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Moises Henriques is seeking to build on a rapid start to 2012-13, having been named the Australian Cricketers Association’s Player of the Month for October

Brydon Coverdale29-Nov-2012Moises Henriques hopes his maiden first-class century won’t be the high point of his season, setting his sights on a full summer without injury and delivering more victories for New South Wales along the way.Henriques has been named the Australian Cricketers Association’s Player of the Month for October, after starting the summer with 78 against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match in Perth, followed by an unbeaten 161 against Tasmania.The hundred had been a long time coming for Henriques, who was considered a future Test prospect when he made his first-class debut at the age of 19 in 2006-07. Along the way, Henriques has delivered some fine performances for his state and earned a call-up to Australia’s Twenty20 and one-day international squads in 2009, but a first-class century could become the breakout moment for Henriques, who is now 25.”I always felt it wasn’t far away,” Henriques told ESPNcricinfo of his hundred. “It was good just to get that one under the belt and be able to relax a little bit more now when I sleep at night instead of wondering when that first big one is coming. I always knew it wasn’t going to be far away but it’s very good to get it over and done with early in the season. It is just the start of the season and it’s important to continue on for the full duration now.”The main thing Henriques hopes to achieve this summer is to stay fit. Henriques is in his seventh season of Shield cricket but this week was playing only his 28th Shield match. As Shane Watson has known for a decade and Mitchell Marsh is rapidly discovering, one of the greatest challenges faced by the allrounder is managing the demands on the body.”Last season I tore my side twice, and before the season I had both my groins operated on,” Henriques said. “I’ve had hamstring problems in the past. It’s been a combination of things. So far this season it’s been good and I haven’t missed a game yet. Fingers crossed, that’s the way it keeps coming.”The more cricket you play, I’m hoping that the more your full-grown body gets used to it and starts accepting what you’re doing. That’s what I’m hoping for. All I can do is keep preparing as well as I can for every game. If anything happens during the game with injuries it’s almost out of my control. All I can control is how I prepare and recover.”All the same, the tendency of allrounders to suffer injuries could also work in Henriques’ favour. Watson missed the first two Tests against South Africa with a calf injury having also sat out of the entire home Test summer, Marsh is out for the season with a serious hamstring tear, and Andrew McDonald is also unlikely to play again this summer due to a hamstring injury.Should Henriques find himself fit and in form at the right time, Test cricket could become a realistic possibility. But to realise that goal, he knows he’ll need more than one or two eye-catching performances.”That’s everyone’s dream is to play Test cricket for Australia,” he said. “My first and short-term goals are to win games for New South Wales and to hopefully stay on the park for a full season and win a couple of tournaments. After that, by showing as an individual that you can win games for your team and help your team have a successful season, that’s how I see myself getting selected.”As an allrounder, those strong performances could come with either bat or ball. During a stint with Glamorgan this year, Henriques found life difficult with the bat – his best score in four first-class games was 16 – but the upside was that the conditions helped his bowling, and he picked up 13 wickets at 22.23.”That’s the beauty of being an allrounder – if it’s not suiting your batting it’s more than likely going to be suiting your bowling,” Henriques said. “I concentrate on both just as much as each other. I did bowl a lot in the pre-season because I have had a few injuries in the past and I wanted to build a bit of resilience into the body and make sure I kept bowling and bowling. I do give equal time and effort to both.”During the Player of the Month voting period, Henriques made 289 Shield runs and was dismissed only once, and he also collected seven wickets at15.29, as well as making 78 in his only Ryobi Cup appearance. He finished with 31% of the votes, ahead of Ricky Ponting on 29.3% and Phillip Hughes on 17.2%.

Kyle Walker assured Manchester City supporters that they will "fight until the very end" after the damaging defeat at Liverpool.

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• Man City going through a rough phase
• Remain winless in the last seven games
• Fell 11 points behind leaders LFC after latest defeat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The loss at Anfield, orchestrated by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, marked City’s sixth defeat in their last seven matches. The result leaves the reigning Premier League champions in fifth place, struggling to find the consistency that has defined their past successes.

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  Walker made key errors that contributed to the loss as he left Cody Gakpo unmarked to score Liverpool's opener and later lost possession to Luis Díaz, leading to a penalty that Mohamed Salah converted to seal the win. After another disappointing performance, City fans voiced their frustration on social media, with several players, including Walker, facing criticism for their lacklustre displays.

• WHAT WALKER SAID

  In an Instagram post titled Walker shared a heartfelt statement alongside a photograph of himself in action.

  "We know our recent performances haven’t been up to the standard we expect, and we’re aware it’s been tough," he wrote. "But we’ve been through these challenges before, together, and we’ll come through this one as well. It’s important that we all stay together as one club, as Manchester City, through this tough spell. Your support, whether in the good times or the difficult moments, means everything to us.

  "We’ve won titles in the final games of the season, and we’ve made history with a record-breaking 100-point campaign, right down to the last kick. We’ve shown time and time again that we can rise to the challenge, and we will do so again. I promise you, we’ll fight until the very end 🩵"

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The defeat at Liverpool highlighted deeper issues for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are now winless in seven matches across all competitions. This troubling run has raised doubts about their ability to compete for the Premier League title this season, with pundit Jamie Carragher questioning whether City can even finish in the top-four places.

Dhaka needed 11 off the final over, and Shuvagata Hom struck successive sixes off Thisara Perera to seal the chase

Mohammad Isam09-Feb-2022How the match played out
Shuvagata Hom struck two sixes in the last over to drag Minister Group Dhaka over the line against Khulna Tigers. Dhaka needed 11 runs off the final over bowled by Thisara Perera after Khaled Ahmed conceded just four in the penultimate over.But Hom, who was dismissed at a crucial stage against Chattogram Challengers on Tuesday, slammed Perera for a straight six before pounding the ball over extra cover much to his team-mates’ delight, thus finishing with an unbeaten nine-ball 18 including the two sixes. Eventually, Khulna’s 129 would not prove to be enough.Big hit

Dhaka had removed half the Khulna side in the first seven overs. It started with Soumya Sarkar offering a catch to deep square leg off Rubel Hossain. And after a mix-up with Jaker Ali resulted in a run-out, Andre Fletcher holed out at cover off Arafat Sunny, who also removed Yasir Ali with a beautiful arm-ball off the very next delivery.But it was only when Sikandar Raza came to the crease that Khulna got back on track. Raza stopped the slide by putting together mini partnerships with all three of Mahedi Hasan, Perera and Ruyel Mia. He struck the ball well through the leg side, picking up all but a four and a six each though the off side out of a total of five fours and four sixes, as he struck 64 off 50 balls.But Dhaka too never looked settled in the 130-run chase, slipping to 12 for 2 in the fourth over. Captain Mahmudullah and Jahurul Islam added 57 for the third wicket, before Ruyel, the left-arm quick making his BPL debut, clean bowled Jahurul for 30.That followed both Mahmudullah and Shamsur Rahman finding long-off off consecutive Perera deliveries – the last ball of the 16th over and the first of the 18th – leaving Hom and Azmatullah Omarzai, the young Afghanistan allrounder, with 24 required from the last 17 balls.Big miss

Khulna’s top five departed cheaply – they were 32 for 5 in the seventh over – despite Mushfiqur Rahim deciding to bat first. Although Fletcher has looked in good form throughout the tournament and Soumya had begun to get some good form off late, they still fell for 6 and 1, respectively. Yasir and Mushfiqur, who have usually contributed when the top three has failed, also fell early. That left the remaining Khulna batters with too much to do.

Manchester City will be hoping to repeat their treble heroics of the 2022/23 campaign, after what was ultimately a disappointing last term for Pep Guardiola’s men. They won just the one trophy on this occasion and failed to defend their crowns in either of the other competitions they won two seasons prior.

The Citizens were once again victorious in the Premier League and sealed their fourth consecutive league title on the final day. That is the first time in the competition’s history that any side has managed to achieve such a feat.

However, the defence of their FA Cup crown failed at the hands of their biggest rivals, Manchester United. Guardiola's side also struggled in the Champions League. The Blues were eliminated at the hands of Real Madrid on penalties, who went on to lift the trophy once again.

Next season, City will be hoping to bounce back and reclaim all three of their titles. They will no doubt need to strengthen their squad over the summer and have already been linked with one player who could add excellent depth to their side.

Man City target Premier League attacker

The player in question here is Crystal Palace and England international attacker Eberechi Eze. It was once again another very impressive season for the 26-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a move away from Selhurst Palk this summer.

At least, that is according to a report from journalist Ben Jacobs, who claimed earlier this week that Guardiola and his staff “like this player”, and could decide to make an offer over the course of the summer transfer window.

However, there are other sides aiming to bring Eze to their club this summer. Jacobs believes that North London duo Tottenham and Arsenal are also interested in the player. However, he does note that Spurs are slightly ahead in the race when it comes to agreeing a deal with Palace.

In terms of price, City will have to pay a fairly hefty fee in order to bring Eze to the club. The 26-year-old has a £60m release clause, and it seems unlikely Palace will negotiate any less, given they have already sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich this summer.

How Eze could benefit Erling Haaland

Eze has been one of the most important players for the Eagles. The attacker, who can play in a multitude of positions across the frontline, played some of his best football under Oliver Glasner.

He scored 11 goals and grabbed four assists in the Premier League in 27 games last season, with six goals and three assists coming in just 11 games under the Austrian.

The England international’s teammate at Palace, Joel Ward described him as “mesmerising”, and when watching him, it is easy to see why. He glides with the ball at his feet, slaloming in and out of opposition defenders with ease. Eze loves to operate in the half-spaces, getting on the ball between the lines and driving forward.

When in full flow, the 26-year-old is electric, and this is also highlighted in his stats courtesy of FBRef. He attempts an average of 6.13 take-ons per 90 minutes and completes 3.02 of those. He ranks in the top 10% and 9% of positionally similar players in Europe or those metrics.

Should he join Guardiola’s side, the attacker could form a dream partnership with City’s talismanic striker, Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water, having already scored 63 goals in just 66 games in the competition.

Eze is a wonderful creator, averaging 2.37 key passes which ranks him in the top 17%, and 1.97 passes into the penalty box, placing him in the top 19%. Of course, given Haaland is deadly in the area, the amount of balls he could get on the end of from the Palace sensation could see them form a deadly partnership.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson called the 26-year-old an "entertainer", and adding Eze to the abundance of creative players City already have would be outrageous depth for Guardiola. Not only that, the partnership he could form with Haaland could take the Norway international’s goalscoring record to new heights, and help bring City back to the top of Europe.

The reported £60m fee is expensive, but for the quality of the player the Citizens would be adding it could be an excellent piece of business this summer.

Man City could sign England's answer to Rodri in exciting PL star

The Cityzens could help to develop England’s next star by signing the midfield sensation.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 15, 2024

Plays of the day from the third day of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth

Firdose Moonda and Brydon Coverdale at the WACA02-Dec-2012Catch of the day
Hashim Amla showed no nerves when he neared milestones•Getty ImagesFor the second day in a row, Mitchell Johnson took a stunning catch off his own bowling. On Saturday, he took the catch with his quick feet and desperate dive; this time it was down to his lightning fast reflexes. Hashim Amla seemed set for a double-century when on 196 he drove a half-volley from Johnson straight back past the bowler, or rather, he thought it was going to go past the bowler. Instead, he saw Johnson instinctively thrust his right hand out and the ball stuck in it, a remarkable take in any circumstances and especially given how exhausted Johnson must have been during another long, hot day in the field. Another fine catch later in the day was Johnson’s fourth for the innings, making him the first Australian fielder to achieve that feat since Matthew Hayden in 2004.Milestone of the day
If any player could have gone to bed on 99 not out and not have a sleepless night, that man is Hashim Amla. He returned in the morning to nudge a single off his hips off the third ball of the first over and bring up a hundred without showing any nerves. Amla, similarly, was unruffled when he went to lunch on the edge of another milestone on 149. Again, it was on the third ball after the break that he got a single and the acknowledgment was even more bashful. No removal of the helmet, which he had only just put on, just a raise of the bat.Shots of the day
Just two days ago it seemed AB de Villiers’ flamboyance was a thing of the past. Even in the early stages of his innings today, it looked that way. But he issued a reminder that the panache is still there. On 89, de Villiers readied himself for the drive and then got down on one knee to paddle Nathan Lyon past slip. The next ball, he did again to beat slip but it was the third shot which showed off his style. With no risk involved, he sent the ball through point with a flourish and brought up his first century since becoming the full-time wicketkeeper.Reverse umbrella of the day
The umbrella field is a staple of Test cricket but the rarely seen reverse umbrella made an appearance as the Australia considered all sorts of novel ideas to keep Hashim Amla quiet. As Shane Watson ran in to bowl to Amla, he had a cover-point, two men at mid-off a short distance apart, mid-on, two men catching at midwicket, deep midwicket and a deep square leg. There was no cordon, no third man and no fine leg. The only man behind the stumps was the wicketkeeper. It was a short-lived ploy and didn’t bring about a wicket, but at least captain Michael Clarke was trying things.Three-minute delay of the day
On the second day, the umpires and players were in position and ready to start after tea at 3.29pm, but the rules of the game dictated that they had to wait until the clock ticked over to 3.30. The same sense of strictness does not apply to starting late. After lunch on day three, the players ambled out and were in no rush to resume, and were not hurried up by the umpires. Play was supposed to recommence at 12.30pm but it was 12.33 before everybody was ready for action. The vagaries of cricket had claimed another three minutes.

During his time as manager of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Aston Villa and French giants Paris Saint Germain, Unai Emery has coached some of Europe’s biggest stars. These players have helped him become a manager synonymous with winning silverware, with his trophy cabinet including four Champions Leagues and one Ligue 1 title.

The Spaniard has the fortune of managing both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar during his spell in Paris. Both boasted an unbelievable record under Emery, with the Frenchman scoring 21 goals and registering 16 assists in 44 games and the Brazil legend playing 30 times for Emery, scoring 28 goals with 18 assists.

The likes of Edinson Cavani, who scored 89 times in 98 games for Emery’s PSG side, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Silva also played under the Spanish manager during his stint as PSG manager.

Some of Emery’s other notable players include Spain legend David Villa, who played for Emery 88 times as a Valencia player, scoring 59 goals and assisting once, and former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata, also for Valencia.

With the transfer window now open, Emery has been linked with another of his former players, who could join Villa and reunite with the Spaniard.

Aston Villa could sign Premier League midfielder

The player in question here is Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso. The 28-year-old has struggled to become a regular at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and could depart the club this summer.

This is according to a report from Football Insider which believes the Villans are in talks with Ange Postecoglou’s side over a potential 'three-player swap deal' this summer.

According to the report, Jacob Ramsey is set to go the other way and make the switch to North London, as well as another, unnamed Villa player, in exchange for Lo Celso and a sum of money.

The Lilywhites are hoping to 'reduce the cash outlay' by offering the Argentine to the Midlands side, which means they have to pay less upfront for Ramsey. It's claimed the Villans value the 23-year-old at around £50m, with Spurs hoping to bring that down and are happy to let Lo Celso go in exchange.

Why Lo Celso would be a good signing

Since joining Spurs, Lo Celso has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot. He has gone out on loan twice, to Villarreal both times, where Emery managed him for the second time, having also coached him whilst PSG boss. Interstingly, the Spaniard is the coach Lo Celso has played under the most times.

The 2024/24 season was a very frustrating campaign for the Argentina international, who is currently representing his nation at the Copa America. He played just 24 times in all competitions, with 22 of those appearances coming in the Premier League. However, his 597 minutes in that time equated to just 6.6 full 90 minutes on average.

Should Lo Celso switch to Villa Park as the direct Ramsey replacement, we will get to see him reignite his partnership with Emery. The 28-year-old is clearly highly regarded by the Spaniard; before the pair linked up once again at Villarreal, Emery explained they brought him in because he is a very “versatile” footballer. Lo Celso returned the compliment, explaining his former boss is so good to work with because he knows “what he can give you”.

In terms of how the Argentine compares to Ramsey, they are both number 10s who like to get on the ball in pockets of space behind the striker and drive forward with the ball.

According to Fbref, Lo Celso averaged 4.46 progressive carries and 3.57 carries into the final third per 90 minutes last season. In comparison, Ramsey averaged 3.47 progressive carries and two carries into the final third, slightly fewer although still impressive output.

One area Lo Celso excels over the Englishman according to the stats is in his creative passing numbers. Last season, the 28-year-old averaged 3.21 key passes compared to Ramsey’s 1.05 per 90, with his expected assists 0.35xA, with Ramsey averaging just 0.15xA per game.

So, should they add Lo Celso to their squad, Villa would be bringing in an experienced player who knows what it takes to play under Emery. The Argentine has great quality on the ball and could be an excellent option to replace Ramsey as one of those number 10s in Emery’s famed 4-2-2-2 system because of his technical ability and eye for a pass. It could be a match made in heaven.

Jack Grealish repeat: Important Aston Villa star could leave for PL club

Another of Aston Villa’s finest academy graduates could depart.

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 4, 2024

The positive result came from a member of the support staff just hours before the game was due to take place

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Dec-2021The BBL match between Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers on Thursday has been postponed due to a Covid-19 case within the Stars’ camp. The positive result came from a member of the support staff on Thursday afternoon just hours before the game was due to take place. All other members of Stars’ squad who had been in contact with the case have since undertaken PCR tests but are still awaiting the results, meaning the game cannot take place at the Marvel Stadium. It was already one of Scorchers’ rearranged fixtures due to the border restrictions in Western Australia.”While regrettable, the decision to postpone tonight’s match was the only option available given the exposures within the Stars cohort,” Alistair Dobson, the general manager of the Big Bash Leagues, said.Related

• Stars-Scorchers clash to go ahead despite more Covid-19 cases

• Fakhar Zaman replaces injured Tom Abell at Brisbane Heat

• Thunder vs Strikers goes ahead despite positive Covid-19 cases

• David Boon to miss fourth Ashes Test after positive Covid-19 result

• New South Wales close contact rules won't stop SCG Test

“The League has a number of biosecurity protocols in place to keep our participants safe and the competition moving forward. These protocols are regularly reviewed in response to the risks in each state. Safety remains our number one priority, and we will work with the Stars to get their side back on the field as soon as possible.”It is the first time the BBL or the WBBL has been directly hit by a Covid-19 case during the pandemic, and comes amid rising cases around Australia. Sydney Thunder’s Sam Whiteman missed a game earlier in the season due to being a possible close contact.Thursday’s postponed match will be replayed later in the season, although no new date has yet been set; but already, there is very little room for disruption in the BBL schedule.Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said: “The staff member is being managed by Melbourne Stars medical staff in consultation with Cricket Australia and we look forward to them being able to return to the group in due course. We have key home matches scheduled on January 2 and 3 in Melbourne so we hope to have more clarity through testing over the next 24-48 hours.”Unlike the men’s Ashes series – which has also been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak in the England touring part as well as to match referee David Boon – BBL clubs travel on commercial rather than chartered planes.Earlier in the season, a Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria was postponed for a day after allrounder Will Sutherland tested positive.The Ashes tour is currently attempting to remain on track despite an outbreak in the England squad which has now reached seven cases, the latest one forcing head coach Chris Silverwood into isolation as a close contact.The first of the cases in the England camp emerged on the second day of the MCG Test but the game was able to continue after the playing group all returned negative rapid test results, with Victoria having a looser definition of close contacts which is now being adopted more broadly.

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has set a target for new head coach Ruben Amorim after a disappointing end to the Erik ten Hag era.

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• Amorim era is underway at Man Utd
• Drew 1-1 in his first match against Ipswich
• Club CEO sets out targets

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Amorim as head coach, following the departure of Ten Hag. His tenure began with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town and will continue with his first home game at Old Trafford against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Portuguese coach has inherited a squad struggling in the lower half of the Premier League table after a disappointing start to the season. Despite the uphill battle, United CEO Berrada has made it clear that the club’s ambitions remain firmly set on competing for the biggest trophies in both domestic and European competitions.

• WHAT BERRADA SAID

  Speaking during the release of the club’s latest financial results, Berrada outlined the high expectations for Amorim's tenure.

  "The season is now well underway for both our men's and women's team, and we are keen to ensure both are as competitive as possible," Berrada said. "We are delighted to have appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach of our men's team and remain committed to returning Manchester United to the top of domestic and European football."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Amorim’s task will not be without constraints, with United set to operate on a lower budget as they look to become sustainable. Thus, there won't be a huge transfer kitty for the Portuguese to work with immediately.

English duo sign up for maiden BBL campaigns

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2021Perth Scorchers have signed the English duo of Laurie Evans and Brydon Carse for their upcoming Big Bash campaign.Evans, the Surrey batter, has not been capped but built up an impressive record on the T20 circuit in recent years, featuring in leagues in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.Durham seamer Carse made his England debut during the ODI series against Pakistan in the northern summer, when he was called up after a Covid outbreak. Both players were involved in the Hundred and will be making their first appearances in the Big Bash, with the competition due to start on December 5.Related

• Topley eyes 'pressure scenarios' after joining Renegades

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• Maddinson to captain Renegades after Finch stands down

“Laurie is a top player who will bring versatility, power and experience to the team, he is a great competitor, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Scorchers,” Perth Scorchers head coach, Adam Voges, said.”Brydon is an impressive young talent who can make an impact with both ball and bat and has the ability to take the game away from any opposition.”Evans, 34, has played 184 times in T20 cricket and averages 33.85 with a strike rate of 133.88. His arrival will help cover for the absence of England batter Liam Livingstone, who made 426 runs at 30.42 last season.”I am chuffed to bits to be given the opportunity to play for the Scorchers this summer, they are a really successful team in the Big Bash,” he said. “I think over my career I have prided myself on being there at the end and winning games of cricket in tight situations, that’s what I’ll be looking to do.Laurie Evans featured for Oval Invincibles in the Hundred•Getty Images

“The Big Bash is certainly a tournament the world looks at as one of the biggest and I’m just really grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part of it.”Carse, a team-mate of Scorchers batter Cameron Bancroft at Durham, has only taken 21 wickets in his T20 career but enjoyed a productive summer across all formats. The 26-year-old claimed a maiden List A five-for in his second ODI appearance for England, and also showed his promise the with bat in scoring a 30-ball half-century in the Vitality Blast.”The Scorchers have been one of the top teams in the Big Bash for a number of years and to have the opportunity to play at Optus stadium in front of Scorchers fans will be special,” Carse said.”I’m hoping to create some match-winning performances with both bat and ball, I like to think I play my cricket with a smile on my face and enjoy it. The squad has a lot of depth in all departments and I’m very confident that we can go all the way – it’s exciting.”

Barcelona want to sign 17-year-old Antonito for their B team after his exploits with Malaga in the Segunda Division.

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• Barca tracking Malaga gem Antonito
• Has six goals/assists in 12 games
• Could join the Catalans for free in 2025

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona want to acquire Malaga's 17-year-old sensation Antonio Cordero, better known as Antonito, following his exploits in the Segunda Division, according to Relevo.

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  The Catalans want to add one more jewel to their increasing pool of budding talent and provide him a potential path to first team football in the future by playing for Barca Atletic, the B team. Barca lack depth on the left wing given Ansu Fati's struggles with form and fitness, and feel Antonito could be a smart addition.

  The attacker is a regular for the Spain U19s and has been a real revelation in Segunda Division, scoring three goals and registering as many assists in just 660 minutes across 12 appearances.

  With the player's contract with Malaga expiring next summer, he is well aware of the interest from Barcelona, who have intensified their pursuit of the player in recent months.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Antonito's agent Pini Zahavi has close ties to Barcelona because of his associations with Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski and might be crucial to Barca's acquisition of the gifted Malaga winger.

  However, Malaga are going out of their way to bind the young player with a renewal. Unlike Barca Atletic, who play in the third division, Antonito has been offered regular playing time in a more competitive league by Los Albicelestes.

  "I still have the feeling that we can reach an agreement. We will make an effort to keep Antonito here, within the parameters," Malaga sporting director Loren Juarros said in September.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Antonito faced the heat of the Malaga faithful at La Rosaleda over the weekend when he was brought on in the 79th minute against Cartagena. The teenager was welcomed on to the pitch with vicious boos and whistles from the home crowd. That could continue in the next few games if Antonito continues to evade a contract renewal at Malaga.

  As for Barcelona, they lost only their second LaLiga game of the season on Sunday, a narrow 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad in a game marred by VAR controversy. They will hope to preserve their six-point lead over Real Madrid when they visit Celta Vigo on November 23 after the international break.