Friday, January 9, 2015
Signing Messi 'impossible' for Chelsea
Yaya Toure is African Player of the Year 2014
Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year 2014 by the Confederation of African Football at an awards ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday evening. The Ivoirian has been named the best player from the continent for a fourth straight time after beating local favourite Enyeama and Aubameyang at a ceremony in Lagos. The Ivoirian won the title for a fourth straight time beating off competition from local favourite Vincent Enyeama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the title. However, it was the Ivoirian Toure who was called up to the podium again winning the award for a record fourth time after previous sucesses in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Toure told media that he felt 'lucky' to win it considering the size of the competition. In the ceremony, Nigeria produced the African Women Player award, Africa Youth Player of the Year as well as the National Team of the Year. In the other awards given on the evening, Firmin Ndombe Mubele won the award for best African player based on the continent. Two Nigerians, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa also made it into CAF Team of the Year.
Barcelona 5-0 Elche: Messi, Neymar and Suarez all on target in Blaugrana romp
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all found the back of the net as Barcelona destroyed Elche 5-0 in the first-leg of their last-16 Copa del Rey tie. The breakthrough came on 34 minutes when Neymar side-footed home from close range and they turned on the style as Suarez and a Messi penalty made it 3-0 at half-time. Jordi Alba made it four early in the second half before Neymar added his second in the 59th minute to complete the scoring. The victory eases the pressure on coach Luis Enrique, who came in for criticism after dropping Messi to the bench as the Catalans were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. The Brazilian wasn't do be denied, though and finished off a neat passing move by passing the ball into the back of the net from a matter of yards out. Suarez was the man to assist - squaring for the Brazilian to break the deadlock and open his Copa account for the season. Barca started brightly on Tuesday night as the Argentine, swiftly restored to the starting XI, jinked through the Elche defence and fired straight at Przemyslaw Tyton after 10 minutes. Dani Alves then went close with a long-range effort after Titon elected to punch Messi's inswinging free-kick, while Neymar dinked his team-mate's lofted pass wide of the visiting goal before the half-hour mark.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Inter and Bayern agree deal for Xherdan Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join Inter, the club have confirmed, after they reached an agreement with Bayern Munich on Thursday. The Switzerland international has agreed a move to the Italian giants, with a four-year contract just requiring his signature after the clubs settled on a fee. The Nerazzurri have agreed to sign the Switzerland international on loan until the end of the season for €2 million, and will then be obliged to pay €12m at the end of the season to make the deal permanent. An extra payment will be made if Inter qualify for the 2015-16 Champions League. Inter announced the transfer is almost complete on their television channel, claiming the highly-rated 23-year-old attacker just needs to put pen-to-paper on the verbally agreed contract to seal the deal.
Oshoala dreams Glo/Caf AWPOTY award
The Rivers Angels forward will battle with compatriot Desire Oparanozie and Cameroonian star Annette Ngo Ndom of the female version of Africa’s best player. The Super Falcons player has said that winning the continent’s top prize for women will have a positive impact on her careerSuper Falcons’ prodigy Asisat Oshoala has revealed her target of winning the 2014 Glo/Caf African Women Player of the Year to be announced on Thursday. The 20-year-old prodigy, who won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot award with seven goals at the Fifa U20 Women's World Cup in Canada expressed her delight making the top three of the award and is hoping to go a step further winning the crown. "It means a lot to my career and it’s a very good thing to me as an individual,” Oshoala reported
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Barca elections to be held in 2015
Incumbent Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has announced the club will hold an election at the end of the current season. An election was due to be held in 2016 but Bartomeu has decided to bring it forward to due to pressure on the club, as issues on and off the pitch have mounted this season. The elections have been brought forward to ease the crisis at the Catalan club, with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta sacked this week and assistant Carles Puyol departing. After turning up an hour late for Wednesday’s press conference, Bartomeu said: “Sorry for the delay. I have called this press conference to communicate we have decided to call elections at the end of the season. “The elections have been called to ease the pressure around the club. Its undue pressure as this club works well socially and economically.” Bartomeu, who confirmed he would stand, added: “I ask all candidates to use fair play during the campaign as they talk to socios who will vote.
Vincent Enyeama wins Goal Nigeria Player of the Year
The Lille and Super Eagles goalkeeper led the field that included illustrious compatriots Ahmed Musa, Obafemi Martins, Mfon Udoh and Ikechukwu Uche with an overwhelming 55 percent of votes cast between December 1-5, 2014. Vincent Enyeama has been voted as the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year 2014, winning the award courtesy of overwhelming votes from readers of the website. A joyful Enyeama, 32, accepted the award at his club in France on Monday morning. “I’m happy, really happy,” he enthused. “I want to thank my teammates at Lille, the Nigeria national team, my coaches, my wife, my fans, everybody who voted for me, who scream for me during matches to encourage me. And the journalists, without which nothing will be possible.” Enyeama is only the second player to win the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award following John Obi Mikel’s dominance in the past two years.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Xavi rubbishes Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or bid: He wouldn't even be in my top three
Xavi has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's status as the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, pointing out the Portugal star "did not do much at the World Cup" and revealing he would not even have the Real Madrid ace in his top three. "He didn't do much in the World Cup, and in a World Cup year, the season is defined by that," the former Spain international said of Ronaldo in an interview with Sport. However, Barcelona icon Xavi does not believe the 29-year-old would be worthy winner after a Ronaldo-led Portugal suffered dismal first-round elimination in Brazil, while Ballon d'Or rivals Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi both featured in the final, for Germany and Argentina, respectively. The attacker won the award for 2013 and is widely expected to retain his title after a year in which he fired Los Blancos to Champions League glory and played a key role in the Spanish side's remarkable run of 23 straight victories in all competitions.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
lionel-messi-open-to-chelsea-transfer-adidas-will-help-fund-300-million-deal
According to the Express, the Argentinian forward has already had a dispute with the Catalan side over his wages. Lionel Messi is allegedly open to a transfer to Chelsea. He is even prepared to get into a dispute with Barcelona over his current income that will then pave the way for him to transfer to Stamford Bridge. Lionel Messi currently earns around $25 million a year playing for Barcelona. However Cristiano Ronaldo, who is thought of as Lionel Messi’s greatest rival for the crown of best soccer player in the world, earns $29 million. Messi apparently wants to earn this sum too.
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