Inter Milan hope to tempt Manchester United into selling Anthony Martial.

Inter Milan are long-term admirers of the France international and his current form will only have underlined the Serie A outfit’s desire to sign Martial.

The same article states that the 24-year-old is valued at around £60m despite having four years left to run on his current deal with the Old Trafford outfit.

According to the same story, Inter are hoping to exploit Manchester United’s desperate need for a centre-half partner for their skipper Harry Maguire, as highlighted by Victor Lindelof’s error in a 2-2 draw with Southampton on Monday night.

The Italian media outlet claim . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/contes-inter-trying-to-get-man-utds-martial/

La Liga president Javier Tebas has claimed Manchester City will be in the Champions League next season because of the Court of Arbitration for Sport “did things badly.”

The Spanish league chief claims “everyone knows” City breached UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and claimed there was “no surprise” amongst people involved in European football that they had been banned.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed on Monday that the club had been cleared of “disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions” and would be allowed to enter into European competitions as normal.

Back in February, the club had received . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/everyone-knows-man-city-breached-ffp-regulations-la-liga-president/

Former British boxing star, Anthony Ogogo, snubbed Vince McMahon’s WWE to sign with All Elite Wrestling instead.

The 31-year-old won bronze at London 2012 and seemed destined for world title glory until his boxing career was ended by one punch.

Ogogo, having won all 11 professional fights, was well on his way to the top until he came up against fellow Brit Craig Cunningham in Birmingham four years ago.

Cunningham — with one blow — shattered his eye socket which resulted in him suffering severe double vision.

Though he did not realise it as he walked back to his dressing room, Ogogo’s career was over at 26 — and his hell about to begin.

Over the next two years the fighter had . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/ogogo-snubs-mcmahons-wwe-offer-to-prepare-for-aew-wrestling-debut/

Barcelona whizkid, Ansu Fati, has dropped back to the B team this weekend.

Sport reports the teenager was sent off against Espanyol for a high foot just minutes after coming on and will be suspended for the game against Valladolid.

However, he's not wanted to . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/barcelona-whizkid-ansu-fati-drops-back-to-b-team/

MLS has announced that 18 players and six staff members have received positive tests as the league prepares to return to play for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The league is set to resume on July 8 with the start of the MLS is Back tournament, with each of the league's teams heading to Orlando for a competition that will include a group stage and knockout rounds.

Teams were able to begin training on June 4 and, since training began, a total of 668 players have been tested.

On Sunday, MLS confirmed that, of those 668, 18 have received positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests prior to heading to Orlando.

Prior to travelling to . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/18-mls-players-test-positive-for-coronavirus/

Benfica are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of next season.


Major surprise as Benfica push to hire Pochettino
The Argentine has been out of a job since being sacked by Tottenham in November of 2019 and is a target for various clubs across Europe.

At Benfica, current head coach Bruno Lage will leave his role at the end of this season.

According to Record, Pochettino is on . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/benfica-push-to-hire-former-tottenham-manager/

Newcastle United boss, Steve Bruce, has confirmed the club have signed Mark Gillespie.

The Toon academy product arrives back at St. James' Park from Scottish club Motherwell.

"The deal has been signed in . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/newcastle-manager-confirms-deal-for-ex-motherwell-keeper/

Antonio Conte assures Inter are still in the Scudetto race after beating Sampdoria 2-1, but they ‘must learn to kill – in a sporting sense – the games off.’
The Nerazzurri were absolutely dominant in the first half and scored two excellent team goals with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, but somewhat petered out after the break.

They still held on for a 2-1 victory over Samp that puts them within six points of leaders Juventus.

“This evening, we had no choice but to get the victory so we could close the gap to six points,” said Conte in his press conference.

“We fuel the hope that ..... continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/conte-inter-have-to-kill-games-off/

Accrington Stanley defender, Mark Hughes, believes Tom Davies has lost his way at Everton.

Now 21, the midfielder has managed 22 appearances this season, and saw a full 90 on Sunday for the goalless draw with Liverpool.

But Hughes believes Davies has battled to fulfill the promise he showed when first bursting onto the scene four years ago as a 17-year-old. The youngster would wear the captain's armband two years later at 20 years of age.

Hughes came through the junior and youth system at Everton like Davies, making his first team debut with his hometown club and captaining the Toffees' U23s. The 33 year-old remains a big Everton fan and keeps a close watch on developments at Goodison Park.

And he admits he was hoping for much more from Davies this season - convinced some of the natural edge he displayed as a young player has been forced out of him due to supporters' expectations.

Hughes explained to Tribalfootball.com: "(Davies) was a . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/hughes-everton-fans-can-work-against-tom-davies-development/

Bayern Munich have made their first offer for Leroy Sane from Manchester City.

Leroy Sane is looking to return to full fitness

The German winger has made it clear he will not sign a new deal with City.

He would like to leave for his home country, and Bayern is the club of his choice for next season.

According to Bild's Christian Falk, the first Bayern bid for Sane is . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/%e2%80%8bbayern-munich-lodge-offer-for-man-city-winger-sane/

Manchester United have agreed a contract extension with Roma for Chris Smalling.

Smalling

The English defender is on loan with the Italian giants, and hopes for next term as well.

Football Italiasays Roma are close to an agreement with United.

It would be a loan extension for . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/%e2%80%8bman-utd-agree-to-extend-smalling-loan-at-roma/

Fears that strict health protocols due to the COVID-19 outbreak could deter the game’s biggest names from competing at this year’s U.S. Open were somewhat allayed on Wednesday when Serena Williams confirmed she will play the New York event.

Williams, in a video message played during a United States Tennis Association news conference to announce that its marquee tournament will be played from Aug. 31-Sept. 13 without fans, said she misses the excitement of competition.

“Ultimately, I . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/serena-i-cannot-wait-for-u-s-open-to-start/

Napoli’s all-time top scorer Dries Mertens signed a new contract until 2022 with the Serie A club on Wednesday, just hours before they face Juventus in the Italian Cup final in Rome.

“Those who love Naples know that this love is eternal. I will give everything until the last day to remain in the history of this club and this city,” the Belgium international said in a video posted on his Twitter account.

The 33-year-old’s new deal will run until 2022 but also has the option of a third season.

“Happy to be together for a long time. Long live Dries!” tweeted club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Mertens arrived in Naples from PSV Eindhoven in . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/dries-mertens-pens-new-napoli-deal-ahead-of-cup-final/

Blackburn Rovers centre-back, Tosin Adarabioyo, has stated the team’s readiness to resume the 2019-20 Championship season after the three-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tony Mowbray's men welcome Bristol City to Ewood Park on Saturday and Adarabioyo is looking forward to helping Rovers end the campaign well with nine league fixtures left to go.

The 22-year-old defender who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, has played 28 games for Blackburn Rovers across all competitions this term, and he has two goals to his name.

As part of the steps to control the spread of Covid-19, football matches in England will be played without fans in the stadium but the Anglo-Nigerian does not see the restriction as a new thing as he shifts focus to the ‘massive games’ ahead.

“It was brilliant to be . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/blackburn-rovers-ready-to-finish-championship-season-adarabioyo/

Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is set to start in tonight's Coppa Italia final against Napoli.

The 42-year-old goalkeeper has won five editions of this trophy, so a sixth would enable him to equal Roberto Mancini's record.

“I am playing less this season, so . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/buffon-fired-up-for-coppa-italia-final/

Liverpool legend and Rangers boss, Steven Gerrard, has picked his Premier League Player of the Year.

Steve Gerrard wants team to bounce back against Hamilton Academical on Wednesday

It is that time of year when pundits and managers talk about the stars who have influenced Europe's most popular league.

And Henderson, who has excelled in central midfield for nearly champions Liverpool, is Gerrard's pick.

"If he got it I don't think anyone could argue or grumble," Gerrard told The Athletic.

"He would deserve it as much as anyone else who is in the running for it.

"I try to be non-biased when I talk about things like . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/gerrard-henderson-deserves-player-of-the-year-award/

Sergio Ramos sent a title warning to Barcelona after Real Madrid made a winning return to La Liga action on Sunday.

The club captain was among the goalscorers as Madrid beat Eibar 3-1 at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium to move back to within two points of league leaders Barca, who won 4-0 at Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Toni Kroos and Marcelo scored either side of Ramos in a strong first-half display from the home side, but they were less convincing after the break and conceded when Pedro Bigas deflected a Pablo De Blasis shot past Thibaut Courtois.

Ramos went off after 61 minutes with . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/ramos-well-give-everything-to-win-la-liga/

Eden Hazard had an ice pack strapped to his troublesome right ankle on Sunday after being substituted in the second half of Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Eibar.

Hazard was playing for the first time since February after undergoing surgery on that same ankle in March.

Madrid led Eibar 3-1 when the Belgian went off and he was involved in all three goals. But sitting in the stands, Hazard had ice around his right foot.

The 29-year-old has endured a miserable . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/hazard-taken-off-ice-strapped-to-right-ankle/

Barcelona target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has confirmed he is yet to agree a contract extension at Premier League side Arsenal.

The Gabonese international has been linked with a move to the La Liga giants, after entering the final year of his deal at the Emirates Stadium, with no new deal on the horizon.

The former Borussia Dortmund forward has now indicated the club are yet to offer a new contract, despite the growing speculation surrounding his future in North London.

“Recently, I have not received . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/barcelona-target-confirms-arsenal-future-remains-undecided/

Zinedine Zidane confirmed in the post match press-conference that he took Dani Carvajal off at half-time because he had an ankle problem. He also confirmed that he replaced Hazard as he had picked up a knock.

Zidane confirmed Carvajal's injury and a knock to Hazard.

Zidane explained that he had to make several substitutions due to injury. One of them was Carvajal, who suffered damage to his ankle, and Hazard was taken off after taking a blow.

"Carvajal twisted his ankle and Sergio Ramos was not 100%," the Real Madrid coach said. He also admitted that his squad relaxed in a second half which saw Eibar score.

On Hazard he said that "his change had not been agreed." "It was known that he was not quite fit enough to play the whole game, but he played an hour. He took a blow and it was scary, but it's football. At half-time he said that he was fine and that he was happy about not being afraid despite the blow," he added.

Zidane spoke about the packed schedule: "The fixture schedule is the one it is. We have a good squad and it's normal what has happened to Carvajal and Marcelo. The good thing is that we can make five changes. Now we can rest well and think about . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/zidane-confirms-injury-to-carvajal-and-hazard-knock/

Football returned to Spain and Italy, two of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic, this weekend after a three-month shutdown while the German season is approaching the finish line after setting the example for other leagues to follow.

AFP Sport looks at five talking points from this weekend's action across the continent:

Different look, same Messi
More than three months had passed since Lionel Messi's last appearance on a football field. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner will be 33 in little over a week, but . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/five-talking-points-from-european-football-this-weekend/

Real Madrid remain the most valuable club in world football as they have increased their value by eight percent in the last year.

As outlined on the front page of Friday’s edition of Diario AS, Los Blancos now have a value of €3,478m – an increase from last year’s valuation.

Barcelona – whose value is measured at €3,193m – are third on the list behind Manchester United, with the valuation of the English club not . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/real-madrid-remain-footballs-most-valuable-club/

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided  latest update on Odion Ighalo’s future at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old joined United on a six-month loan deal from the Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua in the January transfer window.

SportingLife revealed earlier that Shenhua had snubbed Man United’s requests to keep the former Super Eagles forward at Old Trafford for another three months.



“The loan deal went until . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/solskjaer-reacts-on-ighalos-future-at-man-united/

Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has explained why he is committed to Nigeria.

Iwobi played for England throughout the youth team levels before choosing the country of his birth.

He said on social media: "I will always have my respect for England, when I played for England they gave a great opportunity, they treat me very well.

"However, I feel like I am a true Nigerian, I grew up in the Nigerian culture and when I had the opportunity to go back I felt more at home playing for Nigeria.

"I felt at home playing for England as well. . . continue reading https://sportinglife.ng/iwobi-why-im-committed-to-nigeria/

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen has snubbed interest from the Serie A and has his heart set on a move to the Premier League or LaLiga.

Liverpool have joined Tottenham in submitting a €70million bids for Lille striker.

The 21-year-old, brought in last summer to replace the Arsenal-bound Nicolas Pepe, has filled those shoes impressively with 18 goals in 38 games.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have all been linked in recent months and the latter side reportedly emerged as . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/osimhen-snubs-interest-from-serie-a-club-targets-premier-league-or-laliga/

Pep Guardiola says all his players have returned to training in perfect condition after a two-month absence.

Manchester City players were back at the City Football Academy at the weekend having been tested for coronavirus and they were put through their paces while adhering to social distancing guidelines laid out by the Premier League.

Guardiola watched on in protective gear, wearing a mask and blue surgical gloves and a full tracksuit. His players were limited to training in . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/guardiola-offers-fitness-injury-latest-on-man-city-stars/

Manchester United have received a boost in their interest for Ajax midfielder, Donny van de Beek.

Manchester United have received a boost in their interest for Ajax midfieldManchester United have received a boost in their interest for Ajax midfielder, Donny van de Beek.er, Donny van de Beek.

United see the Holland international as a replacement for wantaway . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/zidane-goes-cold-on-ajax-midfielder-van-de-beek/

Super Eagles and Brighton defender, Leon Balogun, has refused to rule out a return to the German Bundesliga.

Brighton defender Leon Balogun (middle)

The future of the central defender will be the subject of speculation in the coming weeks as his contract with Brighton runs out at the end of next month.

“Germany is my home, I would always think about it," Balogun said to Kicker.

“I'm still fit. Even if I turn 32 in summer, I still . . . https://sportinglife.ng/super-eagles-defender-open-to-bundesliga-return/

Nigeria born FC Augsburg of Germany winger Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee was on target less than 20 minutes after stepping in as late substitute against Schalke 04 on Sunday.

The 23 year old was thrown into the match in the 59th minute as replacement for Swiss import Ruben Vargas. Bazee who is eligible to play for Nigeria grabbed his first goal for the club in the 76th minute to double the lead for Augsburg who had shot into the lead in the lead through homeboy Eduard Löwen.

The icing on the cake and third goal for the visitors came from Venezuelan Sergio Duvan in the first minute of added time. Bazee who has not played for . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/nigeria-born-noah-bazee-nets-his-first-goal-for-fc-augsburg/

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and French Ligue 1 club Lille have sent condolence messages to Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, over the death of his father.

Osimhen, 21, announced the unfortunate demise of his father via his Twitter handle on Sunday morning.

And reacting to the sad news, the NFF wrote on their verified Twitter handle: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Take heart and stay strong @victorosimhen9.”

read also:Eagles striker Osimhen loses father
While Lille wrote: “Today we learned with great sadness of the passing of @victorosimhen9’s father.

“The entire LOSC family is joined in grief with Victor and his family. He has our full support during this difficult time.”

Reports said . . . continue reading here: https://sportinglife.ng/lille-nff-mourn-osimhens-father/

Protocol for Serie A matches during the COVID-19 pandemic is being finalised, including rules on catering, media, placing substitutes in the stands and banning protests to the referee.

Although the medical protocol for group training was agreed this week, a more complex version still has to be set in stone for games to be played from June 13 or 20.

According to the draft printed in Il Tempo newspaper, it is 36 pages long and covers every conceivable detail.

Naturally, mascots and handshakes are banned, so is the group photograph before kick-off.

Players are ordered not to . . . continue reading @ https://sportinglife.ng/protocol-for-serie-a-matches-during-covid-19-crisis-finalised/