Mikel Arteta has been tipped to leave Arsenal if the Gunners miss out on silverware next season as Jamie Carragher hit out at his "excuses".
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Arsenal falter again in the final lap
Remain trophyless for another season under Arteta
FA Cup success in 2020 remains the only silverware
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Arsenal’s hopes of ending their long wait for silverware were dashed once again following their Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The defeat at Parc des Princes means the North London side will finish a fifth successive season without lifting a major trophy, their last success being the FA Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2020.
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Despite the defeat, Arteta maintained that his side had outperformed their French opponents across both legs. He insisted that Arsenal deserved a place in the final, arguing that the overall display was more deserving than the result suggested.
WHAT CARRAGHER SAID
Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher was among those who questioned Arteta’s reaction. Writing in Carragher criticised the Arsenal manager for what he described as "excuse-laden" remarks, likening them to fan reactions often seen on social media.
He wrote: "Some of Arteta’s most recent public comments have veered into that territory, making him sound more like a fan on social media perpetuating a series of complaints about injuries and refereeing decisions. His remarks about Arsenal deserving to beat Paris St-Germain over two legs in the Champions League semi-final left him open to ridicule. Luis Enrique’s side have been by far the best side in this year’s competition, and they showed their class in both games."
Carragher further noted that while injuries can derail a season, every title contender faces adversity. He cited Manchester City’s struggles during Rodri’s absence as an example, suggesting that Arteta’s focus on such incidents does little to justify the bigger picture.
"One club’s valid explanations for ‘failure’ are everyone else’s lame excuses. That is especially true with regard to injuries. We could go through many league seasons in which the runners-up could point to ‘if only’ moments," he wrote.
"Every neutral football supporter knows that the injury that truly transformed this season was Rodri’s against Arsenal last September – the first of many games Arteta’s side should have won but ended up drawing. Would a fit Rodri have altered the title race and prevented a Liverpool procession? We will never know. More importantly, when a season is reviewed, such facts become incidental, no matter how influential they were at the time."
DID YOU KNOW?
Carragher stressed that Arteta’s tenure, although marked by substantial progress, is now at a crossroads. If Arsenal are to avoid a cycle of near misses, the upcoming season must yield tangible rewards.
"Arteta has so much credit in the bank, it is fair and right, there is more resistance to managerial change at Arsenal than desire for it," he said.
"But no one understands better than him that all the goodwill for creating an Arsenal team capable of winning is gone. Arteta must deliver next season, otherwise his legacy will be years of groundwork for the benefit of a successor who will be asked to add the finishing touches."
تحدث خوان لابورتا رئيس نادي برشلونة الإسباني في مقابلة مع شبكة قنوات “سي إن إن” عن باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا.
كما أشاد لابورتا بالنظام الجديد لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، واعتبره خطوة إلى الأمام تعزز من قوة البطولة، وأوضح رئيس برشلونة: “النظام الجديد لدوري أبطال أوروبا يُحسن مستوى المنافسة”.
وأفاد لابورتا بأنه يعتقد أن برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان هما الفريقان في أفضل حالاتهما ويلعبان أفضل كرة قدم في البطولة.
وأضاف: “من المؤسف أننا لم نتمكن من مواجهة بعضنا البعض في نهائي العام الماضي، أو في كأس العالم للأندية”.
وأشار: “كل من يحب كرة القدم قال في الموسم الماضي أن برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان هما الفريقان اللذان يقدمان أفضل كرة قدم في العالم”.
اقرأ أيضًا | حقيقة ارتداء خوان جارسيا الرقم 1 في برشلونة
وأوضح: “باريس سان جيرمان لديه فريق رائع ومدرب رائع، يلعبون كرة قدم رائعة، من المؤسف أننا لم نتمكن من مواجهة بعضنا البعض لأننا كنا الفريق الأكثر تنافسية، عالم كرة القدم ينتظر تلك المباراة بفارغ الصبر”.
واختتم: “نأمل أن نواجه باريس سان جيرمان هذا الموسم حتى نتمكن من معرفة من هو الأفضل”.
Arsenal could now miss out on signing an “elite” £50m player, with Real Madrid confident about winning the race for his signature, according to a report.
Mikel Arteta keen on a midfielder
There were no new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window, with Mikel Arteta opting to wait until the end of the season before making any new additions to his squad.
There have been widespread calls for the Gunners to sign a striker, with doubt remaining over whether Kai Havertz is good enough to lead the line for a Premier League title-winning side, while Arteta also wants to strengthen the spine of his team.
It recently emerged the north Londoners are vying for the signature of Chris Rigg, with Sunderland now willing to sanction the midfielder’s departure for a fee of £25m in the summer.
Arsenal keen on "special" £25m ace who's now available to sign this summer
The Gunners have set their sights on a hot prospect, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.
ByDominic Lund Feb 9, 2025
At just 17 years old, Rigg is likely to be one for the future, but Arsenal are also keen on a player perhaps capable of making a more immediate impact, and it has long been expected that Martin Zubimendi will move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
However, there has now been a worrying twist in the transfer saga, with reports from Spain revealing Real Madrid are now confident about winning the race for Zubimendi, as they believe he could be tempted by the opportunity to remain in his home country.
The Gunners aren’t going down without a fight, however, with the report revealing they are still pushing to get a deal done, as they are convinced the Spaniard would fit perfectly into their team.
Arteta is not willing to give up, and the north Londoners remain well-placed to win the race, but there will certainly be concern about Madrid’s interest as it looked like he was on course to move to the Emirates.
Zubimendi would be an "elite" signing for Arsenal
Arsenal are already well-stocked in central midfield, with Declan Rice once again emerging as one of their best-performing players in the Premier League this season, but the Real Sociedad star could take them to the next level.
The 26-year-old, who is expected to cost £50m, has been lauded for his ability in possession of the ball by scout Ben Mattinson.
Not only that, but the Spain international is also capable of pitching in defensively, ranking in the 90th percentile for clearances per 90, and the 90th percentile for aerials won when compared to his positional peers.
It will be a real concern that Madrid fancy their chances of winning the race for Zubimendi, but there is no reason to panic at this stage, with Arsenal still well-placed to get a deal done, and they can boost their chances with a strong finish to the season.
Kurtis Patterson will not be New South Wales Sheffield Shield captain next season with incoming coach Greg Shipperd hoping a return to the ranks will help revive his batting.Patterson, who played two Tests for Australia in 2019, took on the NSW role ahead of the 2021-22 season when he replaced Peter Nevill. They finished fourth in the Shield that season before ending bottom last summer with Patterson dropped for the final match against South Australia.Overall he averaged 29.78 last season with one century and scored just two hundreds during his time as captain.Related
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Since his brief Test appearances, where he made a century in his second outing against Sri Lanka in Canberra, Patterson has struggled to make runs consistently with just three first-class hundreds in the next four seasons.”That was a disappointing finish for the season for Kurtis,” Shipperd said. “I’ve had contact with him today and we’ve identified some areas of his game and thinking. Losing the captaincy will allow him to concentrate fully on performing at his best.”You can get consumed by captaincy and he gave it a terrific shot I’ve got to say while I was there, it was team first and him second. We can flip that balance around next season and make sure we get him back playing as well as he’s ever played.”Moises Henriques stepped in as captain the final Shield game of last season but Shipperd said he and Greg Mail, NSW’s head of performance, still needed to work through who would take the role permanently.”That’s a really important discussion to have,” he said. “We do have some candidates that I think could comfortably do the job so it’s about when I get up to Sydney next, sitting down with Greg and the team and those candidates and make sure we get the best decision out of it.”More broadly, Shipperd acknowledged it was the batting that really needed to lift for NSW although he had been encouraged by some late-season performances from younger players Ryan Hackney, Jack Edwards and Blake MacDonald – the latter earning his first contract. However, of those to play more than three matches, allrounder Chris Green topped the averages at 41.42.”It’s a complicated judgement when you are just looking at figures,” Shipperd said. “I, like others, was a little bit alarmed that our younger batting group were tracking along in the mid-20s as averages.”In my discussions with the players I was quite frank in terms of suggesting that success in first-class level is averaging above 40 with the capacity to have an out season and averaging over 60. So setting the bar quite high for those players and it was pleasing that four of them in response in the back end of the season averaged over 40, but that’s just the start.”Shipperd also hoped that NSW would be able to play a greater proportion of their home Shield matches at the SCG so there was more of a home-ground feel to being in Sydney. The T20 World Cup last season restricted how much it could be used in the first half of the summer but for a number of years the team has regularly gone to suburban and intra-state grounds.The players now have a permanent training base at the new Cricket Central facility which opened last season and there are plans for it to host top-level state matches. Following his retirement, Trent Copeland noted he had never had his own locker throughout his career.”Essentially we have had no home ground, no training facility that is always our own,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “That’s now changed. Then we’re playing one to three games at the SCG and then grade grounds and country grounds where we stand there at the toss and we have no idea essentially on how to build a game plan, what to do at the toss or even a best guess on what the pitch is going to play like, versus our opposition that are walking into the same venue every game. So these are a few of the little challenges that I think are going to start to be naturally fixed.”
Manchester City have wasted no time in filling the famous No.10 shirt, handing it to French prodigy Rayan Cherki in the wake of Jack Grealish’s departure to Everton. The 21-year-old arrived from Lyon just before the FIFA Club World Cup in a deal worth €36 million (£30.5m), with further add-ons potentially inflating the fee.
Cherki takes City’s iconic No.10 shirtGrealish heads to Everton on loanGuardiola eyes fresh start for new season at MolineuxFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Cherki’s move is being billed as a long-term masterstroke, with City seeing him as a creative spark to help bridge the gap left by the exits of club icon Kevin De Bruyne and now Grealish. Known for his silky close control and ability to glide past defenders, the youngster has been on City’s radar since emerging as a standout talent in Ligue 1.
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Last season, Cherki notched the joint-highest number of assists (11) in the French top flight and was one of only two non-Paris Saint-Germain players to earn a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season. Soon, after his unveiling, he hinted at his preferred playing position, which aligns with his jersey number, "I prefer to play No.10, but right now I just want to play. Where I am on the pitch is not important; I just want to be on the pitch and help the team to win. I am ready.”
DID YOU KNOW?
While Cherki’s arrival marks a new chapter, Grealish’s loan move to Everton marks the end of a turbulent period at City. The England international, signed for a British-record fee in 2021, has struggled for consistency under Guardiola and saw his minutes dwindle last season.
Now heading to Merseyside on a season-long loan, Grealish will work under David Moyes in what could be a career-defining stint. Everton have secured an option to make the deal permanent next summer for around £50 million ($67m), a figure that could tempt City to cut ties for good if the 29-year-old flourishes.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
Pep Guardiola’s men will begin their Premier League campaign on Saturday with a trip to Molineux to face Wolves. After an underwhelming season, as per City's high standards, they will look to dethrone Liverpool from the perch and reclaim domestic dominance.
Bashir, Hartley, Tongue, Turner and Cook among notable inclusions for tour in new year
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2024
Rocky Flintoff made his Under-19 Test debut in the summer•ECB via Getty Images
Rocky Flintoff has been handed an official call-up to the England Lions squad for next month’s tour of Australia, where his fortunes will once again be overseen by his father, Andrew.Flintoff, 16, was a last-minute addition to the Lions’ trip to South Africa earlier this month – his father’s maiden tour as head coach – where he featured in the one-off tour match against a CSA Invitational XI in Cape Town, making 4 from three balls in his only innings.His inclusion continues a startling rise, which began with his precocious displays for Lancashire 2nd XI in April, continued through his multi-format debuts for England’s Under-19 teams against Sri Lanka in July, and culminated in his first professional contract with Lancashire in August and subsequent first-class debut.Now he has been included in a Lions tour that could offer several pointers for the senior squad’s challenge in next year’s Ashes, not least for the incumbent Test spinner, Shoaib Bashir, for whom this will be an opportunity to fine-tune his game in Australian conditions.Bashir, 21, was himself fast-tracked by England for the tour of India in January, and has played in 15 of England’s 17 Tests in 2024. He will travel under the tutelage of Graeme Swann, the offspinner who played a key role in England’s last Ashes win in Australia in 2010-11, and will have the opportunity to play in three competitive fixtures in Brisbane and Sydney, culminating in an unofficial Test against Australia A. Lancashire’s left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who featured in all five Tests in India but has not been picked since, will also make the trip.Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, had flagged the likelihood of Bashir’s inclusion in the Lions back in October, with the sense emerging from his recent displays in Pakistan and New Zealand, where he took 17 wickets at 50.58 in six Tests, that his game has not progressed quite as quickly as England had hoped.Shoaib Bashir could play a key role in next winter’s Ashes•Getty Images
“For Bash, the opportunity to be able to get some experience in those conditions could be really vital for us,” McCullum said in October, at the conclusion of the Pakistan tour. “That’s the beauty of the Lions programme, you have the opportunity to get some cricket into guys. With Freddie there as well now and in charge of the Lions, he’s got a very similar view on the game to what I’ve got, so there’ll be consistency of message and that’s something that we’ve got to look at.”Among the fast bowlers, Josh Tongue is a notable inclusion. He made two Test appearances at Lord’s in 2023, where he impressed with his sharp pace and ability to generate steep bounce from a good length, but has been sidelined by injury for long periods, including a setback that ruled him out of a possible white-ball debut in the Caribbean in November.He has been handed a call-up alongside John Turner, another quick bowler who is capable of 90mph pace, and Essex’s Sam Cook – one of the most prolific bowlers in county cricket, but whose opportunities had previously been limited by James Anderson’s presence in the England set-up.Related
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Steady Bashir helps put positive spin on England's day
Josh Hull, the 20-year-old Leicestershire left-armer who made a surprise Test debut against Sri Lanka in September, has not been included in the main squad but will travel to Australia as he continues his rehabilitation from a quad injury.Among the batters, Alex Davies is rewarded for a strong season with Warwickshire, for whom he made four centuries in his maiden year as captain, while Somerset’s wicketkeeper-batter James Rew is also included.England Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney, said: “We have rewarded players who have proven themselves at this level and those with significant potential. Matches and tours of Australia are always important and we relish the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition. This tour allows us to evaluate performances, refine preparation and continue working with some of the best emerging talent in the country.”I’m also delighted to see Josh Tongue returning to competitive cricket. Josh has had a challenging time with injuries but is progressing well and will benefit from this tour as he steps up his preparation. We hope this marks the start of a prosperous and impactful return to cricket for him in 2025.”Squad: Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Pat Brown (Derbyshire), James Coles (Sussex), Sam Cook (Essex), Alex Davies (Warwickshire), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire), Ben McKinney (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire), Mitch Stanley (Lancashire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), John Turner (Hampshire).Fixtures: Jan 14-17 – CA XI vs Lions, Shaw Park (Brisbane), Jan 22-25 – CA XI vs Lions, Allan Border Field (Brisbane), Jan 30-Feb 2, Australia A vs England Lions, Cricket Central (Sydney).
Ellyse Perry, who recently suffered a hip injury, could be a doubtful starter for RCB
S Sudarshanan13-Feb-20254:05
Mandhana: WPL has taught me a lot, not just captaincy
Who’s playing
Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, February 14, 2025, 7.30pm IST
What to expect: Mandhana vs Gardner
No bowler has dismissed Smriti Mandhana more often than Ashleigh Gardner in Women’s T20s or in ODIs. With Gardner assuming the captaincy of Giants, she could look to bring herself on early against the RCB captain. With Mandhana in sublime form, it could be an interesting contest.Two of Giants’ four wins across two seasons of the WPL have come against RCB, including their first-ever victory.Related
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Can new captain Gardner change Giants' fortunes?
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Team news and likely XIs: Mooney’s opening partner, Perry’s fitness in focus
The choice of Beth Mooney’s opening partner could pose a headache for Giants. Given Deandra Dottin commands a place in the XI, only one of Laura Wolvaardt and Phoebe Litchfield might find a place in the XI.Gujarat Giants (probable): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Laura Wolvaardt, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Deandra Dottin, 5 Dayalan Hemalatha, 6 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 7 Simran Shaikh, 8 Sayali Satghare, 8 Meghna Singh, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Kashvee Gautam, 11 Shabnam Shakil/Mannat Kashyap.Ellyse Perry is heading into WPL 2025 on the back of suffering a hip injury during the Women’s Ashes Test in Melbourne. She could take the No. 4 spot in the absence of Sophie Devine. If Perry does not pull up well for the opening game, RCB could go with Georgia Wareham at No. 4 and play Charlie Dean as well. The injury to Asha Sobhana, a sure-starter who has been ruled out of the tournament, adds to the selection complications for them.1:43
With their acrimonious equation from WPL 2023 behind them, Deandra Dottin could be key to Giants’ success. She made a successful return to internationals just ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, where she was West Indies’ leading run-scorer while picking up five wickets at an economy rate of 5.42. In the home T20Is against Bangladesh, Dottin scored 110 in three games at a strike rate of 203.70. Having played ODIs against India at the Kotambi Stadium, Dottin would have an idea of what to expect, and Giants would want her to step up with the ball too, especially at the death.4:32
RCB will have it tough against well-rounded Giants
Very few Indian players in the WPL can do what Richa Ghosh can – finish matches as a power-hitter. With RCB battling player-unavailability and fitness issues, Ghosh will be a vital cog in that middle order. She showed good hitting form in the home season against West Indies and Ireland. RCB relied on her prowess last year to win the title. She is third in the list of most sixes in the WPL; expect her to move up as the season progresses. How she does could well decide how the defending champions start their campaign.
Key stats
Ashleigh Gardner is Giants’ leading run-scorer (324) as well as wicket-taker (17)
Giants have had eight opening pairs in the two years, the most in the WPL.
Giants have hit 43 sixes in the WPL, the fewest among all teams.
RCB have two bowlers in their squad with T20I hat-tricks – Ekta Bisht and Heather Graham.
The visitors’ fast bowling will challenge Australia’s in-form batters but South Africa’s fragile batting needs to set decent totals to defend
Ian Chappell18-Dec-2022History – even the most recent version – has shown that fast bowlers play a crucial role in winning in Australia. In the last 15 years only two teams, South Africa and India, have beaten Australia at home in a test series more than once. In each case – Dale Steyn in South Africa’s and Jasprit Bumrah in India’s – a fast bowler played a leading role.That’s not to say a paceman did it all on his own – they had plenty of help – but the fast bowlers set a leading example. The most remarkable of those victories was India’s in 2020-21, when they were bundled out for 36, had their captain then fly home, lost Bumrah to injury in the final Test, and yet still narrowly beat Australia at Fortress Gabba.That was an incredible feat led by India’s then junior fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.Related
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If you fully explore Australia’s Test history, the importance of pace is brought home even more starkly. In 1932-33, England dominated, with Harold Larwood being the genuine pace-bowling threat. England, whose wiser captains Len Hutton and Ray Illingworth plumped for pace, again dominated Australia with Frank “Typhoon” Tyson in 1954-55 and John Snow in 1970-71 being the successful pace bowlers.Then it was the turn of West Indies for a period of 14 years, where they monstered Australia at home, winning four times with a successful quartet of very fine fast bowlers.That turns the spotlight back on South Africa, who arrived this month in Australia with a fine quartet of fast bowlers. In Kagiso Rabada they have a proven pace bowler in Australia. However, in addition they have Anrich Nortje who bowls at genuine pace; Lungi Ngidi, who is a clever fast bowler; and left-armer Marco Jansen, who swings the ball at a good speed.There is no doubt that South Africa have the fast-bowling quality to succeed in Australia. The big question is whether the fragile batting can produce enough runs to give their bowlers a shot at victory. Through the previous winning sequences in Australia, there was always at least one class batter in the opposition who helped the fast bowlers make victory possible.This is where South Africa fall down, as they only have their captain, Dean Elgar, as a proven performer in Australia. Elgar is a tough competitor but not a class batter. South Africa will require useful contributions from their other batters if they are going to produce match-winning totals.Adding to South Africa’s batting troubles is the Australian attack. The strength of Australia and a big reason for their recent success at home has been a very strong bowling squad. Even slightly depleted with the loss of Josh Hazlewood from at least the Gabba Test, Australia are still strong in bowling.However, what will give South Africa heart is that India defeated Australia when the home side’s full bowling quartet was in operation at the Gabba. Nevertheless, it still required some remarkably aggressive batting from India to defeat Australia’s attack, led by the indefatigable Pat Cummins.Despite Australia’s bowling prowess, it will be the form of their best quickie in captain Cummins who will test the fate of the South African batters. If they handle Cummins well or he is injured, Australia will have to rely on the other fast bowlers to fill the void.What South Africa’s pace quartet will do if they bowl well in Australia is fully test in-form batters who haven’t been properly subjected to a top-class bowling attack for a while.Much of South Africa’s success or otherwise will come down to the leadership of Elgar. If he captains the bowlers wisely so they trouble Australia’s batters, it will become a winning contest. If, however, the Australian batters are able to counter their pace opponents, the home side will prevail comfortably.While genuine fast bowling provides a reliable path in Australia, it doesn’t always guarantee victory. To win, South Africa need to bowl and field superbly, as well as produce some decent totals.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney appears to have put his managerial ambitions on hold after announcing a new podcast.
Rooney puts management on back burnerMan Utd icon back in punditryEx-England man launches new podcastFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 39-year-old has been back in punditry after being sacked by Plymouth Argyle late last year. And this week, the former England international and his wife, Coleen, celebrated the launch of his new podcast, 'The Wayne Rooney Show', at a special BBC event.
AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentWHAT ROONEY SAID
He wrote on Instagram: "Great event last night celebrating the start of a new football season with @bbcsport and the launch of my new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show! Episode 1 is out now, available on @bbciplayer, @bbcsport YouTube, and @bbcsounds."
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The former Everton man is taking a break from management after two disastrous spells at Plymouth and Birmingham City. The ex-striker has proven that not all great players make great managers, and now Rooney is deciding to go down the punditry route for the foreseeable future.
Getty Images/GOALWHAT NEXT?
After hitting back at minority Birmingham owner Tom Brady in the first episode of his new show, following the NFL icon's critique of his "work ethic" at the West Midlands club, more fireworks could happen in Rooney's podcast next week.
da brwin： When it comes to the greatest Chelsea players of the last 15 years or so, it’s impossible to look past Eden Hazard.
da betway： The Belgian wizard joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 and, over the next seasons, made 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals, providing 88 assists, and winning a host of trophies, including two Premier Leagues.
The international superstar was more than just output, though; he was an entertainer, someone who could make something of anything, and a legend of the league.
So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to another superstar who could become their new Hazard.
Chelsea target their new Eden Hazard
The transfer window reopens in just over a month, and as a result, Chelsea are being linked with some seriously exciting players.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, for example, has been touted for a £79m move to Stamford Bridge, as has Nottingham Forest’s defensive powerhouse Murillo.
Yet, while both would improve the Blues’ squad and potentially the starting lineup, neither can be described as the next Hazard, unlike Vinícius Júnior.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are one of a few teams keen on signing the Real Madrid winger.
In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, the West Londoners are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature, while Manchester United trail behind.
However, on top of the competition, the Blues will have to stump up a fee of up to £100m to secure the superstar’s signature.
It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Vini Jr’s immense ability, it’s one Chelsea should be all over, especially as he could be another Hazard.
Why Vini Jr would be another Hazard for Chelsea
Now, while Vini Jr obviously isn’t a carbon copy of Hazard, there are undeniable similarities between the two.
For example, in addition to sharing a position with him, the Brazilian is also a winger most would describe as an entertainer; he is not merely efficient.
In other words, the 25-year-old is more than happy to take on an opposition defender, is capable of scoring a myriad of goals and isn’t afraid of pulling off a trick or two, even if he sometimes gets heat for doing so.
While this is all obvious from simply watching the former Flamengo gem play, it’s also borne out in his underlying numbers.
For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90.
Simply put, the São Gonçalo-born star is someone who wants to carry the ball into dangerous areas and is one of the very best at doing so.
With all that said, while Vini Jr has the entertainment side of Hazard to his own game, he’s also as, if not more, dangerous when it comes to backing that up with output.
Vini Jr’s Madird record
Appearances
340
Starts
267
Minutes
24,291′
Goals
111
Assists
92
Points per Game
2.15
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, in 340 appearances, for Los Blancos, totalling 24291 minutes, he has scored 111 goals and provided 92 assists.
That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.67 games, or every 119.66 minutes, which is even more impressive when you consider his slow start in Madrid.
With numbers like those, and the fact he’s one of the few players in the world guaranteed to get fans on their feet, it’s hard to disagree with Ronaldo’s assertion that he is “the best player in the world.”
Therefore, while it will cost an arm and a leg, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Vini Jr, especially as he could be their next Hazard.
Chelsea: Enzo Maresca provides major Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal
The Blues are set for a mouth-watering Premier League clash this weekend.