Former Giants Outfielder Dispels Narratives About Rafael Devers From Red Sox Trade

Before the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants in June, tension emerged between Boston and Devers over his position this season.

The conflict began when the team signed Alex Bregman and decided to play him at third base over Devers, who previously manned the position for the Red Sox. Devers eventually agreed to be the designated hitter by the start of the season, but tension re-emerged when they asked him to spend time at first base following a season-ending injury to Triston Casas. The Red Sox felt like Devers wasn't living up to the responsibilities of his massive contract with the team, and ultimately traded him to the Giants.

Mike Yastrzemski only played alongside Devers on the Giants for less than two months before he was traded to the Royals, but quickly learned the type of teammate and player Devers is for a team.

"He was the best," Yastrzemski said of Devers on . "Awesome teammate, willing to do whatever he had to. I think he just got thrown into a weird circumstance and sometimes as players you have to stick up for yourself. I think that's what he tried to do and the wording of it was delivered poorly because he's an awesome teammate, he works his tail off, he tries to help everybody.

Yastrzemski continued, "If you're facing a guy that he's faced and you haven't faced him, full scouting report, where you want to look for the ball, what pitch you want to hit, how he's gonna pitch you. He's really smart and he cares about winning so much. I don't understand where all the heat came from."

While Devers's approach appeared to quickly change when he arrived in San Francisco and said he was "here to play whatever [position] they want me to play," he said he wasn't trying to spite the Red Sox or be a bad teammate. He later explained that he felt he had earned respect in Boston and would have been willing to play first base for them had they asked in spring training. The Giants gave him time to train to play first base, and he is beginning to find his groove at the position.

Amorim can fix Man Utd's midfield by axing Casemiro for "future £100m" star

Manchester United’s midfield pivot has been something that Ruben Amorim has seemingly found a formula he likes. The Portuguese manager has caused lots of debate with his infamous 3-4-2-1, with the wing-backs being one thing to spark such conversation.

However, the makeup of his pivot has been interesting to see, too. This season, it seems as though the former Sporting boss has landed on captain Bruno Fernandes and the experienced Casemiro as his ideal duo in midfield.

It is a new role for Fernandes, who has played most of his career as a number ten.

As for Casemiro, he has done well this season. Yet, against Crystal Palace at the weekend, he looked exposed at times.

Why Casemiro can struggle in the pivot

Brazil legend Casemiro has certainly adapted well to playing in Amorim’s system.

Not too long ago, he was told to “leave the football before the football leaves you” by Jamie Carragher. Now, he is a regular starter for United at almost 34 years of age.

Indeed, Amorim has put a lot of trust in the former Real Madrid star this season. He’s played in 12 Premier League games, missing one due to a suspension.

Since the middle of September, he’s started every game in the league he’s been available for, and has even scored three times.

However, there are struggles that the United number 18 can experience in midfield.

Physically, Casemiro is a little behind the eight ball at times and can get exposed, often being left in the dust and opposition midfielders coasting past him.

Coming up against the Eagles last Sunday, it was an issue in the first half for the 82-cap Brazil international. As Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly pointed out, he “struggled to prevent Palace dictating play in the first half.”

The energetic duo of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada found it all too easy and were able to breeze past him countless times, having looked “haunted” up against the Englishman, in particular.

Perhaps this is an issue Amorim would like to nip in the bud before long. It might well make a change of personnel in the pivot to have a true impact.

United’s ready-made Casemiro alternative

There are options if Amorim wants to switch things up in midfield.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Mason Mount briefly played next to Bruno Fernandes away to Fulham at the start of the season, and Manuel Ugarte is another player who could slot into the side.

Yet, the obvious answer is Kobbie Mainoo. Amorim continues to ignore his obvious talent, despite being called a “future £100m+ footballer” by Alex Turk and starting in the final of Euro 2024 just 18 months ago.

It has been a tough campaign for the Stockport-born midfielder. He’s only played nine times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

He’s featured for just 171 minutes, averaging 20 per game that he has played in.

Let’s not forget, though, the skill Mainoo possesses. He is a master in small spaces, able to break the press with his carrying ability and drive forward.

He’s also intelligent off the ball and is a strong dueller. Those were all on show on his Premier League debut against Everton, where he had 61 touches and won five duels.

Mainoo vs Everton – PL debut

Stat

Number

Touches

61

Pass accuracy

83%

Passes completed

38/46

Ground duels won

3/5

Aerial duels won

2/3

Ball recoveries

3

Dribbles completed

2/3

Stats from Sofascore

The skills Mainoo could bring to United’s pivot would surely only benefit Amorim’s side. He is more physically up to speed than Casemiro and is less likely to get outrun.

On top of that, he brings different qualities on the ball which could add a new dynamic to midfield.

Plus, he still has an eye for goal like his fellow midfielder.

Mainoo has seven goals in a United shirt, with the most important one coming in the 2023/24 FA Cup final, which turned out to be the winner against Manchester City.

Mainoo has to get his chance in the United midfield soon enough. Their number 37 simply must be playing football every week, to continue on the path he was on just one year ago.

Don’t forget, he was trusted to start England’s biggest game in years.

With Casemiro’s occasional struggles out of possession, the starlet could be the Red Devils’ answer to their issues in midfield.

Bruno upgrade: Man Utd make £70m bid for "most complete player in football"

Manchester United could acquire a perfect upgrade in the midfield department in 2026…

By
Robbie Walls

Dec 3, 2025

12 passes all night: Arteta must bin Arsenal dud who was as bad as Gyokeres

Arsenal’s worst performance of the Mikel Arteta era to date? Quite possibly.

This season has been a brilliant one for the Gunners so far but as Wolves came to town, the team at the bottom of the Premier League table, Arteta’s side didn’t look up to the task.

They struggled to create much of note, relying on two own goals to win 2-1. Their defence was also well below-par. Since Gabriel Magalhaes got injured, they have not been the same side.

Fortunately, though, Arsenal found a hero in the form of Bukayo Saka.

The winger put the team on his back, swinging in the corner that led to Sam Johnstone’s own goal. Then, with the clock running down and Wolves looking like they’d rescued a point, Saka popped up again.

This time it was from open play. He got the ball on the right, put in an inch-perfect delivery, and it was headed into his own net by Yerson Mosquera.

So what went wrong?

Why Arsenal struggled to beat Wolves

As poor as Arsenal were at the Emirates on Sunday, you have to credit Wolves.

The Old Gold have been dire this term but they headed to the capital and played with a renewed sense of organisation, a new sense of grit and fight.

The fact that they scored what they thought was a goal to win them a point said it all. Out of nowhere, Tolu Arokadare headed the ball home with only injury time remaining.

This was a battle for Arsenal and that goal proved it. For that strike, their defending was notably poor. Arteta acknowledged that.

Speaking at full-time, he said that his team showed “horrible defensive habits” before the Wolves goal, suggesting that it was “unacceptable”. Quite.

Chalkboard

That said, they were also abject in the final third. Arsenal created just two big chances, only forced the goalkeeper into one save and had two shots on target.

Against a side who have amassed two points all season, to quote Arteta, that is unacceptable.

What didn’t help, once again, was the performance of a certain Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede scored 54 times in 2024/25 but has really struggled since coming back to England. He now looks like he’s suffering from a lack of confidence.

The three performances he’s put in since returning from injury have been really worrying. He didn’t have a single shot in his 45-minute cameo a week ago against Aston Villa and then after being given a start against Club Brugge in Europe, left the pitch after the hour mark having managed just four passes. He only had one shot of note, too.

Against Wolves, he was just as bad. He struggled to get on the end of chances and barely saw any of the action, completing just three passes. If Arteta’s side are to win the league, then they need far more from their marquee summer signing.

Arsenal star was as bad as Gyokeres vs Wolves

For Arsenal’s forward line this has been a puzzling season to date. In the early months of the campaign, the team were accused of relying on set-pieces. Yet, over the last month, they’ve not scored a single goal from a set play in the league.

Their open play threat has improved significantly. That was until Wolves came to town.

The attacking threat on this occasion, Saka aside, was virtually non-existent. The fact that Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli all failed to last 90 minutes said it all.

While Gyokeres will take a lot of the blame for the bluntness in attack, Martinelli must also take some criticism.

Having scored a brilliant goal in midweek, curling the ball in from range, he was back to his usual inconsistencies on Saturday.

What summed up the Brazilian’s performance was his header from one of Declan Rice’s first-half corners. A deep ball to the back post found Martinelli and standing a matter of yards out from the goal, he somehow headed the ball off target.

Martinelli vs Wolves

Minutes played

57

Touches

33

Accurate passes

12/18 (67%)

Shots

4

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Possession lost

11x

Ground duels won

4/6

Aerial duels won

0/2

Stats via Sofascore.

Truth be told, the winger struggled to get the better of an ageing Matt Doherty on Wolves’ right flank. Martinelli only completed one dribble and succeeded with a dire 67% of his passes.

While the 24-year-old did have four shots, not a single one of them was on target. Not great at all.

In the words of GOAL’s Charles Watts, he was largely “disappointing”. It was a performance way below what we’ve come to expect from him this season.

In the Champions League, the Brazilian has scored in five consecutive games but domestically, he’s leaving a lot to be desired.

When Arsenal face Everton next week, Arteta must ensure that Martinelli is back on the bench with Leandro Trossard – arguably the club’s best forward this season – selected ahead of him.

Only 3 passes all game vs Wolves: Arsenal star must now be dropped

Arsenal struggled to beat basement club Wolves on Saturday night.

By
Matt Dawson

1 day ago

Giants Earn Wildest Walk-Off Win of Year on Weak Ground Ball to Pitcher With Bases Empty

The San Francisco Giants nabbed one of the most improbable walk-off wins you'll ever see Sunday as they played the Texas Rangers. Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos stepped up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game. When he hit a swinging bunt, there was no way he thought he'd cross home safely to win the game.

He made contact on the first pitch he saw, which dribbled into the shallow infield and was fielded by Rangers pitcher Luke Jackson. Jackson tried to make the play at first, but his momentum saw his throw go outside of first baseman Jake Burger and down the right-field line.

Ramos coasted into second base before he realized Burger was still tracking down the ball and then decided to head for third.

Burger's throw to third went wide and sent the ball down the left-field line, allowing Ramos to pop up and head for home where he slid in safely for a walk-off, Little League style home run.

You don't see that very often, let alone to end the game.

The improbable win continued the Giants' hot start to their 2025 campaign, sitting atop the NL West at 19-10 with a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants are only a half of a game behind the New York Mets for the best record across the MLB.

Sunday brought San Francisco's fourth win in their last five games. And it couldn't have happened in more thrilling fashion.

0 tackles won: Newcastle duo must now never start together again for Howe

Newcastle United head into another Champions League tie in mid-week off the back of a disappointing result in the Premier League on the road.

Before facing off against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in mid-October, and convincingly putting them to the sword 3-0 in Europe’s illustrious competition, the Toon had come up short away at Brighton and Hove Albion in a 2-1 loss on the South Coast.

Eddie Howe will hope he gets a similar response out of his troops when Athletic Club travel to Tyneside on Wednesday night, as Newcastle’s “passive” afternoon against the Hammers – as journalist Craig Hope put it – resulted in the away side coming away empty-handed from the London Stadium in a 3-1 loss.

Howe will have been left with lots to chew over from that defeat, as he cut a forlorn figure after the match, while Nuno Espirito Santo jumped for joy, as he momentarily stopped the West Ham rot.

The changes Eddie Howe must make vs Athletic Club

The usually mild-mannered Howe blasted his team’s performance as “unrecognisable” of what Newcastle is all about. Indeed, as Toon great Alan Shearer noted post-match, it was a “leggy” performance rather than an energetic one.

Joelinton, again, showed signs of his worrying decline against Nuno’s hosts, as the quiet Brazilian won just three of his seven duels during the 3-1 defeat.

Off the back of such a lifeless showing, both Lucas Paqueta and Freddie Potts dominated proceedings centrally for the East Londoners, as Paqueta scored a long-range bullet to level the match in the first half, while Potts also managed to win one more duel than the below-par number seven, on what was his first league start of the season.

He could be in danger of being dropped for the coming clash with the La Liga outfit; therefore, with Anthony Gordon also at risk of the axe, having lasted just 45 minutes at the London Stadium, before being taken off.

With no goals or assists next to his name in the Premier League this season, it isn’t a shock to see journalist Charlie Bennett state that the ex-Everton winger is “not undroppable”, heading into the St James’ Park clash on Wednesday.

But, as much as it’s slightly contentious whether the likes of Gordon and Joelinton will actually be dropped, it feels a far more pressing matter that this duo must be axed from the starting XI immediately.

Newcastle duo must never play together again

Halloween might well have been done for another year when West Ham and Newcastle locked horns, but the Toon’s defensive performance was still scarily below-par.

Heading into the showdown at the London Stadium, the relegation-threatened hosts had only managed to score a meagre seven Premier League goals all season long.

But, with Howe selecting Emil Krafth and Dan Burn as his two full-back options, the Hammers were in luck going forward, as can be seen by looking at their disastrous performances in greater detail.

Indeed, combined, the makeshift full-back partnership managed to win zero tackles and won just two of their seven duels.

Krafth would, thankfully, be put out of his misery at the half-time interval, but – when he was still on the pitch – he also failed to muster up one single successful dribble to try and turn his faltering team more of a front-foot threat.

Burn lasted the full 90 minutes, though, with the Blyth-born battler also failing to complete a single successful dribble, on top of squandering possession a costly 14 times.

As one analyst put it at the final whistle, both the underperforming number 17 and number 33 are more “centre-back profiles”, with Newcastle becoming “less dynamic” this season as a result of these two options being regularly chosen as limited full-backs.

Howe will pray he can call upon Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall in these problem areas, soon, with Hall back on the substitutes bench against the Hammers, after a lengthy spell out with an injury.

Kieran Trippier could also be available again for the test of Ernesto Valverde’s men on Wednesday night, as Howe now tries to put together a coherent XI, that removes the possibility of Krafth and Burn lining up as a car-crash duo.

Worse than Pope: Howe must drop Newcastle star who lost 100% ground duels

Eddie Howe has a lot of Newcastle United selection decisions to ponder over after his side collapsed to a 3-1 loss away at West Ham United.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 3, 2025

Man Utd sensation is now becoming Amorim's best player over Bruno & Mbeumo

Manchester United’s 1-0 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has injected a newfound sense of optimism that Ruben Amorim is the man to lead the club forward.

Such a performance made it two Premier League wins in a row for the Red Devils, something which hadn’t been achieved since May 2024 under former boss Erik ten Hag.

Dating back to the end of August, the side have now won four of their last six matches, showcasing the impressive work conducted by the boss despite links around his future at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old also appears to have the backing of the hierarchy, especially after Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed he wanted to give the former Sporting CP boss three years in the role.

However, Amorim may have numerous players to thank for the club’s recent upturn in form, with the duo undoubtedly being some of the shining lights during 2025/26.

The underlying stats behind Bruno & Mbeumo’s success in 2025/26

Despite a dismal 2024/25 campaign, Bruno Fernandes managed to achieve some incredible numbers for United, as seen by his tally of 37 combined goals and assists, but the midfielder has continued such form into the new campaign.

He’s currently sitting at the top of the Red Devils’ chances created chart, currently registering 2.8 per 90 – a tally that is way higher than any other player within the squad.

The 31-year-old has also completed the most passes of any player, further highlighting the ability he possesses to provide others with endless opportunities – despite operating in a deeper role after the arrival of one player this summer.

Bruno has had to play as a number eight to help accommodate new addition Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian showcasing why the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £71m for his signature.

The 26-year-old has already had an immediate impact, achieving the highest shot-on-target accuracy rate of any player in squad – contributing to his top-goalscorer status at present.

He’s also created the same number of big chances in the Premier League as Bruno, highlighting his all-round quality in attacking areas – something which was greatly lacking in 2024/25.

The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s best player

Mbeumo and Bruno have both registered a total of three combined goals and assists – with the pair registering the most contributions of any players in the United squad.

The efforts in front of goal, coupled with the aforementioned underlying stats, have made the pair some of the first names on Amorim’s teamsheet.

The pair have played key roles in the recent revival of the manager and will likely continue to do so in the near future, potentially bringing about added levels of success in the years ahead.

However, the aforementioned pair may not be the only ones who play a vital role under Amorim, with Amad Diallo arguably being one of his most important players at present.

Before the manager’s arrival at Old Trafford, the Ivorian was barely an impact player under Ten Hag and often had to rely on minutes off the bench to have the desired effect.

He’s since become a consistent starter over the last 12 months, but also doing so in a somewhat unfamiliar role to help fit into the 40-year-old’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system.

The 23-year-old has occupied the RWB position of late, a role that is slightly deeper than what he’s used to, having joined the Red Devils as a right-winger back in the winter of 2021.

However, Amad has taken to life in the position like a duck to water, nailing it down as his own and subsequently producing numerous incredible figures in 2025/26.

He’s featured in all but one league outing to date, only registering one goal contribution, but it’s his underlying stats that have seen him adhere himself to the fanbase.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

93%

Key passes made

1.4

Dribbles completed

1.2

Tackles made

1.9

Ball recoveries made

4.1

Big chances created

2

The Ivorian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.4 key passes per 90 along with a 93% pass completion rate – subsequently showcasing his ability to provide those around him with key chances.

Amad has also completed 1.2 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League, which has allowed him to get into dangerous areas before making the killer pass to one of his teammates.

However, his new role has seen him take on added defensive responsibility, something he’s taken in his stride as seen by his tally of 1.9 tackles and 4.1 ball recoveries made per 90.

As a result of such performances, Amad is rapidly becoming one of the manager’s key performers, showcasing that he can be trusted operating in a somewhat unnatural position.

Should he continue on such a trajectory, the youngster can be a key first-team member for many years to come and help Bruno and Mbeumo in their quest for success in the final third.

Man Utd's "homegrown Osimhen" at Carrington looks like their new Rashford

Manchester United already have a star who could reach phenomenal levels in the near future.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

'If he's honest with himself…' – Wayne Rooney doubles down on Virgil van Dijk criticism after Liverpool star's 'lazy' snipe

Wayne Rooney has doubled down on his criticism of Virgil van Dijk after seeing his previous comments branded “lazy” by the Liverpool captain. The Manchester United legend remains of the opinion that the Dutch defender has not been at his best during the 2025-26 campaign, and believes the commanding centre-half would admit as much “if he’s honest with himself”.

  • Run of defeats after big spend: Questions asked of Liverpool

    After seeing a flurry of late goals help them to a faultless opening across domestic and continental competition, the reigning Premier League champions saw the wheels fall off in spectacular style when suffering six defeats through a testing run of seven fixtures. Inevitable questions were asked of whether the Reds were in danger of imploding.

    Rooney is among those to have picked fault with Arne Slot’s side, having seen them struggle to replicate the consistency that carried them to the English top-flight title in 2024-25. Few could have predicted that they would wobble so spectacularly after smashing transfer records in the summer window – with historic deals being done for the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

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    What Van Dijk said in 'lazy' jibe at Man Utd legend Rooney

    Liverpool have been accused of lacking leadership on and off the field, with experienced skipper Van Dijk falling under the microscope. He has not taken kindly to seeing his contribution questioned by the likes of Rooney.

    Responding to accusations that he has not “really led” his team this season, Van Dijk said: “I didn't hear him [Rooney] last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism.

    “It's easy to blame the other players but he knows we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this. Last year when things go well you don't hear that at all. It is what it is. [Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There's no hard feelings. I don't take it personally.”

  • Must do better: Rooney stands by comments on Van Dijk

    Rooney is not about to apologise for his comments or backtrack on them. Instead, the ex-England captain maintains that Van Dijk should be demanding more himself and those around him at Anfield.

    Speaking on , the five-time Premier League title winner said: “Virgil van Dijk’s similar to [Mohamed] Salah, you know, over the last five years he’s been one of, if not the best defender in the world, and last year it was hard to say anything bad because they were that good, and he was that good.

    “I’m sure he’ll come out and tell you, he probably hasn’t been at his best this season, if he’s honest with himself. And as captain, your job as captain if things aren’t going right, is to speak to your team-mates, call meetings with your team-mates, and that’s really what I was saying. You know, as a captain, as a leader, I’m sure he will have been doing that.

    “I've got full respect for Virgil. I think he's a fantastic player. My job now as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel. I'm sure if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn't been as good as he has been over the last few years. That was my comment which I stick by.”

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    Liverpool fixtures: Real Madrid & Man City next up

    Van Dijk helped Liverpool return to winning ways in their latest outing, with a welcome 2-0 victory being enjoyed when playing host to Aston Villa. That contest saw the Reds pick up their first clean sheet since September 14.

    Slot’s side will be back in European action on Tuesday when taking in a glamour Champions League clash with Real Madrid, with the next international break set to be reached after a trip to old adversaries Manchester City on Sunday.

'Really eager because it's the World Cup' – Inter Miami's Lionel Messi open to helping Argentina defend in 2026, but it depends on fitness which he'll assess 'day-to-day'

Lionel Messi hasn’t ruled out playing for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, set to take place across North America. The Inter Miami star said he will decide next year based on how his body feels, though he admitted that competing at age 39 would be a challenge. After previously downplaying the chances of returning, his words reignited hope.

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    Messi gives Argentina fans a reason to dream

    After previously hinting that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would likely be his last, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left the door open to one final appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

    Messi last week signed a three-year extension to keep him at Inter Miami through 2028. He said he’ll evaluate his physical condition next year before deciding whether to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

    "Well, the truth is that yes, it's something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup," Messi told NBC Nightly News’ Tom Llamas. "And I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter Miami and see if I can really be 100 percent."

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    'Defending it would be spectacular'

    The Argentine legend turns 39 next June and admitted age will be a decisive factor.

    "I'm really eager because it's the World Cup," he said. "We're coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it's always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions. So hopefully God will allow me to do it once again."

    His words undoubtedly reignited faith among millions of supporters who dream of seeing him lead Argentina once again.

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    "Every player dreams of becoming world champion"

    Messi has played professionally since 2004, debuting with Barcelona at just 17 years old. After 17 seasons and four Champions League titles with the Catalan club, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before moving to Inter Miami in 2023, where he has helped transform Major League Soccer’s profile.

    Messi reflected on life in South Florida, saying, “Miami lets us enjoy life, stay calm, and allows my kids to be themselves."

    International success had long eluded Messi until Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar, where he led his nation to its first title since 1986.

    “It was the dream of my life,” Messi said. “It was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had achieved everything with Barcelona. Every player dreams of becoming world champion.”

    Since his debut in 2005, Messi has earned 195 caps and scored 114 goals for Argentina – both national records.

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    What comes next?

    Inter Miami will visit Nashville SC on Saturday looking to seal their spot in the next round of the MLS playoffs, after earning a 3-1 win in the first game of the best-of-three series.

Leeds eyeing Chris Wood return in January deal as Nottingham Forest future in doubt

Leeds United are looking to establish themselves as a Premier League outfit for the foreseeable future and could now swoop for an experienced marksman in January.

Leeds await players returning from injury after internationals

Out of everyone in the top-flight, there is an argument to say that the Whites have been dealt the cruelest hand due to injuries and Daniel Farke will be keen to see some key faces return after the international break.

Offering an explanation of where his crocked stars are at in terms of sharpness before his side took on Tottenham Hotspur, the former Norwich City coach laid out respective timeframes for them to return.

Leeds United managerDanielFarkeapplauds their fans after the match

“James is out for a few weeks He rolled his ankle in training, Likely out for 4-6 weeks. We expect him back after November international break. If he was available before it would be a bonus. Not great news. Gnonto will miss this came with his calf problems, not back in team training. Back after international break.

“Question marks over Harry Gray, some problems with hip flexor after (youth) game on Monday. Lucas Perri is back in team training since yesterday. Good news but too early to involve him. International break is good for two weeks of training – we expect him out after that.”

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s impact behind the scenes at Leeds earns plaudits and Noah Okafor found the net again on Saturday, depth is so important in the top flight and Leeds will need to add to their squad in January if they want to position themselves in a comfortable predicament heading into the second half of the campaign.

Ultimately, only the strongest survive in the Premier League. The Whites have done a good job of making a fist of it so far, but they could take their fight to the next level by beating their domestic rivals to the signature of an experienced striker.

Leeds eyeing Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood

According to TBR, Leeds are eyeing a move for Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to bolster their forward line, albeit both Everton and West Ham United also want to sign the New Zealand international.

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the City Ground has left the 33-year-old at a crossroads due to the Australian’s style of play, and a switch to Yorkshire may be a more suitable fit, given his physical attributes and previous affection for the Elland Road faithful.

Daniel Farke says Leeds have a "world-class" versatile player who he's not picking

He hasn’t been seen for a while.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

With a track record of 91 Premier League goals in 269 appearances to go with 45 in 86 at international level, Wood is an experienced campaigner and has just came off the back of a 20-goal season, following that up with three strikes from seven outings in 2025/26.

It remains to be seen whether Nottingham Forest would be open to offloading such a prolific member of their squad. On the flipside, his age coupled with the emergence of Igor Jesus may lead Postecoglou to cash in come January.

Kayque volta ao Botafogo para fazer tratamento antes de ser emprestado a clube da Bélgica

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Os planos do meio-campista Kayque mudaram. O meio-campista viajou para a Bélgica, onde assinaria contrato com o RWD Molenbeek. Porém, exames realizados no clube de propriedade de John Textor detectaram que o jovem tem uma lesão no menisco do joelho e fizeram com que ele retornasse ao Botafogo. A informação do “GE”.

No Alvinegro, o jogador de 23 anos e vai realizar o tratamento. A expectativa é de que ele faça tratamento e, posteriormente, viaje para a Europa em setembro, a tempo de ser inscrito no clube belga.

O meio-campista teria sofrido a lesão no primeiro treino no novo clube. Avaliado pelo departamento médico do Botafogo, o tratamento prevê uma artroscopia para correção. A expectativa é de que ele retorne em um mês.

Assim que estiver recuperado, Kayque fará as malas rumo à Bélgica, onde assinará contrato para atuar no futebol europeu. A janela de transferências da Bélgica fecha no dia 6 de setembro. No último dia 12, o jogador completou 23 anos e lamentou o momento vivido em um story nas redes sociais.

O objetivo do empréstimo é dar mais tempo de jogo e valorizar o meio-campista, atrás de uma série de jogadores no setor de meio-campo no Botafogo.

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