Former Belgium goalkeeper Luc Eymael has offered insights into why Eden Hazard’s time at Real Madrid was unsuccessful. Hazard joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019, a year after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. However, he struggled to replicate his Chelsea form, experiencing a forgettable, injury-plagued spell before leaving last summer and subsequently retiring from professional football. Eymael pointed to Hazard’s motivation as a significant issue in his lack of success at Real Madrid. According to Eymael, Hazard was never as disciplined in training as Ronaldo. “Why Eden stopped his career and why he didn’t do well at Real Madrid, first of…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
A recent report suggests that the Football Association (FA) is not actively developing a succession plan for England’s head coach, Gareth Southgate. Instead, they are keen for him to extend his tenure beyond his current contract. Southgate’s contract is set to expire in December 2024, and he has yet to determine his future. The upcoming European Championships will mark his fourth major tournament at the helm of the Three Lions. According to The Daily Telegraph, despite the uncertainty surrounding Southgate’s decision, the FA has no intentions of replacing him and hopes he will guide the team through the 2026 FIFA…
The Netherlands’ hopes of triumph at Euro 2024 have suffered a significant setback with star midfielder Frenkie de Jong ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury. De Jong only managed 20 La Liga appearances for Barcelona during the 2023/24 season before his campaign ended in April because of the injury. There was optimism about his recovery, with both De Jong and Oranje manager Ronald Koeman hopeful that the former Ajax star could participate in the tournament in Germany. Koeman had commented, “Everyone is 100% except Frenkie. He has taken the next step. He may not be fit…
In the latest twist of the Chelsea saga, Enzo Maresca has stepped into the Stamford Bridge spotlight, replacing Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout. Hailing from Spain, Maresca arrives in west London fresh from guiding Leicester City to Championship victory, showcasing his meticulous possession-oriented style, heavily influenced by Pep Guardiola. But how can Maresca rejuvenate the atmosphere in the Blues’ dressing room and propel the team back to the summit of English football after a period of decline? Here are the primary tasks facing Maresca and his strategies to alleviate the constant turmoil that has plagued Chelsea in recent seasons: 1.…
According to a report, Manchester United is now less likely to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, as they have “cooled their interest” in him. The club is currently conducting an end-of-season review, during which Erik ten Hag’s position may undergo changes. Despite their recent FA Cup victory over rivals Manchester City, Ten Hag has yet to receive confirmation regarding his role for the upcoming season. The Times reports that if United does decide to part ways with Ten Hag, Pochettino will not be considered as his replacement. Despite being a potential candidate for the Old Trafford position after…
Al Ahli, a Saudi Arabia Pro League club, is prepared to activate Victor Osimhen’s release clause. According to reports from the Italian news source II Mattino via Calcio Napoli, although Al Ahli is ready to trigger the clause, they are still in the process of persuading the player to join their ranks. Osimhen’s release clause is rumored to be in the range of €120-£130m. Last summer, the 25-year-old turned down a transfer to another Saudi club, Al Hilal. With his departure from Napoli anticipated this summer, Osimhen has attracted attention from clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid and manager Carlo Ancelotti have clarified that the Champions League winners will compete in next year’s Club World Cup, despite Ancelotti previously stating the club would “refuse the invitation.” Ancelotti’s initial comment appeared in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale released on Monday. However, the 65-year-old later posted on social media, clarifying that his words were “not interpreted in the way I intended.” He added, “Nothing could be further from my interest than to reject the possibility of playing in a tournament that I consider could be a great opportunity to continue fighting for big titles with…
Bayern Munich has identified Chelsea defender Levi Colwill as a key target for this summer, with initial talks already underway, according to reports. The 21-year-old, who can play both centre-back and left-back, had a breakthrough season at Chelsea, making 32 appearances across all competitions. Previously, he impressed during loan spells at Huddersfield and Brighton, establishing himself as a valuable member of the Chelsea squad. Colwill’s performances also earned him his first England cap, though he did not make Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad. His form has caught the attention of Bayern Munich, who are reportedly considering a summer offer for…
Nigeria’s chances of playing in the 2026 World Cup are in jeopardy following a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic. The Super Eagles, aiming to recover from their 1-1 draw with South Africa last Friday, started well with Raphael Onyedika’s excellent finish in the first half. However, Finidi George’s men went into the break trailing, as Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie scored twice for Benin before halftime. This result leaves Benin Republic at the top of Group C with seven points, while Nigeria remains in fifth place with three points.
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has made a decisive ruling on the disrupted oriental derby between Rangers FC of Enugu and Enyimba Football Club of Aba. Enyimba players walked off the field after Rangers were awarded a controversial penalty during added time at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. The NPFL management has now awarded three points and three goals to Rangers due to the abandonment of the match by Enyimba. Enyimba has been fined N10 million for failing to control its players, disrupting the NPFL live broadcast, and causing the match to be discontinued. Additionally, three Enyimba players—Eze…
The Cheetahs came from behind to defeat the Super Eagles on Monday in Abidjan during a World Cup qualifying match. This victory marks only the second time Benin has defeated Nigeria in a competitive match. In an exclusive interview with Brila media, Gernot Rohr said, “It was a great game for us. You know that Benin had never beaten Nigeria before. Never with the A team could they beat the Super Eagles. So we did it today (Monday). It was, of course, difficult when we conceded the first goal, but the reaction was great, and my young players did very,…
Real Madrid has set a deadline for captain Nacho to make a decision about his future, as his current contract is due to expire on June 30. Despite ongoing rumors linking him with moves elsewhere, the Spanish giants are optimistic that their star defender will opt to continue his career at Madrid. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his desire for Nacho to stay with the squad and has attempted to persuade the Spanish international to reconsider his decision to leave. However, time is running out for Nacho, who must make a decision before his contract expires. According to reports from…
Former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel is no longer in contention to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United boss, according to several reports. Almost immediately after Tuchel’s departure from Bayern was announced, he emerged as a top candidate to succeed Ten Hag should new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe decide to make a change this summer. Tuchel recently held discussions with United officials regarding the position. However, as initially reported by Fabrizio Romano, the former Chelsea and Bayern manager is now planning to take a break from football and will not be taking over at Old Trafford this summer.…
According to reports, Chelsea has reached out to the representatives of Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo. However, it’s suggested that the 23-year-old’s camp did not respond positively, particularly due to the absence of Champions League football at Stamford Bridge, making any potential move unattractive for the Brazilian forward. Interestingly, Manchester City has shown concrete interest in the Madrid ace, while Paris Saint-Germain also holds admiration for the winger but has not initiated talks for his signing. It’s been reported that Rodrygo would not be inclined to join Chelsea this summer, even if an offer were made. With the recent arrival of…
Arsenal has communicated to Napoli their decision not to meet Victor Osimhen’s €130 million (£110.8m) release clause. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is keen on bolstering his squad with a striker after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title this season. Among the names on his radar is RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is available due to his €65m (£55.2m) release clause. However, according to Sky Sports Italy, while Arsenal holds Osimhen in high regard, they are hesitant to pursue a deal due to the significant costs involved. Although Napoli is open to selling Osimhen, club president Aurelio de…
Manchester City is reportedly prepared to offer Phil Foden a staggering £375,000 per week in a new contract deal, as reported by the UK Sun. Foden emerged as Manchester City’s primary creative force last season, stepping up admirably while Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined due to injury. The 24-year-old contributed 19 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, playing a pivotal role in City’s historic fourth consecutive league title triumph. Furthermore, Foden’s exceptional performances earned him recognition as the FWA Footballer of the Year for the first time. In 2022, Foden pledged his future to his childhood club by…
Barcelona is currently facing a critical situation where nine first-team players are unable to be registered due to an ongoing financial crisis, as reported by The Athletic. The LaLiga giants must generate approximately €130 million by the end of June to avoid further restrictions on registering new additions to the team. To address the financial challenges, Barcelona is actively seeking new investment opportunities and aims to restructure their existing deal with Nike. Currently, players such as Inigo Martinez and Vitor Roque cannot be registered due to registration issues from the previous season. Additionally, contracts for Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, Pau…
Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has been linked with a potential move away from the club this summer. The 22-year-old Frenchman is highly rated across England, with Chelsea reportedly interested in securing his signature. Recently, former Premier League stars Theo Walcott and Frank Lampard were asked to rank the top five wide players in English football. Both included Olise on their lists, but notably, they ranked Chelsea’s Cole Palmer higher, placing him in the top three. Palmer has been outstanding since joining Chelsea, playing a crucial role in their attack. His performances have established him as one of the finest…
Real Madrid is set for a rare setback in the transfer market after Chelsea agreed on personal terms with in-demand Brazilian right-back Pedro Lima. Additionally, the future of exit-linked Christopher Nkunku has been clarified. Real Madrid rarely fails to secure their top transfer targets. Last summer, they outmaneuvered Liverpool and Manchester City to sign Jude Bellingham, and they pulled off a historic free agent coup by bringing Kylian Mbappe to the Bernabeu. They’ve also been adept at acquiring Brazilian talent, signing Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo as teenagers, and securing 17-year-old sensation Endrick, who will join Madrid this summer after scoring…
Benin, known as the Cheetahs, will face off against their West African neighbors, Nigeria, the Super Eagles, in a crucial World Cup qualifying match on Monday. Benin comes into the game with momentum, having secured a victory against Rwanda in their last match. In contrast, Nigeria is still searching for their first win in the qualifiers. This sets up a highly competitive Group C, where all six teams remain in contention for qualification after three rounds. Gernot Rohr, now leading Benin, will face his former team, the Super Eagles, in this vital encounter. Despite the match being held in Abidjan,…