Author: Silver Emmanuel

5Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

CONFIRMED: Former Everton Captain goes back home

After a dozen years with Everton, captain Phil Jagielka left the club this summer and will be returning to where it all started for him, for one more year.The soon-to-be 37-year-old has signed a one-year deal with his boyhood club Sheffield United as they make their return to the Premier League. While the central defender has lost a step or three over the years, he will provide valuable veteran savvy, leadership and experience to a side that will be fighting against the odds to remain in the top flight after having clawed their way back.Jagielka made 385 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 19 times and picking up 11 assists as well. Of the twelve years at Everton, he served as captain for half of those. The veteran was linked with a move back to the Blades back in the summer of ...

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5Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Rodri completes Manchester City move from Atletico Madrid

Manchester City have signed midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid in a club-record deal after paying his £62.5m ($112m) release clause.The La Liga side confirmed on Wednesday that City’s representatives had paid the fee for Rodri at La Liga’s headquarters, despite interest from Bayern Munich.Rodri - who has signed a five-year deal with City - informed Atletico last month of his desire to leave the club this summer.After completing his move, Rodri told City’s official website: “What City have achieved in the last two years has been amazing and I’m looking forward to being part of such a talented squad.“It’s not just the titles they have won, but the way they have managed it, playing attacking football at all times. It’s a style that excites me, as do the club’s ambitions.“I can’t wait to st...

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4Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Italy Legend Buffon Returns to Juventus

Ex-Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has returned to Juventus on a one-year contract after a season spent at Paris Saint-Germain, AFP reports.The 41-year-old, who will be number two to Polish ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny, previously spent 17 season with the Turin club, winning nine Serie A titles and playing three Champions League finals.“Welcome home, Gigi!” Juve said in a statement.“It was 19 May 2018. That was the day when there were tears in everyone’s eyes: when Gigi said goodbye to Juventus, its fans and vice-versa. It was the bidding of a farewell to someone who was more than just a captain, but a legend and a symbol of the club.“Probably each of us hoped, and in the end, knew that the yarn that united us for so many years was not destined to break. And that was the case.”The veteran g...

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4Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea appoint Lampard as Head Coach

Frank Lampard was appointed Chelsea head coach on Thursday, confirming a dramatic return for one of the club's greatest ever players.Lampard has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea, where he spent 13 years and became the team's all-time leading scorer with 211 goals.The former England midfielder succeeds Maurizio Sarri after just one season in management, having led Derby County to the Championship play-off final in May, when they were beaten by Aston Villa."I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach," Lampard said in a club statement."Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead."I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get ...

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4Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Man City Re-sign defender Angelino from PSV

Manchester City confirmed on Wednesday night the return of PSV Eindhoven left-back Angelino in a £5.3m deal.Angelino has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Premier League champions just 12 months after completing a permanent move to PSV.City head coach Pep Guardiola has moved to re-sign the 22-year-old in order to provide competition with Benjamin Mendy at left-back.Guardiola was pondering a big money addition to compete with Mendy but has instead taken advantage of City’s buy-back clause in Angelino.“I am thrilled to have rejoined City, a side playing incredible football under Pep Guardiola,” he told the club’s official website.“Watching them while playing in Holland has been a pleasure. City’s performances over the last two seasons have been incredible and I am very excite...

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4Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Brazil winger Willian ruled out of Copa Final

Brazil winger Willian has been ruled out of Sunday's Copa America final against Peru due to a muscle injury, his side said in a statement on Thursday.Willian, who will remain with the team at their training base ahead of the final, scored Brazil's final goal in their 5-0 drubbing of Peru in the group stage and scored in their penalty shootout victory over Paraguay in the quarterfinals.He was brought on for winger Everton at half-time in the Selecao's2-0 win over Argentina in the last four but tests on Wednesday revealed he had sustained a muscle injury.Willian was a late replacement in the squad for Neymar, who was forced to miss the tournament in his home country after sustaining an ankle injury in a friendly against Qatar in June.Willian is Brazil's only absentee for the final at the Mar...

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4Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Peru upsets Chile and will face Brazil in Copa Final

Peru advanced to the final of the Copa America and a date with hosts Brazil after beating double defending champions Chile 3-0.Chile were outclassed by a quick and eager Peru side, who looked a different outfit from the one that scored just three goals in four games on their way to the semi-finals and lost 5-0 to Brazil earlier in the tournament.Peru took the lead 20 minutes into the match when a corner from the right was nodded on to Edison Flores, who volleyed home at the back post.They made it 2-0 17 minutes later after a huge mistake from Chile goalkeeper Gabriel Arias, who charged out of his area to intercept a long pass but Andre Carillo got there ahead of him. Carillo’s cross found Yoshimar Yotun, who controlled the ball on his chest before volleying home into the unguarded net.Chil...

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3Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Everton Striker Sandro Ramirez Join Real Valladolid on Loan

Everton striker Sandro Ramirez has joined LaLiga side Real Valladolid on a season-long loan.The 23-year-old forward spent last season on loan at Spanish top-flight outfit Real Sociedad.He joined Everton in July 2017, signing a four-year contract after the Toffees triggered a £5.3million release clause in his contract with Malaga.Sandro, who has yet to find the target in eight appearances for Everton, had previously had a goalless loan stint with Sevilla in 2018-19.He featured only once for the Toffees last season, playing 86 minutes of the 3-1 Carabao Cup second-round defeat of Rotherham in August.Everton confirmed the news in a statement which read: "Sandro Ramirez has joined La Liga side Real Valladolid on a season-long loan for the 2019-20 campaign."

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3Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Brazil beat Argentina and Advances to Copa Final

Brazil advanced to the final of the Copa America with a 2-0 win over old rivals Argentina in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday thanks to a goal in each half from Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino.Jesus gave Brazil the lead in 19 minutes when Firmino sent in a low cross for the unmarked striker to side-foot home from close range.The two combined again on the counterattack after 71 minutes to make it 2-0 after great work from Jesus left Firmino with the simplest of tap-ins.“We knew that it would be difficult because of the players they have,” said Brazil’s Casemiro.“It’s about details. We knew it would be scrappy and that there would be wind-ups and time wasting. But we have to congratulate our strikers who did a great job. When they got chances, they scored.”Argentina have not beaten Brazil in a ma...

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Roma Reportedly eyeing Move for Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld

Roma are interested in signing Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld this summer, claims The Guardian.Alderweireld has entered the final year of his current Tottenham deal and has a £25m release clause active for the remainder of the month.Manchester City and Manchester United have previously been linked with a move for Alderweireld but both Premier League clubs are pursuing Harry Maguire.While the loser in the race for Maguire could yet rekindle their interest in Alderweireld, they face the prospect of missing out on the Tottenham ace altogether with Roma now monitoring his future.Roma are on the market for a new centre-back after agreeing to sell Kostas Manolas to Serie A rivals Napoli and the arrival of Alderweireld, who is regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, wou...

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid's Hernandez Undergoes AC Milan Medical

Theo Hernandez has arrived to undergo a medical at AC Milan before completing a transfer from Real Madrid this week.The left-back arrived in Milan to have the first part of his physical exam at La Madonnina private hospital on Monday evening and is scheduled for the second part on Tuesday.The Rossoneri will reportedly pay €20 million (£18m/$23m) to land the France Under 20 international, who had been linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli.Hernandez, 21, rose through the Atletico Madrid youth system before leaving for Real in 2017, signing a six-year contract.He appeared in 23 games for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit before he was sent to Real Sociedad on loan last season, where he made 28 appearances in all competitions.Hernandez was targeted by Paolo Maldini, who was promoted to ...

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Adrien Rabiot completes move to Juventus from PSG

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot has completed his move to Juventus with the Italian champions announcing the signing of his contract on Monday.The Turin club said the 24-year-old would be presented at Juventus stadium on Tuesday.Although no details were provided by his new employers, Rabiot is reported to have agreed a four-year contract worth seven million euros ($7.9 million) a year plus another 10 million euro ($11.3m) bonus on signing.Rabiot had fallen out of favour with PSG and not played since December as he refused to renew his contract. It expired on Sunday.Rabiot was also suspended by the French champions in March after partying in a nightclub hours following PSG’s Champions League exit to Manchester United.

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Chile eager to make Copa history against Peru, says Vidal

Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal says the reigning Copa America champions are focused on making history ahead of their semi-final against Peru.The 2015 and 2016 champions are aiming for a third continental title in a row, a feat only achieved once before by Argentina in successive years from 1945-47."We want to leave our legacy as triple champions, that's our dream," said the Barcelona midfielder, an integral part of Chile's only two previous Copa successes."That's why we want to play our best match of the Copa against Peru. It would be something historic for us to get to the final and that's our aim."Chile faced Peru in the 2015 semi-finals on home soil when they won 2-1 before beating Argentina on penalties in the final for their first ever continental success."We need to play the perfect m...

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Bournemouth loans Hyndman to Atlanta for year

Midfielder Emerson Hyndman has been loaned to Atlanta United from Bournemouth of the Premier League for the rest of the Major League Soccer season.Atlanta said on Monday it has the option to purchase Hyndman's rights at the end of the loan. The team acquired Hyndman's MLS discovery rights from Dallas for an international roster slot in 2019 and 2020, plus $200,000 in general allocation money."We're excited to bring a talented young player like Emerson in to bolster our midfield," vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said. "In addition to his technical, on-the-ball abilities, he performed well in two physically-demanding leagues in the Scottish Premiership and English Championship."Hyndman, the 23-year-old grandson of former Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, joined Fulham's y...

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2Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

AFCON 2019 : Algeria ease past Tanzania to make it three wins in a row

Algeria’s Adam Ounas scored twice and Islam Slimani also netted in a 3-0 win over Tanzania as they finished top of Group C at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday after their second-string side proved far too strong for their opponents.The goals all came in the last 10 minutes of the first half as the pace of the Algerians and the accuracy of their passes cut open the Tanzanian defence almost at will.The victory meant Algeria matched hosts Egypt and Morocco with a full haul of nine points in the group stage, while Tanzania finished bottom as they returned to the tournament for the first time since 1980.Algeria will face a third-placed finisher in the last 16.Algeria made nine changes, having already secured qualification after a morale-boosting win over Senegal in their previous match, usin...

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1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea Confirm Higuain Return to Juventus

Chelsea have confirmed Gonzalo Higuain has left the club, with the Europa League winners opting not to extend his loan from Juventus or pursue a permanent deal.Higuain spent the second half of 2018-19 at Stamford Bridge but scored only five goals in 14 Premier League appearances.The 31-year-old previously hit 36 league goals in the 2015-16 Serie A season for Maurizio Sarri's Napoli and he will be expected to team up with the Italian again after the coach's switch from Chelsea to Juve.Chelsea had the option to pay €18 million (£16m/$20m)) to extend Higuain's loan for another 12 months, while the Blues could have also purchased the forward from Juve for €36m.Higuain, who previously signalled he hoped to stay at Chelsea, has been linked with a move to Roma but his brother and agent Nicola twe...

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1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Marcus Rashford Signs a New Four-Year Contract at Manchester United

Marcus Rashford has signed a new four-year deal at Manchester United , with the option for a further season.The 21-year-old, whose existing deal was due to expire next season, has penned a contract until the summer of 2023 to end speculation over his future.Academy graduate Rashford has been at United since he was seven, making 170 appearances for the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has earmarked the Wythenshawe-born striker to lead the line next season, having impressed in the early months of the Norwegian's reign.Rashford believes Solskjaer and his staff have already had an impact on his game and he is determined to repay them by taking the club back to "where it belongs"."Manchester United has been everything in my life since I arrived here at the age of seven. This club has shaped me, ...

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1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus Confirm Pellegrini-Spinazzola Swap with Roma

Luca Pellegrini has completed his switch from Roma to Serie A rivals Juventus in a deal that sends Leonardo Spinazzola the opposite direction. The 20-year-old left-back passed a medical on Sunday and has agreed terms on a four-year deal. Juve announced a fee of €22m will be paid to Roma over the course of three years for Pellegrini, with the transfer of Spinazzola to cost Roma €29.5m across the same period. Pellegrini made 12 appearances on loan at Cagliari during the second half of 2018-19 and will now compete against Alex Sandro for a starting spot at Allianz Stadium. Italy international Spinazzola was loaned out seven times by the Bianconeri and leaves having played 10 Serie A games across his seven years in Turin, all coming last season.

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1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Spain Wins U21 Euro Title

Spain claimed their fifth U21 European Championship title with a 2-1 victory against Germany on Sunday, taking them level with Italy for the most tournament wins.The sides had met exactly two years ago in the U21 Euros 2017 final - which Germany won 1-0 - but it was revenge for Spain in Udine and they started quickly as Fabian Ruiz hammered home inside seven minutes.Germany pushed for an equaliser in the second half, but Dani Olmo (69) took advantage of a spilled save from goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel to double Spain's lead.Nadiem Amiri made it a nervy finish with a sensational strike in the 88th minute, but Spain saw the game out to claim their first U21 Euros title in six years.

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1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Denis Suarez Joins Celta from Barcelona

Denis Suarez’s move from Barcelona to Celta Vigo is now official.The midfielder will join Celta in a deal worth €13m (£12m/$15m) with a potential €3m more in bonuses.Suarez started his career at his new club, before making the switch to Camp Nou. Celta confirmed the move in a tweet on Sunday.Suarez played for Celta B in 2010-11, catching the eye of Manchester City. He spent two seasons in England, without really making the breakthrough into the first team, before moving to La Masia in 2013.After one season at Barcelona B, the club loaned him to Sevilla where he played 31 games. The next season he was sold to Villareal, although Barca inserted a buy back clause in the deal.

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