Latest news with #BallonDor


The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
New Chelsea signing Estevao reveals Lionel Messi ambition before Club World Cup clash
New Chelsea signing Estevao has revealed he will 'run' to Lionel Messi after he stands on the opposite side of the pitch to him in the Fifa Club World Cup. The 18-year-old will move to London at the end of the competition in a deal worth an initial £29m, but will play out a curtain call at Palmeiras against Messi's Inter Miami before the end of the group stage. The Brazilian outfit drew their tournament opener against Porto, and face Egypt's Al Ahly before their final group game on Tuesday, June 24 against Miami. That is the focus for Estevao, who spoke about the prospect of lining up against eight-time Ballon D'Or winner Messi to The Athletic. He said: "He's a player I have always looked up to. When I was a kid, I would watch videos of him, then go out to the pitch and try to copy what I had seen. "As soon as the final whistle blows, I'm going to run to him so we can swap shirts. But before that, I'll be giving my everything so Palmeiras walk off the field with three points.' Estevao has sparkled in his fledgling career, scoring 26 goals in his 79 career appearances since making his debut in November 2023. He has been capped five times by the Brazilian national team, following three goals in five games for the nation's Under-17s. "I couldn't have chosen a better way to end this stage of my career. Palmeiras is my home and being able to say goodbye while competing for a Club World Cup… It's indescribable,' the Chelsea recruit added. Estevao has been nicknamed 'Messinho', tagging a lofty expectation next to his career prospects ahead of his move to Stamford Bridge. He will link up with Chelsea ahead of their return to the Uefa Champions League, joining the likes of Ipswich Town's Liam Delap as the new faces for Enzo Maresca following Conference League success last term.


Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Liverpool fans revel in Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'disasterclass' Real Madrid debut - as Spanish newspaper rip into his £10m early arrival fee
Liverpool fans have mocked Trent Alexander-Arnold after his debut for Real Madrid, reveling in their former star's difficult outing following his bitter exit. The Scouser waved goodbye to his boyhood club at the end of the season, having only recently put an end to a year-long speculation over his future as his Anfield contract wound down. The Premier League champions managed to secure a £10million fee for the 26-year-old but his departure still left a sour taste in the mouths of many. As a result, scores of Reds fans tuned in to witness his maiden appearance for Los Blancos, which came in their World Club Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday night. And they were not disappointed - particularly in the first half - as the England star struggled to find his passing range and was weak in the tackle. 'He thinks he has a chance to win the Ballon D'or,' wrote one fan on X, in reference to a 2024 interview in which he stated his aim of becoming the first right-back to win the prestigious award. Another made reference to Alexander-Arnold's comments about training with his new Madrid team-mates this week, words that some construed as thinly veiled digs at his old Liverpool colleagues. They wrote: 'The ball moves so fast here.' Responding to a post of a video that professed to show all of Alexander-Arnold's mistakes against Al-Hilal, one user on X pointed out an instance when the full-back was caught high up the pitch - positioning that nearly cost his side a goal. 'And here he is in a counter attack against him team,' the user noted, circling Alexander-Arnold's position. A fourth took the chance to swipe of two of the Three Lions' right-back options, commenting: 'Bro's worst than [Kyle] Walker.' Liverpool fans on social media were not the only ones displeased with Alexander-Arnold's first outing. Spanish outlet AS gave him a blank rating. He was one of only three stars to get the treatment. In their report they also stated that the LaLiga giants did not pay a fee to acquire the defender early so that he can take his time to adapt to his new surroundings. On Wednesday, in his 65 minutes on the pitch, the Englishman won just 25 per cent of his ground duels and lost possession 12 times. However, Alexander-Arnold showed his quality by delivering the most passes into the final third (12), with him showing some improvement after the interval. Post-match, he insisted that he knows he 'made the right decision' to join Real Madrid after making his debut. 'It's the first time that I've moved clubs so I didn't know what to expect. I had no expectations coming into this,' Alexander-Arnold told Mail Sport. 'It's a big change and it's different but I'm loving every single minute of it and in my mind and my heart, I know that I made the right decision for me.' The game started at 3pm local time in conditions that were far from ideal for football, with temperatures in excess of 30 degrees celsius and high levels of humidity. 'Yeah, I found it very challenging (in that heat). It's very different from England,' Alexander-Arnold admitted. 'But it was a very proud moment for me. I'm very happy to have made my debut. It's something that most, if not all players, dream of in their life. I'm incredibly proud of the achievement but of course there's some disappointment (with the result) with the mentality that comes as a Madrid player. 'You want and expect to win every single game but of course, new coach, some new players and new ideas - there's some positives to take from it, especially in the second half and the foundation has been built to go and win the next game now,' added the 26-year-old.


The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Transfer news LIVE: Wirtz to undergo Liverpool medical, Chelsea ‘in talks' with 6ft6 striker, Duran's Prem return
THE thrills and spills of the summer transfer window are well underway with some huge deals in the pipeline. Florian Wirtz is set to undergo his Liverpool medical this Friday, according to reports. Elsewhere, Chelsea are reportedly in talks to sign 6ft6 German striker Nick Woltemade. In other news, Jhon Duran is of interest to a number of Premier League sides, with West Ham, Fulham and Wolves all showing interest in bringing the Colombian back to the Premier League. 15th Jun 2025, 13:00 By Raphael Adelugba PSG Ballon d'Or propaganda in full effect As the Club Wolrd Cup gets underway, so does the Ballon d'Or propaganda. Favourites such as Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah will miss out on the major summer club tournament, but fellow contender Ousmane Dembélé will be in America hoping to sway the masses. Luis Enrique: 'The Ballon d'Or should be Ousmane Dembélé. He deserves it. No doubts at all'. Whilst Ousmane Dembele said to L'Équipe: "Being one of the favorites for the Ballon d'Or is already a great victory." 15th Jun 2025, 12:30 By Raphael Adelugba PSG agree Zabarny personal terms Staying on the south coast... Paris Saint-Germain and Ilya Zabarny have agreed personal terms on five year contract, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano states. Discussions continue with Bournemouth on transfer fee as talks are underway but no agreement sealed yet. The Cherries have already had one of their star centre-backs picked off them earlier in the window in the form of Dean Huijsen. 15th Jun 2025, 12:00 By Raphael Adelugba Dibling on Porto radar The mecarto of Dibling continues to be of much interest for many clubs, with domestic interest stalling. FC Porto intends to secure the signing of Tyler Dibling, reveals Portuguese outlet Record. Porto are clearly in the process of getting their sheeps in order in case a transfer for attacking starlet Rodrigo Mora occurs, with PSG interested. The 19-year-old winger has scored four goals and provided two assists in 38 appearances for Southampton in 2024/25 season. The England under-21 international has a market value of €25 million, but Saints value him at a MUCH higher price. 15th Jun 2025, 10:49 By Kostas Lianos Jamie Gittens bidding war Arsenal are ready to rival London foes Chelsea for the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens. The Blues have been widely reported to be trying to seal a deal for Gittens. However, no deal has been agreed and that paves the way for the Gunners to swoop in for the winger. According to TEAMtalk, the North Londoners are very keen on the England Under-21 international. 15th Jun 2025, 10:26 By Kostas Lianos Anthony Gordon reminder Liverpool are weighing up a £100million move for Newcastle star Anthony Gordon ahead of the summer transfer window's restart on Monday. Talks were held last summer over an Anfield switch as the Magpies looked to bring in cash to satisfy the Premier League's financial rules. The Toon are now in much better shape with the balance sheets but could have to fend off more interest from the Reds for the Scouse winger. Boyhood Liverpool fan Gordon moved to St James' Park from Everton for £45million in January 2024 and even signed a new contract last October. Paris Saint-Germain ace Bradley Barcola is a target for the Merseysiders but the European champions do not want to lose the Frenchman. That means Liverpool could revive a move for Everton academy graduate Gordon. 15th Jun 2025, 09:55 By Tom Barclay More on Tel Thomas Frank has his first Tottenham signing - after the North Londoners turned Mathys Tel's loan permanent for a cut-price fee. The France whizkid, currently with his nation at the Under-21 Euros, has penned a contract until 2031. Spurs originally had the option to buy the 20-year-old for £42.5million having paid an £8.5m loan fee in January. But the North Londoners have managed to haggle that down to just under £30m to keep the versatile forward. Tel made 20 appearances and scored three goals for Spurs after arriving from Bavaria on transfer deadline day in February. He came with a lot of hype but only showed glimpses of his talent - such as his stunning finish for his first goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup in the same month he joined. The former Rennes man ended up with a Europa League winner's medal round his neck, though he did not get off the bench as Spurs triumphed in Bilbao. 15th Jun 2025, 09:05 By Kostas Lianos Tottenham sign Tel Tottenham have completed the permanent signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich. Tel joined Spurs on January on a loan deal until the end of this past season. However, the North Londoners announced the striker has signed a deal until 2031. According to Bild, Tottenham and Bayern reached a €35million (£29.8m) deal in addition to a €10m (£8.5m) loan fee. By Nyle Smith Daylight rob-bery Liverpool could be set to lose a second top star to a Madrid rival after Atletico Madrid reportedly made Andy Robertson their top target. The Reds are already reeling from the loss of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid and could now be forced to deal with the loss of left-back Robertson in the same window. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish giants' neighbours to Alexander-Arnold 's new employers Real, have internally identified him as an ideal candidate. Liverpool are set to add Bournemouth 's Milos Kerkez to their ranks in the coming weeks after bringing in Jeremie Frimpong on the other flank. However, Romano describes the potential loss of the Scottish defender as "not easy" because he is still rated highly at the club. Robertson, 31, is rated higher on Atletico 's list of targets than wantaway AC Milan star Theo Hernandez. 15th Jun 2025, 08:22 By Nyle Smith Ready to Jo Joao Pedro has decided where he wants to move amid transfer interest from Newcastle and Chelsea. The striker could be on the way out of Brighton this summer after impressing for the Seagulls over the last two years. He is likely to demand a significant fee and his options could be limited because of where he wants to play. Pedro's Brighton team-mate Igor Julio has revealed the Brazilian is keen on a move to London in a dent to Newcastle's ambitions. He told Trivela: 'Joao Pedro had already told Brighton some time ago that his desire was to leave, look for new things and take the next step. 'It seems it will be difficult and complicated for him to stay here, we have to be honest, the club already knows that he said in contact with the report via video call. 'He always told me that he really wants to live in London, so I think he will prioritise what comes from there first.' 15th Jun 2025, 07:20 By Nyle Smith Dane to business Tottenham are nearing a £30million deal to sign Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel, according to reports. Tel, 20, spent the second half of last season on loan at Spurs under Ange Postecoglou. The initial deal possessed a £45m option to buy. Following further negotiations, Bild claim that Tottenham have knocked that fee down to around £30m, with a deal imminent. Tel made 20 appearances in all competitions following his mid-season switch, scoring three times. The French youth international played five times on Spurs' run to Europa League glory, including in both legs of the semi-finals. 15th Jun 2025, 06:00 By Henry Tomlinson Quansah move hint Liverpool star Jarrell Quansah has hinted at a potential exit this summer. The defender has claimed he is in a "good position" to take the "next step". He made the revelation during an interview with The Athletic. He said: "From Bristol Rovers (on loan in 2023) until now, to put perspective and look back I'm in a very good position to take the next step. "It comes with working hard and staying focused on what I can control. "As for the future, it'll put me in the best stead if I just keep my head down and keep working." 15th Jun 2025, 05:00 By Henry Tomlinson United offered swap Manchester United have been offered a stunning swap deal for Antony. GiveMeSport have claimed that Juventus have proposed a deal to take the Brazilian off the Red Devils' hands. And as a part of the deal, former Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz has been offered as a part of the deal. 15th Jun 2025, 03:00 By Henry Tomlinson Antony price set Man Utd are reportedly demanding £42m for Antony this summer, claims journalist Rudy Galetti. There has already been early interest from several clubs. The winger enjoyed a successful loan spell with Real Betis last season but it is unclear whether the Spanish side can afford him or not. Former Man Utd goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes the Brazilian could be worthy of another chance at Old Trafford. 15th Jun 2025, 01:00 By Henry Tomlinson Blade swing Gary O'Neil tops Sheffield United's wanted list as they look into a change of boss. O'Neil has not worked since leaving Wolves in December but has big admirers at Bramall Lane where Chris Wilder's position is being put under threat. Wilder signed a new deal in January and the compensation would be huge, a problem that may stretch the new owners' finances. But O'Neil is in line to get the SOS call, although he is also a potential target for other jobs. O'Neil, 42, was not in the market for work after his Wolves exit but is now prepared to take the right job. Former Hull boss Ruben Selles is another live candidate. 14th Jun 2025, 00:01 By Henry Tomlinson Zinchenko race Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko is reportedly gaining interest from three European giants. Reports have claimed that Borussia Dortmund and Italian duo AC Milan and Juventus are keen on the utility man. It is suggested that the Gunners will demand at least £15million for the Ukrainian. 14th Jun 2025, 23:30 By Henry Tomlinson Fred return? Former Manchester United star Fred has been linked with a shock return to the Premier League. But it is not to Old Trafford but instead Everton. The Toffees are reportedly eyeing a move for the Brazilian, who is currently at Fenerbahce. 14th Jun 2025, 22:52 By Henry Tomlinson EXCLUSIVE: Reds turn to Gordon Liverpool are weighing up a £100million move for Newcastle star Anthony Gordon. Talks were held last summer over an Anfield switch as Toon looked to bring in cash to satisfy Prem financial rules. Eddie Howe's side are now in much better shape with the balance sheets but could have to fend off more interest from Merseyside for the Scouse winger. Boyhood Liverpool fan Gordon moved to St James' Park from Everton for £45m in January 2024 and even signed a new contract last October. Paris Saint-Germain ace Bradley Barcola is a target but the European champions do not want to lose the Frenchman. That means that Liverpool could revive a move for Everton academy graduate Gordon, 24. 14th Jun 2025, 22:30 By Henry Tomlinson Perrone stand still Maximo Perrone is facing an uncertain future at Manchester City. It had been believed that he would be leaving on a permanent deal to Como. However, no deal has been agreed as of yet, according to Fabrizio Romano. It is suggested that Como have the option to extend his loan for next season and matching rights to any other bidder. 14th Jun 2025, 22:00 By Henry Tomlinson Gyokeres 'priority' Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly earmarked a move to Arsenal as his preference this summer. Viktor Gyökeres' priority is to join Arsenal this summer despite calls from Manchester United in the recent weeks. Gyökeres always an option amid Šeško talks with no deal sealed so far, Arsenal keep assessing situation. United remain keen but believe deal now unlikely. Fabrizio Romanox 14th Jun 2025, 21:15 By Henry Tomlinson Cherry picked Adrien Truffer is reportedly a Bournemouth player. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the French defender has signed a five-year contract on the South Coast. Truffert has made the move from Rennes in a transfer worth £11million. He is set to be unveiled next week.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ousmane Dembélé is not in PSG's lineup for Club World Cup opener against Atlético Madrid
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé was not in the starting lineup for the Champions League winners' opening match in the Club World Cup against Atlético Madrid. Dembélé also wasn't listed among the substitutes Sunday at the Rose Bowl for PSG's first match since trouncing Inter Milan 5-0 two weeks ago to win its first Champions League title. Advertisement The 28-year-old Dembélé is a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or after his outstanding season for PSG, but he reportedly injured his left quadriceps while playing for France against Spain on June 6. Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos replaced Dembélé in PSG's starting lineup against Atlético. Coach Luis Enrique otherwise used the same starting lineup from his club's blowout victory over Inter on May 31 in Munich. Dembélé produced 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for PSG's treble winners this season. PSG and Atlético are in a Club World Cup group with Brazil's Botafogo and Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders. ___ AP soccer: Greg Beacham, The Associated Press


The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Cristiano Ronaldo and son Cristiano Jr show off their abs together but fans all spot shocking detail
CRISTIANO RONALDO is showing his son Cristiano Junior how to reach the elite level that made the Manchester United legend one of football's all-time greats. Ronaldo, 40, won a raft of honours throughout his glittering 23-year career and one of his main secrets lies on his stunning fitness levels. 4 The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been prioritising his body from a young age and thus spends a lot of time on the gym while also adhering to a strict diet. The Al-Nassr superstar's son Junior, 14, is following in his father's massive footsteps as he is currently playing for the Saudi giants' Under-15 side. And thus Cristianinho has adopted all of his dad's fitness regime. The pair have been working out a lot together and decided to show the results of their hard labour on camera as they flexed for a pic on Twitter. Ronaldo added the following caption in the snap that showed them both looking shredded: "Like father like son." But many fans pointed at something peculiar about that photo and stormed the comments' section. CR7's supporters noticed that his teenage son is already taller than the super athlete, who stands at 1.87m. One fan tweeted: "Hahaha son taller than you already lol." Another commented: "Bro how's the lad taller than CR7." A third wrote: "Even Ronaldo's son is taller than [Lionel] Messi." New footage shows Cristiano Ronaldo's wild reaction to Portugal Nations League win as Man Utd star is 'used as shield' This fan said: "@Grok make Ronaldo shorter." And that one stated: "He's grown taller than you champ." The same photo also highlighted Ronaldo's recent fashion statement that has seen him painting his toenails. Junior has been following his father around the world and played for his club's youth sides. The winger's career kicked off in 2021 as he spent a year with Juventus before linking up with Man Utd until his father's acrimonious departure in early 2023. The forward also plays for Portugal's Under-15s where he put together some impressive performances. 4 4