To get Ronaldo, PSG have to pay £1Billion – Florentino Perez
Real Madrid have no intention of selling Cristiano Ronaldo for anything less than his €1 billion buyout clause, according to club president Florentino Perez. Ronaldo, 30, has been a reported target of Paris Saint- Germain in recent months, with El Mundo Deportivo reporting earlier this week that Madrid rejected a €150m bid from the French champions this summer for the Portugal captain.
Asked about PSG’s interest in Ronaldo, Perez said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope:
“Here in Spain everybody has it easy because, unlike in England, a release clause exists. If you want to sign a player you pay his buyout clause and get him. “In the case of Cristiano it’s €1,000m [£725m]. If they don’t pay that, they don’t want him. Whenever I’ve wanted a player, I’ve gone for him paying the release clause.”
Ronaldo has three years left on his contract at the Bernabeu, and Perez says a Madrid team without the forward is out of the question.
“It’s just impossible,” he said. “He is our most emblematic player, the best player in the world. It doesn’t enter our mind to sell him. “Of course I like [Barcelona’s Lionel] Messi, but I prefer Cristiano Ronaldo a lot more.”
Daniel Sturridge returns to full training ahead of clash with Manchester United
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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has returned to full training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Manchester United. Sturridge, 26, has recovered sufficiently from hip surgery to be able to take part in full contact sessions with his teammates. Manager Brendan Rodgers, though, has yet to reveal whether Sturridge will play against United.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has returned to full training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Manchester United. Sturridge, 26, has recovered sufficiently from hip surgery to be able to take part in full contact sessions with his teammates. Manager Brendan Rodgers, though, has yet to reveal whether Sturridge will play against United.
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The England international spent the summer building up his fitness in the United States after having surgery on a torn hip muscle in May. He originally sustained the injury against United at Anfield on March 22, although he played two more games after that before the club decided to send him for an operation.
The England international spent the summer building up his fitness in the United States after having surgery on a torn hip muscle in May. He originally sustained the injury against United at Anfield on March 22, although he played two more games after that before the club decided to send him for an operation.
That injury was one of four that Sturridge suffered last season, when he was restricted to seven Premier League starts. The forward also suffered two separate thigh injuries and a calf problem.
He returned to Merseyside in August after time spent working with the Boston Red Sox baseball team’s medical and sports staff.
Group of Manchester United players confront LVG over rigid training
A group of Manchester United players confronted manager Louis van Gaal over his training methods earlier this season, according to reports. The Times and The Sun both reported on Thursday that the players concerned believe Van Gaal’s approach to training is too “rigid” and does not allow them to “express” themselves enough.
The Times said that, after dressing-room talks, senior figures had approached the Dutchman several weeks ago “to raise complaints about a lack of creativity” and to express their concern that “training orders have become so inflexible that they are hampering performances.”
The Daily Telegraph later reported that United’s senior players have been angry over the treatment of Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva and the over-reliance on video analyst Max Reckers to lead lengthy feedback sessions. The Sun also reported that there has been “some disquiet behind the scenes” over the handling of the David De Gea situation, with the Spain goalkeeper not selected so far this season and then denied a move to Real Madrid over a paperwork delay.
Despite those apparent concerns, De Gea has said he is happy to return to Old Trafford after international duty and is hoping to win back his place in the side ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Liverpool.
I advised Victor Moses to leave Chelsea – Sunday Oliseh
Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has revealed that he advised Victor Moses to leave Chelsea for a club where he will get regular playing chances. Moses joined West Ham United on a season-long loan deal on May 31.
“I spoke to Victor Moses. I told him that he played so many games for Stoke City last season. I also told him that with the many players Mourinho was buying in the summer, I was not sure (Moses) would get to play very much.
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“I told him I needed a Moses that was playing matches regularly at club level. Moses then told me that he would do anything to play for Nigeria and informed me that he would be speaking to his manager the next day. As we all know, Moses is now with West Ham where he is virtually guaranteed regular football week in week out,”
“I told him I needed a Moses that was playing matches regularly at club level. Moses then told me that he would do anything to play for Nigeria and informed me that he would be speaking to his manager the next day. As we all know, Moses is now with West Ham where he is virtually guaranteed regular football week in week out,”
He continued, “A fit Victor Moses would have done us a world of good (in that game against Tanzania). The moment he returns to fitness, I will call him up to the national team because we need him as we need the best to play for us.
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He also stressed that players who are not playing regularly at their clubs will not be called up because it will be difficult to ascertain the level of their fitness.
He also stressed that players who are not playing regularly at their clubs will not be called up because it will be difficult to ascertain the level of their fitness.
“It will also be unfair to keep those who play regularly for their clubs on the bench and play those who are not simply because they play for some big club.” He concluded.
Togo's coach reveals Emmanuel Adebayor no longer in his plans
Togo coach Tom Saintfiet said Emmanuel Adebayor will not be selected for international duty anymore after failing to respond to a recent call-up. Tottenham striker Adebayor was named in the squad for the African Nations Cup qualifier in Djibouti but officials confirmed last week that he had not reported for duty.
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“If you are dating a woman who does not want to respond positively, then you must look for another woman,” Saintfiet said. Saintfiet said the 31-year-old, who has been omitted from Tottenham’s Premier League and Europa League squad lists this season, only needed to send a text message or an email.
“If you are dating a woman who does not want to respond positively, then you must look for another woman,” Saintfiet said. Saintfiet said the 31-year-old, who has been omitted from Tottenham’s Premier League and Europa League squad lists this season, only needed to send a text message or an email.
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Adebayor played and scored the winner in a 2-1 qualifying win against Liberia in June but expressed his disappointment then that he was overlooked for the captaincy, and threatened that he would not play against Djibouti.
Adebayor played and scored the winner in a 2-1 qualifying win against Liberia in June but expressed his disappointment then that he was overlooked for the captaincy, and threatened that he would not play against Djibouti.
Saintfiet, who criticised Adebayor for a lack of discipline in June, said: “For me, it is clear that it is a player who does not want to play for his country anymore, and he does not want his country to be qualified for the next African Cup of Nations.
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“He has agreed to play against Liberia, and not against Djibouti. For me, it is not the duty of a player to decide against which opponent he will play.”
“He has agreed to play against Liberia, and not against Djibouti. For me, it is not the duty of a player to decide against which opponent he will play.”
Adebayor has been in and out of Togo’s team and fighting with coaches for years.
De Gea seeks club action after Spain appearance
David De Gea is hoping to return to the Manchester United side after featuring for Spain on international duty. De Gea, 24, remained at United after his proposed transfer to Real Madrid failed to be completed in time for last week’s transfer deadline. The goalkeeper had been expected to leave Old Trafford, leading to manager Louis van Gaal selecting summer signing Sergio Romero as his first-choice shot-stopper.
But De Gea, who has yet to play for the Red Devils this season, is eager to feature for United ahead of their Premier League meeting with Liverpool on Saturday.
He said: “I felt good. I was really longing to get back playing. I’ll keep working and let’s see if I have some luck with my club. “Yes I’m happy. I am relaxed about things and I will go on working hard and improving, and enjoying my football.”
Diego Costa unaware he is suspended for Spain's next game
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Diego Costa failed to score for Spain on Tuesday night in their 1-0 victory over Macedonia and the Chelsea forward had the added frustration of discovering he will not be able to play in the team’s next Euro 2016 qualifying game against Luxembourg. Costa, 26, started in Skopje and was booked in the first half, which means that on Oct. 9, when Spain face Luxembourg in Logrono, he will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. He was unaware his booking would see him miss Spain’s last home qualifier until being told by reporters.
Diego Costa failed to score for Spain on Tuesday night in their 1-0 victory over Macedonia and the Chelsea forward had the added frustration of discovering he will not be able to play in the team’s next Euro 2016 qualifying game against Luxembourg. Costa, 26, started in Skopje and was booked in the first half, which means that on Oct. 9, when Spain face Luxembourg in Logrono, he will be suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. He was unaware his booking would see him miss Spain’s last home qualifier until being told by reporters.
“I’m suspended against Luxembourg? It’s the first I’ve heard about it,” Costa told AS.
Costa also started in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Slovakia and, although he did not score, he did earn Spain a penalty which Andres Iniesta converted. Since making his debut with Spain in March 2014, Costa has found the back of the net just once in nine appearances.
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He wants to play as many games as possible for La Roja to strengthen his bid for a starting place in Vicente del Bosque’s squad for Euro 2016.
He wants to play as many games as possible for La Roja to strengthen his bid for a starting place in Vicente del Bosque’s squad for Euro 2016.
“I’ve got a lot to improve and I’ve got to start scoring goals,” he said. “There will be no lack of effort on my part. “I’ll keep working hard at my club to improve. I am always filled with ambition whenever I get called for the national team.”
We will never hang Buhari's portraits in our offices – PDP
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh in a telephone interview with a PUNCH journalist stated that the party will not hang the official portrait of President Muhammadu Buhari at the party’s Wadata House national secretariat, located at Zone 5, Abuja.
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Albeit the portraits of the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan have been removed in their offices, Metuh was certain APC didn’t hang the latter’s before his defeat on March 28 and so do not feel the need to hang Buhari’s.
Albeit the portraits of the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan have been removed in their offices, Metuh was certain APC didn’t hang the latter’s before his defeat on March 28 and so do not feel the need to hang Buhari’s.
“We will never hang his portrait in this office, because President Buhari is not known to our party. He is not a leader of our party and therefore we will never put his portrait here. We are a political party, very partisan and therefore, we are not going to hide that.”
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“Can you find out if the APC had the portrait of former President Jonathan in their office before he was defeated? That is just it.”
“Can you find out if the APC had the portrait of former President Jonathan in their office before he was defeated? That is just it.”
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Reacting to the statement, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said, “This is ridiculous and we have no comment. Let Nigerians judge the PDP on this matter.”
Reacting to the statement, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said, “This is ridiculous and we have no comment. Let Nigerians judge the PDP on this matter.”
Okagbare suspended from Rio Olympics?
Renowned athlete, Blessing Okagbare has been suspended by the National Sports Commission and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria following her decision to not participate in the 2015 All Africa Games.
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The Queen of the tracks will not be representing the country, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. Okagbare hinged her decision on injury after her poor outing at the IAAF World championships in Beijing, China.
The Queen of the tracks will not be representing the country, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. Okagbare hinged her decision on injury after her poor outing at the IAAF World championships in Beijing, China.
The Delta indigene shocked officials when she appeared in Zurich shortly after she told them she won’t show up in Congo. She ran 10.98 seconds in the Diamond League, much to the bewilderment of athletics officials who thought she was injured.
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Apparently dissatisfied with her reasons, there are reports that the NSC and the AFN may deny her the chances of appearing in the 2016 Olympics event.
Apparently dissatisfied with her reasons, there are reports that the NSC and the AFN may deny her the chances of appearing in the 2016 Olympics event.