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It was like something out of a Hollywood movie. An ageing Cristiano Ronaldo – an icon of the game and of Manchester United – picked up possession in the centre of the park, before sliding the ball through to his heir apparent, Alejandro Garnacho.

In that moment, it appeared that a baton was passed, with the then-teenage winger emulating his footballing hero by duly surging into the box and rifling into the roof of the Real Sociedad net. Could there be a better to way score your first United goal?

Unfortunately for Garnacho, his first Premier League goal for the Red Devils away to Fulham – which came just ten days later – would be somewhat upstaged by Ronaldo’s subsequent bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, yet little can take the shine off that stunning first strike away in Spain.

Roughly two and a half years on from that 1-0 win against La Real, United return to San Sebastian facing another pivotal Europa League night, with Ruben Amorim needing to do all he can to ensure that an already dismal campaign does not end with a whimper.

Man Utd’s Europa League record

Season

Round achieved

Opponent

Result – Aggregate

2022/23

Quarter-finals

Sevilla

2-5 (L)

2020/21

Final

Villarreal

1-1 (L – 11:12 on pens)

2019/20

Semi-finals

Sevilla

1-2 (L)

2016/17

Winner

Ajax

2-0 (W)

2015/16

Round of 16

Liverpool

1-3 (L)

2011/12

Round of 16

Athletic Bilbao

3-5 (L)

via Transfermarkt

The Portuguese coach could certainly do with another Garnacho-esque moment this time around, yet having seen his side fall short in the FA Cup last time out, decisions need to be made all across the park.

Patrick Dorgu's availability vs Real Sociedad

One key tweak that the 40-year-old will have to consider is whether to re-introduce Patrick Dorgu to the starting lineup, with the January arrival having seen red on his last outing at home to Ipswich Town a week ago.

The former Lecce man – who signed on a £30m deal – endured a real mixed bag of a night against the Tractor Boys, with an otherwise lively showing having been bookended by a horror mistake for the away side’s opener, as well as his reckless lunge on Omari Hutchinson just before the break.

That needless dismissal ensured that the young Dane was forced to watch on against the Cottagers on Sunday, although he will be able to make his return to action later today, should Amorim deem it wise too.

The 20-year-old had previously caught the eye in the 2-2 draw with Everton down the left flank, having won eight ground duels and completed 100% of his tackles, while offering a constant outlet in an attacking sense.

That showing has illustrated the wisdom of United’s winter pursuit, yet with Dorgu having been so costly on his last appearance, it may be worth considering a possible alternative in that wing-back berth this evening.

Man Utd's internal wing-back solution

Even if Dorgu does start against the Basque outfit, there may be a desire to push him into a more advanced attacking role, with forward options currently depleted outside of Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

Chalkboard

Expand Collapse

That tweak could allow another potential star of the future to slot in on the left flank instead, with academy sensation, Harry Amass, seemingly long overdue a first appearance at senior level.

Signed from Watford back in 2023, the 17-year-old defender has been touted as the long-term solution at left-back, with journalist Alex Turk describing him as “Luke Shaw’s successor” last year.

Shaw himself also tipped his young compatriot as being a player to watch in the near future, with Amass having earned rave reviews for his form in the academy ranks. It is for no reason that talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the “exciting” teen as “one of Europe’s most talented teenage full-backs”.

The London-born starlet has chalked up four assists in 21 games this season in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, with data analyst Ben Mattinson earmarking him as “one of England’s best left-back prospects”.

Part of the side that powered to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup last week, Amass also caught the eye against a senior Gunners side during pre-season, as well as against Liverpool, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst describing it as a ‘breakthrough tour’ for the youngster at the time.

Frustratingly, a first-team bow has not yet come to fruition under either Erik ten Hag or Amorim, yet with the 5 foot 11 ace – who is part of United’s Europa League squad – seemingly a perfect fit at wing-back, now could be the chance for the next academy diamond to earn a deserved promotion.

Who knows, he could even have his Garnacho moment at Reale Arena…

Related INEOS need to sell Man Utd ace who had been their "best player this season"

Man Utd need to make some tough decision ahead of the summer window

Posts 1 ByRobbie Walls Mar 5, 2025

كشف الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” عن حكم مباراة الأهلي وبالميراس في منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ويلتقي الأهلي وبالميراس يوم الخميس المقبل، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

وتعادل الأهلي سلبيًا في مباراته الأولى مع إنتر ميامي الأمريكي، وبالميراس أيضًا خرج بالنتيجة ذاتها أمام بورتو البرتغالي.

وسيتولى الحكم الإنجليزي أنتوني تايلور، إدارة مباراة الأهلي وبالميراس في كأس العالم للأندية (طالع التفاصيل).

تايلور سبق وأدار مباراة للأهلي، وكانت ضد سيتيل ساونردز في كأس العالم للأندية 2023 التي أقيمت في المغرب.

وحقق الأهلي خلال هذه المباراة فوزًا بهدف دون رد، سجله محمد مجدي قفشة، وأشهر الحكم خلال هذا اللقاء، بطاقة صفراء واحدة وكانت من نصيب بيرسي تاو بالدقيقة 59 للقاء.

أنتوني تايلور حكم إنجليزي معروف، ضمن قائمة حكام فيفا منذ 2013، وله تجربة واسعة في المباريات الكبرى مثل نهائي كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، السوبر الأوروبي، ومباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

كما أدار تايلور نهائي كأس العالم للأندية في المغرب، والذي انتهى بفوز ريال مدريد على الهلال السعودي بنتيجة 5-3. أزمة مع مورينيو ووصمة عار لـ تايلور

وكانت أبرز المباريات التي أدارها تايلور، مباراة نهائي الدوري الأوروبي 2023، بين روما الإيطالي وإشبييلة الإسباني.

وخلال هذه المواجهة أشهر 13 بطاقة صفراء، 7 لفريق روما و6 بطاقات لفريق إشبيلية، وانتهى هذا اللقاء بفوز إشبيلية بركلات الترجيح، لكن تايلور دخل في معاناة بدأت بإهانة من المدرب البرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو الذي كان مدربًا لروما في ذلك الوقت.

مورينيو وصف تايلور بأنه “وصمة عار”، وفي حديثه بعد المباراة، اتهمه بتفضيل إشبيلية بعدد من قراراته المثيرة للجدل، وأشار إلى أن الحكم “بدا إسبانيًا”.

وعقب ذلك، تعرض تايلور وعائلته لهجوم من جماهير روما داخل مبنى الركاب في مطار بودابست.

اقرأ أيضًا | باولينيو: الأهلي سبب مشاكل كثيرة لـ إنتر ميامي.. وسنقاتل بكل قوتنا للفوز عليه تايلور يثير الجدل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ويتلقى عقوبة

كما سبق وتلقى تايلور عقوبة من الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم في عام 2023، بسبب أحداث مباراة ولفرهامبتون ونيوكاسل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ومنح تايلور، نيوكاسل يونايتد ضربة جزاء مثيرة للجدل، بعدما تعرض فابيان شار للعرقلة من قِبل هوانج هي تشان أثناء محاولة الأخير إبعاد الكرة.

ورغم الفحص المطول للموقف من قبل تقنية الفيديو، صمم تايلور على موقفه مما تسبب في إثارة غضب ولفرهامبتون وعلى رأسهم المدرب جاري أونيل وقد وصف الأمر بأنه “فاضح”.

وقرر الاتحاد الإنجليزي بعد تلك الأحداث هبوط أنتوني تايلور من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز إلى تشامبيونشيب.

ولاحقًا عاد للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مجددًا في نفس العام بمباراة بين تشيلسي ومانشستر سيتي.

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de mais de duas décadas dedicadas ao futebol, Magno Alves oficializou sua aposentadoria dos gramados. O Magnata teve passagens importantes por Fluminense e Ceará. Sobre o fim da carreira, o agora ex-jogador falou com emoção da trajetória.

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-Tudo tem um ciclo. E creio que o meu chegou. Estou preparado para o novo ciclo – disse Magno, em evento exclusivo realizado no Ceará.

+ Ex-Santos acerta com time turco, Braian Romero fecha com equipe brasileira… O Dia do Mercado!

Apesar de ter uma identificação grande com o Fluminense, o Ceará é considerado o clube que recebeu o melhor futebol do Magnata. Ao todo, o ex-jogador marcou103 gols pelo Vovô e é o sexto maior artilheiro da equipe. Mesmo com três passagens, Magno Alves definiu o grande ano da carreira.

-O ano de 2015 é memorável, é eterno, a Copa do Nordeste. Desde a saída, a concentração, ver o estádio lotado. Foi o primeiro título, hoje nós já somos bicampeões. Aquele momento da Copa do Nordeste é inesquecível – afirmou.

Já mais para o fim do evento, Magno Alves confirmou que terá um jogo de despedida. Ao todo, o Magnata balançou as redes368 vezes em 783 jogos. Além da emoção pelo fim da carreira, o ex-jogador deu pistas sobre os planos para o futuro.

-Vai ter uma despedida. Estou oficializando o final da minha carreira, mas vai ficar mais lindo ainda com a despedida dentro de campo e no Castelão, se possível – comentou, antes de finalizar:

-Palestrante, mentor. É algo que eu vejo que a maioria de nós, atletas, temos. Devido à vida de nômade. Creio que vamos ajudar bastante nessa área – finalizou.

A European giant is now ready to take a £10 million plus loss on a player as Leeds United eye an upgrade to Patrick Bamford, according to a recent report.

Leeds searching for a new striker as Farke's side push for promotion

The Whites coming from two goals down to rescue a point away at QPR on Saturday meant Daniel Farke’s side remained top of the Championship table heading into this international break. There are eight games remaining for Leeds to confirm their place in next season’s Premier League but they face a difficult fight as Sheffield United and Burnley are hot on their heels to do the exact same.

Related £20m Leeds transfer target pushing for Elland Road move in boost for Farke

He’d be some coup for the Lilywhites.

Posts 3 ByBarney Lane Mar 18, 2025

Whether the Yorkshire side secures a place in next season’s Premier League or not, signing a new striker appears to be high on the list of objectives for Farke and co. In January, Leeds were linked with a move for Southampton’s Cameron Archer, and since then, he remains on their list of options. As well as Archer, the Whites are also interested in Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor and Nice striker Evann Guessand.

Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham is also an option that is being considered, with the 49ers looking to make a move for the Englishman in the summer and, according to Africa Foot, Leeds are also keen on signing Almeria striker Ibrahima Kone.

Roma ready to sell Abraham at £10m+ loss as Leeds eye deal

Abraham is a player that remains a potential target for the Whites, and according to Milan Press relayed by Leeds United News, Roma are now willing to let Abraham leave in the summer and Leeds have been told how much a deal will cost.

The report states that AC Milan are not interested in signing the English international on a permanent basis at the end of the season, meaning he will return to Roma once his loan comes to an end. The Italian side are looking to move Abraham on and are willing to accept an offer between €20-25 million, which is roughly £16-21 million, and that would mean Roma would be taking a £10 million plus loss on Abraham, as they signed him from Chelsea for £34 million.

Leeds are among the English teams who are interested in bringing Abraham back to England, with their chances of signing him obviously resting on them securing promotion back to the top flight. Clubs such as Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Everton, and West Ham are also keen on a potential transfer, though.

Tammy Abraham’s AS Roma stats

Apps

120

Goals

37

Assists

11

The 27-year-old, who has been labelled “outstanding” by Henry Winter in the past, has struggled to make an impact at AC Milan this season, scoring just two goals and recording three assists in 24 league games. Abraham has an impressive record in the Premier League, scoring 26 goals in 89 games, so his arrival at Elland Road would be huge and surely seen as a big upgrade to Bamford, who looks to be coming to the end of his time at Leeds with injuries once again limiting his game time this season.

The 31-year-old has only managed 10 games in the league this season due to fitness concerns, and despite him being under contract until 2026, promotion to the top flight could see the Whites move Bamford on as they eye a more reliable striker.

علق سيد عبد الحفيظ مدير الكرة السابق بالنادي الأهلي، على نتيجة مباراة القلعة الحمراء أمام بورتو البرتغالي، والتي جمعت بينهما فجر اليوم ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.

وانتهت المباراة، بنتيجة التعادل الإيجابي 4-4، لينهي الأهلي مشواره في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، محتلًا المركز الرابع والأخير في المجموعة برصيد نقطتين.

طالع.. فيديو | في مباراة مجنونة وهاتريك لـ وسام.. الأهلي يتفنن في إهدار الفرص ويكتفي بالتعادل مع بورتو

وقال سيد عبد الحفيظ في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “مباراة تاريخية للنادي الأهلي، وكانت هناك فرص أسهل ما يكون، لا يُمكن أن تُهدر في كأس العالم للأندية”.

وأكمل: “الأهلي سجّل 23 محاولة في المباراة، لكنه خرج من المونديال بسبب إهدار الفرص، حيث أُهدرت 9 فرص محققة في الثلاث مباريات”.

وأردف: “الأهلي دفع ثمن إهدار الفرص، وديانج لا يُمكن أن يُترك على دكة البدلاء، والمحاولات كانت في غاية الروعة، وعلى المستوى الدفاعي، هناك الكثير للحديث عنه، والأهلي كان يستحق الفوز على بورتو”.

وواصل: “تظهر بوادر جيدة اليوم بشأن ريبيرو وكان مقنعًا جدًا بالنسبة لي، والأهلي يثبت أنه فريق على المستوى العالمي، ينافس الكبار وقد يتغلب عليهم”.

Kiran Carlson century the highlight for hosts as weather robs Durham of precious time

ECB Reporters Network23-Apr-2023

Glamorgan 305 (Carlson 119, van der Gugten 54, Raine 4-65) and 104 for 6 (Lloyd 31, Coughlin 3-27) f/o drew with Durham 471 for 9 dec (Carse 91, Trevaskis 79, Robinson 73, Jones 69, Borthwick 59, Labuschagne 4-81)Glamorgan secured a draw despite being forced to follow on with Kiran Carlson’s hundred the highlight for the home side in their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Durham in Cardiff.A century stand between Carlson and Timm van der Gugten brought Glamorgan close to the follow-on target but wickets shared amongst the Durham seamers were enough to bowl Glamorgan out for 305 and allow the visitors to ask them to bat again.In the Glamorgan second innings the Durham bowlers were well on top again as the home side reached 106 for 6 before a heavy rain shower brought play to close with 22 overs left to bowled.Glamorgan will finish with nine points and Durham with 13, but the real winner was the weather which took almost two days’ play out of this match.Glamorgan had resumed still trailing Durham by 318 runs and 169 runs away from avoiding the follow on. When Chris Cooke edged a ball through to wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson from Ben Raine only two more runs had been added to the overnight score and Glamorgan were in danger of conceding a massive first-innings lead and having to bat again.Carlson and van der Gugten batted brilliantly to take their team within touching distance of avoiding the follow on with a partnership of 110, a record ninth-wicket stand in matches between these two teams.Carlson backed up his hundred in Glamorgan’s opening match against Gloucestershire with another well-constructed century in this fixture. He looked troubled against the shorter ball, especially from Brydon Carse whose extra pace asked questions throughout the Glamorgan innings, but as ever with Carlson when he is at the crease he keeps the scoreboard ticking over. It seemed as if his journey from the sixties into the eighties happened in a flash.He slowed down a little on his way to his hundred, but it was another innings that held things together for his team. Against Gloucestershire he came in to bat with his team in trouble at 35 for 3, here his team were three down for just 60 runs. Both times a century dug his team out of a hole of their own making.Carlson’s first innings of the day was ended when Liam Trevaskis dismissed him caught-and-bowled for 119.Durham’s efforts to push for victory were hampered by Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann’s tight back preventing him from taking the field on the final day, but they still managed to bundle Glamorgan out in time. Van der Gugten was the last man to fall for 54.Glamorgan started their second innings still 166 behind Durham with 45 overs left to survive. Once again, the Durham seamers asked questions that the Glamorgan top order found hard to answer. Raine trapped Eddie Byrom lbw before Paul Coughlin claimed the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Northeast to leave the home side 40 for 3, still 126 runs away from making Durham bat again.Carlson couldn’t repeat his first innings-heroics, he was dismissed for 7 in Glamorgan’s second dig when he was caught at leg slip by Graham Clark.David Lloyd made 31 before he was caught hooking on the boundary to give Coughlan his third wicket and leave Glamorgan 66 for 5 with more than 30 overs left to be bowled. That become 96 for 6 when Chris Cooke edged through to the keeper off the bowling of Raine.Shortly after the fall of Cooke’s wicket the rain brought play to a close with Durham left to rue a missed chance for a win with too much time lost for them to head back north with maximum points.

أعلن نادي بورتيمونينسي البرتغالي، عن تعاقده مع حارس مرمى الأهلي السابق، حمزة علاء، في صفقة انتقال حر.

وكان الأهلى قد توجه بالشكر لحارس مرماه الشاب خلال الفترة الماضية بعد حسم لقب الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2024-2025.

اقرأ أيضاً..لاعب الأهلي يودع الجماهير: أحبكم من قلبي

ويستعد حمزة علاء لخوض أولى تجاربه الاحترافية مع الفريق البرتغالي بعد انتهاء عقده مع الأهلي ويسعى لإثبات نفسه بشكل أكبر ومواصلة مشواره الاحترافي.

وخضع حمزة علاء خلال الفترة الماضية للفحوصات الطبية قبل أن يتجاوزها بنجاح، وقد تداول العديد من رواد وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي صورة للحارس المصري الشاب بقميص ناديه الجديد.

ويلعب نادي بورتيمونينسي ضمن منافسات دوري الدرجة الثانية البرتغالي وعقب توقيع حمزة علاء لناديه الجديد، قال في أول تصريحاته: “أنا هنا للمساعدة وأعد ببذل قصارى جهدي لتحقيق أهداف النادي”.

جدير بالذكر أن حمزة علاء قد قدم مستويات كبيرة مع منتخبات الشباب والأولمبي لمنتخب مصر وساهم في إحراز المركز الرابع في أولمبياد باريس.

North Group leaders Worcestershire fall short in pursuit of fifth successive win

ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2023

Worcestershire Rapids missed out on the chance to make history as their unbeaten start to the Vitality Blast was brought to an end by Northamptonshire Steelbacks who triumphed by six wickets at New Road.The Rapids had been bidding to win the opening five games in the T20 tournament for the first time. But Steelbacks spinner Freddie Heldreich bowled an inspired spell which brought him the wickets of Adam Hose, Brett D’Oliveira and Kashif Ali in the space of three overs.Then Saif Zaib produced the fireworks with the bat for the visitors, smashing successive sixes in the final over from Pat Brown to see his side home with two balls to spare. He ended unbeaten on 70 from 35 balls with nine fours and two sixes to seal a third win in the last four games for the Steelbacks.D’Oliveira, Jack Haynes and Mitchell Santner all made useful contributions with the bat for the Rapids but it was keeper Ben Cox who provided late momentum.Fit again opener Ricardo Vasconcelos provided the Steelbacks with early aggression and then Saif kept his nerve to see his side over the finishing line.Ben Sanderson broke through for the Steelbacks in the opening over as Michael Bracewell sliced a drive to short third man.D’Oliveira got into his stride with successive boundaries off his Steelbacks counterpart David Willey. But he came close on 12 to being run out after playing Sanderson to midwicket and replays indicated he was short of his ground to Willey’s direct hit.Haynes survived two chances in an over from Tom Taylor, a low caught and bowled and then at short third man. He started to profit from these escapes in smashing a Sanderson full toss over the long on boundary and collecting two fours in two balls at Willey’s expense.Andrew Tye’s introduction into the attack led to the downfall of Haynes who sliced a skier into third man’s hands.Hose, in prime form in recent games, tried to hit left-arm wristspinner Heldreich over the top and was taken at long-off. There was more joy for Heldreich when D’Oliveira made room to cut and only picked out backward point and it became three wickets in three overs as Kashif Ali departed in exactly the same manner.Santner struck the ball sweetly in making 33 from 21 balls but then holed out to long-on after Taylor’s return to the attack. Cox, with an unbeaten 46 from 29 deliveries, and Ed Pollock ensured a competitive total.The Steelbacks were restricted to 14 runs from their opening three overs before Chris Lynn, a century-maker against Leicestershire on Friday evening, launched Brown over the long-on boundary. But Adam Finch brought his downfall when he could only find mid-on.Vasconcelos seized on the introduction of spin for the final over the powerplay by striking Bracewell for three fours and a six.Willey looked in good touch but again failed to capitalise on a decent start and sliced Santner to backward point. Bracewell came in for some heavy punishment but picked up an important scalp when Vasconcelos sliced the ball down deep cover’s throat.The Steelbacks looked in control while Zaib and Josh Cobb were together during a stand of 70 in eight overs.Cobb eventually perished to Brown but Saif was up to the task of scoring 15 from the final over, despatching balls two and three over the ropes before crashing the next for the winning boundary.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Sub-20 do São Paulo venceu aInter de Bebedouro na tarde desta quarta-feira (10) por 3 a 1 e avançou para a terceira fase do Campeonato Paulista da categoria.João Adriano, Azeez e Zanella foram os autores dos gols.

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Galeria
> Confira como estão as negociações para renovações de contratos do elenco do São Paulo

Tabela
> Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Na primeira etapa, o Tricolor paulista não conseguiu muitas oportunidades de marcar. Aos 32 minutos de jogo, o adversário abriu o placar e saiu em vantagem.

Alex de Souza, em busca de virar o resultado na segunda etapa, realizou algumas mudanças. Aos 18 minutos do segundo tempo, Palmberg tentou finalizar rasteiro, mas a bola não entrou. Porém, aos 29′, o São Paulo empatou.

Cauã Lucca ajeitou para João Adriano, que finalizou no alto do gol. Logo depois, Cauã Lucca cobrou escanteio pela esquerda e Azeez cabeceou sem chances de defesa. O terceiro gol saiu quandoZanella marcou após um rebote do goleiro da Inter de Bebedouro.

Com o resultado positivo, as crias de Cotia alcançarama liderança do grupo 15, com 13 pontos somados, e assim, avançaram para a próxima etapa do estadual Sub-20.

Enquanto a tabela ainda não é definida, o elenco de Alex de Souza tem mais um desafio: a fase de mata-mata do Campeonato Brasileiro.

O Tricolor enfrenta o Athletico-PR em Cotia no sábado (13), às 14h.

Leeds United will be hoping to end their two-year Premier League exile come the end of the season, with Daniel Farke looking to complete the job in the last eight games of the campaign.

The German has led the Whites to top spot in the Championship, doing a superb job in galvanising the squad after the play-off final defeat last time around.

However, he will be hoping to go one better and avoid a play-off heartbreak repeat by helping the side achieve an automatic promotion spot, currently boasting a two-point lead over third place.

Unsurprisingly, the thought of a return to England’s top flight will be an exciting thought for the fanbase, potentially coming up against some huge clubs once again next year.

If they are to be a success in the division above, additions will be needed to ensure the side is competitive enough to avoid an immediate return, aiming to repeat a deal for one player who starred at Elland Road.

Raphinha’s time at Leeds United

Very few people could’ve predicted how well Raphinha would perform at Leeds after his £17m move from French outfit Stade Rennais during the summer of 2020.

The Brazilian would become an immediate hit with the supporters for his flair and ability to create carnage within the final third, helping the side register a top-half finish in their first year back in the Premier League.

He would go from strength to strength during his time in Yorkshire, registering 11 goals in his second year at the club, cementing himself at the top of the Whites’ goalscoring charts.

However, his second year in England would be his last, with the hierarchy cashing in his splendid form in the final third, joining Barcelona in a £55m deal, the biggest fee received by the club in their history.

His subsequent departure would have a huge impact on their league standing, with the club dropping into the Championship, a position which they are yet to get themselves out of.

Leeds also had one other player who could’ve followed on a similar trajectory at Elland Road, but ultimately he failed to live up to the hype he arrived with.

The Leeds player who's now worth £66.5m less than Raphinha

Their time in the Premier League allowed for added investment into the first-team squad, handing Marcelo Bielsa the tools to build on the promotion-winning campaign.

Directed by Victor Orta, they spent upwards of £100m during the summer of 2020, with Raphinha just one of the players to move to Yorkshire, looking to take their career to the next level.

Helder Costa was another talent to make a big-money move to the club, joining in a £16m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, making his move permanent after spending the year on loan the year prior.

The winger notched five goals and six assists in the Championship back in 2019/20, being a key member of Bielsa’s squad during their return to the top flight.

He managed three goals and three assists from his 22 league appearances in their first year back in the top flight, but it would be his final season as a consistent first-team member, with the forward dropping down the pecking order.

The 31-year-old made just two appearances in the first half of the following season, before joining Valencia on loan – but was unable to make the desired impact, making just 13 starts and failing to score a single goal.

It wouldn’t be enough to force himself back into Bielsa’s plans, subsequently being sent out on another temporary stint to Al Ittihad, before being released from his contract in Yorkshire in October 2023.

Helder Costa’s stats during his time at Leeds (2019-2023)

Statistics

Tally

Games played

71

Cost per game

£225,000

Goals scored

8

Cost per goal

£2m

Assists registered

9

Cost per assist

£1.7m

Stats via FotMob

The attacker cost a staggering £2m per goal he scored during his time at Elland Road – a staggering figure – often failing to deliver within the final third, certainly going down as a waste of money, especially considering he cost just £1m less than Raphinha.

His career has since taken a nose dive in recent years, now featuring for Yunnan Yukun in the Chinese Super League, with his time at Leeds having an impact on his career as a professional.

Costa’s decline can further be seen in his current market value, now valued at just £500k by Transfermarkt, a figure £66.5m lower than the Brazilian, who’s now valued at £67m after his splendid form at Barcelona.

Given his drop-off in recent years, it’s safe to say the club made the right call in parting ways with the attacker, but they must regret forking out £16m for his services – with the wide-man certainly not living up to the price tag.

The difference in value between himself and Raphinha in 2025 should be a stark reminder for the hierarchy this summer, with the right additions needing to be made if the Whites are to continue on their upward trajectory.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Mar 23, 2025