Frenkie De Jong is back in training with no serious injury scare but coach Hansi Flick is taking a cautious approach with the midfielder.
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Michail Antonio will go down as one of West Ham United’s modern-day greats.
Earlier this week, the club confirmed that the Jamaican international had left the club following the expiration of his contact.
Thus, in need of a new striker, has Graham Potter identified his top target?
West Ham's search for a new striker
Antonio joined the Hammers from Nottingham Forest a decade ago for a reported fee of £7m, initially signed as a right-back, but ultimately transformed into their best centre-forward of the 21st century, scoring 83 goals in claret and blue, making him the club’s record scorer of all-time in the Premier League.
His final appearance for West Ham came in December, suffering a life-threatening car crash soon after, stating himself “I was close to dying”, before returning to competitive football earlier this summer, featuring in all three of Jamaica’s matches at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.
Even at 35, Antonio will take some replacing, but have the Irons identified their man?
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, according to French outlet wiw Sports, West Ham have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms to sign Idrissa Gueye from Metz, adding that negotiations have reached the final stages.
Elsewhere, a report by Foot Mercato claims that the deal will cost €15m (around £13m), adding that both Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund had previously been interested in the youngster.
Well, if his West Ham career turns out to be even half as successful as the aforementioned Antonio, that’ll prove to be a bargain.
What Idrissa Gueye will bring to West Ham
Given that he is just 18 years old, not a lot is widely known about Gueye, so what do we know?
Well, he came through the famous Génération Foot academy in Senegal, before following the familiar pathway from there to Metz, a path trodden by Sadio Mané, Papiss Cissé, Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Matar Sarr and former hammer Diafra Sakho, as well as many others, in recent years.
What makes Gueye interesting is that he only made this jump in January, scoring five goals in 17 regular-season Ligue 2 games, thereby averaging a goal every 222 minutes.
This saw les Grenats finish third, subsequently beating both Dunkerque and then Stade Reims in the play-offs as they won promotion back to Ligue 1.
Speaking to French outlet Lesoleil, Metz sporting director Frédéric Arpinon stated that Gueye “reminds me a little” of Olivier Giroud, adding “I hope for him that he will have the same trajectory”.
Elsewhere, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider labels him ‘one of the hottest properties’ in European football, while Sébastien Denis of Foot Mercato asserts that he is a “diamond” of a striker.
Gueye won Metz’s player of the month, as well as Ligue 2 young player of the month during an eye-catching February, so let’s assess his statistics.
Idrissa Gueye Ligue 2 statistics
Statistics per 90
Gueye
Ligue 2 rank
Goals
0.41
14th
Shots
2.53
18th
Goals-per-shot on target
0.45
18th
Big chances missed
0.4
54th
Average Sofa Score rating
6.97
20th*
*amongst strikers only.
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table emphasises, Gueye is a player of enormous talent, but one who is still very raw, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering, as recently as January, he was plying his trade in the Senegalese Premier League which, according to the CAF association rankings, is the 17th strongest league in Africa.
So why will he be the ideal Antonio replacement?
Well, West Ham already boast Niclas Füllkrug and have also signed Callum Wilson on a free transfer, both of whom are vastly experienced, allowing Gueye to learn from them, and not demanding that he is a starter from day one.
According to Global Football Rankings, Ligue 2 is the 30th strongest league in the world, making it the fifth best second-tier on the planet, behind the EFL Championship (11th), the Zweite Bundesliga (17th), Serie B (19th) and the Segunda División (24th).
Thus, Gueye has already proven he can score goals at a relatively high level, Ligue 2 is one place above the Saudi Pro League interestingly, and he appears to have all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League.
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يخوض الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، 5 مباريات قوية، خلال شهر أكتوبر 2025، حيث يستكمل منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، وانطلاق مشواره في مسابقة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
النادي الأهلي كان قد حقق الفوز في لقاء القمة على الزمالك، بهدفين لهدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت بين الفريقين، مساء الإثنين 29 سبتمبر، في الجولة التاسعة من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وبهذا الفوز، ارتقى النادي الأهلي، إلى المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 15 نقطة، إذ فاز في 4 مباريات وتعادل في 3 وخسر لقاء وحيد.
طالع | عماد النحاس: الأهلي قدم أفضل مبارياته أمام الزمالك.. والكل يريد أن يقود الفريق
ومن المقرر أن يستكمل النادي الأهلي مبارياته في منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري، بـ 3 مواجهات أمام كهرباء الإسماعيلية والاتحاد السكندري وبتروجيت في الجولات العاشرة والحادية عشر والثانية عشر على الترتيب.
وسيلعب النادي الأهلي، في دور الـ 32 من منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للموسم الجديد، أمام إيجل نوار البوروندي. مواعيد مباريات الأهلي في أكتوبر 2025
الأهلي ضد كهرباء الإسماعيلية، يوم السبت 4 أكتوبر، في تمام الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.
الأهلي ضد إيجل نوار، مباراة الذهاب في بورندي، أحد أيام 17، 18، 19 أكتوبر.
الأهلي ضد الاتحاد السكندري، يوم الثلاثاء، 21 أكتوبر، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.
الأهلي ضد إيجل نوار، مباراة الإياب في مصر، أحد أيام 24، 25، 26 أكتوبر.
الأهلي ضد بتروجيت، يوم الأربعاء 29 أكتوبر، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.
Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the greatest football manager of all time, with the Scot transforming Manchester United into one of the world’s biggest clubs.
In his 27 years in charge at Old Trafford, Ferguson couldn’t stop winning and worked with some iconic players. Bringing through the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs from the Red Devils’ academy, Ferguson also signed superstar attackers Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona and Wayne Rooney.
|
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd honours |
|
|---|---|
|
Trophy |
Years won |
|
Premier League |
1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
|
Champions League |
1999, 2008 |
|
FA Cup |
1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004 |
|
League Cup |
1992, 2006, 2009, 2010 |
|
FIFA Club World Cup |
2008 |
|
UEFA Super Cup |
1991 |
|
European Cup Winners’ Cup |
1991 |
|
Intercontinental Cup |
1999 |
|
Community Shield |
1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 |
But who does a legendary manager like Ferguson have down as his greatest of all time? He gave five answers to that question, with some iconic names included, but no space for any of his former United icons.
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Johan Cruyff
Starting off Ferguson’s five GOAT’s is Johan Cruyff, who starred for Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands. The versatile forward created the ‘Cruyff turn’ still used to this day and transformed the way football was played in the 1960s and 1970s.
Cruyff won 10 league titles as a player, three European cups and three Ballon d’Or awards and would then go on to have a successful career as a manager.
Pele
Goalscoring icon Pele holds the Guiness World Record with 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which includes friendlies.
The Brazilian starred for Santos over 18 years but it was his displays on the World Cup stage in 1958, 1962 and 1970 that placed him among the greatest of all time.
Pele also loved Ferguson, saying: “Sir Alex, you were my idol as a coach and you are an example for future generations. Sir Alex, you are a legend and your achievements will hardly ever be surpassed.”
Diego Maradona
Prior to the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi era, it was the Pele and Diego Maradona era, with the duo actually sharing the prize of FIFA Player of the Century in 2000.
An attacking midfielder, Maradona would star in Europe during the 1980s, most notably for Napoli. His most memorable year came in 1986 when he helped Argentina win the World Cup, and he’d then take Napoli to two Serie A titles.
Ferenc Puskas
Hungarian icon Ferenc Puskas starred for his country by scoring 84 goals in 85 games, and at club level, moved to Real Madrid at the age of 31, where he would continue to score for fun at the Bernabeu.
Following Puskas’ death in 2006, Ferguson said: “I was lucky to see Puskas play quite a few times. I have many memories of him. I was at the European Cup final in 1960 but I also saw him score the only goal against Rangers at Ibrox, before he got a hat-trick against them when Real scored six in the second leg.
“In his day he was a special player without question, part of that great period for Hungarian football. How they did not win the World Cup in 1954 is beyond me.”
Alfredo Di Stefano
The oldest player on the list is another forward in Alfredo Di Stefano, who ended up signing for Real Madrid instead of rivals Barcelona in 1953.
That would be a decision Barcelona would live to regret, with Di Stefano scoring 216 league goals in 282 games for Madrid. Although he also played for Argentina and Colombia, Di Stefano represented Spain.
Talking back in 2014, Ferguson was asked for his greatest ever players following Di Stefano’s passing, to which he said:
No room for Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi at the time, so it would be interesting to see if either make his list more than 10 years on.
Celtic have had a strong start to the Scottish Premiership this season, winning both their opening games with clean sheets and sitting comfortably with an early four-point lead over Rangers.
Celtic have made numerous additions to their title-winning team, including Arsenal’s Kirean Tireny on a free transfer. Additionally, Brendan Rodgers has continued the pattern that his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, started and has once again delved into the Japanese market to bring in Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura, who become the 7th and 8th Japanese players to join the club this decade.
Rodgers had also planned on bringing in Go Ahead Eagles winger Jakob Breum, but that deal now seems to have been indirectly foiled by their rivals.
Rangers scupper Celtic transfer hopes
In July, a move for Breum looked likely. Celtic had begun negotiating a price, the player and agent were ready and willing, and the Go Ahead Eagles director spoke candidly about their willingness to sell for the right price. Fast-forward to the present, and Go Ahead Eagles are looking less inclined to sell.
The main reason for this is that the club has received a £6.6 million cash windfall, which means they don’t have to sell Breum if they don’t want to. Last season, the winger registered 15 goal involvements in 26 league appearances, which is likely why the club are inclined to keep hold of him.
In a bitter twist for Celtic, it’s now being reported by Football Insider that a significant factor in Go Ahead Eagles’ reluctance to sell Breum is because of the money they received from Rangers when they signed Oliver Antman.
Rangers brought Antman in from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday for an initial fee of £3 million. This income, partnered with the £3.6 million that the Eagles will receive from their qualification to the Europa League, has changed the Dutch side’s financial situation to the point where a sale of Breum is no longer necessary and attractive.
While it’s almost certain that Rangers had no idea that their deal would scupper Celtic’s move for Breum, it will likely be a cherry on top of the Antman signing that many Rangers fans will take some joy from.
Celtic's next move…
It’s a pain to have a long-term transfer target fall through, and that pain is only exacerbated by Rangers’ involvement, but there is still plenty of time left in the window for Celtic to get their winger.
One other issue that has arisen from the Antman/Breum debacle is that Football Insider also report that Celtic were waiting on the signing of Breum to green-light a sale of Hyunjun Yang to Norwich City. With the season underway, Celtic don’t want to be left shorthanded and so were waiting for their new signing before Yang on. This will now have to wait until they secure an alternative.
One player that Celtic may now go for is Brondby winger Clement Bischoff. TeamTalk had reported earlier this week that Bischoff was a player on the radars of both Celtic and Sunderland. Celtic would have to be willing to spend more than they had planned to spend on Breum, however, as Brondby want £6.3 million for the 19-year-old.
Jacob Bethell continued his serene start to life in an England shirt by hitting the winning runs in Christchurch
Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Dec-2024Hitting the winning run in a Test match that takes you to a half-century on debut. Walking off alongside England’s all-time leading run-scorer, Joe Root. Sunday was just another of a series of bucket-list moments for Jacob Bethell.Since September, the 21-year-old has enjoyed life in England’s priority lane, ticking off T20I and ODI caps against Australia and West Indies, registering three white-ball half-centuries against the latter. This first against the red was right out of his limited-overs playbook, taking just 37 deliveries, as the tourists chased 104 inside 13 overs to beat New Zealand by eight wickets in Christchurch. They take a 1-0 lead to Wellington.”[It was] a hell of a lot of fun yeah,” Bethell said. “And to walk off with Rooty [who made 23 off 15] at the end there was pretty special.”To come out in the second innings and have a chance to walk off with an England win was at the forefront of my mind and luckily I was able to do that.”Related
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The second-innings speed run was in keeping with how England attack smaller targets. Barring a thick inside edge to get him off the mark, the other eight boundaries were real statements shots. Especially a pull for six on to the grass banks of the Hagley Oval off fellow debutant Nathan Smith.Smith did not take kindly to Bethell’s onslaught, having copped four boundaries off the left-hander in his first over, and went to bouncers. Bethell, however, is no stranger to short-pitched bowling. He was reared on it as a kid born in Barbados and later raised the UK – a scholarship to Rugby School brought him over aged 12 – as a regular target of the intimidatory tactics of bigger kids.”I was very small growing up so I didn’t really get a lot in my half up until I was about 16 or 17 when I got a bit bigger,” he said. “I never had as much power on it but I could still play it well. And now it’s just a decision on whether to hit it on the ground or hit it for six.”Such confidence, delivered with a mixed Bajan and Brummie accent that has a distinctly Welsh feel – which almost makes sense as the crow flies – is why England had no qualms placing him at No. 3. Even his first innings was met with something of a shrug.Conditions were tough, New Zealand’s seamers up and at them. Bethell backed himself, but managed just 10 from 34 balls – only getting off the mark with his 13th, still on one after 26 – before Smith snicked him off. Root’s dismissal then had England reeling on 45 for 3 at lunch on day two.”That’s part of the game, isn’t it?” Bethell said, like he’d been here before. “I saw it [as] if I got through to lunch, it looked like a different pitch after lunch. It does help when you’ve got Harry Brook batting, he makes it look quite easy.
“Since I was a little kid I’ve always dreamed of playing Test cricket, I remember watching the Ashes, and just any England Tests on TV and wanting to be a part of it”
“I think it could have been a different story, I battled hard and unluckily didn’t make it through to lunch but another day you get through and go on to make a big one.”Ben Stokes singled out those 34 deliveries after the match rather than the half-century, clearly buoyed by the way someone so young owned his space during those first 49 minutes as a Test batter. “If he sticks to having that attitude, that swagger about him, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be alright,” Stokes said.Bethell’s selection for the tour outright was a huge show of faith, picked as the spare batter despite a first class average of 25.44 from 30 innings – none of which had come higher than No. 5. Not that he was worried.”Pretty much every time I’ve played against better people, I’ve played better,” he said. “Step up to the Hundred, played better. Straight into internationals, played better. I didn’t really have a doubt in my mind that coming into Test cricket that I’d have done well.”The strut, the talk, the arrogance, reinforced by what was only his sixth first-class fifty, could see Bethell retain this new spot for the series. It would require Ollie Pope to keep the gloves and stay at No. 6, meaning Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson, who arrived on Saturday as Jordan Cox’s injury replacement, waiting his turn.England still regard Pope as their No. 3, and the man himself spoke forcefully that he still wants to make the position his own after his innings-saving 77 on day two. It is clear Pope wants that spot back for series against India and Australia next year.Bethell, however, is hopeful he gets a chance to show he can thrive up top, something he wants to do at Warwickshire but has not yet been able to make a solid case for.”I like batting up the order so, yeah, I was really happy that opportunity arose,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to bat in the top four so three is perfect.Bethell his eight fours and a six in his maiden Test fifty•AFP/Getty Images”I think my game is fit to play any style. On Sunday we saw a bit more of an attacking style. I can also absorb a bit of pressure, so I’m sure at times in my career there will be times to do that as well.”As a multi-format batter already, inevitably there will come a time when Bethell is pulled a few different ways. It may already be happening.Following the conclusion of this Test series, he will head to Australia to fulfill his overseas commitments with Melbourne Renegades. And just last week, he was one of 12 English players picked up in the IPL mega auction, earning a maiden gig with Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a tidy sum of £245,000. It will also see him miss the first seven rounds of Warwickshire’s County Championship campaign.He will join England team-mates Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone at RCB. No surprises, though, for guessing who he is most looking forward to rubbing shoulders with.”It’s a bit of a given, isn’t it?” Bethell said, with a wry smile. “Virat! He’s a great of the game so… King Kohli.”Like all young players at the premier franchise competition, he wants to be a sponge. “Any kind of overseas player that’s gone over there has come back with a wealth of experience.”But this first taste of the longest format has him craving more. With an Ashes tour on the horizon – England’s successful 2010-11 tour was his formative series – this format, and this team, are where he wants to truly establish himself.”It’s everything I’ve dreamed of to be honest,” Bethell said of Test cricket. “Since I was a little kid I’ve always dreamed of playing Test cricket, I remember watching the Ashes, and just any England Tests on TV and wanting to be a part of it.”And then since Baz [Brendon McCullum] took over with Stokesy, I’ve always watched it on TV and gone ‘how fun that does that look’ and it lived up to expectation. It was so fun.”
Yet to reach a breakthrough in pursuit of Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes, West Ham United have now reportedly set their sights on signing a former Premier League alternative.
Latest on West Ham's Fernandes move
In truth, it’s been a fairly quiet summer for West Ham. Ahead of Graham Potter’s first full season in charge, the Hammers have lost Mohammed Kudus and welcomed El Hadji Malick Diouf, Callum Wilson, Kyle Walker-Petrers and Mads Hermansen with the hefty fee that Tottenham Hotspur paid for their winger.
Even after four incomings, however, there remain question marks over whether those at the London Stadium can improve on last season’s disappointing 14th-place finish. Whether the final two weeks of the transfer window answers those questions remains to be seen too, especially given the latest update on West Ham’s chase to sign Fernandes.
After discovering Southampton’s £50m valuation, West Ham have reportedly decided against submitting an improved offer for Fernandes. The Hammers seemingly believe that their £30m offer should have been enough to secure the midfielder’s signature.
Forced to search elsewhere for midfield reinforcements, just where West Ham go from here is the big question. The likes of Harvey Elliott are still on the market and given that he is likely to struggle for minutes even more than last year following Florian Wirtz’s Liverpool arrival, a deal could certainly be there to be done.
Meanwhile, West Ham have also got some talented options outside of the Premier League – including a Bundesliga talent.
West Ham eyeing Aleix Garcia
According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, West Ham are now eyeing a move to sign Aleix Garcia from Bayer Leverkusen. The Hammers could offer the Spaniard a route back into the Premier League for the first time since leaving Manchester City in 2020. Since that departure, he has featured for FC Dinamo, SD Eibar, Girona and joined Leverkusen last summer.
Now 28 years old and with plenty of experience under his belt, Garcia could prove Pep Guardiola right years on from the manager’s initial praise. The Man City boss described the midfielder as “outstanding” in 2016 before he opened the exit door for his departure.
Minutes
1,455
2,935
Goals
3
2
Assists
4
4
Key Passes
32
35
When compared to Fernandes, it’s clear to see why Garcia is on West Ham’s radar in the event that they miss out on the Southampton star. In terms of output, both enjoyed similar seasons and both had an eye for a key pass.
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What makes Garcia’s numbers all the more impressive is the fact that he played just 1,455 minutes of Bundesliga action last season. The stats suggest that with more game time, he would have outperformed Fernandes.
Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White this summer has already been one of the sagas of the window, with the Nottingham Forest star at the heart of the controversy.
Nearly two weeks ago now, the Lilywhites triggered the 25-year-old’s release clause within his contract, but that’s where the issue over the currently lies.
His clause was seen as a secret within his contract, leading to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side claiming Thomas Frank’s men made an illegal approach for the midfielder’s signature.
It now appears as though Forest have ceased all negotiations with Spurs, putting the deal in potential doubt, with the player himself expected to join the Reds squad on their pre-season tour.
As a result, other summer targets are now being considered by the hierarchy, as they look to back Frank in his quest for success during his first year at the helm.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of days, Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher has been touted as a potential option for Spurs in the midfield department during the current window.
It remains unclear how much a deal for the former Chelsea star would cost this summer, but the hierarchy have wasted no time in pursuing a move after making contact with the LaLiga side over a potential deal.
However, he’s not the only player currently on their radar this window, with Brentford star Yoane Wissa a player firmly in their sights, according to Ben Jacobs.
The journalist claims that the Lilywhites have been in talks with the Bees over a move for the 28-year-old, who registered 19 league goals during the 2024/25 season.
He also states that Newcastle United and Forest are in the race for his signature, but any deal could be an expensive one given his current £50m price tag.
Why Spurs’ £50m target would be a better signing than Gibbs-White
There’s no denying that, given his tally of 15 combined goals and assists in the Premier League last season, that Gibbs-White would be a tremendous addition for Spurs.
However, the current scenario could have repercussions such as a hefty fine or even a transfer embargo should the club be found guilty of their actions.
It’s also unclear what role he would play within Frank’s side, especially considering James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have mainly operated in such a role in recent times.
A deep-lying option is more of a priority within the midfield department this summer, with a new talisman also needed to provide competition to Dominic Solanke.
The aforementioned scenarios would make Wissa an ideal option for Frank’s side this summer, not to mention he enjoyed his best-ever campaign under his guidance last time around.
When comparing his stats to those of current number nine Solanke, he’s managed to outperform him in key areas, showcasing why he’d be an excellent addition for the Lilywhites.
Wissa, who’s been labelled “remarkable” by journalist Zach Lowy, massively outscored the Englishman, whilst posting a better goal per shot on target rate – showcasing his clinical edge in front of goal.
Games played
35
27
Goals & assists
23
12
Shot on target accuracy
46%
40%
Goals per shot on target
0.6
0.3
Pass accuracy
77%
70%
Key passes made
0.9
0.5
Carries into 18-yard box
1.1
0.5
Aerial success rate
46%
43%
He also managed to complete more of the passes he attempted, whilst also notching more key passes per 90, having the creative ability to allow players around him to thrive in North London.
The DR Congo star’s dominance is further reflected in his aerial success rate, winning more duels and subsequently offering Frank’s side a needed focal point.
£50m may appear to be a hefty fee for the 28-year-old, but given his recent withdrawal from Brentford’s pre-season tour, he could well be available for a cheaper fee.
If he can replicate his form across the capital with the Lilywhites, it would be a phenomenal pickup, landing a player who would certainly have more of an impact than Gibbs-White.
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Destaque do Londrina, o atacante Cirilo marcou 20 gols na temporada passada. Agora, quer repetir o bom desempenho neste ano para ajudar a equipe no Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B.
Há três anos na equipe, o jovem jogador chegou a ser sondado por diversas equipes, mas reforçou sua vontade de permanecer no Londrina e manter a boa fase.
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– Estou trabalhando para manter o bom momento, ano passado foi mágico para mim e espero repetir o desempenho e voltar a marcar gols e ajudar a equipe – explicou.
A última partida do atacante foi ainda no Campeonato Paranaense e o jogador segue treinando e se preparando para voltar a teroportunidades.
England captain Harry Kane struggled to hold back the tears in an emotional speech to Djed Spence after his ex-Tottenham team-mate earned a first Three Lions cap to become the country's first openly Muslim player. The crushing 5-0 victory over Serbia in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night was about far more than the scoreline. For Spence, it was the moment dreams became reality.
Spence makes historic England debutKane delivers emotional tributeBreakthrough moment for British Muslim footballersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Spence came on in the 69th minute, replacing Chelsea’s Reece James, and in doing so, made history as the first Muslim player to represent England at senior level. For Spence, the appearance marked the culmination of years of persistence, setbacks, and unrelenting belief in his talent.
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Spence’s path to international recognition has been anything but straightforward. Having started out at Middlesbrough, he secured a move to Tottenham in 2022 with high expectations. But the transition proved far from smooth. His persistence was rewarded last season when he played a key role in Spurs’ Europa League triumph, a turning point that put him back in the spotlight. Fast forward to Belgrade, and the full-back is now a fully-fledged England international, something that once seemed far-fetched.
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WHAT KANE & SPENCE SAID
Kane, who played alongside Spence during those early Spurs years, presented him with his England legacy cap. Struggling to hold back tears, Kane told his team-mates: "We have a new debut today. I asked to do this because I saw this player three, four years ago at Tottenham. He had to go through a lot, he had to keep his head up, he had to work hard, and now he’s an England player. I’m a little emotional because I know how tough it was for you. Credit to you, your family, everyone involved. You deserve this one."
The man of the hour was understandably lost for words. Spence simply said: "I’m grateful to make my debut. Over the moon. It’s been a long journey but I finally made it. It feels great, man, thank you."
Speaking to the media later, Spence added: "I was surprised because I didn't know I was the first [Muslim], so it's a blessing. It's good to make history and hopefully inspire young kids around the world that they can make it as well. They can do what I am doing."