A Manchester City player who has "great qualities" could now seal an exit from the club as soon as this week, according to a new transfer report.
Man City transfer & contract news
Pep Guardiola has built an incredible squad at the Etihad, so there was no great need for new faces to arrive during the January transfer window, even though they were linked with a move for Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz. There is no doubt that new signings will likely come in at the end of the season, allowing the manager to freshen things up, and there could also be doubts over the futures of certain City players.
Kevin De Bruyne.
Admittedly, veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson is the only individual who is out of contract once the current campaign reaches its climax, but it applies to some players in 2025. The most prominent of those is Kevin De Bruyne, who is now considered one of the greatest players in the club's history.
There is also the small matter of Guardiola's current deal expiring then, too, and given Jurgen Klopp's shock announcement that he is leaving Liverpool this summer, it could be that the City boss decides that he won't renew.
Man City could sell Sergio Gomez
According to a new update from Fotomac [via Sport Witness], Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez could leave the club this week, making the most of the Turkish transfer window still being open until Friday.
That's because Galatasaray are the club who have been linked with a move for him, with the report stating that the Turkish giants "want to sign" him. While it would be a shame to see Gomez leave City in the coming days, it does feel like it would be the right decision, in terms of his own future and not allowing his career to drift by.
The 23-year-old has really struggled to nail down a regular place in Guardiola's squad since arriving from Anderlecht back in 2022, even though he is the only out-and-out left-back at the Etihad currently. This season, just 18 minutes of Premier League action has come his way across three appearances, with central defenders preferred to him on the left, from Nathan Ake to Josko Gvardiol.
Gomez is a player with real quality, though, and Joao Cancelo clearly saw him as a strong contender to take his place when he joined City, saying of him: "Spanish players always have talent and he has great qualities. He comes from FC Barcelona Academy, so there isn't much more you need to add."
Sergio Gomez's Man City statistics
Total
Appearances
33
Goals
0
Assists
2
In truth, Gomez has now probably had long enough at City to show if he is worth keeping hold of, and the fact that he hasn't been able to start regularly despite being the only proper option in his best role is a sign that Guardiola doesn't see a future for him.
Instead, he should seal a move to Galatasaray this week and rebuild his career, starting every week and ensuring he enjoys many good years ahead of him.
A partir da próxima rodada do Campeonato Carioca, o Flamengo voltará a ter Rogério Ceni e o elenco principal à disposição. Sob o comando de Maurício Souza, o time alternativo passa o bastão na liderança da competição, após seis rodadas, e o LANCE!sublinha os cinco maiores destaques até aqui.
RelacionadasFlamengoCartas no baralho: Michael e Vitinho oscilam, mas saem com números animadores para o Flamengo de 2021Flamengo28/03/2021FlamengoGabigol fala de seu lado ‘fominha’ e brinca sobre jogo ao lado de garotos do Flamengo: ‘Me senti um tiozinho’Flamengo27/03/2021VídeoVÍDEO: Assista ao gol de Vitinho no empate do Flamengo contra o Boavista pelo Cariocão 2021Vídeo27/03/2021
Todos os cinco jogadores destacados abaixo se reapresentarão nesta segunda-feira, junto aos titulares, para os treinos de Rogério Ceni. Cabe destacar que o próximo jogo – o primeiro com o plantel unificado – será já nesta quarta, contra o Bangu, às 21h, no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda.
Veja os destaques que mais ganharam pontos com Rogério Ceni:
BRUNO VIANA
Em três jogos (contra Resende, Botafogo e Boavista), todos como titulares, Bruno Viana apresentou ótimas credenciais: velocidade, boa antecipação e qualidade no passe vertical, longo ou não.
O nível de exigência foi baixo, sobretudo pelo Flamengo ter dominado as ações nos três jogos supracitados, mas o zagueiro emprestado pelo Braga-POR mostrou que chega para brigar diretamente por uma vaga no time titular de Ceni, ainda mais com Rodrigo Caio lesionado – e sem previsão para voltar.
HUGO MOURA
Da equipe alternativa, Hugo Moura é o único jovem que retornou de empréstimo em 2021 e atuou pelo Flamengo.Cedido ao Coritiba na temporada passada, o volante fez um bom Brasileiro e, nos cinco últimos jogos, quando foi titular no time de Mauricinho, voltou a ter atuações elogiáveis.
Hugo foi o primeiro volante do Fla, iniciando a articulação das jogadas, mas se apresentou bem no ataque para finalizar. Marcou um golaço contra o Botafogo e, no último jogo, acertou o travessão com outra bomba de fora da área. O volante de 23 anos pode aproveitar a brecha no elenco principal, sem Thiago Maia por mais alguns meses, e ganhar espaço gradualmente.
JOÃO GOMES
Para muitos, João Gomes pode passar despercebido em campo, já que é volante e tem como principal função desarmar. Mas o meio-campista foi o representante do time de Mauricinho mais consolidado dentre os atletas disponíveis do grupo principal. Ele optou por abrir mão das férias para atuar nos seis jogos iniciais e acumular rodagem.
Mais uma vez, Gomes mostrou que está pronto para o time principal, até para o titular. O tão almejado e tentado gol ainda não saiu (e não foi por falta de finalização de fora), mas o jovem de 20 anos foi, em muitos momentos no Cariocão 2021, a principal referência técnica do Fla.
VITINHO
Embora tenha oscilado nos três jogos realizados, Vitinho fez valer a volta antecipada. Ele foi um dos reservas do grupo principal a se misturar com a molecada do sub-20 antes do previsto. Saiu com dois gols – um diante do Resende, golaço, aliás, e outro diante do Boavista.
Alvo de críticas desde a sua chegada, o camisa 11 jogou nas duas pontas e, em certo período do clássico contra o Botafogo, fez a função de meia (por dentro). Ou seja, a experiência serviu para ganhar bagagem em três funções ofensivas, isso sob o olhar in loco de Ceni. Mostrou ainda ser uma carta no baralho.
RODRIGO MUNIZ
Assim como Hugo Moura, Rodrigo Muniz também esteve emprestado ao Coritiba em 2020, mas retornou ainda para reforçar o Fla na temporada passada, a pedido de Rogério Ceni. Ou seja, o centroavante conta com o respaldo do treinador, que, se não o tem comandado no Carioca, viu de perto as suas boas atuações como referência na equipe de Maurício Souza.
Muniz é o artilheiro do torneio, com cinco gols em seis jogos. Provou o seu faro de artilheiro com vasto repertório: gols de cabeça, golaço de sem-pulo e um tento após trombar com zagueiro e tocar com categoria. Ainda com idade sub-20, o centroavante passa a ser uma opção de respeito para as estrelas Gabigol e Pedro (reserva de luxo, atualmente). Ceni que lute para dar espaço ao trio.
+ Veja a tabela e o regulamento do Cariocão 2021
Concorda com a lista de destaques? Deixe a sua opinião nos comentários.
Ben Raine’s six-wicket haul seals 196-run victory for Durham over Sussex
Paul Edwards at Hove27-Jun-2019
Cameron Bancroft gets behind the line•Getty Images
Cameron Bancroft made a shocking admission on the third evening of this game. He confessed he did not yet know the lyrics of “Blaydon Races”, Durham’s famous victory song. “When we sing it, one of the lads has to get the words up on his phone,” said the Durham skipper. Someone at the Riverside should perhaps advise Bancroft to remedy this deficiency forthwith. Folk in the North East might look askance at a bloke bunging an abrasive down his strides in a Test match but not knowing what could be observed down the Scotswood Road on June 9, 1862 is even less easy to excuse.One Durham cricketer almost certainly well acquainted with events at Balmbra’s and the Robin Adair is Ben Raine and he may have belted out the Geordie anthem with particular gusto this glorious afternoon in Hove after his team had completed their 196-run victory over Sussex. Despite spending six seasons at Leicestershire, Sunderland-born Raine was very much returning home when he signed a three-year contract at the Riverside last September and he will have taken particular pleasure in taking four wickets in 16 balls either side of lunch, a spell which all but decided the game.Things got even better for Raine later in the piece. His dismissals of both Chris Jordan and Aaron Thomason sealed Durham’s victory seven overs after tea and they left him with career-best figures of 6 for 27. Moreover, his full analysis – 22.3-13-27-6 – was a fair reflection of his accuracy and it led one or two greybeards to recall the great days of Tom Cartwright and Derek Shackleton. Comparisons do not come any more honourable.Durham’s victory also has a wider significance. For one thing it takes Bancroft’s side off the bottom of a Division Two table which is making the experts’ forecasts look like March madness. At the halfway point of the Championship season Glamorgan, Derbyshire and Gloucestershire are in three of the top five places – just as everyone predicted. It can be argued with perfect justice that Durham are not out of the hunt for promotion, especially if they were to beat Lancashire at Sedbergh in a game beginning on Sunday. In the aftermath of victory, of course, one or two of their players may not be quite sure where Sedbergh is, but on one matter they can be reassured. It is, so far as we know, not on the road to Blaydon.As for Sussex, their straightforward skipper, Ben Brown, identified their dropped catches on the first day and their inadequate batting on the second as contributory factors to their deserved defeat. Yet the odd thing about Brown’s team at the moment is that all of them can bat and supporters feel just as confident about their prospects when they see Delray Rawlins coming in at No. 9 as they do when Harry Finch goes in first wicket down. Injuries to players like Phil Salt and Mir Hamza are not helping either but Durham’s cricket this week may have been enough to defeat a full-strength side and it was far too good for Brown’s batsmen on Thursday.However, until Raine came on from the Sea End before lunch, Durham had not taken a wicket nor had they looked like doing so. The overnight pair, Stiaan van Zyl and Ollie Robinson, had batted with such assurance that it was tough to tell which of them was the nightwatchman. The pair had added 82 runs in 31 overs with van Zyl eventually joining his partner in taking the attack to the bowlers, a tactic which nearly decapitated James Weighell early in the session when he failed to see the ball after it had been savagely cut through point by Robinson off Chris Rushworth. It was hard to think Robinson could carry on like this for long but he did so and deep in the morning Sussex were entitled to ponder the possibility of an extraordinary recovery.Then Raine began to bowl and the runs dried up. Each delivery maintained the tightest of lines between the middle stump and just outside the off. Van Zyl was dropped at first slip by Lees. Four overs later and on the point of lunch, the Sussex batsman nibbled fatally at another good ball and Ned Eckersley took the catch. The Durham players strode off and probably enjoyed their food a good deal more than had seemed likely an over previously.Just after lunch they probably felt like nipping back in for an extra helping of crème brûlée. Raine’s first ball after the resumption – the fourth of his uncompleted over – moved away a shade and took the edge of Laurie Evans’ bat on the way to Eckersley. Brown avoided the hat-trick but four overs later was pinned leg before by an inswinger. The same fate befell David Wiese five balls later and Raine had removed all the specialist Sussex batsmen capable of piloting long-term resistance.Robinson reached his fifty off 119 balls but his 54-run stand with Jordan merely delayed the end of the match. Rushworth had the nightwatchman caught at slip by Jack Burnham and the stage was prepared for Raine to complete a victory which will no doubt be properly celebrated by Durham’s cricketers on their coach trip home. Indeed, come the morning one or two of them may have cause to visit Dr. Gibbs.
أحرز المحترف المصري عمر مرموش، نجم فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، الهدف الثاني له والثالث لناديه في شباك هولشتاين، في الدوري الألماني.
ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من بطولة الدوري الألماني، موسم 2024/25.
وتمكن عمر مرموش من تسجيل الهدف الثالث لصالح آينتراخت فرانكفورت، في الدقيقة 65 من عمر المباراة.
جاء الهدف الثاني لـ مرموش في تلك المباراة بعدما سدد الكرة من الناحية اليسرى داخل منطقة جزاء الخصم، ليهز شباك أصحاب الأرض. هدف مرموش الثاني في مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت وهولشتاين
وفي الدقيقة 74، وضع مرموش بصمته من جديد بعدما صنع الهدف الرابع، الذي سجله زميله توتا. أسيست عمر مرموش الثاني في مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت وهولشتاين
كان مرموش قد سجل الهدف الأول للضيوف، في الدقيقة 25 من عمر الشوط الأول، بطريقة مذهلة، بعد انطلاقة من منتصف الملعب.
وصنع المصري كذلك الهدف الثاني لفريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، الذي جاء في الدقيقة 47.
Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United are going after Newcastle's Dan Ashworth as they seek a new sporting director to work above Erik ten Hag, or indeed whichever manager is in charge next season.
Ashworth has apparently agreed terms with United already and told Newcastle that he's "going", but the Red Devils still need to prise him away from the Magpies, and he faces a significant period of gardening leave.
Dan Ashworth speaking with Steve Cooper.
With CEO Omar Berrada already committed after defecting from local Premier League rivals Manchester City, Ratcliffe is assembling his new hierarchy at Old Trafford. Even before he's been appointed, there are suggestions that Ashworth could look to bring in head of recruitment Sam Jewell from former club Brighton to work alongside him.
Wilcox is United's latest target
Now, another candidate for a behind-the-scenes role has emerged, this time Jason Wilcox at Southampton. The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that the Saints director of football is aware of the active interest from United.
United are yet to approach the Championship club but they are nonetheless hard at work on a deal for a figure who's "extremely highly regarded" in Manchester. The plan is for Wilcox to report to Ashworth as part of a revamped set-up.
Wilcox has made an impressive start at Southampton
Like Berrada, Wilcox used to work at Man City, working his way up from manager of the under-18 team, to head of academy coaching and then academy manager. He left the Etihad at the end of last season to take up his role at St Mary's even as reigning treble winners City made an effort to keep him.
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Erik ten Hag has a big choice to make this summer over star’s future.
ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024
Wilcox walked into an unenviable situation at Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League, with a raft of high-profile players leaving. However, they have responded well and have a strong chance of immediate promotion, having recently rattled off a 25-game unbeaten run. They're currently third in the table and have a game in hand on second-place Leeds in the automatic promotion places.
Selected Southampton transfers out (summer 2023)
Player
Joined
Fee
Romeo Lavia
Chelsea
£55m
Tino Livramento
Newcastle
£33m
James Ward-Prowse
West Ham
£31m
Nathan Tella
Bayer Leverkusen
£21m
Mohammed Salisu
Monaco
£13m
Intelligent recruitment has played a part in their success. Wilcox looked to former club City to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis on loan and he's played 25 games as part of a backline that's kept nine clean sheets, while Ryan Fraser has chipped in with ten goal contributions since his temporary switch from Newcastle. January loan signings Joe Rothwell and David Brooks and have got off to strong starts after joining from Bournemouth, with the former scoring twice and the latter setting up a couple in his early outings.
The task at United would of course be very different, but decision-makers clearly believe that Wilcox possesses the fundamental skillset needed to thrive at a top-level club too.
تحدث هشام نصر، نائب رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، عن الثنائي عمر جابر وعبد الله السعيد، لاعبا فريق الكرة الأول.
وقال هشام نصر في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “عمر جابر وعبد الله السعيد قليلا الكلام، ولديهما انضباط جيد ولا شك في حبي للثنائي داخل الملعب وخارجه”.
طالع..موعد مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز في كأس السوبر المصري
وتابع: “يشرفنا أن عبد الله السعيد يجدد عقده مع الزمالك، هو نموذج يحتذى به وتأثيره على اللاعبين أكثر من رائع”.
وأكمل بشأن عدم استدعاء عمر جابر لمنتخب مصر: “أداؤه ثابت منذ الموسم الماضي ويقدم مستوى جيدًا ومؤثرًا في الملعب، كل مدرب له احترامه وفكره ولكن هناك شيء يدعى نبض الشارع والجماهير، هو يستحق التواجد في منتخب مصر”.
وواصل ردًا على سؤال.. هل صحيح جوميز كان سيرحل حالة خسارته للسوبر الإفريقي؟: “أنا شخصيًا منحاز لجوميز رغم خسارتنا في نهائي كأس مصر، أستطيع أن أحكم على المدرب وتصرفاته، كل مدير فني له بعض الأخطاء، ولكن عند تقييمه يكون على طريقة تدريبه وطريقة التعامل مع جهازه واللاعبين داخل الملعب وخارجه”.
وأردف: “كل المباريات الكبيرة آداء جوميز كان أكثر من رائع، من الممكن أن تكون هناك بعض القرارات في المباريات الضعيفة تقلق الجماهير، ولكن أنا من أشد انصار استمرار جوميز مع الزمالك”.
وأضاف قائلًا: “نحن نحب شيكابالا، غيور على نادي الزمالك، ويزداد نضوجًا كنت أقول له “أين كان هذا العقل منذ فترة؟” شيكابالا أفضل من لمسة الكرة بقدمه اليسرى بدون منازع”.
وواصل: “أعدك من الجيل الحالي سيكون هناك كوادر متميزة في الزمالك وقد بدأوا بالتحدث مع بعضهم لتطوير أنفسهم والد زيزو قال أنه اللاعب نفسه سيكون رئيسًا لنادي الزمالك”.
واستكمل: “”قمنا بالتعاقد مع صفقتين تحت السن وهما لاعبان مميزان وأنا شخصيًا أحب أن أراهما في الملعب مع الفريق الأول، ممكن أن يكون هناك صفقة أو اثنتين محليتين حسب احتياجات جوميز وأتمنى أن نسهل كل السيولة المالية لكي نلبي احتياجات جوميز”.
New signing shines and Dan Lawrence adds 17-ball 50 as Essex rack up 226 for 4 in innings reduced to 15 overs
ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2019
Cameron Delport drives through the off side•Pakistan Super League
Cameron Delport smashed an astonishing 129 from only 49 balls as Essex crushed Surrey by 52 runs in their Vitality Blast battle at Chelmsford that had been reduced to 15 overs per side because of a rain delay.It was carnage and had the crowd repeatedly taking evasive action as a torrent of sixes rained down upon them. In all Delport cleared the ropes on 14 occasions while recording the fastest century in the competition by an Essex player.He reached three figures from only 38 deliveries but was not the only one that had the spectators ducking for cover as Essex ran up a remarkable 226 for 4.Dan Lawrence joined in the big-hitting spectacular with an unbeaten 57 from 22 balls that included six sixes and two fours. He reached his half-century from just 17 deliveries while creating another slice of Essex history. It was the fastest 50 for the county in the competition and with Delport added 135 in only seven overs.Delport walked off to a standing ovation after being caught on the long-on boundary off Jade Durnbach, the only Surrey bowler who emerged with decent figures. His permitted three overs went for only 21 while in complete contrast Tom Curran conceded 63 in his permitted three overs while being hammered for six sixes and five fours.Surrey needed something bordering on the miraculous if they were to make a fight of it and Will Jacks very briefly suggested the impossible might be achieved. He smashed four successive fours in Shane Snater’s opening over and then dispatched the first two deliveries from Matt Quinn for six.But in the same over, one which proved remarkable, he was caught at midwicket by Ravi Bopara. That was the first of three wickets that Quinn collected in the space of four deliveries as Surrey crashed to 32 for 4. Sam Curran was caught behind while Ben Foakes was caught in the deep. Adam Zampa then weighed in with the dismissal of Rikki Clarke, the third duck of the innings as the visitors lurched from one disaster to another.Aaron Finch who watched the demise of his colleagues at the other end did his best to give the Surrey innings a hint of respectability by making 40 from 19 balls, that included two sixes and four fours, before he was bowled by Bopara.Tom Curran’s night to forget was compounded by him scoring only four runs before he became a victim of Snater.Rory Burns and Jordan Clark also tried bravely whilst scoring 47 not out and 45 respectively at better than a run a ball as they posted a partnership of 79 in seven overs late in the innings but it was not enough to save Surrey from their first defeat at the hands of Essex in five matches in the competition, as their innings closed on 174 for 7.
O Flamengo vai para o jogo contra o Palmeiras, neste domingo, disputar a taça da Supercopa do Brasil com a mesma equipe que venceu as duas últimas partidas, as únicas com o grupo principal na temporada. E Rogério Ceni não promoveu surpresas no time capitaneado por Diego Ribas.
RelacionadasFlamengoFlamengo leiloará camisas autografadas da Supercopa para ações contra a fomeFlamengo10/04/2021FlamengoSupercopa: Flamengo joga por hegemonia no duelo mais decisivo contra o Palmeiras nesta ‘nova era’Flamengo10/04/2021FlamengoCeni evita apontar o melhor time entre Flamengo e Palmeiras e projeta decisão: ‘Tentar propor o nosso ritmo’Flamengo10/04/2021
Para o jogo que inicia às 11h deste domingo, no Mané Garrincha, Ceni escalou o seu tradicional 4-4-2:Diego Alves; Isla, Willian Arão, Rodrigo Caio e Filipe Luís; Diego, Gerson, Everton Ribeiro e Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique e Gabigol.
O banco é composto porHugo Souza, Matheuzinho, Gustavo Henrique, Bruno Viana, Léo Pereira, Renê, Hugo Moura, João Gomes, Pepê, Michael, Vitinho e Rodrigo Muniz.
Nosso Time é a Gente em Campo! O Mengão está escalado para enfrentar o Palmeiras, no Mané Garrincha, pela final da Supercopa do Brasil! Pra cima deles! #FLAxPAL #VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/HGqSRrV7WO
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) April 11, 2021
Já o Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira irá em busca do título inédito com:Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Luan, Gustavo Gómez e Matías Viña; Felipe Melo, Zé Rafael, Raphael Veiga, Breno Lopes e Wesley; Rony.
No caso de título, o Flamengo será o primeiro bicampeão da Supercopa do Brasil e levará, de quebra, R$ 5 milhões de premiação cedida pela CBF.
Opening batsman to be assessed once more before being passed fit to play at Headingley
George Dobell at Headingley21-Aug-2019Jason Roy has come through a concussion test following a blow to the head while batting in the nets on Tuesday, but will be assessed once more before he is cleared to play in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.Roy sustained a blow directly on the stem guard when facing throwdowns from Marcus Trescothick. He was assessed both at the time – he was cleared to carry on batting – and again on Wednesday morning before training but will undergo one more test on Thursday morning before he is deemed eligible for selection.Jason Roy receives treatment after copping a blow in the nets•Getty Images
While he is thought highly likely to be declared fit to play, England will have Ollie Pope on standby should Roy display any symptoms of delayed concussion. If that happens, and Roy misses out, Joe Denly would be promoted to open the batting alongside Rory Burns and Pope would slot into the middle-order. Pope and Dominic Sibley were on unofficial standby during the second Test at Lord’s in the understanding that Sibley would come in for a top-order batsman and Pope for a middle-order batsman.In years gone by, it is probable the blow sustained by Roy would have gone largely unnoticed. But with concussions very much in the news and a growing awareness of the seriousness of the condition, the cautious approach taken by England here is likely to become the norm. Roy batted in training without any apparent discomfort on Wednesday.”I’m pretty confident Jason’s going to be fit,” Joe Root said. “He’s been monitored quite closely as you’d expect; there is a hugeamount of attention around concussion at the minute. He’s undergone a couple of concussion tests so far and scored really well. So as it stands I fully expect him to be fit and ready to go.”You can only make a change if it happens within a Test match not if it happens prior to it so, with that in mind, we will have to be absolutely sure Jason is fit and ready to go, but we are fully confident he will be.”
Celtic needed two late goals in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers brought Norwich City loanee Adam Idah on for Kyogo Furuhashi at half-time and the Ireland international scored twice put the Hoops in front, having been 1-0 down.
The 23-year-old marksman has already scored four goals in four league appearances for the club, and appears to be on course to become one of the manager's best signings of the season.
Norwich forward Adam Idah.
Most of the boss' key players – including Matt O'Riley, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Kyogo Furuhashi – were brought to the club by his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian tactician rarely missed in the transfer market with some fantastic signings in his two years at the club, with O'Riley, Kyogo, and Jota among the most impressive moves.
However, Postecoglou did not always get it right and Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei is one example of that, as the flop has endured a tough time in Glasgow and is worse than current first-choice Greg Taylor.
How much Celtic paid for Alexandro Bernabei
The Scottish giants swooped to sign the defender from Lanus, in his home country, for a fee within the region of £3.75m in the summer of 2022.
Upon signing for the Hoops, Bernabei revealed that the manager had faith in him and his ability to adapt to life in Scotland quickly to make an impact on the pitch.
It was a significant fee to pay for a young left-back, particularly when you consider that the club paid £3m to sign Taylor from Kilmarnock back in 2019, who had yet to reach 100 first-team appearances.
The Argentina U23 international had played 88 senior games for Lanus prior to Celtic deciding that they wanted to bring him over to the Premiership.
He had established himself as a regular starter for his former club in the Liga Profesional during the 2021 campaign, though, with 23 league starts that year.
2021 Liga Profesional
Alexandro Bernabei
Appearances
24
Goals
Zero
Assists
Two
Dribbled past
34 times
Duel success rate
48%
Sofascore rating
6.64
As you can see in the table above, there were some warning signs for Celtic in his performances in his home country as opposition players found it a little bit too easy to get the better of him at times.
He was dribbled past 1.4 times per game and lost more than half of his physical duels across those 24 league outings throughout the 2021 season.
These statistics did not suggest that Bernabei was set to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch as an attacking left-back, with a lack of goals and assists, or that he would be able to deal with the physicality of Scottish football.
Of course, the young full-back was signed at the age of 21 and Postecoglou may have viewed him as a long-term signing who could develop his game in and out of possession.
Alexandro Bernabei's Celtic career in numbers
It has not gone to plan for the now-23-year-old defender, though, as he has struggled badly in the Premiership and failed to establish himself as a regular option for either of his managers.
Postecoglou handed him 15 appearances and nine starts in the Scottish top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign as Taylor retained his place as the first-choice at left-back.
The Argentine dynamo did provide an attacking threat down the left flank with one goal and three assists in those nine league outings, which is a return of one assist every three starts on average.
Celtic defender Alexandro Bernabei.
However, Bernabei struggled out of possession as he failed to step up to the level of physicality required of a left-back in the Scottish league.
The 23-year-old dud lost 60% of his duels, including 63% of his battles on the deck, in his 15 Premiership appearances, which shows that opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him.
He was also dribbled past 14 times and gave away a penalty in those nine starts as the young flop failed to provide a solid defensive presence at the back for Postecoglou.
23/24 Premiership
Alexandro Bernabei
Appearances
Eight
Starts
Three
Goals + assists
Zero
Dribbled past
Five times
Duel success rate
47%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Bernabei has also struggled to find his top form under Rodgers in the Premiership so far during the 2023/24 campaign.
The Argentine defender, who was recently criticised for his "weak" defensive work by ex-Hoops full-back Mark Wilson, has not offered much in an attacking sense and has still been poor off the ball as the opposition have got the better of him too easily.
Put simply, Postecoglou endured a rare transfer howler by signing him as he cost more than £750k more than Taylor, yet is worse than the Scotland international.
Greg Taylor's season in numbers
The former Kilmarnock star has been the first-choice option for Rodgers in the number three position and been an excellent performer for the Hoops.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
Only Luis Palma (12) has created more 'big chances' for their teammates than Taylor (eight) in the Premiership so far this season, which highlights the impressive work the Scottish ace has done at the top end of the pitch.
The 26-year-old whiz, who has scored two goals, has produced 1.9 key passes per game and produced the assist for Idah's equaliser against Motherwell on Sunday with an excellent left-footed cross.
Defensively, Taylor has only been dribbled past 19 times in 24 league starts, which is less than once per start on average. Whereas, Bernabei has been dribbled past 19 times in 12 starts since the start of last season in the top-flight.
He has also won 54% of his duels on the ground in the Premiership this term, which shows that the current first-choice left-back can hold his own on the deck and deal with the physicality of the division.
Therefore, Taylor is a better option for Rodgers than Bernabei as opponents find it harder to dribble past him, win a lower percentage of their duels against him, and the Scottish gem has the quality to offer more in possession.
Therefore, Postecoglou had a howler with the signing of the Argentine dud as he cost more than the Scotland international, despite currently being worse than the ex-Killie ace.