Hoffenheim ist an Dardai dran

Vor allem in der Hoffenheimer Hintermannschaft wird es in diesem Sommer Veränderungen geben. Eine Spur führt zu einem deutschen U-21-Nationalspieler.

Bald ein Hoffenheimer? Marton Dardai.

Bald ein Hoffenheimer? Marton Dardai.

IMAGO/Revierfoto

Die Defensive wird in dem bevorstehenden Transfersommer eine Großbaustelle in Hoffenheim. Florian Grillitsch, Chris Richards und Havard Nordtveit verlassen die TSG, Kasim Adams sollte längst verkauft sein, die volle Leistungsfähigkeit bei Benjamin Hübner und Ermin Bicakcic steht in den Sternen – David Raum ist ein potenzieller Verkaufskandidat.

Ohnehin haben Trainer Sebastian Hoeneß und Manager Alexander Rosen die dringende Notwendigkeit von mehr Qualität und körperlicher Präsenz am Boden wie in der Luft in der Verteidigung als notwendig erachtet und benannt. Die Bemühungen um Nationalverteidiger Matthias Ginter dagegen blieben vergebens, der Gladbacher entschied sich für seinen Ausbildungsverein Freiburg.

Herthas Klassenzugehörigkeit spielt bei einem möglichen Transfer eine Rolle

Nun aber verdichten sich die Hinweise auf den nächsten Kandidaten: Marton Dardai von Hertha BSC. “Sky” hatte zuerst vom Hoffenheimer Interesse berichtet, das deckt sich mit den Informationen des kicker. Demnach hat es konkreten Kontakt zwischen den beiden Klubs gegeben, die TSG hat ihr Interesse hinterlegt. Doch ehe weitere Schritte eingeleitet werden, sollen sich Dardai und die Berliner voll auf das letzte Bundesliga-Wochenende 2021/22 zu konzentrieren, an dem der finale Klassenerhalt angestrebt wird. Zudem dürfte auch die künftige Klassenzugehörigkeit der Hertha Einfluss auf die Transfermodalitäten haben.

Dardai, dessen Vertrag in Berlin noch bis 2025 läuft, ist der Sohn des früheren Berliner Cheftrainers und -Profis Pal Dardai. Der 20-Jährige ist gebürtiger Berliner, ein Herthaner Eigengewächs und Innenverteidiger mit einem stärkeren linken Fuß. Das würde dem U-21-Nationalspieler Deutschlands, der väterlicherseits auch die ungarische Staatsbürgerschaft hat, im Kraichgau gute Perspektiven eröffnen.

Denn mit linksfüßigen Verteidigern ist es bei der TSG so eine Sache. US-Boy Chris Richards, zuletzt zweimal vom FC Bayern ausgeliehen, kehrt wie geplant nach München zurück. Eine feste Verpflichtung ist aktuell ebenso unwahrscheinlich, weil teuer, wie eine dritte Leihe.

Dardai ist als Linksfuß wertvoll, auch wegen Hübners Verletzungshistorie

Unter normalen Umständen wäre die Position links in der Vierer- oder Dreierkette von Benjamin Hübner belegt. Aber der Kapitän, der zuletzt allein eineinhalb Jahre wegen einer Knöchelblessur gefehlt hatte, plagte sich zuletzt mit Rückenbeschwerden herum und musste die Saison nach nur fünf Einsätzen vorzeitig wieder beenden. Es ist offen, wie belastbar sich der 32-Jährige in der kommenden Spielzeit wird präsentieren können.

Junge entwicklungsfähige Spieler sind grundsätzlich Hoffenheims Zielgruppe, allerdings verpflichteten die TSG zuletzt überwiegend ablösefreie Kandidaten (Raum, Angelo Stiller, Finn Ole Becker, Grischa Prömel). Doch die TSG wird investieren müssen und wollen, wie das Interesse an dem zwar ablösefreien, aber keineswegs günstigen Ginter zeigt.

Marktwert bei zirka fünf Millionen Euro

Der Marktwert von Dardai Junior, der bislang zwei Dutzend Bundesliga-Einsätze in zwei Jahren vorzuweisen hat, wird auf etwa fünf Millionen Euro taxiert. Ob es festgelegte Abstandszahlungen je nach Ligazugehörigkeit gibt, ist nicht bekannt. Andernfalls könnten konkurrierende Interessenten (vermeintlich auch Dortmund, Wolfsburg und Frankfurt) den Preis in die Höhe treiben. Berlin selbst hatte erst im Winter mit Marc Oliver Kempf einen erfahrenen linksfüßigen Verteidiger aus Stuttgart geholt.

Michael Pfeifer

Princess powers to victory in York feature

Highfield Princess was a taking winner of the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes for jockey Jason Hart and trainer John Quinn.

The mare travelled prominently despite being restrained by Hart in the early stages of the Group Two contest and then eased clear when asked to quicken.

Left alone in the lead in the final furlong, the five-year-old began to drift towards the outer rail but was still a comfortable two-and-three-quarter-length winner from Karl Burke’s 9-1 chance Spycatcher.

Owen Burrows’ Minzaal was the third-placed horse as the 11-4 joint favourite, with Dragon Symbol disappointing at the same price on his first run for Roger Varian.

Quinn, who was on his way to the Arqana sales in France, said of the 11-2 victor: “I got to see it just before I was about to get on the train.

“I’m obviously delighted, she was very impressive, just what I wanted to see.

“I think we’ll probably wait now until the six-furlong race at Ascot (Platinum Jubilee), that’s the obvious next race for her.

Latest Racing Stories

“What has been really pleasing to see of late is that if anything she’s getting quicker, they were never going too quick for her there.

“Now I just hope I can find the next one.”

Hart said: “I didn’t think she’d travel that well to be honest. I don’t know what the boss does but he’s made her quicker.

“I got her in a lovely rhythm and at halfway she lit up underneath me. When I pressed the button, I couldn’t believe how she picked up and put the race to bed.

“She was my first Royal Ascot winner and going back there looks the obvious place to go.”

Burke was more than satisfied with the runner-up’s effort, but felt he may have been a little unlucky.

He said: “I’m delighted – he ran a great race.

“It’s a shame we got a little bit hampered because he is quite a competitive horse when he gets upsides. The winner was the best horse on the day, but we’d have been a couple of lengths closer I think if we’d had a clear run.

“He’s suffered with his feet a little bit and should have won on Good Friday really, but to come and do it in that grade is brilliant and gives us a lot of hope for the future.

“I’m not sure where we’ll go next. He is actually in the Group Two at the Curragh on Sunday week (Greenlands Stakes), but I’d imagine that will come too quick and will be a very hot race.

“We’re not entered at Royal Ascot and I think the ground would be the key to him really with his feet – a bit of juice in the ground is perfect.”

Minzaal was the only one of the first three to be making his seasonal reappearance and Burrows said: “I’m happy enough with that as I felt this might just knock the cobwebs away.

“It was a funny old race. He jumped well, which I was pleased about as he’s been a little bit slow at times and he travelled well, but the winner didn’t stop did she?

“She drifted away from him, so he didn’t have anything then to take him into the race.

“He’s having a nice blow and I’m sure he’ll come forward plenty from that. Like everybody we’ve been waiting to get some serious work in on the grass, so hopefully the rain will allow for that and we can move forwards to Ascot.”

FIFAe Nations Cup um 400.000 US-Dollar vor Zuschauern

Der FIFAe Nations Cup wird vom 27. bis zum 30. Juli als Offline-Event vor Zuschauern in Kopenhagen ausgetragen, das Teilnehmerfeld steht noch nicht fest.

Der FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 wird vor Live-Publikum ausgetragen.

Der FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 wird vor Live-Publikum ausgetragen.

EA SPORTS/FIFA

Wie der FIFAe World Cup musste auch der FIFAe Nations Cup 2021 coronabedingt abgesagt werden – das Event in Kopenhagen konnte nicht stattfinden. Ein Jahr später erhält die dänische Hauptstadt ihre Wiedergutmachung: Der Länder-Showdown in FIFA 22 wird als Offline-Event vor Zuschauern vom 27. bis zum 30. Juli in der Bella Arena ausgetragen.

24 Nationen werden um den Preisgeldpool in Höhe von 400.000 US-Dollar kämpfen. Einzig bereits gesetztes Team für das große Event ist die eNationalmannschaft des Gastgebers Dänemark, die anderen 23 Länder müssen sich noch qualifizieren.

23 Finalplätze noch zu vergeben

Seit Dienstag ist der Vorverkauf der Tickets für den FIFAe Nations Cup eröffnet, am 25. Mai beginnt der Last-Minute-Sale. Die Karten sind allerdings nur für den letzten Turniertag, den 30. Juli vorgesehen. 145 Dänische Kronen werden im Vorverkauf fällig, das entspricht nach derzeitigem Kurs knapp 20 Euro.

Ob das jeweils favorisierte eNationalteam beim FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 überhaupt antreten wird, steht in den meisten Fällen noch nicht fest. Am 19. und 20. Mai wird im Zuge der Main Stage der Qualifier das Feld für die Play-offs finalisiert, in diesen werden anschließend die 23 Teilnehmer neben den Dänen ermittelt.

DFB-Team schon in den Play-offs

Das DFB-Team hatte sich in der vierten Woche der Play-Ins den Umweg über die Main Stage erspart und ist dank des ersten Rangs in die Play-offs eingezogen. Diese werden wohl im Juni gespielt. In Europa ist das direkte Weiterkommen zudem England, Frankreich, den Niederlanden, Italien und Schweden gelungen.

Niklas Aßfalg

Vancouver Whitecaps 'one of the big guys' in Canadian Championship, Sartini declares

The Vancouver Whitecaps begin their Canadian Championship campaign on Wednesday as ‘one of the big guys’, head coach Vanni Sartini has declared.

VWFC have only won Canada’s domestic cup competition once, back in 2015, but have lost in five of the last 10 finals, once to Montreal and four times to Toronto FC.

The Whitecaps host Canadian Premier League side Valour in the preliminary round on Wednesday and with their MLS budget and quality, they’ll undoubtedly be the favorites.

While Sartini has respect for their upcoming opponents, he’s under no illusions as to what is expected of Vancouver, nor has he understated the importance of the match as the club goes in search of silverware.

“We can be very clear, Wednesday is the most important game of the year. Why? Because if we lose we are out of the Canadian Championship,” he said. “That is a competition that we want to try to win. We enter the competition and have to be honest in a way that we are the big guy, we’re not the underdog because the CPL, of course, the budget and everything, we need to have extreme respect for Valour.

“Go with all our guns there and try to win this game, because the last two years, the last two Canadian Championship campaigns have been very disappointing for the club.”

Vancouver come into the cup match fresh and confident from a win over fellow Canadian side Toronto FC in MLS play on Sunday.

That result is all the more impressive given the absences Vancouver are coping with right now, with the likes of Tristan Blackmon, Cristian Gutierrez, and Leo Owusu out of action. But soccer is a team sport, and Sartini has been pleased with the response of his group in the face of adversity.

“I’m very happy that the protagonists of the win have been guys that came off the bench to remind everyone that the group is the leader,” the Italian said after Sunday’s win. “Cody [Cropper] made a great save as soon as he came in, and Lucas [Cavallini] and Tos [Ricketts] combining for the goal. It’s beautiful, it’s very beautiful, we’re very happy.”

Given the short turnaround, Sartini will have to lean on his entire team again on Wednesday.

“I want the 11 players tomorrow that guarantee me a high level of intensity,” he said. “It’s a team that if we let them play and if we’re not intense like we have to be, they can create a lot of problems.”

Cagliari vs. Inter Predictions & Betting Tips

The Serie A title race could go to the wire this season and these Cagliari vs. Inter predictions give the latest picture at the top of the table. Inter are still chasing down league leaders Milan with Cagliari pushing against relegation.

Cagliari vs. Inter odds

1 – Inter to win – 4/11

2 – Over 2.5 total goals – 6/13

3 – Inter over 1.5 total goals – 1/3

4 – BTTS – Yes – 31/40

5 – Inter to win 2-1– 8/1

Inter’s task in the final two weeks of the Serie A season is clear as they aim to chase down city rivals Milan, in what is becoming one of the most exciting title races in Europe.

Simone Inzaghi’s reigning champions trail the current league leaders by two points, ahead of the penultimate weekend of the campaign, and they need maximum points to keep up the growing pressure on Stefano Pioli’s side. Inter need a slip-up from their fellow San Siro outfit and they head into this clash in excellent Serie A form in recent weeks, with five wins from their last six league outings.

In contrast, relegation-battling Cagliari have won just once in their last nine league matches. The Isolani will be relegated if they lose this game and rivals Salernitana beat Empoli on Saturday. The visitors are unlikely to have much sympathy for their hosts’ position and they have been involved in some high-scoring encounters in recent weeks. Seven of their last eight games have seen over 2.5 total goals scored.

Within that, Inter have scored over one goal in six of their last seven fixtures, as they aim to match Milan stride for stride in the title battle. However, the Nerazzurri are expected to concede in this game. The champions have no clean sheets from their last five league outings, while Cagliari have been on target in five of their last six Serie A games.

With Milan hosting Atalanta just before this clash kicks off, three points for Inter will set up a crucial final weekend of the season. Milan face another tough game away to Sassuolo, while Inter are at home to Sampdoria.

How to stream Cagliari vs. Inter

You can stream Cagliari vs. Inter live in Sunday night action via an official bet365 stream, with customers able to watch the full match through a valid betting account. This includes having some funds in your betting wallet or placing a bet within 24 hours of kick-off. The game is also available for Serie A fans to watch anywhere in the world via ExpressVPN. To sign up and claim three months extra free: 

  • Head to expressvpn.com
  • Click ‘Get the #1 Rated VPN’
  • Choose your plan
  • Enter email address and payment details
  • Click ‘Join Now’ and download app

Cagliari vs. Inter last five matches

Cagliari last five matches

Inter last five matches

Cagliari top goalscorers

Inter top goalscorers

Cagliari vs. Inter line-ups

Cagliari (3-5-2): Cragno; Altare, Lovato, Ceppitelli; Lykogiannis, Rog, Grassi, Deiola, Bellanova; Pedro, Pavoletti.

Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Dimarco, De Vrij, Skriniar; Perisic, Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Gagliarini, Dumfries; Martinez, Dzeko.

Cagliari team news

The Rossoblu will be without back-up goalkeeper Boris Radunovic through suspension for this game. However, caretaker boss Alessandro Agostini has no fresh injury worries this weekend, and he could name an unchanged starting team against Inter as the Isolani bid to maintain their Serie A status.

Inter team news

Inzaghi is still without defensive star Alessandro Bastoni through injury, while the Nerazzurri coach is expected to rotate his starting XI this weekend following Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final. Roberto Gagliardini is set to feature in midfield, with Bosnian star Edin Dzeko leading the front line.

Cagliari vs. Inter Predictions & Betting Tips

The Serie A title race could go to the wire this season and these Cagliari vs. Inter predictions give the latest picture at the top of the table. Inter are still chasing down league leaders Milan with Cagliari pushing against relegation.

Cagliari vs. Inter odds

1 – Inter to win – 4/11

2 – Over 2.5 total goals – 6/13

3 – Inter over 1.5 total goals – 1/3

4 – BTTS – Yes – 31/40

5 – Inter to win 2-1– 8/1

Inter’s task in the final two weeks of the Serie A season is clear as they aim to chase down city rivals Milan, in what is becoming one of the most exciting title races in Europe.

Simone Inzaghi’s reigning champions trail the current league leaders by two points, ahead of the penultimate weekend of the campaign, and they need maximum points to keep up the growing pressure on Stefano Pioli’s side. Inter need a slip-up from their fellow San Siro outfit and they head into this clash in excellent Serie A form in recent weeks, with five wins from their last six league outings.

In contrast, relegation-battling Cagliari have won just once in their last nine league matches. The Isolani will be relegated if they lose this game and rivals Salernitana beat Empoli on Saturday. The visitors are unlikely to have much sympathy for their hosts’ position and they have been involved in some high-scoring encounters in recent weeks. Seven of their last eight games have seen over 2.5 total goals scored.

Within that, Inter have scored over one goal in six of their last seven fixtures, as they aim to match Milan stride for stride in the title battle. However, the Nerazzurri are expected to concede in this game. The champions have no clean sheets from their last five league outings, while Cagliari have been on target in five of their last six Serie A games.

With Milan hosting Atalanta just before this clash kicks off, three points for Inter will set up a crucial final weekend of the season. Milan face another tough game away to Sassuolo, while Inter are at home to Sampdoria.

How to stream Cagliari vs. Inter

You can stream Cagliari vs. Inter live in Sunday night action via an official bet365 stream, with customers able to watch the full match through a valid betting account. This includes having some funds in your betting wallet or placing a bet within 24 hours of kick-off. The game is also available for Serie A fans to watch anywhere in the world via ExpressVPN. To sign up and claim three months extra free: 

  • Head to expressvpn.com
  • Click ‘Get the #1 Rated VPN’
  • Choose your plan
  • Enter email address and payment details
  • Click ‘Join Now’ and download app

Cagliari vs. Inter last five matches

Cagliari last five matches

Inter last five matches

Cagliari top goalscorers

Inter top goalscorers

Cagliari vs. Inter line-ups

Cagliari (3-5-2): Cragno; Altare, Lovato, Ceppitelli; Lykogiannis, Rog, Grassi, Deiola, Bellanova; Pedro, Pavoletti.

Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Dimarco, De Vrij, Skriniar; Perisic, Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Gagliarini, Dumfries; Martinez, Dzeko.

Cagliari team news

The Rossoblu will be without back-up goalkeeper Boris Radunovic through suspension for this game. However, caretaker boss Alessandro Agostini has no fresh injury worries this weekend, and he could name an unchanged starting team against Inter as the Isolani bid to maintain their Serie A status.

Inter team news

Inzaghi is still without defensive star Alessandro Bastoni through injury, while the Nerazzurri coach is expected to rotate his starting XI this weekend following Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final. Roberto Gagliardini is set to feature in midfield, with Bosnian star Edin Dzeko leading the front line.

Thommy nutzt jede Chance zur Eigenwerbung

Kurz vor dem Ende der Saison und seines Vertrags beim VfB Stuttgart nutzt Erik Thommy jede Chance, Eigenwerbung für sich zu betreiben.

Bleibt er beim VfB Stuttgart? Für Erik Thommy war die nun endende Saison ziemlich verkorkst.

Bleibt er beim VfB Stuttgart? Für Erik Thommy war die nun endende Saison ziemlich verkorkst.

IMAGO/Sportfoto Rudel

Es war und ist eine verkorkste Spielzeit. Für den VfB, für die sportliche Führung, für viele Hoffnungsträger, viele Neuzugänge – und für Erik Thommy. Dem 27-Jährigen war von Anfang an signalisiert worden, dass es für ihn schwer werden würde, sich einen Startplatz im Team von Pellegrino Matarazzo zu erspielen. Dazu sei die Konkurrenz auf der linken Seite mit Offensivverteidiger Borna Sosa sowie den reinen Angreifern Chris Führich, Omar Marmoush oder auch Tiago Tomas einfach zu groß. Dennoch ließ sich der gebürtige Ulmer, auch mangels besserer Alternativen, nicht abschrecken beziehungsweise abgeben.

Auch nachdem er erst wegen einer Corona-Infektion und anschließend wegen anhaltender Hüftprobleme, die in einem Beckenschiefstand ihre Ursache hatten, Anfang des Jahres 2022 endgültig abgeschrieben schien, machte der frühere Augsburger keinen Strich unter das Kapitel Stuttgart. Und wurde belohnt.

Keine Anzeichen für Thommys Verbleib

Seit dem 29. Spieltag stand Thommy, der bis dahin auf 14 Kaderplätze und fünf Einsätze (meist in den Schlussminuten) kam, in jeder Partie auf dem Rasen. Gegen den VfL Wolfsburg (1:1), sogar von Beginn an. Dennoch saß der 27-Jährige zuletzt in München beim 2:2 wieder auf der Bank. “Definitiv”, sei er enttäuscht gewesen. “Ich hätte gerne wieder von Anfang an gespielt”, sagt der Linksfüßer. “Ich wäre auch bereit gewesen und habe das auch dem Trainer gesagt. Aber er hat anders entschieden. Das muss ich und werde ich respektieren. Mal sehen, wie er beim nächsten Mal entscheidet. Er weiß, dass er auf mich zählen kann.”

Entsprechend goutiert der Cheftrainer, den Fleiß und die Gewissenhaftigkeit Thommys, der zu der Sorte Profis gehört, die sich alles hart erarbeiten und erarbeiten müssen. Dies aber widerspruchslos und ehrgeizig tun. Ein Musterprofi, der sich akkurat mit seiner Fitness und Professionalität auseinandersetzt, nichts dem Zufall überlässt. Dessen Zeit in Stuttgart allerdings dem Ende zuzugehen scheint. Zwar wolle man erst einmal abwarten, wie der VfB abschneidet, heißt es auf Nachfrage. Aber es gibt keinerlei Anzeichen, dass Thommy bleibt, bleiben soll oder bleiben will.

Ich lebe den Moment.

Erik Thommy

“Ich lebe den Moment und denke noch gar nicht so weit. Wir haben noch Zeit und werden sehen, was kommt”, sagt der Flügelmann, der sich nach eigener Aussage mit seiner Situation noch nicht beschäftigt hat und einfach mal die Chance nutzt, sich auf dem Markt zu positionieren. “Ich bin froh, dass ich auf dem Platz stehen darf und der Trainer merkt, dass er in dieser schwierigen Situation auf mich setzen kann, dass ich da bin, dass ich Bock darauf habe.” Auch auf die Wohl-und-Wehe-Partie gegen den 1. FC Köln, gegen das er noch gute Erinnerungen hat. Als Leihspieler im Trikot von Fortuna Düsseldorf erzielte Thommy am 27. Spieltag 2019/20 beim 2:2 gegen den FC sein bislang letztes Bundesligator.

George Moissidis

Haggas on the mark again at York with Gaassee

Gaassee provided trainer William Haggas with back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power ‘Making Flat Less Flat’ Handicap at York.

A year on from saddling Ilaraab to claim his sixth successive victory in the Dante Festival opener, the proud Yorkshireman was represented by a similarly progressive colt in this son of Sea The Stars.

Third on his racecourse debut at Lingfield in September, Gaassee went on to score at Chester, Newcastle and Kempton before the end of 2021 and was all the rage for his return to action on the Knavesmire.

After initially being settled in midfield by Tom Marquand, the 6-4 favourite made his move at the top of the home straight and finished strongly to beat recent Hamilton scorer Forza Orta by a length.

Ilaraab went on to contest the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot following his triumph 12 months ago, finishing eighth, but Gaassee appears unlikely to follow the same route.

Haggas said: “That’s a good start. He was lugging a bit to the left though, I don’t know why. He might have been a bit rusty, but he wasn’t as impressive as I’d hoped he’d be.

“We put him in the Hardwicke in case something like this happened, but he’s not Hardwicke material yet.

Latest Racing Stories

“He wears a tongue-strap but I don’t know if it makes a difference, we’re just now at the stage where I don’t want to take it off.

“Everyone loves winners at York, but I was born up here and I’m always proud to have winners at York.”

Dakota Gold bounced back to his best in no uncertain terms when holding on in a tight finish to the Churchill Tyres Handicap.

Sent off at 18-1 having disappointed on his reappearance at Musselburgh, the eight-year-old was without a victory since November 2020 but was winning for sixth time on the Knavesmire, equalling the record of Copper Knight as the most successful horse at the track in modern times.

Having led the near-side group, he looked a sitting duck as Makanah and stablemate Pendleton closed in late on, but Dakota Gold clung on for Connor Beasley to win by a head and half a length.

Dods said: “I gave him a run at Musselburgh and he didn’t like it because everyone wants to lead and he was getting hassled – it was a waste of time.

“He looks better this year than last year. I was never really happy with him in his coat and everything last season and he was so high in the weights he couldn’t get in races. He was having to run in Listed races and basically wasn’t good enough.

“They had a bit of rain here today and six furlongs on good ground is perfect for him. It’s nice to see him come back and hopefully he goes on from here. For an eight-year-old to do that, he’s got some heart.”

Haggas on the mark again at York with Gaassee

Gaassee provided trainer William Haggas with back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power ‘Making Flat Less Flat’ Handicap at York.

A year on from saddling Ilaraab to claim his sixth successive victory in the Dante Festival opener, the proud Yorkshireman was represented by a similarly progressive colt in this son of Sea The Stars.

Third on his racecourse debut at Lingfield in September, Gaassee went on to score at Chester, Newcastle and Kempton before the end of 2021 and was all the rage for his return to action on the Knavesmire.

After initially being settled in midfield by Tom Marquand, the 6-4 favourite made his move at the top of the home straight and finished strongly to beat recent Hamilton scorer Forza Orta by a length.

Ilaraab went on to contest the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot following his triumph 12 months ago, finishing eighth, but Gaassee appears unlikely to follow the same route.

Haggas said: “That’s a good start. He was lugging a bit to the left though, I don’t know why. He might have been a bit rusty, but he wasn’t as impressive as I’d hoped he’d be.

“We put him in the Hardwicke in case something like this happened, but he’s not Hardwicke material yet.

Latest Racing Stories

“He wears a tongue-strap but I don’t know if it makes a difference, we’re just now at the stage where I don’t want to take it off.

“Everyone loves winners at York, but I was born up here and I’m always proud to have winners at York.”

Dakota Gold bounced back to his best in no uncertain terms when holding on in a tight finish to the Churchill Tyres Handicap.

Sent off at 18-1 having disappointed on his reappearance at Musselburgh, the eight-year-old was without a victory since November 2020 but was winning for sixth time on the Knavesmire, equalling the record of Copper Knight as the most successful horse at the track in modern times.

Having led the near-side group, he looked a sitting duck as Makanah and stablemate Pendleton closed in late on, but Dakota Gold clung on for Connor Beasley to win by a head and half a length.

Dods said: “I gave him a run at Musselburgh and he didn’t like it because everyone wants to lead and he was getting hassled – it was a waste of time.

“He looks better this year than last year. I was never really happy with him in his coat and everything last season and he was so high in the weights he couldn’t get in races. He was having to run in Listed races and basically wasn’t good enough.

“They had a bit of rain here today and six furlongs on good ground is perfect for him. It’s nice to see him come back and hopefully he goes on from here. For an eight-year-old to do that, he’s got some heart.”

The inside story of how Man City signed Haaland

At one time or another, every single one of Europe’s biggest clubs have harboured hopes of signing Erling Haaland. Some have held face-to-face talks with his representatives. Others, like Real Madrid and Barcelona, laid on tours of their training ground and at one stage, Manchester United believed they were so close to sealing a transfer that they began looking at travel options to bring him to the city.

Along with Kylian Mbappe, Haaland is the most coveted young player in the world — and was No. 1 in ESPN’s 39 players U21 list — so much so that the pair have been tipped to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the game’s dominant global icons. Mbappe is still at the centre of his own transfer saga between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, which could see him move on a free this summer, but on Tuesday it was announced that Manchester City have won the €60 million race for Haaland.

Man City agree deal to sign Dortmund’s Haaland
The staggering stats that made Haaland the most-wanted striker
Marcotti: Why Haaland, Guardiola and City are a perfect match

Sources close to the club have told ESPN they believe they’ve signed a generational superstar in a deal that could go down as one of the best in football history. They have also done it with minimal fuss and in plenty of time to ensure Haaland will be on the plane with the rest of Pep Guardiola’s squad for their preseason tour of the United States ahead of a debut season in the Premier League.

Guardiola finally has his striker and Haaland, 21, has his chance on the big stage. Here’s how things played out.

With additional reporting by Mark Ogden, Sam Marsden, Moises Llorens, Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland

Man City’s priority: Haaland, Kane, then Haaland

Man City’s scouts — like most around the world — have been aware of Haaland since he made his senior debut for Bryne in Norway as a 15-year-old in 2016, and his reputation as a powerful, prolific goal scorer has only increased in the years since. After a spell under former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde, he scored 29 goals in 27 games as a teenager for Austrian side FC Salzburg.

In December 2019, he joined Dortmund — where he notched 85 goals in 88 games across two-and-a-half seasons — for his €20m release clause and it was the moment he signed his contract with the Bundesliga side that his eventual switch to City was set in motion.

That transfer to Dortmund was only completed after a proposed move from Salzburg to United — pushed heavily by Solskjaer, then in charge at Old Trafford — broke down over agent Mino Raiola’s insistence that a release clause be inserted into any deal. United argued that it gave Haaland and his representatives control over his future and in the end, they quickly cancelled their travel plans. Dortmund, however, accepted it and a €60m clause — to become active ahead of the 2022 summer transfer window — was included.

Last week, Man City informed Dortmund they intended to trigger it ahead of the June deadline after reaching an agreement in principle with Haaland and his agents following Raiola’s death in April. Haaland’s team relayed their decision to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich — the two other clubs still in the mix for his signature right until the end — in telephone conversations ahead of a weekend trip to Belgium for medical tests in Brussels with City staff.

However, if things had been different last summer, Haaland would be heading elsewhere.

Needing to replace Sergio Aguero, City made England striker Harry Kane their top transfer target in the summer of 2021, but were deterred by Tottenham’s £150m valuation. Sources have told ESPN that City chiefs made it clear during those discussions that if a compromise over Kane couldn’t be reached, then Haaland would be their alternative option the following summer, but that revelation didn’t force Spurs into entering serious negotiations and Kane stayed put. From the moment Kane confirmed he would stay in North London, Haaland became City’s first choice.

There was brief contact with Dortmund about Haaland’s availability a year ago, only for City to be told that Jadon Sancho‘s €85m move to Man United was already advanced and the German giants wouldn’t allow two star players to leave in the same window.

By coincidence, the €12m paid to City as part of Sancho’s move to Old Trafford — courtesy of a clause inserted as part of his move from the Etihad to Dortmund in 2017 — helped them quickly put together the financial framework needed to eventually secure Haaland. Dortmund will receive around €40m for Haaland in a first instalment after July 1, followed by a second at a later date.

City believe they have got a player who would be worth upwards of €200m on the open market at a fraction of the price, and there have been jokes inside the club that the €60m fee is less than Man United paid to sign much-maligned midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018.

play

0:49

Steve Nicol explains why joining Manchester City was the best decision for Erling Haaland.

‘An emotional connection’

Haaland will immediately become one of City’s highest earners when he joins officially on July 1, but sources close to the club insist they haven’t broken their wage structure and that his salary is not above that of Kevin De Bruyne‘s £375,000-a-week. Dressing room harmony is a priority for Guardiola regardless of the player, while those closest to Haaland insist the move isn’t driven by money anyway.

His representatives are well aware they could have made more money from a move to United — a team also in the market for a young striker this summer — but sources have told ESPN their interest was dismissed out of hand months ago.

There’s a theory that United’s decision to sack Solskjaer — a close friend and former international teammate of Erling’s father, Alfie — ended any hope that Haaland could head to Old Trafford, but sources have told ESPN it was never a factor. Alfie Haaland has a good relationship with Ralf Rangnick from his time at Red Bull — Rangnick was appointed director of football of both FC Salzburg and RB Leipzig in 2012 before his stint as interim boss at Old Trafford — and the decision to snub United was made simply because they are no longer competitive in the Premier League and Champions League.

Which Premier League clubs will qualify for Europe?
Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access

Sources close to Haaland have told ESPN that interest from clubs was weighed up in terms of their “sporting project” — the manager, the style of play and their ability to be successful on the pitch. But City ticked all the boxes. The chance to work with Guardiola was a big factor, particularly as Haaland is desperate to win the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual prize.

Having started plotting their next move since the ink was drying on his contract at Borussia Dortmund, Haaland and his team have done their homework about where to go next. In April 2021, Raiola — who died last month following illness — and Alfie Haaland visited Real Madrid and Barcelona on the same day. Earlier this year, there were talks with both Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but it was City who left the best impression.

Real Madrid were also seriously considered, but their pursuit of Mbappe complicated matters, while 34-year-old Karim Benzema has shown he’s far from finished as a top-level striker after a season during which he has already topped 40 goals in all competitions.

Even if the Premier League offers a sterner test than LaLiga for a young striker, it is City and Guardiola who are crying out for a No. 9 having navigated the campaign without one following Aguero’s departure. On top of that, and everything else City have been able to offer, it’s also being billed as a homecoming after Alfie played for City between 2000 and 2003.

Erling was born in England a month after Alfie joined the club from Leeds, and there are still employees who remember holding him as a baby. Haaland and his father were in the stands at Wembley for City’s 3-1 win over Sunderland in the 2014 League Cup final. City look after their former players, and Alfie has been back a number of times over the years as a guest or fan. According to sources, Erling feels he’s joining a club with which he has “an emotional connection.”

What happens from here?

Haaland to City feels like the right fit for both club and player, but it’s not a move without risk.

Sources have told ESPN that Chelsea scouts raised concerns about whether Haaland’s style of play would be suited to the Premier League because there’s less space for forward players to attack and run into, compared with the Bundesliga. Recruitment staff at Barcelona reported back that they had reservations about his personality and character. Real Madrid, according to sources, took issue with his injury record — he’s missed 17 club games this season mainly because of muscular problems — although there’s an acceptance from the Spanish club that it didn’t put them off completely, and there was a point around February when even those involved in City’s bid believed he may end up at the Bernabeu.

Still only 21, there is still a chance he might.

Haaland’s representatives, led by his father, have carefully planned each stage of his career and his move to City is that next step. Haaland has made no secret of his desire to one day play for Real Madrid and while City are well aware of his ambitions, they will back themselves to make life so comfortable at the Etihad Stadium that he never wants to leave. That tactic has worked with Guardiola, who has signed two contract extensions since his arrival in 2016 and hasn’t ruled out agreeing to another this summer.

For now, though, City, Guardiola and Haaland can all be happy that they’ve got what they wanted. A transfer tale more than two years in the making has ended with one of Europe’s best young players joining one of Europe’s best teams. They will both hope it turns out to be a dream one.