The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FC Barcelona

  • Germany’s Neuer will be first-choice if he makes World Cup – Bierhoff

    Manuel Neuer will be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper at next month’s FIFA World Cup if he makes the final squad, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said on Thursday.

    The former Germany striker said this even against the background of the fact that the 2014 World Cup winner has not played a competitive game since September.

    Neuer missed almost the entire season after breaking a bone in his foot and undergoing surgery.

    His comeback for Bayern Munich was repeatedly delayed and the 32-year-old has had no match practice ahead of the tournament starting in Russia on June 14.

    He played in both recent training matches against Germany’s Under-20 team at their training base in Italy and is set to play in their friendly international against Austria on Saturday.

    Read Also: Phil Jones out of Super Eagles Friendly

    “Manuel will go to the World Cup as our number one,” Bierhoff told reporters at their training camp in Eppan, northern Italy. “If he makes the squad, then Marc-Andre (ter Stegen) will be number two.”

    There are four goalkeepers, including FC Barcelona’s ter Stegen, Paris St Germain’s Kevin Trapp and Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno, in coach Joachim Loew’s 27-man preliminary squad, preparing in the Italian Alps.

    He will cut four players, including one goalkeeper, on Monday for his final 23.

    “Manuel is already full on track. He does not need to get back on it. All the players have left a big impression here and it is as very difficult decision,” Bierhoff said.

    “On the evening before the team announcement there will be the final thoughts among the coaching staff. By noon the next day the players will be informed.”

    The Germans also expect Chancellor Angela Merkel to drop in on their camp this week.

    “My information is that on Sunday she will drop by. Before our training camp we visited her and she had hinted that she wanted to say hello without too much fanfare,” Bierhoff said.

    “It’s kind of a tradition. It is nice to hear from her and how she sees the team’s situation going into the tournament.”

    The Germans, who also face Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on June 8 in their final warm-up match, are in World Cup Group F with Sweden, South Korea and Mexico.

    The tournament starts on June 14.

    NAN

  • Messi announces desire to play for Newell’s Old Boys

    Lionel Messi will like to play for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina before he retires, having only played for FC Barcelona in his career so far.

    The 30-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner will one day like to feature for the team he trained with as a boy in his native Rosario before moving to Barcelona at 13.

    At FC Barcelona, he has a contract until 2021.

    “I’m increasingly sure that in Europe, FC Barcelona will be my only club,” Messi told Argentine television station El Trece.

    “I always said I wanted to play in Argentine football one day, I don’t know if it will happen but I have it in my mind.
    “It will be at Newell’s, nowhere else. I would like to do that for at least six months, but you never know what will happen.”

    Messi is preparing for the World Cup in Russia with Argentina and says winning it with his country will be a unique experience.

    However, he does not wish he should have chosen to play for Spain, who lifted the trophy in 2010.

    “The other day I was talking to a friend and he told me ‘if you had chosen Spain, you’d be a World Cup winner already’, but it wouldn’t have been the same,” added Messi.

    “Obviously in no moment did I think about doing that. To win it with Argentina will be something unique.”

  • PSG say Neymar to undergo surgery in Brazil

    PSG say Neymar to undergo surgery in Brazil

    Paris St Germain ( PSG ) forward Neymar will undergo surgery in Brazil this week after he suffered a fractured metatarsal and a sprained ankle, the French club said on Wednesday.

    “After tests, and with the player’s agreement, it has been decided that surgery is the best option,” PSG said in a statement. “Neymar Jr will be operated on in Brazil at the end of the week.”

    The surgery will be performed by the Brazil national team doctor and means the 26-year-old Neymar will miss next week’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid.

    PSG trail Real 3-1 ahead of the last 16 second-leg game in Paris on Tuesday.

    Neymar’s father predicted the injury would keep him out for between six to eight weeks.

    Read Also: PSG show off ahead of tie against Real Madrid

    This means he will return to action in plenty time for the FIFA World Cup in Russia which begins on June 14.

    In addition to missing PSG’s season-defining match against Real, Neymar will also sit out Brazil’s March friendlies against Russia and Germany.

    Neymar became the world’s most expensive player in August when PSG paid 222 million euros ($271 million) to sign him from FC Barcelona.

    He has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists for the Ligue 1 leaders this season.

    NAN

  • Messi signs new contract with Barca until 2021

    Messi signs new contract with Barca until 2021

    Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Spanish clubside FC Barcelona until 2021, the Liga leaders confirmed on Saturday.

    This ended speculation that the five-times World Player of the Year could leave the club he has spent his entire career for free next June.

    “FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the club through the 2020/21 season,” said a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

    “The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (626.25 million pounds).”

    Messi agreed the new contract with FC Barcelona in July but the club did not release the usual photo of the player putting pen to paper.

    This had fuelled speculation he could depart in June 2018, when his previous deal ran out, for free.

    Messi leads the scoring charts in La Liga with 12 goals and on Friday picked up the 2017 European Sports Media Golden Shoe.

    It was for being the top scorer in a domestic league last season with 37 goals.

    Barca can extend their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points if they beat second-placed Valencia on Sunday

    Reuters/NAN

  • Coutinho: Barca put off by 200 million euro price tag

    Coutinho: Barca put off by 200 million euro price tag

    FC Barcelona abandoned their hopes of signing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool after the Merseyside club demanded 200 million euros (about 183.10 million pounds) for the Brazil attacking midfielder.

    A director at the La Liga side, Albert Soler, said on Saturday the club had no other choice.

    The Spanish transfer window shut on Friday night, with FC Barcelona failing to add to their signings of Ousmane Dembele, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Deulofeu and Paulinho.

    This is in spite of coach Ernesto Valverde stating publicly he wanted a stronger squad after losing Neymar to Paris St. Germain for a world record fee of 222 million euros.

    According to reports in the Spanish media, Barca made a late bid to try and land Angel Di Maria from PSG.

    However, their main target remained Coutinho, who Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp repeatedly insisted was not for sale.

    “Late last night Liverpool priced the player we wanted at 200 million euros, and we decided we would not do it,” Soler told a news conference.

    “It’s a sign of the new era of football, one which isn’t led by clubs. Something has to change. We won’t play along with this new way of understanding football.

    “We didn’t want to risk the patrimony of the club, a club of 150,000 members which needs to be managed coherently and responsibly.

    “We are in a market where you pay 50 million for a goalkeeper. We will not play along with a market that may not have lost its way entirely, but something has changed.

    “This (FC Barcelona) board will not put the club at risk.”

    Liverpool did not publicly respond on Saturday.

    But a source familiar with the situation said FC Barcelona’s claim was false and that no value was put on Coutinho because he was never for sale.

    Liverpool maintain that FC Barcelona were always aware of this.

    Soler said Barca’s main problem in trying to acquire new players was that other clubs were trying to get more money out of them following Neymar’s world record sale.

    He also said football was changing as now wealthy countries, rather than the clubs themselves, were calling the shots.

    PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investments, not only acquired the services of Neymar but also signed France forward Kylian Mbappe on a season-long loan.

    The French player is considered the most valuable young player in the world.

    “PSG came to us with 222 million (for Neymar) and that meant everyone knew we had money.

    “When you go to the market and you have a lot of money, the demands made of you are extortionate. We found ourselves in unbelievable situations,” added Soler.

    “What has happened in the market this year takes us to a model of football different to the one we are used to.

    “We used to be the ones that lead the market and now countries and investment funds are leading it. Countries have become the main agents in the football world.”

  • Ex-Internationals commend Cowbell Football Academy

    Ex-Internationals commend Cowbell Football Academy

    Former Super Eagles and FC Barcelona defender, Gbenga Okunowo has commended the Cowbell Football Academy for having a successful summer camping. He further suggested that other companies to join in the sponsorship of the academy, as there are various talents that are discovered.

    He revealed this at the final ceremony of the 2017 Cowbell Summer Camp at the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

    According to Okunowo, it will be a good idea for more coaches and scouts to come into the academy and select players for the age-grade national teams.

    “I believe that the Cowbell Football Academy is good for development of the kids, as it is a foundation for those that are going into professional football in their future. I commend Godwin Dudu-Orumen for this initiative. If other companies can also join in the sponsorship this and other projects that develop kids football, it will be good.

    The kids have been kept busy for the past three weeks and this is a foundation for the U-15, U-17 and U-20 competition.

    “We did not enjoy this luxury in our days, and it will be good for the kids that are here now to utilize this chance. I will also suggest that more scouts come in here to select players that will represent the country.

    Similarly, former Super Eagles player and Shooting Stars coach Franklin Howard expressed delight at the academy. He urged Cowbell to keep the good work going.

    “I see quality players here and I am impressed. I appreciate Cowbell for this good work and hope that they keep it up. This summer camp has been a success, better than last year’s edition, and I expect more next year”

    The event rounded up with awards presented to the most valuable player of the summer camp, won by Obinna Ogbon, Stephen Keshi prize for Outstanding player in leadership qualities, won by Oprah Ogbona

    Vincent Essien, a parent who participated in the football match, before his son substituted him was also happy with the Cowbell Football Academy. is like a family tradition. “My son has been part of Cowbell for the past four years, and it has been a good one. I will just say that this is the best way to develop sports in the country.”

  • Barcelona to host Chapecoense in friendly at Nou Camp in August

    Barcelona to host Chapecoense in friendly at Nou Camp in August

    Spanish football giants FC Barcelona will host Chapecoense in a friendly on Aug. 7 to pay tribute to those who died when the Brazilian club’s plane crashed last November.

    Only three of the club’s players survived the crash on Nov. 29 in the Medellin region of Colombia when 71 of 77 people on board died.

    FC Barcelona, in a statement, said the game would help Chapecoense “rebuild institutionally and recover the competitive level it had before the tragedy”.

    The winner of the game at the Nou Camp will receive the Joan Gamper Trophy.

    The annual invitational game is traditionally where FC Barcelona unveil their team for the new season to home fans.

    The crash happened as Chapecoense were travelling to face Colombian side Atletico Nacional in the final match of the Copa Sudamericana.

    Defenders Neto and Alan Ruschel, and goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, who had his leg amputated, were among the six survivors, while 19 players and the coaching staff died.

    They signed 25 new players this season and promoted nine from the youth team.

  • Juventus to release Alves from contract

    Juventus to release Alves from contract

    Italian giants Juventus confirmed on Thursday they would release right-back Dani Alves from the final year of his contract.

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is known to be interested in the 34-year-old, whom he knows from their time together at FC Barcelona.

    Juventus chief executive Beppe Marotta said Alves had “expressed a desire to try a new experience’’.

    Marotta said Juventus hoped to reach a “mutual termination’’ with Alves.

    He wished the Brazilian good luck for the future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alves has only been with Juve for a year, winning Serie A and reaching the UEFA Champions League final.

    Prior to that, he had spent eight seasons at FC Barcelona.

    The first four of those were under Guardiola, a period when the pair shared in two Champions League triumphs and won La Liga on three occasions.

    Manchester City do not have an experienced right-back after releasing out-of-contract duo Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna.

    Guardiola has been linked with Tottenham’s Kyle Walker as well as Alves, who he bought for FC Barcelona from Sevilla for £23m in 2008.

  • Juventus beat Monaco again to advance to Champions League final

    Juventus beat Monaco again to advance to Champions League final

    Juventus of Italy on Tuesday qualified for their second UEFA Champions League final match in three seasons with a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory over Monaco.

    Already leading 2-0 from their away first leg, the Italian side extended their advantage when Mario Mandzukic stabbed in after his initial header was saved.

    Dani Alves doubled their lead on the night with an instinctive volley from goalkeeper Danijel Subasic’s punched clearance.

    Kylian Mbappe turned in Joao Moutinho’s low cross to pull one back in the second half, but the French Ligue 1 side could not pull off an unlikely comeback.

    Juventus, whose last win in this competition was in 1996 and lost 1-3 to FC Barcelona in the 2015 final, will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the final.

    The final match is slated for Cardiff on June 3.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atletico host Real on Wednesday looking to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

  • Enyeama hails PSG after Barca humiliation

    Enyeama hails PSG after Barca humiliation

    Nigerian star Vincent Enyeama has hailed Paris Saint German (PSG) as one of the best teams in the world following their 4-0 demolition of Spanish giants FC Barcelona during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16-match played in France on Tuesday night.

    Former Manchester United winger Angel di Maria scored twice while goals from Julian Draxler and birthday man Edinson Cavani completed the rout.

    Enyeama played against PSG last week in the Ligue 1 and lost 2-1 with Lille, so he understands the might of the current French Champions.

    Enyeama tweeted after the game, he wrote: “PSG is one of the best teams in the world. Just believe me when I say this. They are very very good.”

    Barcelona have a huge mountain to climb in the return leg and stand the risk of early elimination as no team has ever recovered at this stage of the competition after a four goals deficit.