Jack Grealish has recently constructed a bar in his lavish multimillion-dollar residence, following his wild celebrations to mark Manchester City’s historic season, according to reports.
City achieved the remarkable feat of winning the treble by securing the UEFA Champions League title against Inter Milan, in addition to clinching the Premier League trophy and the FA Cup by defeating Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively.
Several online videos showcased Grealish leading the exuberant celebrations, reaching a climax after City’s triumph in Istanbul.
Despite the festivities, Grealish was seen the next morning still wearing his football kit before jetting off to Ibiza.
He also made headlines for assisting the police in controlling the crowds during an open-air trophy parade.
Contrary to expectations, the new bar in Grealish’s home is said to offer only healthy beverage options such as wheatgrass shots and spirulina smoothies, as reported by The Sun.
This choice of drinks may cater more to the preferences of Grealish’s fiancée, Sasha Atwood, who reportedly follows a rigorous early morning gym routine.
The ‘healthy bar’ is among the new leisure items the former Aston Villa captain has introduced, in addition to a plunge room, a sauna, a spa, and a changing room.
Grealish involved in gruelling drills
This was much-needed for the winger, who would want to get himself into peak condition after watching from the sub’s bench without playing a single minute.
After the game, Grealish was also mobbed by a group of eager stewards, who were eager to take photos withthe Man City superstar and acquire his autograph.
Forward for the Ghana national team (Black Stars) and Crystal Palace Jordan Ayew, , has expressed his desire to play in theGhana Premier League (GPL) in the future.
Ayew, who currently resides in Accra when in Ghana, stated that he would be open to joining a team based in Accra.
“I have the Ghana Premier League in mind. One day, I could play for a team in Accra because that’s where I live,” Ayew said, as quoted by GTV Sports Plus.
With almost 15 years of professional experience since starting his career in 2009, Ayew acknowledges that his playing days are approaching their end.
Throughout his career, he has represented renowned clubs in Europe such as Olympique Marseille, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace, among others.
If Ayew fulfills his goal of playing in the GPL, he would join a growing list of Black Stars players who have returned to the local league towards the end of their professional careers.
Agyemang Badu, Sulley Muntari, and Samuel Inkoom are among the players who have made such a move.
Notably, Inkoom is still actively playing and recently joinedHearts of Oak for his second season, having joined the team in January 2022.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II has issued a directive to dissolve both the board and management of Asante Kotoko, a Ghanaian football club.
The board, which was established in 2020, was chaired by businessman Dr. Kwame Kyei, with Mr. Jude Arthur serving as vice-chair.
Other members included Kwadwo Boateng Gyamfi, Kwasi Osei Ofori, Kwamena Mensah, Evelyn Nsiah Asare, Kofi Amoah Abban (MD of RigWorld Oil Group), Martin Osei Kwaku Brobbey (CEO of Lexta Ghana Limited), James Osei Brown (CEO of Joshob Construction Company), Nana Ankobeahene of Asanteman – Baffour Kwame Kusi, Alhaji Lamin, and Joseph Yaw Adu.
Despite having a board composed of knowledgeable and experienced individuals, the inability to resolve significant conflicts led to limited success.
One of the key issues was the persistent conflicts between board chair Dr. Kwame Kyei and Chief Executive Officer Yaw Amponsah over the past three years.
In a recent interview with Kumasi-based Wontumi FM, Nana Yaw Amponsah acknowledged that the relationship between himself and Dr. Kwame Kyei had deteriorated.
“I don’t have any issue with Dr. Kwame Kyei as I sit. I give him the maximum respect wherever and whenever I meet him, but our relationship and how to communicate as CEO and his board chairman is not good like the beginning.”
While the fractious relationship between the pair and the divisiveness among board members are said to have displeased theAsantehene, sources say, in the owner’s assessment, the board and its management failed mandate, which, among many things, was to create a commercial viable entity.
A new direction for the club will be communicated in due course.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar Jr. has been issued a substantial fine by local authorities for violating environmental regulations with his beach house in Brazil.
The fine amounts to 16 million Brazilian Reais, equivalent to approximately $3.33 million.
Neymar’s offense involved the construction of an artificial lake on his property without proper authorization.
Construction work was halted as a result, and now Neymar is facing the consequences for not adhering to planning regulations and allowing unauthorized building activities to take place.
Environmental rules violated by Neymar
A statement from the council concerned as quoted by Goal says four fines have been issued for environmental violations in the construction of an artificial lake at the player’s mansion.
It goes on to say that dozens of infractions have been detected and point out that Neymar is carrying out work subject to environmental control without authorization and has overseen the removal of land and suppression of vegetation without authorization as well as capturing and diverting a water source without the relevant documentation.
Authorities cordoned off the site last month and ordered all activity to cease, but DW news reported that Neymar threw a party there and bathed in the lake.
On top of the fine, the case will also be investigated by other environmental control bodies. including the local attorney general’s office, and the state civil police environmental protection office.
Neymar jeopardises Premier League future
Sports Brief earlier reported that Brazilian star Neymar might have jeopardised his chances to secure a potential Premier League move.
This comes after thePSG man urged fans to secure tickets for a Cruise Ship party which would span for over 72 hours during the festive, which is usually a busy time for Premier League clubs.
It remains to be seen if Premier League clubs interested in the forward would look past this and go ahead with signing the PSG number 10.
After a remarkable tenure of over 30 years, Geoff Shreeves has made the announcement that he will be departing from Sky Sports.
Shreeves became part of the network in 1992 and has since become a constant presence as a touchline reporter.
Additionally, he has hosted popular shows such as The Debate, Sunday Supplement, and The Football Show.
In a statement, he said: “There’s an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the greatest party.
“And that’s what my 32 years at Sky have been – the most fantastic party I could ever imagined attending.
From the first kick of a ball in the live coverage of the Premier League to Manchester City’s title celebrations last season – with plenty in between.
“Sky have been incredibly generous in recognition of my service and I can’t speak more highly of so many people I’ve worked with there over three decades.
I now have the opportunity for new experiences which I’m looking forward to announcing in the very near future.”
Shreeves, who had started his working life as an estate agent, began his career in football at the 1990 World Cup and was touchline reporter the day Sky televised its first Premier League game,Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in August 1992.
Sky Sports’ director of football Gary Hughes said: “Geoff has been an integral part of the Sky Sports football team and the best tunnel reporter in the business, interviewing the biggest names at the biggest games for over 30 years.
“Geoff leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future. As Sir Alex always said, Well done, Geoff!”
Erling Haaland is poised to become the most expensive asset ever in the Fantasy Premier League, as the initial set of player prices was revealed on Monday.
The Manchester City striker had an outstanding debut season in England, netting an impressive 36 goals, making him an extremely sought-after player among FPL owners.
Haaland will start the season with a remarkable price tag of 14 million euros, surpassing any previous player cost.
However, he joins the ranks of Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have all been priced similarly in the past.
Meanwhile, the list released by the Premier League’s website shows that Mohamed Salah’s price has dropped from 13 million euros to 12.5 million euros. Despite Liverpool’s underwhelming season overall, the three-time Golden Boot winner still managed to score 19 goals.
Heung-min Son’s price has also dropped from 12m euros to 9m euros after registering a disappointing season. The South Korean won the Golden Boot in the 2021/2022 season.
Martin Odegaard and Bruno Fernandes will cost 8.5m euros each, while Chelsea’s new boy Christopher Nkunku will go for 7.5m euros.
More prices are expected to follow in the course of the week, with Harry Kane expected to rank highly as well. TheTottenham Hotspur striker’s future remains uncertain, with Bayern Munich interested.
Mbappe, who has decided against renewing his contract with PSG, is being targeted by Los Blancos as the French club wants to avoid losing him for free next year.
According to Sportskeeda, Madrid has declined to meet Mbappe’s two demands in order to prioritize the happiness of Vinicius Junior.
The 24-year-old World Cup Golden Boot winner desires to play as a winger rather than in a central role, but Vinicius currently occupies that position.
Furthermore, Mbappe has expressed a wish to don the prestigious No. 7 jersey at Real Madrid. However, Vinicius recently acquired that number and is expected to keep it for the foreseeable future.
Mbappe’s Madrid move faces roadblock
Meanwhile, the much-discussed potential transfer of Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid faces a significant hurdle due to his loyalty bonus, PSG Talk reports.
The Frenchman’s loyalty bonus is apparently worth €70 million (pre-tax); therefore, Mbappe does not want to lose that money after he demanded he be paid upfront.
Real Madrid’s pursuit of the French forward aligns with their ambition to bolster their attacking options and reinforce their squad with marquee signings, but they will not be coerced into paying the loyalty bonus.
Mbappe enjoys holiday amidst saga
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Mbappe has been spotted on vacation in Miami amid his uncertain club football situation.
The 24-year-old was seen basking in the Florida sun as he tried his hand at a game of beach Jenga.
After a gruelling but hugely successful season, in which he netted 41 goals in 43 games for PSG in addition to 13 goals for France, Mbappe took a deserved break from footballing activities and the talk regarding his future.
In a surprising turn of events, coach Annor Walker has made a comeback to his former team, Great Olympics, following a season away in Samreboi.
After leaving the Accra-based club to join newly promoted team FC Samartex 1996 in the Ghana Premier League, the 62-year-old has now signed a two-year contract to rejoin his former outfit, returning to a familiar environment.
During his time at FC Samartex, Walker led the team to a commendable 10th place finish in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League.
Despite this achievement, both parties agreed to part ways, leading to his departure from Samreboi.
Walker’s return to Great Olympics, a team he had previously caused distress for, has generated excitement among the club’s fans.
Following successful negotiations on July 3, 2023, the veteran coach finalized a two-year contract with the Blue and White team.
His decision to return came as Great Olympics faced the threat of relegation in the recently concluded season.
Despite rumors of a potential move to prominent club Accra Hearts of Oak SC, Walker opted to rejoin his former team instead.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho had the best of times at Real Madrid but ended things on a sour note after a famous dressing room bust-up, and it has now been revealed what transpired.
Mourinho spent three seasons in the Spanish capital, the second of which was a record-breaking La Liga season.
He is acknowledged to have built the foundation for the club’s successes years after his departure.
Los Blancos won the Spanish title in his second season, amassing a record 100 points and scoring an astonishing 121 goals in a season that also saw them reach the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.
According to 90min, Ronaldo had his best scoring time under his Portuguese compatriot. He scored 168 goals in 164 games and provided a further 49 assists.
Mourinho and Ronaldo’s fiery exchange
According to Guillem Balague’s book,Cristiano Ronaldo: The Autobiography, via Mirror UK, the manager did not appreciate the player taking a quick throw-in which was difficult for Mesut Ozil, and nearly put the win over Valencia at risk.
Ronaldo was unimpressed by being ‘talked down at’ and replied:
“After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!”
The outburst is said to have left the dressing room stunned, with the situation descending into chaos as the two compatriots nearly came to blows.
It is also claimed that at one point, the Special One slammed Ronaldo for not being a team player.
“Just so you know, many think like me here, but don’t dare say it, they don’t have the [expletive] to tell you,” he is said to have shouted.
Mourinho left Madrid months later to return to Chelsea, and the two have not worked together since then.
Referee sacked after insulting Mourinho
Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported on Serie A referee, Marco Serra being dismissed by AIA ahead of the 2023/24 season after he clashed with Mourinho in February.
Serra was the 4th official during AS Roma’s game against Cremonese. He reportedly swore at Mourinho and told him to go home as no one takes him seriously any more.
Marathon runner Titus Ekiru is facing a potential 10-yearban following a doping investigation related to the race that currently places him as the sixth-fastest man in the event’s history.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced that the 31-year-old Kenyan athlete is confronted with two charges for positive doping tests and two additional charges of tampering.
In May 2021, Ekiru achieved a remarkable time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 57 seconds to secure victory at the Milan Marathon.
This performance currently ranks him as the sixth-fastest marathon runner of all time, just behind the world record of 2:01.09 set by Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin the previous year.
During the Italian race, Ekiru tested positive for the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide, a substance prohibited for use during competition unless an athlete obtains a medical exemption.
The AIU initially closed the investigation into the positive test in Milan but reopened it after Ekiru subsequently tested positive for a synthetic opioid while winning in Abu Dhabi in November 2021.
“The athlete tested positive for pethidine after winning in Abu Dhabi, and again claimed the outcome resulted from legitimate medical treatment,” the AIU said.
The track and field investigation body said it noticed the “emergence of a pattern of triamcinolone acetonide use among Kenyan athletes.”
The substance is perhaps best known for being used with a medical exemption by British cyclist Bradley Wiggins before competing in the 2012 Tour de France,a race which he won.
Ekiru was provisionally suspended one year ago and was later charged with suspected doping violations in March and April, the AIU said.
Two more charges of tampering have now been added for the runner “submitting falsified medical explanations and documentation to the AIU for both positive tests,” the AIU said.
“This means the elite marathoner — who has the right to defend himself before the Disciplinary Tribunal — is facing a potential 10-year ban,” said the Monaco-based investigation unit, which praised the cooperation it got from Kenyan authorities.
Ekiru also won the half marathon title at the 2019 African Games.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has revealed it took three years of negotiations to bring Lionel Messi to the Major League Soccer club.
The Argentine World Cup winner, 36, is set to be officially announced as a Miami player after ending his two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi’s arrival is sure to spark a huge influx of interest in MLS and Mas has revealed just how much effort it took to bring the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to Florida.
He told Spanish newspaper El Pais: “In 2019 [when Messi was still at Barcelona], we started thinking about how we could bring him.
“I spent three years on it, a year-and-a-half [working] very intensely.
“There were many conversations with [Messi’s father and agent] Jorge. [Inter Miami co-owner] David [Beckham] talked to Leo, only about football issues, because he was a player.”
Messi had been strongly linked with a return to Barcelona this summer but the Catalan giants did not have the finances to secure the deal.
He is also thought to have turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in favour of a switch to the United States.
Mas added: “I saw it as done at the end of May. I didn’t want him to feel under pressure.
“We had spoken in Barcelona, Miami, Rosario, Doha — I spent the whole World Cup in Qatar, watching Argentina.
“The Apple contract was very important to close the deal.”
Lionel Messi will play alongside Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami
Former Barca boss and fellow Argentine Gerardo Martino has recently been named manager of the Eastern Conference’s bottom-placed side, with ex-Blaugrana midfielder Sergio Busquets also joining.
And Mas says they have looked at bringing more of Messi’s former team-mates to the Sunshine State.
On interest in Luis Suarez and Angel Di Maria, he said: “He [Suarez] is under contract, he has a clause, and I don’t know if this will materialise.
“We have also spoken to Di Maria but it seems that he is about to sign for another team.”
Former Republic of Ireland international, Steven Reid, has made a return to Nottingham Forest as a first-team coach, a year after leaving for a new venture.
At the age of 42, Reid departed from Steve Cooper’s coaching staff twelve months ago, having played a role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
He transitioned into a specialist coaching role, providing support to players in areas such as mental well-being, confidence, and leadership.
However, the former midfielder, who previously played for Millwall, Blackburn, West Brom, and Burnley, has now reconnected with Forest.
Reid told the club’s official website: “It is a club that has stayed close to my heart for many reasons, firstly because of the amazing journey to promotion, but also because of the support I felt from within the club and the amazing fanbase when stepping away from football to do some work around mental health and well-being.
“I have remained close to Steve and many of the coaching staff and players and cannot wait to get going again.”
Cooper added: “I’m delighted that Reidy is returning to the club. He had a massive impact in our Championship promotion-winning season, but he also has experience of working and playing in thePremier League and knows what it demands.”
The emergence of the Saudi Pro League has become a significant topic of discussion in this summer’s transfer window.
With the Public Investment Fund (PIF) now holding a 75% ownership stake in four of the nation’s prominent clubs, namely Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli, their financial capabilities have seen a remarkable surge.
Consequently, several prominent European football stars are opting to follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and join the Saudi Arabian league.
Here, we provide an overview of all the significant completed transfers in this regard.
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, 35, got Saudi’s summer business under way by joining champions Al-Ittihad on a free transfer.
The Real Madrid icon signed a two-year contract with an option for a further year, which is reportedly worth around £100million per season.
N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad)
Don't listen to the fake news⛔️ Kanté is an Ittihad player now! ✍️🤩
N’Golo Kante, 32, chose to walk the same path as his compatriot Benzema by moving to the Jeddah-based outfit on a free transfer.
The all-action midfielder left Chelsea after seven years of quality service, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal worth a reported £86m per season.
Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal)
Wolves received a club record fee of £47m from Al-Hilal for their former captain Ruben Neves, who had just one year remaining on his deal at Molineux.
The Portuguese midfielder — still only 26 — signed a three-year contract with the 18-time Saudi Pro League champions.
Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal)
Wolves received a club record fee of£47m from Al-Hilal for their former captain Ruben Neves, who had just one year remaining on his deal at Molineux.
The Portuguese midfielder — still only 26 — signed a three-year contract with the 18-time Saudi Pro League champions.
Neves will play alongsideKalidou Koulibaly in Riyadh next season following the centre-back’s departure from Chelsea just a year after signing from Napoli.
The deal for the 32-year-old defender cost Al-Hilal a reported £20m in transfer fees, with his contract running until 2026.
Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli)
Edouard Mendy became the third Chelsea star to seal a Middle East move when joining Al-Ahli for an undisclosed fee.
Having played a key role in the Blues’ 2021 Champions League triumph, the Senegal stopper lost his starting spot at Stamford Bridge last term and has now headed for pastures new.
Marcelo Brozovic, 30, decided to join Ronaldo at Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £15m, the Croatian midfielder signing a three-year contract with the nine-time Saudi Pro League winners.
The 87-cap international was a key figure at Inter Milan for many years and started in the Nerazzurri’s recent Champions League final defeat to Manchester City.
Tottenham striker would be perfect for Erik ten Hag’s side.
The England captain is reportedly closing in on a move to the German champions – while the Red Devils continue to stand still in their striker hunt
After 14 years of loyal service to Tottenham, it looks like Harry Kane will finally be moving onto pastures new this summer.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germainare among those to have registered interest in the 29-year-old, but Bayern Munich are currently leading the race for his signature.
It has been reported that the Bundesliga champions have reached an agreement in principle with Kane’s representatives, after seeing an opening £60m ($77m) bid for the forward rejected by Spurs.
Bayern are set to return with an improved offer, and Tottenham may have little choice but to cash in, or else risk losing Kane for free when his contract expires next summer.
For a long time, it seemed as though Manchester United would be Kane’s landing spot if he left Tottenham.
Erik ten Hag has made it clear he is desperate to bring in a new No.9, having seen his side struggle for goals throughout the 2022-23 campaign.
Daniel Levy’s reluctance to sell to a direct rival is no secret, which is why the Spurs chairman reportedly demanded over £100m ($127m) for Kane after United made initial enquiries over his availability earlier this year. And the Red Devils are simply not willing to spend that much.
United haven’t been shy when it comes to shelling out huge fees in the recent past, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Antony all brought in for fees exceeding £70m ($88m).
But they won’t make the same level of investment in Kane – arguably the greatest striker in the history of English football.
Bayern are in the clear to complete a huge coup, and if they do seal a deal for the Tottenham striker, they’ll be genuine Champions League contenders next season. United, meanwhile, are making a huge mistake by standing back and letting it happen.
Still at his peakOne of the reasons United have reportedly baulked at Levy’s valuation of Kane is because of his age, with the Spurs marksman set to celebrate his 30th birthday later in July.
But he hasn’t shown any sign of slowing down on the pitch.In fact, the 2022-23 campaign was probably his best yet in a Tottenham shirt, despite the fact he was leading the line for a disjointed team lacking quality in all other areas of the pitch.
Kane reached the 30-goal mark in the Premier League for the second time in his career, and only finished six goals behind Manchester City’s scoring machine Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.
Haaland also won the PFA Player of the Year ahead of Kane, but the Norwegian couldn’t really fail in Pep Guardiola’s set-up.
City stormed to the treble last season, and while Haaland deserves great credit for his finishing, he had world-class providers such as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish putting chances on a plate for him.
Kane, meanwhile, carried Spurs with his outstanding individual performances.
They ended up in eighth place purely because of his superhuman efforts – and it’s not a stretch to say they would have edged towards the relegation zone without him.There are plenty of great players that have been able to prolong their careers at the highest level well into their thirties in the modern era.
In Kane’s position, the man he could soon replace at Bayern, Robert Lewandowski, won the Pichichi award for the top scorer in La Liga last season as he fired Barcelona to the title in his first season at the club.
The 35-year-old Karim Benzema only finished with four goals fewer than Lewandowski (19) in his final season at Real Madrid, having landed his maiden Ballon d’Or in December on the back of his 44-goal haul the previous campaign.
Both players have looked after themselves physically and showed the discipline necessary to ensure longevity. And so has Kane.
The England international could quite easily make the starting line up for any top club in the world over the next four to five years. United’s caution when it comes to Kane, then, makes absolutely no sense.
There might be cheaper options out there to fill a centre-forward berth, but there is no one better.
Getty/GOALPremier League king”If Harry wants to join Bayern, I’ll drive his f*cking car there myself; anything to protect my Premier League goalscoring record,” Alan Shearer said in a recent article for The Athletic.
Kane currently has 213 Premier League goals to his name, which puts him just 47 behind the former Newcastle and Blackburn forward’s all-time record mark.
If he were to stay at Spurs, Kane would undoubtedly go on to break Shearer’s mark.But if Kane went to United, he could potentially smash it.
Ten Hag’s squad is in far better shape than Tottenham’s after a positive maiden year at Old Trafford for the Dutch coach.
The Red Devils lifted the Carabao Cup and came third in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League, before suffering defeat to City in the FA Cup final.
Players such as Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw all stepped up their game, while new signings Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez added a new dimension to the team.
Ten Hag could ideally do with a new goalkeeper to replace the declining David de Gea, but their top priority must be to sign a top-quality centre-forward.
If United could prise Kane away from Spurs, they’d be guaranteed title contenders in 2023-24. Kane would be the definition of a transformative signing.
He’s not just Premier League proven – he’s the king of the competition.So often last season, United’s final ball failed to match their slick, incisive build-up play, and that’s because they had no one getting into the right positions.
They also were also the most wasteful side in the league, missing 50 big chances in total.
If they swallowed their pride and forked out on Kane, those issues would be solved. Not least because the England captain is motivated to go past Shearer.“For sure it’s something I want to do.
I think whenever you get close to these types of records, all it does is drive you, to try and achieve them,” Kane told Sky Sports in May. “In a couple of years we will see where I am at and how close I am but now I am this close to it, for sure it is something I would love to achieve.”
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
Mauricio Pochettino has cited the opportunity to work with top-notch players as the main factor that attracted him to the Chelsea position.
Commencing his tenure at Chelsea on July 3, Pochettino conducted his first interview since assuming the role.
As the former manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, he has been entrusted with revitalizing Stamford Bridge following a disappointing 2022-23 season.
The team finished in 12th place under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard.
Nonetheless, Pochettino acknowledged that accepting the job was an exciting prospect due to the quality of players at his disposal.
Speaking to the official Chelsea website, Pochettino said: “It is exciting for us because we love good players, players with the capacity and then talent, but also we want people who want to be with us at this club and be really open to help the club achieve want we want.
“From the beginning, the owners and sporting directors were very clear about the project and we were very excited to join them in this project. We are here to try to help the club and the fans. In the end, the most important thing in football is for them to be happy and to feel proud of us and in the way we approach games.
“The players need to know that. Of course, there are always up and downs in the history of football, but Chelsea is a club that it is impossible to have these up and downs. We need to be sure that we bring what the club needs to be at the top because the history of the club is to be at the top.”
'It’s a culture of winning here. We want to bring the happiness again to this great football club.' 🙌
Pochettino joins the club with Chelsea’s squad in a state of flux after an incredible spending spree in the summer 2022 and January 2023 windows – in which the club spent more than £500 million ($635m) on the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and others who are all yet to prove themselves.
There have already been some high-profile exits this summer too, with the club in need of trimming their numbers and wage bill.
Pochettino’s first game in charge will be a friendly against Wrexham in the USA on July 19 as he gets into his work during their pre-season tour of the States.
In a subtle dig at Barcelona,Al-Nassr has officially announced the acquisition of Croatia international midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter.
Brozovic joins the growing list of prominent players who have left top European leagues to play in Saudi Arabia, teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
The 30-year-old was reportedly sought after by Barcelona, who were in search of a replacement for club legend Sergio Busquets in the defensive midfield position.
However, Brozovic has chosen to embark on a Middle Eastern adventure instead.
Reports suggest that Brozovic has signed a three-year contract with Al-Nassr, entitling him to an annual salary exceeding €35 million (£30m/$38m).
Announcing the deal, Al-Nassr took aim at Barcelona and Brozovic’s other suitors, writing: “Everyone wanted him. He wanted ONLY us.”
The club is among the four Saudi sides who are targeting big names in European football this summer.Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech could be the next star to make the move to Al-Nassr.
At the age of 43, Gerrard has been out of the game since his dismissal from Aston Villa in October.
Initially, he had declined an offer to move to the Gulf state, but he has now been enticed by the lucrative opportunities available.
“Where legends are found. We’re thrilled to announce Steven Gerrard is our new head coach,” the club said in a post on Twitter.
Al-Ettifaq finished seventh out of 16 clubs in the Saudi Pro League last season.
Backed by the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, the Saudi Pro League is luring big names from the major European leagues with the promise of huge salaries.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr in January started the trend.
His former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema and French World Cup winner N’Golo Kante of Chelsea have recently joined Al-Ittihad.
Former Tottenhammanager Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Benfica Jorge Jesus are among the coaches to head to Saudi.
Since retiring from a glittering playing career, Gerrard did have success during his spell in charge of Scottish giants Rangers, where he won the club’s only league title in the past 12 years in 2020/21.
In the pursuit of Inter goalkeeperAndre Onana, Manchester United may encounter competition from Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club.
United seems to have identified the Inter goalkeeper as a major target for this summer’s transfer window, particularly since David de Gea’s contract has expired and manager Erik ten Hag aims to strengthen the goalkeeping department.
However, according to a report from CalcioMercato, Al-Nassr is also interested in Onana and could potentially rival United in the race to sign him.
It’s reported that the Saudi Pro League side have registered a ‘letter of interest’, which Onana and his representatives have become aware of.
The 27-year-old is expected to cost around £50 million ($64m), but it now seems United will need to act fast to clinch the deal.
Saudi clubs have been embarking on some incredible spending in this summer transfer window, with high-profile stars such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Neves all swapping European clubs for the Middle East.
Ex-United star Ronaldo began the exodus to the Saudi Pro League after his acrimonious exit from Old Trafford at the end of 2022.
At one point, it seemed like the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would make a comeback to Camp Nou after deciding not to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Discussions took place between the involved parties, but Messi ultimately opted to pursue an American dream by joining Inter Miami in MLS.
Iniesta, who spent may successful years working alongside Messi in Catalunya before making his own move in 2018, has told DAZN of seeing his former team-mate favour the United States over Spain: “It would have been nice, special for what it means, but in the end, everyone looks for the best option, what they think will be good for them and, from there, they will probably live a different experience to what they have lived before.
“If it’s what he was looking forward to and what he wanted, I’m sure it will go well, as he did well in all the places he’s been.”
While Barca be without Messi in 2023-24, they still have the likes of Pedri at their disposal.
The talented 20-year-old is considered to be the natural heir to Iniesta at Camp Nou, with the man himself saying of the youngster’s ongoing development: “As young as he is, he is already a reference point, an important person in the team with a lot of influence in the game and, surely, this evolution that he has had during this time will continue.
He is in the best team to continue growing and I am convinced that he will have another great season.”
Barcelona claimed the Liga title in 2022-23 for the first time in four years and are in the process of bolstering their ranks – with a deal alreadydone for Ilkay Gundogan – despite seeing club legend Messi decide to head elsewhere.
In the world of football, money plays a significant role, but it doesn’t guarantee success. Football clubs nowadays are increasingly willing to spend large sums of money in their relentless pursuit of trophies.
Unfortunately, numerous instances have shown that even top-quality players and high-profile signings often fail to live up to their exorbitant transfer fees.
Sports Brief delves into the realm of expensive transfers that ultimately fell short of expectations.
One such example was a transfer fee so exorbitant that La Liga initially refused to accept the payment.
PSG disregarded Financial Fair Play regulations and directly handed the money to Barcelona, activating a release clause that was designed to make such transfers nearly impossible.
This turn of events made Neymar, according to reports from Goal, the most expensive signing in the history of football.
The Brazilian however has failed to dish out a performance worthy of his price tag, as he is always hit with season-ending injuries in the crucial part of the football season.
Eden Hazard – £143m/€160m (Chelsea to Real Madrid, July 2019)
The initial payment of £88.5m alone would have been a disastrous transfer, but Hazard has accidentally activated enough variables in between numerous injuries to make this an all-time great waste of money.
Hazard featured 76 times for Real Madrid in four years. Image: Angel Martinez. Source: Getty Images
So disastrous was Hazard’s disastrous stint at Real Madrid that the club opted to end his contract a year early, paying off the Belgian in the process. Hazard featured just 76 times for Real Madrid in four seasons at the Spanish capital.
Philippe Coutinho – £142m/€160m (Liverpool to Barcelona, January 2018)
It’s difficult to pinpoint the most wrong aspect of this deal from a buyer’s perspective, but it’s somewhere between the £106m initial fee, the £26.4m in clauses paid out for Coutinho’s first 90 appearances, the £89m premium Barcelona reluctantly agreed to pay if they signed any further Liverpool players in the next two years, the fact Coutinho won the Champions League with Bayern Munich while on loan from the Nou Camp, scoring twice in the 8-2 quarter-final humiliation of the Catalans, or the knockdown price of £17m they sold the Brazilian to Aston Villa for after four underwhelming years.
Ousmane Dembele – £135m/€147m (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, August 2017)
With a bruised ego and the Neymar cash burning a hole in their back pocket, Barcelona had tried all summer to sign Coutinho but after facing resistance from Liverpool, they went cap in hand to Dortmund for their back-up instead.
Surely Lessons were learned with a £369.6m release clause inserted this time – not that the Frenchman has ever come close to warranting such lavish interest.
Dembele has struggled with consistency since his move from Dortmund. Image: David Ramos. Source: Getty Images
Dembele’s time at Camp Nou has been plagued with injuries and loads of unhealthy sportsman habits. According to Transfermarkt.com, the French man has scored just 40 goals since his transfer in 2017.
Antoine Griezmann – £107m/€120m (Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, July 2019)
The Frenchman could no longer avoid the Barcelona pull in the summer of 2019 and eventually made the switch to the Camp Nou – a move he would eventually admit was a career mistake according to L’equipe.
Griezmann has somehow managed to remain without a La Liga winner’s medal through it all, timing his moves back and forth between Atletico and Barcelona. The French forward found the back of the net only 24 times in 102 appearances for the Blaugrana.
Joao Felix – £113m/€126m (Benfica to Atletico Madrid, July 2019)
Perhaps the worst match of player and manager there has ever been for a club-record transfer.
How strange that the skilful individualist forward who doesn’t track back never meshed with a totalitarian coach who demands suffering and sacrifice from his subordinates.
Joao Felix is seeking a move to PSG. Image: David S. Bustamante. Source: Getty Images
How strange that Atletico committed such sums on a teenager with 45 career first-team appearances. How strange that they can’t find someone to buy him. It’s a conundrum for Atleti and Joao Felix currently.
The Portuguese is reportedly linked with a move to PSG which is a move the 23-year-old will pray surely materialises.
Jadon Sancho – £73m/€85m (Borussia Dortmund to Man Utd, July 2021)
Across his two whole seasons with Man Utd, the forward has scored 12 goals and assisted six in 79 games.
According to Talksport, the disappointing forward is on the long list of players set to be shipped out of Carrington, and the club could accept £45m for him two years on. it’s not gone too well for Sancho so far.
Antony – £82m/€95m (Ajax to Man Utd, September 2022)
Erik ten Hag put all his eggs in the Antony basket but a few must have cracked in transit from Amsterdam, with the relatively slow and predominantly one-footed winger scoring eight goals and assisting three in a 44-game debut season.
Anthony has struggled to find his feet since making his switch from Ajax. Image: David Horton. Source: Getty Images
It remains to be seen if the forward can re-write prints at Old Trafford. Judging by what has been seen over time, not much improvement is expected from the former Ajax man.
Nicolas Pepe – £72m/€80m (Lille to Arsenal, August 2019)
After offering the closest challenge to Kylian Mbappe for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, Arsenal spent what remains, for now, a club-record fee on a player who has since returned to France after long being outgrown by the upwardly moving Gunners.
Pepe’s spell at Arsenal remains a failure and he has been deemed surplus to requirement in Mikel Arteta’s new project.
The chairman of theBlack Meteors’ management committee, Frederick Acheampong, has clarified that the team’s coach, Ibrahim Tanko, does not receive a monthly salary as is commonly believed.
Contrary to the misconception, Tanko, like the national team footballers, receives allowances and bonuses rather than a fixed monthly payment.
Acheampong made this clarification to dispel the misunderstanding surrounding Tanko’s compensation structure.
Tanko, who led the team in 2019 when they failed to qualify for the Olympic Games, was given another opportunity to perform better in the ongoing AFCON.
However, the team’s elimination in the group stage has raised concerns about their commitment and integrity.
Acheampong clarified in an interview with 3Sports on Sports Ultras, a show on 3FM, that Tanko is in a similar situation as national team footballers who are not paid salaries but instead receive allowances and bonuses.
This dispels the misconception that the coach receives a monthly salary.
“No [Ibrahim Tanko doesn’t receive a salary for coaching the Black Meteors]. Because he works for his club so just like the footballers who play for the national team they work for their clubs so they only earn per diem based on the number of days they have been in camp and are also only paid winning bonuses when they win a match,” he said.
He, however, refuted claims suggesting the coach could get influenced due to the absence of monthly salaries.
“I’ve known Tanko for a number of years and I’ve known his integrity. He is someone I can trust and will not be influenced by any money despite not being paid monthly,” he added.
Ghana’s failure to make it to the next Olympic Games due to their early exit from the AFCON means their wait will be prolonged to at least 24 years having last participated at the quadrennial event in 2004.
On Monday, Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Belgian side Anderlecht.
The 20-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract with the club, although the financial details of the transfer were not disclosed.
However, reports from British media suggest that Brighton paid around £16 million for the talented young goalkeeper, who was named Anderlecht’s player of the season.
Verbruggen, a Dutch goalkeeper, began his career at NAC Breda in the Netherlands before making the move to Anderlecht in 2020.
Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed his belief that Verbruggen will be a great fit for the club’s playing style, which emphasizes playing out from the back.
“He is used to playing a type of football similar to ours and he will have no problem fitting into our group,” De Zerbi said.
“He has the potential to become a very important player for the club in the coming years.”
Brighton finished sixth in the table and will play in the Europa League next season.
Verbruggen is their fourth signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Joao Pedro from Watford, Germany midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Dortmundand James Milner from Liverpool.
Respected Ghanaian commentator, Joe Lartey, has provided insight into the motivations behind Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s decision to invite the renowned European football powerhouse, Real Madrid, to play against the Black Stars in 1962.
According to Lartey, Ghana was rapidly establishing itself as a football force in Africa during the 1960s, and Dr. Nkrumah, the country’s first president, sought to showcase the immense talent and potential of the Black Stars to the global stage.
Lartey further disclosed that while working closely with Ohene Gyan, the Sports Director at the time, it was Dr. Nkrumah himself who personally extended the invitation to Real Madrid, surprising many with his direct involvement in the matter.
This decision sparked a passionate debate regarding the significance of Ghana facing such a formidable opponent, considering the growing strength of the Black Stars at the time.
In an interview with Kafui Dey, Lartey explained Nkrumah’s perspective, saying, “Kwame Nkrumah discovered the importance of unity especially in politics. He attended school at Achimota and did a bit of sports and he realized that football in particular had a strong unifying force.”
He further added that, “After appointing Ohene Gyan as Director of Sports for Ghana. He sometimes planned with him some of the sports activities organized. Nkrumah worked solo in inviting Real Madrid to play with the Black Stars team. The idea was to show how far we’ve developed in football.”
“We were then just beginning to show our strength in football. There was a big debate whether it was proper for the Black Stars to play against a world-famous club side like Real Madrid because they were champions in Europe and dreaded by opponents,” Joe Lartey stated.
The veteran Ghanaian commentator emphasized that Ghana was only starting to demonstrate its football strength at that time and playing against a world-famous club like Real Madrid was a subject of intense debate.
This historic match against one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs became a significant moment in Ghanaian football history and helped raise the profile of the Black Stars on the international stage.
RB Leipzig’s 21-year-old defender, Josko Gvardiol, has expressed his desire to joinManchester City, the treble-winning club, according to Leipzig sports director Max Eberl.
Eberl confirmed on Monday that Gvardiol has informed the club of his intention to leave.
Discussions are currently underway with Manchester City, who recently clinched their first Champions League title, regarding a potential transfer for the talented Croatian international.
“Josko and his advisors have submitted the wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City,” Eberl told Leipziger Volksnachrichten newspaper.
“We are in talks with Manchester. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”
The back-to-back German Cup winners have seen several top players leave with Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s move to Liverpool on Sunday being the most recent one.
Defender Konrad Laimer has moved to Bayern Munich while France international Christopher Nkunku has joined Chelsea in the Premier League.
“I can understand the disappointment and concern of the fans,” Eberl said. “No club and no coach in this world wants to lose players of this calibre.”
“But we have been prepared for this and I can promise that we will have once more a good and exciting team.”
Leipzig, who finished third in theBundesliga and will compete in the Champions League group stage, have brought in attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner and talented 20-year-old Slovenian Benjamin Sesko among others.
“We have already signed some good lads and will bring in more and exciting players,” Eberl said.
Roy Hodgson successfully steeredCrystal Palace to Premier League survival after his return to Selhurst Park in March to replace Patrick Vieira until the end of the season.
The 75-year-old led the team to 11th place, securing five wins and three draws in the 10 matches he oversaw.
Following Patrick Vieira’s departure, Hodgson’s remarkable efforts earned him the opportunity to stay at Selhurst Park.
His strong rapport with several key players in the Palace squad played a significant role in influencing the decision to extend his tenure.
Upon extending his stay in south London, the veteran manager said: “I am immensely pleased and proud to be extending my time at Crystal Palace, and I would like to thank the Chairman and Sporting Director for their continued faith in me.
“I know what a fantastic squad we have here. It’s a great blend of youth and potential, alongside experienced players with Premier League and international pedigree.
“I have spoken with the Chairman at length and we agreed that we must be ambitious in getting the most out of such talent.
As such, we have set ourselves the target of a top-half finish, which we believe is eminently achievable with such a fabulous group of players and the most magnificent supporters who get behind the team, week in, week out.”
Hodgson took over from Vieira in March on a short-term contract, with Palace picking up 18 points from his 10 games in charge as they comfortably stayed in the Premier League, eventually finishing 11th in the table.
Newcastle United announced on Monday that it has signed Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan on a five-year deal that runs through 2028.
Although no financial information was provided, it has been rumoured that the transfer fee is $76.28 million (€70 million) plus add-ons.
“First of all, I want to thank Newcastle United because they are giving me a huge opportunity for my career,” Tonali said in a statement. “I want to repay the trust on the pitch, giving it my all, as I always have.”
The fee will make Tonali the most expensive Italian player of all time while it is also a record transfer for Milan, eclipsing the €68m deal from Real Madrid for Brazilian midfielder Kaka in 2009.
Once seen as Italy great Andrea Pirlo’s heir, 23-year-old Tonali helped guide Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years in the 2021-22 season and he was a key figure in their run to the Champions League semifinals last season.
A versatile midfielder, Tonali played more games than any other Milan player last season, clocking up nearly 4,000 minutes across all competitions.
Although Milan coach Stefano Pioli experimented with different formations last season, Tonali was a constant in central midfield as they managed to finish in the top four to continue playing in Europe’s elite competition next season.
Tonali has 14 senior caps for Italy but did not make the squad for the UEFA Nations League finals where they finished third.
Newcastle qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after a top-four finish under manager Eddie Howe.
Tonali will be their second summer recruit after 18-year-old Gambia forward Yankuba Minteh was signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub.
The 29-year-old has reportedly agreed a deal to join Greek giants POAK in the summer transfer window.
Although Rahman was one of the players retained by Chelsea following the end of his loan spell at Reading, the defender wants to leave the club on a permanent deal.
According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Rahman has agreed to mutually terminate his contract so he could leave Chelsea as a free agent.
A two-year deal has been agreed between the player and POAK ahead of the official announcement of the move.
Rahman joined Chelsea in 2015 from German Bundesliga side Augsburg but struggled to break into the first team forcing him to spend most of his time on loan.
In 2021, Rahman spent a season with POAK, helping them win the Greek Cup, as reported by Transfermarkt.
He also played for Schalke in Germany, Real Mallorca in Spain as well as Stade Reims in the French Ligue 1. Rahman spent the last two seasons at English Championship side Reading FC.
Chelsea retain Baba Rahman
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Baba Rahman’s Chelsea future has been handed a huge boost after the Ghanaian defender was retained by the club ahead of the 2023/24 season.
TheBlack Stars left-back has a year left on his current deal with the Blues and will be expected to join the London club this summer for pre-season.
Rahman spent the just ended the season on loan at Reading FC, his fifth spell away from the club since joining from Augsburg in 2015.
Baba Rahman shares World Cup experience
Ghana defender Baba Rahman has shared his experience at the World Cup in Qatar, after making a return to his club Reading FC.
The Black Stars left-back immediately joined his teammates for mid-season training ahead of the resumption of the English Championship.
Rahman played all three games for the Black Stars, as the four-time African champions exited the tournament at the group stage.
Management Committee member of Ghana’s U23 side Fredrick Acheampong, has confirmed that the technical team of theBlack Meteors has been dissolved in the wake of their failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Black Meteors of Ghana were eliminated at the U23 African Cup of Nations, which serves as a qualification tournament for the Olympic Games in Paris.
The team was unable to progress past the group stages and secure one of the three available slots.
Following their exit from the U23 AFCON, Acheampong announced that the Black Meteors team has been disbanded.
The decision regarding the recall of the technical teams will ultimately rest with the GFA Executive Committee.
“This team was formed for the purpose of the Olympic Games. It will be the decision of the Executive Council for the coach to continue. I am not in the position to say that he will continue or not.
“The team has been dissolved because this was for the Olympic Games and we didn’t qualify,” Fredrick Acheampong told 3FM.
Ghana has not qualified for theOlympic Games football tournament since 2004.
The Argentine superstar was one of the first players to agree to salary deferrals under the previous president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, in order to alleviate Barcelona’s financial struggles.
According to Marca, Barcelona’s current president, Joan Laporta, has disclosed that the club still has outstanding payments owed to Messi, which are anticipated to be settled by 2025.
This indicates that Barcelona is honoring their financial commitments to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, despite his absence from the team.
“What is owed to him is the deferral of wages that was agreed with the previous board and that produces outstanding payments that end in 2025,” he said.
Messi turned down a bid to return to Barcelona this summer, despite being available as a free agent following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons.
Details of Messi’s Miami contract
Meanwhile, Daily Postreports that Messi will earn around $50-60 million per year at his new club Inter Miami after sealing a deal with the Major League Soccer side this summer.
Inter Miami’s co-owner, Jorge Mas has shared the details of Messi’s contract after he agreed to move to the United States after his contract with PSG expired on June 30.
The 2022 World Cup winner and seven-time Ballon d’Or holder will also receive shares from Apple and Adidas as part of his contract.
Messi set for Ramos reunion
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Inter Miami are reportedly in talks with Sergio Ramos over a transfer to the United States, which could see him link up with his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Messi.
Following the expiry of his PSG contract, Messi is now officially a Miami player, as is his former Barcelona colleague, Sergio Busquets, who moved to the MLS side as a free agent.
Inter Miami, which is co-owned by David Beckham, have opened talks with Ramos about a potential switch to Florida.
Former midfielder for the Black Stars, Emmanuel Agyemang, has expressed his concerns about the current state of Ghanaian football, particularly in light of the Ghana U23 team’s early exit from the AFCON U-23 tournament in Morocco.
Unfortunately, their elimination at the group stage means that they will not qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
This marks the third occasion in a little over a year that a Ghanaian national team has been unable to advance past the initial round of an international competition.
Agyemang’s lamentations highlight the disappointing performances and challenges faced by Ghanaian football on the international stage.
“When I talk, I don’t get anything from it, but I’m talking because the sport that gave me something is about to die and I can’t just look on,” he told Joy Sports.
“The GFA needs to organize an emergency meeting tomorrow and take stock of what’s happening. Where our football is heading is dangerous.
“Ghana football is in dangerous times. If care isn’t taken, in a couple of years, qualification to major competitions may become problematic.”
The Black Meteors arrived in Ghana on Monday morning after an abysmal showing in Morocco, as reported by Ghanafa.org.
Derek Boateng blasts GFA
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former Ghana midfielder, Derek Boateng has accused the Ghana Football Association of influencing player selection in the various national teams.
His comment comes after the Black Meteors’ disastrous showing at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, where Ghana were eliminated from the group stage.
Popular bodybuilding personality Jo Lindner, widely known as “Joesthetics, ” tragically passed away in the arms of his girlfriend following unexplained neck pain.
The 30-year-old, who had been residing in Thailand and documenting his experiences in the country through videos, had a significant online following of 940,000 subscribers.
In addition to showcasing his workout routines, he offered advice on dieting and shared videos featuring his shoe collection.
The sudden and unexpected loss of Jo Lindner has left his fans and loved ones devastated.
Following his untimely passing, Nicha shared poignant photographs of her and Jo, capturing precious moments they shared before the tragedy occurred.
Jo gained significant recognition and a dedicated fan base through his engaging interactions and bodybuilding routines. With 8.4 million followers on Instagram and nearly 500 million views on his YouTube videos, he had made a substantial impact online.
After a brief stint in Dubai, Jo relocated to Thailand, where he produced much of the content that contributed to his fame.
In his final Instagram post, which was published just two days ago, the beloved celebrity opened up about his hormone therapy experience.
Dwayne Johnson, as reported by Metro Sports, paid tribute to Jo Lindner, honoring his memory in the wake of his recent passing.
Barcelona has officially announced the appointment of former midfielder Deco as the club’s new Sporting Director.
Prior to this role, Deco had previously worked with Barcelona as a scout and agent, helping to sign players such as Raphinha.
According to Football Espana, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Deco will commence his new position with the reigning La Liga champions in mid-July.
Deco, who played a vital role for Barcelona in the mid-2000s after joining from Porto in 2004, was instrumental in the team’s UEFA Champions League triumph in 2006. He is also one of the few players to have won the prestigious tournament with two different clubs.
In his new role as Sporting Director, Deco is reportedly focused on bolstering the team’s right-back position.
With Jules Kounde no longer willing to fulfill those duties, Deco is actively working on bringing in a new player for the position.
Ivan Fresneda is mentioned as one potential option for Barcelona. The club is attracted to Fresneda’s qualities, and they believe they can negotiate a reduced transfer fee, possibly around €15 million.
In other news, Deco recently shared his insights on why Portugal fell short at the 2022 World Cup, highlighting the factors contributing to their disappointing campaign.
Having represented Portugal in 75 matches, Deco believes that if Lionel Messi had been a part of the team, the Selecao could have emerged as champions in the tournament.
Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in Qatar.
Retired and former Asamoah Gyan, captain of the Black Stars, has expressed his displeasure towards the Black Meteors team for their performance at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Gyan stated that the players lacked a sense of urgency throughout the tournament, and this was evident from the second group game onwards.
In that game, Ghana suffered a 1-5 defeat against Morocco, following a victory against Congo in their tournament opener.
Despite scoring first in their last game against Guinea, Ghana only managed a 1-1 draw and subsequently exited the competition.
Gyan promptly shared his disappointment in a social media post and further elaborated on his thoughts in an interview with Asempa FM.
He emphasized the lack of urgency displayed by the players and voiced his concerns about their overall performance at the tournament.
What I saw in this Black meteors team is some players think they are bigger than the whole team. Small hype and fame ? SHM. Modern football is not about only what you do with the ball. It’s about what you do without the ball. I see players thinking the can play alone. It’s about…
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) June 30, 2023 “Everyone understood what I tweeted [after the game]. I didn’t watch the full first two games but when you look at the things that happened against Morocco, you could see them break on the counterattack and you will see just a few defenders [of the Black Meteors] while the others are left behind jogging,” he said.
“It was as if they didn’t have any sense of urgency. That is where I realised [there were issues].
“When I watched the game [vs Guinea], you could see individuals even struggle to put together 2-3 passes and when we lose the ball, we are not aggressive enough to win it back.
“We have the players but how to approach the game is what we lack.
“How do we expect to win a game like this?” he quizzed.
Gyan, who recently announced his decision to retire from professional football, also refused to mention the names of the players he was talking about in his tweet.
“I won’t mention any names but we all watched the game and you could see. I have no personal issues with anyone,” he noted.
“They know themselves.”
The Black Meteors’ exit from the U-23 AFCON also means they miss out on a place at next year’s Olympic Games to be staged in Paris.
There are rumors suggesting that, forward for Atlético Madrid Joao Félix, may potentially move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Despite having a contract with Atlético Madrid until 2027, both parties seem open to the idea of a departure this summer.
While there aren’t many concrete offers on the table for Félix at the moment, there is a potential interested party, namely PSG.
The Portuguese international, who recently completed a loan spell at Chelsea, has reportedly attracted the attention of the French champions.
However, the success of Félix’s transfer to PSG heavily depends on the outcome of Neymar’s future at the club.
According to reports from Spanish outlet Diario AS, Félix’s potential move to PSG is contingent upon the resolution of Neymar’s situation within the next 10 days.
If PSG fails to finalize Neymar’s situation in time, Félix may consider an alternative plan. It is said that he has expressed his intention to discuss a potential departure with Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
Diario AS also reports that the pending arrival of Luis Enrique, who coached him at FC Barcelona, Neymar will probably ensure the Brazilian remains at PSG.
Félix’s desire to leave Atlético Madrid stems from various factors.
The 23-year-old might perceive a lack of opportunities to get his career back on track. Additionally, he may desire a new challenge.
Despite his initial promise and occasional moments of brilliance, Félix has struggled to consistently showcase his talent at the Spanish club, contributing to his decision to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
If soon-to-be PSG manager Enrique wants Félix, he still sees the potential the forward flashed at Benfica. Perhaps the Spanish tactician believes he can pull that out of him.
Felix provides hints on future
Sports Brief earlier reportedJoao Felix had previously hinted he would love to make permanent his loan move to Chelsea.
Chelsea were been linked with a second loan bid for Felix and Atletico were reportedly demanding €100 million to let him leave permanently.
New Manager Mauricio Pochettino has since quashed the talks of Felix extending his stay at the Premier League club.
On June 28, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia welcomed Black Stars midfielderMohammed Kudus and Black Queens striker Blessing Shine Agbomadzi to his residence during the Eid festivities.
The Vice President hosted them in recognition of their achievements at the recently concluded Ghana Football Awards gala night.
Also in attendance were Black Stars winger Kalmadeen Sulemana, whose goal against Liverpool was nominated for Goal of the Year, and some Board Members of the Ghana Football Awards.
During the event, Kudus was honored as the Footballer of the Year, highlighting his exceptional performances for both his club and country.
Blessing Shine Agbomazi was also recognized as the Women’s Footballer of the Year due to her outstanding contributions to ASFAR of Morocco, where she secured the Champions League and domestic titles.
Vice President Dr. Bawumia extended his congratulations to Kudus Mohammed and Blessing Agbomazi, urging them to continue their pursuit of success.
He also commended all the winners of the 2023 Ghana Football Awards and pledged his support for the program in the future.
Reacting on his official and verified social media handles, Dr Bawumia wrote, “I welcomed to my residence, Black Stars players, Kudus Mohammed and Kamaldeen Sulemana, as well as Black Queens’ Blessing Shine Agbomadzi, as my guests during the Eid festivities.
I took the opportunity to congratulate Mohammed Kudus and Blessing Shine Agbomadzi, who were recently crowned male and female Footballer of the Year at the Ghana Football Awards. Also present were some officials of the Awards.
The inspiring journey of Kudus, Kamaldeen and Blessing, from obscurity on our local streets, to the top level of international football, indicates that with the right investment and approach at the grassroot level, many young, talented Ghanaian footballers will realise their full potentials.
Good luck to Kudus, Kamaldeen, and Blessing all professional Ghanaian footballers ahead of the new football season.”
Board Chairman of the Ghana Football Awards scheme, Karl Tufuoh, thanked the Vice President for his warm reception and his interest to see football and sports grow in the country.
He also promised that the organizers of the awards scheme will continue to improve so footballers and football stakeholders who are making giant strides in the sport can be fittingly recognized and celebrated.
Established in 2018 to project Ghanaian football excellence and recognise Ghanaian footballers and other stakeholders for their achievements at home and around the globe, the Ghana Football Awards has become the most anticipated event on the football calendar.
Former England international and football pundit, John Barnes, has expressed his astonishment at the possibility of Arsenal parting ways with midfielder Thomas Partey.
Amidst the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding the talented Ghanaian star, Barnes shared his disbelief and stated that if Arsenal were to offload Partey, it would catch him completely off guard.
Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid, is rumored to be deemed surplus to requirements for the upcoming 2023/24 football season and is expected to leave the London club.
Reports suggest that Saudi clubs have shown interest in signing the Black Stars midfielder, while Serie A club Juventus has also been linked with him.
Barnes expressed his surprise at the potential sale of Partey, considering him to be Arsenal’s best defensive midfield player.
He pondered whether there might be a personality issue at play with Partey. Barnesshared these thoughts in an interview with Futfanatico.
“Arsenal potentially selling Thomas Partey would surprise me because I think he’s their best defensive midfield player. Is it a personality thing with Partey?,” he told Futfanatico
“Partey has done really well for Arsenal but it could be similar to [Joao] Cancelo with Manchester City and Pep [Guardiola]. We don’t know the ins and outs of it but I am surprised because he’s a strong defensive midfielder,”
“Declan Rice could be coming in so they may decide Rice is the best option going forward.”
On Monday, Sam Kerr, the captain of the Australian women’s national team, announced that she would not be wearing a“OneLove” rainbow armband at the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Kerr explained that she did not want to jeopardize everything by taking a stand.
FIFA recently revealed eight different armbands that teams can wear at the tournament to raise awareness for social causes.
However, a rainbow-colored “OneLove” band in support of LGBTQ rights was not included in the options.
“We kind of expected it, the men’s World Cup, the women’s World Cup … being honest I didn’t expect them to change it (the rule),” Kerr, a long-time advocate of LGBTQ rights, said as Australia announced its 23-strong squad.
During the men’s World Cup last year, captains from various European countries, such as England and Germany, had planned to wear the “OneLove” armband as a symbolic protest against Qatar’s laws criminalizing homosexuality.
Unfortunately, they were threatened with sporting sanctions, including the possibility of receiving yellow cards, just days before the tournament commenced. As a result, they decided to abandon the idea.
“Obviously we would love to wear it — like most of the teams in the whole world, everyone has voiced that they would love to wear it,” Kerr said.
“But I think you saw with the men’s World Cup, (England captain) Harry Kane for example, first game if he had worn it, yellow card, if he’d got a yellow card again, he would’ve been sent off.
“So for me it’s not worth the risk of putting the team at risk, of putting the tournament at risk, putting everything at risk. There will be multiple opportunities where I get to use my voice for things.
“We have to abide by the rules that we’re given really,” she said.
Players can instead wear an amended version that is similar to “OneLove”, with the words “Unite for Inclusion” alongside a heart shape in rainbow colours.
Other causes highlighted include gender equality, ending violence against women, hunger and the rights of indigenous people.
Captains will be able to wear a different armband for each match corresponding to the cause being promoted or support one cause for the entire tournament.
Kylian Mbappe’s future at Paris Saint-Germain is uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract with the club.
PSG has been unsuccessful in persuading the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner to extend his current deal, which expires at the end of the 2023/24 season, and is now open to selling the French forward.
According to Sportskeeda, Mbappe has reportedly requested a staggering €240 million from PSG if they want to part ways with him this summer.
This figure includes the wages he would have earned in the upcoming season and a loyalty bonus that he is due in a few months.
If PSG fails to sell Mbappe this summer, they risk losing the highly-valued player for free next year, as he could potentially sign a pre-contract agreement with long-term suitors Real Madrid as early as January 1st.
In summary, Mbappe’s contract situation with PSG remains unresolved, and the club may need to consider a significant financial offer to facilitate his departure if they do not want to risk losing him on a free transfer next year.
Real Madrid blast Mbappe over demands
Real Madrid will not approach Kylian Mbappe this summer because they think the Paris Saint-Germain forward is a slave to money, according to the Daily Post.
The French attacker, 24, has stated he would not sign a contract extension on his current term with PSG, which expires in June 2024, therefore his future is uncertain.
If Mbappe joins a club before the start of the following season, it is also believed that he will seek €240 million.
Mbappe given a stern warning
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Kylian Mbappe’s decision not to renew his current deal with Paris Saint-Germain has not gone well with some of his countrymen, with ex-France international Rolland Courbis agitated at the forward.
The 24-year-old superstar is tied to PSG until 2024 and has informed the Ligue 1 champions that he intends to move on when his contract expires, with Real Madrid waiting to snap him up.
Reports indicate that AS Monaco is showing interest in Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey. His representatives are said to be exploring the possibility of a summer departure.
It has come to light that there is also interest from Saudi Arabia in the former Atletico Madrid player, who is currently contracted with Arsenal until 2025.
European clubs, including Monaco, have shown interest, and there are rumors of several Italian clubs being keen on acquiring Partey’s services, though their identities remain undisclosed.
Monaco is expected to be actively seeking a midfielder in the summer transfer window. While they had previously expressed interest in Arsenal’s Sambi Lokonga, the Belgian player opted for a loan move to Crystal Palace in January.
Monaco’s need for midfield reinforcements has intensified with the potential departure of Youssouf Fofana.
Partey’s notable performances throughout the previous season were instrumental in Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title, bringing them closer than they had been in years.
The future of Thomas Partey at Arsenal remains uncertain. However, the increasing interest from Saudi Arabia, Monaco, and other European clubs suggests that a move away from the London club could be on the horizon.
Mason Mount was photographed arriving for his medical examinations on Monday morning ahead of his anticipated move to Manchester United.
Last week, news emerged that Chelsea and United had reached an agreement on a transfer fee of approximately 60 million euros for the talented English midfielder.
According to Sky Sports, the Chelsea academy product is expected to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the possibility of extending it for an additional year, pending the successful completion of his medical tests.
Several Manchester United sources have confirmed that Mount was driven to the club’s training base in Carrington.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that the official announcement of the transfer is likely to take place later this week.
Earlier reports suggested that Mount’s contract with Chelsea would expire next summer, and negotiations between him and his childhood club had failed to reach an agreement.
The disparity in contract length and salary demands is believed to be the primary factor behind the impasse between the parties.
Mount imitates Ronaldo’s technique
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best free-kick takers of all time and has scored some iconic ones. He has a distinct technique of standing elegantly over the ball before hitting.
Ronaldo is arguably football’s biggest influencer with his lifestyle, fashion, and goal celebration, a global phenomenon copied by colleagues and football lovers worldwide.
Mount is also a Ronaldo fanboy and spoke about how he modelled his freekick technique after the Portuguese, from his days at Cobham Academy.
Mount in Utd’s line-up
It was also reported that Mount brings something different to United, and coach Erik ten Hag will need to find the best set-up in the new season.
Manchester City is reportedly interested in pursuing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, after ending their pursuit of West Ham United’s Declan Rice according to the Sun.
De Jong, 26, has been linked with a potential departure from Camp Nou as Barcelona seeks to reduce their wage bill amid financial difficulties.
Although the Dutch midfielder is keen to stay at the club, Barcelona may consider selling him for a fee exceeding €100m.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has previously expressed admiration for De Jong and made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him in 2019. Meanwhile, Rice is reportedly close to joining Arsenal in a deal worth £100m plus add-ons.
The 22-year-old returned to his hometown of Sao Goncalo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and visited his alma mater, Odete Sao Paio School.
During the opening ceremony, Vinicius unveiled the Vinicius Sports Centre, a sports pitch that now bears his name, showcasing his connection to his roots.
The event was highlighted by a friendly match between former and current students of the school, which was streamed live on the school’s social media platforms.
“Vinicius studied with us during his childhood and adolescence,” a statement from the school read.
“He was always an exemplary pupil and showed his dedication both in the classroom and on the pitch.
“Very early on he showed his passion for football and, with a lot of hard work, determination and the support of his family, he made it to the top of international football.
“May Vinicius’ visit serve as an inspiration for all our students and may we continue to encourage the development of talent in our school, whether in sport, art, science or any other area.”
Vinicius Junior in action with some students of the school. Credit: @odetesaopaiooficial Source: Instagram
Vini told to change hairstyle
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior’s latest hairstyle has sparked lively discussions among football enthusiasts, becoming a focal point of attention, per reports.
The Real Madrid winger made a bold change during the off-season, transitioning from his previous Mohawk-like hairstyle to eye-catching dreadlocks, which has generated significant buzz across the internet.
It is his new haircut that has captured the imagination of fans, with many expressing their opinions that he should consider reverting to his signature hairstyle.
Vinicius rocks exquisite Louis Vuitton
There were earlierreports on Vinicius Junior unwinding in style in the off-season, following the conclusion of a busy 2022/23 campaign, participating in exhibition games and attending various events.
Stepping out in style recently, the Brazilian winger adorned himself with a lavish Louis Vuitton outfit, sporting a round T-shirt paired with a sleek black jacket as he exuded a fashion-forward presence.
Under his guidance, the team triumphed in the Turkish Cup, securing the club’s first trophy in nearly ten years. Additionally, he propelled the Istanbul giants to a notable second-place finish in the Turkish Super League, Al Jazeera reports.
Hilal’s busy transfer
In addition to appointing a new manager, The Blue Waves have strengthened their squad by securing the services of Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and the highly sought-after midfielder Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Al-Hilal’s lofty 2023-24 expectations
Jorge will be tasked with utilizing his extensive experience as the club aims to reclaim the Saudi League title from their sworn rivals, Al-Ittihad, in the upcoming season.
Additionally, as the former Benfica boss successfully ended Fenerbahce’s nine-year trophy drought, expectations are high for him to guide the club to a similar or improved performance in the FIFA Club World Cup, building on last year’s campaign where they narrowly missed out on the ultimate prize, fallingto Real Madrid in the final.
Chelsea defender joins Al-Hilal
Sports Brief earlier reported that Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his move from Chelsea to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
The 32-year-old signed a three-year deal to join the Saudi Blues after agreeing to leave London club Chelsea after just a season.
Koulibaly becomes the second signing from England in the summer transfer window by the Saudi giants, joining Ruben Neves, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Top stars who left Europe early
Sports Brief looks at seven other players, including Brazilian star Oscar, who may have left European leagues too early.
Wolves captain Ruben Neves is only an official announcement away from completing a mega switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
At 26 years of age, fans have questioned the move, but it is not the first strange move of his career. He left Porto to join Wolves in the Championship after becoming the youngest captain in the Champions League.
Barcelona successfully brought together former Borussia Dortmund teammates Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan during the summer transfer window.
However, another ex-Dortmund star, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has expressed his desire to reunite with his former teammates, was not able to be a part of this reunion.
The Gabonese international, who is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, has long been advocating for a return to Camp Nou.
In a recent interview, he fondly looked back on his time at Barcelona and spoke highly of some of his former teammates at the club.
Talking about his short six-month stint in Catalonia, Aubameyang said as quoted by FCB World:
“It was special, every time the fans were singing my song.”
When asked to name his favourite moment with the club, he replied: “The 4-0 win over Real Madrid.”
Aubameyang’s spell at Barcelona
Aubameyang indeed had a fond spell at Barcelona. Despite being a part of the team for a little over six months, the forward scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances. He was rather unfortunate to be offloaded by the club last summer.
The Gabonese international, though, has no resentment toward the club. In fact, he harbours massive respect for some of his old teammates including Ousmane Dembele.
When asked to choose between Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, the forward chose Dembele, adding, “Dembele is my favourite player, and he is my friend.”
Aubameyang heaped praise on yet another former Dortmund teammate in Lewandowski.
“I love him. He is a player who has taught me a lot,” he said.
“Pedri and Gavi are sensational players,” he said.
“Toughest opponent I’ve ever faced? Araujo, but he was my teammate.”
Aubameyang’s comments are the latest indication of his desire to return to Barcelona. Unfortunately for both parties, a return might not be a possibility anymore, as per reports from Marca the Catalans continue to focus on the pursuit of Vitor Roque ahead of the new season.
Aubameyang’s regretful video goes viral
Sports Brief previously reported that a video of Aubameyang ‘regretting’ leaving the Emirates Stadium has gone viral, as Chelsea suffered a humiliating season.
Auba was part of the limp Blues squad that struggled all season, finishing outside the top 10 in the Premier League for the first time since the league was formed.
The Ivorian winger is set to return to Arsenal after a loan spell at Nice, where he scored six goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances last season.
Pepe, who joined the Gunners in 2019 for a club-record fee, struggled to meet the expectations associated with his price tag.
During the 2021-2022 season, he fell out of favor under Arteta’s leadership and believes that he was not given a fair chance by the Basque manager.
Not happy
Nicolas Pepe struggled for game time under Mikel Arteta
Speaking to Colinterview, the left-footed winger said: “People say that he identified me as a player that wasn’t up to the level in his team, in his philosophy.
“It’s completely false. When he arrived, he had (Manchester) City’s philosophy. He had a squad that was filled with quality and backups in every position.
“When he spoke to me, he said he counted on me, he wanted me to do this or that, and you have to focus on that.
“He improved me in every way. He spoke to me the whole time, I watched videos with his assistants all the time. He really believed in me.
“He said I had incredible potential, so we need to extract that potential. At the end of the first season, he spoke with me and told me to do this or that.
“The second season comes along, I was a substitute. I was going mad. How could I be a substitute when he said he counted on me? Everything is spinning in your head.
“I was a substitute. It was at the time when they signed Willian. He is a number 10 or a winger. But he plays on the wing for like 11 or 12 matches in a row.”
Pepe was restricted to just20 Premier League appearances in the 2021-22 campaign, the former Lille attacker scoring just one goal during his 681 minutes of action.
And his latest outburst will likely mean a 12-minute cameo in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Everton on May 22, 2022, is his final showing for the Gunners in the English top-flight.
Reports suggest that Jose Mourinho has made contact with Manchester United’s troubled striker Mason Greenwood, expressing interest in bringing him to AS Roma.
Greenwood’s future in professional football remains uncertain as Manchester United has not provided a clear path forward following his highly publicized case last year.
The 21-year-old was temporarily suspended by the club following allegations of sexual assault and coercive behavior.
Although he was arrested and appeared in court, the Crown Prosecution Services subsequently dropped the charges against him.
The dropped charges technically allow the striker to resume playing. However, Manchester United has indicated that they will conduct their own internal investigations before clearing Greenwood for a return.
There have been reports suggesting that the club may consider loaning him out, and several clubs have shown interest.
According to Goal, AS Roma, under the management of Jose Mourinho, has entered the race for Greenwood’s signature, with Mourinho personally reaching out to the player.
Mourinho contacts Greenwood
The Special One is said to have reached out to the player’s father to discuss the possibility of a loan move to the Serie A.
“Jose rang Mason’s dad and also spoke with Mason. He told him the best way out of his current situation is to start playing football — and that, eventually, all the hassle will fade away,” a source told the Sun.
It was during Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford that Greenwood was promoted to the senior team and signed his first professional contract.
The Giallarossi are actively looking for a striker, with Tammy Abraham set to be out for at least nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Greenwood spotted training in public
This comes at a time when Greenwood was spotted training for the first time since he was arrested and arraigned in court last year. The striker has been away from competitive football for more than 15 months following his sexual assault charges.
Sports Brief reported that with his future in Manchester still in limbo, the 21-year-old has seemingly taken steps to get back into shape ahead of a possible return to professional football.
Kylian Mbappe has made a plea for calm to be restored in France following several days of violent protests that erupted after the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by a police officer.
The incident occurred during a traffic stop in Nanterre on Tuesday, leading to widespread unrest throughout the country.
According to BBC News, consecutive nights of riots ensued, resulting in acts of vandalism and looting of businesses in various cities, including Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, and Marseille.
Law enforcement authorities arrested numerous protesters, and some semblance of calm began to return on Saturday evening.
The police officer involved in the shooting has been taken into custody while awaiting official charges.Mbappe, as one of the most prominent French athletes, has spoken out against the killing but also called for an end to the violence and destruction caused by the rioters.
Mbappe’s message after Nahel’s death
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker, who was recently appointed as the national team’s captain, took to his Twitter account and said;
“Like all French people, we were marked and shocked by the brutal death of young Nahel. Firstly, our thoughts go out to him and his family, to whom we extend our sincere condolences.
Obviously, we cannot remain insensitive to the circumstances in which this unacceptable death has taken place.
Since this tragic event, we have been witnessing the expression of popular anger whose essence we understand but whose form we cannot endorse.
With many of us coming from working-class neighbourhoods, these feelings of pain and sadness, we also share them.
But to this suffering is added that of assisting the powerless to a real process of self-destruction.
Violence solves nothing, even less when it inevitably and tirelessly turns against those who express it, their families, loved ones and neighbours.
The time of violence must end to make way for that of mourning, dialogue and reconstruction.”
The protests led to the country’s President Emmanuel Macron postponing a scheduled trip to Germany, as reported by the Politico.
The talented young midfielder from Fenerbahce, Arda Guler, is currently in high demand, with Real Madrid and Barcelona expressing strong interest in signing him.
Both clubs are making significant efforts to secure the 18-year-old attacker, and the next few hours could prove crucial in determining his future.
Guler has a buy-out clause of €18 million, which has further fueled the competition for his signature.
Barcelona appears to have gained an advantage in the race to sign the Fenerbahce prospect, as their sporting director, Deco, traveled to Istanbul for negotiations.
Positive discussions have taken place between the two clubs and the player’s representatives, leading to a tentative agreement that would see Guler join Barcelona in 2024.
However,Real Madrid has also entered the picture, with club legends Emilio Butragueno and Roberto Carlos planning a visit to pursue their interest, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
With Real Madrid now officially joining the battle for Guler, they are expected to pursue the signing with great determination.
Acquiring Guler would align with Real Madrid’s strategy of attracting and nurturing young talent, which has been a key factor in their recent success. This season, they continued this approach by signing Jude Bellingham at the age of 19.
Guler has become one of the most sought-after young talents in football following an impressive breakout season at Fenerbahce.
Although he is under contract until 2025, his reported release clause of €18 million has attracted the attention of several top clubs across Europe.
Madrid’s greater financial freedom may ultimately win the day. While Laporta has managed to pull a range of financial levers in his latest term as president, the club still remain in huge debt according to reports from Diario AS.
Milan joins Guler transfer race
In addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid, AC Milan is also reportedly interested in securing the services of Fenerbahce sensation Guler, who has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi.
Guler has emerged as a key player for Fenerbahce, contributing to their success in winning the Turkish Cup last season. AC Milan is determined to outbid their competitors in the pursuit of the talented midfielder.
Arsene Wenger’s persistent appealsfor a revision of the offside rules are set to make progress as FIFA, the global governing body for football, prepares to trial new proposals.
Wenger, who currently holds the position of Chief of Global Football Development at FIFA since his departure from Arsenal in 2018, has been advocating for changes to the offside rules.
The current interpretation often results in players being judged offside when any part of their body capable of playing the ball is ahead of the last defender.
This has led to lengthy VAR checks and disallowed goals due to minimal margins.
The forthcoming trial of the new proposals indicates that Wenger’s efforts to reform the offside rules may be gaining traction.
What is Wenger proposing?
The legendary former manager wants the whole body of a player, not just a part, to be ahead of the last defender for it to be deemed as offside.
FIFA is now set to heed to Wenger’s proposals, with Sweden becoming the first league to put the proposed changes to use. As Sports Joe reports, the country’s men’s U-21 and women’s U-19 leagues will use the new rules before it moves to other leagues in the Netherlands and in Italy.
After the trial, FIFA will sit down to discuss its impact and possible adoption before it is forwarded to the International Football Association Board(IFAB) which approves any permanent rules of the game.
Inside the changes to Ballon d’Or rules
Sports Brief has previously reported that The 2023 Ballon d’Or debate has already shaped into a battle between an existing superstar and one of his heir apparent.
At 35 years old, Lionel Messi is still in the running to win the individual prize and remains a strong candidate to win a record-extending eighth title, but Erling Haaland is set to have a say as well.
L’Equipe, the magazine responsible for organising the annual gala where the best individual performances are feted, announced changes to the Ballon d’Or rules in 2021, shortly after Messi had clinched his 7th gong.
David de Gea, the out-of-contract goalkeeper of Manchester United, has been linked with apotential move to Al Nassr, where he could reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who is currently a free agent after his contract expired at the end of June, has yet to agree on a contract extension with United, as reported by Goal.
De Gea’s future with the Red Devils remains uncertain, especially as Manchester United is rumored to be actively searching for a formidable replacement.
Andre Onana, the Inter Milan goalkeeper, is said to be at the top of United’s wishlist, with reports suggesting that the club is pursuing a deal for the Cameroonian shot-stopper.
Which way for David de Gea?
Apparently, De Gea is not expected to fall short of transfer options in the event Man United decide to part ways with him.
The Sun reports the Spanish keeper is a transfer target for Saudi giants Al Nassr in a transfer deal that could see him reunite with Ronaldo.
According to the publication, the former Atletico Madrid ace could pocket as much as £250,000-a-week if he seals the move.
De Gea has spent more than a decade at Old Trafford, having joined United in 2011 under the then-manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Spaniard has gone on to make over 500 appearances for the club and was part of the team that won the last Premier League title during the 2012/13 season.
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Getty/GOALPremier League king”If Harry wants to join Bayern, I’ll drive his f*cking car there myself; anything to protect my Premier League goalscoring record,” Alan Shearer said in a recent article for The Athletic. 
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