Marcus Rashford said ‘Barcelona is a club where dreams come true’
English striker Marcus Rashford’s high-potential move to Barcelona from Manchester United was finally realised on Wednesday after he signed a loan contract with the Spanish giants, confirming all the rumours about him moving to play in Spain. Barcelona have signed Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan from Manchester United with an option to buy. The forward joins after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at his boyhood club. “I want to win the biggest trophies and feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world so it is the perfect place,” Rashford said in an official unveiling by the Spanish club. “You see with the team last season, they have a young ambitious team and I want to add my qualities, my personality, improve the team and help them win.” Earlier, in comments to the club’s own media, Rashford said: “It’s a club where people’s dreams come true and they win big prizes. And what the club stands for really means a lot to me as well. It feels like home and this is a big factor in my choice to come here.” Speaking about his boyhood club where he started playing since 2005 and made his senior debut in 2015, Rashford said, “I don’t have anything bad to say about Man Utd. It’s been an important part of not only my career but my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to play for them but football is the same as life, and not everything goes as simple as you may have thought,” he said to Sky Sports. Rashford said: “I was clear on my preference from the beginning. It didn’t work out in January so I went to Aston Villa and enjoyed a good period there. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play there. The summer came around very quickly, it was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. It’s a family club, something I’m used to from my past.” Rashford has spent 20 years at United, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club, but has not featured since being dropped by Amorim for the Manchester derby last December. He said later that month that he was ready for a new challenge. Signing praises on his new club Barca, Rashford said, “I’m very excited. It’s a club where dreams come true. They win big prizes and what the club stands for really means a lot to me.” “I always try to make decisive actions and fast dynamic plays, and I always like good football. I’ve always been a fan of watching Barcelona play from a young age, like most football fans. “It’s going to be a joy for me to play here and I am going to enjoy every minute of it. I’m full of excitement and hunger to go out and try and help this team win. They won so much last year and I can see the ambition of the club is to do better than last year. For a player, that is what you want to hear because it keeps you improving year on year, and that is what you need to be the best version of yourself,” he added. The 27-year-old forward has three years remaining on a £325,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford. Barcelona said he would become the 10th man to play for them and United, after Mark Hughes, Laurent Blanc, Henrik Larsson, Jordi Cruyff, Gerard Piqué, Víctor Valdés, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sánchez and Memphis Depay. “The player has signed his contract as a Barça player this afternoon at a private meeting in the presence of the FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, the director of the football area and other board members,” Barcelona said in a statement. While the financial details are yet to be disclosed. Spanish media said the agreement with United would give Barcelona an option to buy Rashford for about 30 million euros ($35 million).
Rishabh Pant out for six weeks, Ishan Kishan to join before the fifth Test
In a big blow to India’s Test team wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt on the first day of the Manchester Test, has been advised six weeks’ rest as his toe is fractured. In the 68th over of India’s innings, Pant, batting on 37, tried a pre-determined reverse sweep against pacer Chris Woakes but missed, taking a hit on his right boot. The ball hit the boot after taking an inside edge. With one man short in the playing XI, the Indian team management had asked the medical team to check if Pant can bat after taking a painkiller in need. However, it has been learnt that Pant will not travel to the ground for the second day’s play on Thursday after the medical team advised him not to put further pressure on the fractured toe. Meanwhile, the selection committee will add Ishan Kishan to the squad ahead of the fifth Test, as Pant won’t be part of the final Test match, which will be played from July 31st to August 4th at The Oval. India is already experiencing an injury crisis with all-rounder Nitesh Kumar Reddy (knee) out of the series and fast bowlers Akash Deep (groin) and Arshdeep Singh (thumb) not available for the fourth Test. Pant’s injury meant that he retired hurt on 37, with Rabindra Jadeja replacing him out on the field. India soon lost the well-set Sai Sudharsan before Jadeja and Shardul Thakur saw off the day, taking India to 264 for four at stumps.
Ayush Mhatre breaks Brendon McCullum’s record
India Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre played a remarkable knock under pressure in the second Youth Test against England Under-19 at Chelmsford and broke a number of records, including that of England’s current head coach and former New Zealand icon Brendon McCullum to hammer over 200 runs in a Youth Test with a strike-rate of over 100. Mhatre’s strike-rate, however, read better than the Kiwi legend, who had achieved the feat in a Youth Test against South Africa back in 2001. Chasing a big target of 355 runs, Ayush Mhatre played a magnificent innings of 126 runs off just 80 balls, hitting 13 fours and 6 sixes at an impressive strike rate of 157.50. India Under-19s started with a setback as opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a golden duck on the very first ball by Alex Green Mhatre’s individual score in both innings totalled to 206 off 170 balls at a strike-rate of 121.17. McCullum, on the other hand, had smoked 186(172) in the first innings and 46 unbeaten off 42 balls in the second while leading New Zealand’s U-19 unit. His combined total was 232 off 214 balls, which came at a strike rate of 108.41. Mhatre breaks number of records , Mhatre reached his century in only 64 balls, making it the third-fastest Youth Test hundred in all recorded history. Only Moeen Ali (56 balls) and Suryavanshi (58) have recorded quicker Youth Test hundreds. Mhatre finished on 126 off 80 balls after an innings studded with 13 fours and six sixes. The Chennai Super Kings revelation was also in prime touch in the first innings, aggregating 80 in only 90 deliveries. Mhatre thereby became only the second batter after New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum to record more than 200 runs in a Youth Test with a strike-rate above 100. The young Mumbaikar went even further up, with his whopping 121.17 strike rate ranking even higher than McCullum’s 108.41 in a Youth Test against South Africa in 2001. The New Zealand U19 skipper then, Mhatre also broke the Indian Youth Test record held by Manoj Tiwary for most sixes in a match. Ayush Mhatre was in excellent form throughout the Youth Test series against England. In the first test at Beckenham, he scored a brilliant 102 runs in the first innings and added 32 more in the second. In the second Youth Test, Mhatre continued his strong run with a match-winning knock, but unfortunately, rain spoiled the game once again. Just when India was pushing for victory at 290 for 6 in the 43rd over, rain stopped play and the match ended in a draw. With both matches drawn, the Youth Test series ended 0-0, bringing India U19’s England tour to a close without a winner.
Vaughan bats for substitute in test
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has pointed out how the contest will effectively be reduced to 11 vs 10 with four days left and suggested that teams be allowed option to introduce a substitute player in the eventuality of someone in their eleven getting seriously injured. “I don’t like the fact that we’ve got four days left in the game – four days of action in what has been an incredible series – where we are going to have ten versus eleven,” Vaughan said on Test Match Special. “I prefer that you’d have a sub. You know, once they brought in concussion subs, I was crying out, saying, ‘Well, just have substitutions then in the first innings of a game.’ That would be my stepping point. If it happens in the second innings, I feel that team might kind of break the rules or indulge in a bit of skullduggery.” “But if it’s clear and obvious – when someone breaks a hand or a foot or ruptures a calf – it’s so evident that someone is in real pain and can’t carry on. I think it’s very clear to me: you should be allowed a sub,” he added. India vs England: India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was taken off the field after being struck on the foot during the opening day of the Manchester Test. Pant is unlikely to take further part in the game. India endured a significant setback on the opening day of the fourth Test at Manchester as Rishabh Pant was forced off the field after sustaining a painful blow to his right foot. The incident occurred late in the final session on Wednesday, July 23, when Chris Woakes delivered a sharp yorker that beat Pant’s attempted no-look sweep and struck him flush on the foot, just below the toe. Pant was visibly in distress immediately after the impact. The physios rushed in, and after a brief assessment on the field, he was taken off via a cabby ambulance for further treatment. Broadcast visuals revealed swelling and even a small cut near the affected area, raising concerns about the extent of the damage. The Indian team management is expected to have the injury thoroughly assessed to determine his availability for the remainder of the match. This incident marks an unfortunate trend for Pant, who had also picked up an injury during the first day of the previous Test at Lord’s. While keeping wickets, he sustained a finger injury that ruled him out of continuing behind the stumps. Despite that setback, he came out to bat later in the match and played a key role in extending the contest to the final day. India had made a promising start earlier in the day, with half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan pushing them past the 200-run mark. However, the side has struggled to stitch together a lasting partnership in the middle order, and Pant was expected to anchor the innings with his counter-attacking presence. Ponting, speaking to Sky Sports, said the signs were ominous: “He hardly put his foot on the ground. He rolled around for 6-8 minutes before the golf cart came out. The immediate swelling was the worry for me. I’ve had a metatarsal injury myself, and they’re small, fragile bones. The fact he couldn’t put any weight on it — it doesn’t look good at all.” Pant’s absence could severely dent India’s chances, especially as they trail 1-2 in the five-match series. “The momentum he brings to the Indian team — that’s what they potentially miss the most,” Ponting added. “Someone who can break the game open and put pressure back on the opposition.” India’s Sai Sudharsan, who top-scored with 61, said Pant “was in a lot of pain” and confirmed he had gone for scans. “We’ll get to know overnight ,” he added. Former England Captain Alastair Cook though has a different view on it. Cook asked what happens if it’s just a bruise which renders a batter unable to hold a bat? “I’m not sure I agree,” said Cook. “I’m not even sure what I think at the moment. But say we’ve just seen Pant walk off – he looks in all kinds of pain. And then it turns out it’s not broken. “So there’s nothing on the X-ray, it’s just a bruise. Does he have to play on then? If he has broken his foot, then that’s a different thing.” “But there will be cases where someone gets hit on the arm. ‘I can’t move my hand, I’m bruised.’ But it’s only a bruise. So do you get replaced because of discomfort and the fact that you can’t hold the bat as well as you’d like – even though it’s just a bruise?” he added.
