Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has emphasized that he did not request the club to re-sign Karim Benzema. After 14 years with the LaLiga giants, Benzema departed as a free agent last summer and joined Al Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League champions. However, the 36-year-old striker is reportedly unsettled in the Middle East and expresses a desire to return to Europe. Addressing the rumors that suggested Ancelotti asked Madrid president Florentino Perez to bring back Benzema, only to have the request declined, Ancelotti debunked the claims in his Friday news conference, stating, “It’s a lie. We have not spoken about…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Erik ten Hag acknowledges that Manchester United is not anticipating the possibility of securing a new striker before the January transfer window closes. The Red Devils are in search of an experienced striker to alleviate the pressure on £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has only managed two Premier League goals this season. However, the club has been compelled to focus on player departures this month in an attempt to generate funds. As previously disclosed by 90min earlier this month, a potential move for an experienced striker like Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would only be considered if Manchester United could…
Manchester City put an end to their prolonged winless streak and goal drought at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 1-0 triumph in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday night. In a match marked by lackluster performances from both sides, the decisive moment arrived late in the game, marking City’s first goal at this North London venue since its inauguration in 2019. Despite the return of James Maddison from the bench, Ange Postecoglou’s team couldn’t alter the fate of their domestic trophy drought, extending it into another year. The initial excitement for City, thinking they had broken the curse early…
Manchester United is actively pursuing Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak as a potential replacement for Andre Onana at Old Trafford. Following the departure of David De Gea, the previous season’s Premier League Golden Glove winner, Manchester United signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan for over €50 million to fill the goalkeeper position. However, Onana has faced challenges and made critical errors, notably contributing to Manchester United’s elimination from the Champions League this season. Sources indicate that Manchester United is exploring the possibility of swapping Onana for Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish source Todo Fichajes reports that Atletico Madrid is…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has specified the clubs he will not consider working for once he departs Anfield this summer. In a statement on Friday, Klopp confirmed his decision to step away from the managerial role after the current season. Despite being linked to various job opportunities, the former Borussia Dortmund boss asserted that he will categorically refrain from managing any of Liverpool’s rivals in the future. “If you ask me whether I will ever work as a manager again, I would say no. But I don’t know for sure how that will feel because I’ve never been in that…
Xabi Alonso, currently managing Bayer Leverkusen, has been at the center of intense speculation linking him to the managerial position at Liverpool, following Jurgen Klopp’s recent announcement about departing from the club. Despite being considered a strong candidate and a favorite among fans due to his history with Liverpool, Alonso has unequivocally expressed his current commitment and satisfaction with his role at Bayer Leverkusen. Addressing the speculation in a recent press conference, Alonso made it clear that his focus is solely on Bayer Leverkusen. He stated, as reported by Fabrizio on X, “Speculation is normal; my focus is here on…
Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, assures that there are no issues within his team regarding the goalkeeping number one position. Song raised eyebrows when he opted to bench Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana for the Indomitable Lions’ 3-2 victory against Gambia. However, Onana’s replacement, Fabrice Ondoa, delivered a commendable performance against the Scorpions. The former West Ham United defender expressed satisfaction with having quality goalkeepers in the team, stating, “Cameroon is a country that has always produced great goalkeepers, and today we have two excellent goalkeepers. We can distribute playing time between them. I don’t have a problem with my…
Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has asserted that his ex-manager Jose Mourinho has a tendency to manipulate people’s emotions. Speaking to FourFourTwo, the 38-year-old revealed that there were times when he felt the urge to slam the former AS Roma coach’s head against a wall due to frustration during their time together at Stamford Bridge. “Some days, you want to hit his head against the wall, but, then, you leave and think, ‘That is probably one of the best managers ever.’ It’s crazy,” expressed Ba. “He has the ability to play with people’s emotions to get what he needs out…
Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has confirmed that Victor Osimhen will be departing from the club this summer. The highly sought-after striker, instrumental in Napoli securing their first Serie A title in over 30 years, has garnered interest from numerous clubs in the transfer market. Despite signing a new contract in Naples just last month, the 25-year-old Nigerian’s agreement reportedly includes a release clause of £112m. De Laurentiis revealed that the club was aware of Osimhen’s impending departure during the summer, and negotiations for the new contract were amicable, as evidenced by the extended duration. Hinting at potential destinations for…
Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi believes that securing 1-0 results is satisfactory at the moment, emphasizing that the Super Eagles’ primary goal is to win and advance to the next round at AFCON 2023. In response to Nigerian fans urging the team to score more goals in the competition, the Fulham star, in a video on the social media platform TikTok, has pushed back, expressing that the fans are never satisfied. Despite facing criticism for scoring only three goals in the group stage, Nigeria secured a spot in the round of 16 after finishing second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea. Despite…
The Confederation of African Football has disclosed the reasons behind the exclusion of Nigerian referees from officiating at the Africa Cup of Nations and other continental football tournaments. Noumandiez Doue, the Head of Refereeing at CAF, addressed this issue during a CAF referees training session at Sol Beni (ASEC Mimosas Training Centre) in Abidjan. Doue acknowledged the competence of Nigerian referees but emphasized that they need to enhance their performance. For the past 18 years, no Nigerian referee has been selected for the biennial competition, sparking debates among football stakeholders in the country. In response to criticisms of the referee…
Mohamed Salah has reiterated his affection for Egypt but responded to critics after departing from their Africa Cup of Nations camp due to a hamstring injury. The winger was substituted at halftime during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in their second group stage match. Initially expected to make a swift return, further examinations revealed a more serious injury, prompting his return to Liverpool for treatment. While Salah may rejoin the Pharaohs’ camp later in the tournament if he recovers quickly, his decision to leave has stirred controversy in Egypt. Legendary player Ahmed Hasan accused Salah of scheming his departure, a…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Altay Bayindir will be the starting goalkeeper against Newport County in the FA Cup on Sunday. With the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, who is representing the Cameroon national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, Bayindir, who joined in the summer, is set to make his debut for United in the upcoming match. Ten Hag assured reporters, stating, “Yeah, he [Bayindir] will be in the goal. I think it is clear what we can expect from him. He waits for his chances but he is experienced. He played for…
Jamie Carragher, a revered figure in Liverpool’s history, has identified Xabi Alonso, his former teammate with the Reds, as the top choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp as the manager at Anfield. Klopp’s unexpected announcement on Friday revealed his decision to depart Liverpool at the end of the season, citing a depletion of energy as he concludes his ninth year in charge. Addressing the matter on Sky Sports, Carragher acknowledged the sadness surrounding Klopp’s departure, recognizing him as one of the greatest managers in world football and a significant figure in Liverpool’s history. Despite this, Carragher urged fans to shift focus…
Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, has emphasized the respect his team holds for Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen but made it clear that they do not harbor any fear towards the Napoli striker. The Super Eagles have secured victories in their last two AFCON encounters against the Indomitable Lions, aiming for a third consecutive win in the upcoming last-16 clash this Saturday. Despite Osimhen’s modest performance at the 2023 AFCON, having scored only one goal in three matches, Song is well aware of the 25-year-old’s capabilities when in form. “Osimhen is a significant player,” Song stated to the Guardian, as reported by…
The Football Federation of Côte d’Ivoire is in the process of arranging a temporary collaboration with Hervé Renard, the current coach of the France women’s national team, to guide the national team for the remainder of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which is being hosted in their home country. Renard, with extensive experience in managing football teams in both Côte d’Ivoire and the broader African continent, has previously held coaching positions with the national teams of Zambia, Morocco, and Côte d’Ivoire. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first coach to secure the Africa Cup of Nations…
Ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are leaving no stone unturned, as reported by Soccernet.ng. Set to face their long-standing rivals on Saturday, January 27, at the Félix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Nigeria is keen on advancing to the AFCON quarterfinals. Despite Cameroon’s impressive track record with four AFCON Cup victories, the Super Eagles boast a more talented squad and are optimistic about securing their fourth AFCON win. Notably, injuries have affected key players like Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Victor Boniface. In their…
Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, has clarified the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho from the playing field during AFCON 2023. Peseiro, who is leading the Super Eagles in Ivory Coast, revealed the rationale behind not featuring players like Iheanacho, Francis Uzoho, Ahmed Musa, and Terem Moffi in the tournament. Despite bringing a squad of 25 players, including Iheanacho, who was anticipated to play a significant role, the Leicester City striker has yet to make an appearance in the competition. Although available since the second game against Ivory Coast, Iheanacho has not been included in the playing XI. Notably, no Nigerian player,…
Barcelona is concerned that their left-back, Alejandro Balde, may need season-ending surgery after sustaining a hamstring injury during their 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club on Wednesday. The 20-year-old could only manage 23 minutes on the field before leaving with apparent distress, raising immediate concerns about the severity of his injury. Upon further examination of the suspected hamstring tear, Catalunya Radio reports that Balde has also been diagnosed with a tendon tear in his right thigh. Club officials are recommending surgery in Finland, with the recovery period estimated at four months, potentially ending Balde’s season prematurely. Barcelona is currently awaiting final…
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he will be departing from Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, concluding his impactful nine-year tenure with the club. This surprising announcement has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, especially considering Klopp’s contract was initially set to run until 2026. However, the German manager confirmed his decision, citing a depletion of energy as the primary reason for stepping away from his role. In a statement to Liverpool’s website, Klopp expressed his deep love for the club, the city, the supporters, the team, and the staff. Despite his affection, he emphasized that he is…