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Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur is set to extend his stay at the club after enjoying a fabulous start under the tutelage of new manager Patrick Vieira.

What’s the story?

According to LondonWorld, the 34-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on fresh terms over the coming weeks, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2022.

The report states that: “LondonWorld understands that both the player and club have agreed to extend their time together for another year, and they are just working out the final details before the former Scotland international puts pen to paper.”

There’s no indication of how long the proposed deal would be, but given his age, it would likely be a one-year extension.

Crystal Palace fans will be elated

McArthur arrived at Selhurst Park via a £5.5m move from Wigan Athletic back in 2014 and has gone on to establish himself as a mainstay in the capital club’s engine room, making 238 appearances in all competitions.

The former Hamilton Academical academy graduate hit 300 appearances in England’s top-flight before the recent international break, and the Accies academy director George Cairns lauded the diminutive midfielder’s achievement.

Cairns told Not The Old Firm: “It’s a huge achievement for James. 300 appearances in the Premier League? That is fantastic.

“It’s absolutely phenomenal and what he has gone on to achieve down south has been excellent. You can only commend him as he has done fantastically well.”

And the £55k-per-week earner appears to be getting better with age with Vieira dubbing him a warrior. A hamstring injury ruled him out of the 3-3 draw with Burnley last time out, but he had started every league game up until that point this season.

With Palace beginning a transitional period under their French coach, keeping experienced heads such as McArthur’s around will be extremely beneficial, and the club’s supporters will be elated at this latest revelation.

And, in other news…“I think..”: Sky Sports reporter drops intriguing CPFC transfer claim, Vieira must act

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As reported by BBC Sport, Monaco have given manager Thierry Henry the boot after the Arsenal legend failed to impress given 20 games at the helm. Henry took over from Leonardo Jardim in October but has been unable to lift Monaco out of the relegation zone.

The 41-year-old was linked with the vacant Aston Villa job after Steve Bruce was sacked but ended up taking a role in his native France instead, while Villa appointed then Brentford boss Dean Smith as their new manager.

Smith has done an unremarkable job so far but has kept his side in touching distance of the play-off spots, even if the Villans will have to both pull off some excellent results and count on others going their way between now and the end of the season if they are to earn promotion.

The 47-year-old currently boasts a 35% win rate with Villa having emerged victorious in six out of 17 games so far, while Henry won five out of 20 during his short tenure at Monaco, equalling a 25% win rate. However, the Frenchman lost a whopping 11 games, while Smith has been on the losing end of just 5 matches.

While many were surely hoping for the commercially appealing appointment of Henry when the Midlands outfit were in managerial limbo, it seems most of the Villa faithful are counting their lucky stars that the former striker snubbed them, meaning they went for sensible Smith.

You can check out the best of the reaction on Twitter below…

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video above…

An update has emerged on Everton’s pursuit of Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Alan Myers has delivered a major claim on the club’s attempts to sign the Scotland international this month from the Glasgow giants.

He Tweeted: “Everton are set to complete a deal worth up to £16m to sign right-back Nathan Patterson from Rangers. (12M initial fee) @SkySportsNews.”

Fabrizio Romano has since revealed that a medical is due to take place later this week before an official unveiling happens.

The reporter added: “Deal set to be completed for Nathan Patterson to Everton, permanent move. Understand medical + contract signing are expected this week, then it will be announced. #EFC Correct fee Rangers will receive is £12m (and not Euros) plus bonuses. It’s gonna be club-record fee.”

Delight

Everton fans will surely be delighted with this news as the club are in desperate need of strengthening in the full-back positions. Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey have both, at times, been tasked with playing on the flanks due to injuries and Jonjoe Kenny was drafted in at right-back with Seamus Coleman playing out of position at left-back against Brighton.

This highlights the issue facing Rafa Benitez, with the strength-in-depth of his options at full-back leaving a lot to be desired. The signing of left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko strengthened the left-back position and the club now appear set to resolve their issues on the opposite side by signing Patterson.

Jonjoe Kenny has shown that he is not good enough to be relied upon as a regular starter at Premier League level for the Toffees. Although he registered an assist against Brighton, his overall performances in the past 18 months have been poor.

He has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.51 in the top-flight this term, after managing a dismal score of 6.04 last season, showing that he has not been able to catch the eye with his displays – leading to the potential arrival of Patterson from Rangers.

The Scotland international is untested in England but has been impressive for his country. He has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.78 in World Cup qualifiers, producing one goal and one assist in four matches from full-back for his side.

At the age of 20, he also has plenty of time left to develop and he could be the long-term successor to Coleman that Everton have been looking for. This is why fans will be delighted with this news as the signing of the Gers defender, coupled with the arrival of Mykolenko, could solve all of Benitez’s issues in the full-back department.

AND in other news, EFC offered chance to sign “phenomenal” £16.2m-rated gem this month, fans would fume…

Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, has filed his reply to the BCCI’s show-cause notice in typically dramatic fashion

Nagraj Gollapudi15-May-2010Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, has filed his reply to theBCCI’s show-cause notice in typically dramatic fashion – the reply andsupporting evidence run into approximately 15,000 pages and were wheeled into the BCCI headquarters in six large cardboard cartons. His lawyerMehmood Abdi, who oversaw the delivery in Modi’s absence, soundedbullish during an impromptu press conference in Mumbai, saying he believed the response would satisfy the board andget his client reinstated.None of the principals involved – Modi, the BCCIpresident Shashank Manohar and secretary N Srinivasan – were presentat Saturday’s handover. The documents were received by RatnakarShetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer.Modi is in Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, from where he wrote on his Twitter page that he would speak in public after giving the BCCI time to go through his reply. “All I have to say for the moment is I have replied in complete detail to all charges even though there were no complaints, but as if there were,” he wrote.Modi was earlier expected to submit his reply on May 11, but hadrequested the board for a five-day extension, asking for moredocuments to prepare his defence. But for the restless media thewait continued into the early evening today as Modi’s counsel,expected to arrive in the second half, only did so at 6 pm.After spending nearly an hour making the submission, a smiling Abdiwalked out with a victory sign, proudly holding the reply document.The BCCI show-cause comprised 35 pages but Modi’s reply ran along 160pages; about 15,000 pages of additional evidence was neatlypacked into two separate boxes, marked separately for the perusal ofManohar and Srinivasan.Abdi said his triumphal gesture was just an indication of theconfidence he had in Modi’s defence and the possibility of quick justice despite anexhaustive reply document which one smart reporterpointed out equalled the defence of the convictedterrorist in the Mumbai attacks, Ajmal Kasab. “I showed the sign because the BCCI president is an eminent lawyer and he shouldn’t take more than four hours to windit up,” Abdi said.”The documents we have filed today are voluminous but the BCCIpresident is an eminent lawyer, he is in the habit of readingthousands of pages in minutes, so we hope for an early decision,” Abdisaid. “This is in simple prose and is a direct defence of Mr Modi. Iam confident the president would be satisfied 100 percent, 1000percent and he would be re-instated forthwith. Modi should bereinstated as IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president.”Incidentally, Abdi contested the basic premise the BCCI used forsuspending Modi. The board had suspended Modi under Clause 32 (iv) ofthe Memorandum and the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI. Under thesaid rules, the secretary, in consultation with the BCCI president,must issue a notice for the alleged misconduct. Abdi stressed that for theboard to issue a show-cause, it should have received a “writtencomplaint”.”The show-cause notice issued under Article 32 (iv) of the BCCIby-laws has not been properly applied in case of Mr Lalit Modi.Ideally there should have been a show-cause based on a written complaint.After receiving that complaint a show-cause could have been issued andif the president was not satisfied with the reply then he could havereferred the matter to the disciplinary committee. The day thecommittee takes charge of the complaint the proceeding would havestarted whereas in this case he has been put under suspension from dayone,” Abdi pointed out.According to Abdi, the very fact that the charges were based mostly onoral allegations strengthened Modi’s case in a big way. He said thathis client had constantly requested the board to reveal the name ofthe “reliable source”, who verbally alleged to Manohar that Modi wasinvolved in tarnishing the board’s image and the game, and alsorigging the auction for the two new franchises in March. In his emailexchanges with Srinivasan this week, Modi demanded more details aboutthe source and questioned why his/her name was not being revealedby the board, which is calling the alleged verbal conversation”private and confidential”.On May 13, Modi received a shot in the arm when the board wrote back, saying he could reply on the basis of the paperwork handed over to him by the BCCI. “All facts and documents, on which the notice has been issued, have been supplied to you,” the board said. “You may send your reply on the basis of the facts and documents which have been referred to.”Abdi said the documents submitted by the BCCI were of routine natureand negligible consequence. “The main thing the show-cause notice saysis based on the hearsay or gossips because [it is] despite [Modi] having impressedupon the BCCI twice or thrice to come out with names of the people whohave made allegations against Mr Modi. Mr Modi told the BCCI I reserve theright to cross-examine these people. Two days back, the BCCI wrote back tous that we are going to rely upon on the documents we have supplied toyou. But still Mr Modi has tried to explain even the charges made inthese oral allegations.”There have been indications since April 26, when the chargesheet wasissued, that Modi would reveal another side to the charges to indicatethat any culpability in this issue was not his alone. Abdi seemedto back that up on Saturday. He referred to , orgames within games, and said the response would “give a newperspective to the issue.”Abdi said Modi, despite having suffered immense “pain due to the sweeping oralallegations”, has still managed to exercise patience. “Despite thetone, tenor and the content of the show-cause being quite provocative,Mr Modi has been able to maintain calm and restraint while respondingto the queries or allegations raised.”In its notice to Modi, handed over shortly after the IPL final inMumbai, the BCCI listed five principal charges. These include doubtsover the bids for the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab franchises,a “facilitation fee” for renegotiation of the IPL broadcast rights,rigging of the franchise bids in 2010 and Modi’s “behaviouralpattern.”The next significant step in this matter is likely to take a while.Modi’s reply will now be taken up by the BCCI; if it is not satisfiedwith the reply, it will refer the case to its three-man disciplinarycommittee.Lawyers Harish Salve, Ram Jethmalani, Mahesh Jethmalani, Swadeep Vohra, Abhishek Singh and Venkatesh Dhone along with Abdi’s own team drafted the reply.

Chelsea star Sam Kerr wished fiancee Kristie Mewis on her birthday on social media as the couple jetted off to Paris.

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Sam Kerr wished fiancee Kristie Mewis on her birthCouple celebrating Mewis' birthday in ParisKerr ruptured her ACL in JanuaryWHAT HAPPENED?

United States women's national team and West Ham star Mewis turned 33 on Sunday as she is celebrating her special day with fiancee Kerr in Paris. The Chelsea forward took to social media to share a heartfelt birthday wish for her partner.

Sam Kerr InstagramAdvertisementWHAT SAM KERR SAID

Taking to Instagram, Kerr shared a series of photos with a beautiful caption that read, "Happy birthday to my love. No one keeps me more entertained than you & always happy birthday to Mac!"

Getty/ Sam Kerr InstagramTHE GOSSIP

The couple's romance rumours first ignited during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the confirmation of their relationship came shortly after when the Blues striker posted a heartfelt photo of them kissing on Instagram. Since then, the couple has openly shared their love on social media. They got engaged in September 2023.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

The Australia international ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a Chelsea training camp in Morocco in January which ruled her out of action for the remainder of the season. Mewis, on the other hand, was omitted from the USWNT roster for the ongoing 2024 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.

ESPNcricinfo’s preview of the 1st SLPL semi-final between Wayamba United and Uva Next

The Preview by Andrew Fernando28-Aug-2012Match factsTamim Iqbal will be a key player for Wayamba United•Ron Gaunt/SPORTZPICS/SLPLWayamba United v Uva Next, SLPL 1st semi final
August 28, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)
Big PictureBut for a two-run loss when their captain and best bowler were rested, Wayamba United have seemed nigh on unbeatable during the round robin. Their attack had not promised to be one of the best in the competition before the tournament, but in six matches, only once has the opposition been able to breach 150. Mahela Jayawardene’s keen eye for talent has played a role here, as Wayamba picked up two of the tournament’s finds in Akila Dananjaya and Chathuranga Kumara in the local draft, while a host of allrounders and part-timers have also contributed. The batting, meanwhile, has been the strongest on show by a distance. Kamran Akmal has now left for national duty, but he and Tamim Iqbal have been prolific at the top, while Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal have also played big innings.Uva Next have achieved quietly, claiming wins over each of the three weakest teams in the SLPL, but they have not made a strong statement against the other semi-finalists. Hamstrung by the withdrawal of Chris Gayle days before the tournament began, Uva Next have made do with a low-key cast who have pulled together tight performances with the ball and in the field. They’ve been unlucky during the tournament as well, losing their leading wicket taker, Dilhara Fernando, to injury after three games. Their record suggests they are no match for Wayamba United, but if openers Dilshan Munaweera and Upul Tharanga can consolidate on the glimpses of form they have shown so far, perhaps they can put a largely inexperienced Wayamba United bowling attack under pressure.Round robin resultsWayamba United
Beat: Uthura Rudras, Basnahira Cricket Dundee, Uva Next, Nagenahira Nagas, Ruhuna Royals
Lost to: Kandurata Warriors

Uva Next
Beat: Uthura Rudras, Basnahira Cricket Dundee, Ruhuna RoyalsLost to: Nagenahira Nagas, Wayamba United
(Drew with Kandurata Warriors, when rain forced abandonment)
Watch out forTamim Iqbal blazed a ravishing 93 not out in Wayamba United’s opener, but had since played second fiddle to the tournament’s top scorer, Kamran Akmal. With Akmal gone and the less aggressive Dinesh Chandimal likely to be pushed up the order again, the job of providing the rapid starts Wayamba United have grown accustomed to in the powerplays will fall to Tamim.Jacob Oram was not initially picked up in the draft, but has become key to Uva Next’s campaign after flying in as a late overseas replacement. His economy rate of 3.93 is the best in the tournament, thanks partly to the four maidens he has bowled in five matches. If he can keep Chandimal at the striker’s end during the opening overs, early breakthroughs may be in the offing.Team newsUva Next may be even more impaired for the semi-final, after both Andrew McDonald and Upul Tharanga left the field with injuries during the match against Nagenahira Nagas on Monday. Management could not confirm whether either would be available for the match against Wayamba, but if both miss out, it will stretch a side already running thin on big names.Uva Next (probable) 1 Dilshan Munaweera, 2 Upul Tharanga (wk), 3 Thilina Kandamby (capt), 4 Chinthaka Jayasinghe, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Andrew McDonald/ Fawad Alam, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Hammad Azam, 9 Seekkuge Prasanna, 10 Sachithra Senanayake, 11 Charith JayampathiWayamba United have had Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez exit the fray, but have had the local replacements to replace them, and they even chose to play their final round robin match with only three overseas players. Whether seamer Azhar Mahmood gets to play on Tuesday night may depend on the pitch.Wayamba United 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 3 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 4 Shehan Jayasuriya, 5 Abdul Razzak, 6 Kaushalya Weeraratne/ Azhar Mahmood, 7 Milinda Siriwardana, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Chathuranga Kumara, 11 Akila DananjayaStats and triviaWayamba United have the two highest totals in the SLPLUva Next have bowled the most maidens in the tournament with six – triple the tally of the next teamDilshan Munaweera is Uva Next’s highest scorer, with 145 from five inningsQuotes”The crowd support we’ve had has been a big plus for us. It really helps us raise our game and we are hoping it will get better for the semi-finals and final.”
“It’s been the ideal scenario to have a month over here before the world T20 which is in these same conditions, so it really couldn’t be any better.”
13.50GMT, August 28: Umar Gul has not left to join the Pakistan team in the UAE as the article originally stated

Victoria will be without four of their best players for the FR Cup decider on Sunday, when they will try to break their final hoodoo having finished runners-up for the past three years

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2010Victoria will be without four of their best players for the FR Cup decider on Sunday, when they will try to break their final hoodoo having finished runners-up for the past three years. The Bushrangers are without their captain Cameron White, David Hussey, Dirk Nannes and Clint McKay, all of whom are with the Australia squad in New Zealand, while Tasmania are also missing Travis Birt for the same reason.It has left Andrew McDonald to captain Victoria, who are hosting the final at the MCG for the third time in four seasons. The Bushrangers lost to Queensland in 2006-07 and also last summer, and they went down to Tasmania at Bellerive Oval in 2008-09.They are likely to regain Rob Quiney, who will have a fitness test but is thought to have recovered from an adductor strain and has been added to the squad of 12 that beat Queensland last week. Victoria are chasing their first title since 1998-99 and are hoping to keep alive their chances of winning all three finals this summer, having already won the Twenty20 title and qualified for the Sheffield Shield decider.The Tigers have eased the burden of losing Birt, their second-top run scorer this summer, by calling on the allrounder Luke Butterworth, who is back from injury. The batsman John Rogers has also been included in Tasmania’s 13-man squad after he was left out of the group that beat Western Australia recently.Victoria squad Chris Rogers, Aiden Blizzard, Brad Hodge, Aaron Finch, Rob Quiney, Andrew McDonald (capt), Michael Hill, Matthew Wade (wk), John Hastings, Damien Wright, Glenn Maxwell, Bryce McGain, Darren Pattinson.Tasmania squad Tim Paine (wk), Ed Cowan, Michael Dighton, Rhett Lockyear, George Bailey (capt), Daniel Marsh, John Rogers, Luke Butterworth, Jason Krejza, James Faulkner, Xavier Doherty, Brendan Drew, Gerard Denton.

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will only “finish” his remarkable career when his body begins to give up, says Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

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All-time great showing no sign of slowing downContinues to star for club and countryWill not hang up his boots any time soonWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is still going strong at 38 years of age, with nobody in world football bettering his return of 54 goals for club and country across the calendar year of 2023. The all-time great is showing no sign of slowing down, with the expectation being that he has several years left at the very highest level.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo has suggested in the past that he will play on into his 40s, providing that he steers clear of serious injury, with there no desire on his part to consider retirement. He has worked relentlessly to keep himself in peak physical condition, while demanding nothing but the best from himself and those around him.

WHAT MARTINEZ SAID ABOUT RONALDO

As long he retains that hunger and fitness, Martinez sees no reason why Ronaldo would give any thought to hanging up his boots. Portugal’s head coach has told when asked when the all-time great could call it a day: “Cristiano will finish the day he decides that his body cannot give him what he wants on the pitch. At the moment he still wants to win everything. There are no other 38 year olds that can give you the level that he gives physically in two international games within a space of three days.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star Ronaldo is working on a contract at Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr through to 2025. He is expected to grace Euro 2024 with his country, while playing on towards the 2026 World Cup, and will continue to enhance international records in the men’s game that have already seen him earn 205 caps and score 128 goals for Portugal.

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Meet the 22 products that exceeded our expectations this year

2022, a monumental year for football. On top of the beautiful game being bigger than it’s ever been before, our inboxes have been loaded full of top-tier products and drops.

From unmissable collaborations to re-releases of cult favourites, we want to share our insight into the best products the year has seen. We’ve shared a lot along the way, but this is our closing ceremony for the year of 2022. 

To bring the unforgettable year together, GOAL bestows you the best of ball design, kitbag essentials, football books, player collaborations, and so much more, all in one place. 

Introducing, the GOAL 2022 Product Awards.

The 22 Best Products of 2022

Honourable Mentions: Nike Flight UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Ball, PUMA Orbita La Liga 2022-23 Ball

With a new season came a new ball, and what a ball it was. Inspired by the very first Premier League ball used back in 1992, the new and improved – technology-wise – Nike Flight came with the very same colours, and bold graphics loved on the original. 

With a rich history and nostalgic design, the Nike Flight Premier League ball topped our vote, with the Nike Flight Women’s Euro 2022 ball not far behind. 

While the official match ball will set you back a fair few pounds, the replica ball comes in for just £20 at PRO: Direct Soccer. 

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Honourable Mentions: G Form Pro-S Vento Shin Guard, PUMA Ultra Flex Sleeve Shin Guards

For weeks it felt like all we were seeing was the Solar Green of the adidas X Speedportal collection wherever we looked. From shin guards to boots, the X Speedportal line took over our screens, and rightly so. 

Synonymous for speed and reaction time, the X range is the top choice for those seeking a shin pad that feels like it's barely there. With a lightweight and perforated cushion design, these shin pads excel when you need to play at your full potential with nothing holding you back. 

Honourable Mentions: Reusch Attrakt Gold x Glueprint Ortho-Tec, adidas Predator Edge Training GK Gloves

Worn by the pros in 2022’s summer major tournament – the Women’s Euros – the match-quality PUMA Ultra Grip 1 gloves deliver supreme sensitivity, flexibility, and traction. 

Born to perform right down to the fingertips and paired with Liberty’s beautiful- and iconic – floral artistry, these gloves are a clear winner for 2022. 

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Honourable Mentions: adidas Terrex Gore-Tex Infinium Gloves, STATS Sports Apex Athlete Series App

While the Therabody Theragun may not be new news to anyone, 2022 saw the release of the 5th Generation PRO. 

The newest member of the Theragun family comes with an impressive bounty of new features like built-in guided routines and app connectivity, plus, a stronger motor quieter than ever before.

A kitbag essential – loved by the likes of Trent Alerxander-Arnold and Granit Xhaka – for muscle recovery, the Theragun PRO is the ultimate tool to help you find relief after those tough games. 

After Madrid took the honours for a third straight year in Kiev, we look back at the best performers over the course of a gripping competition

AFPAlisson | RomaThe Brazilian was ever-present in Roma's thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals, establishing himself as one of Europe's elite goalkeepers in the process. His inspirational performances led former Roma coach Roberto Negrisolo to compare him to both Dino Zoff and Lionel Messi, and also led to links with Liverpool.AdvertisementGetty ImagesDani Alves | Paris Saint-GermainWhile PSG might have fallen short once again in the Champions League, their veteran right-back gave his all in every single game. Alves chipped in with two goals from defence and generally caused havoc down the flank, although his talents were not enough to avoid last-16 defeat to Real Madrid.Getty ImagesNicolas Otamendi | Manchester CityOnly the dazzling Mohamed Salah found the key this season to dismantle Manchester City's defence, led by a rock-solid Otamendi. That quarter-final reverse was a rare blemish on what was a near-perfect season for the Argentine, who marshalled Pep Guardiola's backline throughout their record-breaking campaign.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyMats Hummels | Bayern MunichHummels proved why Bayern were so keen to repatriate their former youth-team star with a stellar season after completing a move back from Borussia Dortmund.