Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Real Madrid are anxiously monitoring the fitness of Jude Bellingham after the midfielder appeared to suffer a late muscle injury during their 3-0 Super Cup semi-final victory over Mallorca. Bellingham showed signs of discomfort in the closing minutes of Thursday’s match but still participated in a post-game scuffle on the pitch. His injury followed Federico Valverde’s exit due to an adductor issue and Aurelien Tchouameni’s substitution earlier in the half after a head injury. With Real Madrid set to face Barcelona in the Super Cup final on Sunday, Ancelotti initially downplayed concerns about the trio’s availability.…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool and Chelsea have both emerged as potential suitors for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Napoli is reportedly open to selling Kvaratskhelia this month, as contract renewal talks have stalled. Paris Saint-Germain is believed to be exploring a deal worth around €80m (£67.1m) for the winger. Manchester United was recently linked with a potential swap deal with Napoli, involving Marcus Rashford moving to Italy in exchange for Kvaratskhelia. The news of Kvaratskhelia’s availability has caught many by surprise, and according to The Athletic, it has sparked interest from both Liverpool and Chelsea. Although neither club is actively seeking a winger at…
AC Milan has reportedly submitted an official bid to Manchester United for Marcus Rashford, with the player’s representatives traveling to Italy to hold talks with the club’s officials. United fans were taken aback when Rashford revealed to journalist Henry Winter his desire to leave for a “new challenge.” Despite his lifelong allegiance to the club and development through its academy, the forward seems ready to move on. Rashford’s form has dipped this season, managing just seven goals in 24 appearances. This has led to speculation that the pressure of being a central figure at United is affecting his performance. At…
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has weighed in on Arsenal’s managerial situation, suggesting that the club might need to reconsider its direction if Mikel Arteta fails to win the Premier League title this season. Mikel Obi pointed out that Arsenal has invested heavily in the transfer market—reportedly around £800 million—since Arteta took over as head coach in December 2019. Despite this significant spending, Arteta has yet to deliver a Premier League title, finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in the past two seasons. Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel expressed doubt about Arsenal’s prospects this season, stating his belief…
Having spent significantly in the summer, Manchester United now face a dilemma as they look to strengthen the squad and provide Ruben Amorim with a competitive team. Unfortunately, some of their summer signings have struggled to make an impact. Among them, Joshua Zirkzee has been the biggest disappointment, and his time at United could come to an early end, with Juventus expressing serious interest in signing him. Being booed off by his own fans has only added to Zirkzee’s struggles, making it a challenging situation for the player to recover from. It’s no secret that Juventus is eager to secure…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over its decision to appoint Éric Sékou Chelle, former coach of the Malian national team, as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. In a statement signed by Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate, NANS National Headquarters, the student body described the appointment of Chelle, who lacks a distinguished track record, as inappropriate and disappointing. The NFF Executive Committee had announced Chelle’s appointment on January 7, 2025. However, NANS expressed disapproval, labeling the decision a “slap on the country” and arguing that more qualified coaches,…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his players to make better decisions following their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Arteta reflected on the loss, which saw goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in either half give Newcastle a solid advantage ahead of the second leg in February. The Gunners created opportunities to score but failed to capitalize, with Kai Havertz notably missing a close-range header. Arteta said: *”The biggest difference in the game was being clinical. In every other…
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Mali head coach Eric Chelle as the new manager of the Super Eagles, ending the long wait for a permanent head coach. The national team has been without a permanent head coach since Finidi George’s resignation in June 2024. During this period, the NFF entrusted caretaker duties to Austin Eguavoen, who successfully led the team to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). With important World Cup qualifiers approaching in March, the NFF has now turned to Chelle, who guided Mali to a quarter-final finish at AFCON 2023. In a statement…
Tottenham will carry a 1-0 advantage into next month’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, courtesy of Lucas Bergvall’s second-half winner. There will be plenty of debate over whether the young Swede should have had the opportunity to score the decisive goal, but Spurs fully deserved their first-leg victory on Wednesday night. For the second consecutive match, Liverpool were below their best, but they are far from out of the tie, with an exciting second leg set for Anfield next month. How the Game Unfolded Arne Slot surprised some by fielding a near full-strength team on Wednesday night, given…
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed a significant increase in prize money for the 2024 African Championship (CHAN). The winner of this year’s tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will receive $3.5 million, marking a 75% rise compared to the amount awarded to Senegal two years ago in Algeria. In addition, the total prize pool for the competition has been raised to $10.4 million, reflecting a 32% increase. As of now, 17 countries have qualified for the biennial tournament. The draw for CHAN 2024 will take place at the International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday,…