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Celtic are in the hunt for a permanent manager and that will take their focus over the international break, albeit they appear to be prioritising new arrivals regardless of who the new man in the dugout will be.

Martin O’Neill has presided over the Parkhead hotseat since Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure from the Scottish Premiership champions, and there is still plenty of speculation over who could replace the Irishman on a full-time basis.

Since coming into the club after a 20-year hiatus, the former has delivered a morale-boosting victory over Falkirk and led the Bhoys to the Premier Sports Cup final in an enthralling triumph over Rangers, leading some reports to claim O’Neill could take the role permanently.

Nevertheless, there is a long list of candidates, something that refuses to narrow ahead of the international break. Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is also a Celtic managerial candidate amid a glorious spell in Norway.

On the flipside, the main drawback of any approach to hiring the 57-year-old is that he would like to finish their Champions League campaign before committing to life in Scotland.

Wilfried Nancy, Robbie Keane and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna are also on the Bhoys’ radar. Either way, this feels like a pursuit that may go on for time to come as majority shareholder Dermot Desmond carefully considers his options.

Away from the managerial hunt, Celtic are considering a bid for Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is available to sign a pre-contract in January and is also wanted by rivals Rangers.

Recruitment is ongoing as the reigning champions look to bolster amid Heart of Midlothian’s push for the title, and they may now look to an untapped market to land a shining star.

Celtic bid to sign Under-20 World Cup winner Hossam Essadak

According to AfricaFoot, Celtic have submitted an offer for Moroccan attacking midfielder Hossam Essadak, who is currently on the books of Union Touarga Sport.

Recently, he featured in the Under-20 World Cup with his nation, captaining them to glory after they defeated Argentina 2-0 in the final to record a historic triumph.

Hossam Essadak’s senior career

Appearances

35

Goals

4

Assists

4

Not short of suitors, Sunderland have also made an official bid to try and sign the blossoming talent, and European clubs are said to be at the front of the race for his signature despite further interest from Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane in his homeland.

Per Fotmob, Essadak created four chances, completed four dribbles and won six duels during Morocco’s World Cup heroics, and he could well be the latest star Celtic look to sign from North Africa after their summer capture of Sebastian Tounekti.

Celtic are also plotting an emotional move for a Premier League icon

Admittedly, the Bhoys are well-stocked in midfield, and departures may be needed before new arrivals can integrate themselves at Lennoxtown, though it does seem as if work is ongoing to bolster the ranks with talented stars with potential to develop.

Manny Machado got straight to business during the San Diego Padres' spring training opener on Friday.

Machado took the first pitch he saw deep over the center field wall for a two-run homer off Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher Jhonathan Díaz.

Machado was pulled after his second at bat Friday. The first-inning home run was his only hit of the day, but it got the Padres' offense started in their first Cactus League game this spring.

The home run ball flew 428 feet, deep beyond the center-field wall at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Ariz. Machado's next opportunity to enter the lineup comes Saturday when the Padres play at home against the Athletics. The Padres open the regular season at home March 27 against the Atlanta Braves.

Last season, Machado slashed .275/.325/.472 with 29 homers and 105 RBIs. In the postseason, the Padres lost to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in the National League Division Series. The Dodgers held Machado hitless in the last two games of the series, where L.A. blanked San Diego in both games to advance.

Now, if the start to spring training is any indicator, Machado seems to be out for a vengeance.

Newcastle United’s PIF bosses are backing Eddie Howe to find solutions to the current hole they have slipped into. It is important that this point is emphasised, with noise levels rising regarding the manager’s future.

Yes, Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League, and their away form has gone beyond merely concerning. But the Magpies are also into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, and have made a confident start to their Champions League campaign too.

However, there is an expectation that Howe will make the necessary adjustments to bring United back into contention at the top of the table.

10

Games

7

7

Wins

1

0

Draws

3

3

Losses

3

20

Goals scored

7

9

Goals conceded

8

2.1

PPG

1.16

There is also an acceptance that a difficult summer transfer window and the bitter sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool have knocked things out of kilter. Luckily, Nick Woltemade has been a shining light, and he proved his skill once again this week for Germany.

Nick Woltemade's start to the season

Since joining Newcastle from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee at the end of August, Woltemade has posted six goals for the Toon, quickly bedding in on English soil and proving he has what it takes to succeed Isak in the long run.

Moreover, he has scored three times in his past two outings for Germany, scoring a brace as his side sank Luxembourg in their World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.

Newcastle have their issues this season, but it’s curious that the 23-year-old has made it so his integration in Isak’s still-warm seat has not been one of them.

The 6 foot 6 striker’s unique skillset has seen him dovetail right into a system that has yet to click together, and when wide players like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga find form, Howe could pull the strings of a frontline capable of throwing down with any defence across Europe.

Of course, football is about more than just the forwards, and there’s another Tyneside star whose performances this season have established him as one of the best in the business.

He’s even worth more than Woltemade.

The Newcastle star worth even more than Woltemade

Newcastle have many fine players contracted to St. James’ Park, but Sandro Tonali is fast emerging as the cream of the crop.

After joining from AC Milan for around £55m in 2023, the 25-year-old faced difficulties, but he rebounded last year and redefined Howe’s midfield, instrumental in a long and brilliant purple patch that led to glory.

Now, he is “the best player by a distance”, according to correspondent Craig Hope, and while Newcastle have some issues in the build-up, Tonali is becoming the defining force alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

Largely, this is because the Italian has become far more progressive on the ball, ranking this season among the top 5% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

And he is beginning to revel in a new level of recognition, with pundits and observers from afar coming to understand that Tonali is one of the best in the business.

His market value is a reflection of that. Woltemade might be the talk of the town, and in many ways, rightly so, but Tonali cut from a different cloth. He’s a maestro, endowed with impressive athleticism and unteachable technical skill.

There is talk of him falling into the same financial bracket as someone like Guimaraes, over the £100m mark, and this is indeed an accurate emphasis on the calibre of superstar at Howe’s disposal.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Newcastle had “made a mistake” when signing the midfielder, given his suspension throughout his first year in England, but Tonali is now showing he’s one of the best Premier League signings of recent years, more so, even, than Woltemade.

The two Newcastle United stars who could be sold instead of Bruno and Isak

The Magpies are set to sell players this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 12, 2024

Marseille’s injury crisis has deepened ahead of their must-win Champions League clash with Newcastle, as defender Nayef Aguerd has been ruled out with a persistent pubalgia issue and Facundo Medina has suffered a fresh ankle relapse. With Amine Gouiri and Hamed Traore also long-term absentees, Roberto De Zerbi faces a mounting selection puzzle at the worst possible moment.

De Zerbi faces defensive setback before Newcastle

Marseille enter midweek's Champions League showdown with Newcastle already under pressure, and their challenges have only grown. The club confirmed that Aguerd will miss the match due to ongoing pubalgia discomfort, ending hopes of a late return. The Moroccan defender, who also sat out the 5-1 win over Nice, has been battling groin pain for several weeks and the medical staff has insisted on rest, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations less than a month away.  

Aguerd’s absence stretches the defensive resources at a critical moment, as Marseille chase their first meaningful momentum in Europe. Despite travelling to join the Moroccan national team earlier this month, he was quickly withdrawn from consideration for their friendly fixtures and told he needs at least two weeks of recovery. The defender privately admitted he could no longer play through the pain, prompting caution from both club and country.

AdvertisementAFPMedina’s relapse adds to Marseille injury woes

Compounding Marseille’s concerns is another setback for Medina. The Argentine centre-back, already sidelined for nearly two months with a right ankle sprain, has suffered a relapse in his recovery and will not return before January.

De Zerbi explained the situation bluntly: “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is difficult to replace, both because of his character and his physical attributes.”

Medina’s injury troubles have haunted him since the start of the season, having hurt his other ankle in August and delaying his debut for the club until mid-September. His leadership, aggression, and ability to carry the ball out of defence have been crucial traits—traits Marseille must now replace as they enter their busiest period of the campaign.

With both Aguerd and Medina sidelined, De Zerbi may be forced to rely heavily on Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation far from ideal given the stakes of the upcoming match.

Greenwood and Weah switching role amid injuries

Beyond the immediate defensive concerns, Marseille continue to miss two important attacking profiles, Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore.

Gouiri, out since early October, is recovering from surgery on a dislocated right shoulder—an injury worsened during international duty with Algeria. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, but he is not expected back until January 2026. His absence has deprived Marseille of a versatile forward capable of linking play and unlocking defences, a role that has been difficult to replace consistently.

Traore’s situation is equally troubling. The Ivorian has been out since September with a persistent thigh injury, and despite attempts to resume light training, the pain has not subsided. De Zerbi recently admitted that “things are not progressing well”, and the club has already reassigned a physiotherapist involved in his initial rehabilitation due to mishandling the recovery process.

Given the injury problems affecting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this challenging period by relying more on players like Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, rotating roles and adjusting formations accordingly. De Zerbi values Weah’s versatility, which helps mitigate the impact of injuries by plugging gaps on the right side either as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been critical for Marseille maintaining attacking threat and squad balance amidst absences.

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AFPStade Velodrome awaits Newcastle

Despite the adversity, Marseille showed against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver big performances. But the Champions League brings a different level of intensity and without key figures, De Zerbi must once again turn to tactical adaptability and squad depth. Despite the adversity, Marseille showed against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver big performances. But the Champions League brings a different level of intensity—and without key figures, De Zerbi must once again turn to tactical adaptability and squad depth. 

India wristspinner overtakes New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy following his performances in two Asia Cup matches

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025India wristspinner Varun Chakravarthy has become the top-ranked bowler in the ICC’s men’s T20I rankings following his performances of 1 for 4 against UAE and 1 for 24 against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE. He is the third Indian bowler to achieve the No. 1 ranking after Jasprit Bumrah and legspinner Ravi Bishnoi.Chakravarthy, 34, overtook New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy, who had been at No. 1 since March. Sri Lanka quick Nuwan Thushara also rose six places to sixth place after taking one wicket in his first two Asia Cup matches.Pakistan’s left-arm wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem has moved up four spots to 11th, India’s left-arm spinner Axar Patel is up one rank to 12th, Pakistan legspinner Abrar Ahmed jumped 11 places to 16th and Kuldeep Yadav has made up 16 spots to finish 23rd, and Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad is 25th after the ICC’s weekly update of the rankings.India opener Abhishek Sharma has strengthened his grip on the No. 1 ranking for T20I batters by blitzing 30 off 16 balls against UAE and 31 off 13 balls against Pakistan at the Asia Cup.England’s openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler have both moved up a spot to second and third place. Salt scored 141 not out off 60 balls – England’s highest T20I score and fastest century – and Buttler 83 off 30 balls as England smashed 304 for 2 in the second T20I against South Africa at Old Trafford. It’s the first time Buttler has broken into the top three in the ICC’s T20I batting rankings.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to return to the team one day after announcing that he and his wife, Mamiko, have recently welcomed their first child.

The Dodgers announced Sunday that they reinstated Ohtani from the paternity list and designated outfielder Eddie Rosario for assignment in a subsequent move. Ohtani is in the Dodgers' lineup Sunday as they take on the Texas Rangers, hitting leadoff as the team's designated hitter.

He was placed on the paternity list by the Dodgers on Friday as he remained with his family and welcomed his new daughter.

"Welcome to the Ohtani family! I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter," Ohtani wrote on Instagram. "To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.

"I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day."

Ohtani only missed L.A.'s first two games in Texas, joining the team for the series' final game Sunday before the Dodgers travel to Chicago for a two-game series with the Cubs, which begins Tuesday.

Liverpool head into the Champions League tonight against PSV Eindhoven looking like a bruised animal once more.

Last time out at Anfield, Arne Slot’s Reds were convincingly beaten by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in a 3-0 loss, with the match preceding this humbling defeat on home soil also seeing the Merseyside giants lose by the same emphatic scoreline, away at Manchester City.

Thankfully, the Champions League has been a temporary sanctuary for the reigning Premier League champions, as was evident in their 1-0 win against Real Madrid, the last time they did battle in the illustrious competition.

Therefore, Liverpool will be hoping they can lick their wounds again and beat their Eredivisie opponents later on this evening.

If form doesn’t pick up, though, the January transfer window will be a very apt time to try and find upgrades on the underperformers consistently letting the side down…

Transfer latest at Liverpool

Despite their poor form as of late, the Reds will still see themselves as a significant superpower in any transfer window to come.

After all, a colossal £415m was spent just this summer on a raft of new signings, with fresh rumours now indicating that the Slot and Co. could be prepared to drop another £123m on Bayern Munich ace Michael Olise.

Moreover, Antoine Semenyo remains in their sights as another attacking signing that could boost a side let down by the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to date.

On top of signings to add to their attacking arsenal, Liverpool are also allegedly looking to do battle with Real Madrid over the services of midfield talent Vitinha, according to emerging reports from Spain.

Indeed, the report elaborates that the La Liga giants are preparing a €150m (£131m) bid for Luis Enrique’s prized asset.

Yet, Liverpool are keen to accelerate a deal, as well, by matching the Los Blancos’ amount, ensuring they could actually eclipse the £125m club-record capture of Alexander Isak.

A next step to the Premier League is noted as being very appealing for the Portugal international, if a statement move were to whir into motion.

Vitinha’s arrival at Anfield might not be the news Ryan Gravenberch wants to read, however, with the classy Paris Saint-Germain number 17 a clear upgrade on the Dutchman, as the 23-year-old has noticeably struggled as of late.

Why Vitinha is a clear upgrade on Gravenberch

Alongside the vast majority of his teammates, Gravenberch has suffered from a notable dip in his performance levels in recent matches.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Once labelled as being “vital” to the way Liverpool tick earlier in the season by ex-Reds midfielder Steve McManaman, the former Ajax prodigy turned Anfield first-teamer struggled to be an influential presence in back-to-back defeats at the hands of City and Forest, with only four ground duels won in total across 14 attempts, as per Sofascore.

To make matters worse, the underperforming number 38 would also fail to notch up a single key pass, leaving him on just the one paltry assist for the campaign.

While Gravenberch has shown visible signs of decline, Vitinha has continued to stand out on some pressurised stages for Enrique’s men, with this wonderful move – which was kickstarted by the 25-year-old’s fierce burst of pace – in last year’s Champions League final, just one reason why his national team manager in Roberto Martinez has glowingly labelled him the “best midielder in the world.”

In league action for PSG, too, this season, he blows his immediate competition out of the water, with one goal and six assists from 12 games – among other numbers – sticking out immediately to Slot, as he attempts to make Liverpool a vibrant and attractive watch in attack this campaign, again, rather than sticking by their current stifled appearance.

Games played

12

10

Goals scored

1

3

Assists

6

1

Touches*

113.8

74.8

Accurate passes*

98.2 (94%)

54.8 (89%)

Key passes*

1.5

0.7

Big chances created

6

2

Ball recoveries*

4.9

3.5

It’s not just in the attacking department where Vitinha could improve the downbeat Reds, with the 5-foot-8 playmaker also averaging 4.9 ball recoveries so far this season in Ligue 1, next to Gravenberch’s lesser 3.5.

Of course, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether from the French top division, which PSG consistently dominate.

But, Vitinha has actually shown off his swagger against Liverpool at Anfield, with the “incredible” midfield general – as Enrique has also labelled him – dictating play during PSG’s slim 1-0 away win in the Champions League last campaign when amassing a ridiculous 103 accurate passes.

Worryingly, his Dutch counterpart receded into his shell, with zero accurate dribbles registered, and possession was lost a costly 12 times.

The one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee won’t be moving to England on the cheap, but it could be a splurge worth signing off on, as Slot attempts to reinvigorate his options all over the pitch.

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool make £122m sensation their "dream target"

Liverpool need to make changes in the transfer market once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

The board are confident in a bumper profit next year on the back of an Ashes summer but the game faces significant challenges

Alex Malcolm30-Oct-2025Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned of the “peril” of failing to pay Australia’s top men’s players adequately in the coming years to ward off franchise suitors amid a raft of “uncomfortable” financial cuts in a year CA announced a AUD$11.3 million deficit.CA held their annual general meeting at their Melbourne headquarters on Thursday to discuss the 2024-25 financial year results with stakeholders from around the country.Greenberg and CA chair Mike Baird stressed the loss was long forecast, despite last season’s Border-Gavaskar series, and will be made up for in 2025-26 with India’s men’s white-ball tour of Australia and the home Ashes set to make it one of the most profitable years in CA’s history.Related

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But there were tensions voiced at the AGM, significantly from Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn, with CA having made several financial cuts this year including a round of internal redundancies. CA also announced it would no longer fund Indoor Cricket national teams and domestic championships. Other parts of the business, including high performance pathways, have been subject to cost saving discussions at a recent meeting in Brisbane.The possible introduction of private investment into the BBL also looms large. Greenberg added that the risk of losing Australia’s best male players to franchise cricket full-time was a situation they were very aware of amid their financial plans.”It’s a big part of our decisions,” Greenberg told reporters on Thursday. “There’s no secret that every sports league in the world has one significant thing in common, they have the best players playing in those leagues. And so the moment we take for granted that our Australian players will play in our leagues or play for their teams is at our peril.”We can’t stand still. We’ve got to keep an eye on what’s happening. Of course, we want to protect everything that’s sacrosanct about what’s been great about Australian cricket over generations, but we’ve got to have an eye to the future.”And we’re not talking about in six months or 12 months. We’re talking about long-term generational change, and it’s incumbent on us as leaders of the sport to make sure we explore all of those things, and that will get uncomfortable for people, and it will challenge people.”Paving the way to pay Australia’s top male players more money whilst removing funding from some areas, including the highly popular and globally successful Indoor Cricket community, has certainly raised eyebrows among the states. But Greenberg said there wasn’t a bottomless pit of money.”Of course, we would love to fund everyone and everything, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure we put our money in the right places at the right times,” Greenberg said. “We’ll always be looking to help community groups or indoor cricket and whatever other types of formats we can but at the end of the day, we can’t give out what we don’t have.”Greenberg is in a unique position given he was the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association prior to taking the CEO role at CA and was a key architect in the 2023 pay deal between CA and the players that is set to run until 2028.However, many involved in the deal and within the high performance arm of Australian cricket believe that MOU is already redundant given how quickly the franchise landscape has moved in recent years. The Australia men’s set-up has already been managing the schedules of key players for several years to allow them to play in the IPL and some other leagues while missing bilateral series for Australia.Unlike other Test playing nations they have yet to lose a player to franchise cricket full-time but Greenberg is aware of the threat.”It’s the challenge that sits right in front of us,” Greenberg said. “We’ve got to continue to make opportunities for them to be inside the Australian team environment…and I can tell you that they all want to be there. They all want to win competitions. They all want to compete for the Ashes. They want to win a World Cup.”But we can’t take that for granted. We can’t sit there and expect that the next generation will do exactly the same thing. It’s on us to work really hard to make those environments and to pay them appropriately, to make sure that those things thrive in the future, and us sitting around just hoping that will happen will fail spectacularly, which is why the work that we’re doing now and the conversations we’re having are important long term.”Baird also underscored that CA is expecting a large profit next year based off sell-out crowds and significant broadcast revenues from the ongoing India white-ball tour and the Ashes, which should alleviate concerns about the finances of the game in the short-term.”Next year we are going to have a record year in cricket,” Baird said. “You’re going to see the most attendance, the most viewership, the most sponsorship. It is undoubtedly going to be the biggest year that cricket has ever seen.”

Tottenham are ready to ramp up their interest in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo as the north London club prepare to rival both Liverpool and Manchester City for the winger in January. Semenyo has a release clause worth £65 million ($86m) in his contract, something his suitors are acutely aware of ahead of the reopening of the market.

Semenyo in demand

Semenyo is a wanted man ahead of the January window. Not only have reports suggested that Liverpool are preparing a move to trigger his release clause in January, which is made up of a £60m ($79m) fee and £5m ($7m) in bonuses, there is also reported interest from City, who view him as the kind of explosive attacking player who can slot into Pep Guardiola's frontline. Semenyo has enjoyed a fantastic season on the south coast, contributing six goals and three assists in 12 Premier League games. 

Now, Sky Sports report that Spurs are intensifying their interest in the Ghana international ahead of the window. The club attempted to land two marquee wide players in the summer but were only successful in persuading Mohammed Kudus to move to north London, as Savinho stayed at City. It appears they remain interested in the profile, but would prefer to sign Semenyo to the Brazilian. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCan Spurs land him?

Spurs have endured a difficult season under manager Thomas Frank, and while they are more ready to pay what is required to sign Semenyo, it is unclear if they will be able to qualify for Europe. Ahead of the midweek fixtures, Spurs had won just one home game all season, and sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table. A turnaround is, of course, possible, but reports suggest that Frank is under severe pressure, and could well lose his job before the January window swings open. It is unclear if that would impact Spurs' pursuit of Semenyo. They were interested in signing him in the summer but ultimately baulked at his £70m ($92m) asking price.

Semenyo supports Arsenal

Semenyo has been very open about the fact that he is an Arsenal fan, which may well put the brakes on any potential move to Spurs. Having already seen Gunners fan Eberechi Eze slip through their fingers, repeating that mistake would be very costly, but Semenyo insists he pays no attention to rumours. 

Speaking to The Athletic in October of last year, he said: “I do hear it. But I try not to take too much notice. It is so early in the season and that can all fade away in a split second. It is great to hear they are interested — I don’t know how true that is — but I just want to focus on my game, continue doing what I’m doing, causing problems, scoring goals, getting assists. That’s the main thing. If that does come we will deal with that then but at this moment in time it is just about staying focused on what the goal and the plan is this year.”

“I am an Arsenal fan,” he says. “I don’t conflict the two with my job. It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it.”

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Getty Images SportSemenyo's next move?

Semenyo will have his next opportunity to prove his worth when Bournemouth play Chelsea this weekend. They then take on Manchester United, and it's almost certain that scouts will be keeping a close eye on the Ghanaian's performances.

He has confirmed that he wants to play in Europe, adding in his interview with The Athletic: “Yeah, any team that plays Champions League, Europa (League) — that’s the aim. I know that’s not going to come with a click of my fingers, it’s going to take some time. It’s going to take goals. It’s going to take a lot of consistent performances. But I’ve worked all my life for that and I’m just going to continue working hard. That’s my mentality.”

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez was hit by a pitch during his second plate appearance of Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after a pitch from Nick Lodolo ran too far inside and caught him in the knee.

Ramirez went to the ground after being hit, but rather than indicate he was in pain, he merely pretended to take a quick nap in the dirt. The 32-year-old remained on the ground for a few seconds before Reds catcher Jose Trevino helped him to his feet.

Before heading to first base, Ramirez could be seen comically attempting to convince home plate umpire Nestor Ceja that he wasn't actually hit by the pitch and that the ball actually hit his bat so he could get another attempt at a hit.

Have a look at the bizarre incident below:

Eventually, Ramirez took first base, but not after making quite the scene at home plate. He wouldn't be on the base paths for long, as he came around to score on the very next play when Carlos Santana cleared the bases with a grand slam.

The Guardians won in blowout fashion, 11–2.