Looking for Soccer News?

Boniface Musema's agent Lewis Matua has blamed Premier League side Onduparaka FC for the latest drama that surrounded the players’ transfer.

Musema was unveiled as the Caterpillars’ first signing in July where they confirmed he had signed a three-year deal and was handed jersey number 4.

In a new twist, Odramacaku FC announced the player had already renewed his contract with them until 2021 thereby leading to questions on the authenticity of the previous move.

“We had a pre-contract with Onduparaka but the terms were not fulfilled within the stipulated duration agreed,” Matua told Sports Nation.

“We gave them three more chances to fulfil the terms and they failed. Musema was a player there before and was lied the same way. So, we felt one person can’t be lied twice by the same club.

 “We clearly told them Odramacaku have been really good to us so they deserve a compensation package.

“After all these failed, we decided to continue with Odramacaku FC since they have been supportive.”

On their part, the Onduparaka CEO Edison Shaban explained their side of the story concerning the latest transfer drama.

“I think Musema should take regional league as a starting point to open channels for his career,” said Shaban.

“We met with Bonny and gave him a chance to become a better player. He had played at Onduparaka before, so we remembered him.

“My chairman met him initially, on a personal ground. We are not demeaning the regional league but we felt that he also wanted a bigger platform; Onduparaka.

“We accepted terms and he truly signed. I personally signed him at High Five in Arua. He gave me some of the necessary documents and expressed his joy to have joined the Green Army.”

“So, what next was to finalise the deal and do other licensing procedures. For starters, he was a non-contracted player for two seasons at his club, meaning that he was automatically a free agent.”

Shaban also said the player started exhibiting unusual behaviour before his return to Odramacaku.

“He had all of a sudden started behaving negatively, and I had to talk to the team manager to talk to him. I explained everything to Edema, including how the boy had started to play hide and seek,” the official stated.

“I was later told that the boy’s former team had entered him into the system. Somehow, I knew that he had done it intentionally not to join us.

“We are not at the level of fighting other clubs, we shall honour his decision, the most important thing is to see him play.”

Onduparaka have strengthened the playing unit ahead of the new season by signing a number of players.

Romelu Lukaku has more than justified his decision to leave Manchester United for Inter, says the Belgian’s agent Federico Pastorello, with the 27-year-old now considered to be “the best striker in the world”.

A powerful frontman is posting the numbers to back up such a claim.

Since leaving Old Trafford behind in the summer of 2019, Lukaku has hit 40 goals through 56 appearances for Inter.

His end product has never been in doubt, but his qualities never fit the mould while in Manchester.

That led to a move being made, with Lukaku rediscovering his spark with a Serie A title hopeful.

While United sought to fit the burly forward into their system, Inter have built theirs around a talismanic presence.

Pastorello is delighted to see his client getting the recognition he deserves, with his opinion being that he is now the most fearsome No.9 on the planet.

“His transfer to Italy was the right decision and the best choice for him,” Pastorello told Sky Sports. “Inter are a great family and the fans are completely crazy about him.

“Romelu is a modern player and a sensitive person. He needs love, when he feels everyone’s affection he really becomes the best the market can offer, even if Inter obviously do not intend to sell him.

“In terms of quality, attitude and mentality, he is currently the best striker in the world.”

Lukaku was back among the goals in his most recent outing, as he bagged two in a 2-2 Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.

He already has nine for the season across eight appearances for club and country, with his value to the cause at San Siro becoming impossible to ignore.

Former Inter and United star Paul Ince has told BT Sport of a devastating performer who has taken his game to new heights since leaving England: “Talking about when he was at Manchester United, he didn’t look like he could get around the park.

“He’s just running past people [now]. Pace! I was fitter at Inter – whether it’s the climate or the food. He looks like a different animal. We know he can finish. Wow.”

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has conceded defeat after the Mainland Premier League champions lost their first match in the 2020-21 campaign to Tanzania Prisons on Thursday.

Samson Mbagula scored the only goal that separated the two sides in their first engagement after returning from the international break, a result which also saw Simba drop to the third spot with rivals Yanga SC jumping to second on the league table.

The Belgian tactician has now admitted they got the result they deserved because they did not push to get a win and that football is all about getting a win, defeat, or a draw.

“We have to accept and move on and I have already asked my players to shift focus to the next league match,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by the club’s official website.

“In football, we have three results, you either win, lose or draw and it has happened that we lost our match, and it means we start preparations there and then for the next match and that is what I have told the boys, they should not cry over spilt milk, they should dust themselves up and focus.”

Vandenbroeck also dismissed reports that Simba lost the match because they were missing some of their key players, among them midfielder Clatous Chama and defender Pascal Wawa, but instead, said they are focusing on the next assignment.

“I will be lying if I say missing our key players led to the defeat, I don’t want to say that, Simba is a big team and we have players who can do the job if others are out, and as I said before, we lost in a fair way, and I don’t want to concentrate on the defeat, I have moved on and I also want my players to accept and move on," he continued.

“It is part of football, and that is why it is called football, you don’t use your chances, then you get punished if your opponents use his chances, there is nothing to complain about, we lost and our focus now is the next match,”

Captain John Bocco also missed the league match played at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, owing to injury.

The defeat also came after Simba had picked up a 4-0 win against JKT Tanzania before the international break. Their next two matches will be against Ruvu Shooting and Mwadui FC before facing Yanga in the Kariakoo Derby on November 7.

Gerard Pique said the behaviour of Barcelona's hierarchy has been “barbaric” amid allegations they have spent money on criticising and discrediting their players through social networks, and says he would have handled Lionel Messi's burofax drama very differently if he was president of the club.

The Catalan club has found itself mired in controversy under the stewardship of president Josep Maria Bartomeu, with a multitude of on and off-field issues seeing many calling for the supremo to step down.

Among several other dramas, Pique addressed the topic of the club hiring of I3 Ventures, allegedly to clean up Bartomeu's image at the same time as attacking prominent figures associated with the club.

Club official Jaume Masferre was tasked to lead the project, which Bartomeu claimed was merely to monitor the club's social media activity, and Pique says that it “hurts” to see such a figure remain on the company's books after a short suspension.

“I don't want to get on badly with anyone but there have been times, like the issue of social networks. As a Barca player, I see that my club has spent money, money that went to criticising not only people with a historical relationship with the club, but active players – and that is barbaric,” the centre-back told La Vanguardia.

“I asked [Bartomeu] for an explanation and what he told me was: 'Gerard, I didn't know', and I believed it. Then, later, we see that the person in charge of hiring those services is still working at the club.

“That hurts me a lot. I can say that in public because I told the president personally before. What do you want me to say? It is painful? Yes. Can I do anything about it? Well, no. My relationship with the president may be cordial but there are things that have stayed the same.”

Abysmal transfer business, a lack of squad depth and the hiring and firing of a multitude of coaches have all been laid at the feet of Bartomeu, but the biggest drama was undoubtedly Messi making it known to the club that he wanted to leave at the end of last season.

“If I was president I would have acted differently,” Pique said of the Argentine's bombshell. “I asked Leo to hold on. I didn't have much dealings with him in those days because I thought it was a very personal decision. I do remember saying: 'Leo, it's just a year and then new people will come in'.

“I ask myself: How can it be that the best player in history, who we have the holy luck to enjoy, gets up one day and sends a burofax because he feels that they are not listening too him? It's shocking. What's going on? 

"Leo deserves everything. The stadium should have his name on it before any sponsor. We must protect our own, not discredit them.”

Pique added: “It surprises me that people like Pep [Guardiola], Puyi [CarlesPuyol], Xavi or [Victor] Valdes are not in the club. Something isn't being done well. You have to keep these people around, they are part of the club's history and have made it great. They should be here.”

Young African SC (Yanga SC) custodian Farouk Shikhalo has revealed the coaching style of new tactician Cedric Kaze will make the team better in no time.

The Burundian was appointed to coach Timu ya Wananchi after the exit of Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, who was in charge of the 27-time league champions for just 37 days. 

"Kaze is a very good coach and I now understand why he has been abroad for a long time," Shikhalo told Mwanaspoti.

"There are some tactics he is bringing on board that will make Yanga play modern football ahead of all the other teams in Tanzania. 

"The team is now having defensive discipline which starts with the strikers. But it is done tactically; defensive midfielders are not solely relied on to stop the opponents from getting to the ball in the danger zones."

The Harambee Stars goalkeeper also revealed how Kaze wants his team to play.

"He likes us to possess the ball, and when the opponents get it, he wants us to press fast and regain possession," Shikhalo revealed.

"If you are keen, you will realize these are the tactics used by most teams in Europe."

Kaze led Wananchi to a 1-0 win over Polisi Tanzania in his first game in charge.

In the early exchanges, the administrative side remained disciplined and gave as much as they received, and it was their defensive play which limited Timu ya Wananchi from getting a goal at the Shamba la Bibi.

In the second half, the former champions upped their tempo, limiting their opponents from getting out of their half. 

The visitor's consistency finally overwhelmed Polisi and in the 70th minute, they managed to get the goal. Mukoko Tonombe, referred to as Ticha, was let loose in the danger zone and fully capitalized on position to win maximum points for Wananchi.

Despite a spirited fight-back by Polisi, Young Africans held on to claim their fifth consecutive win in the Tanzania Mainland League.

Azam FC lead the race for the title with 21 points from the seven games played while Wananchi are second with 16 after playing 16 matches. Defending champions Simba SC are third with 13 points coming from the six games they have played.

Cape Town City have announced two new signings in Ghanaian striker Prince Opoku Agyemang and Zambian international wide player Charles Zulu.

The Citizens, who were beaten in the MTN8 quarter-finals by Orlando Pirates last weekend, have been fairly low-key in the transfer window up until now.

Before this week, their only confirmed acquisitions were Bombay Reid from Steenberg United, Sanele Gaxa (AmaZulu FC), Terrence Mashego (TS Galaxy) and Aubrey Ngoma, who returned to the club from Mamelodi Sundowns.

They have also allowed Siphelele Mthembu to join the AmaZulu revolution, while the Cape side's headline business being the sale of Kermit Erasmus to Sundowns.

Erasmus was really hitting his full stride down in the Mother City last season and his loss could be keenly felt.

Unless some of the new men can step up.

That includes Zulu, who arrives with high expectations from Zambian giants Zanaco.

“Cape Town City is delighted to announce the acquisition of Zambian international winger Charles Zulu. City and Zanaco have reached a transfer agreement, which sees Zulu sign a 4-year deal till June 2024!” The club announced on their Twitter account.

Agyemang arrives from Ghana Premier League side Medeama SC and has been handed the coveted number 9 jersey.

According to ghanasoccernet, he scored 11 goals and added three assists in 14 matches last term.

"Cape Town City is delighted to announce the acquisition of Ghanaian international striker Prince Opoku Agyemang. City and Medeama SC have reached a transfer agreement for an initial 1-year deal with the option to extend to June 2024," read another post on City's social media page.

The Cape side have also promoted forward Taahir Goedeman to the first team.

The Citizens ended last season in good form with five wins in seven outings in the bio-bubble after the lockdown to end in sixth position.

Jan Olde Riekerink’s side begin the new league campaign on Saturday evening when they host Chippa United at the Cape Town Stadium. The match is scheduled for an 18:00 kick-off.

Real Madrid’s decision to let Cristiano Ronaldo leave for Juventus in 2018 was “lunacy”, says former Blancos president Ramon Calderon, who thinks the Liga giants are paying the price for parting with a player that was “stupidly sold”.

After nine record-breaking years at Santiago Bernabeu, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner is still delivering the goods for Juventus on a regular basis despite now being 35 years of age.

While Ronaldo has continued to prosper on Italian soil, those he left behind in Spain have struggled to fill the sizeable void his departure created.

Big money has been invested in the likes of Eden Hazard as Real seek to find another attacking talisman, but little value has been found..

Calderon finds it difficult to work out why the Blancos were prepared to do business with a European rival and offload the greatest goalscorer in the club’s illustrious history.

“Since Cristiano was stupidly sold, it was clear that the team needed reinforcements in that position and in others but the sad reality is that the club's accounts are not only bare but are also full of bills to the tune of around 1,000 million - bills that have to be paid," Calderon told reporters at the annual Desafío Nacex paddle tennis tournament.

Zinedine Zidane left his coaching role at Real in the same summer as Ronaldo departed, after delivering a hat-trick of Champions League crowns, but was soon brought back into the dugout as the club faltered in his absence.

The Frenchman did snatch the Liga title away from Barcelona in 2019-20, but is facing more questions on the back of an inconsistent start to the current campaign that has seen surprising setbacks suffered at home and in European competition.

“What happened against Shakhtar and Cadiz left a very bad taste but we have to be optimistic because this team have been through difficult moments before and managed to come through them although obviously, the sensations aren't good,” Calderon added.

He went on to say of Zidane: “He's doing what he can with the resources available to him.

“The Shakhtar performance wasn't good, there were a lot of mistakes, I'm sure in the line-up too, but you cannot pin the blame on one person, it's an accumulation of circumstances, a chain of events which have led to this. It was lunacy to sell Cristiano when they don't have anyone to score goals.”

It has been suggested that Real could turn to another icon from their past if Zidane were to be moved on, with legendary former frontman Raul reportedly being lined up for a promotion from the Castilla ranks in Madrid, but Calderon has warned the Blancos against any rash decisions.

He said of the Raul talk: “I have a great fondness for him and admired him hugely as a player, coach and person, but giving him the job would mean sacking a coach who can make mistakes and surely has made mistakes, but who also won three Champions Leagues on the trot.”

Kenyan forward Victor Ndinya is in the United States of America where he is trying out with Houston FC and the LA Galaxy reserve team.

The winger left the country on Wednesday for the US hoping to seal a deal with either of the two teams.

"I landed in the US on Wednesday after securing the two trials," Ndinya revealed to Goal on Friday.

"This is a massive opportunity for me and I hope to secure a deal with either team; it is about giving my best and showing them I have what it takes to help the teams achieve their targets."

In late 2018, the midfielder was invited for trials with LA Galaxy but was not successful. He made a return to Kenya and in January 2019, he was roped in by Wazito FC. 

He had initially played for Bandari FC, Tusker FC, and Nairobi Stima FC.

"I have been here before and I know what to expect in the trials; they are always tense and you also learn a lot," he continued.

"Even if I fail to secure my move, I am confident it all will not be in vain because I will acquire extra knowledge and skill."

Ndinya was among several players dropped by Wazito FC who were restructuring for the 2020/21 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

The 2018/19 National Super League champions struggled to cope with the best teams in top-flight football, and after the league suspension, they were in the 13th position with just 20 points acquired from 23 matches.  

It is, for this reason, the technical bench decided to part ways with players they think are surplus to requirements.  

Others who were dropped alongside Ndinya are long-serving custodian Steven Njunge, midfielder Teddy Osok, forwards Pistone Mutamba and Derrick Otanga.

The foreign quartet of Paul Acquah from Ghana, DR Congo's Piscas Kirenge, Augustine Otu of Liberia, and Togolese Issifou Bourahana were not spared either.

Kevin Omondi, who has also been serving as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, has been axed as well.

Wazito, who are led by Fred Ambani and Babu Salim, are aiming at challenging for the league title this season.

Immediate former Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi is reportedly on his way back to Tusker.

Kimanzi left his position at the national side just a few days after beating Zambia in an international friendly at Nyayo Stadium on October 9.

Numerous reports have linked the former Mathare United captain and coach to the Tusker job ahead of the start of the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation Premier League.

Currently, the Ruaraka side is under the leadership of Robert Matano, who is understood to be recuperating in hospital after falling ill a week ago.

Should Kimanzi be appointed the Brewers’ coach, it will be the second time he is replacing Matano at the club. Before the 2014 season began, he was appointed to replace the veteran coach who had overseen the 2013 season in which the club struggled and finished fifth.

Tusker then had a poor season that saw them finish 18 points below champions Gor Mahia despite being winners in the 2011 and in the 2012 season.

Kimanzi then landed the Tusker job after beating former AFC Leopards coaches Jan Koops and Zdravko Logarusic, who were the front runners at the time.

Tusker last won the title in 2016 and have failed to dislodge Gor Mahia in the subsequent four seasons as they have come close on those occasions.

Since Tusker have been participating only in one domestic competition, their main priority has always been the Premier League title.

The 11-time champions have been pulling out of the FKF Shield Cup competition and focused majorly on the league which guarantees the winner a Caf Champions League berth.

As was the case in the 2019/20 season, Tusker will face Gor Mahia in the league-opening encounter on November 20. Last season, they lost the opener by a 5-2 margin in Kisumu as K’Ogalo eventually cruised to retain the title.

Meanwhile, other reports indicate Sofapaka are targeting Gor Mahia’s winger Samuel Onyango. Batoto ba Mungu have already signed Lawrence Juma from the league champions and going by the rumours it seems they are not done yet with transfer business.

The 2009 KPL winners have already signed eight players and the former Ulinzi Stars winger is said to be the remaining top target before the transfer window shuts.

Martin Keown claims to see shades of Patrick Vieira in Thomas Partey, considering Arsenal’s £45 million ($59m) summer signing to be “silky smooth” like his legendary predecessor in the Gunners engine room.

The north London side have been crying out for another commanding performer at the heart of their team.

World Cup winners Vieira and Gilberto Silva once provided those qualities as Arsenal enjoyed Premier League title triumphs under Arsene Wenger.

Mikel Arteta is being charged with the task of recapturing former glories, and the Spaniard is following a familiar blueprint.

He snapped up Partey from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day, with Keown seeing an immediate return being offered by the Ghana international, who caught the eye on his first start.

The former Gunners defender told BT Sport after watching the 27-year-old control proceedings in the 2-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna: “I think you know when you see a player immediately add that touch of class, who wants to play and makes things happen. He's so silky smooth, he's oozed class and been everywhere.

“This is where he looks like Vieira for me when he's travelling with the ball and making things happen.”

While Partey is very much part of the present and future at Emirates Stadium, fellow midfielder Mesut Ozil appears to have been consigned to the past after being left out of the domestic and continental squads.

Keown said of the German playmaker: “I think it's extremely sad, he's a quality player. When someone is that talented it has to be an application thing – effort, not putting in what they want.”

Arsenal are looking to move in a direction that no longer involves Ozil, with Arteta putting his own stamp on a squad inherited from fellow countryman Unai Emery.

Part of that process has seen Emi Martinez offloaded to Aston Villa, with Keown questioning whether the right decision was made there as first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno made a costly error in the hard-fought win in Vienna.

The ex-Gunners centre-half said: “Having let Martinez go, who was magnificent, to see Leno making these types of mistakes, you wonder whether it was the right call.

“It was a difficult night for Leno. The team had their backs to the wall but showed very good character to get back into it.

“A couple of changes were made. I thought when they changed it actually and went to a back five, the pictures then became more familiar to the players and they found a way to win this match.”

Arsenal will be back in Premier League action on Sunday when they play host to Leicester.

Since the tragic murder of former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in 2014, the Soweto side have struggled to find a reliable custodian.

They've been through numerous options including Jackson Mabokgwane, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Brighton Mhlongo and Brilliant Khuzwayo, who was cruelly forced into early retirement before he actually got to play for the Sea Robbers.

Last season the club went international in their quest for stability at the back and signed up Frenchman Doris Jelle. That failed as he played just three league games and has since been released by the club.

The other 27 league matches, as well as a few cup games, saw Wayne Sandilands standing in goal for Bucs.

But at 37, Sandilands is at the back end of his career and it's been clear that Pirates are lacking in that department, with a solid keeper being so crucial in terms of stabilising and marshalling the defenders in front of him.

To be blunt, they were almost desperate to get in someone like Ofori, and the Ghana international's agent may well have sniffed that opportunity as contract negotiations between the club and player went on for a lengthy period of time before he was officially signed this week.

Whatever Pirates are paying the 26-year-old may well be worth it though; that's based on his superb showings for Maritzburg United over the past three seasons and the fact that he is a regular in goal for continental giants Ghana.

In fact it may have been surprising to some that he hasn't moved to Europe yet.

Pirates fans will be happy he didn't go overseas. And as former Buccaneers keeper Mayoyo told the Citizen, Ofori's signing could make a big difference to the team.

“Ofori proved himself at Maritzburg United already so he is a quality signing for Orlando Pirates,” Mayoyo said.

“The goalkeeping department has been troubled for a long time now and last season Wayne Sandilands stepped up and did well for us. He brought stability to the department but now we have a new keeper.

"This could go two ways. It could motivate him to work harder because Ofori will challenge for his place in the squad he is a quality goalkeeper or we could have a situation where the new goalkeeper is trying to settle and we are back to where started.

“The addition of someone like Ofori is great because we now know we have him and Sandilands to trust in that position."

Pirates begin their league campaign with an away game at AmaZulu on Saturday night.

Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have been praised for their work to condemn social inequalities, with the duo setting an example for other Premier League stars to follow according to ex-Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi.

Manchester United forward Rashford has been awarded an MBE after his awareness campaign led to a government U-turn on supplying free school meals to children whose families are struggling financially during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Manchester City star Sterling, meanwhile, has been an outspoken critic of racism, with high-profile incidents of abuse and discrimination continuing to tarnish both footbal and the wider world.

The Premier League is aiming to highlight the need for more action with its 'No Room for Racism' campaign, and is encouraging fans to challenge and report racism wherever they see it.

And Ameobi, who is one of the members of the Premier League’s Black Player’s Advisory Group [BPAG] alongside the likes of Troy Deeney, Ian Wright, Joleon Lescott and Darren Moore, believes that the actions of both Rashford and Sterling will help other players stand up for what they believe is right.

"What Raheem had to deal with and speak on sets a great example for the rest of us to not settle for the status quo, but challenge what’s going on in society," Ameobi told Goal.

"Ian Wright has spoken out recently and the more people that speak out the more it helps. It hurts, and the more people who can speak out helps society understand that this is not right.

"I am blown away with the impact and it goes to show how much impact footballers and sports stars can have.

"When you look at the campaign Rashford has done and how it has affected change at a national level, this is something that is an important issue that we have to deal with.

"The fact he has been able to use his voice at such a young age to really affect change speaks to his character and what he believes in. That, for me, sets an example for the rest of us and shows us we can have an impact on these social issues.

"Marcus fights the fight for those who can’t, and that’s what we are all trying to do. I am proud of what he has done and he has rightly been recognised for that."

The Premier League's latest push to challenge racism both within football and away from the game comes in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests around the world following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota in May.

Footballers in England have held their own peaceful protests since the Premier League returned to action in June, with players continuing to take a knee ahead of every top-flight fixture during the new campaign.

And while in-stadium incidents of abuse tend to create the most headlines, the English top-flight is also aiming to target online racial abuse, with Tammy Abraham and Wilfried Zaha just some of the high-profile names to have been targeted over the past 18 months.

The Premier League is also pushing to increase opportunities for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) coaches while providing free resources to educate children on inclusion and diversity through the 'Premier League Primary Stars' programme.

For ex-Nigeria international Ameobi, the pain of being racially abused himself has helped fuel his fight to ensure the next generation find working in football and wider society easier than he did.

"I came from a deprived area myself in Newcastle and I now go into those areas with the [Newcastle United] Foundation, you talk on these issues and it is something that I have always been passionate about," he added.

"There are things that happened to me as a player early in my career. I look back on playing for England in the Under-21s in Albania. You had to deal with those things, I remember Shaun Wright-Phillips being really affected by it.

"I think that this can’t be right and from that point, I have always wanted to talk about it, certainly within my club and community here.

The impact has to happen in the Premier League nationally and locally. The more others do the same, then it can only be good.

"The players are now feeling more comfortable to address this and raise the discussion. It is important because people realise what the footballers are dealing with online, which is racial hate. It then allows us to talk about why a 12-year-old can feel comfortable enough to abuse Wilfred Zaha in his direct messages.

"That is ignorance on this topic. We must continue, despite the setbacks we see, to educate the next generation. We are launching these initiatives with the clear aim to make these issues a priority in our education system so they are available to primary school children.

"The preconception is that if you are on a football pitch in the Premier League that everything is rosey and nothing affects you, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. When players and ex-players talk about how racism feels, it allows people to empathise with what they are going through.

"It isn’t just the players but then their whole families who suffer with it. That in itself, I believe, has a huge impact on people that are watching. These players are idolised throughout the world so what they say matters.

"It is good they have support from the Premier League and different government bodies to feel protected, report and get help on these issues."

Ryan Giggs sees Alex Telles becoming Manchester United’s version of Andy Robertson, with the Red Devils finding a buccaneering left-back that is capable of emulating the efforts of a rival at Liverpool.

The reigning Premier League champions have benefited considerably from the boundless energy of their full-backs.

Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are considered to set the standard when it comes to a modern day approach that requires defenders to do much more than merely keep opponents at bay.

Jurgen Klopp has found two options at Anfield that provide a regular stream of assists from the flanks, with a different dimension added to Liverpool’s game.

United may have landed themselves a performer cut from the same cloth, with Telles having impressed on his debut in a 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.

He arrived at Old Trafford boasting 26 goals and 57 assists from a productive four-year spell at Porto, with the potential there for him to deliver a similar return in Manchester.

Giggs believes the Brazilian, who operated at wing-back against PSG, can make the same impact at United as Robertson has made across three seasons at Liverpool.

The Red Devils legend told the Webby & O’Neill Podcast: “With Telles, that’s something we’ve been missing.

“You look at Trent, Robertson, the goals they provide. Now, full-backs have to have that in their armour.

“They have to be like that, if the wingers are coming in, the full-backs have to create the width and make goals.

“It looks like he might have that extra dimension as well with creating goals.”

Telles is not the only United new boy that Giggs sees making a positive contribution to the collective cause.

Donny van de Beek is being eased into the fold at Old Trafford amid fierce competition for places, but the Netherlands international has shown that he can be a useful alternative for Solskjaer when it comes to creativity and goal threat from deep.

Giggs added: “I think with Van de Beek, it’s how does he get in the team?

“When he’s come on, he’s impressed, he always looks like he’s got a goal in him. He scored for Holland during the international break.”

Former Everton striker Kevin Campbell believes that Jordan Pickford has been unfairly singled out as part of a “witch hunt” following his challenge that led to Virgil van Dijk requiring anterior cruciate ligament surgery, with injuries labelled “part of the game”.

England's first-choice goalkeeper clattered into the Liverpool centre-back early on in the recent Merseyside derby, forcing the Netherlands international off the pitch with an injury that could see him miss the majority of the 2020-21 season.

In doing so, Pickford drew plenty of negative criticism from pundits and fans alike, with ex-Red Graeme Souness branding the tackle as an “assault”, while some supporters took to the 26-year-old's social media account to send abusive messages – a matter the police are now looking into.

And while Campbell agrees that the shot-stopper's challenge was far from clean, he believes that officials were right not to punish Pickford as there was no malice in his actions.

“I know there's been a bit of a witch hunt, going around about the retrospective ban, but it's amazing that when other incidents happen nobody calls for retrospective action,” Campbell told Gentingbet.

“Virgil van Dijk is a fantastic player – and nobody likes to see a professional injured – but I know that Jordan Pickford didn't go out to deliberately injure him. Injuries are part of the game.

“Unfortunately Van Dijk is out for a long time now, but it's just one of those things that happen in football sometimes. It wasn't a great challenge, I admit that, but I think the officials got it right.”

Everton themselves will be missing a star player when the Toffees come up against Southampton this weekend, with Richarlison having seen red late on against Liverpool for a rash challenge on Thiago.

Campbell, however, believes that his former club have the “ideal” replacement for the Brazil international in the form of an ex-Arsenal man.

“Alex Iwobi will be the ideal choice to come into the Everton squad to replace Richarlison,” he said. “However, Ancelotti might want to change it up and bring in Bernard. I do think it'll be Iwobi because he's come on and inserted himself into games and he's looked lively.

“He'll come in and Everton will keep on rolling.”

Back in March 2020, Hyderabad FC were all set to go into the 2020-21 season of Indian Super League (ISL), riding high on confidence. They had hired former Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca as head coach and plans were in place to build a balanced squad which had the coach's signature on it. 

But the journey then took an unfortunate turn. Not only did the country go into a lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Roca ended up leaving the club after an offer from Barcelona to join them as a fitness coach. Hyderabad had no choice but to replace him with another Spaniard in Manuel Marquez Roca. 

It was kind of a restart that was forced on the management but they bounced back in no time. With all the COVID-19 guidelines in place, they became the first club to start on-field training under the guidance of newly-appointed technical director Thangboi Singto in a bio-secure bubble in Goa where ISL is set to start on November 20. 

"This season has been a challenge for everyone," Varun Tripuraneni, co-owner of the club, told Goal. "We started planning for this season in January itself with the appointment of Albert (Roca). Sujay (Sharma, director of football at Hyderabad) and Albert were working together to get the right team composition.

"At a crucial time, we had to part ways with Albert. It is tough to hold on when there is such an opportunity for him and at the end of the day, it is the right decision for both parties. We have Manuel on board now. Albert also mentioned about him and the transition was a smooth process."

Imagine being told that you are not supposed to move out of a 'bubble' for the next few months - that's what the players and the coaching staff are going through right now in Goa. It is not easy to process but it is important to follow the league's guidelines so that football can come back. And making the players and staff come to terms with the reality of the restrictions will be the biggest challenge for ISL clubs this season. 

"The challenge with the COVID scenario was to really adapt to the new guidelines and norms. The important thing is that everyone is on board and understands the scenario and be open to adapt to these. The major challenge was to get all of them on the same page and make them understand why we are making certain decisions and to get them to agree to it," Varun said. 

The former Kerala Blasters CEO added, "I think we got our planning in order quite well. The challenges were parallel - we had a change in coach and we had to prepare for the season (during the pandemic). We all had to agree that there were few things which were under our control - things like training grounds, logistics for Indian players and coaches, the isolation before travelling to Goa. It was a priority to get that absolutely right and as smooth as possible. Things like visas and foreign travel were not under our control, so we knew we had to be patient."

"More than logistics, aligning all players towards the common plan was the major challenge. Players and coaches do get restless when it comes to visas and travel plans that are not organized. But we could get the foreigners in at the earliest possible time."

The former Chennaiyin COO believes playing football without spectators inside the stadium will have an impact on sponsorships and that will be the clubs' biggest challenge financially. 

"The way the league has been coordinating has been excellent. ISL are doing their best in the interest of the clubs and the league itself. They have done quite a bit to help. 

"Operation is a major cost but the impact will be on the sponsorship front. It is early to say if it will be a good or bad season for sponsorship, we are not in a position to do any activation for sponsors on the ground. That would be a major impact. Having seen the way how IPL teams have organized it this year, it is definitely something we can (learn from) to bring partners on board for this year."

Despite the recent obstacles for Hyderabad, the club owner feels last season, wherein they made their debut in the ISL, remains the toughest when it comes to putting together a pre-season. 

"It is a tough season for all but I feel we put in a lot of effort going into this season. I would put last season as toughest in terms of preparing for a new season as we hardly had any kind of plan." 

Hyderabad finished at the bottom of the table in their debut season and will be looking to make a strong comeback in their second season in ISL. They have recruited a good group of overseas players that consist of Australian attacker Joel Chianese, Brazilian midfielder Joao Victor and former Odisha marksman Aridane Santana. 

Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus believes Darwin Nunez will surpass Joao Felix as the club's most expensive sale after praising the hat-trick hero following his Europa League exploits.

Nunez opened his account for Benfica with a three-goal haul as the Portuguese powerhouse defeated Lech Poznan 4-2 in their Europa League opener on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Uruguay forward became Benfica's most expensive signing when he arrived from Almeria in a €24 million ($28m) deal in September.

Jesus is already bracing for Nunez's exit, tipping his transfer fee to surpass the club-record €126m ($148m) Benfica received from Atletico Madrid for Joao Felix last year.

"We got it right. We must not forget that he is a kid, he is 21 years old, there is a lot about the game that he does not know yet. He will learn with me and Benfica," Jesus told SportTV.

"All this decision-making ability, finishing and speed...He was Benfica's most expensive purchase, and when there is no pandemic, he will be the most expensive sale. He will be a world-class player.

"Unfortunately for me, maybe I will lose him in a short time."

Benfica's Nunez scored with all three shots on target away to Polish side Lech Poznan.

Nunez made it 2-1 for Benfica three minutes prior to half-time before netting his second of the match on the hour-mark as he completed his hat-trick in the third minute of stoppage time.

"Three goals? It means a lot to me," Nunez told SIC. "When I don't score, I try to help the team. I haven't scored for five games, but I worked for the team.

"From the first moment the team gave me confidence. They think I deserved these goals. I am very happy.

"I thought I was going to score my first goal. I didn't expect the three goals, but thankfully. Now it's time to continue working with humility. It's a difficult series now and we have to prepare ourselves in the best way."

While yet to score in Portugal's top-flight, Nunez has contributed four assists from as many games and will be backing himself to fire in the league when Benfica are next in action against Belenenses on Monday. 

Former Italy, Juventus and World Cup-winning boss Marcello Lippi said he is "definitely done" with coaching.

Lippi has been without a job since resigning as China head coach in November last year following a 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat to Syria – his second stint in charge of the Asian nation lasting just six months.

The 72-year-old tasted silverware with Italy, Serie A giants Juventus and Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande but the Italian great will not be returning to the dugout.

"I'm definitely done with the coaching job," Lippi told Radio Sportiva . "That's right, it's enough. Maybe I could be useful in other roles, let's see. But nothing until spring."

After spells with Atalanta and Napoli, Lippi took charge of Juventus in 1994 – guiding the Bianconeri to three Serie A titles and the club's last Champions League trophy in 1995-96.

Across two stints as Juve coach, sandwiched in between a one-year tenure with rivals Inter, Lippi won five Serie A trophies, four Supercoppa Italiana crowns, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Coppa Italia.

After leaving Juventus in 2004, Lippi helped Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 and he was re-appointed by the Azzurri in 2008 following two years away from the national team.

In China, Lippi joined Guangzhou Evergrande in 2012 and claimed three Chinese Super League titles and the AFC Champions League trophy to go with Chinese FA Cup and Chinese FA Super Cup success.

Lippi however struggled to carve out success with China's national team and announced his shock resignation in November last year after a disappointing loss against Syria. 

“A team should give everything on the pitch. The tactics of the head coach should be carried out. If the player is afraid of losing the game, then there is no fighting spirit, desire, guts," Lippi said post-match.

“It is my responsibility, the head coach's responsibility, although we defeated Guam and the Maldives, but the team that we played against today was better, more coordinated and organised than us.

“My annual salary is very high. I am fully responsible for this loss. Now I declare that I officially resigned.”

Porto coach Sergio Conceicao has slammed Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for his "extremely unpleasant" attitude during their Champions League clash on Wednesday. 

Guardiola saw Porto take the lead via Luis Diaz inside 14 minutes at the Etihad Stadium before City pulled level six minutes later via a penalty tucked away by Sergio Aguero. 

The Premier League giants would then score twice in the second-half as they claimed a scrappy 3-1 win against their Portuguese opponents. 

Both Guardiola and Conceicao were particularly active on the sidelines during the match with the latter since slamming the conduct of his Spanish counterpart. 

"I've got a lot to learn from Pep Guardiola, in the way he pressures referees, talks to opposition players and opposition dugout," Conceicao told Portuguese media. 

"He's a fantastic example. I have to learn this. We were angels compared to the other dugout.

"He spoke about our country using ugly words. Guardiola's attitude was extremely unpleasant. The whole Manchester City dugout was because if anybody should have been complaining, it was the Porto bench, because we were extremely hard done by.

"I have to apologise to the referees in Portugal, because I complain when I think we are wronged, but comparing the officials of this game and those upstairs in the VAR, international referees have a lot to learn from ours in Portugal.

"The refereeing had a big bearing on the outcome of this match. [Augustin] Marchesin has his leg in a bad state right now because he was fouled before the penalty award." 

Guardiola didn't call out Conceicao in his post-match comments but did admit he was surprised by how Porto approached the game. 

“We knew how tough it would be because Porto and Benfica are the best teams in Portugal. They have the winning mentality, they have to win every game,” Guardiola said.

“I was surprised they played so defensively with five at the back, we had to be patient but in the second half we didn’t concede counter-attacks, we didn’t concede set-pieces, we didn’t allow them to run.

“We did the perfect performance against a really good team. It is nice to win games while suffering.”

The two managers will face off again in early December when City travel to Porto on matchday five of the Champions League.