Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale says he is happy at the Bernabeu and has no intention of moving to Manchester United. . Despite playing a significant role in Real winning their celebrated 10th European Cup and the King’s Cup last season there has been talk of a move back to the Premier League for the Welshman. . He has been criticised by a section of the Real fans and the media for being greedy on the ball and failing to link up with his team mates. . It has led to rumours that he could be part of a deal…
Author: David F.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes Fifa regulations concerning under-age player transfers needs to be revised and that current rules would have prevented Lionel Messi from joining the club. . The Catalan side have been banned from signing players during this transfer window and the next one for breaking the rules over the signing of foreign under-18 players. . Now Real Madrid are also being investigated by Fifa over the transfer of 51 players and there are rumours that the activities of other La Liga clubs could be examined. . The ban is a major blow for Barca, who have…
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has attributed his side’s comeback triumph to eliminate South Africa from the on-going Afcon to experience. . The Black Stars were on the brink of elimination after conceding through a 17th minute volley by Mhlandhla Masango but revived their chances of qualification after 73 minutes of play. . Centre-back John Boye, who replaced injured youngster Daniel Amartey, latched onto a loose ball with a low shot under goalkeeper Nhlanhla Khuzwayo to level matters. . Ghana continued to pile pressure on the South African defence and 10 minutes on were rewarded with the winner through an Andre…
Regular watchers of Ligue 1 were unsurprised when Andre Ayew headed powerfully to secure a win for Ghana over South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday. . The attacking midfielder has a penchant for scoring them for club and country. . In fact, Andre Ayew is distinguished as being the winger with most headed goals in Ligue 1. He has scored an incredible 15. . “I think in football we try to practice everything and it is true that it is one of my qualities but I work very hard on it to make it better,” he…
If you told Avram Grant that the better side lost on Tuesday, he might just shoot you. . The Ghana boss is adamant that over 90 minutes, his side outplayed Bafana Bafana in their final Group C Afcon eliminator at the Estadio de Mongomo. . The South Africans went ahead, but yet another late rally in the last quarter hour ensured a top spot for the Ghanaians. . He deadpanned after the match: “We deserve it because South Africa were not better than us.” .. “We have finished first in the group of death, which is not bad. After losing…
Max Gradel’s superb long-range strike catapulted Ivory Coast into the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations as they defeated Cameroon 1-0 to top Group D on Wednesday. . The match was a straight shootout for a place in the Last 8 as all teams in the pool entered the final round of matches with two points, an even goal-difference and the same number of goals scored. . The Ivorians have now set up a quarterfinal against Algeria in Malabo on Sunday, while the second side to emerge from this pool will be decided with the drawing of lots on…
Premier League leaders Chelsea could be without midfielder Cesc Fabregas and defender Filipe Luis for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. . Both came off during Chelsea’s 1-0 victory in the Capital One (League) Cup semifinal second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday, while Branislav Ivanovic, who headed the winner in extra-time, is also a doubt with a cut foot. . “Branislav could finish the game, Fabregas and Filipe couldn’t,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho explained. . “Filipe has a calf problem, Fabregas has a hamstring.” . Mourinho added that Fabregas “said he wasn’t yet injured but that he…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been fined 25 000 pounds ($38 000) by the FA after claiming there was a “campaign” to influence referees’ decisions against his team. . Mourinho, 52, was in trouble for his comments after his side were denied a penalty in a 1-1 draw at Southampton in the Premier League on December 28. . The Portuguese contested the charge but the FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission ruled the comments were “improper and brought the game into disrepute” although it said they did not “imply bias on the part of a referee or referees”. . Mourinho denied his comments constituted…
Despite a poor run of results in the Premier League, not many goals and a stadium full of disgruntled fans, Aston Villa’s chief executive Tom Fox said on Wednesday manager Paul Lambert had the full support of American owner Randy Lerner. . Villa, who started the season brightly and were second in the middle of September, have slipped to 15th in the table, the same lowly position they ended last season. . Lambert’s misfiring side have taken only 12 points from their last 18 league games, but Fox told BBC Sport sacking Lambert mid-season would be like ‘flipping a coin’.…
West Bromwich Albion have signed versatile midfielder Callum McManaman from Wigan Athletic on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. . The 23-year-old FA Cup winner is Tony Pulis’s first signing since he took charge at The Hawthorns earlier this month. . “I’m delighted we’ve got Callum and I believe he will be an exciting addition to our numbers,” Pulis said on the club’s website (www.wba.co.uk). . “Callum is a player who can improve our options and I am really looking forward to working with him.” . McManaman, whose contract includes an option…
Arsenal have signed Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. . The 24-year-old has moved to London in a deal worth £11.3 million, British media reported. . “It’s another dream in my career that has come true,” Gabriel told the Arsenal website. . “I have only just arrived but I am already feeling really good here in London. I’m at a top club so that gives me more strength to be able to work and carry on, to be able to conquer much more in my career. . “It’s a huge club, even more…
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a two-match ban following his dismissal for kicking out at an opponent during their La Liga clash with Cordoba last Saturday, the Spanish league said on Wednesday. . Ronaldo was unable to make an impact in the match and his frustration saw him first lash out with his hand at Jose Crespo, which the referee missed, and then minutes later kick out at Edimar for which he was sent off. . Real won 2-1 thanks to a late Gareth Bale penalty and Ronaldo apologised on Twitter after the game. . The Portugal winger…
Chelsea striker Diego Costa could miss Saturday’s top-of-the-table Premier league clash against Manchester City after being charged with violent conduct by the FA for an alleged stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can. . The Brazilian-born Spain striker faces a potential three-game ban after he appeared to tread down on the 21-year-old German early in the first half of their League Cup semifinal, second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. . He was later involved in a second stamping furore involving Liverpool’s Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel, but the FA said they would not take any action over that incident. . The FA…
Raheem Sterling’s stunning individual goal earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in a rip-roaring League Cup semifinal first leg at Anfield on Tuesday but the dominant Merseysiders could be left to rue a missed opportunity. . Chelsea, having taken an 18th minute lead against the run of play through an Eden Hazard penalty, defended stoutly until Sterling, refreshed and reinvigorated from a mid-season break, levelled before the hour after bursting through the defence. . Both sides had vociferous penalty appeals turned down and Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois showed his worth with a series of superb saves to keep the…
For those who questioned Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers for allowing winger Raheem Sterling to take a mid-season break, the answer came in one emphatic burst of pace in Tuesday’s League Cup semifinal draw with Chelsea. . Sterling had returned from a trip to Jamaica for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Aston Villa, and was reinstated to his role as a makeshift centre forward for the first leg against league leaders Chelsea at Anfield. . With Liverpool a goal down in the second half, after Eden Hazard’s early penalty, and becoming increasingly frustrated, the 20-year-old received the ball in Chelsea’s half.…
Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor was restored to the starting line-up as captain against Sheffield United in their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday but left the pitch to a chorus of boos from the home fans. . The controversial Togo forward lasted 65 minutes of his side’s unconvincing 1-0 first leg win at White Hart Lane before being replaced by Spaniard Roberto Soldado, another of the club’s international pedigree forwards struggling for form. . The change at least brought the winning goal, with Soldado controlling the ball in the area before United defender Jay McEveley inadvertently handled to concede a…
Nigeria 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) hero Sunday Mba has voiced his sentiments over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.. . Mba scored twice at the 2013 Afcon, his second the winner as the Super Eagles overpowered Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final in Johannesburg to become African champions for the third time. . The CA Bastia midfielder said failure to make it to the Afcon just two years after emerging champions underlines “falling standards” in Nigerian football. . “I was actually shocked after we drew (our final qualifying) match against South Africa. It…
Super Eagles psychologist Robinson Okosun says he will be shocked if Peter Odemwingie decides to call time on his international career now. . . Odemwingie last played for Nigeria on June 30, 2014 in a second round World Cup game against France which the Super Eagles lost 0-2. . Speculations have been making the rounds that Odemwingie would toe the path of former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo who promptly announced his international retirement after the 2014 World Cup, but Okosun says he will be shocked if that scenario plays out. . “I have heard the rumours (that Odemwingie is…
Nigeria international striker Brown Ideye is set to join Bundesliga club Hamburg from Premier League campaigners West Bromwich Albion. . Ideye is West Brom’s record signing after he joined the Baggies from Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv for £10 million. . The striker has, however, failed to impress since his switch to the Premier League and Sky Sports is now reporting that he is on his way to join Hamburg on a season-long loan deal. . West Brom manager Tony Pulis is scouring the market for strikers and Georgios Samaras and Ideye are the favourites to leave the Hawthorns now that…
Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp does not expect to see players line up to leave the relegation-threatened former champions if they fail to bounce back this season and secure a European spot. . The 2011 and 2012 German champions are in 17th place, level on 15 points with last-placed Freiburg. They have lost 10 of their 17 league games so far this season and have won just four. . “As things stand now I have no problem staying in the league and spending next season training a lot,” Klopp, who led Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2013, told…