Real Madrid’s €54 million teenager Rodrygo says Neymar is a victim of a double standard amid the criticism the Brazil superstar suffered for his playacting at this summer’s World Cup, saying “nobody says anything” when players from other countries exaggerate fouls. Despite Brazil exiting in the quarterfinals, only Eden Hazard suffered more fouls than Neymar in Russia. However, the PSG man became a target of widespread ridicule from fans and media for at times over-selling contact in an attempt to get the referee’s attention. And Santos starlet Rodrygo, who some have dubbed the “Next Neymar,” defended the former Barcelona forward…
Author: David Folami
Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is not obsessed with winning the Champions League but acknowledged he joined Juventus partly to help them claim the title for the first time in more than two decades. Ronaldo has won the competition five times, including in each of the last three seasons with Real Madrid, and while Juve have reached the final twice in the last four years, they have not won it since 1996. “I don’t see the Champions League as an obsession,” Ronaldo said at a news conference on Monday. “As the president has told me, it’s not an obsession but…
Usain Bolt’s proposed A-League trial will go ahead — but only if Football Federation Australia agrees to contribute around $900,000 from its marquee fund should the Jamaican sprint king prove worthy of a contract. Australian football agent Tony Rallis says an “in-principle” deal has been reached to bring the eight-time Olympic gold medallist to the Central Coast Mariners for a six-week trial. Bolt, 31, retired from sprinting last year but has long harboured ambitions of a career in football. “We’ve got a club that’s willing to allow him to trial and offer him the contract,” Rallis told AAP. “We’ve got…
Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, wants to honour Antoine Griezmann by declaring the France international an “illustrious visitor” of their city following the affectionate gestures recently shown by the player towards their country. The Atletico Madrid star, who scored a penalty in the 4-2 victory and was named Man of the Match for the third time in the tournament, has no Uruguay roots but does have friends that hail from the country. “An administration process to declare Antoine Griezmann an illustrious visitor of Montevideo started on Monday,” Deputy Secretary of the Montevideo City Hall, Christian said. “Our mayor, Daniel Martinez, has received…
Manchester United allayed Jose Mourinho’s fears about how difficult they might find their tour of the United States by earning a 1-1 draw against Club America on their opening night. The Mexican side, further along in their summer preparation with the league season due to start on Sunday, took the lead through Henry Martin in the second half before Juan Mata got the equaliser after a terrific cross from 18-year-old debutant Tahith Chong. Mason Greenwood, 16, also came on in the second half to make his first senior appearance. Despite Mourinho’s suggestion United could lose by “some not beautiful numbers”…
Jurgen Klopp has claimed he had to convince Jordan Henderson to go on holiday following England’s semifinal run at this summer’s World Cup and expects to be without him and Dejan Lovren for Liverpool’s Premier League opener against West Ham. Klopp said the former Sunderland midfielder needed some coaxing to take the time off. “It was a hard fight to convince him that he needed a holiday,” Klopp said on Thursday. “I knew it would happen. On the phone, I said ‘crazy’. “Jordan needs a holiday, so that means Aug. 5 he will be back. Dejan had a party in…
Alexis Sanchez is set to join his Manchester United teammates on their summer tour, the club announced on Thursday, with sources saying the Chilean was granted a visa to travel to the United States. Sanchez was not on the flight from Manchester to Los Angeles on Sunday after U.S. authorities blocked his trip because of a conviction for tax fraud he accepted in February, sources said. United confirmed it was due to a “personal administrative issue.” But sources said Sanchez has now been granted a visa and the club confirmed he will travel to the United States this week, after…
Fabinho has joked that he will “try slowly to convince” former Monaco teammate Kylian Mbappe to swap Paris for Merseyside. The Brazilian told reporters about the newly minted World Cup winner with France: “Kylian Mbappe sent me a text message congratulating me for coming to Liverpool. “Unfortunately I have not had a chance to congratulate him for what he did during this World Cup. “What France did was fantastic. What Mbappe did in two years of professional football is amazing. He is a phenomenon and needs to be congratulated, and as soon as I have the chance I will. “He…
Uruguay’s Diego Godin was arguably the best defender at this summer’s World Cup, but the 32-year-old centre-back could actually now be surplus to requirements at his club, Atletico Madrid. Rumours that Atletico and Godin may end an eight-year association first began just after the domestic season ended, with Diego Simeone’s side winning the Europa League and finishing second in La Liga. At first it seemed the speculation might be a ploy to get an improved new contract — that is what happened in the summer of 2015 when Godin was reportedly close to joining Chelsea or Manchester City, only to…
After news broke that Kawhi Leonard was being shipped from San Antonio to Toronto, you likely knew it was only a matter of time before Drake chimed in. The rapper is not only a Toronto native, but he’s also an official “global ambassador” for the club. It’s a pretty serious relationship; Drake’s passionate about basketball and is often spotted courtside, the team has Drake-themed nights and an alternate uniform inspired by the musician’s record label. So when anything major happens with the team, it’s fair to anticipate some Drake reaction. Over the years, Drake has established a pretty firm friendship…
South African rapper is planning on quitting Instagram because of the perceived negative influence it has had on young people. The award-winning rapper made his frustrations known on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, when he took to his Twitter page. According to him, in one of his series of tweets, Instagram has become a platform which puts a lot of pressure on young men and women for material things. “I’m legit thinking of quitting Instagram. The pressure it’s putting on young men and women for material things is scary, and people like me are part of the problem without even knowing…
We’ve been here before, Beyhive. At least once a year, there apparently has to be speculation that Beyoncé is pregnant and it seems it’s that time of year again. Fans have been sharing footage from her current “On the Run II” tour with hubby Jay-Z to try and read the tea leaves as to whether a fourth child is on the way. The buzz seems to have kicked off more than a week ago after the singer rested her hand on her stomach while performing “’03 Bonnie & Clyde.” Footage of the moment was posted on social media, and the…
Jay-Z is embroiled in a dispute with the mayoral office of Philadelphia after it announced plans to change the location of his music festival, Made in America. On Tuesday, a representative for Mayor Jim Kenney said this year’s festival would be the last to be held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the centre of the city. The festival, founded in 2012, was “intended to provide a unique attraction to the city on the otherwise quiet Labor Day weekend” but thanks to a rise in tourism, the mayor’s office argued “the need for an event of this scale at this…
Every celebrity couple must have moments like this: Someone asks for a photo, but they are only interested in taking it with one of the celebs. That happened to Russell Wilson at the ESPY’s when social media star Shiggy — better known as the guy who made up the “In My Feelings” dance all the kids are doing these days — asked Wilson and his wife Ciara for a picture. Things got awkward when Shiggy asked the Seahawks QB to step out of the frame. Wilson, to his credit, took it all in stride. He even joked about the incident…
Kenneth Okonkwo is making good his plans of becoming the next governor of Enugu start by officially unveiling his governorship posters. The veteran actor took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, where he shared photos of the posters. He went on to caption one of the posters with a quote which dwelled on how he won’t be able to run for the highest position in the state without God. “Without God, I can do nothing but with Him, I can do all things because He strengthens me. Join the winning team. By the grace of God, I…
Kizz Daniel and Reekado Banks aren’t on good terms and Harrysong has confirmed the tale. Harrysong said that all is not well in the relationship between Reekado Banks and Kiss Daniel though he doesn’t know the reason for the feud. Harrysong in a statement by his manager, Desmond Ike, said, “Harrysong originally did the Selense with Reekado Banks and Kizz Daniel but at a point, Daniel said he didn’t want to star in the video because Reekado would be in it. He said he didn’t want to have anything to do with Reekado. We tried to sort out the issue…
Skales has officially released his new album, ”Mr Love”. Following the exclusive listening party held on Wednesday, July 18 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Lagos, Skales has now put out his third body of work, entitled, Mr Love. Taking to his social media pages, the singer announced that the album is now available on all platforms. Skales explained that the idea of the album is to share love at a time when his fans and the nation needs it the most. The 17 tracks album features a number of artistes including, Tiwa Savage, Sarkodie, Afro B, Phyno, Cassper Nyovest…
Ruggedman has for the second time slammed a senior police officer over fake comments made against him. The veteran rapper took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, where he dragged an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yomi Shogunle over comments he made about him. Yomi Shogunle had mocked Ruggedman for leaving the #EndSARS campaign and joining the #ReformSARS party. Ruggedman didn’t take these comments likely as he took to his Instagram to address the statement credited to Yomi Shogunle. “Officer @yomishogunle I have heard about how incompetent and dubious you are but this disgraceful act of yours takes…
Lagos State Government has set up a joint operation tagged, ‘Operation Restore Sanity On Lagos Roads,’ to clear trucks and tankers parked along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. The special squad involving security agencies and stakeholders in the maritime was set up on Thursday, July 19, 2018 to carry out the clearing from early hours of Friday to Monday. The special squad, according to a report by Nation Newspaper, consists of 1000 policemen, 500 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), 100 officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 120 officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps…
Kogi lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye has alleged that members of the Nigerian Police Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Military men made an assassination attempt on his life. “I thank God for spearing my life once again. Over 20 bullets holes on my jeep. Combination of police,SARS and military. God i thank you,” he tweeted. In 2017, Melaye had accused Kogi’s Governor Yahaya Bello’s Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja David, of masterminding an attempted assassination on his life. The allegation was found out to be false. Earlier in 2018, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a lawsuit against…