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West Brom have recently confirmed that Matheus Pereira has left the club to join Saudi-Arabian side Al-Hilal on a permanent basis. 

Pereira caught the eye with a number of impressive performances in his time with the Baggies, having signed for the club from Sporting CP back in 2019, originally on a loan which became permanent at a later date.

The midfielder made 43 appearances for West Brom in the 2019/20 season, and chipped in with eight goals and 20 assists, as they won promotion into the Premier League in his first season in English football.

The 25-year-old then followed that up with a memorable campaign in the top-flight, scoring 12 goals and being on hand to provide six assists for his team-mates, although his efforts weren’t quite enough as they were relegated back into the Championship after just one season.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Everton midfielder Leon Osman issued high-praise for Pereira, and labelled his corner for his goal against West Ham as ‘wonderful’ (19th May, 20:45).

Pereira was linked with a move to the likes of Leicester City and West Ham United earlier in the year, but has made the decision to pursue a move to Al-Hilal instead this summer, which has come as a surprise to some sections of West Brom’s fanbase.

Plenty of West Brom supporters took to social media to react to the confirmation of Pereira’s Hawthorns departure ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Take a look at the best of the reaction from West Brom’s official account, as well as The Express and Star’s Joseph Masi’s Twitter feed, with one fan calling the news ‘sad’…

“Fair play to him, basically retiring at 25, wasn’t happy to play in the Championship so has gone to a worse league, makes perfect sense. Reinvest the money and get us a striker.”

Credit: @ESkelding

“What a waste I actually can’t believe this I really can’t. Why I mean why.”

Credit: @kingofchezo_WBA

“Sums him up as a player. Would rather play in a farmers league and earn big money than challenge himself. Sad to see him go but will soon be forgotten about.”

Credit: @ashdut94

“Really disappointed, not that he’s gone that was inevitable after relegation. He’s gone for money, no one will remember him now. He could have played in the top league of any elite European country but chose Saudi Arabia. I presume we got top dollar for him.”

Credit: @albionjonnywok

“He really went for the money then. Can’t blame him, but shows he lacks career ambitions.”

Credit: @ftbl_mouraa

“Sad way to end, enjoy the money”

Credit: @DarrenGuest7

“No ambition pure greed. Real shame it ended as a lose lose.”

Credit: @grorty_dickos

“Good riddance. Let’s move on. He won’t figure highly in Baggies history books. The absence of bidders from Prem tells me that it was not just me who thought he was overrated.”

Credit: @Alan4NewportSal

أعلن ديديه ديشامب المدير الفني لفريق كرة القدم بالمنتخب الفرنسي، عن التشكيل الذي سيواجه كرواتيا، في الجولة الرابعة من دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

المباراة تجمع بين الفريقين على ملعب سان دوني بالعاصمة الفرنسية باريس، وهو الذي جمع ريال مدريد بـ ليفربول الشهر الماضي في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع أيضًا.. بويول يرشح 4 منتخبات للفوز بـ كأس العالم 2022

مباراة مكررة من نهائي كأس العالم 2018، عندما فازت فرنسا بالمونديال الأخير في روسيا، بنتيجة 4/2 على كرواتيا.

تشكيل منتخب فرنسا شهد تواجد كيليان مبابي أساسيًا في الهجوم بجانب كريم بنزيما، وغاب مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان عن التشكيل الأساسي في المباراة الماضية، قبل أن يستعيد مكانه هذا اللقاء.

بينما كرواتيا تلعب بنفس طريقة اللعب 4/3/3، مع وسط ملعب ناري يتكون من بروزوفيتش ومودريتش وكوفاسيتش. تشكيل فرنسا ضد كرواتيا اليوم

حراسة المرمى: ماينان.

الدفاع: كوندي، كوناتي، كيمبيمبي، لوكاس ديني.

وسط الملعب: نكونكو، جندوزي، كامارا، رابيو.

الهجوم: مبابي، بنزيما. تشكيل كرواتيا ضد فرنسا اليوم

حراسة المرمى: إيفوسيتش.

الدفاع: ستاناسيتش، إيرليش، سوتالو، جورانوفيتش.

وسط الملعب: مودريتش، كوفاسيتش، بروزوفيتش.

الهجوم: بازاليتش، باراكيلو، بوديمير.

Swansea City have been handed a boost in their bid to appoint Russell Martin at the Liberty Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Toby Lock, with the journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that, after speaking with Martin himself, the 35-year-old revealed he had twice turned down Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan’s approaches for his services.

However, Lock addd that, after the Swans hierarchy made a third approach on Friday, the MK Dons manager felt obliged to at least discuss the position with Levien and Kaplan.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Just chatted with RM: He says he’s turned Swansea down twice this week before their approach on Friday. Now he feels obliged to speak to them to see what they have to offer. Watch this space I guess.”

After an image emerged of Martin at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, these reports would indeed appear to be accurate.

Levien & Kaplan will be buzzing

Having seen two approaches for Martin dismissed outright by the man himself, reports that the 35-year-old has finally agreed to sit down with the Swansea owners is sure to have left them buzzing.

Indeed, the MK Dons boss looks as if he would be a very astute appointment as Steve Cooper’s successor at the Liberty Stadium, albeit with a rather different approach to the game in comparison to his potential predecessor.

Under the guidance of Martin, the Dons have transformed into a possession-focused team, looking to dominate the ball regardless of their opposition. However, this possession was very rarely idle, with the club topping the Possession x Progressive Passes per 90 minutes charts last season.

Furthermore, in order to win the ball back to implement their style of play on the game, the 35-year-old’s team also press intensely, allowing their opposition an average of just 9.28 passes before triggering a defensive action, with their PPDA (passes per defensive action) ranking as the fifth-lowest in the league.

In comparison, Cooper’s brand of football was less concrete at Swansea, with the 41-year-old often chopping and changing the way his side played in order to get the better of their opposition on any given day – something which, to his credit, worked rather effectively.

However, with Martin now seemingly in talks about taking over at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea fans could well see their side undergo something of a transformation next season, with the thought of having a proper identity once again surely an exciting prospect for everyone involved with the south Wales club.

In other news: Swansea in crisis as McGrath drops manager claim, but there could be a silver lining

أكد وليد الركراكي، المدير الفني لفريق الوداد الرياضي المغربي، أن نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، سيجمع فريقان يعتبران الأفضل في القارة السمراء خلال السنوات الأخيرة.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع الوداد، غدًا الإثنين الموافق 30 من مايو، في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب مركب محمد الخامس بالدار البيضاء.

وقال الركراكي خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الذي يسبق المباراة: “سيكون شرفا كبيرا للمغرب أن يدخل إلى خزائنه لقب جديد لدوري أبطال إفريقيا، النهائي سيجمع فريقين كبيرين، وهما الأفضل في القارة خلال السنوات الأخيرة”.

طالع أيضا.. موسيماني قبل مواجهة الوداد: عندما تواجه الأهلي عليك الحذر.. ولا نبحث عن أعذار

وتابع: “سيكون حفلا رائعا، ونحن جاهزون على جميع المستويات، سيكون علينا الرفع من تركيزنا، لأنه لا مجال للخطأ، سندخل اللقاء بإمكانياتنا التي خضنا بها جميع مباريات هذه البطولة القارية”.

وواصل: “التركيز يجب أن يكوب على أعلى مستوى في ظل الضغط الذي سيرافق النهائي، علما أن جزيئات بسيطة قد ترجح كفة فريق على حساب الآخر”.

وأردف: “علينا أن نشرف الكرة المغربية أمام العالم في هذا النهائي، الذي سينال متابعة كبيرة من جميع الأنحاء، هناك فريقان يرغبان في التتويج باللقب ونحن أحدهما”.

وأكد الركراكي أن الأهلي هو المرشح الأكبر لنيل اللقب، مُشيرًا إلى أن هذا لا يعني بأن الوداد لن يعمل على تحقيق ذلك، موضحًا أن المباراة النهائية تبقى مقسمة خمسون في المائة لكل فريق من أجل الفوز بالكأس.

وأكد الركراكي أن الوداد لديه لاعبين مميزين وبقتالية كبيرة والدليل تحقيق الانتصارات في آخر دقائق المباريات.

وبخصوص مصير المترجي زهير من خوض النهائي فأوضح المدرب أن الفريق استرجع خدمات مهاجم الوداد والحسم في مشاركته كأساسي سيكون على هامش آخر حصة تدريبية لنهار يومه الأحد والأخيرة قبل مواجهة الأهلي.

Celtic have now been linked with a move for HNK Gorica winger Kristijan Lovric, according to Croatian football expert Richard Wilson.

The Lowdown: Abada deal confirmed

The Hoops made their first big-money signing under new boss Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday evening.

Liel Abada put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Parkhead, with the 19-year-old winger costing the Hoops around €4m.

The winger left Maccabi Petah Tikva to move to Scotland, and it now seems as if Celtic have set their sights on another wide addition.

The Latest: Lovric rumours

Lovric is 25 years of age and is predominantly a left-winger. He’s scored 44 goals in 96 appearances for his current employers.

According to Wilson, a podcaster and writer on football in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia, Celtic have spoken over a deal for Lovric and are willing to pay £5m for his services.

He posted this on Twitter on Thursday morning.

“Celtic have spoken via intermediaries re a deal for Kristijan Lovric (that’s been on the cards for ages) but have expressly stated the basis that they will pay £5m (£1m above the asking price) if Gorica will hang on to see if Celtic advance in Europe and afford that”

The Verdict: Exciting times

Lovric, who has one senior cap for Croatia to his name, appears to be a more experienced attacking target.

All of Celtic’s summer signings so far have been 21 years of age or younger, so bringing in Lovric could add some experience to the Hoops’ attacking ranks.

He’s made 124 club appearances during his career and nearly averages a goal every other game.

If Celtic can sign him for £5m, it could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business, especially as his Transfermarkt valuation stands above that at £5.4m – a career-high and he still has two years remaining on his current contract.

In other news: Celtic source claims move for ‘effortless’ free agent is now ‘done’. 

قلل باتريك فييرا من أهمية الدعم الذي قدمه شيخو كوياتي للاعب خط وسط باريس سان جيرمان إدريسا جاي، وأصر على أن كريستال بالاس ضد جميع أنواع التمييز.

ورفض إدريسا جاي المشاركة في مباراة السبت الماضي بين فريقي باريس سان جيرمان ومونبلييه في الدوري الفرنسي، حيث إنها الجولة التي تدعم المثليين.

وارتدى اللاعبون قمصانًا تحمل أرقامًا ملونة، بألوان قوس قزح التي تمثل المثليين، ولكن جاي قرر الغياب عن تلك المباراة لأسباب شخصية بعدما فعل الأمر نفسه في العام الماضي.

وتعرض إدريسا جاي للكثير من الانتقادات جراء تصرفه، وقرر الاتحاد الفرنسي لكرة القدم التحقيق معه.

وتضامن العديد من اللاعبين مع إدريسا جاي، خاصة زملائه في منتخب السنغال ومن ضمنهم شيخو كوياتي لاعب كريستال بالاس.

وعلّق باتريك فييرا المدير الفني لفريق كريستال بالاس على ذلك الأمر، حيث قال في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” الإنجليزية: “هل تعرف ما هو الدعم؟ لا، لا أستطيع إخباركم لأنني لا أعرف”.

وأضاف: “رفض إدريسا جاي ارتداء قميص معين؟ هل أدلى هو أو باريس سان جيرمان ببيان؟ هناك الكثير من الضوضاء القادمة من فرنسا ولقد كنت أقرأ الأخبار ولكن لا أرى أي بيان من باريس سان جيرمان أو أي نوع من التصريحات من اللاعب”.

وواصل: “الناس يفترضون ذلك قبل أن نتوصل إلى استنتاجات، علينا أن نتأكد مما نتحدث عنه قبل أن نخلق شيئًا سلبيًا حقًا”.

وأردف: “من الواضح أن ما هو واضح مني ومن نادي كرة القدم هو أننا ندعم جيك دانيلز (لاعب بلاكبول الذي أعلن مثليته قبل يومين) ونحارب أي نوع من التمييز”.

وتابع: “أعتقد أن الأمر يتطلب الكثير من الشجاعة للخروج والتعبير عن نفسه، أعتقد أن الدعم الذي تلقاه حتى الآن في كرة القدم وبشكل عام كان إيجابيًا حقًا ويظهر أن العالم يتحسن، أعتقد أنه أمر جيد وإذا كان يمكن أن يكون مثالًا إيجابيًا، فهذا جيد”.

وأوضح: “كرة القدم لا تختلف عن مجتمعنا، أعتقد أننا في مكان أفضل مقارنة بما كان عليه الحال قبل 30 عامًا، ومن الصعب دائمًا وضع كرة القدم داخل الصندوق لأن كرة القدم هي انعكاس لمجتمعنا”.

واستمر: “أعتقد أن كرة القدم في مكان أفضل حتى لو كنت أعتقد أنه لا يزال هناك الكثير من العمل الذي يتعين القيام به”.

قال ربيع ياسين مدرب منتخب مصر للشباب السابق وفريق بتروجيت الحالي، إن عبد الله السعيد يعد لاعبًا كبيرًا ولديه إمكانيات جيدة، مشيرًا إلى أن قرار اعتزاله دوليًا كان صائبًا.

وأضاف ياسين في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “الشمس” عبر برنامج “البلدوزر”: “لابد من عدم التراجع عن قرار اعتزال السعيد، يكفيه اللعب دوليًا رغم حبي الشديد له ولأسلوب لعبه”.

طالع | الكومي: طلبت من شيكابالا الانتقال لـ الإسماعيلي.. و”الأصول” تقول إن الأهلي سيفوز بالدوري

وأردف: “إذا حصلت على فرصة لتدريب بيراميدز سأفوز ببطولة معهم، الإمكانيات وعناصر النجاح ستؤدى إلى تحقيق البطولة، وتلك العوامل يملكها بيراميدز”.

واستكمل: “أنتظر دوري في النادي الأهلي منذ عام 1994 لتولي القيادة الفنية، ولكن لا أحد يتحدث معي بسبب قوة الشخصية ورغم وجود اجيال أخرى تعمل في النادي”.

وأتم: “كان لابد من وضع اسمي ضمن قائمة المدربين المرشحين لتدريب المنتخب الأولمبي، حيث أن معظم العناصر القوية الآن فى المنتخب الأول من أبنائي”.

أفادت تقارير صحفية أن نادي مونبيليه المنافس في الدوري الفرنسي الدرجة الأولى، يرغب في التعاقد مع الدولي المصري، مصطفى محمد من صفوف جالطة سراي في نافذة الانتقالات الصيفية.

وذكرت تقارير تركية أن مصطفى محمد يود مُغادرة جالطة سراي، خاصًة أنه لا يشارك بشكل مُنتظم مع النادي التركي.

حسب صحيفة “أكشام” التركية، فإن مونبيليه سيحاول التعاقد مع مصطفى محمد في الصيف القادم، في ظل رغبة النادي الفرنسي في ضم مُهاجم جديد.

وكان مونبيليه قد حاول التعاقد مع مصطفى محمد في الشتاء الماضي، ولكن مُهاجمنا المصري حينها كان قريبًا من الانتقال إلى بوردو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جالطة سراي يستهدف صفقات صيفية مهمة على رأسها محمد النني

وقالت الصحيفة إن مونبيليه سيواجه منافسة أيضًا من جانب فريق لانس والذي ينشط في الدوري الفرنسي أيضًا.

مصطفى محمد يتواجد كذلك على رادار فريقي أولمبيك ليون، ومارسيليا فضلًا عن أتالانتا الإيطالي.

يُذكر أن مصطفى محمد هذا الموسم مع جالطة سراي خاض 38 مباراة بمُختلف المسابقات، وسجل 7 أهداف، وقدم 5 تمريرات حاسمة.

A major update has emerged on Paul Cook’s transfer plans this summer, regarding defensive midfielder Flynn Downes.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Championship side Barnsley are interested in a deal to sign Ipswich midfielder Flynn Downes this summer. Barnsley are said to be preparing an offer for the Englishman after being impressed with his displays for the Blues in League One.

The report claims that Ipswich manager Paul Cook is willing to cash in on Downes and would not stand in his way if a reasonable bid came in for his services. Downes is heading into the final year of his contract at Portman Road and Barnsley are looking to pounce on the 22-year-old.

Back in 2019, former Ipswich midfielder Matt Holland hailed the “outstanding” midfielder for his performances for the club under Paul Lambert. He told Ipswich’s website, as relayed by the EADT:

“Flynn is a player I’ve known for quite a long time because my son did a bit of training with the academy and I did a bit of coaching here as well.

“Straight away he was one who caught my eye and he was only 10 or 11 years old. I thought he had the temperament and character to go a long way, as well as the ability and talent of course.

“He’s proving that again this season and I think he’s been absolutely outstanding – a key player for Paul Lambert.”

Fans will be livid

Ipswich fans will be livid at this news for several reasons.

Downes is a long-time servant to Ipswich and has been at the club since he was seven, joining the academy in 2006 and making his first-team debut in 2017 against Birmingham in the Championship. T

his means that Cook could be about to let one of the club’s academy products go, which could anger fans who are attached to local players more than those who come in from other clubs in England or from abroad.

Downes has also been a shining light on the pitch for Ipswich. The 22-year-old averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 6.98 in 10 starts as a defensive midfielder in League One. He averaged 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game for Ipswich, which is skewed by seven substitute appearances lowering his numbers.

That shows that he is adept at winning the ball back for his side. Therefore, he is a quality defensive midfield option at this level and could be a key player for Cook next season if he remains in Suffolk.

The £2.3k-per-week beast has plenty of room to improve at such a young age. Downes turned 22 in January and could be a player with more scope for development, but Ipswich fans will not be able to watch that happen at Portman Road if Cook sells him this summer.

They could miss out on potentially watching him flourish as a player and that could leave Ipswich fans livid at this sale if it goes through as reported, which is why Cook is headed for a disaster with this decision.

AND in other news, Ashton facing disaster with “flourishing” £1.9k-p/w ace, Ipswich fans will be gutted…

As the Indian team takes off for England to play first a triseries and then stay on for four Test matches, it must be saidthat on both past record and present form, the odds are stackedagainst them

Partab Ramchand18-Jun-2002As the Indian team takes off for England to play first a triseries and then stay on for four Test matches, it must be saidthat on both past record and present form, the odds are stackedagainst them.Let’s take the present form factor first. The manner in whichEngland have performed in the three-Test series against Sri Lankamust be rated as commendable. Not only did they win the serieswith more than a degree of comfort, but they also showed thatthey have it in them to repeat the trick against India.In particular, the way in which the batsmen handled MuthiahMuralitharan, who it must be remembered turned the batting insideout with a haul of 16 wickets at the Oval four years ago, wasexemplary. The fact that in three successive innings, the Englandbatsmen ran up totals of 500 plus – for the first time in the125-year history of Test cricket – should not only boost theirconfidence but also give the Indian bowlers plenty to thinkabout.And then there is the past record to think about. In 41 Tests inEngland, India has won only three and lost 22. Overall, this is apretty woeful record, even after taking into account theimprovement in the last 30 years during which India has won allthe three Tests, besides two series triumphs in 1971 and 1986.Indian players have almost always floundered in England wherewicket and weather conditions have generally proved to be alien.The pitches might not be in the category of Perth or Kingston butthey certainly are faster and bouncier than those in India. Andthen the heavy atmosphere that is conducive to swing and seambowling has created problems galore for the Indians.
© CricInfoThanks to the shining example provided by Sunil Gavaskar, Indianbatsmen over the years have shown improvement in tackling themoving ball while the bowlers, inspired by Kapil Dev, have learntto make optimum use of the helpful conditions. But the factremains that even with such champions, India has generally beenat the receiving end in England. This has been the case even whenthe home side has been anything but formidable.The last tour in 1996 was a case in point. England were goingthrough a lean period and yet India lost the three Test series1-0. It’s the same story in one-day games. England have generallyemerged triumphant and the only saving grace from India’s pointof view was the victory in both the matches played in 1990.The present England squad, while certainly not being fragile, hascertain obvious weaknesses. But given India’s abysmal overseasrecord – more so in England even the most diehard of Indiancricket supporters would not expect their team to win either thetri-series, involving England and Sri Lanka, or the Test series.Yes, there will be a couple of individual feats but one justcan’t see anything beyond that in the crystal ball.The Indian teams selected for the coming tour are probably thestrongest that could have been picked. On the face of it, the twosquads are nicely balanced. There is plenty of batting right downthe order and in the Test side the stonewallers and swashbucklersare in the right proportion.
© CricInfoThe seam bowling is in good hands and in Anil Kumble andHarbhajan Singh the tourists have two of the leading spin bowlersin the game today. The one all-pervading worrying factor,however, is India’s awful overseas record. Indeed, the last timeIndia won a Test series away from the sub-continent was in England in 1986.While the first series triumph in 1971 cannot be matched from thehistoric viewpoint, in my book the victory 15 years later wasprobably a greater achievement. For one thing, the margin wasclear-cut and not narrow as it was in 1971. And secondly, it wasachieved in the first half of the English summer when conditionsare increasingly alien for the tourists.Of course, against this, it must also be added that in 1986,England’s standing in world cricket could not be compared to the1971 squad which was just about the best in the world.This time too the Indians will enjoy the relative comfort oftouring in the second half of the summer. And at the moment,England and India are both almost bunched together in the middlein the Test and one-day ratings. But then these are the onlycrumbs of comfort for the tourists. All things considered,England should start favourites for the Test series.As far as the tri-series is concerned, the bookies will probablygive the shortest odds on an England – Sri Lanka final. It is upto the Indians to make nonsense of such predictions. Will they?