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Às vésperas da final da Taça Rio, o Vasco teve, na tarde desta sexta, seu Ato Trabalhista cancelado pela Justiça. A decisão ocorreu em virtude do não pagamento dos salários em dia, do Fundo de Garantia por Tempo de Serviço (FGTS) e de verbas rescisórias. A informação foi inicialmente divulgada pelo portal “Esporte News Mundo”

> Confira a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro – Série B

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Além disso, o Ato foi revogado também por causa da falta de condições para a sua manutenção. Ela era feita por meio de umPlano Especial de Pagamento Trabalhista (Pept) via Ato 20/2020 do Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da Primeira Região (TRT-1).

> Confira mais notícias sobre o Vasco da Gama

Cabe salientar que a decisão foiassinada pelo desembargador corregedorregional Jorge Fernando Gonçalves da Fonte, porém cabe recurso por parte do clube carioca. Neste sentido, com o cancelamento do Ato Trabalhista, os riscos de penhoras individuais voltam a preocupar, já que cerca de R$ 100 milhões de dívidas trabalhistas poderão terexecuções individuais.

Na decisão, o desembargador cita que o Gigante da Colina descumpriu obrigações que configuram na manutenção do plano. O magistrado também ressaltou que o clube solicitou a repactuação de passivos em virtude das dificuldades apresentadas na pandemia global de Coronavírus, concedida algumas vezes.

– …há parecer do Ministério Público do Trabalho informando o ajuizamento de Ação Civil Pública em razão da dispensa em massa procedida pelo Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama, atraso no pagamento de salários, inadimplemento de verbas rescisórias e não recolhimento do FGTS e da multa incidente sobre os depósitos fundiários. Salientou ainda o Ministério Público que o pagamento do mês de abril foi realizado de forma parcial. Dessa forma requereu o Parquet o imediato cancelamento do PEPT, ante a inobservância dos deveres advindos da centralização da execução trabalhista, notadamente o cumprimento das obrigações legais supracitadas – trecho do texto que é composto por 12 folhas.

> Zeca tem se firmado no Vasco. Relembre os últimos 22 laterais-esquerdos que atuaram no Cruz-Maltino

Outro ponto citado é a demissão de 186 funcionários no último dia 12 de março. Nesta semana, por decisão do magistrado Robert de Assunção Aguiar, da 60ª Vara do Trabalho do Rio, o clube terá o prazo de cinco dias úteis para reintegrar esses colaboradores. No documento, o juizalegou que o Cruz-Maltino tentou ‘valer-se do desespero dos trabalhadores, agravado pelo período de pandemia’.

Confira a conclusão da decisão do desembargador

“Tenho, portanto, que o Requerente descumpriu os compromissos que lhes são impostos por todos os regramentos do PEPT – tanto pelo Provimento Conjunto 02/2019 quanto pelo Provimento Conjunto 02/2017, ambos deste E. TRT, bem como pela Consolidação dos Provimentos da Corregedoria-Geral da Justiça do Trabalho -, que estabelecem como sanção para esse inadimplemento o imediato cancelamento do Plano, o que ora se impõe.

Desembargador Corregedor Regional”

علق ثروت سويلم عضو رابطة الأندية على أزمة احتجاز لاعبي الزمالك في الإمارات، مؤكداً تقديم الاعتذار لـ مسؤولي الإمارات بعد واقعة ثلاثي الأبيض الأخيرة.

وكانت أزمة قد نشبت بين ثنائي الفريق مصطفى شلبي ونبيل عماد دونجا ومعهما عبد الواحد السيد مدير الكرة، مع فرد الأمن في مباراة بيراميدز.

وتم التحفظ على الثلاثي من قبل الشرطة الإماراتية للاعتداء على فرد أمن بمباراة بيراميدز، في الدور نصف النهائي، التي حسمها الفارس الأبيض بركلات الترجيح والتأهل إلى المباراة النهائية من بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

وقال ثروت سويلم في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر2: “السوبر المصري يمثل مصر وحدث رياضي محترم، ونشكر الإمارات ومجلس أبو ظبي الرياضة على استضافة كأس السوبر”.

وأكمل: “اعتذار الزمالك أتى متأخرًا، لكن أن يأتي متأخرًا أفضل بكثير من ألا يأتي، بعد اعتذار الزمالك يجب أن نغلق الستار على الواقعة لعمق العلاقة بين مصر والإمارات”.

وتابع: “الحمد لله أن الذي الواقعة حدثت في مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز وليس في مباراة الأهلي والزمالك”.

طالع | أول تحرك رسمي من الزمالك بعد أزمة ثلاثي الفريق ومسؤول أمن مباراة بيراميدز

واستطرد: “الموقف الذي حدث في مباراة الزمالك الأخير سيجعل هناك نوع من الالتزام التام في مباراة الأهلي والزمالك، والصورة المصرية في الإمارات ستكون مميزة”.

وأردف: “نقدم كل الاعتذار للشعب الإماراتي على ما حدث، الشركة الراعية ومجلس أبو ظبي الرياضي بذلا مجهودا غير طبيعي في هذه الأزمة”.

واختتم: “كيف لا يكون هناك تقرير فيما حدث، ستكون هناك تحقيقات ولا اتحاد الكرة ولا رابطة الأندية ولا أجهزة الدولة ووزارة الشباب والرياضة ستعدي هذا الموضوع وفي الوقت المناسب العقوبات ستصدر”.

Manchester United have been linked with a huge double deal, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe thought to be pushing for a major club overhaul on and off the pitch this summer.

What Ratcliffe says goes at Old Trafford

Since his arrival in December 2023, Ratcliffe has been laying down the law at Old Trafford. He has been responsible for the arrival of new CEO Omar Berrada, poached from major rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City.

He has also begun proceedings to sign a further two backroom staff members, though neither deal has yet been completed. Dan Ashworth, ex-Brighton transfer guru, is on gardening leave with Newcastle United after being approached by the Red Devils, and is expected to leave the Magpies in favour of Manchester United sooner rather than later, though a major stumbling block remains the £20m compensation that Eddie Howe's side are demanding.

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Ratcliffe is also believed to be readying an approach for Crystal Palace Sporting Director Dougie Freedman, who would arrive at Old Trafford as the head of transfers ahead of the summer. Freedman is understood to be open to the move and Sir Alex Ferguson is also lending his weight to the deal, which could begin to move in earnest soon.

With those in the pipeline, attention has turned to the pitch, with the new United chief already plotting squad changes.

Major rebuild to start with Serie A swoop

After a disappointing campaign, Manchester United are in need of a rebuild. The club look set to miss out on Champions League football for next season, and will likely be playing in the Europa League barring a drastic change in fortunes in the final ten games of the season.

As per the Manchester Evening News, as many as 21 players could depart in some capacity as the club look to trim their wage bill and get rid of players that are falling below the required standard.

That will, of course, require new signings to counterbalance departures, with a centre-back and central midfielder two of the key areas to fill before the new season.

Manchester United's defensive options

Player

Contract Expires

Raphael Varane

2024

Harry Maguire

2025

Lisandro Martinez

2027

Jonny Evans

2024

Willy Kambwala

2025

Victor Lindelof

2025

Previously, the club have been linked to a double signing from Everton this summer, but now new links suggest that they could have turned their attention elsewhere.

As per Sport Witness, United sent scouts to watch the clash between Atalanta and Bologna recently with two players firmly on the radar. The first of those is midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who followed up his performance against Bologna with two goals against Juventus and has been wowing fans this season.

He wasn't the only Atalanta star who was under the microscope though, with defender Giorgio Scalvini also very much on their radar. Neither player would come cheap though. Reports in Italy have previously priced Koopmeiners at 60m euros and Scalvini at 50m euros.

With both positions in desperate need of being filled at Old Trafford, those prices suggest that a deal to bring the pair to the northwest of England would cost around £94m. It is added that the club are 'watching their performances closely' as they look to plot a 'rebuild' led by Ratcliffe this summer.

Given Tottenham's impressive Serie A signings in recent summers (Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski to name but three), United may see the Italian top flight as a more cost-effective way to bring talent to Old Trafford rather than paying the extortionate prices their fellow Premier League clubs demand.

They won't be alone thinking that though, with Tottenham likely to continue plundering from the Italian top flight and Juventus always lurking in the background.

أعرب خالد مرتجي، عضو مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، عن سعادته البالغة بفوز المارد الأحمر على العين الإماراتي، في ربع نهائي كأس الإنتركونتينينتال، مُشددًا على أن الشياطين الحمر هم مصدر سعادة الشعب المصري.

وسحق الأهلي نظيره العين بثلاثية نظيفة، على ملعب استاد القاهرة، وسط حضور جماهيري كامل العدد، ليتأهل المارد الأحمر إلى نصف نهائي كأس الإنتركونتينينتال، وينتظر الفائز من المباراة التي ستجمع بين باتشوكا المكسيكي والفائز بلقب كأس ليبرتادوريس (ممثل قارة أمريكا الجنوبية).

وقال خالد مرتجي، في تصريحات عبر إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “الأهلي هو مصدر سعادة المصريين، عندما تتعرض لوعكة صحية بسيطة بخسارتنا بركلات الترجيح في السوبر الإفريقي، لا شك إنك تستعيد رونقك وقوتك والتي مصدرها الأساسي الجماهير الكبيرة، أن تفوز ببطولتين في أسبوع واحد كرم من ربنا”.

وتابع: “أهنئ رجال الأهلي والجهاز الفني، وأهنئ الكابتن محمود الخطيب في عيد ميلاده الـ 70 اليوم، وأعتقد أن الفوز هو أفضل هدية، وأهنئ مجلس الإدارة الذي يعمل من أجل مصلحة النادي وليس حبًا في المناصب”.

وأضاف: “ماذا حدث في جلستك مع دان أوتول سكرتير عام مساعد الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم قبل المباراة؟ هو منذ 8 سنوات في الاتحاد الدولي، وسبق وقابلته في اليونان، وقال لي أنا أتمنى أن أزور النادي الأهلي، وأنه سوف يحضر مباراة العين، وأكد أنه يتشرف بزيارة هذا النادي العظيم، الأهلي لا أعتبره ناد مصري إفريقي، بل ناد عالمي، وأي أحد يزور مصر يتمنى زيارة النادي”.

طالع أيضًا | مدرب العين: اللعب أمام جماهير الأهلي صعب.. ووقعنا في أخطاء لا يمكن ارتكابها

وواصل: “جلست معه قبل المباراة، وكان سعيدًا وتمنى أن تكون جميع الأندية مثل الأهلي، وقال لي أنا متخيل أنكم لستم أكبر ناد في إفريقيا ولكن الأكبر في العالم، بعد أن أعطيته فكرة عن النادي، وأنه ليس قلعة رياضية فقط، بل يخدم قطاعات كبيرة”.

وأردف: “استاد القاهرة كان متغير 180 درجة، والشركة المتحدة رغم أنها حصلت على أموال كثيرة منا من أجل تنظيم هذه المباراة، إلا أنهم قدموا عملًا عظيمًا، وكنا فخورين باستاد القاهرة، الأهلي عندما يفعل شيئًا يكون مفخرة لـ مصر، الأهلي هو أعظم مؤسسة ناجحة في هذه البلد”.

واستكمل: “نتمنى أن نواجه ريال مدريد، لأن هذا شرف كبير لأنه أعظم فريق في العالم، وأن تتواجد معه في نفس البطولة هذا شرف كبير، ونحن على يقين في قدرة الله ولاعبي الفريق والجهاز الفني والجماهير العظيمة”.

وأشار: “إمام عاشور من أعظم صفقات الأهلي، لاعب نادر لا يوجد مثله كثيرًا، هو مُتعجل على نفسه، لكنه مازال صغيرًا، هو لاعب مُجتهد ويريد أن يُسعد جماهير الأهلي، وأي لاعب يدخل منظومة النادي يتأقلم ويدخل في القالب ويسير على الطريق الصحيح، وهو من أعظم الصفقات التي انضمت للقلعة الحمراء في أخر 10 سنوات”.

وشدد: “علاقتي بـ مارسيل كولر علاقة صداقة وليست عمل، أنا لا أتحدث معه في أي أمور تخص العمل لأن هذه ليست من صلاحياتي، وهو رجل مُخلص يعمل 18 و19 ساعة في اليوم، لا يكل ولا يمل من أجل سعادة الجماهير، وكيله قال لي أنا عمري ما شاهدت كولر يضحك مثلما يضحك في الأهلي، الأهلي هو من يصنع الأبطال”.

وأكد: “الذي خلفه جمهور مثل الأهلي لا يُمكن أن يُكابر، المهم أن نعمل بشكل صحيح، والأسد يمرض ولا يموت، خسرنا السوبر الإفريقي بركلات الترجيح، لكنها كانت مثل (الحقنة إللي تفوقنا)”.

واختتم: “إن شاء الله نظل مصدر سعادة الشعب المصري بصفة عامة، وجمهور الأهلي بصفة خاصة”.

After deciding against signing anyone in the January transfer window, the summer could be a big one for Arsenal.

Back in 2023 they spent a considerable amount on bolstering the squad, notably bringing in £65m Kai Havertz and £105m Declan Rice.

Where has that got them? Well, they're top of the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It's hard to suggest they weren't worth the money.

So, what does 2024 have in store? It's likely they'll go big on a new star striker with Ivan Toney one name who refuses to go away. But who else?

Arsenal's transfer targets for 2024

It was reported back in January that Toney was a player Arsenal wanted to do a deal for but perhaps with Kai Havertz's form in recent weeks, they'll look to spend big elsewhere.

Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest was linked with a move over the weekend but a fresh name coming from the rumour mill concerns Joao Cancelo.

That's according to The Sun who reported on Saturday that the Gunners are ready to make their move for the defender if Barcelona don't sign the player permanently.

Cancelo is currently on loan at Barca from Manchester City after falling out with Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese would prefer to stay in Catalonia but Arsenal could be an interesting proposition for the player considering Mikel Arteta's tactics.

How Joao Cancelo compares to Ben White

Signing Cancelo would be a particularly eye-catching addition from Edu and Co.

The 29-year-old is in the prime of his career and crucially for Arteta, is not only a versatile individual but also a player capable of adapting to his system. Why? Well, Cancelo is the classic example of an inverted full-back.

Statman Dave described the Man City star as "the perfect inverted wing-back" during his days in England and that ability to push into midfield would make him an ideal addition this summer.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been an expert in that role since signing for the Gunners but his authority as a starter is now dwindling. Previously criticised for being a "liability" in defensive situations, the Ukrainian may bring composure and technical ability but Arsenal can do better. The very fact Jakub Kiwior – not typically a full-back – has now displaced him says it all.

On the opposite side of the defence, Ben White is improving all the time, notably registering two assists and a goal in his last two league games. Once a central defender, the £50m signing has taken a leaf from Zinchenko's book and with the former Man City man out of action, has been the inverted defender in this team.

Well, should Cancelo arrive then he could perform that job just as well. Vitally for White, he can also operate at left-back.

Throughout his career to date the Barca loanee has been seen 217 times on the right and 103 times from the left. On that note, he's a bit like Arsenal's current options Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber.

So, we know Cancelo can invert but what else does he offer? Previously celebrated as "the best player in the Premier League" by journalist Muhammad Butt, he ranks in the top 10% of positionally similar players in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the best 1% for successful take-ons (dribbles), and the top 9% for progressive passes, all per 90 minutes.

Progressive carries

4.18

1.18

Progressive passes

5.00

5.74

Goals + assists

0.24

0.25

Pass success %

82%

85%

Key passes

1.39

0.93

Passes into final 3rd

4.76

5.40

Crosses into penalty box

0.43

0.34

Tackles won

1.63

0.80

Interceptions

0.96

1.01

He is the archetypal modern full-back, enjoying the thrill of galivanting forward and influencing play in the final third. The Benfica academy graduate also stacks up pretty well compared to White.

Considering Arsenal's current defensive options, this signing might not be a necessity but it's certainly one that takes them up another level.

Arsenal should hand a big pay rise to their "monster" star after Ben White

Arsenal announced a contract renewal for Ben White in the week.

ByMatt Dawson Mar 17, 2024

Chance for fresh start could be the re-making of young talent after three years in the wilderness

Matt Roller14-Nov-2019

After bowling Gloucestershire out for 205 on the first day at Cheltenham in May 2019, Lancashire had 20 overs to bat out ahead of the close. It was the sort of situation in which an in-form opening batsman thrives: there was no pressure on them to score, simply to survive by leaving, ducking, weaving and blocking.But in May 2019, Haseeb Hameed was not an in-form opening batsman. He came into this game on the back of two tame dismissals to the unheralded Worcestershire seamer Charlie Morris: trapped lbw looking to work a straight ball to the leg side in the first innings, and caught in the slips playing an expansive drive in the second. His previous 32 first-class innings had brought one hundred and no fifties; his director of cricket Paul Allott had suggested that he was “hanging by a thread” at the club.One can only wonder what was going through his head at the non-striker’s end as Keaton Jennings clipped one off his pads out to straight midwicket, but on external evidence, it wasn’t a lot. He stared vacantly at the ball as Jennings called him through for a single, and looked up to see his partner bounding down the track towards him. Panicked, he put his head down and charged towards the keeper’s end but the throw was good, the keeper whipped off the bails, and Hameed’s miserable run had continued. He looked to the skies, dejected.Hameed played six more Championship games in the season and was dropped without ceremony. In November 2016, he had made a battling, unbeaten half-century with a broken finger in Mohali, an innings so dogged and resolute that Virat Kohli marked him out as a “future star”. Since then, he has averaged 20.55 in first-class cricket, passing 50 five times in 67 innings.Where did it all go so wrong?***The theories behind Hameed’s downturn in form are plentiful, though many of them rely on speculation. He played his first List A game at the start of 2017, and some suggest that playing 50-over cricket has made him lose his judgement outside his off stump.Others blame the influence of his father, who took it upon himself to become Hameed’s batting coach during his teenage years. One source suggests that Lancashire’s coaches were frustrated with the extent to which Hameed allowed his father to influence his game, though it is all too easy to pedal the pushy Asian father stereotype: when things were going his way, it didn’t seem to be such a problem.Justifiably, some feel he was hung out to dry by Allott. It is all too easily forgotten that Hameed is only 22 – that Lancashire’s director of cricket repeatedly expressed his disappointment to the press about Hameed’s form cannot have been helpful.And finally, there is the suggestion that he might not have been the player many hoped in the first place. Of course, nobody makes nearly 1200 Division One runs as a 19-year-old without a great deal of talent, and he has long been marked out as a superstar in the making.But, the theory goes, Hameed has always been a better player of spin than seam: 60 percent of the balls he faced in his only Test series were from spinners, and in the past three Championship seasons, only four of his 48 dismissals have been against spin. In three of his four Championship hundreds in his breakout year, more than a third of deliveries he faced were bowled by spinners; in his first ton, against Warwickshire, Jeetan Patel bowled 48.8 percent of the balls he faced.ALSO READ: Hameed signs for Notts after Lancashire releaseIn truth, it is hard to isolate a single factor with any great confidence. What those outside of Hameed’s close circle know is that he is a talented young player who has lost his way dramatically and publicly in the past three seasons: a switch of counties will surely do him good.Hameed’s move to Nottinghamshire, initially on a two-year deal, seems like it will suit him. Several counties were interested in securing his signature, and while it is easy to point to the struggles of some of those batsmen who have moved to the club recently – Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke and Ben Slater, for example – as evidence that the grass isn’t always greener, it feels like a fresh start can only help him.It was no surprise to see Hameed mention both Mick Newell (director of cricket) and Peter Moores (head coach) in the press release that accompanied the announcement of his signing, and while it might seem like a stretch, the wording – “a special mention to [them] for believing in me” – hinted at a sense of isolation towards the end of his time at Lancashire. And while Moores’ wider reputation has never recovered from his second spell as England coach – in particular the fallout from the debacle that was the 2015 World Cup – he remains one of the most popular and respected coaches on the county circuit, and young players relish the chance to work with him.Throw in the prospect of playing on pitches that are generally pretty flat at Trent Bridge and the fact that his first season will see the club play in Division Two, and the move seems to lay the ideal foundations for a comeback. Hameed seemed destined for greatness three years ago, and is surely too good to endure many more lean seasons; both for his immediate interests and for his career in the long run, he needs this signing to work out.

Glasgow Rangers have had multiple players stake their claim for a place in the first-team after impressing for the academy during the 2023/24 campaign.

Zak Lovelace, Cole McKinnon, and Ross McCausland have all – to varying degrees – been involved with the senior squad as a reward for their superb B team form.

Hopefully, they will go on to enjoy successful careers in the first-team but one player who was deprived of the chance to do just that was Scotland international Lewis Ferguson.

The central midfielder, who is the nephew of Gers icon Barry Ferguson, was released by the club as a teenager, before he could make his senior bow, and has gone on to emerge as a fantastic player and a target for some massive European clubs.

Lewis Ferguson's career in Scotland

After being let go by the Light Blues, the teenage whiz signed for Hamilton and went on to rack up five assists in 14 first-team matches after coming through the academy system.

Aberdeen then swooped to secure the midfield star, who was lauded as a "diamond" by former Hamilton owner Ronnie MacDonald, in the summer of 2018 to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

He eventually produced 37 goals and 23 assists in 169 appearances in all competitions for the Dons in total during his time with the Scottish side.

21/22 Premiership

Lewis Ferguson

Appearances

36

Sofascore rating

7.29

Goals

11

Assists

1

Duel success rate

61%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Ferguson caught the eye with his quality as a scorer in midfield, who can also hold his own in physical duels, during his last Scottish Premiership season with Aberdeen.

His impressive form convinced Serie A side Bologna to snap him up for a reported fee of £3m in the summer of 2022, at which point Rangers may have already been regretting their decision to release him from their academy.

European interest in Lewis Ferguson

The Gers had a big howler with the attacking midfielder, as he is currently thriving in Italy with Bologna, who he scored seven league goals for last term, and has attracted interest from some European giants.

Earlier this month, Sky Sports reported that Serie A giants Juventus and reigning champions Napoli, who boast the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen in their squad, are interested in a possible summer swoop to sign the Scotland international at the end of this season.

The National have also claimed that his current club value him at a staggering £22m, which is significantly more than the £3m they paid Aberdeen for his services, and shows that Rangers missed out on a big payday.

Ferguson has fired in six goals and assisted four for his teammates in 28 Serie A appearances so far this season for Bologna, and has completed 88% of his attempted passes.

The 24-year-old whiz, who still has time left to develop and improve, has already showcased his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield in a major European league, and previously proved himself in the Premiership with Aberdeen.

Therefore, Rangers had a howler with their release of the Scottish sensation as they missed out on a fantastic player who has performed well enough to garner interest from European giants like Juventus and Napoli.

The sky is blue, the grass is green and Arsenal have scored four or more in a game again.

It was only a couple of months ago that Mikel Arteta's side were in the midst of a goalscoring crisis, with just a single goal coming from 63 shots at one point.

However, in the intervening months, the Gunners have quickly turned into the most lethal team in the country and, after dispatching Sheffield United 6-0 on Monday night, currently possess a goal difference of plus 45 – the best in the league.

It was the sort of performance in which each and every player could leave the pitch with their heads held high, but there were two in particular who deserved to be singled out for praise, the first of which was the captain.

Martin Odegaard's game in numbers

Yes, Martin Odegaard put in what might be one of his best performances of the season at Bramall Lane last night and was justly rewarded with the Man of the Match award.

The mercurial midfielder was involved in practically every aspect of the game, whether through his silky passing, thunderous shots or tireless pressing. He was everywhere, and the Sheffield United players will be having nightmares for weeks.

The Norwegian's brilliance was recognised by the Standard's Simon Collings' who gave his performance a 9/10 on the night, writing that he 'ran the show in midfield' and that the Blades 'couldn't lay a glove' on him.

It's a very complimentary assessment, but one backed up by the numbers, as in Odegaard's 95 minutes of action, he scored a goal, registered 0.21 expected assists, took a mammoth 115 touches, made four key passes, was accurate in both of his attempted long balls, created one big chance and succeeded in all three of his dribbles.

In all, it was about as close to a perfect game as fans will see from their 25-year-old wizard, and while he fully deserves all the praise he's received, there's another starter who deserves just as much credit.

William Saliba's game in numbers

The other player in question is French international and "Rolls-Royce of a defender", as dubbed by The Athletic's Aaron Catterson-Reid, William Saliba.

Now, from looking at the score alone, fans might assume that the 22-year-old had very little to do on the night, and while that might be somewhat true from a defensive point of view, that doesn't mean that he was just sitting in the Arsenal half twiddling his thumbs all game – far from it.

In fact, when looking at his statistics from the match, it becomes quite clear that he was busy throughout, as in his 95 minutes of action, he took 180 touches, was accurate in 169 of his 174 passes, won two of his three duels, lost possession just six times, made one clearance and one interception.

The standout statistics are the number of touches and passes made by the Bondy-born "monster", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and while they're impressive in isolation, they are even more remarkable when compared to the historical data.

According to Orbinho, the head of Optajoe, the Frenchman's 169 passes ranks as the most completed by an Arsenal player in Premier League history, surpassing Santi Cazorla, who held the record previously and sitting behind just three Manchester City players for the most passes in a Premier League match ever.

Incredibly, that tally of passes also happened to be more than the entire of the Sheffield United team combined (142) on the night, a stat that truly sums up Arsenal's dominance in Yorkshire.

In all, while it might not look like the former Saint-Étienne man was doing much considering the score, he was very much involved in the game, so Collings' 6/10 rating and assessment that he was 'rarely called upon' doesn't entirely ring true.

Ultimately, Odegaard fully deserves all the praise he received for his unreal performance last night, but Saliba should also get recognition for his contribution with the ball at his feet.

Chelsea have announced the signing of USMNT left-back Caleb Wiley from MLS side Atlanta United.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wiley joins from Atlanta United
• Transfer worth £8.5m
• Defender signs six-year deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wiley has joined Chelsea in an £8.5 million ($11m) deal, signing a long-term contract until 2030, with the option of a further season. The 19-year-old had been with Atlanta since the age of 11 and made his MLS debut in 2022.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wiley stands to provide left-back depth in Enzo Maresca's new look Chelsea squad. Marc Cucurella is likely to be the starter after a cracking Euro 2024, but it could be a problem for vice-captain Ben Chilwell, whose injury record has limited him to 106 Chelsea appearances in four years at the club.

• WHAT ATLANTA SAID

  "Caleb epitomises the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club," Atlanta Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said, via the team's website. "Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old, played for ATL UTD 2 and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a Homegrown. Over that time, he debuted for the U.S. Men's National Team and was chosen to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now he can continue his career at a top club in Europe. We wish Caleb the best in this next challenge of his career and look forward to following his journey. For our club moving forward, we're continuing our efforts to immediately reinvest in the team during the Summer Transfer Window."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WILEY

  Before he gets going in Chelsea colours, Wiley will spend up to the next three weeks in France with the United States' Under-23 squad, having been selected for the Olympics. The American team kicks off on July 24 against the hosts, before further group games against New Zealand and Guinea on July 27 and 30 respectively.

Amad Diallo scored a screamer during Manchester United practice as he looks to cement his place in Erik ten Hag's lineup in the upcoming season.

Amad scored a screamer in trainingNetted in Man Utd's win over RangersTen Hag expects the player to deliverWHAT HAPPENED?

The young attacker is working hard in training to establish himself as a mainstay in the Manchester United squad ahead of the upcoming campaign. Amad has been impressive during the pre-season, having scored in the club's 2-0 win over Rangers in the second friendly match. On Saturday, the 22-year-old was filmed scoring a screamer with his weak foot while on training in the United States.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Ivory Coast international missed the majority of the last season due to a knee injury and featured in just 12 matches across all competitions for the club. Manager Erik ten Hag, however, expects the winger to shine in the upcoming season and establish himself as a regular starter.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United will play their first friendly in the United States on Sunday as they take on Premier League rivals Arsenal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.