Cardiff City players have jetted to Portugal for a pre-season training camp, while off-field developments see Aaron Ramsey emerge as the frontrunner for the Oxford United managerial vacancy and Omer Riza's future thrown into doubt after Ashley Cole quit Cesena.
Cardiff City Players Train in Portugal
Six Cardiff City players flew to the Algarve to undergo extra training with BAS training, a specialist football training expert, ahead of the start of pre-season next week. Rubin and Joel Colwill, Joel Bagan, Cian Ashford, Isaak Davies, and Alex Robertson were spotted at the warm-weather camp, alongside players from other EFL clubs. Cardiff's squad will officially report back to the club's Vale of Glamorgan training headquarters on Monday, June 29, for pre-season testing. Staff returned a week ago, coinciding with the opening of the transfer window. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy has yet to make major moves, aside from making Nathan Trott's loan permanent by triggering a purchase clause.
Aaron Ramsey Leads Oxford United Race
Aaron Ramsey has become the odds-on favourite to become the next Oxford United manager after holding meetings with the club's hierarchy. According to the Oxford Mail, Ramsey has already held talks with key figures at the club in the past, with Oxford's senior figures said to have been impressed by the Welshman during an earlier meeting. Oxford are searching for a new head coach after sacking Matt Bloomfield over the weekend, following the club's relegation from the Championship. The former Wales captain retired from playing in April and has expressed a desire to move into management. He completed his UEFA A Licence while playing and was handed interim charge of Cardiff City for the final three matches of the 2024/25 campaign after Omer Riza's departure. Although he could not prevent Cardiff's relegation to League One, those close to the club have praised his leadership and football intelligence. Ramsey recently posted a picture from the Football Association of Wales' training headquarters, where he remains involved with Craig Bellamy's national team set-up. Bellamy has revealed he regularly discusses tactical ideas with Ramsey.
Omer Riza's Future in Doubt After Cole Quits
Omer Riza's coaching future has taken an unexpected turn after Ashley Cole quit his role as head coach of Italian Serie B side Cesena just two months after appointing Riza as his assistant. Riza joined Cesena in April after being personally selected by Cole, his former Arsenal team-mate. Cole took charge in March with the club in a Serie B play-off place, but the team won only one of their final eight matches, slipping from eighth to 11th. Reports in Italy suggest discussions over Cole's future took place after the season ended, but the 45-year-old has now decided to leave. Riza's appointment was seen as a chance to rebuild his reputation after a turbulent spell at Cardiff, but with Cole gone after only eight games, uncertainty surrounds both men's next steps.
