Their next Duran: Aston Villa considering move to sign "special" £60m CF

Aston Villa have a lot of work to do before their Premier League season gets underway next month with a home tie against Newcastle United.

Several summer departures will likely take place, with Emiliano Martinez reportedly keen on a move to Manchester United, while Jacob Ramsey is attracting interest from Nottingham Forest. But, with their PSR concerns now a thing of the past, plenty of new signings could also arrive through the door soon.

Aston Villa manager UnaiEmery

In particular, some confidence-boosting attacking additions look to be a priority, particularly if Ollie Watkins ends up joining Martinez as another first-team face to have left the building.

Aston Villa considering move for £60m striker

Watkins does look to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to who he could pick as his next club after Villa, with it being reported that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are all keen on adding the England international to their respective sides.

Losing Watkins would be a notable blow, but Villa could begin to repair their depleted attack by adding reported target Alejandro Garnacho to their camp from the aforementioned Red Devils, alongside raiding Enzo Maresca’s men when going after a fresh centre-forward purchase.

An update from journalist Ben Jacobs via X indicates that Villa are in the running to land hot-and-cold Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson this summer, with Villa considering his name as they hunt down some more personnel up top.

It’s revealed that Chelsea won’t be pushing the ex-Villarreal attacker out the door – despite his hit-and-miss finishing ability – but they would consider bids if some are forthcoming, with Jackson reportedly available for around the £60m mark.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

How Jackson could be Villa's next Duran

It would be an almighty gamble on Villa’s end to splash out some significant bucks on such an inconsistent performer but there are similarities, not just in the way they arrived in the country, but in their play styles too.

Indeed, the Villans took a risk when they landed Jhon Duran for £18m back in January of 2023, only to be immediately vindicated when he became a clinical hero for Unai Emery and Co.

After all, Duran didn’t dive into the English game boasting the most mind-blowing numbers for Chicago Fire, with only eight goals coming his way from 28 appearances in the Windy City.

Yet, he instantly became a favourite in the West Midlands for his high-octane performances in attack, culminating in a huge chunk of his 20 goals for Villa coming last season when he bagged 12 strikes from just 29 outings.

Duran’s Aston Villa stats in 2024/25

Metric

PL

UCL

Goals

7

3

Assists

0

0

Goal conversion percentage

23%

21%

Goal frequency (minutes)

89

79

Shots per game

1.6

2

Via Sofascore

Chelsea purchased Jackson for around the £32m mark in the same year the Colombian arrived in England, knowing plenty more could come from the 24-year-old in his new location, with Villa already on the receiving end of Jackson’s lethal bursts when he headed home this effort against them during his debut campaign in West London.

Indeed, Jackson fired home a promising 13 strikes in Spain before embarking on this daunting adventure with the Blues, and whilst there have been plenty of grumbles at Stamford Bridge over his wastefulness, he has shown in spells that he can be a deadly and impactful presence on his day, just as Duran has.

Amazingly, despite squandering a costly 43 big chances across his two top-flight seasons at Chelsea, Jackson does still have more strikes next to his name in the Premier League alone than Duran mustered up across his entire Villa Park stint, with 24 goals in 64 league clashes.

Despite that, there are stylistic similarities between the pair, as the numbers showcase.

Jackson vs Duran: 2024/25

Stat (per 90 mins)

Jackson

Duran

Shots

3.08

4.27

Shots on target

1.38

1.93

Completed passes

12.3

16.2

Progressive passes

1.54

1.83

Shot-creating actions

2.97

2.54

Successful take-ons

0.73

0.42

Stats via FBRef.

Analysing the data, we get a sense that neither are particularly involved in the play in large spells, registering fewer than 20 passes per game.

Likewise, neither striker particularly grabs the ball and takes a player on, completing fewer than one dribble per 90 minutes. Crucially, they both possess the ability to play on the shoulder of the last man and have a gangly playstyle associated with their height. Duran is 6 foot 1, while Jackson is 6 foot 2.

Nicolas Jackson

The 24-year-old Jackson might well welcome a fresh opportunity at Villa, particularly when taking in Emery’s transformative powers that worked wonders on the likes of Marcus Rashford last season. He had experienced an equally challenging time at Manchester United before bouncing back well with the Villans, amassing a blistering four goals and six assists in claret and blue.

Moreover, it’s even clearer from the Spaniard’s track record with Duran that he could be the manager to get even more out of a scapegoated Jackson, with the Senegal international once being labelled as a “special” talent by journalist Rahman Osman.

Of course, this move might well backfire if the 24-year-old’s wasteful displays rear their ugly head once more in the West Midlands. But, much like with Duran, it feels like a shot in the dark worth taking.

Better than Ramsey: Aston Villa register interest in £40m "superstar"

Aston Villa could soon win an attacking superstar who is better than Jacob Ramsey.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 17, 2025

King, Ainsworth combine in Scorchers' thrilling win; Knight-Bates pair maintain Thunder's strong start

The Thunder posted a comfortable victory over the Heat, but the evening game between Scorchers and Renegades went down to the final ball

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024

Alana King finished with 3 for 23•Getty Images

Perth Scorchers 108 (Hinkley 32, King 23, Capsey 5-25) beat Melbourne Renegades 106 for 8 (Dottin 40, King 3-23, Ainsworth 2-18, Devine 2-22) by two runsAlana King’s all-round contributions proved decisive in a low-scoring thriller at the WACA as hosts Perth Scorchers completed a two-run win over Melbourne Renegades while defending only 108.King first scored a crucial 15-ball 23 for the Scorchers from No. 8 amid a batting collapse triggered by the Renegades pair of Milly Illingworth and Hayley Matthews (2 for 15 apiece). Alice Capsey then ran through the tail to claim her career-best figures of 5 for 25 while skittling the Scorchers for 108.However, the Renegades’ batting failed to complement their bowling effort, losing wickets through their innings. Needing 15 runs off the last three overs – 11 off two overs and eight off the final six balls – they failed to hit a single boundary and finished their innings on 106 for 8.The pressure was put on Renegades early in the chase by seamer Chloe Ainsworth when she dismissed opener Courtney Webb and first-down Capsey for first-ball ducks in the first over. Sophie Devine and King then accounted for Naomi Stalenberg and Matthews respectively, and when Amy Edgar removed Georgia Wareham cheaply too, Renegades were 47 for 5 in the ninth over.Deandra Dottin counterattacked with a 27-ball 40 that included three fours and three sixes from No. 6 to lift the Renegades briefly, but King sent her back for the second of her three wickets. King also removed Illingworth in the 18th over to finish with 3 for 23.Tasked with defending 10 runs off the last two overs, Edgar and Ebony Hoskin closed out the game for the Scorchers, conceding only eight singles. Sarah Coyte, who finished unbeaten on a 31-ball 21, needed three for a tie or a boundary for a win off the final ball, but Hoskin kept the last delivery down to just one.Heather Knight played another vital hand•Getty Images

England captain Heather Knight cracked an unbeaten half-century and Sam Bates snared 4 for 25 to lead Sydney Thunder to a 19-run WBBL victory over Brisbane Heat at the WACA Ground.Knight, Phoebe Litchfield, and Chamari Athapaththu, all fired to lift the Thunder to a formidable 170 for 5. In reply, Charli Knott and Grace Harris threatened to pull off the run chase, but the Heat were eventually bowled out for 151 after Bates weaved her magic.After being sent in to bat, Thunder were 13 for 0 in the third over when Georgia Voll was dropped by Laura Harris on 2. Voll would go on to score 22, but more importantly she combined with Athapaththu for a quick-fire 52-run opening stand to give Thunder the perfect platform to launch.Athapaththu and Litchfield cracked seven boundaries apiece, and Knight went into overdrive later in the innings as Heat’s bowlers struggled to contain the star-studded battling line-up.Heat spinner Jess Jonassen was superb with 3 for 22 from her four overs, and Shikha Pandey was economical. But the rest of the bowlers struggled, with Grace Parsons and Nadine de Klerk copping the brunt of the punishment.Heat needed to make a fast start to their run chase, and opener Grace Harris received three slices of luck during her blistering knock. She was on 5 when she gloved a spinning Bates delivery through to the keeper. The appeal was turned down, and Thunder decided not to review it, but replays showed it clearly came off her glove. Harris was then dropped on 26 and 32, but was eventually out when she was caught in the deep from a Taneale Peschel full toss.Knott cracked six fours and a six to notch her maiden WBBL half-century and give Heat a chance, but their victory hopes came crumbling down when she was bowled by Bates who now has 12 wickets from four games in what has been a sizzling start to the season for the 28-year-old.”I don’t know if there’s a real secret behind [my form]. It’s nice to be contributing finally,” Bates told . “I had a pretty ordinary season last year, so I reflected quite a bit on that. I changed some little things and they’re paying off, which is nice.”

Asalanka, Madushka help Sri Lanka take 1-0 lead

A 137-run stand between Charith Asalanka and debutant Nishan Madushka provided the base as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 232 in Pallekele, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.Asalanka top-scored with a 71-ball 77, while Madushka finished with 69 off 54. Both departed unable to see the chase through, but considering the precarious position at which they had come together – 45 for 3 in the seventh over – they had done more than enough to ensure the win.Kamindu Mendis was there at the end to see the win through, with an unbeaten 30 off 21, and alongside him was Janith Liyanage on a run-a-ball 18.Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, with figures of 3 for 47, while Alzarri Joseph grabbed two. Despite having reinforced their spin reserves in preparation for a dry Pallekele surface, none were able to offer as much penetration as Motie.While Motie too went at over six an over he at least posed a wicket-taking threat. This was not something the pair of Roston Chase and Hayden Walsh Jr. could boast, as they gave up 80 runs in the 10 overs between them.While this was down to a combination of errant bowling and ruthless batting, the West Indian spinners were also impacted by a wet ball as a result of a wet outfield. The rain also meant that the pitch had become easier to bat on by the time Sri Lanka took lease of the wicket.Earlier, Sherfane Rutherford’s counterattack had been cut short by rain to bring to a premature close the West Indies innings on 185 for 4 after 38.3 overs.But even with that caveat, the way Sri Lanka approached their chase made them well worth their victory. Madushka, making his debut in place of the injured Pathum Nissanka, opened the innings alongside Avishka Fernando but by the time he faced his fifth delivery in ODI cricket, Sri Lanka had found themselves already two down.Alzarri Joseph struck twice early•Getty Images

Avishka drove a widish delivery straight to point, while Kusal Mendis – who had looked in good nick with a trio of enterprising boundaries – top-edged an attempted pull. This brought Sadeera Samarawickrama to the crease, and he wasted little time taking the initiative, striking Jayden Seales for three boundaries in the fifth over of the chase.With the threat of rain looming, Sri Lanka’s game plan was clear – get ahead of the DLS equation. But when Sadeera fell, courtesy an absolute peach from Motie that knocked back off stump, Sri Lanka were suddenly at the risk of letting the game slip into dangerous territory – even with the safety of being able to bat until No 9.But if those watching on were feeling nervous, Sri Lanka’s skipper hardly let it show. Off just the second delivery he faced he swept Motie for four, before driving him exquisitely through the covers an over later. Madushka, who up until this point was content to turn over the strike to his more aggressive partners, finally notched his first boundary in the 10th over.And this partnership scarcely took the foot off the gas as the West Indies struggled to maintain tight lines and lengths. Between the 10th and 20th over only two overs didn’t contain a boundary, as Sri Lanka racked up 72 runs in that period. And the scoring only accelerated from that point on, with a further 41 runs scored between overs 20-25.Madushka eventually edged to slip, with Asalanka following shortly after trapped leg before – both off Motie – but the required run rate had dropped to nearly four an over by that point, and any peril long since neutralised.Nishan Madushka celebrates his maiden ODI fifty, which came on debut•Associated Press

West Indies’ best period of the game had occurred much earlier. Prior to the rain intervention, they had been in the process of regaining some lost momentum with Rutherford and Chase in the middle of an 85-run fifth-wicket stand off 78 deliveries.Wanindu Hasaranga had taken two wickets, while Jeffrey Vandersay and Asalanka had one apiece. But on a dry Pallekele surface, West Indies knew a trial by spin was always on the cards after they had won the toss and elected to bat.Dunith Wellalage was into the attack as early as the fifth over – and even before that medium pacer Liyanage had resorted to offcutters on a hard length – while spin was in effect from both ends not long after.Despite a promising opening stand it wasn’t long before West Indies had stumbled to 54 for 3, with Rutherford joining Keacy Carty in the middle, and the scoring rate now hovering at around four an over. It was during this period that Sri Lanka’s spinners took total control, as West Indies were content to play it safe, racking up numerous dot deliveries, and picking up the odd ones and twos.A Rutherford cut for four in the 17th over was the first West Indies boundary in 47 deliveries; by the traditional halfway point of 25 overs, they had inched to 94 for 3. It was here that a frustrated Carty unleashed a powerful one-handed loft over long-on for six to break the shackles somewhat, but that relief was shortlived as he fell going for a repeat performance the very next delivery. That brought to an end a 46-run partnership – the West Indies’ best of the innings until that point.But with the dependable Chase alongside him, Rutherford continued as before, picking off singles and attempting to pounce on any rare loose deliveries. But as their confidence grew and a persistent drizzle greased the surface, the pair struck 43 in the last five overs they faced. With the death overs still to come, a total in the region of 275 was on the cards. But then the rains came.

Amorim's answer to Isak: Man Utd chasing deal for "sensational" £100m star

Manchester United’s need for improvement in the 2025/26 campaign is there for all to see, after the club endured one of their worst seasons in memory last time around.

The Red Devils could only register a 15th-placed Premier League finish, ending the year 24 points off a Champions League spot, after winning just 11 times in their 38 outings.

Ruben Amorim has so far fallen below the expectations put on his shoulders after arriving, but will have the summer transfer window to try and transform the current situation.

Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match

Whilst it’s his first major chance to land new additions to his first-team squad, it could also be his last if he fails to attract the right calibre of player and subsequently sees a repeat of last season’s dismal form.

The pressure is certainly on, but it appears as though the hierarchy are set to hand the 40-year-old the tools he desires to make the changes he needs at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

Bryan Mbeumo is still the name on everyone’s lips at Man Utd, given the major interest they’ve shown in his signature during the ongoing transfer window.

The Red Devils have placed two separate offers for the Brentford star, with the latest totalling £62.5m, but no deal has been agreed, as Keith Andrews’ side are holding out for £65m this summer.

However, he’s not the only Premier League talent currently on their radar, with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson a firm target, according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth.

He claimed that Amorim’s side are keeping a close eye on a potential move for the 24-year-old forward, who registered 13 goals across all competitions last season.

It’s also been claimed elsewhere that he could command a fee in the region of £100m this summer, with the Blues demanding a pretty penny for his signature.

Why United’s £100m target could be Amorim’s answer to Isak

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been a name hugely mentioned in recent days, with the Swede potentially being subject to an English record bid this summer.

The interest in his signature this window is hardly a surprise given the 25-year-old’s tally of 23 league goals in his 34 outings during the 2024/25 campaign.

Such a tally takes his total of goals in England to 62 in his 109 appearances, with Isak now undoubtedly one of the most feared talismen in Europe’s top five leagues.

There’s no denying that United fans must wish they had a talent like the forward, but talents like the Swede don’t come around often, and when they do, they command a hefty fee – as seen by his current price tag.

However, they could be about to land their own version of the forward this summer, with a potential move for Jackson, who possesses very similar qualities to the Magpies’ star.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to Isak by FBref, even managing to outperform him in multiple areas when comparing their respective stats from last year.

Jackson, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Pubity Sport, posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate – highlighting his ability to be more precise with the opportunities that are presented to him in front of goal.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

15

29

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

43%

Pass accuracy

76%

75%

Aerials won

37%

32%

Shots on target per game

1.4

1.3

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

He also managed to win more aerial battles, whilst also completing more of the passes he attempted, handing Amorim the focal point to play off and allowing for needed link-up play in attacking areas.

Whilst he’s been unable to match his goalscoring record, Jackson has showcased that he has all the tools to emulate his success in England’s top-flight in the years to come.

His comparison to such a high-profile attacker is evidence of the talent he possesses, hopefully making the jump and taking his career to the next level at Old Trafford.

If he can match the levels of Isak during any move to Manchester, it would be a sensational piece of business, handing Amorim that needed centre forward that he needs in 2025/26.

Amorim's own Pogba: Man Utd leading race to sign "sensational" £42m star

Manchester United could be about to make a move to land a key target in their plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 16, 2025

الأهلي يسحق سيدني الأسترالي في افتتاح مشواره بـ كأس العالم لأندية اليد

حقق الفريق الأول لكرة اليد بالنادي الأهلي، الفوز على سيدني الأسترالي، في أولى مبارياته ببطولة العالم لكرة اليد للأندية.

وتُقام جميع مباريات بطول كأس العالم للأندية في الفترة من 26 سبتمبر إلى 2 أكتوبر 2025، على صالة العاصمة الإدارية الجديدة.

وتمكن الأهلي من تحقيق الفوز على سيدني الأسترالي بنتيجة 41/14، علمًا بأن الشوط الأول انتهى بتقدم الأحمر بنتيجة 20/6.

طالع.. تاريخ مشاركات الأهلي في كأس العالم لأندية اليد

ويشارك في البطولة 9 أندية مقسمة على 3 مجموعات، وهي الأهلي، الزمالك، برشلونة الإسباني، فيزبريم المجري، سيدني الأسترالي، ماجديبورج الألماني، كاليفورنيا إيجلز الأمريكي، الشارقة الإماراتي، توباتي البرازيلي.

ويتأهل أول كل مجموعة إلى نصف النهائي، حيث سينضم إليه أفضل فريق يحتل المركز الثاني في المجموعات الثلاث، وستشارك الفرق الخمسة المتبقية في مباريات تحديد المراكز.

Jude Bellingham is back! Real Madrid add injured midfielder to squad for Champions League clash against Marseille in wake of surgery

Jude Bellingham has been named in Real Madrid's squad for their upcoming Champions League match against Marseille. This marks a significant milestone in his recovery from shoulder surgery, signalling his readiness to return to competitive action and provide a crucial boost to the team’s midfield. The England international is set to re-join his teammates after months of intensive rehabilitation.

  • Jude Bellingham makes it to the Champions League squad

    Madrid have officially included Bellingham in their 23-man squad for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Marseille. The match marks Bellingham's anticipated return to following a lengthy recovery period. Bellingham, named in the squad for the first time since the Club World Cup, was initially expected back next month.

  • Advertisement

  • AFP

    Bellingham's injury and recovery timeline

    Bellingham's journey back to fitness began in November 2023 when he suffered a dislocated left shoulder during a La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. Despite the injury, he continued to play, often with a brace, until the discomfort became unbearable. In July 2025, after the Club World Cup, he underwent surgery in London to address the recurrent dislocation. The expected recovery time was 10 to 12 weeks, sidelining him for the early part of the 2025-26 season.

  • Bellingham's road to recovery and hopes ahead

    During his rehabilitation, Bellingham began non-contact training sessions ahead of schedule in early September 2025. Los Blancos' head coach, Xabi Alonso, expressed cautious optimism about Bellingham's return, noting his significant effort in rehabilitation and hoping for his availability before El Clasico. However, the star midfielder has recovered earlier than expected and is set to start this week.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    Bellingham’s expected impact

    With Bellingham's inclusion in the squad for the Champions League opener, Madrid fans are hopeful for a strong performance. His return not only bolsters the midfield but also adds depth to the squad as they embark on their European journey.

Tanush Kotian to join India's Test squad as Ashwin's replacement

Mumbai allrounder was part of the India A tour to Australia before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy began

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2024

Tanush Kotian bowls offspin and has a first-class batting average of 41•Tanuj/Ekana Cricket Stadium

Tanush Kotian, the Mumbai offspin-bowling allrounder, has been picked as R Ashwin’s replacement in India’s squad for the fourth and fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests.Kotian is expected to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday following Ashwin’s retirement at the end of the third Test in Brisbane. He is currently in Ahmedabad as part of the Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts on Thursday with the five-match series level 1-1. Kotian is expected to be back-up for Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, the two spinners in the squad, with Axar Patel unavailable.When asked a day after Kotian’s call-up, Rohit Sharma joked: “Tanush was here a month back [with India A], and Kuldeep [Yadav] I don’t think has a visa… we wanted somebody to get here as quickly as possible. Tanush was the one who was ready and he played here.”Rohit quickly clarified that he had been joking, and elaborated: “Not that Tanush is not good enough. He’s shown in the last two years what he’s done in domestic cricket. And we really wanted just a back-up in case we need two spinners playing here [MCG] or Sydney. You need a back-up option.”Kuldeep of course is not 100% fit. He went through a hernia surgery. And the other options, like Axar – Axar had a baby, so he’s not going to travel. Tanush was the right option for us at this point. He’s certainly shown in the domestic level what he’s capable of. He’s probably one of the reasons why Mumbai has gone on to win the Ranji Trophy last year. He played a major role as an allrounder, so a very good option for us.”Kotian, 26, has played 33 first-class games and taken 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. He has also scored 1525 runs in 47 innings, at 41.21 with two centuries and 13 fifties. He was part of India A’s tour of Australia that preceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – he played one match, scoring 44 runs and taking one wicket.Related

Tanush Kotian raises his all-round game for Mumbai

From Vikhroli to the MCG, the Tanush Kotian story

As Rohit mentioned, Kotian had played a massive part in Mumbai’s victorious 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign, scoring 502 runs at an average of 41.83 and picking up 29 wickets at an average of 16.96, which earned him the Player-of-the-Tournament award. Kotian was the only player to complete the season double of 500 runs and 25 wickets.In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, which is being played in two phases with the T20 and List A tournaments in between, Kotian has played two of Mumbai’s five matches, as he was away in Australia. He has been on target with the ball, picking up 12 wickets at an average of 16.66, but hasn’t had much luck with the bat, scoring 30 runs from three innings. His most recent performance of note, though, had come with the bat, when he scored 64 and 114 not out, both from No. 8, in Mumbai’s Irani Cup win over Rest of India in early October. He took three wickets in his only bowling innings in that game too.Kotian and Manav Suthar, the 22-year-old left-arm spin-bowling allrounder from Rajasthan, are thought of as the next in line when it comes to the India Test set-up, with 31-year-old Saurabh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh possibly having fallen behind in the race. Kotian and Suthar played one game each on that tour of Australia with India A.India’s squad for fourth and fifth TestsRohit Sharma (capt), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian

VIDEO: Still got it! Angel Di Maria steals the show with sensational Olimpico goal against Boca Juniors

Angel Di Maria showed that form is temporary and class is permanent with a remarkable Olimpico goal for Rosario Central against Boca Juniors. The 37-year-old stunned fans at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito after scoring directly from a corner kick at the weekend.

Di Maria scores one of his best ever goals

The former Real Madrid star rolled back the years on Sunday when he scored a rare Olimpico in his team's 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors. And quite rightly, the ex-Argentina international and his Rosario team-mates went wild over his moment of magic.

AdvertisementWatch Di Maria's OlimpicoDi Maria still going strong at 37

Despite entering his late 30s, former Manchester United man Di Maria is still showing he has something to give to the game of football. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain attacker scored 36 goals in 92 games in his second stint at Benfica and after leaving the Portuguese giants this summer, he has started brightly at Rosario – scoring three goals in four games. And goals like these show his quality is still there.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWhat next for Di Maria and Rosario Central?

Di Maria's side, who sit sixth in Group B of the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division, are back in league action on Sunday when they host Talleres Cordoba. Realistically, they need to win that game against the second-from-bottom side if they want to progress to the next stage of the competition.

Ian Botham elected as Durham honorary president as stint as chair comes to end

Ian Botham has been elected as honorary president of Durham, after completing a seven-year term as the club chair, with Phil Collins, his vice-chair, stepping into the role with immediate effect.Botham, who was appointed in 2017 having played for Durham in the club’s maiden seasons as a first-class county in 1992 and 1993, attracted controversy last year for his scathing response to the report into cricket’s racism crisis by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which he described as “nonsense” and claimed he “threw down on the floor”.In response, ICEC chair Cindy Butts told MPs at a Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing in February that the ECB lacked “a moral backbone” in failing to distance itself from Botham’s comments, adding that Botham himself had been asked to give evidence to the inquiry, but had not responded.Speaking after the end of Botham’s Durham tenure was confirmed, ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “Over 50 years, Lord Botham has made a huge contribution to English cricket and in particular to Durham, first as a player before returning as chair in 2017 at a very challenging time for the club.”Collins, who became vice-chair and a director of Durham in 2017, enters the role with over 35 years’ of commercial and marketing experience in various industries, along with a lifelong passion for cricket.He takes over with Durham restored to the top flight of the County Championship, having been relegated back in 2016 as punishment for a financial crisis that required the ECB to bail them out.Botham took over as chair soon afterwards, and said in a press release from the club: “I am delighted with what has been achieved at the Club during my tenure both on and off the field.”Our men’s team have performed superbly in recent times and this was evident with our promotion to Division One and our performances last year in the topflight.”Our successful Tier 1 bid is huge for the region and we are absolutely delighted to bring professional women’s sport to the region.”It’s a huge endorsement of the pathway we already have at Durham and the potential of the region and our squad and coaching staff is coming together very nicely.”I look forward to working with Phil to achieve our goals and build on our successes, as I wish him all the best as our new Club Chair.”Collins added: “I’m delighted to have taken on the role of chair in what is a very exciting time for Durham Cricket. Lord Ian and the board has laid strong foundations for many years and I am looking forward to building on the work which has been achieved.”The response to my election has been magnificent and everyone has been very supportive. “I can’t wait for the season to start and for our men’s and women’s teams to get competing on the field, while we work on some exciting projects off it too.”

Novo reforço do Santos, Luan Dias sofre lesão em partida de estreia

MatériaMais Notícias

A ausência dos três pontos não é a única coisa ruim que o Santos leva do duelo contra o Atlético-MG, pelo Brasileirão. Após realização de exames, o meio-campista Luan Dias, que fez sua estreia pelo Peixe neste último domingo (23), teve detectadauma lesão muscular moderada na posterior da coxa esquerda.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Com isso, o jogador se junta a outros jogadores na lista de lesionados do Peixe. São eles:Lucas Braga (fortalecimento no púbis), João Lucas (edema muscular), Zabala (lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho esquerdo), Felipe Jonatan (ruptura total do ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho esquerdo) e Lucas Barbosa (lesão ligamentar do tornozelo esquerdo)

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosElenco do Santos é um dos 10 mais valiosos da Série A do Campeonato BrasileiroSantos24/04/2023SantosColeção de roupas do Santos com o Charlie Brown Jr é finalista de prêmio internacionalSantos24/04/2023SantosAinda sem vaga para a Copa do Brasil 2024, Santos não disputará a Copa PaulistaSantos24/04/2023

+Eduardo Barroca vai sair da fila? Veja 12 técnicos que ainda estão atrás do primeiro título

Desses listados, o mais próximo de um retorno é Lucas Braga, que já participou de atividades com outros jogadores nos treinamentos. Além do ponta, João Lucas está em transição física e deve retornar para os exercícios com o resto dos atletas do Santos em um futuro breve.

Ainda tratando a lesão sofrida contra o Grêmio, Lucas Barbosa faz seu tratamento junto da fisioterapia do clube e ainda deve desfalcar o Alvinegro Praiano por algumas semanas. Felipe Jonatan e Leonardo Zabala devem perder o resto da temporada do Santos para poder tratar o LCA do joelho esquerdo.

O tempo de recuperação de Luan Dias não foi divulgado, mas esse tipo de lesão pode levar de quatro até seis semanas para a recuperação total.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus