وجه حميد أحداد مهاجم الزمالك المعار إلى صفوف الرجاء رسالة إلى جماهير وإدارة الفريق المغربي قبل مواجهة الزمالك في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلاقي الزمالك نظيره الرجاء المغربي مساء غدا الأحد في تمام التاسعة مساءا بتوقيت القاهرة لخوض المواجهة المرتقبة بين الفريقين في نصف النهائي.

وكتب أحداد عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع التواصل الإجتماعي “انستجرام”: “رسالة حب وتقدير إلى كل مكونات فريق الرجاء الرياضي، أود شكر كل من ساندني وظل يشجع وينوه بمجهوداتي داخل هذا الفريق العظيم الذي أفتخر فيه بالتجربة التي قضيتها داخله مع جماهيره الوفية التي لن تفارق وجداني”.

وتابع: “الجماهير التي من أجلها نقاتل في رقعة الميدان ونحن عازمون على حصد الألقاب والبطولات، أعتز كذلك بالفترة التي عشتها مع رفاقي وإخواني اللاعبين وأشكرهم على حسن معاملتهم وأتمنى لهم كامل التوفيق والنجاح في القادم من المحطات”.

وأتم: “فخور كذلك بالجهاز التقني للفريق من مدرب ومساعدين وأشكرهم على كل توجيهاتهم القيمة التي استفدت منها الكثير، أحيي الطاقمين الإداري والطبي وباقي العاملين بالفريق على تضحياتهم في سبيل لاعبي الفريق، وأغتنم الفرصة لأشكر المكتب المسير لنادي الرجاء الرياضي وكافة المنخرطين، شكرا لكم جميعا”.

يذكر أن مسؤولي الرجاء حاولوا بشتى الطرق مع إدارة الزمالك أن يشارك حميد أحداد في مباراة الفريقين ولكن مسؤولوا القلعة البيضاء أصروا على تفعيل بند عدم مشاركة اللاعب ضد فريقه في العقد المبرم بينهما.

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رسالة حب وتقدير إلى كل مكونات فريق الرجاء الرياضي ، أود شكر كل من ساندني وظل يشجع وينوه بمجهوداتي داخل هذا الفريق العظيم الذي أفتخر فيه بالتجربة التي قضيتها داخله مع جماهيره الوفية التي لن تفارق وجداني، الجماهير التي من أجلها نقاتل في رقعة الميدان ونحن عازمين على حصد الألقاب والبطولات، أعتز كذلك بالفترة التي عشتها مع رفاقي وإخواني اللاعبين وأشكرهم على حسن معاملتهم وأتمنى لهم كامل التوفيق والنجاح في القادم من المحطات، فخور كذلك بالجهاز التقني للفريق من مدرب ومساعدين وأشكرهم على كل توجيهاتهم القيمة التي استفدت منها الكثير، أحيي الطاقمين الإداري والطبي وباقي العاملين بالفريق على تضحياتهم في سبيل لاعبي الفريق، وأغتنم الفرصة لأشكر المكتب المسير لنادي الرجاء الرياضي وكافة المنخرطين، شكرا لكم جميعاً 💚🙏🏻🙏🏻

A post shared by ⚜️H.A⚜️17 (@hamid.ahadad) on Oct 16, 2020 at 12:58pm PDT

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Brentford’s Yoann Barbet is currently in discussions to renew his contract, according to Football.London.

He’s a player Aston Villa were understood to have been interested in adding to their squad in January but with the Frenchman’s future still unclear, should they revive their interest in the defender?

What’s the word?

Barbet is set to become a free agent this summer with his contract at the Bees expiring at the end of the season. However, the Frenchman has claimed that talks are ongoing to keep him with the London based club.

The ex-Bordeaux man told Football.London: “We’ve been talking but there is nothing at the moment.”

Villa have had a prior interest in the 25-year-old, with the player speaking about rumours of a possible move to the club just a matter of months ago. However, loan moves for Kortney Hause and Tyrone Mings were preferred at the time.

No verdict has been reached between Brentford and Barbet yet but it’s unclear as to whether Villa are still monitoring him.

Perfect Mings alternative

The loanee from Bournemouth has been an instant hit in the Midlands but the player has been linked with Southampton, according to the Sunday Mirror, (17/03, page 72), via HITC.

Although his loss would be incredibly difficult to deal with, Barbet offers a very good alternative. Mings would likely come at a hefty price and therefore the Bees centre-back would represent far better business for the club.

Villa have a number of central defenders on loan, with Axel Tuanzebe and Hause both not permanent members of the squad either. Therefore the club would struggle for numbers in defence if all three were to depart.

Barbet has been part of a Bees defensive line that has conceded four goals less than Villa this term, despite sitting eight places below them. The fact he’s made more challenges per game than any defender currently at Villa also bodes particularly well.

Dean Smith has worked with the French defender before, having previously been the manager of Brentford and as a result, knows the player better than most. Potentially costing nothing, he would be the ideal replacement if they fail to land Mings.

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Marcelo Bielsa will be lacking a vital defensive lynchpin when Leeds United host Millwall at Elland Road after the international break, with Pontus Jansson set to be sidelined.

Dicussion over who exactly will replace the Sweden international is running rife in Yorkshire. The obvious solution is to restore Gaetano Berardi into the team, but he has spent a considerable length of time on the sideline through injury this season.

Kalvin Phillips, who enjoyed a decent spell in central defence during the winter months, also represents a viable option.

However, a handful of the Whites faithful have taken to Twitter to call for 6ft 4 colossus Aapo Halme to make only his second Championship start of the season.

Millwall are a side renowned for their added physicality, so it’s easy to understand why the fans have identified the Finnish defender as the man who is best equipped to replace Jansson.

The inexperienced 20-year-old has offered much more than just a commanding aerial presence when he has been called upon this season, and it’s his ability to combine his commanding aerial presence with a composed approach to possession-based football which has really caught the eye.

Here’s what the Leeds fans have had to say about Halme:

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The Sun are reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United are lining up a summer transfer for Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.

What’s the word, then?

Per the original report, the wantaway Welsh international is one of a series of names on the Old Trafford club’s radar for after the end of the season, already handed to Ed Woodward.

Bale is no stranger to United as the pair have met on numerous occasions, mostly during the 29-year-old’s time at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Before that, the left winger, who can also play out on the right or as a forward, progressed through the academy at Southampton.

He got his big move to north London in 2007 and then a switch to Madrid, where he has netted 102 times in 225 appearances so far, for a then-world-record-fee of £85.3 million.

Look beyond the name, a better option is out there

In this case, the Red Devils must look beyond the glitzy name of Bale as there is a better option out there, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho – another rumoured target.

The former Manchester City man is a full ten years younger than Bale, so has the potential to be a key player in the north west for longer.

And if Woodward is seeking a left winger who can operate on the opposite flank as well as a series of other attacking positions in Bale, Sancho can do exactly the same.

The 19-year-old is as versatile as they come, able to play both right and left wing and essentially a much fresher version of the Wales star.

They both could cost roughly the same fee, meaning that there could be no significant increase on what they are prepared to spend on Bale, compared to Sancho.

This is a no-brainer if there ever was one for the Man United hierarchy, a chance to really think about the future and display to fans that a long-term vision is in place.

One would feel that, with plenty of other areas needing recruitment in the summer and without the bottomless funds of a Man City, Solskjaer won’t be able to sign both and he must make the right decision.

يعاني فريق الرجاء المغربي من أزمة كبيرة بين صفوفه بسبب غياب 8 لاعبين عن قائمته قبل ساعات من مواجهة الزمالك المرتقبة بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

الرجاء يستضيف الزمالك في التاسعة مساء اليوم على ملعب مركب محمد الخامس، بذهاب نصف نهائي البطولة القارية.

وأفاد موقع “360 سبورت” المغربي، وفقًا لمصدر بنادي الرجاء، أن نتيجة الفحوصات الطبية الدقيقة التي خضع لها كل من عبد الرحيم شاكير، والليبي سند الورفلي وزميله عبد الجليل أجبيرة إضافة إلى عمر بوطيب، كشفت استحالة مشاركتهم أمام الزمالك في مباراة اليوم.

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل الزمالك أمام الرجاء.. أحمد عيد أساسيا وإسلام حابر بديل ساسي

وشدد المصدر أن الجهاز الطبي للنادي المغربي يسعي لتجهيز هؤلاء اللاعبين من أجل مباراة الإياب في القاهرة والمقررة مساء السبت المقبل.

وينضم إلى قائمة غيابات الرجاء أيضًا، كل من أيوب نناح ومحمد زريدة، بسبب إصابتهما بفيروس كورونا.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الزمالك والرجاء في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

كما يعاني الرجاء من غياب الثنائي أسامة سكحان لعدم قيده بالقائمة الإفريقية، وحميد أحداد المعار من الزمالك لنهاية العقد الذي يربطه بالفريق الأخضر.

يذكر، أن الزمالك سيواجه منافسه الرجاء يوم 24 من أكتوبر الجاري في مباراة الإياب بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

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Fernando Llorente is expected to be available for Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash with Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Llorente was not included against Crystal Palace last week due to a concussion, but has returned to training ahead of the quarter-final first leg with City.

The Spaniard will, of course, not be in the starting XI against the Citizens. Well, not unless Harry Kane is a late withdrawal.

However, the Tottenham fans feel that Llorente might be able to have a say against City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It has been another tough campaign for the 34-year-old, but he has contributed seven goals in all competitions for Spurs this term, including one in the Champions League.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

And the news that he has returned to training ahead of the all-English tie has been welcomed by the Tottenham fans on social media.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

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Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn returned to the starting XI and produced a man-of-the-match performance in the 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Wednesday night, and he proved he is destined for the Premier League next season with or without the Midlands outfit.

The Scotland international joined the Championship club for an undisclosed fee last summer and has quickly gone on to make a big impression at Villa Park, becoming a key player in the middle of the park.

Following a two-match suspension having accumulated 10 booking over the course of the league campaign, the 24-year-old sat out the draw with Stoke City and the win against Derby County, before having to settle for a spot on the substitutes’ bench for the second city derby on Sunday.

However, with the scoreline at 0-0 the former Hibernian man and gave his side some fresh impetus in the final third, and he was rewarded with the impact he made with a spot in the XI in place of Glenn Whelan against Martin O’Neill’s side.

McGinn didn’t disappoint despite the visitors falling 1-0 behind with just three minutes on the clock, as he scored two brilliant first-half goals to give Villa a crucial advantage as they continue to close on the play-off positions.

The Scot needed to make an impression from an attacking point of view and he certainly did that with his two goals coming from four shots in total – he was unfortunate not to get a hat-trick when he saw one of his efforts hit the woodwork.

It wasn’t just his work going forward that was good either and he proved that he is an all-round midfielder by also winning two aerial duels, as well as making three interceptions and three tackles for his team.

A WhoScored rating of 9.48 is nothing to be sniffed at and given his all-action box-to-box displays and the fact that he has four goals and eight assists to his name in the Championship this term, he is ready for a move to the Premier League, and it will happen whether Villa win promotion or not come what May.

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Bryan Oviedo made a first appearance for Sunderland since the 22nd of January as they beat Rochdale 2-1 on Saturday, and the Costa Rican international reacted to his return his official Twitter account the following day.

Oviedo saw a deadline day move to West Brom fall through due to an administrative error, but his return is a timely boost for Jack Ross’ side.

The ex-Everton man has made 22 appearances this season collecting three yellow cards and a red, but he is undoubtedly the best left-back in the league considering he represented his country at the 2018 World Cup before returning to England to play third-tier football.

Sunderland fans have suffered a lot of heartache over the years but one fan manages to pick his ultimate low in the video below…

The 29-year-old Costa Rican international has played for Sunderland since the 2016/17 season and has suffered back-to-back relegations, despite this he has stuck with the Black Cats and has become a fans’ favourite.

Their supporters have taken to Twitter to heap praise on the left-back.

Granit Xhaka has enjoyed arguably his best season at Arsenal so far, since moving to the club in 2016 but his recent comments that North London will not be his permanent home in the future might just start to rattle a few fans and the manager Unai Emery.

Speaking to Tagblatt, via the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old Xhaka hinted at moving on from the Gunners in the near future by saying ‘Arsenal does not have to be the last stop’ of his football career.

Emery and Xhaka have worked brilliantly together since the manager took over from Arsene Wenger last May and has been the key figure in the midfielder’s development as both a linkup player in the centre of the pitch and one of the club’s leaders.

The manager wasted no time in naming Xhaka as one of his five captains for the season and the times the Swiss international donned the captain’s armband, he’s led his team with great pride and with example. We’re sure most Gooners reading this will agree, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has really come into his own since the departure of Arsene Wenger, looking so much more disciplined in the engine room.

All that money wasn’t wasted then, right?

Indeed, Xhaka’s all-round play has been excellent this campaign and instrumental to the Gunners’ fine form with his defensive aptitude especially showing massive improvement compared to past seasons.

His discipline on the pitch has also been terrific after building somewhat of an ill-tempered reputation since his first season at the club, finally emerging as the holding midfielder the fans must have thought they were getting almost three years ago now.

For Arsenal to make further strides in the near future, both domestically and in Europe, a player like Xhaka will be of high value to the manager and he could be in a position to be a future club captain. Emery will, therefore, need to consult both the player and his directors about a possible new contract for Xhaka in order to keep him at the Emirates for a longer period of time.

Arsenal could be set to lose a few players in the coming summer market as the Emery project enters its second phase, Aaron Ramsey being the main example here, and Xhaka, who is valued at £45 million (by Transfermarkt), should definitely not be one of them.

Finally, Arsenal are starting to see the best of him.

Arsenal fans, do Xhaka’s comments scare you? How big a loss would he be? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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James McClean has urged any players hoping to follow in the footsteps of Declan Rice to “*** off and play for someone else”, per RTE.

Rice won three caps for the Republic of Ireland, all of which came in friendlies, but declared his international allegiance to England and made his Three Lions debut in the 5-0 win over the Czech Republic last week.

What’s the word?

McClean, a controversial figure who has regularly hit the headlines due to his refusal to wear a poppy around Remembrance Sunday, played with the West Ham star for Ireland.

Indeed, he has won 63 caps for Ireland, and he says that Rice should not have switched allegiance, having previously expressed his pride at playing for the Boys in Green.

McClean, though, made a similar decision when he was younger. He won seven caps for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side, having been born in Derry.

Speaking in an interview with RTE, he said: “He said he was a proud Irishman. Then he said he was a proud Englishman.

“If he’s both… good luck to him but I don’t buy it. I think you’re either one or the other.

“I was with Derry City when I got the call-up to play for the North, and I turned it down because it’s not my country, it’s never been my country. I’m an Irishman.

“It’s not just Declan, it’s anyone else. If you’re not proud to be here and we’re a stepping-stone, then *** off and play for someone else.

“I’m an Irishman. I grew up on the island of Ireland, simple as that. We only want players here who want to play for Ireland, who feel Irish and are proud to be Irish.”

Raging hypocrite

This is rank hypocrisy from McClean.

He is uniquely positioned to be aware of how difficult a decision Rice faced.

He chose England, of course, and explained why in an eloquent statement thereafter, claiming, per Football London: “Like so many people around the world, I consider myself to be of mixed nationality. I am a proud Englishman, having been born and raised in London. However, I am just as proud of my family’s Irish heritage and my affinity and connection with the country.”

McClean is clearly deaf to that. He does not even claim to understand what Rice has been through despite his own personal experience in playing for a different nation at youth level.

Perhaps he is merely trying to buy himself some goodwill among Ireland’s fans. If so, this is a shameful way of going about it.