<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl?page=1">IPL</a>&nbsp;auctions are always "tricky" terrain and going unsold does not make Cheteshwar Pujara a frustrated cricketer as he fights the public perception of being a red-ball specialist.

There are players who have had similar strike-rates (110 approx) but got picked by franchises but architect of India's historic series-win in Australia in 2018-19 has been left high and dry.

Does it hurt or irk him, letting others decide about his credentials as a T20 player?

"As a cricketer, I can't have that opinion. Also I feel that I am someone who will never have such egos because I have seen and known IPL auctions to be tricky," Pujara told PTI during an exclusive interview.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nothing-decided-on-suresh-raina-harbhajan-singhs-future-or-replacement-csk-official-325957" hreflang="en">Nothing decided on Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh's future or replacement: CSK official</a>

"I have seen world class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on auction. So I don't have any big ego that they are not picking me. Yes, given a choice I would like to play IPL," said India's most important Test batsman alongside skipper Virat Kohli.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2020">Full coverage of IPL: HERE</a>

Does he feel to be a victim of public perception so prevalent in the Indian cricket eco-system?

"I would say yes, it's a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can't do much about it," said the man who set up India's 2-1 series win in Australia with more than 500 runs in the 2018-19 away series.

"I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as white ball cricketer. I have performed well in List A cricket (average of 54), also in domestic T20s (century in Mushtaq Ali Trophy). I have done well in List A games in England.

"Performance is something which I can control and I will do that. Only thing I can do is wait for my opportunity. I am more than happy to play all formats. As long as I playing the game, I will remain a student of the game as there is no end to what you can learn. But as and when I get an opportunity, then only I can change the perception.," said the affable man from Rajkot.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-7-franchises-to-take-ps100000-air-bubble-route-to-bring-players-from-manchester-to-dubai-325949" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: 7 franchises to take £100,000 air bubble route to bring players from Manchester to Dubai</a>

Other years during IPL, Pujara is in England playing county cricket either for Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire which wasn't possible due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Isn't it frustrating that when all his India mates will be getting to play matches (in IPL), he can only have net sessions with still no clarity on domestic cricket?

"Disappointed 'Yes' but frustrating 'No'. I haven't been able to go to UK not because I didn't want to play or they didn't want me but because of the situation which is same for all cricketers.

"I have to understand these are tough times. It is more important to be with family and stay safe and not worry too much about not getting too much match practice. There are people, who have endured way more difficulties," he said.

Contentment is key to leading a good life and the 32-year-old with 77 Test matches and nearly 6000 runs (5840 with 18 hundreds) understands that.

"I wouldn't say that I feel like I don't have this or I don't have that. I am happy with what I have got," he said.

"Be it for Indian Oil in office cricket or playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, my commitment is always above 100 percent. My commitment is to the game and remaining true to it. I have won matches for India.

"Nothing beats the feeling when you win matches for India with millions supporting you. I know that feeling and you can't beat that," he concluded.&nbsp;

IPL auctions are always "tricky" terrain and going unsold does not make Cheteshwar Pujara a frustrated cricketer as he fights the public perception of being a red-ball specialist.

IPL auctions are always "tricky" terrain and going unsold does not make Cheteshwar Pujara a frustrated cricketer as he fights the public perception of being a red-ball specialist. There are players who have had similar strike-rates (110 approx) but got picked by franchises but architect of India's historic series-win in Australia in 2018-19 has been left high and dry. Does it hurt or irk him, letting others decide about his credentials as a T20 player? "As a cricketer, I can't have that opinion. Also I feel that I am someone who will never have such egos because I have seen and known IPL auctions to be tricky," Pujara told PTI during an exclusive interview. ALSO READ: Nothing decided on Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh's future or replacement: CSK official "I have seen world class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on auction. So I don't have any big ego that they are not picking me. Yes, given a choice I would like to play IPL," said India's most important Test batsman alongside skipper Virat Kohli. Full coverage of IPL: HERE Does he feel to be a victim of public perception so prevalent in the Indian cricket eco-system? "I would say yes, it's a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can't do much about it," said the man who set up India's 2-1 series win in Australia with more than 500 runs in the 2018-19 away series. "I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as white ball cricketer. I have performed well in List A cricket (average of 54), also in domestic T20s (century in Mushtaq Ali Trophy). I have done well in List A games in England. "Performance is something which I can control and I will do that. Only thing I can do is wait for my opportunity. I am more than happy to play all formats. As long as I playing the game, I will remain a student of the game as there is no end to what you can learn. But as and when I get an opportunity, then only I can change the perception.," said the affable man from Rajkot. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: 7 franchises to take £100,000 air bubble route to bring players from Manchester to Dubai Other years during IPL, Pujara is in England playing county cricket either for Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire which wasn't possible due to COVID-19 pandemic. Isn't it frustrating that when all his India mates will be getting to play matches (in IPL), he can only have net sessions with still no clarity on domestic cricket? "Disappointed 'Yes' but frustrating 'No'. I haven't been able to go to UK not because I didn't want to play or they didn't want me but because of the situation which is same for all cricketers. "I have to understand these are tough times. It is more important to be with family and stay safe and not worry too much about not getting too much match practice. There are people, who have endured way more difficulties," he said. Contentment is key to leading a good life and the 32-year-old with 77 Test matches and nearly 6000 runs (5840 with 18 hundreds) understands that. "I wouldn't say that I feel like I don't have this or I don't have that. I am happy with what I have got," he said. "Be it for Indian Oil in office cricket or playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, my commitment is always above 100 percent. My commitment is to the game and remaining true to it. I have won matches for India. "Nothing beats the feeling when you win matches for India with millions supporting you. I know that feeling and you can't beat that," he concluded.

Never had ego issues about IPL auctions, even a player like Amla went unsold: Pujara

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the future of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh after the duo pulled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 citing ‘personal reasons’. While there has been calls to find a replacement and many fans have urged the franchise to call back Raina after the southpaw hinted that he would be willing to join the team in the UAE.

A Chennai Super Kings official on Tuesday told WION that nothing has been decided on Raina or Harbhajan’s future or replacement while adding that the team management will take their time before finalizing anything on the matter.

"Nothing on Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh's future or replacement, that is for the team management to decide and they will take their time on this,” a CSK official told WION.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-schedule-team-wise-breakdown-of-fixtures-325555" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures</a>

Raina has been a herculean figure for CSK over the years. While he has ruled the all-time run-scoring charts in IPL, the veteran southpaw currently sits second behind Virat Kohli in terms of runs scored in IPL history. Raina is also regarded as a clever option for spin bowling while being one of the finest fielders to grace the cricket field.&nbsp;

Whereas, Harbhajan was used meticulously by MS Dhoni last season and a lot was expected from him in IPL 2020 given the tournament will be played in UAE, where pitches are likely to assist the spinners. His batting down the order was also seen as handy for the Chennai franchise. The veteran off-spinner is among the highest wicket-takers in IPL history.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-7-franchises-to-take-ps100000-air-bubble-route-to-bring-players-from-manchester-to-dubai-325949" hreflang="en">Franchises to take £100,000 air bubble route to bring players to Dubai</a>

<h2>Chennai Super Kings: Full schedule for IPL 2020</h2>

<ul>
	<li>CSK vs MI on Sept 19 and Oct 23</li>
	<li>CSK vs RR on Sept 22 and Oct 19</li>
	<li>CSK vs DC on Sept 25 and Oct 17</li>
	<li>CSK vs SRH on Oct 2 and Oct 13</li>
	<li>CSK vs Punjab on Oct 4 and Nov 1</li>
	<li>CSK vs KKR on Oct 6 and Oct 29</li>
	<li>CSK vs RCB on Oct 10 and Oct 25 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the future of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh after the duo pulled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 citing ‘personal reasons’.

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the future of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh after the duo pulled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 citing ‘personal reasons’. While there has been calls to find a replacement and many fans have urged the franchise to call back Raina after the southpaw hinted that he would be willing to join the team in the UAE. A Chennai Super Kings official on Tuesday told WION that nothing has been decided on Raina or Harbhajan’s future or replacement while adding that the team management will take their time before finalizing anything on the matter. "Nothing on Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh's future or replacement, that is for the team management to decide and they will take their time on this,” a CSK official told WION. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures Raina has been a herculean figure for CSK over the years. While he has ruled the all-time run-scoring charts in IPL, the veteran southpaw currently sits second behind Virat Kohli in terms of runs scored in IPL history. Raina is also regarded as a clever option for spin bowling while being one of the finest fielders to grace the cricket field. Whereas, Harbhajan was used meticulously by MS Dhoni last season and a lot was expected from him in IPL 2020 given the tournament will be played in UAE, where pitches are likely to assist the spinners. His batting down the order was also seen as handy for the Chennai franchise. The veteran off-spinner is among the highest wicket-takers in IPL history. ALSO READ: Franchises to take £100,000 air bubble route to bring players to Dubai Chennai Super Kings: Full schedule for IPL 2020 CSK vs MI on Sept 19 and Oct 23 CSK vs RR on Sept 22 and Oct 19 CSK vs DC on Sept 25 and Oct 17 CSK vs SRH on Oct 2 and Oct 13 CSK vs Punjab on Oct 4 and Nov 1 CSK vs KKR on Oct 6 and Oct 29 CSK vs RCB on Oct 10 and Oct 25

Nothing decided on Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh's future or replacement: CSK official

After news came out of social distancing protocol breach in Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NS-NIS) in Patiala, India’s premier sports facility is again grabbing the eyeballs for wrong reasons as star sprinter Hima Das and other athletes have complained about poor food quality that was served to them in the mess in mid-August while also protesting about poor hygiene in the kitchen.

As per a report in TOI, Hima Das had complained about ‘human nails’ in her food as the Assamese sprinter took photographs of her meal and shared them to NIS administration. SAI took up the matter and set up a ‘Food Inspection Committee’ to ensure the quality of food remains good.

Hima even took up the matter with sports minister Kiren Rijiju, who acted promptly while instructing the SAI authorities to resolve the issue. There were other complaints from athletes about hair in their meals and kitchen staff sneezing in their hands and not sanitizing them properly.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/everton-sign-james-rodriguez-from-real-madrid-325919" hreflang="en">Everton sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid</a>

SAI, in a statement issued to TOI, informed "Some athletes had raised an issue about the quality of food at the mess at NS NIS, Patiala in mid-August. As soon as it was brought to notice, immediate corrective action was taken to ensure that even one-off issues of this nature are not faced by athletes. A review meeting was held with officials, staff and players on the same day and instructions were issued to ensure that the quality of food is as per the requirement of the athletes. Feedback from athletes confirm that the quality of food is as per their liking and requirement," the SAI statement read.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-asks-his-fans-to-support-line-judge-after-critics-troll-her-325908" hreflang="en">Novak Djokovic asks his fans to 'support' line judge after critics troll her</a>

"As per policy, SAI has set up a Food Inspection Committee and is also strengthening the kitchen staff at NIS. A food helpline number has also been set up to order food items of athletes' choice," it added. The statement quoted Hima as saying, "Our concern was addressed immediately. We had said that we were not happy with the quality of cooking. And ever since we raised the concern, the quality of cooking has really improved." 
&nbsp;

After news came out of social distancing protocol breach in Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NS-NIS) in Patiala, India’s premier sports facility is again grabbing the eyeballs for wrong reasons as star sprinter Hima Das and other athletes have complained about poor food quality that was served to them in the mess in mid-August while also protesting about poor hygiene in the kitchen.

After news came out of social distancing protocol breach in Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NS-NIS) in Patiala, India’s premier sports facility is again grabbing the eyeballs for wrong reasons as star sprinter Hima Das and other athletes have complained about poor food quality that was served to them in the mess in mid-August while also protesting about poor hygiene in the kitchen. As per a report in TOI, Hima Das had complained about ‘human nails’ in her food as the Assamese sprinter took photographs of her meal and shared them to NIS administration. SAI took up the matter and set up a ‘Food Inspection Committee’ to ensure the quality of food remains good. Hima even took up the matter with sports minister Kiren Rijiju, who acted promptly while instructing the SAI authorities to resolve the issue. There were other complaints from athletes about hair in their meals and kitchen staff sneezing in their hands and not sanitizing them properly. ALSO READ: Everton sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid SAI, in a statement issued to TOI, informed "Some athletes had raised an issue about the quality of food at the mess at NS NIS, Patiala in mid-August. As soon as it was brought to notice, immediate corrective action was taken to ensure that even one-off issues of this nature are not faced by athletes. A review meeting was held with officials, staff and players on the same day and instructions were issued to ensure that the quality of food is as per the requirement of the athletes. Feedback from athletes confirm that the quality of food is as per their liking and requirement," the SAI statement read. ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic asks his fans to 'support' line judge after critics troll her "As per policy, SAI has set up a Food Inspection Committee and is also strengthening the kitchen staff at NIS. A food helpline number has also been set up to order food items of athletes' choice," it added. The statement quoted Hima as saying, "Our concern was addressed immediately. We had said that we were not happy with the quality of cooking. And ever since we raised the concern, the quality of cooking has really improved."

Hima Das, other athletes complain about unhygienic food at NIS; SAI sets up 'inspection committee'

Seven franchises of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> have collectively hired a charter to bring 22 players from Manchester to Dubai which will cost them around one hundred thousand pounds and more.&nbsp;

England and Australian players, who are currently involved in the ongoing limited-overs series, will aboard a charter flight in Manchester after the last ODI of the England-Australia white-ball series, on September 17 and will be with their respective teams well ahead of the IPL 2020 openers, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror.

The likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Jos Butter, Eoin Morgan, Jofra Archer among others will be heading to the UAE in a charter flight after the franchises decided to shell out a lump sum money together in a bid to get the six-day quarantine exempted. The only team that has not participated are Mumbai Indians.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rajasthan-royals-ben-stokes-likely-to-miss-first-part-of-ipl-2020-325817">Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes likely to miss first part of IPL 2020</a>&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Dream11 IPL 2020 schedule has been locked in! 
 
Let’s start the week by marking out your favourite matches. Game on! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dream11IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dream11IPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/L7Ddp61hZ1">pic.twitter.com/L7Ddp61hZ1</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1302811151097450496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-schedule-team-wise-breakdown-of-fixtures-325555" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures</a>

The idea of bringing in a charter flight into the play is to transport all the players from the England bubble to IPL’s bio environment. Kolkata Knight Riders, based in Abu Dhabi, will need their players to undergo six-day isolation due to the strict protocols in the emirates. However, all three KKR players – Cummins, Banton and Morgan – will be eligible to play on September 23 – their seventh day in Abu Dhabi – after clearing all three COVID-19 tests.&nbsp;

IPL-bound English and Aussie players will travel to the airport in a sanitized bus and will land at a different airport, not at the regular Dubai International Airport.&nbsp;

“It has all been taken care of. The idea is that they are not outside of the bubble. If we had flown them by commercial flights, they would have had to undergo quarantine. And costwise also it would have been dearer as each player will have to be flown by business class. Close to Rs 1 crore for 22 players is not much I suppose,” a franchise official said.

Seven franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 have collectively hired a charter to bring 22 players from Manchester to Dubai which will cost them around one hundred thousand pounds and more.

Seven franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 have collectively hired a charter to bring 22 players from Manchester to Dubai which will cost them around one hundred thousand pounds and more. England and Australian players, who are currently involved in the ongoing limited-overs series, will aboard a charter flight in Manchester after the last ODI of the England-Australia white-ball series, on September 17 and will be with their respective teams well ahead of the IPL 2020 openers, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror. The likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Jos Butter, Eoin Morgan, Jofra Archer among others will be heading to the UAE in a charter flight after the franchises decided to shell out a lump sum money together in a bid to get the six-day quarantine exempted. The only team that has not participated are Mumbai Indians. ALSO READ: Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes likely to miss first part of IPL 2020 The Dream11 IPL 2020 schedule has been locked in! Let’s start the week by marking out your favourite matches. Game on! #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/L7Ddp61hZ1 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 7, 2020 × ALSO READ: IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures The idea of bringing in a charter flight into the play is to transport all the players from the England bubble to IPL’s bio environment. Kolkata Knight Riders, based in Abu Dhabi, will need their players to undergo six-day isolation due to the strict protocols in the emirates. However, all three KKR players – Cummins, Banton and Morgan – will be eligible to play on September 23 – their seventh day in Abu Dhabi – after clearing all three COVID-19 tests. IPL-bound English and Aussie players will travel to the airport in a sanitized bus and will land at a different airport, not at the regular Dubai International Airport. “It has all been taken care of. The idea is that they are not outside of the bubble. If we had flown them by commercial flights, they would have had to undergo quarantine. And costwise also it would have been dearer as each player will have to be flown by business class. Close to Rs 1 crore for 22 players is not much I suppose,” a franchise official said.

IPL 2020: 7 franchises to take £100,000 air bubble route to bring players from Manchester to Dubai

Ansu Fati became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Spanish national team on Sunday by scoring in Spain's 4-0 win over Ukraine.&nbsp;

Aged 17 years and 311 days, Fati scored in the 32nd minute at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, when he cut in from the left and curled into the bottom corner.

It came after a spell-binding opening half an hour from the youngster, whose driving run had already earned a penalty for Sergio Ramos to convert.&nbsp;

Ramos then headed in to make it two before Fati made history on his first start for Spain, beating the country's previous youngest scorer, Juan Errazquin, who scored three goals aged 18 against Switzerland in 1925.&nbsp;

Manchester City's new signing Ferran Torres made it four late on as Spain registered their first victory in this season's Nations League to go top of League A's Group 4.&nbsp;

Luis Enrique's side had opened with a 1-1 draw on Thursday against Germany, whose second game ended in another 1-1 draw away at Switzerland.&nbsp;

Fati impressed off the bench against Germany, enough to be handed his first start by Luis Enrique on the left of Spain's front three.&nbsp;

He took his chance by putting on a mesmerising display, the only shame that there were no fans in the stadium to see it.&nbsp;

"At that age it's easy to get birds in your head," said Luis Enrique afterwards. "But&nbsp;he is mature enough to know that the path he is taking is the best to take as a player. He's quiet and humble."

<h2>- Fati confidence 'not normal' -</h2>

Fati is now the youngest player to score for Spain, for Barca in La Liga and the youngest to score in the Champions League as well.

"When we choose the squad, we don't look at the age," Luis Enrique added. "That doesn't mean you don't have to&nbsp;understand that he's going to play bad games and he's going to make lots of mistakes. It's part of learning but that kind of confidence isn't normal."&nbsp;

Born in Guinea-Bissau, Fati and his family moved to Seville when he was a young boy. He joined Barcelona's La Masia academy aged 10 and made his first team debut at the start of last season, becoming the second youngest player ever to play for the club.

He became the their youngest ever scorer in La Liga after scoring off the bench versus Osasuna and then scored on his first start for the Catalans too, against Valencia in September, aged 16.&nbsp;

The next day, Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo wrote "A star is born" and he continued breaking records by hitting the winner against Inter Milan in the Champions League in December.&nbsp;

Fati was expected to be given his debut for Spain earlier this year but he had to wait as fixtures were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Ukraine never got to grips with the winger, who won a penalty in the third minute, converted by Ramos, and then almost scored with a bicycle kick.&nbsp;

He fired wide of the far post after another darting dribble down the left and after Ramos headed in, he finally scored, cutting in from the left and ripping the ball into the far bottom corner.&nbsp;

Spain eased up in the second half but there was still time for a fourth, Torres finishing well at the back post to cap a memorable night.&nbsp;

Ansu Fati became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Spanish national team on Sunday by scoring in Spain's 4-0 win over Ukraine. Aged 17 years and 311 days, Fati scored in the 32nd minute at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, when he cut in from the left and curled into the bottom corner.

Ansu Fati became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Spanish national team on Sunday by scoring in Spain's 4-0 win over Ukraine. Aged 17 years and 311 days, Fati scored in the 32nd minute at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, when he cut in from the left and curled into the bottom corner. It came after a spell-binding opening half an hour from the youngster, whose driving run had already earned a penalty for Sergio Ramos to convert. Ramos then headed in to make it two before Fati made history on his first start for Spain, beating the country's previous youngest scorer, Juan Errazquin, who scored three goals aged 18 against Switzerland in 1925. Manchester City's new signing Ferran Torres made it four late on as Spain registered their first victory in this season's Nations League to go top of League A's Group 4. Luis Enrique's side had opened with a 1-1 draw on Thursday against Germany, whose second game ended in another 1-1 draw away at Switzerland. Fati impressed off the bench against Germany, enough to be handed his first start by Luis Enrique on the left of Spain's front three. He took his chance by putting on a mesmerising display, the only shame that there were no fans in the stadium to see it. "At that age it's easy to get birds in your head," said Luis Enrique afterwards. "But he is mature enough to know that the path he is taking is the best to take as a player. He's quiet and humble." - Fati confidence 'not normal' - Fati is now the youngest player to score for Spain, for Barca in La Liga and the youngest to score in the Champions League as well. "When we choose the squad, we don't look at the age," Luis Enrique added. "That doesn't mean you don't have to understand that he's going to play bad games and he's going to make lots of mistakes. It's part of learning but that kind of confidence isn't normal." Born in Guinea-Bissau, Fati and his family moved to Seville when he was a young boy. He joined Barcelona's La Masia academy aged 10 and made his first team debut at the start of last season, becoming the second youngest player ever to play for the club. He became the their youngest ever scorer in La Liga after scoring off the bench versus Osasuna and then scored on his first start for the Catalans too, against Valencia in September, aged 16. The next day, Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo wrote "A star is born" and he continued breaking records by hitting the winner against Inter Milan in the Champions League in December. Fati was expected to be given his debut for Spain earlier this year but he had to wait as fixtures were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ukraine never got to grips with the winger, who won a penalty in the third minute, converted by Ramos, and then almost scored with a bicycle kick. He fired wide of the far post after another darting dribble down the left and after Ramos headed in, he finally scored, cutting in from the left and ripping the ball into the far bottom corner. Spain eased up in the second half but there was still time for a fourth, Torres finishing well at the back post to cap a memorable night.

Ansu Fati makes history as Spain thump Ukraine

Pierre Gasly jumped for joy on Sunday and then admitted he was too happy for words after claiming his maiden Formula One victory a year after being demoted by Red Bull to their junior sister team Alpha Tauri.

His stubborn and skilful drive to a stirring triumph in a tumultuous Italian Grand Prix was celebrated deliriously by the Faenza-based team on a day when their grandee fellow-Italians Ferrari suffered another debacle, this time on home soil.

It was only the former Minardi and Toro Rosso outfit's second win in Formula One since entering the sport in 1985.&nbsp;

Gasly, 24, had struggled to make any impression as Max Verstappen's team-mate in the first half of 2019 and was replaced by rookie Alex Albon in August last year.

"I've gone through so many emotions in the last 18 months," said the Frenchman.&nbsp;

He returned to Toro Rosso, this year renamed Alpha Tauri, to recover his confidence and registered a second place for the team in Brazil before the end of last season.

This year, he has improved and on Sunday delivered a result he and the team could only have dreamed of until a series of incidents – including accidents, penalties and safety cars -- threw up an unexpected opportunity.

"To be honest, I can't believe it," he said.&nbsp;

"I just can't realise what's happening right now. It was such a crazy race!

"We took full advantage of the red flag. The car was very fast today and we had a pretty fast car behind us.&nbsp;

He added: "On my first podium last year, I was already... wow. And now my first win, with AlphaTauri... and at Monza. I just can't believe it."

Gasly became the first Frenchman to win a F1 race since Olivier Panis won a rain-hit 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.&nbsp;

He finished first ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren, aged 26, and Lance Stroll of Racing Point, aged 21, in one of the youngest top-three podium finishers in modern times.&nbsp;

"This team has done so much for me. They have given me my first opportunity in Formula One, my first podium and now my first victory," he said.

"It is really crazy. I am so happy, I can't say enough.

"I am so grateful to everyone on the team and to Honda. It is a power circuit here at Monza -- and we won the race.

"So, it's a great day. I can't believe this happened to Alpha Tauri. We've just been focusing on ourselves and working on the car, step by step, since last year."

Pierre Gasly jumped for joy on Sunday and then admitted he was too happy for words after claiming his maiden Formula One victory a year after being demoted by Red Bull to their junior sister team Alpha Tauri.

Pierre Gasly jumped for joy on Sunday and then admitted he was too happy for words after claiming his maiden Formula One victory a year after being demoted by Red Bull to their junior sister team Alpha Tauri. His stubborn and skilful drive to a stirring triumph in a tumultuous Italian Grand Prix was celebrated deliriously by the Faenza-based team on a day when their grandee fellow-Italians Ferrari suffered another debacle, this time on home soil. It was only the former Minardi and Toro Rosso outfit's second win in Formula One since entering the sport in 1985. Gasly, 24, had struggled to make any impression as Max Verstappen's team-mate in the first half of 2019 and was replaced by rookie Alex Albon in August last year. "I've gone through so many emotions in the last 18 months," said the Frenchman. He returned to Toro Rosso, this year renamed Alpha Tauri, to recover his confidence and registered a second place for the team in Brazil before the end of last season. This year, he has improved and on Sunday delivered a result he and the team could only have dreamed of until a series of incidents – including accidents, penalties and safety cars -- threw up an unexpected opportunity. "To be honest, I can't believe it," he said. "I just can't realise what's happening right now. It was such a crazy race! "We took full advantage of the red flag. The car was very fast today and we had a pretty fast car behind us. He added: "On my first podium last year, I was already... wow. And now my first win, with AlphaTauri... and at Monza. I just can't believe it." Gasly became the first Frenchman to win a F1 race since Olivier Panis won a rain-hit 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. He finished first ahead of Carlos Sainz of McLaren, aged 26, and Lance Stroll of Racing Point, aged 21, in one of the youngest top-three podium finishers in modern times. "This team has done so much for me. They have given me my first opportunity in Formula One, my first podium and now my first victory," he said. "It is really crazy. I am so happy, I can't say enough. "I am so grateful to everyone on the team and to Honda. It is a power circuit here at Monza -- and we won the race. "So, it's a great day. I can't believe this happened to Alpha Tauri. We've just been focusing on ourselves and working on the car, step by step, since last year."

One year after Red Bull dumping, Gasly delivers maiden F1 triumph

Jos Buttler made a dashing 77 not out as England beat Australia by six wickets for a series-clinching win in the second Twenty20 international at Southampton on Sunday.

Victory saw England take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in a three-match contest and they will replace Australia at the top of the global T20 standings with another win at Southampton on Tuesday.

England, set 158 to win, finished on 158-4 with seven balls to spare.

They needed 18 off the last two overs. Australia had failed to score 19 off two overs in a dramatic two-run defeat in the first game on Friday.

But England got there in five balls from Adam Zampa, with Moeen Ali hitting a six and a four off successive deliveries from the leg-spinner.

Buttler finished the match with a huge straight six off Zampa. &nbsp;

Buttler faced just 54 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, for his highest score in a T20 international, surpassing 73 not out against Sri Lanka at Southampton four years ago.

<h2>- 'Pretty comprehensive' -</h2>

Victory was set up by England's bowlers, who held Australia to a modest 157-7 after the tourists had won the toss.

"Pretty comprehensive, I can't really fault many facets of the game today," England captain Eoin Morgan told Sky Sports after the match.&nbsp;

"We put in a better bowling performance; we asked the guys to stand up in the first six overs and they did.&nbsp;

"Having a world-class player like Buttler, in form as he is, makes that chase a lot easier."

Australia captain Aaron Finch acknowledged the quality of opener Buttler's innings, saying: "When you fail to get one of the opposition openers out, who is a great player, that is always going to be tough."

Finch added: "We were probably a few runs short of where we needed to be, but I felt if we could match their powerplay with ours with the ball, we'd be in with a shot but we didn't take enough wickets in that period."

Jofra Archer had David Warner caught behind for a third-ball duck and Australia were 89-5 with seven overs left before a late-order rally gave them a glimmer of hope.

This series was meant to act as a warm-up for October's T20 World Cup in Australia.

But that tournament will not take place because of Covid-19, with the next T20 World Cup set for India in 2021.

England lost Jonny Bairstow, Buttler's opening partner, early in their chase. Swinging round from a pull off Mitchell Starc, Bairstow knocked over his stumps and was out hit wicket for 19.

But Buttler, well-supported by Dawid Malan (42) in a second-wicket stand of 87, manipulated the field in style.

He drove paceman Kane Richardson for six and skilfully reverse-swept Ashton Agar's left-arm spin for four.

England, who have struggled for powerplay wickets, made a sensational start after losing the toss when fast bowler Archer, topping 90 mph in his first over, had the dangerous Warner caught behind for nought.

Warner reviewed immediately but replays confirmed he had gloved the ball and Australia were nought for one.

Australia were 3-2 in the second over, after left-hander Alex Carey, promoted to number three in place of star batsman Steve Smith, gave himself room to drive but only edged Mark Wood, like Archer a 50-over World Cup winning fast bowler, to wicketkeeper Buttler.

Smith pulled Tom Curran for six but he was run out for 10 by England captain Eoin Morgan's underarm direct hit from midwicket with just one stump to aim at.

Jos Buttler made a dashing 77 not out as England beat Australia by six wickets for a series-clinching win in the second Twenty20 international at Southampton on Sunday.

Jos Buttler made a dashing 77 not out as England beat Australia by six wickets for a series-clinching win in the second Twenty20 international at Southampton on Sunday. Victory saw England take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in a three-match contest and they will replace Australia at the top of the global T20 standings with another win at Southampton on Tuesday. England, set 158 to win, finished on 158-4 with seven balls to spare. They needed 18 off the last two overs. Australia had failed to score 19 off two overs in a dramatic two-run defeat in the first game on Friday. But England got there in five balls from Adam Zampa, with Moeen Ali hitting a six and a four off successive deliveries from the leg-spinner. Buttler finished the match with a huge straight six off Zampa. Buttler faced just 54 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, for his highest score in a T20 international, surpassing 73 not out against Sri Lanka at Southampton four years ago. - 'Pretty comprehensive' - Victory was set up by England's bowlers, who held Australia to a modest 157-7 after the tourists had won the toss. "Pretty comprehensive, I can't really fault many facets of the game today," England captain Eoin Morgan told Sky Sports after the match. "We put in a better bowling performance; we asked the guys to stand up in the first six overs and they did. "Having a world-class player like Buttler, in form as he is, makes that chase a lot easier." Australia captain Aaron Finch acknowledged the quality of opener Buttler's innings, saying: "When you fail to get one of the opposition openers out, who is a great player, that is always going to be tough." Finch added: "We were probably a few runs short of where we needed to be, but I felt if we could match their powerplay with ours with the ball, we'd be in with a shot but we didn't take enough wickets in that period." Jofra Archer had David Warner caught behind for a third-ball duck and Australia were 89-5 with seven overs left before a late-order rally gave them a glimmer of hope. This series was meant to act as a warm-up for October's T20 World Cup in Australia. But that tournament will not take place because of Covid-19, with the next T20 World Cup set for India in 2021. England lost Jonny Bairstow, Buttler's opening partner, early in their chase. Swinging round from a pull off Mitchell Starc, Bairstow knocked over his stumps and was out hit wicket for 19. But Buttler, well-supported by Dawid Malan (42) in a second-wicket stand of 87, manipulated the field in style. He drove paceman Kane Richardson for six and skilfully reverse-swept Ashton Agar's left-arm spin for four. England, who have struggled for powerplay wickets, made a sensational start after losing the toss when fast bowler Archer, topping 90 mph in his first over, had the dangerous Warner caught behind for nought. Warner reviewed immediately but replays confirmed he had gloved the ball and Australia were nought for one. Australia were 3-2 in the second over, after left-hander Alex Carey, promoted to number three in place of star batsman Steve Smith, gave himself room to drive but only edged Mark Wood, like Archer a 50-over World Cup winning fast bowler, to wicketkeeper Buttler. Smith pulled Tom Curran for six but he was run out for 10 by England captain Eoin Morgan's underarm direct hit from midwicket with just one stump to aim at.

Buttler stars as England clinch Australia T20 series win

Who said what in sport this weekend:

"When I heard that the line judge was on the floor I was in shock. I never expected this moment when playing Novak. I think it was bad luck."

-- Pablo Carreno Busta on the sensational moment that Novak Djokovic was defaulted from the US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge with the ball during their last 16 tie.

"It was such a crazy race. I have been through so much in the space of 18 months, to get my first win in Formula 1 I am struggling for words."

-- Shock Italian Grand Prix winner Pierre Gasly after his maiden F1 triumph and first by a French driver for 24 years.

"It's definitely weird because she could play her first round of singles and first round of doubles, and now suddenly she's kicked out. It's brutal."

-- French tennis player Alize Cornet on the US Open's controversial decision to force compatriot Kristina Mladenovic to withdraw from the tournament as she been in close contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend.

"I have failed so many times. This might be a turning point in my career."

-- Great French hope Thibaut Pinot after losing 15 minutes on stage eight of the Tour de France.

"It hurts even more once it's at home."

-- Charles Leclerc after Ferrari suffered their worst qualifying performance in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 36 years. In the race on Sunday, Leclerc survived a huge accident.

"Ten seconds bonus for the stage win in the sprint is great but I don't know what happened in it."

-- Tadej Pogacar after winning the Tour de France's ninth stage on Sunday.

"I think clubs are above every player.&nbsp;Barcelona was founded in 1899 and is one of the best in the world, it has won titles forever.&nbsp;Clearly there has been a wonderful relationship. Leo has made Barca grow exponentially but I would have liked it a lot more if an agreement had been reached."

-- Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique on the Lionel Messi saga.

"It was a good back-to-school game."

-- France coach Didier Deschamps after the 1-0 win over Sweden in the Nations League.

Who said what in sport this weekend: "When I heard that the line judge was on the floor I was in shock. I never expected this moment when playing Novak. I think it was bad luck.

Who said what in sport this weekend: "When I heard that the line judge was on the floor I was in shock. I never expected this moment when playing Novak. I think it was bad luck." -- Pablo Carreno Busta on the sensational moment that Novak Djokovic was defaulted from the US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge with the ball during their last 16 tie. "It was such a crazy race. I have been through so much in the space of 18 months, to get my first win in Formula 1 I am struggling for words." -- Shock Italian Grand Prix winner Pierre Gasly after his maiden F1 triumph and first by a French driver for 24 years. "It's definitely weird because she could play her first round of singles and first round of doubles, and now suddenly she's kicked out. It's brutal." -- French tennis player Alize Cornet on the US Open's controversial decision to force compatriot Kristina Mladenovic to withdraw from the tournament as she been in close contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend. "I have failed so many times. This might be a turning point in my career." -- Great French hope Thibaut Pinot after losing 15 minutes on stage eight of the Tour de France. "It hurts even more once it's at home." -- Charles Leclerc after Ferrari suffered their worst qualifying performance in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 36 years. In the race on Sunday, Leclerc survived a huge accident. "Ten seconds bonus for the stage win in the sprint is great but I don't know what happened in it." -- Tadej Pogacar after winning the Tour de France's ninth stage on Sunday. "I think clubs are above every player. Barcelona was founded in 1899 and is one of the best in the world, it has won titles forever. Clearly there has been a wonderful relationship. Leo has made Barca grow exponentially but I would have liked it a lot more if an agreement had been reached." -- Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique on the Lionel Messi saga. "It was a good back-to-school game." -- France coach Didier Deschamps after the 1-0 win over Sweden in the Nations League.

Djokovic default, Gasly's 'crazy' F1 win: Who said what in sport this weekend

Frank Lampard admits expectations at Chelsea will soar after an expensive recruitment drive ahead of the new Premier League season.

The Stamford Bridge club have spent nearly £200 million ($263 million) as they have brought in on Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Malang Sarr and could add even more new faces.

The former Chelsea midfielder is under no illusions that owner Roman Abramovich will expect improvements on last season.

The club finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification in Lampard's first campaign, but lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal and were thumped 7-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in Europe.

"I'm very aware that a club like Chelsea, even though we had a transfer ban, even though the year was difficult, expectations are going to go up hugely," Lampard told The High Performance Podcast.

"And I just have to accept that as part of the job, and try and go about my job as well as I can."&nbsp;

Lampard said he expected a "messy patch" that would challenge his managerial skills, now that the honeymoon period at Chelsea was over.

Chelsea will start their Premier League campaign away at Brighton on September 14.

"I think you have to be understanding that you're coming to the messy patch," Lampard said. "I think our messy patch probably happened actually back end of the season.

"I think we achieved a lot... because nobody expected us to come in the top four. But we lost a cup final, and then we lost to Bayern Munich.

"And it's a bitter taste for me, I go away and I have a bad feel about those games.

"So I understand that those issues and problems will come again. It's just that I, and we as staff, have to double down. We have to work harder."

Frank Lampard admits expectations at Chelsea will soar after an expensive recruitment drive ahead of the new Premier League season. The Stamford Bridge club have spent nearly £200 million ($263 million) as they have brought in on Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Malang Sarr and could add even more new faces.

Frank Lampard admits expectations at Chelsea will soar after an expensive recruitment drive ahead of the new Premier League season. The Stamford Bridge club have spent nearly £200 million ($263 million) as they have brought in on Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Malang Sarr and could add even more new faces. The former Chelsea midfielder is under no illusions that owner Roman Abramovich will expect improvements on last season. The club finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification in Lampard's first campaign, but lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal and were thumped 7-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in Europe. "I'm very aware that a club like Chelsea, even though we had a transfer ban, even though the year was difficult, expectations are going to go up hugely," Lampard told The High Performance Podcast. "And I just have to accept that as part of the job, and try and go about my job as well as I can." Lampard said he expected a "messy patch" that would challenge his managerial skills, now that the honeymoon period at Chelsea was over. Chelsea will start their Premier League campaign away at Brighton on September 14. "I think you have to be understanding that you're coming to the messy patch," Lampard said. "I think our messy patch probably happened actually back end of the season. "I think we achieved a lot... because nobody expected us to come in the top four. But we lost a cup final, and then we lost to Bayern Munich. "And it's a bitter taste for me, I go away and I have a bad feel about those games. "So I understand that those issues and problems will come again. It's just that I, and we as staff, have to double down. We have to work harder."

Lampard expects added pressure after Chelsea spending spree

Gareth Southgate branded Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood "naive" after the England pair were sent home for a "serious" breach of coronavirus protocols in Iceland.

England manager Southgate responded to the breach by removing Manchester City midfielder Foden and Manchester United forward Greenwood from his squad for Tuesday's Nations League clash in Denmark.

Foden, 20, and Greenwood, 18, had made their senior England debuts in Saturday's 1-0 win against Iceland, but the pair will have to travel home separately from the rest of the squad, who were due to move on to Denmark on Monday.

Although Southgate refused to comment on the nature of the virus protocol breach, widespread media reports said the England pair met two local girls during their time in Iceland.

"Unfortunately this morning it was brought to my attention that the two boys have broken the Covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble," Southgate told reporters.

"We had to decide they couldn't have interaction with the rest of the team and wouldn't be able to train. Given the procedures we have to follow now, they will have to travel back to England separately."

A Snapchat video released in Iceland appeared to show the players with female company.

Reports said Foden and Greenwood had brought the girls back to England's team hotel, but Southgate said that was not the case.

"Nothing has happened in the areas we occupy in the hotel. We are still getting to the depths of all the information because this was only brought to my attention a couple of hours before training, so I'm still getting to grips with the detail," he said.&nbsp;

"What is clear is there is a breach of the Covid-19 guidelines. I'm not gong into any more details until I'm aware of everything."

Southgate's scheduled media briefing was delayed by an hour as he and the Football Association scrambled to manage the situation, which the England boss only became aware of just hours earlier.

Acknowledging their antics were unacceptable given the current global concern about the coronavirus, Southgate said: "It is a very serious situation and we have treated it that way. They have been naive and we have dealt with it appropriately.

"We are not underestimating how important it is we keep the bubble the way we have."

&nbsp;

<h2>- 'Totally inappropriate' -</h2>

&nbsp;

Southgate said both players had apologised for their behaviour, but conceded they should have acted more responsibly.

"I recognise their age, but of course, the whole world is dealing with this pandemic and there is a responsibility on all ages that they do their part," he said.

"These are two boys I don't know particularly well at the moment so I cannot speak in great depth. I've got to try to speak with them later in the appropriate way.&nbsp;

"They have apologised but everything has happened so quickly and we have to get to the facts."

Asked if Foden and Greenwood, regarded as two of England's brightest young stars, would now face a battle to regain their place in the squad, Southgate added: "All of those things are too early, until I'm totally aware of every situation.&nbsp;

"I'm a father of young adults and I know they can get things wrong. We are not excusing that in this instance and we have to asses everything else moving forward."

City labelled their player's actions "totally inappropriate" and calling his behaviour "well below the standard expected of a Manchester City player".

United said of Greenwood: "We are liaising with the Football Association and are disappointed with the actions of Mason Greenwood over this situation."

The controversy was the last thing Southgate needed after he had to withdraw Harry Maguire from the squad following the Manchester United defender's part in a brawl in Greece.

Maguire was handed a suspended prison sentence and is appealing the verdict.

"All management roles are difficult and this is another level, in terms of what you have to deal and what is expected," Southgate said.

Gareth Southgate branded Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood "naive" after the England pair were sent home for a "serious" breach of coronavirus protocols in Iceland.

Gareth Southgate branded Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood "naive" after the England pair were sent home for a "serious" breach of coronavirus protocols in Iceland. England manager Southgate responded to the breach by removing Manchester City midfielder Foden and Manchester United forward Greenwood from his squad for Tuesday's Nations League clash in Denmark. Foden, 20, and Greenwood, 18, had made their senior England debuts in Saturday's 1-0 win against Iceland, but the pair will have to travel home separately from the rest of the squad, who were due to move on to Denmark on Monday. Although Southgate refused to comment on the nature of the virus protocol breach, widespread media reports said the England pair met two local girls during their time in Iceland. "Unfortunately this morning it was brought to my attention that the two boys have broken the Covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble," Southgate told reporters. "We had to decide they couldn't have interaction with the rest of the team and wouldn't be able to train. Given the procedures we have to follow now, they will have to travel back to England separately." A Snapchat video released in Iceland appeared to show the players with female company. Reports said Foden and Greenwood had brought the girls back to England's team hotel, but Southgate said that was not the case. "Nothing has happened in the areas we occupy in the hotel. We are still getting to the depths of all the information because this was only brought to my attention a couple of hours before training, so I'm still getting to grips with the detail," he said. "What is clear is there is a breach of the Covid-19 guidelines. I'm not gong into any more details until I'm aware of everything." Southgate's scheduled media briefing was delayed by an hour as he and the Football Association scrambled to manage the situation, which the England boss only became aware of just hours earlier. Acknowledging their antics were unacceptable given the current global concern about the coronavirus, Southgate said: "It is a very serious situation and we have treated it that way. They have been naive and we have dealt with it appropriately. "We are not underestimating how important it is we keep the bubble the way we have." - 'Totally inappropriate' - Southgate said both players had apologised for their behaviour, but conceded they should have acted more responsibly. "I recognise their age, but of course, the whole world is dealing with this pandemic and there is a responsibility on all ages that they do their part," he said. "These are two boys I don't know particularly well at the moment so I cannot speak in great depth. I've got to try to speak with them later in the appropriate way. "They have apologised but everything has happened so quickly and we have to get to the facts." Asked if Foden and Greenwood, regarded as two of England's brightest young stars, would now face a battle to regain their place in the squad, Southgate added: "All of those things are too early, until I'm totally aware of every situation. "I'm a father of young adults and I know they can get things wrong. We are not excusing that in this instance and we have to asses everything else moving forward." City labelled their player's actions "totally inappropriate" and calling his behaviour "well below the standard expected of a Manchester City player". United said of Greenwood: "We are liaising with the Football Association and are disappointed with the actions of Mason Greenwood over this situation." The controversy was the last thing Southgate needed after he had to withdraw Harry Maguire from the squad following the Manchester United defender's part in a brawl in Greece. Maguire was handed a suspended prison sentence and is appealing the verdict. "All management roles are difficult and this is another level, in terms of what you have to deal and what is expected," Southgate said.

England's Foden, Greenwood sent home after 'naive' virus breach

Lionel Messi arrived at Barcelona's training ground on Monday as he begins to reintegrate with the team following his failed attempt to leave the club this summer.&nbsp;

Messi was seen driving into the Ciutat Esportiva in Sant Joan Despi at just after 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, where he is expected to take part in training for the first time under new coach Ronald Koeman.

If he has passed his coronavirus test, Messi could also begin by training alone before joining the rest of the group later in the week.

The Argentinian superstar said on Friday in his explosive interview with Goal that he would continue to give his best for Barca, despite admitting defeat in his bid to depart for free.&nbsp;

The 33-year-old maintained he tried to go because he "wanted to live his last years of football happily" while also blaming the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu for "breaking his word" and forcing him to stay.

The return of Barcelona's embittered captain and greatest ever player may not be an easy one, particularly given some of his closest team-mates are likely to be absent.&nbsp;

Luis Suarez, Messi's best friend and neighbour, as well as Arturo Vidal, are expected to join Juventus and Inter Milan respectively.&nbsp;

It will also be the first time Messi has trained under Koeman, who was appointed Barca's new coach last month.&nbsp;

"Now I don't know what will happen," Messi said on Friday.

"There is a new coach and new ideas. That's good, but then we have to see how the team responds and whether or not it will allow us to compete at the top level. What I can say is that I'm staying and I'm going to give my best for Barcelona."

<h2>- Long-term future in doubt -</h2>

Messi's decision to notify the club via burofax that he intended to leave came after he met with Koeman, talks that reportedly involved Dutchman taking a hard line with his top striker.&nbsp;

Koeman said in his first press conference that he "only wanted players who want to be here and to give everything".

And Messi refused to attend either a coronavirus test or Koeman's first week of pre-season training last week, as Messi's lawyers believed his participation would harm his case in a potential legal battle with the club.

But Messi opted not to go down that route, insisting he could never go to court against "the club of my life".

Yet his long-term future remains in doubt given Messi can talk to other clubs in January and leave for free when his contract expires on June 30.

If Messi passes his coronavirus test and restarts training without problems, he could feature in Barcelona's friendly against Gimnastic Tarragona on Saturday.

A more realistic reintroduction might be against Girona four days later.

It would be the first time Messi has played for the team since their historic 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in last month's Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona have been given an extra two weeks off to recover before they start their La Liga season against Villarreal, scheduled for September 27.

Lionel Messi arrived at Barcelona's training ground on Monday as he begins to reintegrate with the team following his failed attempt to leave the club this summer.

Lionel Messi arrived at Barcelona's training ground on Monday as he begins to reintegrate with the team following his failed attempt to leave the club this summer. Messi was seen driving into the Ciutat Esportiva in Sant Joan Despi at just after 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, where he is expected to take part in training for the first time under new coach Ronald Koeman. If he has passed his coronavirus test, Messi could also begin by training alone before joining the rest of the group later in the week. The Argentinian superstar said on Friday in his explosive interview with Goal that he would continue to give his best for Barca, despite admitting defeat in his bid to depart for free. The 33-year-old maintained he tried to go because he "wanted to live his last years of football happily" while also blaming the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu for "breaking his word" and forcing him to stay. The return of Barcelona's embittered captain and greatest ever player may not be an easy one, particularly given some of his closest team-mates are likely to be absent. Luis Suarez, Messi's best friend and neighbour, as well as Arturo Vidal, are expected to join Juventus and Inter Milan respectively. It will also be the first time Messi has trained under Koeman, who was appointed Barca's new coach last month. "Now I don't know what will happen," Messi said on Friday. "There is a new coach and new ideas. That's good, but then we have to see how the team responds and whether or not it will allow us to compete at the top level. What I can say is that I'm staying and I'm going to give my best for Barcelona." - Long-term future in doubt - Messi's decision to notify the club via burofax that he intended to leave came after he met with Koeman, talks that reportedly involved Dutchman taking a hard line with his top striker. Koeman said in his first press conference that he "only wanted players who want to be here and to give everything". And Messi refused to attend either a coronavirus test or Koeman's first week of pre-season training last week, as Messi's lawyers believed his participation would harm his case in a potential legal battle with the club. But Messi opted not to go down that route, insisting he could never go to court against "the club of my life". Yet his long-term future remains in doubt given Messi can talk to other clubs in January and leave for free when his contract expires on June 30. If Messi passes his coronavirus test and restarts training without problems, he could feature in Barcelona's friendly against Gimnastic Tarragona on Saturday. A more realistic reintroduction might be against Girona four days later. It would be the first time Messi has played for the team since their historic 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in last month's Champions League quarter-finals. Barcelona have been given an extra two weeks off to recover before they start their La Liga season against Villarreal, scheduled for September 27.

Messi returns to Barcelona training ground

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl?page=1">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> outfit Rajasthan Royals (RR) may start their campaign without the services of Ben Stokes with the England all-rounder set to be unavailable for the tournament for at least the first phase of IPL 2020.&nbsp;

The 29-year-old is currently in New Zealand with his father, Gerard, who was earlier diagnosed with brain cancer. Stokes had flown to his hometown to be with his father, who is also a former New Zealand rugby player and has just completed his 14-day mandatory quarantine period.

Stokes pulled out of the final two Tests against Pakistan and will go on to miss at least the first phase of IPL 2020 and there are chances that he might skip the entire IPL.

Speaking to PTI, a source privy to the development said that RR will not even call Stokes on his availability as the franchise understands his situation while adding discussions can take place later.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-schedule-team-wise-breakdown-of-fixtures-325555" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures</a>

"As per quarantine rules in New Zealand, Ben has just completed his 14-day isolation period after reaching New Zealand. Now he will be meeting his father and obviously he would like to spend some quiet time with his family in this time of crisis," the source told PTI.

"It is only logical that if he has just completed his quarantine, he would not be available for the first part of the IPL and that is completely understandable. The franchise will not even call Ben as this is not priority at the moment. Let him spend quality family time and any discussions on his availability can happen only after that.".

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-schedule-announced-here-are-first-five-matches-of-tournament-325549" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 schedule announced: Here are first five matches of tournament</a>

Stokes was roped in by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping INR 12.5 crore in IPL 2018 auction and went on to amass 196 runs while picking up eight wickets in his inaugural season for the franchise. In IPL 2019, Stokes failed to leave a lasting impact before flying back to England to prepare for CWC 2019.

According to the BCCI SOP, Stokes will have to undergo self-isolation for six days after landing in the UAE if he decides to play the IPL. The franchise can call for a replacement if Stokes is unavailable for the entire IPL. 
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Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 outfit Rajasthan Royals (RR) may start their campaign without the services of Ben Stokes with the England all-rounder set to be unavailable for the tournament for at least the first phase of IPL 2020.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 outfit Rajasthan Royals (RR) may start their campaign without the services of Ben Stokes with the England all-rounder set to be unavailable for the tournament for at least the first phase of IPL 2020. The 29-year-old is currently in New Zealand with his father, Gerard, who was earlier diagnosed with brain cancer. Stokes had flown to his hometown to be with his father, who is also a former New Zealand rugby player and has just completed his 14-day mandatory quarantine period. Stokes pulled out of the final two Tests against Pakistan and will go on to miss at least the first phase of IPL 2020 and there are chances that he might skip the entire IPL. Speaking to PTI, a source privy to the development said that RR will not even call Stokes on his availability as the franchise understands his situation while adding discussions can take place later. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 schedule: Team-wise breakdown of fixtures "As per quarantine rules in New Zealand, Ben has just completed his 14-day isolation period after reaching New Zealand. Now he will be meeting his father and obviously he would like to spend some quiet time with his family in this time of crisis," the source told PTI. "It is only logical that if he has just completed his quarantine, he would not be available for the first part of the IPL and that is completely understandable. The franchise will not even call Ben as this is not priority at the moment. Let him spend quality family time and any discussions on his availability can happen only after that.". ALSO READ: IPL 2020 schedule announced: Here are first five matches of tournament Stokes was roped in by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping INR 12.5 crore in IPL 2018 auction and went on to amass 196 runs while picking up eight wickets in his inaugural season for the franchise. In IPL 2019, Stokes failed to leave a lasting impact before flying back to England to prepare for CWC 2019. According to the BCCI SOP, Stokes will have to undergo self-isolation for six days after landing in the UAE if he decides to play the IPL. The franchise can call for a replacement if Stokes is unavailable for the entire IPL.

Rajasthan Royals' Ben Stokes likely to miss first part of IPL 2020

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Subhayan Chakraborty

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