Archive November 1, 2025

Fabio Borini has had a remarkable career, playing for clubs like Chelsea, Roma, Liverpool, Sunderland, AC Milan, and most recently, Sampdoria.

Additionally, he is adored by Italy because of a 2012 friendly against the USA.

What appeals to a crisp morning in Salford, given that I’m 34?

What inner drive led him to the League Two side’s training ground early in the season, making it famous when Manchester United’s Class of 1992 purchased the team for its FA Cup match against Lincoln?

What does it mean that despite having to wipe his nose on numerous occasions as the weather began to wane, he was cheerily and patiently seated outside on a training pitch after arriving earlier than expected for our interview?

He told BBC Sport, “You can call it the buzz.” You could refer to it as adrenaline. It might even be called addiction.

Professional athletes must strive to understand the feelings they can try to explain to others who don’t live it themselves, according to coach Steve Smith.

People claim that you are performing the world’s best work, but that you will feel it when it stops. You make the most of it, then. Nothing else you can try compares to the buzz. Nothing can ever be the same.

It doesn’t alter, they say. I entered training when I was 21 and am currently 34. I put in the extra effort, and I’m probably happier than I did before.

The Professional Footballers Association (PFA)’s initiative to organize a number of pre-season camps for players without contracts led to Borini’s presence at the Littleton Road training ground, which is still used by Manchester United’s academy.

Borini had known Salford City assistant manager Alex Bruce for a while, and he was invited to join him for further training in a competitive environment at the end of the camps. The offer is described as a “no-brainer,” according to Bruce. Borini was so impressed by it that she agreed to a short-term deal.

He said, “I told them whatever they put on the table was going to be good for me because I want to play football, and we’ll move on.”

The PFA’s use of this initiative is very beneficial. With the facilities they provided, it allows players to stay in shape the best possible way.

Alex and other clubs texted me to let me know they were interested, which is because it is also a fantastic opportunity to see. It must have happened to other players as well, I suppose.

Borini then began researching Salford’s history and their progression from the Northern Premier League First Division North to League Two through four consecutive victories.

He would also be aware that David Beckham and Gary Neville are the only players still investing in money because the club has been a member of League Two since 2019 and has recently undergone a change of ownership.

As Borini and his team-mates kicked off their most recent training session, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were both present.

Neville is the only member of Salford’s well-known historical ownership group that he hasn’t met, perhaps unsurprising given his extensive personal commitments.

Borini said, “It is crucial for players to understand and learn about the history of their clubs.”

You must be able to grasp the fundamentals of this region before you can play, as I believe you must do.

Salford “are not like any League Two club,” according to Borini. He claims that the most visually impaired backers feel more sophisticated because of their larger infrastructure and background in football.

Although he has only had a few cameo substitute appearances so far this year, he knows his backstory will catch attention because AC Milan is a world away. He made 72 appearances in a two-year stint to 2020.

He said, “I already had a little taste.” Although the word “target” is incorrect, you might be perceived differently by opponents.

That is motivating to me. Before I arrived, I believe everyone wanted to play against Salford because of the background and the football fans.

They now have something to look forward to, which is playing with me.

“The lights are on us, and it is challenging for me to maintain the same level,” said the team. You must act and produce results in order to keep the lights on.

Borini says his fitness levels are still high and that he intends to play for two or three more years.

Even if it’s unlikely to replicate Liverpool’s successful 2015 FA Cup run, when Borini was a member of the squad that was defeated by Aston Villa in the final four, is a possibility, he still has goals.

A third round selection and the possibility of a return to Anfield or Stadium of Light are more likely to make things work.

As they approach Saturday’s second Ashes Test against Australia, England head coach Shaun Wane claims his team is in “make or break” territory and needs to win to keep the series alive.

After suffering a humiliating 26-6 defeat at Wembley in the opening game, the former Wigan boss has made three changes to his 19-man matchday squad for Saturday’s clash with the Kangaroos at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Wane described the players’ and staff’s experience with the loss and subsequent investigation as “heartbreaking” in a press release this week.

“I want a team to leave on Saturday,” Wane remarked.

At Wembley, I thought it wasn’t a Test match. They performed better in many ways than physically, so this week needs to look like a real Test match and we need to present ourselves more accurately.

It’s “make or break,” you say. There is still one game left. You don’t want to enter the third game with a pair of losses, that’s how I see it.

England is looking for consistency in some areas and the right combination in others to compete more fiercely.

The second Test on Saturday, which is sold out, will begin at 14:30 GMT and is streamed live on BBC One, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.

Finding the right balance between the Super League and NRL players was Wane’s biggest challenge as he tried to determine the best personnel and positional adjustments to make.

The 61-year-old has repeatedly mentioned that Tonga and Samoa players having credit in the bank at international level following their series victories in 2022 and the World Cup in 2022.

Wane vehemently defended Jack Welsby earlier this week in the face of significant criticism, particularly from Kangaroos legend Laurie Daley, who earlier claimed that he anticipated him to “bounce back strongly” from an out-of-sorts performance in London.

However, the absence of the versatile St Helens player suggests that AJ Brimson, who shifted from Australia to England in May, will play fullback.

The 27-year-old, whose mother is from south London and whose two brothers were born in Chertsey, was brought up during Wane’s press conference right after the first Test.

Reece Walsh’s contributions largely contributed to Australia’s ability to produce several important long-range breaks and important attacking metres, but England struggled to convert kick returns.

Brimson’s pace and support play are obvious draws, as is his previous playing for the Gold Coast Titans and Queensland, and it is hoped that this will give England’s attack a new dimension.

“AJ’s training regimen and what he brings to a team are outstanding. Wane, who has been accused of favoring Super League players over those competing in Australia’s top league, “is excited to see him.

People in the room are aware of our players’ abilities. I’m hurt because the NRL doesn’t yet, and that hurts them.

If we attack as physically as we can, which we didn’t do last weekend, I’ll feel better on Saturday if we try to attack them and defend as much as we can.

One of Wane’s main points during the Ashes preparation was his choice to omit Man of Steel champion Jake Connor from his 24-man squad.

There was already the issue that three did not split, with George Williams, Harry Smith of Wigan, and Mikey Lewis of Hull KR competing for spots in the halves even without Connor.

In the series opener, Lewis, who was the Super League Grand Final man of the match, struggled to make anything comparable to the impact that Williams did.

Smith appears to be playing the traditional number seven role now that Wane has suggested that he wants England to end their sets better.

Smith’s skill for managing and kicking would be a clear remedy for some initially disjointed and scrupulous play that prevented England from putting any pressure on in the first Test.

Lewis won’t be watching from the stands, though.

The 24-year-old played a replacement hooker role for Smith against Tonga and was also available for Samoa when Jez Litten and his team-mate Jez Litten were lined up for the starting number nine spot.

That means Daryl Clark, who scored England’s only try after the break, could completely miss out.