Amorim is right: This IS the worst Man Utd team ever!

Time up for Ange? Spurs sleepwalking to relegation battle

Sanchez, you lucky boy! Cucurella & Madueke save Chelsea

Culture & Clobber: Jude's new look, gold Zidane Preds & more

Nunez CAN score goals! Huge late drama as Liverpool march on

Guardiola split with wife Cristina Serra after 'tense' dinner

Abramovich living in exile with £500m superyacht marooned

Pochettino opens door for Messi's sons to represent USMNT

‘Best centre forward in the world’ – Mbappe silences doubters

Walker & Kilner could 'live in €20k-a-night hotel' in Milan

'I can play as I want!' - Mbappe claims he's finally 'adapted' to Real

Messi called out by ex-rival after Mexico World Cup taunt

Amorim brutally declares Rashford will remain on sidelines 'no matter what'

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Souza making a name for himself at Santos</li><li>Chelsea &amp; Barca are monitoring the talent</li><li>Santos working to extend his current contract</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Chelsea and Barcelona locked in transfer battle over Santos defender Souza - dubbed 'the next Marcelo'

<p>Souza has been a standout player at Santos, rising through the ranks from their youth setup to become a first-team regular. The talented full-back joined the club at the tender age of nine and quickly showcased his versatility, initially playing as a winger and even occasionally in midfield. However, it is in the left-back position where he has truly excelled, cementing his reputation as a player with immense potential. Under the management of former coach Fábio Carille, Souza earned his spot in Santos’ senior squad despite stiff competition. His attributes have drawn comparisons to Brazil and Real Madrid legend Marcelo.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>According to reports from <a href="https://as.com/futbol/internacional/pugna-barca-chelsea-por-el-nuevo-marcelo-souza-n/" target="_blank"><em>AS</em></a>, both Barcelona and Chelsea are exploring options to secure Souza during the upcoming transfer window. Chelsea, in particular, appear keen to close the deal and have a strategy in place. The Blues reportedly intend to sign Souza and then loan him out to their sister club, Strasbourg, to gain European experience. However, competition for his signature is fierce, with clubs from Saudi Arabia also reportedly making offers to the player. Despite the growing interest, Santos are eager to retain their prized asset and have initiated talks to extend his current contract, which is set to expire in May 2025.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Standing at 1.83 meters, Souza combines physical presence with technical ability, making him a unique asset in his position. He is particularly notable for his quick acceleration and skill on the ball, traits that enhance his contributions in attack. Despite his offensive capabilities, he does not compromise on defensive duties, excelling in one-on-one situations with an impressive 80% success rate in defensive duels this season.</p><p>In his eight appearances for Santos this term, Souza has displayed exceptional ball recovery skills, averaging nearly nine recoveries per game. These statistics place him among the most promising full-backs of his age group, alongside other emerging talents. </p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrFDVFuBVf/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
  <div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrFDVFuBVf/?img_index=1" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">
      <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
        <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
        <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
          <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
            <g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000">
              <g>
                <path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path>
              </g>
            </g>
          </g>
        </svg></div>
      <div style="padding-top: 8px;">
        <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
        <div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: 8px;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: auto;">
          <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
      </div>
    </a>
  </div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>The coming months will be pivotal for Souza as Santos’ new coach, Leandro Zago, assesses the youngster’s role in the squad. Whether Souza remains at Santos to further develop his game or makes the leap to European football, his potential to become a global football star seems undeniable.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR SOUZA?

Chelsea and Barcelona locked in transfer battle over Santos defender Souza - dubbed 'the next Marcelo' | Goal.com

Chelsea and Barcelona are reportedly vying for Santos defender Souza who has been dubbed as &quot;the next Marcelo&quot;.