Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has suffered a foot injury during a pre-season training session after returning from an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Hopes were high for Fati when he enjoyed a breakout 2019-20 season, eventually being handed the Blaugrana's iconic number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi departed in 2021.
However, he has struggled with injuries in the ensuing years, making a total of 21 starts in La Liga from the start of 2020-21 to the end of 2022-23.
Fati joined Brighton on loan last season in a move widely viewed as a coup for the Seagulls, but he only started three league games for the club, totalling 514 minutes across 19 appearances and scoring twice.
He has now been prevented from travelling to the United States for Barca's pre-season tour, which features fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said: "In Tuesday's training session, first-team player Ansu Fati suffered a foot injury.
"He will undergo conservative treatment in Barcelona and his return to training will be determined by his recovery time."
Fati has expressed a desire to stay with Barca, where he has a contract until 2027, though he has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in recent weeks.
Reece James says his only goal for 2024-25 is to "stay on the pitch" as the Chelsea captain looks to bounce back from two disjointed campaigns.
James only made 16 Premier League appearances in 2022-23 as he battled a series of injuries, also missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A troublesome hamstring injury then limited him to just 10 outings last term, and his season ended in disappointment when he was sent off in the Blues' penultimate Premier League game versus Brighton and Hove Albion.
That dismissal means he will be suspended for their first three league games under Enzo Maresca – against Manchester City, Wolves and Crystal Palace.
The right-back last managed more than 2,000 minutes in a Premier League season in 2020-21 (2,367), playing 1,865 in 2021-22, 1,244 in 2022-23 and just 421 last term.
Speaking as the Blues prepare to kick off their pre-season tour of the United States, James assured he is in a good place and is hopeful of a more fulfilling 2024-25.
"I have one goal – to stay on the pitch," James said on the eve of Chelsea's first friendly versus Wrexham.
"I am one to push the boundaries and sometimes that has caused problems for myself and the team, but that is something I'm trying to get better at.
"I don't want to make mistakes and put my team at risk. I would like to think I'm in a good place now.
"I had a long off-season and I've got a long pre-season because I'm serving a four-game ban, but I'm in a good place.
"There are a lot of adjustments to make in the new system. Whenever a new manager comes in, there is a lot to take on board but we are excited and I can't wait to get started."
Chelsea face Wrexham at the Levi's Stadium in San Francisco on Wednesday before taking on Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid in their other matches in the US.
Chelsea's new signing Caleb Wiley is hopeful of clinching Olympic success with the United States in Paris.
Wiley secured a move to Stamford Bridge from Atlanta United for a reported £8.5million ($11m) on Monday.
But before linking up with his new team, Wiley will play for his country as the Stars and Stripes aim to claim gold at the Paris Games.
The USA are playing at the Olympics for the first time since 2008, and open their account against France in Marseille on Wednesday, and the aim for Wiley is clear.
The left-back told the Associated Press: "A medal. That's what we're going to fight for, and I have full belief that we're going to do it."
Wiley has been overwhelmed with congratulatory messages after his transfer to one of the giants of English football, but he has credited the Olympics with helping him take his mind off one of the biggest moments of his career so far.
He said: "I think for me the most important moment was staying present. It's been an ongoing thing for a while now, for a few months.
"Just knowing where I was, staying focused with Atlanta at that time and then now with the Olympics has helped me kind of just be in the moment.
"I think it's important to enjoy it first. You know this doesn't happen to many kids and so I think you need to embrace the feeling."
The 19-year-old registered six goals and seven assists in 77 MLS matches across two and a half seasons with Atlanta.
The USA, along with Thierry Henry's France, have also been grouped with Guinea and New Zealand in Group A.
And coach Marko Mitrovic is embracing the enormity of facing the hosts in their first match after a 16-year absence, but stressed the result against Les Bleus will not define his team's tournament.
He said: "We are very grateful to play that game. It's going to stay forever for us, but it's only one of three games that we have in the group stage and the points of the game count the same as in the other games."
With a robust investment from Restaurants of Jamaica Limited, the 2024 Jamaican Basketball Association Star Search Basketball and Life Skills Camp soared to new heights, attracting increased participation from young basketball enthusiasts and drawing attention from international scouts. This initiative, designed to identify and nurture emerging basketball talent, brought together hundreds of Jamaica’s youth for a memorable week-long camp, culminating last Friday at the G.C Foster College in St. Catherine.
KFC's significant contribution—JMD $2 million in cash and JMD$1 million in meal sponsorship—enabled young athletes to benefit from the expertise of seasoned coaches while exploring opportunities for scholarships to study and play overseas, potentially paving their way to professional basketball careers at the highest level.
Among the standout participants, Joel Ricketts of Wolmer’s Boys and Bri’an Barrow of Immaculate Conception High were honored with the camp’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. “It was an exciting experience,” Ricketts said. “I never expected to earn this award but I put my best foot forward and ensured I had fun at every step of the way.”
International scouts, who regularly attend the camp to identify new talent, were equally impressed. Chief Scout Mark Cooke, based in the U.S., remarked, “The level of talent here is phenomenal. These young athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination. It’s been a privilege to work with them and help them reach their potential.”
KFC’s sponsorship has delivered immediate benefits to the camp participants and has also made a significant impact on the broader community. By supporting initiatives like the Star Search Basketball Programme, KFC is paving the way for young athletes to achieve their dreams and build brighter futures.
Andrei Roper, Marketing Manager at Restaurants of Jamaica, expressed his enthusiasm for the camp’s success. "We're grateful for another fantastic year of Star Search. This program is near and dear to our hearts at KFC as we are dedicated to developing Jamaica's youth and shaping them for greatness. We continue to see the amazing talent that Jamaica has to offer in basketball. We share the Jamaica Basketball Association's vision of creating well-rounded individuals who contribute both on and off the court."
Roper also highlighted the camp’s dual focus on basketball and life skills. "It's not just a basketball camp; it’s also a life skills camp. We are proud to provide campers with knowledge and resources that will benefit them during the camp, in the sport of basketball, and beyond," he added.
The Star Search camp has produced notable talent, including former Cleveland Cavaliers player Samardo Samuels and current Charlotte Hornets player Nick Richards. This legacy underscores the camp's role in shaping the future of Jamaican basketball.
Lando Norris is convinced he can still chase down Max Verstappen to end his reign as Formula One world champion, though he knows McLaren must remain grounded.
Norris is second in the drivers' championship standings after 13 races, 76 points behind three-time champion Verstappen.
It looked like Verstappen would stroll to a fourth successive championship when he opened 2024 with seven wins in 10 races, but he has failed to win any of the last three, finishing fifth at the Austrian Grand Prix and last week's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Norris finished second behind team-mate Oscar Piastri at the Hungaroring, and he now has seven podiums in his last nine races, including a victory in Miami in May.
Asked about McLaren's upturn by Sky Sports, Norris said: "I said at the end of last year that we were going to win races this year. I said at the beginning of the year that it was not going to be an easy one for Red Bull, and all of that's come true.
"I think we've done an amazing job as a team. First of all, we have to give credit to the team for giving us a car in order to do that.
"We won in Hungary, but this is the second win of the year. Red Bull have had way more wins. Mercedes have had the same amount of wins as we've had.
"So just because we won one race and had a dominant weekend doesn't mean we're the quickest car. I think maybe two weekends this year, we've had the best car of the grid.
"Do we have opportunities to maybe win more? Yes. Did we necessarily have the quickest car on those days? I don't think so. But when I think of what we're doing now, we can have more days like Hungary."
Asked whether he still had a chance of capturing the title, he added: "You would be silly to say no.
"Don't get me wrong, I know it's like 70, 80 points that I've got to catch up. I know a lot of people are going to say that there's no chance.
"But we're going to keep fighting and I'm going to give myself the best opportunity to do so.
"Especially when you see Max and Red Bull not performing so well, making mistakes, crashing. You want to make the most of those opportunities and plenty more can happen in the future. So, yes, I think it's still on."
The Belgian Grand Prix takes place at Spa this weekend, with the four-week mid-season break following ahead of the final 10 fixtures of the campaign.
Piastri's victory last week made him the seventh different race winner in F1 this year, with only seven seasons ever producing more victors – 11 in 1982, nine in 1975, and eight in 1977, 1983, 1985, 2003 and 2012.
Cycling great Mark Cavendish has hailed Andy Murray as an "incredible person" ahead of his impending retirement after the Paris Olympic Games.
Murray confirmed this week that the tennis tournament at Roland Garros, which begins on Saturday, will be his last before he hangs up his racket.
The three-time grand slam champion has endured an injury-hit few years and was unable to make a final appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon this month, though he did team up with brother Jamie for one last match on Centre Court – a loss to John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.
Murray is the only men's player to have won two Olympic golds ahead of his Paris campaign, but Cavendish – who made history by claiming a 35th Tour de France stage win earlier this month – says his legacy goes beyond his results.
"What Andy has showed, whatever you do, just do it. It's not for anyone else to say what you can and can't do – just do what you love," Cavendish said.
"Aside from his incredible achievements on the court, what Andy has stood for off the court, is his fight for equality between male and female sportspeople especially, and his vocal criticism of people who criticise him and what he does.
"Absolute love of a sport and carrying the hopes of a nation for so long – he's an incredible person.
"Whatever he does, you know he's going to do it with passion and I wish him the best."
Paul George is "all-in" with the Philadelphia 76ers, who he believes have a great shot at winning the NBA championship.
George joined the Sixers after the Los Angeles Clippers did not offer him a full max contract.
However, George holds no ill will towards the Clippers.
The 34-year-old said: "Amazing time. No regret, they went out and gave me an opportunity to play at home, which, at that point in time was a ton of value for myself to be able to play in front of my family, my friends, and have a legitimate shot to chase a championship every season.
"Obviously, injuries kind of deterred us a little bit. But just to speak on that situation as a whole, there's no ill will.
"Again, forever grateful for the opportunity that they gave me to come back.
"We had a great mutual talk as it all played out, and I felt it was great closure on the situation. I'm happy for them, they're happy for me, and I'm a Sixer now. So that's behind me."
And George feels everything is lining up perfectly for the Sixers.
"I thought everything just aligned perfectly," George said.
"Where they're at and where they're trying to go and where I'm trying to get to, as well.
"I think we got a real legitimate shot. I've always been a fan of Tyrese and Joel from afar, and Joel has secretly been one of my closest All-Star Game friends. And so, it kind of felt inevitable that at some point we would link up and be teammates.
"So, I'm all-in. My family's here all-in, and I'm excited, and looking forward to this next opportunity."
George feels one key asset he can bring is to help share the load with 76ers talisman Joel Embiid, who suffered an injury-hit season last term.
"I think just taking the pressure off Joel," George said.
"I think I can kind of help him get through a season healthy. And again, it's just not putting so much pressure on him.
"Regardless of how good you feel, I think pressure causes a lot of injuries as well, and you think you have to get overplayed, you have to touch every possession, that kind of just wears you down, especially for how physical he is.
"So that's the key. Everybody do their part, make sure we're working on our bodies, and that we don't just put that pressure on one individual to go out and win games for us."
Pep Guardiola is unsure over the future of Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson.
City signed Ederson from Benfica in 2017, and the Brazil international has been integral to Guardiola's success.
Ederson has played 250 Premier League matches for City, winning the title six times. He has kept 112 clean sheets, recording a save percentage of 68.17, while his excellent distribution has added another facet to the team's play.
However, Ederson is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, and Guardiola conceded the 30-year-old might well leave.
"I'd like him to stay but it depends on other clubs," Guardiola said after City's 4-3 friendly defeat to Celtic, with Ederson playing in the second half of that match.
“I don't know the situation. There have been no contacts in the last days.
"It's a question of training, being with us until the transfer window finishes and we'll see."
One player who seems destined to leave City this summer is Kalvin Phillips.
The former Leeds United midfielder has endured a difficult two years since he joined City, and a loan switch to West Ham last season did not go according to plan.
Guardiola said Phillips was taken off at half-time against Celtic to protect him as he continues his recovery from an injury, but asked about the 28-year-old's future, the City boss said: "I don't know what's going to happen. He knows the situation, and we'll see."
Enzo Maresca does not foresee any issues in Chelsea's camp when Enzo Fernandez links up with the Blues' squad in the United States.
Fernandez is due to join Chelsea's squad for their pre-season tour on Monday.
That comes on the back of Fernandez issuing a public apology after he broadcast a video of Argentina's squad signing a song that includes lyrics that questioned the heritage of some French players.
Disciplinary proceedings have been opened up by Chelsea, but Maresca does not feel there will be problems when Fernandez, a big-money signing from Benfica in 2023, returns to the squad.
"It is quite easy in terms of the player [making] a statement to apologise. The club did the same, so I don't think there is something to add in terms of the situation. It is already clear and clarified," Maresca said.
"They are all human beings. I don't think there are any bad intentions from any of them.
"I don't think when Enzo is back that we will have any situations. Enzo clarified the situation, so there is nothing to add.
"They are not bad persons or human beings. It can happen but I don't think there are any problems at all."
Chelsea face Wrexham on Wednesday before taking on Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid to round out their U.S. tour, with a home friendly against Inter marking their final pre-season game.
Celtic edged out Manchester City 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller on Tuesday.
City won the Premier League title last season, retaining the crown for a fourth season running, but they were undone by the reigning Scottish champions in North Carolina.
Erling Haaland captained Pep Guardiola's team, and his header dragged City level after Celtic had taken a 3-1 lead by the interval.
Nicolas Kuhn scored twice for the Bhoys in the opening 45 minutes, either side of Oscar Bobb's effort, with Kyogo Furuhashi also getting in on the act for Celtic.
Bobb teed up Maximo Perrone to reduce the arrears before the Norwegian youngster supplied the cross for his compatriot Haaland to head home a City equaliser in the 57th minute.
But the day belonged to Celtic as, 11 minutes later, Luis Palma grabbed their fourth to seal a memorable friendly victory for Brendan Rodgers' side.
Data Debrief: City's leaky defence
For all their attacking talent, City's success under Guardiola has been built on solid foundations, but in the absence of first-team like Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker, their inexperienced back line failed to cope with Celtic's attackers.
City allowed 13 shots, but they accounted for 2.4 expected goals, while Guardiola's side accumulated only 1.7 xG from 16 shots going the other way.
Celtic created five big chances, and Guardiola will want to see improvement in that defensive solidity as pre-season progresses.
Pirates All-Star rookie Paul Skenes lost for the first time in 12 career major league starts as Alec Burleson stroked a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 win on Tuesday night.
Skenes threw 91 pitches through eight innings and was allowed to start the ninth for the first time.
Michael Siani opened the inning with a double down the left-field line and took third on Masyn Winn’s groundout. He scored when Burleson lined an 0-2 fastball into right on Skenes’ 104th and final pitch.
He gave up two runs and four hits in 8 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and no walks as his ERA rose from 1.90 to 1.93. Skenes had at least seven strikeouts for his ninth consecutive start, extending a team record.
Ryan Fernandez earned the win, getting an inning-ending double play in the eighth from Ke’Bryan Hayes, his only batter.
Ryan Helsley struck out three straight batters on 13 pitches for his major league-leading 33rd save in 35 chances.
Jack Suwinski had two hits for the Pirates, who had won seven of their previous eight games.
Dodgers beat Giants for 5th straight win
Shohei Ohtani drove in three runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games with a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald became the first Giants rookie to homer in five consecutive games with a solo shot off Landon Knack in the second inning. He is the first Giants player to go deep in at least five straight since Barry Bonds had a seven-game streak in 2004.
That was the only run and one of two hits Knack allowed over five innings in his first win since April 24.
Brent Honeywell Jr. worked two scoreless innings, Blake Treinen pitched the eighth and Alex Vesia gave up a run in the 9th before Evan Phillips retired LaMonte Wade Jr. with the bases loaded for his 15th save.
After Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez drew two-out walks in the first against Jordan Hicks, Gavin Lux’s double staked the Dodgers to a 2-0 lead.
Ohtani followed Jason Heyward’s hit by pitch and Cavan Biggio’s single in the fourth with a double off the right-field fence to make it 4-1.
The Japanese sensation added an RBI single in the eighth.
McNeil, Diekman help Mets edge Yankees
Jeff McNeil hit a two-run homer and Jake Diekman struck out Aaron Judge in a key spot as the New York Mets held on for a 3-2 win to remain perfect this season against the New York Yankees.
Jose Quintana and five relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Mets (52-48) matched their season high of four games over .500. They improved to 3-0 against their crosstown rivals.
With closer Edwin Diaz unavailable, Diekman pitched a hitless ninth for his fourth save. After walking Juan Soto with one out, the veteran lefty froze Judge for a called third strike, then retired rookie Ben Rice on a game-ending grounder.
The Mets walked Judge his first four times, once intentionally, but the Yankees were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
McNeil’s homer in the sixth off Michael Tonkin snapped a 1-1 tie and was his fourth in five games since the All-Star break.
Gleyber Torres homered and Alex Verdugo doubled home a run for the Yankees, who dropped to 9-19 in their last 28 games.
For Jamaica's Andrenette Knight, the path to the Paris Olympic Games has been a journey marked by both triumph and heartbreak.
Knight had always envisioned her first Olympic Games appearance contesting an individual event, particularly the 400m hurdles, a race in which she has consistently excelled. However, despite her determination and hard work throughout the season, the JAAA National Senior Championships did not go as planned.
This, as she placed fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles final in 54.37s, well short of her 53.26s personal best, and her attempt in the 400m also ended in a disappointing sixth-place finish in 51.65s. Still, the 400m run was merely targeted at securing a spot on the country’s 4x400m relay team, which she accomplished.
“My ultimate goal was to represent my country at the Olympics in my individual event,” Knight admitted.
“But, despite falling short of that target, I am still on a path where I can still call myself an Olympian, and that in itself is a big accomplishment for me, and I’m still very proud of myself,” she told Sportsmax.TV from the team’s base in France.
Knight finds solace in her selection for the 4x400m Mixed Relays team, an event that combines male and female athletes, as her performance at the National Championships was hampered by two significant challenges –the loss of her grandfather and an injury that took away from her preparation.
“Honestly, this season has been tough for me. I found myself having more lows than highs. I lost my grandfather a couple weeks before the trials, and I took it very hard. And then, in the days leading up to the trials, my foot was swollen, and I was in a lot of discomfort. I later found out it was a minor stress reaction,” she shared.
“But regardless of everything, I think I went into the trials with an objective to make the team and I did that so I guess that was the high. I can’t complain too much about the setbacks; life happens and everything doesn’t always go according to plan but I would say this season has taught me to be resilient,” Knight added.
Though she can manage to put on a brave face now, Knight pointed out that pushing through the pain and adversity was by no means easy, as she harboured thoughts of giving up on herself.
In fact, the 27-year-old revealed that it is the strength of her grandfather’s memory and support of other family and friends that have kept her going. But more than that, the United States-based athlete, who boast two NACAC Championships silver medals and made the World Championships final last year, believes she still has so much more to achieve in the sport.
“My journey getting here wasn’t easy. Being a track and field athlete at the professional level is not easy, and I think just navigating it all by myself away from my family and my support system makes it 10 times harder. I felt like quitting on myself in the moment before but I never thought about giving up because I believe that I have not scratched the surface on what I am truly capable of yet,” Knight declared.
Andrenette Knight (right) in action against compatriot Rushell Clayton and Dutchwoman Femke Bol.
“I enjoy what I do; I love to see myself making improvements, and I know that I have so much more in store, so I never really thought about it as difficult or easy. I just know this is what I have to do to get to where I want to. More importantly, I have a host of people who support me and also believe in me, so whenever things get difficult, I can always rely on them, just knowing that this too shall pass,” the Vere Technical and University of Virginia alumna noted.
It is the resilience that has brought her to this moment that Knight is hoping to draw on to possibly assist Jamaica into medal contention in the Mixed Relays when track and field takes centre stage at the July 26 to August 11 multi-sport showpiece.
“The Olympic Games only come around every four years, so I’m definitely living in the moment and continuing to work on my overall well-being. When competition day comes, I can only do what I’m prepared to do and control what I can control. My goal at the end of the day is to get to my fullest potential and accomplish all that God has in store for me,” the Puma athlete ended.
NB: The Olympic Games will be live on Sportsmax and the Sportsmax App.
Keegan Bradley has selected former U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson as his first vice captain for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Simpson, who is a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, has lost all three of his appearances in the biennial men's golf competition.
The 38-year-old won the U.S. Open in 2012 to secure his first major championship win, and has triumphed in the Presidents Cup on three ocassions.
The United States will look to reclaim the Ryder Cup trophy at Bethpage Black in New York next September, having seen Europe win 10 of the last 14 competitions.
"Webb is someone who I have long admired and respected as a competitor and friend," U.S. captain Bradley said.
"He possesses a wealth of team golf experience and knows what it takes to win.
"Webb will be a valuable member of our leadership team and a trusted resource for me as we prepare for Bethpage Black next September."
"I am honoured to be chosen by Keegan to serve as a vice captain in 2025," Simpson added.
"Competing in three Ryder Cups will forever be among my career highlights.
I have no doubt that Keegan will be a fantastic captain and a tremendous leader, and could not be more excited to get to work as we seek to reclaim the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black."
Toto Wolff lauded praise on McLaren following their one-two at the Hungarian Grand Prix, labelling them the "new benchmark" in Formula One.
Oscar Piastri claimed his maiden triumph in the competition at the Hungaroring last weekend, with Lando Norris coming second after claiming pole in qualifying.
McLaren have finished in the podium places in their last nine races, with their one-two in Budapest the first time they have done so since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
Despite Red Bull's continued dominance in both world championships, their recent performances has shown some vulnerability. For the first time since December 2021, the team has gone three races without a win.
And the British team have capitalised, now sitting 51 points behind them in the constructor's championship, with the possibility winning a first constructor's title since 1998.
Mercedes have also improved, with Lewis Hamilton winning the British Grand Prix for a record ninth time and claiming his 200th career podium in Budapest last week.
"What we have to acknowledge is that McLaren are clearly now leading the field and by any conditions, it is a one and two," Wolff told Sky Sports.
"That is the new benchmark. It's great that we have another team that has made that jump in being able to score first and second.
"It's good for all of us… I'm happy for them."
Mercedes currently sit fourth in the constructor's championship, 81 points behind Ferrari after a slow start to the 2024 season.
But consecutive wins in the Austrian Grand Prix and Silverstone has shown a sign of their drastic improvements, with George Russell the prime example of that having gone out in the first qualifying session last week, but still able to finish in eighth.
Russell's nine place improvement was his second biggest comeback in his Formula One career, only surpassed by the 12 positions he moved up at the Hungaroring in 2023.
And Wolff believes that overcoming their current 81-point deficit to Ferrari and securing third place by the end of the season is a realistic goal for his team to achieve.
"It's difficult to put targets out because it swings a lot with upgrade to upgrade," said Wolff.
"But I think if you were to say what is a realistic-to-optimism today, it's probably P3 in the championship.
"Difficult to catch Red Bull and McLaren is now the benchmark, therefore I think that would be a good target. But it's not easy."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
