COVID-19: Six Chelsea Players Test Positive

Chelsea's start to the 2020/21 season might not be what was highly anticipated as the club have confirmed that six of their players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease.

The club's 2019/20 campaign ended after they were eliminated from the champions league round of 16 stage by FC Bayern Munich and some players spent their holiday in different countries despite the global pandemic.

A number of Chelsea FC players have gone into quarantine following the development and the names of those who have contracted the virus are yet to be revealed.

The 2020/21 premier league season is due to start on Saturday, September 12th and Chelsea would begin their campaign away to Brighton.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.goal.com/en-kw/amp/news/chelseas-pre-season-plans-in-disarray-as-eight-players-in/u4mdpqm5mplm1q82op76ofn9e

Barcelona Will Demand £631 Million Release Clause For Lionel Messi

 Barcelona are reportedly going to demand that clubs must pay Lionel Messi's £631million release clause should he hand in a transfer request.

The attacker's future at the LaLiga giants has been thrown into serious doubt after the club performed poorly on the pitch last season and have made massive personnel changes off the field.

There have been links with the six-time Balon d'Or winner and some of Europe's elite but even if he wanted to leave the Nou Camp this summer with one year left on his deal, it could prove tricky for him.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club will tell Messi that he can only leave if a club is willing to pay his monstrous £631million release clause or he will be staying put.

The asking price is simply too much for any club in world football to afford, as it would accumulate to more than triple the highest fee ever paid for a footballer by PSG for Neymar in 2017.

If Barcelona were to budge on their outrageous £631million asking price, then there are plenty of clubs exploring the option of signing the 33-year-old.

Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Manchester City, managed by Messi's former boss Pep Guardiola, have all reportedly thrown their hat in the ring should the Argentine become available.
Messi has reportedly now held talks with new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman to discuss his future after it was revealed that he was 'more out than in' at the club.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, each of the aforementioned clubs would have enough pulling power to attract Messi should he leave Spain - but his price would prove to be a massive obstacle.

The attacker cut his holiday short to return and hold talks with Koeman, after manager Quique Setien was sacked following their embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Argentinian outlets reported that Messi was left furious after the fact he held a meeting with the new boss became public.

Koeman opened up about Messi's situation and said: 'He's still got a contract and is still a Barcelona player. At this point I need to speak to him because he is the captain.

'We need to work with him and speak with various players. We need to make some decisions but in Messi's case I hope he stays with us.

'I don't know if I have to convince Messi [to stay], whether it's that or not. He is the best player in the world and the best player in the world you want in your team, you don't want him playing against you.

'As a coach I would love to work with Messi because he wins matches. If he's at the ability and level he has always shown I'd be more than happy for him to stay.

Bayern Munich: First Unbeaten Champions Since Manchester United In 2007/08

Congratulations, Bayern - winners of the 2020 UEFA Champions League.
Bayern become the first unbeaten champions since Manchester United in 2007/08


Source: https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1297641700219858951?s=19

Barcelona inform Luis Suárez that he has to leave the club

After Ronald Koeman’s appointment, FC Barcelona’s new coaching team have come up with a new formation for next season, and it does not include Luis Suárez. The club believes that it is time for him to leave considering his age and poor performances over the past few seasons, and has informed the Uruguayan striker that he must depart. Earlier when Bartomeu named the players who are ‘untouchable’ at the club, the president excluded the Uruguayan in his list. Barça is ready to sell Suarez if a good offer arrives, with Ajax heavily interested in bringing their former star back to Amsterdam. Juventus are also willing to land the Uruguayan striker. Even though Luis Suarez very recently became the club’s 3rd highest goal-scorer in history and has had some wonderful seasons at the Catalan club, today there is a consensus among fans that the 33-year-old is no longer good enough to get minutes on the field. Culés believe that it is time for him to step-off and look for a new career path. Suárez, however, intends to stay and believes that he could still add a lot of value to the team. He will reject any incoming offers from various European clubs this summer and is clear about continuing with Barcelona. Whether Barcelona will terminate the player’s contract if no good offer arrives, remains unknown.

Remembering Sam Okwaraji- 31 Years After His Death

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji (19 May 1964 – 12 August 1989) was a professional footballer who played internationally for Nigeria.

He was also a qualified lawyer who had a masters in international law from the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome.

He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola at the Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State on 12 August 1989.

He is also linked with the controversial match between Nigeria and India which was claimed that he scored the only goal against the Indian side 99-1 which leads to his death on the pitch.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Okwaraji

Happy Birthday Papilo- Kanu Nwankwo Turns 44 Today!!

anu Nwankwo Turns 44 Today

Celebrating his 44th birthday on his Instagram page, Kanu Nwankwo wrote:

I THANK GOD FOR TODAY���.HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME AND HAPPY NEW MONTH TO YOU ALL.THANK GOD FOR MY FAMILY AND THANK GOD FOR KANU HEART FOUNDATION @kanuheartf #thankgod #happybirthday #postivevibes @arsenal #coug @fifaworldcup @caf_online #legend #africa #nigeria

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDU69DNJvOQ/?igshid=1iost3zautomc

Mike Tyson To Face Roy Jones Jnr In September 12 Exhibition Match

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is making a comeback. Tyson will fight Roy Jones Junior in an eight-round exhibition on September 12. The bout will be broadcast on pay-per-view as well as multi-media platform, Triller. According to a release on the fight, there will also be a ten-part docuseries on Triller leading up to the bout.

Tyson (50-6), 54, hasn't fought since losing to Kevin McBride in 2005. Jones Jr. (66-9), 51, last fought in 2018.

Last month, Jones expressed his interest in a possible bout with Tyson.

"I've been trying to enjoy retirement, but people don't seem to want to let me retire," said Jones. "They keep calling me, telling me that Mike wants to come back, and that you'd be a great opponent for Mike.

"We always wanted to see it, but I would've preferred it back then. Tyson is a hell of a specimen still. Still a problem to deal with. But at the same time, life is life, you only live once. You want to know what it's like, you go in there and see. You still gotta see it."

In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, said that he believed there wouldn't be headgear, but that the boxers would be using 12-ounce gloves.

Liverpool FC Lift Trophy After 30 Yr Wait

BREAKING!!!
Liverpool have lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time after waiting 30 years to win a league title.

Jurgen Klopp's men have finally placed their hands on the silverware nearly a month after they were crowned champions.

The Merseyside club have lifted the trophy after defeating Chelsea 5-3 at Anfield stadium.

Fireworks could be heard outside the ground during the second half of the match as Reds fans eagerly-awaited the trophy presentation.

Supporters were unable to watch the match or enjoy the presentation inside the stadium because of measures introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus.

After the match, Liverpool manager Klopp promised supporters "a party" to celebrate their title success but added "he doesn't know when" it will take place.


Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish was at the stadium to present the trophy to the side's captain Jordan Henderson.

Club manager Klopp then joined with the players in singing the side's anthem You'll Never Walk Alone.

The Reds are one of the most successful teams in English football history having won 19 top-flight titles.

However their success this season marks the first time they have won the Premier League since it was founded in 1992.

Liverpool fans have gathered outside Anfield to celebrate the club's Premier League win despite warnings to stay at home because of the coronavirus outbreak.

A heavy police presence was in force outside the stadium during what was the Reds' final home game of the season.

Police introduced a 48-hour dispersal zone around the ground in anticipation of crowds gathering as the trophy was lifted in the empty stadium.

Much of the stadium was fenced off but by 9.45pm a large group had gathered in the road outside the Kop end with flags and flares.

Police vans lined the road and officers stood in cordons.

Thousands of supporters celebrated outside Anfield last month when the team's first top-flight title in 30 years was confirmed.

Huge numbers gathered at the city's Pier Head the following night, where police reported violent confrontations.

Superintendent Dave Charnock said: "We're aware of the significant impact that anti-social behaviour can have on individuals and communities, and we will be targeting people we suspect of being involved in this type of behaviour in the area.

"To the vast majority of law-abiding members of the community and Liverpool fans, I just want to remind them that this order is not about bothering people going about their legitimate daily business.

"We would like to thank the vast majority of you who are adhering to the restrictions currently in place to protect the wider community as well as those who are continuing to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and reporting it to us.

"It has never been more important than now to ensure that we all follow Government advice to ensure the safety of those living in Merseyside."

Ahead of the match, police had joined with the club, council and supporters' group Spirit of Shankly to ask people to celebrate at home.



https://news.sky.com/story/liverpool-lift-premier-league-trophy-for-first-time-after-30-year-wait-for-league-title-12034245

Nneka Ede Buys Lusitano Ginasio Football Clube For An Undisclosed Fee!!

Nigerian Business Woman Buys Portuguese Club


A Nigerian business entrepreneur, Nneka Ede, has purchased Portuguese third division club Lusitano Ginasio Clube for an undisclosed fee.

Ede is now the first African woman to own an European football club.
According to a statement on Thursday, Ede has secured 100 percent ownership of Lusitano Ginasio Clube founded in 1911.

The 108-years-old club last played in the Portuguese top-flight division in the 1950’s.


The statement from the club read: “After months of negotiations with different entities, an agreement has been reached with Mrs Nneka Ede, a sports enthusiast and entrepreneur from Nigeria, a country filled with people as passionate and fiery about football as us and which incidentally share the same green and white in their flags, towards the transfer of the ownership of the SAD to the latter that will help us in our mission to take Lusitano to the next level.”


Speaking after acquiring the club Ede said: “I am excited about this opportunity and I hope that this new chapter will deepen the already great sporting relation between Nigeria and Portugal,” she said.

“And to continue with the rich history of Lusitano club and provide a pathway for young talent to develop and shine through.”

Lusitano Ginasio Clube were crowned Portuguese second division champion in the 1951-1952 league season.

The club gained promotion into the top flight and took part in the 1952–53 league season finishing in 7th position in their first ever campaign.

They competed for 14 consecutive seasons in the top flight, its major period of success in the 1950s and 1960s, earning an honorable 5th place in 1956/57, and reaching the semi-finals of the Portugal Cup twice.

After relegation in 1966 the club went through a period of decline, never gaining promotion to the Portuguese top flight even descending to regional championships.

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Peter Odemwinge Celebrates 39th Birthday Today

Peter Odemwingie Turns 39 Today

Peter Osaze Odemwingie (born 15 July 1981) is a retired Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward and winger.

Odemwingie grew up in Uzbekistan and Russia and began his career with Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria Premier League. He then earned a move to European football with Belgian side La Louvière where he spent three seasons winning the Belgian Cup before moving to French side Lille. Odemwingie scored 26 goals for Lille and also playing in the UEFA Champions League with the side, which prompted Lokomotiv Moscow to pay a fee of £10 million for his services in July 2007. He scored 23 times in three-and-a-half years for Lokomotiv before leaving for English side West Bromwich Albion in August 2010. He scored 30 Premier League goals for the Baggies which won him three Premier League Player of the Month awards. A failed move to Queens Park Rangers saw him fall out of favour with Steve Clarke and he was sold to Cardiff City in August 2013 for a fee of £2.25 million. He spent six months at Cardiff before joining Stoke City in a player-exchange with Kenwyne Jones in January 2014.

Odemwingie made his debut for the Nigeria national team in a friendly against Kenya in May 2002 and has represented the country over 60 times, including at two World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations, as well as winning silver at the 2008 Olympics.

Personal life
Odemwingie was born to a Nigerian father and a Russian Tatar mother. His middle name, Osaze, means "God chooses (for you)". Odemwingie married his fiancée, Sarah Fallon, on 26 May 2012 at a church in Northampton after two years of dating.

Source: wikipedia

Chelsea To Sign Atletico Madrid Goalkeeper Jan Oblak In The Summer

Following up on a story from the Mirror linking Oblak with Chelsea, AS has information from its own sources.

They report that Chelsea will ‘launch an offensive’ for 27-year-old Oblak, one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

Chelsea are willing to pay around €100m for the Slovenian, which would make him the most expensive goalkeeper in history.

That record is held by Chelsea’s own Kepa Arrizabalaga, who could play an important role in the transfer.

In an attempt to make the transfer cheaper, Chelsea would be willing to include Kepa, 25, in the deal for Oblak.

Kepa has failed to live up to his €80m fee at Stamford Bridge but has proven himself in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico Madrid have no interest in selling Oblak, believing they must keep their best players to compete on all fronts.

Oblak renewed his Atleti contract in April 2019 and his release clause went from €100m to €120m.

However, with Chelsea prepared to pay record-breaking money for Oblak, Atletico’s resolve may be tested.