07/08/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | AUG 7, 2025

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Wirtz unfazed German midfielder unbothered by huge Liverpool price tag

LORIAN WIRTZ says his huge price tag “doesn’t matter” as he prepares for his first season in the Premier League after a switch to champions Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. The attacking midfielder arrived at Anfield for an initial £100 million (RM562m) that could rise to £116 million (RM652m) with add-ons, making his move a potential British record. However, speaking after impressing in a 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Monday, the 22-year-old brushed off the size of his transfer fee. “I don’t think about it. I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “Of course the big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing so (I will) try

around £110 million (RM618m) plus potential a dd-ons for unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak last week, which was rejected. Manager Arne Slot said after two friendlies against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday that there was “always room for improvement” despite the club’s march to a record-equalling 20th league title last season. “We’ve added a few, in my opinion, extra weapons,” said the Dutchman. “So, Florian has a lot of creativity in the final third. We’ve lost with Trent (Alexander-Arnold, who has signed for Real Madrid) a lot of creativity from the back. “Trent’s crosses and picking out runners was so special – I think Flo has this quality as well in a totally different position.” – AFP

have spent more than £250 million (RM1.4 billion) so far in the summer transfer window on a clutch of new players including Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, who also came from Leverkusen, and Giorgi Mamardashvili. The club are understood to h a v e made a bid o f

and just create chances and also work against the ball. “I can also run a lot so (I will) bring this to the team and then with the ball I can make the team better and bring my teammates into better situations.” Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the season-opening Community Shield on Sunday and kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on Aug 15. Germany international Wirtz said he was relishing the challenge. “There are some

differences to Germany but I think there is also something I can learn and make me better so I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s more

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intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is w h a t everybody is telling me.” Liverpool

Draw Date: 06/08/25 (Wed)

Draw No: 5951/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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Florian Wirtz. –AFPPIC

SHORTS

from Atalanta in 2023. Miami monitor Messi recovery INTER MIAMI star Lionel Messi missed the team’s Leagues Cup match against Pumas Unam following a right leg injury he suffered over the weekend. Messi’s muscle injury has been described as “minor” and “slight” by team officials, and coach Javier Mascherano has reason to hope that Messi won’t need much time to recover. “Yes, I spoke to (Messi),” Mascherano said at a press conference yesterday. “Well, the club issued a statement that was very clear. It’s a slight injury, within the bad news, it’s good news. “We don’t like to estimate a return, especially in Leo’s (case). He usually recovers very well from injuries and above all, normally does with speed. So we will see, but clearly for (Wednesday) he is unavailable. But then we will see how he feels, how he progresses.” Messi came out of Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale in the 11th minute, shortly after getting hurt in a collision with two opponents. Son draws fans to airport SOUTH KOREAN star Son Heung-min has not even been officially announced as joining Los Angeles FC of MLS, but excited fans are already waiting to welcome him. ESPN and The Athletic report that Son, who left Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, will sign with LAFC for an MLS-record transfer fee of US$26 million (RM110m). LAFC last night announced a news conference for a “major announcement” today that would seem to be the unveiling of Son. After press reports about Son’s possible arrival yesterday at Los Angeles International Airport, about 40 fans of Son went to see if they could get an autograph or photograph or even a glimpse of their idol. They were unable to see Son, however, after his sendoff in South Korea a few hours earlier. “Son is immensely important to me. I used to wake up at five or six in the morning to watch him play in England,” Jun Kwon, a 19-year-old fan, told AFP . “He’s going to change things here. My father and I, who had no interest in MLS, are already won over.”

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Mourinho pays tribute to Costa FORMER Porto captain Jorge Costa died yesterday at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club’s training centre, the Portuguese side said. The former defender, who was in his second season as Porto’s Director of Professional Football, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. “Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest,” the club said in a statement. “He left his mark on generations of fans and became a symbol of Portismo.” As captain, he led Porto to Uefa Cup glory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004 under manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho posted a picture of the pair on Instagram , writing, “I know what you would say now if you could, ‘mister stop crying, tomorrow you have a match and your boys need you ready and strong’. I promise you Bicho, I am going to do it. RIP, because your legacy stay(s) with us.” PL giants make bids for Sesko PREMIER LEAGUE sides Manchester United and Newcastle have both placed competing bids for in-demand RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, German tabloid Bild reported yesterday. The German tabloid said the Red Devils made an initial bid of £74 million (RM416m) for the 22-year-old centre forward. Newcastle had offered a reported £70 million (RM392m) for the striker on Saturday, upping that to £74 million with bonuses on Monday. Sesko was stood down from Saturday’s home friendly against Serie A side Atalanta, won 2-1 by the visitors due to a potential transfer. Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schaefer confirmed this, saying Sesko would not play “due to the very concrete interests from several clubs.” United are rebuilding after their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years and Sesko’s arrival could push under-pressure striker Rasmus Hojlund towards the exit, with reports emerging United could sell the Denmark forward for €35 million (RM171m), less than half of what they paid to bring him

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