SPORTS UPDATE

[Edoman]

SPORT
Spanish Super Cup: Morata speaks after Real Madrid defeated Atletico to win trophy

 January 13, 2020



Atletico Madrid striker, Alvaro Morata has reacted to his side’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat against Real Madrid on Sunday.
Atletico almost won the game in extra time, but the Los Blacos midfielder, Federico Valverde hacked down Morata as he raced through on goal with five minutes left.

Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Modric scored for Real in the shootout, while Atletico’s Saul Niguez hit the post and Thomas Paratey saw his effort saved by Thibaut Courtois.


Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, made no mistake with his kick to hand Zinedine Zidane his 10th trophy as manager of the club.

Reacting, Morata said he was proud of Diego Simeone’s men despite their defeat against Real Madrid, adding that they gave everything during the encounter.

“We gave everything and who gives everything he has nothing can be said,” Morata wrote on his official Twitter page after the match.

“Head high, proud of this team. Today more than yesterday… ForzaAtleti.”

Morata will now hope to lead Atletico to victory when they take on Eibar in the La Liga in their next fixture on January 18.

[Edoman]

SPORT
LaLiga: Iniesta blasts Barcelona for trying to replace Valverde with Xavi

 January 13, 2020



Former Barcelona midfielder, Andres Iniesta, has lashed out at the club over the treatment of manager Ernesto Valverde, describing it as “a little ugly”.

This comes amid speculations that Valverde will soon be replaced by Iniesta’s former team-mate, Xavi.
It has been confirmed that discussions have been held with Xavi, who is currently managing Al Sadd in Qatar.

Iniesta told Onda Cero: “Barcelona’s behaviour has been a little ugly.

“You have to have respect for your current coach. The way things are done is what can hurt the most.”

Iniesta however admits that “Valverde’s situation has been weakened” recently, with Barca having lost the Spanish Super Cup semi-final to Atletico Madrid, a trophy Real Madrid went on to win. 

[Edoman]

SPORT
Spanish Super Cup Final: Prize money for Real Madrid, Atletico revealed after 4-1 win

 January 13, 2020



The Royal Spanish Football Federation paid Real Madrid £2.55million (€3million) for winning this year’s Spanish Super Cup on Sunday night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

According to the Express UK, Atletico Madrid also received £1.7million (€2million) for emerging as runner-up.

DAILY POST had reported that Real Madrid clinched their 11th Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, after beating rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 on penalties, following a goalless 120 minutes in Saudi Arabia.

Diego Simeone’s men almost won the game in extra time, but Alvaro Morata was hacked down by Federico Valverde, as he raced through one on one with five minutes left.

Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Modric scored for Real in the shootout, while Atletico’s Saul Niguez hit the post and Thomas Paratey saw his effort saved by Thibaut Courtois.

Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, made no mistake with his kick to hand the Los Blancos manager, Zinedine Zidane his 10th trophy as manager of the club.

Zidane has also won all the nine cup finals he has taken the team to.

[Edoman]

Serie A: What Cristiano Ronaldo said after scoring in Juventus’ 2-1 win over AS Roma

 January 13, 2020



Juventus superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted to his side’s Serie A 2-1 victory over AS Roma on Sunday night.

Two goals from Merih Demiral and Cristiano Ronaldo ensured Maurizio Sarri’s men defeated Roma.
Diego Perotti did score for the host at the Stadio Olimpico Stadium.

Reacting, Ronaldo took to his official Instagram page after the match to congratulate his teammates for the important victory and for sending Juventus back on top of the Serie A table.

The Portugal captain wrote: “Important victory today! Good teamwork and back to where we belong. Top of the table!finoallafine forzajuve.”

Ronaldo will now hope to lead Juventus to victory when they take on Parma at home in their next Serie A fixture on January 19.

[Edoman]

EPL: Guardiola reacts as Aguero breaks Thierry Henry’s record

 January 13, 2020



Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has hailed Sergio Aguero’s consistency after the striker broke two Premier League records with a hat-trick against Aston Villa in a 6-1 win for City on Sunday.

Aguero’s treble saw him overtake Alan Shearer with the most hat-tricks in the competitions’ history.

He also went past Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, to become the most prolific foreign goalscorer in the Premier League.

“He (Henry) is a legend and a legend rose tonight,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

“Henry is one of the most incredible players to play in this league and he will be proud that Sergio is the guy who broke his record.

“He was a legend and Sergio is the same. To score this amount of goals means you have done a lot of good things for many years.

“He’s been consistent for many years and so we are proud of him.”

[Edoman]

SPORT
Transfer: Chelsea to sell Batshuayi to Premier League side on one condition

 January 12, 2020



Chelsea will reportedly sell striker, Michy Batshuayi to Premier League side, Aston Villla if Dean Smith’s men can meet their asking price of £50million for the Belgium international.

According to the UK Sun, the Blues have rejected Aston Villa’s £45million bid for Batshuayi.
The newspaper reports that the West London club will only allow the 26-year-old leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent transfer and not on loan.

DAILY POST had reported that Aston Villa have contacted Chelsea over a possibility to sign Batshuayi on a short-term contract this month following Wesley Moraes’ knee ligament injury.

Batshuayi is currently behind Tammy Abraham in Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard’s pecking order of strikers at Chelsea.
He has been loaned out by Chelsea on three previous occasions to Dortmund, Valencia and Crystal Palace between 2018-2019

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[Edoman]

SPORT
EPL: Highest goal scorers in Premier League [See top 25]

 January 13, 2020



Following the conclusion of the English Premier League, EPL, Match Day 22 fixtures on Sunday, where Manchester City defeated Aston Villa 6-1, below are the highest goal scorers chasing the golden boot in the English top-flight league.

Leicester City striker, Jamie Vardy is presently the highest goal scorer with 17 goals.

Manchester United striker, Marcus Rashford has 14 goals after he scored a brace in his side’s 4-0 victory over Norwich City on Saturday.

Arsenal captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also has 14 goals after he scored in the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Premier League top scorers:
17 goals: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

14 goals: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal), Danny Ings (Southampton), Marcus Rashford (Man United).
13 goals: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Sergio Aguero (Man City).
11 goals: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Sadio Mane (Liverpool).

10 goals: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
9 goals: Teemu Pukki (Norwich), Gabriel Jesus (Man City).
8 goals: Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Chris Wood (Burnley), Richarlison (Everton), Anthony Martial (Man United).
7 goals: Neal Maupay (Brighton), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Firmino (Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez, (Man City)
6 goals: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), James Maddison (Leicester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham)

[Edoman]

Malaga's coach Victor Sanchez is sacked over sexually explicit video of himself despite claims he is a victim of 'blackmail'



                


Malaga Football club of Spain have sacked it's head coach Victor Sanchez four days after he was suspended following the publication of a sexually explicit video of the 43-year-old on social media.
 
                           
 
Sanchez del Amo, a former midfielder for Spain says he was the victim of harassment and blackmail and shouldn't have to suffer.
 
According to Sanchez, the police are investigating the matter after the man who shared the explicit video was arrested.
 
In a statement posted to his official Twitter account, Sanchez said: "I am being subjected to a crime against my privacy with harassment and extortion.
"The victim here is me. I'm a victim of blackmail but I'm brave and I'll move on from this''.

The club's statement read;
'Malaga have decided to sack Victor Sanchez del Amo for disciplinary reasons,' the club said in a statement.
'Malaga took this decision in consideration of the serious harm the recent non-sporting events have done to the club, with the aim of minimising their impact on the team and the whole organisation of Malaga.'
 
Sanchez took over the Malaga coaching job in 2019 after almost two years out of football following his 2017 sacking from Real Betis.

[Edoman]

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote again confirms Arsenal takeover intent with 2021 vow

Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote has once again declared his intention to buy Arsenal Football Club… in 2021.

During the last five years, the 62 year-old has made separate claims, on no less than five occasions, about his want to lead an Emirates takeover.

Dangote, who is the 96th wealthiest man in the world, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index, started his first business at the age of 21 and also founded Africa's largest cement provider, stated in 2018 his desire to make a move for the North London club in 2020.

"We will go after Arsenal from 2020… even if somebody buys, we will still go after it,” he told Reuters in 2018.

Now he has altered his plans, amid a holdup with his Dangote Refinery project.

The Dangote Refinery remains under construction in the remote Ibeju-Lekki suburb of Lagos and is expected to be one of the world's largest oil refineries once complete.

However, with that project having experienced numerous delays and now not set to be completed until 2021, Dangote's timescale has changed.

In an interview with Bloomberg, broadcast on the most recent edition The David Rubinstein Show, Dangote - who has an estimated net worth of $14.1bn - reiterates his intentions for the Premier League outfit.

He states: "It is a team that yes I would like to buy some day, but what I keep saying is we have $20billion worth of projects and that's what I really want to concentrate on.

"I'm trying to finish building the company and then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021 we can.

"I'm not buying Arsenal right now, I'm buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects, because I'm trying to take the company to the next level.”

Arsenal are currently owned by Stan Kroenke, through his Kroenke Sports & Entertainment group, with the American having come in for widespread criticism in recent years.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/africas-richest-man-aliko-dangote-21271194.amp

[Edoman]

Transfer: Fabinho welcomes Mbappe to Liverpool

 January 14, 2020



Liverpool midfielder, Fabinho has welcomed Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe to Anfield.


Fabinho played alongside Mbappe during their time at AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1.
The Brazilian wants the France international to make a transfer move to join the Reds. He believes that Mbappe will have a Ballon d’Or before PSG star, Neymar.



“Mbappe will have a Ballon d’Or before Neymar,” Fabinho told French TV show Telefoot.
“I would like to welcome him to Liverpool.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has recently admitted that Mbappe is too expensive for the club.



Klopp said: “Buying this calibre of player is difficult. I don’t see any club at the moment who can buy Kylian Mbappe from PSG.
“I don’t see any club, that is how it is. And we are involved in the clubs that cannot do it. It is as easy as that.
“Okay, from a sporting point of view, there are not a lot of reasons to not sign him. What a player he is.



“But it is about the money of course. No chance. Absolutely no chance. Sorry for killing that story.”

[Edoman]

SPORT
LaLiga: Barcelona’s new manager revealed as club sacks Valverde
 January 14, 2020



Barcelona have announced the appointment of Quique Setien as their new manager.


Setien replaces Ernesto Valverde, who was informed by Barca that he will be sacked, following a meeting on Monday with his agent.

“Agreement between FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde to end his contract as manager of the first team. Thank you for everything, Ernesto. Best of luck in the future,” an official club statement read.



“Quique Setien will be the new FC Barcelona coach. The man from Cantabria in the north of Spain comes to Barca after having had spells at Racing Santander, Poli Ejido, Logrones, Lugo, Las Palmas and Betis, his previous club in the 2018/19 season.

“Throughout his career he has been a proponent of possession-based, attacking football that has been attractive to the fans.”

It would be the first time that Barcelona have sacked a coach in the middle of a season since Louis Van Gaal in 2003.



They initially turned to Xavi Hernandez, but their former captain declined to take over in the middle of the season.

[Edoman]

EPL: Liverpool receive huge injury boost ahead of Man Utd clash

 January 14, 2020



Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has received a huge injury boost ahead of this weekend’s game against Manchester United, as Fabinho has returned to training.


Fabinho has finished his rehabilitation from a serious ankle injury.
The Brazilian midfielder is now in contention to feature in the Premier League clash at Anfield.



Fabinho is expected to join in with full session with the first team squad over the next few days.

Klopp is unlikely to throw him in at the deep end with a start against United.

However, he could get a start in the FA Cup next weekend.



But his return after a six-week absence is a boost for the Reds, who are chasing their first league title

[Edoman]

SPORT
Transfer: Atletico Madrid ready to do Lemar-Lacazette swap deal with Arsenal



Atletico Madrid are preparing to offer Thomas Lemar to Arsenal in exchange for Alexandre Lacazette, if they fail in their pursuit of Edinson Cavani this January, Marca reports.


The LaLiga side have only scored 22 goals in the league this season and Diego Simeone is desperate to bring in a top striker to rectify that.

Cavani is at the top of Simeone’s wishlist, but Paris Saint-Germain insist the Uruguay international will not be sold, despite his contract expiring in the summer.



As a result, Atletico are now looking at alternatives including Lacazette.

Simeone tried to sign Lacazette before he left Lyon for Arsenal in 2018 and will reignite his interest in the Frenchman.


Lemar, who was on the Gunners’ radar, will be used as a bait to try and complete the deal.

[Edoman]

Quique Setién: Ten things you need to know about Barcelona new manager


 January 14, 


Barcelona have released ten facts about their new manager, Quique Setién in a post on their official website after sacking Ernesto Valverde.


The Blaugrana sacked Valverde on Monday night following their 3-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last Thursday and appointed Setién as their new head coach.
Setién’s contract with Barcelona will keep him at Camp Nou until June 30, 2022.



Below are the ten things you need to know about Setién:
1. Quique Setién’s football beginnings were in beach football, a sport in which he got to play with the national team.
2. At Racing Santander, he’s known as “El Maestro,” and is one of the idols of the club because of his time there as a player. He played for 12 seasons there in two stages, and also coached the Cantabrian side in the 2001/02 season, achieving promotion to LaLiga.



3. Setién is the third Cantabrian coach in Barça’s history, after Enrique Orizaola (1961) and Laureano Ruiz (1976).
4. Setién faced Barça 22 times as a player, with a record of 5 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses and against Barça he scored two goals. Once in a Barça v Logroñés fixture (2-1, 1990/91 league season) and also in the 1994/95 Racing v Barça league match (5-0).
5. As coach, Setién has played against Barça seven times, with a record of six defeats and one win. This victory was at the Camp Nou, in the league during the 2018/19 season.



6. As a coach, he has managed Racing Santander, Poli Ejido, Logroñés, Lugo, Las Palmas and Betis. In addition, he served as coach of Equatorial Guinea during a game.
7. In one of his visits to Camp Nou, Sergio Busquets gave him a shirt on which he had written: “For Quique with love and admiration for your way of looking at football. All the best.”
8) Setién has coached former Barça players Bartra, Kaptoum, Tello, Sanabria, Araujo, Halilovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng, as well as the current Barça player, Junior Firpo.


9. The new Barça coach has always praised Barça and Leo Messi, who he considers “a luxury and the best player in history.” The last time Setién did so was after a Messi display at Benito Villamarín.
10. One of Quique Setién’s passions is chess and he has played against former World Champions Anatoli Karpov and Gary Kasparov.

[Edoman]

Sacked Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde sends emotional farewell message to fans as Lionel Messi pays tribute to him






Sacked Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde has publicly thanked the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu and fans shortly after he was sacked.
 
Despite winning back-to-back league titles and guarding Barcelona to the top of La Liga Table, Valverde was dismissed on Monday following the club's Spanish Super Cup semi-final 3 - 2 defeat to Atletico Madrid last week. 
 
He has been replaced with former Real Betis coach, Quique Setien, who has signed a contract to be with Barcelona until June 2022.
 
In an open letter to the club's supporters, posted on Barcelona's official website, Valverde said: "My time as FC Barcelona coach has come to an end. It has been an intense two and a half years right from the start.
 
"In that time I have enjoyed some joyful moments celebrating victories and trophies but also others that have been tough and difficult.
 
"However, above all I would like to highlight my experience with the fans and the affection showed towards me during my time as coach.
 
"I would like to thank the president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to coach the first team and their confidence during all this time.
 
"I would also like to thank all the people I have worked with at the Club for their support and how they treated me during the two and a half seasons, especially those who work in and around the first team and with whom I have shared so many moments at the Ciutat Esportiva and during away trips.
 
"Of course, I would like to thank the players for all their efforts that have allowed us to claim four trophies together. From this day, I wish them all the luck in the world and to the new coach Quique Setién also.
 
"All the best to everyone. Visca Barça and Visca Catalonia."
 
Barcelona's Captain, Lionel Messi also took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt note to Ernesto Valverde. 
 
Sharing photos of them chatting on the pitch, the Argentine star wrote:'Thanks for everything, mister. I'm sure you'll go great wherever you go because, besides being a great professional, you're a magnificent person. Good luck and a big hug. 
 


by 

[Edoman]

Transfer: Barcelona coach, Setien blocks club from signing £86m Man United’s target

 January 14, 2020



New Barcelona manager, Quique Setien once blocked the Blaugrana’s approach to sign £86million-rated Manchester United’s target, Fabian Ruiz, from Real Betis, Mundo Deportivo report.


Barcelona, along with Man United and Real Madrid have been linked with Ruiz over the past several months.
The Catalan club could have signed the 23-year-old midfielder for a measly £850,000 in 2017.



But Setien was a huge admirer of Ruiz during their time together at Real Betis.


The 60-year-old personally obstructed Barca’s approach for the Spain international before his £25million transfer to Napoli the following year.
Ruiz has been impressive for Napoli since joining the club in 2018.



He has scored six goals in 43 appearances for the Serie A side.

[Edoman]

Transfer: Man City takes decision on John Stones leaving for Arsenal

 January 14, 2020



Manchester City are not ready to allow John Stones join Arsenal, the Manchester Evening News reports.


Former City assistant, Mikel Arteta, was hoping to tempt Stones to the Emirates Stadium, as he seeks to beef up the Gunners’ defence.


The player and Arteta developed a close bond during the latter’s time at the Etihad Stadium and the two also share the same agent.



Stones reportedly met with his agent this week, amid concerns that a lack of game-time could affect his chances of getting into England’s Euro 2020 squad.
But City will not give into any request to allow the defender leave.


Stones has suffered with injuries this season but has also been overlooked by City boss Pep Guardiola even when he’s fit.



With Aymeric Laporte’s logn absence, Guardiola has preferred midfielder Fernandinho, Nicolas Otamendi or youngster Eric Garcia to Stones.

[Edoman]

Manchester United cancel mid-season Middle East training camp due to safety fears



       


Following the downing of a Ukrainian aircraft by Iran's military and the attack on US bases in Iraq, Manchester United football club has decided to cancel it's mid-season training camp in the middle east for fear of possible military tensions between the US and Iran.

Iran has threatened to attack the UAE, Israel and other US allies in the Middle East following the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani while the US military has been stationed in the Middle East to quell any Iranian provocation. But Man United, a regular visitor to the Middle East by this time of the year have decided to shift it's training camp plans.
 
While the club will not ban players from heading to Dubai, a popular holiday destination for sports men, they have decided against taking the whole squad to the region.
"Yeah, if there is one thing that worries me it’s not on the football pitch," Man U coach Ole Gunnaer Solskjaer told reporters ahead of Manchester United's FA clash with Wolves on Wednesday.
"There are other things that will worry me more than football. We were looking at the Middle East but that is definitely not going to happen.
"I am going to give [the players] a few days off. I don't know where they will all scatter around but we will stay in Europe.
"This mid-season break will be very important for everyone and we have five or six games until then.
"We are just going to stick at it and hang in there until then, and get the performances and results and results we hope we are going to get. And get some vitamin D and get ready for the last three months."

[Edoman]

Super Eagles 'Mr handsome' goalkeeper Maduka Okoye explains why he chose Nigeria over Germany



                      


Super Eagles and Fortuna Dusseldolf goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has explained his decision to represent Nigeria professionally rather than Germany the country of his birth.
 
Okoye, who is a favorite amongst Nigerian females due to his handsome looks, is not Nigeria's first choice keeper but still decided to accept the Nigeria Football Federation's call to serve his fatherland because he knows Coach Gernot Rohr is planning long term.
 
                                         
 
Okoye made his debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly against Brazil three months ago and was also part of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho. He was then called up by Coach Gernot Rohr  for their first match of the 2019-2020 season, a friendly against Ukraine last September and has been part of the Goal keeping squad following the Super Eagles' search for new goalkeepers since Carl Ikeme retired from football over health issues.
                               
 
In an interview with the Super Eagles Media Team via YouTube, Okoye  explained his decision to represent Nigeria : "My opinion and my advice is to follow your heart, you have to feel it, where the love is. I felt the love in Nigeria and I feel like a Naija boy, that's why I chose Nigeria over Germany".
"I felt great after I got my first call-up to the Super Eagles, it was a pleasure. It's a big step for me in my football career.

"With the first call-up I had a bit of problems but after that for the Ukraine game everything was set up and I prepared well.
"I couldn't wait to get to the Super Eagles, everything went well. Thank God,'' Okoye added.

[Edoman]

See photos of the 22 Italian Instagram models Manchester City footballers flew to £150-a-night Cheshire hotel to celebrate their 6-1 win against Aston Villa







Manchester City footballers reportedly flew 22 Instagram models out to Cheshire for team bonding night at a luxury hotel and spa resort.

According to The Sun, the Italian women were flown over to Manchester on Sunday before checking into the £150-a-night Mere Golf Resort in Knutsford before match against Aston Villa that afternoon. City later beat Villa 6-1.
 
The publication added that the club's manager Pep Guardiola gave his permission for the the team bonding night, but it was not clear if he had been aware that the models were also in attendance.
 

 
Speaking to the Sun, a source said it had been a delayed Christmas party for the players and that a liaison officer for the club had spent months organising the event.
'I think their Wags will be surprised to hear these women were invited, but that they weren't'.
 
The source also added that they could have been members of the Manchester City supporters' club in Milan.
 

 
'Either way, they are very beautiful and looked like they had a really fun time. I assume the players did too.'
 
Some of the models including famous stars Amira Paula, Marta Tejada Italian TV presenter, and Chriara Giuffrida among many others took to Instagram to document their Cheshire stay with videos in the spa and other photos that showed them relaxing, dressed in skimpy bikinis. 
 

 
One Italian website claimed the women had been flown over to 'entertain' the footballers at the luxury hotel, but a source at the club denied claims that the players had partied with the women.
 
See more photos below.
 

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by Linda Ike