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Real Madrid to raid Premier League again as they eye shock deals for Arsenal's David Raya and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen

Real Madrid to raid Premier League again as they eye shock deals for Arsenal's David Raya and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen

The Irish Sun10-05-2025

BRIGHTON keeper Bart Verbruggen is a shock target for Real Madrid.
But he would have to start on their bench.
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Bart Verbruggen is a transfer target for Real Madrid
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Los Blancos may also make a shock approach for David Raya
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The Dutch 22-year-old is fancied by the Spanish giants as they look for a long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois.
They could be selling Ukrainian keeper
And
The idea is that he would have the chance of becoming their first choice down the line.
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Brighton have already been tracking
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And, therefore, he may be reluctant to give it up for the reserve job behind Courtois, 32, in Madrid.
However, all parties need to make the call on a potential move for the Holland international to let the clubs go about their business.
Antonio Rudiger sent off for throwing ICE PACK at referee in Copa del Rey final as Real Madrid bench restrain fuming ace
Real have also considered
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But that deal would be even harder to pull off than Verbruggen.
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Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin are the current top goalkeepers at Real Madrid
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Ireland suffer defeat against world number one side Netherlands
Ireland suffer defeat against world number one side Netherlands

The 42

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  • The 42

Ireland suffer defeat against world number one side Netherlands

IRELAND SUFFERED a narrow 2-0 defeat against the world number one side Netherlands in Amstelveen this evening. Mark Tumilty's men created several chances against the Olympic gold medallists, but were on the back foot early on when defender Lee Cole had to clear the ball off the line to prevent the opening goal. Ireland then had a period in the ascendancy, with Alistair Empey seeing his goalbound shot blocked. Goalkeeper Jaime Carr was then forced into a good save before Thierry Brinkman thought he had given the Dutch the lead with a reverse stick shot, but it was ruled out after Ireland immediately opted to refer for backstick, which the video umpire agreed with. Advertisement Ireland continued to defend well in the second quarter, and down the other end, Empey won the first penalty corner of the contest, before Luke Madeley's effort on goal was blocked. It was the Dutch who then took the lead through a penalty corner of their own, as Luke Dommershuijzen registered his first senior goal. Some strong Irish defending, including a vital block by Matthew Nelson, ensured their opponents could not double their advantage before half-time. Yet the Netherlands made no mistake with their first chance after the break, as Steijn van Heijningen expertly deflected the ball into the net with a deft touch. Ireland continued to threaten, with the Dutch again keeping them at bay following the concession of another penalty corner, though the Irish defence also had plenty of work to do to prevent their rivals from adding to the scoreline. In the final quarter, Empey won Ireland's third penalty corner of the game, but Cole's resulting effort was saved and cleared. The Dutch saw the game out convincingly and consequently extended their lead at the top of the FIH Pro League table to seven points. The two sides meet again at the same venue tomorrow. The contest gets underway at 7pm Irish time and is available to watch live on the TG4 Player.

‘I'm a Mayo man' – John Joe Patrick opens up on roots and dream of more caps after Republic of Ireland debut
‘I'm a Mayo man' – John Joe Patrick opens up on roots and dream of more caps after Republic of Ireland debut

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘I'm a Mayo man' – John Joe Patrick opens up on roots and dream of more caps after Republic of Ireland debut

IRELAND fans are still getting to know John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa and even what to call him. Some fans call him Finn, others John Joe, while he is known at French club 2 John Joe Patrick Finn is honoured to play for Ireland as his late father was from Mayo 2 The Stade de Reims ace is excited to create a legacy with Ireland The back of his shirt when he came on for his Ireland debut against Advertisement So what does he prefer to be called? He said: 'I prefer John but there are a lot of Johns in the squad, it's more easy.' The 6ft 4in 21-year-old is a player that naturally excites fans when he bursts onto the international scene given his impressive CV that is like no other in the Ireland squad. Born in Madrid, his mother Odetta is French with Cameroon heritage while his late father - also John - hailed from Galway but had Mayo roots. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA Spanish is his mother tongue and he told Luxembourgish journalists he did not feel comfortable being interviewed in French yet, but spoke happily to Irish journalists in English. The midfielder said: 'My dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'So I had that connection when I was young, it really mattered. I am a Mayo man. 'It was nice, growing up it was so different from Madrid, where I lived. Those summers were really great, with my family, we had a great time, great days.' Advertisement Most read in Football He actually played for Salthill Devon for a while though he was first noticed by Irish fans when he joined Real Madrid as a nine-year-old. It was at Getafe he made his breakthrough making ten La Liga appearances as a teenager even as he finished school and progressed into the Ireland Under-19 squad. He earned Ireland Under-21 call-ups too and was also eligible for Spain, France and Cameroon. But while that was a focus in Ireland and led Advertisement ALWAYS IRELAND He said: 'Cameroon no, France no, Spain no, always Ireland. It's always good that the coach makes the effort to go and see you, to speak with me.' His debut came in the last minute as a replacement for Jason Knight on Tuesday night, though the midfielder admitted that it was not quite the debut of his dreams. He said: 'I feel good, I am a bit disappointed with the result, it was not the way I wanted to make my debut but I will just keep working and continue on this way. 'I feel ok but the last minute, it's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut, it's high intensity, into the game and it's not easy.' Advertisement But the 21-year-old hopes that his debut can be the first of many caps having quickly got up to speed with what Hallgrímsson expects from his midfielders. He said: 'He just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team play. We still have a bit of work to do but I am happy. 'The experience was good, the group has a lot of quality, I think if we can continue this way we can do good things. 'We are hungry, we are conscious that we are in a top World Cup group but with the work we are doing we can do it.' Advertisement Ireland's next games come in September with the beginning of the World Cup qualification campaign at home to Hungary and away to Armenia. And the midfielder hopes that a good start to the season with Stade Reims, who were relegated last season, can keep him in Hallgrímsson's plans. He also believes that next year is a big year for him when he expects to play regularly for Reims after a difficult settling in period in France. He added: 'At the beginning it was not easy, I was alone, my family stayed in Madrid but in the end the club made things really easy so the time I adapted was quick and the culture is nice. Advertisement 'It was a difficult moment to end the season like this (with relegation), but to come here is a bit of a distraction from the club, I had great days, now I can rest a bit and come back.'

'He will be really proud' - John Patrick Finn fulfills late dad's wish for him to play for Ireland
'He will be really proud' - John Patrick Finn fulfills late dad's wish for him to play for Ireland

Irish Examiner

time8 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

'He will be really proud' - John Patrick Finn fulfills late dad's wish for him to play for Ireland

'I prefer to be called John,' says Ireland's latest debutant, whose full name is John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa. He's 21 but various versions of his name have formed part of the Irish football discourse since before he reached 10. His distinctive hairstyle caught attention but giddiness abounded when it was discovered this nine-year-old namechecked on the Ryan Tubridy Show was eligible for Ireland. Meritocracy knows no age in the footballing industry and the stylish midfielder emerged from a competitive trial of 200 boys to be recruited by Real Madrid. Born to a Cameroonian mother and English father, whose parents lived in Ballyhaunis Co Mayo, the name was a giveaway about his lineage. Yet this wasn't a case of a player possessing tenuous Irish connections seeking a ticket to the international football circuit. Finn spent his summers in the west of Ireland, lining out for Galway side Salthill Devon on occasion. Then his name began to morph. John Patrick was the primary moniker but John Joe was used within an Irish context. Read More Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg Being the only John in the Irish camp, apart from assistant manager O'Shea, played into his preference for the one name title. He was raised in Spain, now operates in France for Stade de Reims but is unequivocal about his identity. 'I am a Mayo man,' he affirmed in his broken English after appearing as a late substitute against Luxembourg on Tuesday. 'My Dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather, and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'Mayo was different to Madrid where I lived. Those summers were really great with my family - we had a great time and days together. 'So, I had that connection from when I was young and it really matters.' The one pang of disappointment about his bow was his Dad not being around. He passed away in recent years but held a lifelong wish for his son to represent Ireland. 'I know he will be really proud,' said his son. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson with John Joe Patrick Finn after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne. His club career entailed a move from Real to Getafe and last season onto Ligue 1 in a seven-figure move. Making his debut against PSG and figuring in the French Cup final were his highlights but Reims suffered relegation. That might widen the latitude for the newcomer to string games together and he realises that's necessary to be in the equation for the Ireland squad that embarks on the World Cup qualifiers. Heimir Hallgrimsson recently made a two-hour drive to meet Finn to ascertain his international commitment. The player insisted Ireland was the only country for him and rival countries didn't pose a dilemma. 'It's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut – playing the last few minutes,' he confessed. 'Being a high intensity match, it wasn't easy getting into the game. 'The manager just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team plays. 'The experience was good. This squad has a lot of quality. I know we have a difficult qualifying group but I think we can do good things.'

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