Jose Mourinho has been living in a lavish five-star hotel since joining Fenerbahce as he eyes revenge over Manchester United in the Europa League.
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Mourinho living it up in plush hotel
Running up huge bill at the Four Seasons Bosphorus
Preparing to take on Manchester United
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Mourinho joined Fenerbahce in the summer and received a rapturous welcome from supporters after moving to the Turkish side. The 61-year-old has been living in the five-star Four Seasons Bosphorus hotel since his move and has already racked up a huge hotel bill of £142,000, according to the Daily Mail. Mourinho's new residence boasts five restaurants, two swimming pools, a fitness suite and a spa – with the cheapest room costing an eye-popping £1,000-a-night.
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Mourinho may be living it up at the Four Seasons but life hasn't been too rosy on the pitch for the Portuguese icon's new side. Fenerbahce were beaten by Lille in Champions League qualifying, while Mourinho was mocked after defeat to rivals Galatasaray and has been accused of "generating unhappiness and helplessness" in the dressing room. Next up for Mourinho is a clash against former employers Manchester United, who have also had a tough start to the season, but victory would certainly lighten the mood at the Turkish club.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mourinho has won just two of his last 17 games against sides he’s previously managed. He's lost 11 and drawn four of those games, but one of the wins was a 6-1 victory against Manchester United with Spurs in October 2020.
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WHAT NEXT
All eyes will be on the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Thursday when Mourinho faces the Red Devils once more. United head to Turkey with just two points from their first two games in the competition, while Fenerbahce have four after beating Union-Saint Gilloise and drawing with FC Twente.
Zimbabwe need their experienced hands to show the way, while Pakistan might be tempted to experiment with their XI
Danyal Rasool09-Nov-2020Big picture After all the promise of a competitive ODI series, the T20Is have been something of a damp squib. Pakistan brought their top form to both weekend games, and illustrated the chasm that evidently exists between a Pakistani side that’s rapidly improving and a Zimbabwean unit that needs improvement desperately. teams As you might expect, if these two teams simply go through the motions, Pakistan will nearly always emerge on top and do so with relative comfort.If anything, the hosts may be slightly disappointed they weren’t challenged further to be able to assess how well some of the youngsters afforded opportunities this series would fare in that scenario. Haider Ali and Usman Qadir have both excelled, but they could have been undergoing net sessions for all the intensity of the contest. Haris Rauf’s pace has been enough to get him a cluster of wickets, but he may have to demonstrate more nuanced skills against more competitive opponents. And while Babar Azam has scored two sumptuous half-centuries, you wouldn’t expect any less of him against the quality of bowling he has faced; if anything, his frustration must centre on a failure to remain at the crease to knock off the winning runs. Pakistan have just turned up and not more, and so far, it’s been more than enough.Much of that is down to Zimbabwe. The visitors haven’t come close to a level of performance they will believe they are capable of. In two of the three ODIs, Zimbabwe pushed themselves to the limit. But in the T20Is, even the in-form batsmen have floundered, while with the ball and in the field, Chamu Chibhabha’s side has been – at best – lacklustre.You could level more scathing criticism at Chibhabha himself, who arguably shouldn’t be anywhere near this side based on his numbers over the past several years. When a frontline batsman who averages 13.24 over the past four years leads the side out on a challenging tour, it is of little surprise if he returns just 34 runs in five innings. It’s a level of performance that’s unacceptable for any international side whatever the ranking, and when the middle order doesn’t bail Zimbabwe out – as on Sunday – they fall apart alarmingly quickly.Form guide
Pakistan WWWLW Zimbabwe LLLLW Wesley Madhevere looked good while he was out there•AFP via Getty ImagesIn the spotlightThese are uncertain times for Fakhar Zaman, for whom being the leading run-scorer in the recent National T20 Cup doesn’t seem to have brought international T20 runs. In the format he should be most useful at, at home and against a mediocre attack, Zaman’s lack of confidence has been laid bare by the manner of his dismissal on Sunday. A low-percentage, ill-timed drive straight to mid-on sent him back for 5, the 16th consecutive T20I innings in which he has failed to reach 40. In that time, he has crossed 25 only once, and for all his domestic form, Zaman wouldn’t be able to complain if the Pakistan selectors – who have shown uncharacteristic patience with him – get twitchy fingers after another failure on Tuesday.Despite being the highest run-getter for Zimbabwe in the ODI series, Brendan Taylor’s twin failures in the T20Is may signal a deeper malaise. He, too, has crossed 40 in T20I cricket just once in the past 16 innings, though he has continued to produce cameos fairly regularly. But against Pakistan, he will need to take more leadership at the top of the innings, especially with Chibhabha out of form. If anything, it may relieve some pressure off the young shoulders of Wesley Madhevere, and give his bowlers something to defend if Zimbabwe are to bat first again.Team newsPakistan maybe open to some experimentation in the bowling. Mohammad Musa will be itching to get a game, while even Rohail Nazir could get a call-up with the series sealed.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Haider Ali, 4 Mohammad Hafeez/Abdullah Shafique, 5 Mohammad Rizwan/Rohail Nazir (wk), 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Imad Wasim/Faheem Ashraf, 8 Haris Rauf, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Musa, 11 Mohammad HasnainZimbawe have been somewhat cautious, never quite ringing the changes this series. It would be a surprise to see that change, though with the series gone, they can afford to experiment.Zimbawe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha (capt), 2 Brendan Taylor (wk), 3 Sean Williams, 4 Wesley Madhevere, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Tendai Chisoro, 9 Carl Mumba, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing MuzarabaniPitch and conditions The pitches prepared for this series have been dry and flat, and expect that to remain unchanged tomorrow. Rain should not be a factor.Stats and trivia Sikandar Raza has batted 34 times in T20Is without being dismissed for a duck. The only active internationals with longer streaks are Kusal Perera (46), Faf du Plessis (47) and David Miller (68) Azam has scored six half-centuries in his last nine T20I innings Taylor needs 99 runs to become just the second Zimbabwe batsman after Hamilton Masakadza to tally 1000 runs in T20I cricket
Paul Pogba has refused to rule out a move away from Juventus as the midfielder prepares to make his return from suspension.
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Pogba preparing for return in March
Midfielder linked with Marseille move
Laughed off Patrice Evra's comments
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The midfielder will be able to get back on the field in March after seeing his doping ban reduced to 18 months from four years. There have been reports he may leave Juventus before that time comes, though, with Marseille said to be in talks to sign him in January.
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Former France and Marseille star Patrice Evra has given his backing to Pogba joining the Ligue 1 team and said he would contact sporting director Medhi Benatia to encourage him to pursue a deal. He said: "He wants to play football, wherever it is, for example why not OM? I'm going to call Benatia and tell him that the door is open."
WHAT POGBA SAID
Pogba has laughed off the ex-Manchester United player's comments, but did not rule out a transfer. He told : "I laugh because he's Uncle Pat , he said it jokingly. I'm still under contract so it's not credible. The possibility of coming to play in Ligue 1? I'm at a club, I'm just thinking about coming back and getting out of this situation. Of course, you never know what tomorrow will bring, so never say never."
Asked about his reaction to heaving his ban reduced, the France international said: "I was really happy. I hadn't done anything, why would they give me four years? I'll be able to go back to doing what I love the most. It's like I've been given another chance. I've been given back something that had been taken away from me. It's a new lease on life. March is tomorrow, it'll come quickly. And it's something I can't wait to do."
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WHAT NEXT FOR POGBA?
Pogba can resume training with the Serie A side before he is clear to play again in March. The Bianconeri have had a mixed start to the season, winning three and drawing four of their seven matches in the top-flight. They sit three points behind leaders Napoli.
Manchester City have discovered the extent of Kevin De Bruyne's injury ahead of their blockbuster Arsenal clash.
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De Bruyne picked up a groin injury against InterWas substituted in the second halfGuardiola sweating over his fitnessFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
De Bruyne picked up a knock just before half-time in the Champions League encounter against Inter at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. While attempting to stretch for a pass, the Belgian appeared to pull up and immediately called for medical assistance from City's staff. After receiving treatment on the pitch, it became evident that De Bruyne would not be able to continue, and he spent the second half on the bench.
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According to theDe Bruyne is unlikely to be risked for the weekend’s game against Arsenal, as Manchester City will want to avoid exacerbating the injury. The club is keen to ensure the Belgian playmaker does not face a prolonged spell on the sidelines, especially with the congested fixture schedule over the coming weeks.
DID YOU KNOW?
City’s ability to adjust and perform without their star man has been a key factor in their success over recent seasons, and this will be another opportunity for them to demonstrate that resilience. The Belgian had missed 41 games last season cumulatively for both club and country, yet City emerged as the champions of England ahead of Arsenal in a nail-biting title race.
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Arsenal will also miss Martin Odegaard after it was revealed that the damage to his ankle ligaments was worse than initially feared, potentially leaving the Gunners without their captain until Christmas. With both teams without their primary midfield architects, it will be an intriguing battle in the centre of the park.
It’s common knowledge that Newcastle United have endured a horrendous injury crisis this campaign, with numerous key first-team members missing for large spells.
Nick Pope and Joelinton are just two examples, with the shot-stopper missing over four months with a shoulder injury and Joelinton has only just returned from a long-term thigh injury that saw him ruled out of action from January to the beginning of May.
Their various setbacks have prevented Eddie Howe’s side from challenging for the top four in the Premier League, following on from their success of the season prior which saw the Magpies reach the Champions League group stage.
They’ve still achieved an excellent finish considering their injury woes, occupying seventh place and only eight points off Aston Villa who qualified for the biggest club competition in the world under Unai Emery.
However, Howe’s been unable to rely on another first-team member, who like Pope and Joelinton, has had a torrid time with injuries during the last couple of months.
Joe Willock’s stats at Newcastle in 2023/24
After scoring eight goals in 14 games on loan during 2020/21, Newcastle decided to pay £25m for the signing of midfielder Joe Willock from Arsenal.
However, since his permanent move to Tyneside, the 24-year-old has failed to replicate his sensational form from his loan spell, only managing to score six Premier League goals in his last 73 top-flight outings – an average of one goal every 12 matches.
Joe Willock
This season has been a troubling one for the midfielder, only managing to feature nine times in the league, starting on just five occasions – in a campaign that has been plagued with injuries.
He's suffered three separate issues during the course of the 2023/24 campaign, with the setbacks seeing the former Gunners talent fail to reach the promise he once demonstrated on Tyneside.
Hamstring
83
12
Achilles
91
18
Achilles
44
8
As a result of his constant battles with setbacks, the club have taken a huge hit on the £25m fee they forked out for him just a number of years ago.
Joe Willock’s market value in 2024
Nearly three years on from his permanent move to St James’ Park, the "popular" Englishman, as dubbed by Howe, has seen his value slump, with Willock now only valued at £17.5m – as per Football Transfers.
His subsequent value is less than teammate Sean Longstaff, who cost the club nothing after coming through the Magpies’ academy as a youngster.
Longstaff has since proved himself to be a reliable first-team member, featuring in 35 Premier League matches in 2023/24, with his value skyrocketing to £22.5m – a reflection of his importance to Howe.
Whilst there’s still time for Willock to turn around his fortunes on Tyneside, with the club in potential FFP troubles, they may look to offload him, with his injury troubles becoming a real hindrance to any progress he’s likely to make.
Howe must offload Newcastle "revelation" who earns 2x more than Gordon
He’s looked past his best in recent weeks for Howe’s side.
Sheffield Wednesday are interested in sealing the signing of a "fantastic" goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Sheffield Wednesday chase signings after survival
The Owls completed an incredible escape act in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 away to Sunderland to ensure that they avoided an immediate return to League One.
It has been a stunning effort from Danny Rohl and his players, who looked doomed when the German replaced Xisco Munoz earlier in the campaign, with their end-of-season form similar to those chasing promotion.
In fact, Wednesday ended up second in the form table in the final six league matches, going to show how impressive they were when the pressure really cranked up.
The key now is for the Owls to kick on this summer and ensure that another relegation battle doesn't come their way in 2024/25. Keeping hold of the impressive Rohl is as important as anything, but equally, signing top-quality players has to be near the top of their priorities.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl.
The hope is that funds are available to strengthen the squad significantly, with a lack of depth and quality often seen as the reason for struggling so much in the first place this season.
Sheffield Wednesday to move for "fantastic" gem this week
Writing on his Patreon [via Sheffield Wednesday News], Nixon claimed that Sheffield Wednesday want to re-sign goalkeeper James Beadle on loan and will even get the move started this week, perhaps no surprise given Dawson is out of contract this summer: "Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday will be on to Brighton this week for keepers Carl Rushworth and James Beadle.
"The two loanees have been stand outs in the Championship and both the Swans and Owls are keen to have them for another season."
Bringing Beadle back to Wednesday in the summer transfer window is a no-brainer for Rohl, considering the positive impact he made when he arrived on loan from Brighton in January. Granted, the 19-year-old wasn't necessarily always perfect, but for a 'keeper to arrive at such a young age and do so well is testament to both his ability and his character.
He immediately ousted Dawson between the sticks, due to his superior use of the ball playing out from the back, and Rohl heaped praised on him: "He is very calm and when I look back to the Leicester game, making such a decision after four minutes. Conceding the goal, this for a young player is not easy.
"He did very well and when you look at his second half even he had good decision making passing the first pressing line. This is fantastic and it shows his quality. I think he will have a great career having worked at this level."
The hope is that Beadle eventually makes a permanent switch to Wednesday, but that could be unlikely if Brighton see him as a big part of their future, allowing him to mature out on loan before using him regularly further down the line.
Championship play-offs 2024: Fixtures, ticket info, prize money & more
FFC looks forward to the 2023/24 Championship play-offs with all you need to know, including updated ticket information.
Man City's Julian Alvarez is nearing a move to Atletico Madrid, though the deal was in jeopardy at one stage.
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Alvarez agree personal terms with Atletico
Deal in place for £82m ($104m) switch
Argentinian will sign five-year deal
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Alvarez will join Atletico Madrid after finally agreeing personal terms with the La Liga side. It was reported by that, despite Atletico and Manchester City agreeing a fee, the deal was in jeopardy over "a disagreement" between the club and player over Alvarez's base salary and contract length. But the parties have now reached an agreement, according to , and the 24-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Metropolitano Stadium.
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reported that there was a difference of around €2m/€3m (£1.7m/£2.6m) between Alvarez and Atleti at one stage of the negotiations. Los Rojiblancos returned with an improved offer and have now satisfied Alvarez, who will become City's record sale when he departs for £82m ($104m/€95m).
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DID YOU KNOW?
The hold-up in the Alvarez deal was impacting the transfers involving Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and Atletico's Saul Omorodion. With the Alvarez domino now set to fall, Gallagher is also expected to sign for the Spanish club while Omorodion may join Chelsea.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ALVAREZ?
Alvarez wanted to be the main man and he will now get that opportunity in Spain. The Argentina international is due a holiday following an extended season that also included appearances at the Copa America and Olympics, but he'll first hope to complete the formalities of his move to the Spanish capital.
What a time it is to be associated with Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta's side still marching on in the hope of landing a first Premier League crown in 20 years, having also booked their place in the last eight of the Champions League after narrowly edging past a stubborn Porto side.
After years of frustration in the late Wenger years and under Unai Emery – as well as in Arteta's early stint in charge – the Gunners are now reaping the rewards of their patient approach, as well as their improved record in the transfer market under the watchful eye of Edu Gaspar.
The £105m addition of Declan Rice, for instance, has swiftly paid off with the Englishman arguably the 'signing of the season' – as per pundit Danny Murphy – while even the oft-maligned Kai Havertz has begun to catch fire, boasting nine goals and three assists in all competitions to date.
Declan Rice for Arsenal.
With those two high-profile deals looking like undoubted success stories so far, perhaps the Emirates outfit may be keen to spend big again this summer to take yet another step toward achieving domestic and European dominance…
Arsenal's plans for the summer
According to a latest report from Spanish outlet, Sport – via Sport Witness – the north Londoners are said to be plotting a move for Real Madrid sensation, Rodrygo, with both the Gunners and title rivals Liverpool said to have made contact with Los Blancos regarding a potential summer swoop.
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
The piece suggests it may prove a tricky task trying to prise the Brazilian – whose current deal expires in 2028 – from the Bernabeu any time soon, with any prospective deal likely to cost in the region of €100m (£86m).
That being said, all may not be lost for Edu and co as the 23-year-old is said to be aware that his game time could be hampered in the Spanish capital next term if Kylian Mbappe is to arrive as expected, with his young compatriot Endrick also set to be added to the mix.
With competition for places set to be rife, perhaps Arsenal can entice the former Santos to make the move to England…
Rodrygo's season in numbers
It would certainly be a real statement if the Gunners were to snap up the £86m man ahead of next season, particularly due to the fact that the South American star typically operates on the right flank – the same role that Bukayo Saka occupies in the capital.
While the lack of a centre-forward has seen Rodrygo move centrally this season – where has netted 13 times and registered eight assists – it is on the right where he has normally been utilised in Madrid, ensuring that Saka may be left looking nervously over his shoulder.
Bukayo Saka.
Just a year older than the Englishman, the in-demand ace has already plundered 18 goals and 11 assists in just 47 Champions League games to date, proving just what an effective and reliable presence he is at the top level.
Lauded for being "terrifyingly good" with regard to his "finishing levels" by journalist Sam Tighe, Rodrygo's case is enhanced even further by his apparent likeness to the man who may replace him in Spain, Mbappe, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.
The pair are particularly alike with regard to their ability to breeze past and bamboozle defenders with ease, with Rodrygo ranking in the top 1% among his fellow forwards in Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries (5.78), as well as in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.60) – Mbappe, meanwhile, ranks in the top 2% for both of those metrics.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2019/20
19
2
0
2020/21
22
1
6
2021/22
33
4
5
2022/23
34
9
9
2023/24
29
8
5
What also sets the duo apart from the rest is just how effective they are at retaining possession despite their willingness to create in the final third, with Rodrygo ranking in the top 1% for pass completion (88%) while Mbappe ranks in the top 2% in that regard.
For comparison, Saka ranks in just the bottom 45% for pass completion (74.7%) among his fellow attacking midfielders/wingers, and while he does rank in the top 15% for progressive carries (5.10) , his record at actually beating his man is rather inferior, as he ranks in just the bottom 46% for successful take-ons (1.63).
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Of course, this record can be easily overlooked when considering the Hale End graduate's 29 goals and assists this term in all competitions, although it does indicate that he may have a fight on his hands for a regular role if Rodrygo is to arrive in the near future…
White-ball captain extends stay at Grace Road despite disappointing season for club
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2019
Colin Ackermann appeals for a leg-before shout•Getty Images
Colin Ackermann, Leicestershire’s white-ball captain, has signed a new three-year deal that will keep him at Grace Road until at least the end of the 2023 season.Ackermann’s new deal followed an impressive 2019 season, the improbable highlight of which was his world-record T20 return of 7 for 18 against Birmingham Bears.”I am very pleased to have extended my contract by another three years,” Ackermann said. “I have really enjoyed my time here at the Fischer County Ground over the last three years so long may that continue.”It was a tough season for Leicestershire, who finished bottom of their respective tables in each of the three county competitions. However, Ackermann is adamant that better things are in prospect for the club.”There have been quite a few [personal highlights] in the T20 side of things, and we have had a few good victories over Notts [Outlaws] in the last few years,” he said. “We have definitely shown that we can beat the top teams in our North Group, which is fantastic to see.”We are a young squad and it is fantastic to see the local and younger guys to have that opportunity to make a name for themselves.”Ackermann is the fifth Leicestershire player to sign a new deal in the off-season, after Dieter Klein, Harry Swindells, Sam Evans and Harry Dearden. “It shows that the club is putting a lot of faith in the younger group of lads, which is fantastic,” he said.”It is obviously not all going to come together right now but, in a year, or two’s time with the likes of Harry Dearden and Sam Evans having another year under their belt – it bodes well for the future.”Ackermann made 675 runs at 35.52, and took 12 wickets in the County Championship. He also made 428 runs at 61.14 and took five wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup, as well as 342 runs at 28.50 and 12 wickets at 6.04 in the Vitality Blast.