Sports
Real Madrid, releases official statement on French star, Kylian Mbappe
After a series of transfer speculations involving Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid, the Spanish La Liga giants have finally cleared the speculations.
In the last two seasons, there have been a series of back-and-forth between Paris Saint Germain, the current club of Kylian Mbappe, and Real Madrid, Mbappe’s childhood dream club.
Due to the highly publicized dream of Mbappe to play for Real Madrid, the Spanish giants made an effort in the summer of 2022 to sign him. While PSG were busy rejecting their bids, Mbappe stunned the world by extending his contract with the French Ligue 1 club.
However, that didn’t stop Real Madrid from making efforts to sign him which gave birth to the rumour that Madrid and Mbappe have signed a contract that would make him join the Spanish club for free in the summer of 2024.
This speculation took center stage when Mbappe reportedly wrote to PSG to inform them that he is not planning to honour the one-year contract extension option in his contract next summer.
Due to the fear of losing Mbappe to Real Madrid for free next summer, PSG gave Mbappe the ultimatum to extend his contract with them ahead of the 2023-2024 season or be sold to the highest bidder in the last summer transfer window.
That attracted a Saudi Pro League club to bid around 300 million euros for Mbappe. PSG accepted the bid but Mbappe refused to negotiate with them as the deal collapsed.
Currently, Kylian Mbappe has been fully reintegrated into the PSG team but the speculation that he is in negotiations with Real Madrid or already has a pre-agreement with them is still burning hot. Hence, the Spanish giants had to make clarifications earlier today, November 4.
Real Madrid’s official statement reads: “Given recent stories in the media about negotiations between Kylian Mbappé and our club, Real Madrid are stating that this information is categorically false”.
“Negotiations have not taken place with a player who belongs to Paris Saint-Germain”.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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