Sports
Florentino Perez prepares his most daring raid yet… but will Real Madrid land either Neymar or Kylian Mbappe?
Real Madrid have been keen to sign both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for some time.
Los Blancos have long been linked with both of Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking stars, both Ballon d’Or candidates.
President Florentino Perez has been keen to take Neymar back to Spain after his world record switch from Barcelona to PSG 12 months ago.
But Mbappe’s star continues to rise, after a shining in France’s World Cup win, and he has been monitored by the European giants since his early teens.
He has begun the new season in scintillating fashion, scoring twice after coming off the bench to hand PSG a 3-1 win at Guingamp in his first match back last weekend – a match in which Neymar also scored.
Now, before the close of the Spanish transfer window next week, Perez is waiting to pounce if PSG are forced into a decision over their two prized assets.
That Madrid are yet to replace Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t a mere coincidence.
According to Sport, the 13-time European Cup winners have put aside £270million to move for either player next week, if UEFA punish PSG over Financial Fair Play.
Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui is keen on Spain striker Rodrigo from Valencia, but Perez is yet to pull the trigger as he’s unconvinced and remains hopeful on landing one of the marquee pair. Iago Aspas, the ex-Liverpool striker, is another name in the frame.
UEFA reopened its investigation into PSG in July, just a month after it had closed the case.
“In light of the recent decision of the Club Financial Control Body chief investigator to close the investigation into Paris Saint-Germain – which commenced on 1 September 2017 – the chairman of the CFCB has decided to send this decision for review by the adjudicatory chamber.”
The French champions spent £200million to sign Neymar last year, and have similarly spent £166million to turn Mbappe’s loan move from Monaco permanent this summer, although when that fee is to be paid and how remains in question.
European football’s governing body did so at the behest of La Liga chief Javier Tebas, who told AS on Wednesday: “It’s true that at the start of the summer, we asked Uefa to reopen the investigation into PSG.”
Tebas, who last week announced a deal to see at least one La Liga match per season played in the United States or Canada, as he seeks to further monetize the league, has been outspoken on what he perceives as clubs ‘financially doping’ in the past, notably the French side and Manchester City.
The investigation is designed to see both whether PSG are guilty of doing just that – effectively by paying for Neymar and Mbappe with money directly from Qatar rather than club revenues – and how much PSG need to balance the books.
If PSG cannot prove the value of their sponsorship deals and that outside money wasn’t used to sign either star, and are subsequently sanctioned then they will face stiff sanctions.
UEFA cannot ban PSG from buying players but, according to AS, they could block payments to Monaco and thus send the Bondy-born teen back to Monaco. That would allow Perez to pounce.
However, Mbappe recently told reporters: “I will stay with PSG, continuing on my path with them. I am at the beginning of my career.”
Alternatively, they could instead sell Neymar for in excess of what they paid 12 months ago; again Perez would be waiting.
Such a move would have been deemed impossible by PSG chiefs earlier this year, but Mbappe’s continued growth has increasingly led to questions over whether it is he rather than the Brazilian who is now most important at the Parc des Princes.
Indeed, from Neymar’s perspective, a move back to Spain certainly appeals. There is no smoke without fire, whatever the official line, and Brazilian broadcasters have also decided against buying Ligue 1 TV rights, such is the feeling in his homeland that a move to Madrid is in the offing.
With UEFA set to rule on August 30, Madrid chiefs would have until the end of August 31 to potentially land a world record deal.
For Perez, the man who brought in the ‘Galacticos’ era at the Bernabeu, it could be his most daring raid yet.
If PSG aren’t forced to part with either Mbappe or Neymar, then ex-Bolton loanee Rodrigo or former Liverpool flop Aspas, who has restored his reputation back in Spain, could be the big winner.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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