Barcelona have been handed a timely double boost ahead of Sunday evening’s LaLiga El Clásico against Real Madrid. The club announced on its official website that Alejandro Balde and Marc Casadó have both returned to full fitness and are available for selection by head coach Hansi Flick. Casadó had been sidelined since March 18 due to a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, while Balde sustained a distal biceps femoris injury in his left thigh during the clash with Leganés on April 12. The highly anticipated El Clásico will kick off at 3:15 p.m. Nigerian…
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Top Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is set to join Juventus from Napoli during the upcoming summer transfer window after an agreement was reached between both clubs. According to renowned Tuttosport journalist Raffaele Auriemma, Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has successfully struck a deal with Osimhen, with the Bianconeri already tabling an official offer of €85 million for the 26-year-old. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis reluctantly approved the move, despite Osimhen joining a direct Serie A rival, in order to avoid losing the star forward on a free transfer when his current deal expires in June 2026. Osimhen, currently on loan…
Chelsea could be blocked from participating in next season’s UEFA Champions League—even if they finish in the Premier League’s top five—unless they meet a key UEFA requirement. With three matches remaining, the Blues currently sit fifth in the table, two points ahead of Nottingham Forest in sixth. Thanks to England’s strong UEFA coefficient, the league’s top five teams will qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea, who last featured in the competition during the 2022/23 season, are also preparing for the Europa Conference League final under manager Enzo Maresca, where they will face Real Betis. A victory, or a sixth-place league…
Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah has finally addressed the long-standing speculation surrounding his relationship with former teammate Sadio Mane, confirming there was indeed tension between the two during their time at Anfield. For years, fans debated whether friction existed behind the scenes between Salah and Mane—two of Africa’s biggest football stars and key figures in Liverpool’s golden era. Now, in a candid interview with France Football, Salah has set the record straight. “Yes, there was tension with Sadio,” Salah admitted. “But we were always professional. I don’t think it ever affected the team. Off the pitch, we weren’t very close, but…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that Martin Odegaard will remain club captain despite recent rumours suggesting he could be stripped of the armband. Speculation had intensified following Arsenal’s underwhelming performances and their Champions League exit, with some questioning Odegaard’s leadership, including pundit Mark Lawrenson who suggested giving the captaincy to Declan Rice. However, according to The Athletic, these claims are unfounded, and Arsenal have no plans to replace the Norwegian midfielder as captain next season. Odegaard, who was appointed skipper in 2022 after the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, has faced a dip in form,…
FIFA has announced that the Women’s World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams beginning with the 2031 edition. The decision was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council on Friday, recognizing the significant progress women’s football has made globally. The expanded tournament will feature a 12-group format, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the competition by an additional week. FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted that the expansion follows the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which was won by Spain. He explained, “This is not just about adding 16…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that this season has been the most challenging of his managerial career. After securing four consecutive titles, City has struggled to maintain their usual high standards. Guardiola’s side fell out of the Premier League title race early and was eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in the first knockout round. Despite these setbacks, City still has the chance to end the season with silverware, with an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on the horizon. Additionally, they remain on track to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. However, Guardiola,…
The match began with Arsenal paying tribute to Liverpool with a guard of honour, acknowledging the team they had chased all season without success. However, it ended with the Gunners battling back to earn an unexpected point. Liverpool, having secured the Premier League title with games to spare, hadn’t been at their best, understandably easing off as they had no other competitions to focus on, giving more playing time to those with fewer minutes. Still, they surged into a 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. Arsenal, still reeling from their Champions League…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al Nassr is now in question following another disappointing Saudi Pro League season. Since joining the club at the end of 2022 after his departure from Manchester United, Ronaldo has been a prolific scorer in the Middle East, netting 91 goals in 103 appearances. However, his time at Al Nassr has yet to yield significant silverware. Despite the presence of high-profile teammates like Jhon Duran and Sadio Mane, Al Nassr has struggled to mount a serious title challenge. A 3-2 loss to league leaders Al Ittihad on Wednesday—after leading 2-0—virtually ended their hopes of winning the…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his team will perform a guard of honour for newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool when the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool were welcomed onto the pitch by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, in their firshttps://www.gossipinfo.ng/na-this-man-gave-birth-to-me-femi-adebayo-shower-praise-on-his-father-adebayo-salami-as-he-clock-age-72-today/ pt game since sealing the title. While the tradition of a guard of honour dates back to the 1950s, it’s not always observed beyond the champions’ initial match. However, Arteta made it clear that Arne Slot’s side deserve the recognition.“They’ve been the better team, the most consistent,” he said. “What Arne and…