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Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus believes Serhou Guirassy should've been signed by the Bavarians in 2023, when they signed Harry Kane.

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Matthaus praises Dortmund striker GuirassyWanted Bayern to sign Guinea internationalGuirassy is Champions League's top scorer this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Bayern Munich player Lothar Matthaus believes that Serhou Guirassy would have been the ideal number nine for the Bavarians and they should have signed him in 2023. The summer of 2023 was a big one for Die Roten as they signed Harry Kane from Spurs for a club-record fee.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Guirassy has been among the best strikers in Europe this season, thriving at Borussia Dortmund. In what has been an otherwise bleak campaign for BVB, Guirassy has scored 10 goals for the men in Black and Yellow in the Champions League, sitting at the top of the goal scorers list in the competition. The 28-year-old has scored 23 goals in 31 games in all competitions.

On the other hand, Kane has been at his usual best, scoring goals left, right, and center for Bayern. He has scored 73 goals in 77 games since arriving in 2023, showing no signs of decline even though he is approaching the age of 32.

WHAT LOTHAR MATTHAUS SAID

"I said two years ago that he is a striker for Bayern Munich," Matthaus said while speaking on Sky Sports (h/t BILD).

"His speed, his power and his assertiveness make him strong. For me he is one of the best strikers in Europe. He showed that during his last year in Stuttgart, and now he is showing it in the league and in the Champions League."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SERHOU GUIRASSY?

Guirassy fired four goals against Union Berlin over the weekend. He will next be seen in action against FC St. Pauli on Saturday, March 1.

Daniel Drew brought up a maiden century after a nervous wait early in the day

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2022Marcus Harris warmed up for next month’s tour of Pakistan with a confident half-century for Victoria, but it was South Australia who held the upper hand at the midway point of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.Wickets in the final session saw Victoria throw away a bright start to their innings to be 5 for 151, still 215 runs in arrears of the home side’s 366.Harris and Will Pucovski, who is playing in his first first-class match since his Test debut against India in January 2021, continued their strong record as an opening pair, looking comfortable in putting on 110 on a flat Adelaide Oval pitch.Left out of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart when Usman Khawaja made an irresistible case to be retained after his twin hundreds, Harris didn’t offer any chances on his Shield return until miscuing a pull shot to be caught at deep square-leg for 58 as South Australia’s short-ball approach paid offPucovski’s 123-ball innings, which follows another bout of concussion which kept him out of the first part of the season, came to an end when he was caught behind off David Grant for 54 as he toe-ended a pull although he did not seem thrilled with the decision. Peter Handscomb, Jonathan Merlo and Matt Short soon followed as Victoria lost 4 for 15.Earlier, Daniel Drew posted a maiden century in just his second Shield outing but it was a nervous experience for the rookie. He resumed on 96 only to be tied down for the best part of three quarters of an hour before reaching three figures and ending on 130.Ashes hero Scott Boland was at his frugal best returning 4 for 61 from 28 overs though he was unable to add to his first-day wicket haul after South Australia recommenced on 5 for 280.Twenty-one-year-old fast bowler Mitch Perry overshadowed him by taking three of the five wickets to fall. Drew set about securing quick runs after reaching his hundred before being caught behind off Perry as South Australia lost 4 for 19 at the back end of their innings.

It has been a tough few weeks for Aston Villa, despite a brilliant start to the season for Unai Emery’s side. They lost just one of their first 12 games in all competitions, a 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.

That included a memorable 1-0 win at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

However, they have had a serious downturn in their form over the past few weeks. Emery’s men have not won in the last five matches, and have actually lost all of their last four in all competitions.

It is certainly a concerning run that they will be hoping for an upturn in form once club football resumes next week.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, it might be a good time to refresh the squad as they look to buck the trend of losses and start the new year on a high. Three names in particular could be smart sales for the Villans…

1 Diego Carlos

The first player who could leave Villa Park in January is defender Diego Carlos. According to a report from Football Insider, Emery ‘could give the green light to sell’ the Brazilian centre-back. Fulham were interested in the 31-year-old over the summer, and might well be interested again.

Carlos has been something of a bit-part player for the Midlands club this term, featuring 11 times in all competitions. Having started just 36% of the games in the Premier League, the lack of opportunities might well be frustrating for the defender, who earns £100k-per-week.

However, he has struggled at times this term, particularly against Ipswich Town. Coming up against one of the division’s most in-form attackers, Liam Delap, Carlos put in a disappointing performance. Tim Sherwood was critical, explaining the Brazilian’s defending “was so bad” against the Tractor Boys.

With the likes of Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa as first choices at the back, plus Tyrone Mings making a full return from a serious year-long injury, it will be tough for Carlos to regain his place in the side, making a transfer a sensible solution for all parties.

2 Matty Cash

Poland international Matty Cash has had an important role to play at Villa Park since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2020 for £16m. The right-back has played 148 games for the club, contributing to 19 goals in that time.

Stat

Games

Minutes

G/A

2020/21

28

2378

2

2021/22

40

3574

8

2022/23

28

1908

1

2023/23

46

3319

8

2024/25

6

428

0

This season, despite a short time on the sideline with a hamstring injury, the 27-year-old has featured several times under Emery. The £80k-per-week star has played six times, all in the Premier League, although he is yet to see any European action.

Emery has tended to select Konsa at right-back instead of the Slough-born defender. Although the England international is a centre-back by trade, he has slotted in on the right side of defence six times this term, with half of those appearances coming in the Champions League.

Cash was described as an “upgradeable” player by football analyst Ben Mattinson. With Konsa an option there, and youngster Kosta Nedeljkovic knocking on the door as his understudy, selling Cash and replacing him internally or with a new purchase on lower wages might be the way forward for the Villans.

3 Emiliano Buendia

It has been a long road to recovery for Villa attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, who recently returned to full fitness following an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out from August 2023 to June 2024.

Sadly, the Argentine has not found a starting berth easy to come by this term and has struggled for any regular minutes in the Villans midfield. Buendia has featured eight times in all competitions, but has started just two games, both in the Carabao Cup, and has 32 minutes to his name in six appearances in the Premier League and Champions League.

There is no doubting his quality. Football statistician Statman Dave described him as “magic” at his previous club, Norwich City. His record there is superb, with 24 goals and 41 assists in 121 games for the club, but his form has been mixed since returning from injury this season.

There is plenty of competition in those attacking midfield areas, with the likes of Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey currently first choice for Emery in those roles.

The Villa number 10, who earns £75k-per-week and was a target for Leeds United in the summer – might well decide to leave for pastures anew, so he can get back to playing regular football now he is back to full fitness.

If all those exits were to occur, the Villans would be able to free up roughly £255k-per-week on the wage bill…

Aston Villa eyeing move for new £25m target who could replace Diego Carlos

Aston Villa are interested in a player who could potentially replace the Brazilian.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 19, 2024

The Partenopei have taken just three points from their last four games going into Saturday's showdown at the Maradona

Antonio Conte was typically testy after Sunday's surprising 2-1 loss at Como, which led to his Napoli side being displaced at the summit of Serie A by Inter.

When he was asked if he felt if the young man in the home dugout, Cesc Fabregas, was capable of having a career as "fortunate" as his own, Conte quickly countered, "A fortunate career? No, a successful career. You have to be careful with your words. Everything I've achieved, I've achieved because I broke my back."

And that's precisely why Conte was in such foul form on the banks of the beautiful Lake Como. As he said himself, his players had initially responded well to the concession of an early own goal, drawing level soon after through Giacomo Raspadori to go in all-square at the break, but simply didn't turn up for the second half.

"Today," Conte continued, "we were Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde. And it's not the first time it's happened this season."

Indeed, much like Naples itself, there are two sides to Conte's team, and nobody is quite sure which one will turn up for Saturday's Scudetto showdown with Inter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona…

Getty Images SportStruggling to see any positives

Napoli pulled their first disappearing act in Conte's very first game as coach. "We melted like snow in the sun," he fumed after the 3-0 loss at Verona on the opening day of the season.

Conte felt compelled to apologise to the fans for his side's second-half no-show at the Marcantonio Bentegodi, and while he took responsibility for the defeat, he also made some disparaging references to Napoli's activity in the transfer market.

Given the well-travelled coach has plenty of previous when it comes to complaining about his employers' perceived parsimony, it was extremely disconcerting for Partenopei supporters to hear their new coach expressing his dissatisfaction with the "situation" he had found the club in. "I expected more positives but I've struggled to find any," he ominously revealed.

Even by Conte's standards, that was one hell of a public rebuke after just one match in charge.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportReinforcements finally arrive

In fairness to Conte, though, his frustration was understandable. Napoli made a complete mess of Victor Osimhen's pre-planned exit (even if the player and his representatives must also take a significant share of the blame for the club's most valuable asset ending up on loan at Galatasaray), and that unexpected shambles effectively put the Partenopei's summer recruitment strategy on hold for several weeks.

However, when Napoli finally began to bring in some of Conte's transfer targets, he started to work his magic. A team that had finished 10th in 2023-24 suddenly looked as formidable as the champions of the season before.

Just a week after the Verona debacle, Napoli embarked upon a nine-game undefeated run in which they took 25 points from a possible 27 – and summer signings Romelu Lukaku (a Conte favourite), Scott McTominay and Alessandro Buongiorno were all integral to the sudden upturn in form.

AFPMore frustration in the market

Napoli were by no means the finished article, though, and Conte knew it. He was repeatedly at pains to point out that what his players were doing was "not normal", and his side's shortcomings were exposed in home defeats to Atalanta and Lazio in the lead-up to Christmas.

Nonetheless, as the close of the winter window approached, Napoli were once again on another hot streak, winning seven games in a row between December 14 and January 25, culminating in a come-from-behind win over Juventus that confirmed the Partenopei as legitimate title contenders. However, the transfer market was once again proving a source of immense irritation for Conte – and, once again, it was easy to understand why.

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Getty Images SportNo replacement for 'Kvaradona'

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's January move to Paris Saint-Germain was an undoubted blow for Napoli, but it shouldn't have been anything close to fatal. The deal had been coming since last summer, and it was presumed that a significant chunk of the €70 million (£58m/$73m) raised from selling the Georgian would be immediately reinvested in a championship-chasing squad.

Napoli were, at the very least, expected to sign a worthy replacement for Kvaratskhelia, whose form had fluctuated wildly since his Scudetto-winning heroics in 2022-23, and Alejandro Garnacho was Conte's No.1 choice. However, Napoli not only failed to agree personal teams with the Manchester United winger, they couldn't convince Karim Adeyemi to join from Borussia Dortmund either.

Consequently, they ended up taking Noah Okafor on loan from AC Milan on deadline day – a deal that smacked of desperation and did absolutely nothing to boost the first team's title tilt.

In-form batter feels left-arm spinner’s success is testament to his persistence in developing his skills

Mohammad Isam03-Mar-2022Litton Das feels Nasum Ahmed’s superb spell of 4 for 10 in the first T20I against Afghanistan is a testament to the left-arm spinner’s persistence in developing his skills. Nasum’s bowling in the powerplay in which he decimated the Afghanistan top order changed the game, according to Litton, who himself made an important contribution of 60 off 44 balls to Bangladesh’s total of 155 for 8.”When we got together in the dressing room for a team meeting mid-innings, we said that this was not a big score, neither is it a small score,” Litton said. “Batters have to think if the chase is to get 150-160 runs. Whether they should be aggressive or not. Whether to preserve the wickets. Nasum bowled a game-changing spell. It would have been a different game if he didn’t give us the early breakthroughs, like if they were 40 for 1 in the powerplay. I think it was a better wicket, so he bowled brilliantly.”Bangladesh bowled Afghanistan out for 94, the fourth time in the last eight months they’ve bowled out an opposition for a double-figure total. This was Nasum’s third four-wicket haul in T20Is, and it equalled his best figures in the format, which he took against New Zealand last year.”I have never believed that he is like your average left-arm spinner,” Litton said. “I play him a lot in the nets. He always tries to do things differently, particularly in his change of pace. I think that’s important in T20s. A batter finds it easy to pick a bowler who bowls in one rhythm.”Litton, whose partnerships with Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain gave Bangladesh the platform for a big finish, put his improved form in the last few months down to his mentality.”Everyone says cricket is a mental game,” he said. “If you think clearly, you will have a lot of time in your hand. I would still say that you get time in T20s even though it is the shortest format. That’s mainly because I am in the top-order. I think it is all in the mindset, when you decide how you want to play in each format.”Litton is one of the few Bangladesh batters who is a regular in all three formats. He said that he was confident of going after Afghanistan’s bowling having played Mujeeb ur Rahman in the BPL, but added that being in form in other formats also helped him in T20s.”I think both the format and being in good form matter. It is a different ball game in each format. You have to rush a bit in T20s. You have enough time in ODIs and Tests. Being in good touch helps you in every format.”We had around 160 in our plans. If we thought of getting more runs, it would have been high-risk batting, especially against their quality of spinners. I was playing Mujeeb well, having faced him regularly in the BPL. I had the confidence to use the circle.”

Rangers have now been offered the chance to sign a new midfielder in January as they look to recover from their dismal start to the season, it has been claimed.

Rangers reinforcements required in January

Philippe Clement’s side are currently 11 points behind reigning champions and Glasgow rivals Celtic, having endured a tough start to the season in the Scottish Premiership. Worse still, they are seven points behind Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen side, who have enjoyed a rich run of form in the opening months of the campaign and sit second in the league.

Losses to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen as well as Celtic have been damaging to Clement’s side, while they have also been unable to go on one of their usual winning runs that often characterise their campaigns.

There are still chances of silverware this season though, with Rangers impressing in the Europa League and still with a chance of lifting either of the Scottish Cups, with Clement’s side facing Celtic in the semi-final of the League cup before Christmas. One of the problem areas for his side have been the central areas.

Young duo Connor Barron (22) and Mohamed Diomande (23) have been at the base of Rangers’ midfield, and it has been a shoot-out between Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Nicolas Raskin for the third midfield spot.

Player

Appearances

Goals and assists

Mohamed Diomande

11

3

Connor Barron

13

0

Nicolas Raskin

10

0

Ianis Hagi

4

1

Kieran Dowell

8

0

Tom Lawrence

8

5

Nedim Bajrami

9

1

Clearly, there is room for improvement in that area, with no one able to provide a consistent attacking threat from the middle of the pitch to support unlikely new marksman Cyriel Dessers, who frustrated and dazzled last season but now appears to be more consistent in front of goal. Now, they could land a new option to help them push on in the second half of the campaign.

Rangers offered chance to sign "very good" midfielder

That comes as a fresh report has revealed that Rangers and Clement have now been offered the chance to sign out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in January.

The former Aston Villa youngster has seen his gametime severely limited since Enzo Maresca’s arrival, who admitted in the summer that though he was a “very good” midfielder, he was not going to get much action in west London.

Rangers now in talks to agree new transfer fee for impressive £16k-p/w ace

The two clubs had agreed a fee but now they are moving the goalposts.

1 ByBen Browning Dec 3, 2024

“Carney, I think he is a very good player. With us, is he going to play 35 games? I’m not sure”, the Italian explained. “The problem is, because of some injuries in the past, I think the best for him is to play 30 or 35 games in a row, to show himself that he is fit and how good he is because he is very good.”

Having failed to secure a loan move in the summer, he is now set to leave in January and is open to moving to Ibrox, according to The Boot Room, recognising that he needs regular first team football.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are happy for him to leave either as part of a “loan move or a permanent departure”, though the latter would be a club record move for Rangers and is therefore highly unlikely. Even a loan move could see them need to pay a substantial chunk of the 21-year-old’s £100,000 a week wages, so it remains to be seen how flexible Chelsea are on that front.

Known as a box to box midfielder with an eye for goal from his time among the youth setup, Chukwuemeka could add another dimension to Rangers’ midfield for the second half of the season, and could help them push for success come the end of the campaign.

Javier Mascherano's side defended a 1-0 lead with aplomb as their star man missed third consecutive match

Inter Miami turned in a composed performance against Charlotte Sunday, easing to a 1-0 win at home despite playing over half of the game with just 10 men. Javier Mascherano's side made it hard on themselves after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was sent off in the first half, but a sublime connection between Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende was all they needed to pick up a valuable three points against fellow Eastern Conference contenders.

Charlotte looked the more likely side to make things happen early on, with Wilfried Zaha's energy combined with Patrick Agyemang's strength giving Miami problems. It was a Zaha run that tipped the balance of the game. The former Crystal Palace man darted in behind, and Ustari nudged him over outside the box – leaving the referee no choice to send him off.

Miami set up effectively, though, and took the lead early in the second half. Suarez provided the pass, a lovely drop over the defense to Allende – who controlled and found the bottom corner. And that was all the Herons needed. They sat on the game otherwise, slowing the pace down and defending their own box.

Suarez was removed after an hour. There were some nervy moments. Idan Toklomati hit the post after a well-crafted move. Noah Allen, in particular, was called into action as the Herons defended their lead.

It was a fine afternoon's work for Mascherano's side, who were able to once again rest Lionel Messi – his third straight missed match, second in a row in MLS play – freshen up some legs, and ensure that the focus can now turn to Thursday's CONCACAF Champions Cup fixture with Cavalier.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium.

Goalkeeper & Defense

Oscar Ustari (3/10):

An absolute nightmare for the goalie. Nothing to do then picked up a very sllly red.

Gonzalo Lujan (5/10):

A solid shift at right back. Handled Zaha reasonably well after the break – in particular.

Noah Allen (7/10):

Lost track of Zaha a few times, but was otherwise sold against Agyemang.

Tomas Aviles (5/10):

Picked up a yellow early and never settled. Only managed 47 minutes.

Jordi Alba (7/10):

Up and down the left wing with regularity. Made a couple of key defensive interventions, and some of his link up play was sublime.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Yannick Bright (8/10):

Covered all of the spaces that Busquets couldn't, completed the most tackles in the match. A clinic in defensive midfield play.

Sergio Busquets (6/10):

Not his best game, all told. Progressed the ball effectively, but he looked a bit leggy. He struggles when Miami aren't in total control.

Benjamin Cremaschi (N/A):

Energetic and lively, before being sacrificed when Miami went down to 10 men.

GettyAttack

Telasco Segovia (5/10):

A level below his recent form. Didn't get involved much and failed to create a chance.

Luis Suarez (7/10):

Served as constant nuisance, and stood out in his one big moment by providing a lovely assist. A wonderful hour's work, all said.

Tadeo Allende (7/10):

Took his goal nicely and never stopped running. Looks a fine piece of offseason business in replacing Diego Gomez.

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GettySubs & Manager

Rocco Rios Novo (6/10):

Subbed on to play in goal. Didn't have loads to do but went about his business well.

Ian Fray (7/10):

A solid shift at the back, especially against Charlotte's physicality in attack

Federico Redondo (6/10):

Covered much ground, but gave the ball away a few times.

David Ruiz (6/10):

Extra legs in midfield.

Hector Martinez (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Javier Mascherano (8/10):

Probably his finest day as Miami manager yet. The Herons went down to 10 men but he handled everything well and set up his side effectively to defend a narrow lead – even with Messi on the bench.

Masood’s 239 allows Derbyshire to declare on 505 for 8 before visitors are bowled out for just 174

ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2022Sussex are facing an uphill task to avoid defeat following a spectacular collapse on the second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Derbyshire.After the home side racked up 505 for 8 declared, Sussex imploded, losing 6 for 63, to be bowled out in the final over for 174, a daunting 331 behind.Fast bowler Sam Conners claimed 3 for 47 and 19-year-old seamer Nick Potts marked his first-class debut by taking 3 for 43, including the wicket of captain Tom Haines, who top-scored with 41.Haines had been the pick of his team’s attack with 1 for 35 from 18 overs, ending the third-wicket stand of 292 between Shan Masood and Wayne Madsen, a Derbyshire record for any wicket against Sussex.Masood scored a magnificent 239 from 340 balls and Madsen 111, his 32nd first-class hundred for Derbyshire, before all-rounder Alex Thomson struck a 49-ball 50.Masood and Madsen had begun the second day as they ended the first, moving remorselessly on to eclipse Derbyshire’s previous highest stand against Sussex of 274 between Billy Godleman and Luis Reece at Derby in 2019.Madsen reached his century, surprisingly his first in the Championship at Derby for six years, when he turned Jamie Atkins off his hip for his seventh four.He drove Haines down the ground for another but the Sussex skipper got his reward for a probing spell from the Racecourse End by beating Madsen’s drive in the 16th over of the morning.It was Sussex’s first success since before lunch on day one but they did not have to wait long for the next as four wickets fell for 27.Leus du Plooy never looked comfortable and his attempt to drive James Coles over the top ended in the hands of Haines at mid off.Reece was caught behind as he tried to carve Atkins and Masood’s superb innings finally ended in the next over. His seven-and-a-half-hour masterclass in timing and placement was ended by a reverse sweep which looped into the gloves of Pakistan team mate Mohammed Rizwan.Masood left to applause from the Sussex players and a standing ovation but if Sussex hoped his departure would signal a quick end to the innings they were disappointed.Thomson pressed hard on the accelerator and, with Anuj Dal, added 76 before the declaration left Sussex needing 356 to avoid the follow-on.When Haines was dropped on eight at second slip by Madsen in the second over, it threatened to prove costly as the openers scored freely, but the dismissal of the captain sparked a collapse.Haines was trapped half forward by Potts and after Tom Alsop was caught behind down the leg side, Conners brought one back to pin Ali Orr lbw.Cheteshwar Pujara dabbed at a wide ball and Rizwan also edged one he did not need to play before Tom Clark charged Thomson and edged to slip.Coles and Oli Carter showed more application but Potts brought one back to remove Coles and Steve Finn fell to Dal before Potts claimed his third victim.A miserable day for Sussex ended when du Plooy struck with his third ball to leave Sussex with the prospect of following on in the morning.

Celtic splashed the cash in the summer transfer window earlier this year to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Midfielder Matt O’Riley was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion and the Hoops reacted to that by swooping for the likes of Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo – who re-joined permanently after his loan spell last term.

The Bhoys only paid a reported fee of £1m to Dundee to sign McCowan, but smashed their club record transfer fee to sign Engels from Augsburg for £11m.

With less than half a season played since those summer signings have played, Rodgers may be pleased with the output from his midfielders this term.

Celtic's midfield goalscorers

Captain Callum McGregor currently leads the way for midfielders with six goals in all competitions for the Scottish giants so far this season, smashing his tally of two from the 2023/24 campaign.

Engels, who was brought in for a club-record fee, is still adapting to life in Glasgow and has only managed four goals in 20 appearances for the Hoops to date, three of which came from the penalty spot.

Callum McGregor

22

6

Reo Hatate

24

5

Arne Engels

20

4

Luke McCowan

18

3

Paulo Bernardo

24

3

As you can see in the table above, Japan international Reo Hatate has outscored all three of the new signings in midfield, with five goals in 24 matches.

Every midfielder in the squad has, however, scored at least three goals in all competitions and this shows that Rodgers is getting plenty of offensive production from that area of the park.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

There is a former Celtic central midfielder, though, who has outscored Hatate, Engels, McCowan, and Bernardo for his new club this season – Tomoki Iwata.

Tomoki Iwata's form since leaving Celtic

The Hoops made the ruthless decision to cash in on the Japanese ace after he scored one goal in 24 appearances for the club in all competitions last season, despite Rodgers describing him as an “important” player who was “really good” when called upon to provide cover.

Despite his apparent importance to the side to cover for the likes of McGregor and Hatate, the Northern Irishman allowed him to move on after the arrivals of McCowan, Bernardo, and Engels.

English side Birmingham City swooped in to sign the 27-year-old star to bolster their options in the middle of the park, and it has turned out to be an exceptional piece of business for the third tier outfit.

Iwata, who only scored one goal in 42 matches for Celtic in his career in Glasgow, has already scored six goals in 16 games for Birmingham from a central midfield position.

Four of his five strikes in League One have been from outside the box and, as you can see in the clip above, that has been down to his ability to react to situations around the edge of the box to then take aim from distance.

The former Celtic star has also completed 86% of his attempted passes and won 57% of his duels across 13 appearances in the league for Birmingham, which shows that he has been reliable with the ball at his feet and in physical duels.

Iwata has thrived since moving on from Parkhead, outscoring Engels and Hatate, among others, but it appears as though it has worked out for all parties involved, as Celtic have got goals from a number of different midfielders, and the Japanese ace is now enjoying his time in England.

Celtic have unearthed a "magical" star who's now similar to a £74m gem

Brendan Rodgers has unearthed Celtic’s new superstar with the fantastic forward.

ByDan Emery Dec 12, 2024

Premium tequila producer partners with Italian football giants for collector's item ahead of the club’s 125th anniversary

Striking black and red design mirrors iconic AC Milan jersey colorsRun of 125 bottles to celebrate AC Milan's 125th anniversaryExclusive release features a limited batch of añejo tequilaAC MilanWHAT HAPPENED

Cincoro Tequila and AC Milan have unveiled a limited-edition bottle to commemorate the club's 125th anniversary. The release blends the rich history of one of football's most storied clubs with a premium tequila brand.

The ultra-executive release will feature a run of just 125 bottles, each individually numbered and mirroring iconic jersey colors, priced at $325 (€295) each. The exclusive release features a limited batch of Cincoro's award-winning añejo tequila, which has been aged for more than 20 months.

“The red and black design is a tribute to our rich history, relentless passion, and enduring legacy," said Maikel Oettle, Milan's chief commercial officer. "This collaboration honors the heritage of our club, while bringing together the world of football and premium spirits, offering a truly exceptional experience for those who appreciate the artistry of both."

AdvertisementAC MilanWHAT CINCORO SAID

Emilia Fazzalari, Cincoro Tequila co-founder & executive chairperson, raved about the collaboration that honors AC Milan's 125-year legacy.

“With only 125 bottles designed in their signature red and black, we’re honoring the team’s incredible legacy, 125 years of excellence and passion that have defined AC Milan on and off the pitch," Fazzalari said. "This exclusive release allows us to offer both AC Milan fans and premium spirits connoisseurs a unique experience.”

This premium release is showcased through a store takeover at AC Milan’s Flagship Store, where consumers can reserve a bottle for purchase.

AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Cincoro Tequila, founded in 2019, is a premium spirits brand created by five NBA legends. The ownership group includes Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Wes Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks, Emilia Fazzalari and Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics, and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.

The brand has quickly gained recognition in the spirits industry, winning multiple awards for its quality and craftsmanship.

According to the company, "five friendly competitors met for dinner and bonded over their shared passion for tequila. After many more adventures together, this group of five founding partners set out with one mission: to create the finest tequila anyone has ever tasted."

GettyWHAT’S NEXT?

The 125th anniversary celebration notwithstanding, U.S. international Christian Pulisic and AC Milan are enduring a tough season as the club currently sit in ninth place on the table. They are, however, only five points behind fifth place Juventus and face second place Napoli after the international break on March 31.

Pulisic's efforts continued as the American sparked a 2-1 come-from-behind win for AC Milan over Como on the weekend.