Sports
Why Real Madrid Did Not Sign Osimhen – Ancelotti
Real Madrid have at various times been linked with Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen, but Coach Carlo Ancelotti has now explained why the European champions did not sign the player.
Osimhen, riding high on his exploits with Napoli, was last summer seen as a direct replacement for Karim Benzema, who left for the petro-dollars in Saudi Arabia.
“We didn’t sign Osimhen because I think the club thought that Benzema’s absence could be remedied by purchasing Jude Bellingham,” Ancelotti told Radio Serie A.
Bellingham has since proved to be an inspired transfer as Real won the UEFA Champions League and the La Liga last season.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has resumed pre-season training with Napoli, but the Nigerian international keeps waiting for offers to leave the Stadio Maradona.
Osimhen is not expected to remain at the Stadio Maradona beyond the summer even as he hasn’t yet received formal offers to leave the club.
Osimhen’s contract includes a €130m clause, and despite links with Chelsea and PSG, the Partenopei have not yet heard from potential suitors, so their star striker will start preparing for the new campaign with the rest of the team.
La Repubblica reports that Osimhen was among the first players to arrive at Napoli’s training centre on Tuesday morning.
The group included Leonardo Spinazzola and Rafa Marin, who had had medical tests on Monday, while Alessandro Buongiorno will undergo examinations on Wednesday.
Antonio Conte is prepared to part company with Osimhen, as the coach explained in his first press conference. Romelu Lukaku has emerged as the primary option to replace the Nigerian striker.
CREDIT: DAILY POST
Ademola Lookman will be the focal point when Atalanta takes on Arsenal in a UEFA Champions League match at Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo today.
Lookman shone in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen last season, scoring an impressive hat-trick.
The 26-year-old made a significant impact in his first Serie A start against Fiorentina on Sunday, contributing one goal and one assist to help La Dea snap a two-game winless streak.
Previously, Lookman netted one goal in the Champions League during his time with RB Leipzig in Germany.
Another strong performance against the Gunners could bolster his chances of winning the African Player of the Year award.
Austin Eguavoen, the interim manager of the Super Eagles, stated that he will decide today whether Victor Osimhen will start in the match against the Republic of Benin.
The teams are set to face off in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Saturday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Osimhen was the last player to join the Super Eagles camp, as he needed to finalize his future after not securing a move to Chelsea or Al Ahli from Napoli during the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old ultimately signed a loan deal with Turkish club Galatasaray on Thursday and then joined his teammates for training in Uyo.
Regarding whether Osimhen will be in the starting lineup against Benin, Eguavoen mentioned at the pre-match press conference:
“To determine that, considering we have a squad of 23 players, I need to reflect overnight before making the decision on who will start tomorrow.”
Al Hilal superstar, Neymar, has claimed Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is one of the best five players in the world.
Rodrygo is one of the big names that was excluded from the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or released on Wednesday.
The Brazilian made over 50 appearances for Madrid, as they won both the LaLiga and Champions League titles last season.
Rodrygo scored 17 goals for the Spanish giants and has moved on to 27 senior caps for his country.
All of those achievements have been overlooked by France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d’Or.
In reaction, Neymar Jr posted on social media in support of his 23-year-old international colleague: “Minimum top 5 in the world! Ace.”
CREDIT: DAILY POST
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