Sports update

[Edoman]

Barcelona in debt, owe 19 clubs £112million

 
on
 January 26, 2021





Barcelona still owe 19 clubs around £112million in transfer fees, according to their annual financial report published on Monday.


Of that amount, the largest sum they owe is £25m (€29m) to Liverpool.
The LaLiga giants still have a big chunk to pay of the initial £142m deal they agreed for midfielder Philippe Coutinho three years ago.


The transfer was the biggest in Barca’s history and having paid over £105m up front to the Premier League champions for the playmaker, they agreed to pay the rest in instalments over the following years.

While Liverpool have received the majority of this, the financial report shows the Reds are still waiting for a large chunk of this.


Barcelona also owe Bordeux £8.8m for winger Malcom, Gremio an additional £7m for Arthur Melo (now at Juventus) and £14m to Ajax for Frenkie de Jong.
The Catalonians requested from Goldman Sachs, Allianz, Barings, Amundi and Prudential a dispensation for failing to financially comply, which points to a non payment of approximately £178m.

The LaLiga side reportedly have a negative working capital of £535m, with a further £89m owed to other lenders.

[Edoman]

Chelsea to appoint Thomas Tuchel as Lampard’s replacement


 
on
 January 25, 2021





Chelsea will appoint Thomas Tuchel to replace Frank Lampard as manager, after two German managers rejected their advances.


Tuchel, who was sacked by Paris Saint-German last month, has been identified as the new Blues boss.


But, according to The Athletic, the 47-year-old was not the club’s first-choice.
It is claimed that former RB Leipzig chief Ralf Rangnick was offered the interim job last week for four months.
The deal would see him through until the end of the season.

The plan was for Rangnick to then move to a different role for next season, but he turned it down due to the short length of the deal.


Current Leipzig boss, Julian Nagelsmann, was also offered the role before a deal was struck with Tuchel.
However, the negotiations with Nagelsmann “hit a brick wall” and Chelsea ultimately fast-tracked their talks with Tuchel.


Tuchel only became available last after he was sacked at Paris Saint-Germain.

He won back-to-back league titles with PSG, but that was not enough to satisfy the club’s ambitious owners who replaced him with Mauricio Pochettino.

[Edoman]

Ex-Arsenal defender, Sokratis Papastathopoulos joins Olympiacos on free transfer after Gunners contract was terminated (photos)






Former Arsenal defender, Sokratis Papastathopoulos has officially joined Olympiacos on a deal until the summer of 2023
 
The 32-year-old Greek international had been looking for a new club after his contract was terminated by the Gunners by mutual consent last week.
 
Now, Sokratis has returned to his homeland to sign for Olympiacos on a free transfer after ending his Arsenal contract six months early. He's signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Olympiacos and is expected to earn €1.5million a year, including bonuses.
 

 
Taking to social media after leaving Arsenal, he said: "One of the most enjoyable times in my career ended today.
 
"It has been an honour to wear the Arsenal shirt and I want to thank all the coaches, team-mates, staff and fans around the world for the love and respect they have given me.
 
"I gave everything for Arsenal and Arsenal also gave me a lot.
 
"I wish you all the best health and success always. Thank you Arsenal."
 
Sokratis made 69 appearances for Arsenal, helping the team reach the final of the Europa League in 2019 and win the FA Cup last summer.
 

 

[Edoman]

Ex-Chelsea player Oscar reveals why he thinks De Bruyne and Salah failed to make it at Chelsea







Former Chelsea star midfielder, Oscar has revealed why he believes ex-team-mates, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah didn't make it at Chelsea but have gone on to have successful careers at Manchester City and Liverpool.

Oscar featured for Chelsea from 2012 to 2017 after making the move to Stamford Bridge from Internacional. He scored 38 goals during his time at the club before moving to China .

During his time with Chelsea, Oscar played alongside both De Bruyne and Salah, who were later sold by the club.
 

 
De Bruyne won the Premier League with Manchester City and is arguably the best midfielder in England, while Salah has helped Liverpool to win Champions League and premier league.

De Bruyne also won the Premier League Player of the Season in 2019-20 while 
Salah has scored 113 goals in 180 games for Liverpool, finishing third in FIFA's Best Men's Player voting in 2018.

Oscar has now come out to state what he thinks is the reason both players couldn't become stars under Jose Mourinho.

“De Bruyne even gave me an assist,” Oscar told Yellow and Green Football. “There was a formation where [Eden] Hazard, De Bruyne and I played in midfield and it worked well. He only had a few chances, played well but then got injured. I guess that not being consistent at a club that had many options in the centre of the park meant he was not a good fit at the time.

"With Salah, it was different. He was unstoppable during practice, but always shy and quiet off the field. During the games, I guess he did not have the confidence that we saw at every club he played for after Chelsea, and especially now at Liverpool.”

He added: “Sometimes players don’t feel comfortable with that pressure. I liked it because it made me better.

"Mourinho helped me a lot and he is one of the best coaches in the world. He gives a lot of confidence to his players, but also wants to see them perform at the level of that trust.”
?????

[Edoman]

[b]New Chelsea Manager Tuchel Already Planning A Reshuffle. See Changes[/b]

Thomas Tuchel is already making transfer plans at Chelsea, with five stars set to leave and a new big-money defender his top target.

TUCHEL WANTS UPAMECANO AT CHELSEA
Thomas Tuchel has wasted little time in planning for the future and getting the Blues upwardly mobile.

He plans to form a new central defensive partnership at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

Top of his list of targets is RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano. The towering French defender can leave the Bundesliga side for £42m this summer due to a clause in his contract.

Upamecano is wanted by the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United.

As per SportBild, Tuchel’s appointment at Stamford Bridge gives Chelsea a very real chance of landing the defender.

They claim Tuchel had Upamecano on his list of targets while at PSG. Furthermore, Chelsea now have ‘very good cards’ in the poker battle for Upamecano’s signature.

Tuchel also speaks fluent French, which should help Upamecano’s potential integration at Stamford Bridge.

Pairing up with Upamecano in defence will be Antonio Rudiger. He’s been named as one of five stars who could benefit from Tuchel’s appointment.

The German found himself way down Lampard’s pecking order and he was close to leaving in the summer.

However, the £30m signing from Roma in 2017 has already been assured of his Chelsea future by Tuchel. As per Sky Germany, Tuchel and Rudiger “have had contact over and over again in recent months” even before it was clear they would work together at Chelsea.

Thiago Silva and Christensen to leave
A Rudiger-Upamecano axis would leave question marks over Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva. Both could move on this summer. It is anticipated though that Kurt Zouma will be kept on.

Reports in Spain, meanwhile, claim Tuchel’s first piece of business will be to grant the loan exit of Billy Gilmour. Todofijaches report there are no shortage of admirers for the Scottish midfielder.

They claim Tuchel is a huge fan of Jorginho and is set to make him the heartbeat of the Blues midfield.

That could leave question marks hanging over N’Golo Kante.

As such, they reckon his sale will be sanctioned by Tuchel this summer if the price is right. Long-term suitors Real Madrid are, predictably, waiting in the wings.

https://www.teamtalk.com/news/euro-transfer-gossip-tuchel-new-72m-chelsea-defence-upamecano-deal-tottenham-di-maria

[Edoman]

I won’t apologise for 2010 World Cup goal miss – Aiyegbeni







Former Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has said that he won’t apologise to Nigerians over the open goal he missed during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Group B match between Nigeria and South Korea.
 
Speaking during an interview tagged Live with Yak on NationTV on Wednesday January 27, Aiyegbeni said he won't apologize because he scored so many goals for Nigeria too and also sacrificed a lot for the country.
 
He said; 
 

“I won’t apologise at all. Why should I? I have scored so many goals for Nigeria too. I have sacrificed a lot for the country. Did anyone apologise to me?


“I cannot apologise because it wasn’t a deliberate miss. I seriously wanted to score. But it wasn’t to be. So many have strikers have missed chances too and nobody will apologise so I won’t.”

[Edoman]

In Zlatan's world there is no racism but some players are better than others"- Ibrahimovic reacts to allegation he used racist language against Lukaku in derby fight







AC Milan striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has responded to allegations he used racist language on Romelu Lukaku during Tuesday night's derby clash between AC Milan and Inter Milan.
 
Recall both players almost came to blows and had to be restrained by players and staff during the match. Read HERE
 
During the clash Ibrahimovic was heard yelling at Lukaku: 'Go do your voodoo s***, you little donkey.'
 

 
And while many interpreted that as a racist slur, Ibrahimovic has now come out to state that he isn't racist.
 
'In ZLATAN's world there is no place for RACISM,' he tweeted. 'We are all the same race - we are all equal!!' 
 
However, the Swede could not resist a jibe to who is the king of Milan, adding: 'We are all PLAYERS some better than others.'
 

 
Former teammate, Paul Pogba, also waded in, saying Zlatan loves him too much and can never be racist.
 
Back in February 2020, Inter fought back from 2-0 down to claim bragging rights in the derby with a 4-2 win. Lukaku sealed the win in the 93rd minute and later declared: 'There's a new king in town,' in a clear dig at Zlatan.
 
Ibrahimovic waited patiently till October 2020 by scoring twice in Milan's 2-1 win over Inter, after which he posted on Instagram: 'Milan never had a king, they have a God.'
 
AC Milan representatives have insisted the 39-year-old's 'voodoo' dig was a reference to Lukaku turning down a new deal at Everton, with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri saying at the time that Lukaku visited a witch doctor in Africa and consequently rejected an extension of his deal at Everton due to a 'voodoo message' from the witch doctor.
 
The witch doctor reportedly told Lukaku not to sign a new deal with Everton but to go back to Chelsea despite the fact that Everton gave him a better contract.

 


b

[Edoman]

EPL: Tuchel rates Chelsea’s title chances after 0-0 draw with Wolves


on
 January 28, 2021





New Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has said they have to be “realistic” about winning the Premier League title this season.


Tuchel took charge of his first game on Wednesday night – a 0-0 draw with Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
The German is under no illusions he will be expected to fight for the title, but he believes the Blues have “the capacity to hurt everybody in every league”.


However, he suggested that a top-four finish would be an acceptable result this season, although he pointed out there are “a lot of teams and points” between Chelsea and the Champions League spots.



Tuchel said: ‘The title, ooh, far away. We have to be realistic at the same time.
“When you sign for Chelsea as manager, it is absolutely right you sign for the expectation to fight for titles; Premier League, Champions League and cups.


“It’s absolutely clear, but at the same time we have to be realistic that there are a lot of teams and points between us and fourth.


“So maybe it’s the best time now to step up in the middle of the season. Don’t lose the focus in looking too far.

“I’m absolutely sure we have the capacity to hurt everybody in every league and competition and it’s my job to bring evidence of that as fast as possible.”

[Edoman]

Cristiano Ronaldo under investigation 'for flouting Italy's Covid rules' to celebrate girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez's birthday








Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly 'under investigation' after flouting coronavirus rules to take his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez on a trip to a luxury ski resort to celebrate her 27th birthday. 
 
The Portuguese striker, who was rested for Juve's 4-0 Coppa Italia win against SPAL on Wednesday night, took his girlfriend to the resort of Courmayer, 93 miles from Turin, crossing the borders between Piedmont and Valle D'Aosta for a two-day trip despite Italian Covid regulations stating that travel between cities is banned. 
 
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, they stayed in the five-star Le Massif hotel that would have been officially closed and were also recorded during a snowmobile ride around the Alpine sights of Val Veny.
 

 
The report claims that the pair have not been fined, but the video showing them in the resort on social media was taken down immediately.
 
Both Ronaldo and Rodriguez have now returned to Turin following their stay, but beiN Sports are reporting that the authorities are investigating Ronaldo after the trip to Courmayer. 
 
The fine Ronaldo faces is €400 (£354) if found guilty of flouting coronavirus rules. 
 
Italian Covid rules state that: 'Travel across regions in Italy is banned until 15 February unless for reasons of work, health or absolute necessity.' 

[Edoman]

Klopp's wounded animals roar: Battered and bruised Liverpool are back in the title race



28 January 2021, 


"I'm not only a good-weather coach," said Jurgen Klopp ahead of Liverpool's trip to Tottenham. How prophetic.


In the pouring north-London rain on Thursday, the Reds manager took a patched-up defence and misfiring attack to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and put on a show, one that will have the Manchester clubs feeling a touch of nerves.
Liverpool's 3-1 victory was their sixth in a row against Spurs and Klopp's fifth in nine league games against Jose Mourinho, but this was still something of a surprise. 


The Reds had won once in seven games in all competitions, lost their last two at home to Burnley and away to Manchester United, and struggled their way through 482 minutes and 93 shots without scoring in the league.


They welcomed back Joel Matip and captain Jordan Henderson but lost Fabinho to a muscle problem, and Matip himself only lasted the first half. This was a patched-up, pockmarked line-up tasked with stopping Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, who have scored and assisted 41 times between them this season.


They had to ride their luck early on, the remarkably ruthless Son slotting past Alisson with his first chance only to be penalised for an offside heel. There was an element of fortune about Liverpool's opener, too: Sadio Mane's scuffed cross reached Roberto Firmino for a tap-in only because Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris chose to let it bobble between them.


But it was a goal, and a win, that Klopp's men wholly deserved.


Mourinho seemed to sense it, too. If he was furious with Firmino's goal, he was apoplectic when Trent Alexander-Arnold, another whose form has been questioned, rifled in a second just after half-time after Lloris parried the ball right to his boot. Pierre-Emile Hojgbjerg blasted in a stunning reply but it never felt as though Liverpool's lead was under threat, even after Mohamed Salah's goal was disallowed for a distant Firmino handball.


Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made sure of it when he let Alexander-Arnold's deep cross reach Mane, who blasted home. It's now 21 goal involvements in the league for the right-back since the start of last season, the most of any defender in the competition. 


That patchwork defence then made certain Alisson did not have another save to make, even with Son, Erik Lamela, Steven Bergwijn and Gareth Bale on the pitch, the injured Kane having exited at half-time.


This was not 'vintage' Liverpool, if there can be such a thing. There were poor misses and errant backheels apiece from Salah and Mane, and Thiago Alcantara was ineffective even before suffering a cut head. They were also given a huge helping hand by some abject Spurs defending. But for a team who haven't won a league game for over a month, this was pretty emphatic.


Klopp's men are now back to within three points of United and four of leaders Manchester City. They meet Pep Guardiola's men at Anfield on February 7 – a match they will now likely go into with a far sunnier outlook.

[Edoman]

Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool: Champions rediscover scoring touch to end slump



28 January 2021




Trent Alexander-Arnold scored for the first time this season and laid on an assist as Liverpool ended their Premier League goal drought with a 3-1 victory at Tottenham.


The champions had not scored in their previous four games amid a five-match winless run in the top flight, but ended their slump at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday to move four points behind leaders Manchester City in fourth place.
Roberto Firmino opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time after Son Heung-min had a goal ruled out for offside and Alexander-Arnold added a second shortly after the restart.


Spurs suffered a big blow when Harry Kane could not return for the second half after having treatment on both ankles, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg halved the deficit within two minutes of Alexander-Arnold’s strike.


Sadio Mane gave Liverpool, who lost Joel Matip to injury at the break, breathing space as Tottenham's eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to a halt in a major setback to their hopes of challenging for the title.


Mane wasted a glorious chance to give the Reds an early lead when he fired wide from close range and that looked to be costly when Son finished clinically soon after, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.


Son shot straight at a grateful Alisson on the counter-attack before Mane was twice denied by Hugo Lloris, as the Reds dominated possession without being able to end their top-flight goal drought.


The breakthrough came just before the interval, though, fit-again captain Jordan Henderson – playing as a centre-back with Fabinho ruled out – piercing the Spurs defence with a brilliant ball over the top for Mane, who set Firmino up for a tap-in.
Jose Mourinho made a double change at half-time, with Kane and Serge Aurier replaced by Erik Lamela and Harry Winks, while Nathaniel Phillips took Matip's place at the heart of Jurgen Klopp's back four.


Alexander-Arnold doubled Liverpool's lead two minutes into the second period with a clinical right-foot finish following a mistake from Lloris, who palmed Mane's shot into his path.


Hojbjerg quickly got Spurs back into the match with a rasping long-range drive before referee Martin Atkinson disallowed a Mohamed Salah goal for handball against Firmino.


Liverpool were not to be denied a third goal after 65 minutes, though, the excellent Alexander-Arnold whipping in a cross that Joe Rodon failed to deal with and Sane punished the defender by lashing home with his left foot.

[Edoman]

New Chelsea boss Tuchel makes big admission: Yes, I was a Spurs fan!



28 January 2021, 



Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he was a Tottenham fan as a boy but insists he now only has eyes for Chelsea.


The new Blues head coach had his formal presentation on Thursday, after taking over from the sacked Frank Lampard.


Tuchel was brought up in the Bavarian town of Krumbach in the 1970s and 1980s, when sport on television was scarcely seen, and he puts it down to youthful naivety that he happened to support Tottenham.


The ages-old enmity between Tottenham and Chelsea means Tuchel cannot afford to have split loyalties now, and he insists his days of idolising Spurs stars have long gone.


"When I was young there was no daily match live on TV and no daily live match from the Bundesliga," said Tuchel. "What I could actually see was one or two minutes every four weeks and suddenly a club like Tottenham Hotspur came across on our sports broadcaster once every four weeks.


"Suddenly I heard the name Tottenham Hotspur, which sounded like a big adventure and gave me a big advantage playing with my friends, because they had no idea where that club was."


Tuchel joked: "I was young, I needed the money!
"No, I was young but that was one of my first experiences. I didn't even know it was a club from London.


"But now I'm absolutely aware I work for their big rivals and we'll do everything we can to beat them next week."


The trip to Tottenham on February 4 will be a major early test for Tuchel as he goes up against former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.


Tuchel has plenty of Premier League knowledge and has an ongoing friendship with Pep Guardiola, boss of leaders Manchester City.
"Absolutely, I spoke with Pep a lot since he's worked here," Tuchel said.


He believes competing against such elite coaches and teams will "bring the best out of me" and had a smile when Chelsea's turnover of managers was mentioned.


Tuchel knows he must succeed and keep succeeding to stay in his post, saying: "In the end at Chelsea, it is about results.


"I'm very realistic that I'm in a club whose DNA it is to win and go for trophies, and I'm here to challenge for every trophy we play for."
During his time at Paris Saint-Germain, whom he guided to successive Ligue 1 titles and last year's Champions League final, Tuchel became accustomed to demands for his team to keep winning.


He was ousted from his job in December after PSG lost four matches in their domestic league before Christmas, yet across his time with the French giants his team scored at a rate of one goal every 33.7 minutes of Ligue 1 action.


Chelsea began this season at an impressive clip by scoring 29 times in their first 14 Premier League games under Lampard, but the goals have dried up since, with only four coming in their subsequent six matches in the competition.



They have not scored more than once in that run and it was a seven-game streak from October to December in 2015 when they last experienced a longer spell without getting two or more goals in a league fixture.


On Sunday, Chelsea face an in-form Burnley, with Tuchel looking to make up for the false start of the goalless draw with Wolves on Wednesday.


He said it was "not realistic" to target the Premier League title in his first season, with Chelsea already 11 points behind a Manchester City side who also have a game in hand.
"Realistically this year it's the Champions League and the FA Cup," Tuchel said.

[Edoman]

Rumour Has It: Real Madrid wait for Mbappe signal as PSG star asks for time to decide future



28 January 2021, 



Kylian Mbappe wants time to make a decision on his future as Real Madrid await a signal from the Paris Saint-Germain star.


Mbappe, 22, has been linked with a move to Madrid and his contract at PSG ends in 2022.
But will the forward end up at the Santiago Bernabeu?


TOP STORY – REAL MADRID WAIT FOR MBAPPE
Real Madrid are waiting for a signal from Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, according to Marca.


The report says Mbappe has asked for time to decide his future.

While Madrid have been most strongly linked with a move for Mbappe, Liverpool are also reportedly interested.


ROUND-UP
- Staying at Madrid and Fabrizio Romano says a new contract for midfielder Luka Modric is imminent. The Croatian midfielder's current deal expires at the end of the season.


- Dele Alli's future is set to be a constant talking point until at least the end of this transfer window. ESPN claims Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to let the midfielder leave for PSG. Romano reports Spurs are still looking for a replacement and were working on re-signing Christian Eriksen, but Inter wanted a loan fee and the midfielder's salary paid in full.


- Lyon star Houssem Aouar was linked to Arsenal last close season, but the midfielder could head elsewhere. Gianluca Di Marzio reports Juventus are looking at the 22-year-old as an option ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.


- Lucas Torreira seems set to move on from Atletico Madrid. Diario AS says Monaco are favourites to sign the midfielder, who is on loan at Atletico from Arsenal.

- Said Benrahma has made an impression at West Ham. Sky Sports reports West Ham have converted their loan for Benrahma from Brentford into a permanent move, paying £20million plus add-ons. The report says West Ham are also in talks to sign RB Leipzig forward Hwang Hee-chan.

[Edoman]

Manchester United player Jesse Lingard agrees loan deal with West Ham till end of season







Out of favour Manchester United midefielder, Jesse Lingard has agreed a loan move to West Ham.

Negotiations between Manchester United and West Ham nearly hit the rocks on Thursday , January 28 with United asking for a £1.5million loan fee plus Lingard's £80,000-a-week wages for the rest of the season according to the Daily Mail UK.
 


As West Ham baulked over the fee, United took the step of informing other clubs that Lingard was still available but West Ham manager David Moyes has now agreed to pay the fee and the attacking midfielder will join the club on loan till the end of the season.
 
Lingard has struggled for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season but
Moyes, who knows the 24-cap England midfielder from his time at Old Trafford, believes he can rejuvenate his form. 
 
 

[Edoman]

Mexican footballer, Rodrigo Alain Cuevas has leg amputated after electric shock (photos)







A young Mexican footballer has had his leg amputated after suffering severe injuries following an accident in his home.
 
Rodrigo Alain Cuevas was a forward for Ciervos Chalco FC in the Liga Premier, the third tier of football in Mexico.
 
The club said in a statement  that Cuevas, 27, had suffered third-degree burns from a high-voltage electrical discharge.
 
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cuevas was prevented from being treated in Mexico City and was transferred to the Sinaloan town of Culiacan where he was operated on three days after the incident
 
“When I suffered the accident, none of the hospitals in the [city of] Mexico could admit me because they were full of COVID-19 [cases],” Cuevas wrote on social media. “Thanks to a contact, I was transferred by ambulance to Culiacan, where I was admitted.”
 
Cuevas posted a photograph on Facebook from his hospital bed after the operation giving a thumbs up and wrote: “My left foot was shattered. The surgeon and the doctors, as they should be, were honest and direct with me and my parents.'
 
“What they told us was that my foot had to be amputated because it was too infected and if it was not operated on, it would put my life at risk.
 

 
“At first my parents didn’t want to, they wanted a second opinion, because they know what soccer means to me but the doctors said there was no time.
 
“In that moment thousands of things were going through my head, I thought that my football career was over, that it was short, I thought of all the sacrifices that I went through to step on a pitch professionally.
 
“I made the decision because I am of legal age to have my left foot amputated, and at that moment I had a great life lesson, that although you love doing something so much, practicing a sport, or “X” whatever you do, you should never put it above your life.
 
“I want to thank all the people that have helped me financially to pay for the medical costs, I will be eternally grateful.”
 

 
The football club also shared a statement on Facebook saying: "This incident might distance Alain from the field, but not from the team.
 
"We accompany him as a teammate and his family in the most difficult game he has played yet, from which we know he will come out victorious, like the champion he is."

[Edoman]

Odion Ighalo Cools Off At Seaside After Manchester United Exit (Photos)

Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has taken to the sea to signal the end of an era in Manchester United and a probable beginning of another, Igbere TV reports.

Ighalo will cease being a Manchester United player on January 31.

Since bidding United goodbye in an emotional message posted to social media on Tuesday night, the forward has been sharing pictures of himself by the sea.

He shared one with an emoji as caption on Thursday.

The 31-year-old shared more pictures from the seaside on Friday.

Ighalo joined United on loan in dramatic fashion on deadline day in January 2020 before extending his deal in June.

He netted five goals in total for United, with all of them scored in the Europa League and FA Cup.

The former Watford player will be hoping to find a new club before the transfer deadline, if a team can strike a deal with Shanghai Shenhua.

https://twitter.com/ighalojude/status/1354721144381829121?s=20

[Edoman]

Update: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku get match ban after heated confrontation in Milan derby







Footballers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Romelu Lukaku have both received a one-match ban each following their heated confrontation in the Milan derby on Tuesday. 
 
The AC Milan and Inter Milan strikers nearly came to blows just before half-time at the San Siro Stadium during their Coppa Italia clash. 
 
Both players were issued a yellow card, with Ibrahimovic later being sent off the pitch for receiving a second booking.
 
As both were booked and pulled apart during the heated confrontation, Ibrahimovic can be heard yelling at Lukaku: 'Go do your voodoo s***, you little donkey.' 
 
Lukaku was also heard telling the AC Milan striker 'f*** you and your wife, you little b****' and 'you want to speak about my mother!?' as his Inter team-mates held him back. Read previous report here. 
 
The next day, Ibrahimovic was forced to address allegations that he used racist language on Romelu Lukaku during their derby clash, insisting that he isn't racist.
 
'In ZLATAN's world there is no place for RACISM,' he tweeted. 'We are all the same race - we are all equal!!' 
 
However, the Swede could not resist a jibe to who is the king of Milan, adding: 'We are all PLAYERS but some better than others.'
 
Both players have now received a one-match ban each for their actions but the Italian Football Federation could still open an investigation to assess any possible discrimination, as they are yet to receive the referee's report on the incident. 

[Edoman]

[b]Roman Abramovich Has Dished Out £112.5M In Compensation To Sacked Chelsea Bosses

Frank Lampard was railroaded as surely as the trains which still rumble along the old tracks behind the main stand at Stamford Bridge.[/b]

The German era was already dawning on Chelsea. At another hefty price.

Roman Abramovich does not sack managers with quite the frequency of that rusty stretch of the London Overground but the costs of keeping his unwanted livestock rolling out has to be just as expensive.

Even though the King's Road's favourite son goes for a bargain handshake.

Because the club had not yet triggered his new contract extension beyond the remaining six months of his old deal, Lampard collects £2million compensation rather than a projected £6million. Oh, well.

Only Rafa Benitez and Guus Hiddink, who were out of contract and cost Roman sweet nothing, went cheaper, while Maurizio Sarri's Juventus exit brought the club a little compensation that might soften the blow of all their expensive exits. The next lowest handshake was afforded to Avram Grant - remember him? - at a trifling £5.2m.

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte topped out at more than £20m each, with the Italian's personal £9m cheque boosted to a one-bullet record of £26.6m by the removal of his huge backroom staff plus the legal bills. Jose edges him overall, however, with another £8.3m from the second of his two golden goodbyes.

Abramovich's run-em-out-of-town total for a dozen dismissals now stands at an eye-watering £112.5m.

Not that Chelsea are alone by any means in this hefty reckoning. Most of the major clubs have made significant contributions to the hundreds and hundreds of millions expended on unwanted managers.

Nice work if you can get out of it.

Nor are masses of Chelsea fans protesting in the streets in support of their Frank. Any more than have complained about all that lolly being spent on quick-fire P45s instead of even more over-valued footballers.

They know that the real reason their club is now among football's elite is Abramovich, not the managers.

Without their Russian owner's enormous wealth and willingness to invest Chelsea would still be fidgeting around the edges of glory, at best. Fighting relegation, maybe. His cheque is the reality.
And ruthlessly though he exercises his dictatorship, he usually pays the price with honour. To the best of our knowledge, with the exception of the rancorous dispute with the feisty and impertinent Conte, he has met those divorce settlements without demur.

Lampard will be feeling, not without reason, that he was not given time to fully develop the youthful potential of his Chelsea team; an opportunity he deserved after the early success of his brief 18-month tenure. But for Abramovich a slump is a slump if it looks to be sinking into failure to qualify for the Champions League and out of Premier League title contention.

At least the financial extravagances of modern football spare Lampard the fate of near-poverty which beset so many sacked managers until not that many seasons ago.

Bill Nicholson, the greatest Tottenham manager, ended his days still living in the terraced house round the corner from White Hart Lane.

The immortal Bill Shankly lived life after Liverpool in his small, long-time home backing onto Everton's training ground.

Malcom Allison, who along with Joe Mercer first brought Manchester City out of United's shadows to the league championship, was destitute and living in a rent-free room above a pub when he died.

Bryan Robson, Captain Marvel for Manchester United and England who did sterling work as boss at Middlesbrough, augments his living now as a glad-handing ambassador at Old Trafford. Others of his generation, albeit less distinguished, are faring far worse and reliant on hand-outs.

Of course, it is horrible for anyone to be thrown out of work and sadly millions more normal working folk are being forced onto the dole even as you read this, through no fault of their own. But top football managers have the deepest of silk cushions on which to fall back.

Yes, their self-esteem and perhaps their self-confidence will be dented, but not the lifestyle of themselves and their families.

Lampard will be wounded now. No least because it seems he has become a victim of what used to be called Player Power, when he was starting out as a young footballer.
That force is all the more potent now, strengthened though it is by those hugely excessive salaries, and appears to be have manifested itself as part of this manager's undoing.

Had Lampard been given just a little longer in this hot-seat, he might have rooted out the back-stabbers under the Bridge. Might have come to the realisation which guided Sir Alex Ferguson when it came to transfers and he expressed thus: 'My first priority in looking for a player no matter how good his ability was his self motivation. That burning desire to win.'

Those who pulled the rug from under Chelsea's living legend might reflect upon whether Fergie would ever have signed them. I think not.

With Bundesliga stars already arrived at the nearest station and in waiting for German manager Thomas Tuchel, young Frank was railroaded alright.

But while his pride is hurt, his reputation and standing in the game are undiminished. Like Arnold Shchwarzenegger, he'll be back. None the poorer.

And next time, Mr Abramovich, put me one month's notice and I can make a mess of it with the best of them.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9193733/JEFF-POWELL-Roman-Abramovich-dished-112-5M-compensation-sacked-Chelsea-bosses.html

[Edoman]

West Ham have confirmed the signing of Jesse Lingard as the Manchester United outcast joins the high-flying Hammers on loan until the end of the season.

West Ham Sign Jesse Lingard On Loan Until The End Of The Season 

The 28-year-old has been on the periphery of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans this season, making just three appearances in all competitions, with no Premier League cameos.

A host of clubs from England and abroad had shown an interest in acquiring the creative midfielder, but it is the east London club who have won the race for the Englishman's signature.

Source: https://twitter.com/WestHam/status/1355282070562631684?s=19

[Edoman]

Turkey: Onyekuru Grabs Brace As Galatasaray Beat Gaziantep Away

Turkey: Onyekuru Grabs Brace As Galatasaray Beat Gaziantep Away

Henry Onyekuru scored twice as Galatasaray beat Gaziantep 2-1 in their Turkish Super Lig clash at the Gaziantep Stadyumu on Friday, reports Completesports.com.

It was Onyekuru’s first appearance for Fathi Terim’s side since he linked up with the club from Monaco.

The Nigeria international started the game on the bench and replaced Morocco international Younnes Belhanda after the break.

The 23-year-old put Galatasaray ahead in the 51st minute after he was teed up by Dutchman Ryan Babel.

He scored his second goal of the game 12 minutes from time.

His international teammate Oghenekaro Etebo replaced Emre Kılınç in the 75th minute.

Former Flying Eagles defender Valentine Ozornwafor was an unused substitute for Galatasaray in the game.

https://www.completesports.com/turkey-onyekuru-grabs-brace-as-galatasaray-beat-gaziantep-away/