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With the January transfer window well and truly underway, Manchester City have unsurprisingly wasted no time before turning their attention to some much-needed reinforcements for Pep Guardiola.

Man City transfer news

Sat outside the Premier League’s top four and entering 2025 off the back of just their second win in 13 games in all competitions courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, the Citizens are enduring their worst-ever campaign under Guardiola. They’ve been hit from all angles, with an ageing squad catching up to them and injuries piling higher than they’ve ever done in the last nine years.

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ByBen Gray Jan 2, 2025

For the first time in what feels like forever, Manchester City are desperate for reinforcements in order to turn their season around once and for all. Signing a replacement for the injured Rodri will undoubtedly sit top of their list of priorities, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi already threatening to steal the headlines as a result, but Guardiola needs more than one reinforcement this month.

All it takes is one glance at the Spaniard’s defensive options to realise just how much Manchester City could do with an overhaul. Kyle Walker is 34 years old and has shown signs that he could be past his best, John Stones remains injury-prone and is also now in his 30s, and the same will be able to be said about Nathan Ake this time next year.

So, one particular transfer rumour should come as little surprise. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have now joined the race to sign Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens in the January transfer window.

Competing against a number of other top clubs, Guardiola and Manchester City will hope to convince the young central defender, valued at £25m, and commence a much-needed rebuild in the process.

"Excellent" Khusanov would ease Man City's defensive issue

Whilst it’s unlikely that Khusanov would come straight into Guardiola’s starting side if the likes of Stones and Ake were passed fit, recent injury issues open the door of opportunity for the young defender to instantly make his mark if he completes a January switch. At just 20 years old, he’d certainly solve City’s problem of an ageing backline in a deal focused on a future star who could play a part for years to come.

Khusanov has already earned plenty of fans throughout what is still a young career, including Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who described Lens star as “an excellent” centre-back and “the future legend of Uzbek football” at the end of last year.

City have had no trouble in convincing players in the past and they may now look to use that pull power once again to win the race for Khusanov’s signature this month.

Things haven’t exactly been plain sailing for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have suffered from poorly timed injuries to key players, questionable suspensions in big games, and an overall downturn in form just when Liverpool seem to have found theirs.

However, the last week or so has seen the Gunners get back to somewhere near their best with three impressive wins on the bounce and brilliant performances from defence to attack, particularly out wide.

Bukayo Saka has been utterly sensational, and Gabriel Martinelli has found himself on the scoresheet a couple of times to boot, so fans should be particularly excited about reports linking them to a player who’s been compared to the pair of them.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Arsenal are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s incredibly exciting Bradley Barcola.

The report claims that the Gunners are keen to add another dynamic winger to their ranks in 2025, and the young Frenchman is one of the players they have identified.

Interestingly, while the report claims that a transfer for the 22-year-old looks unlikely at the moment, rumours of a growing split between him and manager Luis Enrique could provide the North Londoners with an opportunity to strike in the future.

In all, signing Barcola could prove complicated, but given his ability, potential, and comparisons with Saka and Martinelli, Arsenal should still try to get it done.

Transfer Focus

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

Barcola's comparisons to Saka and Martielli

So, before looking at Barcola’s performances for PSG over the last few seasons, let’s examine these comparisons to Saka and Martinelli and where they come from, for that matter.

While there are apparent similarities in the fact that all three are young and exciting wingers, the comparison in question actually stems from FBref.

The statistical hub compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman this season, while the Brazilian comes in fifth.

Non-Penalty G+As

1.20

1.29

0.66

Progressive Passes

3.20

3.89

1.97

Expected Assists

0.40

0.47

0.22

Shots

3.91

3.60

1.72

Live Passes

35.0

33.1

27.2

Goals per Shot

0.26

0.10

0.23

Goals per Shot on Target

0.53

0.29

0.43

Key Passes

1.80

3.33

1.58

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.50

2.04

1.32

Tackles

1.20

1.57

1.18

Aerial Duels Won

0.80

0.56

0.92

We can see this similarity best by looking at the underlying metrics in which the players rank closely. For example, the PSG ace and Hale End dynamo rank closely for statistics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, expected assists shots, live passes and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Likewise, the former Lyon ace ranks closely with the former Ituano gem in metrics such as goals per shot and per shot on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, tackles and aerial duels won, all per 90.

So, with it clear that the 11-capped international shares clear statistical similarities to both Arsenal stars, does he have the raw output to suggest he’d be able to keep up with them on the pitch? Absolutely.

In just 18 appearances this season, the Lyon-born dynamo has scored ten goals and provided two assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games and lending credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best LWs in Europe.”

Moreover, in 42 appearances last season, only 29 of which were starts, the 6 foot phenom scored five goals and provided nine assists, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was just 20 years old at the start of the campaign.

Ultimately, while it could prove complicated, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Barcola next year, as he already looks like a superstar at just 22, and with players like Saka and Martin Odegaard around him, the sky would b the limit for his potential.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

The incredible star is undroppable for Arsenal ahead of their match with Manchester United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 4, 2024

The South Africa head coach says the batters lacked intent and belief

Mohammad Isam24-Mar-2022

South Africa’s head coach Mark Boucher has said that his side’s “fear of failure” played a role in their defeat in the ODI series against Bangladesh. Boucher repeated the phrase several times during the post-match press conference, adding that the team lacked belief in playing spin, something that he considered they did well in Sri Lanka last year.The home side were bowled out for 154 in 37 overs, with offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz getting Bangladesh the initial breakthrough of Quinton de Kock’s wicket, while Shakib Al Hasan kept things steady later in the innings. Taskin Ahmed took eight wickets in both of South Africa’s losses, but Boucher believed that if they handled Mehidy and Shakib better, they could have won this series.Related

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“We lacked the intent today,” Boucher said. “After we got off to a very good start today, we went to sleep. It is certainly not the way we want to play. We wanted to take the game forward after a good start. We just didn’t manage to do that. I think they bowled well but you have to take some risks to create scoring opportunities. It was almost like we went out with the fear of getting out, rather than going out to set a total. The way the wicket played, it was over 300.”I think (the ODI side needs) belief in the way we want to play. We played spin well in Sri Lanka, but when we came to South Africa where the conditions helped the spinners, we went back to the old way of playing. We are still having a lot of chats, to try to get the guys to believe that this is the way to play spin in turning conditions.”It was almost Indian-sort of conditions in our home country. We want the guys to be proactive, but they didn’t do it today. We have been working on our shot selection. The guys know they have the armory to do that, but it is one thing to understand that you got it, but it is another thing to execute it. There seem to be a little bit of a block and fear of getting out, rather than understanding that the game is about runs and try to put the fear of failure out of your mind.”Boucher said that that the lack of pace offered by Bangladesh’s spinners was the key difference between how they played spin in Sri Lanka, and against India at home, and how they handled Bangladesh.”If you look at where we have come from, we always had problem playing spin. We worked hard to score all around the wicket. We have to be nice and aggressive, but also smart when playing spin. Certain players like Rassie (van der Dussen) did it against India in Paarl.”He took the game on, and it changed the whole state of the game. Bangladesh’s spinners bowled really slowly against us, so it is always difficult to run down and hit the ball over the top. We have the skillset to do it. I just think that the belief was not there maybe against this type of bowling. We almost went into our shells in this series.”Boucher, however, conceded that South Africa were outplayed by Bangladesh, which has set off some alarm bells for their direct qualification to the 2023 World Cup. Currently, South Africa are in ninth position in the ICC ODI Super League points table.”The alarm bells are always there. We are putting ourselves under pressure but we have to come to the party. I certainly believe that if we rock up, we stick to our game plans, we arrive with confidence, we can beat anyone in the world. We have shown that in the T20 World Cup.”It is basically the same personnel in our one-day team as well. We have a lot of things to talk about. We have beaten those teams (India, England, Australia) before. We have to beat them again to qualify (to the World Cup).”

Danni Wyatt believes the only way is up for England’s women after coming through a stiff opening test with pride against the World Cup favourites Australia. However, she accepts they can take nothing for granted against a West Indies team who opened their own campaign with a thrilling first-day win over hosts New Zealand.”We’re all really confident,” Wyatt said. “We played some fantastic cricket the other night against the Aussies. Obviously we’re gutted not to get the win, but there’s so many positives that we can take away from that game. Especially with our batting. If we can put two and two together with the bowling and the batting, it will stand us in great stead for the rest of the tournament.”Tuesday’s contest in Dunedin could prove to be pivotal for both teams in a tight group stage, from which only four of the eight teams can progress to the semi-finals.Related

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Another West Indies win would put Stafanie Taylor’s team firmly on course for the last four, while leaving England playing catch-up with back-to-back losses. However, Wyatt has faith in her team-mates, not least Nat Sciver, their centurion against Australia, whom she believes is the best allrounder in the world.In reaching 298 for 8 in reply to Australia’s stiff target of 311, England laid some of the ghosts of their Ashes campaign, in which they had failed to pass 200 in any of the three ODIs. And Sciver was front and centre of their efforts all night long, claiming two of Australia’s three wickets to fall before leading the chase with 109* from 85 balls.”She’s still as cool as a cucumber,” Wyatt said. “Very calm is our Natty, nothing seems to faze her. She’s ready to go again for training this afternoon and then for the game tomorrow. I’ve always said she’s the best allrounder in the world. Her and Katherine [Brunt] together, we’re so lucky to have them both on our team.””In training and matches, Nat’s always so calm and cool, which spreads around the team. The other night she bowled ten overs, was very busy at midwicket and extra cover, and then went out and hit 100 off 80 balls, so hopefully she can keep up her good run of form. She’s just amazing.”More of the same may be necessary to keep West Indies at bay, given the power-packed nature of their line-up. In their three-run win over New Zealand, Hayley Matthews was the star turn with 119 from 128 balls, featuring 16 fours and a six. Bbut it was Deandra Dottin’s stunning final over that sealed the contest, as she delivered the final three wickets for two runs in her first bowl since September.”They’ve got some great hitters in their team, a great bowling attack as well,” Wyatt said. “Dottin’s been around since I’ve been around. I’m getting old now, but she’s a game changer. Matthews can take the game away from you as well. But we’ll just go out there like we did the other day – nice and calm. Everyone knows their role, hopefully we’ll have fun and get those two points.”With the Hundred and the Big Bash, a lot of us have played with and against the likes of Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor,” she added. “So we know what we’re going to come up against. We’re definitely ready for the challenge, hopefully the cricket Gods are on our side tomorrow.”Despite the defeat to Australia, England’s mood in their opening fixture was notably upbeat compared to the gloom that accompanied their Ashes setbacks. Much of that has been attributed to a week of post-quarantine R and R in Queenstown, and Wyatt believes that vibe has followed them back down to the South Island, and their new base in Dunedin.”There’s a good feel around the group at the minute,” she said. “It’s a World Cup. We played some great cricket against Australia. And we’re all really happy with the way we played. So there’s not many sad faces around. The sun’s finally come out here in Dunedin, so we’ll go for breakfast, enjoy the sights, then get really focused for tomorrow’s match.”This is my fourth time in New Zealand, which is incredible,” she added. “For a few of us, this could be our last World Cup so we’ve got to go out there and enjoy every minute, and embrace the challenges. In many ways, it was nice to play the Aussies first up. Now we can focus on all of the other teams and hopefully get on a roll, because there’s so many positives from that match the other night against the Aussies.”Everyone looked so comfortable, and it was small margins. You look back and think, if only I stopped that four then – or whatever – it would have been a different game. But it’s a World Cup. You’re going to be playing different teams every match. And it’s about being ready for that team, preparing well, and taking it game by game.”

Newcastle United have seriously struggled in the final third this season. Eddie Howe’s side have scored just 13 goals in 11 Premier League games this season, which is the joint-fifth lowest total in the division and the fewest of any team in the top half.

Alexander Isak, who last season netted 21 times in the top flight, has just four so far this season, while wingers Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon have managed just four and two goals respectively.

Addressing his team’s poor goal return following their defeat to Brighton last month, Howe said: “We’re going through a phase where we’re not scoring, but the positive is we’re creating chances.”

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, it’s back to hard work on the training pitch,” he added.

While things have picked up slightly in recent weeks, with the Magpies having scored six in their last three games in all competitions, including three in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest, Newcastle will no doubt be looking to bring him in some offensive reinforcements in both January and next summer.

Ibrahim Maza wanted at Newcastle

One attacking talent Newcastle and PIF are reportedly eyeing for a move next year is Hertha BSC’s Ibrahim Maza. According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Magpies are one of a number of Premier League clubs “interested” in the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, alongside Brentford, Fulham, Leicester City, and West Ham.

Plettenberg claims that if Hertha, who were relegated to Germany’s second division in 2023, fail to achieve a return to the Bundesliga this term, “a departure at the end of the season seems likely.” Maza, who Plettenberg described as “one of the rising stars of the 2. Bundesliga,” is valued somewhere between £8 and £16.7 million.

Hertha are currently 11th in the 2. Bundesliga, having won five, lost five, and drawn two of their 12 games so far. Maza has been a ray of hope for Cristian Fiel’s side, however, having scored four goals and provided two assists in all competitions.

Who is Ibrahim Maza?

Maza has spent his entire professional career with Hertha, having initially joined the Old Lady as a boy in 2018. He made his first-team debut for the club in a defeat to Bayern Munich in April 2023 and has since been a regular fixture in Fiel’s first-team squad.

Born in Germany, he previously represented a number of the country’s youth teams, but now plays for Algeria at senior level, for whom he is eligible through his father. Maza received his first call-up last month for the Fennec Foxes last month and made his debut in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo.

Speaking about Maza after his call-up, Algeria boss Vladimir Petkovic said of the teenager: “He’s a talented and technically gifted player with a high footballing IQ, despite his youth”.

“His early-season statistics speak volumes about his potential and ability to influence the game with deadly runs and build-up play,” he added.

According to Islamabad police, his name was removed from the FIR after the alleged victim retracted her earlier statement

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2022All charges against Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah, who was named in a case concerning the alleged rape of an underage girl, have been dropped. According to Islamabad police, Yasir’s name was removed from the First Information Report (FIR) after the alleged victim retracted her earlier statement.”The victim admitted that Yasir Shah’s name was included in the FIR due to misrepresentation,” a supplementary report from the Islamabad Shalimar police station, where the FIR was first lodged, said. “Yasir Shah has nothing to do with the alleged rape case.”The case against Yasir was registered by the girl’s aunt, who alleged that Yasir’s friend Farhanuddin had raped her niece at gunpoint, and that Yasir had threatened the girl’s aunt when she attempted to register a complaint against Farhanuddin. The case against the pair was registered on December 19 under Sections 292-B (child pornography) and 292-C (punishment for rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code.Earlier this week Farhanuddin fled from the courthouse after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected by a district and sessions court.Shah, 35, has not made any public comment on the situation, while the PCB earlier said: “We have noted that some allegations have been levelled against one of our centrally contracted players. The PCB is presently gathering information at its end and will only offer a comment when in possession of complete facts.”

New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has a huge job on his hands in the next couple of months if he is to turn around the mess left by former manager Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils currently sit in 13th place, with a total of just 12 points from the opening ten matches – their worst start in their Premier League history.

Such form saw Ten Hag lose his job, with Amorim set to take over on November 11th, with the Sporting Lisbon head coach hoping to make the difference upon his appointment.

His first game at the helm will see him lead his new side to Portman Road on the 24th of November, looking to take advantage of the Tractor Boys’ early season troubles, whilst steering his new side in the right direction.

If the former Portugal international is to make an immediate impact in charge, he may be reliant on one player upon his return to action in the coming weeks.

Why Mainoo could be crucial for Amorim

Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo has taken to first-team football like a duck to water since his Premier League debut back in November 2023, often being the player to get supporters off their seats.

The 19-year-old has impressed with his ball-winning abilities, as demonstrated by his tally of 2.1 tackles won per 90 so far this season, but also in transition, starring in a box-to-box role under Ten Hag.

Mainoo has achieved an 88% pass accuracy also completing 74% of his attempted dribbles, demonstrating composure way beyond his years and showcasing his ability to find a teammate.

New boss Amorim operates two box-to-box midfielders in his 3-4-3 system, with a real impetus on being strong defensively but also having the ability to play the ball into forward areas and create opportunities for forward-thinking players.

As seen with the aforementioned stats, Mainoo has all the tools to be a hit with the newly appointed United boss, handing him the opportunity to become an immediate fan favourite at Old Trafford.

However, not everyone will be the 39-year-old’s cup of tea quite like Mainoo and he will be busy judging who should be on the chopping block in January. One such player earns as much as six times more than the dazzling midfielder.

The player Amorim needs to get rid of in January

Centre-back Victor Lindelof arrived at Manchester United back in the summer of 2017 in a £31m deal with real expectations of becoming a hit at the club and solving their defensive woes.

However, fast forward seven years, the 30-year-old Sweden international is no longer a regular starter at the club, often having to settle for a place on the substitutes bench, filling in when other players are injured.

The former Benfica talent has notched a total of 265 appearances for the club but has often failed to impress, as seen by the Red Devils’ recruitment this summer which saw two new centre-backs join the Premier League outfit.

2017/18

29

0

0

2018/19

40

1

1

2019/20

47

1

1

2020/21

45

1

2

2021/22

35

0

2

2022/23

35

0

0

2023/24

28

1

1

2024/25

6

0

0

Total:

265

4

7

Lindelof, who’s previously been dubbed as “shocking” by YouTuber Mark Goldbridge, has struggled with the demands of the Premier League, often prone to a mistake or two as demonstrated in the recent Carabao Cup victory over Leicester City.

He still pockets a huge wage despite his lack of impact in Manchester, earning £120k-per-week as per Capology – a figure that is six times higher than youngster Mainoo who only earns £20k-per-week despite his recent rise at his boyhood club.

Given his lack of positive output during his time in Manchester, Amorim must look to brutally part ways with Lindelof, a decision that will save the club a huge amount on a yearly basis in their recent cost-cutting efforts.

The new manager has a plethora of other defensive options at his disposal, with the Swede no longer having the quality needed to be a serious starter in a side looking to mount a push for the top four.

Amorim can revive Man Utd star who dropped a horror 3/10 display v Chelsea

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 4, 2024

Jenni Hermoso's brother has told a court the Spain star was "pressured into downplaying" a kiss from Luis Rubiales at the 2023 World Cup.

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Rubiales standing trial in Spain for World Cup kissAccused of sexual assault and coercionCould be jailed if found guiltyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former RFEF president Rubiales is standing trial in Spain after being accused of sexual assault and coercion after grabbing and kissing Hermoso after Spain beat England in the final of the Women's World Cup in 2023. Hermoso said afterwards the kiss was not consensual and added she was then pressured to downplay Rubiales' actions. The World Cup winner's brother Rafael has now testified at the trial and told the court what Hermoso said to him after the incident.

AdvertisementWHAT RAFAEL HERMOSO SAID

As reported by , he told the court: "She came to us half-crying and told us that they were pressuring her to take a stance downplaying the kiss."

Rafael added that then-national team manager Jorge Vilda, who is also on trial for coercion, spoke to him on the flight home. He said: "We were talking about soccer and the achievement of the team and suddenly he mentioned the kiss. He said that the president wanted me to talk to Jenni to ask her to record the video together downplaying the kiss, because that would be the best thing for everyone."

He also said that he felt Vilda had threatened his sister about not helping and that he had told the Spain boss: "I was not going to try to convince her to do something that I also don't agree with."

AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hermoso has already appeared as a witness at the trial, revealing the death threats she received after the kiss and how the saga "stained one of the happiest days of her life". Rubiales denies all the charges against him and is still yet to testify.

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AFPWHAT NEXT

The trial is set to continue and is expected to last 10 days in total. The prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a half-year jail term for Rubiales as well as a €50,000 (£41,000) fine for damages and a ban from working as a sports official.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has been ruled out with a hamstring injury as he edges closer to signing a contract extension.

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Davies picked up an injury against FeyenoordHas a strain on his left hamstring Expected to be out for a couple of weeksFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Davies has been ruled out for four to six weeks following a hamstring injury sustained during the team’s 3-0 loss to Feyenoord in the Champions League. The Canadian international limped off in first-half added time after receiving on-field treatment, with Raphael Guerreiro stepping in to replace him. Bayern confirmed the severity of Davies’ injury in a press release on Thursday and further updated his recovery timeline on Friday.

AdvertisementWHAT BAYERN SAID

Bayern put out a statement on Davies' injury which read: "Alphonso Davies sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring in the Champions League match at Feyenoord (0-3) on Wednesday night. This was confirmed by a scan carried out by the FC Bayern medical staff. The 24-year-old will be absent for the German record champions for the time being."

gettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

This isn’t the first time Davies has dealt with muscle issues this season. In December, he missed two matches due to a torn muscle fibre. Despite these setbacks, the 23-year-old has been a vital player under manager Vincent Kompany, starting 23 matches and appearing as a substitute twice, contributing one goal and three assists.

Amid his injury concerns, Davies is also in the middle of contract extension talks with Bayern. The left-back’s current deal is set to expire in June, but reports suggest both parties are nearing an agreement. This would be a significant boost for Bayern, as Real Madrid are waiting on the wings to lure the defender to the Santiago Bernabeu as a free agent.

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DID YOU KNOW?

While his absence is a blow for Bayern, it comes at a time when the club is also managing injuries to other key players, including Joao Palhinha and reserve goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Additionally, right-back Konrad Laimer will miss the upcoming match against Freiburg due to suspension.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo está trabalhando para dar a Rogério Ceni as garantias para que a temporada de 2022 seja mais vitoriosa e tranquila do que a de 2021. Para isso, o clube tem tentado buscar jogadores que o próprio técnico indicou como são os casos de Ronald e Romarinho, que pertencem ao Fortaleza e interessam como reforços para o Tricolor, mas com negociações que não iniciaram. Dessa forma, o LANCE! traz alguns números acumulados pela dupla durante o ano.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Aos 27 anos, Romarinho tem contrato com o clube cearense até julho de 2022 e pode assinar um pré-acordo com outro time em breve. Na temporada 2021, o meia-atacante fez 50 partidas, mas apenas 15 delas como titular, ou seja, o jogador não fazia parte dos 11 escolhidos de Vojvoda. No Brasileirão, por exemplo, foram somente nove jogos como titular entre os 31 em que atuou.

Em relação aos gols, foram apenas cinco marcados: dois na Copa do Brasil e três no Campeonato Cearense, passando em branco no Brasileirão. Mas na competição nacional ele acabou deixando sua marca com uma assistência. Diante disso, é difícil esperar um atleta que fará diferença nos gols, mas que poderá ser bastante útil na dinâmica que dará ao time no setor ofensivo.

Já Ronald, aos 24 anos, foi adquirido recentemente pelo Fortaleza e os valores pretendidos pelo clube assustaram um pouco o São Paulo, que deu um passo atrás na tentativa. No entanto, não houve uma desistência, uma vez que é um jogador versátil, que pode fazer mais de uma função no meio-campo e interessa demais ao estilo de jogo que Rogério Ceni quer implantar no time.

Na temporada 2021, o meio-campista fez 35 partidas, sendo 20 delas como titular, com destaque para suas atuações no Campeonato Brasileiro, em que esteve entre os 11 iniciais em 15 jogos dos 23 que participou na competição nacional. Ao todo, ele chegou a marcar dois gols durante o ano: um na Copa do Brasil e um no Campeonato Cearense (que também teve uma assistência).

Em relação aos números do Footstats, Ronald teve destaque nos desarmes certos, já que foi o segundo no quesito (47) em comparação com seus companheiros de equipe, perdendo apenas para Ederson, com 79. A estatística mostra que se trata de um jogador com capacidade de combate no meio-campo, mesmo não sendo um primeiro volante tradicional.

Ambas as negociações ainda não tiveram início e estão na fase da consulta, ou seja, não estão descartadas nem perto de um desfecho positivo, mas o certo é que ambos estão na lista de pretensões do São Paulo para a temporada 2022. As tratativas devem avançar nos próximos dias ou nas próximas semanas.