Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi has had his say on who should win the 2022 Ballon d’Or on October 17. Lionel Messi won the most prestigious individual honor in 2021, thus bringing his tally to seven Ballon d’Ors. However, it looks like Messi will be dethroned from the top this year. A number of names are being mentioned to win the award this year, including Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Messi believes it will be Karim Benzema who will claim the Ballon d’Or title for what has been a hugely impressive season for the Frenchman. The Argentinian told TyC Sports: “I think there are no doubts, it is very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up consecrating himself with the Champions League, being essential from the last 16 onwards in all the games.” “I think there are no doubts this year.” If we take a look at Karim Benzema’s case for the Ballon d’Or, it is hard to argue. The Real Madrid striker has scored 44 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for Madrid, also providing 15 assists. He played a vital role in his side’s Champions League win, scoring important goals against Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City. The striker finished as the top scorer in the tournament after netting 15 goals. The post Lionel Messi CLAIMS Karim Benzema DESERVES To Win The Ballon d’Or This Season first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by David Habib. from https://thefootballlovers.com/lionel-messi-karim-benzema/
0 Comments
Robert Lewandowski has claimed that his time with Bayern Munich is over. Amid interest from Barcelona, the insists he will leave the Bundesliga giants this summer. The 33-year-old spent 8 seasons with Bayern Munich and became the club’s talisman after leading them to success on many occasions. After spending eight seasons with the Bundesliga giants, Lewandowski’s time with them is over, according to the man himself. Robert Lewandowski has stated that he has no desire to play for Bayern Munich anymore and that he expects the club to sell him rather than lose him for free next season. “My era at Bayern is over,” While on international service with Poland, Lewandowski informed the reporters. “I don’t see any possibility to continue playing for this club anymore. “Bayern Munich is a serious club and I believe they won’t keep me, I don’t want to play there anymore. A transfer is the best solution. I hope they don’t stop me.” A number of European teams are sure to be on high alert as a result of Lewandowski’s statements, and they may see a chance to sign one of the world’s best attackers. Barcelona look to be the frontrunners in the battle to recruit the striker, although Lewandowski’s former agent, Maik Barthel, recently said that the Pole has always wanted to play for Real Madrid. Meanwhile, English clubs are also interested, with Chelsea considering a deal for Lewandowski as Romelu Lukaku’s future remains uncertain. Bayern Munich, unsurprisingly, are not pleased with Lewandowski’s comments, and CEO Oliver Kahn has lost no time in retaliating against the club’s star striker. While talking to Sport1, Oliver Kahn stated: “I can’t tell you why Robert Lewandowski chose this path. Public statements like that don’t get you anywhere. “Robert became world footballer here twice in a row – I think he should know what he has at Bayern.” Lewandowski has been unhappy at Bayern for some time, and it was recently reported that he informed his pals that he was considering leaving after Hasan Salihamidzic, the club’s sports director, indicated interest in signing Erling Haaland last August. If Lewandowski leaves Bayern Munich, he would go with a fantastic record, having scored 344 goals in 374 games for the Bavarian giants. Every year Robert Lewandowski has been with the club, he has won the Bundesliga, and he also helped the team win the Champions League in 2020. The post Robert Lewandowski Insists That His Career At Bayern Munich Is ‘Over’ first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Salman Fareed. from https://thefootballlovers.com/robert-lewandowski-insists-that-his-career-at-bayern-is-over/ It seems that the Ousmane Dembele saga is still dragging on. The Frenchman is still stuck in a limbo, with his future still far from certain, and him not aware which club will he be playing his trade for next season. The Catalan giants have still not given him closure on which month will be the expiration of his contract, or whether he will renew the deal or not. The mercurial Frenchman, Ousmane Dembele is adept at either foot and is a wanted man, with a lot of clubs circling around for his availability, notably Chelsea, whose manager Tuchel has worked with him in Dortmund, and PSG, who are now looking for pieces to complete their team around Mbappe. But in recent times, a new contender has joined the fray, and it is Bayern Munich. Will Bayern Munich Sign Ousmane Dembele Or Will They Look For Alternatives?According to reports from Sport1, which is a german channel, they believe that the club was approached by the representative of the player a few days ago in order to talk about the possibility of joining the German champions. But the deal is a tricky proposition from an economic standpoint. With Ousmane Dembele only 24, he is asking for a rather substantial wage, and his injury record has not been the best in recent times, even though he did have a relatively healthy 2021-22 season. Plus, it is revealed that Bayern has other priorities they want to focus on first. The first out of them is the renewal of star winger Serge Gnabry. The German star has been one of the key players in the side ever since his move to the Bavarian giants, and with his contract running out in 2023, manager Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he wants the player to stay at the club, and hence wants him to be tied down to an extension sooner rather than later, and this makes the signing of Dembele that much more complicated. Gnabry’s versatility also plays a key role in Nagelsmann’s philosophy, with him able to play as a striker as well. The other reason is that they have already set their sights on RB Leipzig wide-man Christopher Nkunku. Nagelsmann is a huge admirer of the Frenchman, who has had one of his best seasons on a personal level and is considered to be one of the best young players across the continent. However, the winger prefers a return back to his former club PSG, for whom he played from 2015-to 2019. He still calls the place home and is more than happy to make a return there. All this makes for a rather uncomfortable situation for Ousmane Dembele, who is desperate to play in a year where the world cup is just around the corner. Will he find a new club, or will he still be in limbo come next season? Only time will tell!! The post Ousmane Dembele Inquiry Made By Bayern Munich; Gnabry And Nkunku Deals On The Table Too first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Nitish Bhan. from https://thefootballlovers.com/ousmane-dembele-inquiry-made-by-bayern-munich-gnabry-and-nkunku-deals-on-the-table-too/ Real Madrid Named Worlds MOST VALUABLE Football Team At 4.1 BILLION After Overtaking Barcelona5/30/2022 According to Forbes’ list of football’s richest clubs, Real Madrid is back on top after overtaking Barcelona this year, The Spanish giants, who won the La Liga title as well as the UEFA Champions League, will be strapped with cash from both competitions when the total amounts are paid out. Real Madrid will take home in excess of £100 Million for winning the UEFA Champions League, and their value has risen by 7 percent. This saw them overtake fierce rivals Barcelona, who were on top of the Forbes list last year. The Real Madrid board just secured a big deal, moving their stakes up big time. The big investment was £301 Million from investment firm Sixth Street and Legends in which the new partners ‘acquired the right to participate in the operation of certain businesses of the new Santiago Bernabéu stadium for a period of twenty years.’ The iconic stadium of Santiago Bernabeu is undergoing renovations as well as expansion. Renovations on the Bernabeu have been funded by JP Morgan and Bank of America, taking the cumulative loan to £669 Million. Real Madrid are not only the most valuable football team, but also the sixth most valuable sports team in the world after the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, in that order. On the other hand, the previous leaders, FC Barcelona have been in the news for huge debts and an unstable financial situation. Yet, they remain the second most valuable football club according to Forbes. Their mouth watering £364 Million shirt and stadium sponsorship deal with Spotify is a major relief for the club. Barcelona are also reportedly close to agreeing a £763 Million deal with Goldman Sachs and All Sport Finance in the form of an investment to the Catalan club. This would be in exchange for 30 percent of the club’s broadcast money and an amount of revenues from the new stadium complex. The post Real Madrid Named World’s MOST VALUABLE Football Team At £4.1 BILLION After Overtaking Barcelona first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by David Habib. from https://thefootballlovers.com/real-madrid-most-valuable-football-team/ According to multiple reports, Ousmane Dembele has rejected Barcelona’s new contract offer and decided to leave the Nou Camp to pursue a move to Paris Saint Germain. Ousmane Dembele’s current deal with the Barcelona is set to expire this summer and the Catalan giants have been working hard to secure the extension of the French winger. However, the demands of the player are very outrageous considering the financial situation of the club. Thus, the 24-year-old is said to have told the Barcelona board that he will not be accepting their final proposal. The winger is set to leave the club after winning two La Liga titles, two Spanish cups and the Spanish Super Cup. He had arrived at the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, as one of the most promising young talents in the world. Until now, he has made 143 appearances, scoring 32 goals for the Catalans. According to AS, Ousmane Dembele has officially told the Barcelona board that he will not be signing a contract extension and instead will become a free agent. The winger had cost Barcelona an outrageous initial fee of £96 Million, and is now set to leave on a free transfer. The report states that he has also packed up his belongings at his house in Spain and put the property on the market as he prepares for a potential move to the French capital, Paris. There have been many reports stating that Kylian Mbappe is eager to see Ousmane Dembele play alongside him at Paris Saint Germain. The striker would like to see his international team-mate line up in PSG’s front three alongside himself and Lionel Messi. As for Ousmane Dembele, he is not short of options. Alongside PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are keen to bring the French winger to their squad.
The post Ousmane Dembele REJECTS Barcelona’s Final Contract Offer As He Sets His Eyes On PSG Move first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by David Habib. from https://thefootballlovers.com/ousmane-dembele-barcelona-psg/
Neymar has been offered to Barcelona by Paris Saint-Germain as suggested by several reports. According to Footmercato, Paris has offered Neymar to a number of European teams, including Barcelona. This might pave the way for a stunning return to the Nou Camp for the Brazilian great. According to Diario Sport, the main roadblock to a move is Neymar’s wage The 30-year-old makes €30 million every season at PSG and is under contract until 2025. However, due to the Catalans’ dire financial state, they will be unable to afford Neymar’s salaries unless he agrees to a big pay reduction to join them. The Barcelona president, though, implied that the PSG star would have to return ‘for free,’ while also accusing the 30-year-old of transferring to the Parc des Princes ‘for the money.’ “Who doesn’t love Neymar? He’s an exceptional player,” Joan Laporta told L’Esportiu. “But all these players to return to Barca one day should come for free. “Players who have signed for clubs like PSG, have almost signed their slavery. For money.” Barcelona’s financial position is genuinely quite bad. In order to comply with Financial Fair Play requirements, the club must drastically reduce its payroll bill. Aside from that, the club is in serious financial trouble. As a result, Neymar’s astronomically exorbitant salaries are currently out of the question. Neymar’s transfer to PSG five years ago sparked outrage among the fans. The Brazilian was anticipated to stay at Barcelona, who were hoping to sign Adrien Rabiot and Marco Verratti from their French rivals. Paris Saint-Germain, frustrated by Barcelona’s presence, retaliated by triggering Neymar’s hefty £200 million buyout clause. After becoming bored with living in Messi’s shadow, Neymar opted to pursue a fresh challenge in France. Neymar has scored 100 goals in 144 appearances for the French club ever since his arrival. Meanwhile, in February of this year, Neymar spoke up about his failed return to Barcelona, stating that he ‘did everything’ to make it happen. “I tried to return to Barca,” he told Brazil icon, Ronaldo, on the Fenomenos podcast. “We tried everything, but it wasn’t possible.” Five years after his infamous departure from the Nou Camp, Barcelona has reportedly been offered the chance to re-sign Neymar. Neymar, on the other hand, has made it obvious that he does not want to leave PSG. According to Sport, the Brazilian star said: “I want to stay at PSG.” According to the magazine, Neymar has been instructed that no one from the club has mentioned a summer exit. And it looks like Neymar and Lionel Messi will continue to attack with Mbappe in the future at PSG. The post Barcelona MAKE Neymar Jr. DECISION As The Player Is Offered To Barca By PSG first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Salman Fareed. from https://thefootballlovers.com/barcelona-make-neymar-jr-decision-as-the-player-is-offered-to-barca-by-psg/ One of PSG’s promises towards Kylian Mbappe was that they would sell Neymar if the Frenchman agrees to extend his contract. Footmercato report that the Parisians have offered Neymar to multiple clubs in Europe, including Barcelona. This could line up a sensational comeback for the Brazilian superstar, back to the Nou Camp. Diario Sport claim that the biggest impediment to a transfer going through is Neymar’s salary. The 30-year-old reportedly earns €30 Million per season at PSG, and has a contract until 2025. However, with such a bad financial situation, it is impossible for Barcelona to afford Neymar’s wages, unless he takes a massive pay cut to join the Catalans. The Brazil international left the Nou Camp for the Parc des Princes back in the summer transfer window of 2017. The transfer fee was a record 220 Million Euros, which is still the highest transfer fee for an individual. After Kylian Mbappe choosing to stay at PSG, the club now want to get Neymar Jr, off of the wage bill as they look to sign a new winger. It is also being reported that Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe are not on the best terms and the striker wants PSG to get rid of the Brazilian. Paris Saint Germain have offered Neymar Jr, to a number of clubs, including Barcelona. It would be a dream to see Neymar Jr. make a fairy tale comeback to the Nou Camp. However, the reality of this move is very unrealistic. Neymar’s salary – he earns close to £25 Million each year – makes any move away from PSG problematic. The financial situation of Barcelona is actually very grim. The club needs to make a massive reduction in the wage bills in order to maintain Financial Fair play regulations. Apart from that, the club is crawling in debt. Thus, the massively high wages of Neymar are not even an option right now. The post Neymar Jr. ‘OFFERED TO BARCELONA’ In Stunning Move After Kylian Mbappe Stays At PSG first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by David Habib. from https://thefootballlovers.com/neymar-jr-offered-to-barcelona-in-stunning-move-after-kylian-mbappe-stays-at-psg/
Real Madrid’s midfielder Federico Valverde responds to Liverpool’s Mo Salah’s comments about Madrid ahead of the UCL final. Fede Valverde believes Mohamed Salah’s social media post, in which he stated that the Reds “have a score to settle” with the La Liga champions in the Champions League final, demonstrates a lack of respect for the opponent’s badge. The Liverpool striker expressed his wish to face Real Madrid in the final rather than their semi-final opponents Manchester City, in order to revenge for their 3-1 loss to the same opponents in the final in 2018. In that defeat, the Egyptian King was forced to go early after suffering a shoulder injury as a result of Sergio Ramos’ nasty challenge. However, Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde did not like Mo Salah’s comments about his team. The midfielder believes it is a disrespect to Real Madrid. Los Blancos must win their game against the Reds, according to the 23-year-old Uruguay international. The easiest way for Valverde to respond to Mo Salah is to win the game on May 28 at Stade de France. “Obviously they are words that everyone can take however they want. I’m his opponent and it’s like disrespecting the Real Madrid badge, the players,” According to Anfield Watch, the 23-year-old Uruguay international remarked. “The only thing we must do is give our best, try to show why we’re in the final, and let’s hope we can give another trophy to the fans and to Real Madrid.” However, we believe that Fede Valverde might be misinterpreting Mo Salah’s comments. Mo Salah revealed what he meant in a recent interview with beIN Sports. “When [I said] I wish we could face Real Madrid, this was as if I said something wrong about them,” Salah explained. “I am talking about the strongest team in Champions League history, and I said that because of what happened before [in the 2018 final in Kyiv]. Federico Valverde also praised his team’s supporters for inspiring comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City in the Champions League. The Uruguayan added: “The first thing to do is thank the fans because when the game seems lost when you can’t find spaces, the team isn’t feeling good, the fans are always there to support us. That gives us a plus, an energy that you can’t explain. The game isn’t over until the referee says so. “The biggest one was against City. It’s very difficult to go through again when you’re losing in the 89th minute, you blink and you’re winning. They’re things that don’t happen often in life. “I don’t know if it’s fear (that opponents feel), or the pressure that the stadium and the fans generate. They know they’re playing Real Madrid and they’re capable of doing anything, and you can see that. When the coaching staff, the team, and the fans feel that, it’s like the Bermuda Triangle.” After a 5-2 aggregate win over Villarreal in the semis, Liverpool proceeded to the final, while Real Madrid advanced with a total 6-5 triumph over Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions. If Liverpool defeat Real Madrid, they will win a treble of cups, having already won the League Cup and the FA Cup. Liverpool ended the Premier League one point behind Manchester City in second place. It will be an extraordinary end to the season for Liverpool, should they beat Real Madrid in the final on Saturday. The post UCL: Fede Valverde Unhappy With Liverpool Star’s Comments first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Salman Fareed. from https://thefootballlovers.com/fede-valverde-unhappy-with-liverpool-stars-comments/ The champions league finals are just around the corner, and the entire city of Paris has been converted into an entire hub of activity. The world has been divided into factions, as two of the most successful clubs in the Champions League, Liverpool and Real Madrid face each other in the battle for continental supremacy. A host of current and former players have been keeping close tabs on the upcoming contest. They have wasted no time in selecting their favourites for the final. And Kylian Mbappe is also one such player to take sides. Kylian Mbappe Did Not Join Real Madrid But He Will Back Them For Sure
The La Liga has also threatened legal action against PSG for the same. However, Kylian Mbappe has instead focussed his sights on the upcoming final in the Parc Des Princes, the PSG home stadium, and has picked his favourite. And Kylian Mbappe has made his choice clear. He will be rooting for Real Madrid in this showpiece final. He said that he will be following his boyhood club, in the place that he calls home in the finals. While this is a pretty harmless statement on the face of it, a lot of fans suspect that the young Frenchman is now rubbing salt in the wounds after rejecting them in the first place. Well, whatever the case, we all hope that Kylian Mbappe has a successful career wherever he goes, and wish nothing but the best for Real Madrid in the finals against an equal, if not a superior opponent in Liverpool. May the best team win. Because we all know that this game is going to be nothing short of a spectacle for the masses. The post Kylian Mbappe Has Made His Decision Between Real Madrid And Liverpool For The UCL Final first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Nitish Bhan. from https://thefootballlovers.com/kylian-mbappe-decision-ucl-final/ The Zidane story!! There is a wave of change taking place in Paris. The French giants are not done after making Kylian Mbappe the world’s highest-paid player and agreeing on a 3-year contract extension, there are a host of changes to be expected after this. The club have already begun a search for the new sporting director after it was revealed that the time of current sporting director Leonardo has now come to an end, with him all set to leave in the summer. Another area where change is expected in the Parisian ranks is the post of manager. With the club seemingly done with Mauricio Pochettino, the club will be actively looking for a new manager to start this new era for the club. And the name on the top of their wishlist to take the hot-seat is none other than former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. The club have been long-term admirers of the Frenchman, who has been on a sabbatical ever since having a second successful spell with the Spanish giants. The French club has been doing everything in their power to ensure that he is the manager for the next season. The Real Reason Why Zidane Said No To The PSG Job
The former France legend has earlier even turned down the offer of becoming Manchester United head coach, after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November. For the longest time, it looked like it would only be a matter of time before the Parisians complete the agreement to sign Zidane as their new manager, and it seemed like everything was agreed upon, but it was not to be, and the club have now been left in a lurch.
The post Zidane Refused To Coach PSG, Here’s Why first appeared on Football Lovers and is written by Nitish Bhan. from https://thefootballlovers.com/zidane-refused-to-coach-psg/ |
The Football Lovers
Get the latest updates scores, fixtures and results from the Premier League, La Liga, French Ligue 1, Series A and more. Follow your team and player stats, fixtures and transfer news. View live matches with commentary and follow your favourite players including Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Salah. Archives
June 2022
Categories |