Category: Sports

Spain international, Rodri, will wear the number 16 shirt at Barcelona.

This was disclosed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, in a post on X

“Rodri has asked to wear number 16 at Barcelona during his conversations with Fermín López over recent days,” Romano wrote.

“Fermín, set to switch to number 7 so Rodri will maintain his iconic 16.”

Rodri is all set to join Barcelona from Manchester City.

The midfielder will sign a four-year deal with Barcelona this week, which will see him remain at Camp Nou until June 2030.

The Ballon d’Or winner was not part of the Manchester City squad that lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Rodri’s shirt number at Barcelona revealed

Barcelona legend, Sergio Busquets, has landed a new coaching job.

The 38-year-old has returned to Barcelona to begin his coaching career with the reserve team, Barça Atlètic, as Assistant Coach in the Spanish fourth tier.

He will form part of manager Juliano Belletti’s staff this season while completing his coaching course.

Busquets joined Barcelona as a teenager back in 2005 and made 25 appearances for the reserve team before breaking into the first team.

The former Spain international eventually left Barcelona in 2023 to join Inter Miami and retired from professional football in 2025.

Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets lands new coaching job

Belgian Pro League club Cercle Brugge have announced the signing of Nigerian-born defender Tayo Adaramola.

Adaramola, who joins the Green and Blacks from Premier League outfit, Crystal Palace signed a contract until 2030.

The 22-year-old is not new to Belgian football, having spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan with RWD Molenbeek.

The left-back came through the youth ranks at St Kevin’s Boys and St Mochta’s, before making the move to the Crystal Palace Academy in 2015.

Adaramola, who was born in Dublin to Yoruba Nigerian parents, has already represented Republic of Ireland at different age levels.

He has made one appearance for Republic of Ireland at the senior level.

Transfer: Cercle Brugge sign Nigerian-born defender from Crystal Palace

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, is ready to give his green light to a move to Arsenal, if the club changes its stance and agree a fee.

Osimhen has been linked with a move to the Premier League champions, who are keen to add a new striker this summer.

Mikel Arteta is in the market for a striker, following Viktor Gyokeres’ mixed debut campaign and Gabriel Jesus’ imminent departure.

Arsenal expressed interest in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez earlier in the summer, but the LaLiga side has already rebuffed several offers.

The possibility of the Gunners signing Osimhen was raised when Galatasaray approached Arsenal to discuss deals for Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.

But the Turkish champions are unwilling to sanction Osimhen’s exit at the moment.

Transfer: Osimhen ready to join Arsenal if Galatasaray agree deal

Former Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has given his verdict on Arsenal’s summer signing, Bruno Guimaraes.

Pardew described the signing of the Brazilian international as outstanding,’ adding that the midfielder knows the Premier League well.

Arsenal recently signed Guimaraes from Newcastle United for £75 million.

“It’s an outstanding signing,” Pardew said of Guimaraes on talkSPORT.

“What you’ve got is a player who knows the Premier League, is top, top end of the Premier League in terms of a creative midfield player, and he can dig in when needed.”

Guimaraes featured for Arsenal as they won the Community Shield on Sunday.

Transfer: ‘Outstanding singing, he knows EPL’ – Alan Pardew on Arsenal’s summer recruit

Oriental rivals Enyimba and Heartland will clash in a pre-season friendly in Owerri, DAILY POST reports.

The game is slated for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Wednesday. It will kick-off at 9am.

The two teams will use the game as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season.

Both teams have fortified their squad with new players ahead of the new campaign.

Enyimba will aim to secure a record 10th Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, title.

Meanwhile, Heartland will target promotion to the NNL.

Enyimba, Heartland set for pre-season friendly in Owerri

Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has hinted that the ongoing season could be his last as a professional footballer, DAILY POST reports.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain disclosed this in an interview with lifestyle magazine, Vogue, published on Sunday.

It comes days after his wedding to his long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez.

Ronaldo, who made his senior debut for Sporting Lisbon in 2002, said he wanted to end his career on a high.

“This is probably my last year of football and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” he said.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner added that he had already mapped out life after football.

“I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.

“And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because, after all, it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”

Ronaldo has won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, and remains the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football.

The forward has scored 976 goals for club and country and is 24 goals short of the 1,000 milestone. He has one year left on his contract with the Saudi Pro League champions.

Ronaldo did not feature as Al-Nassr began their title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday. He watched the game from the stands with his family.

Al-Nassr: ‘This is probably my last year’ – Ronaldo hints at retirement

Manchester City have agreed to sell Rodri for a fee of £65.4m (€76.5m) to Barcelona.

City had been trying to convince Rodri to stay and sign a new contract.

But the midfielder made it clear he would prefer to move back to Spain this summer, despite having one more year left on his contract.

Rodri is expected to sign a four-year contract with Barcelona.

For Barcelona, they are parting with big money for a 30-year-old midfielder.

But Rodri has just guided Spain to the World Cup and Hansi Flick believed he could bolster the squad that won the LaLiga title this year.

Transfer: Man City agree €76.5m deal with Barcelona to sell Rodri

Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has returned to training at Saudi club Al-Ittihad, following her lengthy injury layoff, DAILY POST reports.

Plumptre underwent surgery in March after sustaining a foot injury, while in action for the club.

The injury forced the versatile defender to miss the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Falcons endured a disappointing tournament, crashing out in the quarter-finals.

Justine Madugu’s side also failed to secure a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.

Plumptre is now ready to return to action for Al-Ittihad.

Plumptre resumes Al-Ittihad training after injury layoff

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has said players like Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus were left out of his Community Shield squad due to size restrictions.

Arteta also claimed he is talking to the Premier League to expand their squad number allocations.

Currently, a team can register 25 players aged 21 or over.

Players under the age of 21 do not need to be registered in the 25-man squad list and can play freely throughout the season.

On a matchday, teams can name 20 players – 11 starters and nine substitutes.

Arteta told TNT Sports: “It’s really sad not to have their availability. I’ve been fighting with the Premier League to extend and accommodate more players in the squad because they deserve to be in the squad, there’s no question.

“Ethan [Nwaneri] and Marli [Salmon] as well, who has had the whole pre-season with us. Hopefully we can change that rule so players can enjoy on the pitch and can be an option to play and contribute to the team going forward.”

Of the absent players, Martinelli recently turned down a move to Galatasaray despite Arsenal accepting a £38.9m bid, with the 25-year-old understood to be reluctant to move to Turkey.

Community Shield: Why I dropped Martinelli, Nwaneri against Man City – Arteta