Manchester United youngster Toby Collyer has praised teammate Casemiro as one of the best midfielders ever. Collyer, reflecting on his experience after a preseason match against Arsenal, noted how much he has learned from the Brazilian midfielder. “It’s incredibly valuable to learn from him,” Collyer told MUTV. “He’s one of the best ever in that position. Watching him in training and having him next to me, offering guidance and support, is fantastic. He’s a real leader in the team.” In the preseason friendly, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2-1, with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. Rasmus Hojlund initially put…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has expressed doubts about the club’s acquisition of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. Yorke is skeptical about the £36.5 million deal for the Dutch forward, who joined Manchester United this summer. Although the 23-year-old Zirkzee had an impressive season with Bologna, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists, he only made two substitute appearances for the Netherlands in Euro 2024, where they lost 2-1 to England in the semi-final. Yorke views this as a ‘red flag,’ questioning why Zirkzee is not a regular starter for his national team. He commented to the Manchester Evening News,…
In a troubling development for Manchester United, new signing Leny Yoro was forced to leave the pitch just 30 minutes into his debut match, casting uncertainty over his immediate future with the club. The highly anticipated defender, who joined United from Lille earlier this summer, suffered what appeared to be a lower-leg injury during the first half of the team’s pre-season friendly against a local side. The 19-year-old was seen limping off the field after a seemingly minor challenge and required medical assistance. Initial assessments suggest a lower-leg injury, but further evaluations are needed to determine the full extent of…
In a closely contested match in Los Angeles, Manchester United fell 2-1 to Arsenal, with concerns emerging over possible injuries to key players Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro. The game started with United in control, putting pressure on Arsenal’s defense. Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Karl Hein, made two crucial saves early on. Rasmus Hojlund scored the opening goal for United, showcasing his precision and speed. However, Hojlund soon appeared to injure his groin and was substituted by Hannibal Mejbri. Arsenal capitalized on a counterattack, with Gabriel Jesus scoring an equalizer from close range. Although there was controversy over whether Jesus was offside,…
Chelsea captain Reece James has expressed concerns that Enzo Fernandez’s return to the squad on Monday could create issues within the team. Fernandez has been embroiled in controversy after posting a video of himself and his Argentina teammates singing a racist song during their Copa America celebrations. He remains under internal investigation for the incident. Despite this, Fernandez will join his teammates in America for their preseason tour. James is apprehensive about how Fernandez’s return might affect team dynamics, suggesting it could lead to potential unrest in the dressing room. When asked if the situation could impact the team, James…
Samoa’s boxing coach, Lionel Elika Fatupaito, passed away at the Paris Olympic Village after suffering a cardiac arrest, officials reported on Saturday. The 60-year-old’s sudden death occurred on Friday, the day of the opening ceremony. Despite efforts by emergency services, they were unable to save him, with the local prosecutor’s office confirming that he died of “natural causes.” The International Boxing Association (IBA) expressed its “heartfelt condolences” to Fatupaito’s family, friends, and colleagues. The IBA praised his dedication and passion, noting that his legacy would continue to inspire future generations. Olympic boxing events in Paris began on Saturday.
Kalvin Phillips has reportedly told Manchester City that he wants to leave the club permanently this summer, ending his challenging stint at the Etihad, according to Sportskeeda. English journalist Pete O’Rourke states that Phillips has expressed his desire to secure a permanent transfer rather than another loan move. Since joining Manchester City from Leeds United for £43 million in July 2022, Phillips has struggled for game time, starting only six matches and scoring once in 31 appearances. His loan spell at West Ham United during the second half of last season was also disappointing, leading to his exclusion from the…
One of Nigeria’s athletes at the Paris Olympics has been disqualified following a positive drug test. Nigerian boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore has been removed from the women’s tournament after testing positive for a banned substance. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on Saturday that the 22-year-old African Games lightweight champion tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic commonly used to mask other performance-enhancing drugs. The positive result was confirmed from a sample collected on July 25. According to the ITA, Ogunsemilore has been provisionally suspended pending further investigation, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IOC Anti-Doping Rules for the…
Aruna Quadri, a major medal contender for Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been eliminated from the table tennis competition after relinquishing a 3-0 lead. Heading into his fourth consecutive Games, Quadri seemed set for victory as he dominated the first three sets against Romania’s Eduard Ionescu, winning them 11-8, 11-9, and 11-6. However, Ionescu staged a remarkable comeback, winning the fourth set 11-8 and the next two sets 12-10 and 11-9 to level the match at 3-3. In the decisive final set, Ionescu edged out Quadri with a tight 13-11 victory, ending Quadri’s Olympic aspirations and leaving Nigerian…
Manchester United have appointed Andreas Georgson as their new first-team coach. The club announced the addition on their website ahead of their pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Saturday. Georgson is the latest member of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff this summer and will join Steve McClaren and Darren Fletcher in the revamped coaching team. The 42-year-old arrives from Norwegian side Lillestrøm, where he has been head coach since January. He brings a wealth of coaching experience from previous roles at Brentford, Arsenal, and Southampton. Earlier this month, Manchester United also confirmed the appointments of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy…
After Chelsea’s game against Celtic last night in the USA, the dedication of Chelsea fans made headlines. Despite their team’s heavy defeat, the fans gathered near the team bus to show their support. The Chelsea bus was stationed outside the stadium, and the supporters waited by it to see the players off, demonstrating their loyalty even after a 4-1 loss. Celtic led 2-0 at halftime and added two more goals in the second half, with Christopher Nkunku scoring a late penalty for Chelsea. The fans’ commitment remained the focal point of the evening, highlighting their unwavering support.
Olympic organizers have issued a “deep apology” after South Korea’s athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Korea during the Paris opening ceremony. As the South Korean team sailed down the River Seine, both French and English announcers incorrectly referred to them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is North Korea’s official name. The correct name was then used when North Korea’s delegation passed by. The South Korean sports ministry plans to file a “strong complaint” with the French government over this error. The ministry expressed regret over the mix-up, stating that the South Korean delegation was introduced as…
Manchester United have announced Andreas Georgson as their new first-team coach. The 42-year-old has left his role as manager of Norwegian side Lillestrom to join Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. This summer, United have been reshaping their coaching team, with assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag and coach Benni McCarthy departing. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, both experienced managers, have been appointed as first-team coaches. Jelle ten Rouwelaar has also joined as the new goalkeeping coach, making Georgson the fourth new addition confirmed on Friday evening. Georgson began his coaching career in Sweden with Malmo in 2018 before moving…
Arne Slot explained Liverpool’s unusual formation in their friendly against Real Betis, where Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott started up front but frequently dropped into their typical attacking midfield roles, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho coming in from the wings. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo were positioned in central midfield. Slot noted that this formation was a result of the limited options available at the moment. “During the season, we’ll use a traditional striker, but currently, we don’t have one available,” he said. “With Dom and Harvey as two No. 10s, we decided to use them in roles they…
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad and are expected to ramp up their interest shortly, according to 90min. The Gunners are close to finalizing their first summer signing, with Riccardo Calafiori’s move from Bologna set to be completed after a medical this weekend. Calafiori will then join the first team on their USA tour. Once Calafiori’s transfer is finalized, Arsenal will turn their attention to Merino, a key target in their search for a new midfielder. Despite mainly coming off the bench, Merino made a significant impact this summer as Spain advanced to Euro…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly planning to use Lisandro Martinez in a new defensive role for the 2024-25 season. According to Give Me Sport, Ten Hag intends to deploy Martinez as a backup left-back due to the inconsistent performances of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. Martinez, 26, has been a key first-team player since his arrival from Ajax in 2022. However, his 2023-24 season was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 14 appearances across all competitions. The decision to move Martinez to left-back is likely influenced by his strong ball-playing skills and left-footedness. With the potential…
Dani Olmo has drawn interest from Arsenal and Chelsea following a standout performance at Euro 2024, where he ended as a joint-top scorer with three goals. Barcelona’s recent bid for Olmo, currently with RB Leipzig, is expected to be rejected, leaving the door open for Arsenal and Chelsea to make a move. Despite Olmo’s £50m release clause expiring last Saturday, Leipzig remains open to offers for the 26-year-old. Olmo impressed at Euro 2024, scoring three goals and providing two assists in seven matches, including the decisive goal in Spain’s semi-final win over France. Barcelona, who previously had Olmo in their…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has named five players of Nigerian descent in his squad for the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. The players include new signing Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham, Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa, Lesley Ugochukwu who joined from Rennes last summer, Noni Madueke from PSV last summer, and young talent Tyrique George. Adarabioyo will compete with Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and Benoit Badiashile for a spot in central defense. Chukwuemeka and Ugochukwu, who are being monitored by AC Milan and Everton respectively, will need to impress Maresca to secure their places in the squad. Madueke is…
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has opted to reject a £1 million-per-week offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in favor of staying with the Premier League champions. Despite Al-Ittihad manager Laurent Blanc’s hopes of finalizing the transfer, De Bruyne decided to remain at Manchester City after consulting with his family. Concerns about relocating, especially regarding his eldest son’s education, were key factors in his decision. The 33-year-old is now in the final year of his contract with City.
Malang Sarr has joined Ligue 1 club Lens on a free transfer following the termination of his contract with Chelsea earlier this summer. Sarr originally signed with Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020 after leaving Nice, where he had made 119 appearances in four seasons. His time at Stamford Bridge included loan spells at Porto, where he was briefly demoted to the reserve squad, and Monaco. He featured in 21 games during the 2021/22 season and was part of the squad that won the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup. However, Sarr did not make any appearances during the 2023/24…