Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has shared his opinion on the top footballers, revealing his preferences in a recent interview while selecting his ultimate El Clasico XI. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Real Madrid’s history, Casillas made his debut for the club in 1999 and went on to play 725 matches, keeping 264 clean sheets across all competitions. His impressive career at Real Madrid includes winning three Champions League titles, five La Liga titles, one FIFA Club World Cup, and two UEFA Super Cups, among numerous other honors. He was also named Real Madrid’s Goalkeeper of…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Atalanta BC is reportedly preparing for the possible departure of star forward Ademola Lookman amid rising interest from top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini recently confirmed PSG’s interest, stating that the French giants inquired about Lookman during the summer transfer window. Although PSG reached personal terms with Lookman, an agreement between the clubs wasn’t finalized. This has led to speculation that Atalanta may be actively looking for a replacement for the Nigerian forward, a key player for the Serie A side. Lookman has attracted attention from other top clubs, including Chelsea and West Ham United in…
Manchester United Confirm Ruben Amorim as New Manager Manchester United have officially named Ruben Amorim as their new manager. In a statement released on Friday, the club confirmed that Amorim will remain with Sporting Lisbon until November 11. Consequently, the 39-year-old’s first match in charge will be a Premier League away game against Ipswich Town. Amorim has signed a contract that extends until June 2027, with an option for an additional year. United has also agreed to pay Sporting an extra €1 million (£840,000) on top of his €10 million (£8.4 million) exit clause to facilitate his early release from…
LaLiga President Javier Tebas has criticized Real Madrid for their decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony, following the news that their star player, Vinicius Jr., would not be receiving an award. Tebas deemed the European champions’ absence as classless and lacking in sportsmanship. In an interview with French outlet L’Equipe, he expressed his disappointment, stating, “As a Madrid fan, I believe that the club’s core values include being a gentleman and shaking hands when you lose.” He added, “I think Real Madrid lost that mentality a long time ago. They should have attended the ceremony and not questioned the…
Sevilla manager Garcia Pimienta has praised Kelechi Iheanacho after the forward broke his goal drought. Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla on a free transfer this summer, had a challenging start but scored twice in the club’s 3-0 Copa del Rey victory over La Rozas FC on Wednesday, marking his first goals for the Rojiblancos. Pimienta commended the Nigerian international after the match. “He played sparingly in the first half, but in the second, he showed the finishing touch needed by a forward,” Pimienta said on the club’s official website. “He’s been training well; he played the full 90 minutes. We’re pleased…
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has shared his struggles with injuries and his strong desire to secure a regular starting role in the team, subtly hinting at his wish for more playtime under Mikel Arteta. This season, Jesus has found himself spending more time on the bench, further fueling his determination to contribute significantly to the Gunners’ campaign. “I am the type of guy who works, always,” Jesus expressed, highlighting his dedication to the game. “Obviously, I am not happy when I don’t play. I am not happy when I play and score, and the team doesn’t win. I always want…
The draw for this season’s Carabao Cup quarter-finals took place on Wednesday night. Defending champions Liverpool will face Southampton away, while Arsenal will host Crystal Palace. The standout match of the round is Manchester United’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, Newcastle will welcome Brentford in the final matchup of the next round. CARABAO CUP QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed he currently has only 13 first-team players available. The Premier League champions faced further setbacks after their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. City were already missing key players, including Kyle Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish for the fourth-round clash. Ahead of the game, Manuel Akanji was also ruled out, and Savinho had to be stretchered off in the second half. As City prepares for this weekend’s league match against Bournemouth, Guardiola acknowledged the severity of the situation. “We have 13 players…
Ruben Amorim has stated he will announce his decision regarding his future after Sporting CP’s match against Estrela on Friday. Reports from the English media emerged Thursday morning, claiming that Manchester United had reached a complete agreement to appoint Amorim as their next manager, with an official announcement expected later in the day. Coincidentally, Amorim held a press conference that afternoon to preview the Estrela game, where many questions focused on his potential move to United. When asked about comments from INEOS chief Sir Dave Brailsford suggesting the deal was “done,” Amorim responded: “I know they made a trip to…
As Manchester United prepares to face Chelsea in a Premier League clash on Sunday, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to field a strong lineup at Old Trafford. Following a recent 5-2 victory over Leicester, Van Nistelrooy aims to maintain momentum as he leads the team before incoming manager Ruben Amorim takes over. Fans can expect a lineup that emphasizes a balanced mix of defense, experience, and youth. Andre Onana is set to continue in goal, having delivered consistent performances. The back four is likely to consist of Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui. Martinez,…
Ruud van Nistelrooy has disclosed that Erik ten Hag felt “hurt” by his sacking from Manchester United at the start of this week, following a disappointing start to the 2024/25 season. Van Nistelrooy was appointed interim manager shortly after Ten Hag’s departure, having been brought back to the club by Ten Hag during the summer, 18 years after he last played for United. “I saw him on Monday and spoke to him before the [Leicester City] game,” Van Nistelrooy told reporters on Wednesday after a commanding 5-2 victory in the Carabao Cup. “He was disappointed and emotional because he truly…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained his decision not to play Cole Palmer during their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday. Palmer remained an unused substitute as Newcastle knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup last-16 at St James’ Park with goals from Alexander Isak and an Axel Disasi own goal. Maresca made only one substitution, bringing on Noni Madueke in the second half while leaving Palmer on the bench. When asked about his decision, Maresca explained that Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku were performing well, so he didn’t feel the need to introduce Palmer. “No, no,…
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was never a fan of former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, stating he wouldn’t have wanted a player like Ramos on his team. Klopp, who led Liverpool to a Champions League title, had his share of tough encounters with Ramos and Real Madrid, including a painful 3-1 loss in the 2018 Champions League final. In that match, Ramos was heavily criticized for a tackle on Mohamed Salah that left the Liverpool star with a shoulder injury, forcing him off the field in the 30th minute. Reflecting on Ramos, Klopp, as quoted by…
After Erik ten Hag’s recent dismissal by Manchester United, reports suggest he was frustrated by the club’s failure to sign four of his preferred transfer targets during his time as manager. The Dutchman was sacked this week following a poor run of results, with United currently sitting 14th in the Premier League. Ten Hag’s tenure, which began in April 2022, had a few high points—most notably FA Cup and League Cup victories—but was largely disappointing. Over £600 million was spent on signings for Ten Hag, with 21 new players brought in, including high-profile former Ajax players like Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs…
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has expressed doubts about Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo reaching 1,000 career goals, even if he plays in Saudi Arabia until the age of 42. Ronaldo, 39, has scored 907 professional goals so far, but as he approaches the end of his career, Petit is skeptical of him reaching the milestone. In an interview with Jeffbet (via GOAL), Petit said: “Cristiano Ronaldo won’t reach 1,000 goals, even if he plays in Saudi Arabia until he’s 42. It would be extremely difficult to average 30–40 goals a season at his age, and he will naturally decline…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has extended an invitation to former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag to visit the Cityzens at the Etihad in the coming days. Guardiola made the offer ahead of Man City’s EFL Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Ten Hag was dismissed by Manchester United on Monday, a day after the team’s 2-1 Premier League loss to West Ham United. “We are open to Erik ten Hag visiting us,” Guardiola said (via Fabrizio Romano). “Any time! Seriously! Always we are open, but I think it’s not going to happen. But I know his agent…
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is optimistic that Ademola Lookman will remain with the club through the January transfer window. Lookman was reportedly courted by Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, leading him to skip training for a few days due to the interest. However, the 27-year-old eventually rejoined the Atalanta squad. Gasperini acknowledged that keeping Lookman at the club could prove challenging. “Lookman was tempted in the summer by PSG? No, it wasn’t a good moment. Who knows, maybe those discussions will come up again, but I hope not in January,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “For…
Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has suggested that Vinicius Junior was unjustly overlooked after the Brazilian lost the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri. The 2024 Ballon d’Or announcement has sparked significant debate, with many expecting Vinicius to secure the prestigious award. Reports emerged on Monday indicating that no Real Madrid player would attend the ceremony after the club was informed that Vinicius had lost the prize. This news has generated backlash from fans, particularly those supporting Brazilian football and Los Blancos. Benzema, a former Ballon d’Or winner himself, criticized the decision, saying, “I spoke to Vini, and he’s sad……
MADRID – Real Madrid’s last-minute decision to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday has sparked controversy in Spanish football, with La Liga president Javier Tebas condemning the move as a “lack of elegance.” The boycott followed a leaked report indicating that Manchester City’s Rodri would win the award, bypassing Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal. The club had organized a 50-member delegation for the Paris event, anticipating that Vinicius, their standout forward, would secure the title of best male player. When the leak revealed Rodri as the top pick, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez withdrew the delegation,…
Brazilian journalists and fans have criticized the organizers of the Ballon d’Or after Vinicius Junior was not awarded the prestigious honor. On Monday, Rodri was named the winner of the Ballon d’Or in Paris, while Vinicius and representatives from Real Madrid chose not to attend the ceremony. Last season, the Brazilian forward was the team’s top scorer as Real Madrid clinched both La Liga and the Champions League. Despite his impressive performance, he finished second to Rodri, who won the Euro 2024 with Spain and other accolades. The reaction from Brazil has been one of outrage. Some analysts have deemed…