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Mateo Kovacic talked up his chances of replacing injured-talisman Rodri in Manchester City's midfield after a star performance against Fulham.

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• Kovacic the star for Man City in Fulham win
• Man City struggle without Rodri in transition
• Kovacic confident he can plug gap

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kovacic was the unlikely hero for Pep Guardiola during Manchester City's 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday as the Croatian midfielder scored twice past Bernd Leno. The eight-time Premier League winners were far from their best on the night, as has been the case for the most part since they lost Rodri to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear last month.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kovacic slotted into Rodri's position in a single pivot at the Etihad against Fulham, something which Guardiola had not trialled since the Spaniard's injury against Arsenal. The Premier League champions have gone with a double-pivot system since the injury, however, against the Cottagers, Kovacic was given the nod in a single-pivot system, and the former Real Madrid man believes he can replace the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament for the rest of the season.

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  WHAT KOVACIC SAID

  Speaking to the media, Kovacic said: "I am playing there in the middle at the moment and of course, we need to cover for Rodri, we miss him a lot.

  “I think any team would miss him, the player that he is, and we wish him a speedy recovery and hope he comes back as good shape as possible.

  "For now we have to adapt and for sure the manager has a lot of options so we can rotate."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR KOVACIC?

  The Croatian will now join his national team for their Nations League clashes against Scotland and Poland before returning to Manchester for City's Premier League match against Wolves on October 20.

Despite Todd Boehly wanting to bolster positions all over the Chelsea squad, it seems that the centre forward spot is a priority.

Plenty of strikers have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, notably Benjamin Sesko, who signed a new contract at RB Leipzig this week.

The latest rumour includes Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, but he wouldn’t exactly just walk into Enzo Maresca’s best team from the get-go.

There is another target for the Blues but Chelsea could repeat their Romelu Lukaku howler by signing him.

Chelsea’s search for a new striker

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea "have an interest" in signing Dominic Solanke.

It’s mentioned that in the last few weeks the Blues have enquired about the striker, who left the club after rejecting a new contract back in 2017.

The English ace could be on the move this summer, with his current side Bournemouth now thinking he may leave before next season.

Solanke does have a release clause in his contract, which currently stands at £65m but only for the big six, which obviously includes Chelsea.

Why Solanke could be a Lukaku repeat

It’s fair to say that Solanke’s performance throughout the 2023/24 campaign was simply spectacular for a striker who played for a mid-table side.

The former Liverpool ace provided reliability, availability, a continuous threat, and most importantly, goals, over his 38 Premier League appearances.

Solanke was one of the deadliest finishers in the division, scoring an impressive 19 goals, which is the same number as Ollie Watkins and more than Mohammed Salah, who netted 18.

However, Chelsea knew all along that one day he’d turn into a fantastic Premier League player, as before he left, he won the Chelsea Academy Player of the Year, scoring 31 goals and providing 12 assists in 33 games during 2014/15.

However, Solanke’s level of output last season is somewhat similar to what Lukaku produced the year before Chelsea re-signed him for £97.5m.

Both strikers would join for a large fee off the back of impressive goal-scoring campaigns, but the former Manchester United ace’s second stint at the club has been a disaster, packed off on various loan spells after scoring just eight league goals in 2021/22.

Falling out with Thomas Tuchel during that ill-fated first season, the 31-year-old has spent the last two years on loan in Italy at Inter and Roma, and right now, his future doesn’t belong at the Blues.

Lukaku isn’t included in the plans for the future, and Boehly will look to move him on this summer as a priority, with clubs from Italy and Saudi Arabia both keen.

Therefore, there’s the concern that a similar outcome could occur with Solanke, as re-signing an ex-player always comes with risks attached, and Lukaku’s impending departure is evidence of that.

Although the Cherries attacker was “superb” last campaign, as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, he’s not proven to be quite as reliable a finisher as the Belgian, as shown by the fact he netted ten goals in 96 PL appearances prior to last season.

Overall, there’s no doubt that Solanke is a quality striker, but is he really the type of player that’s going to take Chelsea to the next level?

No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea

Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.

By
Tom Lever

May 29, 2024

Pep Guardiola is reportedly more likely to sign a new Manchester City contract if the club are punished for supposed Financial Fair Play breaches.

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• Current deal expires in 2025
• Waiting on outcome of FFP case
• Managed expected to stay regardless

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning Premier League champions have been dragged into an FFP case that includes somewhere between 115 and 130 charges. Speculation regarding what could happen if City are found guilty on multiple counts continues to rage, with rumoured sanctions ranging from points deductions to expulsion from the English top-flight.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola’s future has provided another unwelcome distraction amid that saga, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2025. There has been talk of him agreeing an extension through to 2026, which would see a decade of service at the Etihad Stadium completed.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Guardiola would be more willing to put pen to paper if City were hit with severe sanctions from the Premier League – with it suggested that decision “would partly be out of defiance and partly not leaving a club he has come to love in a difficult spot”.

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  TELL ME MORE

  It is also being claimed that City have inserted no clauses into the contracts of new arrivals that relate to potential relegation out of the Premier League. The official line coming out of the Etihad is said to be “there is nothing to worry about”, with players advised to “get on with the job”.

Erik ten Hag said Manchester United were fired up in their win over Brentford after conceding a goal while Matthjis de Ligt was on the sidelines.

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• United furious by Brentford goal
• Used it to fuel comeback victory
• Ten Hag: 'We felt injustice'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ten Hag and his fellow United coaches were incandescent with rage when Ethan Pinnock gave the Bees the lead at the end of the first half while the Dutch defender was ordered off the pitch after having blood on his head following an earlier clash with Kevin Schade.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United rallied in the second half and goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund earned them just their third Premier League win of the season. The manager said there was a direct correlation between the manner in which they conceded the goal and the way they responded after the break.

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  WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  "We felt some injustice and used it is as fuel," Ten Hag told a press conference. "I didn’t understand why he was sent off. I went over to Matthijs and he said: 'It is dry blood and I have to come off, I don’t know why.' A huge moment because Brentford are very good at corners and you miss one of your best headers. We were angry at half time. It was not perfect but we controlled the game. We didn’t concede chances, we created some and then you feel injustice when you concede."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ten Hag said he never considered taking De Ligt off after checking the defender, whose head collided with Schade's knee, was okay. The manager explained: "He was okay, that is what he told me. I asked him when he came off, was there a problem. No, he was 100 percent there."

Nearly every Nottingham Forest fan will know the troubles the club have had filling the left-back position in recent years.

From Brazilian international Renan Lodi to fan favourites such as Yuri Ribiero and disaster signings like Dan Harding, the club have had it all when it comes to that role.

Fast-forward to 2024, the Reds have Harry Toffolo and Ola Aina as their only senior options, with the latter featuring out of position due to Neco Williams‘ excellent form at City Ground.

The Welshman won three consecutive Player of the Month awards during the 2023/24 season, which saw Nigerian, Aina having to play on the left-hand side of Nuno Espírito Santo’s defence, but not looking out of place in the process.

However, with the summer transfer window just weeks away Forest may be tempted to strengthen their squad once more, whilst being mindful of their current PSR situation.

A left-back may be high up on Nuno’s shopping list this summer, with his side already being linked with one talent who would undoubtedly improve defensively and in transition.

Nottingham Forest should reignite interest in talented full-back

In recent weeks, French outlet L’Equipe confirmed that Forest were rivalling Ligue 1 side Lille for the signature of left-back Bradley Locko.

The 22-year-old, who plies his trade for Stade Brestois, enjoyed an excellent 2023/24 campaign featuring 33 times in the league and starting 97% of their outings that season.

Locko managed to contribute with three assists in Ligue 1, subsequently being included in The Athletic’s Team of the Season – alongside teammate Pierre Lees-Melou.

However, the Reds aren’t alone in their pursuit of the £17m-rated Frenchman, with fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea also credited with an interest in the talented full-back.

Whilst it’s unclear whether Nuno’s side are still actively trying to sign Locko, they must ramp up the efforts for the Brest left-back, with the youngster having the ability to allow one Forest player to rapidly progress on Trentside.

Why Locko could take Callum Hudson-Odoi to the next level

As demonstrated this season, winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has found his feet once again in the Premier League following his £3m transfer from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old moved to the City Ground last summer in a bid to reignite his career after a stop-start spell at Stamford Bridge because of various injuries and lack of form.

The Reds’ number 14 featured 29 times in the league during 2023/24, scoring eight goals, making him the club’s second top goalscorer behind striker Chris Wood.

Despite Hudson-Odoi’s excellent form, the signing of Locko this window would allow the forward to reach the next level and potentially increase his attacking output.

The Frenchman has excelled defensively in France this season winning three tackles per 90, whilst also achieving a tally of 1.2 interceptions per game.

However, he’s just as impressive with the ball at his feet, with Locko able to quickly transition and create opportunities for attackers in transition – a real key feature of Nuno’s system at Forest.

The “monster” 22-year-old, as described by one scout, boasts an 83% pass completion rate, averaging four progressive passes but also averaging 1.7 successful take-ons in the process, demonstrating his ability to drive forward with the ball.

Given the current PSR situation on Trentside, the Reds will have to conduct shrewd business if they are to improve their squad during the off-season.

However, Locko has demonstrated excellent abilities that would undoubtedly bolster the left-back position and improve Hudson-Odoi’s chances of creating opportunities in the attacking third tenfold.

Nottingham Forest targeting Sangare upgrade who "every coach would like"

The Reds are targeting reinforcements despite another potential PSR breach.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 6, 2024

The 28-year-old was front and centre of his club and country's triumphs last season, and the incredible role he plays has rightly been acknowledged

"The best holding midfielders don't appear on the front pages of newspapers," said Pep Guardiola in February 2021. "They hide behind the team, but when the team plays well it is because they are outstanding." The Manchester City coach was referring to Rodri, who had only been in his side for one-and-a-half seasons at the time.

Those quotes came shortly after a rare fallow period for City, who had been left way behind Liverpool in the previous season's title race and had made a poor start to the 2020-21 campaign, dropping 16 points from their first 12 games. But they had since got back to their irresistible best, securing a 10th consecutive league win by thrashing Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield. And Rodri had been a key reason why.

Guardiola valued his work, but at the time the Spaniard's influence on City was understated. Indeed, Guardiola perhaps did not fully appreciate him either, as he left the Rodri on the bench for the Champions League final defeat by Chelsea at the end of that campaign.

But fast-forward almost four years and Rodri has been on the front pages of newspapers around the world. He might not get the same level of praise as team-mates Erling Haaland or Phil Foden, but his influence on Manchester City and Spain is now universally appreciated.

He does not "hide behind the team"; he is front of centre for club and country and last season won two of the most prestigious prizes in football, the Premier League title with City and the European Championship with Spain. And on Monday he got the true recognition he deserves by winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

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  Serious contender before

  Rodri was a serious contender for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, and he would well have deserved it after winning the treble with City and scoring the only goal in the Champions League final over Inter, the perfect response to being benched in Porto two years previously.

  But his contribution was somewhat overshadowed by Haaland's 52 goals in 53 games, meaning he was not even the highest-ranked City player, coming in fifth while the Norwegian came second.

  Lionel Messi secured his eighth Ballon d'Or instead as he was still enjoying his year-long lap of honour for winning the World Cup with Argentina. Messi's iron grip on the award is, however, finally over now, and it's Rodri who has taken the crown.

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  74 games unbeaten

  Rodri's contribution to the treble did not count towards this year's Ballon d'Or, which is judged on achievements in the 2023-24 season and summer tournaments. But that mattered little, as he was in even better form last season.

  He ended the Premier League campaign without losing a single game, with all three of City's defeats coming when he was suspended. The last time he lost a league match was all the way back in February 2023.

  Rodri also didn't lose a Champions League game last season, with City being eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals on penalties after two draws. The only match he was defeated in was the FA Cup final against Manchester United, which ended a record-breaking unbeaten run with City, lasting 74 games in all competitions and 475 days.

  It did not spoil his season though, as City secured an incredible fourth-consecutive league crown, the first team to do so in 135 years of English football. Haaland was still City's top scorer and Foden was just behind him on his way to being named Premier League Player of the Season, but Rodri's contribution to this historic achievement was equally important.

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  Increased attacking output

  Rodri's game has never been about goals and assists, and yet he struck eight times over the league season, including in City's first game of the season at Burnley and in their title-clinching victory against West Ham. He set up a further nine goals, too.

  He contributed to 17 Premier League goals in total, two more than Bernardo Silva and three more than Kevin De Bruyne, accounting for 17 percent of City's total output. It made him the 21st-biggest contributor to goals in the league, and we cannot stress this enough: He is a holding midfielder.

  Rodri's main role was to guide City through games and he did that to perfection, running the show from the first whistle to the last. It was no coincidence that they lost all three of the matches he missed between September and October after getting sent off against Nottingham Forest for putting his hands around Morgan Gibbs-White's neck.

  That game led to a very rare rebuke from Guardiola, who urged his player to learn to "control himself and his emotions". Rodri took that on board, and if there was a word to describe his effect on City over the past five years, it is 'control'.

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  'A Rolls Royce'

  Take what Luton Town's captain Tom Lockyer said after facing Rodri. Luton's game with City last December would prove to be Lockyer's last before suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth just six days later, but he spoke glowingly of coming up against the ex-Atletico Madrid man, even though City had come from behind to beat his side 2-1.

  'Rodri… Honestly that guy man, it's just a joy to share the football pitch with him. You don't say that about a lot of players, but he was certainly one of them where you come off the pitch and you're like 'wow'," Lockyer told

  "He's literally just a Rolls Royce, he was just controlling the midfield, he dictated everything, everything went through him. When you thought you had him pressed and you were gonna nick the ball, he was just teasing you in, so his next pass had more time on the ball. The types of games he plays, it's very rare he gets caught on the ball, he dictates everything Man City try and do."

Birmingham City were somewhat mocked for retiring Jude Bellingham's number 22 strip when he left the Blues behind in 2020, exiting his boyhood club as a teenager with lots still to prove, ahead of a major move to Borussia Dortmund.

The rest, of course, is history now, with the 20-year-old playing with the world at his feet, having scored for England in their recent Euro 2024 opener against Serbia to steer the Three Lions to a slim 1-0 win, alongside lifting the Champions League with Real Madrid at the end of the last campaign.

The ever-improving boy wonder will thank Birmingham for beginning this path to stardom, with another midfielder in the St. Andrew's ranks currently aiming to be the club's very next superstar over time, as he looks to head for the exit door this summer.

Birmingham's next big midfield sale

Rumoured to be leaving the West Midlands side this off-season, with the likes of Atalanta and West Ham United eyeing up his services in January, it looks to be a tall order for the relegated Blues to keep hold of Jordan James ahead of a new League One season to come.

With BirminghamLive speculating that the interested Italian party will likely come back in for the promising 19-year-old soon, new Blues manager Chris Davies will be planning for a future without the tenacious midfield star as a result, after he stood out as a constant bright spark even during Birmingham's disappointing relegation campaign.

With a £10m price-tag reportedly placed above his head when interest was heating up mid-way through the Championship season, it will be intriguing to see what fee the Blues will now deem acceptable to part ways, with Birmingham losing Bellingham to Germany for £25m in 2020.

It is unlikely that James will end up donning a Real Madrid strip anytime soon like the world-class 20-year-old, but the sky will still be the limit for the next top young product Birmingham have managed to produce, having impressed those in Blues quarters over the last few campaigns now.

James' numbers for Birmingham

Making his senior debut for Birmingham at the tender age of 17 in 2021, the agile Wales international has never looked out of his depth when performing in the senior ranks, mirroring Bellingham's rapid ascent into the senior mix at St. Andrew's, making his own debut at just 16 years of age.

James has amassed a mightily impressive goal and assists return since emerging into the first team as a youthful livewire, picking up ten goals and two assists from 105 games, with eight of those strikes coming during the 2023/24 season.

Matching Bellingham in a number of respective areas, when comparing James' own breakthrough season last time out to Bellingham's 2019/20 season at St. Andrew's, James will hope if an attractive move to Atalanta gets off the ground that he can become the Serie A club's next hero.

He would be surrounded by elite talents playing in Europe, instead of battling it out in League One, on the way to his own rise to unbelievable stardom.

Described as being a player who has "got everything" in his game to be a success, according to his international team boss in Wales manager Rob Page, the 19-year-old will pray a major move comes his way soon, even if Birmingham will be desperate to keep a grip on their homegrown gem for as long as they can.

Birmingham hit gold with free transfer who can help Davies win promotion

Birmingham City are reaping the rewards of this bold purchase now.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 17, 2024

Aston Villa are thought to be best placed to sign a 20-year-old attacker ahead of Liverpool, according to a new report.

Aston Villa signings so far

NSWE and Monchi have been one of the busiest clubs during the summer transfer window, with the club adding to Unai Emery’s squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign which includes Champions League football at Villa Park.

Left-back Ian Maatsen has been the most expensive signing so far, joining in a £35m deal from Chelsea. Meanwhile, youngster Lewis Dobbin has joined from Everton and Ross Barkley has returned on a permanent deal from Luton Town.

Winger Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Enzo Barrenechea have also arrived in the Midlands in the deal that took Douglas Luiz to Juventus. So, even though the club have brought in five new players, it looks as if more could be on their way to Villa Park, with the club looking to sign “players who they can improve and potentially sell-on”.

That’s according to Villa reporter John Townley, who recently said: “Villa’s long-term strategy, or a huge part of it, is to sign players who they can improve and potentially sell-on when the time is right. That, of course, will always allow them to stay one step ahead when it comes to PSR issues. Succession planning is also believed to be a crucial part of the club’s recruitment strategy.”

Fitting into that criteria appears to be a £40m+ Bundesliga gem who Villa are reportedly in pole position to sign.

Aston Villa leading race to sign Brajan Gruda

According to reports from German outlet Bild, relayed by The Boot Room, Aston Villa are thought to be in pole position to sign Brajan Gruda from Bundesliga side Mainz.

It is reported that Villa are leading the likes of interested sides Liverpool, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig in the race for Gruda, who has an asking price of £43m.

Gruda is primarily a right-winger but can also turn out as an attacking midfielder or centre-forward if required. After joining Mainz as a teenager, Gruda has progressed through the academy and enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023/24.

The 20-year-old made 29 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring four times and providing three assists, resulting in his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing from €500,000 12 months ago to a career-high €20m today.

He came in for praise over the last few months of the previous campaign, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig calling him “superb” and analyst Ben Mattinson saying he has a “monstrous left foot” and could go on to play for a German giant.

It looks as if Villa could be the club to benefit from that left foot in the long run, making a big-money deal one to watch.

Jamal Musiala has been rubbing shoulders with other footballing Giants, with the Bayern Munich star enjoying the NFL experience at Allianz Arena.

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• NFL International Series in Germany
• Giants taking on the Panthers
• Kane is a big American football fan

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The NFL roadshow continues to roll through Europe, with camp set up in Munich following a few gripping spectacles in London. Plenty of household names from the world of soccer attended matches at Wembley Stadium and the home of Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

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  Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern are now filling the role of hosts, as their famous home is transformed. Star striker Harry Kane is a big NFL fan – as a follower of the New England Patriots – and has seen a future in gridiron speculated on as a place kicker.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  For now, Musiala is the making the most of an opportunity to mingle with leading performers from a different kind of football. He was seen laughing and joking with New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr before the action got underway in Munich.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Kane will be among the other interested observers as the Giants face the Carolina Panthers. There has also been a regular season game in Brazil this season, while the NFL will be heading to Madrid and Santiago Bernabeu in 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told why Lionel Messi wins the GOAT debate “by far”, with Angel Di Maria explaining what makes Argentine icon “the best”.

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• All-time greats have 13 Ballons d'Or between them
• Have broken countless records down the years
• World Cup winner gets nod from fellow countryman

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Di Maria forms part of the exclusive talent pool that can claim to have played alongside both of the all-time greats. He enjoyed considerable success with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, winning six major trophies, while Copa America and World Cup triumphs have been savoured as an international team-mate of Messi.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That standing makes Di Maria more qualified than most to pass judgement on which of the eternal rivals can be considered the greatest. Unsurprisingly, the veteran winger continues to side with his illustrious countryman.

• WHAT DI MARIA SAID

  Di Maria has told : “I’ve always said the same thing – they are the two best in history. But it’s obvious that the best, by far, is Leo. It’s not just because of the eight Ballon d’Or awards he’s won, but because of everything else. Cristiano is about work, work and work. But Messi, he’s pure talent, a gift from God. He doesn’t need to do anything extra to be the best.”

  The ex-Argentina international went on to say: “Cristiano had to train hard, spend hours in the gym, perfect his finishing, and always push himself. But Leo, it’s like he’s just playing with friends. That’s why the difference between them is so big. Leo is unmatched.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Di Maria’s first victory alongside Messi came at the 2008 Olympic Games, as they won gold in Beijing, and the 36-year-old said of that experience: “It was such a unique feeling for me. It was incredible to share the Olympics with him, to talk with him, to just be around him. It was very special. I never imagined we’d spend 16 years together on the national team, but I enjoyed those Olympics to the fullest because you never know if you’ll get that kind of moment again.”