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The Houston Astros are calling up their No. 2 prospect Jacob Melton after Zach Dezenzo hit the 15-day injured list. Melton will take over as the center fielder.

The 24-year-old will make his MLB debut on Sunday vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, as he will hit eighth in the lineup. He was drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft.

Through 17 games with the Triple A Sugar Land Space Cowboys this season, Melton has averaged .254/.371/.508 and hit two home runs and stole three bases.

Melton joins the Astros at a crucial time for the team. They currently sit in second place with a 31-27 record in the AL West, just half a game behind the Seattle Mariners.

Injuries have plagued the Astros recently, especially with the latest news regarding Yordan Alvarez's return. He's been out since May 2 and was expected to make a return soon. However, Alvarez underwent new imaging on his right hand and it revealed a small fracture that was previously believed to be a muscle strain. Alvarez's return is unknown, but he isn't likely to make it back to the field very soon.

The Chicago White Sox have been quick to claim Pope Leo XIV as their own.

Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, was quickly discovered to be a White Sox fan after his elevation to head of the Catholic Church earlier this year. The team has leaned in, with murals of Leo adorning the stadium and fans often showing up to games dressed as His Holiness.

But a recent message from Leo gave fans from the rest of MLB the chance to clown on the White Sox and their new most famous fan a bit. On Sunday, a message on the role of sports in society was shared by the @Pontifex account.

“In our competitive society, where it seems that only the strong and winners deserve to live, sport also teaches us how to lose,” Leo wrote. “It forces us, in learning the art of losing, to confront our fragility, our limitations and our imperfections. It is through the experience of these limits that we open our hearts to hope. Athletes who never make mistakes, who never lose, do not exist.”

On its face, this is a thoughtful message about what we can all learn from sports, win or lose. But baseball fans reading between the lines knew what the Pope was really saying. Learning about how to lose? Sports teaching us about our imperfections? Oh yeah, this guy is a White Sox fan.

The inevitability of losing in sports is a reality that all sports fans are familiar with, but White Sox fans might be a bit more in touch with their feelings on the matter.

In related news, the White Sox lost to the Texas Rangers on Sunday by a score of 2–1.

تحدث إينياكي بينيا حارس إلتشي، بعد انتهاء مباراة فريقه ضد ريال مدريد، بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق، في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال بينيا في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “نحن سعداء لأننا قدمنا مباراة رائعة، ما رأيتموه في الملعب هو ثمرة كل العمل الجاد الذي بذلناه وكل ما تم طلبه منا”.

وأضاف عن التعادل مع ريال مدريد: “نخرج من هذه المباراة بمرارة لأنهم تعادلوا في الدقائق الأخيرة، لكن هذا الشعور يعبر بوضوح عن طموحنا وما نبنيه معًا”.

وواصل عن الشوط الثاني: “كنا نعلم أنه مع النتيجة ضدنا، سيضغطون بقوة، لديهم لاعبون من الطراز العالمي وقادرون على التغلب عليك واختراق خطوطنا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. خبير تحكيمي يوضح مدى صحة هدف بيلينجهام المثير للجدل في مباراة ريال مدريد وإلتشي

وتابع: “لقد خططنا للمباراة حتى نحاول اختراقهم، ونغلق جميع المساحات ونبعد الكرة عن مرمانا، لسنا معتادين على ذلك وكان علينا التكيف مع هذا النوع من المباريات، في هذا الجانب لعب الفريق ببراعة”.

وختم عن الهدف الثاني الذي أثيرت حوله الشكوك وتم العودة فيه لتقنية الفار: “سدد فينيسيوس، تصديت له ومع زخم التسديدة، شعرت أن ركبته أصابتني في أنفي، هذا جزء من اللعبة، من المؤسف أن ريال مدريد سجل من الكرة المرتدة، هذا كل ما في الأمر، مجرد جزء من اللعبة”.

Celtic have been meticulously assessing options to succeed Martin O’Neill in the dugout and may now have identified a new figure that could become a serious contender to take the Scottish Premiership champions forward.

At 73 years of age, O’Neill deserves plenty of plaudits for taking a step out of his comfortable stable of punditry work for another spell in charge of his old side, even if he may only be around for a brief period of time.

The victories over Falkirk and Rangers brought back some much-needed morale to the Celtic dressing room. However, the Bhoys’ defeat to FC Midtjylland in midweek prompted the former Republic of Ireland boss to make his stance clear on a longer stay in Glasgow.

He told TNT Sports: “I will be here as long as the football board wants me, it’s as simple as that. That could be at the end of the week, it could be after the Kilmarnock game. I just don’t know.”

Later, he added after being asked if he was in constant discussions with the hierarchy, fuelling speculation that he may not be in charge beyond the international break: “No I’m not and I don’t really want to be. I just want to be told when my time is up.”

Kjetil Knutsen continues to be in the Celtic running as his Bodo/Glimt contract comes to an end. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is a Parkhead candidate due to his sterling work at Portman Road.

With speculation bound to continue over the coming days, a new name has entered the picture as a potential successor to interim coach O’Neill.

Celtic place Brian Barry-Murphy on manager shortlist

According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon, Celtic have shortlisted Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy as a managerial candidate to take over permanently at Parkhead.

Middlesbrough are also on the hunt for a new head coach as Rob Edwards completes a controversial move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, though the Scottish champions appear ready to throw a spanner in the works amid their links to the City Football Group.

Brian Barry-Murphy at Cardiff City – 2025/26

Wins

13

Draws

2

Losses

6

62% win ratio from 21 matches this season.

Previously, he was head coach at Rochdale before a spell in charge of Manchester City’s elite development squad, and he has also further coaching experience in a technical role at Leicester City.

Celtic could land an alternative manager with a secret release clause

Cardiff City find themselves fourth on 26 points and could go top of the table should they win their game in hand. Predominantly adopting a 4-2-3-1, the Bluebirds have been an attacking force this campaign, scoring the joint-third most goals in League One.

Nevertheless, managing Celtic is a whole different kettle of fish due to the pressures associated with the role. It remains to be seen who will be trusted to lead their bid to retain the Scottish Premiership title.

India’s decision to bat on and not call off the game at the start of the mandatory final 15 overs was a decision left to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, India captain Shubman Gill said after India secured a hard-fought draw in Manchester to keep the series alive at 1-2.Jadeja was unbeaten on 89 and Washington on 80 at the start of the last hour with India on 386 for 4, when Ben Stokes offered to shake hands for a draw. India, however, decided to bat on. “It was up to the boys,” Gill said when asked whose decision it was to stay on. “I thought they both batted brilliantly, both were in their 90s. We thought they deserved a century there.”The game was called off as soon as both batters brought up their hundreds. This was Jadeja’s second in England and Washington’s first in Tests; the pair put on an unbroken 203-run stand for the fifth wicket to secure a draw.Related

• Drawn out, but never dull – India's Old Trafford escape rekindles the art of Test survival

• Cricket must be played by the rules, not Stokes' moral code

• Gill, Washington, Jadeja tons script India's great escape

“Very pleased with the batting effort,” Gill said. “The past couple of days, we’ve been put under a lot of pressure. The way we responded after losing two early wickets, it’s never easy but it was a very brave effort.”India head coach Gautam Gambhir agreed with Gill. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, wouldn’t they deserve a hundred? Would they have walked off if someone from England side would’ve been batting on 90 or 85? If someone has the opportunity to get his first Test hundred, wouldn’t you allow him to do it? They weather the storm. It’s up to them. If they want to play that way, that’s up to them. I’ve got nothing more to say. I think both those guys deserve a hundred and fortunately they got it in the end.”Stokes, meanwhile, said that given the quick turnaround between the Tests, he did not want to risk his frontline bowlers getting injured as the reason behind offering to shake hands once the last hour began.”We were willing to take it as far as we possibly could and throw everything at them that we did, but it got to that point where there was obviously only one result left on the table and I wasn’t going to be risking any of my frontline bowlers in a situation like that, especially when we’ve got a quick turnaround,” Stokes told the . “The only other person who actually has any bowling workload in them is Harry Brook.3:12

‘Would they have walked off?’ – Gambhir on Stokes’ draw offer

“He does actually work on that kind of stuff, but I did have to say to him, ‘please don’t do anything stupid’. We’ve been out in the field for 200-and-whatever overs, we’ve got a quick turnaround, so just do what needs to be done. I said don’t do anything daft: don’t pull a side, don’t pull a hamstring. We knew what was going on there.”While appreciating Jadeja’s and Washington’s knocks, Stokes said the “10 more runs” the duo wanted to get for their respective centuries wouldn’t have changed the fact that they got their team out of a tricky situation.”The knock that those two played was very, very good,” he said at the press conference. “The situation that India found themselves in there, with us opening the game slightly, that partnership was massive. You hold your hands up – they played incredibly, incredibly well. And I don’t think there would’ve been too much more satisfaction from walking off a hundred not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out. That’s what you’ve done for your team. You know, the 10 more runs or whatever it was ain’t gonna change the fact that you’ve managed to get your team out of a very, very, very tricky situation and almost saved your team from a series defeat before the last game.”India resumed the final day on 174 for 2, still trailing England by 137 runs, with KL Rahul and Gill having got together in the first over on day four with the score reading 0 for 2. Gill said the plan was “about taking the wicket out of the equation.””Day five wicket, something keeps happening, every ball is an event,” he said. “We wanted to play ball by ball, take the game as deep as possible. That’s what we spoke about.”On asked about his learnings as a Test captain four games in, Gill said, he’d learned “a lot of things.””Every match going up until the last session of the last day … so many learnings,” he said. “Each Test match teaches you something different, four matches as a group has also taught a lot. Hopefully, we can draw the series if we win the next match.”

Former USMNT star Eric Wynalda endorsed Cristian Roldan’s place in the USMNT picture, arguing the 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder brings personality, resilience and a veteran attitude. Wynalda said Roldan’s temperament and work ethic indicated he is unlikely to fold under the pressure of the World Cup stage.

Getty Images SportSupport for MLS players on the national team

Roldan earned USMNT callups during the September and October windows after strong club performances for Seattle. That steady availability and the habit of producing at a high level have impressed Wynalda.

“MLS, for all that it is, isn’t the best way to prepare for a World Cup,” Wynalda said on Golz Tv. “Now that leads me to the real question. And it really is personified at the moment by Cristian Roldan. I’ve seen it a couple of times with players that play in the MLS, they get absolutely lambasted by our fanbase. And there’s a bunch of hate out there…

"First lets start with this: nobody pays anybody $1.4 million if they suck at whatever they do. Cristian Roldan is making that much money to play soccer as a professional for Seattle, which all things being equal, MLS with all its flaws is willing to pay that guy handsomely. Because he’s not a bad player, he just isn’t.”

AdvertisementPraise for Roldan’s attitude and personality

Wynalda framed the issue as one of temperament. He said Roldan’s personality and mentality make him less likely to be overwhelmed by the sudden jump in intensity.

“I was reading all the hate and I was like ‘Man this guy’s really catching it. Let’s see how he reacts to that.'" Wynalda said. "But this really was his opportunity. And very seldom have we seen somebody grab their opportunity the way he did… At the end of the day, he’s probably going to make the USMNT roster, and here’s why. He’s a good guy. He’s a really good human being and that may not matter to you as much as you think but it actually does.

"And it matters a lot to that locker room because Mauricio Pochettino knows that if he’s going to build this team, he’s going to have to build it around stars. But you've got to go through the process of thinning this herd. The process is not selecting the best players, it is eliminating the ones that can’t do it and a couple of guys have eliminated themselves from that process. And Cristian Roldan is not one of those people.”

Competition at midfield and forward lines

Roldan’s path into Pochettino’s plans is shaped by a crowded midfield and the coach’s preference for players who combine tactical discipline with physical reliability.

"He doubled down on himself," Wynalda said of Roldan. "That attitude that he brings is priceless. It’s worth a helluva lot more than $1.4 million, let me tell you that. Because the good news with Cristian Roldan is yes, he can handle it. Yes he can handle a World Cup stage, he can. That’s really important to know. There’s been guys in the past who we thought could and then didn’t. Ricardo Clark stands out, he got substituted in the first-half against England, it was that bad.

“That’s not going to happen with Cristian Roldan for all the reasons that I just stated. And he has the confidence in himself that he can do this. And I’ll tell you this, if in the event he does get out on the World Cup stage, 1) it’ll mean the world to him; and 2) his teammates will have his back. Because he has had theirs all this time, waiting for his chance to play.”

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Getty Images SportBroader implications for USMNT development

Roldan’s immediate task is to sustain strong performances for Seattle and to translate those club displays into continued value in national team camps. The Sounders qualified for the MLS playoffs and will face Minnesota United in the first round.

Gary Neville has said one of Arsenal’s summer signings is “a lot better” than he imagined, after making an impressive start to the Premier League season.

Neville left impressed after Arsenal thrash Nottingham Forest

The Gunners sent out a message with a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres getting on the scoresheet, while fellow summer signing Eberechi Eze grabbed his first assist since arriving from Crystal Palace.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta praised the impact his summer signings made against the Tricky Trees, saying: “The new ones that started, five for them today, really impressed with them. I think you can sense and feel that there are new relationships flourishing there that are going to give us different things.”

Zubimendi stole the headlines, after finding the back of the net twice, either side of Viktor Gyokeres’ third goal of the season, with the Spaniard most notably firing home a volley from just outside the box.

However, goals and assists are not the only metrics on which players should be judged, with Neville taking the time to praise Noni Madueke, who is yet to get off the mark in an Arsenal shirt.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “Madueke is a lot better than I imagined and thought he would be. And certainly a lot better than Arsenal fans thought he would be.

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“A couple of runs that he made for England on Tuesday night were a different level, they’re runs I thought, ‘ooh’. They’re runs… Arjen Robben used to make those runs against me.

“His movement and the things that he’s doing are very, very good, and I’m talking from a full-back’s perspective playing against it.”

Madueke deserves the plaudits after fantastic performance

While the winger was unable to open his account, he undoubtedly put in a fantastic performance against Forest, winning more duels than any other player on the pitch, and making a number of important attacking contributions.

Statistic

Number completed

Successful dribbles

5

Key passes

5

Big chances created

1

Accurate crosses

4

Neville is not the only person to have been left very impressed by the £52m summer signing’s display either, with Arteta adding: “Noni – I thought he was exceptional. We played a front three that had never played [together] before. Overall I am very happy.”

Last season, Arteta was left very short on options in attacking areas at times, with Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka all spending time on the sidelines, which arguably made a major difference in the Premier League title race.

The problem this season, however, is a much nicer one to have, as Arteta may find it difficult to fit all his forwards into the side, given that Saka is expected to return later this month.

Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United has certainly divided fans, and the jury is still out as to whether it works or not. One of the major changes to the system compared to previous great United teams over the years is the midfield.

Amorim operates with two number sixes in a double pivot, with two number 10s ahead of those, either side of the striker. He has adapted Bruno Fernandes’ game, with the talismanic United midfielder now playing in that pivot, rather than close to goal, where he has had lots of previous success for the club.

Another player who has been affected by the different system is Kobbie Mainoo.

Why Kobbie Mainoo is in an awkward situation

It has certainly not been the easiest season for one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world, Mainoo. The 20-year-old ranked 36th in the recent Golden Boy awards, highlighting just how big a talent he is.

However, the 2025/26 season has not been plain sailing for Mainoo, through no fault of his own. The boyhood United star has only played 166 minutes across five games this term, and has registered an assist in that time. He’s yet to start a Premier League game.

Well, many United fans are confused as to why the England international cannot break into their starting lineup. Former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves said after the Manchester derby that he’ll “never know” why Amoirm isn’t picking Mainoo.

Indeed, it is strange, given the young midfielder’s exploits during his short career so far. The 20-year-old has started a final at a major tournament for England and scored an FA Cup final-winning goal.

Mainoo’s lack of involvement at United this season has certainly been disappointing, given his obvious talent, and left him in an awkward situation. Interestingly, there was a former United midfielder who was ahead of him at one stage.

The ex-midfielder ahead of Mainoo

Although Mainoo has not been given any opportunities this season, the 20-year-old is without doubt a huge talent. He could certainly be viewed as the heir in line to the throne when it comes to legendary United midfielders.

Well, before Mainoo made his first-team debut, there was someone else who could have staked a claim to that title. Fellow academy graduate Zidane Iqbal made his first-team debut just under a year before the England international, but did not quite follow the same career path.

Iqbal’s only game for United came in the Champions League against BSC Young Boys. He only played one minute of normal time, and never failed to get onto the pitch again, despite being on the bench several times.

The Iraqi international left the club for Dutch side FC Utrecht in 2023 and was sold for just £857k. He has since gone on to make a real impression for the Eredivisie side, making 41 appearances and scoring once.

The midfielder’s best skill is his passing, which has really shone during his time in the Netherlands. Last season, he averaged 6.58 progressive passes and 5.4 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 11% and 16% respectively, of midfielders in the Dutch top flight.

Pass completed

46.21

83rd

Pass accuracy

88.3%

98th

Progressive passes

6.58

89th

Passes into final third

5.4

84th

Passes into penalty box

1.18

74th

If Iqbal had stayed at Old Trafford and been given a chance to show off his talent, he could have been the natural successor to the famous number 18 shirt. That has previously been worn by midfield maestros Fernandes and, earlier, Paul Scholes.

Interestingly, the Iraqi international looked up to Scholes as a youngster. He once explained, “I’d kind of just base my game off him and put myself in his shoes”, which is not a bad way to learn the art of control in midfield.

Well, to wear the number 18 shirt as a creative midfielder at United, you really do need to be a player capable of pulling the strings. Fernandes has 86 assists in Red so far, and the legendary Scholes amassed 82, per Transfermarkt.

The stats show just how well Iqbal can dictate the game in midfield. He has proven himself to be a true controller of the midfield in a top league, and surely could have been considered worthy enough of donning that famous number 18 shirt.

United fans can only look back on this as what could have been. Iqbal was ahead of Mainoo in his development and perhaps could have formed the perfect partnership alongside the 20-year-old, with the number 18 on his back.

Bigger mistake than McTominay: Man Utd sold their own Trent for just £5m

Man Utd’s recruitment record has been called into question, with Scott McTominay not the only former star now shining…

ByRobbie Walls Sep 23, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A possibilidade de Luis Suárez deixar o Grêmio para se juntar a Lionel Messi no Inter Miami volta a ganhar força. Sendo que, desta vez, uma informação de considerável impacto foi veiculada através da versão uruguaia do portal da ‘ESPN’.

Segundo relatou o veículo da imprensa charrúa, Suárez teria tamanha convicção na ideia de rumar para a Major League Soccer (MLS) que tem a intenção de devolver todos os valores que foram recebidos até o momento provenientes do Imortal.

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Além disso, o Pistolero também arcaria com um valor adicional por quebra de acordo em quantidade que chegaria a casa dos dez milhões de dólares. Na atual cotação, esse montante equivale a R$ 48 milhões.

Apesar da intenção de Suárez ser ponto que facilitaria a liberação no aspecto financeiro, o Grêmio gostaria de uma composição onde o atleta de 36 anos de idade se comprometesse a não defender outra equipe ainda em 2023. Algo que o atleta não está de acordo.

>Mostre sua paixão pelo Imortal com produtos a partir de R$69,90!

Em adendo a relação de proximidade com Messi, o aspecto físico é apontado como ponto que estaria pesando para a decisão de Suárez. Pelo seu quadro de problemas constantes no joelho e o calendário apertado do futebol brasileiro, o artilheiro do Tricolor na temporada () entenderia que a MLS apresenta um ritmo de jogos onde poderia administrar melhor o seu quadro clínico.

Wayne Rooney has been challenged to a boxing match by former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. Manchester United and England legend Rooney is a big fight fan and has previously expressed a desire to lace up a pair of gloves. Kenny is willing to stand on the opposite side of the ring, with the ex-Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers shot-stopper preparing to step through the ropes for an exhibition bout.

• Getty
  

  Who will Kenny fight on 'A Night to Remember'?

  One-time Leeds United and Republic of Ireland custodian Kenny is due to face Curtis Davies at a charity boxing event. ‘A Night to Remember’ will take place on October 18, with David Bentley, Jody Morris, Leroy Lita and Lee Trundle among the other ex-pros to feature on the card.

  It is, however, Rooney that Kenny has in his sights. He wants to square off against United’s all-time leading goalscorer after seeing his performance in the iconic clash between QPR and Manchester City – which saw Sergio Aguero score his legendary Premier League title-winning goal – called into question.

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• Rooney asked questions of Aguero's iconic goal

  Rooney has previously said of that contest, which saw the English top-flight crown snatched away from United in the most dramatic of circumstances: "Paddy Kenny should have done better for a couple of the goals. City get the second goal and QPR kick it straight back to them and that's never been questioned – I find that strange. Djibril Cisse celebrating after the game with the City players, but yes, listen, it's a historic moment in the Premier League so I'm sure that, if you are not involved as a Manchester United player, that's probably one of the greatest moments in the league."

  Kenny responded to those quotes at the time by posting on social media, alongside an image of Aguero scoring his historic winning goal: "Wasn’t even bothered about diving to be fair." He included a laughing face emoji and a couple of fishing rods – as he waited on another bite from Rooney and Co.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Rooney challenge: Kenny ready for a fight

  Kenny has now suggested that his differences with Rooney, which remain light hearted, should be settled with a slug fest that allows both men to release some of the tension that has built up since May 2012. He told "He keeps hammering me about that Aguero goal, so I think me and him need to sort it out in the ring. 13 years on, he’s still saying I let the goals in! It might have looked like I let them in but I didn’t!"

  Rooney has previously floated the idea of stepping into the ring with Misfits Boxing, with YouTube personality KSI one of their founders. He told prior to taking the reins at Plymouth Argyle in 2024: "They’ve been in touch and asked the question but I think at the minute I want to focus on getting back into management, not boxing."

  That stance could be shifted in 2025, with Kenny saying of his preparations for a scrap with Davies: "For eight weeks now I’ve been training, been boxing for four or five weeks and in that time I’ve lost over two stone, which is a massive thing. That was one of the reasons I wanted to get involved, get myself back into shape. It’s for amazing charities, it’s going to be an amazing event down in London, I’m really looking forward to it."

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• Rooney on punditry duty after coaching flops

  There is a chance that Rooney could be talked into joining a future event. He no longer has coaching commitments to contend with after seeing his spell at Plymouth cut short after just 25 games. He previously lasted only 83 days in charge of Birmingham, having been taken to St Andrew’s by Tom Brady and Co.

  Rooney is now back on punditry duty, with a regular role being filled on Match of the Day. He is also preparing to grace a Disney+ documentary series alongside wife Coleen and their children. Preparations for a boxing fight would deliver intriguing content for that production.