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A milestone: Davies returns to Bayern team training

Lesley Summerville
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A milestone: Davies returns to Bayern team training

A special moment for Alphonso Davies at Säbener Straße: on Monday, after months of suffering, the Canadian took part in team training for the first time again.

On March 26 this year, FC Bayern received two pieces of bad news: in addition to Dayot Upamecano’s lengthy absence, the German record champions also announced that Alphonso Davies had torn his cruciate ligament in his right knee and damaged his meniscus.

Davies suffered a serious injury while playing for the Canadian national team. His agent, Nick Huoseh, subsequently openly accused the Canadians and national coach Jesse Marsch. FC Bayern even considered filing a lawsuit against the Canadian association. For Davies, however, a long period of suffering began.
This Monday, the lightning-fast left-back celebrated a milestone: his return to Bayern’s team training. During the early afternoon session, Davies was officially welcomed by head coach Vincent Kompany after the warm-up and applauded by his teammates. Davies also took part in ball exercises without contact with opponents before continuing to work away from the group with Bayern’s rehab coach Simon Martinello.

Eberl slows down – Ito already a little further ahead

Davies is obviously right on schedule. About a month ago, Kompany predicted that the 25-year-old could be back playing for Bayern “maybe as early as December” if all goes well. That would mean the original comeback date in January would be overtaken.

However, before the international break, sporting director Max Eberl made it clear with regard to Davies: “You have to slow him down a bit so that it doesn’t happen too soon.” Hiroki Ito, another left-back, seems to be a little further along, with the Japanese player having been training with his teammates for around three weeks.

Davies played his last Bundesliga game for Bayern on March 15, 2025. At that time, Munich could not get past a draw at Union Berlin – as was also the case recently before the last international break of the calendar year.

PSG demands €180 million from Mbappé

Sports Of The Day
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PSG demands €180 million from Mbappé

The long-running legal dispute between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé is entering the next round. PSG is demanding €180 million from its former striker due to a failed transfer in the summer of 2023.

The legal dispute between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé has now officially reached the next stage of escalation. As the capital club’s lawyers announced on Monday before the labor court in Paris, the reigning French champions are demanding a hefty compensation payment of €180 million from their former striker, who is also the club’s record goalscorer (256 goals).

PSG’s lawyers cite Mbappé’s failed transfer in the summer of 2023 as the reason for the legal dispute, which has now been going on for years. At that time, the 2018 World Cup winner was supposed to move to Saudi Arabia, with the wealthy club Al-Hilal having made Paris a lucrative offer.

The offer is said to have included a transfer package of over 300 million euros. However, because Mbappé turned down the offer at the time and preferred to stay in Paris, his former employer now considers itself financially damaged and is officially demanding compensation of 180 million euros. With a further claim for damages of €60 million, the total could even rise to €240 million.

No impact on Mbappé’s performance

The feud between Mbappé and PSG now resembles an open exchange of blows. The Parisian claim is directly related to a previous lawsuit filed by the striker, who has since moved to Real Madrid, demanding a total of €240 million from PSG.

One of Mbappé’s accusations was that PSG had converted his temporary contract into a permanent employment contract at the end of the contract period – and that he was “emotionally distressed” by his former club after the contract ended. The final word in this case has not yet been spoken. In France, they do not expect a verdict anytime soon.

In any case, Mbappé’s performance has not really been affected by the feud: In the current season, the 94-time French international, who with 55 goals is set to soon replace Olivier Giroud (57) as the country’s record goalscorer, has already scored 13 La Liga goals (in twelve games) and five goals in four Champions League appearances. He scored twice for the Equipe Tricolore in their 4-0 win over Ukraine, playing a key role in securing their World Cup ticket.

Without Guirassy: Three nominees for Africa’s Footballer of the Year award

Phil Laffertey
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Without Guirassy: Three nominees for Africa’s Footballer of the Year award

The African Football Confederation has announced the three players nominated for Africa’s Footballer of the Year award. Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy is no longer on the shortlist.

On Wednesday, the African Continental Federation will select Africa’s Footballer of the Year in Rabat, Morocco. It is still unclear who will receive the award. However, one thing has been certain since Monday: Serhou Guirassy will not be the winner this year. The Borussia Dortmund striker, who finished second last year, had high hopes after the CAF included him on the ten-player shortlist. However, around 48 hours before the award ceremony, the list was reduced once again to three nominees and now only includes Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC, Egypt), Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco), and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Nigeria).

While Salah (2017, 2018) and Osimhen (2023) have already been voted Africa’s Footballer of the Year in their careers, it would be the first award of this kind for Champions League winner Hakimi. In each of the past two years, the former Dortmund player, who is currently injured, has finished in third place and is therefore considered a hot candidate – especially since Salah (Premier League) and Osimhen (Turkish Süper Lig) have “only” won national titles.

Two representatives from the Moroccan Football Federation in the running for coach of the year

In the women’s category, the final shortlist includes Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak, who currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, her compatriot Sanaa Mssoudy from Moroccan club ASFAR Rabat, and PSG striker Rasheedat Ajibade from Nigeria. Nominated for Africa’s Coach of the Year are Cape Verde national coach Bubista, who led the country to its first World Cup appearance, Morocco’s U-20 World Cup-winning coach Mohamed Ouahbi, and Morocco’s senior national coach Walid Regragui.

CAF has been presenting the award since 1993. Previously, the French newspaper France Football had presented the award, as it had done for Europe’s Footballer of the Year until the mid-2000s. Since then, African professionals under contract with European clubs have been consistently selected, which is why the continental association has also been honoring the best African player under contract on the continent since 2005. This year’s nominees include Fiston Mayele (Congo) and Mohames Chibi (Morocco) from Egyptian Champions League winners Pyramids FC.

Barcelona officially announces return to Camp Nou – and hopes for Frankfurt match

Lesley Summerville
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Barcelona officially announces return to Camp Nou – and hopes for Frankfurt match

FC Barcelona will return to Camp Nou this Saturday – with significantly more spectators than previously assumed. At the same time, officials are also hoping for the green light for the Champions League when Eintracht Frankfurt visits Catalonia on December 9.

The long wait is over. As FC Barcelona officially announced on Monday, the return to the legendary Camp Nou is imminent. This Saturday, the Catalans will play their important La Liga home game against Athletic Bilbao in their own stadium.

At the end of May 2023, Barcelona played its last game at Camp Nou to date, before the Blaugrana moved to the Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic as their alternative stadium for most of their home games. Barcelona president Joan Laporta had already announced in recent weeks that a return to Camp Nou was in the works.

However, Laporta had told Catalunya Radio that “only” 27,000 fans would be allowed to attend games at present. On Monday, Barcelona announced that the first operating permit for Phase 1B had already been granted, making the increase in capacity to 45,401 spectators official.

At the same time, according to its own statements, the club is working flat out on obtaining approval for phase 1C, with Laporta already dreaming of a final capacity of 105,000 fans.

Official confirmation for the Eintracht game still pending

But the Catalans don’t just want to hold their La Liga matches in their own living room again as soon as possible. Together with UEFA, the club is currently working on being allowed to play its next Champions League home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on December 9 at Camp Nou.

The necessary requirements for this have already been met with Phase 1B, but official confirmation is still pending. When Frankfurt visits Barcelona, memories will certainly come flooding back: during their last visit to Camp Nou on their way to the Europa League title, SGE brought 25,000 fans with them in April 2022 instead of the expected 5,000. The FCB officials are unlikely to allow a repeat of this situation this time around. To be there for the return to Camp Nou this Saturday, members can purchase tickets from 4 p.m. on Monday. Tickets will then go on general sale at the same time the following day.

Four European champions, four debutants: DBB announces squad for World Cup qualifiers

Sotd Editor
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Four European champions, four debutants: DBB announces squad for World Cup qualifiers

Eleven days before the start of the World Cup qualifiers, national coach Alex Mumbru has announced his 16-man squad. Only four players from the European Championship squad are on the list.

Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrade) and the three Munich players Oscar da Silva, Justus Hollatz, and Andreas Obst, four newly crowned European champions, have registered for the upcoming international break. This was possible because there was no scheduling conflict with the EuroLeague schedule this time.

Accordingly, Maodo Lo (Zalgiris Kaunas), Daniel Theis (Monaco), and Nick Weiler-Babb (Anadolu Efes) have declined to participate. However, the latter had already indicated this to basketball-world.news last week. Johannes Thiemann, Leon Kratzer, and Johannes Voigtmann are also missing from the European Championship squad. As usual, the NBA players are also not included.

Collin Welp, son of 106-time German international Christian Welp, is in the DBB squad for the first time. The center is averaging 10.1 points per game for MBC in the current BBL season. Norris Agbakoko (Berlin), Mahir Agva (Merkezefendi), and Till Pape (Bonn) are also set to make their international debuts.

World Cup qualifying begins on November 27, with Germany facing Israel at home the following day. Three days later, they will play an away game in Cyprus. The second and third qualifying windows will take place in February/March and early July 2026, respectively.

Ultimatum for McLaren star: Expert calls for Piastri to leave after World Championship defeat

Jeffrey Gooding
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Ultimatum for McLaren star: Expert calls for Piastri to leave after World Championship defeat

According to Günther Steiner, Piastri needs to try his luck elsewhere

Guenther Steiner has struck again, responding to Oscar Piastri’s current situation with clear words. The former Haas team boss is demanding a clear improvement in performance from the Australian if he does not win the drivers’ championship.
Piastri is currently in second place in the drivers’ standings. The 23-year-old is 24 points behind teammate Lando Norris and 25 points ahead of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. With three races remaining, the title fight remains exciting.

Steiner spoke unequivocally about the McLaren driver’s future on The Red Flags podcast. “Especially if he doesn’t win the championship, I think he has a good chance of getting into any other good car,” explained the South Tyrolean.

The former team boss sees a change as a possible option for Piastri. “He’s a good driver and change is sometimes good. He’s young enough, he can adapt. He should do it and I think he will,” Steiner continued. Steiner made it clear that Piastri must use the winter break to start the new season stronger. The South Tyrolean is critical of an alternative development for both sides.

“He simply has to regroup over the winter and come back stronger than before. Otherwise, if he doesn’t come back stronger, I think it’s best for him to change teams,” Steiner explained.

Despite his harsh words, the 59-year-old hinted that he believes the Australian has a successful future ahead of him. “But he could come back, because I still rate him very highly,” Steiner added. Piastri’s recent performances are indeed cause for concern. The McLaren driver has not finished on the podium since the Italian Grand Prix. Ironically, he is lacking consistency in the decisive phase of the season.

Added to this is the pressure from Verstappen, who is back on the rise after his impressive performance in Brazil. Steiner sees the Dutchman as having a clear advantage in the battle for second place.

Verstappen as a cautionary example

“Why not? He’s continuing to do it. If you say Oscar is mentally destroyed now, then Max will be ahead of him, absolutely,” said the former team boss, analyzing the situation between the two title contenders. Steiner particularly emphasized Verstappen’s mentality, which he currently misses in Piastri. The Red Bull driver showed in Brazil how to fight back after setbacks.

“Max is motivated, as we saw in Brazil. He didn’t give up after a crappy qualifying session. He rolled up his sleeves, did better and finished on the podium,” Steiner praised the three-time world champion.

Decision in Las Vegas

This attitude is currently lacking in Piastri, according to the South Tyrolean’s subliminal message. The Australian must prove that he is mentally strong enough to cope with the pressure.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 20-22 marks the start of the final triple-header of the season. For Piastri, it will be important to get back on track quickly.
Steiner’s words are likely to put additional pressure on the McLaren driver. At the same time, however, they also show that the market considers the young Australian to be valuable. Whether at McLaren or elsewhere, Piastri’s future depends on the coming weeks.

Ralf Schumacher: Charles Leclerc should look for “a Plan B”

Jason Maverick
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Ralf Schumacher: Charles Leclerc should look for “a Plan B”

Ralf Schumacher does not understand John Elkann’s criticism of Charles Leclerc and advises the Ferrari driver to start looking for possible alternatives

Ralf Schumacher has no sympathy for the public criticism that John Elkann recently directed at Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari president told Sky that the Scuderia had drivers “who should concentrate more on driving and talk less.”

“If I were Charles Leclerc, I would ask what that was all about,” Schumacher told Sky, because: “I think Leclerc is doing a great job and getting the best out of the team and himself. He’s also a likeable guy who fits in perfectly at Ferrari.”

Schumacher therefore emphasizes: “I would send my manager over and ask what that’s all about. In a situation like that, I always worked out a plan B with my manager, and that’s what I would do in his place now, because I wouldn’t let anyone walk all over me.”

Leclerc is currently in fifth place in the drivers’ championship and has already been on the podium seven times this season. His new teammate Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, is still waiting for his first podium finish with Scuderia. Schumacher therefore cannot understand why Elkann included Leclerc in his criticism. “The way he said it, completely without emotion, was deliberately chosen and also very serious,” said the expert.

“We all know John Elkann, that wasn’t flippant at all, there’s real tension under the surface,” believes the six-time Grand Prix winner, explaining: “Expectations are high and, logically, he has also made some decisions, such as signing Lewis Hamilton, which are now putting him under internal pressure.”

“Lewis Hamilton is simply not good enough. I think Ferrari expected more, John Elkann expected more,” said Schumacher. However, the expert cannot understand the criticism of Leclerc.

His advice to the Monegasque driver is clear: if he feels that Ferrari no longer wants him, he should start looking for a new employer as soon as possible.

Maximum of 25 laps: Pirelli confirms renewed restriction in Qatar

Andrew Jackson
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Maximum of 25 laps: Pirelli confirms renewed restriction in Qatar

F1 drivers must make at least two pit stops during the Qatar Grand Prix – a maximum of 25 laps may be driven on one set of tires

After two mandatory pit stops in Formula 1 at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, drivers will again have to pit at least twice at the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of November – but for different reasons.

While the measure in Monaco was purely to improve the show, this time safety concerns are playing a role. Because the tires have already reached their limits at the Lusail International Circuit in previous years, the FIA, Formula 1, and tire manufacturer Pirelli have agreed on a maximum number of laps for the tires.

Each set of tires may be used for a maximum of 25 laps over the weekend. As Sunday’s Grand Prix will be run over 57 laps, this means that every driver will have to come in for service at least twice. The maximum number of laps also includes laps behind the safety car or virtual safety car. Only laps on the starting grid, formation laps, and laps after crossing the finish line are not subject to the restriction.

Sprint still possible without pit stop

There will also be a sprint on Saturday during the Qatar weekend. However, as this will only be held over 19 laps, the teams can theoretically drive through without a pit stop. However, the basic restriction also applies here.

For example, if a driver starts the sprint on a used set of tires that has already completed seven laps, he would also have to make a pit stop in Saturday’s race. The issue is therefore likely to cause a lot of calculations over the weekend.

This is because, especially on a sprint weekend where the number of tires is limited, it is not uncommon for teams to use tires in the race that they have already used before. On Sunday in Qatar, these tires may then only be used for 25 laps, minus the distance already covered.

Pirelli therefore explains: “Before the start of the Grand Prix, Pirelli will inform the teams how many laps are still available for each set of tires.” The measure itself is justified by “analyses” carried out after the race in 2024.

Tire problems in Qatar as early as 2023

“Last year, several tires, especially the left front tire, reached the maximum wear level,” Pirelli said. Therefore, it was “necessary” to take appropriate countermeasures before this year’s Grand Prix.

Pirelli had already set a maximum number of laps for the tires for the race in Qatar in 2023. At that time, it was only 18 laps, which is why two years ago, three pit stops per driver were mandatory.

The Italians emphasize that the problem at the time, which was caused by the new kerbs on the track, has now been “resolved” because the kerbs were subsequently modified for the 2024 race. Nevertheless, based on last year’s observations, they do not want to take any risks.

Apart from that, nothing will change in terms of the tire situation. The C1 to C3 compounds, Pirelli’s three hardest options, will be used in Qatar, and because it is a sprint weekend, the drivers will only have two sets of hard tires, four sets of medium tires, and six sets of soft tires at their disposal.

Like father Mika: McLaren signs Ella Häkkinen

T0m@dmin1
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Like father Mika: McLaren signs Ella Häkkinen

McLaren has signed 14-year-old Ella Häkkinen and wants to prepare her for a career in formula racing—her father Mika drove for the team for nine years.

The names Häkkinen and McLaren are inextricably linked, especially for Formula 1 fans of the 1990s. Mika Häkkinen won the world championship with the Woking-based team in 1998 and 1999, and now there is to be a “reunion” of this partnership.

On Monday, McLaren announced that it had signed Mika’s daughter Ella Häkkinen to its junior program. The 14-year-old is currently still competing in karting and will be prepared for a career in formula racing in 2026.

McLaren said: “She will participate in the driver development program to test single-seaters and prepare for 2027.” One possibility would be to participate in the F1 Academy, for example. McLaren will have two cars there starting next year. Currently, McLaren already supports Ella Lloyd in the women’s series, who will continue to be part of the junior program. The British driver is currently third overall in the F1 Academy ahead of the 2025 season finale in Las Vegas this weekend. In addition to Häkkinen, McLaren has signed another kart driver, Ella Stevens, meaning that there are now three female drivers in its junior program. Stevens, who is already 19, will compete alongside Lloyd in the F1 Academy in 2026.

McLaren boss Zak Brown explains: “I am aware that there is still a lot of work to be done to increase the proportion of women in motorsport, but I am very proud of the progress we have made in this area.”

“I hope this signals to all the incredibly talented female kart drivers, race drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketers, and accountants out there that our sport is open to everyone and that we are strongly committed to maintaining the incredible momentum of recent years,” said Brown.

Mika Häkkinen drove for McLaren in Formula 1 from 1993 to 2001. His duels with Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher around the turn of the millennium are still legendary today.

Resignation after Germany’s relegation

Jason Maverick
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Resignation after Germany’s relegation

Captain Rainer Schüttler resigns after the German women’s tennis team is relegated. They lost both matches in Ismaning during the playoffs.

Rainer Schüttler has resigned as captain after the German women’s tennis team was relegated from the Billie Jean King Cup World Group. This was announced by the German Tennis Federation (DTB) one day after the disappointing result in the playoffs of the national tournament. The German team lost to Turkey (1:2) and Belgium (0:2) in Ismaning, resulting in their first relegation since 2012.

“I have performed this role with great passion and am proud of the development of the players and the entire team,” said Schüttler, who took over the position in 2020: “After the disappointing outcome of the playoffs, now is the right time to take responsibility and make room for new ideas.”

DTB thanks Schüttler for “his extraordinary commitment”

With Schüttler at the helm, the German women’s team reached the Billie Jean King Cup finals three times in the past five years.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Rainer Schüttler for his extraordinary commitment, his professional work, and his important contribution to German women’s tennis,” said DTB board member Veronika Rücker: “With his great dedication, his technical expertise, and his personable manner, he has repeatedly led the team to top performances over the past five years.”

The association will now “comprehensively analyze the sporting situation in the coming weeks and then begin the search for a suitable successor for the position of team captain,” the DTB announced.

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