Barcelona’s new manager, Hansi Flick, has expressed his decision to join the La Liga giant due to shared visions of possession-oriented, quality football with the Catalan club. On Wednesday, the German officially inked a contract that binds him to Camp Nou until 30 June 2026. Speaking after his appointment, Flick, who succeeded Xavi Hernandez, emphasized his pride in being part of Barcelona. He highlighted his aspiration to enhance Barcelona’s academy players, stating, “I’m proud to be at Barça, it’s a wonderful and incredible club really. We share the same vision, possession, and quality football. Barça has La Masia, one of…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Reports indicate that Kylian Mbappe, who is set to depart PSG, has not yet received his full salary and bonuses from the club. Mbappe announced his departure from the French giants before the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season and has played his final match for the club. The French international bid farewell to PSG in the final of the Coupe de France against Lyon, a match PSG won 2-1, securing their second trophy of the season. Despite PSG’s expectation that Mbappe will leave on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract, with Real Madrid rumored as his next…
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has identified two formidable teams that could win Euro 2024 this summer. With the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund set to conclude the 2023-24 season at Wembley on Saturday, June 1, attention will soon shift to the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. Speaking to Sky Sports, Van Dijk highlighted England and France as two teams with significant strength heading into Euro 2024. “England boasts a very, very strong team and squad, but many other teams do as well,” remarked Van Dijk. “France is also formidable. It promises to be…
The Carabao Cup is set to introduce changes to the competition starting next season. A seeding system is expected to be implemented in response to recent controversial changes in the Champions League and the FA Cup. This system will rank clubs participating in European competitions and keep them apart in the early rounds, reducing the likelihood of big clubs facing each other early on. Additionally, the third round of the competition will be staggered over two weeks to help ease fixture congestion. According to The Telegraph, these changes come alongside modifications to the FA Cup and Champions League. Each Champions…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is set to become the highest-paid manager in the club’s history, according to the UK Mirror. The Spaniard is in a strong bargaining position as he prepares for new contract talks this summer. With one year left on his current deal, Arteta has established himself as one of Europe’s top young managers. The 42-year-old, appointed in December 2019, is poised to secure a record-breaking salary. Arteta has won the FA Cup and two Community Shields, and has finished behind Manchester City in two consecutive Premier League seasons. He will also receive assurances that the club shares…
The long-awaited criminal trial of eight medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, initially set to start next week, has been postponed to October. Maradona, aged 60, died in November 2020 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, following decades of battles with cocaine and alcohol addictions. He was found dead in bed two weeks after the surgery, in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was brought after being discharged from the hospital. He died of a heart attack. Last April, an Argentine appeals court confirmed…
Manchester United are keen on signing Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, according to Sky Sports. The Red Devils admire the centre-back, who has been included in England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024. Ahead of next season, United are in the market for a defender. The 21-year-old is high on their list of targets, regardless of who the manager will be next season. Branthwaite is reportedly valued at £60m-£70m by Everton. The Toffees need to sell one of their main assets before the end of June to comply with PSR regulations.
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has named Chelsea’s Reece James as the “best right-back in the world.” Walker believes James possesses all the qualities a right-back should have. Despite struggling with recurring injury issues, James has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top defenders since making his first-team debut for the Blues in September 2019. Asked to name the best right-back in the world on the You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast, Walker said, “Reece James. He’s just got everything. If I could make the complete right-back, it would be him. He can defend, attack, he’s technical, can…
Manchester United co-owners INEOS have disclosed ongoing discussions with UEFA regarding the club’s proposed participation in the upcoming Europa League season. This participation has come under scrutiny due to their connection with French club Nice. Despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, Manchester United secured a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup, defeating Manchester City 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Consequently, sixth-placed Chelsea will compete in the Conference League, while Newcastle, who finished seventh, will not participate in European competitions. However, UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership conflict with INEOS’ stakes in both Manchester United and Nice, both…
Tottenham Hotspur has decided to extend the loan of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner for the 2024/25 season. Werner joined Spurs in January on loan until the end of the 2023/24 season, with an option for the club to make the move permanent for approximately £15 million. Unfortunately, a thigh injury sidelined the German player prematurely in early May, giving Tottenham ample time to deliberate on his future. Fabrizio Romano initially reported that Spurs were in discussions with Leipzig regarding an extension of Werner’s loan under the same terms as their previous agreement, a deal later confirmed by the club.…
Chelsea has reportedly made a contract offer to Fulham center-back Tosin Adarabioyo as he nears the end of his current deal. Tosin, 26, is set to depart Fulham this summer after four years and has attracted significant interest from Newcastle United, who moved swiftly to avoid competition from other Premier League clubs. However, according to Sky Sports News, Chelsea has now stepped in with a contract offer as they aim to bolster their defensive options following Thiago Silva’s departure. Tosin is yet to make a decision on his future and continues discussions with Newcastle, who are also pursuing another impending…
Barcelona has reportedly compensated Xavi with €2.5 million following the termination of his managerial contract. Just a month after retracting his decision to step down this summer, Xavi was relieved of his duties due to public comments about the club’s transfer dealings, which irked president Joan Laporta, prompting a swift dismissal. Xavi had one year remaining on his Barcelona contract, entitled to around €11 million in compensation for its termination. However, SPORT has confirmed that the 44-year-old willingly forfeited his compensation. Instead, he requested reimbursement for the €2.5 million he paid to terminate his contract with Al Sadd before joining…
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has responded to critics who questioned his commitment to the club this season amid his struggles with injuries. Shaw’s campaign was marred by frequent setbacks, limiting him to just 15 appearances across all competitions, with his last game in February. England manager Gareth Southgate recently voiced concerns over Shaw’s fitness ahead of Euro 2024. Some fans accused Shaw of prioritizing his availability for the Euros over his responsibilities with United. In response, Shaw took to social media to clarify his situation. “Happy for the boys to lift the trophy at the weekend and finish this…
Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Saudi Pro League Scoring Record Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season by scoring his 34th and 35th goals in Al Nassr’s final game of the campaign. “I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterward. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star scored in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header, leading Al Nassr to a 4-2 victory over Al Ittihad at home on Monday. The previous record for most goals in a single season…
Date for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk Rematch to Be Confirmed Within a Month Promoter Frank Warren has announced that the date for the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will be confirmed within the next month. Usyk defeated Fury via split decision earlier this month, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. The contract for their first bout includes a rematch clause, which both fighters are eager to honor. “The rematch was signed before the first fight took place anyway, and that date will be set within the next month or so. Both fighters…
UEFA Gives Manchester United Deadline Amid Europa League Ban Threat UEFA has given Manchester United until Monday to resolve an issue that could prevent them from participating in the Europa League next season, according to the UK Telegraph. The complication arises because United’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also owns Nice, which has qualified for the same competition. Despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, Manchester United secured their Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Ratcliffe’s ownership of Nice and Swiss club Lausanne violates UEFA’s regulations, which prohibit the same owner or entity from having…
Manchester United’s Minority Owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Offers Early Bonus Payments to Encourage Staff Resignations Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7% stake in Manchester United for £1.3 billion in February, is aiming to streamline operations at Old Trafford. In an effort to reduce the workforce by approximately 25%, Ratcliffe is offering early bonus payments to encourage staff resignations. According to Mirror Football, employees who are neither scouts nor part of the playing staff received emails on Tuesday instructing them to return to the club’s offices in London or Manchester. Those unwilling to comply are given the option to leave…
Wayne Rooney Admits He Regrets Not Playing for Celtic Former Everton and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has revealed that he wishes he had played for Celtic during his career. Rooney shared this regret during an interview with his former teammate Gary Neville on The Overlap. When Neville asked, “The club you wish you played for in your career?” Rooney responded, “Celtic, I’d say.” Surprised by the answer, Neville remarked, “Celtic? Wow. Celtic fans, you missed out there.” Rooney, now the newly appointed manager of Plymouth, considers it a notable regret in his career.
A recent report indicates that Manchester United are reconsidering the possibility of retaining Erik ten Hag as manager, despite earlier assertions suggesting otherwise. Initial reports before the FA Cup final suggested that United had already made the decision to part ways with Ten Hag, irrespective of the outcome at Wembley. However, following their victory over Manchester City in the final, subsequent reports have indicated that a final decision on Ten Hag’s future will be made during an upcoming season review. Manchester Evening News now reports that United have not definitively ruled out the option of retaining Ten Hag and have…
Leicester City midfielder Harry Winks lauded Enzo Maresca as the finest manager he has ever played under, as the Italian gears up for a potential move to Chelsea. Maresca steered Leicester to victory in the Championship this season, securing their promotion back to the Premier League. The 44-year-old, who previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, is now a leading candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea’s manager. Winks had already foreseen Maresca’s future success at a top club earlier this season. In March, speaking to Sky Sports, Winks expressed his admiration, saying, “He’s by far the best…