The Atlanta Braves' season is over following the club's 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres in the wild-card series on Wednesday—and the defeat could spell the end of starting pitcher Max Fried's tenure with the team.

Fried, a free agent this offseason, became emotional when he was asked what it has meant to him to wear the Braves uniform following the club's playoff elimination.

"To me … It means everything," Fried said, according to Zach Klein of WSB-TV. "It's the organization that traded for me and gave me an opportunity to come to the big leagues and be an established big league player."

"Everyone, from my teammates here day-in, day-out, coaching staff, front office, organization, fans, city … Obviously, don't know what's going to happen. But I've absolutely loved every minute of it and hope there are many more."

If Wednesday was indeed Fried's final start as a member of the Braves, it was a cruel ending. The southpaw lasted just two innings, surrendering eight hits and five earned runs in the loss. In the bottom of the first inning, Fried was hit in the hip by a line drive off the bat of Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

During the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker told the ESPN broadcast that Fried's hip was bothering him and that the injury factored into the decision to go to the bullpen early.

As poorly as Fried's outing went, it can certainly be argued that the Braves don't even get into the postseason without his eight-inning gem against the Kansas City Royals this past Friday in what may have been his final start at Truist Park.

But it will be difficult for Fried—and Braves fans to deal with an injury and an early exit representing some of the last memories of his tenure with Atlanta.

Fried, who will turn 31 in January, pitched to an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings in 2024. He told reporters at the All-Star Game that he'd "love" to remain in Atlanta. But given the way he pitched in '24, it's fair to expect the Braves to have competition in retaining his services.

Manchester United are now determined to sign a “tremendous” midfielder, with it being revealed they are willing to make a £61m offer.

Man Utd want to sign new midfielder with Mainoo heading for exit

It has now emerged that Kobbie Mainoo could now be heading for the exit door, having failed to start a single Premier League game this season, with Napoli close to getting a deal over the line after a recent round of talks.

Ruben Amorim clearly isn’t fully convinced by Mainoo, having opted to give Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro the nod in the middle of the park for the most part, and doubts remain over Manuel Ugarte, who received heavy criticism after the EFL Cup defeat against Grimsby Town.

With that in mind, the Red Devils have set out to bring in a new midfielder, and Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton recently moved ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba on the list of targets.

According to a report from Spain, however, a different midfielder has now emerged as Man United’s top target, with it being revealed they are willing to make a €70m (£61m) offer for Athletic Club star Oihan Sancet.

United are determined to get a deal for Sancet done, as they believe he fits their desired profile perfectly, and scouts have been sent to watch the Spaniard in action on a number of occasions.

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The Red Devils are now readying a big offer for a January signing, with Ruben Amorim personally very keen.

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The attacking midfielder hasn’t ruled out an exit, but his current employers are working on a new contract, in an effort to stave off interest from elsewhere.

Sancet enjoyed "tremendous" 2024-25 campaign

Many of the Red Devils’ other midfield targets, such as Baleba, Wharton and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, play in slightly deeper midfield roles, but the Athletic Club star has an attacking mindset, enjoying a fantastic 2024-25 campaign.

Indeed, the 25-year-old was a constant threat on the front foot in La Liga, amassing 20 goals and assists in all competitions, which impressed Athletic Club sporting director Rafa Alkorta, who described him as “tremendous”.

Sancet clearly has the ability to succeed at Old Trafford, but given his attacking mindset, the Pamplona-born star wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for Mainoo, who appears to be heading for the exit door.

Anderson, on the other hand, is accustomed to playing in a deeper midfield role, and the Nottingham Forest star recently displayed his ability to control matches, in what was a remarkable performance for England against Latvia.

Statistic

Number completed

Accurate passes

121/130 (93%)

Key passes

2

Tackles

4

Duels won

7

Parvez Hossain Emon doesn’t like throwing his wicket away after a good start, but he will not step back from his natural instincts in the third ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Parvez made a rapid 67 in the second game, which Bangladesh won by 16 runs. It kept them in contention going into Tuesday’s match, and also broke their eight-match losing streak.Parvez rued getting out after making 67 off 69 balls, when Wanindu Hasaranga beat him with a subtle googly.”I didn’t bat long in the last match,” Parvez said on the eve of the third ODI. “I was feeling guilty after getting out because I was set and the wicket was beautiful. I could have scored a hundred that day, and I felt bad about it. [Towhid] Hridoy was unfortunate; he got run-out. We have been talking about it. If we get set, we need to play long innings. We have to be consistent. If we score runs early and consistently, it will be easier for the team to do well.”Related

• Rain in the way as Bangladesh look for first ODI series win in SL

• Tanvir: Mehidy kept telling us we could defend 248

Batting first in the second ODI, Bangladesh were bowled out for 248 with Parvez and Towhid Hridoy getting fifties. The visitors have shown a tendency to play a high-risk shot much before getting to a decent score in this ODI series.Parvez said that he is hopeful of getting a good start in the third ODI at the Pallekele International Stadium, a ground which is regarded as one of the better batting wickets in Sri Lanka. Parvez himself has looked in good form, particularly after his breakthrough century against UAE in the T20I series in May.”I try to assess the situation, and play accordingly, and I try to play my natural game,” he said. “I don’t have any set target. I spoke to the guys who have played here earlier, and everyone is saying this wicket will be good for batting. I will try to play a big innings if I get a start.”Parvez also talked about his dismissal in the second ODI, when Hasaranga beat him with a lovely delivery. He said that he missed the line of the ball, but generally felt comfortable playing the Sri Lanka legspinner.”He is a good bowler, but he didn’t give me much trouble,” Parvez said. “I just missed the line on that delivery. Legspinners are important in world cricket, and Rishad [Hossain] is also doing well for us. I am sure if he gets a chance, he will do well.”Bangladesh’s players have a bit of their confidence back after Saturday’s win in Colombo. Parvez said that they are eager to grab the opportunity for the series win.”This is a big chance for us. If we win the match tomorrow, it will be a great series win,” he said. “Everyone is feeling confident. After the win in the last match, the confidence has been building among us, so we will try our best to win tomorrow.”

Following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit, former player Chris Sutton has told Celtic to go and get a title-winning manager to replace the 52-year-old at Parkhead.

Desmond slams "self-serving" Rodgers

This all feels eight months too early, but Rodgers simply couldn’t wait until his contract expired and has pulled the plug on his time at Celtic. With the Bhoys eight points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership off the back of their 3-1 defeat against the unexpected league leaders, the manager has made the decision to resign.

To say that not everyone is happy about Rodgers’ exit would be quite the understatement. Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond pulled no punches in his statement following the news, slamming the manager as “self-serving”.

In a scathing review, he said, in part: “When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue.

“Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative. Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving.

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“They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable.”

Rodgers will likely have his own say on that statement, but for now the focus around Glasgow will be set on finding his replacement. And Sutton has already told Celtic to go and get a title winner.

Sutton tells Celtic to bring back Postecoglou

Instantly reacting to Rodgers’ exit, Sutton told Celtic to “bring back” Ange Postecoglou, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge. At this stage, the Australian arguably needs the Bhoys just as much as they need him in what would be yet another managerial reunion at the club.

As things stand, Martin O’Neill is in charge on an interim basis, but Celtic will be hoping to end that spell and appoint a permanent manager as soon as possible.

It must be said that, despite his recent failings, Postecoglou wouldn’t be a bad option. He’s been there and done it in the Scottish Premiership, winning the title twice in two seasons, and drew plenty of praise from top managers like Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot during his time in England.

In fact, responding to comments from Slot that the Liverpool managed hoped Tottenham won a trophy, Ange joked: “I’m not an evangelist. To quote Monty Python, I’m just a naughty little boy!

“[Slot’s opinion] is what I love about football. There’s got to be differences, people who are prepared to do things a little bit differently.

“There’s that variety, that opinion and that allows emotion to come into it. I hate to think people think I’m just some kind of showman or something. I want to win.

“That’s still the core of my being, I hate losing, I want to win and I want to be successful.”

The 60-year-old desperately needs redemption in the dugout after his spells at Tottenham and Forest, whilst Celtic need to get their next appointment right if they are to bridge the gap on Hearts. As of right now, it’s arguably the perfect match.

Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of sending "grossly offensive" social media posts. The 43-year-old called broadcaster Jeremy Vine a "bike nonce" and compared pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko to serial killer couple Fred and Rose West on X. Now, jurors have accepted the prosecution's argument that Barton "crossed the line between free speech and a crime" on six counts.

• Barton in court over social media posts

  Barton has been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court after being charged with 12 counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety back in January 2024. On Friday, jurors found him guilty of six counts of sending grossly offensive social media posts directed at Vine, Ward, and Aluko, but they cleared the former Manchester City player of the other six counts. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Barton victim of 'political prosection'

  The day before he was found guilty, Barton told the court he did not intend to call Vine a paedophile and described it as a "bad, dark, juvenile joke". He also said his references to the broadcaster were a "wind-up".

  "It was not meant to call him a paedophile. It was a bad, dark, juvenile joke," he said. "I have not at any point tried to cause distress or anxiety or risk his life or his daughters' lives. I don't want people to fear for their lives, I'm a dad. I cannot believe I'm on trial for this. Words on a social media site."

  Barton added, "This was the state, in my opinion, trying to squeeze me into the ground. It's a spat between celebrities online. I believe this is a highly politicised case.

  "This is a state prosecution I believe for whatever their agendas are in pushing on people."

• Vine and Aluko hurt by Barton's attacks

  On Tuesday, former England international Aluko said she was "astounded" by Barton comparing her to the notorious serial killers, especially after the pair had exchanged "friendly and supportive" private messages years ago. 

  "I was surprised because I had never met Joey Barton in person before. I was genuinely appreciative of his support. Between 2017 and 2020, me and Joey Barton exchanged supportive messages. I took Joey Barton as I found him. Obviously, he had a reputation in football. Given his reputation, I didn’t have to have that response to him," she told the court.

  "If you see those messages, you would think those two people are friendly, supportive and encouraging. That’s why I was so astounded by a comparison to serial killers. I would have expected, if he did have a comment to make about my punditry, he would maybe message me and say so. I would have absolutely received it. But the fact that he did that publicly suggests it was malicious and was intended to get as much attention as possible, and all at a time when he was promoting a podcast. I believe he was trying to attract a certain audience that was aligned in his views."

  Meanwhile, Vine said on Wednesday that Barton's comments made him feel "unsafe", while adding that the ex-Bristol Rovers boss had left a "cloud of filth" with his words.

  "I thought it was very vicious to post their faces over two mass murderers of children. I was looking for an explanation and said about a brain injury as a way of underlining my own feelings that he had crossed a line," he told the court. "I genuinely believe what Barton did made me physically unsafe. I took some advice about my security. I varied my movements. I didn't want to communicate the dangers [to my daughters]. Because of this cloud of filth Barton had released I had to explain to them. I can only summarise by saying I believe these messages put me in physical danger."

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  What comes next?

  Moreover, Judge Andrew Menary KC told Barton that his scarf with a British flag on it was a "stunt" and not to wear it again at his sentencing on December 8. He was also reminded that his bail conditions prevent him from mentioning the three victims in any way before he is sentenced.

Harry Kane has been made aware of the three trophy triumphs that he has to savour in order to become a “legend” at Bayern Munich. Mario Basler has told GOAL that the England international does not enjoy that status yet, despite hitting over 100 goals for the club, with the most prestigious of honours required in order to take up a standing alongside the greats in Bavaria.

Kane lifted trophy curse with Bundesliga title win

Kane has lifted his trophy curse since heading to Germany in 2023. He made that move having grown tired of waiting on major silverware at Tottenham. The prolific frontman is Spurs’ all-time leading scorer, but felt the need to spread his wings in order to experience the success that he craves most.

A Bundesliga title triumph in 2024-25 saw Kane secure a first winners’ medal, with a Super Cup win being enjoyed since then. Bayern are delivering more domestic dominance at present, with maximum points being picked up from nine league outings in the current campaign.

AdvertisementGettyHow does Kane become a Bayern Munich legend?

Collective sights are also being locked on a first European prize since 2020. Kane joined Bayern in order to compete for Champions League glory, and is considered to need a continental honour in order to join the immortals that have gone before him at the Allianz Arena.

Quizzed on what Kane needs to do in order to become a legend, former Bayern star Basler – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Well, I do believe that he is a top player, and has been for years. But of course, it’s always difficult to achieve legendary status if you don't win any titles. Now he's won his first title with the German Championship (Bundesliga), which is also important, because when you think about it, it's actually unimaginable that Harry Kane would have ended his career without winning a single title.

“When you look at the goals and the mark he has set, it is, of course, already very high. I don't think it will be enough for a legend at FC Bayern in the end. For the simple reason that he might only be at FC Bayern for 2 to 4 years as a player. If he wins the Champions League, if he wins the Championship (Bundesliga) again, if he perhaps wins the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), yes, then we can talk about it again.

“But for a legend, he still needs quite a few titles by 2029, when his contract will hopefully be extended soon. Then we'll see – we'll talk again in three years about whether it was enough to become a legend at FC Bayern.”

Future call: Kane facing big decisions at Bayern

There has been plenty of speculation regarding Kane’s future, with his current contract set to expire in 2027. An extension has been mooted, alongside a return to the Premier League or a fresh start in Spain or MLS.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy told GOAL recently when asked if Kane should be stepping out of his comfort zone again in 2026: “I wouldn’t put it out of the question. At the moment, because he is playing so well and he looks so good in a World Cup year, he is probably not thinking too much ahead of that.

“The thing that is always difficult when you get older is to think too far ahead because we’ve all been there when the body doesn’t work the same. If I was around Kane and had any influence on him, I wouldn’t be encouraging him to go anywhere because at the moment, in this Munich team, they look like they have got a real chance in the Champions League. He is playing as well as we have ever seen him play. Why would you want to upset that?”

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GettyTransfer clause: Will Kane be on the move in 2026?

There are said to be exit clauses in Kane’s deal with Bayern that can be triggered if a £57 million ($75m) transfer offer is lodged. It remains to be seen whether he will stick around in Munich and become a legend there or take his considerable skill set elsewhere and enhance his own CV in different surroundings.

وافق الاتحاد الأيرلندي لكرة القدم على قرار بتقديم اقتراح رسمي الاتحاد الأوروبي “يويفا” لكرة القدم لحثه على حظر مشاركة الكيان الصهيوني في المسابقات الأوروبية للأندية والدولية.

ونشرت صحيفة “الجارديان” البريطانية أن قرار الهيئة الإدارة الذي اقترحه أحد الأندية قد أشار لانتهاكات من جانب الاتحاد الصهيوني لكرة القدم لاثنين من بنود لوائح الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم.

ويعد هذين البندين هما عدم تطبيق سياسة فعالة لمكافحة العنصرية وكذلك لعب الأندية في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة دون موافقة الاتحاد الفلسطيني لكرة القدم.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بول ميرسون يتوقع نتيجة مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول ويصرّح: سلوت يحتاج إلى لاعب معين

وأفاد الاتحاد الأيرلندي في بيان أن القرار حصل على مجموع 74 صوتًا مقابل معارضة سبعة أصوات فقط وامتنع صوتين فقط عن التصويت، ولم يعلق الاتحاد الأوروبي على التصويت بعد.

وكان الاتحاد الأوروبي قد علق خططه لحظر مشاركة الكيان الصهيوني في كرة القدم الأوروبية في نهاية سبتمبر الماضي بعد إقرار خطة السلام التي اقترحها دونالد ترامب رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

ولم يؤكد الاتحاد الأوروبي بعد إذا كان سيقوم بدراسة عقد اجتماع استثنائي للجنة التنفيذية للتصويت على هذه القضية، ولكن يعتقد بأن الخطط المتعلقة بالمقترح مدروسة بشكل جيد ومن المتوقع أن يتم عقد أي اجتماع قبل موعده المحدد.

Newcastle United knew they would make forward progress after PIF completed their much-anticipated takeover in 2021, but the appointment of manager Eddie Howe has helped grease the wheels and then some.

There have, of course, been bumps in the road, but the Magpies have qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three Premier League campaigns; last year, they won the Carabao Cup after beating Liverpool in the final.

One of Howe’s biggest strengths, aside from his deep tactical understanding and awareness of how to bring many players together, is his ability to keep a bond knitted through his side. Togetherness and Toon DNA.

That’s why selling Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest was such a bitter thing. Academy gems are crucial for a team rising to the top, and this Howe knows.

Elliot Anderson's return to Newcastle

When Anderson stepped out at Newcastle on Sunday, he did so with the knowledge that Howe had publicly intimated his interest in bringing him back to the club.

Sold. £35m. August 2024. Nottingham Forest benefitted from United’s financial troubles, losing a homegrown player who had clear and compelling potential.

Maybe Sunday’s showdown has reinforced in Anderson’s mind the potential for a return to Tyneside, a permanent return. After all, Howe revealed last week that he would be keen on welcoming the 22-year-old back to St. James’ Park.

And for good reason: Anderson is a “do-it-all midfielder”, as said by analyst Ben Mattinson, and the statistics back that up.

Newcastle must ensure something similar does not happen again. There are a number of high-quality prospects waiting in the wings, and none more so than Seung-soo Park, who may even be a bigger talent than Anderson – and the rest.

Meet Seung-soo Park

This summer, Newcastle signed Park from K League 2 side Suwon Bluewings for an undisclosed fee. He posted a goal and three assists across 27 appearances in South Korea and landed on Tyneside as a potential superstar.

Primarily appearing down the left channel, the 18-year-old is fleet-footed and powerful when on the ball, and he made a positive impression during pre-season.

Thailand’s Brazilian coach Emerson Pereira has singled out the youngster’s “dangerous” presence on the ball, so direct and slippery when taking on defenders. He is always willing to cause his opponents problems, and if he can marry this with requisite athletic improvements that come with growing up, he may well be a fierce forward indeed.

So fast is the winger that he has even been described by Asian football expert John Duerden as being “similar to Mbappé”, and if he can refine his shooting ability over the coming years, this could be quite the addition for Howe’s starting line-up.

So far, he has only featured six times for Newcastle’s development side, although it’s curious to note that he was named on the bench for United’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa, an unused substitute.

It will take time before he reaches the fluent level to sustain a place in the first team, but Anderson was a part of Newcastle’s U21 squad when he was Park’s age, then spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan in League Two with Bristol Rovers.

Park has the skills and the playing style to rocket right to the top, and by keeping hold of this one, Newcastle might even strike gold with an even bigger talent than Anderson, the one who got away.

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Will Miller

Oct 7, 2025

As New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe prepares to play in his first World Series in just his second MLB season, his father Michael posted quite the memory on Instagram to get fans pumped up.

Volpe is a New York native and grew up as a Yankees fan, and he happened to be present at the team's last World Series parade in 2009.

The shortstop was eight years old in the picture his dad posted of him standing in the first row watching the Yankees celebrate their 27th World Series title.

His dad captioned the photo "2009 World Series parade. 4 more wins!!"

Volpe could be present at this year's World Series parade, but this time on a bus with the rest of his teammates instead of standing as a fan in the crowd. Talk about a (potential) full circle moment.

The Yankees will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series beginning on Friday, Oct. 25 in California.

It appeared the New York Yankees were on their way to forcing a Game 6 in commanding fashion when they opened up an early 5–0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.

That lead disappeared in a matter of minutes.

After Kike Hernandez led off the inning with a base hit, the Yankees continued to shoot themselves in the foot for the rest of the frame. Tommy Edman reached base when Aaron Judge dropped a routine fly ball, which was his first error of the 2024 season, and Will Smith got aboard on a throwing error from Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.

With the bases loaded, Yankees starter Gerrit Cole whiffed Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani for the inning's first two outs. And when he got Mookie Betts to hit a soft ground ball to first baseman Anthony Rizzo, it appeared the Yankees would get out of the inning with no harm done.

But Cole didn't cover first base, and Betts beat Rizzo to the bag to bring home a run.

Los Angeles was just getting started. The Dodgers scored four more runs that inning to tie the game at five runs apiece, with Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez bringing in a pair apiece. All in all, the Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored all five runs with two outs.

An epic meltdown at Yankee Stadium. An epic meltdown that could cost New York a chance at another World Series championship.

The MLB world was astounded by the Yankees' unforgivable mistakes:

If the Yankees can rally back for a Game 5 win, they'll force Game 6 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. But if they can't, those fifth-inning blunders will haunt them for the entire offseason.