Manchester United reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Eden Hazard in 2012 after his then-agent, John Bico, demanded undisclosed payments, according to a new report more than a decade later. At the time, Hazard was one of Europe’s most sought-after talents, having just guided Lille to a historic league and cup double in 2010/11. Major clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Manchester United, were chasing the Belgian winger. United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, had supposedly agreed both a transfer fee with Lille and personal terms with Hazard. However, The Times has now revealed that negotiations collapsed when…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Mikel Arteta didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with Arsenal’s lackluster performance in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. The Gunners took the lead twice, but Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to score a stunning equalizer over David Raya in the 83rd minute. The draw left Arsenal stuck on 79 points, now only level with Liverpool, who could secure the Premier League title with a win or draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. “I’m disappointed with the result and the performance,” Arteta admitted after his side’s 13th league draw of the season. “We never found…
Real Madrid will face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday without David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga, both of whom are sidelined with injuries. The absences could pose a challenge at left-back, particularly with Barcelona’s star Lamine Yamal to contend with, as both Alaba and Camavinga had been used in that position this season. Both players sustained injuries during Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Getafe. After the match, Carlo Ancelotti admitted it would be “difficult” for them to feature in the Copa del Rey final, confirming that Camavinga would require a more detailed medical assessment on Thursday. The…
Ansu Fati’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has downplayed concerns about a rift between his client and Barcelona manager Hansi Flick but remained tight-lipped about the forward’s future at the club. Fati has struggled with injuries over the past five years, and even when fit this season, has often found himself sidelined. Flick gave the talented forward a rare Champions League appearance against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final first leg earlier this month, stating that Fati “deserved to come on” as Barcelona secured a 4-0 win at home. However, Fati was left on the bench during Barcelona’s 3-1 loss to Celta Vigo…
Real Madrid are reportedly considering appointing Santiago Solari as interim coach to cover the gap between Carlo Ancelotti’s expected departure and the appointment of a permanent replacement, according to reports. Ancelotti, who returned to Madrid in 2021 and led the club to two Champions League titles in four seasons, is set to part ways with the club after a disappointing season. The team’s exit in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, combined with losing the domestic title to Barcelona, means Ancelotti is likely to be dismissed 12 months before his contract expires. With Ancelotti tipped to become Brazil’s head coach…
Christopher Nkunku is reportedly open to considering offers for a move away from Chelsea this summer. After joining the club for £52 million in 2023, much was expected of the French forward. However, a serious injury delayed his debut, and he has since struggled to meet expectations. With just six goals in 38 Premier League appearances, Nkunku has failed to provide significant competition for Chelsea’s main striker, Nicolas Jackson. Bayern Munich and Manchester United both expressed interest in Nkunku during January, as it became apparent that he did not feature prominently in Enzo Maresca’s plans. His situation has not improved…
Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City playmaker, is reportedly being eyed for a surprising move to Aston Villa this summer. According to Sky Sports, the Midlands club is considering a move for the 33-year-old, who will become a free agent at the end of the season. Villa are said to have already held internal discussions about bringing De Bruyne on board. However, Villa will face stiff competition from MLS clubs such as Inter Miami, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, and NYCFC. De Bruyne has confirmed he will be leaving City after nearly a decade at the club, with the Premier League…
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is set to leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an end to his 13-year tenure at the King Power Stadium. The 38-year-old forward, who joined Leicester in 2012 from non-league Fleetwood Town, will depart as the club’s all-time top Premier League scorer, with 198 goals in 498 appearances. Vardy was instrumental in Leicester’s historic 2015-16 Premier League title win, scoring 24 goals during the campaign. “I’m gutted that this day is coming, but I knew it was inevitable,” Vardy said in a video shared by Leicester on social media. “I’ve had…
Nigeria has named 17 athletes for the 2025 World Athletics Relays, which will take place next month in Guangzhou, China, according to DAILY POST. The team comprises eight male and nine female athletes, who will compete in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, as well as the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m events. For the men’s 4x100m, the athletes selected are Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola, Karlington Anunagba, Udodi Onwuzurike, Fola Olaoye, and Usheoritse Itsekiri. The women’s 4x100m relay team includes Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Tobi Amusan, Umukoro Success, Tiana Eyakpobeyan, and Jennifer Chukwuka. In the mixed 4x100m relay, Nigeria will be…
Wilfred Ndidi is expected to seek a move away from Leicester City this summer following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. The Foxes’ drop to the Championship was confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Sunday. Ndidi, who signed a three-year contract extension last summer, has spent eight years with the former Premier League champions. The 28-year-old midfielder has made 24 league appearances this season, contributing four assists. He was linked with Ligue 1 side Monaco in January, and Turkish giants Besiktas have also shown interest in the Nigeria international.