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John Textor, dono da SAF do Botafogo, ironizou o possível interesse do Palmeiras no atacante Júnior Santos. Essa não é a primeira vez que o clima esquenta nesta relação. Mas como tudo começou até chegar ao ponto que está hoje? Relembre com o Lance!.

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Após a derrota do Botafogo para o Palmeiras, no Campeonato Brasileiro, Textor desceu para a beira do gramado do Estádio Nilton Santos extremamente irritado e reclamou da arbitragem. O dono da SAF do Botafogo falou em “roubo”, “corrupção” e pediu a renúncia de Ednaldo Rodrigues, presidente da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF).

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Não é para cartão vermelho, ele mudou o jogo. Isso é corrupção, isso é roubo. Por favor, me multem, Ednaldo, mas você precisa renunciar amanhã de manhã. É isso que precisa acontecer. Esse campeonato se tornou uma piada

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John Textor.

CUTUCADA DE ABEL FERREIRA
Abel Ferreira elogiou John Textor após a vitória sobre o Botafogo, no Nilton Santos. No entanto, também deu uma indireta para o empresário.

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– Tenho a minha opinião (sobre as falas de Textor), mas se eu disser… Melhor não dizer. Já disse que é um dos melhores presidentes que está no Brasil. Mas o futebol tem disso, muitas emoções… Vocês viram o zagueiro do Botafogo chutando o microfone. São momentos intensos. Só sente quem está lá dentro. Ninguém sabe o que é ser mãe, só as mulheres. Porque sentem.

RELATÓRIO SOBRE MANIPULAÇÃO DE RESULTADOS
John Textor encomendou um relatório da Good Game!, empresa responsável por identificar manipulação de resultados e erros da arbitragem, que apontou uma decisão incorreta do árbitro com benefícios para o Atlético-MG. Na ocasião, o Galo venceu o Botafogo.

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PROVOCAÇÃO NAS REDES SOCIAIS
Após a confirmação de mais um título brasileiro para o Palmeiras, o clube provocou o Botafogo nas redes sociais. O Alviverde publicou um “relatório final” sobre a competição. Confira abaixo.

Trouxe um dossiê pra vocês. Não resta dúvida: sou o #MaiorCampeãoDoBrasil! 😉#ViradaHeroica#AvantiPalestra pic.twitter.com/poAP0JjECc

— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) December 7, 2023

LEILA X TEXTOR
Em entreivsta ao “ge”, a presidente do Palmeiras, Leila Pereira, criticou as atitudes de John Textor. A dirigente chamou o dono da SAF do Botafogo de “desequilibrado”.

– Chega até a ser ridículo. Ele desprestigia, desvaloriza esse produto tão importante que é o futebol. Ele deveria ter mais serenidade. É uma parte de desequilíbrio do senhor John Textor.

Textor publicou uma resposta oficial. Relembre aqui.

Tudo sobre

BotafogoJohn TextorPalmeiras

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been dealt an injury doubt ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Man United.

Saturday’s early kick-off promises fireworks as Spurs host the Red Devils in North London.

With the two sides coming in off near-identical records of five wins and three losses from their first 10 league matches, with both also scoring 17 goals, this face-off could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification.

Tottenham’s home form has been a significant concern, with the club sitting 17th in the home standings despite topping the away form table this season. Meanwhile, no other Premier League side has lost more home games than the Lilywhites in 2025.

Frank’s side suffered another N17 setback last weekend, registering a lowly expected goals figure of just 0.1 in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea – the lowest by any Premier League team this season.

However, their midweek 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen in the Champions League offered a glimpse of their attacking potential, with defender Micky van de Ven bagging a stunning solo goal which drew comparisons to Son Heung-min’s famous Burnley strike in 2019.

In terms of the recent head-to-heads between Spurs and United, the former reigns supreme.

Tottenham are unbeaten against tomorrow’s visitors in their last seven meetings across all competitions, winning five and drawing two, including that historic Europa League final win in Bilbao earlier this year.

What’s more, if they beat them again tomorrow, it’ll be the first time they’ve won three league games in a row against United since 1960.

However, the injury situation adds another layer of complexity for Spurs. They currently have the longest absentee list in the Premier League with 10 players sidelined, including Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

In the aftermath of Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Copenhagen, star winger Mohammed Kudus strongly hinted he could be fit to face United after missing their European clash with a knock, and Frank has now provided an update on the Ghanaian.

Tottenham star Mohammed Kudus a doubt to face Man United this weekend

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank explained that Kudus is “touch and go” to face United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — meaning he might not be ready on time depending on developments.

Potentially being without Kudus would undoubtedly be a bitter blow for Frank, considering the £150,000-per-week star has stood out as their star attacker this campaign.

No other Premier League player has averaged more takes-ons per 90 than the African this season, and he’s currently among the division’s top five best-performing players overall, according to WhoScored.

United arrive in north London with genuine momentum and are unbeaten in their last four league matches with three wins and a draw, their joint-best run under Ruben Amorim.

They’ve been particularly potent in attack too, netting two or more goals in their last four outings. Bruno Fernandes has been instrumental, with the 31-year-old now looking to assist in three consecutive away appearances for the first time since November 2020.

It is perhaps the worst time to face United right now, so Frank will be hoping that Kudus can indeed take part after his electrifying start to life at the club.

Warwickshire 258 and 7 for 3 trail Nottinghamshire 374 (Hameed 122, Verreynne 83, Patterson-White 70) by 109 runsLed impressively from the front by captain Haseeb Hameed’s fourth century of the season, Nottinghamshire clinched the 2025 Rothesay County Championship on day two of the final round of fixtures, the Division One leaders putting themselves out of reach of defending champions Surrey as they totalled 374 in reply to Warwickshire’s 258.Needing just two more points at the start of play to deny Surrey a fourth consecutive title, Nottinghamshire achieved that goal at six minutes before five o’clock as Kyle Verreynne, their South Africa international wicketkeeper, pulled seamer Nathan Gilchrist high over the deep midwicket boundary for six, taking their first-innings total past 300 to secure a second batting bonus point.Verreynne, who also hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Australia at Lord’s to be crowned World Test champions in June, raised both arms in the air before embracing batting partner Liam Patterson-White as a Trent Bridge crowd that had grown considerably since lunch rose to their feet.He went on to make 83, with Patterson-White hitting 70 as the two shared a decisive seventh-wicket partnership of 119. Ethan Bamber, Ed Barnard and Gilchrist took three wickets each but at 7 for 3 in their second innings, trailing by 109 runs, Warwickshire, who had their sights on overtaking Somerset to take third place in the table, are in deep trouble.It is Nottinghamshire’s seventh County Championship in all and their first since 2010, one that was effectively won a week ago when victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval made them short-priced favourites to take the crown.Head coach Peter Moores, for many years the only coach to win the title with two counties until Mark Robinson, twice a winner with Sussex, equalled the feat in 2021 with Warwickshire, now stands alone in winning Championships with three counties, having previously done so with Sussex and Lancashire.Yet for all that it was Verreynne, who hit four sixes, and Patterson-White, who struck 11 fours, who grabbed the glory, it was Hameed who made it possible.Haseeb Hameed raises his bat on reaching three figures•Getty Images

The 28-year-old sometime England opener’s 122 laid the foundations and took his season aggregate to 1,253 runs in first-class matches, the highest of his career. This is the third time in four seasons he has exceeded 1000 runs.Earlier in the day, he and Ben Slater had put on 56 for the first wicket as Nottinghamshire, who had claimed the final Warwickshire wicket with the last ball of the opening day, came through a difficult morning session at 100 for 2.Slater, caught behind as Michael Booth found some extra bounce from the Radcliffe Road End, and Freddie McCann, who lost his middle stump to Bamber, were the two morning casualties.It would have been 78 for 3 had Hameed not been put down by Rob Yates at second slip on 45. As it was, as conditions for batting became a little easier after lunch, Hameed and Joe Clarke (52) added 122 in 32 overs for the third wicket.Two dismissals in three balls then jolted their progress. Clarke, reaching for a delivery outside off stump, feathered a catch to Alex Davies off Bamber, before Jack Haynes, confident he had let his second ball go past the bat, looked up to find Warwickshire’s appeals for a thin edge to the keeper had been granted.Haynes was the third of six victims in the innings for Davies, a total in a single innings bettered by only two other keepers in Warwickshire’s history.If that was not a reminder to Nottinghamshire supporters to take nothing for granted, then the sight of Hameed completing his fourth hundred of the season flat on his stomach surely must have been.Confident there was a single on as he clipped Bamber towards midwicket, the captain was startled to see Tazeem Ali swooping to field and even his full-length dive might not have saved him had the teenager’s shy hit. As it was, Warwickshire ran out neither Hameed nor new partner Verreynne, who would have been out by a distance without scoring had the throw gone to the keeper’s end.Hameed – dropped at slip in the previous over – was bowled middle stump by Nathan Gilchrist on the stroke of tea, leaving them 218 for 5. The ovation from the spectators was fully deserved. The season has seen him make a double-hundred twice and carry his bat through the innings twice.Warwickshire’s seamers were rewarded again half an hour into the final session as Lyndon James edged Barnard to give Davies a fourth catch. Nottinghamshire, now six down, still needed another 52 for 300 and with the second new ball soon to become available.It might have been a moment of jeopardy, yet any sense of that quickly disappeared. Verreynne and Patterson-White had clearly decided on a glorious finale and it was Gilchrist who felt the full force of it.His first over with the new ball went for 17 after Patterson-White had begun it with three glorious shots for four, his second for 15 as Verreynne took centre stage.It was the cue for the seventh-wicket due to really let rip, stretching their partnership to 100 in precisely 100 balls and 119 from 120 before Verreynne, who hit nine fours and four sixes, became a fifth victim for Davies behind the stumps, a ball from Barnard glancing the bat as the South African tried to pull it clear.Back for another spell after his chastening experience earlier, Gilchrist then obtained the smallest modicum of revenge by bowling Patterson-White, and Barnard picked up his third wicket by bowling Brett Hutton.Gilchrist was the bowler as Mohammad Abbas nicked to Davies, leaving Warwickshire, 116 behind, to face four overs before the close, in which they lost both Yates and Davies leg before to Abbas as the Pakistan international delivered a final flourish to Nottinghamshire’s day, Hutton getting in on the act by having nightwatcher Bamber caught at second slip.

According to joint-administrator Kris Wigfield, Sheffield Wednesday are now expecting “concrete” takeover bids “soon” as the Owls push towards a new era.

The numbers of bidders for Sheffield Wednesday are “well into the double figures” but Wigfield urged “patience” in the effort to find a new buyer for the club. Wednesday’s well-established financial issues culminated in them being placed into administration last month, which led to a 12-point deduction and left them rooted to the foot of the Championship.

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Amass has been a great success.

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A flexible deadline of next Friday has been set for offers for the Owls, four weeks after they went into administration, and Wigfield has been encouraged by the number of suitors for the club.

Any sale can only be completed once a prospective owner has passed the English Football League’s fit and proper persons’ test, and Wigfield insisted finding feasible applicants will take time.

Wigfield took the time to thank fans for their support since arriving at the club, which has helped those at Hillsborough pay their staff and players in time.

Regarding the takeover, a number of parties have reportedly shown proof of funds worth £50m and an American party has even been shown around the club ahead of a potential bid.

Sheffield Wednesday braced for "concrete" takeover bid

With next Friday’s soft deadline in place, the Owls are bracing themselves for a “concrete” takeover bid, which may be on its way imminently ahead of next week’s soft deadline.

Wigfield revealed the news and told fans that he expects bids to arrive as soon as enquiries are thinned down to “serious” buyers. The join-administrator once again reiterated that there has been substaintal interest in buying the club.

He said: “This discussion is to be expected for such a big club and as we quickly approach the end of the EFL’s compulsory marketing deadline it is likely to intensify.

“However, we will hope to see concrete offers made soon as enquiries – which have been well into the double figures from across the globe – are thinned down into serious and viable bidders that can secure the long-term future of Sheffield Wednesday. It is during this period that even more patience will be required.”

Whilst they look destined for relegation on the pitch, things are finally beginning to look up for Sheffield Wednesday in the boardroom as they look to meet next Friday’s takeover deadline.

Sheffield Wednesday takeover latest

قال عبد الناصر محمد مدير الكرة بنادي الزمالك إن الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم غادر القاهرة عقب مباراة زيسكو الزامبي الأخيرة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الأفريقية، بعد حصوله على موافقة الجهاز الفني للمشاركة مع منتخب فلسطين أمام ليبيا في التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العرب.

وتابع عبد الناصر للموقع الرسمي للزمالك: “جاء ذلك في ظل أهمية المباراة لمنتخب فلسطين للتأهل إلى كأس العرب وهو ما جعلنا نوافق حتى نرى الأشقاء في أفضل المحافل طالما بالإمكان المساعدة، كما أن اللاعب لن يتأخر عن بعثة الفريق الأبيض”.

وأضاف مدير الكرة أن اللاعب سيتواجد مع بعثة الزمالك في جنوب إفريقيا بشكل طبيعي غدٍ الأربعاء، بعدما تم إنهاء كافة الإجراءات له بالتنسيق بين الجانبين.

طالع|مواعيد مباريات فلسطين في كأس العرب 2025

وأوضح عبد الناصر محمد أنه تم وضع برنامج خاص للاعب لخوض تدريبات استشفائية فور وصوله لجنوب إفريقيا وسيكون جاهزًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز في الكونفدرالية.

وتغادر القاهرة في الحادية عشرة مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك متجهة إلى جنوب إفريقيا، استعدادًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، ويترأس البعثة أحمد خالد حسانين عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك.

ويحل الزمالك ضيفًا على كايزر تشيفز الجنوب أفريقي في الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات في الثالثة عصر السبت 29 نوفمبر الجاري باستاد بيتر موكابا بمدينة بولوكواني

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is reportedly in line to make a "superhero" return to action in the north London derby. The Norwegian midfielder has sat out the Gunners' last seven games through injury, having endured a disrupted start to the 2025-26 campaign. He is, however, poised to hand manager Mikel Arteta a timely boost ahead of a home date with Tottenham.

• Odegaard update: Gunners captain missed seven games

  Arsenal are preparing to welcome Spurs to Emirates Stadium on Sunday. It was feared that Odegaard would be forced to sit out that contest with a knee problem, having struggled to find peak form and fitness this season.

  According to , the 26-year-old is now in line to complete a "miraculous recovery" in time to feature against the Gunners’ fiercest rivals. He could make just his eighth appearance of the campaign in that fixture – and his seventh in the Premier League.

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  Arsenal injury news: Who else is missing for the Gunners?

  Arteta will be hoping that is the case as Arsenal are not expected to have star striker Viktor Gyokeres back in contention, with the Sweden international picking up a hamstring complaint against Burnley on November 1 that has kept him out of action for club and country.

  Arsenal are also without Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz at present, while Gabriel Jesus is training again as his recovery from knee ligament damage is stepped up. Commanding centre-half Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to be out for at least a month after suffering a knock while turning out for Brazil.

• Odegaard celebrated Norway reaching 2026 World Cup

  While Odegaard has been restricted to a watching brief of late, he did travel to Oslo during the latest break in domestic duties to watch Norway secure qualification for their first World Cup since 1998 – with Erling Haaland taking his tally of goals in that campaign to 16.

  Odegaard was on the pitch following a 4-1 victory over Estonia to join in with wild celebrations. He posted on social media afterwards: "We’ve been dreaming of moments like this since we were little kids. We have been working so hard. We have failed and failed… But we never gave up. Never lose faith, hope or unity.

  "This group has stood together through the toughest days and moments, and therefore it feels even better to be where we are today. Proud to be a part of this crew. Proud to play for Norway. Proud to be Norwegian. Proud to represent Norway in the World Cup!! Dreams can really come true if you work hard and believe enough.

  "To all the children and young adults out there: We were all once like you.

  "So dream big and work hard, and everything is possible! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us yesterday and thank you for all the love we have received the past few days! It means more than you know. Let’s enjoy the moment, but we won’t stop here…"

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  Tottenham injury news: Kolo Muani to play in a mask

  On the other side of the north London derby divide, Tottenham are hoping that Randal Kolo Muani will be cleared to play. The French forward has been training while donning a protective mask.

  He damaged his jaw during Spurs’ dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester United, with it initially suggested that he could be sidelined for up to two months. He did not, however, require surgery and is ready if needed.

  Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer Harry Kane famously wore a mask against Arsenal in 2016 – after breaking his nose – and ripped that off when celebrating a stunning goal at White Hart Lane.

  Thomas Frank will be without long-term absentee James Maddison, along with Swedish playmaker Dejan Kulusevski and England international striker Dominic Solanke. Mohammed Kudus did not feature for Ghana during the November break and remains a doubt. Pape Matar Sarr picked up a knock during Senegal’s friendly with Brazil and may be forced to sit out a crunch clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal – who hold a four-point lead at the top of the table through 11 games this season.

His 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs follows Kasey Aldridge’s 180 and allows Somerset to enforce follow on

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Sep-2025Hampshire 172 (Leach 7-69) and 35 for 1 (Middleton 8*, Vaughan 1-18) f/o trail Somerset 454 for 8 dec. (Aldridge 180, Abell 118, Overton 50*) by 247 runs A spin bowling masterclass from Somerset’s Jack Leach plunged relegation-threatened Hampshire into deeper trouble on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the hosts had increased their first innings total from an overnight 381 for 7 to 454 for 8 declared, the left-arm spinner, overlooked in recent times by England, claimed 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs to help bowl out Hampshire for 172 and make them follow on.Kasey Aldridge was last man out in the Somerset innings for 180, having begun the day on 149, while Craig Overton finished unbeaten on 50.Hampshire made a better fist of things in their second innings, reaching 35 for 1 before rain and bad light ended play 15.1 overs early, but still face a backs-to-the-wall fight tomorrow to avoid what might prove a hugely damaging defeat.The first ball of the day, bowled by Keith Barker, saw Aldridge nudge the single needed to take him to a maiden 150, having faced 207 balls and hit 16 fours and five sixes. He and Overton were positive from the outset.Aldridge cut a boundary off James Fuller to take Somerset’s score past 400 and followed up with an upper cut six off the same bowler. Overton cleared the ropes off Abbott and Washington Sundar as the pair took their entertaining partnership to the century mark from 90 deliveries.The next target was to take the score to 450, which they achieved in the 103rd over to secure maximum batting points. Overton went to fifty off 42 balls and the only remaining question was the timing of the declaration.It came when Aldridge was run out by Nick Gubbins’ direct hit at the bowler’s end attempting a quick single to mid-off. The tall all-rounder, bound for Durham next season, had batted for more than four and a half hours, facing 233 balls and extending his boundary count to 20 fours and six sixes.Hampshire’s reply had reached 13 after five overs when Leach was introduced from the River End. His first over saw Ali Orr bowled between bat and pad by a delivery that turned considerably from outside the left-hander’s off stump.Soon it was 27 for 2 as Gubbins reverse swept Leach straight into the hands of Archie Vaughan at short third and three runs later Fletcha Middleton had his off stump clipped by Leach from a delivery that pitched on middle.Toby Albert launched two defiant sixes off Vaughan in moving to 29 before driving at a wide ball from the off-spinner and offering a straightforward return catch. Lunch was taken with Hampshire 61 for 4.Vaughan struck again after he and Leach had swapped ends in the afternoon session, bowling Ben Brown, on 21, as he attempted to cut.The accurate Leach was bowling some rippers and one accounted for Sundar. Having battled his way to 23, the India Test player pushed forward defensively to a ball that spun back through the gate and bowled him to make the score 102 for 6.Fuller tried to counter-attack and had made 24 off 17 balls when becoming Leach’s fifth victim, lbw sweeping. Barker was bowled for 19 attempting to reverse sweep Leach and Felix Organ top-edged a pull off a Vaughan long-hop to be caught at midwicket before Abbott lofted a catch to wide long-on to end the innings and give Leach season’s best figures.Tea was taken before Somerset enforced the follow-on. The tireless Leach, who played the last of his 39 Tests for England almost a year ago, took the new ball in tandem with Vaughan, while Tom Abell was off the field having suffered a jolting blow on the helmet when fielding at short-leg.Orr and Middleton took the score to 35 in the 22nd over when Orr fell for 27, struck on the back pad by a ball from Vaughan. Before the game could restart, the rain which had been forecast for much of the day finally arrived, much to Hampshire’s relief.

County set to end 20 years of exile from Division One as rivals Derbyshire are unable to close gap

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025

Derbyshire 17 for 0 trail Glamorgan 259 (Carlson 94, Reece 4-67, Dal 3-29) by 242 runs Glamorgan are celebrating a return to the top tier of domestic cricket for the first time in 20 years after the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby ended in a draw.For the second day running, rain prevented any play at the Central Co-op County Ground which meant third place Derbyshire could not overtake the Welsh County in second placeMiddlesex’s subsequent draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford confirmed that Glamorgan will be playing Division One cricket next season for the first time since 2005.They went into the last day already in a strong position but once rain throughout the morning washed out the first session, it was obvious Derbyshire’s slim hopes had gone.The decision to abandon the match was taken after a brief inspection by the umpires and both captains shortly before 12.30pm with Derbyshire taking 11 points and Glamorgan nine points from a game in which play was only possible on day two.Glamorgan end the season with a home game against Lancashire while Derbyshire travel to Canterbury to play Kent.

Gennaro Gattuso delivered a sharp message about Federico Chiesa’s Italy future after the Liverpool winger rejected two more national team call-ups. With the Azzurri preparing for a tense 2026 World Cup play-off run, the spotlight is now firmly on Chiesa’s repeated withdrawals and Gattuso’s growing frustration. The situation adds fresh tension around Italy’s build-up to a defining March showdown.

Chiesa’s repeated Italy snubs create growing tension

Italy’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup play-offs have been marred by the ongoing saga surrounding Chiesa, who has rejected multiple call-ups this season. The Liverpool winger, who has contributed two goals and three assists for his club, has been in strong form yet continues to withdraw from national team duty.

Gattuso has attempted to integrate him into the squad since taking over this year, but Chiesa has now declined four or five times across various camps including Italy’s most recent qualifiers against Moldova and Norway. His last appearance for Italy came at Euro 2024, where the Azzurri were eliminated by Switzerland in the last 16, a defeat that triggered heavy criticism across the country.

With Italy now facing a difficult play-off route – Northern Ireland in the semi-final and potentially Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final, Chiesa’s absence is becoming a major storyline. That tension set the stage for Gattuso’s latest pointed remarks.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGattuso’s blunt message on Chiesa’s situation

Gattuso did not hold back when asked whether the 28-year-old would return for the upcoming play-offs, speaking to , he said: “You know it well. You know Chiesa’s problem. You always ask me the same thing. I call Chiesa in every call-up; I always talk to him. The problem is not Gattuso or his staff; he has a problem, not us. You know it well. You always ask the same thing, and I always answer the same.”

The Italy boss spoke about the current situation earlier this month: "I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has. We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can't say anything else." Gattuso was pressed further on the issue and confirmed the decision has definitely come from the player himself, adding: "Yes, it's already the fourth or fifth time that I'm explaining this."

Why Gattuso’s comments matter for Italy’s play-off push

Gattuso’s remarks highlight a deeper strategic concern for Italy as they prepare for a decisive March. The ex-Juventus winger is one of the nation’s top attacking talents, and his form at Liverpool, including a Player of the Month award in September shows he still influences games even without consistent starts. His decision to repeatedly decline national team duty removes a key tactical option for the Azzurri at a time when they are struggling for creativity and consistency.

Italy only finished second in their qualifying group behind Norway and were beaten 4-1 by the same opponents in their final group match, underlining the instability that continues to follow the squad. Without Chiesa available, Gattuso must rely on less experienced or less dynamic wide players as Italy enter a pressure-packed play-off path, a route that has historically troubled the Azzurri.

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(C)Getty ImagesItaly turn focus to Northern Ireland clash

Attention now shifts to Italy’s March 26 semi-final against Northern Ireland, a physical and resilient opponent that Gattuso is refusing to underestimate. Speaking about the tie, Gattuso kept his message direct: “It’s a physical team; they never give up. We have to play it. I’ve been saying this for three months. We knew we had to go through the playoffs; we knew our path had to improve. We look ahead with confidence.”

If Italy advance, they will face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina away from home in a high-stakes final just five days later. That makes the absence of a player like Chiesa even more impactful as the Azzurri navigate a brutal and compressed path to the World Cup. All eyes now turn to March and whether Italy can secure their place without one of their brightest attacking stars.

Closing in on his arrival, Kim Hellberg has already reportedly made the decision to overhaul Middlesbrough’s backroom staff and hand interim manager Adi Viveash a new role at the club.

The Swedish manager has already caused plenty of controversy around the Championship after he rejected Swansea City in favour of Boro in a late twist, and is now set to arrive in Teesside with the task of picking up where Rob Edwards left off.

Having reportedly paid £250k to secure his services, Boro will be hoping to see Hellberg get off to the perfect start, but to say he doesn’t have an easy start would be an understatement.

With Viveash set to remain in charge against Oxford United this Saturday, Hellberg’s first game in charge is likely to come against Championship leaders Coventry City. If nothing changes between now and that game, then Middlesbrough will be able to go within a point of the league leaders with victory on their manager’s debut.

It will be interesting to see how the 37-year-old sets his side up for that game. His preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, which Boro played so often under Edwards and will now look to use to their advantage under a new manager. This should at least help ease any period of adjustment for all involved.

The Swede isn’t wasting any time before implementing other changes, however. Reports are now claiming that he’s already made an immediate staff overhaul involving interim boss Viveash.

Hellberg makes instant Viveash decision at Middlesbrough

According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Hellberg has already appointed David Selini as his assistant manager and made the decision to keep Viveash on as a technical coach as part of a staff overhaul. The young coach has instantly got to work to make changes in an attempt to hit the ground running in Riverside.

It’s a new role that Viveash has more than earned. The Boro coach stepped up for the club when Edwards departed, leading them to a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City and there’s no doubt his presence will help to welcome Hellberg to the job.

Meanwhile, Selini is also an interesting appointment. The Hammarby assistant has only worked with Hellberg for over a year, but is now set to join him in the Championship at just 31 years old.

In Hellberg and his assistant, Selini, Boro have placed their trust in a young management team and must now hope that their gamble ends in the pay out of promotion.