Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has accepted that while referee Bobby Madley’s decisions in the Community Shield must be respected, they made him unhappy. The Blues lost again Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and new signing Alvaro Morata both scandously missed in a penalty shootout after the match had finished 1-1. The first-half had seen Willian booked for diving in the penalty area despite there appearing to be contact with the knee of Hector Bellerin, while Pedro received a straight red card late in the second half after a malicious catching of the heel of Mohamed Elneny…
Author: David Folami
Wayne Rooney has said Manchester United would have to sign Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for his record as the club’s all-time top scorer to be threatened. Rooney, 31, exited United for Everton this summer after 13 seasons at the club and said players don’t stay in one club for as long as possible for records like his to be broken easily. He said: “You never know, if they get someone like Messi or Ronaldo the record might get broken! “But I think that in football now, players don’t really tend to stay at clubs for that long. The only…
It was almost the perfect end to Tottenham’s preseason training. After terrible performances against Roma and Manchester City on their U.S. tour, Spurs needed an improved display against Serie A champions Juventus in their last friendly before next week’s Premier League opener at St James’s Park, and they duly delivered. Goals in each half from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen — along with several world-class saves from Hugo Lloris — were the stand-out moments, but it was the manner of the victory as much as the victory itself that will have done much to convince manager Mauricio Pochettino — not…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has disclosed that he will not leave Borussia Dortmund this summer but he remains open to a transfer in the future. Aubameyang, 28, has been linked with AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid since the end of last season, and admitted he told Dortmund of his desire to move on. However, a suitable offer did not come through and he is now glad to continue in the Bundesliga. “No-one can say what the future holds,” Aubameyang said. “It is true that I spoke to Borussia Dortmund before I went on vacation. “I told them my thoughts,…
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has told Barcelona plainly not to bother making a bid for Ousmane Dembele. Barcelona are said to be interested in signing the 20-year-old France international as a replacement for Neymar, who completed his world-record €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain. Watzke, however, said that no amount of cash would persuade Dortmund to do business — not even a potential €100m transfer. “In every case, [the transfer fee is] not enough,” Watzke told Eurosport during its coverage of the German Super Cup. “I remember Kevin de Bruyne, he was the Bundesliga’s record transfer,” Watzke said. “When…
All Progressives Congress (APC), has condemned cases of violence during the conduct of its state congresses on Saturday to elect delegates for its national non-elective convention. The party Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, blasted the development in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. “The party equally regrets and condemns the attack on the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Kaduna, which resulted in injuries to two journalists. “The party will investigate the reported cases and take necessary action in line with its constitution against whoever is found culpable,” Odigie-Oyegun said. He congratulated and commended all the states whose exercises were peaceful…
Mary Remmy Njoku and her husband, Jason have welcomed their 3rd child, a baby girl. The Nollywood actress and CEO of ROK STUDIOS and her husband, CEO of Iroko TV welcomed their daughter on Saturday, August 5. The joyous father took to his Instagram page to announce her birth as well as reveal her name to be, Nnenna Njoku. “#3 decided to join us. Welcome, Nnenna Njoku. Mrs Njoku is well. We are all super dupa happy. O+K are ecstatic to have a little sister. Njoku Kwenu.” The couple announced to well wishers in March this year that they were…
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has told Chelsea they have “no chance” of signing Alex Sandro. In June, Chelsea had a bid rejected for the £60 million-rated left-back, who started Juventus’ 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday. The Juventus boss said on Monday that Sandro would remain with the Serie A club this season, and categorically reiterated his stance while in London. “Alex Sandro is a Juventus player and he will stay one,” Allegri said after the game at Wembley. On the chances of Sandro leaving for Stamford Bridge, the coach added: “No chance.” Alex Sandro joined Juve from…
Riyad Mahrez has told Sky Sports he wants to discuss with Roma about a move but he is unable to do so until Leicester City accept an offer for him. Reports suggest Leicester value the 26-year-old winger at £50 million, but as yet nobody has met that price. “I know Roma came in, but nothing was accepted so there is little I can do. They are a great club who I would like to talk to but I can’t until Leicester accept a deal,” he said. “Leicester know my thoughts, but I will continue to give my best for the…
Leicester City coach Craig Shakespeare has reduced fears about the fitness of new signing Kelechi Iheanacho after the friendly win over Borussia Monchengladbach. There was concern when Kelechi left the King Power Stadium pitch just 18 minutes after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for fellow striker Shinji Okazaki, following a collision with the German side’s Laszlo Benes. The 20-year-old Nigeria international only joined his new on Thursday from Manchester City. “You can see the impact he’s had. We’re just really making sure that was more of a precaution. He hasn’t trained very often, he hasn’t been able to because…
Liverpool will have to beat Hoffenheim in a two-legged playoff to reach the group stages of the Champions League. The draw was made in Nyon on Friday with Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino’s former club Hoffenheim, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, drawing Jurgen Klopp’s side out of the hat. Champions Route: Qarabag vs. Copenhagen APOEL vs. Slavia Prague Olympiakos vs. Rijeka Celtic vs. Astana Hapoel Be’er-Sheva vs. Maribor Liverpool boss Klopp cannot wait to return to Germany to face Hoffenheim, but he knows they will provide a tough test for his side. “Very interesting,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official…
Neymar says he is not happy that some Barcelona fans are angry with him for moving to Paris Saint-Germain, but defended his decision to leave by saying that “no one is forced to stay in a place.” The transfer drama dominated headlines over the past two weeks before finally coming to a close on Thursday with Neymar signing a five-year deal after buying out his Barcelona contract’s release clause for a record €222 million. Soon after the initial reports emerged of Neymar’s interest in PSG emerged, 87 percent of respondents to an online poll in Spanish newspaper Sport thought he…
Cristiano Ronaldo has given signs he would like to return to England after revealing his anger over an investigation into his tax returns, according to Spanish newspaper Cadena Ser. Ronaldo, who played for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, has denied charges of evading tax and keeping details of his income from the Spanish tax authorities. Prosecutors allege Ronaldo evaded €14.7 million (£13.1m) in tax. The 32-year-old is still saying that, contrary to the argument of the Public Prosecutor, the transfer of his image rights to a company he owned took place in 2004 and not in 2010 just after…
Barcelona trainer Ernesto Valverde says the club must move on following the exit of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar left Barca in a world-record transfer deal worth €222 million and although Valverde wanted him to stay he insisted the future is bright. “Everybody is free to choose their destiny,” Valverde said. “He has chosen his own and we wish him luck. “We would have liked him to stay here, but we have to turn the page. Barcelona will face Chapecoense in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday and then battle Real Madrid over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup…
Kylian Mbappe has not asked to exit Monaco, according to the club’s vice president Vadim Vasilyev, who says the 18-year-old striker “has to move for sporting reasons.” Mbappe has been linked with Real Madrid, Manchester City and most recently Barcelona, but played for Monaco in their opening fixture of the Ligue 1 season yesternight. Saying to reporters after that game, Vasilyev appeared to admit the player is likely to move in this summer. “Mbappe will make the right decision,” he said. “He has never expressed a wish to leave us. We are, however, in conversation with him and contrary to…
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has refuted reports that Eden Hazard could end up joining Barcelona and saithe Belgian winger is “very happy” playing for the London club. Hazard has been one of a number of key players linked with Barcelona following Neymar’s exit for Paris Saint-Germain, but Conte is as sure as anything that players are more likely to arrive at Chelsea than depart. “We are trying to buy the players, not to sell them,” Conte told a news conference. “Otherwise the number is always less and we are in trouble. “I think these are rumours and Eden is very…
Despite his inability to feature in PSG’s season opener against Amiens, Neymar was showcased to Paris Saint-Germain supporters at Parc des Princes on Saturday — once the crowd finally stopped chanting his name. French DeeJay Martin Solveig set the tone for the party mood in the French capital with a prematch treat as fans sat down patiently waiting for a glimpse of the €222 million man. They finally got their wish just over an hour before kick-off as Neymar followed chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi onto the pitch with fireworks going off as he emerged from the players’ tunnel. Facing…
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegn says President Muhammadu Buhari came to power ‘when Nigeria was about to collapse.’ Oyegun said this at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, August 3, 2017, when he received political leaders from Delta Central Senatorial district who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. “Economically, things are difficult, there is no question about it. But in spite of that people of your quality sat down and still want to join the boat, because you have seen the future and you know the future belong…
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has said he was a full member of All Progressives Congress (APC) and remained there “body and spirit’’. Saraki said that the speculations thay he was not were part of the mischievous activities against him and urged the public to ignore them. He said that those going about with such information were doing so as propaganda for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Saraki, however, blamed the rumouur on inactivity in the APC, saying that the party’s leadership had failed to focus it properly. “I think there is no APC member that will tell…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prince Paul Ikonne has accused the former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu of anti-party activities. Addressing journalists, Ikonne said despite Kalu’s defection to the APC, the former governor still mix socially with members of the People Democratic Party (PDP). “Remember that when some people said they have joined the APC, I raised serious concern because of the antecedent of such individual especially the former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu. Those things I predicted have started playing out. “Orji Kalu is hobnobbing with Okezie Ikpeazu the governor of Abia…