Sports
Arsenal win, Gabriel Magalhaes perfect response to Brazil World Cup squad snub
Many Gunner supporters are of the view Gabriel Magalhaes delivered a perfect response to his Brazil World Cup squad omission during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday night.
They said this paying close attention to the defender at Molineux on what was his second appearance since it was announced that he would not be going to Qatar alongside teammates Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
Now, according to Brazilian football expert Tim Vickery, Gabriel not being picked isn’t that much of a shock as the Arsenal defender still hasn’t earned the trust of national team manager Tite as he’s still awaiting his first senior cap despite being called up numerous times in the past 12 months.
“With Gabriel Magalhaes, he was in the squad for a while without playing and I think it became clear that the coach didn’t trust him, or didn’t trust him enough,” explained Vickery when discussing Tite’s decision to Sky Sports earlier in the week.
“So, his exclusion is not a surprise.”
In Chelsea’s Thiago Silva, PSG’s Marquinhos and Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, Brazil are certainly blessed with options in central defence and keeping that in mind, it explains how Gabriel has been able to take the announcement in his stride, not to mention the support from his Arsenal teammates.
“I think the whole team has been very supportive with him,” Gunners manager Mikel Arteta told reporters. “Gabi had that option in his mind that it wasn’t easy to get selected with the squad that they have. He was obviously hoping for it but he accepted that decision in a really good way.”
Proof that Gabriel was not downbeat regarding his Brazil snub came against Wolves as he earned an 8/10 score in our football.london player ratings for producing ‘truly decisive blocks at the back, excellently covering for William Saliba and leading the backline accordingly’ en route to another clean sheet.’
Sports
Napoli set €100m price tag on Osimhen amid Juventus interest
Napoli set €100m price tag on Osimhen amid Juventus interest
The transfer saga surrounding Victor Osimhen continues to heat up ahead of the summer window, with Napoli placing a hefty €100 million valuation on the striker should Juventus push to sign him.
While Osimhen’s widely reported release clause stands at €75 million, this figure is applicable only to clubs outside Italy. Domestic rivals like Juventus would have to dig deeper and engage in direct negotiations with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, who is well-known for driving hard bargains in the transfer market.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerian varsity student hospitalised after hot water attack
- Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time to win Copa del Rey
- Nigerian students abroad call out FG over unpaid allowances
DAZN journalist Orazio Accomando has shed light on Napoli’s stance regarding a potential move to Turin.
“There’s interest from the Premier League (Chelsea and Manchester United in the lead), but also from Barcelona for Osimhen,” he posted on X.
“The clause for going abroad is 75 Million Euros.
“Juventus could join in, but it will depend on qualification for the Champions League and the outgoing market. The request for Italian clubs is 100 Million Euros.”
Napoli set €100m price tag on Osimhen amid Juventus interest
Sports
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time to win Copa del Rey
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time to win Copa del Rey
A Jules Kounde goal in the dying minutes of extra time handed Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win over fierce rivals Real Madrid in an enthralling Copa del Rey final in a raucous atmosphere at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium on Saturday.
Barcelona won a record extending 32nd Spanish Cup title thanks to a stunning strike from the French defender, who slotted a low drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards in the 116th minute.
The match ended on a sour note for Real Madrid as Antonio Ruediger and Lucas Vazquez, both on the bench after being substituted earlier, received red cards for dissent from the sidelines, with Jude Bellingham also being flashed a red after the final whistle for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Pedri put Barca ahead in the 28th minute with a brilliant curling strike into the top corner from outside the box in a first-half they dominated.
However, Real took control in the second half as Kylian Mbappe, who was absent from the starting XI as he has yet to regain full fitness from an ankle injury, came off the bench to score the equaliser from a free kick in the 70th minute.
Aurelien Tchouameni gave Real Madrid the lead seven minutes later with a towering header from a corner before Ferran Torres found the equaliser in a counter attack in the 84th minute that took the game to extra time.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerian students abroad call out FG over unpaid allowances
- Tinubu smashes opposition, four more PDP govs set to decamp
- Obi introduces online registration, ID cards for Obidient
Just when it seemed like the title would have to be settled in a penalty shootout, Kounde finally scored the winner that earned Barca a title that gave German manager Hansi Flick his first major title with Barca, crowning a brilliant season in which they are also bidding for the LaLiga and Champions League titles while Real are now left only with LaLiga as they bid to avoid a trophy-less campaign.
“It was a good time to give the fans something to cheer about. Let’s enjoy it, but don’t overdo it because the Champions League semi-finals are coming up in a few days,” player of the match Ferran Torres told TVE.
“Happy and tired. Without a doubt, it was the most physically demanding game I’ve played in my life. But we’re a great team who never gives up.
“It tastes better that way, especially when it’s Real Madrid in front of us.”
It was a nail-biting, ill-tempered encounter fueled by Friday’s turmoil ignited after Real Madrid decided to boycott pre-match activities in protest against the Spanish FA’s refereeing.
Final official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who had given an emotional pre-match press conference on Friday, was faced with a series of challenging decisions, including an added-time penalty for Barcelona that was eventually overturned following a lengthy VAR review.
Torres had a header hit the post just before half-time, marking a one-sided first half in which Real Madrid, lacking in form, were fortunate to only be trailing by a single goal.
In an attempt to swing the momentum, Ancelotti brought on Mbappe from the bench to replace the ineffectual Rodrygo. The French forward changed the dynamic of the game, creating numerous problems for Barcelona with his high-paced combinations with Vinicius Jr.
Despite two clear chances from Vinicius Jr. being denied by stunning saves from Wojciech Szczesny, Mbappe managed to find the back of the net in the 69th minute with a low strike from a free kick.
Just as Barcelona appeared to be on the backfoot and Real Madrid were gaining control, Torres equalised in the 83rd minute. This set the stage for a dramatic conclusion, with Barcelona securing the winner to the euphoria of their fans.
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra time to win Copa del Rey
Sports
Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final
Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final
Real Madrid refused to partake in planned Copa del Rey final related activities on Friday because they were angry at complaints made by the match officials earlier in the day, the club told media in Seville.
The referee for Saturday’s match against rivals Barcelona, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, welled up when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.
Spanish champions Real Madrid boycotted the press conference, the open training in front of media, the traditional presidents’ dinner and a pre-match photo-call.
“Real Madrid told the RFEF they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session looking forward to the (final),” said the Spanish football federation.
This week the club’s television channel launched a new video attacking the referee for the final, something they have done to various officials this season.
Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited”.
Real Madrid have form when it comes to boycotts: in October they stayed away from the Ballon d’Or ceremony because their winger Vinicius Junior was not named the best player in the world.
“Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected,” the club said at the time.
De Burgos Bengoetxea had spoken about the effect criticism from Real Madrid’s television channel was having on his family life.
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final
-
metro20 hours agoTruck falls from Lagos bridge on two buses
-
metro15 hours agoHow Access Bank staff secretly filmed 400 colleagues naked in office
-
Education2 days agoJAMB officials seize candidates’ hijab at Caleb varsity, Muslim students kick
-
metro2 days agoOmokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him
-
International2 days agoUS releases 41 countries granted 90-day entry without visas (full list)
-
metro2 days agoGroom cancels wedding, marries another lady same date, venue
-
metro1 day agoEFCC declares four persons wanted over CBEX scam
-
metro16 hours agoDSS arrests British Army Officer, others, seizes 57 AK47