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When Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS purchased a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in February 2024 and took control of the club’s football operations, fans hoped it would mark the beginning of a new era – one that would finally steer the club away from the mismanagement of the Glazer years.

However, rather than a fresh start, United have only sunk deeper into crisis.

On the pitch, the team’s performances have deteriorated further. After spending £14.5m in compensation to sack Erik ten Hag and replace him with Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils subsequently slipped to their worst ever Premier League campaign in 2024/25.

Off the pitch, Old Trafford remains in a state of disrepair, while Ratcliffe has implemented a ruthless cost-cutting regime in an attempt to rescue the club from the financial mess left by the Glazers. Staff have been let go, departments have been streamlined and even basic amenities have reportedly been scaled back.

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While some would argue that these measures are necessary to stabilise the club, Ratcliffe’s hands-on approach has caused friction between INEOS and the club’s fans, who once believed his arrival would usher in a period of much-needed stability, but are now questioning whether his leadership is doing more harm than good.

Here, we list some of the worst things Ratcliffe has overseen at the club since joining, from brutal decisions to embarrassing faux pas.

1 Ordering mass redundancies

Since taking charge at United, Ratcliffe has cut the club’s workforce by almost a quarter.

In July of last year, approximately 250 members of staff were made redundant across all departments. At the time, reports suggested that Ratcliffe and his football operations team implemented mass redundancies to redirect the savings into the club’s transfer budget.

That was followed by an announcement that a further 150-200 people were to be made redundant in an effort to “return the club to profitability”.

“We have lost money for the past five consecutive years. This cannot continue. Our two main priorities as a club are delivering success on the pitch for our fans and improving our facilities. We cannot invest in these objectives if we are continuously losing money,” Omar Berrada, Manchester United’s CEO, said in a statement.

According to BBC Sport, United’s canteen staff are among those facing job losses, as the club plans to shut it down. In its place, the club will offer a free piece of fruit for employees as part of the cost-cutting measures.

More recently, the Daily Mail outlined that a new round of job cuts, potentially impacting a further 200 staff, is set to take place.

2 Ending Sir Alex Ferguson's contract

In October, Sir Alex Ferguson became the most high-profile casualty of Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford when his lucrative contract as a global ambassador was terminated.

The legendary manager, who led United to 38 major trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, had been receiving a multi-million-pound salary from the club since his retirement in 2013.

Club sources claimed Ferguson accepted the decision amicably after a direct conversation with Ratcliffe, but United icon Eric Cantona was far less diplomatic, calling the move “scandalous”.

“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies,” wrote the Frenchman on Instagram. “Such a lack of respect.”

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jan 24, 2025 3 Matchday cuts

Even those still employed at United have felt the impact of Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures.

According to a Daily Mail exclusive from last August, funding for various matchday services was significantly reduced. Agency staff, who were previously provided with lunch, were instead told to eat leftovers from the food supplied to corporate guests.

Some workers even claimed they were forced to eat near toilets. “They’ve set up a dining table next to four toilet cubicles,” one said. “You come out of the cubicle, and someone is sitting right in front of you, eating.”

Additionally, matchday programme distribution was scaled back, with corporate suites receiving only five programmes per box – despite each suite accommodating 10 fans. United defended the decision, stating it was made to reduce waste.

4 Cancelling the staff Christmas party

If there’s one surefire way to lose the goodwill of your staff, it’s by cancelling their annual Christmas party – and that’s exactly what Ratcliffe did last year.

According to The Athletic, the decision was part of a broader crackdown on what Ratcliffe considered unnecessary staff expenses. Other cost-cutting measures included revoking club credit cards from senior executives and scrapping free staff travel to May’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Feb 20, 2025 5 Cutting charity funding for ex-players

According to reports in December, Ratcliffe made the controversial decision to halt Manchester United’s annual £40,000 donation to a charity supporting former players.

The Association of Former Manchester United Players, established in 1985, provides financial assistance to ex-players who didn’t benefit from the lucrative salaries of the modern game. Among the 300 former footballers it supports are club legends like Bryan Robson and Denis Irwin.

Jim Elms, an 84-year-old trustee who played for United’s youth and reserve teams between 1957 and 1960, called the decision “ridiculous”.

“We sent a letter to say we hadn’t been paid. Nobody informed us, so we had to send another letter. That’s when we started hearing rumours that it was the end for us.”

6 Snubbing the women's team

Ratcliffe appears to be highly focused on every financial detail at Old Trafford, but when it comes to Manchester United’s women’s team, he seems largely out of touch.

According to The Telegraph, during a tour of the women’s training facilities shortly after completing his takeover, Ratcliffe failed to recognise Katie Zelem, the club’s then-captain, despite her being with United since the age of eight. When he asked her what her role was, Zelem had to explain that she was the team’s skipper. Zelem has since left the club.

Ratcliffe’s lack of engagement with the women’s team was further highlighted in May, when he came under criticism for opting to watch the men’s Premier League clash against Arsenal rather than attending the women’s FA Cup final, where United triumphed 4-0 over Tottenham.

This is in stark contrast to when he raced over to Wembley for the men’s semi-final win over Coventry City in April moments after completing the London Marathon.

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Posts 1 ByBarney Lane Feb 24, 2025

It has been a tough season for Wolverhampton Wanderers for several reasons, not least because they are struggling for survival and are currently in the midst of a relegation battle. With that being said, new manager Vitor Pereira has earned them some crucial points so far.

In a season such as the one Wolves are having, it is crucial that all the squad are on board and united. However, that is not the case for former club captain Mario Lemina, who was recently dropped from the squad after revealing he wanted to leave. Pereira explained after the recent 3-1 loss to Chelsea “he is out until the end of the market has closed”.

Wolves’ potential replacement for Lemina, Manu Silva had been lined up, but the deal fell through last week.

Why the Manu Silva deal collapsed

It was a frustrating week at Molineux, with the future of Lemina still up in the air and seemingly his replacement ready to put pen to paper and sign on the dotted line. Manu Silva, a 23-year-old defensive midfielder previously of Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, seemed destined to play for the Old Gold.

However, at the last minute, the £10m deal they had agreed for the young midfielder was hijacked by Portuguese giants Benfica. As talkSPORT explained, Aguias ‘swooped in at the last minute’ and convinced him to stay in his homeland. Benfica, managed by former Wolves boss Bruno Lage, can offer Champions League football, which is hard to turn down.

It was certainly a blow for Wolves to miss out on the talented 23-year-old, who already has plenty of experience at first-team level. This term for Vitoria Guimaraes, he has featured 28 times, with four goals and two assists to his name.

A £10m, it would have been a steal for someone with such high potential, and already brilliant ability for the base of their midfield. As per FBref, he averages 4.54 tackles and interceptions per game, the top 9% of midfielders in leagues similar in quality to the Portuguese top-flight.

As good of a signing as Silva would have been, the Old Gold still have depth in midfield, including someone whose transfer value is far more than what they would have paid for the youngster.

Wolves' current midfield star at Molineux

The player in question here is Brazilian star Andre. He joined the club just last summer, for a fee of £18.5m up front, a value that has now risen to more than double the amount they almost paid for Silva this month.

Andre is now worth over two times Silva, specifically £21m according to Transfermarkt, which already shows great investment from the Old Gold. However, it seems like the “sensational” star, as football statistician Statman Dave described him, might only get more expensive if he continues to be a key man in the top flight.

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He has heavily featured so far for the club this term. Andre has played 18 times across all competitions, with 17 of those appearances coming in the Premier League. Under Pereira, he has started five games out of five matchday squads he has been involved in.

Indeed, given some of his impressive defensive numbers in the Premier League, it is no surprise that Andre is worth double the amount of Silva.

As per FBref, the Brazilian averages 4.6 tackles and interceptions per game, slightly more than the new Benfica star. That places him in the 83rd percentile of midfielders in the Premier League. Andre’s numbers outside of that are impressive.

Andre key stats 2024/25 PL season
Stat (per 90)	Number	Percentile
Tackles and interceptions	4.6	83rd
Ball recoveries	6.10	81st
Blocks	2.06	92nd
Tackles won	2.38	95th
Pass completion %	92.3%	98th
Stats from FBref

The signing of Andre has been a great investment so far from the Old Gold. Not only has he proven to be worth even more than Silva, but he has performed well so far in the middle of the park from the Old Gold.

If the Brazilian can keep this form up, Wolves could be looking at an even bigger increase in his transfer value.

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By
Charlie Smith

Oct 10, 2025

End of season play-offs could reportedly be introduced into the Women's Super League as part of a radical shake up of the game.

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• WSL considers title play-offs
• May follow system used in France
• Winner could play best team in NWSL

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Telegraph reports that the Women's Professional Leagues Ltd is considering introducing title play-offs from the 2026/27 season, which may be similar to the four-team system that the French top-flight uses.

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  The report adds that there is a desire for the WSL champions to then play a match against the winners of the National Women's Soccer League. This comes at a time when reports have surfaced that the WPLL is considering removing relegation from the WSL and Women's Championship as women's football braces itself for big changes.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Telegraph adds that another proposal involves the WSL splitting into two smaller divisions each season once each team have played each other home and away. This is a similar system to the one in place in Scotland.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen if these changes will be ushered in or if the current WSL model will be in place for the foreseeable future.

The January transfer window has been open for more than two weeks now and Celtic are yet to dip into the market to bolster their playing squad ahead of the second half of the season.

However, that does not mean that there has not been a lot of work going on behind the scenes as Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team look to add to the group before next month’s deadline.

The Scottish Premiership leaders have reportedly lodged an enquiry over the possibility of a deal to bring Aston Villa winger Louie Barry to the squad.

Celtic are also reportedly interested in a swoop to bring LAFC attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz to Parkhead, after they failed to land his services in the summer transfer window.

It was recently reported by Sky Sports that the Hoops are close to signing Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract agreement to return to Glasgow for a second spell when his deal at Arsenal expires in the summer.

As well as a winger, an attacking midfielder, and a left-back, Celtic are also said to be looking at a potential move to bring another striker to the club this month.

Celtic keen on new striker

According to Foot Mercato, the Scottish giants are one of a number of teams interested in a possible swoop to sign Lille centre-forward Mohamed Bayo to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The report claims that SCO Angers, Royal Antwerp, Como, and Las Palmas are also eyeing up a move for the 26-year-old marksman, with Celtic also lining up a deal for the Guinea international.

It states that Como and Las Palmas have already made enquiries about a swoop for the striker, whilst Marseille and Metz have considered taking the attacker on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Foot Mercato adds, however, that the uncertainty over Jonathan David’s future at the club has made them reluctant to part ways with Bayo in the January transfer window, which has put the forward in a difficult position.

The former Clermont Foot marksman wants to play regular football and is open to moving on from Lille to play week-in-week-out, as he has only started three matches in Ligue 1 this term.

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This suggests that Celtic will need to convince Lille to part ways with the centre-forward before the end of the window, before then convincing the player to decide to make the move to Scotland rather than to another side in Ligue 1, or in Italy or Spain.

If they can get a deal over the line for the 26-year-old star in the coming weeks then they could repeat the blinder they played the last time a rarely-used striker came over to Parkhead from a Ligue 1 club.

Odsonne Edouard's time at Celtic

Celtic initially signed Odsonne Edouard on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 after he had only started four Ligue 1 matches in the 2016/17 campaign on loan with Toulouse.

The French marksman thrived after being given the opportunity to play regular football in Scotland and ended the 2017/18 campaign with a return of 11 goals in 29 matches in all competitions.

That convinced the Hoops to splash out a club-record fee of £9m to sign Edouard on a permanent deal from PSG in the summer of 2018, which turned out to be a terrific piece of business by the Scottish giants in the long run.

As you can see in the graphic above, the record signing for Celtic went on to produce 125 goal contributions in 179 appearances for the club in all competitions, winning four titles in five years.

In the summer of 2021, Premier League side Crystal Palace swooped in to sign the marksman for a reported fee of £14m, which could rise to £18.5m, and this meant that the club made a significant profit on the forward, whilst also getting five years of terrific service out of him.

Celtic could find their next Edouard by raiding Ligue 1 once again to sign Bayo this month, because his form from previous seasons suggests that the potential is there for him to be a big success in Glasgow.

Why Celtic should sign Mohamed Bayo

The £29k-per-week striker joined Lille from Clermont Foot in the summer of 2022 and has only managed seven goals in 45 appearances for the club to date.

Bayo also scored five goals in 22 Ligue 1 matches on loan at Le Harve in the 2023/24 campaign during that time, which shows that the attacker has struggled to score goals on a consistent basis in recent years.

The 26-year-old star, who was once described as an “extremely interesting” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, had previously shown plenty of potential to be a lethal scorer during his two seasons as a first-team regular with Clermont Foot.

Appearances

27

Goals

14

Big chances missed

11

Big chances created

6

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, Bayo showcased his finishing quality in Ligue 1 in the 2021/22 campaign, leading to his move to Lille, by scoring 14 goals and only missing 11 ‘big chances’ in 27 matches.

Kyogo Furuhashi, the first-choice striker at Celtic this season, has scored ten goals and missed a whopping 17 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership, which suggests that the Lille outcast could come in as an upgrade on him from a finishing perspective if Rodgers can help him to get back to his best.

Bayo also racked up an eye-catching return of 22 goals and nine ‘big chances’ created in 34 starts in Ligue 2 during the 2020/21 campaign, almost a goal or a ‘big chance’ created every start on average.

This means that the Celtic target scored 36 goals and created 15 ‘big chances’ in those two seasons combined, which shows that the potential is there for him to make a huge impact in the final third – as Edouard did – if the Hoops bring him in and offer regular game time to him in the second half of this season.

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It would be a big game for the Scottish giants, given his struggles for game time and form in recent years, but it is a worthwhile one when you consider the quality that they could get from Bayo if he gets back to the form that was on display for Clermont Foot.

The 2022 Lanka Premier League, which had been slated to begin in two weeks, has been postponed, because of the economic situation in Sri Lanka.A draft had been held, foreign players supposedly secured, and preparations were underway for the tournament to be held. However, problems with securing adequate sponsorship and cooling franchise interest have led to the postponement. Whether it will be played at all this year may depend on whether Sri Lanka’s economic crisis eases.”This decision was taken by the SLC, following a request made by the Innovative Production Group FZE (IPG), the rights-holder of the tournament, which cited the current ‘economic situation,’ in the country, as not conducive to hosting the tournament,” a board release said.Related

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Even in more favourable economic conditions, however, the league has had problems with funding. It had had little continuity since its outset, with last year’s tournament seeing only two of the original five franchise owners returning.Both the 2020 and 2021 LPL tournaments, had been popular among fans and had helped uncover fresh talent for the national team. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana, for example, first gained notice through the LPL.The news is a further blow to cricket fans in Sri Lanka, who may now not see high-profile cricket on the island for many months following the end of the ongoing Tests against Pakistan. It now appears the Asia Cup, which was set to be played in Sri Lanka, may also be moved elsewhere, also owing to the challenges of hosting a tournament of that magnitude amidst ongoing fuel shortages and political unrest.

خاض فريق لوهافر، بمشاركة المحترف المصري أحمد حسن كوكا، مباراته في بطولة الدوري الفرنسي لكرة القدم مساء يوم السبت، ضد نظيره فريق موناكو.

وتلاقى الفريقان في خضم منافسات الجولة الثالثة والثلاثين من الدوري الفرنسي، موسم 2024/25، حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله.

تقدم لوهافر عن طريق المحترف المصري أحمد حسن كوكا، الذي سجل هدفًا في الدقيقة 22 من عمر الشوط الأول. هدف كوكا في مباراة لوهافر وموناكو

واستمر تفوق لوهافر، على صعيد النتيجة، حتى الدقيقة 61 حيث أحرز اللاعب ميكا بيريث هدف التعادل لفريق موناكو.

وخرج أحمد حسن كوكا في تبديل لصالح لوهافر، في الدقيقة 66 من عمر المباراة.

بتلك النتيجة، حصل كل فريق على نقطة، حيث أصبح رصيد موناكو 55 نقطة في المركز الثاني، بينما أصبح رصيد لوهافر 28 نقطة في المركز السادس عشر.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chances dented by 54-run defeat

S Rajesh13-May-2022

Punjab Kings secured a net-run-rate boosting victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCI

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mat 13, Pts 14, NRR -0.323
The defeat against Punjab Kings and its margin means that Royal Challengers Bangalore are now officially on a sticky wicket in their quest for qualification to the playoffs. Even if they win their last match – against current table-toppers Gujarat Titans, no less – and finish on 16, they will still need other results to go their way, because there is one scenario where three teams could finish on more than 16 points (Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals), and three others on 16 (Royal Challengers, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad). Since Kings play both Capitals and Sunrisers, they can’t all be on 16.Given that Capitals already have a much better net run rate (0.210) and Sunrisers are ahead too (-0.031), one of those two teams will take the final spot in that scenario if all three end up on 16. That’s because even if Royal Challengers win their last game by 100 runs after scoring 200, their net run rate will only improve to 0.071.Royal Challengers’ best chance will be to finish on 16 and hope that Capitals, Sunrisers and Kings lose at least one each and finish on no more than 14 points.If Royal Challengers lose their last game then they will almost certainly be knocked out given their poor net run rate.Punjab Kings: Mat 12, Pts 12, NRR 0.023
Kings have done their qualification chances no harm with that emphatic victory against Royal Challengers. Their net run rate has improved from -0.231 to 0.023, but they still have plenty of work to do to qualify. What makes their situation even more intriguing is the fact that their two remaining games are against the Capitals – who are also on 12 from 12 – and Sunrisers, who could join these two teams there if they beat Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.That also means if Kings win their last two games, they will get to 16 and ensure that Capitals and Sunrisers don’t go beyond 14. The only other team, apart from those currently in the top three, who can get to 16 is Royal Challengers. Given their current superior net run rate, Kings should stay above Royal Challengers if they win their last two. That means their chances essentially rest in their own hands – if they win their last two, they will almost certainly qualify.

Manchester United flop Antony is seeing a transfer speculated on that could see him link up with prolific England striker Harry Kane at Bayern Munich.

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Brazilian impressing in La LigaCost Red Devils £85 millionImpressing teams across EuropeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Brazil international Antony is in the process of rebuilding his reputation during a loan spell at Real Betis. He has registered four goals for them through 11 appearances, since completing a move to Spain during the winter window.

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United were happy to let Antony go after seeing the 25-year-old fail to deliver on his £85 million ($110m) price tag. It may be that the Premier League giants, who are asking Ruben Amorim to oversee another rebuilding project, look to recoup some of that money at the next opportunity.

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According to , Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern are among those keeping a close eye on Antony’s progress. They are also ready to freshen up an ageing squad at the Allianz Arena, which means that moves for more creativity could be made over the summer.

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Any move for Antony would see him join Kane in Munich, with the ex-Tottenham striker maintaining remarkable standards since bidding his own farewells to English football. He would welcome the addition of another tricky winger who could provide him with plenty of assists.

Despite all the chaos of the previous two seasons at Chelsea, things are actually going remarkably well for the Blues right now.

Following Sunday’s 3-0 demolition of Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, they’re currently third in the Premier League, below Arsenal by virtue of alphabetical order only, considering the two London rivals have an identical number of points, goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record.

Enzo Maresca has given minutes to 30 different players this season, second only to Southampton across all competitions, rotating his squad heavily for EFL Cup and UEFA Conference League fixtures, keeping star players fresh for Premier League commitments.

Chelsea's plethora of attacking options

Going forward in particular is where Maresca has an abundance of options at his disposal.

The form of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson means they are undroppable, but countless combinations featuring Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk or Joao Felix have completed the attacking quartet in the Premier League so far.

Madueke appeared to be the first-choice on the right wing, starting 11 successive Premier League fixtures, a sequence that began in August when he bagged this hat-trick at Molineux, before being benched at the weekend.

Meantime, Neto’s Chelsea career appeared ready for take-off when he scored an absolute rocket from distance against Arsenal, his first league goal for the club, but a knock suffered on international duty has hindered his progress.

That’s not even mentioning Christopher Nkunku, who hasn’t started in the league since the opening day, despite scoring in all six European fixtures so far, on target 11 times across all competitions, but he still can’t get much of a look in.

Having said all of that, by next summer, there will be a new kid on the block, with Chelsea having already got their hands on a teenage sensation.

Chelsea's Brazilian superstar

Back in June, Chelsea announced the signing of Estêvão Willian, describing him as “one of the most exciting talents around”.

Chelsea summer signing Estevao

He’ll join from reigning Brasileirão champions Palmeiras, costing a reported fee of £29 million, arriving in the summer of 2025 following his 18th birthday, potentially in time for the ill-fated FIFA Club World Cup.

Upon arrival, the teenager will surely become the 15th Brazilian to make a senior appearance for Chelsea.

Some, such as Thiago Silva, Willian, Oscar, Ramires and David Luiz, were ultra-successful; others, looking at you Alexandre Pato and Lucas Piazón, not so much.

Estêvão certainly has the talent to fall into the former category, described as “the best player to have emerged from Brazilian football since Neymar” by João Paulo Sampaio, head of Palmeiras’ academy, adding “you watch him and you fall in love”.

Scout Jacek Kulig on Twitter compared Estêvão’s stats after 28 Brasileirão appearances to both Neymar and Vinícius Júnior stating “I’m not suggesting that Estêvão will surpass Vini or Neymar, but the way he’s started his senior career is absolutely crazy”.

Across all competitions, the teenager has 14 goals in 44 appearances for the Verdão, as well as providing ten assists, most recently the only scorer during a victory over Grêmio in early November.

According to FBref’s scouting report, Estêvão ranks extremely highly for all the key attacking metrics compared to positionally similar players in comparable leagues.

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He is in the top 10% for shots, assists, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches and progressive passes, which isn’t bad for a 17-year-old.

Of course, he is plying his trade at a lower level and, a tale of caution, his former teammate Luis Guilherme, a year older, arrived at West Ham to similar fanfare for a fee of £25m last summer, but he is yet to make any discernible impact in East London, appearing only twice for a total of 11 minutes to date.

So, Chelsea unquestionably have a serious talent on their hands, but patience will be required and it may take time before we see the best of Estêvão in a blue shirt.

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They are the first confirmed cases of the new variant in the country

PTI13-Dec-2021

The positive cases were detected during a test conducted on December 6•Harry Trump/Getty Images

The Bangladesh health minister has confirmed the detection of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in two players of the women’s cricket team, which recently returned from Zimbabwe from the suspended Women’s World Cup Qualifier.”Both the cricketers are in quarantine at a hotel. They are in good health,” Bangladesh health minister Zahid Maleque said on Saturday evening. Maleque said the two are the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the country.Everyone who came in contact with them has tested negative for Covid-19, he said. “The whole (cricket) team is also in quarantine. So there is no cause for worry,” Maleque said.According to health officials, the two cricketers appeared to have contracted the viral infection during their stay in Zimbabwe. They had tested positive for Covid-19 while under institutional quarantine upon their return from Zimbabwe on December 1. All the cricketers underwent Covid-19 tests on December 6, and samples from the two Covid-19 positive players were sent to laboratories for genome sequencing to determine if they contained the Omicron variant.The squad members were supposed to be released from quarantine on December 6 itself, after which they were scheduled to meet the BCB president as part of their celebrations for qualifying for the Word Cup. The programme had to be cancelled due to the positive cases.