The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Perez

  • Pellegrini dismisses suggestions Perez refused to play

    West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini denied suggestions Lucas Perez refused to come on as a substitute in yesterday’s 3-1 win at Everton.

    The victory was West Ham’s first in the Premier League under the Chilean, but it also saw Marko Arnautovic suffer an injury and Perez attract attention on the bench.

    Shortly after scoring West Ham’s third goal, Arnautovic was forced off with a knee problem and Michail Antonio took his place.

    Television cameras then picked up an angry-looking Perez engaging in what appeared to be a heated debate with a member of Pellegrini’s coaching staff, leading to speculation the Spaniard refused to come on.

    But Pellegrini explained that while he planned to bring Perez on, he changed his mind once he saw Antonio standing ready to enter.

    “It is very simple; when Marko had a problem with his knee, I wanted to put Lucas on,” said Pellegrini.

    “I thought he was ready to come on, but he was sitting on the bench. Antonio was ready so we were not delayed, so I put Antonio on.

    “I didn’t have to [explain the situation to Perez], I don’t have to explain anyway, especially during the game, I can do that during the week.

    “Antonio had to come in to help us win the game and he was the change.”

    Arnautovic’s admission that he was in “a lot” of pain following his knee injury will have worried West Ham supporters, and Pellegrini was unable to reassure them.

    “We’ll see, I can’t tell you to know if it is [serious] or it’s not,” Pellegrini, who turned 65 on Sunday, added.

    “It’s behind his left knee, he felt something. Tomorrow [Monday] we have a recovery day and we will see what happens after that.”

  • West Ham sign striker Perez from Arsenal

    West Ham United has signed striker Lucas Perez from Arsenal on a three-year contract, both English Premier League clubs confirmed on Thursday.

    The 29-year-old is West Ham’s seventh signing of the close season.

    Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but local media said West Ham had paid about 4 million pounds for the Spaniard.

    Perez joined Arsenal in August 2016 from Deportivo la Coruna but started just two Premier League games for the London club, making another nine appearances off the bench.

    He was later loaned back to the Spanish side the following season.

    “I’m very happy to be here at such an historic club,” he said in a statement on West Ham’s website.

    “I’m very excited, as West Ham are giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League and I’m very happy to be part of this new project.”

    West Ham director of football Mario Husillos said Perez’s arrival would increase new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s options upfront.

    This is in view of the fact that Andy Carroll is set to miss West Ham’s season opener at Liverpool on Sunday due to injury.

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    “His style is different from the other strikers we have available to us, and that gives the manager more options for our attacking play,” Husillos said.

    “Lucas also has experience of the Premier League with Arsenal, and is familiar with life here in London, which of course means that he will take less time to adapt and be ready.”

    The English transfer window closes at 1600 GMT (05:00 p.m. BST) on Thursday.

  • Perez not leaving Benfica

    Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez, reportedly a transfer target for Manchester United, has quashed reports of a move away from Portugal.

    The Argentina international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after impressing for the Primeira Liga champions last season.

    His club form caught the eye of Alejandro Sabella and earned him a place at the World Cup, where he made three appearances, including a start in the final that Argentina eventually lost 1-0 to Germany.

    Strengthening the midfield appears to be a top priority for Louis van Gaal, with the likes of Kevin Strootman, Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado and Perez among the players reportedly interesting the new United boss.

    Yet Perez, who has also been the subject of apparent interest from Valencia, is happy plying his trade in Portugal.

    “I am very calm, comfortable and happy at Benfica,” he told O Jogo. “On Monday, I travel to Portugal and if the opportunity arises to leave, it must be a mutual decision.

    “I personally am not looking to leave.”

    Perez is also hoping international team-mate Sergio Romero moves to Estadio da Luz after his loan spell with Monaco came to an end.

    The goalkeeper returned to parent club Sampdoria, but is believed to be close to completing a switch to the Portuguese capital.

    “During the World Cup I told him about the club,” Perez added. “He is a great person and a better professional.

    “In addition, Benfica needs people with experience in the squad.”

  • Roelofse, Perez for final

    After two weeks of action the 12th Governor’s Cup will come to a close today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club with South African Ruan Roelofse and Spaniard Enrique Lopez-Perez billed to slug it out today in the men’s 2nd and final leg showdown.

    Roelofse beat Italian Alessandro Bega in straight sets of 7-5,6-1 in the semi final tie played Friday to embrace the final while Lopez-Perez who won Futures 1 scaled the hurdle of Japanese Kento Takeuch in another straight sets of 6-3,6-3 to increase his chances of making it a double should he win today.

    In the Women’s Singles, former champion, Nina Bratchikova of Russia ended her dream of winning the tournament in a fairy tale no thanks to exhaustion and abdominal cramp that forced her to abandon the semi final match against Switzerland’s Conny Perrin in the second set . The referee stopped the game at 7-6(6), 2-0. Perrin will settle scores with first leg winner, Cristiana Dinu, who beat Slovakia’s Tadeja Majeric in straight sets of 6-2,7-6(3).

    The Women’s Doubles of the second leg was won by the duo of Conny Perrin and South African Channel Simmonds who defeated Chinese twins, Jia Xiang Lu and Jia-Jing Lu in Super tie break. The game ended 6-2,3-6, 10/7.

    The final of the women’s singles will flag off Saturday’s final ceremony by 1pm.

    Although it was a rough ride for Nigerian players as they booked early exits in both the first and second leg of the championship, most of the players told Sportinglife that there is no cause for regrets.

    “There is nothing to be ashamed of. We don’t have regular tournaments, so we cant expect to do that well, we can only do the much we can,” submitted former number one Christie Agubom.