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Virgil Van Dijk has lambasted his Liverpool teammates for their defensive record. The reigning Premier League champions have now conceded 20 goals in 11 league games this season after their chastening 3-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest earlier today. The Dutchman said the Reds are conceding "too many easy goals" and called on the whole team to take responsibility for their defensive woes.

• Liverpool fall to Nottingham Forest at Anfield

  Liverpool's woeful run of form continued in their first game back from international duty. The Reds fell behind to a controversial Murillo goal in the 33rd minute at Anfield. The VAR ruled that Dan Ndoye did not interfere with Alisson's line of sight, as the Brazillian centre back drove home after Liverpool failed to clear their lines from a corner. 

  The Reds were given some respite when Igor Jesus' strike was mysteriously ruled out moments later for handball, despite the replay apparently showing the ball did not touch the striker's hand. Despite that let-off, the hosts struggled to gain a foothold against Sean Dyche's side. Forest completed a famous victory through a 46th minute effort from Nicolo Savona, and a 78th minute goal from Morgan Gibbs-White. 

  That sorry collapse prompted Van Dijk to call out his teammates. Liverpool's captain slammed his peers for their propensity to concede from set pieces, and called on the whole team to take more responsibility for the team's defensive record. The 33-year-old also refused to blame the referee's decision for their defeat, while also sending a message to the Liverpool fans. Many of those in attendance at Anfield left the game early as their side struggled again. 

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  Van Dijk's post-game comments after Nottingham Forest defeat

  Van Dijk said: "We concede too many easy goals. They scored obviously from a set piece again. You can ask if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted, so we're 1-0 down. We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It's a very difficult situation at the moment.

  "There was nervousness after we conceded, but not before. We tried to rush things and that's human when you're in a difficult moment. We cleared the ones before and in the end, we'te in a very difficult moment. We don't get out of it by just speaking about it. It will take a lot of hard work.

  "It's a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going.

  "Everyone is disappointed, like they should be, because losing at home to Nottingham Forest is, in my eyes, very bad. That's the least I can say about it. Those goals we conceded are far too easy and we all have to look in the mirror. I've been at this club so long now and we've been through adversity. We will bounce back but it doesn't happen overnight. I'm not a quitter and we will keep going.

  "I can't decide what the supporters are doing if they leave early. I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us. They will be there with us when we come out of this because we will come out of this."

• Liverpool's defensive woes in numbers

  Liverpool's propensity to concede from set pieces will certainly be of concern to Arne Slot's coaching staff. The Reds have now allowed nine goals from dead ball situations in the 2025/26 Premier League season. According to Opta Stats, that is the third worst record in England's top tier. 

  Van Dijk's side are conceding 1.81 goals-per-game this season. During their title winning exploits last season, the Reds conceded just 41 times in 38 games. 

  In their past six games in all competitions, Liverpool have conceded three goals on four occasions. 

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  Can Liverpool sure up their leaky defence?

  When Liverpool followed up their 20th league title with a summer spending spree headlined by a bevvy of attacking talent, most prognosticators had them as favourites to defend their crown. However, there were murmurs of discontent at the club's lack of resources in the centre of defence. Their failed pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi looks more and more catastrophic with each passing game. While the Reds are set to re-kindle their interest in the England international, a packed schedule ahead of the January transfer window means the Reds will have to remedy their struggles with the resources they have in house. If they can't, it could heap even more pressure on Slot, just months after he lifted the Premier League trophy in his debut season in the English top-flight. 

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O Internacional venceu o Cruzeiro por 2 a 1 em partida válida pela 32ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. O jogo foi disputado no Mineirão e contou com a lei do ex de Maurício e Wanderson marcando para o Colorado, e Bruno Rodrigues, de pênalti, para a Raposa.

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O primeiro tempo começou com a famosa ‘lei do ex’ sendo posta em prática. Aos 13 minutos de jogo, Enner Valencia recebeu a bola na área e tocou para Bustos. Maurício, ex-Cruzeiro, apareceu, venceu a disputa com Rafael e abriu o placar. Em respeito à sua ex-equipe, o meio-campista não comemorou o gol.

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O Colorado seguiu nesta primeira etapa dominando. Enner Valencia e Alan Patrick tentaram ampliar, mas sem sucesso. O Cruzeiro teve sua melhor oportunidade com uma tentativa de finalização de fora da área, na qual Jussa assustou, mas Rochet conseguiu defender.

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No segundo tempo, o Cruzeiro começou a pressionar mais, mas, em um vacilo da defesa, o Internacional ampliou sua vantagem no placar. Wanderson recebeu um passe de Johnny, que invadiu a área e abriu espaço. Com um chute no canto direito do gol, garantiu o segundo do Colorado na partida.

Aos 26 minutos da etapa final, a Raposa assustou. Em uma cobrança de falta, Marlon soltou a bomba, mas para sorte de Rochet, a bola bateu na trave. Entretanto, este lance inspirou a equipe mineira, que começou a pressionar bastante o Colorado. Assim, o Internacional assumiu uma postura mais defensiva.

Quase ao apagar das luzes, Bruno Rodrigues diminuiu o prejuízo. O jogador foi derrubado por Mercado na área, e foi marcado pênalti para o Cruzeiro. O próprio ficou responsável pela cobrança e bateu com categoria. A penalidade retomou a confiança da equipe mineira que ameaçou com algumas bolas na trave. Mas não bastou e o Internacional saiu com os três pontos.

O Internacional não vencia o Cruzeiro no Mineirão há 36 anos. Com o resultado, o Colorado chega aos 42 pontos na tabela da competição e está na 11ª colocação, lutando para conseguir crescer na tabela e tentar, pelo menos, uma vaga na Copa Sul-Americana. O Cruzeiro segue com 37 pontos, na 16ª colocação.

Leeds United will be aiming to stay put in the Premier League past the end of the 2025/26 season, but that will be easier said than done.

The last time the Whites managed to stay up at the first time of asking after triumphantly securing promotion to the top-flight was when the revered Marcelo Bielsa still occupied the Elland Road dug-out, with an unbelievable seventh place position somehow pulled off come the close of the memorable 2020/21 campaign.

Ever since that major high point, though, Leeds have struggled when keeping their heads above water in the elite division, having fallen back down to the Championship with a whimper in 2023.

Daniel Farke is the boss who will be aiming to rewrite the depressing script in West Yorkshire, however, with it not being all doom and gloom since the Argentine’s sombre exit, either, as several exciting stars have called Leeds home since his sacking in early 2022.

Some of Leeds' best signings since Bielsa left

Even with Championship football regularly being on the menu after the enigmatic South American’s departure, Leeds have been blessed with possessing some exceptional talents.

Georginio Rutter has to go down as one of Leeds’ best bits of business in terms of the entertainment he offered in the rebuild after Bielsa, with the £35.5m purchase from Hoffenheim tallying up a ridiculous eight goals and 18 assists for the Whites, leading to Paul Merson even comparing him to Arsenal great Dennis Bergkamp for his audacious footwork.

Amazingly, too, Wilfried Gnonto never crossed paths with Bielsa at Elland Road, with the Italian attacker a real force to be reckoned with when unleashed, as seen in him firing home 22 goals to date for the Whites.

Moving away from the attack, Ethan Ampadu has also become a mainstay in the middle of the park since joining for £7m from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, as Leeds also finally stormed back up to the Premier League.

There’s even a compelling enough argument already to suggest that Sean Longstaff joining for £12m this summer just gone is one of the best bits of business since Bielsa left the building, with five big chances created by the ex-Newcastle United man helping Leeds push up to 15th in the early league standings.

Yet, despite the Newcastle-born ace experiencing such a promising start to life in West Yorkshire, he arguably lags just behind this Farke stalwart still in this argument, who is continuing to shine very bright as one of the first names on the German’s teamsheet.

Leeds' best signing since Bielsa left

There’s no guarantee that Longstaff will be able to keep up these excellent early levels at Leeds across a full Premier League season, having been regularly injury-prone at St James’ Park.

Farke won’t have any lingering concerns about Joe Rodon pulling up with an injury anytime soon, however, with the commanding Welshman now starting a staggering 94 consecutive games for Leeds as he remains one of the vital parts of his manager’s jigsaw, even as new signings aplenty – such as Longstaff – joined this off-season.

Games played

9

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Touches*

67.2

Accurate passes*

49.2 (91%)

Ball recoveries*

2.8

Clearances*

6.4

Total duels won*

5.2

Clean sheets

2

Having also collected a mammoth 48 clean sheets across his first century of appearances for Leeds, Rodon has only cemented himself as a key Whites first-teamer during the infancy of this new season.

The Swansea-born warrior has even chipped in with two goals so far this campaign to ensure the top-flight newcomers already have three league wins under their belt, the latest of which steered his side to a valuable win over struggling West Ham United.

Yet, it’s his unwavering determination for Leeds that stretches all the way back to the 2023/24 campaign, which means he is surely their best signing since Bielsa sadly left Elland Road behind, with the £10m spent on his permanent services at the close of that promotion near-miss season continuing to look like a bargain amount.

He will only be seen in an even more glowing light if his imposing displays result in Leeds beating the drop, with Farke’s “unbelievable” assessment of the 28-year-old after his debut two years ago still ringing true today.

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A “talented” England international is now interested in completing a move to Aston Villa, should the Villans like the idea of bringing him in.

McGinn happy after "important" Aston Villa win

Unai Emery’s side got back to winning ways on Thursday evening, winning 1-0 at home to Bologna in the Europa League, courtesy of John McGinn’s strike.

Speaking after the game, the Scot was in positive spirits, as Villa look to build on the victory heading into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham at Villa Park.

“It was important. We got a bit nervy towards the end. They play mental football, man-to-man, and it reminds me of (Marcelo) Bielsa when he was at Leeds. It’s tough and you need to be concentrating because they leave a few players up. You need to be clean going forward with the ball and I don’t think we were.

“I thought we were a little bit rusty going forward, but we created chances and we could have won by more. I thought we played better in the first half than the second, but the important thing was to get the win with a very important clean sheet with a good save from Marco at the end.”

New signings could be needed in January, or at least next summer, in order for Villa to keep improving, and they have now been linked with a move for a 10-cap England international.

England international "open" to Aston Villa move

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is “open” to joining Aston Villa from AC Milan, although no approach has been made for him.

“He’s always showed a lot of promise and at his best he can be excellent, but for me he’s never quite hit the levels people expected of him, even though he’s clearly got a lot of talent. Since his move to AC Milan, he’s done well, and Tuchel obviously sees something in him.

“The qualities he’s got could be an asset to a lot of sides, there’s no doubting that, it’s just about whether he’s going to perform consistently enough. There’s been some talk of a move to Aston Villa, but I’m not sure he’s the player they need right now, he might be better off somewhere else.

“I think it’s something he’s open to, he wants to come back to the Premier League, to compete and potentially put himself in the [England] manager’s thinking. I’m sure if Aston Villa came calling, it’s a move he’d like to make, but I am doubtful about whether they’d push for that one at the moment.”

Loftus-Cheek, thoguht to be valued at £17m, could be a shrewd signing by Villa, having been hailed as a “talented” player by Owen Hargreaves in the past, especially if he has the hunger to win his place back in the England squad before next summer’s World Cup.

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At 29, he is still young enough to enjoy three or four good years at Villa Park, and his pace and power in midfield areas could be a weapon for Emery, also adding depth in the middle of the park.

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Com a vitória por 2 a 0 contra o Corinthians, o São Paulo reverteu a derrota sofrida na casa do rival e se garantiu na final da Copa do Brasil. Dominando quase toda a partida e com bastante pressão em cima do adversário, os mais de 62 mil presentes no estádio do Morumbi contaram com os golaços de Wellington Rato e Lucas Moura. Lucas, que inclusive, foi o grande nome da noite.

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Quanto ao desempenho, um jogão. Embora tenha tido mais chances claras de matar o jogo, conseguiu corresponder e pressionou o Corinthians por boa parte do confronto. Estaria o sonho do título inédito prestes a ser tornar realidade? Veja as atuações individuais dos jogadores!

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علق مؤمن سليمان، مدرب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الشرطة العراقي، على شائعة وفاته.

وانتشرت شائعات على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي تفيد بوفاة المدرب المصري مؤمن سليمان.

ونفى مؤمن سليمان الأمر من خلال رسالة نشرها عبر حسابه على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”.

وقال مؤمن سليمان تعليقًا على أنباء وفاته: “يا جماعة دي إشاعة سخيفة، أنا في المطار راجع بغداد إن شاء الله وأشكركم”.

The LSG fast bowler wants the IPL to use pitches that produce an even contest between bat and ball

Ashish Pant30-Mar-20251:28

What makes Shardul Thakur effective?

Shardul Thakur has advocated for having pitches which give the bowlers a “fair and square chance” and not be heavily laden in favour of the batters as has often been the case in the IPL. Thakur, speaking on behalf of all bowlers, said that all he wanted were pitches which were not one-sided where “batters are coming and smashing us.””It is not what I want, but it is what the bowlers want,” Thakur said ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ first home game of the season against Punjab Kings. “A lot of them might not be outspoken or they might not get a chance to speak in front of media or give interviews about the pitch conditions.”All that the bowlers are asking is to prepare the pitch in such a manner that the game hangs in balance and it should not be just one-sided where batters are coming and smashing us, because all we want is a fair chance and fair opportunity in the game.”Scores in excess of 200 have already been breached six times in 10 matches in IPL 2025, with Sunrisers Hyderabad piling up 286 for 6 in their first match of the season. While Thakur was slightly critical about the Impact Player rule, he maintained that more than the new rule, the pitches need to have a better balance.”We have already seen the rule change and the Impact Player rule coming in, so every team is potentially playing an extra batter, especially while chasing or even let’s say you are batting first, then [everyone] is going in with that depth, because they have now an opportunity to change the batter and call a bowler while defending or vice versa,” he said.”The Impact Player rule is an entertainment factor and games change a lot, but that these 250 scores are being made is not only because of this rule change, but also because of the way the pitches are being made. We are just saying as a bowling unit that give us a fair and square chance where we can get a batsman out.”Shardul Thakur is LSG’s leading wicket-taker so far this season•AFP/Getty Images

Thakur has quickly become LSG’s poster boy even though he had come into the team as a replacement player. He is their leading wicket-taker with six wickets in two matches, going at an economy rate of 8.83. What has been his process heading into the season?”I think it is all part of the preparation,” Thakur said. “The strength lies in how well you understand your own game and what is the best possible way that you can bowl on that particular day, looking at the pitch conditions, looking at the situation of the game and which batter is playing.Related

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“I don’t know about others, but what I try to do is just give myself the best chance to perform.”LSG have been waylaid by injuries this year. Mohsin Khan was ruled out, while Mayank Yadav, who is recovering from a lumbar stress injury, recently picked up a toe injury. Akash Deep is also yet to regain full fitness after the back injury he picked up on the Test tour of Australia. Thakur, however, was adamant that the team can’t focus on the players not available and that all players in the squad are equal.”As a team, I believe that what is in front of you is important. Today, we have these bowlers in our team and we can do a good job with this bowling unit. We have to focus on this,” he said. “No player thinks that Akash Deep is not there, Mayank Yadav is not there, so our bowling attack has become weak.”In the IPL, there is a squad of 25. All 25 of them are equal. Yes, due to your previous performance, or due to your talent, you can get more chances. But when you enter the match, this has nothing to do with performance. The performance depends on your confidence, how was your day, and how was your preparation coming into the tournament.”

He last played international cricket a year ago, before being named as injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson in the Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2025

Kyle Jamieson last played international cricket a year ago. Since then, there were ten months out with a stress fracture of the back – for the second time in his career. Having been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson, Jamieson feels he is in the best place ever “from a cricket point”.Jamieson last played an ODI in September 2023, against Bangladesh just before the World Cup. Looking back at his time off, Jamieson said his comeback worked out “roughly around the time-frames we looked at”.”I had a good crew around me, and the start of it was trying to put that all together around, what that’s going to look like, and how we’re going to get from where I was at the bottom of the cliff and how we’re going to get back up to the top of it,” he said after reaching Rawalpindi ahead of New Zealand’s match against Bangladesh.Related

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Jamieson has had his share of injures in a short international career so far. In June 2022, he experienced “sharp pain” in his lower back and walked off midway through his 17th over in a Test at Trent Bridge. Just ahead of the home Tests against England in early 2023, a suspected recurrence of the back injury ruled him out and he underwent surgery. It was only in August that year that Jamieson was back on the field, when he played five T20Is and three ODIs across the tours of the UAE and England. He then toured Bangladesh, where he played in two of the three ODIs.New Zealand even named Jamieson as cover for an injured Matt Henry for the World Cup in 2023, before drafting him into the squad proper. Although Jamieson didn’t get to play the tournament, he featured in both Tests on the subsequent tour of Bangladesh. However, a stiff hamstring ruled him out of the ODI series at home against the same opposition, and he also sat out of the T20Is on “medical advice”. It was after that, halfway through the home series against South Africa, that Jamieson found himself out again.”It’s been a long one. Obviously, a lot of hard work [has gone into the comeback],” he said. “I had to go back to square one, and rebuild a few things. [I had to] try and solidify the foundations so I can get back to this arena and take on the different forms of cricket again. It’s certainly been a long road, but it’s quite funny once you’re back in the mix and forget about how long it’s taken.”In the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, Jamieson worked his way back by representing Canterbury in the Super Smash and Ford Trophy, New Zealand’s domestic T20 and 50-over competitions respectively. He bagged 14 wickets at an average of 18.71 to be Canterbury Magicians’ highest wicket-taker in the Super Smash, where he played in all 12 matches.”I really enjoyed being a part of a full campaign. You don’t often get a chance to be a part of long stretches of time with your domestic team,” he said. “From the cricket point of view, it was great to be back in the park and just see where your game’s at. I was always reasonably confident that part was going to be okay, but it’s just nice to obviously put it back into that arena. I guess those are some of the pressures and challenges that come with that sort of high-pressure cricket.”New Zealand face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday, after beating Pakistan comfortably in the tournament opener. They then face India on March 2 in Dubai in what is the final group fixture of the tournament.

Everton are “looking” to complete the signing of a “brilliant” Premier League defensive midfielder before the end of the summer transfer window.

Moyes delighted after historic Everton victory

The Blues’ first-ever competitive game at their new stadium couldn’t have gone much better, following a 2-0 win against Brighton in the league on Sunday afternoon.

It was a proud day for Everton manager David Moyes, in terms of being in charge of the opening match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and he loved what he saw from his players and the fans.

“It was everything we wished for. We wanted a positive result today. We had a great atmosphere, a terrific new stadium. What I’m trying to do is hopefully give everybody a team which we can enjoy watching and be proud of. Today came close with their effort, their commitment.

“Some of the quality was very good, but there were other bits of it not so good. But, overall, really pleased with the result. [The atmosphere] was really good. I’ve got to say, we want to build on it. We have to build on it. We have to make sure that we’ve a stadium where, even when the game’s a bit lulled, the supporters keep with us all the way.”

Everton showed enough quality to suggest that they can enjoy a much-improved season in 2025/26, but that doesn’t mean that further signings aren’t needed this summer.

Everton "looking" to sign Yves Bissouma

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout turned transfer insider Mick Brown reports Everton still have Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma on their “radar” before the window closes next Monday.

“He’s a player Moyesy likes so I have no doubt he’s on their radar, especially if Tottenham are planning to listen to offers for him. I saw him play for Brighton against Wolves a couple of years ago and he didn’t put a foot wrong, he was brilliant and it was a really impressive performance. I don’t think he’s shown that since he’s been at Tottenham to be honest.

“Maybe the set-up there doesn’t work for him, I don’t know what it is. But a move somewhere like Everton might be what gets the best out of him, playing under David Moyes in more of a structured system. I think Tottenham have been open to letting him go, so if Everton are interested then there will be a deal to be done.

“They’re not the only side interested in him, but he’s also not the only player they’ve been looking at. If they decide he’s the one they want, it’s a deal that could work out for everybody.”

The £55,000-a-week Bissouma is now a hugely experienced player with 191 Premier League appearances to his name, so he could be a shrewd addition for Everton, with 35-year-old Idrissa Gueye not able to play every week now.

At 28, the Spurs midfielder is at a good age to come straight in as a key man for the Blues, and the fact that he is struggling to be a prominent figure in north London means a move away could appeal.

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Bissouma would be a slight risk, considering he has arguably tailed off at Spurs, as Brown alludes to, but if Moyes believes he can get the best out of the Mali international, The Freidkin Group should make a move for him.

Former AC Milan doctor Rudy Tavana reveals Antonio Cassano nearly died of cardiac arrest in a car park but was saved by Thiago Silva’s quick action.

Former doctor reveals Cassano had a heart scareSilva informed the doctors just in timeTimely intervention saw him escape serious damageFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Italy attacker Cassano, who featured for Milan between 2011 and 2012 under Massimiliano Allegri, once experienced a serious heart scare. Ex-Milan doctor Rudy Tavana revealed that Brazilian centre-back Silva raised the alarm after Cassano returned from a match, with swift intervention from Tavana and Dr. Mazzoni ensuring he was taken to hospital in time for surgery, avoiding severe consequences.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT TAVANO SAID

“After landing at Malpensa, returning from a trip to Rome, Thiago Silva came to me: 'Doctor, Cassano isn't well, he's confused'. Dr. Mazzoni and I tracked him down in the parking lot," he said in an interview with . "He wanted to drive home. We ran some basic neurological tests; something wasn't right. I told him,:'Go ahead, but Dr. Mazzoni will drive your car, and he'll take you to the hospital.' We didn't know what it was, it could have been ischemia, we had to speed things up to minimize any damage. Mazzoni stayed in his room to sleep with him; it must not have been an easy night. The tests determined it was a neurological problem originating in the heart. Cassano underwent surgery, and the problem was resolved.

“Cassano thanked me in his own way: 'In the parking lot, your authority forced me to obey’.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Cassano began his career at Bari and his dazzling performances led to a move to Roma and eventually to Real Madrid in 2006, but Cassano’s time in Spain was troubled as frequent clashes with coach Fabio Capello over discipline and behaviour led to a complete breakdown in their relationship. He eventually left Madrid for Sampdoria, where he rediscovered his form over a three-year period to convince Milan to sign him as Ronaldinho’s replacement. Cassano won the Scudetto with Milan and struck up a strong partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But in 2012, he was included in a swap deal with Inter that saw Giampaolo Pazzini move the other way. From then on, his career never truly recovered, and he retired in 2017.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CASSANO?

Cassano now works as a pundit on various television shows and is a regular feature on Bobo TV, a show hosted by fellow Italian team-mate Christian Vieri. Having completed his sporting director course at Coverciano, he now hopes to make his return to football in a director’s role.