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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos went into the book twice in this afternoon's game against Girona which means that he is automatically suspended for next Sunday's away game at Levante and will still be one yellow card away from another suspension when Real Madrid take on Barcelona in El Clasico on 2 March.

The Madrid captain was shown his first yellow card against Girona for handball on minute 63, then was booked again on 89 for kicking Pedro Alcala in the face whilst attempting an overhead kick.

Ramos must serve the corresponding one-match suspension in LaLiga which means he will sit out the Levante game.

Prior to this afternoon's game, Ramos was on four yellow cards - he was booked in the matches against Atlético, Villarreal, Betis and Espanyol.

The Levante game will be the first game he has missed this season.

Ramos has been sent off 25 times in his career - 20 of those dismissals have been in LaLiga - he is now the player who has been sent off the most times in history, in all of the major European leagues, overtaking the previous record holder, Cyril Rool who took an early bath 19 times in Ligue 1.

Overall, he has been given 146 bookings in his 454 La Liga games – a rate of about one in every three matches.

This new suspension comes just days after the Madrid centre-back was served a one-match ban in the UEFA Champions League - he will sit out the Last 16 return leg against Ajax on 5 March after being booked in the first leg.

Red card record holders

LaLiga - Sergio Ramos (20)

Ligue 1 - Cyril Rool (19)

Serie A - Paolo Montero (16)

Premier League - Roy Keane (13)

Bundesliga - Jens Nowotny (

Click the link to keep reading: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/real-madrids-ramos-sets-new-european.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Sergio Ramos is facing a potential extended suspension from UEFA after admitting he deliberately received a yellow card during Real Madrid’s Champions League 2-1 win over Ajax on Wednesday night.

Karim Benzema put Madrid in front in the second half following an excellent run from Vinicius Junior but Ajax pulled level through Hakim Ziyech.

The Champions League holders left it late but head into the second leg with the advantage as Marco Asensio’s goal in the 87th minute secured a 2-1 victory.

But two minutes later, Ramos received a yellow card which means he will now miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu but will be available for the quarter-final if Madrid qualify for the last eight. Ramos, however, has risked extending his one-game ban by admitting after the match that his yellow card was premeditated.

Ramos said after the game:

" Yes, the truth is that seeing the result… it’s something I had in mind. It is not to underestimate the opposition but sometimes you have to make tough decisions. "


In 2017, Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal intentionally received a yellow against APOEL and UEFA extended his ban to two games.

While in 2010, Ramos and Xabi Alonso were fined by UEFA and Jose Mourinho received a one-match touchline ban after the Portuguese told the two players to get themselves sent off in a group-stage clash against Ajax.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/real-madrids-ramos-faces-champions.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says the impact of Manchester City's style of play is cancelled out by one player as the English Premier League title race mind games continue.

City moved above Liverpool this week on goals difference, but have played a game more, and the shift in momentum has sparked a change of attitude on Merseyside.

After weeks of insisting Liverpool were going to win the league, Reds fans are now looking for any advantage they can re-gain over City.

And now Jamie Carragher believes that advantage is simply having Virgil van Dijk in the side.

Comparing the two sides, Carragher explained that for all City's devastating attacking play, Liverpool can win the league by virtue of the Dutchman marshaling their defence.

He said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football:

"What Man City do - blowing teams away, scoring so early, the football that they play - you could argue that is the best football to watch.

"You want to go and watch that, you’re excited by watching City more than any other team in the Premier League, I get that.

"But winning the Premier League is about who gets the most points and there’s different ways of getting points. Liverpool still play fantastic football, probably not as eye-catching and blistering and goals galore as Manchester City do.

"But Liverpool have relied a lot this season on what they’ve done defensively, the two Dutch players were outstanding at the weekend, [Georginio] Wijnaldum was back and certainly that man Van Dijk at the back what he’s done. He’s the best defender in the league. "

Keep reading: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/jamie-carragher-names-one-reason-why.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Chelsea ace Eden Hazard says he's not selfish enough for his managers.
Hazard has netted 12 times in the Premier League this season, a tally which is just four short of his best ever return for the Blues — he scored 16 goals in the 2016-17 campaign.

He told The Times:

"I'm not at all selfish.

"The way I am can be a weakness to be the best player in the world. Managers like [Jose] Mourinho, [Antonio] Conte, now with Sarri want me to score 40, 50 goals a season but can I do that? I'm not sure.

"Maybe they think I can, but I know myself and I don't think I can. But I will try.

"I like to be 'the star' but I like also when I can pass the ball to another for him to score, and it is not just about me. It's about everyone. My target is to help the team to win something."

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/chelseas-hazard-reveals-how-he.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

More than two weeks after the plane carrying Emiliano Sala to a new career in the English Premier League crashed into the sea, police confirmed on Thursday that the body recovered from the wreckage was the Argentine football player.

A search of the seabed of the English Channel only discovered the Piper Malibu aircraft on Sunday and the agony was prolonged for Sala's family by the difficulties raising the body to the surface.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri wrote in remarks translated from Spanish on Twitter, reflecting national concerns at home over the fate of Sala:

The news is so painful. My condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Emiliano Sala on this tough moment. We are with you."


Search teams are yet to find pilot David Ibbotson, the only other person on board the light aircraft which lost contact with traffic control near Guernsey on the evening of Jan. 21 as it flew from the French city of Nantes to the Welsh capital Cardiff. At 28, Sala had just secured the biggest move of his career after signing for Cardiff.

Keep the link below to continue the story:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/update-on-emiliano-sala-police-say-body.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Rescuers who discovered a body in the wreckage of a crashed plane carrying Cardiff City star Emiliano Sala have landed back on a British shore.


Pictures (below) showed the body bag being stretchered into a silver ambulance.

It will be transported to the coroner for official identification.

The families of Sala and pilot David Ibbotson are waiting for a body recovered from the wreckage of their plane to be formally identified.

Investigators removed the body from the Piper Malibu N264DB on Wednesday, and have ended their attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage because of poor weather.

The body was brought to Portland, Dorset, by the Geo Ocean III boat, and taken on a stretcher to an ambulance, before being transferred to the coroner.

The aircraft disappeared on January 21 when flying Sala from Nantes to Cardiff, just days after he had completed a club-record transfer to the Premier League side.

Read more: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/update-on-emiliano-sala-plane-wreckage.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

A body has been recovered from the wreckage of the plane which crashed with Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson on board, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has said.

The Piper Malibu aircraft was found on the seabed of the English Channel on Sunday morning but strong tidal conditions hampered the operation to remove the body.

In a statement, the AAIB said:

Following extensive visual examination of the accident site using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), it was decided to attempt recovery operations.

In challenging conditions, the AAIB and its specialist contractors successfully recovered the body previously seen amidst the wreckage. The operation was carried out in as dignified a way as possible and the families were kept informed of progress.

Click the link to keep reading: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/update-on-emiliano-sala-body-recovered.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Ali Issa Ahmad, a 26-year-old Arsenal fan from Wolverhampton, was arrested after the Asian Cup tie on January 22 between Iraq and Qatar because the UAE has outlawed the wearing of Qatari emblems in public amid the Saudi-led diplomatic and economic blockade.

Ahmad, who is being held in a prison in Sharjah, UAE, has told a friend that he was beaten by security forces after the match Abu Dhabi and that, when he reported this, he was charged with lying. On top of a possible prison sentence, he could be fined £105,000 (N49m).

The friend Amer Lockie told The Guardian that Ahmad’s phone has been taken off him and he has not heard anything from him since January 31.

The Foreign Office has warned travellers that “showing sympathy for Qatar on social media or by any other means of communication is an offence. Offenders could be imprisoned and subject to a substantial fine.”

Last year British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt intervened to secure the release of Matthew Hedges, a research student who had been sentenced to life in the UAE on spying charges.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/british-fan-detained-in-uae-after.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has avoided jail for tax fraud as part of a deal with Spanish prosecutors revealed on Tuesday, but will pay a fine of close to two million euros (824.9million naira).
The 56-year-old is accused of committing tax fraud in 2011 and 2012 when he coached Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho has had a difficult start to the season, with United putting in a string of underwhelming performances at home.

According to the agreement seen by AFP, Mourinho accepted a one-year jail sentence immediately commuted to a fine of 182,500 euros (N72m).

The Portuguese coach will also have to pay an additional penalty of 1.98 million euros (N816.6m).

Mourinho, sacked by Manchester United in December following a string of disappointing performances, is the latest high-profile football figure to be judged over his tax affairs in Spain.

Spanish prosecutors accuse Mourinho, who coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, of failing to declare income of 1.6 million euros (N660m) in 2011 and 1.7 million euros (N701m) in 2012.

The grounds for the case, as with a series of football stars based in Spain, is how income from Mourinho's image rights was managed and declared.

Prosecutors believe by ceding his image rights to a series of companies based in tax havens, Mourinho committed fraud by not declaring the income those companies made from his image rights.

Keep reading: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/02/ex-real-madrid-man-united-boss-mourinho.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

With only a few days left in the winter transfer window, let's take a look at all the deals that have already been completed for all 20 English Premier League clubs.

ARSENAL

In: None

Out: Emiliano Martinez (Reading, loan), Daniel Barden (Norwich City)

BOURNEMOUTH

In: Dominic Solanke (Liverpool , £19m), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool, loan), Chris Mepham (Brentford, undisclosed)

Out: Jermain Defoe (Rangers, loan), Marc Pugh (Hull, loan)

BRIGHTON

In: Alexis Mac Allister (Argentinos Juniors, undisclosed), Billy Arce (return from loan)

Out: George Cox (Northampton, loan), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentinos Juniors, loan), Markus Suttner (Fortuna Dusseldorf, loan), Anders Dreyer (St. Mirren, loan), Josh Kerr (Derry City, loan), Ben Barclay (Notts County, loan), Ben White, Daniel Lafferty (Peterborough, loan)

BURNLEY

In: None

Out: Jimmy Dunne (Sunderland, loan), Ali Koiki (Swindon, loan), Adam Bruce (Buxton, loan), George McMahon (Ashton United, loan)

CARDIFF CITY

In: Oumar Niasse (Everton, loan), Emiliano Sala (Nantes, undisclosed)

Out: Lee Tomlin (Peterborough, loan), Anthony Pilkington (Wigan, free), Ciaron Brown (Livingston, loan)

CHELSEA

In: Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, £58m), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus , loan)

Out: Christian Pulisic, (Borussia Dortmund, loan), Kasey Palmer (Bristol City, loan), Lewis Baker (Reading, loan), Josh Grant (Yeovil, loan), Karlo Ziger (Sutton, loan), Charlie Colkett (Ostersunds, loan), Victor Moses (Fenerbahce, loan), Matt Miazga (Reading, loan), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid, loan)

Click the below link to see the complete list:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/epl-january-2019-done-deals-so-far.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Arsene Wenger's premature departure from Arsenal cost the club £17.1million (N8billion) in pay-offs.

The Frenchman finished his 22-year rein in north London a year before his contract expired.

The Times reports that Wenger's final year was paid in full, along with other settlements to his staff.

The news has caught the ire of some Gunners, who have had to endure a frustrating January transfer market.

Manager Unai Emery has publicly discussed the lack of funds available for transfers, despite his current injury crisis.

Gunners are not out of the race for the UEFA Champions League qualification spots, but a depleted squad could hinder their chances of catching fourth-placed Chelsea, who are three points ahead of their London rivals.


https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/revealed-arsene-wenger-received-171m.html

[url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Lionel Messi is set to make a much anticipated return to the international stage next month, it has been reported.

The Barcelona forward, 31, hasn't represented Argentina for nine months. Messi's last game for his country came in the 4-3 defeat to France in the round of 16 stage at the World Cup.

Argentina scraped through their group with just one win before being humbled by the eventual winners.

It was a dismal tournament for Messi and co. The five-time Ballon d'Or hasn't featured for Argentina since, missing six games.

But according to Goal , the forward is now ready to return to action. Messi will make his comeback when Argentina take on Venezuela on March 22.

Read more: https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/messi-set-to-make-argentina-return.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Harry Redknapp has revealed how he was close to signing Eden Hazard for Tottenham during his spell as manager.
The Belgian was the star man again for Chelsea as the Blues beat Spurs to book their place in the EFL Cup final on Thursday night.

But Redknapp says Hazard could have been playing in a Tottenham shirt instead if he had his way, saying the winger was keen to join the north London club before he eventually moved to Stamford Bridge in 2012.

Redknapp told talkSPORT:

I tried to sign him for Tottenham.

Joe Cole was playing with him at Lille and Joe rang me saying,’ Harry, I’m playing with a boy at Lille and he’s the best player I’ve ever played with’, and Joe played with some top players at Chelsea.

So I went over to Lille four times, but the first time I saw enough, I knew. I kept turning up trying to actually meet with him. I watched to have a chat with him.

Keep reading:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/chelseas-hazard-almost-signed-for.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

The search for Emiliano Sala, the £15million (N7billion) Cardiff City striker who has been missing since Monday night, has been called off by Guernsey Police.


The Argentine was on board a light aircraft which disappeared en route from Nantes to the Welsh capital.

Search and rescue teams have been searching for Sala and pilot David Ibbotson for the last two days, and continued again on Thursday morning, but found "no trace" of the aircraft.

A statement from Harbour Master Captain David Barker read:

My team have just met to review the search and rescue operation which has been underway since the plane disappeared on Monday night.

Despite the best efforts of air and search assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, which has covered an area of approximately 1,700sq. miles - with a significant amount of this searched more than once - and having examined mobile phone data and satellite imagery, we have been unable to find any trace of the aircraft, the pilot or the passenger.

There has been over 24 hours of continuous searching, with 80 hours combined flying time across three planes and five helicopters. Two lifeboats have also been involved, as well as assistance from various passing ships and fishing boats.

We reviewed all the information available to us, as well as knowing what emergency equipment was on board, and have taken the difficult decision to end the search.

The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote.

Next of kin have been informed of this development, and my thoughts go out to the family of the pilot and the passenger at this most difficult of times. Sala had completed a move to Cardiff on Saturday.

This has been a very thorough and extensive search, co-ordinated from the Guernsey-based Joint Emergency Services Control Centre and has seen exemplary co-operation from all countries involved, which I would like to extend my personal thanks.

The final aircraft searching for the missing plane and those on board has now landed.

Although we are no longer actively searching, the incident remains open and we will be broadcasting to all vessels and aircraft in the area to keep a look out for any trace of the aircraft. This will continue indefinitely.

The single-engine plane left Nantes, north-west France and had been flying at 5,000ft (1,500m) over the Channel Islands when it disappeared off radar near the Casquets lighthouse, near to Alderney.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/update-on-emiliano-sala-search-called.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster isn't surprised by Marcelo's weight problems this season.
It's been claimed part of the reason for coach Santiago Solari freezing out the wing-back in recent games is because he feels the player is overweight.

Schuster worked with Marcelo when Real coach and isn't surprised by the accusations.

He told AS:

In all the teams you have two, three or four players who have a lot of problems with weight, they are players who get fat easily, just as others never get fat and eat up their plate.

There are people, and I know that Marcelo is one of them, who have the facility to get fat and you have to be very careful, especially when you are injured.

You have to be on top of it because you can miss what is happening.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/ex-real-madrid-boss-schuster-not.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

The plane carrying Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala could have been brought down by deadly ice on the wings, experts have reportedly warned.
Sala, 28, was returning to South Wales having signed for the Bluebirds in a club-record £15million (N7billion) deal.

He had said his goodbyes to Nantes teammates and staff before boarding the light aircraft.

And aviation sources told The Sun that the build-up of ice on the wings could have been the plane's downfall.

One reportedly said:

There are reports that the footballer was texting saying the aircraft is shaking and breaking up.

These are classic signs of icing on the wings. The pilot is most likely wrestling with a stall at 2,300ft. It is likely, though, that the aircraft hit the water in one piece otherwise debris would have quickly been found.

British pilot David Ibbotson, 35, had admitted he was "a bit rusty" at the controls of the Papier PA-46 plane prior to the flight and the plane went missing over the English Channel.

Both men are missing presumed dead with rescue chiefs admitting there is "no hope" of finding the duo alive.

Cardiff have confirmed they were not responsible for organising the transport for Sala.

Keep reading:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/update-on-emiliano-sala-plane-carrying.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Liverpool have made a move for Chelsea attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi.
BILD says the 18-year-old is keen to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football and Bayern Munich are prepared to pay £35million (N16.7billion).

But Liverpool are also interested in a move and spoke to Hudson-Odoi's agent earlier in January.

The Anfield club met with the player and his brother Bradley who is also his representative.

Hudson-Odoi has also attracted interest from RB Leipzig but Bayern remains his most likely destination.

His contract at Stamford Bridge runs until next summer and Chelsea have offered him a bumper new deal in a bid to ward off his suitors.

But Hudson-Odoi sees Bayern as his best chance of taking his career to the next level.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/revealed-liverpool-in-talks-with.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Nigeria international and captain of the Super Eagles Mikel Obi has completed a move to English Championship club Middlesbrough after passing his medical test on Tuesday, January 22.

German club Wolfsburg and Italian giants Roma were said to be closely monitoring Mikel Obi for the possibility of getting his signature, but the former Chelsea star decided to return to England.

According to the report by UK Sun, Mikel Obi traveled to the United Kingdom on Tuesday morning, January 22, before he had his medical examination at the Riverside stadium.

Mikel Obi has been playing in the Chinese Super League for the past two years with Tianjin Teda after leaving English Premier League side Chelsea where he won two English topflight titles.

The report added that Boro decided to sign Mikel so that he can help the team in their fight to return to the Premier League division.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/mikel-returns-to-england-obi-joins.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Emiliano Sala's heartbroken underwear model ex-girlfriend today blamed the 'football mafia' after his plane vanished over the Channel and said: "I can't believe this is an accident".

Victoria's Secret star Berenice Schkair, 27, made the extraordinary claim on social media after the new Cardiff City star's plane went missing over the English Channel after taking off in Nantes, France.

Sala and his pilot last made contact from their Piper FA-46 Malibu just off Alderney at 8.30pm on Monday and the pair are missing presumed dead after wreckage was spotted in the sea.

On Twitter last night Berenice tweeted:

Investigate the football mafia because I don't believe this was an accident.

Berenice tweeted that the 'football mafia' should be investigated in a clear claim the crash was deliberate - but later deleted it

She later deleted the tweet.

Lifeboats, helicopters and even locals in fishing boats have been scouring the sea for him - but have had to stop between dusk and dawn.

Posting photographs of them together, she wrote on Instagram:

Emi, my heart is broken. I still cannot understand it. I'm destroyed, I feel pain, fear and anger for not being able to do anything. I know you're strong. We are waiting for you.

I want to wake up and all of this to be a lie. Please investigate because I cannot believe this is an accident. Don't suspend the search for bad weather when you only just found objects floating.

They're losing time and aren't investigating. The thing I regret most is not having told you that you made me feel like I haven't felt in a while and I love you. Why does this misfortune happen to such a fascinating man full of projects, hard working, a good person dedicated to his job.


The model posted a series of message on Instagram where she said she had not given up hope that her ex would be found alive


When asked by Argentine media outlet Infobae for a comment, she said:

The only thing I want is for him to show up.

Out of respect for the family I'd prefer to wait, I'm going to say what I need to say in a few days.


The model was born in the Tres de Febrero area of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and is believed to have been going out with the footballer for a few months last year.

Reports in their home country suggest they may even have been engaged before they split up.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/update-on-emiliano-sala-players-ex.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Emiliano Sala complained about a plane that looked like it was "about to fall apart" in a chilling final message before his disappearance.


The Cardiff City striker, signed for a club record £15million (N7billion) fee from Nantes, is feared dead after his plane went missing whilst travelling to the Welsh capital.

Guernsey Police have confirmed they have called off the search for the night and said the chances of survival for Sala or the pilot are "unfortunately slim".

Argentinian media outlet Ole have now released haunting verified audio sent from Sala to close friends on WhatsApp in the final moments before the plane vanished over the English Channel.

Sala says:

Hello, little brothers, how are you crazy people?

Brother, I’m dead, I was here in Nantes doing things, things, things, things and things, and it never stops, it never stops, it never stops.

I’m here on a plane that looks like it’s about to fall apart, and I’m going to Cardiff, crazy, tomorrow we already start, and in the afternoon we start training, boys, in my new team…

Let’s see what happens, so, how are you brothers and sisters, all right?

If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don’t know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you know … Dad, how scared am I!


Reports suggest Sala had expressed concern about the flight having travelled from Cardiff back to France in the same plane over the weekend.

He texted friends once on board to say the plane was making "weird noises" before the plane was reported as missing at around 8:30pm on Monday night.

The light aircraft had been flying at 5000ft but requested to land while passing Guernsey, with the a single-engine plane last detected at 2300 feet when they lost contact with Jersey air traffic controllers.

Cardiff City cancelled training on Tuesday, which was due to be Sala's first day with his new team-mates, in the wake of the tragic incident.

Click the link to listen to the haunting audio:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/update-on-emiliano-sala-players.html

Source: [url]QueensMail.com[/url]

Emiliano Sala reportedly told friends of his fears travelling on the "choppy" light aircraft before it vanished.

The Cardiff City striker is feared dead after the Piper Malibu plane from Nantes to the Welsh capital disappeared on Monday night.

Search teams have found 'no trace' of the single-engine aircraft, which went missing over the English Channel.

Sala was on his way back to Wales after saying goodbye to his Nantes team-mates when contact was lost with the aircraft.

However, it has been claimed that the 28-year-old travelled on the same plane on his way to France after putting pen to paper over the weekend.

He said goodbye to his Nantes team-mates over lunch and gave a speech before uploading a picture of himself with the squad on Monday afternoon.

However, French publication 20 Minutes claim Sala was worried about the return flight to Cardiff. It is reported he told friend and former team-mate Nicolas Pallois of his fears as he headed to the airport.

One of the Nantes sources said:

Emiliano arrived on the plane on Sunday, and on Monday came to the club to say goodbye to everybody. He had lunch with everybody, and it was concluded with a very upbeat speech. Emiliano said that the flight over had been choppy.


By Tuesday evening, emergency services including two helicopters and five life boats had spent almost 24 hours searching the Channel, but had found nothing.

A rescue coordinator said:

It is unlikely that anyone would survive more than an hour in the freezing water without protection.

The weather is deteriorating all the time following a cold front including snow and sleet moving across northern France on Monday evening.


An official statement from Guernsey Police added that the chances of survival are "slim" for those on board as they continue their search. They said:

We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim.

Two planes and a lifeboat are still searching.

Keep reading:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/update-on-emiliano-sala-cardiff-new.html

Source: [url]QueensMail[/url].Com

There are fears that new English Premier League signing Emiliano Sala was on board a small plane which disappeared while travelling from France to Wales on Monday night.
The 28-year-old, an Argentine professional football player, was signed just four days ago to join Cardiff City from French club Nantes for a record £15 million (N7billion).

The fee for the former Bordeaux and Caen forward was a new Cardiff City record deal, knocking the £11 million (N5billion) paid to Sevilla for Chile midfielder Gary Medel off the top spot.

Sala first made his competitive debut for FC Girondins de Bordeaux in February 2012, before spending the whole of the 2012/13 season on loan at Championnat National outside US Orleans.

He later agreed to a deal with Chamois Niortais to be on loan for the 2013/14 season, before being signed to SM Caen for the second half of the following season in 2015.

FC Nantes signed the 28-year-old on a five-year contract back in July 2015, for $1 million (N362million). Last year, he became the first Nantes player to score a hat-trick in a Ligue 1 match since February 2006.

Sala was signed to Cardiff City on Saturday. The new English Premier League player was siged on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The 28-year-old Argentine was on his way to meet his new colleagues at Cardiff City after signing for the club last week in a £15 million (N7 billion) deal.

He was travelling from Nantes in Brittany.

A source working for the emergency services in France confirmed Mr Sala was on board" and there are "genuine concerns" for his safety.

Click the link below to complete the gist....

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/cardiff-city-15m-new-signing-feared.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Chelsea are pushing to sign AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain in time for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

The Irish Independent says former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte was told Higuain, then aged 28, was too old and too expensive when he suggested signing the Argentine before he joined Juventus for £75.3million (N35billion) in 2016.

But Chelsea have backed Maurizio Sarri by agreeing to sign Higuain now, even though he is 31 and the initial four-month loan deal will cost more than £10m (N4.8bn) in fees and wages.

Sarri wants Chelsea to seal the deal quickly. His squad need a boost following the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal, after which he attacked his own players by claiming they were "extremely difficult to motivate".

He believes Higuain can give Chelsea a fresh impetus and help Eden Hazard return to his best from his favoured position on the left.


https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/chelsea-push-to-sign-higuain-in-time.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Orangina:
What is he coming to do..?

To play football

Barcelona has surprisingly signed Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan from Italian club Sassuolo until the end of the season.
The 31-year-old Boateng has appeared to be past his prime after excelling for AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, and Tottenham.

Barcelona says on Monday the agreement includes an option to buy the former Ghana international for 8 million euros (3 billion naira).

Boateng, who plays as a midfielder and as a forward, will be officially presented by Barcelona on Tuesday.

He becomes another attacking option for coach Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona remains in contention in the Spanish league, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League.

A statement on the Barca's official website reads:

Kevin-Prince Boateng is a player who will surely adapt quickly to the team. With experience of playing in four of the biggest leagues in Europe, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga, he is a man who has scored goals wherever he has been.

Furthermore, Boateng is a player who versatile to a fault. During his time with Las Palmas with Quique Setién as coach he played as an out and out striker, a typical number ‘9’. However, he is also able to play further back as he did at AC Milan, scoring twice against Barça in his time with the Rossoneri.

His ability to bring people into the game means he is excellent at playing behind the main striker.


Before the Blaugrana's confirmation, Boateng himself had announced the deal in an interview with Sky Sports .

He said:

Barca, I’m coming! I’m sad to leave Sassuolo but this is a great chance.


Boateng played as a striker for Las Palmas two seasons ago in the Spanish league. The physical player had been with Sassuolo since last year.

Before that he was with Eintracht Frankfurt. Boateng was in the middle of a high-profile discussion on racism in 2013 when he led his AC Milan team off the field after facing abuse from fans.

He played for Ghana in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/barca-signs-boateng-until-end-of-season.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Ashley Cole has signed for Derby as a free agent on a deal until the end of the season.
The 38-year-old defender - and three-time English Premier League winner - has been without a club since leaving LA Galaxy in November and will now play under former Chelsea and England team-mate Frank Lampard.

Considered a part of England's 'Golden Generation', Cole racked up 107 international caps as well as 682 club appearances for Arsenal, Crystal Palace (loan), Chelsea, Roma and LA Galaxy.

Cole told RamsTV on Monday:

"I kind of had a conversation with Frank maybe a month, two months ago and I had a general chit-chat with him. I kept in touch with Lampsy. It was a no-brainer to come here and hopefully push for promotion.

"Of course it's going to be a new challenge because I haven't played in England for five years now.

"I'm coming from a different culture, a different way of playing, different philosophies. Coming here, it's cold, it rains. It's difficult conditions. It's a tough league with strong players.

"Again coming out of my comfort zone I could have stayed in the MLS and relax. But I wanted to come here and fight for something. A good cause and try to make promotion. I think it would be great for the club, for Lamps and of course for me as well.

"This is probably going to be the last interview where I call him Frank. I respect him so much and for what he has done in the little time here. It's been fantastic and he's my boss now.

"It's not like I've come here and expect shortcuts. He's my boss now and it's the same with Jody Morris, Chris Jones and Shay Given. I know all these guys. I respect them and they are going to be my kind of bosses. "

Keep reading:

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/ex-arsenal-and-chelsea-star-ashley-cole.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has rejected the club's latest contract offer.

Sky Sports report that the offer was worth £85,000 (N39.7million)-a-week. The Blues have been desperate to extend the 18-year-old's current deal, which expires in 2020, amid heavy interest from Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga giants have made four bids for Hudson-Odoi, the latest of which met Chelsea's £35million (N16billion) valuation.

The England U21 international has made 14 first-team appearances for Chelsea.

It is reported that this inconsistent playing time lies behind his decision to reject his boyhood club.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/rejected-chelseas-hudson-odoi-knocks.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas has joined Ligue 1 side Monaco from Chelsea, the clubs said on Friday.

“Cesc Fabregas has today completed a permanent transfer to Monaco,” Premier League Chelsea said on their website as Ligue 1 Monaco tweeted a video of Fabregas with a voice-over saying "now it’s time".

[url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Philippe Coutinho is demanding an explanation from Barcelona management over the way he's been treated by coach Ernesto Valverde.
Cadena Cope says after finding himself sidelined by Valverde, Coutinho has had his agents go to the board for reasons why he is out of the team.

Indeed, Coutinho has found Ousmane Dembele now preferred to him by the coach.

Even after scoring in last night's Copa del Rey defeat at Levante, former Liverpool star Coutinho was criticised by Valverde.

Valverde said after the game:

When I wasn't playing Dembele everyone asked about him.

Now he plays and Coutinho doesn't and it is the other way around.

The players have to work to turn things around.

He is not happy, he has to fight, but one or the other almost always plays and Coutinho gives us a lot and will give us a lot.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/coutinho-demands-explanation-from.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

Gabriel Jesus scored four with Kevin de Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez also scoring as Manchester City mercilessly destroyed Nigel Clough's side with 9-goals to nil on Wednesday night.


Headers from De Bruyne and Jesus made it 2-0, Jesus tapped in a third and Zinchenko's curler put City four up.

Jesus added two more headers, with Foden, Walker and Mahrez also scoring.

Joy for Kyle Walker, Manchester City players and their fans but yet again despair for the Burton players
This was the first time in more than 21 years that City had scored more than eight goals in a single match - they beat Huddersfield Town 10-1 in a second-tier league encounter in November 1987.

It means City have scored 16 goals in four days after thrashing Rotherham United 7-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Burton Albion keeper Bradley Collins
The second leg, merely just a formality, takes place at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday, 23 January, with the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 24 February.

City, the current Carabao Cup holders, are set to meet either Tottenham or Chelsea in the final, with Spurs leading 1-0 after Harry Kane's penalty gave them a first-leg victory at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/wednesdays-league-cup-semifinal-man.html

[url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]

AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain has AGREED to join Chelsea, according to sources in Spain.

Marca says the deal will be completed in the next few hours, with the 31-year-old becoming the London club's second signing of the transfer window after Christain Pulisic.

Higuain's arrival will signal the departure of Alvaro Morata - with Sevilla keen on the Spaniard.

Higuain has been on loan at AC Milan from Juventus but has not hit form this season and Chelsea are prepared to pay his €40m transfer fee as well as his €8m (N3bn) year wages.

Maurizio Sarri is keen to reunite with the Argentine international after they enjoyed a productive spell together at Napoli, where the former Real Madrid man netted 37 goals.

https://www.queensmail.com/2019/01/done-deal-ac-milans-higuain-agrees-to.html

Source: [url]QUEENSMAIL.COM[/url]