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Poch doesn't want Felix at Chelsea - Atleti chief

The ex-Real Madrid hero has returned to the Red Devils in a seismic transfer move - and his old club will want to show him that they still have style

Manchester United will hope to celebrate the return of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford with a Premier League victory this weekend against Wolves at Molineux.

Watch Wolves vs Man Utd on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

The ex-Real Madrid and Juventus hero has returned to the Red Devils in a seismic transfer move - and his old club will want to show him that they have not lost their style in his absence.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

Games Wolves vs Manchester United
Date August 29, 2021
Times 11:30am ET, 8:30am PT
Stream fubo TV (7-day free trial)

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Premier League matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Position Wolves roster
Goalkeepers Sa, Ruddy, Sondergaard
Defenders Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Marcal, Mosquera, Boly, Coady, Jonny, Semedo, Kilman, Marques
Midfielders Neves, Podence, Gibbs-White, Saiss, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Cundle
Forwards Neto, Jimenez, Trincao, Silva, Traore, Campbell

A hefty Carabao Cup blowout over Nottingham Forest in midweek has finally handed the Bruno Lage reign its first victory in the Midlands - but the Portuguese will know that there is still work to be done as he follows in the footsteps of Nuno Espirito Santo.

Raul Jimenez has continued to come through his return to the game unscathed, while Daniel Podence is creeping closer to full fitness after featuring previously on Tuesday - but the likelihood is that faith will be kept with the 3-4-3 formation that allows Adama Traore to flex his muscles wide in attack.

Predicted Wolves starting XI: Sa; Kilman, Coady, Saiss; Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Marcal; Trincao, Jimenez, Traore.

Position Man Utd roster
Goalkeepers De Gea, Grant, Heaton, Henderson
Defenders Lindelof, Bailly, Jones, Maguire, Varane, Dalot, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Mengi
Midfielders Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Fred, Fernandes, James, Matic, Van de Beek, McTominay, Mejbri
Forwards Cavani, Martial, Greenwood, Diallo, Sancho, Elanga, Shoretire

The sport-shattering news that Cristiano Ronaldo has sealed a homecoming to Old Trafford from Juventus has dominated headlines over the past few days, but he will not be involved at Molineux.

There will still be stardust for the visitors however, with Raphael Varane in line for his United debut alongside a potential start for Jadon Sancho - and with Marcus Rashford and Alex Telles still both sidelined, Jesse Lingard could get the nod after his England recall too.

Predicted Man Utd starting XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Pogba; Sancho, Fernandes, Lingard; Greenwood.

Last five results

Wolves results Man Utd results
Nottingham Forest 0-4 Wolves (Aug 24) Southampton 1-1 Manchester United (Aug 22)
Wolves 0-1 Tottenham (Aug 22) Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United ((Aug 14)
Leicester 1-0 Wolves (Aug 14) Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Aug 7)
Wolves 0-1 Celta Vigo (Aug 7) Manchester United 2-2 Brentford (Jul 28)
Coventry City 1-2 Wolves (Aug 1) Queens Park Rangers 4-2 Manchester United (Jul 24)

Head-to-head

Date Result
5/23/2021 Wolves 1-2 Manchester United
12/29/2020 Manchester United 1-0 Wolves
2/1/2020 Manchester United 0-0 Wolves
1/15/2020 Manchester United 1-0 Wolves
1/4/2020 Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
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Christophe Galtier insists Neymar's ankle injury was not 'bad luck'

The Mariners were not present at the ground for their CFL opener as opponents George Telegraph came prepared...

Kolkata giants ATK Mohun Bagan did not turn up for their Calcutta Football League (CFL) opener against George Telegraph on Sunday at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal.

Their opponents George Telegraph had come prepared to play the match and had even waited for the Mariners to turn up for 15 minutes as per the regulations but even after the stipulated time, when Bagan did not turn up, the match was called off.

Along with George Telegraph team, the match officials were also present at the ground. The match commissioner along with the referee will now submit a report to the governing body Indian Football Association (IFA) which will be scrutinised by their disciplinary committee and then a final decision will be taken on the fate of this match.

As per rules, if one team turn up and another doesn't in that case a walkover will be awarded along with three points to the club that was present. In fact, IFA general secretary Joydeep Mukherjee had earlier told Goal, that if the Mariners or East Bengal do not turn for their opening games on August 29 and August 31 respectively then a walkover will be given to their opponents.

"IFA have not received any formal communication from either of the clubs regarding change of fixture. So unless they formally write to us, the fixtures will not be revised and if the teams do not turn on their matchdays then a walkover will be awarded to the opposition teams," Mukherjee told Goal.

Why didn't ATK Mohun Bagan turn up for their CFL opener?

ATK Mohun Bagan recently took part in the group stages of the AFC Cup 2021 in Maldives. The Green and Maroons ended the group stage with two wins and a draw which helped qualify for the Inter-zonal play-offs semifinal of the competition which they will play on September 22 against Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf. The Mariners' last group stage game was against Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings on August 24.

Now that the group stages are over the team has decided to take a two-week break before they resume training on September 8 to prepare for their upcoming AFC Cup knockout match. In fact, right after the last group game, the foreign players and the foreign coaching staff have gone back to their countries.

In such a situation, it was extremely difficult for the club management to field a full-strength team in the CFL. The team management though did not communicate to the IFA yet regarding their participation in CFL.

When are East Bengal playing their CFL opener?

As per IFA's schedule, East Bengal are supposed to play their opening match on August 31 against Bhowanipore SC and like their rivals, the Red and Golds too are likely to give a walkover.

East Bengal's situation is even more complicated. The club's long-standing agreement related deadlock with their investor Shree Cement was principally resolved on August 25 after the two parties met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Chief Minister mediated and resolved the issue after which both parties announced that East Bengal will play in the ISL this season and they will keep their differences aside for the time being.

At the moment, the Red and Golds do not have a squad, except for a few players who are on their roster. So it is highly unlikely that the club can sign an entire squad in the next two days and play their opening fixture of the CFL.

 

Original author: Ritabrata Banerjee
  232 Hits

MTN8: What is Mamelodi Sundowns’ Safranko good at? Khanye questions striker's ability

The Slovak saved the day for the Brazilians but the ex-Amakhosi star is still not convinced by the player

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has questioned Pavol Safranko’s ability in the Mamelodi Sundowns attack.

While applauding the 26-year-old for his late strike which handed Masandawana an equaliser in the 1-1 MTN8 quarter-finals, first-leg draw against Golden Arrows, Khanye was still left not satisfied with the Slovak's contribution.

Safranko came off the bench, replacing Lyle Lakay, and played the last 18 minutes which he laced with a crucial goal five minutes from full-time. 

“Safranko scored but I want to know what he's good at, I don't understand. Yes, he scored and I give him credit,” Khanye told iDiski TV.

“He is often found in the right place [in terms of positioning] his teammates must find him. They're doing each and everything right, Shalulile was not himself today and it happens in football.

"But Safranko, when they put you in it is a chance you won't get in other games. We need to know what he's good at.”

It was Safranko’s first goal in Sundowns colours after arriving at Chloorkop in June and he was making his fourth appearance for Sundowns in all competitions.

In a rare compliment to Sundowns coaches, Khanye feels they got it right in their team selection despite the team not securing victory. 

“I expected these teams to play some similar type of football but Sundowns, with their experience, quality and being champions, I was expecting them to have an upper hand,” added Khanye.

“Sundowns were playing a 3-4-3 system as usual while attacking using wingbacks Lyle Lakay and Thapelo Morena. Compliment to the Sundowns coaches, the team they fielded should play week in, week out. Lebusa and Nascimento were the only missing players.

“Rivaldo [was delivering] lazy passes as usual. Every time Rivaldo was in possession, he would look for Jali who is sort of a box-to-box player. So Mkhulise would get the ball and you could see that he was rusty and he only started playing after 30 minutes and he was taking time to get into the box.

“The second half was much better for Sundowns and the wind was favouring them. Sundowns deserved to score or even win the game. Even in the second half, you could see there was some sense of urgency

“You could see that Sirino is rusty because of not playing regularly but he has quality. Arrows were defending nearer to each other. Their midfield was too deep with the defence. So I give Sundowns some credit for scoring that goal.”

Masandawana were missing key players like Themba Zwane, Mosa Lebusa, Lebohang Maboe, Gift Motupa, Mothobi Mvala and Khuliso Mudau due to injuries. 

Original author: Michael Madyira
  373 Hits

MLS to trial concussion subs for 2021 season

The man who serves as Marco Rose's No 2 at Westfalenstadion has rubbished claims the prized midfielder could be on his way to the Premier League

Borussia Dortmund assistant manager Rene Maric has labelled the rumours linking Axel Witsel with Aston Villa as “obvious nonsense”.

Witsel has spent the last three years of his career on Dortmund's books, having initially been snapped up on a four-season contract following his departure from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian.

The Belgium international has since emerged as one of the most consistent midfielders in the Bundesliga and it has been reported that he has caught the eye of Villa, who are being tipped to launch a €5 million bid for his services before the August 31 transfer deadline.

What has been said?

Maric has taken to social media to rubbish one such report, responding to a fan who said that the proposed deal for Witsel "would be an absolute bargain" for Villa.

"It's obvious nonsense, can‘t understand how some people are pretending it‘s not just to make a headline," the Dortmund coach wrote on Twitter.

Witsel's Dortmund record

Witsel has appeared in 109 games across all competitions for Dortmund to date, with his latest outing coming in their 3-2 Bundesliga victory at home to Hoffenheim on Friday. The 32-year-old has also recorded 11 goals and six assists, while helping the German giants lift the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup.

What players have Villa signed?

Villa may not be welcoming Witsel to the club anytime soon, but they have been able to bring in a number of other new players during the current window.

Jack Grealish's £100 million ($138m) move to Manchester City freed up funds for the Villans to recruit fresh blood, with Emiliano Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings all recently added to their attacking ranks.

Ashley Young also returned to the club on a free transfer, while Axel Tuanzebe has re-joined Dean Smith's side on loan from Manchester United for the third time.

Further reading

  178 Hits

How Barca, Laporta missed the chance to sign Messi twice

Celtic also battled their way through to the Europa League group stage overcoming AZ on aggregate, despite suffering a 2-1 defeat during the week. Ange Postecoglou will be determined to win his first derby as Celtic manager. It is always a vital moment in the tenure of any manager of the old firm sides. The Bhoys were clinical in their win over St Mirren last time out, and will be looking for another sublime outing.

The first old firm clash of the season is always important, and Steven Gerrard will be desperate for his team to set a tone from the off. The Gers advanced to the group stage of the Europa League after playing out a goalless draw against Alashkert during the week, winning the tie on aggregate 1-0. Gerrard and his team now have to turn their attention back to the league where they can close within a point of top spot by defeating their bitter rivals today.

Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox.

  175 Hits

West Brom vs Sheffield United Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

The Portugal captain made a sensational return to the Premier League in 2021 and boasts a number of sponsorships and business ventures

(For the Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, click here)

Cristiano Ronaldo may have taken a slight wage cut in swapping Juventus for Manchester United, but the Portugal star remains one of the biggest earners in football.

His £13 million (€15m/$18m) move back to the Premier League means that he must re-adjust to the English game, but it hasn't altered his appetite for business.

The Portugal star has more than his fair share of sponsorship deals and enterprises across a variety of industries.

But exactly how much is Ronaldo now worth? It's difficult to say exactly but what is clear is that he will be firmly among the highest-paid athletes in the world for a while yet.

Contents

What is Cristiano Ronaldo's net worth? What is Cristiano Ronaldo's salary? What sponsorship deals does Cristiano Ronaldo have? What businesses does Cristiano Ronaldo have? What charity work does Cristiano Ronaldo do? How many social-media followers does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

What is Cristiano Ronaldo's net worth?

Net worth: $500 million (£363m)
Source of wealth: Football contracts, endorsement deals, business investments
Date of Birth: February 5, 1985
Country of birth: Portugal

Ronaldo is reported to have a net worth of around $500 million (£363m), but no one can really claim to have a bulletproof idea of what Ronaldo is worth except his management company.

The estimated net worth of Ronaldo is slightly higher than that of his long-time rival Lionel Messi, though the Argentine has won more lucrative contracts in recent years.

Ronaldo was ranked third on Forbes' 2021 list of the highest paid athletes in the world, with earnings of $120 million (£87m) - $50 million (£36m) of that was accrued through off-field ventures.

On that occasion, the Portugal captain was behind UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who topped the list, and Messi, who was second.

He was, however, ahead of the likes of Dak Prescott, LeBron James and Neymar, among others.

What is Cristiano Ronaldo's salary?

Ronaldo is expected to earn roughly £480,000 per week at Manchester United, or €23m (£19.7m/$27m) - a pay cut from his €30m ($34m/£26m) a year salary at Juventus. 

Prior to his switch to Juve, Ronaldo had signed a contract with Real Madrid in November of 2016, which was reported to be around £365,000 a week before bonuses.

The Portugal captain's contract earnings mean that he is among the most lucratively rewarded footballers in the world.

Timeframe Earnings
Per second €3.071
Per minute €184.3
Per hour €11,057
Per day €88,461
Per week €442,308
Per month €1.96m
Per year €23m

*Based on reported Manchester United salary

What sponsorship deals does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

Ronaldo's most significant sponsorship deal is with Nike, which was renewed around the same time he extended his last Madrid contract.

The agreement with Nike is said to be the second lifetime contract the sportswear giant has handed out after it offered similar terms to three-time NBA champion LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers icon's deal has been speculated to be worth in excess of $1 billion in total, though exactly how that breaks down year-by-year is kept under wraps.

Naturally, many have assumed that Ronaldo has signed on a comparable basis. Though the $1bn figure seems extraordinary, it is worth noting that sponsorship analysts Hookit estimated that Ronaldo's social-media presence alone was worth an incredible $474m to Nike in 2016.

Prior to the new agreement, most sources had Ronaldo's annual earnings from Nike at a few million less than his old Madrid salary.

Beyond Nike, Ronaldo has had endorsement deals with the likes of Armani, Tag Heuer, Egyptian Steel, Herbalife, Italia Independent, Clear, PokerStars and Castrol.

What businesses does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

As well as representing a number of brands, Ronaldo has created his own around the CR7 image. It is mostly centred on his underwear line but has also evolved to include various other clothing, leisure and home products.

In addition, Ronaldo has two hotels - named Pestana CR7 - in Portugal: one in the capital, Lisbon, and another in Funchal, his hometown on the island of Madeira. In late 2016, he expanded into gyms in a partnership with US health company Crunch, with the first outlet under the 'CR7 Fitness' name opened in Madrid.

In March 2019, Ronaldo launched a hair transplant clinic in Spain called Insparya. "This project is going to be a success, as we want to help the Spaniards and the Spanish economy," Ronaldo said at the opening.

Expect to see the 36-year-old expand further into these area as his playing days draw to a close, with Michael Jordan proving that the names of the greatest players retain their value even after retirement.

What charity work does Cristiano Ronaldo do?

It would be unfair to say Ronaldo does not strive to put some of his fortune towards the greater good - in fact, in 2015 he was recognised by Dosomething.org as the most charitable sports star in the world.

The website acclaimed Ronaldo for using his fame to promote a variety of causes including childhood hunger, obesity and biodiversity and highlighted an $83,000 donation to a 10-year-old fan in need of brain surgery as well as a $165,000 contribution to a cancer centre in Portugal that treated his mother.

After the 2016 Champions League final, it was reported that the ex-Manchester United man instructed his agent Jorge Mendes to donate his €600,000 win bonus to a non-governmental organisation. Ronaldo has supported the likes of UNICEF, World Vision and Save the Children in the past.

In 2016, Ronaldo recorded a message for the children affected by the conflict in Syria and made what Save the Children described as a "generous" donation to their cause.

How many social media followers does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

According to Hookit, Ronaldo became the first athlete to reach a combined 200 million followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As of the summer of 2021, his overall following across those platforms was 498 million 

His Facebook page, in particular, is by far the most popular of any athlete on the platform. Ronaldo has over 149 million followers - far more than Messi's 104 million and even further ahead of the top non-footballer, Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, who is back on 58 million.

On Instagram, meanwhile, Ronaldo also leads the way as the most-followed person with 335 million followers. That places him second overall, behind only the official Instagram account, having gone ahead of Selena Gomez, The Rock and Ariana Grande.

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(Originally posted by Goal)
  300 Hits

England vs Republic of Ireland Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

The Italian manager has warned that his side must move on from the loss of a key performer quickly after seeing them suffer another setback in Serie A

Massimiliano Allegri addressed Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Juventus after their shock 1-0 defeat to Empoli on Saturday.

Ronaldo reached an agreement to re-join Manchester United last week after informing Juve officials of his desire to leave the club, with his three-year stint in Turin set to officially come to an end before the summer transfer window closes on August 31.

The Portuguese made a cameo from the bench during Juve's 2-2 draw with Udinese on the opening weekend of the new Serie A season, but he was absent for their trip to Empoli who ultimately earned a 1-0 victory against Allegri's side.

What's been said?

The Juve boss acknowledges Ronaldo has left a big hole in his squad, but remains confident they will bounce back and enjoy a successful 2021-22 campaign.

“Cristiano spent three years at Juventus, he scored goals, which he is very good at, he’s an extraordinary player, but we cannot think about Ronaldo from now on," Allegri told DAZN post-match.

"I have a fine squad, we simply must realise that we can’t just dominate every match. We need to come together and this will help us for the future. I am optimistic, always.”

The Italian tactician added on what went wrong against Empoli: "The lads had started strong, they conceded at the first mistake playing out, then got too hasty. We must have the patience to take it calmly, play as a team and not try to resolve things as individuals.

“We need to work on our solidity, but these two slip-ups will inevitably do us good. This is a strong squad, it has values and gradually they will emerge. Empoli leave a lot of spaces on the wings, but the things we really did badly were technical errors, because we were frenetic.

"We can’t assume we will take the lead and control every game, we need the calm that a great team has, knowing we can overturn it.”

What's next for Juve?

Juve will now have some time to reflect on their poor start to the season as the international break comes into effect, with Allegri's side not due back in action again until September 12 away at Napoli.

Further reading

  258 Hits

Arsenal to target RB Leipzig's Ibrahima Konate in 'summer rebuild'

Manchester United sent their fans into a frenzy on Friday night when they confirmed the deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club for a second stint. 

United's rivals Manchester City had looked the favourites to sign Ronaldo but the 36-year-old ultimately decided to return to his former stomping ground. It is understood the deal which has been agreed with Juventus is for an initial £13 million (€15m/$18m) with add-ons of up to £7m (€8m/$9m). 

While Ronaldo's return has boosted the team's attack, with fans reliving his initial stint from 2003 to 2009 where he helped the club win a host of trophies including the Champions League in 2008, there are still concerns over the club's lack of options in defensive midfield. 

There have been calls from various quarters for United to sign a defensive midfielder but it looks unlikely that the club will sign one. So, will Cristiano Ronaldo be able to mask those issues in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad?

We put this question to a couple of football fans and try to make sense of the transfer that has stirred the footballing world. 

Watch how the conversation unfolds in Goal's Debate Club!

(Originally posted by Ashwin Muralidharan)
  176 Hits

Deliberate own goals: Ghana FA releases statement on Inter Allies and Ashanti Gold match-fixing allegation

The Brewers have been the busiest side in the transfer market so far as they have signed four stars already, and have now released nearly a dozen more

Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Tusker have released 11 players as part of their restructuring process ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Luke Namanda, who was arguably one of the outstanding players of the season in which they lifted the title, is among those who have left the Ruaraka club.

Former Gor Mahia forward George Odhiambo and the former midfielder of the year and most valuable player award winner Michael Madoya have also been released.

Crispinus Onyango, Brian Marita, Faraj Ominde, Chris Ochieng, Robert Mboya, Robert Aloro, Sammy Meja, and Eric Ambunya are the other players who have left the 12-time Premier League winners.

"All those players you have mentioned have been released by our club," a top source at Tusker told Goal. "We hope to bring more new players who we hope have something to offer going forward.

Goal understands that Tusker have set their eyes on Rodgers Ouma from Western Stima, who had been linked with the club previously, and Stewart Omondi as well as Lawrence Luvanda, both currently at Vihiga United. 

"Yes, those players have been put on our radar although they were not among those we had initially identified for signing," the source added.

Tusker have already confirmed the signing of Patrick Matasi, Charles Momanyi, Kalos Kirenge, and Joshua Ibrahim.

Goal further understands that Brian Bwire, Daniel Sakari, Clyde Senaji, Deogratius Ojok, Teddy Osok, Shami Kibwana and John Njuguna have agreed on contractual terms with Tusker and will soon be unveiled.

Meanwhile, Tusker will camp in Mombasa for a one-week pre-season programme.

"The week in Mombasa will be very vital for us because we have new players who need to gel and integrate with the team. It will also be an opportunity for us to work on what we need to do to be ready for the first match of the Champions League," coach Robert Matano told the club's website.

"We started the training at a slow tempo just to make sure the players are not pushed too much because we have also come from a very tight season. Now we need to focus on Mombasa and get everyone’s mind ready for the massive task ahead of us."

On Saturday, the league champions engaged the Kenya national team in a friendly game at Kasarani which they won 1-0 courtesy of a goal scored by Boniface Muchiri.

(Originally posted by Kiplagat Sang)
  204 Hits

Breaking: Guardiola sends warning, Ancelotti states aims – Premier League’s biggest stories of the week

Mauricio Pochettino has included the three superstars in his plans for their latest Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Auguste Delaune

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have all been named in Paris Saint-Germain's squad for their clash with Reims on Sunday.

The three men could line up for the first time together when PSG arrive at Stade Auguste Delaune for their fourth Ligue 1 fixture of the 2021-22 campaign.

Messi is set to make his first appearance since joining the club on a free transfer, while Mbappe has returned despite mounting speculation over a potential move to Real Madrid and Neymar is back after an extended summer holiday.

More to follow.

  166 Hits

Sources: Chelsea close to sealing Olise transfer

The 29-year-old Ivorian defender has penned a three-year contract to leave the Belgian champions and move to Turkey

Adana Demirspor have sealed the signing of defender Simon Deli from Club Brugge on a permanent deal on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old Ivory Coast centre-back has signed a three-year with the Turkish Super Lig side after two years with the Belgian champions.

“Simon [Deli] is leaving permanently for Turkey,” Club Brugge confirmed on their official website.

"Deli [29] came to our club in July 2019 and became the national champion that season.

“Last season, the Ivorian was loaned out to Slavia Prague after the winter break and now Deli is leaving permanently to Adana Demirspor.”

Demirspor have also confirmed on their social media pages that Deli has signed a three-year contract after leaving Brugge.

“Adana Demirspor can announce they signed a three-year contract with Simon Deli, the 29-year-old defender of the Ivory Coast national team, who plays for Club Brugge,” read the statement.

Deli, who has managed 14 caps for the national team, signed for the Czech First League side Sparta Prague in 2012 but made no league appearances for the club.

He, however, gained competitive experience in the Czech league by being loaned out to other Czech First League clubs, Ceske Budejovice and Pribram.

In January 2015, Deli moved from Sparta Prague to their rivals Slavia Prague, who were then struggling to avoid relegation and he quickly established himself there, playing in 66 out of their 74 league matches in his first three seasons.

He won the 2016-17 Czech First League title with Slavia Prague, and was the runner-up for the Best Defender of the Year award and in June 2017 he extended his contract until June 2020.

Deli, who made his debut for Ivory Coast in 2015 and went on to represent his country on the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, was also a transfer target for a number of European clubs among them Scottish giants Celtic.

Demirspor have so far played three matches in the Super Lig, losing the opener 1-0 against Fenerbahce, drew 1-1 against Kayserispor and also posted a 1-1 draw against Konyaspor.

(Originally posted by Dennis Mabuka)
  202 Hits

'I asked if he was not fit!' - Muller jokes about Bayern Munich hat-trick hero Lewandowski setting him up to score

The Germany international was surprised to see his team-mate pass up an early chance in the Bundesliga champions' 5-0 rout of Hertha Berlin

Thomas Muller joked about Robert Lewandowski setting him up to score after seeing the Bayern Munich striker net his first hat-trick of the season.

Bayern moved up to second in the Bundesliga by thrashing Hertha Berlin 5-0 at Allianz Arena on Saturday, with Lewandowski netting three goals and Muller and Jamal Musiala also getting on the scoresheet.

Muller opened the scoring with just six minutes on the clock after receiving a pass from Alphonso Davies in the box, but he was surprised to see Lewandowski produce a clever dummy instead of taking on the chance himself.

What's been said?

"I asked if he was not fit or if he had reached the next level because he suddenly lets balls through in the penalty area for someone better placed," Muller told Sky Germany after the game.

"He notices that when he plays more selflessly, that we still serve him and that he scores his goals. That's the crazy thing, then he'll do a hat trick in passing. He has a nose, then he has skills - left, right, head, body, he knows where a ball is going, where it can be dangerous." 

Lewandowski puts Hertha to the sword

Lewandowski took centre stage after creating the first goal for Muller, heading home a rebound from close range in the 35th minute to extend his run of scoring in consecutive Bundesliga games to 13.

Musiala produced a classy finish to put the hosts 3-0 up just after half-time before Lewandowski scored his 300th goal for the club, and the Polish frontman rounded off a stellar afternoon's work by completing his hat-trick six minutes from time.

What's next?

Bayern will now take in a two-week rest for the international break before resuming their latest domestic campaign with a trip to RB Leipzig on September 11.

Muller, Lewandowski and co then have their first Champions League group stage fixture of the season to look forward to three days later, with a heavyweight clash against Barcelona at Camp Nou on the cards.

Further reading

  336 Hits

Euro 2020: What was the controversy behind Raheem Sterling's penalty win for England against Denmark?

The former defender doesn't think the return of a club legend will be enough for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to win the title in 2021-22

Manchester United will finish third in the Premier League despite re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Gary Neville, who insists that the Red Devils are still some way behind Manchester City and Chelsea.

United pulled off one of the coups of the summer by striking a deal for Ronaldo on Friday, with the Portuguese forward now set to return to Old Trafford after 12 years away.

Ronaldo's move from Juventus will be made official subject to personal terms and a medical, and excitement is now building among the fanbase who hope he can inspire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to Premier League glory once again - but Neville is expecting them to come up short.

What has been said?

Ronaldo will reunite with ex-Real Madrid team-mate Raphael Varane at Old Trafford and United also signed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in July, but Neville feels City and Chelsea are currently the strongest sides in English football.

"In years gone by, I might have said this Manchester United side would have won the Premier League by 10 points but it's such a strong Premier League this one," the former Red Devils full-back told Sky Sports.

"I made the prediction on Monday Night Football that it would [finish] Manchester City, Chelsea and [then] Manchester United and I'm not going to change that because I don't think the Ronaldo signing makes them a better team than Chelsea, who were the Champions League winners last season, and Manchester City, who were 20 points clear.

"Absolutely it brings them closer to winning the title. Do I think they will win the title at this point? No I don't, but now I'm more excited about Manchester United challenging for the title than I was maybe five or six days ago.

"Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane will have the mentality to win the title. I'm desperate for them to win the title. Do I think they'll win the title this season? No. I'm just being pragmatic.

"You have to be in for these players if you're Manchester United. Whether that wins you the title or not, I'm unsure. It gives them a far better chance than they had 48 hours ago."

What qualities will Ronaldo bring?

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances across all competitions in his first spell in Manchester between 2003 and 2009, winning three Premier League crowns and the Champions League, but Neville has warned he is now a very different player as he heads towards his late thirties.

The United great does think a signing like Ronaldo was needed, though, and he is confident that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will still score plenty of goals while raising the level of the players around him.

"It's a short-term measure, as is Edinson Cavani," said Neville. "They can't get one of these top strikers; Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku were never going to come to Old Trafford this summer. So I think they needed it because they haven't got a 25-30 goal a season striker.

"Ronaldo gives you a guarantee of goals and he'll make the whole place be electric for the next few months. The standards he should set in that dressing room, the way in which he should influence those younger players, there are some younger players who need some really good standards putting into them.

"He's not the player he was. He was a dynamic, running player 12 years ago. He's now going to be a box player, he's going to make brilliant movements in and around the box to score goals, but there are enough legs in that team around him that will enable him to stand up there and do what he does best in this period of his career.

"He hasn't come for Champions League places. He's come for personal accolades and titles. I hope he can be the difference. Because if he can get 10 per cent out of every other player, there's a big chance."

Further reading

  221 Hits

Pep Guardiola furiously lashes out at FIFA & UEFA over rise in injuries

Timu ya Ziko got the needed morale from the season curtain-raiser before beginning their league title defence

Kenya international Jesse Were scored a brace as Zesco United defeated Lusaka Dynamos 4-0 to lift the Charity Shield Cup at the MTN Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday.

Were scored both goals in the first half, as the other two were scored by Mukuka Chanda and Edward Lungu.

The Kenyan star scored the opener for the Zambian Super League champions in the third minute after he connected to a cross delivered by Samson Mkandawire.

Zesco would have easily added the second goal in the seventh minute, but Chitiya Mususu was flagged for offside after he was put through on goal by Were.
 
Lusaka Dynamos' Collins Sikombe came close to restoring parity, but his effort hit the crossbar in the eighth minute. Emmanuel Chabula also had a chance to score for Lusaka Dynamos in the 10th minute, but Zesco United's Adrian Chama reacted quickly to block his goal-bound shot.
 
After being pinned down in their own half for a few minutes, Zesco United reasserted themselves and came close to adding the second one when Mkandawire fired a powerful shot in the 14th minute, but the effort, from a promising position, ended up going over the bar.
 
Chipyoka Songa wasted Lusaka Dynamos' open chance in the 17th minute as he fired wide after the Super League side managed a good run that Zesco United found hard to stop.

In the 20th minute, Logic Ching'andu's effort hit the crossbar after he was put through on goal by Mkandawire.
 
In the 26th minute, another of Chabula's powerful efforts for Lusaka Dynamos went wide as they fought to get the scoreline level before the half-hour mark.

Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno did well to stop Gaboniso Mangenge's shot from close range to keep the score in favour of backpedalling Timu ya Ziko in the 34th minute.
 
After being stopped from scoring the second goal for Zesco United in the 38th minute, Chanda found the back of the net a minute later to extend their lead.

In the 44th minute, Were, the club's all-time scorer, scored his brace to ensure Zesco United took the half-time break with a 3-0 lead.

Ching'andu, who assisted Were to score his second goal, was unfortunate not to find the back of the net with his 48th-minute header as his effort flew slightly over the bar.
 
A hard-fighting Lusaka Dynamos did not lose hope despite conceding two quick late first-half goals, and their spirited fight almost gave them a goal in the 60th minute, but Godfrey Binga's shot went wide.

Binga was then unable to beat Otieno in a one-on-one situation a minute after the hour mark.
 
Zesco United added the fourth goal in the 88th minute when Lungu, who had replaced Tafadzwa Rusike in the 79th minute, scored his debut goal for the Ndola club.
 

(Originally posted by Kiplagat Sang)
  176 Hits

Burnley vs Leeds: TV channel, live stream, team news & preview

The Whites and the Clarets both progressed in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but have only a single point to show between them in the top flight so far

Leeds United will go in search of their first victory of the new Premier League campaign when they make the trip to face fellow winless side Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Watch Burnley vs Leeds on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

The Whites and the Clarets both progressed from the second round of the Carabao Cup in midweek, but have only a single point to show between them from their first two games of the 2021-22 season.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Premier League matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Position Burnley roster
Goalkeepers Pope, Hennessey, Norris
Defenders Lowton, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Collins, Pieters, Bardsley, Thomas, Dodgson
Midfielders Cork, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, McNeil, Lennon, Westwood, Richardson
Forwards Wood, Barnes, Rodriguez, Vydra

The hosts made history with their trip to Anfield last weekend, becoming the first side this century to name a sequential squad number first XI in a 4-4-2 formation - but they only got their first win of the term the game after with a Carabao Cup shootout win over Newcastle.

Sean Dyche has seen his side have a bid for Lyon and Ivory Coast winger Maxwel Cornet accepted, but with a deal yet to be concluded, he will have to rely on what he has at his disposal this weekend, with Matej Vydra potentially back from injury. 

Predicted Burnley starting XI: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Cork, McNeil; Wood, Barnes.

Position Leeds roster
Goalkeepers Meslier, Klaesson
Defenders Ayling, Firpo, Koch, Cooper, Llorente, Struijk, Cresswell, Drameh
Midfielders Forshaw, Dallas, Harrison, Phillips, Summerville, Klich, Shackleton
Forwards Bamford, Raphinha, Roberts, Costa, Rodrigo, Greenwood

Having delivered the antithesis of Bielsaball in their opening rout at the hands of Manchester United, the Whites have rebounded to take both their first point of the new Premier League season against Everton and earn a Carabao Cup win over Crewe Alexandra.

Marcelo Bielsa's men will be hopeful of earning their first top-flight victory of the new term at Turf Moor though - and with his maiden international call-up for England this week, Patrick Bamford will hope to both impress and come through unscathed against the Clarets.

Predicted Leeds starting XI:  Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Firpo; Phillips; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison; Bamford.

Last five results

Burnley results Leeds results
Newcastle 0 (3)-(4) Burnley (Aug 25) Leeds United 3-0 Crewe Alexandra (Aug 24)
Liverpool 2-0 Burnley (Aug 21) Leeds United 2-2 Everton (Aug 21)
Burnley 1-2 Brighton (Aug 14) Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United (Aug 14)
Burnley 0-2 Cadiz (Aug 7) Leeds United 2-2 Villarreal (Aug 7)
Tranmere 1-2 Burnley (Jul 31) Ajax 4-0 Leeds United (Aug 4)

Head-to-head

Date Result
5/15/2021 Burnley 0-4 Leeds United
12/27/2020 Leeds United 1-0 Burnley
9/19/2017 Burnley 2 (3)-(5) 2 Leeds United
4/9/2016 Burnley 1-0 Leeds United
8/8/2015 Leeds United 1-1 Burnley
  346 Hits

Canada 4-0 Curaçao: Alphonso Davies returns to international duty in style

The 24-year-old midfielder confesses he is yet to come to terms that the Seagulls had suffered defeat to the Toffees at home

Mali international Yves Bissouma is yet to come to terms with how Brighton and Hove Albion suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season against Everton on Saturday.

The Seagulls' unbeaten start to the season was ended after goals from Demarai Gray in the 41st minute and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 58th minute, from the penalty spot, condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at Falmer Park.

Brighton, led by, Graham Potter had made a bright start to the season, winning their first two matches – 2-1 against Burnley at Turf Moor, before downing Watford 2-0 at home.

But Everton's first win at Brighton since April 1983 has left the 24-year-old midfielder pained and disgusted.

“I find it hard to digest this defeat by what we wanted to win our third game in a row for a great club with incredible fans,” Bissouma explained on his Twitter handle.

“But unfortunately as we say in football nothing is planned in advance but the best is yet to come, focus on the next one Brighton.”

Bissouma has already played for 270 minutes since the season got underway, making starts in all the three matches they have played so far.

Against the Toffees, he picked up his first yellow card of the season after a tackle on Andros Townsend in the 61st minute.

The midfielder has consistently been linked with a move to Arsenal but in a recent interview, Potter remained optimistic the player will be part of the team this season.

“I have been answering questions about Yves for a long time, it’s a part of my daily routine,” Potter said.

“I answer questions about Yves, or when Tariq [Lamptey] was fit it was him, it is just a part of football. He is enjoying his football, I can’t control what others do or think.

“I know he is with us. You can see from his performances he is committed to Brighton, so we’re delighted with that.”

Having lost defender Ben White to the Gunners, Potter still maintains anything can happen before the transfer window closes.

“The reality of it is, and I think our supporters will understand this, is that you can’t rule out anything in football,” Potter continued.

“We all understand that, if Real Madrid or Barcelona or somebody comes in with incredible finance, we know where we are in the hierarchy of football.”

Brighton will have a two-week break to prepare for their next game as they will visit promoted Brentford on September 11.

Original author: Dennis Mabuka
  189 Hits

Madueke subbed in first half as PSV Eindhoven thump Groningen

The young Super Eagles hopeful struggled to assert himself, but his side claimed a convincing win in the Dutch top flight regardless

Nigeria prospect Chukwunonso Madueke, commonly referred to as Noni, featured for 45 minutes as PSV Eindhoven claimed a 5-2 win over Groningen in an Eredivisie match played at Philips Stadium on Saturday.

The 19-year-old struggled for consistency in the first half and at the start of the second, coach Roger Schmidt opted to replace him with Yorbe Vertessen.

It took the hosts just seven minutes to make an impact when Cody Gakpo's individual brilliance saw him swirl around several players before unleashing a good strike that found the back of the net via the upright.

Eight minutes later, the visitors were back in the game after the goalkeeper parried a shot and the rebound fell to Cyril Ngonge, who took his time before burying the ball into the right corner of the net.

The attacker, once again, capitalized on a defensive lapse three minutes later to complete his brace. It was almost a carbon copy of his initial strike; the rebound came his way, and he rifled into the roof of the net.

Ngonge looked dangerous whenever he was in the final third, and in the 21st minute he almost scored his third, but his shot from outside the danger zone narrowly missed the target.

PSV pulled level in the 27th minute when a cross was brought in and defender Mo El Hankouri tried to head it over the bar, but he was unfortunate to head the ball into the back of his own net.

The hosts ensured they got a 3-2 lead moments after the half-time break when Andre Ramalho rose highest to head home from a corner kick.

After the pause, Madueke and Philipp Max were replaced by Vertessen and Philipp Mwene, respectively.

Eran Zahavi scored in the 56th minute after converting a good pass in the 18-yard area. The opponents felt he was in an offside position, but after a lengthy VAR review, the goal stood to make it 4-2.

With two minutes to go, Bruma thought he would be on the scoresheet for PSV, but VAR ruled out the goal for offside during the build-up.

However, he was not to be denied in the added minutes as he fired into the right corner after a neat pass from Mario Gotze.

Original author: Seth Willis
  267 Hits

Sancho and Varane could make first Man Utd starts at Wolves as Solskjaer gives team news update

The Norwegian boss has confirmed that the two summer signings are both in line to feature for the Red Devils at Molineux

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane could make their first starts for Manchester United at Wolves.

United brought a long-running transfer saga to an end after striking a £73 million ($100m) deal for Sancho in July, prising him away from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.

Varane became the Red Devils' second major signing of the summer a few weeks later with Real Madrid letting him go for £40 million ($50m) after a decade of service, and supporters could see both men in action together for the first time on Sunday.

What has been said?

Sancho has already made two cameo appearances from the bench for United but Varane has yet to make his debut, with Solskjaer now revealing why he has had to gradually ease both men into the fold.

The Norwegian has hinted that the pair will be in his line-up at Molineux while also providing an update on Edinson Cavani, who has only just returned to the club after his holidays.

"Both Raphael and Jadon have had a little bit of a delayed start to their pre-season with illness for Jadon and waiting for the visa and the quarantine for Rapha, but they’ve trained well this week,” the Norwegian head coach told MUTV.

“[With Cavani], every week is important early on, every training session is important. It’s like, last season, we had Carabao Cup games early on and everyone got game-time.

"Now it’s difficult with seven or eight days in between. You still want to spread it around a little bit and get the squad going because we know we need everyone, but it’s not as easy as that. So training has been important and it’s been good.”

Any other news?

Solskjaer was also able to give positive reports on Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford and Alex Telles as they all continue down the comeback trail from injuries, and says No 2 goalkeeper Dean Henderson is close to returning after a bout of Covid-19. 

"We tried to manage him [Scott] and he worked really hard to get fit without surgery, but it wasn’t possible in the end,” said the Red Devils boss. “Marcus, of course, is still rehabbing. He’s out on the grass running, so that looks good, but he’s still a few weeks away from training with the team.

"Alex is working hard and Dean has started on the grass after the effect of Covid so we’ve got those four that we’re trying to get back.”

Further reading

  314 Hits

Argentina fans flood streets after World Cup win

Ed Dove remembers the pick of the transfer deadline-day deals involving African stars
(Originally posted by Ed Dove)
  128 Hits

Richarlison racist incident 'unacceptable' - Kane

The 27-year-old Black Star explains how the Royal’s manager played a very huge role to lure him to Madejski Stadium

Ghana international Abdul Rahman Baba has revealed the reason he settled to play for EFL Championship side Reading on loan from Chelsea.

The 27-year-old left-back will feature for the Royals at Madejski Stadium for the entire 2021-22 campaign after Chelsea extended his contract but decided to loan him out, his fifth loan deal away from Stamford Bridge.

Baba, who will play alongside Ghanaian compatriot and international colleague Andy Yiadom at Reading, has come out to explain how Royal’s manager Veljko Paunovic played a big part in bringing him to the Championship.

“I’m very happy to finally be here,” said Baba told the club’s official website during his first interview. “There has been a bit of back and forth, but I’m excited to be here now

“My agent mentioned the interest to me; I know Reading from over the years, and it’s a big club with a great history. So I was delighted.

“This league is really competitive. When I spoke with the manager about the project that is coming on, I was really interested. That’s the main reason why I’m here.

“When he mentioned the project and the targets of the club, I was really happy. That was a big interest for me straight away.

“As I see on TV, this is a physical league! I am really hoping to get going really quickly. And I would like this club to push for promotion, to try to get to where it belongs.”

In a recent interview, Paunovic revealed why he moved to sign by Baba by stating: “It is no secret that recruiting an experienced left-back was a priority for us this summer, so I am delighted that we have managed to do this deal to bring Baba to Reading.

“He is a quick, strong, physical footballer who has a lot to offer to the club and the players around him. Baba was really keen to be part of our project and to test himself in this tough division and I am excited to see him playing for us.”

Baba was lined up to debut for the Royals on Saturday but he was missing in action as they suffered a 4-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town at John Smith’s Stadium.

(Originally posted by Dennis Mabuka)
  176 Hits

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