أبدى أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد، سعادته بسبب اعتذار فينيسيوس جونيور لجماهير الفريق الملكي ولزملائه، موضحًا أنه مندهش من عدم ذكر الدولي البرازيلي للمدرب تشابي ألونسو في اعتذاره.

فينيسيوس اعتذر لجماهير ريال مدريد وزملائه والرئيس فلورنتينو بيريز، وذلك على هامش ما قام به من أفعال خلال مواجهة الكلاسيكو أمام برشلونة يوم الأحد الماضي بالدوري الإسباني.

واعترض فينيسيوس على تبديله من قبل المدرب تشابي ألونسو في شوط المباراة الثاني من الكلاسيكو، ولم يصافح اللاعب مدربه وغادر الملعب ومن ثم عاد إليه مرة أخرى.

ونجح ريال مدريد في هزيمة برشلونة 2-1 بقمة الدوري الإسباني، لينفرد الميرنجي بصدارة المسابقة المحلية بفارق 5 نقاط عن برشلونة.

وأشار بريدراج مياتوفيتش، أسطورة ريال مدريد، أن فينيسيوس قد ارتكب خطأ بعدم ذكر ألونسو في اعتذاره، وذلك في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا”.

وقال مياتوفيتش: ”لا أعرف من كتب هذا المنشور للفينيسيوس، ربما لديه من يراقب حسابه لكنه ارتكب خطأً، عدم ذكر اسم المدرب يظهر بوضوح عدم وجود صلة كبيرة بينهما على الإطلاق، هذا دائمًا أمر خطير للغاية سواء على اللاعب أو المدرب”.

وأضاف مياتوفيتش في حديثه عن مشكلة فينيسيوس مع ريال مدريد: “أولًا علىيه التعامل بهدوء تام، مع العلم أن المنافسات مستمرة وأنه لا يمكن إفساد أجواء فريق يتصدر الدوري، حيث يتمتع الجميع بعلاقة رائعة”.

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وأوضح: ”لا يمكن تحطيم هذه الأجواء بسبب لاعب واحد ولكن عليهم حلها، إما بمطالبة اللاعبين بالجلوس والتحدث، أو باتخاذ إجراء مباشر، ولكن دائمًا بهدوء ومناقشة الأمور داخليًا دون تسريب الكثير من الأخبار”.

وواصل: “أتعلم؟ كان رد فعل تشابي رائعًا وقد فاجأني ذلك، لأنه مدرب شاب قليل الخبرة لكنه لم يكن سيئًا على الرغم من شخصيته القوية”.

وأردف: ”لم يكن الأمر ليفاجئني لو كان تصرف ألونسو مع فينيسيوس من أنشيلوتي أو أي مدرب آخر أكثر خبرة، ما يقلقني بشأن النادي هو أن يكون كل ما يقال بعد يومين من الكلاسيكو، بعد الفوز وتأخر برشلونة بخمس نقاط هو فينيسيوس وتصريحاته، أعتقد أن هذا مبالغ فيه للغاية”.

وتابع: “القرار والسلطة بيد المدرب، فبينما اللاعبون هم أبطال المباراة وقد جلب لنا فينيسيوس فرحة كبيرة، فإن سلوكه، وخاصةً في كلاسيكو شاهده الجميع، كان غير قابل للايقاف، لا أحد يستطيع الدفاع عن تصرفاته واعتذاره يثبت الخطأ”.

واختتم: ”يجب أن يحظى المدرب دائمًا بحماية النادي، لأن الفريق مكون من 20 لاعبًا آخر، ولكن قبل كل شيء أعتقد أنه من المبالغ فيه أن يكون فينيسيوس هو محور الحديث الوحيد بعد يومين من الكلاسيكو”.

The trophies haven’t necessarily flowed, but Arsenal have made some unreal signings in the 20 or so years since they moved to the Emirates.

Players like Alexis Sanchez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Santi Cazorla all more than made their mark after joining under the legendary manager Arsène Wenger.

The good signings didn’t stop when the Frenchman left the dugout, though, as Mikel Arteta has made his fair share as well.

Moreover, he looks like he may have done it again, with a certain player looking like he could be the best signing of the Emirates era since Declan Rice.

Best Emirates era signings made under Arteta

So when talking about some of the best signings made under Arteta, it’s hard not to start with Rice.

The Englishman joined Arsenal for a club-record £105m in the summer of 2023, and to say he’s been a success in red and white would be quite the understatement.

So far, the former West Ham United captain has made 108 appearances for the Gunners, seen his position shift from six to eight and racked up a tally of 38 goal involvements while being a lean, mean ball-winning machine in the middle of the park.

Another Arteta signing who has helped to make the team far tougher to play against is Gabriel Magahelese, who joined the team for around £23m in the summer of 2020.

It’s easy to forget that some saw the Brazilian as accident-prone during the first couple of seasons at the club because, over the last three years or so, he has become one of the very best and most dependable centre-backs in world football and has even captained the side on multiple occasions, including last night.

Appearances

215

Starts

206

Minutes

18485′

Goals

20

Assists

5

Points per Game

1.98

Last but not least, David Raya, who joined a loan in the summer of 2023 before joining permanently the year after, has to be considered as another of the manager’s best signings.

The Spanish shot-stopper has now made 101 appearances for the North Londoners, in which he has conceded 82 times and managed to keep a staggering 43 clean sheets, which has seen him win the Premier League Golden Glove award in the last two seasons.

In short, while he has made his fair share of dud signings, Arteta has made plenty of incredible ones, and from what we have seen so far this season, he may have just made his best since Rice.

Arteta's best signing since Rice

When it comes to working things like who might be the best signing since someone like Rice, several factors come into it from the price the club paid, the performances the player has put in and the potential they have.

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When factoring in all three, it’s hard to look past the incredibly gifted Cristhian Mosquera.

The Spanish centre-back joined the club for just £13m in the summer from Valencia, and at the time, most fans and pundits alike saw him as someone who’d get some game time here and there, but generally not feature too much.

Instead, there is now genuine discussion among some sections of the fan base about him potentially retaining his place in the starting lineup for the game against Manchester City on Sunday.

Such talk would have been utterly preposterous only a month or so ago, but since coming into the team in the Frenchman’s absence, the youngster has massively impressed.

For example, he was forced into playing 85 minutes of football away to Liverpool in just his second Premier League appearance, and instead of wilting under the pressure, he looked like a seasoned veteran, making three clearances, blocking two shots, making four tackles and completing 47 of 51 passes.

Then at home to Nottingham Forest, in his first league start, the Alicante-born titan was even better, winning 100% of his ground duels, taking 92 touches, completing 75 passes and helping to keep a clean sheet.

With back-to-back performances like these, it wasn’t even really a surprise when the “insane” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put in another brilliant showing away to Athletic Bilbao last night.

The 21-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by one analyst, was a rock at the back, making six clearances and one tackle, taking 93 touches, completing a staggering 75 of 79 passes and winning five of eight aerial duels.

It was the display of a seasoned pro and one that makes Mattinson’s claim of him being a “10/10 signing” increasingly hard to dispute.

Ultimately, it might still be a little early, but Mosquera looks like he’s going to go down as one of the best purchases made by Arteta and is a player who could well become a superstar at Arsenal.

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6 ByMatt Dawson Sep 17, 2025

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.

“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.

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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.

Santos have reportedly paused contract renewal talks with Neymar amid growing concerns over his fitness and high wages. The 33-year-old forward has missed significant time through injury this year. Despite the excellent relationship between Neymar and the club, officials want to reassess the situation before committing to an extension as his current contract runs until December.

Santos hit pause on Neymar's renewal

Santos are delaying negotiations over a new deal for Neymar as they continue to fight against relegation in the Brazilian Serie A. ESPN reports that the club’s board is in no rush to finalise a renewal, with doubts emerging over the star’s physical condition and the financial burden of maintaining his high salary. Neymar’s current contract expires in December 2025, and talks are expected to resume only after a full internal review.

The veteran forward’s return to Santos was initially seen as a fairytale homecoming when he rejoined from Al-Hilal in January. However, injuries have marred his comeback season, limiting him to just 21 appearances, in which he scored six goals and provided three assists. His latest setback, a rectus femoris muscle injury in his right thigh, has sidelined him since September 19.

Santos officials insist that no rift exists between the parties, despite the pause in talks. They believe Neymar must first regain full fitness before discussions over a long-term extension can continue. Behind the scenes, expectations are that he could return to action in November, giving him a final chance to prove his value before the season ends.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNeymar's wages a burden for Santos

The situation marks a stark contrast from earlier in the year when Santos proudly announced a short-term renewal with Neymar. Back in June, the 33-year-old was in better form, attracting interest from European clubs and bringing renewed optimism to Vila Belmiro. Now, persistent injuries and inconsistent displays have shifted the club’s priorities as they focus on survival rather than star power.

Santos’ board must weigh the financial implications of keeping their marquee player while struggling in the league. Neymar’s salary is among the highest in South America, and his absences have amplified questions about whether he remains a sustainable investment for a club facing financial and sporting instability. With limited resources, Santos cannot afford to carry an injured talisman indefinitely.

Still, Neymar’s return to his boyhood club has provided commercial benefits. Shirt sales, attendances, and global attention surged after his signing, reinforcing his off-field influence. Yet, those gains now appear insufficient to offset the uncertainty surrounding his fitness — an all-too-familiar theme throughout his post-Barcelona career.

AFPNeymar's decline puts question marks on World Cup 2026 availability

Neymar’s physical decline has been a major storyline in recent years. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a devastating ACL injury that derailed his Saudi Pro League campaign, limiting him to just seven appearances. Since returning to Brazil, he has endured three more injuries, continuing a frustrating cycle that has haunted him since his European days.

His struggles have also affected his international career. Neymar hasn’t featured for Brazil since October 2023, when he played in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay during World Cup qualifying. However, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the forward remains in contention for the 2026 tournament — provided he proves his fitness.

“Neymar can play at his highest level in this team without any problems,” Ancelotti told reporters. “When he is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world because of his talent.” The Italian added that teamwork and movement off the ball will be crucial if Neymar is to adapt to Brazil’s evolving system.

Competition for attacking places has intensified in Neymar’s absence. Ancelotti’s latest squad featured Richarlison, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Luiz Henrique, and Estevao — a youthful, dynamic group redefining Brazil’s frontline. If Neymar hopes to return to the national team setup, he must prove that his experience outweighs concerns about his durability.

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Contract talks will be held in 2026

For now, Santos’ focus remains squarely on avoiding relegation and managing Neymar’s recovery carefully. The forward is expected to resume training in November, though the club will monitor him closely before clearing him for full competition. Any decision on his future will hinge on whether he can demonstrate lasting fitness and consistent form before the end of the campaign.

If his performances improve, Santos could reopen contract talks before the year concludes. However, if injuries persist, the club may choose to let his deal expire, allowing him to explore free transfers abroad. Reports suggest that European clubs such as Inter Milan and Napoli are keeping tabs but share similar reservations about his medical history.

He has never led in Test matches or ODIs, but has led the team in five T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-20252:03

Who replaces Rohit as Test captain?

Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Rohit Sharma as the full-time Test captain starting with India’s Test tour of England, a five-Test series starting on June 20 at Headingley.Gill’s ascension, it is understood, has become inevitable after it became apparent that Jasprit Bumrah, who was the vice-captain of the Test team on India’s Test tour of Australia, and led the team in the two Tests Rohit missed, is likely to miss a few Tests in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for workload management.The squad is expected to be picked when the selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, meets later this month. With that series kicking off the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for India, it is understood that the selectors want a captain with a long-term view in mind, making Gill, 25, the preferred option.Related

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The question of Rohit’s successor in the Test side cropped up once he announced his decision to retire from the format on Wednesday. Bumrah is the designated vice-captain of the Test team, and led in two of the five Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, in December 2024 and January 2025, when Rohit had missed out – he was at home for the birth of his child for the first Test of the series, and “stood down” for the last.But ESPNcricinfo understands that Bumrah’s workload as the all-format spearhead of India’s fast-bowling attack as well as the fact that he has only recently returned from a stress-related discomfort in his lower back – picked up during that final Test in Australia – after missing the initial few matches of IPL 2025, has been a concern for the team management and selectors.Of the players who were part of the set-up in the Sydney Test – the last time India played in the format – KL Rahul has led in three Tests in the past, and Virat Kohli was the long-term captain before Rohit took charge.Gill has never led in Test matches or ODIs, but has led the team in five T20Is, all on a tour of Zimbabwe in mid-2024 when he was named captain of a side that missed several first-choice players following India’s victory in the preceding T20 World Cup.That Gill was being groomed for the top job has been mentioned in various circles over the past few months, and his performance as batter and captain of Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing IPL season has been impressive. Gill took over the leadership of the team in 2024 after Hardik Pandya, who had led them to the title in their maiden season (2022) and the final the following year, left to rejoin Mumbai Indians (MI). IPL 2024 didn’t go well for GT, but they have been one of the best performing teams this season.Gill has been a regular in the India Test team since making his debut in Melbourne in December 2020, when he scored 45 and 35 not out against a full-strength Australia bowling attack in a Test India won by eight wickets under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy. He has played 32 Tests overall, scoring 1893 runs at an average of 35.05 with five centuries and seven half-centuries.

Tottenham Hotspur’s ability to pull top-level talent in the transfer market has been reflected by their move to land Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United this summer.

The Ghanaian has been a key threat in the Premier League over the last couple of years, scoring 13 times in his two seasons across the capital with the Hammers.

Before moving to join the Lilywhites, the 25-year-old was on the radar of the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich – but decided in favour of a move to join Thomas Frank’s men.

He’s already made an immediate impact with his new side, registering two assists in his first four Premier League outings – the most of any player in the first-team squad.

Whilst it’s still early days for Kudus in his career in North London, he has already adhered himself to the fanbase – potentially benefitting from one player’s talents had the board kept hold of him.

Harry Kane’s record-breaking spell as a Spurs player

No Spurs fan would have ever expected Harry Kane to have had the impact he did in North London after making his senior debut for the club as a youngster back in August 2011.

He would have to wait three years for his first start, but once he forced himself into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans, there was no looking back for the former academy star.

Fast-forward to the present day, the 32-year-old managed to rack up 280 goals for the Lilywhites in his 435 appearances – scoring over 30 goals in 50% of his decade-long spell in the first-team.

Such a record makes him the club’s highest-ever goalscorer, whilst also sitting second in the Premier League’s all-time scoring chart – with only Alan Shearer scoring more at present.

However, despite his phenomenal nouse for scoring goals, he was unable to catapult the Lilywhites to any silverware, which led to his transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 for £82m.

Since joining the Bundesliga outfit, the Englishman has netted 93 goals in his 102 outings, further highlighting his talent in attacking areas – undoubtedly going down as one of the best English forwards in football history.

His move away from North London has left a huge void over the last couple of seasons, with new boss Frank hoping that one player can step up to the plate over the next couple of campaigns.

The Spurs player who could be their best forward since Kane

Whilst Kane was more often the man to finish off chances for Spurs, he also struck up an incredible partnership with Heung-min Son in the final third over countless years.

The Englishman and the South Korean linked up for 47 Premier League goals throughout their time together, sitting at the top for the most goals created by a single two-player partnership in Premier League history.

However, the latter of the pair also departed the Lilywhites this summer, joining LAFC in a £20m transfer – leaving yet another huge hole for Frank to fill in his first year at the helm.

As a result, the hierarchy delved into the transfer market and completed the £52m signing of forward Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old can either operate in a central role behind the striker or off the left-hand side, subsequently offering the Dane a versatile option within attacking areas.

The Dutchman has arrived in England with huge expectations, and understandably so given his record in Germany last campaign, with the youngster registering 19 goal contributions in just 33 outings.

Whilst he’s yet to notch his first goal for the Lilywhites, he’s already caught the eye in his first two outings – even registering an assist for Pape Matar Sarr in the 3-0 triumph over West Ham United last weekend.

Simons, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already racked up over 160 senior appearances despite his tender age, with his underlying stats from his first handful of Spurs games already catching the eye.

The Dutchman has already created three chances in his first two outings – the most of any Lilywhites player in that time – showcasing the creative spark he possesses despite his youthful age.

He’s also completed 75% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst winning three fouls – tallies which highlight the danger he has already caused to the opposition during his bedding-in period.

Simons’ tally of 1.5 shots per 90 also highlights he’s more than capable of going alone when needed, but he just needs his first goal in English football to help kickstart his spell under Frank.

£52m may appear to be a mammoth investment by the board, but it’s one that could be worthwhile if he can continue producing the calibre of performances he has in the early stages of his Spurs career.

Given the levels produced by Kane in North London, he certainly has a long way to go before getting near his cult hero status, but there’s no disputing he has bags of time on his hands.

If he can carry on his superb start in England, there’s no reason why he can’t be the club’s best attacker since the English international – potentially able to write a new history for the side under Frank’s guidance.

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3

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 18, 2025

Middlesex made to rue timing of declaration, and a spate of missed chances in the field

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 25-Jun-2025Luke Procter and James Sales both hit brilliant centuries to crown a remarkable Northamptonshire run chase against Middlesex as they reached their 311-run target in just over two sessions with 10 overs to spare at Wantage Road. It took Northamptonshire to their second Rothesay County Championship win of the season by five wickets and keeps their hopes of promotion alive.Procter played a true captain’s innings of 107 (137 balls, 14 fours), his second ton of the campaign in a third wicket partnership of 156 in 26.4 overs with Sales who picked up the mantle when his captain fell, going on to make 108 (120 balls, 12 fours, 2 sixes).Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones (2-48) was left to rue his declaration calculations despite the visitors adding another 117 runs for the loss of five wickets in the morning session, Max Holden making 54 and Ryan Higgins a quickfire 44. With Roland-Jones calling time on 332 for eight, Calvin Harrison finished with figures of four for 107, while Liam Guthrie (2-60) took a further wicket to register a career best match haul of nine for 154.It left Northamptonshire with 73 overs to reach their target at 4.2 runs per over, a rate they matched and then exceeded as the day wore on. Middlesex will also reflect on their fielding performance with Procter given three lives off dropped catches on 12, 27 and 88.Earlier Middlesex resumed on 215 for three and were proactive from the outset as they went in search of quick runs to set up the declaration.Holden was unable to press on further after his half-century, bowled by Guthrie, but Higgins motored on, hooking Guthrie for six, flat batting Procter down the ground and attacking the spinners. Harrison had the final word when Higgins was deceived by the wrong’un as he attempted to sweep, the ball hitting the base of middle stump.A brilliant piece of fielding from Ricardo Vasconcelos accounted for Ben Geddes (24) as he swept Harrison. Vasconcelos took the catch on the square leg boundary, throwing the ball up as he stepped over the rope before walking in to pouch it safely.Middlesex’s lower order tried to keep up the pace, but lost a couple of quick wickets, Luke Holman coming down the wicket to Lloyd Pope and picking out long-off while Zafar Gohar cut Harrison straight to extra cover.With runs drying up, Roland-Jones called time to give Northamptonshire an awkward 20 minutes before lunch. It almost paid off when Vasconcelos edged Tom Helm, but Leus du Plooy shelled the chance at slip.The hosts were gifted another life after the interval when Procter was put down by a diving Josh de Caires at midwicket, but they picked up Vasconcelos three balls later when he drove loosely against Roland-Jones, Hollman taking a tumbling catch at point.Gohar found turn straight away, causing problems for the left-handers, bowling into the rough outside off-stump and almost removed Procter when he swept out to the square leg boundary. Hollman took an excellent running catch but could not hold on.Amid a fiery but expensive spell from Higgins, Procter powered one down the ground while Harrison cracked him over midwicket for six before the bowler trapped him lbw with one that kept low.Sales ran a single off de Caires to take Northamptonshire to 100 off 26 overs and dispatched Gohar over cow corner for six before Procter swept Gohar to bring up his half-century.Sales was using his feet well against the spinners, coming down the wicket to drive Gohar through the covers, going back to cut him behind square and when Hollman dropped short, he whipped him through midwicket. On the stroke of tea, he swung de Caires high over midwicket as Northamptonshire went in on 149 for two, still needing 162 in 39 overs.Northamptonshire came out firing after tea, Sales hooking Helm in front of square as he reached his half-century. Procter ran a quick two off Robson to reach his century, while Sales disdainfully put away a half-tracker, dissecting two fielders.Runs kept flowing as Procter reverse swept Gohar for four to take the run rate required below three and bring up the 150 partnership, before he was trapped lbw by Robson.Tim Robinson deposited a Robson full toss over extra cover, while Sales steered Roland-Jones down to third to take the target down to 50 and move into the nineties.Northamptonshire lost a fourth wicket when Robinson lofted Roland-Jones to wide mid-off, but Sales continued to attack, coming down the track against Gohar to move to 99 before working Roland-Jones to fine leg to reach his century.There was some late drama when Saif Zaib was caught on the boundary off Hollman and Sales finally departed, edging to slip off Robson. But with Justin Broad deploying his favourite sweep shot, Northamptonshire duly sealed the win.

With their move for Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat continuing to progress, reports are now suggesting that a 52-year-old coach who’s previously worked with Ange Postecoglou could also join Rangers.

Latest on Kevin Muscat's Rangers move

After Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl dropped out of contention, Muscat remains Rangers’ leading candidate. Talks have been held and a deal has now reportedly been agreed with the manager to take the vacant position at Ibrox. However, there’s still work for the Gers to do if they want to get Muscat out of his current position at Shanghai Port.

What is a certainty is that he will not be in charge this weekend. As Rangers look to thrash out a deal with the Chinese Super League’s champions-elect, they have handed the reins to Steven Smith, Brian Gilmour, Rhys Owen and Sal Bibbo for Saturday’s game against Dundee United.

Speaking about his first and potentially only game in the dugout, Smith told reporters: “We know tomorrow will be a tough game, Dundee United are well organised, so the game is about the players and not me.

“We have to give the players everything they need in order to win. I have been doing this for a long time and have been in the Academy. I trust my processes and my method.”

It’s the perfect chance for Smith to impress ahead of what could be another disrupted spell for Rangers. Even if they hire Muscat, reports are indicating that he wants to finish the Chinese Super League season and seal the title with Shanghai Port before officially arriving at Ibrox. That would mean the Gers would have to wait for their manager and his coaching staff until November 22.

Aloisi expected to join Muscat at Rangers

As those at Ibrox continue their wait for Muscat, rumours about his backroom staff have emerged. According to The Daily Record, Ross Aloisi is expected to join the manager in Scotland if he completes a move.

The 52-year-old assistant manager previously worked with Postecoglou at Brisbane Roar and was targeted by Celtic when the Australian was in charge in 2021. On paper, Aloisi represents another solid, experienced addition who’d be getting his chance to prove that in European football for the first time.

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Meanwhile, alongside the assistant, Vince Ierardo is also expected to join Rangers if Muscat’s signed on the dotted line. The 42-year-old has only been a coach since 2023, but is seemingly in line for his biggest move yet.

Everything aside from the timeline is falling into place for Rangers, who must get a compensation fee with Shanghai Port agreed before announcing their new manager.

Although they may choose to make a delayed start, Muscat and his coaching staff may well prove to be shrewd acquisitions after Russell Martin’s disastrous 123-day tenure.

Juventus have had their financial issues in recent years, but they are still one of the biggest clubs in Italy and Europe.

The Old Lady have a plethora of international players on the books and an annual payroll of €126,190,000, with the average player earning more than €4m per season.

But who earns the most in Turin? Here is every Juventus player in the first-team squad ranked in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at Juventus' top 10 earners…

10

Andrea Cambiaso

€85,385 per week

Full-back Andrea Cambiaso has been with Juventus since 2022 after leaving Genoa, a club where he came through the academy.

The Italian was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City at the beginning of 2025 but remained in Turin and is under contract until 2029.

9

Edon Zhegrova

€89,038 per week

Edon Zhegrova joined late in the 2025 summer transfer window from Lille in a deal worth €14.3m.

The Kosovo international can play on either wing and signed a five-year deal with Juventus.

8

Federico Gatti

€110,385 per week

Centre-back Federico Gatti signed a new and improved Juventus deal in 2025 after becoming a regular in recent seasons.

The Italy international more than doubled his previous salary and is under contract until 2030.

7

Teun Koopmeiners

€110,962 per week

Costing more than €50m from Serie A rivals Atalanta, Teun Koopmeiners was a marquee addition for Juventus in 2024.

The Dutch midfielder helped Atalanta to Europa League glory and signed a five-year deal in Turin, looking to win more silverware with Juve.

6

Manuel Locatelli

€117,500 per week

Defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli has been a Juventus player since 2021, although they initially signed the Italian on a two-year loan deal with an obligation to buy from Sassuolo.

Locatelli has been a regular since signing and is under contract until 2028.

5

Francisco Conceicao

€135,385 per week

A loanee for the 2024/25 season, Francisco Conceicao made his move permanent from FC Porto for around €30m.

The versatile forward saw his salary increase to more than €7m per season and is under contract until 2030.

4

Lois Openda

€142,500 per week

Juevtnus won the race to sign speedy forward Lois Openda from RB Leipzig in 2025 and will pay the German side €40m for the Belgian’s services.

Openda is on loan for the 2025/26 season but a transfer will be made permanent at the end of the season.

3

Bremer

€178,077 per week

Picking up more than €9m per season is centre-back Bremer, who has been a Juventus player since 2022.

Signed from Torino, the Brazilian has continued to impress in Serie A, but unfortunately has had some injury issues in Turin.

2

Jonathan David

€213,654 per week

With no transfer fee required, Juventus were able to offer Jonathan David an eye-catching €11.11m salary for the next five years.

The Canadian forward had plenty of offers around Europe but chose a move to Turin, where he will earn more than €55m in wages.

1

Dusan Vlahovic

€427,308 per week

Comfortably Juventus’ highest-paid player is striker Dusan Vlahovic, who earns a whopping €22.22m per season in Turin.

Juventus won the race to sign the Serbia international from Fiorentina in 2022 for an initial €70m, though Vlahovic is out of contract in 2026, so his days as an Old Lady player could be numbered.

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.

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