Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been listed among the most valuable U-21 players in world football. In the list compiled by the reputable CIES Football Observatory, Ndidi is 10th most valuable U-21 player in the world. France and Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe leads the list with Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) and Gabriel Jesus making up the top five. Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) Frank Kessie and Ndidi completing the top 10. Ndidi who is valued at €30.3m by CIES Football Observatory has enjoyed a steady…
Author: David Folami
AC Milan were left fuming Thursday when their highly-rated 18-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma said he would not sign an extended contract with the Italian giants. Considered the heir to Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Donnarumma is a target for a number of top clubs and making him the pillar of the club’s future with an extended contract had been Milan’s number one priority. “Mino Raiola (the player’s agent) has just told me there will be no extension with Donnarumma and that the decision is definitive,” the club’s general manager Marco Fassone told reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Raiola.…
Ronaldo reacted to accusations that he evaded paying taxes of 14.7 million euros ($16.4 million) by saying that remaining silent was the “best answer”. “Sometimes the best answer it’s to be quiet,” the Real Madrid star forward said on Instagram with a photo of himself in a Portugal polo shirt and right forefinger raised to his lips. Ronaldo insisted Wednesday that he had a “conscience clear, always”, as he arrived at Lisbon airport to fly out to the Confederations Cup in Russia. Real Madrid have given their backing to Ronaldo, saying they had “full confidence in our player Cristiano Ronaldo,…
France midfielder Corentin Tolisso has moved to Bayern Munich from Lyon for a record fee that could reach €47.5 million, the Bundesliga champions announced on Wednesday. The 22-year-old signed a five-year deal with Bayern to bring an end to his 10-year association with Lyon. Before bonuses Bayern paid €41.5 million, making Tolisso the most expensive player to be signed by a Bundesliga club, breaking the previous record set when Javi Martinez joined Bayern from Athletic Bilbao in 2012. It is also Lyon’s most expensive sale, ahead of Michael Essien’s departure to Chelsea for €38 million in 2005. Tolisso, who made…
Feelers from the Nigeria Football Federation suggest that there will be some changes as regards how players are invited for national assignments as well adding more specialised hands to the Super Eagles back-room staff. The 2-0 reversal against South Africa in Uyo last weekend sent shockwaves throughout the Nigerian football fraternity which necessitated a meeting between Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and the Federation. Tuesday’s meeting, which saw the Minister of Youths and Sports Solomon Dalung in attendance, saw a list of proposals tabled for Rohr which includes a proper scrutiny of his team selection for games and recommendations by the…
Manchester City have the talent to compete on all fronts if they cut down defensive mistakes next season, winger Raheem Sterling has said. Manager Pep Guardiola ended his debut campaign without a trophy as City finished third in the league after sloppy defending cost them crucial points to end their title hopes. Their Champions League campaign was dogged by similar issues as City failed to protect a two-goal lead against French side AS Monaco and were knocked out in the Round of 16, but Sterling remains hopeful for the future. “With the team, the players and the manager we have,…
The Ogun Government says it has heighten its surveillance system to avert outbreak of cholera in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, made this known at a free medical mission organised by the state government in collaboration with the Rotary International in Sagamu. Ipaye said that efforts were in top gear to prevent its outbreak in the state. “There has not been case of cholera outbreak in Ogun for years and we do not look forward to that, because what we have done mainly is to see primary care as our priority. “We have heightened our surveillance…
Sen. Buruji Kashamu (PDP – Ogun East) has denied involvement in the crisis rocking the Lagos State Chapter of the party, ahead of council polls in the state. The senator was reacting to an allegation by a factional Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Moshood Salvador, that he (Kashamu) was partly responsible for the crisis rocking the chapter. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Salvador made the allegation in Lagos on Wednesday while announcing his faction’s alliance with the Labour Party for the July 22 Lagos State polls. PDP candidates from the Salvador-led faction were not recognised for…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has expelled Abdulmumin Jibrin, the member representing Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency in the House of Representatives over anti-party activities. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, June 15, 2017, the Bebeji chairman of the APC, Sani Ranka accused Jibrin of ‘promoting divisive tendencies’. “The party will not condone indiscipline and disrespect to leaders or duly constituted authority. We hereby inform the world that Jibrin has been expelled from our great party,” he said. The decision was backed by other stakeholders at the briefing. Jibrin was suspended by the House over allegation of budget…
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, says 1.8 million units of blood are needed per annum in the country to save lives, calling on Nigerian with no health challenge to donate blood. Adewole gave the figure on Wednesday at a news conference to mark the 2017 World Blood Donor Day. The slogan of this year’s celebration is “What can you do? give blood. give now. give often”. He said that the campaign underlined the role every single person could play in helping others during emergency situations by giving the valuable gift of blood. ”It also reinforces the message that…
The former Governor of Ekiti state, Segun Oni is set to join the 2018 gubernatorial race. According to his campaign director, Ife Arowosoge, Oni will announce his intention to run as Ekiti Governor soon. Arowosoge also said that the ex-Governor decided to run for Governor because his supporters across the state want him back. Oni, who is the deputy national chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is slated to commission his campaign offices across Ekiti. According to Premium Tmes, Arowosoge said “He is simple, plain-minded, intelligent, humble, respectful, incorruptible, responsible and God-fearing. “This is the man we have…
INEC says it is not aware of any moves to recall Sen. Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District. INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. Explaining the processes involved in recalling and elected lawmaker, Osaze-Uzzi said that a petition signed by at least 50 per cent of the registered voters in that senatorial district must be submitted to the commission. “It is only when the petitioners get 50 per cent of the registered voters that they can submit a…
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez ensured that despite some disappointments along the way the 2016/17 season was still one to savour for the Leverkusen striker. After enjoying his maiden campaign in the Bundesliga following his summer 2015 move from Manchester United, Leverkusen’s Mexico international star found his 17 goal top-flight debut haul tough to match. Not that you would have thought he would after a rampaging start that saw him net five goals in as many Bundesliga games in a rip-snorting start the season, including a hat-trick against Mainz and a strike in a win over Borussia Dortmund. The early season promise…
Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer and guided Chelsea to the Premier League title and FA Cup final in his first season in charge. Chelsea are keen to tie Conte down to a new contract after an impressive maiden campaign in England. But according to the Daily Record, Conte and Chelsea’s hierarchy are at odds over the club’s plan of action for the upcoming season. The Italian manager reportedly wants more money to spend in the summer window to improve all areas of his squad. Conte has publicly stated his side is currently not fit to defend their Premier…
Benfica playmaker Anderson Talisca has claimed that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants him at Old Trafford, and he indicated he would be open to the move. The 23-year-old Brazilian excelled in 2016-17 on loan in Turkey at title-winning Besiktas, and when he was quizzed about links to United he said, per Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte (via Turkish-Football.com’s Emre Sarigul): “That is a question I cannot give an answer to just yet. I cannot deny there is interest but what happens next depends on Benfica and my representatives. There will be news on this soon. Look every player dreams of…
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has warned against overly focusing on Cristiano Ronaldo when El Tri kicks off its Confederations Cup campaign on Sunday against Portugal in Kazan. “It’s Portugal, not just Cristiano,” Ochoa told the press in Kazan after Wednesday’s training. “We know what type of player he is, but aside from him there are other quality players that we have to stop.” The 32-year-old Portugal international is coming into the Confederations Cup in form and on a high having led Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double last season, but Mexico won’t have a specific man-marker…
Portugal arrived in Russia on Wednesday night, with just short of 100 fans turning up outside the team hotel to welcome the team and, in particular, Cristiano Ronaldo. Some locals even paraded a Portugal flag and behind the team hotel is a mural of the Real Madrid forward, although journalists weren’t allowed to take photos on Thursday afternoon. Portugal defender Bruno Alves struggled to outline what Cristiano Ronaldo means to his nation, but the respect his teammates have is clear. “We don’t have words to describe what he means to our country,” new Rangers signing Alves said ahead of training…
The Premier League fixtures are out for the 2017-18 season — and here are five to watch for Manchester United. Jose Mourinho’s team have been handed a relatively kind start, with games against West Ham and Leicester at Old Trafford either side of a trip to Swansea. The run-in is trickier, with a trip to the Etihad to play Manchester City and a home game with Arsenal in the final weeks of the season. West Ham (H) Aug. 12, 2017 (A) March 17, 2018 United’s game with West Ham at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season will…
Former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has agreed a two-year deal to manage Ligue 1 side Nantes. The Italian, who led the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2016, has been without a club since being sacked by City in February. “FC Nantes is pleased to announce the arrival of Claudio Ranieri at the head of his professional group,” a statement on the club’s official website said. “At 65 years old, the former defender has a very good experience as a coach — and an impressive record — at the highest level,” the statement added. Ranieri had to be granted…
Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will not be able to play in his teams opening game at the Confederations Cup because of a calf injury. Bravo has yet to play since suffering the injury in Manchester City’s Premier League game against Manchester United on April 27, and he hit a setback in his attempt to return against Cameroon. Johnny Herrera has played in goal for Chile in their three warm-up friendlies and is in line to play on Sunday in Moscow. However, Chile said Bravo has shown improvement, meaning he could be available to face Germany next Thursday. “Claudio Bravo underwent…