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Super sub Robert Lewandowski saved goalkeeper Joan Garcia's blushes as Barcelona came from behind to beat a spirited Real Oviedo 3-1 on Thursday in La Liga. The 37-year-old is not getting any younger but he showed once again that his class is undeniable with a clinical finish against the struggling side. Garcia made a mistake he will want to forget quickly but the Poland star saved the day.

After table-topping Real Madrid thumped Levante 4-1 on Tuesday, Barcelona had to respond to keep their bitter rivals honest in the title race. But things looked bleak when Alberto Reina took advantage of Garcia's sloppy pass when he was way out of his goal, and the midfielder managed to fire home from 40 yards in the 33rd minute.

The reigning champions needed a response after a flat first half, and they got in the 56th minute when unlikely goalscorer Eric Garcia tapped in from a yard out after Ferran Torres' snap-shot was saved. Off the bench, Lewandowski turned things around for Barca 20 minutes from time when his terrific header crashed in off the underside of the bar. 

And Ronald Araujo capitalised on a tiring Oviedo side in the closing stages, as his glancing header nestled in the corner in the 89th minute to secure all three points. The result saw the Blaugrana close to within two points of Madrid after six games of the campaign.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Carlos Tartiere Stadium…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Joan Garcia (4/10):

Had a horror show for Oviedo's opener as his wayward pass was punished by the hosts. Didn't look all that comfortable after that, bar a nice stop at the death.

Eric Garcia (8/10):

Has been ever-present for Barcelona this season and showed he can be in the right place at the right time in an attacking sense as he stabbed home his team's equaliser. Getting better and better.

Ronald Araujo (8/10):

Showed a great turn of pace and a deft cutback as he played a big part in Barca's equaliser and at the other end, made some vital clearances in his own box. Took his goal very well late on.

Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

The teenager went about his duties quietly and efficiently. Tended to stay back more when Araujo and others got forward.

Gerard Martin (5/10):

Was up against the fleet-of-foot Haissem Hassan and largely came off second best against the winger. A tough night for the defender.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Pedri (7/10):

Played a big role in keeping Barca's midfield ticking over and then gained superiority as the match wore on. He was always a threat.

Marc Casado (5/10):

While he did not do a great deal wrong, it felt like Barca were missing Frenkie de Jong's quality in the centre of the park. Sure enough, the Dutchman replaced him at the break.

Dani Olmo (5/10):

The former RB Leipzig man was not nearly as effective as he was against Getafe last time out. Was a bit sloppy at times, too.

AFPAttack

Raphinha (6/10):

Has the ability to create something out of nothing, as he showed with his long-range strike that struck the woodwork. The captain was taken off just after the hour mark after a busy period. 

Ferran Torres (7/10):

The Spain international is clearly full of confidence as he looks capable of scoring every time he gets the ball. His instinctive and acrobatic shot led to Barca equalising.

Marcus Rashford (7/10):

The 27-year-old had his shooting boots on tonight; he just came up against an impressive display from keeper Aaron Escandell. Sometimes his decision-making can be a bit off, but he looks very committed and is so eager to run at the defence. 

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Frenkie de Jong (8/10):

The Netherlands international added some much-needed control and quality in the centre of the pitch for the visitors. He also beautifully assisted Lewandowski to make it 2-1.

Robert Lewandowski (8/10):

With almost his first touch after coming on, he buried a superb header past Escandell to silence the home crowd. His class is permanent.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Made a vital interception at the back late on and added some extra solidity.

Marc Bernal (N/A):

Came on in the game's dying embers.

Andreas Christensen (N/A):

Too little time to make an impact.

Hansi Flick (7/10):

The German made a couple of changes to the side that beat Getafe 3-0 in their last game but it didn't really have a positive impact. However, his subs were dynamite and got them out of a very sticky situation.

The transfer window is finally at its end, and after the controversial few months Newcastle United have had, those at St James’ Park might be relieved to see it slam shut today.

Magpies fans might have noticed the breaking news in the early hours of Monday, with reports suggesting a deal has been agreed to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £130m.

It means they are likely to be in the market for another striker after signing Nick Woltemade.

Newcastle striker latest

Eddie Howe’s side have been pushing for a couple of different centre-forwards all summer, so it is no surprise that talkSPORT reported that they are plotting one last attempt for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

They are said to ‘remain keen’ on the Norwegian striker, despite seeing two bids rejected already for the 25-year-old.

The Old Gold could ask for as much as £65m for their star striker before the window slams shut at 7pm.

Why Strand Larsen would be a good signing

Now into his second season of Premier League football, Strand Larsen has certainly impressed in his short time in England. His manager at Molineux, Vitor Pereira, described him as a “phenomenal” striker, and it is easy to see why.

Last term, he demonstrated great adaptability and was a threat in the Premier League from the outset, after moving to the West Midlands from Celta Vigo. In 35 games for the Old Gold, he found the back of the net 14 times and assisted four.

Already in 2025/26, Strand Larsen, who missed Wolves’ game this weekend in light of transfer speculation, is off the mark. He bagged twice against West Ham United in Wolves’ 3-2 Carabao Cup victory at home.

St James’ Park faithful could get used to seeing an unstoppable link-up between Strand Larsen and new signing Woltemade.

The German international joined from Stuttgart last week for a club-record fee of £69m, eclipsing the previous fee of £63m they paid for Isak.

Whilst it is a big fee for the 23-year-old, who stands at six foot six, he certainly comes with a great pedigree.

He scored 17 goals and assisted three in 33 games last season, as well as scoring and assisting nine goals in the under-21 European Championship over the summer.

Well, football scout Antonio Mango seems to be a fan of the pairing, explaining that the two players “really complement each other” on X. German journalist Constantin Eckner said he “works best in two-striker set-ups or playing behind the striker”, with his silky link-up play in and around the box perfect alongside a finisher as clinical as Strand Larsen.

The stats back up that theory, too. Last season, the former Stuttgart star averaged 2.06 key passes per 90 minutes, more than the Wolves striker, who comes in at 0.73. Strand Larsen’s clinical nature in front of goal, with an average of 0.26 goals per shot, shows he is capable of putting those chances away, and ranks just higher than Woltemade’s 0.22 each game.

Goals and assists

0.63

0.73

Goals per shot

0.26

0.22

Shot on target %

61.1%

50%

Key passes

0.73

2.06

Shot-creating actions

1.46

4.38

It seems like Howe might want to implement a two-striker system at St James’ Park, based on Newcastle’s summer business. It could be perfect profiling from the Magpies boss, signing a silky link-up striker to go along with a penalty box presence in Strand Larsen.

With the Isak fund now available, it is easy to see why this £65m investment for the Norwegian star on deadline day could be a dream move for the Magpies.

Better deal than Woltemade: Newcastle join late race to sign £45m "machine"

Newcastle are hoping to sign a centre-midfielder before the transfer window slams shut.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 31, 2025

Before the international break, Tottenham Hotspur’s fast start to the season was stunted at home to Bournemouth, who claimed a 1-0 win down N17.

But fears of that same plague of inconsistency have been pushed aside after an emphatic 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, shifting Spurs into second place in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Three wins from four marks an impressive start to life for Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer after the Australian coach slumped with his side down to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Even the Europa League triumph couldn’t save him, but in spite of all the upheaval – including the shocking exit of Daniel Levy – Tottenham are reshaping into a force to be reckoned with.

The exciting signing of Xavi Simons bears testament to that.

Xavi Simons' Spurs debut

Simons, 22, looked Chelsea-bound for much of the summer transfer window, but Tottenham ended up winning the race and now they boast one of the most exciting playmakers in the business.

Against West Ham, the Netherlands international impressed across his 71 minutes on the field, making the assist for Pape Matar Sarr’s opening goal after the interval, curling a corner in and over the rabble and onto the unmarked Senegalese’s head.

Then the Lilywhites’ task was made easier by Tomas Soucek’s red card after a reckless challenge on Joao Palhinha. Two more goals ensued, and while Simons didn’t land a debut strike for himself, he looked very much at home on the Premier League stage.

Finer displays will follow, but this was very promising indeed, especially when considering he was deployed out wide instead of his natural berth at number ten.

Simons has what it takes to effectively replace the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, maybe even rivalling such stars as being Tottenham’s finest attacking midfielder since the days of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in their pomp.

Spurs' new version of Dele Alli

In January 2024, Tottenham beat off fierce competition from Barcelona to sign teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall. In fact, all the pointers previously claimed the Sweden prospect would join La Blaugrana, but he was convinced by the Lilywhites project after a hijack.

An elite talent, Bergvall has since settled into life as a Tottenham senior, and he’s still only 19 years old. In this regard, he’s somewhat like the aforementioned Dele, and might even come to be Frank’s own version of the fallen England sensation.

Dele, now 29, is clubless after being released by Como in Serie A, but it’s not hard to remember those days of old when he played with such rarely-seen gusto, a true wonder-kid after joining Spurs from MK Dons in League One in 2015.

His first three seasons in the Premier League were beyond spectacular, and had he continued in that thread of form throughout his career, Dele would surely be hailed now in conversations similar to that of the division’s greatest.

23/24

0

0 (0)

22/23

2

0 (0)

21/22

10

1 (0)

20/21

15

0 (1)

19/20

25

8 (4)

18/19

25

5 (3)

17/18

36

9 (11)

16/17

37

18 (9)

15/16

33

10 (9)

Bergvall is not the same as Dele, but his athleticism and intelligence and movement and application all bespeak the skill set of a top-level talent.

And against West Ham, the Scandinavian’s goal-and-assist performance carried shades of Dele back in his heyday.

Cristian Romero arced an aerial pass through to Bergvall moments after Soucek’s red card, and the youngster’s success in timing his run and turning the ball beyond the hapless goalkeeper with a precise header underlined his Dele-esque performance.

Because, after all, such headed goals were staples of the Three Lions star’s skills when he was in his prime at Tottenham. Who remembers that performance against Chelsea back in 2017, for example?

But the similarities don’t stop there. Bergvall’s success at such an early age is bringing him into direct comparison with a young Dele, and it’s something Spurs can now use to deepen their connection with the fanbase as this new era gets up and running.

After all, at 19 years and 223 days old, Bergvall is Tottenham’s youngest scorer in the Premier League since… You guessed it, Dele, who was 19 years and 205 days old when he scored in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in November 2015.

There’s no question that Tottenham landed one of Europe’s prized up-and-coming midfielders when beating Barcelona to his signature, and now, with Frank at the helm, there’s a sense that Bergvall is coming into his own.

He’s a European champion, and he’s now showcased his ability to produce a rounded display in the Premier League, with data from Sofascore revealing that he won five duels, made two tackles and created a key pass against struggling West Ham.

He also completed 100% of his dribbles, demonstrating a progressiveness that will help Tottenham to no end.

Football.london handed him an 8/10 match rating, drawing attention to his neat interplay and clever touches, as well as his intelligent involvement in the build-up to Tottenham’s third, when Van de Ven sealed three excellent points for the north Londoners.

Bergvall remains a young midfielder making his way in the Premier League, but already, he is so accomplished within Tottenham’s squad.

He has featured 50 times for the Londoners and is starting to show in Frank’s system an ability to stand out among his peers, something Dele did with such prodigious aplomb during the early days of his time in a Tottenham shirt.

He'll be Frank's own Bale: Spurs have hit gold on "phenomenal" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur have unearthed themselves a new gem over the last couple of months.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2025

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi saw a proposed summer transfer to Liverpool fall through at the 11th hour last month. But rather than simply resurrect a deal that would see him switch to Anfield by next summer at the latest, the England international looks set to have a number of other high profile clubs to choose from – including Bayern Munich as they make their own move.

'Concrete' interest from Bayern

According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Bayern are already "concretely" looking at a move for Guehi. Senior sporting executive Max Eberl is described as a "big admirer" and early stage talks with the player's representatives are said to have already taken place, establishing Bayern's serious interest in taking Guehi to the Bundesliga and gauging the response from the other side of the table.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuehi's contact situation unresolved

Although Guehi has been widely praised for how he has handled himself in recent months – as opposed to the transfer-forcing tactics employed by the likes of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Yoane Wissa during the summer window – his days at Crystal Palace still appear numbered.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and the Eagles have arguably lost their best chance to command anything close to a reasonable and fair transfer fee for him. Selling in January, due to his contract have just a few months left to run by that stage, is unlikely to bring big money because it makes more financial sense for suitors, unless desperate, to wait until July.

January also brings something else into play because, from New Year's Day, Guehi would be able to enter into a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club that locks in a free summer transfer. That is something that Liverpool will want to avoid, as it theoretically gives Bayern an advantage. Plettenberg also names Barcelona and Real Madrid, both in need of defensive reinforcement, as other rival suitors that stand to give Guehi a plethora of incredible options.

Familiar faces in Munich

Were Guehi to choose Bayern, it wouldn't be a complete jump into the unknown, despite leaving the home comforts of English football and the Premier League for Germany and Bundesliga.

Star winger Michael Olise was a teammate of Guehi's at Crystal Palace for three seasons, from when they both joined the Eagles in the summer of 2021, until Olise was sold to Bayern in 2024. Guehi also plays alongside chief Bayern goal-getter Harry Kane for England.

Then there is Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, a Manchester City player for the best part of a decade, before two years in charge at Burnley. Guehi will additionally have come up against both Luis Diaz, signed from Liverpool in July, and Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea. He may also have plenty of knowledge of Jamal Musiala due to shared time in Chelsea’s academy, albeit in different age groups.

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Getty Images SportHuge clubs in need of a centre-back

Plettenberg further noted that Bayern's final decision to approach Guehi will depend on the respective futures of Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. But the Bundesliga champions aren't the only top side in need of a defensive boost.

After running out of time to sign Guehi in September, Liverpool have been left horribly exposed by the long-term injury to summer signing Giovanni Leoni. Ibrahima Konate is also nursing a problem, potentially leaving Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez the only fit centre-backs in the squad.

At Real Madrid, Dean Huijsen was recruited in June, but Los Blancos could feasibly be short once more if David Alaba is to leave. Antonio Rudiger, 33 this season, isn't getting any younger. Barcelona similarly lack quality depth behind Pau Cubarsi, with Ronald Araujo's future uncertain.

Or is it the other way around, and they are not good enough at this stage to be in demand?

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-20255:11

Knight: ‘Next thing for Jofra Archer is to evolve’

And then there were ten. IPL 2025, at this stage, has just ten players from England. There were 12, but Harry Brook and Brydon Carse (injury) have withdrawn. Feels different from previous years, doesn’t it? So, has the England players’ attitude towards the IPL changed? Are they not good enough anymore, and the IPL franchises are just not interested in them? Is it something else?”Rob Key, who is in charge back at the ECB, has basically tried to – and he’s fairly right – encouraged his players to play as much for England [as possible],” Nick Knight, the former England opener, said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “They’ve got a five-Test series against India. They’ve got an Ashes to follow. They’ve got multi-format players, like Harry Brook and Mark Wood – they’re pretty well looked-after now. And they’re going to have to be looked after.”There’s a bit of that influence. So they perhaps don’t need to travel and play in all these leagues around the world. There are other leagues popping up as well. If you’re not going to get the full price [at the IPL auctions] that perhaps you might want to get, you might want to play in another league. So there are a number of these sort of factors flying around for some of these players.”Related

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The ten players from England that are a part of IPL 2025 are Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Phil Salt and Reece Topley. Brook and Carse have opted out. Ben Duckett, it’s understood, was contacted by Delhi Capitals (DC) to be Brook’s replacement, but he chose to stay away.Compare this to IPL 2024, when there were 18 players from England divided among the ten teams. Some of them withdrew at various stages of the IPL, but that’s a significantly higher number than now.ESPNcricinfo’s Matt Roller suggested that some of the England players’ stocks have dwindled in recent years, possibly a reflection of their failures at ICC white-ball events of late. When the last mega auction was held, before IPL 2022, England were the defending 50-over World Cup winners and then won the T20 World Cup in 2022. They were in big demand.”Perhaps the stock of some of these players is not quite as high because of the ICC trophies, and the way some of these competitions globally have been going,” Knight said, agreeing to the point. “You know, you look at Sam Curran. Go back a couple of T20 [World Cups] back in Australia, he was the Player of the Tournament.3:45

Has England’s IPL love affair changed?

“And he goes into the IPL auction, gets an absolute full whack. So there are a number of factors that are combining to make a few players less [in demand] than you’d expect.”A bit of a chicken-and-egg situation, isn’t it? Did the England players get better at T20s by playing in the IPL, or did they come into the IPL because they were that good? And how does it work now?”A lot of people have benefitted from playing in the IPL, because a lot of them got better playing against spin, and also wickets that were slow,” Ambati Rayudu said. “We have seen the England side in India [for a white-ball series in January and February this year]. Somehow, they are just playing one-dimensional cricket, especially in the middle overs, and especially against spin. To go hard against spin, you also need skill. So where do you develop that? You develop that in the subcontinent, or on wickets such as these. So… it’s quite a Catch-22 situation.”

After finally making his first Liverpool appearance against Atletico Madrid, Alexander Isak will have his sights set on the Merseyside derby against Everton and Arne Slot has already dropped a hint about his potential role.

Isak makes Liverpool debut

It was never going to be a game that saw Isak steal the show in the same way that he so often did for Newcastle United. He’s not quite there yet, as he works his way back to sharpness. But the Swede certainly showed plenty of glimpses.

What particularly stood out is how Florian Wirtz also burst into life for the first time in Liverpool colours when combining with his fellow summer arrival. That partnership, if it continues to click, will be one to watch.

Although it’s difficult to criticise a side that have won four from four in the Premier League, Liverpool looked far more balanced against Atletico Madrid before complacency forced them into winning late on once again.

Isak, Mohamed Salah, Wirtz and Cody Gakpo formed a formidable frontline, whilst Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch proved that they’ll be a tough midfield partnership to break up for the rest of Slot’s options in that department.

Jeremie Frimpong’s influence should also be noted. The addition of a natural, overlapping full-back – which Szoboszlai did not provide – allowed Salah the space that he has been craving to cut inside and return to his most influential form.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

Finally complete now that Isak is up and running, the depth of quality that this current Liverpool side have at their disposal should be frightening for any Premier League rival. But after making his debut against Atletico Madrid, will Isak start against Everton in the Merseyside derby this weekend?

Liverpool vs Everton: Slot drops early Isak hint

Speaking about the Swede’s potential role against Everton, Slot told reporters that, whilst Isak surprised him, fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high for another start in a matter of days. Instead, Anfield may be forced to welcome their new star striker from the bench on Saturday afternoon.

Of course, such is the depth of talent in Liverpool’s squad, it will likely be Hugo Ekitike who starts against Everton. The Frenchman has scored two Premier League goals in four games and has looked more than capable of pushing Isak all the way for a starting place this season.

Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has advised the club’s younger players to limit their phone usage, warning that it can negatively impact their performances. The Armenian midfielder believes that spending time on phones in the gym or locker room affects players’ awareness and connection with their teammates on the pitch. He also pointed out that this issue extends beyond football, describing it as a wider problem affecting the younger generation as a whole.

Mkhitaryan aims to lead Inter youngsters

Having won Serie A with Inter and reached two Champions League finals, the 37-year-old is a trusted senior star for new coach Christian Chivu and his team. With the club now looking to build a younger squad and lower the average age under new ownership, the veteran midfielder has valuable advice to pass on to Inter’s emerging stars.

AdvertisementAFPVeteran midfielder issues advice

In an interview with , Mkhitaryan outlined the dangers of using phones inside the club’s facilities, explaining how it can negatively impact players’ performances. 

He said: “If you look at the night sky, you see so many stars. If you focus on just one, you can't see the others. The same thing happens with your phone: if you only look at it, you can't see what's going on around you. That's why I don't like it being used too much in the locker room or the gym. This also affects performance: then on the pitch, you lower your head, you only look at the ball and you don't see your teammates. This is an illness for many kids; it goes far beyond football.”

Mkhitaryan's warning for Espositio

Inter's 20-year-old striker Pio Esposito has received widespread praise for his performances this season, though his agent has urged fans and media to temper expectations. Mkhitaryan echoed those sentiments, expressing concern that the young forward is facing too much pressure too soon.

“Yes, too much [expectations], and I don't like it. He's a 20-year-old with great potential, but he needs the right amount of time," he added. "We can't overdo the expectations, otherwise we'll ruin him. Everyone has to take their own path, calmly, and you'll see that Italy will soon enjoy this treasure.”

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Getty Images SportInter's challenge this season

After a slow start to the season in which Inter have already lost two of their first six matches, Mkhitaryan will hope to use his mentality and leadership to help the team get back on track in the title race. They are currently three points behind leaders Napoli.

Premier League title winner Danny Simpson has, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained why he will be avoiding a boxing match with ex-Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney. Simpson has stepped into the ring, while Rooney is a big fight fan, but no clash will be organised there due to close friends occupying very different weight classes.

Rooney back on punditry duty after coaching flops

Simpson formed part of United’s academy ranks when Rooney made his way to Old Trafford in 2004 as the most expensive teenager in world football at the time. Simpson made his competitive debut for United in 2007, with Rooney well on course to becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer by that point.

Rooney ended his United career with 253 goals and moved into management once he hung up his boots. Coaching endeavours have not played out as planned, with testing spells being taken in at Derby County, D.C. United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle. The former England captain is now back on punditry duty.

AdvertisementGettySimpson explains why he will avoid Rooney fight

While stepping away from competitive sport, Rooney has hinted in the past that he would welcome the opportunity to lace up a pair of gloves. Simpson has already trodden that path, having faced YouTuber Danny Aarons in an exhibition bout that ended in a split decision draw.

Quizzed by GOAL on whether he would like to face off against Rooney, Simpson – speaking in association with – said: “Not Wazza, no! He’s a little bit bigger than me! He’s definitely a different weight and he’d have me out of there in one round! I’d give it a go in sparring. I’d spar with him, but I don’t think I’d put myself on the main stage with him. He is strong and I have seen him box a little bit. I’d definitely stay away from his weight class.”

Hearn & KSI react to Rooney's boxing wish

Simpson, who claimed the Premier League crown with Leicester in 2026, had previously told iFL TV in September 2024: “I’m seeing him next Saturday because we’ve got a charity game at Old Trafford against Celtic. Listen, I’d have a go with Wazza. He’s a boxer, I know he is. He’s been around it, everyone’s got to back themselves, so why not?”

While Simpson has changed his tune, Rooney has explored potential routes into the ring. Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn told the Peter Crouch Podcast: “Rooney can fight, I’ve spoken to Wayne. When Wayne has a drink, he’ll message me and he’ll start going, ‘I’ll fight him and I’ll fight him,’ and I get excited. Sometimes I get a message from Wayne saying, ‘Make me vs so and so, make that fight.’ I’ll look at it in the morning and go, ‘This is massive’. So I’ll message him back, ‘Few glasses of red or [are you serious?]’. Then he won’t reply and I’ll go, ‘Damn.’ But Wayne can fight.”

A spot on one of the cards for Misfits Boxing has also been discussed, with KSI saying of those proposals: “I think he's probably going to have to lose a bit of weight before he gets into the ring. But if he's actually serious about wanting to fight, then Misfits have their arms wide open.”

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Getty/GOALKenny offer & documentary series: Next up for Rooney

Ex-Sheffield United and QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has offered to provide opposition for Rooney after facing questions from the United great about his role in Manchester City’s dramatic Premier League title win in 2012 – with it Kenny that conceded Sergio Aguero’s iconic stoppage-time winner. He has told Boxing Social: “He keeps hammering me about that Aguero goal, so I think me and him need to sort it out in the ring. 13 years on, he’s still saying I let the goals in! It might have looked like I let them in but I didn’t!”

No imminent return to management appears to be on the cards for Rooney. Simpson has suggested that a role should be found for a club legend back at Old Trafford – in a coaching capacity – while the United icon is also preparing to star in a fly-on-the-wall documentary series from Disney+ alongside wife Coleen and their four sons.

Angelo Mathews, now almost 38, will finish up after the first Test against Bangladesh in June

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-May-2025Angelo Mathews will retire from Test cricket after the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle, starting on June 17. He will remain available for white-ball selection “if and when my country needs me”, he said in an announcement on his social media handle.Mathews has not been picked in a white-ball Sri Lanka side in almost a year, but in any case, the forthcoming Test will mark the end of a Test career that will have stretched for 119 appearances. Mathews made his debut in the format in 2009, and has been more-or-less a fixture in the side since.Sri Lanka’s Test schedule is about to dry up, however, and Mathews, who turns 38 next week, would have likely had to have waited until May 2026 to play Tests again.

pic.twitter.com/nqsnpkpekD

— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) May 23, 2025