Barcelona have made further progress towards improving their financial stability after La Liga confirmed an increase in the club’s salary cap for the second half of the season. Barcelona’s squad has been hit hard financially in recent years, with only a few high-profile players and the majority of the squad either brought in on low fees or developed from their youth academy. Last January, the club’s salary cap was slashed to €204 million, down from €270 million at the start of the previous season, while rivals Real Madrid were operating with a cap of €755 million. Under president Joan Laporta’s…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Manchester City’s hopes of securing a spot in the Champions League knockout stages have received a boost with striker Erling Haaland joining Tuesday’s training session. Haaland had appeared to injure his knee during City’s 4-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend, raising concerns about his availability for Wednesday’s crucial second-leg clash with Real Madrid in their Champions League play-off tie. City are aiming to overcome a 3-2 deficit from the first leg and, based on footage from Tuesday’s session, it seems they will call upon their star striker, as Haaland was seen participating fully in team activities. In addition…
Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is set to miss four key matches due to injury, including Premier League fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace. Kamara, who has recently been deployed as a center-back by Unai Emery due to a shortage of defenders, is also doubtful for the Emirates FA Cup fifth-round clash against Cardiff City. In the 16th minute of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town, Kamara limped off the field, with Tyrone Mings—who was returning from an injury of his own—replacing him. Kamara is believed to be dealing with a muscular issue and is expected to be sidelined…
UEFA has appointed referee István Kovács to officiate the Champions League second-leg playoff between Real Madrid and Manchester City on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu. This will be the fourth time Kovács has overseen a Real Madrid match in the Champions League. The Romanian referee previously officiated Real Madrid’s 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the 2024/25 group stage, as well as their 5-2 win over Liverpool in the 2022/23 Round of 16 first leg. Kovács also refereed the Los Blancos’ 4-3 win over Manchester City in the 2021/22 Champions League semifinals first leg. Clément Turpin was the referee for…
Alphonso Davies’ dramatic 94th-minute goal spared Bayern Munich from a potential upset against Celtic, sending them through to the Champions League knockout stages after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. Bayern came out strong and could have easily taken the lead within the first ten minutes, but Celtic also had their chances. Callum McGregor was left frustrated after failing to capitalize on a promising opportunity just seven minutes in. Nicolas Kuhn had a shot cleared off the line, and Daizen Maeda drilled wide soon after, with Celtic missing two of the best chances early on. Bayern’s Harry Kane hit the crossbar,…
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has acknowledged that the team is deeply missing midfielder Toni Kroos this season. Courtois and Kroos were teammates from 2018 until the end of the 2023-24 season, when the German midfielder decided to retire from professional football after Euro 2024 in Germany. Kroos, who had previously played for Bayern Munich, played a pivotal role in helping Real Madrid secure La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League victories. This season, Real Madrid has appeared to struggle at times without the steadying influence of Kroos in the midfield. In a conversation with Rio Ferdinand, Courtois shared (via…
Arsène Wenger believes Ethan Nwaneri is poised to take on a starring role for Arsenal, despite his young age, drawing comparisons to Cesc Fàbregas. The 17-year-old was Arsenal’s standout player in Saturday’s crucial 2-0 victory over Leicester City, providing the assist for Mikel Merino’s first goal of the match. Nwaneri is set to play a key role in Mikel Arteta’s squad as the Gunners face a shortage of forwards. His potential has already been recognized by Wenger, a legendary figure at the club. Wenger sees similarities between Nwaneri and Fàbregas, who also broke into the first team as a teenager…
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged Raheem Sterling to seize the opportunity presented by the club’s current injury crisis, or risk letting his career fizzle out. Sterling has struggled for consistent game time since joining Arsenal on loan from Chelsea at the end of the summer transfer window, having fallen out of favor at Stamford Bridge. The 30-year-old, a four-time Premier League champion, enjoyed a productive spell at Manchester City, scoring 79 goals over three seasons, before being sold in 2022. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus both out for the rest of the season, Arsenal are without a striker.…
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman is set to make his return to Atalanta’s squad for their crucial UEFA Champions League second-leg playoff against Club Brugge. Lookman, who sustained a knee injury during a training session last month, has missed the team’s last six matches across all competitions. After weeks of rehabilitation, he participated in part of Sunday’s training session, raising hopes for his comeback. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s match at Gewiss Stadium, where Atalanta will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Lookman has been a key player…
Referee Michael Oliver, who has officiated in the Premier League since 2010, has been banned from taking charge of the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle United next month. This decision comes after Oliver, a lifelong Newcastle fan, declared his allegiance to the club, which prevents him from officiating in any matches involving them. Oliver, 39, who grew up in Northumberland, has been seen wearing Newcastle’s black and white colors and previously stated in an interview with the Daily Mail that all referees must disclose any team allegiances to the PGMOL. As a result, he is prohibited from refereeing…