Jose Mourinho was key to persuading Zlatan Ibrahimovic to move to England, as the Swedish icon felt no need to play in the Premier League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has credited Jose Mourinho as the decisive factor in persuading him to bring his stellar career to the Premier League, claiming he previously rejected moves to England's top flight on two occasions. Ibrahimovic headed the winner in Manchester United's Community Shield victory over Leicester City and has scored three times in as many Premier League matches to prove an instant hit with the Old Trafford faithful. The 34-year-old was only compelled to move to England following a decorated stint at Paris Saint-Germain – where he became the club's all-time record goalscorer amid an unprecedented period of … [Read more...]
Guardiola humiliated Yaya Toure- Agent
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has humiliated Yaya Toure by dropping him from his Champions League squad, according to the player's agent Dimitri Seluk. Toure, 33, will not be eligible to play in Manchester City's Champions League group games because Guardiola was forced to drop an overseas players from his squad as UEFA rules permit only 17 players who are not "locally-trained" or "association-trained." "If he wins the Champions League for City this season then I will travel to England and I will say on television that Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world," Seluk told the Sunday Mirror. "But if City don't win the Champions League then I hope that Pep has got the balls to say that he was wrong to humiliate a great player like … [Read more...]
Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil wants Jack Wilshere’s No 10 shirt
Mesut Ozil has spoken of his desire to wear the Arsenal No. 10 shirt in the absence of Jack Wilshere, amid talks with the Gunners over a new contract. The 27-year-old has taken over wearing No. 10 for Germany after Lukas Podolski's retirement and has admitted that he would like the same shirt back at the Emirates Stadium. With Wilshere joining Bournemouth on loan for the season, Ozil says that he now has the opportunity to lock down the number he desires. "It has become free and I will definitely have it," Ozil told German newspaper Express. "I did a few years ago have this number [with Germany], but Lukas Podolski wanted it. He had more matches than I did. Now I have access. "Of course I've previously given those in charge [at Arsenal] a signal. The … [Read more...]
Jamie Vardy: Why it was an easy decision to snub Arsenal
Jamie Vardy has revealed the pain felt by England’s stars at their Euro 2016 humiliation and how he made the tough decision to turn down a move to Arsenal before bumping into Gunners boss Arsene Wenger during the tournament. Despite winning the Premier League with Leicester, being named footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association and getting married, Vardy was also part of the England squad which crashed out of the European Championships to Iceland. Add to that a high-profile bid from Arsenal, which the forward would go on to snub, and it was an off-season of mixed emotions for the 29-year-old. Vardy, who will start on the bench for Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge of England in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia, … [Read more...]
Luke Shaw withdrawn from England squad
Luke Shaw withdrew from the England squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia after missing training on Saturday morning. The 21-year-old left-back has only just returned from double leg-break and has started the season well with Manchester United. He was replaced in training at St George’s Park by Arsenal’s Tafari Moore, who is part of the Under-20s set-up, and did not fly with the team. Shaw now misses out on a potential England return having last been capped almost a year ago in a 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Switzerland at Wembley. Shaw was not due to start in manager Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge, with Tottenham’s Danny Rose preferred at left-back. The Football Association confirmed on Saturday evening that Shaw would … [Read more...]
Kelechi Iheanacho scores to give Nigeria victory over Tanzania
Hopes of Africa Cup of Nations qualification were already dashed before a dominant Nigeria beat Tanzania 1-0. Kelechi Iheanacho's stunning late strike ensured Nigeria ended their failed Africa Cup of Nations qualifying bid with a 1-0 win over Tanzania. The Super Eagles' 1-0 loss to Egypt in March thwarted their hopes of reaching Gabon 2017 in a group reduced to only three teams following Chad's withdrawal for financial reasons. But they at least got their first victory of the campaign at the Akwa Ibom Stadium on Saturday, having shared a goalless stalemate with Tanzania last September. With nothing but pride at stake, it was the hosts who dominated and Salisu Yusuf's men spurned a multitude of chances before Manchester City teenager Iheanacho's … [Read more...]
Referee Halsey ‘told to say I did not see incidents on the pitch’
Mark Halsey's claims that he had been told to say he hadn't seen incidents by the referees' body could be a "major issue" for the Football Association and the Premier League, former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville believes. Halsey refereed in the Premier League for 14 years between 1999 and 2013, as well as being a FIFA listed official for six years. In a Twitter discussion about the three-game ban handed down to Sergio Aguero on Friday for an elbow on West Ham's Winston Reid, Halsey told one user that he had been in that situation: I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it. @richardajkeys Paul I have been in that situation when I have seen an incident and been told to say I haven't seen it - Mark Halsey … [Read more...]