The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PSG

  • Neymar Accepts €222-million PSG Deal

    Neymar Accepts €222-million PSG Deal

    The Brazilian forward, who is rated as one of the best players on the planet, feels isolated and unsettled in Camp Nou

    Neymar is NOW ready to leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €222 million after growing frustrated at Camp Nou.

    The Brazil international only signed a new deal until 2021 back in October of last year and Barcelona stressed earlier on Tuesday that Neymar would “200 per cent” certain stay this summer .

    Neymar is no longer happy at Barcelona, though, as he believes the presence of Lionel Messi will effectively prevent him from having a shot at winning the Ballon d’Or.

    He also feels isolated in the dressing room due to the absence of any close friends in the squad.

    Dani Alves and Neymar

    Messi recently signed a contract renewal that will keep him at Barca until 2021, meaning Neymar will have to settle for a place in the Argentina international’s shadow for the foreseeable future.

    The 25-year-old was also hopeful Barcelona would bring in Lucas Lima from Santos to provide him with a close companion at the club, but they eventually pulled out of a deal for the 27-year-old.

    This further frustrated Neymar as well his father, who would have earned a commission from the transfer and has a meeting scheduled with PSG in Paris later this week.

    The attacker already held talks with PSG in 2016 over a potential transfer, but decided to sign a new deal with Barcelona instead in the end.

    He is ready to go ahead and move to the French capital this time around, however, and PSG are willing to meet his €222m release clause.

    The Ligue 1 giants already secured the services of Dani Alves earlier this transfer window to please Neymar, with the right-back enjoying a close relationship with his compatriot during their time together at Barcelona.

    Neymar would also team up with fellow Brazilians Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Lucas Moura in Paris.

  • 91st minute own goal gives PSG French Cup

    A 91st-minute own goal by Issa Cissokho on Saturday gave Paris St-Germain a dramatic Coupe de France final match victory over Angers.

    Unai Emery’s side looked set for extra time but Cissokho, brother of Aston Villa defender Aly, headed a corner into his own net in injury time.

    Angers, playing in the final for the first time since 1957, escaped in the first half when Angel di Maria’s deflected cross hit the post.

    But Nicolas Pepe then hit the post at the other end for the underdogs.

    Emery has been under intense pressure after a disappointing first season at the Parc de Princes, with PSG finishing eight points behind Ligue 1 champions Monaco.

    They were also dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in the last 16.

    Victory at the Stade de France ensured they will end the season with two trophies, having won 4-1 against Monaco in the French League Cup final in April.

    But Emery has still arguably underachieved since replacing Laurent Blanc, who won the domestic title in each of his three seasons in charge.

    They found it hard work against a physical Angers.

    Their defender Ismael Traore was lucky not to be sent off in the second half for an appalling studs-first lunge into Julian Draxler’s shin.

    Di Maria hit a free-kick into the side netting, and Edinson Cavani went close late on.

    But Angers looked as if they had held out for an additional half-hour until Cissokho’s moment of misery in the first minute of stoppage time.(NAN)

  • Odiaka rates PSG-Irukka football talent hunt high

    Former Super Eagles ace striker ,Monday Odiaka has said that he is happy to be part of the proposed PSG-Irukka football talent hunt.

    Odiaka praised the management of Irukka Online Limited  for coming up with such bold initiative  which he said would help make Nigerian football ,first among equals in the world of football..

    He also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for endorsing the talent hunt and  also for having youth football development  as one of its cardinal objectives.

    His words :“I am glad to be part  of the PSG-Irukka talent hunt because it is a laudable project  with the capacity to develop grassroots football in Nigeria .I am rating it very high going by the quality of personnel that have been assembled for the talent hunt .People like Samson Siasia ,Garba  Lawal ,Waheed Akanni  among others .These are men who have played football at the highest level and therefore , know what football is all about .I am also happy that the NFF is strongly backing the talent hunt because it is in line with its cardinal objective which is youth football development .It is this type of synergy that Nigerian football needs to develop to international standard.

  • Marquinhos set to sign new contract with PSG

    Marquinhos set to sign new contract with PSG

    Marquinhos has signalled his intention to sign a contract extension with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Brazilian defender is contracted to PSG until 2019 but has been linked with some of Europe’s top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona.

    Marquinhos joined PSG from Roma in 2013 but has has enjoyed his finest season to date having formed a solid central defensive partnership with compatriot Thiago Silva.

    Antonio Conte is an admirer of the PSG centre back and is keen to strengthen his defence in the summer with John Terry expected to retire.

    Jose Mourinho is also in the market for a top class central defender this summer, but it now looks like they will out on bidding for the highly-rated Brazilian.

    ‘It’s not only up to me but my contract here runs until 2019 and from my point of view everything is pretty clear, I want to stay at PSG.’

    The 22-year-old has been ever-present for PSG this season who saw their Champions League hopes crumble on that unforgettable night at the Nou Camp earlier this month.

    Marquinhos and Co were powerless to prevent a remarkable six-goal comeback from Barca as the Catalans overturned a 4-0 first-leg Champions League deficit to seal their place in the next round.

    Marquinhos has been in impressive form for Brazil in recent weeks and anchored his side’s defence during their 4-1 victory over Uruguay on Thursday.

    Tite’s side strolled to victory thanks to a hat-trick from midfielder Paulinho.

  • Draxler completes PSG switch

    Draxler completes PSG switch

    Wolfsburg has confirmed the departure of Julian Draxler to Paris Saint-Germain, with the Germany international signing a four-and-a-half year deal at Parc des Princes.

    Goal understands the Ligue 1 champions will pay €35 million up front for the former Schalke man with the possibility of an extra €10m to be paid in bonuses.

    “Julian Draxler is to leave VfL Wolfsburg and sign for French club Paris Saint-Germain, pending a medical examination,” Goal quoted Wolfsburg as saying in a statement.

    “The 23-year-old attacker has agreed to a four-year deal with the Ligue 1 titleholders and Champions League participants. Both clubs have agreed to keep the financial details of the deal confidential.”

    Wolfsburg Sporting director, Olaf Rebbe said: “We’ve had some very intense but constructive discussions with Paris Saint-Germain, Julian Draxler and his management over the past few days and we’re confident to have reached a satisfactory conclusion for all parties.”

  • Real Madrid draw Borussia Dortmund in UEFA Champions League

    Real Madrid draw Borussia Dortmund in UEFA Champions League

    … Arsenal to meet PSG, Basel

    Defending champions, Real Madrid, will play Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in this season UEFA Champions League group stage.

    In the draw for the world’s most prestigious clubs’ competition held Thursday in Monaco, France, the Spanish side will also square up with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and Poland’s Legia Warsaw in Group F.

    English Premier League club, Arsenal will play in Group A alongside French champions PSG, Swiss giants FC Basel and FC Ludogorets of Bulgaria.

    Five time winners Barcelona will confront another EPL side Manchester City, Germany’s Borussia Monchengladbach and perennial Scottish champions Scotland in Group C.

    Last season’s surprise English league champions, Leicester City, play Portuguese giants FC Porto, Belgium’s Club Brugge and FC Copenhagen of Denmark in Group G.

    The group stage runs from September to December.

    The pairings:

    A – PSG – Arsenal – FC Basel – FC Ludogorets
    B – Benfica – Napoli – Dynamo Kiev – Besiktas
    C – Barcelona – Man City – Borussia Monchengladbach – Celtic
    D – Bayern Munich – Atletico Madrid – PSV – FC Rostov
    E – CSKA Moscow – Bayern Leverkusen –Tottenham Hotspur – Monaco
    F – Real Madrid – Borussia Dortmund – Sporting Lisbon – Legia Warsaw
    G – Leicester – Porto – Club Brugge – Copenhagen
    H – Juventus – Sevilla FC – Lyon – Dynamo Zabreb

  • Italy’s Verratti ruled out of Euro 2016

    Italy’s Verratti ruled out of Euro 2016

    Italy midfielder Marco Verratti will undergo surgery on a groin injury that will rule him out of Euro 2016, his French club, Paris Saint-Germain, confirmed on Friday.

    “In agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Marco Verratti has decided to undergo surgery to heal the groin problem that has he has been suffering from for several weeks.

    “The operation will take place in Doha on May 16 at the Aspetar Centre – the club’s official medical partner. The midfielder, who recently extended his contract with the capital club until 2020, is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.

    “As a result, Marco Verratti will play no part in Paris Saint-Germain’s final matches of the season, or Euro 2016, to be held in France between June 10 and July 10. Paris Saint-Germain wishes the player a speedy recovery and hopes he will soon be fully fit and back to his best for both club and country,” Goal quoted PSG as saying in a statement.

     

  • Mikel: Away goal at PSG vital

    Mikel: Away goal at PSG vital

    John Obi Mikel believes his first half strike will prove priceless in Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 second leg clash against PSG.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring for the hosts before Mikel levelled right on half-time but Laurent Blanc’s side piled on the pressure and were rewarded late on with Edinson Cavani’s winner.

    “My goal is a big one. I think it’s going to prove a big goal hopefully. It will be a goal that will keep us in the tie and hopefully it will put us through in the tie. If we get one nil back home, we will be through. I think we are still alive,” Mikel told Chelsea TV.

    However, the Super Eagles star feels his team did well and deserved at least a draw from the Parc des Princes.

    “We came out here to play the game of football and we’ve done that. I think we put on a very good performance,” he continued.

    “We defended when we had to and played when we had to. It was a very difficult game but it was one that we did well. It was a fair result but I think we deserve more. We deserve a draw or win the game.

    “It’s our first loss under the new manager but we’re not out of the tie yet, we’ve still got the second leg to play and hopefully we can build on the goal we have. When we play at home we need to make sure we get a good result and go through,” he concluded.

  • UEFA Champions League: Why I fouled Lucas – Mikel

    UEFA Champions League: Why I fouled Lucas – Mikel

    Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has defended his role in Paris Saint-Germain’s opening goal in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg tie in Paris, insisting he had to foul the French club attacker, Lucas Moura.

    The midfielder was penalised for bringing down the Brazilian just over 25 yards from goal, before turning his back on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strike which deflected off him and into the net.

    The Super Eagles star later scored the equalizer for Chelsea in first half stoppage time, taking advantage of slack defending in the PSG penalty area to fire home.

    “I had to fall in because Lucas was going deeper and deeper into our 18-yard box,” Goal quoted Mikel as saying to BT Sport. “I had to – if not get the ball – foul him, which I did.

    “Then the free kick just skipped off my feet and went into the back of the net. But we came back strong as well. But we’re very disappointed to have lost the game.”

     

  • Enyeama’s heroics deny PSG win

    Enyeama’s heroics deny PSG win

    Vincent Enyeama produced a heroic performance on Saturday to help Lille OSC claim a point at runaway Ligue 1 leaders, Paris Saint Germain.

    The Nigerian goalkeeper made no less than five top-class saves to deny the hosts victory in front of 45,391 supporters at Parc des Princes.

    Enyeama was first called to duty as early as the ninth minute when he produced a full length dive to push out Jean Kevin Agustin’s effort.

    Six minutes later, the former Enyimba man kept out Edinson Cavani’s effort after the Uruguayan was expertly set up by Angel di Maria.

    In the 25th minute, Enyeama brilliantly denied Di Maria whose free kick seemed destined for the top right hand corner as PSG cranked up the pressure.

    His best save was produced in the 65th minute as he dived expertly to deny Loucas Moura from 25 yards. He had to be alert in the 87th minute though to deny Cavani from close range as Les Dougues held out for a hard-fought point.

    Enyeama’s performance did not go unnoticed by the Lille captain, Rio Mavuba, who reserved some words of adulation for the Nigerian shot-stopper.

    “This is a very good point made here. The Parisians caused us problems severally, but Vincent (Enyeama) made the saves that were necessary for us to avoid defeat,” Mavuba told the club’s official website, www.losc.fr.

    Enyeama has played 23 league matches for Lille this season.