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da brwin： With the transfer window now open, Vitor Pereira has reportedly asked Wolverhampton Wanderers chiefs to sign a Brazilian defender who has a release clause worth £22m.

Matt Hobbs leaves the club

da roleta： Whilst Wolves will be keen to get their summer business underway as soon as possible, especially after losing Matheus Cunha and watching on as Rayan Ait-Nouri attracts interest from Manchester City, the departure of Matt Hobbs may delay things. Without their sporting director, the Midlands club are set to restructure behind the scenes ahead of Pereira’s first summer in charge.

The club released a statement on Hobbs’ exit, which read: “Wolves can confirm that sporting director Matt Hobbs has left the club by mutual consent as part of a wider restructure of the football department.

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“Hobbs, who joined Wolves in 2015, has spent the past decade working across a number of key football roles at the club, including chief scout, head of recruitment and most recently as sporting director.

“The club extends its sincere thanks to Matt for his contributions throughout his time at Wolves and wishes him the very best for the future. Further updates on the new football leadership structure will follow.”

Of course, it’s not the only change taking place in the Midlands. Having already lost Cunha to Manchester United, reports are now indicating that Wolves are likely to lose Ait-Nouri to Manchester City in the coming weeks.

Losing arguably their two best players in the same summer, Wolves must now get things right on the incomings front. Pereira will be desperate to see his first season in charge build on the progress that he’s already made at Molineux and that means a mid-table finish instead of another nervy relegation battle.

The one positive is that Wolves should have money to spend and money that Pereira is already reportedly keen to put to good use.

Pereira asks Wolves to sign Renan

According to UOL, as relayed by Molineux News, Pereira has now directly asked Wolves to sign Robert Renan, who he worked with during his time in Saudi Arabia and at Corinthians. The 21-year-old defender now reportedly has a release clause worth £22m at Zenit St. Petersburg and, after spending the season on loan at Al-Shabab, could yet be on his way to the Premier League.

Robert Renan under Vitor Pereira

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Games

25

Wins

13

Draws

5

Defeats

7

Still just 21 years old, Renan has found himself at the centre of impressive praise for how he’s risen through the ranks in recent seasons. That includes from U23 scout Antonio Mango, who praised the defender for his “great mobility and acceleration” in 2023.

Two years on from that praise, the young centre-back has only upped his game, which could leave him in line for his biggest opportunity yet. Pereira knows him well and Wolves have money to spend, which means that Renan’s arrival could make perfect sense for all parties this summer.

Having reportedly requested the Brazilian’s arrival, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Pereira gets his wish at Wolves in the coming months.

Liverpool’s summer transfer window is beginning to form a coherent picture, with FSG acting quickly to tidy up the defensive flanks and get the mammoth deal for Florian Wirtz over the line.

The Bayer Leverkusen superstar gave curious Liverpool supporters a taste of his quality during Germany’s Nations League semi-final tie against Portugal this week, scoring during the 2-1 loss.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

Accurate passes

32/42 (76%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

3/5

Tackles

3

Duels won

9/16

His intelligence, tenacity and movement underscored the playmaker’s ability, having been utterly fantastic during his time in Leverkusen’s squad, winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Year after triumphing as an invincible before claiming more Man of the Match awards than any other player across this term’s Champions League campaign.

We’re a whisker away from a positive development in Liverpool’s bid to secure a marquee deal, but it might be a case of one out, one in.

While the Wirtz deal won’t have any bearing on the potential sale of Luis Diaz, the Colombian’s departure is something to consider.

The latest on Luis Diaz's future

On Thursday, Liverpool rejected an approach from Barcelona for forward Diaz, who scored 17 goals and laid on eight assists for Slot’s side this year.

The 28-year-old, who is entering the penultimate year of his contract, will only be allowed to leave if Liverpool are offered a significant sum; the Saudi Pro League have known admirers of the South American talent.

Though the thought of Diaz and Wirtz combining in a new-look Liverpool frontline is exciting, there may well be an opportunity to secure a new, younger signature.

FSG’s no-sell stance is laced with the undertow of an openness, should the right offer be tabled.

Especially when talks have been held for an almighty replacement on the left flank.

Liverpool hold talks for marquee signing

According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool held discussions concerning Real Madrid’s Rodrygo last month, their intrigue persisting after initially drawing him up as a Mohamed Salah successor, should the Egyptian have left this summer.

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Arsenal would be Anfield’s most notable rival in the race, and though the Gunners have a vested interest, they have not yet launched an official bid for the Brazil forward.

Rodrygo, 24, has become disillusioned with life at Santiago Bernabeu, frustrated to be perceived to be in the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

For their part, Real no longer consider Rodrygo untouchable, but would only cash in if their €100m (about £84m) valuation was met.

What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool

While the jury will remain out for a little while as Xabi Alonso’s plans at Real Madrid begin to shape up, it’s difficult to imagine the Spanish tactician will remove Vini Jr. from his left-sided berth.

This could lead Rodrygo to make the eventual decision to leave Los Blancos, having featured 267 times, posting 118 goal contributions, for the club since signing from Santos for a £39.5m fee when he was just 18.

However, most of those outings have come off the right wing, whereas the right-footed forward prefers the alternate side as he feels it is here he reaches his zenith.

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

–

–

If the 2024/25 campaign has any say on the matter, it certainly looks like this is the case, which is why Liverpool could hit the jackpot in bringing Rodrygo over as Diaz’s heir.

Especially when considering the partnership that could be forged with Wirtz, the two starring in the Champions League and driving Anfield through the domestic campaign.

Wirtz brings so much to the game, astounding in his creative output and indeed willingness to take on his man and drive the ball into the danger area himself.

The German international ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga this season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

For a gifted and technically crisp winger in Rodrygo, this could be a brilliant way to add intensity and fluency to an already thriving Liverpool frontline. Rodrygo, indeed, is a natural-born goalscorer, with his finishing once described as being “terrifyingly good” by journalist Sam Tighe.

Though he only managed to score six goals in La Liga this season, the “special” Rodrygo, as he has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti, only missed one big chance, as per Sofascore, highlighting the underlying data that Wirtz’s prowess would only enhance at Liverpool. Wirtz, in fact, created 17 big chances and supplied 12 assists in the Bundesliga this term despite only starting 25 matches.

Whether Liverpool act on their interest and launch a big-money bid for the star remains to be seen, but there’s no question he would be an incredible addition to one of the best teams in the world.

For now, we will have to wait and see whether FSG accelerate their intrigue in the superstar, but with Arsenal keen and yet to show their hand in the transfer market, it would certainly help if sporting director Richard Hughes could draw rumours over Diaz’s future to a close.

If a suitable offer does arrive, Rodrygo might just follow Wirtz through the Anfield gates, consolidating Slot’s team as a goliath of the modern European game – here to stay.

Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 5, 2025

da spicy bet： Until the official announcements are uploaded, Florian Wirtz beaming into the lens as he confirms his ecstasy at having signed for the Premier League champions, Liverpool fans would be forgiven for holding onto their jubilation.

da dobrowin： According to German reports, Bayer Leverkusen have on Monday morning rejected Liverpool’s second official bid for Wirtz, worth around €130m (£110m).

The negotiations were never going to be easy, even if this saga is moving forward with comparative swiftness. Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world”, according to former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes, but all parties anticipate a resolution in the coming days or weeks.

With Jeremie Frimpong already completing his move from Leverkusen to Anfield and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in advanced talks to sign for Liverpool, things are looking good on Merseyside.

However, there’s even more for sporting director Richard Hughes to do ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Liverpool's attacking transfer plans

Darwin Nunez got lost in the celebrations as Liverpool won the Premier League, and these will be the memories he takes with him as he leaves this summer.

It’s not set in stone, but the Uruguayan is expected to leave this summer, with interest rising from Spain and the Saudi Pro League.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been touted as the man to replace him, but Chelsea also have a vested interest in the forward and are considered by BILD reporter Christian Falk to be leading Liverpool in the race.

Believe it or not, even more change may be afoot. Luis Diaz enjoyed a productive campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions, but he has reportedly emerged as a priority for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. Barcelona also maintain a long-standing interest.

Liverpool have utilised the dynamic forward’s qualities across wide and central berths this season, and if he was indeed to be sold, the club would surely need to bring in an out-and-out striker as a matter of urgency.

Liverpool enter race for new striker

According to Sky Sports, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is on Liverpool’s shortlist of targets at centre-forward with the Anfield outfit ‘looking’ at him alongside widely reported names like Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.

Interest in Alexander Isak also remains, but he’s off the cards after Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League.

Osimhen has just completed a successful season-long loan with Galatasaray after efforts from Chelsea and Saudi suitors fell through last summer, and there’s no way back for the Nigerian in Naples after an acrimonious divorce.

Napoli would be allegedly looking for a £60m fee, so a deal could certainly be agreed in the coming months, especially if FSG succeed in offloading Nunez.

Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen

Osimhen is one of the finest finishers in the game, hailed for his “world-class status” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley. He’s tenacious, layered and physical, surely the perfect fit for Slot’s Liverpool system.

Victor Osimhen – Past Five Seasons (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25 – Galatasaray

41

37

8

23/24 – Napoli

32

17

4

22/23 – Napoli

39

31

5

21/22 – Napoli

32

18

6

20/21 – Napoli

30

10

3

Stats via Transfermarkt

Though he was forced away from Europe’s top-five leagues this season, Osimhen’s time in the Turkish Super Lig has proved a clinical success, instrumental in Galatasaray winning the league and the Ziraat Turkish Cup.

Aged 26, this would be the time for him to try his hand at Premier League football, and FSG chiefs must seriously consider prioritising him over Sesko and Ekitike, who are both talented but raw and undeveloped.

As per FBref, Osimhen ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe in 2024/25 for goals scored, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area, and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, emphasising his elite-level threat.

Sesko, who has a £70m release clause in his contract, and the £84m-rated Ekitike, conversely, still have something to be desired in regard to their prolific output. Across 48 matches this year, Frankfurt’s man bagged 22 goals from 48 matches, while Sesko has posted 27 goals from 64 appearances in the German Bundesliga since signing for Leipzig two years ago.

Coined by analyst Ben Mattinson a “transitional monster” and a “beast in the air”, Osimhen is the real deal, all right, and would provide Liverpool with a ridiculous focal point from which Salah, who turns 33 this month, can ease his burden and the inbound Wirtz can forge a deadly partnership.

That’s not to say Ekitike and Sesko couldn’t make their mark too, but Liverpool are set to undergo some rather drastic changes in the offensive department, and a striker proven to be one of the best in the world would be a sure-fire way to ensure Slot’s finely-woven system remains in place.

Osimhen, furthermore, is more than just a goalscorer. His nifty footwork, swift-limbed and purposeful with his passing and link-up play, suggests there’s a real player in there who could, by turns, make the net bulge himself and feed Salah and co.

Given that, at £60m, Osimhen would come at a cheaper price than Liverpool’s other major striker targets, it feels like a bit of a no-brainer, one that could see the Reds retain their Premier League title and maybe get their mitts on some silverware across other fronts.

One thing’s for certain: all three transfer targets would prove to be upgrades on Nunez, who has sadly fallen by the wayside in Slot’s set-up, and Liverpool cannot afford to have a misfiring number nine fronting the project once again.

Regarded as “the best striker on the market” by data journalist Statman Dave, Liverpool need to make this one happen; Osimhen might just prove to be the final piece of the puzzle for an Anfield side looking to consolidate their position at the very top of the global game.

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MatériaMais Notícias

da bet7： Eliminado precocemente no Campeonato Paulista e Libertadores e flertando com a zona do rebaixamento no Campeonato Brasileiro, o Corinthians tem na Copa do Brasil o seu principal alento na temporada. Enquanto o técnico Luxa possui na competição a sua maior segurança no cargo até o momento. 

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da dobrowin： Luxemburgo tem apenas 33,3% de aproveitamento à frente do Timão, com somente quatro vitórias conquistadas. Uma delas é que dá sobrevida ao treinador na equipe alvinegra até agora: a sobre o Atlético-MG, no dia 31 de maio. Os corintianos eram vistos como eliminados nas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, ao perder o jogo de ida por 2 a 0, em Minas Gerais. Mas venceram o Galo pelo mesmo placar na volta e se classificaram nos pênaltis. A partir dali, o objetivo de Luxa no Corinthians passou a ser claro: conquistar o torneio mata-mata, enquanto foge da zona do rebaixamento no Brasileirão. 

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

O treinador, no entanto, tem encontrado dificuldades para afastar o perigo do Z4. O Timão é o primeiro time fora da ‘zona da confusão’, termo usado pelo próprio Luxemburgo, a um ponto do Goiás, que abre o grupo. Das últimas quatro rodadas, em três o clube alvinegro precisou torcer por uma combinação de resultados para não entrar no pelotão.

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Assim, sobra a Copa do Brasil para mostrar serviços. E o adversário das quartas de final gera uma certa animação aos corintianos. Já que o América-MG vive uma realidade parecida com a do Corinthians. O Coelho briga para fugir da zona do rebaixamento no Brasileirão, mas, no momento, não está conseguindo, pois é o penúltimo colocado da competição. E em termos internacionais, a equipe mineira está nos playoffs da Copa Sul-Americana, assim como o Time do Povo. Por outro lado, no único encontro entre as equipes nesta temporada, a vitória foi dos americanos.

Além do fator esportivo, ir o mais longe possível na Copa do Brasil é importante para o Corinthians aliviar a parte financeira. O clube já não conseguiu atingir duas metas da previsão orçamentária para essa temporada: chegar pelo menos à semifinal do Paulistão e às oitavas de final da Libertadores. No Brasileiro, a projeção é de sétimo lugar, o que é muito difícil no cenário atual, mas não é descartado internamente. Isso porque a comissão técnica acredita que pode levar a equipe até ao grupo de classificados à principal competição continental – o que, dependendo do decorrer da temporada, pode significar até o nono colocado do Brasileirão. 

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+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil no Lance!

A Copa do Brasil, então, é um ponto fora da curva para o Timão até nos termos das finanças. Já que na estimativa para a temporada, o previsto era que o clube chegasse até as oitavas de final, o que já foi ultrapassado com a classificação sobre o Atlético-MG, há pouco mais de um mês. Assim, o Corinthians já arrecadou R$ 7,6 milhões na competição, R$ 4,3 milhões a mais que o previsto. Caso passe pelo América-MG, a equipe alvinegra chegará a R$ 16,6 milhões embolsados no torneio. O que já vai superar o que ficou pelo caminho na Libertadores, pois a classificação às oitavas de final na competição continental renderia aos cofres corintianos 1,25 milhões de dólares (R$ 6 milhões, na cotação atual).

Even as a reckoning awaits CA and the Australian team on the culture front, public opinion of the banned players have already softened

Daniel Brettig22-May-2018Paul Kelly’s plaintive wish for redemption, , could almost have been written for Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.Whether in Cape Town, Perth or Sydney, all carried the heavy weight of the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, with a governing body in Cricket Australia all too eager to turn the screw on the trio in order to contain any wider damage to the game in the weeks before signing a new broadcast rights deal. “They haven’t been charged by Cricket Australia for ball tampering,” the board’s chief executive James Sutherland said. “It relates to contrary to the spirit of the game, it relates to denigrating the game or having an impact on the reputation and image of the game, causing damage to the game, all of those things have quite clearly happened in a short space of time as a result of those actions.”

Smith, Warner in Fame top 10

Famous or infamous? The question hangs in the air above Steven Smith and David Warner as they both make ESPN Australia’s fame top 10 in the wake of a year that featured the Newlands ball-tampering scandal but also the regaining of the Ashes at home. Both will be eligible by the time the national team begins preparing for the 2019 Ashes and World Cup double; the question is whether Australian cricket will still be as needy for their talents as would appear the case right now.

Smith’s two airport tableaux, manhandled through O.R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa, then crying his eyes out at Kingsford Smith in Sydney, could not cease to stir the emotions of even the most cynical observer. If Warner’s visage attracted less sympathy, his words were more definitively bleak. “In the back of my mind I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope,” Warner said, “that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again, but I am resigned to the fact that that may never happen.”Their actions at Newlands, as defined by CA’s comprehensive code of conduct charge sheet, were indefensible. Bancroft received some measure of leniency on account of his inexperience, but there was no such consideration for Smith and Warner. In a trice, Australia’s two best and most prominent cricketers were cast out of the game, with many more ramifications to follow CA’s judgment. First, a matter of hours after being handed their CA bans, they were culled from this year’s IPL. Sponsors deserted them, and fans both at home and abroad expressed their outrage in terms that grew increasingly shrill.Amid the public maelstrom and their private senses of turmoil, all pondered whether or not to take their CA charges and penalties to code of conduct hearings. Each player had grounds for doing so, and it may be a long time before further details of exactly what took place at Newlands, before and after Bancroft was seen roughing up the ball before trying to hide sandpaper down his trousers, emerge. But one by one, all chose to waive their right to this process, accepting the “umpire’s” verdict, however harsh it seemed, to allow the healing of their reputations to begin.Right now, a little less than two months later, much has already changed for Smith and Warner. They have returned, carefully, to the public eye – Smith announcing his arrival back home in Australia after a trip to the United States, Warner turning up doing community work in the Northern Territory. They are being offered all manner of opportunities to make their returns to the game, beyond the bounds of the ban on international and first-class cricket imposed on them by CA. And the public rhetoric around them has softened noticeably, a process that began when the national team coach Darren Lehmann resigned upon witnessing Smith’s tearful return home.In recent weeks, Lehmann’s successor Justin Langer has increased the level of verbal compassion, speaking of the Cape Town trio in terms of mistakes and learning. “They’ve made mistakes. We have all made mistakes and we can all get better,” he said. “David Warner made a mistake. Has he got areas to get better at? Yes. Has Steve Smith? Has Cameron Bancroft? Has every single person in Australian cricket? Yes. They have all got areas in we keep helping and mentoring them and if they meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, of course, they will be welcomed back.”Similar noises have emanated from Tim Paine, the man thrust into the captaincy. In a recent interview with , he even stated that the Australian team he now leads is still Smith and Warner’s – he is merely keeping the seat warm. “Once they’ve served their sanctions they’ll be welcomed back into our team with no issues whatsoever,” Paine said. “Everyone wants to move past South Africa. In a way, I see it as their team, and I want to do the right thing by them, but I also want to move our culture and behaviour forward and I want them to be part of it.”Sport, of course, is replete with stories of redemption. Google “sporting redemption” and click through any one of 459,000 results to see it. The comeback narrative is so deeply entrenched in sporting lore that it would feel oddly incomplete without such tales, whether they are played out to a glorious conclusion in the manner of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs breaking their long droughts without ultimate baseball success, or left hanging on the many what-ifs of, say, Greg Norman at the Masters. This sense of desire for a happy ending is key to understanding how Smith and Warner may yet find themselves back on the dais of cricketing success, surrounded by teammates who, in the horrid days immediately after the Newlands Test, found themselves very much at odds with Warner in particular.But there is also a pragmatic element to much of the warming rhetoric and sense of change. CA, having pushed the issue from bad publicity to investigation, charge and acceptance of sanctions in little more than two weeks – compare that to the Essendon AFL drugs scandal which dragged on for years – wants a rejuvenated image for the game and the national team. The sport’s new Australian broadcasters, and , want viewers in their many hundreds of thousands, and the strong returns of Warner and Smith can only add to those figures. Fox’s part owners at News Corporation want to sell newspapers and digital subscriptions, something far more likely to happen as followers are drawn into the long road back for the former captain and his deputy. And supporters of the game wish to feel good about it again, after all the opprobrium of March and April.A reckoning still awaits CA and the national team, in terms of the way the organisation has been run in recent times, and the way in which the men clad in the baggy green had built up plenty of ill will among opponents over numerous years of caustic behaviour on the field. Both elements are the subject of separate reviews, expected to report back to CA before the start of next summer. With questions having already been asked about the links between CA and both organisations carrying out these reviews, the release of any kind of “whitewash” style findings would likely send the board back into the realms of disrepute, even as Warner and Smith slowly return to the game after serving their punishments.What’s likely, however, is that Smith and Warner find themselves welcomed back into the fold, if for no other reason than the fact that Australia’s cricket team will struggle to secure the desired results – overseas in particular – without the runs they can provide. When their playing bans expire in March 2019, it will be a matter of weeks before the start of the 50-over World Cup, and a matter of months before the Ashes tour that follows it. These assignments loom as the moments when, unlike the forlorn figure in Kelly’s song, Smith and Warner will get their chance to start today again.

This will be the England fast bowler’s first IPL stint

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2024Mumbai Indians have signed English left-arm fast bowler Luke Wood as a replacement for the injured Jason Behrendorff for IPL 2024.Wood has been signed for his base price of INR 50 lakh.Wood has 147 wickets from 140 T20s, including five matches for England. While he has featured in several T20 leagues like the BBL, PSL and BPL, apart from The Hundred, this will be his first IPL stint.Behrendorff was ruled out of the IPL after he broke his leg in a freak accident while training in Perth last Thursday just before leaving for India.The injury to Behrendorff, who returned 14 wickets from 12 games last season, compounds problems for Mumbai in their fast-bowling department. Sri Lankan left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka picked up an injury during the second ODI against Bangladesh which has likely ruled him out from the initial stages of IPL 2024.Related

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South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee is also recovering from a pelvic inflammation and could be unavailable for Mumbai’s first few matches.Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, Nuwan Thushara and Arjun Tendulkar are the other fast bowlers in Mumbai’s roster, while their new captain Hardik Pandya has confirmed that he is fit to bowl in the tournament. They also have Romario Shepherd as a seam-bowling allrounder.Star batter Suryakumar Yadav, who is recovering after two surgeries, is also a doubt for Mumbai’s opening match against Gujarat Titans.

Babar Azam talks about being compared to Kohli, imitating de Villiers, and more

Interview by Mohammad Isam18-Dec-2017How different did you feel when you reached you first ODI hundred compared to the seventh?
I didn’t feel anything too different. Early on in my career, I used to get out in the 30s, 40s, fifties and 60s. So I really appreciated reaching my first hundred. But I was as focused when making my seventh hundred as I was during my first ton. I give my 100% in every game.What was it like batting in the 90s ahead of your maiden hundred?
I was quite nervous. I was in some pressure leading up to that game. My focus became double, and thanks to Allah, I reached the three-figure mark. I got a lot of confidence from that game.In the last two years you have become a more responsible player in the Pakistan team.
There’s a lot of expectations on me. I am trying to take my ODI confidence to Test cricket. Early on, I hadn’t done well in Tests. But I am far more focused in the longer format.You did decently well in Australia, but do you still think there’s a gap for you between the two formats?
There is certainly a gap. But to be honest, I like playing in Australia. I have played the Under-19 World Cup there. The ball comes on to the bat better there.Tell us about those three consecutive hundreds against West Indies.
I was quite excited about the first hundred. The confidence got higher after the second. Ahead of the third hundred, I knew that I was looking at a world record. But I felt similar to how it was before the first two hundreds.I knew about the world record because it was all over social media. I stayed focused before the third hundred, never thinking that I have to score a hundred. I remembered my processes of the first two hundreds and applied it in that game. Allah gave me the third one as well.Is there a routine for a hundred?
I train really hard. I do a lot of extra batting drills, apart from the usual nets. My mindset is always focused, which goes up on match days. I think that I want to bat throughout the innings, for the team. You can call this my routine.Tell us your first memory of cricket.
I loved playing cricket from my childhood. My dad made me play in the streets, and my interest grew. He put me in a club, seeing this. My habit grew from that point. I went to practise in the morning, returned home in the evening. I had the craze for cricket from an early age.

“Early on in my career, I used to get out in the 30s, 40s, fifties and 60s. So I really appreciated reaching my first hundred”

The Akmal brothers are your cousins. Did you play with them?
I played in their club and also with them. I changed my club later on. They always tell me when they see me making a mistake. Kami supports me a lot.Who was your batting hero?
I loved watching AB de Villiers in the early days. I used to follow him closely. I copied him a lot too. In the nets, I used to at least try some of the shots he played in the matches.Even those extravagant shots?
Those hadn’t been played back then. I still don’t try those shots. I play normally. Nowadays I follow Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, and of course, de Villiers.Mickey Arthur compared you to a young Virat Kohli.
He compared me with a very big player. I think it shouldn’t be done. But that is the coach’s thinking. Maybe the stats at the start of our careers are similar, but he is the No. 1 batsman in the world. I want to perform at a high level for Pakistan too.You were a top scorer in the U-19s. Do you use any lessons from those days in your game now?
I certainly do. I played two World Cups in New Zealand and Australia. I learned a lot from those two tournaments. I still love playing in those countries, enjoy my batting there. You learn about wickets there, so it gives you confidence when you go there to play international cricket.Ijaz bhai used to tell me: you stay at the wicket, everything else will happen. I rose to the international level keeping these words in mind; I retained that mindset.What would you tell a youngster who wants to become the next Babar Azam?
I would say, never compromise on your cricket. The more time you give to the ground, the more it will give back to you. Keep an eye on your fitness and give your 100% in matches. Stay focused.

MatériaMais Notícias

da realbet： O Corinthians conheceu, nesta segunda-feira (27), os seus adversários da fase de grupos da Copa Libertadores de 2023, em sorteio realizado na sede da Conmebol, em Luque, no Paraguai.O Timão ficou no grupo E e terá pela frente o Independiente del Valle, do Equador, o Argentinos Juniors, da Argentina, e o Liverpool, do Uruguai.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansDe olho na Libertadores, Corinthians retorna da folga sem atacante titularCorinthians27/03/2023CorinthiansCom multa milionária, Corinthians renova contrato com goleiro da baseCorinthians27/03/2023CorinthiansCorinthians emplaca três jogadores na convocação da Seleção Brasileira Sub-15Corinthians27/03/2023

da luck： + Com Barletta, Corinthians chega a 19 reforços na gestão de Duílio; relembre todos os reforços

Segundo o regulamento da competição, os clubes do pote 2 disputarão a primeira rodada contra o sorteado do pote 4, na casa do adversário. Portanto, o Timão inicia a Libertadores contra o Liverpool, emMontevidéu.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

DATAS DA FASE DE GRUPOS
1ª rodada – Liverpool x Corinthians – 4, 5 ou 6 de abril
2ª rodada – Corinthians x Argentinos Juniors – 18, 19 ou 20 de abril
3ª rodada – Corinthians xIndependiente del Valle – 2 a 4 de maio
4ª rodada: Argentinos Juniors x Corinthians – 23, 24 ou 25 de maio
5ª rodada:Independiente del Valle x Corinthians – 6, 7 ou 8 de junho
6ª rodada – Corinthians x Liverpool – 27, 28 ou 29 de junho

Uma novidade anunciada pela Conmebol é o pagamento por “mérito esportivo”. Ou seja, por cada vitória na fase de grupos da Libertadores, o clube receberá um prêmio de US$ 300 mil. Esse valor é exclusivo para esta fase da competição. Caso a equipe avance com 100% de aproveitamento, embolsará US$ 1,8 milhão, cerca de R$ 9,4 milhões.

+ Veja como ficou a tabela das primeiras rodadas do Timão no Brasileirão

Na última temporada, o Corinthians terminou em 2° lugar do Grupo E, com nove pontos. A equipe comandada por Vítor Pereira despachou o Boca Juniors nas oitavas de final, mas caiu nas quartas de final para o Flamengo.

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Ange Postecoglou has opened up on his desire to stay with Tottenham after helping the Lilywhites to their first trophy in 17 years.

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• Postecoglou helps Spurs break trophy duck
• Tottenham beat Man Utd in Europa League final
• Postecoglou wants to stay with Tottenham

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Earlier this season, Tottenham boss Postecoglou claimed that he always wins trophies in his second season, and the Australian proved himself right as the Lilywhites won their first trophy since 2008. Spurs were able to beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final at San Mames on Wednesday night via a scruffy first-half goal from Brennan Johnson.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite winning the Europa League, Spurs' 2024-25 season will go down as one of their worst in recent history as Postecoglou's side are set to finish 15th in the Premier League, at best. They are currently only one spot off the relegation zone with just 38 points in 37 games. Throughout the season, questions have been raised about whether Postecoglou should be sacked by Tottenham, however, it is now unlikely to happen. Additionally, the Australian has opened up that he wants to stay with the Lilywhites past this summer.

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  WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID

  Speaking to the media, Postecoglou said: "I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this. Whatever happens, happens. We are still building this team, it is still very young, we need to add experience.

  "My thought process has been trying to build a team that can be successful for a long time, but I am manager, it is not in my hands but it doesn’t affect me, if it did you would have seen it.

  "I want to stay, I haven’t completed a job yet, but the moment I accepted the role I had one thing in my head and that was to win something, I want to build on it."

• WHAT NEXT FOR POSTECOGLOU?

  Tottenham could still avoid the disappointing label of the last-placed non-relegated side this season in the Premier League if they manage to beat Brighton in their last game of the campaign on May 25. However, it will also depend on Manchester United, West Ham or Wolves not winning their final games.

Luis Enrique insists Paris Saint-Germain played like a "real team" when Kylian Mbappe was part of the squad, but admits they are more efficient now.

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• PSG thriving despite Mbappe exit last year
• Luis Enrique explains what has changed
• French side could win treble of trophies

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe was the undisputed star at PSG after Lionel Messi left for Inter Miami and Neymar was sold to Al-Hilal, but the French giants have improved since his free transfer to Real Madrid last summer. Having won Ligue 1 by 19 points, they could complete a European and domestic treble in their upcoming Champions League and Coupe de France finals.

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  The Spanish coach is happy his players have stepped up to share the goals and assists in Mbappe's absence this season as he highlighted the changes he made that turned them into contenders for the Champions League crown.

• WHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

  The PSG boss said in a press conference on Wednesday: "We scored more goals than last season, and more players provided assists. Our numbers are exceptional. To achieve this, our players need to get the ball to whoever is best positioned. Many players scored or provided assists, and I'm very happy not to be dependent on just one player.

  "Last year, too, we were a real team. I said we would manage to improve the team. Players have arrived, and the numbers show that the team is better. But we were a team last year, without a doubt. Don't forget that we also played in a Champions League semi-final."

  He added: "I was delighted with what I saw, what we tried. Players were criticised and exploded. We had to overcome all that. We played some very high-level games in the Champions League and lost them, like Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. The change was when we broke the deadlock in terms of efficiency. Some players managed to get into better positions in the box. We've gone from lamentable statistics to the best in Europe. It's the same version of the team but with efficiency."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe missed out on three trophies in his debut season at Madrid, but the France international is on track to beat Robert Lewandowski to La Liga's top-scorer prize with 29 goals heading into the last game of the campaign.