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يتزايد الغموض حول مستقبل رونالد أراوخو مدافع برشلونة على الرغم من استبعاد البلوجرانا التوقيع مع مدافع جديد في يناير إلا في حال حدوث أي تطورات غير متوقعة بشأن الأوروجوياني.

وقد لا يكون برشلونة قادراً على الإنفاق المالي الكبير في يناير نظراً لوضع النادي وسيحتاج لزيادة إيراداته أولاً من خلال الملعب الجديد بالإضافة لبند الرواتب، ويعتمد هانز فليك مدرب الفريق حالياً على جيرارد مارتن والذي قدم أداء بارزا ضد أتلتيكو مدريد.

ويعد مارك جويهي مدافع كريستال بالاس أحد اللاعبين الذين يراقبهم برشلونة وينتهي عقده بنهاية الموسم، ومع ذلك هناك منافسة من أندية ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ وأتلتيكو مدريد لضمه.

وبحسب “سكاي سبورت ألمانيا” فإن مدافع كريستال بالاس يرغب في الانتقال إلى بايرن ميونخ حتى في ظل اهتمام برشلونة وريال مدريد بخدماته.

أقرأ أيضاً.. حقيقة تعاقد برشلونة مع لاعبين جدد في الميركاتو الشتوي

ويعد بايرن ميونخ هو أول نادي تواصل مع جويهي، ويصر البافاري على التعاقد مع مدافع جديد الصيف المقبل على الرغم من احتمالية تمديد عقد دايوت أوباميكانو.

وقد يكون من الأفضل لبرشلونة التعاقد مع مدافع أكثر كفاءة مثل نيكو شلوتربيك مدافع بوروسيا دورتموند الذي يشبه إينيجو مارتينيز قلب دفاع البلوجرانا السابق والنصر السعودي الحالي أكثر في أسلوبه ويعد قائدًا حقيقيًا في خط الدفاع وقد يكون متاحاً بسعر مناسب حيث أنه سيدخل عامه الأخير في عقده مع بوروسيا دورتموند.

وكانت تقارير صحفية أخرى قد أشارت إلى أن بايرن ميونخ قد استعان بنجمه هاري كين لإقناع جويهي بالانضمام للفريق في الصيف، ويبدو أن المهاجم الإنجليزي سيمدد عقده الذي ينتهي في 2027.

The last few days have been a whirlwind at Manchester United. The Red Devils suffered another disappointing result at Old Trafford, drawing 1-1 against relegation-threatened West Ham United.

Ruben Amorim’s side struggled to create many substantial chances and could only earn a point against the Hammers.

It was another game where Kobbie Mainoo didn’t play, either. The United academy graduate, a true gem of Carrington, has only played 171 minutes in the Premier League this term.

His lack of minutes has certainly upset United fans, with club legend Paul Scholes even saying on a now-deleted social media post that he is “being ruined.”

However, the 20-year-old’s talent cannot be forgotten.

Mainoo’s rise from the academy ranks

It has been a long time since the Red Devils had an academy graduate as exciting as Mainoo, perhaps as far back as Marcus Rashford all those years ago. The midfielder represents what the club stands for: youth, courage, success.

Mainoo’s rise to the top was nothing short of astronomical. He made his first Premier League start back in late November 2023.

Less than 12 months later, he was a starter for England at the European Championships, playing from minute one against Spain in the final.

In his first tournament, key England midfielder Declan Rice was full of praise for Mainoo. The Arsenal star said his midfield partner “has that leadership and the way he takes the ball and is comfortable,” which is high praise just months into his professional career.

United embrace the academy; it has been the heartbeat of the club for decades upon decades.

Mainoo has done Carrington proud in his 82 appearances so far, with the highlight no doubt his FA Cup final winner in 2024. That is what the Red Devils are all about.

Mainoo’s lack of minutes this season is frustrating, but his talent must be celebrated. Incredibly, United have an academy star who might be even more talented than their number 37.

United’s best academy talent

The Red Devils’ long history of success can largely be attributed to their academy. The Busby Babes, the Class of ‘92, graduates from the 2010s such as Rashford, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, all contributed to silverware.

Perhaps the next great academy graduate from Carrington will be JJ Gabriel.

Despite being just 15 years of age, he is already one of the most highly rated academy players and has been described as potentially being already “better than Premier League players.”

Indeed, Gabriel has shone for the Red Devils’ under-18s this season, playing under the tutelage of Darren Fletcher. In just 11 appearances, he’s found the back of the net ten times and has grabbed one assist.

Those numbers speak for themselves, but given that he is playing three years up, it becomes an even more impressive feat.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

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The versatile attacker, who can play up front or as a winger, is not only consistent but also cashes in when he does score.

He’s bagged two goals in a game once, and a hat-trick twice, including one against Liverpool under-18s last weekend. He also grabbed eight goals and assists in August and September.

Gabriel form in August & September

Opponent

Scoreline

G/A

Everton (A)

0-1

0

Middlesbrough (H)

5-0

2G

Derby (A)

0-4

3G

Burnley (H)

1-0

0

Wolves (A)

0-4

1G, 1A

Man City (H)

2-4

1G

Stats from Transfermarkt

In terms of his technical ability, Gabriel is rated incredibly highly. Alfie Brooks, the youngster’s one-to-one coach, said he could go into a Premier League dressing room and “technically he would be better than all of them. It wouldn’t even be close.”

He has bags of tricks, a low centre of gravity and a good footballing brain.

Mainoo’s talent is doubtless, but Gabriel might well be an even bigger prospect. To receive the sort of praise he has is a testament to his quality, and the numbers he puts up on a weekly basis show how talented he is.

The attacker is someone United fans will hope to see break into the first team in the coming years, playing alongside Mainoo week in, week out.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Dec 6, 2025

Pete Crow-Armstrong has a knack for hitting home runs on pitches out of the zone. In fact, he leads MLB in the quirky statistic.

Well, if hitting out of the zone homers is an art form for Crow-Armstrong, then he created his magnum opus during the Chicago Cubs' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Facing Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney with one on and one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Crow-Armstrong worked the count even, then got a four-seam fastball up in the zone—and I mean way up—on the fifth pitch of the at-bat.

The Cubs budding star turned on the ball, crushing it 393 feet to right field at a blistering 103.9 MPH.

Not only did the home run give the Cubs the lead, but it was also absurd, given the location of the pitch Crow-Armstrong hit. Here's a closer look.

The offering was nearly four feet above the plate. Crow-Armstrong's manager Craig Counsell was just as surprised as all of us that the Cubs star managed to hit the ball out.

Crow-Armstrong is in the midst of a breakout campaign in his second full big-league season. He owns a .271/.305/.554 slash line with 18 home runs, 57 RBI, 51 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Crow-Armstrong, currently on pace for at least 40 homers and 50 stolen bases, is a safe bet to be a National League All-Star for the first time in his career.

Martin O’Neill may reportedly have taken charge of his last game as Celtic’s interim manager, according to a significant new update that has emerged.

O’Neill is such a popular figure at Parkhead, with the 73-year-old bringing positivity back to the club after a frustrating end to Brendan Rodgers’ time in charge.

The Northern Irishman has addressed his future at Celtic in recent days, still pinching himself at making a return, but admitting he doesn’t know what the next step is.

“I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and think ‘has this really happened?’ So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.

“No, I genuinely don’t know. But if they make an announcement in, let’s say, in the next week or something about a new manager, I will take this fortnight and I was nearly going to say rather morbidly, to my grave, but hang about. Well you never know, but it’s been fantastic.”

O’Neill will ultimately know that he isn’t the long-term answer for Celtic, with his appointment only a short-term fix, and now a new update has emerged regarding his future.

O'Neill may be replaced at Celtic during international break

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, O’Neill’s spell in charge of Celtic could reach its conclusion during the current international break.

A new “development” took place last weekend, with Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy now one of the leading contenders to come in at Parkhead alongside Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen. It is stated that top target Nancy is now “available” and ready to join the Hoops straight away after his current club were knocked out of the MLS playoffs.

As mentioned, O’Neill won’t be expecting to get the Celtic job permanently, despite some good results in charge, but if he has managed his last game for the club, he will depart as popular as ever.

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Ultimately, the Hoops have to make the right appointment to take the club in the right direction, and if they feel they have found the correct choice during the international break, an immediate change is needed.

Wilfried Nancy’s managerial record

Columbus Crew – MLS Cup winners (2023), Leagues Cup winners (2024)

Matches – 132 Wins – 71 Draws – 32 Losses – 33

CF Montreal – Canadian Championship winners (2021)

Matches – 79 Wins – 38 Draws – 16 Losses – 25

Nancy looks to be an interesting option currently, having won 109 out of 209 matches in management in North America, but the one main risk is that he hasn’t proven himself in Europe, unlike Knutsen with Bodo/Glimt.

Approach imminent: Manager with 209 wins to 70 losses excited by Celtic

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.

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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

Delap’s place in the Chelsea side could soon be under threat.

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Tottenham sensation Lucas Bergvall is making plenty of headlines after his exceptional start to the season, and it could even spark a new transfer plan.

Lucas Bergvall attracting praise after Tottenham displays

The 19-year-old is making his £8.5 million price tag look like chump change.

Ever since his move from Djurgardens in February 2024, Bergvall has arguably established himself as one of Spurs’ best bargains of the last decade.

Spurs beat La Liga giants Barcelona to his signing last year, and according to some reports, Hansi Flick’s Catalans are still reeling from missing out on the teenager amid his excellent start to life at N17.

Appearances

55

Goals

2

Assists

7

Bookings

9

Minutes played

2,881

via Transfermarkt

Thomas Frank has given Bergvall the starting nod in four out of his first six top flight games in charge, with the midfielder scoring his first ever Premier League goal for the Lilywhites during their 3-0 London derby win over West Ham recently.

Bergvall was handed the Player of the Match award for his performance at the London Stadium, and grabbed another one just days later in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League.

The ball-carrying gem has also completed more successful dribbles than any other Tottenham player in the league on average so far, bar summer signing Mohammed Kudus (WhoScored), with Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson lavishing his compatriot after watching nearly all of Bergvall’s games.

Bergvall is even keeping Archie Gray, another exciting teenage talent, out of Frank’s starting eleven despite the Englishman’s excellent performances when called upon.

Pape Sarr and Bergvall are arguably beginning to establish themselves as future undroppables of Frank’s new-look team, with pundits also hailing the former as an “important” player who “goes under the radar” (Martin Allen).

Therefore, it is little surprise that CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team will want to replicate their signings of Sarr and Bergvall in future moves.

Tottenham tipped to move Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham says he’s “heard” that Spurs are looking at midfielders in a similar mould to the duo, and suggests that they could move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

The 22-year-old has seriously impressed since joining Ange Postecoglou’s side from Newcastle, often standing out as a key component of their midfield with his close control, dribbling and composure on the ball.

This was on full display against Real Betis in the Europa League, and Anderson has earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England plans as a result of his excellent City Ground form.

With Bentancur closing in on a new Tottenham deal and Frank already well-stocked for midfielders, at least for the time being, this could be one for Spurs to consider next summer.

Yves Bissouma is widely expected to leave Spurs after falling down Frank’s pecking order, either in January or as a free agent later in 2026, with Anderson standing out as a quality, young and homegrown potential replacement.

That being said, reliable journalist Henry Winter has suggested that the ex-Magpie is now worth over £70 million, which is double the price that Forest originally paid to sign him in 2024.

Kate Scott left Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Michah Richards in hysterics after suffering an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction while fronting CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League. The incident occurred on October 22, with a panel made up of former Premier League stars seeing the funny side of their host being left a little red-faced.

• Wardrobe malfunction: What happened to Scott?

  During the build-up to another busy evening of elite European competition, Richards and Co took the opportunity to welcome former USMNT star Clint Dempsey into their ranks. He is, of course, a familiar face to American audiences. Some playful fist-bumping took place between those preparing to offer expert insight and analysis.

  Scott looked to get in on the act, but had to lean over the desk in order to reach Dempsey’s outstretched arm. In doing so, she ended up ripping the top that she was wearing. The 44-year-old quickly realised what had happened and managed to grab the garment in question before it slipped any further.

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• Richards' trouser tear left CBS Sports panel in tears

  She looked a little sheepish when returning to her chair and blurted out: “Oh! I just broke my top!” Scott invited a member of CBS Sports’ production team onto set to help her out, with those sitting alongside her showing no sympathy whatsoever.

  Henry, Carragher and Richards burst into fits of laughter, with the latter seeing his booming chuckle echo around the studio. Former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Richards said: “Now you know how it feels! Give us a stretch then.”

  Richards has suffered his own on-air clothing issues down the years. When covering Barcelona’s clash with Portuguese side Benfica in January, he popped a button clean off his shirt when jumping in the air to celebrate a dramatic 96th-minute goal from Raphinha in a thrilling 5-4 victory for Barca.

  Prior to that, in October 2023, Richards ripped the crotch in his trousers when attempting to mimic the iconic goal celebration of World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. Said incident left Scott and Carragher in tears, with the ex-Liverpool defender saying: “I’m not sure who is being cancelled, but someone is!”

• Who is Kate Scott married to & does he have beef with Carragher?

  Fans around the world found Scott’s latest gaffe funny, with several making playful jokes on social media at her expense. The CBS Sports crew have built up a legion of loyal supporters, with their behaviour always entertaining.

  The odd unfortunate headline has been made, with Carragher once questioning the loyalty of Scott to her boxing trainer husband Malik Scott. A man that has previously worked with world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has since told of a supposed feud: “Jamie and I always see each other, so it's not an intimidating thing. It's just a respect that men have with each other. That's all it is. I respect him, he respects me, and my wife respects him, and he's going to respect my wife. And he does respect my wife. There’s no grudge with Jamie at all. I love that whole panel.”

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• Promise of more Champions League carnage to come

  Questionable comments and wardrobe malfunctions are always a possibility when Richards and Carragher are involved, with Arsenal great Henry having told  of trying to produce entertaining television: “The main thing is that it is us. It is really us. People think I am putting on a face, but that is how I am. That is me. The most important thing is that we are friends. Nobody is acting.”

  The show’s producer, Matt Curtis, added on that subject: “If people are guarded, if they’re worried about how long they have to talk or what happens if they mess up, there is an air of tension. Hopefully we’ve taken that away from them. We’ve tried to create an environment where they feel comfortable being themselves.”

  There is the promise of more carnage to come, with CBS Sports set to continue with their Champions League coverage through to the final of that competition at the 67,000-seater Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 30, 2026.

Newcastle United have made it through the storm that was the summer transfer window, and Saturday’s controlled victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers has got the ball rolling for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Premier League proved a happy playground for the Magpies last season, who also won the Carabao Cup and have qualified for the Champions League, which looms very large indeed.

It’s a shame that Alexander Isak won’t be with the Toon, but the Sweden striker forced his way out and signed for Liverpool in a record-breaking deal.

In different circumstances, Elliot Anderson continues to go from strength to strength away from St. James’ Park, and while the homegrown talent would have been a perfect fit in this United side, Howe moved to sign some kind of replacement in Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey could be Howe's new Anderson

It’s been over a year since Anderson left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in a £35m deal, forcibly cut away by PIF because of PSR.

It’s fair to say the 23-year-old has been thriving of late, awarded the Man of the Match award in each of his first two Three Lions caps and playing an instrumental part for a high-flying Tricky Trees outfit, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “midfield warrior” and a “powerhouse carrier with a bit of passing range”.

However, Howe signed Ramsey from Aston Villa in a £42m package this summer, and while the dynamic midfielder is currently sidelined with injury, he has the skill to play a similar role: athletic and dynamic, he offers a forward-thinking skillset.

If Ramsey can overcome his current fitness setback, an ankle injury, then he could become a real player for Howe’s side.

And should he reach his potential at the club, where would this leave Joe Willock?

Why Newcastle must now sell Joe Willock

Regarding numbers, Newcastle are hardly overloaded in the middle of the park. Sean Longstaff was sold to Leeds United for £10m this summer, and Isaac Hayden departed on a free transfer.

But Willock might find his playing time reduced with Ramsey now in the ranks. Once an attacking midfielder, the former Arsenal prospect has been fashioned into more of a number eight, but injuries and subsequent struggles for form have kept him on the periphery over the past few years.

25/26

1 (0)

0 + 0

24/25

32 (11)

0 + 2

23/24

9 (5)

1 + 0

22/23

35 (31)

3 + 6

21/22

29 (24)

2 + 0

20/21

14 (11)

8 + 0

An energetic and tenacious midfielder, the 26-year-old Willock has been frustrated by hamstring and achilles injuries in recent times, but when on the field he has left plenty to be desired, having been branded as “disappointing” a year ago by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, who was discussing how the Englishman needed to step up, as his ball-carrying ability was a cut above his teammates’ own skills.

That’s no longer the case. Ramsey is a high-level dribbler, and his big-money addition certainly suggests that Howe is willing to invest time and effort into shaping him into the player he ought to become.

If that means that Willock needs to be sold, it’s a sacrifice the manager might be willing to make. After all, Willock earns a healthy salary of £80k per week, which isn’t as much as the £120k-per-week Ramsey, but is actually double the £40k-per-week earnings of Anderson over at the City Ground, as per Capology.

The key points here are twofold: Ramsey is valued, entrusted with a big role in the squad and expected to deliver in the years to come; Willock himself earns a fair wage, but his diminished returns of late suggest Newcastle might not be getting bang for their buck.

The lad’s natural talent was never up for dispute. He’s a sharp playmaker with the movement and vision to make things happen. He’s the complete package. But Newcastle have other such players, and even with Anderson long sold, the arrival of Ramsey issues a warning to Willock, who has only played 25 minutes of football so far this season.

Willock is no longer a spring chicken, and given the strength of Newcastle’s starting midfield trident and the addition of Ramsey, it would appear his days are numbered on Tyneside, should he want to play regular minutes during the prime years of his career.

Given that he earns a pretty penny – double as much as Anderson at Forest – the need to ship him out is only heightened, especially with the likes of Lewis Miley waiting in the wings.

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Duo stage 123-run partnership in response to Kyle Verreynne’s 128 not out for Notts

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay12-Apr-2025A third-wicket stand of 123 through the afternoon, after Nottinghamshire had ended on 347 in the first 30 minutes, proved the platform for what looks a clear, if hardly decisive, Essex advantage at the midway stage of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge.Jordan Cox, cruelly denied a Test debut when fracturing his thumb in the nets on England’s tour of New Zealand last November, continued to a sweetly timed 82 after partner Paul Walter had gone for a more muscular 76. This in answer to Kyle Verreynne’s eventual unbeaten 128 for the home side.Though the first ball of the final session saw Cox feather a legside delivery to the keeper only one more wicket fell before the close of a second day whose last six overs were bowled with a new ball under floodlights as April’s blue skies finally gave way to cloud.With 117 already posted this season against Surrey, the 24-year old Cox has now passed fifty 21 times in his young career for Kent and Essex, notably continuing to eight centuries, a conversion rate that left Notts relieved to see him fall short. His one misjudgement earlier was the scampered single that took him to 80 yet barely beat a throw at the non-striker’s stumps.Walter, who made 95 in his one other innings this campaign, had taken the teenage Farhan Ahmed’s off-spin for a six and a four with mighty blows to mid-wicket when he attempted another, next ball, but sliced to slip as it turned out of the left-hander’s rough. By tea, 40 minutes later, Essex were 205 for 3 only for Cox to fall on resumption.Making it two wickets in his eight-over evening spell, Lyndon James then also removed Michael Pepper who cut a short ball to backward point for 26 to bring in Noah Thain. To his credit, the 20-year old, who endured a testing day when bowling on Friday, gamely resisted 75 balls for 21 overnight in support of Matt Critchley who will resume on 50.There is still little in this pitch for bowlers but it may possibly become more uneven. Seamers from the Stuart Broad End have already made the odd ball jump from a length and some have kept a little low. For their part, batters frequently prodded and tapped the surface.Essex, still lacking opener Dean Elgar on paternity leave for newborn twins, had initially made an uncertain start to their innings in the morning when Charles Allison, in only his second Championship innings, aimed an ambitious on-drive at Fergus O’Neill and went lbw for 11.Brett Hutton, the fourth seamer, then opened with a superb yorker first ball which whipped out Tom Westley lbw for 5. Lunch soon following at 54 for 2.At the day’s start, Essex had required eight overs to claim the home side’s two remaining wickets as Notts missed a third batting point by three runs in finishing on 347. Verreyyne, though dropped at slip off Simon Cook when 33 on Friday, could again not be dislodged.His undefeated century took his tally in five innings for Notts so far to 376 – this for only once out. And in between his three Notts games last September and this one seven months later he had also made Test hundreds for South Africa against three different countries.At least Cook, who had Ahmed dabbing a short, wide one to a juggling third slip for 31 and then bowled Pennington for 1, returned 4 for 44, figures that finally did him some measure of justice.

كشف عمر عصر لاعب منتخب مصر لتنس الطاولة، تفاصيل أزمته مع محمود أشرف زميله ونجل رئيس الاتحاد المصري للعبة، خلال مشاركتهما في بطولة إفريقيا.

وكانت مباراة مصر ونيجيريا في بطولة إفريقيا لتنس الطاولة، شهدت مشادة وأزمة كبيرة بين اللاعب عمر عصر وزميله محمود أشرف.

طالع | رئيس اتحاد تنس الطاولة يكشف كواليس أزمة نجله مع عمر عصر في بطولة إفريقيا

وقال عمر عصر في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر2”: “الحمد لله هذه البطولة لم تفز خلالها مصر بأي ميدالية منذ 21 عامًا، وأود أن أشكر زملائي جميعًا على ما قدموه من جهد وإصرار حتى تحقق هذا الإنجاز”.

وتابع: “أتوجه بالشكر إلى الكابتن أشرف حلمي لأنه نقل ما حدث كما وصل إليه، وأود التوضيح أنني تحدثت معه بالأمس وأخبرته أنني تعرضت لتمزق عضلي، كما أُصيب اللاعب البيلي في رقبته”.

وأكمل: “طلب مني الكباتن المسؤولون عن المشاركة في المباريات أن أحاول اللعب ولو لمباراة واحدة فقط، خاصة وأن المنتخب لا يضم طبيبًا أو مدربًا للياقة البدنية”.

واستطرد: “كان اليوم هو الأخير في البطولة، وكنا نستعد لمواجهة نيجيريا، شاركت في التدريب إلى جانب محمود أشرف، وكان المران طبيعيًا جدًا، قبل المباراة وقفنا جميعًا لقراءة الفاتحة، وطلبنا من محمود أن ينضم إلينا، لكنه ظل جالسًا على مقاعد البدلاء واضعًا قدمًا فوق قدم، ورفض المشاركة في قراءة الفاتحة”.

وأضاف: “التفسير الوحيد لذلك ربما أنه كان يرغب في المشاركة بالمباراة، بينما الجهاز الفني لم يقرر إشراكه، فلا يوجد مبرر آخر، خاصة أن علاقتي به طيبة، وكذلك علاقته بجميع اللاعبين”.

وأشار: “خلال المباراة ظل جالسًا بالطريقة نفسها، يضع قدمًا فوق قدم وينظر إلى هاتفه، في مشهد لم أره من قبل في تاريخ اللعبة، ورئيس البعثة وقتها طلب منا ألا نتحدث معه”.

وتابع: “عندما جاءت المباراة التي كنت سأشارك فيها، وكالعادة حاولت أن أُصافحه قبل النزول إلى الملعب، لكنه قام وغادر مكانه، فشعرت بالدهشة ولم أبدِ أي رد فعل، ثم عاد إلى مقعده وكرر التصرف نفسه، فقلت إن هذا الموقف لا يليق ولا ينبغي أن يحدث من لاعب في منتخب مصر”.

وزاد: “بعد ذلك قام محمود وحاول الاعتداء عليّ، وهو ما أدى إلى ظهور رد فعلي بهذا الشكل، ولم أكن أرغب أن تصل الأمور إلى هذا الحد، لكن كان من المهم توضيح الحقيقة كما حدثت”.

وواصل: “سأخضع للتحقيق، لكنني أعتقد أن الأمر ليس شخصيًا بيني وبين محمود، لأن العلاقة بيننا جيدة، إلا أن الموقف صعب لأن محمود هو نجل رئيس الاتحاد، وبالتالي سيكون في الوقت نفسه الخصم والحكم”.          

وأضاف: “هناك أمور تحدث في مصر لا أراها في أي مكان في العالم، الرئيس السابق للاتحاد كان شقيقه متواجدًا، والرئيس الحالي نجله معنا في المنتخب، ولا يوجد في أي دولة أن يكون رئيس الاتحاد هو من يختار اللاعبين، فهذا من اختصاص المدير الفني”.

وأوضح: “الحديث عن أنني منعت محمود من الصعود إلى المنصة كلام باطل، ولو كان صعد لما حدثت أي مشكلة، لأن هذا حقه، وخلال الأشهر الماضية تم توقيع عقوبات ضد محمود أشرف بسبب سوء سلوك ارتكبه في إحدى مباريات الدوري، وكانت العقوبة إيقافًا لمباراتين، كما فُرضت غرامة مالية على زملائي بلغت 200 ألف جنيه”.

وأتم: “أنا أطالب أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة، بفتح تحقيق شامل في هذا الأمر، حتى تُعرف الحقيقة ويُحفظ حق الجميع”.