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Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona would represent a blow for all of La Liga, says former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has informed Barca - his only senior club - he wishes to depart after a dismal season at Camp Nou, a decision that has caused uproar at the Blaugrana as their captain and superstar prepares to leave after two decades of service.

The Catalan giants failed to win a single trophy and exited the Champions League with a humiliating 8-2 quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich.

In La Liga, meanwhile, a disappointing end to the interrupted 2019-20 season saw Barca relinquish the title to their arch-rivals, who eventually finished five points clear at the summit to claim their first Primera Division crown since 2017.

It appears the talismanic number 10 will now move on just two years after his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo left Madrid for Serie A giants Juventus.

Calderon told Stats Perform News: "It would be really hurtful for the image, the quality, the show [in LaLiga if Messi went].

"We have been really lucky having Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi playing in our league for the past 10 years, the best two players in the world by far.

"They won't be here anymore, neither of them will be with us. It is really hurtful for our league and for the fans."

Calderon revealed his surprise at Messi's request, although he acknowledged the scale of Barca's recent failings made the move understandable.

"Recent events have surely made Messi upset," he said. "It is a weird time because he is a winner, as Barcelona used to be.

"The defeat against Bayern has hurt him a lot, for sure. That makes Messi reconsider his future, especially because there will be a World Cup in two years. I am sure he is aiming to be there and to win the cup.

"So, he has probably thought the future of Barcelona is not the best for his goals and he takes that decision.

"It has been a bit shocking for me because I thought he had already decided to finish his career at Barcelona, but it looks like these latest actions have influenced him to leave the club."

Ben Chilwell hopes to replicate Ashley Cole's success at Chelsea after completing a move to the club from Leicester.

The left-back joined the Blues in a £50 million ($66m) deal and signed a five-year contract on Wednesday.

Cole, who spent eight years at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League among others with Chelsea, heaped praise on the England international and tipped him to succeed at the club.

Chilwell grew up watching Cole shine at Chelsea and will be comparing himself to the former England star. 

"It’s great for myself, I’ve got that benchmark of what a great Chelsea left-back is," he told the club’s website when asked about following in Cole's footsteps.

"I grew up watching Ashley Cole play so I know how respected he is here and again that was a big reason for me wanting to come.

"I feel like I’m still young and I want that sort of career that he had at Chelsea for myself as well."

Chilwell will be working closely with another Chelsea legend during his time in west London, with Frank Lampard currently in charge of the first-team.

The 23-year-old revealed that his talks with the coach were pivotal in convincing him to make the move.

"[Lampard was] massively important. Obviously I wanted to play for a massive club, that’s what everyone wants for their whole career, but talking to Frank before I came was one of the main reasons I wanted to come," he added.

"He instilled a lot of confidence in me, told me how much the system suits the way I play and seemed like a really good guy that you can talk to about stuff away from football. I think that’s very important for a young player, having a manager that you can get on with and talk to stuff about.

"He’s very keen on young players, we’ve seen that since he’s been here and talking to him was a massive reason for me wanting to come.

"When you work under a manager who was a player himself, I think that’s really important. He was a great player not just for Chelsea but for England as well. Hopefully he can help me with my career for however long and hopefully he can give me a lot of advice and I hope I have as good a career as he had.

"When I spoke to the gaffer he kind of instilled what I already knew, that this system does suit me. When I watch Chelsea play I look at the full-backs and think: ‘That’s perfect for me, that’s my game down to a t’. I literally can’t wait to get started and hopefully many great years to come."

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana is confident recent experiences of triumphing in closely-contested Premier Soccer League (PSL) races will help them beat their closest challengers Kaizer Chiefs to the league title.

Second-placed Sundowns are three points behind leaders Chiefs and the two sides meet at FNB Stadium on Thursday in what is potentially the title decider.

Last season, Downs pipped Orlando Pirates to the league crown on the last day of the season to win it by two points, having also beaten the same side to the championship with a game to spare the previous season.

That is in stark contrast to Chiefs’ last league triumph in 2015 where they won it with several games to go and Kekana feels that the past brutal confrontations have battle-hardened them, an experience that would come handy in the current campaign.

“At the moment I think we now understand the nature of this game and I believe that we are a team that is very ambitious. We have been in this space for so many seasons now,” Kekana told the Sundowns media team.

“We understand that we have to take each game at a time and one of the matches that we have to take care of is the one that is coming up against Chiefs. We know that we have to do our business and we have to make sure that we win this match.

“We have to make sure that we take care of all the elements that are involved in the game. I think we are in the right frame of mind to do so because we just won the match [last game against Golden Arrows] and I think it’s a morale booster for that game. I believe we stand the chance of doing business for ourselves.”

Sundowns go into this match on the backdrop of a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows on Monday which was their first victory since the PSL season resumed.

Those three points came after a frustrating run of three draws and a defeat, a period that raised questions about Downs’ ability to claim a third successive league title.

“We have a task and responsibility to serve football lovers so we have sacrificed a lot. We know that there is a lot we have to offer on the field of play,” said Kekana.

“It was a breather to play against Arrows knowing very well that we are doing very well as a team. I think we tried, so many games that we tried to win and the tricky ones which were difficult for ourselves because we haven’t been defending well or scoring as many goals as we wanted to.

“But I think we are in a very good space at the moment because we wanted to get the three points we were really looking forward to as a team. I think at the moment the boys know that it’s doable we can go do it again, we can go and win the match again because there are still matches we still have to play.”

After facing Chiefs, Downs will be left with three league games, all interestingly against relegation fighting Limpopo teams Baroka FC, Polokwane City and Black Leopards.

Lionel Messi has been at Barcelona for the entirety of his professional career and the Argentine has produced so many brilliant moments for the club during that time.

His seemingly otherworldly ability has helped the Catalan giants win trophy after trophy in Spain, as well as on the European and world stage, while the individual accolades continue to come his way.

He continues to create so many happy memories for the fans, but which seasons have been his best in the Blaugrana?

Goal takes a look at Messi's five best seasons with the club.

5) Lionel Messi 2009-10 Barcelona season

Pep Guardiola's second season in charge of Barcelona saw Messi continue to grow as the club's talisman as he led the team to four trophies, including La Liga and the Club World Cup.

Barca's 2009 triumphs in the Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup brought their trophy-haul for the calendar year to a record six, on top of the previous season's La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League.

Messi came to the fore on all fronts and he was involved in a total of 58 goals (47 goals - a then career-high - and 11 assists), clinching the European Golden Shoe in the process. His record in La Liga was 34 goals in 35 appearances.

He did finish as the top scorer in the 2009-10 Champions League with eight strikes (though four came in one match against Arsenal in the quarter-final), but was powerless to prevent Jose Mourinho's relentless Inter from dumping Barca out in the semi-final.

4) Lionel Messi 2011-12 Barcelona season

The 2011-12 season was certainly one of Messi's best, but mainly from an individualistic sense, since it was somewhat of a disappointment for Barcelona, even though they won four trophies.

Barca were denied four-in-a-row in La Liga as Mourinho's Real Madrid dominated the division, sweeping to glory with a final tally of 100 points. They did beat Madrid at the beginning of the season in the Supercopa de Espana, with Messi pulling the strings by scoring three goals in the 5-4 aggregate triumph.

As well as missing out on Liga title, Barca fell short in the Champions League, losing narrowly in the semi-final against Chelsea, with Messi even missing a penalty.

Nevertheless, while that penalty miss haunted him, Messi finished the season with a remarkable 73 goals in 60 appearances for Barca across all competitions, including a record 50 in La Liga and 14 in the Champions League. In addition to his 73 goals, the Argentine supplied assists for 29 more, meaning he was directly involved in a total of 102 goals in the campaign.

3) Lionel Messi 2008-09 Barcelona season

The 2008-09 season is widely acknowledged as the campaign when Messi became the main man at Barcelona. Despite being just 21, his genius helped propel them to a treble as they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. 

It was Guardiola's first season at the helm and the Catalan side cruised to La Liga glory. Crucially, they defeated Real Madrid twice in the two league Clasico meetings, including a 6-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Messi scoring in each game.

Messi found the net in the Copa del Rey final hammering of Athletic Club and he also pulled strings in the Champions League final against a Manchester United featuring Cristiano Ronaldo. As well as playing a part in Samuel Eto'o's opening goal, Messi rose above Rio Ferdinand to head beyond Edwin van der Sar to wrap things up for Barca in the 2-0 win.

Having missed the 2006 final victory, the 2009 Champions League triumph was the first true taste of the European Cup for the Argentine, who had shone brightest in a team containing Eto'o, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry.

The end of 2009 saw Messi scoop his first ever Ballon d'Or and he won the prestigious award by what was then a record margin over second-placed Ronaldo.

2) Lionel Messi 2014-15 Barcelona season

Messi recovered spectacularly from his 2014 World Cup final loss with Argentina to star in one of his best ever seasons for Barcelona as he clinched a second treble and became the all-time top scorer in La Liga.

Having seen their Liga dominance challenged by Real Madrid and Diego Simeone's hard-working Atletico Madrid, Messi and Barca stepped up a gear in 2014-15 to ensure the title was theirs.

The league was incredibly tight and getting their hands on the title relied heavily on late-season results against Real and Atletico. Messi rose to the occasion by supplying assists for Mathieu and Suarez, whose goals secured three points against Real, while he struck the only goal of the game against Atleti in May. In the end, Barca won the league by two points.

Messi also dominated the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Club, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory, and, while he was not as decisive in front of goal in the Champions League final win over Juventus, he was still key.

His goal tally for the season was 58 and he assisted a further 27, taking the total of goals he was involved in to 85.

1) Lionel Messi 2010-11 Barcelona season

The Guardiola era at Barcelona got into its groove in 2010-11 and Messi was central to the continuation of the success they had achieved the previous two seasons.

He scored 53 goals and assisted 21 in all during the campaign. His tally for the season included 31 goals in La Liga as Barca finished four points ahead of Real Madrid to get their hands on their third league crown in a row.

While they may have lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid in 2011, they did overcome their Clasico rivals in the semi-finals of the Champions League en route to lifting the trophy. Messi totally dismantled Real in the first leg of the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring twice.

The Argentine was then central to a dominant display in the final against Manchester United, scoring - just as he had two years before in the 2009 triumph against the Red Devils - in a 3-1 win.

Messi won the Ballon d'Or in 2010 and would go on to retain the accolade in 2011 - thanks in no small part to his match-winning ways in 2010-11. 

Dean Henderson has signed a new contract to keep him at Manchester United until June 2025, with the option to extend for a further year. 

The goalkeeper has spent the last two campaigns out on loan at Sheffield United and has impressed under Chris Wilder earning himself a call up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for next month’s Nations League fixtures. 

Henderson kept 13 clean sheets in the league last season and many have backed him to replace David de Gea as first-choice at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues to back the Spaniard but is a big fan of the young England goalkeeper and talks are ongoing as to what role he could play at United next season. 

Chelsea have been interested in signing Henderson after his impressive form but United have been keen to tie him down to a new deal and the 23-year-old is happy to have signed a new deal.  

Henderson, who has been with the club since the age of 14, said:  “The pathway that I have been on for the past five years has been fantastic for my development and the invaluable loan period at Sheffield United has been part of that.

"The goalkeeping department at United is excellent; there are three top-level goalkeepers who have achieved so much in the game and I look forward to working with the group.  The faith that the Manager and the club have shown in me with this contract means a lot to me and will continue my progression as a goalkeeper.

"I’ll be giving everything to improve every day so that I can play as many games as possible for this great club. Now I am looking forward to joining up with the England squad and then preparing for the season ahead.”

Solskjaer has already admitted he has a goalkeeper dilemma ahead of the new campaign. But, it’s one the Norwegian welcomes and he praised Henderson for his improvement while on loan at Bramall Lane  

“We are delighted that Dean has signed his new contract," Solskjaer said. "He had another great season at Sheffield United, where he gained a lot of experience and grew both as a player and a person. Dean is a fantastic young keeper with the attitude and work-rate to keep improving every day."

“We are in a strong position within the goalkeeping department and that gives us the competition for places that we are looking for in the squad. Dean is another great example of the type of player who has come through the academy and truly understands what it means to be at Manchester United.

"We are all looking forward to working with Dean and continuing to develop his talent.”

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande has admitted that the absence of striker Samir Nurkovic in Thursday’s clash against Mamelodi Sundowns would be felt, but one of the team's forwards could step into the opportunity to cover up for the Serbian.

Chiefs will go into this Premier Soccer League (PSL) top-of-the-table encounter at Orlando Stadium without Nurkovic who is suspended after accumulating four yellow cards.

Having scored 13 league goals so far this season, including two after the resumption of the campaign, as well as providing five assists in the campaign, Nurkovic has arguably been Chiefs’ best player.

The influential Serb is just a goal shy of the league’s top goal-scorers Frank Mhango of Orlando Pirates as well as Highlands Park’s Peter Shalulile.

Katsande is aware of the impact Nurkovic’s absence could have on log leaders Chiefs’ challenge for a first league title since 2015.

“Obviously, we are going to miss our top striker, but at the same time it’s football, everybody has been preparing. If somebody gets the opportunity, I think he will take it and help the team,” Katsande told the media as per Sowetan Live.

Interestingly, Nurkovic struck a brace when Chiefs beat Sundowns in the reverse fixture away at Loftus Versfeld last October.

Besides leading the standings by three points, Chiefs appeared to be the strongest of the PSL’s big three this term after twice beating Orlando Pirates in league games.

“When we played them [Sundowns] in the first round, people thought it [beating them] was a fluke,” said Katsande.

“There can be talk, but we are a big team and we know how to win big games and we’re going to win it [against Sundowns]... we know how to prepare [for] big games. We also know that big games are very nice to play because you know you’re playing with the big guys…there’s pride at stake.”

Thursday evening could see Chiefs stretching their lead to six points if they win or the Brazilians levelling up at the summit.

On top of Nurkovic's unavailability, Chiefs could go into this match severely depleted if Leonardo Castro and Lebogang Manyama fail to recover from injuries in time for the encounter.

After Lazarous Kambole scored his first-ever Chiefs goal during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch, the Zambian forward could be inspired to pick up from where he left.

Gor Mahia FC have confirmed the signing of striker Tito Okello from Uganda.

The lanky forward has signed for the Kenyan champions from Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC after agreeing to pen a two-year contract.

The attacker's contract with the Venoms expired, and the player jumped on the chance to play for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions.

“We have sealed the signing of Tito Okello from Vipers on a two-year deal,” Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier told Goal on Wednesday.

Prior to signing the new deal, Okello took to his social media pages to thank Vipers for giving him the platform to build his career.

“I would like to thank the club’s President Lawrence Mulindwa, the management, and the technical staff and above all the fans of Vipers for the great love, care and respect rendered to me during my two years at St. Marys Kitende.

“I wish the club all the best in the Caf Champions League and the UPL next season.”

On Tuesday, Goal exclusively reported Gor Mahia and the player had reached an agreement and the deal was to be made public soon.

A source who did not want to be named but privy to the transfer told Goal: “The deal has been reached between the player's agent and the club.

“Okello is a good player who will improve our attacking department which had problems last season. We did not have a point-man especially after the exit of [Francis] Afriyie and [Gnamien] Yikpe.

“[Juma] Balinya struggled to fit in and we were forced to use [Nicholas] Kipkirui in the position which is not his by nature, and so Okello will definitely help us fill the void in the attack.”

Despite playing a vital role in helping Vipers win the UPL last season, there have been internal struggles in the team which has led to a mass exodus including the exit of Okello.

Goalkeeper Derrick Ochan has also left the Premier League champions despite the fact he had two years remaining on his contract.

Last season loanees Janjali Joseph, Dickens Okwir, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Duncan Seninde, and Farouk Musisi have also left after mutually terminating their active contracts.

Tom Masiko, Steven Mukwala, Fred Atuhwera, Baden Mujahid have left after the expiration of their contracts.

For Gor Mahia, they have already lost Boniface Omondi to Wazito FC. The established forward has been consistent for K'Ogalo but opted out owing to financial struggles in the team.

Okello, who has also played for KCCA FC and BUL FC in Uganda, has now joined the list of Ugandan players to have played for Gor Mahia among them Jimmy Bageya, Godfrey Walusimbi, Dan Sserunkuma, Khalid Aucho, Shafiq Batambuze, Erisa Ssekisambu, Hashim Ssempala, and Juma Balinya.

Okello also becomes K'Ogalo's second signing this transfer window after custodian Levis Opiyo, who arrived from Nairobi City Stars.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed that one of their players has tested positive for Covid-19, with the announcement coming just hours before their Women's Champions League semi-final against Lyon.

The squad have been in Bilbao for the last eight of the competition, with goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Signe Bruun allowing them to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday evening to secure a place in the final four.

However, less than three hours before their semi-final was due to kick-off, PSG announced that in the latest round of testing, conducted on Tuesday 25 August, one of the members of their squad had tested positive for coronavirus.

"Covid-19 tests carried out on August 25 in Bilbao revealed that one of the Paris Saint-Germain players is positive for the virus," the statement said.

"The player is currently isolated from the squad and will not take part in tonight's meeting [with Lyon], in accordance with UEFA protocol."

Earlier this month, there were concerns over whether Atletico Madrid's quarter-final tie with Barcelona in this competition would go ahead, after four new positive tests among the Atleti squad and coaching staff were announced just 10 days before the game.

The Spanish club, who had to cancel a friendly match just the week before due to another positive test, suspended all training as a result.

Atleti returned to training six days later, just four days before that clash with Barcelona, which they narrowly lost 1-0 after an 80th-minute goal from Kheira Hamraoui.

The winner of Wednesday's semi-final between PSG and Lyon will secure a place in the final alongside Wolfsburg, who beat Barca 1-0 on Tuesday evening.

The German side triumphed behind a goal from Fridolina Rolfo, who sent Wolfsburg right through to the club's fifth Women's Champions League final.

Lyon are the current holders in the competition, having been crowned champions of European for the last four years running.

They got the better of their domestic rivals PSG in both the league and the cup in France this year too, beating their biggest rivals on penalties in the final of the latter at the beginning of August.

Chelsea have completed the signing of Ben Chilwell from Leicester City in a deal worth £50 million ($66m), the club confirmed on Wednesday.

The left-back has signed a five-year contract with Frank Lampard's team after they reached an agreement with the Foxes this week.

"I am delighted to be joining Chelsea at this very exciting time for the club," Chilwell told the club's website.

"I’m looking forward to being a part of this young, dynamic squad led by Frank Lampard as we challenge for honours next season. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully it won’t be long before we’re playing in front of the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge." 

Chilwell came through Leicester's youth academy to become a key player for the senior team, making 123 appearances and helping them to win the Premier League title in 2016.

"We are very pleased to have completed our third addition to our exciting squad for the coming season," director Marina Granovskaia said.

"Ben brings plenty of top-level experience playing in the Premier League, Champions League and at international level, despite his young age.

"We are confident Ben will adapt very quickly to being a Chelsea player and with the fixture programme for 2020/21 especially busy, he is a fantastic addition to the squad needed to challenge for honours."

He is the latest addition in what has been a busy summer for the Blues, who had already landed Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.

Further additions are expected as the Stamford Bridge outfit made progress in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz this week, having agreed to match the Bundesliga team's £90m ($118m) asking price.

They are also set to announce the signing of 21-year-old defender Malang Sarr for free after his contract with Nice expired at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. 

The French centre-back, who was wanted by Arsenal, Schalke and Leverkusen among others, has agreed a five-year contract with the London club but will likely be sent out on loan for next season.

Chelsea are expected to strengthen even further at the back this week, as 35-year-old Thiago Silva is close to joining following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain as his contract expired after their Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich.

They have already waved goodbye to Pedro and Willian after their contracts expired. The Spain international completed a switch to Roma this week, while Willian joined Arsenal on a three-year deal earlier this month.

Steven Polack has refused to accept he won the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title with Gor Mahia in the 2019-20 campaign.

K’Ogalo were declared champions of the last campaign after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved to end the season prematurely owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

As such, Gor Mahia, who were sitting at the top of the table by then with 54 points were declared champions, while Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United were promoted to the top-flight from the lower league.

The move by FKF to crown Gor Mahia was, however, contested by KPL who said they had not ended the season and moved to court to protest the decision.

Polack has now told Goal he has never accepted to have won his first title as a Gor Mahia coach because he has not seen any trophy presentation nor the team receiving prize money which comes with winning the title.

“They are talking about the new season starting, but what happened to the old season?" Polack posed a question to Goal. “Where is the trophy? So without a trophy then you can’t say or tell someone that you won the league, isn’t it?

“They [FKF and KPL] need to come out somehow and tell us what happened, the only time I heard about it [Gor Mahia have won title] is three months ago when FKF said that Gor Mahia are champions.

“I insist I have to see the trophy first, I want to be associated with the trophy because we won the league, somebody can come and ask you did you win the league? Then you say yes, but another question from him will be, and where is the trophy? So how do you answer this person?

“They must come out and tell us what happened, it is like my associate in England is asking, did you win the league, I simply told him I don’t know. And that is it, I don’t know because we don’t have a trophy, nor do we have prize money for winning the trophy.

“What were the teams competing for? You play for trophies and financial gains, but is that the case in Kenya? My question would be if last season is over and if so, are Gor Mahia the champions and if so, where is the trophy and the financial award that the winner gets?

“If you say we won it, where is the trophy? I don’t think I am the only coach complaining, even if any other team had been declared league winners, they could be asking the same question…where is the trophy?”

Gor Mahia will carry Kenya’s Caf Champions League flag by virtue of being declared the KPL champions in the last campaign.

Manchester United have once again backed Harry Maguire after the defender's appeal against an assault conviction was accepted by Greek courts. 

Maguire was found guilty on Tuesday of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery, charges related to an alleged incident that occurred while he was on holiday in Mykonos. 

The player, who was not present at the trial in Syros, received a 21-month suspended prison sentence but immediately stated his intention to appeal while maintaining his innocence. 

United have expressed their support of the 27-year-old, pointing out that his appeal means that Maguire retains the presumption of innocence until the second hearing can be carried out. 

"An appeal against yesterday’s verdict was lodged this morning by Harry’s legal team. In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing of an appeal extinguishes the initial court verdict and nullifies the conviction," the club explained in a statement released on Wednesday.

"The appeal has been accepted and will lead to a full retrial in a more senior court. This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"Accordingly, he is not subject to any international travel restrictions."

In his own statement, Maguire maintained he had not committed any wrongdoing while he waits for the result of the appeal.

“Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing," he stated.

“I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims.” 

He will, however, play no part in England's upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, as confirmed by manager Gareth Southgate on Wednesday. 

"In light of this evening’s developments, I can confirm I have withdrawn Harry Maguire from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark," Southgate said in a statement, having originally included the ex-Leicester City star in his plans.

"As I said earlier today, I reserved the right to review the situation. Having spoken to Manchester United and the player, I have made this decision in the best interests of all parties and with consideration of the impact on our preparations for next week."

Ajax defender Daley Blind is "feeling well" and will undergo further tests following a health scare on Tuesday, his club have confirmed.

The former Manchester United defender is said to have collapsed before being substituted during a friendly match with Hertha Berlin.

Blind was fitted with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a device that monitors and regulates his heart rhythm, after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation following a Champions League game with Valencia last December.

Ajax coach Erik ten Haag confirmed that there was an alert sent by Blind's ICD as he fell to the pitch during the Hertha match.

"Daley Blind's ICD went off," Ten Haag said to  Ziggo Sport . "He got subbed off straight away and he is feeling OK now, he is feeling fine. We will do research about this now."

Having already spent two months out of the game following the initial heart diagnosis in December, Blind faces another spell on the sidelines while doctors ascertain what caused the collapse.

Ajax issued a statement via Twitter on Wednesday, saying: "Daley Blind was forced to leave the pitch during Ajax - Hertha BSC.

"The central defender is feeling well, given the circumstances, and was at Sportpark de Toekomst this morning. He will undergo further examinations and await the results of these tests before resuming training."

Born in Amsterdam, Blind joined Ajax's youth academy at the age of eight and worked his way up the ranks before making his debut in 2008. He spent six years at the club in a variety of midfield and defensive roles before earning a move to Manchester United in 2014.

Blind returned to Ajax in 2018 and was a part of their famous run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, where they fell short against Tottenham courtesy of Lucas Moura's dramatic winning goal.

The initial heart incident last year came as a shock with Blind's senior career featuring more than 350 matches across 12 years including 69 caps for the Netherlands. Across his career, he has won six Eredivisie titles with Ajax while also lifting the KNVB Cup on one occasion.

Blind failed to win the league while at United, but was a part of four trophy triumphs including the Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield.

Ajax are currently preparing for the start of the 2020-21 Eredivisie season, after the previous campaign was abandoned with no winner due to coronavirus.

Sam Nyamweya has vowed to fight for justice so as to have a free and fair Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections.

The football administrator has once again come out to criticise the FKF Electoral Board saying they lack the capacity to conduct a free and fair exercise and promised to go to all corners in the country and make sure that justice is served to his people.

“I and my supporters wish to state we shall pursue the cause for FKF electoral justice to its logical conclusion,” read the statement from Nyamweya obtained by Goal.

“I and my supporters wish to express our utmost displeasure with the conduct of the FKF Electoral Board because they have confirmed our worst fears that it lacks the will and capacity to conduct free, fair credible, all-inclusive, FKF elections.

“The purported exercise being carried by the FKF Electoral Board is a sham, a charade and a mockery of the basic tenants of democracy.

“The FKF Electoral Board has with reckless continued to disregard the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) on matters FKF elections. This, therefore, renders the purported process and its purported outcome as null and void.”

Nyamweya continued: “I and my supporters will only be part of an electoral process that is anchored in the enabling law being the Sports Act of 2013, one that respects and adheres to the ruling of the SDT and one in which all members of FKF from the grassroots to the national level are accorded their democratic right to freely participate in the elections.”

On Tuesday, the Electoral Board confirmed they had started nominations and the verification exercise ahead of the upcoming football elections in the country.

The Electoral Board led by Kentice Tikolo has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.

On setting the guidelines for the exercise, Tikolo insisted the FKF Electoral Code, which has been the contentious issue with most presidential candidates saying it should be changed, will remain in force.

Apart from Nyamweya, other presidential aspirants Twaha Mbarak, Nicholas Musonye, have also strongly opposed the decision to use the Code and have already moved to court to have the exercise stopped.

Ronald Koeman will need time to rebuild if Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leave Barcelona, says Rivaldo.

Former Netherlands boss Koeman was handed a two-year contract at Barca last week after being drafted in to replace Quique Setien in the Camp Nou hot seat.

The Spanish champions turned to a club legend to steady the ship in the wake of a humiliating 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The 2019-20 campaign marked Barca's first trophyless season in 12 years, and an inquest into the failings of both the first-team squad and the board has already begun.

A number of household names are expected to move onto pastures new this summer, including Messi, who has made clear his intention to leave the club with a view to activating a special clause in his current contract.

Suarez also appears destined to head for the exits at Camp Nou, with Barca reportedly ready to terminate the Uruguayan's existing deal a year before its expiry date.

Koeman may well be taking charge of a significantly weakened squad next season, and Rivaldo has called for patience as the Dutchman attempts to usher in a new era.

"Ronald Koeman was hired to renew Barca's squad and get the team back on track quickly," the former Barca star told Betfair.

"His status as an iconic Barca player, who scored the winning goal when the club won their first Champions League, could give him extra margin for error, especially after the probable exits of Messi and Luis Suarez.

"If both those players leave, Koeman will rebuild from almost nothing so I hope he gets time because it could take a while to get Barca back to their full power."

Rivaldo believes Koeman is the right man to lift the cloud of gloom surrounding Camp Nou, having witnessed the 57-year-old's coaching abilities up close at the height of his Barca career.

The Brazilian added: "He arrives as an experienced manager so, besides his status at the club as a player, he will be respected for the work he did in the Premier League and with the Dutch national team.

"When I was playing for Barcelona, and Koeman was Louis van Gaal's assistant, I never had any problem with him. He used to talk with the players and we could tell he would become a manager one day."

Harry Maguire's refusal to apologise after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery has been branded “shocking” and “unsportsmanlike” by one of the prosecution's lawyers.

The Manchester United captain, who was dropped from the England squad after the verdict, has repeatedly professed his innocence after being given a 21-month suspended prison sentence after an incident on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The centre-back intends to appeal the verdict, with his club fully behind him, but prosecution lawyer Dr Ioannis Paradissis has raised questions over the injuries suffered by policemen in the altercation, adding that his clients are yet to receive an apology from Maguire's camp.

“The appeal process in Greece is a retrial. So obviously there is still time for the three defendants to say they are sorry and then I believe that the outcome might be different,” Paradissis told BBC Radio 4.

“It would be different because under Greek law you can withdraw some accusations - non-aggravated bodily harm and the verbal assaults that were shouted at the policeman.

“I don't know if my clients would accept that but they told me they are still waiting for an apology and they haven't heard any and this is what I find quite shocking and quite unsportsmanlike, because fair play means when I've done something wrong, I apologise.”

He added: “I'm representing some policemen that have been hit, they have injuries and the three defendants say they are not guilty but on the other side they don't explain how these injuries were made.

“We don't have the same definition of what a victim is then because how can you be a victim and the policeman that have been assaulted, hit, that were just doing their job, they went home with injuries - how can they not be a victim?”

The fracas is reported to have been a result of Maguire's sister, Daisy, being assaulted in some way, with some reports claiming his sibling was stabbed in the arm while others claim she fainted after being injected with an unknown substance.

Paradissis, however, has said that any such claims are irrelevant to how Maguire and his entourage treated the authorities, and that his sister made no mention of being attacked in any way when being interviewed by police.

“Obviously that [Maguire's sister being injected] is irrelevant concerning the assault committed against the police officers,” he said.

“And in any case what is strange about this case about the sister is that the sister was interviewed by police and she said nothing about that to the police. This is a new line of defence that we heard recently.”

Gabonese are expecting a lot more from Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they target a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Gabon coach Patrice Neveu has disclosed.

Aubameyang who doubles as the Panthers captain, failed to guide the Central African nation to 2019 Afcon in Egypt but they have started their qualifiers for the next edition on a flying note.

With a record of 25 goals in 65 international games, Neveu believes the 2015 African Footballer of the Year who scored 29 goals for Arsenal last season can replicate his goalscoring form in the national team.

"When I arrived, he was a little hesitant about committing to the national team for many reasons," Neveu told Fifa website.

"I talked to him and he agreed to stay. He’s the captain and a great goalscorer, and he proves this year after year.

"He does a lot of great things for Arsenal, and so the people of Gabon expect a lot more from him in the national team. My role is to create the optimal conditions for him to best serve the group.

"He’s a superstar, but when he joins up with the national team, he treats everyone as his friends. I won’t deny that he has stipulated some requirements for the national team, especially at an organisational level.

"I hope he can do for us what he does for Arsenal and help us in the upcoming Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers. As a coach, I’m very happy to work with a great player like him."

Gabon have registered a win and a draw in their first two qualifying fixtures for the 2021 Afcon and they sit second in Group D behind the Gambia.

They have also been paired against Egypt, Libya and Angola in the second qualifying round for 2022 World Cup, however, Neveu has highlighted the priority of the national team.

The nomadic coach who has had managerial stints in 11 countries, is anticipating a tough challenge against Egypt when they begin their qualifiers in May 2021.

"Our first target is to make the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon. Everyone in Gabon was disappointed to miss out on the most recent edition of the tournament, so a return is a must for us," he continued.

“Egypt are favourites in this section because they’re more experienced and have high-quality players such as Mohamed Salah.

"However, I think our team can spring a surprise. We have to believe in our ability to finish top of the group and make the play-off round. We’re going to have a tough game in Egypt, but we can get a positive result there.

“We have some top-level players too, and when we focus on team work, we can get good results, despite our squad lacking some strength in depth, both in terms of the quantity and quality of our back-up players."

Cristiano Ronaldo intends to keep playing football for as long as his body allows and he works fastidiously on maintaining a peak physical condition in defiance of time's unrelenting march.

But, no matter what he does, time will inevitably prevail and the sculpted Portuguese will eventually be forced to hang up his boots for good.

Most footballers are keenly aware that their trade is fickle and could cease at any time, meaning the question of what to do when that day comes is never far from their thoughts.

So, as he enters into the final stages of his career, what does Ronaldo have in mind? Goal takes a look at the Juventus star's retirement plans.

Ronaldo has hinted at a number of potential avenues for exploration when he retires from playing football, including coaching, acting and pursuing studies.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go into acting?

Ronaldo revealed, in December 2019, that one of his ambitions was to "challenge [himself]" by playing a part on the big screen.

"I hope I live more than 50 years to learn new things and face different challenges and try to find solutions for them," Ronaldo told a Dubai Sports conference. 

"One of the things that I seek to challenge myself in, for example, is acting in a movie."

The former Manchester United star wouldn't be the first footballer to transition into acting, with Vinnie Jones, Pele and (to a lesser extent) David Beckham being notable examples.

However, at risk of offending Ronaldo's ego, it seems very unlikely that 'CR7' will land a lead role in a Hollywood blockbuster or find himself in the running for an Oscar any time soon.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go into coaching & management?

Moving into coaching is a well worn path for ex-players and Ronaldo was famously depicted 'coaching' Portugal to victory alongside head coach Fernando Santos in the final of Euro 2016.

Such images would suggest a flair for the craft of coaching, but Ronaldo has been equivocal when pressed on whether he has designs on becoming a coach or manager.

"Right now, I'm not interested in becoming a coach, but maybe one day I will be bored and I will feel like it," he told DAZN Italy in late 2019. "Never say never.

"If I became a coach, I would be a motivator, the coach must pass on his passion and talent to the team.

"For example, I like to have fun, dribble, shoot, score goals, I should pass this on to the team, as a motivator."

Changing roles from being the star player who can do it all to the coach who must inspire others to do it all may be off-putting for Ronaldo.

Indeed, simply being a great footballer does not mean that one will become a great coach overnight and, in many cases, great coaches have had quite average playing careers. 

For example, Diego Maradona is widely regarded as one of the best footballers ever, but has struggled for success as a coach and continues to endure ridicule.

Arrigo Sacchi, meanwhile, was a mere amateur footballer, yet masterminded a golden age for AC Milan and led Italy to a World Cup final.

If he does move into coaching, Ronaldo would be wise not to do it out of boredom, as he suggests, and look to the blueprint of obsessive success stories such as Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go to university?

Ronaldo has said that he would like to "continue [his] studies" when his playing days draw to a close. However, it is not clear if he means pursuing a university degree, as a number of other footballers have.

"I always recommend learning all that is new. This is what I always strive for," said the forward. "I always seek to educate myself, because my studies tend to answer many of the questions on my mind.

"We have to learn the best of others, and this is an important part in helping me achieve what I have reached now."

It might be hard to picture someone like Ronaldo strutting through a university campus with a collection of books tucked under his arm, but there are plenty of examples of footballers with degrees.

In fact, many have completed college courses while still playing, getting stuck into literature in their downtime instead of whiling away hours on the golf course.

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Spain midfielder Juan Mata are notable examples, as well as Brazil legend Socrates.

Focus on his business interests

Long before retirement was ever an imminent consideration for Ronaldo, he had cultivated a long line of business interests outside of football and they are sure to keep him occupied when he stops playing.

He is a hotelier (Pestana CR7), a fashion mogul with various CR7 lines of clothing and lifestyle offerings (including a hair transplant clinic) and has dabbled in the fitness industry with a number of gyms.

One potential business avenue Ronaldo could explore, but has not spoken of yet, is owning a football team. With the wealth that he has accumulated over his career, it is a realistic option and has been done.

Beckham, the man whose No.7 shirt Ronaldo inherited when he joined Manchester United and whose stardom he emulated, has eschewed coaching, but remains involved in football, with ownership stakes.

The former England captain is the owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and has a small stake in Salford City (along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt).

Ronaldo's namesake Ronaldo Nazario (the 'real Ronaldo' for some) bought a majority share in Spanish club Real Valladolid in 2018, four years after his involvement with Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Manchester City are Lionel Messi's "best option" as he seeks a move to a new club, according to Rivaldo, who thinks Pep Guardiola would build his team around the exit-bound Barcelona superstar.

Shockwaves were sent across the football world as news of Messi handing in an official transfer request at Camp Nou broke on Tuesday.

Goal has reported that the Argentine wants to trigger the release clause in his current contract, which expires in 2021, so that he can bring the curtain down on a hugely successful 16-year spell in Catalonia.

The 33-year-old's frustrations over the way the club has been run in recent years boiled over after an embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munch in the Champions League, and he has now decided to see out the remaining years of his career in new surroundings.

Pep Guardiola has already been in touch with Messi to discuss the prospect of a reunion at City, who are one of very few clubs in Europe to boast enough financial power to match the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's current pay packet.

The two men worked together to great effect at Barca between 2008 and 2012, and Rivaldo believes a generational talent would quickly adapt to the demands of Premier League football at the Etihad Stadium.

"Manchester City could be Messi's best option as his next club," the former Blaugrana forward told Betfair.  "He's 33 but his quality and talent are unquestionable and I think he still has a few more years at the top. He could quickly start shining in England.

"Guardiola has deep knowledge of Messi's abilities and would find a solution to quickly incorporate him into the team and get the best from him.

"I even imagine Guardiola building the rest of his team around Messi. His talent can make the difference at any place and at any time, and I'm sure he could produce match-winning performances in the Premier League."

Rivaldo did, however, admit that the prospect of Messi leaving Barca for nothing after a historic era at Camp Nou would leave the club in a perilous position amid the financial uncertainty of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The Brazilian added: "At a time when every club faces difficulties due to the pandemic, it would be a big blow for Barcelona to lose their biggest star without receiving any payment.

"That's the biggest obstacle to an immediate exit for Messi because Barca will want to receive at least some money.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer fee, when he left Madrid for Juventus for €100m, was considered a dubious bit of business in 2018.

"But looking at what's happening with Messi, perhaps it wasn't so bad for Madrid, as they got a good fee at the right time.

"It will be a sad ending for Messi's story with Barcelona if the things remain this way, but this is football and sometimes things don't run according to our expectations."

Leicester have confirmed that Jamie Vardy has signed a new deal with the club that will take him through until 2023 with the Foxes.

The England international forward finished the 2019-20 season with 23 Premier League goals, giving him the competition’s Golden Boot.

With a previous deal that was due to expire in 2022, Leicester have moved to keep the 33-year-old on their books for at least an additional year.

“The journey that I’ve been on with this football club is hard to describe, and although we’ve accomplished so much together already, I know that I’ve got so much more to achieve with this team, so it’s a special feeling to be able to commit my future to Leicester City once again,” Vardy told the club’s official website.

“I love playing my football in front of our fans at King Power Stadium and I’m delighted to continue this journey at such an exciting time for the club.

"We’ve a fantastic team that I believe is capable of getting even better and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the next few years.”

Vardy has been one of the iconic figures of Leicester’s rise to prominence in the Premier League, which peaked in 2016 as they won the title under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri.

He had joined the club from non-league Fleetwood Town in 2012 and fired Leicester into the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2017.

In addition, he holds the record for consecutive games scored in the Premier League, striking in 11 successive fixtures in 2015.

His latest achievement came in July, when he joined the exclusive Premier League 100 club, becoming the 29th player to pass that landmark in terms of goals scored. 

He currently lies on 103 strikes in England’s top flight and has netted 129 times in 309 outings in all competitions for the Foxes, who will play in the Europa League next season after finishing fifth in the standings. That tally puts him fourth on the club’s all-time leading scorer list.

At international level, he has played 26 times for England and has seven goals to his name.