in January 2023 after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, but has since seen a depreciation to his name, worth just £42m at present, failing to capture the prodigious performances that prompted Clearlake and Todd Boehly to pay the staggering sum for his services.

This all goes to show that Chelsea, perhaps, ceded their ownership of the player right before hitting the goldmine that Arsenal have found, sculpting him into an offensive force to be reckoned with.

Havertz, to hammer the point home, ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for progressive passes and the top 7% for tackles per 90, so you can really see how technically sharp and tenacious he is across the park.

Christopher Nkunku was his ostensible replacement, with the versatile Frenchman welcomed from RB Leipzig last June in a £52m deal, and though he's positionally flexible, electric and prolific, injuries have blighted his stay in the English capital, having scored five goals from a paltry 19 matches in just over a year, starting only three times in the Premier League.

Praised for his "sensational" performances by Arteta, Havertz is truly a manager's dream, and though he failed to bring it all together at Chelsea, his skillset could have been perfect for Maresca, and watching him thrive for Arsenal is a bitter pill to swallow.

Chelsea nearly signed world star for £0, now he's worth more than Palmer

The Blues fumbled the bag with this one…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 9, 2024

In-form Barcelona star Raphinha is backing teenage team-mate Lamine Yamal to win at least three Ballons d'Or in the future.

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• Raphinha piles praise on Barcelona wonderkid
• Expecting future Ballon d'Or success
• Plays down his own chances

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Raphinha and Yamal have both been in stellar form for Hansi Flick's Barcelona this season and it would be no surprise to see both players in the running for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award. Yamal picked up the Kopa Trophy last year, given to the best Under-21 player, and finished eighth in the Golden Ball standings. The 17-year-old has already admitted he's targeting the Ballon d'Or and has regularly been tipped to claim the most prestigious individual prize in football during his career.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yet Raphinha has also emerged as a contender during a season where he's taken on the captain's armband at Barca, due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's long-term injury, and regularly proved to be an inspirational figure. The Brazilian has 11 goals and six assists in 19 La Liga games and also scored twice in Barcelona's Super Cup final win over Real Madrid last time out.

• WHAT RAPHINHA SAID

  In an interview with , Raphinha said: "Lamine is going to win quite a few Ballons d’Or… let us say three."

  Raphinha then played down his own chances of being crowned the best player on the planet: "My goal is to be a better version of myself every day. If it happens, fine, but what matters to me are the collective titles."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA

  More trophies may need to be delivered this season at Barcelona if Yamal or Raphinha are to lift the Ballon d'Or. The Catalans go in search of more silverware on Wednesday against Real Betis in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told NBA legend Michael Jordan would’ve “doubled” the record-breaking social media numbers that the Portuguese has posted.

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• CR7 has most-followed Instagram account
• Made history when launching YouTube channel
• Jordan was the world's biggest star in his heyday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo boasts the most followers on Instagram at 648 million, while his YouTube channel smashed records in 2024 when racing to 1m subscribers and moving on to over 73m. Those impressive numbers allow Ronaldo to generate huge figures on the advertising revenue front.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo continues to set the standard in football circles and across the sporting spectrum, but the evergreen Al-Nassr superstar has been told that Chicago Bulls icon Jordan would have been even more popular had social media been a thing in his heyday.

• WHAT SCOTTIE PIPPEN SAID

  Jordan’s former team-mate, Scottie Pippen, has told the : “Yeah, I mean hey, it would have been different. Looking at these numbers, you just don’t know. Being a player in the ‘90s, we didn’t grow up in this social media era, but for who you’re talking about? He’s one of the greatest players, greatest athletes in the world, and 648 million [Ronaldo’s followers] speaks for itself.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pippen went on to say of the interest that Jordan would have attracted from a global audience: “I think he would have probably doubled that, I’m going to be honest. Basketball in the ‘90s, when it first jumped off, just having social media back then would have been amazing.”