Lionel Messi is happy at Barcelona but not in Argentina, former Barcelona coach and fellow Argentinean Cesar Luis Menotti said on Monday. Menotti, 78, blamed the environment which surrounds football in Argentina for the reason fans see a different Messi for Barcelona than for his national team and even suggested the Argentine Football’s Association’s (AFA) poor planning and preparation was responsible for failing to consistently get the best out of Messi. “At Barcelona Messi is happy,” Menotti said in an interview with Diario Sport. “But it seems he’s not allowed to be [happy] here [in Argentina]. We live in so…
Author: David Folami
Cristiano Ronaldo has told France Football how Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann joked of his “hate” toward the Real Madrid forward when they met shortly after Portugal beat France in the final of Euro 2016. After leading his team to last summer’s final, Ronaldo played just 25 minutes against the hosts at the Stade de France before limping off with a knee injury. The 31-year-old then watched from the dugout as his nation triumphed 1-0 courtesy of Eder’s extra-time winner, allowing a jubilant Ronaldo to lift the Henri Delauney trophy while Griezmann, 25, and his teammates were left devastated. “It’s…
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it is an “unreal” feeling after it was revealed the Swedish Football Association have commissioned a statue to be built in his homeland. Ibrahimovic, 35, retired from international football after Euro 2016 having scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country. The news was announced as Ibrahimovic collected the Golden Ball award as Sweden’s Player of the Year for the 10th consecutive season, and the 11th time in the last 12. He will be honoured with a 2.7 metre statue outside the national stadium, the Friends Arena in Stockholm. “It feels unreal,” Ibrahimovic…
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to be handed the chance to prove his worth at Manchester United this week with manager Jose Mourinho confirming that the out-of-favour Armenian will face Feyenoord in Thursday’s crucial Europa League tie at Old Trafford. Mkhitaryan, a £26.3 million summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, has made just six appearances for United this season — starting only one game, the 2-1 derby defeat against Manchester City in September. The 27-year-old has made just one senior appearance since being replaced at half-time by Mourinho in the City game, when he was used as a second-half substitute in the…
Manchester City, buoyed by the return of Yaya Toure, will look to seal a spot in the Champions League knockout stage when they travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday to play a team struggling for form. Toure, banned by coach Pep Guardiola following comments by his agent about the manager, returned from a three-month exile to score both goals in City’s 2-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Guardiola’s decision to restore the Ivorian has further boosted spirits, already high with the team just a point behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League. “His personality and his quality…
Arsenal have a gilt-edged opportunity to kick a self-destructive Champions League habit when they host Paris St Germain on Wednesday knowing victory will seal top spot in Group A. The north Londoners have fallen in the last-16 in each of the past six seasons and during that period only once did they finish first in their initial group. Their punishment for finishing runners-up on the other five occasions was harsh, twice being drawn against Bayern Munich and twice against Barcelona, losing all four ties, while even when fortune did favour them they succumbed to Monaco. Even if they do beat…
Striker Harry Kane has confirmed he is in talks to sign an improved contract with Tottenham Hotspur and reiterated that he has no intention of agitating for a transfer away from his boyhood club. Kane, the league’s top scorer last season, has struggled with an ankle injury for a part of the current campaign, making seven Premier League appearances so far, but made a scoring return against in the north London derby Arsenal on Nov. 6. He followed that up with two late goals to give his side a 3-2 home win over West Ham United on Saturday, keeping Spurs…
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud faces an anxious wait to see if his last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United was enough to get him back in Arsene Wenger’s plans on a permanent basis. Giroud is a polarising figure in north London after a lengthy spell of erratic displays, but he is hoping to be given a chance to silence the critics in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint Germain. Many Arsenal supporters have called for Giroud to be sold and Gunners boss Wenger appeared to lose faith in him after starting Alexis Sanchez as his central striker for much of the…
Flying full-back Hector Bellerin, who had been linked with big-money moves to Manchester City and Barcelona, has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, the Londoners said on Monday. Arsenal did not disclose the precise length of the Spain international’s new deal but British media reported that the 21-year-old right-back had extended his stay with the Gunners by a further six years. “I’m really, really happy and this club is my home right now,” Bellerin told Arsenal Player. “I’ve been here for more than five years now so I was really, really excited when the club told me they wanted…
Fresh from vanquishing Atletico Madrid with his 39th Real Madrid hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo will be guaranteed a hero’s welcome when he returns to where his career began at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. Ronaldo has another landmark in his sights as he is just two goals short of 100 in European competitions and history suggests he won’t go easy on the side that handed him his breakthrough. The three-time World Player of the Year has scored on all five occasions he has faced his former clubs in the Champions League, netting twice against Sporting for Manchester United in 2007 and as…
Today is the birthday of Nigerian singer Davido. Popularly known for his hit single ‘Dami duro’, David Adedeji Adeleke, is an American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer. Davido is also the co-owner of HKN Music and owner of Davido Music Worldwide (DMW). Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Davido relocated to Lagos at a young age. He released his debut album “Omo Baba Olowo” in 2012, which housed the singles ‘Back when’ featuring Naeto C, ‘Dami duro’, ‘All of You’, and others. Davido has released hit singles like ‘Gobe’, ‘One of a Kind’, ‘Skelewu’, ‘Aye’, ‘Tchelete (Goodlife)’, ‘Naughty’ and ‘Owo…
Last week, November 17, 2016, Pulse reported that Kokomaster, D’banj was sued over N100million by tech giant, MindHub. According to documents sent to us, D’banj under the guise of his media house, DKings Men Media took a loan of N100million from the investment company back in 2012. In a memorandum of understanding signed by the ‘Emergency’ crooner, sent to us, if DKings Men Media defaulted, the former Mo-hits member is liable to pay the loan. Pulse reached out to the singer and his team before publishing but there was no word back. D’banj however took to Twitter on Sunday, November…
After being voted by readers as Nigeria’s most eligible bachelor, we are clearly not surprised by this love declaration for Don Jazzy. So, on Sunday, November 20, 2016, a Jazzy lover Bisola, openly declared her love for the Mavin boss. According to her she would not walk down the aisle until the Don agrees to marry her. She wrote, “@donjazzy only love, I will not get married if he didn’t marry me, crushing on my African prince, I love u with all my heart @donjazzy if u didn’t marry me no girl will marry u in Jesus name (amen).” Taking…
Rap superstar Kanye West canceled a planned show in Los Angeles just hours before it was set to start, following a rant against fellow singer Beyonce and a public announcement of support for US President-elect Donald Trump. The Forum, an indoor arena in the LA suburb of Inglewood where West had been scheduled to perform, tweeted less than three hours before Sunday’s show that it was being scrapped. It said refunds would be made available at the point of purchase. At a Saturday night show in Sacramento, West performed just three songs before berating other artists and Hillary Clinton, and…
Human rights activist, Femi Falana has said that the current hardship Nigerians are facing is as a result of the massive looting of the nation’s resources. Falana also slammed the youths for celebrating corrupt individuals who give them crumbs from the ill-gotten loot. According to Punch, the lawyer said this on Friday, November 18, 2016, at a lecture which he delivered at Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State. Falana also said “We are not poor in Nigeria. What we have is poverty of ideas of our leaders.” He called on those in authority to move to a knowledge based economy and…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the death of 119 people in a train crash that occurred in India. According to the police in India, an express train derailed in northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, November 20, 2016. The train was travelling between the north-eastern city of Patna and the central city of Indore, but suddenly roll off the tracks in Pukhrayan, 65 km south of Kanpur city. Buhari also condoled with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and members of the victims’ families. The President, who prayed that God will comfort the people of India,…
House of Representatives member, Johnson Agbonayinma has said that there’s nothing wrong with the lawmakers’ decision to buy N3.6 billion worth of cars in a recession. To justify his argument, Agbonayinma said that if President Muhammadu Buhari was allowed to ride in jets and his associates allowed to drive expensive jeeps then reps could buy cars. “Don’t ask me that kind of question; go and interview Mr. President, who is flying helicopters and jets,” he told The Cable. “Don’t ask me about the house of rep ordering Peugeot 305 or 508 when the special assistants (SA) and personal assistants (PAs)…
The former Governor of Anambra, Peter Obi has debunked rumours that the Governor of state, Willie Obiano wants to bar him from the state. Obi told newsmen that the Governor has no right to stop him from visiting Anambra or talking about the state. According to Punch, the Governor’s aide, Oliver Okpala alleged that Obi made some unwarranted statements against Obiano. Okpala in a statement made earlier, said “To this end, this is a notice that, henceforth, any further unwarranted attack on the governor will be met with a very tough response. “Let it be noted that we have done…
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has described ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan as “the light amidst the darkness.” Jonathan turned 59 on Sunday, November 20, and Fani-Kayode was one of many people who showered praise on the former president. “Happy 59th birthday to President Goodluck Jonathan, a man of honor and peace and one that has brought so much joy and hope to millions,” Fani-Kayode said via a statement. “You have proved to the world that African leaders can be competent, kind, gentle, humane and selfless. You have everything to be proud of and much still lies ahead for you in the…
Senator Athan Achonu has urged Nigerians not to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the country’s problems. Achonu also argued that the problems were caused by past military administrations. He made the comments while speaking to Vanguard in Abuja. “Buhari is not the problem; this problem was created by the military. It is the military cartel that has ravaged this country. The moment they came in, true federalism disappeared,” he said. Achonu however advised Buhari to search beyond his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to get a new team that will get the country’s economy back on track.