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Rakyat Post
2 days ago
- Rakyat Post
[Watch] Malaysia's Basikal Lajak Crisis: When Children's Games Turn Deadly
Subscribe to our FREE In Malaysia, police are dealing with an unusual type of offender: children and teens caught riding modified bicycles without brakes. For years, authorities have arrested many young 'basikal lajak' riders during targeted operations and impromptu situations. These young detainees, riding bikes stripped of essential safety equipment on elevated highways, have been caught on overhead passes and main streets, including right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. In one incident, police forced dozens of detained children to line up and perform ketuk-ketampit (squat exercises) as punishment. More recently, some children broke down in tears when confronted by officers, underscoring the emotional impact of these enforcement actions. If anything, continued police arrests and mounting accidents demonstrate that traditional enforcement alone cannot address the underlying appeal these activities hold for young people. Social Media Glorification But here's where the story gets complicated: many of these dangerous activities are being celebrated online. Social media are flooded with basikal lajak content that treats dangerous riding as entertainment, with videos regularly going viral and accumulating millions of views. Some social media accounts dedicated to this culture have tens of thousands of followers, showcasing organised gatherings where modified bikes take over the streets. The content creates a feedback loop where children see exciting videos, modify their own bikes, and then post footage to gain social media attention. Each viral video potentially inspires dozens more children to join the trend. The Bigger Picture The parallels between basikal lajak culture and Malaysia's infamous mat rempit motorcycle scene are impossible to ignore. Both groups enjoy modifying their rides, socialising in large groups, and performing daring stunts that capture people's attention. This makes you wonder: Do kids who start with modified bicycles eventually graduate to motorcycles when they get older? Nobody has yet proven this connection, but the pattern seems familiar to many Malaysians. What is obvious is that both groups are comprised of young people seeking thrills. They want to feel the rush of speed, show off to their friends, and be part of something exciting – even if it means breaking traffic rules. Right now, police keep arresting these kids, and accidents keep happening, but Malaysia still can't figure out how to solve this problem. It's not as if there's a single bad guy to blame or a straightforward fix that will work. The real challenge is not only stopping people from getting hurt but also understanding why these activities are so appealing to young Malaysians in the first place. Lest We Forget The tragic consequences of basikal lajak culture were starkly illustrated in a case that gripped Malaysia. In 2023, a young Malaysian woman, The 2017 incident occurred at 3 am in Johor Bahru, where she drove into the teenagers. Before her acquittal, Sam faced a six-year prison sentence and a fine for dangerous driving as of April 2022, indicating the severity of the initial legal outcome and the complex questions surrounding responsibility in such tragic circumstances. The parents involved in the case have expressed that their children were good boys, reflecting their desire to defend their memory amid the tragedy. However, critics have responded with harsh condemnation, arguing that the parents were aware their children possessed modified bicycles and regularly rode them on highways, yet failed to intervene until tragedy struck. These critics contend that the parents should acknowledge their fault and Dah budak melayu je main basikal lajak kat highway pukul 3 pagi ni mmg lah majoriti yg terkorban tu melayu. ada nampak budak cina main basikal lajak kat highway tak pukul 3 pagi? Tak ada sebab depa semua tahu anak diorg kt mana malam² Nampak beza tak mentaliti parents kat situ — faez (@fzbhr8) READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's .
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Wales Online
Foreign Office warns Brits there ‘may be travel disruption' to these two European countries
Foreign Office warns Brits there 'may be travel disruption' to these two European countries Millions of people were left without mobile phone coverage and internet and there was huge disruption on the roads and public transport after a huge power cut Hundreds of people have been stranded at Los Rodeos Airport due to the general blackout in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images ) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is urging people to plan ahead if they are due to visit Spain and Portugal, as power outages which affected Andorra, mainland Spain and mainland Portugal on Monday, April 28, have largely been resolved but are still causing some disruption. The FCDO said: 'We are monitoring the situation. There may still be some travel disruption, check with your tour operator or airline for more information before travelling. Follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local updates.' Spain and Portugal were plunged into chaos as a massive power outage triggered an unprecedented state of emergency, causing widespread travel disruption and leaving thousands without mobile phone coverage or internet access. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The Iberian Peninsula was hit by the extraordinary blackout on Monday at approximately 12.30pm local time, with vast regions left without essential electricity services well into the night. The situation also caused significant distress for travellers to and from these popular holiday spots, prompting Spain to declare a state of emergency. In response to the crisis, emergency services and railway staff in Spain had to assist in evacuating roughly 35,000 individuals from more than 100 trains halted due to the power failure. By 11pm, there were still passengers from 11 trains awaiting evacuation, according to Prime Minister Sánchez. Eduardo Prieto, head of operations at Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica, described the incident as "exceptional and extraordinary." Article continues below Portugal's national grid operator has confirmed that power has been restored to 6.2 million of the 6.5 million affected households. Similarly, electricity supply has resumed in Spain, while officials continue their investigation into the root cause of the extensive blackout, reports the Mirror. What caused the huge blackout? The exact reason behind the massive power cut remains unclear, with authorities still investigating the abrupt collapse of the power grid that disrupted phone and internet services, as well as ATM access, across the Iberian Peninsula. Eduardo Prieto, the head of operation services at Spain's national grid operator, REE, confirmed in a press briefing today that there were two "disconnection events" within seconds of each other prior to the blackout. He said: "Nothing leads us to believe that it could have been human error." Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said electricity demand was normal and that capacities were robust, demanding a rapid inquiry into the private companies amidst the blackouts. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre has officially stated that there's no evidence suggesting a cyber attack was behind the outage. What was affected? Spain and Portugal witnessed major disruptions on Monday, as the power cut led to airport shutdowns, metro systems ceasing function, and ATMs going offline. Train services were hit hard with over 35,000 rail passengers facing cancellations yesterday. Metros ground to a halt, mobile phone networks and internet access saw outages, and air traffic faced a standstill. Chaos ensued on the streets as traffic lights went out, prompting police in Portugal to navigate traffic and set up roadblocks. Even parts of France experienced brief power interruptions. The Madrid Open tennis tournament also faced disruption, with power cut impacts on scoreboards and broadcasting equipment. Mobile phones and fibre optic networks are now back online in 90% of Spain, shared the Spanish Prime Minister. Why was there a state of emergency in Spain? Spain declared a state of emergency after experiencing the nationwide blackout, with cities including Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura urging the central government to maintain public order and regulate essential goods. Despite the disruption, Spain's electricity provider, Red Eléctrica, announced that over 99% of power had been restored, with assurances from the prime minister that all 48 million residents would have electricity by the end of the day. How many Brits were stranded? Following the massive power outage, dozens of British holidaymakers were left stranded, struggling to return home on Tuesday as 25 flights were cancelled on Monday. Airlines hit by the cancellations included British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, and TAP. Travel chaos was felt across numerous UK airports, with five flights cancelled at Heathrow, four each at Bristol and Gatwick, three each at Luton and Manchester, and two at Stansted. Other airports like Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, and Newcastle also faced cancellations. Addressing the operational challenges posed by the blackouts in France, Spain, and Portugal, easyJet released a statement saying: "Power outages in Portugal and Spain are impacting access to some airports and affecting some airports' operations including Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona. "Like all airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flying programme meaning that some return flights from Lisbon and Madrid have been unable to operate," the airline commented. "Our flying programme at Porto and Faro airports is operating as planned." What has returned? Electricity has finally returned to the majority of homes in Spain and Portugal after a significant outage, although there remain extensive delays in train and flight services. The Portuguese grid operator confirmed that it was successful in restoring power to about 6.2 million of the 6.5 million affected homes. Energy firm Ren has announced significant progress in reconnecting power, achieving operational status for "85 of the 89 substations and switching stations". In Spain, the nation's primary operator reported that it had managed to restore 99% of the electricity supply to consumers. Article continues below
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Wolves squad audit: With safety secured, thoughts turn to another rebuild
A big summer lies ahead for Wolves. Now, when have we heard that before? Most summers since the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo have felt pivotal for the Molineux hierarchy. This one is no different. The recent resurgence under Vitor Pereira has prompted a slight reassessment of the quality in his squad, while the head coach is on the record about not demanding huge investment ahead of next season. Advertisement But with some key players almost certain to leave and other more peripheral figures needing moves, a bigger turnover than Pereira might ideally want looks likely. And having found themselves on the limit for non-homegrown players in the second half of the season, Wolves need to rebalance their squad with a limited injection of British-developed stars. So, what does the future look like for the existing squad? The Athletic takes a look at it player by player… Jose Sa (contract expires 2027) Now firmly re-established as Wolves' No 1, the Portugal international may well stay and retain that role next season. However, his representatives have explored possible moves away for the last couple of years, and if they find one this summer it is conceivable that Wolves would sanction it and look for a new 'keeper who is more adept with his feet to play behind Pereira's high defensive line. Sam Johnstone (2028) Has been at Molineux for only a year, but it has not worked out at all. It seems almost certain that he and the club will find a way for him to move on this summer, provided Wolves can reclaim a decent portion of the £10million they spent on him. If not, do not rule out a loan. Dan Bentley (2027) The experienced 'keeper is highly regarded for his character around the dressing room, so will almost certainly stay. The only real question is whether he remains as No 3 or is trusted to be the main understudy to Sa or a new No 1. Tom King (2027) Like Bentley, he is a popular member of the squad and accepts his role down the pecking order while training well and being a solid team-mate. Likely to stay. Transfer needs: Hard to be precise because the needs will depend on how Pereira sees things at the end of the season. It is possible that Johnstone's departure is all that happens this summer, but it is also conceivable that Sa will leave too and one or two 'keepers are targeted. Matt Doherty (contract expires 2026) The Irishman has had a new lease of life since moving into the back three and is regarded as a hugely solid character in the squad. He will stay, may well start next season in the first XI and could yet be rewarded with a contract extension. Santiago Bueno (2028) Performed well on the right of the back three at Old Trafford last week but competition in that role will be fierce next season and Bueno has struggled when played in the centre of the trio. He does not have the physical profile that Pereira wants, so is likely to be moved on. Advertisement Yerson Mosquera (2030) The Colombian fits Pereira's specification for centre-backs perfectly, hence his new long-term deal. After almost a year out injured he will need easing back into first-team action but he has the potential to become a key player during next season. Nasser Djiga (2030) Has not made the impact he or Wolves would have liked when he signed in January and has shown a few more rough edges than expected. But he has a long-term contract and Wolves believe in his potential, so he is almost certain to stick around to work and improve under Pereira. Emmanuel Agbadou (2029) One of Wolves' standout players since he arrived in January, he will remain a lynchpin next season at the heart of their defence. A contender for captaincy, too. Craig Dawson (2025) The veteran centre-back has been gone effectively since January, when Pereira explained he was no longer in his plans. Will leave officially when his contract expires this summer. Toti (2029) Back to his best since returning to fitness following a stuttering, injury-hit start to the season. Currently the only natural left-footer in the back three, so will be a key figure next season. Bastien Meupiyou (2029) The young Frenchman was never meant to be a first-team figure this season after signing last summer, but injuries have restricted his participation in the under-21s, too. A loan next season is possible for the 19-year-old. It is more likely, however, that he will stick around and get regular under-21s experience while training at times with the first team. Nigel Lonwijk (2027) The young Dutchman's pathway has involved multiple loans, with Wolves still believing he has future first-team potential. After a successful time at Huddersfield this season, the 22-year-old will look for a loan next season in the Championship or an equivalent league overseas. Advertisement Alfie Pond (2027) The former Exeter man has made a few Premier League squads this season but is still desperately short of first-team experience, given he is now 21. Wolves will aim to rectify that with a loan. Transfer needs: Wolves are well-stocked with central defenders in terms of raw numbers, but the department needs some rebalancing. The most likely and obvious move would be replacing Bueno with a natural left-footer to compete with Toti. Nelson Semedo (contract expires 2025) Wolves would love to keep their captain, who has been a revelation in the role, but those hopes now appear to be fading. With just a few weeks left on his current deal he has yet to agree an extension so he is likely to leave as a free agent, with clubs in Saudi Arabia and his native Portugal showing an interest. Rayan Ait-Nouri (2026) One of Wolves' most saleable assets, the Algeria international will enter the final year of his contract this summer. It is possible that he will extend it, but much more likely that the club will cash in while his value is close to its peak. Hugo Bueno (2028) After a successful loan at Feyenoord this season, all options are on the table for the Spaniard including another loan or even a sale. But Wolves' preference is for him to return to Molineux, and if Ait-Nouri leaves he will have a chance to establish himself as a regular starter. Rodrigo Gomes (2029) Still just 21, Gomes has figured less than he wanted this season but has still gained valuable experience. If Semedo leaves it is likely he will get more chances in his best position — right wing-back — next season but still a little young for Wolves to expect a whole season of consistent displays. Pedro Lima (2029) Wolves believe the Brazilian is an exceptional talent but he is still just 18 and remains naive defensively, hence his limited appearances since arriving last summer. Next season is likely to bring more of the same and a loan is a possibility for all or part of the campaign. Advertisement Dexter Lembikisa (2026) His deal includes a one-year option, but he appears as far as ever from first-team contention so a permanent departure is possible this summer. If that does not materialise, expect another loan. Ki-Jana Hoever (2027) Not a real first-team contender since being sidelined by Bruno Lage. The time now seems right for him to be sold and Wolves will look for a deal that suits all parties. Transfer needs: If, as seems likely, both Semedo and Ait-Nouri depart, opportunity knocks for Hugo Bueno and Rodrigo Gomes. But both remain young, so experienced cover/competition will be needed. That might involve the versatile Doherty but will also require at least one new signing — possibly two. Andre (contract expires 2029) One of the stars of Pereira's Wolves turnaround, it is possible that the Brazil international will attract interest this summer. But Wolves have no plans to sell him just a year into his Molineux career and his contract puts the club in a strong position. Joao Gomes (2030) Fresh from signing a new contract, the fans' favourite is going nowhere this summer. Wolves expect him and Andre to again be their first-choice midfield duo next season. Marshall Munetsi (2028) The Zimbabwe international has made a big impression since arriving in January and will be a key figure again next season. Will be fascinating to see whether he stays in the advanced role he has played so far or reverts to the more orthodox midfield position where he has spent most of his career. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (2028) A couple of months ago the Frenchman seemed destined to be gone at the end of the season. But, since then, he established himself as a regular, effective starter. That makes a summer departure highly unlikely if not quite impossible. Tommy Doyle (2028) Just as Bellegarde's star has risen, Doyle has drifted out of Pereira's plans, appearing mainly as an unused substitute in recent weeks. He does not have a natural role in a Pereira team so expect him to depart this summer, if not permanently then on loan. Advertisement Boubacar Traore (2027) Pereira likes Traore's physical profile but the Mali international has been blighted by injuries. That has restricted his game time in his three and a half years at Molineux. For that reason, Wolves would like to loan him out for regular starts but that will only happen if they can replace him. Joe Hodge (2027) The former Manchester City youngster needs to leave Wolves for regular football. Wolves will try to sell him, but another loan (he spent time at both Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield last year) is also a possibility. Transfer needs: The first-choice pair is clear and Munetsi and Bellegarde offer useful backup, but both have been used in different roles, too. So if Doyle and Traore both depart, Wolves will need an addition to ensure they are not left short. Matheus Cunha (contract expires 2029) Wolves fully expect the Brazil international to leave this summer after inserting a £62.5million release clause in the new contract he signed in February. Nothing is certain until the clause is triggered but it would be a major surprise if Cunha is at Molineux in August. Pablo Sarabia (2025) The Spain international is also expected to leave as a free agent. Wolves value his quality off the substitutes bench but he lacks the physicality to start every week, and his high salary makes that situation unsustainable going forwards. Goncalo Guedes (2027) After a brief resurgence this season, the Portugal forward is again frozen out with Pereira questioning his application and spirit. Wolves will do whatever it takes to move him on this summer, with a permanent exit the club's preference. Carlos Forbs (loan expires 2025) The winger has started just once in the Premier League and played just 27 minutes as a substitute since Christmas, despite being fit. That says everything about how his loan from Ajax has gone. He has not played enough to trigger an obligation to buy and Wolves will not exercise their option. Advertisement Chiquinho (2027) The winger has barely figured on loan at Real Mallorca and has not improved his chances of figuring for Wolves next season. Expect him to leave again this summer, possibly permanently but more likely on another loan. Chem Campbell (2026) The academy graduate has played regularly in League One for Reading but still looks a long way from Premier League contention and, with just a year left on his contract, Wolves will try to cash in on him with a permanent move this season. Enso Gonzalez (2029) The Paraguayan would have gone on loan last summer but suffered a knee injury that destroyed his season. That makes a summer 2025 loan unlikely as he eases his way back. But a move in January 2026 could happen once he has played some minutes for the under-21s. Tawanda Chirewa (2027) Has not shone in his loans at Derby and Huddersfield this season, but Wolves believe in his potential so are expected to look for another loan for next season. Transfer needs: This is the area of the squad in need of a complete rebuild, with Pereira wanting players who run at defenders. Bellegarde and Munetsi can play there, as can Hwang Hee-chan, but two or three new faces will be needed. Jorgen Strand Larsen (contract expires 2029) Will become a permanent signing this summer after triggering the obligation to buy in his initial loan deal. After an impressive debut goalscoring season in the Premier League, the Norwegian will lead the line again looking to further improve his all-round game. Hwang Hee-chan (2028) Wolves might regret rejecting offers of more than £20million from Marseille last summer, given the South Korean has since endured a difficult season. But that does not mean Hwang is certain to leave a year on. The club will consider any offers but, with so many changes inevitable in forward areas, it would make some sense to keep him in the squad for continuity and experience. Advertisement Sasa Kalajdzic (2027) After two years of injury hell, there is no doubt that the Austrian will be at Wolves next season. The only question is how big a role he will be able to play. He will want to be in the squad, but Wolves will not count on him starting regularly. Fabio Silva (2026) In other circumstances, a successful loan in La Liga with Las Palmas — 10 goals and three assists in 24 games so far — may have prompted Wolves to give him another shot in the Premier League. But too much water has passed under the bridge, so Wolves will look to sell Silva and generate the best fee possible. Nathan Fraser (2028) On a dedicated fitness programme after a difficult loan in Belgium, the home-grown centre forward is likely to be loaned again in the summer. Leon Chiwome (2028) Would have been due a loan, too, but will have to wait now as he continues his rehab from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Mateus Mane (scholar) The academy star has made several Premier League squads despite not yet even being a professional. He is likely to stay and get more under-21s minutes. Transfer needs: Strand Larsen is a solid first-choice option but he needs specialist competition and backup, with Kaladzic still battling back from injury and Hwang preferring to play from wide areas. No major surgery required, but one new face is desirable.
New York Times
17-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Wolves mailbag: Stadium plans, summer spending, season tickets and Fosun's future
The gloom around Wolverhampton Wanderers has lifted. Premier League survival is all but secured, Vitor Pereira's side have won four successive Premier League games and the head coach has become a cult hero in a few short months. But wider questions remain, and subscribers to The Athletic have asked them. We opened our Wolves mailbag for the first time in a while, you filled it and we have sifted through your enquiries. We have addressed some of the most popular questions here. Alex P: Do you see any end to this cycle under Fosun — don't invest in the summer and sell our best players, start out s***, sack the manager, buy some guys in January and scrape survival, all while not building for the future and progressing the club on and off the pitch? They seem checked out, and I'd love to hear what you think about their future at Molineux. The stadium issue is covered below, so let's deal with the team here. Senior figures we have spoken to recently have acknowledged that mistakes were made last summer. They realise they spent too much of the budget on players who might come good in the future and not enough on players for the here and now, and they acknowledge that not strengthening at centre-back before the start of the season was a huge error. Spending £10million ($13.3m) on Sam Johnstone has also turned out to be a mistake, but there was a belief that Jose Sa would leave, so signing another goalkeeper made some sense. There is an acknowledgement of the mistakes and an intention to learn from them. But clearly, it is sensible to reserve judgement until we see how the summer goes (although the business completed in January was encouraging). Knowing you've made mistakes is one thing, making sure you don't repeat them is another, so the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. As for Fosun's longer-term intentions, we are asking those questions and we hope to have a bigger, more detailed piece on that in the summer. Max E: What is the situation with Sa and Johnstone? Is the intention for one to be gone for next season? The situation with Johnstone is pretty clear. He joined Wolves to be a Premier League No 1 again, that hasn't happened and he will look to move on again this summer to play regularly. Provided any deal works for Wolves, the club won't stand in his way. With Sa, there are more moving parts. He has generally performed well since Pereira restored him as No 1, so he might stay. But it is equally possible that Sa moves on, as he seemed likely to a year ago, and Wolves look for a new first-choice goalkeeper — probably one who is more comfortable playing as a 'sweeper-keeper' behind the higher defensive line that Pereira is trying to implement. Joseph G: Could we see a bigger recruitment operation in the Americas after the success of Joao Gomes and Andre? Yes. The recruitment operation in South America has already been expanded in the past couple of years, which was reflected in the signings of Andre and Pedro Lima last summer and the signing of Enso Gonzalez in 2023. While Brexit has made it harder to sign younger players from Europe, it has made it easier to bring in players from other countries, and the ideal scenario for Wolves is to identify and sign players directly from South American clubs for lower prices, rather than signing them more expensively a couple of years later when they've already spent time in Europe. That comes with a degree of risk — there's still no guarantee that either Lima or Gonzalez will become first-team regulars, for example — but moving early for unproven players has lots of potential rewards. Chris J: Is there any truth to the rumours the club plan to once again increase season ticket prices, despite putting out a statement last year that this would not happen? I'm told the club will hold off announcing season ticket prices until Premier League safety is confirmed, which is not too far away. But I have heard nothing to suggest they will go back on last year's promise of a freeze. I would expect prices to stay the same as this season's. Ben R: What positions do you think will be prioritised in the summer? We are planning to publish a full 'squad audit' in the next few weeks, so the finer details will be included there. But to touch on a few of the issues, next season will be too soon for Lima to be a regular starter. Rodrigo Gomes would be ahead of him in the wing-back pecking order but if Nelson Semedo leaves, as expected, a more experienced player should arrive to replace him. Advertisement If Rayan Ait-Nouri is sold then Hugo Bueno would be the leading contender to replace him and Gomes' versatility means he is an option for left wing-back as well as right. I would expect at least one of Boubacar Traore or Tommy Doyle to move on — possibly both — and Goncalo Guedes is likely to go too if a willing buyer can be found. Hwang Hee-chan is more likely to stay, but that's undecided. Simon B: Nearly all of the teams in the Premier League have either increased their stadium capacity or are planning to — except for us! Do you think Molineux will be improved under Fosun (which clearly stated it would improve the facilities and raise the capacity when it bought the club)? The first thing to say here is that the grand, complete stadium renovation that was outlined in artists' impressions a few years ago is not on the table and hasn't been for a while. Fosun does not see a way to make a complete rebuild financially viable, given the huge cost that would be involved. The project that is still being discussed is a revamp of the Steve Bull Stand, which is the oldest and shabbiest part of Molineux. Discussions are being held with potential third parties over plans and possible funding, although they are still at an early stage, so there is no real clarity on when or even if they will come to fruition. But the owners are aware that the stand serves little or no purpose outside matchdays and they would like to change that by renovating it to include corporate facilities, while improving the matchday experience for fans. One of the possible plans is to remove the old-fashioned corporate boxes that currently separate the two tiers and turn the stand into one, big, single-tiered structure, moving the front of it closer to the pitch. That would increase the stadium capacity a little in the process. But it is hard to say if the plans will amount to anything, and if so, when. Daniel H: Is the club for sale? Despite continued denials from Fosun, it seems to have been an open secret in football circles for some time that they're looking to sell. There is no easy way of answering this question because the messages from inside and outside of Molineux are conflicting. But I can present the information I have. First, several contacts who move in football finance circles have told The Athletic in recent years that Fosun has looked for possible buyers through third parties. That would fit in with the general trend of Chinese owners looking for ways to get out of European football after the enthusiasm from the country's government waned. Advertisement However, Wolves have always insisted that is not the case, and in recent weeks, senior sources at the club have again told The Athletic that any investment banks or brokers looking to drum up interest are not doing so at Fosun's behest. They have also pointed out that, while many Chinese owners have been forced to sell because of the difficulty of moving cash from China, Fosun's status as a multinational conglomerate means it already has cash in Europe if needed. So the message from the club is emphatic that, while Fosun has looked for minority investors and those conversations are ongoing, there has been no active move towards an outright sale. However, they also acknowledge the reality that any business is for sale in theory, so for the right price, a change of owner cannot be ruled out. Nicholas A: We have seen the women's team push full-time Nottingham Forest really hard and they currently operate on less than average for a tier-three team. Will Fosun see the investment from Forest, Birmingham and Michele Kang at London City Lionesses and decide to step up or are they quite happy with being second-best? This answer will not please those committed to Wolves Women, but Fosun's stance has not changed. It has worked to integrate women's football into the academy and wants Wolves Women to provide an opportunity for girls from Wolverhampton to play competitive football, with the ones who excel then moving on to full-time clubs, but they currently have no plans for Wolves to go full-time. Rightly or wrongly, Fosun does not see a commercial case for trying to compete with those clubs. (Top photos: Getty Images)
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inter Milan, Atalanta, Como & Fiorentina All In Talks To Sign €10M Rated Familicao Starlet
Inter Milan, Atalanta, Como & Fiorentina All In Talks To Sign €10M Rated Familicao Starlet Inter Milan, Atalanta, Como & Fiorentina All In Talks To Sign €10M Rated Familicao Starlet Inter Milan, Atalanta, Como, and Fiorentina all want to sign young Familicao attacking midfielder Gustavo Sa. This according to Italian outlet FCInterNews. They report that the Nerazzurri are in talks with the 20-year-old's agents, while Familicao value him at €8-10 million. Advertisement Gustavo Sa has emerged as one of the breakout talents in the Portuguese top flight this season. The Portuguese Under-21 international has made a total of 26 appearances for Familicao. In these, he has scored three goals and made four assists. Sa's main position is as an attacking midfielder or second striker. However, he also has the technical ability as well as size and physicality to play more centrally. Inter, Atalanta, Como & Fiorentina All In Talks For Gustavo Sa LEIRIA, PORTUGAL – OCTOBER 13: Gustavo Sa of Portugal during the – International Friendly match between U20 Portugal v U20 Germany at Estadio Municipal de Leiria on October 13, 2023 in Leiria, Portugal. (Photo by) And Sa's form for Familicao this campaign has started to attract transfer interest. FCIN note that Inter Milan have already begun contact with the 20-year-old's agent. Advertisement The Nerazzurri see Sa as a player who can bolster their squad well into the future. He certainly fits the age profile favoured by Inter owners Oaktree Capital, who want a project that focuses on youth. FCIN report that Familicao have given Inter a clear idea of the fee they want for Sa. The Portuguese club expect at least €8-10 million for the 20-year-old. Meanwhile, FCIN add, Inter Milan are not the only club keen to bring Sa to Serie A. The outlet report that all of Atalanta, Como, and Fiorentina have also made inquiries about Sa.
