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Alisson already has an exit plan at Liverpool in place, with the Brazilian eager to return to his homeland at some stage - but he is in no rush to leave Anfield and believes he can play into his 40s.

Those at Anfield hope to have the 28-year-old South American shot-stopper on their books for the foreseeable future, with Alisson proving to be one of the final pieces in their silverware-winning puzzle. He has been a talismanic presence between the sticks for Jurgen Klopp in Champions League, Club World Cup and Premier League title triumphs.

The Reds have him tied to a long-term contract through to 2024.

Alisson is, however, prepared to admit that he intends to head back to his roots at Internacional before hanging up his gloves, telling Globo Esporte: “I have the desire to return to Brazil, but when it will happen, only God knows.

“I know that God has something for me, I want to follow God’s plans for my life, but my heart’s desire for when I return to Brazil, if God goes to answer it, is to return to Inter, home, the club that I love.

“I have a lot of respect for all the clubs in Brazil, I might even want to play for some other club, but I don’t know if I would be able to go back to Brazil and not go to Inter.”

While having an end goal in mind when it comes to his impressive career, Alisson insists that no timescale is putting on his path back to Brazil.

He added: “I never went into making many long-term plans. Logically, I had dreams, but always with my feet on the ground and very focused on what I have in hand, what I can do now in the present.

“I have plans for a long career in football, to play as much as I can at a high level. Now if it will be up to 35, 40 or more than 40 I don’t know, I have a lot of road ahead. I hope to do my best while in the national team and in Europe.”

Malawi striker Temwa Chawinga has revealed her teammates are ready to cause an upset against South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay.

On Thursday, the Scorchers will face Banyana Banyana at the Wolfson Stadium in the semi-final of the Cosafa Women's Cup.

The Malawians are yet to record a win against Banyana in a major competition and they will aim to break the jinx. This is on the heels of their first semi-final placement since 2011.

Despite their impressive form, the Wuhan striker, who singlehandedly silenced Olympic bound Zambia on Monday insists McNelbert Kazuwa's team must work harder to advance to a first-ever final.

"It's important to us and it's the first time for me to qualify for the semi-final in this competition," Chawinga told Cosafa media.

"I feel great to have made history, for the first time. We need to work hard to win another match and also qualify to play in the final. 

"The team [South Africa] is good and maybe we need to work hard to beat them. I watched their last match and I think we need to prepare well to do well. 

"Confidence in the team is quite high because everyone is happy. Our team is better than last year and everyone is good and we have the confidence to win the match.

"Everyone wants to go to the final and we are preparing well to win. We have the confidence that we can win the match if we work hard."

Desiree Ellis trusts the South Africa senior women's side to show their character and progress to the final when they take on Malawi on Thursday.

Despite being without some top players, Banyana recorded three massive wins in the Cosafa Women's Cup Group A matches with 14 goals, wrapping up with a 7-0 demolition of Comoros on Monday. 

Taking on Malawi at the Wolfson Stadium is their next task, and by avoiding defeat they are on the brink for a fourth title in a row.

McNelbert Kazuwa's team undoubtedly poses a threat, though. They had won all their Group B matches, scoring 10 goals without conceding, including a 1-0 win over Olympic-bound Zambia.

Banyana are also yet to concede in this year's competition after three matches and the manager is expecting her locally based side to replicate that impressive form against the Malawians. 

“We have played all the players we have in our team which allowed us to analyse each player and what they can offer," Ellis told Cosafa media.
 
"Our opponents have had fantastic matches in the group stages. We will analyse the plans in place and work on those plans. 

"And it will be up to the players to execute those plans because the semi-finals are a different ball game with no second chances, so we must ensure that our plans are executed properly.’

“It will be up to the players how badly they want it, I have challenged them to make new memories and this is also an opportunity for them to make a mark for people to remember them”.

United States international goalkeeper Zack Steffen claims to be “very happy” at Manchester City despite seeing just two appearances for the Blues as back-up to Ederson.

The 25-year-old was snapped up by Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2019 and immediately loaned out to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

He suffered relegation out of the Bundesliga during his time in Germany, but picked up important game time on a European stage and cemented a standing as No.1 for his country.

That place has been retained in Gregg Berhalter’s plans, but Steffen has taken in only two Carabao Cup outings in the 2020-21 campaign.

He has no complaints at his current situation, telling the Associated Press: “I’m really happy with where I´m at right now.

“I want to be on the field, but I’ll keep working hard and keep pushing those guys in front of me and they´ll keep pushing me.”

Steffen, who suffered a serious knee injury during his time in Dusseldorf, added on the progress he believes has been made over the course of 2020: “I feel like coming from Germany, being out so long right now, City is giving me a lot of confidence to go back out on the field.

“And each day the keeper coach, the keepers, the players are pushing me to get better, and I feel like I’m in that process, and I’m feeling good and feeling better each and every day, each and every week.

“And just being around those high level players just has made me better, has made me a more confident player as well.

“I feel like I’ve already grown on the field with City. Their goalkeeper coach is really detailed and is very eager to make me a better goalkeeper.

“Right now I’m trusting the process. I’m getting these games in with the Carabao Cup and I'm just trying to learn from the guys in training, from my staff, and then hopefully coming into these camps and getting games here. And, yeah, the rest will work itself out as long as I work hard.”

Berhalter appears set to keep faith with a man who is following in the footsteps of a long line of legendary American keepers to have plied their trade in the Premier League, with the USMNT coach aware that Steffen faces fierce competition for places at City.

He said: “Ideally, all the players play regularly. And that includes goalkeepers.

“I think Zack, in this particular situation, has a great opportunity to play at one of the best clubs in the world and he´s behind one of the top three goalkeepers in the world.

“I think in that environment every day is helpful. It´s helpful to a certain point.”

The USA are set to take in a friendly date with Wales on Thursday, with an exciting young squad then facing Panama on Monday.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor believes Thomas Partey’s unavailability for Thursday’s Afcon 2022 qualifying clash against Sudan is an opportunity for other players to step up and show their worth.

The Arsenal midfielder has been ruled out of the Black Stars’ November international assignments after sustaining an injury on Sunday while in Premier League action against Aston Villa.

He is among five players to have pulled out of the Ghana squad ahead of the matchweek three encounter, leading to late call-ups to seven new players.

“I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he recovers quickly to join us. But of course, it’s an opportunity for other guys to excel. If he was here, he would have played, it’s a fact,” Akonnor said at the pre-match press conference.

“So now that he is not here, it’s an opportunity for those who mostly come and stay on the bench to play and so we will give the next person the chance to do well. I will give the necessary support to whoever will play to help us to win.”

China-based midfielder Mubarak Wakaso, Columbus Crew defender Harrison Afful, Greuther Furth attacker Jamie Leweling and Real Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Baba Mohammed have all also withdrawn from Akonnor’s original 23-man squad.

The coach promptly called up Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Majeed Ashimeru, Mexico-based Clifford Aboagye, Reading right-back Andy Yiadom, Yeni Malatyaspor midfielder Afriyie Acquah and the home-based duo of Kwadwo Amoako and Christopher Nettey as late additions.

“I am looking at the captain [Andre Ayew], his brother [Jordan Ayew] and the rest who got here first. They were in a very difficult situation,” Akonnor added.

“This is a very good sign, positive sign that they want to give out their best. I am very much aware of what they want to do.

“I have spoken to almost all of them and I think they have given me the necessary confidence that I need. And I believe tomorrow they will come out very positive and deliver.”

Sudan currently sit third in Group C, having won one and drawn the other of their two games played thus far.

“They are a team that, I will say compared to the issue we had, they didn’t have that because most of their players are home-based players, they have been together for quite some time now. But we are not really worried about that,” said Akonnor.

“It’s a fact that they will like to play defensive and make things difficult for us. But we are aware of what they are capable of doing and we really prepared very well.

“Today, we will go through some video sessions and let the guys know what ought to be done and hopefully we will do well to carry the day.”

Ghana top the group ahead of the matchweek three round of games.

Greg Clarke has resigned from his role as a vice-president of FIFA a matter of days after stepping down as chairman of the English Football Association.

The 63-year-old quit his post with the FA after sparking controversy with a series of “staggering” comments in a parliamentary meeting.

Clarke referred to "high-profile coloured footballers", said more South Asians than Afro-Caribbeans work in the FA’s IT department because they have "different career interests", referred to gay players as making a "life choice" and claimed young female goalkeepers do not like having balls hit hard at them.

Kick It Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari criticised Clarke for his use of what he called "lazy racist stereotypes" and "casual sexism", saying the comments were "staggering" from a man in the chairman’s position.

A statement from the FA confirmed that sports lawyer Peter McCormick OBE will take over the role as interim chairman with immediate effect, with the search for a permanent replacement now underway.

FIFA are now also in the process of trying to fill a prominent role within their organisation.

That is because Clarke has decided to walk away from another high-profile position.

A statement from UEFA released on Thursday read: "Following a telephone call this morning between the UEFA President (Aleksander Ceferin) and Greg Clarke, they agreed with Greg Clarke’s proposal that he should step down with immediate effect from his position as a UEFA representative on the FIFA Council."

Clarke was the British vice-president of FIFA, having been elected into that role by the congress of European football nations.

He said of his actions after severing ties with the FA: "As a person who loves football and has given decades of service to our game, it is right that I put the interests of football first.

"2020 has been a challenging year and I have been actively considering standing down for some time to make way for a new Chair now our CEO transition is complete and excellent executive leadership under Mark Bullingham is established.

"My unacceptable words in front of Parliament were a disservice to our game and to those who watch, play, referee and administer it. This has crystallised my resolve to move on.

"I am deeply saddened that I have offended those diverse communities in football that I and others worked so hard to include.

"I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the game for the wisdom and counsel they have shared over the years and resign from the FA with immediate effect."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) chief administration and technical advisor Senzo Mazingisa is reportedly under police investigation over allegations of match-fixing against rivals Simba SC.

The South African appeared at the Oyster Bay Police Station to record statements over the allegations.

Edward Bukombe, the Police Commandant at the Kinondoni-based station where Mazingisa was taken for questioning, confirmed why the South African was requested to present himself so as to shed more light on the match-fixing allegations.

“It is true Senzo came for purposes of giving his side of the story but he was later let free,” Bukombe told Mwanaspoti.

“He was questioned by the investigative department who are yet to give the feedback of the process to me up to now.”

Although the police are yet to confirm why Mazingisa was specifically questioned, Yanga have confirmed the match-fixing allegations were made against their official.

“Young Africans are shocked and disappointed by the events that occurred yesterday [November 11] where our club official was taken in by the authorities for alleged match-fixing,” Yanga’s statement obtained by Goal read.

“Circumstances leading to these revelations are disappointing and are an indication of malice intent, planned strategy to tarnish the image of our club, our official name and to put Tanzanian football into questioning.

“We strongly condemn the actions of the perpetrators of the propaganda.”

“We hereby assure our fans, members, sponsors and stakeholders that Young Africans will cooperate with the relevant authorities dealing with this matter.

“We are also in support of the code that states all football matters should be held by football authorities.”

Simba have so far lost two matches after they dropped three points against Polisi Tanzania by a 1-0 scoreline before going down with the same margin against Ruvu Shooting.

The two consecutive defeats saw Simba part ways with the team manager Patrick Rweyemamu and goalkeeper trainer Muharami Mohamed.

The move to leave Simba and join traditional rivals Yanga is understood to have developed more friction between the most successful Tanzanian clubs.

As Mazingisa moved to Yanga, former Orlando Pirates winger Bernard Morrison moved in the opposite direction and Yanga are still contesting circumstances that the Ghanaian signed for Simba.

The Morrison issue has not been fully settled up to this point and the new match-fixing allegations may end up creating more friction between Simba and Yanga.

Yanga hosted Simba in the last match before the international break, a game which Morrison missed due to a three-match ban, where a 1-1 draw was recorded at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Timu ya Wanachi remain unbeaten in the 2020/21 season, and are second to Azam after 10 matches and have four more points than Simba.

After the Simba showdown, Yanga will next play Azam while Wekundu wa Msimbazi will entertain Coastal Union.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s current struggle for goals is “unfortunate”, says Ian Wright, with an Arsenal striker of the past adamant that one in the present has not “clocked off”.

The Gunners have been finding the going tough in the final third of late, with the target found once across their last four Premier League fixtures.

Aubameyang did register that effort – a penalty in a narrow win over Manchester United – but the Gabonese has been surprisingly short on firepower in 2020-21.

He has only four efforts to his name, with one of those coming in the Community Shield and just two in the English top-flight.

Questions have been asked of whether standards have been allowed to slip on the back of a 31-year-old frontman penning a lucrative new contract.

Wright insists that is not the case, with the Gunners great adamant that Aubameyang will rediscover his spark once those around him do likewise.

Reflecting on Arsenal’s recent struggles in front of goal, a club legend told the Wrighty's House Podcast: “What I saw the other day was Arsenal’s warm-up before the Manchester United game - there was a shooting session down in the corner.

“We saw nine shots from the main characters – Aubameyang, [Alexandre] Lacazette, all of them – and every single one of them missed. Even though we beat Manchester United, it was telling.

“If I’m being honest, there’s not many chances being created, which is why I feel so unfortunate for Auba.

“It’s just a coincidence that he’s signed his contract at this time and then the suits say, 'It’s because he’s signed his contract, he’s clocked off'. We’re not creating chances!

“We’re not creating chances but I do not like seeing in a warm-up shooting session, people missing the target, and sloppy shots. All those things make you look into the team and what’s going on.”

Wright added on collective failings in north London, with Mikel Arteta still searching for consistency: “I’m confused with what’s going on. It seems like we’ve got a manager who will not tolerate anything other than the best the players have got to give. So I’m really confused at the minute.

“Shot creation, we’re 19th in the Premier League. Goals scored, 13th. Shots on target, 14th. Key passes, 17th. Expected goals, 16th.

“They should be doing everything they can in warm-ups to get into the habit of scoring goals.”

Arsenal will return to action after the international break with a trip to Leeds on November 22.

Tanzania international Simon HappyGod Msuva has confirmed he has indeed signed for Wydad Casablanca.

Msuva has revealed the new deal will see him stay with the former Caf Champions League winners for four years after his contract with Difaa El Jadida ended. His statement, that is yet to be confirmed by the Moroccan giants, came a day after Goal speculated on the move.

“It is true that I have signed for Wydad Casablanca for four years and I will be joining them officially after the assignment with the national team,” Msuva told Daily News.

“To be honest, it was not easy for my former club Difaa El Jadida to let me because they still needed my services but I thank God for making it possible in the end.

“I look forward to the next challenge.”

The former Yanga SC star explained what could have attracted the 20-time Botola Pro winners for his services.

“It was easy for Wydad Casablanca to admire my services because I play in the same league with them. I have played against them on several occasions and it was difficult for my former team to get three points from them,” he added.

He also spoke highly of his former club and the value the Taifa Stars call summons added to his career.

“Difaa El Jadida are a good team, have quality players and I can remember during my first season we played in the Caf Champions League but we did not go far, unfortunately,” he concluded.

“I believe my output at the club and the goals I scored helped a lot to sell my potential. The regular call-ups to the national team also helped a great deal in adding my value.”

At Difaa El Jadida, the 27-year-old scored five goals and provided three assists in 28 games in Botola Pro last season.

Msuva joined Difaa El Jadida in 2017 and in 90 general appearances, he managed to score 43 goals.

It was the second time the forward managed to score 43 goals for a club having done the same for the Mainland Premier League record champions Young Africans (Yanga SC), although he played four more games for the Tanzanian side than he has done for the Moroccan top-flight outfit.

Msuva joined Azam FC – his first big club from 2010 to 2011 - where he found the back of the net in 11 occasions in 35 games for the 2013 Tanzania champions.

He then moved to Moro United, where again he hit a double-digits in one year as he scored 15 goals in 37 matches and his potential attracted Yanga who approached, signed and kept him from 2012 to 2017.

Msuva is with the national team preparing to tackle Tunisia in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday.

James Tarkowski is not expecting to sign a new contract at Burnley, with the Liverpool-linked defender revealing that the offers he has received from the Clarets are “nowhere near” good enough.

As things stand, the England international will hit free agency in the summer of 2022.

Those at Turf Moor will be eager to avoid losing a prized asset for nothing, so may face some big decisions in upcoming windows.

Sizeable offers for Tarkowski have been knocked back in the recent past, with Sean Dyche reluctant to part with a proven centre-half.

Interest is expected to be rekindled, though, with Liverpool seemingly back in the market for reinforcements amid injury struggles at Anfield, and a door could be about to swing open.

Discussing his contract situation, Tarkowski told The Telegraph: “Burnley offered me a contract near the start of last season, which, for me personally, it was nowhere near what I was going to sign and I think the club understood. And they've come back again this year, and still, for me, it's just not right.

“Finances do matter, but, at this particular stage, whatever path I take I will get financially rewarded so the financial side is not even in my thinking at the moment. It's more about my football.”

Tarkowski has no intention of penning fresh terms any time soon, with the 27-year-old preparing to dictate his own career path from this point.

He added: “We've had two transfer windows now where the club have decided, for whatever reason, that whatever has been offered on the table hasn't been enough and that's fine because I signed a contract for four-and-a-half years. So I won't whinge or not turn up, I just need to deal with it and get on with my football.

“But the longer my contract runs down, I feel I gain the control of my career more than Burnley having the control of it, which is what I feel like I need right now.

“There is nothing I have heard or has been put to me that makes me think there is a scenario in which I would sign a new contract at Burnley. That can change, but currently that is the situation.”

Tarkowski has continued to form part of Dyche’s plans this season, taking in six appearance to date, but it remains to be seen how long he will be sticking around for on Burnley’s books.

Hristo Stoichkov remains convinced that Lionel Messi will retire as a Barcelona player, but the Blaugrana legend admits “there is always a but”.

It appeared as though a six-time Ballon d’Or winner could head through the exits at Camp Nou in the last transfer window.

Messi aired a desire to move on, after taking in a frustrating end to the 2019-20 campaign, and believed that an exit clause in his contract would allow him to seek out a new challenge.

Barca, though bolted the doors and made it clear that they would not be sanctioning a switch elsewhere.

Messi opted against entering into a legal dispute with a club that holds a special place in his heart and revealed in an exclusive interview with Goal that he will be honouring his contract.

No fresh terms have been agreed since agreeing to stay on, meaning that he is still due to hit free agency in the summer of 2021, but Stoichkov believes an all-time great will put pen to paper at some stage.

The iconic former frontman told Mundo Deportivo: “I think he will retire here but there is always a but. 

“As a fan and former player, I would like it to be like that but I am not part of his future thinking. 

“I am glad and happy that he stayed. You have to take care of him and pamper him. It is too bad that there are no supporters at the moment to show their love. 

“On Instagram sometimes I put a photo up with him and I see positive comments towards him. I love him very much. Lefties never fail.”

Stoichkov also believes that Antoine Griezmann can overcome his struggles at Barca and flourish alongside Messi – a player some have suggested he endures a strained relationship with.

“Antoine is a very humble boy, he is not selfish and that is the most important thing, he works for the team and you have to support him,” Stoichkov added.

“It is not necessary to always condemn players. He must work and I trust him to do so. All the players must help him.”

Ronald Koeman will have a part to play in bringing the best out of Griezmann and Co, with Stoichkov confident that his former team-mate will be a success in the most demanding of coaching posts after taking important lessons from the great Johan Cruyff.

“He's from the mister's school, may he rest in peace,” Stoichkov said of a man who played alongside him as part of a star-studded Barca team in the 1990s.

“He grew up with Johan and knows what to do. Ronald arrived at the age of 26 and saw people like [Albert] Ferrer, [Pep] Guardiola, Sergi, Goiko and myself grow up. And we learned because we wanted to.”

Selangor have reportedly found their next head coach, according to the German edition of player market website Transfermarkt .

The man in question is 52 year old Karsten Neitzel, who last led German fourth-tier side Rot-Weiss Essen in 2019. His prior experience in Asia was at J-League club Urawa Reds, from 2009 to 2010.

Karsten Neitzel. Photo by Getty

Neitzel was quoted by the website as saying that he looks to restore the Red Giants to its former glory, as well as his passion for coaching after a less-than-happy time back home in Germany.

“It is a great opportunity to be able to bring a traditional Asian club back to its former strength. In a way, it's awesome to do something completely different. Above all, the joy of football is there again.

“We want to develop a team which the fans can identify with 100 per cent. We want to set fire to the environment. The players should be in the mood to play for the club, and the fans should be in the mood to watch the games in the stadium or on TV. For us, the job at Selangor will be a great learning journey. We have the chance to get to know a new culture and new ways of looking at football. We often make the mistake of walking arrogantly around the world, thinking that we know everything and everyone. That way we miss out on the chance to broaden our horizon," he told Transfermarkt .

Neitzel is expected to start his new post on December 1 according to the report. It also added that he will be bringing along a pair of German staff with him; Carsten Nulle (goalkeeping coach) and Marco Grimm (physiotherapist).

The Red Giants are currently without a permanent head coach following the sacking of B. Satiananthan back in September, with technical director Michael Feichtenbeiner taking over as caretaker at the moment.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has undergone surgery after suffering a knee injury during England training, with the Reds hopeful he'll return before the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Gomez went down during a training session at St George’s Park on Wednesday, with there having been suggestions that the 23-year-old could be out for the season.

The Reds announced on Thursday that Gomez had undergone surgery on a tendon in his knee, with it confirmed that that the defender had not suffered ligament damage.

That will come as a welcome relief for Jurgen Klopp and his side, with Virgil van Dijk already sidelined for the long-term.

However, Liverpool have confirmed that there is not currently a timescale on Gomez's return to first-team action, leaving Klopp with a full-blown crisis in central defence.

A club statement read: "Liverpool Football Club can confirm Joe Gomez has today undergone successful surgery to repair a tendon in his left knee.

"The centre-back sustained the injury during a training session with the England national team on Wednesday. The issue was isolated to Gomez’s tendon, with no damage to any other associated knee ligaments.

"The operation to correct the damage, which took place in London on Thursday morning, was a success and the 23-year-old will make a full recovery. Gomez will begin a rehabilitation programme with the Reds’ medical team immediately, with club staff carefully monitoring his progress.

"No timescale is being placed upon his return, though the issue is likely to rule him out for a significant part of the remainder of 2020-21."

The Reds had already lost Van Dijk to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last month after he was on the receiving end of a hefty challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the Merseyside derby.

Fabinho, asked to fill in for the Dutchman, then suffered a hamstring issue a week later and is yet to return to full training.

Gomez’s injury leaves Joel Matip as Liverpool’s only fit and available senior centre-back, and the Cameroon international only recently returned himself after suffering a muscle problem against Everton. He has only completed 90 minutes on two occasions in the last 13 months.

Klopp has been encouraged by the performances of both Rhys Williams, 19, and 23-year-old Nat Phillips as emergency centre-back options and has hinted that he would consider using captain Jordan Henderson at the back.

Gini Wijnaldum is another potential option, while Andy Robertson could be moved to centre-back, with him having played in that position for Scotland in the past. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, added to the injury problems on Sunday, limping out of the Reds’ 1-1 draw at Manchester City with a calf pull. The 21-year-old is likely to be missing for up to four weeks. 

Jude Bellingham’s “skill is massive”, says former Birmingham boss Pep Clotet, with the 17-year-old’s rise to prominence coming as no surprise to the coach who spotted his “incredible talent” early.

Clotet was the man to hand the exciting teenage midfielder his competitive debut in August 2019.

Bellingham has seen his stock soar since then, with just one season of Championship football required in order to land a big-money transfer to Borussia Dortmund, with interest from Manchester United shunned before heading to Germany.

Impressive progress has been maintained in the Bundesliga, with Gareth Southgate taking to adding the youngster to his senior England squad.

Clotet always believed that Bellingham was destined to reach the very top, with the Spaniard telling Sky Sports: “From the first time I saw him for the U18s, straight away you could see he had an incredible talent on him. You could see he was a huge complete player already, and obviously his level and talent was above the level he was playing.

“I wanted to test his skill, and his level, higher up the ranks, so when he started to train with the U23s you could see he was performing in the same way as when he was in the younger age groups.

“As soon as he started to train with us in the first team, and when he properly joined us for pre-season last season, he was very quick to mix with the professionals and train at their level and he physically adapted very, very quick.

“He was able to perform with the talent he had alongside the physical demands as a professional. You could see straight away he was going to be a big player.”

Clotet added on Bellingham’s development: “You could never think he would come through that quickly, but I always had in my mind he would become one of the first-teamers and help us not only to perform on the pitch but also become a very strong player for linking a very divided club at that moment.

“I'm happy that this vision happened, you need a little bit of luck as well, but it all went like that and it helped to have one of the best seasons for Birmingham because it's not easy in the circumstances that team had to bed in a player of such a huge talent that is able to achieve now what he is achieving.

“That was my vision, and what I saw could happen, I saw it in him.”

Bellingham’s energy in the middle of the park has earned him comparisons to legendary figures such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and Clotet believes the talented teenager will thrive in a role similar to that once filled by Liverpool and Chelsea icons.

He said: “In my opinion, his best position is in a 4-3-3 as an offensive midfielder. He feels very comfortable offensively, in a position he's able to attack the box, but you must ensure as a manager he has the freedom.

“He has a very good skill in hiding his movement so can get out of situations and find his way into a shot or cross.

“When a player drives the ball forward, he is normally very focused on the ball but Jude gets out of space. He's able to see what's around him, without the need to be constantly watching what's happening on the ball because his skill is massive.”

Alexandre Song has been officially unveiled as AS Arta Solar 7’s newest player on Thursday morning, after signing for the club in the Djibouti Premier League.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona star arrived in the country on Wednesday and penned a two-year contract in Djibouti City to begin life as a player for the 2019-20 Caf Confederation Cup campaigners.

Song was among the players fired by Swiss top-flight side Sion in March for refusing to take a slash in salary following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Apart from his playing role, the former Cameroon international will be expected to help with the team’s youth development.

“Welcome to Djibouti! The international footballer, Alexandre Song arrived yesterday afternoon in Djibouti, where he has signed a two-year contract with AS Arta Solar 7,” the club wrote on Facebook.

“This is the eighth club that this Franco-Cameroonian midfielder has played for since the start of his career. He is here for the president of AS Arta Solar 7, Timoro Nickoss Tommy to not only make this team the flagship club of the Republic of Djibouti, but also to raise, in general, the level of the nation's football.

“To improve the playing techniques of AS Arta Solar 7 so that this young team becomes invincible in international football tournaments, is one of the objectives of the president of this Djiboutian club, Tayoro Nickoss Tommy.

“To achieve this, he's hired Alexandre Song, a footballer who has played at a very high level in major European teams, to the heart of this team.

“In any case, Alexander Song represents real added value for this Djiboutian club, because with him, AS Arta Solar 7 has a bright future ahead of it.”

Song has been handed the No 7 jersey and his presence is expected to boost the Stade El Hadj Hassan Gouled giants in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup, where they face Egyptian Premier League side Arab Contractors in the preliminary round.

AS Arta Solar 7 crashed out of this year’s edition of the continental club competition after losing 4-1 on aggregate to Sudan’s Al-Khartoum.

Song played for Arsenal between 2006 and 2012, before moving to Barcelona where he won La Liga in 2013.

Lionel Messi has become more of a leader for club and country on the back of a “chaotic” summer for the Argentine superstar at Barcelona, says fellow countryman Juan Pablo Sorin.

The six-time Ballon d’Or was left mulling over his options at the end of a coronavirus-disrupted 2019-20 campaign.

With Barca stumbling over the line as they surrendered the Liga title to arch-rivals Real Madrid and suffered a crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the decision was taken to make a change.

Messi informed the club of his desire to move on and saw the likes of Manchester City and Inter take an immediate interest in securing his signature.

The deadline was to pass, though, with no deal done. With Barca blocking his path, Messi revealed to Goal that he will be honouring the final year of his contract and sticking around until at least 2021.

He has not been at his free-flowing best domestically since making that decision, with many of his goals coming from the penalty spot, but he remains a talismanic presence for Barca and Argentina.

Ex-Blaugrana and Albiceleste star Sorin admits as much, telling TyC Sports of his iconic compatriot: “I see Messi more and more as a leader and more mature. In Barcelona he has had to experience a very chaotic moment, but he responded quickly on the pitch. He's also doing very well in the national team.”

Sorin added, with Messi having already helped Argentine to make a positive start in their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign: “Leo transferred his fight into good performances on the pitch and that is very good for the Argentines. He suffered defeats in Bolivia in the past and returned to play and win there, it is a strong demonstration of character.”

Sorin believes that Messi will continue to thrive in an Argentine camp that has not always seen the best of him, with head coach Lionel Scaloni working hard to try and take some of the burden of responsibility away from a talismanic captain.

“Leo is very well, I think he is very happy in the national team with all the people who know him around him,” added the former Argentina skipper. “I always say that you have to help him and surround him well, but not depend on him.”

Juventus have been boosted by the news that Mattijs de Ligt will be ready to return to action after the international break, with Goal learning the Dutch defender is fully recovered from shoulder surgery.

The Netherlands international was forced under the knife back in August. His last outing for the Bianconeri came on the 7th of that month in their Champions League clash with Lyon.

He has been sidelined ever since, preventing him from taking part in the 2020-21 campaign so far.

Juve reported at the time of his operation, though, that everything had gone as planned.

A statement from the club read: “The operation, performed by Dr. Volker Mushal, assisted by doctors, Bryson Lesniak and Fabrizio Margheritini and in the presence of Juventus’ Head of Medical Department, Luca Stefanini, was a complete success.”

With all medical boxes ticked, De Ligt has been able to ease his way back to full fitness, with the highly-rated 21-year-old all set to open his second season at the Allianz Stadium.

The first was testing at times, as questions were asked of his ability to make a step up from Ajax, but he progressed as the campaign wore on and feels settled in Italy.

He said back in December 2019: “I'm very happy in Turin, I hope to stay here for a long time. I was really proud [to join Juventus] of course, when a big club like Juve want you it's a big honour. I always liked Juve as a club and now I'm happy and proud to wear this shirt.”

Juventus, who have been struggling for consistency under rookie coach Andrea Pirlo, will be delighted to have De Ligt back at their disposal.They will also have Brazilian full-back Alex Sandro, who is also set to come into contention for the meeting with Cagliari on November 21.

Aaron Ramsey, another of those to have missed the chance to head away with his country for the latest round of international fixtures, is edging his way back to health. He may be ready for the European clash with Ferencvaros on November 24.

The news is slightly less positive when it comes to long-serving centre-half Giorgio Chiellini, with the 36-year-old still around a month away from rejoining the fold, but Federico Chiesa’s thigh complaint is considered to be minor and he should also be ready to face Cagliari.

The curtain will now come down on the 2020 football season in Malaysia after efforts to ensure that the remainder of the Malaysia Cup matches could be completed did not come to fruition. With large parts of the country in Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), the government has deemed that competitive football matches are not a priority at this point in time.

Malaysia Football League (MFL) tried in vain to persuade the government to change their minds, suggesting a centralised location to play out the remaining seven matches but it was to no avail. In a statement released on Thursday, MFL through its chief executive officer Dato Ab Ghani Hassan relayed the disappointing news.

"Firstly, MFL are always receptive to the suggestions from MKN and the government has suggested that we do not go on with the Malaysia Cup. Of course we have submitted a detailed appeal in line with the guidelines to ensure that the remaining seven matches could be played but alas we have to comply.

"Through a board meeting, we have to made the difficult decision of canceling the Malaysia Cup for the health and safety of all parties as suggested by the government. We needed to do this because we cannot postpone the competition to another month because players' contracts normally end on Nov 30.

"There were will be much more problems that will arise if we extend the date of the competition as teams could be without player on top of having to incur additional cost. In any case, on behalf of MFL, I would like to thank the government for allowing us to complete the Super League and Premier League," said Ghani in his statement.

It was only last week that matches were still allowed to be played with eight Round of 16 matches completed but the continual Covid-19 cases has forced the governement's hands to enforce a wider CMCO than the initial Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sabah restrictions.

This means that for the first time since 1947, there will be no Malaysia Cup champions. Having previously decided that the winner of the Malaysia Cup will take up one of the AFC Cup slots in 2021 because of the cancellation of the FA Cup, the slot now go to the third-placed team in the Super League which will be Terengganu FC.

The latest development adds to the further pain inflicted onto Malaysian football after Johor Darul Ta'zim was denied the opportunity to travel to Doha, Qatar for the AFC Champions League, bringing to an end a problematic 2020 season in Malaysian football.