Sergio Ramos has given new Spain head coach Fernando Hierro a resounding vote of confidence ahead of their World Cup opener against Portugal in Sochi on Friday, before adding he has an “easy conscience” regarding his foul that injured Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in last month’s Champions League final. The sensational sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup after he revealed that he was set to take over at Real Madrid after the tournament sent shockwaves through the Spanish camp on Wednesday. The Spanish players were said to be against the move to sack Lopetegui and…
Author: David Folami
Gareth Bale is happy at Real Madrid and keen to work under new head coach Julen Lopetegui rather than seek a move back to the Premier League, a source has said. Bale, who scored twice after coming on as a substitute in the Champions League final last month, had put his future with Madrid in doubt by revealing he would seek assurances over his role in the team. Manchester United are long-term admirers and remain interested in a move for the former Tottenham player. They will be at the front of any queue this summer should Madrid sanction his sale.…
Gerard Pique cited an odd precedent for Spain’s World Cup hopes in the wake of firing their coach on the eve of the tournament — University of Michigan basketball. The Spanish federation on Wednesday decided to sack coach Julen Lopetegui after he agreed to take over as manager of Real Madrid once the World Cup ended. The move has threatened to push the team into turmoil just two days before their opener against Portugal, but Pique found inspiration in American college basketball. “University of Michigan. Basketball. 1989. NCAA Champion. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened,” Pique wrote on…
Sadio Mane and Roma’s Federico Fazio battle for the ball in their Champions League semifinal at Anfield. Sadio Mane downplayed rumours of a possible move away from Liverpool amid Real Madrid interest, saying he is happy at the club. Mane, 26, was a key player for Liverpool in their 2017-18 campaign, as Jurgen Klopp’s team finished fourth in the Premier League and made it to the Champions League final only to lose to Real Madrid. But the Senegal international, in Russia readying for his team’s June 19 opener against Poland, said his immediate future lies at Anfield. “I am very…
Mohamed Salah has recovered from a shoulder injury and will play in Egypt’s World Cup opener against Uruguay, coach Hector Cuper said on Thursday. Salah, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool last season, injured shoulder ligaments in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid on May 26 and has not played since, keeping fans in suspense before Egypt’s first World Cup finals in 28 years. “I can almost 100 percent say he will play, save for any unforeseen factors at the last minute,” Cuper said. “We’re trying to make him feel confident. The doctors are giving him the options…
Jerome Boateng is baffled by CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s comments that Bayern Munich are willing to let him leave for a suitable offer, insisting his sole focus is successfully defending the World Cup with Germany. Boateng, 29, joined from Manchester City in 2011 and has won six Bundesliga titles, a Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup trophy and three DFB Pokal at Bayern. Boateng said last month he could opt for a change despite a contract with the German champions until 2021. Some reports in England have suggested Manchester United are eying a move for the Berlin-born defender, while kicker…
Luis Suarez has hugely matured in the four years since he disgraced himself at the World Cup by biting an Italian opponent, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said on Thursday, making clear he has high expectations of his key striker in Russia. Suarez, 31, arrives at this year’s tournament looking to dispel the memory of the infamous bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil in 2014, as well as the goalline handball that earned him a sending-off in the quarterfinal against Ghana four years earlier. “What happened in Brazil is part of real life and of course it’s been a lesson…
Fernando Hierro says he aims to change as little as possible as he prepares his team for Friday’s World Cup opener against Portugal in Sochi. Hierro was sensationally appointed Spain coach on the eve of the tournament, after previous boss Julen Lopetegui was fired on Wednesday morning by Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales, who was angered by Real Madrid announcing Lopetegui as their new coach on Tuesday afternoon. The most dramatic 24 hours in Spanish football has divided opinion among many fans and pundits, and even reportedly among La Roja’s squad in Russia for the tournament. But Hierro, a former…
Marcus Rashford has recovered from a slight knee injury and should return to full training with the team on Friday ahead of their World Cup opener against Tunisia on June 18. The 20-year-old, who scored 13 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season, impressed in the warm-up matches for Gareth Southgate’s side but missed the team’s training sessions earlier this week after picking up a knock. “Marcus Rashford took part in light training this afternoon and will hopefully rejoin the group tomorrow,” England said on their official Twitter account along with a video of Rashford in action. The…
She may have just given birth to twins, and embarked on a worldwide tour with her husband, but fans and tabloids are speculating that Beyoncé is pregnant with her fourth child. Star magazine wrote in their print edition that sources claimed at Coachella doctors were concerned about Beyoncé’s vitals backstage. A “tour insider” said, “She’s rushing to change her costumes so that she can keep the bump covered up for as long as possible. Only a few have been entrusted with the news, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on.” The other evidence is pretty…
She’s currently promoting all-female film Ocean’s 8 alongside a host of A-list actresses, including Sandra Bullock and Helen Bonham Carter. And Rihanna ensured she’d enjoy her time in London before jetting off to her next location as she was spotting leaving the English capital’s Scotch Night Club following a night out in the early hours of Friday morning. The Umbrella hitmaker, 30, nailed casual chic as she was sported a sleek black dress, tied in with an oversized bomber jacket. Injecting hints of her trademark style, the Bajan singer accentuated to her statuesque frame in a pair of strappy black…
Jay-Z is being sued over royalties for his 1996 album Reasonable Doubt, the debut record that put the now 48-year-old rapper on the map. The complaint, filed by Raynard Herbert (“Ray Rae”) in the southern district of New York, claims that Herbert was responsible for arranging the music for Roc-A-Fella records and entered into a distribution agreement with Priority Records in exchange for 1% of the profits. Herbert received royalty checks beginning in December 1998 but alleges he was never paid after November 2008. Additionally, he claims to have made numerous inquiries after 2008 about the status of alleged outstanding…
US filmmaker and comedian Kevin Smith has shared a glowing tribute to Drake after he appeared in the rapper’s new video for the song I’m Upset. The promotional clip sees the musician and actor reunite with his former co-stars from Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. Smith and regular collaborator Jason Mewes make a cameo appearance in the video as their comic characters Jay and Silent Bob. Smith wrote on social media: “The world celebrates Drake as special – but I got to watch him pay that forward, as he made all of his childhood class-and-cast mates feel…
Well this is rather interesting. Just last week, it was revealed that Lil Wayne was finally released from his contact with Birdman after he reportedly reached a settlement with Cash Money & Universal Music Group for about $10 million dollars. In fact, Weezy’s lawyer confirmed the settlement in a statement, which you can read for yourself below: “Per our settlement agreement, the matter has been amicably resolved to the satisfaction of all parties,” he said. “In terms of the particulars, we’re prohibited legally from saying anything further. I can say that my client is happy. He is his own man,…
Nasir Jones, is set to release his self named 11th studio album, ‘Nasir’ on Friday, June 15 2018. The album, titled Nasir, is entirely produced by Kanye West and features just seven songs continuing in a pattern that Kanye West kick-started when he put out Pusha T’s Daytona Album. On Thursday night, Nas posted the art cover on his twitter page and held a listening party for the album in Queens, New York City in front of an impressive turnout, with the event live-streamed on YouTube. Nasir is Nas’ 11th studio LP, his first since 2012’s Life Is Good and…
In 2017, in an official teaser for the “King Tonto” reality show, Tonto Dikeh admitted to wanting a body surgery. On June 8, 2018, few episodes of the show were released on the new online streaming platform, Linda Ikeji TV, and in episode three, Dikeh talks about getting a surgery, shares her reason and visits a surgeon. The actress said going under the knife was something she had considered for a while as she had, over the years, had some insecurities about her body. “While I do believe that God created me perfectly, I also believe that God has placed…
Mayorkun is the latest celebrity to be harassed by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad also known as SARS after they disrupted his interview. In a series of tweets on his Twitter page, Mayorkun said he prayed people don’t get faced with men of SARS while revealing how his interview was disrupted because of them. “Good morning, may you not be harassed by SARS today in Jesus Name,” he tweeted. On-Air personality, Dotun went on to reveal how Mayorkun’s interview was disrupted in another tweet. “They caught you & disrupted our interview time yesterday. Sad lots,” he added. There goes…
Chuddy K is probably the happiest man on earth at the moment as he welcomes a set of twins with his wife. The music star took to his Instagram page on Thursday, June 14, 2018, where he posted a photo of himself and the adorable babies with smiles all over his face. He went on to caption the photo with a quote. “Overwhelming with joy..if anyone told me I was gn be baba beji I would have said its a lie…my angels are here,” he wrote. Congratulations to the music star and his family in this new addition to the…
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has revealed why she has never voted in any elections before and it is quite interesting. According to the Nollywood icon, her reason is that she was prevented from going close to a voting unit from a young age by her mother after the lost a neighbour to election violence. She made this know on her Instagram page on Thursday, June 14, 2017, when she also revealed that she had gone to pick up her PVC. “Today I went to get my PVC. This is a Big deal for me. I’ve Never Voted or tried to. Phew…it’s…
Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has congratulated Muslims for successfully undertaking the Ramadan fast, urging them to remain connected to virtues of love, compassion and generosity. “As we mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, let’s remember and pray for our brothers and sisters who were unfortunate victims of the Offa robbery. Let’s remember their families, friends and associates in our prayers and generosities”, the governor said. With the 2019 general elections in the horizon, the Kwara governor also urged Nigerians to pray for a peaceful political transition. Ahmed called for unity and commitment from all stakeholders towards his government’s…