Author: Barkha Roy

According to El Nacional, Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba is in talks to join Atletico Madrid. The Spaniard has been a mainstay on Barcelona’s left flank since returning to Camp Nou in 2012 but has recently fallen down the pecking order as manager Xavi Hernandez has preferred 18-year-old Alejandro Balde and newly-signed Marcos Alonso over him. He has only made four appearances for the Blaugrana this season. However, the 33-year-old was named to Spain’s starting lineup for their UEFA Nations League match against Switzerland last weekend. Despite the fact that La Roja lost the match 2-1, the left-back scored with a perfectly placed…

The Red Devils are set to begin contract talks with rejuvenated forward Marcus Rashford, according to reports. The 24-year-future old’s at Old Trafford was called into question over the summer after a poor season in which he struggled with injury and scored just five goals in 32 appearances. Even though the Enlgishman he struggled to make the starting eleven and showed little sign of improvement last campaign, he is already more than halfway to that total this season, having made an explosive start to the season with three goals in six games.  https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1561810552111988739 United are ready to reward Rashford’s early…

Despite being considered India’s first-choice opener, KL Rahul is embracing judicial scrutiny of his batting performances in the lead-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come out in support of the player after his performance against Australia in the recently concluded T20I series. Rahul stamped his authority in the series opener between India and Australia with a quick-fire half-century. He silenced his detractors by smashing 55 off 35 balls in the first T20I against Aaron Finch’s side. However, Rahul finished the T20I series with only 66 runs to his name. “Well, he was doing what the…

Los Rojiblancos’ custodian Jan Oblak could be on the move in January as Atletico Madrid consider Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as a replacement, claims The Mirror. The shot-stopper for the LaLiga club will be out of contract at the end of the season, and the Slovenian international has yet to reach an agreement with the club on a new contract. As a result, the Spanish club is keeping an eye on Martinez. However, the chance to play Champions League football would make a move to Madrid appealing for the Argentine, putting the Villans in a difficult position.  Credit: Aston…

According to Spanish publication El Desmarque, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested in signing Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, whose contract at Signal Iduna Park is set to expire at the end of the ongoing season. The Cameroonian-born Germany U21 international is widely regarded as one of the most promising prospects in world football, having already made 46 appearances for the club at the age of 17. He scored 142 goals in just 90 games for the Black and Yellow while also providing 27 assists at various youth levels. In November 2020, the player made his…

La Roja suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Switzerland on Saturday, with goals from Manuel Akanji and Breel Embolo knocking the hosts off the top of Nations League A Group 2 with one game remaining. Manchester City centre-back Akanji put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute. Jordi Alba latched onto Marco Asensio’s pass and fired high into the net for the hosts 10 minutes into the second half. Credit: RFEF However, another Switzerland corner was not cleared properly, allowing Borussia Monchengladbach striker Embolo to bundle in from close range.   Credit: UEFA The loss means Luis Enrique’s side must beat Portugal away on Tuesday to advance to the semi-finals. Portugal…

Former India captain and ex-selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth questioned Mohammed Shami’s absence from India’s T20 World Cup squad on Monday, saying the pacer would have been an ideal choice for Australia’s bouncy pitches. According to Srikkanth, Shami could have given India early wickets with the new ball in Australia. The 62-year-old’s reaction came after India’s 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2022, which begins on October 22 was declared yesterday. https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1569290922449584130 Veteran Shami was named to a four-man standby squad but did not make the main squad. Fast bowlers include Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal, Arshdeep Singh, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as well as all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Credit:…

In the final days of the transfer window, Liverpool reportedly attempted a daring last-ditch bid to sign Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde for 86.5 million pounds, reports Diario AS. With injuries to Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Reds were desperate for a midfielder. https://twitter.com/LFCAnatomist/status/1569299588468867072 The Uruguayan was previously linked with a move to Anfield, and it has been reported that Jurgen Klopp decided to make a move for the Los Blancos star this summer. Liverpool reportedly made an 86.5 million bid in the final two days of the summer transfer window, but the Spanish giants rejected the offer because…

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa has signed a season-long contract with Wolverhmapton after obtaining a work permit to return to the Premier League. After leaving Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro in January, where he played 19 times and scored five goals in the 2021 season before his contract was terminated after only five months, the 33-year-old former Chelsea striker signed on a free transfer. Wolves have moved for the former Atletico Madrid forward after summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic was ruled out by an ACL injury he suffered during their home win over Southampton last weekend. The side needed a striker because they had only three…

Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, who missed the recently concluded Asia Cup due to injuries, were back as the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup. Ravindra Jadeja, who recently had knee surgery following a ‘freak’ injury, did not make the cut. Rohit Sharma will lead the side in the World Cup, and KL Rahul will be his deputy in the marquee tournament, which will take place in Australia, starting October 16. Bumrah, who had a back injury, and Harshal, who had a side strain, had undergone intensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy,…