Author: WTX Sports Team

The Sports Team is responsible for delivering your Sports Brief. Weekly roundup to cover all things Football, Cricket, Tennis Formula 1, Boxing and Olympics and more.

Emiliano Martinez became the first person to win the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper two years on the spin, but only after he was loudly booed on his way into the Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Aston Villa and Argentina stopper was credited as the world’s finest in his position once again after winning the Copa America over the summer. Last year he got the nod over Manchester City’s Ederson, while this time around it was Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon who finished second. ‘It’s huge for me,’ he said. ‘I always dreamed of playing one game for the national…

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Mikel Merino has dismissed the idea that Arsenal’s injury problems could be an excuse for dropping points in recent weeks, saying there is actually a benefit to some players being out injured. The Gunners are third in the table, so it has hardly been a disastrous start to the season, but they have only won five of their nine Premier League matches so far. A draw with Liverpool last time out followed a shock defeat at Bournemouth and Mikel Arteta’s side are already five points behind league-leaders Manchester City. Merino, a summer signing from Real Sociedad who scored his first…

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Brazilian side Palmeiras made an ambitious move for Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, but it was firmly rejected by the Premier League side. Jesus came through the youth ranks at Palmeiras and made his professional debut for the club in March 2015. He quickly caught the eye of Manchester City and moved to the Etihad in January 2017 where he won four Premier League titles. The Brazil international was a big signing for Arsenal when they brought him in back in 2022, but after an encouraging first season things have tailed off quite badly. The 27-year-old managed just eight goals in…

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Paul Scholes has questioned Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, naming Zinedine Zidane and Xavi as his preferred options to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. United parted ways with Ten Hag on Monday with Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in to take charge as interim boss. But the search for a permanent replacement is already underway with Amorim in talks to join the Premier League giants. The 39-year-old is thought to be interested in taking the United job, with the Portuguese one of the most highly-regarded coaches in Europe after two league titles with Sporting, also…

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Ruud van Nistelrooy has deleted a historic photo of him doing ‘blackface’ just hours after confirmation of his appointment as Manchester United’s interim manager. Erik ten Hag’s reign as United manager ended on Monday following last weekend’s controversial defeat against West Ham. Van Nistelrooy returned to his former club in the summer with a view to providing additional support to his compatriot who, after being given what ultimately turned out to be a stay of execution, was equipped with a new-look backroom team. It is unclear how many games the 48-year-old will take charge of with United already pressing ahead…

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Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios says British legend Andy Murray didn’t retire ‘gracefully’ and feels he should’ve called time on his career a lot sooner. Australian star Kyrgios, known for his explosive behaviour on the court and outspoken views off it, made the comment in a new interview with Louis Theroux. The British-American documentarian sat down with 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Kyrgios, 29, and asked him if he had been plotting to hang up his own racket. Kyrgios responded by bringing up Murray’s retirement – which occurred after the Olympic Games in Paris earlier this year – and suggested that the…

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Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has broken his silence after controversially missing out on the Ballon d’Or award. The Brazil international was considered the strong favourite to scoop the biggest individual prize in world football but Manchester City and Spain star Rodri was instead crowned the best player on the planet. A leak ahead of the ceremony on Monday night revealed Vinicius Jr had missed out on top spot with the Real Madrid delegation, which also included Jude Bellingham, cancelling their trip and missing the ceremony completely. Vinicius Jr played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s Champions League and La…

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Emma Raducanu has hit back at newspaper journalists who ran stories she’d been forced to ride the London Bus after ‘losing her Porsche’. It was claimed by some media outlets at the start of October that Porsche – one of Raducanu’s main sponsors – had ‘taken away’ her 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet car. Porsche is known to swiftly withdraw vehicles from celebrity ambassadors if they are not getting ‘value for money’ and one reporter claimed that Raducanu’s big-money endorsement deal could be ‘heading for the scrapyard’. A spokesperson from the German company rubbished the rumours, though, and said: ‘Emma Raducanu…

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Sir Chris Hoy’s wife Sarra has described her husband as ‘my real life superhero’ following his terminal cancer diagnosis. Doctors have told Hoy, 48, he has between two and four years to live after being diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate. Legendary cyclist Hoy revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year but only recently confirmed it had spread to his bones, meaning it is stage four. Tumours were discovered to his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and rib. In her first post since the devastating news, Sarra called her husband ‘the most incredible person I’ve ever met’…

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Hansi Flick clashed with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after Barcelona scored their fourth goal Barcelona manager Hansi Flick insists he and his coaching staff did nothing untoward after he appeared to clash with Carlo Ancelotti during Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid. Robert Lewandowski scored twice and Lamine Yamal added a third goal to ruin Kylian Mbappe’s first Clasico as Barcelona romped to a historic victory at the Bernabeu. Lewandowski scored from a superb pass by Barcelona’s latest youth talent Marc Casado in the 54th minute and headed in a second goal three minutes later to silence the…

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Philadelphia Union have confirmed the death of their goalkeeper Holden Trent, aged 25. The MLS star had, according to Yahoo Sport, been admitted to intensive care earlier this week, but no cause of death has been confirmed. ‘The Philadelphia Union is devastated by the heartbreaking passing of Holden Trent,’ the club said in a brief statement. ‘While he was a wonderful player and fierce competitor, he was more importantly a devoted son, brother, fiance, and team-mate who made those around him better. ‘He embodied the true meaning of determination, dedication and perseverance, and he will be deeply missed. ‘We extend…

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Arsenal will make late decisions on a number of their players ahead of their showdown with Liverpool this afternoon. Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have all been considered major doubts this week with the Gunners still without Martin Odegaard after his ‘significant ankle injury’ suffered while on international duty with Denmark. Saka was forced off while playing for England against Greece, missing last Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth as a result and Tuesday’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Saka has resumed light training but worked away from his teammates on Friday and is still considered a major doubt…

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Manchester United remain without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire for their Premier League clash against West Ham United. After Thursday’s Europa League draw against Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce, focus switches back to the Premier League with Bruno Fernandes available for the trip to east London having served a European suspension in Turkey. Antony has joined the injury list after the Brazilian was stretchered off shortly after coming off the bench as United chased a winner last night. Jonny Evans missed that trip with a knock and was being assessed this week but speaking on Friday, Erik ten Hag was hopeful…

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Enzo Maresca could change his entire starting XI when Chelsea take on Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon. With a huge squad to work with, the Blues boss named a completely changed side for the Europa Conference League victory over Panathinaikos. None of those who started against Liverpool last Sunday were included in the starting XI. Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana were left out of Chelsea’s dedicated Conference League squad completely while Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson, Reece James and Malo Gusto also all remained in west London. Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella were the only first-team…

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Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has opened up about the heartbreaking moment his wife Sarra told him of her MS diagnosis just weeks after learning he had terminal cancer. Sarra was told by doctors that she had an ‘aggressive’ form of multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease for which there is no cure, after feeling a tingling sensation in her face and tongue. It came around the same time Hoy – a six-time Olympic champion and the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time – had been given between two and four years to live, after his prostate cancer…

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Chelsea urged to sign ‘top drawer’ Liverpool star to replace Robert Sanchez Chelsea have been urged to sign Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to replace current first-choice Robert Sanchez. Sanchez was frozen out for large parts of last season under Mauricio Pochettino but has come back into the starting XI under new boss Enzo Maresca. The jury is still out on the Spaniard, though, who has made a few notable errors in goal already this campaign. Kelleher, meanwhile, impressed in his second start in midweek as he made two crucial saves to help Liverpool win 1-0 over RB Leipzig in…

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