Sports Update

[Edoman]

Real Madrid Legend Iker Casillas has aimed a dig at former coach Jose Mourinho after his Manchester United team lost 3-1 Vs Liverpool.

The Spaniard and Mourinho feel out during his reign at the Bernabeu and he ended up being dropped for Antonio Adan and Diego Lopez.

Casillas eventually left Real Madrid for FC Porto after Mourinho joined Chelsea but the 37-year-old has never been in good terms with Jose.

“According to a Portuguese newspaper someone said that aplayer like me (37 years) is at the end of his career. Completely agree,” tweeted Casillas.

“My question is, for that newspaper: in the case of coaches, when and at what point do you see that they are no longer to lead a team or train?”

MySportDab report Manchester United play Cardiff next Saturday before hosting Huddersfield on Boxing Day.

See more;https://www.mysportdab.com/2018/12/iker-casillas-trolls-jose-mourinho.html

[Edoman]

"Thank God It's Bayern" - Klopp Reacts After UCL Round Of 16 Draw

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is wary of the threat posed by the Reds' Champions League last-16 opponents Bayern Munich, refusing to underestimate Niko Kovac's men.

The two sides have had contrasting starts to the season, with Liverpool exceeding expectations by sitting top, while Bayern are nine points adrift of Bundesliga pacesetters Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool have picked up where they left off last season and look set to push Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race.

But Bayern have been wildly erratic and seen new coach Kovac come under significant pressure at times, reportedly coming close to losing his job in November.


"At the end, it's a football game on the highest level and we have to play it," Klopp told Liverpool's official website.

"We knew it before, it's not that anybody thought 'thank God it's Liverpool', so we don't think 'thank God it's Bayern'.

"It's a tough one, but that's how it should be. It's the last 16 of the Champions League so there are only tough teams in and I'm really excited about it."

The draw will see Klopp return to his native Germany for the away leg, and he is excited about the prospect of going up against the side he endured many monumental tussles with in his time at Dortmund.

"In the last couple of years, they have dominated the German league in the best period of German football," Klopp added.

"Everybody was talking about Germany being in a really good moment and Bayern was dominating the league, that's the truth.

"It's nice. It's obviously long ago that I played Bayern in a competitive game, so I'm really looking forward to it.

"We all know the stadium; the atmosphere will be great. It's a really nice trip for all our supporters, it's a wonderful city, so that's all good.

"The flight is not too long and we [the Liverpool staff] obviously know more about German football than about any other league, that's true, but that doesn't make a big, massive difference.

"In the end, the boys have to decide it on the pitch. Let's give it a try."

https://www.reportminds.com/2018/12/thank-god-its-bayern-klopp-reacts-after.html?m=1

[Edoman]

 Manchester United Sacks Jose Mourinho Following Liverpool Defeat


Manchester United have sacked José Mourinho following Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool, ending a tenure that began in May 2016.

A poor start to the Premier League season has seen United slip 19 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, and fall off the pace in the hunt for a top-four place. They have won only once in six league matches, drawing during that sequence with struggling Southampton and Crystal Palace.

Even a José Mourinho gripped by defensive dogma was better than this

Relations between the manager and the executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, also seemed strained after the club did not sign a central defender this summer. The club concluded that of the players in that position targeted by Mourinho whom they could potentially land, none was an upgrade on the existing squad.

A sense of disunity at United was encapsulated when Mourinho stripped Pogba of the vice-captaincy before a Carabao Cup defeat by Derby County and confronted him at training the following morning. The manager has criticised his players’ “mental approach”, attitude and quality.

Mourinho has seemed less than happy since the buildup to the season, when he described preparations as “very bad” because many of his senior players were resting after the World Cup.

The manager demanded “respect, respect, respect” for his three Premier League titles following United’s 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham in late August but will not get a chance to add a fourth at Old Trafford.





https://www.theguardian.com/football/201...ck-manager

[Edoman]

Paul Pogba Reacts After Jose Mourinho’s Sack By Manchester United. Photos


Paul Pogba is trending online after appearing to mock Jose Mourinho on social media after his sack as coach by Manchester United. 

Mourinho was finally relieved of his duties after an abysmal start of the season with the club now expected to name a caretaker boss until the end of the campaign.

The French midfielder, Pogba who has started the past few matches on the bench, posted an image of himself on his Instagram and Twitter accounts with smug look on his face and a description saying: Caption this!

The post was online for only a few minutes before he deleted it.

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/paul...-sack.html

[Edoman]

Manchester United Will Pay Jose Mourinho For Sacking Him

Earlier today, Manchester United announced that the manager Jose Mourinho has been released from his duty as the gaffer of the Red Devils.

The Daily Record initially reported that United were to face a compensation package of roughly £18 million if they dismissed Mourinho before the end of the season.

Jose Mourinho Man United Young Boys

That fee has the potential to rise exponentially, however, now that he has been axed before the end of January.

In doing so, United will now have to pay him a Champions League "top up" having sacked him while the club are still in the European competition, or still in contention to finish in the top four (no matter how unlikely the latter scenario is).

United will now pay the Portuguese manager a fee in the region of £22.5m, according to the Daily Mail, to cut short a contract that was poised to run until 2020.

Though Mourinho was on a basic salary of £18m – which is what Man United are liable to pay in order to dismiss him – the contract included a 25 per cent bonus if the club were still in the running for the two main competitions upon being sacked.

https://www.reportminds.com/2018/12/see-how-much-manchester-united-will-pay.html?m=1

[Edoman]

Solskjaer Considered for Caretaker Role after Mourinho’s Sack
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 SPORT
                        
Manchester United sacked manager Jose Mourinho yesterday after identifying a catalogue of his failings at the club.

Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being considered as likely caretaker manager. Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances during his 11 years at Old Trafford and is best remembered for scoring the winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.


The sacked Portuguese, 55, took over in May 2016 and led United to League Cup and Europa League titles, but they are 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

The club has made a change after no progress with results or style despite spending nearly £400m on 11 players.

United also said the new substantive manager will understand the philosophy of the club, including their attacking tradition.

It is understood players and staff are not happy after a disappointing and unsettling period during which young players were not developed.

United is sixth in the Premier League, but closer to the relegation zone than to leaders Liverpool, who beat them 3-1 on Sunday.

The decision to sack Mourinho, which will cost more than £18m (about $24m), has been taken in the long-term interests of United with a view that the club is bigger than any one individual.

Mourinho is understood to have wanted his own structure, but the new manager will be appointed with a head of football above him reporting to Executive Vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

A United statement said: “A caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.

“The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.”

The club hopes to appoint a caretaker manager before they face Cardiff City on December 22 but it will not be assistant manager Michael Carrick or academy boss Nicky Butt.

The candidate will be drawn from outside the club, but will not be former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino who was tipped as likely replacement for Mourinho has distanced himself from speculation linking him with the vacant managerial job at United, insisting he is focused on giving his best to the North London club.

But, when asked yesterday about his potential interest in the job at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s north London derby against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, Pochettino insisted he is only focused on Spurs.

He told reporters: “I want to send my best wishes to (Mourinho). I am so sorry, I know him well, and it’s sad news. It’s not my business what happens at another club, I just want to send my best wishes to Jose.”

United’s haul of 26 points after their first 17 Premier League games is their worst tally at this stage of a season since 1990-91.

They are 11 points off the top four, which would earn a Champions League qualification place.

The sacking of Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal in May 2016 and signed a contract extension in January, comes after a fall-out with £89m record signing Paul Pogba, who was an unused substitute for the defeat at Anfield on Sunday.

Following a 1-1 draw with Wolves, Pogba said he wanted United to be able to “attack, attack, attack” at home, which led Mourinho to say the France midfielder would no longer be the club’s “second captain”.

After Mourinho was sacked, a post which said “caption this”, along with a knowing expression on Pogba’s face, appeared on his Twitter account before being deleted.

Former United Captain, Gary Neville, replied: “You do one as well!”

United later claimed it was a “scheduled marketing post” by Pogba’s sponsors Adidas.

Mourinho’s third season did not begin well after missing out on key transfer targets in the summer, and two defeats in the first three league games – to Tottenham at home and Brighton away – meant his side were playing catch-up with the leading teams.

By October, there were reports Mourinho might be sacked prior to the home game against Newcastle, but after the team trailed 2-0, they turned it around to win 3-2 and seemingly buy the former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss more time.

Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes attempted to calm matters earlier this month by taking the step of issuing a statement to say his client was “very happy” and “fully committed” to the club.

Despite reaching the Champions League last 16, where United will play Paris St-Germain, they have won just one of their past six games in the Premier League.

Mourinho’s dismissal continues his run of having never completed four consecutive seasons in charge of a club.

Only once has he made it into a fourth campaign, but he left Chelsea on 20 September 2007 during his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

[Edoman]

Mourinho Releases Statement Following Manchester United Sack

Jose Mourinho has released a statement in the aftermath of his Manchester United departure, praising the people around the club while asking the media to give him space until his return to football.

Mourinho was dismissed by the club on Tuesday, ending his Red Devils tenure halfway through his third year in charge.

The Portuguese manager was stopped by reporters earlier on Wednesday, saying that he and the club will survive without the other after his dismissal.

He has been replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who will take charge of the team on an interim basis until the end of the season.

"I have been immensely proud to wear the badge of Manchester United since the first day I arrived, and I believe all United supporters recognise this," Mourinho said in his statement. 

"Just as was the case with my previous clubs, I have worked with some wonderful people and I believe that some will be my friends for life.

"I know that you are all aware of my professional principles. Each time a chapter is closed I show my deepest respect and I don't make any comments about my former colleagues.

"I hope the media will also respect my position and let me live my normal life until the moment I decide to return to football. Merry Christmas."

https://www.reportminds.com/2018/12/mourinho-releases-statement-following.html?m=1

[Edoman]

Jamie Carragher Reveals Who Caused Mourinho’s Sack From Man United

Jamie Carragher reveals who caused Mourinho’s sack from Man United


Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has blamed Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba for the sack of manager, Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was dismissed by United on Tuesday morning following the club’s poor form this season.



The Portuguese gaffer was sacked after the Red Devils were defeated 3-1 by Liverpool in the Premier League encounter at Anfield.

But, reacting to the sack of Mourinho, Carragher stated that Pogba was responsible, adding that the France international should follow Mourinho out of Old Trafford, branding the 25-year-old as “toxic”.

“His [Pogba’s] poorly-timed social media point – intended or coincidental – symptomatic of the disconnect between the manager and star player,’ Carragher wrote in the Telegraph.

“United have sent a strong message by sacking Mourinho.

They should be equally strong in their attitude to Pogba and sell him if his valuation is met. A club can no more be about one player as it can the manager.

“Pogba may be top class, but he has never shown it in England and there are plenty of elite European clubs performing well without him.

“Toxic personalities are of no use to a club. They destabilise everything.”

Man United will now tackle Cardiff City on Saturday in the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford.



https://www.creebhills.com/2018/12/jamie-carragher-reveals.html

[Edoman]

Manchester United have reportedly offered former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane a stunning contract.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was named as Jose Mourinho’s replacement on Wednesday morning after the Special One was sacked.

However, Solskjaer was named on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham Coach Mauricio Pochettino and Zidane have both been tipped as long-term replacements for Jose Mourinho.

And According to Spanish Newspaper AS, Zidane is contemplating an offer to take over at Manchester United.

AS claim United want Zidane to become their new manager next summer when Solskjaer's spell ends and people close to Zidane reckon his next career move will be to manage in the Premier League.

MySportDab report Zidane quit Real earlier this year after winning three consecutive Champions League titles with the Spanish giants.

See more;https://www.mysportdab.com/2018/12/zinedine-zidane-manchester-united-job.html

[Edoman]

Inter Milan suspend Radja Nainggolan for ‘disciplinary reasons’
Sunday, December 23, 2018  SPORT

                        
Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been suspended by the Italian club for “disciplinary reasons”.

The third-placed Serie A side have not revealed what the issue is but say the 30-year-old Belgian is “temporarily suspended from football activity”.

Nainggolan joined Inter from Roma in a £33m swap deal in the summer and has scored three goals in 15 matches for Luciano Spalletti’s side.


He will miss the league game against Napoli at the San Siro on 26 December.

Nainggolan was dropped for a Roma match at the start of 2018 over a New Year’s Eve video in which he drank, smoked and cursed.

He retired from international football after failing to get in Belgium’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia.

[Edoman]

Ashley Young: Ole Solskjaer smile boosting Man Utd already
Sunday, December 23, 2018  SPORT

                        
Manchester United captain Ashley Young admitted the mood around Old Trafford has been instantly lifted by caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s smile, but denied there were any celebrations in the dressing room at news of Jose Mourinho’s sacking.

Solskjaer was put in charge until the end of the season after Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday with United 19 points off the top of the table.

That change paid instant dividends as United scored five goals in a Premier League match for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s last game in charge back in May 2013, thrashing Cardiff 5-1 on Saturday.

“I don’t think he (Solskjaer) has stopped smiling,” Young said after victory in the Welsh capital.

“He was like that as a player. He always has a smile on his face and I think that can reflect down on to the team, which is a good thing.

“Ole has come in and we were preparing in the right way for a game, even though it’s been a crazy week.”


Mourinho clashed with a number of senior figures in the United dressing room over his two-and-a-half seasons in charge.

Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling with the message “caption this” in the hours after Mourinho’s departure.

Restored to the starting line-up for the first time in four league games, Pogba was instrumental in setting up four of United’s five goals on Saturday.

“No celebration at all. Absolute lies,” Young said at the suggestion players were delighted to see the back of Mourinho.

“Obviously it was disappointing for the manager to get sacked.

“In his two-and-a-half years he won trophies. We have to take some responsibility for that as we are on the pitch.

“But we have to move on from that. As professional players we have to get on with the job in hand, and that is what we did here.”

[Edoman]

Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, has said he would love to have Neymar back at Camp Nou.

In an interview with Marca, he also ruled out the possibility of leaving the Catalan side.

Neymar, 26, left Barca to join Paris Saint-Germain in a world record €222million deal in 2017.

Since leaving, he has regularly been linked with a return to the club, as well as a move to rivals Real Madrid.

And, while Messi said he believes a reunion for the pair in Spain is unlikely, he would be delighted should it happen.

“It would be difficult.We would love it if he came back for what he means as a player and in the dressing room.

“We are friends, we enjoyed nice moments, as well some which were not so nice, but we spent a lot of time together. It is undoubtedly difficult to imagine him leaving Paris. PSG won’t let Neymar go,” Messi said.

http://mcebiscoo.com/2018/12/28/messi-opens-neymars-return-barcelona/

[Edoman]

Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi appeared confused over the formation Arsenal were playing against Brighton as he replaced Mesut Ozil at half-time.

The 22-year-old midfielder replaced Ozil in midfield at half-time and the Nigerian international was captured on television cameras asking team-mate Granit  Xhaka what formations Arsenal were playing.

He appeared to ask Xhaka: “What formation are we playing.”

Arsenal went on to draw the game as the league’s top goal scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring before Jurgen Locadia equalised.

Fans on social media had a field day on the back of the exchange between the two Gunners stars, with one tweeting: "Iwobi didn't even know what formation Arsenal were playing."

See more; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/fans-react-after-alex-iwobi-was-confused-by-arsenals-tactics-after-substituting-ozil.html

[Edoman]

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has called his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo "healthy" and said it was good for the fans.

Ronaldo and Messi battled it out for over a decade in La Liga after the Portuguese star joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009.

They were both the dominant forces in Spain and world football for much of their time in La Liga, creating a rivalry like no other. 

At Real Madrid, Ronaldo won the La Liga twice and lifted the Champions League four times.


Meanwhile, Messi has won an incredible nine La Liga titles (six of which were earned while Ronaldo was at Madrid) and also lifted the Champions League on four occasions.

MySportDab report Ronaldo's spell in Spain ended when he signed for Italian club Juventus in the summer.

However, Messi has claimed that the pair's time at the top of the game in Spain was a positive for football and for fans all over.

"The rivalry with Cristiano was very healthy and good for the fans," the 31-year-old toldMarca.

In awards, Messi and Ronaldo have each won the Ballon d'Or five times, creating a duopoly on the award between 2008 and 2017.

That run was broken in 2018, with Ronaldo's former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric lifting the prize and Messi controversially finishing fifth in the voting.

"I heard the nominees for the Ballon d'Or and I knew I wasn't in the fight," Messi said.

"I love football, but family is above all," the Argentine added.

See more;https://www.mysportdab.com/2018/12/ronaldo-rivalry-very-healthy-lionel.html

[Edoman]

Arsenal returns for Samuel Chukwueze
Monday, December 31, 2018  SPORT

                             
Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Samuel Chukwueze a few months after Nigeria’s victory at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, but the Gunners spurned the chance following disagreement on a £4 million deal. Chukwueze actually spent time at the Emirates with his former U-17 team captain, Kelechi Nwakali.

But while Arsenal decided to keep Nwakali, Chukwueze was left to find his home elsewhere. He chose Villarreal and today he is rated as one of the best young attackers in the game.

Chukwueze is now rated £36 million and the Gunners have joined the chase for the Diamond Academy product this January transfer window.
According to the Leicester Mercury, aside Arsenal, Leicester City and Atletico Madrid are also keen on landing the left footed attacker, who has scored four goals in 13 matches across all competitions for the Spanish club this season. He was promoted to Villarreal’s main team following an impressive string of performances in the Segunda division.

The 19-year-old has already made his senior appearance for Nigeria, debuting for the Super Eagles in a friendly match against Uganda in Asaba recently. Villarreal coach Luis Garcia has described Chukwueze as their “jewel”.

“I was told about Chukwueze. He’s got speed, spark, he can dribble. He’s a jewel we have to take care of,” the Yellow Submarines boss said.Bristolpost.co.uk suggests that apart from Arsenal and Leicester City, a host of Premier League sides are keeping track with a £36 million move possible.

[Edoman]

Solskjaer relishes Man United job on permanent basis
Monday, December 31, 2018  SPORT

                           
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he is ‘sure’ he would agree to take the Manchester United manager’s job on a permanent basis if the club offer it to him at the end of the season.

The former United striker is temporary in charge of the Red Devils following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and he has made a successful start, winning his first two Premier League matches.

Solskjaer guided United to victories over Cardiff City, who he managed for nine months in 2014, and Huddersfield Town, to sit sixth in the Premier League table ahead of the visit of Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Sunday.


In an interview with Sky Sports, the 45-year-old said: “My job is for the next five months, because I’m going to leave them to someone else when they come in.

“That’s the plan and that’s what my job is at the moment, it runs out at the end of May – actually the end of June but we don’t play many games in June – so my job is to affect the players on what it is all about at Manchester United.

“You’re always ambitious of course, but as I’ve told Ed [Woodward, United chief executive] and the owners, I’m here to do as well as I can and, if in May you decide someone else will be coming in, then fantastic, and if you decide it’s me, I’m sure we will agree.”

Solskjaer indicated that he has spoken to members of the squad about their conduct off the field as well as on it during the time he has spent imparting his own experience and knowledge having spent 11 years as a United player.

During the last few months of Mourinho’s time in charge, pundits took aim at the behaviour of certain United players, with former midfielder Roy Keane claiming the club’s stars were not training properly and not producing on the pitch as a result.

Solskjaer said: “Obviously you speak about expectations, what standards we have at Man United on the pitch, but there is also responsibility when you’re a Man United player off the pitch.“I’m not going to go into details but we have norms and there is a culture here. Sometimes the best rules are the ones that are written in the walls.”

Solskjaer won 67 caps for Norway during his career, scoring 23 goals for his country, and he said his approach to management is focused on making his teams effective going forward.

However, he emphasised the importance of a solid defence to the success he experienced as a player at Old Trafford.“I’ve been here for 15 years before and of course my football philosophy is driven by what I experienced here,” he said.“We do go and attack teams, try to dominate games and go into every game believing that we’re going to win, although we respect the opposition of course.

“It’s not like we used to win 5-4 every time with the boss [Alex Ferguson]. When we had Jaap [Stam], Ronny [Johnsen], Rio [Ferdinand] and Vida [Nemanja Vidic] at the back, you knew that we could keep a clean sheet, so there is a fine balance there.“And I love seeing players express themselves. It probably comes down to that I experienced more in my football career than I ever believed, so I want other players to have the same feeling when they’ve finished their careers – that means we need to win.”

[Edoman]

West Ham have announced the signing of midfielder Samir Nasri on the day he completes a doping ban.

The 31-year-old had been out of work since 31st January, when he left Turkish club Antalyaspor.

MySportDab report Nasri has now signed a deal until the end of the season with West Ham.

"You choose a club and a project because of the ambition, and I think that West Ham has everything to be one of the biggest clubs in London, for sure. I mean, 60,000 people every game at home. We play in the Olympic Stadium," said Nasri. 

"Coming back to the most competitive league in the world, witha team full of ambition with a manager that I know.

"It's the best job in the world, and I'm really excited about it."

Coach Manuel Pellegrini told West Ham's official website: "I am happy to be working with him again.

"He has been working very hard in recent weeks to build up his fitness and condition after a long period without playing, and he is now very determined to return to his best."

See more;https://www.mysportdab.com/2018/12/official-west-ham-sign-samir-nasri.html

[Edoman]

Isco’s transfer switch to Chelsea this January is off after the player demanded more money, reports say.

Chelsea were all set to sign Isco in a £75million deal and had agreed to pay substantial add-ons.

Isco and his agent were picking up signing on bonuses, driving up the value of the deal to £100m, but have now asked for more money after interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Sun claim Chelsea believe Isco has no real desire to play for the club and are poised to pull the plug on the switch.

Real are ready to offload Isco as the Spanish side are happy to cash in on a player no longer central to the club’s long-term plans.

Mauricio Sarri is said to be disappointed with the sudden U-turn, as the Italian was planning to pair Isco with talisman Eden Hazard.

Isco broke his silence on transfer rumours this week, insisting he had no plans to leave Madrid.

‘I’m very excited about the new year,’ Isco told Deportes Cuatro.

‘I’m not going to go in the winter market, I’m very happy, of course I want to continue with Madrid to continue winning titles.’

Chelsea are expected to bring in reinforcements this January as Sarri has requested a new striker.

Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson and AC Milan’s Gonzalo Higuain are being linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, as the winter transfer window officially opened on Tuesday.

Read More: https://waparz.com/chelsea-pull-out-of-75million-transfer-for-real-madrid-star-isco/

[Edoman]

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has claimed that it is a travesty that teammate and Brazilian superstar has not yet won a Ballon d'Or in his career so far.

Neymar has been one of the best players on the planet for a couple of seasons now, but has always been behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

MySportDab report this season, the award was handed to Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.

Buffon, who moved from Juventus to PSG in the summer and missed the chance to play alongside Ronaldo, claims that its a scandal that Neymar has not yet won the award and also believes that he and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe will dominate the game for the next decade.

"I played with a lot of champions and I wanted to play with everyone, even with him [Ronaldo],” Buffon toldIl Corriere della Sera.

“But in Paris it's not like there are not champions. Mbappe and Neymar have that kind of pedigree.

"I tell Neymar that it's a scandal that has not yet won the Ballon d'Or and that he should be furious. He and Kylian have a disproportionate talent and can dominate for ten years.”

See more;https://www.mysportdab.com/2019/01/neymar-better-than-ballon-dor-winners.html

,

[Edoman]

Reigning Player of the Year, Mohamed Salah, his Liverpool club-mate Sadio Mane and 2015 winner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, have made the top three for the most prestigious individual accolade in African football.

A repeat of last year, the three players will be hoping to begin the year with the crown of Player of the Year for their exploits in 2018. The winner will be unveiled at the Awards Gala on 8 January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.

Gabonese icon Aubameyang, maintains his familiar status amongst the top three finalists since 2014, thus five times in a row and equaling the record of Ivorian legend Yaya Toure and Ghanaian midfield supremo Michael Essien. Four-time Player of the Year, Toure, achieved the feat (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and Essien (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). The 29-year old will be hoping to lay his hands on the enviable crown a second time.

Salah, 26, made history becoming the first Egyptian to be decorated Player of the Year since the inception of the awards scheme in 1992. It is the second time, he has made the final three and Salah has his eyes set on joining the elite league of players to win the honour back-to-back. Senegalese El Hadji Diouf (2001, 2002), Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon (2003, 2004) and Toure (2011, 2012) are the only three to win successive titles.

It is a hat-trick for 26-year old Mane in the top three, coming third in 2016 and second in 2017. He will be hoping to be third time lucky and become the second Senegalese to win the topmost individual honour after Diouf.

Source: https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/Headline/Salah-Mane--Aubameyang-nominated-for-the-African-Player-of-the-Year-2018/935264