Jose Mourinho has said he “fell in love” with Mohamed Salah before signing him for Chelsea, but that the Egypt international became a “lost kid in London” during his time at Stamford Bridge. Salah made 19 appearances for Chelsea after sealing an £11 million move from FC Basel in 2014 before moving to Fiorentina on loan in February 2015. Chelsea then sold Salah permanently to Roma in August 2016 before the forward returned to the Premier League with Liverpool at the start of the 2017-18 season. Salah has since gone on to become one of the biggest stars in the…
Author: David Folami
Olivier Giroud has said in an interview that he has found it “difficult” to adapt to not being Maurizio Sarri’s first-choice striker at Chelsea, but insisted that he will keep fighting to play regularly at Stamford Bridge. Giroud has started just two of Chelsea’s last eight Premier League matches, with Sarri increasingly deploying Eden Hazard as a false No. 9 over both him and Alvaro Morata, who has struggled to live up to expectations since joining for £58 million from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017. “It’s not me who decides the team, making the starting XI, but obviously…
Jose Mourinho has said his achievement in leading Manchester United to runners-up spot in the Premier League last season was one of the best in his career because “people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.” Mourinho, speaking recently, went on to insist that he would return to management at the “top level” following his Old Trafford sacking last month. Sources said that the 55-year-old had been subject to a so-called gagging order by United, preventing him from speaking about the terms of, and background to, his dismissal as manager. But although the former Chelsea and Real Madrid…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half goal secured a record eighth Italian Super Cup victory for Juventus as they beat AC Milan 1-0 in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on Wednesday. The trophy, which was being contested outside of Italy for the 10th time, is traditionally a clash between the Italian league and cup winners, but Milan qualified as Coppa Italia runners-up after Juve clinched the domestic double last season. Striker Gonzalo Higuain was dropped to the Milan bench amid media rumours of an imminent move to Chelsea, with some pre-match reports suggesting he was struggling with a fever. Yet it was…
Moussa Dembele has completed his move to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F, with sources saying that Tottenham have banked £9 milllion from the sale. Dembele, who joined Spurs from Fulham in 2012 and made 250 appearances for the club in all competitions, was entering the last six months of his contract so could have left for free in the summer. The 31-year-old’s last appearance for Spurs came against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League in November and ended after seven minutes as the midfielder was forced off with an injury. “The club always treated me fairly. I’ve always had…
Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta is under consideration for a role in Manchester United’s structural overhaul, sources have said. United have considering appointing a technical director since the summer as part of changes to the club’s hierarchy, and had hoped to secure the position before the January transfer window, with 47-year-old Italian Berta one of the names in the frame. Former manager Jose Mourinho was resistant to working with a technical director but since his departure in December the recruitment process has been expedited. An appointment could be made alongside the next permanent manager ahead of next season. Berta,…
Mario Balotelli is set to join Marseille from Nice. The Italy international, 28, has been at Ligue 1 side Nice since leaving Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016. Balotelli helped City win the Premier League in 2011-12 and had one season at Liverpool before spending a year on loan at AC Milan. He has not played since 4 December following a disagreement with coach Patrick Vieira. Balotelli’s contract with Nice expires at the end of the season. Balotelli, who has also played for Inter Milan in a 12-year career, scored 42 goals in 64 games in his first two…
Frank Lampard called his side’s FA Cup win at Southampton “magical” after the Championship side came from 2-0 down to win on penalties. Derby had a goal ruled out in the first half by VAR but rallied with two goals in six minutes to set up a fourth-round trip to Accrington. “It takes a lot to come back against Premier League opposition and show that fight,” Lampard said. “They made me proud.” Craig Bryson thought he had put the Rams ahead in the first half but had his goal overturned for offside – a decision which former England captain Alan…
Luke Shaw’s romantic evening with girlfriend Anouska Santos took a turn for the worse on Tuesday when he was given a parking ticket for leaving his £100,000 Range Rover in an unauthorized zone. The Manchester United defender was spotted arriving at The Ivy restaurant in a hoodie and hat as he tried to escape the bitter cold weather. But, after leaving the restaurant, Shaw returned to his car to find a £60 fine waiting for him after leaving his vehicle on double yellow lines while he ate. Shaw and Santos arrived at the glamorous restaurant in Manchester’s city centre around…
Fred has found his opportunities limited this season but the 25-year-old has no plans to leave Manchester United, said Gilberto Silva. Manchester United midfielder Fred will not leave Old Trafford and is determined to fight for his future following the sacking of manager Jose Mourinho, according to his agent, Gilberto Silva. United reportedly spent £52 million (€57m/$65m) to lure Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in June but the Brazil international found playing time limited under former boss Mourinho. Fred has only made eight Premier League appearances – six as a starter – and 12 in all competitions since joining United, leading…
Paul Pogba has said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival as interim manager at Manchester United has not only sparked his return to form but also put a smile back on his face. The 26-year-old – an integral figure in France’s World Cup triumph last year – has shown the sort of form that United paid a club record £89 million (US$114.5 million) in 2016 since Solskjaer arrived last month to replace the sacked Jose Mourinho. Pogba’s relationship with the volatile Mourinho had been pretty much toxic all season – having already degenerated in the previous campaign – and he found himself…
The Gunners are getting ready to lock horns with Maurizio Sarri’s charges on Saturday with the aim of avenging their loss at Stamford Bridge in August Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is anticipating the chance to reunite with his former teammate Eden Hazard when Arsenal host Chelsea in Saturday’s Premier League cracker. Unai Emery’s men will hope to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to West Ham United last Saturday by getting the maximum points against their top-four rivals. Earlier this season, Chelsea defeated the north London club 3-2 in the reverse fixture which turned to be their second loss in the 2018-19…
Romelu Lukaku needs to use his pace and power to return to his best form. That’s the opinion of Red Devils legend Andy Cole who has commented on the Belgian and his struggles this season. Lukaku has returned to goalscoring form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but the Norwegian has preferred Marcus Rashford as his main striker. And Cole believes the former Everton forward is still low on confidence. “Romelu has got to find his mojo again,” he said. “He has come off the bench and scored two in two, but that mojo comes from confidence. “I watched him this season…
Chief Cairo Ojuogbo, spokesman for the All Progressive Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Delta has begged Nigerians to bring back President Muhammadu Buhari to power on Feb. 16 general election. Cairo Ojuogbo mentioned that Buhari government was the solution to a corruption-free Nigeria. “President Buhari has distinguished himself as a dogged fighter in the war against corruption. “This is the reason why Nigerians must and should return him to power so that we can have a corruption-free nation. “I want every right-thinking Nigerian to encourage Mr President to continue on his fight against corruption. “As a nation, we cannot afford…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blasted a statement made by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen. Osinbajo, on Wednesday, January 16, 2018, in Abuja, said that President Buhari knew nothing about the petition against the CJN, until Saturday, January 12, 2019, when most Nigerians know. The VP said “I must tell you in clear terms that, for President Muhammadu Buhari, his whole approach is that institutions should just do their work. “I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this (CJN trial) until Saturday…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is prepared for the conduct of the forthcoming general election. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the assurance recently. Yakubu mentioned the commission is putting finishing touches to the preparations right now. “All heavy items for the election are being procured; additional ballot boxes, voting cubicles, replacement of card readers, and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have also been delivered to states for collection by the electorate. “We have concluded and published the guidelines for the general election. We have finalised the manual for election which will be used for training of various staff.…
Muhammadu Buhari says he is seeking re-election in the 2019 presidential election to improve on his achievements in the fight against corruption, insecurity and deliver economic development. He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated him as its presidential candidate because he fulfilled his campaign promises. “We want Nigerians to remember where we were in 2015, where we are now and where we are going,” he said. On allegations that the fight against corruption was focused in one direction, Buhari said the allegations were not true. According to him, there is nobody who has been accused of corruption with evidence…
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has come out to say that President Buhari is not in control of his government. Atiku said that the Vice-President’s recent statement of Buhari not knowing about Walter Onnoghen’s arraignment proves that the President cannot lead the country. According to Vanguard, the successful businessman also recalled an incident when Buhari reportedly said he did not know how the 2016 budget was stolen. Calling on Nigerians to direct their vote his way in the upcoming presidential election, Atiku, in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, said “This…
Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili has again blasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being completely insensitive to the pain of Nigerians. Ezekwesili mentioned that instead of focusing on campaigns that would help majority of Nigerians, both parties were tackling each other over trivial matters. The former Minister of Education warned that if the issue of poverty is still seen as a joke, it could destabilize Nigeria. “Today we are known as world capital of poverty, we overtook India, a country that is seven times our population by having 87 millions Nigerians living in poverty. “According to…
Minister for Environment, Alhaji Sulaiman Hassan, has put President Muhammadu Buhari’s mind at rest that Gombe electorate would shower him with their support and vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election. Hassan was positive that APC would win all the positions at all levels through fair and credible election. He said: “The crowd you have seen is the true reflection of what will be obtainable at the general election. Gombe is now home for APC, because we have seen, felt and touched the developmental projects and achievements recorded by the present government; therefore, we are all…