Auckland left-arm seamer Bree Illing and Otago batter Bella James have been handed their first central contracts by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).The pair, who are currently touring England with New Zealand A, filled up the contract vacancies left by Hayley Jensen and Sophie Devine. While Jensen is recently retired, Devine has opted for a casual playing agreement, having announced her ODI retirement after the upcoming World Cup.Related

• Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup

Illing, the 21-year-old swing bowler, made her ODI and T20I debut this summer against Sri Lanka and was also Auckland’s highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket last season with an average of 21. James’ contract comes after her batting contributions powered Otago to another Hallyburton Johnstone (HBJ) Shield title. She made her ODI and T20I debuts against Australia in December 2024 and March 2025 respectively.”Bree had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka. To show up the way she did against a world-class batter like Chamari Athapaththu shows she’s ready for international cricket,” New Zealand women’s head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Bella’s been a consistent performer at the domestic level and had a great debut series against Australia last year. She’s got the competencies that we believe will succeed at the international level.”The full list of central contracts, 17 in all, include batters Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze and Polly Inglis, allrounders Amelia Kerr and Hannah Rowe, and bowlers Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold and Lea Tahuhu.

Jean-Philippe Mateta insists he and Wilfried Zaha have cleared the air after their public spat last week. The Crystal Palace striker said, after scoring his first goal for France, that team-mates at Palace had laughed at his dream of playing for his country, and named Zaha as one of the players involved in the mockery, leading to a furious response from the FC Charlotte star.

• Mateta clears air

  Last week, Mateta was basking in the glow of his first France goal, and hit back at the critics in the Palace dressing room, as he alleged that Zaha and a gaggle of team-mates mocked his dreams of playing for his country. That led to an earnest response from Zaha in which he furiously denied the claim, insisting that he would never take aim at a team-mate in such a way. 

  He said: “My head’s on fire. I have to clear up this Mateta situation. Because he doesn’t want to. I spoke to him and he doesn’t want to, he’s okay with it. This just shows me, all the time I played for Crystal Palace, people watching me, it’s clear that they weren’t happy for me.

  “Because I never made anyone feel like ‘sh*t’. I never… everyone knows me. The only time on the pitch is when I’m passionate and all that stuff. But I’d never bully someone or say someone won’t make it here or won’t make it at all or nothing like that. It’s disgusting when I see someone that I thought was a friend do that.”

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  Mateta retracts statement

  Now, the Palace striker has insisted that pair have spoken, with Mateta preparing for the Eagles' clash with AEK Larnaca in the UEFA Conference League, and that the air has been firmly cleared. 

  He said: “I spoke with him, everything is good. We talked in private and that’s it.”

  Mateta has also confirmed his desire to keep playing for France, with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He added: "I am very proud of myself. I am very happy. I think I deserved it because I train very hard with all of the team. It's a dream come true and I hope I get called upon again."

• Mateta met Deschamps' challenge

  Ahead of France's clashes with Azerbaijan and Iceland – Les Bleus won the first game 3-0 and drew the second 2-2 – France boss Didier Deschamps laid down the gauntlet for Mateta to prove himself, and he appeared to do just that. 

  He said: "He has to do what he knows how to do, which is to play as naturally as possible," Deschamps told reporters on Monday.

  "He has a good habit of scoring goals, whether for his club or with the younger teams and the Olympic team during the Olympic Games.

  "So this is a big moment for him. Let him come with his enthusiasm and his qualities. He knows most of the players because he's had seen in the younger teams too.

  "It's not about winning me over [personally]. That's not how it works. [He has to prove himself] in the team, in training and during matches."

  Mateta was called into the squad to deputise for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, who was dealing with an injury blow throughout the international break. 

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  What comes next?

  Palace play Larnaca in Europe on Thursday before they return to Premier League action this weekend against Arsenal at the Emirates. Mateta is coming off the back of a hat-trick for the Eagles against Bournemouth at the weekend. However, despite scoring a treble, Mateta was left cursing a late miss that cost Bournemouth the chance to turn one point into three. 

  He told reporters: "With the last chance I had, I am very frustrated. I want to win every game, even if I did score a hat-trick. It was up to me to score the goal [with the late chance] and I didn’t score it, that is why I am like this.

  "I need a few minutes to speak with the team and cool down but now I am upset."

Marc Guehi had looked set to be the final jewel in the crown of Liverpool’s big summer, but the deal fell through in the final hours of the window.

The Reds submitted a bid to Crystal Palace worth £35 million for their skipper, but the Eagles decided not to go ahead with the deal when they couldn’t secure a replacement centre-back in time.

Arne Slot spoke earlier in the week about the failed transfer, saying: “For us it was of course a disappointment, for the player I assume, as well, because he was expecting to come to us.”

While Liverpool have an unblemished record this season, having won every game thus far, they have shown some defensive frailties. Slot’s side have conceded in four out of six games, and their Premier League opening day clash with Bournemouth is the only game they won by more than one goal.

Liverpool’s inability to bring in another centre-back currently looks like the only chink in their armour, and if they had managed to get Guehi across the line, then they would be looking completely unstoppable right now.

However, their centre-back hunt may be going from bad to worse as Guehi appears to have changed his mind as to which club he would like to join next.

Real Madrid to rival Liverpool for Guehi

Guehi only has one year left on his Crystal Palace contract, meaning that after January, any club can enter pre-contract negotiations with the England centre-back.

Many clubs would find the idea of signing Guehi on a free a tempting prospect, but Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid are one of the only teams, alongside Liverpool, who are showing concrete interest. Guehi’s party have been informed that the Spanish giants plan to enter negotiations with him when possible.

The Mirror have now indicated that Guehi is more than tempted by this prospect and that his “number one choice is to move to the Bernabeu and snub Liverpool”. The report went on to say that the 25-year-old is “excited” by the idea of playing in Spain for a club like Real Madrid.

Liverpool already need to bring in another centre-back, but by next summer, they may need to bring in two, as Ibrahim Konate is at the same stage of his contract as Guehi, and Madrid are circling him as well, meaning the star could join Guehi in 2026.

Real Madrid also planning Trent Alexander-Arnold repeat

Despite bringing in Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen in the summer for £50 million, Real Madrid seem to be looking at major upgrades to their back-line with Konate and Guehi. Liverpool have been in contract negotiations with Konate, but have yet to come to any agreement, leaving the door open for Real Madrid to recruit him.

Guehi may be frustrated with Liverpool for leaving the bid for him so late in the window as to not leave Palace time to find a replacement, ultimately causing the transfer to fall through. This may make moving to Real Madrid on a free a more tempting prospect as Liverpool have already let him down.

Approaching players near the end of their contracts is a transfer strategy that Real Madrid have implemented numerous times in recent years. Kylian Mbappe joined on a free last summer from PSG, and Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold the same way as he joined the Spanish side in the summer.

The good news for Liverpool is that they are finding out that they may not get Guehi and that Konate may leave early. This gives them the rest of the season to scout for defensive alternatives and act quicker in the next summer transfer window, so as not to end up in the same situation that they did on deadline day.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Atlético-MG foi punido em R$ 2,5 mil em decisão dividida pela comissão disciplinar do STJD. O julgamento foi na tarde desta segunda-feira (2). A multa se dá por causa de um drone que paralisou a partida entre Galo e Santos por um minuto. O jogo era a estreia da Arena MRV, pela 21ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasAtlético MineiroPróximos jogos do Atlético-MG: datas e horários das partidasAtlético Mineiro12/10/2023FinançasCBF vai pagar ‘premiação retroativa’ na Copa do Brasil 2023? ChecamosFinanças02/10/2023Atlético MineiroIgor Gomes, do Atlético-MG, ressalta grupo em sequência invicta: ‘É assim que se faz uma equipe muito qualificada’Atlético Mineiro30/09/2023

O clube mineiro foi condenado pelo artigo 213, que fala em deixar de tomar providências para evitar desordens na praça esportiva. Os auditores do STJD entenderam que o clube mandante teve responsabilidade no ocorrido e, por 3 votos a 2, o tribunal condenou o Galo.

+ Próximos jogos do Atlético-MG: onde assistir e calendário com datas e horários das partidas

Na prova de vídeo apresentada pela Procuradoria do órgão são mostradas imagens da transmissão da partida, que aconteceu em 28 de agosto. Aos 44 minutos do segundo tempo, um drone sobrevoou a Arena MRV. O árbitro paralisou a partida por um minuto, quando o Atlético-MG já vencia o Santos por 2 a 0.

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A mesma prova de vídeo flagrou o diretor de operações do Galo, Rodrigo Messano, conversando com uma pessoa não identificada, mas com permissão de estar na beira do campo. O indivíduo aparece com um controle remoto e o drone em mãos.

+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

Theotônio Chermont, advogado do clube mineiro, argumentou que o relato da súmula da partida é “parco”, e afirmou:

– Não dá para transferir competência de controle de espaço aéreo para o Clube Atlético Mineiro ou outro clube.

Mesmo com a argumentação do advogado, o relator do processo votou para condenar o Galo:

– Ainda que a desordem tenha sido mínima, influenciou na partida com a paralisação – disse o relator.

O julgamento seguiu, e o auditor seguinte votou pela absolvição do clube:

– Não me parece que tenha sido exatamente uma desordem na praça esportiva – disse o segundo auditor em seu voto.

Depois disso, outros dois auditores votaram a favor do Atlético-MG, até que o presidente da 1ª comissão votou acompanhando o relator.

– Imagina se o drone cai, ou há perda de controle que poderia prejudicar a visão do goleiro – questionou o presidente.

Nessas condições, a votação absolvia o Galo por 3 a 2, porém um auditor modificou seu voto de inocência, mudando para a pena pecuniária, definindo o placar do julgamento em primeira instância e, assim, condenando o alvinegro.

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Tudo sobre

Atlético-MG

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.

خرج برشلونة بنقطة التعادل أمام كلوب بروج، بعد انتهاء المباراة بثلاث أهداف لكل فريق، في الجولة الرابعة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ولم يتردد فرينكي دي يونج لاعب خط وسط برشلونة، بانتقاد نفسه بعد مباراة شهدت هفوات دفاعية من جانب البلوجرانا.

وقد تحدث دي يونج في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “إنها مباراة أعتقد أننا كان يجب أن نفوز بها، كان علينا أن نؤديها بشكل أفضل بكثير”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. رجل مباراة برشلونة وكلوب بروج في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وأضاف دي يونج عن الاختلاف الذي حدث هذا الموسم حيث يعاني الفريق من التحولات وهجمات المنافس رغم نجاح خطة التسلل الموسم الماضي: “نحن ضعفاء بعض الشيء في الهجمات المرتدة ومسألة الرقابة والضغط العالي وتمركزنا في خط الدفاع، الأمر كله يتعلق ببعضه البعض”.

وواصل: “هناك أمور نحتاج لتصحيحها، نحن ندركها ونعمل على حلها، ويجب أن نضع الموسم الماضي خلفنا، لم نكن أفضل فريق في أوروبا أيضاً، علينا أن نتحسن لأننا لم نفز بدوري الأبطال واستقبلنا كثير من الأهداف”.

وعندما سئل دي يونج إذا كان الأمر يتعلق بتحسين الدفاع فقد رد الهولندي: “ليس ذلك فقط، ولكن إذا استقبلت شباكك ثلاث أهداف سيكون من الصعب الفوز”.

وأشاد الهولندي بما قدمه لامين يامال اليوم ضد كلوب بروج: “كان جيدًا جداً، هو لاعب مميز، وسيصنع الفارق دائماً، قد يكون أداؤه أفضل من غيره ولكن إذا استمر في العمل فإنه لن نضطر للقلق بشأنه”.

The main focus on Saturday was to give a lot of batting practice to the bowlers

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-20252:01

How might India shape their attack for second Test?

Jasprit Bumrah returned to the nets on Saturday during India’s optional training session and bowled for at least half an hour. A decision on whether Edgbaston will be the second of the three Tests he will play is yet to be taken. On Friday, Bumrah didn’t bowl in the nets, but on Saturday he went full tilt. The final call on Bumrah’s involvement at Edgbaston will involve how he feels about his body going into the Test.Except for the centurions – captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal – from the first Test, everybody turned up for the optional training session.The main focus in the nets on Saturday was to give a lot of batting practice to the bowlers after India endured collapses of 7 for 41 and 6 for 31 in Leeds. The last four partnerships aggregated 18 and 29. On their last two tours to England, India’s last four partnerships averaged 19.11 in 2021 and 16.35 in 2018. India will be striving to get similar contributions from the lower order.Related

Kuldeep Yadav is ready. Are India?

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How Abhishek Nayar helped KL Rahul rediscover the music

With India trailing, will Jasprit Bumrah play at Edgbaston?

A usual trend in Test cricket is that home lower orders tend to contribute more than their counterparts, largely because of familiar conditions and the superior depth in their own bowling, which means visiting attacks are likelier to tire out or lose sting sooner. Be it through their own bowling or some contributions of their lower order, India’s recent years of being competitive outside Asia and the West Indies featured their lower order matching the home lower orders.India will now take a day off on Sunday before returning for an exhaustive training session on Monday. On the day before the match, they will take it easy. Most likely, only the batters who want throwdowns will turn up. Fast bowlers likely to play the Test on Wednesday will likely take Tuesday off.

Chelsea have already turned their attention to recruitment matters ahead of 2026, and could be set to change their transfer strategy to complete an intriguing move.

Chelsea look to Cole Palmer alternatives after injury confirmation

Enzo Maresca and Chelsea will be relieved to see Premier League football return after the international break.

However, it isn’t all good news, with Maresca confirming that Cole Palmer faces six more weeks on the sidelines. The forward’s niggling groin injury has limited his ability to make an impact this term, and he now won’t be back until around December.

Addressing his situation, the Italian boss made it clear that despite the nature of his issue, surgery will remain off the table for now as he aims to recover before the festive period.

Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto also suffered fitness issues in the build up to their clash with Nottingham Forest earlier today, continuing a theme of injury concerns at Stamford Bridge that will force Maresca to shuffle his pack amid a busy fixture schedule.

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Chelsea may have found the latest superstar to emerge from Cobham academy.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 17, 2025

While not on their immediate radar, incoming transfers will become an important part of their long-term planning over the coming weeks, albeit it remains to be seen where Maresca feels his squad needs reinforcements most.

Reports suggest Chelsea are prioritising a centre-back in January, coming after Maresca publicly requested one in the summer window, and links continue to surround a potential new goalkeeper as well.

Interestingly, a new midfielder could be on the agenda too, and Chelsea could now be set to deviate from their transfer philosophy in an attempt to sign an experienced playmaker.

Dean Jones on Chelsea's potential move for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Previously, FootballFanCast relayed news from Italy that Chelsea are pushing to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Al-Hilal in what could be a deviation from their usual transfer strategy of recruiting young players with potential.

Deemed to be earning around £418,000 per week in the Middle East, the Serbia international has regularly been linked with Premier League clubs over the last decade, and he may be available to return to Europe on a free transfer next summer.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s record at Al-Hilal

Appearances

102

Goals

30

Assists

26

Contract expires

30/06/2026

Delivering some clarity on his situation, Dean Jones suggests Chelsea could value Milinkovic-Savic’s leadership qualities, and this may lead the West Londoners to pursuing a deal that would be classed as out of the ordinary compared with their usual transfer activity.

Chelsea are renowned for going for players below a certain age, but Jones says more senior options “will be considered” moving forward.

Successful Chelsea teams of the past have been littered with experienced professionals capable of conjuring important moments, and it appears Maresca wants to lean into that long-held tradition should he get the chance next summer, which could be beneficial for everyone.

Aston Villa had the most difficult situation of any Premier League club going into the transfer window, as they were the side closest to a PSR breach. After losing to Manchester United on the last day of the season and missing out on Champions League football, they didn’t have the financial means to go out and spend as much as they would have liked.

The ramifications of this have been felt in the league this season, as Unai Emery’s side have struggled in their opening games and were the last team to open their scoring account.

For teams with such financial restrictions, the best way to cope is by investing in and developing youth. In recent years, Villa have produced academy products such as Jacob Ramsey and signed the likes of Morgan Rogers.

And Emery is now looking to add to the Villans’ youth system by recruiting from the academy of a club that they have worked with in the past.

New signing marks beginning of relationship with Toure club

Aston Villa have completed a deal with Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas for their youngster, Mohamed Koné.

Koné is described as “a highly-rated midfielder who has attracted plenty of admirers”. Villa had first-hand experience with the youngster prior to finalising the deal, as he “spent a number of weeks at Bodymoor Heath before joining the club officially in the summer”. He has already been playing with the Aston Villa Under-21s in recent weeks, even scoring against Peterborough United.

The ASEC Mimosas academy has yielded success in the past, having developed talents like Yaya and Kolo Touré, along with several other Ivorian stars who have made it to the ‘big five’ European leagues. The Touré brothers are their most notable graduates and are players who have found success at the highest levels of English and European football.

Intriguingly, Aston Villa describe the move as a “symbol of the close relationship between Aston Villa and ASEC” and also reveal that this will be “the start of a productive relationship”, clearly trusting the African side’s capabilities in producing a funnel of talent to supplement their academy and first team with fresh prospects.

Villa's poor form could be an opportunity for Kone

Normally, a 17-year-old would have a long wait before breaking into the first team. However, Villa’s poor start to the season may make Emery gamble on him. Ramsey left the club in the summer to join Newcastle United, and Rogers’ inability to find form this season has been a major contributing factor to the club languishing in a relegation battle.

This may open the door for Koné or other youngsters to break into the first team if Emery can’t turn things around with the senior pros and his job security comes into question.

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.