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أعلن السويسري كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك، عن اللاعبين البدلاء خلال مواجهة مودرن سبورت، في إطار منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويحتضن ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي مباراة الزمالك ومودرن سبورت ضمن مواجهات الجولة التاسعة من عمر الدوري.

بالأرقام | مباراة الزمالك ومودرن سبورت.. بين الصدارة والبحث عن الفوز الأول

يدخل الزمالك اللقاء وهو يطمح لتحقيق الفوز، ساعيًا لتصدر جدول الترتيب بفارق الأهداف عن بيراميدز، المتصدر الحالي.

كما يأمل الفريق في استغلال تعثر غريمه التقليدي الأهلي، الذي تعادل مع فاركو بهدف لمثله في الجولة الماضية.

يأتي ذلك في وقت يحتل فيه الزمالك المركز الثالث في جدول الترتيب برصيد 17 نقطة، بعد خوضه 8 مباريات، حقق خلالها الفوز في 5 لقاءات، وتعادل مرتين، بينما تلقى هزيمة وحيدة. 

أما مودرن سبورت، فيحتل المركز الأخير برصيد 4 نقاط فقط، حصدها من 4 تعادلات و4 خسائر، دون تحقيق أي انتصار حتى الآن في الدوري المصري. بدلاء الزمالك اليوم أمام مودرن سبورت

محمد صبحي – محمود بنتايج – ناصر منسي – سيف فاروق جعفر – محمود شيكابالا – كونراد ميشالاك – حسام أشرف – محمد السيد – أحمد حمدي.

Everton Football Club will be hoping that they can stay out of a relegation battle, after coming close to the drop in the past few seasons. Sean Dyche kept his side up comfortably in the end last term, despite having a points deduction, and they will be hoping the 2024/25 campaign will be even smoother.

Their season opener sees the Toffees host Brighton and Hove Albion at Goodison Park. The Seagulls have a new manager at the helm, Fabian Hurzeler, who replaced Roberto De Zerbi following his departure at the end of 2023/24. It is certainly a tough start to the campaign for Everton against a Brighton side littered with talent.

Their first away trip of the season will see Dyche and his men travel down to London for the first of many times throughout the campaign. On this occasion, the Toffees will face Tottenham Hotspur. The final game before the September internationals sees Bournemouth visit Goodison as Everton look to end the first block of fixtures strongly.

In order to help push up the table this summer, the Toffees will no doubt need to continue strengthening their side. They have recently been linked with a player who might cause controversy on Merseyside if he switches to Everton.

Everton target former Premier League defender

The player in question here is former Liverpool and Cameroon defender Joel Matip. The experienced 32-year-old centre-back left Anfield at the end of last season and is now available on a free transfer this summer.

According to a report from CaughtOffside, the Cameroonian centre-back is of interest to three clubs across Europe, with the Toffees one of those sides ‘competing’ to sign him this summer, in what would be a controversial move given his success during his time on the red side of Merseyside.

However, they will face competition for his signature this summer. Matip is also a target for Fulham, who could bring him in as an experienced replacement for Tim Ream, with invincible Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen also interested in signing him, with all three having held talks with the player's agent.

A deal for Matip would only be possible for Everton if they manage to sell centre-back duo, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, as the report states. However, how likely this is at this stage of the window remains unclear, meaning Everton run the risk of being beaten to his signature by the other interested clubs.

Why Matip would be a good signing

Despite his links to Liverpool, Matip would bring great experience to an Everton backline that improved last season. According to Understat, they conceded just 51 goals last season in the Premier League, the fourth-best in the division, an improvement of six from the previous campaign, when they conceded 57.

The Cameroonian defender played just 14 games in all competitions last season, which included only ten in the Premier League. He missed 37 games due to a cruciate ligament tear, which could be a concern for Everton, in case he has not fully recovered or aggravates the injury. He has not played since 3rd December.

However, injury issues aside, Matip could be an excellent partner for Jarrad Branthwaite. The Englishman was a key reason why the Toffees were so good at the back, and he could have an even better season next campaign with Matip next to him.

Their defensive numbers on FBref are both very similar, with both players being excellent box defenders. Last season, Matip, although a small sample size, averaged 2.41 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, which was just slightly fewer than Branthwaite, who registered 3.35..

Aerially, the former Liverpool defender was dominant in his short season last term. He won 3.22 aerial duels, at a win rate of 73.7%, with the Englishman's stats coming in slightly lower. On average, the Everton number 32 won 2.72 aerial duels with a win rate of an impressive 68.6%.

Matip vs. Branthwaite defensive stats

Stat (per 90)

Matip

Branthwaite

Tackles & interceptions

2.41

3.35

Clearances

4.94

4.71

Blocks

1.84

1.47

Ball recoveries

6.67

5.23

Aerial duels won

3.22

2.72

Aerial duel win %

73.7%

68.6%

Stats from FBref

Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley described Matip as “magnificent”, and this certainly rings true when looking at his stats. He will add experience and quality to an Everton defence that is already hard to breach, and for a free transfer, could be an excellent piece of business this summer.

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With under a month until the new Premier League campaign gets underway, Arsenal now reportedly need one "final step" to land their first signing of the summer transfer window.

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The Gunners have been in no position to panic this summer, perhaps unlike recent years, with Mikel Arteta's job to simply fine-tune a side who are going in pursuit of a third-time lucky in the Premier League title race. The North London giants challenged Manchester City for a second season running last time out but were once again unable to dethrone Pep Guardiola's winning machine at The Etihad.

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That's not to say that Arteta won't welcome fresh faces before the end of next month, however, with names such as Nico Williams linked to The Emirates in what would be one of the most impressive deals of the summer. The Athletic Bilbao winger stole the headlines at Euro 2024 as Spain broke English hearts to seal a dominant tournament victory.

Alas, before Williams, the Gunners look set to turn their attention towards a defensive reinforcement. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have now reached an agreement to sign Riccardo Calafiori in a deal worth a total package of €45m (£38m).

The final step is reportedly the defender's former club, Basel, and current club Bologna over Calafiori's 50% sell-on payment terms.

Following an excellent Euro 2024 campaign, Calafiori is set to get his move and Arsenal are set to get their reinforcement to form what is, on paper, a backline fit for the Premier League crown.

"Tenacious" Calafiori can compete with Saliba and Gabriel

If William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes weren't impressive enough, then the addition of Calafiori could certainly create positive headlines. The Italian will suddenly hand Arteta a wealth of impressive defensive depth and quite the selection headache heading into the new campaign. The Spaniard already proved that he's willing to be ruthless when he dropped Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya last season and Calafiori is now likely to emerge to compete with Saliba and Gabriel.

Progressive Carries

28

16

13

Progressive Passes

96

157

117

Tackles Won

37

26

28

Ball Recoveries

194

213

136

What stands out is Calafiori's all-round ability, whether that be on or off the ball, particularly his ball-carrying skills. Next to Saliba, the Italian could form one of the most impressive ball-playing partnerships in the Premier League.

Described as "tenacious in duels" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, Arsenal's summer business has got off to the best start if the "final step" goes through towards securing Calafiori's signature before the start of the Premier League campaign. What's more, the 22-year-old could even go up another level entirely under the guidance of Arteta in North London.

Newcastle United invested heavily in the playing squad last summer, looking to build on the club's success of qualifying for the Champions League during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Magpies finished fourth in the Premier League, receiving automatic qualification to the group stages for the current season, with the club splashing over £125m on new players to improve the squad and add depth to Eddie Howe's side.

Players such as Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali both arrived at St James' Park, with the latter failing to make any impact on the side after receiving a ten-month ban for breaking gambling rules during his time at AC Milan.

However, the club also had a number of talents already present on Tyneside before the heavy investment, with Joelinton the main man after joining the club for £40m, originally as a striker before settling into a more suited central midfield role.

One other player arrived under previous owner Mike Ashley, with the former key first-team member needing to be sold given his rapid decline in market value.

Miguel Almiron’s Newcastle stats in 2023/24

After his sensational goalscoring run in 2022/23 which saw the attacker score eight goals in just nine Premier League games, Miguel Almiron failed to replicate any of his good form under Howe last season.

He's featured 42 times in all competitions but has only managed to find the back of the net on three occasions, failing to match the heights he's previously hit on Tyneside.

He’s been a brilliant servant for the Magpies, however, with the club needing to sell players before making any major signings due to the constraints of FFP, Almiron may potentially be a player who may have to make way.

Games

33

Minutes played

1,947

Goals

3

Assists

1

Minutes per goal or assist

486

Although the £60k-per-week winger remains contracted with the Magpies until 2026, his recent troubles with his lack of creative output and injuries prove he's no longer at the level required, with Howe needing to brutally part ways with the winger to prevent any breaches whilst also allowing the club to reach the next level.

Miguel Almiron’s market value in 2024

Over five years on from his £20m move from Atlanta United in the MLS, Almiron has seen a steady decline in his value in recent years, with the attacker now only valued at £17m, as per Football Observatory.

His drop has seen homegrown talent Sean Longstaff overtake him in terms of valuation, with the 26-year-old worth £26m as per the same source, having come through the Magpies' youth system.

For further context, he's now worth a great deal lower than two of the Toon's star men, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes who are rewarded with £84m valuations.

With Almiron now aged 30 and coming towards the back end of his professional career, it is pivotal that Howe and the PIF sell the attacker for as much as possible, with his price tag only going to decline in the years ahead – amid reports that he could well leave St James' Park this summer.

He was an important figure for the club towards the end of the Ashley era and even for Howe in recent seasons, but unfortunately, the side has better alternatives in the final third, with the club needing to prevent any loss on the £20m fee they forked out for him by offloading the Paraguayan ahead of next term.

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With Michael Edwards known for maximising the value of unwanted players in the transfer market, the Reds transfer chief could be beaten at his own game by the agent of a Liverpool talent.

Reds set for summer rebuild under Slot

The latest news out of Anfield surrounds the future of some of the clubs' out of favour stars. Whilst the summer window is still in its early days, the Reds have already been able to shift some deadwood with Thiago, Adrian and Joel Matip all leaving the club upon the expiration of their respective contracts.

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With a few hefty wage packets off the books, Edwards and Co look set to open the Reds' chequebook and bolster Arne Slot's squad. Anthony Gordon has been the main name doing the rounds on Merseyside with the former Everton winger linked with a move to Anfield.

The Boyhood Liverpool fan has been valued at £75 million by his current club Newcastle, after providing 21 goal contributions for the Magpies last term.

With the funds to sign the likes of Gordon likely to be provided by further player sales, it now appears that one player's agent is set to make life difficult for the Reds this summer.

Liverpool talent set for exit this summer

As reported by Sport Witness, the local press in Eindhoven are claiming that PSV have identified Liverpool’s Sepp van den Berg as a target for this summer. The report states that the club view the Reds centre back as the perfect replacement for André Ramalho, who is set to depart PSV during the window.

Van den Berg has been linked with a number of clubs so far this summer including Mainz 05, where the young defender spent last season on loan. Southampton were also said to be in for the 22-year-old, however this interest may have cooled following the arrival of Taylor Harwood-Bellis on a permanent deal.

The report by Sport Witness claims that Liverpool want £15 million for the player, a fee that PSV are reportedly not willing to match. This dispute over a transfer fee is where the Dutch champions' links to van den Berg's agent come into play.

Last summer, Jerdy Schouten joined PSV from Serie A outfit Bologna in a move that saw Schouten's agent, Frank Schouten play a key role. Frank declared that Jerdy only wanted to sign for PSV despite interest from numerous clubs, forcing the selling club to bring their price down.

As Frank Schouten also represents van den Berg, the agent and PSV will try and repeat his trick this summer and force Liverpool to sell the young defender for a bargain price despite interest from across Europe.

With Edwards synonymous with making money off unwanted players in order to fund new signings, this move by van den Berg's agent will be sure to frustrate the Reds transfer guru.

Whilst the aim has always been for Liverpool to offload van den Berg this summer, it will not sit well with the higher ups at Anfield if the player's representatives engineer a move away for a cut-rate price.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are hoping to take Wrexham back into Europe, with the club admitting that is an “unashamedly financial measure”.

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Welsh League Cup discussionsEuropa Conference League opportunityHollywood co-owners excitedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons have not graced continental competition since reaching the second round of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995-96, with Welsh sides competing in the English Football League currently prevented from entering Welsh Cup tournaments.

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That situation may be about to change – as the likes of Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are welcomed back into a restructured Welsh League Cup – with a potential route into the Europa Conference League opening up.

WHAT SHAUN HARVEY SAID

Said prospect has got many at SToK Racecourse excited, as another new adventure for Hollywood co-owners presents itself, and Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has told of ambitious plans: “We are interested because we have got an obligation to give the club the best chance of success. The club, like the other three clubs, is steeped in European history, albeit going back over a period of time. If those days can return to Wrexham at some stage in the future then it’s another step on a remarkable journey.

“It’s not creating something new because the club has been there before but it will give the new generation of fans the opportunity to share the same experiences that their predecessors had. Every so often opportunities like this present themselves and we have got an obligation to both ourselves and football in Wales to look at them. With things such as this, you are always conscious that it might not be universally popular and on that basis, it needs to be well thought out.

“Conversations started probably 18 months ago about the possibility of this. The new owners of Swansea City came to the fore and commissioned research work that categorically proved that if the four Welsh EFL clubs participated in European competitions, then it would be financially beneficial for the whole of football in Wales. There would be financial benefits for whichever club managed to win the Welsh League Cup but only one of the four could win it and it doesn’t mean the Cymru Premier clubs can’t win it either.”

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Harvey added on the benefits to all concerned, with it not only Wrexham that stand to bolster their coffers: “People ask why would the Cymru Premier clubs and the FAW support it. The answer is that they are satisfied that it would be in the best interests of football as a whole in Wales. Value is measured in many different ways but in this case, the measure is unashamedly financial.

“The more money that is available to develop and promote the game throughout Wales, the better it has to be for everybody. The FAW would hopefully receive significantly more funding as a result of improved performances to support the development of the women’s game and football below the Cymru Premier.”

Rangers have agreed a deal for another summer signing and are even hoping to make a second addition this week, according to reports.

Rangers active on transfer front

Rangers endured a mixed 2023/24 campaign on the whole. Philippe Clement's side won the Scottish League Cup earlier this year but the remainder of their season was somewhat disappointing. The Gers missed out on the Scottish Premiership title to Celtic once again, lost the Scottish FA Cup final and were knocked out of the Europa League in the last 16.

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In turn, Rangers are expected to be busy on the transfer front this summer as they look to put an end to Celtic's reign of dominance in the Premiership. Jefte and Oscar Cortes have already joined the Scottish powerhouse, with the latter once again coming in on loan from Lens, while Clinton Nsiala will officially move to the club on 1st July, sealing a permanent switch from AC Milan.

Rangers do not look set to stop there, however. Hammarby youngster Nathaniel Adjei is reportedly wanted by the Gers, with a £5m move to Ibrox potentially on the cards. Elsewhere, the Gers appear to be leading the race to sign 20-year-old forward Yusuf Kabadayi from Bayern Munich in a deal that could be worth between £1m-1.5m.

Rangers are already on the verge of another signing

Now, a fresh Rangers transfer update has been provided with yet another player seemingly on his way to Ibrox. The player in question is FAR Rabat and Morocco U23 international, Hamza Igamane. The 21-year-old scored seven goals and provided six assists for his current side across the 2023/24 campaign, with his excellent form putting him in contention to be named in the Moroccan squad for this summer’s Olympics.

Before the Olympics gets underway, though, Igamane could be on his way to Scotland, with The Daily Record reporting that the Gers have agreed to sign the striker in a deal worth £1.7m and even expect to announce his move in the coming days.

As well as Igamane, the Scottish outfit are also hoping to complete a deal for Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron. The 21-year-old has recently returned from a holiday and is expected to make a decision on his future soon. Barron is out of contract at the end of this month and The Daily Record state that Rangers hope to confirm his signing this week.

Rangers have made a "strong offer" for Barron but are set to face competition for his signature with the likes of Plymouth, Swansea City, Stoke City, Hellas Verona and Cardiff City named as interested parties. Should the player indeed agree to choose Rangers as his next club, compensation will need to be agreed with Aberdeen.

England seamer is not ready to call it quits just yet after landmark achievement

George Dobell28-Jul-2020Of course Stuart Broad had the final word. Of course, at the end of a series he has dominated since his spell with the second new ball on the fourth evening of the second Test, it was his wicket that sealed the series.Some might argue that Broad dominated the series even before he was selected. His omission from the side for the first Test so disappointed him that he made the unusual decision to give an interview midway through a game in which he was not involved to express his frustration. He also suggested he was bowling as well as ever.It’s one thing to talk a good game; it’s quite another to back it with performances. And, over the last couple of weeks, Broad has proved his point more eloquently than his words ever could. The upshot is, a campaign that started with him struggling to get into the side has finished with him being named player of the series. The third Test produced his best innings analysis since 2016 and both his best match analysis and highest innings since 2013.Back to his best? Well, maybe. In truth, he is a slightly different bowler to the man who was winning Tests for England a decade ago. Certainly not worse; just different. For while he was once capable of delivering genuinely quick spells and tended to hit just back of a length, he now pitches a yard or so fuller and nags away on off stump like an unpaid bill. He’s not quite as quick but he has just finished his third series out of four (the Ashes and the South Africa tour were the others) as England’s leading wicket-taker.Where once he was inclined to resort to the bouncer just a bit too quickly, it’s almost as if his slightly diminished pace has forced him to find different ways to defeat batsmen. As a result, he’s become a more sophisticated bowler. It’s hardly surprising he has no intention of calling it a day just yet.”You always hear ex-sportsmen saying they knew when it was time to go,” Broad said. “They say they lost that feeling.”Well, I’ve still got it in abundance. A couple of weeks ago I was in a bit of a thinking place. I couldn’t leave a cricket ground where I’d been left out. I thought ‘where am I going here?'”But I’m glad I stayed strong because I’m very happy two weeks later.”I feel I’m bowling as well as I ever have. I’ve done some technical work and changed my run-up in the last 18 months. I’m challenging the stumps and trying to make the batsmen play as much as possible. That’s a tactical thing that’s really taken me to a really exciting level.Stuart Broad claims his 500th Test wicket•Getty Images

“I felt like my alignment to the stumps was really good in this game. I had a bit of confidence and match practice from the second Test so my tempo and alignment felt like every time I released the ball I could bring off stump into play.”That’s my go-to: I want to make the batsman play. I don’t like to get left too often. When you come on a pitch with a little bit of wear that’s keeping low, that’s sort of my dream pitch. Most fast bowlers like it flying through, catching the edge and going to slip at chest height but if I can bring the stumps into play, it really suits my style.”If Broad required any inspiration for the pursuit of sporting excellence in his mid-30s, he doesn’t have far to look. James Anderson’s hunger to pick up new skills and his dedication to his fitness have carried him to the brink of 600 Test wickets. Broad doesn’t rule out pushing on to the same milestone.”Jimmy is my idol on that,” Broad said. “He turns 38 during this break we have now. He’s someone I have watched very closely and has been a great friend of mine for many years.”Also, the way he has maintained himself and kept upskilling himself to be able to not just compete but get better at this level. You look at both of our records over the last few years, we are actually improving. Compare my last 18 months to my career record, it’s way better. It’s a great sign.ALSO READ: Stuart Broad, England’s spring-heeled superstar”It is easy to get to 34 and start thinking ‘I’ll do what I have done for the last 13 years and be okay’. But I’m looking for the next step that will improve me as a cricketer. That keeps you moving forward as a cricketer.”If you’d asked me four years ago, ‘at 34 do you think you could play another three or four years?’ I’d have said absolutely not. Now I’m 34 and I feel fit. Post-lockdown my fitness testing was the best it’s ever been. I feel excited.”I’m not someone who sets targets. I never said I really want to get to 500 wickets or 600 wickets. But at the moment I feel fresh, I feel fit. I’m bowling how I want to be bowling. If I keep bowling the way I am for the next few years then I wouldn’t rule anything out.”But his greatest attribute, he says, is not his height, his experience or his seam position.”My defining quality? I never give up,” he said. “It probably comes from my Mum. I feel like we can win from any situation. The most recent time when that came through was in Cape Town at tea. I can’t remember how many wickets we needed but we were slogging away for a long period of time.Stuart Broad, England’s man of the series, braves the rain at Old Trafford•Getty Images

“I knew deep down that if we kept applying pressure, South Africa would crack. That’s the mindset which helped us win that Test match.”I’ve never shied away from intimidating moments. I really enjoy moments when the game need changing. I want to be the person to do it. I want to be the person to get thrown the ball or go into bat when we need to change the momentum of the game.”All of which begs the question: why was Broad left out of the side for the first Test?England’s rotation of their seamers was one of the key differences in the series. With each of them bowling in a maximum of two games, they looked fit and fresh right to the end. West Indies’ trio of fast bowlers, by contrast, played in all three matches and looked close to exhaustion some time ago. It was not especially controversial, really. England’s strength in seam-bowling depth is a huge asset, even if it does make for awkward selection meetings at times.It’s also highly likely the same policy will be used in the series against Pakistan. Which means there may be days when other high-profile players – the likes of Anderson and Jofra Archer, included – will be rotated. And yes, there will be days, particularly in the conditions anticipated this winter, when Broad is left out once again. Sometimes the word ‘dropped’ can be a bit emotive.”Let’s be honest, we have so many fast bowlers if you’re not taking wickets you’re probably not going to play,” Broad said. “It keeps the standard high.”There were echoes of Fred Trueman when Broad was asked whether anyone else could achieve the 500 Test wicket milestone. Trueman, on reaching the 300 landmark, famously quipped that if anyone else achieved it they would be “bloody tired”. Broad’s point was more that modern seam bowlers might not have the opportunity to play enough games.While Nathan Lyon, who currently has 390 wickets, would appear to have a chance, the next highest wicket-taker among current seamers is Ishant Sharma who, at 31 years of age, has 297. It is entirely possible Broad will be the last seamer to reach the figure.”You need a lot of Test matches to get 500 wickets,” Broad said. “I think there’ll be people who have the talent to get the numbers, but whether a seamer will be able to play the amount of Test cricket to get that feat remains to be seen. There is a lot of competition out there between different T20 leagues franchises.”There’s talk of thinning the amount of Tests down. I feel very lucky to have played for England in an era where we’ve played a lot of Test cricket.”England have been lucky to have him, too. And only a fool would suggest there aren’t a few pages in the story left to be told.

Lamine Yamal has revealed how a bizarre training routine in his youth helped him to become one of the most exciting talents in world football.

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• Graduated out of La Masia academy system
• Used family pets to help hone his skills
• Now a Ballon d'Or contender of present & future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At just 17 years of age, the Barcelona wonderkid has already passed 50 competitive appearances for La Liga giants, become a European Championship winner with Spain and made the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A meteoric rise to the top has been enjoyed – earning comparisons to fellow La Masia academy graduate Lionel Messi along the way. Yamal has made the step up into senior football with consummate ease and is being tipped to become a Golden Ball winner of the future.

• WHAT YAMAL SAID

  Yamal has revealed how humble beginnings helped to catapult him to superstardom, with the teenager not one to rest on his laurels as he seeks out the biggest of challenges – even if that can mean adopting some strange methods. He has told of honing his skills: “I'm a guy who doesn't like being at a higher level, like what happened to me in youth categories, because I don't like to relax or take it easy. I always prefer it to be more difficult. I’d rather not play than play everything and have it be too easy.

  “I always went everywhere with my ball. I used to carry it in a bag to school. In class, I used to hide it because the teacher wouldn't let me have it. I always played with my dogs because my father said they wouldn’t bite, so I’d run with them. Playing against a dog is the hardest thing you can do.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Yamal’s canine companions should be proud of the part that they have played in the development of a hot prospect that may go on to become a legend. Starring roles continue to be played for club and country, with there no sign of the youngster allowing complacency to set in.

Playing abroad, he feels, will help older players looking to make international comebacks

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2020Suresh Raina feels Indian cricketers without BCCI contracts should get the opportunity to play in overseas T20 leagues. The 33-year-old Raina has played over 300 international games, but hasn’t represented India since July 2018; playing in overseas leagues, he feels, will especially help older players who are looking to make international comebacks.”I hope the BCCI can get together with the ICC or with franchises and allow players who don’t have BCCI contracts to play in overseas leagues,” Raina said in an Instagram Live chat with his former India team-mate Irfan Pathan. “I feel there are a lot of players, including Yusuf [Pathan], myself, Robin Uthappa – a lot of quality players who can go overseas and learn a lot, no matter which league it is. Allow us to play in two [overseas] leagues.”We aren’t in the BCCI contracts list, some of us don’t have IPL contracts, we aren’t playing international cricket, and the competition in domestic cricket isn’t what it is at the international level. If we can get three months of quality cricket, whether it’s the CPL or the Big Bash [League] or any league, it can help us stay ready.”Players from other countries are able to play in these leagues, and a lot of them have made international comebacks after doing well in them. We play the IPL, but if these people [the BCCI selectors] have a pool of 40-50 players, they think those outside it aren’t good enough or are past it, and neglect them. We don’t have a Plan B. If we go overseas and perform, our cricket will improve and we’ll get to learn a lot.”The BCCI has not allowed active Indian players to take part in franchise leagues other than the IPL. Those that have done so – Virender Sehwag in the T10 League, Yuvraj Singh in Global T20 Canada – have only done so after announcing their retirements. Last year, Harbhajan Singh signed up for the draft of The Hundred but eventually pulled out in order to continue playing in the IPL.