Joao Felix’s move to Al-Nassr offers a unique opportunity for the Portuguese forward to focus solely on football, his new coach says.

Felix joined Al-Nassr despite links to BenficaCoach admits forward is currently below his potential Says lack of distractions will help himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Felix, who recently completed a permanent move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr from Chelsea, is poised to benefit from the distraction-free lifestyle in Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus. Jesus highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s absence of nightlife and alcohol creates an environment where Felix “just has to play” without other outlets or distractions, which could help the forward reach his potential. Jesus noted that although Felix does not drink or party, the lack of other distractions will allow him to focus solely on football. However, Jesus admitted that Felix is currently at a “much lower level” than what his talent demands and needs to improve under the club's guidance. The Portuguese forward, 25, joins a star-studded Al-Nassr squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo and recently showed flashes of brilliance.

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Felix’s move to Saudi Arabia represents a fresh start after challenging spells at Chelsea and AC Milan, where he failed to make a significant impact. His transfer to Al-Nassr reportedly cost the club an initial €30 million (£26m/$35m) plus €20m (£17m/$23m) in add-ons. Ronaldo has dismissed rumours that he was instrumental in convincing Felix to join Al-Nassr, while Jesus sees a promising partnership developing between the compatriots, which could benefit the Portuguese national team in future tournaments like the 2026 World Cup.

WHAT JORGE JESUS SAID

Speaking on Ronaldo and Felix's relationship, Jesus revealed: "Although they already know each other, they're getting closer and closer. They play off each other. Félix is much better than in other games, physically, positionally, technically. We're all here looking for our place to be a strong team."

He added: "As I said recently, he didn't steal from anyone. What did I say to him that made him come? As you said, I didn't steal from anyone. He wasn't a Benfica player, he was a Chelsea player. He was on the transfer market, so he could come to Al-Nassr, he could go to another team, depending on the conditions they offered him. I believe in his football; he has characteristics that fit my offensive approach. Last year, I wanted to take him to Al-Hilal, but he chose not to go; he chose to go to Chelsea. And this year, I invited him, practically when I signed, no, but I assumed he would coach Al-Nassr. I invited him right away, and then it was only after a month or so that he was able to go. And thank goodness, because I think he made the right choice, because he's in a country where you either play or you don't play. What do I mean by this? There's no other option; you just have to play; there's nothing else. There 's nothing else. Saudi Arabia is a country where there's no alcohol, nor does he drink alcohol. There's no nightlife, not that he goes out at night either. There are no other distractions. There are no distractions, he goes to Saudi Arabia, he only has one option: to play and rest and be with friends and family. There's no other option."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JOAO FELIX?

Felix will look to raise his fitness and performance levels under Jesus’s management during the preseason and the upcoming Saudi Pro League campaign. His immediate challenge is to secure a starting role alongside Ronaldo and other star players. Al-Nassr’s squad is actively strengthening, with the club reportedly finalising new signings such as defender Inigo Martinez to bolster their defence. Felix’s progress will be closely monitored as Al-Nassr aims to challenge for domestic titles and make an impact in continental competitions. 

Western Storm 38 for 3 vs South East Stars – match abandonedTorrential rain washed out all hopes of a positive result between SE Stars and Western Storm in their Bank Holiday Monday clash at Beckenham.Only six overs were possible in which time the visitors reached 38 for 3 before the heavens opened, drenching the outfield and leaving pools of water on the bowlers’ run-ups.Umpires James Tredwell and Fiona Richards gave the ground every chance to recover, calling for a 4.45pm inspection, but a further shower left them no alternative but to abandon the game. Both sides take two points meaning Stars are still unbeaten while Storm are yet to win in the campaign.In the little play before the rain there was a lovely moment for Tilly Corteen-Coleman and a dazzling piece of fielding from Stars’ all-rounder Paige Scholfield.England U19 slow left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman, currently on a pay as you play contract with Stars gave the hosts the perfect start, bowling Alex Griffiths with the first ball of the game.Shortly afterwards, Tash Farrant removed Emma Corney, the batter’s attempted pull shot coming off the toe end of the bat for Phoebe Franklin to take a good catch falling forward at mid-wicket.Then just before the rain arrived, Niamh Holland, who’d struck some fine boundaries square of the wicket chanced her arm on a short single to Scholfield and paid the price, the South African pulling off a direct hit despite only having one stump to aim at.

أعلن توم سينتفيت، المدير الفني لـ منتخب مالي، قائمة اللاعبين المستدعاه لخوض مباراتي مباراتي جزر القمر وغانا، في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب منتخب مالي ضد جزر القمر ومالي في الجولتين السابعة والثامنة، من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لـ كأس العالم.

ويواجه منتخب مالي، جزر القمر يوم الخميس 4 سبتمبر، ثم يلاقي غانا يوم الإثنين 8 من نفس الشهر.

طالع | مدرب مالي: ديانج يستطيع اللعب في ناد أوروبي كبير.. وأضع اسمه في التشكيل أولًا

وشهدت قائمة منتخب مالي، المستدعاه من قبل المدرب البلجيكي  توم سينتفيت تواجد لاعب النادي الأهلي، أليو ديانج.

ويتواجد منتخب مالي، في المجموعة التاسعة من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات غانا وجزر القمر ومدغشقر وإفريقيا الوسطي وتشاد.

ويحتل منتخب مالي، في المركز الرابع في ترتيب المجموعة التاسعة من تصفيات كأس العالم برصيد 9 نقاط، إذ فاز في مباراتين وتعادل في 3 وخسر لقاء.

ويستعد أليو ديانج، في الوقت الحالي، مع فريق الأهلي لمواجهة بيراميدز المرتقبة أمام بيراميدز، غدًا السبت في إطار الجولة الخامسة من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

Cristiano Ronaldo has pointed out that there is "still more to do" after adding another hat-trick to his stunning goal tally at Al-Nassr.

• Portuguese GOAT preparing for 2025-26 campaign
• Has committed to a new two-year contract
• One competitive goal away from 100 for Al-Nassr

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Portuguese’s latest treble came in a pre-season friendly date with Rio Ave. He helped Al-Nassr to a convincing 4-0 victory there, with CR7 lining up alongside international team-mate Joao Felix.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There is the promise of more transfer business in the summer window from Al-Nassr, with Ronaldo urging them to bring in proven performers that will allow him to end a barren run on the trophy front at club level.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be doing all he can to get back on the trophy trail – having recently captained his country to another UEFA Nations League triumph – with a record-breaking two-year contract extension being committed to in the Middle East.

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• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  As he moves through the gears ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Ronaldo – who remains determined to reach 1,000 career goals before giving any thought to retirement – has posted on social media: "Keep pushing, there’s more to do."

A 315-run partnership for the fifth wicket – a new Glamorgan record – came after the hosts were reeling on 41 for 4

ECB Reporters Network11-May-2024A brilliant recovery led by hundreds from Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson saw Glamorgan finish day two of their Vitality County Championship Match against Sussex on 411 for 9, a lead of 133 on first innings.Glamorgan were in real trouble in the opening session of the day after a burst of three wickets from Jayden Seales saw them slump to 41 for 4 before a record partnership of 315 from Ingram and Carlson took the home side into a first innings leadIngram was dismissed for 170 and Carlson made 148, by far the two highest scores of this match so far. Seales completed his third five wicket haul of the season just before the close as he further cemented his place as the leading wicket taker in Division Two.The day started with the ball dominating proceedings with Trinidadian Seales bowling with pace and late movement. A ball from around the wicket that seamed back into the left-handed Billy Root bowled the batter with him not offering a shot. 11 balls later it was Seales had his second when he bounced out Nightwatchman Mason Crane with a ball that lifted on him and was caught by wicketkeeper John Simpson.Seales claimed his third wicket when he had Sam Northeast caught behind off a good length ball to leave Glamorgan in real trouble. From there it was all about Ingram and Carlson who put on a record fifth wicket stand for Glamorgan going past the 307 made by Carlson and Chris Cooke against Northamptonshire in 2021.Once the shine had gone off the new ball it was all very straightforward for the Glamorgan pair and with Sussex without the spin option of Jack Carson due to a back injury he sustained while batting on day one as the visitors struggled for control.With the scoring rate hovering around four runs an over throughout the partnership, it was just after tea that Glamorgan went into the lead on first innings, a remarkable turnaround from where they were in the morning session.The second new ball saw Seales return to the attack but with two set batters he did not find the same penetration as in the morning session with Ingram scoring 14 runs from his first over back.Ingram became the leading run scorer in the County Championship as he made his third hundred of the season. Ingram’s form presents an interesting overseas player conundrum for Glamorgan with the arrival of Marnus Labuschagne imminent. Given their depleted bowling stocks Glamorgan may not be able to leave out Mir Hamza so that means only one of Ingram or Labuschange can play when the Australian does arrive with the club.When the breakthrough did come it came as a bit of a surprise, with Carlson hitting a ball into the hands of extra cover off Seales for 148. As has been the case in this match so far, wickets have tended to fall in bursts and Cooke was dismissed in the next over for one.Ingram was trapped lbw by Danny Lamb before the close as part of a spell of play that saw Glamorgan lose three wickets for three runs before a quick fire 26 from James Harris helped the home team reach 400 to claim their seventh bonus point of the match. Harris and Andy Gorvin both fell before the close to bookend the day with another cluster of wickets.

Atletico Madrid are close to signing Giacomo Raspadori from Napoli after making progress in talks over a €20 million (£17m/$21.5m) transfer.

• Atletico and Napoli near agreement for Raspadori
• Italian striker confident move will happen
• Could join Simeone’s training next week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Atletico are in advanced talks with Napoli over Raspadori. Negotiations began with Napoli valuing the forward at €30m (£25m/$32m) and Atletico offering €20m (£17m/$21.5m). Recent progress including flexible payment terms from the Italian side has brought the deal close to completion. Raspadori has already hinted to team-mates and friends that his move to Wanda Metropolitano is imminent.

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  If the deal goes through, Raspadori would become Atletico’s seventh signing of the summer. The Italy international has won two Serie A titles in his three seasons at Gli Azzurri and is viewed by Simeone as a dynamic, modern forward who can add mobility and depth to the attack. His arrival would also increase competition for starting spots, especially with Los Rojiblancos aiming to challenge in La Liga and Europe.

• TELL ME MORE…

  The 25-year-old is admired for his versatility and is able to play as a central striker, second forward or winger. Atletico’s sporting director Carlos Bucero is convinced that his technical ability, work rate and tactical intelligence make him a perfect fit for Simeone’s high-energy system. The club see him as a long-term asset who can grow into a leading attacking role, much like Antoine Griezmann did in his early years at the club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASPADORI AND ATLETICO MADRID?

  Final details of the transfer, including payment structure and potential add-ons, are being ironed out. Once agreed, Raspadori is expected to travel to Madrid for his medical and could join Atletico training as early as next week. Los Rojiblancos face Newcastle in a pre-season friendly this weekend before kicking off their La Liga campaign on August 17 against Espanyol.

Ted Lasso will soon be heading back to London, with it being revealed that filming for Season 4 has been wrapped in Kansas.

Shooting has begun in the United StatesWrap party held for cast and crewMore tales to tell with AFC Richmond Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Title character and show writer Jason Sudeikis, is bringing the popular Apple TV+ show back to streaming services around the world. He has revealed that new storylines and characters are ready to be introduced.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPDID YOU KNOW?

It has been confirmed that Lasso, who returned to his native United States at the end of series three, has moved into coaching in the women’s game. His path will, however, lead back to England and AFC Richmond at some stage.

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THE GOSSIP

Teasers have been dripped out on social media, including confirmation that filming has started. Part one of that process has been completed after two weeks in Kansas. A wrap party was held at Offkey in Westport, with a private karaoke event being staged.

It has been revealed that the final day of filming took place at McKeever’s Market & Eatery in Lee’s Summit, with shots being captured of Lasso seemingly working as a grocery store clerk, with it important to keep busy away from the training pitch.

Danni Wyatt blazed her way into form with 87 from 48 balls to set England on their way to a 3-0 sweep against Pakistan. Wyatt made the most of being dropped on 12, 79 and 81 to help power England to their highest score of the series before the bowlers comfortably kept Pakistan in check in front of a sizeable crowd basking in the Leeds sunshine.Without Wyatt, England’s efforts would have looked a lot less convincing. On a true Headingley surface with a fast outfield, Amy Jones’ 26 was the next-highest score and they were eventually bowled out from the final ball of the innings – albeit with more than enough on the board. Diana Baig picked up 3 for 26 as well as running-out Maia Bouchier for the second match running, and contributing several athletic stops in the field.Pakistan also produced their best showing with the bat but could not match England’s power. The openers, Sidra Ameen and Gull Feroza, equalled Pakistan’s highest T20I partnership against England by putting on 60, but a collapse of 4 for 13 put paid to any thoughts they might have a tilt at a record chase. Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar stopped the rot and then struck some defiant blows during a stand that eventually eclipsed that of Ameen and Feroza to ensure respectability.High Wyatt act
Wyatt managed seven runs from nine balls in her two previous innings – having made a highest score of 21 on the recent tour of New Zealand – and was clearly eager to make a significant contribution this time out. Her sixth and seventh balls were crunched to the boundary, although that should have been the end of her fun, as she pushed tentatively forward to Baig and sent a thick edge towards first slip. However, wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali couldn’t cling on diving across to her right and Wyatt survived.She ensured that Pakistan would pay dearly for the miss. Her ball-striking was as crisp as ever, and she rattled the scoreboard along almost single-handedly during her time at the crease. With Bouchier and Nat Sciver-Brunt falling cheaply, at the halfway mark Wyatt had scored 42 out of England’s 69 for 2; she then kicked up a gear, clouting Dar for a six and three fours in an over that cost 20, before adding back-to-back boundaries off Sadia Iqbal in the next.Wyatt was then dropped twice in the space of three balls – Riaz and Sadaf Shamas the culprits – before the latter was presented with a chance to make amends. With Wyatt closing in on a third T20I hundred, she again sliced Baig high into the off side, only for Sadaf to cling on running in off the rope. England were 118 for 3 in the 14th over, with Wyatt having scored three-quarters of the team’s runs and struck 13 out of 15 boundaries.Go hard, stumble harder
With Wyatt’s bit done, England’s attempt to “put on a show”, in the words of captain Heather Knight, began to go awry. Knight chipped tamely to short extra cover at the start of the next over and then Alice Capsey was run out by a direct hit from Ameen at point. England had lost 3 for 4 in the space of six balls and it could have been worse had Waheeda Akhtar not overstepped with the first delivery of the 16th – but Danielle Gibson was reprieved after top-edging to short third and helped add 27 in 16 balls alongside Jones.Jones looked in good nick, finding the boundary four times in her 26 from 15. But after Gibson mishit a Dar full toss to short fine leg, Jones spooned a Fatima Sana slower ball to be caught by Waheeda at point (at the third attempt). England kept coming, nevertheless, and the wickets continued to fall – three of them in Baig’s final over – as they signed off their 20 overs with a scruffy slide of 8 for 58.Opening gambit
Pakistan’s struggles in the series could be summed up by all out scores of 110 and 79 in the first two T20Is – with a highest partnership of 30. Ameen and Feroza doubled that effort here as they looked to gain a foothold in their chase, picking off five boundaries apiece during an increasingly confident stand. They were 45 for 0 after the powerplay – bettering England (40 for 1) on both counts – and only came unstuck when Ameen was given out lbw against Sophie Ecclestone and failed to realise that contact with her glove would have saved her on review.Feroza departed in the next over, having surpassed her previous T20I best of 21 not out, but the innings did not fall away. As in Northampton on Friday, Riaz showcased her long levers, while Dar thumped Charlie Dean for six and four – their unbroken partnership of 65 setting a new mark for Pakistan against England in women’s T20Is.Filer makes mark
England’s one change was to bring in the extra pace of Lauren Filer for her third T20I cap. The speed gun was immediately pushed up to 75mph during a two-over spell in the powerplay, although she discovered the challenge of dealing with the Headingley slope when overstepping with her second ball. She returned to claim her maiden T20I wicket in the 12th over, Sadaf unable to live with a short ball that grazed the top edge as it flew through to Jones. At 73 for 4, the Pakistan innings became an exercise in damage limitation.

The explosive opener will be a traveling reserve on the back of his outstanding IPL

Andrew McGlashan21-May-2024Jake Fraser-McGurk’s stunning IPL made Australia’s selectors ponder a change to their T20 World Cup planning before it was decided they could not find room for him in the 15-player squad which will travel to the Caribbean.As previously reported, Fraser-McGurk will be with Australia at the World Cup having been confirmed as one of their two traveling reserves alongside allrounder Matthew Short but will need a tournament-ending injury to play a role.Related

Australia down to nine players for T20 World Cup warm-ups

Can T20 World Cup inspire a Maxwell revival?

David Warner is polarising opinion till the very end

Fraser-McGurk, Short set to be Australia's T20 World Cup travelling reserves

Aussies at the IPL: Who starred, who chipped in, who flopped across the regular season?

Despite an impressive home summer which included an ODI debut against West Indies, he had been a long shot to enter World Cup discussions until he took the IPL by storm having been called in as a replacement player for Delhi Capitals. He went on to hammer 330 runs at an eye-watering strike rate of 234.04 including two 15-ball half-centuries.But with him competing for a spot in Australia’s well-established top three of David Warner, Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh – and not providing an all-round option – he did not make the final cut when the initial squad was named, with no changes being made ahead of the final deadline of May 25.”There’s no doubt that he did turn our heads and he was a huge discussion when it come to the final 15,” head coach Andrew McDonald told radio. “He was running hot and there’s no doubt he will run hot into the future.”There’s no doubt what he did in the IPL, he lit it up, he’s an extraordinary talent and he’s going to give fans much delight across the journey. In discussing the 15-man squad, we needed to cover all bases in the way we wanted to play and there was a lot of building that went into that over a period of time.”Jake Fraser-McGurk is unlikely to have to wait long for another Australia chance•Getty ImagesFraser-McGurk has previously said how he was comfortable with not making the final squad.”There’s two ways you can look at it. You can look at it through, ‘this is what I’ve done to prove my case,’ and then there’s also, ‘look, a month and a half ago I wasn’t even in the picture’,” he told the podcast. “If I do somehow get a travelling reserve [spot] then great, I can get a good experience there. It didn’t really bother me a hell of a lot because I wasn’t in this position to sort of feel like I’ve earned that yet. World Cup cricket is a lot different to IPL and franchise cricket.”However, it is unlikely Fraser-McGurk will have to wait long for another chance at international level with a turnover of players expected to begin in Australia’s white-ball sides after the T20 World Cup. He appears certain to feature on the tour of England in September where he shapes as Head’s future opening partner in the post-Warner era.”Think that would be a good indication, think that’s where we would head,” McDonald said of the future top order. “It may be somewhere in that top three and we’re not dismissing the fact that he may be able to play a role in the middle order as well.”Matthew Short will be vying for that as well and think in the Jake Fraser-McGurk conversation we are probably dismissing what Matthew Short has been able to do domestically as well. So we feel we have a couple of young talented players who are ready to go when we need them.”Warner, who will close out his international career at the T20 World Cup, picked up a hand injury during his IPL campaign with DC. He returned towards the end of the tournament before being left out of the last match. “We believe he’s fully fit, everything he says he’s fully fit…we have no fears that he won’t be fit and fully available,” McDonald said.However, McDonald confirmed that Marsh is unlikely to be able to bowl early in the tournament as he makes a slower-than-expected return from the hamstring injury which ended his IPL stint early. But he will be able to feature in the two warm-up matches against Namibia and West Indies as a batter.Australia are set to have just ten of their squad available for those practice matches in Trinidad with the five players who will feature in the IPL knockouts – Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green – joining the squad in Barbados ahead of the opening match against Oman on June 5.

MatériaMais Notícias

O atacante Alex Teixeira está livre no mercado da bola para acertar com qualquer clube. Isso porque o contrato dele com o Vasco se encerrou em 31 de dezembro de 2022. O nome do jogador já não consta no Boletim Informativo de Registros de Atletas (BIRA) da Ferj.

+ Confira a movimentação do Vasco no mercado da bola

O Vasco apresentou uma proposta para renovar o contrato de Alex Teixeira por mais um ano, mas não obteve resposta. Os termos não agradaram ao atacante, que gostaria de uma valorização, tendo em vista que o vínculo anterior foi assinado em uma realidade financeira diferente da atual.

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A permanência de Alex Teixeira é tratada como improvável, tendo em vista que o Vasco não vai aumentar a proposta. O clube ofereceu um contrato semelhante ao firmado anteriormente. O atacante chegou a ser sondado por Corinthians, mas o interesse não foi formalizado.

Contratado em julho como grande nome para a Série B, Alex Teixeira não cumpriu a expectativa sobre a sua chegada. Foram apenas dois gols e uma assistência em 15 jogos disputados, oito como titular. Na vitória sobre o Ituano, jogo que garantiu o acesso do Vasco, o atacante não saiu do banco de reservas.