The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, Henry Asante Twum disclosed that the FA paid $80,000 for yellow cards accumulation during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Black Stars performed below the bar and exited the tournament in the group stages with just a single win, losing 3-2 to, 2-0 to Portugal and Uruguay respectively, and winning 3-2 over South Korea.
According to Henry, each yellow card received came at a fee of $10,000 ad throughout Ghana’s campaign, the team accumulated eight yellow cards which sums up to $80,000.
Ghana received four yellow cards in the first game against Portugal with Kudus Mohammed, Andre Ayew, Alidu Seidu, and Inaki Williams going into the books of the referee.
In Ghana’s second group game against South Korea, Daniel Amartey and Tariq Lamptey were booked as well and two more were recorded from the last game against Uruguay which went to Alidu Seidu and Kamaldeen Sulemana.
Speaking to Angel TV, Henry said, “We paid$80,000 for yellow cards acquisition at the 2022 World Cup”.
The Black Stars will begin their campaign for the2026 FIFA World Cup fifth appearance from November 2023 to November 2025.
The four-time African Champions have been pitted in Group I alongside Mali, Chad, Madagascar, Comoros, and Central African Republic for the World Cup qualifiers.
Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney joked that Tottenham are keeping Harry Kane ‘prisoner’ as speculation over his future rumbles on.
In an interview with The Athletic, Rooney jokingly stated that Kane was being held captive by Tottenham, but believes the England striker would be an ideal signing for his old club United this summer.
“I thought it was time to go last season and he stayed,” Rooney said. “Harry’s probably feeling that and knows there are trophies out there for him to win. He has done everything he can for that to try and be at Tottenham.
“Now probably is right for him to move on and it looks like he’s ready for that as well, but we know Tottenham can be quite difficult at times.”
This summer, like every other summer of late, speculation is rife that Kane will leave Tottenham. He’s been linked with moves to United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich since the 2022-23 season ended.
The player needs to decide his future sooner rather than later. At 29, Kane knows that his next decision will define the rest of his career, so he needs to make the correct call.
Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association, George Amoako, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance ofcoach Chris Hughton since taking charge of the Black Stars.
Hughton was appointed as Ghana’s head coach in February 2023 and oversaw his first match, a victory against Angola by a lone goal.
However, subsequent matches resulted in draws against Angola and Madagascar. Assessing Hughton’s performance, Amoako stated in an interview with Angel FM that he was not impressed.
He further mentioned that Ghanaians should pray for the team to qualify for the upcoming AFCON in Ivory Coast.
“Have you seen Chris Hughton’s performance? He has played three matches. He hasn’t been impressive,” George Amoako stated.
He added, “If you look at the teams, Madagascar. I went to see the game against Angola and all the games I have seen we play under him. I am not really impressed. Let’s pray at least that we will qualify for the 2023 AFCON.”
George Amoako who is the former chairman of the Black Stars management committee was appointed after Kurt Okraku won the GFA Presidencyin 2019.
Erik ten Hag, in explaining Manchester United’s decision to sign Jonny Evans on a short-term deal, emphasized the defender’s “big authority” and “big personality.”
While the announcement of Evans’ re-signing raised some eyebrows, he made a positive impression on the United staff during training sessions after leaving Leicester City at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Evans will now provide assistance to the Red Devils during pre-season, and Ten Hag firmly supports the veteran center-back, believing that his presence can have a significant impact, particularly in guiding and mentoring the younger players.
“Of course I know [about] him for a long time, I know his place was here, was in Manchester. We welcomed him to come and train with us, to work on his fitness, and then I said not all the players are in, the internationals were out still on their break,” the United boss told MUTV.
“So I thought it was a good idea to help each other out. Jonny can work on his fitness, and he can help us out with [our] level.
“We know he’s a very experienced player but also a very good person, big personality, and I think he has a big authority as well and he can help the young players especially in such moments. So it benefits all sides.”
The Northern Irishman is a graduate of United’s academy and spent nine years at Old Trafford, making 198 appearances while scoring seven goals and providing an equal number of assists. In 2015, he left Old Trafford to join West Bromwich Albion.
Evans was named as a substitute for United’s pre-season friendly against Lyon on Wednesday, and will be a part of the club’s upcoming tour of the United States.
The Red Devils will play a string of friendlies against Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund during their time in America.
Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, has alleviated concerns about his career by joining his teammates for the pre-season tour in the United States.
Speculation surrounding Partey’s future had been making headlines in recent times.
The signing of Declan Rice, a direct competitor, fueled reports of Partey potentially leaving Arsenal.
Although other clubs, including those based in Saudi Arabia with enticing salary offers, expressed interest, Partey is resolute in his decision to remain at Arsenal.
The 30-year-old player joined his teammates on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, ahead of their first game in the US against the MLS All-Stars.
Retirement may seem like far away, but saving for retirement now could mean the difference between enjoying life comfortably or battling to survive in your retirement years.
Saving for retirement isn’t only for those nearing their twilight years. Preparing for your retirement now, no matter your age, with these few tips can be the difference between really enjoying yourself and just getting by.
Saving for retirement
Start now Start saving and planning for your retirement ASAP. The sooner you start, the more you’ll save: don’t underestimate the power of compound interest.
You can always increase your contributions when more cash is freed up later on.
Automatic contributions Make your retirement contributions automatic each month. This way you’ll grow your nest egg without having to think too much about it.
Stay informed If your company doesn’t already offer you a pension or provident fund, there are many other tax-savvy savings and investment options you can take up or add to your retirement plan. A retirement annuity (RA) is one of them, as is a Fixed Deposit investment account.
Diversifying your investment portfolio and spreading your funds across different assets, sectors and even geographic regions can also help your funds grow. Periodically reassess your portfolio. This will help ensure your retirement plan is on target.
Pay off your debt It’s easier to save for your retirement when you don’t have any other debts looming overhead. By the time you’re ready to retire, try to have all your major debts such as car and home loans paid off.
Don’t touch your savings Cashing in your retirement savings early will cause you to lose interest as well as any tax benefits, you may even have to pay withdrawal penalties. If you change jobs, consider re-investing your retirement savings in your current plan, or roll them over to your new employer’s retirement fund.
Speak to a professional Before making any commitments, speak to a financial planner to know all your options as well as how to boost your existing plans.
Source: standardbank.co.za
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
As time passes, your life changes and your insurance cover must reflect the new developments.
Henk Meintjes, Chief Specialist of Risk Propositions at Liberty, discusses the eight points in your life when you need to review your risk cover.
Most people have their first experience of risk insurance when they start working. The company may provide some form oflife or disability insurance.
Along the way, you may end up with additional life insurance to cover your mortgage when you buy a house.
What many people seldom do, however, is a full review of their insurance needs, especially when experiencing significant life changes or reaching certain milestones.
Perhaps you were fortunate enough to meet with a financial adviser and sign up for basic insurance.
But did you know that you should be meeting with your financial adviser once a year to review your overall finances, including your risk cover?
Here are 9 reasons why you should reassess your cover:
You start working
Make sure you have the right risk cover to protect your future income. At this point, it’s your most important asset. This includes insurance that pays a lump sum if you are disabled or impaired or that pays recurring amounts to replace your salary.
If you don’t have dependents, you may not require significant life cover, but consider selecting an option that allows you to increase your life cover at a later stage without underwriting.
If your company does not provide a pension or provident fund, make sure you start investing in a retirement annuity.
Even if you are contributing to a company fund, remember that you can invest up to 27,5% of your income tax-free for retirement.
You change jobs or are promoted
Rather than spending all your extra cash, increase your monthly savings by the same percentage your salary increases by.
This will ensure that you’re on track for retirement. If you start working for a new company, review their employee benefits to find out if you are in a better or a worse position.
It’s important to review any disability and income protection to ensure that it’s in line with your new income.
If you don’t already have critical illness cover, consider the fact that critical illness claims are increasing for people over the age of 30.
You lose your job (worst-case scenario)
Understand your options. You may need to draw from your pension, which will impact your retirement. Find out if any of your policies include retrenchment cover – either as a stand-alone benefit, which will pay you a monthly amount, or to waive your insurance or investment premiums.
Avoid the knee-jerk reaction of cancelling your risk cover. This would leave you extremely vulnerable financially should something happen to you. In addition, you may not be able to get cover at the same premium again after you have cancelled your cover, particularly if your health status has changed.
You get married or have a life partner
If you’re in a long-term relationship or you recently got married, it’s a good idea to review your life cover amount to suit your changing lifestyle. You need to ensure that your partner can take care of themselves when you’re gone, especially if your partner depends on you financially.
This is also a good time to sit down and discuss your financial priorities. You need to agree on what you both hope to achieve over the next five, 10 and 20 years. Remember to update your Will and the beneficiary details on all your insurance policies to include your spouse.
You have children
Reassess your cover to provide for your children, and particularly for their education. It may also be advisable to include a testamentary trust. Should you pass away, the proceeds of your policies or assets can be paid into the trust until your children become adults. You also need to update your policies, your pension and your provident fund beneficiary nomination forms accordingly.
Now is the time to start a savings plan for your children’s education.
One of the breadwinners stops working to raise children
This will change your family budget and lifestyle. When reviewing your finances, ensure that the stay-at-home parent has retirement provisions, as well as risk cover. Although the parent may not be earning an income, they are the primary caregiver, and this would become a cost to the family if the parent was no longer able to care for the children.
You get divorced
Update the beneficiaries of your policies if you no longer want your ex-spouse to be named as a beneficiary.
If you were covered on your spouse’s insurance policies, you’ll need to apply for your own separate policies. Remember to consider medical aid and short-term cover.
Assess the impact the divorce has had on your income and assets. If you receive a lump sum from your ex-spouse’s retirement fund, make sure you preserve the benefits because you will still be retiring one day.
You retire
It’s important to undergo a full financial assessment and have a proper plan in place for retirement. A full review of your risk insurance is important as your needs will change significantly. If, for example, you had income protection, you could use those premiums to increase critical illness cover. Assess how much life cover you still require. If your children are no longerfinancial dependants, the need for cover may be reduced, but you still have to consider factors such as spousal support and estate duty.
You’ve just bought a house
Did you or your partner buy a new home? Buying property is one of the most significant financial commitments you’ll ever make and raises various financial implications like property maintenance expenses, bond repayments, water and lights bills, levies, renovation, and construction costs. If your partner can’t afford these costs when you’re gone, it’s crucial to ensure that your life cover amount is enough to cover these expenses over and above the living expenses that your family will be left with.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Arsenal is showing interestin Mohammed Kudus, the Ghanaian and Ajax midfielder who recently scored two goals in a pre-season match on July 18, 2023, according to the Daily Mail,
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is reportedly impressed by Kudus’ versatility and is keen on bringing him to the Emirates.
However, any potential transfer would depend on Arsenal’s ability to offload some of their unwanted players, including Kieran Tierney, Baloghun, Rob Holding, and Cedric Soares, as the club seeks to generate funds from their sales.
The report also emphasizes that Arsenal is not willing to sell Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey unless they receive a significant offer for the 30-year-old.
The story about Mohammed Kudus has excited Arsenal fans who are calling on the club to make it happen.
On the social media platform Twitter, Arsenal reacted in excitement to the report as they believe Kudus will be the final piece of the puzzle.
They believe that Kudus is tailored for the Left Central Midfield role and could also be a competent back for Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
Mohammed Kudus has scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists in 84 games with Ajax.
Former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder, Isco ,has expressed his intention to prioritize a move abroad in his next career step, as stated in an interview with Marca.
Isco departed from Sevilla in December, merely four months after joining the LaLiga club.
He revealed that his departure was influenced by a disagreement with then sporting director Monchi.
Additionally, Isco had a potential move to Union Berlin fall through on the final day of the January transfer window.
“I’ve played for Valencia, Malaga, Sevilla, Madrid,” Isco told Marca. I’m excited by the experience of playing in another league, learning a language growing personally outside of Spain… I’m not closing the door to anything.”
Isco also revealed that he was approached by Barcelona earlier in his Real Madrid career.
“[Ex-president Josep Maria] Bartomeu called me,” he said. “And with what Bartomeu was paying at that time… But I was happy atMadrid with my teammates… I wasn’t going to leave Madrid for all the gold in the world.”
United States and Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah is close to amove to AC Milan, according to Nicolo Schira.
Musah, 20, is reported to have agreed personal terms with the Rossoneri, having agreed to sign a four-year deal to make the switch from the Estadio Mestalla to San Siro.
Two clubs from the Premier League are believed to have been interested in him, but Musah has made his preference clear of wanting to join the Serie A side.
If he completes the move, he’ll join compatriot Christian Pulisic, who signed from Chelsea earlier this month for around €22 million ($25.9m).
Los Che have previously been reported to be looking for a fee in the region of €25m to part ways with Musah, who was a standout performer for the United States at the World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea manager and former coach of Dele Alli at Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino, admitted that he couldn’t bring himself to watch the entire emotional interview between Alli and Gary Neville.
Alli recently opened up about being sexually abused at the age of six, engaging in drug dealing just two years later, battling a sleeping pill addiction, and his recent completion of rehab to address mental health challenges.
Pochettino intends to meet with Alli after Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States to offer support and discuss the situation.
In an exclusive chat with ESPN, the 51-year-old Argentinian said: “Of course, it was really tough for me to see him. I didn’t finish the interview because it was so painful.
“He knows how we [Pochettino and his coaching staff] love him, how important he is for us as a person.
“Like a player, he was amazing. But like a person, he has a big, big heart. And of course, we are in contact.
“After the USA tour I hope to see him in London, to meet him and give him a big hug.
“Always, it is tough when you love a person but they show in an interview like this, it is really, really painful.
“But he is a strong, unbelievable guy and for sure he will become stronger.”
As Chelsea prepare for thier first pre-season game tonight against League Two newcomers Wrexham in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Pochettino is likely to see more players head for the exit.
Star names including Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic have already departed this summer as the Blues look to erase the memory of a dismal 2022-23 campaign.
“I think in between the club and the player, they share the same similar ideas and we are working on that to try to fix it and have the best solution for both parties.”
Following the devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by his Chelsea teammate Wesley Fofana, Reece James took to social media to express his heartfelt message of support.
The French center-back recently underwent surgery for the injury, which will keep him sidelined for a significant period.
Fofana has faced challenges settling in at Stamford Bridge since his transfer from Leicester City, having made only 15 Premier League appearances last season due to a knee injury that required extensive medical attention from the club’s staff.
Fellow team-mate, James, shared an Instagram story showing support for Fofana along with a caption that read: “I’m with you brother. I know you’ll be back stronger.”
Chelsea will begin their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Wrexham on Wednesday at the Kenan Memorial Stadium located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Atlético Madrid’s talented player, João Felix, has caused discontent among the club hierarchy by openly expressing his desire to join LaLiga rivals Barcelona.
“I’d love to play for Barça,” said Felix, who has failed to live up to expectations since his club-record move from Benfica in 2019. “Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barça. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
Atlético reportedly only learned of Felix’s incendiary comments when the remarks from an interview with journalist Fabrizio Romano were made public.
The club has been tight-lipped on Felix’s future but AS sources suggest that Atlético are unwilling to let the player leave without a considerable transfer fee.
“The player’s agent knows perfectly well the conditions that must be met for João to be able to leavethe club. Beyond this, we have nothing to say on the matter,” sources within the club told AS.
Regardless of Felix’s dreams, the reality is that there appears to be little interest in him from other top clubs. He has struggled for consistency in the Spanish capital and fell out of favour with head coach Diego Simeone after a poor start to the 2022/23 season.
Felix was shipped out on loan to Premier League side Chelsea but failed to make any meaningful impression. Meanwhile, his exit coincided with a real upturn in performances for Atlético.
The forward’s transfer to Atlético Madrid was always viewed as something as a curiosity, given that Felix’s languid style is a stark contrast to the all-action ethos preferred by Simeone. There had been reports that Felix’s mid-season exit was caused by a falling-out between himself and the Atléti coach, something that Simeone has disputed.
“I don’t clash with him,” Simeone said. “I’m clear with him and I tell him what I feel. He knows what my coaching profile is and he knows that I like to train with a lot of happiness.”
However for a club like Atlético it is not sustainable to keep such a high value asset on the bench for a prolonged period. They just need to find someone willing to pay the estimated €100 million transfer fee for his services.
Barcelona has officially announced the signing of midfielder Oriol Romeu from Girona. As part of the deal, 20-year-old midfielder Pablo Torre will move to Girona on a season-long loan.
Romeu, aged 31, becomes Barcelona’s fourth signing of the summer, following Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martinez, and Vitor Roque, who will join in 2024.
Having previously played for Chelsea and Southampton, Romeu returns to Barcelona, where he spent seven years in the club’s academy before moving to England in 2011.
During his earlier stint at Barcelona, Romeu made two first-team appearances before departing for Chelsea at the age of 19 in a transfer worth approximately €5 million ($5.6m).
Loan spells with Valencia and Stuttgart followed before a permanent switch to Southampton, where he spent seven years and made over 250 appearances.
Romeu returned to Spain last summer and signed for Girona, where he impressed at the base of their midfield as the Catalan side secured a 10th-place finish in LaLiga.
Barca’s interest in Romeu stemmed from their need to fill the vacancy left by Sergio Busquets, who has joined Inter Miami, and the lack of money available to pursue their primary targets.
Sources told ESPN that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich were both names championed by coach Xavi Hernandez, while Marcelo Brozovic, who recently swapped Inter Milan for Al Nassr, was also considered.
However, with Barca operating under strict financial restrictions due to being in excess of their LaLiga-imposed spending limit, they were forced to explore alternatives.
Romeu emerged as their first option due to the cost of the deal, his performances with Girona last season and his knowledge of the club having come through the academy.
He becomes Barca’s second midfield signing of the summer following the arrival of Gundogan, adding to options which already include Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie.
President Joan Laporta has said Barcawould also like to add another midfielder to the squad, with Xavi previously requesting a “Santi Cazorla-type player” in the final third, but further incomings are likely to be conditioned by outgoings.
Torre, meanwhile, will join Girona on a season-long loan as part of the agreement which sees Romeu sign for Barca.
After joining the Blaugrana from Racing Santander last year, the attacking midfielder, who is only 20, has found regular minutes hard to come by and is need of regular game time in the Spanish top flight.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has issued a stern warning to the squad.
Kylian Mbappe, who could potentially be the next high-profile player to leave PSG this summer after Messi’s exit, and he is heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Al-Khelaifi addressed the potential changes within the squad during a pre-season training huddle, expressing concerns about turnover and sending a clear message to the current players.
“It is important to tell you that the manager has the power to do as he pleases, it is he who decides,” he is quoted as saying by L’Equipe.
“All together, we need to go in the same direction and show pride to play for this club, this shirt, for PSG, as well as showing happiness and most of all loyalty.
“The club is bigger than anyone here, even me. I expect you to be at 200% during training. Look, you have the best training ground in the world.
“You have everything to succeed here. There is no excuse not to. You lack nothing. You have to work hard. I want to enjoy watching my team.“
It appears to be a firm message to the playing staff at the Parc des Princes after a number of years of underperformance, particularly in the Champions League, by PSG.
It may also signal a change of approach in the transfer market, with the club potentially moving away from signing marquee names as they’ve done in the past with Mbappe, Messi, Neymar and others.
Andre Onana has openly expressed his excitement about joining Manchester United, referring to the transfer as “irresistible” and expressing joy about reuniting with his “master,” Erik ten Hag.
The goalkeeper has already arrived in Manchester to finalize his move from Inter to United.
According to reports, the Red Devils are set to pay €51 million (£43.8m/$57.3m) as the initial fee, with an additional €4 million (£3.4m/$4.5m) in potential add-ons for the Cameroonian shot-stopper.
Before being formally unveiled as a United player, Onana spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport, where he admitted that the move to the Premier League was “irresistible”, but at the same time claimed that he would have been happy to continue at Inter if the transfer had fallen through.
“The important thing is to be honest and always tell people the truth. I am a person who always wants new challenges,” he said. “Playing in the Premier League and for a club like United is irresistible.
All parties wanted this to happen. But what matters is that if I had stayed, I would have been happy because I never had any problems at Inter.”
Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy, who was found not guilty of rape after a retrial earlier this month, has signed with Ligue 1 club Lorient as a free agent.
Mendy had been cleared of one count of rape and one count of attempted rape in the retrial, following his previous acquittal of six counts of rape at the initial trial in January.
The left-back, who was released by Manchester City, has now secured a contract with French club Lorient.
Nsoatreman Football Club, a team in theGhana Premier League, has appointed Maxwell Konadu as their new Head Coach.
The experienced coach has agreed to a two-year contract with the club, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday, July 18.
Maxwell Konadu takes over from Mumuni Sokpari, who resigned from his position on Monday, July 19, after guiding the team to the semi-finals of the 2023 MTN FA Cup.
The club has acted swiftly to secure the services of Konadu as their new head coach.
Maxwell Konadu has joined Nsoatreman FC with vast experience in the domestic league.
Maxwell Konadu has headed Asante Kotoko on two occasions, Legon Cities FC as well as the Ghana U-20 and U-23 teams.
Kylian Mbappe has been the center of attention in the summer transfer window, with numerous reports linking him to a high-profile move to Real Madrid, the Spanish giants.
Rodrygo, a forward for Madrid, expressed his hope that the French and Paris Saint-Germain superstar joins Los Blancos, believing that his presence would greatly benefit the team.
As the new season approaches, Mbappe has returned to training, gearing up for the upcoming campaign.
While Mbappe’s contract is set to expire at the end of the following season, PSG has made it clear that they expect him to sign a new deal to avoid losing him for free.
However, reports suggest that the World Cup-winning player is not inclined to extend his current contract.
He has been heavily linked with Madrid, who tried and failed to sign him last summer.
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisted they cannot lose the winger for nothing next season during the introduction of new manager Luis Enrique.
“We want him to stay but he can’t leave for free. There was a verbal agreement and he had discussed it in an interview.“ And I was really shocked to learn that he had decided to leave for free. It’s very disappointing,” via Eurosport.
Rodrygo wants Mbappe to join Madrid It seems it is only a matter of time before Mbappe is sold by PSG this summer, considering the rhetoric by Khelaifi.
Madrid are reportedly willing to pay 200 million euros to acquire the services of arguably the best player in the world.
Until then, the saga and power struggles within the club continue, and it remains to be seen how it will play out by the time the season starts.
Even Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez questioned Mbappe’s decisiveness in regard to his strong links to Real Madrid. Los Blancos started the window strongly by signing Jude Bellingham.
Ex EPL star blasts Mbappe
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Mbappe’s recent outburst against Paris Saint-Germain has not gone down well with former Italian and West Ham United player Paolo Di Canio, who has criticized the forward.
In a recent interview, the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner took shots at the club as the fallout of his decision not to activate a contract extension clause with the Ligue 1 champions continues to rain down.
Di Canio has now labeledMbappe as ‘indecent and disrespectful’ towards the Parisians, who have reportedly informed the forward he must extend his deal or be sold this summer.
Former Spain international defender Jordi Alba will be joining Inter Miami, where he will reunite with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, according to owner Jorge Mas.
Mas also hinted at the possibility of additional signings in the near future.
“Jordi Alba will sign today,” Mas told a group of reporters after the team’s training session.
Messi has already been joined by Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, another former Barcelona player, but the club are looking to add some youth to the squad which is struggling in last place in MLS.
Mas said that 20-year-old Paraguayan international defender Diego Gomez was set to join from Asuncion club Libertad.
Another young South American, 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Facundo Farias has a verbal agreement to join the club, said Mas.
The Miami owner added that talks are also underway with two young talents from the Argentine league — Tomas Aviles, a central defender with Racing Club, and striker Brian Aguirre, of Newell’s Old Boys.
But Mas said that any attempt to sign veteran Uruguayan former Barca player, Luis Suarez, was limited by his contractual situation with Brazilian club Gremio.
“Luis Suarez is a Gremio player. He has a contract. We understand the close relationship that he has with Lionel, Busquets and Alba. They played together at Barcelona.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Luis Suarez coming to Inter Miami. We haven’t held direct talks with Gremio or with Suarez.
“I don’t know howLuis Suarez can leave Gremio. But if he does we are free to talk to Luis and bring him to Inter Miami. That possibility would be there,” he said.
The 34-year-old Alba, who has made 93 appearances for Spain, terminated his contract with Barcelona in May.
Left-back Alba won six Spanish league titles with Barca and was part of the team which won the 2015 Champions League.
He also played in the Spain team which won the 2012 European Championship.
Messi and Busquets took part in their first training session with Miami on Tuesday, ahead of possible debuts on Friday against Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
21-year-old defender from Sweden, Hanna Lundkvist, has been ruled out of theWomen’s World Cup due to an ankle injury sustained during her team’s final friendly match against the Philippines.
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) confirmed the news, stating that Lundkvist suffered the injury during a closed-door 5-1 victory over the Philippines.
Despite the efforts of Sweden’s medical staff, Lundkvist will not recover in time to participate in the tournament.
“Further examination that we did in the evening unfortunately showed that Hanna won’t be able to take part in the World Cup.
“The nature of the injury means that we have assessed that the time available during the tournament is not enough to get Hanna back,” team doctor Houman Ebrahimi said in a statement on Tuesday.
Lundkvist will be replaced by Linkoping FC’s Stina Lennartsson, who will travel to join the team ahead of their opening game againstSouth Africa in Wellington on Sunday.
The tour will serve as valuable preparation for the upcoming season, as Pochettino aims to revive the fallen Blues side.
However, there are still some areas where the squad requires strengthening.
Negotiations with Brighton and Hove Albion are underway regarding a potential transfer for Moises Caicedo, as Chelsea seeks to address deficiencies in key positions.
The departure of several midfielders this summer has created an urgent need for reinforcements in that area.
Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been left at home.
Lukaku has been involved in a transfer saga after Inter Milan pulled out of a deal to sign him permanently after Juventus reportedly entered the race, while Aubameyang is said to have agreed terms with French club Marseille, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Reece James is the standout omission from Chelsea’s squad, with the website indicating that the right-back pulled out as a precaution.
The England international complained of illness on the morning of departure and will link with the rest of the team once he feels better.
Defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have also been left as they continue to nurse knee injuries.
Reserve goalkeeper Marcus Betinelli and striker Armando Broja also did not make the cut as they step up their own individual recovery programs.
Prospective captain Thiago Silva leads the squad with new signings Cristopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto in line for debuts.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Slonina, Eddie Beach, Jamie Cummming, Lucas Bergstrom,
Defenders: Thiago Silva, Malo Gusto, Alfie Gilchrist, Bashir Humphreys,Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall
Forwards. Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Mason Burstow, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel, Dujan Richards (training only)
Pochettino to name new Chelsea captain
Sports Brief also reported that with numerous exits already witnessed and more players expected to follow in the summer, Pochettino will be required to come up with a new captaincy pool.
Thiago Silva is the strong favourite to take over captaincy duties on a full-time basis. The veteran Brazilian centre-back is still going strong as he gets into the final year of his Chelsea contract.
Other candidates include academy graduate Reece James, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – who has worn the armband before – and Raheem Sterling, who was one of the captains at his former club, Manchester City.
On Tuesday, Lens captain Seko Fofana confirmed that he has agreed to join Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club that is home to renownedfootballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I leave you with the feeling of accomplishment and pride at being a part of this history which is ours,” Fofana, 28, wrote in a farewell video posted on Instagram.
The Ivorian international midfielder played 112 times for the northern French outfit scoring 21 goals in three years.
He departs as Lens return to the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, following an exceptional season during which they finished second in Ligue 1 one point behind Paris Saint-Germain.
“Seko is here,” Al-Nassr wrote on Twitter.
Fofana joins Ronaldo, Croatian international Marcelo Brozovic and Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina at the Riyadh-based club.
Other big names who have headed for Saudi Arabia in recent weeks include French players Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad with Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly and Portuguese Ruben Neves playing at Al-Hilal.
Fofana, who captained Lens 72 times, was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season.
He was the only midfielder shortlisted for the best player in the championship alongside four forwards — Kylian Mbappe, Lois Openda, Jonathan David and Lionel Messi.
“I want, on behalf of the club, to especially salute an exemplary captain who has been sparkling and has shown leadership for three seasons,” said RC Lens general manager Arnaud Pouille.
“Proof of his deep attachment to Racing, he will very soon become the first player leaving a club to become a shareholder,” he said.
Fofana spent his youth career at Paris FC, his hometown club, and Lorient, before signing his first contract with Manchester City in 2014, but never played a professional match for the club.
Loaned to Fulham then Bastia, he then played four years for Serie A club Udinese before joining Lens, just promoted to Ligue 1, in the summer of 2020.
RC Lens also announced the departure of Polish international Adam Buksa, on loan to Turkish club Antalyaspor with the option to buy.
The verdict in the match-fixing casebetween Ashantigold SC and the Ghana Football Association has been rescheduled by the Accra Human Rights Court to Monday, August 21, 2023.
Originally planned for Tuesday, July 18, the ruling was postponed by the Judge until next month.
Ashantigold SC is hopeful that the court will overturn their demotion and ensure a fair hearing from the country’s football governing body.
The case revolves around Ashantigold’s appeal against their relegation to Division Two in the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season following their conviction for match manipulation by the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
During the 29th GFA Congress held on July 10 in Kumasi, it was decided that Ashantigold would remain suspended from participating in Ghana football.
This decision has further motivated the club to pursue justice through the legal system.
Striker Romelu Lukaku, who is currently linked with a move toSerie A rivals Juventus, has received strong criticism from a group of Inter “ultra” supporters known as the Curva Nord.
The group released a statement on Instagram expressing their disapproval of Lukaku as he negotiates a potential deal with Juventus.
Lukaku, who is currently under contract with Chelsea after a loan spell at Inter, is widely expected to make a move during the upcoming summer transfer window.
“We will never see you again from now on Lukaku,” said the ultras. “You have betrayed us all. We’ve always stood up for you in tough times, now you’re stabbing us in the back.
You sell yourself to the highest bidder after kissing our badge as a cheap mercenary. Before you can be a champion you have to be a man and you’re not one.”
Lukaku first joined Inter in 2019 from Manchester United for a club record £75 million ($98m) fee and enjoyed a stellar two seasons – so much so that Chelsea re-signed him in 2021.
But the Belgian was then loaned back to San Siro for the 2022-23 campaign, having enjoyed a mixed time since that 2021 transfer.
Juventus now seems the most likely destination for the 30-year-old as he seeks to reboot his career once more this summer. However, some Juve fans are not happy with the potential move.
Bayern Munich, the German football powerhouse, has announced the signing of South Korean defender Kim Min-jae (26) from Serie A champions Napoli.
The player has agreed to a five-year contract with Bayern Munich.
Although the specific transfer fee was not disclosed by the German club, reports from German and Italian media indicate that Bayern Munich paid a release clause of 50 million euros ($56.11 million) to secure the services of Kim Min-jae.
“FC Bayern is a dream for every footballer,” Kim told the club website.
“I’m really looking forward to what’s to come in Munich. It’s a new beginning for me. I’ll continue to develop here.
“In discussions with the club, it was made clear to me from the start how interested they are in me. My first goal is to play a lot of games. In addition, I want to win as many trophies as possible.”
Kim, who joined Napoli from Turkish side Fenerbahce in July last year, was a vital part of the team that won the Scudetto for the first time in more than three decades last season.
“Kim Min-jae has developed extremely well, winning the Serie A title with Napoli last season and being voted the best defender in the league,” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said.
“He impresses with his physical presence, as well as his mentality and speed. We’re pleased he can immediately take part fully in pre-season and firmly believe that he will also excite our fans with his style of play.”
In Napoli, Kim played 45 matches in all competitions, scoring two goals.
He announced he had left the Italian side earlier on Tuesday.
“I send this message to all the Napoli fans who have shown love and support. Thanks to you the Scudetto was possible after (Diego) Maradona, 33 years ago,” Kim said in a statement on Instagram.
“To my passionate club Napoli, Mister (manager Luciano) Spalletti, my teammates, and above all, to Napoli fans, I would like to express my gratitude.
“No matter where I will be or no matter where I go, I will remember Napoli and cheer for you.”
Kim has earned 49 caps for South Korea since making his debut back in 2017. However, he was unable to participate in the last two friendlies due to military service.
Bayern Munich has undergone a significant change with the appointment of Christoph Freund as the club’s new sporting director, effective from September 1, 2023.
Freund, currently the sporting director at RB Salzburg, will transition to Bayern Munich to assume the same role.
The decision to hire Freund comes after the departure of Hasan Salihamidzic from the club at the end of the previous season.
Bayern Munich has been actively considering potential candidates to fill the vacancy left by Salihamidzic, and they have found their choice in Christoph Freund.
The German champions have now finalized their decision with the appointment of Christoph Freund.
Freund, who has been with RB Salzburg since 2015, will assume his new role at Bayern Munich once the current summer transfer window concludes.
His experience and track record with Salzburg, including the development of young talents and consistent Champions League qualification, make him a compelling choice for the Bundesliga champions.
Freund’s association with RB Salzburg dates back to his playing days in the Austrian first division.
He later rejoined the club as team manager in 2006 before taking on the role of sports coordinator in 2012.
Freund succeeded Ralf Rangnick as Salzburg’s sporting director for the 2015/16 season, overseeing the club’s success in the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup.
Under his leadership, Salzburg also achieved notable performances in European competitions, reaching the round of 16 in the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Europa League.
With Freund set to officially take on his new role as Bayern Munich’s sporting director in September, he will be responsible for shaping the club’s sporting direction and strategy.
As Bayern aims to maintain its dominance in domestic and international competitions, Freund’s experience in talent development and success with RB Salzburg will be crucial in ensuring the club’s continued success.
FC Samartex 1996,a Ghana Premier League team, has officially announced the appointment of Nurudeen Amadu as their new head coach, according to GHANAsoccernet.com.
Following the departure of Annor Walker at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, the 52-year-old coach will take the reins at the club.
Walker departed to rejoin Great Olympics FC.
Amadu, an experienced trainer, has signed a two-year contract with the Samreboi-based club. His appointment is expected to guide FC Samartex to greater achievements in the upcoming season.
In their debut campaign in the Ghanaian top-flight, Samartex secured a 10th-place finish in the league standings after 34 matches, accumulating a total of 46 points.
Prior to joining FC Samartex, Amadu served as the coach for Future Stars FC, where he achieved remarkable results with the Division One side last season.
He was coach of King Faisal Babes in theGhana Premier League from June 2021 to April last year when he resigned from his position.
He has previously been in charge of clubs like Wa All Stars, Bolga All Stars, and Aduana Stars.
Amadu has also worked as assistant coach of the Ghana U17 and U20 national teams.
A member ofDele Alli’s family in Nigeria has denied claims by the England international that he was neglected and brought to Africa as punishment.
Dele Alli who recently granted an interview with Gary Neville on the Overlap show which has gone viral disclosed that he was sexually abused at the age of six and was dealing drugs at age eight.
“At twelve, I was adopted and from then, it was like – I was adopted by an amazing family like I said, I couldn’t have asked for better people to do what they’d done for me. If God created people, it was them” Dele said on Overlap.
However, in a sharp response, a family member who spoke with Nigeria’s OJBSPORT claimed that the former Spurs player was never adopted and forced to come to Africa.
He explained that the player’s father, Kenny Alli brought him to Nigeria after he relocated following his break-up with Dele Alli’s mother, Denise Alli.
According to the family member who backed his statements with pictures, the English player attended one of the best schools in Nigeria.
He also emphasized that Dele’s father took the player to his mother after he remarried and moved to the United States.
“Dele was never adopted by anyone. At age seven, Dele attended one of the best schools in Lagos, Nigeria. He was never sent to Africa for discipline. That’s a blatant lie. He had a driver that picked him up daily from school.
“We have all the documents and pictures ofDele with his dad from when he was born as a kid. Dele has been brainwashed.” the family member said.
“We went to the UK from Nigeria with academic qualifications. We had to struggle, and I can tell you we are one of the pacesetters in IT in the UK. After finishing his Master’s, Kenny returned to Lagos. Kenny used to take Dele everywhere in Nigeria. We worked very hard to be who we are today.
“Nobody took him to Nigeria as punishment. Kenny decided to take Dele to the mom in the UK, in anticipation that he will come for him when he settle in the State,” the family member stated.
According to him, the former Everton player was brainwashed after his return to England where he frequently spent the night with a friend’s family who plotted to adopt him.
He said, “Dele has always been a lover of football from birth. He was targeted by the Hickford family. Hickford Allan and Sally and their son Harry (used to be Dele’s teammate and now his agent).”
Denise Alli in an interview in 2018 revealed how the plot started when she said, “It has been said that I was suffering from alcoholism and I gave him up because I couldn’t look after him, but that is a lie. I wanted to give him the best chance of achieving his dream, but he was still my son and I was there for him whenever he needed me.”
“On a particular Wednesday, Dele’s mom called Kenny that the Hickford family didn’t drop Dele as usual. Said the family member. Kenny, who is Dele’s dad immediately called the Hickford resident and they pleaded with Kenny to allow Dele to spend the night with them because they have a comfortable place and their son is good friends with Dele.
“Kenny agreed, not knowing the Hickfords had a plan all along. Along the line, it now became every Wednesday affair. That’s how they started grooming him (Dele) to whatever they are doing.
According to the family member who wanted to remain anonymous, the former Besiktas player’s story of being into drugs as a teenager does not add up.
“He was never sent to Nigeria for punishment. He said he started doing drugs at the age of eight, whereas he was in a private school in Nigeria by then,” the family member concluded.
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, the England Women’s National Team, known as the Lionesses, have decided to halt discussions regarding bonuses with the Football Association (FA), as stated by their captain Millie Bright (29) on Tuesday.
The team expressed disappointment that the issue remains unresolved.
The dispute between the players and the FA stems from FIFA’s announcement that individual fees for players in the World Cup will be directly paid by the global governing body.
The fees range from $30,000 and can go up to $270,000 for members of the winning team.
The FA’s stance of not offering bonus payments to the England team, in addition to the fees they will receive from FIFA, has become a point of contention leading up to the tournament.
England play their opening World Cup match against Haiti in four days and Bright said they would pause discussions with the FA until after the tournament’s conclusion.
“Last year we presented the FA with concerns relating to our bonus and commercial structures,” she said in a statement on Twitter signed by all the England players. “The hope was that discussions would lead to a solution before the commencement of our World Cup.
“We are disappointed that a resolution has still not been achieved… (and)… with our opening game on the horizon, we Lionesses have decided to pause discussions, with full intentions of revisiting them following the tournament.”
“(The Lionesses) join players from a number of countries at the World Cup who are prepared to make a stand when they don’t think they are being listened to,” PFA chief executive officer Maheta Molango said.
“It’s no coincidence that this is a particular issue for nations where there is no proper Collective Bargaining Agreement in place between players and governing bodies.
“There will always be consequences when players feel they are having to come back issue by issue to push for parity and progress. It doesn’t need to be like this.”
RB Leipzig has reportedly reached an agreement withParis Saint-Germain to secure the loan signing of Dutch starlet Xavi Simons.
Manchester United, on the other hand, will miss out on the opportunity to acquire the young talent.
According to reliable source Fabrizio Romano, Simons is set to undergo a medical examination at Leipzig within the next 24 hours. He will then join the German club on a loan deal for the entire 2023-24 season.
Notably, RB Leipzig will not possess an option to buy the 20-year-old, as PSG intends to integrate him into their first-team setup upon his return to Parc des Princes next summer.
While Manchester United had expressed interest in securing a loan move for Simons, they will now need to shift their focus towards alternative targets.
PSG have decided that Leipzig is the best place for the Netherlands international to further develop his talents, with an official announcement now imminent.
Simons ended his first spell at PSG in the summer of 2021 before joining PSV, where he shone under the tutelage of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The talented attacking midfielder won a share of the Golden Boot in the Eredivisie while getting his hands on Johan Cruyff Shield and Dutch Cup honours, which convinced PSG to activate their €6 million option to buy him back.
PSV confirmed Simons’ departure in an official statement on Saturday.
The initial payment of 51 million euros (£43.8m) will be made by United, with an additional 4 million euros (£3.4m) in potential add-ons.
The pursuit of Onana by manager Erik ten Hag, who previously worked with him at Ajax, played a significant role in securing the deal.
The negotiations for personal terms are expected to proceed smoothly, and Manchester United is optimistic about Onana joining the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour of the USA in the coming days.
Interestingly, Ten Hag’s interest in signing Onana was a key factor in David de Gea’s decision to decline a new contract offer from the club.
De Gea left United this summer after spending 12 years at the club. The former Spain international made 545 appearances for the Red Devils and kept a record 190 clean sheets.
Due to significant budget overruns, the Australian state of Victoria decided to cancel its plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, raising doubts about the event’s future.
TheCommonwealth Games Federation (CGF) encountered difficulties in securing a host for the games until Victoria stepped forward as a volunteer in April 2022.
However, the projected cost of hosting the event has now tripled, exceeding the state’s capacity to manage the financial burden.
Considering the substantial increase in costs, the premier of Victoria determined that the expenses had become “well and truly too much” for the state to bear, leading to the cancellation of their hosting plans for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
CGF called the decision “hugely disappointing” and said it is “committed to finding a solution”.
The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport tournament that take place every four years. They have only ever been cancelled during World War Two.
To be eligible to participate in the games, competitors must be from one of the Commonwealth’s 56 members.
Most of the countries in the Commonwealth were once part of the British Empire.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said Victoria had been “happy to help out” when approached to host last year, but “not at any price”.
Organisers had originally estimated the event – hosted across cities including Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat – would cost A$2.6bn (£1.4bn; $1.8bn) and the state government had billed it as a boost for the regions.
But now the 12-day tournament was expected to cost more than A$6 billion, Mr Andrews said, adding that the new figure was “more than twice the estimated economic benefit” it would bring to Victoria.
“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them,” he told a press conference.
“That is all cost and no benefit.”
The government will still complete the stadium upgrades it had promised ahead of the games, while using the money it is now saving on housing and tourism initiatives.
Mr Andrew said the government had considered “every option” including moving the games to Melbourne, before informing CGF of their decision.
“Amicable and productive” meetings had occurred in London overnight, he added.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the governing body said they were blindsided by the decision.
“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions,” it said in a statement.
CGF said the estimate of A$6bn is double the figure they were advised of at a board meeting last month, and that the increase in costs were due to the “unique regional delivery model” that Victoria chose for the games.
The government had made decisions to include more sports and changed plans for venues, often against the advice of the CGF and its Australian arm, all of which added “considerable expense”, it said.
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the decision is a “massive humiliation” for the state, and “hugely damaging” for its reputation as a global events leader.
The chief executive ofCommonwealth Games Australia agreed, saying the cited cost blowout was a “gross exaggeration” and that it would try to find another Australian host for the 2026 games.
Australia has held the Commonwealth Games five times – including on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in the Victorian capital of Melbourne in 2006 – but all of the country’s states on Tuesday ruled out picking up the event.
New Zealand authorities also say they will not take on the games.
Organisers have had great difficulty finding viable tournament hosts in recent years.
The South African city of Durban was originally set to stage the 2022 games, but were stripped of hosting rights in 2017 after running into money troubles and missing key deadlines. Birmingham agreed to host nine months later.
CGF had originally hoped to name a host for the 2026 games in 2019, but several hopeful bidders withdrew from the process due to cost concerns, leaving it unable to lock in Victoria as the hosts until 2022.
Despite facing a challenging season in 2022-23,Paul Pogba may still have a future at Juventus as the club considers him “fundamental” to their plans.
The French World Cup-winning midfielder returned to Juventus for a second stint in 2022, joining the Bianconeri as a free agent after his contract with Manchester United expired.
However, Pogba’s reunion with the Italian club turned into a nightmare when he suffered a pre-season injury that ultimately required surgery.
Due to the injury, Pogba’s playing time was severely limited, and he only managed to make 10 appearances throughout the disrupted campaign. As a result, there have been rumors of Juventus considering selling him, with links to teams in Saudi Arabia being mentioned.
Nevertheless, despite the challenges, Juventus still values Pogba’s contributions and considers him a key part of their future plans. They recognize his importance to the team and are not ruling out his continued involvement at the club.
Juve’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, has now addressed that speculation, telling reporters at his first press conference in a new job when asked for an update on Pogba: “His situation is clear, the guy is returning from a difficult season and we are waiting for him. He is fundamental for us, he has experience and quality and we rely on him to mentor the many lads we have.”
USMNT star Weston McKennie is another of those to have seen an imminent transfer speculated on, but no deal has been done and Giuntoli added on the American midfielder: “We’ve never said McKennie is out of the project, right now there are players on the market. We are in talks with a couple of clubs for [Denis] Zakaria, same as Arthur and Leonardo but we haven’t found anything that suits him [Bonucci] yet.”
A costly points deduction meant that Juve could only muster a seventh-place finish in 2022-23, with the lack ofChampions League football on their schedule also set to make life difficult when it comes to retaining the services of top talent and bringing more on board.
On Sunday, Chelsea officially announced the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel from Santos.
Although the terms of the deal were not disclosed, it was reported by British media that Chelsea paid 15 million euros to secure the teenager’s services, signing him on a long-term contract.
Angelo Gabriel joins the London club following an impressive stint at Santos, where he made 129 appearances across various competitions.
During his time there, he scored five goals and provided 10 assists.
Notably, in 2020, the Brazil Under-20 international became the youngest player to debut in the Brazilian top flight, achieving this milestone at the age of 15 years and 308 days, surpassing the previous recordheld by Pele.
Mikel Arteta has shared Arsenal’s intentions regarding Folarin Balogun, emphasizing that the club will make the “best decision” for the talented United States international striker.
Balogun, a highly-rated 22-year-old forward, experienced a significant rise in his reputation last season, impressing with 21 goals during a successful loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims.
He also made the decision to represent the USMNT, forsaking England, and has already opened his goal-scoring account for the national team.
While Balogun has made it clear that he won’t go out on loan again, it is anticipated that a permanent transfer will be arranged for him this summer.
In the meantime, he remains part of Arsenal’s pre-season plans, featuring in friendly matches.
Arteta stated that the Gunners are currently considering their options before making a final decision on Balogun’s future.
rteta has told reporters when asked about what the immediate future holds for Balogun: “It’s great because he’s done incredibly well.
Now we have to think about what is best to do.
We want to see him, we want to experience him in the next few games, he played the last game against Nuremberg and he will do so again in the next few games, then we’ll make the best decision.”
Arturo Vidal has strongly criticized his former manager, Jorge Sampaoli, labeling him a “loser coach” due to the treatment hereceived at Flamengo.
The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder expressed his frustration with the Argentine coach for not granting him sufficient playing time at Flamengo following his debut for Athletico Paranaense.
Vidal, who made a substitute appearance in his new club’s 2-0 victory over Bahia, expressed his joy at finally being able to play and condemned Sampaoli for his failure to “appreciate” his players.
“I am very happy to be playing. I was always ready to play, it was just that I got stuck with a loser coach who did not know how to appreciate his players,” he said.
Although it was a trophy-laden stint with Flamengo for Vidal, where he won the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup, his contract was terminated at the start of the year.
During his stay in Rio de Janeiro, he played just 21 matches, recording two goals and four assists.
However, he is now looking ahead to the future and aims to secure a starting position so that he can prove himself as a winner once again.
“All that is in the past now, I am happy now and I hope to be a starter in the upcoming matches and show everything that I have done over the course of my career, which is to be a winner,” he stated.
Vidal will be back in action against Vasco da Gama on Sunday in the Brazilian Serie A.
Theo Zidane, son ofZinedine Zidane, has reached an agreement to extend his contract with Real Madrid for an additional year, committing to the La Liga giants until the end of the 2023-24 season.
The 21-year-old midfielder has made a positive impression for Real Madrid’s Castilla team over the past year, despite narrowly missing out on promotion in the playoffs against Alcorcon in June.
As reported by Tribal Football, Theo will continue to feature for the Castilla side under the guidance of Raul Gonzalez.
Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid’s first team, will closely monitor Theo’s progress, with the intention of integrating the promising young talent into the senior squad during the 2023-24 season, depending on his performances.
Theo aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps at Real Madrid and contribute to the club’s success by aiming to win trophies for the La Liga giants while striving to secure a place in the first team.
Theo tipped for Madrid greatness
Meanwhile, Theo has been tipped to have a chance of making a greater impact at Real Madrid than his brothers, who have both been shipped out on loan, Football Espana reports.
The eldest of the trio, Luca plays for the Spanish lower division side, Eibar after the 25-year-old goalkeeper failed to seal a first-team spot with Los Blancos.
The youngest, Enzo plies his trade with Fuenlabrada in Spain’s third tier and also failed to make the main squad.
Enzo joins Portuguese side Aves
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Enzo Zidane joining Portuguese club, Aves after being released by Lausanne.
The then 24-year-old made 34 appearances while on loan at Rayo Majadahonda in the Spanish second division.
Enzo started his career at Juventus’ academy at a young age and later joined La Liga giants, Real Madrid, in 2004.
The agent of Victor Osimhen has refuted reports claiming that there are concerns surrounding a new contract agreement between the player and Napoli, dismissing them as “fake news.”
Roberto Calenda, who represents Osimhen, publicly criticized these reports that suggested the player was unwilling to extend his contract with the Scudetto champions.
Osimhen played a significant role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign last season, and with two years left on his current contract, the club is keen to secure his long-term future, especially amid interest from various top European clubs.
Calenda took to Twitter to dismiss a report from Il Mattino, a Naples-based newspaper, that suggested the Nigeria international could still be seeking an exit route, calling it “fake news”.
Calenda wrote on Twitter: “I read in Il Mattino that ‘Calenda has no intention of renewing in the summer and that he wants to explore all avenues in the market first.’ Fake news.”
The agent’s response indicates that Victor Osimhen remains committed to Napoli and is willing to extend his stay at the club.
While rumours persist regarding interest from clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, Osimhen’s current focus seems to be on committing his future to his current team.
The club’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has made it clear that he has no intention of selling the 24-year-old striker this summer and has set a high price tag of €150 million (£129m/$168m) for any potential suitors.
With the agent dismissing the contract rumours, the focus now shifts to negotiations between Napoli and Osimhen regarding a potential extension. The club is keen to secure his services for the long term, recognising his importance to the team’s success.
Barcelona is reportedly on the verge of acquiring midfielder Oriol Romeu from Girona, shortly after signing free agentIlkay Gundogan from Manchester City.
Romeu rejoined Girona last season after spending seven years playing for Southampton in the Premier League.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement has been reached between Barcelona and Girona, with Pablo Torre set to move in the opposite direction on a season-long loan.
With over 200 appearances in the Premier League, Romeu brings a wealth of experience to the reigning La Liga champions.
Barcelona, facing financial constraints, sees him as a cost-effective option to fill the void left by club legend Sergio Busquets, who departed at the end of last season.
Moreover, it will be a homecoming for Romeu, who came through the club’s famed La Masia Academy.
The 31-year-old also briefly played for Chelsea but failed to nail down a spot in the team, per Transfermarkt.
Barcelona midfield options
With the signing of Romeu, Barcelona now have some depth in the middle of the park, but they may need to add one or two in case of injury.
For now, Romeu will have to compete for a midfield spot with Gundogan, Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, Pedri and Frank Kessie. The summer transfer window is far from over, and the Spanish giants may have a completely different set of midfielders by the time the season gets underway.
Xavi’s side have also signed Inigo Martinez and Brazilian youngster Vitor Roque.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is reportedly prepared to make an irresistible offer to Tottenham for the signing of Harry Kane, as they compete with Bayern Munich for the striker’s services.
While Bayern has publicly expressed interest in Kane and has already made two bids, PSG is focused on negotiating personal terms with the England captain before potentially submitting an official bid. According to Foot Mercato, if PSG successfully reaches an agreement with Kane, they will then table an offer to Tottenham that would be difficult to turn down.
Kane’s current contract with Tottenham is set to expire next summer, but reports indicate that Spurs are demanding a fee of £120 million ($157 million) for the striker, even considering his contract situation nearing its end.
It remains to be seen if PSG would be willing to match that figure, as such a number may only be achievable if the club sell Kylian Mbappe this summer, amid interest from Real Madrid.
Kane is currently in Australia with Spurs for pre-season but Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness has claimed that his club are confident of reaching an agreement to sign him.
Kane is likely to be involved when Spurs play West Ham in a friendly on Tuesday.
Bruno Fernandes has reportedly rejected several offers from the Saudi Pro League in order to remain at Manchester United, where he is likely to be named the club captain.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese international has made it clear that he has no intentions of leaving Old Trafford this summer, despite receiving multiple approaches from the Gulf state in June.
While the specific clubs making the proposals remain undisclosed, it would require a substantial financial offer to entice a player of Fernandes’ caliber.
Rather than joining the trend of high-profile players moving to the Middle East, Fernandes has expressed his desire to continue his career at Manchester United.
Furthermore, it is expected that he will take over the captaincy from Harry Maguire, who was recently relieved of his duties as captain.
Fernandes has returned to United for pre-season training after an extended break, and he will doubtless continue to be a key cog for the club as they continue their progress under Erik ten Hag.
CEO of Bayern Munich, Jan-Christian Dreesen, is displeased with the extensive public coverage surrounding Harry Kane’s potential transfer.
During a recent interview, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness discussed the club’s transfer activities for the current window, including their interest in major targets Kim Min-Jae and Harry Kane.
However, Dreesen is reportedly concerned that the media attention surrounding Kane’s transfer could lead to an inflated price for the striker.
He is said to be unhappy with the publicity generated by the discussions, as it may impact the negotiations and potentially drive up the cost of acquiring the player.
“It’s no secret that we’re very interested in Kane. Everything Uli Hoeness said is correct,” Dreesen said.
“But it’s best for us to stick with what Thomas Tuchel said. The grass doesn’t grow faster when you pull it…”.
Bayern has already submitted three bids for the striker from Tottenham Hotspur as the Bavarians look for a new striker.
If the prices keep driving up, Bayern may be forced to settle as they also face competition from Paris Saint-Germain.
Dreesen reportedly wants to keep talks under wraps in the future in hopes that it may ease the deal a little.
The future of Kane remains uncertain and the coming weeks could see developments in the situationbetween Bayern and Spurs.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future, Kylian Mbappe has now joined his Paris Saint-Germain teammates for their pre-season preparations.
The French World Cup winner has recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s hierarchy, refusing to activate a contract extension clause in his current deal, which expires next summer.
While Mbappe has voiced his intention to stay with PSG for the upcoming season, rumors of a potential move to Real Madrid persist.
After a brief visit to Cameroon, his father’s home nation, the 24-year-old forward has returned to PSG, just in time for the team’s pre-season training under the new manager, Luis Enrique.
A video circulating online captured the moment when Mbappe met up with his Brazilian teammate Neymar Junior at PSG’s state-of-the-art training complex, signaling the start of their training sessions together.
The coming days will reveal how Mbappe will be able to establish a rapport with his teammates, as reports from Mirror suggest that several of them, including two new signings, have expressed their sentiments to the club’s hierarchy in response to the Frenchman’s recent interviews.
The dynamics within the team will be closely observed to gauge the impact of these interactions on team cohesion and camaraderie.
Mbappe labelled ‘disrespectful’
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe’s recent outburst against Paris Saint-Germain has not gone down well with former Italian and West Ham United player Paolo Di Canio, who has criticised the forward, Sports Brief reported.
In a recent interview, the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner took shots at the club as the fallout of his decision not to activate a contract extension clause with the Ligue 1 champions continues to rain down.
Di Canio has now labelled Mbappe as ‘indecent and disrespectful’ towards the Parisians, who have reportedly informed the forward he must extend his deal or be sold off this summer.
Despite heavy rainfall that threatened to disrupt the event and resulted in a delayed start time, enthusiastic fans filled the venue to witness the arrival of arguably one of Major League Soccer’s greatest-ever signings.
Among the first individuals to make their appearance was David Beckham, one of the franchise owners.
As he stepped onto the wet surface, he nearly slipped but quickly regained his balance, extending his hands for support.
Nevertheless, the inclement weather failed to dampen the spirits of those in attendance.
As the Daily Mail reports, his co-owner Jorge Mas appeared to make fun of the situation as he also held out his hands, pretending to fall over as well.
David Beckham effortlessly handled the slip during Messi's presentation 😅
With the whole world watching and luckily for Beckham, he did not slip. Soon after, Messi followed in tow and was presented to the enthusiastic fans.
Beckham then gave an emotional speech as he welcomed the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Please forgive me for feeling a little bit emotional tonight. It really is a dream come true to welcome Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.”
He then went down memory lane of the things he wanted to achieve when he went into club ownership after retirement.
“10 years ago, I started my journey to build a new MLS team. I said then that I dreamt of bringing the best players in the world to Florida and the great city of Miami.
Players who shared our ambition to grow soccer in this country, who would inspire the next generation and help build a legacy in this sport.”
Sports Brief also reported that following Inter Miami’s disappointing loss to St. Louis City on July 15, a football fan found delight in the Florida-based club’s defeat and took the opportunity to taunt new signing Lionel Messi indirectly.
Inter Miami has been struggling throughout the ongoing season, as evidenced by their third defeat in their last six games and an 11-game winless streak.
St. Louis City secured their victory with first-half goals from Samuel Adeniran and Tim Parker and a late strike from Eduard Lowen, pushing Inter Miami to the bottom of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS).
There are reports that Mauricio Pochettino, the new manager of Chelsea, may look to offload at least four additional players before the club’s preseason tour.
Chelsea has undergone a significant summer overhaul, with approximately 25 players already being transferred out of the club.
Sportbible has reported that notable players like Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have been included in the extensive list of departures, with Mount joining rivals Manchester United and Havertz moving to Arsenal.
Other high-profile players who have left Stamford Bridge include Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, and Edouard Mendy, all of whom have made moves to Saudi Arabia.
There are further speculations that more players could be departing Chelsea in the coming days as the club aims to achieve financial stability following the significant investment made by new owner Todd Boehly in the previous two transfer windows.
Which Chelsea players could depart?
According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is looking to sell at least four more players before the preseason tour.
The publication claims that Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all unwanted at the West London club.
Lukaku, Ziyech, and Auba are understood to have been asked not to train with the rest of the squad members this week, with Chelsea keen to get rid of them.
Lukaku has been linked with a permanent move to the Serie A, with Juventus and Inter Milan eyeing his services.
On his part, Auba could move to Saudi Arabia, with his imminent exit coming after he spent only one season with Chelsea.
Pochettino’s comment on Lukaku
Sports Brief reported that Pochettino gave a brilliant response on Romelu Lukaku after being asked about the Belgian striker’s situation amidst his bid to move away from Stamford Bridge.
Poch refused to be drawn into the controversy and outlined a routine of players arriving for pre-season training and coming to his office to say hello, and said that he expects the same from Lukaku.
The squad, consisting of 27 players, is set to participate in three upcoming friendly matches.
According to The Mirror, the Arsenal team departed from London Stansted Airport on Sunday afternoon, July 16, for their pre-season engagements.
Notable fixtures include a match against the MLS All-Stars, led by Wayne Rooney, scheduled for Thursday.
Subsequently, Arsenal will face off against rivals Manchester United and Spanish giants Barcelona.
Who is not in Arsenal’s squad?
Thomas Partey was the conspicuous miss in Arsenal’s travelling party.
The Ghanaian midfielder’s absence comes at a time he has been linked with a possible Emirates exit this summer.
Nicolas Pepe, Cedric, and Albert Sambi Lokonga have not been named in the squad, with Pepe also believed to be on his way out.
Reiss Nelson and Nuno Tavares will also not travel, with the latter understood to be still on holiday, per Football London.
Arthur Owonkwo, who is yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal, was also not included.
Who is in the Arsenal squad?
The team is headlined by several senior players, including goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and defenders William Saliba, Kieran Tierney, Ben White, and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Bukayo Saka, Jorginho, and Gabriel Martinelli are some of the other familiar names in the travelling contingent.
There has been much speculation regarding the composition of a new board and management for Kumasi Asante Kotoko following the dissolution of the previous leadership by the club’s patron,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
While initial reports suggested that a completely new board would be formed, recent credible sources indicate that some members from the dissolved board and management may be included in the new setup.
According to a report by Nhyira FM, it is likely that Kwame Kyei will retain his position as the executive board chairman of the club.
Furthermore, it is reported that Kwame Kyei favors Frederick Acheampong, a member of the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, to be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the club.
However, it should be noted that these reports are subject to change as Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is still finalizing the list of the new board, who will then select their own management committee.
It is also believed that former Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah will be the next head coach of the club as he has already held talks with Otumfuo on the move.
Despite not being his appointment, Kwame Kyei is believed to be open to the appointment of Kwasi Appiah and has communicated that to Manhyia.
Another member of the old hierarchy who is likely to retain her role is Akosua Dentaa Amonteng as the International Relations Manager of the club.
Though there has been no mention of the number of appointees, it is believed that it will take the same shape as the previous one.
The 12-memberboard ofAsante Kotoko which was constituted by the Manhyia Palace in May 2020 has ended its three-year mandate, winning only the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League during their tenure.
The board comprised Dr. Kwame Kyei, as Board Chairman; Mr. Jude Arthur- Vice Chairman, Kwadwo Boateng Gyamfi, Kwasi Osei Ofori, Kwamena Mensah, Miss Evelyn Nsiah Asare, Mr. Kofi Amoah Abban, Mr Martin Osei Kwaku Brobbey.
The rest are; Mr. James Osei Brown, Mr. Kofi Amoah Abban, MD of Rickworld Oil Group, Mr. Martin Osei Kwaku Brobbey, CEO of Lexta Ghana Limited, Mr. James Osei Brown, CEO of Joshob Construction Company, Nana Ankobeahene of Asanteman – Baffour Kwame Kusi, Alhaji Lamin and Joseph Yaw Adu.
The Asante Kotoko management led by Nana Yaw Amponsah of which Akosua Dentaa Amoateng was also dissolved.
In the 2022/2023 season, Kumasi Asante Kotoko finished fourth with 52points.
