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Enzo Maresca wants Chelsea Defensive Superstar as Top Target at Man City

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

According to a report by Football London on June 13, 2026, some Chelsea supporters were reportedly unhappy with Enzo Maresca’s departure earlier this year, with many more frustrated by how the situation unfolded behind the scenes than by the exit itself.

The report suggests that internal disagreements within Chelsea’s leadership contributed to growing tensions, particularly over decision-making power in areas such as contracts, squad planning, and overall club direction. These issues are believed to have played a major role in the breakdown that led to Maresca leaving Stamford Bridge.

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Despite the circumstances, Maresca is said to have remained highly valued by players. His tactical ideas, coaching methods, and man-management style reportedly earned strong approval in the dressing room, helping to build a positive and united squad that produced strong results on the pitch.

Although his time at Chelsea was brief, it was successful, with the club winning both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup under his guidance, boosting his reputation as one of Europe’s rising coaches.

Now managing Manchester City, Maresca is reportedly interested in reuniting with one of his former Chelsea players. French right-back Malo Gusto has emerged as a top target for the position ahead of the summer transfer window.

Journalist Marco Barzaghi claims that Manchester City have placed Gusto high on their defensive shortlist, with Maresca’s admiration playing a key role in the pursuit. The City manager is believed to value Gusto’s versatility, athletic ability, and tactical awareness, traits that impressed him during their time together at Chelsea.

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Gusto has become an important player for Chelsea in recent seasons, particularly with Reece James struggling with injuries. He has consistently stepped in and delivered reliable performances, allowing James to occasionally play further forward or in central midfield.

Last season, Gusto made 49 appearances across all competitions, highlighting his importance and consistency. His pace, attacking threat, defensive recovery, and work rate have made him one of the most reliable modern full-backs in Chelsea’s squad.

Despite growing interest from top clubs, Chelsea are reluctant to sell. The club reportedly consider him a key long-term asset, especially with academy talent Josh Acheampong emerging as part of their future plans.

As the transfer window approaches, it remains uncertain whether Manchester City will succeed in their pursuit or if Chelsea will resist offers and keep one of their most dependable defenders.

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Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after initial scare

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Anthony Joshua remains on course for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this year after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild clash in Jeddah.

Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.

However, Prenga was demolished shortly after by right hands in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a car crash last December that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

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Arsenal in surprise drive for Vinícius Jr. amid Real Madrid contract uncertainty

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Arsenal are reportedly considering the possibility of signing Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior in what could become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.

According to respected transfer journalist David Ornstein, the Gunners have internally approved the idea of pursuing the Brazilian winger if he fails to agree a new contract with the Spanish giants.

While there have been no club-to-club negotiations at this stage, the interest is said to have the backing of Arsenal’s hierarchy, with the North London club closely monitoring the player’s contract situation.

Vinícius has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Real Madrid, raising questions about his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabéu. Madrid are keen to avoid losing one of their biggest stars on a free transfer and are also mindful of a substantial loyalty bonus that would become due if he remains at the club into next season.

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Despite the growing speculation, the move remains in its early stages, with no formal talks having taken place between the clubs. However, Ornstein reports that Vinícius is among Arsenal’s primary transfer targets should an opportunity arise.

The Brazilian international has established himself as one of the world’s top attacking players since joining Real Madrid, playing a key role in the club’s domestic and European successes. Any potential deal would likely require a significant transfer fee and a major financial commitment from Arsenal.

For now, Arsenal are keeping a close watch on developments, with Vinícius’ contract negotiations expected to determine whether the Premier League side can turn their ambitious interest into a formal pursuit.

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Just in: 23m support petition to ban Argentina from World Cup as FIFA pushes back

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An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from the FIFA World Cup has attracted more than 23 million signatures from football fans across the globe, following the conclusion of the 2026 tournament.

According to talkSPORT, the petition, titled “Argentina Out,” amassed 23,316,108 signatures from supporters in 170 countries in less than a week, making it one of the most widely shared online petitions in history.

Organisers had initially hoped to collect five million signatures, but the campaign quickly surpassed that target as frustration over Argentina’s performances and officiating during the tournament spread among football fans.

The petition accused FIFA and match officials of showing favoritism toward Argentina and captain Lionel Messi throughout the competition, allegations that FIFA has consistently denied.

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The petition stated: “Why should the rest of the teams play in the tournament if the winner is known in advance? Exclude Argentina from the World Cup and give everyone a fair chance.” The campaign gained momentum during the World Cup but ultimately failed to achieve its objective.

Argentina’s campaign ended in disappointment after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. Messi, playing what many believe could be his final World Cup, was seen leaving the pitch in tears following emotional scenes after the final whistle.

The petition was officially closed after the tournament ended, with its website displaying the message: “FIFA ignored us but Spain delivered. Thank you Spain.” Despite the campaign’s widespread support, Argentina faces no disciplinary action and will continue to participate in future FIFA World Cup competitions.

The South American giants are expected to feature in the 2030 tournament, where they are among the nations scheduled to co-host an expanded 64-team competition. Although the petition drew more than 23 million signatures, it narrowly missed becoming the largest online petition ever recorded.

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The current Guinness World Record remains with the Jubilee 2000 campaign, an international movement that called for the cancellation of unpayable debts owed by the world’s poorest nations.

Launched in April 1997, the campaign collected 24,319,181 signatures from 166 countries before being presented at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in 2000.

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