The Pittsburgh Pirates got themselves into some hot water after fans noticed the club replaced a logo honoring Roberto Clemente with an advertisement at PNC Park during the team's 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Friday night.
The new advertisement was promoting Surfside, a canned cocktail line, and immediately elicited angry reactions from Pirates fans who were confused as to why the organization scrubbed the old logo honoring the Hall of Famer.
Roberto Clemente Jr. was among those surprised by the move and later issued a lengthy statement on X responding to the Pirates' decision to replace his father's logo:
"Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that the Clemente 21 sign—a tribute to my father on the right field wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh—had been removed and replaced by an advertisement. This change was made without any communication or consultation with our family," Clemente Jr. wrote. "While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: a lack of meanginful collaboration between the organization and on matters that are deeply personal and historically significant to us and the fans.
"We have always been open to building a sincere and lasting partnership with the Pirates, one grounded in respect and shared values. Our hope is that this moment serves as an opportunity for reflection, paving the way for a more thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative relationship moving forward.
"I intend to reach out to the Pirates directly to explore this further."
The Pirates noted in their statement that the Clemente logo that was installed in 2022 was "never meant to be a permanent tribute."
The team additionally stated its plans to ensure that Clemente's legacy lives on in the league, which included having the MLB recognize Roberto Clemente Day and allowing all Pirates players to wear No. 21 in the franchise legend's honor.
Sussex pay price for a lack of acceleration, though local seagull steals the show, and banana
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Aug-2025
Imam-ul-Haq’s hundred sealed the contest after Matt Milnes’ seven-for•Andy Kearns/Getty Images
Yorkshire, the outstanding team in Group B of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, made sure of qualification for the climax of the competition with their sixth win in seven games. The Sussex Sharks, meanwhile, with one game remaining, cannot progress.A second wicket stand of 196 in 33 overs between Imam-ul-Haq and James Wharton provided the foundation of Yorkshire’s ultimately comfortable win, with 14 balls to spare. Imam continued his outstanding form with 106 from 105 deliveries, with ten fours and three sixes, while Wharton struck a List A best 85 from 103 balls.But the pair’s failure to accelerate put Yorkshire under some pressure when they lost both batsmen in successive overs, followed by the quick dismissal of Finlay Bean. That meant they needed 58 off seven overs, and 51 off six, before some late hitting by Matt Revis and George Hill saw them over the line.The Sussex innings was one of two halves, in which they scored 97 in the first 25 overs and 187 in the second as Matt Milnes took seven wickets for 38 runs, Yorkshire’s third-best bowling figures in List A cricket and their best since 1997. Milnes also took a hat-trick and almost managed a second.Sussex have had a number of batting collapses in this year’s competition and here they managed two, losing three wickets for six runs in 12 balls early in their innings and then three in three balls to Milnes towards the end.Between these low points, however, they staged a remarkable recovery, led by Oli Carter, whose 94 from 79 deliveries was , and it required some late hitting by his best score in List A. The first building blocks of the Sussex fightback were put down by Charlie Tear (35) and John Simpson (65) who came together at 24 for three and put on a patient 60 from 15 overs.But it was the partnership between Simpson and Carter, who added 79 for the fifth wicket in 12 overs, which transformed the match before a depth charge from Danny Lamb, who thumped 53 from 45 deliveries, gave his side a challenging total.Carter reached his fifty from 55 balls when he pulled Hill for the second of his five sixes (there were also seven fours) and it was then that he accelerated, judging length very well and scampering his runs when he failed to find the boundary.He was out in the 45th over, caught as he attempted to ramp Milnes. Jack Carson lifted his first ball to long-on and then Archie Lenham was lbw to give Milnes his hat-trick. But the bowler almost had three in three when he dismissed Tom Haines and Tom Clark with successive deliveries and then saw Hudson-Prentice scoop his first delivery just short of midwicket.Shortly after this, a Sussex-supporting seagull descended on Milnes, who was fielding at long leg, and robbed him of his banana.
Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the conclusion of the first Test
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2025Michael Bracewell has been named replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.Bracewell, initially unavailable for the series due to his commitments with The Hundred, was already in Zimbabwe as part of New Zealand’s T20I squad for the tri-series. With his schedule allowing him to feature in the opening Test, head coach Rob Walter said the decision to include him was a straightforward one.Phillips had been ruled out of the Tests due to a groin injury. He had suffered the injury while playing for Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket (MLC) final on July 13.”Glenn’s injury provided a gap in the Test squad and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement,” Walter said. “His experience and skillset will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team.”Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the first Test. A decision on a replacement for the second Test will be made in due course, according to an NZC release.The two-match series begins in Bulawayo later this week, marking New Zealand’s first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016.
An “exemplary” Manchester United player is expected to leave the club at the end of this season alongside full-back Tyrell Malacia, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
Malacia on course to depart Man Utd
The international break is getting in the way of Premier League action currently, but soon, all eyes will be on United’s trip to Liverpool next Sunday afternoon.
In terms of the futures of certain players, Malacia looks set to depart Old Trafford next summer, with journalist Fabrizio Romano saying as much in recent days.
“Tyrell Malacia, despite returning to training with the first team of Manchester United after a crazy window where he had several opportunities, Tyrell Malacia is not going to sign any new contract at Man United, and in any case, will leave the club for sure, 100% in 2026.”
It feels like the right time for Malacia to move on, considering the Dutchman is well down the left-back pecking order, and now another United exit rumour has emerged.
"Exemplary" Man Utd ace also expected to leave
Taking to X, Galetti claimed that Casemiro will leave Manchester United when the current season reaches its conclusion, with his £18m-a-year contract expiring at that point.
This comes after previous reports which went as far as to claim the midfielder actually has regrets over joining Man Utd from Real Madrid in 2022.
Like Malacia, it makes sense for Casemiro to leave the Red Devils in 2026, considering he will be 34 years of age then, and clearly not quite the world-class force he used to be.
That’s despite the midfielder being made Brazil captain by current manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has heaped praise on him in recent times.
“Casemiro is an exemplary player, respected by all. He has the experience and the character to guide this team. For me, he can be the captain, but I don’t know if he agrees with that. He knows the demands of the top level, he knows how to manage difficult moments and motivate his teammates. Being captain is not just about wearing an armband. It’s about setting an example every day, on and off the pitch. Casemiro does it naturally.”
Casemiro is on huge wages, but arguably doesn’t justify them, given his age, and his exit will help pave the way for a younger defensive midfielder to come in, whether it be Carlos Baleba or someone else.
Romano: "Tremendous" £75k-p/w Man Utd ace to "leave" Old Trafford in 2026
Is it the right time for him to depart?
ByHenry Jackson Oct 12, 2025
He has always given his all for United, but it makes sense for all parties for him to enjoy a fresh challenge, with a new deal surely unthinkable for the Red Devils at this point in his career.
When it comes to producing exciting up-and-coming talents, few Premier League clubs have been as successful as Arsenal in recent years.
For example, even after adding plenty of international superstars to the team, Mikel Arteta’s most important player remains Bukayo Saka.
Moreover, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are already established first-teamers, and Max Dowman looks like he could be the club’s next world-class superstar.
However, for all those youngsters who’ve made their way into the team, Arsenal have lost several incredible gems to other sides, including one who could have potentially one day been a homegrown version of William Saliba.
Saliba's Arsenal career
While it has been on the cards for some time now, David Ornstein finally reported yesterday afternoon that Saliba has agreed to sign a new five-year contract with Arsenal.
According to the respected journalist, the Frenchman will put pen to paper in the “coming days”, and it is difficult to overstate how big a deal this is for the club.
After all, it’s been widely reported for several years now that Real Madrid are desperate to add the incredible centre-back to their squad, and it’s easy to see why.
The Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has made 139 appearances for the North Londoners, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in that time.
He has also won 28 senior caps for the French national team and put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers last season.
npxG/Shot
0.38
Top %
Pass Completion %
94.3%
Top %
Pass Completion % (Long)
79.9%
Top %
Touches (Mid 3rd)
46.53
Top %
Live-ball Passes
74.27
Top %
Goals/Shot
0.33
Top %
Passes Completed
71.46
Top %
Passes Received
63.29
Top %
Passes Attempted
75.78
Top %
Total Passing Distance
1227.78
Top %
Passes Blocked
0.12
Top %
Touches
83.63
Top %
Touches (Live-Ball)
83.63
Top %
Carries
52.00
Top %
According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of centre-backs in the Premier League for pass completion, the top 4% for live passes, the top 6% for goals per shot, the top 7% for passes attempted and more, all per 90.
In short, Saliba is one of the best defenders in the world’s toughest league, so securing his services for another five years is a massive deal.
Unfortunately, Arsenal sold a former academy gem who could have potentially been a homegrown version of the Frenchman.
Arsenal's former homegrown Saliba
So, with Saliba signing a new deal, the incredible performances of Cristhian Mosquera and the other unreal options Arsenal have at centre-back, they are unlikely to be overly concerned about losing a young prospect.
Where Are They Now
However, it can also be true that they would’ve been better off keeping and loaning out Ayden Hevaen anyway.
Yes, the youngster in question is the 19-year-old Englishman, who, after making a name for himself in Hale End and earning a few cameos here and there, joined Manchester United for £1m in the winter window.
Described as a defensive “beast” by podcaster and Hale End expert Will Balsam, the teenage phenom made 47 appearances across the Gunners’ various youth sides and one senior competitive appearance against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup.
However, since moving to the Red Devils, his game time has dramatically increased, with Ruben Amorim already playing him eight times, including twice this season.
There is still a long way to go before the youngster gets anywhere near his full potential, but it’s easy to see why so many were excited about his development in North London.
On top of his “remarkable” defensive qualities, as Arteta put it, the Englishman is, like Saliba, no slouch with the ball.
In fact, when explaining his qualities, Balsam was keen to point out that his “passing range is frankly insane”, and talent scout Jacek Kulig named Levi Colwill as another player he’s similar to, again because of his “passing” ability.
Ultimately, Arsenal probably have the best set of defenders in world football, but had they kept hold of Heaven, that set would be just that little bit stronger.
Agents tell Arsenal they can sign £36m France star who loves Saliba like a "brother"
He’s very close to the Gunners’ star centre-back who’s set to sign a new deal.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has lavished praise on another player after the Gunners’ dramatic late win away to Athletic Bilbao.
Mikel Arteta’s side opened their Champions League account for the season with a 2-0 victory in Spain on Tuesday evening, courtesy of goals from super subs Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard — emphasising the importance of strength in depth.
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal — men of the match
Match Rating
Leandro Trossard
8.1
Gabriel Martinelli
7.9
Jurrien Timber
7.4
Riccardo Calafiori
7.4
Cristhian Mosquera
7.3
via WhoScored
The attacking duo have been linked with Arsenal departures regularly even after the summer window closed on September 1, but their presence in the squad was vital as Arsenal kickstarted their European campaign by beating an in-form Bilbao side.
Martinelli’s burst of pace and excellent close control allowed him to get a yard on Bilbao’s defence, after bringing down a clever flick-on from Viktor Gyokeres, before driving through and slotting the ball home from close range.
The Brazilian then set up fellow substitute Trossard for Arsenal’s deflected second after a great run down the left, wrapping up what turned out to be a hard-fought victory at the San Mames.
It was a match-winning performance by the 24-year-old amid the constant criticism and uncertain future hanging over his head, with Arteta reserving special praise after the 90.
While Martinelli’s performance has understandably grabbed most of the headlines, Keown expressed how impressed he is with summer signing Cristhian Mosquera too.
Martin Keown praises Cristhian Mosquera after Arsenal win against Bilbao
The young Spaniard has deputised for the injured William Saliba to great effect, and is currently making the initial £13 million paid for his signature look like an absolute bargain.
Mosquera played at right-back against Leeds, but in the absence of Saliba, the 21-year-old has looked assured and composed at such a young age. His value has reportedly tripled already, with Keown praising Mosquera after Arsenal’s win in Bilbao.
Amid the noise surrounding Noni Madueke’s electric start at Arsenal, the impressive showings of Martin Zubimendi and Gyokeres’ goal return, Mosquera has perhaps gone under the radar.
Cristhian Mosquera to star for Arsenal
According to some reports, Arsenal believe Mosquera could be one of the best in the world in a few years, and if he carries on like this, the centre-back could hit that landmark sooner than anticipated.
The 21-year-old is good with the ball at his feet, able to play out of defence without panicking and is comfortable in multiple positions — whether that be in the middle or as a full-back.
Last season, Mosquera had the highest true tackle success rate out of any La Liga centre-back last season with over 76.7 per cent — which shows just how strong he is in one-on-one duels (Opta).
Still very young, the ex-Valencia sensation will only get better, and from what we’ve seen so far, the sky really is the limit.
Manchester United have massively struggled to find the back of the net over the last couple of years, which has massively held the side back in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on numerous attackers under multiple managers, but largely to no avail, as seen by their measly goal tally from 2024/25.
Ruben Amorim’s men only notched a total of 44 league goals last campaign, with two centre forwards, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, only netting seven goals combined.
The latter has rapidly fallen down the manager’s plans, leaving on a season-long loan to join Serie A side Napoli during the off-season, with such a deal having an option to buy in the summer of 2026.
In an attempt to improve the current first-team squad, many of the fanbase will have been craving a move for one talent who set England’s top-flight alight in recent years.
Alexander Isak’s form against Manchester United
Alexander Isak has been one of the Premier League’s leading attackers over the last couple of years, often being a player to be feared when coming up against the Magpies.
The Swede has registered 54 league goals in his three years in England, ending last year on 23 goals, sitting second in the goalscoring charts as he helped the Magpies secure Champions League qualification.
He is unbeaten in 63% of his matches against the Red Devils, scoring a header in the clash at Old Trafford as Eddie Howe’s side claimed a 2-0 win back in December.
Isak stated his desire to leave St James’ Park this summer, subsequently joining United’s rivals Liverpool in an English record £125m transfer on deadline day.
Such a move has massively strengthened Arne Slot’s side for the 2025/26 campaign, which could inflict more pain in the Derby matches for Amorim’s men in the near future.
The prospect of the Swede linking up with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitiké is a dangerous one for the rest of England’s top-flight, with such a trio making the Reds favourites to retain their league title.
However, despite the business conducted elsewhere, the Red Devils have also landed numerous top-quality talents who could also make themselves fan favourites at the Theatre of Dreams.
Man United's Isak-level signing
In an attempt to avoid a repeat of 2024/25, the United hierarchy splashed £200m on three new attackers during the summer to inject the needed added quality to the frontline.
Matheus Cunha was the first to make the move, joining in a £62.5m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers after scoring 15 times in England’s top-flight last campaign.
The Brazilian has been joined by Benjamin Sesko in the final third, costing a fee in the region of £74m from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig – filling the void left by Hojlund’s departure.
The third and final player added to the attacking department was Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian arriving from English outfit Brentford as an “unplayable” star in the words of Thomas Frank.
His addition set the club back £71m, including add-ons – a mammoth sum of money, but one that could prove worthwhile after he scored 20 times in the top-flight last time around.
The 26-year-old was one of just five players in the division to achieve a total of 20 goals or more in the Premier League – highlighting the talent the club have on their books at present.
Such a move is similar to that of Isak to Liverpool this summer, with both players falling into the aforementioned bracket for goals scored in 2024/25.
Both players will be hoping to repeat similar feats at their new clubs this campaign, but for the Red Devils’ sake – they will hope Mbeumo can add further goals to add to his dominance over the Swede.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats in the league from 2024/25, Mbeumo managed to better Isak in numerous areas, subsequently highlighting the excellent addition made by Amorim and Co.
The Cameroonian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Statman Dave, posted a better shot on target accuracy rate (44%) and a higher goal per shot on target rate (0.5).
Games played
38
34
Goals & assists
27
29
Shot on target accuracy
44%
43%
Goals per shot on target
0.5
0.4
Key passes
1.9
1.3
Progressive passes
3.7
2.8
Take-on success
47%
46%
Carries into the opposition box
2.1
1.4
Aerials won
0.9
0.8
Such numbers highlight the clinical edge he possesses within the final third, arguably making him a more threatening option than the English-record signing.
He also completed more of the take-ons he attempted (47%) whilst carrying the ball into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.1) – further highlighting his talent when in possession.
If he can replicate such numbers during his time at Old Trafford, Mbeumo may have all the tools to help the Red Devils return to their former glory in the near future.
It remains to be seen if he can once again outperform Isak in 2025/26, but if he does, his £71m transfer fee may be a bargain – especially if he can lead the side to any form of silverware.
Worth more than Baleba: Man Utd have struck gold on "generational" talent
Manchester United already have a big-money talent on their books despite missing out on Carlos Baleba.
Chelsea and Todd Boehly have splashed the cash in recent years on a number of new players, with the Blues winning the Club World Cup in 2025. Following their triumph in the USA, those at Stamford Bridge once again spent big in the transfer window.
Here at Football FanCast, we’ve taken a look at Chelsea’s most expensive signings in their history, as per Transfermarkt and news reports, with a detailed look at the top 10.
Moises Caicedo
£115m
Brighton
2023
Enzo Fernandez
£107m
Benfica
2023
Romelu Lukaku
£97.5m
Inter
2021
Kepa Arrizabalaga
£71m
Athletic Club
2018
Kai Havertz
£71m
Bayer Leverkusen
2020
Wesley Fofana
£70m
Leicester
2022
Mykhailo Mudryk
£62m
Shakhtar Donetsk
2023
Marc Cucurella
£60m
Brighton
2022
Alvaro Morata
£60m
Real Madrid
2017
Joao Pedro
£60m
Brighton
2025
Romeo Lavia
£58m
Southampton
2023
Christian Pulisic
£58m
Borussia Dortmund
2019
Pedro Neto
£54m
Wolves
2024
Christopher Nkunku
£52m
RB Leipzig
2023
Fernando Torres
£50m
Liverpool
2011
Jorginho
£50m
Napoli
2018
Jamie Gittens
£48.5m
Borussia Dortmund
2025
Raheem Sterling
£47.5m
Manchester City
2022
Timo Werner
£47.5m
RB Leipzig
2020
Joao Felix
£46.3m
Atletico Madrid
2024
Here's a detailed look at Chelsea's 10 most expensive signings: 10 Joao Pedro £60m from Brighton
Chelsea’s biggest signing in 2025 was centre-forward Joao Pedro, who was signed in time to link up with the Blues during their Club World Cup campaign.
The Brazilian became an instant hit with his goals in the USA, and he is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
9 Alvaro Morata £60m from Real Madrid
The oldest arrival in this top 10 is Alvaro Morata, who joined Chelsea in a club-record £60m transfer from Real Madrid back in 2017. The striker’s move to England ultimately didn’t work out, though, with the Spaniard returning to La Liga with Atletico Madrid on loan in 2019 before making that move permanent a year later.
Morata is currently the captain of the Spanish national team and scored 24 goals in 72 games for the Blues.
8 Marc Cucurella £60m from Brighton
Chelsea won the race ahead of Manchester City to sign left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for just over £60m, with the Spaniard making the left-back role his own at Stamford Bridge.
A former Barcelona youngster, Cucurella impressed in his first year in England with the Seagulls under Graham Potter, and the pair would soon be reunited when the Blues brought in the latter as manager a month later.
7 Mykhailo Mudryk £62m from Shakhtar Donetsk
Mykhaylo Mudryk for Chelsea
Chelsea swooped in ahead of Arsenal to sign winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for £62m, with the Ukraine international signing a huge eight-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
His Chelsea deal could reach a total of £89m, but having not had much success thus far, Shakhtar look set to miss out on nearly £30m worth of bonuses.
6 Wesley Fofana £70m from Leicester City
Centre-back Wesley Fofana was brought to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in 2022, but the Frenchman’s stay with Chelsea so far has been hampered by injury.
However, considering he signed a seven-year deal, the Blues still have plenty of time to get the best out of the Frenchman, who cost the west Londoners a handsome £70m – proving Leicester sure know how to get a decent sum for a promising centre-back.
5 Kai Havertz £71m from Bayer Leverkusen
Kai Havertz Chelsea
Versatile attacker Kai Havertz was brought to England by Chelsea in 2020, joining in a big-money £71m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
The German went on to score the winning goal for the Blues in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City before being sold to rivals Arsenal in 2023, with Chelsea bringing in the majority of the fee they spent on the player.
Chelsea's most expensive sales of all time
A look at the record departures from Stamford Bridge.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025 4 Kepa Arrizabalaga £71m from Athletic Club
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the most expensive goalkeeper in history, but he only sits 4th in Chelsea’s record signings list, showing the Blues’ spending power in the years that have followed.
Famously remembered in a Chelsea shirt for refusing to be substituted in extra time of an EFL Cup final under Maurizio Sarri, Kepa signed for the Blues back in 2018 from Athletic Club for just over £71m and was allowed to join Arsenal for just £5m in 2025.
The best EFL Cup finals of all time – ranked
Some of these finals have been true classics…
ByStephan Georgiou Feb 8, 2024 3 Romelu Lukaku £97.5m from Inter
Striker Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea for a second Stamford Bridge stint back in 2021, with the Blues paying Inter what was a club-record fee of £97.5m for the Belgian.
It appeared to be a masterstroke at first, with Lukaku scoring freely back in a Chelsea shirt, but over time, it has proven to be a costly mistake, with the player spending recent years on loan in Italy with Inter and Roma before finally being sold by Chelsea for the second time, this time to Napoli.
2 Enzo Fernandez £107m from Benfica
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea in a £107m deal from Benfica in 2023 shortly after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
It was a British record at the time, and although the midfielder is arguably still working to pay off that price tag, he has become a vital member of the team under Enzo Maresca, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Reece James.
1 Moises Caicedo £115m from Brighton
Moises Caicedo
Central midfielder Moises Caicedo only made 53 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion between 2021 and 2023, but that was enough for Chelsea to spend big on the Ecuador international.
The Blues won the race ahead of Liverpool for Caicedo, who endured a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge before eventually showing his best form. He’s under contract until 2031, so he has plenty of time to become an important Chelsea star.
Sunderland’s transfer window has been the biggest in the club’s history. After an unexpectedly long stint out of the Premier League, manager Régis Le Bris has been backed to ensure that they stay there.
The club have made roughly £36.8 million from the sales of Jobe Bellingham and Tom Watson to Borussia Dortmund and Brighton respectively, which has added a boost to their transfer budget.
Most of the new arrivals at the Stadium of Light have been attacking or midfield players, and the squad is yet to reinforce their defence, which was the fourth-best in the Championship last season. However, the Black Cats are now looking to change that in a big way and go all out on an up-and-coming talent.
Sunderland scouting Italian star Comuzzo
Reports from Italy, via Sports Witness, have revealed that Sunderland are among a number of English teams who have been scouting Italian centre-back Pietro Comuzzo. Comuzzo’s club, Fiorentina, have spent part of their pre-season in the UK, where Black Cats scouts checked on him in person.
Sports Witness shared a recent interview where Comuzzo stated he was happy at his current club and wasn’t currently looking to move. However, during the transfer window, things can change quickly. If Le Bris could convince Comuzzo of the project, then it’s reported that Fiorentina would be willing to part ways with the player for £34.5 million, which would see the Black Cats once again smash their previous transfer record by £7.5 million.
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
1
Habib Diarra
£27m
Strasbourg
2025
2
Simon Adingra
£21m
Brighton
2025
3
Enzo Le Fee
£19.3m
AS Roma
2025
4
Chemsdine Talbi
£18m
Club Brugge
2025
5
Noah Sadiki
£15m
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
2025
6
Didier Ndong
£13.6m
Lorient
2016
=7
Granit Xhaka
£13m
Bayer Leverkusen
2025
=7
Asamoah Gyan
£13m
Rennes
2010
9
Steven Fletcher
£12m
Wolves
2012
10
Jack Rodwell
£10m
Man City
2014
Comuzzo will be in the UK this weekend as Fiorentina face Manchester United at Old Trafford in a pre-season friendly. Early reports had indicated that United were another one of the teams to have taken an interest in the centre-back, but after several big-money signings and other positions yet to fill, they seem unlikely candidates.
Sports Witness’s Kaustubh Pandey concluded that the stories currently circulating about Comuzzo could be an attempt to increase his value and sell him at a later date. In which case, this could end up being a long-term Sunderland target that they use to solidify their place in the Premier League if they stay up this season.
Why Comuzzo is so highly rated
Comuzzo is a name that fans will hear a lot of in the coming years, and there are a few reasons why he is seen as such a prodigy. When compared to centre-backs of a similar age who featured in the Premier League last season, fans can see his uniqueness.
Tackles in Defensive 3rd Per 90
1.19
0.79
0.7
Long Pass Completion
69%
56.3%
59.5%
Attempted Tackles on Dribblers Per 90
1.19
0.85
1.07
Success Rate of Tackles on Dribblers
79.3%
64.3%
62.1%
Stats from: FBREF
Abdukodir Khusanov and Dean Huijsen have both recently received big transfers, with the former joining Manchester City in January and the latter joining Real Madrid this summer, but in many regards, Comuzzo is better than both.
An issue that many defenders find when joining the Premier League is that the pace of the wingers is too much for them. However, this is where Comuzzo specialises, as not only does he attempt more tackles on dribbling players than average, he also has a higher success rate with them.
Comuzzo’s ability to accurately play a long ball is also unique. Not only does it get the team out of danger defensively, but it can also help the team up the pitch offensively. Many of the newly promoted teams find themselves camped in their own third as the bigger Premier League sides attack them. Comuzzo would help avoid this with the combination of his ability to win back the ball and then progressively play it out once he has done so.
All of these attributes make Comuzzo an ideal player for the Premier League and particularly one further down the table. If Sunderland don’t push for him this summer, their chance of signing him may disappear, because it’s only a matter of time before someone snaps him up.
يرى محمود أبو الدهب، لاعب الأهلي السابق، أن البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، المدير الفني لـ الزمالك، يمر بفترة تحتاج إلى الصبر، مؤكدًا أن الحكم عليه في الوقت الحالي غير منصف في ظل التغييرات الإدارية والفنية التي يشهدها الفريق.
وقال محمود أبو الدهب في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “رأيي في يانيك فيريرا أن الزمالك يمر بتجربة جديدة مع مدير رياضي جديد، كما أن مجلس الإدارة مبتعد عن كل ما يحدث، والصفقات أيضًا جديدة، ولذلك أرى أنه يجب التحلي بالصبر عليه، لأن الاستقرار عنصر بالغ الأهمية في هذه الفترة التي نمر بها”.
وتابع: “المدرب حقق نجاحات واضحة، وكل ما حدث أنه خسر مباراة القمة، وهي التي قلبت الأمور رأسًا على عقب، لأنها تُعد أهم مباراة في الموسم، النادي الأهلي تمكن من الفوز بها، واستعاد توازنه، وقلّص الفارق مع الزمالك إلى نقطة واحدة فقط”.
وعند سؤاله: هل فيريرا مدرب صدامي مع اللاعبين بعد أزمته مع الجزيري وشيكو بانزا؟ أجاب: “نعم، وهذا خطأ وقع فيه من قبل خوسيه ريبيرو، المدير الفني السابق للنادي الأهلي، لأنه لم يخلق روح المنافسة بين اللاعبين”.
وواصل: “حتى عندما عاد عماد النحاس، أدركت أنه أعاد لاعبين مهمين، مثل حسين الشحات وعبد القادر، اللذين كانا بعيديْن تمامًا عن المشاركة، من الضروري إعادة جميع اللاعبين إلى أجواء المنافسة، لأن امتلاك دكة بدلاء قوية تمنح الفريق القدرة على التغيير في أي وقت”.
وشدد: “عندما نتحدث عن النادي الأهلي، فإن ما قدمه في مباراة الزمالك كان رسالة واضحة لكل اللاعبين، مفادها أن الأهلي بمن حضر، ولا يوجد لاعب أكبر من الفريق أو يمكنه فرض نفسه أو سلطته على الكيان”.
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وأردف: “الأمر نفسه في نادي الزمالك، فالمدرب لم يصنع المنافسة بين اللاعبين، وأصرّ على إشراك لاعبين دون المستوى، أين ناصر منسي؟ حتى عندما احتاج إليه في مباراة الأهلي، لم يكن يشارك منذ فترة طويلة”.
واستكمل: “عندما شارك عمرو ناصر، شعرنا بأنه مهاجم قوي يجيد التحرك والتسجيل أمام المرمى، وهذا ما نقصده دائمًا، وهو أن المدير الفني يجب أن يخلق منافسة حقيقية بين اللاعبين”.
واستمر: “يجب أن يكون في كل مركز أكثر من لاعب، حتى يكون هناك بدلاء قادرون على تغيير النتيجة، مثلما فعل حسين الشحات الذي تعرض لكثير من الانتقادات، وتحدث البعض عن رحيله أو إعارته، لكنه عاد ورد في الملعب وساهم في فوز الأهلي”.
واستطرد: “الأهلي لم يفز في أي مباراة عادية، بل فاز في مباراة القمة، وهي الأهم في الموسم، وهي التي أحدثت الضجة الكبيرة التي نراها الآن”.
واختتم: “من ناحية الاستقرار، إذا كان القرار هو رحيل المدرب، فيجب أن يتم ذلك بعد مباراة غزل المحلة، مستغلين فترة التوقف القادمة، حتى يتمكن المدرب الجديد من جمع اللاعبين والتعرف على المجموعة الموجودة بشكل جيد”.