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انتقدت الصحافة الألمانية خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية حكم مباراة ريال مدريد ولايبزيج، في إياب دور الـ 16 من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكان الحكم الإيطالي، دافيدي ماسا، من يدير المباراة التي انتهت بالتعادل 1-1 بين ريال مدريد ولايبزيج، لكن هناك قرار كان مثيرًا للجدل يخص جناح الملكي، فينيسيوس جونيور.

وأفادت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الكتالونية أن الإعلام الألماني قد اتفق على أن الحكم الإيطالي كان يجب أن يطرد، فينيسيوس.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ماركا: أنشيلوتي مهدد بالسجن لأكثر من 4 سنوات

وقام فينيسيوس بدفع ويلي أوربان لاعب لايبزيج في وجهه بالدقيقة 54 وحصل البرازيلي على بطاقة صفراء، وهو ما أثار غضب الصحافة الألمانية.

ووصفت وسائل الإعلام الألمانية الحالة بالفضيحة خاصة صحيفة “بيلد”، بل وأكدت أن إذا كان أوربان هو من دفع فينيسيوس لقام الحكم بطرده.

ولكن استكمل فينيسيوس المباراة بشكل طبيعي، بل وسجل هدف ريال مدريد الوحيد في المباراة بالدقيقة 65 وتأهل الملكي إلى دور الثمانية في انتظار القرعة.

ولم تكن “بيلد” وحدها التي لديها تعليقات على الحكم، حيث علق أوربان نفسه في تصريحات بعد المباراة، وقال: “لسوء الحظ، الحكم ليس لديهم الشجاعة لطرد هؤلاء اللاعبين، كان الفعل يستلزم الطرد المباشر، لقد مسكني من رقبتي بكلتا يديه، ما حدث عدم احترام”.

An update has emerged on Everton and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Moussa Dembele to Everton?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Toffees are one of a number of sides eyeing up French centre-forward Moussa Dembele ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The reporter revealed:

"Moussa Dembélé has been approached by several clubs after leaving OL as free agent. #transfers Understand Everton and Galatasaray are both informed on conditions of the deal, while Saudi clubs are also keeping tabs on Moussa situation."

The £52k-per-week marksman's contract with Lyon in Ligue 1 expires at the end of this month and this means that the former Celtic ace will be available for a bargain free transfer move.

What would Dembele's arrival mean for Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

Sean Dyche beating off interest from Galatasaray and teams in Saudi Arabia to secure a deal for the 6-foot finisher would be terrible news for current Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as it could diminish his game time next term.

The England international endured a difficult campaign in the Premier League in 2022/23 and his recent form in front of goal does not suggest that his position is nailed down in the team for 2023/24.

He found the back of the net twice in 17 appearances – 15 starts – and this came after the 26-year-old plundered five goals in 15 starts in the 2021/22 top-flight.

This means that the Finch Farm dud has scored once every 4.29 starts over the last two seasons in the division, which is far from a prolific return and perhaps one of the reasons the Toffees have found themselves in back-to-back relegation battles.

Dembele, on the other hand, scored 24 goals in 33 starts in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaigns combined for Lyon, which works out as one strike every 1.38 starts on average.

The Frenchman also created six 'big chances' for his teammates in that time and could provide a similar level of creativity to Calvert-Lewin, who produced five in the Premier League in the same period.

Dembele, who was once hailed as "powerful" by former Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers, could offer far more potency at the top end of the pitch based on their respective goalscoring records in recent seasons, which could lead to Dyche having a reliable number nine in the top-flight next season.

This could then leave Calvert-Lewin in a difficult situation as the soon-to-be free agent could come in and take his place in the starting XI, which would result in the Englishman being a bench warmer unless he is able to win his position back by drastically turning his form around.

Craig Cachopa will consider whether to go full circle and qualify for New Zealand after negotiating an early release from his contract at Sussex for what the club called “personal reasons”.Cachopa was enticed to England in 2014 by Luke Wright, now Sussex’s captain, when he was playing in New Zealand. He was born in South Africa but qualifies as a non-overseas signing in England as he holds a Portuguese passport.After three seasons in county cricket, however, in which his success has been modest, he could chose to explore links with New Zealand, where he was a former U-19 national captain.Cachopa, 24, said: “I am grateful for the fantastic opportunity I have had over the past three years here at Sussex, however I think it is a good time for me to return to New Zealand to try and achieve some of my childhood dreams after some much needed rest.””I love county cricket and it has been a fabulous experience for me representing Sussex in all three formats. But I intend to spend some quality time with my family at home in New Zealand resting before considering my options, and deciding on my next steps towards achieving my aspirations to play international cricket.”Cachopa made his Sussex debut in the NatWest T20 Blast in 2014. He played 16 Championship matches for Sussex, and 43 white-ball matches, across the NatWest T20 Blast and the Royal London One-Day Cup. A powerful middle-order hitter, the T20 Blast was his strongest format for Sussex, as he averaged 27.18 with a strike rate of 136.79, and was also deployed as a wicketkeeper in a number of the Sharks’ T20 matches.Sussex’s head coach Mark Davis said, “I am sure Craig has enjoyed his time at Sussex and would have learnt a great deal about himself as well as his game. He is an immensely talented cricketer who has yet to reach his potential. We wish him great success in whatever he decides to pursue in the future.”Cachopa spent the England off-season last winter in New Zealand, representing Wellington as an overseas player. It was a return to his first-class roots: he made his debut for Wellington in 2012 before moving to Auckland.

Arsenal are willing to let Rob Holding leave this summer, as long as they land a suitable replacement, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Which Arsenal players are leaving this summer?

Although Mikel Arteta's side did very well to push Manchester City so close in the race for the Premier League title, the manager is looking to reshape his squad in the upcoming window, and a number of first-team players could be moved on.

Sky Sports report that Granit Xhaka is becoming increasingly likely to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen now confident they can do a deal, while Kieran Tierney could also be on his way out.

Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all interested in the left-back, with the latter club also keen on Emile Smith-Rowe, who journalist Paul Brown believes "might be frustrated" due to his lack of game time.

According to a report from Football Insider, Arsenal are also open to offers for Holding this summer, as long as they are able to land a suitable replacement for the centre-back, who has also not received a great deal of game time this season.

A new central midfielder is said to be the top priority for the Gunners, but if they are able to strengthen that position quickly, they will focus on bringing in a new defender, which could spell the end for the £40k-per-week centre-back.

The report also details that Arteta is planning to play Ben White in the centre of defence next season, meaning a new right-back will be required.

Should Arsenal sell Rob Holding?

If Arsenal truly want to compete with the likes of Man City, then they undoubtedly need to improve their squad depth, as it could be argued that a lack of quality back-up options is what cost them at the business end of the current campaign.

William Saliba has missed the last ten Premier League games with a back injury, meaning Holding has had to fill in, and he has flattered to deceive, with journalist Charles Watts claiming he "really struggled" against City.

Jakub Kiwior has since been brought into the side, but he has also put in some subpar performances, receiving just a 6.1 Sofascore rating against Brighton, the lowest of any outfield player.

Holding has impressed at times during his Arsenal career, being hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, however it is time he moved on, to make way for better back-up options for Gabriel and Saliba.

Everton will need to dip into the transfer market this summer if they retain their Premier League status and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Michail Antonio?

According to talkSPORT's transfer expert Alex Crook, Everton are interested in signing West Ham United striker Michail Antonio this summer.

As per the report, it is claimed that Sean Dyche is in the market for a target man after a struggle for goals at Goodison Park and has Antonio in his sights once again after an offer was rebuffed in January for the centre-forward.

Would Michail Antonio be a good signing for Everton?

There is no doubt that Everton are desperate for a goal-scorer who can provide consistency in the final third following the departure of Richarlison last summer.

Indeed, the Toffees have Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in action at Goodison Park but his injury struggles over the last 18 months have left the club in a precarious position in the Premier League with consecutive relegation scraps leaving their top-flight status hanging in the balance.

As a result, there will be no room for error in the upcoming transfer window if Everton earn the chance to compete again next season, and Antonio could be the Romelu Lukaku-esque signing to get the Toffees firing again, with the positional peers sharing many similarities.

Everton have always thrived when they have had a powerful and dominant force in their striker role, whilst more lightweight options like Neal Maupay and Cenk Tosun have failed to make the impact needed, scoring 12 goals between them, of which only one belongs to the former.

A bullish physical specimen, you only need to look at the West Ham striker's physique to notice the comparison, but when it comes to their overall play, there are further similarities.

Indeed, when comparing Antonio and Lukaku in their last full Premier League season (2021/22) they came close in several attributes including shots on target rate (32.9% v 33.3%), successful take-ons (53.8% 52%) and shot-creating actions per 90 (2.94 v 2.83), as per FBref, proving they can use their destructive power to fight their way through defences.

The similarities haven't gone unnoticed between the two top-flight goal machines, with Brentford boss Thomas Frank comparing Antonio to the former Everton talisman last season:

"He's a handful, very, very difficult. He's a little bit like Lukaku in terms of the power and the speed but also a very good finisher."

The £85k-per-week titan – dubbed "strong" by Pep Guardiola – has scored 13 goals and registered five assists over the current campaign in all competitions, with a goal contribution every 139 minutes.

That is an output that would be valuable to Dyche next season if he can deliver similar numbers alongside Calvert-Lewin.

With that being said, Antonio is the perfect profile of striker to succeed at Everton if the club can secure his signature in the summer and would certainly add fantastic depth to the role with his Premier League experience.

Man City have been handed a welcome boost ahead of their Champions League match against Real Madrid with the news that three Galacticos stars are all likely to miss out for the Spanish side, as reported via journalist Gustavo Hofman.

What is the latest Man City team news?

Pep Guardiola's side have yet to win the Champions League but will hopeful of finally getting their hands on that elusive trophy this campaign.

They've reached the semi-final stage again, having done it three times in succession now, and come up against a Real Madrid side that saw off Premier League rivals Chelsea in the quarter-final stage. The La Liga giants pulled off a 4-0 aggregate victory over the Blues and prior to that also eased past Liverpool.

City themselves though managed to topple Bayern Munich in the previous round of the competition, beating them 4-1 over the course of two games and putting seven past RB Leipzig before that.

With City harbouring ambitions of getting all the way to the final again, they would have been handed a welcome boost then ahead of their first fixture against Madrid tonight. That's because the Spanish giants are set to be without two more stars, having already seen Eder Militao miss out through suspension.

According to journalist Gustavo Hofman, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos both missed Madrid's training final session ahead of the fixture against Man City. Luka Modric was another name who was nearly sidelined for the tie but boss Carlo Ancelotti has since revealed he can "play without problem." It means that the midfielder is now likely to play against Guardiola's outfit.

It will be a blow for Madrid, with Ceballos having played in six of the club's Champions League games so far this campaign and Mendy in five. However, it will be welcome news for City as they look to chase a win.

A welcome boost for Man City?

The news of these potential absentees will be pleasing for City and their fans, as they aim to try and overcome Madrid and try and get their hands on the Champions League.

Whilst there are more influential players that the club would more likely want to see on the sidelines – Modric has two goals and one assist so far in the competition for example and nearly did miss out – it will still hinder the La Liga side in their bid to reach another final.

Ceballos has seven goal contributions this campaign in all competitions, showing that he is a player well capable of getting the business done for Madrid, regularly used as an impact substitute. Mendy too has featured 25 times this year and has an assist to his name, showing that he remains an important player for the club. For both to miss out then is not going to help the Spanish side in the slightest.

انتقد ديفيد سيمان، أسطورة آرسنال والمنتخب الإنجليزي، حارس مرمى فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي مانشستر يونايتد، أندريه أونانا، بعد بدايته المخيبة للآمال هذا الموسم.

أونانا جاء مكان دي خيا قادمًا من إنتر ميلان في يوليو الماضي مقابل 47 مليون جنيه إسترليني، ولكن أخطاء الكاميروني كانت سببًا في تلقي النادي الإنجليزي العديد من الأهداف ومغادرة دوري أبطال أوروبا من الدور الأول.

طالع أيضًا.. مانشستر يونايتد يحسم موقف أونانا بشأن المشاركة أمام توتنهام

وفي تصريحات خلال بودكاست، قال ديفيد سيمان: “لقد قام أونانا ببعض التصديات الجيدة والغريبة، لكنه تلقى العديد من الأهداف السهلة وحاول أن ينقذ الموقف كثيرًا وفشل في ذلك”.

وواصل: “يبدو الأمر كما لو أنه لم يتلق الكثير من التدريب منذ صغره لأنه يتصدى بشكل غريب للغاية، لأن أسلوبه في التصدي للكرة مختلف تمامًا، والطريقة التي يتصدى بها أيضًا”.

واختتم: “هناك بعض الانتقادات التي تلقاها أونانا، وهناك الكثير من الأشياء الأخرى التي تقلق أي حارس مرمى تحدث حاليًا مع أونانا”.

Arsenal's academy production is revered across England, with the quality and consistency of emerging top-quality youngsters meaning the club often save millions.

Instead of having to go and purchase a world-class winger, Bukayo Saka was forged, and in the same vein, the squad need not be padded out with an expensive supporting cast as the likes of Rob Holding, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson all serve to occupy such roles.

However, it has been a tough past year for Emile Smith-Rowe, who has seen injuries blur his place within this squad.

Upon first emerging onto the scene, it was expected that he would reach the heights of the former, upholding an attacking line dominated by top Hale End graduates. However, a string of ailments has seen him perhaps dwindle into the latter category, somewhat forgotten amidst all the success in his absence.

The 22-year-old will seek to rectify that role however in the coming months, as he finally seems to have returned to fitness outlined in his recent cameos for both club and country.

His goal against France U21s on his comeback marked a cathartic moment for the young forward, who will seek to reignite a career that has already earned praise.

How much is Emile Smith-Rowe worth now?

Having made his debut as an 18-year-old, the trickster has actually been around the first team for many years now.

However, the pinnacle of the playmaker's tenure around the senior squad was certainly last season, as he notched double figures in the league for the first time in his career. The youngster was poised to improve upon that further before injury struck, but will now likely have to wait until next season to truly star again.

Whilst establishing himself as capable of competing at the top level, Smith-Rowe earned plenty of praise from a host of big names. Journalist Mark Mann-Bryans first noted the 6-foot starlet's emergence as a "game-changer" whilst speaking to Saka, before Arsenal legend Martin Keown suggested the talent was "special", and a "better player" than current captain Martin Odegaard.

Considering the importance of the Norway international in their current title charge, a player who has been involved in 17 goals this term – this claim only marks just how important the attacking midfielder was.

To exacerbate Smith Rowe's rise to the top, CIES Football Observatory notes a startling market value of £26m. Considering he cost nothing, the club have well and truly struck gold with the attacking midfielder's development.

Having finally started to make his long-awaited comeback, his return could prove a key factor in adding that fresh dynamic to bring the title back to the Emirates.

There appears to now be a frontrunner in Tottenham Hotspur's search for a successor to Antonio Conte at N17…

What's the latest on Thomas Frank to Spurs?

According to the Daily Record, the Lilywhites have seemingly identified Brentford manager Thomas Frank as the leading candidate to take charge of the club, with Conte facing an imminent exit after just 18 months at the helm.

The report suggests that provided the experienced Italian is shown the door, chairman Daniel Levy will hand the reigns to Ryan Mason on an interim basis until the end of the season, before naming a long-term appointment at a later stage.

As the piece also adds, despite Levy having sought out high-profile, marquee figures in the recent past in the form of both Conte and Jose Mourinho, the Englishman could now look to find a "project" manager who will be given time to build, such as the Bees boss.

Should Spurs appoint Thomas Frank?

Having gone down the short-term route of snapping up quick fixes such as Mourinho and Conte – both of whom have failed to deliver silverware despite being "serial winners", according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst – it looks as if it would be a wise decision to adopt a different approach this time around.

Although some may argue the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021 was a more left-field, radical move, the Portuguese coach had been something of a last resort after a succession of managers had snubbed the chance of taking the job, with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man also going into the role off the back of a disappointing campaign at Molineux – with the Old Gold finishing 13th.

Frank, by contrast, would be heading to north London following what has been a stunning campaign thus far at Brentford, with the impressive Dane having guided his side into European contention despite only securing promotion to the top flight ahead of the 2021/22 season.

After comfortably surviving last term, the west Londoners now have more lofty ambitions on their mind after moving into eighth in the table heading into the international break, with the 49-year-old having undoubtedly done an "unbelievable" job at the club to date, as per BBC pundit Alan Shearer.

As Shearer also outlined, Frank's men simply "fear no one" despite their relatively recent return to the top tier, having earned notable scalps against both Liverpool and Manchester United this season – hitting the latter side for four back in August.

Although the former Brondby boss – who took charge of his current side in 2018 after previously working as an assistant to Dean Smith – had suggested earlier this year that his side would need a "miracle" to find themselves competing near the top end of the table, on current form a place in Europe next season is not out of the question.

That fine work has ensured that Frank is more than deserving of a big move to one of the Premier League's 'big boys', with Tottenham likely hoping he could well be able to achieve a few more 'unbelievable' things were he to make the switch.

Piers Morgan was quick to slam Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst during the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United on Sunday. 

The Lowdown: Trophy drought over

The Red Devils ended their six-year wait for a trophy by lifting the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 victory at Wembley.

Erik ten Hag’s side took the lead thanks to a Casemiro header, with Marcus Rashford’s effort shortly afterwards deflecting off Sven Botman to double the advantage heading into half-time.

United put in a solid defensive display to keep out Eddie Howe’s side in the second half, picking up a first trophy of the season with the potential to win three more.

The Latest: Morgan slams Weghorst

Morgan – who conducted the notorious interview which led to Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt departure from United three months ago – took to Twitter during the early stages of the Wembley showpiece to share his thoughts on Weghorst.

He stated: “Manchester United fans trying to pretend they’d rather have Weghorst up front than Ronaldo is hilarious. He’s dreadful.”

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The Verdict: Eat your words, Piers…

Weghorst may have missed an early chance to give United the lead, miscuing an effort in the penalty box, but he certainly played his part in his team’s Wembley triumph.

As per Sofascore, the 30-year-old won five duels, made three tackles and had three shots on target  He also completed one key pass, putting in an effective display during his 70 minutes on the pitch before he was replaced by Scott McTominay.

He was actually United’s best-performing attacker on the day, ending with a match rating of 7.4/10, so he certainly wasn’t ‘dreadful’, as Morgan claimed, the Dutchman instead making one vocal detractor eat his words…