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Boca Juniors have publicly confirmed their ambitious interest in signing Roma forward Paulo Dybala, sparking a frenzy of speculation in Argentina. Club director Marcelo Delgado described the potential transfer as a complex mix of "dream and reality" but insisted the Buenos Aires giants are prepared to make a significant effort to secure the World Cup winner.

Boca Juniors confirm ambitious Dybala plan

The prospect of Dybala swapping the historic monuments of Rome for the fervent atmosphere of La Bombonera has long been a topic of whispers in South American football, but those quiet rumours have now been given a voice by the Boca Juniors hierarchy. Delgado, a key member of the club's Football Council, has openly discussed the club's desire to recruit La Joya.

Speaking to the media regarding the club's future transfer targets, Delgado did not shy away when asked about the Roma playmaker. 

“Dream, illusion or reality? Dybala is a mix of all of this,” Delgado explained. “We hope to be able to make the necessary effort to bring him here, regardless of whether there is a possibility or not. The only thing I know is that his contract expires in June 2026. We will evaluate the situation and see what happens.”

AdvertisementAFPContract situation offers glimmer of hope

The Argentine forward is approaching the final six months of his deal with the Giallorossi, meaning he could start negotiating with clubs as of January with the view of making a free transfer at the end of the 2025-26 season.

While Dybala remains a key figure in Serie A, the lack of a contract renewal at the Stadio Olimpico has fuelled speculation that his time in Europe could be drawing to a close. Boca Juniors, led by president and club legend Juan Roman Riquelme, have made a habit of targeting elite veterans looking for an emotional return to South America. The arrival of Edinson Cavani previously proved that the club have the pull to attract global stars, and the hierarchy views Dybala as the next logical 'marquee' signing to elevate the club's status on the continental stage. However, the financial disparity between European wages and Argentine budgets remains the "illusion" part of Delgado's equation, requiring a massive financial package or a significant wage cut from the player.

The Leandro Paredes factor

Boca’s pursuit of Dybala is significantly strengthened by the presence of his close friend and World Cup-winning teammate, Leandro Paredes, who has already made the emotional journey home. The midfielder returned to Boca Juniors in July after activating a special clause in his own Roma contract, fulfilling his promise to return to the club while still in his prime. Since his arrival, Paredes has become the heartbeat of the Boca midfield, but his influence extends beyond the pitch.

Paredes and Dybala share a bond that goes beyond football, cemented during their time together in Italy and with the national team. It is an open secret in Buenos Aires that Paredes is acting as a de facto agent for the club. In multiple interviews leading up to his own return, Paredes publicly admitted to "driving Dybala crazy" about joining Boca, even joking that he told his daughter "Uncle Paulo" would eventually come with them. 

Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

For now, Dybala remains a Roma player, tasked with navigating the demanding Serie A schedule. However, Delgado’s comments have undeniably placed pressure on the Italian club. By publicly declaring their intent to "make the effort," Boca Juniors have signalled that they are not merely passive admirers but active participants in the race for his signature.

As January looms, the situation will become clearer. If Roma fail to tie their talisman down to a new deal before the New Year, the "illusion" Delgado speaks of could rapidly solidify into a concrete proposal. In the meantime, he will line up for Roma when they take on Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Amid talk of Jurgen Klopp making a sensational return to Liverpool, the respective stances of the club and their former manager have been revealed. Uncomfortable questions are being asked of current Reds boss Arne Slot a matter of months out from a Premier League title triumph, with it being suggested that a familiar face could head back to Merseyside.

Why Klopp left Liverpool

Klopp, over the course of almost nine years, helped to turn Liverpool into perennial contenders for the most prestigious of honours. He captured a top-flight crown in 2020, bringing a 30-year wait for domestic dominance to a close.

He walked away at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, with the decision taken not to honour a contract that was due to run for another two years. Klopp, having filled the most demanding of roles, felt burnt out. The German tactician said when bidding an emotional farewell: “My reserves are not endless. I’m not a young rabbit anymore. I am running out of energy. I know I cannot do the job again and again and again.”

AdvertisementGettyCould Klopp return to Anfield?

Klopp has gone on to take up a role with the Red Bull group, as their Global Head of Soccer, but recently hinted at being open to answering an SOS call from Anfield if Liverpool ever required his services again. He told podcast: “I said I will never coach another team, a different team, in England. So that means if then it's Liverpool, yeah, theoretically it's possible.”

Former Reds striker Emile Heskey has told 10bet Casino of Klopp potentially retracing steps to Merseyside: “For a manager who did what he did for Liverpool, it will be difficult for him watching them in this form. To pull them out of the mess they were in, and then to leave them in the position that he did, Klopp will always be linked with a return, especially when he's left the door open.

“It's an interesting one, isn't it? If you're a Liverpool fan, you will always feel allied to him and you will always want him back to emulate what he did before, but how often does that happen?”

Stance of Liverpool & Klopp revealed

While the rumours rumble on, as Slot’s Liverpool struggle for consistency in 2025-26, claims that Klopp is “committed to Red Bull” and has no plans to head back into the dugout.

Liverpool are also said to be wary of going over old ground. With Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and other members of the Fenway Sports Group hierarchy returning to Anfield following a managerial change, it is claimed that they “will certainly not want to go back to Klopp”. The Reds showed in their title triumph last season that they “could win without him”.

Slot has, however, been warned that he is not “immune from the sack”. FSG are considered to be “ruthless” when it comes to making big decisions for the good of the collective cause.

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Getty ImagesSack threat: Slot under pressure to deliver

They are prepared to bide their time for now as there is acceptance in the Anfield boardroom that “managers, like players, can go through a dip in form”. It is also recognised, on the back of a record-shattering summer spending spree, that “many signings take time to hit their stride, and not all can have the immediate impact of Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk”.

FSG are aware that there are “universal rules that football cannot ignore”, with it invariably managers that “pay the price” for any dip in form. Slot has seen Liverpool suffer six Premier League defeats through 13 games this season, leaving them nine points off the pace in a title defence that already appears to be over.

It may be that chance is considered, but Klopp is in no rush to dust off his tactics board and leave a less stressful role with Red Bull. claims it will not be him that “rides to the rescue” if Slot sees his stint in charge of Liverpool cut short.

Chicago White Sox rookie catcher Edgar Quero has an absolute cannon.

In the bottom of the first inning Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, White Sox starter Shane Smith worked himself into a bases-loaded jam with no outs. Angels leadoff man Zach Neto got a bit too aggressive inching off the bag at third, and Quero decided to take a shot.

He quickly popped up and snapped a perfect throw to third baseman Josh Rojas who got the tag down just in time to beat Neto back to the bag.

The amazing throw gave Smith a much-needed first out. He then struck out Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who was at the plate, and eventually got out of the inning without giving up any runs.

Quero is a 22-year-old rookie who actually signed with the Angels as an international free agent in 2021 before he was dealt to the White Sox in the Lucas Giolito deal in '23. He's slashing .280/.351/.381 with three home runs and 26 RBIs over his first MLB season this year. He had three pickoffs from behind the plate heading into Friday's game and now made one of the flashiest highlights you'll ever see.

The Mets envisioned competing for a World Series in 2025, a season removed from a surprise run to the NLCS with a roster bolstered by the $765 million man, Juan Soto. As the July 31 trade deadline looms, New York is right in the thick of the crowded playoff race, at 62–44 and 1.5 games up on the Phillies in one of baseball's most competitive divisions.

After running out to a blazing hot start, however, the Mets hit a major skid ahead of the All-Star break, one that pulled back the curtain on a number of significant issues for the current roster. The starting rotation is relatively deep, and none of the Mets’ main starters have been truly disappointing, but aside from first-time All-Star David Peterson, the group has struggled to give manager Carlos Mendoza real length to begin games. The bullpen was a strength early on, but beyond All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, who has had an impressive bounceback season, the Mets’ top options struggled while the team limped into the midseason break. And while the dynamic group of Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Soto have provided the top of the Mets order with some serious punch, the back end has struggled to provide a real threat, with center field serving as a spot that could use an offensive upgrade.

With the hours counting down to Thursday’s trade deadline, the Mets are expected to target arms for both the rotation and bullpen, with center field being the most logical position for an offensive upgrade. Here are the three players that could slide seamlessly into New York’s roster in the coming days.

Mets Need: Starting Pitcher

New York entered the season with injuries to Sean Manaea, the team’s top pitcher for much of last season, as well as offseason addition Frankie Montas. The eight pitchers tasked to handle the majority of the team’s starts to begin the year, have averaged just over five innings per outing.

It is unlikely that team president David Stearns will be able to find a true top-flight starter in a relatively weak trade market for those types of arms, but adding someone who can consistently give the team six or seven quality innings would go a long way towards bolstering the staff.

Ideal Fit: Joe Ryan — Twins, RHP

They might have suffered their first defeat in months at the hands of Aston Villa on Saturday, but this season is still shaping up to be a memorable one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and still haven’t reached their full potential.

Moreover, while injuries have taken their toll, the Gunners have a squad bursting at the seams with incredible players, and Bukayo Saka, arguably their most important player, has produced three goal involvements in his last four games.

So, fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to a player who has been compared not only to the Englishman but also to summer target Rodrygo.

Arsenal target Saka & Rodrygo hybrid

Uncharacteristically, Arsenal went on something of a spending spree in the summer, bringing in the likes of Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and others.

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

Therefore, it would be understandable if the North Londoners held off on any major signings in the January window.

However, it would appear that the Gunners are determined to further improve their already impressive squad, and are now looking at a player who has been compared to both Saka and Rodrygo.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal are very interested in signing Yan Diamonde.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Premier League leaders have now identified the winger as a priority target.

However, the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are also said to be keen on the youngster and that RB Leipzig would need a fee of up to €100m to sell their star asset, which is about £87m.

It would therefore almost certainly be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability and potential, one Arsenal should fight for anyway, especially as he’s been compared to Saka and Rodrygo.

How Diomande compares to Saka & Rodrygo

So, starting with the obvious and somewhat surface-level similarities, like Saka and Rodrygo, Diomande is a seriously exciting winger plying his trade for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Moreover, unlike some other wingers for top teams, the 19-year-old is someone who can back up his flashy ability with output.

For example, in 15 first-team appearances this season, totalling just 951 minutes, the Ivorian star has scored seven goals and provided four assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.36 games, or every 86.45 minutes, which is a rate of return that really lends credence to journalist Bence Bocsák’s claim that he is a “generational talent.”

However, the comparisons to the two international wingers go deeper than just their positions and ability to produce goal involvements.

For example, FBref has ranked Rodrygo as the second-most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig star across Europe’s top five leagues, and ranked Saka as the ninth-most similar.

The best way to understand how these comparisons have been made is to take a look at the underlying numbers in which the players rank so closely.

Progressive Carries

6.74

6.74

Shots on Target

1.35

1.40

Key Passes

1.46

1.40

Blocks

1.35

1.16

Passing Accuracy

80.9%

83.5%

In the case of the Real Madrid star, these metrics include progressive carries, key passes, shots on target, and passing accuracy, all per 90.

In other words, the teen phenom is as capable as the two-time Champions League winner at getting the ball up the pitch, whether by carrying or passing.

Expected Goals

0.34

0.36

Shots

2.37

2.60

Shots on Target

1.35

1.21

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.57

1.48

Shot-Creating Actions

4.29

4.55

Tackles Won

0.56

0.65

Ball Recoveries

5.39

5.56

Now, when it comes to the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, similar metrics include shot-creating actions, ball recoveries, tackles won, shots on target, expected goals, and more, also per 90.

This suggests that the youngster is as willing to help out with the defensive side of the game as the 24-year-old is, while also still being a serious goal threat.

Ultimately, it would require a significant amount of money, but Arsenal should do what they can to sign Diomande, as, in addition to being a great prospect in his own right, he also has a lot in common with Saka and Rodrygo.

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They’ve had a few disappointing results, but this season is shaping up very nicely for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side are second in the Premier League, with a chance to cut Arsenal’s gap to three points on Sunday, and have just demolished Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Blues were superb on Tuesday night, and while being a man up certainly helped, they were without a doubt the better side.

One of the most impressive performers for Chelsea was Estevao, who outshone fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal, and so fans should be excited that they have someone on loan showing shades of the Brazilian in their game.

How Estevao outshone Yamal

While it felt early to be comparing Chelsea’s new wonderkid to someone who just finished second in the Ballon d’Or, that was exactly what was happening before Tuesday night’s game.

However, that added pressure certainly didn’t seem to bother Estevao, as he was sensational throughout the encounter and put in a far better performance than Yamal.

For example, on top of scoring the all-important second goal for the hosts, the 18-year-old didn’t give the visitors’ backline a moment’s rest.

In his 83 minutes of action, he created one big chance, played three key passes, produced an expected assists figure of 0.35 and completed two dribbles, one of which led to the goal.

On the flipside, the Spaniard looked nothing like the superstar winger fans have become so accustomed to seeing.

He was practically anonymous for most of the match, and when he did try to do something, he was more often than not locked down by Marc Cucurella, who was named Man of the Match.

By the time the Barça star was taken off, he had failed to score, lost the ball 21 times, played just two key passes and come out looking second best in the battle of the teenage wonderkids.

In all, it looks like Chelsea have a truly special talent on their hands in Estevao, and in even more good news, they’ve got another stellar prospect out on loan with shades of the Brazilian in his game.

The Chelsea gem with shades of Estevao to him

The scary thing for opposition fans and teams is that Chelsea’s bet on young, up-and-coming talent is starting to pay off, and it could see them really kick on in the coming years.

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Estevao is obviously going to be a huge part of that, but another youngster who could be right there with him, and even has shades of the Brazilian to his game, is Kendry Páez.

The Blues signed the Ecuadorian gem over two years ago, but, due to rules on players under 18, he couldn’t join the squad until the summer.

However, instead of keeping him on the bench or in the youth side, the club opted to send him out on loan to Strasbourg for the season, where he has played 531 minutes of first-team football across 14 appearances so far.

Now, it’s important to say that, given Estevao’s extraordinary talent, it’s unlikely that the Guayaquil-born prospect will be as good as him.

However, he certainly shares some traits with him and could still develop into a world-class player.

For example, despite being so young, the “pure quality talent,” as dubbed by Jacek Kulig, racked up a tally of eight goals and five assists in 41 first-team appearances for Independiente del Valle last season.

Appearances

70

Starts

43

Minutes

4062′

Goals

13

Assists

6

Points per Game

1.84

Furthermore, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “a left-footed magician who can play as a 10 or RW and has the intelligence to control and decide games,” which certainly sounds like the former Palmeiras gem.

Likewise, while he is capable of playing a killer pass or recycling possession to help the team, Mattinson also points out that he’s more than happy to “take on a couple players and get off shots.”

Finally, like Brazil’s next great superstar, the Strasbourg ace has already established himself on the international scene, amassing 23 senior caps for Ecuador, in which he’s scored two goals and provided three assists.

Ultimately, while he might not quite reach the level of Estevao, Paez has the potential to get incredibly close, and that would still make him a world-class player for Chelsea.

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ByDominic Lund Nov 26, 2025

عقد أشرف صبحي وزير الرياضة، وهاني أبو ريدة رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، جلسة مع الجهاز الفني ولاعبي منتخب مصر المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 بقطر.

ويلعب منتخب مصر ضد الكويت، في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من عمر مواجهات دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب بقطر.

وتقام مباراة مصر والكويت، غدا الثلاثاء الموافق 2 ديسمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

وحرص وزير الشباب والرياضة، والمهندس هاني أبوريدة، على زيارة معسكر المنتخب وعقد جلسة تحفيزية مع الجهاز الفني واللاعبين، وذلك قبل 24 ساعة من مواجهة الكويت في الجولة الافتتاحية للبطولة.

طالع | حكم مباراة مصر والكويت في كأس العرب 2025

وخلال اللقاء، أشاد وزير الشباب والرياضة بالجهود الكبيرة، التي بذلت لتجهيز المنتخب في فترة زمنية قصيرة، موجهًا الشكر للمهندس هاني أبوريدة، على دوره في دعم وتكوين فريق قادر على تمثيل مصر بصورة مشرفة، مؤكدًا أن اللعب باسم منتخب مصر، يعد شرفًا كبيرًا لكل لاعب.

من جانبه، وجه المهندس هاني أبوريدة، الشكر للدكتور أشرف صبحي، على حرصه الدائم على دعم المنتخبات الوطنية، مثمنًا حضوره والتقاءه اللاعبين قبل ضربة البداية.

وأكد رئيس الاتحاد أن المسئولية كبيرة، وأن اتحاد الكرة ينتظر من اللاعبين تقديم مستوى متميز يليق باسم مصر وتاريخها الكروي، مشددًا على ثقته الكاملة في قدرة المنتخب على الظهور بصورة مشرفة، خلال منافسات البطولة.

من جانبهم، تعاهد لاعبو منتخب مصر، المشارك في كأس العرب، على بذل أقصى جهد داخل الملعب لتحقيق نتائج تليق بالكرة المصرية، مؤكدين استعدادهم التام لانطلاق مشوار البطولة.

Celtic are back in Scottish Premiership action once again this evening as they prepare to welcome Dundee to Parkhead for Martin O’Neill’s last game in charge.

The 73-year-old manager has confirmed that the match will be his last as the interim boss before Wilfried Nancy is in post ahead of the clash with Hearts at the weekend.

Celtic won 2-1 away at Hibernian in his final away game in the dugout for the Hoops, but the experienced Northern Irishman may want to make some changes to the starting line-up from that win.

Celtic's best performers against Hibernian

Among the players who should keep their place in the XI after that game against Hibs is goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who only gave possession away 11 times from 54 touches and saved all three of the shots against him from open play, per Sofascore.

Celtic’s number one made a couple of impressive close-range saves towards the end of the game and completed all three of his run-outs to clear the ball to preserve all three points, whilst it would be incredibly harsh to criticise him for not saving Martin Boyle’s penalty.

The two goalscorers, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels, should also retain their positions in the line-up, along with Reo Hatate and Hyun-jun Yang, who set up the goals.

Whilst Yang was not officially credited with an assist for Engels’ goal, the clip above clearly shows that it was his cross that was slightly deflected into the Belgian’s path.

Liam Scales, despite being harshly penalised for a handball, should also keep his place after winning eight of his 12 duels, per Sofascore, and completing 95% of his attempted passes.

Meanwhile, there were a couple of players whose performances may lead to them dropping out of the line-up, including right-sided attacker Luke McCowan, who should be dropped this evening.

Why O'Neill should drop McCowan today

The Scottish central midfielder has been utilised on the right wing in recent weeks, in the absence of any natural options in that position, and he started there against Hibernian on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the left-footed star was unable to deliver a high-quality performance to suggest that he deserves to keep his place in the team heading into O’Neill’s final game against Dundee.

McCowan, who was signed from Dundee in the summer of 2024, played the opening 63 minutes of the clash with Hibernian, before the manager opted to bring Benjamin Nygren on out wide.

Vs Hibernian

Luke McCowan

Minutes

63

Touches

34

Shots

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Goals + assists

0

Duels won

1/4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old flop had fewer touches in the game than Schmeichel, a goalkeeper, and failed to make much of an impact at the top end of the pitch.

The experienced midfielder also lost 75% of his physical duels in the win, per Sofascore, which shows that he found the physicality of the game a bit too much to deal with whilst playing on the right wing.

McCowan provided quality on a regular basis in the final third in the 2024/25 campaign, with a return of eight goals and eight assists in 36 league outings for Dundee and Celtic combined, but he has been unable to carry that into the current season.

The Hoops midfielder has not provided an assist in the Premiership since O’Neill’s first game in charge against Falkirk, and his only goal of the league season came against St Mirren on the opening day at the start of August.

This shows that McCowan has not provided much of a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants in recent months, which may be why the experiment of playing him on the wing has not been too successful.

It is also why O’Neill should ruthlessly drop him from the starting line-up for tonight’s clash with his former club, opening the door for Nygren to start on the wing instead of in central midfield.

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The Sweden international has scored seven goals in all competitions for Celtic this season, including five in the Premiership, per Sofascore, and he may carry more of a threat than McCowan did from the start against Hibernian on Sunday.

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot reflected on his incredible relationship – both on and off the pitch – with head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The French midfielder reunited with the coach at Milan in the summer after being sold by Marseille for engaging in a fight with his then-teammate Jonathan Rowe, but he revealed that he was contacted by other clubs in the Serie A.

• Rabiot joins Milan after row with Rowe at Marseille

  Marseille’s season began in turmoil, with off-field chaos quickly eclipsing their opening Ligue 1 defeat to Rennes. The match itself faded into the background after a violent altercation erupted between Rabiot and his ex-teammate Rowe, forcing security to step in as tensions boiled over. The incident took a disturbing turn when 17-year-old Darryl Bakola, caught in the fray, was knocked unconscious.

  In the aftermath, head coach Roberto De Zerbi announced that both Rabiot and Rowe had been suspended and placed on the transfer list as part of the club’s disciplinary response. Club president Pablo Longoria condemned the episode, calling it “completely unheard of in the world of football.” Yet, in an unexpected development, De Zerbi later suggested that Rabiot could still have a future at the club.

  However, Rabiot's fate had been decided the moment he got involved in a pretty intense fight with Rowe. Marseille sold him to AC Milan for peanuts, and things have been looking positive for both Les Phoceens and the France international since their parting. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Rabiot reflects on his relationship with Allegri

  Rabiot's move to Milan made a lot of sense from many angles. First of all, he was returning to the Serie A, a league where he spent five years from 2019 to 2024 before switching to Stade Velodrome. Secondly, he shares an incredible personal and professional relationship with head coach Allegri, whom he was coached by in Turin. 

  "He's a winner, and I like his personality, his coaching style, his passion for football, and his ambition," Rabiot told while speaking of the Italian manager "He always gives his all, and I see myself in his way of thinking. Off the pitch, he's always very positive, he cracks jokes, and he keeps us calm."

  The 30-year-old also revealed that he chose to join Juventus in 2019 because Allegri was the head coach at the time, before being replaced by Maurizio Sarri the same summer. "I met him months before the end of the season and immediately liked him," he said. "When I arrived in Turin, however, he was no longer there. When he returned in 2021, we created a great relationship. On and off the pitch."

  He also shared that the Milan expressed interest in signing him as a free agent in 2024. "Milan had also approached me last year, when I was a free agent, and we talked," added Rabiot. "Would the team have finished higher than eighth with me? I don't know, but given what we're doing now, I'd say I arrived at Milanello at the right time. 

  "The Rossoneri club also wanted me in July, when I was at Marseille, but it was difficult for me to leave. After that [dressing room fight] happened, other Italian clubs contacted me, but I knew what I wanted. Allegri told me: 'Let's see what happens…' and something really happened. I don't know how he does it, but he also foresees… the future (laughs)."

• Rabiot isn't entertaining early Scudetto talks

  Milan are in a great position after 12 rounds of the Serie A and have emerged as one of the early contenders to challenge Napoli's throne for the Scudetto. However, Rabiot doesn't want to get too carried away despite the Rossoneri's purple patch, which includes the recent derby win over Inter.

  "Yes," the Frenchman responded when asked if it was too early to talk about the league title. "There's no point in thinking about the Scudetto: we're trying to win every game and achieve the goals we've set ourselves. The more the weeks go by, the more we see that the group has the right quality and mentality. Without injuries, we hope to be in a position to give it our chance in February-March."

  He also conceded that the next eight months will be extremely for him. "I have an important year ahead of me, where I can win with both Milan and France. I hope to do that and play all the way to the World Cup final."

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• Getty Images
  

  Milan await Lazio challenge

  Allegri's troops have been unbeaten in the Italian top-flight since their opening day 2-1 defeat to Cremonese. Since then, they have won seven games and drawn four. With 25 points, they sit in second position on the Serie A table. They will welcome Lazio at the San Siro on Saturday.

Southee tells ESPNcricinfo some of the secrets behind what makes New Zealand what they are

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2025Another ICC tournament, and it’s another deep run for New Zealand. What is it about the team and the culture around it that allows them to consistently compete at the highest level?With the Champions Trophy final coming up, Tim Southee joins Yash Jha on the Stump Mic podcast to share his thoughts on the New Zealand way, which makes them ever-present contenders on the biggest cricketing stage.