كشفت المسحة الطبية التي خضع لها المدرب العام بالجهاز الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك مدحت عبد الهادي عن تعافيه من فيروس كورونا.

وكان عبد الهادي قد أصيب بالكوفيد 19 قبل أيام ليغيب عن معسكر الفريق استعدادًا لمواجهة الزمالك.

كيف تناولت الصحف العربية مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا؟

وأكد مصدر لـ”بطولات” أن المسحة الثانية التي خضع لها المدرب جاءت سلبية، وسيتواجد بمعسكر الفريق.

ويواجه الأهلي نظيره الزمالك في نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا مساء اليوم على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

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Throughout the entirety of the 38-game Premier League campaign, from the first week right up until the last, Manchester United have paid Alexis Sanchez a basic salary of £15,600,000; he earns a weekly wage of £400,000-a-week before bonuses.

In that time, the Chilean forward has scored just a single league goal. One.

For those of you who wouldn’t count maths as one of your strong points, that equates to £15,600,000 a goal for the 30-year-old. What an utterly ludicrous waste of money.

Will OGS still be in charge of Man Utd come next May? The Flying Pig discusses in the video below…

The former Arsenal man’s struggles have been well documented since he arrived at Old Trafford, along with his astronomical wages, but one stat that emerged after Cardiff recorded a shock 2-0 win on the final day makes for particularly painful reading.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, the Bluebirds’ hero on the day with two goals, managed to double Sanchez’s goal tally at Old Trafford for the entire campaign in the space of one game – the Englishman’s brace means he is just one goal away from Sanchez’s total at the stadium since signing from Arsenal.

Other players to score more goals at Old Trafford than Sanchez this season include Lucas Moura, whilst the likes of Jan Valery, Shkodran Mustafi, Jack Marriot and Aboubakar Kamara have equalled the former Udinese man’s tally.

It can very easily be argued that Sanchez is the worst signing in the club’s entire history.

Since stepping foot through the doors at Old Trafford on the 22nd January 2018 up until the current day, United have paid £27,200,000 to Sanchez excluding bonuses, and have gotten a measly five goals in return – a whole £5,440,000 per strike.

Away from his obvious on-pitch troubles, Sanchez’s earning have caused hierarchical chaos at the club, making contract talks with David de Gea extremely difficult due to the Spaniard wanting to be paid the same as the club’s top earner.

His earnings have also led to the departure of fan favourite Ander Herrera, who was demanding in excess of £200,000-a-week during negotiations over a new contract, a strange thing to do considering he was previously on £80,000-a-week – probably because Sanchez earns £400,000-a-week and arguably does the least out of any member of the squad.

Worst signing in United’s history? He’s got to be up there.

Neil Lennon being offered the permanent job at Celtic reeks of Peter Lawwell and the Parkhead board taking the easy option. The Hoops know that Lennon can win silverware, and he’s proven that before, but they run the risk of being caught by Rangers if funds aren’t made available in the next couple of months of the transfer window.

The next two or three years are going to be massive for Celtic. Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig, Craig Gordon, Emilio Izaguirre, Jonny Hayes and Scott Sinclair are coming to the end of their time at Parkhead and will need to be replaced over the next few years, which can only be done if adequate funds are made available for Lennon to go out and splash in the market.

Then there’s the threat that Rangers are providing. The Gers may not be in a position to challenge next season for the Scottish Premier League title, but should Lennon be left to feed off of scraps in the market then ten in a row will be monumentally harder, and it was never going to be easy to begin with. Steven Gerrard will be eyeing up title #55 to prevent ten in a row, and it cannot be allowed to happen.

Lennon won’t exactly need a war chest to match the fees spent by the European giants this summer, but making funds available to finally replace Moussa Dembele and bring in some new fresh faces will be imperative if the club wants success. Glasgow has been green and white for a long time and the way football is going to keep it that way it will cost money, which the Parkhead higher-ups will all know, so making it happen is going to be crucial.

Celtic fans, do you think Lennon will have any cash to splash this summer? Let us know, comment below!

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Many an eyebrow was raised in the past week when Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham United confirmed that they had sold Edimilson Fernandes to Mainz of the Bundesliga for an undisclosed fee.

The international with Switzerland arrived at London Stadium from FC Sion in the summer of 2016 and was an instant hit in east London, winning the hearts of fans with a match-winning performance against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

But as time went by the 23-year-old was forced into different positions such as right-back and attacking midfield by different managers amid injury crises.

This and injuries of his own meant that things started to go a bit pear-shaped for the central midfielder, culminating in him falling out of the Swiss national squad and being sent out on loan at Fiorentina last summer.

When he returned at the end of the 2018/2019 campaign, he was told he was surplus to requirements and shipped off to Germany permanently.

Today, three Football FanCast writers give their verdicts on whether West Ham have made the right move in selling Fernandes…

Harry Sherlock

“Fernandes was never likely to play at West Ham in the coming season. He’s already 23 and he never really showed that he was likely to deliver on his potential in east London. His 48 appearances are hardly memorable and the Hammers now have money that they can reinvest into the squad, hopefully by bringing in another midfielder with greater quality who can reinforce the centre of the pitch. Shifting Fernandes, then, was a necessary step; the Hammers aren’t likely to regret it.”

Matt Dawson

“Given the performances of Fernandes whilst he was on loan in Italy West Ham were absolutely right to let him go. Although he’s 23, he seems like one of those promising players who is destined to never achieve their full potential. If he couldn’t cut it in Italy then it’s highly unlikely he’d have been able to do the business in Premier League. The Hammers have done the right thing.”

Christy Malyan

“I saw a lot of promise in Fernandes – a very athletic player who featured in a few different capacities during his time at West Ham. But the Irons’ squad does require streamlining and at the age of 23, it does feel like his Irons career had reached a point of now or never. It seems West Ham were convinced it’s a case of the latter, however, I would’ve given the midfielder a final chance next season to try and stake a claim for a first-team role.”

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Going into what could be a rigorous 2019/20 campaign for Wolves they will need more depth. It’s something that’s no secret, especially given some of the tired performances we saw from them following their FA Cup semi-final defeat.

Although Nuno Santo’s men were then able to rally, there were some individual performances that hadn’t reached the levels we saw earlier in the season.

Next term, the Midlands club will have the Europa League to deal with and as a result they’ll need a bigger squad, particularly if they come through the qualifying rounds.

At the moment they’re particularly thin on the ground for quality in the attacking third of the pitch and reinforcements will be needed.

On the chalkboard

Last weekend, The Evening Standard reported that Wolves had an interest in Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck. The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and therefore available on a free transfer.

If they were to continue to pursue the England international it would be a smart signing for a club like Wolves.

And given his performances in the Europa League this season, he could help them thrive on the continental stage.

Welbeck’s displays are never too convincing but he’s a big game player, something Wolves aren’t lacking. Before suffering a horrific broken ankle against Sporting Lisbon he was in very promising form.

Playing mainly as a striker in Europe throughout the early parts of 2018/19, he averaged 2.5 shots per game. That’s a record this season only bettered by Raul Jimenez from a Wolves perspective who had 2.9 shots per match in the Premier League.

As such, he could be the perfect player to help share the workload from an attacking point of view.

Welbeck is a phenomenally hard worker and his two goals in the four games he played in the competition before injury showed he’s more than capable of providing able back-up. He’d also perfectly fit the counter-attacking style Wolves play with.

We’ve found Raul Jimenez’s No. 1 fan and… it’s a little scary. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

Capped 42 times by England, he started the season by scoring five goals in his first ten matches in all competitions.

Wolves fans may need convincing that he’s the right option but should contact be made with the attacker, there would be few better options to help tackle the task of the Europa League.

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West Ham United are attempting to shift five flops from the wage bill as they look to fund their summer business, per ClaretandHugh.

The Hammers have signed Pablo Fornals from Villarreal for a £24m fee.

But they are also attempting to move players out of the club, with Pedro Obiang, Jordan Hugill, Martin Samuelsen, Reece Oxford and Sam Byram all up for sale.

A deal that would have taken Oxford to Bundesliga club Augsburg has fallen through, however, while Hugill and Samuelsen have received little interest.

Championship club Nottingham Forest reportedly want Byram, while Obiang has been routinely linked with Roma, though it is not stated if any bids have been tabled for the duo.

With West Ham’s summer business still up in the air – Football FanCast understands that they would like to sign a striker and potentially a defender too – it seems imperative that some of the deadwood is shifted so that the received transfer fees can be reinvested into the squad.

But have the Irons picked the right players to move on?

FFC’s writers give their verdicts below!

Billy Meyers

“West Ham could be making a huge mistake by sanctioning these deals. Apart from Obiang, the other four are still fairly young and could still have something to offer at the London Stadium – Oxford and Samuelson are especially risky departures to agree to. The pair have shown great promise at times and should be given more of a chance.”

Charles Jones

“It’s hard to disagree with these players leaving the London Stadium if Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t feel that they have a future at the club. That list has a lot of unfulfilled potential in it and it is a shame that these players couldn’t produce the goods for the Hammers, but it’d be a pointless endeavour to keep them on the wage bill if they’re not wanted.”

James Beavis

“They are completely right. If they want to move forward and progress, West Ham can’t afford any passengers and these players clearly fit under that category. While some of them may be relatively young in football terms, they haven’t done enough to show that they have a big part to play at the London Stadium in the future. Pellegrini has made his mind up, and it would be difficult to argue with his decision.”

This season, Roy Hodgson has been very flexible at Crystal Palace when it has come to formations.

The Eagles boss has had no problem with using a 4-4-2 in one game, then a 4-3-3 in another.

And it is something he is likely to continue doing in the next campaign, especially if he loses his talisman Wilfried Zaha, with a transfer to former club Manchester United currently being mooted (The Telegraph).

Hodgson, however, should look towards using a 4-2-3-1 on a more permanent basis if Zaha does end up leaving Selhurst Park.

The Ivorian’s departure would almost certainly leave a creative void in Crystal Palace’s team, and switching to a formation such as the 4-2-3-1 might just be the thing that helps Hodgson to fill it.

Realistically, the Eagles are going to find it hard to find a like-for-like replacement for Zaha who is of equal ability.

Bearing that in mind, getting three attackers into the side behind a striker, which the 4-2-3-1 allows, may be the way to go.

In the likes of Andros Townsend and Max Meyer, Hodgson already has a couple of decent offensive options.

After using the Zaha money to reinforce that area, Hodgson could have the tools to field a very good three-man attack, one more capable of making up for the Ivory Coast international’s loss than a sole like-for-like replacement.

As far as life after Zaha goes, 4-2-3-1 could just be what Crystal Palace need to get by.

Crystal Palace fans, how would you like to see your team line up next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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I’m not sure what the first port of call would be after winning a maiden Champions League title.

Virgil van Dijk simply dropped to the floor when he saw Divock Origi’s decisive goal nestle inside the post and into the netting.

Jordan Henderson couldn’t hold back the tears and enjoyed the moment with his dad, who had suffered from cancer last year.

But what did Roberto Firmino do?

Has Salomon Rondon had a better season than Bobby Firmino? Matt from The Magpie Channel discusses in the video below…

Well, the Brazilian international clearly wanted to do something that would last a bit longer than a hug, and something that would also show everyone he meets just how much Liverpool Football Club means to him.

In just the space between the final whistle sounding on Saturday evening and the plane taking off from Madrid the following morning, the former Hoffenheim attacker found the time to dye his hair red and create a new look to celebrate the Reds’ sixth Champions League title.

It’s certainly a bold thing to do given the fact there’s no hiding the obvious change in his appearance, but Firmino is a bold guy.

Whether he’s kicking the ball into an empty net whilst looking to other way, or celebrating with some pretty odd dance moves, the 27-year-old is an eccentric character – his bold fashion statement emphasises that.

Every other player in Jurgen Klopp’s squad clearly loves the club going off the scenes following the final whistle in Madrid, but Firmino’s gesture clearly shows just how much he wants the world to know that he plays for Liverpool and is proud of it.

And why shouldn’t he be?

The No.9 plays for one of the most attractive clubs in the world right now under an exquisite manager; it is a very good time to be associated with Liverpool.

أعلن الاتحاد الألماني لكرة القدم في بيان رسمي اليوم الإثنين تجديد الثقة في مدرب المنتخب الأول يواكيم لوف، بعد الأنباء الأخيرة التي أشارت إلى إمكانية رحيله.

وأعلن فرينز كيلر رئيس الاتحاد الألماني بعد اجتماع لمجلس الإدارة اليوم، أنه تم الاتفاق على استمرار يواكيم لوف مديرًا فنيًا للفريق.

وبعد الهزيمة بسداسية من إسبانيا بدوري الأمم الأوروبية في مباراة المانشافت الأخيرة، كانت التقارير تشير إلى أن يواكيم لوف أيامه قليلة في قيادة منتخب ألمانيا.

وأكد الاتحاد الألماني أن تجديد الثقة في يواكيم لوف جاء لقيادة الفريق إلى كأس العالم 2022 ومشواره في يورو 2020 والتي ستقام في يونيو المقبل 2021، وأن مباراة واحدة لا يمكن أن تكون مقياسًا للمدرب الذي يحظى بثقة الاتحاد الألماني لكرة القدم.

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Attendance at The Valley has soared over the course of the season, with the general optimism around Charlton increasing as their incredible 2018/19 journey goes on, with around 25,000 Addicks fans making their way to SE7 for the nail-biting victory over Doncaster Rovers on Friday.

Next up for Lee Bowyer’s side? Sunderland at Wembley Stadium. The Londoners can achieve promotion if they beat the Black Cats on Sunday and thousands of Charlton fans have been buying tickets this week – 38,227, to be exact.

It’s a phenomenal effort from the fans to match that from the players and Bowyer, which has got the team to where they are now, and the Addicks faithful will be hoping that their support can propel their beloved side to glory.

One of English football’s lesser known rivalries was reignited on Saturday thanks to an unlikely source. Check out the video above to find out which one…

Former midfielder Bowyer has done a fantastic job in reuniting the fans and the team once again, with Roland Duchatelet threatening to drive a wedge between them, and it will be quite the story if Charlton can lift the trophy this weekend. Here’s what the Addicks fans on Twitter had to say about the impressive number of tickets sold…