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English Premier League side Brentford have announced the signing of Yoane Wissa from Ligue 1 side Lorient.

Signed for an undisclosed fee, the DR Congo international was handed a four-year contract with the option of a further year.

With this development, the former Angers and Ajaccio star will stay in Thomas Frank’s squad until 2025.

During his three-and-a-half years with the Merlucciidaes, he contributed 37 goals, with 17 assists, in 128 outings.

“Brentford FC have signed Congolese international winger Yoane Wissa on a four-year contract, with the option of a further year, subject to international clearance,” a statement from the Premier League side read.

“The 24-year-old completed his move from Ligue 1 side Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud, better known as FC Lorient, earlier today, Tuesday 10 August, for an undisclosed fee.”

Meanwhile manager Frank is pleased to have the utility player in his team while stating the attributes that informed his signings.

“Wissa is someone who fits many different positions for us. He can play as a winger, as a number 10, and as a striker,” he told Brentford website.

“He has that pace and power which we think is really important to be a threat in behind. He has a good ability to take on players and create overloads.

“He also has good pressing abilities; he will need to learn our style of play but he fits the pressing criteria we want from a winger, a striker, or a number 10.

“He had one good season in Ligue 2 and one very good season in Ligue 1 and now we look forward to developing him further.

“I’m sure that he will help the team. He is a very good character as well; everyone knows that it is very important for our culture that we only get good characters in. He is very keen to come in and help the team and we are very keen to get him in.”

Wissa will wear jersey number 11 when the 2021-22 season commences. Also, he becomes the fourth African at London’s Brentford Community Stadium.

Others include Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Julian Jeanvier (Guinea), and Tariqe Fosu (Ghana).

Lionel Messi has officially joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer following his departure from Barcelona.

Messi has committed to a two-season deal at Parc des Princes with the option of an extra year, and will reportedly earn €35 million (£30m/$41m) per annum in wages with the French giants.

Barca sent shockwaves across the football world when announcing that they couldn't afford to re-register the 34-year-old winner last week, and PSG have moved quickly to secure the services of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

What has been said?

"I am impatient to start a new chapter of my career in Paris", Messi told the PSG website. "The club and its vision are in perfect harmony with my ambitions. I know how talented the players and staff are here. I am determined to build, alongside them, something great for the club and for the fans. I can't wait to set foot on the Parc des Princes pitch. "

"I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him to Paris, with his family," said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the club president.

"He did not hide his desire to continue to evolve at the highest level and to win trophies. The ambition of the club is of course identical. The addition of Leo to our world-class team confirms the relevance and success of our recruitment. Together with our great coach and his staff, I look forward to seeing our team make history for all of our supporters around the world. "

Why did Messi leave Barca?

Messi's next move has been a topic of hot discussion ever since he handed in a transfer request at Camp Nou at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, with Manchester City, Inter and Bayern Munich all linked with the Argentine and a possible switch to MLS also mooted.

Barca managed to convince Messi to play on for one more season though, and after helping the club win the Copa del Rey under Ronald Koeman, he changed his mind about calling a halt to his 21-year career in Catalunya.

A well-documented financial crisis forced the Blaugrana to delay an official announcement of a new contract for Messi, who agreed to remain on their books for another five years after becoming a free agent on June 30.

However, the renewal proposal eventually had to be torn up due to the fact Barca had already exceeded La Liga's salary limit, leaving their talismanic captain with no choice but to confirm his exit in an emotional final press conference.

What will Messi bring to PSG?

PSG have signed a man who will surely be remembered as the finest player to ever grace the Camp Nou turf, with his staggering record of 672 goals through 778 appearances for Barca unlikely to be broken in the near or distant future.

Messi helped the Blaugrana win 34 trophies in total, including four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles, having initially made his debut for the club as a 17-year-old back in 2004.

The Argentina international's vast experience and insatiable hunger for major silverware could prove invaluable for PSG as they bid for success on both domestic and European fronts in 2021-22.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be expected to wrestle the Ligue 1 title back from Lille and take the club all the way in Europe, with Messi set to complete a mouth-watering front three alongside ex-Barca team-mate Neymar and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe.

Further reading

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has marked his 10-year anniversary at the club by saying he plans on staying at Old Trafford for many more years.

De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has gone on to become one of the club's all-time top goalkeepers, making 441 appearances thus far.

Though there has been some speculation that De Gea could make way for Dean Henderson as United's starter, the Spaniard does not sound like a man planning on leaving any time soon.

What was said?

“It’s been a lot of years at the club and a great source of pride for me to have been able to play for a club like Manchester United for so many seasons now,” De Gea told the club's official website. “But you have to live in the present, I think I still have a lot of years ahead of me at the club, I’m excited about that, feeling strong and I’m very keen to do well.

"I feel great in myself, high in confidence and I think it should be - and has to be - an important season for all of us.”

De Gea's battle with Henderson

After impressing on loan at Sheffield United in 2019-20, Henderson returned to Old Trafford last term and made progress toward becoming the club's No 1.

The 24-year-old started last season as second choice behind De Gea but for the last few months of the campaign he established himself as the starter in the league, while De Gea had to settle for playing in the Europa League.

However Henderson suffered a hip injury this summer that forced him out of England's Euro 2020 squad, and has recently been suffering from prolonged fatigue after contracting Covid-19.

De Gea, who has a contract through 2023, looks set to start United's Premier League opener against Leeds on Saturday.

Further reading

Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain will guarantee the Ligue 1 side a Champions League triumph, according to Somalia national team manager Said Abdi Haibeh.

After leaving La Liga side Barcelona after 21 years, the 34-year-old joined the Parisians on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months having agreed to a €35m-per-year contract.

His move to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will also see him reunite with compatriots Leandro Paredes, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria as well as his Brazilian, former Barcelona teammate Neymar.

Weighing in on the six-time Ballon d’Or winner's move to the French top-flight outfit, the Ocean Stars’ leading figure claims that decision was a necessary solution for PSG to end their agelong failure to clinch the European club competition.

“PSG just showed that they mean business when they signed (Georginio) Wijnaldum, (Gianluigi) Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos,” Haibeh told Goal.

“It shows they are serious about winning the Champions League. With the arrival of Messi, that is a guarantee.

“His move to PSG is a very good move considering the situation he’s currently in.

“Barcelona let him down big time, he wanted to stay with his beloved club, a club that he spent 21 years of his life, a club where he won 35 trophies and six Ballon d’Or crowns.”

During his time with the Catalans, where he made his professional debut in 2003 after joining the academy in 2000, he won La Liga 10 times, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey diadems among several other honours.

Also, he is Barca’s top scorer and top appearance maker of all time, with 672 goals from 778 matches.

Haibeh also highlights what the diminutive phenomenon will bring to Pochettino’s team.

“He will complete the missing part of the puzzle, goals, assists and players around him will have great confidence and will perform better,” he added.

“This move will see him join his friend Neymar as well as Kylian Mbappe. These three frontmen will be very difficult to stop.

“£25M a year plus £25M sign-on fees was an offer too good to refuse.”

PSG have won the French top-flight diadem on nine occasions, but they have failed to win the continent's top trophy.

The closest they came was in the 2019-20 season when Kingsley Coman fired Bayern Munich to a 1-0 final triumph over Thomas Tuchel's side inside Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.

Senegal international and Chelsea star Edouard Mendy has revealed that he once didn't want to be a goalkeeper.

Prior to his move to the Premier League giants, the 29-year-old was relatively unknown as he starred for Ligue 1 side, Rennes.

Nevertheless, he shot into the limelight having joined the Blues in a £22m ($31m) deal as Thomas Tuchel’s men sought to find greater solidity between the sticks as costly errors had sneaked into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s game.

He has since proven to be one of the bargain signings, making crucial saves for the Londoners who finished fourth in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.

In a chat with Uefa website ahead of Wednesday’s Super League cracker against Villareal in Belfast, the African opened up on how he hated playing as a keeper.

“I didn't always want to be a goalkeeper, but I didn't have much of a future further up the pitch,” he said.

“I was asked to go in goal, and everything happened naturally after that. I've experienced all the divisions in France, from the sixth-tier to Ligue 1.

“In between, there was a period where I was unemployed for a year, aged 22.

“Having never been professional, it's difficult to then become a professional footballer, but I worked during that year, I worked twice as hard as the others.

“I had luck on my side and that thankfully paid off. I had the chance to sign for Olympique de Marseille. And I just went up from there.”

Mendy played a key role in Chelsea’s Champions League success – featuring in 12 games and not conceding a goal on nine occasions – a feat that saw him equal the tournament’s cleansheet record.

Only Santiago Canizares (Valencia in 2000-01) and Keylor Navas (Real Madrid in 2015-16) have ever reached that number in a single campaign, meaning the African star is a member of an exclusive club.

In addition, he is the first African keeper to play in the competition’s final since Bruce Grobbelaar in 1985.

The former Zimbabwe international was also in goal for Liverpool a year earlier when Liverpool famously defeated AS Roma to claim the European Cup in 1984.

It's been a busy few days in the football world, with Lionel Messi leaving his beloved Barcelona due to a breakdown in contract negotiations.

He is now set to pursue a new challenge with French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, where he will be reunited with ex-Barcelona team-mate Neymar, as well as link up with superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Messi has already agreed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 side, and he will be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday at Parc des Princes. Goal has what you need to know about when the press conference is, how to watch it and more.

When is the Lionel Messi PSG unveiling?

Messi's press conference will take place at 10am BST (5am ET) on Wednesday, August 11.

He will be addressing reporters at Parc des Princes.

Messi has already arrived in Paris to undergo a medical with the Ligue 1 giants, having agreed to a €35m-per-year contract .

PSG have already been teasing content ahead of the Barcelona legend's official signing with the club, posting semi-cryptic videos of a mysterious new signing with 'hints' that include six Ballons d'Or and mate tea.

Messi has already been pictured in Paris waving and greeting fans enthusiastically, so it's only a matter of time before he becomes an official PSG player.

He's also been photographed with his family in the city.

How can I watch Lionel Messi's PSG unveiling & press conference?

The press conference is set to be streamed on PSG's channel here.

It will also be available to watch right here on Goal, and we'll update this page with more details closer to the time of the press conference.

When will Lionel Messi make his PSG debut?

Once all the paperwork is processed and Messi has officially signed for the Ligue 1 side, fans will be wondering just how soon they can see Messi on the pitch in a PSG kit.

The Ligue 1 campaign has already started. PSG registered an opening-day win over Troyes, and Messi could make his debut against Clermont on September 12.

Though PSG do have games prior to September 12, reports from France as well as AS suggest that his full debut will be saved for when fans are allowed to attend stadiums.

Further reading

Al Sadd manager Xavi Hernandez has praised the quality of new signing Andre Ayew.

A free agent following his departure from English Championship outfit Swansea City, the Ghana captain sealed a move to the Qatari fold last month, penning a two-year deal with an option to extend for a further year.

He linked up with Al Sadd’s squad at their pre-season training camp in Spain.

“We didn’t change many players. We signed Andre Ayew; he’s a very good player, professional and talented,” Xavi said, as reported by his club’s official website.

“Many young players will also join the team. I wish all the best for the new players and the entire team.”

Al Sadd are preparing for the defence of the Qatari All-Stars League after winning their 15th title last season.

“We are at the start of the new season, at our training camp in Olot, Catalonia,” said Xavi.

“We were here two years ago, and it is amazing here, with good facilities and a good hotel. We are focused on the new season and we are excited to prepare well for it.

“Hopefully we can make the supporters of Al Sadd happy, especially as we are really excited to start the season.

“This is my third season at Al Sadd. I’m still really excited to prepare. I think everything will be very good during the season.”

On Sunday, The Boss continued their pre-season preparations with a 5-3 friendly win over Spanish side UE Figueres.

New signing Ayew was on the scoresheet.

“I think it was a good test for us. It was the first game for us, of course, it was a friendly game but Al-Sadd always want to compete. We want to see the new players adapt well with the team. I am happy that we competed really well,” Xavi remarked.

“We are Al-Sadd and we are a winning team. Of course, the last season was a historic season. But we want to compete and keep going. I think we are the favourites in all the competitions, especially the local competitions.

“I am very excited to continue working hard for the team, to help the players so that the fans can be proud of us. Hopefully, we can repeat the same achievements as the last season.”

Al Sadd will open their Stars League campaign with a home clash with Al Sailiyah on September 12.

It is hard to imagine a world in which Lionel Messi does not play for Barcelona, but that is very much set to be reality.

News of Messi leaving his beloved Barcelona due to contract disagreements came as a shock, with the Argentine now having agreed a two-year contract with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

After embodying the No 10 shirt at Camp Nou for so long, what number will he wear at the Parc des Princes? Goal takes a look.

What number will Messi wear at PSG?

It has not yet been confirmed what shirt number Messi will wear at PSG, but it's almost certain that he will not be donning the No 10 shirt that he was so synonymous with at Barcelona.

The No 10 is currently being occupied by Messi's friend and ex-Barcelona team-mate Neymar, and even though reports stated that the Brazilian had even gone as far as offering his shirt to the Argentine, Messi declined the gesture.

The most likely possibility is for Messi to take on the No 30 jersey, which is the number he wore at Barcelona when he first broke into the senior team as a youngster.

Messi wore that number for two seasons until 2006-07, when he then donned the No 19 jersey that was left open by Fernando Navarro.

He had also worn the No 19 jersey in his younger days playing for the Argentina national team.

It wasn't until 2008 that Messi inherited the iconic Barcelona No 10 shirt from idol and team-mate Ronaldinho, upon his leaving for AC Milan.

Will Barcelona retire the No 10 shirt after Messi?

It was Ronaldinho's shoes that Messi had to fill when the legendary Brazilian departed in 2008, and it's safe to say that Messi went above and beyond.

Ronaldinho himself insisted the Liga side should not allow another player to wear the No 10 after Messi - albeit he said this with retirement in mind, not in the event of Messi signing for another European side.

"When Messi retires, which I hope will be a long time from now, they should leave the No10 there so that nobody can touch it again," he said in 2018.

When will Messi's shirt number be announced?

PSG are set to hold a press conference on Wednesday August 11 at 11am CEST (10am GMT), where Messi is expected to be unveiled - along with confirmation of his shirt number.

Former U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo thinks Carli Lloyd is 'done', even though she believes she could physically make it to the 2023 Women's World Cup.

The 39-year-old scored twice as Vlatko Andonovski's side won a bronze medal at this summer's Olympic Games, beating Australia 4-3 in a thrilling third-place game.

After the game, she was asked about her future and hinted that she may hang up her boots - as was 36-year-old Megan Rapinoe, who left the door more open to the future.

What has Solo said?

Speaking to Goal on the latest episode of All of US: The U.S. Women's Soccer Show, Solo discussed the decisions Lloyd and Rapinoe, as well as captain Becky Sauerbrunn, have to make, while also dissecting the Olympics as a whole as the USWNT look forward to the next stage under Andonovski.

"[Carli] is a beast at 39 and if she wanted to go [to the World Cup in two years], I would bank on it, from a physical standpoint. But from an emotional and a mental standpoint, I think she's done. I think we have seen Carli Lloyd play her last world championship game," Solo told Goal.

"Becky Sauerbrunn, I think she's irreplaceable, really. It's going to be really hard to find somebody who's consistent in the defence, who can just lock it down, who does her job, day in and day out, consistently.

"Becky is going to be really hard to replace. I know she can go two more years but, again, these women have personal lives and I know a lot of them want to move on with the personal aspects of their lives, which is really hard to do as a professional athlete.

"I think Megan is actually the least able, physically, to go. She's had knee issues. She has muscle strains from time to time. From a physical standpoint, it would be really hard for Megan, but I would put my money on her continuing to try to make that World Cup team in two years."

Despite many of this incredibly talented generation of players coming to the tail end of their careers, Solo is looking forward to the future as well, particularly what lies ahead for Tierna Davidson, the young defender who shone at these Olympics.

"I think we're gonna see her be the starting central defender for a long time to come - and I hope we do because I'm really inspired by Davidson," she said. "I like her style of play. She's a smart defender. She's a team player. She's always covering spaces as well as individual one-on-one players.

"She's a player that I would have loved to have played behind because you can tell that she does it for the team."

'What Simone Biles did takes a lot of strength'

Solo also discussed the pressure that athletes have to deal with following the mass attention that U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, who won four Olympic gold medals in 2016, gained after her decision to withdraw from a number of events in Japan.

"Everybody goes through tough times in life, but then to deal with it when you're supposed to be at your best in front of an audience on TV, it comes with a lot of pressure and it comes with a lot of ups and downs," the former goalkeeper, who won two gold medals and a World Cup, said.

"Sometimes it's really hard to keep that happy face on for the cameras. That's what a lot of athletes are expected to do - like Simone Biles. She's America's sweetheart and she went out there and she said, 'You know what? I don't have it today.' That takes a lot of strength and it also takes a lot of strength, when you're not feeling good, to find a way to push through your routine or get through the game.

"Everybody has to deal with it differently. Not every person is the exact same. I lost my father going to my first World Cup and my way through healing and emotional pain was to play for him.

"Each athlete is very different, but to see the discussions now and kind of the recognition of what these athletes are giving us for entertainment back home as we watch TV, we should all be applauding them, whether it's a good performance or a bad performance because we have no idea the pressures they are going through."

Further reading

Real Madrid have confirmed Dani Ceballos has suffered an ankle ligament injury amid rumours the midfielder could leave the club this summer.

Ceballos suffered the injury during the start of Spain's run in the Olympics, ruling him out for what ended up being the entirety of the tournament.

The injury news comes amid links with a move away from Madrid, with AC Milan among the clubs said to be interested in the midfielder, who spent last two seasons on loan at Arsenal.

What was said?

"Following tests carried out on our player Dani Ceballos by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a complete tear in his ankle ligaments," the club said in a statement.

"His recovery will continue to be assessed."

Ceballos' career

Ceballos originally joined Real Madrid in 2017, having come through Real Betis' academy before emerging with the club's first team.

He appeared in 56 games in all competitions through his first two seasons with Real Madrid, but struggled to lock down a consistent starting role.

The midfielder was loaned to Arsenal for two seasons but said his goodbyes to the club after the 2020-21 campaign

Ceballos left the door open for a potential Premier League return this summer, but said that he planned to "fight" for his future at Real Madrid. He also said that he was hoping to avoid going out on loan once again in an effort to find some continuity.

Further reading

Baroka FC chairman Khurishi Mphahlele says they are open to offers for Evidence Makgopa as Orlando Pirates are strongly linked with the striker.

Pirates have so far signed four players but are yet to add a central forward to their squad ahead of the 2021/22 Premier Soccer League season.

Makgopa is back home with a goal to his name at the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Buccaneers are reported to be keen on the 21-year-old who was named the PSL’s Most Promising Player last season.

“Makgopa is still happy at Baroka. There is no team that has contacted us regarding Makgopa,” Mphahlele told SunSport.
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“All I know is that any team that wants a Baroka player knows what channel to follow and we will listen to them. But for now, Makgopa is an important player to us and he is working hard at training with the rest of the team.”

Pirates' finishing was problematic last season as Frank Mhango, Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa battled with injuries.

This saw coach Josef Zinnbauer experimenting by throwing youngster Azola Tshobeni into the fray while Terrence Dzvukamanja, Deon Hotto and Linda Mntambo were also fielded as central strikers.

If Pirates sign Makgopa, he will team up with former Baroka teammates Goodman Mosele and Collins Makgaka with whom he formed a formidable partnership in Limpopo.

Apart from Makgopa, Pirates are, however, reportedly close to signing Ghanaian forward Kwame Peprah.

The King Faisal Babes attacker is said to have undergone a medical on Monday and could sign a contract on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, as Baroka prepare to lose Makgopa, coach Mphahlele insists they have built a strong squad that can help them win silverware.

The Limpopo side has signed the likes of goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe, Sydney Malivha and Akani Chauke from TS Sporting.

Most of their players are from the National First Division including Sekela Sithole from Cape Unoya United, Train Mokhabi (JDR Stars), Athenkosi Dladla (University of Pretoria) and Bayzel Goldstone who came in from Richards Bay.

“Coach Thoka Matsimela is happy with the team we have assembled for the new season,” said Mphahlele. 

“I am positive that we have a strong team that will do better than last season and fights to win trophies.”

Antonio Rudiger has declared his admiration for Chelsea's imminent £98 million ($136m) arrival Romelu Lukaku ahead of the UEFA Super Cup with Villarreal.

The club-record transfer threatens to overshadow the annual European showcase match that pits the Champions League winners against the Europa League champions.

The 28-year-old striker's transfer will soon be officially announced after he had his medical in Milan before flying in to complete the deal.

What did Rudiger say?

"You can see in his body type that he is a beast," Rudiger said in Belfast. "He's someone who is very strong and I think also he showed it in Italy over the past two years. He did very well over there. Also for his national team. He's a goalscorer and for me a top striker.

"I cannot talk about someone who is not a Chelsea player because I don't know anything," he added. "I think I said everything about him about his strengths and that he is a top class striker who loves to score goals."

Will Rudiger stay at Chelsea?

Having almost left west London last summer, Rudiger again has some uncertainty around his future despite arguably being Chelsea's star defender since Thomas Tuchel arrived.

That's because, along with Andreas Christensen, he has less than 12 months to run on his current contract. The Germany international says that talks over a new deal are ongoing but that he has nothing yet to announce.

"I said before that I wanted to concentrate on the Euros and when I come back, talks can start. That’s what has happened," he added. "Talks have begun so we will see what time brings."

Further reading

Frank Lampard says he is ready to get back into management, with the former Chelsea boss waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.

Lampard was dismissed by Chelsea in January, ending his year-and-a-half stint as manager.

In the months since, Lampard's family has welcomed a son, which has kept him busy, but the former midfielder says he is looking forward to a return to management sometime soon.

What did Lampard say?

"I love being here. I love being at Wembley and working, albeit with five to 11-year-olds," he said while working as part of the McDonald’s Fun Football programme at Wembley.

"You get the same enjoyment out of trying to improve players and I loved doing that when I was coaching and managing at Chelsea and Derby.

"I've enjoyed family time. It's something that I wouldn't say I've neglected, but sports sometimes consume you. You spend a lot of time on the road and working, particularly in management, thinking, so it's not been the worst for me to be at home and actually we've had a new son.

"I've enjoyed that time but yeah, I'm ready. There were a few things in the summer that weren't quite right and I decided to not take, spend a bit more time at home and see what comes up."

Lampard's managerial career

Lampard was appointed manager of Derby in 2018 as he helped guide the club to the play-offs after finishing sixth in his first season.

That summer he was appointed by Chelsea, becoming the club's first English manager in two decades as he replaced Maurizio Sarri.

The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League in Lampard's first season, also making it to the final of the FA Cup before losing to Arsenal.

In his second season in charge, Chelsea spent big to sign Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, but after a run of two wins in eight Premier League matches, Lampard was dismissed in January with Chelsea sitting ninth. The club went on to win the Champions League under Lampard's successor, Thomas Tuchel.

Further reading

New Stade Rennes sensation Kamaldeen Sulemana is excited by his scoring start to life at the club and believes he could have played on in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Lens.

On his debut, the Ghana international announced his presence in style, sending a beautiful effort into the net just 14 minutes after kick-off.

He was hauled off the pitch in the 58th minute, his place taken by Belgium winger of Ghanaian descent Jeremy Doku.

“It was a complicated game. Before kick-off, I was very excited to make my official game debut for the club. I am very happy to be in this team. I am surrounded by good players. To score in my first game, I couldn't have asked for better,” Kamaldeen told his club’s official website.

“Now, we have to keep working and learn French to get along even better with my teammates. It will be even easier for the future. But for a first in Ligue 1, it's not so bad.

“It was more intense than what I used to know but I managed to get used to it. I could have played a little longer but the coach wants it to be progressive. By bringing in Jeremy in my place, it's not bad. There is no problem. I'll quickly find the rhythm.

“Of course, I would have preferred that we win like everyone else. A little disappointed but not everything can be perfect from the start."

The Ghanaian’s goal was a moment of brilliance.

On a counter break, the 19-year0old latched on to a pass, drove his way into the box before curling beyond the goalkeeper.

“These are moves that I work on in training, and that I also worked on before, strikes from the outside or inside the box,” he said.

“I hope to reproduce this kind of situation in the matches to come. You have to know how to try your luck. When you feel good, success is often the order of the day.

“It's a pleasure to see the supporters back in the stadiums. I was very well received, their support is heart-warming.

“It feels good to share these first emotions with the Rennes public, in a very beautiful stadium, with a perfect pitch. I really appreciated. I hope we can bring a lot of happiness to them throughout the season.”

Kamaldeen, who joined Rennes from Danish fold Nordsjaelland in July, will look to make his second league appearance for the club in their away trip to Brest on Sunday.

SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo says he is “looking forward to working with” Buhle Mkhwanazi who is training with the club.

Mkhwanazi is a free agent after leaving the now-defunct Bidvest Wits at the end of the 2019/20 season. 

In his search for a new home, the 31-year-old has landed at SuperSport but no deal has been struck as yet. 

“Ja, look Buhle is training with us and I think he’s been doing very well,” Tembo told iDiski Times.

“He’s a clean-living professional. And I was even surprised, when I saw him in training, you know, for someone who hasn’t played for a year, he looked in good condition. He is an experienced campaigner as well as a Bafana Bafana international. 

"So we are looking for someone who can come in and help our young players like Keagan Phillips, who’s only 20, Luke Fleurs who’s only 21, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who’s only 22, to give them guidance and direction which we really lacked last season. So, I just hope everything goes well, and I'm looking forward to working with him.”

Mkhwanazi was rumoured to be a target of former Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt who had worked with him at Bidvest Wits.

After returning coach Stuart Baxter went on to sign players who were targeted by Hunt, it was expected that Mkhwanazi would also end up at Naturena. 

With Chiefs having signed Njabulo Ngcobo from Swallows FC, chances are now slim that Mkwanazi will sign for Amakhosi. 

The chance of him being signed by SuperSport looks brighter following the departure of centre-back Grant Kekana who joined Mamelodi Sundowns during this transfer window.

Kekana became the second SuperSport central defender to leave within a year without replacement after Clayton Daniels also left for Maritzburg United.

This leaves Tembo desperate for an experienced defender to guide his inexperienced set-up at the back.

If Mkhwanazi is given a contract by SuperSport, he would become their first signing of this pre-season. 

SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo believes Stuart Baxter is going to change Kaizer Chiefs and make them a competitive force in the Premier Soccer League.

Tembo worked under Baxter at SuperSport United, and it is because of that working relationship that the South African believes the new Amakhosi coach will bring changes to the Caf Champions League 2020/21 finalists.

"I’ve worked with him‚ I think I owe a lot to my progress and development as a coach to him as well‚" Tembo said ahead of Matsatsantsa’s season-opening MTN8 quarter-final against Golden Arrows as was quoted by Soweto Live.

"I know that he is going to change Chiefs. Chiefs are going to be very competitive this season. And believe me‚ knowing him they are going to be very difficult to play against."

And the season is going to be very interesting. I believe that Chiefs will be up there challenging for the league‚ and each and every cup game as well. So we are looking forward to a very interesting season."

Tembo believes the new signings at Naturena is another reason to believe the Soweto giants should be counted as sides likely to lift the league title. Keagan Dolly, Cole Alexander, Sifiso Hlanti and Kgaogelo Sekgota are the new recruits for Chiefs.

"Chiefs are always a big team and they have gone into the market and brought in players to bolster their squad in terms of quality‚ so obviously they are going to be very competitive. Probably they will be challenging for the league title as well‚" Tembo added.

"So we’ve [SuperSport United] got to do what we have to do to make sure that we stay within that group‚ which means we’ve got to work a bit more‚ and a bit harder."

Tembo's assessment of Chiefs comes after Brandon Petersen praised his goalkeeping rivals Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma and Daniel Akpeyi and promised to work hard for the team.

"Having that camaraderie between the goalkeepers and seeing the way they work together and push one another. For me, it was an eye-opener.  It is encouraging me to work hard," Petersen told the club's website.

"We saw in the Caf Champions League, with the changes that Chiefs had with the goalkeepers, they put one in and he performs. That is something that makes me smile.

"I am looking forward to building relationships with the supporters and going out and representing them in a good manner."

FIFA Ultimate Team is the most popular game mode each year in the game and in FIFA 22 it is receiving some changes rather than any major overhaul.

The main changes are in Division Rivals and FUT Champions, while a new card type has been added with the introduction of FUT Heroes.

The improvements for FUT will be available on all platforms when the new game is released on October 1.

Here, Goal takes a look at the Ultimate Team changes coming to FIFA 22.

Division Rivals

The biggest change to Division Rivals is the new seasonal progression system.

Division Rivals uses a new ladder system in FIFA 22 which better reflects your skill level as well as your form.

The ladder works using stages, with every win seeing you advance one stage and every defeat dropping you down one stage.

You can now have win streaks to help you advance through stages more quickly - every game you win over two wins in a row will see you advance two stages instead of the usual one.

Whereas previous versions of the game assigned you a division based on qualifying matches, every player will start in Division 10 in FIFA 22.

Progress will also reset during each in-game Season, with Seasonal Rewards now added as well as the usual Weekly Rewards.

Division Rivals will also have a new Elite Division, where the best FUT players in the world will compete.

The Elite Division is higher than Division 1, but does not feature relegation, so once you qualify for the Elite Division, you will stay there for the remainder of the current Season.

EA Sports claims that the new ladder system in Division Rivals will improve matchmaking as it will attempt to look for an opponent in a neighbouring stage and division, while also taking into account their physical location.

FUT Champions

Weekend League is no more in FIFA 22 as FUT Champions will now be spread throughout the week rather than just over three days like in previous versions of the game.

This year, the Champions Play-Offs and Finals will be introduced with qualification based on points rather than wins, meaning you can still progress if you lose.

Champions Qualification Points will still be earned in Division Rivals and, once you earn enough points, you will be entered into the Play-Offs.

Play-Off matches earn points towards Champion Ranks and Rewards and determine what you will get at the end of each six-week FUT Season.

Earn enough points in the Champions Play-Offs and you will be awarded a Finals Qualification Token. This can be used whenever you want.

The FUT Champions Finals is the new Weekend League and takes three days, but you can enter on any day rather than just on Fridays as in FIFA 21.

Stadium Customisation

FUT Stadium was introduced in FIFA 21 and is back for FIFA 22 with some new additions.

A VIP Area has been added for superfans in the centre of the stands, which can also have an additional TIFO.

Crowd Customisation options include Crowd Cards, Two-Stick Banners and Crowd Flags.

There is also a new XL TIFO for FIFA 22 which can be combined with smaller TIFOs.

You can now use a colour filter in the search on the Transfer Market to help you find stadium items more easily.

FUT Heroes

FIFA 22 introduces a new card type to sit alongside ICONs.

FUT Heroes are retired players from recent years and belong to the specific league where they made the biggest impact.

In addition, they are all assigned to the Heroes Club, which provides a strong link to every other club in their featured league.

Two heroes from different leagues will also have strong links to each other, which will help when building hybrid squads.

Click here for the full list of FUT Heroes and more information on how they work.

Other Ultimate Team Changes

Co-op Public Matchmaking has been added to FUT Friendlies, meaning you can play alongside a random team-mate against other Co-op opponents.

Unlike regular Co-op play, you will not use your normal FUT squad, but will be able to choose from regularly-changing unique public squads.

This should give people the chance to use players they might not play with in game otherwise.

The Main Menu has also received some tweaks in FIFA 22 with the addition of tabs to help you access popular items more quickly.

Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) are now available through the Home tab and it's now easier to switch from SBCs to the Transfer Market and back.

Your Squad has been moved to a Club tab, which also includes Player Stats, Club Customisation and Leaderboards.

A new Player Item view has also been added to show key attributes, while new settings have been added for Celebration Camera Focus and Competitive Gameplay.

FIFA 22 news & updates

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has given an update on his condition after undergoing successful shoulder surgery.

Rashford initially tore a muscle in his shoulder back in November 2020, but played on until the end of United's last campaign before also being selected for England's European Championship squad.

The 23-year-old took in a much-needed break after the Three Lions' final defeat to Italy, and after reporting to Old Trafford for the start of pre-season, sat down with club officials to discuss how best to deal with his ongoing fitness problem.

What's been said?

The decision was ultimately taken for Rashford to go under the knife, and after heading into for his hospital appointment last week, the forward has sent a message to his followers on social media to confirm that he is now on the road to recovery.

"Thank you for all the well wishes. I had my surgery on Friday morning and everything went very well," Rashford wrote in a post on Twitter above an image of himself sporting a heavy-duty cast and shoulder wrapping.

"A little sore but other than that I’m feeling good. Hope you’re all having a great day!"

When will Rashford be available to play again?

The Red Devils have not yet offered a specific return date for Rashford, but he is not expected to return to action until October, meaning he will miss the start of the 2021-22 season.

The England international could sit out at least six Premier League fixtures, including United's opening game against old adversaries Leeds, and is also likely to be unavailable when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side get their latest Champions League campaign under way.

Rashford's United record

Rashford has already racked up 271 appearances across all competitions for United, having initially made his debut for the club as an 18-year-old back in 2016.

The talented attacker has scored 88 goals to date, while also setting up another 56 for his team-mates, and has also picked up FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League winners' medals.

Further reading