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.
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
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…
Referee Anthony Taylor has not been assigned to officiate a Premier League match this weekend following his role in the Bournemouth vs Chelsea game last Saturday. After the match, Taylor became the target of online abuse, including death threats directed at him and his family. This came after Chelsea secured a late victory at the Vitality Stadium through a Christopher Nkunku goal, but Taylor drew attention for issuing a record 14 yellow cards, along with two more to the coaching staff. The Premier League is now launching an investigation into the abuse, and the PGMOL is providing Taylor with support.
Ahead of their IBF heavyweight world title fight this weekend, Daniel Dubois has vowed to force Anthony Joshua to “quit.” The two fighters squared off by the River Thames on Monday. Dubois has stated that his goal extends beyond simply knocking Joshua out. “I want to make him quit and break him down,” Dubois told Sky Sports. “That’s my mindset going into this fight. I believe I can do it.”
On Monday, September 16, France Football, the organizers of the prestigious Ballon d’Or, released a new video highlighting why Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman earned a nomination for this year’s award. The video, shared on their official X account, showcased Lookman’s key contributions to Nigeria’s Super Eagles reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 26-year-old forward scored three goals and provided one assist during the tournament. It also highlighted his performance in Atalanta’s historic Europa League victory, where he scored a hat-trick in their 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Lookman was one of the 30…
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is just one goal away from breaking Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid goal-scoring record. Haaland netted twice against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, bringing his tally to nine goals this season. These two goals increased his overall tally to 99 goals in 103 appearances since joining Man City in the summer of 2022. A goal in Haaland’s next match would set a new record for the fastest century of goals for any club. The current record holder is Ronaldo, who reached 100 goals for Real Madrid in 105 games during his time…
Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Jr. was honored with the Best Player award for the 2023/24 Champions League on Monday. Vinícius played a crucial role in helping the La Liga champions secure the title, scoring six goals and providing five assists throughout the competition. His key contributions in critical matches were instrumental in clinching the trophy. In addition, Kylian Mbappé was recognized as the top scorer of the Champions League, with eight goals to his name. Both players will aim to form a formidable partnership to challenge defenses in the upcoming campaign.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has hinted at a potential return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Musa asked his fans to help him choose his next club from the 20 teams in the NPFL, sharing the announcement on social media. “Let’s go again, which of these teams do you wish for me to sign?” Musa wrote on X, accompanied by the logos of all 20 NPFL clubs. The 31-year-old, who previously had two stints with Kano Pillars in the NPFL, has been without a club since parting ways with Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor.
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has commented on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s impressive form, saying it’s starting to make them “laugh.” Haaland has netted nine goals in just four Premier League matches this season, helping City maintain a perfect start in their title defense. His tally includes two hat-tricks, bringing his total to 99 goals in 103 appearances for the club. Ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming top-of-the-table clash with City, Jorginho spoke about facing Haaland, saying: “Erling scoring again … it’s starting to make us laugh. “We watch all the games because we love the Premier League. We watch City as well,…
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen will not feature in their Turkish Super Lig match against Gaziantep FK on Tuesday evening. The club announced this on their website on Monday, stating that Osimhen, along with Ismail Jakobs and Roland Sallai, will miss the game at RAMS Park. According to the statement, “Victor Osimhen, Ismail Jakobs, and Roland Sallai, who were signed after the original match date, will not be included in the squad due to their registration status.” The match was originally scheduled for the third matchday but was postponed. Since Osimhen, Jakobs, and Sallai were not registered at that time, they…
Barcelona has been dealt a significant injury blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Monaco on Thursday. The club announced on their website Monday that forward Dani Olmo has injured his right hamstring. “Tests conducted this Monday morning revealed that Dani Olmo has sustained a right hamstring injury. He is expected to be sidelined for the next four to five weeks,” Barcelona’s statement read. As a result, Olmo will miss Barcelona’s upcoming six fixtures against Monaco, Villarreal, Getafe, Osasuna, Young Boys, and Alavés.
Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has criticized the club’s ex-coach, Maurizio Sarri, describing him as a “very standstill and superstitious manager.” Cahill expressed his dissatisfaction with Sarri’s tactical approach and noted that the Italian coach did not select him during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. The 38-year-old, who experienced a challenging period under Sarri from July 2018 to June 2019, left Chelsea two months after Sarri’s departure. “It was all tactical stuff—basically boring. What was Sarri ball? I played under him and still don’t know what it was,” Cahill said on the Obi One Podcast with former Chelsea midfielder John…