Author: Gabby

Manchester United have officially decided against pursuing Andoni Iraola as their next permanent manager. The Bournemouth boss is set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign. Iraola, 43, attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea, but United have now removed him from their list of candidates. According to the Daily Mail, the Spaniard is no longer being considered for the Old Trafford position.

Earlier this season, Manchester United parted ways with Ruben Amorim and appointed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the campaign. Carrick has been in temporary charge and the club is now evaluating other options for the permanent role. Iraola’s impressive work at Bournemouth caught the eye of multiple teams, but United’s hierarchy have decided to look elsewhere.

Manchester United have initiated discussions with interim manager Michael Carrick to become their full-time head coach, according to sources close to the club. The former midfielder has emerged as the frontrunner following an impressive stint in charge since taking over from Ruben Amorim in January.

Senior officials have rallied behind Carrick, and the issue is expected to be addressed at an executive committee meeting later this week. While the club maintains that no final decision has been made and other candidates remain under consideration, insiders reveal that Carrick is the preferred choice to lead the team into next season.

The 45-year-old has revitalized the squad, earning significant backing from the boardroom. Despite official denials of a done deal, the trajectory strongly suggests Carrick will be appointed permanently.

Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has expressed support for Jose Mourinho making a comeback as Real Madrid’s manager. In a conversation with The Athletic, Ancelotti stated that the 63-year-old Portuguese tactician is the ideal candidate to reestablish stability at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Mourinho is reportedly set to depart Benfica during the upcoming summer transfer window and is strongly linked with a return to Los Blancos. Ancelotti, who secured Real Madrid’s historic ‘La Decima’ Champions League trophy after taking over from Mourinho in 2013, remarked: “If he goes back to Real Madrid, I will be genuinely thrilled for him. He is capable of delivering an outstanding performance, as he has consistently done at every club he has managed.”

Former France international Emmanuel Petit has delivered a stark verdict ahead of the FA Cup final, suggesting that Chelsea would need nothing short of a miracle to overcome Manchester City. Speaking exclusively to Boyle Sports, Petit highlighted the glaring disparity between the two sides, particularly in front of goal.

According to Petit, Chelsea have squandered numerous scoring opportunities throughout the season, lacking the killer instinct required at the highest level. In contrast, he described City as a ruthlessly efficient unit when chances arise.

“In a one-off final, anything is possible, but let’s be realistic,” Petit said. “City recently beat Chelsea with ease, and there was only one team on the pitch. Right now, it feels like any side can beat Chelsea, so why should City be any different? They control games, have world-class players, and enjoy a vastly superior atmosphere and environment.”

The 1998 World Cup winner expressed frustration with Chelsea’s inability to respond to adversity. “I’ve waited for a reaction from this team for months, but they’ve let me down repeatedly. They need to show pride and do what they’re paid for. They have failed collectively for weeks. A miracle is required, but I don’t see it happening because City are superior in every department.”

Petit’s comments underscore the mounting pressure on Chelsea’s squad as they prepare for the final showdown at Wembley.

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have ramped up their training regimen as they gear up for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Guinea. Under the guidance of head coach Akeem Busari, the squad relocated from Abuja to Ikenne on Sunday to refine their strategies and sharpen their skills. This move marks a significant phase in their preparation for the highly anticipated two-legged encounter.

As part of their buildup, the Flamingos are scheduled to play a friendly match against Lakeside Queens on Thursday at the Remo Stars Stadium practice pitch in Ikenne. This game is intended to test the team’s tactics and provide valuable match experience. During their initial training camp in Abuja, the side engaged in five friendlies, which helped the coaching staff assess player form and team cohesion.

The first leg of the qualifier is set for Sunday, May 24, in Conakry, Guinea, while the return fixture will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne a week later. The team is expected to play additional friendly matches before departing for Guinea, ensuring they are fully prepared for the challenge ahead. The Flamingos are determined to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and these intense preparations reflect their commitment to success.

Mbaye Diagne, a former Senegal international, has confidently predicted that Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen will eventually surpass his longstanding Turkish Super Lig goal record. Diagne’s record, set during the 2018-2019 season, saw him net 30 goals across two clubs. He scored 20 times in 17 matches for Kasımpaşa in the first half of the campaign, then added 10 goals in 12 appearances after transferring to Galatasaray mid-season. Reflecting on his achievement, Diagne expressed satisfaction but noted that he would only be comfortable seeing Osimhen break the mark. ‘I’m happy, very happy. I have scored a lot of goals. I’m also happy to be the top scorer here,’ Diagne told Turkish publication Vatan. ‘Nobody has broken my goal record in the Super League. They probably won’t be able to. I could only accept it if my friend Osimhen broke it, but it is impossible for anyone else to break it.’ So far this season, Osimhen has found the net 15 times in the Super League for Galatasaray. Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu has scored 22 goals.

Award-winning Nollywood star Bucci Franklin has opened up about his troubled childhood, revealing that the absence of his father drove him to substance abuse. In a heartfelt conversation with media personality Chude Jidenowo, the actor detailed how being raised solely by his mother after his father abandoned them left deep emotional scars.

Franklin described himself as a “complete disaster” during his youth, admitting that he sought solace in drugs to cope with the void left by his father’s departure. “My dad walked out on us, and I was a mess,” he said. “Drugs became my escape.”

However, he credited his mother with helping him overcome his addiction. According to Franklin, her unwavering support and dedication were instrumental in turning his life around. He attributes his personal and professional success entirely to her efforts.

The actor stressed the critical role a father figure plays, especially for boys, and highlighted the immense challenges single parents face. He emphasized that children need both parents for balanced growth, and the lack of a paternal presence can have severe consequences.

In a recent chat on Cool FM Lagos, singer Joeboy opened up about a troubling trend in the Nigerian music scene. Alongside his guest, Wizkid Chan, Joeboy argued that excessive pride and rivalry are increasingly spoiling the spirit of collaboration among artists.

According to Joeboy, some musicians view collaborations as contests rather than opportunities to blend talents. He noted that he personally avoids such situations by working only with artists he shares a close bond with. “It’s much smoother when I team up with someone I’m cool with,” he explained. “That way, ego and hidden competition don’t creep in. When I invite someone for a feature, my goal is for them to shine even brighter than me on that track. That’s the whole point of bringing them in. So I don’t understand the need to compete.”

Wizkid Chan echoed similar sentiments, highlighting how ego often derails the creative process. “My biggest issue with collaborations is pride,” he said. “I never try to control how you record; all I ask is the same respect. But some artists request a feature and then try to dictate how you should perform your own part. That’s not right. Let me do my thing.”

He further stressed that the purpose of a feature is to introduce a fresh perspective to a song, not to turn it into a battle. “I seek out artists specifically because they bring something I can’t. I would never ask them to copy my style. Yet, there are those who, after hearing their collaborator’s verse, go back and rewrite their own just to sound better. That’s not what collaboration is about. It’s not a competition.”

Renowned fashion mogul Veekee James and her spouse have officially stepped into parenthood, announcing the arrival of their firstborn. The news, shared through a series of heartwarming family portraits and a touching caption, has sparked an outpouring of love across social media platforms.

In her announcement, Veekee described the newborn as a divine gift and the start of an exciting journey. The couple expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received from their community.

Fans and fellow celebrities quickly flooded the comment sections with congratulations. One Instagram follower remarked, “This is the beautiful life we prayed for. So happy for you, Veekee!” Another fan on TikTok wrote, “The internet’s favorite duo has become parents. It’s truly heartwarming.”

The announcement has become a trending topic, with many celebrating the couple’s transition into family life. The joy is palpable as the fashion icon and her husband embrace their new roles.

In a candid revelation during an appearance on the Crea8torium podcast, renowned Nigerian record producer and Mavin Records founder, Don Jazzy, disclosed that releasing singer Di’ja from his label stands as the most challenging professional choice he has ever made. The music executive, whose real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, described the atmosphere as emotionally charged, noting that Di’ja herself picked up on his distress during the decision’s announcement.

Don Jazzy explained that the situation struck a deep chord because he regards every artist under his banner as family. **“Parting with Di’ja was one of the toughest moves I’ve had to make in my career,”** he confessed. **“It took a heavy emotional toll. I can’t imagine personally telling another artist to leave the label—that responsibility now falls to Tega and Rima if such a need arises. Everyone at Mavin Records is like my own child, so this was brutal for both of us. She could see I was struggling. In fact, she questioned why I had to be the one to deliver the news. The room was filled with tears—it was incredibly hard.”**

Di’ja originally inked a recording contract with Mavin Records on Valentine’s Day in 2014. Over the next four years, she unveiled several singles and an extended play under the imprint. However, in 2023, the singer clarified that she never formally exited the label but instead **“life unfolded unexpectedly,”** leading to her gradual departure from the spotlight.