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Tottenham have made contact with a “complete” young player over a move to the club, with plenty of other clubs providing stiff competition including Scottish giants Rangers.

Tottenham given £100m cash injection

It has been a positive start to life in north London for Thomas Frank, with Spurs performing well overall in the Premier League and sitting third in the table.

Tottenham have now been given a fresh boost, with their owners, Enic, who are run by the Lewis Family Trust, injecting £100m into the club to “further strengthen the club’s financial position and equip the club’s leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success”.

A source close to Spurs also added: “This is initial additional funding. As the club’s management decides what’s needed to deliver success, more money will be available. The Lewis family is committed to backing the club to be successful.”

This will be music to the ears of the fanbase, who will feel that life after Daniel Levy is going well, and it’s now a case of using the money wisely, potentially on new signings moving forward. One player has now been mentioned as a potential option for the north Londoners.

Tottenham make contact with "complete" winger

Writing on X, journalist Rudy Galetti claimed that Tottenham have made contact with AS Trencin winger Sani Suleiman, looking to beat the likes of Rangers and Bayer Leverkusen to his signature.

Not a lot is known about Suleiman, given his age and where he is currently playing, but he could be an exciting long-term acquisition for Spurs, being capable of shining on both wings. The report does say that he has impressed with his speed, creativity, and ability to impact games.

At just 19, he has already scored 15 goals at senior level, as well as winning three caps for Nigeria’s Under-20s, and Galetti himself has described him as “complete” recently.

It is always important for Spurs to plan for the future, rather than simply focusing on the present, and signing players of Suleiman’s calibre and potential is vital.

Move over Spence: Spurs must unleash "one of the best talents England have"

Frank manages at Tottenham some of England’s finest up-and-coming talent.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 12, 2025

Granted, it is hard to predict the trajectory of a young player, with so many hurdles to clear in their career, from injuries to consistency, but if Frank and the recruitment team at the club see him as a good option, they need to be trusted.

Track the squads ahead of the new seasons as clubs build their lists

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025 • Updated on 25-Aug-2025Adelaide StrikersMen: Hasan Ali (Pak), Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton (Eng), Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood (Eng)
In Jason Sangha (Thunder), Mackenzie Harvey (Renegades)
Out Brendan Doggett (Renegades), Jake Weatherald (Hurricanes)Women: Jemma Barsby, Tammy Beaumont (Eng), Darcie Brown, Sophie Ecclestone (Eng), Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
In
Out Katie Mack (Scorchers)Related

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Brisbane HeatMen: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pak), Tom Alsop (Eng), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (NZ), Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth
In Lachlan Hearne, Hugh Weibgen (Thunder)
Out Mitchell Swepson (Stars)Women: Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Nadine de Klerk (SA), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry (WI), Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues (Ind)
In TBC
Out Laura Harris (Thunder)Hobart HurricanesMen: Rehan Ahmed (Eng), Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain (Ban), Chris Jordan (Eng), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac Wright
In Jake Weatherald (Strikers), Beau Webster (Stars)
Out Caleb Jewell (Renegades)Women: Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Nat Sciver-Brunt (Eng), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith (Eng), Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
In TBC
Out TBCCaleb Jewell has moved from Hurricanes to Renegades•Getty ImagesMelbourne RenegadesMen: Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan (Pak), Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan (Pak), Tom Rogers, Tim Seifert (NZ), Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa
In Jason Behrendorff (Scorchers), Brendan Doggett (Strikers), Caleb Jewell (Hurricanes)
Out Mackenzie Harvey (Strikers)Women: Alice Capsey (Eng), Emma de Broughe, Deandra Dottin (WI), Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth, Sophie Molineux, Naomi Stalenberg, Georgia Wareham
In Tess Flintoff (Stars)
Out Ella Hayward (Stars), Georgia Prestwidge (Stars)Melbourne StarsMen: Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (Eng), Tom Curran (Eng), Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Haris Rauf (Pak), Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson
In Liam Hatcher (Thunder), Mitch Swepson (Heat)
Out Beau Webster (Hurricanes), Joel Paris (Scorchers)Women: Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson (Eng), Ella Hayward, Amy Jones (Eng), Marizanne Kapp (RSA), Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Ines McKeon, Georgia Prestwidge, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland
In Ella Hayward (Renegades), Georgia Prestwidge (Renegades)
Out Tess Flintoff (Renegades), Hasrat Gill (Thunder)Perth ScorchersMen: Ashton Agar, Finn Allen (NZ), Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Laurie Evans (Eng), Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matt Kelly, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne (Eng), Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner
In Joel Paris (Stars), Bryce Jackson
Out Jason Behrendorff (Renegades)Katie Mack has signed with Scorchers•Getty ImagesWomen: Chloe Ainsworth, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine (NZ), Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Alana King, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Paige Scholfield (Eng), Chloe Tryon (SA)
In Katie Mack (Strikers)
Out TBCSydney SixersMen: Sean Abbott, Babar Azam (Pak), Jafer Chohan (Eng), Sam Curran (Eng), Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith
In Kane Richardson
OutWomen: Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Sophia Dunkley (Eng), Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Elsa Hunter, Amelia Kerr (NZ), Ellyse Perry, Courtney Sippel, Mady Villiers
In Elsa Hunter
Out TBCSydney ThunderMen: R Ashwin (Ind), Tom Andrews, Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (Eng), Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan (Pak), Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner
In
Out Liam Hatcher (Stars), Jason Sangha (Strikers), Hugh Weibgen (Heat)Women: Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Samantha Bates, Ella Briscoe, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Hasrat Gill, Laura Harris, Shabnim Ismail (SA), Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
In Laura Harris (Heat), Hasrat Gill (Stars)
Out Sammy Jo-Johnson (retired)

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill talked up Hearts’ title chances hours before agreeing to return to Parkhead, also insisting that Rangers are “no threat whatsoever”.

The 73-year-old will be back in the Celtic Park dugout along with Shaun Maloney for Wednesday’s visit of Falkirk, 20 years after exiting the club, following Brendan Rodgers’ dramatic and acrimonious departure.

O’Neill’s previous arrival kick-started a period of dominance which has seen Celtic win 18 of the past 25 championships, as well as 23 cup competitions.

But the former Republic of Ireland manager returns with Hearts threatening to disrupt the dynamics of Scottish football after going eight points clear with a 3-1 win against Celtic on Sunday.

The result sparked an end to a fractious last few months of Rodgers’ second reign, which saw tension over transfer policy made public before principal shareholder Dermot Desmond accused the former Liverpool manager of being “divisive” and “self-serving”.

Rangers "no threat whatsoever" in title race

When asked by talkSPORT on Monday if this was the season that there could be a “disruptor” in Scottish football, O’Neill said: “Without a doubt, this is it. Celtic are not as physically strong, can actually lose games, whereas before they looked invincible in matches.

“Rangers are no threat whatsoever, although the new manager (Danny Rohl), I think he can maybe do something in time. But they are so far adrift, it’s untrue.”

Rohl had recently commented on his aspirations at Ibrox, revealing he chose Rangers because he “looked for a club to win titles”.

“We are not happy, and it’s the reason why I’m here,” the German said on being appointed in Govan. “I’ve said in the past I was looking for an ambitious club, that’s looking for more.

“I looked for a club to win titles. This club has everything for all these goals and it’s amazing to be coach at this fantastic club. I know what it means and I think I will feel this in the next couple of days and weeks.

“My job is clear and I know what I want to do with this group of players.”

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The Glasgow stranglehold on the Scottish league has been in place since Aberdeen won a third title in six seasons in 1985, but O’Neill admitted “the time is now” at Tynecastle.

“This is the moment, this is the time now for Hearts. They have gone eight points clear, and that is a decent enough lead, really. And their confidence is growing, and it will grow from that victory as well.

“All things are happening for Hearts, it’s great, whereas just at this minute Celtic are in a wee bit of trouble.

“This is the best time for any side outside the Old Firm to go and win. There is a long way to go but there is momentum gathering at Tynecastle.”

Harry Kane's sportswear brand has come up with an incredible environmental initiative ahead of the FA Cup first-round clash between Luton Town and Forest Green Rovers on Friday. The Bayern Munich and England star is an investor and ambassador for Reflo, who have made a brilliant pledge before their two partner clubs lock horns in the oldest competition in football.

Getty Images SportWilshere and Savage to lock horns in eye-catching FA Cup tie

All eyes will be on Kenilworth Road on Friday evening when Luton Town entertain Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup. The tie has captured the imagination as the club’s two famous managers prepare to do battle on the touchline.

Following his appointment earlier this month, former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be hoping his Luton side can get the better of a Forest Green outfit who are led by former Leicester City and Birmingham City man Robbie Savage.

In his first full-time managerial role, Wilshere has led Luton to two wins in his first three games in charge, while Savage – who himself was only appointed in July – has steered Forest Green to fifth in the National League table.

AdvertisementLuton and Forest Green leading sustainability charge in football

However, the stakes have now risen after a fantastic initiative was launched ahead of the game. Reflo – a performance-wear brand who are on a mission to change sportswear – have pledged to plant a minimum of 1,000 trees following the match, plus a further 1,000 trees for every goal scored during regular time.

In what is being dubbed as ‘The Reflo Derby’, Luton and Forest Green – the apparel company’s two partner clubs – will take to the field in kits made from recycled materials. The fixture carries further significance for Forest Green, who are celebrating 10 years as a fully vegan club and the only team in world football to wear a Vegan Society-certified football kit, produced by Reflo.

Luton are also leading the charge for sustainability in football, having pledged to plant a tree for every goal scored while wearing their third kit. The Hatters are also aiming to make their new Power Court Stadium – which is currently under construction ahead of becoming their new home in 2028-29 – as environmentally-conscious as possible.

RefloForest Green and Reflo explain the initiative ahead of the game

Following Reflo’s pledge to plant a minimum of 1,000 trees following the eye-catching FA Cup tie, Dale Vince – Forest Green’s CEO – said: "As soon as we were drawn against Luton, we knew that this would be an extra special FA Cup game between the only two teams using Reflo playing kit. 

"Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at FGR, showing how sports can and should become sustainable – including the world’s first certified vegan kit with Reflo. This fixture is the perfect celebration of our unique journey and planting thousands of trees as part of this game is something we are proud to be part of!"

And Rory MacFadyen, co-founder of Reflo, said: "This match is more than football – it’s a celebration of progress. To see both our partner clubs, Luton and Forest Green Rovers, go head-to-head on live television, both wearing Reflo, is incredibly special. We’re proud to mark it by planting 1,000 trees for every goal scored, creating a lasting impact that goes beyond the pitch. Football has a unique power to inspire change, and this is proof that sustainability and sport can thrive together."

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What Kane said after becoming ambassador for Reflo in 2024

One man who will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at Kenilworth Road will be Bayern and England striker Kane, who became an investor and ambassador for Reflo in 2024. 

After teaming up with the company, he said: "I'm thrilled to be joining the team here at Reflo. Their dedication to sustainability and performance in golf is inspiring, and perfectly aligns with everything that I believe in – both on and off the pitch.

"The right decisions when it comes to creating a sustainable legacy for my family are important, and having tried Reflo for over a year, I know how good they are, and I feel it is going to get bigger as we learn more about making performance-based apparel that is good for the environment.

"As a footballer, I understand the importance of pushing boundaries and setting new standards, and that’s exactly what Rory and the team have shown me. The vision for the brand is incredible, and I can’t wait to be a part of it."

Sussex’s mid-season slump continues with quarter-final place in jeopardy

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jul-2025Michael Pepper’s pyrotechnical 87 off 47 balls led Essex to their first home Men’s Vitality Blast victory in exactly a year, as Sussex Sharks’ quarter-final hopes took a new battering.The Eagles hadn’t won at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in a T20 since downing Kent Spitfires on July 11, 2024, after a dismal beginning to this season.Mohammad Amir’s three tight for 16, backed by two-fors for Simon Harmer, Sam Cook, and Shane Snater, rolled the visitors for 145 – with a lively 52 from John Simpson the only bright spark for the Sharks.Essex would have almost certainly won the reverse fixture had rain not intervened, and Pepper’s season-best made sure they weren’t thwarted again to give them just their second win in the competition.Sussex have lost three of their last four Blast matches to slip into mid-table, with Sunday’s clash with Hampshire Hawks crucial to their hopes of a quarter-final spot.Barring Simpson’s fifty, the Sharks’ innings was a catastrophe from start to finish, having chosen to bat first in the sunshine.Daniel Hughes got away with an edge to slip off the third ball of the match and, despite rushing to 27 off 15 balls, gave Snater a hanger at deep square leg.The left-hander-heavy top order struggled to deal with Harmer spinning the ball away from them as the Eagles skipper returned two for 25 – lefty James Coles offered him a caught-and-bowled while right-hander Danny Lamb slapped to backward point when he returned later in the innings.Amir and Snater were super-accurate to back up their captain as Sussex spluttered to 76 for four at the halfway point, with Tom Clark falling to Cook.Simpson was the antidote to the carousel of wickets with a smart half-century in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 25 balls – decorated by three sixes down the ground and another on the sweep.He put on 39 with Tom Alsop and 42 with Lamb but neither foundation built skyscrapers in the run-rate graph.And the last five wickets dissolved in 16 balls, with the last three falling in the space of four deliveries.Lamb was the first of the quintet to fall, before Simpson didn’t get hold of a hook, Amir bowled Ollie Robinson and had Tymal Mills caught in successive balls and the innings was rounded off by Nathan McAndrew holing out.Paul Walter and Jordan Cox gave Sussex hope by come and going inside three overs but once Pepper got motoring as every delivery to him felt like cannon fodder.Bowling to Pepper proved to be a nightmare as he mixed power with innovative flicks to hammer his third fifty of the season in 22 balls.Charlie Allison helped take a huge bite into the chase with a 69 stand, before the youngster tried for a third six in five balls and picked out deep midwicket.It began a 20-ball boundary dry spell, with Lamb in particular hard to get away, but the run-rate was in Essex’s favour and despite Matt Critchley hitting down deep square’s throat, Pepper and Luc Benkenstein made sure of the four points with an unbroken 54 run stand.Pepper confirmed the emphatic victory by carting his 14th four to win with 23 balls to spare.

The New York Yankees made some minor tweaks to the lineup ahead of Tuesday night's World Series Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving into the cleanup spot while Giancarlo Stanton is slated to bat fifth.

The struggling Aaron Judge, however, will remain in the three-hole.

Boone told reporters prior to first pitch that he considered moving Judge around in the order to try to wake up his bat. While many would assume that would involve pushing Judge back to the No. 4 spot, Boone told reporters that he actually indicated that he was mulling deploying the 6'7" slugger as the Yankees' leadoff hitter—where Judge has hit just 36 times in his career.

Boone ultimately opted to keep Judge at No. 3 in order to leave Gleyber Torres atop the order, with the second baseman having been one of New York's most consistent hitters during the postseason.

This postseason, Judge has played in 12 games and recorded six hits, including two home runs, to go with 20 strikeouts and eight walks. He's recorded a meager .140 batting average as he continues to struggle with breaking pitches.

Judge has only one hit across 12 at-bats and has struck out seven times in the first three games of the 2024 World Series.

It has not been the start to the season that many Chelsea fans were hoping for in the summer.

Enzo Maresca’s side are not necessarily playing poorly, but as things stand, they are ninth in the Premier League and have lost three of their last five in the competition.

The good news is that they have progressed to the next round of the League Cup, and Jamie Gittens finally put in a sensational performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His three goal involvements in that game should take some of the heat off him, although with him starting to perform, another summer signing is looking even more perplexing, a signing who could be the new Jadon Sancho.

Sancho's record at Chelsea

Contrary to what many non-Chelsea fans believe, the Blues did, at one point, intend to sign Sancho upon the completion of his loan last season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The deal they agreed with Manchester United the previous summer included an obligation to buy for £25m or a fee of £5m to send him back, and so initially, the club looked to keep him on a permanent basis.

However, according to reports, the reason they eventually paid to send him back to Old Trafford was because the Englishman refused to accept a pay cut to his massive weekly wage of up to £300k-per-week.

Such an astronomical salary would have been a ludicrous waste of money, as while the former Borussia Dortmund star had his moments here and there, he never blew anyone away during his time at Stamford Bridge.

For example, in 41 appearances across all competitions, the 25-year-old was only able to score five goals and provide ten assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.73 games, which is hardly the output of someone who can demand the wages he did.

Moreover, those numbers start to look even worse when you dig a little deeper.

Games

41

Goals

5

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

For example, two of his goals and five of his assists came in the Conference League, and while it was great that the club won the competition, the opposition they faced to do so were subpar at best.

In all, while it seemed like a good idea at the time, signing Sancho on loan last season was probably not worth it for Chelsea, and it looks like they made a similar mistake this summer.

Chelsea's Sancho repeat

While they haven’t all settled in just yet, it would be fair to say that Chelsea made several quite exciting signings this summer.

However, one signing that baffled fans and pundits alike at the time, and remains even more confusing, is that of Facundo Buonanotte.

The Blues signed the Argentine ace from Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan with no option or obligation to buy, and while it’s not a terrible signing, there are a few reasons which make it a poor one.

For example, and this is a crucial one, he didn’t exactly light the world alight last season.

In his 35 appearances for Leicester City, the supposedly “magnificent” youngster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and provided three assists, with seven of those goal involvements coming in the league.

Such a middling return just makes the Blues’ decision to bring him to the club on a short-term basis all the more baffling, as it’s not like he was an output machine last year.

This leads to the second problem with the move, which is that, if he’s only meant to play the less important games, why couldn’t the club give their own academy products that chance?

Surely it makes more sense to build up the experience of your own prospects over that of Brighton’s.

Finally, when he has actually played for Maresca, he’s not impressed.

In his five appearances thus far, the Pérez-born gem has scored a single goal, and that came against the mighty Lincoln City in the League Cup.

Ultimately, Buonanotte’s lack of impact last season, his underwhelming displays so far this season, and the fact that he could be blocking the pathway for a Cobham graduate just make his loan move more baffling with every passing gameweek.

Maresca can soon unleash "phenomenal" Delap upgrade at Chelsea in 2026

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 31, 2025

Sparkling innings from replacement keeper turns close game for home side

ECB Media16-Aug-2025Trent Rockets 145 for 6 (Moores 55, Banton 49) beat Southern Brave 140 for 4 (du Plooy 55, Stoinis 2-18) by four wicketsA brilliant innings on his home county ground by Tom Moores saw Trent Rockets to a four-wicket win over Southern Brave in the Hundred men’s competition.Moores, making his first appearance in this year’s competition having only just arrived as an emergency wicketkeeper replacement, hit 55 in a partnership of 76 with Tom Banton as Rockets got home with four balls to spare.Rockets chose to bowl first on a slow surface and struck early when James Vince was bowled by one that ran across him from David Willey.Jason Roy and Leus du Plooy began to get to terms with the surface, Roy scooping Marcus Stoinis’s first ball for four. Left-hander du Plooy then slog swept Callum Parkinson for six and smashed Lockie Ferguson for a maximum over long-off.Stoinis returned to bowl Roy for 23, but du Plooy kept his own momentum going, switch-hitting Calvin Harrison into the stands and bringing up his half-century with another six off Parkinson.The game then was forced to pause for a while, the players leaving the field as Adam Hose received medical treatment after a nasty slip on the leg-side boundary. Trent Rockets later confirmed Hose had dislocated his ankle and been taken to hospital for further assessment.When play resumed, Brave looked to accelerate through Michael Bracewell and James Coles. Coles struck Ferguson for two boundaries in the final set to see the Brave reach 140 for 4, a competitive total on this Trent Bridge surface.Trent Rockets came flying out of the blocks – Banton hit the first two balls of the chase for four and then reverse-swept Coles for six from the fourth.Jordan Thompson picked up Joe Root for 6, before Jofra Archer was pulled for fours by both Banton and Rehan Ahmed as Rockets closed the powerplay on 41 for 1.Rehan then went well caught by Roy off Tymal Mills and Max Holden followed, caught by Archer off Danny Briggs. Bracewell removed Willey with his first ball but was later deposited over midwicket for the first of Moores’ five sixes, the left-hander’s arrival shifting the momentum of the match.Mills picked up his 50th wicket in the Hundred, but it came too late as Rockets reached their target.Moores, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “It was a little bit slow at times but ultimately I felt it was a pretty good wicket. It was a nice win.”It’s great to bat with Tom [Banton], he was keeping me nice and calm and we just tried to bat together really and bounce off each other. We score in different areas so we complemented each other well.”The way I play, I’m always trying to take it to the bowler if I can. It’s always nice to do it in front of a home crowd and I thought the boys stuck at it really well after a tough thing in the field that happened to Adam [Hose] and we hope he’s all right.”

Real Madrid and Chelsea legend Arjen Robben has embarked on a surprising new professional career in padel, four years after retiring from football. The 41-year-old, who boasts 12 league titles and a Champions League trophy, recently earned his first ranking points in the International Padel Federation and is aiming to emulate Zlatan Ibrahimovic's impact in popularising the sport.

Arjen Robben transitions to professional padel

Former PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Groningen star Robben has made a professional transition into the sport of padel, four years after his final retirement from football in July 2021. The 41-year-old, known for his illustrious playing career as a winger, is now a ranked professional padel player, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Robben's decorated football resume includes 12 league titles across four different top flights, a Champions League trophy, and 96 caps for the Netherlands over a 14-year international career. Now, at 41, he is applying his competitive spirit to a new athletic challenge.

In late August, Robben achieved his first ranking points in the International Padel Federation (FIP) by entering the FIP Bronze Westerbork tournament, part of the CUPRA FIP Tour, in his native Netherlands. Alongside his partner Werner Lootsma, Robben secured his first-ever victory on the tour, overcoming six match points in a qualifier to defeat Ralph Boekema and former footballer Mark Weldmate with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.

AdvertisementGettyEarly results and high-profile recognition in padel

While Robben's debut victory was a significant milestone, his journey in professional padel is still in its early stages. Following their win, Robben and Lootsma were outclassed in their last-32 clash, suffering a heavy 6-1, 6-0 defeat against world No 155 Sten Richters and world No 144 Thijs Roper.

Despite the loss, the event garnered significant attention, with hundreds of fans turning out to watch Robben play. Richters and Roper paid tribute to the former footballer post-match, commenting: "He's the best former professional footballer we know who plays padel."

Robben, ever gracious in defeat, maintained a humble perspective on his initial foray into the professional circuit. He stated: "I don't think I can take myself too seriously. I started with low expectations. But I tried to fight on the court, and score as many points as possible."

Emulating Zlatan Ibrahimovic's impact in the Netherlands

Robben's passion for padel dates back to his time playing for Bayern Munich, where he regularly engaged with the sport. He revealed: "I used to play three times a week when I was in Germany." This long-standing interest has now evolved into a professional pursuit, with clear ambitions beyond personal enjoyment.

Robben has explicitly expressed his desire to emulate the impact of other former footballers who have embraced padel, specifically pointing to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's influence in Sweden. "Zlatan Ibrahimovic made padel an important sport in Sweden, and I think I can do the same in the Netherlands," Robben stated, indicating his aspiration to popularise the sport in his homeland.

In 2023, Robben even teamed up with former Netherlands strike partner Robin van Persie in the Pro-Am of the World Padel Tour Amsterdam Open. The iconic duo showcased their competitive spirit, winning the "Legends Game" at the event. Van Persie remarked afterwards: "What an incredible experience to play at the Amsterdam Open once again! An intense match in excellent company."

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Current world ranking and future prospects

Robben currently holds a world ranking of 1,980 with three ranking points in the International Padel Federation. While this places him a considerable distance from the top-ranked players – Argentine Agustine Tapia and Spaniard Arturo Coello, who are joint world No 1 with 20,200 points apiece – Robben's entry into the professional ranks is notable for a recently retired footballer.

His current ranking places him significantly behind players like Argentine Franco Stupaczuk, who is fifth in the standings with 8,835 points. The gap between Robben and the elite of padel is substantial, but his renowned determination and competitive drive suggest he may look to climb the rankings in the coming years.

Robben's transition into padel adds another dimension to his post-football career, which also includes some involvement in coaching. His dedication to learning and competing in a new sport, even at 41, highlights his enduring athletic spirit.

After not garnering much interest in free agency, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso told his incumbent team he'd be willing to accept a shorter three-year deal instead of the longer-term contract he was hoping for. This decision may have influenced two other prominent MLB stars to seek shorter deals, too.

Reigning World Series champion pitcher Jack Flaherty and outfielder Anthony Santander are the two players who could now sign shorter deals with high average annual values this offseason, 's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported.

Flaherty was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers mid-season last year. He posted a combined 3.17 ERA. He pitched in five postseason games for the World Series champions, totaling a 7.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 18 earned runs in 22 innings pitched.

Flaherty is unclaimed by any team at the moment, so it's possible he could agree to a one-year opt-out deal, which would put him back on the market next offseason. He would have a qualifying offer for the first time, though.

Santander finished his eighth season with the Baltimore Orioles by earning his first All-Star bid. He averaged .235/.308/.506 and hit a career-high 44 home runs and totaled 102 RBIs. He listed to a qualifying offer from the Orioles earlier in the postseason, but he declined in hopes for a bigger contract. He could now seek a shorter-term deal and end up in free agency next offseason.

We'll see what happens for Alonso, Flaherty and Santander before spring training begins next month.