Sports
No Real Madrid bid for Willian as passport issue delays Chelsea return
Real Madrid have not made a bid for Willian and it is a passport issue that has delayed the Brazilian’s return to Chelsea, Goal understands.
Indeed, the Blues and Willian have been in constant communication over the delay, with the club happy that the player has conducted himself professionally over the absence that will see him miss the pre-season meeting with Arsenal.
The 29-year-old is due to arrive back in London on Wednesday and, while Liga giants Madrid are interested in signing the former Shakhtar Donetsk star, Goal understands that reports of an official bid that contributed to his delayed return are wide of the mark.
Manchester United are also reported to be keen on signing Willian, while Barcelona have seen previous attempts to purchase the Brazilian fall through.
Goal understands Barca made several offers for the winger but became frustrated over the Blues’ £65 million ($85m) asking price before eventually deciding to turn their attentions to Malcom, whom they signed for an initial €41m ((£36.5m/$48m) .
Regardless of the rumours surrounding Willian’s future, he is expected to return to training in the next couple of days, with the Blues facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday prior to their Premier League opener against Huddersfield Town on August 11.
N’Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill, meanwhile, all remain on holiday having been granted a three-week break following their respective World Cup commitments.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one to have returned early, however, with FIFPro having expressed their concern that players are not taking appropriate time to recover before the new season gets underway.
Goal understands that Loftus-Cheek was in no way pressured to return to the club by Chelsea, although FIFPro identified 15 players that would fall into the category of not having taken enough holiday.
“Players are coming under too much pressure, caught between the needs of their clubs and their own personal well-being,” the union said in a statement.
“While FIFPro understands the financial implications of the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League for clubs, the health of these players is being put at risk because of such a congested match schedule.”
Kante and Hazard, who have been linked with PSG and Real Madrid respectively, are expected to remain at Chelsea this summer.
The futures of Courtois, Cahill and Giroud are in doubt, however, with the transfer window in England closing early on August 9.
Meanwhile, the Blues have held talks to sign Daniele Rugani from Juventus , although it would seem that AC Milan are in the box seat to land Gonzalo Higuain, despite interest from Maurizio Sarri’s side.
Sports
German Coach, Labbadia Named New Head Coach of Super Eagles
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.
Sports
Finidi George Appointed as Technical Manager for Rivers United
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.”
Sports
US Fund Oaktree ‘Takes Over Ownership’ Of Inter Milan
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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