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The European giants, led by a trio of Ballon d'Or hopefuls, are among the top contenders to take home the trophy this summer

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Real Madrid are favorties to win pretty much every competition they enter. Or, at least, that's the expectation. Carlo Ancelotti's side have enjoyed immense success both domestically and in Europe in recent years. And a Club World Cup is expected to be no different. They would seem to have one of the stronger squads in contention, and with the buzzing attacking trio of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, can beat anyone on their day.

Perhaps the only thing to hold them back is a beleaguered defense. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao – two vital starters – won't be fit by the time the competition rolls around in June, having sustained severe knee injuries. That might not bode well in the big games.

Still, this is Madrid. And Madrid tend to find a way to win – summer, fall, winter or spring.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT.

Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field. First up is Real Madrid, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the Spanish giants ahead this summer's tournament.

GettyThe Basics

DOMESTIC LEAGUE: La Liga

CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: Four Club World Cup wins, three intercontinental cup wins

GROUP: H (Real Madrid, Al Hilal, CF Pachuca, FC Salzburg)

OPENING MATCH:  Al Hilal – June 18, 3 pm. ET, Miami

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesHow they got here

Madrid could have qualified in multiple ways due to both league and European success. But the reason listed by FIFA is the fact that they have won at least one of the last three Champions League titles (of course, they have won two.)

Getty Images SportThe player to watch

Pick one! Madrid are stacked across the forward line, and have some of the best midfielders in world football in their ranks. The guy who makes it all tick, though, is Jude Bellingham.

England's star midfielder does it all in the center of the park for Los Blancos. His first Spanish campaign, last year, saw him establish himself as a dominant goalscorer. This year, playing in a deeper role, he has been similarly impactful – albeit in a different way.

Now, he has a master creator, and will likely set a career high in assists should Mbappe and Vinicius continue to find the net. A word, too, for his defensive activity and energy. Turns out that he's talented enough to go from world-class striker to world-class No. 8 pretty easily.

Madrid's most clinical player? Not really. But they're not the same without him.

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Getty ImagesRealistic expectation

Is it ever realistic to expect a team to win it all? Well, welcome to Madrid, where the concept of "fair" goes out the window when it comes to winning.

Los Blancos simply have to win every competition they enter – such is the pedigree of the club. It helps, though, that Madrid have the strongest squad in the tournament – especially given Liverpool's absence. Another trophy could be in the cards.

Three quicks and two spinners in prospect, but stiff challenge could await debutant at No.7

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2022Pakistan are seriously considering giving a Test debut to Mohammad Wasim Jr at Rawalpindi, potentially as part of a five-man bowling attack.The home side’s preparations for the first Test of the historic series against Australia – the tourists’ first in the country since 1998-99 – have been hit badly by the enforced withdrawals of Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali through injury.The pair were central to Pakistan’s Test side last year, Hasan as a frontline pacer (who was third-highest Test wicket-taker of the year) and Faheem as the allrounder Pakistan have needed for years.Their absence, along with that of Haris Rauf, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, means Pakistan have been forced to call up Iftikhar Ahmed and Wasim Jr to the squad, as well as Naseem Shah who was in the reserves.And now, just over a day out from the Test, the suggestion in the Pakistan camp seems to be that they might play three fast bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem and Wasim Jr – as well as both Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan as the spinners.The problem for Pakistan is that Faheem’s absence in particular upsets their Test balance, depriving them of a genuine two-in-one player. At No.7 he has often stalled collapses or built on middle-order work – only seven times in 19 innings has he failed to make at least 20 – while as a fifth bowler he has provided respite to the leaders of Pakistan’s attack, keeping a tight rein on run-rates and picking up crucial wickets: in 13 out of 23 innings, he has picked up at least one wicket and his overall economy is 2.9.Iftikhar’s initial call-up suggested Pakistan might lean on his off-spin as a part-time option, while bolstering the batting with him at No.7 – he has a first-class average of 40.34.However, the nature of the Rawalpindi pitch is probably playing into the three-quicks option. Though it has tended to favour seam bowling, the pitch for this Test, until Wednesday at least, looked fairly dry with little grass. Nathan Lyon likened it to the kind of UAE surface on which Australia have played four Tests against Pakistan in recent years – runs over the initial period, before some spin and reverse comes into play.That – as well as Australia’s susceptibility to spin in the subcontinent – explains why Pakistan want to play both Nauman and Sajid. The trade-off then is whether they choose to beef up their batting – with Iftikhar – or their pace attack. At the moment they appear to be leaning towards the latter.Related

Pakistan's absences give Australia chance to start strongly

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Haris Rauf ruled out of first Test against Australia after testing positive for Covid-19

Pakistan vs Australia key match-ups: Babar vs Hazlewood, short ball vs Smith, Shaheen Shah Afridi vs everyone

Whatever the conditions Wasim Jr’s inexperience in longer-format cricket represents somewhat of a risk. He has only played seven first-class matches to date, though his performances in those Quaid-e-Azam trophy games have been promising. It also means that all three fast bowlers are genuinely quick, which, given what the surface looks like, might be important.And yet, though Wasim Jr is a promising hitter in T20 cricket, batting at No. 7 in a Test – where he will likely play if he debuts – against one of the world’s best bowling attacks will be an examination unlike any he has faced.In the absence of Abid Ali, Pakistan will already be trying a new opening combination, with either Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq partnering Abdullah Shafique, who himself has only played two Tests. That puts a burden on a middle order made up of an ageing Azhar Ali, Babar Azam without a Test century in two years and 18 innings (averaging 38), and the engine room of Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Liverpool are firing on all cylinders under Arne Slot this season and are regarded across the continent as Europe’s most in-form outfit.

Top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League, facing Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, things are going well for the Anfield side.

There’s a need to strengthen and shape the squad to a standard that would see it flourish for many years, however. While contract-related concerns form the most pressing issue that FSG and Richard Hughes need to sort out, they should learn from their past mistakes and approach other areas of the field more prudently.

It looks like left-back might be the first port of call.

Liverpool considering new left-back

Liverpool have two high-class left-backs in Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson, but the first has long been regarded as Anfield’s second choice in the position and the latter doesn’t quite have the same air about him as he once did.

As such, there might be something in rumours linking Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, with Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg revealing that the Merseysiders could be set to tussle with Manchester United for the Bournemouth man.

Kerkez, 21, is still in the fledgling phase of his professional career but has shown great promise on English soil, with properties that align with the requirements for a place in a high-performing outfit like Liverpool.

It’s understood that the Cherries would only consider bids over £40m, but in truth, it might be a sum some way higher to pull Kerkez from the Vitality Stadium, where he is contracted until

Why Milos Kerkez would be an upgrade on Andy Robertson

Given Man United’s fierce need for quality on the left flank, you’d think that FSG would need to start making moves with haste, lest their most noxious rivals claim a wonderful up-and-comer for themselves.

He wouldn’t come cheap, but Liverpool would be wise to swoop in and sign such a talent when he’s only just finding his feet in the Premier League.

The scope for growth is wide; just take a look at Dominik Szoboszlai’s Hungary teammate’s top-flight metrics this term when compared to Robertson’s in 2016/17 for Hull City, the year before he joined Liverpool in a shrewd £10m deal.

Matches (starts)

12 (12)

33 (31)

11 (10)

Goals

0

1

0

Assists

2

2

0

Touches*

51.1

59.1

69.5

Pass completion

84%

76%

88%

Key passes*

1.0

0.6

1.5

Ball recoveries*

4.3

n/a

4.0

Dribbles*

0.5 (86%)

0.8 (62%)

0.2 (40%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

3.3

1.6

Ground duels (won)*

3.0 (65%)

2.7 (54%)

1.5 (50%)

As you can see from the detailed table above, Kerkez is already operating at quite the impressive level, having produced metrics this season that run closer to Robertson in his present iteration than that of his Tigers days, when he was but a prospect himself.

So crunchingly accurate in the duel and equally as creditable with his pass completion, Kerkez has something special about him for sure. As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 6% of Premier League full-backs this term for progressive carries (3.13) per 90, which bears testament to his youthful athleticism.

Though Kerkez is young and inexperienced at the highest level, given that he’s showcasing qualities that draw close – or surpass – Robertson’s under Slot this season, you can only surmise that he would stand a fantastic chance of cementing himself as a regular starter at Liverpool.

Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have furthered their establishment as a top-flight team and have moved away from the confines of pragmatic football and stepped toward a stylish ball-playing system. Kerkez has been crucial in achieving this.

Demonstrably flexible in his tactical implementation, Kerkez only completed 77% of his Premier League passes last year, averaging 0.6 key passes per game and won 53% of his duels. These are patent signs of growth and a switch to a team like Liverpool could see him bloom.

The managerial shift has borne dividends for the Vitality side, with Premier League victories already claimed this season over Arsenal and Manchester City.

Hailed for his “unique skill set” by former teammate Mat Ryan in the past, Kerkez has got the world at his feet and would be a credit to Liverpool’s high-flying team.

Whether Robertson would stay or go with Tsimikas in the team is another question entirely, but perhaps it would do the Hungarian good to slowly shift his way into the Reds’ way of life, jockeying for prominence with one (or even both) of the aforementioned left-backs.

Robertson whipped in the cross for Cody Gakpo’s goal to seal the deal against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, but the Scotsman is not quite producing the awe-inspiring and tireless displays that Liverpool fans have been treated to over the past eight years.

It might be time for change.

As well as Nunez: Slot must now boldly drop 8/10 Liverpool star vs Man City

Liverpool defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2024

Left-arm quick Qazi Onik, Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam among the best bowlers in the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2022Key takeawaysPrime Bank Cricket Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were quick off the blocks in the 2021-22 Dhaka Premier League. Both sides are on top of the table, with three wins each from as many matches.Defending champions Abahani Limited surprisingly went down to newcomers Rupganj Tigers in their first match, but then bounced back with a big win over City Club. Mohammedan Sporting Club, who put together the strongest side on paper, are third on the table with four points.Best battersNaeem Islam is leading run-getter with 278 runs in three games for Legends of Rupganj but Anamul Haque’s 240 runs have been more decisive for Prime Bank.Among the nine hundreds in the league so far, Shamim Hossain’s 108* off 66 balls against City Club at the BKSP-3 ground has been the most talked about innings. Shamim, who was dropped from the Bangladesh T20I squad recently, is fighting to get back his place in the senior side.Shinepukur Cricket Club’s Sikandar Raza has so far stood out among the overseas contingent, with his 129 runs in three games. Gazi Group Cricketers’ Gurinder Singh has scored a match-winning fifty while Mohammad Hafeez has scored only 32 runs in three innings for Mohammedan.Best bowlersLeft-arm quick Qazi Onik took 6 for 30 against City Club, his second six-wicket haul in the DPL. Against Legends of Rupganj, he took 3 for 36, taking his tally to nine wickets in three matches. Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam, too, has nine wickets in three matches.Raza is also the leading wicket-taker among the foreign players with five strikes, while Ashok Menaria and Hafeez have four each.Best matchZakir Hasan’s 117 powered newcomers Rupganj Tigers to an opening-day win over the defending champions Abahani. It was an unlikely result, but having said that Rupganj Tigers have built a solid team. Their takedown of the high-flying Abahani has been the highlight of the DPL so far.Points to ponderWhile Prime Bank and Sheikh Jamal top the table, City Club and Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity languish at the bottom with three losses in as many games. Rupganj Tigers have been able to build on their stunning victory over Abahani.Players to watchThese are early days in the tournament but Shahadat Hossain has impressed with his match-winning century for Prime Bank against Legends of Rupganj.

The Argentina international has scored seven times in this season's tournament – and his conversion rate is ridiculous

The first leg of this year's Champions League Madrid derby didn't disappoint. All three goals at Santiago Bernabeu last Wednesday were of the highest quality.

Rodrygo's rocket just four minutes into a compelling contest came after the Brazilian had latched onto a sublime ball in behind Javi Galan from the fantastic Fede Valverde, while Brahim Diaz did wonderfully well to find some space for himself in a crowded penalty area before whipping home a second-half winner for Real.

It was the goal in between, though, that really took the breath away. There appeared to be little danger when Julian Alvarez picked up possession wide on the left-hand side of the Madrid area, particularly as Eduardo Camavinga was close enough to snap at the Argentine's heels. However, Alvarez managed to power his way past the Frenchman before somehow finding the back of the net with a curling effort from just inside the box that clattered the post on its way in.

It was Alvarez's only shot of the game and had an expected goals figure of just 0.3 – yet the fact that it ended up beating Thibaut Courtois, one of the world's greatest goalkeepers, wasn't that surprising. As Marcos Llorente told , "In games like these, the great players appear." And Alvarez has been proving himself a truly great player over the past few months.

The World Cup winner forced to play a supporting role to Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium is now shining on the club game's grandest stage with Atletico Madrid. One could easily argue, in fact, that there is no more efficient centre-forward in this season's Champions League…

Getty Images Sport'New challenge'

Pep Guardiola stated last August that he hadn't expected Alvarez to leave Manchester City, which was a little strange. It's not as if Alvarez had hidden his frustration at being regularly rotated – despite being one of his team's most productive attackers – and he was particularly upset by being left on the bench for the duration of the Champions League final win over Inter.

It was a perceived snub that greatly influenced his desire to seek a "new challenge" away from the Etihad, and Guardiola even admitted after Alvarez's exit that the forward "had conversations a long time ago with other clubs and his agent".

However, maybe Guardiola was taken aback by his August departure simply because he didn't really believe that any club would be willing to meet City's ample asking price.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBargain buy?

At a time when Europe's elite were expressing zero interest in even stumping up sufficient cash to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli for a knockdown fee, it was undeniably something of a shock to see Atletico agree to pay €95 million (£82m/$104m) for Alvarez.

Plenty of people thought that the transfer represented a remarkable bit of business by City – and there was some truth to that, as we're talking about a player they'd signed from River Plate for just £14m ($18m). However, the other side of the coin was that Atletico were signing a striker who still clearly had his best years ahead of him despite already having won every major honour in the game.

It's rare that such a talent becomes available – even for an exorbitant fee – and if Newcastle's much-coveted No.9 Alexander Isak does end up moving for a nine-figure fee this summer, Alvarez, with his CV, high ceiling and relatively clean injury record, could end up looking like a bargain buy in years to come.

Getty Images SportBorn to represent the Rojiblancos

We can certainly say that while City banked a significant sum of money from selling Alvarez, his departure has cost them dearly from a sporting perspective.

Guardiola name-checked Oscar Bobb, Phil Foden, James McAtee, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva while addressing City's ability to account for the for loss of Alvarez's goals and versatility but, for one reason or another, not one of those players has come remotely close to filling the void. As a result, City were forced into the January transfer market to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m ($76m) – a staggering fee for a forward signed on a free transfer just two years ago and with nothing like the proven track record of Alvarez at the very highest level.

However, if Guardiola and City cannot escape criticism for failing to adequately – and immediately – replace Alvarez, Diego Simeone and Atletico deserve the utmost credit for putting their money where their mouth was to sign the Argentina international.

The feeling at the Metropolitano had long been that Alvarez, as a versatile, industrious and technically-gifted attacker, was born to represent the Rojiblancos and, according to reports, their charm offensive started long before he arrived in Madrid. Alvarez even admitted that Atleti's Argentina contingent (Rodrigo De Paul, Nahuel Molina and Simeone's son Giuliano) all sang the club's praises during their respective time together at last summer's Copa America and Olympic Games, while Antoine Griezmann was also in constant contact once a move became a real possibility.

Atleti still had to commit a colossal amount of money to make it happen; luckily, that investment is now paying off after a worryingly sluggish start.

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Getty Images SportStrong support from Simeone

Alvarez failed to score in his first four league outings for Atleti, prompting criticism from certain quarters, but Simeone was never in any doubt that his star summer signing would come good.

"Julian is extraordinary," he said last September, while Alvarez was still goal-less. "He will help us a lot. Remember, Griezmann also took a few months to get off the mark."

The Frenchman's support was also key. Griezmann didn't just play his part in convincing Alvarez to move to Madrid, he also helped him settle, on and off the field, with the pair forming a wonderfully complementary partnership in attack. Atleti's dynamic duo have already been directly involved in 50 goals between them this season, and their understanding is one of the main reasons why Atleti are not only presently battling it out with Real for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals, but also locked in a three-way fight at the top of La Liga with their city rivals and Barcelona.

In an era of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp, among others, there is an argument to be made that the superstars are no longer on the pitch – they are in the dugout instead.

These are figures who relish the responsibility of leading an elite club to glory, while taking on the pressure and scrutiny that comes with such a status.

Unsurprisingly, that intense glare from fans and pundits alike can often weigh heavily, with every manager guilty of the odd outburst or two in the technical area. The desire and downright desperation to win can make even the best go a little crazy at times.

As such, we have taken a look back at some of the biggest manager meltdowns that have occurred on the touchline over the years…

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ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025 1 Louis van Gaal's theatrics Man Utd v Arsenal, February 2016

Manchester United certainly weren’t dull under the leadership of Louis van Gaal, that’s for sure.

The Dutchman spent two years at Old Trafford, leading the club to the FA Cup in 2016, yet that was as good as it got for the manager. Premier League finishes of fourth and fifth were not enough to keep him in a job.

Though perhaps his funniest and well-remembered moment was his dive on the touchline during a game against Arsenal in 2016. Annoyed that Alexis Sanchez dived on the field, Van Gaal threw himself to the ground in front of fourth official Mike Dean to make his feelings rather clear.

“I was emotional. It happens not too much. Normally I am sitting on my bench and I have a lot of criticism because I am sitting on my bench. I have apologised to the referee and the linesman. I have to control my emotions,” said the manager afterwards.

2 Jürgen Klopp loses the plot Napoli v Borussia Dortmund, September 2013

Referees and officials eventually got used to Jürgen Klopp’s antics at Liverpool, but one of his most intense moments was during his spell at Borussia Dortmund.

The German side were taking on Napoli in the Champions League when Klopp got so incensed after a decision that the fourth official had to physically back up in order to avoid making contact with the German.

Shortly after, the Premier League became witness to some of Klopp’s finest meltdowns, but this one for Dortmund was arguably the manager at his angriest.

3 Pep Guardiola fumes as City denied penalties Liverpool v Man City, November 2019

Before he was showing off six Premier League titles, Guardiola had previously shown his frustration in front of an Anfield crowd after becoming frustrated by two penalty appeals waved away by referee Michael Oliver.

When a cross struck Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm in the Liverpool penalty area, the Spaniard lost the plot as he brandished two fingers in the air, signifying how many penalties his side should have gotten.

It didn’t end there, however. Once the game was over and Man City failed to get a positive result, Guardiola marched up the pitch in a foul mood, before repeating “Thank you so much” as he shook Michael Oliver’s hand rather firmly.

Every Premier League team's worst referee

Which referees are full of bad omens and shocking statistics? FFC breaks down each PL club’s least-wanted referee.

1 ByStephan Georgiou Oct 2, 2024 4 Nigel Pearson grabs James McArthur Leicester v Crystal Palace, February 2015

During Leicester City’s defeat to Crystal Palace under the leadership of Nigel Pearson, the manager reacted badly to a scuffle on the pitch.

James McArthur and Marc Albrighton had been involved in a fracas which saw the Palace star rolling at Pearson’s feet.

Instead of helping him up, Pearson grabbed the Scot by the throat, believing it to be his fault. He later dismissed the incident by calling it “very light-hearted”.

5 Arsène Wenger sent to the stands Man Utd v Arsenal, August 2009

Arsène Wenger ruled the roost at Arsenal for nearly two decades. While he may have led the Gunners to three league titles and seven FA Cups, some of his best moments have come on the touchline.

One of the most iconic moments in Premier League history came as Wenger was sent off at Old Trafford in 2009 after kicking out at a water bottle following a late disallowed goal.

However, he couldn’t find a seat in the stands and proceeded to stand on a platform in front of the United fans, who took great delight in his suffering by continuing to wind him up.

Mike Dean asked him to move, to which Wenger stretched out his hands as if to say “where will I go?”, thus creating one of the most memorable pictures of the Premier League era.

6 José Mourinho's touchline outburst Chelsea v Swansea, August 2015

José Mourinho is no stranger to causing controversy, on or off the field. During his second spell in charge of the Blues, he led them to the Premier League title in 2015. Unfortunately, things began to unravel at the start of the 2015/16 campaign.

During their opening-day 2-2 draw against Swansea City, team doctor Eva Carneiro ran onto the pitch with a physio to treat an injured player. Mourinho lost his cool on the sidelines.

He reacted angrily as treatment to Eden Hazard meant the club would be down to nine men, calling the duo “impulsive and naive” after they tried helping the player.

7 Alan Pardew's headbutt Hull v Newcastle, March 2014

Alan Pardew was involved in one of the most incredible clashes in the Premier League as he was sent off for headbutting Hull City’s David Meyler.

Meyler pushed the Newcastle United manager over when trying to get the ball after it went out of play, before Pardew squared up to him and headbutted the Tigers midfielder in the process.

“I apologise to everyone, I shouldn’t have got involved. I didn’t mean no damage to the guy but I moved my head forward and I shouldn’t have done that,” Pardew said following the incident, but it couldn’t take away from how irresponsible he was at that moment in time.

Glasgow Rangers enjoyed a great night at Ibrox on Thursday by holding Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to a draw in the Europa League.

It was Ange Postecoglou’s first return to Glasgow since moving on from Celtic, who he won two Scottish Premiership titles with, in the summer of 2023.

Rangers ended the match with more shots, more ‘big chances’ created, and more xG but failed to come away with all three points, despite an impressive performance.

The Light Blues are now nine matches unbeaten in all competitions and have hit form at a good time, ahead of the League Cup final clash with Celtic on Sunday at Hampden Park.

However, a poor opening few months of the season has left the Scottish giants 11 points adrift of their Glasgow rivals in the race to win the title, with three losses in the division so far.

Celtic have won 14 of their 15 Premiership matches after they were able to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, having banked a hefty amount of cash through the sale of Matt O’Riley.

How much Celtic sold Matt O'Riley for

Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion swooped in to sign the Denmark international for a reported Scottish record transfer fee of more than £25m, breaking the record set by Jota’s £25m switch to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023.

This means that Celtic had huge sales in back-to-back summer windows to fund their own incoming business to make their squad stronger across the board, despite losing a couple of key performers.

O’Riley attracted significant interest in his services because of his sensational form in the Premiership for the Hoops during the 2023/24 campaign, with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals helping him to standout in the division.

Appearances

38

37

Goals

3

18

Assists

12

13

Big chances created

16

14

Key passes per game

2.2

2.5

As you can see in the table above, the English-born magician had an impressive, but not unbelievable, first full season at Parkhead before emerging as their star man last season.

He dominated games and was a match-winner for Celtic on a regular basis, because of his ability to score and create goals, and that helped them to earn more than £25m from his sale.

That allowed the Hoops to sign Auston Trusty for £6m, Adam Idah for £9.5m, and Arne Engels for a club-record £11m, among several other deals.

Meanwhile, per Transfermarkt, Rangers did not sign a player for more than €5m (£4.1m) after their biggest summer sale was Sam Lammers’ £4m move to FC Twente.

Their lack of big money sales meant that they could not spend the kind of money that Celtic were able to, as Nils Koppen had to invest in younger, cheaper, talent, with the hope that they will develop into high-value assets – like O’Riley.

Rangers' promising summer signings

The Belgian recruitment chief, who is now the club’s technical director, brought in eight players to Ibrox on permanent deals, along with three loans, and five of those eight arrivals are aged 22 or under.

Connor Barron was snapped up from Aberdeen after his contract with the Scottish side expired at the end of last season and the 21-year-old ace has enjoyed a strong start to life in Glasgow.

He has made 26 appearances in all competitions and has started 13 of the club’s 15 matches in the Premiership, which shows that Philippe Clement already trusts the Scotland U21 international.

Another impressive young recruit from Koppen’s work in the summer is Brazilian left-back Jefte, who has emerged as a first-choice option for Rangers at the age of 20.

The promising full-back, who turns 21 later this month, has started 17 matches across the Premiership and the Europa League, and caught the eye with his solid form.

Appearances

13

Assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.7

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

Duel success rate

51%

Dribbles completed per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, Jefte has offered a strong defensive presence at the back, with 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game without being dribbled past regularly.

However, summer recruit Hamza Igamane is the player who Clement could hit the jackpot with as his answer to Matt O’Riley, given his impressive form of late.

Why Hamza Igamane could be Clement's Matt O'Riley

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the versatile forward from Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the summer and his market valuation on Transfermarkt at the time of his move was just €1m (£829k).

After around five months at Ibrox, that valuation has already shot up to €2.5m (£2m) to reflect his superb form in recent weeks for Clement’s side.

The 22-year-old star, who scored against Spurs on Thursday night, has produced six goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for Rangers so far this season.

Five of those goals and his one assist came in his last five appearances for the club, as he struggled in his first 11 matches because the youngster needed time to adapt after leaving Morocco for the first time in his career.

Appearances

4

Starts

2

Goals

4

Key passes

5

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

5

As you can see in the table above, Igamane has been particularly impressive in the Europa League for Rangers with a return of five goal contributions in two starts in the competition.

He has proven himself on the European stage and his form of late suggests that the forward, who can play on the left or through the middle, is starting to thrive domestically as well.

Igamane, who was dubbed an “exciting young talent” by Koppen, is a dynamic attacker who can hold off defenders, dribble past opponets, create chances, and score goals, as illustrated by his form in the Europa League, and his market value is soaring as a result of his performances.

Diomande 2.0: Rangers chasing £2.5m signing who'd thrive with Igamane

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing the exciting playmaker in January.

ByDan Emery Dec 11, 2024

If the 22-year-old whiz can continue to shine and develop with more experience under his belt then he could emerge as a high-value asset for Rangers who they later sell on for big money to fund their own summer spending spree, akin to the one Celtic had after selling O’Riley.

His life was remembered and celebrated at the MCG

AAP30-Mar-2022One of Shane Warne’s former foes Nasser Hussain has described the legendary legspinner as the greatest cricketer who ever lived.Former Australian team-mates and rivals paid tribute to Warne at the MCG in a star-studded state memorial service on Wednesday.Ex-England captain Hussain, who Warne tormented during his 145-Test career, was blown away by his feats on the field.Warne finished his career in 2007 with 708 Test wickets and was named as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century alongside Don Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Jack Hobbs and Viv Richards.”The greatest cricketer who has ever played the game,” Hussain told Fox Sports before the service began. “Unbelievable cricketer and bloke.”In a panel discussion in the middle of the MCG with former Australian stars Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Merv Hughes, and West Indies legend Brian Lara, Hussain told a story about Warne getting him out in a tri-series final in 1999.”I sledged him for some apparent reason and I’ve said something ‘like enjoy your last game as captain’,” Hussain said during the service. I’ll be surprised if you haven’t got the footage of me running down the pitch, very next delivery after that slog sweep and getting stumped.”It was a privilege to be on a cricket field with you – you were the greatest bowler I ever saw.”Border believed Warne’s arrival on the international scene helped prolong his own career.”It revitalised my captaincy towards the end of my time,” he said. “I was lucky to have two years with Shane and I just thank him for that.”Lara called Warne the “greatest Australian that I know”.Hughes recounted a story of Warne memorably honouring a promise for a kindergarten auction and praised his generosity.”A very loyal friend, and as good as he was in the cricket field, he was five times better off it. Very loyal, and if he said he was going to do something, he would deliver.”Brett Lee, who played with Warne during a golden era for Australia, said there would never be anyone like him.The greatest Australian cricketers of the last 40 years, including Glenn McGrath and Michael Clarke, were among those in the crowd.Current Australian stars watched the service from home and abroad with the white-ball squad in Pakistan for ODIs and a Twenty20.But Warne’s sporting interests were not just confined to cricket, with AFL club St Kilda one of his great passions. Retired Saints champion Nick Riewoldt was one of Warne’s all-time favourite AFL players.Riewoldt could not believe one of Australia’s greatest sportspeople worshipped him. “He was just a massive fan and enormous mentor to all St Kilda people.”A trumpeter played St Kilda’s theme song, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ near the conclusion of the service.A number of former AFL stars who did not even play for St Kilda, including Gary Ablett Jnr and Brendan Fevola, were in the audience.The Great Southern Stand at the MCG was formally unveiled as the Shane Warne Stand by his children – Brooke, Summer and Jackson – to close an epic ceremony.

Abdukodir Khusanov has been gifted an expensive new car after making a hero's return to Uzbekistan following his move to Manchester City.

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Man City star has returned to UzbekistanReceives hero's welcome by fansGifted car worth £135,000Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Khusanov made history in January when he became the first player from Uzbekistan to play in the Premier League after sealing a switch to Manchester City in a deal worth €40 million (£34m/$41m). The defender has jetted back to his homeland during the international break and been given a hero's welcome by supporters. Khusanov also appears to have been gifted a brand new Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which is worth around £135,000.

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Khusanov, who only turned 21 in in February, looked fairly overwhelmed by his new wheels but will have to get used to being in the spotlight after signing for Pep Guardiola's side and effectively becoming his country's most successful footballer in the process.

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Khusanov will be in action for his country over the international break. Uzbekistan take on Kyrgyzstan and Iran in World Cup qualifiers in March.

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After leading his national team in World Cup qualifying, Khusanov will return to Manchester City in time for an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Bournemouth on March 30.

Juventus, in need of cash, may sell right-back Andrea Cambiaso, with Liverpool eyeing him as a potential successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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Cambiaso on Liverpool's transfer radarReds eye him to succeed Alexander-ArnoldBayern Munich and Man City also in the raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from (h/t Football Italia), Liverpool are planning to make a summer move for Juventus right-back Cambiaso as a potential successor to Alexander-Arnold, who is closing in on an agreement to sign for Real Madrid as a free agent.

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Scoops from transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic's David Ornstein earlier this week confirmed the news that Real Madrid were in advanced talks to wrap up the signing of Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

With Alexander-Arnold seemingly having one foot out of Anfield and at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Reds have begun working behind the scenes to sign a talented right-back and have set their sights on Juventus' Cambiaso per reports from Italy. Signing him, however, would not be easy as Manchester City and Bayern Munich have also shown keen interest in signing the 25-year-old Italian.

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Juventus must raise €30 million by the end of the financial year to cover the costs of Thiago Motta’s sacking and meet their business targets. Reports suggest Cambiaso could be the player sold by June 30 to help balance the books, with the Bianconeri aiming to fetch a €60m fee from the Italy international's sale.

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Having already been eliminated from the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle in February, Liverpool's season fell apart even further earlier this month as they were ousted from the Champions League in the last-16 by PSG, followed by a Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United in the same week.

Arne Slot's men remain the favourites to clinch their only second league title in the Premier League era this season, though, as they hold a healthy 12-point lead atop the league table. Their next game following the conclusion of the international break is a Merseyside derby against Everton next Wednesday, April 2.