Sports

PSG seek huge discount on Osimhen from Napoli

Published

4 months ago

July 17, 2024

Victor Osimhen

PSG seek huge discount on Osimhen from Napoli

Paris Saint Germain have reportedly demanded huge discount from the staggering 130 euros clause from Napoli to enable it prise away Victor Osimhen even as the French giants are willing to part with one or two players in exchange for the Nigeria international striker.

According to multiple Italian sources, Osimhen’s agent has been holed in Paris over the last few days in order to pull off the deal since Napoli expect to resolve the transfer issue as soon as possible with words rife that new coach Antonio Conte has expressed his desire to reunite with Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku.

Italian leading tabloid La Gazzetta dello Sport even claimed Napoli sports director Manna has further resumed talks with PSG as club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis eagerly awaits a deal to be struck.

With no English Premier League side stepping forward to acquire his services, PSG seems to be the most viable option left for Osimhen after coach Luis Enrique identified the Nigerian ace striker as the best replacement for Kylian Mbappe who left for real Madrid.

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According to the Italian Pink Paper “The path is set: PSG-Osi is no longer a suggestion, it is the only possible destination for Victor and his desire for the Champions League.”

In a related development, Osimhen was not listed last night as Conte oversaw his first friendly match as Napoli coach against local side Anaune Val di Non as part of their pre-season preparations in the mountains of Dimaro.

According to Sport Italia, when the line-up was originally announced to spectators, Osimhen was named on the bench, but it quickly emerged he was in fact in the stands.

A note from the club pointed out the striker has been working separately from the squad in training over the last few days due to fitness issues and is therefore “not at the disposal” of Conte.

Inevitably, this is also linked to the on-going reports of negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain for a transfer at below the €130m release clause.

Napoli hope to get a deal done over the next 10 days and might be tempted to lower the asking price to just over €100m.

PSG seek huge discount on Osimhen from Napoli

Sports

Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

Published

17 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.

The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.

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Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.

Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.

In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.

With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.

With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.

Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin

Sports

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Super Eagles players

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.

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Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.

Sports

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

Published

2 days ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.

Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.

That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

– ‘It shouldn’t be happening’ –

“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”

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Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.

“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.

“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”

Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”

At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson declared that a gruelling training camp had left him with the conviction “that I’m tougher than I believed I was.”

“When I agreed to this fight and started training, I thought ‘What was I thinking of?’ But I’ve finished the process. The fight is the party. All the hard work is done.”

At a final press conference in Texas on Wednesday, a stony-faced Tyson pointedly declined to engage in the pre-fight hype.

“I’m just ready to fight,” he said. “I’m looking forward to fighting.”

– Injury fears –

A global audience of several million watching on Netflix, and tens of thousands inside the AT&T Stadium, will be watching on Friday to see whether Tyson’s hard work pays off.

His opponent Paul — who was born six months before Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their infamous 1997 rematch — rose to prominence as a Youtuber, before turning his attention to boxing.

Since his first fight against a fellow Youtuber in 2018, Paul’s opponents have included a basketball player, mixed martial arts fighters and other professional boxers. In 11 fights he has won 10 (seven by knockout) and lost one.

“I feel really good, sharp, powerful and explosive. It’s going to be a short night for Mike,” Paul said at Tuesday’s open workout, where he appeared wearing a bizarre head-dress in the form of a rooster.

It goes without saying that a prime, 1980s-era Tyson would almost certainly have dealt with Paul within a few minutes.

Does he retain enough residue of the talent and destructive power that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986, at the age of 20 years and four months? Bob Arum, the legendary 92-year-old boxing promoter who has seen it all, is unequivocal.

“The answer is no,” Arum told Secondsout.com last month. “A 58-year-old guy, no matter how good they were, no matter how athletic they were, are not gonna be able to fight.

“You can’t throw punches like you’re supposed to, you can’t do a lot of things. I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him relatively no chance.”