Midfielder Blaise Matuidi has become Major League Soccer side Inter Miami’s first high-profile signing. Matuidi and Italian champions Juventus mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his contract on Wednesday. The 33-year-old – a World Cup winner with France in 2018 – played with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham at Paris St-Germain before joining Juve in 2017.
Africa and Nigeria’s soccer legend Austin “Jay jay” Okocha turns 47 on 14th August. Okocha made his Super Eagles debut in 1993 against Cote D’Ivoire in Abidjan during a world cup qualifier game. He played for Nigeria 73 times scoring 14 goals in an international career that spanned about 14 years and ended in 2006. He became the Super Eagles captain just before the 2002 world cup. Okocha won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in his debut tournament in Tunisia and also won the Men’s Soccer Goal Medal at the Atlanta Olympics with Nigeria U-23 team in 1996. In 2004, he won the the African Cup of Nations Golden Boot and Best player awards in Tunisia.
Bayern Munich sent out an emphatic and ominous message to their Champions League rivals with an absolute demolition of fellow European heavyweights Barcelona 8-2 in a gloriously chaotic and utterly one-sided quarter-final tie in Lisbon. The high-pressing, energetic and ruthless German champions were on a different level to their Spanish rivals, as they have been for pretty much every opponent they have faced in Europe this season and in every competition since football restarted in June.
Arsenal have signed Brazil midfielder Willian on a three-year deal after the 32-year-old’s contract with Chelsea expired. The Blues had offered the player a new deal but were unwilling to match what the Gunners had on the table. “I believe he’s a player that can really make a difference for us,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil says he will stay with the club “through to the last day” of his contract in June 2021. The former Germany international, 31, has not played since the Premier League resumed in June, with manager Mikel Arteta citing “pure football reasons”. But Ozil dismissed reports the club were looking to pay up the last year of his £350,000-a-week deal.
RB Leipzig overcame a typically cautious Atletico Madrid to reach their first Champions League semi-final just 11 years after their formation. After a poor first half, Dani Olmo headed the German side ahead but Atleti substitute Joao Felix levelled the tie from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the box.
Defending champion Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from this year’s US Open because the coronavirus pandemic has hampered her return from injury. The Canadian, 20, has not played since sustaining a knee injury at the WTA Finals in October. The US Open will be held behind closed doors in New York from 31 August.
There will be no English FA Cup replays during the 2020-21 season to ease pressure on the football calendar.
More later….
Atletico Madrid say forward Angel Correa and defender Sime Vrsaljko tested positive for coronavirus before Thursday’s Champions League quarter-final against RB Leipzig in Lisbon. The players are isolating at home and will miss the rest of the tournament. The two positive cases were discovered after players and staff travelling to Lisbon were tested in Madrid on Saturday.
Former Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has left the door open to a return to English football. The 33-year-old, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, is currently without a club having left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March. “Yes, there are interested clubs and England is a strong possibility and why not,” Mikel said.
Midfielder Blaise Matuidi has left Juventus amid reports linking the 33-year-old to a move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Matuidi and Juventus have mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his contract in Turin.
Southampton have signed Ghanaian centre-back Mohammed Salisu from Real Valladolid for a fee of £10.9m. The highly-rated 21-year-old, who made 32 appearances for the Spanish side last term, has signed a four-year deal.
Rangers moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a clinical win over St Johnstone but were accused of being sloppy by Steven Gerrard. The manager was pleased with “three good goals”, describing Borna Barisic’s free-kick opener as “a piece of magic”.
Paris St-Germain scored two late goals in a sensational comeback to beat Atalanta 2-1 to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 25 years. A night of frustration for PSG forward Neymar looked set to ensure more continental disappointment for the French champions as unfancied Atalanta led through Mario Pasalic.
Barcelona say an unnamed squad member has tested positive for Covid-19. He was one of nine reporting for pre-season training, showed no symptoms and has been quarantined at his home. Barca say he has not been in contact with any senior players, who travel to Lisbon on Thursday to prepare for a Champions League quarter-final.
Daniel Sturridgeb has said that he has ‘unfinished business’ and wants to return to the Premier League. The former England striker has been out of the game since leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor in March after being handed a four-month ban for breaching the FA’s gambling regulations. But Sturridge has maintained his training schedule at his base in Los Angeles and says he is ready to attack the next chapter in his career.
Sunday 16 August, 2020:
Sevilla vs Manchester United
Stadion Köln, Germany. 8pm (WAT)
Romelu Lukaku scored for a record ninth consecutive Europa League game as Inter Milan beat Bayer Leverkusen in Dusseldorf to reach the semi-finals. Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give Inter the lead. Lukaku controlled Ashley Young’s pass, turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season.
Kostas Tsimikas believes he has joined “the biggest club in the world” after completing a move to Liverpool from Olympiakos. The 24-year-old has joined the Premier League champions for about £11.7m on a five-year contract and is expected to provide competition for Andy Robertson. “I’m very happy, I’m very proud to be here,” Tsimikas said.
12 August, 2020 (Wednesday):
Atalanta vs Paris Saint Germain
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal 8:00 pm (WAT)
Naija Sports Crib 