Mason Greenwood proved to be the hero for Marseille once again in their Ligue 1 meeting with Monaco. The former Manchester United winger, who has been in fine form this season, settled a keenly-fought contest at Stade Velodrome when firing home in the 82nd minute. That effort led to his manager, Roberto De Zerbi, celebrating wildly on the touchline.
West Ham United have surprised plenty of neutrals this season, remaining unbeaten in the opening four Premier League games, with only Manchester City earning more points than David Moyes' side.
Those at the London Stadium will just be hoping that the international break didn't halt their momentum entirely, and they simply pick up where they left off, starting with a clash against the treble winners at the top of the league table.
It hasn't been an international break full of good news, either, with reports emerging that one key player is now refusing a contract extension, casting doubts over his West Ham future.
What's the latest West Ham United news?
Since losing Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported £105m in the summer transfer window, West Ham have done well to pick themselves back up, both on and off the pitch.
Only time will tell, of course, whether their spending proves to be smart, but on paper the arrivals of the likes of Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, and Edson Alvarez all coming through the door certainly looks like solid business.
The focus now may well be on keeping hold of the players, given that they've just bid farewell to Rice in the summer transfer window. Unfortunately for the Hammers, though, they could be set to suffer another blow.
According to Sean Whetstone, via West Ham Football, Pablo Fornals has decided not to extend his contract at the London Stadium. West Ham Football Tweeted: "Hammer Pablo Fornals has decided NOT to take up an unilateral option to extend his contract at West Ham, nor has he agreed to sign a new contract meaning he will be free to leave next summer.
"Fornals signed a five-year contract in 2019 which will expire next June. He cost the Hammers £24m with up to £6m add-ons. Fornals has made 184 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions."
How has Pablo Fornals performed this season?
It would be some blow for West Ham if Fornals not only left, but left as a free agent next summer. The midfielder is still an important part of Moyes' side, having featured in all four Premier League games so far this season, with the London club leaving many impressed in the last month or so.
When on form, the Spaniard has deservedly received plenty of praise, including from Moyes, who said, via the official West Ham website: "Pablo is a player that we really like. He is a great energetic player who does great work for the team, and he also has a knack for coming up with goals. There was the one at Bournemouth and in the semi-final. He has been a great team player over the last two years, and I have really enjoyed working with him. He is a great boy.”
With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see how the Hammers act when the January transfer window comes around. With Fornals on course to leave for free next summer, they may yet decide to cash in on the midfielder, who has been at the club for four years now.
Facundo Pellisti has joined Granada on loan until the end of the season after struggling to hold down a place in Manchester United's starting XI.
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Pellistri moves to Granada on loanMade just one PL start this seasonAgent lashed out at Ten HagWHAT HAPPENED?
It is Pellistri's second loan spell in Spain after spending the second half of the 2020-21 season and the whole 2021-22 campaign with Alaves. The Uruguayan made 14 appearances this season for United but just one start in the Premier League, the 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace. Granada, who are second from bottom in La Liga will cover Pellistri's wages and pay an undisclosed loan fee to United.
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Pellistri grew frustrated with his lack of opportunities and before completing his move to Granada his agent took aim at United boss Erik ten Hag, hinting that the player is unlikely to return to Old Trafford for next season if the Dutchman remains in charge. "Ten Hag hasn’t used him, valued him, or treated him like a professional," Edgardo Lasalvia told . "Whether he returns to Manchester in the middle of the year will depend on the performance he shows. If Ten Hag continues, it’s going to be difficult."
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Pellistri is a Uruguay international with 18 caps under his belt. He has made 24 senior appearances for United throughout his career, and will now aim to feature regularly in Spain.
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Pellistri could make his debut for Granada at home to Las Palmas on Saturday. United are in Premier League action away to Wolves on Thursday, searching for their first league win since December 26.
The fast bowler believes South Africa have been disadvantaged in the chirping battle with Australia thanks to the disciplinary straitjacket put on their most combative personality
Firdose Moonda in Durban06-Mar-2018Dale Steyn believes the demerit points hanging over Kagiso Rabada has handicapped South Africa’s ability to be as noisy in the field as Australia. In an interview with South African radio station , Steyn said it was like “taking a knife to a gunfight”, and has been a “little bit unfair” on South Africa.Rabada has five demerit points to his name and has already been banned for a Test – the second Test against England last July – and if he collects three more he will be suspended for a minimum of two Tests, something neither he nor South Africa would want to risk. He has not had much verbal presence on the field, especially not compared to Australia, who have talked so much they even tried to get the stump mics turned off by mentioning rival sponsors’ names. Australia’s aggression did not even stop on the field. On the fourth day, David Warner had to be physically restrained by team-mates in the stairwell leading up to the changeroom and CCTV footage showed him shouting at Quinton de Kock.South Africa have had no real riposte and Steyn is thought to be the one player who might show similar anger. When Steyn was asked about his own persona on the field, and if South Africa have anyone else who can do that, he immediately mentioned Rabada, but admitted the young quick has not been as intimidating as he could be.”One other guy that actually gets involved is KG (Rabada) – he really does get stuck in,” Steyn said. “But I think after some of his last few incidents where he got into trouble – he got a ban and a fine and everything like that – he kind of has the handcuffs around him right now, which is a little unfair because if you look at the way some of the Aussies are going about it- and I’m not standing here and complaining, and I hope I don’t get a fine for saying that – but you kind of feel that you are taking out our best competitor, especially with that kind of presence, if you take him out of the game, it’s like taking a knife to a gunfight really. It’s a little bit unfair.”Rabada has only had two moments where it appeared he might become involved in some verbals. After dismissing Warner in the second innings, Rabada gave him a small send-off, but passed his arm over his face to make it difficult to hear or see what he was saying. Rabada also came out of the dressing room alongside Faf du Plessis when Warner was having a go at de Kock but did not say anything. Instead he just loomed large, perhaps with the aim to step in if needed.Meanwhile, Steyn remains on track to make a comeback for the third Test. He has not played any competitive cricket since the first Test against India in January, where he injured his heel on comeback from 13 months recovering from a shoulder injury. Steyn confirmed he is back to bowling but he has to play some first-class cricket before he can make an international return. He hoped he will be “on a cricket field by the end of next week.” He is likely to play for the Titans in a round of franchise matches which coincides with the second Test in a bid to make a return at Newlands, and take the three more wickets he needs to become South Africa’s leading Test bowler.
On a tour where more had been said about Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt than his batting he was able to let out a few emotions on the second day in Perth
George Dobell in Perth15-Dec-2017Jonny Bairstow ensured he had the last laugh after completing a maiden Ashes century.On the first night of this tour, Bairstow ventured to the Avenue bar in the suburbs of Perth and greeted Cameron Bancroft with a now notorious genial head-butt.While it took a few weeks for the incident to come to light – Australia used it in the second innings of the first Test to unsettle Bairstow and some have subsequently suggested it provides evidence of England’s “drinking culture” – it briefly threatened to disturb the focus of both Bairstow and the England camp.But upon reaching his century here, Bairstow kissed and then gently head-butted his England helmet several times in a clear and good-natured reference to the episode. It was a celebration that demonstrated both an ability to laugh at his own errors and suggested the incident had long been put behind him. And, as he said afterwards, it may well be the whole affair gave him made him “more determined to succeed.”With that context and the fact that it had taken Bairstow until his fourth Ashes series, his 12th Ashes Test and his 20th Ashes innings to make his first Ashes century, it was perhaps not surprising that he rated it his “favourite” Test century.”The hundred in many ways was my favourite one,” Bairstow said. “I’ve played in a few Ashes series now and to score an Ashes hundred – something that had eluded me until now – is something you dream about as a kid. This is the pinnacle of the game.”It means a heck of a lot to be involved in record stands. You want to make an Ashes hundred. You want to look back in the archives when you’re retired and say to your kids or your grandkids: ‘I made an Ashes hundred at the WACA’.”There’s a huge amount of pride that comes with any hundred and in playing for your country.”The celebration was a bit of light hearted fun and it should be taken as such. It was spontaneous. I hadn’t thought about it before.”Hopefully it is a positive reaction I have given in this innings. Sometimes the chat out there spurs people on and makes them more determined to succeed.”Jonny Bairstow celebrates his maiden Ashes hundred•Getty Images
Bairstow hadn’t scored a Test century since an unbeaten 167 against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in June 2016 – 21 Tests and 38 innings ago – though he made 99 against South Africa at Old Trafford in August. But here he posted a stand of 237 with Dawid Malan – a record for England’s fifth-wicket in Ashes cricket – to steer England from the peril of 131 for 4 to the relative comfort of 368 for 4 before a now familiar batting collapse.While Bairstow admitted the collapse was “frustrating” and the manner of Malan’s dismissal “disappointing”, he maintained a ‘glass half-full’ perspective.”It was disappointing the way he got out,” Bairstow said, “but the intent we showed in our batting was much better.”Maybe we’re frustrated in some ways, but it depends how you look at things. We were 100 for 4 at one stage. You can either think it was a fantastic recovery or you can look at it and say we’ve let our position slip.”Meanwhile the ECB confirmed Mark Wood would remain with the England squad after the end of the Lions tour on Sunday. There are currently no plans to retain the services of any of the other players in that squad, most of whom will arrive back in the UK on Monday.That means that, despite the failings of the top-order, England’s only obvious batting options for the final two Tests are Ben Foakes and Gary Ballance. While others are either in Australia or shortly will be – Jos Buttler, Jason Roy and Sam Billings are among those involved in the BBL while Sam Robson is spending time with his family in Sydney – there are currently no plans to utilise any of them in the Ashes.It remains to be seen how much of a role Craig Overton will play in the rest of the match. Overton was forced off the pitch for a while on the second day after jarring a rib as he attempted to claim a tough caught and bowled opportunity. He returned to the field before the close and it was not deemed necessary to send him for a scan. But he will be assessed by the medical team before play on the third day to ascertain his fitness to bowl.
Cristiano Ronaldo surprised the son of his former Real Madrid team-mate Marcelo by sending a special Christmas gift to Brazil.
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Pair spent nine years together at BernabeuWon domestic, continental & global prizesHave remained in contact since going separate waysWHAT HAPPENED?
The Portuguese superstar, who is now on the books of Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr, spent nine years working alongside Marcel at Santiago Bernabeu between 2009 and 2018. The pair enjoyed considerable success together, claiming two La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns and three FIFA Club World Cup triumphs – while Ronaldo became Los Blancos’ all-time leading goalscorer.
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Ronaldo and Marcelo had a good relationship on and off the field in Madrid, with the duo often seen joking around on the training pitch, but CR7 opted to take on a new challenge when leaving Spain for Serie A giants Juventus.
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He has clearly stayed in touch with Marcelo, who is back in his native Brazil at Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense, as a unique present has made its way from the Middle East to South America. Marcelo’s son was the starry-eyed recipient of that parcel, with the youngster posting on social media after unwrapping a signed Al-Nassr shirt from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner: “Thank you so much Cris. I love you. You are my idol @cristiano”
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WHAT NEXT FOR MARCELO?
There had been talk of Marcelo following Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia when he brought a brief spell at Greek side Olympiacos to a close in February 2023, but he said of returning to his homeland: “We talked about this some time ago. I had some proposals to leave, not just there [Al-Nassr], but I needed to return here [Brazil], to my roots. Something told me that I had to go back.”
Joey Barton was spotted in the Marseille away end at Brighton a week after he caused controversy with online sexist rants.
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Barton spotted in Marseille away end41-year-old saw OM lose 1-0 to BrightonBarton's sexist rants have caused outrageWHAT HAPPENED?
On Thursday evening Barton was spotted in the away end at Brighton's American Express Stadium, where he watched his former club Marseille lose 1-0 to the Seagulls in the Europa League. Last week, Barton caused controversy when he argued that women should not work in men's football as commentators and pundits.
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Last week Barton appeared on Talk TV's Piers Morgan Uncensored, and since then has doubled down on his stance with more inflammatory tweets. On Thursday he took a break from fighting his new cause to attend the match, where he posed for photos with fans of his former club.
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Barton only spent the 2012/13 season on loan at Marseille, but he has attended away fixtures on several occasions since. Last year he was photographed giving Tottenham fans the middle finger during Marseille's 0-2 Champions League group stage defeat.
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Barton's sexist rants have coincided with him teasing the launch of his new podcast in the new year. Whether the two are linked remains to be seen. On the pitch, Marseille advanced to the Europa League knockout stages as group runners-up, while Brighton went through as group winners.
Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek has sensationally offered himself to Barcelona as potential cover for the injured Gavi.
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Dutch midfielder struggling for game timeEndured a testing spell at Old TraffordLikely to be on the move in January windowWHAT HAPPENED?
The Liga giants are exploring their options heading towards the January transfer window. The intention at Camp Nou is to bring in another midfielder that can help to bolster Xavi’s ranks while teen sensation Gavi recovers from a season-ending ACL injury.
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A loan deal could be done in the winter window and, according to , Van de Beek is ready to answer the call in Catalunya. The Netherlands international midfielder has played just 21 minutes of football for United this season through two substitute appearances in Carabao Cup and Premier League competition.
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Van de Beek has struggled to make an impact since moving to Old Trafford from Ajax in 2020 and desperately needs a new challenge in order to get his faltering career back on track. He has already spent time on loan at Everton amid struggles for game time in Manchester and has made Barca aware that he would jump at the chance to join their cause.
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Van de Beek is, however, already being lined up for a move to Serie A giants Juventus. Talks are said to be taking place there regarding a six-month loan in Turin, but the 26-year-old could shun interest from the Bianconeri were Barcelona to decide that he could slot into their squad alongside fellow countryman and former Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong.
Tim Bresnan finished with 6 for 19 to close out victory for Yorkshire in front of a capacity Headingley crowd as the rain fell at the end of a must-win Roses clash
David Hopps11-Aug-2017Winning always matters in a Roses match and this extraordinary contest in front of a sellout Headingley crowd mattered more than most. Qualification for the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast felt at stake and it was Yorkshire who prospered in a remarkable climax played out in pouring rain which turned into one of the greatest nights in Tim Bresnan’s life.Four wickets in Bresnan’s last over – three to the bowler – represented quite a finale to a match taken by Yorkshire by 19 runs. Two fine catches in the deep to dismiss Dane Vilas and Jordan Clark in conditions which have traditionally been termed impossible, a run out of Steven Parry courtesy of Bresnan’s direct hit at the bowler’s end and, finally, the wrecking of Junaid Khan’s stumps left him beaming in disbelief.Tim Bresnan claimed career-best figures of 6 for 19•Getty Images
It all added up to figures of 6 for 19 – his best return in 15 years of professional cricket. When he first began as an 18-year-old he would not have imagined it would take place on a night like this.Blast comes out for LGBT cause
Rainbow stumps were the order of the day at all NatWest Blast matches as cricket joined Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign in the biggest show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that the English game has ever staged.
Stonewall’s research suggests that half of all sports fans have heard homophobic abuse in sport in the past five years, although the figure drops to only one in six at live cricket matches.
Robbie De Santos, Head of Campaigns at Stonewall, said: “It’s great that cricket has joined our campaign. We know from our research that across all sports there are LGBT people who don’t feel welcome or able to be themselves. Our campaign is aimed at making sport, whatever sport that is, everyone’s game.”
A wet outfield even tempted him into a football-style celebratory knee-slide across the turf. “Why am I knee sliding? I am 32 years old,” he said afterwards. “On nights like this, it feels as good as an international. You need to test yourself when the pressure is on.”The weather has been abominable in this year’s Blast and so it was that Bresnan stood at the end of his run, running the ball desperately with a cloth, with Lancashire needing 23 off the last over. Cricket has often termed such conditions unplayable, but positive attitudes from players, umpires and fans alike have kept the tournament’s head above water.When David Willey grimaced and limped off after taking a catch in the final over, it warned of the dangers, but replays suggested the condition of the outfield was immaterial as he landed heavily on his knee.Yorkshire had other heroes in Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, whose uninhibited opening stand of 95 in eight overs was an emphatic rejection of Yorkshire’s recent poor form. But on another night, in another place, Matt Parkinson, Lancashire’s 20-year-old legspinner, would have been hailed the matchwinner for his nerveless 4 for 23.As it was, the 40th anniversary of one of Yorkshire’s greatest outpourings of national pride – Geoffrey Boycott’s 100th hundred, reached with perfect timing during a Test against Australia at Headingley – was marked by a presentation in mid-innings by the Yorkshire chairman Steve Denison.Yorkshire and Lancashire began the night locked in equal fifth (Yorkshire will point out they were ahead on run rate) and with only three matches left it felt as if there would be no way back for the losers. For both Yorkshire, who had briefly led the table before losing their last three games, and Lancashire who had won only one of their last five, the decline in fortunes had been abrupt. Other results went Lancashire’s way so they have not entirely lost hope.Perhaps it was the sense of now-or-never that stung Yorkshires openers into action, or perhaps it was just the urging on of a raucous capacity crowd. Lyth and Kohler-Cadmore tore into the match with a vengeance. Their assault included seven sixes and only one of them, when Lyth struck Junaid Khan down the ground, needed a prayer to clear the field.Yorkshire never remotely matched the same standards again as Lancashire, initially under the cosh, conceded only 87 from the next 12 overs and dragged themselves back into the match.Lyth and Kohler-Cadmore offer a good blend. Lyth has the dash of D’Artagnan, hitting through the line, favouring flourishes square of the wicket and slog sweeps. Kohler-Cadmore, whose move from Worcestershire has not brought instant rewards, is an imposing figure who prefers to bully the bowlers; his 45 was his best return of the season.By the time Parkinson took to the stage, Yorkshire were 85 off seven overs and the crowd were lapping it up. Parkinson’s T20 experience amounted to only eight wickets in six games, and as rain began to fall steadily, he must have been struggling to grip the ball. But he flighted and landed it throughout and only with his last ball, an overpitched delivery that Shaun Marsh pummelled to the boundary, did his accuracy err.Adam Lyth swung four sixes in his 50 from 29 balls•Getty Images
Lyth fell for 50 from 29 balls at the end of Parkinson’s first over, his slog-sweep falling short, the signal for a break for rain. When the match resumed, Parkinson was still on song: Kohler-Cadmore’s straight hit at the end of his second over lacked the legs and was held by Steven Croft despite Arron Lilley being in disturbingly close proximity.Willey briefly threatened havoc, but the first time he tried to go big against Parkinson, he was picked up at long-on. That left Sarfraz Ahmed, a short-term overseas replacement who, like many short-term overseas replacements, did not seem attuned to the task and soon mishit to long-on, a fine diving catch by Croft.Yorkshire were never the same again. Parry added to the spinners’ tally when Marsh toed one into the leg side, Junaid produced impressive sleight of hand at the death and apart from a burst of three boundaries in eight balls by Jack Leaning, Yorkshire managed only one in the last nine overs.The lack of power hitting in the second half of the order remains a weaknesses that will cost them dear if a solution is not found.Yorkshire’s response in the field was a good one: openers Karl Brown and Liam Livingstone removed in the space of three balls in Bresnan’s second over. He had 2 for 4 in two overs, including nine dot balls and a dropped catch, while Willey went for 27. Lilley followed courtesy of a wonderful catch by Leaning, who would have filled his father Andy, a former professional goalkeeper, with pride as he leapt and held on above his head on the cover boundary. On such a mucky night, the catching was exceptional, and this was one was about to go viral.That brought in Jos Buttler, at 72 for 3 from nine overs, a street behind what Yorkshire were at the same stage, not that it mattered. Headingley felt his matchwinning 71 not out from 35 balls two years earlier and knew the danger he possessed. Steve Patterson prevented a repeat, holding a return catch as Buttler failed to work into the leg side.Amid it all, Croft, built a half-century in 38 balls, slog-sweeps to the fore, but Yorkshire’s spinners were also hard to counter. Adil Rashid’s legspin accounted for Croft in his last over, thrown flat and wide for Sarfraz to complete the stumping to end his innings of 52 from 46 balls. Between them, Rafiq and Rashid bowled eight overs for 53.Rain returned with three overs remaining. Wet ball in his hands, rain splattering his face, Bresnan yorked Ryan McLaren. That all but settled it, although even 53 from three overs seemed possible as the rain fell. Then came Bresnan’s final flourish. Yorkshire are still alive. Lancashire will fear the worst.
Paul Collingwood starred with bat and ball at Gosforth as Leicestershire never recovered from a disastrous start
ECB Reporters Network05-May-2017
ScorecardPaul Collingwood starred with bat and ball [file picture]•Getty ImagesPaul Collingwood hurried Durham to a five-wicket Royal London Cup win against Leicestershire at the South Northumberland club ground in Gosforth.After taking 3 for 42 in dismissing the visitors for 211 with one ball unused, Collingwood went in at 122 for 3 and remained unbeaten on 65.Leicestershire were brought swiftly back to earth after their 103-run win against Warwickshire, slumping to 13 for 4 after losing an important toss.Fresh from his 153, Mark Pettini edged Chris Rushworth’s second ball of the match behind and although the pitch appeared to have good carry, Cameron Delport and Aadil Ali both lobbed up easy catches from mistimed drives.They provided James Weighell with the first two of his four wickets, the third coming when Ned Eckersley also surrendered by hooking straight to long leg.Mark Cosgrove was beginning to look dangerous when, on 21, his attempted pull off Paul Coughlin flew off the top edge over the wicketkeeper for six. But, on 37, he clipped Collingwood straight to deep square leg.At 68 for 6, Zak Chappell went in and remained unbeaten in compiling his maiden one-day half-century. He reached 50 with a fierce pull wide of long-on off a slower ball by Weighell and had eight other boundaries in his 59 off 82 balls.Lewis Hill was the second-highest scorer with 44 before he clipped Collingwood to mid-wicket and was brilliantly caught by Keaton Jennings, diving to his left. Dieter Klein helped Chappell add 73 in 17 overs for the ninth wicket before he heaved across the line in the 49th over and was bowled by Weighell for 26.When Durham replied, left-armer Klein surprised Jennings with a full toss which had the Durham captain lbw for 12. But Michael Richardson was soon in full flow as two cuts off Gavin Griffiths flew to the boundary.Richardson reached 50 off 65 balls but then went back for a second run to third man and found himself at the same end as Stephen Cook with the throw heading for the other end.Cook was bowled for when trying to run Tom Wells to third man then Cameron Steel fell lbw to a yorker in the same over with 33 still needed. But Collingwood hit two sixes and six fours in his 45-ball half-century and quickly finished the job.