Manchester United is facing a tough challenge ahead of their upcoming match against Newcastle, with several key players sidelined due to injuries and suspensions. Bruno Fernandes will miss the game through suspension, significantly impacting United’s midfield. As a pivotal playmaker, his absence will be felt in both creativity and leadership on the field. In addition, injuries to Mason Mount and Luke Shaw mean they will also be unavailable. Mount’s presence in midfield and Shaw’s defensive capabilities are crucial to United’s setup, leaving manager Ruben Amorim with difficult selection choices. With these key absences, Amorim may have to rely on younger…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly “on the verge” of leaving his boyhood club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer, according to reports from Spain. The academy graduate, who has won every major trophy with Liverpool, is one of three first-team players whose contracts are set to expire in June 2025. While Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are expected to renew their deals, Alexander-Arnold has fueled speculation about a move to Madrid by declining multiple extension offers from Liverpool. Real Madrid Deal “90% Complete” Spanish outlets MARCA and AS claim that Alexander-Arnold has already informed…
Liverpool delivered a scintillating performance at the London Stadium on Sunday, thrashing West Ham United 5-0 to close 2024 in style and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points. The match was dominated by Mohamed Salah, who orchestrated Liverpool’s attacking brilliance. Luis Díaz opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, before Salah provided assists for Cody Gakpo and scored himself in a commanding first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold added a fourth after the break, and Salah set up Diogo Jota for a late fifth, capping a flawless display. Match Recap Ahead of the game, West…
Manchester United are set to target a new left-back next year, with manager Ruben Amorim identifying the position as one of the squad’s weakest links. Due to ongoing fitness issues with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s struggles, Amorim has been forced to deploy Diogo Dalot in the left-back role, despite it not being his natural position. This has disrupted the balance of United’s 3-4-3 formation, prompting the need for a new addition at left-back. One player high on Manchester United’s radar is Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, who worked under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon from 2020 to 2022. Amorim knows the…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that his team is “far away from winning the Premier League” this season but is determined to fight for other goals, including the FA Cup and a top-four finish. Guardiola made the comments after his side’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Leicester City on Sunday, which left City in 5th place with 31 points from 19 games. The reigning champions find themselves trailing Chelsea, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Liverpool in the standings. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Guardiola said: “They were better than us in the second half. We cannot sustain…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has spoken highly of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, describing the Blues target as a “fantastic player.” It was revealed last month that Chelsea is among the clubs interested in 21-year-old Delap, who has scored six goals in 17 games this season ahead of Monday’s clash between the two sides. Maresca, who coached Delap during his time at Manchester City, knows the striker well. In the 2020/21 season, he helped Delap score 27 goals in 22 games for City’s Under-23 side. Reflecting on their time together, Maresca praised the young forward’s qualities. “Liam is a fantastic…
Manchester United have started scouting for a new goalkeeper, with both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir’s futures at the club in question. Onana, who arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2023 for £47.2 million, has been United’s first-choice goalkeeper. While he has delivered some impressive performances, his tenure has also been marred by individual mistakes, particularly since the appointment of new head coach Ruben Amorim. Bayindir, Onana’s backup, has had limited opportunities and struggled to make an impact, with a mistake-ridden display in the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur further complicating his position. According to The Telegraph, United…
Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has disclosed his plans to purchase a football club in the future. Speaking at the Global Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo ruled out pursuing a coaching career but expressed interest in club ownership. “I’m not a coach. I’m never going to be a coach,” Ronaldo stated. “President of a club? No. But maybe owner of a club. It will depend on the moment and the right opportunities.” When asked if he had a specific team in mind, the Portuguese superstar replied, “Not yet. A few, maybe.” Ronaldo also addressed questions about any potential discussions with…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that winger Raheem Sterling could step in to replace Bukayo Saka in the squad while the young star recovers from injury. Arteta addressed the issue during a post-match interview after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Friday. He discussed potential January signings, emphasizing the need to manage the squad carefully following Saka’s absence. Saka is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained earlier in the week and is expected to be out of action for over two months. “We’ll see. Hopefully, we won’t have any more injuries,” Arteta stated. “Raheem Sterling will probably…
Enyimba’s technical adviser, Yemi Olanrewaju, expressed frustration following his team’s goalless draw against former NPFL champions Plateau United. The tightly contested match, held at the New Jos Stadium, saw both sides struggle to break the deadlock. “Plateau United is a formidable team and one of the best clubs in Nigeria,” Olanrewaju acknowledged, praising their performance. However, he noted that the pressure on both teams led to a deviation from their usual playing styles. “Both sides resorted to long balls, which is understandable given the drop in confidence levels,” he explained. Akwa United Pursue Monday Odigie for Technical Adviser RoleAkwa United…
The boxing world is in mourning following the untimely passing of Paul Bamba, who died just six days after achieving a career milestone by winning the WBA Gold cruiserweight title. The 35-year-old boxer passed away on Friday, shortly after his victory over Rogelio Medina Luna in New Jersey on December 21. The bout marked a significant moment in Bamba’s career, as he secured the WBA cruiserweight rankings belt. This triumph also coincided with his recent signing as the first client of singer Ne-Yo’s new management company. In a joint statement released by Ne-Yo and the Bamba family, the news of…
Cole Palmer’s brilliant strike in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Thursday saw him set a new club record for the most Premier League goals in a single calendar year. Midway through the first half, Palmer danced past three defenders before coolly finishing into the bottom corner, bringing his tally for the year to 26 Premier League goals. This broke the previous record of 25 goals held by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink since 2001. Ironically, Hasselbaink was working as a pundit for Amazon Prime’s coverage of the match and shared his thoughts on seeing his long-standing record fall. “I’m an old…
AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze could make a shock move to Arsenal in the January transfer window, with the Gunners reportedly offering Jakub Kiwior in exchange for the Nigerian forward. According to TeamTalk, Arsenal is interested in securing Chukwueze as a potential replacement for the injured Bukayo Saka. The 25-year-old has struggled to make a major impact at Milan since his €21.1 million transfer from Villarreal last year. Last season, Chukwueze scored three goals and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions. This season, he has netted three goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances, though many…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the Gunners are targeting the Premier League top spot after their 1-0 win over Ipswich on Friday. The victory moved Arsenal to within six points of league leaders Liverpool, although the Reds have a game in hand. Kai Havertz’s seventh goal of the season was enough to secure the three points at the Emirates. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Arteta reflected on the match:”It was what it was. In the first half, especially, we were very dominant and should have scored more. The second half wasn’t great at the start, and…
Football management is no longer just about tactics and trophies—it’s also a high-stakes financial game. Today’s top managers often earn salaries rivaling those of their star players, but many would be surprised to learn who holds the title of the world’s richest manager. While names like Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, and Jurgen Klopp might come to mind, none of them top the list. That distinction belongs to Wayne Rooney, who surpasses Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola by an impressive £25 million. During his playing career, Rooney was one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. At Manchester United, he earned £250,000…
The 2024 Globe Soccer Awards were held on Friday evening in Dubai, celebrating the best in football. Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid took home both the Best Player and Best Forward of the Year awards. Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo was named Best Middle East Player, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won the Best Emerging Player of the Year. Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti claimed the Best Coach of the Year award, and Jorge Mendes was honored as the Best Football Agent. Here is the full list of winners at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards:
Real Madrid are reportedly considering Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha as a potential successor to Toni Kroos, though the club is unlikely to make any moves in the January transfer window. Carlo Ancelotti’s side ended 2024 on a high note, winning the inaugural Intercontinental Cup by defeating Pachuca. Kylian Mbappé capped off the year in fine form, scoring five goals in his last six matches, helping Madrid climb to second place in La Liga, just one point behind Atletico Madrid. Despite their success, Real Madrid have been plagued by injuries this season, including ACL tears for Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão,…
Ange Postecoglou could head into Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League clash with a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday without a single senior centre-back, intensifying the challenges facing the under-pressure manager. Spurs are reeling from a string of disappointing results, including a 1-0 Boxing Day loss to Nottingham Forest and a crushing 6-3 defeat to Liverpool at home. Their defensive woes began earlier this month when Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both sustained injuries during a chaotic 4-3 loss to Chelsea, leaving Postecoglou scrambling for options at the back. Radu Dragusin, drafted into the makeshift defense alongside 18-year-old midfielder Archie…
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a strong defense of his compatriot Ruben Amorim while delivering a scathing critique of his former club’s ongoing issues. Amorim, the former Sporting CP coach and Ronaldo’s former teammate on the Portuguese national team, has had a tough start to his tenure at Old Trafford. Since taking over in November, Amorim has lost five of his first ten matches, marking the worst start for a United manager in nearly 90 years. Ronaldo was quick to highlight the challenging circumstances Amorim inherited, pointing to the club’s decline in recent years. Reflecting on his own…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has clarified that Noni Madueke’s absence from the squad in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham was purely a “technical decision.” Madueke has been a key player for Maresca this season, making his omission from the matchday squad particularly noticeable. There had been speculation regarding a possible injury or disciplinary issue, especially following Maresca’s earlier public criticism of the winger’s work ethic, which had led to a brief spell on the bench. This time, Madueke was not even included among the substitutes, with third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli making the bench for just the third time this season.…