While soccer is often seen as a path to wealth, there are players who were affluent before stepping onto the football field. These individuals enjoyed a privileged upbringing, not relying on the beautiful game to establish their wealth. Here are ten well-known footballers who were financially secure before even starting their football careers: 1. Faiq Bolkiah: As a member of the Brunei royal family, Faiq Bolkiah inherited significant wealth, being the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, whose fortune is estimated at $20 billion. Despite his wealth, Bolkiah pursued a football career, playing for clubs such as Chelsea, Southampton, and…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed significant details regarding Manchester United’s potential record-breaking £105 million transfer for Benfica sensation Joao Neves. Despite being just 19 years old and primarily operating in a deeper midfield role, Neves has secured a regular starting position at the Portuguese giant Benfica. He has already earned three caps for the Portuguese national team, competing with established players like Joao Palhinha from Fulham. TEAMtalk previously reported in October that Manchester United was scouting Neves, a claim later confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. Portuguese outlet Record indicated that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is keen on adding…
Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has shared that he and his teammates experienced a poignant moment when José Mourinho was dismissed as the head coach during his initial tenure at the club. Mikel revealed that Mourinho’s departure created an emotionally charged atmosphere at the training ground. Despite the tears and the difficulty of saying goodbye, the team managed to set aside their emotions and proceed with their training on that day. “It’s hard to say goodbye. For me, obviously, the most special one was when [Jose] Mourinho got sacked. “A lot of people were in tears, were crying. It…
Legendary Argentine footballer Diego Maradona may no longer be with us, but his impact on the sport endures, evident in the record-breaking sale of his iconic “Hand of God” jersey. Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Jersey Fetches World Record Price The infamous goal, famously dubbed “The Hand of God,” was netted by Maradona against England during the quarterfinal of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Despite being scored with his hand, a violation of association rules, the goal went unnoticed by the referee, securing a 1-0 lead for Argentina. In the same match, Maradona went on to score the “Goal of…
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is awaiting medical clearance in anticipation of the club’s upcoming journey to face Atalanta this weekend. Osimhen has been on the sidelines since sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty last month. This setback has caused him to miss Napoli’s last six matches across various competitions. In an effort to facilitate his recovery, the Nigerian striker engaged in personalized training and gym sessions last week. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Napoli’s medical team will intensify efforts over the next two days to assess his readiness for Saturday’s game against Atalanta. It is anticipated that…
Former Super Eagles forward, Daniel Amokachi, has joined a group of 29 other coaches in Agadir, Morocco, for a training course. Upon completion of the program, all participating coaches, including 25 former Moroccan players, will be awarded the CAF A license. The training initiative is a collaboration between the Direction Technique Nationale (DTN) and the Ligue Régionale Souss-Massa. The comprehensive program includes theoretical classroom sessions, model sessions led by experts, practical situations guided by CAF and UEFA experts, as well as mentoring and methodology sessions. Amokachi, who initially assumed the role of Super Eagles assistant coach in 2007, continued in…
Chelsea icon Florent Malouda recently shared his insights on his former club, emphasizing the club’s primary focus on winning. Speaking on Monday, November 20, 2023, via the Obi One Podcast, Malouda expressed the urgency for the coach to secure victories promptly, asserting that there is no room for a long-term project at a club of Chelsea’s stature. In his own words, Malouda stated, “Chelsea is about winning. There is no time for a project. You must win now.” The club has faced challenges since the departure of Thomas Tuchel in 2021, undergoing managerial changes. However, with the recent appointment of…
Benjamin Mendy, the former left-back for Manchester City, is pursuing a “multi-million pound” legal action against the club for unpaid wages. The 29-year-old faced charges of rape and sexual assault in August 2021, stemming from an alleged incident at his Cheshire home nine months prior. Manchester City suspended Mendy pending trial. Despite denying all allegations, Mendy was acquitted in January 2023 of seven counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Chester Crown Court. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on an additional count, leading to a retrial in June, where Mendy was ultimately cleared of…
Deontay Wilder, the rival of Anthony Joshua, has forecasted a knockout victory for the Nigerian-born British boxer over Otto Wallin on December 23, 2023. Scheduled for the same date, Anthony Joshua is set to face Otto Wallin, while Joseph Parker will take on Deontay Wilder on the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia card. Deontay Wilder is entering the bout against Parker after a hiatus of over a year from the ring. Despite Parker’s noteworthy status as a former WBO World champion and Tyson Fury’s training partner in the heavyweight division, Wilder sees Joshua prevailing in their upcoming clash. Anthony Joshua’s upcoming bout…
Nigerians are expressing growing discontent with Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro in the wake of a series of disappointing outcomes. Demands for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to part ways with Peseiro have escalated as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals approach, set to be hosted by Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11. Some advocate for organizational improvements within the NFF before considering a change in coaching personnel, whether local or foreign. The discontent follows Nigeria’s recent 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Peseiro’s initial contract with the…
The upcoming league match between Chelsea and Newcastle at St James Park after the international break presents a formidable challenge for the Magpies, with the odds heavily favoring Chelsea due to the absence of key players. Newcastle United, under the management of Eddie Howe, is grappling with a significant injury crisis, with reports from Newcastle World indicating that no fewer than 10 senior players are ruled out for the crucial encounter. The list of unavailable players includes Sandro Tonali (serving a suspension), Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Lewis Hall, Matt Targett, and Javier…
After securing only 2 points in two World Cup qualifiers for the Nigerian Super Eagles, fans are growing impatient with the team. However, Alex Iwobi, the Nigeria international and former Everton star, suggests that the team’s recent poor form may be attributed to logistical challenges impacting their motivation on the international stage. Following back-to-back draws against South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Fulham midfielder addressed the media to provide insights into the team’s performances. In response to the recent games, the former Arsenal player expressed disappointment, saying, “Of course, it’s disappointing; we should be able to get more points and more…
Lionel Messi’s jerseys from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, notably worn during the historic final against France, are anticipated to command a substantial £8 million in an upcoming auction at Sotheby’s in New York. The collection comprises six shirts worn by the football legend throughout Argentina’s triumphant journey to victory. A portion of the proceeds from the auction is earmarked for charitable causes. Included in the assortment are Messi’s jerseys from the first half of the final, the semi-final clash against Croatia, the quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands, the round-of-16 match versus Australia, and two of the three group-stage games.…
Chelsea captain Reece James recently shared his positive sentiments, stating that he hasn’t felt this good in a long time and that his strength and fitness are gradually improving. The revelation was made yesterday, Sunday, November 19, 2023, via Chelsea FC, indicating that the captain is currently experiencing a fulfilling period in his career. In his words from yesterday, Reece James expressed, “I haven’t felt this good in a long time. I definitely feel my strength and fitness building up again.” Having returned to action a few weeks ago after an early-season injury, James has consistently impressed for the Blues.…
Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates have concluded their qualifying rounds with a flawless 100% record, securing 30 points by winning all 10 of their games. Furthermore, Ronaldo has now become his country’s top scorer in the competition, tallying a total of 10 goals. With this achievement, his team advances to the European Championship group stage. Following their last game, Roberto Martínez commented on Ronaldo’s performances, stating, “Cristiano Ronaldo is as hungry as an 18-year-old player. He is a role model, always positioning himself well and seeking the goal.” This insight was shared by football expert Fabrizio Romano on X. As…
Barcelona’s midfielder Gavi faces the possibility of sitting out the remainder of the 2023-2024 season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament rupture while playing for Spain during the November international break. Gavi, visibly emotional as he left the field following a significant stumble while controlling the ball on Sunday, is set to undergo surgery to address the injury. Barcelona, in an announcement on November 20, stated that further details about the injury would be provided in the coming days, confirming the 19-year-old’s right ACL would undergo an operation. Anticipating Gavi’s season-long absence, it means the midfielder will miss the chance…
Former Arsenal executive David Dein has emphasized that the recent conduct of manager Mikel Arteta has had an adverse impact on the club’s reputation. Dein’s concerns stem from Arteta’s impassioned reaction following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month, a match marked by significant VAR controversy. The decisive moment in the game was Anthony Gordon’s goal, which stood despite undergoing three separate VAR reviews. In the aftermath of the match, Arteta publicly expressed his fury, deeming it an ‘absolute disgrace’ for the goal to be allowed. However, Dein has now criticized Arteta’s response to the incident, as conveyed…
Reports suggest that AS Roma’s head coach, Jose Mourinho, has requested the signing of Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior in the upcoming January transfer window. Mourinho aims to strengthen Roma’s defense for the second half of the season by adding Kiwior to the team. According to Italian publication Romagiallorossa, Mourinho’s side is considering either Jakub Kiwior or Tottenham’s Eric Dier as potential signings in January. Kiwior, who joined Arsenal from Spezia Calcio in January for a fee of €25 million, has found it challenging to secure regular playing time, serving as a backup to the first-choice left centre-back, Gabriel. The 23-year-old…
A member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, Nse Essien, has revealed that the NFF would have dismissed Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro if they had the financial means to do so. Essien made this statement during an interview with OJB Sports following the national team’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The draw with Zimbabwe, coming after a previous 1-1 draw with Lesotho, has left Peseiro’s team with only two points out of a possible six. Consequently, football enthusiasts have been urging the NFF to part ways with Peseiro due to the team’s…
A member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, Nse Essien, has revealed that the NFF would have dismissed Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro if they had the financial means to do so. Essien made this statement during an interview with OJB Sports following the national team’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The draw with Zimbabwe, coming after a previous 1-1 draw with Lesotho, has left Peseiro’s team with only two points out of a possible six. Consequently, football enthusiasts have been urging the NFF to part ways with Peseiro due to the team’s…