Erik ten Hag said it was “unacceptable” for Cristiano Ronaldo and other Manchester United players to leave Old Trafford before the end of Sunday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
After taking a strong team to Oslo to face Atletico Madrid on Saturday, United wrapped up their pre-season preparations against another Spanish side the following day.
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United drew 1-1 with Rayo at Old Trafford as star man Ronaldo made his first appearance of pre-season, playing the first 45 minutes.
The 37-year-old missed the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to a family issue, and the wantaway forward was pictured with Diogo Dalot leaving Sunday’s game before full-time.
Ten Hag did not speak to the media after the match but has now expressed his annoyance to broadcaster Viaplay.
“There were many more (as well as Ronaldo) who went home,” the United boss said. “This is unacceptable for everyone,” he said. “I tell them that it’s unacceptable, that we are a team, a squad and that you should stay until the end.”
Ten Hag will take charge of his first competitive match as United manager on Sunday, when they face Brighton at home in the Premier League.
It comes a week after Ronaldo returned to training for talks with the coach about his future at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo, who missed the club’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia for personal reasons, wants to leave the club he rejoined last year.
I have arrived at United’s Carrington training base with his agent Jorge Mendes. Former United manager Alex Ferguson was also seen arriving.
New United manager Ten Hag said earlier this month that Ronaldo was “not for sale”.
“We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that’s it and I’m looking forward to working with him,” he said.
“I have read it, but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale, he is in our plans and we want success together.” The former Real Madrid and Juventus player finished as United’s topscorer last season with 24 goals.
But the campaign was a huge disappointment for the club, who finished sixth in the Premier League, missing out on Champions League qualification.
Fallen AFL agent Ricky Nixon has urged his supporters to chase Channel 9 journalist Seb Costello down the street as payback after he was ambushed by the reporter.
Costello, 35, confronted Nixon about his latest questionable business venture, which led to the A Current Affair reporter copping an elbow to the head and saying he would be reporting to police.
But Costello himself is set to front court over an unconnected incident after he was charged this week with two counts of unlawful assault – with his alleged victims breaking their silence on Thursday.
Melbourne siblings Finn, 23, and Xanthe, 22, allege Costello confronted them after they had mistakenly blocked off access to his driveway.
Xanthe’s partner was waiting in the parked car, blocking the laneway off Boyd Street, Richmond on February 11 while the brother and sister were in their house nearby.
A Current Affair Reporter Seb Costello (pictured) claims he was interviewing Ricky Nixon when he copped an elbow to the jaw – but he himself has been charged with assault
The brother and sister spoke to The Herald Sun, alleging Costello walked up their steps and yelled at them and, when they were apologetic, he turned more aggressive.
‘I had to put my hand out on to his chest to stop him from pressing up against me,’ Xanthe said.
She claimed she needed to step back inside her house to regain her balance because she had moved up to the top step in front of her and that only when Finn said he would call the police did he back off.
They also allege Costello let fly with another tirade at Xanthe’s partner in the car as he walked off.
Costello, who works for A Current Affair, said he was on ‘compassionate leave’ when the argument occurred because his grandmother had died.
He said the ‘disagreement’ was minor and that he remained on the lower step and did not threaten or assault anyone.
The siblings disagree and said they were ‘disappointed’ that he acted so ‘angry’ and ‘entitled’ over the public laneway being blocked.
Costello is set to front Collingwood’s Neighborhood Justice Center on September 28.
Nixon said his fans should wait for Mr Costello outside court to give him a taste of his own medicine (pictured)
Costello made headlines himself just last week after he was allegedly elbowed by disgraced former player agent Ricky Nixon (pictured)
Just last week, Costello was looking at pressing his own assault charges after an altercation with former AFL player and prominent footy agent Ricky Nixon.
He had confronted him for an ACA segment about the latest health business he was running, a service that offers $350 intravenous infusion treatments for those who ‘want a totally revitalized life and feel’.
The venture was slammed by the Australian Medical Association Victoria president Roderick McRae.
The ex-footy player and disgraced agent had also launched an ‘ambulance’ to provide mobile health services during the Covid pandemic.
Costello could possibly have used an ambulance himself after he confronted Nixon on Bay Street in Port Melbourne about his businesses.
‘I’ll be careful how I characterize it, but in the process of speaking with Mr Nixon his elbow has made contact with my jaw… I think it’s fair to say I didn’t headbutt somebody’s elbow,’ Mr Costello told 3AW .
He eventually decided not to press charges, with Victoria Police confirming on Wednesday afternoon their investigation was completed after they received a ‘no complaint’ statement.
Nixon seemed particularly pleased when he heard of the assault charges against Costello, who is the son of former Treasurer and Nine Chairman Peter Costello.
‘Winner winner chicken dinner,’ he captioned a link to the story on Facebook, referring to his nickname.
Saint Kilda School girl Kim Ametoglou (pictured) brought Ricky Nixon down in 2011 in the first of many scandals
Nixon had previously tried his hand at stand up comedy with a routine called ‘Chicken Train’ at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2013.
The post received hundreds of comments from supporters with one suggesting a ‘Chicken Vs Costello’ boxing match would be a ‘promoter’s dream’.
‘Should get all the Chicken fans to wait outside court and chase him (Costello) down the street,’ another said.
To which Nixon replied: ‘Great idea’.
Nixon was once one of the top AFL agents and possibly sports agents in the country.
His ‘Flying Start’ agency helped manage the careers of stars such as Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt, and Wayne Carey.
His agency collapsed in 2011 when pictures of him in his underwear allegedly inside the hotel room of a 17-year-old girl were leaked.
He subsequently fled to England and when he returned he sold his agency amid a loss of accreditation by the AFL and a number of assault and traffic charges leveled against him by police.
Nixon has attempted to re-invent himself as a man who cares for the community but his ‘ambulance’ businesses have been questioned by health officials
The exact reason Newcastle had to stand down fiery prop David Klemmer this week has been revealed.
NRL fans were shocked on Tuesday when Klemmer’s named did not appear on the Knights’ teamsheet for round 21.
The bombshell came a day after reports emerged the Eels had tried to snatch the former Origin prop before the August 1 trade deadline.
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A Knights statement later revealed Klemmer had been stood down and handed a breach notice for disciplinary reasons. Those reasons were later revealed to be him refusing to leave the field during Sunday’s loss to the Bulldogs, and swearing at club trainer Hayden Knowles.
David Klemmer (Getty)
A plethora of rugby league greats have questioned why a club would ax a player for that offence, which they say happens multiple times a game.
But the Sydney Morning Herald has now revealed why Knights coach Adam O’Brien had no choice but to stand his star forward down.
The Knights are owned by Wests Group, and Knowles reportedly made an official HR complaint to the business about the language used by Klemmer towards him during the game.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now
As per the company policy, HR required Klemmer to be stood down from duties until the matter was resolved.
The Herald says Klemmer should be back to regular duties as soon as Friday, although he won’t be able to take the field this weekend.
Earlier, Herald journalist Christian Nicolussi revealed the Tigers have hosed down reports of a swap deal for Klemmer.
Rumors circulated the prop could head to Concord in exchange for Tigers halfback Luke Brooks, who tried to join the Knights last off-season.
Incoming Tigers coach Tim Sheens denied a trade was in the works.
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CARLTON’S extended squad of 26 has six new faces in it from last weekend.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brisbane at the Gabba, it was already confirmed that the Blues would be without Matthew Kennedy (concussion/jaw) and Nic Newman (knee). Lachie Plowman has been omitted.
Coming into the extended squad are Paddy Dow, Lachie Fogarty, Brodie Kemp, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin and Jack Newnes, with their spot in the team to be confirmed tomorrow evening at 5pm when the squad is reduced to the 22.
Corey Durdin has been named in the extended squad, after his shoulder progressed well since earlier in the week. He is now available to train tomorrow and will be a test to play on Sunday based on how he gets through the session.
Should either of Marchbank or Newnes be selected, the pair will celebrate respective milestones: Marchbank’s 50th career game, or Newnes’ 50th in Navy Blue.
There will be one guaranteed milestone for the Blues on the weekend, with Adam Saad scheduled to play his 150th career game. After starting his career on the Gold Coast before moving to Essendon, it will be a big day for the rebounding Blue this weekend in a season already littered with personal highlights.
This week will also mark Carlton’s annual Back Our ‘Baggers game, which is partnered by Hyundai and will also be reflected on the Guernseys of the Brisbane Lions this week. For the 26 people who have been assigned to Guernsey this weekend, you can see your name below!
Sunday’s game begins at 3:20 p.m. from the Gabba.
Round 21 squad v Brisbane
Backs:
adam saad (Turkish R)
Lewis Young (B Monks-Hamilton)
sam docherty (D Stevenson)
Half backs:
Caleb Marchbank (M Barber)
Jacob Weitering (to Mountney)
Mitch McGovern (R Thornbury)
Centreline:
Matthew Cottrell (B Bergersen)
patrick cripps (T Kurtboganoglu)
adam cerra (G Cooper)
Half-forwards:
Lochie O’Brien (L Reeve)
Harry McKay (J Romeo)
matthew owies (P Pike)
forwards:
Jesse Motlop (K. Hibberd)
charlie currow (E Denning)
Jack Silvagni (T Bonus)
followers:
Marc Pittonet (J Williamson)
Sam Walsh (K Field)
Zac Fisher (R.Anderson)
Exchange from:
Tom DeKoning (H Beavis)
Paddy Dow (G Spider)
corey durdin (T Russo)
Lachie Fogarty (R Sabri)
Brodie Kemp (K.Healy)
Jack Martin (To Weir)
Jack Newness (S Adamthwaite)
Will Setterfield (C Pires)
In: Paddy Dow, Lachie Fogarty, Brodie Kemp, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Jack Newnes
Out: Matthew Kennedy (concussion/jaw), Nic Newman (knee), Lachie Plowman
Jhaniele Fowler led the way as Jamaica defeated Australia in a stunning 57-55 upset, beating netball’s No 1-ranked side to take top spot in their Commonwealth Games pool.
Down by six goals heading into the last quarter, the Sunshine Girls came storming back before a raucous crowd at Arena Birmingham. Fowler, a four-time Super Netball MVP with West Coast Fever in Australia, proved unstoppable, scoring 47 goals from 50 attempts.
Australia’s two-pronged attack of Gretel Bueta (36 from 39) and Steph Wood (19 from 22) did all they could to get Australia home, but costly turnovers ultimately led the Diamonds to an unexpected defeat.
The pre-tournament favorites to win the gold medal will now face the winner of Thursday’s final preliminary match between England and New Zealand in a blockbuster semi-final. Jamaica will take on the losing side, with the winners of the two games progressing to the gold medal match.
“It’s surreal, we’ve not beaten Australia at a Commonwealth Games and to come here and do it with an incredible team, just go out there and prove everyone wrong was really good,” Fowler said afterwards.
“Australia is No 1 and if we beat the No 1 team, that means we can do anything,” she added. “We want to go home with either a gold or a silver medal, but we’re going for the gold, that’s always been our focus.”
Steph Wood reacts as Jamaica set up another chance to score. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
“We probably let ourselves down with some execution stuff in that last quarter,” Diamonds center Kate Moloney said. “Up until three-quarter time, up by six goals – credit to Jamaica but we probably should have been able to run that one out. [But] when they’ve got weapons like they do… you never really have it.”
Jamaica’s gameplan was evident from the outset, get the ball to Fowler early and often. It turned the center third into a battleground as players hit the deck on numerous occasions. Jamaica jumped out to a 7-3 lead but Australia hit back, Bueta matching Fowler’s 10 first-quarter goals as they took a one-goal lead to the first break.
Australia started imposing themselves in the second quarter as they opened up 27-23 lead, but to the delight of the crowd, Jamaica stormed home to get within one at the long break. The third quarter was all Australia as they jumped out to a six-goal lead before Jamaica’s late surge.
Aussie flyweight boxer Alex Winwood has been robbed of a chance to claim a Commonwealth Games medal after the referee inexplicably waved the fight off following an early second round knockdown.
Fighting in the quarterfinals against Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba, Winwood had won the first round on four of the five judges cards.
But 15 seconds into the second round, Chinyemba landed a huge one-two which left the Aussie on the canvas.
Winwood leapt straight back to his feet and headed for the corner. Although he didn’t stumble and seemed fine, the referee waved the fight off after counting to just three.
Channel 7 commentator Jon Harker was baffled by the quick decision.
“Oh no, hang on — she has waved it away already,” he said. “I find that impossible to believe. Absolutely impossible to believe.”
Tokyo bronze medalist turned professional boxer Harry Garside added: “It’s heartbreaking for Alex.”
Harker continued: “She didn’t give him a chance to get up, she was waving it away before he got to his feet. And look at the way he is walking, not a problem whatsoever.”
“That fight should not have been stopped. I’m not saying he was going to go on and win, who knows? But that is not a stoppage.”
Garside responded: “Yeah, no way known is that a stoppage. You got to give him time to get up and do the eight-count and then look into his eyes from him.”
“… And look at him and see whether he walks forward, see whether he wants to continue, see whether he wants to continue, see whether his legs are clear. That’s an outrage,” Harker finished.
It was a moment that shocked everyone, including the fighters.
The look on Winwood’s face said it all, while Chinyemba had walked to a neutral corner and looked ready to continue.
Chinyemba had defeated Winwood in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics last year as well.
Despite his shock, Winwood went to congratulate Chinyemba and his corner for the win and was respectful when speaking after the fight.
“I think it was a pretty fast call,” Winwood said on Channel 7.
“There’s been a lot of quick stoppages in this tournament, but you know, I won the first round, and I felt like I won it quite clearly. And I wasn’t hurt previously. Nor was I punched quite significantly.
“I just really wanted to have a shot and prove for myself, after going down. I know what I’m made of, I wanted to show Australia and the world what Australians are made of, we have a dig and once I got up, that was the first thing on my mind. I was like ‘okay, I went down but here is for the Aussies, here is for the black fellas, we are going to show them what we are made of’.
“Obviously I didn’t get an opportunity to do that, but it is what it is.”
Winwood said he had been training with the Andrew and Jason Moloney in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and that he “felt like I was a more complete fighter than at Tokyo”.
But at 25, he’s going to move into the professional realm rather than to focus on getting through to the Paris Olympics.
Despite holding it together throughout his interview and the in-ring debacle, the proud Noongar man’s voice broke when he spoke directly to those at home.
“Thank you, thank you Australia, you mean so much to me, from the bottom of my heart, as an Indigenous Australian I love you all — up the Aussies. Thanks mate,” Winwood said.
Garside told Seven the post-fight interview from Winwood “gave me shivers.”
“It’s always sad after a decision like that,” he said. “He wasn’t hurt. He did turn his back on him, so I do give the referee a bit of empathy there, but I think you’ve got to wait until the opponent gets up.
“Until Alex gets up and then give him eight seconds and look into his eyes and see where his legs are, if he is moving around. She waves it off way too prematurely.
“I’m a firm believer she did the wrong decision there. She could have given Alex eight seconds to recover, he looked fine. He was surprised. He was totally fine and you’ve got to look into the fighter’s eyes, that’s where you’ll see if he is dazed or rocked. It’s always in the eyes. She didn’t get a chance to do that.”
Visiting the beer capital of Belgium at least provided Rangers fans with the means to soothe their sorrows.
A performance as flat as a day-old pint hasn’t completely ended hope of reaching the Champions League for the first time since 2010. But, my goodness, something much more potent will be required from Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his players if they are to turn the tie around at Ibrox next Tuesday evening.
Uncertain at the back and timid in attack, this had a completely different feel to the barnstorming displays that took Rangers all the way to last season’s Europa League final.
Seventy-six days on from Seville, a damaging false start was produced in the bid to secure a £40million group stage windfall.
Union St Gilloise’s Teddu Teuma scores the opener in their 2-0 win over Rangers on Tuesday
First-leg defeat leaves Gers facing an uphill battle in their bid to qualify for Champions League
MATCH FACTS
UNION ST-GILLOISE: (3-5-2) You die; Sykes, Burgess, Van Der Heyden; Nieuwkoop, Lynen, Teuma (Gates 90+2), Lazare Amani, Lapoussin; Adingra (Ilyes 85), Vanzeir (Francois 90+2)
Subs not used: Imbrechts (GK), Pirard (GK); Boone, Dony, El Azzouzi, Huygevelde, Machida
Subs not used: McCrorie (GK), McGregor (GK); Arfield, Davis, Devine, King, Sakala
goals: None
Bookings: Sands (40), Goldson (75), Davies (79), Lawrence (90+2)
Coach: Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Referee: Irfan Peljto (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Venue: Joseph Marien Stadium (Belgium)
True, there was ill fortune in the ridiculously harsh handball penalty awarded against Connor Goldson following a VAR check.
But no-one could truly dispute Union Saint-Gilloise merited a two-goal first leg lead on the overall balance of play. The Belgians had numerous chances to inflict further pain.
Their opening goal, netted by Teddy Teuma midway through the first half, was dismal from a Rangers perspective. Weak defending preceded a weak attempt at a save by Jon McLaughlin.
The goalkeeper went some way too redeeming himself with a clutch of subsequent stops as Union carved their way through time after time.
This wasn’t even a proper home match for last season’s Jupiler Pro League runners-up. Union’s Stade Joseph Marien is something of a museum piece and doesn’t meet UEFA standards, hence the switch half an hour east to the UH Lueven’s Den Dreef Stadion.
Leuven is the base for numerous breweries, including a vast facility producing gallon upon gallon of Stella Artois. Reassuringly expensive was the old marketing phrase they used.
And the cost of failure here could be very high for Rangers in terms of letting slip a chance to grasp transformative revenue.
Tuesday’s play-off round draw confirmed the winners of this tie will meet either Monaco or PSV Eindhoven for a spot among the elite.
Van Bronckhorst can’t think that far, though.
Operating with a back three here simply didn’t work.
A different plan, and much more punch, will have to be summoned if Ibrox is to stage another great European night next week and not a bitter disappointment to match the loss to Malmo 12 months ago.
Teuma’s (left) first-half strike gives Union Saint-Gilloise into the lead on Tuesday evening
Teuma’s shot is too much for Rangers goalkeeper to handle, as the hosts take a first-half lead
Teuma celebrates breaking the deadlock for Union in the third qualifying round clash
The absences of Ryan Kent and John Souttar from the traveling party meant Van Bronckhorst was certain to make changes from Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win over Livingston. In the end, there were four. And a switch of formation.
Tom Lawrence and Scott Wright also dropped out, with James Sands, Ryan Jack, Rabbi Matondo and Malik Tillman promoted.
This is the first time Union have played in a continental competition since the pre-UEFA accredited days of the Fairs Cup, yet the ground was maybe only three-quarters full by time of kick-off arrived on a stickily warm evening.
Coping with events on the pitch was, of course, far more significant for Rangers. In that regard, first impressions were disappointing. They actually settled quicker.
With John Lundstram and Sands flanking Goldson at the back, Van Bronckhorst’s men established an early grip of possession against rather edgy-looking hosts.
When Siebe Van der Heyden caught Antonio Colak just outside the area, the angle demanded Borna Barisic step up. He sent the free-kick spinning towards the near post, forcing Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris to punch clear.
Dante Vanzeir (centre) doubled the lead for Union from the penalty spot in the second half
Vanzeir stepped up and calmly converted the penalty in the 76th minute of the game
Vanzeir coolly sent McLaughlin the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-0 on the night
Sands then tested Moris with a crisp, left-footed strike from distance as Union tooled to find a foothold. One was soon located, though. And from there they climbed powerfully upwards.
A first hint of danger to the visiting defense came when Loic Lapoussin’s firm hit was blocked by Lundstram. Then Lazare Amani nutmegged Barisic on a surge down the right flank before sliding over a dangerous cross that was anxiously cleared.
Firmer evasive action arrived when Sands made a brilliant challenge on Dante Vanzeir to prevent the Belgium cap netting from a Simon Adingra delivery. Lapoussin had a slid a through-ball inside Lundstram to set up the opportunity. Union were on the march.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute. Aided, it must be said, by some distinctly flimsy resistance inside the Rangers area.
Jack lost a battle of wills against rival No 8 Amani, with Barisic then unable to do enough to prevent the ball being laid into the path of Teuma. His strike from him took a nick off the heel of Goldson but he still seemed to beat McLaughlin a little too easily. Shoddy stuff all round.
Just as at Livingston, Rangers were behind to a poor concession. And, once again, there was no appreciable response prior to the interval.
Rangers’ Antonio Colak buries his head into his shirt after the visitors go 2-0 down
That might have been different had Colak not lost his bearings. Tillman’s cross towards him was good but the Croatian failed to make any contact with his head. A glaring opportunity was lost.
Union very nearly exact severe punishment. Not for the first time, the Belgians were able to exploit Barisic’s area and tee up a chance. Lapoussin would have made it 2-0 but for a terrific challenge by Tavernier. The Rangers captain looked accusingly to his left of him as another mini-inquest kicked off.
Staid when advancing, the Premiership runners-up were rattled in retreat. That impression was confirmed when Sands collected a booking for clattering Amani near the halfway line.
Van Bronckhorst resisted any substitutions at the interval. And the flow of the match remained firmly towards McLaughlin.
Lapoussin headed over from Bart Nieuwkoop’s cross before the Dutch full-back clipped the outside of the post from Amani’s cutback.
On 67 minutes, the Ibrox boss turned to the introduction of £9m worth of summer business. On came Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies, off went Barisic and Jack. Lundstram stepped forward into midfield.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men face an uphill battle in qualifying for the Champions League
It didn’t make enough of a difference. McLaughlin denied Lapoussin at the near post and parried a follow-up from Vanzeir. When Teuma’s drive then came off Goldson, it led to a lengthy VAR consideration by Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto.
Given that the ball had taken a little deflection before striking Goldson’s arm at point-blank range, the award of a penalty seemed nonsensical. But Peljto had made up his mind. And Vanzeir coolly felt McLaughlin the wrong way from the spot.
The Ibrox goalkeeper then saved from the same player as he broke away looking for a third. If Rangers are going to get out of this month, that might yet provide a critical moment.
Premier League great Mark Schwarzer believes it’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo to part ways with Manchester United, amid the constant speculation about the disgruntled stars future.
Ronaldo appears to be heading towards an ugly exit from Manchester United after he missed the clubs pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia last month.
It’s believed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is chasing a transfer away from the Red Devils after they failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.
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While Ronaldo did return to Manchester United’s match day squad for a pre-season clash with Spanish club Rayo Vallecano on Monday (AEST), he was subbed off at halftime.
After storming out of Old Trafford with 10 minutes to play in that match, manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to bench the star striker for their Premier League season opener on Sunday.
It was an act that had Hag branded as “unacceptable” as the Dutchman looks to assert his authority.
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Schwarzer said that while both the club and ten Hag have done well to manage the recent drama and speculation, it might be time to find Ronaldo a deal with another club.
“It’s time for him to move on. I still think he could add something to Manchester United but I don’t see him as a week-in week-out starter and that’s obviously what he demanded last season,” Schwarzer said on the Gegen Pod.
“He was their leading goal scorer, he was the player that got them out of more trouble than anyone else. I kind of understand it. But now you’re talking about building a side.
“For Cristiano Ronaldo, we all know he’s running out of time. He wants to win trophies, he wants to win things, he wants to win another Ballon d’Or for sure, (but I) don’t think that’s going to happen.
“I reckon it’d be amazing if he went to Atletico Madrid… there’s massive resistance from fans and some people from within the club.”
European giants including Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have all reportedly turned down the chance to sign the 37-year-old.
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He has also been linked with a stunning return to his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, who have qualified for this year’s Champions’ League group stage.
Another player under pressure in Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who was recently warned about his underwhelming form with the Premier League champions last season.
Former Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT that Grealish could leave the Etihad and “end up back at Villa” if the £100m player doesn’t improve.
Schwarzer, who is widely considered to be a Premier League legend, doesn’t think that the 26-year-old has lived up to the expectation believed of him when he signed for City.
“I think he’s a million miles away from even the player he was at Aston Villa,” he added.
“He’s an interesting one. His relationship with Erling Haaland, how that’s going to develop, how that’s gonna flourish. We talk about big signings and I think Haaland, Darwin Nunez, these guys they will fit in, they will score goals.
“It will be a battle of who will finish top at the end of the season, I’ve got no doubt.”
The Premier League kicks off with a match between Crystal Palace and Champions League hopefuls Arsenal at Selhurst Park.
Manchester United don’t get their season underway until 11pm on Sunday against Brighton at Old Trafford.
Draft explainer: How clubs will recruit overseas stars in BBL|12
The inaugural BBL Draft pool has swelled to 169 players from 15 countries following the latest drop of nominations, with Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman and South African Imran Tahir headlining a spin-heavy list.
Players from Afghanistan – including cult hero wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad – through to Zimbabwe stars Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza are covered in the latest release of 71 players, with nominations closing on August 21.
Hopefuls from Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, the UAE and the USA have all put their names forward in the latest batch, with clubs facing the prospect of a mountain of careful research to find the best fit.
Every Mujeeb wicket BBL|08 – BBL|11
And Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who was Australia’s destroyer with 12 scalps in Galle on his Test debut last month, headlines a group of players from the island nation that also includes keeper Dinesh Chandimal and mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
A journeyman spinner who bolted in for a Test debut after Covid racked the Sri Lankans’ spin stocks, the 30-year-old Jayasuriya found Australian batters to his liking and his match figures of 12-177 were the fourth best by a Test debutant.
If drafted, it would be Jayasuriya’s first T20 experience outside Sri Lanka, where he’s taken 73 wickets in 56 domestic games across the past 10 years.
If enigmatic Afghan keeper-batter Shahzad were to be drafted, he could light up the BBL. Big hitting and with an even bigger personality, Shahzad once deadpanned “I love playing Dale Steyn, because Dale Steyn is not dangerous” and after leading his nation to a win over the West Indies at the 2016 T20 World Cup became a social media star with his own version of the ‘Champion’ dance.
His trademark is an emphatic and disdainful dismantling of the stumps when affecting a stumping or run out, and carved out a very niche slice of history in a 2017 T20 tournament for associate nations by becoming the first man to hit two T20 international fifties on the same day.
Shahzad’s desert storm nets new world record
Six players announced today are eligible for retention by their club, including Mujeeb, who is the Brisbane Heat’s most capped overseas player with 37 appearances and as many wickets across the past four seasons.
Fellow Afghan players Mohammad Nabi and Zahir Khan have both nominated and are eligible for retention by the Melbourne Renegades, who appear in desperate need of a high-quality spinner following the club’s decision to let Cameron Boyce go.
Nabi has been a fan favorite at the club, but his returns dropped off significantly in BBL|11 and the club may be tempted to look elsewhere.
Nepal’s sole representative in the draft will be Big Bash regular Sandeep Lamichhane, who is eligible for retention by the Hobart Hurricanes.
Englishman Tom Lammonby (Hurricanes) and USA-based Indian Unmukt Chand (Renegades) are also eligible for retention but in a rich draft pool may struggle to secure a return to the competition.
All of Sandeep Lamichhane’s wickets from BBL|08 to BBL|11
The decision of South Africa veteran Tahir to nominate will pique the interest of clubs, although the 43-year-old, who sits fourth on T20 cricket’s all-time wicket-taker’s list with 451 scalps, is unlikely to play the full season with a new tournament starting in his home nation in the new year.
Players are required to set their availability when nominating for the draft, but that detail won’t be publicly confirmed by the League until after nominations close, at which point League officials will also reveal which players have been elevated to the top-ranked and highest -earning Platinum status.
Four players with BBL experience have nominated for a return to the competition, including Englishmen Joe Denly and Dan Lawrence, ex-Renegades Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad, and veteran West Indies quick Fidel Edwards, who last featured in the competition with the Sydney Thunder in BBL |01.
Ashes quick Craig Overton and his twin brother Jamie, who recently made his Test debut, have both nominated, while big-hitting Irish allrounder Paul Stirling could well be that nation’s first representative to earn a BBL deal, having last month hit a one-day century against New Zealand alongside Harry Tector, who has also nominated.
Ireland allrounder Curtis Campher, who took four wickets in as many deliveries against the Dutch at last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, has also been nominated for the draft.
Unreal! Irish Campher snares four wickets in four balls
Latest BBL|12 Draft nominations
Afghanistan
Noor Ahmad, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shafiqullah Ghafari, Hamid Hassan, Zahir Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Waqar Salamkheil, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Shahzad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Bangladeshi
Al-amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Ripon Mondol
England
Kashif Ali, Tom Alsop, Jacob Bethell, Patrick Brown, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Joe Denly, Adam Hose, Tom Lammonby, Dan Lawrence, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Nathan Sowter, Mitchell Stanley, Cameron Steel, Callum Taylor, Jack Taylor Paul Walter
Ireland
Mark Adair, Andy Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delaney, Josh Little, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector
Nepal
Sandeep Lamichane
netherlands
Brandon Glover, Fred Klaassen, Roelof Van Der Merwe, Paul Van Meekeren
Scotland
Michael JonesMark Watt
south africa
Chris Benjamin, Shane Dadswell, Pieter Malan, Migael Pretorius, Imran Tahir, Dane Vilas
Daniel Ricciardo is eagerly anticipating the month-long break between the Hungarian and Belgian grands prix after a disappointing start to his second season at McLaren.
After finishing 15th in Hungary, a lap down after collecting a five-second time penalty for colliding with Lance Stroll, the McLaren driver Ricciardo said he was “so happy to have a break.”
He goes into the summer break having contributed just 19 of the 95 points McLaren has scored over the opening 13 races. He admitted it was “not the six months I wanted” and was looking forward to relaxing over the four-week August rest period.
“I need it,” said Ricciardo after Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. “More so because it hasn’t been a good six months.
“But even if the season was going awesome, I think a break is still nice, just to get away. F1 these days, it’s intense. Even the hotels, they’re full of people and these kind of weekends are just so full-on that I think just getting away from the circus for a few weeks is going to be really nice.”
Ricciardo splits his time during the season between the United Kingdom where McLaren is based and his property in the USA, and usually visits his home country during the off-season.
“To be honest, switching normally gives me a natural reset to a point where I imagine, say 10 days, two weeks into the break, I would have kind of got the holiday out of my system, and then I’ll build that hunger back again.
“I kind of unnaturally think about it after getting time off. That’s normally how it works for me. Again, go out, be with friends, drink some beers, have fun. And then I’ll feel like I’ll get to the point where I start to feel, not guilty but just like ‘alright, time to turn it on again’. Then it’s kind of a natural switch that’ll come back in, probably after 14 days.”
Last month Ricciardo firmly rejected speculation he could find lose his McLaren drive a year early. He is currently in the second season of a three-year deal to drive for the team, but apart from a surprise win at Monza last year the expected results have largely failed to materialize.
Meanwhile Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri yesterday surprisingly rejected his team’s claim he will race from them next year. His manager Mark Webber is rumored to be looking at placing him elsewhere, and McLaren would be an appealing option if a place can be found for him.
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