Author: bigbanng

Lionel Messi has won everything at club and international level, yet Carlo Ancelotti is still yet to be convinced the Argentina captain can be called the best footballer of all time Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to label Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time (GOAT). Many have been adorning the GOAT tag on the Paris Saint-Germain striker after he led Argentina to their third World Cup triumph. Messi scored seven goals and contributed three assists over the course of the competition in Qatar. However, Ancelotti, who has managed Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and many more, is not one of the many people rushing to put a…

Manchester United are reportedly mulling over signing Marco Asensio from Real Madrid in the January transfer window. According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Marco Asensio is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are considering signing the Real Madrid attacker in the January transfer window. Marco Asensio has reached a crucial phase of his career where he needs to decide his next move carefully. The Spaniard is in the final year of his contract and has yet to commit his future to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, he has been a bit-part player for Los Blancos this season, managing only…

Erling Haaland set another new Premier League record on Wednesday night, but he wasn’t entirely happy with his display, offering a lesson to Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez. Liverpool returned to Premier League action with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day but, frustratingly for the Reds, all of their rivals, with the exception of Tottenham, won too. Manchester City were the last of the ‘big six’ to resume their league campaign, and they did so with a 3-1 win over Leeds United on Wednesday night. Erling Haaland scored twice for Pep Guardiola’s side, reaching the 20-goal mark quicker than any player in Premier League history,…

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been speaking about his condition after not playing at the World Cup Erling Haaland insists he is raring to go for the second half of the season after returning to Premier League action with a record-breaking brace. Haaland added another two goals to his tally for Manchester City to make it 20 Premier League goals in 14 appearances – needing seven fewer games than anyone else to reach that mark – and make it 26 in all competitions before the New Year. His two second-half strikes at Elland Road helped City to beat Leeds 3-1 and move back…

Chelsea membuat kemajuan dalam perbincangan mengenai kontrak baharu dengan N’Golo Kante dan semakin yakin pemain tengah itu akan menandatangani semula, menurut laporan. Pemain antarabangsa Perancis itu bergelut tahun ini dengan kecederaan dan berkemungkinan akan meninggalkan Stamford Bridge apabila kontraknya tamat pada musim panas depan. Dengan beberapa pasukan – seperti gergasi Sepanyol Barcelona – berminat dengan Kante, The Blues telah memutuskan untuk mencuba dan memperbaharui perjanjiannya di Stamford Bridge dalam beberapa minggu kebelakangan ini. N’Golo Kante nampaknya akan meninggalkan Chelsea apabila perjanjian semasanya tamat pada musim panas Bagaimanapun, pasukan Graham Potter kini telah memulakan perbincangan kontrak dengan pemain tengah Perancis itu…

MEDIA Malaysia, Makan Bola, ikut menyoroti kekhawatiran Shin Tae-yong soal Timnas Indonesia yang bisa terancam terkena sanksi FIFA usai terjadinya insiden bus Thailand Skuad Thailand diserang suporter. Pasalnya, aksi yang mengancam keselamatan pemain itu bisa mendapat sanksi dari AFF atau FIFA “Insiden bus tim Thailand diserang suporter Indonesia jelang laga Grup A Piala AFF Indonesia vs Thailand 2022 sempat membuat khawatir pelatih Indonesia, Shin Tae-yong,” tulis pernyataan Makan Bola, dikutip Jumat (30/12/2022). “Pasalnya, insiden seperti itu tak hanya mengancam keselamatan suporter, tapi juga Tim Garuda -julukan Timnas Indonesia,” sambungnya. Seperti diketahui, insiden tersebut terjadi saat pemain dan ofisial Timnas Thailand sedang dalam perjalanan menuju Stadion…

Cody Gakpo , yang dikaitkan secara meluas dengan Manchester United , kini telah pun tertarik dengan Liverpool. Tetapi mungkin MU tidak pernah serius menyasarkan Gakpo. Sejak Erik ten Hag mula melatih Man United, nama Gakpo telah muncul beberapa kali. Selain itu, ahli taktik Belanda itu kemudiannya merekrut ramai pemain dari Liga Belanda, di mana Gakpo mempertahankan PSV. Menjelang pasaran perpindahan musim panas, muncul berita bahawa PSV bersedia untuk melepaskan Gakpo. Sekali lagi nama Red Devils dikaitkan dengan pemain bola sepak berusia 23 tahun itu. Dalam proses itu, PSV mengeluarkan PSV untuk Gakpo. Tetapi bukan Manchester United yang merebutnya, tetapi Liverpool.…

Bruno Fernandes telah memuji bos Manchester United, Erik ten Hag kerana membawa lebih kestabilan dan disiplin kepada kelab, malah kelihatan menyokong tindakan kerasnya terhadap Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils memperoleh kemenangan 3-0 ke atas Nottingham Forest pada petang Selasa ketika mereka meneruskan kempen Liga dan mereka kini hanya empat mata di belakang Newcastle di tangga kedua dengan satu perlawanan dalam tangan. Marcus Rashford dan Anthony Martial kedua-duanya mendapat jaringan untuk meredakan kebimbangan mengenai kekurangan pilihan serangan United berikutan penamatan kontrak Ronaldo. Superstar Portugal itu – yang enggan diturunkan menentang Tottenham pada awal musim ini – memberikan temu bual yang panas…

Ejen Jorginho mengesahkan bahawa Chelsea telah menawarkan kontrak baharu kepada pemain tengah itu, walaupun dia akan tergoda dengan kembali ke bekas kelab Napoli. Kontrak semasa pemain antarabangsa Itali itu akan tamat pada penghujung musim dan The Blues berminat untuk mengekalkannya kerana dia kekal sebagai pemain berpengaruh di bawah Graham Potter. Pemain berusia 31 tahun itu membuat penampilan ke-13 Liga musim ini minggu ini ketika Chelsea menewaskan Bournemouth 2-0, mengetuai pasukan di Stamford Bridge. Perjanjian baharu telah ditawarkan untuk mengekalkannya di London barat, dan nampaknya senario yang paling berkemungkinan ialah dia akan menandatanganinya, tetapi ejen Jorginho pastinya telah mengepakkan bulu matanya…

LONDON: Ketibaan Cody ­Gakpo di Anfield menandakan ‘penamat’ buat penyerang ­Brazil, Roberto Firmino bersama Liverpool, menurut bekas pertahanan Reds, Jose Enrique. Firmino, 31, telah menghabiskan tujuh musim di Anfield dan telah memenangi pelbagai kejuaraan. Antara penghormatan yang diraih termasuk Liga Juara-Juara, Liga Perdana, ­Piala FA serta Piala Kelab Dunia. Kontraknya yang akan tamat hujung musim ini menyebabkan Enrique percaya bahawa pembelian Gakpo dari PSV ke Liverpool isyarat bahawa masa untuk Firmino hampir tamat. Hari ini,  bintang Piala Dunia Belanda berusia 23 tahun, Gakpo diperkenalkan sebagai keluarga baharu Liverpool dengan perpindahan rekod kelab, 44 juta pound (RM236 juta). Gakpo yang meledak tiga…

LIVERPOOL: Cody Gakpo akan menjadi pemain ke-11 menyarung jersi bernombor 18 buat Liverpool selepas dia menyertai The Reds menerusi perpindahan bernilai £45 juta (RM239 juta). Perjanjian itu disahkan awal pagi tadi, dua hari selepas PSV Eindhoven mengumumkan mereka sudah memeterai persetujuan dengan kelab Anfield untuk menjual penyerang berharga mereka itu. Gakpo, 23, berkata dia tidak sabar untuk memulakan karier bersama kelab baharunya itu dan berharap untuk bertindak lebih bagus daripada sesetengah pemain yang menyarung jersi nombor 18 sebelum ini. Nombor itu kali terakhir digunakan Takumi Minamino, yang mana seperti Gakpo seorang penyerang yang berpindah ke Liverpool ketika jendela perpindahan Januari.…

It would be safe to say that Real Madrid’s decision to break their transfer record in order to sign Eden Hazard in the summer of 2019 was a mistake on the part of the club. At that time, there was a lot of excitement around the move but in hindsight, it is clear that things have not worked out for the Belgian since moving to the Spanish capital. Hazard has had to deal with one injury after another since joining Real Madrid and that has resulted in him losing his form completely. The recent World Cup was viewed as the…

Erling Haaland hails Manchester City for ‘fixing’ his bodyErling Haaland has scored 26 goals in just 19 games so far this season CREDIT: Getty Images/Tom Flathers Erling Haaland says his extraordinary scoring spree at Manchester City is down in part to the club’s medical staff “fixing” his body. The Norway striker was dogged by a series of muscle problems, particularly to his adductors, during his two-and-a-half-year spell at Borussia Dortmund that often limited his availability, and underwent a small procedure in the summer. But Haaland believes the tireless work done by City’s medical experts to address those issues have been a…

Neymar telah memberi penghormatan kepada rakan senegaranya Pele selepas legenda Brazil itu meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun dengan bintang PSG semasa memuji pengaruhnya dalam permainan bola sepak Neymar telah mendakwa 10 adalah “hanya satu angka” sebelum Pele ketika dia memberi penghormatan kepada rakan senegaranya yang mendiang. Tokoh lagenda itu telah meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung lama dengan kanser kolon. Pele melampaui permainan bola sepak, tetapi tidak ada yang lebih merasakannya daripada negara asalnya Brazil. Peranan Pele dalam tiga kejuaraan Piala Dunia mereka – pada 1958, 1962 dan 1970 – membantunya mengukuhkan dirinya sebagai pemain terhebat dalam sejarah. Pele…

MEDIA Vietnam, The Thao 247, membuat skenario gila yang menunjukkan Timnas Indonesia dan Kamboja yang bakal lolos ke semifinal Piala AFF 2022 dari Grup A. Dalam skenarionya itu, sang juara bertahan, Timnas Thailand, bakal tersingkir. “Skenario gila: Kamboja menciptakan seismik, menjatuhkan Thailand ke semifinal? (Indonesia dan Kamboja yang lolos semifinal),” judul artikel The Thao, dikutip Jumat (30/12/2022). “Situasi Grup A menjadi sangat sulit diprediksi ketika tidak ada tim yang dipastikan lolos ke babak semifinal Piala AFF 2022,” lanjut pernyataan The Thao 247. Seperti diketahui, Timnas Indonesia dan Tim Gajah Perang -julukan Timnas Thailand- sama-sama memulai Piala AFF 2022 dengan dua kemenangan meyakinkan. Kemudian, Timnas Indonesia…

Roberto Firmino boleh meninggalkan Liverpool selepas menandatangani Cody Gakpo Pilihan Liverpool dalam serangan agak bertindan sehingga musim panas kerana ketibaan tepat pada masanya Cody Gakpo kini bermakna pasukan itu sekurang-kurangnya mempunyai seorang pemain sayap kiri yang tidak cedera. Bagaimanapun, salah seorang penyerang Liverpool akan kehabisan kontrak pada musim panas depan dan belum ada berita rasmi mengenai lanjutan kontrak lagi. Roberto Firmino #9 The Reds akan tamat kontrak pada Jun 2023 (Transfermarkt), dan selepas menandatangani Gakpo, Bobby mungkin melihat dirinya semakin tertekan dan bukan situasi yang ideal untuk pemain yang berkualiti. Dalam 21 penampilan di semua kejohanan musim ini, dia menjaringkan…

The Reggiolo coach has been able to analyze all kinds of options. Only the World Cup semifinalists (Modric, Tchouaméni and Camavinga) are missing, as well as the injured Mariano Díaz. Four casualties to travel to Valladolid, to José Zorrilla, in the return to club competition. The Italian coach’s staff expected a ‘carnage’ because of the World Cup. Valverde, who has been showing a spectacular level throughout the course, was the footballer who worried the most. His state of mind and form after losing to Uruguay at the first exchange was unknown. Once more than a week of training has passed,…

Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo feels like an open-and-shut case as far as 2022 is concerned, but is that strictly the case? With Messi confirmed not to be a part of Paris Saint-Germain‘s match-day squad for the Strasbourg clash, it duly means that the 35-year-old has appeared for the final time this year. And the same can also be said for Ronaldo who remains unattached having parted ways with Manchester United on the back of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan Messi vs Ronaldo: Who had the better year? As such, we now have a full tank of data with which we can see who out of…

Sporting debates are never easy to settle. Whether it be Jordan v LeBron, Schumacher v Hamilton, or in this case, Messi v Ronaldo. The diminutive Argentine may have one-upped his great rival this month by winning the FIFA World Cup, but in the opinion of Cristiano Ronaldo fans, it isn’t enough of an achievement to be considered the GOAT. While this debate will rumble on for years and decades to come, one player has risked incurring the wrath of fans the world over by chiming in with his antagonistic opinion on the matter. Former Manchester United and Barcelona forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t one to…

Manchester United have reportedly been in contact with the representatives of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram. The Red Devils could do with a new attacking addition for Erik ten Hag in the New Year after parting ways with Cristiano Ronaldo last month. They seemed to be working on a move for Cody Gakpo, but as we now know, the Dutch star is on his way to Liverpool. That has led to United chiefs needing to rethink their winter window plans, and it looks as if they have spoken with those close to Thuram. According to 90min reporter Graeme Bailey, Inter Milan are trying to beat…

Real Madrid could be interested in a new fullback in 2023, most likely in the summer transfer window. Although they have one of the world’s best right backs in Dani Carvajal, one of the world’s best left backs in David Alaba, and a great defensive option on the left side in Ferland Mendy, they may want to sign a different profile. Carvajal isn’t getting any younger, while Alaba is mostly a center back for Los Blancos. He is 30 years old himself. Mendy is the real question mark, though. As much as he is appreciated for his defending and ball-carrying, he…

Chelsea telah mula merancang untuk menandatangani pengukuhan pada jendela perpindahan Januari ketika David Datro Fofana kelihatan bakal menjadi pemain pertama Graham Potter sebagai bos Blues. Chelsea telah mengumumkan kelab itu telah mencapai persetujuan awal untuk menandatangani penyerang Molde, David Datro Fofana. Penyerang Ivory Coast itu bakal menjadi pemain perpindahan Januari pertama The Blues. Todd Boehly telah bertindak mengikut rancangan untuk menyokong Graham Potter selepas pemain berusia 47 tahun itu menggantikan Thomas Tuchel sebagai bos Chelsea pada September. Fofana telah menjaringkan 15 gol dan memberikan lima bantuan tambahan untuk pasukan Norway itu setakat musim ini. Penyerang itu menyelesaikan ujian perubatan menjelang…

Erling Haaland continued his incredible season in front of goal with a brace to help Manchester City cruise to a 3-1 victory at Leeds United on Wednesday, ensuring the champions closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points Pep Guardiola claimed Erling Haaland is still not back to his best after injury despite scoring twice in Manchester City’s 3-1 Premier League win at Leeds. Haaland struck two second-half goals after Rodri had given City the lead in first-half stoppage time and despite Pascal Struijk’s late header for Leeds, the result was never in doubt. Norway striker Haaland…

Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to five points. Frustrated by a disciplined and determined home side and their own profligacy for much of the first half at Elland Road, City snatched the lead just before the break through Rodri’s follow-up finish and then sped into the distance in a one-sided second half. Having seen a couple of efforts saved early in the game, Haaland – playing in the city of his birth against the side he…