🎯 Rodri, Adeyemi, Vlahovic: stars to watch at Club World Cup 🏆
The new 32-team Club World Cup represents much more than just a trophy to win: for several players, it's a chance to leave behind a disappointing season marked by injuries, time on the bench, or inconsistent performances.
Among European football stars and familiar faces from Serie A, here are those seeking redemption in this unprecedented international showcase.
RODRI (MANCHESTER CITY)
Out for 8 months due to a cruciate ligament rupture, he returns just in time for the Club World Cup. He won't be at his best, but he's expected to be back in the starting lineup by the end of June, including for the match against Juventus.
JORGINHO (FLAMENGO)
After moving to Brazil following an unremarkable season with Arsenal (15 appearances), he aims to regain confidence and leadership in the heart of the midfield.
KARIM ADEYEMI (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)
After a difficult start due to muscle problems, he bounced back in the second half of the season (12 goals and 6 assists). Now he wants to shine on the world stage as well.
DUSAN VLAHOVIC (JUVENTUS)
A season marked by many games on the bench: between personal resurgence and transfer market doubts, the Serbian striker has everything to prove.
ANDREA CAMBIASO (JUVENTUS)
From a promising talent sought after by City to a backup player: the Juventus winger needs to shine the spotlight back on himself, taking advantage of the exposure in America.
JOAQUIN CORREA (BOTAFOGO)
After difficult years at Inter, he's looking for a fresh start in Brazil, where he could find more playing time and a leading role.
RUI PATRICIO (AL-AIN)
He lost his starting spot at Roma and didn't make an impact during his time at Atalanta (only 6 appearances). The Club World Cup could be his chance for redemption.
FELIPE ANDERSON (PALMEIRAS)
Goalless in 19 appearances this season, the former Lazio player has been hampered by injuries. Now he hopes to regain consistency and effectiveness.
OLIVIER GIROUD (LOS ANGELES FC)
At 38, he alternates between the bench and physical niggles in MLS. With 3 goals and 1 assist in 10 matches, he aims to make his mark in what could be one of his last major competitions.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
📸 Alessandro Sabattini - 2025 Getty Images
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
32 minutes ago
- Washington Post
A penalty shattered Palestinian World Cup dreams for 2026. The squad has inspired hope
AMMAN, Jordan — An engrossing qualifying journey of 16 games and the obstacles of a war came crashing down in an instant for Oday Dabbagh and his Palestinian team. Their legacy will long continue. Players left the field in tears in the immediate aftermath at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan, last Thursday after their quest for a first appearance at a World Cup evaporated on a contentious penalty awarded deep in extra time. Fans looked on, stunned.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Newcastle, Eddie Howe and a supposed preference for Premier League transfers
There is a common trait connecting the majority of Newcastle United's (known) transfer targets. Some supporters are perplexed — given the lack of a senior signing and Eddie Howe's end-of-season warning that Newcastle needed to act 'very quickly' — by what is perceived to be the head coach's unbending desire to acquire Premier League-based players. The inference is that Howe has an apparent reluctance to bring in foreign imports this summer. Advertisement Take @alanofthenorth on Bluesky: 'Why is a club that successfully signed (Alexander) Isak, (Bruno) Guimaraes and (Sandro) Tonali now so dead-set on PL (Premier League) additions, only to then complain when these are too expensive and we don't sign anybody.' The last point refers to Newcastle's frustration at what they deem to be excessive early benchmarking of targets. They expect prices to come down, but the riposte of some frustrated supporters is that, if the fees are too high domestically, look to the Continent. It appears a fair response, given Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Joao Pedro (Brighton), James Trafford (Burnley), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) and Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) play in England and Newcastle have yet to agree a fee — or make a bid — for any, partly due to present asking prices. But those with knowledge of Newcastle's transfer blueprint contest the hypothesis that Howe has a preoccupation with Premier League players, even if the likelihood is that the bulk of summer recruits will come from domestic clubs. For Howe, they stress, it is about the right player at the right price. Four of Howe's six most-expensive signings came from Europe for a combined £183million ($248m), including the top two: Isak (a club-record £60m) and Tonali (£55m). Alongside Guimaraes and Sven Botman, they have justified the significant investment. Although only five of the 15 players signed for a fee have been acquired from abroad, which drops to four when already-Premier League-experienced Kieran Trippier is discounted, that quartet accounts for almost 45 per cent of Newcastle's post-takeover expenditure (once goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos' £20million paper value is excluded). When it comes to this summer, the word 'known' is important in the opening line. Newcastle's desired list extends beyond those in the public domain and the insistence is that Howe has been actively discussing overseas-based players as recently as the past few days, including centre-backs and attackers (while Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is a potential alternative to Trafford). Their identities remain concealed, much to the delight of some insiders, given Newcastle swooped and successfully signed Tonali and Isak with little media preamble. In three of the first four post-takeover windows — which preceded the three successive trading periods in which Newcastle were unable to make first-XI signings due to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) — at least one overseas acquisition was made: Guimaraes in January 2022; Isak and Botman in that summer; Tonali a year later. Advertisement Regardless, the premise put forward by some Newcastle fans is not inaccurate. Most, if not even possibly all, of Newcastle's summer additions may still arrive from English clubs. But, again, the thesis that Newcastle will do so because Howe has an unhealthy predilection for those who have played in England would be strongly disputed by the head coach. The claim irks him because it is, he believes, built on faulty assumptions. When faced with a recruitment call which directly pits a Premier League-experienced player against someone who has never played in England's top flight, the former often wins out in Howe's mind. The Premier League is unique, and those who have shown they can perform in the division carry less risk. Yet that is merely one factor in Howe's decision-making. When Guimaraes, Botman, Isak and Tonali were proposed, Premier League-hardened alternatives were also floated — some of which would have been cheaper — but Howe pushed for those four. They were deemed to be the right players at the right price. For Isak, Newcastle spent more than they intended to, at Howe's behest. With Tonali, a senior source, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, stressed in 2023 that the 'stars had aligned', with Milan's need to sell and Newcastle's opportunism combining to secure what now appears a knockdown price (even considering his 10-month betting suspension). In each case, Newcastle took a calculated gamble. Every transfer carries uncertainty, but there is an increased risk when players move country, especially when they have never played in the Premier League before. Some in recruitment circles also dispute the theory that signing European players is significantly cheaper than signing Premier League players in this market. In some circumstances, that is true. Manchester City spending £46.3million on Tijjani Reijnders and £34m on Rayan Cherki looks excellent business. But value is not as easily discoverable as it once was. Advertisement Florian Wirtz is an outstanding talent, but £116million would represent a British-record fee should he move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen as expected, while Olympiacos have got £29.6m from Brighton for Charalampos Kostoulas, who is highly rated but is 18 and has only made 35 senior appearances. Such figures suggest European clubs are standing firmer against the richest league. Those deals may represent good value in time, but Newcastle's PSR constraints mean they have to limit risk wherever possible. Take Hugo Ekitike, a player Newcastle tried to sign in January 2022. Eintracht Frankfurt are reportedly holding out for €100million (£85m) for him this summer. Newcastle still admire Ekitike, yet do not feel they can countenance such a fee for an admittedly high-quality player, but one who has yet to perform in England. Joao Pedro may be a less-sexy name — and may still prove expensive — but the suspicion is he would cost less than Ekitike, even if no asking price has been set by Brighton. Newcastle have found wages a stumbling block. They admire players at Champions League clubs across Europe, but their salaries would place them among (or above) Newcastle's highest earners. It is about balance. Most clubs blend domestic signings with imports. Manchester City (Rayan Ait-Nouri) and Liverpool (reportedly pursuing Milos Kerkez) are shopping closer to home, too. Howe's Newcastle have been slanted more towards domestic than overseas acquisitions. Or have Newcastle been more risk-averse than others? That is the feeling of some who have worked with Howe, and may have contributed to last year's executive-level restructure and appointment of Paul Mitchell as sporting director — but their success rate is high. Intra-Premier League acquisitions have often, at the time, been viewed with a certain snootiness. Anthony Gordon (Everton), Tino Livramento (Southampton), Lewis Hall (Chelsea), Dan Burn (Brighton) and Nick Pope (Burnley) were received as underwhelming signings but have blossomed. Advertisement The expectation is that such a trend will continue. With Newcastle having failed to strengthen the starting line-up for two years, more than ever do they require players who have the best-possible chance of making an immediate difference. Much of Newcastle's incoming business probably will involve Premier League-experienced players, but that is not the same as Howe saying no to overseas imports. He wants quality and he wants to mitigate risk, so that requires a mixture of foreign and domestic acquisitions. Just as has been the case throughout his tenure. (Top photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Shopping for Amorim and Man Utd: From Osimhen to David, who could be the ideal No 9?
Another transfer window, another shopping list for Manchester United. In previous summers, The Athletic went shopping for Erik ten Hag to find players who best suited the Dutchman's system at United. In 2025, there is a new head coach in Ruben Amorim, but the principle remains the same: which players might be a perfect fit at Old Trafford? Advertisement We're looking at strikers to begin with, but devising a shortlist is difficult. United will be without European football in the 2025-26 season, and their precarious financial situation means Amorim will not be blessed with a big budget. It is tricky, but not impossible… Amorim's successful four and a half years in charge of Sporting CP saw his team become known for their 3-4-3 shape, which pressed high, defended stubbornly and enjoyed quick combination play out wide. His 231 games in charge saw him start with the 6ft 1in target man Andraz Sporar as his primary centre-forward. In February 2021, the club spent a record €16million (£14m/$18m in today's exchange) to reunite Amorim with Paulinho, whom he had previously worked with at Braga. The Brazilian is similarly tall (6ft 2 in) and capable of playing as a target man, but he was also adept at running the channels and stretching defences. Viktor Gyokeres was another stalwart of Amorim's Sporting, signing in the summer of 2023 from Coventry City and scoring 29 league goals in his debut campaign. From a very quick summary of Amorim's time at Sporting, he likes the following things from a centre-forward: United's acquisition of Matheus Cunha, coupled with the pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, suggests the club may be better off searching for a striker who prefers to stay central and play on the last line of a defence. This hypothetical No 9 would push opposition back lines towards their own goal, giving further space for Fernandes and other team-mates to exploit. If one combined the strengths of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund into a single centre-forward, then the head coach would have 75 per cent of what he needs. Amorim has previously stated he wants the Zirkzee to be 'more selfish' when playing as a No 9. His strengths as a link-up man will present an interesting alternative in the coming campaign. If you have the money and know-how to get a deal done for Victor Osimhen, you should sign Victor Osimhen. That's what Galatasaray discovered in 2024-25, picking up the Nigeria international on a season-long loan from Napoli. Osimhen scored 37 goals in 41 games (26 goals in 30 league matches), as the Turkish club won a domestic double at a relative canter. He maintained a similar goalscoring rate across his four seasons in Naples, averaging over 4.0 shots per game in Serie A and healthily overperforming his expected output with bustling movement and uncontainable power in the box. Osimhen's goalscoring qualities are beyond doubt. During Napoli's title-winning season of 2022-23, Serie A defenders attempted to double up on him, but it didn't work. He scored 26 league goals and won the Golden Boot. The striker went to Turkey last August following a falling out with Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, while manager Antonio Conte made it clear he preferred Romelu Lukaku as his No 1 striker. Osimhen's contract is reported to be worth £10million a year, expiring in summer 2026. De Laurentiis has a reputation for being a difficult negotiator, but he will have to find an exit route for Osimhen before one of the best strikers in the world becomes a free agent. Advertisement Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle wondered aloud recently that a club 'like Manchester United, or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid' may suit Osimhen. But United would likely have to sell to fund a deal, and the striker would likely ask for wages on par with the club's highest earners. But he might be worth the risk. Gyokeres may be a favourite of Amorim, but he is also of interest to Arsenal this summer. Why? Well, Gyokeres is the apex goalscoring predator of the Portuguese leagues — even if you strip out the 12 penalties he converted last season in his total of 39 league goals. 'Gyokeres wants to go directly to goal,' one of his youth coaches in Sweden, Peter Kisfaludy, told The Athletic in November 2024. 'He is totally ruthless.' Data from SkillCorner helps to back up that claim, ranking Gyokeres in the 89th percentile of strikers across Europe's top seven leagues for the quantity of runs in behind made per 30 minutes of team possession. He also likes to run the channels, operating almost exclusively ahead of the ball rather than coming short to link with team-mates. The 27-year-old has taken the circuitous route to football's top table, but has developed into one of Europe's premier forwards. A season and a half working under Amorim saw him hone a particular run from central areas into the channels to collect the ball. From there, he has the match intelligence and ball-striking ability to either go for goal himself or provide a killer pass. The striker's previous knowledge of playing up front in Amorim's 3-4-3 means he should – in theory – adjust to life well should a move to Manchester materialise. That said, there are some concerns as to how the Gyokeres' game will scale up against the stronger and more agile defences found in the Premier League. Advertisement The Canada forward has scored 109 goals in 232 appearances for Lille. But their third-highest goalscorer walks away on a free transfer in order to test himself at a higher level. David's qualities make him an interesting target. Spells as a left-sided forward and a No 10 have seen him develop his playmaking skills, and he combines well with others in and around the box. Watch him with United-tinted glasses on and his play can remind you of a young Anthony Martial. The 25-year-old is a consistent finisher, too: his goals-per-game ratio has generally trended above or around his expected rate across the last four seasons in France. He thrives in open space and playing on the counter-attack, and knows how to eke out a fraction of a yard within the penalty area to get a shot off, too. There are some questions over his back-to-goal game, but David is the sensible option for any club that's a little sour that Liam Delap has opted for Chelsea. Jean-Philippe Mateta presents a tried-and-tested Premier League-experienced option. The French striker has 30 Premier League goals since December 2023, and was key in Crystal Palace's surge in the second half of last season, which ultimately saw them claim the FA Cup. Mateta has two years left on his contract and is talking to Palace about a new deal, but would probably be open to an offer at the right price. Palace, however, would drive a hard bargain in terms of a fee, given they would need to spend big on a replacement. His high xG per shot value of 0.17 (below) points to a penalty-box striker, strong and elusive in his movement to consistently generate high-quality chances close to goal. Ask Matthijs de Ligt to recommend a striker to senior staff, and he may mention Samu Aghehowa. The 21-year-old scored two goals for Porto during a 3-3 draw with United in the Europa League in October. First, besting De Ligt for a header in the penalty area… Then, in the second half, he was part of a blistering counter-attacking move… Aghehowa ticks off several Amorim-friendly boxes for a centre-forward. His tally of 25 goals in 42 games has put the rest of Europe on notice, but a reported £84million release clause means he may stay at Porto for a while longer. Goncalo Ramos was linked with a move to United in the summer of 2023 before signing for Paris Saint-Germain. The 23-year-old has had a so-so spell in France; he's a young, fixed point of a goalscorer who doesn't quite mesh with Luis Enrique's desires for a more fluid, high-pressing attack. Ramos made 22 league appearances in 2024-25, 12 of which were starts. That said, he remains a quality No 9, registering 18 goals in all competitions. Advertisement United may be inclined to test the waters on PSG's Plan B striker. Perhaps a season-long loan deal could work? Thierno Barry scored 11 goals and laid on four assists for a fast-moving Villarreal team last season. The 22-year-old has already been linked to Everton this summer, but he has the athletic application that should interest Amorim. Barry is big (6ft 4in) and has no issues dominating a centre-back — either in the air or on the ground. He's frighteningly good when chasing down loose balls and running the channels, and while he normally plays in a 4-4-2, he has plenty of promise as a lone forward. He is about as direct as it comes for a centre-forward — always looking to get in behind, strong in the air and a nuisance for defenders with his unique mix of height, pace, power and instinct. Moise Kean has had a storied career for a 25-year-old. As a teenager, Keane nutmegged Giorgio Chiellini during a first-team training session at Juventus to show he feared no defender; a subsequent spell at Everton, however, was best forgotten. Now a young man, he's just had his most successful season in front of goal yet, netting 25 goals in 44 matches for Fiorentina. Kean is thought to have a £43million buyout clause in the contract he signed last summer. A fiery striker who works best in a settled environment, trading Italy for another go in England may be a risk. But Kean has never been afraid of a challenge. None of these suggestions comes risk-free. 'If you don't do extra things and you expect that you have just done your job, you're done,' explained former United striker Louis Saha earlier this year. 'It just doesn't work with Manchester United. You have to do the extra.' To be a striker at United is to take on one of the most heavily scrutinised jobs in world football. Every off-target shot, every misplaced pass, every heavy touch, they all invite criticism and ridicule. A striker can look good on paper and in a data printout, but shrink in the Old Trafford glare. But find the right person willing to commit themselves entirely to the cause, and you will likely forge a new cult hero. Additional reporting: Thom Harris (Top photos: Victor Osimhen (left) and Jonathan David; Getty Images)
