Juan Mata must have feared his time was up at Old Trafford when Jose Mourinho was appointed manager of Manchester United. The two men have such a different approach to the game that the gulf between them is unbridgeable. The best Mata can hope for is a swift move away and a chance to rebuild his career elsewhere. The 28-year-old’s 30-minute appearance as a substitute in the Community Shield against Leicester City ended when he was replaced in the closing moments of the game. Mourinho explained the decision afterwards by suggesting that it was just a pragmatic move to help…
Author: David Folami
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants 20 of the club’s academy products in the first team. Klopp took over at Anfield for Brendan Rodgers in October of 2015 and quickly made his mark, leading the Merseysiders to a berth in the Europa League final before falling to Sevilla. The 49-year-old German has been known to hand young players an opportunity in his teams. And that reputation was confirmed last season as Liverpool dealt with a rash of midseason muscle injuries during which Klopp gave many first-timers and relative newcomers opportunities. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo on Monday, the former Borussia Dortmund…
Aside from being a destination for top players, the Premier League has become a “world championship of managers” as well, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says. Wenger is entering his 21st season in charge of Arsenal, but many of his top Premier League rivals will be managed by new faces this season. And the Frenchman said he expected the arrival of the likes of Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola to make the competition more difficult than it has in the past. “Everybody’s ambitious — never has the Premier League been gifted with so many ambitious people or clubs at the start…
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says Paul Pogba has a chance to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s feat and become the the world’s best player while at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old Juventus star on Tuesday sealed a record-breaking move to the 13-time Premier League champions. Pogba, who was allowed to leave Manchester United for for a minimal fee in the summer of 2012, grew into one of the world’s top young players in his four seasons with with the Serie A giants, and Ferdinand, who watched Pogba’s progress in Turin, is confident the do-it-all Frenchman can approach Ronaldo’s accomplishments at the…
Paul Pogba has called his departure from Juventus “a moment of sadness” in the wake of his long-awaited move to Manchester United. The 23-year-old France international completed a deal to join the 13-time Premier League champions for a record-breaking transfer fee of €105 million on Tuesday morning. Pogba spent four seasons with the Bianconeri after moving from United on a free transfer in 2012, helping the Italian giants to four Serie A titles, two Coppa Italias and a berth in the 2015 Champions League final during his time in Turin. In a video released via social media, the superstar midfielder…
Paul Pogba has called his long-awaited return to Manchester United “destiny,” and acknowledged that he is back to finish what he started at the club. Pogba became the most expensive footballer in history on Tuesday when he moved to Old Trafford from Juventus for a record-breaking fee of €105 million. The 23-year-old midfielder had started his professional career at United, making just seven appearances for the club before joining the Bianconeri on a free transfer in the summer of 2012. Speaking in an interview with MUTV following the announcement of the deal, Pogba characterised his United return as fate, and…
Meanwhile, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel slammed the doubters who claim the champions have no chance of retaining the title. Claudio Ranieri’s 5,000-1 outsiders caused one of the greatest upsets in sporting history when they won the Premier League last season, but bookmakers and pundits have shown them little respect ahead of the new campaign. Although Leicester have lost key midfielder N’Golo Kante to Chelsea, Schmeichel is adamant his team-mates are still hungry to prove they can compete at the top of the Premier League. “When you win a Premier League after a couple of weeks it still feels surreal and…
Daley Blind believes Manchester United’s Community Shield victory can be the springboard for a Premier League title challenge. Jose Mourinho’s side beat champions Leicester 2-1 in the annual curtain raiser in the English top-flight season at Wembley on Sunday. While the Shield is not always a reliable barometer of future success, United defender Blind is confident the first silverware of the Mourinho era can be the prelude to bigger prizes. “I think we said it last year as well, a club like Manchester United always wants to play for titles,” Blind said. “So we are competing in every competition the…
Denmark goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, has described his Nigeria teammate, Ahmed Musa, at Leicester City as a man with “frightening pace.” The Leicester stopper said after his team lost to Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday that Musa will give the Foxes additional pace upfront. The Nigeria international did show a glimpse of what defenders in the English Premier League should expect from this weekend in the Community Shield against Manchester United. “Musa, his pace is frightening. We’ve got some great options going forward, bags of pace. The 23-year-old winger joined Leciester City from CSKA Moscow in July for…
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is an injury doubt ahead of the European Super Cup clash with Sevilla in Trondheim, Norway on Tuesday, joining a long list of absentees. “We’re aren’t going to take any risks regarding Karim” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told a press conference. “He is ok, but he hasn’t played the last two matches (…) I’m very happy that he’s with us, because he’s worked very hard, he’s done the whole pre season but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” explained Zidane. Benzema sustained a hip injury at the end of last season and still hasn’t fully…
Ghana striker Andre Ayew has joined West Ham United from Premier League rivals Swansea City for a club record fee of £20.5 million, the Londoners said on Monday. The 26-year-old has agreed a three-year contract with the option for an additional two years. Ayew played a pivotal role in steering Swansea away from relegation last season, netting 12 times in 34 starts as Francesco Guidolin’s side finished 12th in the table. He leaves Swansea one year after joining on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille. “I am very proud and happy to be at this magnificent club. I hope to…
French superstar Paul Pogba on Tuesday completed a sensational return to Manchester United from Juventus for a reported world record fee. United said Pogba had signed a five-year contract but did not give the cost which British media have put at 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros), not including agent’s fee. That would see the 23-year-old eclipse the 85 million pounds Real Madrid paid Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in 2013. “This is the right club for me to achieve everything I hope to in the game,” said Pogba. Pogba moved to Italy when United let him go…
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has said that he would like to write books and teach as part of his contributions to the society as a retired police officer. Arase, who disclosed this shortly after a reception held in his honour on Saturday in Benin, also described life after active service as very relaxing. “I am an academic. I will write books, I will rest and do humanity work. I want to spend the rest of my life touching the lives of the less privileged people within my community. “I will sit down to write some books,…
Boko Haram’s shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a new video vowing to fight on, shrugging off an apparent split in the hardline jihadist group blamed for thousands of deaths since 2009. “I… Abubakar Ash-Shakawy (Shekau), the leader of Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad made it a duty for myself (to fight) Nigeria and the whole world,” Shekau said in the video released on Sunday, using group’s name since it declared allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. Last week, Shekau said in an audio message he was still head of the group despite his purported replacement with Sheikh Abu…
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said on Monday that the efforts of the military in the North-East had paid off as incessant bombing attacks on the public had been halted. Buratai said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom of Jos. Dr Jacob Buba Gyang. Buratai assured the traditional ruler that the military was committed to restoring peace to the Plateau and the entire country. “Our efforts in the North-East have really paid off. “As it was previously, the incessant bombings and attacks in different places of worship, markets and motor parks…
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has denied allegations that he forged the 2015 Senate Standing Rules. Ekweremadu is facing a forgery trial along with Senate President, Bukola Saraki due to the charges. The Deputy Senate President made the comments on Sunday, August 7, 2016, during a meeting with the Enugu State Economic Advisory Committee, a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu said. According to the statement, Ekweremadu said: “I am indeed humbled by your solidarity. As they say, the true test of a man is not where he stands in the time of comfort; it is…
Militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has denied reports of a split within its ranks. Reports had it that a faction of the group had emerged and identified itself as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). The claim was however denied by NDA spokesman, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo via a statement. The statement reads: “The thinking to lure the public to another lie of spirit in the Niger Delta Avengers is only the ways of a government agents and agencies with delusional disorder.” “This is result of a government and security agencies that are only becoming childish every day for…
Niger Delta activist, Chief Ayiri Emami has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe claims that militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is being sponsored by prominent Nigerians. The claim was made by a supposed faction of NDA, known as Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). The group named former president, Goodluck Jonathan as one the sponsors of NDA. Ayiri’s comments were contained in a statement released on Sunday, August 7, 2016. The statement reads: “The revelation by the splinter group of Niger Delta Avengers about the sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers has vindicated my earlier position that some corrupt politicians running…
A traditional ruler in Edo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of bribing monarchs in the state to vote for its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the September 2016 elections. According to the Onojie of Uromi, Chief Anslem Okojie, Ize-Iyamu gave the monarchs N3 million while PDP chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih added another N3 million to the amount. The monarch made the claim on Thursday, August 4, 2016, while receiving All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Hon Philip Shaibu at his palace, The Nation reports. “I do not trust Pastor Ize…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was helped into office by the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. Ize-Iyamu also criticized Oshiomhole for disrespecting Igbinedion and other elders in the state. The PDP candidate made the comments on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, during a rally in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, according to Sahara Reporters. “I feel sad when I hear Oshiomhole insults people like Chief Igbinedion when it was Chief Igbinedion that helped him to power,” he said. “He should have…