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Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior received a special "keep flying" message from Brazil team-mate Neymar after winning The Best FIFA Men's Player award.

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• Vinicius named FIFA best player of the year
• Led Real Madrid to La Liga & Champions League double
• Neymar hailed his compatriot in heartfelt message

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius added another prestigious accolade to his CV after being declared The Best FIFA Men's Player winner for 2024 at a ceremony on Tuesday in Doha. The award is a culmination of an extraordinary year after playing a critical role in Real Madrid’s remarkable double success last season, as Los Blancos secured the La Liga title and Champions League.

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  WHAT NEYMAR SAID

  Neymar took to social media to celebrate Vinícius’s success and shared a picture of the Real Madrid star holding his trophy with the caption: "Congrats Vini. Well deserved. Very happy for you. Keep flying."

  @neymarjr Instagram

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius' achievement comes shortly after narrowly missing out on the Ballon d’Or in October, which was awarded to Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Nonetheless, the Brazilian's stats this season speak volumes about his impact on the pitch as in just 20 appearances across all competitions, the forward has registered an impressive tally of 13 goals and nine assists.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  The accolades might not stop here for Vinícius. Real Madrid are gearing up for the Intercontinental Cup final, where they will face Mexican club Pachuca in Qatar on Wednesday. Vinicius will undoubtedly look to add yet another trophy to his growing collection, as his stellar season shows no signs of slowing down.

Unai Emery has spent considerable amounts this summer bolstering his Aston Villa squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

With a first foray into Europe’s premier club competition in over 40 years, there was no doubt that more high quality signings were needed. So far, the Spaniard has delivered.

Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen are perhaps the most impressive additions, joining from Everton and Chelsea respectively, as the chance to play in the Champions League has proven to be a wonderful incentive.

There are still several positions in which new bodies are required. Ollie Watkins can't carry the pressure as the main striker throughout another season, hence the need for another centre-forward or two.

Could it be another defender who is the next arrival at Villa Park? Emery is looking at signing another right-back prior to the window slamming shut at the end of the month.

Aston Villa eyeing swoop for Feyenoord defender

An update from Fabrizio Romano surrounding a potential new signing for Villa has emerged recently.

He said via X: “EXCL: Aston Villa have added Lutsharel Geertruida to their shortlist as he remains also on RB Leipzig radar. RB Leipzig wanted Geertruida already last summer, Villa are monitoring him as potential new option.”

According to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Geertruida is keen to leave the Eredivisie side ahead of the new season.

Manchester United have also emerged as another option to sign the defender as it looks as though a move to the Premier League is the priority for the player in a bid to take the next step in his career.

Feyenoord could cash in on one of their prized assets for a fee of around €32m (£27m), which is certainly more than affordable for the Midlands side this summer.

Emery had to utilise centre-back Ezri Konsa on the right side of the defence in spells last season due to Matty Cash suffering a few injuries.

This is the time for an improvement to be made to this position. Can Geertruida be an upgrade on the English-born Polish international?

Matty Cash’s statistics last season

The right-back made a total of 46 appearances across all competitions for Villa during 2023/24, yet he started just 23 Premier League games, as Konsa was preferred during certain matches.

Five goals and three assists was a decent return, but it could have been much better from this area of the field if Emery had someone more impressive going forward.

Defensively, he wasn’t at his best. In the Premier League, Cash lost possession 10.2 times per game, while he won only 47% of his total duels in the top flight. He also helped the club keep just two clean sheets from his 29 league games along with being dribbled past once per game on average.

This is definitely an area of the pitch which needs an upgrade, and fast, especially as they could be set to face some of the best teams on the continent in the Champions League.

Geertruida, on the other hand, was superb at the back for Feyenoord. Not only did he lose possession just 9.1 times per game, but the Dutchman won an impressive 61% of his total duels in the Eredivisie, was dribbled past on just 0.3 occasions per game and helped his club keep 15 clean sheets during his 34 league matches.

These defensive statistics prove that he would be an ideal upgrade on Cash ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Could his attacking abilities also allow him to shine with a current Villa star who enjoyed a sublime 2023/24 season – Leon Bailey.

Why Lutsharel Geertruida could be excellent for Leon Bailey

Bailey took his performances to new levels under Emery last term. Across his first two seasons at Villa, the winger had registered just 12 goal contributions – six goals and six assists, hardly the form of a player who cost the club £25m back in the summer of 2021.

Under the Spaniard, however, he was transformed into a different player. In all competitions, Bailey scored 14 times while grabbing 14 assists as he emerged as one of the main attacking threats in this vibrant Villa side.

He was one of the reasons the Midlands side finished fourth in the Premier League. Emery will be hoping he can replicate these performances over the next few months.

Signing Geertruida could be key in this aspect, as the defender offers much better attacking qualities than Cash. The 24-year-old scored a remarkable eight times from right-back in the Dutch top flight last term, adding five assists, creating seven big chances and averaging 1.2 key passes per game.

The right-back even succeeded with 58% of his dribble attempts for the club, suggesting that he regularly bombs down the right flank and this could indicate that Bailey would get plenty of support going forwards.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the Dutchman towards the end of 2023, saying that he had “sublime tactical nous” while claiming that Geertruida is a “modern day versatile defender”, yet more evidence of what he could bring to Villa.

When compared to his positional peers, Geertruida ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (7.94) and for non-penalty goals (0.21) per 90, while also ranking in the top 10% for total shots per 90 (1.16) and in the top 15% for touches in opposition penalty area per 90 (1.9) across the men’s next 14 competitions.

His versatility and skills going forward, plus incredible defensive output mean Geertruida would be an excellent signing for Emery this summer as he looks to bolster the right side of his defence.

For a fee of around £27m, the move could turn into a real bargain, absolutely no doubt about that. The next few weeks will be exciting indeed for the supporters as they look to see another one or two players added to the squad ahead of Villa’s most important campaign in years.

Perfect for UCL: Aston Villa want £325k-p/w "phenomenon" who's like Benteke

He is set to leave his club this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 8, 2024

Jamie Carragher has explained how Mikel Arteta can lead Arsenal to the Premier League title while claiming they depend too much on Bukayo Saka.

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• Carragher discusses Arsenal struggles
• Tells Arteta what he needs to do to win PL
• Claims Arsenal depend too much on Saka

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal have fallen short in their hunt for the Premier League title against Manchester City in two consecutive campaigns and they look some ways away from current league leaders Liverpool as Arne Slot’s side look like the outright favourites to win the title amid Pep Guardiola’s side’s struggles.

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  The Gunners were dealt a further blow when Arteta revealed Saka may be out for around two months with a hamstring injury, depriving them of a player with five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this season. Reds legend and pundit Carragher believes Arsenal have been dependent on Saka and are in dire need of a few more attacking options if they are to win the title.

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  WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

  In his column with , Carragher wrote: "Regardless of whether they miss out this season, Arsenal will need to freshen up in 2025. They are short in attacking areas when compared to Liverpool and Chelsea. Where Slot has five attackers to choose from (when everyone is fit) – and many of them are of a different profile – Arteta has been too reliant on the same players, none more so than Bukayo Saka. Every side would miss a player of his class, but the reaction to Saka’s hamstring injury shows he has carried too much responsibility.

  "Arteta needs at least two more top attacking players. I am not talking about back-ups in the event of injury, but starters who will keep the opposition manager guessing as to what the starting XI will be.

  "For the last few transfer windows Arteta has prioritised defenders. The theme of this season is whether the balance has tipped too far that way. It is a fair argument that something has been lost in attack in making Arsenal a more resolute side. The next phase of their development is to add goals while maintaining the security at the back which has been there recently."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  The Gunners will return to action when they take on Brentford at Emirates Stadium on January 1 as they look to close down the six point gap to Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Celtic made it three wins from three in the Scottish Premiership this season as they travelled away from Parkhead to take on St Mirren on Sunday.

The Hoops ran out convincing winners with a 3-0 victory over their opponents, thanks to goals from Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, and Alistair Johnston.

All three goals were well taken, with the captain scoring from range, Hatate finding the bottom corner with a sweet left-footed volley, and the full-back finding the roof of the net with a composed finish.

Despite the comfortable victory, there were some underwhelming performers on the pitch and one player Brendan Rodgers must brutally bin from the starting XI is winger James Forrest.

James Forrest's performance against St Mirren

The Scottish forward was given the nod to start on the right flank ahead of Nicolas Kuhn, who was not fully fit to start, and failed to make the most of his opportunity to impress.

This was despite a very promising start to the match from the academy graduate. Forrest drifted in from the wing and played a pass to McGregor, who smashed the ball into the bottom corner from long range inside the opening two minutes.

However, creating a low-quality opportunity for his captain from distance was, unfortunately, the only highlight of his performance for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, Forrest did not trouble the St Mirren goal and did not create any high-quality chances for his teammates.

He was also a lightweight in and out of possession as the opposition came out on top in 100% of his duels and tackled him in both of his attempts to dribble forward.

The 33-year-old attacker ended the match with 39 touches of the ball, fewer than goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (54), and should now be dropped to the bench.

The player who should replace James Forrest

Rodgers must brutally ditch the winger from the starting XI due to his all-round lack of impact on the game in and out of possession, despite the early assist, and because of Kuhn's form this season.

With the Old Firm clash coming up next Sunday, the Hoops must select their top performers to take to the pitch and the German sensation is one of them.

The left-footed star showcased his ability in just 30 minutes off the bench on Sunday, with three key passes, one 'big chance' created, one assist, and 100% (1/1) dribble success.

He provided more key passes (three) than Forrest (two) and created more 'big chances (one) than the Scotsman, despite playing half as many minutes.

Kuhn has now registered three goals and three assists in four matches in all competitions for the Scottish giants, whilst the veteran attacker has zero goals and two assists in the same four games.

Imagine him & Carter-Vickers: Celtic lining up move for "incredible" gem

The Hoops have been linked with an interest in the central defender this month.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 24, 2024

This suggests that Rodgers must bring the former Rapid Wien ace back into the starting XI, if fit, for the clash with Rangers next weekend in the Premiership.

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has reportedly attracted interest from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and two more Saudi sides.

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• Walker struggling for form at Man City
• Three Saudi Pro League sides interested
• Ronaldo's Al-Nassr mentioned as possible option

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Walker has been enduring a poor patch of form for Manchester City which has led to speculation about his future at the club. The defending Premier League champions have endured their worst run of form since their rise to the top all the way back in 2012 and their Catalan coach Pep Guardiola is thought to be keen on finding ways to improve performances and potentially rebuild an ageing squad.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As per The Sun, Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad are all keen on signing Walker either this January or in the summer and it is expected that Manchester City would not be against letting their 34-year-old leave the Etihad Stadium as long as the transfer price is right.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Walker had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia over the last two seasons and has previously admitted he could be tempted by a move to the Middle East. He said on the podcast back in March: "I'll never say never. The money that they're paying and everything is obviously a massive factor in why they're going out there. Ronaldo opened the pathway for everyone to go there."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WALKER?

  The five-time Premier League-winning right-back will hope to be in action for Manchester City when they take on West Ham on Saturday, January 4.

The PFA recently held their awards evening for the 2023/24 campaign and, unsurprisingly, it was a busy night for a number of stars from Manchester City.

Three of their players were shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award and it was won by academy graduate Phil Foden, for his incredible efforts last season.

Erling Haaland and Rodri were also among the nominees, alongside Martin Odegaard, Cole Palmer – another former City player, and Ollie Watkins, but the England international came away with the trophy.

Foden racked up an eye-catching 19 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances in the Premier League to fire City to another title, ahead of Arsenal.

The 24-year-old superstar is one of the biggest success stories from the City academy, if not the biggest, and is currently the most valuable ex-academy star – as per Transfermarkt – at €150m (£126m).

Palmer, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year for Chelsea, is another great success story from from the academy, but there is another, potentially, lesser-known former City youth star who has gone on to prove them wrong.

Michael Olise was once part of the club's academy set-up and has since gone on to create a fantastic career for himself, and is currently worth more than first-team star Savinho.

Savinho's current market value

As per Transfermarkt, the Brazil international has a current market value of around €50m (£42m), which has already increased after his £30m move to The Etihad during the summer transfer window.

Savinho arrived in England after his sublime season on loan with Girona in LaLiga last term, as he helped the Spanish side to qualify for the Champions League.

The impressive winger, who only turned 20 in April, produced nine goals and ten assists in 37 league outings, whilst playing on the left or the right flank.

His creativity in the Spanish top-flight was particularly impressive. He created an eye-catching 14 'big chances' and was rewarded with ten assists, which suggests that his teammates let him down at times with their wasteful finishing.

That form convinced City to add him to their squad and the left-footed ace, who missed the win over West Ham United through injury, has made a promising start to his career in England.

As you can see in the table above, Savinho created five chances, produced one assist, and won a penalty in his first two Premier League matches for the Cityzens.

The Brazilian sensation also completed four dribbles, with an 80% success rate, and looks to have settled into life in England incredibly quickly.

However, City had another supremely talented left-footed right winger, Olise, on their books in the past and they had a howler by allowing him to move on.

Man City's Michael Olise howler

The Cityzens swooped to sign the youngster from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer of 2016, after the winger had spent seven years in West London, having joined them from Arsenal in 2009.

However, Manchester City seemingly decided that he did not have a future at The Etihad as he only lasted one year at the club before his free transfer to Reading the following summer.

This meant that the Premier League giants allowed the teenage whiz to move on for £0 and that has turned out to be a big blunder from them, as his career has only gone from strength to strength since then.

Olise broke into the first-team with Reading and racked up seven goals and 14 assists in 73 appearances for the club in all competitions, including seven goals and 12 assists in 44 Championship games in the 2020/21 campaign.

His form in the second tier convinced Crystal Palace to bring him to the Premier League for a reported fee of £8m in the summer of 2021, which provided him with a chance to showcase his talent on the biggest stage in England.

The left-footed star went on to produce 16 goals and 25 assists in 90 appearances for the Eagles before he secured a move to Bayern Munich this summer, for a fee that has made him more valuable than Savinho.

How much Bayern Munich paid for Michael Olise

The Bundesliga giants, who missed out on the title to Bayer Leverkusen last season, reportedly splashed out a fee of £50.8m to sign the English-born youngster this summer.

This means that he is worth more than £8m more than Savinho, who plays in the same position as him as a left-footed right winger, and that is because of his fantastic form in the Premier League for Crystal Palace.

Olise racked up two goals and five assists in 26 matches in the top-flight in his first season with the Eagles, as he started to adapt to top division football.

The French wizard, who was described as a "joy to watch" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, then stepped up with two goals and 11 assists in 37 Premier League matches the following campaign.

His incredible form in the 2023/24 season for Crystal Palace, under Roy Hodgson and Oliver Glasner, then convinced Bayern to splash just over £50m on his services.

As you can see in the table above, Olise provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, with 19 goals and 'big chances' created in 19 appearances.

Since his move to Bavaria, the 22-year-old star has created seven chances and registered one assist in three appearances for the club in all competitions.

Bayern will be hoping that he can translate his incredible form from the previous Premier League season over to the Bundesliga to help them win the title back off Leverkusen.

Man City have struck gold on a "magician" who's worth way more than Palmer

He did not cost them anything

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 1, 2024

Meanwhile, City may be wondering what could have been if they had kept hold of him at youth level and offered the forward a pathway to first-team football, as he is now an elite talent who is worth more than the player they splashed £30m on in his position this summer.

Robin van Persie has been facing flak for his bizarre "tactical goalkeeper substitution" during Heerenveen's shock loss to Quick Boys.

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• Heerenveen were beaten 3-2 by a third-tier side
• Van Persie chose to gamble by replacing his goalkeeper
• Was left red-faced as the substitute gave away a penalty

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Eredivisie club, currently ninth in the league standings, had taken a 2-1 lead in the KNVB Beker clash before Van Persie decided to replace starting goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart with Andries Noppert to deal with the opposition's relentless aerial attacks. However, the decision backfired spectacularly as Heerenveen suffered a humiliating 3-2 extra-time loss to the third-tier side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Noppert committed two critical errors, not only giving away a penalty but also conceding a Levi van Duijn header that sealed Heerenveen’s fate in the domestic cup competition. However, Van Persie has no regrets over his decision and justified his bizarre tactical change after the match as Dutch fans ridiculed his choice on social media.

• WHAT VAN PERSIE SAID

  "Our goal came at a crucial moment. That's why we expected Quick Boys to play more directly. They also brought in a very tall boy, so based on that I thought it was necessary to bring in Andries Noppert," Van Persie told reporters while putting up a defence.

  "The substitution was tactical. Especially because Andries has the height and he is normally very good with crosses. In the end, Quick Boys did not come up with that many crosses in that phase. The penalty was crucial. But then you go into extra time and then it becomes a long evening.”

  Despite his justification, the switch drew scepticism from fans, as Noppert’s lack of recent game time appeared to contribute to his struggles. The shot-stopper, who last played on November 23, entered the pitch following a brief warm-up, leading some to question whether his lack of rhythm impacted his performance.

  "That could very well be the case," Van Persie admitted. "Ultimately, those kinds of crosses are difficult to process; the ball falls right in between and then, as a goalkeeper, you have to make a choice in a split second – whether or not you are in your rhythm. The cross was also very good and Andries chose to come and the player heads it in well."

  The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker acknowledged the unusual nature of the change but remained steadfast in his reasoning.

  "I understand that people find it illogical because this normally doesn't happen," he said. "But that's no reason for me not to do it. I look at how I think we have the best chance of winning a match. Based on that I made that choice and I still fully support it."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Van Duijn, who scored the winner, admitted that his side was aware that Van Persie's experiment was "doomed to fail".

  Whereas, an "ashamed" Noppert took responsibility for the defeat and said: "I had the feeling that I touched the ball and that it was not a penalty. But it happened to me. This is unacceptable and a disgrace. I should be ashamed. Then you look for excuses. I have to look at myself first. I was given the chance to show myself. If that doesn't work, then it's your own fault. It's a big man's world. I can only blame myself for this."

Over recent years, as Manchester City have dominated the Premier League, Kevin De Bruyne has gone from strength to strength. He has quickly risen to the top, becoming not only one of the best players in the top flight of English football but all of Europe.

His journey has been a curious one, after he failed to make it at Chelsea, before really making a name for himself in Germany at Wolfsburg. Since he joined the Cityzens in 2015 for a then-club record of £55m, he has become an all-time great of the eight-time Premier League winners.

Kevin de Bruyne’s Manchester City record

When looking at the Belgium international’s record at the Etihad Stadium so far, he is a cut above the rest when it comes to pure goals and assist numbers. The former Chelsea man has played 386 games for the Cityzens, scoring 103 goals and registering a whopping 171 assists.

When comparing those numbers to his peers, his quality shines through. According to Transfermarkt, no player in the history of Man City has more assists than him, with David Silva in second, 41 behind the Belgian’s 171.

Not only that, but the attacking midfielder is sixth on their all-time top goalscorers list. His century of goals makes him one of only six to achieve such a feat, a list that includes former teammates Sergio Aguero, who sits top of the pile, and Raheem Sterling.

33-year-old midfielder De Bruyne might be on the decline compared to previous seasons, but that does not mean that he was underperforming last campaign. The Man City number 17 played 26 times in all competitions in 2023/24, with injuries hampering his season. However, he still notched up six goals and 18 assists, with 14 of those 24 goal involvement coming in just 18 Premier League appearances.

Not only does the midfielder have stats to show just how good he has been at the Etihad Stadium, but trophies, too. Among others, he has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League once, part of that famous treble in 2022/23.

De Bruyne is arguably City’s greatest-ever player, but the time may come soon when they need a replacement for him. Frustratingly, that man may have been in their academy before they sold him a few years ago.

Where is Felix Nmecha now?

The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 23-year-old came through City’s esteemed academy but departed the club in 2021 after struggling to break into the side.

Interestingly, he also moved to Wolfsburg, just as De Bruyne did after leaving Chelsea, after being released on a free transfer by the Premier League giants.

Now, the German international, who has one cap for his country, plies his trade for Borussia Dortmund and impressed there last season. He has played 32 times for the German giants, scoring and assisting two goals apiece.

He was compared to City’s legendary number 17 by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also noted his strengths include vision and creativity, much like the Belgian stalwart has shown over the years for the Cityzens.

The 23-year-old made three appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side before he departed for Germany in 2021. Although he played just 73 minutes of first-team football for the Premier League champions, he did manage to register an assist, in the Champions League against Olympiakos, with a simple pass to Joao Cancelo.

Football scout Antonio Mango described the 23-year-old as a “terrific talent”, and perhaps City might well regret letting the youngster leave rather than give him first-team chances or merely loan him out.

With De Bruyne linked with a move away over the 2024 summer transfer window, there is every chance he could depart next summer instead. Whilst they will now need to go and sign a replacement for the legendary midfielder, they may have had the ideal answer at home, in the form of Nmecha.

At the age of 23, he still has plenty of time to develop and shine, as de Bruyne did after initially struggling at Chelsea in his younger days, and City may hope that he does not continue to grow into a player they will regret having released.

Manchester City have been handed a major blow as it has emerged that one member of their squad is set to miss at least seven games through injury, including the major Premier League clash with Arsenal later this month.

Manchester City chasing history under Pep

Manchester City are looking for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title under Pep Guardiola, and have begun their hunt in perfect fashion, winning each of their opening three games to sit top of the tree alongside Liverpool heading into the international break.

Man City star who Pep loves now braced for £40m-a-year Saudi contract offer

Pep could face a difficult task in retaining one of his key Man City players.

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By
Brett Worthington

Sep 10, 2024

But they have been rocked by news that will dampen the feel-good factor around the Etihad over the international break.

Man City defender set to miss at least seven games

Now, it has emerged that Manchester City defender Nathan Aké will miss at least the club's next seven games, and could yet be sidelined longer. The Dutch defender was injured during his nation's 2-2 draw with Germany over the international break, and had to be stretchered off the pitch just before half time, leaving City fans fearing the worst.

Speaking ahead of his side's clash with Brentford at the Etihad, Pep was asked for an update on Ake, and revealed that he doesn't expect to have the defender at his disposal any time soon.

"We are unlucky with Nathan and the international team; every time he goes there, he comes back injured," the Cityzens boss explained. "He's injured. I think it will be until the next international break."

That next break comes in the second week of October, but Manchester City have a packed fixture list until then, beginning their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan and also facing last season's title challengers Arsenal at the Etihad.

Ake has been a key part of the Manchester City squad since his arrival from Bournemouth, and penned a contract extension last summer which bumped his salary to £160,000 per week to reflect his importance to Guardiola's side.

Though yet to start a game this season, his versatility has been a key part of City's success, and Guardiola singled him out for high praise in 2023.

“He is really good in the duels in the box, defending the far post and set pieces is an extra bonus. He is an exceptional guy, there was a period where he didn’t play and he never complained once," the City boss revealed.

As a result, the club won't be rushing him back, and may look to slowly reintegrate him as they have with Rodri after his return from EURO 2024 success, something that could see Aké absent for longer than the seven games he will miss through injury.

Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis will likely share his duties until Ake returns, but it leaves Guardiola looking thin on the ground in defence during a period in which games will be coming thick and fast.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a bumper new Al-Nassr contract which will reportedly see the Portuguese superstar earn €550,000 every single day.

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• Ronaldo's current deal ends this summer
• Set to sign a blockbuster contract extension
• Will also become a part owner of Al-Nassr

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Ronaldo's new contract ensures the forward earns €183 million (£154m/$188m) annually, equivalent to €15 million (£12.6m/$15m) per month or €3.8 million per week, which will establish his position as the highest-paid footballer in the world. The financial incentives, however, are only part of the package as Al-Nassr have also offered Ronaldo a minority ownership stake of five per cent, which signifies their confidence in his leadership and commitment to the team.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Recent structural changes at Al-Nassr, including the appointment of a new CEO and president, indicate the club’s ambition to grow under Ronaldo’s influence. His attitude and dedication have been widely praised by Al-Nassr officials since he joined the club and the fresh deal is a testimony to their unwavering confidence in the player. Another factor influencing Ronaldo’s decision to renew his contract is the club’s commitment to building a stronger team which will help the team compete with the likes of Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Reports suggest Ronaldo is keen to play alongside players whom he trusts, and one notable name being linked is Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder, currently facing challenges at Manchester United, could potentially reunite with Ronaldo, marking the third time the duo has shared a dressing room, following their glittering years at Real Madrid and a brief spell at Old Trafford.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  It will be interesting to see when the contract is announced. Ronaldo’s next opportunity to make an impact on the pitch will come on Thursday, as Al-Nassr faces Al-Taawoun in a Saudi Pro League fixture.