Cesare Prandelli believes that Mario Balotelli would be the best footballer in the world — if he wanted to be. Prandelli worked with the Nice forward during his time as manager of Italy with the pair enjoying a successful run to the Euro 2012 final together. Balotelli peaked during that tournament with his brace helping Italy beat Germany in the semifinals, but his career has not followed the expected path since. He was loaned out to AC Milan by Manchester City just six months later and while he scored 12 goals in 13 games for the Rossoneri in the second…
Author: David Folami
It is an open secret that Manchester United want to flex their financial muscles this summer by prising Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, but targeting the apparent heir to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the world’s top footballer is as much to do with his impact off the pitch as on it. The 26-year-old would seem to be the answer to Jose Mourinho’s prayers in that he scores goals, makes them and, after three seasons working with Diego Simeone, is a player whose work-rate and team ethic makes him an ideal fit for a coach as demanding as United’s…
Manchester United are set to head into their Europa League semifinal first leg at Celta Vigo on Thursday without seven first-team players. Manager Jose Mourinho saw United’s injury problems grow during Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Swansea as defenders Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly were forced off. Bailly’s absence means Mourinho does not have a recognised senior centre-half available, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones also injured. But midfielder Juan Mata was back on the bench against Swansea after missing eight games with a groin problem. He underwent a training session on the pitch following the match, increasing his chances…
Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin’s thigh injury is not serious and he will return to action within 10 days, manager Ronald Koeman said after the Frenchman missed Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League loss to leaders Chelsea. Everton have lost just one league game that Schneiderlin has been involved in and the 27-year-old was ruled out of the Chelsea game after sustaining the injury in training. “It’s not really bad. It’s not the end of the season for Morgan. Maybe (he will be available for) next week, maybe not – but it will not take longer than 10 days,” Koeman told the club’s…
Manchester City’s hopes of finishing in the top four hinges on their three remaining home games in the Premier League, manager Pep Guardiola said after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with second-bottom Middlesbrough. Fourth-placed City are level on points with third-placed Liverpool and are a point ahead of Manchester United, who also drew against a relegation-threatened side Swansea City on Sunday. City have lost just one league game at home this season and play three of their four remaining league games at the Etihad Stadium. “Our qualification depends in our home at the Etihad with the three games that we have,” Guardiola…
Jurgen Klopp has said it is harder to be a centre-back for Liverpool than it is for other clubs including Manchester United. Liverpool have struggled defensively this season, conceding 42 goals in 34 matches, although they are third in the Premier League table with four games to play. Klopp indicated he is in the market for reinforcements at the back this summer but is targeting a player who suits Liverpool’s higher defensive line. He said: “If you defend deep then you have a lot of legs and help around, that’s how it is. The first goal last week, this is…
Paris Saint-Germain will take on OGC Nice at Allianz Riviera on Sunday knowing that even a win might not be enough to unsettle Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco. Les Monegasques’ 3-1 come-from-behind win at home to Toulouse FC on Saturday puts them three points clear of the French champions with one game in hand and a significant advantage in terms of goal difference. Unai Emery’s men may well be able to return from the Cote d’Azur with all three points but they still need Leonardo Jardim’s men to slip up in two or more of their four remaining — and…
Following the release of his Video “Boshe Nlo’ last week Monday, Afro-Fusion artiste, Burna Boy releases his second single of 2017. Burna Boy is a gift that keeps giving, the summer jam titled ‘Rock Your Body’ is a mid-tempo dancehall/highlife track with lyrics that tells you to groove and dance once you are in the mood and just “rock your body”. The Juls Produced song was recorded in the UK. Burna boy is planning on his OUTSIDE tour in the United States starting on the 6th of May, 2017.
After years of anchoring the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” game show, Frank Edoho might be considering a change in career path. The popular broadcaster and presenter has said that he is looking into working behind the scenes to support emerging talents. He made the disclosure during a chat with Sunday Scoop, also revealing that he has a lot of things that he is working on at the moment. Edoho said, “I’m a full broadcaster and everything I do revolves around entertainment. I don’t do anything else. However, I have a lot of new things that I’m working on…
The star-studded comedy film, “Alakada Reloaded” is back and this time it features A-list stars. Toyin Abraham alongside Kehinde Bankole, Woli Arole, Nedu OAP, Helen Paul, Lilian Esoro, Annie Idibia, Bidemi Kosoko, Liz Da Silva, Gabriel Afolayan, Comedian Ebiye among many others. Alakada Reloaded is the third production in the “Alakada” series, the first one being released in 2009, while the second in 2013. c The story follows Yetunde Animashaun (Toyin Abraham), a young girl who is from a poor family background and as a result of her inferiority complex, engages in the act of making up stories and lying…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that the planned closure of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno by May 29 was no longer feasible. Mr Muhammad Kanar, the NEMA North East Coordinator stated on this Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri. Kanar said that IDPs whose communities had been liberated were, however, free to return home voluntarily. “Actually, Gov. Kashim Shettima arrived at the May 29 date for closure of all IDP camps based on his conviction that things will go on as they started from last year. “It was Shettima’s hope and the hope of every…
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has urged Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to transform Nigeria. Onu spoke to the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on the sidelines of an Investment Forum organised by the ministry. According to Onu, Nigeria’s future is bright. “No matter the challenges and the problems that we have in Nigeria, Nigeria has a bright future because we have intelligent people and even Americans know that Nigerians are very intelligent. “We heard that the drone which is being used to kill…
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, says the present administration was putting measures in place towards moving the economy to prosperity. Onu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sidelines of the ministry’s Investment Forum in New York that one of such measures was the emphasis on science and technology-based economy. “Our economy, since independence, has relied on commodities; our economy has been resource-based and the problem with that is that we have relied so much on commodities. “Yet as a nation, we can’t determine the price of these commodities. So what it means is…
Marcus Rashford has been accused of diving after winning Manchester United a penalty in the first half of their Premier League clash with Swansea City. The United frontman beat Lukasz Fabianski to a loose ball, prodding it ahead. But Fabianski, realising his mistake, pulled back his arms. Rashford nonetheless managed to dangle a leg and make contact with the Swansea keeper but was already on his way down with the ball well out of reach. Neil Swarbrick waited and waited but then pointed to the spot, roared on by the Stretford End but leaving much of the viewing public back…
Manchester United extended what must be one of the most confusing and frustrating unbeaten runs in Premier League history with a 1-1 draw at home to Swansea on Sunday. The visitors face the threat of relegation, yet you could not have told this from the style and daring with which they approached this match. When they equalised with a late free kick from Gylfi Sigurdsson, it was the very least they deserved, wholly outplaying their hosts. United also added to their substantial list of injuries as Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly limped off, and if some of their key players…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he feared Luke Shaw had “a big injury” after the defender limped off only nine minutes into the 1-1 draw with Swansea City at Old Trafford. United, already beset by injuries, lost both Shaw and Eric Bailly as a late Swansea leveller scuppered their hopes of moving into third place. Shaw looked to have suffered a knock to his ankle after just nine minutes and made his way to the touchline before being replaced by Antonio Valencia on what was only his ninth Premier League start of the season. And United had yet another…
Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City might have been fighting for the title rather than scrapping for a Champions League place had “special” Gabriel Jesus been available all season. Jesus, 19, did not complete his move from Brazilian club Palmeiras until January and after scoring three goals in his first three starts, he was struck down by a broken foot in mid-February. He made a lively return in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United, seeing a stoppage-time header ruled out for offside, but has rejoined a top-four chase rather than a Premier League title challenge. “We saw after three months out,…
A new documentary on the life of Whitney Houston has been debuted. The late Houston’s sexuality is however revisited in a new documentary about the legendary singer. “Whitney: Can I Be Me” was unveiled at the Tribeca Film Festival Wednesday night, April 26, 2017, called into question Houston’s relationship with her best friend and assistant Robyn Crawford. “I don’t think she was gay, I think she was bisexual,” stylist Ellin Lavar said in the movie. “Robyn provided a safe place for her in that Whitney found safety and solace.” Houston and Robyn, who met in East Orange, N.J., as teenagers,…
Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Umar Imam said on Friday that Nigeria cannot afford to break up because the nation’s advancement is tied to its unity. The speaker stated this in Ido Osun, Osun State when he was conferred with a chieftaincy title of “Atona’’- Torch Bearer – by Oba Adedapo Aderemi, the traditional ruler of Ido-Osun Kingdom. “As a nation, we really need unity and we cannot afford to break up. “We should learn a lesson from the South Sudan’s break up which turned sour against the envisaged social, economic and political freedom and advancement’’, he said.…
Beyonce is on a quest to change how the world sees pregnancy. Along the way, she’s nudging us to consider the biases pregnant black women face, and the startling gap between black and white women when it comes to maternal health. On the first day of Black History Month, the performer revealed she was pregnant with twins — looking like a goddess against a backdrop of hearts and flowers in an Instagram photo that evoked Virgin Mary imagery. Since then, shes posted dozens of photos on social media and her website, looking lush and glam with her swelling belly. She…