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9Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Rio Ferdinand reveals he was close to Barcelona move in 2008

Rio Ferdinand pitchside for BT Sport television during the FA Cup Third Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on January 04, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England.Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he was close to signing for Barcelona in 2008.The 41-year-old enjoyed a magnificent stint at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League with the Red Devils between 2002 and 2014.The defender's solitary European crown in the 2007-08 season saw United defeat Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Ferdinand has lifted the lid on discussions with then-manager Frank Rijkaard.Speaking to BT Sport, Ferdinand said: "It came close, there were discussions with my agent. ...

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7Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Ex-Atletico Madrid, Barcelona & Real Madrid Coach Radomir Antic Passes Away Aged 71

Serbian national football team coach Radomir Antic is seen during friendly football match between Serbia and Greece in Belgrade on August 11, 2010. Serbian coach Radomir Antic, the only person to manage Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, died on Monday at the age of 71 following a long illness. "The Atletico de Madrid family is mourning the passing of Radomir Antic, one of our legendary coaches. You will forever live in our hearts. Rest in peace," the club tweeted. Spanish sports daily Marca said Antic had been suffering from a serious illness for a long time. Antic, who first moved to Spain as a player with Real Zaragoza in 1978, managed Atletico Madrid across three different spells between 1995 and 2000 and led the club to a league and cup double in his first seas...

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6Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Ligue 1: Bordeaux sponsor suspends deal amid coronavirus crisis

Bordeaux's French forward Jimmy Briand celebrates after scoring during the French L1 football match between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Dijon Football Cote-D'Or at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France on February 15, 2020.Bordeaux's main sponsor Bistro Regent has legally suspended its contract with the Ligue 1 club as French football continues to suffer financially from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.COVID-19 has decimated sport, with major events worldwide being suspended indefinitely as well as domestic and continental football seasons hanging in the balance.Bistro Regent, which is a national chain of restaurants, and Bordeaux signed a contract last summer that would run until 2023 and worth around €1.5 million per year. But owner Marc Vanhove told L'Eq...

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5Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Serbia striker Prijovic arrested for breaking coronavirus curfew

Aleksandar Prijovic of Serbia in action during the UEFA Nations League C group four match between Serbia and Lithuania at Stadium FC Partizan on November 20, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia.Serbia and Ex-Derby County striker Aleksandar Prijovic has been arrested and given three-months' home detention for breaking a coronavirus curfew in Belgrade, it is being reported.The 29-year-old Serbian international, who plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, was arrested along with 19 others for gathering at a hotel lobby bar in Belgrade on Friday, according to Associated Press.Serbia has a 5pm to 5am lockdown order in place in an attempt to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.Prijovic joined Derby as an 18-year-old on a two-year contract in 2008 after rejecting a new deal at Italian club Parma, bu...

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5Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Ireland appoint Stephen Kenny as Head Coach

Newly appointed Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.Stephen Kenny will replace Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland manager with immediate effect after the Euro 2020 play-offs were delayed again by the coronavirus pandemic, the Football Association of Ireland said Saturday.Kenny, who had been in charge of Ireland’s Under-21 side, was due to take over from McCarthy in August following the expiration of his contract after the Euro 2020 finals.However, European football’s governing body announced Wednesday that all international matches in June had been postponed until further notice.“This has been a difficult situation for the Association - and for Mick and Stephen in particular - in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the effect it has had on the football calendar,” interim FAI chie...

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4Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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COVID-19: FIFA extends age limit for Tokyo Olympics

The Tokyo 2020 logo is pictured in Sagamihara on March 30, 2020. - Postponed Tokyo Olympics to open July 23, 2021, organisers said on March 30, 2020, announcing the new date after the Games were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.FIFA has extended the age limit for the men's soccer tournament at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic.The amended Olympic rule on Friday retains the "players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997" standard for the Tokyo Games following a one-year postponement agreed last week by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese authorities.It means players eligible for the intended under-23 tournament in 2020 can still play in Japan at age 24 next year. Men's soccer kicks off ahead of the July 23, 2021 opening ceremony in Tokyo.FIFA als...

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1Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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‘For 25 minutes I ran out of oxygen’: Pepe Reina on battling coronavirus

Pepe Reina of Aston Villa in action during a training session at Bodymoor Heath training ground on March 12, 2020 in Birmingham, England.Premier League goalkeeper Pepe Reina has revealed his struggle against coronavirus, saying he was worried for his life and unable to breathe."The only real fear I had was when I understood that there was no oxygen: endless minutes of fear, as if suddenly my throat had closed," said the Spaniard, who used to play for Liverpool."The most difficult moment was when I could no longer breathe, the 25 minutes I ran out of oxygen. It was the worst moments of my life."Reina, now on loan at Aston Villa from AC Milan, said he took necessary precautions after feeling unwell, despite not being tested.And speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the 37-year-old opened up abou...

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1Apr By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Ex-Marseille president Pape Diouf dies from Covid-19

Pape Diouf, former president of French L1 football team Olympique de Marseille, gestures as he responds to journalists' questions in Marseille on November 20, 2014, a few hours after being released from custody. "I have nothing to reproach myself," Diouf said after remaining in custody for 36 hours in a case of alleged fraudulent transfers.Former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died after suffering from Covid-19, his club has announced.The club tweeted: "It is with great sadness that Olympique de Marseille learned of the death of Pape Diouf. Pape will remain in the hearts of the Marseillais forever, as one of the great architects in the club's history."The club had earlier revealed the 68-year-old, who was also a former LFP official, had been suffering from coronavirus.A statement at lf...

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26Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Pele crowns Cristiano Ronaldo as world's best

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale played behind closed doors at Allianz Stadium after the Italian Government has issued a list of new guidelines to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 on March 8, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Brazilian football great Pele has described Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's best contemporary footballer, rating the Juventus forward ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi.But the 79-year-old believes neither Ronaldo nor Messi are as good as he was during a celebrated career with Santos, the New York Cosmos and Brazil."Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best, because he is the most consistent over the past 10 years, although Messi should not be forgotten," Pele said in an interview on the Pilhado ...

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24Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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​FIFA President Gianni Infantino Suggests Reducing Squads and Number of Games

This tv grab from from World Health Organization (WHO) website shows FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaking during a virtual news briefing to launch a WHO and FIFA joint awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on March 23, 2020.FIFA president Gianni Infantino says football should consider reducing squad sizes and the number of games played as part of post-coronavirus reforms to the beautiful game.COVID-19 has seen domestic seasons suspended across the globe, while the Champions League and Europa League finals have both been postponed.The 2020 European Championships have also been delayed until 2021, as have the Tokyo Olympics.The current situation has left footba...

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24Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Cesc Fabregas has opened up on his failed attempt to return to Arsenal

Cesc FABREGAS of Monaco during the French Cup soccer match between Monaco and Saint-Etienne at Stade Louis II on January 28, 2020 in Monaco, Monaco.Cesc Fabregas has opened up on his failed attempt to return to Arsenal after he left them to join Barcelona.Fabregas came through the ranks at Barcelona but he was plucked away by Arsenal as a 17-year-old. He took just one year to break into the Arsenal senior team and helped them win the FA Cup soon after.He, however, became desperate to return to Barcelona in 2010 but he was denied the chance to make that move.He would eventually join the Catalans a year later, however, after just three years at the Camp Nou, he wanted a return to the Premier League.His preferred choice was Arsenal but the Gunners rejected the chance to re-sign him and he joi...

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23Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Unai Emery opens up about Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal exit

Juventus player Aaron Ramsey during a training session at JTC on March 10, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Unai Emery has revealed that he complimented Aaron Ramsey on joining a “big club” when he left Arsenal to sign for Juventus last summer.The Wales international was allowed to leave The Emirates on a free transfer after his contract at the north London side expired last summer and he opted to sign for the Italian club.Ramsey had been a regular fixture in the Arsenal team up until his move away from the north London club and he was a much-loved figure amongst Gunners fans.Many Arsenal fans were not happy at the way the club dealt with Ramsey’s move away from the club last year, and former Gunners boss Emery – who was in charge when the midfielder left – has now opened up about the move for the pla...

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22Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz passes away after Coronavirus diagnosis

Madrid, SPAIN: Former Real Madrid FC President Lorenzo Sanz, one of five candidates for the club's presidency, appears in Madrid 15 June 2006.Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz has died aged 76, his son Lorenzo said on Saturday.The former Real president was taken to hospital on Tuesday, with newspaper El Mundo saying he had been suffering from the novel coronavirus. His son said he had a respiratory disease.Sanz presided over the club between 1995 and 2000, in which they won two Champions League titles and one La Liga crown among other trophies. Their 1998 Champions League triumph was the first time they had won Europe’s top prize, which they have lifted a record 13 times, in 32 years.“My father has just passed away. He didn’t deserve it to end this way. One of the most brave and ha...

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19Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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FIFA president Infantino proposes to postpone 2021 Club World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures as he speaks during the 44th Ordinary UEFA Congress , in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on March 3, 2020.FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the planned 2021 Club World Cup dates should be moved by the governing body of world soccer to make way for the postponed Euro 2020 Championship and the Copa America, which have both been pushed back a year.Infantino said in a statement on Tuesday that FIFA would hold a conference call on Wednesday in which it should accept those changes from Uefa and CONMEBOL and decide whether the planned expanded 24-team Club World Cup should be held “later in 2021, in 2022 or in 2023”.The new tournament was the brainchild of Infantino and was scheduled to be held in China in the 2021 slot that will now feature the European an...

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18Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Coronavirus: Vladimir Putin says Russia virus situation 'under control'

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MARCH 17, 2020: Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with members of the Russian Government at Moscow's Kremlin.Russian President Vladimir Putin says the coronavirus outbreak in his country is “under control” as the China-generated pathogen continues to take a heavy toll across the world.“We were able to contain mass penetration and spread of the pandemic,” Putin said at a government meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. “The situation is generally under control despite high risk level.”The Russian president made the comments after touring a new coronavirus information center in the capital that had been built to spot empty supermarket shelves with surveillance cameras and to track quarantined citizens during the coronavirus crisis.Russian President Vladimir Putin sa...

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17Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Copa America Postponed Until 2021

A screen displays the logo of the Copa America 2020 during the draw of the football tournament at the Convention Centre in Cartagena, Colombia, on December 3, 2019.The Copa America has been postponed until next year due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus.The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) announced the news on Tuesday afternoon.The 12-team tournament, which had originally been scheduled to take place from June 12 to July 12 in Colombia and Argentina, follows the Euro 2020 championship in being pushed back by a year with global sport being brought to a virtual standstill by the coronavirus outbreak."This is an extraordinary measure for an unexpected situation and responds to the fundamental need to avoid the exponential evolution of the virus," said CONMEBOL presi...

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15Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Manchester United set price for Newcastle to sign Phil Jones

Manchester United's Phil Jones during the training session at the Aon Training Complex, Manchester. Manchester United will allow Phil Jones to leave Old Trafford this summer – should a club match their £12million price tag for the defender. The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and is arguably fifth choice behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe. Jones was surprisingly handed a new four-year deal last February, a move sanctioned by Solskjaer shortly before he was named manager on a permanent basis.But Jones has started just two Premier League games this season and he’s unwilling to spend another season on the fringes at the Theatre of Dreams.Steve Bruce is keen on Jones and the reports claims the Newcastle boss wants to sign the def...

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15Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Italy to ask for Euro 2020 postponement

SAINT-PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2020/02/27: Logo of UEFA Euro 2020 at a countdown clock to the tournament.Italy’s football federation will ask for the Euro 2020 tournament to be postponed over the coronavirus outbreak in the hope of being able to complete the Serie A season, its president said on Sunday.“We will propose to UEFA the delay of the European championship,” Gabriele Gravina told the Sport Media set television channel, adding that, like Serie A, other leagues around Europe were also on hold.“We will try to get to the end of this championship because it is fairer and more correct after the many investments and sacrifices of our clubs.”Top-flight football across Europe has ground to a halt as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, with national and continental club competitions susp...

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14Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Lionel Messi 'to spend $4million' to help get Ronaldinho out of jail

Lionel Messi of Barcelona congratulates Ronaldinho after he scored Barcelona's first goal during the La Liga match between Valladolid and Barcelona at the Jose Sorillo stadium on November 1, 2007 in Valladolid, Spain.Lionel Messi is preparing to put up $4million to help release Ronaldinho from Paraguayan jail following news of the Brazilian's arrest last week, according to reports.Ronaldinho, 39, was arrested by authorities for travelling with a fake passport, while he is also allegedly under investigation for additional crimes.The Brazil legend is thought to have travelled to the South American country on the invitation of a casino owner and was planning to take part in a children's soccer clinic and to launch his book 'Genius of Life'.After being taken by police, a judge denied Ronaldinh...

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13Mar By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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Europa League RESULTS: Manchester United hit five past LASK, Wolves draw at ten-man Olympiakos, Rangers lose

Daniel James of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between LASK and Manchester United at Linzer Stadion on March 12, 2020 in Linz, Austria. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).Manchester United took a big step towards the Europa League quarter-finals by thrashing Austrian side LASK Linz 5-0 on Thursday in their last 16 first-leg tie at an empty Linzer Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic.Three other fixtures were also played behind closed doors, including Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw at 10-man Olympiakos.The match in Athens was given the go-ahead despite the Greek club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis saying earlier on Thursday he had contracted ...

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