Category: Sports

Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior, has spoken for the first time since returning for pre-season training.

The 26-year-old’s future is up in the air, with one year left on his contract.

Arsenal are prepared to offer Vinicius Jr a route away from Madrid if he does not renew his deal.

Vinicius has said new Real head coach Jose Mourinho wants him to be “happy” at the club – and has called on his team to be prepared for the season ahead.

“It’s gone very well, meeting the new coach and the new players and training very hard,” Vinicius told Real’s official club channels.

“Mourinho wants me to be as I’ve always been: happy, cheerful, and that I play my football.

“We have to prepare physically so that during the season we have fewer injuries and we can count on everybody.

“[Monday] was a double session, [Tuesday] is one session. So let’s go. Today we did a bit of work in the gym and a short session to load our legs some more.

“It was a good training session and we all left very tired, but now it’s time to rest for tomorrow. Pre-season is like this. We have to be prepared.”

Transfer: Vinicius Jr reveals conversation with Mourinho after Real Madrid return

Chelsea midfielder, Moises Caicedo, wants teammate Enzo Fernandez to stay at the club beyond this summer.

Caicedo spoke to reporters at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Tuesday before the Blues’ pre-season friendly against Juventus.

Fernandez has been linked with a move away from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

“I really like Enzo,” Caicedo said. “I have a lot of respect for him because we all know what kind of player he is.

“And not just as a player, he is also a great person.

“I hope he stays, but I don’t want to talk about that. If he stays here, it will be very important for us.”

Transfer: I like him – Caicedo wants Chelsea teammate to stay at club

Chelsea manager, Xabi Alonso, has made a decision regarding Mykhailo Mudryk’s participation in preseason training as the new season approaches.

During his pre-match press conference in Hong Kong, Alonso discussed the upcoming third match of the preseason tour for the Blues, confirming that the winger will be included in the lineup against Juventus.

On Sunday afternoon, Chelsea and Alonso traveled over 4,500 miles from Sydney to Hong Kong for the next phase of their four-country tour.

Juventus is set to face Chelsea tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, and Alonso has been previewing this latest friendly encounter.

While the match itself was a topic of discussion, the primary focus of Alonso’s press conference is likely to be on the returning Mykhailo Mudryk.

Following the resolution of his anti-doping suspension last week, the 25-year-old Ukrainian winger has received clearance to return to competitive football, and he was reunited with his Chelsea teammates yesterday.

Alonso said, “He has been training alone for a long time. It is different now; he needs to engage with his teammates. He is very professional. The goal now is to progress gradually.

“He arrived directly from the airport to the hotel. Yesterday was more about emotions and feelings rather than evaluating his fitness. However, he is eligible to play. While 90 minutes may be too soon, he can be selected and participate.

“We are excited that Misha is back with us. You could see his smile and the joy he feels to return. As for his fitness level, we will assess that. He has been putting in a lot of effort. Now, it is about integrating him into team activities.”

Pre-season: Xabi Alonso takes decision on Mykhailo Mudryk ahead Chelsea vs Juventus

Legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has distanced himself from Gianni Infantino’s initiative to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup tournament.

Wenger emphasized that his responsibilities do not include involvement in FIFA’s operations.

In a statement to the press, as reported by Sportskeeda, Wenger expressed his commitment to youth football development, collaborating with 60 academies across several countries.

He reminded everyone that he is not accountable for any decisions made, stating: “The recent developments at FIFA warrant some clarification from my perspective. At FIFA, I hold the position of Chief of Global Football Development.

“Alongside my team, I manage the data analysis of the game, the FIFA online training center, the advancement of youth education through 60 academies in 60 countries where they are most needed, and youth competitions globally.”

Wenger also mentioned his role with IFAB, where he contributes to the formulation of rules aimed at enhancing football. He reiterated that the FIFA World Cup plans were outside the scope of his work but expressed his satisfaction with the decision to abandon the initiative.

“Additionally, I serve as a technical adviser to IFAB. I was not involved in this strategic plan and first learned about the project through media coverage. The decision to retract the project was absolutely essential and indisputable, as I strongly advocate for an independent FIFA that is dedicated to our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”

Gianni Infantino was pursuing private investors for FIFA by proposing the sale of stakes in the FIFA World Cup.

Infantino: ‘I’m not involved’ – Arsene Wenger distances self from FIFA President’s saga

Former Flying Eagles striker, Ahmed Abdullahi, has completed a move to Turkish Super Lig outfit Eyüpspor

Abdullahi linked up with Eyüpspor from Premier League club Sunderland.

The 22-year-old penned a two-year contract with the option of another year.

The Nigerian, who joined Sunderland from Belgian side Gent in August 2024, failed to make a senior appearance for the Black Cats due to injury struggles.

Abdullahi was included in the squads for the Carabao Cup and FA Cup clashes with Huddersfield Town and Port Vale last season.

He will be hoping to get his career back on track in Turkey.

Transfer: Turkish club Eyüpspor sign Nigerian striker on two-year contract

Fulham have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid duo Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios for a combined fee of £42.5m on Monday.

Garcia has joined for £34m, signing a five-year deal at Craven Cottage, with a club option to extend by a further 12 months.

The 22-year-old, who was the top scorer at the Club World Cup last summer, has been joined at the Premier League by Palacios.

The Whites announced the signing of the Palacios 30 minutes after Garcia’s arrival.

The 21-year-old has joined for around £8.5m and has signed a five-year deal with the club holding an option to extend by 12 months.

The Spaniards become new Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa’s first signings, as they reunite having worked together at Real Madrid last season.

Transfer: Departures of two Real Madrid players confirmed

A Johannesburg-based Akwa Ibom indigene and longtime family friend of South African international footballer Ime Daniel Okon, Mr Francis Akpan, has disclosed that Okon has said it would be impossible for him to play for Nigeria.

Akpan spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview, explaining why representing Nigeria is no longer an option for the player.

He said Okon has insisted that South Africa is the only country he truly considers home despite his Nigerian roots.

Akpan said, “I knew his father very well before he passed away. The boy has always lived in South Africa. He has told us he cannot play for Nigeria because he was never approached and knows virtually nothing about the country.”

Okon was born in Johannesburg in 2004 to a Nigerian father from Akwa Ibom State but has never visited Nigeria and has had no connection with the country’s football system.

The former SuperSport United defender told an international media outlet recently that his late father, a wrestler, never took him to Nigeria or introduced him to football authorities in Nigeria while he was growing up.

According to him, although he was eligible to represent the Super Eagles through his father, that opportunity has effectively passed, as he has already committed his international future to South Africa’s senior national team, Bafana Bafana.

“I know where my heart lies. South Africa is the only home I have known,” Okon said, explaining that his upbringing and football development were entirely in South Africa.

Why it is impossible for Akwa Ibom-born Bafana Bafana defender to play for Nigeria – Akpan

Turkish football pundit, Levent Tüzemen, has criticized Galatasaray for failing to sign a new winger to support their top Victor Osimhen this summer transfer window ahead of the new season.

Tüzemen is not happy with Galatasaray’s transfer policy so far this summer, as he insisted that Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made Osimhen a star during their time together at Napoli.

“It was Kvara who made Osimhen a star at Napoli,” Tüzemen said via A Spor.

“Galatasaray still has not signed a winger to get Osimhen fired up. I just don’t understand this transfer policy.”

Galatasaray recently signed defender Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Burnley.

They could sign more players before the summer transfer window closes.

Transfer: Galatasaray under fire over failure to sign winger for Osimhen

Flying Eagles duo, Alfred Odinaka and Abdulmuiz Adeleke, have been named in the Group Stage Best XI at the ongoing WAFU B U-20 Championship, DAILY POST reports.

The group stage of the biennial competition was concluded on Sunday.

Odinaka is among the four defenders who made the selection.

Forward Adeleke has been one of the top performers for the Flying Eagles at the tournament, scoring four goals in three  outings.

Adeleke bagged a brace in Nigeria’s 4-2 victory against the Black Satellites of Ghana, and netted twice in the 3-0 win over Sparrow Hawks of Togo.

Burkina Faso and hosts Cote d’Ivoire both have three players in the Team of the Group Stage.

Niger, Ghana and Togo each have one player included.

The Flying Eagles will face Cote d’Ivoire in the semi-final on Wednesday.

WAFU B U-20 Championship: Flying Eagles duo make Group Stage Best XI

Hull City are working on luring Femi Azeez from Sky Bet Championship club Millwall, DAILY POST reports.

The Tigers are keen to bolster their squad following their promotion to the Premier League last season.

Azeez is seen as a potential quality addition by Hull City.

Millwall reportedly rejected a £20 million bid  from Premier League new boys Ipswich Town for the player earlier in the summer.

According to Football League World, Hull City will push to sign the two-time Nigeria international before the start of the new season.

Azeez was one of the star performers for Millwall last season, scoring 11 goals, and providing eight assists across 33 second tier starts.

He was also named in the Championship Team of the Season.

Transfer: Hull City step up Azeez pursuit