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Premier League players and managers bidding farewell on final day

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As Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli once famously sung, “It’s time to say goodbye.”

The finale of every Premier League season always marks the curtain fall for certain players, managers and various other individuals and objects linked to the sport.

Tears will be shed, memories will be tapped into and tributes will be made up and down the country for the important servants for clubs.

From the high profiled exits such as Arsene Wenger stepping down from his 22-year post as Arsenal manager to Scott Arfield and Dean Marney’s quiet departures from Burnley.

Here we charter every thing to be waving farewell this weekend…

Wenger waved goodbye to the Emirates last week (Image: Arsenal FC/Getty)

Arsene Wenger

Wenger is leaving Arsenal after 22-years (Image: PA)

The Frenchman announced he was stepping down as Arsenal’s manager after his 22-year tenure in north London.

Three Premier League trophies and seven FA Cups have glittered his stint at the Gunners, although the last couple of years of under achievement have sparked civil war at the Emirates.

Wenger’s last outing will be at Huddersfield, with his next movements, and indeed his replacement, yet to be decided.

Per Mertesacker

Mertesacker is going to head up the academy (Image: PA)

The big friendly German’s departure from the playing staff at the Gunners has been somewhat over shadowed by his manager’s exit.

Mertesacker is hanging up his boots after Sunday’s clash with Huddersfield, although last appearance might have come at the Emirates last week – where he played the last 13 minutes.

The World Cup winner has spent seven seasons at the club and will now move on to a role as head of academy at the Emirates.

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Scott Arfield

Arfield is set to join Rangers (Image: Ian MacNicol)

The Canadian international was a major part of the Burnley’s promotions in 2014 and 2016.

But his contract is up in the summer and it is not getting renewed.

Arfield is all set to join Rangers this summer having made almost 200 appearances at Turf Moor.

Dean Marney

Marney has been at Burnley for eight seasons (Image: Dave Thompson)

Like Arfield, Marney is out of contract at the end of the season and has not been offered a new deal.

Marney has been at Turf Moor for eight seasons, and also played his part in the two promotions to the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest looks like his likely switch.

Robert Huth

Huth is a Premier League winner (Image: Plumb Images)

Three seasons ago, the German was a member of the most feared defences in the division, alongside Wes Morgan, winning the Premier League.

He hasn’t been able to play a first team match this season due to injury, while Harry Maguire has impressed in his place.

Originally signing on loan, Huth has played 93 times for the Foxes.

Nothing is set in stone over his future, as of writing, but Stoke are said to be interested.

Dean Whitehead

Whitehead helped Huddersfield reach the Premier League (Image: Getty Images Europe)

The midfielder is waving goodbye to his playing career to take up a coaching role for the under-17 side at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Having played over 100 times for Oxford, Sunderland and Stoke, he brought his dogged performances to Middlesbrough and then Terrier.

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Whitehead has managed six appearances this season.

Yaya Toure

Toure is leaving Man City this summer (Image: AFP/Getty)

Toure may be leaving City after eight successful years but he has no intention of retiring and hopes to continue playing in England’s top flight.

He captained Pep Guardiola’s team on his final Etihad Stadium appearance on Wednesday before a heartfelt send-off from supporters.

The 34-year-old Ivorian has registered 78 goals in 314 Premier League games, winning three titles.

Michael Carrick

Carrick is joining Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff (Image: Getty Images)

Winner of five Premier League medals and the Champions League, 36-year-old midfielder Carrick will retire from football at the end of the campaign.

The former West Ham and Tottenham man has spent 18 seasons playing in the top flight and is set to make his 481st Premier League appearance when United host Watford on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Leon Britton

Leon Britton had a stint as caretaker manager for Swansea before Carlos Carvalhal took over (Image: Getty Images)

Barring a final-day miracle, the Swans will be relegated – which should spell the end of Britton’s Premier League career.

The future of the 35-year-old, who has been a peripheral figure for the Welsh club during the past two seasons, remains uncertain.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he has previously said he would like to finish his career at the Liberty Stadium.

Angel Rangel

Angel Rangel (C) of Swansea City celebrates scoring his team's second goal
Rangel has played 373 times for Swansea (Image: Clive Rose/Getty)

Swansea’s captain Rangel will not be offered a new contract this summer and will depart south Wales.

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The 35-year-old has been at the club for 11 years and played 373 times.

Carlos Carvalhal

Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal looks dejected (Image: REUTERS)

Carvalhal was initially a breath of fresh air when he was appointed by the rock bottom Swans in late December.

However, an eight-game winless run has left the club on the brink of relegation with their only hope of survival an improbable goal difference swing.

The departure of the affable Portuguese, whose contract is set to expire, was announced on Thursday and it appears unlikely he will be back in the Premier League anytime soon.

Wembley

Wembley has been Tottenham’s home this season (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Tottenham began the season dreading their Wembley hoodoo but ended it enjoying life at English football HQ.

Winning 12 of their 18 league fixtures at Wembley, Mauricio Pochettino’s side end their tenure with a clash against Leicester.

Spurs will be moving back to north London to their currently unnamed new stadium.

John Motson

John Motson is hanging up his microphone (Image: WENN.com)

Veteran commentator ‘Motty’ has been described as the voice of football due to a broadcasting career spanning more than 50 years.

He became a Match of the Day regular in the early 1970s and his sounds have become synonymous with the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

He will finally put down his BBC microphone after reporting on Sunday’s clash between Crystal Palace and West Brom.

 

 

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Osimhen Crowned 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year

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Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his status as one of the world’s top players.

Osimhen surpassed competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious award.

The Super Eagles forward concluded a remarkable year in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual prize, last won by legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.

During the event, Osimhen expressed gratitude, acknowledging the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and the support from fans and fellow players.

“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey, in achieving my dreams and goals. I appreciate Nigerians and Africa for their unwavering support and encouragement,” he said.

Osimhen recognised the influence of Emmanuel Adebayo, Solomon Kalu, and other African legends, expressing gratitude to his role model, Didier Drogba.

The award reflects Osimhen’s outstanding performances with Napoli, where he played a pivotal role in their Serie A title run, scoring 26 league goals and becoming the first African to win the top scorer award, breaking George Weah’s record in the Italian top-flight.”

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Lionel Messi Secures Historic 8th Ballon d’Or Triumph

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Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football icon, clinched the coveted 2023 Ballon d’Or, setting a new record for the 2022 World Cup champion.

In a glamorous event held in Paris, Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, received the prestigious award on Monday night. This achievement is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition for his pivotal role in guiding the Abiscelete to World Cup victory in the previous year.

Aged 36, Messi succeeded Karim Benzema as the recipient of this award, which acknowledges his exceptional performances during the last season when he inspired Argentina to triumph at the World Cup.

His remarkable displays in Qatar, where he led his nation to a historic victory, enabled him to surpass strong competition, notably from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Haaland secured the second spot in the final voting, with Mbappe finishing third and Kevin De Bruyne taking fourth place.

Messi, a former Barcelona superstar, left an indelible mark at the World Cup, scoring seven crucial goals. His exceptional performance led to him being named the tournament’s best player, especially after Argentina’s victory over France in the final.

While Messi’s World Cup heroics were undeniable, his final season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was relatively lackluster. Subsequently, he made a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

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His former PSG teammate, Mbappe, made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or with his outstanding World Cup performance, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final for France.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland had a remarkable season, scoring an incredible 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City. This stellar performance played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s team secure a historic treble in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

Both Haaland and De Bruyne were nominated for the Ballon d’Or from their exceptional contributions to the success of Manchester City.

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“B Sample Reveals Presence of Testosterone in Pogba’s Test Results”

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Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba’s ‘B’ sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.

The 30-year-old former Manchester United player, a World Cup winner in 2018, faces a ban of up to four years.

The original test by the Italian anti-doping agency (Nado) showed the presence of testosterone metabolites.

On Friday, Pogba learned that the analysis of his B sample, carried out on the previous day, had produced the same result.

The player’s entourage declined to comment.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Pogba is liable to a four-year suspension, which could be halved if he proves that he was not at fault.

The ban could even be limited to a few months if the use of the substance took place “out of competition and is not related to his level of performance”.

Pogba’s representatives said last month that the testosterone came from a food supplement prescribed by a doctor he consulted in the United States.

Testosterone promotes muscle development.

Contacted by AFP, Nado was unable to confirm this information “due to a decision by the Italian privacy authority”.

Pogba has seven days to submit his defence to Italy’s National Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will investigate his case and request a sanction, a process that could take several weeks.

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In addition to the proceedings of the Italian sports justice system, a judicial investigation will be opened by the Turin public prosecutor’s office, as doping is a criminal offence in Italy.

Since the announcement of his positive test, Pogba has been unable to train with Juventus, the club to which he returned in July 2022 after six seasons with United.

The announcement came shortly before Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri’s press conference on the eve of the Turin derby against Torino, at which he simply said he was “sorry for Paul”.

Contacted by AFP, the club, which has also suspended payment of his estimated annual salary of 8 million euros (8.4 million dollars), did not respond.

Pogba started the season attempting to bounce back from string of injuries last season and from summer surgery.

His sample was reportedly taken at his club’s opening match of the Serie A season, a win at Udinese on August 20, during which he was an unused substitute.

After the first sample tested positive on September 11,  Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said she was “awaiting the second sample and cannot have an opinion before the results”.

“What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule,” she added.

 

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