كاراجر يقسو على محمد صلاح: لم تفز بأي بطولة مع مصر.. وليفربول جعل منك نجمًا

شن جيمي كاراجر، النجم السابق لنادي ليفربول، هجومًا شرسًا على المصري محمد صلاح بسبب التصريحات النارية التي أدلى بها ضد إدارة الفريق والمدرب آرني سلوت قبل يومين.

كان محمد صلاح قد أشعل أزمة قوية بعدما أدلى بتصريحات هجومية، مساء يوم السبت، حيث انتقد أسلوب تعادل إدارة ليفربول معه، وكذلك المدرب آرني سلوت، نتيجة تهميشه مؤخرًا في المباريات.

ولكن ما قاله محمد صلاح لم ينل إعجاب جيمي كاراجر، الذي استغل تواجده في برنامج “ليلة الإثنين لكرة القدم” عبر قناة “سكاي سبورتس” منذ قليل.

وقال كاراجر: “أرى أن ما فعله محمد صلاح بعد المباراة كان مخزيًا، وصفه البعض بأنه انفعال عاطفي، لكنني لا أعتقد ذلك، أعتقد أنه كلما توقف في المنطقة المختلطة للإعلام، وهو ما فعله أربع مرات خلال ثماني سنوات في ليفربول، فإن ذلك مُدبر بينه وبين وكيله لإحداث أقصى ضرر ممكن وتعزيز مكانته”.

وأضاف في تصريحاته التي نشرتها مجلة “فور فور تو” العالمية كاملة: “لقد فعل ذلك قبل 12 شهرًا، وقد انتقدته في هذا البرنامج، لقد لعب على أوتار قلوب جماهير ليفربول، كان الفريق في صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي آنذاك، وقد سجل هدف الفوز في ساوثهامبتون، كان ذلك هو الوقت المناسب للضغط على مالكي ليفربول (من أجل تجديد عقده)”.

وواصل: “لذلك رفعت جماهير ليفربول لبقية الموسم، لافتات كُتب عليها (اعطوا محمد صلاح ماله)، لقد اختار هذا الأسبوع للقيام بذلك الآن، انتظر نتيجة سيئة، فقد استقبلوا هدفًا في اللحظة الأخيرة (ضد ليدز يونايتد)، يشعر مشجعو ليفربول، والمدرب، والنادي بأكمله، أن الوضع في مأزق حاليًا، وقد اختار ذلك الوقت لمهاجمة المدرب وربما محاولة إقالته، هذا ما شعرت به حيال الأمر”.

وأردف: “أكثر ما لفت انتباهي فيما قاله محمد صلاح، عبارة (لقد تخلى النادي عني)، كان صلاح هو من تخلى عن النادي مرتين خلال الـ12 شهرًا الماضية في المواقف التي ذكرتها للتو، بعدما هاجم المُلاك في البداية، وهم المُلاك الذين يدفعون له مئات الآلاف من الجنيهات الإسترلينية منذ ست سنوات، اشتكى قبل عام لأنهم لم يمنحوه عقدًا جديدًا في سن الثانية والثلاثين، النادي مُحق تمامًا في فعل ذلك”.

وشدد: “مع المدرب الحالي، يجب على صلاح أن يبذل قصارى جهده من أجل مساعدة النادي على الخروج من أسوأ سلسلة نتائج مر بها منذ خمسينيات القرن الماضي، وهو لم يفعل ذلك، لكن عندما فكرت في الأمر خلال عطلة نهاية الأسبوع ووضعت نفسي مكان صلاح أو كيف كنت كلاعب، أدركت أنني لست محمد صلاح”.

واستأنف: “محمد صلاح لاعب مشهور عالميًا، فهل يجب معاملة هؤلاء اللاعبين بشكل مختلف؟ أعتقد أنه يجب ذلك، عندما تفكر في اللاعبين في هذه الفئة على مدار السنوات الثماني الماضية، ميسي ورونالدو ومبابي، لن أضع صلاح معهم، لكنه قريب جدًا منهم لما قدمه لـ ليفربول”.

وأوضح: “إنه شخصية أسطورية، وجميع هؤلاء اللاعبين يتمتعون بامتياز، تمامًا كما يتمتع محمد صلاح في ليفربول، فهو لا يضطر للدفاع، ولا يضطر للرجوع إلى الخلف (للمساندة على الصعيد الدفاعي)”.

وأكد: “هذا ما يفعله في ليفربول، ولكن عندما نتحدث عن خداع الآخرين، فقد خدع محمد صلاح ليفربول مرة أخرى لثماني سنوات، تخيلوا اللعب خلفه لثماني سنوات، لكننا نقبل ذلك لأنه نجم، وقد سجل 250 هدفًا، وقد منحني، كمشجع لليفربول، بعضًا من أروع ليالي حياتي وأنا أشاهده وأشاهد ما قدمه”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سلوت عن تصريحات محمد صلاح: لست ضعيفًا.. وقررنا الرد على ما قاله بطريقتنا

ولم يكتفِ كاراجر بذلك، بل قال: “ولكن عندما تفكر في غرور هؤلاء اللاعبين، رونالدو، ميسي، مبابي، محمد صلاح، أعتقد أن لديهم شعورًا بأن نجاح أي فريق يعود إليهم، لا مشكلة لدي في ذلك لأنني أعتقد أن هذا يدفعهم لتسجيل المزيد من الأهداف وتحقيق المزيد من النجاح، وهذا يفيد ليفربول، ولكن عندما تكون في موقف كهذا، وعندما يتحدث محمد صلاح عن عدد الأهداف التي سجلها (أنا سجلت أهدافًا أكثر من أي لاعب آخر في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، كما فعلت الموسم الماضي) فهو دائمًا يتحدث عن نفسه”.

وواصل: “شيء واحد أريد فقط تذكير محمد صلاح، وربما وكيله، هل كان ذلك قبل انضمامه إلى ليفربول؟ كان معروفًا بأنه الرجل الذي فشل في تشيلسي، هذه حقيقة، لم يفز بأي لقب كبير قبل انضمامه إلى ليفربول، إنه أيضًا أعظم لاعب في تاريخ منتخب بلاده في مصر، هم أكثر المنتخبات نجاحًا في كأس أمم إفريقيا، ولكنه لم يفز بالبطولة قط، هذا لا يعني أنني أحاول التقليل من شأن محمد صلاح كلاعب، لقد قلت للتو إنه من أفضل لاعبي العالم في السنوات الثماني الماضية، وقليلون هم من يتفوقون عليه، لكن ما يمكن فهمه من هذا هو أن الأمر لا يتعلق بشخصية محمد صلاح، هو لم يكن نجمًا كبيرًا قبل انضمامه إلى ليفربول، لم يفز بأي شيء حقًا”.

وفي سياق ذلك أيضًا، قال: “مهما بلغت مهارتك كلاعب، فأنت بحاجة إلى مساعدة زملائك في الفريق، ومدربك، وجماهيرك، وأعتقد أنه من المهم جدًا أن يتذكر ذلك، وعندما يتحدث بعد المباراة، في خضمّ هذه الفوضى، يكون كل ما يهمه هو أنا، أنا، أنا!”.

وعن جملة محمد صلاح في تصريحاته بأن كاراجر سيخرج الصبح إلى وسائل الإعلام لمهاجمته، قال: “هل سبق لي أن انتقدت محمد صلاح في الملعب حسنًا، قبل أسبوعين قلت إن ساقيه يبدو قد تضررتا، هذا أمر يحدث لكل لاعب، هذا ليس انتقادًا له كلاعب، لم أنتقده قط لعدم رجوعه إلى الخلف، لم أنتقده قط عندما لعب مباريات دون تسجيل أي هدف، لم أنتقده قط عندما لم يمرر الكرة لأحد ما بينما كان يجب عليه التمرير للآخرين أحيانًا، لأنه أسطورة حقيقية في النادي، وبالنظر إلى ما تحصل عليه منه، فعليك أن تتحمل بعض الأمور”.

واعترف: “بعض الانتقادات الموجهة لمحمد صلاح هذا الموسم كانت مبالغًا فيها، لقد قلت ذلك علنًا، لكنني سأهاجمه عندما يحاول الإساءة لفريقي خارج الملعب ويفكر في نفسه فقط، لذا سأفعل ذلك بالتأكيد، ماذا كان يجب أن يفعل؟ فيما يتعلق بهذا الموسم، فيما يتعلق بكيفية سير الأمور، كما تعلم، فهو رجل يفتخر بنسه للغاية، كما تقول، لديه غرور كبير، لقد تُرك على مقاعد البدلاء لثلاث مباريات، حسنًا، دعنا نفهم أن الرقم واحد هو آرني سلوت، قبل ثلاث مباريات من هذه السلسلة من التهميش، استقبل الفريق 10 أهداف في ثلاث مباريات، إحداها ضد آيندهوفن. صلاح مُحرج من حيث الوضع الذي وُجد به، بعد ذلك جاءت مباراة وست هام حيث إنه فريق كبير في الكرات الثابتة، نحن بحاجة إلى الحفاظ على شباكنا نظيفة، هذا كل ما يهم سلوت، ما هو الشيء الوحيد الذي ستفعله كمدرب؟ ستطرد اللاعب الوحيد في فريقك الذي سمحت له بعدم الدفاع، حسنًا، هذا ما سيحدث”.

واستدرك: “ثم تلعب ضد سندرلاند على أرضك، كنت سأشركه، لكن من المفهوم أن تُبقي على نفس التشكيلة، حسنًا، ماذا يفعل؟ يُشركه بين الشوطين، لديك مباراة وست هام وليدز خارج ملعبك، لست في حاجة إلى هدف، لا تحتاج إلى استقبال هدف، إذا أشركت محمد صلاح فيهما، فأنت تدفع بلاعب لا يجيد الدفاع ضد الكرات الثابتة ولا يركض للخلف”.

وكرر: “لكن المرة الوحيدة التي أردت فيها أن أكون ناقدًا حقيقيًا وترددت هذا الموسم بشأن أداء محمد صلاح على أرض الملعب، كما قلت سابقًا، لم أنتقده قط على أرض الملعب، إنه أسطورة النادي، أليس كذلك؟ إرثه موجود، إذا لم يسجل هدفًا آخر أو يقدم تمريرة حاسمة أخرى لهذا النادي، فلا أُبالي، لقد كان رائعًا، لكن ما جعله يتراجع في نظري هذا الموسم كان في فرانكفورت ومباراة أخرى حيث يوجد لاعب مُنضم إلى ليفربول يحتاج إلى هدف أكثر من أي شخص آخر، وهو فلوريان فيرتز، بدلًا من أن تكون مجرد لاعب رائع للنادي، كن سفيرًا رائعًا له ومرّر الكرة إليه، لمسة سهلة ومررها، امنحه عناقًا وقبلة وقل له (كما تعلم، أنت الرجل الذي سيقود فريق ليفربول هذا إلى الأمام، لا أحتاج إلى المزيد من الأهداف)”.

وتابع: “لقد رأيت جون بارنز في النهاية، ورأيت إيان راش في النهاية، ورأيت ستيفن جيرارد في النهاية، هل تعتقد أنهم كانوا نفس اللاعبين في أوج تألقهم؟ بالطبع لم يكونوا كذلك، هل يختلف رأي الجماهير عنهم الآن عندما يرونهم؟ يقولون لا، أنتم أفضل خمسة أو ستة لاعبين لعبوا لـ ليفربول على الإطلاق، وسيُقال الشيء نفسه عن صلاح، لذلك فيما يتعلق بالأداء داخل الملعب، فإن الانتقاد الوحيد الذي لدي ضده هو مساعدة اللاعبين الآخرين، مساعدة فلوريان فيرتز، مساعدة إيزاك، لا تشغل نفسك بأرقامك الشخصية”.

واختتم: “كما قلت، فيما يتعلق بما فعله خارج الملعب، أعتقد أن النادي اتخذ القرار الصحيح بعدم سفره إلى مباراة إنتر ميلان، ولا أعرف ما إذا كان سيلعب مع ليفربول مرة أخرى، آمل أن يفعل ذلك لأنه أحد أعظم اللاعبين الذين لعبنا معهم على الإطلاق، ولكن إذا استمر الوضع على هذا المنوال وتصريحات كهذه، وإذا لم يلعب، كما قلت، فمن يهتم، من يدري؟”.

Veteran Infielder Kolten Wong Announces Retirement

After an 11-year Major League career that included two Gold Gloves, longtime St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong is retiring.

The Cardinals announced Wong's career decision on social media on Monday.

The 34-year-old Wong played eight of his 11 Major League seasons with the Cardinals. He also played two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers, and spent the 2023 season with both the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. He did not play a season ago.

Wong won two Gold Gloves as a second baseman in St. Louis, one in 2019, and another in '20.

He finishes his career with a .256 batting average and 86 home runs, 405 RBI and 120 stolen bases.

'He doesn't need much' – Starc says Cummins can play off limited preparation

Jhye Richardson believes he could play Test cricket this summer if needed having progressed to bowling off his full run coming off shoulder surgery

Alex Malcolm09-Oct-2025

Will Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc bowl in tandem in the first Ashes Test?•Associated Press

Mitchell Starc believes Pat Cummins won’t need much preparation to play in the first Ashes Test in Perth, saying the skipper remains upbeat despite not yet being cleared to bowl with six weeks to go before the series starts.Doubts are growing over Cummins’ availability for the first Test of the Ashes as he continues to rehab the hot spot in his lower back having not bowled a ball since Australia’s last Test against West Indies in July.While it is understood that Cricket Australia has made no decisions on Cummins’ return to bowling and his availability for the first Test of the Ashes and beyond, the tightness of the timeline for the skipper to build-up his bowling loads adequately has become a major talking point.Related

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Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow

Starc, who will return to the BBL for the first time in 11 years in the upcoming season, believes Cummins is so unique that he could play a Test match off very limited preparation.”Playing with Pat and being close with Pat, he doesn’t need much,” Starc said. “Whether he bowls three warm-up balls and the first over the game, he’s on the money, he just knows when to switch on or how to switch on really quickly. So what it looks like for him in his prep, it’s going to be certainly different to what mine feels and looks like, and that comes with experience and age.”Having spent so much time with Josh [Hazlewood] and Pat and myself and Scotty [Boland], we all prepare slightly differently. We all feel like we need different things. I feel like at times I need to bowl more around preparation stuff, whether it be training or after layoffs.”Starc has returned to bowling ahead of the ODI series against India after a lengthy pre-season having not played since the Caribbean Test tour. Both Starc and Hazlewood are also set to play in New South Wales’ round four Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG from November 10-13 in preparation for the first Ashes Test which starts on November 21 in Perth.Starc said he had been in touch with Cummins but had seen less of him since returning to NSW training as the skipper continues to do his gym rehab.Mitchell Starc expects Steven Smith to be “the logical choice” to lead if Pat Cummins isn’t fit•BCCI

“He’s in good spirits,” Starc said. “He’s ultra-positive as always, and there’s still some weeks to go before we get to Perth for the Test prep. So we’ll see where that lands. Hopefully we see a lot of him through the summer, and we’ll see where we get to in Perth.”If Cummins were to be ruled out, the question of who replaces him as captain will be raised but Starc said Steven Smith would be the logical choice given he has captained Australia in 40 Test matches including deputising for Cummins in six over the last four years.”We’ve got a group of us that have played cricket with Steve as captain anyway,” Starc said. “And then the times that he’s filled in over the last few seasons for Pat, whether it be for personal reasons, for illness or for injury, it’s an easy transition for Steve. He’s obviously a very experienced cricket brain and thinks heavily about the game, and we have a team of experienced guys that can give their two cents worth along the journey as well.”Cummins’ potential absence has also raised questions about Australia’s fast-bowling depth beyond the big four of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland.Starc cited Michael Neser and Sean Abbott as two experienced options and also mentioned another man who has played for Australia previously and took five wickets in an Ashes game in his most recent Test appearance.”There’s been a little bit of noise around Jhye Richardson coming back from his shoulder as well,” Starc said. “We know what skills he has. We’ve got a fairly talented group of 19-20-year-old bowlers, and then a lot of depth from there up to us that have played a lot of domestic cricket. I think the depth is there.”Richardson, speaking at another BBL event in Melbourne on Thursday, was confident he could play a Test this summer if required despite still progressing his bowling in the nets following shoulder surgery earlier this year.Jhye Richardson last played a Test match in December 2021•AFP/Getty Images

“I think so,” Richardson said. “Body’s really good. At this stage of the recovery what we wanted was for everything else to be right, and the only limiting factor to be my shoulder, which is the case at the moment, which is really good. I’m bowling off a full run, just waiting for a bit of ball speed to come back, which I think is a pretty good position to be in this time of year, or what we were hoping for anyway.”There’s no specific timeline in place at the moment, but I think returning to some sort of competitive cricket, whether it’s club cricket or second XI [for Western Australia] sometime in November I think would be a good start, and then build up from there, and then see where it takes us.”Richardson revealed he was still only bowling at speeds in the low 120s but expected the speed to come with more mobility and confidence in the shoulder, having been through the process before after previous shoulder surgeries. He is hoping to play round five or six of the Sheffield Shield, with WA’s two games starting on November 22 and December 4 respectively.”You never really know how linear the process is going to be,” Richardson said. “I think at the start of the year, we were sort of speaking around that [round] five or six mark leading into the Big Bash and potentially back-end Ashes.”But I don’t want to think too far ahead.”

Wayne Rooney slams Liverpool's 'leaders' for letting standards slip as legendary striker claims Premier League champions could turn into Man Utd

Wayne Rooney has slammed Liverpool's 'leaders' after the Reds fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White condemned the Premier League champions to a sixth league defeat of the season as their title defence lies in tatters following another subpar showing.

  • AFP

    Liverpool enduring a difficult campaign

    Liverpool were already eight points off league leaders Arsenal heading into the weekend's action and they needed a victory over Sean Dyche's Forest side in order to kickstart a comeback in the title race. However, they could be 11 points behind the Gunners should Mikel Arteta's men claim all the spoils in the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

    The Reds have now lost as many games as newly-promoted Leeds ahead of their meeting with Aston Villa today and the Merseyside outfit are struggling to match last season's expectations that saw them secure a first Premier League title since 2020. The tragic passing of Diogo Jota combined with player upheaval has contributed to a poor opening few months of the campaign.

    And former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney tore into the Reds on Match of the Day on Saturday night, with the ex-England hero pointing fingers at the club's 'leaders' in the dressing room as a reason behind the poor form.

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  • The leaders need to pick the players up, says Rooney

    In the post-Liverpool vs Forest segment on Match of the Day, Rooney said: "Liverpool are a very good team and they're going through a very difficult moment. They've been going through a tough time all season really. Even at the beginning of the season, they won games, but they were struggling with performance. Throughout the season, it's those leaders in that dressing room that have to pick the players up."

    Rooney added that unless the club can sort themselves out in the coming weeks, then they'll be the latest Big Six side to drop down the Premier League table, continuing: "We've seen it over the last few years with Manchester United and we've seen it last year with Tottenham, they can slip down the table."

    United endured their worst ever Premier League finish under Ruben Amorim last season, as they finished 15th. Combined with a Europa League final loss to Tottenham, the Red Devils are going through a campaign without any European football of note.

    Spurs, meanwhile, ended their lengthy wait for silverware as they beat United 1-0 in Bilbao in May, but the league form suffered as the north London side prioritised the Europa League, which meant they finish 17th on 38 points.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Liverpool boss Slot laments 'another big disappointment'

    Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted after the loss to Forest that the result itself was "another big disappointment" with the Reds now on a run of six defeats in their last seven league outings.

    "Another big disappointment," Slot started after Saturday's defeat. "We started off quite well for the first half an hour. We conceded the 1-0, and we weren’t able to play the way we did in the first half hour.

    "If things go well or things go bad, it’s my responsibility. We weren’t able to create enough. I tried to adjust a few things, but it didn’t work out. We were unable to score a goal. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out."

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    Reds not up to 'battles, challenges, the fight' states Van Dijk

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also claimed that the club are not up to the "battles, challenges, the fight" as the Dutchman discussed the performance with Premier League Productions.

    "We concede too many easy goals," Van Dijk started. "They scored obviously from a set piece again. You can ask if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted, so we’re 1-0 down. We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.

    "There was nervousness after we conceded, but not before. We tried to rush things and that’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. We cleared the ones before and in the end, we’re in a very difficult moment. We don’t get out of it by just speaking about it. It will take a lot of hard work.

    "It’s a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going."

    The Reds skipper continued "We concede too many easy goals. They scored obviously from a set piece again. You can ask if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted, so we’re 1-0 down. We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.

    "There was nervousness after we conceded, but not before. We tried to rush things and that’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. We cleared the ones before and in the end, we’re in a very difficult moment. We don’t get out of it by just speaking about it. It will take a lot of hard work.

    "It’s a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going.

    "I can’t decide what the supporters are doing if they leave early. I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us. They will be there with us when we come out of this because we will come out of this."

Pumas now happy for Juarez to join Celtic as Hoops eye secret release clause

Pumas are now reportedly happy to let manager Efrain Juarez join Celtic, who could take full advantage of their former star’s secret release clause at the Mexican club.

The Bhoys once again struggled on the European stage in midweek, losing 3-1 against Midtjylland, as Martin O’Neill saw their problems in full for the first time. The interim boss has continued to distance himself from the permanent job, despite recent reports suggesting that he could yet be the next man to take the hotseat.

For now, the 73-year-old is set to remain in the dugout for Celtic’s Scottish Premiership clash against Kilmarnock this weekend, but Parkhead chiefs are continuing their search.

Recent reports have claimed that Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna is now open to joining the Scottish giants, but it remains to be seen whether he’d leave Portman Road in the middle of a campaign which has so far been disappointing.

Meanwhile, Nicky Hayen is also a reported candidate. The Club Brugge manager knows all about beating the top clubs in Scottish football, having smashed Rangers 9-1 on aggregate in the Champions League qualifiers earlier this season and defeated Celtic last season. Now, he could be on his way to the home dugout in Glasgow.

Once again, however, luring him away from Club Brugge will not be an easy task. Instead, the Hoops may have no choice but to turn towards former player Juarez, who has previously shared that he dreams of managing the club.

Pumas happy to let Juarez join Celtic

As reported in Mexico and relayed by Sport Witness, Pumas are now happy to let Juarez join Celtic, who could trigger a release clause that allows the 37-year-old to leave for free when a European club comes knocking.

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More bad news for the Bhoys.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 7, 2025

It would save Celtic a transfer fee and it would welcome someone who knows the standards of the club, given that Juarez played for the Bhoys between 2010 and 2012. Whether he has the right managerial experience for the role is another question, though, and the Scottish club may find that out after reportedly scheduling an interview over zoom.

The former player, who uses a 4-2-3-1 system, has taken charge of just two sides and is yet to even reach 100 games as a manager. At this point in time, it should be questioned whether Celtic can afford to take such a gamble.

Games

33

Wins

11

Draws

10

Defeats

12

Juarez’s time at Pumas hasn’t exactly been the greatest success, either. The Mexican has lost more games than he’s won and averaged just 1.3 points over 33 games in charge. It suddenly makes the club’s willingness to let him leave make all too much sense for Celtic to make their move.

For the time being, those at Celtic Park should trust O’Neill with the job until a suitable candidate emerges.

Celtic schedule first interview with Efrain Juarez

Rangers claim they have a 6 foot 4 youngster at Ibrox who's the next Calvert-Lewin

In an attempt to get fans back onside, the 49ers recently shared a key data comparison in defence of one of their summer signings at Rangers – comparing him to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Cavenagh backs Thelwell and Stewart

After missing out on Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat before eventually landing on Danny Rohl, Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh, Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart all met with fans to discuss the 49ers’ plans with the Gers going forward.

Rangers now battling to sign "fantastic" midfield talent in first signing for Rohl

The Gers have set their sights on the German’s first signing…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 21, 2025

The new owners have been met with plenty of criticism in recent weeks, with banners unveiled at Ibrox and the likes of Thelwell finding themselves at the centre of fan frustration following what looks like a disastrous summer transfer window. Now, however, the 49ers have had their chance to have their say and face up to a disgruntled crowd.

Hosting a fan session in an attempt to get supporters back onside, Cavenagh reiterated his backing for both Thelwell and Stewart even after recent mistakes.

The words are certainly positive, but those at Ibrox will now want to see action. They will be desperate to see new manager Rohl get off to the perfect start against Brann this Thursday and for one attacking talent to prove the 49ers right once and for all in Scotland.

Rangers compare Chermiti to Calvert-Lewin

Whilst they were quick to admit a number of mistakes, the 49ers also launched a defence for Youssef Chermiti. The summer arrival cost as much as £10m on deadline day, but is yet to score a goal for the club or show any signs of making his mark at Rangers.

The 49ers still back their striker, however, and even went as far as to compare him to former Everton star and current Leeds United forward Calvert-Lewin in their recent fan meeting, revealing the 6 foot 4 youngster is a physical specimen.

It’s a bold comparison but one that the 49ers have made based on physical data. Whether Chermiti proves them right is now the big question. At his very best, Calvert-Lewin scored 21 goals in all competitions for Everton in the 2020/21 season, but Rangers’ owners believe that their new striker could be better than that based on the data they’ve seen.

Bayern Munich cancel Jerome Boateng internship under Vincent Kompany after fans launch protest over ex-defender's prior conviction

Bayern Munich’s plan to welcome back Jerome Boateng as an intern under Vincent Kompany has collapsed amid fan outrage over the former defender’s past conviction. The ex-German international, who had hoped to begin his coaching journey at the club where he won everything, has now stepped back, urging focus on Bayern’s success while he turns toward his A-license studies.

Bayern’s plan with Boateng and the fallout

Bayern had intended to bring Boateng back home in a mentorship role under Kompany. The plan was simple but symbolic as the 2014 World Cup winner, who spent a decade in Munich winning nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues, would begin his post-playing career where it all began, learning the ropes of management.

The club had approved the short internship as part of Boateng’s A-license certification, giving him hands-on experience with one of Europe’s top technical setups. Kompany, who shared a dressing room with Boateng at Manchester City, was said to be enthusiastic about having him join the staff in a developmental capacity.

However, what began as a low-key initiative quickly turned into a storm. Bayern fans launched protests, both online and at the Allianz Arena, condemning the decision and citing Boateng’s 2024 conviction for intentional bodily harm. Supporters unfurled banners reading: “No place for violence at Bayern,” and a petition titled: “Set boundaries against misogynistic violence” gained thousands of signatures within days. The growing backlash led Boateng and Bayern to jointly decide to cancel the arrangement.

AdvertisementAFPBoateng speaks out after fan's protest

For Boateng, the internship cancellation was a painful but calculated decision. The former Bayern centre-back, who had initially expressed joy at returning to Sabener Strasse, admitted that the controversy took a toll on him. Yet, in his words, his focus remains on rebuilding and contributing to football from another angle. 

In a message on Instagram, the defender announced: “After the recent discussions surrounding me, I’ve decided to focus on my topics – the A license, RYZR, and Arena2. That’s where my focus is right now, and your full focus should be solely on the pitch and the goal of continuing this impressive streak of 13 consecutive victories.”

Bayern echoed his sentiment in a statement on social media. The statement from the club said: “In a constructive exchange that FC Bayern and Jérôme Boateng had this week, it was decided that Jérôme Boateng will not be an intern at FC Bayern. Jérôme feels very connected to FC Bayern and does not want FC Bayern to suffer any damage due to the current controversial discussion surrounding him.”

The withdrawal helped defuse rising tensions with supporters, ensuring that the club’s image and fan unity remained intact. Yet the episode also reignited debate about rehabilitation in football and how former players with legal histories can rebuild their careers.

Boateng's legal saga and it's impact

The uproar around Boateng’s return stems from a six-year legal saga that shadowed the twilight of his playing career. The case dated back to July 2018, when Boateng was accused of assaulting his former partner, Sherin Senler, during a vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Boateng consistently denied the allegations, but the case went through multiple appeals and retrials. In September 2021, a Munich court initially fined him €1.8 million, later reduced to €1.2 million after appeal. In July 2024, the final verdict imposed a suspended fine of €200,000 and ordered him to donate €100,000 to charity, though no criminal record was issued. The court emphasised protecting the couple’s daughters, calling them “the real victims” of the prolonged legal dispute.

While the case ended without jail time, its reputational impact was immense. The controversy affected Boateng’s final playing years, limiting his club prospects. After leaving Bayern in 2021, he had brief stints in France and Italy before retiring in 2025, closing a glittering chapter that included over 300 appearances, nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals and two Champions League crowns.

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Getty Images SportWhat’s next for Boateng and Bayern?

Although the internship has been shelved, the Bavarians made it clear that the door to the club remains symbolically open. The management and Kompany personally thanked Boateng for his understanding, emphasising that his contributions to the club’s legacy would always be remembered.

Sources close to Bayern indicated that the original plan was for Boateng to shadow the coaching staff through early 2026, but fan sentiment made the move untenable. Kompany, meanwhile, has publicly supported the decision while urging focus on the team’s ongoing campaign.

Boateng, for his part, has pivoted his energy toward the next chapter, completing his UEFA A coaching license, expanding his athlete recovery company RYZR, and developing Arena2, a project focused on community-based sports performance.

Bhuvneshwar: 'Death bowling is like an instinct'

“We are the same but different as well,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar says about his RCB fast-bowling partners Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-20253:10

Is is time to start dreaming for RCB fans?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar might be a little understated, but he is a bonafide IPL superstar. No quick bowler has taken more wickets than his 193 in the tournament, and only Yuzvendra Chahal (219 at the time of writing) stands in front of him in the overall list. And he has found ways to stay relevant in a fast-changing game by “being proactive – to be a step ahead of the batter”.His new/old team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are having a season to remember, and part of the reason is the combination Bhuvneshwar has formed with Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal: between them, they have 40 wickets so far. RCB have also been the second-most economical bowling side at the death (overs 17 to 20) in IPL 2025, conceding runs at 10.23, a shade behind Mumbai Indians’ (MI) 10.22.”I am back in RCB after 16 years and I am very happy to be back,” Bhuvneshwar said in a video released by the franchise. “From the 2008-09 or 2010 season to now in 2025, things are very different. I had come in as a young player and now I have come back with so much more experience.Related

Bhuvneshwar has 'the perfect answer' for DC on tricky Delhi pitch

“If you talk about Yash and Josh, and the three of us – we are the same but different as well. If we talk about the aspects that are similar, the three of us can swing it. And then if you look at Josh Hazlewood, he has the height, and Yash is a left-arm pacer, which helps create a different angle altogether. And the best part is that all three of us can bowl at any stage of the game, and we have done it as well. These qualities help complement each other a lot.”And if you look back in the season, there have been times that I have not done well, but they have backed me up, or if someone hasn’t had a good day, the rest of the bowlers have stepped up. So we are complementing each other and it is a great sign.”Bhuvneshwar has had two good outings in Bengaluru this season, returning identical figures of 2 for 26 against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), but both of those came in defeats for RCB when they were in the middle of a horror run at home. The big effort came in Delhi when he played a big role in RCB’s win by sending back KL Rahul, Ashutosh Sharma and Tristan Stubbs on his way to 3 for 33. Rahul and Ashutosh were felled in the 17th over and Stubbs in the 20th. In the 11 overs Bhuvneshwar has bowled at the death this season, he has five wickets and an economy rate of 10.09.”Death bowling is like an instinct. It depends on what is the situation of the match and what you are thinking as well,” Bhuvneshwar, the only bowler to have won the Purple Cap in successive seasons – 2016 and 2017 – said. “When there are team meetings, you plan things in a particular way. But a lot of times, you do it differently on the ground, because that instinct kicks in.”Sometimes there is a very normal situation going on, but you have an instinct that the batter is going to do something different. So that’s when we call it being proactive – to be a step ahead of the batter. There are times when it doesn’t work, but as long as you are proactive and you are getting the batter to do the things you want, you will be on top of the game.”

Muyeye, Compton tons see Kent canter home in testing chase

Tawanda Muyeye and Ben Compton both hit centuries as Kent coasted to an eight-wicket run win over Middlesex in the Rothesay County Championship at Canterbury on Sunday.Muyeye made a fluent unbeaten 125 and Compton a stylish 124 not out in a record-breaking partnership worth 225, after England’s Zak Crawley showed a glimpse of form with 58, having being dropped on nought.Earlier Middlesex were all out for 311, setting Kent what looked like a stiff target of 316 to win. Ben Geddes made 75 and Zafar Gohar contributed 57 down the order, but Gohar was the only visiting bowler to enjoy any success, claiming two wickets in two balls to reduce Kent to 91 for 2. That, however, was as good as it got for the visitors and Compton hit the winning single with 5.4 overs of day three remaining.Middlesex began the day in a strong position on 222 for 6 and with a 226-run lead in the bank, but they lost Geddes early when he pulled Jack Leaning to the backward square leg boundary and was caught by a tumbling Joey Evison, having added just two to his overnight score.Blake Cullen made a useful 22 and saw off eight overs of the new ball before he edged Grant Stewart to Daniel Bell-Drummond at first slip.Stewart then got Toby Roland-Jones lbw for a fifth-ball duck but the last wicket duo of Gohar and Henry Brookes milked the bowlers for 39 runs.Gohar pulled Gilchrist for a huge six to take the lead past 300 and only perished when he cut the same bowler to Jas Singh on the backward point boundary.There was an eerie silence when Crawley, on nought in the first over, edged Roland-Jones to Geddes, who dropped him at third slip. He then drove Roland-Jones for successive fours, edged one through gully, clipped a six over midwicket and looked largely unmolested on his way to the fifty he reached by sweeping Gohar to third man for four.Gohar, however, undid him in his next over, with a ball that pitched near middle and spun back to hit his off stump. Bell-Drummond went to the very next ball, bowled by a delivery that pitched outside and hit off. Yet Muyeye blocked the hat-trick ball and at tea Kent looked favourites on 164 for 2.A pitch that looked so demonic on day one seemed to have been exorcised. Gohar switched ends and switched back again. Muyeye creamed Brookes for a six over square leg that ended up in the car park and drove Gafar through mid-off to reach his hundred.Bowling at Compton’s head proved futile and he cut Gohar through point for four to reach three figures, by which stage Middlesex seemed drained of hope.Muyeye seemed in a hurry to get it done in three days, dumping Gohar into the upper deck of the Cowdrey stand for a huge six.It was the highest ever third-wicket partnership for Kent v Middlesex, eclipsing the 196 made by both Bob Wilson and Colin Cowdrey in 1954 and David Fulton and Matt Walker in 2004.Compton staked his claim for a place in Kent’s Blast side by hitting the same bowler for a maximum over long-on, for only the sixth six of his career and he had the honour of hitting the winning run when he nudged Nathan Fernandes through mid-off.

Offer submitted: Arsenal make £8m+ "proposal" to sign "fast" La Liga star

Arsenal have submitted a “proposal” to sign a “fast and agile” new player for Mikel Arteta in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal and Berta targeting more signings after Eze

It has been an extremely busy summer for Andrea Berta in his first transfer window as sporting director, with the club’s spending now over £260m after successfully hijacking Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to land Eberechi Eze.

The Gunners secured the services of the England international, with a deal worth a total of £67.5m from Crystal Palace. Eze was unveiled as an Arsenal player before Saturday’s 5-0 win over Leeds United in the Premier League.

Incomings

From

Fee

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

£67.5m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£63.5m

Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad

£55m

Noni Madueke

Chelsea

£48m

Christian Norgaard

Brentford

£15m

Cristhian Mosquera

Valencia

£13m

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea

£5m

Arteta has praised the work that has gone on behind the scenes at the Emirates, however, he and Arsenal are still staying “very alert” to the prospect of more arrivals.

Staying alert they are, with Arteta, Berta and co working to sign Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen. The centre-back has a €60m (£51.8m) release clause in his current contract, however, the Gunners are looking at a fee under that figure.

It isn’t just the Ecuadorian, though, with Arsenal wanting to bolster their defensive options even further before September 1, and an update on another target has now emerged.

Arsenal make £8m+ "proposal" to sign Martinez

According to journalist Santi Aouna, Arsenal have made an approach and proposal to sign Arnau Martinez from Girona. The offer on the table from the Gunners is worth a total of €10m (£8.6m).

Martinez is primarily a right-back who can play as a centre-back or higher up the pitch as a right midfielder if required.

The 22-year-old has come through Girona’s youth system and has already made 163 senior appearances for his current employers, even turning out in the Champions League.

Jacek Kulig has also been impressed with what he has seen from Martinez when he was coming through, calling him a “complete full-back” who is “fast and agile”.

Now, it looks as if we may see Martinez in an Arsenal shirt, should things go the Gunners’ way, with the Spaniard rivalling the likes of Jurrien Timber and Ben White at right-back.

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