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If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why, and he’s only there because Josh Hazlewood is injured

Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-20251:01

What’s Boland getting right against India?

Except for the no-ball that denied him a wicket with his first delivery of the series, Scott Boland has barely put a foot wrong against India.On the opening day at the SCG, he produced a masterclass of seam bowling. For much of his 20 overs, India could barely score a run, and he claimed four of the top seven batters. His second of two in two balls, having the in-form Nitish Reddy Kumar fending to the slips, was his 50th wicket in his 13th Test. His final figures were his best since the iconic 6 for 7 on debut at the MCG.The odds were against Australia going through another full summer without needing a replacement in their pace attack, but it’s worth remembering that Boland still needs an injury to get into the side ahead of the big three. He will go down as one of the game’s finest reserves.Related

• Pant: 'Sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket'

• India's day of futility, until Bumrah catches fire

• Stats – India's season of first-innings batting woes

• Boland leads the charge as Australia dominate on green pitch

In this series, it has been Josh Hazlewood twice withdrawing – first with a side strain and then with a calf problem – which has allowed Boland the opportunity to add to an extraordinary home record which, by the close of the first day, read 43 wickets at 13.34.It certainly fitted the category of not being a bad toss to lose for Pat Cummins. He would have batted, but it was a cloudy morning and as the players took the field the floodlights came on. The pitch had more bounce, movement and carry than any at the SCG in recent memory.It’s therefore also worth adding that anything Boland can do, Jasprit Bumrah could repeat as he hinted at in the action-packed conclusion to the day’s play.But for Australia, there was a brittle India top order to aim for amid the extraordinary decision from captain Rohit Sharma not to play this Test, regardless of whether it really was a selfless call by him or a selfless call he was encouraged to make.Boland didn’t have a lengthy wait to get the ball and, not for the first time, was swiftly into the wickets when Yashasvi Jaiswal edged into the slips to give Beau Webster his first catch on debut. The ball after Jaiswal’s departure, Boland came within a debatable blade of grass of removing Virat Kohli for a golden duck in what became one of the day’s major talking points. Initially, it appeared that Steven Smith had been able to flick the ball up remarkably for Marnus Labuschagne to take a rebound, but third umpire Joel Wilson ruled the ball had touched the ground.

“He’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket. It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time”Rishabh Pant on Scott Boland

What it did allow was an engrossing contest between Boland and the struggling Kohli, who faced 25 balls for just five runs against him. The collective hold of Australia’s attack eventually became too much for Kohli, who, yet again, played away from his body to edge in the cordon – having been sent back by Rishabh Pant when looking for a single the ball before.”We’ve got pretty set plans on how we want to bowl to him,” Boland said on of Australia’s success against Kohli this season. “He sort of feels like he leaves a lot and then he wants to play the ball once he gets in. So once he gets in, we just want to switch our lines a little bit to fifth stump and it’s working at the moment.”It was the fourth time Boland had removed Kohli in Tests, putting him top of his strike list alongside Joe Root. That Root is there is also a link to the one time Boland has really been dominated in Test cricket as England used his metronomic strengths against him to take him for 4.91 an over during the 2023 Ashes. Should Boland be part of Australia’s attack at any stage in next summer’s Ashes, it will be fascinating to see how England’s batters approach him.Scott Boland is all smiles on the boundary line after dismissing Virat Kohli•Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesThere have been glimpses of India trying to do something similar in this series, but brief onslaughts from Reddy and Pant in Adelaide came with India a long way back in the game, while Pant’s scoop at the MCG ended at deep third. At the SCG, they barely tried to fire a shot, albeit it being a very challenging surface. Boland’s spells for the day lined up as: 5-3-5-1; 7-3-10-1; 5-2-4-2; 3-0-12-0.”If there’s anything in the wicket he finds it, and if there’s nothing in the wicket he still manages to find a way through,” Webster said. “He’s relentless. Think it’s his line and length and his natural angle makes it really hard for right-handers, but when we see him go around the wicket to left-handers, it’s impressive stuff.”Even though just one wicket fell in the afternoon session as a partnership built between Pant and Ravindra Jadeja – the latter was dropped off Boland by Smith on 3 – it was at such a rate that the scoreboard never got away from Australia. When wickets then fell, India had barely moved anywhere.

Boland is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why

“I think he’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket,” Pant said. “It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time.”Credit to Australia’s hold over the scoring goes to the overall bowling effort, and a significant nod to Webster, who sent down 13 overs for 29 and was denied a first Test wicket when Nathan Lyon spilled a chance at gully. It will never be known how close Mitchell Marsh would have come to replicating those efforts, but he had not bowled that volume of overs in a Test innings since his five-wicket haul at The Oval in the 2019 Ashes.After tea, Boland’s perseverance paid off handsomely when Pant’s patience eventually snapped with a spliced pull to mid-on after an innings that had included more body blows than he could ever recall taking before. The next delivery lifted at Reddy, who sent it to second slip. Boland was then within a whisker of a hat-trick when he whistled the ball past the shoulder of Washington Sundar’s bat.At the end of the over, he returned to the boundary to a standing ovation from a sold-out SCG. He is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate admits that transfer speculation has left him in a “tight spot”, with questions continuing to be asked of how long he will remain at Anfield. The France international defender is into the final year of his contract, meaning that he could hit free agency in the summer of 2026. La Liga giants Real Madrid are being credited with interest.

• Konate contract: Running down towards free agency

  Konate can do little to stop the rumours, with no extension to his current terms being agreed on Merseyside. For as long as his future remains up in the air, the 26-year-old centre-half will find himself at the centre of distracting gossip.

  There has been talk of a new deal being agreed with Liverpool, as Konate has been with the Reds since 2021. It has also been suggested that he could tread a similar path to former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold by swapping Liverpool for Madrid – with no transfer fee needing to change hands.

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  Konate reacts to Anfield transfer rumours

  Konate is eager to point out that there is no substance to the speculation that he continues to generate, with no definitive decisions being made on his future. His form has dipped slightly this season, with Liverpool enduring uncharacteristic issues as a collective, with the exit rumours doing little to aid his cause.

  Speaking to while on 2026 World Cup qualifying duty with France, Konate said when asked about his regular presence in gossip columns: “It’s difficult, we can’t say everything because a lot of things are already being said in the media.”

  He went on to say of unwelcome stories potentially casting him in a bad light with loyal Liverpool supporters: “Some of the things that I read, I’m like… oh la la. That puts me in a tight spot with Liverpool fans, and they don’t even know all the ins and outs.”

  Konate has previously said of lining up a decision day with Premier League heavyweights: “My agents continue to discuss with Liverpool. I hope my decision will be made very soon so I can announce it.”

• Carragher hopes Konate signs new Liverpool deal

  Legendary former Reds defender Jamie Carragher is hoping that a deal can be agreed with Konate. He has told the : "I’d like him to stay but if he doesn’t stay, Liverpool will sign someone else. Liverpool won’t fall apart if Konate leaves. He's not Virgil van Dijk. He's a good centre-back who you hope will sign, but if he doesn’t want to sign, Liverpool will be absolutely fine.

  “He's a very good centre-back, he's a title winner at Liverpool, he's played in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. He's obviously a quality centre-back. It's not poor management [if he goes for free]. You can't physically make somebody sign a contract. Then it's your decision, do you keep him to the length of his contract or do you sell him?”

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  Will Konate join Real Madrid? Who will Liverpool sign as a replacement?

  Liverpool were disappointed to lose home-grown star Alexander-Arnold to La Liga giants in the summer of 2025. A small fee was paid there, with Real prepared to complete a transfer prior to the England international officially becoming a free agent – with the Blancos’ FIFA Club World Cup campaign being factored into the equation.

  Konate has revealed that fellow countryman Kylian Mbapppe “calls me every two hours to sign for Real Madrid", with the World Cup-winning forward acting as an agent for those at Santiago Bernabeu.

  It may be that Konate ends up joining Mbappe in the Spanish capital. He has taken in 148 appearances for Liverpool across four-and-a-half seasons, registering six goals. Konate has formed part of Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup-winning squads.

  While Liverpool would like to retain his services, they were heavily linked with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi over the summer. He is another that is heading towards free agency in 2026, meaning that the Reds could land themselves a ready-made replacement for Konate. They also acquired highly-rated Italian defender Giovanni Leoni in the last transfer window and are expecting big things from him once a complete recovery from an unfortunate ACL injury has been made.

There isn’t a whole lot of buzz around Dubai and Sharjah just yet, but seldom has the field looked so even ahead of a major women’s tournament

Shashank Kishore01-Oct-202415:17

Runorder: Can Australia be stopped at the Women’s T20 World Cup?

“What happens in Dubai Sports City stays in…….” doesn’t quite have the same appeal as “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, does it?That unmistakable sentiment rings out loud around this township, because nothing that happens here, except when the men’s teams of India and Pakistan occasionally meet, causes ripples of excitement around town.The robust Dubai metro hasn’t yet spread its wings this far, so is it even in Dubai, they ask. Jokes aside, there’s an unusual sense of calm around the venues.If you’re expecting fanfare and hoopla around the stadiums as a marker of the buzz around the Women’s T20 World Cup, you may need to temper your expectations. The ICC certainly has.Related

• 'It can be tough to do both skills full out' but Kapp will do it for South Africa

• After changes in lifestyle, Fatima Sana wants to be as quick as Shabnim Ismail

• Catching in focus as Women's T20 World Cup enters the ring of fire

• The Devine dilemma – to open or not to open?

• Alyssa Healy: 'Not here to defend the title, here to win it'

An example of that is simply how affordable the tickets are; they start at AED 5 (USD 1.36 approx) for regular seating, while the premium seats start at AED 350 (USD 95 approx). The same area for a men’s India-Pakistan game at the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup cost upwards of AED 6000 (USD 1600 approx).Getting your hands on tickets may have meant hours of queuing up virtually, staying connected through every possible device you own, only to be told your payment failed because the server crashed, before you find the friendly neighbor posting an Instagram story of how a friend’s uncle’s colleague helped arranging passes.For the record, while the hospitality tickets for India-Pakistan on October 6 in Dubai have been sold out, general seating is available in plenty, as are tickets for most other big games.India have been training with balls soaked in soap solution to try and prepare for dew•ICC/Getty ImagesWhile the last-minute shift of venue from Bangladesh wasn’t ideal, and is among the reasons for the low-key build-up, there couldn’t have been a better alternative than the plug-and-play possibilities the UAE offers.Yes, it won’t quite match the pulse of a sellout Sylhet crowd dancing to the beats of (the theme song of the last Women’s T20 World Cup Bangladesh hosted in 2014), but it could yet produce compelling cricket because all the teams are about to embrace the unknown.And this perhaps, entirely by chance, could be the ICC’s cheat code to unlocking the closest-ever women’s tournament in recent memory, because no team can claim to have mastered the conditions. Picture this: none of the competing teams have ever played at the Dubai International Stadium.Acclimatising to the heat and humidity isn’t unusual for professionals anymore; what is a slight deviation from the norm is the lengths teams are going to in their preparation.England have camped in Abu Dhabi for over two weeks, training at different times of the day, including the dead of the afternoon, to tune their bodies, coming from nippy weather back home. Pakistan have played in 40-degree heat in Multan against South Africa and have continued from where they left off. Scotland and West Indies scheduled unofficial games to get used to the heat factor, long before the warm-ups.Given the advantage chasing sides are likely to have in Dubai, teams batting first may need to go hard from ball one•ICC/Getty ImagesIndia have had unusually long fielding drills to get used to the low, ‘ring of fire’ lights around the stadium. On their first training day upon arrival, the local organisers were taken aback by a rather strange request. “Lots of soap water, please” was the message. To wet the ball. They could have used plain water, but India wanted the slippery effect of soap to help their spinners simulate bowling in dewy conditions.History suggests dew could be a massive factor. In the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup, all 10 night games in Dubai were won by the chasing team. So, teams are trying to go hard from the first ball, to be able to give their bowlers, to quote MS Dhoni’s famous term, “par-plus scores.” Jemimah Rodrigues has certainly bought into that mindset. Shafali Varma, Chamari Athapaththu, Alyssa Healy and Deandra Dottin probably know no other way.And the exact opposite of what Dubai offers is likely to spring up in Sharjah. The South African men being spun out by Afghanistan on slow burners could have just been a teaser of what could follow at this tournament. It could bring out a different facet of T20 bating.The tournament as a whole has grown, as has the following, as a result of this transformation of skills in the women’s game. This has led to a massive spike in interest which wasn’t there even 10 years ago, because only the knockout games were deemed important enough to televise.The group-stage fixtures were a distant second cousin to the men’s tournament happening in parallel at A-list centers. But six years since opening up the experiment of a standalone tournament, the sport grew exponentially that March day in 2020 – raging pandemic notwithstanding – when 86,174 spectators played a massive part in spurring a revolution.Four years on, the women’s game has grown even bigger, with a greater number of dangerous teams, and endless possibilities await in what could yet be the closest-ever Women’s T20 World Cup.

One of the positions Manchester United have struggled to find the correct solution for under Ruben Amorim is at wing-back.

On the right flank, things seem more settled. Amad has put in some good performances this term, locking down his place on that side and forming a good partnership with summer arrival Bryan Mbeumo.

The left-hand side has been more problematic. Last January, the Red Devils bought in Patrick Dorgu from Lecce to operate out there, but at just 21 years of age, he is still inexperienced and has rightly had his game time managed.

That has meant Diogo Dalot has operated out there a lot.

Dalot's concerning form at left wing-back

26-year-old Dalot is becoming one of the most experienced players in United’s squad. The Portuguese defender has played 219 times for the club and offers excellent versatility, able to operate at both left-back and his natural right-back.

It is that versatility that Amorim has leaned into this season. Of course, the Red Devils boss infamously plays with wing-backs, and he has tasked Dalot with that this season. The United number 2 has operated at left wing-back more often than not in 2025/26.

In nine appearances across all competitions, the former FC Porto star has played five times at left wing-back. In his last four matches in the Premier League, Dalot has played on that flank.

He does offer something going forward, at times. Last season, he chalked up this impressive assist against Fulham in the FA Cup from the left flank, with Bruno Fernandes firing home to cap off a good move.

Yet, United fans do seem to be losing patience with Dalot. Content creator Dev Bajwa said the Red Devils’ number two has “got to be dropped” and said his teammates are “carrying” him.

Well, a solution might well present itself for Amorim if he does decide to drop Dalot.

The Man United star who can replace Dalot

United certainly have options on the left flank. Dalot, of course, has been Amoirm’s first-choice in recent games, and Dorgu is another player who could slot in there.

However, one man who is yet to operate in that role this season is Luke Shaw.

Well, that is because the England international has played a starring role on the left of United’s back three. Of course, he is a left-back by trade, but has shone at left centre-back. That could all change soon with the imminent return of Lisandro Martinez.

The Argentine is close to returning to action after being sidelined since February with a knee injury. He is, however, a trusted lieutenant of Amorim when fit, and has started all 16 possible games under the Portuguese manager.

Martinez is now back in full training and could feature against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. If he does come into the side, it could see a reshuffling of the pack for Amorim.

With the 2022 World Cup winner set to slot into the back three on the left, Shaw would be able to move to left wing-back.

It is a role he has only done 15 times in 297 games for United. He’s also played there for England, and scored the opener in the Euro 2020 final, a goal Three Lions supporters will not forget in a hurry.

Shaw once described Martinez as a “monster” so unleashing the £48m defender when he is back to full fitness makes sense. It also offers Amorim a chance to change things up, with Dalot struggling for his best form at left wing-back.

Playing Shaw high and wide, allowing him to get crosses into the box on his strong foot, is a move that seems to make sense for the manager. With the disappointing form and general misprofiling of Dalot by Amorim, replacing him with Martinez could make the Red Devils a more well-rounded team. It could finally spell the end for the Portuguese in United colours.

Carreras 2.0: INEOS have signed an LWB who can end Dalot's Man Utd career

Diogo Dalot is under pressure at Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Nov 3, 2025

Former Spain manager Javier Clemente has sent a warning to Lamine Yamal, after the recent controversy surrounding the wonderkid's withdrawal from La Roja's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Clemente added to the furore by questioning the player's personal life, saying he "won't last long" in the game if he "does not behave correctly".

• Clemente questions Yamal's personal life

  Yamal's runaway success in his career thus far has hit a few roadblocks for the first time over the past few months. In the summer, unsavoury reports about the winger's 18th birthday party generated a slew of headlines. Over the past few weeks, he has been at the centre of an ongoing dispute between Barcelona and the RFEF over his availability for the national side in light of a persistent groin injury. That issue came to a head on Monday, when the Spanish federation announced Yamal had undergone an "invasive procedure" to remedy the issue without any prior warning from La Blaugrana. 

  Clemente, who managed La Roja between 1992 and 1998 leading the side to three major international tournaments, focussed on Yamal's personal life when speaking to Spanish radio show 'Què T'hi Jugues'. The veteran coach suggested that if the 18-year-old does not focus on his football, he will start to see declining returns on the field. 

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  Yamal told to behave correctly

  Clemente said: "As a player he is very good, but his problem is that if in his personal life he does not behave correctly as an athlete, he will not last long. That is clear. They are not going to allow it.

  "The opponents already know how they play, they know how to see him and they know that he is one of the players who should not be allowed to play because he has such quality that he can do many things. He will have very special markings and surveillance."

  While the former Betis and Atletico Madrid boss said Yamal is capable of "brilliant things", he suggested that the added scrutiny of the opposition means "he is not going to be as attractive as what we have seen so far." 

• Clemente refuses to add to Barcelona and RFEF feud

  While he had stern words for Yamal, Clemente refused to add additional fuel to the fire surrounding the dispute between the player's club and the national team. He instead suggested that the public dispute should instead be dealt with in private. 

  When asked for his opinion on the spat he said it was "cockfighting", before adding: "I have not lived it and I will not live it because I have another concept of how to do things. What is true is that it has to be handled in a different way. Neither Barça has to face the Federation, nor the Federation Barça. Nor the coach. You have to carry that inside."

  He went to say that "Barcelona is a very important club for the national team". Luis de la Fuente's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkiye features four other players from La Blaugrana: Pau Cubarsi, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez. 

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  Yamal under increasing scrutiny

  Clemente's comments, while not directly pertaining to the ongoing injury saga, are further evidence that Yamal is entering a different part of his career. Having now played 143 senior games for both club and country, he is being viewed through the lens of a seasoned professional, despite still being a teenager. 

  Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has said that the youngster has improved his discipline in light of his injury woes. Whether those comments were made to take heat off his player or they were a genuine assessment remains to be seen. 

  No timeline has been given for Yamal's return following his operation, however, if he is quickly brought back into the Barcelona side there will be renewed questions over his commitment to the national side. Given the ferocity with which the Spanish media can go after players, the next few months will be a strong test of the player's mentality. 

  De La Fuente has called up Ray Vallecano forward Jorge de Frutos in the 18-year-old's absence. La Roja are currently in Georgia ahead of their tie on November 15. They will then return to Seville to face Turkiye on November 18. 

They started the season with 287 for 3 against RCB, and ended it with 278 for 3 against KKR

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2025

287 for 5 – SRH vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2024

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, boundaries rained down as SRH redefined T20 brutality, obliterating their own record from earlier in the season to post a staggering 287 for 3. Travis Head led the charge with a career-best 102 off 41, Heinrich Klaasen pummelled 67 off 31, and Abdul Samad applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 37 off just 10 balls. That helped SRH win the contest by 25 runs.

286 for 6 – SRH vs RR, Hyderabad, 2025

The big question heading into IPL 2025 was whether the first 300-plus total would be scored. SRH, the favourites to do so, came tantalizingly close and fell 14 short. The top five collectively faced 118 balls, and not one of them struck below 200. On his SRH debut, Ishan Kishan added to the fireworks, smashing his maiden IPL ton.

278 for 3 – SRH vs KKR, Delhi, 2025

SRH began IPL 2025 by smashing the second-highest total in IPL history, but then their big-hitters fell away dramatically and last-year’s runners-up were the third team to crash out of the race for the playoffs. However, they ended the season in trademark style, by clobbering KKR for 278 runs in Delhi, the third highest total in IPL history. Abhishek Sharma made 32 off 16, Travis Head 76 off 40, but Heinrich Klaasen was the show-stopper with 105 not out off 39 balls – the joint third-fastest hundred in IPL history.

277 for 3 – SRH vs MI, Hyderabad, 2024

The carnage in Hyderabad resulted in an 11-year-old IPL record falling, RCB’s seemingly-insurmountable 263 for 5 from 2013 fell by the wayside thanks to a breathtaking, collective show from the SRH batters. Klaasen spearheaded the carnage with an unbeaten 80 off 34, while Head and Abhishek Sharma blasted rapid fifties. Mumbai Indians gave a spirited chase but lost steam, falling short by 31 runs.

272 for 7 – KKR vs DC, Vishakhapatnam, 2024

A rampaging Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batting unit laid down an early marker for a season of run-fests with a commanding demolition of Delhi Capitals (DC). Sunil Narine blazed 85 off 39, Angkrish Raghuvanshi kept pace with 54 off 27, and Andre Russell provided the finishing fireworks with 41 off 19. Only Ishant Sharma’s tight final over, conceding just eight runs, stopped KKR from climbing even higher on this list.

266 for 7 – SRH vs DC, Delhi, 2024

SRH ventured where no team had gone before in a T20 powerplay. Head and Abhishek blazed their way to a jaw-dropping 125 for no loss in six overs. At that point, 300 looked like a terrifyingly real possibility. But with the field restrictions lifted, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel pulled things back, bringing SRH’s innings down to more earthly realms. Shahbaz Ahmed’s unbeaten 59 off 29 balls, however, still powered them past 260.

Carlo Ancelotti has warned Neymar and Vinicius Junior that they must be at "100 percent" to make Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad. The manager delivered his clearest message yet to Brazil’s biggest names, insisting that neither reputation nor past achievements will secure anyone a seat on the plane to the United States, Canada and Mexico. His comments arrive at a particularly delicate moment for Neymar, whose turbulent return to Santos has been overshadowed by persistent physical setbacks.

• Neymar faces fresh injury concerns

  After leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Hilal in 2023, Neymar ruptured his ACL while playing for Brazil and spent nearly 18 months fighting to get back onto the pitch. His move to the Saudi Pro League never materialised into the success story many had hoped for, and by January 2025, he had opted for a homecoming, returning to Santos with the ambition of both reviving the club and salvaging his international career. 

  The reality has proved far more punishing. Neymar has managed only seven goals in 25 outings for Santos, with his second spell at the club dominated by rehabilitation instead of resurgence. The forward’s repeated niggles and setbacks have prevented him from gaining rhythm and have stalled his hopes of earning a recall to the national team. With just one international window remaining before Brazil’s World Cup campaign begins, the clock is now ticking loudly over his future.

  Santos manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda confirmed on Monday that Neymar was sidelined once again after feeling acute discomfort in his knee both before and during the recent 1-1 draw with Internacional. The 33-year-old did, however, play through pain to inspire Santos to a 3-0 victory against Sport in their latest Serie A outing, with the final result allowing the club to jump out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

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  Ancelotti will not take an unfit Neymar to the World Cup

  Ancelotti has been careful not to offer special treatment to any player. When asked directly about Neymar’s situation, the Italy legend was unequivocal, and also issued a warning to Real Madrid forward Vinicius, who has struggled to produce his best form so far this season.

  "He has to be 100%," Ancelotti told . "There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%. It's not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinícius. If Vinícius is at 90%, I'll call up another player who is at 100%, because it's a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front. Up front, we have really many good players."

  Ancelotti acknowledged Neymar’s extraordinary natural ability but conceded his career has been repeatedly derailed by untimely injuries.

  "I think he's a great talent," Ancelotti said. "He's had the bad luck of having injuries. He couldn't be in good physical condition because of the injuries he's had."

• Neymar speaks out on his injury

  Neymar insists he is determined to keep pushing despite his latest physical setback. Speaking after his most recent appearance for Santos, he admitted the emotional toll the injuries have taken but remained hopeful he can still contribute in the final weeks of the season.

  "I'm feeling better and better," Neymar said after Friday's game against Sport. "This injury is sad, it's annoying. But it's nothing that will stop me from doing anything. That's why I keep playing. Now it's time to think about Santos, to think about putting Santos where it deserves to be, which is in the top flight. And then we'll see what to do."

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  Race against time for a fourth World Cup

  Whether Neymar can still fight his way into the World Cup squad is becoming increasingly uncertain. Not only is he a major doubt for the remainder of Santos' 2025 season, but the Brazilian football calendar means he will have limited opportunities for competitive minutes before March. Without regular football, it is highly unlikely that Ancelotti will make an exception for the 33-year-old forward, no matter his past contributions to the national team.

  One option being considered is a temporary move back to Europe, where clubs would still be mid-season in early 2026. Playing on the continent could provide Neymar with the continuity he needs to convince Ancelotti that he remains capable of performing on the sport’s biggest stage.

Luis Ortiz is currently on paid leave as Major League Baseball investigates gambling allegations against the Cleveland Guardians pitcher. It turns out the investigation was prompted by two individual pitches.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan and David Purdum, betting integrity firm IC360 sent an alert to sportsbook operators about Ortiz in June.

From Passan's report:

Bets in Ohio, New York and New Jersey were flagged in the alert. Some sportsbooks allow betting on the result of first piches in a given inning.

Jomboy Media found video of the two pitches, both miss the strike zone by a mile.

Ortiz is currently on "non-disciplinary paid leave" through July 17 while MLB investigates the allegations.

NZ batter had represented the franchise in 2025, but was released despite being their highest run-getter

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2025Kane Williamson is set to replace Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam at Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) ahead of SA 2025-26, ESPNcricinfo understands. DSG had bought Taijul for R500,000 (approx. US$28,858) at the mega auction in September, but he’s set to miss the upcoming fourth edition of the SA20.Williamson, meanwhile, had made his debut in the tournament when he represented DSG last season, but was released by the side despite being their highest run-scorer. He scored 233 runs at an average of 46.60 and a strike rate of 118.87 in eight games. DSG finished at the bottom of the table.Williamson’s return to the SA20 continues his foray in the franchise world. Last month, he was appointed Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) strategic advisor in the IPL. Earlier this year, after his maiden stint at the SA20, he played in the Hundred for the first time in his career and in the Vitality Blast after seven years. Soon after, Williamson signed only a casual agreement with New Zealand Cricket to have flexibility in playing overseas.Related

• Brevis, Markram earn record sums at SA20 2025-26 auction

• Kane Williamson retires from New Zealand T20Is

• Williamson joins LSG as strategic advisor

Last week, he also retired from T20Is with the T20 World Cup only three months away.At the SA20 next year, Williamson will join Noor Ahmad (retained), Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler (both pre-signed), among others, as DSG look to improve on their performance from last season.The fourth edition of SA20 begins on December 26, with DSG playing the opening game against MI Cape Town in Cape Town.

Manchester United have become known for relying on numerous top young prospects, with many playing key roles within the first-team and helping them achieve various levels of success.

The Red Devils have either promoted them from the academy ranks, or even paid big money for them in an attempt to secure Premier League glory in the future.

Kobbie Mainoo was one of the youngsters who emerged out of the youth ranks at Old Trafford, but his career has hit a stumbling block over the last few months under Ruben Amorim.

He’s rapidly fallen down the manager’s pecking order in the first-team ranks, which could result in a winter transfer away from his boyhood club in the upcoming window.

The same can’t be said for one other senior player, who has become a crucial player since the manager took the reins at the Red Devils a little over 12 months ago.

Amad Diallo’s key moments at Man Utd

Back in October 2020, United announced the addition of winger Amad Diallo from Italian side Atalanta, with many supporters unaware of the talent purchased by the board.

He would subsequently arrive a few months later during the January transfer window, with his first couple of years seeing him be a bit-part player and even being sent on loan twice.

However, Amorim’s arrival has seen the Ivorian become a key member of his squad over the last few months, even utilising the 23-year-old in a somewhat unnatural wing-back role.

The switch may have come as a surprise to many, but it has been a masterstroke and one that has allowed the youngster to create numerous moments to remember for the supporters.

Arguably, his biggest goal to date came in the Manchester Derby last campaign, with his last-minute effort securing a famous win at the Etihad for the Red Devils.

He’s even contributed on numerous occasions at Old Trafford, with his phenomenal quickfire hat-trick against Southampton in 2024/25 securing the side three crucial points.

The 2025/26 season has been somewhat quiet compared to the standards he’s set for himself over recent times – but he did manage to score a potential Goal of the Season contender against Nottingham Forest.

The star who could be United's next Amad

In his first 13 league games of the 2025/26 campaign, Amad has racked up a total of three combined goals and assists – with one of the efforts coming in that clash at the City Ground.

However, the manager will no doubt have to find a solution in the coming weeks, as the 23-year-old looks set to join up with the Ivory Coast squad for the African Cup of Nations.

It remains to be seen who will likely fill the void, especially with Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui also set to join up with their respective nations for the competition.

Such a period could see the hierarchy delve into the transfer market to land an immediate and or long-term solution to help provide needed depth in the wide areas.

Other areas of the squad will no doubt be targeted too, in the hope of finding a player with a similar profile to Amad, whilst having the potential to develop into a top-level talent.

The hierarchy have already completed one deal ahead of the transfer window, with Colombian teenager Cristian Orozco already making the move to Old Trafford.

The central midfielder set to join the club in the winter window from Fortaleza, subsequently costing a fee in the region of $1m (£750k) – a potential bargain fee.

However, despite being just 17 and operating in a different position, he does offer some similarities to United’s Ivorian star, in largely being an unknown quantity to many.

He’s also agreed to join before arriving at a later date, like Amad, which may only generate even more excitement until he formally joins the club at the start of 2026.

Orozco, who’s been dubbed a “destroyer” by one analyst, recently featured for his country at the U17 World Cup, playing a key role in all of their matches, with his showing against El Salvador showcasing the talent he possesses at his tender age.

He managed to complete 67 passes at an accuracy rate of 75%, whilst also completing two dribbles within his total of 107 touches – highlighting his incredible talents with the ball at his feet.

The teenager also won nine duels and nine recoveries alongside two tackles – numbers which could make him the perfect ball-winner for Amorim’s side in the years ahead.

His move to England certainly does have huge glimpses of the previous deal for Amad, with the fanbase undoubtedly hoping that the youngster can develop into another top talent.

However, expectations will no doubt need to be managed during his time in Manchester, but there’s no reason why the supporters can’t begin to get excited about the pending transfer.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

By
Ethan Lamb

6 days ago