Inter Miami reunites Messi with former mentor Gerardo Martino

29Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Inter Miami reunites Messi with former mentor Gerardo Martino

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona listens his Head coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino of FC Barcelona during the Copa del Rey round of 16 first leg match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at Camp Nou on January 8, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain.In the wake of Lionel Messi’s star-studded arrival, Inter Miami CF has announced the hiring of Gerardo “Tata” Martino as their new head coach. This comes as a reunion for Messi, who has been under Martino’s leadership previously at both Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Inter Miami confirmed Martino’s appointment on Wednesday, a decision welcomed enthusiastically by Jorge Mas, Inter Miami managing owner. “Tata has coached at the highest levels and we believe that experience will be hugely beneficial to us as we aim to compete for titles here,” Mas st...

29Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich: Thomas Tuchel gaining more power at Sabner Strasse

Head coach Thomas Tuchel of FC Bayern München smiles during a training session at Saebener Strasse training ground on March 28, 2023 in Munich, Germany.After dramatically winning the Bundesliga title on the final matchday of the season, Bayern Munich made some drastic changes at the club. Despite winning the league, Die Roten endured a difficult campaign in terms of finding consistency in performances. The Bavarian club parted ways with Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic. Kahn didn’t travel with the squad to Cologne to celebrate the league title since he didn’t take his exit kindly. Meanwhile, Salihamidzic’s departure was on amicable terms. Bayern appointed Jan-Christian Dressen as the replacement for Kahn. Die Roten is yet to appoint a new sporting director. Thomas Tuchel currently ...

29Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Spurs agree €46m deal for James Maddison

James Maddison of Leicester City celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on February 04, 2023 in Birmingham, England.Tottenham are set to complete the signing of Leicester City’s James Maddison after agreeing an initial £40m (€46.3m) deal. Maddison had a medical yesterday and is expected to become the first major signing for new Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou. Tottenham stepped up their interest this week and after 48 hours of intense negotiations have struck a deal with relegated Leicester for the England international. It is understood the fee will be £40m with the promise of further instalments on appearances and achievements. Leicester had been initially seeking £60m (€69.5m) for M...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Arsenal increase Declan Rice bid, West Ham mull over payment structure

Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at London Stadium on May 21, 2023 in London, England.Arsenal have ramped up their bid for Declan Rice to £105million, but West Ham want a faster payment structure. Football Flame understands Arsenal’s third bid, which would see Rice become the most expensive British player of all-time, was made on Tuesday. It is believed to be a £100million offer with £5million in add-ons, eclipsing Arsenal’s record transfer as the Gunners aim to fend off interest in Rice from Premier League champions Manchester City. However, it is understood West Ham are unhappy with the payment structure put forward but are looking to negotiate rather than dismiss t...

28Jun

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Sadio Mane makes decision on Saudi Pro League transfer

Sadio Mane of Bayern Muenchen controls the Ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on October 8, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany.Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane has made a decision on his future following interest from the Saudi Pro League.Mane traded Liverpool for Bayern last summer and endured a troubling campaign as he struggled for form and ended up getting suspended by the club in April after a bust-up with Leroy Sane. The Senegal international was often used in a central role to compensate for the sale of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, but managed only seven Bundesliga goals, missed a chunk of the season with a leg injury and didn’t start any of the final three league games as Bayern snatched the title. Mane could be fo...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Camavinga, Real Madrid reach agreement for contract extension until 2028

Carlo Ancelotti head coach of Real Madrid and Eduardo Camavinga central midfield of Real Madrid and France during the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final match between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 26, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has reached an agreement to extend his contract with the club until the summer of 2028, according to a report published on MARCA.Camavinga will get a significant raise in his salary and his release clause will also increase to €1,000 million, per that same report. This extension comes just two years after Camavinga’s signing for Real Madrid. The young Frenchman has made a statement in his two seasons with the club and is clearly a generational talent the club needed to keep around. ...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Unai Emery pushing hard for Pau Torres

Pau Torres of Villarreal CF celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Sevilla FC and Villarreal CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 23, 2023 in Seville, Spain. Villa are increasingly confident they can pull off a swoop for Villarreal defender Pau Torres this summer. Bayern Munich are also chasing the 26-year-old but it is Villa, according to multiple reports in Spain, who have so far made the strongest overtures to the player. Unai Emery is a huge fan of Torres having previously worked with the player at Villarreal and has been leading the efforts to convince him of the long-term project at Villa Park. The deal will become more attractive if Villa, already relatively well-stocked at centre-back, can negotiate a cut-price fe...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Late own goal lets Guadeloupe tie Canada

Thierry Ambrose #9 of Guadeloupe heads the ball during the first half of a 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup match against Canada at BMO Field on June 27, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.Thanks to a stoppage-time own goal, Guadeloupe – a French overseas territory without FIFA membership – stunned Canada 2-2 in their opening match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday night in Toronto.Guadeloupe’s Thierry Ambrose scored in the 23rd minute of the Group D match before the highly favored Canadians moved ahead 2-1 in the 70th.In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Ambrose tried a low pass in the box and Canada’s Jacen Russel-Rowe, a forward with the Columbus Crew, accidentally kicked the ball into his own net while trying to block it. The Canadians faced a 1-0 deficit at halftime before Lucas Caval...

28Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Kovacic completes move from Chelsea to Manchester City

Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on March 11, 2023 in Leicester, England.Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The treble winners have announced the 29-year-old has signed a four-year contract at the Etihad Stadium after the clubs agreed an initial fee of £25million, with a potential extra £5million in add-ons, last week. Kovacic joins Pep Guardiola’s side after five years at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League and Europa League and made 221 appearances.Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The treble winners have announced the 29-year-...

27Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Rabiot: ‘Juventus was a choice that came from the heart’

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot (25) celebrates after scoring his goal to make it 1-0 during the Serie A football match n.22 JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA on February 12, 2023 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. After signing a contract renewal with Juventus on Tuesday afternoon, Adreiedn Rabiot has declared that he is ‘proud’ to be a Juventus player and that the decision to stay on with the Bianconeri is one that ‘came from the heart.’ Juve officially confirmed that the 28-year-old former World Cup winner has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension, which ties him to the club until the end of the 2023-24 season. Rabiot could have walked away for free upon the expiry of his previous deal on June 30 and had concrete interest from a host of other clubs across E...

27Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Chelsea’s Loftus-Cheek close to joining AC Milan

Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions Round of 16, 1st leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea at Signal Iduna Park on February 15, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany.Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is close to joining Italian giants AC Milan. The 27-year-old, who has 10 England caps, has been at Stamford Bridge since he was a youth player and has also had loans at Crystal Palace and Fulham. In his time at Chelsea he has won two Premier League titles, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Supercup. A handful of players have left Chelsea this summer as the west London club look to balance the books. Kalidou Koulibaly’s move to Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal was completed on Sunday. N’Golo Kante has signed for Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, while team-mate Edouard Mendy ...

26Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Chelsea defender Koulibaly joins Neves at Al Hilal

Kalidou Koulibaly of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions Round of 16, 1st leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea at Signal Iduna Park on February 15, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany.Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly has joined Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal from Premier League side Chelsea, the two clubs announced on Sunday. “We’ll continue to make history together,” Al Hilal said on Twitter, alongside a short video featuring Koulibaly. The four-time Asian Champions League winners said Koulibaly’s contract would run until 2026 without giving any financial details. British media reported that the Saudi club would pay around £17 million ($21.61m) for the centre-back. “I’m here with those who make the glory in the present and the future,” the Africa Cup of Nations winner said. Koulibaly,...

26Jun

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Chelsea one step closer to sealing €35 million deal with La Liga giants

Nicolas Jackson of Villarreal celebrates a goal during the Santander League match between Villareal CF and Cadiz CF at the La Ceramica Stadium on May 24, 2023, in Castellon, Spain.Nicolas Jackson has completed his medical tests with Chelsea as he moves a step closer to sealing a €35 million move from Villarreal. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Nicolas Jackson has successfully completed his medicals with Chelsea. The Senegal international is now a step closer to sealing a €35 million move to Stamford Bridge after a successful season with Villarreal. Mauricio Pochettino is all set to welcome his first signing since becoming Chelsea’s manager. Nicolas Jackson is a step closer to sealing a €35 million move from Villarreal, as the Senegal star completed his medicals. His addi...

26Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Inter Miami set date to unveil Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets as new arrivals

Farewell ceremony for Sergio Busquets after having played 722 games during the 15 seasons he has played for FC Barcelona, in Barcelona, on 31th May 2023.For the first time in almost 20 years, neither Lionel Messi nor Sergio Busquets will be playing for Barcelona next season, with both having agreed to sign for MLS side Inter Miami. Messi recently turned down the chance to return to the club he left two years ago in favour of the move stateside, while Busquets departed Barcelona at the end of the 2022-23 season in favour of a new challenge. ❗️El Inter Miami presentará a Messi y Busquets juntos➡️ El club americano planea que sea el 16 de julio y trabaja para que tenga un gran impacto mundial✒️ @gbsans pic.twitter.com/x6lcXgQtjq— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) June 25, 2023 Busquets...

25Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Neymar to be handed second fine over unlicensed construction project in Brazil

Neymar is seen in attendance during Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on June 09, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Environmental authorities in Brazil fined footballer Neymar a second time on Saturday after their orders to halt an unlicensed construction project at his mansion outside Rio de Janeiro were ignored, officials said. The Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain star was already facing a fine of at least 5 million reais ($1 million) after authorities said they had found “various environmental infractions” on Thursday at his luxury property in the resort town of Mangaratiba, where workers were building an artificial lake and beach. The authorities cordoned off the site and ordered a halt to all activity, but Brazilian media re...

24Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Federico Chiesa Contemplates Juventus Exit

Federico Chiesa of Italy looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. Juventus ace Federico Chiesa has grown increasingly impatient with under-fire manager Massimiliano Allegri and could soon issue a transfer request. Gazzetta dello Sport took stock of the Italian’s future in Turin on Saturday, underscoring his frustration for the lack of playing time under the ex-Milan boss. Even though the two have never had a falling out, Allegri has never exploited Chiesa’s full potential. While there’s no denying a series of injury setbacks plagued the winger’s progress last season, his limited first-team opportunities after regaining full fitness didn’t go unnoticed. Unfortunately, fa...

24Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Sergio Busquets is joining former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

Sergio Busquets during the match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca, corresponding to the week 37 of the Liga Santander, played at the Spotify Camp Nou Stadium, in Barcelona, on 28th May 2023.Sergio Busquets is joining former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the team’s second major addition in less than a month. The team confirmed the move Friday in a video posted on Twitter. Inter Miami displayed the phrase “Busi,” referring to Busquets’ nickname, accompanied by quotes from various soccer stars. “On the field, he’s always No. 5, but in reality as a player and a person, he’s a 10,” Messi wrote in Spanish. The 35-year-old Messi announced on June 7 that he was joining Miami. He is expected to make his Major League Soccer debut in a home game on July 21, the team confi...

24Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Neves joins Saudi’s Al-Hilal for club record £47m

Ruben Neves of Portugal ahead of the the UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying Round Group J match between Iceland and Portugal at Laugardalsvollur on June 20, 2023 in Reykjavik, Iceland.Wolves have sold captain Ruben Neves to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for a club record £47m. The 26-year-old Portugal midfielder had a year left on his contract and leaves after six seasons at Molineux. Neves is the latest big-name player to leave a European club for Saudi Arabia’s Pro League. Earlier this month Karim Benzema left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad, joining former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo who signed for Al-Nassr in January. Midfielder N’Golo Kante agreed a deal to leave Chelsea and join France team-mate Benzema at Al-Ittihad earlier this week. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is also close to signing ...

23Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Rafael Benitez set to be named new Celta Vigo boss

Rafael Benitez looks on before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on March 4, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Rafael Benitez is to become the new manager of Celta Vigo, the Spanish club have announced. Celta have confirmed an “agreement in principle” has been reached for the former Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid boss to take charge at the Balaidos Stadium from the start of pre-season training July. Benitez, 63, has been out of management since he was sacked by Everton in January last year. The Spaniard boasts considerable experience having also had spells at other clubs including Chelsea, Napoli, Inter Milan and Valencia. His successes include winning the Champions League, LaLiga twice, the Europa League, UEFA Cup, Club Wo...

23Jun

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Man City midfielder Silva a target for Al Hilal

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg match between FC Bayern Munchen and Manchester City at the Allianz Arena on April 19, 2023 in Munich, Germany.Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva is a target for Saudi Pro-League side Al Hilal. Silva’s contract with City runs to 2025 and, while the club are keen for him to sign an extension, he has a number of offers on the table. Paris St-Germain are also interested in the 28-year-old, as are Barcelona, who have been linked with the Portuguese for the past two summers. Barcelona have already agreed to sign his club captain Ilkay Gundogan. However, both clubs could be eclipsed by the salaries on offer in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh-based Al Hilal, who are in the process of sig...