LONDON: Manchester United appeared to be closing in on Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez on Monday, leading the chase to sign the Chile international ahead of long-time suitors and local rivals Manchester City.
If the transfer goes ahead it would be the third blockbuster move of the January transfer window involving Premier League clubs following Philippe Coutinho’s big-money move from Liverpool to Barcelona and Virgil Van Dijk’s arrival at Anfield from Southampton.
Sanchez, 29, looks to have played his last game for Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger saying on Sunday that his move could be confirmed “in the next 48 hours.”
However there is uncertainty as to whether he will pick the blue or red half of Manchester.
Pep Guardiola’s City, whose move for the player collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window, are understood to be reluctant to pay a reported fee in the region of £35 million ($48 million, 39 million euros) for a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.
United boss Jose Mourinho has done nothing to rule out his interest in Sanchez, calling him a “phenomenal player” and admitting that if there is a “fantastic opportunity” to sign a top player in the January transfer window, the club would be interested.
And there was speculation on Monday that Mourinho was prepared to let United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan move south to London club Arsenal in order to help get the deal done.
It certainly looked as if Mkhitaryan was on his way out of Old Trafford after he failed to even make the bench for Monday’s Premier League game at home to Stoke City.
“I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision. It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 percent their heads in Manchester United,” said Mourinho as he explained the Armenian’s absence.
“I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future.
“It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him.”
Runaway Premier League leaders City boast a dazzling array of attacking talent with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero vying for places.
Sanchez would certainly feature for City, who lost their unbeaten Premier League record at Anfield on Sunday, as they chase silverware on four fronts but he would probably struggle to pin down a permanent starting berth at the Etihad.
Second-placed United, who are 15 points behind City, also have an impressive selection of forward but Sanchez could expect more playing time alongside Romelu Lukaku at Old Trafford, with doubts growing over the future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic following his recent return from a long-term injury.
Sanchez joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014 and in a stellar 2016/17 campaign scored 30 goals and made 17 assists, though his form has since dipped.
His loss would be a major blow for Arsenal, who face losing another big-name player to one of the Manchester clubs after Robin van Persie swapped the Emirates for Old Trafford in 2012.
A number of Arsenal players have also joined City in recent years including Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure.
Wenger left Sanchez out of his squad to face Bournemouth on Sunday, where they slipped to a damaging 2-1 defeat, leaving them eight points off the top four.
Arsenal themselves have been linked with a £35 million move for Bordeaux forward Malcom but Wenger, who said the club would need a replacement if Sanchez were to leave, refused to confirm his interest in the Brazilian.
Man United tipped to beat City to Alexis Sanchez signing
Man United tipped to beat City to Alexis Sanchez signing
Neymar parts ways with Saudi club Al-Hilal
- The star arrived in Riyadh in August 2023 after signing from PSG, but has only played 7 games due to injuries
- Recent reports have linked Neymar with Santos, the Brazilian club where his professional career took off
RIYADH: Brazilian forward Neymar has parted ways with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal after an injury-plagued stint with the Riyadh club, the team said early Tuesday, and is set to return to Santos, where he played as a teenager.
“The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career,” Hilal said in an announcement on X.
The star arrived in Riyadh in August 2023 after signing from PSG, but has only played 7 games due to injuries.
A short while after joining the Blues, he underwent surgery in his native Brazil in November 2023 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage suffered during a national team match the month before.
Neymar also suffered a hamstring injury late last year and missed another five weeks.
Recent reports have linked Neymar with Santos, the Brazilian club where his professional career took off.
Fabrizio Romano, an Italian sports journalist, wrote on X “Neymar’s return to Santos now imminent as verbal agreement has been reached,” he added that formal steps are due to happen next week.
Saudi Pro League top 2 Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad stunned
- Al-Qadsiah defeat table-toppers Al-Hilal 2-1 to remain in the title race
- Mid-table Damac triumph over second-place Al-Ittihad by the same margin
On a day of upsets in the Saudi Pro League, table toppers Al-Hilal and second-place Al-Ittihad both fell to 2-1 away defeats, at the hands of Al-Qadsiah and Damac respectively.
The losses were only the second in 17 games this season for each of the title rivals. The results keep Al-Qadsiah very much in the title race, in third place on 37 points just six behind the top two.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did the damage for Al-Qadsiah very early and very late in the game. With less than two minutes on the clock, the former Barcelona and Arsenal ace volleyed home from close range after Cameron Puertas swung the ball over from the left corner.
The visitors were shell-shocked and had to wait until early in the second half before they managed to get back on level terms. Just moments after Julian Quinones had a chance to put his side two goals ahead, only to head over from a great position, Al-Qadsiah were punished when in-form Marcos Leonardo pounced on a loose ball just outside the area and drilled a perfect low shot just inside the right-hand post. It was his seventh league goal this month.
Al-Hilal then hit the woodwork and had a goal disallowed before Aubameyang struck again, in the 94th minute. Allowed too much time inside the area, he slotted the ball home.
Al-Hilal could at least take some comfort from the fact that Al-Ittihad, equal in points but 10 adrift on goal difference, also lost, falling 2-1 to Damac, also deep into added time.
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes with his ninth goal of the season. But the Tigers canceled it out deep into first-half injury time, when French striker Karim Benzema got on the end of a curling cross from Abdulrahman Al-Oboud that had evaded three defenders, and headed high into the net at the far post for his 13th goal of the season.
Al-Ittihad pushed for the winner throughout the second half and thought they had it six minutes from time, but Danilo Pereira’s strike was ruled out for offside.
There was still time for a winner but in the event it went to the home side, once again provided by N’Koudou. Four minutes into added time, his shot from outside the area took a slight deflection that was enough to give goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic no chance. The result leaves Damac in 10th place on 21 points.
Fighting for Morocco: Ilias Ennahachi aims for bantamweight glory
RIYADH: Morocco’s former ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Ilias Ennahachi is preparing to face former bantamweight champ Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE 171: Qatar, presented by Visit Qatar.
The fight is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha and victory could secure Ennahachi the coveted No. 1 contender spot for the bantamweight title.
“Winning this fight means everything to me: It’s for the fans, my country, and my future,” he said.
Having already made his mark as a flyweight champion, Ennahachi is determined to dominate a second division and establish himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in ONE Championship history. “I’m ranked No. 2 now, so if I win this fight, I believe I’ll get the title shot next,” he said.
Beyond the fight itself, Ennahachi acknowledges the significance of being an Arab competing in Qatar. “Fighting in an Arab country feels special,” he said. “It’s like fighting at home. Events like this inspire young fighters in the region to dream big and show them that they can reach the highest levels of martial arts.”
Despite the competitive nature of the bout, Ennahachi and Petchtanong respect each other.
“We’ve talked a lot on Instagram,” the Moroccan said of his Thai opponent. “He’s a great guy and very respectful, but inside the ring, it’s business. I’ve studied his strengths and weaknesses, and I’m ready to capitalize on them.”
Facing an experienced southpaw has required a focused and tailored approach from Ennahachi.
“I’ve been sparring a lot with southpaw partners to familiarize myself with his angles and movements. His boxing isn’t his strongest asset, and I’ve been working to exploit that. Cardio is everything in a fight like this, and I’ve been pushing myself to the limit to ensure I can maintain pressure for the entire fight.”
Speaking from the Netherlands before his trip to Qatar, Ennahachi is taking added inspiration from Morocco’s historic World Cup run in the country three years ago. “Watching Morocco make history brought so much pride to the country,” he said. “Moments like that push you to perform at your best and show the world what you’re capable of.”
That same determination fuels Ennahachi as he balances his career with his responsibilities as a father and mentor to troubled young people in the Netherlands. “Everything I do is for my family and my community,” he said. “It motivates me to push harder every day.”
With martial arts growing in popularity in the Middle East, Ennahachi sees this as a chance to inspire others. “ONE Championship is one of the biggest martial arts organizations in the world, and having events in Qatar shows the potential for the sport to grow in the region. This is about creating role models and showing aspiring fighters that they can achieve their dreams.”
When he steps into the Lusail Sports Arena, Ilias Ennahachi will be ready to prove why he belongs at the top, driven by a desire to create a legacy that will inspire Arab fighters and fans worldwide.
5th Saudi Esports Federation Awards will celebrate milestone this weekend
- The awards take place on Friday at SEF Arena, Boulevard Riyadh City
- 19 categories will highlight individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the esports scene
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation will host the organization’s fifth awards this weekend in a celebration of the past year’s exceptional achievements in the Kingdom’s esports sector.
Taking place at SEF Arena, Boulevard Riyadh City, the 2024 awards aim to inspire and recognize both amateurs and professionals, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position in the global esports industry.
This year’s event will feature 19 award categories, highlighting the individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on the esports scene.
They include Best Rising Player of the Year; Best Rising Talent of the Year; Best Female Player of the Year, presented by Hilton; Best Club of the Year, presented by Richy; Best Content Creator, presented by SAIB; and Best Roster of the Year, presented by Golden Scent.
The awards reflect the federation’s commitment to celebrating excellence in esports while inspiring the next generation to aim higher and dream bigger, said SEF CEO Turki Al-Fawzan: “As we mark the fifth edition, we are proud to see how far the Kingdom has come in establishing itself as a leader in this dynamic industry.
“This has been a monumental year for esports in Saudi Arabia, with Team Falcons’ historic victory at the Esports World Cup and Team Saudi’s triumph in the FIFAe World Cup™ Rocket League competition particularly worthy of note.!
He added: “These achievements further highlight the exceptional talent we have in the Kingdom and demonstrate our potential to lead the global esports stage. We look forward to building on the ecosystem in Saudi esports that leads to this success and developing even greater achievements in the future.”
The SEF Awards also recognize the efforts of key contributors to the industry, such as content creators, streamers, coaches and esports professionals. Their efforts are critical to building an inclusive and dynamic esports ecosystem.
Pakistan’s Shahzaib Rind successfully defends lightweight title at Karate event in Florida
- Rind, 26, defeats three-time world champion Edgars Skivers 7-0
- Rind boasts a combined Wushu and Kickboxing record of 75-4
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Karate fighter Shahzaib Rind successfully defended his lightweight title against former three-time world champion Edgars Skrivers, defeating him 7-0 at the Karate Combat (KC) 52 event in Miami, the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PMMAF) announced on Sunday.
The KC52, a professional full-contact karate league, is part of a global karate MMA series featuring skilled fighters in action-packed competitions.
Rind, who hails from the impoverished southwestern Balochistan province, won his first martial arts title in 2011 after claiming victory in a provincial-level competition. His first national title came in 2019 when he triumphed at the National Games in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
During the two and half years of an undefeated Karate Combat career, Rind has fought fighters from North America, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, France and India.
“In a stunning display of skill and determination, Rind has claimed his second championship title after a hard-fought victory against Edgars Skrivers,” the PMMAF said.
“The intense showdown unfolded on Friday in Miami, captivating audiences with its electrifying energy and showcasing the best of competitive spirit.”
The statement said Rind delivered an “extraordinary” performance that kept his fans excited throughout the match, adding that his “dedication, relentless training, and remarkable skill” had solidified his position as one of the top contenders.
“Rind’s triumph is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work,” the sports body said. “As fans celebrate this incredible achievement, they eagerly await what the future holds for this rising star.”
The Pakistan Embassy in New York congratulated Rind on defending his title.
“Heartfelt congratulations to MMA fighter Shahzaib Rind, the brave son of Pakistan who hails from Balochistan, on defending his lightweight title in Miami, Florida, USA and becoming the world champion for the second time,” the embassy said on X. “Shahzaib Rind dedicated his victory to the people of Pakistan.”
Rind boasts a combined Wushu and Kickboxing record of 75-4, the majority of which was attained while training himself by watching YouTube videos. He is currently training under Asim Zaidi at the renowned Goat Shed gym in Miami.
Zaidi is the president of Karate Combat, a brand that promotes the first professional full-contact karate league, hosting worldwide events since April 2018.
