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Achraf Hakimi has denied it was his decision to leave Real Madrid, with the right-back stating he is having a lot of "fun" at Paris Saint-Germain.

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Hakimi asked about his Madrid departureAimed dig at former side by making 'fun' claimMadrid sold Moroccan in 2020Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hakimi once again put on a great display in the Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid. After the 4-0 mauling, the full-back was asked about Madrid's decision to sell him in 2020, to which Hakimi provided a sly response. He further explained that he is grateful to be at PSG because they let him play the way he likes to and have fun.

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Hakimi was born in Madrid to Moroccan parents, joining Los Blancos' youth academy in 2006 at the age of seven. He spent 10 years in La Fabrica, before spending the 2016-17 season with Castilla, the reserve team. His performances for the B team earned him a promotion to the first team for the 2017-18 season under then-head coach Zinedine Zidane, making 17 appearances in all competitions as Madrid clinched their third Champions League in succession. However, with Dani Carvajal at the peak of his powers at right-back, the Moroccan international was allowed to leave on a two-year loan to Borussia Dortmund. In 2020, Hakimi was surprisingly sold to Inter, where he spent one season before being snapped up by Les Parisiens.

WHAT ACHRAF HAKIMI SAID

Speaking to former Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele on , Hakimi spoke about his departure from Madrid. He said: "It was their decision [to sell me], not mine."

Then, he opened up on his experience at PSG, saying: "They let me do what I like to do, play and have fun. With this coach who gave me his trust and the freedom to play in midfield from time to time but also to defend. The truth is that I'm very happy and I'm having fun with this team."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ACHRAF HAKIMI?

The dazzling right-back will hope to help his team clinch their fifth trophy of the 2024-25 season by beating Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, July 13.

GOAL takes a look at the seven best players of the tournament, including big moments from Saudi Arabia and Brazil stars

The Club World Cup final is set: Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain take the pitch on Sunday, with a champion set to be crowned in FIFA's expanded 32-team competition.

As the tournament comes to a close, it's time to highlight some specific player performances. Al Hilal's breakout star Marcos Leonardo got the world's attention, as did another young attacker in Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia, On the other end, defender Thiago Silva, 19 years older than Garcia, spearheaded a historic run from Brazilian side Fluminense as they made it to the semifinals.

There was a common theme across the tournament, though: Europe was king. Chelsea's electric winger Pedro Neto and stalwart midfielder Moises Caicedo made their marks all tournament. The Parisian side also had attacking output from two unexpected players – Achraf Hakimi and Fabian Ruiz, both of whom were key in their run to Sunday's final.

GOAL ranks the top performers from this summer's Club World Cup.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream now7Moises Caicedo: Chelsea

Caicedo has been lights-out all tournament for Chelsea, putting in a brilliant showing. Suspended for their quarterfinal match due to yellow card accumulation, he returned in the semifinals to run the show against Fluminense.

The Ecuador international is the key to Enzo Maresca's entire system, as he navigated the center of the park with ease, controlling both the tempo and pace of the match while reading the game like no other on the pitch.

He's featured in just four matches for the London-based club this tournament, but in each, he proved to be the most pivotal player. In their 4-1 victory over Benfica in the Round of 16, he registered a crucial assist in extra-time to secure their spot in the quarterfinals – and now, he's on the verge of leading them to history.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport6Marcos Leonardo: Al Hilal

The Brazilian had a tournament to remember for the Saudi Arabian side. Despite the club being full of star talent and former European superstars such as João Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly, it was the 22-year-old who stole headlines.

He scored four goals, including two in their heroic upset against Manchester City, as well as bagging their lone strike in a 2-1 defeat to Fluminense in the quarterfinals.

Despite being a relative unknown to most of the footballing world heading into the competition, he lit up the tournament and will be remembered as the striker who took down Pep Guardiola's men at the Club World Cup.

5Fabian Ruiz: PSG

Often out of the spotlight due to the star-studded attack of PSG and the Portuguese double pivot beneath him in the midfield – Vitinha and Joao Neves – Ruiz has quietly had one of the best midfield performances this tournament.

The Spain international has scored three goals and recorded one assist, helping lead the Parisian side into the final – including a spectacular brace against Real Madrid in the semifinals.

The 29-year-old has broken out under Luis Enrique and taken his game to new heights since joining PSG in the summer of 2022. Heading into the finals, he's the dark horse attacker for PSG in the final-third, and could be the key to them lifting their first CWC title.

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Getty Images4Gonzalo Garcia: Real Madrid

The young Spanish forward seemingly came out of nowhere to become the starting striker for when Kylian Mbappe was unavailable due to illness and then fitness issues.

During the Frenchman's absence, Garcia scored four goals and recorded one assist. Heading into the final, he's tied for the Golden Boot in the competition with Leonardo, Angel Di Maria, and Serhou Guirassy.

Through the quarterfinals, Garcia had either scored or assisted in each match as stormed through the competition – that is, until they met PSG in the semifinals. In that match, Garcia was handed a start alongside Mbappe, but the Spanish outfit were blanked 4-0.

Regardless, it was a tournament to remember for the Madrid academy product, who showed that he has what it takes to be a regular with the first team under Xabi Alonso this coming season.

Franchise leagues are attracting all the top talent so cricket boards are having to adjust their parameters for selection

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2023Welcome to the future of South African bilateral cricket.This is a place where players who don’t feature in international series will still remain available for the national side at major tournaments. And where players who grind it out in the bilaterals might just be placeholders for the superstars.Does this sound revolutionary? It might not, because it’s been done before. Kind of. West Indies have long selected from their T20 franchise superstars for World Cups, even if they had not played for the national side. Trent Boult gave up his New Zealand central contract in 2022 but was part of the 50-over ODI World Cup this year. And Jofra Archer last played international cricket in March and was ruled out for the entire summer but remained a traveling reserve for this World Cup.Related

India and SA bank on franchise T20s for World Cup selection

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Bavuma, Rabada rested for white-ball games against India; Stubbs gets maiden Test call-up

Ngidi ruled out of India T20Is with ankle sprain, also doubtful for Tests

Now, having conceded defeat to the financial clout of T20 leagues, that’s how South Africa will treat Quinton de Kock (and maybe even Faf du Plessis), who are currently playing cricket – just not for them. They’re both at the Abu Dhabi T10, where de Kock is opening the batting for the Delhi Bulls, which clashes with his other commitment to play for the Melbourne Renegades at the BBL, which also clashes with South Africa’s white-ball series against India. In that order, that’s his priority list.That means de Kock will not play any international cricket for at least six months but he remains nationally contracted and is still expected to be named in the T20 World Cup squad. Du Plessis’ name has popped up again after white-ball coach Rob Walter mentioned him in a press conference earlier in the week and he subsequently confirmed his interest in a World Cup comeback. In the meantime, the show must go on.It will from this weekend, where South Africa’s short international summer begins with an all-format visit from India in what would normally be a headline series. Instead, the white-ball games – three T20Is and three ODIs – will be played without several frontline players on both sides as workloads are managed, a fifty-over World Cup cycle ends, and the priorities of the global game shift.The upshot of all this is that there is opportunity for players to establish themselves in the national side, whether or not they are able to sustain that through to a World Cup spot.Take Matthew Breetzke. He made his debut in the third T20 against Australia in September – a series South Africa lost 0-3 – and scored five runs batting at No. 3. Given that de Kock and David Miller had been given a break for that series, and both are certainties in South Africa’s T20 XI, that could have been that for Breetzke and he knew it. “I only got one shot at it, in the last game of that series,” he said from Durban, where the series starts on Sunday. “This time, hopefully I will get all the shots. It frees me up to be the best that I can be.”He doesn’t have to hope. Walter named Breetkze as the designated opener alongside Reeza Hendricks, after Breetkze impressed him with his work ethic and temperament against Australia. While it is only a sample size of one, Walter said Breetke’s approach in the innings, where he made room and tried and to hit Marcus Stoinis over the mid-on early in the innings showed “the courage to make a play in that situation is sometimes worth more than the actual result.”And Breetkze intends to continue in that vein. “I like to play positive cricket,” he said. “I will be looking to play the conditions but if it’s a good wicket, I will be out there trying to put the first foot forward.”Donovan Ferreira is another experimental pick in the South African side•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSo far this summer, Breetzke has not managed to do that. He has played five List A games with a total of 57 runs and a top-score of 36 and two first-class matches, while only crossing 40 once. “The runs haven’t been where I’ve wanted them to be and I have been getting out in silly ways,” he said. “But I have been hitting the ball really nicely. In terms of form I have been feeling good.”He also has the pedigree to back that up. After finishing the 2018 Under-19 World Cup as South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer, Breetzke was also the second-highest run-scorer in the 2021 domestic T20 Cup and the highest run-scorer in the 2022-23 first-class competition and is regularly in the conversation when it comes to the next crop of South Africa’s batters. So much so that he was picked up by Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20, where he batted as a floater and rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s greats, including the player he is now replacing, de Kock. He described the experience as “awesome,” because of the “crowds and the way we got treated on and off the field. It gets you used to international cricket in terms of media and crowds. I feel a bit more relaxed than if I had come in two or three years ago.”And that’s really what sums up the way South Africa (and likely other countries) aim to develop their T20 game going forward: through their own league structure and then by having more high-profile players like de Kock in overseas leagues. Like most others, their schedule of international T20 fixtures is limited – South Africa play these matches and a three-match series in West Indies just before next year’s World Cup – so choosing a squad is based as much on performances in bilaterals as on league stats.Another example is allrounder Donovan Ferreira, who earned an international call-up on the back of his SA20 performances and will also have the three-match series against India to make a case for future selections. South Africa’s other experimental picks are Ottniel Baartman, a medium-pacer who has been playing professionally for almost a decade and earns a call-up as Kagiso Rabada is rested, and Nandre Burger, a left-arm quick who is seen as a replacement for Anrich Nortje in this squad. Those are shoes for both to fill, as are Breetzke’s in de Kock’s spot and it will be important for the players to remember that’s not really the point.As Breetzke said, facing India is a “special opportunity,” and even though the sparkle of bilateral white-ball games has been dimmed by leagues, there’s still a lot to play for.

He suffered a laceration to his chin and neck but scans cleared him of a fracture

Alex Malcolm05-Jan-2024Melbourne Stars wicketkeeper Sam Harper was taken to hospital via ambulance after a nasty blow to the head at training but scans have cleared him of a fracture despite suffering a laceration to his chin and neck.Harper was training with the Stars squad at the MCG on Friday ahead of Saturday’s clash against Sydney Sixers when he was struck in the head while batting in the nets.While attempting to play a ramp shot he was hit on the chin with the ball lodging under the grill of his helmet, causing a severe laceration near his throat. Harper was immediately attended to by the Stars medical team to control the bleeding.An ambulance was called but he was conscious, breathing and stable when he was taken to hospital for further treatment. He remained there overnight and will be monitored in the coming days despite scans clearing him of any fracture or soft tissue damage to his jaw or neck.The training session was immediately called off. Harper’s situation will be treated with caution given his history of concussions. He suffered a heavy concussion in the BBL in January 2020 when he collided with Hobart Hurricanes bowler Nathan Ellis and had to be taken to hospital. He was also hospitalised with concussion in 2017 when he was hit by a bat while keeping during a Sheffield Shield game.Harper will be unable to play tomorrow night and Stars do not have a back-up wicketkeeper on their list. Former Stars player and Victoria limited-overs captain Peter Handscomb has been called in at short notice as he does not have a BBL contract and was set to play grade cricket in Melbourne tomorrow for his club side St Kilda.He had been named captain of the Cricket Australia XI that is set to play a three-day game against West Indies in Adelaide starting on Tuesday but may need to be replaced for that game as Stars made him for all of the remaining three games of the home and away season and possibly finals, depending on Harper’s recovery.Handscomb has kept for Australia in T20Is and he played 51 BBL matches for Stars between 2012 and 2020 before playing two seasons at Hobart Hurricanes. He played three games for Melbourne Renegades last season as a replacement player, having not been contracted.

Ashley Young has been tipped to be a "really good acquisition" by Stuart Pearce as the Premier League legend has hit free agency after ending his contract at Everton. The English defender finds himself on the lookout for a new club and Wrexham have been tipped as a potential destination, as he is not entertaining retirement just yet.

Young is currently a free agentWrexham could make move for full-backCould face competition from WatfordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Once known for his explosive pace and attacking flair as a winger, Young has gradually transitioned into a more defensive role over the years. His time at Manchester United and Aston Villa showcased his adaptability, and at Everton, he operated primarily as a full-back, often using his wealth of experience to good effect.

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One of the clubs reportedly showing serious interest in the free agent is Wrexham. Backed by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Welsh side has been on a meteoric rise, achieving three straight promotions and are now preparing to compete in the Championship. With an ambitious project underway and a clear desire to bring top-flight experience into the fold, Wrexham could represent an attractive option for Young.

WHAT PEARCE SAID

Pearce was speaking to , who offer the latest football odds, and said: “I worked with Ashley Young at Under-21 level. I know how valued he was. I've been at Everton with David Moyes this year just to watch training and I know the value that Ash had within the ranks."

The former England Under-21 coach also praised Young’s fitness, positional flexibility and football IQ.

"He's physically fit. He plays the games. I think he'd be a really good acquisition for someone like Wrexham," he claimed. "I really do, because he's got the ability to play either full-back or further up the pitch. He's got the intelligence as well to maybe even play in a central midfield role. So I think he'd be a really good acquisition.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Young began his professional career at Watford and has reportedly caught the attention of his former club, who are now keen to bring him back to Vicarage Road. Despite his age, Watford are said to have no reservations about his ability to contribute, especially given his recent Premier League minutes. Talks are believed to be progressing between the two parties, with Young open to the possibility of closing out his illustrious career where it all began.

All you need to know about Jordan's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Jordan created history in the Asian qualifiers by securing a spot in their first-ever FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

After topping their group in the second round of qualification, Jordan were placed in a challenging group in the third round, alongside Asian football giants South Korea, Kuwait, Palestine, Oman, and Iraq.

In the 10 games Jordan played, they won four, drew four, and lost just two, finishing with 16 points and securing second place behind South Korea. This remarkable performance earned them a place in the showpiece event for the first time in their history.

Despite a difficult previous decade marked by underwhelming performances and financial challenges within the federation, Jordan have defied the odds and are now on the path to glory.

While it is hard to predict how the Asian side will perform at the World Cup, reaching the knockout stage in their debut appearance would be a commendable achievement.

Getty Images SportGoalkeepers

In goal for Jordan, Yazeed Abu Laila has been a stalwart and is currently the most experienced goalkeeper in the squad. He started in all of Jordan's qualifier matches during their journey to the 2026 World Cup and is expected to remain the first-choice goalkeeper at the tournament. Abdallah Al Fakhouri of Al Wehdat is likely to serve as the backup.

Player Club

Yazeed Abu LailaAl-HusseinAbdallah Al-FakhouriAl-WehdatMohamed Al-EmwasiAl-SaltNoureddin AtiehAl-FaisalyAdvertisementGetty Images SportDefenders

In the backline, Jordan will rely on the presence of Yazan Al Arab, who has been a consistent and reliable figure in defense. Al Arab is currently the most experienced defender in the squad and recently made a move to FC Seoul. His leadership at the back will be of great importance for Jordan on the world stage.

Alongside Al Arab, Abdallah Nasib, Mohammed Abu Al-Nadi, Yousef Abu Al-Jazar, and Mohammad Hasheesh are other key defenders who played vital roles in Jordan’s successful qualifying campaign.

Player Club

Yazan Al-ArabSeoulMohammad Abu Al-NadiSelangorSaleem ObaidAl-HusseinYousef Abu Al-JazarKazma SCMohammad HasheeshZakho SCHusam AbudahabAl-FaisalyAbdallah NasibAl-HusseinAdil Al-HouraniAl-FaisalyGetty Images SportMidfielders

In midfield, Jordan may not have an abundance of options, but they do have some reliable choices. Rajaei Ayed of Al-Hussein in the Jordan Pro League has been a consistent performer for both club and country and will be an important asset in midfield for the Asian side at the World Cup.

Amer Jamous has also shown promise since making his debut for the national team and could prove to be a key player for Jordan.

Player Club

Noor Al-RawabdehSelangor Rajaei AyedAl-HusseinIbrahim SaadehWithout ClubAmer JamousAl-WehdatMohammad Al-DawoudAl FaisalyNizar Al-RashdanWithout ClubENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Jordan’s shortage in midfield is well compensated by quality options in attack. Mousa Tamari of Rennes is currently the only player in the squad playing in Europe and has been a vital part of Jordan’s success in recent years. Tamari scored and assisted in a historic 2–0 win against South Korea in the semi-final of the AFC Asian Cup in 2024.

Alongside Tamari, Mohannad Taha, Yazan Al-Naimat, and Ali Olwan are other forwards who make up a strong attacking unit for Jordan.

Player Club

Mohammad SemreenAl-WehdatMohannad TahaAl-OrobahMousa TamariRennesYazan Al-NaimatAl-ArabiAli OlwanWithout ClubIbrahim SadraGostepeMahmoud Al-MardiDibba SCC

Shanto praised Rishad for his all-round abilities but warned against putting him under too much pressure

Mohammad Isam18-Mar-2024Moments before the press conference in Chattogram on Monday, when two journalists mentioned Rishad Hossain’s innings to Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, he nodded his head smiling. Rishad had just closed out the third ODI against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 48 off 18 balls.Bangladesh were 178 for 6 chasing 236 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim was the last remaining recognised batter. Rishad had a good outing with his legspin but now needed to support Mushfiqur through to the end of the chase.The senior batter instead stood and watched Rishad creaming Wanindu Hasaranga in two big overs. Rishad tore into the legspinner with four sixes, including two in a 24-run over. Bangladesh eventually won with 58 balls to spare.Related

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Shanto praised Rishad for his all-round abilities but warned against putting him under too much pressure.”His bowling is very important to us,” Shanto said. “We don’t have a legspinner. He bowled well today, taking an important wicket in the middle overs. It helped the team. I think we shouldn’t be too excited about him though. Let him keep improving. I think he has bowled well since the New Zealand tour.”We were worried in the dugout after Miraz’s dismissal. We told Rishad to bat as he pleases. His batting has improved since the New Zealand tour too. I think he is also a good fielder. He still has a lot of areas to improve on, and he is working on it. We are really happy with him. A player like him definitely makes life easier for a captain.”Rishad, being a legspinner, often gets disregarded in domestic cricket where team officials, coaches and captains are reluctant to play him. As a result, he has had to get most of his bowling and batting practice in the nets. But Shanto said that Rishad’s performance against Sri Lanka in the last two weeks should warrant him more domestic matches.”Usually players do well in domestic cricket to get chance in the national team. He plays in the national team but doesn’t get chance in domestic cricket. I think the team management of his team should take care of him,” Shanto said.Shanto, however, said that he expected Tanzid Hasan to be at the crease towards the end of the innings after he started rapidly in the powerplay. Tanzid reached his second fifty although wickets kept falling at the other end, but when he got out on 84, Bangladesh were 130 for five.”I think he batted well, especially the way he started and in the middle part of his innings. But I wasn’t happy at the way he got out. A set batter should be able to finish a chase. An eighty or a hundred only matters when the team has won. His runs must be valuable to the team. He batted well at the start but he should have finished the game.”The concussion rule means that players have to be prepared for any situation. Players were well prepared, so that’s why he looked like he was ready for the innings.”Shanto said that the Bangladesh bowlers stepped up in a big way when they bowled out Sri Lanka for 235 runs, a sub-part total given the pitch and conditions in Chattogram.”I don’t think we could have bowled them out any faster on this wicket. I think we bowled really well. We restricted them to 235. Taskin, Shoriful, Fizz, Miraz and Rishad bowled very well. There was a bit of help at the start which the pace bowlers used really well. They gave us a chaseable target.”

Just 18 wickets fell across four days on an unresponsive surface at HQ

ECB Reporters Network27-May-2024Middlesex and Sussex maintained their status as Vitality County Championship Division Two promotion front-runners as their match at Lord’s petered out into a draw.It looked inevitable that the spoils would be shared once the home side had avoided the follow-on early on the final day and they went on to post 613 for 9 declared in reply to Sussex’s total of 554 for 9.Nathan Fernandes missed out on a century by nine runs, while Jack Davies struck a career-best 68 and Henry Brookes registered his first half-century as a Middlesex player, with off-spinner Jack Carson taking 4 for 166.Captains Leus du Plooy and John Simpson shook hands at 4.50pm, with the draw enabling Sussex to increase their advantage at the top to eight points over Middlesex, who remain in second place.Any faint prospect of a positive outcome essentially disappeared as early as the third over of the morning, when Fernandes clipped Fynn Hudson-Prentice for two to steer Middlesex past the follow-on target of 405.With their over rate in negative territory the previous evening, Sussex were soon utilising spin at both ends and the seventh-wicket pair continued to chip away at the deficit as they built a partnership of 119.Having swept Carson over the short boundary for six, Davies overtook his previous best of 65, but added just three more before he was out in the off-spinner’s next over to a ball that turned away from him and took the edge.Fernandes looked assured against both seam and spin, cutting and sweeping confidently to usher his side’s total beyond 500 and move within range of what would have been a second first-class century.The left-hander gained a reprieve when he was put down at backward square leg, pulling a short ball from Tom Clark – but he failed to take advantage, repeating the stroke to the next delivery. This time James Coles dived to take a tumbling catch in the deep.The remainder of the afternoon largely involved batting practice for the Middlesex tail. Sussex deployed nine bowlers and, at one stage, set a field with all nine men ranged in a semi-circle on the off side.Luke Hollman shared a sedate ninth-wicket partnership of 65 with Brookes, which eventually came to an end when the left-hander was bowled around his legs by Ollie Robinson’s slower ball.However, Brookes completed his half-century – the sixth of his career – after tea, swatting Coles’ full toss into the grandstand and finishing 52 not out as he and Ethan Bamber steered Middlesex to the 12th-highest total in their history.

Barcelona have confirmed Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been reinstated as club captain after resolving a dispute over his medical records following back surgery. The Germany international had initially refused to sign an authorisation form for La Liga, resulting in the temporary removal of his captaincy and the opening of disciplinary proceedings. The matter has now been settled, with the goalkeeper back in his leadership role.

Ter Stegen regains Barcelona captaincyGoalkeeper signs authorisation for La Liga medical submissionDisciplinary case closedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ter Stegen was temporarily stripped of his captaincy after declining to sign a medical report authorisation for La Liga following his recent surgery. The disagreement escalated into a disciplinary case, further straining relations between the goalkeeper and Barcelona. After agreeing to cooperate and sign the necessary form, the dispute has now been officially closed as per Barcelona's statement.

AdvertisementgettyWHAT BARCELONA'S STATEMENT READ

On Friday evening, Barcelona announced: "The club announces that the player Marc-Andre ter Stegen has signed the authorisation necessary for the club to send La Liga the medical report relating to his surgery.

"The disciplinary case has been closed and the player is captain of the first team once again with immediate effect."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The resolution ends a tense stand-off between one of Barcelona’s most senior players and the club’s management. Ter Stegen’s form has consistently been a sore point for the Catalan side as the German has failed to turn up in big games for the last few years. However, the German's injury will now help Barcelona register their new goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Hansi Flick and co. will now focus on preparations for the new season, with the players expected to vote on their leadership group before the campaign begins. Ter Stegen will remain captain for now, but his long-term role could depend on the outcome of that vote. Meanwhile, the club continues to work on squad strengthening ahead of the transfer window deadline.

Manchester City summer signing Sverre Nypan is reportedly set for a Championship loan move following his switch to the Etihad Stadium.

Man City sign wonderkid NypanBeat out Arsenal & more to recruit himSet for Championship loan spellFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

City edged out the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa to sign the highly rated 18-year-old from Rosenborg last month and while some thought the midfielder would stay with Pep Guardiola's team this season, that is not going to happen. According to Fabrizio Romano, Championship side Middlesbrough are closing in on a loan deal for the teenager, and he himself is 'happy' to make the move.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nypan is viewed as one of the best rising stars in the game, evidenced by City forking out £12.5 million ($17m) to sign him in a Norwegian league transfer record. But as Guardiola's team are in a state of rebuild, guaranteed minutes may be hard to come by. So a move to Boro, where he could be a regular, is an ideal switch as it will also get him more acclimatised to English football.

DID YOU KNOW?

In November 2022, Nypan became the youngest player ever to represent Rosenborg at 15 years and 322 days, when he made his league debut against Jerv. After that, he chalked up 70 appearances for the Norwegian giants, scoring 14 goals along the way, before joining City.

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ImagoWHAT NEXT?

Nypan, who signed a five-year deal at the Etihad until 2030, could be unveiled as a new Boro loanee this weekend. It is unlikely he will be ready for their Championship trip to Millwall on Saturday, but the youngster could feature away at Norwich City on August 23.