Thiago Silva visited Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham recently. The Brazilian defender, who left Chelsea as a free agent in June and signed with Palmeiras, shared a photo of his return to the English club. “It’s always a pleasure to return to this special place. Thanks for the affection. The feeling is mutual,” Silva captioned the image. Silva, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain, made 112 Premier League appearances and helped secure 32 clean sheets during his time at the club.
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
The Premier League’s Match Incidents panel has confirmed that referee Chris Kavanagh had “no choice” but to send off Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice during the match against Brighton. As a result of the red card, Rice will miss Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Rice, who was already on a yellow card at the start of the second half, received a second booking for delaying a quick free kick by Joel Veltman. Though Rice made only slight contact with the ball, Kavanagh deemed it enough to warrant a second yellow for impeding his opponent. The panel unanimously supported…
The Super Eagles have responded to their goalless draw with Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday. Nigeria and Rwanda ended their Matchday 2 encounter in Kigali with a 0-0 scoreline. The Amavubi were the more dominant side in the early minutes, but the Super Eagles gained control, with Ademola Lookman posing a significant threat to the Rwandan defense. In the 20th minute, Lookman received a pass from midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, but his shot was saved by Rwandan goalkeeper Ntwari Fiacre. Lookman later scored, but the goal was controversially disallowed by the referee. Victor Boniface…
Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down as the interim coach of the Super Eagles, according to OwnGoalNigeria. Eguavoen stated that his “mandate was for two games.” The technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was appointed after efforts to hire a permanent head coach for the national team fell through. During his brief tenure, Eguavoen led the Super Eagles in two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, securing a 3-0 win against Benin Republic and a 0-0 draw with Rwanda. Speaking at Kigali Airport after the Rwanda match, Eguavoen declined to discuss preparations for Nigeria’s next game against Libya, saying:…
Former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain Austin Eguavoen as head coach of the national team. Ibitoye’s appeal came after Nigeria’s goalless draw against Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday. He urged the NFF to halt their search for a foreign coach and give Eguavoen more time to manage the Super Eagles. It’s worth recalling that Eguavoen was appointed caretaker coach after German coach Bruno Labbadia stepped down from the role. “Dear @thenff, Please put your search for a foreign coach for the @NGSuperEagles…
Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has predicted four emerging stars as future Ballon d’Or winners. Despite being left off the 30-man shortlist for the second year in a row, the 39-year-old forward shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano. Ronaldo named Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal as potential Ballon d’Or contenders. “Mbappe could win the Ballon d’Or in the next few years, and likely Haaland and Bellingham too,” Ronaldo said, before adding Yamal to his list of future winners. Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, Rio Ferdinand, also joined the conversation, highlighting…
Manchester United’s chances of signing former France international Adrien Rabiot have received a significant boost over the international break. Rabiot, who nearly joined United in 2022, is now a free agent after leaving Juventus and is actively seeking a new club. He has turned down offers from Galatasaray and the Saudi Pro League, which enhances United’s prospects of securing the French midfielder. It is reported that United will soon initiate talks with the 29-year-old as Erik ten Hag aims to bolster his midfield options for the upcoming season. In other news, United has taken a step towards developing a new…
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about INEOS’s involvement at Manchester United so far, it’s that they aren’t afraid to spend big in the transfer market. Sir Jim Ratcliffe strongly backed Erik ten Hag in the recently concluded window, with five new signings. United remain vigilant in the market for players who can enhance the squad, and their latest target appears to be Juanlu Sánchez. The 21-year-old Spaniard recently impressed while on international duty at the Olympic Games. According to ABC Sevilla, Manchester United have held talks to sign the versatile player, who has a £21.2 million release clause. His…
Former Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has hinted that Chelsea could make another attempt to sign Victor Osimhen next year. Speaking on his podcast, Mikel revealed that both parties were close to an agreement this summer, but the move fell through, leading Osimhen to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan. However, Mikel believes a transfer to Chelsea could still happen in January or next summer. “Victor has that strong character, similar to Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, which is something Chelsea is missing—strikers with that edge who can intimidate defenders, and Victor definitely has that,” Mikel said. On Chelsea reigniting…
Harry Kane has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent achievement of scoring 900 career goals has inspired him to “play for as long as possible.” The England captain is set to earn his 100th cap on Tuesday during England’s Nations League match against Finland at Wembley. Since making his senior debut in 2015, Kane has played in a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals. Despite his prolific goal-scoring record and being England’s all-time top scorer, Kane has yet to win a major trophy with either his club or country. However, the Bayern Munich striker is determined to end his…
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to reassess his future at the club following the latest development in his ongoing dispute with president Joan Laporta, according to reports. De Jong, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury since April, has resisted Barcelona’s pressure to undergo surgery to hasten his return. The club has warned him that he must be available to manager Hansi Flick if he chooses not to have the procedure. This situation is the latest in a series of conflicts between De Jong and Barcelona’s leadership. He has consistently rejected the club’s attempts to sell him…
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has stated that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has surpassed Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé as the best striker in the world. Haaland has started the 2024-25 season in exceptional form, netting seven goals in just three Premier League matches. Last season, he scored 38 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions. Meanwhile, Mbappé has faced criticism for his underwhelming performance at Euro 2024 with France and a slow start in La Liga. “Until a few months ago, I would have said Haaland and Mbappé were the best strikers in the world. At the moment, I…
Bruno Fernandes has alleviated concerns about an ankle injury after completing 90 minutes in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Scotland on Sunday. The Manchester United midfielder, who scored Portugal’s equalizer, was seen limping after taking a hard blow to his ankle. Despite finishing the match, many fans were worried about his fitness. After the game, Fernandes reassured supporters, saying, “It’s okay. It’s just a little bump.” While Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal—his 901st career strike—dominated the headlines, Fernandes also reached a personal milestone, making his 600th appearance for club and country. “I had no idea,” Fernandes admitted. “It’s a nice number, and…
Leny Yoro opted for Manchester United over Real Madrid this summer after being dissatisfied with the contract offer from the Spanish club, according to reports. Yoro, who was in the final year of his contract with Lille, was initially expected to join Real Madrid, with many suggesting he had his sights set on a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, either this summer or as a free agent. However, Real Madrid was hesitant to meet Lille’s demands and hoped Yoro would pressure Lille to lower the asking price. In contrast, Manchester United acted swiftly, securing a £52 million deal for the…
England interim manager Lee Carsley has expressed confidence in his ability to take on the role permanently following the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland. Carsley, who was previously the England Under-21 manager, stepped up to lead the senior team after Gareth Southgate’s departure post-Euro 2024, while the Football Association searches for a permanent replacement. The win, secured by goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, was a promising start for Carsley, who admitted the result provided a much-needed confidence boost. “In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be easier to be the…
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed the top three fastest players in the team, as well as the most skillful, during a recent interview on the Counter Attack Podcast. “The quickest are Simon, Lookman, and Samuel,” Osimhen said. He also highlighted the most skillful players in match situations: “Boniface, Ademola, and Iheanacho.” Osimhen, who scored in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory against Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, will now aim to lead the Super Eagles to another win against Rwanda on Tuesday.
Amavubi of Rwanda head coach, Torsten Spittler, is hopeful that playing in front of home fans will help his team secure a historic victory over Nigeria. Rwanda will host the Super Eagles in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, on Tuesday, marking the first official match at the newly refurbished venue. The Amavubi kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 1-1 away draw against Libya last week. Spittler acknowledges the challenge posed by Nigeria but believes his team can capitalize on their home advantage. “We know our game against Nigeria won’t be easy, but…
Former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane has acknowledged that it’s unlikely he will manage Manchester United, citing his reluctance to work in England as a key factor. Zidane, who has been without a coaching role since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, has been linked with top clubs such as Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. In an interview with L’Equipe, Zidane explained that the language barrier is a significant reason for his hesitation in joining the Premier League. “Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it,”…
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo believes his versatility may have cost him a spot on the final 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, after being excluded from the nominations. The 23-year-old, who contributed 17 goals and nine assists for Real Madrid last season, helping them win both the Champions League and La Liga, admitted he was “upset” by the omission. Speaking to ESPN, Rodrygo said, “I was upset, I think I deserved it. I don’t want to diminish the players who made the list, but I felt I had a place in the top 30. It was a surprise… But there’s not much…
Interim assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has praised Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Rwanda on Tuesday. Ilechukwu acknowledged the challenge Rwanda poses but expressed confidence in the team’s readiness. The Super Eagles enter the game on the back of a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic on Saturday. “I’m very happy, and Nigerians are happy. We won with little preparation, and I feel like the happiest man on earth,” Ilechukwu said in a video posted on the X handle of Official54fx. “We will give…