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Fernandinho has officially decided to bring down the curtain on an extraordinary career, drawing to a close more than two decades at the top of the game and a trophy cabinet that places him among Manchester City’s most decorated players of all time. The former Brazil international, now 40, confirmed he will not continue playing, ending speculation that had lingered since his return to Athletico Paranaense in 2022.

A career built on brilliance and relentless standards

Fernandinho spent nine seasons at Manchester City after arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, where he had already earned six Ukrainian league titles and a UEFA Cup. Under Manuel Pellegrini and later Pep Guardiola, he became the anchor of City's midfield. Known for his exceptional reading of the game, immaculate tackling, and unrivalled positional awareness, his influence allowed the club’s creative talents to flourish. Across 383 City appearances, Fernandinho lifted five Premier League titles, six League Cups, an FA Cup and a Community Shield.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportA fitting final chapter in Brazil

After leaving Manchester in 2022, Fernandinho went home, rejoining Athletico Paranaense, the club that first introduced him to professional football. His playing time naturally declined as the seasons passed, and the midfielder had not featured since December 2024 in a league match against Atletico Mineiro. Speaking after a charity game this week at the club’s stadium, he made clear his body had given him its final warning. 

"I’m already tired. I ran for 30-something minutes today and I’m exhausted," he said. "There’s nothing in football that motivates me anymore. I’ve achieved everything I could. Now it’s time to enjoy my family."

The 40-year-old added that his departure came after he and the club failed to reach an agreement on a new deal. 

"We didn’t reach an agreement for a new contract, and that’s the most natural thing in the world. I’ve never hidden my gratitude, my respect and affection for Athletico, especially their fans," he said. 

Guardiola was blindsided with his Man City exit

When Fernandinho left City, he had not initially informed Guardiola about his decision. 

"I didn’t know it," the manager told reporters during a press conference. "You gave me the news. We will see what will happen at the end of the season. I said many times we will see what happens. I said at the end of the season we will talk – maybe it is a family decision, maybe he wants more minutes. I would love to be with him."

Guardiola suggested that the then sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, might have been aware of the development.

"Maybe Txiki knows it and didn’t tell me," Guardiola said. "I don’t know. It is a surprise for me; I will say to him [Txiki]: 'What happened?' But I know his [Fernandinho’s] intentions. Another player would do it for his benefit. Knowing Ferna, it will not be this.

"I want the happiness of my players and absolutely we are going to play tomorrow for him and give him the best farewell moment, reaching again the semi‑final of the Champions League and try to go through again. I understand the players want to play, it is completely understandable. Not just because he is 35 or 36. Look what happened with Ferran Torres: he wanted to play so joined Barcelona. I understand Ferna wants go back to Brazil, with his father and mother there, and I am pretty sure the club is going to help him do what he wants."

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AFPWhat comes next for Fernandinho?

Attention now shifts to Fernandinho’s future beyond the pitch. The Brazilian has previously expressed interest in coaching, and Manchester City have a history of integrating former players into roles across their academy, global network or ambassadorial programmes. With his intimate knowledge of Guardiola’s system, he would be a valuable addition should he choose to pursue the coaching path. However, as he mentioned, right now, he would opt for a quieter period dedicated to family life, after spending years at the elite level. 

A New York Yankees fan who likely paid thousands of dollars for a front-row seat at Game 4 of the World Series has been ushered out of the ballpark after just three outs.

In the bottom of the first inning, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres hit a foul ball down the right-field line. Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts chased it down and caught it at the wall in foul territory.

After Betts caught the ball, a fan in the front row grabbed his glove with two hands and ripped the ball out of his possession. Fan interference was called, Torres was ruled out, and that fan was quickly ushered out of Yankee Stadium.

That will go down as one of the strangest player-fan moments in World Series history.

The New York faithful haven't had much to cheer for in the 2024 World Series, as Los Angeles won the first three games and took a 2–0 lead in Game 4 on Freddie Freeman's first-inning home run.

They needed less than half an hour on the fourth morning to take the last four Bangladesh wickets

Madushka Balasuriya28-Jun-2025

Prabath Jayasuriya picked up his 12th Test match five-wicket haul•Associated Press

Sri Lanka needed just 28 minutes on the fourth morning to pick up the final four Bangladesh wickets, and with it wrap up a win by an innings and 78 runs. It was Sri Lanka’s ninth innings-victory over Bangladesh, which gave them the series 1-0 and also some crucial World Test Championship points.Prabath Jayasuriya did the bulk of the damage – with some handy assists from wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who had been off the field the previous day nursing a sore shoulder – picking up figures of 5 for 56, his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests.It took just three deliveries into his first over of the day for Jayasuriya to take Litton Das’ edge on the forward defence, with Kusal holding on to a sharp chance. Then in his next over, he had Nayeem Hasan attempting to drive one tossed up on off, only for it to dip and rip past him. Nayeem, who had slid his back foot out of the crease in the process, was unable to get back before Kusal flicked the bails off.Jayasuriya completed his five-for pouching a return catch to his right, as Taijul Islam got a leading edge looking to work one through midwicket. Tharindu Ratnayake got in on the act then, trapping Ebadot Hossain in front of middle the very next over, as Bangladesh folded 34 balls into the morning session.Related

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The Taijul light shines bright on Bangladesh's day of gloom

It was Jayasuriya’s best against Bangladesh, a welcome return for Sri Lanka’s lead spinner who had gone wicketless in the first innings, and struck just once in Galle.In total, nine wickets fell in the innings to spin, with Tharindu and Dhananjaya de Silva sharing two apiece to go with Jayasuriya’s five. Bangladesh though will no doubt feel this was a game they lost control of in the first innings itself, when a sub-par batting effort – followed by some loose bowling – allowed Sri Lanka to take a commanding grip of proceedings.While the spinners wrapped things up for the hosts, it was Pathum Nissanka that was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 158 off 254 deliveries. Nissanka also clinched the Player of the Series award following his 187 in the first Test.

It feels like it’s a bit late to say the wheels have come off for West Ham United.

The Hammers were knocked out of the League Cup in the second round and have lost four of their five Premier League games, by a combined score of 5-13.

It felt like it was more a matter of when, rather than if, Graham Potter was replaced in the London Stadium dugout.

Lo and behold, despite being put in front of the press on Friday afternoon ahead of their clash with Everton on Monday, he was given the boot on Saturday morning.

Nuno Santo was quickly announced as his replacement but with only a couple of days of training before the clash with the Toffees, it will be interesting to see if the Portuguese makes many widespread changes.

James Ward-Prowse could be one player who drops out as Nuno chases a debut win.

Why Ward-Prowse has to be dropped

West Ham spent around £30m to bring Ward-Prowse to the London Stadium in the summer of 2023, and considering he was sent on an unsuccessful short-term loan to Nottingham Forest last year, it’s been a failure of a move.

However, while the fans were desperate for Potter to drop the former Southampton star from the lineup, he continued to persist with the Englishman, something that arguably played a hand in his sacking.

The 11-capped Englishman has had a brilliant career in the top-flight, and there was a point at which his deadball abilities made him a genuine threat for the Saints, but those days are long gone.

Instead, the 30-year-old is now more of a hindrance in the middle of the park than anything else, unable to offer much in attack and not being anywhere near mobile enough to help out in defence.

We saw this duel problem on full display against Crystal Palace, as even though he took 61 touches and completed 41 passes, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.25.

Ward-Prowse’s game vs Palace
Minutes	90′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches	61
Accurate Passes	41/48 (85%)
Crosses (Accurate)	5 (1)
Shots on Target	0
Ground Duels (Won)	6 (1)
Aerial Duels (Won)	3 (0)
Lost Possession	14
Fouls	3
Dribbled Past	2
All Stats via Sofascore

On top of that, he lost five out of six ground duels, all three aerial duels, was dribbled past twice, lost possession 14 times and gave away three fouls.

It was a horror show, and one that should see him nowhere near the starting lineup for quite some time, especially as West Ham have a new midfielder who could come in and surely do a better job.

West Ham's ideal Ward-Prowse replacement

While there are a few options Nuno could go with on Monday evening, he has to start Soungoutou Magassa in place of Ward-Prowse.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The former AS Monaco ace is certainly still young and somewhat inexperienced compared to the Englishman, but he deserves a chance to show the fans what he can do tonight.

More importantly, though, he offers something the former Saints star no longer can: dynamism and quality.

According to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 21-year-old is blessed with a combination of “pure athleticism” and an ability to “spray passes wide out to the wings” because his “passing range is top.”

Moreover, Mattinson has claimed that “defensively there’s a high potential” in the youngster, which is borne out in his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of midfielders in Ligue 1 last season for dribblers tackled, tackles plus interceptions, and ball recoveries, as well as the top 5% for tackles won and more, all per 90 minutes.

He also put up some promising attacking numbers as well, ranking in the top 9% for successful take-on percentage and the top 17% for passes into the final third, also per 90.

Magassa’s Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
Tackles (Mid 3rd)	2.37	Top 1%
Dribblers Tackled	2.20	Top 1%
Dribbles Challenged	4.04	Top 1%
Tkl+Int	5.97	Top 1%
Ball Recoveries	7.90	Top 1%
Tackles	4.13	Top 2%
Interceptions	1.84	Top 4%
Tackles Won	2.20	Top 5%
Successful Take-On %	65.2%	Top 9%
Touches (Mid 3rd)	45.57	Top 12%
Tackles (Att 3rd)	0.53	Top 16%
Passes into Final Third	5.88	Top 17%
Switches	0.61	Top 17%
Aerials Won	1.14	Top 12%
All Stats via FBref

In short, while he is nowhere near the finished product, the “elegant” Frenchman, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, already appears to be a better player than Ward-Prowse.

Therefore, for Nuno to elevate the chances of claiming all three points, he should drop the 30-year-old and start Magassa.

Glamorgan were unable to make their mid-innings dominance of Middlesex count, as hundreds from Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson were offset by the loss of seven wickets on a balanced day one at Sophia Gardens.The captain and vice-captain’s 228-run partnership lifted the hosts to 280 for 3 after three early wickets fell for 52, but they finished on 334 for 7 at the close with Toby Roland-Jones dependable as ever for Middlesex with 4 for 73.Northeast and Carlson both fell within 10 overs for 122 and 109 respectively to give Middlesex a chance to fight back with the new ball towards the end of the day, with Ryan Higgins also taking 3 for 44.Middlesex won the toss and elected to bowl on a green surface at Sophia Gardens with uncertainty of how the lush ground would play following heavy rainfall in south Wales for the first time this season.The visitors got off to a strong start with restrictions on runs initially before the series of plays and misses turned to wickets thanks to the experience and skillset of Middlesex veteran Roland-Jones.Marnus Labuschagne’s woes were improved on last week’s four runs across two innings but he still didn’t look comfortable. The Australian added 23, including a gifted four from a bizarre Luke Hollman overthrow on a certain dot ball.Glamorgan’s new pair combined their red- and white-ball captains, but the bowlers were still on top going into the second session with Northeast scoring cagily at first against a prominent attack which includes three Test internationals.As has been the case for this pair this season, Carlson eventually got his strokes to come together to increase the scoring rate, with typical Carlson backfoot punches and cuts, including against the novice Naavya Sharma in his second match. Meanwhile, Northeast churned out his runs, ambitious to beat his previous season best of 67 in 11 innings. Between them, they produced Glamorgan’s first unbroken session partnership of the season.The pair went at four an over for the afternoon, with a six from the captain moving him to 99 and Carlson surviving an edge evading slip’s head off Hollman on 96 before they both passed three figures.The new ball brought the change in fortune for the visitors in the final 16 overs of the day as the momentum shifted. Carlson was in disbelief to be given out in the 81st over and Tom Bevan following shortly afterwards in his first game of the season, in place for the absent student, Ben Kellaway.Higgins was soon in on the action, bowling Northeast for 122 as four wickets fell for 39 runs. Andy Gorvin was required to survive the night alongside Chris Cooke, who never looked fazed for his unbeaten 32.

Manchester United had to react to what happened in the 2024/25 campaign after they endured a dismal end to the season under head coach Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils lost 18 of their 38 Premier League matches, finishing 15th in the division, and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League.

Instead of opting to change manager once again, despite Amorim’s struggles and some question marks over his 3-4-2-1 system, the club opted to change things by dipping into the transfer market.

Manchester United invested in the forward line, despite a lack of European football, by signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko to bolster the manager’s options up front.

It is now down to Amorim to find a way to get the best out of those three exciting attacking recruits to ensure that the Red Devils do not go through another dismal season.

Mbeumo has already scored twice, against Grimsby and Burnley, since moving from Brentford, but United supporters are still waiting to see the best out of Cunha in a red shirt.

Why there is more to come from Matheus Cunha

The Brazil international has failed to score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team in his three Premier League starts for United so far this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he has had an underwhelming start to his career in Manchester.

However, there is no need to panic because Cunha is a proven Premier League star who has shown that he can deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch, as evidenced by his form for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

The chart above shows that he should be a huge upgrade on Mason Mount in the number ten position when he finds his feet at Old Trafford and starts to deliver the kind of performances everyone knows that he is capable of, due to his ability to make an impact in front of goal.

Cunha, who signed for Wolves from Atletico Madrid, has proven that he can score goals and create high-quality opportunities for his teammates at an impressive rate in the Premier League.

Appearances

32

33

xG

9.49

8.63

Goals

12

15

Big chances created

7

13

Key passes per game

0.9

1.8

Assists

7

6

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian maestro scored 27 goals and created 20 ‘big chances’ in 55 appearances in the top-flight for Wolves in the last two seasons, outperforming his xG by a significant margin in both of those campaigns.

This shows that Manchester United have signed a star who is proven in the division and will deliver quality in the final third if Amorim can set the team up to get him in enough positions to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, there is no need to panic or rush to judgement over Cunha’s fairly slow start to life at Old Trafford, because there is plenty more to come from the Brazilian maestro, given what he has already achieved in the Premier League in the Midlands.

If the former Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder does fail to translate his Wolves form over to Manchester, though, Amorim may find the club’s own homegrown version of Cunha from the academy.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

19-year-old attacking midfielder Jack Moorhouse, who is currently on loan at Leyton Orient in League One, could emerge as Manchester United’s own Cunha in the future if he continues to develop and progress in his career.

Why Jack Moorhouse could be a homegrown Matheus Cunha

Judging young players and predicting what their ceiling is or how they will develop over time is not an exact science, which is why so many players fail to make the grade after emerging as exciting talents early on in their careers.

Moorhouse did not burst onto the scene at 16 like Lamine Yamal or score in the Premier League at 18 like Kobbie Mainoo, but he has shown some very promising signs that bode well for the future.

The teenage talent scored four goals and provided two assists in 13 starts as an attacking midfielder for the Red Devils at U18 and U21 level, per Transfermarkt, almost a goal contribution every other game.

Analyst Ben Mattinson, in the post above, was impressed by his performances for United’s academy sides, describing him as a “game-breaking ball carrier” who is “ideal” for the left-sided number ten role in Amorim’s system, which is currently occupied by Cunha.

Moorhouse’s best performance for Leyton Orient so far this season came in a 3-1 win over Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy, and his display was Cunha-esque on paper.

Minutes

63

Sofascore rating

8.1

Shots

2

Goals

1

Pass accuracy

86%

Key passes

2

Dribbles completed

3/3

Duels won

4/6

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland U21 international showcased his quality as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler, which are Cunha’s main three attributes as a player.

You can see in the clips above that Moorhouse loves to drive forward with the ball at his feet, taking players on, and he scored an excellent goal from range with his weak foot.

Albeit against very different opposition, the goal was not too dissimilar to the one that Cunha scored against Premier League champions Liverpool earlier this year for Wolves.

Both Moorhouse and Cunha are attack-minded midfielders who can score goals and create chances for their teammates, but they are also exciting players to watch because of the way they carry the ball and take defenders on.

Therefore, Manchester United may be brewing their homegrown version of the Brazil international at Carrington and Leyton Orient, and it is now down to the Irish maestro to develop and take the next steps in his career to convince Amorim to bring him into the first-team next season.

Amorim can revive Mainoo by binning £150k-p/w flop in Man Utd system switch

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim can revive Kobbie Mainoo by changing his formation.

ByDan Emery Sep 7, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O avião comprado por Leila Pereira foi apresentado nesta terça-feira (27) na sede da Embraer, em São José dos Campos. A presidente investiu na aeronave com a intenção de facilitar a logística do Palmeiras quando o time for jogar fora de São Paulo. A nova aquisição tem alcance de 5.278 km, permitindo voos sem escala por toda América do Sul.

O investimento foi feito inteiramente por Leila, e será registrado pela Placar Linhas Aéreas, empresa da presidente. O modelo E190-E2 tem capacidade para 114 pessoas, mas a pedido foi adaptado para 98 lugares visando maior conforto dos passageiros. A aeronave tem valor estimado de 74 milhões de dólares (R$ 352 milhões).

+ VÍDEO: Veja um ‘tour’ por dentro do avião de Leila Pereira que será usado pelo Palmeiras

O avião passou por um processo de personalização interna e externa em Portugal, mas não recebeu nenhuma cor ou símbolo do Alviverde. Leila explicou que tem a intenção de alugar a aeronave para outros clubes quando não estiver sendo utilizado, mas que o a preferência sempre será do Palmeiras.

O Palmeiras será responsável apenas por pagar o combustível e as taxas relativas do voo. A expectativa, segundo Leila Pereira, é de que as viagens com a nova aeronave saiam bem mais baratas e confortáveis do que fretamento com as companhias aéreas, como é feito atualmente quando o time joga fora de casa

Liverpool, it’s probably fair to say, are the team to beat in the Premier League this season. Nine points claimed from nine points available, last year’s champions haven’t played that well so far, and yet stand at the top of the pile as the September international break takes centre stage.

Arne Slot has worked wonders on Merseyside, nurturing the seeds of Jurgen Klopp’s later days in the Anfield dugout and winning the league title in his first year at the helm. Liverpool were not afforded a shot at the title by most pundits, but lift the trophy they did.

And he did it without any real first-team investment. Liverpool missed out on Martin Zubimendi, for example, but Slot fashioned Ryan Gravenberch into a world-class six.

This summer spun a different tale, however, with Liverpool’s ambitions knowing no bounds. Twice the Reds broke the British transfer record through deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

However, the signing of Hugo Ekitike was also completed, and though he cost a pretty penny, the young forward has what it takes to become a superstar at the club.

Hugo Ekitike's rise in value

Make no mistake, Ekitike has been considered a top talent from his early days as a pro. Having been developed through his formative years with French club Reims, the 23-year-old earned a big move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, signing for the Ligue 1 giants in a total €35m (about £30m) package.

Newcastle waged transfer war against Liverpool this summer, but the recent months weren’t the root of the Magpies’ interest in the young Frenchman, having agreed a deal to sign him way back when before PSG came along.

Ekitike’s efforts as a youngster with the Parisians proved fruitless, and he left for Eintracht Frankfurt after featuring just 33 times, scoring four goals. His £14m switch to the Bundesliga after an initial loan period underscored that blot on the copybook, albeit one which proved instrumental for his growth in hindsight.

Frankfurt promised him a platform to foster his immense abilities, and there he grew into the player he is today, and player who, excitingly for the Reds, remains the unfinished product.

Three goals and an assist from Ekitike’s first four outings with Liverpool bespeak his potential, and perhaps add a layer of tension for Isak, who knows his place at number nine is not secure.

Already, the France international appears to have been worth the money, FSG having fought to beat off competition from Newcastle and more this summer, signing Ekitike for an initial £69m fee, which may rise to £79m.

He’s the real deal, and evidence that Liverpool are willing to pay the big bucks for up-and-coming talents if they deem them standing beneath a high ceiling.

The same could be said for Anthony Gordon, who was targeted last summer in a bumper move. However, peer down a different timeline and you might find the Three Lions star a one-club man at Liverpool.

Liverpool must regret losing Anthony Gordon

Gordon made his name on Merseyside, but he did it in blue. The 23-year-old winger completed 78 appearances for Everton, scoring seven goals, after graduating from their Finch Farm academy, but he only found a home on that patch after previously cutting his teeth with Liverpool.

Indeed, a boyhood Red, Gordon was released from Liverpool’s youth system when he was 11 years old, very much a victim of the ruthless nature of youth football. Even so, Liverpool chiefs must kick themselves for having let that one slip through their fingers.

Sold by Everton to Newcastle for £45m after forcing his way out of Goodison Park, Gordon has since grown into one of the Premier League’s most prominent wide forwards, hailed as a “relentless machine” by journalist Sripad.

Named Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, Gordon posted 21 goal contributions across the league campaign and demonstrated such fluidity and tenacity, a beacon throughout a tough, injury-riddled period for the Toon.

He’s described himself as “a nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, and while Gordon struggled to recapture his remarkable early form last year, he still contributed toward triumph in the Carabao Cup and steered United back into the Champions League.

Left winger

124

26

29

Right winger

53

8

8

Attacking midfield

21

13

2

Centre-forward

18

5

1

Liverpool’s data analysts rarely miss the mark, and so clearly Gordon has something about him, indeed coming close to signing the 24-year-old in 2024 as Newcastle looked to avoid PSR punishment. They found alternative ways to circumvent the financial restrictions, and Gordon stayed put.

Still, Liverpool were eager to pay, seemingly undeterred by his lofty price tag. In fact, recent reports from the past few months suggest that FSG have considered making their move this summer, with a £100m fee attached to the interest.

Such a figure places Gordon above Liverpool’s new superstar Ekitike, though some might comment that ‘Premier League tax’ has played a part in inflating Gordon’s price tag.

Ekitike has the tools to make real progress at Liverpool, developing over the next few years into a superstar. Positionally different, it’s something that the Reds envisaged for Gordon not too long ago.

Though the recent emergence of 17-year-old prodigy Rio Ngumoha has eased Liverpool’s need to find a left winger to compete with Gakpo, it’s likely that Gordon could have played a crucial role in the club’s success, had FSG succeeded in bringing him over from Tyneside last summer.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, and if the Reds wish to revisit their intrigue down the line, they will probably have to fork out an even heftier fee than was paid for Ekitike in July.

It could have all been so much easier if Gordon had been allowed to develop within Liverpool’s academy.

Forget Leoni: Liverpool already have a Guehi upgrade in Slot's "monster"

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ByAngus Sinclair Sep 5, 2025

Luis Enrique believes Paris Saint-Germain's first-ever Champions League triumph has lifted a weight off the squad, insisting it will be “easier” to win again this season. The Spaniard hailed his players for breaking through mental barriers last term, as Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi powered the club to a historic treble.

Enrique says PSG’s first Champions League was the hardest

Luis Enrique, who guided PSG to their maiden Champions League crown last season, has declared that the toughest hurdle has already been overcome. Speaking to the press ahead of their Champions League opener against Atalanta, the Spanish coach insisted that the belief within his squad is now stronger than ever after the long-awaited breakthrough. 

AdvertisementAFP‘We showed the way’ – Enrique sets bold ambition

"The first title is always difficult because the players don't think they're capable of winning it. But we showed the way," said the Spanish coach. "Now, the whole of PSG and the young players want to win because they know they're capable. For me, it's harder to win the first than the second or third."

The Spaniard also set clear ambitions: "After winning European titles, our goal, along with the club, the city and our fans, is to make history again and win a second consecutive Champions League. We have to be ambitious."

PSG finally silenced critics after years of failure

The Parisians long pursuit of the Champions League ended last season in emphatic fashion, as they brushed aside Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal before thrashing Inter 5-0 in the Champions League final. The win silenced critics who questioned whether PSG could finally translate domestic dominance into European silverware.

Despite losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer, stars like Dembele, Donnarumma, Hakimi and Vitinha stepped up to deliver the club’s most successful season ever. Enrique’s squad now boast the confidence and pedigree to mount another serious tilt at Europe’s biggest prize.

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AFPInjuries threaten PSG’s start to title defence

The European champions open their Champions League defence this week against Atalanta before a Ligue 1 clash with Marseille at the weekend. However, PSG will be without French duo Dembele and Desire Dou, who both picked up injuries during the recent international break.

Glasgow Rangers will take a healthy lead over to Czechia next week after they hammered Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox under the lights on Tuesday night in their Champions League qualifier.

It was their best performance under Russell Martin, to date, with a clear style of play that brought success in and out of possession throughout the match.

The Ibrox boss made some bold calls with his team selection for the game, as he left out captain James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin, whilst Oliver Antman was also handed a debut shortly after arriving in Glasgow from Go Ahead Eagles.

Antman did not need much time to settle into life in Scotland. The Finland international provided an assist of sorts in the first half, as his driving run won a penalty for the Gers.

He is not the only summer signing who has made a fast start to life with Rangers, though, as Djeidi Gassama continued to show that he has the potential to be an exceptional player for the club this season.

Why Djeidi Gassama can be a star for Rangers

The 21-year-old forward was signed from Sheffield Wednesday this summer to bolster the manager’s options on the flanks, but he did not arrive as a marquee signing.

Rangers reportedly paid a fee of around £2.2m to sign the French talent after he scored eight goals in 47 outings in all competitions for the Owls last term, which shows that he did not come in as a big-money recruit or a player with an outstanding record for his former team.

However, Gassama has quickly shown that he has the quality to emerge as a star for Martin and the Light Blues with his performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants.

Minutes

15

34

83

Shots

1

1

2

Goals

1

1

0

Key passes

0

0

1

Dribbles completed

2/2

0/1

2/3

As you can see in the table above, the Frenchman scored two goals and completed four of his six attempted dribbles in his first three outings for the club against Panathinaikos and Motherwell, before his impressive showing against Plzen on Tuesday.

Gassama added two more goals to his tally in the win over the Czechia outfit, scoring a curling effort in the first half before he headed into the bottom corner from Antman’s perfect cross in the second half.

The electric winger has offered a direct and exciting presence on the left flank for Rangers, and has provided goals to add substance to his performances, which is why he has the potential to be a superstar for the Light Blues.

Rangers made approach to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Standard Liege are looking to move on from winger Moussa Djenepo because of his wages, and the winger has a £1.7m release clause in his contract at the club.

Their report adds that Rangers and Leeds United, the two 49ers-owned clubs in Britain, have both made approaches over a potential deal for the winger this summer.

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However, the outlet does not explain whether or not either of those teams are planning to follow up on their interest in the former Southampton man, which means that it remains to be seen whether or not he is an active target for the Gers.

Africa Foot reveals, though, that Tractor SC and Persepolis are both interested in a deal to sign the Mali international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

This means that Rangers may have to move swiftly to conclude a move for the former Premier League forward, if they decide to pursue his services before the end of the summer window.

Why Rangers should sign Moussa Djenepo

The Gers should swoop to sign the 27-year-old attacker in the coming weeks because he could be a bargain signing to play as a back-up for Gassama.

Djenepo and Gassama could be a brilliant one-two punch on the left flank for Rangers, with one starting and the other able to come off the bench to make an impact against tired defences.

Like the former Sheffield Wednesday man, the Standard Liege winger is a direct forward who likes to get fans off their seats by taking opposition defenders on. This is evidenced by his 2.2 dribbles completed per game in the Super Lig on loan at Antalyaspor in the 2024/25 season.

Dribbles completed

4.08

Top 1%

Dribble success rate

55%

Top 24%

Touches in the opposition’s box

6.12

Top 6%

Fouls won

2.89

Top 4%

Penalties won

0.17

Top 3%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 3%

Goals

0.17

Top 49%

As you can see in the table above, the Mali international excelled as a dribbler, committing defenders and winning fouls, in the Super Lig, but he did not back it up with goals and assists.

The wing wizard, who once scored a stunning solo goal for Southampton in the Premier League against Sheffield United, only scored two goals in 23 league games for Antalyaspor.

Djenepo, who only scored five goals in 91 games for the Saints, is unlikely to arrive at Rangers as a winger who is going to produce 20 goals and assists over a season, but that would not be his role.

The £1.7m-rated star was once hailed as “hugely underrated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and the forward could play an underrated role as competition for Gassama on the left flank.

Martin could use the French winger to start matches and then bring Djenepo on as a perfect impact substitute, due to his terrific ability to dribble past players and win fouls to get the team up the pitch and to relieve pressure on the defence if they are holding onto a lead.

Overall, a £1.7m deal for Djenepo would be a low-risk signing that could allow the Gers to give Gassama a rest at the end of matches, whilst providing the Gers with another direct winger who can excite fans, even if he is unlikely to be a star player for Martin.

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