تحدث كاي هافيرتز، لاعب فريق آرسنال، عن الفوز الذي حققه فريقه أمام برينتفورد في منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتغلب آرسنال على برينتفورد بهدفين مقابل هدف، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثامنة والعشرين للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وقال هافيرتز في حديثه إلى “سكاي سبورتس”: “فوز هائل بالنسبة لنا، كانت هذه النقاط مهمة للغاية بالنسبة لنا ويمكنك رؤية ذلك في الشوط الثاني”.

وأضاف مهاجم آرسنال: “لم نلعب بأفضل ما لدينا في الشوط الأول لكن من الأفضل أن نفوز بهذه الطريقة”.

وأكد: “من الجيد دائمًا ضمان الحصول على ثلاث نقاط، تحدثنا كثيرًا عن هذا الأمر في غرفة تبديل الملابس”.

وأشار: “نريد التركيز على أنفسنا لأننا لا نستطيع تغيير ما تفعله الفرق الأخرى، سنلعب في المنافسة الأخرى (دوري أبطال أوروبا) و نأمل أن تكون ليلة جيدة بالنسبة لنا”.

واستطرد هافيرتز: “لم يكن الأمر لطيفًا خاصة بعد أن استقبلنا هدفًا بالقرب من صافرة النهاية، تحدثنا مع بعضنا البعض وأردنا قلب الأمور”.

وأتم بشأن خطأ زميله رامسديل حارس مرمى الفريق: “الأخطاء جزء من اللعبة، لقد ارتكبت أخطاء أدت إلى أهداف، لقد أظهرنا عقلية جيدة منذ الثانية الأولى من الشوط الثاني”.

AB de Villiers was keen to prove himself on and off the field on his return to action with Northerns after six months out

Firdose Moonda22-Jan-2017

In his 239th List A match, AB de Villiers was at the ground 20 minutes before any of his team-mates and was already warming up when they got there. Even though he had been doing this kind of thing for more than 12 years de Villiers was, as he said in the week leading up to the match, nervous.He had been out of action for more than six months, nursing an elbow injury that required surgery. His comeback had been delayed three times, ahead of a Test series against New Zealand in August, ODIs against Australia in October and then the Sri Lanka Tests in December. He had plenty to prove.”I know there will be a lot of eyes on me. I would like to prove that I can still play,” de Villiers said on Wednesday, when he announced he would not be available for Test cricket for most of 2017.But prove it he did. And not just in the middle in Benoni, where he struck a 103-ball 134 to take Northerns to a simple win in the CSA Provincial Challenge.De Villiers trained with as much commitment as he has throughout his career, despite playing at a level two tiers below international. South Africa’s provincial structure forms the second-rung of the domestic set-up (franchise cricket is above it) and international players are rarely available for these matches, unless they are making comebacks from long-term injuries. Vernon Philander was the last high-profile name to do so when he turned out for Western Province last season as he made a return after ankle ligament tears. Then, batsmen were overawed by the presence of a Test great. On this occasion, even some of de Villiers’ team-mates were.”We were all surprised when we saw he was the first one there but he is the ultimate professional. He had great energy around the group,” Mark Charlton, Northerns’ coach, told ESPNcricinfo.Northerns were clearly buoyed. They bowled Easterns out for 199 but then began their chase in the worst way. Jonathan Vandiar was given out lbw first ball and returned to the change-room joking that he had been dismissed “for the national cause”, because de Villiers would go in next, with all the runs to score and plenty of time to do it.De Villiers joined a star-struck Victor Mahlangu who had asked Charlton before the game: “If I bat with AB, what should I say to him?” Charlton’s answer was “just treat AB like any other player”.”I said to the guys before the game that when you are playing with a great player, you need to rise to the occasion and not go into a shell,” he added.The pair shared in a second-wicket stand of 94 before Grant Thomson accompanied de Villiers for an even bigger partnership of 106 to finish the game. Both Mahlangu and Thomson were spectators to a dominant display, which Charlton said suggests de Villiers is back to his best. “He looked in superb touch, like he had never been away. He has an ability to always find a gap in the field which is just unbelievable. His elbow looked 100% fine. There was not strapping or anything like that. I would say he is good to go.”The selectors agreed: De Villiers has been added to South Africa’s squad for the third T20 against Sri Lanka, which will be played at Newlands on Wednesday, and should then lead the ODI team in a five-match series at home before heading to New Zealand for a T20 and five more ODIs. That means Northerns are unlikely to see de Villiers any time soon and he made sure he left them with some food for thought.”After the game, he had a talk with the guys and told them about a few of things he had noticed about individuals and about the team,” Charlton said. “We feel so proud to have someone like AB involved in our set-up.”

Newcastle United are interested in completing a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha this summer after qualifying for next year's Champions League, according to reports…

What's the latest on Raphinha to Newcastle?

According to Spanish outlet Sport – via TEAMtalk – the 'first approach' has been made by Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth to sign the 26-year-old, who joined La Blaugrana from Leeds United for £55m last season.

The Brazilian is said to be reluctant to leave Catalonia but Newcastle are undeterred and hoping to enter formal negotiations over the coming weeks as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster the ranks ahead of next term.

Xavi's LaLiga champions have made it clear, however, that they will only agree to a deal if their €80m (£69m) valuation is met, meaning Newcastle would have to break their transfer record to seal a deal.

Should Newcastle sign Raphinha?

Despite exceeding expectations and securing a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League this season, Howe is hardly going to rest on his laurels and will look to make waves in the transfer market this summer to consolidate their newfound stature.

While the Toon concluded the 22/23 league season with the joint-best defence, they finished sixth in the goal-scoring charts and signing someone like Raphinha could be the optimum way to increase the flow.

The Brazilian registered 22 direct contributions from 50 outings in Spain this term as his prestigious side secured the league title and would undoubtedly bring the side of prolific dynamism Howe craves to bridge the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who waged a spectacular title fight this year.

As per FBref, the 16-cap star ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 3% for progressive passes received per 90, drawing parallels between his game and Arsenal prodigy Bukayo Saka's.

The 21-year-old England international, who like Raphinha loves to cut inside from the right channel onto his left, was arguably the offensive centrepiece of the Gunners' title-chasing campaign, scoring 14 goals and supplying 11 assists in the Premier League and ranking himself among the top 10% of positional peers for progressive carries and the top 2% for progressive passes received.

Hailed as a "superstar" by Charles Nicholas, Saka finds success driving up the field and wreaking havoc in and around the opposing area, something Raphinha could emulate on Tyneside given his similar skill set.

A "magician" with the ball at his feet – as former teammate Dan James once stated – Raphinha boasts all the attributes, and acumen to flourish under Howe's wing and with that in mind, he must be signed.

Chelsea endured an incredibly disappointing 2022/23 campaign as they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League and will not be competing in any European competition next term.

Owner Todd Boehly parted ways with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter during the season and Frank Lampard landed the gig on an interim basis.

Mauricio Pochettino has now taken over and should be looking to bolster his squad this summer with a view to returning to, at least, the top six next term.

One reported transfer target who could be an exceptional addition to the team is Manchester City central defender Aymeric Laporte.

Where would Aymeric Laporte fit in at Chelsea?

Kalidou Koulibaly has completed a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal after just one year at Stamford Bridge and the Citizens outcast could be the dream replacement for the Senegal international.

The 29-year-old enforcer would be an ideal signing as he is a proven Premier League performer who would be able to hit the ground running. Whereas, a defender from abroad with no experience in the country may need an adaptation period and there is no guarantee that they would be able to perform at that level.

Laporte – once described as a “beast” by writer Muhammad Butt – is a player with a history of playing at a high standard on a regular basis and would, therefore, have a great chance of being a success for Chelsea.

The £120k-per-week defender, who was named in the 2018/19 PFA Premier League Team of the Year, has made 120 appearances in the English top flight and won the title an incredible five times.

He has also averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94 or higher in all six of his league seasons with City, whilst Koulibaly averaged a rating of 7.07 in his only campaign with Chelsea.

However, the big difference between the two defenders comes is what they do in possession. Laporte ranks in the top 1% of players in his position over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, outlining him as an elite centre-back when the ball is on the deck.

Koulibaly, on the other hand, does not rank higher than the top 24% in either statistic, indicating that the City colossus would offer more on the ball as he has been one of the best on the continent at playing out from the back.

Guardiola's centre-back has proven himself capable of consistently progressing play by either breaking lines with his passes or by driving forward with the ball at his feet and this could help Chelsea's attackers to thrive as they would gain possession in better positions on the pitch.

Therefore, Laporte could be a dream replacement for the Senegal international as his Premier League experience and quality means that the 6 foot 2 man stands a good chance of being able to make an instant impact at Stamford Bridge.

The Melbourne Renegades kept their chances alive in the BBL with a six-run win that knocked the Adelaide Strikers out

The Report by Geoff Lemon16-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMarcus Harris reached his fifty off 29 balls•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesStrikers struck off, Renegades surviveThe Melbourne Renegades stayed alive in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League, finally closing out a contest after a couple of thrilling losses, and knocking out the struggling Adelaide Strikers with a six-run win.Asked to bat at the Adelaide Oval, the Renegades set a decent total of 171 for the loss of nine wickets, built around Marcus Harris’ dominant innings of 85. No other batsman really got going, Callum Ferguson the next best with 26, though all of the top five got starts.Ben Laughlin bowled an exceptional spell of 2 for 15 from his four overs, while Michael Neser returned 2 for 14 from three, but the Renegades made up for it by punishing Kieron Pollard, Liam O’Connor, Ish Sodhi and Wes Agar.The final result looked closer on paper than it was in the flesh, the chase effectively extinguished when captain Brad Hodge was out 37 runs short of victory with 20 balls to spare, after little substantial support from the top order. Jono Dean clubbed the Strikers to within some hope of a comeback win, but Thisara Perera finished off with the ball after so famously failing to do so in last week’s record chase against the Hobart Hurricanes.We’ll always have HarrisThe Renegades opener was the difference, and proved his value as a recruit from Western Australia, belting his 85 from 53 deliveries. Six of his shots went to the fence and four cleared it, his moderate start dropping into gear with three consecutive fours off Agar in the third over.He flew past a half-century thanks to a couple of sixes off Pollard in the eighth. Cameron White and Tom Cooper fell around him, but Harris pushed on to within reach of a maiden T20 century in his 20th game.When he fell with the score on 149 and four overs to go, a possible Renegades score of over 200 went begging, as the last six batsmen kept to single figures. In the end, though, Harris alone had been enough.Strikers waste another good chancePeter Nevill is accompanied off the field after being struck in the face by Brad Hodge’s bat•Getty ImagesTim Ludeman and Ben Dunk got the start that should have enabled the Strikers to chase comfortably, with 53 runs from the first six overs. But not for the first time this season, the rest of the innings lost its way. Ludeman holed out, Dunk missed a straight ball from part-time offspinner and part-time Dutchman Cooper, and the slide began.”I’ll just look to be super positive against Perera. Pollard is great against spin, so hopefully that takes some pressure off him.” That was Hodge’s offering to the commentary team during the chase. “We know Perera will be bowling a lot of slower balls, so hopefully we get onto a few.”It was Pollard rather than Hodge who got onto one, a ball that dropped short and sat up. Pollard hammered it out to deep square leg, flying for a flat six. Or that’s what everyone thought had happened, except that a screamer from Callum Ferguson at the boundary intercepted it.Once again it was poor Hodge trying to herd a bunch of kittens across the finish line. That paved the way, though, for a fluke accident that took the shine off the win for the Renegades. As Hodge looked to lift the rate, his bat flew out of his hands after a particularly violent slog sweep, and flew behind the pitch where Peter Nevill stood a few paces back.With the wicketkeeper’s eye on the ball at deep backward square, he didn’t see the bat that then hit him in the side of his face, forcing him to come off with a massive swelling on the right side of his jaw. Perera knocked over Hodge later the same over, while opposing captain Aaron Finch deputised with the gloves.Be the crowd favouriteThe competition for bringing the crowd into the game was split between Harris and Neser. Aside from Neser’s bowling providing a couple of deep catches, he put on a show himself by the fence.First he hung on to one at deep midwicket to dismiss White. Then he dropped Ferguson at long-on, held Perera at long-off, and snared James Pattinson at deep midwicket towards the end of the innings.Harris brought onlookers into the game literally via the last of his sixes from a gorgeous straight hit off New Zealand legspinner Sodhi. A security guard on a camp chair at the boundary wasn’t watching play, and only just responded to the crowd’s calls to yank his head out of the way. Harris tried to send him the next ball as well, but the pull shot hung just inside the rope for Dean to claim.The late season wash-upVery simple. This was a knockout match, even as the second-last of the season for both teams. The Strikers and Renegades went into the game at the bottom of the ladder on four points each, needing to win their last two to match the eight points of the teams currently occupying the finals positions.The Renegades had certainly had the better season on the field, losing twice from the last ball of matches, while the Strikers had struggled. In the end, things went to form, and Red Melbourne stayed in contention.

Newcastle United have added another player to their transfer radar this summer, with Football Insider reporting that Conor Gallagher is on their wanted list.

Are Newcastle United signing Conor Gallagher?

The midfielder was finally given a chance in the Chelsea first-team this campaign, featuring 35 times in the Premier League for the Blues over the year. He also managed three goals and one assist from the centre of the field despite his side's struggles, with the Blues finishing outside of the top half.

It was his showings during a spell with Crystal Palace that propelled him into the starting eleven with his parent club for the 2022/23 season. He featured 34 times for them and bagged eight goals and three assists – leading to his best campaign yet in terms of goal contributions. He wasn't able to hit the same heights back at Stamford Bridge but his showings have clearly still led to interest in his services.

That's because, according to a report from Football Insider, Newcastle are one of a number of sides keeping tabs on Gallagher, despite their very advanced move for AC Milan's Sandro Tonali.

He's believed to be on their wanted list during this summer transfer window, but they have yet to make an official offer for his services. They also face competition to add him to their ranks from Brighton and Tottenham too.

Neither of those clubs have made a concrete bid yet either but it appears as though the Seagulls could potentially try and use Moises Caicedo as a bargaining tool in a potential deal – something that Newcastle don't have.

Should they sign Gallagher along with Tonali?

It's unclear how much Gallagher could potentially cost Newcastle should they launch an official bid for the player, but CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be around the 40 million Euro mark (or £34.3m).

And he could be worth it too – his former boss Thomas Tuchel drew comparisons between the youngster and N'Golo Kante, and while that may be a bit of a reach, it showcases how highly he is viewed. This is further backed by football journalist Josh Bunting also praising his "stunning" ability in front of goal from his time in the Chelsea first-team.

Considering the money that the Toon now have at their disposal, they could certainly afford a fee around the suggested value. Signing Gallagher to add more end product while adding Tonali – who is expected to sign soon – to provide more balance and composure in deeper positions could bring an excellent does of quality and depth into the Magpies' central ranks.

Leeds United are set to interview Daniel Farke for their managerial vacancy this week, according to reports.

What's the latest Leeds manager news?

Following Sam Allardyce’s sacking at the start of June after failing to keep his side in the Premier League, 49ers Enterprises have now embarked on a mission to find a suitable long-term appointment to try and get them back up to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

West Bromwich Albion’s Carlos Corberan is clearly one who has been admired by Elland Road chiefs for a long time having previously shown an interest in him after the departure of Jesse Marsch, but it’s believed that a move for him at this stage is ruled out as a result of the hierarchy wanting a candidate that has experience at the highest level.

Farke was most recently in charge of Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach but was relieved of his duties earlier this month, so he is now a free agent on the market and is looking for his next role in the dugout, and it appears that he’s attracted attention from Elland Road.

Are Leeds appointing Farke?

According to Sky Sports, Leeds are “set to meet” Farke for an interview this week to assess whether he’s the right man to take to the helm. Crystal Palace’s former coach Patrick Vieira is another name that is “under consideration”, whilst Corberan is confirmed to have received “no approach” at this stage.

Leeds will most likely be looking to appoint someone with plenty of experience in the Championship to try and help get them out of there, and with Farke having that and so much more on his CV, including three trophies, he could be just the person that the board need to bring to Yorkshire.

The German coach has an excellent track record in the second-tier, winning 71 and drawing 38 out of 138 games, with this form having twice seen him achieve promotion during his time at Norwich City, so he’ll know exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at this level.

The 46-year-old, who was once hailed “fantastic” by journalist Josh Bunting, also has a history in LS11 having won twice at Elland Road when visiting with his team, so if he can secure victories as an opponent, think about the magic he could work if he was in charge of the home side.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to improve the quality of their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Kylian Mbappe to Chelsea?

According to The Times, the Blues are ready to register their interest in signing Paris St-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe if he becomes available in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the French international has told his current club that he will not be extending his current contract beyond 2024, which means that the dazzling attacker is set to be a free agent at the end of next season.

PSG are unwilling to lose him for nothing next year and will, therefore, be open to cashing in on the former Monaco starlet if there is no chance of the 24-year-old putting pen to paper on an extension, which could open the door for Mauricio Pochettino to swoop in.

How would Kylian Mbappe fit in at Chelsea?

The Chelsea boss could finally replace Eden Hazard for the club by snapping up the speedy Frenchman, who is valued at €136m (£116m) by FootballTransfers, as he could slot in on the left side of the manager's attack.

Since the Belgian international left Stamford Bridge, no winger has scored (15) or assisted (16) as many goals as he did in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign. Mason Mount's tally of 11 goals and ten assists in 2021/22 is the closest any midfielder has come to replicating those numbers.

Hazard, who plundered 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 outings for the Blues, was a mercurial talent on the left wing, one that was able to cut inside onto his favoured right foot with devastating effect over the course of several years.

Mbappe, who was described as an "alien" by Poland international Piotr Zielinski, is a player with the quality to have a similar, and potentially greater, impact in the Premier League for Chelsea.

The PSG no.7 struck 29 times and created 17 'big chances' for his teammates in Ligue 1 in 32 outings during the 2022/23 campaign. This came after the "electric" whiz – as he was dubbed by journalist Matt Lawton – racked up 28 goals and 17 assists in the French top-flight a season earlier.

These statistics suggest that the 2018 World Cup winner, who can play off the left and through the middle, has the ability, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, to be a Hazard-like figure for Pochettino at Chelsea.

Therefore, Mbappe could be a sensational addition to the squad and one that could elevate the club's attack next season in a way that has not been seen since the Belgian magician completed his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019.

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Manchester United are still uncertain about David de Gea's future at the club, with Erik ten Hag not willing to "pin everything" on the goalkeeper's form next season.

Is De Gea leaving Manchester United?

With his contract expiring in a matter of hours, De Gea looks set to leave as a free agent.

The Spaniard has even been willing to take a signifcant pay cut to stay at the club, but Ten Hag's scepticism about De Gea's ability to implement his passing philosophy is edging the goalkeeper towards the exit door.

The fact that Andre Onana is currently in talks with the Red Devils about a move from Inter suggests that De Gea's time is running out, with a 12-year-old Trafford career potentially coming to an abrupt end.

Despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove last campaign, serious question marks have been raised over the Spaniard's inability to play out from the back, as well as some of the high-profile mistakes he made last season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones suggests that there is still great uncertainty over De Gea's future, stressing the difficulty of this period for the 32-year-old.

Jones said: "Yeah, there has clearly been a briefing of some sorts over De Gea. And it's a tough moment for him, you know, and nobody ever wants to hear that they are not seen through the same eyes as they once were, and that's clearly the case with David de Gea right now.

De Gea has made 545 appearances since joining United in 2011 and will likely go down as one of the club's greatest goalkeepers, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award at Old Trafford four times, including three seasons in a row between 2013 and 2016.

Onana appears the most likely candidate to succeed De Gea, with the Cameroon international having helped Inter all the way to the Champions League final last term.

Who else is potentially leaving Manchester United?

The Red Devils are expecting a fair few defensive departures this summer, with Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe leaving the club when their contracts expire.

It is also expected that Alex Telles and Eric Bailly will follow suit, having both spent last season on loan at Sevilla and Marseille respectively.

Harry Maguire has also been touted with a move away from Old Trafford, with midfield duo Fred and Scott McTominay (via the Metro) potentially departing the club as well.

Manchester City are interested in the services of West Ham United captain Declan Rice, per reports.

Manchester City transfer news – What's the latest on Declan Rice?

According to Sky Sports Italy reporter and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Rice is "getting closer to" signing for Manchester City, who now have "confidence to reach a final agreement with West Ham."

The update comes after David Ornstein broke the news yesterday morning that the Citizens were "expected to submit an offer" to "rival Arsenal" for the England international.

The Premier League champions entering the race for Rice's signature has been an unexpected development.

Following David Sullivan's confirmation that his skipper would be leaving in the summer, it appeared that Mikel Arteta's side had been in the driving seat.

However, disagreements over fees and payment structure for the £120m-valued star seem to have left the door open for other teams to enter the race, and with the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona this week, midfield reinforcements will be needed at the Etihad.

Could Declan Rice be the next Sergio Busquets under Pep Guardiola?

It's a massive question to ask of the 24-year-old.

Sergio Busquets is considered by many pundits and fans alike to be one of the best, if not the best defensive midfielder of the last two decades.

He was certainly a key figure under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola for four years, with the City boss being the man to unearth him from the famed La Masia academy back in 2008. Now, the Spaniard could find his next version of the colossal defensive midfielder in Rice, given the aforementioned reports.

With the massive potential West Ham's "monster" has, as once described by ESPN's David Cartlidge, Rice could certainly get close to emulating Busquets at the Etihad.

Former City legend Sergio Aguero believes the Hammers "destroyer" – who Paul Robinson previously hailed – is already at the level of the legendary Barcelona man.

Speaking to Stake (via football365), he said:

"For me, he is a great player and is at the same level as the best midfielders like Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro. But he has proven himself and I think he is one of the strengths of the England team at the World Cup."

His supporters also seem to think there is more than a passing similarity, dubbing him 'Basmati Busquets.'

The first comparison to make between the players is their physical characteristics.

There is little between them in terms of height, with West Ham's gem coming in at 6 foot 1, whereas the Spanish icon is ever so slightly taller at 6 foot 2. However, when it comes to their weight, the Kingston upon Thames-born titan has a slight advantage, coming in at 80kg compared to between 76-78kg for Busquets.

That may not seem like a massive difference, but it certainly helps in the more physical Premier League.

There is little to separate their seasons last year, either.

According to WhoScored, the Sabadell-born midfielder averaged a rating of 6.99 across his 30 La Liga games, whereas Rice averaged 7.01 across his 37 games.

What about their underlying numbers? Can we differentiate them that way?

Well, according to FBref, despite the La Masia graduate carrying the ball 52.6 times per 90 to Rice's 35, it's the Englishman who consistently moves the ball further into the oppositions half, averaging a progressive distance of 112.7 yards per 90 compared to Busquets 97.6.

It highlights one of the differences between the players, a contrast dictated by the system in which they have played most of their football.

Barcelona have always been more expressive, more about passing and moving, hypnotising the opponent with a dizzying array of passes, whereas, under David Moyes, the more rigid east London outfit have been far more direct, even counter-attacking at times, which Rice to be less expressive with his passing and instead focus more on driving at opponents to unsettle them.

That's not to say he couldn't work in a quick passing system as also, per FBref, he sits at a pass completion rate of 86.9%, just slightly behind Busquets on 89.3%.

The dynamic midfielder has also made no secret of his admiration for the World Cup winner, saying:

"Busquets is the one I've watched since I was a kid. He doesn't move from the centre circle. He plays with 360 vision."

Whether Rice comes to emulate Busquets completely or not, under Guardiola, he would certainly become a scary proposition for opponents.