La Liga
Pochettino Downplays Barca Links
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino could neither deny nor confirm speculations that he might move on to FC Barcelona. He merely described the transfer rumour as “part of the business”.
Pochettino whose coaching career began with Barcelona’s city rivals, Espanyol before moving to England to impressively handle Southampton and Spurs, has been one of the coaches tipped to succeed Luis Enrique who announced his imminent departure at the of the season.
Speaking at Friday’s media conference ahead of Sunday’s game with Everton, the former Argentina defender said: “I saw it’s a big list, 100 names. “Like I always told you it’s a business I know very well.
“I was born with a ball in my arms and I understand very well the business. I don’t take it as flattering.
“For me Tottenham is one of the biggest clubs. We play very good football, (have an) exciting team and very good players.
“It’s normal we catch the attention of other clubs and football people. We are part of that business and our names always appear on the lists.”
Spurs’ striker Harry Kane, the scorer of hat-tricks in two of their last three games, will be assessed after colliding with a post against Stoke but Pochettino insists he will take no risks with the England international against Ronald Koeman’s men.
He added: “The first moment he said it was good. When after a few minutes he tried, I asked. In that moment we made two changes. He said I am okay.
“But at the end of the game when it got cold, it appeared more painful.
“But I trust that he can play Sunday. If not, if he is a risk, he will not be in the squad.”
Toby Alderweireld is a doubt due to a thigh problem but his central defensive partner Jan Vertonghen is expected to be fit. Erik Lamela and Danny Rose remain sidelined.
La Liga
Napkin used by Barcelona to sign Messi sold for nearly $1 million
The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for 762,400 pounds ($969,000, auction house Bonhams said on Friday.
The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca’s former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.
Messi became one of Barcelona’s greatest players, winning over 30 trophies and leaving the Catalan club as their all-time leading scorer with 672 goals.
He also won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player and led Argentina to the World Cup crown in 2022. Messi now plays for U.S. club Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
“Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career,” Ian Ehling, the head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York, said in a statement.
“It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”
-Reuters
La Liga
Racially Abused Senegalese Goalkeeper Speaks Out After Abandoned Spanish Match –
Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr has heard racial slurs directed at him from the stands before, but when a fan allegedly approached just to racially insult him during a Spanish third-tier league game last Saturday, he decided he’d had enough.
“I grabbed him and asked why he was insulting me. My attitude was not aggressive, I just wanted to ask him why,” the 23-year-old told reporters on Tuesday of the incident in Sestao, a working-class town in northern Spain, which led to the game being abandoned.
“Other times it could be seen as something playful or a joke. However, this was not the case on Saturday, as it was something horrible and I could not stop myself. It was a very sad and ugly thing what they were saying,” he added.
The match between Sarr’s Rayo Majadahonda and Sestao River Club was suspended in the 84th minute after the altercation first led to Sarr being expelled by the referee, who was too far to hear the alleged insults, and then his team mates leaving the pitch in protest.
Racism in sport has been a hot topic in Spain, especially after Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Vinicius Jr, who has suffered from several incidents of racist abuse and is part of a campaign against racism, last year called LaLiga and Spain racist.
On Saturday, he spoke out in support of those affected on social media again, citing “three despicable cases of racism” on that day alone, including Sarr’s.
Sevilla’s Argentina defender Marcos Acuna and coaching staff were also the target of “racist and xenophobic insults” from fans in a LaLiga game at Getafe, the club said.
Sarr said he was thankful that Vinicius had tagged him on social media showing support.
“If more players said no to racism like he does, they (racists) wouldn’t have the power they have now,” he said.
–Reuters
La Liga
Sex-convict, Alves Spends First Day Of Provisional Freedom With All-night Party –
Former Barcelona star, Brazilian Dani Alves, who was provisionally released from prison after over a year in prison celebrated his temporary reprieve with an all-night party.
Although his release from prison was temporary, after he was convicted and faces a 4-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Italian newspaper, Corriere dello Sport reported that the Brazilian organized a noisy party to celebrate his father’s birthday.
The newspaper indicated that Alves held this party last Tuesday, and continued until five in the morning in the presence of family and friends, to celebrate his father on the one hand, and also to enjoy his freedom on the other hand after spending a long period behind bars.
The camera of the Spanish “Telefónico” network was following the steps of the legend of the oldest Brazilian player to participate in the World Cup, until he arrived at his home, located 25 minutes from downtown Barcelona.
The first thing Alves did after arriving at his home was to order a large amount of “burgers” for dinner, the first meal that the former right-back ate after his release from the “Brian 2” prison in Barcelona.
According to several Spanish media outlets, Alves distributed his belongings such as clothes and a small fan to the prisoners who had been by his side for more than 430 days,
Alves, 40, was accused of raping a woman in a nightclub, and was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison last February, before a decision was issued for his conditional release
-
OBITUARY1 week ago
Ibrahim Babangida is dead
-
CAF Champions League2 days ago
BREAKING: CAF adopts Yoruba name, “Ola” for official match ball!
-
Governing Bodies3 days ago
FIFA gets new Secretary General
-
Nigerian Football5 days ago
Daniel Amokachi back in the Super Eagles as assistant coach
-
Netball5 days ago
Finidi Georges’ foreign assistants have Nigerian roots!
-
Nigerian Football5 days ago
Finidi George handed a short-term contract as Nigeria’s 41st coach
-
Boxing4 days ago
TRAGEDY! Boxer Sherif Lawal dies in the ring during his first professional fight
-
Olympics1 week ago
Moriba spot-kick fires Guinea to Paris 2024 Olympics as Africa picks fourth slot