Captain also says “this decade and era belongs to Saurashtra” following their second title in three seasons
PTI19-Feb-2023
File photo – Jaydev Unadkat and Cheteshwar Pujara during a practice session in 2010•Getty Images
Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat has dedicated the team’s Ranji Trophy win to his team-mate Cheteshwar Pujara, calling him the region’s one of the “favourite sons”.Pujara hit the winning run against Australia in his 100th Test in Delhi, about a couple of hours after Saurashtra beat Bengal in the Ranji final in Kolkata.Related
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“As I said before it’s a fitting tribute to one of Saurashtra’s favourite sons, Chintu [Pujara’s nickname],” Unadkat said. “He played his 100th Test for India against Australia in Delhi, but he was equally eager, wishing us all throughout.”Pujara is the 13th Indian to play 100 Tests. He made his debut in 2010 and has scored over 7000 runs in his career. He played two matches for Saurashtra this season, making scores of 25, 5 and 91 in three innings, before leaving for national duty.On the latest triumph, Unadkat, who has led the side to three domestic titles across formats in as many seasons, said “this decade and era belongs” to Saurashtra.Saurashtra beat Bengal by nine wickets in a replay of the 2020 final to win the Ranji Trophy for the second time. This was also their second title this season, having won the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December.”It was important to win this one to prove the dominance and to show everyone that this era, this decade belongs to Saurashtra,” Unadkat said.”Three trophies in three years proves that we have been doing a lot of things right. We have set a tone, I’m really proud of what this team has achieved. It’s not just about winning trophies but creating a legacy for our team, which will leave a bigger impact on cricket in the region. Our goal will be to carry forward this legacy for at least 3-4 years till the core of our team is intact.”Unadkat, who made a Test comeback after 12 years in Bangladesh last year, was part of the squad for the Australia series, but he asked for permission to play the Ranji final. Since then, he has been added back to the Indian squad for the last two Tests, and has also been called up for the ODI series against Australia.”At the moment, I feel that my body is in a good shape,” he said. “The ball is coming out nicely off the hand. I’m able to bowl long spells, which is crucial.”
تحدث جود بيلينجهام، لاعب ريال مدريد، بخصوص بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، وأكد على أهمية البطولة واللقب، وأحقية الفرق الأخرى المشاركة بالتواجد في المسابقة.
وتشهد البطولة نظامًا جديدًا بمشاركة 32 فريقًا، وتستضيف الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية البطولة في الفترة من 14 يونيو الجاري إلى 15 يوليو القادم.
ويفتتح ريال مدريد مشواره بمواجهة الهلال السعودي يوم 18 يونيو، حيث يقعا في مجموعة تضم أيضًا باتشوكا وسالزبورج.
وقال بيلينجهام في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “الأمر مثير للغاية، الأجواء في جولة ما قبل الموسم تكون مختلفة، والمباريات نفسها مختلفة، وأحيانًا تشعر وكأنك تكرر نفس الروتين دائمًا”.
وأضاف: “أنا واثق أننا سنحاول أن نضع في اعتبارنا أننا خضنا موسمًا طويلًا، وسنأخذ وقتًا للاستمتاع بفترة الراحة واستيعاب التجربة الثقافية وكل ما يتعلق بها، لكن الأهم دائمًا هو كرة القدم، وآمل أن نحاول الفوز”.
اقرأ أيضًا | “نريد الأدرينالين”.. كورتوا يرفع راية التحدي قبل مشاركة ريال مدريد في مونديال الأندية
وتابع: “أي لقب هو لقب، كل بطولة لها أهميتها، والـ31 فريقًا الآخرون يتواجدون هناك عن استحقاق، بناءً على إنجازاتهم في مناطقهم المختلفة”.
وأوضح: “لذا، بالنسبة لي، الأمر مهم للغاية، إنها فرصة للفوز بلقب جديد وفي بطولة جديدة، ونحن لا نأخذ ذلك باستخفاف”.
وأتم: “إنها تُعد جزءًا من التاريخ، وكما قلت من قبل، ليس هناك الكثير من الأشياء التي يمكن أن تحققها في هذا النادي ولم يحققها أحد من قبل، لذلك من الرائع أن تكون لدينا فرصة جديدة”.
Com a melhor campanha da primeira fase, o Criciúma é um dos grandes postulantes ao acesso no Campeonato Catarinense Série B. Com as quartas de final já definidas pela Federação Catarinense de Futebol, com sorteio na última segunda-feira (1), o Tigre encara o Guarani de Palhoça em confrontos de ida e volta.
Kadu Ribeiro, peça importante no elenco do Criciúma, acredita que a campanha dá margem para equipe entrar com confiança nos duelos mata-mata.
E os números também jogam a favor do Criciúma com o zagueiro Kadu Ribeiro em campo. Nas últimas dez partidas com o zagueiro em campo, o Tigre perdeu apenas duas. Somando, também, 5 vitórias e 3 empates, entre divisão de acesso e Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
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– Nossa primeira fase foi boa. A melhor do torneio. Isso é muito importante para todo o grupo adquirir ainda mais confiança para sequência da competição. Agora é entrar cada vez mais focado e compactado na segunda fase, pois uma bola pode definir a classificação. Montamos uma equipe consistente e vamos em busca dos nossos objetivos, sem dúvidas – afirmou Kadu Ribeiro.
O Tigre começa sua “nova” jornada nesta sexta-feira (05), quando encara, fora de casa, o Guarani da Palhoça, a partir das 15h. O final deste duelo de 180 minutos ficará para segunda-feira (08), quando o Criciúma o receberá, no Heriberto Hulse.
With the summer transfer window approaching, the 49ers now reportedly have the chance to seal a bargain deal to sign a player who previously scored the winning goal against Rangers.
Rangers could land bargain deal
The Gers may have endured a season to forget – resulting in the dismissal of Philippe Clement – but that didn’t stop them from getting one over on arch-rivals Celtic last time out. Defeating the Bhoys late on courtesy of Hamza Igamane’s winning goal in a 3-2 thriller, the Gers at least came away from the Old Firm derby having left their mark.
However, any celebrations won’t last too long, with the Gers already turning their focus towards the summer transfer window and ensuring that they’ve got more than just an Old Firm derby victory to cheer in the Scottish Premiership next season.
The arrival of the 49ers should certainly provide the Scottish giants with a much-needed boost in pursuit of that. And although their first task will be finding a permanent replacement for Clement, recent reports suggest that they could then turn towards a bargain deal.
Rangers News has highlighted that the 49ers have the chance to sign Dejan Ljubicic in a free deal this summer once his contract comes to an end at FC Koln in Germany’s second division, with the Austrian already on the 49ers’ radar.
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A player that the incoming owners already know after previously attempting to seal his signature at Leeds United, Ljubicic looks set to be one to watch when the summer transfer window swings open.
Meanwhile, those at Ibrox are also well aware of the midfielder’s quality, having watched on as he scored the winning goal for Rapid Vienna against Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage.
"Special" Ljubicic could partner Diomande
In Ljubicic, Rangers would be welcoming a defensive midfielder who could provide the foundation for the likes of Mohamed Diomande to thrive further forward. Rangers already reaped the rewards for his attacking exploits against Celtic when he gave them a 2-1 lead over their rivals and could see his full potential unleashed by Ljubicic’s arrival.
The 27-year-old is certainly appreciated at Koln, having earned the praise of manager Gerhard Struber, who told reporters last summer: “Dejan is a player who has performed great for FC in recent years and can help us very, very well on the way back to the Bundesliga. Great. Simply great. The overall package is special. I’m very happy for him.”
Dejan Ljubicic for FC Koln.
Having been wheeling away in celebration at the detriment of Rangers as many as six seasons ago, the defensive midfielder could finally make up for his winning goal by kicking the 49ers era off with a bang at Ibrox.
Change is afoot at Rangers, from the ownership to the management and perhaps a few fresh faces. Whether the Gers’ official Clement replacement decides to welcome the bargain of Ljubicic this summer remains to be seen, however, as they look to make their mark.
أعرب فيليبي لويس، المدير الفني لفريق فلامينجو، عن سعادته البالغة بعد فوزهم الثمين أمس على تشيلسي، في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية نسخة 2025.
وتلاقى الفريقان في خضم منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور مجموعات البطولة، حيث حقق فلامينجو فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف لهدف.
كان فلامينجو متأخرًا في النتيجة بهدف دون رد، قبل أن يستفيق في الشوط الثاني ويسجل 3 أهداف.
وقال فيليبي لويس، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “جلوبو” البرازيلية: “أنا سعيد للغاية بالمباراة، كنا نعتقد أن لدينا فرصة منذ البداية، فخور جدًا لأن الفريق لم يتوقف عن اللعب بعد خطأ ويسلي (الذي تسبب في هدف تشيلسي)”.
وأضاف: “واصلنا اللعب بنفس الطريقة التي اعتدنا عليها، هذا ما يجعلني سعيدًا، كنا نعلم أن لدينا فرصًا لأننا كنا نلعب بأسلوبنا الخاص، حافظنا على الضغط عاليًا بعدما استقبلنا الهدف وشعر تشيلسي بذلك”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ماريسكا بعد خسارة تشيلسي أمام فلامينجو وطرد جاكسون المؤسف: لا يوجد شيء لأقوله
وواصل: “سجلنا الهدف الأول وواصلنا، من الصعب الفوز على تشيلسي، بالنسبة لنا الكرات الثاتبة هي جزء مهم من المباراة وقد منحتنا الهدف الثاني، سعيد جدًا المباراة ولكنه مجرد فوز، علينا الآن التفكير في مباراة الترجي، لأنها ليست سهلة”.
وواصل: “أنا مندهش، أعرف جودة الأندية الأوروبية، خاصة أندية النخبة، هناك 12 ناديًا في العالم من النخبة، أنا مندهش من تلك النتائج، هم غير معتادين على ذلك المناخ، في حين أن فرق أمريكا الجنوبية تنافسية للغاية، الفوز في ليبرتادوريس صعب للغاية، ولكن الفريق الأفضل لا يفوز دائمًا”.
وأردف: “نحن نتحلى بالصبر في المباريات ومعتادون على تلك الأجواء، لم أنم بشكل جيد لمدة 4 أيام لأنني كنت أتابع تشيلسي، أعتقد أنه الفريق الأكثر تكتيكية في أوروبا، هم يلعبون جيدًا، من الصعب اللعب ضدهم، كان فوزًا كبيرًا لنا”.
واختتم: “أنا سعيد جدًا، أي فريق يستطيع الفوز بتلك البطولة، هذه هي كرة القدم”.
Harry Tector’s career-best innings goes in vain as Ireland fall to final-over defeat
Mohammad Isam12-May-2023
Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrates his hundred in Towhid Hridoy’s company•Andrew Miller/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Bangladesh aced a 320-run chase against Ireland in the second ODI in Chelmsford, winning with three balls to spare in dramatic circumstances. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim kept his cool in the death overs, shepherding the last part of the chase with the tail. With four runs required off four balls, Mushfiqur played a double-handed scoop shot that eventually ran to the deep third boundary. Mark Adair bowled a no-ball off the previous ball, leaving him to try to contain the rampant Bangladeshis off a free-hit.In front of a 4,000 partisan fan, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s sublime hundred set up the “visitors” at the Cloud County Ground. He made 117 off 93 balls with a dozen fours and three sixes, raising the team from a difficult start, adding 61 with Shakib Al Hasan and 131 with Towhid Hridoy, who made an important 68.But the match went down to Mushfiqur needing to bat with Bangladesh’s long tail, particularly when Mehidy Hasan Miraz got out in the 40th over. Taijul Islam batted manfully at one end, but there were two hairy moments. Mushfiqur was nearly run out in the 42nd over when George Dockrell broke the stumps a split second after he had reached the non-striker’s end. A ball later, a Taijul edge smashed into Paul Stirling’s right cheek, counting as a dropped catch.Taijul fell lbw to Josh Little in the penultimate over, bringing Shoriful Islam to the crease. To everyone’s surprise, he plonked Little down the ground for a boundary, before Mushfiqur carefully managed to keep the strike in the last over. Adair bowled two fantastic full balls, before a full toss that was caught on the deep square-leg boundary. But Mushfiqur got the no-ball as the ball was over his waist, before nailing the free hit with a paddle scoop.Bangladesh got off to a poor start when captain Tamim Iqbal chipped Adair to square leg in the fourth over. Litton Das, after hitting two fours and a six, edged Graham Hume to leave the side on 40 for 2 in the tenth over.Shanto went after Hume with a four and a big six over long-on, before Shakib struck Andy McBrine for three fours in a row in the following over. It looked like a partnership that could salvage things for Bangladesh, but Curtis Campher nipped it in the bud, Shakib chipping him to point in the 17th over.After Shanto reached his fifty in the 20th over, he pulled Little for two consecutive fours, before lifting him down the ground for his second six in Little’s next over.At the other end, Hridoy was quietly doing his job. He was mostly feeding Shanto the strike by working the ball around with plenty of back-foot punches and dabs through the leg side. Soon though, Hridoy picked up two sixes, lashing Adair over midwicket first, and then flicking Hume over the same region. He repeated the dose in Hume’s next over, but after Shanto reached his century in the 34th over, Hridoy fell trying to pull Dockrell in the same over. His 68 came off 58 balls, including five fours and three sixes.Shanto got out next ball after striking Campher for a brutal straight six. Dockrell removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz with an lbw decision that was marginal, going on the umpire’s call upon review. But Mushfiqur held his nerve in the big chase, winning the game in some style.Harry Tector celebrates his century•Andrew Miller/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The start had felt like ages ago. The match was delayed by two hours and 15 minutes due to rain, but Ireland posted 319 for 6 in their 45 overs. Harry Tector made a superb 140 off 113 balls with a team record ten sixes and seven fours. Dockrell supported him brilliantly with an unbeaten 74.Hasan Mahmud initially vindicated Tamim’s decision to bowl first, as he removed both Ireland openers Paul Stirling and Stephen Doheny early on. Stirling was caught behind off an inside edge in the first over before Doheny gave Mehidy a catch at point.Coming to bat at No. 4, Tector added 98 runs for the third wicket with captain Andrew Balbirnie, himself experiencing a dip in form. Tector latched on to the short balls quite well, lofting Shoriful for his first six in the 12th over. But it was the three sixes in a Taijul over that properly launched Tector’s innings.After Balbirnie made 42, Lorcan Tucker and Campher also fell cheaply. But Tector remained his belligerent self, aided by a marauding Dockrell. After Tector struck his sixth six in the 28th over, Dockrell smashed Shakib over his head, before pasting Shoriful for three more in the 38th over – twice straight and once over cover.Tector added four more sixes, breaking the Ireland record in the process. His ten sixes is an Ireland record, bettering Balbirnie’s eight sixes against Afghanistan in 2019. Ireland finished on 16 sixes in the innings, a team record too.Tector fell for 140 in the 42nd over when Ebadot Hossain knocked back his stumps, but by then most of the damage was done. He and Dockrell added the fastest century stand for an Ireland pair in ODIs. Dockrell struck a few more blows to take his score to 74 not out, while Adair scooped in an eight-ball unbeaten 20.Only Mahmud stood out with his accuracy among the Bangladesh bowlers. Shoriful went for 83 in his nine over, although he took two wickets. Taijul also got hammered properly, while Shakib, mostly tight, went wicketless against Ireland for a change. Bangladesh’s fielding was ragged at times, with Tamim dropping Tector on 23, and Shakib shelling a simple chance at cover from Dockrell on 59.
Medindo forças pela Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, Náutico e CRB se enfrentaram na noite desta quarta-feira, pela 23ª rodada, no estádio dos Aflitos. E os donos da casa mostraram sua força. Ainda na etapa inicial, Maurício e Jobson abriram boa vantagem para o Timbu, com Gabriel Conceição descontando para o Galo já na etapa complementar, fechando o placar em 2 a 1.
Com o resultado, a equipe pernambucana chegou aos 21 pontos, porém seguindo no Z4, agora na 18ª colocação. Já o time alagoano, por conta do tropeço, acabou caindo para a 12ª posição com seus 29 pontos.
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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS
INÍCIO DE JOGO TRANQUILO
Mesmo precisando do resultado, o Náutico, logo nos primeiros minutos, pouco conseguiu impor sua força para cima do CRB, que por sua vez, acabou perdeu Marthã, aos 6 minutos, deixando o jogo lesionado. Na sequência, até meados dos 25 minutos, apesar do Timbu aparecer mais em seu campo de ataque, seguia sem produzir jogadas ofensivas mantendo o placar zerado.
NÁUTICO INSISTE E ABRE BOA VANTAGEM
Com o tempo passando, o panorama do jogo era basicamente igual, com os pernambucanos arriscando mais. Até que a insistência surtiu efeito. Aos 37 minutos, depois de cobrança de escanteio, a zaga do Galo acabou afastando parcialmente com a bola sobrando na área, dando a deixa para Maurício chegar batendo forte no ângulo do gol defendido por Diogo Silva.
Embalado pelo tento, os mandantes não diminuíram o ritmo. Momentos depois, aos 41, após uma boa descida, Jobson e Richard Franco tabelaram para o volante chegar mandando para o fundo das redes, abrindo 2 a 0 ainda na etapa inicial.
CRB DESCONTA NO MARCADOR
Na volta para o segundo tempo, a equipe do CRB resolveu adotar uma postura mais ofensiva na expectativa de encontrar, ao menos, um empate. Com isso, após algumas tentativas, aos 14 minutos os alagoanos finalmente conseguiram marcar com Gabriel Conceição, que aproveitando o erro do sistema defensivo rival, bateu na saída de Lucas Perri.
GALO VAI PARA O TUDO OU NADA
Tentando aproveitar o bom momento, os visitantes viram o Timbu ditar o timo novamente. Porém, apesar de neutralizar as investidas, teve uma baixa importante no jogo, aos 23 minutos, quando Anselmo Ramon recebeu o cartão vermelho em lance com Wellington.
Com um a menos em campo, as coisas ficaram mais difíceis para os comandados de Daniel Paulista. Tentando repor o espaço em campo com algumas trocas promovidas, poucas foram as oportunidades de marcar, fazendo com que Elano gastasse o tempo realizando alterações por sua vez, além de ver seu time administrar o resultado até o apito final, com direito a muita festa da torcida do Timbu nas arquibancadas.
FICHA TÉCNICA Náutico 2×1 CRB
Data e horário: 10/08/2022 – 19h (de Brasília) Local: Estádio dos Aflitos, em Recife (PE) Árbitro:Rafael Traci (SC) Assistentes:Kleber Lucio Gil (SC) eAlex dos Santos (SC) VAR:Marcio Henrique de Gois (SP)
NÁUTICO:Lucas Perri; Anilson, Wellington, Maurício, Bruno Bispo e João Lucas; Jobson (Mateus Cocão, aos 36’/2ºT), Richard Franco (Thomaz, aos 11’/2ºT) e Souza; Pedro Vitor (Júnior Tavares, aos 36’/2ºT) e Kieza (Jonathas, aos 17’/2ºT). (Técnico: Elano)
CRB:Diogo Silva; Reginaldo, Iago Mendonça, Wellington Carvalho e Guilherme Lopes; Claudinei (Bruninho, aos 30’/2ºT), Yago (Jalysson, no intervalo) e Marthã (Gabriel Conceição, aos 6’/1ºT); Paulinho Moccelin (Fabinho, aos 25’/2ºT), Emerson (Maycon Douglas, aos 30’/2ºT) e Anselmo Ramon. (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)
يدخل منتخب مصر للشباب مواليد 2005 معسكرًا مفتوحًا خلال شهر يوليو الجاري، في إطار استعداداته لخوض منافسات كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا “تشيلي 2025”.
ويُقام المعسكر في مشروع الهدف بمدينة 6 أكتوبر خلال الفترة من 3 إلى 31 يوليو، ويخوض خلاله “شباب الفراعنة” مباراتين وديتين أمام المنتخب الأوليمبي الكويتي يومي 17 و20 يوليو.
وأعلن الجهاز الفني بقيادة أسامة نبيه قائمة المنتخب التي ضمت 34 لاعبًا، من بينهم القوام الأساسي للفريق الذي شارك في نهائيات كأس الأمم الإفريقية للشباب، إلى جانب عدد من العناصر الجديدة التي يسعى الجهاز الفني لتقييمها خلال المعسكر. طالع هنا
وقال حمادة أنور، المدير الإداري لمنتخب مصر، إن المعسكر يأتي ضمن خطة إعداد قوية للمونديال، الذي ستُقام منافساته خلال الفترة من 27 سبتمبر إلى 19 أكتوبر المقبلين.
وأسفرت قرعة البطولة عن وقوع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى إلى جانب البلد المستضيف تشيلي، ونيوزيلندا واليابان.
Hampshire recover from sticky start to take control of proceedings on day one
ECB Reporters Network25-Jun-2023
Liam Dawson scored his first century of the season•PA Images via Getty Images
Nick Gubbins marked his first appearance against boyhood club Middlesex by grinding them down with an ultra-patient unbeaten 98 as he and centurion Liam Dawson wrestled control for Hampshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship.Gubbins batted for six sticky hours and 262 balls on a dry and flat pitch, while Dawson added 111 not out of his own in a slightly sprightlier four hours. The pair put on 190 to break a 100-year record for the fifth wicket for Hampshire against Middlesex, beating the 149 scored by Lionel Tennyson and Tom Jameson in June 1923.Middlesex, who had been asked to field first, had been in the ascendancy at 94 for 4 after Josh de Caires had taken two-for but were kept at bay thereafter as Hampshire reached the close on 284 for 4.Gubbins left Middlesex in 2021, initially on loan, after 152 first-team matches in seven years having come through the age groups. That departure was made with Gubbins keen to play of more his home cricket on batter-friendly wickets – with Lord’s then towards the bottom of the runs-per-wicket tally – and, he hoped, push his case for an England call-up.He has averaged a smidgeon under 36 since his entrance at the Ageas Bowl – with his twin centuries against a Lancashire attack containing James Anderson and Hasan Ali in 2022 the highlight in two inconsistent years.Gubbins has often walked to the crease in the formative overs of innings, and Fletcha Middleton’s footwork-less drive at Toby Roland-Jones in the fifth over meant another early arrival. A frenetic period saw Joe Weatherley dropped at gully, Gubbins almost run out by half the pitch, and Weatherley caught at square leg taking on a shorter Tom Helm delivery – the fast bowler particularly accurate in the morning.The dry pitch, unblemished blue skies, the heat of the sun and the Kookaburra ball – being trialled in this round of Championship fixtures – means spin is likely to be prevalent in this match.Offspinner de Caires, one of four spinners between the two sides, was introduced as early as the 15th over and picked up the wickets of James Vince and Ben Brown. Vince had picked him up for two sixes in his lively 35 before he was leg before to one which straightened before Brown hard-handedly pushed to short leg. De Caires, on his first Championship appearance of the season, only previously had Shan Masood as a first-class victim.The slowness of the pitch needed batters to settle in to succeed, Gubbins took on the challenge and thrived. He only had 32 off the first 100 balls he faced, with his full force and naturally aggressive tendencies shelved for an occupation, which dragged Dawson along with him.In fact, despite coming to the crease 30 overs later than Gubbins, Dawson reached his half-century first. Dawson, perhaps unfortunate not to be named as Jack Leach’s replacement in the England Ashes squad, was a master at manoeuvring gaps, running hard and cutting.He reached his third fifty in his last five Championship innings in 87 balls, before Gubbins punched through the covers later in the over to notch up his milestone in 148 deliveries. Dawson also won the race to three figures, after more careful batting, in 164 balls. It was his 12th first-class century and first at the Ageas Bowl since 2019.Gubbins – who had only faced his former county in non-competitive or 2nd XI games – was given a life after a simple chance was shelled at square leg and despite batting almost all day a century will have to wait.
Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi are the latest teenage stars to emerge at Manchester United, with each manager, and each season, seemingly defined by the rise of young talents in recent years.
For the Red Devils and Erik ten Hag last time out, the talk of the town was academy sensation Kobbie Mainoo, with the Stockport native enjoying a remarkable six months or so following on from his first Premier League start against Everton in November 2023.
From that Man of the Match display, the only way was up for the midfield maestro, with the campaign reaching its climax in the FA Cup final, a game in which both Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho got on the scoresheet.
Those club heroics were followed by standout moments on the international stage, with the teenager starting every knockout game in England’s surge to the Euro 2024 showpiece.
Fast forward less than a year, however, and the 19-year-old has become almost something of a forgotten man at Old Trafford amid what has been an injury-hit season, with doubts emerging around his role in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up.
Football does indeed move quickly, and while Mainoo has not enjoyed the campaign that was hoped, it would be unwise to write him off already. As teammate Rasmus Hojlund stated, this is a “generational” talent, remember.
The latest on Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd future
Both fans and pundits alike are quick to move onto the shiny new toy, with Heaven and Obi now among the key talking points for the Red Devils, while Mainoo continues his bid to return to full fitness in the background.
Mainoo’s PL season in numbers
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games (starts)
18 (12)
Goals
0
Assists
0
Big chances created
4
Key passes*
0.7
Pass accuracy*
87%
Tackles*
2.1
Interceptions*
0.9
Balls recovered*
4.0
Total duels won*
46%
Stats via Sofascore
Even prior to his latest injury, which was sustained back in February, the local hero had endured a mixed time of things under the Amorim regime, with the Portuguese stating that the young diamond had been “struggling a lot” defensively as part of the midfield two.
Those woes had come amid claims in January that Chelsea were potentially keen on making a surprise swoop for his services, with reports suggesting that United and the player had stalled on contract talks.
That has been followed by further claims of late that Mainoo – who still has two years left on his current deal – may even look to move abroad this summer, having reportedly demanded a £180k-per-week salary to stay put in Manchester.
Thankfully, more recent reports have indicated that negotiations over a bumper new deal have been ‘positive’, with INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently quashing suggestions that either Mainoo or Garnacho would be sold to raise profits.
Manchester United – Kobbie Mainoo
Yes, the Englishman has endured a tricky season, yet having shone in an advanced number ten berth prior to his injury setback – after notably scoring and assisting away at FCSB – there does appear to be a way back into the side moving forward.
Hopefully, the playmaker is still at the start of his United journey. For one of his former colleagues, however, that journey proved relatively short-lived.
The Man Utd star who was ahead of Mainoo
Like Garnacho – who scored twice in the final against Nottingham Forest – Mainoo was a central part of the U18 side that claimed FA Youth Cup glory in May 2022, having started in that showpiece triumph at the age of just 16 at the base of the midfield.
While the latter man did go on to make three appearances in the following season for the first team, it wasn’t until the summer tour of 2023 that he properly established himself as a senior star, having started against the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid, before being cruelly struck down by injury.
A year earlier, however, another promising starlet had endured a breakout pre-season of his own, with fellow midfielder Zidane Iqbal looking set to be Ten Hag’s first academy success story, amid his displays in the summer of 2022.
Indeed, the Manchester-born, Iraq international had looked “so impressive” up against the likes of Liverpool on that tour, as per BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, with Ten Hag believed to have been left surprised that the youngster hadn’t played for the senior side more regularly.
Prior to that, Iqbal had only made one appearance in December 2021 under Ralf Rangnick, with both he and Charlie Savage among those to feature in a dead-rubber Champions League tussle with Young Boys.
That tally looked almost certain to be bolstered following Iqbal’s displays ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, with journalist Melissa Reddy also highlighting his pre-season impact, after stating that he has “heaps of technical quality, skill and intelligence”.
Frustratingly for the then-teenager – who was even likened to Ten Hag favourite, Frenkie de Jong, by talent scout Jacek Kulig – he was restricted to a peripheral role that season, having failed to even make it off the bench under the Dutchman.
As MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst stated at the time, the 5 foot 11 ace was then ultimately ‘usurped’ by Mainoo in Ten Hag’s midfield pecking order, with the then-United boss taking the decision to sell Iqbal for a reported fee of just £850k in the summer of 2023.
Since joining Eredivisie side Utrecht, the 21-year-old has played just 38 times amid what was an injury-hit debut campaign, albeit while scoring once in 16 league outings in 2024/25 to date.
With United including a buy-back clause as part of the deal amid his move to the Netherlands, it is not out of the question that Iqbal one day ends up back at Old Trafford, even if he is hardly ripping it up at present in his new home.
Most likely, however, it looks like his United chapter has come and gone, with it perhaps hard to argue with the decision to ultimately plump for Mainoo instead.
Chelsea also enquire over "monster" rival star alongside Mainoo interest