“One of the best decisions of my life” – player defends his choice to leave Manchester United

of manchester united The decision to move Antony makes sense when you juxtapose it with what he is doing at Real Betis.

Brazil has quietly produced its most productive performance in years. In all competitions, he has 13 goals and nine assists in 40 games. In La Liga, this is limited to seven goals and five assists in 26 appearances.

The underlying numbers also support this. Antony averages 0.54 goal involvements per 90 minutes. He takes 3.08 shots per game and scores once every 9.71 attempts.

Furthermore, he makes 2.04 key passes per match and completes 81.61% of his 43 passes per game.

It’s a very different level of involvement compared to what we saw at Old Trafford. In Spain, his role is clearer and he is much more involved in the final third. real daughters His career and his mentality changed.

It all comes at a crucial moment. The announcement of Brazil’s World Cup squad is approaching and Antony is trying to get back into the picture.

Betis’ decision is shaping international expectations

Antony has now come out openly espn brazil Regarding both his club situation and his Brazilian ambitions. His current situation at Betis clearly plays a big role in that push.

“Staying at Betis was one of the best decisions of my life,” Antony added. “I am very happy. my family was overweight In the decision. It is important to see them happy.”

“When the family is okay it makes things lighter on the field.”He concluded.

He was part of the squad for the last World Cup under Tite, but has not been able to perform much under Carlo Ancelotti so far. Still, he’s not giving up on building the next one.

“My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup, but I have to do my part, my job, the national team is the result.” He said.

“I really want to come back, play my second World Cup. It’s my aim to always wear the national team shirt.”

life without antony

Antony seems to be someone who has settled in Spain and not a player looking back at Manchester United.

But he thinks the chances go both ways. United have moved on without him and given the way things have turned out, they hardly miss him. The team changed and Antony’s role was never fully fleshed out during his stay in England.

“His current stats highlight that there is still a player out there,” he said. At Betis, he looks more confident, more engaged and more decisive.

This is a case of a player who needed a different setting to bring out his best level. This time is ideal for Antony. He has given himself a real chance to get back into the Brazilian conversation when it matters most.

#decisions #life #player #defends #choice #leave #Manchester #United

Who are Fernando Mendoza’s parents? Details on the fight for family and mother’s health for the future number 1 choice

“The Mendoza Mafia is deeply entrenched.” That’s how the quarterback describes his family — and for Fernando Mendoza, that support system has been everything.

The Indiana Hoosiers QB is officially taking his talents to the next level in April after declaring for the NFL Draft in 2025 following a dream season. Once a lightly recruited guy coming out of high school who began his college career at Cal, Mendoza flipped the script in a big way — winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to a national championship victory over Miami in January.

At the center of it all is her mother, Elsa. Living with multiple sclerosis, she has been his constant source of strength and inspiration.

Who are Fernando Mendoza’s parents?

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza
Credit: Troy Verinen-Imagen Images

Fernando Mendoza’s parents are Elsa and Fernando Mendoza Sr.

Why is Fernando Mendoza’s mother in a wheelchair?

Elsa Mendoza has been one of Fernando’s toughest fighters. And his story reaches deeper than football. A former college tennis player at the University of Miami, Elsa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 and is now confined to a wheelchair. Like the rest of the family, she is of Cuban origin, with her parents having settled in Miami. That flexibility? It’s clearly part of the Mendoza DNA.

In December 2025, Elsa shared a heartfelt letter Players’ Tribune This gave fans a closer look at his journey. He admitted that he once saw Fernando following his path in tennis. “My dream was for you to play tennis like me,” she wrote, recalling how she had coached him from his college practice when they were younger.

What does Fernando Mendoza’s father do?

November 4, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws the ball during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Varinen-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Troy Verinen-USA TODAY Sports

According to his bio and LinkedIn, his father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., is a medical director at Nicklaus Children’s Health System in Miami. Of Cuban roots, his parents immigrated from Cuba and settled in Miami. Mendoza Sr. brings a strong cultural and business foundation.

But before the white coat, he had real athletic chops. A gold medalist in rowing at the 1987 Junior World Championships, he later competed at Brown while studying biology. From there, he progressed academically – earning his medical degree from the University of Florida, completing his residency at Jackson Memorial in Miami, and adding a fellowship at Boston Medical Center.

Does Fernando Mendoza have siblings?

Fernando Mendoza has two brothers – Alberto and Max. Alberto plays football with Fernando for the Indiana Hoosiers and Max is in Miami.

need to know

  • Is Fernando Mendoza Cuban?
    Fernando Mendoza was born in Boston and raised in Miami. Both of his grandparents’ families were from Cuba and immigrated to the Miami area.
  • What is the religion of Fernando Mendoza?
    Fernando Mendoza is a devout Catholic who is an active member of the St. Paul Catholic Community Center at Indiana University. He regularly attends mass and considers his faith the driving force of his life.
  • Fernando Mendoza’s college statistics
    Mendoza accumulated 8,267 passing yards and 71 TDs at California and Indiana. At Cal, during his 2 seasons, he has racked up 4,712 yards and 30 TDs. And at Indiana (2025): 3,535 yards, 41 TDs.

#Fernando #Mendozas #parents #Details #fight #family #mothers #health #future #number #choice

“A winning choice” – Sandro Tonali’s agent explains why Newcastle was the right move

Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Risso has revealed the inside story behind his move to Newcastle United and why the club’s fans played a key role in helping them recover from their betting scandal.

Sandro Tonali’s departure from AC Milan in July 2023 remains one of the most hotly debated transfers in modern Italian football.

The icon of Milan’s Scudetto-winning side, Tonali was sold for €48m – a deal that ultimately helped the Italian giants complete the 2024 financial year in profit. But this move was sharply criticized by supporters.

The reaction has been even more intense as Tonali has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. Now, Risso has provided a rare insight into how the move was agreed upon behind the scenes.

“This deal happened because a club like Newcastle, with unlimited money, decided to invest in Sandro,” He told football and finance.

“We looked at the idea of ​​getting the player to play at a higher level.”

Betting scandal derails their first season

Tonali’s early months in England were anything but good, as a betting investigation in Italy soon led to a 10-month ban from competitive football.

The suspension, confirmed in October 2023, ruled him out until August 2024 – causing him to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season and Euro 2024.

It was a scandal that rocked Italian football, but Riso says there were no signs of trouble before the move.

“No, not at all, because otherwise we would have intervened,” he said.

“I must say that the transfer also proved to be a winning choice from this point of view. Because both Newcastle and their fans treated Sandro incredibly, always supporting him. In Italy, he received different treatment. Not from the AC Milan fans, who always protected him.”

How Newcastle fans helped Tonali recover

According to Risso, the reaction he received in England proved vital in helping Tonali overcome the worst period of his career. Despite being suspended, the midfielder continued to be loved by the St James’ Park faithful.

He has since established himself as one of the best in the Premier League and a key player for the Magpies. Indeed, reports from England have linked Arsenal with a major move for the 25-year-old this summer.

That will depend on Tonali, who signed a new contract with Newcastle in January. He decided to extend his deal with the club and admitted that part of the decision was due to Newcastle’s support. Riso supported this and admitted that the mentality is different in England.

“At the end of the day, the mentality is different in England,” he said.

“Whenever Sandro entered the stadium despite the suspension, he received a standing ovation. We are talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans saw it and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has completely changed.”

A career reset and a new path forward

Tonali’s journey has certainly been a tumultuous one, but Risso says the midfielder has emerged stronger thanks to Newcastle’s help.

This has certainly been demonstrated on the pitch, as he continues to impress in the Premier League and Champions League.

What happens next is uncertain, but Tonali’s career is undoubtedly firmly back on track. With interest from big clubs, And a possible World Cup in the summer could be the next step.

#winning #choice #Sandro #Tonalis #agent #explains #Newcastle #move

Anthony Edwards doesn’t like playing fast, but he has no choice

When Anthony Edwards gets going, the Minnesota Timberwolves are nearly impossible to stop. That’s exactly what happened in their 117-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Edwards scored 13 points in the final frame, including 10 straight in one stretch, creating a comfortable cushion for the Timberwolves en route to their 39th win of the season in 62 games.

The Timberwolves are playing at a very fast pace, and Edwards has no choice but to adapt. Even though he admits it is not his favorite style of play, he acknowledges how dangerous he can be when the team gets out and runs – a playing style that has become more common For the team ever since they acquired Ayo Dosunmu via trade.

“Yeah, we added Bones and Ayo. … I’m not a fan of playing fast. But when I’m with them, I don’t have a choice because I always want the ball, and they’re gone. The only way to get the ball is if I’m next to them. I enjoy playing with Bones and Ayo. They’re super fast. They’re super fast with the rock,” Edwards told reporters after the game, via Dan Moore of Blue Wire.

The Timberwolves become even more versatile with Ayo Dosunmu

Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) entering the game for the first time
© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagen Images

All things considered, the Timberwolves’ pace numbers haven’t increased much since adding Dosunmu. Dosunmu has played faster since they were acquired, but compared to the rest of the NBA players, the change isn’t as noticeable.

Minnesota’s default is still to play a little slower, with Edwards and Julius Randle preferring to be more methodical with their approach. But with Dosunmu partnering with Bones Hyland off the bench, the Timberwolves’ second unit looks to outscore the opposition at track meets.

This at least gives the team another dimension they can rely on when things get tough.


#Anthony #Edwards #doesnt #playing #fast #choice

Dyson Daniels reveals ‘choice’ that led to change vs Nets

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks know they have a good opportunity in front of them with a long homestand. Not only that, but those games come against teams that haven’t played very well this season. The Brooklyn Nets were on their schedule today, and although some might have thought it would be an easy walk for the Hawks, it turned out to be a dogfight for three quarters.

The battle subsided in the first half of the fourth quarter, where the Nets went up by 11 points, and the Hawks had no answer to anything they did. Fortunately, a flip switch occurred, and the Hawks woke up with less than six minutes left in the game.

The Hawks finished the game on a 24–2 run, and after being down by 11 points at one point in the fourth, they walked away with a 115–104 victory over the Nets.

“We stepped up our aggression in the last six minutes,” Dyson Daniels said. “We had no choice, we were down 11, we had to change something. Everybody changed it. We were more physical on the ball; we were able to create turnovers, get stops and get out and run. We’ve got to be better at the beginning of the game if we want to beat good teams and give ourselves a chance this year.”

Daniels had three steals in the fourth, one of which came from defending the inbounds and catching the ball in the air.

“He kind of threw it down,” Daniels said. “I knew he already had the ball for three or four seconds, so it was coming soon, and I timed the jump.”

It was clear that defense was key in helping the Hawks come back late, and it started with the guards and flowed throughout the team.

“Collectively, we did a good job of stopping them,” Jalen Johnson said. “Nickel [Alexander-Walker] And Dyson set the tone with that and others followed suit. Dyson got some steals and that changed the momentum.”

“Defense wins games,” Jock Landell said. “I think we did a good job in the fourth quarter. C.J. turned it on and made some big shots. [Jalen] Did a good job of figuring out where he wanted the ball and got to his spot. This was a ripe game to end.

As important as defense was, the Hawks had to come back and score on the other end. It was Johnson who led the way in that category, as he scored 14 points in the fourth and sealed the game with some key buckets at the end. CJ McCollum, who moved into the starting lineup, also hit a big three-pointer at the end of the game to give the Hawks the lead.

From there the Hawks never looked back and were able to pick up a win to continue their homestand.


#Dyson #Daniels #reveals #choice #led #change #Nets

‘Calculated choice’ – Midfielder ‘rejected offer’ from Manchester United, explains reason

Manchester United and Inter Milan have shown serious interest in AS Saint-Étienne’s Paul Aimard.

is according to But! football clubWhich cover the failures of both Manchester United and the Serie A side to sign the 18-year-old.

He left Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne as a free agent in 2022 to become part of Saint-Étienne’s youth system. Aimard progressed through the ranks and forced his way into the first team at the start of this season.

Manchester United and Inter Milan offered

The midfielder has played 390 minutes in seven matches so far, scoring two goals and providing one assist. He was also a regular for France U17 between 2024 and 2025. Aimard’s performances and potential may have attracted the attention of Manchester United and Inter Milan.

According to the report, both the Red Devils and Nerazzurri submitted offers to secure his services.

However but! The football club says the player ‘rejected offers’ from both clubs to sign his first professional contract with Saint-Étienne in January.

His decision to ignore Manchester United and Inter Milan in favor of remaining at the Ligue 2 team was a ‘bold but calculated choice’.

Reasons for rejecting top clubs

The outlet has also aired Ayred’s comments on rejecting bigger clubs to continue with Saint-Étienne.

“I tell myself that I still have a long way to go and that I have many obstacles to overcome. There are countless players who were seen as great prospects but did not succeed, and some of them were definitely stronger than me.” He said.

“Just because people are starting to talk a lot about me, because big clubs are showing interest, doesn’t mean I’m going to be successful.”

“I need to prove myself at the professional level and then we will see. My squad, my agent and even the club are supporting me so that I don’t get disappointed.”

“I decided to sign my first professional contract with ASSE because it is the club that trained me, so it is a natural step in my development. I have to start there, with the club I love and support.”

“It’s too early to talk about big European clubs. I don’t want to rush things. ASSE has also given me a project where I will work with professionals on a daily basis, which is a big plus. Overall, the club is ambitious and constantly evolving. And then there are always the supporters and all their enthusiasm.”

#Calculated #choice #Midfielder #rejected #offer #Manchester #United #explains #reason

4 Driver’s Choice for AutoTrader 400 at Echopark

Who will win the NASCAR race this weekend? There’s always a little chaos in the final laps, as we saw in Sunday’s Daytona 500. However, NASCAR’s top drivers have track records on superspeedways that can often paint a picture of what will happen in a Cup Series race on Sunday.

Let’s look at the NASCAR odds for this week’s Cup Series race in Atlanta, the AutoTrader 400 at Echopark Speedway. Odds for both race winner and top-3 finish are via DraftKings.

RELATED: NASCAR Predictions for the AutoTrader 400

Driverrace winnerTop 3 finishes
Ryan Blaney+1000+300
Joey Logano+1000+300
chase elliott+1000+300
William Byron+1200+350
kyle larson+1200+350
Austin Cindric+1200+350
christopher bell+1400+400
tyler reddick+1600+450
denny hamlin+1800+500
chase brisco+1800+500
kyle busch+2000+550
Brad Keselowski+2000+550
Ross Chastain+2200+600
Chris Buescher+2500+700
bubba wallace+2500+700
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.+2800+800
alex bowman+3000+850
Ryan Preece+3500+1000
Michael McDowell+3500+1000
josh berry+3500+1000
Carson Hocevar+3500+1000
Daniel Suarez+4000+1100
Connor Zylisch+4500+1200
Austin Dillon+4500+1200
you gibbs+5000+1400
eric jones+5500+1500
Todd Gilliland+6500+1800
shane van gisbergen+6500+1800
zane smith+7000+2000
noah gragson+7000+2000
John Hunter Nemechek+8000+2200
AJ Allmendinger+8000+2200
cole custer+9000+2500
ty dillon+10000+2800
Riley Herbst+10000+2800
JJ Yaley+10000+2800
kodi ware+10000+2800
BJ McLeod+10000+2800

RELATED: NASCAR schedule, TV information and qualifying times this week for Atlanta

NASCAR picks this week

Ryan Blaney – Race Winner (+1000)

We don’t often pick a favorite to win a Cup Series race on Sunday, unless it’s Shane van Gisbergen on a road course. However, Ryan Blaney performed very well at Daytona until debris around him caused so much damage to the No. 12 car that it fell out of contention. He finished fourth here last February and won the pole in qualifying (30.91 seconds), so there’s no doubt Team Penske can put him in great position to win at Echopark Speedway. After a disappointing performance last Sunday, we think Blaney will bounce back with a win this weekend.

Joey Logano – Top 3 Finish (+300)

Joey Logano finished 12th in the race at Atlanta last February, but led 83 laps and finished third in Stage 2. Logano scored four career top-five finishes in 24 races at Atlanta, finished third in laps led (528) and second among active Cup Series drivers. This is a track where Team Penske has had a great deal of success. Although we don’t think Logano wins the AutoTrader 400, we are picking him to finish in the top-three.

Kyle Busch – Top 5 Finish (+260)

After winning the pole for the Daytona 500, Kyle Busch ultimately finished the race in 15th place, and it could have been even worse had he not had a major crash ahead of him. Luckily, the future Hall of Famer is now on his way to one of his best tracks. Since 2023 at Echopark Speedway, Busch has claimed an average finishing position of 8.8 (first in the Cup Series) with five top 10s and a pair of top-five finishes. We believe what happened at Daytona led to a comeback to No. 8 and a top five finish on the AutoTrader 400.

Carson Hocevar – Top 10 Finish (+165)

Carson Hocevar led the Daytona 500 on the final lap when an offset bump spun him from the lead, resulting in his car hitting the outside wall and sliding through the infield. Although it wiped out his first career win, Hocevar showed at Bowman Gray and Daytona that he is ready to make a jump this season. He now heads to Echopark Speedway, where he has two career top-10 finishes in four Cup Series starts at the reconfigured track. With the No. 77 car clearly on pace to run at the front of the field, we are confident that Hocevar will post a top-10 finish at Atlanta.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings before AutoTrader 400

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Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#Drivers #Choice #AutoTrader #Echopark