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Leeds United loanee Charlie Cresswell has undergone surgery on a fractured eye socket and will miss the rest of the season as a result.

What’s the latest injury news on Cresswell?

Cresswell has been out on loan with Championship side Millwall where he has made 30 appearances in all competitions. The 20-year-old has even weighed in with five goals in the second tier, with Gary Rowett’s side currently in the playoff places.

However, the Leeds defender has missed the last three games after suffering a "significant" injury against West Brom at the beginning of the month. There has now been an update on the player’s condition, one that isn’t good for either Cresswell or Millwall.

Reporter Rich Cawley relayed an update regarding Cresswell in the last 48 hours, stating on Twitter that the Leeds gem has undergone eye surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

He added that Cresswell has a five-to-six-week recovery period, but even if Millwall reach the playoff final, would more than likely miss out due to not being match fit.

What next for Cresswell at Leeds?

Cresswell has enjoyed a positive loan spell at The Den and has been the club’s second-best performer this season, leading the way for clearances and blocks made, as per WhoScored.

His average match rating is actually better than any Leeds player, and the Whites’ survival hopes could well have a say in Cresswell’s future. The youngster was heavily linked with a permanent exit from Elland Road back in January, however, he is still under contract in Yorkshire until 2025.

Leeds have been leaking goals in the Premier League in recent weeks, shipping for against Arsenal, five vs Crystal Palace and six last time out against Liverpool, so if they are relegated, Cresswell may find himself with a chance to break into the club’s first-team plans. He could even look at forcing his way into the first-team setup even if Leeds stay up following his successful loan spell, but that may depend on who is in charge heading into the 2023/24 season.

The England U21 international has done his chances no harm this season, though, being hailed as “excellent” by Rowett and his Transfermarkt valuation increasing to a career-high figure. It is unfortunate that his season is now over, but it’ll be interesting to see where he is plying his trade in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that IPL 2016 matches scheduled in Maharashtra after April 30 will be moved out of the state

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-20163:51

Bal: IPL just a soft target

All IPL 2016 matches scheduled in Maharashtra after April 30 must be moved out of the state, the Bombay High Court has ruled. The ruling came after a Public Interest Litigation questioned the hosting of matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur due to a severe drought in Maharashtra.The ruling affects 13 matches, including the final which was to be held in Mumbai on May 29. Pune will miss out on six matches, including the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, while no games will be held in Nagpur. The state was earlier scheduled to host 20 matches.Last week, the court had sought an explanation from the BCCI and the three state associations on why water should be “wasted” on hosting the games when the state faced one of its worst ever droughts. The court later allowed the opening match to be held as scheduled in Mumbai on April 9, and asked the Maharashtra state government and Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, to respond on plans to tackle the issue of water shortage. On Tuesday, the court orally asked the BCCI if matches could be shifted out of Pune.In its defence, the BCCI had stated that less water was used to prepare the ground for an IPL game when compared to an international fixture. The board also stated that it intended to use treated sewage water for ground preparation in Mumbai and Pune. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants, the franchises based in Mumbai and Pune, had proposed to contribute INR 5 crore to the Maharashtra chief minister’s drought relief fund and supply 40 lakh litres of water to drought-hit areas at their own cost.While the BCCI is mulling its next move, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla has admitted that moving games out of Maharashtra is a logistical problem for the board. He also pointed out that no objections of this kind were raised when Mumbai and Nagpur hosted World T20 matches last month.”Organising the IPL is a gigantic work. It’s not easy. All preparations had been done, completed,” Shukla said. “Now shifting the matches will be a problem. So far, we have not got the written order, after we get that, we will study the order and work out an alternative plan. We always respect the court. We need to talk to other franchises. We will have to work it out.”The key problem is water for farmers, which we are trying to find a solution to. We were willing to give water, contribute to the CM’s fund. Now shifting matches will be a problem. If matches are to be shifted, where will they be moved, how will they be moved, all these issues are involved. And this comes after nobody raised an issue about the 24 World T20 matches that were held recently.”Nobody raised these issues for six months. Whatever was required, we were willing to do. In fact, I would like to point out that a lot many other sports and cultural events are going on in Maharashtra, which also use water and they should also help.”Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, said there was an attempt to create negativity over issues: “We are not using drinking water, we have said that we will use treated sewage water only. How many swimming pools of five-star hotels have been shut? Have people stopped watering their lawns? There is an attempt to create negativity on every issue these days. IPL was to use 0.00038% of water so that shows the requirement was not much.”Ness Wadia, co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab franchise, welcomed the order. Kings XI were scheduled to play three home matches in Nagpur between May 7 and 15, apart from games in Mumbai and Pune on May 13 and 21, respectively. “I’m very happy with this, we welcome this decision,” he said.

West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Bournemouth defender Jordan Zemura, in a deal which could see David Moyes finally get rid of veteran full-back Aaron Cresswell.

Could West Ham sign Jordan Zemura?

According to 90min, the Hammers are currently leading the race for the 23-year-old left-back, who could leave the Cherries this summer after a contract dispute which saw him dropped by Gary O'Neill for last weekend's 1-0 win over Liverpool.

The Zimbabwe international saw a one-year extension triggered in March 2022 but is yet to agree to a new deal at the Vitality Stadium, meaning he could be free to join the Hammers at the end of the season when his current contract expires.

Could Zemura replace Cresswell at West Ham?

Zemura would enjoy a breakthrough campaign last season as the Cherries earned promotion to the Premier League, contributing an impressive three goals and one assist in 33 appearances, averaging a strong 6.91 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Former manager Scott Parker was full of praise for the left-back after he grabbed a brace in a 3-0 win against Barnsley.

He said: "He’s been excellent since he’s come in and got the shirt. Today was a fine performance from him and I think we all realise that you guys watching, you can see, that he’s an attack-minded full-back, gets us up the pitch and got lovely a forward drive about him.

"Defensively, I think he’s improving and done very well again today. He was part of a back four that kept a clean sheet.

"I was very pleased with him as from the minute I first walked in he’s someone that’s shown me he wants the shirt, shown me he wants to improve, work hard and has earned the right to get his opportunity. Now he’s relishing it."

This season has been more of a struggle for the young defender, however, as he boasts a far-less-impressive 6.46 average rating across his 19 appearances in the top flight, but he has been part of a Bournemouth side who have conceded the most goals in the league.

However, in a more solid Premier League outfit, the youngster could show off his attacking talents and get back to his best, replacing the veteran Cresswell.

Indeed, this summer must surely bring an end to the left-back's nine-year stay with the Hammers.

The 33-year-old has lost his regular starting spot to Emerson and has struggled on his rare appearances in the Premier League, averaging a 6.67 rating from WhoScored, with no goals or assists in the top flight.

June 2023 marks the end of his current contract at the London Stadium and the ageing defender must not be handed a new deal by Moyes.

If Zemura can live up to his potential and replicate his performances from the Championship, then he could prove to be the ideal replacement on a free transfer for the Hammers.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has a ‘chance’ to be available for tonight’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid, according to Jurgen Klopp.

The Lowdown: Nunez injury concern

The Uruguayan had to be substituted during the 2-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle last weekend after sustaining a shoulder injury, causing concern over the extent of the problem.

The Reds manager confirmed after the game that the 23-year-old was in ‘pain’ and would need to be further assessed, but he was spotted in training on Monday, and another positive update has since emerged.

The Latest: Nunez fitness update

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Klopp hinted that Nunez could be available to face Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Anfield.

Quoted by Liverpool’s official website, the German said: “There’s a chance. From all the possible scenarios, apart from being absolutely nothing; that’s not the case.

“We have to see how he can deal with the pain [and] when we know that, we make a decision.”

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The Verdict: Boost for Klopp

Nunez has been dubbed a ‘predator’ by journalist James Dodd, and it’ll be a huge boost for Klopp should he have the forward back at his disposal for tonight’s showdown.

The Uruguayan has posted 15 goal contributions in 28 appearances on Merseyside and is currently averaging four shots per top-flight game, highlighting his threat in the final third.

The 23-year-old also ranks in the 99th percentile among strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty expected goals, shots taken, and non-penalty expected goals plus assisted goals, an indication of his unrelenting nature at the apex of the Reds’ attack.

Liverpool will need him on form if they want to pick up a positive result against the team who vanquished them in last year’s Champions League final, and Klopp’s comments offer hope that Nunez will get the chance to test himself against Ancelotti’s team tonight.

Pakistan’s decision to play an unfit Shoaib Akhtar weakened their bowling attack and the Indian batsman took full advantage

Anand Vasu in Kolkata30-Nov-2007

Shoaib Akhtar was not match fit and it showed in his body language © AFP
Two errors of judgment, one from an inexperienced opening batsman and the other from an experienced umpire, caused minor blips in an Indian batting feast that left the first day’s play devoid of any contest. Wasim Jaffer, tall at the crease and elegant in stroke execution, provided much aesthetic pleasure to those who enjoy batting as spectacle, and the Kolkata crowd was happy just cheering India’s unchecked advance. However this isn’t why Test cricket is regarded as the highest and most pure form of the game.Beyond a point, there’s little joy in watching a set batsman dominating in conditions where the bowlers, fast and slow alike, have been defanged by a pitch so dead that you’re more likely to find life on Mars. But it’s hardly India’s fault that they dominated so, in fact it was to their credit. If anything, it was Pakistan who should be held accountable for taking the life out of this Test.The decision to play Shoaib Akhtar – flying in the face of common sense and, presumably, medical advice, given that he had been in hospital receiving antibiotics via an intravenous drip since Tuesday evening – was foolhardy rather than brave. Sure, Shoaib looked the only bowler likely to get a wicket in Delhi and might have been desperately keen to play, but if teams were merely decided on who was keenest to play, there would be no need for selectors.A 20-minute fitness Test on the morning of the Test deemed Shoaib fit to play. From his first spell, though, it was clear that he was nowhere near match fitness. After Anil Kumble chose to bat, denying Pakistan’s bowlers a chance to rest a bit more, Shoaib bowled four overs for nine runs, often pushing 140 kmh, before disappearing from the attack. He returned for a limping two-over spell just after lunch where enthusiasm rather than ability kept him going. The third spell, again two overs, was an apology and the final one – a solitary over before stumps – left Shoaib with 9-1-29-0 at the end of the day. In all honesty he should pass a large chunk of his match fees to Sohail Tanvir and Danish Kaneria. Having Yasir Hameed bowl offspin was an equally desperate measure, and to see these two [part-timers] operating in tandem on the first day of a Test was unedifying With their strike bowler out, Pakistan had only one option, and that was to take a leaf out of Nasser Hussain’s book and strangulate the opposition into making a mistake. On a pitch perfect for batting, Younis Khan, the stand-in captain for Shoaib Malik, should have done all he could to control the flow of runs. This would have meant putting men out on the fence to protect the boundaries, a conservative field in the ring, and bowlers operating on one side of the stumps.Instead, Younis had some strange fields in place, often employing two men in unorthodox and largely pointless midwicket and cover positions, slip and gully, giving Jaffer space on this large ground to pick off his boundaries. As the day progressed, Jaffer went past the milestones – 50, 100, 150 – with mind-numbing certainty and was unbeaten on the verge of his second double-century.By then, a procession of bowlers had tried their hand at changing Pakistan’s luck. It’s not clear if Younis was making a point by asking Tanvir to bowl left-arm spin. Abdur Rahman, the specialist practitioner of the art, was left out of the XI in place of two iffy fast bowlers. Having Yasir Hameed bowl offspin was an equally desperate measure, and to see these two operating in tandem on the first day of a Test was unedifying. To compound matters the ground fielding, spoken of as an indicator of team morale, began erratically and ended comically ragged.The only relief for Pakistan came in the form a Kaneria googly that Sachin Tendulkar failed to pick, being bowled for an unusually brisk 82. Once again the century proved elusive but, with Jaffer on 192 and India having reached 352 for 3 in a day, with VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni still to come, even the most optimistic Pakistani supporter would do well to curb his enthusiasm.

The Australians, like boxers bored of one-round knockouts, always claim to like a fight and now they have one

Charlie Austin10-Feb-2006

Australians, like boxers bored of one-round knockouts, always claim to like a fight and now they have one. Fears that Sri Lanka were just making up the numbers in the VB Series finals, providing fodder for a greedy top order and target practice for Brett Lee’s thunderbolts, were cast aside by an electric allround display built upon intelligent batting, disciplined bowling and scintillating fielding. Sri Lanka’s dressing room has experienced a whole gamut of emotions during recent months, but they now leave for Sydney, their favourite ground in Australia, with their confidence sky-high and a chance for their first-ever tri-series triumph on Australian soil.Sri Lanka knew they had an opportunity at Adelaide on dry pitch that was likely to offer assistance to the spinners, but they also had accepted that victory over the world champions necessitated the ‘perfect game’. As one senior player remarked on the eve of the game: “You might beat South Africa at 90% but winning against this Australia team requires everyone to be firing at their very best”. Sri Lanka managed just that: the top order intelligently laid the foundations, quickly assessing the 250-mark as a target; the lower middle order, a weakpoint thus far in the tournament, provided some late-innings fireworks; the new ball bowlers keep a lid on during the Powerplays; the fielders, especially Tillakaratne Dilshan, were brilliant; and the spin twins, Muttiah Muralitharan and Malinga Bandara, finished it all off with 4 for 91 in 20 skillful overs. This was the finest Sri Lankan performance in a long time.The Man of the Match was Kumar Sangakkara, his 83 testimony not only to his obvious and now well-acknowledged talent, but to his street-smart cricketing brain. As an entertainer and competitor his natural inclination is to dominate, to assert primordial control and make the opposition know it. But today he nudged and nurdled and ticked the innings along, soaking up pressure and shouldering responsibility. He quickly realised and accepted that trying to break free by peppering the boundary hoardings would be too high-risk a strategy against an Australian bowling outfit that actually did little wrong. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves for some honest blue-collar hardwork.The batting revelation, though, was Chamara Kapugedera, an 18-year-old with only a handful of first-class games under his belt. He might have been starring in the Under-19 World Cup back in Colombo but to the credit of Sri Lanka’s selectors, and the team management that picked him today, they threw him in at the deep end. Once again, he appeared unfazed and utterly at home. Any teenager who can saunter down the pitch and loft Andrew Symonds, the grizzly dreadlocked epitome of Aussie bravado, straight for six has got spunk. As Richie Benaud observed dryly with his usual perfect timing: “Hmmm…there is no fear there”. And nothing could be more precious than fearlessness for an aspiring international cricketer; it’s what sets cricketers apart. Fortunately, he has skill too, as his crucial 38 from 21 balls showed.Kapugedera’s fireworks in the final five overs of the innings, helped by Dilshan’s hustling, lifted Sri Lanka from a moderate, possibly par, total to a commanding one. Suddenly, Australia, who would have felt in control up until the 45th over, realised it was game on.The next crucial match-turning phase of the game was the Dilshan Show, a remarkable quadruple of run outs that ripped out the rump of Australia’s top order. Australia’s running between the wickets, normally so exemplary, deteriorated into a shambles of miscommunication and mistrust. Dilshan pounced on each mistake, keeping his head to run-out Ricky Ponting by pitch-length, throwing down the stumps in one lithe swing to send back Damien Martyn, diving and throwing with pinpoint accuracy to remove Simon Katich and then underarming Mike Hussey out after a dazed call for a quick single by Michael Clarke.Sri Lanka’s fielding was lousy in India but clearly the hardwork of the team under the guidance of Trevor Penney, the assistant coach, is starting to bear fruit. His appointment was not greeted with universal glee in Sri Lanka because some pundits felt local contenders were considered more worthy. But if Sri Lanka’s fielding can continue to improve such critics, although rightly concerned about the development of local coaches, will be silenced. For that matter, the Tom Moody-bashers back home who resent his high salary and cannot see the much-improved preparation and planning behind the scenes, may now be pausing for thought.Sri Lanka, of course, are still far from the finishing line. Australia, despite their blunder-ridden run chase, finished only 21 runs adrift. They will surely come back stronger and raise their game in Sydney. But they will also be wary. Sri Lanka are a confidence-driven side. They lost their Mojo in India and New Zealand but they have reclaimed it emphatically. They now have the self-belief again to take on the best. They will not be scared of Sydney’s spin-friendly conditions and they also have a wonderful incentive to win 2-0 because, courtesy of the board’s planners, who clearly didn’t rate Sri Lanka’s chances very highly, this will give them a luxurious three-day break. A three-match final on the other hand leaves the team with only a handful of hours in Colombo next week to re-pack their bags before leaving for Bangladesh.

Glasgow giants Celtic have had their fair share of producing some of the finest Scottish footballers.

You just have to look at Scotland’s recent squad to see the influence the Scottish Premiership side has had on the Tartan Army with the likes of Aaron Hickey, Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor having all previously been on the Hoops’ books.

The Bhoys’ fans are some of the most loyal set of supporters with the love and affection they show to their players is unmatched, so when an academy player is brought through Lennoxtown it makes their connection with the player so much more special.

Former Celtic player John Hartson previously stated that McGregor has “become a legend” for the Scottish giants and it looked like former academy wonderkid Karamoko Dembele was once on track to achieve the same icon status as the Hoops’ captain.

Fast forward to 2023 and the once-proclaimed “good talent” by former Celtic teammate Moussa Dembele is now looking for game time in League 1.

Who is Karamoko Dembele?

If you were an avid football fan in 2016, then Dembele was a name you would hear very frequently, especially on social media platforms.

The hype train surrounding the teenage sensation had officially left the station when media outlets noticed the then 13-year-old playing for Celtic’s under-20 side. The tiny winger going up against adults was quite the sight to see but he often came out on top.

Highlight competitions of the English-born winger lightning up opposition defenders in youth matches soon flooded YouTube as he became one of the most highly anticipated prospects in the world.

Dembele was eligible to play for England and Scotland with both nations soon fighting over the player who was described as “very similar to Lionel Messi”, according to the winger's former youth coach David Feeney.

The Celtic phenomenon controversially decided to play for England at youth level having already made appearances for the Tartan Army. An international tug-of-war began for what was thought to be for a future starter for their senior teams.

How did Dembele play at Celtic?

At the age of 13, the spotlight fell onto the Celtic wonderkid and by the time he was 16, he finally made his first team debut, coming off the bench to replace Oliver Burke during the final league match of the season in 2019.

The atmosphere around Celtic Park was electric as it was the day that the Bhoys would lift their eighth consecutive league title, one of the biggest roars that the Green Brigade produced was when Dembele was gearing up on the sidelines to show everyone what the hype was about.

Despite not being involved in any goals in the 44 minutes he played, the talented winger still showed glimpses of a future star waiting to be unearthed.

Then Celtic manager Neil Lennon said after the winger's debut that fans have just seen a “glimpse of the future”.

Lennon’s vision of the future turned out to be misjudged as Dembele played just nine more times for the Glasgow outfit over the next three seasons.

Failure to break into the first team the England youth international’s hype was fading quickly and if he was to resurrect his career to align with what pundits have previously predicted of him, then he needed to find a new home to give him more minutes.

What was Dembele’s next move?

The then 19-year-year would decide to part ways with Celtic and would swap Glasgow for the northwest of France as he put pen to paper to officially become a Stade Brest player on a four-year deal.

Upon signing for Brest, Dembele said:

"I came to Brest because I saw that the project presented by Greg Lorenzi was good. It's something that suits me and I think I can have some playing time here. It was a great opportunity that presented itself to me and it interested me.

"I'm very explosive, I like to have fun and give it to the fans. I like to score and win."

A move to the mid-table Ligue 1 outfit may not have been in the plans of Dembele.

One of football’s best up-and-coming talents was once linked to a move to Premier League giants Manchester City, and would now be playing for a side that was participating in the second division of French football four seasons prior.

Life at the Stade Francis-Le Blé was particularly successful for the £1k-per-week player as he played just 15 games (all coming from the bench) during the course of the 2022/23 season while not contributing to a single goal.

According to WhoScored, Dembele averaged a measly 0.1 dribbles and 0.2 key passes per game signifying how tough he was finding his time in France.

Why did Dembele fail to live up to the hype?

There have been countless players touted as being the next future superstar looking to conquer domestic and international football.

Like Dembele, former AC Milan prodigy Hachim Mastour and American prospect Freddy Adu were expected to become global superstars before they were even 16.

Most teenage prospects fail to live up to their hype due to a lack of dedication and professionalism but Dembele injuries hampered his momentum.

Under former manager Ange Postecoglou, the 5 foot 7 winger failed to break into the dominant Celtic starting 11 with the Hoops being stacked with options. His rivals for a position in the squad were with the likes of Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi who would end the season scoring double figures.

In a make-or-break season for Dembele, the agile forward played just one game after being ruled out for 213 days and missing 44 matches as he picked up an ankle injury.

Celtic's wingers 2021/22 stats, as per FBRef Name Games Goals Assists Karamoko Dembele 1 0 0 Jota 29 10 9 Daizen Maeda 16 6 5 Kyogo Furuhashi 20 12 0 James Forrest 19 1 2 Where is Dembele now?

Still contracted to Brest, Dembele now finds himself back in his native Britain playing for League 1 side Blackpool on loan.

The Tangerines will hope they can bounce back to the Championship following their relegation last season.

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley has recruited some relatively young players to help him guide Blackpool to promotion – 21-year-old Jenson Weir and 23-year-old Albie Morgan are some of the more noteworthy players brought to Bloomfield Road.

Dembele has played once for the Seasiders so far this season, the former Celtic winger produced an impressive performance in his side's 2-0 victory over Barrow in the EFL Trophy at the start of the month.

However, he is yet to start in the league since making his temporary switch.

Andy Robertson and Serge Gnabry are some examples of players who were written off too early so if Dembele can make the most of his loan spell in the north west there’s still a good chance he can revitalise his career into the top player we know he can be.

Club commits to ambitious initiative to phase out single-use plastic by the year 2020

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2018The “beer snake” could soon be a thing of the past during matches at The Oval, thanks to an ambitious initiative from Surrey CCC to phase out single-use plastic by the year 2020.The club’s vow is their latest step to address the mounting problem of plastic pollution. Earlier this year, they introduced a ban on the use of plastic straws, brought in compostable coffee cups, and made a move to reduce plastic bag usage in the club shop.However, the move against plastic glasses is their biggest commitment yet, and comes in the wake of a realisation from Richard Gould, the club’s CEO, that Surrey had been getting through approximately 1.3 million such items in the course of a season.”The club has always been very conscious of reducing its impact on the environment wherever possible and, after a great deal of thought, has decided to make this ambitious commitment,” said Gould.”Ever since the introduction of recyclable and reusable pint glasses in 2015, we have been introducing more sustainable policies around the ground – and the banning of plastic straws, introduction of compostable coffee cups and phasing out of plastic bags will all play a big part.”To achieve this, we will need to work with our Members, fans, partners and staff to analyse all areas of the business and work out where we need to introduce alternative products and ways of working.”With so many big events at the ground over the next three years, it’s going to be really exciting to see how we continue to improve the sustainability of everything we do and work out how we will achieve this target.”Two further partnerships this year will deepen Surrey’s commitment to environmental matters. A recommitment to Sky’s Ocean Rescue Campaign is expected later this summer, following the success of their initial tie-up in 2017, when 20,000 reusable water bottles were handed out to spectators, as well as the installation of 20 new permanent water fountains.And they have also announced a partnership with Fidelity Energy and ENGIE, which will ensure that all electricity used at the ground will be generated from sustainable sources.This deal, which was brokered by James Benning, the former Surrey player and now business development manager at Fidelity, helped to save 223.8 tons of carbon during the 2017 season. According to the club, the arrangement is estimated to save 6,252 tonnes of carbon from being pumped into the earth’s atmosphere over the duration of the contract.

Paris Saint-Germain chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi gave a blunt response when asked about Kylian Mbappe's future, amid his impending move to Real Madrid.

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• Mbappe seems poised to join Real Madrid
• Has not extended his contract with PSG
• Al-Khelaifi unamused by Mbappe question

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe's future at PSG remains a topic of intense speculation, with reports suggesting that the forward has already decided to join Real Madrid at the end of the season. Quite naturally, PSG supremo, Al-Khelaifi was pressed with questions on the Mbappe transfer saga but the official gave nothing away to reporters.

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• WHAT AL-KHELAIFI SAID

  On the sidelines of the UEFA Congress in Paris, Al-KhelaIfi told reporters: "When we have both decided, we will tell you.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  French FA president, Philippe Diallo, was also asked regarding Mbappe's future in Paris, and just like Al-Khelaifi, he gave nothing away to the press.

  "I don’t know his (Mbappe's) final choice,” he said.

  "I will wait, like many others, for him to make a decision. Now he has a club and I believe that President Nasser Al-Khelaifi is also present at the UEFA congress. He is certainly much better informed than me about the rest of the career of Kylian Mbappe."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  If Mbappe makes the move to Madrid, it would mark the end of a protracted transfer saga and bolster an already formidable team alongside talents like Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. The 2018 World Cup winner has expressed his intention to leave PSG on amicable terms, ensuring his hometown club receives adequate compensation and has allegedly promised to give up on a hefty loyalty bonus of €80 million (£69m/$86m).

Georgina Rodriguez hailed her partner Cristiano Ronaldo as 'the best' just days after Lionel Messi bagged The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2023 award.

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Georgina hails Ronaldo as 'the best'Accompanied star at Global Soccer AwardsIcon won three awards amid Messi snubWHAT HAPPENED?

Days after Messi was handed The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2023 award, Rodriguez – Ronaldo's partner – hailed the Portuguese as 'the best' as she accompanied him to the Global Soccer Awards in Dubai.

AdvertisementWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Georgina shared multiple photos of her and Ronaldo attending the Global Soccer Awards on her Instagram profile with a caption that read: "Accompanying the best, the love of my life."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 38-year-old bagged three prizes at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday. The Al-Nassr star won the Best Middle East Player prize, the Maradona Award for the best goalscorer in 2023, and the Fans' Favourite Player of the Year award. While Ronaldo had an eventful night, his rival Messi was snubbed as Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland won the Best Male Player award.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star will be involved in multiple friendly matches in the next couple of weeks including Al-Nassr's friendly clash against Messi's Inter Miami in the Riyadh Cup on February 1.