All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Newcastle missed out on signing their own Paul Pogba in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot over the summer.

What was the story?

According to reports from Italy, the Magpies were very keen on luring the France international to St James’ Park, and that a move for the former PSG starlet was not dependent on their proposed takeover going through.

The report added that fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Everton were also interested in signing him, and that Rabiot himself was looking firmly at a switch to England.

In the end, Rabiot of course stayed put in Turin, and given what he could have potentially brought to the table on Tyneside, it does feel like a missed opportunity.

He embarrassed Yohan Cabaye

Standing at 6 foot 2, Rabiot is in a similar mould to fellow Frenchman Paul Pogba, in that despite his height, his main strengths are with the ball at his feet and his huge technical quality.

Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has seen him up close for Juventus, hailed the ability that Rabiot possesses, claiming: “He is a fantastic mix, he has the physical strength of Pogba, who is like a wardrobe, has the personality of Vidal and potentially the dynamism of Marchisio.

“He is incredible, extremely strong. He needs to improve his timing when approaching the opponent’s penalty area but he can become a player with 10 goals per season. He’s also a good boy and a great team-mate.”

And if Newcastle fans watched his early rise to prominence closely, then they may have a wry smile at how he ousted former Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye at PSG. An article from PSGtalk reflected on how the veteran ace was so inconsistent at the Parc des Princes, that a young and inexperienced Rabiot moved ahead of him in the pecking order and took over his place – it was the ultimate symbol of how his career failed to take off in France.

But with his current wages at Juventus apparently around the £225k-per-week mark, it’s somewhat understandable the Magpies didn’t go all in for Rabiot despite his obvious talents.

Key information about Crabble Athletic Stadium

Crabble Athletic Stadium was built in 1931 and it now houses National League’s Dover Athletic. The ground is located in the northern Dover suburb of River over in Kent, England, and has been the home of various different incarnations of its current tenant over the years.

Its current capacity stands at 5,745 along with a pitch that measures 113 by 73 yards. The surface of the field is covered by grass and there is no running track surrounding it.

The record attendance of just under 7,000 at Crabble Athletic Stadium was set during a clash between Dover FC. and Folkestone on 13 October 1951.

A history of Crabble Athletic Stadium

The Crabble Athletic Stadium, more commonly known as the Crabble, was built way back in 1931 and over the years, it has been the safe haven for Dover Athletic and the club’s very first iterations from back in the day. The original ground that was erected on the Crabble site dates all the way back to 1897 and that’s the year when football was first played there.

However, some years down the line, the first owners, plagued by some financial issues, decided to sell it to the town council in 1902. The pitch continued to be used for sports but mostly for cricket as football somehow faded and the team was even forced to play numerous away games since their stadium was simply unavailable.

And it wouldn’t be until 1931 that the council decided to build another pitch on that same site, only a bit up the hillside and just under the original pitch’s pavilion. A small stand was erected the year later and from then on, the ‘upper pitch’ was used for football whenever the original one was unavailable due to cricket matches.

Back then, of course, the team settled there was actually Dover FC and they were the ones doing the initial redevelopment. In 1950, they extended the small stand and a year later, they made the ‘upper pitch’ their permanent home. The first official game there was played on 6 April 1951 when Dover welcomed Fulham in a friendly clash.

In the following years, the club improved Crabble Athletic Stadium even further, first adding covered terracing and then floodlights in 1961. In 1983, Dover FC folded and in their place, Dover Athletic were born, which also prompted further investment into their home.

Even more so since they were initially refused entry to the Football Conference on account of their stadium not being up to standards. But with new turnstiles built-in, terraces behind the goals erected, new seating installed and a new grandstand on the opposite side of the pitch now constructed, Crabble Athletic Stadium was finally ready and good enough.

Between 2003 and 2004, the ground was known as Hoverspeed Stadium for sponsorship reasons and in 2007, it changed once again, this time to SeaFrance Crabble Stadium. But even that deal could only last for a solitary year before it changed anew, taking the name of Perry’s Crabble Stadium in 2008.

Now, however, it is simply known as the Crabble Athletic Stadium.

Tickets to watch Dover Athletic at Crabble Athletic Stadium

All tickets to watch Dover Athletic at Crabble Athletic Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The adult ticket can be purchased for £18 and the price will be less expensive for other age groups.

The club also offers a season ticket scheme with a yearly adult ticket costing £315.

Related links

http://www.doverathletic.com/ – Official website of Dover Athletic

It looks like things are beginning to pick up pace on the transfer front at Leeds United.

Having done the business on the pitch by securing promotion to the Premier League, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are acting like a big team off it too, making some serious moves already.

The Whites have recently sealed high-profile deals for the likes of Rodrigo and Robin Koch, and now, Spanish publication SPORT claim that they are lining up a move for Barcelona midfielder Rafinha.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…



World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The report claims that Leeds are knocking on the door for the play-maker, although negotiations for a potential transfer is still in the early stages and that an agreement is a long way off at this stage.

It’s added that whilst the Whites have the means to match Barcelona’s asking price, they hope to bring that fee down, with Rafinha understanding that he will have to leave the Camp Nou in order to secure regular football.

The Brazilian, who won the Champions League back in 2015, spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo, where he performed impressively, averaging 1.2 shots, 0.8 key passes and two dribbles per game in the league – the latter stat being more than what Leeds’ new signing Rodrigo managed (0.8).

Capable of playing out wide or through the middle, Rafinha would bring yet more top-level experience as Leeds look to ensure their return to the Premier League is a memorable one.

Tottenham are eager to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to Foot Mercato as per @TalkingTHFC.

It is no secret Jose Mourinho wants to sign a new striker, as Harry Kane has only recently recovered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of a large chunk of the season.

Football journalist Santi Aouna reports Mourinho is “dreaming” of signing Milinkovic Savic in the summer.

The Serbian has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest talents after establishing himself at Lazio, and a move would surely benefit Spurs in the long run.

Milinkovic-Savic is arguably one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world.

The Serb dominates the midfield with his imposing frame, as he stands at 191cm (6’2 feet) tall, and his physicality sets him apart from some of his more notable contemporaries.

After arriving at the Stadio Olimpico from Genk for £16.2m, the 25-year-old has played 27 games in Serie A this season, scoring 5 goals, creating 4 assists, taking 2 shots per game, averaging 1.2 key passes, and completing 1.2 dribbles.

Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele has made the headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

The club’s record signing has been embroiled in an ongoing dispute with Mourinho which has shown no signs of stopping anytime soon.

At the moment, all the evidence points towards Ndombele leaving the club in the near future. Barcelona are keeping a close eye on the situation, while Mourinho has never been one to back down from confrontation.

Indeed, the Portuguese famously banished Bastian Schweinsteiger during his time in charge of Manchester United, as the German midfielder caused disruption by leaving the country for surgery multiple times.

If Ndombele ends up leaving, Milinkovic-Savic would surely be the perfect replacement. In fact, the Serbia international has earned a higher WhoScored rating than his French counterpart for his performances this season.

The Biancocelesti are willing to let him leave, but only if the price is right, and he is currently valued at £57.6m via Transfermarkt.

Whether or not Daniel Levy will splash the cash is another matter entirely.

Tottenham fans, should the board sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic before the start of next season? Join the discussion in the comments section…

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ‘has his heart set’ on a move to Tottenham while Southampton are waiting for Daniel Levy to splash the cash for Jose Mourinho’s top target, according to the Southern Daily Echo. 

Tottenham manager Mourinho has made it clear that the 33-cap Denmark international is the midfielder he needs to rebuild Spurs this summer.

The Lilywhites qualified for the Europa League by clinching a top six finish on the final day of the Premier League season, finding themselves seven points adrift of the top four.

Hojbjerg has entered the final year of his current contract and has informed the Saints that he will not be signing a new deal at St Mary’s.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have already accepted a bid from Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton for the 24-year-old, amid interest from three unnamed European clubs, but the Dane has declared that he would rather move to north London and is willing to wait until a deal can be done.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has developed a reputation for penny-pinching and wants to use Kyle Walker-Peters to sweeten the deal. However, the Saints are standing firm over their former captain and want to keep the transfer talks separate to avoid any confusion.

With that being said, Levy still has an ace up his sleeve, as Hojbjerg is represented by super-agent Pini Zahavi, who is close friends with Mourinho, and this may help to smooth over negotiations between the two clubs.

As it stands, a deal is far from certain at the moment, and the Dane may decide to run down the remainder of his deal and leave Southampton as a free agent in 12 months’ time instead if he doesn’t get his own way in the transfer window.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

It seems that Neymar Junior is once again looking likely to be the main attraction come the opening of the transfer window.

According to new reports coming from Le Parisien (via The Sun), the Brazilian still wants out of the French club and there is no shortage of suitors just waiting around to land his signature.

Of course, Barcelona are still in the pole position to bring him back to Catalonia but both Juventus and Manchester United have reportedly shown interest as well.

This is reinforced by the fact that Thomas Tuchel, Paris Saint-Germain’s manager, is seemingly considering dropping the asking price of €300m (£253m) to around €180m (£151.5m).

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men might be reaching for the stars with that transfer but it’s difficult to argue against it, especially considering the Red Devils could do with a boost.

The 2019/20 season has so far not really been kind to United and even though their recent triumphs over Man City and Spurs do bring some hope to the table, they are still far from where they would like to be.

Neymar’s presence in their squad could help restore that long-lost pedigree and bring them back on track.

Not to mention that they are currently – for all of their promising talents in the squad – almost devoid of any real household names.

Of course, Paul Pogba is one but the Frenchman has been absent of late and tipped to leave the club sooner rather than later, and adding someone who could potentially fill that void does sound like a good idea.

Neymar is the type of player who could bring excitement and fire back to Old Trafford, sending a stark message to their Premier League rivals in the process.

But the same can be said for Juventus and seeing how they were the ones that managed to snatch Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid, their interest in the Brazilian doesn’t seem like that big of a stretch.

No clues: Can you name the Man Utd result purely based on these images? Give it a go now…

And speaking of their Portuguese star, Ronaldo has been somewhat underperforming over in Turin – at least for his ridiculously high standards – and has only managed to bag eight goals in 17 games across all competitions in 2019/20 and 36 in 60 since arriving at Juventus.

Of course, they have won the league title with him in the side but they managed that for numerous consecutive years even before his arrival.

Despite him being the most expensive purchase in the club’s history, it still feels like he’s not giving them as much as he should or could be.

That’s exactly where Neymar comes in as the Brazilian could be exactly what Ronaldo was supposed to be for the Bianconeri.

Even if the asking price has been decreased he would still most likely eclipse their current transfer record – but he could be well worth it.

After all, we’re talking about a player who has bagged 57 goals and 30 assists in just 67 games for the French giants, while he also managed to score 105 goals and 76 assists in 186 games for Barcelona.

Needless to say, he is still one of the biggest names in world football and maybe he could be the one to finally give Maurizio Sarri’s team the push they need on their way to European glory.

But first, they will have to beat the likes of Barcelona and Man United in this race.

Elsewhere, many Spurs fans were relived upon hearing an update regarding one of Mourinho’s former players…

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been embroiled in a debate on social media this week after the club’s official Twitter account posted an image of Belgian duo Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, with the latter receiving the bulk of the discussion.

Both central defenders have been a key part of Spurs’ starting XI for the last five years or so but that partnership is set to be broken up after this current campaign.

Vertonghen’s contract is due to expire this summer, and it appears as if he’ll be free to leave the north London club with no apparent deal on the table yet.

Some would like to see him stay under Jose Mourinho next term…

The 33-year-old has been at Tottenham since the summer of 2013 and has gone on to record 311 appearances for the club, via Transfermarkt.

This campaign, the Belgian has managed to feature in 26 matches in all competitions – even occasionally filling in at left-back during the absence of the injured Ben Davies.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

However, there are plenty in north London that believe Vertonghen is “finished” and that it’s time to depart…

Whilst some were a little more respectful about the situation, accepting that the veteran defender is probably past his best but still understanding what a terrific career he’s had for the club.

A whole host of Serie A teams are reportedly keen on landing him, including Christian Eriksen’s Inter Milan as well as Roma, as per Calciomercato.

It remains to be seen if the delay to the end of the current campaign has changed circumstances somewhat, but for now, Vertonghen has nine more games left at Spurs should he be selected.

AND in other news, Spurs reportedly REIGNITE interest in 2011 target…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Newcastle are showing an interest in Leeds ace Ben White, according to The Chronicle.

What’s the word?

It is being reported that the Magpies are keeping tabs on the defender following a string of impressive performances for Leeds, which has led to some of their supporters to suggest he could play for England one day.

The 22-year-old was a bit of an unknown when he joined on loan from Brighton in the summer but interest from Liverpool and Manchester United suggests he is a young player with a lot of pedigree.

His valuation is believed to be priced at £20m by his parent club, with his contract not expiring until summer 2022.

It would, therefore, take a considerable bid from Newcastle to lure him away from his parent club, but since he is a player with the potential to play Champions League football, and according to pundit Noel Whelan is already “as good as John Stones, if not better”, then it would be a deal worth doing.

What would he add?

Newcastle have a plethora of options at centre-back and many have impressed so far, with the popular Florian Lejeune still to enter the fray after missing the season’s opening through injury demonstrating the strength in depth.

However, due to their age, few have the potential to develop into a top-class defender like White, who has taken the Championship by storm.

For such a young player he has shown brilliant composure in the heart of Leeds’ defence, replacing the figure of Pontus Jansson with ease and demonstrating why he is so highly sought-after. He’s made 1.9 tackles per game while demonstrating fabulous reading of the play, registering 2.7 interceptions per outing on average.

It isn’t just defensive attributes that he would bring, but an ability to drive with the ball from deep and pick out a pass, as best demonstrated when he brilliantly set-up Patrick Bamford’s goal against Luton last week.

He would add a different dynamic to the Newcastle set-up and fit perfectly into the counter-attacking style that Bruce has installed since taking over.

Whether he is a realistic option is another question, as if the clubs mentioned register a solid interest then the Magpies would have to work hard to persuade him to move to the north-east.

Don’t miss out on MASSIVE savings with Fan Deal Drops – shop now for the latest deals (USING LINK HERE) on TVs, laptops, football shirts & much more.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Jonathan Woodgate did not enjoy his return to Elland Road as his side were on the receiving end of a 4-0 pasting, but he had nothing but admiration for his former club after the match.

What did he say?

Leeds were at their clinical best at the weekend and it is fair to say they would have overcome most teams with that kind of performance, as they have done so far more often than not.

The former defender had some interesting things to say considering what happened to Leeds over the summer, losing two of their most important players in Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe.

According to Woodgate, who was once of Real Madrid, Marcelo Bielsa has been able to improve the side since last term and that is reflected in their defensive progress, conceding just ten goals in 19 league games this season.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Leeds Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

Speaking about the encounter with his old club, as reported by Leeds Live, Woodgate said:

“Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Obviously I couldn’t clap at the time when we’re getting beat.

“They’re a top team and a top club and I wish them all the best and I hope they get to the Premier League.

“They’ve improved their squad massively. They bring [Eddie] Nketiah on, who’s a really, really good player. You’ve got Patrick Bamford firing on all cylinders. They’ve got Ben White at the back on loan from Brighton.”

Eye for a player

Leeds didn’t exactly splash out in the summer and instead, Marcelo Bielsa has used the budget available to him very wisely.

He has relied on players he knows, like Jack Harrison, while maintaining faith in Patrick Bamford – who is starting to find some form with three goals in four games after a lengthy goal drought.

On top of that, the two loan additions that Woodgate mentions have slotted in well, particuarly White, who considering his career history has been some find by the Argentine.

His prior experience playing at Championship level or above was non-existent yet Bielsa has sculpted him into not only one of his top performers but a defender who is being sought after by Premier League clubs.

Nketiah has also proved useful on occasion, scoring five times, and with a number of games still to be played, he will likely come in handy once more. That’s particularly if he begins to emulate Bamford and understand what his manager wants him to provide.

The three players Woosgate mentions have been important, therefore, but mainly because of the influence of Bielsa, so the credit should go to him.

With Leeds also having an exciting FA Cup fixture to look forward to, another young player could prove his worth to Bielsa against the Gunners.

When it rains, it pours. Amidst Manchester United’s difficult start to the campaign – they lie in tenth in the Premier League after 11 games – the last thing the club needed was to see a former transfer target absolutely tear the house down in the Champions League.

And Real Madrid starlet Rodrygo did exactly that on Wednesday night. The Daily Mail reported back in 2018 that the Red Devils were making checks on the Brazilian, after the then Santos prodigy became the youngest goal-scorer in the Copa Libertadores.

In the end, the 18-year-old joined Madrid for €45m (£38.7m), and in mid-week, proved exactly why Los Blancos shelled out big-money for a teenager.

The forward scored the perfect hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Galatasaray, including two in the opening seven minutes of the contest at the Santiago Bernabeu.

After seeing Rodrygo sparkle in such stunning fashion, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their former target.

Many Red Devils supporters revealed their dismay at missing out on the 18-year-old, whilst some simply appeared to be in awe of what he had achieved.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below: