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Aston Villa has been home to various Premier League greats over the years.

Gareth Barry would go on to make a whopping 439 appearances for the Villans, with 53 England caps even falling into the tough midfielder’s lap by the end of his long-winding and successful career.

Ashley Young also springs to mind as another top-flight veteran who used to call Villa Park home, whilst Jack Grealish is certainly one of the most entertaining stars Villa have ever had on their books in the elite division, before he was poached for an outrageous £100m by Manchester City.

James Milner is another name that might well fly under the radar in these conversations, with the ultra-reliable midfielder often thought of as a Liverpool and Manchester City staple.

Yet, it was with Villa where he really began to shine as a dependable spark in the Premier League.

Why James Milner is still a hero at Villa

Before going on to win three Premier League titles with the aforementioned Reds and the Citizens, Milner was a rising star in the top-flight, ready to be taken to that next level, after collecting 11 goals and 20 assists in total for Newcastle United.

In a Villa set-up that often saw him line up alongside even more much-loved favourites of the past in Brad Friedel and Gabriel Agbonlahor, Milner would often shine the brightest, with two standout seasons in the West Midlands pushing him on to join City.

Only missing two Premier League games across the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 seasons meant Milner became a relied-upon regular, and he had the quality to back up his hard work for the team, too.

A stunning haul of 19 goals and 25 assists in all competitions over those two campaigns lead to his Villa boss in Martin O’Neill hailing him as “sensational.”

Capable of also playing down either flank away from his central midfield duties, it’s very clear now why the Leeds-born 39-year-old has gone on to have such a well-established career at the very top, off the back of his early days at Villa, having very rarely made a blip across his 643 games and counting in the competitive division.

Still plugging away for Brighton and Hove Albion – with a penalty even put away in August – Milner must surely stand out as a glowing example to footballers trying to make it big today when it comes to ageing gracefully.

Emery arguably has his own Milner-type presence back at Villa Park now, with the star in question only getting better with age to rival their former number eight’s insane longevity.

Emery's own Milner-type player

Milner very much proved at both Anfield and the Etihad that a steady presence can go a long way, even if there were flashier figures that surrounded him.

Indeed, Emery might well have faces such as Morgan Rogers – who has been touted to be worth £100m – at his disposal, alongside feared marksman Ollie Watkins, but he knows he will always get a consistent magic out of John McGinn whenever he is chosen to don Villa claret and blue, even as the Scotsman now hits 30 years of age.

25/26

11

3 + 1

24/25

49

4 + 6

23/24

53

9 + 8

22/23

36

1 + 3

21/22

36

3 + 4

20/21

37

3 + 6

19/20

30

3 + 3

18/19

44

6 + 10

Just one glance at the table above reinforces the idea that McGinn is Mr consistent for the West Midlands outfit, much like Milner was at Villa Park, with a stunning haul of 33 goals and 41 assists next to his name for the Villans from 295 appearances, which stretches all the way back to their unfortunate Championship days.

He has always received warm praise for his memorable contributions, too, with his ex-Villa boss in Dean Smith, hailing him as a “driving force” for the side all the way back in 2021, while forgotten former manager Steve Bruce also lauded him as a “hero” from the minute he arrived in Birmingham.

Those words still very much ring true, even as McGinn enters the arguable twilight years of his career, with the Glaswegian already three goals and one assist down this campaign, which included this fierce strike breaking a Europa League deadlock against Bologna.

Time will only tell if the Villans captain will still be plying his trade in the Premier League come his 39th birthday, but it’s clear right now that he is as beloved as Milner was at Villa Park, for being another adaptable presence always ready to give his all.

Aston Villa now open agent talks to sign Martinez heir who's in red-hot form

The Villans have made an approach to sign a new goalkeeper, amid doubts surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s long-term future.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United for allowing homegrown striker Danny Welbeck to leave Old Trafford for Arsenal back in 2014, branding the decision “an absolute balls-up”. The former United captain, who shared the dressing room with Welbeck for several seasons, believes the club made a huge mistake by sanctioning the £16 million ($21m) transfer, a move he insists never should have been allowed to happen.

Van Gaal’s ruthless call to sell Welbeck

Welbeck’s departure came during Louis van Gaal’s reign at Old Trafford, as the Dutchman reshaped the squad after replacing David Moyes. Van Gaal defended the decision at the time, insisting that Welbeck simply didn’t meet the same output standards as Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie.

"He played three seasons for the first team, but he doesn’t have the record of Robin van Persie or Wayne Rooney. And that is the standard," Van Gaal said. "That is why we let him go, because of [Radamel] Falcao, but also to allow the youngsters to fit in. That is the policy. That is why I am here."

AdvertisementGetty'Class act on and off the pitch'

However, for Ferdinand, the justification never sat right. The former England defender feels United’s hierarchy should have stepped in to protect one of their most loyal academy graduates from joining a rival, and Van Gaal's request should have been turned down.

"I think he should’ve stayed at Man United, obviously, sometimes it’s not his decision," the United legend said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. "I think it was an absolute balls-up that they actually let him leave the football club. A Manchester boy, loves the club, a great kid, never a day’s trouble for anybody at the football club, never gets into trouble, his nose is always clean, got a nice way about him, great family… what are you selling him for? If the manager had come in, I think it might have been Van Gaal, whoever came in and said, ‘you can go’, you say, ‘no, no, this one is out of your hands, mate, this ain’t for you, you don’t know the detail behind this one, leave this to us’, and he’s in, he’s staying with us. That’s what should have happened with Danny Welbeck. He’s a class act on and off the pitch, a great guy."

Welbeck’s second wind at Brighton

Fast forward to the present day, and the now-34-year-old Welbeck is enjoying something of a renaissance at Brighton. The veteran striker has started the 2025–26 Premier League season on fire, netting five goals in nine Premier League appearances. His resurgence has caught the attention of Ferdinand, who believes the former Arsenal man deserves serious consideration for a recall to the England squad as Harry Kane's understudy.

"He’s second to Harry Kane," Ferdinand said. "If you’re talking form right now and the squad was being picked tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?"

Ferdinand argued that Welbeck’s wealth of experience and his ability to adapt make him a perfect choice for Thomas Tuchel. 

"Experience can do different types of things on the pitch for you," he added. "He can run in behind if need be, we saw that at Old Trafford, he can come short and link play as well as anybody outside of Harry Kane. He’s an all-round footballer, if it wasn’t for the injuries he had earlier in his career. I would take him. If he finishes the season in the form he’s in right now, there’s no way you can’t take him because he’s only going there for a month, it ain’t like we’re saying to him he has to play a full season, you’ve got to be ready and that role he can do that, coming in and out, be a support act for someone like Harry Kane."

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Getty Images SportWelbeck praises United despite Brighton loss

Despite Ferdinand’s fierce criticism of United’s past decision-making, Welbeck himself has shown nothing but respect for his boyhood club. After Brighton’s 4–2 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, the striker spoke warmly about Ruben Amorim’s revitalised Red Devils. 

Speaking on , he said: "It is the best [Manchester United] side we have faced in a while. They were really organised and structured, they always have incredible players and today they really punished our mistakes. A difficult game but one we can look back and analyse. I do believe we can come here and get the three points."

United appear to have finally found their rhythm under Ruben Amorim. After a rocky start to the campaign, the Red Devils have now won all three of their Premier League fixtures in October, including a statement victory over reigning champions Liverpool. With upcoming matches slated against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, United will be aiming to maintain their momentum heading into the international break.

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been handed a massive cash windfall linked to his illustrious football career, which has also revealed his vast net wealth. Following the closure of a company he used for his image rights, Rooney has secured a significant tax worth £800,000 ($1.05m) from HMRC.

Rooney rakes it in as net worth receives boost

This latest financial development follows Rooney's past disputes involving HMRC over the years. The recent payout is not connected to the film financing schemes, such as Ingenious, in which he and other celebrities previously invested, resulting in large tax bills. 

The closure of the image rights firm has simply resulted in a final accounting and the return of a tax rebate to the former footballer. The incident highlights the complexities surrounding professional athletes' earnings and tax affairs, with companies often set up to manage a player's image rights separately from their football wages, including deals with global brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola and EA Sports, according to a report from . 

Rooney has previously faced intense scrutiny and disputes with the taxman, this recent rebate is a direct result of the company's winding up. It adds to his considerable net worth, which has grown through his playing career and subsequent ventures, believed to be as much as £170 million ($223.7m).

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSpat with Liverpool captain Van Dijk

Following Liverpool's recent Champions League victory over Real Madrid, Virgil van Dijk confronted pundit Rooney, who had publicly questioned his leadership. The dispute began with Rooney criticising Van Dijk's performance on his podcast, claiming "body language tells you a lot" and suggesting the Reds captain and talisman Mo Salah had "downed tools" after signing new contracts. Van Dijk initially called the comments "lazy criticism," adding, "I didn't hear him last year" when Liverpool were successful. 

In their TV confrontation, the Netherlands international took exception to Rooney's suggestion that he had become complacent after his new deal, stating, "I think that was a bit… but that's my personal opinion and we move on". Rooney defended his analysis, saying, "I think what I've said was fair" and that a team losing multiple games would naturally draw questions about its captain. While Rooney later conceded on his podcast that his comments might have been "a bit unfair because I don't know him that well as a person," he stood by his assessment of Van Dijk's on-field performance, saying, "from a performance point of view, I think I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing, and I felt I was right". 

The encounter culminated in a handshake, but underscored the tension between modern players and pundits.

Slot's shot at Rooney

Rooney also faced-up to Liverpool boss Slot and the Dutch boss was asked whether the mood has lifted on Merseyside, to which he responded: "It's clear that it’s nicer when you win games than when you lose games as a manager. Am I right or am I wrong heh?" When making the comment, Slot turned sideways to look at Rooney with a big smile on his face. 

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Getty Images SportRooney's right to reply

Rooney has a twice-weekly BBC podcast, , and occasionally appears as a pundit on the and Amazon Prime's Champions League coverage. He is also scheduled to be part of the BBC's coverage for the 2026 World Cup which kicks off next July, hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Celtic supporters were hit with some earth-shattering news on Monday night when it was confirmed that Brendan Rodgers had tendered his resignation at Parkhead.

The Northern Irish head coach, who was in his second spell as the club’s manager, decided to move on from Glasgow after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

That result left the Premiership champions eight points behind Hearts in the table, and the next manager will have to attempt to close that gap to avoid missing out on the title.

Martin O’Neill has been brought in as an interim manager, despite backing Hearts to win the title as a pundit at the start of the week, and will be in charge against Falkirk this evening.

Whilst O’Neill leads the club in the short-term, the board will be scouring the globe in search of a manager who can be an upgrade on Brendan Rodgers.

Why Celtic need an upgrade on Brendan Rodgers

The Northern Irish boss had great success during his time with the Hoops, which cannot be doubted, as his record at the club is an impressive one.

As you can see in the graphic above, the former Liverpool manager won four trophies in his two full seasons back at Parkhead in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, with two Premiership titles, an SFA Cup, and a League Cup.

However, whether it was entirely down to his coaching or down to the recruitment done by the club, the football on the pitch seemed to become stale this season.

There were flashes of real quality from Celtic as a team, such as the 2-1 win over Sturm Graz last week in the Europa League, but there were too many poor performances around that.

For example, the Hoops lost their last two Premiership games under Rodgers and failed to score a single goal in six of their 16 matches in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Matches managed

50

57

16

Goals scored

121

167

25

Goals scored per game

2.42

2.92

1.56

Points per game

2.24

2.26

1.78

Games without a goal scored

8

5

6

Games per goalless performance

6.25

11.4

2.66

As you can see in the table above, the team’s attacking play took a huge hit this season under the former Leicester boss, which is something that the next manager will have to address.

The Scottish giants need to find a new head coach who can come in and ignite the team’s attacking play to get the season back on track, and get the fans at Parkhead excited to watch their side play football.

Celtic have title-winning boss on their radar

Plenty of names have already been linked with the vacant post at Parkhead, including Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou.

Manager Focus

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According to the Daily Record, though, Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen is one of the names on the club’s radar as they search for a replacement for Brendan Rodgers.

The report claims that the Norwegian boss is ‘back on the Celtic radar’ after the Northern Irishman’s resignation, adding that he has been ‘constantly touted’ with the Hoops job in recent years.

It notes that Knutsen’s contract with Bodo/Glimt is due to expire at the end of the calendar year, which means that the Scottish giants may have the perfect opening to make a move for him.

However, the Daily Record does not reveal whether or not the 4-3-3 head coach would be interested in making the move to Parkhead after a long spell with his current side in his home country.

Why Celtic should push to appoint Kjetil Knutsen

The Celtic board should push to convince Knutsen to replace Rodgers in the dugout in Glasgow because he could arrive as a big upgrade on the former Liverpool manager.

As aforementioned, possibly the biggest problem Rodgers had with the Hoops this season was coaching them to be an effective and ruthless attacking unit, as there have been far too many goalless performances so far this term.

That may not be an issue with the way that Knutsen sets his team up. Former captain Bodo/Glimt Ulrik Saltnes described his playing style as “kamikaze”, which suggests that it is an all-action and exciting brand of football.

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt, Bodo/Glimt have only failed to score in seven of their 103 matches in all competitions, which speaks to how prolific they are, given that Celtic have failed to score in six of their 16 games this term.

2025

26

70

2024

30

71

2023

30

78

2022

30

86

2021

30

59

2020

30

103

2019

30

64

As you can see in the table above, Knutsen knows how to set a team up to consistently score goals at league level, whilst competing for titles.

Per Transfermarkt, the Norwegian head coach has won four of the last five Eliteserien titles, and his team are currently one point off first place with a game in hand, with four matches left to play, in the 2025 campaign.

Knutsen, as highlighted in the post above, likes to play progressive football with an emphasis on wing play, which would come as music to Sebastian Tounekti’s ears.

The Tunisia international has completed 2.0 dribbles per game on average in the Premiership, per Sofascore, and could thrive under a manager who makes wing play a significant part of his attacking structure.

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ByDan Emery Oct 29, 2025

Overall, Knutsen could arrive as an upgrade on Rodgers because of his history of coaching a consistent and lethal attack, whilst also winning titles, so he could come in and solve the team’s main issue this season, which has been scoring goals consistently.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Calvin Harrison nearly spun the visitors to an improbable victory using the Kookaburra ball

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay02-Jul-2025Kent 566 for 8 dec (Bell-Drummond 158, Finch 118, Guthrie 3-92) and 160 for 8 (Evison 49* Chahal 4-51, Harrison 3-59) drew with Northamptonshire 624 for 6 (Zaib 150*,Harrison 122, Broad 107, Vasconcelos 100) Kent clung on to deny Northamptonshire a sensational, record-breaking win in the Rothesay County Championship, closing on 160 for 8 at stumps, after a stomach-churningly tense final hour.A hitherto sterile contest finally ignited on the final day as Yuzvendra Chahal and Calvin Harrison nearly spun the visitors to an improbable victory using the much-maligned Kookaburra ball.Northants defied the elements, batted aggressively and declared on 722 for 6, smashing the record for the highest score by any side at this venue, eclipsing the 676 made by Australia in 1921. Saif Zaib made 196 not out and Justin Broad was unbeaten on 157, an unbroken partnership of 298. It also meant they led by 156, giving Kent a minimum of 59 overs to navigate, 11 of which were lost due to rain.Chahal took 4 for 51 and for the second consecutive week it was left to Joey Evison stave off defeat. He hit 49 from 104 balls and was helped by a dramatic late return from Tawanda Muyeye, who left the ground at lunchtime due to personal reasons, but returned to bat at ten and was there with Evison at stumps.Northants resumed with Zaib on 150 and Broad on 107, but just 12 minutes were possible before the rain became too heavy for the players to continue.Some 18 overs were wiped out and when play resumed, but Zaib and Broad tried to make up for the lost time. Broad took two from Jaydn Denly to pass 150.Gallows humour prevailed. When Matt Parkinson conceded his 200th run his team mates applauded and he put an arm around Zaib, who was on 195 at the time, as if to say: “that’s how you do it.”The rain returned and with Northamptonshire on 722 for 6 lunch was taken early, but this time only one over was lost and Kent faced a potentially awkward afternoon, under leaden skies.It looked even more awkward when Liam Guthrie sent Denly’s off stump cartwheeling, four balls into the reply, but after four overs the rain returned with Kent on 12 for 1 and 11 further overs were chalked off, leaving Kent with a minimum of 48 to survive.Chahal then bowled Ekansh Singh for 37, but despite a succession of appeals of varying conviction Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond steered Kent to the relative safety of 76 for 2 at tea.After that they fell apart. Bell-Drummond edged the first ball of the evening session, from Harrison, to Broad at first slip and Compton then went trying to sweep Chahal, victim of a low catch at square leg by Tim Robinson.With Muyeye unable to bat Kent were effectively five down with 45 minutes to go before the final hour.Harry Finch cut Harrison straight to Broad for four and Parkinson strolled out with Kent still 61 in arrears. Chahal then took two wickets in two balls: Parkinson survived 12 deliveries until Broad took his third catch of the innings and Wes Agar went for a heave and was out for a golden duck, caught behind by Lewis McManus.Matt Quinn played more sensibly until he lofted the 57th ball he faced from Harrison to Chahal for 13.To widespread surprise Muyeye then came out at No. 10 and Kent had a major let off when Evison was dropped by Ricardo Vasconcelos at silly point. The duo crucially steered Kent into the lead and when 5.50pm was reached Kent were officially safe.

Newcastle United have been sculpted into a force over the past four years. Eddie Howe has been the architect of this staggering rise, qualifying twice for the Champions League inside three seasons and, last year, beating Liverpool to lift the Carabao Cup.

The summer transfer window was a testing one for many reasons, but United have assembled a group of players ready to compete at the highest level once again.

But there’s no question that there’s work to be done. After all, the Toon sit 14th in the Premier League, and new signings are still bedding in.

But there’s so much world-class talent at Howe’s disposal, and the manager and his side’s success in tying down Sandro Tonali to a new contract is evidence of how mighty St. James’ Park is becoming.

Sandro Tonali's new contract at Newcastle

It has come to light that Tonali secretly signed a contract extension at Newcastle during his betting ban, meaning his new deal runs until 2029, with the club holding the power to activate a one-year extension.

The Italy international is now set to star at Newcastle for many years to come, and if interest does heat up, the Toon will hold all the cards concerning a player who has blended athleticism with intelligence and technical grace to become “one of the best footballers to ever play for Newcastle”, according to one prominent online supporter.

The bond he has forged with Bruno Guimaraes in the centre of St. James’ Park is a thing to behold. Together, they are supercharging Howe’s system, piecing together this next stage in Howe’s project, so the recent success will not be remembered as a flash in the pan.

Though the 25-year-old suffered through some adversity at the start of his career in England, he has since repaid the £55m investment and then some, good enough to become the next £100m+ sale.

The loss of Alexander Isak to Arne Slot’s Premier League champions? That one stung. But Newcastle banked a record-breaking £125m cheque for the departure of their former talisman.

And, whisper it quietly, but the Sweden striker’s sale has been cushioned and then some by the redirection of the funds.

Howe's latest Newcastle superstar

He’s the talk of the Toon. Despite raising eyebrows upon their club-record £69m acquisition of Nick Woltemade, the German striker is proving his worth and then some at the front of Howe’s system.

The 23-year-old is quickly climbing up to the high ground on which Tonali stands, and he could enter a similar £100m ballpark with a continuation of the resounding early performances in black and white.

Already, Woltemade has scored five goals for Newcastle, having only played eight times.

When fellow forward signing Yoane Wissa pulled up with a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo after completing his £55m transfer from Brentford to the north east, fears were heightened.

Isak had departed, had he not? And Wissa was the free-scoring, Premier League-tuned striker. But Woltemade has allayed concerns and then some with his displays over the past few months.

Howe and his analytical staff will have known all about Woltemade’s quality, but it’s hard to imagine they expected such a fast and seamless start to life in a new land.

BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan has even said that “there’s no striker on the planet who moves the ball like Woltemade.”

He’s not Isak, but that’s the beauty of it. Newcastle have signed a player with the potential to emulate elements of the 26-year-old’s game while adding his own flair and personality to the front of Howe’s system.

Goals

0.68

0.61

Assists

0.08

0.20

Shots taken

2.29

3.00

Shot-creating actions

3.74

2.79

Touches (att pen)

7.12

6.06

Pass completion (%)

72.9

75.4

Progressive passes

2.53

3.17

Progressive carries

1.41

2.52

Successful take-ons

1.37

1.36

Ball recoveries

2.61

1.84

Aerial duels won

2.05

0.89

The forwards’ comparable strength in directly taking on their opponents with the ball at their feet demonstrates their technical level. It absolutely accentuates Woltemade’s individual talent. Isak is more of an unrelenting runner, and he’s faster besides, but Woltemade arguably has neater close control.

Moreover, the Germany international’s technical skill has been picked up in his recent weeks on Tyneside, with reporter Andy Sixsmith hailing him for flair, saying the phenom’s “link-up play is mesmerising”.

The transfer chatter, would you believe it, has already started up. German publication BILD have recently revealed that Bayern Munich, who had earmarked Woltemade as a summer transfer target, are still keeping a watchful eye on the lanky forward, with the report going on to suggest he dreams of returning to his homeland and signing for Die Roten one day.

That’s nice, but if the Isak saga tells us one thing, it’s that Newcastle will only let their prized pieces leave if they get bang for their buck.

And if Woltemade has started as he means to go on for the Tynesiders, he’s not going to be going anywhere for a figure beneath that which saw Isak book a one-way trip to Anfield.

It’s early days yet, and the rangy talent must now work on building consistency in the final third. But the early readings are oh-so promising, and Woltemade is already shaping up to be the real deal and perhaps the biggest star since Tonali blossomed.

Howe can forget Elanga by unleashing Newcastle's teen who's 'like Yamal'

Eddie Howe may turn to the academy to help build fluency down Newcastle’s right side.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 23, 2025

RCB awaits the report of the CID investigation that is in its final stages

Shashank Kishore17-Jul-2025The Karnataka government has held Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) accountable for the stampede that occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, resulting in 11 deaths and injuries to more than 50 people.The findings were outlined in the government’s status report, which was made public on Thursday, two days after the Karnataka High Court rejected the government’s request to keep it confidential and ordered its release.In the status report, a copy of which has been accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the government said: “The RCB Management, in association with its event management partner, DNA Networks Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), unilaterally decided to hold the victory celebration without prior consultation with the police and without obtaining the necessary permissions or license for such celebration.”As per the report, KSCA CEO Subhendu Ghosh submitted an intimation on behalf of DNA Entertainment to the Cubbon Park police on June 3 around 6.30pm about RCB’s intention to organise a victory parade should they win the IPL final that was scheduled the same evening in Ahmedabad.Related

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However, the police denied the request due to “insufficient information regarding the expected gathering size, arrangements made as well as the proposal being made on very short notice.”The report, which largely details the sequence of events right from when the request was first made, further underlines how RCB went ahead and posted an invitation on their social media channels at 7.01am on June 4, announcing a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.The report further said that the posts on RCB’ s official social media handles, including one that had Virat Kohli announcing plans to celebrate with the fans in Bengaluru, garnered immense engagement online.While citing Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009, to underscore RCB’s procedural violations for crowd gathering, the report stated, “It is pertinent to note that a mere intimation was given by the organisers.”There was no requisition for permissions in the prescribed format, nor was any necessary information provided to the concerned departments to anticipate the gathering and make adequate preparation.”Meanwhile, lawyers arguing for the government, challenged the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order that revoked the suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar and four others, who were held responsible for the stampede and subsequently dismissed by chief minister Siddharamaiah. They argued that the tribunal had overstepped its jurisdiction.The government contended that managing such a large crowd at just 12 hours’ notice was an impossible task and questioned the officer’s [Vikash & team] handling of the situation. “What was the officer doing? Did he take any action? Instead of issuing prohibitory orders under the Police Act, they proceeded with arrangements for the celebration,” the government stated.RCB continues to await the report of the CID investigation that is in its final stages. Members of RCB’s top brass as well as those from DNA have all submitted their testimonies over the past month. A set date for the judgment is yet to be made public.

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the most expensive thing he has ever bought and compared becoming a billionaire to winning the Ballon d'Or. In October 2025, Ronaldo's net worth reportedly climbed to a staggering $1.4 billion (£1.04bn/€1.2bn) after he put pen to paper on the most lucrative contract extension in sporting history with Al-Nassr. Under the terms of the new deal, the forward now earns a whopping £178m-a-year in wages.

First footballer to become a billionaire

In the summer, Ronaldo signed the most lucrative contract extension in sporting history with Al-Nassr as he put pen to paper on a fresh two-year deal. The 40-year-old is now earning a whopping £178m-a-year in wages, which is £488,000-a-day. He is also believed to have received a signing-on fee worth £24.5m ($32.8m/€28.2m), which will increase to £38m ($51m/€43.8m) if he enters the second year of his contract.

In October, U.S. publication Bloomberg reported that following the new contract extension, the ex-Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star became the first footballer on the planet to become a billionaire as his net worth now stands at $1.4 billion (£1.04bn/€1.2bn). 

AdvertisementGOAL/GETTY/X:@Manchester AirportRonaldo's prized possession

Speaking on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored', Ronaldo revealed that the biggest purchase of his life so far was a customised private jet, which set him back approximately €50m. The Portugal star said: "The most expensive thing I've ever bought? An aeroplane, yes. I've had my aeroplane since I was 30, but I changed it a year ago, so it was a bit expensive. I have a [Bombardier] Global Express [model 6500]. I don’t spend money [just because]… For example, I can buy whatever I want, but I don’t need it. Three days ago I bought a car, but it’s for my collection. It’s like buying a painting. I’m not going to drive that car, it’s an investment. I don’t know how many cars I have, I don’t count. It’s normal, I’m not trying to be humble, it’s a fact. Honestly, if I had to bet, I’d say 41, 42. I don’t know, I swear I don’t know. I love Bugattis, they’re different beasts. I never drive. I spent a week in Madrid and didn’t even go to the garage to see if the cars were there. The day I left, the two Bugattis went for inspection and came back, I looked at them, they’re clean, they’re good, they’re going to the garage. I’m honest, cars are no longer a passion. I don’t drive much in Saudi Arabia and the traffic is terrible, but when we go back home there isn’t any. Yesterday I even drove home in my new BMW, given by Al Nassr to all the players, but I hadn’t driven for six months."

'Numbers don't lie'

Ronaldo added on becoming a billionaire: "I knew this was going to happen, I was prepared. It was a matter of time. Honestly, I was very happy. It was like winning a Ballon d'Or, because you have your goals of having a house, a car, and it was my goal to reach that number. Honestly. I'm not obsessed with money, because it can help you in many ways, but when you reach a certain level it doesn't matter anymore, but it's good to have more, because we are human, we are never happy with what we have. There are things more important than money, but I was very happy because it was one of my goals, besides football, trophies, Ballon d'Ors, Champions League. At 39, I reached that number and I was very proud.

"In football, I'm the only one. It doesn't surprise me much; the numbers don't lie. If you look at so many records in football, I'm at the top of the list, so it's just another one. Honestly, it doesn't surprise me because I knew my potential in football and outside of it. I knew I was going to reach that number for many reasons."

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GettyWhen will Ronaldo retire?

When asked about his retirement plans, the veteran striker replied: "I think I'll be prepared. It will be tough, yes, it will be difficult. I'll probably cry, that's normal. I cry easily, I don't like to hold back my feelings. It will be very difficult, but I've been preparing for my future since I was 25, so I think I'll be able to handle it. Nothing will compare to football, the adrenaline of scoring goals, that will end. 

"Everything has a beginning and an end, so I think I'll be prepared. I have other passions, I'll have more time for myself, for my family, my children. I want to follow in Cristiano Jr.'s footsteps, because it's the age when people do stupid things, because I did the same. I want to be more present and then I have my hobbies. Watching UFC, I like padel. I want to learn more about my business. I'll never be a YouTuber, but I'll also spend more time on that."

The Al-Nassr captain is expected to be back in action for his club on Wednesday as the Saudi Pro League giants take on India's FC Goal in an AFC Champions League Two clash in Riyadh.

Juan Soto is—by far—the biggest name to hit the open market this MLB offseason.

As teams prepare to break the bank for the 26-year-old superstar, agent Scott Boras outlined to reporters Wednesday exactly what Soto is looking for as he makes his decision this offseason.

"Juan Soto wants ownership that he knows is going to support an opportunity to win annually," Boras said. "His focus always was, 'I want to know who my owner is; I want to know that we're going to be able to win. And I want to know that, besides me, there's going to be a great number of support on part of the owner that he has the same desire to win that I do."

Soto is hitting the market for the first time after seven seasons in the big leagues in which he earned four All-Star nods, four Silver Sluggers and a World Series title with the Washington Nationals in 2019.

In 2024, Soto batted .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs for the New York Yankees. He is expected to sign a massive long-term contract this winter north of $50 million per season for at least 10 years.

One of those teams expected to be in the mix to sign Soto are the Yankees, who finished just shy of their first World Series title since 2009 by falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

"Playing in New York for Juan was really, really comfortable," Boras said. "He really, really enjoyed his teammates, the Yankees experience. Juan loves winning."

“Three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and now I am doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe,” he said on the first day of the second Test

Firdose Moonda07-Aug-2025Brendan Taylor has described making his comeback to international cricket as “a debut-like feeling,” ahead of Zimbabwe’s second Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.Taylor, who spoke to ESPNcricinfo in May about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, his sanction and his plans for the future, returned to Zimbabwe’s XI after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code with a new lease on life.”How good is it that three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and now I am here doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe?” Taylor told the broadcaster in an emotional interview before the first day’s play. “Dealing with the sanction, dealing with my own internal chaos – there was not a specific day, there were multiple days of trauma.Related

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“I was in the dark depths in the abyss and trying to just get through this total and incomprehensible demoralisation of life. It was incredibly difficult.”In 2021, Taylor abruptly retired from international cricket in Belfast and seven months later revealed that he had been approached by fixers, who threatened him with exposing his use of cocaine unless he acted on their instruction. He refused to do that, retired, and then checked himself into rehab when his ban was announced in early 2022. Taylor, who could not be involved in any official cricketing structures due to the conditions of his sanction, then set up a coaching facility in his home, as he hoped to move into coaching on his return. However, Zimbabwe’s Cricket MD Givemore Makoni convinced Taylor to return to playing with the 2027 World Cup in mind and he is ready to give it his all after years of introspection.”There’s always that shame and guilt of letting down your family. That’s a tough thing to deal with. But the way my family rallied and supported me was overwhelming. It’s almost a regret why I didn’t lean on them earlier.”Taylor’s wife, Kelly-Anne, found out about his drug problem with the rest of the world and initially did not believe him when he left their home for rehab. “I felt it was something I got myself into and I needed to fix it myself. I thought the dream had gone and I was content with it,” Taylor said.His time at the centre in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe changed his perspective on life and also thanked his family, friends, team-mates and those in ZC for supporting him.”Then came the joys and promises of recovery, something that is very dear to me,” he said. “Getting my life back on track is the reason why I am able to be here. If I had not made that life changing decision, none of this would have been possible.”There have been some very important people in my corner, showing me a new way to live and I am eternally grateful for that. There are a few people in Zimbabwe Cricket that I have to thank, especially the chairman and the MD, who have been absolutely pivotal in their support to having me back.”Taylor opened alongside Brian Bennett in the second Test•Zimbabwe CricketThe moment of being handed his 36th Test cap, “meant the world to me. It was a moment of pure gratitude and real emotion to be welcomed back with open arms,” Taylor said. “It was not the reaction I was expecting. But it’s certainly a moment of reflection and real gratitude. It’s so rewarding to see the amount of cricket Zimbabwe Cricket is putting out there. I have trained harder than I have ever trained in my life to get back there. If performances happen, that’s great but there’s a much bigger picture here for me to play. It’s an honour to play again. It’s a debut-like feeling.”With Zimbabwe on a six-match losing streak and batting a particular problem for them, Taylor was installed at the top of the order instead of his usual No.4 role. Early on, he left well and scored his first runs as he tried to duck against a Jacob Duffy short ball which he edged over the wicket-keeper for four.Taylor will not keep wicket in this Test but said he believes he is in better shape than ever before, almost 20 kilograms lighter than he was through most of his international career and “living good, clean and healthy.”