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Tiemoue Bakayoko’s preference is to remain at Napoli rather than return to Chelsea when his loan spell comes to a conclusion in the summer.

The midfielder joined Chelsea in 2017, but cut little ice at Stamford Bridge and was farmed out on loan to AC Milan and former club Monaco.

With little prospect of forcing his way into Frank Lampard’s plans in west London this season, Bakayoko headed out on loan to Napoli.

The Naples club are sixth in Serie A and battling to barge their way into the title race. Their prospects were boosted with a 2-1 win at Udinese on Sunday, which came courtesy of a last-minute winner from Bakayoko - his first goal for the team.

The player’s agent was quick to talk up the France international, and said the aim is to remain in Italy with Napoli.

“He is very happy to score his first goal for the club, it’s been a long time since he had scored the last one,” his brother and agent Abdoulaye told Radio Marte. “The goal has boosted his confidence; he always wants to help the team.”

Talks have yet to take place with Napoli or Chelsea over the 26-year-old’s future, but his agent feels everything is in place to forge a career where he is at the moment.

“It’s too early to talk about that (a permanent move), there are many things that must be considered," the player's representative said. “He is on loan until the end of the season and he hasn’t talked to the club yet, but staying at Napoli would be a nice opportunity, so we will see.

“He has played for many clubs, but he is happy at Napoli. The results are there and this club would be an ideal option for the future.

“Napoli are title contenders; a positive ending is in everyone’s interest. Napoli will be his priority in June.”

Napoli are nine points adrift of Serie A leaders AC Milan, although they do have a game in hand.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side are in Coppa Italia action at home to Empoli on Wednesday, before welcoming Fiorentina to the Stadio San Paolo in Serie A on Sunday.

Tendayi Darikwa has disclosed he is eager to get off to a fine start after joining Wigan Athletic until the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

After a long term injury – with his last competitive game coming for Nottingham Forest 18 months ago, the Zimbabwe international teamed up with the Latics where he would be hoping to put his career back on track.

Although he has not featured at club level this term, Darikwa played for the Warriors during November’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification fixtures against Algeria.

With over 200 English Championship matches to his credit, the right-back reveals he is ready to make an impression at the League One outfit.

“I’m delighted, it’s happened quite quickly,” Darikwa told Latics TV. “I’m a Wigan Athletic player and I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get started.

“I’ve not played too much football in the last 18 months after a bad injury. But I’m fit again and I can’t wait to get on the pitch and start playing competitive games again.

“I hope to help the team as quickly as possible. I’ve looked at the league table, of course we are in a tough position at the moment in the league.

“I think we have enough quality to get out of it. I want to come in and help the lads and hopefully move up the league.

“I’m fit and have been training with the first team at Forest since I came back from my injury and I haven’t missed a session. I’ve played a few international games as well [for Zimbabwe] and I came through them very well.

“It’s important now to play some competitive games at first-team level, help the lads and hopefully get some wins as quickly as possible.”

Having accrued 19 points from 20 league outings so far, Wigan Athletic occupy the 23rd position in the log and are in danger of getting demoted to League Two.

Darikwa who has been handed the number 2 shirt and becomes the fourth African in Leam Richardson’s squad after Nigeria’s duo of Viv Solomon-Otabor and Emeka Obi plus DR Congo's Divin Baningime. He could make his debut when Wigan face Rochdale on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski has spoken in glowing terms about his relationship with Jurgen Klopp, saying the now Liverpool boss was the “bad teacher” who propelled him on the path to greatness.

After finding life tough in his teenage years, Lewandowski began to score regularly for Znicz Pruszkow and Lech Poznan, which earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2010.

Lewandowski’s start to life in the Bundesliga was not smooth sailing, as he was played in an unfamiliar No.10 position and found life tough in training under Klopp.

Things came to a head following a Champions League defeat to Marseille in September of 2011. 

Lewandowski confronted Klopp and asked his manager what he wanted from him. Despite his German being patchy at that stage, the Poland international picked up on what was required of him and things blossomed to the extent that he won a second Bundesliga title before securing a move to Bayern Munich.

Revealing how his relationship with Klopp developed to the Players' Tribune, Lewandowski said: “Jurgen was not only a father figure to me. As a coach, he was like the “bad” teacher. And I mean that in the best sense of the word. 

“Let me explain. Think back to you when you were in school. Which teacher do you remember the most? Not the one who made life easy for you and never expected anything from you. No, no, no. You remember the bad teacher, the one who was strict with you. The one who put pressure on you and did everything to get the best out of you. That’s the teacher who made you better, right? And Jurgen was like that.

“He was not content to let you be a B student, you know? Jurgen wanted A+ students. He didn’t want it for him. He wanted it for you. 

“He taught me so much. When I arrived at Dortmund, I wanted to do everything quickly: strong pass, one touch only. Jurgen showed me to calm down - to take two touches if necessary. 

“It was totally against my nature, but soon I was scoring more goals. 

“When I had that down, he challenged me to speed it up again. One touch. BANG. Goal. He slowed me down to speed me up. It sounds simple, but it was genius, really.”

Lewandowski has continued to dominate the goalscoring charts since moving to Bayern, and was named the Best FIFA Men's Player for 2020.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Promise Mkhuma has expressed his huge admiration for Brighton & Hove Albion attacking linkman Percy Tau’s “hard work,” saying it was not easy for the South Africa international to be loaned out thrice.

Tau was recalled by Brighton from a loan stint at Belgian giants Anderlecht last week and immediately made his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup third round penalty shoot-out win at Newport County.

The South Africa international featured in the last 19 minutes of the match after coming on as a substitute for Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

After signing for Brighton in July 2018, Tau was also sent out on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge due to complications in securing a British visa.

But Mkhuma who rose through Downs’ development ranks, just like Tau, is drawing inspiration from the latter player.

“I would like to congratulate him for his hard work and being patient throughout the journey. It was not an easy journey for him to be loaned out more than once,” Mkhuma told the Sundowns official website.

“He never stopped putting an effort wherever he was loaned out to. I am really happy to see him back at Brighton because it’s everyone’s dream to be where he is now but it all comes with hard work and staying positive.

“It is inspiring mostly to us the younger ones that no matter what the circumstances, just stay positive and put in the hard work. It’s a lesson that nothing in life comes easy and lastly, I would like to wish him well and I believe he is going to do well. Hard work pays off.”

Tau's time in Belgium was not the first occasion he was loaned out to other clubs as he was once sent by Sundowns to spend a season at Witbank Spurs in the then National First Division.

After making his Seagulls debut on Sunday, the South Africa star could make his Premier League maiden appearance away at Manchester City on Wednesday.

This is after Brighton manager Graham Potter gave rave reviews of Tau after the Newport County match.

“Yes, he did well. Obviously we will get to know him better and he will get to know us better. He contributed well. Pleased with his performance and contribution,” Potter was quoted as saying by Sussex Live.

Asante Kotoko registered their biggest win of the season by a 2-0 triumph over Liberty Professionals in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on Monday.

Kwame Opoku's first-half double sealed three points for the hosts in the matchday eight fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The result has catapulted the Porcupine Warriors to sixth on the league table, tied on points with archrivals Hearts of Oak who sit a spot above due to a better goal difference.

Liberty, meanwhile, occupy eleventh position.

The major talking point of Kotoko's team news was the presence of new Brazilian signing Fabio Gama Dos Santos for his first start for his new club.

Joining the former Brazil U17 and U21 attacker in coach Johnson Smith's starting line-up were Mubarik Yusif, Samuel Frimpong and Emmanuel Sarkodie, with Habib Mohammed and Emmanuel Gyamfi among the casualties.

Kotoko went all guns blazing from the start as Opoku set up Christopher Nettey for a first goalscoring opportunity in the second minute but the defender's final effort went wide.

In the 10th minute, the Porcupine Warriors broke the deadlock as Opoku latched on to a Gama ball inside the box, created space for himself before shooting into the net to make it 1-0.

Opoku and the Brazilian combined once again for their side's second goal in the 10th minute, the latter putting the former through on goal. Opoku then calmly slotted into the net to double the score. It was his fifth goal in six appearances so far this season, having also registered one assist.

Four minutes later, the striker almost made it a hat-trick of goals after connecting to Samuel Frimpong's shot into the penalty box but Liberty Professionals goalkeeper Kofi Baah was alert to keep the ball out of the net this time around.

At the other end in the 31st minute, Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora was at hand to save a shot from inside the box to keep the score unchanged.

Back after recess, Liberty tested Abalora again in the 59th minute but the goalkeeper proved able to the task once again.

In the 72nd minute, Gama almost registered a goal of his own but goalkeeper Baah pulled off a save to deny the Brazilian who played a neat exchange with Opoku.

That was to be the last big chance of the game as the referee whistled to bring an end to the game after three minutes of injury time. 

Real Betis want to sign Sokratis from Arsenal and the defender is keen to move to Spain, Goal can confirm.

The centre-back is surplus to requirements at Emirates Stadium and would like to move to the Liga side currently managed by former Real Madrid, Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini.

However, it is understood that Betis will need to sell players first as they are struggling under the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules enforced by La Liga and need to reduce their wage budget before they can make any major signings.

Betis are looking to get rid of Brazilian central defender Sidnei, either permanently or on loan, which would provide the funds to sign Sokratis. The 32-year-old has been offered to several clubs, including fellow Liga side Getafe.

They are also investigating possibly selling Portugal international midfielder William Carvalho to Benfica.

This would allow a move for Sokratis, who is seeking an exit from Arsenal after falling down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta. Goal understands he is interested in playing in Spain, while the Gunners are keen to get him off their wage bill to the extent that they would not demand a transfer fee.

The Greek international was not registered in Arteta's Premier League squad in the summer, leaving him stuck on the sidelines like fellow outcast Mesut Ozil. He earns £5 million a year in wages on a contract that expires this June but has been stuck playing reserve team football this campaign.

He is also keen on a return to either Bundesliga or Serie A, having previously played for Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and Genoa, however Betis are the club who have shown the most concrete interest so far.

Sokratis made 69 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring six goals. His only major trophy for the Gunners came last summer as they lifted the FA Cup, the defender coming on in the 88th minute as a substitute at Wembley as they beat Chelsea 2-1.

He joined from Dortmund in the summer of 2018 for £14m ($17m), however Arsenal have long since accepted they will not recoup any of their financial outlay on the 90-cap international defender.

Juventus are pushing ahead with talks over the signing of Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo following an injury to Paulo Dybala.

Argentina international Dybala is facing three weeks on the sidelines after damaging a knee ligament in Juventus’ 3-1 win over Sassuolo on Sunday.

"This morning Paulo Dybala underwent diagnostic investigations at J | medical which revealed a low-grade lesion of the medial collateral ligament of the left knee with recovery times of approximately 15/20 days," Juventus said in a statement on their official website.

With Alvaro Morata also struggling with injuries, Juve coach Andrea Pirlo is concerned about being light in attack for the second half of the season.

Pirlo is keen to bring in some attacking pep, and he has set his sights on Scamacca.

The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Genoa, but they are prepared to step aside should a permanent offer come in - subject to a compensation package being agreed.

Juventus took the chance to speak to Sassuolo following the game between the two sides on Sunday.

“Scamacca? We’ll talk about that later. Let’s see what Juventus come to us with,” Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali told Sky Sport Italia.

Goal Italy can confirm that an “exploratory chat” took place between Juventus and Sassuolo.

The key piece in the jigsaw could be how Scamacca plays against Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday. It could be viewed as an audition for the attacker, who could seal a move to the Serie A champions with an imposing performance.

Juve’s schedule is packed in the second half of the season, and Pirlo would like a new face in place as soon as possible in order to take the goalscoring burden off the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the coming days there will be further talks, but Juventus are not the only interested party.

Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that Serie A leaders AC Milan have already held talks with the player’s representatives.

Carnevali comments appear to point to Juventus being in pole position to sign the forward, but any delay could complicate matters.

Following the meeting with Genoa in the Coppa Italia, Juventus travel to Inter to take on their fellow title rivals.

A candidate for the presidency of the French Football Federation (FFF) says he would demand the recall of Karim Benzema to the national team, despite the Real Madrid striker facing trial over a blackmail case involving a former France team-mate.

Michel Moulin is among the candidates running against incumbent Noel Le Graet, and he has promised that he would work to restore the outcast Benzema to the France team.

The 33-year-old has not figured for Les Bleus since November 2015, when the last of his 81 caps was earned.

Benzema is to face trial over his alleged involvement in the attempted blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena relating to a sex tape said to feature the Olympiakos star. The former Lyon forward is accused of trying to extort money from his fellow France international ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.

Benzema, who denies any wrongdoing, has been overlooked for international duty with France ever since the allegations were first made against him, during which time Les Bleus have become world champions after triumphing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

However, Moulin has now said he would demand that manager Didier Deschamps restore Benzema to his squad.

In an interview with Le Figaro, Moulin said: "On the management of Karim Benzema, who is a great striker, Didier Deschamps, he is an employee of the FFF. If above him, he is told to play Benzema, he must make him play."

Benzema has spoken out on the blackmail case on a regular basis in recent years, with the Frenchman accusing Valbuena of dragging his name "through the mud".

He told L’Equipe in May 2017: "He said he would not have lodged a complaint if he knew I was involved in the story. For more than a year and a half I'm his worst enemy, a bad guy, a thug, I have to be punished, dragged through the mud, my name and that of my family, in the dirt.

"[Saying] I am his enemy, I wanted to take money from him, he really has to stop inventing, it makes me mad to keep on lying. He just had to tell the truth about what really happened, and he would not have had all of this."

Benzema has remained a prolific source of goals for Real Madrid, with 261 strikes in 533 appearances. He ranked eighth in Goal 50 last November.

ATK Mohun Bagan suffered their second defeat of the season as they went down 0-1 against table-toppers Mumbai City in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Monday.

The Mariners were the second best side for the majority of the game as the Islanders dominated from the off and in the end, Bartholomew Ogbeche's strike made the difference in the game.

ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas, though, felt that the teams were evently matched and he claimed that his team did not allow the Islanders to create many chances.

"I didn't see much of a difference between Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan today. They got two chances and we got two chances. I am very angry with the team's performance in the first 45 minutes. The team did not find the pace to play but in the second half we improved and maybe we could have scored an equaliser. 

"The idea was to press high from the first minute but they didn't understand and did not press high. The team didn't play well but I don't remember more than one chance of Mumbai in the first half," said Habas after the game.

The Spanish coach suggested that the team needs to keep on improving and his target is to do well against FC Goa in their next match.

"It is about improving. Today we conceded the first goal from open play. In the rest of the matches, we conceded from setpieces. I have to make the players recover immediately and have to think about the next match which is against FC Goa."

The two-time ISL-winning coach did not like Mumbai City's decision of continuing the match and then scoring from that move after Edu Garcia had gone down due to an injury and he called it unfair.

"When the move happened we were a man down. Edu was down on the ground and they should have kicked the ball out but they continued and scored when we had one player less. It was not fair play and it wasn't good for us," said the Mariners' boss.

After a five-year absence from the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Swallows FC have come back with a bang.

Placed second on the standings, they are unbeaten in 10 league matches with two points fewer than leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

So far they have prevailed over fellow traditional giants Kaizer Chiefs following a 1-0 victory before Kamohelo Mahlatsi’s injury-time goal helped them frustrate Orlando Pirates in Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Hitting back at Pirates deep into injury time when the Buccaneers thought they had secured three points was a show of character by Swallows.

This is part of their convincing displays that have left them already being mentioned as title contenders.

But everything appears to be down to the mass signings they made for this season, dominated by PSL veteran players.

Going on a shopping spree, acquiring the services of the likes of Thabo Matlaba, Ruzaigh Gamildien, Musa Nyatama, Sifiso Hlanti and Keegan Ritchie, all aged 30 and above, coach Brandon Truter appeared to be making a grave mistake as some of the players were unfairly deemed 'rejects' of other PSL clubs.

Talk of Swallows being a retirement village started emerging.

However, attacking midfielder Gamildien, at 33 and signed from Chippa United, has scored seven goals in 10 league matches in what is arguably his best season ever since making his PSL debut with Bloemfontein Celtic in September 2011.

Matlaba’s experience is proving crucial for the Dube Birds while Hlanti, Nyatama and Ritchie have not disappointed in the few games they have featured.

Truter appeared unmoved by critics’ sentiments that he was building a team around spent forces since his old legs had already done well for him in their bid for promotion into the PSL.

Central to their GladAfrica Championship campaign was 36-year-old Vuyo Mere and captain Lebohang Mokoena who is two years younger.

The duo is still key to Swallows’ current run after another demonstration of steely nerves in the second-tier where they helped the team avoid the promotion/relegation play-offs by overtaking favourites Cape Town Spurs (known then as Ajax Cape Town) for an automatic top-flight league ticket.

That show of character led by their old pairs of legs is still manifesting itself this term.

“This run started in February 2020, it’s almost two calendar years that we are on. We carried on from where we left off in the GladAfrica Championship,” said Truter as per Phakaaathi.

“Not to blow my own trumpet, but the technical team we assembled, the guys we brought in – that made the transition from the GladAfrica to the PSL a bit better. I think we were one of the stronger tactically organised teams in the GladAfrica.

“I remember signing a few of these [experienced] players at the beginning of the season and I can remember the headlines that were from the media saying Swallows is a retirement home. So, it pays to fit into the structure and we also built a culture at Swallows. It’s very difficult for a coach to build a culture of a club. The culture is one for all and all for one, that’s what we live by.”

While Swallows’ late comeback against Pirates was proof that they are not pushovers, Truter was still not too pleased by his side’s showing, giving an impression that he is a very demanding coach.

“That’s why I’m not too happy about what transpired in the second half in the pitch. Because we were a bit disjointed and we weren’t together. So, that’s our culture. We have certain rules at the team, but not that I’m asking you to press or put your body on the line,” said Truter.

When the Dube Birds travel to on-fire Sundowns on January 23, it would be a chance for them to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that they are not a retirement home.

Goal remembers the big moments, personalities and games from this week in LaLiga history, including Lionel Messi breaking yet new ground, and a rare feat for Zinedine Zidane.
 

11 January 2016: Messi moves to five Ballon d’Ors

There was tension at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on 11 January 2016 as the Ballon D’Or ceremony progressed. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo had won the trophy in the two previous years, but Lionel Messi had led Barcelona to five trophies including LaLiga and Champions League during 2015.

In the end the decision was clear, Messi won 41 percent of the votes cast, Ronaldo was second with 28 percent, and another Barca attacker Neymar third with eight percent.

The mood among the trio was friendly, with Ronaldo saying at a shared news conference that “Messi’s left foot is pretty good, better than mine.”

“I’d take both of his feet,” said Neymar, to smiles all around.

“Cristiano has many great qualities, which every player would like to have,” said a gracious Messi, then 28 and at the peak of his powers, as he won a fifth Ballon D’Or. (He now has six, after winning again in 2019, when he won his 10th LaLiga title). 

13 January 2019: Messi scores his 400th goal in LaLiga

2019 also saw Messi set even more personal records - with his 400th LaLiga goal arriving on 13 January, when a swish of his left boot sent the ball flying past Eibar goalkeeper Asier Riesgo during a 3-0 victory over the Basque side at the Camp Nou.

Luis Suarez got Barca’s other two goals that night, but as often around FC Barcelona, it was all about the team’s talismanic number 10.

Blaugrana statisticians calculated that 327 of Messi’s first LaLiga 400 goals were scored with his favoured left foot, 58 finished with his right, 14 with his head and one had gone in off his hand.

It took the Argentine, then 31 years old, just 435 LaLiga games to reach the mark.

At the end of 2020, he is up to 451 LaLiga goals in 499 games, and still hungry for many more. 13

January 2018: Villarreal’s first LaLiga win at the Bernabeu 

History was also made at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on 13 January 2018, although the majority of those present did not celebrate too much!

Real Madrid dominated possession and managed 28 shots at goal over the 90 minute, but a number of excellent saves from Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo kept it scoreless.

Cristiano Ronaldo had 11 efforts at goal without success, including one shot from just three yards which the Portuguese poked uncharacteristically wide.

As the game moved towards added time, Madrid threw more players forward, but were caught on the break as a splendid Villarreal counter-attack was finished sweetly by Pablo Fornals.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane could not believe what he was seeing, as his reigning LaLiga title holders fell 16 points behind leaders and 2018-19 champions elect Barcelona.  

15 January 2006: A collector’s item for Zidane against Sevilla

Zidane had a happier day at the Bernabeu on 15 January 2006, when Sevilla arrived for a top of the table LaLiga clash. The Frenchman set up teammate Guti for Madrid’s opening goal, only for Sevilla’s Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano to smash in an equaliser after half-time.

Zidane restored Madrid’s lead from the penalty spot, before Guti repaid his earlier assist with a sensational back-heel which freed the Frenchman inside the area to make it 3-1 by firing confidently to the top corner.

Sevilla kept battling, and the Andalusians’ defender Aitor Ocio pulled one back at a set-piece. Zidane would not be denied though, and slammed in a left-footed shot from the edge of the area to complete the scoring, and complete the only LaLiga hat-trick of the Galactico’s career.

Former Egypt and Al Ahly striker Mohamed Nagy Gedo has confirmed his retirement from football after he was released by Egyptian Premier League club El-Gouna in October 2020.

Gedo was most notable for his super-substitute role in Egypt’s victorious campaign at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

During the continental showpiece, the former Hull City striker came off the bench on six occasions and scored five goals which made him the tournament’s top scorer as the Pharaohs lifted their seventh Afcon title.

He sealed Egypt’s 3-1 win over Nigeria after coming on as a substitute in their opening game and he scored the match-winning goal that ensured a 1-0 triumph over Ghana in the final match after he was introduced as a 70th-minute substitute.

“I feel that this is the right time to retire. Thank God I had a wonderful career that was much bigger than I could have imagined,” Gedo tweeted.

“I am very grateful for every moment. I am fortunate to have achieved all my dreams, but this would not have happened without your encouragement. I am now ready for the new journey in my life. Thank you to all of you.”

Gedo started his career at Ala'ab Damanhour in 2002 before securing a move to Al-Ittihad in 2005 where he spent five years.

Following his remarkable performances at Afcon 2010, the 36-year-old was signed by Egyptian Premier League giants Al Ahly where he won two Caf Champions League titles, two league titles and two Caf Super Cups, amongst others.

During his stint in Cairo, Gedo was loaned to Hull City for his first European adventure and he helped the Tigers secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2012-13 campaign. The Damanhur-born star later made two appearances in the English top-flight.

He also had stints at El-Entag El-Harby, the Arab Contractors before finally playing for El Gouna between 2018 and October 2020.

Mumbai City extended their unbeaten run to nine matches with a 1-0 win over ATK Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Monday.

The Islanders are now five points clear of the Kolkata giants at the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table after 10 rounds of games. 

Mumbai City head coach Sergio Lobera said that his side worked hard against the strong backline of ATK Mohun Bagan and he is happy with their performance. 

"We know the plans of ATK Mohun Bagan and we tried the to improve against a very good defensive team. I'm very happy with the performance of my team specially in the first-half, I think we created chances and we had good opportunities. I'm happy with the performance," Sergio Lobera said after the game. 

"Every game is different. We know that ATK Mohun Bagan is a very dangerous team. They have very good strikers. I think we balanced our defence and attack very well," he added. 

Bartholomew Ogbeche scored the lone goal of the match in the 69th minute and he was soon replaced by Adam Le Fondre. Lobera, once again, showed confidence in his bench and said he is happy with the way his squad is performing.  

"We have very good players coming from the bench. Some players were tired we needed to press the opponent because the centre backs deliver very easy long balls. I'm very happy with the players who came off the bench," he said.

Lobera, however, downplayed the chances of Mumbai City winning the league as he mentioned that his team needs to continue improving in the latter half of the season. 

"We are only in the first half of the season. We need to play 10 more games.  We need to continue improving. My wish is to try and win the trophy" 

Gennaro Gattuso insisted Napoli cannot always be beautiful like Hollywood actor Brad Pitt as he urged his side to be a "bit ugly" like him.

Napoli claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Udinese thanks to Tiemoue Bakayoko's 90th-minute winner in Serie A on Sunday.

Lorenzo Insigne had opened the scoring via a 15th-minute penalty to move level with Careca for seventh place on Napoli's all-time scorers list in Serie A (73) and also seventh position across all competitions (97).

Udinese's Kevin Lasagna equalised 12 minutes later before Bakayoko ensured Napoli bounced back from their shock defeat at home to Spezia.

Napoli are sixth in Serie A – nine points adrift of leaders AC Milan – and head coach Gattuso told his team to get down and dirty.

"I don't get angry with my players for their technique, it's when they don't smell fear. I think we are a team who repeatedly don't spot the danger when it's coming. I want to see a team that keeps going," Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia .

"I don't want us to miss a chance, then I see immediately the defenders start complaining to each other, oh we missed a goal, that means we're bound to concede one. No! We have to work as a team.

"We have to improve in situations when we're under pressure, because I know I don't have a side that can soak up pressure for ages, that's not our approach, but we can do better than we are now. You can't tell me that mentality cannot be improved or coached. I don't believe it.

"What happened with Spezia infuriated me, because the ball came off the post, we had five players ball-watching while Tommaso Pobega reacted quicker. That is a lack of determination, that is unacceptable.

"Napoli want to always be beautiful, but sometimes being a bit ugly is a good thing. You can't always be Brad Pitt, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Sometimes you have to be a bit ugly, like me. I look worse than usual now, as I'm all puffed up due to the cortisone shots, but I feel better."

Former Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech has urged Michael Olunga to move with speed and sign a deal with Qatari champions Al Duhail SC.

The towering Kenyan star has reportedly attracted the attention of Al Duhail with reports indicating they have already started negotiations with Olunga’s current club Kashiwa Reysol over his services.

Last week it was reported in Japan that Kashiwa Reysol have already accepted a transfer fee of 7million Euros (approximately Ksh890million) from the Qatari club.

It is the reason, Oliech, who played in Qatar with Al Arabi before moving to France, has now told Olunga to take up the deal because it will help him to make good money from football before he retires.

“I haven’t talked to him [Olunga] but heard he has another good offer from Qatar,” Oliech said as quoted by Nation Sports. “I encourage him to pick up these offers because he is [almost] 27 and not 22.

“He has about four or five years remaining at the top level. It is time for him to make good money.”

However, Oliech who retired from active football after playing for Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in 2019, has however, warned Olunga to prepare for a tough life in the Gulf.

“He will have to get a strong agent and negotiate a good contract,” Oliech continued. “When I was there, most club owners would delay the salary of a player when his performance dipped, there wasn’t much world-class management.

“It is also very hot over there and he will have to adapt fast.”

In an interview a week ago, a source close to Olunga told Goal a move to Qatar could be in the offing but refused to divulge more details.

“What I know, Olunga’s club Reysol and Al-Duhail have been in talks for a possible move for the player but I don’t want to give out details or how far they have reached in the negotiations,” the source told Goal.

The former Gor Mahia striker recently clinched the Golden Boot in the Japanese J-1 League after notching 28 goals from 32 matches while in the 2019 season, he finished the season with 27 league goals as Reysol finished the J2 season as champions, winning promotion to the first division.

Al-Duhail formerly Lekhwiya SC, is a Qatari sports club that plays in the Qatar Stars League. The club is based in the Duhail district in the city of Doha and plays its home games at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium and is the first team in Qatari football to win the first division title on its debut season.

They are currently sitting second on the 12-team table with 27 points from 13 matches, eight fewer than table-toppers Al Sadd, who are on 35 points.

Japhet Tanganga says there is a lot more to come from Tottenham sensation Alfie Devine, who he says has "looked a real spark" since stepping up to senior level.

Devine made instant headlines when he came on as a half-time substitute during Tottenham's third-round FA Cup tie against eighth-tier minnows Marine on Sunday.

At the tender of age of 16 years and 163 days, the midfielder became the youngest player in the club's history at Rossett Park, and marked the occasion by rounding off the 5-0 victory with a stunning finish.

Devine also became Spurs' youngest senior goalscorer of all-time by finding the net with a powerful low strike on the hour mark, capping a swift rise to prominence in north London.

The England U16 international only recently started training with Jose Mourinho's first team, but Tanganga expects him to go on and become a regular in the squad after making such an impressive bow.

"Every time he's come up [to first-team training] he's looked a real spark," the 21-year-old defender, who also featured in the second half against Marine, told the Evening Standard. "He's doing well. When he was coming on, I just told him, 'Keep it simple, do what you've been doing in training – there's a reason why you've been training up'.

"You saw glimpses of his ability in a really professional performance. I'm really happy for him to get his first professional goal. He's a really good player and there's more to come as well.

"It's a great achievement and it was a great goal. Hopefully from here it's a confidence boost, knowing that the manager can put him in for these games.

"He's shown he can hustle, he's shown what he can do, so hopefully from here he can kick on and get more appearances for the club."

Mourinho reserved special praise for Devine in his post-match interview, highlighting the teenager's natural ability in the final third of the pitch.

"He's a kid with good potential. He's basically a midfield player but with an instinct to appear in finishing zones and to score goals," the Portuguese boss told reporters.

"We like him and of course for him, it was a special day."

The banter between Tanzanian giants Simba SC and Young Africans (Yanga SC) has moved a notch higher after Haji Manara promised to get ‘a job’ for his former CEO Senzo Mazingiza.

Mazingiza left Simba in dramatic fashion before the start of the 2020-21 season to join rivals Yanga in a move which irked the Simba top brass.

Despite Mazingiza still being employed by Yanga, Manara has taken to his social media pages to tease the South African administrator by saying he can get him a job at promoted Ihefu FC.

“My dear friend and longtime boss, where are you?” Manara wrote on his social media pages. “It’s been a while since I last saw or heard from you, are you ok?

“But I truly believe wherever you are, you were not fired, my friend. If anything happens to you, please don’t hesitate to let me know, because I have connections to take you to Ihefu to be the CEO.

“Cheers brother.”

Simba and Yanga have enjoyed a rivalry spanning over a decade with the two teams dominating the Tanzanian Mainland Premier League.

In the last four seasons, Simba have been dominating the top-flight as they have won it consecutively and are currently taking part in the Caf Champions League and have already qualified to the group stage.

Simba reached the stage after mauling FC Platinum from Zimbabwe 4-0 at Benjamin Mkapa in the return leg to avenge the 1-0 first leg defeat suffered in Harare and advance on a 4-1 aggregate scoreline.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi have now been pooled in Group A of the competition alongside Al-Ahly of Egypt, AS Vita from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudanese giants Al-Merreikh. 

They will start their campaign with an away match against AS Vita on February 12 in their group opener set for Kinshasa before they return home to host Egyptian giants Al Ahly on February 23.

Simba will then travel to Sudan on March 5 to face El-Merreikh before they play the same side back home on March 16.

Their fifth match of the campaign will see them face AS Vita at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on April 2 before they wind up their group matches with an away match against Al Ahly on April 9.

Sergio Ramos will sign a contract extension at Real Madrid, says Jorge Valdano, with the Blancos expected to do all they can to avoid a repeat of the Cristiano Ronaldo saga that took one talismanic figure off their books.

The Blancos paid the price for parting with a five-time Ballon d’Or winner in the summer of 2018.

After nine record-setting years at Santiago Bernabeu, Portuguese superstar Ronaldo was allowed to head for Italy and link up with Juventus.

Filling that void was never going to be easy for Real, and they have found that out to their cost through a number of failed experiments.

There is now a very real threat that another leader within their ranks could soon head for the exits.

Ramos is yet to be offered an extension to his expiring deal, meaning that he could drop into the free agent pool at the end of the season.

Various landing spots have been mooted for the World Cup winner, from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain, with there still plenty of football left in the 34-year-old defender.

With that in mind, and having made costly errors in the recent past, Valdano believes that Real will tie their long-serving club captain to fresh terms.

The former Blancos player and coach told El Transistor: “He will end up renewing with Real Madrid. It would be a mistake on both sides if it were not done. 

“The same thing happened with Cristiano. Real Madrid was left without the Champions League and Cristiano without the Ballon d’Or.”

Real did return to winning ways without Ronaldo in 2019-20 as they recaptured the Liga title, but defending that prize is proving to be tricky, with more points dropped in their latest outing against Osasuna.

Zinedine Zidane has questioned why that fixture, which was played out amid a snowstorm in Spain, was allowed to take place on a frozen pitch.

La Liga chiefs have also faced criticism for allowing Real to travel to Pamplona, but Valdano believes figures of blame are being pointed in the wrong direction.

He said: “If a plane takes off, the responsibility is not with La Liga.”

The Argentine added on the difficulties being endured by Zidane: “Every game we make the coaches responsible for more things.”

Zidane will be calling the shots once again when Real return to action on Thursday in a Super Cup semi-final clash with Athletic Club.