Eight-time laureate Lionel Messi is in the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or, with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé among the favourites to succeed France's Ousmane Dembélé. Cape Verde's Vozinha has been shortlisted for the goalkeepers' Yashin Trophy after his heroics at the recent World Cup.
In his first appearance in front of the media since the last-32 defeat to Egypt the coach, whose tactics elicited some criticism, insists he would not have done anything differentMore than two months have passed since Australia’s painful penalty shootout defeat against Egypt ended a World Cup adventure that had begun so brightly. Although the Socceroos upset Turkey and progressed to the knockout stage with the youngest team in the tournament, coach Tony Popovic wore criticism for his selections, especially in that shootout in Dallas.Sitting in front of a bank of microphones in Sydney on Tuesday in his first media appearance since the World Cup, the coach is finally ready to talk. “There’s always been a purpose behind every decision I’ve made. And I’m comfortable with that purpose for all of them. Continue reading...
Following a quiet transfer window, Cristiano Ronaldo has seen Al Nassr teammate Abdulmalik Al Jaber depart to Al Qadsiah in the transfer deadline day. Cristiano Ronaldo‘s announcement that the 2026-27 season could potentially mark his final campaign as a professional player led to expectations that Al Nassr would execute an aggressive transfer window to defend their Saudi Pro League title. However, amidst a quiet summer window, Al Nassr finalized the deadline-day departure of midfielder Abdulmalik Al Jaber to Al Qadsiah. In contrast to major European leagues that closed their windows on September 1, the Saudi Pro League set its primary deadline for Sunday, September 6. As clubs across the competition finalized late roster moves, Al Nassr executed another outbound transaction in the closing hours. Al Qadsiah confirmed the acquisition of Abdulmalik Al Jaber from Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on a season-long loan valued at SAR 6 million ($1.6 million USD). The agreement allows the 22-year-old midfielder an opportunity to return to Al Nassr ahead of the 2027-28 campaign should his purchase clause go unexercised. Beyond the initial loan fee, Al Nassr inserted a SAR 50 million ($13.3 million USD) purchase option into the contract. Should Al Qadsiah trigger the clause to make the transfer permanent, the total transaction value would reach SAR 56 million ($14.9 million USD) delivered to the Riyadh side. The ink is dry. The journey begins.. AlJaber is officially a Knight.✍🏻❤️🔥 💛#AlQadsiah | #AljaberQadsawi pic.twitter.com/TZyElbh4eG— AlQadsiah Saudi Club (@AlQadsiahEN) September 6, 2026 Despite his prospective potential, Al Jaber failed to make a competitive first-team appearance for Al Nassr after suffering a severe knee injury at the start of the 2025-26 season, missing 21 matches and falling out of favor under former manager Jorge Jesus. Under new manager Ange Postecoglou, the midfielder made several preseason features but remained outside the competitive rotation, prompting his departure. Al Jaber’s exit represents the ninth departure from Al Nassr during the 2026-27 summer transfer window. Following loan departures for Jhon Duran and Angelo, alongside permanent exits like Ali Al-Hassan to Al Fateh and Marcelo Brozovic’s contract expiration, Ronaldo saw several core contributors from last season’s championship squad leave the club. Al Nassr’s quiet transfer window After capturing the Saudi Pro League title and appointing Ange Postecoglou, expectations were high for Al Nassr to bolster their roster during the summer window. However, league financial regulations placed strict parameters on the club, subjecting them to a Recruitment Programme with defined spending caps. Al Nassr’s sole incoming transfer of the window was midfielder Samu Costa, acquired for a €22 million ($25.5 million USD) fee from RCD Mallorca in a deal delayed by financial clearance procedures tied to outgoing transfers. Ronaldo played a key role in recruiting his international teammate following their 2026 World Cup run together, but no further additions were finalized. Consequently, Al Nassr stand as the only Saudi Pro League club to complete fewer than five incoming signings during the summer transfer window. Reports from 365scoresarabic indicate that regulatory authorities determined Al Nassr’s active payroll exceeded projected budgetary allowances, with Ronaldo’s contract serving as a primary structural factor despite its partial funding via the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Arsenal and Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing the French attacker Mohamed Kader Meite before the transfer deadline. According to TEAMtalk, the two clubs made enquiries to sign the player before the summer transfer window closed, and they remain keen on him. Mohamed Kader Meite attracts Premier League interest The 18-year-old is highly rated, […] The post Arsenal and Manchester United make enquiries for 18-year-old French prodigy appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Last March's 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium provided the platform for the visitors' survival bid while leaving Spurs floundering until the final day. Since then Spurs have spent over £300m on new players - contributing to the record £3.49bn Premier League outlay this summer. Sandro Tonali, Jon Paul Van Hecke, Savio and Omar Marmoush were the new signings who started on Saturday, with Roberto de Zerbi remaining calm after another blank.
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