Ronaldinho is regarded as one of the most skilful footballers of all time, however, the Brazilian icon once admitted he was jealous of one England legend’s ability.
The former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan star almost signed for Manchester United, with those at Old Trafford viewing him as a replacement for David Beckham. However, those at the Nou Camp hijacked any deal with the attacker going on to become a Barcelona star.
Eze, Ronaldo, Beckham: The biggest hijacked transfers of all time
Plenty of high profile deals have been dramatic.
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Charlie Smith
Aug 26, 2025
Ronaldinho never played his club football in England but did break the Three Lions’ hearts in the 2002 World Cup, scoring the winning goal by lobbing David Seaman in the quarter-finals.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner also came up against Premier League sides in the Champions League, a competition he won with Barcelona in 2006.
During his playing days, one specific Premier League and England icon caught Ronaldinho’s eye.
Ronaldinho wanted to be like England legend Paul Scholes
Talking previously, Ronaldinho shared his admiration for Manchester United and England legend Paul Scholes.
Regarded as one of the best midfielders the Premier League has ever seen, Scholes starred under Sir Alex Ferguson after coming through the Red Devils’ academy.
Known best for his range of passing, technical ability and midfield intelligence, Scholes won 11 league titles and scored over 150 goals in more than 700 appearances for Man Utd.
Ronaldinho came up against Scholes in the 2002 World Cup and then again in the 2009/10 Champions League round of 16 with AC Milan.
Man Utd and Scholes got the better of Ronaldinho and AC Milan, defeating them 7-2 on aggregate, and the Brazilian admitted he was jealous of the Englishman’s passing ability.
Thierry Henry was “scared” of Man Utd icon Scholes
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry was someone who Scholes faced more regularly during his career, with the French forward losing eight times in 19 games against the Englishman and Man Utd.
Henry once revealed that he and his Gunners teammates were “always scared of what Scholes could do” with the ball at his feet.
Doctors say his heart function “seemed fine” on Tuesday morning following the angioplasty procedure
Mohammad Isam25-Mar-2025Tamim Iqbal’s heart function “seemed fine” this morning according to doctors, who have advised the former Bangladesh captain plenty of rest following an angioplasty procedure after he suffered a heart attack during a DPL game on Monday.Health officials visited Tamim at the Savar Hospital on Tuesday and Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, said he had to be extremely careful over the next three days.”This morning his heart function seemed fine,” Chowdhury said at a press conference. “There may be an abnormal beat again. The risk is low. Less than 1%. But if it happens, then it is a 100% risk for that patient. Tamim is our national asset. He should stay at KPJ Hospital for 48 to 72 hours. Then he will be able to move.”We told him that there is a slight risk so that there are no further problems, that the next 48-72 hours are a critical period. He should talk less. He should rest a little. He should not be excited in any way. The initial period is for him to stabilise here for a while and then he can go to a good place for his rehabilitation.”Tamim was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier League match in BKSP in Savar when he was taken ill and had to be rushed to hospital for an angioplasty.Chowdhury said Tamim could play cricket again in three months if his recovery goes according to plan. “48 to 72 hours is risky. And he will have to be given three months to return to normal activities like sports. Apart from that, he will do normal activities and walk at home. But he will have to rest.”On Tuesday, Tamim wrote a post on Facebook thanking the doctors. “By the grace of Allah and all your prayers, I have come back,” he wrote. “I am fortune that so many amazing people were around me in my time of need. All your efforts and prudence helped me overcome the crisis. My request is for everyone to stand by each other. I thank all of you. Keep praying for me and my family. Without you, there’s no Tamim Iqbal.”He was moved to a hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.
تحدث أحمد حسن، مدير منتخب مصر الثاني المقرر مشاركته في بطولة كأس العرب القادمة في قطر، عن المعسكر المقام حاليًا في المغرب لخوض مواجهتين وديتين أمام المغرب والبحرين.
وكان منتخب مصر الثاني التقي مع المغرب يوم الخميس، وخسر بهدفين دون رد، ومن المقرر أن يلعب ضد البحرين غدًا الأحد.
طالع | موعد مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني القادمة بعد الخسارة أمام المغرب
وقال حسن خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “المعسكر جيد استعدادًا لبطولة كبيرة، والمنتخب سيمثل اسم مصر في قطر، بطولة مهمة وقوية، ونستعد بشكل جيد”.
وأضاف: “لعبنا مباراة كبيرة أمام المغرب الذي كان يمتلك 10 لاعبين محترفين، حتى في الشوط الثاني لعب 7 محترفين، والمباراة كانت جيدة، وكانت تجربة مهمة ومفيدة”.
وتابع: “إن شاء الله نستعد بشكل جيد وننافس على لقب بطولة العرب، حلمي طولان ضم لاعبين كبار وأصحاب خبرات، كل لاعب منهم خاض على الأقل 40 أو 50 مباراة دولية”.
وأكمل: “من ضمن الأمور المزعجة إن فيفا وضع مباراتين لنا في البطولة مع مباريات لبيراميدز في كأس إنتركونتينننتال، كل الفرق العربية ستشارك بمنتخبها الأول عدا مصر وتونس والجزائر، فستكون بطولة قوية وصعبة”.
طالع | مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر الثاني في كأس العرب 2025
وأتم: “المهندس هاني أبو ريدة قال لنا البطولة مهمة ونريد الفوز بها لأن العائد المادي كبير جدًا، وإن شاء الله نقدم أداءً كبيرًا”.
وكانت قد أسفرت قرعة بطولة كأس العرب عن تواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة مع الأردن والإمارات والفائز من (الكويت ضد موريتانيا).
A CBF definiu para a próxima terça-feira, dia 2 de maio, o sorteio das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. O evento será às 13h na sede da entidade, no Rio de Janeiro.
Os times classificados para a próxima fase do torneio são América-MG, Atlético-MG, Athletico, Bahia, Botafogo, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Fluminense, Fortaleza, Grêmio, Internacional, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo e Sport.
+ Confira a tabela completa da Copa do Brasil
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Quando serão as oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil?
– Os confrontos serão a partir do dia 17 de maio e devem ser finalizados até dia 31 do mesmo mês.
O Palmeiras treinou na tarde desta terça-feira (02) no estádio do Emelec, em Guayaquil, dando sequência à preparação para enfrentar o Barcelona-EQU nesta quarta-feira (03), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio Monumental, pela terceira rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. O lateral Mayke, que foi titular na vitória por 2 a 1 contra o Corinthians, afirmou que todos os atletas sempre trabalham muito para aproveitar as oportunidades dadas por Abel, ressaltando que todos os jogos são encarados como ‘finais’ pelo Verdão.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras segue preparação para enfrentar o Barcelona-EQU pela Libertadores; veja provável timePalmeiras02/05/2023PalmeirasBarcelona-EQU x Palmeiras: onde assistir, prováveis escalações e desfalques do jogo pela LibertadoresPalmeiras02/05/2023MinutoEm confronto inédito na Copa do Brasil, Palmeiras pega o Fortaleza nas oitavas de finalMinuto02/05/2023
+ Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui
– Não só eu, mas todos os meus companheiros fazem um bom trabalho dentro de campo, treinam sempre firme, para quando as oportunidades aparecerem conseguir aproveitar da melhor maneira. Tenho certeza de que não será diferente amanhã. Temos um jogo importante e vamos fazer de tudo para conseguir um bom resultado fora de casa – disse Mayke.
– Aqui no Palmeiras, cada jogo encaramos como uma final. Até o final do ano, temos que encarar assim, seja Libertadores, Copa do Brasil ou Brasileiro, para poder chegar dentro de campo, fazer um bom trabalho e estar cada vez melhor.
continua após a publicidade
+ Palmeiras segue preparação para enfrentar o Barcelona-EQU pela Libertadores; veja provável time
O lateral vem sendo titular no lugar de Marcos Rocha, que sofreu uma lesão na coxa durante a partida de volta da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, contra o Tombense, em Uberlândia (MG). Mayke também reforçou a importância da vitória no Equador devido ao grupo embolado, especialmente por ser um confronto disputado fora de casa.
– O nosso grupo está embolado e será um jogo muito difícil, todos sabemos. Jogar Libertadores fora de casa é ainda mais complicado, então, se sairmos daqui com os três pontos, vai ser muito importante para a sequência. É procurar cumprir o que o Abel pedir para amanhã sairmos com a vitória – concluiu.
Arsenal are believed to be finalising a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres after weeks of negotiations, having agreed a fee in principle earlier this week, but he wasn’t always sporting director Andrea Berta’s only option.
£69m star wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday, Berta expects breakthrough
The Gunners are attempting to strike a deal.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 18, 2025
The north Londoners will pay around £64 million for the Swede, including the pesky add-ons, which have been the final point of debate before Gyokeres potentially flies out for a medical with Mikel Arteta’s side soon.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£140m
There is some optimism that Gyokeres could link up with Arteta’s squad in time for their first pre-season game of the summer, against AC Milan in Singapore next Wednesday, and supporters are yearning for that to be the case.
A prolific striker who can guarantee 25-plus goals per season has long been viewed as the final missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw, and one that has the potential to make Arsenal Premier League title winners once again after a two-decade-long wait.
They scored just 69 top flight goals last season, which is far below their totals of 91 and 89 over the 2023/2024 and 2022/2023 campaigns respectively, and Arsenal’s struggles to break down the low block culminated in Arteta’s side registering more draws than any other side in the top 10.
Gyokeres’ incredible record in Portugal over the last two years highlights exactly why Berta sees the 27-year-old as an ideal solution, and with their previous negotiations to sign Benjamin Sesko dead in the water, he now looks to be perhaps Arsenal’s most important potential signing of the summer.
Sesko was a long-term target for Arsenal, having attempted to sign the Slovenian last summer and in January (Ben Jacobs), with Arteta personally viewing him as a preferred option ahead of Gyokeres at one stage (Christian Falk).
Berta was simultaneously working on deals for both Sesko and Gyokeres, before deciding which centre-forward to formally pursue (BBC), but the 22-year-old is now in limbo.
Benjamin Sesko open to joining Man United after botched Arsenal talks
According to GiveMeSport, Sesko is eyeing a potential move to Man United, following what proved to be “really complicated” talks with Arsenal – so he could still have options in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for him, the price Leipzig are demanding appears to be thwarting any potential move away right now, just one year after Sesko struck a gentlemen’s agreement that he could leave this year or in 2026.
Sesko penned a new contract last summer, rejecting proposals from Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United, but he’s finding it much harder to secure a switch this time round, and it could cost up to £86 million to convince Leipzig to part company.
The former Salzburg sensation enjoyed a career-best Bundesliga campaign last term, yet the saga surrounding his future appears set to drag on as Arsenal end their own striker pursuit with Gyokeres.
تحدثت تقارير صحفية برتغالية حول أحد المدربين الذي انضم مؤخراً لقائمة المرشحين لتدريب النادي الأهلي لخلافة خوسيه ريبيرو.
وبحسب صحيفة “أبولا” البرتغالية فإن النادي الأهلي قد حاول التعاقد مع المدرب البرتغالي ريناتو بايفا والذي غادر فورتاليزا في البرازيل.
وقد تواصل النادي الأهلي المصري مؤخراً مع ريناتو بايفا لكنه رفض العرض في النهاية، ويرتبط القرار برحيله مؤخراً عن فورتاليزا في البرازيل وهو ما دفع المدرب لإدراك أن الوقت لم يحن بعد لبدء مشروع جديد.
ورغم الرفض فقد اعترف ريناتو بأنه يتشرف باهتمام النادي الأكثر تتويجاً في إفريقيا، ويملك الأهلي 45 لقبا في الدوري المصري و12 لقبا في دوري أبطال إفريقيا وهو ما يضعه في صدارة كرة القدم القارية.
أقرأ أيضاً.. رسميًا | الأهلي يعلن تمديد التعاقد مع أديداس
ويرتبط الأهلي بعلاقات وطيدة مع كرة القدم البرتغالية بعد أن سطر مانويل جوزيه بعضاً من أروع فصول تاريخ النادي محققاً أربع بطولات دوري أبطال إفريقيا قبل تولي جوزيه بيسيرو وريكاردو سواريس تدريب النادي أيضاً.
وكان الأهلي بطل الدوري المصري والذي يعد أكبر قوة كروية في مصر قد شهد بداية مخيبة للآمال هذا الموسم بعد فوز واحد وتعادلين وخسارة واحدة خلال مبارياته الأربع الأولى في الدوري.
وكانت النتائج السيئة قد أدت لإقالة خوسيه ريبيرو المدرب الإسباني من منصبه مما فتح الباب أمام البحث عن بدائل ومن بينها ريناتو بايفا.
Daniel Bell-Drummond hits 76 to help visitors come out on right side of DLS calculations
ECB Reporters Network05-Jul-2024David Payne’s latest white-ball masterclass proved in vain as in-form Gloucestershire suffered a frustrating eight-run defeat to Kent Spitfires on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected Vitality Blast match at Cheltenham.Needing to win to enhance their chances of achieving a top-four finish in the South Group and a place in the knockout stages, Gloucestershire found themselves in a strong position after bowling the visitors out for 150 in 19.2 overs at the College Ground.Veteran campaigner Payne was outstanding in taking 4 for 25 in four overs, while Ollie Price finished with 2 for 26 after skipper Jack Taylor had won the toss and elected to bowl. Daniel Bell-Drummond did his utmost to rescue the visitors, scoring 76 off 52 balls and dominating partnerships of 56 and 54 with Joey Evison and Grant Stewart for the fourth and seventh wickets respectively.Gloucestershire openers Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft then raised 23 in three overs to ease ahead of the DLS requirement, only for the rain forecast for early evening to arrive ahead of schedule with two overs more needing to be bowled to constitute a game.When play finally resumed an hour later with the home side chasing a revised target of 145 from 19 overs, Kent reasserted themselves, Nathan Gilchrist removing Bancroft and James Bracey in the space of four balls in the fifth over. Umpires Alex Wharf and Ben Peverall took the players off for the second and last time when heavy rain moved back in with Gloucestershire on 29 for 2, now eight runs behind the newly-revised DLS figure, their hopes dashed by a disappointing two-over passage of play which served to fundamentally alter the outcome. The game was abandoned soon afterwards.Kent’s fortuitous win just about keeps alive their outside chances of progressing to the knockout stages, while fifth-placed Gloucestershire head to Taunton needing to win Sunday’s West Country derby if they are to keep pace with the leaders.Gloucestershire went into this fixture on the back of three straight wins and that momentum was further buoyed when left-arm seamer Payne claimed three wickets in a devastating 10-ball burst with the new ball from the College Lawn End.Making his debut after joining on loan from Essex, Feroze Khushi was pinned lbw without scoring in the first over, while new batter Tuwanda Muyeye fell second ball, driving uppishly to Jack Taylor at mid-on.Payne then accounted for Kent captain Sam Billings in his next over, the former England man top-edging a hook to Josh Shaw as the visitors subsided to 17 for 3 in the third.Charged with the task of rebuilding, Bell-Drummond plundered three successive fours in an over from Shaw that cost 15 runs, helping Spitfires recover to 40 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Evison also adopted an aggressive approach in a 50 stand that occupied just 36 balls.When Evison chanced his arm once too often and hit Beau Webster straight to Hammond at long-off for a 16-ball 22 and Jack Leaning attempted to pull offspinner Ollie Price and contrived to hit his wicket, departing for a six-ball duck, Kent were 70 for 5 off 10.1 overs and badly in need of renewed impetus.Bell-Drummond was fast running out of partners, Marcus O’Riordan hoisting Price to deep backward square and falling into a carefully laid trap as the visitors further subsided to 89 for 6. Taking matters into his own hands, Bell-Drummond launched Price over the covers to raise a 39-ball 50 with his first six as the innings realised three figures in the 15th.Stewart came out swinging, contributing a 15-ball 21 in a revitalising stand of 54 in 4.5 overs before hitting the returning Payne straight down the throat of long-on. Bell-Drummond fell in the penultimate over, hoisting Shaw to deep midwicket, having accrued 10 fours and 2 sixes and almost single-handedly carried his side to a respectable total.
FSG weren’t lying when they said they were going to spend big this summer. Liverpool fans needed to buckle up ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Anfield side having crossed the £200m mark before even reaching July.
The club’s full-back problems have been resolved through acquisitions of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and sporting director Richard Hughes has also overseen the shattering of Liverpool’s transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz for £100m plus £16m in add-ons, which will make the German the most expensive player in British history.
Liverpool aren’t done yet. While Jarell Quansah’s summer sale to Bayer Leverkusen will open up space in central defence, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is the centre of ongoing talks, many fans would point toward the front of the ship as the area most in need of a brush-up.
If and when Napoli sign the unconvincing Darwin Nunez, Hughes will be expected to find a focal frontman to lead the line for the Premier League champions next season and beyond.
What's the latest on Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool need a striker, and the man signed come autumn may turn out to be Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
The French forward, 23, enjoyed a tremendous breakout year in Germany, leading analyst Ben Mattinson to dub him “one of the best strikers out there.”
Liverpool have been getting ready to bid for the forward for a while, but FSG are understandably hesitant given Die Adler’s £85m valuation of their star man.
This is considerably more affordable than Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who could set a successful suitor back £200m this summer, but still rather high for a club having already forked out bucketloads on fresh talents.
So then, who to go for? Well, Ekitike’s good, as the graphic above illustrates, but he’s not as complete and refined as another transfer target who would require a far more modest outlay.
Liverpool hold talks for Ekitike alternative
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are still in the race for Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, who will almost certainly leave Portugal this summer after a breakdown in relationships at his outfit.
In fact, the Reds are among the sides to have opened a dialogue with Sporting, seeking information on the marksman as he prepares to leave the club.
Arsenal and Manchester United appear to have the edge in the race, but if Liverpool raise their intrigue, there’s every chance Arne Slot could secure a top-class marksman for 2025/26.
Gyokeres will be available for a fee lower than his €100m (£85m) release clause, with the Liga Portugal champions hoping to bank €80m (£68m) for their number nine’s sale.
What Viktor Gyokeres would bring to Liverpool
While £68m is a rather hefty figure, Gyokeres’ performances over the past couple of years suggest Liverpool would receive bang for their buck.
After joining the Portuguese side from Coventry City in the Championship for around £20m two years ago, the Sweden striker has grown into his skin as one of Europe’s leading goalscorers, posting 97 strikes across 102 matches for the Leões, assisting 28 goals too.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
While the Portuguese top division isn’t the highest in overall quality, that’s not to say that Gyokeres hasn’t proved his worth, with the levels of his clinical shooting underscoring his place among Europe’s elite. Indeed, the “lethal” forward has been described as “the best finisher in the world” by football statistician Spencer Mossman.
Ekitike has a high ceiling, all right, but he’s not yet the finished product, and we’ve seen plenty of rising stars not quite reach their potential when making the cosmic leap into the Premier League, where the hard graft only just begins.
Looking at the pairings’ contrasted statistics across the 2024/25 league campaign, Gyokeres for Sporting and Ekitike in Germany for Frankfurt, it may well be that Liverpool should go for the more experienced man.
Matches (starts)
33 (31)
33 (31)
Goals
39
15
Assists
7
8
Shots (on target)*
4.2 (2.4)
3.5 (1.5)
Big chances missed
23
16
Pass completion
73%
76%
Big chances created
11
12
Key passes*
1.9
1.3
Dribbles*
1.8
1.6
Ball recoveries*
2.3
2.6
Tackles + interceptions*
0.5
0.7
Duels (won)*
5.5
4.2
Like Ekitike, the 27-year-old is dynamic in his performances, dribbling at a frequent rate, getting stuck in with duels and providing creative support for his teammates, but he’s also far more prolific and less profligate when placed into a goalscoring radius.
Moreover, he ranked among the top 12% of forwards in the Champions League last term for goal contributions, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his ability to do it on the biggest stage.
Of course, a blunter illustration would be his emphatic hat-trick against Manchester City, picking Pep Guardiola’s side apart last November.
Ultimately, Liverpool know they should manage to secure themselves an upgrade on Nunez this summer, the Uruguayan only scoring seven times for Slot all season, but it’s important for FSG to pick the right man.
Gyokeres might not be the youngest on the block, but he’s still got many years of reliable service ahead of him and would surely provide Liverpool with a reliable scoring presence, settled as he would be among some of Europe’s most devastating and dynamic forwards in Wirtz and Salah, and more besides.
He's like Salah & Isak: Liverpool join the race to sign £43m "superstar"
Liverpool may need to enforce further change up top this summer.
Chelsea appear to have wrapped up a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed that the Blues have an agreement in place to sign the player for £30m.
It could be a shrewd piece of business for the Stamford Bridge outfit, especially as they needed another centre-forward.
Enzo Maresca is also targeting a defender or two when the transfer window opens. With this in mind, it appears as though a Dutch talent is being earmarked for a move to London.
Chelsea in talks to sign new defender
Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed that the Blues have enquired about a move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite regarding a summer move.
Elsewhere, he stated that Chelsea are “advancing on talks” for Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, with the Blues ideally wanting to bring in two new defenders, ahead of next season.
Hato could cost the club £46m should negotiations go smoothly. On the surface, this certainly looks like a wonderful bargain given his age and potential for growth.
Champions League football next season should also be an enticement for the Dutchman.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
Comfortable at playing either centre-back or left-back, Maresca will likely utilise the Ajax gem as his starting left-back. If so, he could be the club’s next Ashley Cole.
Why Chelsea must sign Jorrel Hato
Cole is arguably one of the finest left-backs that England have produced. Across eight seasons with the Blues, Cole racked up 337 appearances, winning the Champions League and Premier League with the club.
Excellent at bombing forward and creating chances for his teammates, while also offering plenty of defensive qualities, which contributed to him becoming arguably the “best” left-back in Premier League history, as per his former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger.
Ashley Cole’s Chelsea statistics
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2013/14
26
0
2
2012/13
51
1
5
2011/12
48
0
9
2010/11
48
0
4
2009/10
35
4
5
2008/09
49
1
3
2007/08
41
1
2
2006/07
39
0
4
Via Transfermarkt
Hato – who talent scout Jacek Kulig has described as the “complete full-back” – exudes plenty of the same sort of qualities, and he would be a worthy heir to the Englishman, that’s for sure.
Going forward, the 19-year-old registered eight goal involvements, created six big chances and averaged 0.6 key passes per game in the Eredivisie last season.
Defensively, Hato helped Ajax keep 11 clean sheets in the league, while also winning 52% of his total duels, making 1.9 tackles and recovering 4.2 balls per game.
On this evidence, Hato – who has been dubbed “immense” by Kulig – could be a wise signing for Maresca this summer, especially as he could be a long-term option on the left side of the defence.
When compared to his peers across the men’s next 14 competitions, the teenager ranks in the top 1% for pass completion percentage (89.4%) per 90, along with ranking in the top 12% for aerial duels won (1.77) and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.33) per 90 over the previous 365 days.
No one will ever replace the genius of Cole, but in Hato, Chelsea can bring in a player who is still a few years away from being at his very best.
Still, he has the potential to become one of the best full-backs on the continent. For just £46m, Maresca could make a stunning signing.
He's better than Delap: Chelsea make enquiry to sign "world-class" striker
Chelsea appear to be making a move for another striker despite the links to Liam Delap.