Category: Entertainment

Manchester United have officially announced the list of players who will be leaving the club as free agents when their contracts expire this summer. The Premier League giants confirmed the departures of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, Sonny Aljofree, James Bailey, and Malachi Sharpe.

The announcement was made via a club statement on Wednesday morning. Casemiro, who spent four seasons at Old Trafford, made 160 appearances and scored 26 goals. He was instrumental in helping United secure the 2023 Carabao Cup, notably scoring a header in a standout performance against Newcastle United. The Brazilian captain also lifted the Emirates FA Cup in 2024.

Tyrell Malacia joined the Red Devils in 2022 and featured in 50 first-team matches. The full-back struggled with persistent injuries during his tenure, appearing only three times this season. He was part of the squad that won the Carabao Cup in 2023.

Jadon Sancho arrived at United in 2021 and was also a member of the 2023 Carabao Cup-winning team. The winger played 83 times for the club before returning to Borussia Dortmund on loan, with additional temporary moves to Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Edo Queens delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Abia Angels 6-2 to climb to the top of the NWFL playoff standings on Wednesday. The 2024 champions secured their second victory of the competition, putting them in prime position for another title.

Coach Moses Aduku’s squad now has six points from three matches, sitting comfortably at the summit. The win showcased their attacking prowess, with Chioma Moses stealing the spotlight by netting four goals, including the opener in the third minute.

Additional strikes from Precious Oscar and Atume Doosuur sealed the comprehensive victory for the Benin City-based club. Abia Angels, participating in their first NWFL playoff, fought back with goals from Mariam Abdulrasheed and Blessing Saleh, but it wasn’t enough to stop the champions.

The Nigerian U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, are preparing to reconvene for training this Sunday. This marks the beginning of their final preparations for the decisive World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic.

Coach Akeem Busari’s squad had been given a short rest period after their commanding aggregate victory over Guinea in the previous round. They will now gather at the Remo Stars Sports Institute to start their intensive camp.

In their last outing, the Flamingos dominated Guinea with an 11-0 aggregate scoreline. They recorded a 5-0 win in the first leg and followed it up with a 6-0 triumph in the second leg.

Their opponents, the Young Amazons of Benin Republic, secured their spot in the final round by overcoming Sierra Leone 5-1 on aggregate.

The first leg of this crucial tie is scheduled for Saturday, 5 July, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Nigeria. The return match will take place a week later at the Stade de Kegue in Lome.

The team that emerges victorious on aggregate will earn a place in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted in Morocco from 17 October to 7 November 2026.

Chelsea has officially confirmed that four young players will be departing Stamford Bridge at the end of June as their current contracts come to a close. The announcement was made by the West London club on Wednesday.

The quartet consists of Brodi Hughes, Richard Olise, Jimi Tauriainen, and Sam Rak-Sakyi, all of whom have been associated with the Blues for a significant portion of their careers.

Defender Brodi Hughes has been with Chelsea since the Under-8 level, a tenure spanning 13 years, during which he advanced through the ranks at the Cobham training facility. Similarly, Richard Olise joined the club as an Under-9 and progressed through various academy age groups, earning a spot in the first-team squad for the UEFA Conference League fixture against Astana in the 2024/25 season.

Jimi Tauriainen was recruited by Chelsea in 2020 and was included among the substitutes for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in 2024. Meanwhile, Sam Rak-Sakyi entered the academy as an eight-year-old and went on to make four senior appearances for the club.

These departures mark the end of an era for these academy products, who have contributed to Chelsea’s development system over the years.

As the 2025/26 season draws to a close, Chelsea has officially announced that four of its players will be leaving the club upon the expiration of their contracts on June 30. The news emerged via a statement published on the club’s official X account on Wednesday, detailing the individuals who will not be retained.

The list includes defender Brodi Hughes, who spent 13 years within Chelsea’s academy system. Hughes initially joined the Blues as an Under-8 player and developed through the ranks at Cobham. During the previous campaign, he gained experience on loan at AFC Wimbledon in League One.

Another player moving on is Richard Olise, whose association with the club spanned a decade. Olise arrived at Chelsea as an Under-9 prospect and featured across multiple youth levels. He even earned a spot in the first-team squad for the UEFA Conference League fixture against Astana in the 2024/25 season.

Midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi is also part of the departing group, having made four senior appearances for Chelsea. Starting his journey at the academy at age eight, Rak-Sakyi progressed through Cobham’s youth system and represented England at various youth levels. During the 2024/25 campaign, he made his senior debut in the UEFA Conference League against Noah and went on to feature three more times in the same competition.

The fourth player leaving is Jimi Tauriainen, who joined Chelsea in 2020. He was previously named among the substitutes for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in 2024.

This departure list comes at a time of transition for the club, with the arrival of new head coach Xabi Alonso signaling a fresh chapter. Alonso is expected to stamp his authority on the squad, and these player exits are part of the natural reshaping process.

Arsenal are on the verge of bringing in former Olympic sprinter Arnaldo Abrantes as their new first-team doctor, replacing the dismissed Zafar Iqbal. According to The Telegraph, Abrantes is the leading candidate for the role.

The 39-year-old recently ended his tenure as head of medical services at Aston Villa after the 2025/26 campaign wrapped up. He previously served as head of performance at Nottingham Forest.

In separate news, West Ham United have confirmed that defender Axel Disasi is heading back to Chelsea following the conclusion of his six-month loan stint at the London Stadium. Disasi, 27, featured 17 times across the Premier League and FA Cup, netting a goal against Leeds in the sixth round of the cup competition. He will be seeking a fresh start under new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso.

The 2026 World Cup will showcase some of the world’s most talented footballers, but a few of them also stand out for their massive earnings. According to a recent report by Sportico, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are the top two highest-paid players participating in the tournament, with Ronaldo leading the pack.

Ronaldo’s estimated pre-tax earnings over the past year amount to a staggering $295 million. His on-field income, which includes his contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr, accounts for $230 million of this total. He joined Al-Nassr in 2023 and renewed his contract for two more years, securing a lucrative deal that is reportedly supplemented by commercial agreements. Off the field, endorsements from partners like Nike and Herbalife add another $65 million to his annual earnings.

Messi follows with $140 million, split evenly between on-field ($70 million) and off-field ($70 million) income. The Argentine star’s off-field earnings are bolstered by his partnership with brands such as Adidas and his involvement with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

Other notable players on the list include France’s Kylian Mbappe, who earns a total of $100 million, and Norway’s Erling Haaland with $80 million. Brazil’s Vinicius Junior is fifth at $60 million, while Egypt’s Mohamed Salah ($55 million), Senegal’s Sadio Mane ($54 million), Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez ($53 million), England’s Jude Bellingham ($44 million), Spain’s Lamine Yamal ($43 million), and England’s Harry Kane ($42 million) round out the top 11.

This group of players represents some of the biggest names in football, and their earnings reflect their status as global superstars both on and off the pitch.

Nigerian musician Daniel Benson, widely known as BNXN, has stirred conversation after asserting that the cost of living in Lagos surpasses that of the United States. Having recently moved to the US, the artist shared his perspective during a TikTok live session, comparing the financial burdens of both locations.

According to BNXN, one notable difference is the absence of street harassment or panhandling in the US, unlike the frequent demands for money he encountered in Lagos. He explained that while people in the US also face economic challenges, the overall experience is less stressful. “Since arriving in America, not a single person has asked for money,” he stated, highlighting the contrast with Lagos, where beggars and hoodlums are common.

The singer went further, claiming that Lagos is “super expensive” and even more costly than Los Angeles in terms of general expenses. He noted that except for housing, items in LA are reasonably priced. BNXN revealed he pays $12,000 monthly in rent but emphasized that after covering that bill, he feels financially secure. “In Lagos, you pay rent and still have to deal with numerous other costs and disturbances,” he added.

Iran’s football governing body has claimed that the United States canceled its quota of tickets for the global tournament, marking another flashpoint in the strained relations between the two countries. The federation alleges that Washington is deliberately obstructing Iranian supporters from attending the matches.

This development comes as the 2026 World Cup is set to kick off, with Iran scheduled to play against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt on American soil. The Iranian federation stated that it had already begun selling tickets to fans, some of whom had made travel arrangements, only to have the allocation unexpectedly withdrawn.

The federation expressed outrage, describing the move as a violation of FIFA’s principles of fairness and equality. According to FIFA rules, each participating nation is entitled to eight percent of tickets for their group stage games, which they distribute to supporters. Iran says it followed these guidelines before the US action left them with no tickets to offer.

The dispute adds to the existing tensions following the US and Israel’s military action against Iran earlier this year, which included visa denials for some Iranian staffers. The Iranian federation called on FIFA and tournament organizers to uphold neutrality and ensure that Iranian fans are treated fairly.

As of now, neither FIFA nor US officials have issued a response to these allegations. The situation raises questions about the intersection of sports and geopolitics, especially with the World Cup being hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez is preparing for what he expects to be a highly competitive friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The match, scheduled for Wednesday night at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, serves as a crucial warm-up for the European side ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Martinez highlighted the tactical versatility and strength of the Nigerian team, emphasizing that facing the three-time African champions will provide valuable preparation for Portugal’s upcoming group stage match against DR Congo. He noted that Nigeria’s style shares similarities with Congo’s, making this fixture an ideal test.

“Playing against Nigeria allows us to focus on areas that mirror what Congo can offer. They are a tactically flexible and demanding opponent, which gives us another opportunity to refine our approach,” Martinez stated, as reported by the Portuguese outlet ojogo.

The Portuguese boss is keen to use this encounter to fine-tune his squad’s strategies and ensure they are ready for the challenges of the World Cup. The Super Eagles, under the guidance of Éric Chelle, are expected to provide a stern examination of Portugal’s capabilities.