The move back to his home state will allow the fast bowler to spend more time with his young family in Ahmedabad

Shashank Kishore01-Sep-2025Hot on the heels of Jayant Yadav’s departure comes another high-profile move away from Haryana, with India seamer Harshal Patel signing with Gujarat for the 2025-26 domestic season.Having completed all formalities, Harshal will be available for Gujarat’s pre-season preparations, which kick off with a tri-series later this month that also features the other two teams from the state, Baroda and Saurashtra.Related

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Harshal’s return to Gujarat completes a circle. He was born there, and made his List A debut for the side in 2008-09 following an impressive Under-19 season. However, he made the switch to Haryana soon after returning from the Under-19 World Cup in 2010, when he was unable to make further inroads in Gujarat.He eventually made his first-class debut, for Haryana, in 2011-12 and had been a key member of their squads across formats since. In all, Harshal has picked up 246 first-class wickets in 74 matches at an average of 24.02, with 12 five-wicket hauls.He was instrumental in Haryana becoming a force across the white-ball formats over the years, and was part of the side that went on to clinch their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2023-24.”Right from 2010-11 since my Under-19 days, almost the entirety of my professional career has been with Haryana, I owe a lot to them,” Harshal told ESPNcricinfo. “If that move to Haryana as an 18-year-old hadn’t worked out for me I would have probably moved to the USA and not played cricket in India.”Harshal divides his time between the USA – where he has extended family – and Ahmedabad, where he lives. Harshal’s decision to switch teams comes at a time when he felt he needed to prioritise spending time with his young family between cricket commitments.”It was getting difficult for me to be away from the family for long periods of time,” Harshal said. “So I wanted to come back and see if I could finish my career here. Glad I got an opportunity to do that.”Harshal had been approached by another team, but he wanted to first see if Gujarat would be keen. As it turned out, they were “more than happy” to have him back.”I first asked Anil Patel [secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association] and he was gracious enough to say, ‘this is your home, welcome back.’ Having come back, I’m open to play everything and anything that the team wants me to play.”While my specialisation will remain white-ball, I’m only more than happy to take any opportunities that come my way with red-ball cricket.”Harshal hasn’t played for India since January 2023 but an international comeback isn’t on his mind•BCCIHarshal hasn’t been a first-class regular for the past two seasons, only playing seven red-ball games over that period. But looking ahead, he’s happy with where his body is at and is keen to get back to the grind if picked.”My body allows me to bowl 20 overs in a day over two months or however long the Ranji Trophy season is; it doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I love the grind. The goal has always been to play the best cricket that I can play for as long as I can irrespective of the format.”At 34, Harshal remains an IPL regular and is coming off an excellent season with Sunrisers Hyderabad – 16 wickets in 13 games at an economy rate of 9.80. He played the most recent of his 25 T20Is in January 2023, and isn’t in the mix currently. The prospects of an India comeback, though, aren’t on his mind.”My India selections and IPL and all of these things have come as a byproduct of that mindset of giving it my best wherever I play,” he said. “My motivation has nothing to do with whether I’ll play for India or not or whether I’ll play IPL or not.”My motivation has everything to do with whether I still have the hunger to go to the ground and bowl 10-15 overs in a day, and if I can do it over a period of two-three months. And the answer is yes.”At Gujarat, Harshal hopes to lend his experience to a set-up that is largely in a transition phase under head coach Ramesh Powar.”I’m pretty excited to see what I can add here to the team’s betterment,” he said. “That’s what I spoke about with Ramesh and Axar [Patel] recently. If I can contribute in some way to the development of players, mentor them and help them in their journey, there’ll be no bigger satisfaction.”As far as my own journey is concerned, I’ve always asked myself how can I be the best player I can be. That has kept me going for all these years, and it still keeps me going. My training consistency is probably better than it has ever been.”I’ve been really lucky and I’ve been really fortunate that I don’t have that financial anxiety anymore [thanks to the IPL]. So now that factor is taken away, the only thing that still pushes me is I want to play this game because I love playing this game.”

Juan Soto was officially introduced as a New York Met on Thursday, donning the team colors he’ll call his own for the next 15 years and $765 million of his career.

At the introductory press conference, Soto made clear that there were two driving factors in his decision to join the Mets: the way the team treated him and his family, and his belief in the franchise’s commitment to winning championships.

Speaking with a pool of reporters after the official presser was over, Mets owner Steve Cohen revealed his goal for the Soto era, and how it came up in conversation with the team’s new star during the free agency process.

Asked directly how many titles he thought the team would win with Soto, Cohen said, “Let’s put it this way. He asked me, how many championships would you like to win over the next 10 years, I said two to four.”

While some might say the only correct answer to such a question is “every single one of them,” it seems Cohen and Soto had a more direct, realistic outline for what would look like a successful partnership between them.

It’s an ambitious goal, but ambitious goals are what you are going for after giving out the biggest contract in the history of sports.

No team in baseball has won four titles in 10 years since the last Yankess dynasty, who won four in five years from 1996 to 2000.

The Mets already won the bidding war for Soto against their crosstown rival—now they’re coming for the Yankees’ dynasty status.

Walker Buehler made his spring training debut on Sunday and while he may be in a new uniform, his stuff looks familiar.

The 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Boston Red Sox this offseason, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending the first eight years of his career there. He saw his first action with Boston on Sunday and looked right at home.

Buehler threw the first two innings against the New York Mets and looked dominant. In the first inning, he allowed a double to Jeff McNeil to open things up, then got a groundout from Francisco Alvarez before striking out Jesse Winker on three pitches. Buehler hit Jose Siri on his first offering, then struck Alexander Canario out on three pitches.

He was even better in the second inning. He struck out Brett Batty looking, got Jared Young to ground out to first, then struck out Jose Azocar. Buehler pitched two innings, allowed one hit and struck out four

That's an encouraging outing for the Red Sox. After returning from Tommy John surgery, Buehler struggled during the regular season last year. In 16 starts he went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, striking out 64 but walking 28 in 75 1/3 innings pitched. He looked much better in the postseason, as he went 1-1 in four appearances with a 3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13 strikeouts against five walks in 15 innings. He got the save in Game 5 of the World Series, pitching the final inning as the Dodgers closed out the New York Yankees to win the title.

While it's only a one-year deal, the Red Sox made a steep financial investment in Buehler to add to a rebuilt rotation that now includes Garrett Crochet. They need him to turn things around this season. His first start was a positive step in that direction.

Towhid Hridoy has defended Bangladesh’s approach during their chase against Hong Kong, suggesting that the goal was to play “smart cricket” and win first, instead of focusing on their net run-rate.Bangladesh knocked off the 144-run target in their Asia Cup opener in 17.4 overs, but at the post-match press conference, Hridoy was repeatedly asked if the team could’ve finished the game earlier, to perhaps show a statement of intent.”We wanted to ensure that the match doesn’t slip away from us,” Hridoy explained. “We tried to end the game early but I couldn’t connect the ball that well. I think the result is more important than finishing one or two overs earlier. You (the media) would have had something to say had we lost today.Related

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• How Martin Coetzee fell in love with Hong Kong cricket

• Litton leads the way as Bangladesh overcome Hong Kong

“We could have finished the game earlier but we stuck to the demands of the situation. Our mentality is to always win. I think we played smart cricket. We could have finished two or three overs earlier, but we could have lost one or two more wickets. We must prioritise partnerships. We tried to hit more boundaries, but it didn’t happen.”Bangladesh batted at 8.28 runs per over to reach the target with 14 balls to spare. To go above Afghanistan’s NRR of 4.70, they needed to reach the target in less than 12 overs. Bangladesh’s captain Litton Das said in the presentation ceremony that the pitch didn’t support consistent big hitting, and that the size of the Abu Dhabi ground also forced them to rotate the strike more.”So, should we have gone to the ground to lose against Hong Kong? Our target was to win. Every team can have their day in T20s. Maybe we could have finished earlier had I struck a few more boundaries,” Hridoy said.”We want to beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, so run-rate isn’t what we are worried about at this stage. We don’t want to complicate matters so early in the tournament.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a permanência de Abel Ferreira assegurada após o título brasileiro, o Palmeiras quer repetir a fórmula das últimas temporadas para ter sucesso em 2024. Mas o que esperar do Verdão no próximo ano? O Lance! listou alguns pontos para ficar de olho!

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

COMPETIÇÕES

Pelo segundo ano consecutivo, o Palmeiras disputará cinco campeonatos distintos: Campeonato Paulista, Supercopa do Brasil, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil e Campeonato Brasileiro.

PODE CONQUISTAR

O entrosamento da equipe e a disparidade entre os rivais deixam o Verdão como favorito ao título estadual. Tanto no Brasileirão quanto na Libertadores, Atlético-MG e Flamengo devem ser os principais adversários do Palmeiras, que também possui chances de conquistar a Copa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidade

QUAL JOGADOR VALE FICAR DE OLHO?

O Palmeiras não deve apresentar um “pacotão” de reforços, mas a diretoria vem se movimentando no mercado e acertou com Aníbal Moreno e Bruno Rodrigues. A chegada do atleta ex-Racing deverá mudar a dinâmica do meio-campo, enquanto o atacante ex-Cruzeiro ocupará o lugar de Dudu, que se recupera de lesão no joelho.

+ Veja como ficou a tabela do Brasileirão após a última rodada

E NA BASE?

2023 foi o ano de Endrick, mas o Palmeiras possui outras Crias da Academia em seu elenco que podem chamar a atenção na próxima temporada. Os grandes nomes que devem ganhar mais oportunidades em 2024 com Abel Ferreira são Luis Guilherme e Estevão.

continua após a publicidade

Chelsea have now reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz, who has already revealed where his “dream” move away lies.

Those at Stamford Bridge aren’t wasting any time before thinking about 2026 reinforcements in an attempt to improve Enzo Maresca’s young side. They were at their ruthless best against Wolverhampton Wanderers, dispatching of the managerless relegation candidates to win 3-0.

Full of praise for his side following a convincing victory, Maresca expressed his delight whilst also admitting that Chelsea could have scored even more goals at Stamford Bridge.

That said, as happy as Maresca was, improvements could still be on the way. BlueCo haven’t exactly been shy when it comes to recruitment in recent years and that looks set to continue in 2026.

After spending big last summer, the Blues are already reportedly eyeing Karl Etta Eyong who has admitted that he dreams of completing a move to Stamford Bridge to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Didier Drogba.

The Levante star has scored six goals in 12 games this season and is now one of the hottest prospects in European football. When next summer arrives, he could yet get the chance to realise his Chelsea dream, whilst another transfer target also potentially gets his move.

Chelsea join Daniel Munoz race as "dream" move shared

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Munoz from Crystal Palace following an excellent spell at Selhurst Park. Joining the Blues in pursuit of the right-back, however, is Barcelona. The Spanish giants are looking to spoil Chelsea’s plans and help Munoz realise what he previously admitted is a dream move when playing for Belgian side Genk.

Having now ticked off his Premier League dream, it’s difficult to imagine a world in which Munoz turns Barcelona down if they come calling. The good news for Chelsea is that, either way, they’ll be able to bid farewell to playing against such a talented star.

6 passes & 2 duels won: Maresca must drop 5/10 Chelsea star after Wolves

Chelsea breezed to victory over Wolves, although it wasn’t all plain sailing.

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Joe Nuttall

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Praised as “amazing” by Palace boss Oliver Glasner last year, it was only back in August that Munoz was pocketing Chelsea’s Jamie Gittens in a 0-0 draw – limiting the winger to just two touches in the opposition box.

Chelsea star criticised vs Wolves after having fewer touches than Sanchez

The India A coach says Abhimanyu “stays very motivated to challenge himself,” as he has been on the fringes of Test cricket for years now

Daya Sagar16-Sep-2025

Abhimanyu Easwaran was in the India squad for the England tour recently•PTI

Abhimanyu Easwaran first turned out for India A in July 2018. Over the years, he has played 30 first-class matches for India A – KS Bharat is second with 21 – but the Test cap has not come his way yet, despite being in five Test squads, including the one in England earlier this year. He is back with India A, for the two four-day games against Australia A, and back to the grind, which can’t be getting easier at 30. But Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the India A coach, expects Abhimanyu to “stay very motivated to challenge himself,” as always.”Abhimanyu is an experienced player. He has captained Bengal and played a lot of cricket at the higher level. So there isn’t much need to say a lot to him because he knows how cricket is played,” Kanitkar said at a press conference ahead of the first four-day match in Lucknow.”It was not a big challenge to talk to him because he is already prepared. He knows what to do if opportunities don’t come. One good thing is that he stays very motivated to challenge himself, push himself, perform well. And if he gets a chance at the higher level, do well there too. He is mentally very strong, prepared, and is also playing well.Related

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“He is batting well. He is in good form and in good touch. He is a very, very good player who has done it [for India A] many times. So I think he is ready for the challenge now. He is in a good place right now in terms of batting and the way managing his cricket.”Lucknow is a city that will evoke fond memories for Abhimanyu. He has played three first-class matches there, and has scored a century each time to average 117.75, with a total of 471 runs in five innings.Last year, while playing in Lucknow for Rest of India in the Irani Cup match against Mumbai, Abhimanyu scored 191 while opening the batting. Ten days later, he played a Ranji Trophy match at the same ground for Bengal against Uttar Pradesh and scored an unbeaten 127. The call-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad followed.No one in India has possibly been on the fringes of Test cricket for this long without making the cut. But now, with India A again, Abhimanyu will walk out to open and will be expected to play the same sort of calm, responsible, long innings he has made a name for, and hope the Tests at home against West Indies next month are the ones he had been waiting for.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has enjoyed a perfect start to life in the Scottish Premiership, with three wins in his first three matches in charge.

The Light Blues had only won one of their first eight games in the division under Russell Martin and Stevie Smith, which is why the German manager’s fast start is particularly impressive.

Rohl has already showcased his pragmatism and adaptability with formation changes through all three matches, playing variations of a 3-4-2-1, a 3-4-3, and a 4-2-3-1.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach will surely have been pleased with his side’s performance in their last game before the international break, as they won 3-0 against Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.

Rangers head into the international break on a high, possibly for the first time this season, and they will be looking to continue their strong form against Livingston at Ibrox next week.

The German manager’s arrival at Ibrox has been a breath of fresh air in recent weeks, and it is clear to see that several players have benefitted from his appointment.

The Rangers players who have benefitted most from Danny Rohl's appointment

One of the players who has benefitted the most from Rohl joining the club is Brazilian forward, Danilo, who had fallen out of favour under the previous management team.

The Brazilian striker played one game, against Sturm Graz in the Europa League, between August and Martin’s exit last month, yet has featured in all six of the games under Rohl.

Danilo has scored two goals in three Premiership matches under the German head coach, which shows that he is thriving in the new system and is trusted by the manager.

Possibly the most obvious player to benefit from the change in management is Nicolas Raskin, who was dropped from the squad for several games during Martin’s tenure. The midfielder even said that his future at Ibrox depended on the “coach” during the September international break.

The Belgium international has featured in every match under Rohl so far and scored his first goal in the Premiership so far this season with a header against Dundee.

Minutes

90

Goals

1

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

93%

Dribble success rate

100%

Tackle success rate

100%

Ground duels won

7/12

Interceptions

2

Dribbled past

0x

As you can see in the table above, Raskin put in a brilliant all-round performance at Dens Park, as he showcased his qualities in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

The Belgian star’s quality on the ball was on full display, whilst he was also impressive physically out of possession as a defensive force, which is why he is such a key player for the Gers when at his best.

It is fair to say that Danilo and Raskin are two of the players who have benefitted the most from the change in manager and change in style of play, given their respective situations under Martin and how important they have been to Rohl in his first six matches in the dugout.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is still time for the German boss to assess the squad and the upcoming international break will be his first chance to take some time and look deeper into the team and the academy, to see what he has to work with for the rest of the campaign.

With this in mind, the former Sheffield Wednesday tactician should look to reward Clinton Nsiala with a chance to impress after the break, after the central defender did not get a look-in under Martin.

How Danny Rohl can unearth his own Virgil van Dijk for Rangers

Rangers swooped to sign the French centre-back from AC Milan in the summer of 2024 after his contract at the San Siro came to an end, and he was given some opportunities by Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson.

The left-footed star played 13 times in all competitions for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign, along with four appearances in the Trust Trophy for the B team, per Transfermarkt.

Nsiala also scored the first senior goal of his career against Fraserburgh in the SFA Cup at the start of the year, which was his only goal in those 13 appearances last term.

Unfortunately, though, the central defender has not played a single minute of football in the 2025/26 campaign, as Martin decided to leave him out of the squad for all of his matches in charge, per Transfermarkt.

Nsiala was in first-team training ahead of Rohl’s first game against Brann, though, which suggests that he is still around the group and available to be considered for selection.

Last season, Rangers winger Ross McCausland, who left on loan this summer, described the French colossus as a “a left-footed Van Dijk”, which was considerable praise, as the former Celtic centre-back has won the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool, the club he now captains.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Nsiala played 11 times in the Premiership for the Light Blues and helped the team to enjoy a fairly impressive run of form in those matches.

Dundee

1-1 draw

St Johnstone

3-1 win

Aberdeen

3-0 win

Dundee United

3-1 win

Ross County

4-0 win

Hearts

3-1 win

St Mirren

2-0 loss

Kilmarnock

4-2 win

Celtic

3-2 win

Aberdeen

2-2 draw

St Mirren

2-2 draw

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old talent has only lost one of his 11 appearances in the Premiership to date, winning seven, whilst the Gers only won one of the seven league games they played under Martin before his exit last month.

That is not to say that all of those results were down to Nsiala’s performances, of course, but it does show that he can be a key part of a team that wins week-in-week-out in the league, as he started ten of those 11 games.

The French star, who won 52% of his aerial duels in his 11 league outings (Sofascore), is a young player who has shown potential in a Rangers shirt, which is why Rohl should consider unleashing him as his own left-footed van Dijk.

Nsiala could come in as an alternative to Derek Cornelius, who came off on Sunday with a knock, as a natural left-sided centre-back. Nasser Djiga and John Souttar are both right-footed defenders who are better suited on their natural side, which is why it could make sense to bring the ex-Milan ace in if Cornelius misses any matches through injury.

Move over Moore: Rangers star proved why he's their "best player" vs Dundee

Rangers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens on Sunday and Danny Röhl’s “sensational” star was as key as Mikey Moore in this Scottish Premiership victory.

Nov 9, 2025

The left-footed brute was forgotten about by Martin, given his complete lack of minutes, but Rohl still has the chance to bring him into the fold after the international break.

Manchester City are the closest challengers to Arsenal in the 2025/26 Premier League title race. We are only 11 games into the new season, with Pep Guardiola’s side four points behind that of his protege Mikel Arteta.

Last Sunday’s 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium was a performance which emphasised how deadly the Citizens can be at their best. It was certainly a statement to the Gunners, who might not have as much of easy a run at the title as one might think.

With the January transfer window around the corner, City might well look to add to their squad to boost their title hopes. Here is a look at their dream lineup if they manage to bring a few new faces into the club in January.

1 GK – Gianluigi Donnarumma

One of City’s marquee summer signings was Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain. Despite signing James Trafford as well, the Euro 2020 winner has been Guardiola’s first choice.

He’s played 12 times so far for the East Mancunian outfit, keeping an impressive six clean sheets and conceding just seven goals. Standing at six-foot-five, he has a large wingspan, which makes it nigh on impossible to score past him.

This save against Bryan Mbeumo’s strike in the Manchester Derby, his debut for the club, was an example of how colossal he is.

2 RB – Ben White

The first hypothetical new addition to this City side comes at right-back, and, interestingly, from their title rivals Arsenal. Journalist Graeme Bailey recently revealed that City are “keeping tabs on his situation” at the Emirates Stadium. A price was not named by Bailey.

It has not quite been the season the England international may have expected. White has struggled for regular game time under Arteta, with Jurrien Timber the first-choice at right-sided full-back.

White has only played six games across all competitions, with just one of those appearances coming in the Premier League. The 28-year-old is incredibly comfortable on the ball, averaging 5.99 progressive passes per game in the last 365 days. He seems like an archetypal Guardiola full-back and could bring plenty of quality in that position.

3 CB – Ruben Dias

One of the two first-choice centre-backs under Guardiola this season has been Ruben Dias. The Portuguese star has played 15 games across all competitions, and it is no secret the quality that he brings.

Composed on the ball, exceptional out of possession, and a brilliant leader, the 28-year-old has long been one of Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants. City Director of Football, Hugo Viana, called him “the ultimate professional” in the summer, highlighting his importance to City.

4 CB – Josko Gvardiol

The other half of City’s centre-back pairing is Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian star can also operate left-back, but this term, he has found himself alongside Dias at the heart of the Citizens’ defence.

It is a role he has excelled in, too. Gvardiol is one of the best ball-playing defenders in the league, averaging 5.62 progressive passes and 1.03 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which really highlights his on-ball quality.

5 LB – Nico O’Reilly

It has been a breakthrough campaign for the versatile Nico O’Reilly. He has cemented his place in the City side at left-back, despite being a number ten by trade, and has made 14 appearances across all competitions.

Naturally an attacking player, the City academy graduate has chipped in with one goal and four assists, so he is having a productive season going forward.

This might be one of the things that caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel. The defender has been named in the last two England squads, amid hopes of securing a World Cup place next summer.

6 DM – Nico Gonzalez

Figuring out how to cope without Rodri in the side has been a conundrum for Guardiola over the last year. However, the form of Nico Gonzalez over the past few weeks has been a huge bonus. The Spaniard is finally starting to show why City paid £50m to get him from Porto last winter.

Once the best midfielder on the planet, the last 12 months have not been easy for Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of last season. He’s only played 415 minutes this term as he continues to be plagued by injuries.

Gonzalez has stepped up in his countryman’s absence. Guardiola clearly sees a lot in his talent, having described him as a “mini Rodri” last season. The former Porto star has played 16 games across all competitions, and it will be hard to displace him from a side in great rhythm.

7 CM – Phil Foden

This season, one of City’s academy graduate gems, Phil Foden, is thriving in a new role. Previously operating as a winger, the England star has excelled in a deeper number eight berth, with Guardiola giving him more responsibility in build-up and from deeper areas of the pitch.

In that deeper role, BBC Sport analyst Umir Irfan said he has “been one of the best players this season.”

Goals & assists

0.5

7

Key passes

3.1

38

Dribbles completed

0.8

10

Tackles and interceptions

1.5

19

Expected goal involvements

0.44xGI

532xGI

The stats from this season highlight how well the midfielder has played. For example, he averages 3.1 key passes and 1.5 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.

8 CM – Aleksandar Pavlovic

Partnering Foden in this City dream lineup could be Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, the second new signing. The 21-year-old is reportedly a key target for City, as they look to boost their midfield stocks, amidst Rodri’s injury issues and Bernardo Silva’s contract, which will expire this summer.

The midfielder, who could be worth as much as £43m, is well thought of around Europe. Journalist Manuel Veth has even suggested he can follow in the footsteps of a German legend and be “the next Toni Kroos,” which would surely appeal to City fans.

Despite being so young, he is well-trusted by City great and current Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. The Belgian has played Pavlovic 14 times this season. As for the Kroos comparison, well, that stems from his excellent passing ability. In the last year, Pavlovic has averaged 7.59 progressive passes per 90 minutes, ranking him in Europe’s top 8%.

9 RW – Rayan Cherki

The summer was a busy period for City, who looked to enhance the quality of the squad. In signing Rayan Cherki, it is fair to say they did just that. The Frenchman only cost £34m from Lyon, but has taken to life at City like a duck to water.

The France international is a versatile attacker who can play as a number 10 or off the right. Wherever he is operating, though, Cherki has shone this season despite injury issues. He already has six goals and assists in nine games, averaging a goal involvement every 535 minutes.

10 LW – Jeremy Doku

Last Sunday, against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, the Etihad Stadium witnessed one of the best performances in a long while from Jeremy Doku. He scored the third goal and completed seven dribbles, terrorising the Liverpool defence.

Already this season, the tricky Belgian winger has chalked up seven goals and assists this term. He has shone under Guardiola, with Irfan even going as far as saying he is “one of the best in the world” right now.

يستعد الجيش الملكي المغربي لمواجهة الأهلي في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد أن بدأ مشواره بخسارة مفاجئة أمام يانج أفريكانز التنزاني بهدف دون رد على ملعب الأخير.

وكشفت مصادر لموقع “البطولة” المغربي، أن إدارة الجيش الملكي قررت تقديم احتجاج رسمي للاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، على خلفية ما اعتبرته ظلمًا تحكيميًا في مباراته الأولى، بعد إلغاء هدف صحيح للفريق بداعي التسلل، رغم أن اللقطات التلفزيونية أثبتت صحة الهدف. هدف الجيش الملكي الملغي أمام يانج أفريكانز في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وقاد المباراة الحكم الإيفواري مودست ريشارد كوكورا، بمساعدة مواطنيه هيرمان ديريري وأبا ميدارد إتيان، بينما تولى كواسي فريدريك فرنسوا بيرو مهمة الحكم الرابع.

وعادت بعثة الجيش الملكي مساء أمس إلى المغرب، على أن تصل إلى مطار الرباط – سلا صباح الغد، قبل أن يحصل الفريق على راحة اليوم الأحد استعدادًا لبدء التدريبات المكثفة تحضيرًا لمواجهة الأهلي.

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ويأتي الأهلي ضمن المجموعة الثانية إلى جانب شبيبة القبائل الجزائري والجيش الملكي المغربي ويانج أفريكانز. موعد مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

تقام مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي، يوم الجمعة المقبل، 28 نوفمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 10 بتوقيت السعودية، 8 بتوقيت المغرب على أرضية ملعب مولاي الحسن بالعاصمة المغربية، الرباط.