Sports – Page 21 – Precise Post

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Inter Milan to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroonian goalkeeper has also agreed personal terms and is expected to sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford with the option for another year. Inter believes the fee for Onana will be around £43m including add-ons. United are set to announce the deal today, July 17, and are trying to process Onana’s visa so he can travel with the rest of the squad on tour to the US on Wednesday. The 27-year-old could make his debut against Arsenal in New Jersey on Saturday with United also facing Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on the trip. There are reports that once Onana is officially a United player, goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be granted permission to join Nottingham Forest in a permanent move. Henderson spent last season on loan at Forest, and although he has been back at Carrington for the start of preseason training, he is expected to finalize a £20m move to the City Ground. Onana, who worked with Erik ten Hag during their time …

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Transfer: Chelsea in shock move to sign Barcelona star for Pochettino

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

Chelsea are considering a shock move for Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele, who has a €50million release clause in his contract. The Blues are keen to bolster their manager, Mauricio Pochettino squad this summer transfer window following the departure of Christian Pulisic and with the looming sale of Hakim Ziyech this summer. According to Football Transfers, Dembele is reportedly on Chelsea’s radar, with his contract set to expire in 2024. Dembele continues to be a key player in manager Xavi Hernandez’s plans. The 26-year-old scored 8 goals and provided 9 assists in 35 appearances last season for the Blaugrana. The France international joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

News / Sports

Transfer: Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea scramble for players as pre-season begins

July 15, 2023July 15, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

On Wednesday evening, Manchester United saw off Leeds United 2-0 in a pre-season friendly. Red Devils boss, Erik ten Hag was able to hand Mason Mount his debut following a £60million move from Chelsea. United have not been able to get some of their first-choice targets in the summer market, as reports claim they are short of funds, amid the contracted sale of the club by the Glazer family. Ten Hag must be very disappointed with how the off season has gone. In his first season in England, the former Ajax boss won the Carabao Cup, finished third in the Premier League and lost the FA Cup final narrowly to Manchester City. Ten Hag would have been looking to add quality to his squad to take them to another level next season. But from setting his sights on Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, the Dutchman is now scrambling around for Atalanta’s Ramus Hojlund. 24 hours after the United match, Arsenal played out a drab 1-1 draw with Nurnberg in Germany. It was their first official pre-season friendly ahead of the …

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Transfer: Pochettino snubs Lukaku as Inter Milan move collapses

July 15, 2023July 15, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has not spoken to Romelu Lukaku since he was given the job, it has emerged. This is because the Premier League side want the 30-year-old to leave this summer. According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Lukaku’s proposed move to Inter Milan, where he spent last season on loan, has fallen through. The Belgian striker is now expected to sign for Inter’s Serie A rivals Juventus. “More on Romelu Lukaku. Deal OFF with Inter doesn’t change Chelsea plans: he’s expected to return on Monday but won’t travel to USA with the squad. “Understand Pochettino never spoke to Lukaku: Chelsea want him to leave. “Juve, Saudi or any other club ready to pay €40m,” Romano tweeted on Saturday.

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I’ll Keep Working Hard – Tosin Omoyele

July 15, 2023July 15, 2023 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

…Says Call Up In Super Eagles Team B Highest Career Moment By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu If Tosin Omoyele had a collection of journals, they would make for a fascinating read. At a tender age, he was the face of COD United – conceivably the most gifted soccer player to have come out of the defunct club. Tosin Omoyele is a name that strikes fear to defenders in the Nigerian League. In his stints at Osun United, Plateau United, Enyimba and Katsina United he became the reliable target man and scored lots of goals. His adventure abroad has seen him play for Nogoom and now USM Khenchela. In an exclusive interview with Naija Footballers Forum, the 26-year-old forward reveals his thoughts on life in Algeria, talks about his journey so far as a Footballer and casts an eye towards the future. Q: Just a few years ago you were playing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Now you’re in the Algeria Ligue 1 rubbing shoulders with some of the best in Africa. What has it been like as an experience? …

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Transfer: It’s crazy, he’s not Messi – Pennant slams Al-Ettifaq over £700k-per-week deal for Henderson

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

Former Liverpool winger Jermain Pennant has questioned the decision of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq to offer Reds captain Jordan Henderson a huge contract. Another ex-Liverpool man, Steven Gerrard, who was recently appointed as the manager of Al-Ettifaq, has made Henderson his top target this summer. Henderson is said to have accepted a move to the Middle East, despite having two years left on his current contract at Anfield. Reports in England suggest that Henderson has been offered £700,000 a week. Liverpool, meanwhile, are said to be demanding a fee of £20 million to sign the 33-year-old. But Pennant, while speaking on talkSPORT, said, “It’s crazy! It’s Jordan Henderson not Messi! Tell me a game where Henderson did something that stood out?” Goals and assists have not been Henderson’s strongest suit under Jurgen Klopp. He has mustered just 13 goals and 29 assists in 304 games under the German tactician.

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BFN Sets Tune For Biggest, Best Lagos International Badminton Classics

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Like a melodious tune from a mass orchestra, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria at their Shuttle Symphony at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island modulated a new music, setting the tune for next month’s Lagos International Badminton Classics. Francis Orbih was the choirmaster as Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Suleiman, Mai Bade, Emir of Gashua gave royal colouration at the event attended by corporate badminton friendly organisations. ValueJet in the aviation industry lifted the occasion with gift items for the attendees. Obi Asika, a creative industries entrepreneur and familiar face in the popular family television programme, “Nigerian Idol” added colour as the crowd was enthralled with the tale of success of badminton in Nigeria. Africa number one men’s player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori was the face of success that the BFN had recorded. He captivated the jammed hall with his grass-to-grace story. “In deed, the graph is looking upward”, Obiageli Solaja, BFN board member and the 2019 Africa Woman in Badminton award winner said. It was a gathering of best of the best among the backers of the sport. …

News / Sports

FIFA bans Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr over Ahmed Musa transfer

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

FIFA has sanctioned Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr, because of an issue involving Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa. The world football governing body has now banned the club from registering any new signing going into the new Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr have failed to pay Leicester City the money they owe them over Musa’s transfer. Musa signed for the Saudi Arabian Pro League side in a €16.50m deal in 2018, shortly after impressing at the World Cup in Russia. While the Knights of Naja have paid the transfer fee, they are yet to pay the add-ons, despite The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling. According to Ben Jacobs, Al-Nassr were ordered to pay the Foxes €460,000 in performance-related add-ons. However, the Saudi Arabian giants are yet to obey CAS’ ruling, forcing FIFA to ban them from registering new players ahead of the new season.

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Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

The Meta Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, on Tuesday, was pictured training with UFC champions, Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. The picture of his training session with the UFC champions has further increased speculations on the possibility of an MMA fight between him and Twitter CEO, Elon Musk. Recall that the prospect of an MMA showdown between the tech gurus started as an online banter some weeks back. However, tension has heightened between the duo since Zuckerberg launched his Twitter-like app called Threads. Threads launched on July 5, 2023, and has since gathered more than 100 million users worldwide. However, Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO believes Threads was only made possible by “cheating.” Musk stated this while responding to a tweet reporting that Twitter was threatening to sue Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta for cheating with its new app Threads on Friday, July 7, 2023. Musk tweeted, “Competition is fine, cheating is not.” As arguments heated over the new app online, the two tech moguls have once again renewed their banter challenge on having a showdown cage fight. However, while …

Sports

Baba-Gana Kalli Making Statements With The Gamboru U18 Tournament in Borno

July 8, 2023July 8, 2023 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Executive committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Baba-Gana Kalli has continued to dominate the football scene as one of the formidable and dependable youth football exponent in the country. Mallam Baba-Gana Kalli is the brain behind the just concluded local under 18 football tournament comprising ten teams, held in Gamboru Ward, which was strictly for teams in Gamboru. The essence of the BANA OZOGLA Under 18 football tournament at Gamboru ward is to further develop the game at the grassroots level. Kalli who is also the chairman of the Borno state football association hinted that there are more youth football programs planned for this year in Borno. He said the BANA OZOGLA youth tournament helped in the discovery of budding talents. The former junior international called on all football loving people in Borno state to come out and support grassroots football development in Maiduguri and environs.

Sports

Shuttle Symphony As Sports Friendly Firms Gather Ahead Of Lagos International Badminton Classics

July 8, 2023July 8, 2023 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Ahead of the sixth edition of the Lagos International Badminton Classics, the biggest badminton competition in Africa, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has launched a platform that will see Nigeria sports-friendly organisations latch on the great benefits that the international event presents. On Wednesday at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, the BFN will host the organisations to a lunch tagged “Shuttle Symphony”. It is a gathering of chief executive officers of various organisations in Nigeria. The Lagos International Badminton Classics traditionally welcomes high ranking players all over the world, not just from Africa, making it the biggest in the African circuit. It is also the badminton competition with the highest cash prize in the continent. At the fifth edition, the cash prize was $20,000. The sixth edition even promises more in value. The Lagos International Badminton Classics has also merged elements of entertainment tending towards being tagged ‘Sportainment’, opening various windows for different organisations to exploit. In 2017, a new vista was opened as even spectators and others were beneficiaries. A raffle draw …

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PSG or Man United will sign Victor Osimhen if they really want him – Fabio Cannavaro

July 7, 2023July 7, 2023 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

Former Italy football star, Fabio Cannavaro believes that either Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain will go all out to sign Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen if they decide to acquire a player in the Serie A. Osimhen who netted 31 goals in 39 games across all competitions last season, is wanted by the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, PSG. Speaking on the future of Osimhen, Cannavaro told La Gazzetta dello Sport via Foot Italia, “Surely clubs like Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United-the ones that need a center forward the most-if they decide to take a player from Italy, they will. “These are the forces in the market, no use deluding ourselves. De Laurentiis has correct business concepts and organizationally he has proven himself. “He has succeeded in making the fans understand that one can also change while remaining competitive.”

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Transfer: World Cup winner willing to join Pochettino at Chelsea

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

2022 FIFA World Cup winner, Lautaro Martinez reportedly wants to play under Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea. Football Insider reports that Martinez is keen on working with his fellow Argentina countryman at Chelsea. Pochettino is said to be an admirer of the Inter Milan striker, who boasts a pressing style that suits Pochettino’s setup. Chelsea are keen to sign a new striker for Pochettino this summer transfer window after Kai Havertz joined Arsenal, and Romelu Lakaku is keen to leave the Blues on a permanent basis to Inter. Meanwhile, Martinez scored 28 goals and provided 11 assists in 57 games across competitions for Inter Milan last season. The 25-year-old has three years left on his contract with Inter Milan, and he is valued by Transfermarkt at €85 million.

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EPL: We’ve good offer – Jim Ratcliffe gives update on Manchester United takeover

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

British billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has insisted that Ineos are still in the race to buy Manchester United despite growing suggestions that the Qatari bid is now favoured by the Glazer family. The takeover of Man United has dragged on for several months but is now between Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Hamad Al Thani had tabled a fifth and supposedly final bid on June 7. The take-it-or-leave-it offer is thought to be worth around £6billion and is for a full buyout, whereas the Ineos bid would see Ratcliffe buy a majority stake of Man United. Providing an update on the development, Ratcliffe said at a book launch this week, as reported by Metro UK: “We obviously can’t say too much because we have signed an NDA, and we respect that, but there is still a process and we are in the process. “We have a good offer – we have met the Glazers a couple of times and we had a good conversation, but at the end of the day, it’s their decision… we would still …

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Transfer: Alimi to join Enyimba after leaving Shooting Stars

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

Nigeria Premier League champions, Enyimba are closing in on signing Sikiru Alimi on a free transfer. According to reports, talks are now at the final stage with his agent to complete the deal. Alimi was in the books of Shooting Stars last season but failed to agree a contract extension. He missed the first half of the season as a result of injury. Remo Stars and Rivers United were also interested in the player.

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Transfer: Martinez joins Barcelona on two-year deal

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023 - by Lovina - Leave a Comment

Barcelona on Wednesday morning announced the signing of Inigo Martinez. Martinez, 32, joined Barcelona on a two-year-deal from Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona disclosed this in a statement via its website. “An agreement has been reached between FC Barcelona and Íñigo Martínez for the player to join the Club after his contract with Athletic Club ended,” Barcelona’s statement read in part. “The player is set to sign a two-year deal that ends on June 30, 2025, with the release clause set at 400 million euro.” Martinez had joined Athletic Bilbao in 2018 from Real Sociedad.