Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is keen on a permanent move to Bayern Munich according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland.
Advanced discussions are said to be taking place between Walker and the German champions.
After spending six years at Manchester City, the 33-year-old reportedly wishes to leave the club in the summer.
This decision comes following a challenging season for Walker, where he struggled to secure regular playing time under manager Pep Guardiola.
Walker was not included in the starting lineup for Manchester City’s Champions League final victory against Inter Milan, as Manuel Akanji was preferred instead.
This situation has made the English international open to the possibility of a transfer.
The report reveals that whilst Manchester City and Bayern Munich have not yet reached an agreement, all parties are optimistic that a deal can be reached, with Bayern’s head coach Thomas Tuchel proving to be vital in convincing Walker to join the Bavarian club.
The Premier League champions will be eager to offload Walker this summer to ensure he does not depart on a free transfer next year, with the right-back having just one year remaining on his current deal.
Walker has also been linked with a return to his boyhood club Sheffield United, however, this now looks unlikely, with the Blades unable to offer Champions League football.
Erling Haaland has learned an important lesson about not refusing the requests of young fans, regardless of the game’s outcome, following an incident involving some Norwegian children.
Despite Haaland scoring a goal, Norway faced a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Scotland in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying series, conceding two late goals.
Although Haaland had given the hosts the lead with a penalty midway through the second half, Scotland managed to stage a comeback with two goals in just three minutes after Haaland had been substituted towards the end of the match.
The result puts Norway in a precarious position, having picked up just one point from three games and playing Cyprus next at home before ending the post-season international break.
Young Norway fans boo Haaland
The 22-year-old was the last to hop into the team bus and was met by a group of young fans who chanted his name and were expecting a meet and greet.
As spotted in a video published on Twitter by Mail Sport, he waved at the kids and went straight into the bus, which left the kids disappointed and booed him.
Theformer Borussia Dortmund forward struggled throughout the game, particularly in the first half, where Squawka noted that he had just eight touches, completed three passes and recorded zero shots.
Fans claimed he was still suffering from the hangover of City’s wild treble celebrations, which went on for days before he teamed up with the national team. In contrast, others claimed his regular creator Kevin De Bruyne is not his national teammate.
Solbakken explains Haaland’s struggle
Sports Brief reported that Norway national team boss Stale Solbakken explained Haaland’s struggles during their 2-1 loss to Scotland.
He was hauled off in the 84th minute, but the head coach admitted it should have come at least 10-12 minutes earlier as he asked to be subbed off.
He added that thePremier League golden boot winner was uncomfortable with the heat in Oslo as it was about 30°C hot and he was completely empty.
Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun, scored a goal as the United States emerged victorious in the CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday. Following the victory, Balogun expressed his dissatisfaction with his club’s management, stating that he will not agree to another loan move.
Last season, Balogun, who recently switched his national team allegiance from England to the US, had a successful loan spell at Reims in the French Ligue 1, netting an impressive 21 goals.
With a clinical strike on Sunday, he further enhanced his growing reputation and secured a 2-0 victory for the US against Canada, earning a medal in only his second appearance for his new national team.
The 21-year-old said he now plans to take some vacation time but made clear he is not in the mood for another temporary transfer.
“What I can say is that I definitely won’t go on loan again,” he said.
“I’m not sure (about) the discussions that are going to take place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. But I’m just committed to now, I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family,” he said.
The New York-born striker moved to England aged two and joined Arsenal’s youth system, spending a six-month spell on loan at Championship club Middlesbrough in 2022.
Despite his breakthrough season in France, he will face a tough battle to break into the starting line-up at the Emirates where Brazil international Gabriel Jesus is the first choice centre-forward.
Arsenal also have another promising young striker in Eddie Nketiah and that situation has led Balogun to be linked with European clubs such as Inter Milan and AC Milan.
Balogun’s goal against Canada, where he latched on to a through ball from Gio Reyna and confidently fired home a first-time effort, crowned an impressive start to his life with the US team.
After making his switch in May, he joined the team in Los Angeles for a short training camp and then made his debut in a 3-0 win over Mexico on Thursday before Sunday’s trophy success.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing. I mean, it’s a dream scenario for me,” said Balogun.
“To be here now, the transition is amazing. I’m just overwhelmed with delight,” he added.
The striker said he had been able to fit in quickly with his team-mates but said he had been impressed by the quality of the team he has joined.
“I think the thing that surprised me the most was just the actual talent in this group. I think there’s so many players who are going to go on to have top careers, who are all so young, including me,” he said.
US interim head coach B.J Callaghan praised Balogun’s impact on his team.
“I give him a lot of credit and I give the team a lot of credit for welcoming him in with open arms, making him feel part of it.
“You get the best out of players when they feel most comfortable calm and confident.
“I’m not surprised at all how quickly Balogun was able to integrate into the group and now have a really strong performance like he had tonight,” he said.
Former manager ofReal Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, has commented on his coaching plans in light of speculation linking him to the vacant position of head coach at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Zidane has been without a managerial role since his departure from Real Madrid for the second time in 2021.
On the other hand, PSG appears to be preparing for a change in management ahead of the upcoming season, as current manager Christophe Galtier is expected to part ways with the club.
Zidane has been linked with a move to replace Galtier at PSG while former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly the frontrunner to take over at Parc des Princes.
Speaking on when he will continue his coaching career, Zidane said (via RMC Sport): “I miss it, but physically…it will come. … I don’t know when but it will come.”
During a press conference in Accra on Sunday, June 18, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta stated that several structural reforms are currently in progress regarding the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal.
He explained that these reforms align with the government’s Public Financial Management Strategy, which aims to shift operations from Central Government to General Government.
This shift, he said, is critical as it facilitates clear oversight over key state institutions including Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) especially Cocobod and Electricity Company of Ghana ECG, and others in the energy sector- and other quasi-State Institutions, whose operations have a significant and direct fiscal impact on Ghana’s economy.
To put it in perspective, he said “about 25% of our assessed debt burden emanates from noncentral Government operations, mainly from State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) such as COCOBOD and those in the Energy Sector.
“Our ability to institute better governance standards of these institutions to address their liabilities and promote their growth will be significantly improved, especially in this period of collective reform.
“Crucially, we must all remain committed to the agreed wide-ranging and strong structural reforms designed to address structural weaknesses and build resilience in key areas including tax policy and tax administration, expenditure commitment control and arrears clearance, financial stability, financial sector plans, review of statutory funds, governance and corruption, debt management, fiscal credibility, and energy sector/cocoa sector SOEs reformation.”
Mr Ofori-Ofori-Atta further indicated that “with legacy debt in the Energy Sector reaching about US$2 billion as at the end of May 2023, and an estimated shortfall of US$5.9 billion between 2023 and 2025, due to the current conditions of SOEs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the value chain in the sector, the sector has been prioritised for comprehensive reforms.
“It is expected that structural reforms in the sector should reduce the shortfall by at least US$2.95 billion over the period.”
It is recalled that Fitch Ratings earlier said that the energy sector in Ghana represented the largest driver of Ghana’s national debt, with the country owing independent power producers a staggering $1.58 billion.
Fitch Ratings also revealed that while Ghana initially approached the IPPs to restructure their debts as part of the External and Domestic Debt Restructuring, the companies objected to the proposal.
Certified audiologist and lecturer at the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Cyril Mawuli Honu, advises parents and guardians to be cautious when disciplining their children.
He cautions against actions such as slapping a child or delivering knocks to their head, as these actions can potentially cause harm to the child’s brain and ears.
“When it comes to babies and children, beating and slapping is what we call trauma. Depending on the severity, trauma could destroy a particular part of the ear.
For instance, a slap can get the ear drum perforated, or destroy the arrangements of the three bones in the ear, hence affect hearing” Mawuli Honu stated.
He added that such slaps can cause tinnitus and a disturbance of the vestibular system hence make the victim lose balance.
“There are other ways to punish and child such as; time out, naughty corner, and natural consequence.
Beating and hitting do not always correct the child but could even toughing the child’ he admonished.
“I was not deaf at birth but as time went by, my father got into alcoholism and he became wicked.
So if I acted wrongly, he would lock up the door, beat me up and slap me mercilessly. It continued for sometime till I woke up one morning with a problem in my ears.
My parents took me to the hospital for a check up on my ears but I started having challenges with hearing and eventually I became deaf” Fred Atto recounted his sad experience via his sign language interpreter to Johnnie Hughes on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show.
He entreats parents, guardians, teachers and people to refrain from slapping children as a form of punishment.
“I don’t want any child to go through my experience. It is not good. I think slapping a child as my father did for me to become deaf is not good” he emphasized.
Fred Addo holds an HND in Civil Engineering but is currently working as a cleaner but faces communication challenges and discrimination.
On Sunday morning, the NDC Flag-bearer, John Dramani Mahama, paid a visit to the husband and family of a party member who tragically lost her life in an accident in Dansame, locatedwithin the Assin North Constituency.
Accompanied by the NDC Parliamentary candidate for the Assin North by-election, James Gyakye Quayson, as well as national, regional, constituency executives, and members of parliament, the delegation expressed their condolences to the grieving family.
They also announced the party’s assistance and support as the family prepares for the burial and funeral ceremonies of the deceased.
A statement issued by the National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi said the family was presented with an amount of GH¢5,000 to assist with preperations towards the funeral rites of our deceased comrade.
Mr Mahama and James Quayson also visited the injured victims at the Praso hospital to check on their recovery.
This was after the former President suspended his Assin North campaign yesterday, to visit those admitted at the Fosu hospital upon hearing news of the ghastly accident, the statement added.
“The hospitals bill for the treatment of all injured persons at the Praso and Fosu hospitals, have been fully paid and an amount of money deposited to cater for any incidentals by theNDC Flag-bearer,” it further said.
The NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Assin North By-elections, James Gyakye Quayson promised to institute a sustainable support scheme for the children of the deceased.
The Wasipe Youth Forum, a group based in the North Gonja District of the Savanna Region, is urgently requesting the National Security to withdraw the police presence in the Daboya community.
Following a recent raid that resulted in the arrest of four suspects, in addition to the previous arrest of 118 individuals this month, the concerned youth took to the streets of Daboya to express their discontent.
They burned tires as a form of demonstration, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the ongoing arrests and what they perceive as ongoing mistreatment and abuse of residents.
“Their Rambo style of arresting innocent residents is unprofessional and an outright infringement on our human rights and the National Peace Council must intervene,” the group said.
“We believe in our minds that the some big names at the presidency are hiding behind camera to sponsor the rift between Gonjas and Mamprusis.
“The torture and brutality meted out to our people by the police is an indication they have the backing of some big wigs.
“We are saddened that till now the security despite all the ill treatment and brutality imposed on the people, cannot tell the reason for their actions.”
The Lukula and Mempeasem communities were totally burnt following a renewed land dispute between Gonjas and Mamprusis.
Drivers and traders in the Dr. Mensah area of theKumasi Central Market are urgentlyappealing to city authorities to address a growing pit that poses a significant threat.
Commuters are expressing concern about the danger it poses and the potential risks to the lives of drivers and traders who frequently pass through the area.
Initially starting as a small hole, the section now resembles an abandoned mining pit and has expanded along a major road in the Dr. Mensah area of the Kumasi Central Market.
The part of the market where the pit is developing is a very busy trading area where drivers, traders, and commuters compete for space daily.
Yaa Agyeiwaa, who sells at that part of the central market, recounted how a commuter who was not aware of the pit fell into it.
She said, “It was one afternoon on a Wednesday when we noticed that a portion of the area was caving in. I told my colleague here about what I saw, and he also called the driver whose vehicle was parked there.
Just as he moved the vehicle, it caved in. Passersby have been complaining about how scary the pit is. One commuter fell into the pit the other day, and I had to call people around to help bring him out.”
The area where the pit has developed is also where taxi drivers ply their trade and transport passengers to parts of the Kumasi metropolis.
The drivers have accused city authorities of turning a blind eye to the problem.
One of the drivers, Baah Wiredu, told Citi News, “The authorities will wait until there is a disaster before they come around.
This is not what we are looking for. We as drivers have made efforts to draw the attention of authorities.
Someone called the KMA Boss, but he told us it was the duty of Urban Roads to fix this. But he could have used his office to get the right people to do it.
The authorities are only interested in getting our votes during elections, and when they are voted for, they forget. We want them to come and fix this for us.”
Passengers who pick up vehicles at this station are equally worried about the development.
The news team caught a first-time user of that part of the market, Afia Agyemang, who was shocked by what she saw.
“I was very shocked to see the pit. I was so scared too. Imagine it rains and the place is filled with water. People who are not aware will easily drown. The authorities must be swift in fixing it,” she appealed.
Officials at the Urban Roads Department confirmed to Citi News that the development has been brought to their attention, and steps are being taken to fix the pit.
However, traders and drivers want this to be done immediately to avert a possible disaster.
In order to stabilise the economy, the government has promised that the structural and financial reforms it has planned won’t result in job losses.
TheInternational Monetary Fund has approved the government’s Post-COVID-19 Plan for Economic Growth (PC-PEG), which includes changes to jump-start the economy.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said during a press conference on Sunday, June 18, that the reforms are not intended to result in job losses but rather to enhance the economy.
“We expect multilateral support of about US$2.0 billion for 2023 and US$6.2 billion between 2023 and 2026.
We expect the World Bank to provide a total support of US$1.6 billion whilst the AfDB provides a total support of US$200 million over the programme period.
In addition, we expect to mobilize catalytic funding of US$30 million in 2023 and US$330 million between 2023 and 2026 from bilateral creditors.”
“Government intends to invest these resources to advance macroeconomic stability and shared economic growth.
Government is very intentional in ensuring that growth and job creation are not sacrificed in the process of restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability.
Specific interventions to support the economic recovery process include: improving the business environment, reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing export competitiveness,”Mr. Ofori-Atta added.
The Minister further stated that the government is poised to collaborate with its external partners and other government agencies to attract significant private capital to complement its efforts.
“While aggressively mobilising domestic revenue, we remain focused on mobilising complementary sustainable external resources for our recovery and reform efforts to build the resilience that will promote shared prosperity for our people, while protecting and improving the lives of our more vulnerable population.
A special collaborative effort between the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and GIPC will be part of the programme on the thematic working group on growth to attract significant private capital.”
Today, on June 19, 2023, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a hopeful flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will submit his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra.
Accompanied by prominent figures within the party such as former national and regional officers, former Members of Parliament, constituency executives, Electoral Area Coordinators, and Polling Station Executives, Dr. Akoto will make his official bid for the flagbearer position.
Following the submission of his nomination forms, Dr. Akoto will address the media and a large gathering of party supporters who share his vision. Those close to the respected politician anticipate that he will deliver a significant statement, emphasizing his vision for both the party and the nation as a whole.
This statement is expected to resonate deeply with his followers and generate enthusiasm for his candidacy.
This vision, if adopted and implemented, will change the fortunes of the party and massively transform Ghana’s economy, according to Dr. Akoto’s close associates.
The nomination forms were picked on behalf of the former Minister for Food and Agriculture by a group of farmers and friends on May 29, 2023, as a sign of support for his presidential ambition.
By filing the nonination forms on Monday, the two-time Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, will be the third aspiring candidate to file his nomination forms after former Minister for Trade and Industry,Alan Kyerematen, and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Both Alan and Bawumia submitted their forms last Monday, June 12, 2023, and Friday, June 16, 2023, respectively.
The NPP opened nominations on May 26, 2023, with aspirants given up to June 24 to submit forms.
So far, 10 presidential hopefuls have picked up nomination forms to contest the NPP’s flagbearer slot.
They include: Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the immediate past Minister of Trade and Industry, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, a former General-Secretary of the Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, and Joe Ghartey, the Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan and former Minister of Railway Development.
The rest are Boakye Agyarko, former Minister of Energy, Prof. Addai Nimoh, former MP for Mampong, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Kwadwo Nsafoa Opoku, an expert in energy and related matters.
A Special Delegates Congress will be held on August 26, 2023, to select five of the presidential aspirants.
The top five aspirants will then contest for the flagbearer slot on December 4, 2023, to elect one to lead the party in the 2024 general elections.
In the final game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series, the Black Stars and Islands drew 0-0 on Sunday, June 18.
The Black Stars’ inability to score even one goal, according to Coach Chris Hughton, is the most discouraging aspect of the game.
“We are very disappointed. We came here with the attitude and mindset to win. To win a football match you need to score goals. We found it difficult. We needed to be more forceful to create more opportunities to score.
“The fact that we didn’t score is the most disappointing thing,” Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton said in his post-match interview.
The draw today means Ghana’s qualification to the 2023 AFCON has been delayed.
Despite a disparity in valuation, negotiations for both deals have been characterized as positive.
Earlier this week, Arsenal made their initial offer for Declan Rice, which West Ham rejected.
The offer was believed to be valued at £80m plus potential add-ons. Simultaneously, Arsenal initiated contact with Chelsea regarding a potential transfer for Havertz.
There is a growing sentiment that both players are interested in moving to Arsenal. Contrary to earlier reports, Arsenal is also closely monitoring Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
Mikel Arteta could face competition for Rice with Manchester City monitoring the England midfielder’s situation.
Manchester United are also interested but it is thought they will only make a bid if they have new owners.
West Ham want £120m for their captain though would accept a lower offer that includes players going to them.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Havertz, 24, could be further complicated by interest from Bayern Munich.
Sky in Germany are reporting that the German champions have changed their mind and Havertz is now on their transfer shortlist this summer.
Reports had suggested Arsenal were targeting Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, leaving Chelsea a clear path to go after Moises Caicedo, however Sky Sports News has been told the Gunners are keeping an eye on the Brighton midfielder.
Arsenal will start their 2023/24 Premier League season at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday August 12.
The Gunners then face two London derbies against Crystal Palace and Fulham before hosting Manchester United in their first ‘Big Six’ match of the season in early September.
The first north London derby of the season takes place at the Emirates Stadium on September 23, with the return fixture on April 27 – the fourth last game of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side’s first game with last season’s title rivals and treble winners Manchester City comes within the first eight games of the campaign on October 7 at home, with the reverse fixture at the Etihad on March 30.
Just before Arsenal go to the Etihad, they have back-to-back London derbies against Brentford and Chelsea, with a tricky line-up of Brighton and Aston Villa to come in the fortnight after playing Guardiola’s City.
The Gunners end the season with a home game against Everton on May 19, a week after visiting Manchester United for their final away game.
Former coach of Ghana, Avram Grant, accomplished a stunning accomplishment by guiding Zambia to their first appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in eight years.
By defeating Ivory Coast 3-0 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia secured their spot in the tournament for the following year.
The 2012 African champions played with a strong presence the entire time, knowing that they needed to win to move above of Ivory Coast at the top of the group and qualify for the prestigious competition.
The match took an unfortunate turn for experienced defender Serge Aurier, who inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Zambia an early advantage.
Leicester City’s Patson Daka and Klins Kangwa further extended the lead with their well-executed goals, sealing a convincing victory for the former Chelsea manager’s men.
Jordan ‘Jordi’ Amissah, the goalkeeper for Sheffield United, is relishing his experience with the Ghanaian national team, the Black Meteors.
The German-born player made the decision to represent Ghana, his parents’ home country, after receiving an invitation to join the team for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
Amissah has joined the Black Meteors in Egypt as they continue their preparations for the tournament, which also serves as a qualification competition for the upcoming Summer Olympics next year.
An excited Amissah took to social media to share his experience in camp with his colleagues.
Captain of Ghana’s U23 team (Black Meteors),Daniel Afriyie Barnieh,has expressed his appreciation for comic actorSamuel Yaw Dabo, acknowledging the actor’s significant contribution to his rise to national prominence.
Dabo, known for his comedic roles, is also the founder of Dabo Soccer Academy, where he played a vital role in nurturing Afriyie Barnieh’s talent.
As a result of Dabo’s guidance, the former U20 standout joined Hearts of Oak, one of Ghana’s top football clubs, and eventually earned a call-up to the senior national team, the Black Stars.
Afriyie Barnieh attributes part of his success and recognition to the support and mentoring he received from Samuel Yaw Dabo.
The former Hearts of Oak man rose to prominence when he led the Black Satellites to win the WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament in December 2020, the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in March 2021 and the Ghana Premier League title in the 2021/22 season.
The FC Zurich man acknowledged that Dabo’s endorsement and promotion significantly contributed to his increased visibility on the global stage.
Moreover, Barnieh’s impressive performances also earned him a spot in Otto Addo’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
During an interview with Poleena Multimedia, Afriyie Barnieh said “I am more than okay if someone sees me and calls me Dabo’s boy because if not him, people would not have known Afriyie Barnieh in the world, so I am more than okay,” he gratefully expressed.
Currently, Afriyie Barnieh is with Black Meteors in Egypt preparing for the upcoming 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be held in Morocco from Saturday, June 23 -Thursday, July 8, 2023.
Barnieh was on target when Ghana played out a 1-1 stalemate in a test game played on Thursday, June 15 in Alexandria.
The 26-year-old played a significant role in Napoli’s historic Scudetto-winning campaign, attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Kim’s performances on the field, combined with a release clause in his Napoli contract, have further intensified the attention from these clubs.
The release clause stipulates that the South Korean international will be available for approximately €47 million, making him an enticing prospect for potential suitors.
Despite the interest from the Premier League and beyond, it seems his next destination will be in the Bundesliga.
Bayern reportedly convincedKim and Napoli by meeting the release clause and offering the defender a long-term contract with a net salary of €10m-per-season, per the report, with his agents also receiving a large commission.
The other clubs interested in Kim have already been made aware of his decision and will need to look to other defenders as they prepare for the 2023-24 campaign.
As an unwavering Ronaldo superfan hailing from the United States, iShowSpeed had faced multiple instances of missed opportunities to connect with his football icon in the past.
However, on Saturday, June 17, his deepest aspirations became a reality, thanks to the efforts of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao.
Leao played a crucial role in orchestrating the long-awaited encounter between iShowSpeed and the illustrious five-time Ballon d’Or recipient, as reported by Sportskeeda.
Overwhelmed by Ronaldo’s presence, Speed transitioned from embracing the Al-Nassr star to flawlessly replicating Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration.
This remarkable encounter finally fulfilled his aspirations, which had previously been met with heartbreak and frustration.
For several awe-stricken minutes following the encounter, he found himself lost in disbelief, struggling to comprehend his extraordinary luck, MARCA reports.
Nevertheless, he swiftly regained his composure, seizing the opportunity to capture a few treasured photographs alongside his idol.
Speed, a renowned YouTube live streamer, has risen to become one of the most influential content creators on the platform, thanks to his vibrant personality and exceptional wit.
Remarkably, even while juggling high school demands, he has reached the zenith of success on the video sharing and social media platform – YouTube.
Upon completing his recent graduation, iShowSpeed was presented with a gift that exceeded all expectations – meeting his hero Cristiano Ronaldo.
Leao helps Speed meet Ronaldo
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that iShowSpeed, a well-known YouTuber, finally had the chance to meet his idol,Cristiano Ronaldo, following Portugal’s triumphant three-nil victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, June 17.
As an unwavering fan, Speed had been relentlessly attempting to meet the Al-Nassr superstar for several months, encountering disappointments on multiple occasions.
Standing alongside Speed, Leao seized the opportunity to stop Ronaldo, leading to a mesmerizing moment for the American YouTuber. Visibly awestruck, Speed watched his ultimate desires unfold before his eyes as he stood face-to-face with his idol.
Rashford had an impressive season for United in 2022/23, which culminated in the team winning the Carabao Cup and ending their trophy drought. He showcased his talent throughout the campaign and scored a total of 30 goals across various competitions.
In the Premier League alone, Rashford netted 17 goals as Erik ten Hag’s side secured a third-place finish, guaranteeing them a spot in the Champions League.
According to Goal, Rashford’s remarkable performances have put him in a position to negotiate a lucrative contract with the club, with David de Gea potentially playing a role in securing favorable terms for the young forward.
Rashford to become top earner
According to reports, United are looking to reward Rashford with a new bumper deal following his blistering run of form.
The Sun claims the new deal could see the forward earn as much as £375,000-a-week deal to become the club’s highest earner.
Incredibly, De Gea, who is out of contract at Old Trafford, is reportedly expected to play a key part in the deal.
It is believed that the Spaniard’s wages could be reduced to £200K-a-week, the same as what Rashford is earning at the moment.
Should the goalkeeper accept the pay cut, it would effectively seehim and Rashford trade salaries.
Real Madrid is reportedly shifting their focus from Tottenham striker Harry Kane to Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as they seek to bolster their attacking options following Karim Benzema’s departure to Al-Ittihad.
According to Sportskeeda, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has recommended pursuing Victor Osimhen instead of Kane, considering the Nigerian striker’s impressive performances during his time at Napoli.
Osimhen, who is only 24 years old, played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph in Serie A last season.
He showcased his prowess as the team’s top scorer, netting 31 goals and contributing five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Los Blancos will have to battle Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain who have already signified their interest in the Nigerian forward this summer.
PSG to launch Osimhen bid
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are expected to launch a mouth-watering bid for Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen as the Nigeria international is now a top priority for the Ligue 1 champions, Complete Sport reports.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure and the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s future, PSG are looking to strengthen their attack, and Osimhen has been identified as a key target.
Napoli currentlyvalues Osimhen at €150m, and PSG are expected to raise the sum for the Nigerian forward before the summer transfer window closes.
Osimhen ranked 4th behind Haaland
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been ranked as the fourth-best on the list of the most valuable players in the world following his impressive performances last term for his Serie A side.
In the outgone season, the Nigerian superstar ended as the highest goalscorer with 26 goals in the Serie A and also helped his side to win the Scudetto after 33 years in what was an incredible term.
Considering his performances, Osimhen has been linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal reported to be interested in his services.
In this match, Ronaldo was on the verge of making history, as it was his 199th appearance for the Portuguese national team.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez aimed to maintain his flawless record as the new head coach of the Selecao.
Despite his move from Europe to the Middle East, where he signed with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in January, Ronaldo’s status as a global superstar remains undiminished. His impact both on and off the field continues to captivate football enthusiasts worldwide.
His star factor came to light for the umpteenth time at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz when a die-hard fan evaded the stewards and security protocol to share a priceless moment with his idol – Ronaldo.
The pitch invader, who was wielding a Portugal flag, hugged the 38-year-old before bowing on his knees to pay homage, then lifted Ronaldo and performed his trademark ‘Siuuu’ celebration amid cheers and applause.
How fans reacted?
@_ultraUtd wrote:
“The love CR 7 has with his fans is incredible.”
Another user, @Odogwu_Nomso, tweeted:
“Picking him up, doing the Sui & running off from security is GOAT levels.”
@ballonstagger hailed Ronaldo:
“My goat.”
Pitch invader gets harsh punishment
In a related article, Sports Brief reported that Argentina’s international friendly game against Australia experienced an unusual twist after an overly excited fan jumped onto the pitch to hug Lionel Messi.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was the biggest star on showcase as the reigning World Cup champions took a tour of China for their international friendlies.
The Chaoyang District Public Security Bureau has identified the fan as Di and has placed him in administrative detention according to the law in China.
As part of his punishment for invading the pitch, the 18-year-old Chinese national will also not be allowed to enter a stadium for the next 12 months.
Haaland joined the national team following days of exuberant celebrations after Manchester City’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League, where they completed the treble.
His contribution to City’s successful season was significant, with 54 goals in all competitions. He even secured the golden boots in both the UCL and Premier League.
However, towards the end of the season, Haaland experienced a dip in form, failing to find the net in the last six games. This included crucial matches like the FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Haaland struggled for Norway
The 22-year-old returned to his home country and was selected to start the qualifying game against Scotland but was below par throughout his 84 minutes on the pitch.
Squawka noted his abysmal first half, where he recorded just eight touches of the ball and made three passes. Fans think he was still battling with the hangover from the celebrations, but his head coach Stale Solbakken has revealed why.
“He asked to be changed. We kept him on the pitch 10-12 minutes longer. In the last few minutes he was on the field, we played with one less man,” he told reporters as translated by Goal.
“He was completely empty. He has only played 60 minutes several times before. We’re talking about it being 30 degrees; it is applied. He ran out of steam.”
Sports Brief reported that Haaland aimed a dig at Arsenal with a Champions League song during City’s treble celebrations.
City has been mocked with the song ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ by Nottingham Forest fans all season, and the 22-year-old asked that the Citizens fans sing the same.
Diop criticized Minusma, stating that it has contributed to escalating intercommunal tensions and exacerbating the existing problems.
His concerns were expressed during his address to the UN Security Council.
Minusma, which comprises over 13,000 troops, has been deployed for a decade but has been unsuccessful in curbing the proliferation of jihadist violence in Mali.
Currently, the military rulers in Mali are receiving support from Russian Wagner mercenaries.
Western officials have accused Wagner of human rights abuses in Ukraine and parts of Africa, and last month the US announced sanctions on Ivan Maslov, whom it described as Wagner’s top official in Mali.
Wagner has not commented on the Western allegations and its activities in Mali and other parts of Africa remain shrouded in secrecy.
Minister Diop’s criticism of Minusma followed earlier Malian objections to France’s long-standing involvement in Mali. The alliance with France, the former colonial power, collapsed last year.
Mr Diop spoke of a “crisis of confidence between the Malian authorities and Minusma” and said “the Malian government asks for the withdrawal without delay of Minusma”.
Minusma’s mandate is due to end on 29 June,but UN chief Antonio Guterres has recommended that the mission be reconfigured to focus on a few limited priorities.
The UN currently lists military contingents from Chad, Bangladesh and Egypt as the biggest in the force.
When asked about Mr Diop’s remarks on Friday the UN special envoy to Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, said “we stand to be guided by whatever decision the [Security] Council may take”.
But he added that without the host country’s consent “operating in a specific country would be extremely challenging, if not impossible”.
A report by the UN high commissioner for human rights accused the Malian armed forces and “foreign security personnel” of having killed more than 500 people during an operation in the village of Moura, in central Mali, in March last year. The governments of Mali and Russia both condemned that report.
West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini will be departing the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
The Argentine player joined West Ham in 2015 from Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates and has since made 226 appearances, scoring 32 goals.
Lanzini’s standout moment was his remarkable long-range goalagainst Tottenham in 2020, which helped West Ham secure a remarkable 3-3 draw after being 3-0 down.
The 30-year-old has been linked with a return to Argentina and former club River Plate.
Manager David Moyes told the club website: “Manu is a fantastic professional, a really good lad, and whichever club he joins will have an excellent player on their hands.
“We are sorry to see him go, but he deserves the opportunity to play more regularly elsewhere, and we wish him well in his next adventure.”
This decision coincides with the upcoming retrial for Mendy regarding rape charges.
The 28-year-old player joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017, setting a record-breaking transfer fee of £52 million.
However, he has been absent from the team’s lineup for almost two years.
The footballer was first arrested in November 2020 and was later suspended by the club in August 2021 following charges of rape and sexual assault against several women.
During a five-month trial at Chester Crown Court earlier this year, Mendy maintained that all sexual encounters he had were consensual, denying the allegations made against him.
In February, he was unanimously cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape, leading to a retrial.
Mendy’s co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, was found not guilty of three charges of rape, but the jury was unable to reach verdicts on six other counts against him. Those charges will be retried in September.
In response to the outcome of the first trial,Manchester City released a statement stating that, due to ongoing legal matters, the club could not provide further comment at this time.
The club is reportedly willing to meet the €35m (£29.8m) release clause, and talks are currently focused on the payment structure and performance-based incentives.
Informal discussions with Jackson’s representatives have been positive, indicating that personal terms are not expected to pose a challenge in the deal.
Informal talks with Jackson’s representatives have been positive and personal terms are not expected to be a problem if and when a deal can be struck.
Jackson is one of a number of forwards Chelsea are looking at.
With one year left on his contract at Etihad Stadium, the 33-year-old Walker may be on the brink of departing City this summer, particularly after being left on the bench during their Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan.
Bayern Munich is said to be aware of the circumstances and has internally deliberated the potential signing of Walker, who brings versatility as both a right-back and a centre-back to the table.
So far there has been no contact from Bayern over a transfer for Walker but he is being watched closely and is on the club’s shortlist.
Walker, who joined City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, has won fivePremier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in his six years in Manchester.
While starring for Argentina against Australia, Lionel Messi made a hint regarding his Inter Miami debut.
In his team’s triumph over the Aussies on Thursday in an international friendly, Messi scored after just 79 seconds.
After a demanding 41-game season for Paris Saint-Germain, he played the complete 90 minutes.
According to ESPN, the 35-year-old has subsequently signed with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, raising the possibility of when he may play his debut game for his new team.
Asked about his schedule for his new US side, as quoted by Mirror UK, he replied:
“I want to go on my holiday and then afterwards, we go again.”
The 2022 World Cup winners face Indonesia in another friendly next Monday, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will leave the Argentina camp for a break, which could last up to three weeks.
He is expected to return to his home country before linking up with Inter Miami, which means he could play his first game in America around mid-to-late July.
“What I said [about Qatar 2022 likely being his last World Cup] is something normal due to age and time. Qualifying matches are coming, then the Copa America; it is very far to think about the World Cup.”
The Argentine veteran also believes one has to enjoy the present.
“…Think about what’s to come, despite the wins – we can’t stay with that.”
The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the States being Messi’s new home country.
Messi snubs City’s youngster request
Sports Brief also reported on Messi snubbing Australia’s Alex Robertson for a jersey switch at the end of their international friendly on June 15.
The veteran captained Argentina to a 2-0 win in Beijing, with the departing Paris Saint-Germain forward scoring the fastest goal of his stellar career.
After the game, Robertson was seemingly ignored by Messi, with the Manchester City player unable to attract the attention of the new MLS man.
Messi on 2026 World Cup
Messi was also asked about the prospect of representing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. The forward, who will be 39 when the next tournament rolls around, said it would be difficult:
“What I said [about Qatar 2022 likely being his last World Cup] is something normal due to age and time. Qualifying matches are coming, then the Copa America; it is very far to think about the World Cup.”
The Argentine veteran also believes one has to enjoy the present.
“…Think about what’s to come, despite the wins – we can’t stay with that.”
The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the States being Messi’s new home country.
Sevilla’s sporting director, Monchi, has departed from his position to assume the role of President of Football Operations at Aston Villa, as announced by both clubs on Friday.
This move reunites Monchi with coach Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
During his tenure at Sevilla, Monchi led the team to an impressive record of seven Europa League titles, two Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) victories, and a European Super Cup triumph.
“I am very excited to join Aston Villa… I am also delighted and can’t wait to work with Unai Emery again, one of the best managers in football,” Monchi said in a statement.
“After enjoying so many years with Sevilla FC and winning several European trophies with my life-long club, I look forward to building on the recent successes at Aston Villa and ensuring this colossal club continues to grow and improve,” he added.
Monchi is ending his second spell in the same role with the LaLiga club. He left Sevilla in 2017 to become AS Roma’s sporting director before returning to the Spanish side in 2019.
Emery left Sevilla last October to take over at Villa and lifted them out of the relegation places to finish seventh in the Premier League, guiding the club into European football for the first time in more than a decade.
Rebels associated with theIslamic State group have carried out a devastating assault on a school in western Uganda, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40 individuals, primarily students.
The tragic incident took place at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, where a group of boys residing in the school’s dormitories were among those killed.
Currently, eight individuals remain in critical condition following the attack.
The responsibility for the Friday assault has been attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan organization operating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
NB: Some people may find details in this story distressing.
Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.
A dormitory at the school was burnt and a food store was looted during the incident, he added.
Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them.
The attackers are said to have torched the students’ mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region.
Members of the wider community possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for.
Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC’s Virunga National park – Africa’s oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas.
Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout.
“Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group,” defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter.
Uganda and the DRC have held joint military operations in the east Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF.
Security forces had intelligence that rebels were in the border area on the DRC side for at least two days before Friday night’s attack, Major General Olum said.
The deadly episode follows last week’s attack by suspected ADF fighters in a village in the DRC near to the Ugandan border. Over 100 villagers fled to Uganda but have since returned.
The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years.
In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted.
The ADF was created in eastern Uganda in the 1990s and took up arms against long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, alleging government persecution of Muslims.
After its defeat by the Ugandan army in 2001, it relocated to North Kivu province in the DRC.
The group’s principal founder, Jamil Makulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and is in custody in a Ugandan prison.
ADF rebels have been operating from inside the DRC for the past two decades.
In 2021, suicide bombings in Uganda’s capital Kampala and other parts of the country were blamed on the ADF.
Nagelsmann had been strongly linked with a move to the French club as a potential replacement for Christophe Galtier.
However, negotiations between Nagelsmann and PSG did not reach a successful agreement, as reported by L’Equipe.
As a result, former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has emerged as a prominent candidate in the race to become the new head coach of the Ligue 1 champions.
A report filed by PSG Community suggests that the Spanish manager will be in Paris in the next few hours to likely secure his contract.
Nagelsmann reportedly informed some players waiting to arrive that he will not be managing PSG. One player said to have been to the French giants as part of Nagelsmann’s arrival was Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard.
Nonetheless, with Enrique possibly taking over the managerial role at PSG, it seems a move for Pavard might be out of the question. If the 53-year-old does take over, it will be interesting to see what players he will desire that sporting advisor Luis Campos should pursue.
Nagelsmann’s agent slams Chelsea
Meanwhile, there were many complications surrounding Nagelsmann. First, he is still under contract with Bayern until the end of his deal in 2026 – this was agreed upon when he was sacked.
The Blues hierarchy were also reportedly concerned about his age – 35 – and the reasons for his dismissal from the Bavarian club which could hint at what was expected from him.
“I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call, there were some phone conversations. It was the right decision not to go there. It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment,” he told BILD’s podcast, Phrasenmaher.
Struth further expatiated the situation at Chelsea had compelled his client to decide against taking the job.
Nagelsmann’s sad altercation with Mane
In related coverage, Sports Brief reported on Nagelsmann’s dressing room bust-up with Bayern’s Senegalese superstar, Sadio Mane.
The incident is alleged to have occurred after the Bavarians’ second-leg Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
It was reported the former Liverpool forward was unhappy that Nagelsmann only brought him on late against the French side.
Luiz Felipe Scolari (74) promised to return to coaching after winningthe World Cup, and on Friday he came out of retirement to take charge at Brazilian Serie A team Atletico Mineiro until December 2024.
To join the club headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Scolari resigned from his position as technical director at Athletico Paranaense.
He will replace Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet there (48).
During his six-month reign as Athletico’s manager last year, Scolari led the team to the Copa Libertadores final.
He then announced his resignation in November, staying on at the club as technical director.
In a colourful career spanning more than 40 years, Scolari has enjoyed success at both club and international level but will be most remembered for his highs and lows with his native Brazil.
Scolari famously led Brazil to their 2002 World Cup triumph in Japan but was also the man in charge when they suffered their most embarrassing defeat, a 7-1 drubbing by Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
He took Portugal to the final of the 2004 European Champion and semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 before taking charge at Chelsea, where he endured a turbulent seven-month spell before being sacked.
At club level, Scolari has enjoyed success in Brazil and China. He won the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores with both Gremio and Palmeiras, and the Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League at Guangzhou Evergrande.
Scolari’s first game in charge of Atletico will be away to Fluminense on June 21. Atletico are fourth in the league with 18 points from 10 games.
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been released following the expiry of his contract, the club has confirmed.
The 28-year-old was signed by formermanager Antonio Conte shortly after the team’s last Premier League title triumph in 2017 but had not played for the club since the end of his first season.
He has since spent time on loan at AC Milan – with whom he won the Serie A title in 2022 – Napoli and former club Monaco.
He arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £40million deal after helping Monaco to a surprise Ligue 1 title success, having been part of the team that also featured Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva.
The side managed by Leonardo Jardin knocked out Manchester City in the last-16 of the Champions League en route to a semi-final exit to Juventus.
But the midfielder, who won one cap for France in 2017, failed to live up to the expectation that accompanied his arrival.
His most memorable moment in blue came during the 2018 FA Cup final when he played the full 90 minutes as Conte’s side ran out 1-0 winners against Manchester United to lift the trophy.
Another 12 players to have come through Chelsea’s academy have also left the club according to a list released by the Premier League, including goalkeeper Nathan Baxter who played 12 times in the Championship on loan at Hull last season.
USA’s 3-0 victory over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal was marred by homophobic shouting from certain Mexican fans; Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton stopped the game in the eighth minute of stoppage time on a night that also saw four red cards handed in Nevada.
The referee called off theUSA’s match versus Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals due to homophobic chants from the crowd.
With goals from Christian Pulisic (twice) and Ricardo Pepi, the Americans won 3-0 in Nevada to secure their spot in the final versus Canada, although the game was tainted by the behaviour of some of the visiting fans.
Play was halted in the 90th minute and when action resumed, 12 minutes of stoppage time were signalled but more discriminatory chanting caused Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton to end the match in the eighth minute.
In January, FIFA fined Mexico after homophobic chanting by fans at two games and they could now face more sanctions.
“In terms of the chant, I want to make it very clear first and foremost, for our beliefs and our culture, it has no place in the game,” USA interim head coach BJ Callaghan said. “It has no place in our value system.”
CONCACAF –the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football – said in a statement: “Chants heard during the game led to the activation of the anti-discrimination protocol by the match officials.
“Additionally, security staff ejected several fans for engaging in unacceptable behaviour in the stadium.
“These incidents were extremely disappointing and tarnished what should have been a positive occasion to showcase high-quality football in our region.”
It was an eventful fixture for referee Barton, who also sent off four players for their antics on the pitch including USA’s Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest.
The pair will be unavailable for the final against Canada, who beat Panama 2-0 thanks to goals from Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies.
Manchester City is close to finalizing a transfer dealfor Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with the agreement expected to be worth approximately €40 million (£34.2m), according to sources.
Recent discussions between the two clubs have been positive, leading to more detailed conversations about the payment structure.
However, one key matter that still needs to be resolved is the upfront payment amount that City will provide to Chelsea.
The west London club are under pressure to raise funds through player sales by the end of this month after spending in the region of £600m during the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership of the club only to miss out on European qualification altogether.
Any outgoings completed before June 30 will fall under the first full tax year and therefore help mitigate losses to aid compliance with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Although there are still some issues to be resolved, sources have told ESPN the expectation is a deal for the 29-year-old will be completed within the next fortnight.
Kovacic is thought to have broadly agreed personal terms and the transfer will likely progress further after he finishes his international obligations with Croatia.
Their final match comes in Sunday’s Nations League Final against Spain. Kovacic initially joined Chelsea on loanfrom Real Madrid in 2018 before signing a permanent deal in a £40m switch a year later.
He has made a total of 221 appearances, scoring six goals and winning the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Managers at United had hoped to extend the goalkeeper’s contract, but negotiations have dragged on, raising concerns that he may now leave this summer.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, the club decided against enacting De Gea’s one-year contract extension, which would have kept him with them until 2024. In May, the option became void.
Instead, negotiations have taken place about a longer deal on a lower basic wage but including significant performance-related bonuses.
Sources have told ESPN that talks with De Gea are ongoing but that United are not as optimistic about reaching a compromise as they were a month ago.
De Gea, 32, has spent 12 seasons at Old Trafford and made more than 500 appearances.
Sources have told ESPN that earlier this season he was exploring the possibility of returning to Spain while there has also been tentative interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
United, meanwhile, are set to make a second bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
A first offer of another £40 million ($51m) was immediately rejected by Chelsea, who want closer to £70m. United won’t stretch that far but, according to sources, are hoping to agree a fee of around £50m.
The market for the Mount, which at one stage included Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, has cooled significantly over the second half of the season and United are seen as the clear frontrunners for his signature.
United are hopeful that Chelsea’s need to sell a number of players this summer will help negotiations move quickly to allow the possibility that Mount could be part of the squad ahead of the preseason tour of the United States, which starts in New York on July 20.
Jamie Arnold, aged 32, faced accusations of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand during a match between Manchester United and Wolves at Molineux in May 2021.
However, the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court has been discharged after informing the judge that they were unable to reach a majority verdict.
As a result, the man accused of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand now faces the possibility of a retrial.
The jury has now been discharged and the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it will seek a retrial, possibly in November.
Mr Arnold denies causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Ferdinand gave evidence at the trial and it is thought likely he will again be called as a witness for the retrial.
Arnold, 32, was accused of racially abusing Ferdinand during Wolves’ game against Manchester United at Molineux in May 2021, at which the former England international was working as a pundit for BT Sport.
Enzo Maresca is on the verge of departing from Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City to assume the role of manager at Leicester City.
The Foxes have been in search of a new boss following their relegation to the Championship under Dean Smith.
While a verbal agreement has been reached with Maresca, there are still some final details and contractual matters to be resolved before his move to the King Power Stadium is finalized.
Manchester City’s assistant manager was offered the job on Thursday and he has accepted that offer.
However, there are still details to finalise and contractual issues to sort before Maresca is confirmed as the Foxes’ next boss.
Leicester have been searching for a new boss since parting ways with Dean Smith, who was appointed on a short-term contract in April but was unable to save the club from relegation to the Championship during his eight games in charge.
Following their treble-winning season, Manchester City is preparing to release captain Ilkay Gundogan (32) and Benjamin Mendy (28) as their contracts expire this month. The Premier League confirmed on Friday that both players are included on the list of individuals who are allowed to leave on free transfers.
While leading the club to triumph in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, Gundogan has remained tight-lipped about his future. The German international has been linked with potential moves to Arsenal and Barcelona.
The midfielder, who proved to be the man for the big occasion in City’s historic treble bid, won 14 trophies at the club, including five league titles following his move from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
Mendy has not played for City since August 2021 after he was suspended following his arrest on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The Frenchman, who was signed in 2017 for a fee in the region of 52 million pounds ($66.63 million), was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January but he faces a retrial ontwo other charges.
Real Madrid’s pursuit ofKylian Mbappe has encountered a fresh complication due to Paris Saint-Germain’s latest demand for the 24-year-old superstar.
Mbappe has notified PSG through a letter that he will not be extending his current contract with the club, leaving the French champions with the task of finding potential suitors for the forward before his deal expires in 2024.
Reportedly, PSG is now requesting highly-rated player Rodrygo Goes as part of the deal with Real Madrid to secure the services of the unsettled Mbappe during the upcoming summer transfer window, according to Fansided.
Rodrygo has risen to become one of Los Blancos’ key players, scoring nine goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in La Liga and five in the Champions League.
PSG are unwilling to lose the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner for free in 2024 and will instead trade him to any team willing to match their terms this summer.
Rodrygo opens door for Mbappe
Meanwhile, Rodrygo has revealed that he would be happy to see the French superstar join him at Real Madrid next season, Marca reports.
The Brazilian forward described Mbappe as one of the best players in the world and disclosed that it would be an honour to play alongside him at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Mbappe has been widely tipped to join Real Madrid this summer.
Kylian Mbappe wants PSG stay
Earlier, Sports Brief reported onMbappe confirming his PSG stay was his ‘only option for now’ after the superstar told the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2024.
The 24-year-old forward reiterated his plan after several reports linking him away from the French capital emerged, with rumours claiming he would seal a move to Real Madrid.
Mbappe said he was not particularly surprised by suggestions PSG could look to cash in by selling him now, rather than allowing him to leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Jack Wilshere has reflected on the start of the decline of his football career, which was marred by injuries that hindered his progress as one of England’s most promising young talents.
Wilshere’s debut for Arsenal came at the age of 16 in September 2008 when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie in a match against Blackburn Rovers.
Under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, he was gradually integrated into the squad and showcased his abilities on a global stage by impressively controlling the midfield against renowned players Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez in a Champions League encounter.
According to SportBible, his career soon took a negative turn when he suffered a nasty right ankle injury at the end of the 2010/11 season.
It was the unannounced end of the road for him.
Wilshere reveals his worst injury
At 31, he retired after spending time at West Ham, Bournemouth, and Aarhus in Denmark. He has now opened up on the worst injury of his troubled career.
“My first injury was my worst, and I paid the price a lot for that,” he said on Ben Foster’s Fozcast. “It was my right ankle. It was the talus, which is a little bone that sits on top of your fibula and your ankle joint. And I fractured that.”
He revealed that the surgeon admitted he had only seen such an injury once in a snowboarder, and got in another surgeon to conduct the surgery, but the biggest shock was unknown until six years later.
“I was 19 when the injury happened. Six years later, I was 25 and went back to see the surgeon, and he was like, ‘Are you still playing?’. He showed me the notes from the surgery, and they said: ‘You might not play again. Might not be able to walk’,” he added.
Wilshere is currently building his coaching portfolio as the U-18 coach of the Arsenal academy. He led them to the FA Youth Cup final, which they lost to West Ham United.
Wenger’s tribute to Wilshere
Sports Brief reported that Arsene Wenger gave a glowing tribute to Wilshere when he announced his retirement from professional football last year.
The legendary boss described the former England international as a ‘fearless player’ – an attribute which helped kick start his career early.
Ronaldo and Messi have been engaged in a long-standing rivalry throughout their careers, with fans often debating and arguing over who is the better player.
Both of these exceptional footballers have achieved numerous titles at the club level as well as for their respective national teams.
Messi, after many attempts, finally won the World Cup in the 2022 edition of the global competition in Qatar. It was an incredible moment for the former Barcelona captain.
According to reports on Daily Post and Vanguard, Wizkid made it clear that although he does not watch football, he prefers Ronaldo ahead of Messi.
Wizkid snubs Messi for Ronaldo
“I don’t watch football [laughs]. Ronaldo, I guess.”
A report on BBC stated that Messi netted the fastest goal of his career after one minute and 19 seconds while playing for Argentina in an international friendly match against Australia.
Scaloni’s side were playing their third fixture since lifting the World Cup in December, and their first outside of Argentina.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported how David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, stated clearly that Portugal international, Cristiano Ronaldo is his very good friend and a footballer he admires and cherishes.
Ronaldo is one of the biggest footballers in the world, with his achievements and records making him a top star. He has won the Ballon d’Or five times- only Lionel Messi has won it more than the ex-Man United star.
For more than 10 years, the name ‘Ronaldo’ has been ringing the bell in world football because of his superb performances for the clubs he has played for.
Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record achievement for the longest cooking marathon by an individual has shattered records once again, this time on Twitter.
The exhilarating video tweet, shared on the official Guinness World Records’ Twitter page, has surpassed a staggering 25 million views, securing its place as the most-viewed tweet in the account’s history.
With an announcement made on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the Guinness World Record Team unveiled Hilda’s extraordinary feat, surpassing the previous record held by Indian chef Lata Tondon.
The official account posted, “After reviewing all the footage, we’re delighted to announce that Hilda Baci is the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon (individual) 💫 Watch the video to find out the official time we’ve awarded Hilda and read the full explanation below 👇,” the official account posted.
Hilda, a 26-year-old restauranteur hailing from Lagos, displayed her culinary prowess for an impressive duration, surpassing the previous record of 87 hours and 50 minutes.
yeah, so this is our best performing tweet of all time with nearly 25 million news feeds reached 🤯 https://t.co/iGBDw0qdLK
The news of Hilda’s remarkable achievement quickly spread like wildfire, capturing the imagination and curiosity of people worldwide. Guinness World Records proudly exclaimed on Twitter, “Yeah, so this is our best-performing tweet of all time with nearly 25 million news feeds reached.”
Not only did Hilda’s record-breaking success captivate the Twitterverse, but it also caused a stir on the officialGuinness World Records website. The overwhelming popularity of her ‘cook-a-thon’ caused the website to crash for two days due to an astounding surge in traffic from her devoted fanbase.
Hilda’s journey to claim this monumental record took the social media realm by storm, with millions in Nigeria and beyond fervently following her progress via an engaging Instagram live stream.
Driven by her unwavering passion to showcase the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian culinary traditions, Hilda embarked on this extraordinary mission with a clear objective in mind. “I wanted to put Nigerian cuisine on the map,” she shared with resolute determination. “I also chose to break this record to truly push my limits and test my abilities.”
In an interview with a Ghanaian based media house, the award-winning chef unveiled the numerous challenges she encountered during her awe-inspiring journey to the 100-hour cooking feat.
Hilda revealed that the immense stress of the marathon pushed her to experience her menstrual cycle and accompanying cramps earlier than expected. As a result, she diligently took showers during her breaks to maintain personal hygiene and change accordingly.
Hilda further explained that being on her period reduced the precious time she had for rest, intensifying an already arduous endeavour. “I was on my period the entire time, and I think that sort of made it extra hard. What that meant was it took away from the time I had to rest,” she shared.
Reports suggest that there is a disagreement betweenErik ten Hag and Manchester United officials regarding the club’s search for a striker in the summer transfer window.
Ten Hag, the Dutch manager, is eager to acquire a dedicated striker for his squad in preparation for the upcoming season.
He has shown a particular interest in signing Tottenham’s star player, Harry Kane, during this transfer window.
However, according to The Athletic, not all members of the Manchester United board share the same enthusiasm for pursuing Kane as a potential signing.
Spurs will demand huge money for Kane, despite his contract expiring at the end of next season.
The England skipper also turns 30 next month, with some at Old Trafford wanting a younger signing.
And there was talk earlier this week that the Red Devils have given up on signing Kane.
Despite Ten Hag’s wishes, they now seem set to pursue a trio of younger targets.
Atalanta ace Rasmus Hojlund is on United’s wishlist, after scoring nine goals in Serie A last term.
But the Dane won’t come cheap either, with Atalanta reportedly after £86m for their 20-year-old starlet.
Eintracht Frankfurt ace Randal Kolo Muani is another name on the shortlist.
The 24-year-old is coming off the back of an impressive first season in the Bundesliga, bagging 15 goals and laying on 14 assists.
Kolo Muani also played in the World Cup for France, providing an assist for Kylian Mbappe in the final and seeing a last-gasp chance for a winner blocked by Argentina keeper Emi Martinez.
The EFL has accused Reading of frequently breaking its financial rules by neglecting to pay its players throughout the 2022–23 season.
The accusations pertain to three different instances in which the team was relegated from the Championship and player pay were not paid on time and in full on each occasion.
Further accused of permitting the team to violate the EFL’s financial regulations is owner Dai Yongge.
Reading were docked six points in April for breaking profit and sustainability rules which ultimately led to them finishing in the bottom three and dropping into League One.
Manager Paul Ince was sacked later that month with the club on a winless run of eight games.
He was replaced by interim boss Noel Hunt who failed to win any of his five matches in charge.
An EFL statement read: “The charges relate to the club failing to meet their obligations to pay its players’ wages on time and in full on or around 31 October 2022, 30 November 2022 and 28 April 2023.
“Yongge Dai, the club’s owner, has also been charged with causing the club to be in breach of EFL regulations despite his commitment to fund the cash requirements of the club.
“The club and Mr Dai have until 4pm on Thursday 29 June 2023 to respond to the charges.”
The 26-year-old forward only started once for the Bergamo squad before being loaned out three times to Eintracht Frankfurt, Empoli, and Sampdoria.
Lammers is optimistic he will be given a fair chance to establish himself at Ibrox as he attempts to restart his career after signing a four-year deal with Rangers.
“This is what I’ve been searching for,” he told Sky Sports. “After this season I made it clear for myself that I wanted a new place to settle down, a new home because even last year I was at two clubs and before that I was on loan in Germany.
“I think now is time to settle somewhere and it’s good to sign a permanent deal with Rangers. The confidence of the club is key for me to sign.
“Coming into a new country is not easy. When you go from Holland to Italy it’s a change of language, a change of culture and everything.
“It gets easier but you feel at home after one year or six months, you need time to settle, and it didn’t happen for me in the last two years so I’m happy that I have the possibility to do that here.”
During his first loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, Lammers encountered the Rangers support for the first time.
“When we got to the final, it felt as if it was the best-supported clubs of the Europa League colliding,” said Lammers.
“It was, from both sides, very impressive. At that game you could see how big the club is and how it lives here in Scotland also.”
Lammers has scored only 27 career goals, the majority of which came on loan at Heerenveen in 2018-19. However, he insists his game is about more than just scoring.
“I know for a striker the main target is to score a lot of goals and I know I can do that also,” he said. “I’m aware of this being a big part of being a striker and this is also my goal at Rangers to do that, but I’m not a typical striker who is only hanging inside the box for his one or two chances.
“I want to help the team, I can drop out of the striker position. With my legs you would expect me maybe to be a target man but that’s not what I am.
“I want to score more goals again because I know I have it in me. In the past I scored a lot of goals then in the last couple of years not so much, but sometimes in the clubs I was at it wasn’t easy as you didn’t get a lot of chances.
“I think the attacking style of play at Rangers also fits me.”
In the 2022-23 season, several well-known players made a significant impact across Europe’s top five leagues.
Through analyzing the statistics, we can identify the standout performers among them.
Goals: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — 36
Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland blew away all competition in the goalscoring department last season.
The 22-year-old bagged 36 strikes in 35 Premier League appearances, with Harry Kane the only other player in Europe’s top five divisions to break the 30-goal mark.
Assists: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) — 16
Kevin De Bruyne and Antoine Griezmann also delivered 16 assists, but Lionel Messi gets the nod by virtue of the fact he scored the most goals of the three (16).
Despite his consistent output, the Inter Miami-bound Argentine World Cup winner was at times booed by Paris Saint-Germain supporters.
Bruno Fernandes did not have his most productive season with Manchester United in terms of assists, but still exhibited his creative talents.
The Portuguese maestro also led the way in Europe’s top tiers for big chances created with 32.
On top of completing the most take-ons, the 22-year-old scored 10 goals and notched nine assists from his 33 LaLiga appearances, enhancing his reputation as one of the world’s best wingers.
Passes: Lewis Dunk (Brighton) — 2,900
Lewis Dunk’s evolution into a pass master from the back has been one of the catalysts for Brighton’s rise over the past two years.
The England international, 31, also had the most touches of any player with 3,520.
Tackles: Joao Palhinha (Fulham) — 147
Joao Palhinha’s rapid adaptation to the demands of Premier League football played a major role in Fulham finishing 10th and avoiding relegation with ease.
But the ex-Sporting lynchpin’s love of tackling did see him also pick up the joint-most yellow cards last term (14).
Lyon centre-back Castello Lukeba, 20, is one of the brightest defensive prospects in Europe — and he loves making interceptions.
He is also pretty good with the ball at his feet, ranking 20th for passes completed (2,026) with an impressive accuracy to boot (90.37%).
Aerial duels won: Philipp Hofmann (Bochum) — 214
Bochum striker Philipp Hofmann, 30, helped the club finish 14th in the Bundesliga and survive the drop with his eight goals and two assists.
Unsurprisingly, three of those goals were headers, which came in victories against Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin.
Clean sheets: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) — 26
The Germany international conceded only 18 goals in the Spanish top flight — the lowest total in Europe’s top five league — and ranked fourth for passes completed among goalkeepers (1,011).
Saves: David Raya (Brentford) — 154
David Raya looks destined to leave Brentford this summer after a superb season with the gloves.
On top of his 154 saves, the Spaniard was the keeper with the most final third passes (118) and most long passes (410) completed in the Premier League.
During her tenure, Samoura played a crucial role in the transformation of FIFA, focusing on rebuilding its reputation, enhancing credibility, and dismantling barriers within the organization.
“It was the best decision of my life to join FIFA,” says FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. “I am very proud to have led such a diverse team.
My first word of thanks goes to Gianni Infantino for giving me this dream job.
He has shown trust, understanding and an incredible level of support. It is a pleasure to work alongside someone that has transformed FIFA.
FIFA today is a better governed, more open, more reliable and more transparent organisation. I will leave FIFA with a high sense of pride and fulfilment.
“I had intended to share my news first with the FIFA Council members next week but I am aware there has been growing speculation about my position in recent months.
For now, I am fully focused on the preparation and delivery of the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
I look forward to spending the next six months bringing to life the 11 objectives that President Infantino announced at the FIFA Congress in Kigali in March.
From next year, I would like to spend more time with my family. I have been in love with football since I was eight years old and I feel honoured to have been on this journey.”
“It has been a privilege and an honour to work with a trailblazer in the game,” says FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Ever since we met, I knew she would be superb for FIFA.
Her passion and enthusiasm to drive change has been inspirational. Fatma was the first woman, and the first African, to be appointed to such an important position at FIFA.
We respect Fatma’s decision and I would like to thank her for such dedication and commitment to football.
Fatma will continue to contribute towards the development of the game and its social values together with us.”
The first female and non-European to hold the role as head of FIFA’s administration, Fatma Samoura was a trailblazer from the moment she stepped into the Home of FIFA to take on her new role after her appointment in May 2016 by recently-elected President Infantino.
She has overseen unprecedented growth in women’s football ever since.
Fatma Samoura has overseen a complete restructure at FIFA that included the appointment of two Deputy Secretary Generals, a new and fully developed Women’s Football Division, a Technical Development Division, a Chief Compliance Officer, and improved programmes for FIFA’s 211 member associations.
She arrived at FIFA with more than two decades of experience working for the United Nations where she served in seven countries: the Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar and Nigeria.
Working in places affected by war, violence and a lack of women’s rights, she had often been struck by the way in which football, more than anything else, could persuade warring groups to lay down their weapons and bring joy even to people who were enduring terrible suffering. She realised that football was a universal language.
Players at the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will enjoy the same conditions and service levels as the men at theFIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. With 32 teams, it will be the biggest and best in the competition’s history, providing a fitting send-off for the FIFA Secretary General when she steps down in December.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, acknowledged that there is a boundary that his players must not exceed, referring toJack Grealish’s extravagant celebrations after winning the treble.
However, Southgate refrained from openly criticizing the forward, even though his partying attracted significant media attention.
Grealish accompanied his Manchester City teammates for a night out in Ibiza after their 1-0 Champions League victory against Inter Milan, securing the treble. They returned on Monday in preparation for their trophy parade.
Southgate’s comments suggest that while he recognizes the need for certain limits, he chose not to publicly reprimand Grealish for his actions.
The 27-year-old, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones and Kyle Walker linked up with the England squad on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Malta.
He said: “There is a line but in our head we weren’t thinking of including the City players for this game.
“I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that’s for me to manage.
“A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything. I wouldn’t have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems.
“We know, talking to Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier what that game takes out of you.
“It’s a huge occasion and we needed to give those guys the time to take everything in but, point number one, they all wanted to come in to be with the group, which is fantastic.
“I don’t think they would have felt anything unusual about how we have dealt with this and how we have embraced the players back in to the group.
“We have also got the dynamic that while they are chuffed to bits and we are proud of them, a few others are pretty p****d off that they have won it at their expense. You are always really conscious of that.”
England’s last trip to Malta — a World Cup qualifier in 2017 — ended with a 4-0 victory but only after three goals in the final five minutes from Kane, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Welbeck.
It saw fans turn on the team, who were drawing 0-0 at half time and Southgate remembers the atmosphere, with the squad abused on the coach driving to the stadium, during and after the game.
He said: “Myself and Steve Holland were talking about it as we landed because it wasn’t a pleasant journey to the stadium and it was less pleasant going home.
“I’m not sure everyone knew we had won 4-0 because they were in the bar at 1-0, some at 0-0.
“For us it was a good reference to how far the relationship with the fans has come. The performances of the team are going to ebb and flow, the connection with the fans feels completely different now.
“It doesn’t matter what we have done in the last few years, last few games, we have to go again tomorrow night and make sure that we give our fans something to be excited about.”
Meanwhile, Trippier believes the squad needs to embrace their final games of the season.
England, top of Group C, also host North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday aiming to solidify their lead following March’s wins over Ukraine and Italy.
It will cap a season which also saw the first winter World Cup in November and December with the Premier League having finished three weeks ago.
The Newcastle defender said: “It’s difficult. It has been a tough season for myself and obviously the lads in Europe as well.
“We know at the end of the day we are coming away with England and they are two massive games. We want to be going to Germany next year.
“We know the challenges but for me it is easy to flip the switch and get back into that mode again.
“It’s been a good week of training. Everyone is buzzing to be back together and hopefully we can get the result.
“You have to be professional in terms of not doing too much and overloading. It’s about ticking over and just getting yourself in the best possible shape to be with England.”
Although Pochettino’s official takeover is scheduled for July 1, a clause in his Paris Saint-Germain contract prevents him from assuming a new role until after June 30.
Despite not being officially in charge yet, Pochettino is already providing input from the sidelines.
Chelsea is facing a time crunch to trim their squad and generate funds for potential new signings before the start of July.
Pochettino’s involvement highlights his proactive stance in shaping the club’s future.
The Argentine has identified some priority positions to strengthen – a new goalkeeper, defensive midfielder, and a new striker top the list of targets.
Pochettino to stick with Kepa
Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is the preferred target for the number 1 role as Senegalese goalie Edouard Mendy is set to leave the club this summer.
Mirror UK reports that the role is no longer high up the priority list as the manager advised the club not to spend heavily to recruit for the position.
Sky Sports adds that the former Tottenham boss has decided that Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will keep his place as number 1 but is not ruling out a new goalkeeper joining the club.
Kepa joined for a world record fee for his position in 2018. He has had an inconsistent time at Stamford Bridge, with some high moments that defined success for the club.
Lukaku’s reunion makes sense
The number 9 position is one of the club’s high priorities. Sports Brief analysed why Lukaku’s return makes sense for both parties.
The Blues paid £97.5m to Inter Milan for former striker Romelu Lukaku in 2021, but a fallout with the club made him return to Italy on loan.
The Italians are financially incapacitated and can not meet Chelsea’s asking price; he could save the London club some money by returning as the leading striker next season.
