Lionel Messi faced challenges during his two-year stint in France with Paris Saint-Germain, and Kylian Mbappe was disappointed with the way his compatriot was treated.
After the surprising announcement that Messi would not continue at Barcelona in 2021, he made the decision to join Paris Saint-Germain, signing a two-year contract.
His first year under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino was underwhelming, as he only managed to score six goals in the league.
However, he experienced a resurgence under the guidance of Christophe Galtier and went on to lead Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in the final.
According to Mirror UK, the 35-year-old confirmed that everything changed after the Qatar triumph. He then departed Ligue 1 for the Major League Soccer in the United States.
Mbappe questions Messi’s treatment
Mbappe has spoken on the former Barcelona star’s departure and admitted he expected far more from his countrymen towards him.
“We’re talking about potentially the best player in the history of football. It’s never good news when someone like Messi leaves. Personally, I don’t quite understand why so many people were so relieved that he was gone,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He didn’t get the respect he deserved in France. It’s a shame, but that’s how it went. We will have to do what we can to replace him.”
PSG could be without the famous front three next season. Brazilian playmaker Neymar is set to leave after the club ultras protested at his house.
Mbappe also wrote a letter informing the club he would not extend his contract, which expires in 2024. The notice infuriated the club, and they want him sold this summer to avoid losing him for free next summer.
Piers Morgan trolls Messi
Sports Brief reported that British broadcaster and Cristiano Ronald’s ally, Piers Morgan trolled Messi for moving to the MLS at 35.
Ronaldo was heavily criticised for moving to Saudi Arabia for money at 37 after his interview with Morgan got him into trouble at Manchester United.
Haaland stresses the importance of getting some sun as soon as he wakes up, while he wears special glasses which filter out blue light to help him sleep.
The couple had known each other for years and their bond grew stronger as Rashford’s football career progressed from his teenage years.
Last summer, Rashford proposed to Loi in a lavish manner in Los Angeles, indicating a significant milestone in their relationship.
Unfortunately, as reported by The Sun, the couple has now chosen to go their separate ways and are no longer together.
The power couple appeared to have taken their relationship to the next level last summer after Rashford popped the big question in a lavish proposal in Los Angeles.
However, the two are said to have split up, with The Sun reporting the two are no longer an item.
How Rashford and Lucia split
According to the publication, all was seemingly going well this year, with the couple going all out with candles and flowers at their Manchester home during Valentine’s Day.
In April, Rashford is also said to have chartered a plane to whisk Lucia to New York for a holiday.
However, it now seems that was the last good time the couple shared together.
“It’s nothing complicated. The relationship ran its course and they remain very close friends,” a source privy to the development was quoted saying.
Rashford spotted partying
The fresh details come just days after Rashford was spotted hanging out with a gang of giggling girls while on holiday in Miami.
Goal reports theManchester United forward flew to Florida to coach young children after an incredible season with the Red Devils that saw him bag 30 goals in 56 appearances.
It was during this period that he took some time off his busy schedule to party in Miami at a nightclub.
It has been reported that the Englishman splashed on champagne and food at an exclusive cabana.
Known for his exceptional skills in dead-ball situations, the former Barcelona captain has scored a remarkable 62 goals from free kicks throughout his career.
During an interview with a Chinese publication called TTPlus, while on duty with the Argentina national team in China, Messi revealed the football icons who provided him with valuable tips to enhance his free kick technique.
This topic of Messi’s acclaimed free kick ability has gained attention and has been reported by Goal as well.
Although he emphasised the importance of constant individual practice, Messi also revealed his former Barcelona teammate, Ronaldinho, and the late Argentine legend who coached him at La Albiceleste, Diego Maradona, taught him a lot.
“It depends on continuous training, and you can improve that skill every day. Ronaldinho taught me a lot and Maradona taught me a lot. But the most important thing is to keep training.”
The former Paris Saint-Germain star will captain the world champions in two friendly games later this month, against Australia on June 15 and versus Indonesia on June 19.
The 35-year-old reportedly presented his Spanish passport instead of an Argentine document which could secure his passage through Chinese immigration.
Messi was travelling alongside his international teammates, Angel di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, and some bodyguards when he was stopped by the airport officials.
As reported by Tribuna, the former Paris Saint-Germain star was briefly detained and was released when it was explained to him that he was using the wrong passport.
Messi discusses 2026 World Cup
Sports Brief earlier reported on Messi revealing his World Cup plans for when Argentina defend their title in three years’ time.
The 35-year-old guided his country to a third title – their first in 37 years since Maradona won the trophy in 1986 for the country.
In a shocking interview,Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player Kylian Mbappe criticized the club for their disappointing performances and expressed his discontent over the decision to let Lionel Messi leave.
The 24-year-old striker has made it clear that he intends to leave Parc des Princes on a free transfer in 2024.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Mbappe would not be extending his contract with the club, and there were speculations about his potential move to Real Madrid. However, Mbappe clarified to AFP that he plans to remain at PSG for the upcoming season, which will be his last.
But to avoid losing Mbappe in what would be the biggest free transfer of all time, PSG are understood to be looking to cash in on him now if they cannot persuade him into penning fresh terms.
However, it appears that the ex-Monaco forward has already made up his mind, as he explained his reasons for seeking a new adventure to Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said: “For a player like me, the goal is to win everything.
“And we knew that atPSG there were shortcomings that sooner or later we were going to end up paying for.
“I didn’t say I wanted to be sold to Real Madrid or want to leave, but only that I won’t activate the option on the extra year.
“With PSG, there has never been any talk of a renewal.”
Mbappe discusses Messi’s departure
Mbappe revealed his stance on Messi’s departure after just two years in the French capital, with the 35-year-old set to join MLS outfit Inter Miami.
He remarked: “Messi gone? Bad news now needs to be replaced.
“He’s one of the greatest players in the history of football. It’s never good news when someone like Messi leaves.
“I don’t quite understand why so many people were so relieved that he was gone. He didn’t get the respect he deserved in France.”
Reports have stated that Wilfried Zaha who’s set to leave Crystal Palace on free could replace Messi at PSG.
Meanwhile, PSG could lose another star in their attacking trio this summer with Brazilian winger Neymar linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia.
Camavinga wants Mbappe at Madrid
Sports Brief earlier reported Eduardo Camavinga disclosed his position on the rumours linking Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.
Mbappe’s recent decision not to activate the one-year extension clause in his current contract with Paris Saint-Germain, which expires next summer, has reignited uncertainty about his future.
Speaking on the potential of playing alongside Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Camavinga, who is on international duty with France, said, as quoted by MadridXtra:
“You have seen that he has already spoken. I have nothing to say. I would be very happy if he comes to Real Madrid.”
In a hardly disguised jab at Tottenham, Antonio Conte stated that “some had decided to settle for less”, but he insisted that he hasn’t lost his “passion.”
After a 3-3 draw on March 18 against Southampton, the league’s worst team, Conte left Tottenham by mutual consent.
He gave a venomous post-game press conference after the tie, in which they lost a 3-1 lead, criticising club owner Daniel Levy, the players, and the club’s trophy collection.
However, he still seems to have much fury left in him as he took a veiled dig at the north-London club for not being ambitious enough.
“The last experience, like all of them really, had some things that were positive and some less so,” he stated at an awards ceremony in Arezzo on Tuesday. “The experience was wonderful, we did the maximum possible and gave all that we had.
When I arrived, the team was in eighth or ninth place, yet we qualified for the Champions League.
Then this season, with the side in fourth position, I decided we should part ways with Tottenham. Some had decided to settle for less.”
However, Conte, who is set to turn 60 in July, also insisted that he still has the fire in his belly to manage a top side and remains open for opportunities in Italy and abroad.
“I still have the desire to coach, that passion never goes,” he added. “If it did, I would have to look inside myself and think that it was no longer right to continue doing this profession. Having said that, I am also not spasmodically searching for a new job.
If something important and serious came along, that gave me motivation, then I would give it consideration, in Italy or abroad.”
The Manchester City team has been in a celebratory mood after achieving a historic treble in the 2022/23 season, including winning the club’s first-ever Champions League trophy.
During the celebrations, Phil Foden’s son, Ronnie, approached Haaland while he was holding the Champions League trophy. The video has gained popularity online due to its lighthearted and humorous nature.
Quite innocently, the little Ronnie can be heard telling Haaaland , “I thought you were a girl!”, a statement which clearly caught the Norwegian striker off guard.
The young lad then briefly plays with the Champions League trophy before getting called back to join his dad.
Out of Context of Football 😂😂#SportsGist Black Stars | Prison Break | Mohammed Kudus | Chris Hughton | Vodafone | Ghanaian Drill | Umtiti | Ansu Fati pic.twitter.com/kkz33xLdjC
Despite not scoring in the 1-0 win over Inter, the 22-year old has been integral for Pep Guardiola’s side.
According to Transfermkt, he has scored 52 goals in 52 appearances for The Citizens.
Ronnie Foden and Rico Lewis
Sports Brief also reported on the cute moment involving Ronnie Foden and Rico Lewis.
As seen in a Snapchat video shared on Twitter by ESPNFC, fellow academy star Rico Lewis shared a car side moment with Foden’s son. He enjoyed it so much that he asked for the video be sent to his dad.
The 23-year-old added the Champions League to his haul of trophies for his boyhood club. Lewis and Cole Palmer are the other academy graduates to join Foden in the first team this year.
The Manchester United forward, who had an impressive record of scoring 30 goals across all competitions in the 2022-23 season, had to withdraw from international matches against Italy and Ukraine in March due to an injury.
During England’s 2-1 victory over Italy, Rashford made a poorly timed trip to New York with his then-fiancée Lucia Loi, with whom he has reportedly since ended his relationship.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding these events, Rashford remains committed to representing England on the international stage.
This drew criticism from some sections of supporters and the media, but the 25-year-old has come out to reiterate that he is fully committed to Gareth Southgate’s project.
Asked about the effects of such comments, Rashford told reporters on Wednesday: “Honestly it doesn’t [hurt]. I know I am committed 100 per cent so people are going to say what they want to say. I didn’t see it [the criticism] to be honest until I got home.
But I need time to switch off and recover so I took a short trip – four days – and then went back to do rehab and try to get ready as soon as possible.
With these injuries, you can’t predict when they are going to happen. Thankfully I have very few muscle strains but occasionally you do get impact injuries.”
The United man posted a career-best tally at club level last term, racking up a total of41 goal contributions in 56 appearances across all competitions.
Given the World Cup mid-season, the forward totalled a mammoth 61 appearances for club and country.
Reiterating the thoughts of many past and present professionals, Rashford feels this number needs to be curbed.
He added: “It is mad that at club level we are playing against clubs playing one game a week and we are playing three a week from November until we get knocked out of the Europa League.
In the earlier stages of my career I couldn’t make sense of it. I know some managers have spoken out against it.
I don’t think it is correct. I think we need to be given more time to recover from different games and at different times of the season. I don’t think it is down to the players, we shouldn’t have to speak out.”
Rashford has been backed by Southgate to prove his commitment, as he features in the Three Lions squad to take on Malta and North Macedonia in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday and Monday, respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo has recently disclosed the significance behind his famous ‘Siuuuu’ celebration, which has gained worldwide recognition and become a”global phenomenon”.
The word ‘Siu’ translates to ‘yes’ in Portuguese.
The celebration has not only been embraced and replicated by Ronaldo’s devoted fans but has also been adopted by professional athletes from different sports.
He is believed to have first screamed ‘Siu’ after winning the 2014 Ballon d’Or, which was his third such individual award. Ronaldo has now revealed what he thinks about his celebration and what it actually signifies.
“It seems to have grown into its own global phenomenon – and I love when I see other players doing it, or people send me videos of people in other sports doing it or little kids doing it – it’s great.
It means yes – very simple but meaning it strongly!” Ronaldo said to LiveScore, for whom he is an Official Global Brand Ambassador.
Ronaldo had previously revealed that he had not put any thought behind the celebration and was invented in the spur of the moment during a pre-season match against Chelsea in the United States.
“I started to say ‘si’, it’s like ‘yes’, when I was in Real Madrid. I was in the USA and we played against Chelsea and I don’t know where this is coming from, the celebration,” he said. “I just scored the goal and it just came out.
It was just natural, to be honest. Since that, I started to do it more often and I feel like the supporters and the fans see it and they’re like ‘Cristiano, siiiiiiuuuu’.
I’m like ‘wow! People are reminded of me because of it!’ So it’s good, and I’ll continue doing it like that.”
Ronaldo is currently on a break after the end of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League season, but will return to action with the Portugal national team for a Euro 2024 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 17.
The Portuguese forward made the move in December 2022, embarking on a new phase of his professional career.
However, the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia proved to be a hurdle initially, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius during the summer. To combat this, training sessions are primarily conducted in the evening, a departure from the usual practice in European clubs.
Ronaldo conceded that it took him some time to acclimate to this difference but assured that he has now fully settled into his new environment.
“The biggest difference I have found in Saudi is obviously the heat and adapting schedules to train later in the day when it is cooler,” he said in his capacity as LiveScore ambassador. “But I have really gotten used to that now.
The fans here have been incredible to me, welcoming me, and those that follow me to continue on this amazing journey.
Every league and country is different and I am very proud to have experienced three different leagues in Europe (and won titles in them all).”
Following in Ronaldo’s footsteps, formerReal Madrid skipper Karim Benzema and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante are also set to be part of the Saudi Pro League in the next campaign.
The Portuguese is excited about the arrival of more top-quality talent and believes that the league will develop immensely over the next few years.
“It hasn’t surprised me but it makes me really happy to see people all across the world now watching the Saudi Pro League. I believe the league will continue to develop and many more players from European leagues will come here to play,” he added.
After completing the 2022-23 Saudi Pro League campaign, Ronaldo will shift his focus to international football as he is set to return to action with Portugal against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 17, in a Euro 2024 qualifying fixture.
Kylian Mbappe has expressed his frustration once again as Paris Saint-Germain suffered another disappointing season in the Champions League.
PSG’s struggles in Europe’s premier competition have become a recurring theme, and this season was no different. A slow start in the group stage resulted in them finishing second behind Benfica, with Juventus and Maccabi Haifa also in the mix.
This meant that PSG faced a challenging round of 16 tie against the formidable Bayern Munich, who have won the tournament six times.
Unfortunately for the Parisian club, Bayern Munich dominated both legs of the tie, securing comfortable victories home and away to claim a 3-0 aggregate win.
As a result, PSG exited the competition at the last-16 stage for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Mbappe, who came closest in the 2020 final against familiar foes Bayern, has bemoaned yet more failure this term, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport: “For a player like me, the goal is to win everything.
And we knew that at PSG there were shortcomings that sooner or later we were going to end up paying for.
Mbappe added on the recent controversy surrounding his contract, which is due to expire next year, and reports claiming he is set to push for a move to Real Madrid this summer:
“I didn’t say I wanted to be sold to Real Madrid or want to leave, but only that I won’t activate the option on the extra year.
With PSG, there has never been any talk of a renewal.”
As the Frenchman alludes to, there have been rumours linking him with a move away from Paris and to Madrid – who certainly know how to win a Champions League.
Boasting a record 14 European crowns to their name, Real are in need of a long-term replacement for the recently departed Karim Benzema, who sealed a move to Saudi champions Al-Ittihad last week.
To do that, though, Los Blancos will need PSG to put Mbappe up for market, as the player is seemingly insistent he won’t force a move.
If that is the case, Madrid would be happy to part with up to €200 million (£171m/$216m) for the 24-year-old, despite him having just a year left on his contract.
Despite Mbappe’s stance that he doesn’t want to leave just yet, the transfer saga looks to set to dominate yet another summer window.
Before to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar, Black Stars coach Chris Hughton spoke candidly about the worsening injury issue in the team’s training camp.
After getting hurt during Auxerre’s final game of the season, defender Gideon Mensah was the most recent player to leave the team.
He is one of three players who will not compete in the last AFCON qualifier, along with Alexander Djiku of RC Strasbourg and striker Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao.
Hughton earlier replaced Williams and Djiku with Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Kasim Adams respectively, but will travel without cover for Mensah.
“It’s an opportunity for somebody else. This is an international team. There is no absolute standout first 11.
Whatever the squad is, whether 24 or 25, the players, they are all pushing to start,” he said at a presser on Tuesday, as quoted by Ghanasoccernet.
The Black Stars will continue preparations on Wednesday before the team leaves for Antananarivo on Friday for the game on June 18.
The four-time African champions need at least a point to secure their place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.
Mensah suffers injury blow
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Black Stars have been hit with another injury blow after defender Gideon Mensah pulled out of the squad for the upcoming game against Madagascar.
Forward Inaki Williams and defender Alexander Djiku were withdrawn from the squad due to injuries.
Mensah’s injury means the Black Stars have only one left-back for the trip to Antananarivo to face Madagascar in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Black Stars hold first training
The Black Stars of Ghana held their first training session in Accra on Monday ahead of the penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
Twenty-three out of the twenty-five players who reported to camp participated in full training as the players warmed themselves up ahead of Sunday’s game in Antananarivo.
Thomas Partey and Gideon Mensah were the only players who did not take part in training, and are expected to join the rest of the team on Tuesday as preparations continue.
Marcus Rashford said it was “not nice” to see the Manchester City celebration in his hometown, but he will still applaud the City players who are also playing for England this week.
Less than 24 hours after the historic open-top bus tour to celebrate winning the treble, City’s five players chosen by England are anticipated to join the rest of the national team at St. George’s Park on Tuesday evening.
As preparations advance for Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta, Gareth Southgate has informed Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish that he wants them to join the rest of their England team-mates as soon as possible.
Rashford, whose Manchester United side were beaten 2-1 in the FA Cup final by City, said of the celebration: “It’s not nice. But it’s football.
They best team who consistently play the best football are going to win the most trophies. They’ve won three so well done to them. We just move on and it’s up to them to keep it up. It’s up to us to catch them up.
“I’ll say congratulations. It’s football. It’s nothing new. Just look at Barcelona, Real Madrid a few years ago – they were consistently the best team so will win trophies.”
Asked whether watching the celebrations provided him with extra motivation to close the gap, Rashford said: “Yeah, 100 per cent.”
Rashford on player burnout: Schedule is mad
This international break comes less than three weeks before most clubs return for pre-season training meaning players joining up with their nations have limited time for a prolonged rest.
Pep Guardiola said in the wake of City’s win in Istanbul that football’s governing bodies need to put the welfare of players more at thecentre of their thinking and Rashford also thinks there is a problem.
He said: “It’s evident. It’s mad that we’re playing teams that play once a week and we’re playing three a week from November until we got knocked out of the Europa League. It’s difficult but we’re used to doing it. That said I don’t think it’s right.
“In the early stages of my career I couldn’t make sense of it. Some managers have spoken out about it.
If one team is playing 60 games a year and another is playing 38 then there needs to be some time for the team playing those 20 extras games to recover and prepare.”
Kylian Mbappe says he has not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer and that the letter he sent to the club was leaked with the aim of “damaging his image”.
The forward has also taken to Twitter to brand reports that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer as “lies”, adding he is “very happy” with the French champions.
On Monday it emerged that Mbappe had written to PSG to tell them he would not be triggering the clause in his current deal that would see it extended until the summer of 2025, meaning he is set to become a free agent next summer.
MENSONGES…❌ En même temps plus c’est gros plus ça passe. J’ai déjà dis que je vais continuer la saison prochaine au PSG où je suis très heureux. https://t.co/QTsoBQvZKU
In a statement sent to news agency AFP on Tuesday, Mbappe said PSG have known his decision for nearly a year, adding that “the only aim of the letter was to confirm what had already been spoken about previously”.
Mbappe also insisted he has not spoken to PSG about extending his contract.
However, PSG have denied this, saying: “It is emphatically untrue to say Mbappe’s team have not been involved in renewal discussions.”
The club also insist the forward’s letter was provided to the media before it was sent to them.
Mbappe’s statement read: “After having publicly declared in recent weeks that he will be a Parisian next season, Kylian Mbappe did not ask for his departure this summer, but merely confirmed to the club that he was not activating his additional year.
“The management of the club in charge of its extension (signed on May 21 2022) was informed of its decision on July 15 2022 and the sole purpose of the email was to confirm what had already been orally clarified previously.
“Mbappe and his entourage claim they have not discussed this point with the club again during the year, except 15 days ago to announce the sending of the letter. Nor has any possible new extension been mentioned.
“Finally, Mbappe and his entourage regret that the receipt of this letter has been transmitted to the media and that these exchanges are made public with the sole aim of damaging his image and the smooth running of conversations with the club.”
PSG are unwilling to allow Mbappe to leave for free at the end of his contract, meaning he could be sold during the current transfer window.
Mbappe turned down interest from Real Madrid to sign his current PSG contract last summer, with the deal running for two years and including a player option to extend the agreement by 12 months.
During Manchester City’s Champions League celebrations,Kevin De Bruyne caused confusion among fans as he was seen wearing a Sheffield Wednesday kit.
City achieved a remarkable treble on Saturday, June 10, by claiming the European trophy for the first time in the club’s history in Istanbul.
In the final against Inter Milan, City emerged as European champions with a 1-0 victory. According to BBC, Rodri’s goal in the second half proved to be the decisive factor in securing the historic win.
The victory sparked wild celebrations from the Man City camp that later spilled over into the dressing room.
De Bruyne in Sheffield kit
But one peculiar thing from the celebrations that left fansconfused was De Bruyne’s decision to sport a Sheffield Wednesday kit.
While everyone else was donning Man City attire, the Belgian playmaker opted for the second-tier side’s shirt from the ’90s.
The Mirror claims that the midfielder may have worn the shirt due to his wife’s ties with the club.
The publication claims De Bruyne’s wife, Michele, is good friends with the partner of former Wednesday captain, Glenn Loovens, so much so that Loovens was spotted in Istanbul interacting with Man City fans during the final.
Inside Man City’s celebrations
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Manchester City stars were on cloud nine as they celebrated their Champions League triumph on Saturday night.
Jack Grealish led the celebrations, which spilt over into a nightclub, with the Englishman spotted downing a few cans of booze.
On his part, Erling Haaland toasted his fine season with a cigar.Kevin De Bruyne, who hobbled off with an injury in the first half, joined his teammates for the celebrations.
Lionel Messi has stated that he will not participate in the 2026 World Cup with the Argentina national team, as they aim to defend the title they won in Qatar in December 2022.
The 35-year-old forward played a pivotal role in guiding Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in history, ending a 35-year drought since Diego Maradona led the team to victory in 1986.
As reported by Goal, Messi, who will be 39 years old during the 2026 World Cup, has announced that the 2022 tournament was his final one with Argentina, indicating his decision not to be involved in their quest to defend the championship.
“I think not. This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but not in principle, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”
Messi is Argentina’s all-time goal scorer and records the highest appearance for the Copa America defending champions with 174 caps and 102 goals for Argentina.
Messi makes Ballon d’Or claim
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has revealed winning the Ballon d’Or does not matter to him at this stage of his career when quizzed in a recent interview about the award, Daily Post reports.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are among the top contenders to challenge for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins for an individual with six awards and could extend that feat if he wins the 2023 edition.
Updated Ballon d’Or 2023 rankings
Earlier, Sports Brief reported captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Lionel Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighthBallon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
Mbappe has communicated to Paris Saint-Germain that he will not be extending his contract beyond its expiration in 2024. As a result, Real Madrid has emerged as the frontrunners to secure the services of the 24-year-old forward.
According to Football Espana, La Liga views the potential signing of Mbappe as crucial in demonstrating that Real Madrid remains an attractive destination, despite the financial might and allure of the Premier League.
The Spanish topflight is losing star power with the departure of Karim Benzema from Real Madrid another blow, after losses of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar in the past.
La Liga only have two of the top 10 most-followed players that attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the league hopes the arrival of Mbappe will increase the league’s popularity again worldwide.
Madrid to table Mbappe bid
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are ready to bid for Kylian Mbappe this summer rather than waiting to sign him as a free agent when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires, ESPN reports.
Mbappe has informed PSG that he would not be exercising his option to extend his deal by another year, meaning his contract with the Parisians would be up in June 2024.
PSG would be willing to listen to offers of around €150 million for Mbappe this summer to avoid losing the 2022 World Cup Golden Ball winner for free a year later.
Mbappe speaks amid PSG exit talks
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Kylian Mbappe has clarified the uncertainty surrounding his future following news of his decision to tell Paris Saint-Germain that he will not be taking up an option to extend his contract until 2025.
Mbappe’s current contract with the Ligue 1 champions is set to expire at the conclusion of the season, with a potential extension for an additional year.
However, the Frenchman communicated to PSG via a letter that he unequivocally rejects the prospect of activating the contract’s extension clause for an additional year, regardless of the circumstances.
Kylian Mbappe has addressed the speculation surrounding his future after informing Paris Saint-Germain that he will not be exercising the option to extend his contract until 2025.
The talented forward’s current contract with the Ligue 1 champions is due to expire at the end of the season, with a potential extension for an extra year.
In a letter sent to PSG, Mbappe made it clear that he has no intention of activating the contract’s extension clause under any circumstances.
As reported by GOAL, Les Parisiens are contemplating placing the 24-year-old on the transfer market, as the Paris-based club are not prepared to lose their record goal-scorer for free when his current deal runs out.
However, in an effort to provide clarity, Mbappe has come forward to share his perspective on the matter of his contract renewal.
“I have never discussed a renewal with PSG,” he told AFP, as quoted by PSG Report.
“The management of the club in charge has been informed since July 15, 2022, of my decision not to extend beyond 2024, and the letter sent was only intended to confirm what had already been clarified orally beforehand.”
The 2018 World Cup winner’s choice not to extend his contract delivers another setback to the French champions, compounding the recent departure of Lionel Messi, who chose not to renew his contract and instead join MLS club Inter Miami.
PSG clarify Mbappe exit talks
In a related publication, the French youngster’s reported decision to forfeit renewing a deal with Paris Saint-Germain has opened the doors for speculation, with reports gushing in like never before, Sports Brief reported.
PSG chief, Nasser Al-Khelaifi is understandably infuriated with the constant flirting between Real Madrid and Mbappe, as has been a constant theme in recent years.
As such, the Spanish publication claims PSG will consider selling their star to any club except the La Liga giants.
The 35-year-old football star arrived in Beijing on Saturday to join his national team for upcoming friendly matches against Australia and Indonesia.
Messi, who traveled via a private jet accompanied by his close friend Angel Di Maria, plays for Inter Miami.
While the flight itself proceeded smoothly, border security initially denied Messi entry into China.
He was mobbed by officials and could be seen clutching his passport.
According to Mirror Sports, the issue arose due to Messi travelling with his Spanish passport instead of his Argentinian one.
The 35-year-old is believed to have used his Spanish passport due to thinking Taiwan was part of China, and he was reportedly heard in a video asking the border officials: ‘Is Taiwan not China?’
Airport personnel were confused that he’d not brought his native documents, but after a wait of roughly 30 minutes, Messi was granted an entry visa and continued on his way to the training camp.
As reported by Daily Star, Argentina will play Australia on Thursday, June 15, at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium before moving on to Jakarta the following Monday to face Indonesia at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno.
Australia coach wants Messi revenge
Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported that Australia coach, Graham Arnold said on Tuesday that he wants “revenge” over Lionel Messi’s Argentina when his side meet the world champions in a Beijing friendly next week.
Messi terrorised the Socceroos and scored a sublime goal in a 2-1 win in the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, before going on to lift the trophy.
But Arnold’s unfancied team gave Argentina a scare and the Australia coach said they will be taking the match on June 15 in the Chinese capital seriously, even if it is a friendly.
Towards the end of the match, Inzaghi, known for his intense and emotional presence on the touchline, ventured onto the pitch in an attempt to motivate his team to score a late equalizer.
He had to be reminded to return to his designated area by the officials.
The match, held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, was a closely contested affair, with Inter Milan impressing many by successfully keeping Pep Guardiola’s side at bay for significant periods of the game.
Inzaghi, a cup final specialist, was finally broken by a Rodri strike from inside the area in the 68th minute.
The Nerazzuri failed to get back into the game, with Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku particularly guilty of missing decent opportunities.
Inzaghi’s on-field actions
With Inter Milan’s last opportunity of the game, Inzaghi literally got into the pitch and beckoned his goalkeeper Andre Onana to come forward for the last corner kick of the game.
A member of his technical staff rushed to ask him to retreat and the 47-year-old did not take the gesture kindly before he heeded to the call and stepped out. Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson ended up saving the resultant corner kick as the Premier League champions finally won their first European title.
Inzaghi speaks after Champions League final
Sports Brief also reported that Inter Milan manager Simeone Inzaghi has opened up following his side’s loss to Manchester City in the final of the UEFA Champions League on Saturday night.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has expressed his desire to reunite with Chelsea star Kai Havertz, who has been linked with a potential permanent transfer to Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a fee of approximately £72 million, Havertz, 24, has been a regular starter for Chelsea. He has played a significant role in the team’s success, including their UEFA Champions League triumph and other trophies.
According to The Telegraph, both Real Madrid and Arsenal have shown interest in signing the 35-time capped German international. Chelsea, on the other hand, reportedly aim to sell Havertz for a fee of £70 million.
During an interview with AS, Rudiger was asked for his opinion on Havertz joining the La Liga giants. He replied:
“It would make me happy to play with Kai Havertz again at club level after our time together at Chelsea. Unfortunately,
I can’t say a lot about it right now because in terms of transfers, my opinion is secondary. They are all club decisions.”
Should the German secure a summer move to Real Madrid, he would emerge as a first-team face for them.
He could provide a versatile solution to their striking crisis in the aftermath of Karim Benzema’s permanent switch to Al-Ittihad.
Havertz’s elite addition to Arsenal
On the other hand, Havertz could prove to be a shrewd signing for Arsenal.
While he could provide solid competition to starting striker Gabriel Jesus, he could also serve as an elite rotational option for Martin Odegaard as a number 10.
Overall, Havertz has scored 32 goals and laid out 15 assists in 139 games across all competitions for Chelsea.
Obstacle impeding Havertz’s Madrid move
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Madrid have no intention to pay Chelsea’s €60m plus add-ons asking price and are willing to look elsewhere if it doesn’t come down, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea is expected to discuss the future of Havertz in the coming days as they expect more clubs to approach them over the 23-year-old.
After spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Inter, the Chelsea striker traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with officials from Al-Hilal, as reported by GOAL.
Al-Hilal has put forward a two-season contract proposal to Lukaku, amounting to a total of €50 million.
Lukaku is set to return to Chelsea following the expiration of his loan deal with Inter. Reports suggest that Inter may not have the financial means to secure his permanent signing, and the newly-appointed Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is apparently open to giving Lukaku another opportunity at Stamford Bridge.
However, GOAL confirmed that Lukaku is very much open to a switch to Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old will first try to squeeze an even larger salary out of the club, though, as he wants to be rewarded handsomely if he is to turn his back on European football.
Al-Hilal will have to enter into direct negotiations with Chelsea if they strike an agreement with Lukaku.
The Blues are open to a sale as they seek to trim their squad ahead of the new season, but will ask for a fee in excess of €50 million.
The Chelsea forward has expressed his desire to remain at Inter, who reached the 2022-23 Champions League final only to lose 1-0 against Manchester City, but it appears unlikely that the Italian giants will be able to keep him for another year.
The lure of riches in Saudi Arabia could prove too strong for Lukaku to ignore, with Ronaldo paving the way for more high-profile stars to play in the Middle East after his record-breaking switch to Al-Nassr in December.
Ronaldo’s former team-mate Karim Benzema has since left Real Madrid to join Al-Ittihad, with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante also now set to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League champions.
A few hours after the news came that Kylian Mbappe might leave Paris Saint-Germain as early as this summer, a wonderful childhood picture of him wearing a Chelsea jersey reappeared on social media.
According to reports, Mbappe gave PSG executives a formal letter outlining his choice not to use a contract extension clause.
This essentially means that his contract with the French powerhouse will expire after the 2019–20 campaign.
PSG could potentially lose the most intriguing player in world football for nothing the next season. Selling him this summer would be the other choice.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has indicated that they would be keen to move him on this summer should he refuse to extend his contract.
Which club will Mbappe join?
Rumours have now started to swirl around on where the 24-year-old could be headed next. He has previously been linked with amove to Real Madrid, only for him to make an about-turn and agree to a new deal with PSG.
Manchester United’s prospective owners are also reportedly keen on signing the 2018 World Cup winner should they take over the club.
A section of Chelsea fans have also beseeched the French star to return ‘home’ should he choose to leave this summer. Mbappe is among the long list of players Chelsea rejected. As Marca reports, Chelsea turned him away in 2012 after one session because of his defensive qualities.
His mother, Fayza Laamri, refused to return her child for a second session, with Mbappe going on to rise through the ranks with Monaco as he took the world by storm at the Russia World Cup.
@CFCDubois said;
“Born in Chelsea, raised in Chelsea & a product of the Chelsea academy. It’s time to come home, Mbappe.”
@Mr Ebony said:
“I never knew Mbappe has any past affiliation with Chelsea, though. Come home bruh”
Realistically, Chelsea are among the few clubs that can afford his wages, but their lack of European football next season will make it hard for them to sell the idea to Mbappe.
Mbappe’s letter to PSG
Kylian Mbappe told Paris Saint-Germain on Monday that he would not be taking up an option to extend his contract until 2025. Sports Brief reported that the 24-year-old France striker’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with the option of another year.
The 2018 World Cup winner sent a formal letter to Paris Saint-Germain on Monday afternoon.
In this letter, Mbappe reportedly informed the Parisians that he will not, under any circumstances, be activating the option in his contract for a further year until 2025.
The Spaniard made this decision after guiding City to an unprecedented treble during the recently finished 2022–23 season.
After their city rivals, Man United, the Citizens won three significant trophies under Guardiola, becoming just the second Premier League club to do so.
According to The Sun, the English powerhouses defeated Arsenal to win the league title with three games remaining before defeating Manchester United in the FA Cup final to add to their collection of trophies.
City went on to win the Champions League for the first time in their history on Saturday night after silencing Italian giants, Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul in the final of the tournament.
Guardiola to quit Man City
Having won almost every available trophy at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola has reportedly decided to end his career at Man City within the next few years.
The 52-year-old has an active contract with the Manchester club that will expire in 2025, having penned a renewal of his deal back in November 2021.
According to The Guardian, the former Barcelona boss has decided he will not continue at the club once the deal expires.
Guardiola has enjoyed an illustrious career at City since he joined them from Bayern Munich in 2016. An incredible five Premier League titles and a couple of domestic titles are among the honours he has won for the club.
Guardiola receives message from Fergie
Sports Brief also reported onMan City boss, Guardiola revealing the touching message he received from Sir Alex Ferguson before winning a historic treble.
Emulating the legendary Man United manager, the Citizens added the UCL title to the Premier League and FA Cup by beating Inter Milan 1-0 on Saturday night.
After Kylian Mbappe wrote them a letter alerting them he won’t pursue a 2025 contract option, PSG are considering selling him this summer.
In a year, Mbappe might be available for free transfer, a situation PSG is desperately trying to prevent.
Real Madrid’s future plans heavily involve such a move, however L’Equipe is now claiming that PSG would not permit Mbappe to depart as a free agent, meaning he may be sold this summer.
The 23-year-old had already committed his future to the capital club for the following campaign, amid rising interest from Spanish giants Madrid.
But the option to extend his contract by another year – through to 2025 – will not be activated, due to the specific wishes of the French forward noted in a formal letter sent to the club on Monday.
Having purchased Mbappe for €180 million (£155m/$194m) in 2018, PSG will therefore be looking for at least a partial return on their initial investment.
The news is massively significant forReal Madrid. The 14-time European Champions only said goodbye to veteran forward Karim Benzema a week ago, with the striker calling time on his Madrid career after 14 years in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia.
Los Blancos are in the market for a forward, having already contacted Chelsea about the availability of Kai Havertz, but the chance to land their prime transfer target as early as this summer may be too good an opportunity to turn down.
In a surprising turn of events onMonday, Kylian Mbappe delivered a contractual bombshell by reportedly informing Paris Saint-Germain through a letter that he has no intention of extending his current deal, set to expire in 2024.
The news first broke when the letter was sent to French outlet L’Equipe, causing PSG to feel “betrayed” by the 24-year-old’s actions, as reported by The Mirror.
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a potential departure from PSG this summer, with Real Madrid emerging as the most probable destination for the talented forward.
In a surprising twist, it has been revealed that Kylian Mbappe’s contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain in May includes an unreported clause.
According to L’Equipe, the deal is for three years, but with an additional optional year that can only be activated with the player’s consent.
This clause potentially allows Mbappe to leave the club in 2024, a year earlier than previously thought, which may reignite Real Madrid’s interest in the player sooner than expected.
The New York Times has reported that Mbappe has already informed PSG through a letter that he intends to decline the final year of his contract, effectively making him a free agent next summer.
This decision would enable him to join another club outside of France on a pre-contract agreement from January 2024 onwards.
To avoid losing him without receiving a transfer fee, PSG may be compelled to consider selling Mbappe in the current transfer window.
L’Equipe are believed to have contacted the club for comment when they were given a copy of the letter before PSG received it.
The situation is similar to that faced last summer, when Real Madrid had looked set to sign the player only forMbappe to decide to renew with the French capital club. While the news is something of a shock, it is not without context. The club were reported to have engaged a company to use Twitter accounts to criticise its own players, including Mbappe.
Haaland enjoyed an outstanding debut season in the Premier League with Manchester City, breaking several records due to his exceptional goal-scoring abilities.
As reported by GiveMeSport, the Borussia Dortmund star netted an astonishing 52 goals in all competitions, with 36 of them coming in the Premier League.
Twelve of the goals were scored in the UEFA Champions League, with the tally helping the youngster win Golden Boots in both competitions.
Haaland seeks Henry’s advice
However, it seems he wants to hit higher milestones next season and decided to seek advice from Henry, one of the most successful Premier League players.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 11, 2023
In a video shared by CBS Sports, Haaland is heard asking Henry to share with him any tips he may be having to help him improve.
“If you’d like to give me one [piece of] advice, what would it be?” Haaland posed.
Henry responded:
“I said on air that in the box, there is nothing you can learn – what you do is second to none. But… back to the goal, going on to your right sometimes and making some runs that you don’t want to go… there’s some stuff that you can learn.”
“If he starts to go on his right and finishing with his right, the same run he makes on his left, it’s over. He will score 100 goals per week,” Henry added.
Renowned Ghanaian music producer, Appiah Dankwah, widely known as Appietus, has provided insight into the challenges preventing Ghanaian music from gaining international recognition and how hard it would be for Ghana to take over Afro
During an open interview on the Showbiz University podcast with King Kweku Mensah, Appietus expressed his belief that one of the primary obstacles faced by Ghanaian music is the constant inclination to explore and experiment with new genres, rather than focusing on a specific style.
However, he lamented the fact that Ghana has drifted away from its musical roots, leaving behind genres like high-life, Afro-beat, Azonto, and others.
He expressed his concerns, stating, “That thing is difficult. Ghanaians like to change. I think it’s been a problem. We like to change, even when it’s not necessary. We just always want to see if this one will also do well. We leave the rest behind.”
Appietus proudly mentioned that Afrobeat originated in Ghana, citing his song “O Waee” as an example that predates Nigerian artists’ adoption of the genre.
He acknowledged that Nigerians picked up the vibe and made it their own, stating that he doesn’t blame them for doing so.
However, he expressed uncertainty about how Ghana can reclaim ownership of Afrobeat, as Nigeria has successfully appropriated the genre.
“They’ve taken it. It will be difficult to take it from them. Very difficult. I don’t know how we’re going to do it,” he confessed.
He cited the example of artists now following the South African Amapiano trend and urged them not to lose their unique identity in the pursuit of international recognition.
Comparing the music scenes in other countries, he pointed out the enduring presence of specific genres in America, Nigeria, and Jamaica.
“In America, hip-hop is still there. Rock music is still there. Country music is still there. If you go to Nigeria, they still have Juju music. They have added a full beat, and they’ve stuck to it,” Appietus explained.
Appietus emphasized thatGhana’s rich music heritage, particularly in highlife, gives the country an advantage over Nigeria.
“We left Highlife, we left Azonto, all those Alkayeeda. Now we are playing Afrobeat. Afrobeat even started from here,” he expressed on the podcast.
The Brazilian winger first wore the number 25 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before moving to the number 20.
Yet, he now has the honour of donning this legendary piece thanks to his impressive development and steady performances in recent seasons.
As reported by AS, Vinicius will don the coveted No. 7 jersey, which was worn by Eden Hazard from 2019 to 2023.
The winger will also follow in the footsteps of legendary names like Raymond Kopa, Amancio Amaro Varela, Juanito, Emilio Butragueño, Raúl, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite his tender age of 22, Vini has already amassed an astonishing 225 appearances for Los Blancos, making significant contributions with 59 goals and 64 assists, per Transfermarkt.
While he inherits Real Madrid’s iconic shirt number, his compatriot, Rodrygo de Goes will take up the No.11 jersey after previously occupying the 21 shirt.
Vini among Most Valuable Players
Sports Brief also reported on Vini finishing behind only Erling Haaland in the ranking of the Most Valuable Player presently, according to research group CIES Football Observatory.
Undoubtedly Real Madrid’s best player this season, Vinicius churned out superlative performances week-in and week-out with little fuss, despite enduring persistent fan racism.
Ballon d’Or ranking: Vinicius drops
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Vini falling down the rankings as Lionel Messi prepares to battle Erling Haaland for the 2023 edition of the Ballon d’Or award.
The Real Madrid winger finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup to his name, but ranks lower on the award list.
Vinicius is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Messi.
Vela emphasized that while Messi’s arrival in MLS is a positive development for the growth of football in the country, it will not change the fact that LAFC remains the favorites for the league title.
Last week, Messi officially announced that he would be joining Inter Miami following the conclusion of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain on June 30.
Despite being linked with other clubs such as Barcelona and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Messi explained that he sought peace of mind, which influenced his decision to choose Miami.
The player, who was heavily linked with both Barcelona and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, later revealed that he wanted more peace of mind, which propelled him to choose Miami over others.
Vela, who plies his trade at LAFC since joining from Real Sociedad in 2018, welcomed Messi’s arrival but remains confident about his team’s chances of winning silverware. Speaking to US TV channel TUDN, the Mexican said:
“It’s great news for MLS, but I still think that we are still the ones who want to win the title. It doesn’t matter who is on the other teams. Plans don’t change.”
LAFC find themselves in the third spot in the Western Conference table, are the current MLS Cup holders. Inter Miami, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference rankings.
The MLS’s transfer window opens on July 5, meaning that Inter Miami will not be able to register Messi before then. If he is registered as soon as the window opens, Messi could play his first MLS game against Wayne Rooney’s DC United on July 9.
Vela vs Messi in Spain
According to Whoscored, Carlos Vela and Lionel Messi faced each other 16 times during their time together in Spain, across La Liga and Copa del Rey.
The Mexican, who faced Messi once as an Osasuna player and 15 times as a Real Sociedad man, lost 10 times and won only on four occasions.
During Vela’s stint at Sociedad, between 2012 and 2018, Messi scored 13 goals against La Real in 18 games across competitions.
The pair faced each other in international colours as well. Messi’s Argentina beat Mexico 4-1 in a friendly in 2008, with Messi scoring once.
In 2015, they played another friendly, playing out to a 2-2 draw. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was on the scoresheet that time as well.
Vela has stated that while Messi joining MLS is excellent news for the country’s footballing culture, Inter Miami will not dethrone LAFC as league-title favourites.
The Black Stars players have reported for their training camp in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
Pictures shared on social media by the official Black Stars handle depict the players arriving at the team hotel, dressed in casual attire.
As of now, the Ghana Football Association has not confirmed the exact number of players who have arrived out of the 24-man squad that was announced for the national team.
However, from the images posted on social media, skipper Andre Ayew, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Salis Samed, Kasim Nuhu, Majeed Ashimeru, Osman Buakri, Hafiz Konkoni, and Joseph Aidoo, Gideon Mensah, Joseph Paintsil have all arrived.
The team is currently lodging at the Alisa Hotel and will train at the Accra Sports Stadium before they departGhana for Madagascar.
The game is scheduled for June 18, 2023.
Players in photos:
Black Stars Capt.Andre Dede Ayew arrives at campAte Zigi is here Jordan Ayew steps out of carSaliz abdul Samed Joseph PaintsilHafiz Konkoni
Manchester City secured their first-ever Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul.
The triumph represents a significant accomplishment for the Citizens, as it fulfills their long-standing ambition of capturing the most prestigious club competition in Europe.
Both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had set winning the Champions League as their ultimate objective in recent seasons, having dominated their respective domestic leagues.
Manchester City has claimed five out of the last six Premier League titles in England, showcasing their domestic prowess.
Similarly, PSG has been dominant in Ligue 1, clinching the league title all but twice since 2013.
However, it was Manchester City who ultimately emerged victorious in the Champions League, attaining their sought-after goal.
After a failed final effort in 2021, Man City would finally go on to conquer Europe and be crowned UCL winners for the first time over the weekend.
However, PSG seem to have their house in disarray after another woeful season in the competition.
Sports Brief has outlined where PSG must emulate Manchester City if they intend to one day be crowned Champions League winners.
1. Assemble a balanced squad
PSG has a star-studded squad but one that is not balanced, making the club’s bid to conquer Europe all the more challenging.
The Parisians have spent considerable sums bringing world-class players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Sergio Ramos into their fold but still needed more in-depth quality.
PSG had one of the best attacking line-up in Europe last season with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Photo by Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images
Pep Guardiola has been praised for his tactical genius in creating a monstrous Man City team, but he would only have achieved that by having quality players all around.
With PSG, however, the first team seems to have much of the quality while the bench consists of average players who would only work if given the mantle to lead the team.
2. Stick with a world-class manager
Paris Saint-Germain have witnessed at least seven people come and go as managers of the Ligue 1 giants since 2012 – when the club started the real push to win the Champions League.
Top-rated managers such as Carlo Ancelotti, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, and Mauricio Pochettino had brief reigns in the French capital but were let go after failing to win the European crown.
According to Goal, PSG’s latest manager, Christophe Galtier has also been shown the door after just one season at the helm, with the club now said to be on the lookout for a new manager.
Man City, meanwhile, has stuck with Guardiola for six seasons despite his previous failure to land the UCL trophy.
3. Turn the fans into supporters
PSG has been plagued with too many distractions from their fanbase this season, with some players – chiefly Messi – getting booed by their supporters.
According to Marca, hundreds of fans showed up with megaphones, flares, and banners at the club headquarters, calling for the Argentine and Neymar to leave.
This has not been the case for past winners of theUEFA Champions League, where their fans have stuck with their respective teams through good and bad times.
With Man City, their fans have been there through the rough patches and supported their team, while the PSG fans always look for scapegoats whenever the team fails to perform.
PSG dealt another transfer blow
Earlier, there were reports on PSG’s management plans suffering a blow after Zinédine Zidane reportedly turned down their offer to replace Galtier at the Parc des Princes.
It has been widely reported the former OGC Nice manager, who only arrived at the club last summer, has already been informed by management that he must now leave.
It is reported that Chelsea is in search of an experienced goalkeeper, as their current options, Kepa and Edouard Mendy, are not considered favorable by the incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Football London suggests that Onana has become a key target for Chelsea, with several other clubs also expressing interest in the Cameroonian goalkeeper due to his impressive performances throughout the season with Inter.
The former Ajax ace was part of Inter’s squad that lost to Manchester City in the Champions League final on Saturday in Istanbul.
However, he was unable to help his side win the tournament, with Rodri’s solitary goal steering City to victory.
Onana speaks on Chelsea links
The Cameroon international used the occasion to address rumours linking him with a possible summer move to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on the reports, Onana was coy about what the future holds for him at San Siro, adding that he is happy at the club.
“I don’t know. The truth is that I’m happy here, but then at a certain level you never know how it will go,” Metro UK quoted Onana saying when asked about his future.
“I have no problems with Inter. I have an excellent relationship with them and I’m at their disposal. I’ll do what they tell me,” he added.
Onana consoles Martinez
Earlier, it was reported that Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana showed class after immediately running to a visibly broken Lautaro Martinez to console him following the defeat to Manchester City in the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Martinez had a chance to win the game for the Italian giants moments before Rodri netted the only goal as Manchester City were crowned champions of Europe.
After the game, Martinez seemed to have not forgiven himself for the missed opportunity as he broke down in uncontrollable tears.
The only member of Chris Hughton’s 24-man squad who hasnot yet reported to the Black Stars camp as they get ready for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar is Arsenal star and deputy captain Thomas Teye Partey.
With the exception of Partey, who is anticipated to arrive on Tuesday, June 13, following a fantastic season with the Gunners, all players who were invited have dutifully reported to the team’s camp at the Alisa Hotel in Accra as of Monday, June 12.
The former Tema Youth player played an integral role for Mikel Arteta’s side in the just-ended 2022–23 English Premier League. He made a total of 39 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals.
The team led by skipper Andre Ayew will open their first training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium later on Monday, June 11, and will continue for the next four days before they jet off to Madagascar.
The match will take place on Sunday, June 18, at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.
The Black Stars lead Group E with eight points, having won two and drawn two.
Michael Essien, the former Ghanaian international and Chelsea star, has chosen his former teammate Frank Lampard as the best player he has ever played alongside.
Essien and Lampard shared the pitch during their time at Chelsea, where they achieved notable success, including winningthe UEFA Champions League, the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, and the Football League Cup.
Essien joined Chelsea in 2005 after transferring from Olympique Marseille, while Lampard had joined the club from West Ham in 2001. Both players departed Chelsea at the conclusion of the 2013/2014 season.
Throughout their time together, they formed a formidable partnership on the field, leading Essien to regard Lampard as the finest player he has had the privilege of playing alongside.
According to Essien, he played with a lot and loved all his teammates, but his midfield partner Lampard is the best of them all.
“Everybody is my teammate. I love all my teammates; I mean it’s hard to choose. But I would go for Frank Lampard. I mean, being a midfielder that scores a lot of goals every season is quite amazing”, he told Goal Africa.
Essien. 40, had a successful playing career which saw him play for top European teams such as Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung and Sabail where he ended his playing career
Currently, he is attached to Danish club Nordsjaelland, where he works as an assistant coach.
Alphonso Davies, a defender for Bayern Munich, claims that theGhana Football Association (GFA) contacted him about playing for Ghana but that it was too late.
The left-back, who was born in Ghana to Liberian parents, was qualified to represent both Ghana and Liberia, but chose to represent Canada after earning Canadian citizenship in June 2017.
Despite playing football for a while, Davies said he was never considered because he ‘wasn’t a big name’ and it took a big transfer move for Ghana to act.
According to him, there was an attempt from the Ghana FA to play for the national team at some point but the timing of the approach was too late for him to reconsider his decision with the contact coming on Instagram.
“Ghana never reached out and also my mum was like, no [to the idea of me playing for Ghana],” he said when quizzed whether was an option to play for the country of his birth.
“I was playing like not even like the academy they never like said [anything about wanting me] I wasn’t a big name. When the news came out that I was going to Bayern, then I got a message from the Ghana federation.
Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies reveals an official from the GFA texted him via Instagram to play for Ghana after his move to Bayern was confirmed.
“I think it was someone on the federation he texted me on Instagram because he didn’t have my number or email. But it was too late, at that time I had already got my citizenship and already made it to [represent] Canada.”
Davies made his first debut for the Canadian national team in June 2017 becoming the youngest player to play for the senior team.
The 22-year-old has 13 goals in 39 appearances for Canada since making his debut.
Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam wins, solidifying his position as the player with the most major titles, following his triumph over Casper Ruud in the final.
As reported by Sportskeeda, Mbappe was present at the Court Philippe-Chatrier, watching the Grand Slam final alongside recently retired AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The event also saw the presence of American football quarterback Tom Brady, who was spotted in Djokovic’s player box, showing his support for the Serbian as he went on to secure victory in the match.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson was also spotted keenly observing the proceedings on Court Philippe-Chatrier in what was an amazing night for Djokovic, who has now won the first two Grand Slams of the Tennis season.
Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic watching the tennis together at Roland-Garros 🇫🇷#SportsGist Black Stars | Ansu Fati | Newcastle | Hilda | Lautaro pic.twitter.com/zQx8WEvnlA
Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed Kylian Mbappe will become a ‘Galactico’ as Los Blancos continue their chase for the French forward, Goal reports.
Perez appears to have hinted that Mbappe could be enticed to join Spain as a free agent next year after missing out on signing the Paris Saint-Germain forward last summer.
Real had a €220 million offer for Mbappe on the table at one point in 2021, but PSG turned it down as they fought desperately to keep the talismanic French forward on their books.
Mbappe wins special award
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Kylian Mbappe was named Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the fourth time in a row on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old has scored 28 goals in the league this term and is on course to finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer for the fifth season running.
The Frenchman was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of teammate Lionel Messi, Loïs Openda and Séko Fofana of Lens, and Lille striker Jonathan David.
A man has surfaced on the internet, making a claim to be the father of Marcus Rashford, the renowned player for Manchester United.
In a video that has gained widespread attention online, the individual reveals his identity and explains that he has chosen to share his story in order to ensure that Rashford and his generation are not overlooked or forgotten.
While expressing his respect for Melanie, the footballer’s mother, the man firmly asserts that it is crucial to reveal the truth.
The man also said that he’s not going public with the claim because he wants money, but because he wants his son.
The man further stated that there’s no need for DNA as he alreadyknows the footballer’s mother.
The father of Enzo Maresca, an assistant coach for Manchester City, has been located after going missing during the Champions League final in Istanbul.
The father of Maresca was among the City fans who travelled to the Ataturk Stadium to watch the Premier League powerhouses when they faced Inter Milan.
The old man was reported missing, though, during the game, according to The Mirror, which prompted a hasty search for him.
It is believed that Maresca, who has established himself as Guardiola’s right-hand man, was notified of his father’s abduction and made an effort to call him.
An announcement was made on the ground for Maresca’s father to make himself known to the nearest steward, with the message also shown on the big screens inside the stadium.
After hours of searching, he is understood to have finally been found safe and sound, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that he was located in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Who is Enzo Maresca?
Maresca has built a reputation for himself as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man, with the tactician among the people behind the scenes of Man City’s success.
The 43-year-old started off his football career as a player, plying his trade with West Brom and Juventus, where he won the Serie A.
He later transitioned into management, initially taking up a role with Man City’s development squad.
He went on to take charge of Parma in Serie B before he joined City’s backroom staff last summer after Juanma Lillo departed for a managerial role in Saudi Arabia.
The tactician has since been linked with the vacant Celtic and Leicester City roles.
Inter legend misses Istanbul trip
Earlier, it was reported that Inter Milan cult hero, Adriano missed the chance to cover the Champions League final in Istanbul because he was partying, according to reports.
Adriano is a familiar name among Inter fans, as the Brazilian had some memorable moments as a Nerazzuri in the early 2000s.
Because of his legendary status at Inter, it only made sense that he was invited to be a pundit for the final, where his former side came up against Manchester City on Saturday, June 10.
Herbert Hainer, the President of Bayern Munich, has made a strong statement confirming that they, along with other club officials, are closely monitoring Nigerian and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen during this summer transfer window.
Osimhen had an outstanding performance during the 2022/23 Serie A season, playing a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph as they clinched the Scudetto after a 33-year wait.
His remarkable season also saw him secure the Golden Boot award, making him the first-ever African player to achieve this feat in the history of Serie A.
Given his impressive achievements, Osimhen has garnered attention from top clubs, with Bayern Munich expressing their keen interest in monitoring the talented striker’s progress during the ongoing transfer period.
Osimhen’s superb performances have made him a target for clubs like Chelsea, Man United, and Paris Saint-Germain.
According to reports on Soccernet and Football London, Herbert Hainer explained that he is aware of the fact that Bayern will have to spend big for them to have Osimhen.
Herbert Hainer on Osimhen
“As a striker costs a lot, we have to make sure he fits well at Bayern. The same names are mentioned in the media: Kolo Muani, Harry Kane, Osimhen, Vlahovic.
“We are watching closely to see who is a better fit at Bayern. We’re also looking at the financial side. I am convinced that we will find a good solution.”
Victor Osimhen flaunts his daughter
Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Victor Osimhen showcased his adorable daughter to the world as Napoli welcomed Sampdoria in their final Serie A game of the season.
The 24-year-old led the Partenopei to the Scudetto this season, with his 26 goals making him the top scorer.
Osimhen was on the scoresheet again in Napoli’s final match of the season, after he netted from the spot in the 64th minute.
Giovanni Simeone scored the second goal to seal Napoli’s historic season with a 2-0 win.
Before the game, Osimhen took the opportunity to show off his beautiful daughter, Hailey, while thanking the Napoli fans for their remarkable support throughout their season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be replaced by Peter Bosz at PSV Eindhoven.
Bosz, 59, was ousted from his position as Lyon’s head coach in October.
The Dutchman has previously played for German clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen as well as Ajax, where he led the Amsterdam giants to the 2016–17 Europa League final.
Bosz has been chosen by PSV to replace Van Nistelrooy, who left the Philips Stadion after the club won the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup that season.
On the new position, Bosz said: “It’s a good feeling to be the head coach of this big club.
“I’ve felt at home since the first meeting. Both PSV and I are hungry for trophies. PSV won two prizes last season but it’s our aim to win the Eredivisie title this coming season. We will give our very best to reach our dream goal.
“I think there will be a good connection between my coaching style and the squad. PSV largely dominated Dutch football for several spells and I am looking forward to reliving that period.”
PSV director of football Earnest Stewart added: “Along with the players, the head coach is the most important person within our organization.
“That’s why we looked to fill the vacant managerial position as quickly as possible, also with an eye on the summer transfer window. Peter was our first-choice candidate, so we are pleased to have him on board.”
PSV ended the 2022-23 season two points behind champions Feyenoord, while they exited the Europa League in the knockout round play-offs to eventual winners Sevilla.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has expressed his frustration with the Football Association (FA) for what he considers a “spiteful” act of leaking his betting charges.
Toney has recently spoken openly about the situation, marking the first time he has addressed the issue since receiving an eight-month ban. He admitted to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.
In the previous month, Toney was handed a £50,000 fine and suspended from all football-related activities until January 17 due to his betting offenses spanning over four years.
The allegations against the 27-year-old initially surfaced in late 2022 and had significant consequences, as it cost him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Toney’s discontent stems from the manner in which his charges were made public, deeming it a malicious act by the FA. His focus now lies on serving his ban and moving forward from this challenging period in his career.
Toney opened up in the Kick Game YouTube channel, where he claimed missing out on the World Cup was more painful than the 8-month ban that was imposed on him.
He also faulted the FA for the manner in which his betting offences were publicized, describing it as ‘spiteful’.
‘People try to break people down,’ He said as per BBC.
‘It came out, just before the England camp, obviously missing out on the World Cup… In a way, it was kind of like: ‘get out now so you don’t go [away with] England’.
‘And then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season… but it is what it is. They wanted to do it that way. I call it a bit spiteful. You just have to get on with it.
According to Toney, missing out on the World Cup was a ‘bigger punishment’, but he hopes to make the next one, when he will be 31.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham had previously stated there was no relationship between the timing of the betting charges and Toney’s omission from the England squad, which he claimed was for sporting reasons.
Toney’s plan B to keep fit
It was also reported on Ivan Toney’s next course of action to stay fit after he was banned from footballing activity.
The 27-year-old could join a rugby team for pre-season ahead of his return to training on September 17, as their core fitness training regime is fundamentally similar to football.
Brentford boss, Thomas Frank and England national team head coach, Gareth Southgate both frowned at the ban on training, claiming it is not the best rehabilitation process to leave him out of the football community.
The former Italian prime minister from Milan bought the team in 1986 and prevented it from going bankrupt. Under his leadership, the Rossoneri won eight Serie A championships and five European Cups.
The contentious businessman later rose to the position of president of Monza, which was still held at the time of his death and was promoted back to the top division through the play-offs in 2022.
Berlusconi was treated for leukemia earlier this year but was reportedly hospitalised last week and died on Monday morning.
Milan said in a statement on their Twitter account: “Deeply saddened,AC Milan grieves the passing of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi and wishes to reach out to the family, associates, and most cherished friends to share our sympathies.
“Tomorrow, we will dream of new ambitions, create new challenges and seek new victories. Which will represent the good, the strong, and the true that lies inside us, in all of us who shared this adventure of binding our lives to a dream called Milan. Thank you, Mr President. Always with us.”
Berlusconi ran the Serie A giants from 1986 to 2017 before selling to a Chinese investment management company.
Carlo Ancelotti, who played for and later managed Milan during Berlusconi’s reign, posted a message of sympathy.
“Today’s sadness doesn’t erase the happy moments spent together,” wrote Ancelotti, who won two league titles and two European Cups as a player at the San Siro before going on to lead them to the league title and two Champions League successes as manager.
“There remains infinite gratitude to the president, but above all to an ironic, loyal, intelligent, sincere man, fundamental in my adventure as a football player first, and then as a coach. Thank you President.”
Monza, meanwhile, also paid their respects to Belusconi, who took control of the club in 2018 through holding company Fininvest.
“(Chief executive) Adriano Galliani and all AC Monza mourn the loss of Silvio Berlusconi: ‘A void that can never be filled, forever with us. Thank you for everything President’,” read a message on the club’s Twitter account.
Manchester City has received a warning not to become complacent following their historic achievement of winning the UEFA Champions League and completing the elusive treble.
The team reached their second-ever final and went one step further this time, defeating Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, having previously lost to Chelsea in their first final two years ago.
The decisive goal came from Spanish midfielder Rodri in the second half, as he skillfully found the net while evading two Inter defenders and goalkeeper Andre Onana.
This victory marks Pep Guardiola’s second treble, with his first coming during his inaugural season as the manager of Barcelona in 2008/09. This achievement formed part of an extraordinary sextuple-winning season for the Catalan club.
Despite this remarkable success, it is cautioned that Manchester City must not become complacent and should continue to strive for further accomplishments in the future.
Wenger issues warning to Guardiola
Legendary former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger is critical even in celebrations of City’s achievements and has sent a warning to Guardiola on what to do next to keep the team afloat.
“What do you do now at City? Do you go for a new challenge? Motivate yourself for a new challenge? Or do you stay, take advantage of the credit and continue to develop this team?” he said, via Mirror UK.
The Gunners legend believes it is certain the club will also lose important players in short order.
“This team is not an old team but there are no young players. Apart from Haaland, who is 22 now, all the others are between 24 and 32 years old. So two or three new players will need to change. They have to find the same quality again.”
Wenger’s advice is something the former Barcelona boss is already a master at. He has the ability to move players on before they degenerate totally in the team.
According to The Sun, City are planning a summer overhaul which includes Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Kalvin Philips, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez.
Ferguson sends message to Guardiola
It was also reported on Sir Alex Ferguson sending a message to Guardiola ahead of the final, which saw City become the second English club to win the treble after the Scot’s 1998/99 squad.
The Citizens also won their third consecutive Premier League title this season, matching another of Fergie’s records, which he achieved twice during his 27 years at the helm of Manchester United.
Isabel Johansen, the girlfriend of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, experienced immense joy and celebration as she marked her partner’s triumph in the Champions League on Saturday, June 10.
Manchester City secured their first-ever Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan, courtesy of a goal scored by Rodri in the second half.
This achievement also completed a treble for manager Pep Guardiola this season, making him the first coach to accomplish this feat with two different clubs, having previously done so with Barcelona in 2009.
Following the game, Johansen was captured in photos alongside Haaland, and social media images showcased her radiant presence adorned with a Norwegian flag during the festive celebrations.
More photos showed the couple posing alongside the Champions League trophy, with families of theManchester City players being invited to join in the on-pitch celebrations.
Also in the stands was Haaland’s dad Alfie, who spent 10 seasons with Manchester City before the club became the force that many fans know of today.
The moment that warmed many fans on social media was when Johansen caught up to Haaland, who was seated on a chair in the middle of the pitch, before wrapping the flag around the striker and seemingly locking lips with him.
Haaland then showed the gentle side of him as he offered Johansen his seat soon after.
19-year old Johansen is reported to have moved from Norway to Manchester, England to be closer to Haaland.
The couple met through the sport of football when they were still children after Haaland joined Norwegian side Bryne FK at just five years old.
Haaland’s dream debut season
In terms of his football, Haaland has had a season to remember at Manchester City in his very first year in England.
As per Transfermkt, the Norwegian scored 52 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions, winning a treble and individual awards along the way, including the Premier League Golden Boot and Player of The Season.
Inside Man City’s treble celebrations
Sports Brief also took a glimpse of Manchester City’s treble celebrations amongst the different players on Saturday evening.
Grealish, who led his teammates, friends and family to a nightclub, was caught on camera downing a few cans of booze.
On his part, Erling Haaland toasted his fine season with a cigar, with Kevin De Bruyne, who hobbled off with an injury in the first half, joining his teammates for celebration.
The final of the 2022/2023 European football season was marked by the UEFA Champions League final held in Istanbul.
This season proved to be physically demanding for all involved, as it featured a packed schedule, including a significant break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In a tightly contested match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, a decisive goal came from Rodri of Manchester City.
His superb curling shot from inside the penalty area secured victory against Inter Milan, allowing Manchester City to achieve a historic treble.
Considering the significance of both the World Cup and the Champions League, it is evident that these tournaments will play a vital role in determining the recipient of the highly coveted individual accolade in football, the Ballon d’Or.
It is set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 award. Sports Brief takes a look at how the vote would possibly go later this year in October.
6. Ilkay Gundogan
Should we call him Mr. Clutch instead? Gundogan’s late bloom to win the Premier League and the FA Cup for Manchester City in his first season as captain has seen his odds rise immensely.
He is definitely bettered by De Bruyne and Haaland in his own team, but his 13 goals and seven goals – especially towards the end of the season – cannot go unmentioned.
Ilkay Gundogan
He joins only a few captains to have captained their sides to winning a treble.
5. Vinicius Junior
It is a good thing the Ballon d’Or award does not account for only the kind of trophies won, but also individual performances as well.
The Real Madrid goal machine finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Barcelona fans were heard chanting ‘Vinicius Die’ during the recent El Clasico fixture at Camp Nou. Image: Alex Caparros Source: Getty Images Read more: https://sportsbrief.com/football/barcelona/36867-barcelona-supporters-verbally-abuse-real-madrid-superstar-chants-vinicius-die/
He is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Lionel Messi.
4. Kylian Mbappe
If Messi will dominate this debate because of the World Cup, then his soon-to-be former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe deserves a shout as well – and with good reason.
The Frenchman was unlucky not to win the December 18 final at the Qatar World Cup despite a historic performance that saw him grab a hat-trick. He missed out on the trophy but won the Golden Boot.
Kylian Mbappe
He has also scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists this season in all competitions, on top of winning the Ligue 1.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian heartbreakingly limped off in the UCL final – the second such time he has been forced off injured in the last game of a tournament.
Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne are dreaming of Champions League success with City (Martin Rickett/PA)
The 31-year-old remains the most elite playmaker in Europe, having provided 32 assists in all competitions.
2. Lionel Messi
Captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighth Ballon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Messi back in training with PSG after Saudi trip suspension and fine
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
1. Erling Haaland
Between the Champions League and the World Cup, the latter understandably carries more weight. However, the Man City striker has closed the gap on the serial winner, Messi in recent months after the Qatar event.
The 22-year-old might have been silent in the UCL final, but his 53 goals across all competitions helped the Citizens complete the historic treble, with the crowning moment coming in Turkey on June 10.
Erling Haaland has starred in his first season at Manchester City
The last time a player from the Premier League won the Ballon d’Or was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, after success in the UCL with Manchester United – an occurence Haaland has now replicated with Manchester City.
Could the Norwegian land his first Ballon d’Or at just 22 years of age – it seems so.
Other 2023 Ballon d’Or candidates
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s respective roles in Napoli’s title-winning season will surely hand them a place in the final top 10 places.
Lautaro Martinez did not play a big role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph but delivered in Inter Milan’s run to the Istanbul final and winning a domestic double.
His international teammate, Julian Alvarez, having won the treble with Man City plus the 2022 World Cup, will also feature among the top-ranked players.
Robert Lewandowski suffered an unfamiliar early exit from the Champions League this term but still won another Golden Boot award, this time in a different league.
Reigning holder, Karim Benzema failed to inspire another European success for Real Madrid, but his 31 goals before joining Al-Ittihad will put him in good standing.
The list of the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards will be announced on September 6, with the winners being announced at a gala in Paris on October 30.
Biggest Ballon d’Or robberies in history
It was also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the ‘weird’ month of December brought about unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d’Or race.
Despite receiving a more financially rewarding offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, the former Barcelona player has chosen to reject it.
The Inter Miami deal includes partnerships with prominent brands such as Adidas and Apple.
At the age of 35, Messi, a seven-time recipient of the world’s best player award, is anticipated to win the prestigious accolade again later this year, following his success in the World Cup.
This is the first time Barcelona icon Messi has played outside Europe.
He wanted to remain in Europe for another season but, after no satisfactory offers were received, he had the straight choice between Inter Miami or Al-Hilal.
He was heavily tipped to be favouring a move to Saudi Arabia, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the league in a deal that could not be matched financially.
But Messi was ultimately tempted to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami for a variety of reasons including lifestyle, and a deal with big brands that extends beyond football.
He already owns a house in Miami, which he currently rents out.
He was keen on a return to Barcelona this summer but the Financial Fair Play limitations that will be in place for next season in La Liga made any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.
Paris St-Germain won Ligue 1 in both his seasons at the club but went out in the Champions League last 16, which means his time in France was not seen as a huge success.
He netted 32 goals in 75 games for the club – and ended this season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.
Messi’s two-year contract comes to an end this summer and both parties agreed to go their separate ways, with the forward suspended for two weeks in May for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
As a tribute to his 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, another stunning mural of Lionel Messi appeared on the walls of a building directly across from a railway station in the capital city of Argentina.
In the painting, Messi is depicted wearing the Albiceleste’s dark purple away shirt, with the national flag flying behind him.
This is not the first time Messi has commandeered Buenos Aires’s walls.
Earlier this year, Goal and Boedo Artistic Group collaborated to construct a mural in the forward’s honour.
Moreover, an Argentine artist named Maxi Bagnasco had also offered his tribute to the player with a mural where Messi is seen holding the trophy aloft, dressed in a Bisht, while Emiliano Martinez is behind him with his arms raised in joy.
Messi’s Club future undecided
Since announcing his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has been linked to many clubs in Europe, America and to the Middle East.
According to reports from L’Équipe, the last 48 hours have seen Jorge Messi meet with both Barcelona as well as a Saudi delegation, and talks have recently taken place with Inter Miami as well – for the time being, there is no clear indication as to which continent the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be playing in next season.
Although the Argentine ostensibly favours a return to Catalonia, the La Liga side’s recent financial difficulties have made a transfer unviable – however, Barcelona have also seen their economic viability plan approved by the league authorities.
In any case, they will need to reduce their wage bill to secure Messi’s return.
In order to convince the Argentine of the feasibility of the move, one option could be for the names of the players who are not in Xavi’s plans for next season to be circulated in the media, in order to encourage them to find a new club.
It remains to be seen, though, whether the Catalans’ efforts will be enough to turn their all-time top scorer away from lucrative offers from the USA and Saudi Arabia.
Aguero’s son shows Messi support
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Sergio Aguero’s son, Benjamin, took shots at Paris Saint-Germain via social media soon after Lionel Messi’s exit from the club was announced.
Benjamin Aguero stated that his godfather was too big for the club, and the comment has since been picked up by some fans.
Messi speaks on GOAT debate
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Messi discussing the unending GOAT debate between himself and his age-old adversary, Ronaldo.
The 35-year-old, who recently picked up his second Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award in Paris, finally weighed in on the debate.
Messi told CNN that simply being considered among the greatest names football had ever seen was an achievement on its own to him.
This is not a list of every Premier League side’s five biggest signings ever, but a collection of their five most recent transfer record buys.
And those things are different. So you can delete that comment now and get over yourself.
Arsenal, Burnley and Luton may all welcome new club-record signings soon. No current top-flight side made their most expensive buy longer ago than Man Utd.
ARSENAL
Andrei Arshavin – £15m (Zenit St Petersburg, February 2009)
Mesut Ozil – £42.5m (Real Madrid, September 2013)
Alexandre Lacazette – £46.5m (Lyon, July 2017)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £55.5m (Borussia Dortmund, January 2018)
Nicolas Pepe – £72m (Lille, August 2019)
Four of those players subsequently left on a free transfer; Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal contract expires next year. An expensive new midfielder will sadly have arrived by then.
ASTON VILLA
Stewart Downing – £12m (Middlesbrough, July 2009)
Darren Bent – £18m (Sunderland, January 2011)
Wesley Moraes – £22m (Club Brugge, June 2019)
Ollie Watkins – £28m, rising to £33m (Brentford, September 2020)
Emi Buendia – £30m, rising to £38m (Norwich, June 2021)
How bizarre to think that Unai Emery made one Premier League club’s most recent record signing and it wasn’t Aston Villa. For a couple of reasons, that will change this summer.
BOURNEMOUTH
Tyrone Mings – £8m (Ipswich, June 2015)
Benik Afobe – £10m (Wolves, January 2016)
Jordon Ibe – £15m (Liverpool, July 2016)
Nathan Ake – £20m (Chelsea, June 2017)
Jefferson Lerma – £25m (Levante, August 2018)
Bournemouth bid farewell to Jefferson Lerma this summer having almost unseated him as the club’s record signing a few times. Dango Ouattara, Illya Zabarnyi and Hamed Traore all joined for upwards of £20m since January, but don’t quite make the cut.
BRENTFORD
Bryan Mbeumo – £5.85m (Troyes, August 2019)
Ivan Toney – £5m, rising to £10m (Peterborough, September 2020)
Kristoffer Ajer – £13.5m (Celtic, July 2021)
Keane Lewis-Potter – £16m, rising to £20m (Hull, July 2022)
Kevin Schade – £22m (Freiburg, July 2023)
That is pleasingly chronological from Brentford, proof of a club with their ducks in order. One statement signing every summer for the past five years would be even better if the last three end up matching the brilliance of the previous two.
BRIGHTON
Jose Izquierdo – £13.5m (Club Brugge, August 2017)
Jurgen Locadia – £14m (PSV, January 2018)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh – £17m (AZ Alkmaar, July 2018)
Adam Webster – £20m (Bristol City, August 2019)
Joao Pedro – £30m (Watford, May 2023)
Brilliant as Brighton are, their transfer strength has been in identifying rough diamonds from faraway lands to polish and move on for considerable profit. When spending big they can stumble, which makes Joao Pedro’s impending arrival all the more intriguing.
BURNLEY
Steven Defour – £7.3m (Anderlecht, August 2016)
Jeff Hendrick – £10.5m (Derby, August 2016)
Robbie Brady – £13m (Norwich, January 2017)
Chris Wood – £15m (Leeds, August 2017)
Ben Gibson – £15m (Middlesbrough, August 2018)
Vincent Kompany will be desperate to break this particular stranglehold soon, even if just to override the predictability of Burnley having a no-nonsense centre-half and a burly centre-forward share their title of most expensive player ever.
CHELSEA
Alvaro Morata – £58m (Real Madrid, July 2017)
Kepa Arrizabalaga – £71m (Athletic Bilbao, August 2018)
Kai Havertz – £75.8m (Leverkusen, September 2020)
Romelu Lukaku – £97.5m (Inter Milan, August 2021)
Enzo Fernandez – £106.8m (Benfica, February 2023)
There is a genuine case to say Enzo Fernandez is legitimately the best of those Chelsea signings, which reflects well on no-one. But Todd Boehly has continued that proud tradition of general waste.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Dwight Gayle – £4.5m (Peterborough, July 2013)
James McArthur – £7m (Wigan, September 2014)
Yohan Cabaye – £10m (PSG, July 2015)
Andros Townsend – £13m (Newcastle, July 2016)
Christian Benteke – £27m (Liverpool, August 2016)
A ludicrous fact: not a single one of those signings was made by Roy Hodgson. Crystal Palace presumably still regret giving Alan Pardew quite so much cash to spend.
EVERTON
Yakubu Aiyegbini – £11.3m (Middlesbrough, August 2007)
Marouane Fellaini – £15m (Standard Liege, September 2008)
Romelu Lukaku – £28m (Chelsea, July 2014)
Jordan Pickford – £30m (Sunderland, June 2017)
Gylfi Sigurdsson – £45m (Swansea, August 2017)
Not sure what to say about that. It would probably make the best five-a-side team of any club on this list.
Konstantinos Mitroglou – £12m (Olympiakos, January 2014)
Jean Michael Seri – £25m (Nice, July 2018)
Fulham do like to use their regular Premier League promotions to open new transfer doors.
LIVERPOOL
Fernando Torres – £20.2m (Atletico Madrid, July 2007)
Luis Suarez – £22.7m (Ajax, January 2011)
Andy Carroll – £35m (Newcastle, January 2011)
Mo Salah – £36.9m (Roma, June 2017)
Virgil van Dijk – £75m (Southampton, January 2018)
It is probably safe to suggest that Darwin Nunez has not activated enough add-ons to become Liverpool’s record signing just yet. That initial £65m fee paid to Benfica can rise as high as £85m, but not with nine Premier League goals.
LUTON
Steve White – £175,000 (December 1979, Bristol Rovers)
Paul Walsh – £400,000 (July 1982, Charlton)
Lars Elstrup – £850,000 (August 1989, Odense)
Simon Sluga – £1.3m (July 2019, HNK Rijeka)
Carlton Morris – £1.7m (July 2022, Barnsley)
Luton Town have been promoted to the Premier League. This is the away end entrance to their stadium. And it is oh so beautiful.
MANCHESTER CITY
Aymeric Laporte – £57.2m (Athletic Bilbao, January 2018)
Riyad Mahrez – £60m (Leicester, July 2018)
Rodri – £62.8m (Atletico Madrid, July 2019)
Ruben Dias – £64.3m (Benfica, September 2020)
Jack Grealish – £100m (Aston Villa, August 2021)
That is an unerringly brilliant record, whether the signings were instantly brilliant or they needed a year of traditional transitional year of Pep seasoning first.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Rio Ferdinand – £29.3m (Leeds, July 2002)
Dimitar Berbatov – £30.8m (Tottenham, September 2008)
Juan Mata – £37.1m (Chelsea, January 2014)
Angel di Maria – £59.7m (Real Madrid, August 2014)
Paul Pogba – £89.3m (Juventus, August 2016)
Fair play to Manchester United for accepting that their last two club-record signings were so catastrophic it would be foolish to try again. They have the longest-standing current Premier League transfer record.
NEWCASTLE
Alan Shearer – £15m (Blackburn, July 1996)
Michael Owen – £16m (Real Madrid, August 2005)
Miguel Almiron – £20m (Atlanta United, January 2019)
Joelinton – £40m (Hoffenheim, July 2019)
Alexander Isak – £58m, rising to £63m (August 2022)
The bad news: Faustino Asprilla (£6.7m, Parma, February 1996) has finally been dislodged from this list. The good news: Eddie Howe can either make very good signings, or make very bad signings look very good.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Britt Assombalonga – £5.5m (Peterborough, August 2014)
Joao Carvalho – £13.2m (Benfica, June 2018)
Taiwo Awoniyi – £17.2m (Union Berlin, June 2022)
Emmanuel Dennis – £20m (Watford, August 2022)
Morgan Gibbs-White – £25m, rising to £42.5m (August 2022)
A simply ludicrous first summer in decades as a promoted Premier League club saw Nottingham Forest break their transfer record three separate times, pushing Pierre van Hooijdonk (£4.5m, Celtic, March 1997), Kevin Campbell (£3m, Arsenal, July 1995) and Teddy Sheringham (£2m, Millwall, July 1991) out.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Luke Freeman – £5m (QPR, July 2019)
Callum Robinson – £7m (Preston, July 2019)
Lys Mousset – £10m (Bournemouth, July 2019)
Oli McBurnie – £20m (Swansea City, August 2019)
Sander Berge – £22m (Genk, January 2020)
There is a chance that Rhian Brewster could trigger every clause Liverpool inserted into the deal which saw him leave in October 2020 – although that would presumably involve scoring a few actual goals and probably breaking into the England squad.
TOTTENHAM
Roberto Soldado – £26m (Valencia, August 2013)
Erik Lamela – £29m (Roma, August 2013)
Moussa Sissoko – £30m (Newcastle, September 2016)
Davinson Sanchez – £42m (Ajax, August 2017)
Tanguy Ndombele – £53.7m (Lyon, July 2019)
Again, Richarlison (£50m rising to £60m) is theoretically capable of usurping someone who will unfathomably become his teammate in pre-season, but Ange Postecoglou must coax some undisallowed goals out of the Brazilian first.
WEST HAM
Andre Ayew – £20.7m (Swansea, August 2016)
Marko Arnautovic – £25m (Stoke, August 2017)
Felipe Anderson – £36m (Lazio, July 2018)
Sebastien Haller – £45m (Eintracht Frankfurt, July 2019)
Lucas Paqueta – £51m (Lyon, August 2022)
One or both of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano probably belong here somewhere, but we’ve no sodding idea of their actual fees.
WOLVES
Rui Patricio – £16m (Sporting, June 2018)
Adama Traore – £18m (Middlesbrough, August 2018)
Raul Jimenez – £30m (Benfica, June 2019)
Fabio Silva – £35.6m (Porto, September 2020)
Matheus Nunes – £38m, rising to £42.2m (Sporting, August 2022)
The statistics company based their metrics on estimated transfer value in world football when churning out the list, which features the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Haaland among a raft of promising young talents.
Sports Brief takes a look at the top 10 players with the highest transfer market values:
10. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
$174 million
Touted as one of the heirs apparent to the Ronaldo-Messi GOAT throne, Kylian Mbappe continues to etch his name in the sands of time, even at the tender age of 24.
Currently ranked 10th on the most valuable footballer list by CIES Football Observatory, Mbappe finished the just-ended season as the top scorer in the French Ligue 1 for a fifth consecutive time.
9. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
$178 million
Despite appearing sporadically in Manchester City’s starting line-up since the season resumed after the 2022 World Cup, Foden’s value has not been affected drastically.
Phil Foden
Glorified as a ‘diamond’ by Man City manager Pep Guardiola, the Englishman stands the chance of winning the treble with the Cityzens.
8. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
$182 million
Musiala’s value as a burgeoning talent continues to appreciate as he climbs his way to superstardom. He possesses excellent technical skills, pace, and an eye for goal.
His stunning last-gasp strike helped Bayern win an unprecedented 11th Bundesliga on the bounce.
7. Gavi (FC Barcelona)
$186 million
Gavi has established himself as one of Spain’s brilliant football stars. To underline his immense potential, the teen midfielder scooped home the FIFA Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy accolades in 2022.
The 18-year-old exhibits striking resemblances in both name and playing style to Xavi. Despite his youth, Gavi has already shattered numerous records, solidifying his place as the fourth-youngest player to grace the field for Barcelona and the third-youngest goal scorer in the history of the club, per Foottheball.
6. Pedri (FC Barcelona)
$190 million
Pedri possesses a blend of exceptional attributes that set him apart on the field. He is renowned for his speed, intelligence, creativity, and unwavering work ethic.
His technical prowess, impeccable ball control, precise passing, heightened awareness, and visionary abilities contribute to his outstanding performances.
Furthermore, Pedri impresses with his remarkable dribbling skills, remarkable stamina, composed demeanour in high-pressure situations, and his versatility in utilizing both feet effectively.
5. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
$197 million
Dubbed the “new Neymar” by the Brazilian media when he was just 12 years old, with the added accomplishment of becoming the youngest athlete ever to secure a sponsorship deal with Nike a year prior, one might have expected the pressure and hype to overshadow Rodrygo’s exceptional footballingabilities.
But the Real Madrid forward has not only lived up to the expectations, he has also earned the prestigious title of ‘Mr. Clutch’.
4. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
$203 million
Currently one of the hottest prospects in the transfer market, Jude Bellingham is courting interest from a number of Europe’s heavyweights, with Real Madrid heavily linked to the Dortmund midfielder.
Despite missing out on winning the Bundesliga, the 19-year-old midfielder has still emerged as the best player in Germany’s top flight.
3. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
$209 million
Arsenal put up a strong fight against Manchester City in the Premier League, narrowly missing out but still achieving a commendable season overall.
Among their standout players, Bukayo Saka shone, notching double figures in both goals and assists, tallying 14 and 11 respectively. The talented English youngster secured the third position for the most successful dribbles (63), according to WhoScored.
2. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
$210 million
Undoubtedly Real Madrid’s best player this season, Vinicius churned out superlative performances week-in and week-out with little fuss, despite suffering persistent racial attacks.
Explaining Vinicius’ form to SiriusXM as quoted by All Football, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “I think Vinicius is a really talented player. He arrived here in Madrid when he was really, really young and of course, it took time for him to reach the top. Because now, in football, talent isn’t enough to reach the top.
“You have to improve your tactical knowledge, your physical condition. I think Vinicius has done really well this season because of this reason. He was able to show his talent because of a base of tactical knowledge and a better physical condition.”
1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
$262 million
Erling Haaland’s exceptional debut season with Manchester City has placed him at the pinnacle of the football world, boasting the highest estimated transfer value and securing the top spot on the podium. His outstanding performance aligns perfectly with his status as the ideal choice for leading the pack.
Throughout the season, opposing defences have been grappling with the challenge of halting Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess for Manchester City. However, their efforts have ultimately amounted to mere fuss and commotion as Haaland continues to excel unabated, boasting a jaw-dropping stat of 52 goals from 52 matches, per Transfermarkt.
