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Toni Kroos admits fear Carlo Ancelotti might kidnap him if he ever returned to Real Madrid for kickaround despite retirement
Toni Kroos joked that he fears Carlo Ancelotti might kidnap him if he ever returned to Real Madrid for a...
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I feel the fire inside me’ – Jose Mourinho insists he is as motivated to win trophies as ever but faces a ‘very difficult’ situation at Fenerbahce
Jose Mourinho says he feels the same motivation to win trophies as he did when he guided Porto to an...
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Phil Parkinson reveals Wrexham have suffered ‘huge’ injury blow after George Evans heard ‘crack’ before being forced off in Stevenage defeat
Phil Parkinson has revealed Wrexham suffered a 'huge' injury blow after George Evans heard a "crack" before being forced off...
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Been garbage for four years’ – Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry torn to shreds for ignoring furious Harry Kane & blazing shot miles wide from ridiculous angl in Champions League clash with Aston Villae
Serge Gnabry was torn to shreds by Bayern Munich fans for ignoring a furious Harry Kane and blazing a shot...
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USMNT’s Weston McKennie helps Juventus seal brilliant winner as 10-man team stun RB Leipzig in UEFA Champions League
A brilliant Weston McKennie tackle won the ball for Juventus to score a late-winner in their UCL match with the...
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Real Madrid player ratings vs Lille: Where’s the Champions League magic?! Jude Bellingham & Vinicius Jr fall flat as Los Blancos slump to shock defeat
Carlo Ancelotti's men looked out of attacking ideas in a rare European loss against the Ligue 1 side At some...
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That’s the main reason I stayed’ – Emiliano Martinez makes transfer admission as Argentina hero hails Aston Villa after stunning Champions League victory over Bayern Munich
Emiliano Martinez admitted the Villa Park atmosphere convinced him to stay at Aston Villa after the stunning Champions League win...
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USMNT’s Folarin Balogun earns penalty to help AS Monaco earn 2-2 draw vs. Dinamo Zagreb in UEFA Champions League
The U.S. forward came on at halftime and continued his recent uptick in form with Monaco Balogun earned penalty in...
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MLS, FC Cincinnati denounce ‘offensive language’ from fans toward players after referee halts match
The match between FC Cincinnati and NYCFC halted after 'offensive language' aimed at players on the pitch from the stands...
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Premier League wants to introduce MID-GAME player interviews after trial with Bournemouth star – but top clubs oppose idea
Premier League are reportedly keen to introduce mid-game player interviews but could face opposition from top clubs. Mid-game interviews are...
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Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand suffers traumatic brain injury after severe head collision against Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid have confirmed that defender Robin Le Normand has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury following the game...
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England fans left stunned by ‘criminal’ Lee Carsley decision as Nations League squad is announced and breakout star is omitted
England fans online were left bemused by Lee Carsley's decision to leave Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers out of the...
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One of the worst games I’ve ever seen him play’ – Pep Guardiola gives brutally honest verdict on Ilkay Gundogan’s Newcastle display and praises Man City star’s response against Slovan Bratislava
Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Ilkay Gundogan for his performance against Slovan Bratislava while claiming he was not at his...
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It will be magical’ – Bologna defender Sam Beukema opens up on facing Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk on a Champions League night at Anfield
In a GOAL exclusive, the Dutchman discusses the Rossoblu's remarkable rise, as well as former team-mates Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo...
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Arsenal & Man City ‘have a chance’ of signing Florian Wirtz as Bayer Leverkusen set their asking price for Germany sensation
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is a target for several clubs, with Arsenal and Manchester City among those with a realistic...
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Fans notice Chelsea star Jadon Sancho’s tattoos have been blurred out on EA FC 25 – here’s why
Chelsea star Jadon Sancho's tattoos have been blurred out on EA FC 25. Sancho has several tattoos on both arms...
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Long story short…’ – Reece James posts ‘crazy’ update on Instagram as Chelsea star continues recovery from injury hell
Reece James says he is "doing well" as the Chelsea full-back continues his recovery from his latest injury. James still...
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Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: What we love (and hate) about league’s venues
Among the distinctive visuals provided by every NFL game are the venue-specific ones – stadiums adding their own colors, backdrops...
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Cole Palmer’s time to shine! Chelsea talisman to take central role in Lee Carsley’s England plans as interim boss prepares to name latest squad
Chelsea star Cole Palmer will be given a central role in England's upcoming matches under interim manager Lee Carsley, a...
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It’s dangerous’ – Man City star Vivianne Miedema laments ‘slow’ response to demanding fixture schedule amid continued ACL crisis in women’s football
Vivianne Miedema has urged the powers that be to take care of players amid increasingly 'dangerous' schedules in both men's...
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What did Efraín do in Colombia? The reason why the Mexican coach was sanctioned
The coach has been in the eye of the storm , since he was recently accused by the authorities in Medellín, so...
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Director of Ecuador’s largest prison shot dead
The director was heading to the Guasmo Sur Hospital, located in the south of Guayaquil, when armed men intercepted the...
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Potential escalation of the war
Hungary's ultranationalist government has called the possibility of the European Union sending military advisers to Ukrainian soil "unacceptable" and "very dangerous." It believes...
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Waste was left quickly after accident on Suyapa Boulevard in Tegucigalpa
A serious traffic accident occurred on Wednesday morning after an executive bus, better known as a 'rapidito' on the Carrizal-Miraflores...
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Experts harp on early detection
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Man City & Chelsea to get early transfer window? FIFA makes massive proposal to allow Club World Cup teams to buy and sell players in June
WHAT HAPPENED? According to The Athletic, a FIFA Council meeting approved a plan to give national associations the choice of an...
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I will do everything to bring down Putin’s regime
Alexei Navalny’s widow has said she plans to run for president of Russia once Vladimir Putin leaves office when free...
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This Date in Baseball – The NY Yankees officially retire uniform #2 in honor of Derek Jeter
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Absolutely not!’ – Lionesses star Lucy Bronze rules out position change to extend career as Chelsea & England defender stays in her lane
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Ashanti & Nelly Reveal Birthdate & Name Of Their New Baby
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Ashabi Simple Floors Portable’s Claim Of Being Bad Luck, Tackles ‘Juju’ Accusations”
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A 200-year-old ‘time capsule’ has been found; you’ll be amazed by what it reveals
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Cristiano Ronaldo pays wonderful tribute to ‘incredible’ Rafa Nadal as tennis star & Real Madrid fan announces retirement
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"Sverre Nypan is extremely exciting, and I get a bit of the same feeling as when I saw Martin Odegaard break through as a boy," Norwegian football expert Jesper Mathisen told TV2 in August 2023, after watching the 16-year-old star for Rosenborg in a Conference League qualifier against Hearts.
At the same age, Odegaard had already signed for Real Madrid after generating a huge buzz at Stromsgodset, but most would agree that move came too early for him. Odegaard would only make 11 senior appearances in six years at Santiago Bernabeu, and was sent out on loan four times before he joined Arsenal permanently in 2021 and really started to fulfil his potential.
Nypan could have taken a similar route. Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have all been tracking the teenager since his graduation to the Rosenborg first team in 2022, according to reports in Norway. The allure of playing for the best clubs in the world often proves impossible to resist for young players, but not Nypan. He signed a contract extension with Rosenborg a month after the European clash with Hearts, which ties him to the club until 2026.
Fast-forward a year, and Nypan's mature decision has paid off. It has been reported that United are ready to make a formal swoop for Rosenborg's prized asset in January, with a view to loaning him back to the club for one more season. By the end of that process, Nypan won't just be a raw talent still learning his trade; he'll be ready to pursue greatness.
Where it all began
Nypan was born in Trondheim, Norway's third-largest city, in December 2006. He showed an interest in football from a very young age, and after turning five, joined district club Nardo FK, who are situated just a stone's throw away from Rosenborg's famed Lerkendal Stadion.
Success wasn't immediate for Nypan, though. "I wasn't any good then. In the first training session, I think I scored an own goal and ran home screaming," he said in an interview with TV2 in 2022. "It wasn't fun, but then I was persuaded to try again."
With a supportive family around him, Nypan soon overcame those teething problems to emerge as a real prospect over his next eight years with Nardo. As a 14-year-old, he notched a staggering 45 goals in 17 games, which caught the attention of Rosenborg.
Nypan joined Rosenborg's youth ranks in 2020 and signed his first professional contract in January 2022, spending the next year combining school lessons with first-team duties at one of Norway's biggest clubs. Nypan made his Eliteserien debut as he played the full 90 minutes in a 4-2 victory over Jerv that November, which saw him become the youngest player in Rosenborg's history at just 15 years and 322 days old.
"It was better than I thought. I thought I would be much more nervous," Nypan said of the experience. He probably would have made his bow much sooner, had it not been for several injury setbacks, but he dealt with each one in a mature fashion. "I got a lot stronger and put on a few kilos during that period," Nypan added. "It really only helped me. I have become a better player after the injury period than I was before."
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GettyHow it's going
After that contract renewal, Rosenborg's sports manager, Mikael Dorsin, leaned into suggestions that the club had placed a €100 million (£84m/$110m) price tag on Nypan. "That it is at the levels that he is delivering now," Dorsin said to TV2. Nypan has seemingly made it his mission to justify that valuation in the 2024 season. He has racked up 12 goal contributions in 22 appearances, helping Rosenborg rise to fifth in the table with 40 points from 24 games, one more than they managed in the whole of last term. Rosenborg are right in the mix for European qualification again, and Nypan has been the driving force behind their improved form. His standout display came in a 4-0 rout of Lillestrom, as he became the first 17-year-old to score a hat-trick in the Eliteserien since a certain Erling Haaland, who achieved the feat for Molde back in 2007. The original meeting between the two clubs at Lerkendal was abandoned due to fans hurling objects onto the pitch in protest at a VAR decision, including fishcakes and smoke bombs. As punishment, Rosenborg played the rescheduled game behind closed doors, but some die-hard supporters still showed up to watch from the hill situated just outside the far left corner of the stadium, and Nypan hilariously cupped his hand to his ear to demand more noise from them when celebrating his first goal. That natural penchant for showmanship also shone through when Nypan had the opportunity to play against United in a friendly clash during the summer. Rosenborg pulled off a shock 1-0 victory over the Premier League giants and Nypan tormented their defence in his 45 minutes on the pitch; beating four players in one particularly eye-catching sequence before forcing United goalkeeper Radek Vitek into a superb save. -
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@sverrenypan InstagramRoom for improvement
Nypan has already played at international level with Norway's Under-21s, but to make the step up to the senior stage, some elements of his game still need polishing. His decision-making in the final third is inconsistent; he will often pick the wrong pass or go for goal instead of looking for a team-mate in a better position. When it comes to finishing, Nypan can also be guilty of rushing his execution. His scoring numbers are not terrible by any means, but Nypan could potentially double his output if he works to sharpen his shooting skills on the training ground. Technique is not the issue, Nypan just lacks the composure of a more experienced midfielder, which is completely normal at this fledgling stage of his career. That weakness also leads Nypan to hold onto the ball for too long. He's strong and skilful enough to embark on dizzying runs, but must learn to control his impulses and pick his moments better. All of that will come with experience, especially if he gets the chance to work with top-class players at a club like United. -
Getty ImagesThe next... Martin Odegaard?
Similarities have also been drawn between Nypan and Frenkie de Jong - Barcelona's masterful midfield dictator. Like De Jong, the Rosenborg star is a tenacious tackler and an incisive passer, while they both possess seemingly endless amounts of energy. Nypan has the same ability to operate in tight spaces as De Jong, too, but the comparisons to Odegaard are more suitable. De Jong is a traditional No.8 who thrives at keeping the ball circulating and bursting through the lines, but he tends to refrain from pushing into more advanced areas. In stark contrast, Odegaard is always looking to jink towards the box and sprinkle his magic. The Arsenal talisman can open up defences in the blink of an eye with a killer pass and he's capable of scoring goals from all sorts of angles. Nypan is also built that way; he's more than just a facilitator. It remains to be seen if Nypan's ceiling is as high as Odegaard's, but the early signs are promisin-
GOALWhat comes next?
According to TV2, United scouts were present to watch Nypan in Rosenborg's 1-1 draw with Lillestrom on September 15, which saw the midfielder impress again after returning from a bout of illness. Nypan refused to add any fuel to the transfer rumours after the full-time whistle, but he's made no secret in the past of his affinity towards the Red Devils. "I've always been a Manchester United fan," Nypan told TV2 last year. "Then of course there is Real Madrid. I'm a big [Cristiano] Ronaldo fan. It's very unrealistic, but it's the dream." It doesn't feel unrealistic anymore, though. Nypan is now represented by Rafaela Pimenta, who also serves as Haaland's agent. Pimenta has a good relationship with United, having brokered the double-transfer that saw Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui join the club from Bayern Munich in the summer window, and may already be working on a deal for Nypan in the background. United have a few success stories with Norwegian players already, with Henning Berg and Ronny Johnsen among those to have made a big impact at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer even managed to achieve legendary status at the club, and if Nypan does get his "dream" move, that's what he should be aiming for too. The Old Trafford faithful haven't had much to cheer about in recent years, but the development of youngsters like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo has delivered some hope for the future. Nypan has all the attributes to be next in line.
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