Football
FIFA ‘requests suspension’ of Ivorian federation election
FIFA have called on the Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) to halt its election campaign after Didier Drogba’s bid was rejected, a letter seen by AFP on Friday showed. FIF’s election has turned into a soap opera marred by incessant infighting and on Thursday the former Chelsea forward’s candidacy was thrown out as he had only received the official support of two of a required four Ivorian clubs. “We request the suspension of all action in relation to the election process until further notice,” the document dated August 27 and sent to FIF said. Drogba’s election team said on Thursday it expected FIF’s decision which claimed he was ineligible to run for the position. “Drogba’s staff isn’t surprised by this decision to reject the bid. But we remain unfazed. We will react to conform to the ...
Atletico Madrid to battle Juventus for Barcelona star
Atletico Madrid are considering a shock move for Barcelona star Luis Suarez, if the Uruguayan international leaves the Camp Nou this summer. Suarez has been linked with an exit from the Camp Nou, as part of a wider reshuffle of the squad by new manager Ronald Koeman ahead of the 2020-21 season. Serie A giants Juventus are rumoured to be monitoring the situation with Suarez’s future in Catalonia, however as per the front page of Saturday’s edition of Diario AS, Atletico are keen. Both clubs will keep an eye on the evolving changes between Suarez and Koeman, with club captain Lionel Messi aslo reportedly unhappy at Suarez’s potential departure as part of his own exit talks. The former Liverpool man is into the final year of his contract with the Catalans, and at 33 years of age, he might not...
Arsenal set to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Arsenal are prepared to sell goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the summer transfer window, according to reports from The Athletic. The 27-year-old has been with Arsenal for a decade now, but he is likely to leave in the coming weeks. He shone in the absence of Bernd Leno during Project Restart and has expressed to desire to continue to start regularly, be it at Arsenal or elsewhere. However, the Gunners consider Leno as their first choice. The German is fit again to resume his duties which leave Arsenal little choice but to allow Martinez to leave. Martinez has two years remaining on his current deal worth £20,000 per week. His agents have been looking to renegotiate his terms for some time, but talks have been delayed due to a number of factors. Should he leave the club, Arsenal would be ex...
Mikel Arteta: Dani Ceballos wants Arsenal transfer but decision rests with Real Madrid
Dani Ceballos wants to join Arsenal on a permanent basis, claims Mikel Arteta, but any decision on the midfielder’s future now rests in the hands of Real Madrid. The 24-year-old playmaker spent the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Emirates Stadium. Life in England did not always run smooth for the Spain international, with a bright start under Unai Emery making way for a mid-season dip. Ceballos was, however, to play his way back into favour under Arteta and finished with two goals, two assists and an FA Cup winners’ medal to his name. Arsenal believe there is more to come from a man who has struggled to nail down a regular role in Madrid. They continue to explore the option of putting another agreement in place, but are waiting on Real to make decisions regarding the futures of those on the fr...
Manchester United ‘focusing on Jadon Sancho not Lionel Messi’
Manchester United are maintaining focus on signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, despite reported interest in Lionel Messi. The Argentine has handed in an official transfer request to leave Barcelona after 20 years. United are one of a number of clubs linked with the 33-year-old. But Sancho remains United’s top target, according to Sky Sports presenter Kavel Solhekol. “The next Premier League club: Manchester United,” Solhekol said on The Transfer Show. “No comment from them as far as any potential move for Lionel Messi is concerned. “Our information is that they’re No 1 target remains Jadon Sancho but of course potentially, Manchester United do have the finances to be able to do a deal.” Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for D...
James Rodriguez set to join Everton
James Rodriguez is very close to completing a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton. The Italian coach has been key in convincing the Real Madrid midfielder and, while negotiations are not yet closed, they are on the right track. An agreement could be closed between Everton and Real Madrid for a fee between 25 and 30 million euros. Ancelotti got the best out of James in a Real Madrid shirt during the 2014/15 season, while the 61-year-old also brought the playmaker to Bayern Munich on a loan deal in 2017. The relationship between Ancelotti and James is strong, which is why the 29-year-old has given the green light to move to Everton ahead of other options he had on the table. James stated in an interview with a Mexican media outlet last week that his priority is to leave Real Madrid for a club ...
Bayern Munich make Lionel Messi transfer decision
Bayern Munich will not be making an audacious swoop to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona as they simply can’t afford it, according to club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. On Tuesday, Messi sent a fax to Barca officials indicating his desire to leave the club, requesting that he be let out of his contract. The Argentine is unhappy at the decline of the Blaugrana on the field, as in 2019/20 they failed to win any major silverware for the first time in 12 years. He is also disillusioned with how the club is being run at boardroom level. It was actually Bayern who arguably caused the final straw for Messi as it was the German side’s 8-2 destruction of Barca in the Champions League which led to Quique Setien being fired and then the player handing in his request to leave. Only a handful of clubs arou...
Manchester City, Inter Milan favourites to sign Lionel Messi
Manchester City and Inter are considered the favourites to sign Lionel Messi, according to The Independent. The 33-year-old shocked the world of football when he outlined his intention to leave Barcelona after 20 years at the club on Tuesday. There is confidence within Messi’s camp that the clause in his contract that would allow the Argentine to leave Barça for free will be triggered. However, the Catalans believe that clause has expired and will demand a transfer fee of around €700m for Messi. Manchester City are believed to be working on structuring a deal and the report states that a reunion with Pep Guardiola seems to be the most likely option if Messi does end up leaving the Camp Nou. Guardiola is believed to have been in contact with Messi in recent weeks to discuss a potential move...
Lionel Messi makes contact with Pep Guardiola over Manchester City move
Lionel Messi has reportedly already been in touch with Pep Guardiola over a possible switch from Barcelona to Manchester City this summer. City are among the contenders to sign the 33-year-old after he allegedly handed in a formal transfer request on Tuesday. The Argentina international enjoyed illustrious success playing under Guardiola at Barca between 2008 and 2012, winning four of his six Ballons d’Or during that period. According to Radio Catalunya, Messi has been in touch with the Catalan coach about reuniting at the Etihad Stadium in the coming weeks. Messi’s contract stipulated that he could leave on a free transfer this summer, but Barca insist that clause expired in June and it may now be a case of City waiting 12 more months. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also be...
Aston Villa, West Ham linked with move for Gonzalo Higuain
Aston Villa and West Ham United have been linked with a move for the Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine is expected to leave the Italian club this summer and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. The highly experienced striker had a forgettable spell in the Premier League with Chelsea and it is highly unlikely that he will return to England once again. There is no doubt that Aston Villa and West Ham need to sign a quality striker this summer but the 32-year-old might not be the ideal fit for them. As per reports, Juventus are looking to get rid of the player. Higuain is past his peak and his style of play is unlikely to suit West Ham or Aston Villa. The two clubs should look to sign a complete forward instead of a poacher. Gonzalo Higuain is better off joining a club...
NFF committee sanctions NPFL 2019/20 final table
Football Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the final table of the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2019/2020 season as prepared and released by the League Management Company. At its virtual meeting, held at the instance of the President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, to deliberate on all the issues arising from the forced ending to the season by the COVID-19, the agreement reached by all stakeholders to use the Points-Per-Game (PPG) to determine the final table and the subsequent petition by Rivers United FC, the Committee unanimously recommended that the NFF Executive Committee endorse the LMC decision and the Final Table for the 2019/2020 season in line with the NFF Statutes. It also charged the LMC to work out its calendar to ensure that very minim...
Benue honours Super Falcons star Francisca Ordega
Benue State government has bestowed its honour on her illustrious daughter, Super Falcons star, Francisca Ordega. Ordega was honoured as the Most Outstanding Female Footballer in the state. The award was organised by Benue Coalition for Good governance. Congratulations to me… I am honored for being recognized by my people of Benue state…as the Most Outstanding Female Footballer in Benue State…The award was organized by Benue Coalition for Good governance..proudly Benue/Tiv..thanking you all🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hjsP6qIhaL — ordega francisca (@OrdegaF) August 24, 2020 Ordega is however overwhelmed with this honour as she stated on her twitter handle: ‘Proudly Benue/Tiv..thanking you all🙏🏼🙏🏼’ Ordega has been forced to postpone he...
