Latest news with #Sarr
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea's Mamadou Sarr compares himself to Liverpool star after £12m transfer
Chelsea have been busy in the summer transfer window and Mamadou Sarr is one of five players who have arrived already. The centre-back has boldly claimed he wants to become a "leader" like Virgil van Dijk Chelsea new boy Mamadou Sarr likes Virgil van Dijk but says he is more like Ibrahima Konate. The 19-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer with a big reputation after a year learning under Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg. The France youth international has taken plenty of lessons from up-and-coming boss Rosenior who is in charge of one of Chelsea 's family of clubs. But Sarr says he has also watched plenty of Liverpool defenders Van Dijk and Konate to learn from them as he looks to adapt to English football. Sarr said: 'I want to be like Virgil van Dijk. I love Van Dijk. But some people tell me I play like Ibrahima Konate. It's similar. Van Dijk is a leader. For a defender, it's important to be a leader. Off and on the pitch, I talk a lot. It's an important job. 'I anticipate well. With the ball, I can pick a good pass. But I've come here to progress. When I was young, I had a dream to be the best centre back in the world.' Sarr has joined for £12m and has represented France at a raft of youth levels and is already being tipped to become a full international in the future. The 6ft 4in defender is bright, enthusiastic and excited about his opportunity in the Premier League. He learned of Chelsea's interest midway through last season and admits it was impossible to turn down the chance to play in England. 'I knew of some interest approximately in November, December,' said Sarr. 'Then in January I had an idea that it was possible. When one of the biggest clubs comes to you, it is so exciting.' Former Derby and Hull boss Rosenior, the ex-Brighton and Fulham defender, is gaining a huge reputation after his impressive work at Strasbourg. Rosenior says Sarr is a player with the 'physique and characteristics' to reach the top. Rosenior also won over Sarr with his calm approach, coaching style and desire to improve young players. Sarr said: 'When I was a kid, I had a dream and I trusted Liam Rosenior and he trusted me. He's a top coach. He believed in me. He taught me a lot about how I can defend better, how I can help the team better. 'It's important to me to train well, to speak with the coach, to speak with every player, and to be confident in what I do. It's good for me to have competition. That will help me to be a better defender.' Sarr wants to help Chelsea win the Club World Cup after the opened with a win over Los Angeles and now play Flamengo on Friday. Paris Saint Germain are probably the tournament favourites but Sarr believes Chelsea can compete with the newly-crowned European champions. He added: 'I played PSG twice last year. They are a very good team. Chelsea is a very good team. They are like PSG. We can compete with them. There are a lot of similarities in the game and Chelsea can beat PSG."
Daily Tribune
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Senegal become first African team to beat England
TDT | Manama Senegal made history on Tuesday night by becoming the first African nation to defeat England, claiming a confident 3-1 win in an international friendly at Nottingham's City Ground. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly secured a landmark result that stretched Senegal's unbeaten run to 24 matches — and left England facing uncomfortable questions in the early stages of the Thomas Tuchel era. It was a performance that combined tactical discipline with clinical finishing, underscoring Senegal's continued rise as a force beyond African football. Fast Start, Fragile Foundation England looked sharp early on, opening the scoring in the seventh minute through Harry Kane, who pounced after Edouard Mendy spilled a close-range effort from Anthony Gordon. But the early momentum masked deeper structural issues in Tuchel's heavily rotated side, which featured 10 changes from the lacklustre 1-0 win over Andorra. The defensive shape never fully settled, and Senegal began to find gaps, particularly down the flanks where Sarr and Jackson found joy against an unusually disjointed English backline. Senegal Flip the Script Senegal's equaliser came five minutes before the break, when Kyle Walker was caught flat-footed and Sarr reacted quickest to turn in a low cross from Nicolas Jackson. The goal was no more than the visitors deserved after a half in which they had repeatedly tested goalkeeper Dean Henderson. After the break, England looked lethargic and struggled to manage Senegal's pace and movement in transition. In the 62nd minute, Diarra latched onto a lofted ball behind the defence and finished with composure through Henderson's legs. Sabaly's stoppage-time strike — a confident low finish after a sweeping move — confirmed a famous win. It might have been worse for England, were it not for Henderson's earlier saves and a late offside flag that ruled out a Jude Bellingham equaliser for a handball in the build-up. Tuchel Faces Early Reality Check While the result won't carry competitive consequences, it does sharpen the focus on England's early adaptation under Tuchel. The German coach admitted post-match that his side looked 'frozen' for long periods, and lacked the tempo and sharpness expected at this level. 'Not active enough for long stretches,' Tuchel observed. 'We conceded very easy goals, ones we have to do better with. After that, the reaction was good — more energy, more aggression — but we need to start like that.' For captain Kane, the themes were familiar: inconsistency in both phases, and a lack of cohesion. 'We're not going to panic,' he said, 'but we know we need to be better. There are new ideas, new players coming in, but no excuses. Every camp matters now — the World Cup is coming fast.' Senegal Shine on Global Stage For Senegal, this was more than just a friendly win — it was validation. Under head coach Pape Thiaw, the Teranga Lions have become a model of structure and belief, and their ability to control long spells against England reflects a side with ambitions that stretch well beyond continental titles. Sarr, Jackson, and Diarra were all standouts, while Mendy's late save to deny Bukayo Saka preserved a lead that was well-earned. The African champions continue to grow in stature — and on nights like these, demand to be taken seriously among football's global elite. Senegal next face Algeria in September, while England's preparations for the 2026 World Cup resume with qualifiers against Iceland and Hungary. For both, the road ahead looks increasingly shaped by lessons from nights like this.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Chelsea signs French defender Sarr from sister club Strasbourg
Chelsea signed a top young player from its sister club by bringing in French teenage defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg on Monday. Strasbourg, which plays in France's top league, is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022. The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international who was a regular last season as Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He was previously at Lens and Lyon. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League. Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee.
Evening Standard
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Who is Mamadou Sarr? Why Chelsea FC fans should be excited about 'scary' new signing
Sarr is an Under-20 French international, and has made two appearances for the side. Before that, he had played 30 times moving up the age groups, from Under-17s to Under-19s, and he played four of France's six games as they won the Under-17 European Championships in 2022.
The 42
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Chelsea sign 19-year-old Strasbourg defender, Ronaldo intends to remain at Al Nassr
CHELSEA HAVE SIGNED 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg on an eight-year deal. The France Under-19 international played 27 times in Ligue 1 last season, his first full campaign in the top flight, as they – managed by Liam Rosenior – finished seventh to qualify for the Conference League. Strasbourg are owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo, with Sarr to become the latest player to have spent time at both clubs. Central defence is considered a priority for strengthening this summer after a season in which injuries badly disrupted that area of the pitch. Advertisement First-choice Wesley Fofana made only 14 appearances in the Premier League last term and his availability prospects are a concern, the former Leicester defender having been fit to play just 29 times in the league in the three seasons since he moved to Stamford Bridge. At 19, Sarr is unlikely to be put straight into the team, meaning at present, Enzo Maresca's side are dependent on Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile as their fit senior central defenders ahead of the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he intends to stay with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. There had been speculation – fuelled by Fifa president Gianni Infantino – the five-time Ballon d'Or winner could join a club competing in this summer's Club World Cup on a short-term deal. The 40-year-old had also hinted his future could lie elsewhere when he posted a message on social media at the end of Al Nassr's season that read: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' But speaking after Portugal's triumph over Spain in the Uefa Nations League final on Sunday – in which Ronaldo scored his 138th international goal – the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star said he would not be moving on. 'Future? Nothing will change. Al Nassr? Yes,' the forward told reporters. Elsewhere, West Ham are yet to make a formal decision on the future of Michail Antonio despite the forward being listed as a 'free transfer' on the club's retained list. Antonio's current contract is due to expire on June 30 and the Jamaica international is still sidelined after being involved in a car crash in December, which left him with a broken femur. It was announced on Monday that Antonio will appear in the Premier League's retained list as a 'free transfer', but West Ham's current priority is to help him on the road to recovery.
