Category: Athletic

It is “high time to leave Cristiano Ronaldo alone”, says Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

Portuguese publication Record claimed Ronaldo threatened to leave the World Cup after being told he would not start the last-16 win against Switzerland.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) denied such an incident involving the 37-year-old and Santos explained the conversation the pair had.

“He has never told me that he wanted to leave our national team,” said Santos.

“It’s high time we stop with this conversation, stop the controversies.

“It’s high time for you to leave Ronaldo alone, in acknowledgement for what he’s done for Portuguese football.”

Santos, who was speaking before Saturday’s quarter-final against Morocco (15:00 GMT), also explained the conversation that took place when he told Portugal captain Ronaldo he would be dropping him against Switzerland.

“I spoke to him after lunch on the day of the game and invited him into my office,” said Santos.

“For obvious reasons, Cristiano was not very happy about it as he has always been the starting player.

“He told me: ‘Do you really think it’s a good idea?’

“But we had a normal conversation in which I explained my viewpoints and of course he accepted them. We had a frank and normal conversation.”

Forward Ronaldo left Manchester United by mutual agreement before Portugal’s World Cup opener after a controversial interview in which the five-time Ballon d’Or winner heavily criticised the club.

He was substituted in both of Portugal’s opening games and Santos had said he “didn’t like” Ronaldo’s reaction when he was again replaced during the 2-1 group defeat by South Korea.

Goncalo Ramos started instead of Ronaldo against Switzerland and the 21-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 victory.

Ronaldo, who is Portugal’s most-capped player (195) and all-time leading goalscorer (118), was used as a late substitute in that game, but afterwards left the field while his teammates were still celebrating victory.

Source: Modern Ghana

Former German footballer Mezut Özil has tipped his former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo as the “goat” in the history of football in the whole world.

The achievements; individual records, club records, goals and others garnered by the Portuguese icon, according to Özil, are unmatched.

He said in a tweet on Friday, December 9, that Ronaldo will continue to reign as the number football player till eternity so people must show him the needed respect.

“He is soon 38 years old – so what’s the surprise that he doesn’t score 50 goals a season anymore? Every football fan out there should be happy to have seen him playing world class football for 20 years.

“I don’t think anyone from the new generation will be able to match his numbers again. He will forever be in his own category. Everyone should show more respect to one of the greatest athletes in sports history,” he stated.

The former Real Madrid midfielder paused to address Ronaldo’s critics, saying pundits who speak ill about the five-time FIFA World Best Player just want to elevate their dead career.

Özil stressed that the media are also setting similar agenda against his former clubmate just to get clicks to their posts.

“I really don’t get where this constant negativity from the press about Cristiano comes from … The Media is just trying to get clicks, and pundits who don’t have a career anymore just want to get attention with his big name and try to make him look bad,” he said.

The footballing icon has come under huge criticism from the media, football analysts as well as many in the footballing fraternity.

They say the 2016 Euro winner is disrespectful towards club owners and coaches, a claim that heightened after Ronaldo’s recent Interview with Piers Morgan, UK-based journalist.

Source: Modern Ghana

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has reportedly turned down a contract renewal offer by Hearts of Oak.

The promising forward’s contract runs out until December 2022 according to reports in the local media.

Barnieh was part of the Black Stars squad that played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar although he did not play a single minute but featured in Ghana’s last preparatory game against Switzerland where he shone.

Hearts of Oak according to reports have tabled a new proposal before the player but he and his representatives have rejected it with a move away on the cards.

The club has been in talks with the player about extending his contract with them for a while but no agreement has been reached with reports claiming that the player has now decided against renewing his contract with Hearts.

The forward joined Hearts of Oak three seasons ago after passing trials with the club and has since gone on to become a fan’s favourite.

He has been integral in Hearts of Oak’s recent rise helping the club win the Ghana Premier League title two seasons ago and also winning the MTN FA Cup in two consecutive seasons among others.

Barnieh has earned call-ups to the Black Stars and was recently handed his Ghana debut in the 1-0 win against Nicaragua in Spain.

He was on top of his game against Switzerland in a friendly game ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The forward also helped Ghana qualify for the CHAN tournament with the Black Galaxies for the first time in eight years.

Source: Modern Ghana

Ghana forward, Inaki Williams, has lauded teammate, Kudus Mohammed, describing him as a big and a complete player following his exploits at the 2022 World Cup.

The 22-year-old attracted interest from several European football clubs following his impressive performance at the Mundial.

Despite the torrid start of the season, Kudus having his best season with the Dutch giants, with explosive performances in the UEFA Champions League before starring displays at the 2022 World Cup despite Ghana’s early exit.

Inaki, who played with Kudus in September and at the global showpiece, has described the Ajax star as a complete player.

The Athletic Bilbao forward added that the former FC Nordsjaelland must begin to look elsewhere due to his potential.

“I think Ajax is starting to get too small for him and hopefully he will make the leap to a big club soon,” the Athletic Club forward told RadioMarca.

“I would have liked him to have had a Basque family member to be able to bring him to Bilbao because he is a bomb, he is a machine.

“He is very complete and with his young age, he still has a lot of room for improvement.”

Williams reveals he has already told his club mates Kudus is the standout player he has seen in the Black Stars team.

“I was already aware of him before coming because I had heard about him and had seen his goals. When I played the last national team break with him, he already surprised me a lot,” he added.

“To my colleagues [at Athletic Club], when they asked me if someone had impressed me, I always talked about him.”

Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and a host of top European clubs are said to tracking the progress of Mohammed Kudus at Ajax and he could be on the move in the summer.

Source: Modern Ghana

England winger Raheem Sterling is to return to Qatar before Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against France.

The Chelsea player, 28, flew back to England on Sunday following a break-in at his family home in Surrey.

Sterling’s spokesperson said he left the England camp to “prioritise the wellbeing” of his three young children.

He missed England’s 3-0 win over Senegal in the last 16, but is expected to rejoin the squad in Al Wakrah on Friday, 9 December.

Sterling, who has 81 international caps, scored for England in a 6-2 win against Iran in their opening game at the World Cup.

He also started the goalless draw against the United States before being an unused substitute in the 3-0 win against Wales that saw England qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.

His representative had said Sterling’s family was at home on Saturday when there were “armed intruders”. The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward was said to be “shaken” and concerned for the wellbeing of his children.

In a statement Surrey police said they were investigating a report of a burglary after the occupants of the house returned to find jewellery and watches had been taken, but that no threats of violence were involved.

On Wednesday, the police said they are not linking the case to another attempted burglary in the same village.

No arrests have been made yet in relation to the break-in at Sterling’s home.

The Football Association is yet to reveal exactly what it was told about the incident before Sterling’s departure.

Source: Modern Ghana

Black Stars midfielder, Salis Abdul Samed has revealed that he never anticipated becoming a starter after earning a maiden call-up ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The 22-year-old earned a late call-up ahead of the Mundial in Qatar.

The RC Lens midfielder made his debut against Switzerland in a friendly last month in Abu Dhabi as part of the team’s preparations.

Salis replicated the same impressive output at the World Cup and started all three matches Ghana played in the group phase but unfortunately couldn’t make it above the first round.

“I didn’t know I would even start,” he told Graphic Sports.

“I was working hard in my team hoping that one day I would get a call-up because it’s everyone’s dream to play for his national team.

“So I’ve been working hard to come here and prove my qualities and what I can bring to the team.”

Salis has made 15 appearances so far for the Blood and Golds with a goal to his belt in the ongoing French Ligue 1.

Source: Modern Ghana

Spain announced the departure of Luis Enrique as coach of the national team on Thursday following the team’s shock defeat to Morocco in the round of 16 at the World Cup.

The former Barcelona manager, whose contract with Spain was set to end at the end of the month, took full responsibility for his team’s earlier than expected exit from the tournament in Qatar.

A statement from the Spanish FA said: The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff at the helm of the absolute national team in recent years.

“The sports management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should start for the Spanish Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and their collaborators. Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, José Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to the coach.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Black Stars assistant coach, George Boateng has resumed his duties as a pundit for beIN Sports following Ghana’s elimination from the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 47-year-old made his first appearance on the Qatar-based sports channel this week to discuss the round of 16 matches.

Before the start of the Mundial, beIN Sports in October announced that Boateng will be joining its team of pundits and analysts for the tournament.

The announcement generated a lot of controversies in the Ghana media space but it was confirmed that he will still be part of the Black Stars technical setup.

The list also included former Brazil international Kaka, France’s World Cup winner Marcel Desailly and ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Following Ghana’s horrific performance, the former Aston Villa U23 coach has now started his punditry work with beIN Sports following Ghana’s exit from the tournament.

The Black Stars finished bottom of Group H after losing to Uruguay in their last group game last Friday.

Ghana were defeated 3-2 by Portugal in their opening game before recovering to beat South Korea by the same scoreline.

The West Africans, therefore, needed just a draw to secure a place in the round of 16 but their hopes were dashed by Uruguay, who coasted to a 2-0 victory.

Ghana now focuses on the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers which will resume next year.

Source: Modern Ghana