Tag Futebol

The Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Sunday to avoid a post-All-Star sweep at Wrigley Field. Leadoff hitter and possible trade chip Jarren Duran went 0-for-3 at the plate during the game, but was clearly willing to leave it all on the field to get the win.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth a fly ball was hit to left-center where Masataka Yoshida settled under it. As Yoshida caught the ball Duran ran into him at full-speed. In Duran's defense, he timed the hit perfectly, led with his shoulder and did not hit his teammate in the head or neck area so no flag was thrown.

A few innings later, after walking, Duran tried to advance to third on a ball hit by teammate Roman Anthony. As Duran rounded second he collided with Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. Duran threw out a little stiff-arm to make sure the umpire, who he also had to try to avoid, saw the illegal contact.

Duran was thrown out at third, but thanks to the interference call, he was safe.

Let this be a lesson to anyone who might be on a baseball field at the same time as Jarren Duran. Get out of his way because he will run into you. It doesn't matter if you're trying to get him out or yelled "got it!"Keep your head on a swivel.

أعلن الكرواتي كرونسلاف يورتشيتش المدير الفني لفريق نادي بيراميدز قائمة فريقه لمباراة كهرباء الإسماعيلية في بطولة الدوري المصري.

وتقام المباراة بين بيراميدز وكهرباء الإسماعيلية على أرضية استاد الإسماعيلية، في المواجهة المؤجلة من الجولة الثامنة للدوري المصري.

وأدى الفريق مرانه الأخير في ملعبه بالدفاع الجوي قبل السفر إلى مدينة الإسماعيلية للمبيت بها حتى موعد المباراة.

طالع | محامي رمضان صبحي يوضح التطورات في قضية المنشطات وحقيقة تواصل الأهلي

ويدخل بيراميدز مباراة الغد وهو يحتل المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، ولديه 23 نقطة بعد الفوز بـ7 لقاءات والتعادل بمباراتين وتلقى هزيمة وحيدة.

بينما يتواجد فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية بالمركز الـ21 والأخير في جدول الدوري ومعه 8 نقاط من الفوز بـ مباراتين والتعادل مرتين وتلقى 9 هزائم. قائمة بيراميدز لمباراة كهرباء الإسماعيلية في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمى: محمود جاد – زياد هيثم

خط الدفاع: محمود مرعي – علي جبر – أحمد سامي – طارق علاء – محمد الشيبي – محمد حمدي – كريم حافظ – عبد الرحمن جودة

خط الوسط: أحمد توفيق – محمود دونجا – مهند لاشين – محمود زلاكة – عبد الرحمن مجدي – أحمد عاطف قطة – مصطفى زيكو – إيفرتون داسيلفا – محمد رضا بوبو

خط الهجوم: فيستون ماييلي – دودو الجباس

As Chelsea thrashed Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League, former Stamford Bridge star Pat Nevin was left in awe of Estevao Willian, who scored a stunning individual effort in a true breakout performance for the young Brazilian.

The Blues started as they meant to go on, almost inviting Hansi Flick’s high-line, baiting Barcelona in. The Spaniards were handed plenty of warning signs, too. Wesley Fofana’s hand spared their early blushes, before the linesman’s flag suggested that Flick had picked his tactic well for the trip to Stamford Bridge. But the inevitable was clear.

Come the 27th-minute, Barcelona and Jules Kounde completed the job that Enzo Fernandez believed he’d done twice prior by finding the back of the net to hand Chelsea the lead. The own goal opened the gate in a half of onslaught that simply did not rest after the break, when West London was treated to the Estevao show.

On a night centred around one of the early 2026 Ballon d’Or favourites Lamine Yamal, it was Chelsea’s youngster who shined brightest to score a wonderful goal in the 55th-minute. The 18-year-old is proving to be one of the best signings of the Todd Boehly era.

Aside from Ferran Torres’ wasted effort early on, Barcelona didn’t have a sniff against Enzo Maresca’s dominant side. This was no 2005 display from the Spanish club. Instead, it was excellency from the hosts in the Champions League as they secured their biggest-ever win against Barcelona.

The impressive victory has made it three wins from five in the Champions League and highlighted them as a potential dark horse. They’ve got plenty of history in European football these days and have just added another night to remember.

Pat Nevin blown away by "utterly brilliant" Estevao

When news emerged earlier this week that Cole Palmer has fractured his toe in a home accident, there may have been understandable concern around West London about where the Blues would continue to find their spark. But Estevao wouldn’t have shared that concern. He saw an opportunity – an opportunity that he’s taken with both hands against Barcelona, of all sides.

Shades of Drogba: Chelsea make contact to sign £26m Liam Delap upgrade

Chelsea could already be about to sign a replacement for Liam Delap.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 25, 2025

He ended the evening with three chances created, one goal, eight touches inside the Barcelona box and deserved praise from Nevin. The former Chelsea man was blown away by the teenage sensation, telling BBC Sport: “You know what? Start believing the hype! Estevao Willian is EXTRA special!

“The way he goes past the first player, there is no space whatsoever and he leaves him for dead. He did it just by pure skill and fast feet. He still had a difficult angle to overcome to finish it but he leathered it into the net.

“He is going to be absolutely and utterly brilliant. It isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when and how good he is going to be.”

Chelsea now "crazy" about signing "wonderful" assist king

Manchester United’s supporters have been largely left frustrated over the last decade, with the club unable to achieve any sustained success since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

The Scotsman decided to call it a day at the end of the 2012/13 season, with the Red Devils yet to claim Premier League glory under the guidance of any other manager.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy already backing him in his quest for success during his tenure in the role.

He’s already spent upwards of £220m since his appointment last November, with the majority of his spending being directed into the final third of the squad.

However, with January rapidly approaching, the board have shifted their attention to the midfield department, which has led to a whole host of players being touted for a move to join the club.

The latest on United’s move to land Elliot Anderson

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been hugely touted with various moves for a number of central midfielders to help bolster Amorim’s squad in the second half of the season.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Joao Gomes and Ederson have all been linked with moves, but none of the aforementioned talents appear to be their main target.

Such a luxury has fallen into the hands of Elliot Anderson, with the Nottingham Forest star seemingly being the Red Devils’ number one target this January.

The 23-year-old has been in remarkable form for Sean Dyche’s side this season, leading to the youngster becoming a regular starter in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

It’s been reported that Amorim’s side are willing to pay £60m for the signature of the midfielder in the upcoming window to try and solve their issue at the heart of the squad.

However, such a deal could well be rejected out of hand, with Forest wanting at least £100m for their star man, who has three and a half years left on his current deal.

Anderson also has no release clause in his current deal at the City Ground, which puts Dyche’s men in full control over negotiations when it comes down to conducting a transfer.

If Amorim’s men are to land the Englishman this window, the £100m deal would see a new club-record being paid for his signature – surpassing the £89m paid for Paul Pogba nearly a decade ago.

The player who Amorim could sell to fund the Anderson deal

£100m is a mammoth sum, even in today’s market, but Anderson’s stats from the current campaign showcase why he’s so highly-rated by his current employers.

He’s ranked top of numerous different categories across the Premier League this season, ranging from touches of the ball to possession won for his side.

His tally of 8.6 progressive passes per 90 highlights his phenomenal ball-playing ability, but it’s his work out of possession that could be the selling point to Amorim and the board.

A real ball-winner is what the club have lacked in recent times, with the Englishman’s dominance in winning the ball back seemingly what’s prompted the recent interest.

However, after splashing around £200m on new additions in the summer, it remains to be seen how much the board are willing to spend in the upcoming January window.

As a result, numerous players may have to be offloaded from the current squad, with Kobbie Mainoo just one star who could be sold by Amorim.

Such a sentence would have been absurd 12 months ago, but the midfielder has simply been unable to showcase his talents since the arrival of the 40-year-old.

In 2025/26 alone, the 20-year-old has featured just eight times in the league, but none of which have come from a starting role – restricting him to just 170 minutes of action to date.

He’s since dropped behind the experienced Casemiro in the pecking order, with the manager evidently favouring the Brazilian over the academy sensation.

However, it could get worse for Mainoo in the near future, with the Red Devils having youngsters such as Sekou Kone who could also rise above him in Amorim’s plans.

Anderson’s arrival would also do just that, potentially seeing Mainoo become surplus to requirements at Old Trafford – something which is a real travesty.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Just a couple of years ago, he was scoring key goals in FA Cup finals and local derbies, even leading to journalist Liam Canning labelling him as the club’s “best player”.

However, it’s evident the boss doesn’t have as much faith in the player as many outsiders do, which could force the youngster to move on to reach his full potential elsewhere.

It’s likely he would still command a hefty fee should he be sold in January, with such funds potentially playing a key role in any pursuit of Anderson in the weeks ahead.

The downfall of Mainoo has been truly devastating for the fanbase to witness, especially after the joy he gave them when he breezed into the first-team setup as an 18-year-old.

However, it’s crucial the club cash in on him before his value declines further, with the board needing to make huge calls if they are to land the Forest star or keep the academy graduate happy at the club.

Joao Gomes upgrade: INEOS ready Man Utd talks for "out of this world" star

Manchester United look set to make another move for a central midfielder ahead of the January window.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

Alex Bregman has made his decision, signing with the Boston Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million deal. The Detroit Tigers were a potential suitor for Bregman before he chose to go elsewhere after nine seasons with the Houston Astros.

Chandler Rome of first reported Bregman's new contract with the Red Sox. Detroit did make a strong offer for the two-time All-Star, though, according to a report from Evan Petzold of the .

The Tigers offered Bregman a six-year contract worth just more than $170 million, which included some deferred money and an opt-out clause after the 2026 season, according to Petzold.

Bregman chose to sign with the Red Sox over the Tigers' because Boston offered more money per season. His three-year deal in Boston is worth $40 million per season, while the Detroit's offer was just above $28 million annually. The deal with Boston also included an opt-out clause after next season, while Detroit offered an opt-out after the 2026 season.

The third baseman spent the first nine years of his career with the Astros and won two World Series. He took home his first Gold Glove last season. Bregman was the biggest name remaining on the free-agent market and gets a deal done as pitchers and catchers start to report for spring training.

South Africa feasted on a largely toothless Zimbabwe attack, putting on 222 runs in just the final session

Shashank Kishore06-Jul-2025

Wiaan Mulder marked his captaincy debut with a marathon unbeaten 264 as South Africa ran Zimbabwe ragged on a hot opening day of the second Test in Bulawayo.South Africa went into stumps on a mammoth 465 for 4, the final session alone bringing them 222. Runs hemorrhaged from both ends against a toothless attack that was further depleted by a niggle to debutant seamer Kundai Matigimu, who largely bowled within himself for much of the evening.As dominant as South Africa were, Zimbabwe’s misfired tactics – of bowling to spread out fields as early as after the first hour with the fast bowler adopting a short-ball ploy to Mulder and David Bedingham – came under sharp focus. There were also a few missed opportunities in between that contributed to the day’s scoreline.The first one came when Mulder top-edged a pull on 91, with the ball landing between deep square and fine leg off Blessing Muzarabani. Then there was a grassed opportunity at backward square leg by Wesley Madhevere off teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius on 31 when he skied an attempted slog sweep off left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza.There was more frustration late in the day when Tanaka Chivanga clean bowled Mulder on 247, only for the joy to be short-lived as replays confirmed the bowler had overstepped to compound Zimbabwe’s frustration.On 133 at the tea interval, Mulder added 131 more in the final session, as he climbed into Zimbabwe’s tired spinners initially, and then against the fast bowlers who once again dished out bizarre short-ball plans with the second new ball.And while Mulder made merry, Pretorius was equally enterprising in his bristling 87-ball 78, before falling in the final session when a century was there for the taking. Looking to heave a length delivery over deep midwicket, he top-edged debutant Matigimu to Masakadza at mid-on just as the second new ball was taken, bringing an end to a 217-run fourth-wicket partnership.The prelude to the Mulder-Pretorius partnership was another solid double-century stand between Mulder and David Bedingham, who rode the early wobble in the first session with the pair lifting South Africa from 24 for 2. Bedingham was compact in defence, and steely in his resolve to not play loose drives in the first hour.David Bedingham and Wiaan Mulder added 184 for the third wicket•Zimbabwe Cricket

There on, there were hardly any drivable deliveries on offer thanks to the short-ball ploy. Bedingham was equally severe against the spinners, using his feet well to get fully forward or rock back to cut and pull. Mulder and Pretorius brought up the half-century partnership off just 35 balls, and then set themselves for the long haul.Bedingham was out against the run of play for 82 when a nip-backer from Chivanga trapped him lbw, but any joy from the wicket quickly dissipated as Pretorius took charge. Fresh off a barnstorming century in the first Test, he looked unshackled as he took the attack to the spinner and fast bowlers alike, hitting seven fours and three sixes in his innings.Zimbabwe’s only semblance of effectiveness came in the first half hour in an engaging passage, where the new ball did something. Tony de Zorzi was put down in the slips by Craig Ervine, but Zimbabwe didn’t need to wait long for a wicket as he was out slashing to gully, where Nick Welch took a leaping catch. Then it was the turn of debutant Lesego Senokwane to fall for 3 when he was out lbw attempting to paddle Masakadza.Those moments of fleeting joy quickly dissipated as Zimbabwe were sent on a leather hunt for the rest of the day.

Visitors set a revised target of 120 after five overs were lost due to a power cut during the chase

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Jun-2025

Nottinghamshire 120 for 3 (James 43, Haynes, 43, Aitchison 1-10) beat Derbyshire 162 for 9 (Donald 50, Patterson-White 3-20) by seven wickets (DLS method)A powercut could not deny Notts Outlaws victory over local rivals Derbyshire Falcons in an extraordinary Vitality Blast North Group match at the Central Co-op County Ground.The Outlaws were 108 for 3, chasing the Falcons 162 for 9, when the floodlights went out midway through the 13th over. When power was restored, the visitors were set a revised target of 120 and they easily sealed victory by seven wickets under the DLS method.Before the late drama, Aneurin Donald hammered 50 off 22 balls and Wayne Madsen passed 5,000 T20 runs in the Falcons total with Liam Patterson-White taking 3 for 20 and Dillon Pennington 3 for 40.Lyndon James and Jack Haynes both scored 43 and after the lights came back on, Tom Moores and Freddie McCann saw the Outlaws home to consign the Falcons to a third defeatThe Falcons lost two wickets in the first three overs of the powerplay before Donald found his range in spectacular style. He pulled Pennington for two consecutive sixes, the second smashing into the scoreboard, before swatting another maximum over cover to end an over which cost 22.Daniel Sams was dispatched high over the mid-wicket ropes and Conor McKerr was slashed over cover for a fifth six as Donald roared to a 21 ball 50 which also included three fours.His pyrotechnics took the Falcons to 65 for 2 at the end of the powerplay but he drove the next ball to long off and that sparked a mini collapse.Samit Patel pulled McKerr to deep mid-wicket before Martin Andersson was bowled coming down the pitch to Liam Patterson-White to reduce the hosts to 77 for 5. Ross Whiteley responded by sweeping Calvin Harrison and pulling Patterson-White for two sixes but then picked out deep mid-wicket.Wayne Madsen and Brooke Guest added 41 from 30 balls but three wickets fell off the last three deliveries, one to a run out, to leave the Outlaws chasing 163. Patel was unable to take the field because of a calf injury which left the Falcons a bowler down but they started well with Ben Aitchison having Joe Clarke caught at slip in the first over.James and Haynes regrouped and both cleared the ropes as the Outlaws moved to 48 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. The pair took 15 from a Whiteley over and put on 81 from 54 balls before Haynes pulled Pat Brown to deep mid on in the 10th over.James dispatched Andersson for six but next ball fell in identical fashion to Haynes before the ground was plunged into darkness. The power came back on in time for the game to resume at 10.10pm with a revised target leaving the Outlaws to score 12 from 15 balls.Tom Moores and Freddie McCann ensured there were no more twists before Pat Brown bowled a wide to put the lights out on the Falcons fading hopes.

Rayan Cherki showed his class to inspire Manchester City to a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Swansea as Pep Guardiola's side booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. The French playmaker was City's top performer in an underwhelming display overall against the Championship side, who took the lead through a spectacular goal from Goncalo Franco.

Cherki hit the post as City finally woke up and Jeremy Doku found an equaliser before the break with the help of a huge deflection off Swansea's Cameron Burgess. Guardiola was ruthless with his substitutions, pulling off the ragged defensive duo Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov plus the inexperienced Divine Mukasa as Phil Foden, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol came on, and City's class subsequently shone through.

Omar Marmoush thumped home after a clever pass from Cherki to give City the lead in the 77th minute, and the former Lyon maverick made sure of victory by scoring in added time, although there was some concern as he appeared to hurt a muscle in the process.

GOAL rates City's players from the Swansea.com Stadium…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

James Trafford (6/10):

Made a crucial finger-tip save to stop Widell from doubling Swansea's lead. Nothing he could do about Franco's worldie and he barely had to make a save in the second half.

Rico Lewis (6/10):

A lively display shuttling between defence and attack. 

Abdukodir Khusanov (4/10):

An erratic performance. Set the tone with a reckless early challenge which he should have been booked for. Was then lucky his loose pass that was scooped up by Widell was not punished.

Nathan Ake (5/10):

Didn't show much authority as captain as no one bothered to pick up Franco when Key advanced.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (4/10):

Played his first game after missing two months with injury and it was a difficult return. Key twisted his way past him before setting up Franco's goal and then he got a booking for taking out Widell.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Oscar Bobb (5/10)

Struggled to find much space down the flank as Tymon and Samuels-Smith doubled up on him effectively.

Nico Gonzalez (7/10):

A strong, commanding display through the middle and one of the few players who stood tall throughout.

Divine Mukasa (5/10):

Found it much tougher than in his impressive debut against Huddersfield and was hooked on 62 minutes for Foden.

Getty Images SportAttack

Rayan Cherki (9/10):

The standout performer, always looking to make something happen with his trickery and guile. Hit the post after some quick footwork in the box then played a smart pass to set up Marmoush. Crowned an excellent finish with a well deserved goal.

Omar Marmoush (6/10):

Had a quiet first half but grew into the game and proved his worth with his clinical winner.

Jeremy Doku (7/10):

His pace and nifty footwork got City back into the game, even if he benefitted from a big deflection off Burgess. Kept probing in the second half.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Josko Gvardiol (7/10):

Gave City much more presence going forward and in defence, displaying the power and authority Ait-Nouri lacked. Provided the pass for Cherki's goal.

Phil Foden (6/10):

A luxury asset to bring off the bench and he gave City a bit more sparkle.

John Stones (6/10):

Brought some much-needed experience and calmness to the defence when replacing Khusanov.

Pep Guardiola (7/10):

Will not have been pleased with the first-half display, particularly defensively. His decisive triple-change sorted everything out

Vasco da Gama sensation Rayan Vitor is already into the third season of his senior career, despite only turning 19 on August 3, which is not a normal occurrence in the Brazilian Serie A, or indeed any other top league in the world. Rayan's star has also risen rapidly despite Vasco facing one of the most turbulent periods in their history, with financial uncertainty undermining the team's efforts since key figures from U.S. investment firm 777 Partners were removed from the board in May 2024.

The only thing keeping Vasco above water is the continued strength of their Base Forte academy, which produced Brazil icon Romario, Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Luiz, and more recently, Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos. Rayan could be next in line, having been one of the club's standout players throughout a testing 2025 campaign.

Barcelona scouts have reportedly been tracking the teenage forward's progress for the last 18 months, while Arsenal and Liverpool are also said to be weighing up a potential move for him in 2026, which is when his current contract is due to expire. Rayan has impressed so much for Vasco that a heavyweight bidding war could be on the cards in January, with his market value increasing with each passing game.

The question is: just how high is the Vasco starlet's ceiling? GOAL takes a deep dive into Rayan's extraordinary potential…

Where it all began

Rayan was born in Rio de Janeiro in 2006, and showed an interest in football from the moment he was able to walk, guided by his father Valkmar, who also came through the academy ranks at Vasco and played as a professional footballer between 1995 and 2000. Valkmar took up a role with the club's youth department for a time after retiring, and made use of his contacts when arranging his son's start in the game.

As per , Vasco welcomed Rayan into their futsal ranks when he was just six years old, and over the next five years, he developed a reputation as a deadly marksman, racking up a staggering 292 goals. He then made the transition to proper pitches, and continued to wow his coaches, most notably playing a key role in Vasco Under-13s' run to glory at the ICC Futures Championship, with Juventus, Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain all conquered en route to the trophy.

By the time he reached the age of 15, Rayan was already way ahead in his development. The talented teenager scored 29 goals in 34 appearances for the U17s in 2022, and made his U20s debut at the Sao Paulo Youth Cup, marking the occasion with another goal.

Vasco knew they had another diamond on their hands, and rewarded Rayan with his first professional contract in December that year, tying him down until 2025 while also inserting a release clause of $80 million to ward off any potential suitors.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe big break

That set Rayan up perfectly for a sensational breakout year. On January 20, 2023, the Brazilian attacker became the youngest player to feature for Vasco's senior team in the 21st century when coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Audax in the Campeonato Carioca, at the age of 16 years and 170 days.

He would go on to make more history at club level, but first jetted off to the South American Championship in Ecuador with Brazil's U17 squad. The Selecao stormed to the title, winning eight of their games and drawing just one, and Rayan won a share of the Golden Boot with five goals, alongside team-mate Kaua Elias and Argentina's Claudio Echeverri (now on the books of Manchester City).

Rayan returned to Vasco full of confidence and broke another one of the club's 21st-century records after being handed his first start in a league clash with Internacional in June, this time for youngest goal-scorer. Vasco lost the game 2-1, but Rayan bagged most of the headlines with his close-range finish, which also made him the fourth-youngest scorer ever in the Brasilerao, behind current Real Madrid starlet Endrick and former Brazil national team duo Jo and Anderson, who enjoyed spells at Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively.

That was the only goal Rayan scored in the 2023 campaign from six Serie A appearances, but he featured in 24 games the following season as he became a regular off the bench. His standout moment came in a clash against Criciuma, in which he produced a fine first-time strike to put Vasco 2-1 up before the break, only for the home side to snatch a point right at the death.

Rayan also played a key role in Vasco's run to the semi-finals of the Copa do Brazil, before getting himself sent off in the first leg of their tie against Atletico Mineiro. Vasco eventually lost that game 2-1 and could only get a draw in the second leg, but no one pointed the finger at blame at Rayan and it didn't detract from what was otherwise another impressive year for the youngster as he learned from the experience to reach a far higher level.

How it's going

Rayan was called up to Brazil's squad for the U20 Sudamericano in January, and helped his country win the title for the 13th time, scoring two goals, including a vital effort in their 1-1 draw with Argentina in the second phase of the competition. Vasco appointed a new manager while Rayan was away in the form of Fabio Carille, who decided the youngster was ready for a more prominent role.

Carille's faith was rewarded as Rayan netted two goals in two games in the opening rounds of the Copa do Brasil, and he also featured in five of Vasco's first six Serie A matches. Unfortunately, the club only picked up seven points from a possible 18 and Carille was ruthlessly dismissed. Vasco moved swiftly to bring in ex-Brazil boss Fernando Diniz as Carille's successor, and he also took an immediate shine to Rayan.

The teenager has gradually become one of the leading men in Vasco's starting XI under the guidance of Diniz, taking his goal tally to 15 from 45 appearances in all competitions while forming a strong relationship with veteran playmaker Coutinho, who re-joined his boyhood club last summer. One of those came via the penalty spot in a historic 6-0 thumping of Neymar's Santos, while he netted a brilliant double in Vasco's thrilling 4-3 home win over EC Vitoria, which lifted Diniz's side to 11th in the table and eight points clear of the drop zone.

Barring a major collapse, Vasco's top-flight status will be preserved for another year, and Rayan is already being painted as a hero by supporters, but refreshingly, he prefers to give the credit to Diniz. When quizzed on a potential senior Brazil call-up last month, Rayan told reporters: "God willing, I'll be there one day. Since Diniz arrived, I've always said he's been a great father figure, he's been a great help, he talks to me every day."

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Getty Images SportBiggest strengths

Diniz hasn't been shy about heaping praise on Rayan in public either. "He's an extremely unique player, one of the few complete forwards in Brazilian football," the Vasco boss recently declared. "He's tall, fast, left-footed, has a good shot, and can now enter the box and score with his head. He recovers well and closes down well. He can play as a winger, a false nine, a No.9, or on the other wing."

In other words, Rayan is a versatile forward capable of hurting teams in a variety of different ways. He attacks the ball without fear and times his runs in behind to perfection, with Vasco able to readily exploit his electrifying pace on the counter.

Rayan boasts an incredibly strong frame for such a young player that allows him to shake off defenders with ease, and he is a surprisingly nimble dribbler who can excel in even the tightest areas of the pitch. As Diniz touched on, he's also a constant aerial threat, which is no doubt one of the reasons he's attracting so much interest from the Premier League amid a boom in set-piece-driven game plans.

Newcastle United are reportedly at risk of losing a player who Eddie Howe is “really pleased” with when the January transfer window arrives.

David Hopkinson excited about Newcastle role

The Magpies have made a significant appointment high up at the club, with David Hopkinson confirmed as the new CEO at St James’ Park.

Speaking about his important role, the boyhood Newcastle supporter admitted he couldn’t wait to get started, praising the magnitude of the club in the process.

“This is a magical place. We’re at St. James’ Park, we’re on the pitch where legends have played. We’ve got the stands here that have been filled with fans who are mad about this team, so there’s such an incredible starting place.

“We’re starting from such a high place – but we’ve also got this moment of potential transformation as we get ready to play on the biggest stages imaginable, higher ambitions than maybe we have had at different points in the club’s history.”Being part of this moment is where I think there’s opportunity for even more magic.”

Away from Hopkinson’s appointment, Newcastle-related transfer rumours continue to emerge.

This is even after the summer window deadline last Monday, with an exit claim now coming to light regarding one of Howe’s brightest young talents.

Newcastle ace wanted by European club in January

According to a new update from Bild [via Sport Witness], Eintracht Frankfurt could revisit their interest in Newcastle attacker Will Osula in January.

A move for the 22-year-old failed to materialise in the summer, but doesn’t appear to be deterring the Bundesliga outfit, who had wanted a £4.3m loan fee with a £17.3m obligation to buy him permanently.

Losing Osula in January would be a shame, considering the Dane is a talented young player who Howe spoke positively about after his goalscoring cameo in the unfortunate 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool last month.

“Really pleased. It’s a great finish. I thought he did well when he came on – he looked lively, strong and quick. It could have been a big moment for us – a point here would have been incredible from the players – but he can be very pleased with himself.”

That said, Newcastle have now brought in both Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, which could limit Osula’s minutes going forward.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Sep 5, 2025

Granted, the Magpies are playing in four different competitions this season, so opportunities could still come his way, but if he sees his chances of featuring more regularly at Frankfurt, he may have a big decision to make when January arrives.