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A transfer that was supposed to have been completed a few weeks ago still remains in limbo, causing Illia Zabarnyi to contemplate his future.

PSG yet to complete Zabarnyi transferBournemouth demanding more moneyDefender losing patience over uncertaintyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

While many expected Zabarnyi to arrive in the French capital ahead of pre-season, the Bournemouth centre-back is still waiting for the green light. Discussions with Paris Saint-Germain, which began several weeks ago, have yet to yield any concrete results. And the player, who is keen to join the French side, is starting to lose patience. Luis Enrique, who had had his eye on the Ukrainian player for a long time, has still not been able to add him to his squad, much to the disappointment of his staff.

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PSG did indeed submit an offer of €60 million (£52m/$69m) plus variables, for a total amount of around €63m (£54m/$73m). Zabarnyi's agents have already agreed terms with the club on a contract running until 2030. But Bournemouth are still holding out for an additional €3m in bonuses before they will accept the deal.

And that is precisely where the deadlock remains. PSG refuse to give in to Bournemouth, according to on Wednesday, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi is standing firm. He considers the current offer to be sufficient, especially after several concessions. The Qatari leader does not want to set a dangerous precedent.

DID YOU KNOW?

The problem is that this waiting game could prove costly for Les Parisiens. Zabarnyi is no longer hiding his frustration at the slow pace of negotiations. And while PSG hesitate, Tottenham and Newcastle are ready to pay whatever it takes, no questions asked. Both clubs are convinced of the potential of the 22-year-old, who came through the ranks at Dynamo Kiev. The reigning European champions know what they need to do if they want to sign the centre-back.

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If the deal falls through, Luis Enrique may not be pleased with how things turn out. This defensive reinforcement is one of his priorities. And even if the Parisian management's perseverance is understandable, the strategy remains risky. The market does not forgive prolonged hesitation. Zabarnyi is ready. The question is whether Paris will be ready in time.

Says USA not complacent going into the T20 World Cup curtain-raiser, despite having recently beaten Canada 4-0 as well as stunned Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2024T20 World Cup 2024 will kick off with North American neighbours USA – who are co-hosts of the competition – and Canada facing off on Saturday in Dallas. And of course, it was these two teams that played the first ever international cricket match, all the way back in 1844. The history of the rivalry is not lost on USA vice-captain Aaron Jones.”As everybody knows, USA and Canada played the first international game, so this has been something that was going on for years and years,” Jones said at a press conference on the eve of the World Cup opener.”As it relates to the players, we all are friends, we’ve all played together, against one another, for years. So everybody’s good and cool, but as it relates to the fans, it’s a bit of a rivalry, we all know that. We enjoy playing against Canada, they enjoy playing against us. We know for sure it’s going to be challenging and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”Related

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In the build-up to the World Cup, USA blitzed Canada 4-0 in a T20I series in April before recording a historic series win against Bangladesh in May. But Jones is not resting on past results.”I don’t really want to focus on the 4-0 victory in the last series [against Canada],” Jones said. “I mean, that’s gone already and, you know, the team that we played against in that series is not the exact same team we’ll be playing against tomorrow.”It’s a World Cup game, the first World Cup game. There’s going to be pressure on both teams. And obviously we know the outstanding rivalry we have with Canada, so pressure will be on both teams. It’s whoever handles the pressure best tomorrow [that will come out on top] to be honest.””Definitely, we have had some great competitive cricket over the past few years against US,” Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar said. “So we are hoping that we can play entertaining cricket.”

“It’s a World Cup game, the first World Cup game. There’s going to be pressure on both teams. And obviously we know the outstanding rivalry we have with Canada, so pressure will be on both teams”USA vice-captain Aaron Jones

Saad is also looking forward to the Canada players getting a chance to test themselves at the highest level.”Even coming from the qualifiers, as I mentioned for all of our players, it was like a dream to represent Canada in a World Cup,” he said. “We don’t get to compete against the top nations very often. The World Cup is the only stage where we get to compete and test our skills against the very best of the world. And we have finally made it.”It’s kind of emotional, but we were looking for this opportunity. We finally got it. And we just want to represent Canada well and to our potential play to our potential in this World Cup.”One player who will know how it feels to turn out for the country on both sides of the border is batting-allrounder Nitish Kumar. He had played 18 T20Is for Canada between 2012 and 2019, before getting his maiden T20I for USA in the series against Canada in April this year. Jones pointed out that Nitish already had experience of taking on his old team, so he would be more than ready for them come game day.”Obviously, he played against Canada the last time we played him in the series [in April] and he scored I think 60-something [64] in the game. He’s been gelling well, he’s been fitting in well, and I think he’s looking forward to playing against Canada.”

Former Premier League player Ronnie Stam has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his part in a €41.5m (£49m/$66m) drug-smuggling operation.

Spent three years on the books at WiganRetired at NAC Breda in 2016Became caught up in criminal activityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 41-year-old has been charged with plotting to smuggle more than two tons of cocaine into the Netherlands. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service claims that Stam is a major player in that multi-million-pound operation.

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There were calls for Stam to be jailed for 13 years, but the judge at Breda courthouse acquitted him of two more serious charges. He has been convicted of trafficking 724 kilos of cocaine, as well as large quantities of MDMA and nitrous oxide.

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Stam and his accomplices stand accused of smuggling drugs from South America, with a money-laundering racket valued at £2.2m. Stam admits to being involved in a plot to bring 20 kilos of cocaine into the German city of Frankfurt from Brazil. He claimed that his payment for that was “an amount worth one kilo” and that he regrets his involvement with any criminal ringleaders.

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Stam is said to have become involved with serious crime following his retirement from professional football in 2016. He was on the books at NAC Breda at that point, having returned to his roots following spells with Wigan and Standard Liege.

The Colombian captain suggested he is open to staying, but also willing to explore other opportunities

Has registered seven assistsLeón sit 10th in the Apertura 2025 standingsJames has missed the last two matches with injuryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

James Rodríguez admitted that León’s front office has yet to approach him about extending his contract, which expires in December, raising the possibility that this could be his final tournament with the Esmeraldas.

Although there is still time to negotiate, Rodríguez revealed that the club has made no move so far. The Colombian captain suggested he is open to staying, but if an offer never comes, he would be willing to explore other opportunities for the next stage of his career.

“They haven’t said anything yet," he told FOX Sports. "There are still three or four months left, but I always say a club should come before any player or name. We’ll see if they want me to continue – if not, I’ll look for another path."

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The playmaker has missed León’s last two Liga MX matches with a knock, though he is expected to be back soon and could even feature this weekend. Rodríguez also recognized the challenge of pushing León toward a title given their current form.

“You need to be right in every aspect – physically, mentally – and the team has to be in good shape as well. We all know it will be tough, but we have to go one game at a time,” he said.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

James joined León ahead of the Clausura 2025, appearing in 17 matches with two goals across 1,313 minutes. This Apertura, he has played 209 minutes in three games, scoring once.

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León host Pachuca on Saturday in Matchday 5, where the Colombian could make his return to the pitch.

Thomas Frank has explained how Micky van de Ven gave him "goosebumps" during Tottenham's 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Spurs beat City on SaturdayTwo PL wins from two under FrankLauds Van de Ven's defensive workFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

During Spurs' win over City, Van de Ven enhanced an already burgeoning reputation with another vital block. Having previously become a Spurs hero for a goal-line clearance during the Europa League final win over Manchester United, Van de Ven slid in to deny Jeremy Doku as he took aim at goal in the 81st minute.

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Van de Ven only managed to make 12 appearances in the Premier League last season, as he battled hamstring injuries throughout the campaign. With him in the side, however, Spurs have yet to concede a goal in their first two games of the domestic season. 

WHAT THOMAS FRANK SAID

Frank told Spurs' website: "I think a couple of things… in the second half we kept going for 3-0, it’s not like we didn’t want to do that, or we wanted to just see the game out.

"Then the team effort – there is one moment in the game that is defining, I hope it’s defining for a good season, although it’s early, early days. It's in the second half, a transition, 10 players, head down, sprinting back and then ending with Micky’s block. Wow. That gave me goosebumps, because we all want the goal in the top corner, the beautiful play – that, we want as well – but that bit, sprinting back, that will win you a lot of football matches."

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Spurs play Bournemouth this weekend as Frank loves to win his third successive game as Spurs boss. 

Nearly doubling the 2024 mark of $188 million, the league set a historic new high in transfer spending

Heung-Min Son joined LAFC in a $26M dealRodrigo De Paul signed with Inter Miami for nearly $15MColumbus Crew landed Wessam Abou Ali for $7.5MFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Major League Soccer had a record-breaking transfer window in 2025, with its clubs spending more than $336 million combined on player signings – by far the highest in MLS history – the league announced this week.

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According to the league, the surge in spending was fueled by three marquee transfers and more than $40 million exchanged through recently introduced player allocation trades. This figure nearly doubled last year’s $188 million total, and left previous records well behind: $170 million in 2021 and $163 million in 2022.

The record window underlines the league's growing ambition to position itself as a global football destination. By investing heavily in elite international talent, MLS is signaling a new era of competitiveness and international relevance.

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The biggest splash came from LAFC, which secured the signature of South Korean star Son Heung-Min from Tottenham for roughly $26 million. World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul followed, swapping Atlético Madrid for Inter Miami in a move worth close to $15 million.

Columbus Crew also joined the high-spending clubs, bringing in Danish striker Wessam Abou Ali from Al Ahly for around $7.5 million.

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“MLS clubs set a new benchmark in 2025, spending close to $336 million on transfers, driven by three headline signings and more than $40 million in newly introduced player-cash trades,” the league confirmed in a statement.

Uncapped batters Lasith Croospulle and Sahan Arachchige have made the cut for the ODI and T20I series

Madushka Balasuriya17-Mar-2023Angelo Mathews returns to Sri Lanka’s white-ball set up after more than two years, while Kusal Perera is set to play for the first time in over a year. Both players were part of the ODI and T20I squads Sri Lanka Cricket have selected for the upcoming series in New Zealand.The squads also included uncapped batters Lasith Croospulle and Sahan Arachchige. Batter Nuwanidu Fernando is in line for a T20I debut, while seamer Matheesha Pathirana is looking for his maiden ODI cap.Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwan Thushara and Jeffrey Vandersay missed out from the squad that toured India in January.Mathews and Perera’s inclusions follow an abysmal ODI tour of India earlier this year, following which there were calls to pick more seniors in a World Cup year.Perera’s recall comes despite him not having played much following 16 months of recovery from a shoulder injury. Even though Sri Lanka might consider him as a potential option for the ODI World Cup in India in October and November, he is only part of the T20 squad at present to manage his workload.Mathews has not turned out for the white-ball sides since Sri Lanka toured the West Indies in March 2021. His most recent limited-overs experience came in two games for Sri Lanka A against England Lions in which he scored a fifty, and the Lanka Premier League, where he struck 201 runs at an average of 40.20 for the Colombo Stars. While he has improved his fitness over the past year, he is not seen as a consistently reliable seam-bowling option.Who are the new faces?Croospulle, who opens the batting, struck two centuries against England Lions, as well as a fifty in a List-A game against them.Arachchige also had an impressive outing against the Lions, scoring important cameos from the lower order while also picking up wickets with his offbreaks. Nuwanidu too impressed against Lions, striking two 50-plus scores, while he also recorded a fifty against India to round off a solid run of form that started with the LPL. Croospulle and Nuwanidu are part of the T20I squad, while Arachchige will play in the ODIs.Among most high-profile exclusion is that of Avishka, who had recently returned to the national setup for the India tour on the back of an impressive LPL, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer. He also made 67 and 150 in the recent NSL 4-day tournament. However, a poor showing in India combined with sub-par outings against Lions – not to mention stiff competition for top-order places – means that the selectors were left with little choice but to omit him.Rajapaksa’s omission is less vexing, with the batter in recent months a shadow of the player that was voted Player of the Match in the 2022 Asia Cup final.How the rest of the squads shape upThe rest of Sri Lanka’s squad looks relatively settled. Both sides will be captained by Dasun Shanaka, with the likes of Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Chamika Karunaratne making up a bulk of the batting in both white-ball teams.Karunaratne, who also bowls seam, is part of a pace unit that includes Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan and Pathirana – all of whom have been named in both squads. Dushmantha Chameera had initially been earmarked to play, but the selectors are managing his game time due to his history of injury issues.”The bowler will not be able to tour, as he is still undergoing his structured return-to-play program, a part of his rehabilitation program, following his left ankle surgery,” SLC said. Madushan has taken his place in the T20I side, while Pathirana replaces him in the ODI squad.Thushara, though, might count himself a unlucky, having not played a game against India despite a solid LPL. Sri Lanka are spoilt for choice in the seam-bowling department, and in Pathirana they already have another slinger who offers a bit more pace.There are no surprises among the spinners with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana joined by the young allrounder Dunith Wellalage. Vandersay misses out by virtue of Sri Lanka not needing an extra spin option in New Zealand.Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and three T20Is against New Zealand, with the ODI leg starting on March 25 in Auckland. The T20Is will begin on April 2.T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana.

GOAL US writers debate Mauricio Pochettino's roster selection, Pulisic's decision and what it means for the Gold Cup

It's time for everyone to care about the USMNT again. There are some (semi) competitive games coming up, and plenty of talking points as a result. The Gold Cup may or may not matter, but it will still offer a trophy to play for – and a roster dilemma for the USMNT.

Not-really-new-anymore manager Mauricio Pochettino has released his roster, and there are a few surprises. The headline is that Christian Pulisic opted to sit out the Gold Cup after setting a new career high in minutes for Milan. Is that the right call for a player who consistently battles injury issues, or does it send the wrong message to the program?

There are other big names missing due to the Club World Cup, with the likes of Gio Reyna, Weston Mckennie and Tim Weah all out of this USMNT squad. Antonee Robinson and Yunas Musah are also absent, as is striker Josh Sargent – the latter by coach's decision. Meanwhile, Pochettino has picked a strong MLS contingent, with 17 players from North America's top flight making the roster.

That will certainly be an interesting case study in just how good the league has become. So what to make of it all? Can the USMNT win this thing without some of their big names?

GOAL US writers break it all down in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

Getty Images SportDid Pulisic make the right call to skip the Gold Cup?

Tom Hindle: Yes. Certainly. Undoubtedly. Indisputably. 10000 percent. His legs don't work as is, and there is absolutely zero reason for him to play in a tournament that does not matter. Think of it this way: if he did play and tore an ACL, people would be fuming. He needs a summer off, and both he and the USMNT will be better off because of it. Care that much about 2026? You'll allow your star player to get some rest.

Jacob Schneider: Coming off a Nations League failure, this group needs to come together and show the fans and the country they have what it takes to compete in the World Cup. Pulisic opting to not be a part of that group is disappointing. He’s a focal point of everything with the team, and he knows, of all people, what failure with the group does to the program (Just go back to Trinidad). However, there’s also the fact that he has played a lot of minutes, and his legs and body are probably exhausted – and he is deserving of a break. It’s just not the time for it. He sets the tone for this team. This wasn’t it.

Alex Labidou: The reasons are understandable, but if Pulisic is genuine in his goal of winning the World Cup – something he's stated multiple times – this decision appears counterintuitive. It might seem as if Pochettino is part of the U.S. Soccer furniture, but in reality, he's been on the job since September and has coached eight games since his arrival. Not to mention, Pulisic missed at least one game due to rest during the manager's first pair of games. If Pulisic really wants to win and show accountability – something he's asked of his teammates – then this summer was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Yes, Reyna, Weah, and McKennie are out due to the Club World Cup. But what about seeing an attack with Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman, and others? Don't you think Brenden Aaronson, Tillman, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards also want a break after a long season? Chemistry is paramount to World Cup winners – just look at the past few teams that have won. Most have had stable cores that have played at least a dozen matches together. It is improbable that the U.S. will contend in 2026, but the reason why U.S. Soccer hired Pochettino was to bring the program to new levels. Between an abysmal Nations League showing and this Gold Cup roster news, the opportunity to something to reach those expectations seems less likely.

Ryan Tolmich: Is it best for Pulisic? Probably. Is it best for the USMNT? Probably not! At a time in which this team is struggling with optics, it’s not a good look for the team’s best player to pull out of a tournament, banged up or not. Winning cures all, and if the USMNT do that this summer, everyone will be breathing easy. If things go wrong, though, Pulisic and the USMNT will have to navigate an even thicker layer of criticism.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWho was the biggest roster omission?

TH: Is it fair to say Alejandro Zendejas, even if there's some uncertainty around his availability due to the weird Club World Cup play-in thing? He's been quality in Liga MX this year, and if Pochettino is going to say all of the right things about MLS, there's no reason he shouldn't do the same with the Mexican league. Other than that, it might be decent to see Caleb Wiley get a look, as the U.S. doesn't really have any cover for Antonee Robinson, who's started to pick up a few knocks this year.

JS: It’s gotta be Wiley or Paxten Aaronson. No Robinson meant this could have been Wiley’s camp to take the No. 2 LB spot. Baffling he’s not there. Then, for Aaronson, he had a breakout year in the Netherlands, he led Utrecht to a European spot and was named to their EA FC team of the season for his performances even. Bummer for him.

AL: Does Pochettino not watch Liga MX? One would have to wonder as his refusal to bring in Zendejas, especially with Weah and Pulisic out, is borderline malpractice. The Club America winger is the best player on a team that is on the verge of winning Liga MX for the fourth consecutive time, and has five goals and six assists in 14 games. Unless there are dressing room concerns – or maybe there is an eye ahead to the Club World Cup playoff match between LAFC and Club America – this is clearly not a footballing decision. Zendejas deserves to be there. As for Sargent, he was given plenty of opportunities over the past six months to prove himself, with at least two starts and he failed to impress. It doesn't devalue what he did on the club level, but in order to get back he needs to prove his scoring prowess on a higher level.

RT: Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty will feel hard done, especially given the success they’ve had with Celtic. Both will believe they’re in the centerback race and both have now missed out on a massive opportunity to prove that fact. Hope isn’t entirely lost, but the two Celtic stars could have used a big summer, either individually or as a USMNT unit.

Getty Images SportDoes this change expectations for the U.S. in the Gold Cup?

TH: Don't care. It doesn't matter. But Mexico and Canada might be better. Get to the semis and hope the world doesn't explode when you crash out heroically, because 2026 is the goal. Get out without injuries and your pride (relatively) intact and it's job done.

JS: It's always been final or bust. You can’t be this program and not compete for it. That hasn't changed.

AL: Mexico are the favorites, but the U.S. can't go into this tournament expecting anything less than a final appearance. There is enough talent on this roster that the Americans should be considered the second-best in the Gold Cup. Anything less than an appearance in the final will raise questions on whether or not Pochettino is the right fit for this job.

RT: Is this USMNT group the most talented in the tournament? Probably not, as things stand. Mexico and Canada will believe in their chances. Panama will, too, given March’s result. Realistically, a good USMNT Gold Cup is now a run to the final with three or four fringe players cementing themselves as something reliable for the future.

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AFPWhat position is up for grabs in this camp?

TH: Do we have to talk about No. 9s again? Balogun has to be the first choice dude when he's fit, so it'll be good to see him get some reps. Outside of that, not really sure. Suspect Pochettino knows mostly what his strongest XI is already – with perhaps a suggestion that Johnny Cardoso should be in the mix ahead of Musah. Since something needs saying, let's highlight center-back. Richards should be there, but who partners him? Tough to say – and this window might give you an idea or two

JS: Depending on Balogun's injury status, it’s striker. Brian White and Pat Agyemang will push him for it.

AL: Striker and goalkeeper. Balogun should be the favorite, and on paper, is arguably the best attacker with Pulisic off the squad. Yet, he hasn't looked sharp since his return from his injury. At goalkeeper, the hope would be this is an actual competition as opposed to resume browsing. Matt Turner has been OK at best, but appears as if he's given the No. 1 job because he's on a Premier League roster – whether or not he plays. It would be great to see if Zack Steffen or Patrick Schulte are given a real shot to compete for the No. 1 job. There are very few chances to evaluate after this tournament.

RT: It’s got to be goalkeeper, right? That’s largely because it’s one of the few positions fully-equipped with the those competing for the starting job. Turner probably has the upper hand, but the three others in camp all have realistic hopes of leapfrogging him in the coming weeks. Pochettino’s selections during the tournament will give a pretty good indication of how he feels about this group going forward.

Backs England to seize chance to square series, after Bashir’s stellar display

Andrew Miller24-Feb-2024Joe Root is confident that England have taken a firm hold of the fourth Test against India, after a dominant second day in Ranchi in which the final stages of his 31st Test century gave way to a determined bowling display led by the 19-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir.By the close, India had reached 219 for 7 in their first innings, still trailing by a sizeable 134 runs with only the wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel remaining of their recognised batters. And on a surface that is already offering significant variable bounce, Root recognises that any lead could be crucial going into the back-end of the contest.”We’ve got ourselves into a nice position at the end of the first innings,” Root said at the close of play. “So we’ll see how things progress throughout the game. Obviously, it looks like it’s going to keep deteriorating and keep getting worse. So if we can get three early wickets tomorrow, hopefully that puts us in a really strong position for the rest of the game.”Related

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Root rediscovers touch to put the old school into Bazball

Already, however, Root’s unbeaten 122 from 274 balls looks like being the stand-out innings of the game. After rescuing England from a dicey 112 for 5 at lunch on day one, he helped add a further 51 runs for the final three wickets in the morning session, and admitted it had been a cathartic display after his struggles for form in the opening three Tests.”That’s how I try and play every game really,” he said. “Trying to play the conditions, the situation of the game. And it was very, very obvious what was needed in that situation on that surface. And thankfully, it paid off.”It’s been nice to contribute this week,” he added, having managed a top score of 29 in his previous six innings in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Rajkot. “It has been a lean series for me. So I was desperate to try and get some runs for the guys, and it was nice to do that today. And hopefully that can continue that for the rest of the series now.”Root joked that he had been tempted to play a reverse-scoop when nearing his hundred•Associated PressRoot had been the subject of intense scrutiny after England’s 434-run loss in the third Test, after falling to his trademark reverse-scoop early on the third day, a shot that proved the catalyst in his team’s subsequent collapse. And though the stroke didn’t feature at all in the course of his century, he did joke that he had been tempted to unfurl it when in sight of his hundred on the first evening.”I must admit it did briefly cross my mind, but on that wicket it’s not a great option,” Root said. “It was a fleeting and selfish thought that left my mind very quickly. If you look at the previous wicket [in Rajkot], it wasn’t as bad, but it was unfortunate it kept a little bit low. But that’s how it goes sometimes.”When asked afterwards about the criticism of that dismissal, Root added: “Certainly the execution of the shots has weighed on me. Not necessarily the selection but the execution. I’m better than that. Batting is about outscoring the opposition, scoring more runs to give yourselves the best chance of winning. If you get out, you’re out, and it doesn’t matter what it looks like.”Instead, Root delivered a performance of old-school hard graft, as he first found a means to survive a tough morning spell from the debutant Akash Deep, who extracted significant seam movement with the new ball, and then led a critical rebuild as the conditions eased, particularly alongside Ben Foakes on the first afternoon and Ollie Robinson on the second morning.”If it’s your main skill, you want to be delivering and you want to be standing up and performing,” Root said. “It was special, given that in the morning the wicket was doing all sorts against that hard ball. So when you went in, you really had to work hard, in the first half-hour especially. They’re the ones that mean most, when you have to really work hard for it, and you’re trying to dig your team out of a little bit of a situation.”The second day, however, was dominated by Bashir’s outstanding display with the ball. He bowled 32 overs, interrupted only by intervals and a solitary change of ends before the close of play, to return figures of 4 for 84, which are already his best figures in all first-class cricket. With Tom Hartley also impressing with two wickets in his 19 overs, it meant Root – England’s most experienced spinner – was used for just a single over at the end of the day, but he had no complaints about ceding the stage.Shoaib Bashir got Shubman Gill to break a solid stand•Getty Images”The way the guys have operated today was a brilliant effort,” he said. “I had a great view at first slip, watching them operate. For two young spinners to stand up and perform, it’s really encouraging for English cricket, and for us, for the rest of this series and the rest of this Test match.”Bashir was a virtual unknown when he was drafted into the squad in December, on the strength of only a handful of fixtures for Somerset, including a key spell against Essex in which his high release point was shown to have troubled Alastair Cook, one of England’s greatest players of subcontinent-style spin.”[Bashir’s] brilliant,” Root said. “He’s a great young lad to have in the group. I’ve not seen much of him, and I might not have known much about him before this series, but he’s got a great character. He’s got a great sense of humour. He takes it all out to the field. And he’s clearly, as you can see, got huge amounts of ability and skill and a lot to offer, especially on a surface like this.”It was great to see him keep coming, time and time again today, asking really difficult questions of their order. And again, he should take a lot of confidence for the rest of this game and moving on as well.”As for the match situation, Root reiterated his confidence that England can close out their advantage, and square the series at 2-2 going into the fifth Test in Dharamsala. In particular, he backed his team to make the most of whatever lead they can secure, and bat with sufficient freedom in tough conditions to post India a challenging target.On that pitch, 350 looks like a very good score,” he said. “I think we’re in a good position. Obviously it’d be good to wrap things up quickly tomorrow, but yeah, as a batter you always say, ‘it’s a terrible wicket, I must have played really well’. But no, I think it’s just that odd ball.”It’s just being able to park it mentally, being able to, if it does really misbehave, not let it affect the way you approach the rest of the over, the next ball, and not have any demons about what’s gone before. You’ve just got to react and play and trust your game, and just be really clear about how you want to break things down and score your runs.”It’d be great to get a sizable first-innings lead on there and then to really drive that home. We’ve got to be ruthless. We’ve got to be proactive about how we go and do it, and clear how we want to go and score our runs. But if we can get anything north of 250, it’s going to be a very interesting last couple of days.”

Barcelona are reportedly trying to sell one of their rising stars in a bid to register Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia.

Barca trying to register Rashford and GarciaClub's financial problems not going awayBlaugrana aim to sell rising starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are open to selling 19-year-old talent Jan Virgili this summer, with his contract expiring in 2027. Mallorca are reportedly interested in signing him on loan, and Girona have also been linked with the winger – who is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.

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Earlier this month, Barcelona reportedly returned to the 1:1 rule, which states that a club can only spend as much as their income and accounts allow. But despite that, Hansi Flick's side are still under strict financial constraints. Fears have been raised that the Blaugrana's ability to register players again may be compromised, meaning United loanee and Espanyol recruit Garcia face an anxious wait to find out if they can play in La Liga next term. One way to help towards that goal would be to sell players, and that is where Virgili could come in.

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In regards to a Virgili transfer exit, Barcelona would reportedly look to ensure they retain some control over his future. After midfielder Pablo Torre left the Catalan outfit for Mallorca earlier this month, in a €5 million fee that includes a €25m (£21.7m) buyback option and a 50 per cent sell-on fee, Barca may look for a similar deal for Virgili.

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Barcelona, who would prefer a transfer exit rather than a loan for Spain Under-19 international Virgili, will hope to register Rashford and Garcia when the new La Liga season gets underway next month. Flick's side will look to maintain their top dog status in Spain after storming to the league title in 2024/25.