Gabriel Martinelli’s fiancee Isabella Rousso predicted the Arsenal winger’s late goal against Manchester City when sending a motivational pre-match text to her partner. Brazil international Martinelli started a crunch Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium among the substitutes, but stepped off the bench to score a dramatic equaliser in a thrilling 1-1 draw.
Celtic now look to be closing in on their eighth signing of the summer transfer window, in another boost for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers "very pleased" with his Celtic side
The Scottish Premiership champions maintained their 100% winning start in the league this season on Saturday, sealing a routine 3-0 victory at home to Livingston. Speaking after the game, Celtic manager Rodgers was in positive spirits, with his side already six points clear of rivals Rangers after just three matches.
“I was very pleased. I thought the performance was really good. We started well and with the tempo that we wanted. There were a lot of changes but the fluidity in the team was very good and we got in to some good areas in the first half. In the second half, we had a good flow in the game and scored three very good goals.
“Defensively we’re strong, we’ve conceded only one goal in four domestic games. And today, against a team that are very compact and tight, we showed some really good moments of football.”
Now, the positivity appears to be continuing at Celtic, with the Hoops looking to be on the verge of completing another summer signing, following a new update.
Celtic close to completing 8th summer signing
Taking to X on Monday morning, Anthony Joseph reports that Celtic are closing in on the signing of Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, with a medical scheduled in the UK this week.
This is brilliant news for anyone of a Celtic persuasion, with Balikwisha a long-time transfer target who could make them even more of an attacking force.
The Belgian has scored 30 goals in 145 appearances for Antwerp, predominantly shining from the left wing, but also being able to do a good job on the opposite flank and in more of a central role.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s injuries
Season
Days out
Games out
Muscle injury
2024/25
21
3
Muscle injury
2024/25
57
9
Torn thigh muscle
2024/25
127
17
Knee surgery
2023/24
49
10
Muscle injury
2022/23
44
2
Torn thigh muscle
2022/23
59
12
Hip injury
2021/22
33
7
Hamstring injury
2021/22
18
3
That said, the one slight concern for Rodgers will be Balikwisha’s injury history, with the 24-year-old suffering plenty of absences during his career.
Talks open: Celtic in "negotiations" to sign full-back similar to Johnston
The Hoops could be busy before the deadline.
1 ByCharlie Smith Aug 24, 2025
But hopefully, he has rid himself of those fitness woes, coming in and being an immediate key man for Celtic, giving the Scottish champions the additional firepower that they have craved throughout the summer window.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League return could not have been scripted better, with Lucas Bergvall delivering a standout debut under the lights and earning plaudits from legends of the game. Ange Postecoglou’s groundwork from last season is now paying dividends, with the teenager stepping up on Europe’s biggest stage under new boss Thomas Frank.
AFPBergvall helps Spurs to UCL win on debut
Bergvall was handed his first Champions League start by Frank in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal. The teenager made an immediate impact, forcing an early own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior. Spurs rode that breakthrough to secure three points in their opening league phase match.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBergvall's performance holds Postecoglou's handprint
While Frank is the man steering Spurs now, much of the credit for Bergvall’s maturity is being directed towards Postecoglou. The Australian gave Bergvall crucial minutes last season, helping him adapt to Premier League demands. That faith laid the foundation for Tuesday’s dream debut, with Bergvall himself saying: “A dream come true. First Champions League game, at home in front of you and a win. Something I've dreamed of since I was a kid.”
Additionally, he also said on Tottenham's official channels: “Yeah, [playing in the Champions League] has been a dream since I was a young kid to play here and in front of the supporters at home, and a win could not be better.”
Getty Images SportRonney praises 'fantastic' Bergvall
Wayne Rooney was among those to heap praise on the Swedish midfielder after his performance. The Manchester United legend told Amazon Prime Video: "Sometimes you forget how young he is because he played a lot of games last season, and the maturity with which he plays is fantastic."
He continued: "So he shows different sides to his game this season, last season he played a bit deeper, and to play as a number ten is not easy, it's not easy to get on the ball and be in the right positions, but I thought today he showed the different side to his game, which will only improve him in the future."
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Bergvall the shining star for Spurs' future
Tottenham will look to build momentum from their winning start as they continue their Champions League journey. Frank will hope Bergvall’s form adds creativity to his squad while keeping him grounded in a long season. With the foundation laid by Postecoglou and the guidance of Frank, Spurs may finally have a star ready to shine on Europe’s grand stage.
علق حازم إمام لاعب الزمالك الأسبق، على قيادة حسام حسن لـ منتخب مصر في مباراة الغد أمام جيبوتي بالمواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات تصفيات كاس العالم 2026.
قال حازم إمام، في تصريحات عبر قناة أون سبورت: “حسام حسن يمتلك شخصية هجومية لا تعرف الخوف داخل المستطيل الأخضر، يعتمد غالبًا على لاعب ارتكاز واحد ويهاجم بخمسة لاعبين، وفي المباراة الماضية أمام إثيوبيا، لعب بحمدي فتحي كمدافع وسط، ووضع تريزيجيه على الجهة اليسرى، وزيزو على اليمنى، وأمامهم مرموش وأسامة فيصل ومحمد صلاح، أي أنه لعب بخمسة مهاجمين”.
وأكمل: “حسام حسن قد لا يلعب غدًا بثنائي ارتكاز، وربما يفضل التأمين الدفاعي بسبب أهمية تصفيات كأس العالم، لكنه بطبيعته مدرب هجومي لا يميل إلى التحفظ، وحتى خلال فتراته مع الأندية التي درّبها مثل المصري، كان دائمًا يلعب أمام الأهلي والزمالك بروح الفوز ورغبة التسجيل، ويُقدّم مباريات جيدة جدًا”.
وواصل: “هذه هي شخصية الكابتن حسام، دائمًا يسعى إلى تسجيل الأهداف ولا يخشى تجربة لاعبين جدد، حتى وإن لم يشاركوا بانتظام مع أنديتهم، طالما أنه مقتنع بقدراتهم وهو يؤمن أن الفوز يُبرهن على صحة اختياراته”.
وزاد: “الكابتن الجوهري، رحمه الله، كان يُكنّ حبًا كبيرًا لحسام حسن، وكان يعتبره من أقرب اللاعبين إليه، ربما لأنه شارك في كأس العالم ويمتلك روحًا قتالية عالية داخل الملعب، ونحن الجيل الذي جاء بعده بنحو عشر سنوات، وبالطبع الكابتن الجوهري كان يحبنا جميعًا، لكن حسام كان يحتل مكانة خاصة”.
طالع | أشرف صبحي: منتخب مصر قادر على التأهل لـ كأس العالم.. ونسعى لعدم تكرار خطأ تصفيات 2022
وأردف: “الكابتن الجوهري كان له تأثير عظيم على كل من عمل معه، وجميع مدربي جيل التسعينات تأثروا بفكره، مثل ربيع ياسين، وجمال عبد الحميد، وأشرف قاسم، وإسماعيل يوسف، كلهم تأثروا بأسلوبه وفكره في المحاضرات والمباريات”.
وأضاف: “أما جيلنا فقد تأثر به أيضًا، لكن بدرجة أقل من جيل 90، لأن ذلك الجيل عاش معه فترة طويلة في معسكرات مستمرة استعدادًا لكأس العالم، ما جعل تأثيره عليهم أقوى”.
وأوضح: “أنا شخصيًا لعبت تحت قيادة الكابتن الجوهري في منتخب مصر لفترة طويلة، وأرى أنه لا يوجد مدرب مثله في مصر، وكان منظمًا للغاية، ويُحضّر لكل شيء بدقة، ويمتلك فكرًا متقدمًا، وشاهدت له لقاءً قديمًا يتحدث فيه عن الاحتراف واستعدادات المنتخب، وكان كلامه سابقًا لعصره”.
وأتم: “حسام حسن تأثر كثيرًا بفكر الجوهري، خصوصًا في الانضباط داخل المعسكرات والتركيز العالي، وهو من نوعية المدربين الذين يختارون اللاعبين بناءً على قناعتهم الفنية، حتى لو لم يشاركوا في أنديتهم، ولا يهتم بما يُقال في الإعلام، تمامًا كما كان يفعل الكابتن الجوهري، الذي كان يؤمن بقناعاته وينفذها دون تردد”.
Brendan Rodgers has not tried to keep his desire for the Celtic board to bring in more attackers before the end of the summer transfer window a secret.
The Northern Irish head coach has lost Portuguese winger Jota to a long-term ACL injury, and may not have him back until the start of next year, whilst Nicolas Kuhn has been sold to Italian side Como.
Speaking earlier this month, Rodgers said: “I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”
This shows that the Hoops head coach wants to add more attacking players in before September’s deadline, and the wide areas seem an obvious area for improvement.
At this moment in time, James Forrest, Hyun-jun Yang, and Daizen Maeda are the only senior and natural wingers in the squad for what could be a 50-60-game season.
The Scottish Premiership champions need to strengthen their options on the flanks, both because of their lack of depth and their lack of real quality.
Why Celtic need to sign a James Forrest upgrade
Forrest was called upon as a starter in the second game of the league season against Aberdeen after Rodgers was left unconvinced by Yang’s display against St Mirren on the opening day.
The 34-year-old winger is a steady performer for Celtic and will rarely let the team down with abysmal displays, but he is not a game-changer who will consistently make an impact in the final third, and nor should anyone expect him to be at this stage in his career.
Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Forrest has only scored one goal and provided seven assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, per Transfermarkt.
The former Scotland international’s performances in the first two matches of the Premiership outline the kind of role he should have, and the level of output that he can offer at this point in his career.
Minutes
32
78
Key passes
0
2
Big chances created
0
0
Shots on target
0
0
Dribbles completed
0/0
3/5
Possession lost
11x
9x
As you can see in the table above, Forrest did not produce a single shot on target or create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates in either match, but did complete three dribbles and rarely lost possession of the ball.
This further backs up the idea that he should be used sparingly as a back-up option for Rodgers, as was his role in the 2024/25 campaign, rather than being a frontline option because of a lack of signings made in the transfer window.
That is why Celtic need to sign a new winger to be an upgrade on Forrest as a starter, and the club have reportedly identified a top target for that position.
Celtic pursuing deal for Danish star
According to Football Insider, Rodgers is ‘desperate’ to sign a new winger for Celtic and the Hoops have identified Jakbo Breum as their top target to bolster their options out wide.
Speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “Celtic are pursuing a deal for Jakob Breum from Go Ahead Eagles. He has been the top target for them this summer and they’ve had several bids turned down for him.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
“So if they can’t agree a deal for him, they could return for Balikwisha. Brendan Rodgers wants to bring in a winger, it’s been a key position for him this summer, so he’ll be hopeful they can get a deal over the line.”
Go Ahead Eagles reportedly want a fee of £5m for the Denmark U21 international, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to pay that asking price for him.
Breum is the top target, though, per O’Rourke, and they should push the boat out to pay what is needed to sign him if they feel that he would be the best fit for the squad.
Why Breum would be an upgrade on Forrest
The Danish star is a versatile attacker who can play as a number ten or on either flank, and the Hoops could utilise his talent out on the right wing as an upgrade on Forrest.
Breum would come in and offer more quality at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals in comparison to the veteran Scotsman, if he can adapt to football in Scotland and translate his performances from the Netherlands over to Glasgow.
The 21-year-old wizard, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Eredivisie for Go Ahead Eagles in the 2024/25 campaign.
Breum showcased his ability to make an impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals by delivering five assists and scoring ten goals in 26 league appearances for the club, significantly outperforming his xG of 6.27.
Appearances
26
23
Goals
10
1
Big chances missed
4
4
Key passes per game
1.7
1.1
Big chances created
6
5
Assists
5
5
Dribble success rate
47%
38%
As you can see in the table above, the Danish talent outperformed Forrest with his output at the top end of the pitch, despite playing for a Go Ahead Eagles side that finished seventh in the division.
In a dominant Celtic team that consistently wins, as evidenced by their achievement of winning the last four Premiership titles, Breum could have even more opportunities to show off his quality in front of goal as both a finisher and a creative passer.
This means that the £5m-rated star could provide even more goals and assists than he did in the Eredivisie with Go Ahead Eagles, which is why he could be a big upgrade on Forrest, who he already delivered more goal contributions than at league level last term.
At the age of 21, Breum would also arrive at Parkhead as a young player who still has time left ahead of him. This means that Rodgers could work with him on the training pitch to develop and hone his skills to make him a star for the Hoops moving forward.
Celtic could avenge Kvistgaarden miss with swoop for "flamboyant" £7m star
Celtic could avenge their Mathias Kvistgaarden blunder with a swoop to sign this star.
ByDan Emery Aug 16, 2025
This summer just keeps getting better and better for Chelsea.
On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side have looked dangerous and off it, the board have been doing brilliant work in the transfer market.
For example, the likes of Jame Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro were all through the door before the Club World Cup final, and then the tremendously exciting Jorrel Hato was added last week.
As if that wasn’t enough, the West Londoners appear to be making progress on a deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho, are even further along in the process of signing Xavi Simons, and are now being linked with an international who’d be a brilliant teammate for the Dutchman.
As it stands, Chelsea are supposedly in talks for Manchester United’s controversial but undeniably talented Garnacho, but with the club supposedly sure his price will come down before the end of the window, it looks like Simons might be signed first.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Reports from earlier this month have made it clear that the personal terms with the Dutchman have already been agreed, and that a fee of around £61m would be enough for RB Leipzig to let him go.
The 22-year-old would be an incredible addition to the Blues’ squad, and it already seems like the club are now looking at another international who’d be a perfect teammate for him.
At least that’s according to a recent report from The Express, which claims Chelsea are very interested in Morgan Rogers.
The story goes on to reveal that the West Londoners have been ‘keen admirers’ of the Aston Villa star for some time, and that should he be made available, they’ll be running for his signature.
However, it’d likely be a costly transfer to get over the line, with stories from earlier this summer claiming that the Claret and Blue value him at around £100m.
That said, if Chelsea have a chance to sign Rogers, they should take it, as he’d be an exceptional addition to the squad and a perfect teammate for Simons.
Fundamentally, there are two key reasons why Rogers would be an excellent signing and teammate for Simons, and the first relates to his output.
For example, despite still only being 22 years old and playing in the Championship a couple of years ago, the Villa ace was monsterously effective for the Claret and Blue.
In his 54 appearances, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, put the ball in the back of the net 14 times and provided 15 assists for good measure.
|
Rogers in 24/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
54 |
|
Minutes |
4496′ |
|
Goals |
14 |
|
Assists |
15 |
|
Goal Involvements per Match |
0.53 |
|
Minutes per Goal Involvement |
155.03′ |
|
All Stats via Transfermarkt |
|
That means the former Middlesbrough gem was able to maintain a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes.
Now, just imagine what those numbers could look like playing alongside the Dutchman, who racked up 19 goal involvements in 33 games last season, and vice versa.
With both players being more than capable creators and goal-scorers, they could form a seriously dangerous partnership, with opposition defenders never quite sure which one is going to create the chance or finish it.
The second reason the former Manchester City academy gem could be such a great teammate for the Amsterdam-born international is that he’s also comfortable playing in the middle of the park or on the wing.
Therefore, he’d have more opportunities to play with the Leipzig star, and more crucially, he’d be able to come in and cover for him when he needs a rest, in turn reducing the risk of injury.
Ultimately, it won’t be cheap, but Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Rogers this summer, as he’d be a brilliant addition in his own right, but an even better one alongside Simons.
Shades of Hazard: Chelsea lead race for £40m "superstar" alongside Simons
The dynamic attacker would add another dimension to Chelsea’s squad.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Aug 7, 2025
While it might be something of a cliché, this season does feel like it’s going to be Nottingham Forest’s most important in a very long time.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will need to prove that their form in the Premier League last year was no fluke, and on top of that, they’ll want to go as far as they possibly can in the Europa League.
Fortunately, there’s no reason to suspect that the Tricky Trees won’t be as good as they were last season, especially since the talismanic Morgan Gibbs-White is set to remain at the City Ground for the foreseeable future.
Moreover, while losing Anthony Elanga isn’t ideal, the club now look set to land someone who could be the perfect replacement.
Forest target perfect Elanga replacement
While the Gibbs-White saga has understandably dominated the headlines when it comes to Forest this summer, the club have made several smart additions to Nuno’s team so far.
Transfer Focus
Jair Cunha, for example, looks like he could develop into a useful defender for the side, while Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus produced a combined tally of 25 goal involvements last season, which could make all the difference this year.
However, there are still just over two weeks until the window slams shut, and the Tricky Trees seem intent on making the most of that time, reportedly set to welcome Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson to the club, alongside Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Yet, according to a recent report from mainland Europe, Forest are also closing in on signing Dilane Bakwa.
The Belgian journalist has revealed that, while the club have seen their €26m + €5m (£22m + £4m) rejected by Strasbourg, the two clubs are now much “closer to an agreement” than before, and the transfer is now “almost there.”
While Tavolieri does not mention what the final fee for the French winger is likely to be, a story from L’Équipe from earlier this month claimed that the French side value him at up to €35m, which is about £35m, and while that is a lot of money, Bakwa would be worth it.
Why Bakwa would be a perfect Elanga replacement
So, while there is no debating that Elanga was brilliant for Forest last season and one of their most important attackers, it certainly appears that not only would Bakwa be a great replacement, but potentially even an upgrade.
For example, when it comes to their pure output last season, which is fundamentally what matters most for any attacker, it’s the Frenchman who comes out on top.
In his 31 appearances for Strasbourg, the dangerous “diamond,” as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored six goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.06 games.
In contrast, the Swedish international scored six goals and provided 12 assists, but did so in 43 appearances, which comes out to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games.
However, it’s not just their output that paints the 22-year-old in a better light, as he comes out comfortably on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.41
0.36
Progressive Passes
4.66
2.27
Progressive Passes Received
8.99
8.24
Progressive Carries
3.86
3.67
Shots
1.87
1.58
Shots on Target
0.79
0.86
Passing Accuracy
72.9%
65.3%
Key Passes
1.70
1.80
Passes into the Final Third
2.42
1.15
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.44
0.94
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.36
0.29
Live Passes
34.7
25.1
Shot-Creating Actions
3.97
3.67
Goal-Creating Actions
0.58
0.65
Tackles
0.94
0.68
Blocks
0.76
0.40
Interceptions
0.54
0.22
Clearances
0.97
0.90
Successful Take-Ons
1.81
0.90
In fact, it’s not even close, as the Créteil-born gem comes out ahead in almost every single relevant metric, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot-creating actions, tackles, interceptions and more, all per 90.
In other words, the Ligue 1 ace looks to already be a relatively complete winger, who is as capable of creating chances as he is scoring them, and has no problem tracking back to do his defensive work either.
Ultimately, while he might cost them a little more than they were planning, Forest should be doing all they can to sign Bakwa as soon as possible, as not only does he look like the perfect replacement for Elanga, but he is also a potential upgrade.
Their new Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest in race to land £30m star on loan
The hugely exciting gem could be a game-changer for Forest this season.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2025
MatériaMais Notícias
Um estudo do Relatório Convocados 23, que foi realizado em parceria com a Galapagos Capital, revelou um hábito de consumo e prática em sites de apostas esportivas. O relatório revelou que 45% da torcida do Cruzeiro fez pelo menos uma aposta em esportes no ano de 2022.
RelacionadasFutebol AmericanoPróximo da estreia na Liga BFA, Brayden McCombs deixa o Cruzeiro FAFutebol Americano15/06/2023CruzeiroCom Ronaldo, Cruzeiro reduziu R$ 54 milhões em gastos durante o anoCruzeiro14/06/2023CruzeiroCruzeiro deve buscar, pelo menos, mais cinco reforços para a sequência da temporadaCruzeiro14/06/2023
logo em seguida, vem a torcida do Bahia, com 40%. E, em terceiro, os fãs do Atlético-MG, maior rival da Raposa, com 37% fiéis envolvidos com o setor.
Os time mineiros superaram equipes como Fluminense e Flamengo, que, em 2021, tinham percentual maior de suas respectivas torcidas entre apostadores. No ano seguinte, os clubes tiveram 36% e 35%, respectivamente.
Ranking
Cruzeiro — 45%
Bahia — 40%
Atlético — 37%
Vasco — 36%
Fluminense — 36%
Flamengo — 35%
Internacional — 34%
Botafogo — 33%
Palmeiras — 33%
São Paulo — 32%
Corinthians — 30%
Santos — 28%
Grêmio — 20%
O estudo também revelou quais são as casas de apostas mais usadas pelos brasileiros. Em primeiro lugar, está a Bet365, com 25% no mercado nacional. Em seguida, vem a Betano, patrocinadora do Atlético-MG, com 20%, seguida por Sportingbet e Pixbet, com 14% cada. A parceira do Cruzeiro, Betfair, é a 5ª colocada, com 6%.
A pesquisa foi realizada entre 2.100 entrevistados entre os dias 14 e 28 de outubro de 2022, via internet, em população de 16 anos ou mais nas principais cidades brasileiras.
Former U.S. international Alexi Lalas hailed Christian Pulisic after the Milan star’s match-winning brace against Udinese. The USMNT captain struck twice and played a role in a third as the Rossoneri cruised to a 3-0 away win, strengthening their early Serie A title push. The praise follows a summer in which the two publicly clashed over Pulisic’s Gold Cup absence.
Getty Images Sport'Arguably the best player for AC Milan'
The former USMNT defender stated that Pulisic is currently an elite player in Serie A and Milan's best player, highlighting the American's importance to the Rossoneri's tactical setup.
"I think you are looking at it certainly right now, and if you need any more proof, this game is it, that he is an elite player in Serie A. He is, I think arguably the best player for AC Milan," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast.
Lalas expressed particular admiration for the comprehensive nature of Pulisic's contribution in the win.
“This was a phenomenal game,” Lalas explained. “I think something that he will remember and Pulisic fans, fans of the US national team and AC Milan fans can appreciate, and I think we'll remember for a long time. Everything he touched seemed to turn to gold.
“So this was everything that Christian Pulisic is encapsulated into one game. And rightfully he is receiving, you know, the flowers that a performance like that and combined with I think a consistency now of quality and elite performances that was attributed to him.”
AdvertisementGetty Images SportChange of tone for the summer
Lalas’ latest remarks mark a shift from the U.S. icon, who spent much of the summer criticizing Pulisic for skipping the Gold Cup and bristling at the star’s reaction to that scrutiny.
“The bigger problem for Christian Pulisic not to be here this summer is that you got to read the room, dude,” Lalas said. “I would think if this really means something to you, that you would move heaven and earth to be there to try to set this right. Now, does it mean that it’s all going to go great? No, but at least you are there in the trenches in the most important moment before this World Cup helping this team.”
Pulisic later addressed the criticism directly in his documentary series.
“I think everyone has, you know, had their opinion on me and, in my opinion, just disrespected me in a lot of ways, and just completely forgotten about what I’ve done for this national team for 10 years. It sucks,” he said. “If you went and you read the media, you probably think this was the end of the world. But in my head, I’m going back, and I’m right back into it with my club. I’ve got other things I’m focusing on, and I want to win – I want to win in everything that I do.”
GettyLalas discusses Pulisic's place among all-time American greats
Lalas shifted the conversation toward Pulisic’s historical standing among American players, weighing where the Milan star belongs on his personal Mount Rushmore of U.S. soccer legends. The FOX analyst acknowledged there are plenty of arguments for Pulisic to already be considered the greatest American ever, citing his success at multiple top European clubs.
“I think that Christian Pulisic is absolutely heading in the direction of being the best male American soccer player in history for what he has done,” Lalas said. “The Rushmore thing is interesting because I think it certainly relates to what you have done, but I also think it relates to the impact that you have – the lasting impact that you have. The historical aspects of what you do and the fundamental change that you bring…When you’re talking about a player, you know, what has Christian Pulisic done? I think you can make plenty of arguments.”
Looking ahead to next summer’s World Cup on home soil, Lalas suggested international success could cement Pulisic’s legacy beyond any remaining doubts.
“Again, while he has scored in the World Cup and while he has played in the World Cup, owning a World Cup – which is on offer next summer for him and this national team – I think that would shut up any people out there that are arguing against that."
Lalas also believes the only reason why Pulisic isn't bigger stateside yet is due to the fact that he's had his biggest successes in Europe. He hopes his star will continue to grow bigger in America, even if that means eventually coming to play in MLS one day.
“I will be interested when, in totality, we look at Christian Pulisic’s career, what he ends up doing. If maybe it comes back to MLS or does something back in the United States other than just making an incredible impact from afar – and if that maybe changes some people’s minds.”
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Road ahead for Milan
Pulisic had another brilliant performance for AC Milan on Tuesday, coming off the bench to score in the club's 3-0 win over Lecce. His goal tally is now five goals in six games overall, and he'll be looking to bring his strong form into an early-season test against Napoli on Sept. 28.
Arsenal are currently trying to offload some noteworthy players behind-the-scenes, with a few Gunners squad members up for grabs as we slowly approach the summer transfer deadline on September 1.
Mikel Arteta is gearing up for his side’s first Premier League game of the season, away to Man United on Sunday, but sporting director Andrea Berta’s transfer tasks aren’t done yet.
Berta has enjoyed a statement first summer window in his new role as Edu’s replacement, splashing over £200 million on Kepa, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres.
However, amid their links with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, or potentially even another left-winger if Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli leave, Arsenal are also open to offers for the likes of Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The same can be said of defender Jakub Kiwior, who Arteta views as an important player in the squad after he filled in well for the injured Gabriel during periods of last season.
However, Kiwior isn’t guaranteed consistent game time at the Emirates if both Gabriel and William Saliba are consistently fit next term, so the Poland international could well decide to take an opportunity elsewhere amid interest from AC Milan.
Going back to Zinchenko, though, it is believed the Ukraine international is firmly on Arsenal’s ‘for sale’ list after falling down Arteta’s pecking order.
The 28-year-old is even reported to have held a meeting with José Mourinho recently about a move to Fenerbahçe (Sabah), but Jose isn’t the only big-name manager to register a serious interest in him.
According to Italian newspaper Il Mattino, Zinchenko is being offered around to various clubs as Berta looks to trim his £150,000-per-week wages off the books.
One of the sides who could take the left-back off Arteta’s hands are Italian champions Napoli, led by Antonio Conte, who is personally keen on signing Zinchenko and believes he’d be a solid signing.
Conte and Napoli are in the market for new full-back options and believe Zinchenko could fit the bill, with the former Man City star also expressing a desire to leave N5 behind-closed-doors as he pursues more game time.
As Napoli are handed the chance to sign Zinchenko, Arsenal supporters will remember him as a reliable servant when he does finally secure a move away, and Arteta will have even fonder memories of him.
“First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way,” said Arteta about Zinchenko in the summer of 2022.
“He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad. He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him.”