Stoke City defender Marc Muniesa has moved to Girona on a three-year deal.
The fan favourite moved to the Potters on a free from Barcelona in 2013 and has gone on to make 57 league appearances, scoring one goal.
The 26-year-old struggled with injuries during his time at the Britannia, but that didn’t stop him becoming a popular figure among the fans.
The central defender spent last season on loan at his hometown club Girona and now he has made the move to La Liga permanent for an undisclosed fee.
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The Spaniard posted a heartfelt message on Twitter saying “Once a potter always a potter” and thanking the club and the fans for all their support.
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Stoke City fans have been reacting to the news on social media that Muniesa has left the club, with supporters understanding it was time for him to move on, but sad that a popular figure has departed.
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As reported exclusively by The Sun, Paul Pogba has admitted privately to friends that he is still adapting to life with Alexis Sanchez at Manchester United.
What’s the story?
It’s an issue that United fans have suspected for weeks, with Pogba’s form coincidentally dipping right around the time of Sanchez’s introduction to the first team after making his high profile January move from Arsenal.
A poor performance away to Tottenham saw him benched against Huddersfield and a similarly poor display against Newcastle left many questioning his role in Jose Mourinho’s first team.
According to The Sun, the French international has told friends he is still getting used to Sanchez being in the team.
Much of their play now flows through the Chilean, whereas before Pogba would be the main focus of their forward possession.
Headache for Mourinho
It’s imperative that the Manchester United boss gets to the bottom of Pogba’s apparent failure to get to grips with a new way of playing at Old Trafford.
The midfielder is a fantastic influence when at the top of his game and the Portuguese needs to play to his strengths and find a way he can play in conjunction with Sanchez effectively.
Reported to be on wages of £200,000-a-week, the club can’t afford him to simply be sitting on the bench and not getting stuck into the challenges facing the Red Devils in the coming months.
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However, given Mourinho’s dismissive comments about the illness that kept the French international out of the side’s trip to Huddersfield, this could be a saga that rumbles on.
Will we see him return to the starting eleven against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League? A strong performance in that encounter would give supporters faith that a major crisis isn’t brewing at Old Trafford.
When Barcelona announced that they have signed Luis Suarez, most Liverpool fans left bewildered by how fast their star player managed to leave the club.
Before his infamous ‘bite’ on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, the Anfield faithful were talking up a title challenge and that with Suarez leading the line only a few things needed fixing before Liverpool became a great team again.
But now it feels like they’re in need of rebuilding, despite having made three major signings in Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, and Emre Can.
Lazar Markovic from Benfica looks likely to be their fourth signing and he could be the one to soften the pain of losing Luis Suarez.
Here are FIVE REASONS to be excited about this new Liverpool signing.
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5. Style of Play
Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of the 4-3-3, and last season used it to great success with Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling as the top three. The trio would exchange positions when attacking, and it was extremely difficult to defend against.
Markovic is perfect for the system, as he’s able to play in all three attacking positions. Naturally a right-winger, the Serbian can drift into the middle or play on the left.
4. Work Ethic
Now a trait that is becoming more common in attacking players, Markovic is an extremely hard worker and is what is required in Rodgers’ pressing style of play.
Once Liverpool lose the ball, the Reds will hustle until they get it back, something that attacking players were not always trained to do. Markovic doesn’t need the training, he’ll slot right in and contribute defensively.
3. Fantastic Technique
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Markovic is known for his fantastic dribbling ability. The now former Benfica man is quick, tricky, and full of drive. It will be difficult with this type of player running at your defence, and it will create space which team-mates can exploit.
His touches also ooze class, the same feeling when you see Dmitar Berbatov pull the ball down from the air, and he’s a decent finisher. He will be a joy to watch for any neutral, let alone Reds fans.
2. Markovic is only 20
Along with Emre Can, Liverpool now seem as if they are buying class talent for the future in Markovic. If any of his performances with Benfica can be repeated in front of the Anfield faithful, then Luis Suarez might just become a distant memory.
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And at just 20 he already has four league trophies: Three Serbian League titles and last season’s Portuguese Primera Liga. He is no stranger to competition, and his desire to win will be a big boost to Liverpool.
1. Markovic has the X factor
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Markovic has that ‘spark’. He may not be scoring 20 or so goals in his youth, but the starlet has the ability to break down stubborn defences and be the player a team turns to when they need an answer.
There is a reason Liverpool paid £19.8 million for a youngster. Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant, during his time at Markovic’s first club Partizan Belgrade, stated that the Serbian is “one of the best players I’ve ever seen after Ronaldo and Messi.” There is no compliment greater than that in today’s world of football, and Markovic could light up the Premier League for years to come.
Manchester United are set to win the race to sign Malaga’s young midfielder Isco for £16 million.
The 20-year-old has been compared to United legend Paul Scholes and Alex Ferguson’s confident he can land the youngster to replace his veteran midfielder.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all also interested in signing the Spaniard but the Daily Star believes that Manchester United is his preferred destination.
Malaga are going to struggle to keep hold of their highly talented prodigy as the club continues to experience financial problems as they initially forked out huge amounts of money to provide Champions League football for the southern Spain side.
The club have been forced to sell Santi Cazorla and Salomon Randon and Isco could well follow them out of the club in January.
Isco has already been compared to fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas and could be seen as the ideal remedy to the stuttering United midfield, but will face stiff competition as there are plenty of teams chasing the Spanish under-21 star.
The midfielder was a key part for the team as they secured Champions League football for the first time in their history and has been even more effective so far this campaign.
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Malaga currently sit in second place with just the one defeat in nine games. It’s Isco’s form in Europe which has caught the eye of many suitors as the Spanish club have won their first three games.
When Antoine Griezmann confirmed that he is staying at Atletico Madrid on Thursday despite being linked to Barcelona, not many would have automatically thought of how the news would affect Tottenham Hotspur.Numerous media outlets, including Sport English, have suggested that Christian Eriksen will be next on Barca’s list.The Spanish giants are looking for a marquee signing, which would have ben Griezmann, but since the attacker confirmed via video that he is going nowhere, Barcelona have to start again.Eriksen is not a like-for-like replacement for the Atletico star as he plays in a midfield role for Tottenham, but he could potentially come in for the recently-departed Andres Iniesta.[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255610″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Five England World Cup games you totally forgot happened”]The Denmark international had a stellar season for the North London outfit in the 2017-18 campaign as he scored 14 goals and created 11 assists in all competitions.Eriksen has not indicated that he wants to leave Spurs, and the fans are desperate for the midfielder to sign a new contract.Since Griezmann made his intentions known, Tottenham supporters speculated on Reddit and Twitter about Barcelona potentially moving for Eriksen, but not many are worried.
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The majority of Newcastle United fans have expressed relief in reports that the club failed to sign goalkeeper Joe Hart during the January transfer window.
According to The Mirror, the Magpies launched a late move for the England number one, who is currently on loan at West Ham United from Manchester City.
The report claims that manager Rafael Benitez offered the Hammers one of Newcastle’s reserve keepers, but the bid was rejected as David Moyes feels that he may need Hart as the season progresses.
A few years ago, the shot-stopper was a solid number one for City, competing at the top level and challenging for silverware.
Following Pep Guardiola’s arrival as manager, the 30-year-old was shipped out to Roma on loan.
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Last summer, Hart joined West Ham on another temporary deal, and he has since lost his number one spot to Adrian.
In the end, Newcastle recruited Martin Dubravka from Sparta Prague on loan, and it seems that most of the club’s fanbase are pleased that Hart never came through the welcome gates at St James’ Park.
Steven Gerrard believes the emotional strain with intensify as the Reds close in on their first league title in 24 years, after dedicating Sunday’s 3-2 win over Manchester City to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, reports the Telegraph.
The Reds captain was reduced to tears at the final whistle of Sunday’s crucial 3-2 win over Manchester City, a result that left Liverpool top of the table and in need of four more wins to secure a first Premier League title.
Gerrard says his emotional reaction at the final whistle was intensified as the occasion was just two days before the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives.
The annual service to honour the victims is being held at Anfield today, and beforehand Gerrard took time to dedicate their fantastic victory to the 96 and their friends and families.
“The reason I was so emotional was because of when this game fell,” Gerrard said.
“It wasn’t just because it was a big match in our season, it was because this week is always about more than football for everyone associated with Liverpool. It’s emotional for so many people.
“I’m speaking on behalf of everyone when I say the win was dedicated to the victims and families of Hillsborough. All the squad will be present at the service to pay our respects as we should. I think it was just a release at the end. It is a tough week, preparing for these matches.
“There are long days going into them. Everyone knows personally how much I want it. I’ve just got to stay calm and relax. I’m trying to do that but it’s difficult to control my emotions.
“I’m just trying to do different things. In my spare time, I’m not sitting around thinking about it. I’m watching the TV, spending time with my kids and my friends to take my mind off it.
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“I want the games to come every day, not every week. I’d love to play the remaining four games in the next four days but it is not possible. I have to manage the time well and make sure that I’m not getting anxious and wasting unnecessary energy.”
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Swansea recorded their first win in six Premier League games with goals from Pablo Hernandez and Michu enough to see off Wigan at the Liberty Stadium.
The Spanish duo scored within two minutes of each other in the second half to stop the rot for Michael Laudrup’s side and prolong the misery of the visitors who find themselves in familiar territory at the wrong end of the table. Roberto Martinez will be cursing his sides luck after Arouna Kone was denied a late equaliser by the offside flag.
It leaves the Latics without a top-flight win since 25th August although they will be wondering how they didn’t leave South Wales with at least a point to show for their efforts.
Clear goalscoring opportunities were few and far between during a tedious first half with Michu going closest for the home side with a volley that sailed narrowly wide in the 18th minute. Jonathan de Guzman then curled wide from 20-yards before Michel Vorm denied Shaun Maloney from close range at the other end.
Thankfully the second half provided more entertainment value for the supporters and they were treated to three goals in four minutes just after the hour mark. Firstly Hernandez was on hand to break the deadlock in the 65th minute and notch his first Swans goal, scoring with a low effort after fine work from Wayne Routledge.
Two minutes later and Michu had doubled the home sides lead, taking advantage of some lax Wigan defending to head home unmarked from a corner. Emmerson Boyce then set up a tantalising final 20 minutes with an outrageous flicked effort that caught Vorm out in the Swansea goal.
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Wigan thought they’d snatched a point only for Kone’s effort to be chalked off for offside before goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi was sensationally denied by Vorm at the death after meeting a corner with a firm header.
Yorkshire openers share century stand to help hosts make most of less than half a day’s play
ECB Reporters Network25-Jul-2023Runaway Division Two leaders Durham are under early pressure at Scarborough after Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth and Fin Bean shared a century stand to help the hosts make the most of just less than half a day’s play due to hail and heavy rain at Scarborough.Lyth and Bean shared 113 inside 31 overs after the visitors had elected to bowl at the start of this LV= Insurance County Championship fixture, contributing to a close of play 142 for two from 38 overs.Lyth led the way with 75 not out off 118 balls at the North Marine Road venue where he played his league cricket growing up. Fellow left-hander Bean made 46 but was the first of two wickets to fall – lbw to England Test quick Matthew Potts almost immediately after a 5.30pm resumption.Hail at lunch prevented an afternoon restart, and when umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Surendiran Shanmugam attempted to get going again at 2.30pm heavy rain returned as they and the players walked back onto the outfield.Puddles had formed all over the square within 30 minutes, and it took until 5.30pm for conditions to improve enough for nine more overs of play before bad light ended the day just after 6pm.Potts trapped Bean lbw with the seventh ball back – his first after the resumption – and later removed George Hill the same way for seven.Yorkshire have now lost a remarkable 1,308 overs to the weather this season, including the complete washout against Gloucestershire at Bristol in April when not a ball was bowled.Just short of 350 of those have come in the last three games, including at Worcestershire and against Sussex at Headingley earlier this month.New ball seamer Ben Raine will have counted himself unfortunate not to have removed Lyth with either of two confident lbw appeals in the opening over.But, aside from that, the visitors were unable to build pressure before lunch as they failed to hit a consistent line or length, allowing Lyth and Bean to continue their excellent recent form.The pair shared 177 for the first wicket in the draw against Worcestershire at New Road earlier this month, a game in which Bean scored a century.Lyth did likewise in last week’s draw against Sussex at Headingley, when the pair added 94.Yorkshire only batted once in each fixture, something which is not out of the question here unless Durham can continue to bowl with the quality and potency Potts displayed in the evening to oust Bean and then Hill.Lyth was particularly strong on the drive and Bean on the cut, with 17 runs coming from the morning’s penultimate over – bowled by the seam of Netherlands international Bas de Leede.
“I want to be unbeaten in all five Tests in this year,” says West Indies head coach after beating Bangladesh in Antigua
Mohammad Isam20-Jun-2022While Bangladesh are down on confidence, West Indies are bursting with it and coach Phil Simmons now wants his team to continue this progress for the rest of the World Test Championship cycle.The captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been a significant factor in West Indies’ rise in the last 18 months. He made the highest score (94) across all four innings in the Antigua Test against Bangladesh and, according to his coach, is constantly getting better as both a player and a leader.”Everyone has seen [Brathwaite’s] determination,” Simmons said. “His unique style. He doesn’t have a problem doing his job for five days. It is unique because a lot of batsmen nowadays like to play shots and be done with it.”From his point of view, he wants to be there for the team. That rolls into the captaincy. He is not loud but the players know what he wants. He makes them understand in his unique way. He seems to be growing in the role.”With their victory on Sunday, West Indies have now won three of their eight WTC matches and are unbeaten in their last four Tests.”We started 2021 in the same way,” Simmons said. “We won two in Bangladesh, and drew two against Sri Lanka. It is about how we go forward from here. I want to be unbeaten in all five Tests in this year. That would be good for me. Guys are getting confident in what they are doing. It makes your job and role easier the more confidence you have. It has happened especially after winning the series against England not too long ago. The confidence showed.”Kemar Roach too contributed heavily in the Antigua win, after nearly missing the game. The 33-year old fast bowler had to clear a last-minute fitness test to make himself available for selection, and once he did, he terrorised the Bangladesh batting line-up, finishing with match figures of 7 for 74 and equalling Michael Holding’s tally of 249 Test wickets.”[Roach] has taken things to the next level,” Simmons said. “He has been excellent. He is now tied with Mikey [Holding], but in the dressing room he is always leading the youngsters. He has played 70 Tests, so he educates them. It is great to have him in the dressing room.”There were other boxes ticked off as well. John Campbell made his first Test fifty in 15 innings, an innings which helped them recover from 9 for 3 and see off a chase of 84. “I think it was really important,” Simmons said. “He has had good starts in most of the games but failed to get past that 30-40 mark. The unbeaten fifty must give him some kind of confidence to get that big score, hopefully in the next Test match.”West Indies’ slip catching too was impressive in this Test match. They took 13 catches behind the wicket, dropping just the one. Six of those 13 catches were taken at slip, while wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva gobbled up the other seven. Simmons was asked to explain this and he said, “it is a matter of practice. I think the guys are enjoying the fact that the balls are coming to them. It is after a long time I am seeing the ball going to first slip in the Caribbean. It is nice to see.”There’s also the fact that Jason Holder might come back into the team later in the year so nobody wants to be put out of there. They know that he will walk right back into the slips. That could be a motivation too.”