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Additional Worry for Troubled Barcelona

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Troubled FC Barcelona which recently lost one of its prized players, Neymar Jr to PSG and had a disappointing Spanish Super Cup encounters with rivals, Real Madrid may still have more issues to worry about.
Apart from another prized player Luis Suarez being ruled out for one month on account of injury, it has additional worry over the future of its best player, Lionel Messi. According to reports from two sources, 90 min and Goal, Lionel Messi is remarkably still to sign the new contract extension which he agreed with Barcelona earlier this summer.
Amid an early-season capitulation on and off the pitch, Barca were initially adamant that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would sign a renewed deal at the club, which would see the talisman stay at Camp Nou until 2021.
His previous deal – which technically remains his current one following the revelations, expires next summer.
On the club’s website at the time of confirmation, a press release stated: “The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training.”
But, after a 5-1 aggregate humiliation at the hands of bitter domestic rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa on Wednesday night, the Blaugrana were resigned to admitting that the 30-year-old was still indeed yet to pledge his future towards his current employers.
Barcelona showcased latest €40m acquisition Paulinho on Thursday, and during the unveiling of the Brazilian midfielder, the club’s vice-president Jordi Mestre shed some light on the troublesome Messi matter, saying: “It is all agreed and we are waiting for a date for the signing. Everything is in place, with just the signature missing.
“Leo’s renewal is something we are totally clear about and we have worked on it for a long time. Everything looks very good and I would be very surprised if the signing didn’t happen.”
Although Mestre seems to possess a terrible knack of wrongly foretelling reality, after he infamously said that Neymar was ‘200 per cent’ certain to stay at Barcelona this summer, and after Paris Saint-Germain sensationally met the attacker’s €222m release clause recently, Barca fans will have the right to be sceptical of his judgement.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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