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Heated rivalries, a brazenly contrived format, and an often topless cricketing rockstar are among the ingredients that make the Asia Cup so compelling

Sidharth Monga28-Aug-20238:21

Runorder: Will we see the first ever India Pakistan Asia Cup final?

We never appreciate something until it is gone. With Asia Cup, it is the opposite. We appreciate it only while it’s there. Not before. Not after.The trophy doesn’t go on a tour, ESPNcricinfo runs no 50-day countdown for it, and hell, there isn’t even a comment piece criticising scheduling delays and the unavailability of online tickets. And then we act surprised every time the Asia Cup actually starts. At times it seems an even better tournament than the World Cup. Here’s why.The greatest rivalry
Shared border, arbitrarily drawn in the middle of a state. Shared culture. Shared bloodied history. Complicated geopolitics. Resentment for each other among common people, fuelled by opportunistic politicians, the media and the arms industry.Related

• Stats – Pakistan register their third-biggest win in ODIs

• Shanaka stresses on 'good brotherhood' between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

• Nepal have a party to spoil as Pakistan look to make the most of rare home game

• Are Pakistan undercooked? Will India perfect their balancing act?

• An Asia Cup XI featuring the best from the subcontinent

The cricket on the field is also messy: mostly friendly, sometimes nasty, always competitive. We could get to watch Pakistan vs Afghanistan possibly two times in the space of a fortnight.The second-greatest rivalry x 3 (possibly)
Proper nastiness among the players. Pettiness. Bitterness. In each other’s face all the time. Also each other’s friends in happier times.The rivalry is so imprinted on the psyche of the fans of both the teams that they will always cheer on the other team’s opposition. In the absence of a Pakistan-Afghanistan final, it won’t be an insignificant consolation if we can get Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka three times.India-Pakistan? Pah! Afghanistan-Pakistan is where it’s at•AFP/Getty ImagesThe format
Contrived to make sure the other rivalry in Asia gets some representation and have the two teams play each other three times so that the ACC can earn enough money to hold actual meetings instead of Zoom calls. And yet, such is the beauty of the competition that in the history of Asia Cup, there has never been an India-Pakistan final. Can there be a bigger snub to capitalism?The spirit of cricket
Or the absence thereof. As was clear from the dismissal of Shadab Khan in the final over of Pakistan’s thrilling second ODI against Afghanistan, there won’t be any reservations about running out the backing-up non-striker. It didn’t trigger a diplomatic crisis or generate reams of print full of condescending mental gymnastics on the spirit of cricket. The most significant thing about the run-out was how Shadab just walked off without remonstrating. This reaction from the batter – an appreciation of the risk involved in jumping the gun – will go a long way in normalising this dismissal.Just for this, R Ashwin should have been selected even if India don’t intend to play him in the World Cup.Shakib Al Hasan
With focus on things more important than the spirit of cricket, the match referees tend to look away when tempers flare. Which of course unleashes the rebel inside Shakib Al Hasan. In 2014, just before the Asia Cup, he rebelled against the invasive TV cameras when he, topless but for a towel wrapped around his shoulders, pointed to his crotch. He ended up being suspended for two matches in the main event, but the cameras knew better than to peek into the dressing room.The Asia Cup tends to bring out the rebel inside Shakib Al Hasan•Associated PressIn 2018, he made his way to the field topless, this time to raise awareness against unethically sourced fabric, repeatedly pointing towards the Sri Lankan fielders, saying their kits recycled from ocean waste was the way to go.Before you fact-check me and say it was the Nidahas Trophy and not the Asia Cup, that tournament was played exclusively by Asian teams in the usual spirit of Asian bonhomie. Nerd.What act of rebellion might the Asian rockstar have lined up for us this time?A reminder that the BCCI has a president
The PCB probably organised a commemorative dinner as a reminder that despite having been bullied out of staging a major portion of the tournament, Pakistan is still the official host of the tournament. However, one of the invites they sent served as a reminder to people in India that the BCCI in fact has a president, the genial former India allrounder Roger Binny, who has graciously accepted the invitation.The two that got away
No tournament can be perfect. The organisers missed a trick by not roping in a pair of commentators who were recently BCCI president and PCB chairman. We need to be reminded how liberating it can be to pronounce names as you fancy. We also need to reclaim the hashtag #ramizporn from the evil bots that peddle actual porn. Guess Team World Cup will steal one there.

The last couple of years have seen Tottenham Hotspur start to spend some serious cash to aid their pursuit of being competitive in the Premier League and Europe.

Such spending has already seen success being brought to North London, with Ange Postecoglou the beneficiary last campaign – subsequently leading the club to Europa League glory.

However, Thomas Frank will be the next boss to try and take the Lilywhites to the next level after taking the reins in the summer following the Aussie’s dismissal.

The Dane was handed an immediate £110m to make the changes he desired to the first-team to enable him to take the club to the next level under his guidance.

Despite the spending, throwing money left, right and centre doesn’t equal success, with numerous of the club’s former additions failing to live up to the hype they arrived with.

Ranking Spurs’ worst signings in the last five years

As part of the Spurs hierarchy’s big-spending in recent years, they broke their transfer record last summer, after forking out a staggering £65m for the signature of striker Dominic Solanke.

Such a move generated huge excitement, as the Englishman was seen as the replacement for Harry Kane after his own move to Bayern Munich 12 months prior.

However, the deal now appears to be somewhat of a waste, with the 28-year-old massively struggling with injuries – subsequently only featuring for 31 minutes of league action this campaign.

Sergio Reguilon is another player who cost a pretty penny in recent years, with the board paying £30m for his signature to prise him away from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020.

The left-back was seen as a long-term solution to the woes in such an area, but the move was a disaster, with the Spaniard only featuring a total of 73 times over his five years at the club.

He was released during the summer transfer just gone, further highlighting how disappointing his spell in the Premier League was – which firmly places him as one of the Lilywhites’ worst additions.

However, Brazilian striker Richarlison is arguably one of their worst signings in recent years, especially considering he was bought for an eye-watering £60m.

He’s been Frank’s starting number nine this season, but he’s failed to reflect the faith shown in him – subsequently scoring just once in the last 12 outings.

The biggest sign of his failure is his goalscoring tally, with the 28-year-old netting just 23 goals for the Lilywhites – a tally five times lower than that of former fan-favourite Kane.

The Spurs talent who can end Richarlison’s time in North London

As previously mentioned, Richarlison has massively struggled with the expectations placed upon him by the Spurs fanbase after his transfer to the club back in 2022.

His recent outings for the Lilywhites highlight his lack of positive impact within the final third, with his struggles going way beyond his lack of goals at present.

The former Everton man has only achieved a total of 58 touches of the ball in the last five outings across all competitions – with former striker Kane achieving a tally of 69 alone in his last Bundesliga outing.

Richarlison will certainly be on borrowed time in North London over the next couple of months, especially when Solanke inevitably returns from his recent injury setback.

However, the pair could have added competition for places from January onwards, as teenage striker Mason Melia joins the club from Irish outfit St Patrick’s Athletic.

The 18-year-old agreed to join the Lilywhites back in February, but has to wait another couple of months to link up with Frank’s men, given the rules around U18 additions.

His £1.6m transfer, a record for a player from the Irish top division, could well prove to be a bargain if he continues his impressive development during his time in North London.

Melia made his debut for his boyhood club back in 2023 at the age of just 16 and has since cemented his place within the first-team ranks – subsequently amassing a total of 93 appearances.

He’s also racked up a total of 22 goals within that period, a record that has led to one youth analyst labelling the Irish teenager as “a star in the making”.

This season has been the youngster’s best to date, scoring 12 times and registering three assists in his 33 appearances – with the former of the two stats putting him second in the goalscoring charts.

There’s no disputing the staff at Spurs will have to manage his progress in the years ahead, whilst Frank has to manage his minutes to help aid the progress he’s made in his homeland.

However, one thing that is certain is that Melia is a star who possesses a huge heap of potential and could play a vital role in the Lilywhites’ chance of success in the future.

His arrival could spell the end for Richarlison in North London, which could see the hierarchy cash in on his services and hand Melia the first-team action he needs to continue his development.

Spurs star was as big a problem as Richarlison, now he looks undroppable

Tottenham Hotspur have found a new top-level talent despite drawing 0-0 with Monaco in the Champions League.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 23, 2025

The New York Yankees seemed to be in the driver's seat up 5–0 in the top of the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, but a defensive meltdown in the frame gave the Dodgers new life, and the club took full advantage, tying the game and eventually earning the win to secure a World Series championship.

It's bad enough that the Yankees have to sit and stew over the results of the sloppy inning all winter long. Even worse is the fact that Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, while speaking to Rob Bradford, host of the podcast, took a dig at New York for its defensive woes.

"We were down 5-0," Kelly said. "They put Fat Joe up on the board [scoreboard] and I was like 'Oh, it's an easy dub now.' Fat Joe's the curse. They started kicking the ball around and playing Yankee defense.

"And I looked over at [Brent] Honeywell and I said, 'The Fat Joe curse, watch.' And we started chipping away, chipping away. Bad play, bad play. And end up getting my second one [World Series championship] with the Dodgers."

Kelly's words become even more biting to the Yankees organization in light of reporting from the Joel Sherman, who outlined the Dodgers' scouting report on the American League champions. According to Sherman, Los Angeles told its players that the Yankees were a team of "talent over fundamentals," and the Dodgers encouraged players to "put the ball in play to make the Yankees execute."

Fat Joe curse or not, the Dodgers followed the scouting report to a tee. They put the ball in play and the Yankees unraveled in the fifth inning. And that was the difference in Game 5, and ultimately, the World Series as a whole.

New West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo turned a few heads with one of his first acts at the London Stadium, axing previous Graham Potter mainstay James Ward-Prowse from the squad.

Nuno Espírito Santo drops Ward-Prowse with West Ham exit on the cards

Almost immediately after being appointed, Nuno made the ruthless decision to exclude Ward-Prowse.

The 30-year-old, named vice-captain by Potter and was a key figure under the Englishman, doesn’t feature anywhere near as prominently for Nuno, with the Portuguese completely dropping Ward-Prowse from his matchday squads to face Everton and Arsenal.

The move comes very quickly, perhaps surprisingly so, as Nuno assesses the squad and begins to implement his own plans.

Ward-Prowse’s omission marks a clear shift in the club’s approach, signaling Nuno’s intent to reshape the midfield and prioritize different players, despite the player’s leadership role and experience.

The call sparked considerable attention and discussion among fans and pundits, given Ward-Prowse’s status at the club. However, Nuno has remained firm in his choice to leave him out, preferring summer signing Soungoutou Magassa, who’s jumped right into the ex-Southampton star’s place.

In the aftermath of Ward-Prowse’s axe, reports have suggested that the midfielder is now resigned to leaving in January (GiveMeSport), and a return to his former club at St. Mary’s is believed to be on the cards.

The 11-cap England international is apparently just one free-kick goal away from matching David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18, but he’s now very unlikely to achieve that feat in East London barring a late surprise.

Why Nuno has really axed James Ward-Prowse from the West Ham squad

Now, former West Ham scout Mick Brown has shared some insight into why Nuno doesn’t favour Ward-Prowse at West Ham.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown says that Nuno prefers his midfield men to be more combative and aggressive, explaining that his lack of tenacity is a key reason why Ward-Prowse is no longer fancied.

This isn’t the first time Nuno has decided to part company with Ward-Prowse, having cut his loan spell at Nottingham Forest short midway through 2024/2025 after barely playing him at the City Ground.

Nuno doesn’t appear to have changed his mind on Ward-Prowse since last season, with it now appearing inevitable that he has no long-term future at the London Stadium.

The USWNT had never lost to Portugal before this week – and after a shock defeat, there's a rare sense of urgency

We're going to see something relatively rare on Sunday: a U.S. women's national team with a point to prove. They're fresh off a stunning loss to Portugal, one Emma Hayes admitted was largely due to the USWNT's lack of execution. How will they answer the bell?

On one hand, at this point in the cycle, the answer doesn't really matter. Two years out from a World Cup and a year out even from the qualifying run for that tournament, the U.S. is still in an experimental phase. Yes, Hayes denoted this camp as one that would kickstart the run towards qualifying and, notably, the process of narrowing down the player pool.

Perhaps that happens, then, on Sunday as she gets a closer look at how her players respond after a frustrating loss.

Alarm bells aren't going off. It was a rough performance, a bad night for a team that has so few of them. That said, it will be interesting to see what changes Hayes make, how her messaging from the Thursday loss sinks in – and whether Portugal can muster a similar effort to steal a second result in just a few days.

There's plenty of motivation for both sides but, for the USWNT, there's also a rare sense of urgency. The response, then, is key, both individually and collectively, when Hayes' side runs it back against Portugal at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday in East Hartford, Connecticut.

GOAL looks at five keys for the USWNT against Portugal.

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  Collective, not individual

  There was one talking point repeated by just about every member of the USWNT after the loss: they played too much as individuals, not as a collective.

  "We’re too good for that and ultimately, tonight was just not acceptable," midfielder Sam Coffey said. "It was not our standard. I think we were really individual. There’s a lot of weight that comes with wearing this jersey, and that’s the way – we take it so seriously. That’s the best responsibility in the world and I don’t think we did a good enough job honoring that tonight."

  So what's the fix? It's both easy and complicated, and the simple answer is to just do the little things better. The U.S. conceded twice in set pieces, so that can be cleaned up. The press, Hayes said, was disjointed, which is something that left her extremely disappointed. In terms of effort and energy, the USWNT boss said her side seemed to switch off after Rose Lavelle's first-minute goal. 

  "What am I telling them for the next game? Let’s get our fundamentals right," Hayes said. "We can’t score at the start of the game and be on back foot afterwards… We scored a goal, and we stopped playing. If the Under-23s were watching, we’ve worked on our principles and plays and if they’ve watched that tonight, they’d wonder what ours were?

  "We didn’t look like a team the whole evening, on both sides of the ball. We didn’t press together, we didn’t possess together, it felt like a yard off in our brain. I could see that.”

  The focus will be on those little things. There will be lineup changes, of course, and Hayes has already brought in defender, Eva Gaetino, in between games – taking the roster spot that was opened by Trinity Rodman's injury.

  Whoever starts will be asked to hit the same basic marks. They'll be asked to play effectively, but also play together after a performance that was disjointed enough to lead to Portgual's first win over the USWNT in 12 meetings, all-time.

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  Yohannes on centerstage?

  We only got a glimpse at Lily Yohannes' game on Thursday. She came into the match in the second half and did tempo-setting. She didn't quite have that one game-breaking moment that has already become her signature with the USWNT, but there were signs that it could come.

  Perhaps on Sunday, then, if Yohannes is given the chance to start. With rotation expected, it would make sense. It won't be an easy game by any stretch. On Thursday, Portugal showed that they were willing to be physical to prevent the U.S. from finding their rhythm. The result? A pretty even possession-wise, which is something few would have expected.

  One of the keys, then, will be to establish control of the midfield. Even at just 18, that's something Yohannes already offers. The Lyon midfielder is one of several players that should start and, of them, she is perhaps the most exciting.The teenager tends to take a leap each camp – can she do it again if given a bigger role this time around?

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  Assembling the attack

  The USWNT's attack, as constructed, is still something of a work in progress. Rodman is out with a knee injury. Her Triple Espresso mates – and recent mothers – Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson, both remain out. The current group, save for Catarina Macario, is relatively inexperienced and still very much learning as they go.

  On Thursday, the front three was Macario, Alyssa Thompson and Michelle Cooper. Thompson played 90 and Cooper got knocked around by an aggressive Portugal defense for most of the first half. And Macario has an extensive injury history, so might it be wise to give others a look? 

  Ally Sentnor is one option, and it seems likely she'll feature after being the lone attacker not to get minutes in the first game. Both Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears showed flashes off the bench and could be in the XI, as well. And then there's a wild card, Jaedyn Shaw, who could start as a No. 10, a winger or a false nine after making her return to the team this camp.

  It's an interesting mix and one that Hayes, no doubt, has planned to rotate. She'll get a new look at a different formula in this game as she collects more data.

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  All eyes on goalkeepers

  Before the game kicks off, all eyes will be on one of the USWNT's great goalkeepers. Alyssa Naeher earned that distinction, just as she earned the ceremony that will be held in her honor pre-game.

  After that, all eyes will be on the goalkeeper on the pitch. There's plenty of anticipation to see who Hayes puts in that spot. On Thursday, it was Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The Manchester United shot-stopper has been 2025's most frequent starter, featuring four times in the 11 matches this season.

  Against Portugal, despite the two goals, Tullis-Joyce was largely blameless – the first was an open header and the other came via a deflection after the USWNT failed to clear the ball. She's not alone in this squad, though.

  In June, the last time the USWNT gathered, Hayes gave a game to each of her three goalkeepers. The other two, Mandy McGlynn and Claudia Dickey, are both in camp once again. Could one of them get the nod? Hayes is still evaluating options as she determines who will be Naeher's successor.

Atletico Madrid are one of the biggest clubs in Spain and have some superstars on the books at the Metropolitano Stadium.

In fact, in the 2025/26 season, Atletico have an annual payroll of €157,285,000, with the average player earning an incredible €6m a season.

But who earns what under Diego Simeone? Every Atletico Madrid player has been ranked in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at Atletico Madrid's top 10 earners…

10

Koke

€128,269 per week

Club legend and captain Koke has been on the books with Atletico Madrid since he was a child, with his first professional contract coming back in 2009.

Since then, Koke has recorded an incredible tally of over 690 appearances in red and white and has won nine major honours. His deal expires in 2026 as it stands.

9

Clement Lenglet

€140,385 per week

After spending the 2024/25 season on loan at the Metropolitano from Barcelona, Clement Lenglet made his move to Atletico Madrid permanent.

The French defender signed a three-year deal worth €7.3m per season.

8

Alexander Sorloth

€140,385 per week

Alexander Sorloth is on the same salary as Lenglet, although the Norwegian forward joined 12 months earlier from Villarreal.

His contract also expires in 2028.

7

Nicolas Gonzalez

€144,231 per week

Nicolas Gonzalez is on loan at Atletico Madrid for the 2025/26 season from Italian giants Juventus, although the Spanish side will have the option to make a move permanent at the end of the campaign.

For now, Atletico will pay the winger €7.5m for the season in wages.

6

Alex Baena

€160,192 per week

Joining in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth around around €50m from Villarreal was Alex Baena.

Capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, Baena signed a five-year deal at the Metropolitano.

5

Marcos Llorente

€160,192 per week

Also on €8.33m per season is versatile midfielder Marcos Llorente, who moved to the club from rivals Real Madrid in 2019.

Capable of playing as a right-back, right-midfielder or central midfielder, Llorente appears to be a dream player for Simeone and has turned out over 250 times for Atletico since his arrival.

4

Conor Gallagher

€173,077 per week

English midfielder Conor Gallagher swapped Chelsea for Atletico in 2024, with the La Liga side paying around €40m for his services.

Gallagher signed a five-year deal worth €9m per season and looks set to play a key role at the Metropolitano during that time.

3

Antoine Griezmann

€180,385 per week

Coming in at third place is Antoine Griezmann, who completed a permanent return to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona in 2022 for €40m.

His time at Camp Nou didn’t exactly go to plan, but he has been back scoring goals on a regular basis for Atletico and became the club’s all-time top goalscorer in 2024.

2

Julian Alvarez

€240,385 per week

Atletico splashed the cash in 2024 to sign forward Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, who sold the World Cup winner for a club-record fee.

The Argentina international could end up costing the Spanish giants €95m (£78.9m) if all add-ons are met, with Alvarez picking up €12.5m per season.

1

Jan Oblak

€400,577 per week

Comfortably top of the charts and Atletico Madrid’s highest-paid player is goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who earns a whopping €20.83m per season.

The Slovenia international has been one of the best ‘keepers in the world for some time now and has been with Atletico since 2014. His huge contract was signed in 2022 and runs until 2028.

The Real Madrid dressing has responded angrily to Lamine Yamal's comments about the club as tensions ahead of El Clasico reach boiling point. Los Blancos are supposedly frustrated with Yamal, whose off the pitch antics are beginning to get under the skin of the players in the Spanish capital. Ahead of Sunday's game, Yamal has added fuel to the fire.

• Real Madrid out for revenge

  Real Madrid did not need any further incentive to end their run of disappointing results against Barcelona. Xabi Alonso’s men were on the losing side four times last campaign and will be determined to right the wrongs of last season.

  The quest for revenge has only been heightened by Yamal’s off-field comments. Earlier this week, the Barcelona star accused Real Madrid of ‘stealing and complaining’ and poked fun at the Blaugrana’s bitter rivals.

  According to , Madrid have taken umbrage at the remarks and are growing tired of Yamal’s persistent goading. The players were reportedly not surprised at the 18-year-old’s digs and, even though he is still a young player, Madrid do not offer him any excuses owing to his age.

  Rather, the noises coming out of the Madrid dressing room suggest that they are "fed up" with his behaviour and believe that Yamal does not offer the basic levels of respect required of a professional footballer.

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  Yamal takes aim at Madrid

  Yamal initially triggered outrage when he suggested that Madrid often found themselves the beneficiaries of favourable decisions. Speaking on a Twitch livestream of a Kings League game, Barcelona legend Gerard Pique was keen to make fun of his former great rivals and made a series of light-hearted jokes at Madrid’s expense.

  Taking the banter a little further, Yamal added: “They steal, they complain, and they do things…”

  Also in the conversation, Ibai Llanos, Real Madrid fan and owner of Kings League side Porcinos FC, asked Yamal what he meant by ‘steal’. The winger then laughed before saying: “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

  He may be young, but Yamal will not be naive to the impact that his comments could have on his opponents ahead of a clash that could have serious implications for the title race. Los Blancos will no doubt be fired up and ready to take all three points.

• Yamal is Madrid's tormentor

  This is not the first time that Yamal has drawn the ire of Real Madrid for comments made before big games. In May, the teenager curled a stunning effort past Thibaut Courtois to equalise in the Clasico before mocking both Kylian Mbappe and Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The winger first chose to do the Portuguese forward's ‘calma’ celebration and then did Mbappe’s trademark arms-crossed pose.

  The previous month, Barcelona won the Copa del Rey in a fantastic final that finished 3-2 to the Blaugrana. Making it their fourth win of the season over Carlo Ancelotti’s team, Yamal was keen to offer his thoughts. He said: “This year, they simply can’t beat us. We’ve proven that. I’m really happy. Visca Barca!”

  With his strong words have come stronger performances and Yamal will be hoping that his latest mocking of Madrid won’t come back to haunt him and his team-mates on Sunday.

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  Race at the top gets tighter

  Barcelona go into the game two points behind Madrid, but know a victory will see them overtake their old foes. Alonso’s side have been strong in the league this season, suffering just one defeat and winning each of their other eight games. Flick’s men, on the other hand, were unable to turn their one draw into victory and match Madrid’s total.

  This season is shaping up to be a two-horse race for La Liga’s crown. The two giants of the division are the clear standout teams and are trailed by Villarreal and Atletico Madrid – two sides who were on the receiving end of heavy defeats in the Champions League by Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively.

  Given the situation at the top, it is little wonder that Yamal is seeking to gain any advantage possible. If that includes getting into the heads of his opponents, the youngster will do just that

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has welcomed the official announcement of William Saliba’s new deal, but he’s since been given another “massive boost”, according to a former club chief.

William Saliba commits future to Arsenal after rejecting Real Madrid

News first emerged last week that Saliba agreed to pen a contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2030, with new sporting director Andrea Berta described as key to the move.

The Italian took a “firm grasp” of negotiations to tie Saliba down since replacing Edu Gaspar in March (Charles Watts), and somehow found time to regularly speak with his representatives amid an extremely busy first summer window at the Emirates.

Saliba’s terms were due to expire in 2027, which was a major worry for Arsenal as Real Madrid lingered in the background.

The former Saint-Étienne sensation’s partnership with Gabriel has been imperative to Arsenal’s title challenges since the beginning of 2022/2023, and they’re widely considered to be Europe’s best centre-back pairing.

Arsenal have conceded the fewest Premier League goals of any top flight side in each of the last two campaigns, and that is largely down to Arteta’s star defensive duo.

It is believed that Saliba and Gabriel made a summer pact to remain at Arsenal and challenge for major silverware, with reliable club insider ‘HandOfArsenal’ detailing that the former sent a clear message to Real at that time.

When Los Blancos approached him, Saliba was “direct” in telling Xabi Alonso’s side that he wanted to stay in North London, and the France international has now put his money where his mouth is.

With Saliba now secured, Berta’s next big task is agreeing a new contract with star winger Bukayo Saka.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Saka’s potential extension is Arsenal’s next priority after Saliba, and the club are increasingly optimistic about getting it over the line soon.

Other reports claim that the England international stands to earn around £250,000-per-week from his fresh terms, maybe more, and they could reach a full agreement by Christmas if all goes to plan (Football Transfers).

Arsenal gifted "massive boost" alongside Saliba deal after Bukayo Saka update

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected in the beautiful game, has shared what he’s heard about Saka and the prospect of a new Arsenal deal — claiming that the Gunners have been handed a big piece of encouragement.

Brown says that Saka is happy to sign an extension and is delighted with life at Arsenal, with there being no concerns about his long-term future.

Reaching a quick agreement with Saka right after Saliba would come as a serious statement of intent by Berta, with Arteta under pressure to deliver trophies after many ‘close but no cigar’ seasons at N5.

Arsenal must secure Bukayo Saka deal as non-negotiable

The 24-year-old, valued at a staggering £131 million by Transfermarkt, is truly priceless.

However, if his contract is allowed to tick down towards expiry in 2027, Berta would be faced with his toughest decision yet.

His 71 goals and 71 assists in 268 appearances for Arsenal tell just half the story, with Saka’s world-class attacking intent in one-v-one situations, close control, pace and creativity seen as crucial to the way Arteta wants to play.

Arsenal will be ever-reliant on Saka on the right-hand side, especially with summer signing Noni Madueke out for several weeks, but Arteta will be mindful of the player’s fitness considering he’s only just back from a hamstring injury.

Saka also showed off a bloodied sock after their 2-1 win over Newcastle, courtesy of some rough treatment from the Magpies — which perfectly emphasises just how feared he is throughout the Premier League.

Luca Zidane has received his first-ever Algeria call-up at 27 years old, marking a new chapter in his career. The Granada goalkeeper, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, switched his international allegiance from France and says he’s “ready to give everything” with the Fennecs already sure of a place at the 2026 World Cup.

• A Zidane returns to the international stage

  Zidane’s long-awaited international debut could soon become a reality. The goalkeeper, born in Marseille and raised in Real Madrid’s academy, officially switched allegiance from France to Algeria last month. His call-up by Vladimir Petkovic was met with excitement and debate across Algeria, as fans embraced the son of one of football’s greatest icons.

  Having arrived in Algeria to a hero’s welcome, the Granada shot-stopper described the moment as a “source of pride” for himself and his family.

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  Zidane’s pride and message to Algerian fans

  Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Zidane said: "I am happy to be here in Algeria, it is a pride for my first call-up."

  He added that his family including his grandfather fully supported his choice to represent Algeria, adding: "The whole family is happy, they're happy that I'm here, my grandfather too, it's a source of pride. It's my choice, they're behind me, behind my choices. My loved ones are very happy for me, that's the most important thing. I've heard that on match day, there's a great atmosphere in the stadium. For us players, it's really a good boost. Personally, I would give everything to fill the Algerian people with joy." 

  He added: "There's competition like everywhere in football, it means we have a very good team, it's good for the future."

• A measured start under Petkovic’s guidance

  Despite the anticipation surrounding his debut, coach Vladimir Petkovic opted for experience, choosing Alexis Guendouz to start Algeria’s World Cup qualifier against Somalia. The decision, meant to protect Zidane from early pressure, paid off as the Greens cruised to a 3-0 victory to seal their spot in the finals in Canada, USA and Mexico. Zidane may feature in their next and final qualifier against Uganda in Tizi Ouzou. His presence adds valuable depth in goal and symbolises Algeria’s growing pull among dual-national talents.

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  A new chapter in the Zidane legacy

  The goalkeepr's switch to Algeria carries emotional and symbolic weight. The son of a World Cup winner, he now seeks to write his own story with a nation eager to impress on their return to the world stage. His arrival also reflects Petkovic’s effort to blend experience with fresh ambition, a move that could define Algeria’s 2026 campaign.

  With seven starts for Granada this season, Zidane’s confidence and form make him a genuine contender to become Algeria’s No.1. For now, the journey is just beginning, but the name “Zidane” could once again echo on football’s biggest stage.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has named one of his former teammates as the “worst” signing in the club’s history, branding him “so unprofessional”.

Scholes names former teammate as "worst" Man Utd signing

It would be fair to say that very few of the signings Man United have made since Sir Alex Ferguson retired have worked out, with YouTuber Adam McKola particularly critical of one of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s additions on The Overlap earlier this month.

McKola said: “I think Jadon Sancho is the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. There’s big competition for it. We spent £80m on Antony who is useless.

“For me Jadon Sancho is the biggest waste of space I’ve ever seen in a United shirt. I think he’s a disgrace and I can’t wait to see the back of him.”

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Sancho has been widely reported to rake in £300k-a-week, yet he has never managed to deliver in a United shirt, being shipped out on loan to Chelsea last season, with the west Londoners agreeing to pay a £5m penalty fee to avoid having to sign the winger permanently.

You may expect Scholes to name one of the Red Devils’ current players as their worst signing ever, off the back of finishing 15th in the Premier League last season, but the club legend believes one of his former teammates is at the top of the list. The legendary midfielder said:

Bosnich undoubtedly one of Man Utd's worst signings

Bosnich was signed as a successor to the legendary Peter Schmeichel, but the goalkeeper was unable to make the step-up, making 23 Premier League appearances in the 1999-00 season before being snubbed by Ferguson.

Fabian Barthez was ultimately brought in to replace the Australian, who ended up moving to Chelsea, and the Frenchman fared a lot better, spending three full seasons at Old Trafford and winning two Premier League titles.

While Bosnich was undoubtedly a terrible signing for Man United, it may be a little harsh to suggest he is the worst-ever, considering the goalkeeper arrived on a free transfer from Aston Villa.

Sancho, on the other hand, is widely reported to have cost £73m, which is the fourth-highest fee Man United have ever shelled out on a player, making it even more criminal the 25-year-old mustered up just 12 goals and six assists in 83 matches.