₦airaland Forum

Argentina legend Diego Maradona is threatening to sue Netflix over the Hand of God documentary, which is set to be released on the streaming platform later this year, according to dailystar.


Maradona, 59, says he did not give Netflix permission to use his image for the upcoming film which is directed by Oscar winning Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino.

Netflix is adamant that it is not a sports movie and is not about Maradona, instead stating that it will be a personal story about Sorrentino’s youth in 1980s Naples.

Maradona’s lawyer Matias Morla said in a statement he posted to Twitter: “Diego Maradona did not authorise the use of his image for this film.

“With our colleagues in Italy we are now drawing up the legal strategy to file a formal complaint with the justice system for the improper use of a registered brand.”

Sorrentino’s relationship with the Argentine superstar is a complex one – with the movie maker having credited the Napoli legend with unknowingly saving his life.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/13/10591argentina-legend-maradona-set-to-drag-netflix-to-court-over-hand-of-god-film/

The Blaugrana team have recently been heavily linked with interest in Lautaro Martinez. He is highly sought after by a number of clubs but the Catalans are in the forefront of getting the Argentine’s signature.

He is considered as a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez as he is ageing and they see the 22-year-old as the right man for the job.


Barcelona have agreed personal terms with Lautaro Martinez and the Argentine would join ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

According to ESPN, in order for the move to happen, the Catalans will first have to sell Philippe Coutinho.

Presently, Barcelona lack transfer funds to buy while Inter Milan are insisting on the striker’s €111m release clause to be met.

Barca also made offers to include players in a potential deal to but the Serie A giants are only interested cash.

Read More:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/10477barcelona-might-offload-philippe-coutinho-to-fund-lautaro-martinezs-transfer-fee/

According to reports, Tammy Abraham has signed a one-year contract extension at Chelsea.

The 22-year-old striker has extended his current Blues deal through 2023, though Chelsea bosses are said to be interested in a long term deal.


Chelsea manager Frank Lampard handed Abraham the highly coveted number nine shirt last summer, and the Englishman has had a tally of 16 goals in 40 games in his first season.

New £53million signing Timo Werner from RB Leipzig will increase Chelsea’s attacking force next season, but the prolific Germany hitman will also add significant competition for Abraham.

The English striker reportedly asked for a contract like that of Callum Hudson-Odoi who earns £135,000 per week.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/tammy-abraham-signs-contract-extension-till-2023/

With Bruno Fernandes winning the Premier League player of the month in his second month since signing for the Red Devils, he has now become the first Manchester United player to win back-to-back Premier League Player of the Month awards after Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo achieved this feat in 2006 after a couple of brilliant months when Sir Alex Ferguson was the gaffer of the side.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/bruno-fernandes-recreates-cr7-magic/

Billy Gilmour could be sidelined for as long as four months after knee surgery.

Frank Lampard said in a press conference: “Billy Gilmour has had an operation on his knee this morning, so he will be out we estimate somewhere between three and four months unfortunately.”


“I’m obviously very disappointed as we all are here and of course Billy himself,” he added.

“I spoke with him yesterday at length, and giving him support. He’s a tough boy, it hit him hard especially as a young boy who has just made a breakthrough.”

“But I told him he should be very pleased with what he’s done and the impact he’s had this season anyway. His attitude will get him back as quickly as he can,” Lampard said.

“His character for me is fantastic, particularly with his age, to get himself around the first-team squad and push himself into the team.”

“I’m sure he’ll do everything right, put in the work and the rehab, and he has a very close-knit family around him who will help. But we’re his family too, so we’ll be there for him.”

“Hopefully it will cover a period of the close season and into pre-season, so hopefully he’s not missing as many games as he might have done.”

The 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a massive breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge, but will not feature again this campaign.

The Scot youngster started Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Tuesday, but was replaced in the latter stages of the clash by Jorginho.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/billy-gilmour-ruled-out-for-the-rest-of-the-season-due-to-knee-injury/

Super Eagles and Huesca Midefielder Kelechi Nwakali heaps huge praise on his mother has he shared lovely photo of him and his mom to celebrate her on her Birthday.


He wrote; ” Happy birthday mom may God keep protecting you for us we love you to the moon and back my biggest motivator ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”.

Read more Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/10458my-biggest-motivator-super-eagles-star-kelechi-nwakali-celebrates-mum-birthday/

KRC Genk striker, Paul Onuachu, says he is “very well” despite contracting COVID-19, as his followers on Instagram increased by over 10,000 after news broke on Wednesday that he had tested positive.

Onuachu was the only Genk player who tested positive for COVID-19 after the club conducted tests on Tuesday in preparation for their first pre-season game.


He said prior to the tests, he was previously tested twice upon his return to Belgium from Nigeria and both tests were negative.

“I’m very well as I talk with you,” Onuachu told The PUNCH.

“I’m not just in the mood to talk right now. It’s the third test and the first two were negative.

“In a couple of days I will undergo another test and I will be fine, so there’s no need for panic.”

The 26-year-old admitted that his Instagram followers had increased after the news broke that he tested positive for the virus.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/10/10440my-instagram-followers-increased-by-10000-after-testing-positive-for-covid-19-paul-onuachu/

Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, plans to keep playing ‘until I’m at least 43’ and reveals winning the Champions League is still ‘buzzing around in my head’.


Buffon became Serie A’s record appearance holder yesterday during Juve’s 4-1 victory over Torino, turning out in his 648th top-flight game.

“I had to wait a long time for this record, but it wasn’t a problem,” the 41-year-old told Sky Sport Italia.

“Right now we’re playing a lot of games. It’s a delicate time in the season and the pressure I felt was only on the game.

“Now I’m very happy, but the thought of the record didn’t touch me before. At the start of my career, I was more carefree and easy-going.

“I had many dreams and, driven by my approach of never being satisfied with myself, I came here.

Read more Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/05/10203buffon-im-still-buzzing-to-win-the-champions-league-and-will-play-until-im-43/

Chelsea are likely to allow Willian to join a main Premier League rival this summer, according to Dennis Wise, who admits the midfielder “would be a wonderful fit for Arsenal”.


Willian has been a key member of Chelsea’s senior squad since being snapped up from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013, racking up over 300 appearances for the club in all competitions.

41 of those have been made this season, with the Brazilian managing to contribute 10 goals and seven assists to the Blues’ cause from the middle of the park.

Willian has agreed a short-term contract extension which will see him remain at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season, which has only just resumed following a three-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Read more Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/03/10101chelsea-willian-would-be-a-wonderful-fit-for-arsenal/

Serie A stadia could be set to re-open at 25 per cent capacity before the end of the 2019-20 season, under plans being considered by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina.
Italian football fans have been unable to watch matches in person since early March, when the authorities initially ordered games to be played behind closed doors before suspending the league entirely because of the coronavirus pandemic.


Matches were cleared to resume last month, again behind closed doors and under strict hygiene measures, but the authorities are keen to have supporters back as soon as possible.

With other businesses and workplaces opening re-opening with social distancing measures in place, so Serie A will have to follow suit if stadia are to open up again.

That would certainly mean grounds operating way below their maximum capacity, to allow for adequate social distancing in the stands and concourses.

Gravina says he has been working closely with the scientific technical committee (CTS) to come up with a plan that could clear the way for fans to return to matches in the near future.

When asked whether supporters could return before August, Gravina told Avvenire: “We’re working so that fans can go back to experiencing football up close again. We’re working on percentages. As of today, we’re thinking of 25 percent. The problem lies with managing flows.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/03/10091wow-serie-a-matches-could-have-fans-before-end-of-season/

Watford have sold Pape Gueye to Marseille just 17 hours after he joined them following a controversial comment he made.


Back in April, the Premier League club agreed a five-year deal for the 21-year-old French midfielder understood to be worth in the region of £45,000 a month. He was photographed holding a Watford shirt after putting pen to paper in the pre-contract agreement.

Gueye was due to officially join Watford on Wednesday, July 1, as a free agent and had been registered as their player. But he changed his mind saying he was ‘badly advised’ to sign for the club.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/02/10040pape-gueye-joins-marseille-just-17-hours-after-signing-for-watford/

Michael Schumacher’s son Mick has opened up on the lessons he learned from his legendary father, revealing that he particularly warned him against getting carried away.


Mick, 21, rarely speaks about his F1 legend father, who won seven Formula 1 World Championship titles between 1994 and 2004, writing his name in the history books while inspiring many.

The youngster has since made his own way in the sport and was announced as a driver for the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019, before completing a day of in-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/02/10024mike-reveals-his-legendary-father-michael-schumacher-keeps-him-going/

Super Eagles forward, Henry Onyekuru will return to his parent club AS Monaco after his loan spell with Turkish side Galatasaray.


His loan deal with the Turkish champions expired last month and the forward is now expected to return to the club that signed him from English side Everton.

Onyekuru struggled for game time under former Monaco boss Leonard Jardim, however, the arrival new coach Robert Moreno could help him relaunch his career at the club.

Read More Below:

https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/02/9992henry-onyekuru-makes-stunning-return-to-as-monaco/

Barcelona legend and Holland manager Ronald Koeman was spotted moving into a new appartement in Barcelona, with pressure mounting on the current Barcelona’s coach Quique Setien.


The 57-year-old boss was linked with the hot seat at the Catalan giants when Ernesto Valverde was dismissed back in January.

Barcelona appointed Quique Setien as manager but the recent results put him under pressure.

Ronald Koeman, who revealed earlier this month that he turned down offers from the Catalans giants in January, was seen moving to a home in the Spanish city this week.

Read more Below
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/02/10001ronald-koeman-acquires-new-house-in-barcelona-as-barca-coaching-interest-deepens/

Super Eagles and Lille forward Victor Osimhen is closing in on a €50m switch to Napoli after arriving Naples, the host city of the Serie A side in company of his girlfriend on Tuesday, June 30.


The pair alongside their entourage who arrived Italy on Tuesday via a private flight passed the night at the Hotel Britannique in Corso Vittorio Emanuele after spending the evening with club boss Gennaro Gattuso.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/02/9927osimehn-goes-on-boat-cruise-with-girlfriend-as-napoli-switch-near/

Lionel Messi has netted his 700th career goal, with a brilliant panenka style penalty, to hand Barcelona a 2-1 lead over Atletico Madrid.


The La Blaugrana skipper has been waiting to break another goal scoring milestone, and his deft effort was a fitting way for the Argentina international to make it 700.

Quique Setien’s side took an early lead at the Camp Nou, as Diego Costa scuffed Messi’s whipped corner into his own net on 11 minutes.

Diego Simeone’s side rallied immediately, with Yannick Carrasco winning a penalty at the other end, four minutes later.

Watch Video Below:

https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/01/video-messi-marks-700-career-goals-with-cheeky-panenka-penalty-against-atletico/

Nigerian international and FC Barcelona Femeni player Asisat Oshoala becomes the latest superstar to sign with Plug sports.

“We are delighted to welcome Four time Female African player of the year, Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class of 2020, our First Lady, Asisat Lamina Oshoala(MON) to Plug Sports,”head of sports, Lanre Vigo stated.


” We look forward to taking Asisat’s career to the next level. We will be handling Asisat’s off the field interests. We are excited to have her on board and look forward helping her reach her goals.

“The partnership was signed earlier in June last month. Thank you to our friends at Prokicks for sorting this out.

Read More Below:

https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/01/9856super-falcons-star-asisat-oshoala-signs-for-plug-sports/

The Nigeria international is currently in Naples having talks with Napoli chiefs ahead of a potential transfer, but nothing is guaranteed yet

Victor Osimhen’s potential move to Napoli is far from sealed as the striker is still having doubts as to whether the Italian top-flight is the right league for him.

At the same time, several clubs are still maintaining an interest in the 21-year-old, and are hoping he’ll reject a move to Naples.

According to L’Équipe via GFFN, Liverpool are one of the clubs that are still courting Osimhen with manager Jurgen Klopp a big fan of his talents.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/07/01/9873victor-osimhen-move-to-napoli-face-huge-blow/

The English Premier League is set to witness the use of another brand new football as sports giants Nike have revealed Nike Aerowsculpt 2021 as the name of the official match ball for the upcoming English Premier League 2020/2021 season 2nd half.

The new match ball for 2020/21 has a bold inscription but a beautiful design. The Aerowsculpt ball 2021 has a combination of white base with navy blue applications and red logos, the design brings a reminder as it looks like the famous Nike Total 90 Aerow ball.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/30/9742nike-unveils-english-premier-league-matchday-ball-for-2020-21-season-photos/

Odion Ighalo entered the Manchester United record books on Saturday and became only the second player in the club’s history to score in each of his first four competitive starts following his strike in the 2-1 win against Norwich.

The Nigerian forward has been a big hit since signing on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January, scoring five goals and creating one assist in all competitions.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/29/9731odion-ighalo-equals-manchester-united-95-year-old-record/

Zinedine Zidane said Karim Benzema “shuts people up a bit” when he scores goals like his stunning volley against Valencia on Thursday.

Benzema brilliantly lifted the ball over defender Hugo Gillamon with his right foot and then shot with his left into the top corner as Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.

Marco Asensio had earlier made it two after Benzema gave Madrid the lead, his brace taking his tally for the season to 21 goals in 38 games.
“His performance was magnificent, like the whole team, but his goal was extraordinary,” said Zidane.

“We know that he is comfortable with his left foot but wow, to lift the ball in that way and to swing like that with his left foot, without the ball touching the ground, truly it’s a very complicated piece of skill.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/19/9394benzema-classic-goal-should-silence-critics-zidane/

Manchester city and Germany winger Leroy Sane has rejected a contract extension with the club according to City Manager Pep Gaurdiola.
Leroy sane is set to leave the citizens in the summer transfer window if a deal will be reached with a club coming summer.

Manchester city have had a contract offer on the table for Sane for some time, but the German is yet to commit his future to the club amid strong interest from Bayern Munich.

Sane is out of contract next summer, so City would have to sell him in the coming transfer window in order to receive any fee for the winger.

Read More Below:'
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/19/9398leroy-sane-reject-contract-extension-with-man-city-set-to-leave-club/

Paul Pogba’s Rolls-Royce has been seized by cops after he was pulled over for driving with a French number plate.

Officers clocked the Manchester United ace driving his Wraith Black Badge on the M56 and stopped him when he exited near Manchester Airport.

Greater Manchester Police took the special edition motor and Pogba, 27, was loaded into the back of the patrol car on the A4538 near Hale, Cheshire.

Foreign cars that have been in Britain for more than six months in a year must be registered with the DVLA and fitted with UK plates.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/19/9351man-utd-star-paul-pogba-rolls-royce-seized-by-uk-police/

Two fantastic late goals from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema sealed a vital 3-0 Real Madrid win at home to Valencia.

Zinedine Zidane’s side have reestablished their two point gap behind the La Liga leaders Barcelona, with Asensio and Benzema both netting goal of the season contenders.


The hosts created plenty of early chances at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, with Eden Hazard and Toni Kroos forcing saves from Jasper Cillessen.
However, Los Blancos were fortunate not to go behind at the break, as Rodrigo Moreno’s goal was controversially ruled out by VAR on 32 minutes.

That incident turned the game in Real Madrid’s favour, as Benzema edged them in front, with his first of the night, on the hour. mark

Watch Match Highlights below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/19/9355video-asensio-benzema-goals-against-valencia-helps-real-madrid-close-gap-on-barcelona/

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi celebrate wife birthday Dinma Fortune as he shares photos and heart felt birthday wishes to his wife.

The football star shared beautiful photos of his wife and penned down lovely birthday post on his Instagram page.

“Happy birthday my crown, as you turn a year older today. I pray that the Lord will make of you a great nation, HE will bless you and make you great and you shall be a blessing. HE will bless them that bless you and in you shall the families of the earth be blessed… LOVE YOU MY GUY”. He wrote.

Read More and check photos Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/19/9368photos-as-ndidi-shares-heart-felt-birthday-wishes-to-celebrate-wife-dinma-fortune/

The Joy of football viewing centre operators in Ondo State has been cut short, as the state government under the leadership of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu place ban on the operation of football viewing centres in the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in his weekly broadcast in Akure on Monday, said the step was taken to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The state had 19 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 12 days, taking the total number in the state to 43
“Situations like this call for dire, swift and sustained measures. Government will proceed to take all necessary steps to reverse this threat to the people of the state. To this end the following steps have been approved as our invigorated approach to the spread of the pandemic:

“All residents are encouraged to practise, more than before, social and physical distancing, use of facemasks, hand washing and travel restriction.

“All Premiership football viewing centres are hereby banned from operations until further notice,” Akeredolu said.


Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/10/9257ondo-state-bans-viewing-center-as-operators-lament-over-govt-decision/

England head coach, Gareth Southgate, has warned winger, Jadon Sancho, that transition to the English Premier League (EPL) would be a “challenge” for him amid interest from Manchester United.

Sancho had drawn the interest of Man United in the past few weeks.
Man United are ready to offer Sancho the no.7 shirt, in a bid to lure him to move to Old Trafford this summer’s transfer window.

The Premier League giant is believed to be leading the race to sign Sancho from Dortmund for a club-record fee.

Speaking on Sancho’s future, Southgate told Sky Sports: “Well he is a very talented young player, and that is clear.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/10/9217england-coach-southgate-warns-sancho-over-man-utd-transfer/

Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor kickstarted his latest shock retirement with a jet skiing trip off the coast of his native Ireland on Monday.

McGregor was pictured cruising across the waves on a powerful yellow jet ski, surrounded by a number of other luxurious boats.

Nicknamed the ‘Nototious’McGregor sent shockwaves through the sport in the early hours of Sunday morning when he ended his UFC career for the third time.
Posting on Twitter, McGregor wrote: ‘Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/10/9229conor-mcgregor-kick-start-retirement-plans-with-jet-skiing-trip/

Lady Janet Okwaraji, the octogenarian mother of the late Green Eagles star, Samuel Okwaraji, is dead. Janet Okwaraji died at the age of 83

The death of the matriarch of Okwaraji family was confirmed to newsmen by his eldest son, Patrick Okwaraji, on Monday.

She was 83 years old.

Lady Okwaraji is the mother of the late Sam Okwaraji, an ace footballer and a patriotic Nigerian who died while playing for the Green Eagles in a World Cup qualifier against Angola at the National Stadium, Lagos on August 12, 1989.

The eldest son, however, said no date had been scheduled for the burial.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/08/9164late-eagles-star-samuel-okwaraji-mom-janet-okwaraji-dies-at-83/

The city of Lisbon is set to host a Champions League mini-tournament in a bid to finally finish the delayed competition.

The final was slated to take place in Istanbul on 30 May before it was postponed indefinitely by UEFA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Currently the competition has only completed four round of 16 fixtures and according to BILD, the final stages of the tournament are to take place across Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon.

It’s said that Istanbul hosting without any fans in attendance will not be financially viable and so UEFA have decided that the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of Europe’s premier club competition will take place in the same city.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/08/9159ucl-mini-tournament-lisbon-set-to-host-competition-from-quarter-final-onwards/

Nantes forward, Moses Simon’s goal against OGC Nice in the French Ligue 1 has been ranked the club’s 25th best goal of the decade.

Simon, who joined Nantes on loan from Spanish La Liga side, Levante last summer, was recently named the club’s Player of The Season after an impressive performance where he scored nine goals with eight assists in 30 appearances.

Nantes had given fans of the club the opportunity to select the Top 25 goals of the decade and the 24-year-old’s goal made the list.

The game against Nice was a match-day nine fixture and the Nigerian scored the only goal in the 86th minute to hand his team the maximum points.

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/06/8926super-eagles-forward-moses-simon-goal-ranked-nantes-25th-best-of-the-decade/

The NBA will be returning to action at the end of July.
Their board of governors will be approving the plan which will allow 8 regular-season games to finish off the season and allow teams battling for the final seeds of the playoffs to still have their chance.

The plan calls for 22 teams to return to action on the last day of July. They’ll play eight regular-season games in Orlando to determine playoff seeding, with a complicated play-in scenario to determine the last seed

Read More Below:
https://sportingrave.com/2020/06/05/8822nba-to-return-to-action-at-the-end-of-july-with-22-teams/