Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Bryan Mbeumo is the perfect man to solve the biggest problem that ailed RubenAmorim’s Red Devils last season — a lack of goals. The Cameroonian forward, who plied his trade at Brentford for the last six years, has reportedly agreed to join the red side of Manchester for a deal expected to be worth $87 million (Rs 750 crore). “He [Mbeumo] knows where the goal is. And Manchester United have been looking for somebody who’s dynamic, who’s quick, who’s aggressive, can play with and without the ball and can get the team up the pitch,” said Ferdinand, via his podcast on YouTube. Mbeumo scored 20 goals in the English Premier League last season to go with seven assists. In comparison, United’s highest EPL goal-scorers were winger Amad Diallo and midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who scored eight apiece; little wonder why they finished in 15th place. Rio Ferdinand “The stats are super impressive. 41 appearances, 20 goals. That’s a goal every two games, and eight assists, that’s 28 goal involvements in 41 games [across all competitions]. This guy is performing at a high level,” said Ferdinand about. The 25-year-old is capable of playing off the wing or as a striker, and excels at counter-attacking which according to Ferdinand, will suit Amorim’s tactical setup. “If we’re on the halfway line, penned back a little bit, is he a player who can get us to their goal, get us to the edge of their box quick, with one pass, with one run? Yes, he can do that. We’ve seen him play all across the front line for Brentford and I think that versatility is exactly what Amorim will want,” said the former centre-back. The Englishman also lavished praised on Mbeumo’s work ethic. “I know a couple of guys that have trained with him in the season, outside of the club, and said that his attention to detail, his work ethic, taking care of himself, is of the highest order,” added Ferdinand. Mbeumo is scheduled to have his medical tests over the weekend and is then expected to link up with the rest of the squad ahead of next week’s friendly against West Ham. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 July,2025 07:09 AM IST | London | AFPArsenal signed Canada forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool in a deal worth a reported women’s world record fee of $1.3 million (approx Rs 11 crore) on Thursday. Smith has joined the Champions League holders on a lucrative four-year contract. Smith, 20, transfer surpassed the previous women’s record set when Chelsea signed Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for $1.2 million (approx Rs 10 crore) in January. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 July,2025 07:42 AM IST | London | AFPManchester United have reportedly agreed to sign Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a deal worth an initial $87 million (approx Rs 750 crore) as Ruben Amorim steps up his overhaul of the team’s misfiring attack. Mbeumo scored 20 goals in 38 EPL games for Brentford last season. He is due to undergo a medical in time to travel to the USA on Tuesday as Amorim’s men start their pre-season tour. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 July,2025 07:36 AM IST | London | AFPAn investigation has been opened into potentially fraudulent payments made by France and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe to five police officers assigned to protect the French national football team, the public prosecutor’s office told AFP on Thursday. The probe comes after a tip-off from the French finance ministry’s anti-money laundering unit, which reported ‘unusual financial transactions’ benefitting the five police officers. “Investigations, which are by their very nature complex in the case of financial transactions, are underway in order to establish whether any criminal offences have been committed,” the public prosecutor’s office said. French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that the France national team captain’s money was used to “pay under the table for private services,” to the tune of $209,000 (Rs 1.80 crore). Mbappe’s entourage issued a statement saying ‘everything was done in compliance with the rules.’ It added that Mbappe had ‘always chosen to donate in full his bonuses’ for playing for France. “It’s what he did after the 2022 World Cup,” the statement continued, saying the money went to charitable organisations and security personnel that accompanied the team. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 July,2025 07:33 AM IST | Paris | AFPWolverhampton Wanderers have posthumously inducted former forward Diogo Jota into the club’s Hall of Fame on Friday. The Portuguese international tragically lost his life earlier this month in a car accident in Spain's Zamora, at the age of 28. "Diogo Jota has been inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame. It's a tribute that honours both his remarkable achievements for the club and the deep impact his passing has had on the footballing world,” read the club statement. Diogo Jota has been inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame 💛It's a tribute that honours both his remarkable achievements for the club and the deep impact his passing has had on the footballing world. — Wolves (@Wolves) July 17, 2025 "Diogo was not only a phenomenal footballer, but someone who carried himself with humility and kindness throughout his time at Wolves, and will be sorely missed by all of us," said Matt Wild, Wolves' director of football administration. Jota now joins an elite group of club legends such as Billy Wright, Derek Dougan, and Steve Bull in the Wolves Hall of Fame, which was established in 2008 to recognise individuals who have left a lasting legacy at Molineux. Jota first arrived at Wolves in 2017 on loan from Atletico Madrid and played a pivotal role in the club’s return to the Premier League, netting 17 goals in the Championship to guide Wolves to promotion after a six-year absence. Following the club’s promotion, his move was made permanent, and over three seasons, Jota made 131 appearances and scored 44 goals. His contributions were central to Wolves securing back-to-back seventh-place finishes in the Premier League and making a strong return to European competition. In 2020, Jota earned a high-profile transfer to Liverpool for 45 million euros, where he became an integral part of Jürgen Klopp’s attacking setup. He quickly endeared himself to the Anfield faithful and earned widespread admiration from fans and fellow professionals alike. Liverpool, too, paid a heartfelt tribute, dedicating a special section of their official squad page to Jota under the banner of 'Forever'. The club has also confirmed it will retire his No. 20 shirt in honour of his memory. Diogo Jota is now immortalised on the Liverpool website squad list, under the category “forever”.What a beautiful touch. ❤️🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/tObw9eGPgr — LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) July 18, 2025 Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident earlier this month when the Portugal forward was on his way back to Merseyside for pre-season training when the tragedy occurred.
18 July,2025 06:00 PM IST | Wolverhampton | mid-day online correspondentInter Kashi have officially been declared champions of the 2024–25 I-League season following a landmark ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The decision comes after a months-long legal tussle that saw the All India Football Federation (AIFF) previously awarding the title to Churchill Brothers. The controversy began when Inter Kashi were penalised four points by the AIFF’s Appeals Committee for allegedly fielding an 'ineligible player', Spanish striker Mario Barco. The deduction saw the Varanasi-based club drop from the top of the table, allowing Churchill Brothers to take the lead with 42 points and be provisionally crowned champions. However, Inter Kashi contested the ruling, taking their case to the CAS. On Friday, the Lausanne-based sports arbitration body delivered a decisive verdict in Inter Kashi’s favour. “The AIFF shall forthwith declare Inter Kashi FC as winner of the I-league 2024-25 season,” read the ruling. "The appeal filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC against the decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is partially upheld. "The appeal filed on 4 June 2025 by Inter Kashi FC against the decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All-India Football Federation is partially upheld. The decision issued on 31 May 2025 by the Appeal Committee of the All India Football Federation is set aside," the CAS added. What is the Mario Barco controversy? At the heart of the dispute lies the controversial re-registration of striker Barco. Earlier in the season, Barco had been replaced in the squad due to injury. However, Inter Kashi later sought to bring him back as a replacement for another foreign player. The AIFF’s Competitions Committee initially rejected the move, citing Clause 6.5.7 of the I-League regulations, which restricts the replacement of foreign players to specific circumstances, such as long-term injury or contract termination, and only within a defined window. Despite the rejection, the AIFF League Committee approved Barco’s return, prompting strong opposition from rival clubs including Churchill Brothers, Real Kashmir, and Namdhari FC. The matter escalated to the AIFF Appeals Committee, which ruled against Inter Kashi and imposed the four-point deduction. Unwilling to accept what they considered an unjust decision, Inter Kashi escalated the matter to the CAS. The arbitration body ruled in their favour, setting aside the AIFF’s decisions and confirming Inter Kashi’s rightful status as champions.
18 July,2025 04:48 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndian football player Aditi Chauhan has drawn curtains on her international career. She has come a long way from the time she played football but didn't even know that an Indian women's national football team existed. "Playing football, I didn't know there was a national team first of all. So I started because of the fun of the game," said Chauhan in an interview with PTI. She also said that she never even imagined her achievements in her dream. "When I started, I never imagined that, you know, everything that I achieved... it was not even a dream that I could imagine," she added. When asked if she would like to take up a coaching role for the upcoming generation, the 32-year-old said, "I would love to. These last few years also, I've been mentoring the other goalkeepers. I enjoy that role. I don't want to commit that I want to get into coaching. But yes, I would definitely like to help out". During her playing days, Aditi Chauhan also became the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe. During a successful international career, Chauhan, who caught everyone's attention after being signed up by West Ham United for the Women's Super League in England in 2015, donned the India jersey 57 times and, among others, was part of the senior teams that won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2019. She has also won gold medals at the South Asian Games. The Chennai-born goalkeeper also opened up about the phase when she suffered ACL injuries, but always wanted to reclaim her spot in the team after her injuries. "Last year when I came back from my second ACL and played the IWL (Indian Women's League), my whole reason for coming back... was to find that joy again. I didn't want to leave football on a sour note with an injury. There were other goalkeepers playing. So, I had to again earn that spot in starting 11... I knew that once I'm back on the field, I'll earn my number one spot. And I did," she concluded. (With PTI Inputs)
18 July,2025 02:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Premier League 2025–26 season, Manchester United’s new signing Matheus Cunha reflected on how it feels to join the club and recalled his early memories of watching United. He also named the players who inspired his playing style growing up. Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, Matheus Cunha reflected on his move to Manchester United: “It is hard to find words to describe this moment. It is a dream come true. Sometimes, it is difficult to believe I am really here. This club has always meant something special to me. There is a funny story — back home in Brazil, we could only watch the Premier League at my grandma’s house because neither, my house nor my cousins had the channel. So, every weekend, we would plan to watch matches at her place. My cousin, who is older than me, supported Manchester United. He was the one who introduced me to the Premier League — and to United. Even when we played on the gravel pitches back home, which is very common in Brazil, I would imagine playing for United. To be here now, and to think back to those moments — it is incredibly emotional.” On the Manchester United icons, who shaped his love for the game: “Rooney was the one I looked up to. I have tried to bring elements of his game into mine — the way he gave everything, went to ground to win the ball, and still had the skill and impact up front. He wore the number 10 shirt and led by example. Of course, there were others — Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Van der Sar. That entire team left a big mark on me during my teenage years.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
18 July,2025 12:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAC Milan’s new signing Luka Modric said he wants to take his team back to their glory days after more than a decade of mediocrity. The 39-year-old former Ballon D’or winner joined the Rossoneri after 13 trophy-laden seasons at Real Madrid. He’s keen to add a few more to his cabinet in Italy. “Milan cannot be satisfied with average. It needs to have [the] biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world. And that’s why I’m here,” Modric told Milan TV. The Rossoneri have won only one league title since 2012 and finished last season in eighth place, but Modric said he is ready to push his teammates to new levels. “What I want to bring here is a winning mentality, to help my teammates in every aspect, to work hard, to earn my place in the team, Nothing can come easy in your life. You have to work. You have to fight,” said the Croatian. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 July,2025 08:26 AM IST | Milan | AP | PTIThree days after turning 18, Lamine Yamal received the most special gift of all — Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 shirt. Although the gifted teenaged winger, who wore the No. 19 last season, has eschewed comparisons to all-time Barcelona great Lionel Messi, he has followed in the Argentine’s footsteps by taking the No. 10 shirt, also worn by Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho among other stars. Honouring legends “I’ll try to build my own path, but all kids would like to be like them,” Yamal said on Wednesday at the club’s announcement. “All three have been incredible players, they’re legends, and I’ll try to follow in their footsteps,” he added. Having turned 18, Yamal was able to sign the contract extension that he had agreed with Barcelona in May, keeping him in place until 2031. “My goal is to keep winning and growing. It’s the club of my life. I’ve been here since I was seven years old,” said Yamal, who has already made over 100 appearances for the club, scoring 25 goals, and winning two La Liga titles since his debut at the age of 15 in 2023. The Spain international, who has also won Euro 2024, is the sport’s most exciting prospect and a possible future Ballon D’Or winner. Brazilian connection With his penchant for trickery, Yamal has also been compared to former Barcelona and Brazil winger Neymar. Yamal’s huge 18th birthday celebration last weekend, was more akin to the Brazilian’s style than that of the more introverted Messi. Yamal’s event caused a stir, with the Spanish government asking for a probe into whether hiring entertainers with dwarfism broke any laws. Once that storm settles, the focus will be on whether Messi’s No. 10 weighs heavy on Yamal, but with the forward showing no sign of nerves, most would back him to continue shining bright. Barca’s proud No. 10 heritage Diego Maradona (1982-84) 38 goals in 58 games Romario (1992-1995)39 goals in 66 games Rivaldo (2000-2002)50 goals in 86 games Ronaldinho (2003-2008) 95 goals in 210 games Lionel Messi (2008-2021) 630 goals in 669 games This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 July,2025 08:24 AM IST | Barcelona | AgenciesBarcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal has officially been handed the club’s legendary No. 10 jersey, following in the footsteps of iconic figures such as Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi. The announcement was made on Wednesday at an event held by the club, where the 18-year-old also signed a contract extension that will keep him at Camp Nou until 2031. "I'll try to build my own path, but all kids would like to be like them," Yamal said Wednesday at the club's announcement. "All three have been incredible players, they're legends, and I'll try to follow in their footsteps." Yamal, who had been wearing the No. 19 shirt, becomes the latest in a historic line of footballing greats to don the number most associated with creativity, leadership, and brilliance at the Catalan giants. Having turned 18 only this week, Yamal became eligible to officially sign the long-term deal that had been agreed upon earlier in May. The extension secures his future at Barcelona, a club he has called home since the age of seven. "My goal is to keep winning and growing," Yamal said. "It's the club of my life. It's my home, I've been here since I was 7 years old." The No. 10 shirt was last worn by Ansu Fati, who is currently out on loan with AS Monaco. Yamal was presented with the jersey by club president Joan Laporta, in the presence of his family members. However, the week was not without its share of controversy. Yamal recently faced public criticism over reports that individuals with dwarfism had been hired as entertainment at his lavish 18th birthday celebration. The incident drew backlash on social media and from disability rights advocates. Yamal chose not to directly address the criticism during the club event. When asked about it, he simply responded: "In the end I work for Barça, but when I'm away from the club's training center, I enjoy my life and that's it," Yamal said. "I'm indifferent to both criticism and praise if they don't come from my family or people close to me." (With inputs from AP)
17 July,2025 06:24 PM IST | Barcelona | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
