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An interesting update has come to light on the future of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta, amid claims he is attracting serious interest from elite clubs ahead of the summer window.

West Ham facing battle to keep Paqueta

The Brazil international has been David Moyes' superstar player alongside winger Jarrod Bowen this season.

ExWHUemployee shares big David Moyes contract update out of West Ham

The Scotsman claimed last week that the offer of a new contract was on the table.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 1, 2024

Paqueta has started 20 league matches under Moyes this season, scoring two goals and netting five assists, with his dynamism and creative quality in abundance for all to see.

The former Lyon star was actually attracting huge interest from Man City last summer, who were pushing to sign him but eventually pulled out due to an investigation into Paqueta's alleged gambling breaches (Fabrizio Romano).

However, once that investigation clears, it is believed Paqueta could be subject to bids from City, Aston Villa, Arsenal and even Tottenham.

If West Ham and Moyes elect to continue their work together past this season, increasing interest in the South American will come as a real worry for the Irons head coach who surely won't want to lose him.

They already had to part company with fan favourite and former club captain Declan Rice last year, who made a £105 million move to London rivals Arsenal.

West Ham make Paqueta promise behind-the-scenes

According to journalist Dean Jones, sharing some background on their attempts to keep Paqueta at the London Stadium, West Ham are making promises to Paqueta behind-the-scenes as they try to thwart potential buyers.

“I don’t think that Aston Villa would be a bad move for Paqueta, to be honest. But, if he is going to leave West Ham, it's going to take something special in terms of what they are promising him for the future," said Jones to GiveMeSport.

Lucas Paqueta's best performances for West Ham in the league this season	Match Rating (via WhoScored)
West Ham 3-0 Wolves	8.88
West Ham 3-2 Nottingham Forest	8.20
Luton Town 2-3 West Ham	8.02
Burnley 1-2 West Ham	7.86
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham	7.79

“Considering his performances across the season, you could probably say that he is West Ham’s most important player in terms of making that team tick. Villa obviously have their work cut out in terms of signing him because I have heard that Manchester City are still interested in him and might have something to say about where he goes next.

“I can't believe for one second that Villa would be able to sign Paqueta without some competition from Manchester City. It's a tough deal to do – and probably expensive – but I think it is also a reflection of just where Villa are right now and where they're heading.”

It will be interesting to find out exactly what West Ham are "promising" Paqueta, but if they do have to sell, reports suggest West Ham could well bank £85 million if any club decides to trigger that buy-out clause in his contract.

Tottenham Hotspur made it back-to-back victories in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, avenging their November home defeat against Aston Villa with a sweeping win at Villa Park.

Spurs were aided by John McGinn's red card in the second half but the visitors had already soaked up the stadium's initially defeating atmosphere early and struck twice after the break

Unai Emery's Villans prodded for a route back into the contest but Tottenham controlled and commanded, with late strikes from Heung-min Son and substitute Timo Werner sealing an emphatic 4-0 victory to put hopes of returning to the top four in their own hands.

There were many impressive displays from Ange Postecoglou's side, with young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr proving his worth after being benched last weekend.

Pape Matar Sarr's performance vs Aston Villa

The game was level and, numerically, so were the teams. It was just five minutes after the interval following a first phase that just hadn't shifted into top, thrilling gear.

Sarr collected Kulusevski's pass and considered it a personal duty to make something happen, gliding up the right channel and whipping in a delightful cross, threaded right into the path of the surging James Maddison in the box.

The 21-year-old was withdrawn after 70 minutes with Tottenham 2-0 up, but after entering after the break against Crystal Palace, it's pretty clear that the Senegal international needs to start all of the biggest occasions henceforth.

Minutes played

70'

Assists

1

Touches

42

Accurate passes

30/36 (83%)

Key passes

1/1

Crosses

1/1

Interceptions

1

Ground duels won

1/3

Writing in his post-match player ratings, football.london's Alasdair Gold handed Sarr a healthy 8/10 score, saying: 'Picked up an unfortunate yellow card in the first half after slipping into Tielemans and took a big whack that saw him limp off at the break. He was excellent though after the interval and it was his drive and pinpoint cross that served up Maddison's opener.'

While many impressed, Sarr's energy and confidence emanates throughout the Spurs squad and he simply has to start if Tottenham are to achieve their goals over the next few months.

Not the only player to have caught the eye though, another fine display from Brennan Johnson surely now confirms that the Welshman must keep his starting berth going forward.

Why Brennan Johnson is now undroppable

Tottenham signed Johnson from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest for £47.5m last summer and he has impressed so far, racking up two assists off the bench against Crystal Palace and now firing his team into a 2-0 lead at Villa Park, moments after Maddison's opener.

As per Sofascore, the 22-year-old, who has been hailed for his "frightening pace" by content creator HLTCO, complemented his goal with success in four of his seven attempted dribbles, also chipping in with two tackles and winning seven of his 14 contested ground duels.

Moreover, Johnson has taken his Premier League tally for the Lilywhites up to four goals and six assists from just 21 appearances, including 14 starts, and while Werner scored for the second game running in the dying embers, off the bench, it's pretty clear that Johnson's starting to bloom and must be handed opportunities from the outset.

Gold also deemed Johnson deserving of an 8/10 match rating, writing: 'Bright from the start of the match, gave Villa plenty of problems with his pressing, dribbling and runs and he showed he's not just a super sub with a curling finish on the slide to double Tottenham's lead.'

Tottenham have so many options and it really is quite remarkable how Postecoglou is placing the framework of success at the club after such a torrid 2022/23 campaign, and with the likes of Sarr and Johnson rising to the fore, lofty ambitions might just be realised.

In January, Jurgen Klopp revealed that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, ending a glittering tenure at Anfield that has restored the club from a shadowed period.

In fairness, few supporters would contest that he reserves the right to dictate his future after such superlative work, and having rebuilt successfully with sweeping changes to the engine room last summer, the Merseyside outfit is in a fine place to start a new chapter with full focus on adding to the trophy cabinet and sustaining their position at the forefront of the Premier League.

Indeed, with the 2023/24 campaign now approaching the business end, Liverpool are at the summit of the top-flight, preparing for this weekend's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea and into the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Europa League's last 16.

It was indeed the centre of the park that was the crux of Liverpool's issues last term, with Klopp's self-branded heavy metal style of play no longer practicable, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho James Milner and co seemingly past their sell-by date.

Such stars, so important throughout the German manager's silver-laden era, were shipped on, and while this was the right decision for each, they did still play a part at the club.

The same, regrettably, cannot be said for Naby Keita, who also departed last June upon the expiry of his contract in what can only go down as a colossal failure of a signing once brimming with excitement and anticipation.

Liverpool's signing of Naby Keita

Back in August 2017, news broke that Liverpool had agreed a club-record deal with RB Leipzig to sign talented centre-midfielder Keita, with the transfer to be formalised after the 2017/18 campaign.

The Guinea international had a £48m release clause but Liverpool were willing to pay a premium to secure his services, winning the race despite a vested interest expressed by Barcelona.

It was a deal to send a frisson of excitement coursing through Merseyside, with former Reds manager even remarking that he saw comparisons between the dynamic star and iconic Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

His ubiquity in the midfield did bespeak an all-encompassing nature that drew such comparisons, having clinched 37 goals and 26 assists from 152 fixtures in Germany with Leipzig.

But, alas, he was branded a massive "disappointment" by former player Dietmar Hamann – words surely echoed by the Liverpool fanbase – after year upon year of injury problems and consequent poor form.

Naby Keita's Liverpool career

In total, Keita chalked up 129 appearances for Liverpool and posted 11 goals and seven assists, and while there were inevitable flashes of quality throughout his time in England, he came unstuck and never produced the full scope of his natural skill set.

Season

Apps

Starts

Goals

Assists

22/23

8

3

0

0

21/22

23

14

3

1

20/21

10

7

0

0

19/20

18

9

2

3

18/19

25

16

2

1

Never featuring from the outset more than 16 times in any one Premier League campaign, the 29-year-old quickly fell by the wayside and never regained his footing, winning much silverware at Anfield but offering contributions of inconsequential value.

Given that he earned a pretty penny at the club – £120k per week – it's hardly as if he didn't deplete FSG in all their frugality of their resources either.

His nightmare journey was indeed ended last summer and he closed the door on his Liverpool career and penned a deal with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, snapped up for free but suffering a similar fare overseas.

Naby Keita's season in numbers

Returning to Germany, Keita at least left Liverpool with an array of shiny prizes, and while the rigours of Premier League football could hardly have helped his case as he fought and failed for fitness, Werder Bremen presented a clean slate.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Of course, Keita had proved himself and then some on the German scene in the past and the slower pace theoretically hinted at more a fruitful career.

But the niggling woes that have eaten away at him are not easily rectified, and Keita's return to his erstwhile fluency is not something that will be easily restored, as if alchemised into something robust after taking leave of Klopp's high-octane set-up.

In fact, the diminutive ace has only featured three times for his current club, withdrawn before the hour mark on his lone starting berth, and yet to play since.

Only completing 69% of his passes that day, against Hoffenheim, Keita's ring rust was patently clear, losing all five of his contested duels and also being dribbled past.

While he's still only 29 years old, it will take a sustained run of competitive fixtures to bring him back to a semblance of his former level, and the likelihood of this is troublingly uncertain.

The worst part about the whole ordeal is that this is a player of elite talent, a midfielder of dynamic ability, catching the eye with his many-faceted strengths, stricken by ceaseless anatomical issues.

Keita was once described as a "world-class" footballer by his former Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk. His prowess was known to those around him, is known.

But unfortunately, the reality of his Anfield career is one of poignancy and wistfulness. He might have won the whole gamut of Liverpool's major silverware under Klopp's leadership, but he'd give a lot to rewind and start afresh, injury problems expunged.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has reunited with numerous former players since his appointment at Old Trafford in 2022. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, defender Lisandro Martinez and forward Antony have all signed for the Red Devils having played under Ten Hag at Ajax, while Sofyan Amrabat, has come in following time with the United boss at FC Utrecht.

This trend could yet continue, with the Premier League side in contention to sign Matthijs de Ligt if he's allowed to leave Bayern Munich this summer. Like Onana, De Ligt was part of the Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and was only denied a shot at glory by a dramatic late goal for Tottenham's Lucas Moura in Amsterdam.

Another member of that team was Frenkie de Jong, but he's been resistant to Ten Hag's efforts to bring him to Old Trafford to this point. United agreed to pay Barcelona £63m to sign him in 2022 and then had to convince the player to make the move. However, De Jong has been stubborn about a move to Manchester, saying that he intends to stay at Barcelona.

De Jong now makes U-turn on Barcelona stance

Now, however, it seems that the midfielder's stance may have changed. According to Spanish outlet Sport, De Jong would no longer "close the door to a possible exit" from Barcelona and will consider offers he receives this summer.

De Jong is currently the highest-paid player at the club after agreeing to defer some of his salary at the height of the pandemic, but Barcelona sporting director Deco has been trying to agree a new deal with a more manageable financial arrangement.

Up to this point, it's been "impossible" to reach an agreement, with Barca making "no progress" towards a renewal. As such, "there are doubts" over whether he'll stay at the club, putting United, Chelsea and PSG on red alert. They have already made it clear to the player's entourage that they're ready to sign him if he becomes available.

Barcelona need to sell a big player this summer to balance the books, but the decision will be left in the hands of the player. United and Chelsea are apparently willing to fork out £85m, while PSG are lurking in the background for the moment.

De Jong would be the perfect first signing for Ratcliffe

A new era is beginning at Manchester United this year, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking control of the sporting operation after buying a 25% stake in the club from the Glazers, and this would be the perfect blockbuster signing to kick things off.

Ratcliffe could blow Man Utd rival out the water to sign “sensational” star

Erik ten Hag is looking at a player who can operate in multiple midfield roles.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 10, 2024

De Jong is truly a footballing A-lister, having been named the Champions League midfielder of the season in 2019 and made the FIFPro World XI alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pos

Player

Club

GK

Alisson

Liverpool

DEF

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool

DEF

Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid

DEF

Matthijs de Ligt

Ajax/Juventus

DEF

Marcelo

Real Madrid

MID

Frenkie de Jong

Ajax/Barcelona

MID

Luka Modric

Real Madrid

FWD

Eden Hazard

Chelsea/Real Madrid

FWD

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

FWD

Cristiano Ronaldo

Juventus

FWD

Kylian Mbappe

PSG

Ten Hag has refused to give up on signing the 25-year-old, who's been dubbed "extraordinary" by current manager Xavi, and it suddenly looks like his persistence may just pay off in the months ahead.

Sergino Dest's move from Barcelona to PSV Eindhoven may not be dead and buried as all three parties consider two options to get a deal over the line.

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Dest out with serious knee injuryPSV opt out of €10m transferDeal may still be struck for Barca manWHAT HAPPENED?

The left-back spent last season on loan from Barca at PSV but his campaign was ended early by a serious knee injury – that may sideline him until 2025. The Dutch giants opted out of a £8.45 million (€10m/$10.7m) transfer for the 23-year-old, but Spanish publication Marca claim the two teams may 'share' the payment of the player's transfer, while he continues his rehab at the Eredivisie side, or his deal at Barcelona could be terminated.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report adds that the problem with the first option is Barcelona would have to assume the €4.2m amortization (£3.5m/$4.5m). The second option reportedly allows Barca to keep a percentage of a possible future sale

DID YOU KNOW?

Dest, who has one year left on his contract at Barcelona, scored two goals and bagged six assists in 25 league matches this season for PSV. Incidentally, it seems almost certain that his days at the Spanish club are over.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

While these transfer negotiations continue over the coming weeks, and possibly months, United States international Dest will continue his rehab, while his country play in the 2024 Copa America in their backyard.

Visitors trail by just 38 runs with five wickets in hand in first innings

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2019

David Payne bowls for Gloucestershire•Julian Herbert/Getty Images

Gloucestershire head into day two of their County Championship match against Durham just 38 runs behind the hosts after 15 wickets fell on day one at Chester-Le-Street.David Payne was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 40 as Durham were dismissed for just 158 in two sessions – Matt Taylor, Ryan Higgins and Josh Shaw taking two wickets apiece. Jack Burnham scored 43 and Ben Raine 42 in the only noteworthy impacts with the bat for Durham.Durham restricted Gloucestershire to 120 for 5 at the close of play, Matt Salisbury taking 3 for 18 with James Bracey the top scorer for the visitors so far with 35.In an opening spell of 8-3-11-3, Payne dismissed Durham captain Cameron Bancroft, Alex Lees and Gareth Harte in quick succession, after Ryan Higgins had trapped Ryan Pringle – making his first Championship appearance since 2017 – lbw for nine as Durham collapsed to 17 for 4.Liam Trevaskis and Jack Burnham began re-building the Durham innings before the former lofted a simple catch to Higgins at cover off the bowling of Matt Taylor at 31 for 5. Burnham and Ned Eckersely steadied things ahead of the lunch interval.Burnham and Eckersley resumed on 54 for 5 after lunch, but the latter fell soon after the interval as he misjudged a delivery by Ryan Higgins and was out lbw for 12.Burnham and Ben Raine picked up the scoring rate as the hosts passed 100. A partnership of 46 came to an end when Burnham edged Matt Taylor behind for 43. Brydon Carse came and went for a golden duck, tickling a Josh Shaw ball to Bracey with the score at 109 for 8.Raine picked up the scoring rate in tandem with Matt Salisbury, finally falling to Shaw for 42 – caught behind by Bracey. Salisbury advanced the score on to 158 before he was bowled by the returning Payne, who improved his figures to 4 for 40 from 19.4 overs.Chris Dent and Miles Hammond opened for Gloucestershire with a very watchful stand of 27, Hammond dropped by Pringle off the bowling of Ben Raine when on nine. He added just four more before Carse produced an in-swinging yorker to the left-handed Hammond – catching the back pad in front of leg stump.The introduction of Salisbury from the Finchale End proved fruitful as he produced a wonderful eight-over spell which saw the dismissals of Dent, Hankins and Roderick seaming and swinging the ball in both directions as Durham clawed themselves back into proceedings.But a partnership of 35 between Bracey and Benny Howell wrestled the initiative back for the visitors before the returning Chris Rushworth dismissed the former, caught behind by Eckersley for 35 – the score 102/5.Howell and night-watchmen Shaw dutifully saw out the remaining overs to leave the visitors well placed with Howell not out 27 and Shaw on eight.

حرص أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة على عقد اجتماع مع رؤساء 3 أندية شعبية، من أجل بحث حلول لزيادة الموارد المالية.

والتقى عصر اليوم أشرف صبحي برؤساء أندية الإسماعيلي نصر ابو الحسن والعميد محمد بسيوني رئيس نادي المنصورة وأسامة الموشي رئيس نادي منتخب السويس.

رسميًا | اتحاد اليد يعلن إلغاء قرار عدم مشاركة منتخب السيدات في بطولة إفريقيا

وجاء ذلك من أجل سبل زيادة الموارد المالية بتلك الأندية والبحث عن حلول غير تقليدية لزيادة الموارد المالية لها .

ونوه صبحي إلى دور وزارة الشباب والرياضة نحو تهيئة الأجواء والمناخ المناسب لتطوير واستقرار المنظومة الرياضية بصفة عامة والهيئات والأندية المصرية ذات الطابع الجماهيري بصفة خاصة والتي تتمتع بتاريخ كبير وذات شعبية جماهيرية كبيرة.

لأول مرة بعد رحيله عن المنتخب الأولمبي.. الحضري في مواجهة بركات لكشف تفاصيل الخلاف بينهما

وركز صبحي علي ضرورة ايجاد آليات وخطط نحو تطوير الموارد المالية داخل تلك الأندية خلال الفترات المقبلة والتي تسهم في تقدم واستمرارية تلك الأندية سواء على مستوي المنافسات الرياضية بمختلف الألعاب أو ما تقدمة تلك الأندية من الدور الاجتماعي الكبير للأسرة المصرية من خلال مشاركة تلك الأسر في الأنشطة الرياضية والثقافية والفنية والاجتماعية داخل تلك الأندية.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has fired a warning to his players ahead of a crucial clash against Real Sociedad as they chase Girona for second place.

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• Barcelona could finish season in third
• Xavi calls on players to avoid 'step backwards'
• Barcelona could retake second spot tonight

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Last week Barcelona fell 4-2 against Girona, who overtook the Catalan side in the La Liga table to take control of the fight for second place. Xavi, who recently made a U-turn on his decision to leave Barcelona this summer, has now called on his players to avoid finishing third and 'taking a step backwards'.

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• WHAT XAVI SAID

  Speaking to the media, Xavi said [via The Athletic]: “It would be a setback, a step backwards, if we don't get second place now. It's a vital match, there are four games left. It would mean a lot to us.

  “We have another chance to get second place due to Girona's draw. It's a great opportunity, we're playing at home against an opponent of an extraordinary level.

  “Imanol has been doing an incredible job for years. They generate a lot, they do a lot of things well because of him. A tough opponent who will surely make it very difficult for us.

  “We've been training well, the team is eager and ready to go.”

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Luckily for Barcelona, Girona dropped points on Saturday evening and have now afforded Xavi's men the chance to retake the second spot in the league with Real Madrid already having the league title by a massive margin over the two Catalan clubs. Michel Sanchez's team currently sit on 75 points, two ahead of Barcelona, who have a game in hand.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?

  The Catalan side will be in action later today when they take on Imanol Alguacil's Real Sociedad at home. A win would see them overtake Girona and hold a one-point lead over the surprise Champions League qualifiers.

Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne were both set for big scores with Labuschagne played an especially poor shot to be dismissed

Alex Malcolm23-Feb-2019Queensland batsman Charlie Hemphrey upstaged a handful of Ashes aspirants with an unbeaten 87 to put the Bulls in control on day one against Victoria at the Junction Oval.Hemphrey was one of the three Queensland batsmen to pass fifty, along with Test incumbents Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne, but he was the only one to press on from a promising start to bat for nearly two sessions to give the visitors the upper hand.Victoria’s attack was clearly rusty coming back from BBL duties, however the run-rate never got out of hand on a very flat pitch.ALSO READ: Sheffield Shield returns: the race for Ashes spotsQueensand had no hesitation in batting first on a slow surface after the coin toss fell their way then Burns and Matt Renshaw put on 67 for the first wicket. While Burns was incredibly fluent, rotating the strike with ease, Renshaw battled on his return to four-day cricket after the BBL. He was beaten six times in the first 12 overs, struggling to feel bat on ball.Renshaw did cash in on some bad deliveries striking four boundaries but the frugal bowling of Scott Boland squeezed him to breaking point on 29. He tried to reverse sweep the left-arm spin of Jon Holland, who was bowling around the wicket, and survived a close lbw shout with the ball pitching just outside leg stump. Next ball he played a conventional sweep and got a top edge to be caught at short fine leg.Burns looked set for a huge score, cruising to his fifth Shield half-century of the summer. But out of nowhere just after lunch he fended away from his body at a length ball from Boland and edged to Cameron White at second slip for 60.Labuschagne looked equally comfortable during a 90-run stand with Hemphrey. He reached his half-century just before tea but then suffered a brain fade facing the part-time offspin of Matt Short. In the last over before the interval he slog-swept the first ball for four over midwicket and paddle swept the second fine for another boundary. He then ran down the track to the third and inexplicably holed out to mid-on before putting his hands on his head in disbelief at what he had done.Hemphrey succeeded where Labuschagne failed, keeping his composure to bat through the last session. He did have some fortune playing and missing a number of times to the quicks and survived a big lbw appeal from Chris Tremain, but he collared the spin of Holland and Short with decisive footwork and controlled placement. He added 78 with Sam Heazlett who made a neat 46 but fell to the second new ball. Jimmy Pierson remained unbeaten with Hemphrey at the close.

MatériaMais Notícias

O burburinho nas redes sociais foi instantâneo quando o Flamengo divulgou a escalação para enfrentar o Palmeiras, com Willian Arão para iniciar um jogoimprovisado na zaga pela primeira vez. A aposta surtiu efeito e fez com que Rogério Ceni ampliasse o leque de opções no setor, o Calcanhar de Aquiles do clube na temporada. E a vitória por 2 a 0, na última noite, no Estádio Mané Garrincha e pela 31ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, ainda trouxe uma façanha rubro-negra na competição.

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Pela primeira vez no Brasileirão-2020, o Flamengo chegou a dois jogos consecutivos sem levar gols. O anterior havia sido também em um triunfo – contra o Goiás. Para o feito, Ceni iniciou com Arão ao lado de Rodrigo Caio, que saiu no primeiro tempo por conta de dores no adutor da coxa direita e que, nesta sexta, será reavaliado; Gustavo Henrique entrou e demonstrou segurança.

> ATUAÇÕES: Arão e Pepê se destacam na vitória do Fla sobre o Palmeiras

Sobre o Arão, Rogério Ceni fez questão de enaltecer o camisa 5, que, de acordo com o site “Sofascore.com”, acertou 94% dos passes (47/50), não foi driblado, não cometeu faltas e interceptou e cortou duas bolas do ataque palmeirense.

– Treinamos semana passada com ele nessa função, já fez isso meio tempo ou últimos 15 minutos. Hoje achei que encaixava melhor, esperava o Rony começando jogando, mas não foi. Nem ele nem Breno. Ele tem mais mobilidade, então achei que ele com Rodrigo Caio ficaria uma boa dupla. Mas onde quer que ele jogue é muito importante aqui – salientou Ceni.

E é ele, @willianarao, o nosso #CraqueDaTorcidaMRV de hoje. Parabéns!!! 👏❤️🖤#VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/YHLbjIS4B9

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) January 22, 2021

– Agradeço a todo elenco e ao Rogério, que me deu confiança. Tentei fazer o meu melhor e creio que pude contribuir – falou Arão.

Na entrevista coletiva, o técnico também enalteceu o fato de o Fla conseguir passar duas partidas seguidas sem ser vazado:

– Acho que esses dois jogos sem sofrer gols são importantes. Agora, os resultados são importantes porque enverdeciam o trabalho que temos feito. Aqui temos em mente de fazer o melhor para o Flamengo, para o torcedor. Estamos trabalhando para ter o melhor para o clube.

SEQUÊNCIA E TABELA DO FLAMENGO

Ainda é cedo para saber se Rodrigo Caio terá condições de jogar no domingo, quando o Flamengo visitará o Athletico-PR. Pode ser que Willian Arão inicie com Gustavo Henrique na zaga, o que seria uma dupla inédita para começar um jogo e a oitava diferente do grupo principal do Fla na temporada.

> Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Independente de quem jogar, o Flamengo poderá ficar a um ponto da liderança neste fim de semana. Agora com 55 pontos, na terceira colocação e a quatro do Internacional, o líder, o clube carioca enfrenta o Athletico às 16h de domingo, na Arena da Baixada, no terceiro de cinco jogos consecutivos fora do Rio.