Barcelona are working to re-appoint Thiago Alcantara to Hansi Flick’s coaching team as the club resolve financial hurdles blocking his return.

Thiago expected to rejoin Flick’s backroom staffFormer midfielder already assisted the GermanFinancial issues delayed his permanent roleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to, Barcelona are finalising a deal to bring Thiago back to the club, not as a player, but as part of Flick’s coaching team. The former midfielder briefly supported the German tactician when he first arrived last summer, but had to return to Liverpool due to residency related complications. Now, with administrative and salary cap issues being addressed, his return is back on the table.

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The former Bayern manager is gradually shaping his ideal coaching setup at Barca, leaning on familiar faces like Thiago, who was key during their time at Die Roten. With major focus on youth development, Thiago’s understanding of both La Masia and Flick’s tactical approach offers a strong bridge between generations. His return also signals Barcelona's push to restore identity through ex-players who understand the club DNA.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 34-year-old made over 100 appearances for the Blaugrana before moving to Bayern in 2013, where he went on to win the treble under Flick in the 2019-2020 season. Later that year, he joined Liverpool, but his time at Anfield was hampered by persistent injuries. After making 98 appearances for the English side, Thiago announced his early retirement from football in 2024.

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Barcelona are prioritising financial flexibility to fit Thiago’s appointment into their wage structure. Once approved, he’s expected to join the team ahead of the Asian preseason tour, helping shape Flick’s new-era squad, especially the emerging talents from La Masia.

They lost 7 for 53 in a dramatic twist but their last pair got the job done, despite Ghulam Fatima and Fatima Sana’s best efforts with ball and bat

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2023

New Zealand lost 7 for 53 in a stunning middle- and lower-order collapse, but eventually scraped home by one wicket in their chase of 221 in the second ODI against Pakistan. The victory gave New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, after they had won the first in Queenstown by a comprehensive margin of 131 runs.Today, placed rather comfortably at 155 for 2 in the 32nd over, they required just 66 more off the remaining 110 deliveries; but Ghulam Fatima removed Suzie Bates for 74 from 91 balls to kickstart a dramatic twist.That broke a stand of 142 between Bates and Maddy Green, who hit 83 off 96 deliveries. Green also fell to Fatima four overs later. Both set batters were gone, but New Zealand still had six wickets in hand to get the required 49 runs from almost 15 overs. But Fatima struck in each of her next two overs as well, thus opening up New Zealand’s tail.Fatima got support from the other end, with each of Sadia Iqbal, Umm-e-Hani and Nashra Sandhu landing a late blow. Regular wickets piled on the pressure, but New Zealand’s last-wicket pair soaked it all up and added 13 to take them home, with No. 9 Lea Tahuhu contributing an unbeaten 21.Earlier, captain Fatima Sana led Pakistan from the front by hitting an undefeated 90 in their total of 220. They were 35 for 4 at one stage, before Sana resurrected their innings with back-to-back partnerships of 90 with Natalia Pervaiz, and 65 with Najiha Alvi. But almost all of New Zealand’s bowlers chipped in with regular wickets, with Sophie Devine leading the way with 3 for 25.Starting with Alvi’s departure in the 47th over, Pakistan themselves lost 5 for 30, with Fran Jonas getting two of those wickets. Eventually, Pakistan’s total of 220 would prove to be nearly enough but not quite.

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers secured top spot in the WBBL regular season and hosting rights for the final next Saturday, which will be staged at Adelaide Oval, with a comprehensive five-wicket win over Perth Scorchers.The top four is all but set with Strikes (18 points), Scorchers (16), Brisbane Heat (16) and Sydney Thunder (15) the likely finalists.Heat and Scorchers have completed their group games. Only a massive win and associated run-rate boost from fifth-placed Hobart Hurricanes (13 points) over the rampant Strikers on Sunday can displace Thunder, who meet the Sydney Sixers the same day at the SCG.Strikers flexed their collective muscles on Friday night at Adelaide Oval against previous pace-setters Scorchers The visitors slumped to 15 for 4 inside five overs and were bowled out for 104 in 19.4 overs, with Strikers winning with 31 balls after a brief wobble.Scorchers struggled amid an early onslaught from the home side’s bowlers. Darcie Brown, who has recently returned from a hamstring injury, set the ball rolling with a superb new-ball spell. She had Beth Mooney caught down the leg side and bowled Chloe Piparo with a sharp inswinger in her opening over.After the early collapse, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Devine steadied with a 47-run stand for the fifth wicket but they were only batters to reach double-figures. Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal for 32 triggered another slide of 6 for 42, including the wicket of Devine.Alongside the impressive Brown, Amanda-Jade Wellington, who found some sharp turn, and Danielle Gibson were also standouts.In their run chase, Strikers’ batters were cruising at 50 for 1 in the seventh over but then stumbled, losing 4 for 18 with Devine claiming two wickets in three balls to leave the home side 68 for 5.But Madeline Penna (31 not out from 23) and Wellington produced an unbroken 38-run partnership to steer Strikers to victory.

Rodrigues and Vastrakar’s quick half-centuries went in vain for India as the tourists romped home to a six-wicket win

Srinidhi Ramanujam28-Dec-2023Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield made India’s above-par score of 282 look less threatening as Australia went 1-0 up in the first of the three ODIs at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Losing Alyssa Healy in the first over of the innings, Litchfield and Perry notched up 78 and 75 respectively, with Tahlia McGrath contributing a valuable unbeaten 68 as Australia recorded the second-highest run chase in women’s ODIs.This was after Jemimah Rodrigues’s classy 82 and Pooja Vastrakar’s fighting 62 not out at No.9 on a sultry Mumbai afternoon propelled India to their highest ODI total against Australia.Perry’s intent was clear from the beginning as she started off briskly to keep up with the required run rate of 5.66. The allrounder smashed nine fours and two clean sixes in her 72-ball innings while the left-handed Litchfield gave us a glimpse of the future of Australia’s batting with her calculative knock. She began the innings by just stroking to get accustomed to the conditions and once she got settled in, Litchfield began to find boundaries with the sweep, reverse sweep and punches off the back foot. Playing her 12th ODI, first in India, Litchfield scored eight boundaries and a six in her 89-ball knock. The left-right duo stitched together 148 off 150 balls, and by the time Perry was dismissed by Deepti Sharma in the 26th over, the foundation was well laid for the chase.Beth Mooney and McGrath capitalised on the start to put on another 88 runs off just 67 deliveries and made the chase look effortless as the wicket became better to bat on. Vastrakar cleaned up Mooney for 42 in the 42nd over, but it was too late for India to bounce back with little help from the bowlers in the second innings. McGrath, in her first tour as full-time vice-captain, stayed till the end to complete the formalities with six wickets in hand.Earlier, India fought back from early jitters after losing Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur early in the innings. The notable absentee from their XI was vice-captain and opener Smriti Mandhana, who was unwell and unavailable for selection. However, Yastika Bhatia, who opened in her place, chipped in with 49. Playing her fourth ODI of the year, she hit seven fours in her 64-ball knock before top-edging a sweep off a full toss from Georgia Wareham.Jemimah Rodrigues was busy at the crease•BCCIUntil the eighth-wicket stand between Rodrigues and Vastrakar, Australia did not allow any pair to settle in. Six of the seven bowlers picked up at least a wicket each after they were asked to bowl first on a track offering turn.Rodrigues, who carried forward her Test form into ODIs, was visibly wilting in the heat, but she ran hard, swept hard and drove through covers to notch up her fifth fifty in her 25th ODI. After sharing 38, 39 and 45 runs with Bhatia, Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur respectively, she found Vastrakar’s help to put on 68 runs – the only fifty-plus partnership of the innings – for the eighth wicket.Rodrigues’ 77-ball stay had seven fours while Vastrakar hit seven fours and two sixes in her 46-ball knock. After Rodrigues’ dismissal in the 47th over, Vastrakar blasted her way to her fourth ODI fifty off 39 balls in the penultimate over, yet again proving her batting credentials lower down the order.All four of Vastrakar’s ODI fifties have come while batting at No.8 or lower. No other woman has scored more than two fifties while batting at No.8 or lower in ODIs.It looked like India saved the best for the last phase, accumulating 82 runs in the final ten overs. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome Meg Lanning-less Australia. For the visitors, Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner were crucial in scalping two wickets each.

Newcastle United have reportedly entered the race to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, joining Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the hunt for the prolific French striker. The 23-year-old is hot property after a breakout season with the Bundesliga campaign, but Frankfurt’s €100 million (£86.2m) price tag remains a major hurdle for potential suitors.

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• Newcastle join race for €100-rated striker Ekitike
• Frenchman scored 22 goals, 12 assists last season
• Frankfurt holding firm on €100m valuation amid interest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Newcastle United have made initial contact with Eintracht Frankfurt regarding Ekitike as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The Magpies are seeking a new striker following Callum Wilson’s departure. Despite strong Premier League interest with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United said to be keen on a move, Frankfurt remain firm on their €100m valuation for the French striker.

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  Ekitike enjoyed a stellar 2024-25 season, notching 22 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. He helped fire Eintracht Frankfurt to Champions League qualification and has emerged as one of Europe’s top young forwards. Newcastle potentially see him as a future replacement for Alexander Isak, who is attracting interest from elite European sides.

• TELL ME MORE…

  Newcastle had been interested in signing Joao Pedro; however, with the Brazilian forward now off the market, Ekitike has moved to the top of Newcastle’s wishlist. Saudi Pro League sides Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah have also shown interest in the Frenchman, but the striker wants to stay in Europe and may have a preference for Premier League football.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEWCASTLE?

  No formal bid has been submitted yet, but Newcastle are expected to open talks soon. Frankfurt are reluctant to sell unless their €100 million valuation is met. The Magpies may explore creative deal structures to bring the Frenchman to St James’ Park.

أعرب الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، المنضم حديثاً، عن سعادته بالتواجد وسط جماهير القلعة البيضاء، موضحاً كواليس تعاقده، كما أكد أن الدوري المصري من أفضل الدوريات.

وكان نادي الزمالك أعلن رسمياً، عن التعاقد مع الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ لمدة أربعة مواسم قادماً من نادي شارلروا البلجيكي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية.

وقال عدي الدباغ في تصريحات عبر قناة “الزمالك”: “جمهور الزمالك كبير ومتعطش للبطولات، متحمس لمقابلة جماهير الزمالك، جون أدوارد أول من تحدث معي من الزمالك، ومنذ ذلك التوقيت شعرت أن هناك مشروع حقيقي”.

طالع أيضاً.. قائمة بيراميدز أمام وادي دجلة في الدوري المصري.. موقف الصفقات الجديدة

وتابع: “الزمالك كان أكثر نادي جاد معي في المفاوضات، نادي يريد المنافسة ويعود بالانجازات”.

وأضاف: “الزمالك من أكبر الأندية في إفريقيا ومصر وتاريخه يجعل المسؤولية مضاعفة علي، قبل أن أنضم للزمالك تحدثت مع المدرب فيريرا، وسألني عن مدى جاهزتي”.

وأفاد: “المفاوضات مع الزمالك لم تأخذ وقتا، استغرقت 3 أيام، المجموعة المتواجدة في الفريق أعطتني راحة، كما أنني تواصلت مع عمرو فرج وسألته عن النادي ونصحني بالانضمام”.

وبسؤاله.. ما هو هدفك الأساسي والأول؟ أجاب: “حصد بطولات بقدر ما نستطيع وأن نحصد بطولة الدوري، على الصعيد الشخصي أساعد النادي بقدر الإمكان، أكثر شيء نفسي أحققه مع الزمالك لقب الدوري، خاصة أنه غائب منذ سنوات عن النادي، أنا جاهز من الناحية الفنية والبدنية للمشاركة في مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا”.

وواصل: “الدوري المصري من أفضل الدوريات في قارة إفريقيا، شعبية الزمالك في فلسطين ضخمة وهذه الجماهير تستحق أن تفرح وسأبذل قصاري جهدي من أجلهم، لقب الهداف التاريخي لمنتخب فلسطين يجعلني أشعر بالفخر”.

واستمر: “أعرف محمد صلاح ومرموش، اجتهدا حتى وصلا لهذه المرحلة”.

وأردف: “انا لست شخصا فعالا على السوشيال ميديا، الانتقادات أعتبرها حافز، ولا أرد على أحد ردي يكون في الملعب”.

واختتم: “منذ أول يوم لي في التدريبات لم أشعر أنني جديد على الفريق، تواصلت مع عمر جابر ودونجا، وآدم كايد كان أول من تحدث معي من اللاعبين، ووجدت روحا رائعة بين الجميع”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo conheceu nesta quinta-feira seus adversários da fase de grupos da Copinha.São Carlense, São Carlos e Pinheirense estão na chave.A competição será realizada entre os dias 2 e 25 de janeiro.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo entra no ranking dos cinco clubes brasileiros com mais interação no Twitter em outubroBotafogo03/11/2022BotafogoPresidente da FERJ diz que não acredita em Botafogo com time reserva no Carioca: ‘Marca a zelar’Botafogo03/11/2022BotafogoChances de classificação do Botafogo para a Libertadores caem após derrotaBotafogo03/11/2022

+Copa do Mundo: os jogadores já revelados da pré-lista da Seleção Brasileira

O Glorioso ficou com o Grupo 19. A sede fica localizada em São Carlos. A FMP deve divulgar a tabela completa do campeonato nos próximos dias.

O Grupo 19 tem sede em São Carlos e recebe o São Carlense, o Botafogo-RJ, o São Carlos e o Pinheirense.#Copinha2023 pic.twitter.com/0stkfh2Toy

— Copinha (@Copinha) November 3, 2022

+Botafogo fará amistoso com o Crystal Palace na Inglaterra no fim do ano

O Botafogo vem investindo nas categorias de base e espera montar times cada vez mais competitivos nas futuras edições da Copinha. Por todo investimento e trabalho que vem sendo feito, a expectativa é que os alvinegros realizem uma campanha promissora no próximo ano.

أعلن نادي ليفربول رحيل أحد لاعبيه عن صفوف الفريق خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية رغم تجديد عقده.

وذكر نادي ليفربول في بيان رسمي: “وقع لوكا ستيفنسون عقد جديد مع ليفربول وانضم مجدداً إلى نادي دندي يونايتد على سبيل الإعارة لموسم واحد”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بعد عرض منزله للبيع.. إيزاك يجبر مدرب نيوكاسل على تغيير موقفه

وتمتع صاحب الـ21 عاماً بموسم ممتاز مع نادي الدوري الاسكتلندي الممتاز خلال الموسم الماضي وحقق جائزة أفضل لاعب شاب، ومن المنتظر أن يكتسب المزيد من الخبرات خلال الموسم المقبل.

ولم يشارك ستيفنسون الذي انضم إلى ليفربول قادماً من فريق سندرلاند تحت 15 عاماً في أي مباراة تنافسية مع الفريق الأول لكنه شارك في أربع مباريات ودية خلال الفترة التحضيرية ما قبل الموسم.

ولعب ستيفنسون 34 مباراة مع دندي يونايتد الموسم الماضي وسجل 3 أهداف ليساعد الفريق على تحقيق المركز الرابع والتأهل لبطولة أوروبية.

وكان ستيفنسون قد لعب مع الفريق الأول لأول مرة عندما لعب موسم 2023-2024 على سبيل الإعارة، ووقع على أول عقد احترافي مع ليفربول في عام 2020 ووقع على شروط جديدة قبل العودة لدندي يونايتد.

The fast bowler says the Brisbane pitch is “a little bit too firm” for the pink ball

Andrew McGlashan25-Jan-2024Mitchell Starc acknowledged that it was “humbling” to pass 350 wickets as a summer of landmarks continued for Australia’s Test attack, but he will only really sit back and reflect on personal achievements when he hangs up his boots.After Nathan Lyon’s 500th Test wicket along with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood crossing 250 this season, it was Starc’s turn to tick off another landmark on the opening day at the Gabba. When he had Alick Athanaze caught behind, he became the fifth Australia bowler to 350 Test wickets. He finished the day with 4 for 68 and is now four wickets away from overtaking Dennis Lillee’s tally (355), which would make him the country’s second-most prolific quick behind Glenn McGrath (563).”Numbers are nice, [it’s] something else to reflect on when I’m all done. Still got some wickets to take,” Starc said. “Nice to have an impact today, go past that one…Gaz [Lyon] was saying there’s another 150 to go.Related

Da Silva, Hodge lead West Indies' recovery on see-saw day

A day of positives and progress for West Indies

“They are all nice things to tick off and very humbling [to close in on Lillee] but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Need 20 wickets to win and we’ll all reflect on [the landmarks] when we are finished, sitting around with a beer at a golf course somewhere. At the moment we are just enjoying our cricket as a group of players.”Early in the season, during the opening Test against Pakistan in Perth, Starc made some mid-match adjustments and said he had been searching for “that perfect feeling” throughout the summer. He was pleased with his rhythm and the pace he was able to generate on the opening day in Brisbane.Three of Starc’s inroads came in the first session when Australia made good use of the new ball to leave West Indies 64 for 5. But life became tougher for the bowlers after that as the pink ball softened and it wasn’t until the second new ball that Starc struck again to remove Kavem Hodge.Starc’s record with the pink ball is outstanding – he now has 65 wickets at 18.09 from 12 day-night Tests – and he has come to believe that the key to the format is the pitch and its impact on the ball. This Brisbane surface, he said, was a little on the firm side to be ideal, which meant the ball became soft within the first hour, whereas Adelaide, which traditionally hosts the day-night encounter in Australia, has a more forgiving pitch.”It comes down to the wicket, which I think Adelaide has got right,” he said. “Because of the ball, we know it goes softer at certain stages depending on the wicket, think there’s a certain cushion to what they make at Adelaide, which is why it’s been such a good pink-ball Test in Adelaide.”Think this wicket is pretty similar to the game we played Pakistan [in 2016-17]. In that game [the ball] went soft pretty early, there were a lot of dead patches where it was hard to score and wasn’t much in the wicket for the bowlers. Pakistan were about 450 chasing 490. Feels a bit like a similar wicket where it’s a little bit too firm. Think it would be a fantastic red-ball wicket, but probably too firm for the pink ball.”

Rodrygo could be the beneficiary amid Vinicius Jr.'s contract standoff with Real Madrid, as the club could consider selling the No.7 this summer.

Rodrygo's exit could be preventedMadrid could sell Vini instead amid wage demands Brazilian wants to become the highest-paid player at the clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tensions are rising at Real Madrid as Vinicius Jr. pushes for a significant pay raise and a hefty renewal bonus that could exceed the club’s wage ceiling. His demands come amid the arrival of Kylian Mbappe last summer, whose lucrative signing bonus upon arriving as a free agent has reportedly become a reference point for the Brazilian star.

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Amid the trouble brewing within the offices at Valdebebas, one player could greatly benefit from Madrid and Vini having contractual disagreements. reveals that Rodrygo's potential exit could be blocked if Vini fails to reach an agreement with Los Blancos.

Club president Florentino Perez is hesitant, fearing that meeting the 25-year-old's demands to become the highest-paid player at the club would disrupt the wage structure and spark similar requests from other top players. As a result, Madrid are now seriously considering selling either Vinicius or Rodrygo to help offset this summer’s heavy transfer spending. Rodrygo, whose contract runs a year longer, is also on the market with a €100 million (£86.6m/$116m) price tag. However, Vinicius, whose form has dipped, may be the more likely departure.

DID YOU KNOW?

In new head coach Xabi Alonso's short tenure, Rodrygo has played a total of 92 minutes in six games, of which he was an unused substitute in three. Apparently, the former Santos prodigy wishes to continue at the Bernabeu, and his wish could be granted if Vini is offloaded. If reports are to be true, Alonso could perhaps shift towards benching one of Mbappe or Vinicius to bring balance and structure to the team. Rodrygo, therefore, could work his way into the ex-Bayer Leverkusen coach's plans. But speculation has strongly suggested that Madrid would prefer Rodrygo to leave the club, even though they will leave the final decision on the player. Arsenal seem to be in pole position to acquire the 24-year-old's services, but Liverpool are ready to battle their Premier League counterparts.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Los Blancos will hope to resolve the contract dispute with Vini as soon as possible, given that the No.7 has only two years left on his contract. As for Rodrygo, his future appears to be away from the Spanish capital, unless things change drastically.