Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has encouraged his teammate Rodrygo not to dwell on being left out of the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Despite Real Madrid having seven players on the list, Rodrygo was a surprising omission, especially after an impressive season with the club. The Brazilian forward had previously expressed his disappointment over the snub. Addressing the situation, Courtois emphasized Rodrygo’s importance to the team, saying: “Journalists may focus on Jude, Vini, or Mbappé, but in the dressing room, we know Rodrygo’s value and quality.” Courtois added humorously: “I don’t think Rodrygo needs to be upset,…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has criticized Manchester United forward Antony, labeling him a “waste of money.” Jordan expressed his disappointment with the Brazilian winger, who joined United from Ajax in 2022 for an initial fee of €95 million, making him the club’s second-most expensive signing after Paul Pogba. Since his arrival at Old Trafford, Antony has struggled to make a significant impact, recording just eight goals and three assists in 44 appearances across competitions in his debut season. Speaking to talkSPORT, Jordan said, “When you spend big money on players, naturally you expect big results. If a £25m…
Anthony Joshua revealed that one of the proudest moments of his boxing career came after following advice from football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Joshua, who is preparing for a showdown against Daniel Dubois for the IBF World Heavyweight title at Wembley, shared how Ronaldo’s influence had a significant impact on his training and lifestyle. Ronaldo, known for his remarkable longevity at the highest levels of football, currently plays in the Saudi Pro League at 39. Joshua first met Ronaldo after his knockout victory over former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh earlier this year. The two athletes shared a conversation, and…
Former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has suggested that Kylian Mbappe’s signing alone does not guarantee Real Madrid will win the Champions League. Madrid won their record-extending 15th title last season and have added Mbappe as a free agent this summer. Since his arrival in Spain, Mbappe has scored four goals in his first six matches. Speaking on behalf of Stake, Aguero acknowledged that while Madrid are favorites to win the competition again, success depends on teamwork. “Real Madrid has always been a strong contender. Mbappe joining them makes them an even bigger threat,” Aguero said. “He’s likely to be La…
Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has revealed that referee Chris Kavanagh made a mistake before Declan Rice’s red card in Arsenal’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton last month. Arsenal were incensed when Rice received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away during the match at the Emirates Stadium on August 31. However, prior to Rice’s dismissal, Brighton forward Joao Pedro avoided a booking despite delaying Arsenal’s restart by kicking the ball away. Webb believes Kavanagh should have issued a yellow card to Pedro before Rice’s red card. Commenting on the incident, Webb told Metro UK, “Pedro wasn’t…
AC Milan senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic declined to comment on whether the club made a last-minute bid for Victor Osimhen from Napoli. Osimhen recently joined Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray on a season-long loan. Leading up to the transfer deadline, Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli and Chelsea were the prominent contenders for the Nigerian striker. Italian news outlet AS Tuttosport reported that AC Milan might have attempted to sign the powerful forward. When asked about it, Ibrahimovic simply said, “I won’t comment,” accompanied by a knowing half-smile. Osimhen made his debut for Galatasaray in their 5-0 victory over Caykur Rizespor…
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Endrick’s bravery after the young star scored a stunning solo goal on his Champions League debut. Endrick netted a powerful low drive deep into stoppage time, despite having both Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe as passing options. The 18-year-old decided to take the shot himself, beating Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel and becoming Real Madrid’s youngest scorer in Champions League history. “He has balls! Endrick showed real courage,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “It was the last move of the game, and he was convinced he’d score. He chose the most difficult option, but it paid off.”…
Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke issued a stern warning to his players after their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen each scored twice, with Antony adding a penalty as United dominated the match at Old Trafford. Barnsley, who had previously knocked out Wigan and Sheffield United, were no match for Erik ten Hag’s side, leaving Clarke furious with his team’s performance. Speaking to Sky Sports, Clarke said, “If I ever hear my players say Premier League players are poor, I’ll be giving them a slap because we were miles off…
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has confessed that he “misses” former teammates Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson. Despite his personal feelings, Saka is optimistic about their futures and expects them to “shine” in the Premier League this season. Smith Rowe, who made 80 Premier League appearances for Arsenal since joining at age 10, moved to Fulham in a club-record £27m deal. Nelson, who featured in 24 games for Arsenal last season, also joined Fulham on a season-long loan. Nketiah completed a £30m move to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day after nearly a decade at Arsenal, where he…
Former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial is set to join AEK Athens this season. Martial departed United as a free agent in June and has since been linked with various clubs, including Flamengo in Brazil. However, AEK Athens have now confirmed via their social media pages that Martial will arrive in the city on Wednesday evening to finalize his transfer. According to Greek media outlet Fos, Martial has agreed to a three-year contract worth €3.5 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has declared Thibaut Courtois as the best goalkeeper in the world. Ancelotti made this statement following Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Stuttgart in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Despite Courtois not keeping a clean sheet against the Bundesliga side, his manager praised his performance. “Is Courtois the best goalkeeper? Yes, he’s the best in the world right now,” Ancelotti said. “I’ve had great goalkeepers in my career, but Thibaut is currently the best.” Real Madrid’s next match is at home against Espanyol in La Liga this weekend.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo Goes has addressed rumors about his relationship with teammates Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, clarifying that there are no issues between them. Recent reports suggested that Rodrygo felt sidelined following Mbappe’s arrival, as he was shifted to the right wing to accommodate the French forward. There was also speculation over his future during the summer, with rumors fueled by a controversial WhatsApp status. However, Rodrygo dismissed these claims, stating, “My relationship with Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius is very good. Every day we get closer and are becoming better friends,” as cited by journalist Fabrizio…
Georgina Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner, revealed she felt “very relieved” when the Portugal captain left Manchester United for Al Nassr in December 2022. Ronaldo had returned to Manchester United in 2021, after first departing the club in 2009, but Rodriguez was unhappy with how the 39-year-old was treated during his second stint at the club. Speaking via Football Transfers, Rodriguez said, “The [Real Madrid] fans always chanted Cristiano’s name, and he was grateful for their love and support. We know that wherever we go, they will continue to cheer him. I felt very relieved when Cristiano left Manchester for Al…
Former Nigeria captain Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has weighed in on the debate over the greatest footballer of all time, choosing between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has captivated football fans for nearly two decades, with the two players collectively earning 13 Ballon d’Or awards—Messi securing eight of those. In a recent interview with Pulse Fun Facts, Okocha expressed his preference for Messi over Ronaldo. Okocha stated, “They are both GOATs, but my personal GOAT is Messi because he appears more natural to me.” This year, both Messi and Ronaldo have been excluded from the…
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has admitted he is putting in extra effort to keep Victor Boniface focused on football, given the forward’s cheerful personality. Boniface, known for his playful interactions on social media, was a standout player in Leverkusen’s successful Bundesliga campaign last season. The 23-year-old contributed 14 goals and nine assists in 23 league appearances for Die Werkself. Alonso acknowledged that Boniface’s lighthearted nature has made him a popular figure among his teammates, but added that it requires more effort to keep the Super Eagles star focused on the team’s objectives. “All the teammates really like him; he…
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to work under a new manager following Al Nassr’s decision to sack Luis Castro on Tuesday. Castro was let go after Al Nassr’s slow start to the season, with two draws from their first three matches in the Saudi Pro League. In an official statement on X, Al Nassr announced: “The club has officially decided to terminate the contractual relationship with first-team coach Mr. Luis Castro. We appreciate all his efforts with Nassr and wish him success.” Former AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is reportedly the leading candidate to replace Castro after talks with Al-Ittihad fell…
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates for the 2024 African Nations Championship, which will take place from February 1 to February 28, 2025, in Kenya. The first round of qualifiers is scheduled for the weekend of October 25-27, 2024. CAF will announce the specific stadiums and venues for the tournament in due course. Senegal are the reigning CHAN champions, having won the title two years ago in Algiers by defeating the hosts, Algeria. This biennial competition is exclusively for players participating in their domestic leagues.
Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has named Manchester City midfielder Rodri as his favorite to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Capello praised the midfielder’s standout performances across three major competitions: the Premier League, Champions League, and the 2024 European Championship, which Rodri won with Spain. In an interview with Il Corriere della Sera, Capello emphasized that Rodri was the best player last season. “I’d give the award to Rodri for his performances in the Premier League, Champions League, and the Euros. He was the best this season,” Capello said, as quoted by One Football. Rodri himself had previously told…
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has firmly declared that Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria are irreplaceable players for his team. Scaloni emphasized that both players are unique and cannot be replaced within the Argentina squad. Messi is nearing the end of his international career, while Di Maria has recently retired from international football. “They are irreplaceable. It’s impossible to replace them,” Scaloni said in an interview with Clank! (via GOAL). “There’s no chance of finding a replacement for either Fideo [Di Maria] or Leo [Messi]. Both are unique players, and we won’t be seeking a substitute for Fideo.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his belief that Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is capable of winning the Ballon d’Or. Guardiola made the comments ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League clash with Inter Milan on Wednesday. Martinez is one of the 30 players shortlisted for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be announced on October 28. Speaking in a recent interview, as quoted by All About Argentina, Guardiola said: “Lautaro Martínez definitely has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. While I’d prefer a Manchester City player to claim the award, there’s no denying…