There have been some miserable nights in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United, with Monday’s defeat to Everton ranking high on that list, having allowed the ten-man Toffees to secure a first away win at Old Trafford for former boss David Moyes.

Ironically, there were shades of Moyes’ own nadir – the 2-2 draw with Fulham back in 2013/14 – about that 1-0 loss, with Ruben Amorim again in danger of heading the same way as the Scotsman in the United dugout.

Indeed, a year in charge has yielded just 12 Premier League wins for the Portuguese coach, with the positivity of the recent five-game unbeaten run now tempered with the angle of three games without a win in the top-flight.

A key crux of the issue is the use – or rather misuse – of Bruno Fernandes in a deep-lying role, with the Red Devils crying out for a new creative hub ahead of him.

Man Utd's search for a successor to Fernandes

From netting 38 goals and assists in all competitions last term, the United skipper has been forced to almost play with the handbrake on, having even operated as the deepest midfielder following Kobbie Mainoo’s introduction against the Merseyside outfit.

Currently looking ill-suited to this 3-4-2-1 system, the 31-year-old – who came close to joining Al Hilal over the summer – might be at the centre of speculation again heading into next year’s World Cup, with his current deal set to expire in 2027.

He does still lead the way at United for big chances created (3) – alongside Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – although that is half as many as the division’s leader, Jeremy Doku (6), as per FotMob, with Fernandes’ powers perhaps on the wane in his new role.

In need of a new chief creator? Well, enter Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, with reports in Spain suggesting that the Manchester side are among the clubs to have expressed an interest in the fleet-footed Frenchman.

Reportedly valued at around £123m, the 24-year-old is also attracting attention from both Liverpool and Arsenal, albeit with INEOS viewing him as someone who would bring a ‘significant leap in quality’.

Now in his second season in Munich, following a £50m move from Crystal Palace last year, the London-born star is shining in German football. Could he be just what Amorim is looking for?

Why Olise would be a perfect signing for Man United

After a hefty summer of investment totalling almost £250m, there might be a sense that INEOS have already put together their long-term frontline, in the form of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As the recent loss indicated, however, a couple of injuries to that latter duo highlighted the lack of real depth, while the pair’s return of just three goals between them is also cause for concern.

Sesko, in particular, is far from the finished article, with Amorim potentially able to fashion a fluid attacking trio of Cunha off the left, Mbeumo through the middle and Olise on the right, with the Bayern gem currently looking so devastating in that role in Munich.

In the Bundesliga alone this season, the one-time Reading winger has chalked up six goals and six assists for Vincent Kompany’s side, while registering seven big chances created in total, as per Sofascore.

A “magician” – according to Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano – in the mould of Fernandes, the left-footer has also averaged 2.3 key passes per game, while eclipsing that return from his five Champions League outings, with 2.4 key passes per game.

Three goals and assists and three big chances created have also come amid a standout start to this year’s league phase in Europe, with Olise now rightly lauded as “one of the best players in the world” by the likes of teammate Serge Gnabry.

That lofty status is more than warranted, as he currently ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.

Mason Greenwood

13

Michael Olise

13

Lamine Yamal

11

Antoine Semenyo

9

Ilan Kebbal

9

Christian Pulisic

7

Romain Del Castillo

7

Domenico Berardi

7

Ritsu Doan

7

Bryan Mbeumo

7

In essence, everything he does is with an attacking thought in mind, possessing that Fernandes-esque knack for being able to unlock a defence with a moment of genius.

There is also an at-times erratic quality that comes with that approach, like the Portuguese, having lost possession on average 17 times a game in Germany’s top-flight.

He is a risk-taker, however, and as Monday showcased, United could certainly do with more of that.

Having – perhaps rightly – allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to depart, while clipping Fernandes’ wings, this is a squad in desperate need of a game-changer. Olise might just be that.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again

This change could help turn Man Utd’s season around.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 26, 2025

اختار ماوريسيو ساري، مدرب نادي لاتسيو الحالي ويوفنتوس وتشيلسي السابق، أفضل ثلاثة لاعبين دربهم في مسيرته التدريبية.

ويمتلك ساري مسيرة تدريبية مميزة، قام خلالها بالإشراف على تدريب العديد من الفرق، من بينها تشيلسي ونابولي ويوفنتوس، وأخيرًا لاتسيو.

لكن ساري وفي تصريحات نقلها موقع “فوتبول إيطاليا”، اختار كريستيانو رونالدو، أسطورة ريال مدريد ونجم النصر السعودي الحالي من بين أفضل من دربهم في مسيرته.

وعمل رونالدو مع ساري لمدة موسمين في يوفنتوس وحقق معه لقب الدوري الإيطالي وقدم عروضاً رائعة مع البيانكونيري.

اقرأ أيضًا .. روبرتو كارلوس يقارن بين ميسي ورونالدو ويقيم منتخب البرازيل مع أنشيلوتي

وقال ساري: “يعتمد الأمر على اللحظة والدور، لقد دربت العديد من اللاعبين الأقوياء، من البديهي أنه عندما تدرب كريستيانو رونالدو الذي يسجل 32 أو 33 هدفًا في الدوري، فإننا نتحدث عن لاعب حاسم”.

كما أشاد ساري بنجم تشيلسي السابق والنصر الحالي، نجولو كانتي، حيث أضاف: “كان لديّ لاعبو وسط استثنائيون في تشيلسي، مثل كوفاسيتش وكانتي وجورجينيو، ومدافعون ممتازون مثل كوليبالي”.

واختتم ساري: ”لطالما استخف بألبيول لكنه لاعب رائع ولن أنسى ماريك هامسيك، لاعب الوسط الذي ربما لم يحقق ما يتوقع منه بسبب شخصيته اللطيفة، سيكون لاعب خط وسط كهذا مفيدًا جدًا لفريق لاتسيو”.

Bangladesh government removes Ishfaq Ahsan for his ‘political links’

Mohammad Isam07-Oct-2025

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) landed in controversy immediately after their election results were announced on Monday. Within hours, the government removed one of the newly-elected directors, Ishfaq Ahsan. He was one of two government representatives in the BCB board, but his stay was short-lived.Ahsan’s political links forced the National Sports Council, the organisation that oversees sports in the country, to take this action. “We will appoint a new director [on Tuesday]. We have removed him for his political links,” Kazi Nazrul Islam, NSC’s executive director, told reporters on Monday.ESPNcricinfo understands that the NSC is likely to appoint a female board director in his place.A day-long BCB election, with physical votes as well as e-ballots, was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday. Aminul Islam was re-elected president. He will lead the working committee, the grounds committee and the BPL committee. Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud, a first-time director, assumes charge of the High Performance centre.Former Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak, also a first-time director, was handed the post of chairman of women’s wing. Nazmul Abedeen will continue as cricket operations chairman while Ishtiaque Sadeuque will be game development chairman. Bangladesh’s age-group cricket will now be headed by renowned singer Asif Akbar.

MatériaMais Notícias

Menos de um mês após ser emprestado pelo Flamengo ao Athletico-PR, o atacante Petterson pode retornar ao Rubro-Negro.

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Petterson cometeu atos de indisciplina e será afastado pelo Furacão. O jogador vai treinar separado do restante do elenco do Athletico, e a diretoria do clube paranaense cogita devolvê-lo ao Flamengo. A informação é da jornalista Monique Vilela.

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O jovem de 20 anos chegou ao Athletico por empréstimo de uma temporada, e o acordo com o Rubro-Negro prevê uma claúsula de opção de compra no valor fixado de três milhões de euros (R$ 16 milhões na cotação atual). Reserva de Gonzalo Mastriani no Furacão, Petterson marcou em sua estreia pelo clube, contra o Londrina.

O atacante de 20 anos tem contrato com o Flamengo até o final de 2027 e uma multa rescisória de 100 milhões de euros (R$ 533,6 milhões na cotação atual). O Barcelona chegou a manifestar interesse na contratação do jovem, mas as conversas não evoluíram.

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Cat Macario and Jaedyn Shaw put on a show to help secure a win in the USWNT's final match of 2025.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cat Macario can’t stop scoring, and she got the U.S. women’s national team rolling once again, helping lift the Americans to a 2–0 win over Italy to close out their 2025 campaign.

A cheeky chip from Macario in the 20th minute set the tone for the USWNT’s second victory over Italy in three days and marked her eighth international goal of the year. Lily Yohannes picked out Macario breaking free down the right side, and the forward lifted her head to spot goalkeeper Francesca Durante off her line before calmly chipping her for the opener. Macario nearly added another later in the half, pressing the Italian back line and using every surface of her foot to hold up play, flick, and turn in the box. She earned her 28th cap on Monday and now has 16 goals in 29 appearances.

"Cat is just such a special player, and I know if she gets the ball in front of the goal, 10 times out of 10, it is probably going to be a goal," Yohannes said of Macario's clinical edge. 

Jaedyn Shaw doubled the lead in the 41st minute. Shaw, who recently turned 21, earned her 29th cap and 13th start for the senior team. After being left off two straight FIFA windows, she returned to the squad in October and has made the most of it — all while helping lead Gotham FC to an NWSL Championship. Her finish put the U.S. firmly in control heading into halftime.

Emma Hayes made early second-half changes, including Avery Patterson for Emily Fox, Kennedy Wesley for Naomi Girma and Emma Sears for Alyssa Thompson. The midfield trio of Yohannes, Lindsey Heaps, and Claire Hutton remained intact to start the half, showcasing the chemistry they’ve built. Jaelin Howell later replaced Heaps as the U.S. continued to dictate tempo.

Despite Hayes making five changes to the starting XI from Friday’s match – and fielding a trio of teenagers – the U.S. never lost its rhythm. The Americans again started fast, scored early, and dominated possession with 64 percent of the ball.

"We try and be intentional in how we organize players. But I'm very much about coaching every one of our 26 players to play as us always, and I focus on that," Hayes said. "And of course, we organize our team to set up against opponents and spaces we want to exploit, but we can always dominate by developing our game style." 

The USWNT end the year on a high note at 12-3-0, and Hayes closed her first full calendar year in charge with 25 wins.

GOAL rates the players from Chase Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defense

Claudia Dickey (8/10): 

Another clean sheet is all Dickey needed to solidify her position as the No. 1 keeper at the moment. Dickey had a strong performance against Italy the second time around, making a couple of saves and controlling the backline, and finding moments to spring the attacking players in behind when Italy was pushing high. 

Jordyn Bugg (8/10): 

The fact that Bugg is just 19 years old and has now earned three starts on the senior team is no small nod. Her composure next to Girma is a pairing to be feared for opponents. 

Naomi Girma (8/10): 

Girma didn't have a whole lot of action in the first half, but when she won the ball, she kept it and led the backline with her composure and possession. 

Kate Wiesner (6/10): 

Wiesner earned her first start for the USWNT, and on a team where the outside back position is more competitive than ever, she held her own. Wiesner got caught too high in moments and struggled to recover, but other than that, she was a natural back there and helped keep Italy off the scoreboard.

Emily Fox (8/10): 

Another solid performance from Fox, who any anytime she steps on the field for the USWNT, reminds us all how dangerous she is going forward. Fox was all over the right side of the pitch and forced the Italians to step to her, which would free up outlets down the wing.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Lily Yohannes (8/10):

It shouldn't be surprising anymore just how good on the ball Yohannes is, but it is. Yohannes, the youngest player on the roster at 18 years old, plays with maturity, finesse, and aged discipline. Next to Heaps and Hutton, she's able to push up and sit just below Macario. Her one-two flare comes out with this team.

Lindsey Heaps (8/10):

After not seeing Heaps at all in the first meeting against Italy, she captained Monday's match and had her midfield locked in. Heaps and Hutton play very similarly, and both work off of each other in the double pivot. Heaps' leadership was refreshing because even in moments when the USWNT would get split or broken down, she remained organized and led those around her.

Claire Hutton (8/10): 

Hutton has been a sponge on the USWNT and is playing beyond her years. Another teenager who plays like she's far from one, Hutton was lights out on Monday. She played quickly, and her combination play mixed in with her vision to switch the point of attack was a work of art.

ImagnAttack

Cat Macario (9/10):

The only thing Macario could have done to get a better rating, or a perfect rating, would have been another goal. But, all jokes aside her nose for goal, refined touch, and ability to go at defenders is the Macario we've all been waiting to see again. Macario finishes the year with 8 goals for the USWNT.

Jaedyn Shaw (8/10): 

Shaw's goal, or strike rather, was clinical. She didn't just score, though; she also played the entire game and found ways to get on the ball in various spots all over the field. Her game has evolved immensely in the past few months, and she's another key player in the attacking line for Hayes to consider come 2027. 

Alyssa Thompson (7/10): 

A relatively quiet game for Thompson, who usually finds a way to get an assist, goal, or some stat for us to drop our jaws at. While she may not have scored, Thompson made endless runs in the first half, which created all kinds of chaos for Italy's defense. 

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Kennedy Wesley (7/10):

A solid performance from Wesley, who earned her first start and cap for the USWNT in their 6-0 victory over New Zealand. At that time, she was the 25th player to date to earn a start and cap under Hayes. She didn't concede in the backline and had a clean performance next to Bugg, having to step into big shoes to fill, entering the game for Girma. 

Emma Sears (7/10): 

Sears was knocking on Italy's door for a goal, but unfortunately, just couldn't find the back of the net. She was aggressive and creative up top, but just couldn't finish on the night.

Avery Patterson (7/10): 

Patterson was running full-field sprints most of the second half, but was effective nonetheless. Her contributions to the attack were major, as she was creative with her services and also clever in her one-v-one chances.

Lilly Reale (7/10): 

Reale settled in just fine at outside back after playing most of the first meeting vs Italy in the same spot. Reale played a dangerous service late in the second half, that was close to a third goal for the United States.

Croix Bethune (6/10): 

Bethune had some solid moments on the ball for the USWNT, but struggled to see it as much as Yohannes did when she was in.

Jaelin Howell (6/10): 

Howell hadn't seen USWNT action since 2022, and found a way to settle into the game and get herself back into the mix despite having big shoes to fill with the subbing of Heaps. Howell didn't see much of the ball, but when she did, she maintained possession.

Emma Hayes (9/10): 

What more can Hayes ask for? The team delivered, again, and she earned her 25th win as head coach. Not a bad way to end the year.

Zimbabwe took a 233-run lead, and then prised out one Afghanistan wicket before stumps

Ekanth21-Oct-2025Zimbabwe scored 229 runs and lost eight wickets. Afghanistan scored 34 and lost one. On paper, day two was a day of shared honours. In reality though, the hosts were left holding all aces after having bundled out Afghanistan for 127 on day one, and then converting a three-run lead to a 233-run lead, thanks mainly to a gritty, layered 121 from Ben Curran and a calculated (if not slick) 65 from Sikandar Raza.Ziaur Rahman’s 7 for 97 was a dreamy career-best on Test debut. He became the first bowler to take seven or more wickets via bowled or lbw in a Test innings since Imran Khan in 1982. Afghanistan batted for 12 overs before stumps and lost opener Abdul Malik to Richard Ngarava. Ibrahim Zadran got off to a start and was unbeaten on 25.On a day tailor-made for pacers, the proactivity of Brendan Taylor and the experience of Craig Ervine were no match for the reveries of a Harare pitch offering up-and-down as well as sideways movement. Taylor got an edged boundary through gully (over 41.2) and a chipped four through mid-on (43.3).Despite being decisive and even picking up a boundary to third from a semi-educated edge off a flashing cut and looking solid in defence, the right-handed Taylor fell to a vicious inducker from Ziaur, who then used his allies – low bounce and seam in – to trap the left-handed Craig Ervine lbw.Curran, at the other end, grew into a natural rhythm. One undeterred by being beaten and edging. Raza came in with his problem-solver hat on, walking down the pitch and shuffling sideways against the pace of Ismat Alam and Ziaur. He had nervy moments – like a chip to cover off Alam (50.2) – but overcame them while disregarding the threats posed by the conditions and some skillful bowling.Yamin Ahmadzai’s accuracy and consistency in a six-over collection, split across two spells between overs 38 and 56, saw two maidens, just 11 runs but no wickets. The Morne Morkel-esque Ziaur didn’t face a case of pretty figures. Alam created more nervy moments, especially against Raza, but also conceded more boundaries.Curran and Raza built their 99-run stand in 160 balls with Curran scoring 33 despite facing a healthy share of 72 balls. The clear roles and the duo’s commitment ground down Afghanistan, who had an upbeat presence at the start – with chatter and buzz from the keeper and cordons. Zimbabwe went into lunch on 214 for 4, with Curran on 79* and Raza 37*.The older ball, tiring bowlers and the fewer challenges posed by Hashmatullah Shahidi’s part-time bowling and Khalil Gurbaz’s awkward action, helped the two batters consolidate.Curran brought up his 217-ball ton off Shahidi’s flick and virtually levitated with open arms, a bat in one hand and helmet in the other, in celebration.Ziaur Rahman picked up a five-for on Test debut•Zimbabwe CricketRaza hit three fours off Sharafuddin Ashraf between overs 69 and 72, but then fell on 75.3, looking for the fourth, after top-edging a slog sweep to Yamin Ahmadzai running around from deep square leg to take the catch.Afghanistan took the new ball one ball after it was available and got it changed 3.5 overs later. Meanwhile, Curran hit three fours in the space of four balls that he faced. There were immediately more threats after the second ball change.Ahmadzai and Ziaur went back to what they did earlier in the day to first threaten edges and dry up scoring, and then Ahmadzai took Curran’s wicket on the stroke of tea. Low bounce and seam in was a culprit again as Curran was hit on the back leg and was out plumb lbw for a 256-ball 121 across 423 minutes.Zimbabwe slumped from 302 for 6 to 359 all out after tea. Ziaur came into his own against a helpless lower-middle and lower order as the final three batters fell for single figures. The carnage began with Tafadzwa Tsiga and Ngarava being lbw in successive balls.Ahmadzai missed the chance to run Blessing Muzarabani out. Perhaps that was because the bowling division of the cricket Gods wanted to watch Ziaur send Muzarabani cartwheeling its way back halfway to the keeper. Evans pulled through against spread-out fields and took Zimbabwe past 350 before Chivanga fell to Ziaur, thus wrapping up the innings.Muzarabani juggled jaffas with the odd bouncer to make Afghan opener Malik’s short stay a scarring one. There were two close shaves in the third over where the ball nearly took the edge – one against each batter.When Ngarava went after Malik with a less attacking plan of bowling short from around the wicket, an attempt to break the shackles was made and an aerial pull went into Muzarabani’s hands at deep-backward square leg.Amid lightmeter readings and some fiery pace bowling, Ibrahim seasoned a crafty little knock while Rahmanullah Gurbaz batted through to stumps. With the visitors still being in the deficit by 198 runs, an innings-win for the hosts is on the cards.

Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who was named in South Africa’s second-string squad to play a T20I in Namibia on October 11 and their white-ball sides to tour Pakistan later this month, is being assessed for an injury he sustained while playing a domestic match.Maphaka, 19, was in action for his provincial side, the Lions, in a four-day match against Western Province at Newlands last week. He bowled 5.5 overs in the first innings but had to leave the field with hamstring discomfort. He was taken for a scan which revealed no major damage and returned to take the new ball in the second innings. His 3 for 26 in 10 overs led the Lions’ charge to victory by an innings and 134 runs. He will now have a precautionary MRI to confirm his fitness ahead of a busy season.Maphaka is expected to be a part of South Africa’s international engagements over the next two-and-a-half months, which include tours of Pakistan and India, though there has been conversation about ensuring he has more time in the domestic game, particularly the four-day competition. To date, he has only played six first-class matches, which includes two Tests. He has also played three ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa and was signed by Durban’s Super Giants for the fourth season of the SA20.South Africa are due to play Namibia in a one-off T20I on Saturday to inaugurate the new stadium in Windhoek. The match takes place the day before the Test side begins the World Test Championship title defence in Pakistan, which has ruled several frontline players including captain Aiden Markram, out of the trip across the border. South Africa will be captained by Donovan Ferreira, who will lead Quinton de Kock in his international comeback. De Kock reversed his ODI retirement and made himself available for international cricket last month.

Yaya Toure has dramatically reignited his long-running feud with Pep Guardiola, accusing the Manchester City boss of treating him “like dirt” and describing him as a “snake” in a fresh outburst that revisits years of tension. The Ivorian icon recalled the pain of being sidelined by Guardiola, while revealing his wife’s scathing verdict on the coach as their bitter dispute once again erupts.

• Toure reignites his age old feud with Guardiola

  Toure resurfaced his long-standing frustrations with Guardiola, reopening one of football’s most persistent personal rivalries. The former Manchester City midfielder described his ex-manager as a “snake,” accusing him of mistreatment dating back to their tense Barcelona years. Toure also recounted how Guardiola marginalised him again during their reunion at Manchester City, leading to a fractured relationship that never truly healed.

  The remarks revisit Guardiola’s decision in 2010 to move Toure out of Barcelona after elevating Sergio Busquets into the starting midfield role. That same dynamic resurfaced in 2016 when Guardiola arrived at the Etihad and again relegated Toure to a bit-part role, triggering a wave of public complaints from the player’s agent. Although Toure enjoyed enormous success at Manchester City, the deterioration of his role under Guardiola ultimately shaped the bitter narrative that continues between them.

  The feud has become one of the most notorious manager-player conflicts of the modern era, encompassing tactical disagreements, personality clashes and public accusations. Toure’s fresh comments emphasise how deeply he felt the lack of appreciation from Guardiola, particularly during pivotal stages of his career. While Guardiola has never publicly escalated the feud, Toure’s repeated criticism ensures the story remains unresolved.

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• AFP
  

  Toure labels Guardiola as 'a snake'

  Appearing on the ZACK YouTube channel, Toure described Guardiola as a 'snake'. "I don't see a man, I see a snake," he said.

  "The Barcelona coach calls me back then and says, 'You have to come back, it's important.' My wife says to me, 'Are you going to listen to that nonsense? He treated you like dirt, and now he wants you to stay, and you're going to stay? Let's go to Manchester, my brother'.

  "The guy didn't play me all year, and at the end of the year, I shine at the World Cup (2010), and he brings me to Barcelona. My wife would tell me about him. 'Sheytan, he's not a man, he's wicked.' She sees him as a negative person."

• Toure and Guardiola's personal feud over the years…

  The feud between Toure and Guardiola stretches back to 2008, when Guardiola was appointed Barcelona manager and swiftly reshaped the midfield hierarchy. Toure was displaced by a young Busquets, whose ability to control possession more fluidly suited Guardiola’s tactical ideology, and the Ivorian struggled with the abrupt reduction in responsibility. This foundational rift set the stage for long-term resentment, with Toure feeling undervalued despite performing well when selected.

  The conflict escalated significantly during Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City, where Toure initially served as a club legend and central figure. Guardiola’s decision to exclude him from the Champions League squad, combined with his agent Dimitri Seluk’s fiery public criticisms, created a cycle of tension that even apologies could not fully repair. Although Toure was reintegrated temporarily, his role continued to diminish, reinforcing the belief that the manager no longer wanted him.

  After leaving City, Toure intensified the dispute by hinting at deeper motivations behind Guardiola’s choices, claiming patterns of unfair treatment toward African players, accusations Guardiola has firmly denied.

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  Guardiola continues to focus on dwindling PL hopes

  Guardiola is unlikely to respond publicly, consistent with his approach throughout the feud, but Toure’s remarks will inevitably reignite debate around their fractured relationship. The comments come as Guardiola focuses on keeping Manchester City competitive in a title race for the Premier League title that already seems to be in Arsenal's hands.

When you lose a player as important as Triston Casas for the majority of the season, all your plans go out the window. That's the reality the Boston Red Sox are facing now, as Casas is expected to be out for the year with a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee after leaving Friday night's game on a stretcher. He will undergo surgery.

Team executive Craig Breslow briefly spoke about the injury on Saturday, sharing that "all options" are on the table, specifically leaving the door open for Rafael Devers to play first base, as relayed by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Devers had a somewhat tense spat with the team coming into this year. Boston added elite third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason in free agency, which has typically been Devers's role. Devers strong-armed the position as firmly his, but later let up to serve as the full-time designated hitter. Now, it looks like the team could reposition him in the infield at first. That was followed with a tough slump to start the year that he has now rebounded from.

Devers has never played first base at the highest level of pro ball, nor has he played the position in minor league ball. It's a transition many players have made over the years though, including star players like Bryce Harper in recent memory.

The Boston Red Sox called up outfielder Roman Anthony, who played in Monday’s 10–8, 11-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. A few thoughts on the debut of the No. 1 prospect in baseball: 

• He is so young—he just turned 21 last month—that three years ago this time he was graduating from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The Red Sox drafted him in the second round with the 70th pick in 2022.
• Anthony (21 years, 27 days) is the youngest Red Sox player ever to debut with an RBI and a walk. The previous youngest was George “Boomer” Scott in 1966 (22.020).
• Long gone are the days when pitchers challenged rookies to see if they could hit a big league fastball. The Rays showed him tremendous respect. Their pitchers threw him 56% breaking pitches (10 of 18) and only 33% fastballs (six). Most of the pitches were out of the zone (10) and he swung at only two of them, both fastballs that were borderline pitches. He looked very calm in making good swing decisions.
• He hits the ball really, really hard. He hit a line drive 111.2 mph, one of the 20 hardest hit balls by Boston all year. He hit a home run in Triple-A 115.6 mph while averaging more than 95 mph in exit velocity.
• He has an upright setup at the plate with his hands high—a setup reminiscent of Shohei Ohtani and Christian Yelich—that enables him to be a more dangerous hitter on pitches up than down: