Reigning champions of theGhanaian Premier League, Medeama SC, have landed in the United States with a contingent of 15 players for their upcoming historic match against the Major League Soccer team, DC United.
The club from Tarkwa had initially submitted the names of 19 players for visa applications, but a few of them faced rejection by the American Embassy in Ghana.
As per a recent report, only 13 players were granted visas, including two goalkeepers. However, further investigation by GhanaWeb reveals that Medeama successfully sent a total of 15 players to the USA for their significant clash against DC United.
The eagerly awaited event, known as the Capital City Cup, is slated to occur at the Audi Field in Washington, DC on October 14, 2023.
Here’s the list of Medeama players present in the USA:
Goalkeepers: Felix Kyei and Appiah Kubi
Defenders: Baba Musa Abdulai, Kofi Asmah, Emmanuel Cudjoe, Nurudeen Abdulai, and Mamudu Kamaradini
Midfielders: Jean Vital, Azaria Fordjour, Osah Tetteh, and Theophilus Anorbah
Forwards: Jonathan Sowah, Nana Kofi Babil, and Daniel Lomotey
Additionally, left-back Fatawu Hamidu, who received his inaugural call-up to the Black Stars, is set to join Medeama from the Black Stars camp.
Ghana Football Association spokesperson, Henry Asante Twum explained that the Black Stars’ technical team omitted Andre Ayew from their recent squad due to his lack of club affiliation.
Twum stated that the Black Stars’ captain has been engaged in discussions with various clubs regarding a possible transfer.
The technical team reportedly communicated their decision to exclude Ayew, and the player accepted it with a positive outlook.
“…he is not someone you can easily do away with or you can easily replace; however, he has got his future to sort out. At the moment, he is club-less; he is talking to clubs; he is having meetings with clubs; and he travels a lot.
“So the technical team spoke to him to make him understand that they want to excuse him from these two international friendlies so that he can sort out his future.”
“He took it in good fate and gave his blessing to the team as far as the two matches are concerned and the technical team also wished him well as he looks for a new team,” he told Radio Gold Sports.
He stated that despite the captain’s absence, Ayew is still crucial to the team and that his engagement with the Black Stars is not over.
“So there is no problem as if the door is shut on him; it’s not as if the journey is over for him as far as the team is concerned and Andre brings a lot to this team.
“He is a useful part of the jigsaw, he brings experience to the table; he brings his leadership on and off the pitch.
“He provides loads of inspiration to some of these young players in the squad but for now, the coaches feel he should focus on his future, sort out his club issues, and then he will be considered going forward.”
For the October international break, Black Stars head coachChris Hughton has selected a 23-man squad. After securing two victories in the previous international break, Ghana aims to maintain their momentum as they take on Mexico on October 15 and the USA on October 18, 2023.
The Black Stars will kick off their matches by playing Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium, followed by a game against the USA at Geodis Park.
After an 11-year stint with the club, the midfielder found himself sidelined by the new manager, Luis Enrique.
Consequently, Verratti made a transfer to the Qatari team Al Arabi in September for approximately €45 million.
“Upon my return for preseason, I had an interview with the coach and he told me I wasn’t part of his plans,” Verratti said. “He is a very good manager. He is doing good things with PSG. I didn’t see it as a personal decision. I have never had enemies in my life. I prefer things to be clear.”
The Italy international wasn’t told why, though.
“He [Luis Enrique] wanted change,” he added. “I had spent many years here and he wanted something new. Things don’t happen by chance for me. The club wanted me to look elsewhere so I started to talk with other teams, and I chose Qatar.
“I think in football there are never ‘good’ reasons. Everyone has their vision of how to play. I think thatLuis Enrique needed other players. I have nothing against him. We have a very good relationship. I trained to the max every day, and he couldn’t say anything bad about me. Sometimes there are changes, and that’s good too.”
Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, has openly expressed how he “gave up the fight” to revolutionise Australian football due to lack of “nationalistic approach that I just don’t think Australians—at their core—are really interested in”.
He candidly shared his deep-seated frustrations while endeavouring to elevate the sport’s prominence in his homeland.
The ex-Australia men’s team coach, now leading Spurs and taking them to the top of the Premier League since assuming the role in July, holds a pessimistic outlook on the sport’s status in his home country.
This perspective remains despite Australia’s recent hosting of the Women’s World Cup, in which the Matildas secured a fourth-place finish.
Postecoglou said the Asian Cup win he masterminded on home soil in 2015 “didn’t make an impact back there and that was kind of my frustration”.
“When you look at what the Matildas did at the World Cup, it was unbelievable, but you still won’t see an influx of resources to the game. You won’t. I guarantee it,” he added ahead of Australia’s friendly match against England at Wembley on Friday.
“They’ll build stadiums and other codes will use them. I just don’t think the nation as a whole has that inside them to understand that you can make an impact on the world of football but it requires a kind of nationalistic approach that I just don’t think Australians—at their core—are really interested in.”
Legendary #Socceroos Head Coaches Ange Postecoglou and Guus Hiddink visited Arnie and the boys in camp to pass on some inspirational words 💚💛
🏴 v 🇦🇺 – 14.10.23 – 5:45am AEDT 🇦🇺 v 🇳🇿 – 18.10.23 – 5:45am AEDT 📱💻📺 Live on Channel 10, Paramount+, 10 Play pic.twitter.com/ROgQ4EVql9
Postecoglou said it was difficult for football to compete against established sports such as Australian rules football, rugby league and rugby union.
The 58-year-old also does not expect his high-profile appointment in England to change the landscape of football in Australia.
“I don’t. I don’t know and maybe that’s just me, not being cynical, but I gave up that fight,” he explained.
“It’s a much easier space for me to live in because I was so frustrated for so long. It was my biggest frustration. One of my major drivers for doing what I did was to do that – to change football in Australia and that’s the reason I left.
“I felt I hadn’t made an impact at all. That’s easier for me to deal with than to think maybe I still can now with what I’m doing. I just think I’d be disappointed, so I’d prefer to think it’s not going to happen.”
Postecoglou walked away from the Socceroos job after helping them qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, taking up a role in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos.
“I walked away from a World Cup,” he said. “We qualified and I walked away. The reason I walked away was that I just didn’t enjoy what I was doing.
“It’s not just doing the job and winning games of football; it’s got to be a higher purpose. My higher purpose in Australia was to change the game. I just don’t think that will happen.”
Messi was included in the world champions’ squad despite being sidelined by the muscle problem he sustained last month, which has kept him out of action for his US side, Inter Miami.
Scaloni said the forward had been training well ahead of the match on Thursday.
“For him, one more training session is important and I will talk to him to decide whether he plays or not, but I have to talk to him first and above all, I have to be sure that he can start,” Scaloni told reporters.
“We have another game in four days against Peru and it is not so easy to define if he is available; the important thing is that he feels comfortable. What leaves us calm is that if he is not fit, whoever replaces him will do just as well.”
Paulo Dybala, who sustained a knee injury while playing for AS Roma on Sunday, was in the squad despite Angel Di Maria and Angel Correa being out due to injuries.
“We know that they are important absentees but those who come (to replace them) are very capable and can even stay,” Scaloni added.
Argentina host Paraguay at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires before facing Peru in Lima on October 17th.
He is now in charge of Al-Duhail, a Qatari team. Galtier, who secured the Ligue 1 title with PSG, had a brief tenure at the club due to a disappointing second half of the season.
During the final weeks of his PSG tenure, his reputation was marred by allegations of racism stemming from his previous role at Nice.
Galtier has vehemently denied these accusations, but he is scheduled to stand trial in December.
In his new role at Al-Duhail, Galtier will be leading a squad that includes notable players like Philippe Coutinho (31), who has previously played for Liverpool and Barcelona.
Galtier takes the reins from Hernan Crespo following the club’s separation from the former Argentina international, who clinched the league title with Al-Duhail in the previous season.
The Frenchman’s upcoming challenge involves going up against an Al Nassr team led by Cristiano Ronaldo (38) and Sadio Mane (31) in the Asian Champions League group stage, set to take place later this month.
Al-Duhail has only managed to secure one point from their first two matches in the competition.
Liverpool Football Club announced on Thursday that the new upper tier in the Anfield Road stand will remain closed until the year’s end.
This delay in the expansion project has resulted in the cancellation of fans’ tickets for the October 21st match against Everton.
Originally, the new tier, which was set to increase Anfield’s capacity by 7,000 seats to over 61,000, was anticipated to be ready for the 2023-24 season.
However, due to delays and a change of contractor, the current capacity is reduced to approximately 51,000.
“We’re going to have to maintain the status quo for the remainder of the calendar year, essentially meaning capacity at Anfield will remain the same as for the previous home games that we’ve seen this season,” said Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan.
Liverpool FC chief executive officer Billy Hogan has today provided an update for supporters on the status of the ongoing Anfield Road Stand expansion project:
This includes plans to open some of the upper tier for the Merseyside derby and the visit of neighbourhood rivals Everton, for which Liverpool had already sold tickets.
“Ultimately, we won’t be in a position to be able to provide seats for thosefans who have purchased those tickets in the upper tier,” Hogan said.
“Our team has identified who those supporters are and they will be reaching out directly to those supporters next week.”
Brazil’s interim coach, Fernando Diniz, is eagerly anticipating the prospect of Neymar (31) and Vinicius Jr (23) teaming up in the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
He emphasises his commitment to fostering team unity as he temporarily leads the squad.
Diniz assumed his role after Tite’s departure, which followed Brazil’s quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar. It’s worth noting that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to take over next year.
Nevertheless, at 49 years old, Diniz, who juggles his responsibilities with Fluminense, remains determined to leave his mark on the national team and maintain their position atop the South American qualifying competition.
“(Neymar and Vinicius) are extremely good players, very intelligent and skilled, and they like each other. There is also Rodrygo, a player of a very high level,” he said.
“We hope they get on well in tomorrow’s game, as they have done in training, and that they can have a great game.” Vinicius, who usually plays in thesame position as Neymar, returns to the squad after missing the first two qualifiers through injury.
“My first interaction with Vinicius was excellent; today he is one of the greatest players in world football. Let’s hope he is comfortable playing,” he added.
Finding balance and building unity is Diniz’s main objective in order to have a “competitive team”.
“I feel a positive camaraderie from the players, who like each other very much, forming that feeling of family. The older ones know how to welcome very well those who arrive; both my committee and the players called up,” he said.
Brazil is set to play against Venezuela in Cuiaba before embarking on a match against Uruguay in Montevideo five days later.
In a legal battle between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and AshantiGold SC, the GFA has emerged as the victor, as determined by the Human Rights Court in Accra.
AshantiGold, a former Ghanaian champion, had challenged their relegation to Division Two following their involvement in match manipulation, as ruled by the Disciplinary Committee.
Seeking to reverse their demotion and ensure a fair hearing from the GFA, the club from Obuasi had turned to the court system, marking a prolonged and determined pursuit of justice.
However, in a ruling issued on October 11, 2023, the Human Rights Court in Accra upheld the GFA’s decision, thereby affirming that AshantiGold will remain suspended from all football-related activities.
This verdict marks the end of a protracted chapter in Ghanaian football, impacting the club’s standing and its involvement in the sport.
Chelsea has included Napoli’s forward,Victor Osimhen, as a potential target for their January transfer plans, according to sources cited by ESPN.
Chelsea is actively seeking a center-forward and is currently keeping an eye on Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, as previously reported by ESPN on September 26.
The ultimate decision regarding whether Chelsea or Arsenal will officially pursue Osimhen in January remains uncertain.
Real Madrid has also shown interest in the player, and the outcome may hinge on the progress of negotiations with Brentford concerning Toney.
Napoli is intent on retaining Osimhen at least until the following summer while working on securing a new contract for the 24-year-old.
However, these negotiations have encountered delays, initially related to the size of the release clauseOsimhen seeks and later due to a TikTok post that the club subsequently removed.
Manchester United is poised to activate contract extensions for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelöf, according to sources cited by ESPN.
However, the club’s decision regarding Anthony Martial is still under consideration.
Martial, whose contract runs until the end of the season with a one-year option, faced a season marred by injuries last year, participating in just 11 Premier League matches.
In the current season, he has slipped in the pecking order, with summer signing Rasmus Højlund taking precedence. Martial has managed one goal in nine appearances.
His situation at Old Trafford is further complicated by his status as one of the club’s highest-paid players.
A source revealed to ESPN that United was open to letting Martial go during the summer, but the only practical offer came from the Saudi Pro League, a proposition that the27-year-old turned down.
There is an increasing likelihood that RB Leipzig’s attacking midfielder, Dani Olmo, will make a summer transfer to Barcelona, as reported by Sport Bild.
During the previous summer, RB Leipzig witnessed the departure of several high-profile players, such as Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City, Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool, and Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea.
Consequently, Die Roten Bullen will need to generate approximately €60 million in the upcoming summer transfer window to cover player salaries and club infrastructure.
Olmo’s contract with Leipzig, which was signed last spring, incorporates a release clause ranging from €60 million to €65 million, contingent on the acquiring club.
This release clause becomes active at the end of the season.
https://youtu.be/FABH8rgFlHM
Barcelona represents Olmo’s long-cherished destination, particularly considering his earlier involvement with the club during his youth career. Consequently, Leipzig may be willing to accept an offer at the lower end of that spectrum, provided Barcelona’s financial situation is resolved.
Olmo, his father Miquel, and agent Andy Bara have engaged in discussions with Barcelona regarding a potential return, and there were reports of a clandestine meeting in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
Notably, the Spain international extended his contract with Leipzig following these negotiations, with the inclusion of the new release clause.
Currently recovering from injury, the 25-year-old has already made a significant impact this season, scoring five goals and providing an assist in four matches across all competitions, including a remarkable hat trick against Bayern Munich in the DFL Super Cup.
Once again, Arsenal’s physiotherapist, Simon Murphy, has been seen in the company of star midfielder Thomas Partey, who is currently with the Ghana national team, the Black Stars, gearing up for their international friendly matches on October 15 and 18.
GhanaWeb reported the presence of Simon Murphy and Thomas Partey at the Black Stars camp in anticipation of Ghana’s friendly encounters against Mexico and the USA.
Murphy donned Black Stars training attire and actively engaged in the training session, underscoring Arsenal’s commitment to monitoring Partey to prevent any potential injuries during his international duty.
Partey recently recuperated from an injury that sidelined him for several weeks, a setback that contributed to Arsenal’s loss to RC Lens in the Champions League.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tkiuvHFbSoQ
However, the 30-year-old made a timely return to feature in Arsenal’s crucial match against Manchester City, where his impressive long ball played a pivotal role in securing a narrow 1-0 victory.
Given Partey’s integral role for Arsenal this season, Mikel Arteta is keen to safeguard the Ghanaian player against any injury risks that could impact the club’s performance in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Arsenal is scheduled to face Chelsea immediately after the international break in the Premier League, and Arteta is determined to have Partey fit for that fixture.
In the absence of Andre Ayew, Partey is expected to captain the Ghanaian squad in their matches against Mexico and the USA.
Notably, Simon Murphy had previously accompanied Partey in Ghana’s camp back in March, during the preparations for their 2023 AFCON Qualifiers against Angola.
It may be surprising, but Spanish young talent Gabri Veiga has refuted claims that financial considerations were the driving factor behind his decision to sign with the Saudi Pro League team Al Ahli this summer.
Despite receiving offers from European clubs, including Serie A champions Napoli, the 21-year-old opted for a three-year deal with Al Ahli, valued at a total of €40 million, departing from Celta Vigo.
Asked if money was the reason for his move to Saudi Arabia, Veiga said, “No. I understand that everyone has their own opinion and life and has to make their own decisions. But there were other reasons that tipped the balance, and I am proud of the step I have taken.
“In the end, among all the options I was considering, it was the one that allowed me the most to continue growing as a footballer, in a league with great stars that is growing a lot.
“It was a step to look to the future and although there are people who do not understand it, it was the best step I could take.”
The midfielder for Spain’s U-21 team hasn’t ruled out playing in Europe again in the future.
He said, “You never know what can happen, but one day my motivation may be to play in the Champions League and to win titles in Europe. Even two years ago, I didn’t think I was going to be inSaudi Arabia and now I am very happy.”
Karim Benzema’s move to Al Ittihad during the summer was motivated by his long-standing desire to reside in Saudi Arabia and his desire to pick up a new challenge, even though he had good moments while with LaLiga giants Real Madrid.
The France forward left Real Madrid after 14 years “to try a new challenge” and signed in June with the Saudi Pro League champions as a free agent.
“Well, with everything I’ve made and gained with Real Madrid, I think it was a good moment for me to try a new challenge,” 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema told the Saudi Pro League website. “And for a really long time, even before football, I always wanted to come here.
Also, it’s a Muslim country … Straight away, I felt this love for me. On and off the pitch, I feel good. This country welcomed me with open arms. I feel the love of the people here so obviously that makes me happy.”
Benzema, 35, signed a three-year contract with Al Ittihad and has big aims.
“I really want to help Saudi football grow,” he said. “It [Al Ittihad] was a project that was just starting to burst from everywhere so from my side, I wanted to be part of the story. That’s the reason why I came here.”
Harry Maguire has suggested that he could leave Manchester United in January, with the out-of-favour defender not prepared to “play once a month”.
The England international centre-half has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with the club captaincy being taken off him in the process.
Maguire has taken in just 116 minutes of Premier League football this season, with Erik ten Hag not convinced by what the 30-year-old has to offer.
Maguire saw a transfer speculated on over the summer and admits that he may have to seek a move in the next window. He has said while away on England duty: “I am not going to sit here all my life and play once a month and if it carries on, I am sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat. I want to play minutes; I want to play football.”
While being overlooked by Ten Hag on a regular basis, Maguire claims his record under the Dutch coach is deserving of more opportunities.
He added: “If you look back on my last 15-20 starts for club and country, I would be happy to sit here and say I’m really happy with my performances. My record under this manager(Ten Hag) speaks for itself. I haven’t started as many games as I would like but my win percentage when I’ve played is ridiculously high.
“Of course, there are times when I could do more and times when I could improve and help the team. I can only do what I’ve been doing when I’ve come into the team—bringing positive performances. But I’m just wanting to help the team; I’m wanting to help the team get out of this position we’re in at the moment.”
In the 2023-24 season, Manchester United’s performance as a team has been erratic, amassing only 12 points from eight games, which positions them in 10th place on the Premier League standings. Furthermore, the Red Devils have encountered consecutive losses in the Champions League, falling to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Barcelona’s vice president, Eduard Romeu, has confirmed the club’s intention to honour Lionel Messi with a meaningful tribute. However, he has refrained from speculating on the possibility of Messi’s return to the team.
Rumours of Messi’s potential reunion with Barcelona have persisted since his departure for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Yet, the Argentine icon chose to join Inter Miami during the summer, eschewing a return to his former club.
As the MLS season is scheduled to conclude at the end of the year and Inter Miami has been excluded from the playoffs after the regular season, the notion of Messi making a temporary return to Barcelona has resurfaced.
Nonetheless, this prospect has been dismissed as unfeasible due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial difficulties.
Nevertheless, it is highly likely that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will receive a tribute in front of the Barcelona fans once Camp Nou reopens, a gesture that Romeu is optimistic will come to fruition.
“The only thing I would like, and the day and time will surely come when the circumstances are favourable, is that we can pay him a great tribute,” he told L’Esportiu. “He deserves it and we’re really looking forward to it.
“The rest is a matter of speculation; we don’t even talk about this subject because we have already talked about it too many times.”
Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus has now joined the Black Stars’ camp in preparation for their upcoming friendly matches in the United States of America.
Initially absent when the Black Stars’ camp was set up in the USA and missing the team’s first training session, Kudus later reunited with his fellow players.
He was spotted at the Black Stars’ Day 2 training session held in Charlotte.
The players engaged in their second training session at the Charlotte FC facility as part of their readiness for the first game against Mexico, scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Bank of America Stadium.
Following the match against Mexico, the Black Stars will take on the United States of America on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Coach Chris Hughton intends to use these two friendly games as an opportunity to assess his team in preparation for theFIFA World Cup qualifiers set for the following month.
Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles Owusu, has revealed what he believes to be a divine prophecy concerning Ghana’s upcoming presidential politics.
As a part of the Glorious Word Miracle Church International, led by Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, Owusu has boldly predicted that Kennedy Agyapong, a contender for the NPP’s presidential nomination, will become Ghana’s next president following the 2024 elections.
Appearing on the October 11 edition of The Seat show on Net2 TV, he described Agyapong as “the next president in waiting.”
“He is the one God has prepared; he has been ordained already by God; when God calls you and prepares you spiritually, it will manifest at all costs in the physical.”
He stressed that Agyapong has suddenly been catapulted into the presidential limelight from a position of zero ambition only months ago.
“Because he is of God, he has changed how politics is in Ghana, especially within the NPP… and that is a perfect sign that it is of God and so far as that is the case, it will surely manifest.
Agyapong is poised to compete for the NPP’s flagbearer position, joining three other contenders: Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The NPP has officially designated November 4, 2023, as the date for electing the successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s new leader.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) clarified that the delay in disbursing bailout funds to customers affected by Blackshield Fund Management Company Limited (previously known as Gold Coast Fund Management Limited) is not attributed to any reluctance on the part of theMinistry of Finance (MoF) to release the funds.
In a statement issued by the Commission on October 10, it was explained that the “delay is principally due to the legal action by Blackshield/Gold Coast contesting the liquidation petition brought by the Official Liquidator (Office of the Registrar of Companies) at the request of SEC following the revocation of licences.”
The Commission, on the other hand, has stated its commitment to continue supporting the official liquidator in pursuing the liquidation petition in court.54
In the meantime, customers of the defunct Blackshield Fund Management Company found themselves spending the night of October 10, 2023, at the entrance of the finance ministry, demanding the release of their frozen funds.
These customers have been persistently seeking access to the approved GH¢8.6 billion, which Parliament sanctioned for settling their claims.
Frustrated by the delays in receiving their funds, they initiated a protest at the ministry on Tuesday, October 9, 2023.
These customers, hailing from different regions of the country, came together with the resolve to stage a 48-hour continuous protest at the ministry to underscore their demands.
Regrettably, their efforts failed to capture the ministry’s immediate attention.
Charles Nyame, the group’s organiser, clarified that the decision to spend the night at the ministry was a deliberate strategy aimed at sending a powerful message to the government, urging them to fulfil their financial commitments.
Social commentator Bernard Allotey Jacobs has advised former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, to refrain from publicly criticising the government.
Allotey Jacobs made this suggestion during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on October 11, 2023.
Allotey Jacobs emphasised that Professor Frimpong-Boateng had accused innocent citizens of involvement in illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” without collaborating with the police regarding his own alleged connection to the issue. In essence, he pointed out the inconsistency in the professor’s actions.
Furthermore, Allotey Jacobs argued that Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s background in academia might not provide him with a strong political foundation, and as such, he should steer clear of political matters.
“Professor Frimpong Boateng, it will be good for him if he shuts up… For you, you are not a politician, and everyone knows that; they call you cardio Frimpong-Boateng.
“You have gone into politics yet you have no base… You said you wanted to contest for flagbearer, and you lost miserably, and the person whom you contested had pity on you and gave you an appointment because you had a certain status.
“Giving you an appointment as the Minister for Environment. And when the galamsey issues also came up, they made you the Inter-Ministerial Committee Chairman. They have been saying your son is also engaged in galamsey, and you couldn’t even dispute it,” he said.
Allotey expressed his concern that such actions could have the potential to tarnish the reputation and esteem associated with distinguished academics likeProfessor Frimpong-Boateng.
“You are following young men doing galamsey who are disgracing you anyhow; I expect him to sit somewhere quiet. You have accused innocent people of being part of galamsey, and now the police are calling for further investigations but you are not cooperating with them.
“If you do that, people won’t trust academia,” he added.
Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng recently took a swipe at a personality in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) he referred to as Ghana’s ‘de facto Prime Minister.’
In his latest open letter to the government, which addressed the issue of how Ghana got to the current stage of lawlessness it is at, he said that it has become clear that there are faceless persons, as well as several others without any positions in the NPP who wield unquantifiable power.
He stressed that these persons have so much authority that, to a large extent, they call the most shots in the country.
Making reference to the point that the actions of such personalities go against the blueprints of the NPP he is aware of, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng stressed that this is a worrying trend.
He also spoke about another worrying trend of nepotism in the current government administration, led by PresidentNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
France manager Didier Deschamps has been cautious in expressing his true sentiments aboutKylian Mbappe’s chances of winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or, according to Christophe Dugarry, a fellow French World Cup winner.
Deschamps has stated his belief that the Paris Saint-Germain striker is deserving of the award, even though Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are considered the frontrunners after their exceptional 2022–23 seasons.
However, Dugarry has suggested that Deschamps might hold reservations about Mbappe’s prospects but refrain from sharing his true thoughts to avoid “offending” his star player.
“It makes me laugh. You feel like it’s a ball of hypocrites. Journalists ask the question and you don’t know if they really mean it,” he told RMC Sport. “We ask Deschamps the question but I’m sure he doesn’t give a damn. He (Mbappé) is not scoring at the moment; he is not playing very well, but (Deschamps) is afraid of offending him so he is obliged to make a response.
“Don’t make a connection with me and don’t ‘fry’ me with Deschamps. I’m talking about all those who give their opinion, friends of friends, and those who have an interest. There’s no real honesty in any of this. The Ballon d’Or, we don’t care; it doesn’t interest anyone.”
Dugarry also shared his view that both Haaland and Messi would be rightful contenders for the Ballon d’Or ahead of Mbappe. Messi played a pivotal role in Argentina’s victory in the 2022 World Cup, and Haaland achieved a treble in his debut season at Manchester City.
In contrast, Mbappe’s accomplishments were limited to securing the Ligue 1 title with PSG, as the team once again fell short in the Champions League.
“Today, to put my foot down, I would not give it to Mbappe, as strong as he is,” he added. “I would give it to someone who has won titles; it would be either Messi or Haaland.” The striker is due to return to action on Friday when France takes on the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Akwasi Afari Duodu Malik, alias Bulgaria, the blind historian, has hit back at controversial Ghanaian US-based broadcast journalist Kevin Taylor.
This comes after the US-based journalist rained insults on him in a viral video on social media, accusing him of being a political puppet and taking bribes.
Bulgaria, in response, stated in an interview that he would have ignored Kevin but the insults in the video were not directed at just him but others as well. Bulgaria said the usual him does not respond to “lunatics” like Kevin Taylor.
“On a normal day, I wouldn’t respond to lunatics like Kevin Taylor but as you clearly heard, those insults were not directed at just me,” he noted.
Kevin was seen in a video rubbing the disability of the blind historian on his face.
In Kevin’s opinion, Bulgaria has allowed himself to be bought by politicians and is now using his platform to spread nonsense instead of using it to fight for the welfare of his fellow disabled people.
He said, “Growing up, never have I seen a blind thief, one who takes bribes from politicians.
By now, as a blind man, you should be questioning the government as to why he has neglected disabled people in the country who are unemployed while you have gotten the platform to do so.
You should be questioning why your brothers at tollbooth have lost their jobs, but no, you are on a different tangent with your messy moustache like that of a bird.
You have become a puppet for politicians, allowing yourself to be used. Foolish man, senseless!”, he fumed. ”
Eventhough Bulagaria acknowledged that some of what Kevin said was accurate, as usual, he is notorious for babbling nonsense even in his attempts to make sense.
He said, “I can’t deny that some of the things she has said are true.
The ones regarding toolbooths and how persons with disabilities still remain home to date without jobs
He’s right about me speaking about the disabled and their jobs at the toothbooths. He’s drawn my attention to it and I will work on that.”
He called out Kevin to accord himself some self-respect by thinking before he speaks.
According to Bulgaria, Kevin claims to be the son of a chief; hence, he should act like one and be noble in his speech.
“It’s high time Kevin learns to think before he speaks
As he always claims to be a chief’s son, at least I expect that he accords himself some respect; picking fights with women, insulting all the time, and the like doesn’t help,” he added.
He dared Kevin to leave the USA and come join hands to make Ghana a better place to live.
“Kevin, if you are a real man, come to Ghana from America, and let’s help the country.
But don’t sit there and spew nonsense. Because of all that you have said, I have picked the sense in it and I will work towards it but for the others, I have realised they don’t make sense; you are a lunatic.He is a lunatic, a lunatic,” he slammed.
Former Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan has expressed his deep regret and a wish to turn back time in order to redeem himself for his crucial penalty miss that led to the Black Stars’ elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay.
Gyan, who holds the record as Africa’s top scorer in World Cup history with six goals across three tournaments and 11 appearances, enjoyed a remarkable career with the Ghana national team.
However, his notable achievements have not been able to erase the indelible memory of that moment for many football fans, particularly Ghanaians.
In the 2010 South Africa World Cup edition, Gyan was presented with the opportunity to propel Ghana into the history books as the first African side to reach the World Cup semifinals, all thanks to a last-minute handball by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez in the penalty area.
Despite sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Gyan’s penalty struck the crossbar, and the chance for glory slipped through their grasp.
Ghana eventually lost in the ensuing penalty shootout, missing out on a place in the semifinal when the spot was within their grasp.
Gyan remembered the painful incident, as quoted by Eurofoot, saying, “Till today, any time I’m alone, it still haunts me… Sometimes I feel like the world should go back again so I can redeem myself. But I know this is something that will haunt me for the rest of my life. I accept that because there is nothing I can do about it. I went there to save my country, but I ended up being the villain, which I accept because I know how people feel.”
According to Asamoah Gyan, the aftermath of the incident was a disaster for him, stating, “It was a disaster. It was crazy. I couldn’t sleep the whole night because I was crying the whole night until morning… All I was telling myself was to get another chance because I knew I could redeem myself, even if not football or something else. But even if I don’t, my kids will do it one day”, he added.
After 20 years of dedicated service to club and nation, Gyan announced his retirement in June 2023 at age 37, with 51 goals in 109 caps for the Black Stars.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor commended Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for his accomplishments and effective leadership during his initial term.
Following Kurt’s successful re-election, former President Kufuor expressed his full confidence in Kurt’s capabilities.
Kurt was re-elected for another four-year term after securing an impressive 97.5% of the votes during the elective congress held in Tamale on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
During a visit to his Peduase residence to extend condolences for the loss of his wife, Theresa Kufuor, the Executive Council, led by President Simeon-Okraku, received commendation from former President Kufuor.
He recognized the dynamic energy that Kurt had infused into Ghanaian football and encouraged him to persist in making positive contributions to the sport during his second term.
The former president stated, “You have done exceedingly well in your first term and I expect you to do more in your second term to elevate the game to a very high standard.”
Kurt Okraku’s re-election came afterGeorge Afriyie was disqualified by the elections committee, leaving Kurt to run unopposed.
Patients with CKD often require dialysis or a kidney transplant to sustain their lives, but these treatments do not provide a definitive cure.
They must continually grapple with the challenges and risks associated with living with kidney disease.
The recent agitations over the proposed new price of renal dialysis at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital even bring to light the need for more public education and sensitization on the severity of renal failure or CKD.
Abigail Ashley, who has undergone a successful kidney transplant, is intimately familiar with this reality. She continues to battle CKD every day of her life.
In her dialogue with Citi News, she underscores that a kidney transplant is not the end of the struggle but merely another strategy for managing one’s kidney function.
“After the transplant, you regain the ability to urinate because the kidney is now operational. Your body can produce its own blood, hormonal balances are restored, and you experience feelings just like any other person. If you’re a woman, you’ll resume menstruation a month or two after the transplant. During your illness, many of the body’s systems cease functioning, but once the kidney is replaced, all those functions reactivate.”
“However, this doesn’t mean the battle for the new kidney concludes. It’s crucial to remember that it wasn’t originally part of your body, so there’s a high likelihood that your body perceives it as a foreign organ, even though it’s there to save you. That’s why you must persist in taking immunosuppressants to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney.
“This can occur at any time, which is quiteterrifying when you think about it. After all the investments, what if… That’s another worry. Not to mention how expensive the medications are after a transplant and how much you need them.
“Unfortunately for us in our part of the world, we have only a handful of transplant patients. And because of how costly the drugs are, only a few pharmacies stock them and the price keeps escalating.
“Unless there’s no increase in the dollar value, then the cost of medications goes up. And sometimes there’s even a shortage of medications, and we go into crisis. It’s not easy. Kidney disease is lethal; you never cease fighting it,” she explained.
Ms. Ashley emphasised that these medications must be taken for life unless one wants to risk losing the transplanted kidney.
She added that sometimes people even lose it despite taking the medications—such is the irony of life.
She has to take immunosuppressant drugs to prevent her body from rejecting the new kidney. These drugs are costly and sometimes scarce.
She also has to undergo regular tests and be cautious of infections that could harm her new kidney.
She asserts that kidney disease is deadly and one never ceases fighting it but she advises people with CKD to accept their situation and live positively.
Ms Ashley also urges people to be aware of CKD risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes and encourages regular checks on blood pressure and kidney function.
She also advocates for a healthy diet low in salt, sugar, and red meat but high in vegetables and fruits.
“Overthinking can exacerbate stress on an already diseased kidney. It’s crucial to accept the situation, embrace it, and keep moving forward as if each day is a gift.
“Hypertension and diabetes are significant risk factors for kidney disease. If you have a family history of these conditions, it’s important to be extra vigilant. If you’re managing these conditions, please take it seriously. For everyone else, don’t dismiss headaches as something normal.
“Sometimes you need to go the extra mile—get your blood pressure checked and have some lab tests done. As for dietary habits, consider reducing your intake of red meat and salt,” Ms Ashley advises.
Manchester United have included Sporting CP center-back Gonçalo Inacio on their shortlist as they continue their quest for a new defender in the January transfer window, as per information from Fabrizio Romano.
United is reportedly planning to dispatch scouts to Portugal to assess the 22-year-old’s abilities. Inacio has recently been linked with Liverpool and Newcastle as well.
The centre of defence has become a top priority for United as the transfer window approaches.
Manager Erik ten Hag has been without Lisandro Martínez for a period, and England international Harry Maguire is yet to completely win over the former Ajax head coach, particularly after a potential transfer to West Ham fell through during the summer.
Inacio is the latest in a series of options being considered by Manchester United.
Reports suggest that they are also exploring potential acquisitions of players like Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice, António Silva from Benfica, and Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.
Negotiating with Inacio may be a challenge sincehe is under contract until 2027, and Sporting CP has reportedly set a release clause for him at €60 million.
Manchester United players have reportedly expressed their strong displeasure with Erik ten Hag’s treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.
Ronaldo’s contentious departure from United in November was marked by criticism of Ten Hag, who had sidelined him during the first half of the 2021–22 season.
Ronaldo’s criticism came during an explosive interview with Piers Morgan. Subsequently, he pursued a new challenge outside of Europe by joining the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
In the same season, United, under Ten Hag, achieved Champions League qualification and secured a League Cup victory.
However, their performance in the 2023–24 season has taken a downturn.
Jadon Sancho found himself excluded from the squad after failing to meet the manager’s training expectations.
In response, the English winger voiced his discontent with Ten Hag on social media.
It has been reported that he will only rejoin the squad upon issuing an apology.
According to former United striker Alan Brazil, who claims to have an inside source at Old Trafford, the dressing room sentiment has turned against Ten Hag. His handling of both of of these star players has been perceived as overly severe by the team.
“This is what I’ve been hearing… from aManchester United player who told someone I know very well,” Brazil said on talkSPORT. “He said the players do not have the manager. They’re not having him at all. By all accounts, they are disgusted by the way he treated Ronaldo, and they say Sancho is a great guy who works his socks off.”
United are reportedly eager to offload Sancho in the winter transfer window, with Ten Hag said to have grown tired of his “disruptive” behaviour.
The 23-year-old has failed to meet expectations since his £72 million ($88 million) transfer to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.
In 55 Premier League appearances, he has managed to score only nine goals. There have been speculations about a possible return to Dortmund, and Juventus is also reportedly considering a move for him.
Following the international break, United is scheduled to resume their season with an away match against Sheffield United in the Premier League on October 21.
Subsequently, Copenhagen is set to visit Old Trafford for a Champions League fixture three days later. However, it appears unlikely that Sancho will be included in either game due to his ongoing standoff with Ten Hag.
Black Stars have initiated their preparations for the upcoming friendly matches against Mexico and the United States.
In Charlotte, a contingent of 19 players, including key figures such as Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Richard Ofori, has reported to the team’s training camp in anticipation of these games.
West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus is expected to join the team on Wednesday.
The team conducted its first training session at the Charlotte FC training facility as they gear up for the match against Mexico scheduled for October 14.
Further training sessions will take place in the days leading up to the Mexico game, followed by a match against the United States at the GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 17.
Unfortunately, injuries have forced Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, and Osman Bukari to withdraw from participation in the two friendly matches.
They have been replaced by Kingsley Schindler, Jerome Opoku, and Stephan Ambrosius.
These friendly matches serve as a preparatory phase for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros in the coming month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o-t7p79CvY
The Black Stars are determined to use this opportunity to ensure they are well-prepared for a strong performance in the upcoming qualifiers.
Players in camp: Goalkeepers
Richard Ofori, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Lawrence Ati-Zigi,
Defenders
Alidu Seidu, Kingsley Schindler, Nicholas Opoku, Stephan Ambrosius, Gideon Mensah, and Joseph Aidoo
Antonio Conte has refrained from confirming reports suggesting he will take over as the coach of Napoli.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager is Napoli’s top choice if the club opts to replace Rudi Garcia.
Garcia is under pressure at Napoli, with the team in fifth place after eight league games, but when questioned about the link, Conte said: “For now, I’m enjoying my family.
“I made a clear choice when I left England. Then you know that many things can happen along the way. Napoli? We must always have great respect and education.”
Antonio Conte, aged 56, has been unemployed since his mutual departure from Tottenham in March, following a 16-month tenure. The Italian has previously secured league titles with his former clubs, which include Chelsea, Juventus, and Inter Milan.
Rudi Garcia assumed the position after Luciano Spalletti during the summer.
However, a 3-1 home defeat to Fiorentina last Sunday left Napoli trailing league leaders AC Milan by seven points, with just four wins from their initial eight league matches.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has indicated that he won’t rush into a decision concerning Garcia’s role.
“I’m an entrepreneur,” De Laurentiis said. “I have a duty to take an interest in my business. I will make the most appropriate decisions when the time comes to make them. You must always take a reflective pause. Every hasty decision is wrong… Head down, pedal and work.”
Harry Maguire has shared that a personal phone call from David Beckham provided him with support in dealing with the abuse from fans.
The abuse has been so severe at times that his family chose to stay away from games.
The 30-year-old had a challenging experience when he came on as a substitute in England’s 3-1 victory against Scotland last month. Ironically, he was cheered onto the field by thousands of home fans, only to face jeers with every touch, including an unfortunate own goal in the 67th minute.
Previously, Maguire had been a target of abuse by Arsenal fans while representing Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. Additionally, the center-back has been subjected to a wave of social media abuse after falling out of favor under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
England boss Gareth Southgate claimed after the Scotland game that “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is,” and Maguire disclosed that Beckham rang him a few days after the game to offer his support.
Beckham endured a torrid reaction from angry England fans to his red card in the Three Lions’ 1998 World Cup round of 16 defeat to Argentina.
A recent Netflix documentary revealed his father, Ted, was sent bullets in the post, and an effigy of Beckham being hung by his neck was displayed in a south London pub, while David and his wife Victoria later received messages threatening to kidnap their first-born son, Brooklyn, after his birth in March 1999.
Speaking about the call from Beckham, now 48, Maguire said, “It meant everything. I’ve spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.
“Unfortunately I didn’t end up on the right wing scoring and assisting as many goals as he has. But he was a big role model when I was growing up. It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciated. It was really touching.
“I don’t want to go too much into the conversation but the main thing he did was remind me of the career I’ve had to date and the big moments I’ve had in my career.
“I think when you’re going through tough moments, you’ve got to go through past experiences and past memories, where you’ve gone in your career and what you’ve been through.
“Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I’ve reached in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three-and-a-half years. He’s been in that position and knows what it’s like.
“Obviously having watched the documentary I couldn’t believe how much he went through at the time. In the documentary, Gary Neville speaks about how resilient he is as a person.I think he’s been a huge role model for many footballers growing up, especially in my era.”
Real Madrid board member Jose Manuel Otero Lastre says it seems like Kylian Mbappe was destined to wear the club’s jersey.
Mbappe, aged 24, is set to become a free agent in 2024 and the possibility of him joining Madrid without a transfer fee is high.
Although there are negotiations ongoing for a new contract in Paris, this is happening despite his disagreements with the club over the summer and being listed for a transfer.
“Mbappe had and did not have the opportunity to sign for Real Madrid this summer,” Otero Lastre told the Remontada Blanca Twitch channel. “To come, he would have had to give up some very high bonuses that he had already agreed with Paris Saint-Germain. Plus, there was a [transfer] fee to pay.
“The amount that would have had to be paid to have signed Mbappe a year earlier was crazy. It didn’t make sense to sign Mbappe a year earlier, even though Madrid were broken in [Karim] Benzema’s position.
“We hope that Mbappe has the same thoughts as [Jude] Bellingham. I trust that he will come. Mbappe will achieve glory when he comes to Real Madrid. He will win a Champions League someday.
“Now, it seems like PSG is less powerful than before because they no longer have such good players. Madrid guarantees security, a seriousness that brings results. I trust he will say yes when he is a free agent.Mbappe was bornto play for Real Madrid.”
Head of referees, Howard Webb, has stated that measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence of the VAR mistake that led to a valid Liverpool goal against Tottenham Hotspur being incorrectly disallowed.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledged that VAR made an erroneous offside ruling when Luis Diaz scored what should have been the first goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat.
“Having seen what happened in Spurs vs. Liverpool, we analysed the situation and had a look at what we could do better to put some safeguards in place,” Webb told the TV programme Match Officials. Mic’d Up.
“We worked hard over the subsequent days to look at what we needed to do to put in those safeguards around the communication to avoid that sort of thing happening.”
In response to why the referee couldn’t halt the game after play had resumed, Howard Webb explained that by the time both the VAR and his assistant recognised the error, it had reached a point where it was no longer feasible to intervene.
“They recognised that the laws of the game, set by FIFA and the IFAB, doesn’t allow that,” Webb added.
“There’s obviously a process in place that sits in the laws of the game… And it doesn’t allow you to go back to those circumstances.
Wayne Rooney is set to make a managerial return in England, having been named as the manager of Championship club Birmingham City for a contract spanning three and a half years, as announced by the club on Wednesday.
The former Manchester United icon left his position as head coach of D.C. United on Sunday, following the team’s failure to secure a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs for the second consecutive season. He has now taken up the role at Birmingham, a club where NFL legend Tom Brady was revealed to have become a minority owner and advisory board chair back in August.
Joining Rooney’s coaching staff are two of his former teammates, Ashley Cole, with whom he played for the England national team, and John O’Shea, with whom he shared the pitch during their time at Manchester United.
“I have been building my managerial career, putting myself in challenging environments, to get me ready for this opportunity,” Rooney said in a statement. It’s a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can’t wait to get started.”
Rooney steps in as the new manager, taking over from John Eustace. Eustace had Birmingham City in sixth place in the Championship, having secured five wins in their first 11 games. However, his 15-month tenure as manager came to an end on Monday.
Eustace’s tenure with Birmingham was marked by challenging circumstances, including two unsuccessful takeover attempts and the looming possibility of a points deduction due to a breach of EFL regulations, which he successfully navigated to help the team avoid relegation in the previous season.
“Wayne is a born winner,” Birmingham co-owner Tom Wagner said. “We believe, with the support of his coaching staff, the club, and our supporters, he will take Blues forward on the next stage of our journey. His playing philosophy will help us realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.
“Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he embarked on his coaching education while still a player at Manchester United. He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the football club.”
Wayne Rooney has prior experience managing in the Championship, with his inaugural coaching role at Derby County spanning from January 2021 to June 2022.
During his tenure at Derby, he steered the club from the bottom of the championship to safety shortly after his arrival. However, in his first full season in charge, the team faced a significant setback due to a 21-point deduction.
Notably, the 55 points that Derby accumulated that season would have typically secured their safety in any other championship campaign.
Rooney assumed the role of head coach at D.C. United in July 2022 after previously playing for the club. In his first season, he couldn’t prevent the team from finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Subsequently, he guided the club to an improved ninth-place finish in 2023, although it fell short of securing a playoff berth.
Rooney’s departure from D.C. United was announced right after their last game of the regular season, which resulted in a 2-0 loss to New York City FC.
It’s worth noting that Wayne Rooney holds the record asManchester United’s leading scorer with 253 goals, and earlier this year, he was surpassed by Harry Kane as England’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Spain international Jenni Hermoso is considering taking legal action after her videotaped testimony in the investigation of Luis Rubiales over his unsolicited kiss was leaked to the media, sources have told ESPN.
Hermoso gave evidence to a Spanish state prosecutor before lodging a criminal complaint on Sept. 6 against then-Spain Football Federation (RFEF) president Rubiales.
Rubiales is accused of sexual assault and coercion after kissing Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the awards ceremony following the Women’s World Cup final in August.
Sources told ESPN that Hermoso is disappointed and stunned that excerpts from her testimony were shown on Spanish TV and is now exploring potential legal responses.
Rubiales, who eventually resigned from his post after the scandal, testified on Oct. 4 before a judge in Madrid and his testimony was also leaked to the media.
Francisco de Jorge, the judge presiding over the case, announced he will open an investigation into the leaked testimonies to the media, as the disclosure of secrets constitutes serious crimes.
Moreover, he has restricted the use of cameras during hearings.
Former Spain women’s coach Jorge Vilda and RFEF marketing director Ruben Ribera, who were added to the investigation, testified on Tuesday.
Hermoso was honoured at the International Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening at a ceremony in Pachuca, and the Spain international gave an emotional speech reflecting on her team’s Women’s World Cup triumph.
“We became world champions because it was the only way we had left to be heard, respected and valued,” Hermoso said. “My national team changed the way many people see women’s soccer. I am sure that millions of girls around the world have felt identified and protected by this group of brave, committed and honest players who, in every step they have taken, have always thought about their future.
“Many things have happened since then; perhaps we sacrificed some joys and some celebrations, and, without deserving it, we suffered more than necessary in a historic moment for us. It is clear that we have an enormous responsibility towards the new generations…”We win on the field and off it to ensure an inclusive sport and society that protects us all. And to everyone, I want to say: It’s over! I am Jenni Hermoso; I am a soccer player and I am that girl who managed to become a World Champion.”
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called upon the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to ensure alignment between the party’s stance and the positions held by its officials regarding the recent assault on UTV by certain party members.
During an interview on Peace FM, the minister emphasised the need for the party’s leadership to take corrective measures against officials who have expressed support for the attack, despite the party’s official condemnation of it.
“If the party is punishing people for behaviour inconsistent with the laws of the party or the nation and a member of the party expresses support for such behaviour, I believe it is something that the leadership should also look at.
“Because there must be consistency in the party’s approach. Just as there is consistency in the approach of the party and government in condemning the incident, it is the same way I believe the party leadership should also make sure that there is consistency between those positions and the views expressed by the members of the party,” he stated.
The minister underscored that although party members are entitled to hold varying perspectives on the issue, it is the responsibility of party officials to uphold the party’s official stance on matters. Those who fail to do so should face appropriate consequences.
Background
A group of NPP members stormed the studios of UTV during the broadcast of United Showbiz on Saturday, October 7, 2023, demanding the regular pundit of the show, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus.
The group, said to be unhappy with A Plus shredding a letter by the leadership of the NPP to the management of UTV calling for a reform of United Showbiz, is said to have assaulted some staff of the media company before making their way into the studios.
Subsequently, the police disclosed the apprehension of 16 individuals linked to the assault. This event has garnered broad condemnation from political activists and diverse critics who have characterised it as a direct assault on both media freedom and freedom of speech.
In a statement by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as issued by its Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, the party has unequivocally denounced the incident. It emphatically stressed that the party neither authorised nor supported the attack on UTV.
Host of UTV’s popular morning show, Adekye Nsroma, Yaa Konamah, has contradicted claims suggesting that the network received a letter from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding the alleged politicisation of the prime-time entertainment show, United Showbiz.
According to her, UTV never officially received any communication from the NPP.
Instead, she clarified that the letter in question had been circulated by the party.
The controversy began when a group of individuals believed to have ties with the NPP disrupted a live broadcast of United Showbiz, objecting to what they perceived as the show’s politicisation.
The group alleged that a letter sent by the NPP to address their concerns had been torn into pieces by one of the show’s panelists, A Plus.
Despite an apology issued by the station, the NPP maintained that they had indeed sent a letter to UTV to express their concerns about the alleged politicization of the show.
However, Yaa Konamah, visibly agitated, stated that the purported letter was never received by UTV’s management.
“That letter, they circulated it. Our management has remained silent on it, but you circulated the letter without giving it to the general manager you addressed it to. Call Kennedy Osei Asante and ask him if he ever received the letter; he didn’t.
“And for your information, the leaders of the NPP came to apologise. In public, they attacked us and later came to apologise. The said letter was never sent to the general manager of Despite Media and UTV. And so, the section of the public saying we gave the letter to A Plus, we didn’t,” she said.
The hostess also stated that although the purported NPP’s actions were supported by the law, the hostess of ShowBiz’s move did not prevent the pundit A Plus from tearing up the letter.
“Granted per adventure, Miss Gee (the hostess) didn’t alert A Plus that it was a confidential letter, but the letter was circulating in the public and what crime has he committed that he tore a letter belonging to someone?” she added.
She continued: “Morally, he didn’t show respect but there was nothing wrong; it wasn’t defamatory… Legally, what offence did A Plus commit for tearing the purported letter into pieces? Give us a breathing space, for you’re suffocating us too much.”
Dr. Adam Bonaa, an analyst specialising in security and safety matters, has called for the withdrawal ofSamuel Atta-Akyea, who chairs a 7-member ad hoc committee responsible for probing the recently disclosed contentious audio.
During a media engagement , Dr. Bonaa made this request in response to allegations put forth by George Akuffo-Dampare, the legal counsel representing Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP). Dr. Bonaa pointed out that Mr. Atta-Akyea has veered away from the committee’s designated scope of work.
“Yes, it would have been proper for the Speaker to ask him to recuse himself because, like I said, if you go and play the video, you can see the chairman almost turning the thing into a per trawling exercise on the sea and when you come on the land, it’s like galamsey, using crude methods to do what you have not been asked to do when you’ve been given a term of reference.
“So it will be proper if the speaker asks him to excuse himself but I believe the speaker knows what he is doing,” he stated.
In a recent interview, Lawyer Kwame Gyan voiced apprehensions about Mr. Atta-Akyea’s behaviour, claiming that the committee’s chairman was making statements that could potentially undermine the impartiality of the investigation.
Mr. Atta-Akyea, who concurrently holds the position of Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has faced considerable scrutiny for his management of the case.
Mr. Gyan accused Mr. Atta-Akyea of conducting himself as if he were the sole commissioner in charge of the inquiry, and he expressed his team’s unwillingness to proceed under such circumstances.
“He has his own agenda,” Mr. Gyan asserted, hinting that Mr. Atta-Akyea has revealed his biassed intentions for all to see.
Reacting to the allegations against the committee chairman, Dr Bonaa said the observation by Dr Dampare’s lawyer can be confirmed from a careful analysis of the proceedings and the conduct of the chairman.
“For those who watched the on-camera sittings, when one of the senior police officers said he was a member of the NPP and he was asked whether he was a card-bearing member of a political party, just when he was about to answer, the chairman actually restrained him and told him not to answer. The video is there.
“So I believe that the Speaker of Parliament should actually collect all these videos to do an assessment of the performance of his chairman. He stopped him from answering and thought that was being biassed.
“You are there to collect facts so if a question is put to a witness and the witness decides to answer, you don’t tell him not to answer because you don’t act as a counsel for the witness but by and large, that was what he was doing,” Dr Bonaa noted.
In a notable incident, a recorded conversation featured three currently serving police officers and a former regional chairman of the rulingNew Patriotic Party (NPP), outlining a plan to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
This recording, which has received extensive media coverage, captured the senior officers seeking the political figure’s support in orchestrating the removal of the IGP before the 2024 general election.
These officers, who identified themselves as staunch NPP members, voiced their apprehensions regarding the potential negative impact of Dr. Dampare’s tenure as IGP on the party’s prospects of retaining power.
Former musician turned political activist Kwame Asare Obeng, widely known as A Plus, has shared details of a conversation he had with former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
According to him, during a courtesy visit to the former president, he received words of encouragement from the veteran statesman regarding his distinctive approach to critiquing the political establishment.
During an interview on Adom FM on October 8, 2023, A Plus revealed that President Kufuor advised him to stay true to himself and continue his unique style of activism.
He recounted that Kufuor mentioned that his participation in ‘United Showbiz,’ an entertainment program on UTV where he serves as a regular panelist, often keeps him up late into the night.
“Kwame, that is who you are; continue to do what you are doing,” A Plus quoted Kufuor as saying.
A Plus added: “Those that watch UTV, friends of Despite; I can tell you that most of Despite’s friends, such as the East Legon Executive Club, are predominantly aligned with the NPP.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqfOC79VsNs
Background
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, a faction of NPP members staged an intrusion at UTV studios while the ‘United Showbiz’ program was live on air.
Their primary demand was the presence of Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as A Plus, a regular pundit on the show.
Reportedly, this group expressed their dissatisfaction with A Plus for tearing apart a letter from the NPP leadership, which had called for reforms in the ‘United Showbiz’ programme.
Regrettably, the incident led to the assault of some media company staff members before they gained access to the studios.
Subsequently, the police disclosed the arrest of 16 individuals believed to be associated with the attack.
The event has drawn widespread condemnation from political activists and various critics who have deemed it a direct assault on media freedom and the fundamentalright to freedom of speech.
He made these revelations in an interview with ESPN’s Bicycle Diaries program.
Nevertheless, the situation is markedly different for those who are economically disadvantaged and striving to make a living. Williams, who plays for the Black Stars, emphasised that despite his black ethnicity, his financial status shields him from being treated differently due to his wealth.
“In Spain, I think that people are elitist. If you have a lot of money like I do, they don’t look at your skin colour but if you are a street vendor, they do” Inaki Williams said.
Regarding the racism experienced by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. during the previous season, the Ghanaian striker expressed his desire for all Los Blancos players to have collectively left the field in response.
“I would have appreciated it if all theReal Madrid players walked off and the game had been stopped,” Inaki Williams, who suffered racism in 2020 in a La Liga game at Espanyol, said.
Group Chairman ofMcDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley, has initiated legal proceedings against the University of Professional Studies-Accra (UPSA) on the grounds of what he claims to be an unlawful entry onto his property.
The disputed land is located in Mpehuasem, situated within the Adenta Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, covering an area of approximately 1.34 acres.
In his formal Statement of Claim, Daniel McKorley, the plaintiff, is pursuing various legal remedies.
These remedies include a declaration asserting his rightful ownership and possession of the land, an order for the recovery of possession, compensation for trespass, and a directive for the cancellation of the defendant’s (UPSA) land certificate numbers GA 60960 and GA 60961, both issued on 11/2/2020 and 2/1/2020, respectively.
Furthermore, he is seeking a perpetual injunction to prohibit the defendant, as well as its officers, assigns, agents, grantees, servants, and workmen, from engaging in any activities related to the land.
According to the plaintiff, he acquired the land from its legitimate owners and obtained an indenture in 1995.
This indenture was executed between Nii Torgbor Obodaifio, who served as the Head and Lawful Representative of the La-Shanshie family of Mpehuasem, acting as the vendor, and Michael Amenigye, who was the purchaser.
This indenture was duly stamped as LVB.16322/1999.
Subsequently,a deed of conveyance (Indenture) dated April 17, 2005, was executed between Michael Amenigye, the vendor, and Daniel McKorley, the purchaser, stamped as LVB 9897/2006.
This deed conveyed a specific parcel of land from Michael Amenigye to Daniel McKorley.
McKorley took effective possession of the land by erecting a fence wall around it and remained in possession without any objections until 2020, when his employees informed him that UPSA had placed a signpost on the land, claiming ownership.
The signpost read, “Property of UPSA. Keep Off.”
The plaintiff, Dr. Daniel McKorley, reached out to the Vice Chancellor of UPSA, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who confirmed that the land was owned by UPSA, having obtained it from the Numo Nmashie family.
Despite this confirmation, McKorley continued to assert his ownership and even offered to provide an alternative piece of land to UPSA, which the university declined.
Subsequently, the plaintiff managed to obtain documents, including two certificate numbers (GA 60960 and GA 60961) dated 11/2/2020 and 2/1/2020, which were in the name of UPSA.
Any attempts by McKorley to develop the land were met with resistance from UPSA, which employed land guards.
Given these developments, the plaintiff initiated legal action against UPSA.
He sought injunctive relief in the form of an interlocutory injunction to prevent UPSA from dealing with the disputed land until the final resolution of the case.
In a subsequent lawsuit filed on August 24, 2023, the plaintiff has asked the court to hold Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, Vice Chancellor of UPSA, and Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright, Registrar of the University, in contempt for entering and developing the disputed land while the injunction application and the core legal matter are still pending determination.
“That despite the fact that the respondents herein, being officers of the defendant, had knowledge of the said pending application for interlocutory injunction, they nevertheless acted by taking matters into their own hands and proceeded to clear the land and commence construction on the land, damn the consequences,” the application by the plaintiff read in part.
The actions of the defendants, according to Dr. McKorley, are a clear contempt of the orders of the court and interfere with the due administration of justice.
He has thus pleaded with the court to punish them to serve as deterrents “to like-minded persons who have demonstrated no respect for the authority of the Honourable Court and its processes.”
Former Manchester City player Yaya Toure has disclosed that during a match against Chelsea in the 2015/16 season, he couldn’t resist playfully slapping Eden Hazard.
In a widely circulated video, Toure can be seen giving Hazard a friendly slap on the back of his head as they walked in the tunnel.
During a conversation with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, the Ivorian legend jokingly explained that he playfully slapped Hazard in the tunnel because Hazard had been causing them trouble on the pitch.
“Do you remember the video in which I slapped him? Because in a game, he was taking the ball, and no one could catch him. Because you know he has a different posterior, massive. That’s it. Because when you put your feet, he puts his bum like that, and he turns. Declan, say it to them. It’s true. People don’t understand it,” he said in a Goal.com vlog.
The video of Toure slapping Hazard had resurfaced online following the Belgian announcing his retirement from professional football.
Many football fans have wished the ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid man well while reminiscing about some magical moments he produced in his 16-year career.
Eden Hazard played 749 games, scored 200 goals, provided 193 assists,and won 15 trophies.
UEFA has revealed that the United Kingdom and Ireland will be the hosts for the 2028 European Championship, while Italy and Turkey have been designated as the hosts for the 2032 edition of the tournament.
The path to this decision was largely predetermined when UEFA accepted the joint bid from Italy and Turkey for Euro 2032 last week.
Consequently, with Turkey withdrawing from the competition to host Euro 2028, the hosts for both tournaments were effectively determined by European football’s governing body.
With Turkey’s withdrawal from the race for Euro 2028, the only remaining joint bidders for that tournament were England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
However, the final approval for both sets of bids still rested with UEFA’s executive committee, which convened on Tuesday to confirm the selections.
“Nothing is ever a formality, even right until the last minute,” said Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association (FA). “We took nothing for granted.”
Hewitt said efforts to organise the tournament had united the five soccer associations.
“There’s so many things that you might think might divide, but actually it has really unified,” she said. “I think that will be something that we all feel very proud of.”
Euro 2028 will be the largest major sporting event the U.K. and Ireland have ever jointly staged.
Former Welsh international Gareth Bale, who retired in January, said the tournament would boost soccer in Wales.
“I think it’s important, especially for Wales, to keep on the map, to keep pushing forward, to keep trying and to better ourselves,” he said.
The FA said some 3 million tickets would be available for the tournament, more than at any previous European Championship. Matches will be held in stadiums with an average capacity of 58,000, it added.
Barcelona is actively scouting the transfer market as they intensify their preparations for the upcoming season, according to sources at ESPN.
Coach Xavi Hernandez is keen on bolstering the squad with two players for each position to enhance competition. Specifically, he’s looking to bring in a defensive midfielder and two full-backs.
In the midfield, Xavi believes competition is crucial for Oriol Romeu, who currently occupies the base of the midfield. Romeu, at 32, joined the team this season as a cost-effective replacement for Sergio Busquets, who departed for Inter Miami.
Barcelona’s financial constraints necessitate targeting players who are either free agents or entering the final years of their contracts.
Interestingly, sources have revealed that Joshua Kimmich was presented as an option to Barcelona during the summer transfer window. While a deal wasn’t feasible then, Barcelona continues to monitor the German midfielder’s situation.
Bayern Munich’s Kimmich has a contract expiring in 2025, and Barcelona believes they might be able to negotiate a transfer at the end of the season.
Xavi admires Kimmich but is also considering other options like Arsenal’s Jorginho, Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara, and Real Betis’ Guido Rodríguez.
In the full-back positions, Barcelona seems content with the performances of João Cancelo and Alejandro Balde. However, uncertainty looms over Cancelo’s long-term future asBarcelona lacks an option to make his loan move from Manchester City permanent. Negotiations with City would be required.
Nonetheless, Barcelona intends to secure two new full-backs because Sergi Roberto and Marcos Alonso are both in the final year of their contracts.
Villarreal’s Juan Foyth has been considered, but the cost may pose a challenge. Last summer, Villarreal demanded Foyth’s €54.6 million release clause, and he is under contract until 2026. Barcelona believes that Villarreal might be more open to offers moving forward.
Xavi also aims to acquire a new striker to provide competition and eventually succeed Robert Lewandowski. The club has a deal in place to sign Athletico Paranaense’s Vitor Roque, an 18-year-old talent.
UEFA has announced that Russia will be prohibited from participating in the Under-17 European Championship qualifying matches scheduled for this month.
Over the past two weeks, UEFA’s staff has been considering the inclusion of Russia in its youth competitions for both men and women, even though the qualifying groups have already been determined.
Originally, each group was slated to play all of its matches in a single host country, spanning several days.
After assessing how Russian youth teams could be reintegrated, UEFA said after another executive committee meeting on Tuesday that “the agenda point was withdrawn as no technical solution to allow Russian teams to play could be found.”
The policy has caused a division within UEFA’s executive committee, with at least 12 out of the 55 European member federations declaring their teams’ intentions to continue boycotting matches against Russia.
In a show of solidarity, the football associations of England, Sweden, and Poland have all affirmed their refusal to participate in games against Russia’s youth teams. Ukraine’s FA has taken an even stronger stance by declining to participate in any competitions where Russian teams are allowed.
In a prior statement, UEFA acknowledged that children should not bear the consequences of actions solely attributable to adults.
“For these reasons, the UEFA Executive Committee has decided that Russian teams of minor players will be readmitted to its competitions in the course of this season.”
UEFA added to its initial proposals that Russian teams’ matches would be played outside the country and would not feature its flag, anthem or national kit.
“We have made ourselves really clear on Russia,” English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham told reporters at UEFA headquarters. “From our understanding, nothing has changed.”
UEFA officials, including president Aleksander Ceferin, did not hold a press briefing on Tuesday.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has been sidelined from England’s upcoming matches against Australia and Italy due to an injury.
The young forward was unable to participate in his team’s recent 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City due to a hamstring injury.
Following an evaluation by England’s medical staff, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed his withdrawal from the squad. No replacement will be added, leaving the squad with a total of 25 players.
England is scheduled to play against Australia on October 13, followed by a European Championship qualifier against Italy four days later.
“No, he will not make it,” said Gunners boss Arteta after Sunday’s game. “He has not trained for a single session.”
While he would not disclose the likely length of Saka’s spell on the sidelines, Arteta added, “He is not available to play football at the moment.”
Saka’s absence on Sunday ended a run of 87 consecutive Premier League games in which Arteta had played the 22-year-old winger.
He has been struggling with his hamstring in recent weeks, limping off during Arsenal’s 2-1 Champions League loss at Lens on Tuesday and being withdrawn in last weekend’s victory at Bournemouth.
England manager Gareth Southgate said last Thursday he would take no risks with Saka, despite England being able to qualify for next summer’s European Championship during this international break.
“We’ve got that responsibility of qualifying for the country, but I’ve been a player. I’ve never ever taken a risk on a player’s physical wellbeing, and nor would I,” said Southgate.
3. Please provide 4-5 research areas that are in alignment with your field of study. It’s important to note that some research interests may span across multiple academic departments. For example, material science can be a research interest for students in fields such as chemistry, physics, and polymer science.
Similarly, gender studies and diversity can be subfields of study within various disciplines, including international relations, public administration, sociology, and political science
4. Please conduct research to identify universities where professors specialise in your chosen research areas. For instance, you can use search engines like Google to search for ‘Professors in War Studies in US universities’ and compile a list of these professors. Additionally, you may explore social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn to identify experts in your field of interest.
5. Examine universities to identify institutions that offer programs with waived GRE and TOEFL requirements.
6. Keep an eye out for virtual open houses, educational expos, and opportunities for application fee waivers.
7. Apply to a broad spectrum of universities that offer programs aligned with your field of study or feature professors conducting research in your areas of interest.
8. Be vigilant for publicly advertised academic positions and craft a compelling letter of intent. A strong letter of intent is founded on thorough research into the work conducted by the laboratory or research group associated with the job posting.
9.You can often find numerous such opportunities posted on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.
10. Look out for universities in the cold regions of the USA. They usually have fewer applicants and, thus, less competition for you. Prime your CV for GRA/GTA/GA offers.These funding positions that waive tuition fees and pay stipends ranging from 18,000 to 26,000 USD are usually awarded to Graduate students who show capacity for Research, Teaching or Administrative duties.
Former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has officially retired from professional football following his departure from Real Madrid at the conclusion of the previous season.
Hazard, aged 32, made the move to Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for a transfer fee of £89 million.
However, his stint with the Spanish giants was marred by injuries, limiting him to only 54 appearances in league matches.
During his successful tenure at Stamford Bridge, Hazard clinched two Premier League titles.
“You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time,” said Hazard, who has been a free agent since his contract was terminated in June.
“After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer.”
Eden Hazard had previously retired from international football in December, following Belgium’s early exit from the 2022 World Cup at the group stage.
During his tenure at Real Madrid, Hazard achieved success by winning the Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.
However, his time in Spain is widely regarded as disappointing, marked by a mere seven goals in 76 appearances across all competitions.
Hazard initiated his professional career with the French club Lille, where he made 149 appearances and scored 50 goals.
His contributions played a pivotal role in Lille’s accomplishment of a domestic double, securing both the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France during the 2010–11 season.
He moved toChelsea in the summer of 2012, signing for a reported £32 million, and went on to become a club great, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2014–15.
Hazard scored 110 goals across 352 appearances for the Blues, including the winner in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal in his final appearance for the club.
“During my career, I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates. Thank you to everyone for these great times; I will miss you all,” Hazard added on social media.
“I also want to thank the clubs I have played for: LOSC, Chelsea and Real Madrid, and thank the RBFA for my Belgian selection.
“A special thank you to my family, my friends, my advisors and the people who have been close to me in good times and bad.
“Finally, a huge thank you to you, my fans, who have followed me for all these years and for your encouragement everywhere I have played.
“Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you off the field soon, my friends.”
https://youtu.be/y-tHgmOew-8
Following his international debut against Luxembourg in 2008, Hazard went on to accumulate 126 caps for Belgium and score 33 goals during his international career.
At the 2018 World Cup, Hazard showcased his scoring prowess by netting three goals, contributing to Belgium’s third-place finish. One of his notable goals came against England in the third-place play-off match.
Manchester United is facing difficulties in finding a club willing to match Jadon Sancho’s substantial weekly wage of £300,000.
This is according to reports from the Daily Mail.
Consequently, they may need to continue covering a portion of his wage if he departs in January.
Sancho has yet to issue an apology after publicly alleging that Erik ten Hag lied regarding his exclusion from the lineup ahead of the September 3rd match against Arsenal.
Since then, he has not been included in the squad, remains engaged in an individual training regimen at United’s Carrington training facility, and has limited interaction with his senior teammates.
Time is running out for Sancho to apologise to Erik ten Hag, and there is a growing belief within Manchester United that his tenure at Old Trafford may be coming to an end, as per sources cited by ESPN.
While United are reportedly seeking £60 million for Sancho, who was acquired for £73 million two years ago, they are encountering challenges in finding clubs willing to meet this transfer fee.
Juventus and his former club, Borussia Dortmund, have expressed interest in signing the 23-year-old in January, but they may only be able to secure him on a loan basis.
According to The Mail, Manchester United is open to subsidising a portion of Sancho’s wages if it is the only viable way to facilitate his departure during the winter transfer window.
Manchester City is actively pursuing the extension of Erling Haaland’s contract with the intention of eliminating the release clause and minimising the chances of Real Madrid or Barcelona luring him away, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.
According to sources from ESPN, City has been exploring the possibility of extending Haaland’s contract and aims to finalise an agreement within the next few months.
Currently, the 23-year-old’s contract is set to run until 2027, but it contains a €200 million release clause that diminishes annually over the contract’s duration.
In light of this, Manchester City is prepared to offer Haaland an increase in his salary, extend the contract by an additional year, and remove the release clause altogether.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are closely monitoring developments regarding Haaland’s contract, as both clubs are aware of the release clause.
Real Madrid, in particular, has been in search of a high-profile striker since the departure of Karim Benzema to Al Ittihad.
If Real Madrid fails to secure the services ofKylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer next summer, the club’s president, Florentino Perez, is expected to channel his efforts towards signing Erling Haaland.
