Xavi Hernandez is considering playing Van Dijk on the right, Porto signs Smalling, and Haaland stays away from the City crisis.

Xavi Hernandez, coach of the Netherlands national team, revealed on Wednesday that he is studying the possibility of fielding captain Virgil van Dijk on the right side of the heart of defence, during the match against Greece in the European Nations League.

The Dutch team will host its Greek counterpart, on Thursday, in the third round of Group Two competitions in the first level, where the Orange team occupies second place with four points, two points behind leaders Greece.

The Greek team seeks to continue its ideal start and achieve its third victory in a row, while Germany occupies third place with one point, before facing Serbia, at the bottom of the standings without points, in the same round.

Jan-Paul van Heck started on the right side of the center of defense during the Netherlands' first two matches under Xavi, but the Brighton defender suffered a foot injury and left the national team camp to return to England.

Xavi said during the press conference that preceded the confrontation: “Someone stepped on his foot during the match against Serbia. “I think he can train, but he was in a lot of pain.”

The Spanish coach may resort to Jurien Temper to compensate for Van Heck's absence, but he also did not rule out moving Van Dijk to the right side, which may open the way for one of the left-handed players, Jurel Hato or Micky van de Ven, to play on the left side of the centre-back.

“It's not Virgil's preferred position, but if we need him there, the team's interest comes first,” Xavi said. "He can help the team well, and this is a possible option."

Van Dijk relies mainly on his right foot, but he is accustomed to playing on the left side of the centre-back, whether with Liverpool or the Dutch national team.

FC Porto, the defending champion of the Portuguese Football League, announced that it has signed veteran English defender Chris Smalling on a free transfer.

The Portuguese club said in a statement on its official website, on Wednesday: “Smalling joins the Dragons,” explaining that the player signed a contract for one season, with the option to extend for an additional season.

Smalling, 36 years old, has been a free player since his departure from Saudi Arabia's Al-Fayhaa in the summer of 2026, and his name has been linked to the possibility of moving to Scottish Rangers, but negotiations between the two parties were not crowned with success.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that negotiations between Smalling and Porto had reached advanced stages, before the Portuguese club announced the completion of the deal.

Porto continues its strong start in the Portuguese League, after achieving seven consecutive victories that put it at the top of the standings, five points behind Benfica, which is in second place.

On the other hand, the team, led by its coach Francesco Farioli, lost its first match in the Champions League to English Manchester City.

Smalling thus continues his professional career spanning nearly 19 years, which he began with Maidstone, before moving to Fulham and then Manchester United, where he won five major titles, including the English Premier League title twice.

He also defended the Italian colors of Roma, and won the European Conference League title with them under the leadership of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho in 2022, while he played 31 international matches with the England national team.

Norwegian Erling Haaland seemed far from the repercussions of the crisis facing his English club, Manchester City, against the backdrop of the “fake contracts” issue, as he continued his preparations normally with his country’s national team to face Wales in the European Nations League.

Haaland is preparing to play his first match since the English Premier League confirmed Manchester City's violations of financial rules, when the Norwegian national team visits Wales in Cardiff on Thursday.

Haaland, 28, was kept away from the media before and after Norway's loss to Portugal in the European Nations League on Sunday, following the first reports of Manchester City's condemnation.

As expected, the striker did not appear in front of the media upon the Norwegian national team's arrival in Wales, at a time when the issue of his club and the possible repercussions on his future made headlines, while Manchester City officials continue to deny any wrongdoing.

Norway coach Stole Solbakken was asked if he was forced to speak with Haaland due to the great media interest in the issue, to which he replied: “What we are talking about remains a secret between him and me.”

Haaland trained normally at Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday evening, while Brentford defender Christopher Agger confirmed that he had not noticed any change in his colleague’s behavior since the news spread.

Agger said, according to what was reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “He is behaving exactly as he always does with the national team.”

He added: “His full focus is on the upcoming matches.” “I think he is trying to do what everyone does, which is to wait to see the result, but the main focus currently is on the Wales match tomorrow evening, and it is clear that this is the approach he is taking.”

When asked if he had noticed any change in Haaland's behavior since the recent developments emerged, Agger, who has played 59 international matches, replied: “No, not at all. Since I have known him, he has brought a lot of energy and joy to the group.”