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Christian Pulisic has revealed what “changed my career around”, with the USMNT star reflecting on his decision to leave Chelsea for AC Milan.

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Spent four years at Stamford BridgeLeft for San Siro in summer of 2023Has become a key man for RossoneriFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite becoming a history-making Champions League winner at Stamford Bridge, the United States international made a brave career call in the summer of 2023 when swapping life in west London for that in northern Italy.

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Pulisic adapted quickly to a new country and culture, with a personal-best return of 15 goals recorded across his debut campaign at San Siro. The 26-year-old forward has become a talismanic presence for the Rossoneri, with a spark being rekindled that had been in danger of fizzling out.

WHAT PULISIC SAID

Pulisic has told the YouTube channel of becoming the best version of himself in Milan: "I’m loving Italy, Italy has been… dude it has changed my career around. Just the club as well, Milan has been just so enjoyable.

"The fans, the stadium… you guys got to get out to San Siro. Our stadium is just… I’ve never seen anything like it man. I live right by Lake Como, Milan, everything’s right there, Switzerland. You’re close to everything."

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Pulisic, who has a further six goals to his name this season, is tied to a contract through to 2027 – with there already talk of those terms being extended. He has returned to Europe early from the latest USMNT camp and will be hoping to star for Milan in Serie A again when they play host to Udinese on Saturday.

After falling agonisingly short in both the Scottish Premiership and cup, Rangers will use the transfer window to bolster Philippe Clement's squad and attempt to close the gap with their closest rivals.

Clement wants to use summer to close gap on rivals

The most recent rumours out of Ibrox have linked Rangers with moves for experienced players. Norwich City's Kenny McLean is one name in the sights of Clement and co with the boyhood Rangers fan eager to make the move to Glasgow.

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Young talents are also high on Rangers' shopping list with the club holding talks with Middlesbrough striker Ajay Matthews after he chose to leave his current club this summer. Rangers are also said to be keen on signing Motherwell forward Theo Bair, however the club will have to face off with Celtic for his signature.

With a slew of fresh faces set to arrive at Ibrox this summer, Rangers have now been linked with a move for a sought after free agent.

Rangers check on big money free agent

As first reported by HITC, Rangers are among numerous clubs that have checked on Ryan Sessegnon. The outlet states that the Ibrox outfit are joined by Fulham, Leeds United, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Real Betis, Monza, Como and Atalanta in their pursuit of the former Tottenham man.

HITC also claims that the club furthest along in the race to sign the 24-year-old are West Ham, who have reportedly made more serious enquiries about bringing the left back to the London Stadium this summer.

Sessegnon was released from Spurs at the end of last season after the Englishman struggled to break into Ange Postecoglou's squad playing just seven senior minutes over the course of the campaign. The 24-year-old also suffered a string of unfortunate injuries that saw him sidelined for much of the season.

The full back first arrived in North London back in 2019 in a £25 million transfer from Fulham. Sessegnon earned his move off the back of the 2017/18 season which saw the then 17-year-old pick up the accolades of both Championship Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season. The Englishman contributed 15 goals and 6 assists over the course of that campaign.

Whilst Sessegnon long looked like a future England international, the 24-year-old struggled with the step-up to the Premier League. Speaking back in 2019, former Fulham boss Scott Parker spoke on Sessegnon's challenges but also obvious quality telling the press: "It's a different challenge for him, it's been a little bit up and down, anyone would expect the same, that's what happens – you have blips. He's an unbelievable talent."

Sessegnon's most recent contract with Spurs saw him command a weekly wage of £55,000 per capology, however it is likely that the clubs queueing up for his signature will offer a slightly lower pay packet.

Whilst Sessegnon has not hit the heights that many envisioned he would, Rangers could get themselves a steal by bringing in a free agent that could still end up going right to the very top.

Jurgen Klopp's departure marks a significant step in Liverpool's history. Away from the poignancy, the pathos and the raw pain of losing the man who transformed an outfit that had fallen by the wayside, the pendulum has swung with far more dramatic and long-lasting overtones.

Michael Edwards, FSG's CEO of Football, heads a new infrastructure that has recently seen a manager leave and a head coach take his place.

The terming of this switch is key: Arne Slot will control the first team and Liverpool's football, its on-pitch performance and progress, but there is little doubt that Klopp's exit has seen the metaphorical flight of managerial power at Anfield.

But that's okay, Liverpool are in good, intelligent hands and there's a tentatively optimistic sense that all the newly-formed facets will dovetail to unleash an institution of lasting synergy and success.

Especially when Edwards appears to be engineering a move for an exciting young defender – who could potentially solve Slot's most pressing early concern.

Liverpool lining up exciting defender

According to French outlet Le Parisien, Liverpool have entered the race for coveted Lille defender Leny Yoro, who may cost as much as €100m (£85m).

The 18-year-old is regarded as one of Europe's foremost young talents and is also attracting interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with the former having long been admirers.

But Carlo Ancelotti's side are set to welcome Kylian Mbappe and Endrick to the Santiago Bernabeu and might not have the means to launch a bid this summer, suggesting that Edwards and co might find success in an incisive swoop for Yoro's signature.

Leny Yoro's season in numbers

Last year, Yoro's high-class performances in Lille's academy saw him prematurely promoted to the senior set-up, completing eight starting appearances in Ligue 1 and leading journalist Zach Lowy to pronounce him as the latest in a "treasure trove of ballers" emerging from Les Dogues' youth ranks.

Tentative steps into the big league saw Yoro earn the confidence and admiration of manager Paulo Fonseca and he is now an essential part of the team's backline, starting 30 times in the French top flight and playing 44 matches in all competitions, scoring three goals.

As per Sofascore, the French teenager featured 32 times in the league this season, bagging twice, keeping 13 clean sheets, completing 92% of his passes, averaging 3.9 ball recoveries and three clearances per game while winning 63% of his contested duels.

His ability is reflected in the quality of his performance against Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League. Lille were defeated on penalties in the quarter-finals but only on penalties, losing 2-1 in England before securing an impressive 2-1 victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in the second leg.

Leny Yoro: UECL Stats vs Aston Villa
Stat	First leg (A)	Second leg (H)
Minutes played	90'	120'
Touches	67	98
Accurate passes	58/62 (94%)	82/87 (94%)
Possession lost	4x	5x
Long balls	3/5	7/10
Tackles	1	1
Interceptions	1	2
Clearances	3	6
Duels won	1/1 (100%)	4/4 (100%)
Fouls	0	0
Stats via Sofascore

Sure, Lille crashed out against one of Europe's most exciting, fast-rising teams in Unai Emery's Villa, but if Yoro's two-legged performance was an audition, he passed with flying colours, winning every single one of his duels across the tie and maintaining superlative control and composure.

Yoro is contracted at Lille for 12 more months and his team will be desperate to ascertain whether he would consider agreeing to fresh terms in the coming months. If not, Yoro's market value would suggest that cashing in this summer would be the prudent move.

How Leny Yoro would fit in at Liverpool

Said to be "world-class material" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it's easy to forget that Yoro spent the opening few months of the 2023/24 season as a 17-year-old, and spent some time observing him in action, his youthfulness becomes all the more perplexing.

How is the future France star performing with the guileful swagger of a seasoned veteran, tried and tested and draped in illustrious praise? Yoro is simply destined for greatness, and he would be the perfect successor to Van Dijk's throne in the Liverpool defence.

As per FBref, Yoro ranks among the top 7% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, speaking of his technical prowess and composure in the rearguard. He's not, at this primitive stage, very creative, but that's okay, especially given he still has striking similarities to Van Dijk – journalist Antonio Mango noting that he sees "Virgil van Dijk in him"…

Van Dijk, aged 32, is out of contract in 12 months but Liverpool will address this in due course, hopeful to tie their captain down to fresh terms.

He has been utterly imperious throughout the campaign, leading Liverpool's resurgence and holding the backline together despite the incessant injury issues.

In the Premier League, the Netherlands phenom completed 91% of his passes, averaging 4.7 recoveries and 3.9 clearances per game while incredibly winning 76% of his duels.

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Yoro's finely wrought array of abilities makes him a real contender for Europe's finest centre-half down the line, and while he would be the perfect player to adopt Van Dijk's presence at Liverpool, signing him this summer could give Slot's system the security it needs to flourish, augmenting a crop containing Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah, but not much else.

Moreover, he could absorb the fruits of the Dutchman's prowess over the next year or two to put him in a brilliant position to forge a career that will live long beyond the day he decides to hang up his boots.

Tottenham have reached an agreement to sign a young attacker for manager Ange Postecoglou, with a deal done and Spurs even beating multiple Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

Postecoglou pleads for "drastic" change at Spurs

The Lilywhites head coach, over the course of his debut campaign in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium dugout, has been vocal about his aim to transform the club during his tenure.

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ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2024

Most recently, Postecoglou has pleaded for "drastic" change as we approach the summer transfer window, which opens on June 14. The Australian suggested a few squad members could be to make way, with his Spurs project not for everyone.

Son Heung-min

7.27

James Maddison

7.15

Pedro Porro

7.01

Cristian Romero

7.01

Dejan Kulusevski

6.89

"We need change. Change has to happen," Postecoglou said. "You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen.

"We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about. It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey."

Away from the senior eleven, Postecoglou also admitted to his dream of making Tottenham a preferred destination for some of Europe's most exciting young talents.

“We’re giving young players an opportunity," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's appeal to rising stars. "Destiny, Pape and Micky, all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles.

“We’re building a team. From our perspective, it’s pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players. There aren’t too many hidden gems around — everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference, I’ve always felt your football is your biggest selling point, beyond anything else."

Tottenham sealed a deal to sign Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall in January, adding to their exciting young squad, with Spurs also signing Croatian wonderkid Luka Vuskovic at the start of the season.

Reports suggest technical director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy are looking to bring in even more promising young talent, with news emerging this week that another starlet is set to join the likes of Bergvall and Vuskovic.

Tottenham reach agreement to sign George Feeney for Postecoglou

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign young Glentoran striker George Feeney.

The 16-year-old, who was being chased by "multiple" Premier League sides alongside Spurs, appears set to make a move to north London as Postecoglou's side win the race for his signature.

O'Rourke writes that Feeney, who broke into Glentoran's first team this season with one goal in 10 appearances, will complete a Tottenham transfer as Levy and co are successful in luring the Northern Irishman to N17.

Rangers are tracking a "Rolls Royce" player who Michael Beale wanted to sign during his time in charge at Ibrox, according to a fresh transfer update.

Rangers transfer news

Philippe Clement knows how important a productive summer transfer window will be, during a period in which several players will likely leave on free transfers, including Borna Barisic, John Lundsram and Kemar Roofe.

Rangers are one of the clubs who are believed to be monitoring Macarthur youngster Raphael Borges Rodrigues, who currently plays in the A-League in Australia. Described as a "sensation" by journalist Pete O'Rourke, the winger could be seen as one for the future at Ibrox.

Meanwhile, West Ham utility man Ben Johnson is expected to leave the London Stadium on a free transfer this summer and the Gers are reportedly in the mix to snap him up. The 24-year-old has made 14 Premier League appearances this season, although only four have been starts, highlighting why he could move on.

It could be that Rangers also seal a permanent move for Abdallah Sima, who is on loan from Brighton currently, and journalist Dean Jones has talked up that move going through: "A few other Premier League clubs have had an eye on him in the past couple of years, I think he’s a great watch. But optimism does seem to be there that Rangers are going to tie this one up at a fee that is absolutely from the bargain basement."

Now, it looks as though a move for a long-time target also isn't out of the question, following a new transfer report that has emerged.

Rangers eyeing "Rolls Royce" Beale target

According to a report from The Daily Record, Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson is a target for Rangers chiefs this summer, having shown an interest in him under Beale's watch: "Record Sport understands Rangers have had one eye on Birmingham defender Dion Sanderson for some time.

"The 24-year-old’s name was on a list of potential targets which was drawn up way back when Beale was still in charge and Sanderson remains a person of interest where the Ibrox club is concerned."

While any mention of Beale can cause negativity with some Rangers supporters, considering his disappointing spell as manager, he was right to see Sanderson as a good option, and he could be an excellent signing this summer.

The Englishman has started 36 matches for Birmingham in the Championship this season, and while his side are on the verge of relegation to League One on Saturday, he has enjoyed a strong personal campaign, averaging 3.3 clearances and 1.8 aerial duel wins per game in the competition.

Dion Sanderson's Championship stats this season	Total
Appearances	36
Starts	36
Goals	1
Assists	0
Clearances per game	3.3
Aerial duel wins per game	1.8
Interceptions per game	1.4

Former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson once called Sanderson "an absolute Rolls Royce" of a player, highlighting his ability during their time together at the Stadium of Light, and he could come in as a great centre-back option for Rangers, adding depth and quality for Clement next season.

Just like last season, Arsenal are at the heart of a title race, but this time around, there’s much more optimism amongst the fanbase.

Mikel Arteta has developed a squad that not only has quality throughout but also plenty of depth, improving the team dramatically over the summer.

However, one player that’s lost his place in the team is Thomas Partey, who made just his fifth Premier League start of the season against Chelsea in the week.

Injuries have ruined his campaign, and it’s been reported that the Spaniard isn’t opposed to letting him go this summer for the right fee.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at an Arsenal transfer target who can not only serve as a brilliant replacement for the Ghana international but also make Declan Rice even better.

Arsenal want to bolster the midfield this summer

According to a report from French outlet, Foot Mercato, the Gunners are interested in making a move for Youssouf Fofana.

The midfielder currently plays for Monaco, who are second in Ligue 1 and on their way to qualifying for the Champions League.

For his talent, the £25.7m (£26m) reported price tag set by Monaco seems like a bargain that Arsenal must take advantage of.

However, they won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Frenchman, with plenty of European giants such as Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, and even Manchester United monitoring him.

Why Fofana could make Rice even better

There’s no two ways about it: the signing of Rice from West Ham United is arguably the main reason why Arteta’s side has progressed so much this campaign.

The number 41’s quality is unbelievable, and his presence in the middle of the park has been undeniable over his 34 Premier League matches.

He’s typically played as a number six, but Arsenal have found more success when he’s been deployed as a left-sided eight, with Jorginho supporting him a little deeper.

This is where Fofana comes into the equation, as he has all the characteristics and attributes to truly unleash Rice and allow him to reach even greater heights.

Fofana's 23/24 Ligue 1 Stats

Stats (per game)

Fofana

Touches

71.4

Passes completed

45.2 (81%)

Key passes

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles

1.9

Balls recovered

7.2

Duels won

4.9

Via Sofascore

As you can see from the table, the 25-year-old is an extremely well-rounded player who’s comfortable in almost every game state and has the ability to play across the midfield, even as a defensive midfielder.

Fofana’s inclusion in the starting lineup would truly enable Rice to flourish, giving him more freedom to express himself in the final third, where he’s been deadly this season, picking up an incredible six goals and assists apiece in the Premier League.

The reason for this is due to his excellent athleticism, ability to cover ground with ease, and defensive security, as shown by his tackles, balls recovered, and duels won statistics.

On the other hand, in the current Monaco setup, a lot of the creativity falls on the shoulders of Fofana, who’s instructed to take risks and progress the ball, hence his 1.2 key passes per game and low pass accuracy, which proves he could also serve as a rotation option for the England international.

Fofana also has the ability to evade the opposition press via his dribbling ability, which could prove to be decisive during big games, enabling Rice to drive forward on the counter more frequently.

On top of this, he’s a natural leader who’s worn the captain’s armband multiple times this season, which would further instil that winning mentality into the Arsenal team.

Overall, the “wonderful” Fofana, as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, is an extremely complete player who would be a brilliant replacement for Partey, especially given his extremely good value.

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Aston Villa have enjoyed a wonderful seven days. Not only did they give their chances of securing fourth place in the Premier League table a boost by defeating Arsenal last weekend, but they also secured progression to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Following a bumpy patch recently, it looks as though Unai Emery’s men have clicked into gear at precisely the right time, and it could end up being a season to remember.

Despite adding some quality players to his squad last summer, the Spaniard could be boosted by securing Champions League football, allowing him to invest further this summer.

It appears he is already thinking ahead with regard to potential signings, as bolstering his defence seems to be a priority…

Aston Villa transfer news

According to TEAMtalk, Villa are searching for a new left-back ahead of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella reportedly on their list.

They have some alternative targets, however, as Kieran Tierney has also emerged as a possible target for Emery.

The Spaniard signed the Scotsman from Celtic during the summer of 2019 when he was in charge of Arsenal and a reunion could certainly be on the cards.

The Gunners will consider bids of around £25m in order to sell the defender once he returns from his loan spell with Real Sociedad and this could perhaps tempt Emery to make a move.

With a long-term future in north London unlikely, a move to the Midlands could see Tierney secure regular game time and return to the form he displayed during his first few seasons at Arsenal.

Not only that, but he could become a key player for Villa should he move north, becoming an upgrade on Alex Moreno in the process.

Alex Moreno’s statistics for Villa this season

The Spanish defender joined the Midlands outfit during the January transfer window last year as competition for Lucas Digne and has since made 47 appearances for the club, registering six goal contributions in the process.

Despite missing the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, he made his first appearance against Legia Warsaw, promptly getting on the scoresheet during an eventual 2-1 victory.

Alex Moreno's stats for Aston Villa this season

Metric

Europa Conference League

Premier League

Goals

1

2

Accurate passes per game

16

16.9

Big chances created

0

1

Tackles per game

0.8

0.9

Possession lost per game

7.4

7.7

Via Sofascore

Since then, he has played 28 times for Villa, competing with Digne for a place in the starting XI.

Among his teammates, Moreno currently ranks outside the top ten for key passes per game (0.6) in the top flight, while also ranking lowly for big chances created (one), accurate passes per game (16.9) and tackles per game (0.9), which shows that he has struggled to make an impact when chosen to play.

Given that he will turn 31 just after the season finishes, it could be a wise move to bring in someone a lot younger in order to take over the long-term future of the left-back position.

Tierney fits the bill perfectly, and if he can get himself back to 100% fitness, the Scot could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Kieran Tierney’s stats at Real Sociedad this season

Following a season which saw the former Celtic defender make just 15 starts in all competitions for the Gunners, it was clear going out on loan would allow him to secure more game time.

A hamstring injury has ensured Tierney hasn’t featured as often as he would have liked during his spell in La Liga, yet the 26-year-old has still played 22 times for the club, grabbing two assists in that time.

Despite various setbacks, the left-back has impressed when unleashed in La Liga. Across the whole Sociedad squad, Tierney currently ranks seventh for accurate passes per game (29.4) in the top flight, while also ranking eighth for big chances created (two) and second for tackles per game (2.1), which shows that he could be an upgrade on Moreno when comparing the two using these statistics.

Former Arsenal icon Ashley Cole hailed the player in 2021 during his time at the Gunners, saying: "I think he would have liked to see more game time, he’s had a few injuries that hampered his season. When he’s in the team, they are a different team, he’s willing to defend, he’s that kind of leader and warrior they need in this team.”

How Kieran Tierney compares to Alex Moreno

While both players like to push forward down the left flank as often as possible, trying to create chances for others, it is Tierney who stands out from a defensive point of view.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Tierney ranks in the top 7% for tackles (2.94), the top 19% for aerials won (1.32) and the top 36% for interceptions (1.03) per 90, which shows just how vital he has been for Sociedad when they don’t have the ball.

In comparison, Moreno ranks in the top 40% for interceptions (1.01) per 90, but he currently ranks in the bottom 21% for tackles (1.57) and the bottom 8% for aerials won (0.38) per 90, indicating how poor he has been with regard to these defensive metrics when compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues.

While £25m may be a significant sum to spend on a left-back, Emery could bring out the best in Tierney should he reunite with the £110k-per-week star this summer.

The statistics certainly suggest that he could offer more from a defensive viewpoint than Moreno, while also ranking higher among his teammates for passing and attacking metrics when compared to the Spaniard.

Securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 campaign will give Emery some more funds to work with, plus the added bonus of players wanting to join his team as they will be playing in Europe’s premier club competition.

They face a clash against Bournemouth on Sunday. A win could continue to bolster their chances of securing a top-four finish, while a defeat would be a disappointing way to finish what has been a wonderful week for Villa.

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He went after left-arm spinner Anton Devcich to emulate Yuvraj Singh, Ross Whiteley and Hazratullah Zazai

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2020

Getty Images

Leo Carter has become the first New Zealander to hit six sixes in an over in T20 cricket. The 25-year-old left-hand batsman achieved the feat during the course of an unbeaten 29-ball 70 that helped Canterbury Kings chase down 220 against Northern Districts in the Super Smash tournament on Sunday. Overall, Carter is just the fourth player after Yuvraj Singh (2007), Ross Whiteley (2017) and Hazratullah Zazai (2018) to achieve the feat in T20 cricket. Those to have achieved this feat in other formats include Sir Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri in first-class cricket and Herschelle Gibbs in ODIs.With Canterbury needing 64 from 30 balls with seven wickets in hand, Carter hammered left-arm spinner Anton Devcich for 36 runs in the 16th over, courtesy some brilliant leg-side hitting at Hagley Oval.Carter’s unbeaten 70 was his maiden T20 half-century in 22 innings. He made his senior debut for Canterbury in 2014, and has so far played 25 first-class matches, 20 List A games and 26 T20s. His astonishing strike rate of 241.37 on Sunday was nearly twice his overall career strike rate in T20s.

Enzo Fernandez finds himself embroiled in more controversy after being serenaded with a racist song during a visit to former club River Plate.

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• Midfielder helped Argentina to Copa crown
• Celebrating back where it all began
• Waiting to discover if he will be punished

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Chelsea midfielder has returned to where it all began for him after helping Argentina to Copa America glory in 2024. He is back in his homeland after claiming the continental crown, with those that helped to put him on a path to the very top eager to recognise his achievements.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The World Cup winner was all smiles when being paraded on the pitch prior to a meeting with Lanus. He donned a River shirt and waved to the crowd before taking up a seat in the stands. However, the supporters then broke out into the chant that attracted widespread criticism during Argentina’s Copa celebrations.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Enzo live streamed certain Albiceleste players singing an offensive song that mocks France for having players of African heritage in their squad. The 23-year-old’s Stamford Bridge team-mate, Wesley Fofana, is among those to have spoken out against an act of “uninhibited racism”, while others have unfollowed the South American on social media.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Enzo has apologised for his actions, but investigations into what occurred and why have been opened by Chelsea and FIFA. The Blues star, who has seen questions asked of his future in England, is now waiting to discover whether he will face retrospective punishment.

Former Karnataka Ranji players allegedly involved in corruption in two KPL games, including the final

Varun Shetty07-Nov-2019Former Karnataka Ranji players CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi have been arrested on charges of spot-fixing in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) final earlier this year. Gautam, captain of Bellary Tuskers, and his team-mate Kazi allegedly accepted Rs 20 lakh (approximately $28,000) for “slow batting” in the tournament final against Hubli Tigers, which the Tuskers lost by eight runs.Gautam and Kazi are also alleged to have been involved in fixing another match, against the Bengaluru Blasters.Gautam is one of the biggest names in Karnataka cricket and was a central figure in the Karnataka team that won back-to-back domestic trebles in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He moved to Goa this season after nine years with his home team and was named their captain for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins on Friday, but his contract has now been terminated with immediate effect. Vipul Phadke, GCA secretary, told ESPNcricinfo that Gautam left the Goa squad abruptly on Tuesday. “He told told the coach (Dodda Ganesh, former Karnataka and India fast bowler), he had to leave urgently.””The CCB has made two important arrests in the KPL spot-fixing scandal,” Sandeep Patil, the Joint Commissioner of Police, told ESPNcricinfo in a text message. “Bellary team captain CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were arrested. They did spot-fixing in KPL 2019 finals between Hubli and Bellary. They were paid Rs 20 lakhs for slow batting. Also, they fixed another match against the Bangalore team. Further investigations are on and more arrests will be made.”Today’s arrests come a day after Karnataka Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested another player, Nishant Shekhawat, for allegedly acting as an intermediary between bookies and players. As of Thursday, seven people – including four players – have been arrested in relation to fixing in the KPL. More arrests are expected, the CCB said.Gautam is by far the highest profile name to emerge in the KPL fixing scandal, which broke in September with the arrest of Belagavi Panthers owner Ali Asfak Thara, and the consequent suspension of the franchise. Gautam was a long-term deputy of Vinay Kumar, and stood in for him in three matches 2013, captaining a team with the likes of Robin Uthappa, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, and Manish Pandey. Gautam also played for India A and has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.Kazi, a bowling allrounder who also played under Gautam at some point, had a more stop-start career with Karnataka before moving onto Nagaland last year and making three 150+ scores as a middle-order batsman. He transferred to Mizoram at the start of this season. Kazi has played a solitary game for RCB.The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has suspended Gautam and Kazi with immediate effect. This means they cannot play any cricket organised by the KSCA while their suspension stands. A statement from the association, signed by its secretary Santosh Menon, has said it will take “appropriate and stringent action” if they are found guilty.IST 1730 The story was updated to include the KSCA’s statement.