Former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has opened up on his unexpected bond with Cristiano Ronaldo since joining Al-Nassr. The Spaniard praised the Portuguese icon’s humility, calling him “approachable” and obsessed with football, while recalling a touching late-night meeting soon after his arrival at the Saudi Pro League club in the summer transfer window.

Settling into Saudi life alongside CR7

When Martinez left Barcelona for Al-Nassr this summer, the move raised eyebrows across Europe. The Basque centre-back had been a reliable figure in Hansi Flick's title-winning side, helping Barca secure La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana trophies while reaching the Champions League semi-finals. Yet the allure of a new adventure and the chance to play alongside Ronaldo proved irresistible.

Although Barcelona didn’t receive a transfer fee, Martinez’s exit helped the Catalan club ease their wage burden by €14 million (£12m/$15m). At 34, he saw Al-Nassr as a fresh challenge both professionally and personally. The Spanish defender admitted that his introduction to life in Riyadh came with a surprise a warm welcome from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner himself.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRonaldo’s human side: humility behind the superstar

Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in December 2023, has since become more than just the team’s star. For newcomers like Martinez, his presence defines the club’s culture: competitive, disciplined, and relentlessly ambitious. In his appearance on , Martinez revealed how the ex-Real Madrid forward went out of his way to make him feel at home. 

"It's one of the things that surprised me since I arrived," he said. "I didn't know him much, just from playing, and appearances can be deceiving. He waited for me at the hotel; it was a day off for them, and he was able to wait for me and greet me at night.

"I don't know what time it was, and he was there to greet me, to be with me, and to talk. He's very approachable and very competitive, which is good for us all. He lives football to the fullest. That's his passion, and here he continues doing what he did, and well, what he's been doing every year."

Al-Nassr’s winning culture and Ronaldo’s enduring hunger

Al-Nassr currently top the Saudi Pro League table with 12 points, and Ronaldo’s influence extends beyond the pitch. Having scored 98 goals in 111 appearances for the club, he remains central to their success, blending star power with an obsessive professionalism that pushes standards higher.

This season alone, the 40-year-old has already netted five goals in six starts across all competitions. His recent international break reinforced his dominance, with a brace against Hungary taking his tally to 143 goals for Portugal and 947 in total, edging closer to his dream of reaching 1,000 career goals.

For teammates like Martinez, training alongside the Portuguese international provides a masterclass in mentality. Every session reflects Ronaldo’s drive to improve, a mindset that has turned Al-Nassr into a serious continental force. Even off the pitch, his example sets the tone for the club’s ambitious project under the Saudi Pro League’s growing spotlight.

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GettyWhat lies ahead for Ronaldo and Martinez

With Ronaldo returning from international duty, the focus now shifts back to domestic competition. Al-Nassr face Al-Fateh this weekend as they look to maintain their position atop the table. Martinez, adapting quickly to his new surroundings, is expected to feature prominently in the backline, bringing European experience and composure.

For the Al-Nassr striker, the mission remains clear – to continue rewriting football history. Having signed a lucrative new deal reportedly worth €257m (£235m/$280m) this season, he stands as the highest-earning footballer on the planet, far ahead of Lionel Messi’s €119m (£109m/$130m). Yet, despite the staggering numbers, his motivation remains rooted in performance, not pay cheques.

As both veterans chase new milestones – Ronaldo eyeing his 1,000th goal and Martinez seeking stability after a dramatic summer, Al-Nassr’s blend of ambition and experience could define the Saudi Pro League’s next chapter. For now, one thing is certain: in Riyadh, CR7 still lives and breathes football like no one else.

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Após o empate sem gols com o Palmeiras, na tarde deste domingo (3), o Corinthians terá 11 dias até o seu próximo compromisso, que será contra o Fortaleza, no Estado do Ceará, no dia 14, pelo Brasileirão. O duelo será uma prévia de uma das semifinais da Sul-Americana, que será disputada justamente pelas duas equipes entre os dias 26 de setembro e 3 de outubro. A pausa acontece por conta das datas Fifas, onde a Seleção Brasileira, por exemplo, vai estrear nas eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2006, no Canadá, Estados Unidos e México.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeiras‘Você…’: O que Murilo falou para ser expulso no clássico entre Palmeiras e CorinthiansPalmeiras04/09/2023Fora de CampoJornalista diz que Corinthians ‘ficou no lucro’ contra o Palmeiras: ‘Elenco mal montado’Fora de Campo03/09/2023Fora de CampoCraque Neto opina sobre expulsões em clássico entre Corinthians x Palmeiras: ‘Absurdo’Fora de Campo03/09/2023

Com o período sem jogos, o elenco corintiano ganhará dois dias de folga e só voltará aos treinamentos na quarta-feira (6).

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

O técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo pretende fazer alguns ajustes no período visando a sequência na temporada, principalmente os jogos decisivos da Sula. Mas a ideia é também ajustar a parte emocional da equipe que, mesmo com a classificação na competição continental, tem convivido com um período recente de pressão. Luxa é o maior alvo, mas algumas situações têm respingado também nos atletas.

Além disso, o time segue brigando para não cair para a segunda divisão no Campeonato Brasileiro. Hoje, cinco pontos separam o Timão do Santos, que é a equipe que abre o Z4.

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De toda forma, Luxemburgo pondera o período de ‘descanso’ em relação às partidas, porque não terá todo o elenco à disposição. O meia Matías Rojas será entregue à seleção do Paraguai para os primeiros jogos das eliminatórias para a próxima Copa do Mundo. E neste domingo (3), o volante Gabriel Moscardo foi convocado por Ramon Menezes para a Seleção Brasileira pré-olímpica, no lugar de Danilo, ex-Palmeiras e hoje no Nottingham Forest (ING), que foi cortado após se lesionar neste fim de semana.

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Moscardo, inclusive, foi comunicado sobre a convocação no intervalo do clássico contra o Palmeiras e ficou bastante emocionado.

– Vai ser muito bom. Pena que vamos perder alguns jogadores para as seleções. Moscardo convocado. Vamos dar dois dias e meio para os jogadores ficarem em casa. Voltam na quarta. Ficar um pouco com a família, as crianças perturbarem um pouco. Recuperar a parte emocional e a parte física – disse Luxemburgo na entrevista coletiva após o Dérbi.

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Como Moscardo e Rojas são dois titulares absolutos do Corinthians, Luxa vê que o seu planejamento por montar uma ideia de jogo será prejudicado com a ausência desses atletas. Por isso, inclusive, não pretende realizar jogos-treinos durante o período de paralisação do futebol brasileiro.

Em setembro, além dos jogos contra o Fortaleza pelo Campeonato Brasileiro e o confronto de ida pela semifinal da Sul-Americana, que será no dia 26, o Timão também vai receber o líder do Brasileirão, o Botafogo, no dia 22, na Neo Química Arena.

The development came after eight BCB directors wrote to Bangladesh’s sports ministry seeking his removal

Mohammad Isam29-May-2025Faruque Ahmed is no longer the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president after the country’s sports ministry removed him as its representative on the BCB’s board of directors.The ministry issued a statement on Thursday evening after it received a no-confidence motion against Faruque signed by eight BCB directors.”In light of the no-confidence letter sent by eight BCB directors against Faruque Ahmed, and the report presented by the fact-finding committee about the BPL, his nomination as the representative of the National Sports Council (sports ministry) has been cancelled,” the statement from Bangladesh’s sports ministry said.Faruque was one of two directors nominated by the sport ministry to the BCB’s board of directors. He was made director on August 21 last year and elected BCB president the same day. His tenure lasted nine months and eight days.The directors who signed the no-confidence motion – though there is no room for one in the BCB constitution – were Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Mahbubul Anam, Kazi Inam Ahmed, Fahim Sinha, Salahuddin Chowdhury, Iftikhar Rahman, Saifur Alam Swapan Chowdhury and Manjur Alam. Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan was the only board director – apart from Faruque himself – who didn’t sign the letter.The directors accused Faruque of autocratic leadership and constitutional violations. They pointed towards clause 14-B of the BCB’s constitution, which requires approval of the board of directors when hiring or sacking coaches. Faruque, the letter said, dismissed Chandika Hathurusingha in October without informing the board of directors. They also claim Faruque didn’t perform due diligence when approving BPL franchises Durbar Rajshahi and Chittagong Kings in the 2024-25 season.”Capable professionals have been overlooked while loyalty and personal allegiance have been rewarded,” the letter read. “He is neither working for the development of Bangladesh cricket nor respecting the spirit of democratic governance.”One of the BCB directors told ESPNcricinfo that Faruque had ignored the rest of the board directors by delaying the formation of the new sub-committees. He said Faruque’s focus on running for the BCB elections later this year was another reason why they had lost confidence in him.Faruque said he was considering legal action after seeing the no-confidence letter signed by the directors. “I will speak to my lawyer about the letter. I might take legal action. There is no mention of no-confidence motion in the BCB constitution, so I don’t think it matters,” he told the Bengali daily . “I have seen the letter. They have accused me of wrongdoings that they have done themselves. I laughed out loud seeing the letter.”

علق طارق قنديل، عضو مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، على الجدل المثار مؤخرًا حول انتقال أحمد سيد زيزو إلى القلعة الحمراء، مؤكدًا أن النادي لا يتعامل بعاطفة أو مكايدة في ملف الصفقات، بل وفق رؤية فنية واضحة تهدف لدعم الفريق بالعناصر القادرة على تحقيق الإضافة.

وقال طارق قنديل في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب”، على قناة “mbc masr”: “هل كنت سعيدا بانتقال زيزو لـ الأهلي؟ أي انتقال للاعب يُمثل إضافة للفريق يُسعدنا، مهما كان النادي الذي انضم لنا منه، المهم تكون عنده الرغبة ويصنع تاريخ مع الأهلي، لأن أي تاريخ صنعه فإن تاريخه مع القلعة الحمراء مختلف”.

وبسؤاله، كيف ترى العلاقة بين مجلسي إدارة الأهلي والزمالك، أجاب: “عندما تولى مجلس إدارة الزمالك الحالي المسؤولية ذهبنا لهم وقمنا بتهنئتهم، والعلاقة بيننا طيبة، بصرف النظر عن الخروقات على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، إلا أن علاقتنا برموز القلعة البيضاء أكثر من رائعة”.

طالع أيضًا | الخطيب يوضح سبب فشل الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية.. وموقفه من تعيين ريبيرو والانسحاب أمام الزمالك

وأشار: “كنت من فترة قصيرة ومعي خالد مرتجي قمنا بزيارة حسن شحاتة، وهو صديق منذ زمن، ومرة أخرى أسامة حسني فعل شيء جميل في النادي الأهلي، حيث استضاف رموز من نادي الزمالك في النادي على الإفطار في رمضان، العلاقة مع نادي الزمالك ككيان ورموز رائعة”.

وواصل: “لم يصدر من أي مسؤول في النادي الأهلي أي خروج عن النص أو يُعكر صفو العلاقة بين الناديين، أما عن انتقال أي لاعب من ناد لآخر فهذا عالم احتراف، وتكرر أكثر من مرة أن انتقل لاعبين من الأهلي لـ الزمالك والعكس”.

وبسؤاله، هل انتقال زيزو للأهلي كان يندرج تحت العناد مع إدارة الزمالك، قال قنديل: “لا، الأهلي لديه نظام من قديم الأزل ويسير عليه الجميع، هناك إدارة فنية تختار اللاعبين ولو هناك رغبة يتم التعاقد معه، وعلى مدار التاريخ تكرر هذا الأمر بين الناديين، لكن لم يكن أبدًا المقصد منه مكايدة أو غيره”.

This season is going the way West Ham United fans hoped it would be in the summer.

Instead of leaving their lacklustre form behind last year and making strides in the Premier League, they look worse than they have in a long time.

Graham Potter oversaw five losses from six games before the club officially decided to part ways with the former Chelsea and Brighton head coach on Saturday morning.

So, it’s good news that the Hammers are being linked with a manager who could not only turn things around, but also get the likes of Jarrod Bowen firing.

West Ham's search to replace Graham Potter

West Ham have been linked with a host of potential Potter replacements in recent weeks, with one of the most consistent being Frank Lampard.

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The Englishman didn’t impress with Chelsea or Everton, but so far, he seems to be doing a good job with Coventry City in the Championship.

On the other hand, Slaven Bilic is currently out of work, but there remains a certain romanticism around the reports linking him with a return to the club.

However, there is another, far more impressive manager being linked with the Hammers, someone who could make Bowen even more unplayable.

At least that is according to a recent report from Claret & Hugh, which claims West Ham are still interested in Nuno Espírito Santo.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Portuguese coach is now the leading candidate to replace Potter.

Nuno would be an exciting appointment for West Ham, and based on his previous work, someone who could help make Bowen even better.

Why Nuno should replace Potter

Before getting into the other reasons Nuno would be an excellent hire for West Ham, why do we think he’d be able to get even more out of Bowen?

Simply put, on top of adding defensive solidity to Nottingham Forest, the Portuguese coach also helped make several of their attackers more dangerous.

For example, in the 22/23 season, when he spent time with Newcastle United and then Forest, Chris Wood scored just four goals in 29 games.

Then, the following season, in which Nuno joined halfway through, the tally increased to 15 goals and one assist in 35 games, which was then improved upon last year with a total of 23 goal involvements in 40 games.

There was also an improvement in Anthony Elanga’s numbers, with him producing 14 goal involvements in 39 games during the 2023/24 season and then 18 in 43 games the following year.

Wood & Elanga’s Forest progression
23/24	Wood	Elanga
Games	35	39
Goals	15	5
Assists	1	9
Goal Involvements per Game	0.45	0.35
24/25	Wood	Elanga
Games	40	43
Goals	20	6
Assists	3	12
Goal Involvements per Game	0.57	0.41
All Stats via Transfermarkt

So, just imagine what the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss would be able to do with the West Ham star, who is a better player than both.

Finally, in addition to improving players, the “incredible” manager, as dubbed by Sky Sports’ Sam Obaseki, has a proven track record of taking clubs that people predict for relegation into European football.

So there is no reason he couldn’t do that for a third time with the East Londoners.

Ultimately, while some may have their doubts about Nuno, he’s a Premier League-proven manager and one that could help supercharge the Hammers’ best attackers after the club decided to part ways with Potter.

Leeds could be facing the loss of one of their brightest talents as 16-year-old midfield prodigy Samuel Alker attracts interest from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. The England U17 international has impressed at U18 level, but with professional terms unsigned, top European clubs are circling, offering a tempting pathway to first-team football abroad.

Samuel Alker on the radar of top European clubs

Leeds' academy has produced countless talents, but Alker is making waves beyond Yorkshire. According to the Daily Mail, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder has become a mainstay at U18 level, known for his technical skill, vision, and creativity as a number 10. Already capped by England at youth level, Alker’s performances have caught the eye of scouts from Bundesliga clubs, Dortmund and Leverkusen, signaling potential challenges for the Whites in retaining him.

The youngster’s ability to dictate play, find space, and execute incisive passes has made him one of Leeds' most exciting prospects. While still only 16, Alker shows maturity beyond his years, prompting Bundesliga clubs to monitor his development closely, preparing for a possible move once he reaches eligibility at 18.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportContract talks and foreign interest in Alker

Leeds have moved quickly to secure their starlet, offering Alker professional terms. However, he has yet to sign, and with his 17th birthday not until March, European clubs are aware of a window to attract him abroad. Dortmund and Leverkusen are particularly alert, and have been drawn to his technical ability.

Alker’s statistical footprint is impressive for his age. During the 2024-25 season, he played six matches for Leeds U18, scoring one goal and providing two assists in approximately 343 minutes of football. His performances showed exceptional promise further highlighting his influence on the team. In the 2025-26 season, he has already shown strong contributions in limited minutes, with continued growing involvement in playmaking. Wearing primarily the number 10 shirt, Alker demonstrates excellent positional awareness, passing accuracy, and vision, often dictating the tempo of matches.

As an England U17 international, his performances on the youth stage have reinforced his status as one of the country’s most promising midfielders. Leeds now face the challenge of translating these performances into a contract that ensures he remains at Elland Road.

Can Alker get a first-team opportunity at Leeds?

Alker isn’t the only Leeds youth star making headlines. Harry Gray recently signed his first professional contract, continuing a family tradition at the club. Alker himself comes from a deep footballing lineage, with his grandfather Frank, great uncle Eddie, father Andy, and brother Archie all having ties to Leeds.

The challenge for these young players is the pathway to the senior team. Bundesliga clubs frequently offer earlier first-team exposure than is typical in the Premier League. Still, coach Daniel Farke could elevate Alker if an injury crisis hits. Such a move would provide a crucial confidence boost and fast-track his experience, especially since players like Gray have already featured for Leeds' senior side.

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AFPLeeds' immediate challenges and future hopes

While the club navigates Alker’s future, head coach Farke faces urgent squad issues ahead of the Premier League clash with West Ham. Ethan Ampadu and vice-captain Pascal Struijk are battling illness, while Noah Okafor and Wilfried Gnonto recover from an adductor injury and hernia surgery.

Alker’s progression and potential senior breakthrough remain central to Leeds' plans. With his contract still unsigned until 2027, the club must balance nurturing talent with defending against European suitors. For fans and staff alike, the hope is that Alker can develop into a first-team regular while remaining loyal to Leeds, maintaining the academy’s proud tradition of producing top-level footballers.

Following an impressive start to the season, it’s now three games without a win for Everton, who left David Moyes in a frustrated mood following defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

Wolves vs Everton: Toffees crash out of Carabao Cup

It’s been a tough week for the Toffees, who narrowly lost out against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby last weekend before travelling to Wolves in hope of getting back to winning ways. Once again, however, they found themselves on the losing side in a game that saw Vitor Pereira’s side outfire a blunt Everton attack.

After Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring in calamitous fashion, it was the turn of new Wolves signing Tolu Arokodare to get in on the act and end Everton’s Carabao Cup campaign before it could truly get started.

For the Toffees, all eyes will now be on a crucial game against West Ham United. If they want to prove that they’re ready to step beyond relegation scraps this season then a convincing display against the Hammers should be at the top of their priority list.

Moyes will also be hoping to see some improvement on the refereeing front after criticising the officials for the second game running last night. The Everton boss said, when asked about the treatment of Jack Grealish: “I think you might need to ask the referee that, if he thought he was giving them [fouls] because I think there was a couple of free kicks not given.

“Again, five minutes [added on] I thought looked very short on time as well, on the way the game went. We’ve not been getting much going for us, but that’s just the way it is.”

That said, most of his frustration centred around one specific moment caused by his players rather than the officials in the Midlands.

Moyes slams "diabolical" Everton moment

Moyes was particularly critical of the first goal that his side conceded, which saw them lose duels inside their own area and eventually allow Munetsi to convert a simple strike on the rebound of Mark Travers’ initial save.

Taking aim at his side, the Everton boss told reporters: “It was a 0-0 game in the first half. We gave away a diabolical goal. Wolves weren’t better than us in the first half, they were for the first 10 minutes or so, but they weren’t better.

“The game was a 0-0, they probably scored against the run of play in some ways. We gave away a terrible first goal which altered things and made the game a bit more difficult. I thought we probably dominated most of the second half, we just couldn’t find a way of getting a goal.”

Worse than Tarkowski: 5/10 Everton man "was a difficult watch" vs Wolves

Everton were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 defeat by Wolves at Molineux.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 24, 2025

The opening goal, which came just before the half-hour mark, swung the momentum in Wolves’ favour and the hosts did not look back from there.

West Ham are plotting to sign a new striker in the January transfer window amid concerns surrounding Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson, with the former recently sidelined yet again.

Niclas Füllkrug injury confirmed in blow for West Ham

Fullkrug missed both of Germany’s World Cup qualifying wins against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, and manager Julian Nagelsmann confirmed exactly why.

In what is a major blow for new manager Nuno Espírito Santo, Fullkrug finds himself back on the treatment table, having torn a muscle bundle in his thigh, with a report by Kicker suggesting he faces “several weeks” on the sidelines.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

The 32-year-old’s London Stadium stay has been marred by repeated fitness issues, with Fullkrug missing 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season as his physical problems continue.

It’s becoming crystal clear that Nuno cannot rely on the ex-Borussia Dortmund hitman to lead his line, and the Portuguese has precious few alternatives bar another injury-prone star in Callum Wilson and unproven youngster Callum Marshall.

The importance of signing a proven, reliable goalscorer cannot be understated, with West Ham also among the Premier League’s lowest scoring sides thus far as the Hammers yearn for attacking creativity.

Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee has been repeatedly linked with a move to West Ham already in the build up to January, and despite failing to establish himself as a key man under Ruben Amorim this term, he could be a good option.

The arrivals of Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford have heightened competition for places, but Zirkzee was called a potential “elite” number nine in the making during his impressive spell at Bologna, so perhaps he simply needs consistent minutes to reach those heights once again.

A more ambitious option could be Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, considering he’s out of contract in 2026 and could potentially move for a cut-price fee in January.

That being said, West Ham could face stiff competition from the likes of Spurs and Chelsea for Vlahovic, while it is debatable whether the Serie A star would choose to join a side who appear likely to be battling relegation.

West Ham's striker "plan" for January involving Lucas Paqueta

In any case, no matter their desired target, it is believed that West Ham have every intention of bringing in a centre-forward when the window reopens.

That is according to journalist Dean Jones, who also reports that star £150,000-per-week midfielder Lucas Paqueta won’t be going anywhere in January despite reports, as West Ham want any new striker to feed off the Brazilian’s creativity through the middle.

The 28-year-old was subject to an offer from Aston Villa in the summer, but decided to stay at West Ham after the club stuck by him through his spot-fixing allegations.

Taking this into account, Paqueta will be itching to repay the faith with some vital performances under Nuno.

However, the East Londoners also have to make a key decision about Paqueta’s long-term future pretty soon, considering his deal expires in under two years.

While Arsenal fans will have to wait another week to watch their team again, they did get to see Bukayo Saka shine on the international stage again on Thursday.

The Hale End icon started for England in a friendly against Wales, and made it quite clear that the right-wing position is his for club and country.

The Welsh could not handle him at all, and just 20 minutes into the game, he scored a sensational curling effort that was the best strike on the night.

Saka will undoubtedly have a significant role to play for England at the World Cup next year, but there is another Arsenal gem who could go on to be an even bigger national team star in the years to come.

The Arsenal players who could be at the World Cup

Sticking with Saka for a moment, and so long as he remains fit, it’s almost impossible to imagine England’s World Cup squad without him being in it next summer.

The 24-year-old has twice been named the nation’s Player of the Year, has already amassed 45 caps, in which he’s scored 21 goal involvements, and Thursday was just a reminder of how influential he can be at this level.

With that said, there will likely be a handful of Arsenal players who make it on the plane next year, chief among them being Declan Rice.

The £105m man won his 69th cap against Wales, and more crucially, wore the captain’s armband in Harry Kane’s absence.

Therefore, so long as he remains fit and keeps up his brilliant form for the rest of the season, he should not only be on the plane to Mexico, Canada and the USA, but in the starting lineup for every game.

Someone who should have little concern about making it on the plane, but whose place in the lineup is not guaranteed, is Eberechi Eze.

The former Crystal Palace star has just 13 senior caps to his name, but has become a constant in squads over the last couple of years and offers something from the middle of the park and out wide.

The final player from Mikel Arteta’s side who stands a realistic chance of making it to the World Cup, but could still miss out if he doesn’t start getting more gametime, is Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Thomas Tuchel has made it abundantly clear he rates the youngster, giving him his first start, in which he scored. However, with Riccardo Calafiori, the current first choice at the Emirates, he could see his place with the Three Lions going to someone else.

With all that said, there is another Arsenal gem who almost certainly won’t be going to the World Cup, but may well become one of England’s biggest stars in a few years.

The Arsenal gem destined to become an England superstar

Now, with all the players already mentioned, some of you might be thinking the gem in question is Ethan Nwaneri, and while he might also become a star for the national team, it’s not him.

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Instead, the Arsenal gem who seems destined to become a superstar for England is, of course, Max Dowman.

The 15-year-old is one of the most talked-about academy prospects in the game right now, and for very good reason.

It feels more like a matter of when, not if, he’s starting week in, week out, in the Premier League and Champions League.

After all, while this all sounds somewhat hyperbolic, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig described the teenage gem as the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal”, which is really saying something considering the Spaniard just finished second in the Ballon d’Or at 18 years old.

Dowman in 24/25

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s an opinion that doesn’t look too crazy when looking back at the youngster’s numbers from last season, either, as in 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 times and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Moreover, despite still being only 15 years old, the Chelmsford-born dynamo is already playing for England’s U19 side, having made three appearances and provided one assist.

During his time with the U17s, he scored five goals and provided three assists in 16 appearances, totalling 953 minutes.

Finally, if the incredible prospect had only played junior football up until this point, there would be an argument that everyone is getting a bit carried away. However, he has now played for the Gunners’ first team and looked brilliant.

For example, he won a penalty against Newcastle United in pre-season and then against Leeds United in the league a month later, which led to analyst Ben Mattinson claiming he “hasn’t even done his GCSE’s but he’s humiliating Premier League players.”

Ultimately, it might take a couple of years before he has a proper go in the senior side, but with how well he’s playing this year and with what those in the know are saying, there is every chance Dowman can become Arsenal’s greatest ever England player.

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Chelsea have already turned their attention to recruitment matters ahead of 2026, and could be set to change their transfer strategy to complete an intriguing move.

Chelsea look to Cole Palmer alternatives after injury confirmation

Enzo Maresca and Chelsea will be relieved to see Premier League football return after the international break.

However, it isn’t all good news, with Maresca confirming that Cole Palmer faces six more weeks on the sidelines. The forward’s niggling groin injury has limited his ability to make an impact this term, and he now won’t be back until around December.

Addressing his situation, the Italian boss made it clear that despite the nature of his issue, surgery will remain off the table for now as he aims to recover before the festive period.

Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto also suffered fitness issues in the build up to their clash with Nottingham Forest earlier today, continuing a theme of injury concerns at Stamford Bridge that will force Maresca to shuffle his pack amid a busy fixture schedule.

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While not on their immediate radar, incoming transfers will become an important part of their long-term planning over the coming weeks, albeit it remains to be seen where Maresca feels his squad needs reinforcements most.

Reports suggest Chelsea are prioritising a centre-back in January, coming after Maresca publicly requested one in the summer window, and links continue to surround a potential new goalkeeper as well.

Interestingly, a new midfielder could be on the agenda too, and Chelsea could now be set to deviate from their transfer philosophy in an attempt to sign an experienced playmaker.

Dean Jones on Chelsea's potential move for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Previously, FootballFanCast relayed news from Italy that Chelsea are pushing to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Al-Hilal in what could be a deviation from their usual transfer strategy of recruiting young players with potential.

Deemed to be earning around £418,000 per week in the Middle East, the Serbia international has regularly been linked with Premier League clubs over the last decade, and he may be available to return to Europe on a free transfer next summer.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s record at Al-Hilal

Appearances

102

Goals

30

Assists

26

Contract expires

30/06/2026

Delivering some clarity on his situation, Dean Jones suggests Chelsea could value Milinkovic-Savic’s leadership qualities, and this may lead the West Londoners to pursuing a deal that would be classed as out of the ordinary compared with their usual transfer activity.

Chelsea are renowned for going for players below a certain age, but Jones says more senior options “will be considered” moving forward.

Successful Chelsea teams of the past have been littered with experienced professionals capable of conjuring important moments, and it appears Maresca wants to lean into that long-held tradition should he get the chance next summer, which could be beneficial for everyone.