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…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
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…
Valencia have requested the postponement of their LaLiga home game against Real Madrid, ESPN reports. The request follows severe flooding in southeastern Spain, which has claimed at least 70 lives. The affected areas include Valencia and Albacete, where the government’s emergency coordination center confirmed 70 fatalities and numerous people still missing. LaLiga is expected to announce its decision within 24 hours. A decision is also pending for the second division match between Levante and Malaga, scheduled in Valencia on Monday. Additionally, three other games—Xerez vs. AD Ceuta, SD Ejea vs. Hércules, and Getafe vs. Manises—have already been postponed due to…
Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his thoughts following his team’s elimination from the King’s Cup in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. The Portugal captain missed a crucial late penalty as Al Nassr fell to Al-Taawoun, with the match ending 1-0 at Al-Awwal Park. Ronaldo had the chance to equalize in second-half stoppage time but sent his shot over the bar. Waleed Al-Ahmed scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute. In response to the defeat, Ronaldo took to his X account, stating: “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.” Since joining the Saudi Arabian…
Erik Ten Hag may be on his way to Borussia Dortmund as the club’s new manager following his recent dismissal from Manchester United. The Red Devils announced Ten Hag’s departure on Monday, just a day after their 2-1 loss to West Ham United in the Premier League. Reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes.net suggest that Dortmund is closely monitoring the situation as current manager Nuri Sahin faces scrutiny due to a poor start to the 2024-25 season. Dortmund sits in seventh place in the Bundesliga, with only 13 points from eight games. The Bundesliga club is reportedly interested in Ten Hag…
Erik ten Hag reportedly feels let down by Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, and Antony after his sacking by Manchester United, according to the UK Mirror. The Dutch manager was dismissed on Monday morning following a 2-1 loss to West Ham, leaving United in 14th place with a -3 goal difference. Although new minority shareholders Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS backed Ten Hag, the squad’s performance under him was consistently below expectations. Sources suggest that Rashford, Casemiro, and Antony were particularly disappointing, contributing to the manager’s dismissal. Rashford, who has only scored once in the Premier League this season, failed to register…
Chelsea’s attacking midfielder, Cole Palmer, has named Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as his toughest opponent. Widely considered one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders, Van Dijk was Palmer’s choice during a Q&A on Chelsea’s official X/Twitter account when asked about his most challenging matchup. The two have faced each other five times, with Palmer’s teams winning just twice. However, Palmer has yet to secure a victory against Liverpool as a Chelsea player, having suffered three losses so far. Earlier this month, Liverpool defeated Chelsea 2-1, and Palmer struggled to make an impact against Van Dijk. In international play, Palmer…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to Manchester United’s decision to dismiss Erik ten Hag. Guardiola expressed sympathy for the Dutchman, who was let go by United on Monday, following a 2-1 Premier League loss to West Ham United. Ahead of Manchester City’s EFL Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola extende0⁰⁰⁰⁰d his best wishes to Ten Hag, praising his professionalism during his time at Old Trafford. “I’m so sorry for him,” Guardiola said to the press. “I have an incredible relationship with him, and I think he represented Man United at the highest level in terms of behaviour.” Guardiola…
Sporting Lisbon has confirmed that Manchester United has expressed interest in triggering the €10 million release clause in manager Rúben Amorim’s contract. The Portuguese club has notified the country’s financial regulator about the ongoing negotiations. Amorim is set to lead Sporting in their Taca da Liga match against Nacional at Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday night, but it may be his final game in charge. As a publicly traded company, Sporting is required to inform Portugal’s financial regulator, the CMVM, of any developments that could significantly affect the club’s business. In their statement to the CMVM, Sporting said: “Sporting informs…
Real Madrid made headlines by opting not to attend the Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Paris, citing a perceived lack of respect from UEFA as the reason for their absence. In a widely circulated statement, the club expressed disappointment that their player, Vinicius Junior, was not recognized as the winner. They argued that if Vinicius wasn’t selected, then Dani Carvajal should have been a strong contender for the prestigious award. Real Madrid asserted, “If the award criteria do not recognize Vinicius as the winner, then they should point to Carvajal as the winner. Since that was not the case, it…
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has criticized the organizers of the Ballon d’Or after his teammate Vinicius Junior missed out on the prestigious award on Monday night. Camavinga suggested that politics influenced the decision that allowed Manchester City’s Rodri to win the Ballon d’Or instead of Vinicius. The France international expressed his belief that Vinicius is the best player in the world, stating that no award can truly define the Brazilian’s talent. The decision to award Rodri has sparked significant controversy on social media, with many fans arguing that Vinicius was more deserving of the honor. Hours before the ceremony,…
Victor Osimhen has commended his teammates for their performance in the Istanbul derby victory over Besiktas on Monday night. Galatasaray secured a hard-fought 2-1 win, with Davidson Sanchez opening the scoring early in the match. Osimhen then doubled the lead with a brilliant header after halftime. “We played well,” the Nigeria international said on the club’s official website. “We faced a team with talented players, especially in attack. I’m pleased with my contribution to the goals.” He added, “While my goal is important, the team’s performance is what truly matters. We need to build on this momentum moving forward.” Osimhen…
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates for the Super Eagles’ final two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. The Super Eagles will face the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday, November 14. This match, part of the fifth matchday, is scheduled to kick off at 8 PM local time. Their final qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday, November 18. Augustine Eguavoen’s team currently tops Group D with 10 points from four…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shared his thoughts on why Xavi and Andres Iniesta never won the Ballon d’Or during their careers. According to Guardiola, it was due to the dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who won multiple Ballon d’Or titles during that period. Xavi and Iniesta, regarded as two of the best midfielders of their generation, achieved remarkable success at both club and international levels. The former Barcelona stars won two European Championships and the FIFA World Cup with Spain, in addition to multiple titles with Barcelona, including two continental trebles. However, due to the Ballon…