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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Philippe Coutinho completes permanent move to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Former Brazil international Philippe Coutinho has completed a permanent move to Vasco da Gama from Aston Villa. The Premier League team said in a statement Friday that both clubs have reached a deal for the playmaker to return to his boyhood club on a permanent basis after Coutinho was on loan with the Rio de Janeiro-based side last season. Coutinho joined Villa in 2022 and made 43 appearances with the team, scoring six goals. Coutinho started his professional career at Vasco in 2009. Coutinho's former clubs include Inter Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munch. He joined Barcelona in 2018 from Liverpool for a fee of up to 160 million euros (then $192 million). He won two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, and a Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich in 2020. Coutinho won the Copa America with Brazil in 2019 and played in the 2018 World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Fluminense clinches Round of 16 spot, Sundowns earn respect with 0-0 Club World Cup tie
A casual soccer fan at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday afternoon for the Club World Cup match between Fluminense and Mamelodi Sundowns would have assumed that the team in bright yellow shirts with green trim and blue shorts was the Brazilian team. Wrong. It was South African Sundowns who wore replicas of the Brazilian national team uniforms while Fluminense, a century-old Rio de Janeiro-based club, wore its traditional maroon and green stripes for the match, which ended in a scoreless tie and sent Flu to the knockout stage. A quick history lesson: During the 1980s, under the direction of South African legend Stanley 'Screamer' Tshabalala, the Sundowns adopted an entertaining style of play with quick short passes known as 'Shoe Shine and Piano.' It was an homage to Brazilian flair and Spain's tiki-taka passing style. Mamelodi's team came to be known as 'The Brazilians,' thus, the yellow and blue uniforms. The draw was enough for Fluminense to secure second place in Group F behind German team Borussia Dortmund and advance to the Round of 16, where it will face the Group E winner, which will be determined on Wednesday night. River Plate and Inter Milan have four points in Group E and Monterrey has two. All four Brazilian teams reached the Round of 16. Fluminense joins Flamengo, Palmeiras and Botafogo. Mamelodi was eliminated, but its players and fans celebrated, nonetheless. Long after the match ended, Mamelodi players were still on the field in front of their fan section applauding their supporters and even breaking into a dance. Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso said that although the team did not meet its goal of reaching the knockout round, it heads home stronger and with greater respect around the world. 'To see our team play at such a high level against Fluminense, Dortmund Ulsan, when I hear coaches say to me `Respect for you, respect for you, your team played better than us', that doesn't fulfill our objective, but it makes us much better than we were when we arrived here. 'There are teams that come to the Club World Cup and go away and don't take anything. But we take a lot of things. We take four points and our character in all three matches was outstanding. We take prestige. Our club will be even more well-known. I know we have a strange name, but we have a very strong capacity.' A diehard Sundowns fan known as 'Josi 14' traveled from Pretoria for Wednesday's game. He was decked head to toe in yellow, blue and green, wore a yellow Brazil visor, and carried a yellow drum. 'Wherever the Sundowns go, I am there,' he said. 'Club World Cup in Japan, I was there. Club World Cup in America, I am here. I am so confident we are going to beat Brazil. We wear their colors. We adopted their style. 'So, if someone adopts your style, there is a master and a student, a learner. So, we are the learners who will show the master how it's done. We are going to show them who are the real Brazilians.' Cardoso said the joy his team brings to the pitch is what makes the team special. 'People like positive emotions when they go to a match, they want to see football that makes them have joy, makes them cheer, sing, jump and we created amazing emotions in people,' Cardoso said. 'That's why so many people connected with us.' The coach received text messages from colleagues and soccer officials in Brazil, Spain, France, England. 'I don't even know how they got my number,' he said, smiling. 'But It means Sundowns played at the highest level. We are not happy, but we go back to our country with our head up.' The Sundowns dominated possession 68 percent to 32 percent and had three shots on goal to none for Fluminense as the crowd of 14,312 looked on. It was the least-attended game at Hard Rock Stadium, which averaged 60,643 fans in the other five games at the venue, but the crowd was spirited. 'We knew is would be an extremely difficult match, they have quality, and they scored three goals against Borussia Dortmund,' said Fluminense defender Ignacio, who was named Man of the Match. The weather was steamy after a pregame rain shower, and players got hydration breaks midway through each half. Fluminense entered this Club World Cup aiming to return to good form after inconsistent league results in recent months. They reached the Cariocão final in March but were beaten 2-1 over two legs by Flamengo in a tense Fla–Flu derby. Fluminense, one of four Brazilian teams in the Club World Cup, was in sixth place in the league standings heading into the tournament. Fluminense is coached by Renato Gaucho, in his sixth stint leading the club, and the roster includes legendary 40-year-old center back Thiago Silva, who played 113 matches for Brazil's national team. Silva began his career as a 14-year-old with Fluminense and went on to a successful career in Europe with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. 'We achieved what we came here to achieve, qualificiation in the first phase,' Gaucho said. 'We knew we would have a lot of difficulty, but sometimes it is better to suffer and qualify than to want to play well and lose.' Mamelodi Sundowns host youth clinic On the eve of Wednesday's match, the Sundowns did a community outreach program in South Florida. Mamelodi, in partnership with Roc Nation Sports International, hosted a clinic for underprivileged children at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale. The youth clinic incorporated soccer skills, mentorship and celebration. It was led by Paulo Cardoso, the Sundowns' Head of Academy and Coaching, along with other coaches and club legends and chairman Tlhopie Motsepe. Each child went home with a Sundowns jersey and lasting memories. Upcoming Club World Cup games at Hard Rock Stadium Two Round of 16 matches will be held at Hard Rock Stadium. Flamengo will play German giant Bayern Munich Sunday at 4 p.m. The winner of Group H will play the second place Group G team on July 1 at 3 p.m. Real Madrid and RB Salzburg are first and second in Group H heading into their last group match. Juventus and Manchester City lead Group G.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jorginho sends message to Arsenal team-mates and Mikel Arteta in emotional farewell
Jorginho has confirmed his summer departure from Arsenal in a heartfelt farewell video. The experienced midfielder was expected to leave north London when his current contract expires next month and sign for Brazilian side Flamengo on a free transfer. Jorginho is now said to have agreed a three-year deal to return to Brazil, the country of his birth and where he lived until he was 15 before moving to Italy, for whom he has earned 57 senior caps at international level. Fabrizio Romano reports that the 33-year-old will join Flamengo - currently coached by former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis - in time for the inaugural edition of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup taking place in the United States this summer, with the Rio de Janeiro-based outfit beginning their campaign against Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia on June 16, ahead of further Group D matches against Chelsea and the winner of a play-off tie between Los Angeles FC and Club America. Jorginho joined Arsenal in January 2023 in a £12million deal after spending four-and-a-half years with London rivals Chelsea, making 79 appearances in total across all competitions and last year signing a 12-month extension to his initial 18-month contract. He is leaving this summer along with Kieran Tierney, who is set to return to Celtic, plus loanees Raheem Sterling and Neto. Alongside the caption 'Thank you Arsenal', Jorginho posted an emotive video to his official Instagram account of his time at the Emirates Stadium, narrating it himself by saying: 'You know, sometimes the season is more than just football. It's about moments. People. Growth. 'It's about feeling part of something bigger than yourself. When I arrived at Arsenal, I wasn't just joining a club, I was stepping into a family. A team full of hunger. Passion. Purpose. 'I gave everything I had. Every day. Every match. Not just for the results, but for this shirt. For the fans. 'Your support... it meant everything. Whether I was starting or on the bench, you made me feel valued. Loved. That's rare in football and I'll never forget it. Now, it's time to say goodbye. Or maybe a see you soon. 'When a place feels like home, a farewell is never easy. But I leave with my head held high and my heart full. To my team-mates, thank you for trusting me, for pushing me. 'To the coach, the staff, and the whole people behind the scenes, thank you for the support on the pitch, off the pitch, and for always being there for me with kindness and love. 'And to the fans, thank you for singing my name, for believing in me. Thank you, Arsenal. With love and respect, Jorginho. COYG.'
Evening Standard
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Jorginho sends message to Arsenal team-mates and Mikel Arteta in emotional farewell
Fabrizio Romano reports that the 33-year-old will join Flamengo - currently coached by former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis - in time for the inaugural edition of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup taking place in the United States this summer, with the Rio de Janeiro-based outfit beginning their campaign against Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia on June 16, ahead of further Group D matches against Chelsea and the winner of a play-off tie between Los Angeles FC and Club America.
Metro
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal pushing to sign £18m Chelsea midfielder ahead of PSG
Arsenal are 'working hard' to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos ahead of PSG, according to reports. Chelsea signed the Brazil international from Rio de Janeiro-based side Vasco da Gama in January 2023. Santos, 21, was immediately send back to his boyhood club on loan before joining Nottingham Forest on another loan move ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Santos was due to spend the entire season at the City Ground but was recalled in January after only making two appearances in five months for Forest. Chelsea may have been fearing the worst at that point but Santos has rebuilt his reputation since moving to Strasbourg in February 2024. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Santos made an instant impact for Chelsea's French sister club and Strasbourg signed the Brazilian on another loan spell for this season. Chelsea's £18m signing has been a revelation in Ligue 1 this term, scoring 11 goals for a Strasbourg team that have climbed to sixth in the French top-flight. His impressive form has attracted interest from Ligue 1 winners and Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain but Arsenal are also interested in a summer deal. French outlet Le10Sport claim Arsenal are 'working hard' to sign Santos and are expecting a transfer battle with PSG this summer. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are open to selling Santos but that could be tempted if they are able to make a significant profit on a player they signed two years ago. Enzo Maresca is already struggling to manage his bloated squad at Stamford Bridge so outgoings are expected this summer. The likes of Christopher Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Mykhailo Mudryk and Trevoh Chalobah have all been linked with summer moves. Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling – all currently out on loan – will also be moved on. It's a very big opportunity for me. This is a big club playing in big competitions like the Premier League so I am very excited. The players here are so good and I am very happy to be here. Speaking to Chelsea's official website Sales will be necessary as despite Chelsea's big spending in recent years, there are several areas of the squad that Maresca intends to strengthen. A new striker will be brought in following Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson's frustrating spells in west London, with Chelsea interested in signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. The Blues may also decide to sign a new goalkeeper to replace error-prone Robert Sanchez between the sticks. A fifth successive season without a trophy means it is imperative for Mikel Arteta to bolster his Arsenal squad this summer. Like Chelsea, Arsenal are also looking to sign a new goalscorer – Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are all of interest to the Gunners. Arteta also wants to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the likely departure of Jorginho and possible departure of Thomas Partey. Martin Zubimendi looks set to arrive at the Emirates Stadium from Real Sociedad but another midfielder – possibly Chelsea's Santos – will be targeted. Another key goal for Arsenal this summer will be to keep hold of star defender William Saliba amid interest from Real Madrid. Arteta admitted he was 'disappointed' with Arsenal's lack of signings in January and anticipates a 'big' summer of spending. More Trending 'It's going to be a big one [summer] and we are very excited about it,' Arteta said last month. 'When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. 'Every summer is big because it is an opportunity – and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary. 'But it's a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Roy Keane says Scott McTominay was 'tarnished' by £47m Man Utd signing MORE: Why Man Utd will not hold open-top bus parade if they win Europa League MORE: Arsenal told signing Real Madrid star and 'world-class' striker would be 'real statement'
