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The New York Yankees placed designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on the 60-day injured reserve list on Thursday, further moving back his return timeline from dealing with tendinitis in both of his elbows.

Stanton has yet to make his 2025 debut and even missed spring training because of his tendinitis.

About a month ago, Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave an update on Stanton saying that he had started swinging a bat again. Stanton even took batting practice with his teammates just a week ago, but it doesn't appear that he'll be ready to return for some time. With the latest injured reserve move, the earliest he can return to the active roster is May 24.

Stanton was also placed on the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Bryan de la Cruz, who the Yankees claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

The five-time All-Star has dealt with injuries for most of his MLB career, and especially since joining the Yankees in 2018. He hasn't played more than 139 games in a season since his first year in New York.

In 114 games for the Yankees last season, Stanton slashed .233/.298/.475 with 27 home runs and 72 RBIs. He also hit seven postseason home runs during the Yankees' run to the World Series.

Cristiano Ronaldo's sisters have hit back at the Portugal icon's critics following his meeting with US president Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week. Ronaldo was invited to a formal dinner party organised by the US president in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Al-Nassr star's White House visit divided opinion which saw plenty of criticism aimed at Ronaldo online.

• Ronaldo met Trump at White House

  Ronaldo attended the high-profile event in the US alongside a host of world business and technology leaders, including Tesla and X boss Elon Musk. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also present at the event. The black-tie affair was organised to deepen ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and it was Ronaldo's first known appearance on American soil since 2016. 

  His attendance with the Saudi delegation highlights his role as a public face for the kingdom's recent diplomatic and sports investments. During dinner, president Trump had said: "You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo, wherever Ronaldo is here. And Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you. So I just want to thank you both for being here. Really an honour."

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  Ronaldo's sister's come to his defence amid criticsm

  The 40-year-old received criticism for some quarters for attending the dinner party at White House, however, his sisters, Elma and Katia Aveiro have now defended their elder brother, while slamming his critics on social media. 

  On her Instagram story, Elma wrote: "Haven't these clowns realized yet that he doesn't give a damn about their opinions? This isn't for those who want it, it's for those who can handle it. They have nothing else to say, damn it."

  Katia, on the other hand, posted a video where she said: "All it took was work, something many critics have only heard about. A visit to the White House, and that's it, an emotional nuclear explosion. Hypocrites. Such a huge hysteria has taken hold that it's frightening. It's as if Cristiano had announced the end of the world."

• CR7's message to Trump

  Hours after attending the party, Ronaldo took to social media to thank the US president and sent out a message which read: "Thank you Mr. President for your invitation and for the warm welcome you and the First Lady gave me and my future wife, @georginagio. Each of us has something meaningful to give, and I stand ready to do my part as we inspire new generations to build a future defined by courage, responsibility and lasting peace."

  At the party, Ronaldo gifted Trump a signed jersey with the inscription, "To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace". He then said: "He is one of the guys who can help to change the world. One of the most important guys is the U.S. President. If we can help each other to make this happen… He is one of the guys I wish to meet to sit and have a nice talk. If it is here, or in the U.S., wherever he wants, I know he was here in Saudi Arabia with our boss, MBS. I wish one day to meet him."

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  Ronaldo to visit US again next summer

  Despite missing their final qualifying game against Armenia due to a red card, Portugal comfortably booked their berth in the World Cup next year as they thrashed the minnows 9-1. Ronaldo has long maintained that the 2026 World Cup, when he will be 41, will be the final chapter of his storied international career. With Portugal now officially qualified, the countdown begins for what promises to be his last bow on football’s grandest stage.

  However, the forward is likely to miss a couple of games at the start of the tournament as he will have to serve the suspension for two more matches, although Portugal will file an appeal to reduce the punishment.  

Josh Bohannon’s century goes in vain for Lancashire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025Kent 315 for 8 (Denly 91, Dawkins 85) beat Lancashire 293 (Bohannon 133, Harris 54, Parkinson 3-57) by 22 runsKent Spitfires beat Lancashire by 22 runs in a Metro Bank Cup thriller at Beckenham, despite a magnificent century from Josh Bohannon.Jaydn Denly and Ben Dawkins both hit their highest List A scores, making 91 and 85 respectively as Kent posted 315 for 8.Bohannon, who batted through what looked like significant pain towards the back end of his innings, made 133 from 110 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes, but when he fell to Denly in the 47th over, Lancashire’s last-wicket duo of Tom Bailey and Charlie Barnard needed 30 from the last three overs.Bailey hit the first ball of the 48th for six, but he was run out by Chris Benjamin chasing a non-existent single and Kent had won with 15 balls remaining. Kent’s Matt Parkinson finished with 3 for 57 against his former county, while Marcus Harris made 54.Lancashire chose to bowl but failed to take a vital wicket: Denly was on 2 when he was put down by keeper George Bell off George Balderson. Assuming he’d been caught Denly was out of his ground when he was nearly run out by a shy at the stumps from first slip.The teenage duo responded by putting on a record first-wicket stand of 155 for Kent against Lancashire, with Dawkins making the early running and blazing 50 from 43 balls before Bailey had him caught by Bohannon in the 25th. Kent’s next highest partnership was 36.Bailey struck again in his next over, getting Joey Evison for four and Denly was lbw to Arav Shetty nine runs shy of a century. Benjamin was the next to go for 34, caught by Luke Hands off Charlie Barnard.Harry Singh bowled Harry Finch for 15 and Balderson had Ekansh Singh caught by Joseph Moores for 21.Lancashire might have had even more joy but Shetty somehow dropped an easy caught-and-bowled chance off Jack Leaning when he was on six. Leaning couldn’t cash in however and was out for 17, ramping Balderson straight to Marcus Harris.Grant Stewart clubbed two sixes in the final over but was run out off the final ball for 32 from 17 balls.Matt Quinn struck in the second over of the chase, getting Bell caught by Benjamin at first slip for a duck, but Kent then lost captain Stewart after what looked like a recurrence of a thigh injury, pulling up at the start of what would have been his fourth over. Quinn was also forced off with an unspecified injury.Evison took over and bowled Michael Jones leg stump for 26, but Bohannon and Harris hit back with a partnership worth 96 that was broken when the latter hit Parkinson to the sub fielder Fred Klaassen at cow corner.Parkinson then had Harry Singh caught by a diving Jack Leaning for 5 before Leaning got Joe Moores for 19, just as the 16-year-old was looking set, thanks to a brilliant catch by Ben Compton, also a sub.When Leaning then removed Balderson for a duck, caught by Denly, Kent looked favourites but Bohannon reached three figures after hitting a Denly full toss for four and Shetty was looking good until Parkinson had him stumped by Finch for 27, ending a stand of 54.Denly got Luke Hands for 3 and, with 50 needed from the last five, the 46th went for 11, but at the end of the 47th Bohannon holed out to Evison and was caught by Klaassen on the boundary before walking off to a standing ovation.Bailey responded by whacking the next ball, from Parkinson, for six, but after taking a single from the next ball, Charlie Barnard called a suicidal single and Bailey was run out by Rizvi and Benjamin and Kent were finally off the mark in Group B.

Bayern Munich are racing to extend Dayot Upamecano's contract, with sporting director Christoph Freund calling it the club's "main goal". The defender is in the final months of his deal, and reports claim Real Madrid have opened talks for a free transfer ahead of next season, which comes as no surprise to the German club's director.

Freund confirms 'main goal' to extend Upamecano deal

The 27-year-old defender's contract at the Allianz Arena is set to expire on 30 June. With the France international now in the final year of his deal, he will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in less than two months.

This precarious situation has reportedly alerted Europe's elite, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, forcing Bayern to accelerate negotiations. The public confirmation from Freund comes after president Herbert Hainer recently emphasised the club's hope that Upamecano will sign a new deal.

"It's no secret that our main goal is to extend Upamecano's contract," Freund said in a press conference. "It's also not surprising that many clubs, I don't know which ones, are interested in Upamecano because he's simply performing really, really well, is a great guy, and one of the best centre-backs in the world."

Freund noted that the player's current form, which has seen him make 19 appearances across all competitions this season, is a sign of his contentment in Munich.

The French international feels "very, very comfortable," Freund added, stating that is evident in "the energy he exudes" on the field.

However, the sporting director conceded that an agreement is not imminent, stating: "We are in talks, but there is nothing new to report at the moment."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReal Madrid 'open talks' for 2026 free transfer

The pressure on Bayern is mounting, with reports claiming that Real Madrid have already opened discussions with Upamecano's representatives regarding a free transfer in the summer of 2026.

Los Blancos have reportedly made defensive reinforcement a top priority. With uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, the club are seeking a new leader for their backline.

Upamecano is seen as a perfect fit for this next-generation blueprint, possessing Champions League experience and familiarity with Real Madrid's strong French contingent, which includes Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. His commanding performance in Bayern's 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain is said to have solidified Madrid's interest.

Kahn slams 'very weak' negotiating position

The situation has drawn sharp criticism from Bayern legend Oliver Kahn, who blasted the club for allowing a key player to enter the final year of his contract.

"The way he's playing now, at the very highest level, it's not just going to be expensive, not just very expensive, it's going to be very, very expensive for Bayern," Kahn told

The former CEO questioned the club's foresight, placing the blame for their difficult negotiating stance squarely on the board.

“The question that always arises is: why did you let Dayot Upamecano enter the final year of his contract in the first place?” Kahn said. “The only explanation is that Bayern weren't so happy with him a year or two ago. Now he's performing at the top of his game. When you're in the final year of a contract, you're in a very bad position as a club unless you pay a lot of money.”

Reports suggest those demands are high, with the defender allegedly seeking a salary of around €15 million per year plus a significant signing bonus.

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Upamecano's resurgence under Kompany fuels interest

Upamecano's exceptional form, which has triggered this contract race, is widely credited to new manager Vincent Kompany. After struggling for consistency under previous bosses Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, the Frenchman has thrived under the former Manchester City captain.

The defender, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 for €42.5m, has publicly praised Kompany's influence.

"We all watched him when we were young; he was a legend for Belgium and Manchester City," Upamecano said in a recent interview. "He was a very aggressive defender in duels, a leader on the pitch too, a good example for me. He helps me a lot; we do a lot of videos, he talks to me about my positioning. With him, it's always very intense.”

The glory hasn’t always followed, but Tottenham Hotspur have had some truly world-class stars play for them over the last ten to 15 years.

The one who was able to cement his legacy with a trophy was Son Heung-min, but the likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé and Luka Modrić were just as brilliant for the North Londoners.

However, when it comes to a combination of otherworldly talent and entertainment value, it’s hard to look past Gareth Bale.

The Welshman transformed into one of the best players in the world at Spurs, and it now looks like the club might have a new version of him.

Bale's rise at Spurs

Ask any Spurs fan what season Bale hit his peak at the club, and the vast majority will say his final season, 12/13.

That campaign saw the Welshman reach levels nobody really knew he could, as he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3,891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.

Such a ludicrous rate of return for a team that only finished fifth was enough for Real Madrid to come sniffing, and one world record bid of £85m later, the Spanish giants got exactly what they wanted.

However, while the memory of the international legend at Spurs is a great one, things were not always so straightforward for him, nor was he always such a goal machine.

In fact, when the club signed him from Southampton in May 2007, he wasn’t even an attacker; he was a highly rated full-back.

That’s the position he continued to play, through injuries and poor form, for a couple of years in North London, until, partway through the 09/10 season, Harry Redknapp decided to move him up the pitch and play him on the wing.

The rest, as they say, is history, and while Spurs might not have another winger as devastatingly effective as Bale, they might have another international in the making who could be as good in their own position.

Spurs' new Bale

Spurs have several exciting young talents com

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

ing through the academy at the moment, from Luca Williams-Barnett to Oliver Irow, but there is one out on loan who could just be the best of the lot.

That youngster is, of course, Luka Vušković, who is currently on a season-long loan with Bundesliga side Hamburg, and by all accounts, is having an exceptional season so far.

In fact, the Croatian wonderkid has just been named the league’s rookie of the month, and has clearly won over the fans, with content creator Fiago claiming that he’s “the best 18-year-old center back I’ve ever seen in my life.”

That’s not all, though, as not long after the Lilywhites originally signed the youngster, respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “freak athlete” and a “freak talent” with a “scary ceiling,” which sounds quite Bale-esque.

Combine these raving reviews with the fact that he’s currently playing in defence, still incredibly young, and has proven himself to be something of an attacking force over the last year or so, and the comparison is easy to make.

For example, in 36 appearances for KVC Westerloo last season, the Split-born titan scored seven goals and provided three assists, and in just four appearances this year, he has already opened his account.

Appearances

36

4

Minutes

2965′

360′

Goals

7

1

Assists

3

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.27

0.25

Minutes per Goal Involvements

296.5′

360′

Finally, he has already won a senior cap for Croatia, so it looks like he’s set to dominate on the domestic and international scene for a long time to come.

Ultimately, Vušković is unlikely to become a winger like Bale, but there is arguably even more hype around him today than around the Welshman when he joined Spurs, and he looks set for superstardom.

Spurs sold "phenomenal" striker for just £7m, now he's as prolific as Kane

The incredible striker Spurs sold is starting to play like Harry Kane.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten 86 off 58 balls and Andre Russell’s 3 for 30 helped Los Angeles Knight Riders end their three-match losing streak in MLC 2025, as they beat Seattle Orcas by six wickets in Dallas. The result kept Orcas winless after four games.Opting to bat, Orcas posted a formidable 177 for 6 with useful contributions from their top three. Shayan Jahangir scored 26 off 15 as he and David Warner gave them a brisk start of 33 in 3.3 overs. LAKR captain Jason Holder provided the breakthrough by having Jahangir caught behind.Warner and Aaron Jones then took the side to 85 in the 11th over before Russell had Warner playing on. He made 38 off 28.Jones was on a-run-a-ball 29 at one point. But he hit a six each of Corné Dry and Russell to finish on 44 off 36. However, with Kyle Mayers and Heinrich Klaasen failing to capitalise on the platform, Orcas could manage only 39 in the last four overs.Despite a slow start, Saif Badar brought up his fifty off 30 balls•MLC

Russell was the pick of the bowlers. Bowling wide and slower yorkers, he kept a lid on the scoring rate. In his final over, the 20th of the innings, he gave away just two runs and dismissed Shimron Hetmyer.LAKR didn’t have a great start and were 7 for 2 in the third over. But Chand, almost singlehandedly, steered them to 45 for 2 after six. He smashed Cameron Gannon for back-to-back fours in the fifth over before hitting a six and a four off Harmeet Singh in the sixth.Still, LAKR were lagging behind at the halfway stage, at 72 for 2. Chand was on 42 off 36 and Saif Badar on 17 off 16. But then Chand shellacked Gerald Coetzee for two sixes and two fours in a 20-run over to shift the momentum. Badar also joined in with two sixes and a four across three balls.Chand and Badar reduced the equation to 40 needed from 30 balls. Their stand of 139 off 79 balls came to an end when Badar fell for 54 off 32. Rovman Powell lasted only three balls, but Chand, in the company of Sherfane Rutherford, took LAKR over the line with ten balls to spare.

RCB have won four on the road so far, but won’t find it easy against a PBKS side that defended 111 in the previous match in Mullanpur

Shashank Kishore19-Apr-20254:52

Boucher: Punjab’s middle order needs to fire

The Big PictureJosh Hazlewood saw the funny side of it, reminding someone that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) play “tomorrow” and not “day after” when asked about the short turnaround in matches in IPL 2025.Friday night’s fixture against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium spilled into the early hours of Saturday thanks to a teasing drizzle that kept everyone waiting for over two hours. When the final ball was bowled and RCB were soundly beaten, there was little time to savour the result – equally important matters, like rest, recovery and a long travel day loomed.With a nearly three-hour flight that wouldn’t land until late Saturday evening, both sides will hit the ground running in the reverse fixture on Sunday afternoon. RCB won’t necessarily complain, having won four games so far on the road. That said, they’ll be stepping into the unknown in Mullanpur: no training session, no time to read pitches, and no chance to adjust to the slightly bigger ground dimensions.A tacky Chinnaswamy surface offered plenty for the bowlers, with PBKS restricting RCB to just 95 in 14 overs. PBKS and RCB are second and third on the six-hitting lists this season, but there’s no telling what kind of surprise the pitch might throw up on Sunday; the previous game in Mullanpur saw PBKS defend 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the lowest ever total successfully defended in the IPL.One of Virat Kohli or Phil Salt have laid the marker in the powerplay in each of RCB’s away fixtures. And that’s allowed their power-packed middle order to come into their own, be it in chases or while having to set a target, like they did at Chepauk against CSK en route their first win there since 2008.Related

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PBKS have profited from Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh’s robust powerplay starts while batting first. But they haven’t delivered with the same consistency in chases. Nehal Wadhera has injected a spark into the middle order, while Shreyas Iyer will be keen to correct a campaign of extremes, after his early dismissal in Bengaluru.While RCB’s bowling has been on all season, PBKS are hitting their strides –first defending the lowest total of the IPL last week, then dismantling RCB on their home turf, briefly reviving memories of that infamous 49 all out.The IPL has billed this clash as part of “revenge week.” The teams may not approach it that way, but they will know the importance of the two points on offer. An RCB win will help them join DC and PBKS on at least five wins, while a PBKS win will take them to the top of the table.Form GuidePunjab Kings WWLWL (last five, most-recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWLWLIn the spotlightArshdeep Singh has taken a while to hit his strides in the powerplay in the absence of late swing. This translated into him picking up just one wicket in the powerplay in the first six games. In Bengaluru against RCB, he dismissed Salt and Kohli – albeit off deliveries bowled into the surface – in consecutive overs to set the tone for PBKS’ win. His return to form bodes well for PBKS.The 26 balls he faced during his 50 not out against PBKS on Friday night is the most Tim David has faced in an innings in the IPL. On Friday night, he averted a full-blown meltdown and took the innings into the last two overs, fully trusting himself to inflict damage. He ended up hitting 32 en route his IPL highest. And so it elicits a question: with Liam Livingstone struggling for batting form, is there a case for David to earn a promotion?Harpreet Brar picked up two wickets in two balls on Friday night•BCCI

Team news and likely XIIsHarpreet Brar could retain his spot, having impressed in his first outing. Left out at the Chinnaswamy, Glenn Maxwell will tussle with Josh Inglis for a spot in the XII.PBKS: 1 Prabhsimran Singh, 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Josh Inglis/Glenn Maxwell, 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Xavier Bartlett, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12 Yuzvendra ChahalThe only selection debate RCB face is if they should continue backing Livingstone. Jacob Bethell and Romario Shepherd are their other options on the bench. It’s also likely Devdutt Padikkal will slot back in at No. 3.RCB: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (wk), 5 Liam Livingstone/Romario Shephard, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash SharmaThe Big QuestionPitch and conditionsPBKS have been equally as stumped as some of the visiting teams over the decks they’ve been offered in Mullanpur. In the previous game here, there was plenty of spice that fast bowlers from both sides exploited. If that’s the case, RCB will be more than a handful. Dew wasn’t a factor when PBKS defended 112 vs KKR, and teams will hope it continues to remain that way.Stats and trivia Arya strikes at 231 in IPL 2025, and has made 208 runs in four innings while batting first; his numbers dip drastically in chases, averaging just 8 and striking at 114. David’s 22 sixes are the most between overs 17-20 since IPL 2024. He’s hit 12 of those sixes this season. Among batters who’ve scored at least 200 runs, Rajat Patidar’s strike rate of 182 vs spin is the highest for an RCB batter. After a lackluster start – two wickets in five games at an economy of 11.1 – Chahal has picked six wickets in the last two games alone, at an economy of 5.6

Sometimes it’s good to be bad. Jos Buttler put down a simple chance off Phil Salt in the very first over of the game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans and that spurred him on to be better with the bat. Considering he was already averaging 94.66 against these opponents since IPL 2022, the extra motivation was likely to produce something special. And it did – a match-winning, unbeaten 73 off 39 balls, not to mention the return of a smile that he seemed to have lost captaining England in white-ball cricket over the last few years.”I thought the bowlers did a fantastic job,” Buttler said after GT restricted RCB to 169. “We probably, if we fielded it a bit better, myself, looking at myself very much so, then we would have been chasing a few less.Related

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“I was pretty embarrassed, especially with [dropping] Salty. He’s a dangerous player. So the only thing I can think of, I was trying to throw it up to earlier, a bit like Herschelle Gibbs style [who dropped Steve Waugh in that fashion during the 1999 World Cup] but I didn’t even… I barely got a glove on it, it hit me in the chest. But due to that embarrassment, I was pretty determined to try and score some runs.”Buttler’s previous six innings against RCB, going backwards, had read 100*, 0, 0, 106*, 8, 70*. It was this version of him that walked out to bat on Wednesday night to crash five fours and six sixes. Not the one that relinquished the England captaincy after a dismal run at the Champions Trophy.”I was trying to play with lots of freedom, lots of intent,” he said. “I had a few months of pretty unenjoyable cricket, so trying to make sure I’m out there giving my best, and obviously a new team, new franchise, and excited to be here.”Buttler was signed by GT in the IPL auction in November for INR 15.75 crore, and although he is playing a different role here, at No. 3, to the one at Rajasthan Royals, where he had had a highly successful spell opening the batting, it seems to be working. He is the third-highest run-getter so far this season with a tally of 166 at a strike rate of 172.91.GT are fourth on the IPL 2025 points table with two wins from three games and head to Hyderabad next to play Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6.