Today, Google released Google Search Live globally where AI Mode is available, for these languages and regions. This brings Search Live to more than 200 countries and territories.

Google credits its new audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, which it says “delivers even more natural and intuitive conversations.” The “new model is also inherently multilingual, which means that people around the world can now speak with Search in their preferred language,” Google added.

How it works. To use Search Live, open the Google app on Android or iOS and tap the Live icon under the Search bar. From there, you can ask your question out loud to get a helpful audio response, then continue the conversation with follow-up questions or dive deeper with helpful web links. If you want to ask about something in front of you, like how to install a new shelving unit, you can enable your camera to add visual context. This way, Search can see what your camera sees and offer helpful suggestions, plus links to more information on the web.

You can also access Search Live if you’re already pointing your camera with Google Lens — just tap the Live option at the bottom of the screen to have a real-time, back-and-forth conversation about what you see in the real world.

More. Last September, Google made Search Live with video available in the U.S, prior to that, it was an opt in beta and before that it was talk and listen, without video.

Why we care. This is another way users can have conversations with Google’s AI instead of typing queries. Answers could increasingly bypass traditional clicks, and further erode traffic to websites. The inclusion of links (citations at the bottom) means publishers and brands could still see some benefits, but most searchers likely will have little need or desire to click on those links or dig deeper after getting their answer.

Google is launching new Performance Max controls and reporting: audience exclusions, expanded reporting, and budget forecasting tools.

What’s new. Google announced a mix of “steering updates” and “actionable insights” for PMax:

• First-party audience exclusions: You can exclude customer lists to shift spend toward net-new customer acquisition instead of repeat conversions.
• Budget reporting: A new in-platform report projects end-of-month spend and shows how daily budget changes impact performance.
• Full audience reporting: You get detailed breakdowns by demographics, including age and gender.
• Network segmentation: You can segment placement reports by network, now under When and where ads showed.

Why we care. These updates help address concerns about PMax’s lack of control and transparency. Exclusions help you avoid wasting spend on existing customers, while improved reporting gives you clearer signals for optimization, budgeting, and brand safety decisions.

Google’s announcement. New Performance Max steering and reporting updates coming in 2026

We are pushing to get our tools and techniques to the point where we can implement the dark theme in more areas across Windows. No timelines to commit to yet for Regedit. As we make progress in various legacy system panels and dialogs, we will keep improving consistency.

Google expands Search Live to 200+ countries, powered by its new Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model with multilingual voice and camera search in AI Mode.

The post Google Takes Search Live Global With Gemini 3.1 Flash Live appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/scenic-group-2026-european-river-cruise-savings-trigger-early-luxury-travel-rush-across-danube-rhine-and-iconic-europe-routes/

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Cruise Travel Rules Shock 2026: Strict New Onboard Bans Transform Passenger Experience Across Global Cruise ShipsCruise ship banned items list...

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Global Travel Chaos 2026: U.S. Issues Urgent Alert as Middle East Tensions and TSA Delays Threaten Your Spring Trip!March 2026...

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Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/princess-cruises-announces-2027-2028-south-america-season-aboard-majestic-princess-featuring-new-antarctic-peninsula-overnight-stays-unesco-sites-and-cultural-experiences/

Princess Cruises Announces 2027-2028 South America Season Aboard Majestic Princess, Featuring New Antarctic Peninsula Overnight Stays, UNESCO Sites and Cultural...

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Samsung is making its Quick Settings panel much more flexible with a new QuickStar feature in One UI 8.5. Earlier, One UI 8.5 already improved Quick Settings by letting users add, remove, and rearrange toggles. With new options, users will have more control over the Quick Settings Panel.

Samsung QuickStar is a Good Lock module, and it will soon allow users to fully control how their Quick Settings look. According to the information via @thatjoshguy69, a new option of the QuickStar lets you change how many tiles appear on the screen and even adjust their size.

It means that if you want a cleaner and smaller layout, you can shrink tiles or make the media player more compact. If you prefer bigger buttons, you can do that too. This gives users more freedom to design the panel the way they like.

Image via @thatjoshguy69 (X)

But the feature is not officially released yet for One UI 8.5 devices. But it can already turned on manually. To do this, you need an app called SetEdit and a tool called Android Debug Bridge.

After installing SetEdit, you connect your phone to a computer and run a simple ADB command to give permission. The ABD command is:

adb shell pm grant by4a.setedit22 android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Then, inside SetEdit, you change certain Quick Settings (QS) values from 0 to 1. Once this is done, you can open Quick Settings, tap edit, and try the new options. However, there are a few downsides. The feature may have small visual bugs, and the extra options reset after restarting your phone. You will need to enable them again. Stay tuned for the official release.

The post One UI 8.5 to offer advanced Quick Settings options via QuickStar appeared first on Sammy Fans.

The regulator views timestamps and onchain identifiers as tools to distinguish real media from synthetic content, while calling for a light-touch approach to regulating AI agents.

TAO's price has rallied 160% in over a month, but is printing a familiar golden cross that has preceded massive price corrections in the past.

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark stands at about $107 per barrel at the time of writing.

Aimed at fighting organized crime groups, the new law allows confiscated assets including crypto to be used for ”police re-equipment, training, and special operations.”

The Bitcoin lending protocol will allocate 2.25% of its token supply to Aerodrome users as it looks to expand activity for its token and stablecoin.

Coinbase and Better Home & Finance launched a structure that lets borrowers pledge Bitcoin or USDC to fund the cash down payment on a conforming mortgage tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans.

The term "Active Treasury" misleads everyone. Digital asset treasuries chasing yield via staking and tokens become operators, not holders, demanding fund-grade governance or regulatory reclassification.

Euro stablecoins now make up more than 80% of non-dollar supply, with EURC leading volumes as MiCA and payment-rail integrations support adoption.

Goldman Sachs revealed a $152 million exposure to spot XRP ETFs, while volatility contracted to levels seen ahead of strong price moves.

After five months in beta for Windows, Samsung released the stable version of the Samsung Browser. It can be installed on Windows 10 (version 1809 or higher) and, of course, on Windows 11. The version is 30.0.0.95 and is available globally, unlike the beta variant, which was limited to select markets. As one would expect, Samsung Browser offers seamless cross-device and cross-platform continuity and syncs everything from bookmarks and browsing history to settings and personal data like passwords via the Samsung Pass integration. But that's hardly the centerpiece feature of the...

Italy are one of the most historic national teams in FIFA World Cup history, having won four editions. However, they are not living their best present, failing to overcome Norway in the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. For this reason, Gli Azzurri face Northern Ireland in the playoffs, seeking their place in the final stage and to secure their spot in the 2026 edition.

Although Northern Ireland are not one of UEFA’s strongest national teams, they have proven to be quite solid defensively. In addition, coach Michael O’Neil relies on a strong midfield, which could make things difficult for Italy. However, they haven’t qualified for a World Cup in 40 years, so a victory over Gli Azzurri would be quite a surprise.

Unlike the previous years, Italy face serious doubts on their sporting project. Not only did they fire Luciano Spalletti just a few months before the tournament, but they also brought in Gennaro Gattuso with only a few months to make a difference. However, they have players like Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean who can make a difference. In addition, they have the quality to turn the game around from the bench.

Both Italy and Northern Ireland employ a fairly similar tactical approach, with a solid midfield looking to shift the play. However, coach Gattuso counts on Dimarco and Matteo Politano, who can make a difference on the counterattack. With them, they can exploit gaps in the defense, looking for Kean and Retegui, who offer greater scoring ability than their opponents.

The story surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and his son has taken an unexpected turn, as Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. continues to make headlines in Madrid. What initially appeared to be a straightforward soccer development has quickly evolved into a far more complex narrative, drawing attention from fans.

At the center of the intrigue is Real Madrid, a club deeply connected to the Ronaldo legacy. The 15-year-old forward was recently spotted training with the club’s under-16 side, sparking widespread speculation that he could be following in his father’s legendary footsteps at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That possibility seemed even more believable given his background. Having already progressed through the academies of Manchester United, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr, Ronaldo Jr’s development has mirrored the career path of his father in remarkable fashion.

However, the narrative has shifted dramatically. While early reports suggested a potential move, it has since emerged that Cristiano Ronaldo’s son is not on trial at Real Madrid as the real reason behind his presence in the Spanish capital begins to surface, adding a layer of mystery that extends beyond soccer alone.

That mystery now gives way to clarity. According to COPE, the real reason behind his training stint is to stay in shape until the family can return home once the war situation affecting their base is resolved, a decision rooted in practicality rather than an immediate transfer plan.

Training at Real Madrid: Opportunity, not transfer

Real Madrid apparently allowed Ronaldo Jr. to train with the under-16 squad as a temporary measure rather than as part of a formal trial. This distinction is crucial. Despite the excitement surrounding his presence at Valdebebas, there is currently no agreement in place for him to join the academy permanently.

Rodra of ESPN added that Cristiano Ronaldo directly asked Florentino Perez for a favor to let his eldest son train with Los Blancos’ academy. The president accepted and he trained with the U-16’s. The club’s decision was instead a gesture of support, offering him access to high-level training conditions during a period of uncertainty.

The move reportedly came at the request of Cristiano Ronaldo himself, underlining the strong relationship he maintains with the Spanish giant. It also reflects the club’s willingness to accommodate exceptional circumstances, especially involving one of its greatest-ever players.

What comes next?

For now, the focus remains on development rather than decisions. Ronaldo Jr.’s immediate priority is to maintain fitness and continue his progression during an unusual period off the pitch, rather than securing a high-profile transfer.

The situation, however, leaves the door open for the future. Soccer is unpredictable, and while Real Madrid has clarified that no deal is currently in place, the connection between player and club remains strong.

Ultimately, this episode is less about a transfer and more about timing, preparation, and circumstance. Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence continues to shape opportunities for his son, but the next chapter will depend on when stability returns—and when soccer, once again, becomes the only story that matters.

Brazil and France meet in a friendly for the March international window on Thursday, March 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Stick with us for minute-by-minute coverage and don’t miss a single moment of this clash between two of the world’s premier soccer nations in.

With Neymar the most notable absentee, Brazil is using the March window to continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with European-based players now released from their club duties for the break. During the October and November windows, Carlo Ancelotti’s side went 2-1-1, picking up wins over South Korea (5-0) and Senegal (2-0), drawing with Tunisia (1-1) and falling to Japan (3-2), a mixed run of form that now faces a considerably stiffer test.

On the other side, France arrives having topped Group D in UEFA World Cup qualifying with five wins and just one draw, one of the strongest records in the entire European section. With their last defeat coming against Spain in the UEFA Nations League semifinals, a 5-4 loss, Les Bleus are looking to carry their momentum into a marquee matchup against the Canarinha.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest situation has quickly become one of the most closely followed stories in world soccer, especially as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues. The Cristiano Ronaldo story unfolds at a delicate moment for Portugal, with manager Roberto Martinez carefully managing expectations ahead of a crucial international cycle. While injuries have affected several key players, the spotlight remains firmly on the captain, whose influence stretches far beyond the pitch.

At club level, the situation surrounding Al-Nassr has only added to the suspense. The Saudi side is in the middle of a competitive race for a historic double, and Ronaldo’s absence has been felt not only in results but in leadership and attacking presence. Yet, behind the scenes, there has been growing optimism that something significant is developing.

Earlier, Martinez had already hinted that concerns around Ronaldo’s condition might be overstated, subtly suggesting that the veteran forward’s recovery could be quicker than initially feared. At the time, those comments seemed cautiously optimistic, but recent developments are beginning to paint a clearer picture.

After weeks of recovery, Ronaldo has delivered a powerful and direct update, posting “Good to be back! Looking good”, signaling that his return is not only imminent but progressing faster than expected, validating Martinez’s prediction that he would be back within “a week or two.”

Ronaldo’s injury and the unusual recovery path

According to reports, Ronaldo sustained a muscle injury in his right thigh at the end of February while playing for Al-Nassr. The injury marked a rare moment in the Portuguese forward’s career. Unlike previous setbacks, which were largely traumatic injuries, this was a muscular issue; his first of this kind in nearly a decade. That alone raised concerns, particularly given his age and the proximity to major international competitions.

Rather than remaining in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo made a decisive move. Instead of staying with the club, he traveled to Madrid to undergo specialized treatment with a trusted medical team. This decision highlighted both his professionalism and urgency to return as quickly as possible.

The approach appears to have paid off. His rehabilitation progressed rapidly, allowing him to return to Riyadh and begin the final stages of recovery. As per journalist Abdulaziz Al-Osaimi, the 41-year-old veteran only participated in individual training on Thursday as he has yet to return to group training.

When might Ronaldo return?

The timing of Ronaldo’s return could not be more important. Al-Nassr is preparing for a key fixture against Al-Najma, where his presence could immediately influence the title race. His leadership and goal-scoring ability remain central to the club’s ambitions.

For Portugal, the implications are even greater. The national team has dealt with multiple fitness concerns this season, affecting players across key positions. Yet, no injury has been deemed World Cup-threatening, leaving Martinez with cautious optimism.

Since announcing his decision to leave Manchester United this summer, Casemiro has been the subject of rumors and speculation about his future. Now Major League Soccer has emerged as a concrete option, with Inter Miami and LA Galaxy among the alternatives.

“The LA Galaxy and Inter Miami are both serious suitors for Brazil int’l midfielder Casemiro,” MLS reporter Tom Bogert said on his X account this week. “Casemiro will be a free agent this summer after his Manchester United contract expires.”

Inter Miami’s interest seems to have a clear goal: solving their midfield struggles. In the club’s new era since Lionel Messi arrived in the summer of 2023, that area of the pitch had never been a concern, thanks to an undisputed starter: Sergio Busquets.

But after winning the MLS title in December 2025, the Spanish midfielder followed Jordi Alba’s footsteps and left the club to retire from professional soccer. That departure left a void that has yet to be satisfactorily filled.

Inter Miami’s current midfield options

Ahead of the 2025 MLS season, Inter Miami’s management opted to sign David Ayala. This marked a huge contrast with Busquets: the team went from a world-renowned player arriving in MLS for the final stages of his career to a 23-year-old with less pedigree but MLS experience.

So far, that decision has not paid off. Low performances and personal issues have limited Ayala’s chances of securing a place in the team, and he has played only 3 of the Herons’ 7 matches across MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup this season.

Javier Mascherano has entrusted Yannick Bright with replacing Busquets as the team’s defensive midfielder, but the Italian player’s performance and the team’s overall functioning have fallen short of expectations. For these reasons, acquiring another internationally proven player like Casemiro could be key to raising the team’s level in the second half of the year.

Another option for Casemiro: The Saudi Pro League

In addition to reports linking him with Inter Miami and LA Galaxy, Casemiro could find an attractive destination in the Saudi Pro League. According to ESPN, Al Ittihad are also interested in the Brazilian midfielder and are open to signing him as a free agent for the next season.

However, that move depends on Fabinho’s departure, another Brazilian star who plays in the same position as Casemiro. The former Liverpool player’s future with the club remains uncertain, as his contract expires this summer.

Match Overview

Everything is at stake as an in-form Suriname squad looks to continue its rise against a Bolivia team determined to rewrite its history, with a coveted World Cup berth hanging in the balance. Suriname has turned heads throughout CONCACAF qualifying, shedding its underdog label and building real momentum ahead of this showdown.

Meanwhile, Bolivia arrives with renewed belief as it hunts for a long-awaited return to the global stage—its first since USA 1994 and fourth appearance overall. With both sides eyeing a milestone achievement, expect a tense, high-stakes battle where one nation moves a step closer to history—make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action.

Brazil and France meet in one of the most intriguing friendlies of the March international window on Thursday, March 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. With both nations considered among the favorites for the 2026 World Cup, attention heading into the clash has centered on the availability of Kylian Mbappe.

As reported by L’Equipe, Mbappe is set to start for France against Brazil. The striker declared himself fully recovered from the knee sprain that had limited his involvement in recent matches for Real Madrid, making him available for Les Bleus head coach Didier Deschamps.

“I am happy to be able to feel good again, to feel my knees, and to enjoy myself,” Mbappe said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference. The plan is for him to start and then be substituted at some point to manage his workload ahead of the second friendly.

Brazil vs France: a remarkably even all-time record

Despite both nations ranking among the most storied programs in the sport, Brazil and France have not crossed paths in several years. When they have met, however, the results have been about as even as it gets between two heavyweight nations.

Across 15 all-time meetings, both countries have claimed six wins apiece, with three matches ending in draws. In terms of the biggest stage, though, France holds the edge, having beaten Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup final on home soil.

The most recent meeting between the two sides came over a decade ago, when Brazil claimed a 3-1 victory in March 2015. That result also marked the last time the Canarinha came out on top, while France’s most recent win in this fixture dates back 15 years, leaving the overall record delicately balanced heading into Thursday’s clash.

Projected lineups for Brazil and France

Brazil’s projected lineups (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Wesley, Roger Ibanez, Leo Pereira, Douglas Santos; Andrey Santos, Casemiro; Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli; Vinicius Junior.
Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti.

France’s projected lineups (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise; Kylian Mbappe.
Head coach: Didier Deschamps.

has opened up on comparisons between himself and the iconic ‘Four Kings’ consisting of , , and . Back in the 1980s, the aforementioned quartet were all involved in epic fights with one another, with boxing fans regularly debating who they deem to be the best of the four legends. Just over 30 years later, […]

The post Terence Crawford compares himself to the legendary Four Kings: “To be honest” appeared first on Boxing News.

Victor Osimhen transferi İspanya'da yaz transfer dönemine damga vuracak gibi duruyor. Barcelona'nın Julian Alvarez inadı, Victor Osimhen'i Madrid ve Katalonya arasında dev bir savaşın ortasına itecek. 140 milyon Euro'luk tarihi rakamlar havada uçuşurken, Galatasaray'da Osimhen için sakatlık bilmecesi ve özel dönüş planı netleşiyor.

İspanyol devleri ile Galatasaray hattı bu yaz sıcak geçecek. Barcelona’nın forvet arayışları, Atletico Madrid’in hamleleri ve Victor Osimhen’in sakatlık durumu, La Liga'nın transfer gündemini daha şimdiden ısıtmaya başladı.

El Mundo Deportivo’nun haberine göre; Barcelona hücum hattını güçlendirmek için önceliği Julian Alvarez’e verdi. Ancak bu transferde başarısız olursa rotasını Victor Osimhen’e çevirecek. Yarış sadece Barcelona ile sınırlı değil. Eğer Alvarez, Barcelona’nın yolunu tutarsa Atletico Madrid de tüm gücüyle Osimhen için saldıracak.

Galatasaray'ın Osimhen için belirlediği alt limit net: Nijeryalı yıldız için masaya gelecek rakam 140 milyon Euro'nun altına düşerse bir görüşme olmayacak.

Bu arada sakatlığı nedeniyle sahalardan uzak kalan Osimhen için Galatasaray sağlık heyeti ve teknik direktör Okan Buruk titiz bir planlama yürütüyor. Yıldız golcünün maç temposunda sıkıntı yaşamaması için özel bir çalışma programı hazırlandı.

Şu an için iki haftalık bir dinlenme süresinin ardından saha çalışmalarına ve programa başlanması planlanıyor. Osimhen’in Trabzonspor ve Göztepe karşılaşmalarında forma giyme ihtimali %1 bile değil.

Teknik heyet, Osimhen’i riske atmak istemiyor. Ancak takımın sergileyeceği performans ve puan durumundaki ihtiyaca göre, oyuncunun durumu maç maç takip edilecek. Eğer iyileşme süreci beklenenden hızlı ilerlerse, Nijeryalı golcünün derbi öncesinde sürpriz bir şekilde sahaya dönme ihtimali de masada tutuluyor.

Galatasaray'ın transfer gündemi alev alev! Ocak ayında gerçekleşmeyen Andre transferi için menajer Boaz ile Başkan Dursun Özbek arasında dev zirve gerçekleşmiş, Fotospor da bunu haber haline getirmişti. Okan Buruk'un ilk günden beri kadrosunda görmek istediği Brezilyalı yıldız için bu kez şartlar zorlanacak. Aslan'ın orta saha planındaki diğer isim de Amadou Onana.

Sezon sonu yaklaştıkça Galatasaray'ın transfer kulisleri cayır cayır yanmaya başladı. Ocak ayı transfer döneminde adı sıkça anılan Andre, menajerler aracılığıyla bir kez daha önerildi. Sürecin perde arkasını Ocak ayında Fotospor habberleştirdi. Talisca’ya sözleşme almak için gelen menajeri Philippe Boaz Dursun Özbek ile de Andre transferi için görüştü.

Gueye bahane, Andre şahane! Menajeri İstanbul'da

GALATASARAY ANDRE'DEN VAZGEÇMEDİ

Buruk'un, ilk günden bu yana istediği Andre için girişimler ise Ocak transferinde rotanın kiralık ve az maliyetleri isimlere kayması nedeniyle gerçekleşmedi. Aynı Andre yeniden gündemde.

Andre

Teknik heyetin ajandasında sadece Andre bulunmuyor. Okan Buruk’un orta sahadaki bir başka "hayali" de Amadou Onana. Mevcut şartlarda transferi oldukça zor ve maliyetli görünen Belçikalı yıldız için Buruk'un ısrarcı olduğu gelen bilgiler arasında.

Amadou Onana

Galatasaray yönetiminin, teknik direktörünün bu talebi üzerine sezon sonunda Andre gibi Onana için de şartları zorlayacağı ve kulübüyle bir görüşme yapacağı gelen bilgiler arasında. Sarı-kırmızılılar, yeni sezonda orta sahayı dünyaca ünlü bir isimle güçlendirerek Avrupa'da başarıyı hedefliyor.

Galatasaray'da üst üste gelen şampiyonluklarla Avrupa devlerinin markajına giren Okan Buruk için sıcak saatler yaşanıyor. İtalya'dan Lazio ve Suudi Arabistan'dan Al-Ittihad'ın dev tekliflerle kapısını çaldığı tecrübeli teknik adam için en ciddi adım Tottenham'dan geldi. İngiliz ekibiyle sistem görüşmeleri yapan Buruk'un, "Olmazsa olmaz" dediği Barış Alper Yılmaz ve Uğurcan Çakır için de Londra ekibi düğmeye bastı.

Galatasaray ile şampiyonluklara ambargo koyan Okan Buruk’un başarısı, Avrupa ve Körfez'de ses getirdi. Bir süredir Fotospor tarafından gündemde tutulan Tottenham ilgisi, İtalyan basınından gelen son haberlerle çok daha ciddi bir boyuta ulaştı.

TMW tarafından geçilen son bilgilere göre; İtalya’dan Lazio, Suudi Arabistan’dan Al-Ittihad ile beraber Tottenham, başarılı teknik adam için meydan muharebesine girişti. Yaklaşık 10-15 gün önce sadece "ilgi" düzeyinde olan temaslar, gelinen noktada somut adımlara dönüştü.

Al-Ittihad’ın, Okan Buruk’u ikna etmek için yıllık 10 milyon Euro gibi devasa bir rakamı masaya koymaya hazırlandığı konuşuluyor.

Galatasaray Londra'ya taşınıyor: Okan Buruk iki prensiyle gidiyor

Lazio ise Okan Buruk’un geçmişine ve kültürel adaptasyonuna güveniyor. Buruk’un futbolculuk döneminden gelen İtalyan futbolu birikimi, tatillerini sık sık Milano’da geçirmesi ve çok iyi derecede İtalyanca bilmesi, başkent ekibini bu transferde iştahlandırıyor.

Okan Buruk için en somut ve stratejik adımlar ise Tottenham'dan geldi. İngiliz devinin yöneticileriyle görüşen Buruk, Galatasaray’daki sistemini ve oyun felsefesini anlatırken "olmazsa olmaz" dediği bazı hamlelerden bahsetti.

Bu görüşmelerin ardından Tottenham, Buruk’un sistemini hızlıca oturtabilmesi adına hocanın beraber çalışmak istediği iki isim için de devreye girdi:

- Buruk’un jokeri Barış Alper Yılmaz için nabız yoklandı.

- Uğurcan Çakır listeye alındı.

Gelen bilgilere göre Tottenham bu iki isimle de ön görüşmeler yaptı. İngiliz ekibinin Okan Buruk hamlesini bir "paket operasyon" olarak planladığı gelen bilgiler arasında.

Galatasaray'da Lucas Torreira üzerinden bir algı operasyonu başladı. İddialara göre yakın çevresine "Gelecek yıl yokum" diyen Uruguaylının gönlünde ailevi nedenlerle Güney Amerika'ya dönmek yatıyor. Ancak tecrübeli orta sahanın kendisine talip olan takımlara mesajı da net: Galatasaray onay vermeden hiçbir yere gidemem!

Galatasaray taraftarının sevgilisi Lucas Torreira ile ilgili ayrılık iddiaları dolaşıma sokuldu. Sarı-kırmızılı camiada konuşulanlara göre Uruguaylı sezon sonunda İstanbul'a veda etmeye hazır.

İddialara göre Torreira, ayrılık fikrini yüksek sesle dile getirmeye başladı. Yakın çalışma arkadaşlarına ve dostlarına "Önümüzdeki yıl burada olmayacağım" şeklinde ifadeler kullanmaya başladı. Bu durum Torreira'nın zihinsel olarak yeni bir maceraya odaklandığı şeklinde yorumlandı.

Aynı kıta başka kafa! Nerede Icardi nerede Torreira!

Torreira'nın bu kararındaki en büyük etkenin teknik veya ekonomik değil tamamen duygusal olduğu belirtiliyor. Babasının yaşadığı sağlık sorunları nedeniyle ailesine daha yakın olmak isteyen 28 yaşındaki oyuncu, kariyerine Güney Amerika'da devam etmeyi planlıyor. Özellikle geçtiğimiz dönemlerde sık sık dile getirdiği Boca Juniors hayali, bu iddiaları destekler nitelikte.

Ayrılık iddialarının gölgesinde Torreira'dan da net açıklamalar geldi. Uruguaylı oyuncu, transfer süreciyle ilgili kontrolün sarı-kırmızılı yönetimde olduğunu vurguladı:

- Birkaç ay önce bir Brezilya ekibi bana buradakiyle aynı şartlarda teklif yaptı. Ancak Galatasaray bu teklifi görüşmeyi bile reddetti. Başka yolu yok; beni almak isteyen kulüplerin önce Galatasaray ile masaya oturması gerekiyor.

Her ne kadar oyuncunun kendi çevresine sezon sonununu işaret ettiği söylense de, Torreira'nın 2028 yılına kadar devam eden sözleşmesi ipleri yönetimin elinde tutuyor.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Profesyonel Futbol Disiplin Kurulu (PFDK), Trendyol Süper Lig'den 4 kulübe çeşitli cezalar verdi.

TFF'nin açıklamasına göre PFDK, Trabzonspor'a taraftarlarının neden olduğu çirkin ve kötü tezahürat nedeniyle 1 milyon lira para ve kısmi tribün kapama cezası verdi.

Aynı sebeple Kayserispor'a kısmi tribün kapama cezası uygulayan kurul, stada usulsüz seyirci alınmasından dolayı ise sarı-kırmızılılara 480 bin lira para cezası kesti.

Beşiktaş'a taraftarlarının neden olduğu çirkin ve kötü tezahürat gerekçesiyle 2 milyon 500 bin, saha olayları sebebiyle de 220 bin olmak üzere toplamda 2 milyon 720 bin lira para cezası uygulayan kurul, siyah-beyazlılara da kısmi tribün kapama cezası verdi.

PFDK, Kasımpaşa'ya da taraftarlarının neden olduğu çirkin ve kötü tezahürat sebebiyle 400 bin lira para cezası ve kısmi tribün kapama cezası kesti.

Öte yandan Fatih Karagümrük oyuncusu Matias Kranevitter, rakip takım oyuncusuna yönelik şiddetli hareketi nedeniyle 2 resmi müsabakadan men ve 53 bin 350 lira para cezası aldı.

Karşılaşma öncesinde Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu tarafından Tüpraş Stadı'ndaki koltuklara Türk bayrağı bırakıldı.

A Milli Futbol Takımı'nı desteklemek için tribündeki yerlerini alan taraftarlar, maçtan önce bayrakları sallayarak marşlara eşlik etti.

Romanya mücadelesi için Tüpraş Stadı'na gelen mehter takımı, karşılaşma öncesinde çaldığı marşlarla taraftarları coşturdu.

Hagi, Popescu ve Ilie tribünde

Rumen futbolunun daha önce Türkiye'de forma giymiş eski yıldızları, Türkiye-Romanya maçını tribünden takip etti.

Galatasaray forması giyen Gheorghe Hagi ve Gheorghe Popescu'nun yanı sıra hem Galatasaray hem de Beşiktaş'ta oynayan Adrian Ilie, müsabakayı birlikte izledi.

Tüpraş Stadı'nda 4,5 yıl sonra milli maç heyecanı

Beşiktaş'ın maçlarına ev sahipliği yapan Tüpraş Stadı'nda 4,5 yıl sonra milli maç heyecanı yaşandı.

Son olarak 1 Eylül 2021 tarihinde Karadağ karşısında bu statta sahaya çıkan A Milli Futbol Takımı, karşılaşmadan 2-2'lik ayrılmıştı.

Bakan Bak, Tüpraş Stadı'nda

Gençlik ve Spor Bakanı Osman Aşkın Bak, Türkiye-Romanya mücadelesini Tüpraş Stadı'nda takip etti.

Bakan Bak, mücadeleyi Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu'yla birlikte izledi.

Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 28. haftasında 4 Nisan Cumartesi günü sahasında Galatasaray ile yapacağı maçın hazırlıklarını çift idmanla sürdürdü.

Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Tesisleri'nde teknik direktör Fatih Tekke yönetiminde gerçekleştirilen sabah antrenmanında oyuncular, salonda kuvvet çalışması yaptı.

Bordo-mavililer, akşam antrenmanının ilk bölümünde ise dinamik ısınma gerçekleştirdi.

Rondo ile devam eden idman, yarı sahada çift kale maçla sona erdi.

Trabzonspor, yarın yapacağı çift antrenmanla hazırlıklarına devam edecek.

Kişi voleybolçular arasında təşkil edilmiş Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) 2025/26 mövsümünün növbəti oyunları keçirilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 19-cu turun hər üç görüşü bu gün baş tutub.

İlk qarşılaşmasında “Murov” “Gənclər”lə qarşılaşıb. Abşeron Olimpiya İdman Kompleksində keçirilmiş oyun “Murov”un 3:0 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.

Günün digər oyunları Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalında təşkil edilib. Burada “Ordu” “Azərreyl”i (3:1), “Xilasedici” “Neftçi”ni (3:1) məğlub edib.

Qeyd edək ki, müntəzəm mövsümün sonuncu – 20-ci turu martın 30-da keçiriləcək.

Yüksək Liqa
19-cu tur
26 mart

“Gənclər” – “Murov” 0:3 (12:25, 18:25, 16:25)
Abşeron Olimpiya İdman Kompleksi.

“Azərreyl” – “Ordu” 1:3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:22, 18:25)
Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalı.

“Xilasedici” – “Neftçi” 3:1 (25:15, 25:18, 17:25, 25:16)
Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalı.

Dortmund “Borussiya”sından ayrılacağı açıqlanan Yulian Brandt karyerasını Türkiyədə davam etdirə bilər.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Fənərbağça” cinah oyunçusunun xidmətində maraqlıdır. Bu barədə Türkiyə mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Komandanın baş məşqçisi Domeniko Tedesko rəhbərlikdən Brandtın transferini istəyib.

Yulian bu mövsüm 34 oyunda 10 qol vurub, 3 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

Alessandro Bastoni and Matteo Politano start with Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui as Italy host Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final.

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It kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The winner will be decided tonight after 90 minutes, extra time, or even a penalty shoot-out.

Whoever goes through can then face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final on Tuesday March 31.

There will be a minute’s silence before kick-off for former Italy, Bologna, Napoli and Atalanta striker Beppe Savoldi.

The Nazionale have missed the last two editions of the World Cup, losing the play-offs to Sweden for 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022.

There were some injury doubts going in, and Gianluca Scamacca has been left in the stands along with Andrea Cambiaso, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Diego Coppola and Elia Caprile.

Both Inter defender Bastoni and Napoli winger Politano got the all-clear and are in the starting XI, preferred to Marco Palestra, with Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali and Gianluca Mancini also shaking off knocks.

Kean and Retegui are confirmed as the attacking partnership, with Francesco Pio Esposito ready to come off the bench.

Players who were forced to withdraw due to injuries or not called up at all include Federico Chiesa, Mattia Zaccagni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Matteo Gabbia, Guglielmo Vicario and Nicolò Rovella.

Northern Ireland had some major issues too, as Liverpool defender Conor Bradley is out with a knee injury and they lost Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard too.

Midfielder Ali McCann has also been left out after the Preston midfielder failed a fitness test.

This means only three of the players in the 28-man squad belong to a top division club.

Coach Michael O’Neill is simultaneously in charge of the Northern Ireland national team and of English Championship side Blackburn Rovers, a role he took on February 13.

They qualified for the play-offs thanks largely to their Nations League promotion to League B, finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Germany and Slovakia.

They beat Slovakia 2-0, along with victories over Luxembourg, losing only 1-0 to both Germany and Slovakia last year.

Their most valuable players are Sunderland right-back Trai Hume, Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny and Southampton’s Shea Charles.

Northern Ireland participated in three editions of the World Cup in 1958, 1982 and 1986.

Italy vs. Northern Ireland line-ups

Italy: Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui

Italy bench: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Gatti, Scalvini, Pisilli, Cristante, Frattesi, Raspadori, Esposito

Northern Ireland: P Charles; Hume, McNair, McConville; Devlin, S Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer; Price; Donley

Northern Ireland bench: Peacock-Farrell, Hazard, Toal, Atcheson, Saville, Marshall, Kelly, Smyth, Lyons, Reid, Magennis, Brown

Ref: Makkelie (NED)

26-03-2026 19:45

1/2 Final

Italy

Northern Ireland

vs

Season Analytics

Italy

Positions

Northern Ireland

SEASON TOTAL

ITA HOME

3

0

1

6

0

2

Last matches

16-11-2025		Norway	L	1 - 4
13-11-2025		Moldova	W	0 - 2
14-10-2025		Israel	W	3 - 0
11-10-2025		Estonia	W	1 - 3
08-09-2025		Israel	W	4 - 5

16-11-2025		Norway	L	1 - 4
14-10-2025		Israel	W	3 - 0
05-09-2025		Estonia	W	5 - 0
09-06-2025		Moldova	W	2 - 0

SEASON TOTAL

NIR AWAY

1

0

2

3

0

3

Last matches

	1 - 0	W	Luxembourg		17-11-2025
	1 - 0	L	Slovakia		14-11-2025
	0 - 1	L	Germany		13-10-2025
	2 - 0	W	Slovakia		10-10-2025
	3 - 1	L	Germany		07-09-2025

	1 - 0	L	Slovakia		14-11-2025
	3 - 1	L	Germany		07-09-2025
	1 - 3	W	Luxembourg		04-09-2025

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Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao was asked about reports he is on the Liverpool list to replace Mohamed Salah. ‘I play for a big club where I am happy.’

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The Portugal international is currently in Cancun ahead of a friendly match against Mexico, as his nation gear up for the 2026 World Cup this summer.

Conceicao targeted by Liverpool as Salah heir

His characteristics make him a potential candidate to fill the shoes of Salah, who announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the current campaign.

He was asked about these rumours during an official press conference and insisted he was in absolutely no rush to make the move to the Premier League.

“I know people talk about it being a great club, but I play for a big club where I’m happy,” replied Conceicao.

“Right now I’m only focused on these two games we have with the national team, and then I’ll concentrate on the final stretch of the championship to help my club as much as possible.”

A great deal of his future could well defend on whether Juventus manage to qualify for the Champions League, as they are currently battling Como and Roma for fourth place in the Serie A table.

“I’m at a big club where the pressure to win is immense. I just have to keep working and contributing with goals and assists,” he added.

Conceicao has four goals and three assists in 34 competitive appearances for Juve so far this season.

He had already been on loan from FC Porto last term and made it permanent for a fee of €30.4m, signing a five-year contract.

Now he hopes to be a part of the Portugal squad going to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, USA and Mexico.

“It’s a dream and a goal, and I will do everything to be there. My goal is to help with goals and assists, that’s what I try to do.

“I must continue to show every day that I have the ability to help the National Team and be helped by them to continue to evolve.”

Reports in the UK claim that Manchester United are growing increasingly keen on the idea of signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle this summer, and that the Red Devils will prioritise the purchase of the Italy international over the likes of Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton.

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Manchester United expected to bid for Tonali in the summer

According to reports from MailOnline’s chief Football reporter Craig Hope, Manchester United are expected to make a ‘formal approach’ for Tonali once the 2025-26 season comes to an end. 

The former Milan midfielder sits atop a midfield shortlist that also includes Nottingham Forest’s Anderson, linked with a move to Manchester City, and fellow England international Wharton of Crystal Palace. 

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is also said to have ‘added his support’ to an approach for Tonali this summer. 

Prizing Tonali away from Newcastle will be an expensive affair, though. He remains under contract at St. James’s Park for another three years, and has an option to extend for an additional 12 months. 

Reports in Italy suggest that Newcastle could seek a fee in the region of €90m for Tonali this summer, which will likely price the interested Serie A sides out of the equation, including Juventus. 

Manchester United could be in a prime position to snatch Tonali away from Newcastle, though, given the financial resources available to them and the fact that they are closing in on a guaranteed spot in next season’s Champions League. 

Newcastle, meanwhile, look set to miss out on European football altogether next season as they currently find themselves in 12th place in the Premier League table with seven league games of the season left to go.

Supporters have been sharing their thoughts and opinions ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday evening, but not everybody will be cheering on the Azzurri, as some Italians appear to be rooting for tonight’s opponents, Northern Ireland: ‘Go on, send Gravina home’. 

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Italy are hosting Northern Ireland at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo for the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday evening. The winner of tonight’s tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the play-off final on Tuesday night. 

Despite having four World Cup trophies in the cabinet, bettered only by Brazil, the Azzurri have not qualified for the final tournament since 2014 and have not featured in the knock-out stages since beating France in the 2006 final. 

If Italy fail to win both of their matches this international break, they will miss out on the World Cup for the third tournament cycle in a row.  

Italy supporters’ opinions ahead of Northern Ireland play-off

Plenty of Azzurri supporters have sent their best wishes to the national team ahead of Thursday night’s play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland, but give frustrations with the national team and the FIGC over the last decade, and with some club loyalties coming into play, not all Italians appear to be behind Gennaro Gattuso and his players. 

“Come on Northern Ireland, we’re with you! Send Gravina home,” one disgruntled supporter wrote on X, frustrated with the team’s performance under the current FIGC President. 

“Northern Ireland have never had as many fans as this,” another joked.

“We’ll only support Italy when Gravina resigns, so come on Northern Ireland,” another added.

Another wrote: “Today more than ever, Forza Northern Ireland. So that these idiots who hold the top positions in Italian football can definitively go and f*** themselves. Go on the Belfast Boys.” 

One supporter wrote: “The national team with Bastoni and Gravina is not my national team. Forza Northern Ireland.” 

Not all Italy supporters share the same opinions, though: “Us Italians with brains are all behind you. The sell-outs on the other hand will keep jeering as always. Seeing them put down makes us enjoy it three times more,” one supporter wrote on X. 

Another added: “Never seen a country hate its national team so much as Italy. No wonder the main issue is mental. Who wouldn’t be in this situation with ‘fans’ like these. Forza Italia sempre.” 

Other fans are more confident, while some feel that Italy will have no issues getting past Northern Ireland, but may run into trouble away from home should they qualify for the final. Others are feeling a whole mix of emotions rolled into one. 

“Feel ok today. If we can’t beat N Ireland at home then we just don’t deserve to go. Period. Nothing to worry about,” one fan wrote.

“Knots in my stomach. I’m optimistic we get to Tuesday at the very least,” another fan added. Similarly, another fan claimed: “Today, in some way, we will win. But I’m scared for Tuesday.”

“We can’t afford to stay out of the World Cup for the third time. Italy needs to reclaim its place,” another supporter wrote on X.

Manchester United are interested in bringing James Garner back to the club at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has been excellent since moving to Everton, and the Manchester United Scouts are very impressed with him. They believe that he has developed into a leader with Everton, and he could be the complete midfielder Manchester United are looking for.

According to a report from Sports Boom, signing the midfielder will not be easy. Everton will not want to lose a key player like him, and manager David Moyes regards him as a “future captain”.

The report claims that the player could cost around £55 million if Manchester United come calling in the summer. It is no secret that they need more quality in the middle of the park. The 25-year-old will add physicality, drive and defensive cover to the team.

The 25-year-old is well settled in the Premier League. He could make an immediate impact at Old Trafford. He knows the club well, having come through the ranks at Manchester United, and he could help them improve.

It will be interesting to see if Manchester United come forward with an offer to sign the player in the summer. The midfielder might feel that he has unfinished business at Old Trafford. Manchester United could provide him with the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League and fight for trophies next season.

Manchester United believe that he could solve the lack of “leadership and discipline” in their engine room. Garner is not just a quality player; his ability to organise the defensive line and his vocal organisational skills could prove to be an asset for Manchester United. Furthermore, he can slot into multiple roles, and his versatility would be an added bonus.

The post Man United target £55m star to fix the lack of “leadership and discipline” in the team appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool remains interested in signing Yan Diomande from German club RB Leipzig.

According to TEAMtalk, they have made further contact with the German club regarding a move for the highly rated attacker. Mohamed Salah has announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, and they need to replace him properly.

The 19-year-old Ivorian has emerged as a key target for Liverpool now. The player has 16 goal contributions this season, and his explosive pace and dribbling ability have attracted the attention of the Premier League champions.

The report claims that Liverpool have a strong relationship with RB Leipzig, and that could facilitate smooth negotiations this summer. Furthermore, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp holds a senior role within the Red Bull network, and he could play a key role in any potential move.

The player is also very keen to join Liverpool and wants to test himself in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether the two clubs can negotiate a deal. The player is likely to cost around €80-100 million. It is a lot of money for the 19-year-old, but he has the potential to justify the investment in future.

Liverpool need top quality players at their disposal if they want to compete for major trophies once again. They have had a disappointing campaign and the departure of one of their best players will only add to their. They need to invest in players who can make an immediate impact in the final third.

Diomande is clearly ready for the next step in his career, and moving to the Premier League could unlock his true potential.

The post Talks held: Klopp link could seal blockbuster deal as Liverpool chase 16-G/A star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are interested in signing the Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Fee.

The 26-year-old Frenchman has impressed in the Premier League since the start of the season, and his performances have attracted the attention of the North London club. According to reports from Spain, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly enamoured by the Premier League midfielder.

The Spanish coach believes that the technically gifted midfielder could be the ideal acquisition for his team. He can operate in multiple roles, and he will help create opportunities for his teammates in the final third. The French midfielder is a tactically aware player who can link up with teammates and create opportunities through his passing and vision.

Le Fee has five goals and four assists to his name this season.

Sunderland will not want to lose a player like him, and it would take a substantial offer to convince them. The report claims that the player could cost around €50 million. Arsenal certainly have the financial muscle to pay that kind of money for the midfielder, and it remains to be seen what they decide.

They are looking to build a formidable team for the future, and they need more depth in the squad. Le Fee is well settled in the Premier League, and he could make an immediate impact if he joins the North London outfit. The opportunity to play for them will be hard to turn down for him. He will be able to fight for League titles and the UEFA Champions League with them.

Arsenal need more creativity in the final third, and the 26-year-old would be a superb investment for them. He is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to take on a new challenge and prove himself at a big club.

The post Arsenal plotting €50m swoop for Frenchman after standout season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been linked with a move away from the club during the summer transfer window.

The player has struggled for regular opportunities at Real Madrid, and he needs to move on in search of regular playing time. The 23-year-old central defender has now emerged as a target for Everton and West Ham United, according to reports from Spain.

Both teams have looked vulnerable defensively, and they need to improve in that area of the pitch. Asencio could prove to be an excellent long-term acquisition for them. He’s a talented player with a bright future, and regular football in England could bring out the best in him.

The two Premier League clubs are in the best position to secure his signature, and it remains to be seen whether they come forward with an official proposal to get the deal done. Real Madrid is prepared to let go of the defender in the summer. They are looking to free up space in the squad so that they can bring in the necessary additions in the summer.

It will be interesting to see whether the two Premier League clubs decide to follow up on their interest with an official proposal to sign Asencio. He could be available for a reasonable fee, given his situation at Real Madrid. The Spanish outfit will not want to jeopardise his chances of securing a move by demanding a premium.

Everton and West Ham could be the ideal stepping stones for the young defender. If he manages to impress with either of the two clubs, he might be able to secure a bigger move in future.

The post Everton and West Ham eye cut-price deal for 23-year-old Real Madrid star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are interested in signing the Hearts defender Alfie Osborne at the end of the season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Manchester City are leading the race to sign the 17-year-old defender, and representatives from both clubs scouted the player in action on Wednesday.

Osborne is highly rated in Scotland, and he has a bright future. He could develop into a quality player with the right guidance, and the opportunity to move to the Premier League could be exciting.

Arsenal have done well to groom young players in the past, and they could play a role in the development of a 17-year-old. They have the financial muscle to get the deal over the line as well, and it will be difficult for Hearts to hold on to Osborne if there is a concrete proposal from Arsenal or Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the report from TEAMtalk claims that clubs like Leeds United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Fulham are all monitoring the young defender. It remains to be seen where he ends up.

The opportunity to join Arsenal will be hard to turn down for the young defender. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and they have consistently been fighting for major trophies. Similarly, Manchester City will be an attractive destination. He would get to work with a generational manager like Pep Guardiola if he joins Manchester City.

The defender is reportedly open to a move in the summer, and he does not want to sign a long-term contract with Hearts, even though the Scottish outfit is looking to retain him and has made efforts to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

The post Arsenal scouts dazzled by defensive gem but face fierce competition from Man City appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has not closed the door to a potential transfer to Real Madrid. The 29-year-old, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, is back to full fitness after an injury-hit 12 months. Rodri, who joined Man City from Atletico Madrid in 2019, has made 293 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s […]

The post Rodri open to Real Madrid transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Rodri open to Real Madrid transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

Captain Nicola Docherty insists Rangers won't rely on past success as they head into Sunday's SWPL Cup final.

Rangers are bidding to win the trophy for the fourth consecutive season, but face a tough task against current SWPL leaders Glasgow City.

The sides met last weekend in the league, with Rangers edging victory thanks to a late penalty from Katie Wilkinson to set up a mouthwatering rematch at Fir Park.

"It's not ours until we win it," said Docherty.

"We've obviously won it a number of years and it's been great over the years this trophy, but we know that it's going to be a difficult test on Sunday.

"It's the league leaders at the moment, who are at the top on merit, and so we need to make sure that we are we're on it but we're focusing on us as well."

Now 33, the Rangers captain is one of the more experienced figures in Leanne Crichton's squad.

While Docherty believes there is "no pressure" on the younger players, she admits representing Rangers brings its own expectations.

"I love that about them, their attitudes are excellent week in, week out at training," she said.

"There's no pressure on them because I think us as a group and the togetherness we've got in the squad, we always make sure that everyone feels confident and ready for the game.

"When you represent a club like Rangers there's pressure on you straight away to win silverware.

"I know that myself, I was a fan growing up as a young kid. I always want the men to be winning as many trophies as possible as well and we're trying to emulate that on the women's side."

A three-time winner of this competition, Docherty believes there won't be much to separate the sides on Sunday.

"I just think we've obviously been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that we're relentless in both boxes and it really does come down to the small margins in cup finals," she said.

"It comes down to who wants it more, who turns up on the day, and so it'll be a really close game but hopefully we're the ones that come out on top."

There is now a timeline on CL Josh Hader, according to Astros GM Dana Brown:

SS Jeremy Pena is not in the Opening Day lineup, but he is getting live ABs before the game in Sugar Land:

More on the timeline expected for Jeremy Pena from Chandler Rome:

UT Brice Matthews has clearly been coached up by Crash Davis (Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham) and has been working on his cliches before his first Opening Day:

Manager Joe Espada on how team plans to use Matthews:

Dana Brown on how team will use IF Isaac Paredes:

The Astros are 0-0 all time on March 26:

Nothing like the sound of a little Yordan Alvarez BP:

Astros manager Joe Espada on RP Christian Roa making the Opening Day roster:

Espada on how he will navigate playing time in LF:

Brown on the development of RF Cam Smith:

Brown on extension talks with CL Bryan Abreu, SP Hunter Brown and Pena:

2B Jose Altuve on Opening Day:

Matt Kawahara has 10 stats for the Astros to return to the postseason:

Lost in everything that happened with the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 season was just how much better starting left tackle Broderick Jones played before his neck injury. Pittsburgh's offensive line got banged up pretty bad and when starting left guard Isaac Seumalo went down, Jones stepped up.

But now, with the 2026 NFL draft less than a month away, Jones' health is the topic of discussion and it isn't good. Steelers team beat writer Bob Labriola talked about the draft and Jones' injury and definitely gave the impression the team is worried about Jones being ready to go this season and that the team could address tackle via the draft because of it.

“If it was up to me, my ‘concern’ wouldn’t be first-round pick concern, but based on the latest medical information on the eve of the draft, it might become late Day 2 pick concern," Labriola said.

With the Steelers picking No. 21 overall, they are in no man's land when it comes to blue-chip prospects. But there's a real possibility that a top offensive tackle slips through the cracks with the rise of Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. But removing that exception, we agree that Pittsburgh could go with a different position in the first round and circle back to offensive tackle in the second.

If the Steelers do go for an offensive tackle early on Day Two, Clemson's Blake Miller makes the most sense, and if Pittsburgh chooses to use one of their third-round picks on the position, keep an eye on Northwestern's Caleb Tiernan, who can start at either tackle spot.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers beat writer gives troubling update on OT Broderick Jones

Women's March Madness predictions 2026: Carlan Gay's expert NCAA Tournament bracket picks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

You’re probably here for one reason: to see whether someone on the internet was bold — or reckless — enough to pick against an undefeated UConn team led by potential No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd and Sporting News National Player of the Year Sarah Strong. The answer is yes. I did it. And before Huskies fans close the tab in disgust, just know they won’t be the only ones mad at me.

Because while the anti-UConn pick is the headline-grabber, the real letdown for chaos lovers is this: I mostly went chalk in my 2026 Women's March Madness bracket. Sorry to the bracket sickos hoping for a 12-over-5 manifesto and a Final Four full of double-digit seeds. That’s not really where this is going. The top teams are top teams for a reason, and most of my picks reflect that, even if one giant swing sits right at the center of the bracket.

And LSU fans, you may want to brace yourselves, too. Flau’jae Johnson and the Tigers are good enough to make noise, good enough to scare people and absolutely good enough to make this prediction look stupid. But in this version of March Madness, their run ends before the Elite Eight.

So yes, there are takes here, and some of them might annoy you. But I’m not here to hurt feelings — I’m here to be right.

WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket

Women’s March Madness bracket predictions 2026

Region 1 — Fort Worth picks

SN

FIRST ROUND

1 UConn over 16 UTSA

8 Iowa State over 9 Syracuse

5 Maryland over 12 Murray State

4 North Carolina over 13 Western Illinois

6 Notre Dame over 11 Fairfield

3 Ohio State over 14 Howard

10 Colorado over 7 Illinois 

2 Vanderbilt over 15 High Point

SECOND ROUND

1 UConn over 8 Iowa State

5 Maryland over 4 North Carolina

6 Notre Dame over 3 Ohio State

2 Vanderbilt over 10 Colorado

SWEET 16

1 UConn over 5 Maryland

2 Vanderbilt over 6 Notre Dame

ELITE EIGHT

1 UConn over 2 Vanderbilt

If UConn gets Vanderbilt in the Elite Eight, I’m taking the Huskies because this feels like one of those superstar vs. superstar matchups where the better team around the star wins it. The headline is obvious: Sarah Strong vs. Mikayla Blakes, the Sporting News Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year against the player she edged out for it. Blakes has been outrageous, leading Division I in scoring at 27.1 points per game with 12 30-point games, so this isn’t about pretending she can be shut off. She’s too good for that. But Strong is the kind of all-around problem who changes every part of a game, averaging 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 135 assists, 111 steals and 53 blocks while doing a little bit of everything for an unbeaten UConn team.

That’s why I’d still lean UConn. The Huskies just have more bodies to throw at Blakes and more ways to survive the stretches when she starts cooking. Between Strong, KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade, UConn has enough length, activity and defensive discipline on the perimeter to make Blakes work for everything. Arnold has 93 steals, Shade has 61, and UConn as a team is holding opponents to just 50.4 points per game, 33.3% shooting overall and 27.4% from three. That doesn’t mean Blakes won’t get hers. It means Vanderbilt probably won’t get enough easy offense around her to win the game. And that’s usually where UConn breaks teams — not by stopping the star completely, but by making everybody else come up with more than they have.

Region 2 — Sacramento picks

SN

FIRST ROUND

1 UCLA over 16 Cal Baptist

8 Oklahoma State over 9 Princeton

5 Ole Miss over 12 Gonzaga

4 Minnesota over 13 Green Bay

11 Nebraska/Richmond over 6 Baylor

3 Duke over 14 Charleston

7 Texas Tech over 10 Villanova

2 LSU over 15 Jacksonville

SECOND ROUND

1 UCLA over 8 Oklahoma State

5 Ole Miss over 4 Minnesota

3 Duke over 11 Nebraska/Richmond

2 LSU over 7 Texas Tech

SWEET 16

1 UCLA over 5 Ole Miss

3 Duke over 2 LSU

ELITE EIGHT

1 UCLA over 3 Duke

If UCLA gets Duke, I’m taking the Bruins because at some point, too much talent becomes the whole analysis. UCLA has looked like one of the most complete teams in the country all season, going 31-1, carrying a 25-game winning streak into the tournament and blasting Iowa by 51 points in the Big Ten title game. That’s not just talent on paper — that’s a team that has clearly clicked. Kiki Rice runs things, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens give them real scoring balance, and the whole group feels connected in a way that makes them hard to speed up or knock off rhythm.

And then there’s Lauren Betts, which is really where this matchup tilts for me. Betts is averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and shooting 56.2% from the field, and she’s the kind of interior force who can bend an entire game plan around her. Duke has a star of its own in Toby Fournier, who has been terrific at 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a night, but Betts is still the bigger problem in this specific matchup. Fournier is a bucket, but asking her to deal with Betts on both ends for 40 minutes feels like too much.

Duke is good enough to make this ugly, and its defense will absolutely have a say. But UCLA just has more answers. More size, more balance, more lineup versatility — and when the game gets tight, the Bruins feel like the team that can get to the cleaner shots. That’s usually what wins an Elite Eight game.

Region 3 — Fort Worth picks

SN

1 Texas over 16 Missouri St/SF Austin

9 Virginia Tech over 8 Oregon

5 Kentucky over 12 James Madison

4 West Virginia over 13 Miami (OH)

6 Alabama over 11 Rhode Island 

3 Louisville over 14 Vermont

7 NC State over 10 Tennessee

2 Michigan over 15 Holy Cross

SECOND ROUND

1 Texas over 9 Virginia Tech

5 Kentucky over 4 West Virginia

3 Louisville over 6 Alabama

2 Michigan over 7 NC State

SWEET 16

1 Texas over 5 Kentucky

2 Michigan over 3 Louisville

ELITE EIGHT

1 Texas over 2 Michigan

If Texas gets Michigan in the Elite Eight, I’m taking the Longhorns because this feels like the kind of game they love to turn ugly early and then control from there. Texas’ pressure defense is the whole story. This is a team that led the SEC in turnovers forced at 24.1 per game and was allowing just 53.0 points per game when Rori Harmon and Madison Booker were named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list. That hasn’t gone away. In the SEC Tournament, Texas forced 14 turnovers against Ole Miss, then forced 14 more and turned them into 16 points in the title-game win over South Carolina.

The other reason I like Texas is how often it punches first. Through its first 34 games, Texas outscored opponents 743-451 in the first quarter, which is a ridiculous margin and basically the stat version of good luck chasing them all night. That fast-start habit is a big deal against a Michigan team that can absolutely score — led by Olivia Olson (19.6), Syla Swords (14.6) and Mila Holloway (12.6) — but they were also averaging 15.0 turnovers per game. That is exactly the kind of number Texas sees and starts licking its chops.

Michigan is talented enough to make this fun, especially if Olson gets loose. But Texas has the better point guard to settle the game, the more disruptive defense and a real habit of building a lead before teams can get comfortable. In an Elite Eight game, that usually matters.

Region 4 — Sacramento picks

SN

1 South Carolina over 16 Southern/Samford

9 USC over 8 Clemson

12 Colorado State over 5 Michigan State 

4 Oklahoma over 13 Idaho

6 Washington over 11 South Dakota State

3 TCU over 14 UC San Diego

7 Georgia over 10 Virginia/Arizona State 

2 Iowa over 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

SECOND ROUND

1 South Carolina over 9 USC

4 Oklahoma over 12 Colorado State

3 TCU over 6 Washington

2 Iowa vs. 7 Georgia

SWEET 16

1 South Carolina over 4 Oklahoma

3 TCU over 2 Iowa

ELITE EIGHT

1 South Carolina over 3 TCU

If South Carolina gets TCU in the Elite Eight, I actually think the SEC title game loss ends up being a blessing in disguise. Not because South Carolina ever wants to lose, obviously, but because it sharpens the focus and drops the unbeatable talk right before the games really matter. Dawn Staley’s group still heads into March at 31-3, with an SEC regular-season title already locked up, and now gets a path that feels a little more tailored to what the Gamecocks do best: defend, switch, throw bodies at stars and make you work for every clean touch.

That’s why I like them against TCU. The whole matchup starts with Olivia Miles, who has been fantastic for the Horned Frogs at 19.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.8 turnovers per game. She can absolutely control a game when she’s comfortable. The problem is South Carolina is built to make lead guards uncomfortable. The Gamecocks have the tournament experience, the depth and enough rangy defenders to throw fresh looks at Miles all night, crowd her driving lanes and turn every decision into a tougher one than usual. Miles is too good to completely erase, but South Carolina has the profile to make her look messy.

And if Miles starts coughing it up even a little, I’m not sure TCU has enough offense around that to survive. South Carolina has been here before. It knows how to win ugly, how to win late and how to make a star feel like she has to do everything herself. In an Elite Eight game, that usually ends with the more seasoned team moving on.

MORE EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona)

Final Four picks

SN

1 UConn over 1 South Carolina

1 UCLA over 1 Texas

Championship game: 1 UCLA over 1 UConn

If UCLA is the team that finally ends UConn’s run, it’ll feel less like a shock and more like a team cashing in on everything it learned the hard way a year ago. The Bruins are 31-1, just won a second straight Big Ten tournament title, and they’re coming off the kind of statement that makes you look at them differently — a 96-45 demolition of Iowa in the league title game that pushed their winning streak to 25. Last season’s hurt is still sitting there, too. UCLA reached its first NCAA Final Four in 2025 and got flattened 85-51 by UConn, a loss Cori Close openly framed as pain the Bruins needed to learn from.

That’s why I’d buy UCLA finally finishing the job. Lauren Betts is the biggest matchup problem on the floor, and if this is the title game, I think she gets the better of Sarah Strong this time. UCLA has more than enough around her with Kiki Rice and a roster that feels deeper, cleaner and more connected than it did a year ago.

And honestly, the unbeaten thing matters. UConn is 34-0, finished the regular season undefeated and is chasing back-to-back national titles after winning its record 12th championship in 2025. That usually sounds like a reason to trust the Huskies. But in a one-game final, I think the pressure of keeping perfection alive finally shows up at the worst possible time. UCLA has already lived the heartbreak. UConn would be carrying the weight. That’s why I’d take the Bruins to break the streak, deny the repeat and win the whole thing.

CHICAGO, IL. — Nate Oats' name continues to circulate for the North Carolina men's basketball head coach job opening.

However, don't expect the seventh-year Crimson Tide coach to jump to the Tar Heels opening, or any other one, for that matter. Oats candidly answered questions about his future with Alabama on Thursday, March 26, one day before the Crimson Tide takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 from the United Center.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness Sweet 16 games ranked as men's NCAA Tournament nears Final Four

"As a young high school coach, I didn't think I'd ever be in this spot not too long ago. I'm not a guy that's always trying to jump around," Oats said. "The grass isn't always greener. I love Alabama. My girls love Alabama."

"I'm not looking to leave," Oats added

Oats has led the Crimson Tide to four NCAA Tournament Sweet 16s, including a run to the Final Four during the 2023-24 season — the first Final Four appearance for Alabama in program history.

The program has reached the NCAA Tournament for six straight seasons, tying the longest mark in program history. Oats is not satisfied.

"I'd love to be the first coach to bring us a national championship," Oats said.

North Carolina fired Hubert Davis on Tuesday, March 24, following a first-round exit loss to No. 11 VCU. He finished with a 125-54 record over five seasons in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, including an appearance in the 2022 national championship game.

Oats signed an extension with Alabama in March 2024, ahead of the Crimson Tide's Final Four run. The team made the Elite Eight last season and is back in the Sweet 16. However, that does not mean Oats — who is making $5.5 million this season and under contract through 2031 — is necessarily looking for another contract extension.

"I still can't believe I am getting paid this much. I'm coaching basketball guys," Oats said of his current contract with Alabama. "I did this thing for free at Maranatha [Baptist] for three years. ... For the first 16 years I coached basketball, [I made] less than $500,000 total.

"My salary goes up half a million every year. I am a glorified P.E. teacher making too much money right now. So, I'm not going to complain."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama coach Nate Oats addressed the North Carolina coaching rumors

Opening Day is finally here after the Astros’ longest offseason in nearly a decade. Following a disappointing 2025 season that ended after Game 162, the Astros remade a significant portion of their roster and coaching staff in an effort to reclaim their spot atop the American League West. Here are the four biggest questions I have as they head into the first of 162 games.

Can they make their infield logjam work?

The Astros have five infielders who have made All-Star teams, earn significant salaries, and expect to play every day. The problem is, you can only start four on any given day. That means someone who believes they belong in the lineup will be left out every single day. Managing those expectations—while keeping everyone sharp—may be Joe Espada’s toughest challenge of 2026.

Some of that could sort itself out. Jeremy Peña suffered a finger injury during the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic and won’t be ready for Opening Day. Carlos Correa played more than 140 games last season for the first time since 2021, so it’s reasonable to expect he’ll miss a little time during his age-31 campaign. And, of course, the Astros could always trade from their infield surplus.

But what if everyone stays healthy? And what if no trade materializes? Things could get uncomfortable.

Did Dana Brown bring in the right starting pitchers?

The Astros remade their starting rotation after missing the playoffs in 2006. Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens departed, and then-GM Tim Purpura tried to replace them by trading for Jason Jennings and signing Woody Williams in free agency. Both moves were disasters, and Purpura was fired before the 2007 season ended.

This past winter, Dana Brown watched Framber Valdez leave and replaced him by trading for Mike Burrows and signing Tatsuya Imai in free agency. Both have had terrific springs, but joining the Astros is a major adjustment. Burrows is coming from Pittsburgh, where expectations and pressure were minimal, while Imai is transitioning from Japan to the United States—an adjustment that can be challenging both on and off the field.

The Astros gave up two prospects from a barren system to acquire Burrows, who is under team control for five seasons. They need him to be good not just in 2026, but well beyond. Imai signed a three-year, $54 million deal that includes opt-outs after the first two seasons. If he’s good, he’ll likely opt out and pitch elsewhere next year. If he struggles, he becomes another burdensome contract for a team that can’t afford many more.

Is the bullpen good enough behind Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu?

With Hader and Abreu slated for the eighth and ninth innings, the Astros have one of the best one-two bullpen punches in Major League Baseball. But do they have the depth behind them to get through the season?

That depth is already being tested, with Hader set to begin the year on the IL, along with Bennett Sousa, who authored a brilliant 2025 before getting hurt. The Astros will need Bryan King and Steven Okert to replicate last season’s success in roles known for volatility, while also hoping that pitchers like Roddery Muñoz, Kai-Wei Teng, Ryan Weiss, and Christian Roa emerge as reliable options, at least early in the season.

Is Cam Smith still the future of the team?

Late last February, I sat in Dana Brown’s West Palm Beach office and asked him who had impressed through the first two weeks of spring training. I think Brown said Smith’s name before I could even finish the question.

I’ve rarely heard a GM talk about a prospect the way Brown talked about Smith, whom he acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade. General managers usually try to temper expectations for young players, but Brown seemed to raise them every chance he got.

Smith made the Astros’ Opening Day roster out of spring last season despite having played just 35 games in the minors with the Cubs in 2024. That only heightened expectations. It looked like he might meet them after raising his OPS to .805 during the Astros’ 18–1 win at Dodger Stadium on July 4, but over his final 60 games, Smith slashed just .155/.248/.232 and found himself on the bench for much of September.

Brown said early in the offseason that Smith would have to earn a spot on the 2026 Opening Day roster, and he responded with an impressive spring. Smith, who turns 23 on Friday, remains under team control for another five seasons. And with no other impactful position-player prospects in the upper levels of the Astros’ system, they need him to live up to the billing.

Indiana football’s first two teams under head coach Curt Cignetti were afforded the tremendous luxury of several upperclassmen who had experience with his programs either at James Madison or in his first season in Bloomington.

That’s less true for this group, something Cignetti has been mindful of as the Hoosiers get started with spring practices.

“I feel like we probably have more work to do with this group than the first two teams, simply because there’s so many that we don’t have a one-to-three-year relationship with, whereas even the first year there were quite a few we knew very well,” Cignetti said during a press conference on Thursday.

The Hoosiers lost three running backs including starters Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, their two top receivers in Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., top tight ends Riley Nowakowski and Holden Staes, two starting offensive linemen in Pat Coogan and Kahlil Benson, the bulk of their edge rotation, starting linebacker Aiden Fisher and, last but not least, several starters in the defensive secondary including top cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and safety Louis Moore.

Needless to say, that’s a fair amount of roster attrition. Indiana has plenty of experience coming back with multiple top signings in the transfer portal and several true freshmen, but all of those pieces need to jel and that starts now.

Cignetti and the rest of Indiana’s staff were helped greatly in that process with leaders like Fisher, Ponds, Sarratt and others helping to set a cultural foundation for previous new signings and holdovers from Tom Allen’s last few teams. There’s simply less of those guys this year, necessitating more work for the staff.

Indiana has plenty of time for all of that jelling to take place, practice just started, but Cignetti has as good of a track record for making that happen as anyone in the sport. If there’s anyone to trust with getting a culture to set in, it’s him.

Mets vs. Pirates live score, updates: Highlights from MLB Opening Day with Paul Skenes, Freddy Peralta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Game 1 out of 162 always feels a little different than the rest.

Opening Day is special. It feels like a sign of spring and of hope. And that's where the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves on Thursday afternoon when they match up in a game televised nationally on NBC.

Hope springs eternal on Opening Day. Anything is possible, even for a team like the Mets that collapsed down the stretch last season, or a team like the Pirates that hasn't done nearly enough winning lately.

Much of the optimism will stem for both teams from the guys on the mound on Thursday.

MORE: Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, and Superman without his cape

The Pirates send reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes to the hill.

The Mets counter with Freddy Peralta, their new ace acquired in an offseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers.

It's just one game, but Opening Day is so much more, and we'll have updates for you below.

Mets vs. Pirates live score

Refresh for the latest.

MORE: Mets, Marlins risk Moneyball Ron Washington mistake

Mets vs. Pirates live updates, highlights

Second inning

- A 1-2-3 top of the second, capped off with a great play by catcher Francisco Alvarez on a dribbler to get the out at first.

First inning

- Oneil Cruz leads off the game with a single, reaching out for an offspeed pitch almost in the dirt to toss it into shallow centerfield.

- On the first pitch Brandon Lowe sees as a Pirate, he leaves the yard. Two-run home run to right field. 2-0 Pirates.

FIRST HOMER OF THE SEASON GOES TO BRANDON LOWE! pic.twitter.com/JoA4yn1Bss

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 26, 2026

- Freddy Peralta strikes out the side after the home run.

- Francisco Lindor leads off bottom one with a walk. Juan Soto follows with a single. Bo Bichette hits a sac fly to right field. 2-1 Pirates as Mets get one back.

- The Mets have now loaded the bases with one out. Skenes has already thrown 29 pitches.

- Brett Baty crushes a bases-clearing triple to centerfield. Oneil Cruz started in, and the ball then beat him to the fence. 4-2 Mets.

- On the very next pitch, Oneil Cruz lost a ball in the sun. Marcus Semien's popup dropped, Baty scored. 5-2 Mets.

- Skenes hit Francisco Alvarez with two outs and has been pulled after 37 pitches with two on and two outs.

- Lindor flew out to end the first.

Pregame

- Lineups are out for both teams. The Pirates go with Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds, Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn, Jared Triolo, Spencer Horwitz, Nick Gonzales and Henry Davis. The Mets counter with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Brett Baty, Marcus Semien, Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez.

- It's an MLB debut for Carson Benge, the Mets' talented outfielder who will start in right field.

- The Mets made news away from the field this morning, signing veteran Tommy Pham to a minor league contract.

- The Mets are making history by starting Bo Bichette at third base and Jorge Polanco at first base. You can read more here about something not done since Jackie Robinson.

- It's worth noting that the game may not start right on time. Opening Day festivities are always a wild card.

- The lineups have been introduced. It's almost time for baseball.

More MLB news:

• How a Blue Jays unknown can decide the World Series
• Juan Soto might lead MLB in a brand new stat
• Giants snap embarrassing 19-year streak that tied MLB record
• MLB's future of the shortstop position is immensely bright
• Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves
• 4 MLB teams that can unseat the Dodgers

“Would Myles Garrett fit in the San Francisco 49ers’ new defense under Raheem Morris?” That’s a question that should never be uttered involving one of the most dominant players during the past decade of the NFL.

That player may have just become more accessible. On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns reworked Myles Garrett’s contract. On the surface, it looks like a typical restructure that kicks the can down the road. But it’s the offseason. And what we do in the offseason is speculate.

Garrett was set to receive a $16.5 million. option bonus. He will now wait close to the regular season to receive that. Additionally, the reworked deal gives any inquiring teams added cap flexibility in a deal that goes through 2030–something you’d want for a player set to be 31.

Free agency has all but passed. The Browns have roughly $9 million in effective cap space. Sure, they’ll need money to sign their draft class, but the timing makes it valid to speculate. This is also the same team that proposed a rule change allowing teams to use draft picks for up to 5 years instead of 3.

If the Browns are doing their part to press the restart button and facilitate a trade, would the 49ers be interested? The answer is 31 teams should be interested. The last thing you want to do is sit idle and watch the Rams, Seahawks, or Eagles use draft picks and add a player of Garrett’s caliber. Garrett has a no-trade clause, likely limiting any potential deal to playoff teams.

Our SB Nation Browns’ site listed the 49ers as a potential destination:

Talk about a team that is always trying to get better and isn’t afraid to make big decisions, the Niners are always in play for big moves, have a roster that is getting older and needs to win now, plus Kyle Shanahan is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL. Adding Garrett after adding veteran WR Mike Evans this offseason could put San Fran in a position to leapfrog the defending Super Bowl champions in their division, the Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers would go from contenders to Super Bowl favorites with Garrett. Worried about Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams getting off to slow starts after recovering from serious season-ending knee injuries? Garrett would quell any worries. Once Bosa regains his form, Williams would be put into a dream situation playing alongside Bosa, Garrett, and Osa Odighizuwa.

Of course, this is nothing more than conjecture after seeing a team rework a contract. The asking price would be sky-high. Still, so long as you keep your 2027 1st-round pick, it would be difficult to say no when you’re getting back Myles Garrett.

The Tennessee Titans' 2026 season will be the team's final season playing home games at the current Nissan Stadium. The New Nissan Stadium is slated to be finished in early to mid-2027, and the Titans will host games at the new stadium beginning next year.

Earlier this week, a handful of Titans representatives toured the new stadium while it is still under construction, and ESPN Insider Turron Davenport shared several videos on his X page.

A look at the lower bowl of the new Nissan Stadium. The area where I zoomed in is where the stage will be for concerts. The stage is the size of the Ryman Auditorium. The mosh pit for #Titans superfans will be the field level area under the stage. pic.twitter.com/EQdI5p5iGa

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 24, 2026

The new stadium will feature 60,000 seats, which is slightly smaller than the current stadium's 69,000 seats, but the new stadium focuses on proximity to the field and sightlines. The seats will be closer to the field, with no "nosebleed" section, and views will be improved. It will offer expanded exterior terraces and viewing areas for fans to connect with the city of Nashville.

Fans will experience easier access to upper levels with 44 escalators and 30 elevators, concessions will be easier to access, and there will be more of them, and there will be an increased number of restrooms for better guest experiences. The focus on the fans doesn't end there, though; the stadium seats will also feature padding, a clear upgrade.

The new stadium is fully enclosed with a translucent roof so that events can be held year-round without weather concerns, and the stage is the same size as Ryman Auditorium, which houses 2,362 seats and a 180 square foot stage. The Titans' locker room will be roughly 50 percent bigger with plans for 68 dedicated, fixed lockers, separate dedicated spaces for team meetings, training facilities, and even a dedicated space for the family of players, including a nanny service on event days.

With high-tech materials in use, the latest technology employed, and a focus on the guest experience, the new stadium is poised to be a major attraction in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: See it: A look inside Tennessee Titans' new Nissan Stadium

Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes is one of the most talented baseball players in the world but had an unfortunate start to the 2026 season.

Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, took the mound against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday morning to begin his third MLB campaign. While he came into the bottom of the first inning with a 2-0 lead, the comfort did not last long.

The two-time All-Star allowed five earned runs, four hits and one walk and threw just 37 pitches before the Pirates called to the bullpen. He will come into his second start with an absurd 67.5 ERA.

Paul Skenes doesn't make it out of the first inning on Opening Day pic.twitter.com/jLudVfnppJ

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2026

This is less than ideal for Skenes as he looks to defend his Cy Young award.

But we can expect it to look a bit better for his next starting appearance.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Paul Skenes was shockingly pulled in first inning during Opening Day

For five straight seasons starting with the 2019-20 campaign, his second in the league, Luka Doncic was voted onto the All-NBA First Team. Last season, however, he didn't make the cut, presumably because he only appeared in 50 games.

Last season is seen as something of a down year for Doncic. But this season, he has been playing as well as ever, and he has elevated the Los Angeles Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and 13 wins in their last 15 games. He has won the last two Western Conference Player of the Week awards, and he could be entering the MVP conversation.

But Doncic still has some hurdles to overcome when it comes to receiving the postseason awards he may deserve. Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett said on a recent episode of his podcast, "KG Certified," that he feels Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, but not Doncic, deserve to be on this year's All-NBA First Team.

Garnett's reasoning? The old narrative that Doncic doesn't play defense (h/t Heavy Sports).

“Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham are having better years of all-around basketball than (Doncic). I’m not a Luka hater, I’m a Luke fan. Hey, he’s killing. I didn’t say we are ignoring it. Listen – you got real candidates over here. And (Doncic’s) got two other killers on his team.

These men been doing it with just one and the cast. Showing up more consistency every night on both sides of the ball. (Doncic) only plays one side of the ball, bro. I love Luka but I’m looking at the game from the whole 360.”

It is true that in past seasons, Doncic was lacking on the defensive end. But this season, he has shown improvement on that end of the floor, not just in terms of team defense but also in the area of individual defense. He currently ranks seventh in the NBA with 1.6 steals per game, and he's doing a better job of staying in front of his man, especially in iso situations.

Overall, he's averaging 33.6 points on 47.4% overall shooting and 36.4% from 3-point range, 7.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game. He's leading the NBA in scoring average, and he just became the first player in nearly 40 years to average 40 points a game over a span of six road games.

In the month of March, he's putting up 36.9 points per contest. Right now, it's hard to argue that five players in basketball are better than him.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Kevin Garnett on why Luka Doncic shouldn't be on All-NBA First Team

Brazil vs. France live score, stats, highlights, result from international soccer friendly originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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• Brazil vs. France live score
• Kickoff time where you are
• Pre-match stats
• Highlights, key moments
• Team news
• Upcoming games for both sides

Brazil and France meet in Boston on Thursday in arguably the biggest friendly matchup of the March international break.

Carlo Ancelotti's Selecao will face Les Bleus at Gillette Stadium in one of the last games involving these teams before their final World Cup 2026 rosters will have to be announced. That could make this game hugely important to those players hoping to make the cut.

These teams have had some famous meetings down the years, including in the final of the 1998 World Cup, when France won their home tournament. A year before then, Roberto Carlos scored arguably the most famous free-kick in history in a friendly meeting (see below).

The hope is this latest contest offers similar levels of excitement.

Tem coisa que não se explica… se admira.

Em 1997, contra a França, Roberto Carlos não cobrou uma falta, ele fez história e transformou um gol em obra de arte.

GOLAÇO DA NOSSA SELEÇÃO! 🇧🇷

ISSO É BRASIL! 💚💛#BateNoPeitopic.twitter.com/KovIN7Tij9

— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) March 25, 2026

Brazil vs. France score

Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA, United States)
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. (USA)

Predicted lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Wesley, Ibanez, Leo Pereira, Douglas Santos — Casemiro, Andrey Santos — Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Jr — Gabriel Martinelli

France (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Gusto, Konate, Upamecano, T. Hernandez — Tchouameni, Rabiot, Cherki — Olise, Mbappe, Dembele

Brazil vs. France off time

The match kicks off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough at 4 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Brazil vs. France pre-match stats

• Brazil have won the previous two friendly meetings with France by a 6-1 aggregate score (3-0, 3-1).
• In 16 matches dating back to 1930, these teams have averaged nearly three goals per game whenever they meet (they've scored 47 times in those 16 previous clashes).
• Pele is the top goal-scorer in this particular fixture. He scored a hat-trick against Les Bleus in the 1958 World Cup semifinals.

Brazil vs. France team news

Brazil team news

• Neymar was not called up for this international window and is not involved here.
• Gabriel Martinelli has been tipped to lead the attack as he attempts to nail down a place in Ancelotti's final World Cup squad.
• Arsenal's Gabriel withdrew due to injury, with Ibanez and Leo Pereira expected to start in central defence. Marquinhos has hip pain and will be kept back for the game with Croatia next week.

MORE:Full Brazil roster for March 2026

France team news

• Kylian Mbappe is fit enough to play despite speculation that his knee injury was not properly treated earlier this season (he denied this).
• William Saliba pulled out of the squad, so Ibrahima Konate could partner Dayot Upamecano in defence.
• Rayan Cherki could get the nod in midfield.

MORE:France squad for March 2026 international break

Brazil vs. France highlights, key incidents

This section will be updated as highlights become available.

Brazil vs. France talking points, analysis

This section will be updated after the match.

Brazil vs. France reaction

Post-match reaction from both teams to follow.

Brazil vs. France upcoming schedules

Brazil upcoming fixtures

France upcoming fixtures

Where is Neymar? Why Brazil forward is not playing vs. France as hopes of World Cup return fade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ever since tearing his ACL during a 2023 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Neymar has dreamed of a return to the fold with the Brazil national team.

There feels like no better stage for such an occasion than the FIFA World Cup, but the window is quickly closing for the Santos star to prove his worth for that dream to come true.

As the summer tournament nears and Brazil continues its preparations for the coming competition, Neymar's chances of being in the squad have faded considerably.

The Sporting News explains why Neymar is not involved with Brazil as they face France and Croatia in March, and why it's starting to feel as if he won't be part of their World Cup campaign.

MORE:A full roundup of the players called in for Brazil to face France and Croatia in March friendlies

Why is Neymar not playing for Brazil vs. France?

Neymar was left off the Brazil roster for March friendlies against France and Croatia.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti considered including Neymar, but in the end decided that he would not be involved as the team heads to the United States for a pair of games against European opposition.

Ancelotti explained that Neymar's exclusion was because he was not convinced the player could offer full fitness to the national team.

"Why is he not on this list now? Because he is not 100%," Ancelotti said upon the release of the Brazil roster. "We need players at 100% right now."

The Italian would not rule out Neymar for the World Cup, indicating that as long as he proved he is fully fit, he would be considered.

"As I said, for the final list, the conversation is different. Neymar has to keep working and playing, showing his qualities in a good physical condition."

Will Neymar play for Brazil at the World Cup?

After being excluded from the Brazil roster for the March friendlies, it feels unlikely that Neymar will be part of the Brazil team to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond his failure to make the squad for the final international break before the World Cup arrives, there are multiple reports from Brazil that suggest discord between the national team setup and the country's all-time leading scorer.

First off, Neymar disputed Ancelotti's claim that he is not fully fit. In a video posted to his social media, Neymar is shown on a treatment table saying, "Hey Ancelotti, what about me?"

"We were not called up," he says shortly after. "I’m sad, obviously. I’ll always root for the national team, right? Everything is fine. Now, it’s time to keep working. Keep improving."

Santos head coach Cuca also questioned Ancelotti's claim, saying that Neymar's absence from a recent Santos match — which Ancelotti attended hoping to see Neymar play — was due to load management, with three games in a seven-day stretch.

Reports from Brazil claimed the lead-up to this decision has created a rift between Neymar and Ancelotti. From the Italian's perspective, he is selecting players to perform at the World Cup, where games will routinely be three or four days apart.

According to CNN Brasil, as cited by WorldSoccerTalk, Neymar's public claim that he is fully fit has been received as insubordinate by the national team, and his absence from the match Ancelotti attended also harmed the relationship.

The chances of Neymar suiting up for a sensational return to the national team at the World Cup are becoming slimmer with every passing absence.

Don’t look now, but the NCAA Tournament is already 78 percent of the way over, as 52 of the 68 teams have been eliminated. With that in mind, it’s certainly not too early to look at how each conference has performed in the tournament. We know the Big Ten has dominated the tournament so far, but what about everyone else?

Let’s rank the conferences by performance as of now. Note that we only ranked multi-bid conferences.

1. Big Ten, 13-3, 6 teams remaining

With the Big Ten representing six of the final 16 teams remaining, they easily get the top spot. Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois were expected to still be here, but Nebraska and Iowa are both surprise participants in the Sweet Sixteen. Is this the year the Big Ten breaks the national championship drought?

2. SEC, 13-6, 4 teams remaining

The SEC put up a very respectable 13-6 record the first weekend of March Madness. Texas and Tennessee were not expected to have advanced as far as they have, but Florida’s early upset was a major stain on the SEC’s record this year. All four remaining SEC schools are underdogs in the Sweet Sixteen. How many, if any, can break through to the Elite Eight?

3. Big 12, 9-5, 3 teams remaining

The middle part of the Big 12’s NCAA Tournament contingent largely disappointed this year. However, the top three teams are all set up very well. Arizona could be the tournament favorite given Duke’s struggles. Houston saw Florida bow out early, leaving it as the favorite in the South. Lastly, Iowa State is shooting as hot as anyone. There’s a world where three Big 12 teams make the Final Four.

4. Big East, 4-1, 2 teams remaining

The Big East was wildly disappointing in the regular season, with just three teams making the tournament. However, two of those three are still playing, as UConn faces off with Michigan State and St. John’s gets a crack at Duke. As both teams are in the East, only one could possibly make the Final Four, but it’s still been a successful NCAA Tournament so far for the Big East.

5. Atlantic 10, 2-2, 0 teams remaining

The A-10 only got two teams in this year, but both won a game, with 9-seed Saint Louis knocking off 8-seed Georgia, and 11-seed VCU capping off the comeback over 6-seed North Carolina. Sadly, neither team made it past the Round of 32, as Michigan and Illinois quickly squashed their dreams. It was a down year in the A-10, but its showing in the tournament wasn’t disastrous.

6. ACC, 5-7, 1 team remaining

We now step into the disastrous category. The ACC imploded in the NCAA Tournament with only one of its eight representatives making it out of the first weekend. Even that one team, Duke, hasn’t exactly looked that great. Many knew this wasn’t a vintage ACC type of year during the regular season, but we may have underestimated how bad the conference was.

7. WCC, 1-3, 0 teams remaining

The West Coast Conference typically goes as Gonzaga goes, and that was no exception this year. Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara both lost in the first round, and 3-seed Gonzaga lost to 11-seed Texas in the Round of 32. For a program like Gonzaga, that’s incredibly disappointing. For a conference like the WCC, not having any teams in the Sweet Sixteen is also incredibly disappointing.

8. MAC, 1-2, 0 teams remaining

I do feel bad putting the Mid-American Conference here, as it isn’t normally a two-bid league. The MAC got two teams in this season, but neither team lasted long. Miami (OH) did win a First Four game before falling to 6-seed Tennessee in the Round of 64. Likewise, 12-seed Akron couldn’t get out of the first round and got blown out by No. 5-seed Texas Tech. Unlike the ACC and WCC above, we can still call this a successful season for the MAC.

Yesterday we kicked things off with the first two installments of our top prospect series. Today we’re back with the next tier up

16. Silvano Hechavarria, RHP, Age 22 (DOB: 3/18/2003), Grade 40, 2025: NR

Signed out of Cuba in June of 2024, Hechavarria was older than the typical International Free Agent and he cruised through the DSL that summer before making his way stateside in 2025. There, he had similarly little trouble with the complex and the Florida State League, by late summer earning a promotion to a somewhat more age appropriate league with A+ Vancouver. Overall last season, he pitched 86.2 innings across the three levels, with an 82:23 strikeout to walk ratio and a 2.28 ERA.

Hechavarria looks the part of a starting pitcher, standing 6’4” and weighing 200lbs. He has a fairly short and tall delivery, releasing from a high three quarters arm slot to generate downward plane. The velocity on his fastballs varies from 89-97, mostly averaging 93-94. He mostly throws a four seamer, which has solid carry and above average arm side run, mixing in a sinker that’s got plus run and a little drop. Overall they look like solid average pitches.

His best pitch, and the most commonly thrown if you separate the fastballs, is a cutter-y slider in the upper 80s that projects as above average. He rounds out the arsenal with a change-up with splitter style movement that is his least refined offering but that flashes as a second 55 grade weapon.

It’s not the prettiest delivery, but Hechavarria has a loose athleticism and he repeats it well, with command of all four offerings that’s probably MLB average right now and has a chance to get to plus. The overall package is a potential #4 starter who lacks a true dominating out pitch but who gets through a lot of innings with a deep repertoire and by limiting base runners. 2026 will be about continuing to stretch out his workload after his year off while defecting and seeing how well his stuff plays against upper minors bats.

15. Blaine Bullard, OF, Age 19 (DOB: 8/16/2006), Grade 40, 2025: High School

Acquiring Bullard was a combination of luck and smart negotiating for the Jays. He was a big riser later in the 2025 draft process, with teams believing he was a top three round pick on talent. The word was that his commitment to attend Texas A&M was firm, though, and teams didn’t want to risk forfeiting top 10 round bonus pool money if he proved un-signable. The jays had managed to save up some money, though, and were in a position to dare him to turn down $1.7 million in the 12th round. It proved irresistible, and they got their player.

What they got for their money is a 70 grade athlete who has sky high upside but also remaining work to refine his game. Bullard is a switch hitter, although his left handed swing is by far the more polished of the two right now. He has the twitchiness and hand eye coordination scouts look for in future above average contact hitters, but he has some work to do to get to breaking balls. His approach is reported to be solid. He doesn’t have much present power, and while there’s room for him to add muscle on his frame he’ll probably always have below average raw. Combined with a swing that’s more geared for line drives, he looks more like an average/OBP type than a slugger. He’s a plus runner, and he looks to be an above average centre fielder who can do some damage on the bases.

The most likely outcome is a slap and dash fourth outfielder, but even a little power development and he has the potential to be a leadoff hitting, plus glove every day centre fielder.

14. Victor Arias, C, Age 22 (DOB: 8/24/2003), Grade 40, 2025: 24th

Arias is a long time Jays farmhand, having signed back in August of 2019 out of his native Venezuela. After the scrubbed 2020 minor league season, he climbed the ladder slowly, spending two full years in the Dominican Summer League, one at the complex, and another at A Dunedin. Throughout, he consistently posted solid batting lines, balancing strong walk rates with tolerable strikeouts and a modicum of power. Things finally accelerated a bit in 2025, as he got his first extended run at A+ Vancouver (after a late cup of coffee in 2024), continued to produce, and earned a bump to AA New Hampshire for the last 36 games of the season. He scuffled a bit at the top level, but overall slashed .272/.353/.403 on the season, racking up 33 extra base hits in 102 games and swiping 18 bags in 23 tries.

Another diminutive Jays prospect with surprising power, Arias stands 5’9” and is listed at 175lbs, but this season he saw a jump in his raw power and now posts above average to plus exit velocities. His 54% hard hit rate was the best in the system. His swing produces a lot of ground balls, which limits his over the fence power production, but he hits his hardest balls in the air and a tweak could unlock above average home run production. He has fringe average contact ability and plate discipline, but again there are flashes of an average hit tool.

He’s a plus runner, sometimes recording 70 grade home to first times, with an above average arm. His routes in centre field need refinement, so right now he’s a fringe average defender there in spite of his tools.

The story with Arias is a player with uncommon upside for a 22 year old five seasons and six years into his pro career, who’s held his own in the mid minors already. If the adjustments don’t come, he profiles as a fifth outfielder/pinch run specialist. Fully unlocking his tools would require multiple significant adjustments, but if he were to pull it off the ceiling would be high.

13. Yohendrick Pinango, Age 23 (DOB: 5/7/2002), Grade 40, 2025: NR

The return for Nate Pearson at the 2024 deadline didn’t look like much at the time. Pinango signed with the Cubs out of Venezuela in 2018, and while he lit up the DSL the next summer he was pretty unremarkable over the three minor league seasons following the pandemic. A torrid first month of the 2024 season at A+ popped him onto the radar and probably lead to the trade. He bombed in his first 33 games in the Jays system, posting a .518 OPS at AA New Hampshire. It all came together in 2025, though. Pinango torched the Eastern league to the tune of .298/.406/.522, earning a promotion to AAA Buffalo. He cooled down there, but still posted a roughly average line with lots of walks, solid K numbers, and some pop.

Pinango has always been a solid contact hitter, but his breakout was fueled by trading an aggressive approach for a very selective one. He now watches more strikes than would be ideal, but he rarely chases and waits on pitches he can hammer. As for the hammering part, his max exit velocity in Buffalo was over 115mph. Only 30 major leaguers last year could say the same. his 91.9mph average exit velocity and 47.6% hard hit rate were both comfortably plus. The lone offensive knock on him is that while he hits enough fly balls, his best power comes a low angles, producing line drives and hard grounders instead of home runs. If he can fix that, he could be a cleanup calibre hitter, and even if he can’t the combination of patience, contact and strength is enough for a viable offensive profile.

There’s a lot of pressure on the bat, as Pinango is a below average runner whose ugly routes and iffy arm make him a liability even in left field. If it comes together offensively he can be a regular regardless, but anything short and he’s likely a bench bat or not an MLB player.

Serie A giants Inter Milan are reportedly looking to tie star wingback Carlos Augusto down to a new long-term contract.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, negotiations are on hold as the player ‘took time’ to assess his options.

Though the Nerazzurri are ready to offload several defenders this summer, Carlos Augusto is not part of that group.

Indeed, the former Monza star has been reliable ever since joining the club in the summer of 2023.

However, he has not always been Cristian Chivu’s first option this season, making just 13 Serie A starts so far.

Inter Milan Looking to Renew Carlos Augusto Contract

Augusto’s versatility allows him to cover multiple positions at the back.

Though he is primarily a left-back, the 27-year-old has often excelled as a center-back in the absence of Alessandro Bastoni.

With the Italian’s future at San Siro hanging by a thread, Inter are keen to secure Augusto’s services for the long term.

However, the player has taken time to evaluate his current situation, said the report.

Augusto’s current deal runs until 2028, so there’s no immediate urgency to rush into a renewal.

Still, Inter would ideally sort out Augusto’s future sooner rather than later to avoid any uncertainty going into the summer.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced it signed five-year veteran guard Kayode Awosika on Wednesday. Awosika is joining Los Angeles after spending the last four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions.

Before playing with the Lions, Awosika signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of the University at Buffalo. He played the first season of his NFL career with the Eagles then the Lions signed him off Philadelphia’s practice squad in 2022.

With the Lions, Awosika contributed to one of best offenses in the NFL. He helped three different running backs (Jamaal Williams in 2022, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023) rush 1,000 yards or more in a season and allowed quarterback Jared Goff to throw for at least 4,000 yards in each season.

Throughout five seasons in the NFL, Awosika has made 50 career appearances and 11 starts. He has also played in four playoff games and started in the Lions’ NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 season.

Awosika is expected to compete with Trevor Penning for the starting left guard spot during training camp.

How Have the Chargers Bolstered the Offensive Line This Offseason?

In addition to signing Awosika, the Chargers signed former Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange and former Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz this offseason.

Los Angeles will also be getting Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back from injuries next season. Slater missed the entire 2025 season with a ruptured patellar tendon he suffered in training camp. Meanwhile, Alt missed multiple games with a high ankle sprain before ultimately sustaining a season-ending ankle sprain in Week 9.

The offensive line was a big weakness for the Chargers last season. But with the new additions and return of key players, Los Angeles is hopeful that the offensive line will be stronger in 2026.

Photo Credit: David Reginek

When the Colorado Avalanche shook the foundation of their core by trading Mikko Rantanen for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and picks, we should have felt a sense of de ja vu, but we didn’t. Intuition lost on many Avalanche fans and reporters alike (myself included).

The Rantanen deal wasn’t the first time we’ve seen a team trade a superstar and attempt to “make up for it in the aggregate,” as Chris MacFarland famously said following the deal.

This management philosophy really started with the trade of Nomar Garciaparra by General Manager Theo Epstein, who, armed with analytics and a plush pocketbook, used analytics and ‘team-building’ methodology to reverse The Curse of the Great Bambino finally.

The idea that leveraging a beloved superstar for multiple undervalued isn’t new around here. The Lindros trade, the Duchene deal, and now the Rantanen trade.

What’s different this time around?

The Avalanche might have landed a player much closer to the capabilities and level of production that they sent on as Martin Necas sits just 12 points shy of 100 on the season, a marker that stands as a true line in the sand between really good and superstar. That reality could effectively frame the deal as a superstar swap with a Jack Drury sweater.

The question now becomes, can he do it?

Enough Runway?

First, we must consider if there’s still enough runway for Marty’s 100-point season to take flight. With Necas currently finding his cruising altitude at ~1.31 PPG and 12 games to get 12 points, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if he does it with a game or two to spare. Add to that Marty has 7 points in his last three appearances, and I think we can make a strong case for optimism.

A more detailed look at the competition reveals even more evidence. Necas has historically (full career) scored a career average of 0.77 points per game against the teams left on the schedule. When you filter for Necas’ more recent years, he’s clipping at a more impressive ~1.05 points per game against teams on the remaining schedule.

The Avalanche will get the Stars one last time before season’s end, and Necas has 7 points in the three meetings so far this season, and 11 points over the last three seasons’ worth of matchups. He has made minced meat of the Kraken as well, the last few seasons, with 11 points in those six meetings. Guess who he logged his 30th goal of the season against?

The numbers are on Necas’s side, but he’ll have to see them through in a time frame when his Avalanche squad is trying to solidify itself as regular-season and Central Division Champs.

SPIN THAT WHEEL!

Martin Necas has had a multiple-point night 28 times this season. That means Necas has had a multi-point game in roughly 42% of the games he’s played in. In the spirit of visiting Vegas during this final stretch run, let’s call multi-point games a ‘bonus.‘

Say Marty slightly deviates negatively from that trend and only has a multi-point night every third game, Necas should hit the bonus four times before the year’s end.

Now we spin the wheel for the Mini, Minor, or Grand Prize.

The Mini prize is just the two-point night.

Necas has scored three or more points in a single game nine times this season, with three of such occasions coming against Vegas and Dallas, so let’s call that the Minor Prize.

For the Grand Prize, we set aside the elusive but achievable (and achieved against Dallas) four-point night, which Necas has realized twice this season, as recently as the beginning of March.

Triggering the ‘bonus’ will prove paramount for Necas’ quest to 100 points, and depending on the level of the prize, the mark could be reached sooner than we even anticipate.

Martin Necas isn’t just a part of the Mikko Rantanen deal. He could be a 40-goal-scoring and 100-point-getting winger in 2025-26.

He’s looking like he could be a bona fide superstar.

Do you think Necas will hit 100 points this season?

Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes remains under contract until 2028, but discussions for a new deal might be around the corner—if he’s not outright sold to Manchester United or Real Madrid, as widely reported, this summer.

According to Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder, however, Bruno’s contract talks will not focus on the Brazil international becoming the club’s top earner, as that’s not what the midfielder has in mind, nor will he push for it if he signs a new deal with the Magpies.

Ryder reported that Bruno and his representatives are focused on securing a deal that suits the player, rather than specifically targeting the highest salary at St James’ Park.

“It is thought that Bruno and his representatives are only keen to discuss a deal that suits their client, and he will negotiate on his own terms, suggesting that becoming the highest-paid player won’t be a motivation during talks,” Ryder wrote.

Bruno’s current contract arrangement has remained unchanged since his 2023 extension, which still has two years left to run. However, the report notes that since that deal was agreed, other players, such as forward Nick Woltemade, have climbed higher on the club’s top earners list, placing them above Bruno in the salary ranks.

Ryder made it clear that some new signings have surpassed established players in terms of salary, raising questions about Newcastle’s wage structure, and that could lead to trouble in Tyneside—seemingly not when it comes to Bruno, though.

It remains unclear which players signed for big-money deals, and whether or not the likes of Anthony Gordon or Sandro Tonali are part of that Woltemade-led group of big earners.

At the end of the day, it seems like the broader concern, according to Ryder’s report, is that failing to qualify for any European competition by the end of the season is what will inevitably influence future negotiations with current players and force Newcastle’s hand into sanctioning sales if they don’t want to find themselves in another Isak-like situation this summer.

Indiana men’s basketball’s first season under Darian DeVries came to an end when the Hoosiers didn’t receive a bid for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers finished 18-14 overall and 9-11 in Big Ten play, with a late collapse ending their March Madness hopes.

We’ll be recapping and analyzing DeVries’ first season in a few different ways from individual players to other lineups and trends.

Tayton Conerway

• Final statline: 9.5 PTS, 3.3 AST, 2.8 REB
• Role: I honestly don’t know.

Stats provided by KenPom,BartTorvik or CBB Analytics.

Initially in the starting lineup beside fellow point guard, Conor Enright, Conerway brought athleticism and speed to Indiana’s backcourt that it desperately needed. Even by the end of the season, with his starting spot having been taken, Conerway ended with the second highest-usage rate on the team, behind only Lamar Wilkerson.

While Conerway dealt with some injuries that kept him out of a few games, he seemed to be on a shorter leash when he returned to the rotation. Over the last ten games of Indiana’s season, he saw more than 10 minutes just five times.

This limited role is hard to square with Conerway’s advanced analytics. Per BartTorvik, he had the fifth highest efficiency rating, scoring higher on defense than DeVries’ preferred point guard, Enright. He also had the highest assist rate on the team, beating out Enright by about 6%.