Harry Kane could reportedly be in line for an Antonio Conte reunion, with the former Tottenham boss featuring on Bayern Munich’s managerial shortlist.

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Tuchel will step down in the summerAlonso remains top targetConte out of work since leaving SpursWHAT HAPPENED?

The Bundesliga giants will find themselves in the market for a new boss this summer as they prepare to part with ex-Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel. Another man that has previously spent time at Stamford Bridge could be drafted in to help fill that void.

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Conte is considered to be an alternative option for Bayern if they miss out on top target Xabi Alonso – who remains tied to a contract at Bayer Leverkusen and would require a sizeable compensation fee to be paid out in order to get a deal done.

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If an agreement proves impossible there, with Alonso also attracting interest from other clubs across Europe, then reports that Bayern will turn their attention to Conte. The fiery Italian has savoured title success in the past with Chelsea, Juventus and Inter.

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Conte has been out of work since leaving Spurs in March 2023, so would be available to step straight in at the Allianz Arena. He has managed prolific Bayern striker Kane before, along with Eric Dier, and would hope to get Bavarian heavyweights back on the trophy trail if they miss out on major silverware this season.

أعلن نادي الزمالك عن تلقيه عرضًا رسميًا من ناديين أوروبيين لقضاء لاعبين من قطاع الناشئين، فترة معايشة بهما خلال الأيام المقبلة، تمهيدًا للتعاقد معهما خلال الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

وأكد نادي الزمالك تلقي، عرضاً رسمياً من ناديي ماجديبورج الألماني وسيلتا فيجو الإسباني، بشأن قضاء الثنائي أنس وائل وزياد أحمد فتحي، لاعبا فريقي 2005 و2007 بالقلعة البيضاء، لفترة معايشة.

مران الزمالك | شيكابالا وسامسون يشاركان استعدادًا لمواجهة بلدية المحلة

وقال بدر حامد رئيس قطاعات كرة القدم بنادي الزمالك في تصريحات رسمية للمركز الإعلامي بالقلعة البيضاء، أن فريق ماجديبورج الألماني، طلب قضاء أنس وائل الجناح الهجومي لفريق 2005، لفترة معايشة لمدة أسبوعين، تمهيدًا للتعاقد معه، وهو ما وافق عليه مجلس إدارة القلعة البيضاء.

وأضاف أن أنس وائل يقوم حالياً بإنهاء إجراءات السفر الخاصة به إلى ألمانيا، تمهيداً للانضمام إلى تدريبات فريق ماجديبورج خلال الأيام القليلة القادمة.

الزمالك يوضح موقفه من خوض مباراة السوبر الإفريقي أمام الأهلي

وتابع رئيس قطاعات كرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، أن سيلتا فيجو الإسباني، طلب قضاء زياد أحمد فتحي، لفترة معايشة لمدة أسبوعين، مشيراً إلى أن الإدارة وافقت على سفر اللاعب بعد إنتهاء إجراءات الخاصة به.

وأوضح بدر حامد، أن مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، لن يقف في طريق أي لاعب، لأن ذلك سيعود بالنفع فنياً على القلعة البيضاء في المستقبل القريب.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após dez dias afastado do elenco por ter sido contaminado com a Covid-19, Jean Mota começou no banco de reservas na derrota santista por 1 a 0 para o Athletico-PR, neste sábado (21), pela 22ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, na Arena da Baixada, em Curitiba.

O jogador, que entrou em campo aos 22 minutos da etapa final, mas não conseguiu impedir o revés, admitiu que não teria condições de atuar os 90 minutos e que também houve uma preocupação do corpo técnico em preservar atletas vistos como titulares para o confronto diante da LDU, nesta terça-feira (24), pela ida das oitavas de final da Libertadores, em Quito, no Equador, localidade com 2.850m de altitude.

> Veja a classificação do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos

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– Um pouco sem ritmo, normal, ficamos dez dias sem treinar, sem fazer nada. Era um jogo difícil. A gente tem um jogo muitíssimo importante agora. Claro que a gente queria uma vitória pra subir na tabela, mas agora temos a Libertadores. A gente tem o jogo do ano para levar a vantagem pra casa – disse à TNT ao fim da partida.

Após o uruguaio Carlos Sánchez romper o ligamento do joelho na vitória santista por 3 a 2, contra o Olimpia, em Assunção, pela quinta rodada do grupo G da Libertadores, no dia 01º de outubro, Jean Mota, aos poucos, virou figura frequente entre os titulares, foram nove de 13 partidas.

This means South African cricket is without sponsors – for now – for the franchise first-class and 20-over competitions for the 2018-19 season

Firdose Moonda27-Aug-2018Only one of Cricket South Africa’s three domestic sponsors remain in place ahead of the 2018-19 season, in which there could be no corporate backing for either the franchise first-class competition or the 20-over tournament. Only the 50-over format continues to be sponsored, by the financial services company Momentum.Sunfoil, the sponsors of Test cricket and both the franchise four-day and provincial three-day competitions, opted not to renew its deal with CSA at the end of the 2017-18 summer, ending a relationship which lasted seven years. ESPNcricinfo understands that the company would prefer to use its marketing budget differently. A CSA spokesperson said the organisation is at “at a more advanced stage in negotiations with a replacement and are confident we will be able to conclude the arrangement soon”.In the shortest, and most troubled format, for CSA, courier company RAM have decided not to back the T20 Challenge. RAM re-signed for the 2017-18 season, when the tournament replaced the postponed Global League T20 (GLT20), after also pulling out of a deal with CSA in 2016. For the 2018-19 summer, the competition has no sponsor and, given its timing and the uncertainty over whether another 20-over competition will also take place in South Africa, it is difficult to see how it could attract a backer.The franchise T20 tournament will be played from the April 5 to May 5, 2019, which is particularly late in the South African season. It will also clash with the IPL, meaning big-name South African players who are contracted to the Indian competition are unlikely to be able to play for their domestic franchises. Moreover, if a replacement for the GLT20 takes place, this competition will be an afterthought that could become defunct in years to come.The rest of the domestic season takes its usual form, and starts with the first-class competition in the last week in September. All six franchises will play each other, home and away. The one-day cup will be played between February 8 and April 1, with the semi-finals and final set to feature international caps. The knockouts will be played after the white-ball leg of Sri Lanka’s tour to South Africa, so the national players should be free to participate in the franchise fixtures and thereby have further preparation for the 2019 World Cup.

Newcastle United returned to action in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, however, Eddie Howe’s side suffered their first defeat in this season’s tournament to Borussia Dortmund.

The Bundesliga outfit lifted themselves from the bottom of the table by sealing a well-fought 1-0 win at St James’ Park, seeing the hosts pulled back to reality after their historic victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the previous group fixture.

Dortmund arrived in the North East having claimed just one point from their opening two group stage games, with a win integral for Edin Terzic to take back to Germany.

Newcastle failed to overcome the Borussia Dortmund test

Despite missing out on the three points, Howe’s side pushed Dortmund throughout the 90 minutes, as highlighted by the Magpies dominating 60% of possession and recording 12 shots on goal, via Sofascore.

That being said, the Magpies fell short against Terzic’s well-organised side in the final third, where the visitors had the upper hand, registering 13 shots on goal and 1.79 expected goals (xG) to Newcastle’s 1.27 xG.

It was a fast start to the affair in the torrential conditions at St James’ Park, setting the tone for the challenge ahead of the hosts as Dortmund showed little fear of Howe’s fast-pressing side.

The deadlock was broken moments prior to the interval, with a goal that was decisive to the result as Felix Nmecha expertly tucked the ball into Nick Pope’s net after a deadly move from the visitors.

Newcastle had plenty of chances to equalise, not many coming as close as the Geordies hitting the crossbar in the dying seconds, however, it was simply not their night.

It was an all-around lacklustre performance by the hosts, with the midfield battle not won by those in black and white, as the trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Joelinton looked withered.

After his heroics against PSG, Longstaff seemed to have lost his spark against Dortmund, reinforced by him receiving an inadequate match rating of four from the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood.

Braidwood described the Englishman as lacking sharpness in possession and a figure that 'struggled to match' the opposition, portrayed through his 67% pass completion rate and one ground duel won, via Sofascore.

The stats on why Joelinton struggled against Borussia Dortmund

Longstaff wasn’t the only poor performer in the engine room for Newcastle, as Braidwood also dealt Joelinton a low score, giving him a match rating of five and declaring that he 'struggled' and was 'exposed' during Nmecha’s goal.

The Brazilian was out of position and failed to track the runners from midfield for the decisive goal, and looked far off the pace after recently returning from injury.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old failed to complete any crosses he attempted, and won just two out of his total duels on the night, with his lack of defensive presence also marked by his zero aerial wins.

After losing possession eight times and giving away two fouls, Joelinton was hooked in the 65th minute by Howe, with him described as being “not at his best” by journalist Firzie Idris.

The former Hoffenheim man lacked the usual conviction that he brings to a game, suggestive of his lack of recent game time and continual hunt for full fitness, which ultimately saw him have little impact in the important fixture.

It was a disappointing night for Newcastle after highs of the PSG victory, however, it’s still all to play for in Group F, with a huge hill for the Geordies to climb to ensure their progression to the knockouts.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club that has lost its way in recent years, in the relentless pursuit of silverware.

Chairman Daniel Levy would even admit his failures whilst striving for such a goal, which led him astray from the progression he was earning. He told a recent fan forum: "I had gone through a period where we'd almost won. With Mauricio we went through some very good times. We didn't quite get there but we came very close and we had a change in strategy. The strategy was 'let's bring in a trophy manager'.

"We did it twice and look you have to learn from your mistakes. They're great managers but maybe not for this club. For what we want, we want to play in a certain way and if that means it has to take a little bit longer to win maybe it's the right thing for us. That's why bringing Ange in was from my point of view the right decision."

Whilst his managerial moves were questionable across that period, so too has his transfer business, naturally seeking to back each of his new appointments in an effort to push them on towards that trophy-winning goal.

Although there have been some truly terrible acquisitions before Mauricio Pochettino joined the club, many of the more financially draining ones have come following the heavy modern-day injection of ridiculous fees. As such, they likely would litter a list consisting of their worst-ever buys.

Who is Spurs' worst-ever signing?

Whilst many might rush to laud Tanguy Ndombele as easily their most torrid deal, given he still remains their record signing at £63m and is currently out on his third loan since joining in 2019, there are others who might rival the underperforming Frenchman.

For example, if the £60m Richarlison is to continue his barren run in front of goal – having scored just five times to for the club to date – there is every chance he could end up leaving a similarly torrid legacy in north London.

Then, whilst not quite as lucrative gaffes, the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Roberto Soldado and Sergio Reguilon have also drained the club respectively whilst failing to live up to the billing of their initial purchases.

Another who falls into this category is Moussa Sissoko, who joined from Newcastle United as a dynamic right midfielder set to perfectly facilitate Pochettino's full-back-dependant system.

Having impressed on Tyneside, despite his 31 goal contributions across 133 games marking a hardly outstanding return, there was hope he might provide an injection of physicality both out wide and in the engine room alongside some much-needed goals.

However, the latter was definitely in short supply, as he would then score just five times, assisting a further 16 before his eventual departure. In fact, pundit and former Celtic man Chris Sutton would lambast their business, speaking harshly about the 71-cap dud: "Sissoko was a bad buy. And Pochettino's questioning him now.

"That was a really odd move I think to virtually everybody in the country looking from the outside thinking why on earth have they signed Sissoko? He downed tools last season. How can you trust him? That's a massive disappointment. A lot of money wasted."

Then, the nadir of his Lilywhites career inarguably came in the Champions League final, when his thoughtless decision to physically instruct his teammates saw him concede a penalty within two minutes. Pointing as he stood facing Sadio Mane, a right-footed delivery struck his outstretched arm, and Mohamed Salah would give Liverpool the lead in the biggest game in the north London outfit's history.

Although his actual fee does not amount to even half of Ndombele's, the significant underperformance combined with his equally expensive wages suggests that, pound for pound, the 34-year-old is certainly within the conversation for worst-ever Spurs signings.

How much did Spurs sign Moussa Sissoko for?

Whilst Sissoko's contribution was not completely useless, it was the fee attached to his name that held such huge expectations and therefore made him such a poor signing.

Having already made himself a mini hero before joining, as he reportedly turned his phone off to snub a move to Everton, it quickly became the Toffees who arguably benefitted from that move, having avoided spending £30m on such a disappointment.

He would explain his reasoning behind such a move in 2016: "It’s simple. I spoke with Everton in the past, but they didn’t make an offer to Newcastle when I wanted. And then Tottenham came. And so when they came, I wanted to join this club directly. Because, like I said, it’s a big club. So in my head, everything was clear. I wanted to sign here, that’s why I came here."

How much did Moussa Sissoko earn?

To make matters worse, the current FC Nantes midfielder was handed an equally lucrative deal that truly stretched the Lilywhites' finances.

He would earn a ludicrous £80k-per-week across his five years in north London, which amassed another £20.8m too on top of his initial transfer fee. Therefore, overall Sissoko would drain the club of £50.8m.

Given he was signed with the intention of finding the net with regularity as well as injecting energy, his tally of five meant that Pochettino actually paid £10m for every goal scored.

What is Moussa Sissoko's market value now?

Having enjoyed a brief stint with Watford following the conclusion of his contract, it would quickly become a short stay as the Hornets fell to relegation. As his stock plummeted, he would seek some kind of late renaissance with a return to his homeland, where he now features for FC Nantes.

However, time has not been kind to the 6 foot 2 enforcer, whom Transfermarkt now values at a lowly €2.5m (£2.1m).

It is a testament to their vast overpayment that, according to the website in question, the peak of his valuation came during 2019 and only reached €25m (£21.6m).

Why is Moussa Sissoko worth that much?

The reasoning behind such a low valuation is easy to outline, given his declining powers alongside his increasing age.

Sissoko is reaching the twilight years of an admittedly very solid career, and whilst hardly laden with silverware, he can look back on some key moments with fondness.

However, of late he has even been struggling to shine in Ligue 1, with his 6.45 average match rating simply showcasing that he has shown little to merit any kind of higher value.

The former Under-19 coach says it’s important that Markram understands what he is going through is normal and that he doesn’t lose confidence as a result

Firdose Moonda06-Aug-2018Aiden Markram’s lean patch in Sri Lanka will do him good in the long run, according to his former Under-19 coach Ray Jennings. Markram has not crossed 20 in eight innings on the tour and was dropped for the third ODI on Sunday, but Jennings is confident that the difficulties Markram is facing will make him stronger for the cycles of ups and downs of professional sport.”He had a bit of a honeymoon period when he first started in international cricket and this is his first bad patch. He needs to come to grips with the pressure that comes with that. He hasn’t ever experienced before what he is going through at the moment,” Jennings, who coached the national Under-19 side Markram captained to the 2014 World Cup title, told ESPNcricinfo. “When he goes through another bad patch in three or four years time, he will know what to expect.”Markram made his international debut last September when he was picked to open the batting in Tests alongside Dean Elgar. He struck 97 and two hundreds in his first three Tests, which were against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and 66 in his first ODI, also against Bangladesh.Naturally, things had to get tougher from there, but Markram was up for the sterner challenges. He scored 94 against India at his home ground, SuperSport Park, and 143 against Australia in a losing cause in Kingsmead: an innings which confirmed his arrival as a Test player. But it has not gone as smoothly in ODIs.Markram has played eight more 50-over matches since the half-century on debut and has not made more than 32 in any of them. Moreover, he was thrust into the captaincy, albeit temporarily, with only two caps to his name, against India. South Africa went on to lose the series 5-1 and Markram acknowledged the burden of leadership may have taken a toll on his own performances, but he has not quite been able to shake it off.In Sri Lanka, he has struggled against spin; in particular against Rangana Herath and Akila Dananjaya. Herath removed Markram all four times in the Tests – in Galle by dangling the ball outside off and forcing him to make a play before he had reached the pitch of it, and in Colombo with deliveries that stayed straight as Markram played for turn. In the ODIs, Akila dismissed Markram twice, first with a googly that Markram played all around, and then with a legbreak when Markram was shaping up for the offbreak.Associated PressSome may argue that Markram’s ability to read the spinners should be questioned and his approach may need to be refined, but Jennings is not as concerned about that as he is about Markram’s mind. “Technique is not the only thing. He plays fast bowling better than spin but he has already shown that he has enough technique to perform at this level. Now it’s about mindset,” Jennings said. “Is his mindset tense or relaxed? If it’s relaxed, the feet will move and he will be watching the ball. If it’s tense, the feet can get stuck, there will be a lot of emotions involved.”For Jennings, it’s important that Markram understands what he is going through is normal and that he doesn’t lose confidence as a result. “It gets difficult for players when the expectations around them don’t match up to the reality. And then it becomes about whether he is in a love or hate mode, if he is feeling like he belongs or under pressure. If there’s a bad energy and he starts overthinking, he could end up feeling like he should be batting left-handed. That doesn’t need to happen. He has shown he has the credentials to perform at this level.”And because of his pedigree – Markram holds the record for the highest List A score of 183 in South Africa’s domestic competition – Jennings believes Markram should be a shoe-in for South Africa’s World Cup squad and should even be part of the XI as soon as this Sunday. “I would definitely take him to the World Cup. In a few months time, he could be at the top of his game. I would even play him in the next two matches.”With the series against Sri Lanka already won, South Africa can afford to experiment and Jennings hopes that they will try a few things to see how best to fit Markram into the line-up. “Change the scenery a little bit. Maybe use him to open, or bat him down at No. 6. If he gets a fifty in the next two games, he will be up and going again.”Or, with Faf du Plessis nursing a shoulder injury, perhaps Markram could even be back at the helm of affairs, as captain – a role Jennings thinks he will end up with on a full-time basis at some point. “It wasn’t a bad decision to make him captain during the India series. It was a good idea to push him mentally and to show him to reach for his dreams and it will pay dividends in the long run. We could see from Under-19 level that he is a tough guy, a fighter and a leader, and he will learn from this.”

The Argentina international has emphatically crushed any doubt that he is good enough for the Red Devils – but are they good enough for him?

Alejandro Garnacho has long ceased to be Manchester United's great hope for the future. Right now, there is an argument to make that he is their best player. He is United's joint-most productive player in the Premier League, tied with Bruno Fernandes on 10 goal contributions each. Within the last four months, the winger has scored five goals and notched five assists.

Yet his numbers, as impressive as they are, do not tell the whole story. Among supporters, Garnacho has reached almost messianic status. Every time he gets on the ball at Old Trafford, people get out of their seats. And practically every act he commits on the pitch is greeted with the familiar cry of 'Viva Garnacho, running down the wing, hear United sing'.

There has been a special bond between United fans and Garnacho ever since he spearheaded the Under-18s side to glory in the FA Youth Cup in 2022, and the ties have grown stronger as he has made in-roads into the first team. There was an element of doubt about whether he could repeat his feats in youth football at the highest level, but little by little he has cast those aside, proving he has the mentality and maturity to match his extraordinary talents.

Garnacho has long settled the question of whether or not he is good enough for Manchester United. The big question now is whether or not Manchester United are good enough for him.

GettyRunning down the wing

It is easy to see why United fans love Garnacho. If there is one position that has defined the club over its rich history, it is the winger. George Best was United's first global superstar and he played on the left wing. Sir Bobby Charlton might have been the more influential player overall, but Best was the one who excited the fans, and his name is still bellowed out by supporters at Old Trafford each week.

Best's successor was Ryan Giggs, who dazzled opponents down the left wing for the best part of 24 years and became the club's highest appearance maker. Giggs overlapped with David Beckham, the finest crosser of a ball in the club's history, and later with Cristiano Ronaldo, who started out as a fleet-footed winger before turning into a centre-forward.

Anthony Martial, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia were somewhat underwhelming successors before Marcus Rashford picked up the baton and developed into a thrilling left-forward. Garnacho is the latest exponent of the position, and like Best, Giggs and Rashford, he got his footballing education at United's academy, albeit after joining at the age of 16 from Atletico Madrid. The fact he won the Youth Cup like Best, Giggs and Beckham is significant. But his style of play, his capacity to thrill and put on a show, is what makes him a real United player.

"I think that is in our blood, our style of football is designed to get supporters out of their chairs," Nick Cox, United's head of academy, told GOAL last year. "You have to be creative and to play with flair. Alejandro has really embraced the fact that our supporters not only warm to entertaining players, but they really enjoy watching young players that they feel are one of them."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTaking responsibility

Garnacho is more than just a showman, though, and in the last four months he has added productivity to his already long list of attributes. Still only 19, this is his first full season in the senior team, but he has been stepping up and delivering with increasing frequency when his more experienced team-mates have been struggling.

Take Saturday's game against Everton. United kept on being opened up by the visitors, who had 23 shots over the course of 90 minutes, only four fewer than Manchester City the previous week. With Rasmus Hojlund still missing, United had no centre-forward and no real focal point in attack.

So Garnacho took on responsibility, slicing through Everton's defence and winning two penalties to put United in charge. In the second half, he was the player who looked most likely to strike again, and he should have done so when he was through on goal, albeit from a tight angle, and shot over the bar.

Erik ten Hag was beaming when he spoke about him afterwards in glowing terms. “I love him," said the United manager. "He’s a young player and he needs a challenge, he loves a challenge. He’s very brave, very confident, and we have to push him to high levels."

Getty More focused after missing breakfast

That Garnacho had talent was no secret, but there were concerns about his work rate off the ball, his willingness to defend an his focus. And even as he was singing the player's praises, Ten Hag felt the need to mention that focus. “Sometimes for young players, it is difficult because they are inexperienced. But if he keeps this focus, this attitude, he will improve from game to game," the Dutchman said.

Garnacho turned up late to breakfast during United's pre-season tour of Asia in 2022 and Ten Hag, who was on a mission to raise standards at the club, dropped him for the friendlies against Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Melbourne Victory and Aston Villa. He did not start him for a league game until the trip to Villa in November.

Garnacho took his punishment on the chin, however, and used it as a motivation to knuckle down. According to , he asked the club to devise him a personalised training programme in order to build muscle mass, while he employed his own nutritionist.

Fernandes noted his improvement after Garnacho scored his first senior goal against Real Sociedad, declaring: "At the beginning of the season, he was not at his best. In the tour he didn't have the best attitude that he should have, and that's why he didn't get his chances until now. He's getting his chances because he's training better, he's got a different attitude and he's deserving his chances."

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GettyRising to the occasion

Garnacho still had the reputation as a super-sub last season and was less effective when starting games. He had similar problems at the start of this season, as he put in poor displays against Wolves and Tottenham before reverting to his role as a substitute. Again, he worked on his weak points and made a huge improvement.

A year after he had highlighted Garnacho's attitude problems, Fernandes praised him for how he had improved his overall play. It was two days after his outrageous bicycle kick against Everton, but the captain focused on the other aspects of the teenager's game.

"He has that special talent for big moments to be decisive. But I’m more happy for his work off the ball against Everton – it was, for me, the best game he’s had until now, it was amazing," Fernandes said. "I think when he can put that together with his qualities to score goals and help the team up front, he’s going to be such a good player. He’s already a great player, but I think for his age and for his talent, he can be much better than he is actually already."

Garnacho has now started the last 25 matches in all competitions and is the only player to have been named in every matchday squad. Only Andre Onana, Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Rashford have played more Premier League minutes than him for United this season.

Since his acrobatic goal against Everton, Garnacho has scored six more times and keeps rising to the occasion. When United were trailing 2-0 at home to Villa, he led the fightback to win 3-2 with two goals. He scored twice more in the 3-0 win over West Ham and was United's top performer in the 2-1 win against Chelsea, setting up Scott McTominay's winner.

Celtic are braced to receive an approach for one of their key players in January, with a fresh report revealing that he has a long-term admirer in the Premier League.

Celtic's summer departures

The Scottish Premiership side sanctioned the exits of ten players over the summer, Jota, Carl Starfelt, Albian Ajeti, Conor Hazard, Vasilis Barkas, Ismaila Soro and Osaze Urhoghide being the ones to leave on a permanent basis, whilst the remaining three were sent out on loan until the end of the current campaign.

Despite the previous window being closed, Brendan Rodgers will know that he’ll have to create further space in the squad to facilitate new signings at the start of next year, and whilst he won’t want to lose his most prized assets, there’s a chance that one of them could be heading for the exit door should a respectable offer be tabled.

Hoops central midfielder Matt O’Riley only recently signed a new long-term deal which keeps him at the club until at least 2027 (Celtic contracts), with Fabrizio Romano confirming that as a result of his situation, interested parties would have to pay a Scottish record transfer fee in order to prise him away from Parkhead.

The Denmark international, however, has emerged as his side’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.99 (WhoScored – Celtic statistics), and the 22-year-old’s form has caught the eye of a club in England, who are weighing up an approach despite him committing his long-term future to the club.

Brentford targeting move for Matt O'Riley

According to TEAMtalk, Brentford are interested in a deal for Matt O'Riley in January.

“Brentford are considering testing Celtic’s resolve over midfield star Matt O’Riley in January, TEAMtalk has been informed. The Bees have been keeping close tabs on the former MK Dons man – who has been brilliant in Scotland since arriving in 2022 for just £1.5million.

"The 22-year-old only signed a new long-term deal in September, which has tied him down until 2027, but Celtic are aware that there is genuine interest from England and they are not in a position to turn down a big bid.”

O’Riley has made a fantastic start to the new season having posted eight contributions, six goals and two assists, in ten appearances in the Scottish Premiership (Transfermarkt – O’Riley statistics), with his high standard of displays having previously seen him hailed Celtic’s “silent hero” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The Hounslow-born talent, who pockets £14k-per-week (Celtic salaries), has also recorded a total of 26 shots so far this term which is more than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Celtic statistics), showing what a standout star he is in Glasgow.

Furthermore, O’Riley is a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the midfield and even as a second striker, so Hoops chiefs need to do everything they can to fend off interest and retain his services beyond January.

MatériaMais Notícias

O presidente do Botafogo para o quadriênio 2021-2024 será decidido no próximo 24, em votação realizada na sede de General Severiano. Desta forma, o LANCE! inicia uma série de entrevistas com os candidatos à principal cadeira do Alvinegro visando informar as principais propostas e ideias dos envolvidos.

O entrevistado desta sexta-feira é Durcesio Mello. A Chapa Preta e Branca, chamada de “Botafogo de Todos”, tem como vice-presidente Vinícius Assumpção. O L! fez as mesmas perguntas para todos os candidatos, visando manter o equilíbrio no momento da entrevista, e publicará as matérias em ordem alfabética.

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Confira a entrevista com Durcesio Mello, da Chapa Preta e Branca:

Qual é a sua relação com o Botafogo?
– Eu já nasci botafoguense. Fui ao Maracanã pela primeira vez com seis anos com meu pai e, desde então, passei a frequentar arquibancada. Em 1994, quando o Carlos Augusto Montenegro assumiu a presidência, eu entrei de sócio-proprietário. Somos amigos desde infância. Nunca frequentei o clube, apenas a arquibancada. Alguns anos atrás ele me sugeriu que ele poderia ser um cara bom para tocar o Botafogo. Agora, finalmente, estou para ser candidato para tentar fazer um Botafogo mais moderno.

Como surgiu o interesse de ser presidente?
– Começou com o Montenegro, mas depois eu mesmo vi que teria muito orgulho de ser presidente do Botafogo. Acho que posso ajudar, tenho uma experiência empresarial muito grande. Ele até uma época tentou me desmotivar (risos), falando que não era uma coisa boa, mas eu já estava motivado a entrar. Estou tocando projetos com o apoio dele.

O que você acha do possível advento da Botafogo S/A?
– É fundamental. Espero que aconteça esse ano ainda, não sei se vai acontecer. É fundamental para o Botafogo, que vai ser o primeiro clube grande a ter esse modelo, que provavelmente vai ser seguido pelos outros. Uma S/A com investidores de fora tocando o clube, um plano estratégico é a solução para a gente voltar a disputar títulos. Do jeito que está, está difícil. Eu sempre falo que é S/A ou S/A. Não temos outra escolha. Todas as nossas verbas estão bloqueadas ou adiantadas, temos que sair atrás de dinheiro novo. Sou altamente favorável à S/A, é necessário.

Por que se candidatar para uma eleição com “menos valor”, visto que, na teoria, o presidente terá menos peso nas decisões do que um CEO?
– Serão dois CNPJ. Ficará o Botafogo atual e terá outro para pagar dívidas e royalites para o Botafogo. Tem um apelo porque o presidente vai participar do Conselho. O Botafogo que vai ficar é um Botafogo de tradição, de esportes olímpicos, temos muita história. Eu cresci vendo futebol, é o carro-chefe, lógico. Mas sou de uma época que fui a muitos jogos de vôlei e basquete. No começo dos anos 60 o Botafogo tinha o maior time de vôlei do Brasil. Nosso polo aquático é campeão brasileiro… Eu gosto muito de futebol, mas sou um amante do esporte olímpico. E também tem o sócio, não apenas o torcedor, mas o proprietário. Temos um trabalho a fazer com essas pessoas que sempre apoiaram o clube. Serei muito orgulhoso de ser o presidente do Botafogo.

Como salvar o clube com uma dívida que chega perto do passivo de 1 bilhão de reais?
– Primeiramente, a dívida toda passa a S/A. É simples. O Botafogo atual vai ficar com zero dívidas. A dívida toda hoje passará toda para a S/A, então o desafio é tocar um clube com uma receita, segundo o balanço do ano passado, de R$ 12 milhões anuais e uma despesa na casa de R$ 17 milhões. Temos que gerar receitas. Hoje, quando falta cloro na piscina é o futebol que banca. Isso vai acabar. Vamos gerar receitas novas e eu tenho novos projetos para isso.

Quais são os projetos para aprimorar a sede de General Severiano, que atualmente é alvo de críticas dos torcedores pela falta de reparos?
– Primeiramente é preciso revisar vários contratos que o Botafogo tem hoje. Não estou lá dentro então não tenho informações precisas, mas pelo o que eu vejo e li no balanço, o Shopping (Casa & Gourmet), por exemplo, não paga nada. O Fogo de Chão paga, isso é importante. A própria loja não tem material para vender. Precisamos trazer novas pessoas, mudar isso. E um extra é transformar General Severiano em um polo de entretenimento. Nosso medo é que existe muito sócio-proprietário que mora em outra cidade mas paga a mensalidade para ajudar o Botafogo. Tenho receio que essas pessoas possam deixar de pagar, nós temos que dar um carinho especial para eles não saírem. A mesma coisa para o sócio que frequenta a sede, ela está acabada. Temos que dar atrativos para mantê-los adimplentes e atrair novos sócios. Temos uma academia que está obsoleta, se terceirizar aquela academia e o sócio ter um desconto para malhar ali… Dá para transformar o campo da sede em dois campos de Society e alugar, depois essas pessoas vão comer e beber no bar do clube. Tem n coisas que podem ser feitas. Estou dando exemplos.

A torcida reclama da falta de profissionalismo do clube em vários setores. Você concorda?
– 110%. O amadorismo que temos no Botafogo é um modelo que não deu certo. Não só a S/A que trará profissionais competentes, mas quero implantar profissionalismo no Botafogo. Governança corporativa, plano de carreira para os funcionários, fazer um modelo mais transparente. A torcida reclama do programa de sócio-torcedor, mas a gente quer que eles fiquem com a gente. Temos que dar um serviço melhor. Hoje, o sócio passa uma dificuldade para pegar um ingresso, pagar mensalidade… É complicado. Temos que botar alguma empresa mais profissional, alguma coisa tem que ser feita para melhorar isso. Temos que contar com um serviço. Quando você vai em uma loja e não é bem-servido você não volta mais. O Botafogo tem que ser tratado como uma empresa que tem clientes para agradar, os sócios.

Caso eleito, qual será a prioridade da gestão?
– Tem algo no âmbito empresarial. No dia seguinte começar a implementação de governança coorporativa. Fazer o clube ficar gerido profissionalmente. No âmbito de logística ou infraestrutura, eu quero fazer a piscina do Mourisco Mar, que está fechada há quatro anos, mas não deve ser tão difícil reabrir aquela piscina. Isso é um compromisso meu. Assim que puder, quero reformar a piscina para o polo aquático poder voltar para lá, é a piscina mais bonita do mundo.

Como vai funcionar a política envolvendo jogadores de base?
– A S/A que terá controle sobre isso. Vão assumir uma dívida de quase 1 bilhão de reais em troca da receita de sócio-torcedor e de venda dos jogadores da base. É claro que o presidente do Botafogo terá uma cadeira no Conselho, não sei qual será o peso disso, mas sempre estarei por lá para as decisões de como gerir a marca Botafogo. Tem um valor e uma tradição danado, quase 5 milhões de torcedores. Tem que ser respeitada e tratada com carinho. Se a S/A não sair, teremos um Plano B para tocar o futebol, mas prefiro não pensar nisso agora.

Botafogo sofre para conseguir patrocínios há muito tempo. Onde o clube falha e você tem alguma conversa com alguma empresa, caso eleito?
– Eu nem posso fazer isso, até porque não fui eleito. Sou um candidato, posso ganhar ou perder. Do passado, em defesa da administração, tem que pensar que estava difícil conseguir isso. Tem vários clubes no Brasil sem patrocínio e alguns fecharam recentemente contratos por um valor bem abaixo. Alguns clubes mais organizados que o Botafogo até. Não posso me atrever em negociações. Essa é uma das causas do amadorismo que não colocou profissionais nessa área. O Botafogo é uma marca forte, clube com tradição e vitórias. Atrai, mas ninguém vai bater na porta oferecendo patrocínios.

Você tem pretensão de retornar com os times de basquete e vôlei? Quais os projetos para os esportes olímpicos?
– Eu vou fazer, pode anotar. Vou fazer um basquete forte de novo, um vôlei forte de novo, o pólo aquático, a natação e o remo. A ideia é conseguir patrocínios ou lei de incentivo para bancar os esportes olímpicos. Como o clube vai estar com CNT, isso propicia a ir no Ministério dos Esportes para conseguir a lei de incentivos. É que nem o basquete e o vôlei tinham com a Tim, mas, como não havia o planejamento a longo prazo, não houve renovação. Você não monta um time de alto nível em um ou dois anos, mas tem que ir fortalecendo o time aos poucos para ser campeão, é preciso um planejamento estratégico. Não pode pensar apenas com uma verba de um ano.

Você acha que o futuro CT é necessário?
– O CT foi todo pago pelos irmãos Moreira Salles. O CT é fundamental. Hoje, quem não tem uma base forte não vai para frente. Hoje, jogamos com vários atletas da base, Marcelo, Kanu, Caio Alexandre… Isso com uma estrutura arcaica. Com a estrutura de um dos melhores CTs do Brasil, a médio e longo prazo vamos formar jogadores ainda melhores. Formaremos ainda mais jogadores, vão dar alegrias dentro de campo e receitas em vendas.

Caso eleito, como você espera se relacionar com os irmãos Moreira Salles?
– Pretendo me relacionar com eles da melhor maneira possível. Diria mais, resgatar a relação porque eles afastados por causa de política, não sei dizer ao certo. Eles são grandes botafoguenses, ajudam sempre o clube, e estão construindo o CT, que é o futuro do Botafogo. A base é o futuro do Botafogo. Eu quero ter o melhor relacionamento possível com eles. Já estive várias vezes com o Walter, então pretendo retomar esses contatos e saber o que precisa fazer para acabar o CT o mais rápido possível, talvez em dez meses ou um ano. Isso será uma nova fase na nossa vida.

Recado para a torcida
– A torcida precisa de unir com a S/A. Se isso acontecer, tenho certeza que vamos voltar a gritar “é campeão” em breve. Terei um desafio enorme com o Botafogo social e os esportes olímpicos, não só para fazer o sócio-proprietário satisfeito e fazê-lo a voltar a frequentar o clube e também até o sócio-torcedor. Quero ter ligação com eles, trazê-los de algum jeito para as sedes. Uma das ideias que eu tenho é o sócio-torcedor pagar um pouco mais e poder frequentar também os jogos de basquete, vôlei de graça e os demais eventos de esportes olímpicos. É um desafio grande mas acho que estou preparado para encarar esse desafio e fazer um Botafogo novo, moderno, com muito profissionalismo e melhores benefícios para os sócios.