A despedida de Cássio no Corinthians de forma rápida deixou muitos torcedores incrédulos e chateados. Na manhã deste sábado (18), no CT Jaquim Grava, o jogador se despediu do clube em entrevista coletiva, enquanto os corintianos se lamentavam nas redes sociais. Confira as reações.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão
➡️ Acredita que o Timão avançará em primeiro no grupo da Sul-Americana? Se liga nas odds: 1.53
sabíamos que esse momento ia chegar mas ninguém tava realmente preparado, uma história com comemoração, tristeza e raiva mas valeu a pena cada momento e você será eternamente lembrado por ser um grande ídolo no Corinthians, obrigado gigante Cássio Ramos. 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/N72vteuOvR
— jaci. ⁸ (@winsccp) May 18, 2024
acordei e o cassio nao ta no corinthians mesmo
nao foi um sonho… pic.twitter.com/xiz1XAAWVv
— Corinthians Depressão (@sccpdepressaoo) May 18, 2024
"O CÁSSIO SALVA O CORINTHIANS"
eternamente dentro nossos corações e na nossa história.
🎥 (jp_drone) pic.twitter.com/QDOJuWS2uG
— sccp dii (@dmsgsccp) May 17, 2024
Eternamente dentro dos nossos corações, Cássio 1️⃣2️⃣
— gigi do corinthians (@gigtsccp) May 18, 2024
Cássio entendeu que sua missão estava cumprida. E pediu para sair, sem roubar o clube, sem tumultuar o ambiente.
Gigante, obrigado por tanto!! pic.twitter.com/kMaosbOZ4t
— Louco pelo Corinthians (@willsantossccp) May 18, 2024
o Cássio é um dos maiores ídolos da história do Corinthians e a despedida dele foi um vídeo….
Liverpool look more and more unlikely by the game that they will retain the Premier League title.
Of course, collecting the top-flight trophy two seasons on the trot is a difficult feat even when you’re all guns blazing.
But, it’s definitely made more tricky when you assess how quickly the wheels are falling off Arne Slot’s title defence right now.
The Reds are already up to five defeats in league action this season, with newly promoted Sunderland only on two losses, in stark contrast.
Slot was also significantly backed in the summer, with the summer transfer business at Anfield no doubt catching the eye, when you consider a jaw-dropping £415m was splashed out by the Merseyside giants.
The likes of Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez have really struggled to get going, having cost a substantial £165m alone to get through the door.
But, there is one high-profile name that is in very real danger of becoming Slot’s own Naby Keita. Yes, things really do look that bad at the moment.
The numbers behind Keita's Liverpool disaster
When Keita arrived at Anfield in 2018, there was a lot of fanfare surrounding his high-profile signing.
After all, Jurgen Klopp boldly announcde that the Guinean was the “best player in the league” in the Bundesliga when leaving behind RB Leipzig for a shot in England for a whopping a whopping £48m.
In Klopp’s defence, Keita had collected 16 goals and assists combined across all competitions for Leipzig during his swansong campaign and the former Reds number 8 did score some beautifully taken goals during his stint on Merseyside, as can be seen watching the entertaining highlight reel above.
But, with all the hype that had surrounded the capture at the time, it would have been Keita’s constant in-and-out presence in the treatment room that would have irritated Liverpool fans the most, with a staggering 122 games missed through injury for club and country across his five seasons in England.
In the end, he was let go at the expiry of his contract with Werder Bremen, with just 11 goals and seven assists to shout about.
Slot will pray he doesn’t have another Keita-like situation unfolding right now as Liverpool struggle for consistency, with another mega-money signing at risk of fading into the background.
Liverpool's Naby Keita repeat
The failed signing of Keita still stands as Liverpool’s eighth most expensive signing of all time.
Thankfully, above the hot-and-cold 30-year-old’s name in the rankings are the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alisson, and Virgil Van Dijk, who are all figures Slot knows he can rely on.
Unfortunately, the same is yet to be applied to Florian Wirtz, who comes in as the Reds’ second most expensive capture at an astronomical £115m fee.
The German’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen met with the same Keita-level hysteria, having been dubbed a “generational” talent by sports media professional Christian Nyari just last season.
With 57 goals and 65 assists under his belt for Leverkusen, it can be rationalised as to why Liverpool blew such a large chunk of their budget on Wirtz instantly coming good.
Indeed, Reds journalist Bence Boscak pleaded in the summer that Slot and Co needed to land his signature “whatever” the price may be.
Games played
16
Minutes played
1119 mins
Goals scored
0
Assists
3
Yet, much like they found out with Keita, blistering form in the Bundesliga doesn’t necessarily mean they will instantly hit the ground running on English shores, with Wirtz still yet to collect a single goal or assist in Premier League action.
Wirtz was particularly ineffective last time out as Liverpool were reminded of how far they’ve fallen in such a short space of time against Manchester City, with an unmemorable 39 touches of the ball seeing the German fail to amass one single key pass.
It’s even clearer from the graphic above how much the number 7 has been “struggling” – as journalist Mark Ogden has noted – in his new surroundings, with both his take-on success percentage rate and duels being won per ninety minutes success rate taking a significant hit.
Analyst Darnish Iqbal has even branded the deal as a “disaster”, with it not being a stretch to state that it is Liverpool’s biggest disappointment in the transfer window since Keita joined way back in 2018. Perhaps the Reds should avoid the Bundesliga for now?
Wirtz, hopefully, won’t fall victim to Keita’s same fate in leaving for cheap though, with glimmers of his quality here and there – as seen in the playmaker amassing five key passes against Real Madrid – meaning Liverpool will hold onto him for the time being, praying he hits his Leverkusen heights on a consistent basis down the line.
Not Wirtz or Isak: Liverpool's "nervous wreck" at risk of becoming Nunez 2.0
Liverpool have fallen by the wayside under Arne Slot’s leadership this season.
Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat against Chelsea, their fifth in a row against the Blues, was undoubtedly the bleakest and most concerning result of Thomas Frank’s reign so far.
The one-goal affair felt wholly different to Spurs’ recent losses against their nemesis when led by Ange Postecoglou, but gone was any form of entertainment value this time, and the post-match reaction from fans and players underscored the issues that Frank contends with just a few months into his tenure.
Still, things aren’t all that bad. Tottenham are fifth in the Premier League, just two points away from second-place Manchester City. Furthermore, they are unbeaten across three Champions League fixtures.
We were always going to see a bedding-in period, and Tottenham have put last season’s lowly league form behind them, but there’s much more to be desired all the same.
And in the case of Xavi Simons, it’s probably fair to say that more would have been expected from the diminutive playmaker by this stage.
Xavi Simons' slow start at Spurs
When Tottenham signed Simons from RB Leipzig for £52m in August, they knew they had sealed a coup. After all, the Netherlands international had been courted by Chelsea all summer, with analyst Ben Mattinson claiming he is “destined for greatness”.
But it’s been a tough start to life in England, alright, and the 22-year-old has been one of the most saliently poor Spurs stars this season, with his performance against Enzo Maresca’s side drawing plenty of backlash.
It’s a collectively shared opinion within the Lilywhites fanbase that Simons has lacked composure and presence in his creative midfield berth this season. The Chelsea match was a defeat in isolation, but Sofascore record that Simons is averaging only 0.9 key passes per Premier League game this term, having featured seven times and started five of those games.
Having replaced the concussed Lucas Bergvall after only seven minutes at the weekend, Frank saw it fit to hook his summer recruit just over an hour later.
With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison both sidelined with injuries and still not expected back for the foreseeable future, Simons has been tasked with serving as Spurs’ chief creator, but he’s fallen by the wayside in this regard.
He’s young enough and talented enough to kick on after this early blip, but there’s little question that more is needed – and quickly.
Tottenham have further players who have struggled to impress this season, though, and there’s another midfielder with a wealth more experience in the English game who may well be playing himself into a corner in Frank’s system.
Frank must axe Spurs' "lucky boy"
Frank is far more pragmatic in his tactical set-up than his predecessor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the general disgruntlement around the club at the moment emphasises the need for greater balance between the thirds.
The midfielders are the connective tissue, though, and while Joao Palhinha has been lauded as a shrewd summer signing, on loan from Bayern Munich, there’s not enough impetus and dynamism in midfield, and Rodrigo Bentancur is becoming a problem in that regard.
Bentancur, 28, has racked up 128 appearances since joining Tottenham from Juventus in January 2022 (initially on loan), but injuries have kept him at an ebb and flow in north London, never quite reaching the full fluency that his talent and athleticism could lead him toward.
25/26
9
648′
24/25
26
1,653′
23/24
23
1,007′
22/23
18
1,506′
21/22
17
1,365′
His consistent unavailability might have been stretched this season but for a fortuitous VAR call that kept him on the field after a studs-up challenge on Chelsea’s Reece James at the weekend. Tottenham presenter Hollie Agombar called him “a lucky boy” after the game.
The £120k-per-week ace signed a new long-term contract only last month, which does stand as a marker of his standing under Frank’s wing, but his connection with Palhinha in the middle of the park has not made him undroppable by any stretch, and there are bound to be concerns relating to the stodginess of Spurs’ general play in the centre.
Of course, he’s not without his uses. The South American ranks among the top 6% of Premier League midfielders this season for ball recoveries, the top 13% for clearances and the top 11% for blocks per 90, data via FBref, but this isn’t enough to secure his long-term place in Frank’s engine room, especially since he is not progressive enough on the ball and thus part of the wider creative problem.
Whereas Simons has time on his side, Bentancur is a seasoned Tottenham star who is supposedly in the prime of his career. This was clearly the view of the powers that be down N17, having rebuffed summer interest from Atletico Madrid and indeed rewarded the midfielder with improved terms.
But he is not proving his worth at this moment in time, and Frank will expect that to improve swiftly, especially with the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Bergvall gunning for more prominent roles.
Against Chelsea, Bentancur did himself few favours, even if he did manage to avoid a red card for that stamp on James. Writing of his performance in the derby, the Evening Standard criticised the hosts’ midfield controller for being unable to provide protection from Chelsea counters, with his caution on the ball directly hindering Spurs’ fight for quality in attack. He was hit with a lowly 4/10 match rating.
Much for Frank to chew on. However, it might be that Bentancur is beginning to demonstrate that he does not get into Tottenham’s brightest 11, and that’s a topic that will only intensify when the injured playmakers return. With that in mind, maybe he should be axed down the line.
3/10 Spurs flop is now very quickly becoming the new Tanguy Ndombele
Spurs were far from their best as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
The hosts were stuck on their own surface, posting 109 for 7 which was overhauled with 17 balls to spare
ECB Media24-Aug-2025
Joe Clarke struck 40 off 21•Getty Images
Birmingham Phoenix 113 for 3 (Duckett 49*, Clarke 40) beat Manchester Originals 109 for 7 (Klaasen 34, Livingstone 2-11) by seven wicketsBirmingham Phoenix produced a polished display to thrash Manchester Originals by seven wickets at Emirates Old Trafford and move up to fourth in the table.The Phoenix have struggled for consistency in the tournament, and their defeat to Welsh Fire on Friday evening ended any hope of qualifying for the knockout phase, but a disciplined performance in the field and a clinical partnership of 72 from 45 balls between Ben Duckett (49 not out from 38) and Joe Clarke (40 from 21) delivered a consolation victory.Set just 110 to win, Will Smeed nicked off to Sonny Baker for 13 but it was plain sailing thereafter, Clarke announcing his arrival with three consecutive boundaries off his Nottinghamshire teammate Josh Tongue before dispatching Ish Sodhi for a slog-swept six.Duckett had been more circumspect but came to the party by taking 14 off Sodhi’s second set and the Phoenix wasted no time in racing to their target, Tongue’s dismissals of Clarke and Liam Livingstone only delaying the inevitable as victory was secured with 17 balls to spare.Earlier, the Originals had made a positive start after winning the toss and electing to bat. Phil Salt (31 from 20) hit Adam Milne for a six and a four in the second set, and belted two maximums off Trent Boult in the third, but Liam Patterson-White got the breakthrough when he clean bowled Ben McKinney for 2 with an arm ball and the hosts badly lost their way when Salt followed, caught at long-on by Duckett off Jacob Bethell.Jos Buttler came and went for 5, trapped lbw by the excellent Livingstone (2 for 11), and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Heinrich Klaasen (34 from 35) unable to fully unleash his range of shots on a slow surface that played into the hands of the Phoenix spinners.The South African was eventually caught in the deep off Chris Wood (2-11) in the penultimate set and the Originals could only muster 109-7, ultimately slipping to a fifth defeat in seven, bottom of the table on net run rate, as their formidable batting line-up again failed to fire.Clarke, named the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “I feel in good rhythm and have good confidence, so it was nice to contribute to a win.”The pitch had been used a few times so it was slightly on the slower side. I felt like once the seamers were on I could inject pace into it and it helped having Ben at the other end who could knock it around and run hard.On the partnership with Duckett, he added: “We wanted to stick to our strengths. He’s a very good player of spin, he hits gas really well, and it was about limiting dot balls. We’ve played cricket together for a long, long time, so it’s nice to be out there in the middle with him.”
Arne Slot saw much-changed Liverpool fell to a sixth loss in seven matches as Ismaila Sarr’s clinical brace helped Crystal Palace reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Oliver Glasner’s Eagles got the better of the Reds for the third time this season as they followed their Community Shield shoot-out triumph and last month’s Premier League victory at Selhurst Park with an Anfield win.
Sarr’s first-half brace and a late Yeremy Pino strike secured FA Cup holders Palace a 3-0 fourth round victory as increasingly scrutinised Liverpool boss Slot’s bold decision to make 10 changes backfired in front of a full house.
Liverpool scouts lining up Bahoya deal to form new partnership with Ekitike
He’s impressed the Reds
ByTom Cunningham Oct 29, 2025
Slot’s men had started Wednesday’s tie brightly, only for familiar foe Sarr to score twice at the end of the opening period to make it seven goals in nine matches against Liverpool.
Palace continued to cruise through the second half. The tie was over by the time teenage Reds substitute Amara Nallo was sent off in the 79th minute, with Pino adding extra gloss late on.
Defenders & goalkeeper
Freddie Woodman – 5
Even Freddie Woodman will be surprised to have received the call from Liverpool in the summer, but here he is and there he was in the starting line-up against Crystal Palace. To his credit, the Englishman was fairly flawless and could do nothing to prevent Sarr’s first-half brace or Pino’s late effort.
Calvin Ramsay – 6
Calvin Ramsay (yes, Calvin Ramsay) was perhaps the most surprising name on the teamsheet in a much-changed Liverpool side. The Reds have had their right-back problems as of late, so why not turn to the forgotten man?
Finally back at Anfield following disappointing loan spells and injury troubles, the Scotsman was one of the brightest sparks for the home side, particularly in the first half. He also gets bonus points for a stunning crossfield pass that Liverpool fans became used to down the right-hand side for several years. Welcome back, Calvin.
Joe Gomez – 3
It was a difficult evening for Joe Gomez, whose loose touch handed Sarr his first before his poor positioning allowed the Palace man a second in the space of four first-half minutes.
It was a frustrating watch for those at Anfield, who saw Gomez get off to a solid, leading start before mistakes crept into his game. Given the recent struggles of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, the last thing Liverpool needed was a poor performance from their other senior centre-back.
Andy Robertson – 4
In an unfamiliar centre-back role, it became clear that Andy Robertson was not in his favoured position from early on. Whilst he deserves credit for slotting in under the circumstances, there’s no denying that he struggled alongside Gomez. In many ways, it was fitting that the Reds played a fullback at centre-back against Marc Guehi as their regret became exposed.
That said, Robertson will be wondering what he has to do to take back his left-back spot as Liverpool’s disastrous defensive form continues.
Milos Kerkez – 4
Speaking of Liverpool left-backs, it was another frustrating evening for Milos Kerkez. He has continued to look rushed in possession and rash when defending. Although he wasn’t tested as much as previous weeks, the Hungary international was wasteful at times and that far from helped the blunt nature of Liverpool’s frontline.
Midfielders
Wataru Endo – 4
When Wataru Endo entered the Anfield turf last season, it often signalled game over for any opposition side. The Japanese international simply closed up for the evening and secured three points time and time again. This season, however, he has struggled to make the same impact.
Suddenly, there’s no hiding his weakness in possession which was shielded by work rate and robustness in the last campaign. Once again, he was loose against Palace and far from helped his side’s attempts to take control.
Trey Nyoni – 4
It was a night of learning for Trey Nyoni. Such a highly-rated player at Liverpool, the young midfielder felt the tempo of Premier League opposition in full and often found his passes misplaced.
Those at Anfield witness his unique composure in the middle of the park in pre-season, but he found out the hard way that time isn’t always a given at senior level.
Alas, it must be said that the senior members of the squad could have done a fair bit more to help the 18-year-old on a night to forget.
Alexis Mac Allister – 3
Alexis Mac Allister was undoubtedly one of Liverpool’s most important players last season’s title win. Alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, he formed an excellent midfield. Like much of Slot’s side as of late, however, he’s lost his way in the current campaign.
Still recovering from a knee injury in the summer, the Argentine once again looked a shadow of his best self against Crystal Palace. His form, or lack of it, hands Slot the worrying dilemma of just how to fix his current problems in the middle of the park.
Forwards
Kieran Morrison – 5
Thrust into the side at 18 years old, Kieran Morrison started well before gradually beginning to struggle against senior opposition. It’s not the first-team debut that he would have been dreaming of, but it is a moment in his career that he should cherish at Anfield nonetheless.
Had he at least enjoyed better service, things may have been different.
Rio Ngumoha – 6
Liverpool’s biggest bright spark, Rio Ngumoha very nearly curled a sensational effort into the top right in the first-half and certainly handed the likes of Jaydee Canvot a tough start to the evening. At 17 years old, his ability to take players on remains extraordinary and may just earn him a fair few more chances in the coming months.
Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha
Whilst Liverpool’s attack is full of big-money signings, Ngumoha’s glimpses of quality have sparked questions about his own game time despite his tender age,
Federico Chiesa – 6
It looked for a moment as though Federico Chiesa would hand Liverpool the lead in the early stages, only for his effort to end high and wide. That was that for the Italian’s chances, in truth, who struggled despite once again putting in the hard yards.
Even in defeat, his work rate should have put Slot on notice. As the Reds’ attack continues to struggle to click, Chiesa may yet provide a solution alongside the rest of his senior teammates.
Josh Naylor and the Mariners agreed to a five-year contract in what is the first major splash of this year’s MLB free agency, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Seattle made it a top priority to keep Naylor in the organization after acquiring him at the trade deadline in a deal with the Diamondbacks. He played a key part in the team’s run to the ALCS, their longest stay in the postseason in franchise history, and now he’ll be sticking around for at least another five seasons.
Naylor played in 54 games for the Mariners after the mid-season trade. He slashed .299/.341/.490 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 19 stolen bases, racking up an impressive 2.2 bWAR in that span. He was also a key postseason contributor. In October, Naylor had 16 hits in 12 games and recorded three home runs and five RBIs.
The financial terms of Naylor’s new contract with the Mariners have not yet been reported.
Naylor likely had plenty of suitors in free agency, but Seattle moved quickly to ensure they were able to keep him in town. He immediately emerged as a fan-favorite at T-Mobile Park, and he’ll now be part of a formidable lineup alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez for the foreseeable future.
Manchester United are now fighting one of their Premier League rivals for the signature of Christian Pulisic, who has recently entered talks over a new contract at AC Milan.
Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in a new forward, despite both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo making encouraging starts to life at Old Trafford, being praised by Gary Neville, who said: “With Cunha and Mbeumo, the risk of those signings was removed because in the sense they had played in the Premier League before and they had the hunger to deliver at a different level.
“Mbeumo looks like he belongs. He looks hungry and that he wants to score goals.
“Cunha and Mbeumo will win a lot of matches for Manchester United.”
Indeed, the two summer signings had already proven themselves in the Premier League, which meant they were low-risk additions, unlike Jadon Sancho, who flattered to deceive despite tearing it up with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
However, it has now been revealed that United are in the race for a forward who didn’t exactly set the world alight during his previous stint in England.
Man Utd fighting Aston Villa for AC Milan star Christian Pulisic
According to a report from Spain, Man United are now fighting Aston Villa for the signature of Pulisic, despite the forward recently entering talks with AC Milan over a new deal to extend his stay at the San Siro.
The Red Devils are keen to improve their forward options even further, despite adding Mbeumo, Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the summer transfer window, and there is a belief the American could help them in their push for Europe for this season.
The 27-year-old’s contract situation is the ‘biggest obstacle’ for Amorim’s side to overcome, given that he is currently tied down until 2027, with an option to extend, and the Italian club are eager to keep hold of one of their key players.
The 82-time USA international was unable to establish himself as a Premier League star during his stint with Chelsea, registering just three goal contributions in all competitions during his final season at Stamford Bridge, but he has since taken his game to the next level.
Former USA defender Alexi Lalas has been left particularly impressed by the winger’s performances since moving to AC Milan, saying: “What is world class? Well, you’ve got your definition, I have my definition. But if you want to know what world class is, it’s Christian Pulisic.
“I think he’s playing his best soccer of his career. And I’m telling you right now, Christian Pulisic at this moment is one of the top 25 players in the world. He just happens to be American.”
Having already picked up eight goal contributions in all competitions this season, Pulisic could be ready for another crack at the Premier League, and he could be a real difference-maker for Man United in their push for Europe.
Man Utd set to make £52m bid for "the best winger in the country" An Mbeumo repeat: Man Utd to make £52m bid for "best winger in the country"
Manchester United look set to make another huge bid for a new attacker for Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United fans have reacted to another Emiliano Martinez mistake as the Aston Villa goalkeeper committed an error to gift Leeds the lead at Elland Road. The Argentina number one was heavily linked with a move away from Villa to Old Trafford over the summer, but United opted to instead pursue their interest in Belgian youngster Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
Getty Images SportMartinez spills high ball that results in Leeds goal
Lammens has slotted into this United side seamlessly since usurping Altay Bayindir as first choice at Old Trafford. Indeed, United are now unbeaten in the five games the 23-year-old has started, which includes a memorable 2-1 win at rivals and defending Premier League champions Liverpool.
Martinez, meanwhile, has struggled to match the heights of previous years. The 2022 World Cup winner failed to deal with a high ball after Gabriel Gudmundsson had got on the end of Sean Longstaff's free-kick to the back post.
Anton Stach pressured the Villa goalkeeper before the ball fell to the feet of Lukas Nmecha, who had an easy finish to put Leeds ahead. After a VAR review, referee Robert Jones awarded what could prove a priceless goal for Leeds in their battle to beat the drop.
On the VAR check, the Premier League Match Centre X account also posted: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Gudmundsson in an onside position in the build-up. The VAR also checked the decision of no offside offence against Nmecha – with it deemed that he did not impact Martinez after Stach played the ball. Contact on Martinez prior to the goal was also deemed to not be a foul."
AdvertisementFans revel in latest Martinez mistake
United fans took to social media to revel in Martinez's gaffe, and are evidently thrilled they opted for Lammens instead of the former Arsenal shot-stopper.
"Thank God we got Lammens instead of this 'Dibu' Martinez man. More like 'Di bum.'" @MannyUTFR posted.
"Another Martinez howler, I was convinced United fans who wanted him in the summer didn’t watch him for one second last season" @RonaldoBrown_98 added.
"Emi Martinez should never be in the chat for best GK in the world. He’s good for a honker a game" @jonnyupt posted, while @FidgeyCent said: "We dodged a missile in not signing Martinez, he’s so bad"
"Rare weekly error from dibu Martinez" @tinscognito__ sarcastically said. A Leeds supporter, @Maverick2405, was critical of Martinez and they way he went down, writing: "Looks like Martinez has been assaulted judging by his reactions. What a helmet"
Getty Images SportMartinez may yet leave in January
Martinez has been heavily linked with a move away from Villa once more as the club consider whether to cash in on the Argentine. The 33-year-old has looked well below the standards expected of the West Midlands side, who travelled to Leeds on Sunday on a run of five wins in their last six league games.
Italian giants Inter have been credited with an interest in Martinez as they consider a replacement for current number one Yann Sommer. The Swiss star was key as Inter progressed to the Champions League final, only to lose to PSG in Munich in May.
Sommer's current contract expires at the end of the season and there have been no hint of talks about extending the 36-year-old's stay in Milan.
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Villa see out November with games against Young Boys & Wolves
Villa will hope for a positive result at Leeds as they gear up for a huge end to November. Unai Emery's side welcome Swiss side Young Boys to Villa Park in the Europa League next week as they look to make it four wins from five in European competition.
They then face rivals Wolves on home turf to round off November. Villa have a decent recent home record against basement boys Wolves having won their last two welcomes of Rob Edwards' side.
Wolves will make the short trip across the West Midlands on a six-game losing run following their 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday in Edwards' first game at the Molineux helm.
How many players have made the final list, which team has the biggest purse, and all other details ahead of the auction on December 15
Shashank Kishore13-Dec-2024There’s another auction we’re hearing about… Yes, that’s right. Hot on the heels of the mega IPL auction that was held in Saudi Arabia is another auction, which is ahead of the third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). It will be held in Bengaluru on December 15.Why is no one talking about it? That’s because there are only a total of 19 slots to be filled between the five WPL franchises. This could make it the smallest of all mini-auctions, and could even be wrapped up in two hours.How many players have made the final auction shortlist? From a long list of over 400 names, the BCCI has pruned it to 120 based on inputs and interest received from the franchises. This list includes 91 Indians – nine of them capped – and 29 overseas players, who will vie for a maximum of five slots.Related
WPL 2025 auction – Full list of 120 players
What each team needs at the WPL 2025 auction
Dottin, Knight, Rana among big attractions at WPL 2025 auction
Who is likely to be the biggest spender? Gujarat Giants, owned by Adani Sportsline, have the biggest purse of INR 4.4 crore (approx. US $518,461) available to fill four slots, of which two can be overseas. This is a direct consequence of them finishing last in the first two editions, leading to them releasing as many as six players – the most by a franchise heading into the auction.Who has the smallest purse? At INR 2.5 crore (approx. US $294,580), Delhi Capitals, runners-up of the first two editions, have the smallest purse. They can fill a maximum of four slots, including one overseas. But overall, each of the five franchises have a total budget of INR 15 crore (approx. US $1.76m), up from INR 13.5 crore last year, to build their squads.Are the team composition rules the same as IPL? Unlike at the IPL, the WPL doesn’t have the Impact Player rule, which means teams can field only the XI players they announce at the toss. However, WPL teams can field five overseas players, provided the fifth one belongs to an Associate country.How many Associates have previously been part of WPL franchises? Two of them have featured in the tournament so far: USA’s Tara Norris and Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce. In fact, Norris picked up the WPL’s first five-wicket haul, for DC against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Heather Knight, along with Deandra Dottin, has placed herself in the highest slab•BCCIHow many Associate players are part of this year’s shortlist? Only three: UAE top-order batter Theertha Satish and allrounder Samaira Dharnidharka, and Scotland batter Sarah Bryce, who was recently part of Sydney Sixers’ squad in the WBBL.How many players are part of the highest slab at the auction? Three: England captain Heather Knight and West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and South Africa’s Lizelle Lee have placed themselves in the highest slab, with a reserve price of INR 50 lakh (approx. US $58,916).Are there any other interesting facts about this year’s auction pool? Aged just 13, Delhi’s left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar is the youngest player in the shortlist. Australia batter Laura Harris, released by DC, is the oldest at 34.What’s the window for the tournament? With the IPL starting on March 14, the BCCI is looking at a three-week window for the third edition of the WPL from the third week of January onwards. The final dates and venues, though, are yet to be officially announced.
The men’s Vitality Blast will be reduced from 14 to 12 group-stage matches next season as part of a broad overhaul of English domestic white-ball cricket in the men’s and women’s game. However a mooted revamp of the men’s first-class cricket has yet to be agreed upon, with parties hopeful of a decision before the end of the month, ahead of the return of the County Championship in September.Following agreements from the required two-thirds majority of the 18 Professional County Cricket Clubs (PCCCs) and in collaboration with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), the men’s county T20 competition will shift from two groups of nine to three six-team regional groups, as it was during the Covid-affected summer of 2020.Each county will play the others in their group home and away (a total of 10 matches), with an additional home-and-away fixture against a side from the two other groups. The top two teams in each group plus the best two third-placed teams will progress to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals will progress to Finals Day. The competition will be played in a block and completed in July, before the start of the Hundred.Related
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The reduction in group matches follows recommendations from the county-led men’s Domestic Playing Programme (DPP) review. While the limited-overs portion of the review has been heeded, the PCCCs are yet to agree upon a preferred layout of the County Championship.It is understood that at present there are three red-ball options on the table, with no clear favourite. There is a strong desire out of necessity to establish a preferred option by the end of August to ensure counties know what they are playing for in the final rounds of this season.The most innovative would see a 12/6 split between Division One and Two, with the top-tier made up of two groups of six. Each Division One team would play home and away plus two further fixtures against teams in the other group. The top two will then go into a final for the County Championship title, mooted for the middle of September.The bottom team in each Division One group would subsequently be relegated, replaced by the team that finished top of Division Two, with the last promotion spot determined by a play-off between second and third. Despite only having six teams, Division Two sides will also play 12 fixtures; home and away against the other five teams, followed by home-and-away fixtures against two others.The other alternatives are a two-division split (10 in Division One, eight in Division Two) with 12 matches played; or a continuation of the existing 14-match set-up. At present, four counties – Middlesex, Somerset, Surrey and Yorkshire – have publicly stated their preference to retain a 14-match County Championship season.In a statement released by the ECB on Tuesday, Mark McCafferty, chair of the Professional Game Committee (PGC), which was set up in 2023, lauded the changes confirmed so far. He said: “These changes to the men’s Vitality Blast will be a springboard to further investment in a historic and much-loved domestic T20 competition which is recognised as one of the world’s best.”The new group format intensifies the importance of many of these local derbies, and brings the quarter-finals and the iconic Finals’ Day back into July, so improving the sporting and commercial narrative for sponsorship and TV partners, as well as meeting player wellbeing objectives by improving the group-stage schedules and travel demands to allow players to perform at their very best.”The revamp is part of the current work to further strengthen all our men’s and women’s domestic competitions and on behalf of the PGC, I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to the counties and to the PCA for their ongoing collaboration on this work, as we progress in the next phase to the Rothesay County Championship and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.”The women’s Vitality Blast will also reduce to 12 matches next season in Tier 1, the result of a separate vote from the 18 PCCCs that was not linked to the men’s changes. With Yorkshire moving up from Tier 2 in 2026, making nine teams in the top tier, each county will play six home and six away matches, playing four counties twice and four counties once.Tier 1 Finals Day will expand to house two semi-finals and the final, meaning the top four teams progress to the showpiece event. Previously the team finishing first went through to the final automatically, to play the winner of second versus third earlier in the day. The Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 (Tier 2) will maintain eight group-stage matches, but move to a single group – changing from North and South Groups in 2025 – with a second-versus-third eliminator before the final.The Tier 1 Metro Bank One-Day Cup competition will increase to 16 matches from 14, with a shift to an eliminator instead of two semi-finals. League 2 will be reduced from nine to eight group-stage games with each county playing each other once. The top four at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockouts stages. The winners of the two semi-finals progress to the final.”The changes for 2026 were developed in consultation with the game and the players,” Beth Barrett-Wild, ECB director of the women’s professional game, said. “The player representatives did voice a desire to increase the volume of cricket, to allow an even home-and-away Vitality Blast in Tier 1, but also recognised the scheduling challenges that would cause.”There was always going to be a settling-in period across Tiers 1 and 2 during these first few seasons, and these changes are set to be for next summer only with a planned review again ahead of the 2027 season, when Glamorgan will move from Tier 2 into Tier 1. This will also follow another phase of learning as the new women’s competitions embed into the overall county structure.”Speaking on the overall changes to limited overs cricket, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said: “County cricket in England and Wales has long been the gold standard and it has been important that the counties have led the discussion in consultation with the game as we look to make all of our men’s and women’s county competitions the best they can be.”
Men’s Vitality Blast from 2026
Group A: Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Notts Outlaws, Yorkshire Group B: Bears, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Somerset, Worcestershire Rapids Group C: Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex Sharks