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In ten days' time, the transfer window will have slammed shut, and while fans have understandably shifted their focus back to the Premier League, some clubs still have quite a bit of work to do in the market, including Arsenal.

At the moment, Riccardo Calafiori has been the only new face added to the Gunners' first team this summer, and while Mikel Merino's move is supposedly right around the corner, we've been hearing that all month.

However, there is good news, as recent reports linked the club with one of the most exciting attackers in Europe last season, someone who could be the ideal Leandro Trossard rival and someone who has won comparisons to Bukayo Saka to boot.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in Atalanta star Ademola Lookman this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Premier League hopefuls Liverpool are also keen to sign the former Everton ace before the window slams shut next week.

A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but a report from earlier this summer revealed that the Nigerian international could be available for €60m, which converts to around £51m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get done due to the interest from the Reds, but given his form last season and the fact he's been compared to Saka, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he could provide excellent competition for Trossard.

How Lookman compares to Saka and Trossard

Okay, so before we look at how Lookman stacks up to Trossard and how he could challenge him for a place on the left, let's examine this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

It primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League over the last 365 days, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for everyone, and from there, they have concluded that the Englishman is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian.

You can better understand how they came to this conclusion by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank very closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, passing accuracy, goal-creating actions and interceptions, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.68

0.65

Shots

3.18

3.14

Passing Accuracy

75.8%

75.6%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.67

0.65

Interceptions

0.43

0.46

It's not just in the underlying numbers that the two attackers are alike, though, as in the aftermath of the Nigerian's masterclass performance in the Europa League final last season, former professional Owen Hargreaves said that "he reminds me of (Bukayo) Saka in the way he sets people, gets them off balance, and he's always got a picture in the way he wants to finish."

So then, with the right-footed dynamo's similarities to the Gunners' superstar seven clear, how does his output from last season measure up to Trossard's? Due to his ability to play on the left, he may well be fighting with the Belgian for a place in the lineup should he make the move to North London.

The good news is that it would be a close fight, as in 45 appearances last season, the “blistering” ace, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 17 goals and provided ten assists, equating to a goal involvement once every 1.66 games.

In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion dynamo scored 17 goals and provided two assists in 46 appearances, equating to a still impressive but notably worse average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games.

Some may argue that the Premier League is a more challenging league than Serie A, but even if that were true and the Atalanta star saw his output reduce somewhat in England, it would still be close to, or better than the Belgian's.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to bring in another attacker this summer, and following his incredible campaign last season and the flattering comparisons to Saka, Lookman may be the perfect player to sign before the window slams shut, especially as he could help push Trossard to be even better.

Fabrizio Romano says £26m player has agreed to join Arsenal with Merino

He’s eyeing a move to the Emirates.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 21, 2024

‘I’m very confident we’ll get him back, and get him back as we’ve seen Jofra in the past,’ Giles says

Andrew Miller27-May-2021Ashley Giles, the ECB’s director of men’s cricket, says that England are prepared to play the long game when it comes to Jofra Archer’s fitness, after the bowler himself indicated in a newspaper column that he is prepared to write off the home summer in a bid to recover fully from his recent elbow operation.Writing in the Daily Mail on Thursday, Archer warned that if he didn’t get his rehabilitation right, he wouldn’t be able to play “any cricket … period”, after opting for surgery on his right elbow in the wake of his aborted return to action for Sussex in the County Championship earlier this month.And having stated that his personal goals were England’s twin peaks of the T20 World Cup, in October and November, closely followed by the Ashes in Australia in December and January, Archer warned that he would be “quite prepared” to miss the five-Test series against India, beginning at Trent Bridge on August 4, if it meant he would be better placed to prolong his career across all three formats.Asked if England were already planning for a summer without Archer in their ranks, Giles – speaking at the launch of IG as the new official partner of England Cricket – admitted that they would have to be “conservative” as he works his way back towards full fitness. However, he believed it was too soon to dismiss the prospect of him playing any part in the series.Ashley Giles, England men’s director of cricket, at Edgbaston•IG

“Not yet,” Giles said. “I’ve talked a lot about our objectives in the T20 World Cup and the Ashes and we need to make sure he is best prepared for that. If it went swimmingly, we may see him earlier but we’re not going to put any deadlines on it.””I’m very confident we’ll get him back, and get him back as we’ve seen Jofra in the past,” Giles added. “The surgery went well and if he recovers in the right amount of time, he’ll be relieved, almost, that the shackles are off and he can come back and do what he loves doing.”Aside from confirming that Archer had undergone a procedure and that he would be assessed in four weeks’ time, the ECB has released limited details about the exact nature of Archer’s elbow problem. Giles, however, was confident that the operation had gone “very well”, but reiterated that he was not qualified to comment on the medical aspects of his treatment.”All of these injuries carry a certain amount of risk, that’s why we look at all the conservative options first before you head into surgery,” Giles said. “But I’m very confident with the medical team we have and the surgery he’s had, which has gone very well, that Jof will be back and firing.”Any of us who’ve had surgeries of those sorts in the past, they definitely make you edgy and nervous. But we’re definitely confident he’ll be back and ready to go at some point later in the year.Related

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Archer ruled out of New Zealand Tests due to elbow concerns

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“Every player is different. I think the thing that has been holding Jofra back is that he’s had two different injuries in that elbow and it stops him doing what he does incredibly well – which is bowl quick. That must be frustrating for him. But the most important thing is that we look after and care for his injury and him. So his well-being is very important.”Asked if the ECB would support the notion of Archer returning to his home island of Barbados during his rehabilitation process, Giles said that the board could be open to such a proposal if it fitted with the timeframes for his recovery.”The world is ever-changing and that’s something we have to consider,” he said. “If there was an opportunity to go back at some point [to Barbados], perhaps we should support it. But the most important thing for him and us is to make sure he has the right care and rehabilitation on that elbow.”IG are an Official Partner of England Cricket. For more information, visit IG.com/uk/england

Chelsea once again find themselves at the centre of the headlines even as the transfer window approaches its final hours, having reportedly reached an agreement over personal terms as they work to do a last-minute deal.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues are looking to end their summer as it started by welcoming incomings for Enzo Maresca's side. It was always likely to be a busy day at Stamford Bridge, of course, as Todd Boehly and others look to rediscover the balance in Maresca's squad by offloading several frozen out players and replacing them with fresh faces.

Related Chelsea can forget Osimhen & Toney with last-gasp move for £25m "monster"

The Blues’ transfer window is going to the eleventh hour…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 30, 2024

That includes Raheem Sterling, who is one of many to have been left training away from the first-team and told to leave the London club if he wants any form of game time this season. Maresca recently told the press via Fabrizio Romano: “All the players who in this moment are training apart will NOT get any minutes in case they stay. My advice to Sterling? He knows exactly what he has to do. It’s not just Raheem, all of them."

Even as they look to thin out a packed squad, however, there's still arrivals on the cards, including a direct replacement for Sterling. According to Romano, Chelsea have now agreed personal terms with Jadon Sancho, who earns a reported £250k-a-week at Manchester United, and are now awaiting Manchester United's verdict on their two loan bids offering differing structured deals.

Sancho, like Sterling, is unlikely to receive the minutes that he's after with his current employers, opening the door for a late exit. Whether that exit is to Chelsea remains to be seen, however.

Now or never for "gifted" Sancho in the Premier League

When Sancho finally made his way to Manchester United after a lengthy transfer saga in 2021, resulting in a deal worth a hefty £73m, he was one of the best wingers around. All signs pointed towards an excellent piece of business by all involved at Old Trafford. Yet, three years later and a falling out with Ten Hag in between, Sancho finds himself heading for the exit door with more of a whimper than a roar.

Having shown glimpses of his best when on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, however, there's still every chance that Chelsea land the bargain of the summer if they secure a loan, plus an option or obligation to buy, for Sancho.

Described as "gifted" by former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic during that loan spell in the last campaign, there's a player still in there waiting to burst into life in the Premier League. But it's now or never for Sancho, who wouldn't exactly be arriving in an environment known for helping new signings find success.

Nonetheless, a move to Stamford Bridge is one that Sancho seemingly wants after reportedly agreeing personal terms with Chelsea.

It's a joke that the Premier League leaders could lose their most valuable player for nothing – but nobody at Anfield is laughing right now

With seven minutes to go at a stormy Saint Mary’s on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool won a penalty. So, Mohamed Salah stepped up. As he always does. In every sense. Salah struck his spot-kick sweetly to seal a 3-2 win over Southampton that sent his side eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, and as he raced away to celebrate, off came the shirt.

The weather was atrocious, but Salah didn’t care. He had a point to make. The Egyptian may be a humble and quiet character off the field but, as he stood bare-chested in front of the adoring away fans with his arms spread out wide, this felt like an open invitation for all and sundry to marvel at his magnificence, a very deliberate reminder that, at 32 years of age, he remains at the absolute peak of his powers, physically and mentally.

Just a couple of hours later, he sent another one – and it was far more pointed. Indeed, after rescuing the Reds from what would have been an embarrassing defeat, Salah utterly humiliated the club’s owners and directors by publicly revealing that he's yet to be offered a new contract, meaning Liverpool’s most reliable match-winner, their most valuable player by some distance, really could leave for nothing at the end of the season…

• 'More out than in'

  Salah doesn't do many interviews, so the mere fact that he stopped to talk to the press assembled at the players' exit at St. Mary's was significant. It was obvious that he had something to say, and when he was asked for an update on his future, Salah dropped his bombshell.

  "We are almost in December and I haven't received an offer to stay at the club yet," he said, "so I am probably more out than in."

  Even just that revelation would have been enough to send Liverpool fans into a frenzy, but Salah piled even more pressure on his employers by revealing that he wants to stay.

  "I have been at the club for many years," he said. "There is no club like this. But, in the end, it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven't received anything yet about my future."

  Salah also admitted that he had no idea why he is still waiting on an offer. "I'm not going to retire soon," he said, clearly suggesting that he feels, quite understandably, that he can continue performing at the highest level for some time to come.

  "I'm focusing on the season and I'm trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I'm disappointed but we will see."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  FSG facing fan fury

  The current situation is utterly unacceptable for Liverpool fans, though. They've long since grown tired of waiting to see what's going to happen.

  On a day on which they should be looking forward to two mouth-watering matches, against Real Madrid and Manchester City, they're instead focused on the future of not just one club legend, but three, as Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will, as it stands, also be free agents next summer. It's genuinely astounding that all three were allowed to enter the final years of their respective contracts as it was inevitable that the incessant speculation and uncertainty would eventually become a distraction.

  It was also only a matter of time before one of them eventually spoke out, and Salah was certainly within his rights to do so. He is the main reason why Liverpool lead both the Premier League and the Champions League.

  An argument could be made that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes were entitled to hold off on offering Salah, the highest-paid player in the club's history, a renewal before seeing if he had fully recovered from the injury that unquestionably hindered the winger during the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign.

  However, it was obvious even during pre-season that Salah was in excellent shape again, having clearly benefited from a proper break, and FSG's problem is now that their bargaining position has been considerably weakened – arguably to such a point, in fact, that if they do not re-sign their star player, they will face a bitter backlash from a group of fans that have longstanding issues with the owners' perceived parsimony.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Best player in the world'

  The supporters are not stupid. They are acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of giving a thirty-something a lucrative, long-term contract, but Salah has the form and physique to justify a new deal.

  Ramy Abbas Issa claimed earlier this month that Salah was "the best player in the world" right now, and while such a statement is to be expected from an agent looking to secure his client a new contract, it's difficult to dispute that claim. Liverpool are top of both the Premier League and the Champions League – and Salah is the main reason why.

  Arne Slot has masterfully managed the transition from Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal' football to a more measured approach, with Ryan Gravenberch proving a revelation at No.6, and Curtis Jones and Ibrahima Konate having both improved significantly on the Dutchman's watch. Luis Diaz has also added goals to his game, while Van Dijk is back to his best and once again leading by example at the back despite the current impasse over his own renewal.

  It is Salah, though, who is once again propelling a Premier League title tilt.

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• Getty
  

  Lost without him

  Salah's importance to Liverpool simply cannot be overstated. He has achieved an almost unprecedented level of productivity at Anfield. He's been at the club since 2017 and has never scored fewer than 23 goals across a single season.

  On Sunday, he scored in a fifth consecutive Premier League game. The last player to do that for Liverpool? Salah himself, in October 2021, when he went on to net in seven successive matches.

  There's also ample evidence to suggest that his importance to his team is only increasing. According to , Salah's 10 goals and six assists have earned Liverpool 17 points so far this season. If it weren't his input, Slot's side would be 13th in the table – 11 points behind Chelsea.

  Put quite simply, Liverpool would be lost without him.

Big Picture

There will be more important T20 matches for these two sides to play later in the year, but a deciding contest to this series is a good opportunity for them to hone their skills in tournament-style play. Australia have been playing must-win for the last two matches, turning in impressive victories, and it feels as though while they have gathered confidence, it has ebbed away from New Zealand.New Zealand’s coach, Gary Stead, was reasonably blunt after the defeat on Friday in saying he thought his team took a backward step with the bat. There is limited scope for changes with the 13-man squad they have for this series so it would appear likely the same top order will go again, but there is pressure on Tim Seifert in what has been a disappointing series for him.Spin can be expected to play another big role and Australia have deeper options available with the trio of Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell doing an outstanding job yesterday. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were also impressive, but it may be that Kane Wiliamson will have to use himself this time.Straight after the match, Australia’s squad will head to Wellington airport and board their charter flight back to Sydney. Those players from states with open borders to New Zealand (excluding Auckland) won’t have to quarantine but those from places where regulations in place potentially face isolation depending on whether they go straight home.This is the last confirmed international cricket Australia’s men’s team has on the schedule for some considerable time (barring an unlikely England comeback in the final Test against India) although there could be a mid-year white-ball tour of the Caribbean ahead of the final build-up to the T20 World Cup. For New Zealand, their home season will conclude later this month with ODI and T20I series against Bangladesh.Related

• Finch and spinners earn Australia series decider

• RCB 'not too worried' about Jamieson despite struggles

• NZ coach critical of timid approach: 'Not sure we fired a shot at them'

Form guide

(last five completed matches)
New Zealand LLWWL
Australia WWLLW

In the spotlight

The trickier the surface, the more a player like Kane Williamson can become important. A captain’s innings could be what New Zealand need to overcome their batting struggles of the last two matches and Williamson’s skill could follow the template laid by Aaron Finch in batting through an innings depending how early he gets to the crease. He could also have an important part to play with the ball – he has not bowled in a T20I since February 2018 but came close to bringing himself on in the last game and another spin option may be better suited than the pace of Kyle Jamieson.While the spinners are likely to take centrestage, Kane Richardson‘s cutters also proved highly effect in the fourth match as he picked up 3 for 19. He is an often unheralded part of Australia’s T20I side but before his home season was disrupted by opting out of the India series due to the restrictions of the biosecure bubble to stay with his family he had played 12 consecutive matches. He can be confident of a spot heading into the T20 World Cup even when other players return.

Team news

Having confirmed they won’t draft another spin option into the squad there is a limit to what New Zealand can do. Jamieson has had a tough series and they could, at a stretch, consider replacing him with Mark Chapman and making up overs of spin from the part-timers but that is a risky option.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tim Seifert, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent BoultD’Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff and Tanveer Sangha have not seen any game time on the tour (Ashton Turner has already gone home for the birth of his child) but a winning combination could be given the chance to seal the series. Short’s left-arm wristspin could come into the equation as much as his batting while the uncapped legspinner Sangha would be an exciting and brave option.Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Matthew Wade (wk), 3 Josh Philippe, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Jhye Richardson, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Riley Meredith

Pitch and conditions

While there was an expectation that the pitch would change, both sides were surprised by how it played on Friday. It won’t have had any further use before the decider now the men’s and women’s matches have been switched so conditions are likely to be very similar. One concern is that the forecast for the morning in Wellington isn’t brilliant with the chance of showers.

Stats and trivia

• The 11 overs of spin bowled by Australia in the fourth match was their second-most in a T20I
• Kyle Jamieson has conceded 175 in the series. The record is 187 held by Tim Southee although there remain a limited number of five-match series.

Quotes

“[Australia] adjusted very well, we were probably a bit slow to. But we know how the surface will play and it will probably be very similar. Spin and cutters were quite effective.”
“We were under the pump and it’s a nice feeling now that we are back in this series.”

When Liverpool waved goodbye to Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, tears were flowing like Old Trafford in the rain, but Klopp, ever the rouser, trolled out his heir apparent's name – Arne Slot.

Klopp, for all his eccentricity, something like the mad old uncle at times, knew what he was doing, imparted one final piece of inspiring wisdom, rallying his outfit toward the new figurehead.

Now, fast-track nearly two months, FSG and Slot have been preparing for the new era, working with messianic passion on the training field to stamp the new system into the first team – those who are not still performing for their nations or still enjoying holiday sunshine.

What about transfers? Sporting director Richard Hughes has indicated that deals are more likely to take place later down the line this summer, not least because Slot is still working with an incomplete number of his troop.

Concrete interest has been shown in LOSC Lille centre-back Leny Yoro and Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, but the former is expected to sign for Real Madrid and the Three Lions star would cost a shedload.

Still, the rumour mill has unsurprisingly roared into overdrive recently, with a fresh player entering circulation.

Liverpool transfer news

As per journalist Ben Jacobs – via GIVEMESPORT – Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes.

The Brazilian has excelled since joining the Premier League side and has four years left on his contract with the option of a further year, so the Old Gold have slapped a £60m price tag on his signature.

Ah, perhaps a sticking point. However, FSG know that the Reds could benefit from a specialist No. 6 to compete with Wataru Endo for a starting berth at the base of the midfield.

What Joao Gomes would bring to Liverpool

Gomes made a telling comment on Wolves' campaign last season, not with words, but through tough-tackling action on the field. Gary O'Neil was appointed on the cusp of the 2023/24 term with a catalogue of problems, but he effectively replaced Julen Lopetegui and led his team to a comfortable middling top-flight finish.

O'Neil is tactically flexible but has found plenty of success through Wolves' electric speed, thus implementing a counter-attacking system to best serve the strengths. Such pace needs a sturdy centre to charge and control, and Gomes has proved himself worthy of such a role over an impressive campaign.

Actually signed back in January 2023, Gomes arrived from Brazilian club Flamengo in a £15m deal and completed seven starting appearances as the campaign flowed through its second half.

Described as an "accurate & tenacious tackler" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gomes is an unrelenting defensive midfielder who would add something different to Liverpool's first team, having demonstrated significant improvements during his first full season in the Premier League.

One of the toughest titans in the division, Fulham's Joao Palhinha was the only man to have won more tackles last season, with the Portuguese winning 152 and Gomes 128, three more than third-placed Vinicius Souza's 125.

As per FBref, the £30k-per-week talent actually ranks among the top 1% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 8% for clearances per 90, proving that he has the energy and athletic sharpness to make a marked impact on Slot's efforts at the Liverpool helm.

He's got all the tools to grow into one of Europe's leading No. 6s, and Liverpool should snap him up now before a rival claims his services down the line.

Why Liverpool should strike now

Having earned the moniker of "The Pitbull" as he cut his teeth in his homeland, Gomes has now showcased his skills in the English top flight and would be ready to make the jump to a top team such as Liverpool – albeit seeming comfortable in his Molineux setting.

He would cost a pretty penny but Liverpool frankly need to add a dimension to their engine room if they are to close the gap on the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, especially given the solid but unspectacular performances of Wataru Endo.

Liverpool replaced Fabinho with the Stuttgart star last summer, snapping him up for a shrewd £16m, and while he played an important role last term, the Japan international only won 2.9 ground duels per game in the Premier League, winning 41% of his attempts. That's some way behind Gomes' tally of 6.2.

Fellow Brazilian Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad for £40m one year ago after suffering a stark decline during the 2022/23 campaign, but he remains one of the most important players throughout Klopp's illustrious tenure, completing 219 appearances and playing a key part in winning all the trophies under the German's leadership.

Pundit Gary Neville had even proclaimed him to be "the best" holding midfielder in the world back in 2019, with his sharp tackling, industrious approach and astute reading of the game setting him apart from the lion's share of talented defensive midfielders.

Gomes would unquestionably prove to be an upgrade on Endo and find himself cementing a regular starting berth in Slot's line-up. Given the dynamic and multi-skilled skill set of Alexis Mac Allister, the creative energy of Dominik Szoboszlai and the multi-functioning prowess of Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, landing such a player could pay dividends.

Hughes might have stressed that Liverpool will bide their time this summer, but with Gomes already on the radar, this is certainly one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Imagine him & Nunez: Liverpool add £49m "pace demon" to their shortlist

This winger has been earmarked as an alternative to Anthony Gordon.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 8, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O saudosismo é uma característica marcante do futebol. Talvez, Ronaldinho Gaúcho seja um dos principais nomes que remetem a nostalgia do “Joga Bonito” do futebol brasileiro. Singular dentro dos gramados por sua magia, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira transportou, após a aposentadoria, sua simpatia com a bola para as redes sociais.

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+ Veja a tabela da Champions League!

Para dimensionar o tamanho de Ronaldinho na internet, basta compará-lo a outros jogadores em atividade. Robert Lewandowski, eleito pela Fifa como melhor jogador do mundo na última temporada, exibe 21 milhões de seguidores no Instagram, enquanto R10 ostenta mais do que o dobro.

Lado a lado com o astro do PSG Kylian Mbappé, a vantagem diminuí. O ex-Barcelona tem quase 59 milhões de fãs, cerca de 600 mil usuários a mais que o craque francês, que ainda caminha para o auge de sua carreira em plena era da internet. Então, se você quer saber o que aconteceu com o Ronaldinho Gaúcho, é só acompanhar suas redes sociais.

Proclamado autor do “sinal do Ronaldinho”, ou o famoso “hangloose”, R10 exibiu um novo jeito carismático de jogar futebol. Por isso, conquistou não só duas Bolas de Ouro, mas também uma legião de fãs espalhados pelo mundo. O legado é tão evidente que, apesar da Era Messi e Cristiano Ronaldo ter abalado as estruturas do mundo da bola, o brasileiro é tratado por muitos – até pelos que não acompanharam sua carreira – como um dos maiores de todos os tempos.

Em entrevista exclusiva ao LANCE!, o craque brasileiro comentou sobre sua vida fora de campo e explicou curiosidades que o tornaram um fenômeno nas redes sociais.

“Eu amo o que faço. Acho que o sorriso e jogar com alegria é uma parte de mim que marcou minha passagem”

– Eu amo o que faço. Jogar futebol sempre foi muito mais do que um jogo! É onde me encontro comigo mesmo. É o que sempre quis fazer, nunca pensei em jogo bonito… Sempre pensei em ser campeão, ser reconhecido pelo meu futebol. Me espelhei em muitos craques que vi jogar e que me fizeram ter a certeza de que era exatamente isso que queria fazer. Isso fez meu estilo agradar as pessoas. Acho que o sorriso e jogar com alegria é uma parte de mim que marcou minha passagem – começou Ronaldinho.

Jogando e vivendo por música
Reconhecidamente apaixonado por música, Ronaldinho, recentemente, abriu a gravadora “Tropa do Bruxo”. Questionado sobre os motivos que o levaram a investir no ramo, ele conta que foi um caminho natural, já que sempre jogou ‘com música na cabeça’.

– A música sempre fez parte da nossa casa e de nossa família. Eu jogo com música na minha cabeça. O aquecimento sempre tem música. Se estamos viajando pelo mundo, aproveito para descobrir algo novo da música local. Foi um caminho natural, mundos diferentes, mas muito parecidos na relação com as pessoas e em despertar paixão, desejo e multidão. Eu sou assim: gosto de gente e estádio cheio. A Tropa do Bruxo está crescendo na cena com um trabalho de qualidade e muito bem executado, artistas ganhando visibilidade, outros dando espaço aos mais jovens, um clima bacana mesmo. Acho que na sequência vem uma participação com um grande nome latino – disse.

Alcançando a garotada
Bruna Cramer, assessora que cuida das redes sociais e faz os planejamentos estratégicos do ex-jogador, explica também que todo esse sucesso fora dos gramados ajudou a espalhar o legado de Ronaldinho.

– Nos últimos tempos, viemos compartilhando muita coisa que o Ronaldo tem feito na música. Ele adora suas composições, seu projeto da Tropa do Bruxo, entre outras coisas. O público dele entre 13 e 17 anos já era grande, mas lógico que agora tende a aumentar. Até um pouco inexplicável, pois essa galera nem viu as “magias em campo”, mas acredito que o carinho pelo Ronaldo, por tudo que ele representa, acabou ultrapassando gerações. E logicamente ele fazendo esse trabalho com as coisas que a garotada acompanha os aproxima ainda mais – completa Bruna, que é casada com Assis e é cunhada do craque.

Sobre a R10 Team, equipe de eSports de Ronaldinho, o craque conta como surgiu a vontade de se aproximar do mundo virtual. Em agosto, o time patrocinado por ele foi campeão da ‘KOEL Finals C6’, principal torneio independente de futebol virtual da América Latina.

– Muito bom falar sobre algo que dentro das concentrações e hotéis curtíamos fazer. Passávamos horas jogando, era muito bom os torneios com os colegas. Depois, vieram outros jogos e cada vez mais jovens jogando. A Tropa do Bruxo me trouxe novamente para a cena dos games. Eu estava em uma gravação e rolou uma partida que reascendeu a vontade de jogar. Estamos em um momento muito legal e temos grandes nomes junto neste projeto – celebrou.

Bruna Cramer revelou como é feito o planejamento para manter o engajamento e proximidade com os fãs e qual é o perfil dos seguidores do ‘Bruxo’.

– O público dele é global e 80% masculino. O meu trabalho é o aproximar das pessoas. Compartilhar as viagens através dos “stories” para que todos vejam que ele é um ser humano de carne e osso, além dos projetos que faz com tanto amor pra um público tão fiel e apaixonado – conta Bruna.

– Fazemos um trabalho de conteúdo que fica programado. São ações com os produtos da linha dele e, paralelo a isso, o Ronaldo vai postando as fotos pessoais ou de alguma eventualidade que aconteça no seu dia a dia e que ache legal compartilhar com seus fãs. Eu destaco uma ação muito legal que fizemos quando ele se machucou no Atlético-MG, que se chamava “Volta Ronaldinho”. Se tratava de compartilhar mensagens de apoio que ele recebia para se recuperar para o Mundial por conta de uma lesão na coxa. Foi muito emocionante acompanhar com ele mais de milhões de mensagens que o motivaram na sua recuperação – concluiu.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo has a huge task ahead of him this summer, with the dealings conducted within the transfer window potentially defining their ability to compete in the Premier League next season.

The Reds broke PSR rules last season despite selling starman Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £47.5m, with the deal for the Welshman going through past the Premier League’s deadline.

As a result, Forest were deducted a total of four points by the Premier League, resulting in a nervy end-of-season battle to secure their top-flight status for another season.

Despite the sale of Johnson last summer, Nuno’s side still have to raise at least £20 million by 30 June to avoid a similar punishment during the 2024/25 campaign.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo have both been linked with £50m+ moves to various other Premier League clubs, such as Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

Both players would be a huge loss to Nuno’s side, but with the number of signings made in recent times, the club have enough deadwood to offload to prevent them from selling any more of their key players this transfer window.

Despite the PSR troubles, Evangelos Marinakis is looking to improve the squad further with new additions to prevent a repeat of a relegation battle next season.

That being said, here's a look at how the Forest XI could shape up for the 2024/25 season…

1

GK – Matz Sels

Since joining from Strasbourg in January, the Belgian has started every Premier League outing, keeping two clean sheets – proving to be an upgrade on former number one Matt Turner.

The Reds will undoubtedly look for reinforcements within the goalkeeping department over the summer, but given his displays during his brief time at the City Ground, the former Newcastle United man should retain his place between the sticks.

2

RB – Neco Williams

After winning three consecutive Player of the Month awards during the 2023/24 campaign, right-back Neco Williams has started to fulfil the potential that saw the Reds splash £17m on him back in 2022.

The Welshman made a total of 26 Premier League appearances last season, securing his place his place as Nuno's starting full-back on Trentside.

3

CB – Murillo

A player who has taken Forest fans by surprise this season is Brazilian centre-back Murillo. The 21-year-old joined the club in a £15m deal from Corinthians last summer, with his progress at the City Ground nothing short of sensational.

As previously mentioned, he's been linked with numerous big-money moves away, but the youngster would hugely benefit from another full season at the City Ground to continue his upward trajectory.

4

CB – Morato

The first of the three potential new additions comes in the form of Benfica defender Morato, who has recently been touted with a £30m move to the East Midlands this summer.

He’s featured 21 times in the Liga Portugal this season, often playing at left-back, but is better suited playing as a left-sided central defender and would make a brilliant partner for Murillo at the heart of the defence.

5

LB – Bradley Locko

The 22-year-old, who plies his trade for Stade Brestois, enjoyed an excellent 2023/24 campaign featuring 33 times in the league and starting 97% of their outings.

The left-back managed to contribute with three assists in Ligue 1, subsequently being included in The Athletic’s Team of the Season – potentially available to leave the French side for £17m this summer.

6

CDM – Florentino Luis

The third and final of the potential new additions at the City Ground in this dream XI is fellow Benfica star Florentino Luis who once again has been linked with a £30m move to Forest.

He’s featured 30 times in Liga Portugal during 2022/23, with only 17 of those appearances coming from the starting lineup, featuring for a total of 1,683 minutes under boss Roger Schmidt.

7

CDM – Ibrahim Sangare

The Ivorian midfielder endured a disappointing first season in the East Midlands, featuring just 17 times in the Premier League, out of a possible 38 games.

The 26-year-old, who joined under the guidance of former boss Steve Cooper, has the opportunity to prove himself at Forest next season, with the former PSV man able to gain a full pre-season under his belt, unlike last season.

8

RW – Anthony Elanga

He's already featured 13 times for Sweden, with the winger enjoying his best season in England's top flight. The 22-year-old managed to score five goals and register nine assists in his 36 Premier League appearances during his time at the City Ground.

His £15m move now looks to be a bargain, with the former Manchester United talent having the ability to develop further under Nuno's guidance on Trentside next season.

9

CAM – Morgan Gibbs-White

Morgan Gibbs-White has undoubtedly been the Reds' most consistent player during the last two Premier League campaigns – almost single-handedly securing the club's top-flight status on both occasions.

The former Wolves talent notched a tally of 11 league assists, ranking him third-highest in the Premier League, with the interest rumoured from the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle hardly a surprise.

He's proven to be worth every penny of his £25m transfer fee, with the club desperately needing to keep hold of the attacking midfielder if they are to progress up the table in 2024/25.

10

LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi

The 23-year-old moved to the City Ground last summer in a bid to reignite his career after a stop-start spell at Stamford Bridge because of various injuries and lack of form.

The Reds’ number 14 featured 29 times in the league during 2023/24, scoring eight goals, making him the club’s second top goalscorer behind striker Chris Wood.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is personally eyeing a £90 million Barcelona duo, with his transfer plans starting to take shape ahead of the summer.

Signings Chelsea could make for Maresca this summer

The window's opening on June 14 is fast approaching, and reports suggest that Maresca is set to be backed by Chelsea chiefs, following his appointment to replace Mauricio Pochettino before next season.

Maresca wants to make £75,000-per-week ace the heartbeat of Chelsea's team

The Italian has already got his preferred players in mind.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 29, 2024

Chelsea have made an offer to Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as one potential option to bolster Maresca's backline, with the Englishman out of contract at the end of next month and able to sign for the Blues on a free deal.

Meanwhile, it remains the case that co-Chelsea sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are targeting a prolific new striker as well. Indeed, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says Chelsea could make five signings for Maresca when the window reopens.

"They like his ideas and believe he’s a very positive coach – a dynamic, modern, young manager obsessed with possession football to control a game," said Romano on Chelsea's appointment of Maresca (via his Dailybriefing).

"I said last week when Chelsea were considering firing Mauricio Pochettino that this was the kind of manager they wanted, and here he is. And remember – it will be a busy summer for Chelsea, with around five signings, maybe less, maybe more, but for sure they are looking at goalkeepers, maybe or one or two centre-backs, and they’re also looking at central strikers and wingers. Chelsea will be busy, and Maresca will be involved.

"Of course, one signing is already agreed and that’s for talented Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian – everything is being reviewed and signed for this big signing for the future, who will join in 2025 from Palmeiras."

Some reports have claimed that La Liga could be a fruitful talent pool for Stamford Bridge chiefs, and specifically Barcelona. Chelsea are targeting centre-back Ronald Araujo as one example, with the likes of Jules Kounde and Raphinha also linked.

Kounde is thought to command a £43 million price tag, while Raphinha could leave Barcelona for around £47 million. The £90 million duo, as per reports in Spain, are now on Maresca's personal radar.

Maresca personally wants Kounde and Raphinha at Chelsea

A Spanish report this week claims Maresca wants both Kounde and Raphinha at Chelsea, as he identifies his summer targets behind the scenes. The former Man City backroom staff member is apparently set to make "significant" demands, with Maresca looking to reshape Pochettino's squad in his own image.

Raphinha bagged nine goals and 11 assists across his appearances in La Liga and the Champions League last season, with 25-year-old France international Kounde starting 32 Spanish top-flight matches as a mainstay under Xavi.

ECB Reporters Network08-Sep-2020Despite centuries from Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke, Nottinghamshire still have work to do if they are to end county cricket’s most unwanted record.Without a first-class victory since June 2018, Notts will go into the final day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Durham at Trent Bridge looking for early wickets.The visitors closed on 131 for 2 in their second innings, an overall lead of just three runs, after the home county had been dismissed for 422, earlier in the day.Duckett only added four runs to his overnight score before being dismissed for 150, with Clarke going on to contribute 133 as Nottinghamshire reached maximum batting points before being bowled out in 101 overs.The hosts’ first-innings advantage of 128 would have been significantly greater but for an heroic effort from Chris Rushworth, who took 7 for 108.Neither Duckett nor Clarke have experienced a single red-ball victory between them in Nottinghamshire colours since moving from Northamptonshire – and Worcestershire – respectively.Both though are finding their best form at this belated stage of the shortened season. Duckett had done his best work on the second day and fell at the start of the third, shortly after reaching his 150 from 208 balls, with 23 fours.His dismissal ended a stand of 195 with Clarke, who survived being dropped twice in reaching his 17th first-class hundred from 154 balls, with 13 boundaries.Durham’s catching frailties also gifted Steven Mullaney a couple of lives, as Paul Coughlin twice spilled the Nottinghamshire captain at third slip.Mullaney’s good fortune eventually ran out on 41 when he shouldered arms to Rushworth and lost his off stump.Samit Patel came and went cheaply, pinned lbw in his crease by Brydon Carse but Tom Moores was able to stick around with Clarke in a hard-hitting stand of 75.The second new ball altered the complexion of the day as Nottinghamshire’s last five wickets went down for only 15 runs, in 3.5 overs.Rushworth started the collapse, having Clarke caught at slip before dismissing Peter Trego in the same over to collect his 26th five-wicket haulBen Raine celebrated enthusiastically when he gained a positive lbw verdict against Moores, leaving Rushworth to quickly send back Matt Carter and Jake Ball.Sean Dickson and Alex Lees put on 67 as Durham began their second innings, before Trego sent back Lees for 27.Dickson’s seven previous innings for his new county had mustered only 41 runs but he more than doubled that in reaching a half century from 106 deliveries.He advanced to 56 and brought the scores level before being bowled by a beauty from Patel that turned sharply to clip the off peg.Michael Jones, with a highest career score of 39 not out, will begin the final day alongside nightwatchman Rushworth, whose bowling exploits clearly weren’t enough for one day.