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Brendan Rodgers could not have asked for a much better start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season for Celtic against Kilmarnock last weekend.

The Hoops ran out convincing winners in a 4-0 rout at Parkhead to shoot straight to the top of the division after matchday one, as they look to defend their title.

Reo Hatate, Liam Scales, Nicolas Kuhn, and Anthony Ralston all got their names on the scoresheet for the Scottish giants, to secure all three points for the team.

Only one player made their debut for the Bhoys on the day despite the summer transfer window having been open for almost two months, with Kasper Schmeichel lining up between the sticks as Joe Hart's replacement.

Paulo Bernardo, who joined on a permanent deal from Benfica, and Viljami Sinisalo, who signed from Aston Villa to be Schmeichel's back-up initially, were both unused substitutes in Glasgow on Sunday.

The Hoops do have their eyes on further additions to the squad before the summer transfer window slams shut for business at the end of the month.

In fact, they are said to be eyeing up a move to sign a player who would bolster the manager's attacking options for the 2024/25 campaign…

Celtic preparing bid for star forward

According to Football Insider, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Adam Idah on a permanent transfer from English Championship side Norwich City.

The report claims that the two clubs have been in discussions throughout the summer transfer window but no move is close to being agreed at this moment in time.

It adds that the Premiership champions have already had an offer of £4m turned down by the Canaries, who believe that their academy graduate is worth more than that.

That rejection has not deterred Rodgers, though, as the Hoops are still looking to bring the 23-year-old attacker back to Parkhead this summer.

The outlet reveals that Celtic are now set to make a new bid to sign the Ireland international, as they prepare a formal offer for the 6 foot 3 marksman. It does not, however, outline how much they are prepared to put on the table for him.

Earlier this summer, HITC reported that the Championship side are looking for a fee in the region of £8m to allow the striker to move on from Carrow Road, which is double the fee the Hoops had previously offered.

If this new bid does do the business and secures a deal for the centre-forward, though, then he could be an exciting partner for Kuhn in the final third this season.

Nicolas Kuhn's attacking potential

The 24-year-old star had five months to settle into life in Glasgow in the second half of last season after his loan move from Rapid Wien in the winter window.

He did show glimpses of his attacking potential in that time with his impressive displays out on the right wing for Rodgers in the Premiership.

The young forward had produced five assists and 11 'big chances' created in just 16 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga during the first half of the campaign.

Appearances

14

Starts

9

Goals

2

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1.3

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn did not quite maintain the same level of performance after his move to the Premiership but promising signs were there.

Five 'big chances' created and four direct goal contributions in nine starts was a solid return for a player who had moved to Scotland for the first time midway through a season.

It is now down to Kuhn to kick on and enjoy a strong first full campaign with the Scottish giants, and the early signs suggest that he is set to do so.

The German whiz fired in two goals and provided one assist in the 4-3 win over Manchester City in pre-season and then started the Premiership term by finding the back of the net, by cutting inside onto his favoured foot and scoring via a deflected left-footed effort.

He is a direct and exciting winger with the potential to score and create goals, which is why the gem will be hoping that the club strike a deal for Idah.

Why Idah would be a dream for Kuhn

As aforementioned, Kuhn is a creative flanker who looks to beat opposition defences and play passes and crosses to create high-quality chances for his teammates.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the left-footed whiz created 16 'big chances' in the Bundesliga and the Premiership combined but was only rewarded with seven assists, which suggests that his teammates let him down at times.

Idah, who was praised for his "incredible" talent by Rodgers last term, could come in and provide the winger with a striker who could make the most of his sublime creativity.

Appearances

15

38

Goals

8

14

Big chances missed

7

24

Conversion rate

27%

14%

Minutes per goal

76

179

As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward was significantly more clinical than Kyogo Furuhashi in the Premiership last season, with a much higher conversion rate and over 100 fewer minutes per goal on average.

Kyogo's wasteful nature in front of goal was on display on the opening day of the season against Kilmarnock, as the striker failed to score from a whopping eight shots and missed two 'big chances'.

Idah has proven himself to be a lethal goalscorer at Premiership level and that is why he could be a dream signing for Kuhn, as it would provide the winger with a centre-forward who can finish off the chances he creates.

The Ireland international could also help the German wizard with his back-to-goal play as the 6 foot 3 ace could use his strength and intelligence to provide the flanker with shooting opportunities, just like when they linked up for Kuhn's goal against Aberdeen back in February.

Celtic could land dream signing for Hatate in swoop for £7m star

The Hoops have been linked with an interest in the central midfielder this summer.

ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2024

Therefore, Idah could be a dream signing by Celtic for the former Bayern Munich youngster and, hopefully, this new bid will be enough to bring him back to Parkhead.

كشفت تقارير صحفية، منذ قليل، آخر التطورات التي تتعلق بمستقبل لاعب فريق برشلونة، رونالد أراوخو، بعد ارتباطه بخطوة الرحيل عن النادي الكتالوني في موسم الانتقالات الشتوي الحالي.

وارتبط رونالد أراوخو بإمكانية مغادرة صفوف برشلونة في نافذة الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية، بحثًا عن تجربة جديدة.

وأكدت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، في الفترة الأخيرة، أن اللاعب الأوروجواني هو من طلب الرحيل عن برشلونة، رغم أن الإدارة لا ترحب بتلك الخطوة.

وسعى نادي يوفنتوس إلى الحصول على خدمات أراوخو، ولكن عرضه لم ينل قبول برشلونة لانخفاض قيمته المالية.

وتطورت الأمور بعدما عقد المدير الرياضي لنادي برشلونة، ديكو، اجتماعًا مع أراوخو عقب مؤتمر الرئيس خوان لابورتا يوم الثلاثاء الماضي.

ونجح ديكو في تغيير رأي أراوخو، حيث لم يعد الأخير راغبًا في الرحيل بل أنه أبدى ترحيبه بفكرة التوقيع على عقد جديد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فليك عن مستقبل لاعب برشلونة: القرار له.. وليس لدي ما أقوله بشأن ما حدث مع ريال مدريد

ويبدو أن الأمر قد تم بالفعل، حسبما ذكر الصحفي الشهير فابريزيو رومانو منذ قليل.

وذكر رومانو أن أراوخو على وشك توقيع عقد جديد مع برشلونة، حيث تم التوصل إلى اتفاق مبدئي مع مسؤولي برشلونة في وقت سابق من هذا الأسبوع.

وأشار إلى إنه سيتم عقد اجتماع نهائي لاستكمال التفاصيل الأخيرة المتعلقة بالعقد الجديد قبل التوقيع، حيث يستعد برشلونة للخطوات الرسمية.

من جهة أخرى، يلتقي برشلونة مع خيتافي مساء السبت في إطار منافسات الجولة العشرين من الدوري الإسباني.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in preseason and, having signed the incredibly exciting Archie Gray a few of weeks ago, are a couple of steps ahead of some of their rivals at the moment.

However, with less than a month to go until the Premier League kicks off, a lot can change, and if Daniel Levy wants to give Ange Postecoglou the best chance of success, he needs to bring in even more reinforcements, specifically in attack.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest that is likely to happen, as the latest star touted for a move to N17 is one of the most entertaining players in the league and has even been compared to Phil Foden.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Steve Kay via KS1TV, Tottenham have maintained a strong interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Kay claims that several other teams are interested in the Englishman, including North London rivals Arsenal, but the Lillywhites are "ahead" in the race for his signature at the moment.

The former Queens Park Rangers ace's release clause is £60m, but Kay does not expect that to be a problem for Levy and Co.

It would still represent a hefty investment from the club, but given his performances last season and the complimentary comparison to Foden, it is one worth making.

How Eze compares to Phil Foden

Now, the first thing to address here is the comparison to Foden, which can be divided into two parts.

The first is that, like the Manchester City ace, Eze is a dynamic attacker who can play out wide on the wings and in attacking midfield. Last season, he made nine starts in the former positions and 17 in the latter for Palace, while the City ace made 31 out wide and 15 as the club's ten last year.

The second, and more meaty, comparison between the two stems from FBref, who compare players in the Premier League and then create a list of the ten most comparable players for each one. In this case, they concluded that the Stockport-born dynamo is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the 26-year-old.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.59

0.59

Progressive Carries

2.98

2.93

Shots on Target

1.45

1.51

Key Passes

2.37

2.30

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.89

1.77

The best way to see how FBref came to this conclusion is by looking at how closely the pair rank in a multitude of important underlying metrics, including non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive carries, shots on target, key passes and carries into the penalty area, all per 90.

However, while the comparison to the Premier League winner is certainly flattering, it's not the sole reason Spurs should sign the Palace "entertainer," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him; you only need to look at his form last season to find out the main reason he's worth £60m.

In 31 appearances for the Eagles, he scored 11 goals and provided six assists, which equates to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games.

If he can do that in a Palace side that only really kicked into gear following the appointment of Oliver Glasner, think of what he'd be able to do under Postecoglou.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 18, 2024

Ultimately, while it's undoubtedly a sizeable fee, his incredible displays in 2023/24 and complimentary comparison to Foden should be all the encouragement Spurs need that Eze would be an exceptional signing.

After clinching a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Leicester City are in talks to reunite new manager Steve Cooper with one of his former players.

Foxes on the hunt for new attacking stars

The story that has been attracting the most attention at the King Power Stadium surrounds the Foxes' ongoing pursuit of Matias Soule. A deal for the Juventus winger has been in the works for a number of weeks with the latest development suggesting that Leicester have submitted a bid in the region of £21million for the player.

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Leicester City can still win when it comes to selling on this forgotten man.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 24, 2024

Despite the Foxes' clear interest in the player, Soule could be drawn towards extending his stay in Italy with Roma also said to be in talks to sign the player. Recent claims in the press have stated that Soule only wants to join the Serie A side which may throw a spanner in Leicester's transfer plans this summer.

If they cannot get a deal for Soule over the line, Leicester have been looking at deals for other wide players including AC Milan ace Alexis Saelemaekers. The Foxes have reportedly opened negotiations for the Belgian winger who can also operate in the centre of the pitch.

With Leicester clearly not afraid of lining up alternatives to Soule, it looks as if the Foxes have approached a fellow Premier League side about one of their wantaway stars.

Leicester open talks to sign Reiss Nelson

As first reported on the X account of Fabrizio Romano, Leicester City have opened talks with Arsenal over a potential deal to sign Reiss Nelson. Romano claims that the negotiations in question surround an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy the winger further down the line, with the Foxes confident they can persuade the player to join.

Despite spending his entire career at the Emirates, Nelson has never quite managed to cement himself in the Gunners' starting XI, often having to settle for cameos off the bench. The course of the previous season saw the 24-year-old make just 15 appearances in the Premier League, failing to register a goal or assist during this time.

Arsenal's-Reiss-Nelson

Irrespective of his recent struggles, Nelson is a player who spent his youth career touted as one of England's most promising prospects. Playing his way through the Three Lions' youth set up, the winger became a fixture of the national team, earning praises for his performances.

One person that Nelson really managed to impress was former England manager and current Leicester boss Cooper. Speaking in a press conference back in 2022, Cooper took the opportunity to heap praise on Nelson after he scored twice against his Nottingham Forest side:

“[Reiss Nelson] and I always had a strong relationship. He was a standout player for England U17s. It’s good to see him doing well, I just wish it wasn’t today.”

With the new Leicester boss already a big fan of the player, there is a good chance that Nelson could be lacing up at the King Power by the time the next season begins.

Leicester City will know that they have a significant portion of cash to now play around with in the transfer market after offloading star midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30m.

The Foxes managed to acquire their own midfield talent from Stamford Bridge in the process, winning the services of 18-year-old starlet Michael Golding for £4m as cash begins to be splashed at the King Power Stadium.

The newly promoted Premier League side are unlikely to stop there when it comes to new recruits, but there will be a temptation to be more frugal, especially with a reported transfer target available for free.

Leicester eyeing up free-agent attacker

According to the Athletic, Steve Cooper's Foxes are considering a move for free agent attacker Callum O'Hare this summer after signing Bobby Decordova-Reid.

O'Hare had been with Coventry but didn't sign a new contract with the Sky Blues and is now available as a free agent.

However, Leicester aren't alone in their alleged interest of the entertaining 26-year-old, with suitors from the likes of Leeds United and Southampton previously keen on the ex-Aston Villa man also.

What O'Hare can offer Leicester

This could be an ingenious move from Leicester to ensure they don't dent the bank too much, considering Cooper and Co are also sniffing around for the services of Celtic star Matt O'Riley, but his extortionate price tag could prove to be a major stumbling block here.

The Sun have reported that the Glasgow titans have slapped a £50m asking price above their prized asset to unsettle suitors, with the Foxes one keen party.

So, that's benefit number one. Benefit number two is their current lack of attacking midfield options, owing to Dennis Praet being released by the Foxes. As a result, O'Hare feels like a smart signing to make with the 26-year-old eyeing up the Premier League after being a nuisance for many a Championship defence over the past couple of seasons.

Leicester also have the likes of Harry Winks and new recruit Golding that can do a job in the central midfield ranks where O'Riley slots into, with a move for £25m-rated Benfica gem Florentino Luis also in the works, away from attempting to get a bumper deal over the line for the much talked about Celtic man.

O'Hare had shone for Mark Robins' Sky Blues in the second tier before leaving, a league which O'Riley has never competed in away from previously playing in League One for Milton Keynes Dons, with the 26-year-old picking up ten goals and four assists last campaign from all competitions.

Games played

31

Goals scored

6

Assists

3

Shots*

1.3

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

4

Ball recoveries*

3.3

Total duels won*

3.4

Missing the start of the season recovering from a serious injury, it didn't take long for the ex-Villa youngster to blow off the cobwebs and excel under Robins again, as can be seen glancing at the table above.

Premier League fans will already know what O'Hare is capable of if they tuned into Coventry's unbelievable FA Cup journey last campaign, with the "dangerous" attacking midfielder – as he has been described in the past by football journalist Josh Bunting – running rings around Wolverhampton Wanderers in a memorable 3-2 victory at Molineux.

O'Hare would attempt four dribbles and win five duels from just twenty minutes of action against the top-flight side, with his mazey darts forward playing a huge part in the plucky Sky Blues eventually progressing at the expense of Wolves.

The capture of O'Riley might look like more of a statement purchase, but if there isn't a bottomless pit of money to play with even with the sale of Dewsbury-Hall injecting cash, snapping up the former Coventry man for free would be a shrewd bit of business.

Imagine him & Fatawu: Leicester keen on signing ex-Messi teammate

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ByKelan Sarson Jul 4, 2024

A £315,000-a-week star "wants to join" Manchester City, however, he’s also keen on Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.

Man City transfer rumours

Pep Guardiola recently guided City to a historic fourth Premier League title in a row, however, the 2024/25 season could be his ninth and last with the Citizens.

Reports from The Daily Mail last month revealed that the Spaniard is ‘expected to call time on a spell of unprecedented dominance at City next summer’, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.

Etihad officials appear to have been discussing the prospect of losing Guardiola behind the scenes in recent months, with Girona’s Michel talked up as one potential candidate.

Man City looking at signing "sensational" £84m star to replace De Bruyne

He could be available this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 17, 2024

Despite the possibility of losing Guardiola, it looks as if he could still make a number of additions during the summer transfer window, possibly with one eye on leaving City in a strong position.

For example, contact has reportedly been made over a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo, who is currently impressing with Spain at Euro 2024. Another target appears to be FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who has been linked with a move to Manchester to potentially replace Ederson and rival Stefan Ortega.

Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich has also been linked with a move to England and City in 2024, and there has now been a new update on the versatile German, one that could encourage Etihad chiefs.

Joshua Kimmich transfer update – Sky Sports

Taking to X, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed that Kimmich could leave Bayern Munich this summer, with new manager Vincent Kompany not having the versatile star in his midfield plans.

A split between Bayern and Kimmich, who is out of contract next summer, is “getting closer”, and it is added that the German “wants to join Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid or Barcelona”.

Kimmich and Guardiola previously worked together at the Allianz Arena, with the 29-year-old coming in for plenty of praise from the Man City boss. Back in 2016, Guardiola said after Kimmich played at centre-back against Borussia Dortmund: “I told him that he's perhaps one of the best centre-backs in the world. I love this boy.

“Joshua Kimmich turned in a great display. We have a very good defender who’s strong in the build-up play. I like to work with players who are eager to learn. He's got the desire, the will, the passion. He's got absolutely everything.”

Since then, Kimmich, on £315,000-a-week, has also been dubbed a "mentality monster" by ex-boss Hansi Flick, whereas another iconic manager, Jose Mourinho, called him “an absolutely phenomenal player” last year.

"I see him as a top right-back, left-back, centre-back, No.6, No.8, No.10… he has the qualities to be anything! I think he looks to me, very intelligent related to football, very intelligent, understands the moments of the games and understands the difference between positions and understands what he has to do here and what he has to do there. I think he’s phenomenal, an absolutely phenomenal player."

It looks as if a move to England, potentially the Etihad Stadium to reunite with Guardiola, could be one to watch over the summer.

Former Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff says comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi cannot be made for another 13 years.

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Youngster made senior breakthrough at 15Has rewritten the history books since thenBeing likened to Argentine all-time greatFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

With both players stepping out of the famed La Masia academy system, inevitable talk of a teenage star in the present treading the same path as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been generated. Such a discussion would feel far-fetched for most, but Yamal has shown himself to be the hottest of prospects.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He has been rewriting the history books since making a senior breakthrough at the age of 15, and is already a proven performer with La Liga title and European Championship honours to his name. More prestigious prizes are expected to come his way, but it is far too early to put him in the Messi talent bracket.

WHAT CRUYFF SAID

That is an opinion shared by ex-Barca player and director Cruyff, with the Dutchman telling on Yamal: “He is a different player, with a different talent, with a lot of personality for his age. From the very first day without any fear of ‘give me the ball, I’m going to make my move’. And the truth is that if he is not injured, he is obviously a player who is going to mark an era, but to say that he is going to be a Messi… We’ll know when he is 30 years old.”

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Getty/GOALDID YOU KNOW?

Yamal has made no secret of the fact that he wants to become a legend in his own right, but has told of the Messi debate that continues to rage around him: “I like being compared to the best player in football history, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”

شهدت الساعات الأخيرة تطورات جديدة في أزمة رحيل المدير الفني البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز عن نادي الزمالك.

أكد مصدر مقرب من إدارة الزمالك لـ”بطولات”، أن جوميز تمسك بقراره بالرحيل عن القلعة البيضاء، وذلك خلال الجلسة التي جمعته بإدارة النادي فجر اليوم.

وفيما يتعلق بالمدرب المساعد أحمد مجدي، فقد تم طرح مقترح جديد يقضي باستمراره مع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك حتى نهاية مباراة المصري القادمة في إطار منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية.

هذا المقترح جاء بناءً على طلب من المدرب جوزيه جوميز نفسه، حيث يرغب في أن ينضم مجدي إليه في الجهاز الفني الجديد الذي سيشكله في نادي الفتح السعودي.

طالع أيضًا | بعد قرار جوميز.. ميدو يظهر في تدريبات الزمالك

وغاب المدرب البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز عن تدريبات الفريق اليوم، وقد تولى الجهاز المعاون مهمة قيادة المران في غيابه، وسط حالة من الترقب والانتظار لمعرفة تطورات الأزمة في الساعات المقبلة. موعد مباراة الزمالك والمصري في كأس الكونفدرالية

تقام مباراة الزمالك والمصري في تمام السادسة مساء الأحد المقبل الموافق 15 ديسمبر.

ويتصدر الزمالك ترتيب المجموعة، برصيد 4 نقاط، المصري ثانيًا برصيد 4 نقاط، يأتي في المركز الثالث إنيمبا النيجيري بنقطة واحدة، ويتذيل الترتيب فريق بلاك بولز الموزمبيقي بنقطة واحدة أيضًا.

Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin scored on his return from injury against Salford City but was spotted grimacing in pain at the end of the game.

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• Mullin returns from injury against Salford
• Scores on first start of the season
• Looked in pain at the end of the win

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mullin made his first start of the season on Tuesday in the EFL Trophy against Salford City and went on to score the opening goal in a 2-1 win for the Red Dragons. The forward has returned to action after missing the start of the season following back surgery in the summer. However, Mullin did appear to be in some pain as he made his way out of the dugout at the end of the game, sparking fears he may be set for another lay-off.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham will be hoping that Mullin did come through the game unscathed, particularly as Phil Parkinson's League One leaders face a crunch game against big-spending Birmingham City next. Parkinson explained after the game that Mullin's early substitution had been planned, as it was his first minutes of the season, and also said his striker felt in good shape.

• WHAT WREXHAM HAVE SAID

  Parkinson added to Wrexham's media channel: "So pleased, first of all it was a typical Paul goal, a great finish. I think more importantly for Paul, he felt in good shape and he worked hard, and he needed to do that tonight to get the benefit of the match practice. Of course the goal is a bonus but we know he scores. It was important though to see, can we take him a step closer to starting a league game."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM

  Mullin has played a key role in Wrexham's rise through the divisions to League One and will hope to continue in the 2024-25 campaign after making his comeback. Wrexham will be hoping that he can shrug off any discomfort felt after his first start of the season and be available for their 'Hollywood derby' at St Andrew's on Monday.

Manchester City star Bernardo Silva says he has "very little time" with his family due to football's "absolutely absurd" schedule.

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Elite players seemingly playing more gamesSilva slams football schedule as "absurd"Says he has "very little time" with his familyWHAT HAPPENED?

Portugal international Silva says it is ludicrous that City are set to play three games a week for the next few months, with very little time to recover. The 29-year-old added that because of the gruelling schedule, he spends less and less time with his nearest and dearest and has called on something to change.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BERNARDO SILVA SAID

He told Record: "I think there are two completely different issues here. When the players complain, people say that players can't complain about the life they have. And they're right because we're fulfilling a dream and we do what we do. On the other hand, the schedule is completely crazy. We've just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game. We play Arsenal, we rest for a day and then we have the game against Watford. And if we don't get knocked out of any other competition, we'll play every three days for months. It's been absolutely absurd. In the Champions League, if you don't qualify for the round of 16 you still have to play two more games. It's true that the squads are bigger, but I'm not going to say that it's easy. It hasn't been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we're subjected to is absolutely absurd."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Silva's complaints come at a time when a FIFPRO report found that elite players are under increasing "mental stress" due to the number of games they play and that many have as little as 12 per cent of the calendar year off (less than one day a week). Overworked players can often lead to injured players and a drop off in the quality of football. With rising interest in football and record profits, player welfare may now be more important than ever.

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Getty WHAT NEXT?

Silva, who played for Portugal in their 2-1 Nations League win over Croatia on Thursday, may not get much rest anytime soon as he could feature for his country against Scotland on Sunday and City have five matches to play before the end of September in all competitions.