Cricket Scotland’s (CS) race row is threatening to erupt again after the board was accused of being elusive and cherry-picking best outcomes in dealing with the aftermath of investigations into allegations of racism and racist behaviour.Majid Haq, the former cricketer and central figure in the row, his lawyer, and Running Out Racism, an anti-racism advocacy group that has been involved through the process, made the accusations after the emergence of a report which said that Haq had suffered racial discrimination and had been victimised for going public with allegations. Cricket Scotland has responded strongly to claims that it has not adopted an anti-racist stance in the aftermath, or that it failed to address issues raised by those investigations.Last year, Cricket Scotland had seemingly closed the chapter on the investigations sparked by a damning report in 2022 which found the board to be institutionally racist. That report had been set in motion by allegations of victimisation and racism by Haq and another former player, Qasim Sheikh.The report led to over 50 cases being investigated by an independent team comprising two legal firms and a race equality charity. Ultimately none of the cases resulted in sanctions against those accused, although the investigators made clear at the time that findings of guilt or innocence were not within the remit of their work. That no disciplinary action was taken in the cases, they said, illustrated the difficulties involved in such investigations, such as a lack of governance and process, the historic nature of some complaints, or incidents that were outside Cricket Scotland’s jurisdiction.Instead, they made 245 recommendations, or learnings, which Cricket Scotland has committed to – and is in the process of – implementing.Related

• How cricket in Scotland has stumbled from a racism scandal to the brink of meltdown

• Cricket Scotland chief exec: 'I'm determined to find a way through this for everyone'

• John Blain threatens legal action as Cricket Scotland race row descends into acrimony

• Scotland racism investigators deny 'exonerations' were within their remit

• Cricket Scotland revealed to be institutionally racist in damning independent report

But it has now emerged that the two legal firms had compiled reports based on their joint investigations which, according to Running Out Racism, includes “contradictory views between members of the investigation team”. The reports centre on the period when Haq was sent home from the 2015 World Cup for tweeting “Always tougher when in a minority #race #colour” after being dropped for a game. He never played another game for Scotland, despite being their leading wicket-takerAccording to Haq’s lawyer Aamer Anwar, one report makes it clear that Haq “was discriminated against and victimised for raising complaints of racism, and that victimisation continues today.” The report finds prima facie evidence that the decision to send him home, as well as several outcomes as a result of that decision, had elements of racial bias and discrimination. The other report is believed to hold a different opinion.The reports were meant only for internal consumption within the board and had not been shared in full with Haq, despite requests. Running Out Racism said they had been provided a full copy by an “anonymous source” and said it was clear why Cricket Scotland had been “so elusive in providing further details.””Whilst we accept that the reports themselves were prepared for Cricket Scotland, they were prepared independently, and Cricket Scotland have chosen to summarise the aspects they wish to share, and leave out the conclusions that they don’t like. These conclusions expose their lack of action when faced with clear evidence of issues.”Haq said the board had tried to hide the report’s conclusion from him. “[It] validates what I already knew – that I’ve been racially discriminated against and that I continue to be victimised as a result of speaking out. And yet Cricket Scotland have tried to hide that from me and brush me off with statements like ‘we could have handled your departure from the World Cup better’.”Cricket Scotland have hidden behind jurisdiction time & time again. Whilst I’m relieved to finally read my report and see the truth, I think everything should be disclosed & let the public decide who is culpable in all this. It’s clear that a lot of information has been swept under the carpet.”Cricket Scotland have stressed that the report was an opinion and one of multiple ones. They expressed their disappointment at the breach in confidentiality in it going outside the board.”We understand a small number of individuals continue to feel publicly aggrieved by the outcomes of the process,” the board said in a statement. “To suggest this means Cricket Scotland is not taking an anti-racist stance is simply wrong.”It is deeply disappointing that an investigative process which relied on the trust of individuals involved and a confidential report that followed is being utilised to further personal agendas.”The report is an opinion that was constructed around this matter, and not a declaration of fact. Other opinions as well as detailed legal analysis were provided for the Cricket Scotland Board to consider how it would act.”

He has spent the past year exhausting every option for a possible return but has taken the medical advice

Alex Malcolm08-Apr-2025

Will Pucovski has announced his retirement from cricket due to concussion saying it was a “humongous disappointment that is hard to deal with”.Pucovski, 27, played one Test in 2021 against India and had been touted as a long-term mainstay at the top of the order in the Australia Test team having dominated first-class cricket for Victoria from a young age.But Pucovski’s career has been cut short due to his long-term concussion issues. He had not played since March 2024 when he suffered a severe concussion after he was hit by Tasmania’s Riley Meredith in a Sheffield Shield game.Related

Bird flies back to Tasmania to continue Shield career

Decision on Pucovski's future delayed after extended concussion symptoms

Pucovski retires hurt after being struck by bouncer

An independent medical panel was convened to assess Pucovski’s future last year after the number of concussions that he had in his sporting career were estimated in the mid-teens dating back to his first head knock while playing Australian rules football as a teenager.That panel recommended Pucovski retire from the game although he took some time to make a decision while there has also been an negotiations with Cricket Australia on his contract, insurance and potential lost earnings which have yet to be concluded.Pucovski went on SEN radio in Melbourne on Tuesday to announce he would not play cricket again.”I wish I was coming in maybe under better circumstances,” Pucovski said. “I’m not going to be playing cricket again. It’s been a really difficult year to put it as simply as possible.”I’d need a few hours, I think, to take you through the whole journey…but the simple message is I won’t be playing cricket at any level again.”Will Pucovski made a half-century in his one and only Test•AFP via Getty Images

Pucovski said the decision was particularly hard given he felt he was back on track in the 2023-24 season, having played the most first-class games in a season that he ever had and having made a century in his second last match against New South Wales.”After that century in Sydney, I thought from a personal point of view things were starting to click for me,” he said. “I put a mountain of effort into getting things right off the field to be good on the field.”It had always been my dream to play for Australia, I found myself in that position in 2021. My ambition didn’t stop there. I wanted to be that guy that was a leader of the batting unit. I wanted to play 100 Tests.”Unfortunately, one Test is where it ends.”Pucovski detailed the difficulties he had last year following the latest concussion. He revealed the symptoms lasted longer than he had ever experienced before and it made for the toughest year of his life to-date.”In the couple of months post that [last concussion] I struggled to get anything done, walking around the house was a struggle,” he said. “My fiancée was annoyed because I didn’t contribute to chores. I was sleeping a lot.”From there it’s been a tough year, a lot of the symptoms didn’t go away which has led me to this decision. The first few months were horrendous, but things didn’t leave me.”I’ve only just turned 27, the space of concussion is very young. Speaking to a lot of specialists, this is a difficult space to deal with.”The technology isn’t quite there to understand what is what. When you have symptoms for over a year and I’ve had others for numerous years, it can be quite difficult to see how can I get out to play professional sport again when I’m struggling to live my life how I want to.”Despite the recommendation of the medical panel for Pucovski to retire last year he did not want to make anything official until he had exhausted all possible scenarios that might give him a chance to play again.”In my head, I didn’t want to make an official call until I was symptom-free,” Pucovski said. “When you’re struggling it’s hard to make a huge decision. The medical panel recommended I retire and that was really difficult to come to terms with. I felt like I was coming over the hill with a few things.”Technically you can’t make anyone retire from anything…it got made clear to me it was a strong recommendation but the final decision ultimately was up to me.”Since then I have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to find answers, trying to understand what the brain injury is that I have and why have I had all these problems.”There probably wasn’t a moment that I thought ‘This is the day’ but things haven’t changed. I wanted to hold on to the dream as long as I could but the flip side to that is you want to feel better and live your life normally.”I just don’t want to risk doing any more damage to my brain than I’ve already done.”Pucovski revealed that the retirement is not the end of his journey with the symptoms. He is still battling issues that will remain in his life for years to come.”It’s complicated,” Pucovski said. “There’s the mental health symptoms which is one part of it. Then there’s the fatigue, which is quite bad, I get regular headaches.”I really struggle with things on my left side. If I have things happening in my left I feel sick and dizzy. I struggle with motion sickness.”At 27, I have so much ahead of me and I have so many things I want to achieve in my life. I wanted to play another 15 years and that gets taken away which is bad enough. At least I know I won’t get hit in the head again, but when the symptoms are ongoing, it’s frightening.”I know what I was like before these concussions and I know what I am now. My family and friends have noticed a difference in me and that’s scary for me and for them.”Pucovski said he will remain involved in the game. He has already committed to taking the head coach role with his Victoria Premier club Melbourne for season 2025-26. He has previously done some television commentary and may return to that at some point.Overall in first-class cricket, Pucovski scored 2350 runs at 45.19 with seven centuries, three of which were doubles.

Liverpool have made massive progress in their efforts to sign a Premier League player before deadline day, submitting an offer for his services.

Liverpool handed Alexander Isak boost

The Reds’ pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has become increasingly frustrating, with the Magpies proving stubborn, not least because they haven’t been able to sign a sufficient replacement.

That has now changed, however, with VfB Stuttgart star Nick Woltemade reportedly closing in on a move to St James’ Park in a big-money transfer.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has said that it has paved the way for Liverpool to now go on and complete the signing of Isak, with Newcastle also keen on signing Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

The ball is now in the Reds’ court, in terms of tabling an improved second offer for the Swede, as they look to bring him in and make him the most expensive signing in the history of British football. Now, another player could also be on his way to Anfield in the coming days.

Liverpool make £40m offer for Marc Guehi

According to Football Insider, Liverpool and FSG have now made a bid of £36m plus £4m in add-ons for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, as they look to snap him up before the window closes.

It is the amount that the Eagles are “looking for”, having already lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal this summer, with the report adding that the Reds have “finally made their move”.

After a frustrating few weeks in the transfer market for Liverpool, things do now excitingly appear to be falling into place at the perfect time, both in terms of Guehi and Isak.

The former may not be the record-breaking addition that the latter could be, but he would be a fantastic signing in his own right, pushing Ibrahima Konate for a starting berth from the off, especially given the Frenchman’s poor current form.

Guehi is an unflappable figure who has impressed so much for both Palace and England in recent years, with Gareth Southgate waxing lyrical about his performances at Euro 2024 last summer.

“He’s been exceptional. We obviously lose him now for the next game, but he’s a young defender that we’ve had enormous belief in and he’s justified that with his performances in this tournament.”

Liverpool "ready" to complete record-breaking double deal for Isak and England star

Liverpool have to wait for two deals to be completed first.

ByCallum Kemp Aug 28, 2025

At 25, Guehi is at the perfect age to come in and be a hit for Liverpool, proving himself in the Premier League, and the move could be beneficial to him as he looks to reach another level, especially improving his chances of starting for England at next year’s World Cup.

West Ham’s stance on selling Lucas Paqueta to Tottenham has now been revealed by a reliable Lilywhites insider, with Spurs boss Thomas Frank still scrambling to sign a new number 10 before the transfer deadline on September 1.

The north Londoners have expressed a serious late interest in Paqueta, and Fabrizio Romano has already confirmed that they’ve reached out over a potential deal by making contact.

The Hammers midfielder, who was recently cleared of spot-fixing charges which he’s battled for almost two years, is now looking to rediscover his best Premier League form after West Ham stood by him during the scandal.

West Ham already lost Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham in a deal worth £55 million earlier in the window, but the consensus is that Spurs could now look to poach yet another Irons star from the London Stadium in Paqueta.

His best season came in 2022/2023, right after joining Lyon from West Ham for a club-record £51 million.

The 28-year-old bagged five goals and seven assists in all competitions, setting up Jarrod Bowen’s winner in the Conference League final, with Paqueta racking up around 34 goal contributions in total since signing for the club.

The Brazil international also boasts 55 caps for his star-studded nation, and this late in the window, he could be one of Tottenham’s only options who might actually upgrade Frank’s squad.

West Ham's stance on selling Lucas Paqueta as Tottenham make contact

Amid Spurs’ approach for the player, very reliable club insider Paul O’Keefe has shared an update on West Ham’s stance when it comes to selling one of their only prized assets with just days remaining till the summer deadline.

According to O’Keefe, West Ham are in fact prepared to sell Paqueta for the right offer, but any Spurs deal hinges on Graham Potter’s side finding a replacement.

If a transfer domino takes effect, which would allow Frank to welcome Paqueta to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Flamengo’s Filipe Luis thinks that they’d be landing a player suited to any team in world football.

Manchester United have endured a torrid few years on and off the pitch, leading to discontent shown by the fanbase amid their lack of tangible success.

From managerial changes to board protests and record-low Premier League finishes, it really has been a continuous period for the supporters to forget about.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try and transform the club, but so far to no avail, as seen by the 15th-placed league finish in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 40-year-old had the summer transfer window to try and transform the fortunes on the pitch, but so far he’s been unable to do so, only winning one of the first four outings to date.

£200m spent and yet another Manchester Derby defeat could spell the end for the manager, especially if recent reports around his future in the role are to be believed.

The latest on Ruben Amorim’s future at Man Utd

Despite his 20th defeat since taking the reins last November, it’s been reported in recent days that INEOS may not be looking to part ways with Amorim in the near future.

Many people on the board see the 40-year-old as the man to lead the club forward, but there’s no denying concerns have been raised given the dismal form under his guidance.

Contrary to recent reports, a report from Miguel Delaney states that the Red Devils are huge admirers of Andoni Iraola and could see him as a potential replacement in the months ahead.

The journalist claims that the hierarchy have been impressed by his work at Bournemouth in recent months, with the 43-year-old seen as an ideal candidate to take the reins.

However, Delaney’s report also states that rivals Manchester City are also keen on the Spaniard, who could move to the Etihad to replace Guardiola, should he depart the Citizens.

Why Iraola would be a huge upgrade on Amorim for Man Utd

Amorim’s record of just 18 wins in his 48 outings in charge of United is nothing short of shocking and has fallen way below the standards demanded from the fanbase.

His 3-4-2-1 system was something to be excited about upon his appointment 10 months ago, but now it appears to be a real sticking point of his tenure at Old Trafford.

He’s spoken about his reluctance to switch away from his preferred system, with his stubbornness potentially adding to the case to sack him from his current post.

The 40-year-old has failed to have the desired impact on England’s top-flight, but the same can’t be said for Iraola during his own spell at the Vitality Stadium.

The Spaniard has won 38 of his 92 games in charge of the Cherries, securing the club’s best-ever Premier League finish in the 2024/25 campaign. As a result, it’s arguably no surprise to see him described as the “best young coach in the world” by many, including Sky Sports pundit Sam Tighe.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 43-year-old will cost, and if he would want a move to Old Trafford, but when comparing his stats to those of Amorim – it’s clear he would be an upgrade.

Iraola, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Sky Sports’ Nick Wright, has achieved a higher win percentage to date, whilst also achieving a better point-per-game record in England’s top-flight.

Games managed

80

31

Wins

31

8

Draws

20

7

Losses

29

16

Points per game

1.4

1

Win percentage

39%

25%

Goals per 90

1.5

1.1

Goals conceded per 90

1.5

1.6

His side have also scored more goals and conceded fewer per 90, showcasing his ability to get the best out of his sides at both ends of the pitch.

Such success if further highlighted in the higher league finish throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly conducting a better job in the role despite the Cherries having a much smaller stature.

There’s no disputing that Iraola has done a phenomenal job on the South Coast, massively outperforming expectations over the last few seasons – especially on a shoestring budget in comparison to the Red Devils.

If he’s able to achieve such success with limited funds, the prospect of him working under INEOS at Old Trafford would be one to get excited about – potentially able to be the perfect replacement for Amorim.

Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma & Haaland but Man Utd got Altay & Sesko instead

It’s been yet another poor start to a Premier League season for Manchester United.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 16, 2025

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to back Ruben Amorim in the January transfer window, with an “amazing” player now high on Manchester United’s shortlist.

Man Utd have big decision to make with Amorim at "breaking point"

Man United signed off with an unconvincing 3-2 victory against Burnley before the international break, which didn’t exactly silence the critics, and club legend Wayne Rooney believes the manager will be feeling the pressure.

Speaking after the EFL Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town, Rooney said: “Manchester United is so different to where he’s been before. You come in and there’s the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.

“There’s a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you’re not winning games, that can start to get [to you] and it looked like he was at a breaking point.”

£1m+ Arsenal target has heart set on Man Utd move due to Sir Alex Ferguson

The Red Devils would be well-positioned to win the race for a forward.

ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

As such, INEOS have a big decision to make on Amorim’s future, given that the Portuguese manager’s record since arriving last November has been far from impressive, averaging just 1.37 points per match across 46 games.

However, a new report from TEAMtalk states that Ratcliffe and co are ready to back their manager in the January transfer window, suggesting the Man United ownership still believe in Amorim’s project.

The 40-year-old is set to be provided with the funds to strengthen his squad this winter, and a new central midfielder is believed to be of particular interest, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson featuring high up the shortlist.

After joining Forest from Newcastle United for £35m last summer, Anderson has enjoyed an impressive rise, recently receiving his first call-up for England, and it would be fair to say the midfielder grasped the opportunity with both hands, impressing journalist Craig Hope.

"Amazing" Anderson impressing for club and country

Not only has the England international caught the eye for the Three Lions, but he has also received plaudits for his performances at club level, being described as “amazing” by former manager Nuno last season.

The 22-year-old is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, as showcased by the fact he provides an attacking threat, picking up eight Premier League goal contributions last season, while his tackling ability is also impressive.

It is little wonder that Anderson is high on Man United’s shortlist, and he should remain a key target, regardless of whether Amorim lasts until the January transfer window.

A significant update has now dropped regarding Sheffield United’s potential search for a new manager, with Ruben Selles feeling the heat.

Selles under huge pressure at Sheffield United

The Blades have made a disastrous start to the 2025/26 season, sitting bottom of the Championship and failing to pick up a single point in their opening four matches.

For that reason, the pressure is also mounting on manager Selles at United, following his arrival in place of Chris Wilder this summer, and pundit Jobi McAnuff has said there are “no excuses” for him not to improve moving forward.

“It’s been a mess of a summer – starting with the sacking of Chris Wilder. From what I’ve seen I’ve not been impressed with Ruben Selles in the way he’s set the team up – he’s not getting the best out of the group yet.

“He maybe wasn’t given the tools he needed to put a team together that can go and get results which gives him a little bit of an out but he should be doing better with the squad he has at his disposal.”But he certainly has no excuses with what he’s brought in now.”

Understandably, some names are already being mentioned as possible replacements for Selles, should he be relieved of his duties at Bramall Lane, and a key update has emerged regarding one rumoured target.

Danny Rohl to Sheffield United update

Writing on X on Sunday, BBC Sheffield’s Rob Staton claimed that Danny Rohl won’t be Sheffield United’s next manager, due to there being too much controversy surrounding it, given his past with rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

In truth, it is hard to see Rohl becoming Blades boss, given the reaction it would cause among Wednesday supporters, even though it is something that Blades fans would likely find amusing.

The 4-2-3-1-playing German is a highly-rated young manager – one who steered the Owls impressively away from safety in 2023/24, with Chris Waddle one of many left impressed by the job he did at Hillsborough.

Hopefully, a new manager isn’t needed at all for United, with Selles masterminding a revival after the international break, but it’s fair to say that the current feeling at the club isn’t too positive, with huge improvements needed, and fast.

The age-defying England captain is in the form of his life, and can achieve all his remaining career dreams in Germany

"He is one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on after watching Harry Kane score a brace in Bayern Munich's 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea. "I think he is England's greatest ever goal scorer. He's done it in the Premier League with a team that aren't one of the top teams. He's gone abroad now with Bayern Munich. All eyes are on him and there's huge pressure. 

"You think of strikers England have had in the past and there have been some great ones, but he's scored more goals for England than Alan Shearer. If he'd have stayed in the Premier League, he'd have got that record too. His numbers are off the scale. He can come deep, he can get on the ball and he can play people in. He's the best striker England have ever had."

It's impossible to argue with Carragher's assessment. Kane is, after all, the record scorer for both England and Tottenham, and a man who has won a grand total of Golden Boots across Premier League, Bundesliga, World Cup and European Championship competition. As if all that wasn't enough, he also has a European Golden Shoe on his resume.

A lack of team silverware was the only stick critics had left to beat Kane with, but after firing Bayern to Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup success this year, his greatness is not up for debate anymore. There is only the question of how high he will rank in football's Hall of Fame when he eventually hangs up his boots.

Now, reports are swirling that Kane will aim to enhance his legacy by returning to England next summer and breaking Shearer's Premier League goals record, with only 48 strikes needed for him to reach the magic mark. But that would pale in comparison to what he could still achieve at Bayern. Footballing immortality is within Kane's grasp, and he would be mad to trade in that opportunity for a romantic homecoming that ultimately promises nothing but mediocrity.

GettySpurs return makes no sense

Speculation over Kane's future has been raging since German outlet dropped the bombshell that the frontman has a £57m ($77m) release clause in his contract with Bayern that can be activated if he expresses a desire to leave by the end of the winter transfer window. Tottenham reportedly have a first refusal proviso on the 32-year-old, which means if Bayern accept a bid or his release clause is triggered, then the club have the option to match it.

Current Spurs boss Thomas Frank has stirred the pot publicly, telling reporters: "There's a lot of Tottenham fans – including myself – who would like to see Kane back. He's a top player. If he wants to join us, he's more than welcome." It has been suggested that Kane has unfinished business in north London, and that any trophy win at Spurs would mean more than further domestic triumphs at Bayern.

There may even have been a part of Kane that felt envious watching his old club lift the Europa League in May, just two years on from his departure. But when rational thinking takes over, that success can be viewed for what it really was: an anomaly. 

Tottenham benefitted from a favourable draw, with Roma the only side in the near elite bracket that they conquered en route to the final, before overcoming a dismal Manchester United team by sitting deep and looking to counter. It ended their 17-year trophy drought, but wasn't enough to paper over the cracks of a shocking 17th-place finish in the Premier League, and Ange Postecoglou was rightly relieved of his managerial duties in the aftermath of the celebrations in Bilbao.

Former Brentford boss Frank is a better coach than Postecoglou, and Spurs made a few decent summer signings, but they're still a long way off challenging for the biggest prizes year in, year out, as their inconsistent start to the new season shows. Surpassing Shearer would be the only realistic aim for Kane if he retraced his steps. It makes no sense for him to go back to being a nearly man after tasting the sweet nectar of football at the very highest level.

AdvertisementGettyNothing but misery at Man Utd

According to , Kane's most likely next destination if he leaves Bayern is Old Trafford rather than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. United decided to move for Rasmus Hojlund over Kane in 2023, prioritising youthful potential over proven pedigree, which came back to haunt them spectacularly.

Despite their decline in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, United are still the biggest club in the world, aside perhaps from Real Madrid, and can thus still attract top talent. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko could all have joined more stable teams in the summer window, but they had tunnel vision once the Red Devils came calling.

It would not be a surprise if Kane also succumbed to temptation. That being said, if his advisors are worth their salt, they will have already convinced him that a new chapter in Manchester has the potential to be a career ender. United are rotten, and Old Trafford has become a graveyard for world-class performers over the last 13 years.

As deadly and technically brilliant as Kane is, he would not be able to drag the current team up from the bottom half of the Premier League back to past glories. He might well do better than the likes of Angel Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, but no one player can fix United's malaise.

Does he really want to be shouted at every game by Bruno Fernandes for misplacing the odd pass? Or to be forced into deeper areas out of sheer panic because he can see opposing teams cutting through the midfield at will? Or to make countless intelligent runs in behind that are wasted because so few of his team-mates have the vision or ability to find him? There is nothing on offer but misery at United.

It could be a long time before that changes, too, because the INEOS leadership group has yet to come up with a cohesive plan for improvement. Kane is too good for United, plain and simple.

Getty Images Sport'Next steps'

Kane was quizzed about Shearer's Premier League record after scoring another two goals in Bayern's 4-0 thumping of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga last Friday, and replied: "When I left England, I thought maybe I'd come back to achieve that. But since I've been here, I've really enjoyed playing at this level."

He also opened the door to extending his contract at Allianz Arena, with his current deal due to expire in 2027. "I think they are happy with me, and I’m happy with them," Kane said. "My family has settled down. My kids are loving it here in school, so yes, this is my life here for the foreseeable future."

Those words would have been music to the ears of the Bayern board, who have since come out to confirm that renewal talks are imminent. "Harry is a leading player for us, he wanted to come to Bayern because he really likes to play here and win trophies. He wants to continue for a long time so we're going to talk about the next steps," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said this week. "The mixture in the squad is important. If you have that mix then you can keep older players with high quality for longer in your squad and Harry seems not to be old at all. He has that quality on the pitch."

Unless something goes very wrong over the next seven months, Kane will still be a Bayern player next season, and potentially for many more years to come. As Eberl alluded to, he seems to be getting better with age, and for the first time in his career, is playing for a team that can match his ambition. It's a happy marriage that has legs.

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(C)Getty ImagesHitting Messi & Ronaldo levels

"I'm not afraid to say, 'I want to be the best'. I want to try and get on the level [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi got to," Kane said on back in 2021. "That's my ultimate goal – to be winning trophies season in, season out, scoring 50, 60, 70 goals season in, season out. The pressure from myself is always bigger than anything anyone else can put on me."

Kane is now well on his way to fulfilling that aim at Bayern. Indeed, he has become the quickest player to ever reach 100 goals playing for a club in one of Europe's top five leagues, hitting the mark in just 104 games, one less than Ronaldo and Erling Haaland managed at Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively. He has also scored a staggering 17 goals in his first nine appearances this season.

Haaland is the only man who has ever matched Kane's prolific start to a campaign, but he did so in the far less prestigious surroundings of Red Bull Salzburg in 2019-20. Ronaldo scored 13 times for Real in his first nine outings of the 2014-15 season, while Messi's best haul for Barca was 12 in both 2011-12 and 2017-18. What Kane is doing is unprecedented.

Bayern's talismanic centre-forward is also second in the Champions League scoring charts on four goals, just one behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, with his latest double coming in a 5-1 thrashing of Cypriot outfit Pafos. That was Kane's 21st appearance on Europe's biggest stage and his 26th goal, equalling his total for Tottenham in the competition in 11 fewer games.

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um ânimo a mais para restante da competição.

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– Sabemos que o Campeonato Brasileiro é um campeonato muito disputado, por isso nosso grupo faz de cada partida uma decisão. Graças a Deus estando tendo bons resultados nas últimas partidas, principalmente fora de casa, o que nos dá confiança para seguirmos em busca de nossos objetivos.

+ Confira a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

A equipe superou sua melhor campanha na história da Série A do Brasileirão após as 15 primeiras rodadas. Já são 19 pontos contra os 16 do ano passado. Consolidado como a principal força mato-grossense no Brasil, a equipe do Cuiabá já pode começar a pensar em voos mais altos, afirma o goleiro.

– Nosso primeiro objetivo é estar longe do Z4. Hoje, estamos a sete pontos de diferença do primeiro time na zona. Começamos a ganhar jogos grandes, importantes, fazendo valer nossa força. Acredito que após todos esses anos os adversários estão começando a não nos olhar mais como os patinhos feios da Série A. Estamos começando a almejar coisas maiores.

O dourado é atualmente o 12º colocado no campeonato brasileiro, estando a 6 ponto do G6. O próximo desafio de Walter e a equipe cuiabana é contra o São Paulo, sábado (22), às 18h30, na
Arena Pantanal.

التقطت الكاميرات صورًا لمدرب نابولي أنطونيو كونتي، ومهاجم إنتر ميلان لاوتارو مارتينيز، وهما يهتفان ضد بعضهما البعض خلال الشوط الثاني من مباراة نابولي وإنتر ميلان، اليوم السبت في الدوري الإيطالي لكرة القدم.

وحقق نابولي فوزًا بثلاثية لهدف واحد ضد إنتر ميلان، وجاءت أهداف الفريق المضيف عن طريق دي بروين وماكتومناي وأنجويسا في الدقائق 33 و54 و66 وهاكان سجل لإنتر في الدقيقة 59.

ونشرت “فوتبول إيطاليا” أن الشجار بين لاعبي إنتر ونابولي قد وقع في الدقيقة 61، وشوهد لاوتارو مارتينيز الذي كان يلعب تحت قيادة أنطونيو كونتي في النيرازوري وهو يشير له بإشارة كأنه يقول له: “أنت وقح”.

وقد رد مدرب نابولي: “أضحك على نفسك” وأشار أيضاً بإشارة واضحة، وكان نابولي في هذه اللحظة متقدماً بهدفين لهدف لكن هاكان قد سجل هدفًا من ركلة جزاء ليعيد إنتر لأجواء المباراة.

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وسبق لكل من أنطونيو كونتي ولاوتارو مارتينيز أن تشاجرا أيضاً خلال الموسم الأخير للمدرب الإيطالي في ملعب جيوزيبي مياتزا في موسم 2020-2021.

واشتكى لاوتارو علناً من استبداله وركل زجاجة على خط التماس ولم يتقبل كونتي الأمر بصدر رحب، ورد على الأرجنتيني بعنف طالباً منه الصمت.

وقام لاعبو وأعضاء الجهاز الفني في إنتر ميلان بالمزاح بتنظيم مباراة ملاكمة بين الثنائي في ملعب تدريبات الفريق بعد أيام لتصفية الأجواء بينهما.

وعلق كونتي على لقطة مشاجرته مع لاوتارو مارتينيز بعد فوز فريقه بثلاثية لهدف ضد إنتر ميلان: “عندما تلعب مباريات بهذا المستوى يمكن أن تحدث مثل هذه الأمور، أريد فقط تذكير إنتر بأنني أعدت لقب الأسكوديتو للنادي بعد 10 سنوات من الغياب من بينهم 9 ألقاب متتالية مع يوفنتوس وأنتم تعلمون ما يعنيه ذلك بالنسبة لي”.

وختم: “ما زلت أحتفظ بذكريات رائعة عن تلك التجربة، لاوتارو لاعب رائع وربما لم أكن أعرفه جيداً على المستوى الشخصي، أتمنى له كل التوفيق، لا بأس”.