Sunday Football Rumour Mill: Richarlison, Arsenal and City Spending
The Sunday papers are loaded again, and plenty of big names are right in the firing line.
Richarlison turns on Spurs after move collapses
In north London, Richarlison has reportedly taken aim at Tottenham after seeing a proposed return to Vasco da Gama fall apart. The Sunday Mirror says the Brazilian is far from happy with how Spurs handled the talks, with frustration spilling over once the deal collapsed late in the window.
A move back to his boyhood club had been on the table. It never materialised. Now the fallout has begun.
Petit: Arsenal lucky they missed Vinicius Jr
Emmanuel Petit has delivered a striking verdict on Arsenal’s summer. According to the Sunday Mirror, the former Gunners midfielder believes his old club actually dodged a bullet by failing to land Vinicius Jr.
Petit, a Premier League and World Cup winner, feels Arsenal’s near-miss in the market might turn out to be a blessing rather than a regret, even with Vinicius’s star status at Real Madrid.
Maresca on City’s spending: ‘No choice’ in a crazy market
Over at Manchester City, Enzo Maresca has defended the champions’ heavy summer outlay. The Sunday Express reports Maresca’s insistence that City were effectively forced to spend big, describing the current transfer climate as “crazy” and suggesting there was little room for restraint if they wanted to stay at the top.
Sesko enjoying ‘vibes’ under Carrick at United
Benjamin Sesko is settling quickly into life at Manchester United. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, the forward says he is loving his start at Old Trafford and highlighted the positive “vibes” under head coach Michael Carrick as United try to build a new identity.
The mood, Sesko suggests, has shifted. The results now have to follow.
Alonso blasts Chelsea as ‘soft’ after defensive woes continue
Chelsea’s long-running defensive problems have pushed Xabi Alonso to breaking point. As reported by the Sunday Telegraph, Alonso accused his players of being “soft” after they failed to keep a clean sheet for the 20th Premier League game in a row.
Twenty games. No shutouts. For a club built on strong defensive eras, that statistic stings, and Alonso has made it clear standards are nowhere near high enough.
EFL: Russell Martin feels criticism has turned ‘personal’
In the EFL, Leicester City boss Russell Martin has opened up on the strain of a difficult start to the season. The Mail on Sunday reports Martin’s belief that some of the criticism aimed at him has “become really personal” as he tries to steady the League One side.
Results have been rocky. The noise around him is getting louder. Martin, though, is adamant he will fight through it.
World Football: Torres’ punch power and Depay facing trouble
Fernando Torres is still packing a punch. Literally. The Sun on Sunday reveals footage of the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker smashing a punch machine’s record at the new Madring circuit in Madrid, where he appeared as a VIP guest this weekend.
On the other side of the world, Memphis Depay faces a very different kind of headline. The Daily Express reports the former Manchester United forward, now at Corinthians, could be hit with a significant ban after allegations he made an “offensive” gesture towards opposition supporters. An investigation and potential sanction now loom over his time in Brazil.
Scottish Football: Rangers turbulence and McCulloch in the frame
Rangers are under the microscope again. The Scottish Sun on Sunday reports that former title winner Lee McCulloch is in contention to become the club’s new technical director after Dan Purdy’s departure.
On the pitch, things look even more fraught. A separate line from the same outlet claims John Souttar’s move to Aris Thessaloniki has hit a late stumbling block, complicating Rangers’ attempts to reshape their squad.
Emmanuel Petit has also waded into the debate north of the border. As quoted by the Scottish Sun on Sunday, the former France star believes Rangers have already lost the league and now face a serious fight just to hold off Hearts again for second place. It is a brutal assessment of where the Ibrox side currently stand.
History at Doncaster: Saffie Osborne’s Classic breakthrough
Away from football, a landmark moment in British racing. Saffie Osborne made history in the Betfred St Leger, becoming the first woman ever to ride the winner of a British Classic.
Riding Highwayman, she led home a Joseph O’Brien one-two, as reported by the Independent. A glass ceiling shattered in the final Classic of the season – and a new name etched into the sport’s history.
