England allrounder says family connections and McCullum influence key factors in decision

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2022

Moeen Ali featured on England’s tour of India last year but retired in September•BCCI

Moeen Ali has confirmed his willingness to return to Test cricket for this winter’s tour of Pakistan, and has announced that he is officially “unretired” following a conversation on Sunday morning with England’s new head coach, Brendon McCullum.Moeen called time on his Test career in September, after claiming 195 wickets in 64 Tests, as well as five centuries, telling ESPNcricinfo at the time that he no longer felt able to “get in the zone” in the longest format of the game.However, McCullum’s arrival has indicated a new more attacking mindset to England’s Test cricket, and Moeen – who leaves for the Netherlands this evening ahead of next week’s three-match ODI series – says his hunger for the longer format has been renewed.”When, or if, Baz McCullum wants me, I’ll definitely play in Pakistan,” Moeen told BBC Test Match Special on Saturday, adding that his family heritage in the country made the trip – England’s first since 2005, when his cousin Kabir Ali was part of the white-ball squad – all the more tempting.”I have played Pakistan Super League out there a few years ago but it’s not the same,” Moeen said. “To travel with an England side there having family background from that part of the world will be amazing. It would be a historic event because of England not touring there for so many years.Related

Moeen Ali reverses decision on Test comeback

Moeen Ali signs for Warwickshire on three-year deal

Brendon McCullum talks up chances of England's T20 stars making Test grade

Moeen Ali awarded OBE for services to cricket and admits 'door is open' for Test return

Shan Masood drives Derbyshire as top billing is shared in notable double-header

“I know the support and love you can get out there, they love cricket. It’s really something that’s very appealing for sure.”Moeen had added during his comments on Saturday that McCullum was “very hard to say no to”, and “we’re going to have a chat and see how it pans out”.Following up on the subject during Sunday’s third day at Trent Bridge, Moeen confirmed that that conversation had now taken place.”I spoke to McCullum this morning, and we did discuss Pakistan this winter. The door is always open, and yeah, I suppose I am officially unretired,” he said.”He is a very difficult person to say no to. I find that very, very hard. He is very convincing and to be honest I would love to play under him and Ben Stokes. They are both very aggressive and I think I would suit their cricket a bit more.”At the time I said I was retired I felt like I was done. I felt really tired with cricket.”

Glasgow Rangers are set to travel over to Hampden Park on Sunday in the final of the League Cup, as Philippe Clement aims to win the competition for the second time.

The Belgian head coach lifted the trophy early on in his Gers tenure last year, beating Aberdeen 1-0 in the final, and will now have to overcome Celtic to secure a second piece of silverware in his time at Ibrox.

Rangers come into this match off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The Light Blues, however, could be without multiple key players from that starting XI after they picked up a couple of injury concerns against Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The latest Rangers injury news

Central defender John Souttar suffered a knock in the first half of the 1-1 draw at Ibrox and had to be replaced by veteran titan Leon Balogun.

Hamza Igamane was then forced off in the second half after going down holding his leg, but neither player had to be stretchered off by the medical staff.

After the match, Clement did not rule out their involvement on Sunday but did admit that it was too soon to tell and that they would have to monitor how Souttar and Igamane feel ahead of the cup final.

Losing the Moroccan forward to injury would be a huge blow for Rangers ahead of their clash with Celtic, as he has been in terrific form of late, with five goals and one assist in his last five appearances in all competitions.

Chalkboard

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

Cyriel Dessers came on to replace him against Tottenham but Clement must forget about the Nigeria international and unleash a different forward in Igamane’s place, should he miss out through injury.

The Rangers striker who should replace Igamane

The Belgian head coach should unleash Danilo, who was unavailable for the Spurs draw, as the starting striker for Rangers in the League Cup final to replace the Moroccan ace, although he should start either way.

Clement should start the Brazilian star whether Igamane is fit or not, as the 22-year-old summer signing played on the left with Danilo up front in the last Scottish Premiership match – a 3-0 win over Ross County.

If Igamane is unavailable, though, and it is a straight decision between the ex-Feyenoord man and Dessers for the starting role on Sunday, the former should come out on top.

Appearances

6

14

Minutes

250

851

Goals

3

6

Shots on target per game

1.7

0.9

Big chances created

3

2

Touches per game

23.3

16.9

As you can see in the table above, Danilo has outperformed the Rangers number nine at Premiership level since his return from injury recently.

The Brazilian dynamo, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Michael Beale, offers a greater threat in front of goal in comparison to Dessers, with more touches, shots on target, and ‘big chances’ created despite playing fewer matches and averaging fewer minutes per appearance.

Clement could have his own Matt O'Riley in "exciting" Rangers star

The Glasgow Rangers attacker could be the club’s answer to Matt O’Riley next summer.

ByDan Emery Dec 13, 2024

This suggests that the former Eredivisie marksman is more likely to make a difference at the top end of the pitch at Hampden Park this weekend in the League Cup final, which is why he should come in to replace Igamane up front, instead of Dessers.

Vitor Pereira has enjoyed a solid start to life as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, defeating Leicester City and Manchester United before securing a draw against Tottenham Hotspur in his opening games at the helm.

The 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest will sting, but considering the Reds are challenging for a place in the top four, perhaps it wasn’t surprising. Pereira will now turn his focus to the January transfer window in a bid to improve his squad, with several areas needing to be bolstered as we enter the second half of the season.

Winter transfer window 2025: All the latest deals from England and Scotland

Find out who is on the move this winter with our comprehensive list of done deals from the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership.

ByStephan Georgiou Feb 3, 2025

Much will depend on what budget he will have to make improvements, as he could be forced to sell a player or two if the money is right to raise some funds.

As such, who are the rumoured targets doing the rounds recently? And who might be on the move away from Molineux?

Potential Wolves incomings Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

If the Old Gold wish to remain in the Premier League beyond this season, adding more firepower is a priority.

Matheus Cunha may have scored ten goals this term, while Jorgen Strand Larsen has chipped in with seven, but more will be needed over the next few months.

According to German outlet BILD (via Sport Witness), Wolves have shown an interest in striker Tim Kleindienst ahead of a potential move this month.

He only joined Gladbach last summer from Heidenheim, scoring a total of nine goals while registering six assists across the first six months of the season.

Wolves have already made an enquiry for the striker, while Gladbach managing director Roland Virkus has claimed there have been other requests, saying: “Of course there are requests, that’s completely normal if you perform well. But we don’t want to let any of the top players go because something is happening here.”

Given he is still fairly new to Gladbach, Pereira might have to break the bank in order to lure the German frontman to the Midlands this month.

Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray)

According to reports in Turkey (via Sport Witness), Wolves are one of the clubs taking an interest in Galatasaray winger Hakim Ziyech, who has just six months left on his contract with the Turkish giants.

The Moroccan winger enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with the club, scoring eight times while chipping in with four assists in all competitions, and he joined on a permanent basis once the season finished.

This season has been a different story, however. Ziyech has struggled majorly, failing to find the back of the net in 11 appearances and expressing his desire to escape. Could Wolves offer an exit route?

The 31-year-old Champions League winner has Premier League experience, featuring 64 times in the competition for Chelsea between 2020 and 2023, which could indicate that he may still have plenty to offer if he was to return to England this month.

Dan Ballard (Sunderland)

While strengthening his attacking options should be a priority for Pereira, bringing in another defender or two could also be advantageous.

In the top flight this term, the Old Gold have conceded 45 goals, the most in the Premier League, highlighting the need for improvement at the back.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard was a player linked towards the tail end of 2024, and he could be an interesting signing.

Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion are just a few other clubs keeping an eye on the former Arsenal defender, suggesting competition will be stiff.

The Northern Irishman has made 13 appearances for the Black Cats so far this term, with the club conceding just 13 goals whenever he has featured in the Championship.

Hailed as a “natural leader” by Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, could Ballard be the centre-back Pereira requires in the second half of the campaign?

Renato Veiga (Chelsea)

According to the Daily Mail, Wolves have emerged as candidates to sign Chelsea defender Renato Veiga this month, with Bournemouth rivalling them for his signature.

Veiga only joined the Blues last summer, but has found chances hard to come by under Enzo Maresca, not helped by an inflated squad at Stamford Bridge. Able to play at left-back and centre-back, he could add some versatility to the Wolves defence.

Across his 17 appearances, the youngster has managed to score twice and grab an assist, suggesting that he can offer a decent attacking threat, which could come in handy for the Old Gold.

Potential Wolves departures Sam Johnstone (Rangers)

Sam Johnstone only made the move to Wolves last summer, yet he has only made seven Premier League appearances throughout the season, with none coming under Pereira.

The new man in charge looks like he prefers compatriot Jose Sa to the Englishman, and this could perhaps ensure Johnstone’s departure from the club sooner rather than later.

He has recently been touted with a move north of the border to Rangers, but whether the Molineux side will want to let him go so soon after joining remains to be seen, particularly as a swift replacement will likely be required.

Mario Lemina (linked with Al-Shabab)

Mario Lemina was voted as Wolves’ Supporters’ Player of the Season after an impressive 2023/24 campaign which saw him miss just three Premier League matches, scoring four times in the process.

It perhaps comes as a surprise that he could be on his way just six months later, but it appears as though the club are willing to sanction his departure after a rocky patch for the midfielder.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab have been credited with an interest in the Gabon star, who was stripped of the captaincy after the loss to West Ham United a few weeks ago, which placed his future in doubt.

With just a few months left on his current contract, Pereira will ideally seek a fee to move Lemina on this month while managing to get his £45k-per-week salary off the wage bill in the process.

A move clearly makes sense for everyone involved, and it is now a case of just how much Wolves will make on the player they signed in the winter window back in 2023.

Weekly wages: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

Who is the biggest earner at Molineux?

ByCharlie Smith Sep 24, 2025

انتهت قبل قليل مباراة فريقي الزمالك والمصري التي أقيمت ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الممتاز “النيل” بنتيجة التعادل السلبي بدون أهداف.

المباراة أقيمت على ملعب استاد برج العرب، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الحسم بالدوري المصري الممتاز.

بيسيرو يستبعد لاعب الزمالك من مواجهة المصري في الدوري

ويُقام الدوري المصري هذا الموسم بنظام جديد، تم خلاله تقسيم الفرق إلى مجموعتين، الأولى “حسم الدرع” والثانية “تفادي الهبوط”، بواقع تسعة فرق في كل مجموعة، وفقًا لترتيبهم بعد نهاية المرحلة الأولى.

بهذه النتيجة يرتفع رصيد الزمالك إلى 39 نقطة محتلًا المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري، ويزيد المصري رصيده إلى 35 نقطة في المركز الرابع.

ومن المقرر أن يكمل فريق نادي الزمالك مشواره ببطولة الدوري المصري بمواجهة البنك الأهلي صاحب المركز الخامس في جدول ترتيب الدوري. موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة

وتقام مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي يوم الإثنين 5 مايو على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

Tom Wood, the Derbyshire batter, has been cleared to return to cricket after a backdated six-month ban for failing to declare his use of an asthma inhaler.Wood was tested for the first time in his professional career in September 2021 and tested positive for terbutaline, a controlled substance found in asthma inhalers which Wood has used since 2004.Wood told a National Anti-Doping panel that it was his “genuine belief” that he did not have to apply for an exemption in advance since he was predominantly a second-team player, which he believed would allow him to apply retroactively for one. “It is accepted as truthful that he mistakenly believed he was not subject to an obligation to apply in advance for a TUE [theraputic use exemption] as he was considered a second team player,” the panel’s report said.Wood was provisionally suspended by the ECB and was formally charged with two anti-doping rule violations. “Mr Wood admitted the charges and both the Panel and the ECB accepted that Mr Wood had no intention to breach the ECB Anti-Doping Rules,” the ECB said in a statement.Related

• Which player left the game at 23 and went on to become a commercial pilot?

• Glamorgan give Patel chance to bring consolation to quiet summer

• Strauss: Winning Tests doesn't change need for high-performance review

• History weighs heavy on Duckett, Hameed after 402-run stand

• Who was the first Kolpak player in county cricket?

The panel decided to ban him for six months, a suspension which was backdated to January 8 and expired on July 7. Wood, who played 18 times for the first team last season, played his first second-team game of the season last week.”It is with enormous regret I confirm I received, and have served, a 6-month ban for an Anti-Doping violation,” Wood said in a statement. “The violation relates to a controlled substance, Terbutaline, which was contained in my asthma inhaler that I had been prescribed by my GP since childhood. It was universally agreed by all parties involved that this violation was in no way associated with an attempt to cheat or gain any kind of competitive advantage.”This was purely a genuine human error in not having a Therapeutic-Use exemption which would have allowed me to use my asthma inhaler without sanction. I’d like to make it clear I fully accept and support all Anti-Doping rules and the importance of them across all sports.”The last 8 months have been incredibly difficult for me. Firstly I’d like to thank my family for their unconditional love and support throughout the whole process. Secondly, a massive thank you to all involved at Derbyshire CCC, players, coaches and staff for their complete backing and support from the start. Last but certainly not least, a massive thank you to the PCA, whose constant support, assistance and care has gone far and beyond anything I could have ever asked for and has been immeasurably helpful to me.”I look forward to moving on from this and I cannot wait to get back out on the pitch for Derbyshire and help the team push on in the second half of the season.”Ryan Duckett, Derbyshire’s chief executive, said: “This has been an extremely challenging and distressing time for Tom, who has handled himself impeccably throughout the process.”This was a genuine mistake, regarding an inhaler which Tom has been prescribed since he was a child. It came during a period of extensive and unprecedented Covid-19 protocols and all parties accept that there was no intention to breach any rules.”Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire’s head of cricket, said Wood was still a part of his plans for this season. “It’s been a really difficult time for Tom,” he said. “He was very much part of our plans for this season and he still can be now he is back and available.”It’s always tough when it happens to one of the players, but we’ve supported Tom and I’ve spoken to him a few times. We’ve tried to keep him in the loop but he couldn’t train with us or be part of the set-up. We’ve given him the support that he’s needed, and I hope he comes back better and stronger.”He hits the ball incredibly hard. I was excited about him, particularly around white-ball cricket. He would have played a big role this season. He could have gone up top or been a finisher for us. He’s still got that opportunity in the Royal London Cup and he’s also working on his red-ball technique.”

Arsenal are targeting a forward who’s already bagged a goal against them this campaign, and it is believed they could advance on a January move before deadline day on February 3.

Arsenal in market for attacker after Saka and Jesus injuries

Star winger Bukayo Saka will be out of action until March after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem, while Gabriel Jesus is set to miss the rest of this Premier League campaign after rupturing his ACL.

Arsenal also weighing up January move for £25m Dusan Vlahovic alternative

He’d be a much cheaper option.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 15, 2025

Saka’s return of goals and assists has been sorely missed by manager Mikel Arteta, even if they did secure North London Derby bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Tottenham on Wednesday evening, while Jesus’ absence has left the Spaniard with just Kai Havertz as his only striking option.

Aston Villa (home)

January 18

Wolves (away)

January 25

Man City (home)

February 2

Leicester City (away)

February 15

West Ham (home)

February 22

Arsenal can scarcely believe their luck when it comes to injuries in attack recently, which has reportedly prompted the Gunners to dip into this January market in search of external solutions.

Arteta has confirmed that the club are actively pursuing potential signings right now, and it is reliably believed that a striker is being targeted by Arsenal this month (Sky Sports).

“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that’s been the same since day one,” said Arteta on January transfers.

“It would be naive not to do that because it is always an opportunity to evolve the team and improve the squad, especially with the circumstances. So yes, we are looking, and we are trying and let’s see what we are able to do.”

Arsenal hold a concete reported interest in Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus as one target, while there are rumours that they could look to bring in Marseille striker Elye Wahi, amid reports he’d cost just £25 million.

Given both Saka and Jesus’ absences, it is little surprise we’re now hearing Bryan Mbeumo being mentioned as a potential option.

The versatile Cameroonian can play both out wide and as a centre-forward, acting as cover for both Jesus and Saka, with reports claiming he’s valued at around £50 million by Brentford.

While Thomas Frank has insisted that he’s not for sale this month, you could argue that a big offer could tempt Brentford into selling, especially when you consider the African has just 18 months left on his contract.

Arsenal could advance on potential Bryan Mbeumo deal in January

According to RMC Sport and reliable journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Arsenal could “go on the offensive” for Mbeumo before the end of this transfer window after registering an interest in his services.

Arteta’s side are joined by Tottenham and Man United in this regard, with all three sides gathering information on the 25-year-old who’s scored 13 goals for Brentford in all competitions so far this season.

One of those strikes actually came against Arsenal, where he played up front in a 3-1 defeat against them at the G-tech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day.

It would be fair to say that this season has been quite disappointing for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

Ange Postecoglou’s side kicked off their campaign hoping to improve on their fifth-place finish in the Premier League last year, but as things stand, they are down in 11th.

The North Londoners have made it to the League Cup semi-finals and are still in with a chance of winning the Europa League, but for that to happen, they’ll need to seriously improve their performances.

Now, the club have been hit by an injury crisis in defence, but even so, the likes of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie have looked significantly worse than they did this time last year, so reports linking the club with a potential upgrade in the latter should excite the fans.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several sides keen on signing Club Brugge’s exciting full-back Maxim De Cuyper.

The report has revealed that, in addition to the Lilywhites, London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested in the Belgian defender.

Unfortunately, the story also claims that the Gunners are currently leading the race, but given their abundance of full-backs, there is no reason Spurs couldn’t get ahead of them by offering more game time.

The report does not reveal how much the 24-year-old could cost the interested parties, but given his valuation of €12m – £10m – on transfermarkt, we’d be surprised if it was a prohibitively expensive price tag.

There is undoubtedly an element of risk in signing a player from outside the top five leagues, but based on his ability and potential, De Cuyper is a gamble worth taking, especially as he could be an ideal Udogie upgrade.

How De Cuyper compares to Udogie

So, one of De Cuyper’s best attributes is that he’s versatile enough to play on either side of a defence and can even play further up the pitch in wide midfield or even on the wing.

However, his most played position, and by quite some way, is left-back, meaning a move to Spurs next year would see him go up against Udogie for a starting berth, but how do they compare?

Well, from an output perspective, which is increasingly important in the modern game, the Club Brugge ace comes out ahead.

For example, in his 24 appearances this season, the “monster” full-back, as dubbed by video scout Elijah Michiels, has scored one goal and provided four assists, equating to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every 4.8 games.

In comparison, the Lilywhites’ Italian ace has provided just a solitary assist in his 21 appearances this season, which is undeniably poor.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Is the comparison just as one-sided when we take a look under the hood?

Indeed, it is, as the “exceptional” Belgian, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, emerges victorious in the majority of relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, key passes, passes and crosses into the penalty area, shots blocked and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.48

0.10

Progressive Passes

1.43

2.48

Progressive Carries

8.45

5.93

Shots

1.12

0.35

Shots on Target

0.25

0.07

Passing Accuracy

78.5%

87.1%

Key Passes

2.98

0.83

Passes into the Final Third

6.58

4.14

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.61

0.34

Crosses into the Penalty Area

1.18

0.07

Live Passes

60.6

44.9

Shot-Creating Actions

5.85

1.73

Goal-Creating Actions

0.81

0.21

Tackles Won

1.30

1.93

Shots Blocked

0.19

0.14

Clearances

2.61

1.72

Errors Leading to a Shot

0.06

0.07

Successful Take-Ons

0.93

0.69

Ball Recoveries

3.54

5.03

Aerial Duels Won

0.62

0.76

Now, while the extent to which the Brugge star outperforms Udogie is massive, we must take into account the fact that he is playing in a weaker league.

However, even with that in mind, his underlying numbers are simply sensational, and the idea of him playing in Postecoglou’s incredibly attacking system should excite the Lilywhites faithful.

Therefore, while there is some risk to this potential deal, Tottenham should do all they can to sign De Cuyper in 2025 before someone else beats them to him.

Spurs plot significant move for "special" £32m ace who could usurp Maddison

The experienced £32m star would bolster Spurs’ attacking options.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 24, 2024

تحدث تامر النحاس وكيل اللاعبين، عن كواليس انتقال أحمد مصطفى زيزو، نجم الزمالك، إلى الأهلي، كما كشف عن وجود عرض لـ مارسيل كولر، ولكن الأخير طلب تأجيل الحديث لما بعد لقاء صن داونز.

وقال تامر النحاس في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت” فيما يخص قرار انتقال زيزو إلى الأهلي، اللاعب أم والده: “قلت قبل ذلك إنه سيحدث ما يراه والد زيزو، منذ زمن وحلم والده أن نجله يلعب للأهلي، والدليل أنه حاول في هذا الأمر عندما عاد اللاعب من رحلة الاحتراف، ظل يعرضه على الأهلي قبل أن ينتقل لـ الزمالك، ولكن لم يحدث نصيب وقتها، ثم تدخل طارق السيد وعرضه على الزمالك وانتقل اللاعب”.

طالع أيضاً.. أمير عزمي يختار الجنسية الأنسب لـ مدرب الأهلي الجديد.. ويُصرح: لا أحب جروس أكثر من الزمالك

وأضاف: “في إحدى المرات التي جدد فيها اللاعب للزمالك، كان والده يفكر في المقابل المادي، وتمت محادثات مع مسؤولي الأهلي، وعندما كان يستمع لعرضهم، خرج من الجلسة وذهب للجلوس مع مسؤولي بيراميدز لسماع عرضهم، وفي النهاية حصل اللاعب على أعلى أجر في الزمالك”.

وأفاد: “الآن، الأرقام التي سيحصل عليها من الأهلي قد تكون أقل من التي كان سيتقاضاها في الزمالك، لكنها قريبة جدًا، وجيدة جدًا بالنسبة له”.

وبسؤاله، لو حدث خلاف بين زيزو ووالده حول وجهة اللاعب، أي منهما سيحسم الأمر؟، رد قائلًا: “قرار والده”.

وتطرق للحديث عن مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني للأهلي، قائلًا: “كان لدي عرض لـ كولر من الإمارات قبل مباراة صن داونز بـ 5 أو 6 أيام، وتواصلت مع وكيله، وقلت له إن معلوماتي أن كولر احتمال كبير يرحل بعد مباراة صن داونز سواء فاز أو خسر، ولكن هو كان يرى أنه قد يفوز، أو لو خسر والأهلي قرر رحيله، سيستفيد من الشرط الجزائي، لذلك قال لي سنؤجل ذلك لما بعد المباراة”.

وأردف: “تواصلت مع كولر بعد ذلك، ولكن حاليًا، الوكيل يدرس الوضع، هل يواصل التدريب أم يحتاج إلى راحة، وذلك لأن المدرب يشعر بصدمة، لأنه كان يتوقع أنه سيستمر في منصبه”.

واستطرد: “العرض الإماراتي كان أكبر من عرض الأهلي مرة ونصف، أي كان بـ350 ألف دولار، لكن كان لدي معلومة أن الأهلي يُفكر في رحيل كولر منذ فترة، وأظن أن وجود محمد رمضان مدير رياضي فجأة، كان بداية التفكير في رحيل كولر بقوة، لأن محمد رمضان كان سيقوم بعمل تحجيم كامل للمدرب”.

وأكمل حديثه: “عمرو السولية عند التجديد له العام الماضي مع الأهلي، أنا متأكد أن الكابتن محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي، لم يكن يعرف شيئًا، لأن شكل التفاوض لم يكن جيدًا، ليس الأفضل لقيمة اللاعب، هو يستحق التكريم”.

وأكد: “لو كان هناك تقييم لعمرو خلال التجديد العام الماضي، من المفترض أن ترى أعلى لاعب في الفريق كأجر، وتعطي السولية مثله، هذا هو الطبيعي”.

واختتم: “عمرو السولية جدد بـ15 مليونًا حينها، لكنه كان أقل من بعض اللاعبين، حتى لو بجزء صغير، ولكني أتحدث عن التقدير المعنوي للاعب لا خلاف على كفاءته وما قدمه للنادي، وأن الحاضر بالنسبة له جيد جدًا، والمستقبل أيضًا كإداري في النادي”.

Aggie Beever-Jones and Keira Walsh also bagged their first senior international goals in a huge win for the reigning European champions

England's Lionesses cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win over Belgium on Friday night to rise to the top of their Women's Nations League group and continue their undefeated start to 2025. Goals from Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Aggie Beever-Jones, Jess Park and Keira Walsh secured all three points for Sarina Wiegman's side on an evening of dominance, with the European champions unlucky not to be victorious by an even greater margin after Alessia Russo twice hit the same post in the first half.

Belgium have caused England problems in the past, beating them in the previous edition of the Nations League after the 2023 Women's World Cup, but while they were by no means terrible on this occasion, they struggled to create much against a sturdy and locked-in Lionesses defence, which set a solid foundation for plenty of positive things further up the pitch. It was midway through the first half when Bronze deservedly broke the deadlock from a fantastic Lauren James cross and then the full-back turned provider before the break, as her header was pounced on by Bright to double that advantage.

Though in a comfortable enough lead, England's pressure didn't relent after the interval. A brilliant cross from Mead gave half-time substitute Beever-Jones the chance to really make sure of the win, with her showcasing great movement and providing a clinical finish for her first senior international goal. Jess Park, another introduction from the bench, made it four after some superb pressing and, having seen Nicky Evrard tip a fantastic effort of hers onto the post earlier, Walsh joined Beever-Jones in finding the back of the net for the first time for the Lionesses when her deflected effort put the cherry on the cake late on.

GOAL rates England's players from Ashton Gate…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (7/10):

Had great chemistry with a back four that featured three club-mates, resulting in some good defensive efforts between them and some solid distribution. Didn't have any real saves to make.

Lucy Bronze (8/10):

Great at both ends of the pitch, covering well at the back while offering a real threat going forward. Deserved her goal.

Leah Williamson (7/10):

Moved the ball consistently well and was defensively solid throughout.

Millie Bright (7/10):

Reacted well when needed in her own box and was great in possession. Brave to throw herself at Bronze's header to get on the scoresheet.

Niamh Charles (7/10):

Brought plenty of energy and did little wrong. Made a huge block to prevent Delacauw getting Belgium back into things at 2-0.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Keira Walsh (8/10):

Covered well in defence, played some classy passes to kickstart promising attacks and finally got her first England goal late on, having come so close to it a few minutes earlier.

Grace Clinton (6/10):

Showcased great footwork throughout and constantly used it to get out of tight areas, while contributing some nice touches to the attack.

Ella Toone (6/10):

Showed good off the ball movement and had some nice moments.

Getty Images SportAttack

Beth Mead (8/10):

A constant threat to Belgium. Positive and direct in her play all night to get some dangerous crosses into the box and create chances.

Alessia Russo (7/10):

Pressed well, made good runs and generally just linked up nicely with those around her. Really unlucky not to get a goal.

Lauren James (6/10):

Always looked to make something happen when she got on the ball and it was her cross that allowed Bronze to break the deadlock. Off at the break, potentially with a knock.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPSubs & Manager

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

On at the break, taking James' place on the left. Was a really lively introduction and showed fantastic movement to get on the end of Mead's cross for a first England goal.

Jess Park (6/10):

Was relatively quiet until she pounced onto a huge opportunity to make it 4-0 and clinically took it.

Esme Morgan (N/A):

Slotted into the centre of defence for the final 15 minutes.

Nikita Parris (N/A):

Continued her international renaissance with another appearance in the latter stages.

Jess Carter (N/A):

Gave former Chelsea team-mate Bright a deserved rest for the final 10 minutes.

Sarina Wiegman (8/10):

Didn't underestimate a Belgium team that have caused England real problems in the past, choosing essentially her best XI. They delivered a top performance and her substitutes were impactful, too. A great night.

India quick Renuka Singh and Sri Lanka batter Nilakshi de Silva also gain after the first two games of the series

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-2022

Deepti Sharma has picked up five wickets in the two ODIs•Sri Lanka Cricket

Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma are having an excellent time of it in the ODI series in Sri Lanka, and have shot up the ICC ODI player rankings because of their returns in the two matches so far, both of which India have won.A day after India won the second game by ten wickets in Pallekele, Shafali, who hit a bruising unbeaten 71 in the 174 chase, moved up 12 places to a career-best 36th among batters. Shafali, also the No. 5 in the T20I batting chart, leads the runs tally in the series with 106 runs, scored at a strike rate of 95.49.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

Deepti, meanwhile, has made gains in both the batting and the bowling rankings. Her offspin has brought her 3 for 25 and 2 for 30 so far, and that has taken her up three spots to No. 16 in the bowlers’ list. And her unbeaten 25 in the first ODI helped her climb two batting spots to No. 29. Deepti is now within one point of equalling Australia’s Ash Gardner, currently ranked sixth, on the allrounders’ table.Renuka Singh, the spearhead of India’s pace attack with Meghna Singh at the moment, was another gainer. Just four ODIs old, 26-year-old Renuka bettered her previous best in Monday’s second ODI, where she took 4 for 28. This lifted her 38 places to No. 65 on the bowling table that is currently headed by South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail.For Sri Lanka, batter Nilakshi de Silva gained 13 spots to reach No. 57 after tallying 75 runs in the two matches, while Hasini Perera – up 16 places to 83rd – and Anushka Sanjeewani – up nine places to 89th – are the others to gain positions.In the rankings for bowlers, former captain Inoka Ranaweera, the left-arm spinner, is now ranked No. 21, on the back of her four-for in the first ODI.While these are still early days in the new cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship, a 3-0 series sweep on Wednesday will help India catch up with current toppers South Africa on six points. A Sri Lanka win in the last game will help them draw level with India and Pakistan on four points.