Sports

EPL: Man United wanted to sell me after Saudi interest — Bruno Fernandes

Published

2 months ago

December 16, 2025

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes told Portuguese media the Premier League club had wanted to sell him this summer after receiving interest from Saudi Arabia.

But the 31-year-old claimed manager Ruben Amorim still had him in his plans, and that convinced him to stay at Old Trafford.

“My passion and empathy for the club were the same, but there comes a point where money becomes more important to them than you,” Fernandes told Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, on Monday.

“The club wanted me to leave. I said it to the directors, and I think they didn’t dare to make that decision because the coach wanted me.

“But if I had said I wanted to leave, even if the coach wanted me to stay, the club would have let me go.”

Fernandes, who has 103 goals in 307 appearances for Man Utd in all competitions since arriving in 2020, was also reportedly hurt by the club hierarchy’s willingness to part ways with him.

“The feeling I got from the club was, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us’. That hurt me a little,” he said, according to comments reported on the website of Portuguese sports daily A Bola.

The playmaker said he had considered a move to Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, who made the move to the kingdom in 2023 after his acrimonious departure from Old Trafford.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 188

Sports

UK-based Nigerian footballer, Saburi Adeniji dies after suffering brain injury

Published

3 days ago

February 8, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Nigerian footballer Saburi Olayinka Adeniji has died in the United Kingdom after suffering a severe brain injury, sparking an outpouring of grief from teammates, fans and members of the Nigerian football community.

Adeniji, a winger who played for non-league side Kings Park Rangers in Halstead, Essex, passed away in hospital on Friday after being admitted to intensive care with a serious brain stem injury.

He was reported to have collapsed and was hospitalised on January 25.

It was learnt that the footballer had battled for days while receiving specialist medical care. His wife and four-year-old daughter travelled from Nigeria to be by his side but arrived a day after his death.

The club confirmed the tragic development in a statement, describing Adeniji as a dedicated player and a valued member of the team.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our number 17, Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’. He fought bravely and will always be remembered as a King. He was deeply loved by everyone at the club,” the statement read.

Tributes have continued to pour in across social media, with many describing Adeniji as humble, hardworking and passionate about the game. Fellow players and supporters expressed sorrow over the timing of his death, particularly the fact that his family narrowly missed seeing him before he passed on.

Adeniji’s death has renewed conversations within the football community about player welfare, medical response and support systems for athletes competing at lower levels of the game.

Further details surrounding funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 78

Sports

Guardiola slams EFL rule as Guéhi is ruled out of Carabao Cup final

Published

7 days ago

February 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Pep Guardiola has called on the English Football League to change its rules to allow Manchester City defender Marc Guéhi to play in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Guéhi is currently ineligible for the final at Wembley on March 22 after joining City from Crystal Palace following their 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the first leg of the semi-final.

As reported by BBC on Thursday, Carabao Cup regulations state that players must be registered prior to the closure of the winter transfer window or before the first leg of the semi-final, whichever comes sooner, in order to be eligible to play in the competition.

As a result, the England centre-back missed both legs of City’s 5-1 aggregate win over Newcastle and is also set to miss the final.

Speaking after Wednesday’s second-leg victory, Guardiola questioned the logic of the rule and confirmed the club would ask the EFL to reconsider Guéhi’s eligibility.

“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final.

“I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play because of a rule I don’t understand,” Guardiola said.

City’s other January signing, Antoine Semenyo, was eligible for the semi-final after arriving from Bournemouth four days before the first leg, and went on to score in that match.

“Antoine arrived before the first game so he could play. “Now it’s the final. Why should Marc not play? We pay his salary, he is our player,” he added.

Guardiola also pointed to the fact that City have already benefited from a rule change this season that removed traditional cup-tying restrictions, allowing players to represent more than one club in the competition.

That amendment allowed Semenyo and defender Max Alleyne to feature in the semi-finals despite having appeared for Bournemouth and Watford earlier in the tournament.

Asked whether he expected the EFL to grant City’s request, Guardiola said he was doubtful but confirmed the club would still make an approach.

“No,” he said. “But we will try.”

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 87

Sports

Morocco remains 2026 WAFCON host, says S’Africa’s minister

Published

1 week ago

February 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has dismissed reports suggesting that the country has been confirmed as the new host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the minister stated that “no formal decision” has been taken to replace Morocco.

McKenzie reaffirmed that Morocco remains the official host of the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on March 17.

The minister was responding to comments credited to the Deputy Minister of Sport, Peace Mabel, who had claimed that South Africa had taken over hosting rights after Morocco allegedly withdrew from the competition with just five weeks to the start date.

Mabel had said Morocco pulled out of hosting the WAFCON and that South Africa was ready to step in.

However, McKenzie clarified that South Africa has merely expressed readiness to assist the Confederation of African Football if the need arises.

According to him, South Africa “has only indicated its willingness to support CAF if alternative hosting arrangements become necessary.”

He explained that such measures “are part of CAF’s routine contingency planning” ahead of major tournaments.

“At this stage, no formal decision has been taken to relocate the tournament, and Morocco remains the official designated host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. CAF has not activated any alternative hosting process,” the statement said.

McKenzie added that for South Africa to host the tournament, several requirements must be met, including CAF’s formal approval, clearance from the cabinet, and the availability and readiness of venues and supporting infrastructure.

It was reports that Morocco is poised to host the WAFCON for the third consecutive time, with the tournament set to run from March 17 to April 3.

The North African country finished as runners-up in the last two editions, losing to South Africa in the 2022 final and to Nigeria’s Super Falcons in 2024.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 87