Ferdinand says ‘Nice guys don’t win’ after Isak transfer saga

Published

4 weeks ago

September 3, 2025

Players should not be vilified for forcing through transfer moves, former England star Rio Ferdinand told AFP on Wednesday following the Alexander Isak saga, adding: “Nice guys don’t win.”

Isak is public enemy number one at Newcastle United after making it clear that he did not want to play for the club again as he attempted to engineer a move to Liverpool.

The Swedish striker got his wish by sealing a British-record £125 million ($167 million) switch to the Premier League champions on Monday.

England defender Marc Guehi, however, saw his move to Liverpool break down after Crystal Palace vetoed his sale at the last minute.

In contrast to the bitter Isak saga, Guehi earned plaudits for continuing to play and perform for Palace despite Liverpool’s advances.

“Nice guys don’t win,” former England and Manchester United defender Ferdinand said on the sidelines of the World Football Summit in Hong Kong.

He added, “The clubs get away with murder in these situations. How many players down the years were denied a move because the clubs said it wasn’t this and it wasn’t that? Being greedy.

“But players get vilified when they say, ‘It’s a great offer, it’s a load of money, why aren’t you letting me go? I want to go to a club that’s winning trophies.’”

Ferdinand, who moved from Leeds to Manchester United in 2002 for a then-British record fee, added: “Marc Guehi’s not been able to go and everyone’s going, ‘Great, brilliant.’

“But what if Liverpool don’t buy him now? Or he gets injured, he never gets to that point and he never gets a chance to win trophies?

“People wonder why players sometimes get bolshie and get their elbows out and say, ‘No, I need to go.’

“I just think it’s business. Players shouldn’t get vilified –- clubs aren’t and it should be equal.”

– Tuchel ‘needs time’ –

The 25-year-old Guehi, who could yet move to Liverpool next summer after his Palace contract expires, is in the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia over the next week.

Ferdinand, who won the Champions League and six Premier Leagues with United, fears England are struggling for depth in central defence.

“I’m not saying the quality is really bad, but there’s not enough,” said the 46-year-old, who made 81 appearances for his country in that position.

“You’ve got Marc Guehi and John Stones, and then after that you’re going… who else is there really?”

England under boss Thomas Tuchel are yet to really impress since the German started in the role at the beginning of the year with the remit of lifting the World Cup.

But Ferdinand said the only thing that matters is what happens at the tournament in North America in June-July.

“It’s a work in progress and I don’t think we should expect miracles immediately. We don’t want miracles now, you want miracles in the summer,” he said.

“Even if there’s a stuttering period now and things aren’t going perfectly well, it’s not panic stations.”

“He needs time with the players to get to know who’s who and who gels well.”

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Man United finalise deal for teenage Colombian midfielder Orozco

Published

6 hours ago

October 2, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

Manchester United have finalised a deal to sign 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco from Fortaleza CEIF.

The agreement, confirmed by renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Thursday, will see the young talent join the Red Devils in the summer of 2026 upon turning 18.

According to Romano, all contracts have been approved by United’s lawyers, and the deal was coordinated by lead scout Gerardo Guzmán Antonaccio.

He said on X, “Manchester United have now sealed and signed a deal to bring in 17-year-old Colombian talent Cristian Orozco.

“$1m transfer fee from Fortaleza in a deal valid from summer 2026. #MUFC lawyers approved all the contracts, deal coordinated by lead scout Antonaccio.”

Orozco is a defensive midfielder and captain of Colombia’s Under-17 national team, who has been hailed as a promising talent with strong intensity and potential.

He led his country to the final of the Under-17 South American Championships last year, showcasing his leadership and skills in youth international competitions.

The teenager has made appearances in Colombia’s domestic league with Fortaleza CEIF.

Orozco joins a growing list of young talents at Old Trafford, including recent additions like Sekou Kone and Chido Obi-Martin.

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Victor Osimhen breaks record, becomes Nigeria’s top Champions League goal scorer

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has become the first Nigerian to score 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

The 26-year-old striker reached the milestone after scoring the lone goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at the RAMS Park on Tuesday night, September 30.

Osimhen converted a penalty kick with Alisson Becker diving the wrong way after Dominic Sobozlai had smacked Barış Alper Yılmaz in the face to concede the penalty.

The goal took Osimhen ahead of Obafemi Martins to become the highest scoring Nigerian in the UCL, excluding qualification matches.

He also became the first Nigerian to score for three different clubs in the UCL. He had earlier scored for Lille and Napoli in the competition.

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Olapade, Okoko shine at Lakowe Golf Classic

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

Nigerian golf ace Sunday Olapade won the professional round of the 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic with a 10-under par score in 54 holes, as the event came to an end on Sunday.

Youngster Godwin Okoko, also made the winner’s list with a third-place finish in the professional round while also leading his amateur team members to be crowned the Team event winners. The members included Ikechukwu Boniface, David Maji, and Frances Omaruaye.

The 2025 event paraded some of the best professional players from West Africa, including Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw from Ghana, Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe.

Olapade’s rounds were 69, 65, and 72 for the three days to beat Korblah with a five-stroke margin and pocket the N5m purse and an additional ARM champion bonus of N2.5m, totaling N7.5m for his victory.

Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, said Olapade had a brilliant spell at the event and came close to breaking the course’s 54-hole record held by Vincent Torgah.

“I believe every player showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade at each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event.

“This is a very satisfying win, given the effort I have put into my game in the past few months. I have just come back from a training round in Kenya. It’s been a very challenging routine, which is why this is satisfying. I want to thank everyone who has supported me this while, and believe in me.

In the team event, Kingsley Oparaku led the team of Roland Alexander, Terry Paul, and Abe Ayodeji to the runner-up position.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chairman of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate Deji Alli said that the game of golf has impacted his person and outlook of business for the Lakowe Lakes project, despite the challenges of running a world-class facility like Lakowe Lakes Golf Club.

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