Sports
Eden Hazard pens open letter to Chelsea fans after completing £130m Real Madrid transfer – Standard.co.uk
Eden Hazard has bid farewell to Chelsea fans in a long open letter after completing his move to Real Madrid.
The Belgian has long wanted to join the Spanish giants, and looked on course to do so last summer until Chelsea refused to do business.
But, on Friday night, a deal worth up to £130 million was confirmed by both clubs as Hazard ended his seven-season spell in west London.
To my Chelsea friends and family,
You now know that I will be joining Real Madrid. It’s no secret that it was my dream to play for them since I was a young boy just scoring my first goal. I have tried my very best not to distract myself or the team through this difficult period of speculation and media attention, especially the last 6 months.
Now the Clubs have reached an agreement I hope you understand I had to pursue my next chapter, just as each and every one of you should when you have the chance to pursue your dreams. Leaving Chelsea is the biggest and toughest decision in my career to date. Now it’s in the open I would like to put on record one thing was always clear to me, I have loved every moment at Chelsea and not once did I ever consider, nor would I have left for any other Club.
I was only 21 when I joined, so I have grown up as a man and a player with all of you, you have helped me become Captain of the Belgium National team after all. There have of course been tough times, for the team as a whole and for me personally, this is professional football. However, football to me is about having a ball at my feet, playing games and enjoying every moment, we are lucky to play the beautiful game and this is always my advice to those who ask for a coaching tip! Play football and have fun!
Even when we were not playing well, I tried to do my best and this has been thanks to your amazing support. That fighting spirit, desire and the refusal to ever give up is part of the culture here at Chelsea and it comes directly from you.
When I think back over my special moments in a Chelsea shirt, there are so many, we are lucky to win many more games than we have lost. Those who know me understand it is not me to list what I have won, all I can say is each and every award both as a team and as an individual have been incredible. One day I will be able to sit down over a beer and talk about or laugh with pride about my missed penalty that set up my header to win the league against Palace, or those goals against Tottenham, Arsenal or Liverpool.
The memories are so vivid because of the atmosphere and occasion you create, I hope you always remember them with pride, as I do. Whether it’s on tour in the USA, or at Sunderland on a Tuesday night, in Russia on a Thursday, or of course EVERY game at The Bridge – you’ve always supported me and encouraged me to play football and be me – Like I have enjoyed myself I hope you have enjoyed yourselves, I am only sorry not leave with a defending award amongst my honours!READ MOREHazard’s Real Madrid shirt number confirmed after £130m transfer
We have many great players and my proudest moments were always as part of the team. We’ve won the FA Cup, League Cups, Europa Leagues and Premier Leagues all as a family. Each one so special in its own way and of course the game in Baku a couple of weeks ago is the perfect way to sign off from a long tough season after the World Cup.
Chelsea and especially Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first. I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.
Before I go, one last thank you to everyone at the Club for their tremendous effort as we lived through every moment. To all of my ex-Colleagues we will say our goodbyes at the right time but I must thank the owner Mr Abramovich and his board for helping me realise not one, but two dreams, my first in becoming a Chelsea player and today my second, becoming a player at Real Madrid.
I wish each and every one of you the very best my friends.
Source – Standard.co.uk
Pep Guardiola has stated that he will not take charge of Barcelona for a second spell as he insisted he retains the “desire” to succeed in England.
Guardiola is the most decorated coach in Barca’s glorious history after winning 14 trophies in four years in charge between 2008 and 2012.
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Josep Maria Bartomeu finally bowed to pressure to resign as president of the Catalan giants this week, with one of the leading candidates to take over, Victor Font, saying he wants to bring legends like Guardiola and his former players Xavi and Carles Puyol back to work for the club.
“I said many times, my period as a manager in Barcelona is over. I think in life there is once you have to do things,” Guardiola said after City’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
“There are incredible people who can be in charge, now for example (Barcelona coach) Ronald Koeman is an excellent manager. It is over.”
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A boyhood Barca fan, Guardiola also enjoyed an illustrious playing career at the Camp Nou and still holds season tickets as a supporter.
“I will come back to my seats to see my club to watch a game. I am incredibly happy here, still I have the desire to do well and this is the most important thing.
“Now there will be elections in Barcelona. Hopefully, they can choose the right board to maintain this incredible club Barcelona in the highest level.”
Guardiola is already into the longest managerial spell of his career with this his fifth season at City.
His side still look a long way off the heights they reached in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019, but they are slowly getting up to speed after a start to the campaign disrupted by injuries, coronavirus cases and just a two-week-long pre-season.
Kyle Walker’s long-range effort against his former club was enough to secure City’s fourth win in five games in all competitions as they move up to seventh in the Premier League, just two points off the top.
Without a natural striker due to injuries to Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, City struggled to turn their dominance into goals at Bramall Lane.
“We played really well,” added Guardiola. “We struggled to score goals for the chances we created, 16 shots, eight on target, is a lot against this team.”
Aaron Ramsdale was busy in the Blades’ goal as he twice denied Ferran Torres from close range, while he unconvincingly parried Rodrigo’s long-range effort behind.
Walker finally broke the deadlock from similar range on 28 minutes as his shot arrowed low past Ramsdale’s right-hand, but there was a muted celebration from the England international against his boyhood club.
“My mum and dad live here, so if I’d celebrated I’d have got a lot of stick,” said Walker. “I’m a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn’t celebrate.”
Kevin De Bruyne flashed a shot wide following another attacking burst from Walker early in the second-half before Ramsdale produced his best save of the game from Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick.
However, City’s failure to kill off the game gave Chris Wilder’s men chances to snatch an unlikely point.
John Lundstram had the best chance for the hosts when he side-footed Sander Berge’s low cross over.
But Sheffield United have still scored just three goals in seven games to start the season and remain second bottom on just one point.
(AFP)
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading marksman in the series will return for next month’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone after missing out of this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia.
Also, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, were picked by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for the clash against the Leone Stars.
Rohr also called up Captain Ahmed Musa, defender William Ekong, midfield enforcer Oghenekaro Etebo.
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However, Genk forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, was not invited after being capped in this month’s friendly.
Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forwards Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Chidera Ejuke are also called.
Switzerland –based goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe will hope to earn his first cap for Nigeria, while defenders Kevin Akpoguma and Zaidu Sanusi, who impressed in the friendlies in Austria, have been handed opportunities to add to their caps.
There are seven players on standby, including defender Abdullahi Shehu, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, midfielders Ramon Azeez and Samson Tijani, and forward Paul Onuachu.
“The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Friday, 13th November before flying to Freetown for the return game on Tuesday, 17th November at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.
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“Players are expected to report at the Protea Hotel Emotan in Benin City on Monday, 9th November. Victory in both encounters will all but guarantee Nigeria a slot at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals holding in Cameroon,” a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, added in reports by Punch Newspapers.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers:
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders:
Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders:
Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
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Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Standby:
Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg, Austria); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Ramon Azeez (Granada CF, Spain); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)
BBC Sport requested its zillions of readers to rate Pele’s achievements among some other Greatest Of All Times as he turns 80.
The result has been assessed and made public as Pele was ranked the greatest, followed by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo in third.
Here is the full result:
1: Pele (Santos, NY Cosmos & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1958, 1962, 1970 European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 92/77
2: Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 4
Ballons d’Or: 6
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 140/71
3: Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus & Portugal)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 5
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 167/101
4: Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 1986
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 91/34
5: Johan Cruyff (Ajax, Barcelona, LA Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante, Feyenoord & the Netherlands)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 3
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 48/33
6: Ronaldo de Lima (Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan, Corinthians & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1994, 2002
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 1
International caps/goals: 98/62
7: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, NY Cosmos, Hamburg & West Germany)
World Cup wins: 1974
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 8
International caps/goals: 103/14
8: Zinedine Zidane (Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid & France)
World Cup wins: 1998
European Cup/Champions League wins: 1
Ballons d’Or: 1
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 108/31
9: Ferenc Puskas (Budapest Honved, Real Madrid & Hungary & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 89/87
10: Alfredo di Stefano (River Plate, Millionarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol & Argentina, Colombia & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 13
International caps/goals: 41/29
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