Sports

Xabi Alonso confirms Bayer Leverkusen exit as Real Madrid move beckons

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2025

Admin

Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, with the Spanish coach expected to join Real Madrid.

In a news conference on Friday, Alonso — who has spent three years at Leverkusen, guiding them to a historic undefeated league campaign in 2023-24 as part of a domestic double — said that he will depart after his team’s two remaining Bundesliga games.

Alonso refused to discuss his future, saying it was “not the moment,” but a Real Madrid source told ESPN on Friday that Alonso is “close” to becoming the club’s new coach, with Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave after Madrid’s last LaLiga game against Real Sociedad.

“This week, the club and I have agreed that these two games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” Alonso said. “It’s always about the moment, and now is the right moment to announce it. We’ve always had good, direct communication with the club, and now we have clarity.

“We want to have a proper farewell on Sunday [at home, against Borussia Dortmund]. It’s emotional, I talked to the players this morning. It’s been an unbelievable, fantastic three years, and now it’s a moment to share with the fans on Sunday … I think we can be proud of what we have achieved. We’ve been taking the club in the right direction.”

Alonso — a former Real Madrid midfielder, who began his coaching career with their academy — has long been Madrid’s preferred candidate to succeed Ancelotti.

The Italian has come under pressure after Madrid’s elimination in the Champions League quarterfinals and defeat in the Copa del Rey final, although his team go into Sunday’s Clásico at Barcelona still with a chance of winning the LaLiga title.

“After Mainz, once the season is wrapped, it will be the moment for the next thing,” Alonso said on Friday.

It is not yet clear whether Alonso would take charge of Madrid immediately, to coach them in this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States, or whether Madrid will appoint an interim coach for the tournament.

Sports

SEE LIST Of Top Ten: Cristiano Ronaldo Named Richest Athlete for 2024

Published

14 hours ago

May 17, 2025

ADMIN

Al Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as Forbes highest-paid athlete for 2024.

This is the third consecutive year he’s claiming the top spot.

The 40-year-old banked around £206.6million in 2024, which is £11.2m more than in 2023.

Ronaldo is believed to earn £177million-a-year salary at the Saudi club, which he joined from Manchester United in December 2022.

He is ahead of NBA’s Steph Curry and British boxer Tyson Fury.

Ronaldo’s longtime rival Lionel Messi drops to fifth place from third place in 2024.

TOP 10 HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £206.6m ($275m)

2. Stephen Curry – £117.1m ($156m)

3. Tyson Fury – £109.5m ($146m)

4. Dak Prescott £102.8m ($137m)

5. Lionel Messi £101.3m ($135m)

6. LeBron James £100.4m ($133.8m)

7. Juan Soto £85.5m ($114m)

8. Karim Benzema £78m ($104m)

9. Shohei Ohtani £76.9m ($102.5m)

10. Kevin Durant £76.1m ($101.4m)

Sports

Barcelona win La Liga title after beating rivals Espanyol

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2025

Admin

Barcelona have been crowned champions of LaLiga after a Lamine Yamal-inspired 2-0 win at Espanyol

Second-half goals from Yamal and Fermin Lopez either side of Leandro Cabrera’s sending off for Espanyol secure a league and cup double for head coach Hansi Flick in his first season in charge.

Seventeen-year-old Yamal, a league winner for the second time, found the top corner with a pinpoint, curling strike from the edge of the box to open the scoring after 53 minutes.

Yamal, who Cabrera struck to earn a red card with 10 minutes left, then set up fellow La Masia graduate Lopez in stoppage time to extend their lead against their rivals Espanyol.

Barcelona have dethroned rivals Real Madrid, who they beat in the Copa del Rey final last month.

The treble was still a possibility until earlier this month, when Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Inter Milan in one of the great semi-final ties, losing 7-6 on aggregate.

Barcelona won their 28th Spanish title with two games to spare, but are still some way off matching Real Madrid’s tally of 36.

Sports

U-20 AFCON: South Africa defeat Flying Eagles 1-0 to reach final

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2025

Admin

Nigeria’s hopes of winning the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations have come to an end following a narrow 1-0 defeat to South Africa’s Amajita in Thursday’s semifinal clash, held on May 15, 2025.

Led by coach Aliyu Zubairu, the Flying Eagles entered the contest on the back of a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Senegal in the quarterfinals—a win that also secured their qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, their AFCON journey fell short of the final hurdle.

The semifinal was a tense, tactical encounter, with both sides relying heavily on counter-attacking football. Despite dominating possession, the Flying Eagles struggled to convert their control into clear-cut chances, and the first half ended goalless.

The second half brought a major setback for Nigeria when 15-year-old goalkeeper Ebenezer Ifeanyi-Harcourt was forced off due to injury. He was replaced in the 51st minute by Ajia Soliu Yakub.

Yakub, however, was unable to prevent South Africa from breaking the deadlock. In the 66th minute, Tylon Christopher Smith rose to meet a cross and headed home what would prove to be the match-winner.

Despite late substitutions and a push for an equalizer, Nigeria couldn’t find a way back into the game, allowing South Africa to advance to the final while the Flying Eagles were left to reflect on what might have been.