Levante striker Etta Eyong is eyeing a move in the upcoming January transfer window, despite only joining the club in the summer. Barcelona were keen on signing the Cameroonian forward but were unable to complete the deal due to financial restrictions. The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season, recording six goals and three assists in all competitions to attract interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Eyong ready to leave already
According to , Eyong’s release clause stands at €30 million (£25m/$35m) for Spanish clubs and €40m (£35m/$45m) for foreign clubs. Having joined Levante from Villarreal in August, he is ineligible to play for another club this season. As a result, Eyong hopes to finalise a transfer in January but remain on loan at Levante until the end of the campaign.
Barcelona were prepared to activate his €10m release clause in the summer but were prevented from doing so due to La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule. The Catalan giants remain the most interested in signing the striker, viewing him as a potential replacement for the outgoing Robert Lewandowski. However, they face strong competition from arch-rivals Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs, including City, United and Arsenal.
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Striker off to strong start at Levante
Eyong began his career at the Cadiz academy before joining Villarreal and ending up in their B team in Spain’s third division. Last season, he featured four times for the Yellow Submarine in La Liga and scored one goal. Seeking more regular first-team football he made the switch to Levante, where he is off to a strong start.
Eyong is known for drifting between the lines to exploit spaces, offering himself as a constant passing option. Off the ball, he contributes defensively by initiating the press and disrupting opposition build-up play. Blessed with pace, strength, and positional awareness, Eyong has become a crucial part of Levante’s attack, forming a strong partnership with Ivan Romero in their 4-4-2 setup. His movement, timing and skill on the ball make him an important part of Levante’s attack. During counterattacks, Eyong uses his blistering pace to run behind defenders and exploit open spaces.
Defensively Eyong is often tasked with initiating the counter-press by pressing the player in possession or cutting off passing lanes to the opponent’s midfield anchor.
Barcelona’s alternative options
With an election year approaching, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is eager to make a marquee signing to replace the outgoing Robert Lewandowski. One of the top names on the list is Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. Having grown up idolising Lionel Messi during his time at Barcelona, Alvarez is believed to be open to a move, and agreeing on personal terms would likely not be an issue. However, Barcelona estimate that his transfer fee could be at least €200 million (£176m/$202m), a figure that may prove too steep for the Catalan club.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is reportedly interested in Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, who finished as joint top scorer in the Champions League last season alongside Raphinha. However, Laporta is said to be unconvinced by the Guinean forward, as he does not see him as a high-profile signing capable of creating major impact in the market.
The Catalans have also shown interest in City forward Erling Haaland, but securing a deal for the Norwegian star would be extremely difficult given his value and importance to the English champions
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Eyong's challenge this season
Eyong will look to build on his current form to increase his goal tally this season and attract potential suitors ahead of the January transfer window. Levante, who are 15th in La Liga, host a Celta Vigo side who have taken five points from their last three matches in the Spanish top-flight and are a point better off, this weekend. Barca, second and five points behind leaders Real Madrid after last week's Clasico loss, are up against eight-placed Elche at home on Sunday afternoon.
Pete Alonso is continuing his ride with the New York Mets after signing a two-year, $54 million extension that will keep him anchoring first base and the heart of the order. He'll be paramount to the Mets' success as they hope to build on a run that took them to the National League Championship Series last season. So it was a major reason for concern when Alonso suffered an injury during practice on Thursday.
SNY cameras caught the aftermath of Alonso taking a ball to the face during drills.
Thankfully for player and organization, Alonso was able to get back on his feet relatively quickly and leave the field on his own power. He returned to the field later to continue the club's preseason work.
Alonso has been an iron man since breaking through with New York in 2019, missing only 24 regular season games. In 2024 he suited up for all 162 regular season and 13 playoff contests.
The first baseman has made four All-Star trips during his six Major League Baseball seasons and coming off a year in which he blasted 34 home runs.
Kalis strikes a blow for Tier 2 as T20 County Cup heads towards its final rounds
ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2025
Sterre Kalis drove the agenda for Yorkshire with 83 not out to beat their Tier 1 opponents Essex by 11 runs and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Vitality County T20 Cup.Kalis, the Netherlands international, was in imperious touch, hitting 14 fours and one leg-side six in Yorkshire’s total of 188 for 4 in 20 overs.Maddy Ward chipped in with a senior-best score of 43, as the pair shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 113 in the last 10.4 overs of the home innings.Essex’s bowlers failed to build any pressure, and their batters rarely looked like reeling in the target as Yorkshire made it six wins from six matches across all competitions.The Eagles finished on 177 for 8, with Beth Langston successfully defending 20 runs off the last over.Yorkshire will host either Devon or Warwickshire at Weetwood next Saturday afternoon in the last eight of a competition billed as the FA Cup of county cricket.Durham secured their own place in the last eight in thrilling style at Exmouth on Friday evening, beating Somerset in a Super Over after both teams posted 124 for 9 in their original 20 overs.Going into the final over of the contest, Somerset needed three runs with one wicket in hand. Katherine Fraser served up five dot-balls before Alex Griffiths scrambled two from the final ball to level the scores.Heather Knight then cracked the first ball of the Super Over for four off Mady Villiers, but after taking a single, Rebecca Odgers was stumped third ball, and when Knight went the same way, the final target was nine. Charlie Dean’s first two balls in reply were thumped for four by Bess Heath, and there was no way back from there.Surrey got the better of Hampshire in a compelling tussle at Beckenham, with Kira Chathli making 95 from 47 balls and Alice Capsey an unbeaten 89 from 45 in Surrey’s imposing 237 for 7. In reply, Maia Bouchier – newly dropped by England – made 53 from 29 balls but lacked support as Hampshire finished on 180 for 9.Kent continued their determined march through the draw, beating Cambridgeshire by 80 runs after posting 193 for 2 in their 20 overs, while The Blaze crushed Oxfordshire by ten wickets after bowling them out for 97.In Saturday’s other tie, Leicestershire had the better of a Midlands tussle with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, winning by 41 runs after a key innings of 52 from 39 balls by Francesca Sweet.On Sunday, Warwickshire confirmed their place in the last eight by holding off Devon at Budleigh Salterton. After opting to bat first, the Tier 1 side were kept to 136 for 8, Bethan Ellis top-scoring with 37 off 35 balls. In reply, Devon could only muster 98 for 4, despite an unbeaten 51 off 60 from opener Elle Golsworthy.
Arsenal have revealed details of the injury suffered by Martin Odegaard in their Premier League win over West Ham, with the Gunners’ club captain sustaining medial collateral ligament damage. He will not be heading off with Norway during the international break, as medics in north London get to work, with no timeline being put in place for his recovery – after seeing fitness setbacks become an unfortunate theme in 2025-26.
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Unwanted history made by Arsenal captain Odegaard
Odegaard has made unwanted history in the English top-flight by becoming the first man to be subbed off before half-time in three successive starts. Mikel Arteta also had to haul his skipper off early in meetings with Leeds and Nottingham Forest. A shoulder issue was causing problems at that stage, with it proving difficult to make a full recovery.
With one issue seemingly clear, another has been picked up. Odegaard was replaced with half-an-hour on the clock against the Hammers. He had tried to play through obvious discomfort, but was ultimately forced to accept that he was in no position to continue. It remains to be seen how long he is sidelined for.
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Odegaard injury: Details of fitness setback
It has been confirmed that Odegaard will not be linking up with Norway for their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly date with New Zealand. He will remain at Emirates Stadium for treatment, with Arsenal yet to speculate on when their skipper could be called upon again.
A statement on the Gunners’ read: “Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United. Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible.”
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Arsenal also saw Rice pick up a knock
Arteta admitted after a 2-0 win over West Ham that the outlook appeared bleak for his captain, with the Arsenal manager telling reporters when asked for an update on Odegaard: “I just spoke to him. He's not positive about it. He's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very lucky with that either.
“We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”
Arsenal also had to replace Declan Rice against the Hammers, after seeing him score against his former club. Arteta was slightly more optimistic when it came to the England international, saying: “He’s not alright because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame. He had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”
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Arsenal fixtures: Next up after international break
Rice is still expected to link up with the Three Lions ahead of their friendly date with Wales and a World Cup qualifying clash with Latvia. A decision will be made in that camp regarding how many minutes he sees. Arsenal will be eager to ensure that no unnecessary risks are taken on another key component of their midfield. Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino were introduced in place of Odegaard and Rice against the Hammers.
Arsenal have, as a result of Liverpool’s uncharacteristic struggles, moved to the top of the Premier League table – one point clear of the reigning champions after seven matches. They will hope to be at something close to full strength when returning to action after the international break with a short trip to London neighbours Fulham on October 18.
Veteran allrounder brings valuable experience to Trent Bridge following the loss of Alex Hales
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2025Australian allrounder Moises Henriques has joined Notts Outlaws for the 2025 Vitality Blast.Henriques, who has made 10 appearances in the competition for Surrey across two stints, the most recent coming in 2017, has been capped 44 times for his country, with the majority (24) coming in T20Is.The 38-year old brings a wealth of experience, with 282 matches in the T20 format. As Sydney Sixers captain, he has led his side to two Big Bash League titles, and is the leading appearance maker in Australia’s domestic competition, as well as being the fourth highest runscorer in its history.A stalwart of the global franchise scene, Henriques has featured in nine editions of the Indian Premier League, and played a prominent role in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s triumph in 2016. He has also won the now-defunct T20 Champions League twice with New South Wales.”I can’t wait to get over to Nottingham this season to play in the Blast,” Henriques said. “Trent Bridge is an iconic cricket ground and I’m looking forward to playing in front of their amazing crowds.”On a personal note, I’ve made some great friends over the years with both past players and staff from Notts and their values as people I’m sure represent their time there, which I can’t wait to experience.”Notts have had a lot of success over the last decade and I’ll be looking to add to that. The current squad looks extremely talented and young and hopefully with my experiences of T20 cricket around the world I can add a bit of value to the group both on and off the field.”Henriques will fill Outlaws’ second overseas spot, joining fellow Australian Daniel Sams, and is a welcome boost following the news that veteran opener Alex Hales will skip the English season to take up franchise opportunities overseas during the summer.Nottinghamshire finished bottom of the North Group in 2024, and have not made the latter stages of the T20 Blast since winning it for the second time in 2020.”Moises’s experience and quality as a player will add a huge amount to our squad, while he’ll be another leader in the group,” said head coach Peter Moores. “His reputation as a captain precedes him. He’ll provide great support for Joe (Clarke) as he continues to grow into that role.”His ability to negotiate a run chase or set a score with the bat has been well proven over the years, providing experience and stability in a new look batting line up. Crucially he’s used to playing in a winning set up, which is exactly the mentality we’re looking to build as we move forward as a team.”
Fermin Lopez joked Real Madrid were not among the clubs trying to sign him in the summer as he admitted that he received more offers than just Chelsea's late bid. The midfielder insisted that leaving Barcelona was never an option, though, as he looks to become a crucial figure for Hansi Flick's side following another injury upset.
Lopez rejected Chelsea bid as he stays at Barcelona
The Blues reportedly tabled a €40 million (£37m/$50m) bid, including potential add-ons, in a bid to bolster their midfield before the transfer window closed. While the offer prompted Lopez to consider his options, he ultimately chose to remain at Camp Nou, prioritising continuity and development under Barca's management.
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Lopez confirms transfer offers amid Chelsea interest
The midfielder made it clear that he had no intention of leaving the club he has supported since childhood. “I didn’t consider the offer and I don’t think they wanted to sell me either,” he said in an interview with He further admitted that he had received several approaches from elsewhere, adding: “I received some, yes, but I don’t think any came from Real Madrid.”
Fermin staying loyal to Barcelona roots
Lopez underlined his deep ties to Barcelona, stressing that playing for the club was always his dream.
“I’ve been a Barca fan all my life. Since I was a child. Everything comes from an uncle of my mother’s, Miri, who has always been a Barca fan,” he explained. His attachment to the club influenced his stance on transfer speculation, as neither he nor Barca saw a move away as realistic. Despite not yet being an undisputed starter, the academy graduate has already shown his ability to impact key matches, including a brace against Valencia earlier in the season.
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Injury setback as PSG clash looms
Lopez’s promising start to the season has been interrupted by injury, with the midfielder suffering a muscle issue in his left iliopsoas during Barca's recent 3-0 win over Getafe. He left the pitch in tears, sparking fears of a lengthy absence. Initial tests, however, confirmed a three-week recovery timeline.
“The problem is not major,” he clarified, insisting he will return soon. Unfortunately for Barca, the setback means he will miss the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as upcoming La Liga fixtures against Oviedo and Real Sociedad.
The injury to Lopez comes at a difficult moment for Barca, who are also without Gavi, sidelined after being forced to undergo knee surgery. While Fermin is expected back by late October, his absence will test Flick’s depth options in midfield. Chelsea’s interest has underlined Lopez’s rising reputation across Europe, but for now his focus remains on recovery and fighting for a bigger role at Camp Nou.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is reportedly interested in signing Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The Guinea international, who is under contract with Dortmund until 2028, has been offered to several clubs across Europe, with Barcelona reportedly targeting him next summer. However, president Joan Laporta is reportedly not enthusiastic about the idea of bringing Guirassy in.
Flick’s courtship of Guirassy and Laporta’s disapproval
According to German outlet , Barcelona are discussing a potential move for Guirassy, a transfer that could cost the Spanish club around €100 million (£87m/$115m). The striker, who is under contract with Borussia Dortmund until 2029, currently earns a salary of €9m.
However, Barcelona president Laporta is reportedly not particularly keen on the move, as he prefers a higher-profile signing and considers Guirassy to be a relatively small name.
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Why Flick wants Guirassy
Guirassy joined Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart in the summer of 2024. He enjoyed a prolific 2024-25 campaign, scoring 34 goals and providing six assists across all competitions. The striker has carried that form into the current season, already registering nine goals and one assist, further showing Hansi Flick that he could be a reliable successor to Lewandowski as Barcelona’s main source of goals.
Guirassy’s release clause
Guirassy is said to have a €70m (£60m/$82m) release clause in his contract, which is applicable to clubs outside Germany. However, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, refused to confirm or deny whether such a clause exists and insists that the club had not received any offers for the striker.
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Barcelona's temporary solution for this season
With Lewandowski now 37, Barcelona are expected to seek a permanent solution at centre-forward next season. For the moment, Hansi Flick has relied on Ferran Torres, who has scored four goals in La Liga, while also looking to Marcus Rashford, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to share the burden in front of goal.
Nepal scripted a seven-wicket win over Malaysia with Puja Mahato starring with ball and bat
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2025Pakistan signed off from the Women’s Under-19 World Cup with a win over Samoa as the winless teams from the group stage of the tournament played for ranking spots in Johor on Friday.The batters did it for Pakistan, though they were helped along by indiscipline on the part of the inexperienced Samoa bowlers, who conceded 21 extras, including 18 wides, after opting to field. The major contributions for Pakistan came from opener Maham Anees, who scored 28 in 42 balls, and Fatima Khan, who hit 25 in 14 balls with three fours and a six from No. 6. Three other batters also got in double-digits as Pakistan stopped at 136 for 8.For Samoa, Norah Salima, the medium pacer, picked up three wickets and only went at five runs an over, but some of the other bowlers were less effective.Samoa, who had scored 16 (against South Africa) and 40 (against New Zealand) in their two completed matches earlier, put up an improved show with the bat even though they had lost three wickets by the end of the third over. Haniah Ahmer, who ended with 4 for 17, picked up two of those wickets in the same over.Indeed, Samoa kept pace with the asking rate for the first half of their innings, but they got to the ten-over mark with five batters gone. But with contributions – none bigger than opener Verra Farane’s 19 – from around the batting line-up, they got to 84 before they were bowled out. A little more discipline with the ball, and it could have been much closer.Puja Mahato top-scored in Nepal’s chase•ICC/Getty Images
Nepal, meanwhile, made sure hosts Malaysia‘s campaign ended as it had gone all along as they eked out a seven-wicket win in the later match in Johor. Captain Puja Mahato was the standout performer for Nepal, first picking up four wickets with her medium pace and then top-scoring in the small chase.Malaysia, who came into the match after putting up scores of 23, 31 and 59 in the group stage, only managed 45 in 16.5 overs this time after being asked to bat. Nuriman Hidayah was the only batter to get into double-digits as she scored 15 from 23 balls, with Mahato (4 for 9) and left-arm spinner Rachana Chaudhary (3 for 5) doing most of the damage.The chase was straightforward, and Nepal got there in 11 overs for the loss on three wickets, with Mahato scoring a 32-ball 23 not out. Marsya Qistina Binti Abdullah, the left-arm spinner, picked up all the wickets to fall.
Sri Lanka’s first goal, however, will be to be more competitive than they were in Durban
Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Dec-20244:28
Will Sri Lanka go in without a spinner in Gqeberha?
Big picture: Can Sri Lanka avoid another collapse?
The headline is that both teams are in with a shot at making the World Test Championship final, but neither have secured a place. Unhelpfully for South Africa, the WTC points system doesn’t reward hefty winning margins, so although they crushed Sri Lanka by 233 runs in Durban, it still only goes down as a simple win.Still, they have arrived in Gqeberha full of confidence. Another win here, and their path to that final clears up significantly. A win for Sri Lanka, meanwhile, would mean they have a chance of qualifying for the final without having to depend on other results. (They would also need to win the matches against Australia 2-0.)Their first goal, however, is to be more competitive than they were in Durban. Their batters, specifically, cannot allow another collapse to occur. Various members of the batting group have spoken about the challenge of facing South Africa’s tall quicks, on tracks that offer more bounce than they are used to at home. These coastal venues are not as bouncy as they tend to be in the Highveld, for instance, but have clearly presented more of a challenge than Sri Lanka expected. They’ll also hope that given the wind and sunshine forecast for Gqeberha for the next few days, the surface will dry out and bring spinners more meaningfully into the game.Related
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Injured Coetzee out of second Test and all-format Pakistan series
South Africa’s own batters were dismissed for 191 in the first innings in Kingsmead, but they have Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs coming into this Test in serious form, while Aiden Markram also got a decent innings under his belt at Kingsmead.South Africa’s concerns ahead of the Test centre around the make-up of their attack, with Wiaan Mulder and Gerald Coetzee both ruled out. They still have their spearheads in Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, however, who shared 14 wickets in the previous Test, Jansen getting 11 on his own.
Form guide
South Africa: WWWWD (last five Tests, most recent first) Sri Lanka: LWWWLSouth Africa will be without Wiaan Mulder and Gerald Coetzee in Gqeberha•Gallo Images/Getty Images
In the spotlight: Tristan Stubbs and Lahiru Kumara
Test cricket must seem pretty straightforward so far to 24-year-old Tristan Stubbs. Eleven innings in, he’s got two centuries and a fifty, with an average of 43.90. While Bavuma was tentative in the approach to triple figures in Kingsmead, Stubbs raced through the 90s. He had had some luck in that innings, having been dropped on 33, but remained positive through his stay at the crease, pressing South Africa’s advantage alongside Bavuma. He will relish the opportunity to back that 122 up with a solid performance in his first Test in his home town.Lahiru Kumara is not always the most disciplined of Sri Lanka’s quicks, but he is their fastest bowler, and at Kingsmead, the most penetrative. He is on the verge of joining a fairly exclusive club. Sri Lanka have only ever had four seam bowlers get to 100 wickets – Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, and Dilhara Fernando. Kumara needs only one more dismissal to get up to triple figures. If Sri Lanka are to level the series, they will likely need Kumara to blow well past that milestone.
Team news
South Africa named their XI on match eve, with Ryan Rickelton and Dane Paterson coming in in place of Mulder and Coetzee. That means an extra batter, three seamers and a spinner.*South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Ryan Rickelton, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Dane PatersonSri Lanka also have major decisions to make around their attack. Will they do what they did in Lord’s this year, and strap four fast bowlers to the plough? It’s a definite possibility, given Milan Rathnayake can also bat a bit. They also desperately want to find a place for Oshada Fernando, as Oshada had recently made 122 and 80 for Sri Lanka A in South Africa, and had also hit 75 not out at this venue in 2019. But who would make way for his inclusion?Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karuanaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriuya/ Milan Rathnayake, 9 Vishwa Fernando, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru KumaraLahiru Kumara is on the verge of 100 Test wickets•AFP/Getty Images
Pitch and conditions
The day before the match, the playing surface was covered with a hessian to prevent too much moisture loss as the drying wind was expected to pick up in the afternoon. There remained significant grass on the surface for the same reason. The groundsman has yet to decide how much will be cut on the morning of the match. The westerly wind is forecast for most of the match, which suggests batting first and taking advantage of deteriorating conditions later on. No rain is forecast for the five days, for now.
Stats and trivia
If Kumara takes three wickets in Gqeberha, his wicket-tally will go past those of Dilhara Fernando (100) and Lasith Malinga (101), and he will become the third-highest wicket-taker in Sri Lanka’s seam-bowling history.
Sri Lanka lost their first match in Gqeberha in 2016, going down by 206 runs. But they won their most recent game at the venue, by eight wickets in 2019.
Stubbs has been excellent at getting starts so far in his career, having got to 20 in nine of his 11 innings.
Quotes
“The way that we stacked up our line-up is that, we believe that with the runs on the board, that gives you enough time to get 20 wickets. It might take us a bit longer. It may not play like Durban. There is a bit more grass on the wicket. I think there will be something in there for our seamers. But if it doesn’t favour our seamers, we do have the spin of Kesh[av Maharaj] to be effective. So we believe that whether it’s the seam, whether it’s the spin, we can still be successful in these conditions.” “If we compare this cycle with the previous one, we are doing far better. I’m happy with the boys and how they’ve performed. If we don’t get to the final in this cycle, we should be prepared to de even better in the next one.” *
Aymeric Laporte has lifted the lid on his difficult exit from Al-Nassr, revealing the Saudi club's financial demands almost scuppered his dream return to Athletic Club. The Spain international admitted he felt "in the middle of nowhere" during protracted negotiations but insisted that coming back to Bilbao was always his primary objective.
Laporte blames Al-Nassr for 'complicated' transfer delay
Laporte has revealed the full extent of his transfer saga with Al-Nassr, blaming the Saudi club for delaying his return to Athletic Club. Speaking to the media for the first time since re-joining the Basque side, the defender explained that Al-Nassr's focus on financial gain almost blocked the move, despite him making his intentions clear from the start. "When we started talking with Al-Nassr, I expressed my intention to return to Athletic Club; that was my only objective," Laporte stated, admitting there were moments he doubted the transfer would happen. "I found myself in the middle of nowhere. When you don't want to negotiate, you can't do anything. It's complicated, but by talking things through, we were able to resolve the issue."
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'Returning to Athletic was not a question of money'
The Spain international confirmed that Al-Nassr received more lucrative offers from other "important clubs willing to pay large sums," which caused the hesitation from the Saudi Pro League side. However, Laporte was adamant that his heart was set on a return to San Mames and made a significant financial sacrifice to make it happen. "Returning to Athletic was a decision and it wasn't a question of money," he insisted. "For more or less, I was going to come back." Laporte described his return as an emotional experience, saying he got "goosebumps" hearing the club anthem again and rediscovered the "scent of my childhood" at the Lezama training ground.
Laporte declares himself physically fit after FIFA's U-turn secured the move
The defender's return was almost scuppered entirely by an administrative error after the move collapsed following the September 1 deadline. Al-Nassr failed to submit the necessary documentation in time, forcing Athletic to appeal to FIFA. While world football's governing body was initially expected to block the transfer, it granted the club's request, authorising the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to obtain the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and finally pave the way for Laporte to sign a three-year contract at San Mames.
Despite not having played a competitive match since April, Laporte is confident in his physical condition and is eager to make his second debut for the club. "I feel very good physically," he said. "I've continued training on my own and have gotten in shape as much as I can."
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Laporte targets Spain recall and World Cup spot
A key motivation behind the move was to boost his chances of returning to the Spanish national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Laporte confirmed he has been in regular contact with La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente throughout the transfer process.
"He was informed of everything that's been happening and has always reassured me," Laporte said. "Returning here is also an important decision for me in terms of being fit at the end of the season and being able to play in the World Cup."