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حقق فريق سيمبا التنزاني انتصارًا ثمينًا على ملعبه وبين جماهيره، بفوزه على ضيفه شباب قسنطينة الجزائري بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

هذه المباراة تأتي ضمن منافسات الجولة الأخيرة من دور المجموعات، وتحديدًا في المجموعة الأولى التي تضم أيضًا الصفاقسي التونسي وأونزي برافوش الأنجولي.

شهد الشوط الأول من المباراة تنافسًا قويًا وندية واضحة بين الفريقين، حيث تبادلا الهجمات والسيطرة على منطقة وسط الملعب، إلا أن الشوط الثاني شهد تحولًا في مجريات اللعب، حيث تمكن سيمبا من فرض سيطرته بشكل أكبر على اللقاء، واستطاع ترجمة هذه السيطرة إلى هدفين حاسمين.

طالع أيضًا | سيف الجزيري قبل مباراة الزمالك وإنيمبا: أتمنى مواجهة أقوى فريق في الكونفدرالية

افتتح اللاعب كيبو دينيس التسجيل لصالح سيمبا في الدقيقة 61 من زمن المباراة، مانحًا فريقه التقدم ومُشعلًا حماس الجماهير الحاضرة في المدرجات.

ولم يكتفِ الفريق التنزاني بهذا الهدف، بل عزز تقدمه بهدف ثانٍ في الدقيقة 79 عن طريق اللاعب كريستيان ليونيل اتيبا مبيدا، ليؤكد فوز فريقه ويحسم النقاط الثلاث لصالحه.

بهذا الفوز، رفع فريق سيمبا التنزاني رصيده إلى 13 نقطة، مُحكمًا قبضته على صدارة المجموعة الأولى، ومؤكدًا تأهله للدور التالي من البطولة كمتصدر، أما فريق شباب قسنطينة وعلى الرغم من هذه الخسارة، إلا أنه يضمن التأهل إلى الدور التالي كوصيف للمجموعة، حيث كان قد حسم تأهله بالفعل في الجولة الماضية بوصوله إلى النقطة 12.

وفي مباراة أخرى ضمن المجموعة نفسها، تلقى فريق أونزي برافوش الأنجولي هزيمة قاسية بثلاثة أهداف دون رد أمام الصفاقسي التونسي.

هذه الخسارة جمدت رصيد أونزي برافوش عند سبع نقاط، بينما رفع الصفاقسي رصيده إلى ثلاث نقاط، ليحتل المركز الأخير في ترتيب المجموعة، على الرغم من فوزه في مباراة اليوم. أهداف مباراة سيمبا التنزاني وشباب قسنطينة اليوم في الكونفدرالية

Leeds United have now made an approach to sign an “incredible” goalkeeper, who has been identified as a leading target alongside Lyon’s Lucas Perri, according to a report.

Leeds looking for upgrade on Illan Meslier

It has become apparent that Leeds will look to find a replacement for the error-prone Illan Meslier this summer, and journalist Luke Entwistle believes Lyon shot-stopper Perri could be a suitable option.

Entwistle said: “He’s an interesting shout for Leeds in particular. They obviously need a goalkeeper, and I’m sure they’ll be wary of having someone who can’t use their feet, and I’m not saying that he’s in that category, but he did have a few hairy moments.

“I do think he would nonetheless be an upgrade on Meslier in that regard and also in terms of his shot-stopping.”

The Brazilian goalkeeper was identified as the Whites’ number one target to replace Meslier last week, and there have been suggestions that he could be available for a fee of around £20m, given Lyon’s significant financial issues.

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However, the 27-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that Leeds have also identified Angers SCO goalkeeper Yahia Fofana as a leading target alongside Perri.

Fofana may be available for a lower fee than the Lyon goalkeeper, with previous reports suggesting he could cost just £8m, and the Whites have now approached Angers to discuss a potential deal.

Perri remains Daniel Farke’s first-choice target, but the Ivorian goalkeeper moving to Elland Road is deemed more likely than Nick Pope, with the 33-year-old determined to stay at Newcastle United ahead of a Champions League campaign.

There is also interest in Meslier from France and Italy, with Leeds now actively trying to get the Frenchman off the books this summer, although none of the interested parties are currently in advanced talks.

"Incredible" Fofana could be solid Perri alternative

Having previously been lauded as “incredible” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the 24-year-old went on to have a very impressive 2024-25 campaign at Angers, with fellow scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for high praise.

With an average SofaScore rating of 7.28 in Ligue 1, the Paris-born goalkeeper was by far the best-performing Angers player last term, and his potential availability for just £8m means he would be a low-cost addition to Farke’s squad.

As such, if Perri is unattainable, Fofana could be a fantastic alternative, with the goalkeeper clearly ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe will want his Newcastle United side to click back into gear to respond to recent poor performances in the Premier League against Sunderland, getting vocal dissenters on Tyneside back on side with a comprehensive win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.

It won't be a walk in the park for the Magpies hopping over to enemy soil in Wearside however, Michael Beale's hosts gunning for promotion in the Championship away from the distraction of the FA Cup.

Howe will look to change things up for the prospect of facing off against a buoyed on home side in such a big clash, potentially making four changes to the lineup that lost 4-2 to Liverpool last time out in top-flight action…

1 GK – Martin Dubravka

Martin Dubravka will remain in-between the sticks for the Tyne-Wear face-off, the Slovakian shot-stopper pulling off a remarkable ten saves at Anfield – as per Sofascore – to ensure Newcastle weren't further embarrassed in the 4-2 loss.

2 RB – Valentino Livramento

With Eddie Howe stating that Kieran Trippier is touch and go in the buildup to the Sunderland showdown, the Magpies boss will more than likely keep faith in his stand-in right-back Valentino Livramento for tomorrow's Cup tie.

The 21-year-old has competently filled in to date with Tripper sidelined, making three interceptions in total versus Fulham in mid-December to help his team comfortably win 3-0.

3 CB – Fabian Schar

Worrying Newcastle fans when he limped off in the Fulham win owing to a hamstring issue, the Magpies faithful will have breathed a collective sigh of relief that Schar's injury wasn't a long-term one.

Instead, the Swiss titan has remained in the first team and continues to battle valiantly – accurate with seven of his nine long balls in Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the tail-end of December, wanting to make things constantly happen even with the game getting away from Howe's men.

4 CB – Jamaal Lascelles

The first change could see Sven Botman rested for the high-pressure occasion of Sunderland away, Botman playing four matches on the trot without a breather after returning from a lengthy injury layover.

Jamaal Lascelles will be trusted to slot back into the side and partner Schar most likely, the 30-year-old centre-back contributing to five Newcastle clean sheets when playing this campaign.

5 LB – Lewis Hall

Howe could also opt to start Lewis Hall over Dan Burn at the left-back spot, Hall offering Newcastle more exuberance and energy as a youthful option away from a tired and lethargic Burn.

The latter man has also been poor in recent contests for the Toon – only winning six of his 13 duels last match versus the Reds – and so it could be time to give Hall another opportunity.

6 CM – Lewis Miley

Howe isn't afraid to start his youngsters and push them straight into the deep end whatsoever, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley having to feature regularly for Newcastle in the Premier League owing to injuries piling up at St James' Park.

The teenage midfielder hasn't let any big occasion completely throw him off just yet, creating two big chances when pulling on a Toon strip so far this campaign and even scoring in the Fulham win to the joy of those watching on in Tyneside.

7 CM – Joelinton

The third change from the Liverpool defeat could see Bruno Guimaraes boldly axed to make way for Joelinton to come back in centrally, the Brazilian number 39 way off the pace against the Reds in a second-rate showing.

Losing possession 19 times in total to routinely hand Liverpool the ball back, Guimaraes' creativity was also stunted in the 4-2 defeat with zero shots on Alisson's goal registered and zero key passes managed.

It could well be the time therefore for the former Lyon man to be dropped to freshen up proceedings, Joelinton the sort of figure too who will be giddy to get one over on Sunderland as a tenacious and lively figure adored by the masses at St James' Park when firing on all cylinders.

8 CM – Sean Longstaff

The final central midfield spot will be occupied by Sean Longstaff, the 26-year-old a bright spark away at Liverpool where others failed to get going.

Longstaff would get an assist for his efforts come full-time, delivering a corner-kick into the perfect area late on for Botman to power home a header, and will hope he can contribute again versus Sunderland but with Newcastle coming out as victors instead of losers.

9 RW – Miguel Almiron

The fourth and final switch in personnel could see Miguel Almiron come into the front three for the tantalising game against the Black Cats, with Joelinton moving back to the middle of the park with this potential change.

Almiron has shown flashes this campaign of his immense quality – helping himself to three goals in the league and one assist – but the Paraguayan attacker needs to up his game soon to reach the heights of his previous goalscoring numbers he's managed with the Toon.

At the peak of his powers last season, Almiron managed to bag 11 goals in total with football journalist Josh Bunting labelling the former Atlanta United man as "sensational" when on-song for the Magpies previously.

Newcastle's £60k-per-week man would want nothing more than to endear himself again to the hardened Magpies fanbase with a strike against the Black Cats tomorrow, the nimble forward electric on his day.

10 ST – Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak will also want to strike fear into the Sunderland defence tomorrow with another gung-ho display slaloming forward, the Swedish sharp-shooter finding the back of the net in the last two games in the Premier League prior to this Cup clash.

Isak scoring three games on the trot would surely silence the home fans packed into the Stadium of Light, helping Howe's Magpies pick up a coveted win in the Tyne-Wear Derby.

It is fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur have performed admirably despite losing talisman Harry Kane over the summer, with new skipper Heung-min Son leading the charge at the top end of the pitch as the club's leading scorer this season.

While the South Korean sensation has looked at home in his new, unorthodox number nine role, the question remains as to whether he is a long-term fit through the middle, with teammate Richarlison also still dividing opinion after scoring just five league goals for the club to date.

With Ange Postecoglou likely still hoping to fill the void that was left behind by the club's all-time top scorer – Kane – following his departure to Bayern Munich, it is then no surprise that the Lilywhites have been touted to make a high-profile swoop in January.

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One striking target who has been mooted of late is none other than Brentford star, Ivan Toney, with the 27-year-old likely to spark something of a transfer battle, either in the new year or next summer.

Spurs transfer targets – Ivan Toney

As per a recent report from the Mirror, Spurs are said to be 'in the running' for Toney's signature ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea also believed to be plotting a move for the one-time Newcastle United man.

The indication is that Postecoglou is 'optimistic' of securing a new centre-forward next month, albeit the jury is out on whether the England international will be that man, with the Bees likely keen to keep hold of their prize asset until the summer.

Equally, any deal for the former Peterborough marksman – who is currently sidelined due to a betting ban – is likely to cost an arm and a leg, with a fee as high as £100m having been suggested.

For a player currently valued at just €20m (£17m), according to CIES Football Observatory, that may appear rather steep, yet Toney's prior Premier League success should make him a worthwhile investment.

The stats to show why Spurs should sign Ivan Toney

Still seeking to replace the 30 league goals that Kane plundered last term, Postecoglou could well forget all about the England captain by turning to Toney in 2024, with the latter man proving his top-flight credentials with 32 league goals since Brentford's promotion in 2021.

While the £20k-per-week hitman – who fired Thomas Frank's side out of the Championship with 33 goals in 2020/21 – has been out of action this season, there should not be too many fears over his ability to hit the ground running once he can return to the pitch.

If a deal is agreed for the "proven goalscorer" – as described by pundit Jermaine Pennant – then Spurs could find their answer to a certain Ian Wright, with the beloved pundit memorably trading Crystal Palace for another north London outfit, Arsenal, back in 1991.

That is the view of Pennant, at least, who recently described Toney as like a "modern era Ian Wright" amid reports of a possible move to the Emirates, albeit with the hope being that the in-demand ace choose the Lilywhites over the Gunners in the near future.

In the case of Wright, the prolific striker made the step up from Palace to the Gunners just prior to entering his peak years at the age of 28 – similar to Toney – joining for a then-club record fee of £2.5m.

Such a deal was a huge success for Arsenal as he went on to bag 185 goals in just 288 appearances in all competitions over the next seven years, cementing his status as an undisputed Gunners legend.

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Much like Wright – who was a relatively late starter in professional football – Toney has not had a smooth ride to the top amid various stints in the EFL after leaving St James' Park, yet now could be his chance to really blossom at a truly elite club.

As far as Postecoglou is concerned, the hope will be that the Northampton native, unlike Wright, goes on to perform heroics in Lilywhite, rather than the colours of their rivals.

Erik ten Hag chose to deploy Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back over Diogo Dalot during Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool.

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• AWB was a last-minute inclusion into the starting XI
• Jonny Evans' injury forced a change in plans
• Full-back was decent against Mo Salah

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ten Hag's decision stemmed from meticulous planning and a commitment to sticking with pre-established strategies. According to Dalot had spent the entire week preparing to contend with Liverpool's left winger, Luis Diaz. When Jonny Evans withdrew due to a calf injury during the final training session on Saturday, Ten Hag opted to maintain consistency rather than alter his tactical approach abruptly.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  To compensate for Evans' absence, Victor Lindelof seamlessly transitioned from left-back to central defence, while Wan-Bissaka assumed the left-back role despite a prolonged period of inactivity lasting over two months. Wan-Bissaka's inclusion was not solely due to necessity, his exceptional defensive prowess, particularly in man-marking Liverpool's danger man, Mohamed Salah, factored significantly into Ten Hag's decision-making.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The left-back position has posed challenges for United throughout the season, with Luke Shaw sidelined for extended periods due to thigh and hamstring injuries, and Tyrell Malacia still recovering from knee surgery. Meanwhile, Wan-Bissaka's versatility and readiness to adapt to unfamiliar roles epitomise the resilience and determination ingrained in him.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay also battled through physical challenges to secure victory and the duo was hardly able to walk after 120 minutes of high-octane action in the cup tie. The Red Devils will return to action on March 30 against Brentford in a Premier League clash after the international break.

The only double-centurions in women’s ODIs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Seventeen-year-old Amelia Kerr smashed an unbeaten 232 off 145 balls – the highest individual score in women’s ODIs – going past Belinda Clark’s 229 that was made in 1997 against Denmark in Mumbai. Her record-breaking innings propelled New Zealand women to 440 for 3 – their third successive 400-plus score against Ireland women.Kerr wasn’t done yet. She followed it with career-best returns of 5 for 17 to lead her team to a 305-run win – the sixth biggest in women’s ODIs. New Zealand also hold the record for the biggest victory – by 408 runs against Pakistan in 1997 – and more recently they had secured wins by margins of over 300 runs in the first two ODIs of this series.Kerr was on 217 off 141 balls at the start of 50th over and needed 13 more to topple a 21-year record. She drove the second ball of the over to long-on for a single before hitting two fours and a six on the last three balls of the over to cap the innings to set the new record. She reached the landmark when she smacked seamer Amy Kenealy down the ground for a six off the last ball of the innings. All told, she hit 31 fours and two sixes.After New Zealand opted to bat again, new openers Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite, who scored 61 off 45 balls, set a strong platform by adding 113 runs. The partnership ended in the 15th over when Gaby Lewis had Satterthwaite holing out on the leg side. Kerr then combined with Leigh Kasperek, who was promoted to No. 3, to amass 295 runs at a run rate of nearly nine runs per over in 33.1 overs.Kasperek brought up her maiden ODI hundred off 97 balls when she ramped Lara Maritz over the keeper’s head for four in the 46th over. Martitz bowled Kasperek for 113 two overs later but Kerr was simply unstoppable. Conceding as many as 30 extras, including 18 wides, did not help Ireland’s cause either.Kerr then starred with her legspin to rip through the chase. She began with a maiden and then bowled top-scorer Una Raymond-Hoey (42) around her legs. Ireland were 91 for 4 at that point after 25 overs. They added only 44 more before being dismissed in 44 overs. Kerr made light work of the lower order and fittingly sealed victory when she bowled No. 11 Cara Murray for a duck to end with figures of 7-1-17-5.Kerr ended the three-match series as the highest scorer, with 342 runs at a strike rate of 156.88, and the highest wicket-taker with eight scalps, to be named the Player of the Series.

The Sri Lanka batting coach felt that after some strong discussions, the allrounder was heading in the right direction

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Jul-2018Persevered with for so long for his potential rather than his form, Thisara Perera has started to turn his game around. This, at least, is what Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera believed, after Thisara struck 49 off 30 balls to assist Sri Lanka’s recovery after they had careened to 36 for 5.Thisara’s innings was to be of little consequence – South Africa ended up sauntering to a five-wicket victory. But it was another solid contribution from a player who, in the past, has been a source of great frustration. For years selectors kept picking him because the idea of a seam-bowling, big-hitting allrounder was too much to resist, but his performances since 2014 had largely been mediocre. This year, though, he has seemingly rediscovered the form that had made him such an exciting prospect in the early years of this decade. Having averaged an abysmal 14.50 – at a strike rate of not much more than 100 – between January 2015 and December 2017, Thisara has now averaged 45.75 with a strike rate of 156, in five innings in 2018.”In the last six months he’s improved a lot as a batsman,” Samaraweera said. “I gave a lot of space to him, and he’s getting there. The good thing is, after his dismissal he showed a lot of disappointment in the dressing room, because this was one of the best opportunities for him to get an ODI hundred.”Felt more like a Pretoria or Wanderers wicket: Shamsi

South Africa’s left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi took 4 for 33 to wipe out the Sri Lanka innings, after South Africa’s quicks had wreaked havoc on the top order. His thoughts on:
The bowling performance
“I managed to get the guys that made runs. But the fast bowlers made our job a lot easier. Any team that is five down early for 30-odd on the board – that makes things easier. Credit to the Sri Lankans for almost getting to 200 runs after a start like that.”
The pitch
“I felt it was a little bit of a South African type wicket. There wasn’t much spin, especially because we bowled first. We bowl a lot on pitches like this at home, so it was okay to adjust. Felt more like a Pretoria or Wanderers wicket.”

A performing Thisara has always been an alluring proposition, but now, with Angelo Mathews seemingly unable to bowl due to injury concerns and a World Cup in England in less than a year, Sri Lanka’s desperation for a seam-bowling allrounder has rarely been so acute. What is heartening for Sri Lanka is that Thisara’s bowling turnaround is also impressive. Having taken 29 wickets at an average of 48.24 in the three years from 2015 till the end of 2017, Perera has claimed his wickets at an average of 17.63 this year.”We had a lot of discussions, and we emphasised to Thisara how important he is to the 2019 World Cup,” Samaraweera said. “I think you have to give a lot of credit to bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake also. He changed Thisara’s bowling approach. He was very slow to the crease before Rumesh came, and in the last seven months, we can see how much faster he is to the stumps. We had strong discussions, and sometimes disagreements. But Thisara is heading in the right direction at the moment.”That Thisara had had to come to the crease as early as the ninth over in this match, was down partly to Sri Lanka’s inability to withstand Kagiso Rabada’s new-ball spell. Rabada’s first five overs brought him three wickets for 22 runs, while Lungi Ngidi struck once at the other end, and Upul Tharanga was run out.”We talked about what South Africa’s strengths were, and their strength is in the first eight to ten overs – we have to get through that period,” Samaraweera said. “After that, they have a very inexperienced bowling attack. Unfortunately, they got five wickets. We were thinking a score of 275-280 would be good, because we have three spinners to defend that. But when you are 30-odd for five, it’s very hard to win games from there. We recovered well, but the match was decided in the first ten overs because of our very poor batting.”

Tottenham Hotspur are weighing a winter move for one "really fast" Premier League defender amid injury concerns surrounding Micky van de Ven.

Van de Ven's hamstring woes

Spurs' 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday was the source of bitter disappointment, but not because of the result.

While manager Ange Postecoglou's early-season unbeaten streak came to an unceremonious end, star centre-back van de Ven handed the Australian his biggest worry by far after being forced off with a hamstring injury.

The Dutchman barely managed to limp off the field, needing assistance by Spurs medical staff in a real concern. Tottenham's summer signing has been imperious so far this season, forming a fantastic partnership with Cristian Romero at the heart of Postecoglou's defence.

Reports in the last two days have now suggested that van de Ven won't need surgery on the issue, which will come as a much-needed boost for Spurs, but it is still unclear exactly how long he'll be out for.

We'll know more tomorrow when Postecoglou addresses the media before Tottenham's Premier League encounter against Wolves this weekend, but in the mean time, new sporting director Johan Lange has reportedly been considering solutions in the transfer market.

Tottenham considering Godfrey move

The Lilywhites are now looking at alternative options for January, with Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah among the names linked recently.

According to 90min, sharing a transfer update this week, Spurs could now move for Everton ace Ben Godfrey, who has found game time difficult to come by at Goodison Park.

The Englishman was once becoming a regular under Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, even being included in England's provisional squad for Euro 2021.

However, he has since fallen down the pecking order, and it is believed he wishes to reignite his faltering career. Everton, for their part, are open to doing business with interested sides as the January window looms.

Alongside Spurs, Newcastle and other Premier League sides are showing an interest in the 25-year-old, who has been revered for his speed by former teammates.

Godfrey's "rapid" speed can replace van de Ven

Jonjoe Kenny, who now plies his trade for Hertha Berlin in Germany, once called Godfrey a "really fast" and "rapid" player.

“Ben Godfrey catches pigeons, simple as," said the former Everton defender in 2021.

“But when Ben gets going he’s rapid so I don’t know if they have a race or would have a race but yeah, it’s close between them two. Dominic is really quick too but I’d say Ben.”

Alongside Kenny, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has previously heralded Godfrey as a player, having called him "really good" in 2020 during the defender's Norwich City days.

“I said in the past that we are looking for a centre-back because we are short there," said Ancelotti on Godfrey to talkSPORT.

"He is a really good centre-back, but he is at this moment playing for Norwich, so I can’t say more."

Given Godfrey's pace, which is crucial for a centre-back in Postecoglou's high line, he could actually be an excellent candidate to come as a van de Ven alternative.

Manchester United’s record in the transfer market in the ten years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired has been rather underwhelming, with the expensive flops far outweighing any decent signing they have made in that time period.

Spending vast sums on players such as Paul Pogba (£93.2m), Romelu Lukaku (£75m) and Ángel Di María (£59.7m) who ended up turning into expensive duds, didn’t exactly help the cause of either Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal as they looked to return the club to the summit of English football.

Even Erik ten Hag has been guilty of perhaps overspending on several players, with Antony costing the Red Devils a staggering £86m and it remains to be seen whether he will turn into a player who can deliver consistent performances that justify his massive transfer fee.

It hasn’t just been the players they have signed which has counted towards their lacklustre efforts in the transfer market, it is also who they have missed out on. This hasn’t just been a problem for the managers following Ferguson’s retirement, with the great man also failing to sign a few world-class players who would have certainly improved his team.

Alan Shearer is probably the biggest name who he failed to lure to Manchester, with the Englishman preferring to join Newcastle United, his hometown side, in the summer of 1996.

Another one who slipped through Fergie’s grasp may have altered the course of European football of the previous two decades, as Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho was close to moving to England and linking up with the Red Devils.

Did Manchester United nearly sign Ronaldinho?

David Beckham was on the move during the summer of 2003, eventually joining Real Madrid, despite Barcelona showing some interest and this meant Fergie needed to sign another midfielder for his team.

Ronaldinho was the man earmarked as a new arrival and despite agreeing personal terms, the move didn’t materialise, yet the player himself has stated it came extremely close to going through.

He said: “It almost happened with United. It was a matter of 48 hours, but Rosell had told me way before I got the offer: 'If I become Barca president, will you come?' I said yes.

"It was only a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the election there. And I had promised to him that I’d play for Barca.”

Fine margins indeed and Old Trafford could have been his playground as opposed to the Camp Nou and this may have allowed the Red Devils to continue their dominance of domestic football in the country rather than Arsenal or Chelsea emerging as threats to their crown.

Signing Ronaldinho would have given the wily Scot a chance to rejuvenate his squad and add another wonderful attacking talent to his already stacked squad, and could he perhaps have been better than Ryan Giggs?

What happened to Ronaldinho?

Giggs had proven to be one of the finest wingers in Europe throughout the previous decade, adding an extra goalscoring option for Ferguson, yet from the 2003/04 season, his numbers would start to decline.

Indeed, he scored just seven league goals during that campaign and over the course of the following four seasons – the time Ronaldinho spent at Barcelona – Giggs netted only 22 times.

In comparison, the former PSG starlet revitalised a Barcelona side who had failed to win the league title since 1999 and although they finished the 2003/04 season trophyless, the second half of the campaign saw the club secure a wonderful second place finish.

The Brazilian was a sensation, registering 33 goal contributions – 22 goals and 11 assists – and he wouldn’t let up over the next few seasons either, spurning the club on to winning two La Liga titles and a Champions League crown.

From his second season until the 2007/08 campaign, he recorded a staggering 72 goals and 59 assists and these displays meant he was a worthy winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, winning the prestigious award twice.

He was without a shadow of a doubt, the finest player in the world between 2003 and 2006, and Ferguson certainly missed a trick by failing to lure him to England.

Giggs was a consistent performer, but he didn’t quite have the same creativity as the Brazilian, nor his thirst for goals, and United may have added to their Premier League tally between 2003 and 2006 had the latter been playing in red.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, his former teammate at AC Milan, showered Ronaldinho with praise when discussing his ability, saying: "Ronaldinho was phenomenal. He made his opponents look like children.”

He wasn’t the only icon to laud him either, with Zinedine Zidane also praising his fellow rival, saying: "Ronaldinho is total class – a very, very great player. He is quick, powerful, and has extraordinary technical qualities," he said. "He is a dribbler but is also a player who can make the play for his teammates."

“He’s not really a no.10, a true organiser. He’s more a second attacker who can score goals and has the vision to make them.”

Imagine him starring in a team alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Roy Keane? He would have been an unstoppable force in the Premier League had he turned down the advances of Barcelona and accepted Fergie’s offer.

It certainly remains a massive case of what if and although United eventually returned to prominence as Ferguson built his third great side at the Red Devils, and they eventually went to on win more league titles and another European crown.

Having Ronaldinho dazzle the Old Trafford crowd would have been something different however and could have given the team a totally different attacking threat while being an upgrade on Giggs on the process.

It proves that the great man also had his fair share of transfer howlers, yet he went and made up for them by going on to sign someone else who would have a positive impact at the club, and that is perhaps what separates him from the series of managers which have tried to emulate him over the previous decade.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2018Mark Wood has been released by Chennai Super Kings after playing just one match in this season’s IPL, and will return to Durham to prepare for the Test series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Lord’s on May 24.Wood, who was picked up by CSK for GBP166,000 in the IPL auction, made his debut against Mumbai Indians in this year’s tournament opener at the Wankhede Stadium, but didn’t pick up a wicket in conceding 49 runs.He is now set to be made available to Durham in their Specsavers County Championship match against Derbyshire this week, as he looks to cement the Test place that he reclaimed during the recent tour of New Zealand.”The decision has been made for me to return home to England to prepare for the English summer,” Wood wrote in a post on Instagram. “Having worked so hard to get back into the test team, and because I’m not currently not in the CSK side, I am coming home to play for Durham to hopefully put my name in the hat for Test match selection.”Ben Stokes, who is playing for Rajasthan Royals, and the Bangalore Royal Challengers duo of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali are also set to return to England in the coming days to prepare for the Pakistan Test series.