Wanted to be a footballer, became James Bond

May 7, 2025

'Bond, James Bond.'

Ian Fleming's timeless dialogues for his timeless character. Several actors have played the role of this world-famous British Secret Service agent on screen. But the gentleman we'll talk about today is a little different from the rest.

Perhaps the most famous line in the history of cinema was first uttered by him. Standing 6ft 2in tall and of Scottish descent, James Bond fans will already recognize the gentleman.

For those who don't know, know a little more: he won the most prestigious award in film, the Oscar, in 1987, for his performance in the film The Untouchables. According to a survey by People magazine, he was named the sexiest man of the century even at the age of 69!

Before he passed away in 2020 at the age of 90, in addition to seven James Bond films, he gave many box office hits like The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Russian House (1990), The Rock (1996) and Entrapment (1999). Surely the gentleman's face has come to mind by now? Sean Connery.

Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg once said, 'There have only been seven superstar actors in the history of the world. Sean Connery is one of them.' After these words, there is nothing more to say about Connery. But then why suddenly make a story about him! That means something.

Suppose I say, not an actor; in fact, Connery was supposed to be a great footballer! You won't believe me. Then we have to bring Busby as a witness. Do you know Busby? Sir Matt Busby, the legendary coach who won the European Cup (now the Champions League) for Manchester United. He's also Scottish.

At the time, Connery was 22-23 years old. He played as a right winger for a local club in Scotland called 'Bonrig Rose'. But his hobby was acting. He was looking for a break in cinema.

Busby spent several seasons at United. His team won the English First Division League (now the Premier League) for the first time in the 1951–52 season. Before the start of the 1953–54 season, Busby took the team on a pre-season tour of Scotland. During that tour, Busby would occasionally go out in the afternoon to watch local clubs play. The purpose was to catch someone's eye.

Top 10 footballers of all time: Who are on the IFFHS list?

May 7, 2025

There is no right answer to this question of who is the best in football of all time. The debate has been going on for ages. Pele, Maradona, Messi or Ronaldo? Despite logic, argument and analysis, there is no way to choose anyone unanimously to answer this question. Counterarguments arise.

For example, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has published a list of the 10 best footballers of all time on their website, with Lionel Messi at the top. This list has also sparked controversy. Naturally. Fans of Pele and Diego Maradona will not remain silent. Fans of Cristiano Ronaldo can also protest.

Before going into that argument, it is necessary to know a little about the IFFHS. German chemist and sports historian Alfred Poge founded the IFFHS in Leipzig in 1984. This organization preserves the statistics, records and history of association football. This organization has no affiliation with FIFA, but the website of the football governing body recognizes various awards and records given by the IFFHS. More than 211 football-playing countries are represented in the IFFHS. This organization also gives various awards annually—the world's best referee, club coach, national team coach, goalkeeper, playmaker, team of the year…

The IFFHS did not explain how it chose the top 10 footballers of all time. However, since statistics are their main business, it is assumed that statistics were the main consideration here. Spanish media outlet Marca also reported that the IFFHS prepared this list of the best players of all time based on the players' individual and team statistics and achievements.

Messi, who is at the top, has 46 team titles. He has won 35 for Barcelona, three for PSG, two for Inter Miami and six for Argentina. In addition to this, he has eight Ballon d'Ors, the European Golden Shoe, the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, the Copa America Golden Ball... Messi is the most successful in the history of football in terms of team and individual trophies.

The second Pele's number of titles is quite less than Messi's. Marca reported in a report published after Pele's death in 2022 that Pele won 29 titles in his career. However, no one has won more World Cups (three) than the Brazilian legend. When Pele played, the Ballon d'Or was only given to Europeans. However, France Football magazine, which gives the Ballon d'Or, told them in a special edition in 2015 that Pele could have won the Ballon d'Or seven times in his career.

Argentine legend and '86 World Cup hero Diego Maradona is third on the list. The legend has won 11 titles with club and national team. The reason Maradona is chosen as third despite being behind in terms of number of titles is probably his influence on the game. Almost single-handedly winning the World Cup for his country, single-handedly raising a club like Napoli to the ranks of the world's best - Maradona is also unforgettable for these contributions.

Another recognition for Salah, more to come

May 7, 2025

A few days ago, he won the Football Writers' Association (PFA) Footballer of the Year award. This time, Mohamed Salah also received the title of Premier League Player of the Year. Today, the Premier League authorities announced Salah as the best player for the 2024-25 season.

Salah has won the Premier League Player of the Year award for the second time in his career. He previously won the award in the 2017-18 season. Salah also broke Manchester City's dominance by winning the award for the second time. City players were named Player of the Year for five consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2024.

The Premier League website said Salah was voted Player of the Year by a panel of experts, as well as ordinary football fans. Salah was up against Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenburch, Morgan Gibbs-White, Alexander Isak, Brian Mbuemo, Declan Rice and Chris Wood.

Although it is not known how many votes were received, Salah is expected to be ahead of the others by a large margin. The 32-year-old forward has scored 28 goals and assisted 18 more for Liverpool in the current season. No one has contributed to 46 goals in 38 league games before.

Liverpool will play their final game of the season against Crystal Palace tomorrow. If Salah can contribute two goals in this match, he will break the record for the most goals in a single season in Premier League history. Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole were involved in 47 goals each in the Premier League season, with 42 matches.

Salah is also on course to win the Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year awards in this season's Premier League. He is five goals ahead of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who is the second highest scorer, and six ahead of John Murphy, who has the second highest assist.

If Isak and Murphy fail to close the gap by 5 and 6 goals in the final match of the season, Salah will become the first player in Premier League history to win the Golden Boot, Playmaker of the Year and Player of the Year awards in the same season.

Salah has already broken several records after a brilliant season. With 244 goals, he is now Liverpool's third-highest scorer of all time. Having started the season as the 11th highest scorer in the Premier League, he is now the fifth-highest goalscorer with 185 goals, behind only Alan Shearer (260), Harry Kane (213), Wayne Rooney (208) and Andrew Cole (187).

Salah is now the highest-scoring foreign player in the English Premier League, surpassing Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who has scored 184 goals. And like Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Kevin De Bruyne in Premier League history, he now has two Player of the Year awards. He has the opportunity to surpass everyone after renewing his two-year contract with Liverpool in April.

Shakib-Mathues are teammates now: Memories of 'Timed Out' and a glimpse of destiny

May 7, 2025

Because, Chittagong Kings have already added two players to the team through direct contracts. That's when some people may have remembered the incident in Delhi last November. After seeing the 20-member player list of Chittagong Kings after the players' draft yesterday, some may have gone back to that afternoon in Delhi. Shakib Al Hasan, Angelo Mathews... Wow, what else is needed!

Later, there was so much debate and talk about it! The rule books were also opened and looked at. It was learned that Shakib had 'stabbed' Mathews from within the rules. The literacy rate among Sri Lankans is almost 100%. However, no instrument has yet been invented to determine how vindictive a nation is. So, although it is impossible to say how much this trend is among Sri Lankans, it can be guessed by looking at the pictures. After visiting Bangladesh in March this year and winning the T20 series

Even the Sri Lankans understand that the picture was not very pleasing to the eye. The Sri Lankans can thank Kings for that. Because Shakib will now have to spread 'flowers' in the path of Mathews!

Although it is not entirely true, it is not a far-fetched idea. Kings have brought both of them into the team. That is, Shakib and Mathews will play as teammates in the BPL starting from December 30. Since they are teammates, Shakib does not get the opportunity to 'time out' Mathews in the BPL. On the contrary, if Mathews is a victim of something like this, Shakib will have to speak up for him. Not only that, Shakib can also think of some things in advance if he wants.

Shakib and Mathews - both are all-rounders. The batting positions will also be close. That is, the possibility of both of them batting together is very high. So, Shakib can carry an extra helmet strap in his pocket if he gets out before him. Because, since Mathews will get out later, he may need it. Or, after Shakib is at the crease and the batsman on the other end is out, he can run a little forward (of course, he must stay within the boundaries of the field) and call Mathews, 'Matthews, Mathews, call, there is not much (time) left for the timed out!'

Sri Lanka batted first in that ODI World Cup match on November 6, 2023. Mathews came on the field as the new batsman after Sadira Samarawickrama was dismissed in 24.2 overs bowled by captain Shakib. Standing at the crease, he realized that there was a problem with the strap (ribbon) of his helmet, possibly torn. He pointed to the dressing room for a new helmet. There was some delay in bringing a new helmet through an additional player. Then Bangladesh captain Shakib requested Mathews to be 'timed out'. As it was legal, the on-field umpire accepted the request and declared Mathews out. New history and controversy were born.

Mathews was the first batsman to be 'timed out' in international cricket, and the cricketing world was divided over the 'spirit of the game'. That is, there was division over whether Shakib's behaviour was sportsmanlike or not.

But now is not the time to divide, it is time to work together and 'time out' the opponent. Since Mathews is the first batsman to be 'timed out' in international cricket, and Shakib is also the first captain (cricketer) to successfully request this out - who knows better than Shakib-Mathews how 'timed out' happens or when to request this out! In other words, it is not surprising to see these two cricketers together in the BPL to time out the opponent. The Sri Lankans will also find peace if they see something like this.

Bebeto-Bunocchi-Lam chose Rodrigo as the best footballer of the year, not Vinicius.

May 7, 2025

The Ballon d'Or has been a hot topic of discussion this year. A month before the award was announced, European media outlets reported that Vinicius Junior would be the winner.

Real Madrid had also completed preparations to celebrate their player's Ballon d'Or win. But the whole scene changed a few hours before the award was announced.

Real Madrid also cancelled their trip to Paris after news of Rodri's Ballon d'Or win emerged.

However, in the meantime, British media outlet The Guardian has given Real another disappointing news. Like the Ballon d'Or, they have also chosen Rodrigo as the best footballer of the year.

The Guardian's selection process for the best player of the year was made up of 23 former footballers from different countries, including legendary Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci, Germany's World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm and Brazil's World Cup-winning star Bebeto.

Among the coaches in the selection process were Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, Iceland's Afturelding club coach Magnus Mar Einarsson, and Brazil's 2018 and 2022 World Cup assistant coach Kleber Javier. In addition, more than a hundred journalists from different countries also gave their opinions on the player selection.

In the player selection, the number one player in each judge's order of preference received 40 points and the second-choice player received 39 points. Thus, the number 40 player received 1 point. Then, all the votes were added together to determine a score.

In this voting, Rodri received 7495 points, while Rodri received 7427 points. That is, Rodri won by 68 points in the end. Of those who voted, 92 chose Rodri as the best player. And 72 people chose Vinicius as their first choice.

Although the top two are the same as in the Ballon d'Or, there have been some changes in the subsequent places. Jude Bellingham came third in the Ballon d'Or. He has dropped to number five in the Guardian's list. And Holland, who was fifth in the Ballon d'Or, is number three in the Guardian.

South Africa reaches Test Championship final after incredible win over Pakistan in Rabada-Jansen

May 7, 2025

The fourth day of the first South Africa-Pakistan match begins today in Centurion with a glimpse of a thrilling ending.

Those who went to watch the game at SuperSport Park today were not disappointed. Those who watched the game on television were not disappointed either. What a thrilling battle the two teams presented!

South Africa had the last laugh after that tense match. Batting for a target of 148 runs, the Proteas lost 8 wickets for 99 runs. After three years, pacer Mohammad Abbas, who was included in the Pakistan Test team, started giving Pakistan dreams of a great victory by taking 6 wickets. But Kagiso Rabada, along with Marco Janssen, took away that dream from the Pakistanis.

South Africa celebrated their 'world title' when the third ball of Abbas' 40th over was bowled out of bounds by Marco Jansen at point. The team came a step closer to winning the match they had almost lost. With this two-wicket win, South Africa became the first team to qualify for the final of the third round of the World Test Championship.

When Jansen took the last four wickets to win the match, he was unbeaten on 16 runs. Rabada's partnership of 50 runs for the ninth wicket was 31 runs off 26 balls.

South Africa started the day at 27 for 3. The team's mainstay was Aiden Markram. He had scored 22 of South Africa's 27 runs the previous day. That same Markram, along with captain Temba Bavuma, safely made it through the first hour of the day. The Proteas went into the drinks break at 62 for 3.

After the break, everything changed as soon as the game started. In the first over, Mohammad Abbas bowled Markram (37 runs off 63 balls) with a perfect length ball that went a little low. Bavuma remained steadfast even after Markram departed. The captain added 34 runs for the fifth wicket with David Bedingham.

What happened to Bavuma then? The Proteas captain wanted to drive a relatively harmless ball by Abbas across the middle of the wicket and out of bounds. But the ball flew off Bavuma's bat and into Mohammad Rizwan's gloves. The umpire gave him out after hearing a slight noise. Bavuma complied and returned to the dressing room. Back there, Bavuma must have heard the scolding of his teammates, who were sure that the Ultra Edge technology in the TV replay could not prove the connection between the ball and the bat. At the time of this incident, South Africa's score was 96/5 in 29.4 overs.

Naseem Shah bowled Kyle Verena in the next over. Pakistan, who were suddenly starting to smell victory after taking six wickets from their 99-run opponent, took two more wickets in the next over. Abbas also got debutant Corbin Bosch back in the same manner with the next ball, forcing David Bedingham to take a catch behind the wicket with a slightly short ball.

South Africa went from 99/5 to 99/8 in four balls. And Abbas returned to Tests after three years and bowled his career-best. He took six wickets for the first time in his 26-Test career, surpassing the record he set against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2018 (5/33).

It seemed that South Africa was repeating the history of repeatedly collapsing under pressure on the world stage of cricket. But Rabada and Jansen wanted to walk in the opposite direction of history. Rabada started the work of removing all the pressure by hitting a four off the fourth ball of Abbas's over. South Africa went to lunch with the team's score at 116 runs without losing any more wickets.

Then, Rabada and Jansen returned to the field and took the spoils from Pakistan within 6 overs to secure an incredible victory.

The final Test of the series will begin in Cape Town on January 3.

New Zealand: Must be kept in mind

May 7, 2025

New Zealand are no strangers to being the 'dark horse' in the World Cup. But at the end of the day, they are among the few teams that have been consistent. The T20 World Cup is no exception. They have only failed to touch the trophy. New Zealand are the only team to have reached the semi-finals of the last three T20 World Cups. Of those, they had to come back as runners-up in 2021. That is the team's best achievement so far.

This time too, the favourites may not be the same, but no one would want to rule out a balanced team. Williamson is going to be the first New Zealand player to lead the team in four T20 World Cups. However, he was away from international T20s for a long time due to injuries, rest and paternity leave. Williamson played in only two of New Zealand's first 35 T20s after the 2022 T20 World Cup.

The Kiwi selectors have prioritized experience in selecting the team, which can be understood by comparing this year's team with the last T20 World Cup. Only two players have been left out of the last edition's team - Martin Guptill and Adam Mee. Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry, who have been given a chance to replace them, will be playing their first T20 World Cup.

Tim Southee is the most experienced member of the 15-member team. Southee, the highest wicket-taker in international T20s, will be playing his seventh T20 World Cup. On the other hand, this will be the fifth T20 World Cup for Southee's long-time bowling partner Trent Boult. The pace attack formed by the Southee-Boult pair of Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry can trouble any team. Two pace bowling all-rounders Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell can also be effective in Caribbean conditions.

Spin bowling all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips have also been quite consistent. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is also in rhythm. Another spin all-rounder, Michael Bracewell, who missed the 2023 ODI World Cup due to injury, has also returned to the team. With the top-order cricketers busy with the IPL, the second-tier team toured Pakistan in April, led by Bracewell. New Zealand drew the series against a full-strength Pakistan.

The batting lineup is also quite strong. Finn Allen can give a flying start with devastating batting. Ravindra can also score quick runs by taking advantage of the powerplay. Devon Conway, who missed the IPL due to injury, will return with the World Cup. Conway is also the team's first-choice wicketkeeper. Williamson and Mitchell are in the middle order to take care of the team if the top order fails. Mark Chapman, Phillips, and Neesham can change the course of the match towards the end. Chapman has been doing great in the role of finisher in recent times, which is an extra credit for New Zealand.

Rituparna's dream come true

May 7, 2025

বাহারি চুলের ফুটবলকন্যা মাঠে আরও রঙিন। তার বাঁ পায়ের ফুটবলশৈলীতে শুধুই ছড়ায় মুগ্ধতা। অসাধারণ ড্রিবলিংয়ের সঙ্গে চোখ ধাঁধানো ফ্রি কিক; ঋতুপর্ণা চাকমা যেন বাংলাদেশের নারী ফুটবলের পোস্টার গার্ল। অতটা আলোচনায় না এলেও মধ্যমাঠের শিল্পী হিসেবে বেশ সুনাম তাঁর।

গতকাল কাঠমান্ডুতে নারী সাফের ফাইনালে নেপালের বিপক্ষে ৮১ মিনিটে যে গোলটি করেছিলেন তিনি, ধারাভাষ্যকাররা বলতে বাধ্য হয়েছেন ‘ওয়ান্ডারফুল’। গোল করার পর নিজের মুখে আঙুল দিয়ে ঋতুপর্ণা ভরা গ্যালারিকে চুপ থাকতে বলেছেন। তাঁর এই গোলেই দশরথের ১৬ হাজারের মতো দর্শক শুধুই চুপই হননি, বাংলাদেশের মেয়েরা যে গড়েছেন অনন্য কীর্তি। বড় কোনো ট্রফি জিতে ধরে রাখার কীর্তি ছেলেরাও পারেনি। সেটিই এবার করে দেখিয়েছেন সাবিনারা।

বুধবার টুর্নামেন্টের ফাইনালে নেপালকে ৩-১ গোলে হারিয়ে টানা দ্বিতীয় শিরোপা জেতা বাংলাদেশের এই সাফল্যের অন্যতম কারিগর তো রাঙামাটির কাউখালী উপজেলার মোগাছড়ি গ্রামের কন্যা ঋতুপর্ণা। টুর্নামেন্টের শুরু থেকে শেষ পর্যন্ত আপন আলোয় উজ্জ্বল থাকা এ মিডফিল্ডার করেছেন দুই গোল। তবে গোলের জন্য নয়, নজরকাড়া পারফরম্যান্স আর ম্যাচের মোড় ঘুরিয়ে দেওয়ার মতো বেশ কয়েকটি গল্প লেখায় এবারের আসরে সেরা ফুটবলারের পুরস্কারটি উঠেছে ঋতুপর্ণার হাতে।

পুরস্কার মঞ্চে দাঁড়িয়ে কথা বলার ভাষা হারিয়ে ফেলা এ প্লে-মেকার ভাসছেন স্বপ্নপূরণের উচ্ছ্বাসে, ‘এই মুহূর্তে খুবই ভালো লাগছে। আমি সত্যিই খুব আনন্দিত। এই স্বপ্ন সত্যি হওয়ার মতো। আমি আসলে ভাষায় প্রকাশ করতে পারছি না। আমরা দ্বিতীয়বারের মতো সাফ চ্যাম্পিয়ন হয়েছি। আমার পরিবার আমাকে অনেক সাপোর্ট করেছে। বাংলাদেশের মানুষের প্রতি কৃতজ্ঞতা জানাই। সমর্থকদের দোয়ায় আমরা দ্বিতীয়বার চ্যাম্পিয়ন হয়েছি।’

বাঁ প্রান্ত দিয়ে ঋতুপর্ণা যখন আক্রমণ শানান, তখন প্রতিপক্ষ হয়ে যায় এলেমেলো। ভুটানের বিপক্ষে সেমিফাইনালে ম্যাচের ৭ মিনিটে তাঁর বাঁ পায়ের বুলেটগতির শটই চলে যায় জালে। অথচ তার আগ পর্যন্ত গোল না পাওয়ার আক্ষেপ ছিল তাঁর কণ্ঠে। শেষ চারে সেই আক্ষেপ পূরণের পর ফাইনালে নেপালের বিপক্ষে করেছেন জয়সূচক গোল।

বড় ম্যাচের ফুটবলার হিসেবে নিজেকে প্রতিষ্ঠিত করা ঋতুপর্ণার জীবনে ২০২২ সালে নেমে এসেছিল আঁধার। ওই বছরের জুনে আদরের ছোট ভাই পার্বন চাকমার মৃত্যুটি তাঁর জন্য বড় আঘাত হয়ে এসেছিল। এরপর সিনিয়র সাফ জেতার সঙ্গে যত কিছুই অর্জন করেছেন, প্রতিবারই প্রিয় ভাই পার্বনকে মনে করেছিলেন। এবারও হয়তো টুর্নামেন্ট সেরার ট্রফিটা প্রয়াত ছোট ভাইকে উৎসর্গ করেছেন মধ্যমাঠের শিল্পী ঋতুপর্ণা চাকমা।

Babar has no fifty in Tests for 651 days, when will the misery end?

May 7, 2025

Babar Azam seems to have forgotten to raise the bat in Test cricket! This is not unusual. In December 2022, he played the last fifty-run innings in white-clothes cricket. After that, time did not decrease. 651 days as days.

The chance came against England yesterday. Couldn't use that opportunity either. In Multan's batting-paradise, Chris Woakes was dismissed for 30 at the very end of the day.

Babar's last fifty-run innings was against New Zealand in December 2022. Scored 161 runs in Karachi. What happened next! After that innings, Babar played 17 innings in this edition.

Where his highest innings was 41 runs, in the tour of Australia. Babar averaged only 21.23 in these 17 innings. Babar has never raised his bat for such a long time in his Test career. Before that, he did not get a fifty in 7 consecutive innings between November and January 2016. Where 7 innings, where 17!

Babar, suffering from a drought of fifty, however, got off to a good start in most of the matches during this bad period. Babar scored more than 20 runs in 12 of these 17 innings. That means he is getting the start. But you can't hold it. But despite such a bad time, Babar averaged 44.35 in Tests. Before this bad period, Babar averaged around 50 in Tests.

Any batsman of Babar's current average can actually be called good without hesitation. And the main reason for his good average is the period from 2019 to 2022.
Babar averaged around 60 in Tests from early 2019 to December 2022. Babar averaged over 50 in Australia during this period—52.50.

Babar batted at an average of 48 in England-West Indies, around 70 on the soil of Sri Lanka and 75 on the soil of the country. Babar's great performances at this time led to comparisons with Virat Kohli and Joe Root. But now it seems that the comparison will not come again!

Babar will get more opportunities in the England series to return to form. The next Test of the three-match Test series is also in Multan, the last Test in Rawalpindi. In other words, in the next two Tests, Babar will bat in batting heaven. The opportunity is only if you can!

Clarke wants McGurk in World Cup squad

May 7, 2025

Former Australian captain Michael wants to see new power hitter Jack Fraser-McGurk in the national team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Clarke has been impressed with McGurk's power hitting in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket. He said that McGurk's devastating batting will make the selectors consider him for the World Cup.

McGurk got his first chance to play in this year's IPL. He impressed in his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants. The right-handed batsman scored 55 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate of 157, with 2 fours and 5 sixes.

McGurk then showed his formidable form against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored 65 runs off 18 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 361. In that match, he set the record for the fastest half-century in this year's IPL by scoring a half-century off 15 balls. McGurk's power hitting did not stop in this match.

McGurk opened the innings against Mumbai Indians yesterday. This time, he again brought up a half-century off 15 balls, crushing the Mumbai bowlers. In the match, which touched his record, McGurk played a devastating innings of 84 runs off 27 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and 6 boundaries at a strike rate of 311.

McGurk has scored 247 runs in 5 innings for Delhi so far at a strike rate of 237 and an average of 49. Because of such devastating batting, Australia's World Cup-winning captain Clarke wants McGurk in the Australian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

"The selectors have to think about McGurk now," Clarke said in the commentary box during an IPL match. "There are only a few days left to pick the team. Honestly, the way he's playing, it's hard to leave him out."

He added, "I think the conditions will be the same in West Indies. The power play on slower wickets requires extra energy. He has created his potential and I would like to see him in the 15-man squad."