LIVE: JOíO FELIX'S PRESENTATION
After the presentation of Santiago Gimenez, Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil at Casa Milan, it is time for the press conference to present João Félix. The Portuguese talent has already made his debut (with a goal) for the Rossoneri, and after his first steps in the world of AC Milan, he is ready to meet journalists live on the AC Milan Official App and Milan TV from 3:30 CET.The AC Milan PUMA Kits for 2024/25 are available: buy them now!
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Forbes
43 minutes ago
- Forbes
Association Of Pickleball Professional Fires Next Salvo In Battle For International Expansion In The Sport
United States-base pickleball associations continue their quest to expand their influence abroad, in an ongoing battle amongst titans in the sport to tap into burgeoning markets for pickleball underneath the (more than reasonable) assumption that the sport will experience similar growth abroad that is has here domestically. The latest salvo in that battlefront has been launched. On June 11th, 2025 The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) announced a pair of agreements (one new, one the extension of an existing collaboration) that will help elevate the talent level in events abroad while also bringing the APP's marketing and logistics expertise into play for growing markets in the sport. The APP is announcing a new agreement with Global Sports Pickleball (GSP), the leading pickleball organization in India and extending their long-standing relationship with Pickleball England, the national governing body (NGB) of the sport in England and operators of the English Open. I caught up with the principals of each group to discuss their organizations and these new collaborations; Ken Herrmann (Founder of the APP), Shashank Khaitan (co-founder of Global Sports), and Karen Mitchell (Chairperson of Pickleball England) to talk about these deals and the future of international pickleball. The APP is entering its 4th year collaborating with Pickleball England on the English Open, and have for years been sending both its top touring Pros and its top NextGen stars across the pond to compete. Per Mitchell, the sending of the top US pros 'helps elevate the level of play in our events. People want to play where the pros play. This gives people added excitement of playing against that caliber of player. The APP also helps us with sponsorships, streaming of our event to APP-TV, and promotional help on social media.' The collaboration has helped make the English Open not only the largest current tournament in Europe, but the largest outside of the US (they're projecting to nearly 2,200 players at this year's event). The English Open is essentially the leading fund-raising event for Pickleball England (the UK equivalent of USA Pickleball), and allows the NGB to fund the operations of the rest of its goals. Says, Mitchell, "Our focus is grassroots. We've developed curriculum to create and train coaches, which we feel will develop more players. We're going into schools and universities. We're trying to reduce the average age of players. We want to be the Carlsberg of events. [side note: I did not at first understand the context of this comment about Carlsberg. Only after some pointed googling did I learn about Carlsberg Beer's advertising campaign where they claim to 'Probably be the Best beer in the world.' I may have to incorporate this English idiom into my day to day speech]. Pickleball England was more than happy to extend its relationship with the APP. Says Mitchell, 'I believe that the APP does such great work, both in the US and helping to expand pickleball's reach internationally. They do right by the players and they genuinely are interested in growing the game internationally.' The timing of announcing the two collaborations together is not without some history; as it turns out, Herrmann of the APP first met Shashank Khaitan of GSP at the English Open two years prior. GSP got its start three years ago, held its first major tournament in February of 2023, and now plays host to three marquee events each year: the Monsoon Championships (held in August), the Indian Open (held in February), and the Global Sports Pro league, which debuted in February this year and featured 100 pro players from all over the globe participating for a total prize purse of $550k. (Note: if you're reading this and you're wondering which of the multiple India-based organizations GSP is, I suggest reading The Dink's Eric Tice's excellent comprehensive January 2025 overview of all things Pickleball in that region of the world. It provides an overview of GSP and its evolution of partnerships with other orgs in the region, some of which are now defunct). Khaitan describes the beginnings of the APP collaboration, which has been two years in the making, 'We first met at the English Open. We saw APP Next Gen players competing and were really impressed. We started a relationship with some of the APP pros there and became very close with Rob Nunnery in particular. This led to Nunnery and his partner Andrei Daescu traveling to play in the 2024 Indian Open." Nunnery and Daescu won the doubles title in that event, and in the final they played Armaan Bhatia & Harsh Mehta, who stretched them to three games before falling. This of course is the same Bhatia who has now come to the US and medaled in both the US Open and the APP's NYC Open in May 2025. This turned out to be a seminal match in Indian pickleball, as (in Khaitan's words), 'it showed Indian players where they needed to go, and when Bhatia & Mehta played the American pros in the final, they realized they really could compete against the best.' The most immediate and apparent impact of the APP-GSP collaboration will be the cross-pollination of US-based APP pros in GSP-run events going forward, and vice versa. The top 12 APP Male and Female pros will be offered seeded slots at the forthcoming 2025 Monsoon Open, and will be entered into the league auction for the 2026 iteration of the GSP League. Conversely, GSP will work with the APP to provide more opportunities for both established Asian pros and up-and-coming Indian & Asian players at the APP's Fort Lauderdale training facilities and academies. Both organizations clearly have respect for one another, and they both share some of the same values when it comes to growing the game. Says Herrmann, 'GSP has proven themselves as the premier leading organization in India, and as the APP continues to grow internationally it's always been my goal to keep my inner circle credible and full of quality people.' Khaitan agrees, 'We believe our ideology with APP is similar; we don't want to lock players down and want to give players growth experience opportunities.' Herrmann mentioned that the APP is now working on the development of international camps, both at the Fort in December and potentially at Mumbai-based events in 2026. Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from my conversations with Khaitan and Herrmann were the statements of their collective visions of international pickleball. One of Herrmann's longer term goals with partnerships like these is the pursuit of a global ranking system. He says, 'I want and foresee results in India to count towards APP rankings. If the No. 1 player from India comes here and there's a question where to seed him or her, there's a proven record of results for that player in international events, whether they're in India or in England or wherever.' Khaitan is more expansive. 'We want to set a common goal, see how to build towards it. We want to build something global. Tennis and the ATP really shifted when they globalized and held events all around the world, and we feel the same thing will happen with pickleball.' One thing is for certain; every year that US-based pros extend their presence in major international tournaments and leagues is a year where we get close to these goals. We've already seen a top player from India come to the US and succeed at the pro level, and it's just a matter of time before that becomes a regular occurrence.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Viktor Gyokeres could join Man United to live near Erling Haaland
Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres is likely to move to the Red Devils so he can live near Erling Haaland, it has been claimed. That's the view of musician Tom Grennan, who says he knows the Swedish striker well from his time playing for Coventry City, the club he supports. Advertisement Gyokeres is right at the top of United manager Ruben Amorim's wishlist for the summer transfer window after bagging over 50 goals last season and 43 the year before under his tutelage for Sporting CP. For comparison United's current squad managed only 44 league goals between them last season, so it's little wonder the Portuguese boss is looking at a reunion with his prize striker from his time in Lisbon. The 27-year-old is said to be furious that Sporting CP reneged on the gentleman's agreement to let him leave the club for less than the €80m they are now demanding, and has even told them he will never play for them again as a result. With his future seemingly away from Portugal, United are a distinct possibility for his next destination, especially with Arsenal's priority striker signing now looking like RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. Advertisement And according to Grennan, Gyokeres will be delighted with a move to Manchester as he can live next door to his best friend, Manchester City striker Haaland. The musician told the BBC podcast You About?, via the Daily Mirror: 'I know him well. I actually messaged him and he said that there's different conversations going on. 'Do you know who his best friend is? Haaland. That is why I think he'll go to Manchester United because he'll be next door to Haaland.' Should he end up becoming a Red Devil, the Old Trafford faithful will be hoping he emulates the towering Norwegian's performances in England where he has 121 goals in 142 matches for City. Advertisement Since missing out on Haaland things haven't quite worked out for United's reinforcements at centre-forward, with Rasmus Hojlund the highest-profile arrival in that position. After a dismal campaign saw him on the scoresheet in the Premier League just four times, he may be set for a summer move to Inter Milan as Amorim looks for reliable goals up front. Featured image Michael Campanella via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Chelsea reject €30m bids for midfielder from Premier League teams
Chelsea are getting their squad sorted for the Club World Cup and next season, and that means a busy few weeks. Chelsea dealing with their loan army one by one Andrey Santos in Strasbourg training. There are transfers incoming – Liam Delap has been signed and various others are being strongly linked. But there's also the question of what to do with all of the players returning from loan. Advertisement It's felt like the giant squad of last summer was a problem of the past, but so many players who were 'out of sight, out of mind' are now back and will need to find a new home once again. Many of them – Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, Lesley Ugochukwu, the list goes on – we expect to be sold. But there are others who feel like they have a strong chance of staying. Chief among that group is Andrey Santos. His second half of last season was impressive enough that there some some consideration of him staying for this season just passed, so after a brilliant 12 months on loan with Strasbourg, we're sure he's joining the squad. Chelsea reject €30m offers out of hand We've heard whispers about the club considering selling him, but our sources have told us exclusively that that's not on the cards. Verbal offers of €30m were rejected out of hand by Chelsea, who probably wouldn't even sell for double that. He's just joined up with the Brazil squad, hoping to add a second cap and another chunk of change to his value. It's not clear who those bids came from – but Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus and PSG are all apparently interested. From what we can see, Santos looks ready to be a key part of our squad, and nobody is ready to make us an offer we can't refuse.
