Sports
Bench Cristiano Ronaldo for initial Euro 2024, Paul Merson tells Portugal
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Bench Cristiano Ronaldo for initial Euro 2024, Paul Merson tells Portugal
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has urged Portugal manager Roberto Martinez to bench captain Cristiano Ronaldo for their first two matches at Euro 2024. Merson suggests that Martinez should prioritize securing qualification to the knockout stages before considering the Al-Nassr forward for their final group game.
The Euro 2024 tournament kicks off this Friday in Germany, with Portugal placed in Group F alongside Turkey, Czech Republic, and Georgia.
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Discussing Portugal’s prospects, Merson told Sportskeeda, “Portugal are an aging team but they have a lot of experience within the squad. Ronaldo is still their captain and banging in the goals in Saudi Arabia, but I think they will see what he is like in the camp and take a call on his selection. I would personally leave him out of the first two games and get qualification sorted before bringing him back for the final encounter.”
Bench Cristiano Ronaldo for initial Euro 2024, Paul Merson tells Portugal
Sports
Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
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Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
Former Nigeria striker Peter Ijeh reckons suitors are avoiding Victor Osimhen like plague because of the attitude and character of the Napoli striker.
Commenting on a Facebook post on Tuesday, Ijeh, who spent a major part of his career in Scandinavia, said Europe is a small community that takes attitude and character as keys, which he thinks the Nigeria striker doesn’t understand.
“How I wish he understood that Europe is a small community that takes attitude and character as keys because it is directly influenced by children, and at the same time, they are notorious for double standards. Even Lagos is bigger than six countries, so it is more or less a community where everybody knows everybody,” said Ijeh, ostensibly reflecting on Osimhen’s verbal onslaught on former Super Eagles coach Finidi George.
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Osimhen has played his last match for Napoli, having made clear his decision to leave Diego Maradona Stadium at the end of last season. Napoli are willing to sell the player, but his £100 million release clause has been a major stumbling block to his transfer.
The club recently lowered the sum to £85 million, with Manchester United reportedly leaping onto the fray, but the Red Devils have also backed down like Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal and are currently in negotiations with Alvaro Moratta.
Napoli offered him to Manchester United and were willing to take Mason Greenwood plus some cash.
Meanwhile, new Napoli coach Antonio Conte has reportedly told Osimhen he will not be his main striker next season.
Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
Sports
Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
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Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
Aston Villa have tabled an opening bid for Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode, the 19-year-old Nigerian descent who exploded onto the scene last season in Serie A.
Transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla was quoted as saying that the Premier League club will use the funds collected in the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus, to help finance the deal.
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Villa sporting Director, Monchi, is thought to be a huge fan of the player and Pedulla claimed that the Birmingham club has made an initial offer of €15M plus bonuses. Fiorentina are understood to be ready to sell for a fee in the region of €20M with the two parties now close to an agreement.
Kayode grew up in the youth ranks at Juventus before making the switch to La Viola’s under-19 squad in the summer of 2021. Last season, the Italy Under-21 international made 26 Serie A appearances for the club and six in the UEFA Conference League, which Fiorentina ultimately lost to Olympiacos.
Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
Sports
Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
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Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
Italian club, Napoli is reportedly set to reduce their asking price for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.The Nigerian international currently has a €150 million release clause in his contract, which has put off some of his potential buyers.
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Italian reports have claimed that Napoli will lessen their release clause stance on the Nigerian, with Calciomercato stating the Partenopei may lower their initial valuation to €100 million.Napoli’s new coach, Antonio Conte is said to be aiming to bring in Romelu Lukaku as his replacement, with the pair interested in being reunited after working together at Inter for two seasons before the manager’s resignation after claiming the 2020-21 Scudetto.
Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
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