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Historically, the Gold Cup has been a springboard for success for a number of USMNT legends – who will be next?

The U.S. men's national team will not be at full strength this summer. Christian Pulisic is out. So, too, are Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah and Yunus Musah. For many within the player pool, though, this opportunity means everything – and history tells us that this Gold Cup will be a launching pad for at least one player's stunning World Cup rise.

Going back to the 1994 World Cup cycle, a total of 12 players entered the Gold Cup with fewer than five caps and proceeded to represent the USMNT in the subsequent World Cup. That list includes both USMNT legends in the making and players who caught lightning in a bottle, but all involved parlayed a Gold Cup into a World Cup dream.

DaMarcus Beasley had just three caps before emerging at the Gold Cup in January of 2002. Same for Pablo Mastroeni, who had two appearances entering that tournament. Stu Holden had yet to feature for the USMNT prior to the 2009 Gold Cup, while Oguchi Onyewu launched his USMNT career four years prior with a run at the 2005 tournament.

More recently, both Matt Turner and Shaq Moore entered the 2021 Gold Cup with six caps between them. Both ended up in Qatar.

The point is this: roster decisions and player absences and outside noise notwithstanding, the USMNT's upcoming friendlies and Gold Cup matter from a player development and visibility perspective, beyond overall team performance – particularly to the newcomers, and for coach Mauricio Pochettino.

This summer's roster features a dozen players with fewer than five caps, including six who have yet to appear for the USMNT. Each of those 12 will believe that they can play their way into the World Cup squad – and that all starts now. Will history repeat itself?

GOAL looks at the top candidates in that category who could change the trajectory of their careers.

Getty ImagesDiego Luna

It's hard to believe we've only seen Luna in a USMNT shirt on four occasions, largely because he's packed so damn much into those four games. From the broken and bloodied nose to a big Nations League assist, Luna has already endeared himself to the USMNT fanbase and, more importantly, to Pochettino, who clearly appreciates the attitude the Real Salt Lake star brings.

It'll be a big summer for him. Luna won't be surprising anyone anymore and, with the World Cup just a year away, he'll fight to be one of the guys Pochettino relies on in attack. Both Luna and Malik Tillman will be relied on to do heavy lifting in the attack – thanks to those notable absence – and that could potentially lead to the starting No. 10 next summer.

It's been a quick rise for Luna, and the 21-year-old's exploits in MLS may just be the beginning.

AdvertisementAFPJack McGlynn

McGlynn does something better than just about anyone else in the player pool: pass the ball. His vision is incredible, as is his touch, allowing him to set the tempo or dictate games from dead-ball situations. A player such as James Ward-Prowse has ridden a similar style all the way to the England team and, while McGlynn may not be at that level, it's easy to see why any club could find a use for him.

There's still one looming question: Does he have the athleticism or defensive instincts to compete at the international level? He can hit a ball, for sure, but the international game requires a different caliber of speed. Through his first four caps, McGlynn hasn't seen that challenged often, but this summer will give him the chance to answer those questions.

With the likes of McKennie and Musah out of the picture for the Gold Cup, due to Club World Cup commitments, McGlynn has a chance to show why he should be joining them in the USMNT midfield.

Getty Images SportDamion Downs

Downs is perhaps the biggest wild card in the USMNT squad – for multiple reasons. The first of which is his position, which is always more form-based than others. The second? Few who follow the USMNT have seen him play.

The 20-year-old German-born striker broke out with FC Koln this season, netting 10 goals in 26 games to help his club win the 2. Bundesliga. That came after he scored twice in the Bundesliga as a teenager, ending against Borussia Monchengladbach and Union Berlin last season before Koln went down to the second division.

Internationally, this isn't Downs' first experience with the U.S., having previously spent time with the U23s, but a bulk of his games have been with Germany. That makes a pre-Gold Cup call-up all the more interesting as it indicates that Downs knows where his future lies: with the USMNT.

A striker spot won't be easy to win with the likes of Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent all in contention next year. Other newcomers Patrick Agyemang and Brian White, are in the mix, too. Downs, though, has a realistic path to the 2026 World Cup, particularly if he impresses this summer and in Koln's Bundesliga return next season.

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GettyAlex Freeman

The right-back spot seems sorted with Sergino Dest and Joe Scally in the mix, but there's a reason why so many people are high on Freeman. Orlando City's rising star is with the USMNT for the first time, having more than earned his place in MLS.

He's a modern attacking fullback, one who creates chances at an elite level in MLS. It's why teams in Europe are reportedly eyeing him just a few months into his first real run at senior soccer.

Pochettino will love him, too, particularly as a like-for-like replacement for Dest should that be required. Freeman has the skillset to really make a difference for the USMNT and, at just 20, it's clear that there's plenty of room to develop.

Former Tottenham Hotspur scout Bryan King is “sure” two players will be trying to convince an “exciting” midfielder to move to north London in the summer.

Tottenham eyeing summer move for midfielder

Tottenham were forced into action during the January transfer window, with Ange Postecoglou in need of reinforcements in light of the injury crisis the manager has been forced to deal with over the past few months.

To ensure a similar situation does not arise again, however, Postecoglou may feel he needs more squad depth, and Spurs are thought to be pursuing a new central midfielder, identifying a number of targets.

Johnny Cardoso is thought to be of particular interest, with the Real Betis midfielder set to be available for the relatively low fee of £21m due to a release clause in his contract, which the Lilywhites are planning to activate.

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Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson is another long-standing target for Tottenham, who has also attracted attention from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, and there has now been a new update on the pursuit of the midfielder.

Former Spurs scout King has now claimed Swedish duo Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall will play a pivotal role in convincing the midfielder to move to N17 this summer when they link up with Larsson on international duty.

King said: “They have already brought Bergvall in, for a lot less of course. Larsson moved out of Sweden before Bergvall did and he has since established himself in Germany. Spurs should be looking at these players before they make the move to Holland or Germany.

“However, I’m sure that Kulusevski and Bergvall will be recommending the club to Larsson to help get a transfer across the line. They’ll obviously meet up on international duty, and I imagine they will be selling life at Tottenham to Larsson.”

"Exciting" Larsson impressing in Germany

Although he is still just 20-years-old, the Swedish maestro has established himself as a key player for Frankfurt this season, making 31 appearances in all competitions, during which time he has amassed five goals and one assist.

Sky Sports Germany journalist Kerry Hau has been full of praise for the youngster, in light of his top-drawer performances, saying: “Hugo Larsson is one of Eintracht Frankfurt’s shooting stars and is currently one of the most exciting midfielders in the Bundesliga,”

Of course, it would be useful for Tottenham if Bergvall and Kuluveski make an attempt to lure their compatriot to north London this summer, but the truth is it will still be very difficult to win the race for his signature.

Barring a Europa League triumph, it seems very likely Spurs won’t have European football on offer next season, which could play a big part in Larsson’s decision-making, amid interest from Arsenal, Bayern and a number of other clubs who are set to be in the Champions League.

Visitors go to stumps at 102 for 4, trailing by 409 runs and their hopes of levelling the series fading

Tristan Lavalette09-Dec-2022

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head added 297 runs for the fourth wicket•Getty Images

An accurate Australia attack menaced with the pink ball under lights to leave West Indies in disarray after day two of the second Test in Adelaide.In response to Australia’s mammoth first innings, set up by big centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, West Indies limped to stumps at 102 for 4 with their hopes of a series-levelling victory appearing forlorn.After a memorable debut 12 months ago in the Adelaide Ashes Test, recalled Michael Neser was relentless with his accuracy outside off stump and he was rewarded with the wickets of captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks.Unlike West Indies’ uninspired attack, who claimed just seven wickets in 137 overs, Australia consistently threatened with quicks Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc unlucky not to breakthrough.Only Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of legendary batter Shivnarine, defied the attack through patience and well-judged leaves against probing seam bowling from Australia’s quicks.Related

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After an impressive debut with scores of 51 and 45 in the first Test, Chanderpaul continued to dig in and occasionally showed flair, including a sweep for six against spinner Nathan Lyon.With his confidence increasing, Chanderpaul unleashed a bold counterattack before stumps and smashed a couple of short deliveries from allrounder Cameron Green to the boundary .Chanderpaul again upstaged his senior batters as West Indies’ chances of a strong reply nosedived. Their hopes had rested on in-form openers Chanderpaul and Brathwaite, who had gutsy partnerships of 78 and 116 in Perth.Brathwaite was particularly outstanding with scores of 64 and 110, but this was a different challenge against the pink ball under lights.Despite having a penchant for swing, Neser was held back until the 10th over but he made an impact quickly by having Brathwaite caught behind off a perfect line and length delivery.Neser almost added another but dropped Brooks in a tough one-handed return chance after diving to his left. It didn’t matter with Neser shortly after removing Brooks, who played as a concussion sub in the first Test, with an almost identical delivery that dismissed Brathwaite.Lyon came into the attack in the 21st over and immediately looked far more threatening than counterpart Roston Chase, who did little bar release the pressure seemingly every time he bowled in Australia’s first innings.Lyon got among the wickets by removing Jermaine Blackwood with a return catch, while Green bowled debutant Devon Thomas shortly before stumps to strengthen Australia’s stranglehold after a mighty batting effort earlier.Michael Neser took two key wickets before stumps•Getty Images

Stand-in skipper Steven Smith ended Australia’s first innings shortly before tea in their third straight declaration in this one-sided two-Test series.Head and Labuschagne dominated an underwhelming West Indies attack with big centuries in a 297-run stand, the third highest fourth wicket partnership for Australia against West Indies.Coming together with Australia at 131 for 3, after the quick wickets of Usman Khawaja and Smith for a duck, Head and Labuschagne were almost flawless on a batting-friendly Adelaide Oval surface.Such was their ease, it seemed like a formality that Head and Labuschagne would reach double centuries but they both surprisingly missed out.Labuschagne fell for 163 late in the first session when he was caught behind off Thomas, whose handy seamers were a revelation, while Head was run out on 175 just after the dinner break.Hometown hero Head had cruised past his highest Test score of 161 but disaster struck when he was involved in a mix up with Green.Head’s fifth Test ton was marked by belligerence, continually plundering boundaries through the off side, while Labuschagne was technically sound and didn’t require good fortune which he sometimes seems to have in spades.Labuschagne hit his third straight ton to start the series and also passed 3000 Test runs in just his 51st innings with only Sir Donald Bradman reaching the landmark faster for an Australia batter.West Indies had no answers and once again rued sloppy bowling, while Brathwaite’s tactics were rather puzzling underlined by often not implementing a gully in a conservative move.He was generally reactionary, but a second-string attack didn’t help his cause. Without injured spearheads Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales, debutant quick Marquino Mindley only bowled two overs after suffering a hamstring injury early on day one.It was hard-luck for an exhausted Mindley, who had arrived in Adelaide from the Caribbean just 48 hours before the Test as injury cover.With injuries piling up and outclassed over two days, West Indies are spiralling to an inevitable defeat unless their rising star Chanderpaul can conjure something miraculous on day three.

Pakistan have kept their semi-final hopes alive with victory in a rain-reduced, must-win match over their favourite opponents: South Africa. They’ve met four times at T20 World Cups and Pakistan have won all four encounters. With this latest result, there are now no unbeaten teams left at this World Cup.On a chilly Sydney evening, against the express pace of Anrich Nortje and the craftiness of Lungi Ngidi’s slower ball, Pakistan recovered from 95 for 5 to post their fifth-highest score against South Africa, and highest at World Cups. While their top order failed to fire once again, Iftikhar Ahmed and then Shadab Khan scored half-centuries to get Pakistan to a competitive score. They were helped by a sloppy South African fielding performance. They dropped five catches – more than they have in the other three matches in the tournament combined – and there were several fumbles on a slippery outfield.Pakistan were set up with the bat, but won the match with the ball. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw cheaply but Temba Bavuma played his best innings of 2022 and the chase was going well until the start of the eighth over. South Africa were 65 for 2, ahead of the DLS par of 58 at the time, when Shadab found Bavuma’s edge. At the fall of the wicket, the DLS par went up to 66 and it increased to 77 two balls later when Aiden Markam was dismissed. By the time play was interrupted after nine overs, South Africa needed to be on 85 to win, but were 69 for 4.An hour’s interruption cut six overs off the chase, and when play resumed South Africa needed 75 runs off the remaining five overs. Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen – who came in for David Miller, who was out with back spasms – biffed it around a bit but the ask was always going to be too tall. South Africa remain second on the Group 2 points table behind India, and need to beat Netherlands on Sunday to keep their fate in their own hands.Haris’ hit out
Mohammad Haris was parachuted into the Pakistan XI after Fakhar Zaman suffered a tournament-ending recurrence of the knee injury that he has struggled with this year, and he made an immediate impact. He was hit on the grille the second ball he faced – a Wayne Parnell short ball – and that seemed to spark him into action. He tucked into Kagiso Rabada’s opening over, and sent a half-volley over deep backward square for six, then a pull over fine leg for six more before creaming another short ball through square leg to cost South Africa their most expensive over of the tournament so far: 17 runs.Haris demonstrated a clear strength playing the ball on the leg side, complete with a shuffle across the stumps, and it was his undoing too. He missed an Anrich Nortje delivery, was hit in line with off stump, and given out lbw. His 28 off 11 balls gave Pakistan’s Powerplay some impetus, and they finished with the highest Powerplay score of the tournament, 42, even though they lost their top three.Anrich Nortje took four wickets but took a hammering in the end overs•Getty Images

Nawaz: out or not-out?
Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz helped Pakistan recover from 43 for 4 with a 52-run fifth-wicket stand. They had some nervy moments up front, when Iftikhar gloved the ball skywards, to Quinton de Kock’s right. De Kock made a valiant one-handed effort and could not hold on. Two balls later, Nawaz got a thick edge wide of de Kock, but the pair didn’t look back from there.Iftikhar took advantage of misfired lines and lengths from Rabada and Nawaz got hold of Ngidi and then Shamsi. He slogged Shamsi over deep midwicket and then shaped up for the sweep but missed and was struck on the front pad. Nawaz set off a for a run as he was given out, and then Lungi Ngidi’s direct hit found the stumps. Nawaz must have thought he was run out and didn’t review. Replays showed he got a thick bottom-edge, and also that he made a mistake. The ball would have been dead the moment the umpire raised his finger – before Ngidi’s throw – according to law 20.1.1.3. Nawaz would have been not out.But maybe not such a bad thing
Nawaz’s dismissal brought Shadab Khan to the crease and Pakistan could not have asked for anything more. Shadab took a liking to Shamsi and scored 13 runs off his final over, which cost 15 in total, before launching an Ngidi full-toss to deep backward square for four, driving Nortje through mid-off for four more and uppercutting him for six. Nortje chose to bowl full at the end and got an attempted yorker wrong. Shadab sent the full-toss into the stands and then another over long-on, to bring up fifty off 20 balls – Pakistan’s second-fastest fifty in T20I cricket. He put Pakistan in touching distance of 200 but then went big once too many times, was dropped by Aiden Markram at long-on and then caught by Tristan Stubbs at deep midwicket.Overall, Pakistan scored 90 runs off the last seven overs.Shaheen Shah Afridi pegged South Africa back with the early wickets of Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw•Getty Images

Pakistan’s frantic finish
Shadab’s dismissal set in motion an intense end to the innings in which Pakistan lost four wickets for eight runs as Pakistan tried to breach the boundary with every ball. Mohammad Wasim top-edged Nortje and Bavuma zooted in from the ring to take a running catch. In the last over, Iftikhar opted to take on Rabada and hit him to long-on where Rilee Rossouw took a superb catch. And Haris Rauf was run-out off the last ball, as Pakistan scrambled to run a fourth. Bavuma was the man who broke the stumps.Afridi’s amazing start
Pakistan’s ace had a quiet start to the tournament, with just one wicket from the first three matches, and explained he was working his way to a full head of steam after returning from injury. He got there in this match, when he started with a series of back-of-a-length deliveries to de Kock, who was eyeing the midwicket area but not finding it. De Kock got there off the last ball of the over, but toe-ended his effort to Haris on the edge of the ring. De Kock was dismissed for a duck. In his next over, Afridi pulled in South Africa’s big fish, Rossouw, with a ball that did not deserve a wicket. It was short, wide and screamed “hit me”, and Rossouw obliged. He slashed to deep third where Naseem Shah ran around to take the catch. South Africa were 16 for 2.Shadab’s double strike
Bavuma played his most pleasing and profitable innings of 2022, and scored 36 off 18 balls (which included a scoop for six, which he tried and failed to pull off earlier in the tournament) and the hoodoo seemed to be broken. But Shadab continued to own the night when he was brought on in the eighth over. He delivered a stock-standard legbreak, Bavuma opened the face of the bat to try and hit to third, and nicked off. This strike was crucial, because with rain looming, it put South Africa behind on DLS. After 7.1 overs, at two down, the DLS par was 59. With three down, it jumped to 66. South Africa were on 65 at the time. And it got worse for them. Two balls later, Shadab bowled Markram with a topspinner, as the batter went back to try and cut, and South Africa were 66 for 4. The teams were taken off nine balls later, and it was clear that Shadab had had a decisive hand in this match.

MatériaMais Notícias

A equipe sub-20 do Botafogo estreia pelo Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 nesta quarta, às 15h, no CT Evaristo de Macedo, em Camaçari-BA, contra o Bahia. Nesta edição, a competição terá um regulamento diferente das temporadas anteriores com 20 clubes divididos em dois grupos de 10 times casa.

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Com isso, o critério de divisão de grupos utilizado pela CBF seguiu o critério de proximidade geográfica e as colocações do Ranking Nacional de Clubes. Os meninos da base estão no Grupo A com os seguintes adversários:América-MG, Atlético-MG, Bahia, Ceará, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Fortaleza, Palmeiras e São Paulo e terá quatro jogos como mandante e cinco como visitante.

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Desse modo, avançam para a próxima fase os quatro melhores colocados de cada grupo para a disputa das quartas de finais (Cruzamentos:1ºA x 4ºB, 2ºB x 3ºA, 2ºA x 3ºB e 1ºB x 4ºA). Em seguida, terão as semifinais no sistema de ida e volta, mas a decisão será em partida única, com mando de campo do time com a melhor campanha.

A equipe comandada pelo técnico Ricardo Resende também está no Campeonato Carioca e mede forças com o Flamengo pelas quartas de finais. O zagueiro Reydson analisou a expectativa da estreia em entrevista ao site oficial do clube.

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– Esperamos começar bem, com uma vitória já na primeira rodada. O time está em processo de formação, chegaram muitos reforços para qualificar ainda mais nosso elenco. Porém, iremos entrar com foco total no Campeonato Brasileiro, que ficou ainda mais difícil com dois grupos de 10 times, com menos jogos nessa primeira fase. E também não podemos perder o foco no Carioca, em que estamos classificados para a próxima fase. Serão grandes jogos e vamos em busca do título nas duas competições – explicou o defensor do Glorioso.

Will Rangers make any more signings this month?

So far, Rafael Fernandes, a 22-year-old centre-back is the Light Blues’ sole winter arrival, despite the fact Philippe Clement’s side sit a whopping ten points adrift run-away Premiership leaders Celtic, having played a game more.

Their title hopes are all but mathematically over, but there’s still plenty to play for, given the Gers’ involvement in the Scottish Cup and the Europa League, welcoming Belgian outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise to Ibrox for a crucial European tie on Thursday.

Due to numerous injuries, Clement has been forced to name makeshift back-lines on multiple occasions this season, so could Rangers re-sign a former centre-back to bolster his options?

Rangers looking to re-sign a defender

According to Timo Rizzi of Swiss online newspaper Watson, Rangers have now ‘made an offer’ to FC Zürich, as they attempt to re-sign defender Nikola Katić, who ‘wants to leave’ Switzerland this month.

Zürich boss Ricardo Moniz claims his side are yet to receive any offers for Katić, but former Rangers defender Craig Moore urges his former club to re-sign the “big, solid defender” who he describes as a former “fans’ favourite” from his time in Glasgow.

Katić was one of the very first players signed by Steven Gerrard when he took over as Rangers manager in 2018, arriving from Slaven Belupo Koprivnica for a reported fee of £2m.

The highlight of his Rangers career, unquestionably, was heading home the winner at Parkhead in 2019, as the Light Blues won an away Old Firm derby for the first time in nine years.

How Nikola Katić's return could help Rangers

In total, Katić made just 59 appearances across four seasons in Govan, not featuring at all between 8 March 2020 and 11 August 2021, a period of 521 days, after suffering a “career-threatening anterior cruciate ligament”, thereby loaned out to Hajduk Split the same month as his return, before joining Zürich a year later, upon the expiration of his contract.

Since the centre-back was last bedecked in red, white and blue, a lot has changed, not least his nationality.

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Katić earned one cap for Croatia, featuring during a friendly against Mexico at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in May 2017.

However, he was then never called up again so, in 2024, he switched his allegiance to Bosnia & Herzegovina, the country of his birth, debuting against England in a pre-Euros friendly at St James’ Park, starting all six of the Golden Lilies’ fixtures in June, September and October, before sitting out the November’s Nations League double-header.

Meantime, he’s made 86 appearances for Zürich across the last two and a half seasons, established as a regular in their defence, albeit he’s sat out their last two Swiss Super League matches, against Yverdon Sport and Luzern, potentially due to ongoing transfer speculation.

So, could the now-Bosnian defender be returning to Govan and would he be a good signing? The answer is yes.

As alluded to earlier, Rangers have not had a settled centre-back pairing all season, yet to properly replace Connor Goldson, who departed for Aris Limassol in the summer.

When fit, John Souttar would be first choice, with veteran Leon Balogun or summer signing Robin Pröpper his most frequent partner, so let’s examine how Katić compares to that duo.

Katić vs Balogun & Pröpper (2022/23-present)

Statistics

Katić

Balogun

Pröpper

Appearances

86

54

109

Minutes

7,512

3,739

9,037

Pass completion %

85%

75.6%

82.5%

Ball recoveries per 90

0.39

2.33

0.37

Interceptions per 90

1.3

2

1.6

Tackles won per 90

1

1.3

1.2

% of dribbles tackled

50%

73.3%

57.1%

% of aerial duals won

72.2%

58.5%

50%

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com

As outlined in the table, since the start of the 2022/23 season, Katić comes out on top when it comes to passing and % of aerial duals won, and he compares favourably to both Balogun and Pröpper in most metrics, such as tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries.

Also, during this very long timeframe, the Bosnian has racked up almost twice as many minutes as the Nigerian suggesting, unlike his previous stint in Glasgow, he can be available for a prolonged period, a valuable ability considering Rangers’ constant defensive injury crisis.

Katić’s aerial prowess particularly stands out so, if Rangers are able to re-sign the centre-back this month, it appears to be a move worth making.

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MatériaMais Notícias

A pouco mais de seis meses para o início da Copa do Mundo de 2022, a Seleção Brasileira segue na preparação para o Mundial do Qatar, que acontecerá entre novembro e dezembro. E nesta quarta-feira, na sede da CBF, o técnico Tite anunciou a lista de convocados para os próximos amistosos da Canarinho. Ao todo, 27 atletas foram chamados e a grande novidade ficou por conta do volante Danilo, do Palmeiras.

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A Seleção Brasileira enfrentará Coreia do Sul e Japão nos dias 2 e 6 de junho, respectivamente. Contra os sul-coreanos e os japoneses, o Brasil atuará no país do time adversário. A princípio, teria um amistoso contra a Argentina no dia 11, mas que foi cancelado. Veja aqui os detalhes e os horários das partidas.

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Tite chamou pela primeira vez o volante Danilo, do Palmeiras. Além do meio-campista alviverde, o treinador promoveu o retorno de Gabriel Jesus, que faz grande final de temporada no Manchester City. Os atletas se apresentarão no dia 26, na Coreia do Sul. Os atletas que disputarem a final da Champions League chegam no dia 28.

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CONFIRA A LISTA COMPLETA DE CONVOCADOS

Goleiros: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City) e Weverton (Palmeiras);

Laterais: Danilo (Juventus), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Alex Telles (Manchester United), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG) e Alex Sandro (juventus);

Zagueiros: Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Éder Militão (Real Madrid) e Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal);

Meio-campistas: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Danilo (Palmeiras), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (Lyon) e Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa);

Atacantes: Neymar (PSG), Raphinha (Leeds), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Vini Jr. (Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Richarlison (Everton), Rodrygo (Real Madrid) e Matheus Cunha (Atlético de Madrid).

It’s no secret that Chelsea have been known to splash the cash in recent years, especially since the arrival of American businessman Todd Boehly back in May 2022.

He’s splashed over £1.3bn on new signings since taking over at Stamford Bridge, highlighting his ambition of improving the current side for Enzo Maresca, whilst also keeping one eye on the future.

The likes of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Jadon Sancho all appear to be worthwhile investments, impressing in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, handing the Blues every chance of securing a top-four finish.

However, the supporters have more reasons to be positive, with youngsters Kendry Paez and Estevao William set to join the club in the near future, with the pair having real hope of transforming into world-class talents down the line.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for another young talent, who looks set to depart the Blues despite arriving with real expectations, but has since been unable to break into the first team in West London.

Chelsea star agrees to join Serie A side

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea’s Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei has agreed personal terms with Serie A side Torino ahead of a potential permanent move this January.

The 21-year-old arrived at the Bridge back in 2022 from Inter Milan, originally joining the academy before loan spells with Reading and Leicester City, with the latter under current boss Maresca.

Expectations further increased after he won the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament award for the U20 World Cup last year, but ultimately has been unable to catapult himself into the first team this season – only making six appearances with none of which coming in the league.

The report claims the youngster is keen on the move, but a fee is yet to be agreed, with the Blues demanding €20m (£16.6m), but Torino are yet to match such a figure with their opening offer of €12m (£10m).

Whilst in the short-term it may be sensible to cash in on Casadei, his potential departure could see a repeat of one player who left prematurely and has since gone on to become a world-class talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Casadei could be a Salah repeat for Chelsea

Winger Mohamed Salah joined Chelsea way back in January 2014 from Swiss side FC Basel, looking to provide added quality to the club’s attacking department.

However, his time in the capital was unsuccessful, massively struggling to gain the game time needed to succeed, featuring just 19 times during his time at the Bridge.

He would subsequently spend various loan spells in Italy with Fiorentina and Roma, before joining the latter permanently in the summer of 2016 – a move that would catapult him into stardom.

The Egyptian bagged 19 goals in 41 matches, which led to a £34m transfer to English rivals Liverpool just a year after his original move to Italy – achieving mind-boggling numbers since his move.

The now 32-year-old has scored over 200 times for the Reds, managing over 20 goals in every campaign during his time at Anfield, with this year arguably his best – registering 18 goals and 13 assists in just 19 league outings.

2017/18

52

44

14

2018/19

52

27

10

2019/20

48

23

13

2020/21

51

31

6

2021/22

51

31

15

2022/23

51

30

16

2023/24

44

25

13

2024/25

27

21

17

Total:

376

232

104

Looking back, the decision to prematurely offload Salah is one of regret, with the same potentially happening in the form of midfielder Casadei 11 years down the line.

The 21-year-old, who’s previously been dubbed as a “world-class” talent by journalist Tom Overend, demonstrated during his loan spell with the Foxes that he has the ability to thrive if given the opportunity but ultimately has found himself way down the pecking order as of late, just like Salah did before his own move to Italy.

Undoubtedly, he’s in serious need of regular game time to reach the potential he arrived with, but a loan spell would massively benefit both parties – leaving the door open for a potential first-team place in 2025/26.

However, it appears Chelsea’s loss will be Torino’s gain, with the permanent transfer back to Italy one the club’s hierarchy may live to regret should he thrive with increased opportunities back in his homeland.

The new Salah: Chelsea could sign "one of Europe's best forwards" for £58m

Chelsea might need to upgrade parts of their talented squad this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 6, 2025

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne also says he is looking forward to seeing a young bowler step up in the retired Suranga Lakmal’s absence

Madushka Balasuriya13-May-2022

Dimuth Karunaratne expects there to be plenty of runs in the Chattogram track, which will put his inexperienced bowling attack to the test•BCCI

Sri Lanka have played twice in Chattogram over the past eight years, and on both occasions the matches had petered out to fairly uneventful draws. Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was a part of both those Tests, and though he only managed to register 46 runs across three innings, the lasting memory is undoubtedly that of his peers from both sides racking up the runs.Indeed, each of those matches saw in excess of 1,400 runs scored, and Karunaratne expects another batting haven come Sunday. That said, the last three touring sides to have played a Test in Chattogram – Afghanistan, West Indies and Pakistan – have emerged victors. Each of those wins however required exceptional individual performances; Rashid Khan produced an 11-for; Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali combined for 14 scalps; and Kyle Mayers produced a double-ton of epic proportions to mastermind a highly improbable chase.Related

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Karunaratne therefore knows his side have their work cut out for them in looking to produce a result in the first Test, starting on Sunday.”The last match [we played here] saw around 1,400 runs scored while the match before also saw over 1,000 runs scored. This too will most likely be a batting-friendly wicket, a wicket where a result will be hard to come by,” Karunaratne said. “But we will still try to figure out a combination to give us the best chance of getting 20 wickets and winning this match.”Sri Lanka’s task has been made harder by the fact that they go into the game with one of their most inexperienced bowling attacks in quite some time. Suranga Lakmal’s retirement and Dushmantha Chameera being rested means that Vishwa Fernando will now be charged with leading the line-up. And with the pitch unexpected to take much turn, it’s unlikely spinners from either side will gain much assistance. As such, one option might be to play an extra bowler.”We’ve seen a lot of runs scored on this wicket before, so we know we’ll need some wicket-taking bowlers in the team, and we’ll have to see if we go in with an extra bowler or not,” Karunaratne said.He is however hopeful of his young bowlers, especially the seamers, stepping up to the occasion and grabbing the opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent role in the side.”This will be a good experience for some of the younger guys. We’ve come into this tour well prepared. Even after the NSL [National Super League tournament], the players underwent a training camp for a few weeks. If you look at the fast bowlers, there’s Kasun Rajitha – I played with him and I know him well. Vishwa [Fernando] as well had a good tournament. So, there’s a good competition among the fast-bowling unit as to who will make it to the playing XI. As a senior, it’s something I really like to see. It means that the fast-bowling unit is in good stead.”Suranga’s [Lakmal] retirement has also given a good opportunity for the youngsters to come in, perform and establish a spot in the side. In the past we’ve seen that it was primarily Suranga that was holding up one end in terms of fast bowling, but there’s now a chance for someone else to grab that spot. So, I look forward to seeing who puts their hands up.”The tour will also be the first under new head coach Chris Silverwood. Karunaratne cautioned against expecting too much too soon, though he expressed confidence in the former England head coach’s ability to take the team to the next level.”Chris is a very experienced coach, and we saw what he was capable of when he brought his England side down to Sri Lanka last year and won. One things is he’s not trying to change too much about the players too soon, he wants them to play with freedom. He likes to take on a challenge. He likes to play fearless cricket. This is first series and he’s not tried to make any major changes as yet.”But I think you’ll see little, little improvements and shifts as time goes on – the standard of cricket we’re playing now, I think you’ll see at least a 20-30% improvement just purely on the strategies he’s looking to implement. He will of course teach us these things little by little, but I don’t expect there to be a big change all at once because he’s also only been with the team for a couple of weeks.”Dimuth Karunaratne wants more from Niroshan Dickwella with the bat•SLC

The Chattogram track also presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper batter Niroshan Dickwella to target a maiden Test century. Dickwella presently lies second in the list of players with the most Test innings without a century, and Karunaratne said the left-hand batter’s wastefulness has been topic of conversation.”There are no issues in terms of his wicketkeeping, but in terms of his batting I’ve spoken to Dikka on numerous occasions about aligning his goals with that of the team. A wicketkeeper batting at No. 7 getting a century is a huge boost, but I think when we look at our team it’s difficult to expect someone like Dickwella to get a century batting with the tail.That said, whenever he’s had the opportunity, he’s not grasped it and I’ve personally spoken to him about what he can do to change that. A new player [Kamil Mishara] has also come into the side as a wicketkeeper-batter, so there might be some pressure for his place going forward.”

GOAL selected the 50 best footballing talents from around the world born on or after January 1, 1999 – but did they go on to fulfil their potential?

Since NXGN's launch in 2016, GOAL has profiled the 50 best footballing wonderkids on the planet on an annual basis. Some of those recognised for their talent as teenagers are now household names, but others have not yet realised their potential.

So, after the NXGN 2025 list was revealed, check out where the stars of 2018 are now:

Every NXGN list
Dembele, Tielemans & 2016's best wonderkids
Mbappe, Donnarumma & 2017's best wonderkids
Haaland, Sancho & 2019's best wonderkids
Saka, Rodrygo & 2020's best wonderkids
James, Oberdorf & 2020's best women's wonderkids
Pedri, Ansu Fati & 2021's best wonderkids
Le Tissier, Bennison & 2021's best women's wonderkids
Bellingham, Musiala & 2022's best wonderkids
Dumornay, Fowler & 2022's best women's wonderkids
Gavi, Garnacho & 2023's best wonderkids
Shaw, Thompson & 2023's best women's wonderkids
Yamal, Mainoo & 2024's best wonderkids
Caicedo, Moultrie & 2024's best women's wonderkids

• Yacine Adli (Paris Saint-Germain)

  2018: One of the stars of the 2017 U17 World Cup, the attacking midfielder was considered the most precious jewel in Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy.

  2019: Having not made an appearance in the first half of the 2018-19 campaign, Adli joined Bordeaux in a deal worth €5.5m.

  2020: Adli enjoyed an encouraging first full season at Bordeaux, scoring his first professional goals in the process.

  2021: The midfielder began to develop into one of the most promising players in Ligue 1, convincing AC Milan to pay around €10m to sign him in the summer of 2021, though he was immediately sent back on loan to Bordeaux.

  2022: Adli continued to put in some strong displays in the French top flight, and surpassed his best season for direct goal contributions, even as Bordeaux were relegated to Ligue 2.

  2023: The midfielder barely featured during his first season in Milan, making just six appearances which totalled 140 minutes.

  2024: Adli fared slightly better in 2023-24 as he forced his way into the line-up for periods during the campaign.

  2025: Fiorentina signed Adli on loan in August, and he has emerged as a star in Florence, with La Viola keen to sign him on a permanent basis.

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• Alan (Palmeiras)

  2018: Having helped Brazil finish third at the 2017 U17 World Cup, Alan was being linked with a move to Real Madrid, even though he had yet to break into the Palmeiras first team.

  2019: The midfielder continued to wait for a senior debut in Sao Paulo.

  2020: Having still not made a first-team appearance, Alan was loaned to Serie B side Guarani in August 2020, only to suffer a broken leg two months later.

  2021: Alan recovered to join another second-division side, Operario, on loan for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.

  2022: After changing his name to 'Alanzinho', the winger spent the first half of the 2022 Brazilian season with Serie B side Sport Recife before moving to Europe for the first time, joining Portuguese second-division side Moreirense on a season-long loan.

  2023: Alanzinho worked his way into the Moreirense line-up around the turn of the year and played a key role in their successful promotion push, contributing eight goals and 10 assists in all competitions.

  2024: Moreirense made Alanzinho's move permanent as they prepared for life in the top-flight, and he made a bright start to life in the Primeira Liga, though the goal contributions dried up in the second half of the campaign.

  2025: Now operating as a No.10 and back going by 'Alan', the Brazilian has enjoyed some memorable games in the Portuguese top flight this season as he looks to have found a home where he can thrive.

• Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)

  2018: Even though he was still only 17, Ampadu had already made his debut at club and international level, for Chelsea and Wales respectively, and was being touted as the 'new David Luiz'.

  2019: Ampadu made just five appearances over the course of the 2018-19 campaign, none of which came in the Premier League. He was loaned to RB Leipzig ahead of the following season.

  2020: The versatile defender made only seven Leipzig appearances before a back injury ended his season in February 2020. He returned to England, joining Sheffield United on loan.

  2021: Ampadu enjoyed the best season of his career in terms of appearances, but was unable to help keep the Blades in the Premier League. Another loan move beckoned, as he joined newly-promoted Venezia in Serie A.

  2022: A regular starter in 2021-22, Ampadu performed well enough to earn another loan move back to Italy with Spezia despite Venezia's relegation.

  2023: Ampadu was an almost ever-present for the second successive season, but again suffered relegation from Serie A. He then finally left Chelsea on a permanent basis, joining Leeds United in a £7m deal.

  2024: Whether playing in midfield or defence, Ampadu was outstanding in the Championship and wore the captain's armband on a regular basis as Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Premier League.

  2025: Having officially been made club captain at Elland Road, Ampadu is again a leading performer for Leeds as they look to secure a return to the top flight.

• Mirko Antonucci (Roma)

  2018: An old-school winger who had come through the Roma youth academy, Antonucci became an instant fan favourite after setting up a goal for Edin Dzeko on his Giallorossi debut in January 2018.

  2019: Antonucci joined Pescara on loan for the 2018-19 campaign, playing 21 games for the Serie B outfit without finding the net.

  2020: After making four appearances for Roma in the first half of the 2019-20 season, Antonucci joined Vitoria Setubal on loan for the remainder of the campaign, but made just six appearances for the Portuguese side.

  2021: Another loan spell followed for Antonucci as he joined Salernitana in Serie B, but he featured just three times as they secured promotion to the top flight. At the end of the season, he was sold to Cittadella by Roma.

  2022: Antonucci was a regular in Serie B for his new club, but managed just three goals.

  2023: The striker raised his game in 2022-23, scoring 11 goals in the Italian second division, and that convinced recently-relegated Spezia to sign him that summer.

  2024: Antonucci managed just a solitary goal in the first half of the 2023-24 campaign, and was loaned to fellow Serie B side Cosenza in the January transfer window, though his form didn't really improve.

  2025: Out on loan again, this time at another Serie B team in Cesena, Antonucci continues to play plenty of games but struggles to provide goals or assists.