Major League Soccer says it is investigating allegations of tampering by Inter Miami after the club signed Brazil midfielder Casemiro.
On Wednesday, Miami announced they had signed the 34-year-old – who left Manchester United at the end of last season – on a deal that runs to the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to extend until June 2029.
But moments later, the MLS released a statement saying it was “reviewing a tampering allegation” against the club.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” it added.
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“While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority [first rights] to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation.”
The investigation concerns Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS regulation that gives a specific club first refusal over a player should they want to join.
A club may have up to five players on their discovery list at any time and can add or remove players.
Los Angeles Galaxy held the discovery rights for Casemiro but in announcing the player’s signing, Inter Miami said they had acquired the rights from the Galaxy.
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Casemiro announced in January that he would depart Old Trafford at the end of the 2026-27 season following a mutual decision not to renew his contract.
He won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid before moving to United in 2022, who played for Brazil as they reached the last 16 at this summer’s World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow,” he said.
Casemiro made 160 appearances for United, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists as he won one EFL Cup and one FA Cup.
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In the wake of Casemiro’s departure, United have prioritised midfield reinforcements in this window, buying Andrey Santos for £50m from Chelsea, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.
Before the announcement of the investigation, Inter Miami co-owner Sir David Beckham said of Casemiro: “He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”
At Miami, Casemiro is set to join former Real and Manchester United team-mate Sergio Reguilon as well as Argentina’s World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.
It is not the first time Inter Miami have been probed over transfer dealings.
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In 2021 they were fined $2m after breaking MLS rules with the signing of France midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus the previous year.
The MLS said Matuidi had been paid more than was allowed, effectively giving the team four “designated players” last season rather than the permitted three. Designated players’ wages do not count towards the MLS salary cap.
Known as the ‘Beckham rule’, it was introduced when the ex-England captain joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
Jul 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart (27) celebrates while running the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Sal Stewart hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the host Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon.
JJ Bleday also went deep and Brady Singer (5-9) pitched 6 2/3 quality innings as the Reds took two of three games in the interleague series, knocking the Mariners out of first place in the American League West.
Singer allowed three runs on six hits to win his second straight start. The right-hander walked one and struck out six.
Cincinnati closer Emilio Pagan, a former Mariner, worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season and second in as many days.
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Edwin Arroyo drew a one-out walk in the seventh off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo (3-3) and Ke’Bryan Hayes lined a single to center field. With two outs, Stewart hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence in right-center to put the Reds up 5-3.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the second inning. Josh Naylor hit a one-out single to shallow center off the glove of shortstop Elly De La Cruz and proceeded to steal second. Cal Raleigh lined a single to right, scoring Naylor.
The Reds took the lead in the fourth. Bleday led off with a homer to right off Mariners starter Emerson Hancock. With two outs, Tyler Stephenson doubled to right, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Dane Myers infield single, on which second baseman Cole Young made a diving stop to his left but was unable to cleanly get the ball out of his mitt.
Seattle regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Dominic Canzone lined a single to right before being forced out on a grounder by Randy Arozarena. Naylor hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line, sending Arozarena to third. Both runners scored on Luke Raley’s two-out single to center.
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Hancock made a quality start, leaving after six innings with a 3-2 lead. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
It’s a special edition of the Coloradoan’s Athlete of the Week series, partnering with Blue Federal Credit Union to honor our top local sports stars.
This week’s version isn’t about the athletes so much as the schools they represent.
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What is the best mascot among our Fort Collins-area schools? While there is some nickname overlap between a few schools, each school has a distinct branding, including a couple names unique to Fort Collins schools.
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So, use your vote for your favorite local mascot! Maybe it’s your alma mater. Perhaps your kid attends school there. Or maybe you just think a Lambkin (or a SaberCat, or an Impala, or a Firebird, etc.) is just a really unique, interesting mascot.
You can find the poll at the bottom of the page.
Voting runs through July 28 at 11:59 a.m., with the winner announced at coloradoan.com/sports soon after the poll’s conclusion.
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Here are the Fort Collins-area high schools and their mascots:
Meet the Fort Collins-area mascots/team names:
Fort Collins High School: the Lambkins
The Fort Collins Lambkins mascot “Clyde” dances during a FCHS high school football game.
Take your pick between a prancing lamb and the fiercer-looking live mascot that is Clyde. FCHS is the only school in the country with the Lambkin nickname.
Fossil Ridge: the SaberCats
Fang is the Fossil Ridge mascot, representing the school’s SaberCat nickname and displaying the school’s green and white colors.
Fossil Ridge’s mascot hypes up the crowd during the season-opening game against Loveland on Aug. 28, 2025 at Ray Patterson Field in Loveland, Colo.
Heritage Christian: the Eagles
Heritage Christian doesn’t typically use a live mascot and has undergone some recent athletics logo and branding changes. See the school’s current Eagles logo in the photo below.
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Heritage Christian unveils a jersey in memory of the late Sophia Case in the gym before a varsity basketball game on Jan. 9, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colo.
Liberty Common: the Eagles
Liberty Common also doesn’t typically have a live mascot and also has the Eagles nickname, but with a red, white and blue color scheme. The Eagles mascot “symbolizes America and its values, underscoring the school’s commitment to fostering patriotism and civic duty.”
Liberty Common logo
Poudre: the Impalas
The Impala antelope “is proud, determined, and the possessor of unquenchable spirit” and is nicknamed, “Cache.” Poudre is also the only high school in the country with the Impala nickname and mascot.
Dafne Perea poses with Poudre High School Impala mascot and Colorado State University mascot Cam the Ram on May 20, 2019.
Poudre Community Academy: the Warriors
PCA doesn’t have a live mascot but the Warriors nickname represents the idea that “Strength in Community,” which is PCA’s mission and “what defines us as a family of Warriors.”
Poudre Community Academy player Hayden Belmont, who leads the nation in blocks, poses for a photograph on Feb. 4, 2026, in Wellington, Colo.
Rocky Mountain: the Lobos
The Lobos get their school mascot name from the Spanish word for timberwolf and represents “great courage, loyalty and strength.” Loco the Lobo is the live mascot.
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Rocky Mountain’s mascot freezes for a photograph during the first home game of the season against Northglenn at Rocky Mountain High School on Aug. 22, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colo.
Timnath: the Cubs
When the new Timnath Middle-High School opened in Aug. 2022, the Cub mascot kept the tradition from the previously-closed Timnath High School, which had used the Cubs as its nickname.
The Timnath mascot performs with the Cubs cheer team at the National School Spirit Championships on Feb. 3, 2026, at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Wellington: the Eagles
Like Timnath, Wellington stuck to its roots when the new school opened in 2022. The maroon and white branding and Eagles nickname maintained the branding from the original and previously-closed Wellington high school.
Road sign unveiled in Wellington in 2026 honoring the high school state champions for the Eagles.
Windsor: the Wizards
Windsor’s nickname has over 100 years of history and was derived from the school’s 1924 national championship boys basketball team. The live mascot is named “Walter the Wizard” and can be seen roaming Windsor sidelines with a light-up staff.
The Windsor Wizard walks by a crowd during a high school football game between Windsor and Severance on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at Severance High School in Severance, Colo.
Windsor Community Academy: the Firebirds
Windsor Community Academy has another unique nickname in the Firebirds. The school’s live mascot, Phoenix, was designed by a student and chosen by student suggestions and a vote back in 2023.
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Windsor Charter Academy’s nickname is the Firebirds and its live mascot is named “Phoenix.”
Vote here:
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photos)
NEW DELHI: India captain Shreyas Iyer has thrown his weight behind teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, expressing confidence that the youngster has learned from his difficult introduction to international cricket and is ready to make a stronger impact.Speaking on the eve of the series opener in Harare, Iyer said he had no concerns about Sooryavanshi’s ability to bounce back after the 15-year-old endured a challenging tour of England.The teenager, who became India’s youngest-ever international cricketer during the England series, managed only modest returns before being left out of the fifth match as Sanju Samson returned to the playing XI.Despite the setback, Iyer believes the youngster has used the break productively.“All the youngsters, I think, they have definitely practiced. There was a decent gap after the T20 series. So he (Sooryavanshi) must have rectified where he went wrong. So personally, I don’t have to give much advice,” Iyer said.
Iyer urges fearless cricket
India head into the Zimbabwe series looking to recover from a disappointing white-ball tour of Ireland and England under Iyer’s captaincy.The skipper urged his young squad to play with freedom rather than worrying about criticism or the fear of failure.“I don’t think they should fear failure because when you have such thoughts at the back of your mind, then you play to save yourself. When you don’t have that fear, you can get the best out of yourself,” Iyer had said.With India travelling directly from England and having only one practice session before the opening match, Iyer acknowledged the challenge but backed his side to adapt quickly.Reflecting on his own comeback from injury, the 31-year-old said overcoming setbacks had made him mentally stronger.“It has made me more confident as an individual. When you overcome the injury phase, mentally it makes you very positive. Whatever challenges you face on the field, you know how quickly you can overcome them,” he said.
Sooryavanshi ready to move on
Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, admitted that the last four months have been an emotional rollercoaster but insisted his confidence remains intact.“Yes, there have been several ups and down in the last four months; it’s part of cricket it will keep happening but I have to follow the process and give my 100 per cent for the team,” the youngster told bcci.tv.His omission from the final T20I against England had sparked criticism of the team management, with several former cricketers questioning the decision to drop the teenager after just three innings.However, Sooryavanshi said the support from the coaching staff helped him regain his focus.“It’s an obvious thing that whatever I want (guidance etc), the coaches are making it available and whatever practice I require I am getting that. Feeling very good, there is confidence also,” he said.The Zimbabwe tour also carries special significance for the youngster. It was at the same venue in Harare that he starred in India’s triumphant Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year, smashing a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls against England in the final.“It’s a very memorable ground for me. Just four months back, we had played the U-19 World Cup Final and won, so a very special ground,” he said.Confident of the knowledge he gained during that tournament, Sooryavanshi said he hopes to use his familiarity with the conditions if selected for the opening T20I.“I will back my practice which I have done so far and try to back my game… whatever contribution I can make for the team I will try to give that,” he said.
The WNBA is going with a shooting stars competition instead of its skills challenge, pairing one former great with a current player in the league on Friday night as part of all-star weekend.
Seattle will be represented by Lauren Jackson and Flau’jae Johnson. Washington will have Elena Delle Donne partnered with Shakira Austin. Dallas, which started out as a franchise in Detroit, will pair Jessica Shepard with Deanna Nolan. Minnesota will have Rebekkah Brunson playing with Courtney Williams.
Each team will also include a standout high school player from Nike EYBL, bringing together three generations of women’s basketball in one competition.
The Nike EYBL participants are Jezelle “GG” Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin and Morghan Reckley. Honorary general managers for the WNBA All-Star Game, Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, will serve as designated passers, with Cooper distributing the ball to two teams and Weatherspoon passing it to the other two teams.
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The format is a two-round, timed shooting competition in which teams have 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven shooting locations around the court. The competition features shots ranging from a layup to a 3-pointer, with the two teams posting the highest scores in the opening round advancing to the championship round.
The shooting stars winners will get $15,000. Each competitor will receive $7,500.
Last year the winners of the skills contest each received $2,575 from the WNBA.
The league announced the participants of the three-point contest on Tuesday.
A day after the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, which Argentina lost to Spain, a video went viral showing Lionel Messi saying something to his teammates. “Come on, guys. Calm down, calm down is the most important thing. Let’s stay calm. Let’s just think about playing, nothing else. Calm down, let’s forget about everything. Let’s just play, let’s think about playing. That’s all, guys, let’s go,” the captain of the Albiceleste was heard saying.
With Messi being heard trying to ‘calm down’ his teammates, asking them to forget everything and move on just minutes before the start of the title showdown, the internet was intrigued.
Carlos Mac Allister, father of Alexis Mac Allister – Messi’s teammate – sent his son a message to find out what was behind it.
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“I texted Alexis: ‘Hey, what happened in the locker room? Did something happen?’ I was just as worried. If I was worried, thinking that if something had happened my son would have told me right away, imagine how everyone else felt!” said “Colo” in an interview with Radio La Red.
La charla completa de los jugadores de la Selección Argentina antes de entrar a la cancha.
“He told me no, that they were talking about going out to play, in the football sense, about playing, passing, rotating, creating triangles, not kicking the ball high, not giving away possession. That’s what they were referring to. Then a lot of doubts started to arise. These days, also because of that post that was made, many people write to me and some people have said this to me,” the former footballer, who played for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors, added.
Now, an extended video has been released on social media, highlighting what happened right before kick-off. In the video, Messi can be seen leading his troops from the dressing room to the waiting area.
Messi walks out of the dressing room wearing a white Argentina jacket over his kit. Chants of “Vamos muchachos” (“Let’s go, guys!”) can be heard, while the support staff also seem to be cheering the team.
The video later shows Messi with teammates behind him. The camera follows him as he moves forward. As Messi reaches the waiting area where both teams line up before walking onto the pitch, he deliberately goes around greeting players from Spain.
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He makes a point of shaking hands, patting shoulders, or briefly hugging several of them, particularly those associated with Barcelona, the club where Messi spent most of his career.
Featured Video Of The Day
Yamal Laughs At Paredes vs Gavi ‘Fight Of The Year’ Poster During Parade
AFA warns of Legal Action over False Media Reports
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) says it is considering legal action against media outlets after denying reports that president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino were summoned by U.S. authorities.
In a statement published on its official website, the AFA rejected claims that either official had been ordered to appear before a U.S. court or had electronic devices confiscated, describing those reports as false.
According to the federation, the court document cited in several reports was addressed to a third party, who was instructed to appear before a federal grand jury and could be asked to provide documents or communications involving several individuals, including AFA officials.
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The federation also accused some media outlets of spreading misleading information and warned that it could pursue legal action.
“The AFA reserves the exercise of all legal actions that may be appropriate against the dissemination of false or manifestly misleading information that harms the rights of the institution or its authorities,” the federation said in the statement published on its official website.
The AFA added that inaccurate or deliberately distorted reporting had created serious misinformation and unfairly damaged the reputation of both the organization and its officials. It also urged journalists and media organisations to verify official documents before publishing reports.
ONE featherweight Muay Thai contender Luke Lessei of the United States walked away from ONE Fight Night 45 with his hand raised, but the perfectionist inside him is still chasing something sharper.
“The Chef” outpointed “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah of Algeria via unanimous decision in the featherweight Muay Thai main event on Friday at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Rabah survived, and all three judges ultimately sided with Lessei. Still, the 30-year-old cannot shake the feeling that a golden opportunity slipped through his fingers in that very moment.
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Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
“There was one shot in the third round, a big hook, and my coach tells me, like, it should have been an eight-count,” he told the promotion after the fight.
“I wish I had gotten that eight-count. I could have smelled blood and went for the kill, chasing the 50K bonus.”
“But it is what it is. I’m happy with the shots that I landed. I can always improve. I can always do better, and I think I could push the pace even more.”
Luke Lessei reveals his shortlist of next opponents
With the win pushing him back into featherweight Muay Thai world title contention, Luke Lessei already has a shortlist of names he wants next.
“I just heard [Shadow] has a broken jaw right now, so I’m not sure how soon he’ll be back, but all three of the names, Bambi, Nico, Shadow, whoever,” he told ONE Championship.
“The Chef” continued:
“I’ve always been interested in putting the big gloves back on, doing kickboxing, since there’s no big-glove Muay Thai. But, yeah, I love banging in whatever style it is for striking.”
ONE Fight Night 45 is available on demand for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Manchester United have signed midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this summer, but could they add another?
According to Fabrizio Romano, United are in contact with Roma over the signing of France international Manu Kone.
They are yet to make a bid, but Romano reports that United will consider another move for a defensive midfielder this summer.
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Michael Carrick’s side need reinforcements following the departure of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte suffering a long-term injury at the World Cup.
They also missed out on the signing of Elliot Anderson, who joined rivals Manchester City on a £116m deal.
Jamie Braidwood22 July 2026 22:01
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ICYMI: Arsenal step up Bruno Guimaraes pursuit
Arsenal are prepared to step up their pursuit of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes but have been told that a fee of £100m will be needed to sign the Brazil international midfielder.
Newcastle believe the fee Tottenham paid for Sandro Tonali should set the benchmark for any interest in their captain, yet the Gunners are still said to poised to “accelerate” their interest, according to the Telegraph.
Guimaraes, 28, has emerged as a key leader for Newcastle since his arrival on Tyneside in January 2022, and became their first captain to lift domestic silverware in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup.
He signed a new five-year deal at St James’ Park in October 2023, but Newcastle failed to qualify for the Champions League last season and finished 12th in a disappointing campaign for Eddie Howe’s side.
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Jamie Braidwood22 July 2026 21:01
Aston Villa agree loan deal for Alejandro Garnacho
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea with an obligation to by, according to BBC Sport.
The 22-year-old has already completed a medical in Birmingham and has pre-agreed a four-year contract at Villa Park if the loan deal becomes permanent.
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The terms of the obligation have not been disclosed but it is expected to be triggered if certain realistic conditions are met, with Chelsea confident they will receive their £43m valuation.
(Getty)
Will Castle22 July 2026 20:30
Premier League transfers: Top outgoings so far
1. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle to Barcelona) – £68m
2. Marc Cucurella (Chelsea to Real Madrid) – £50m
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3. Rasmus Hoijlund (Man Utd to Napoli) – £37.5m
4. Donyell Malen (Aston Villa to Roma) – £21m
5. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland to Stade Rennais) – £18.8m
6. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal to Besiktas) – £15.3m
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7. Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal to Porto) – £14.5m
8. Manuel Akanji (Man City to Inter) – £12.8m
9. Enzo Barrenechea (Aston Villa to Benfica) – £10.2m
10. Will Lankshear (Tottenham to Middlesbrough) – £9m
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(PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood22 July 2026 20:01
Liverpool make Adam Wharton decision?
Liverpool have made Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton their top midfield target this summer, according to Spanish outlet AS.
The 22-year-old Wharton is under contract at Crystal Palace until 2029 and the Eagles will reportedly not consider any offer that does reach the new benchmark for Premier League-proven midfielders, around £100m.
Liverpool have signed Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to long-term deals this summer while Curtis Jones is now set to stay.
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Alexis Mac Allister, who has two years remaining on his deal, has been linked with a move to Spain, but boss Andoni Iraola also wants the Argentina international to stay.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood22 July 2026 19:40
Man City agree deal for former Arsenal wonderkid
Arsenal were keen to extend terms with the 16-year-old midfielder, but Nduka is now poised to undergo a medical.
His deal at the Etihad Stadium will initially be on scholarship terms before eventually graduating to a pro contract.
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Mishel Nduka could join Man City’s Academy
Jack Rathborn22 July 2026 19:20
Former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro completes Inter Miami move
The 34-year-old Brazil international, who was a free agent following the conclusion of his contract at Old Trafford last season, joins the Major League Soccer club on a deal that runs until the end of the 2027 MLS Sprint Season.
The agreement includes an option to extend his stay until June 2029, pending visa approval.
Will Castle22 July 2026 19:00
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Belgium World Cup star attracting Premier League interest?
Charles De Ketelaere, the answer to a pub quiz question in a few years time as the only goalscorer against World Cup 2026 winners Spain, is attracting interest from across Europe.
And Corriere della Sera reports that Premier League clubs are pushing for the Atalanta forward’s signature.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also keen, with the Bergamo club quoting €50m (£42.7m) for the 25-year-old, who scored three and assisted one across five games at this summer’s World Cup.
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(Reuters)
Jack Rathborn22 July 2026 18:41
Aston Villa and Tottenham tracking Rafael Leao?
Rafael Leao seems to have been linked with a move to Arsenal for a long time but Aston Villa now have interest in the Portuguese attacker and will have money to spend once the Rogers deal goes through.
Villa appear likely to sign ex-Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan from AC Milan, with Lucas Digne set to move to PSG, and Unai Emery’s side have also discussed Leao with Milan.
Talks are not yet very advanced but the 27-year-old is looking to move on from the San Siro this summer and could be available for around £50m, with Spurs also keeping tabs.
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(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood22 July 2026 18:21
Manchester United ‘preparing’ offer for PSG’s Warren Ziare-Emery?
Manchester United have been linked with a £51m move for Paris Saint-Germain’s France international midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, and are reportedly considering tabling a bid, according to Top Mercato in France.
Having signed Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos but missing out on Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, United are keen to sign another midfielder – with Manu Konu, Aurelien and Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga also linked.
Zaire-Emery is a two-time Champions League winner with PSG but the 20-year-old is not first choice, but the options at the European Champions.
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However, the journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Zaire-Emery is not for sale this summer, and that the midfielder has no desire to leave his hometown club.
Lalit Modi is accused of bid-rigging, money laundering, and violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999. (Photo: Instagram/lalitkmodi)
1 min read Last Updated : Jul 22 2026 | 10:59 PM IST
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi on Wednesday said he plans to visit India later this year or early next year after receiving major legal relief from the Appellate Tribunal in the long-running 2009 IPL South Africa foreign exchange case, describing the ruling as the vindication of a 16-year battle.
In a video message posted on social media, Modi said the tribunal’s verdict had finally established the truth behind his stand on the case.
“I’m really happy with the verdict. It’s really been a great day. Sixteen years I have fought and whatever I have been saying to the media and to everybody has finally emerged as the truth,” Modi said.
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was announced last month that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s comeback fight against Christian Mbilli, originally scheduled for September 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, had been pushed back to October. The former undisputed super-middleweight world champion has now revealed why.
Canelo lost all four of his world titles last year to Terence Crawford, but the American’s subsequent retirement saw the belts scattered, allowing the Mexican to immediately book a world title shot on return against new WBC champion Christian Mbilli.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Canelo has now revealed that there was no injury or issues with the promotion, rather family matters that saw him push it back. He also confirmed that the fight will now take place on October 31.
“Some problems in my family, so I needed to fix … I’m always very disciplined, organised with my training camps, and I wasn’t ready to be training, so that’s why I postponed the fight – because I needed to attend family [matters]. But, all good now, ready to train, and [it’s] gonna be October 31. Yeah, Halloween, that’s the new date.”
Mbilli – undefeated in 30 bouts with 24 knockouts on his ledger – held the WBC interim belt before being elevated to full champion upon Crawford’s retirement. He applies extreme pressure in the ring, making it a good match-up for fans and a style that may play into Alvarez’s counterpunching.
The card remains billed as Mexico against the World, with undercard bouts featuring some of the fighting nation’s biggest names expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
 "Lalit Modi")
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