Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe are set to contend for this year’s FIFA Best Men’s Player Award, as disclosed by FIFA on Thursday. This mirrors the same trio that claimed the top spots in the Ballon d’Or voting. The Women’s Best Player shortlist features Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí and Jenni Hermoso, along with Linda Caicedo from Colombia. Haaland played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s triumphant season, securing the treble with victories in the Champions League, English Premier League, and FA Cup. Messi and Mbappe clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, although their Champions League journey concluded…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Tottenham Hotspur player Darren Bent has asserted that Manchester United is too large a club for manager Erik ten Hag and has encouraged the Dutchman to step down from his position at Old Trafford. Bent’s remarks follow Manchester United’s recent 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The team’s elimination from the Champions League saw them finish at the bottom of Group A, accumulating four points from six games, with one win, one draw, and four losses in the group stage. Expressing his opinion on Ten Hag, Bent stated on talkSPORT: “He’s not up…
Rebecca Welch is set to make history as the first woman to officiate a Premier League match, having been appointed as the referee for the clash between Fulham and Burnley on Saturday, December 23. The 40-year-old previously achieved a landmark in EFL history by refereeing a game in April 2021 and subsequently took charge of a men’s FA Cup fixture nine months later. Additionally, Welch served as the fourth official during Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham in November, marking the first instance of a woman assuming this role. Welch’s upcoming role in the Fulham vs. Burnley match at Craven…
Graham Potter is set to make a managerial comeback, following his departure from the role of Chelsea head coach eight months ago, as reported by 90min. Despite signing a five-year contract last September to replace Thomas Tuchel, Potter was let go in April after a disappointing record of only 12 wins out of 31 games. Since leaving Chelsea, Potter has reportedly turned down opportunities from Lyon and Leicester, and dismissed links to Championship side Stoke City. However, the latest information suggests that he is now gearing up for a return to management in 2024. Recent reports have linked Potter to…
Eddie Howe conceded that the Champions League exit left Newcastle United “absolutely devastated.” The team aimed to secure a spot in the knockout stages with a victory over AC Milan at St James’ Park, contingent on Paris Saint-Germain failing to win against Borussia Dortmund. PSG drew 1-1 in Germany, leaving the door open for Newcastle to qualify alongside Dortmund. Despite Joelinton’s first-half goal igniting hope, Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze’s efforts secured a 2-1 win for Milan, breaking Newcastle hearts. Speaking to TNT Sports post-game, Howe reflected, “I thought there were some really good bits; we were dominant at times…
Graham Potter, the former manager of Brighton and Chelsea, is reportedly in consideration to take over at Manchester United, according to The Sun. However, any significant decisions, including the status of current manager Erik ten Hag, will be deferred until the formalization of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% investment. Ratcliffe is expected to establish a new footballing department upon completion of the investment, as reported by The Independent. In the January transfer window, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek are the most likely players to depart from Old Trafford, with Manchester United open to offers for Casemiro and Raphael Varane,…
Liverpool suffered a defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League on Thursday night. However, despite the loss, they secured progression to the competition’s last 16 as group winners, having already secured their place before the match. Mohamed Amoura and Cameron Puertas scored crucial goals for Union, securing their spot in the Europa Conference League after clinching third place in the group by beating LASK in the final standings. Jarell Quansah managed to equalize for Liverpool, but Union’s overall performance deserved more goals. The game unfolded with Liverpool dominating possession, but the heavily rotated side, with nothing at stake, struggled…
Liverpool’s young talent, Fabio Carvalho, has communicated to his parent club his desire to terminate his season-long loan at RB Leipzig, as reported by 90min. Having initially joined Liverpool as a teenager in 2022 following a standout season during Fulham’s Championship promotion campaign, Carvalho made 21 appearances for the Reds across all competitions. Seeking more regular playing time, the 21-year-old attacker moved to Germany for the current season. However, Carvalho’s expectations for significant opportunities with Leipzig have not materialized. As the Bundesliga approaches its winter break, Carvalho has only started once in the league and has not featured at all…
Real Madrid’s midfielder, Jude Bellingham, isn’t daunted by the immense pressure associated with the historic figures who have graced the Bernabeu before him; instead, he welcomes it. Surpassing even the expectations set by his €134m price tag, Bellingham has broken records previously held by Madrid legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano. Upon his arrival in the Spanish capital, comparisons naturally arose with another great, Zinedine Zidane, as Bellingham inherited the iconic number five shirt once worn by the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year. The choice of the number, unusual for attacking players,…
Raphael Varane’s contract with Manchester United is set to expire at the conclusion of this season, contrary to the previously believed summer of 2025. While Varane’s current deal includes a 12-month extension option until 2025, its activation rests with the club; if untriggered, Varane could become a free agent as early as June. Despite the high-profile unveiling in 2021, Varane’s future at Old Trafford is uncertain, marked by his recent absence from the starting lineup. The preference for right-footed center-back Harry Maguire and the elevation of summer arrival Jonny Evans have pushed the 30-year-old French international down the pecking order.…
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has expressed sympathy for Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson, stating that the Senegal international appears nervous. Gary Neville has criticized Jackson, suggesting that he is not at the level required to lead Chelsea and has also criticized Mykhailo Mudryk for his underwhelming start with the Blues. It’s worth noting that Jackson made the move to the west London club from Villarreal in La Liga before the 2023-24 season. Despite scoring seven goals in 18 appearances across all competitions for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, the 22-year-old has displayed signs of inconsistency and a lack of composure. During an episode…
Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze made a significant impact as a substitute, scoring to aid AC Milan in securing a UEFA Europa League spot with a 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Wednesday. Chukwueze, recently acquired from Villarreal, has faced challenges in earning regular playing time with the Italian Serie A club. Despite his crucial goal, it wasn’t sufficient to propel AC Milan into the knockout stage. Group F witnessed intense drama as three teams vied for the second group ticket, following Dortmund’s earlier qualification. Newcastle seemed poised for the round of 16 at one point…
Africa’s standout player, Victor Osimhen, has tentatively agreed to extend his contract with Napoli. Despite strong interest from prominent European clubs, the Super Eagles star is set to sign a one-year extension, binding him to Napoli until 2026. This development deals a blow to teams like Chelsea, who were actively pursuing Osimhen, with reports suggesting concrete interest in a potential January transfer. Osimhen’s initial five-year deal with Napoli was scheduled to conclude in the summer of 2025, attracting attention from clubs hoping to capitalize on the situation. The contract extension, while not necessarily preventing Osimhen from leaving Napoli, provides the…
Chidera Ejuke, the nimble Super Eagles winger, made 21 appearances for Hertha Berlin last season but failed to find the back of the net. In a recent report by Torizone, the 25-year-old expressed his disappointment over a past failed move to Liverpool. Currently on loan with Belgian side Royal Antwerp from his parent club CSKA Moscow, Ejuke has netted three goals in thirteen outings this season. Ejuke first ventured into Europe at the age of 17, attracting interest from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Norwegian side Vålerenga. He initially arrived in Europe when Vålerenga Fotball signed him in 2017. According to…
Newcastle United’s hopes in the Champions League and European competition were shattered on Wednesday night as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Milan at home. Joelinton’s powerful strike from inside the box gave Newcastle a well-deserved lead at halftime, with Milan struggling to create significant opportunities. However, Christian Pulisic equalized after the break, and Samuel Chukwueze completed a stunning comeback late in the game. Despite Paris Saint-Germain managing only a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the other group match, a victory for Newcastle would have secured their spot in the knockout stages. Unfortunately, they also missed out on…
Liverpool has officially announced the opening of the upper tier of the recently revamped Anfield Road stand for the much-anticipated match against Manchester United, expanding the stadium’s capacity to over 57,000. The construction project, initiated in 2021 with an initial target for completion at the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season, encountered setbacks, including delays caused by the appointed construction company filing for administration. Consequently, the Anfield Road stand had only been partially accessible for the majority of the ongoing campaign. Following a successful trial event on Monday, Liverpool confirmed the extensive opening of the Anfield Road side for…
Barcelona, despite finishing at the top of their Champions League group, suffered a surprising defeat on matchday six against Antwerp in Belgium. The unexpected turn of events unfolded in a chaotic few minutes of stoppage time. In a thrilling encounter, 17-year-old Barcelona substitute Marc Guiu secured a late equalizer for Xavi’s team, leveling the score after being twice behind against the team they previously defeated 5-0 on matchday one. However, it was 17-year-old Antwerp forward George Ilenikhena who emerged as the hero, clinching a historic victory with an even later goal. The opening moments saw Antwerp’s 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren giving…
Antonio Rudiger has disclosed that he consistently urges his Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos to reconsider his decision to retire from international football. Kroos, who amassed 106 appearances for Germany from 2010 to 2021 and secured a World Cup victory in 2014 before joining Real Madrid, announced his retirement from the national team after a disappointing Euro 2020. At the age of 31, he explained that the decision was aimed at prioritizing his club career and spending more time with his wife and three children. Despite Kroos’ rationale, his absence is keenly felt by his international peers. “I ask him…
On Wednesday evening, Manchester City achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the second English team in Champions League history to secure victory in all six of their group stage games. The Cityzens clinched this feat with a 3-2 win against Red Star in Serbia. Pep Guardiola, having already secured the top spot in Group G, fielded a youthful lineup that showcased their prowess in Belgrade. Micah Hamilton, making his Champions League debut, opened the scoring with a superb finish in the first half. Oscar Bobb extended the visitors’ lead with an equally impressive effort after an hour at the…
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has showered praise on Samuel Chukwueze’s goal in AC Milan’s 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United. Chukwueze, entering the game as a substitute, secured the winning goal for the Rossoneri, marking his second goal in the competition this season. Despite falling behind with Joellinton’s goal in the 60th minute, Stefano Pioli’s side managed to level the score through Christian Public. Chukwueze then clinched the victory with a goal six minutes from the final whistle, elegantly curling the ball into the net after receiving a pass from Noah Okafor. Ferdinand, providing punditry for TNT Sports, remarked,…