French Ligue 1
JUST A DAY AFTER NEYMAR WAS HANDED A THREE-GAME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BAN, HE IS IN TROUBLE AGAIN
The ever trouble prone Brazilian star, Neymar has landed himself in hot water on Saturday night when he was filmed from multiple angles lashing out at a fan following PSG‘s shock defeat to Rennes in the French Cup final.
According to Daily mail of UK, the Brazilian star was walking up the steps at the Stade de France to collect his losers’ medal, minutes after his side had lost 6-5 in a penalty shootout, when he seemed to take offence at one man who was pointing a phone camera at him.
The former Barcelona star used his right hand to push the man’s phone away before words were exchanged. Neymar then lashed out and appeared to catch the fan’s chin.
Nineteen-year-old PSG star Moussa Diaby was walking behind Neymar and attempted to play the role of peacemaker. Several angles of the incident were shared via Twitter and Snapchat.
Indeed, some of the footage was taken from the phone Neymar had batted away. It was uploaded, presumably by the man who had riled the Brazil ace, along with the caption: ‘Neymar who gave me a potato’ – European slang for a punch.
This ugly incident took place less than a metre away from a small child who was stood behind the fan that rowed with Neymar.
Just a day earlier Neymar had been hit with a three-match Champions League ban for telling VAR officials to ‘go f*** yourselves’ during PSG’s defeat by Manchester United in March.
Neymar played the full 90 minutes plus extra time on Saturday as PSG and Rennes battled out a 2-2 draw, before the underdogs won on penalties.
Paul Pogba has joined AS Monaco on a free transfer after signing a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday, as the 32-year-old French midfielder looks to revive his career following a doping ban.
Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024 after testing positive for DHEA, which boosts testosterone levels. The suspension was cut to 18 months after a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Italian club Juventus announced in November that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which was due to expire in June 2026.
The 2018 World Cup winner had a disappointing second spell with Juventus due to injuries after returning to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022.
Pogba was signed by United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89 million pounds ($122 million) but the four-times Serie A champion won only two trophies with the Premier League club — the League Cup and Europa League in his first season.
He last played for France in 2022 but knee surgery prevented him from appearing at the World Cup in Qatar.
Monaco finished third behind Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Olympique de Marseille last season.
-Reuters
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After Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain, he became the World’s most-paid fullback.
The Moroccan international will earn a staggering €70 million in wages over his new five-year deal, cementing his status as football’s highest-paid defender.
He signed a contract extension with the French champions until 2029. The new deal adds three years to his previous contract, which was set to expire in 2026.
His net salary is increasing from €10 million to €14 million per season (€28 million gross).
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The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee and Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, is almost certain to leave the Serie A in the coming winter transfer window following interest from Premiership but the biggest interest is from Paris Saint Germaine.
The AFCON 2024 silver medal winner with Nigeria has been on the radar of the London side, West Ham United and three other sides from the league but all is more certain that the London club will find it difficult to compete for the signature of Atalanta star according to Football Insider.
Reports have suggested that the Irons are ready to swoop for the Nigeria international in the January transfer window.
However, sources say there will be “huge interest” from Europe in the 27-year-old ex-Everton star.
Paris Saint-Germain will be the frontrunner for the forward if he becomes available in the coming months.
Additionally, Lookman plays in the same area of the pitch as West Ham’s big-money summer signings Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme.
The London-born has raised his stock with his displays for Atalanta since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022.
He finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year after leading the Italian side to a Europa League title last term.
Lookman has already hit five goals and contributed five assists in 10 games across all competitions this term.
The forward, who is under contract until June 2026, hit 17 goals and notched 10 assists in 45 appearances last season.
West Ham are unlikely to have serious funds to spend in the January window after their lavish spending in the off-season.
Julen Lopetegui’s side started slowly and sat 13th in the Premier League after nine games.
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