Lionel Messi has disclosed that he attempted to return to Barcelona and even explored the possibility of joining the Saudi Pro League before ultimately signing with MLS side Inter Miami. Following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, Messi was initially expected to rejoin Barcelona as a free agent. However, owing in part to the club’s widely acknowledged financial challenges, a reunion with La Blaugrana did not come to fruition. Speaking to TIME after being named their Athlete of the Year, Messi expressed his desire to return to Barcelona, but the move proved unfeasible. He…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
In 2014, James Rodriguez disclosed that both Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City presented more lucrative offers than Real Madrid, but he opted for the latter in pursuit of “glory.” Having earned international acclaim for his stunning performances at the 2014 World Cup, where he secured the Golden Boot with six goals, including a memorable volley for Colombia, Rodriguez’s market value soared. Real Madrid secured an €80m (£63m) deal with Monaco capitalizing on his heightened status. However, both PSG and Man City were contenders with tempting contract offers. Speaking to Twitch streamer Pelicanger, Rodriguez revealed, “PSG and City both wanted me.…
Manchester United displayed a significant improvement as Scott McTominay’s double secured a crucial Premier League victory over a lackluster Chelsea at Old Trafford. Despite Bruno Fernandes missing an early penalty for the home side, McTominay opened the scoring in the first half as Erik ten Hag’s team showcased their prowess. Cole Palmer, a Manchester City alum and lifelong United supporter, leveled the score just before halftime, with both teams squandering opportunities. The game kicked off brightly for the hosts, with Fernandes attempting a long-range shot that narrowly missed the bar, and Rasmus Hojlund testing Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, with a…
Arsenal supporters might reflect on that chilly Tuesday night at Kenilworth Road as pivotal in their Premier League title pursuit. Anticipating an easy victory against Luton Town, the Gunners were met with unexpected resistance from Rob Edwards’ tenacious squad. Despite David Raya’s errors granting Luton a 3-2 lead early in the second half, Kai Havertz’s swift response leveled the playing field. In the final third, Arsenal struggled for ideas, but a crucial late cross from Martin Odegaard saw Declan Rice rise highest to secure a 4-3 victory. Though against a smaller opponent, the win held significance for Arsenal’s season goals,…
Erik ten Hag urgently required a strong performance from his Manchester United side against Chelsea, especially after their lackluster showing at Newcastle the previous Saturday. A subpar display would have invited criticism for the Dutch coach, especially amid reports of discontent within the United squad. In response, Wednesday’s 2-1 victory at Old Trafford showcased a significant improvement. The majority of Ten Hag’s players demonstrated their support for the manager, dominating the game and forcing Chelsea into numerous mistakes. Scott McTominay emerged as the hero with goals on either side of Cole Palmer’s equalizer. The energetic and high-pressing display was noteworthy,…
Manchester United is actively considering offers for seasoned players, including Raphael Varane and Casemiro, in the upcoming January transfer window. The club, under the management of Erik ten Hag, is looking to part ways with Varane, Casemiro, and Jadon Sancho as part of a squad overhaul. Sancho’s exclusion from the team is attributed to a falling out with ten Hag, while Varane has lost his spot in the starting lineup. Ten Hag is also seeking a midfielder with a different playing profile than Casemiro. The decision to trim the squad reflects the ongoing challenges inherited from previous managers, and reports…
Manchester City’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been selected for the club’s roster in the upcoming 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, marking his return after nearly four months of injury absence. De Bruyne’s last appearance for City dates back to the Premier League season opener against Burnley on August 11, where he suffered a hamstring injury just 23 minutes into the game. In a recent statement, the Belgian likened his hamstrings to “wet kitchen towel” but expressed his hope to return to the field in early 2024. While it remains uncertain whether De Bruyne will see playing…
Due to a calf injury and potential participation in Japan’s Asian Cup campaign, Takehiro Tomiyasu may not feature for Arsenal until February, according to information obtained by 90min. Following his substitution in the recent 2-1 victory against Wolves, manager Mikel Arteta disclosed the unfortunate news about Tomiyasu’s calf issue, projecting an extended absence. Sources from 90min suggest that the injury may keep Tomiyasu out for a minimum of four weeks, possibly sidelining him until Arsenal’s visit to Burnley on February 17. Assuming Tomiyasu is fit, he is anticipated to join Japan for the 2023 Asian Cup from January 12 to…
Real Madrid is poised to present an offer to Kylian Mbappe, a long-term target whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain concludes in the summer. However, the Spanish giants stipulate a decision must be reached by 15 January. (AS) Noni Madueke is gearing up to seek a January exit from Chelsea, just a year after his return to England, following limited appearances under Mauricio Pochettino. (TeamTalk) Juventus is anticipated to withdraw from a winter loan pursuit of out-of-favor Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, who remains on the sidelines at Old Trafford amid discord with Erik ten Hag. (Tuttosport) Borussia Dortmund is considering…
Erik ten Hag attributes Scott McTominay’s goal-scoring prowess to his intuitive instincts, following the Scottish international’s two crucial goals in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory against Chelsea on Wednesday night. McTominay found the net twice, sandwiching Cole Palmer’s equalizer, elevating his Premier League goal tally to a personal best of five for the season. The double triumph propelled the Red Devils to sixth place, just three points behind local rivals Manchester City. Reflecting on McTominay’s performance, Ten Hag commented, “He has the skills. When he is arriving, he has the skills to arrive at the right moment; he has the instinct,…
Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that Chelsea fell short in matching the energy displayed by Manchester United during their defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The 2-1 loss marked Chelsea’s sixth of the season, with Scott McTominay scoring both goals for Man Utd. Expressing his disappointment in the post-match press conference, Pochettino attributed the defeat to his team’s failure to match the Red Devils’ energy levels. He stated, “I am disappointed because we didn’t start the game well. The feeling is that they started better than us, showing more energy than us. We couldn’t match the energy. I think they were…
Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has responded to recent criticism by urging his critics to consider his track record. Despite achieving significant success in his debut season, securing the Carabao Cup and a third-place finish in the Premier League, the current campaign has been more challenging for the Red Devils, with ten losses across various competitions and a seventh-place position in the Premier League. In the lead-up to the Premier League clash with Chelsea, ten Hag faced additional scrutiny as four journalists were banned from his pre-match press conference due to reports of discord in the dressing room. However,…
Liverpool is gearing up for a trial event to assess the new Anfield Road Stand ahead of their highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on December 17. Delays in construction earlier this year, stemming from the bankruptcy of the overseeing firm, prompted Liverpool to start the season with the top tier of the stand closed. In a bid to partially open the expanded top tier for the clash against Manchester United, Liverpool is awaiting a license from Liverpool City Council. To secure this license, a trial event is scheduled for December 11. Over 3,000 fans have been invited to the…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed reports of dressing room unrest, countering recent allegations that players were questioning his tactics and signings. Several journalists were barred from Tuesday’s press conference amid claims of disunity following the team’s defeat to Newcastle United. Ten Hag refuted the reports, addressing the issue during the press conference attended by select journalists. He acknowledged the natural discontent among players not in the starting lineup but insisted there were no significant issues. “In every team, there are always players who are not playing as much and may be less happy. In some circumstances, you…
Sheffield United has removed Paul Heckingbottom as the first Premier League manager to face the sack this season, with Chris Wilder returning to the club as his successor. Heckingbottom, 46, faced dismissal after Sheffield United amassed just five points from their opening 14 matches, securing only one win—a controversial 2-1 victory against Wolves at home last month. The final blow came in a 5-0 defeat against Burnley on Saturday, prompting the club to confirm the decision on Tuesday. In an official statement, Sheffield United announced, “Football manager Paul Heckingbottom has been relieved of his duties. Additionally, coaches Stuart McCall and…
Katsina United is currently facing repercussions from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for breaching the recently instituted dress code for players and staff. In their recent encounter against Sporting Lagos, a Katsina United player was spotted wearing a jersey with a handwritten number, leading the NPFL to take disciplinary measures against the club. League officials are considering reporting the match officials involved in the game to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for allowing the player to participate despite the violation of the dress code. Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, stressed the league’s commitment to upholding…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declined to assign any blame to goalkeeper David Raya despite his two errors that resulted in goals during their 4-3 victory over Luton Town on Tuesday night. Raya’s lapses allowed the hosts to score twice in eight minutes, taking the lead in the second half. The on-loan Brentford goalkeeper was caught out of position from a corner kick, leading to Elijah Adebayo’s equalizer, and later allowed a Ross Barkley shot to slip beneath him, putting the hosts in the lead. However, Kai Havertz leveled the score, and Declan Rice headed in the winner in the seventh…
Former Nigeria midfielder, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has expressed his belief that Victor Osimhen is worthy of winning the CAF Player of the Year. The recipient of this esteemed award is scheduled to be revealed at an event on December 11 in Morocco, with Osimhen being regarded as one of the frontrunners for the prestigious individual accolade. Competing against notable players such as Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi of PSG, and former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Osimhen has earned recognition for his outstanding performances. “He [Osimhen] deserves it because for me, he was the most consistent player of…
Barcelona has officially announced that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery for his back injury. Ter Stegen, who had been absent from Barcelona’s recent matches due to the ailment, had initially hoped to avoid surgery, but the decision has now been made to proceed with a surgical solution. As a consequence, Ter Stegen is anticipated to be sidelined for at least two months. This extended absence raises concerns about his participation in the Champions League knockout stages, which commence on February 13, 2024. The timeline provides Ter Stegen with approximately three months to regain full fitness. During Ter Stegen’s…
Manchester City and Liverpool remain resolute in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz, despite the ongoing interest from Bayern Munich. Wirtz made a successful comeback from an ACL injury at the beginning of 2023, and his outstanding form this season has played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s current lead in the Bundesliga as they vie for their inaugural title. Operating from the ‘number 10’ position, the 20-year-old has notched three goals and provided five assists in 13 Bundesliga appearances. Additionally, he has contributed to eight goals in six games across the Europa League and DFB-Pokal. While Leverkusen has already stated…