Torres Turns Mourihno Into A Barber

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been causing something of a stir with his sharp new haircut, and the Portuguese says Fernando Torres is to thank for the close crop he is now sporting.
Mourinho gave his first public outing of his new style during a press conference ahead of the victory over West Ham last weekend, and left many aghast at the change from his more accustomed side-sweep.
It was only on Monday, however, that reporters finally had the courage to question Mourinho about his shaved head during a media briefing before the Champions League encounter with Basel, and the 50-year-old gave the reasons for his change of style.

When asked who cut his hair, the Stamford Bridge boss said: "Myself... in the training ground, yes!
"I decided to do it, I asked Fernando [Torres] to give me his machine, and I did [it] myself, in front of the mirror, it's nice... and cheap!"
Mourinho's decision to go for the short look brought back memories of his first spell at Chelsea when he described a similar haircut as a sign of entering his 'going to war' mode.

Man City Still Paying Adebayor £40,000 A Week

Even for someone as wealthy as Sheik Mansour, the sight of Emmanuel Adebayor charging around in a Tottenham shirt on Sunday must have been galling.

The frequency with which Manchester City’s forwards struck against a woeful Spurs defence would have softened any sense of frustration. But the mere fact that he is also paying the guy playing up front for the opposition cannot sit terribly easily with City’s owner.

Adebayor represents an expensive mistake and continues to cost City a fortune every week, some three years after he last kicked a ball for them. It has been reported that City are still paying £95,000 a week of the £170,000 Adebayor stood to earn if he simply sat on his backside in the reserves, with Tottenham making up the difference after paying a purchase price of only £5million.

Expensive mistake: City are still supplementing Emmanuel Adebayor’s wages to the tune of £40,000 a week

Loaded: There is little for City owner Sheik Mansour to smile about his decision to sign Adebayor

But trusted sources close to the Manchester club claim the figure is closer to £40,000 a week. Either way, how can it be that the striker jostling with your defenders is on the same wage bill?

First things first. It would be a breach of Premier League rules for two clubs to be paying the wages of one player in such a situation and the Premier League examined the financial details of the deal before allowing it to go through.

So what we actually have here is a player who received a pay-off to leave City, then agreed to receive that money in instalments over the two years that remained of his original contract.
Sources at City insist Adebayor’s original salary was not as high as £170,000 a week. They say it was more like £140,000 a week.

When Adebayor’s move to White Hart Lane was made permanent in August 2012, Sportsmail understands Tottenham agreed to pay him £101,000 a week.

Not wishing to take such a big pay cut, Adebayor’s advisers then negotiated a pay-off with City. It is understood that is in the region of £4m paid in instalments over the two years — or approximately £40,000 a week.

Money matters: Manchester City took a heavy loss to get Emmanuel Adebayor off the wage bill

As well as being something of a legend in his native Togo — there is a foundation in his name — Adebayor is described as an astute business man. At one stage, it has been suggested, he had a business that provided the guards for Togo’s prisons.

The £20m drop in transfer fees aside, City would no doubt point to what they would also consider good business when Adebayor’s move to Tottenham became permanent; a saving of £10million in wages had Adebayor remained part of their squad. 

That, of course, is the positive spin on what remains another tale of excess in football.
Adebayor is a talented footballer and when he moved to Spurs on loan in the summer of 2011 he did well for manager Harry Redknapp, scoring 18 goals in 37 appearances. During that season-long loan, City paid the lion’s share of his salary. His first permanent season at Tottenham was not nearly as successful, bringing eight goals in 33 appearances. 

Then the sudden death of Adebayor’s brother last summer meant he missed most of  pre-season. The 29-year-old is now said to be looking sharp again in training.

In the background, of course, is talk of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy moving Adebayor on in January. Prepare for one of the most complicated transfer negotiations in football history.

Keshi Set To Recall Osaze, Uche, Taiwo To The Super Eagles

Reprieve may come the way of the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo and Ikechukwu Uche as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has dropped hint that he may recall some players that have not been invited to the national team as the country set sight on playing at her fifth FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.

•Uche
Keshi said that players, who were hitherto left out in his team in the qualifying series for the World Cup which ended last Saturday with a ticket to play in Brazil 2014, could be handed a shock recall to the Eagles as he prepares for the Mundial. Keshi stunned many by leaving out experienced talent from his 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and received a backlash from many who felt he was treading on thin ice.
Keshi however insists that with the World Cup ticket firmly at hand Nigerian players who had been left out of his team will only be allowed to sneak in if they prove they are better than the ones currently in the squad.
“I believe everyone who is eligible to play for Nigeria has a chance and I am being totally honest here. I will assess their performances at their different clubs and we will take a decision but if these players are not better than those that I already have in the team, then they don’t have any chance.

•Taye Taiwo
“However, if they show that they are better and can make the team stronger, why not? It does not matter if they have played for the Super Eagles previously or not.
“I recall that before the 1994 FIFA World Cup, players like Michael Emenalo and Chidi Nwanu did not kick a ball in (the qualifying tournament.)
“They also did not play at the Nations Cup earlier that year but when they showed the coaches what they could do, they came in.

•Osaze
“I have not selected my team for the World Cup. No one has a guaranteed shirt and we will keep working until we know the 23 players that will go to Brazil,” he said. Keshi who won 64 caps and scored nine goals for Nigeria as a player, replaced Samson Siasia as Super Eagles coach in 2011 and has yet to lose a competitive game to African opposition.

Sunday Mba Joins CA Bastia Of France

Sunday Mba, who scored the goal that won the African Nations Cup for Nigeria earlier this year, left Warri Wolves for French team CA Bastia on Thursday.
The 24-year-old has signed a one-year deal, the Ligue 2 club told reporters.
Mba, who was on target in the 40th minute of the 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the Nations Cup final in Johannesburg in February, cost CA Bastia a fee of one million euros (851.39 thousand pounds).

Everton's Ross Barkley Is Nigerian And Eligible To Play For The Super Eagles

EVERTON midfielder Ross Barkley is eligible to play for the Super Eagles after the England youth international revealed that his father is a Nigerian.
It is understood that Barkley’s eligibility comes through his father, Peter Effanga who is a Nigerian. Effanga lives in Liverpool where he works at the Getrag Ford Transmission plant but a strained relationship with his father meant the youngster took his mother’s surname of Barkley.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has lavished praise on Anglo – Nigerian midfielder Ross Barkley following his imperious display in the Toffees 2 – 2 draw with Norwich City on Saturday in the Premier League.
19 – year – old Barkley equalized for Everton in the 61st minute after Steven Whittaker had given Norwich the lead.
Roberto Martinez was full of superlative for Ross Barkley, whom he named in his starting eleven.
” What a great goal, that’s the talent he has. That’s no fluke that’s what he does every day in training.
” I was happy to see his overall contribution to the team, the way he understood how to be efficient.
“The goal was a great moment and a way to show his quality but I have been very impressed with his maturity.
Though Barkley has represented England up to Under 21 level, he is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria’s Footballing Brotherhood

Its not new to find brothers in a family who share the same career especially in football. Nigeria seems to have a great number of footballing brothers compared with other football loving countries in the world. Sugarsport decided to compile a list of some of the brothers we know who play or have played football in the past and hail from Nigeria. Some have had both brothers play for the National team
The Olisehs
Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh (born 14 September 1974 in Abavo, Delta State) is the more popular of the Oliseh brothers. He is a former Nigerian footballer and coach.
A physical, technical defensive midfielder, Oliseh played for well known clubs such as AFC Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus F.C. Oliseh played 63 international matches and scored four goals for Nigeria, and played at the Football World Cups of 1994 and 1998. Oliseh also participated in the Olympic gold medal winning team of 1996.
He is mostly remembered for scoring the winning goal in the group stage match against Spain in the 1998 World Cup, as Nigeria prevailed 3–2. In January 2006, at the age of 31, Oliseh retired from professional football after playing a half season for Belgian top club K.R.C. Genk.

Azubuike Oliseh (born 18 November 1978) is a former Nigerian football midfielder. He is the younger brother of retired Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh and the older brother of the former AS Nancy and QPR midfielder Egutu Oliseh; another brother is Churchill Oliseh and his nephew is Sekou Oliseh.

He last played for Ermis Aradippou in the Cypriot First Division. Azubuike joined his compatriots Celestine Babayaro and James Obiorah at Anderlecht, as a 16 year old. Looking for regular first team action, Oliseh was loaned out to Royal Antwerp for the 1998-99 season, before moving to the Dutch Eredivisie the following year.

The Nwankwos
Nwankwo Kanu, OON (born 1 August 1976) is a retired Nigerian footballer. He was a member of and later captained the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010.  His name, Nwankwo, means Child born on Nkwo market day in the Igbo language.

Kanu has won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is also one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal.[5] He made the second-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times.[6] He is also a UNICEF ambassador.[7]

Christopher Kanu (born 4 December 1979) is a Nigerian football defender. His current career goal tally stands at 10 goals in 317 league games for 8 different clubs. An 11th strike, which was not scored in a league game, proved to be a match winner for his old club Sparta Rotterdam in an early UEFA Cup knockout round against Hamburger SV in 2002.

The other 9 have all been notched for Nigerian club Eagle Cement in the league, and the tenth goal came on his league debut for Owerri Stampede Nigeria FC. He is the younger brother of Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu. In addition he is the stepbrother of Oghab midfielder Anderson “Anders” Gabolalmo Kanu and Henry Isaac.

The Uches
Kalu Uche (born 15 November 1982) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League, as a forward or an attacking midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career in Spain, mainly with Almería, with which he amassed La Liga totals of 117 games and 27 goals. A Nigerian international in the 2000s, Uche represented his country at the 2010 World Cup.

Ikechukwu Uche (born 5 January 1984) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Villarreal CF in Spain, as a striker. Known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, he spent most of his professional career in Spain, having arrived in the country before the age of 20.


The Utakas
John Chukwudi Utaka (born 8 January 1982) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays as a striker for Turkish side Sivasspor of the Süper Lig. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for Beijing Guoan in China.

Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd of Qatar, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes in France. During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making a very effective element in a team’s counterattacking.
Utaka plays for Nigeria and was a participant at the 2002 World Cup. He started four of Nigeria’s six games in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, in which Nigeria finished in third place. He was also part of the Nigeria squad that participated in the 2010 World Cup but was an unused substitute in the tournament.

Peter Utaka (born 12 February 1984 in Enugu) is a Nigerian footballer with a Belgian passport currently playing for Chinese club Beijing Guoan. He is the younger brother of John Utaka, who currently plays for Sivasspor in Turkey.

Utaka moved to Croatia as a 16-year old to play in Dinamo Zagreb. In 2003 he moved to Belgium from Dinamo and signed for K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen of the third division. KVC Westerlo moved to sign him the following season, and in his first season in the top flight.
He joined Royal Antwerp FC in January 2007 where he became a first team regular, and he helped Antwerp qualify for the playoffs, finishing second. On 21 September 2009, national coach Shaibu Amodu selected Peter for the Nigerian national football team. Utaka made his debut for Nigeria months later in a 5–2 home win over Congo DR on 3 March 2010.

The Sodjes
Efetobore Peter “Efe” Sodje (born 5 October 1972) is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Conference National side Macclesfield Town where he is also the club’s assistant manager.

Sodje has notably represented Nigeria in the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup. He has previously played for Stevenage Borough, Luton Town, Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Yeovil Town, Southend United, Gillingham, Bury and Barrow.

Idoro Akpoeyere Ujoma “Akpo” Sodje (born 31 January 1980) is an English footballer of Nigerian heritage who plays for Tranmere Rovers in League One. A journeyman striker, he is usually an instantly recognisable figure on the pitch due to his original – and most of all colourful – hairstyles.

With Queens Park Rangers in 2001, he was loaned out to Stevenage Borough, before beginning a career in non-league football with Margate in 2001. He spent the 2006–07 season with Port Vale, before becoming a Sheffield Wednesday player. He found success and popularity at both clubs, before he joined Charlton Athletic in 2010, after two loan spells.
Born in Greenwich, London, his family originate from Warri, in Delta State, Nigeria. Sodje has four brothers who also play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam and Efe have represented Nigeria at international level. Steve, has never played a Football League game. Another brother, Bright, used to play rugby league and rugby union. His cousin Onome Sodje, also played professionally in England.

Samuel Okeremute Sodje (born 25 May 1979) is an English-born Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender. Sodje also represents Nigeria at international level. Although born in England, Sodje’s family originate form Nigeria so was eligible to represent both England and Nigeria national football team, he chose to represent Nigeria the same as his older brother Efe.

In November 2005, Sodje made his debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 friendly defeat to Romania in Bucharest, playing the full 90 minutes. After some impressive performances for Leeds United Sodje was recalled to the Nigerian squad for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and France at the end of the 08/09 season

A British Woman Defrauds Osaze Odemwingie £70,000

A British woman has appeared in court charged with conning thousands of pounds from Premiership footballers while working as their “lifestyle coach”.
Claire Duke, 38, is accused of defrauding high-profile clients – including Cardiff City FC striker Peter Odemwingie – out of more than £70,000 over a one year period.
It is alleged Duke received money for holidays and flights from clients but kept the money for herself.
She appeared at Cannock Magistrates’ Court in Staffordshire last Wednesday charged with five counts of fraud and one of theft.
Between September 1 last year and July 10 of this year she is accused of making a total of £71,106.83 fraudulently.
Included in the charges is that while Duke was the lifestyle consultant of 32-year-old Odemwingie, she allegedly stole £15,437.67 by using his debit card.
Dressed smartly in a grey dress and black blazer, Duke spoke only to confirm her name and age in court

Three Potential Big Transfers:

With Gareth Bale's £85m move to Real Madrid completed in the summer, many fans and pundits are searching for the next big-money moves. 
Here are three potential transfers:
3. Julien Draxler – Schalke to Arsenal:

The 20 year old German is just one in the long line of young Germans with huge potential, and Arsenal look keen to bring him to the Emirates.
Currently at Bundesliga side Schalke, Draxler has already broken into the German National side, and will be looking to book his place on the flight to next year’s World Cup.
Before that though, he has the possibility of playing for a new side, with the Premier League his most likely destination. If this move goes through, you can bet Arsenal will be writing a big cheque.
2. Radamal Falcao – AS Monaco to Chelsea
Less than 6 months after his £52 million move to AS Monaco, Radamel Falcao is once again under transfer speculation, this time to the Premier League.
Having been on Chelsea’s most wanted list for many years, this truly could be the year the 27 year old makes the move to Stanford Bridge, and what a move it would be.
Currently in a desperate need for strikers, Chelsea would be signing a reliable and proven one, but with class comes an inevitably enormous price tag. Watch out, Chelsea could be delving deep into their pockets.
1. Lionel Messi – Barcelona to...?
Arguably the best player in the world, Lionel Messi may be making a shock move away from the Nou Camp.
After Messi and Barca’s owner failed to see eye to eye over a contract renewal, the 26 year old has reportedly stressed his desire to leave the Catalan club.
Messi’s contract does still run until 2018 though, and any club looking to persuade the maestro to move to their club will almost certainly break the transfer record. This could well and truly signify the end of the Barca era.

Di Maria Perfect For Man United

Despite possessing a wide array of options, David Moyes and Manchester United have cause for concern when it comes to playing down the flanks. 
Antonio Valencia has pretty much made the Right Midfield position his own. His physical prowess and lightning-quick pace are a formidable sight for any opposing full back. He had a wonderful year in the 2011-12 season, picking up the Player's Player of the Year Award.
However, he has lost his exciting nature and become almost predictable with his play, causing opposing full backs to get the upper hand. United fans are aware of his potential, but are more than often left begging for more.

Ashley Young and Nani are a cause for concern for David Moyes. Ashley Young has attracted a lot of attention for his diving exploits, and Nani is too inconsistent for the gaffer's liking. Both of these wingers are often ineffective while playing down the left flank, and are often the cause of loss in possession or an attacking slump for the Red Devils.
David Moyes has looked to deploy Shinji Kagawa in the left wing position, but he is not a natural winger. He does not possess the pace and crossing abilities of a winger, and often looks to drift inward. Adnan Januzaj is at the tender age of 18 and has a lot to learn.
Enter Angel di Maria. The dynamic winger has a lot to offer at Real Madrid, but the arrival of marquee signing Gareth Bale has relegated him to a spot on the bench. Di Maria enjoyed a wonderful season last year, putting in some brilliant performances.
Reduced to making substitute appearances this term, he is bound to feel uneasy with his situation and can be tempted with a move away from the Spanish club.
He possesses incredible pace, and a wonderful left foot. He has the ability of drifting in from the right and executing a deadly shot or a killer pass. He can fit in easily at United and provide the Old Trafford faithful with a lot of entertainment.
It has been rumoured that David Moyes is planning a £17 million bid for the pacey winger. He should leave no stone unturned to try and sign Angel di Maria if he wants his Manchester United side to have a realistic chance of winning silverware

Messi Chelsea Move Unrealistic

Lionel Messi has ruled out a sensational move to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, by affirming that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Barcelona.
According to the Manchester Evening News the four-time Ballon d'OR winner has no intention of ever leaving the Nou Camp and is more than happy to see out his career with the Catalan giants.
This comes off the back of shocking speculation that suggested Messi might be the subject of a world-record smashing €250million bid from one of three Adidas-backed clubs- namely Chelsea, Bayern and Madrid.

Other clubs such as Manchester City were also said to be sniffing around at the prospect of making a seemingly impossible deal a reality, but now the Argentina maestro has refuted the claims once and for all. "My intention is to stay with Barcelona for good," Messi told Spanish publication Marca.
"I am grateful if what they say is true and there are people interested. It makes you proud that they say such things. But my life is with Barcelona."
The news is unlikely to come as a surprise to any of the potential suitors as the Barcelona star had never offered any sort of hope that he was looking for a move away.
Nevertheless the news is unlikely to stop the big boys from trying to flex their incredible financial muscle in a bid to activate Messi's release clause and then try to negotiate a mega-contract.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles Not Yet World Class - Elli Ikechukwu

Africa’s football is still in a process of its full development and no country can lay claim to really be a super power in Africa as the smaller nations are beginning to give the acclaimed big footballing nations a stiff competition as can be attested to the recent finals of the 2013 Orange CAF championship between Burkina faso and Nigeria.

But the question is, can Africa’s best be rated at par with contemporaries of other world footballing nations as Europe? 

Reminders can be traced to histories of past encounters between African champions and Europe’s best where technical deficiencies have played out as our greatest bane. African players are naturally endowed with physical energy and their strength towers above the rest when put to test but their technical ability calls for serious concern.

Modern football has evolved from physicality to a combination of technicality and physicality. 
A complete football side must be equipped with the ability to totally attack and totally defend; whereby attacking formations change from ball possession in terms of attack to defensive depending on the progression of a game.

Modern football has shown how every player must be attack oriented in ball possession and defensive in the loss of ball control; all working together for each other not minding their primary roles. Today, a winger runs to either support the mid-pack or wingback defensively and vice-versa while in attacking mode. 

For a fact, the goalkeeper remains one still maintaining its primary role of manning the sticks, however, there have been instances where the goalkeeper joins in the attack during the dying minutes of a game or taking penalty kicks or free kicks (a few comes to mind).

Just as merits and demerits exist in life’s application same can be said of technical formations whereby discipline to tactics is key.

  
As Nigeria’s super eagles trod on to rekindle old flames of glory and hopes for a successful outing in Brazil, I personally hold the opinion that the super eagles still need fine tuning even though its present personnel are good enough.

It will be a disservice to the present crop of players who have laboured to attain this new glory to be replaced now with any of the old guards. I affirm that it will be better to bring back some of the in-formed “old guards’’ to fight for a place to prosecute the world cup campaign than trying out fresh rookies.

A few comes to mind like Osaze, Martins, Uche, Yobe, Anichebe and Shittu. 

These aforementioned players in my opinion will bring the experience required at this level of the world cup campaign.

The defence with a Joseph Yobo and Danny Shittu will definitely create a sealed and water-tight defensive line-up.

Uche Kalu in the mid-pack will surely hold the midfield firmly.

And the addition of Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie and Victor Anichebe will add bite to the attack.

Tactical formations must be introduced according to a player’s natural abilities to assimilate.

Tactical discipline must be followed through by players and the bench must realise players who are willing to bring an extra effort to play; die-hard for coach, team and nation.

The team’s mental well-being is another department not to be handled with levity, as this will come in good stead in-times of a disadvantaged position during the course.

Please note that the aforementioned players only came to mind at the time of this write up.

I wish the SUPER EAGLES a successful campaign in Brazil 2014 world cup.

Elli Ikechukwu is a soccer scout and a blogger

ff@isoccertainment

Amunike Assaults Eaglet's Iheanacho's Agent

According to a Premium Times report, Henry Galliano, an American football agent, was physically assaulted by assistant coach of Nigeria’s U-17 team, Emmanuel Amuneke, at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri.
The story claims that the incident occurred, because of Kelechi Iheanacho’s decision to pick Galliano as his agent, instead of the one recommended by Amuneke. Iheanacho, who was voted the best player at the just concluded U-17 World Cup in UAE, has been attracting interest from top European clubs and it is understood that he signed an agent deal with Galliano. A copy of this agreement was sent to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on October 21.
Recalling the incident, Galliano and his Nigerian partner, Solomon Oluwaseun, said: “The coach invited us, we went to see him and he started threatening Kelechi that he should follow him to Abuja to sign with his agent who is working with a Nasiru Jubril, a staff of the NFF; or else Nasiru, the man in charge of the ITC (International Transfer Certificate), will not release kelechi’s ITC to him and they will both make sure that he is banned from Nigeria football; also he will not get a good club.
“When the agent tried to talk back, the coach slapped him and beat him up in the presence of over 25 people,” Solomon said.
Galliano, on his part said: “I came here to take Kelechi to his club. FC Porto and Manchester City are interested in him but Manchester City has a better package. This was our discussion and conclusion when Mr. Amuneke sent for me, and asked me to go back to my cousin.
“He called me names, beat me up and embarrassed me, he said it’s impossible to just take his players,” Galliano, who also accused Amuneke of making racist comments, said.
Galliano also revealed that Keshi threatened Iheanacho and ordered him to follow him to Abuja.
“Kelechi is nowhere to be found, he started crying after the threat made against him, the small boy is afraid and I hope he will not lose hope,” he said.
“Amuneke said he will delay his ITC and deal with him, he called vulgar words, cursing the boys and the players.”
Iheanacho’s phone could not be contacted and his father refused to comment on the situation. Amuneke however confirmed that he indeed slapped Galliano, but denied involvement in Iheanacho’s possible transfer.
“Yes, of course I slapped him very well and I will do it again whenever I see him,” Amuneke said.
“He is an idiot, useless white man, he wants to come and reap where he didn’t sow.
“Kelechi is a nobody; yes, I said we helped him into the team, made him, moulded him into what he is today, he shouldn’t allow anybody to fool him.”
When asked about his role in the Iheanacho and other players’ transfer business, he replied: “I care so much for my players, I am a coach.”
“I’m not an agent but I just look out for the boys. He wants to come and sign a player just like that, he’s an idiot, I will not allow him.
“Because the boy’s parents are poor and illiterate, he wants to use them. We are Nigerians and we’re not foolish.”

Chelsea Banks On ROI From Torres To Fund Falcao

Chelsea are determined to sign Radamel Falcao and would sell Fernando Torres in order to help them land the prolific AS Monaco striker, according to the Sunday Express.
It's reported that the west London outfit have made contact with Falcao's representatives after being informed that the 27-year-old is unsettled at his current club.
Monaco would be looking to recoup around £52m for the Colombia international, who Jose Mourinho watched in action on Thursday night against Belgium.

The ex-Atlético Madrid star could replace another former Atleti hero, with Torres expected to move on following a troublesome three-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
The Express claim the Spain international could move in the opposite direction, in a part-exchange deal, although it's unclear whether Torres would be open to a move to the principality at this stage.
Falcao has scored 12 goals in 16 matches for AS Monaco, but has reportedly struggled to adapt to the low crowds and lack of atmosphere at the Stade Louis II.
Promoted Monaco, who are managed by Claudio Ranieri, currently sit third in the Ligue 1 table after taking 26 points from their opening 13 matches.

Man United Joins Chase For Benteke

Manchester United are ready to rival Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.
David Moyes is keen to add to his forward line in January and see the Belgium international as the perfect addition, though both Arsene Wenger and Andre Villas-Boas have a similar outlook, according to the Daily Star.
Manchester United already have a fearsome forward line, but there are doubts about the future of Javier Hernandez, while both Arsenal and Spurs have had to make do with a lack of options in the striking department.

The Gunners currently only have Olivier Giroud as a viable senior option up front and fatigue is a considerable problem for him as he has started every Premier League and Champions League match, as both Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott have been out with long-term injuries.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers in January, but Benteke could well the the most attractive option as he would not be cup-tied for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Villas-Boas' side have struggled to find the net so far in the Premier League this season, scoring only nine times in 11 matches, with a third of those goals coming from the penalty spot.
Emmanuel Adebayor appears to have been frozen out by the Spurs manager and a new striker is needed at White Hart Lane, as £25million summer signing Roberto Soldado has struggled to make much of an impact.
Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are one of the most feared parings in Europe, but the report claims Manchetser United are ready to shell out the £25million it is expected to take to land Benteke.

RVP Believes Januzaj Is Best Young Player In The EPL

Robin van Persie has lauded Manchester United team-mate Adnan Januzaj as one of the best young players he has ever seen.
Januzaj has burst on to the scene this season, and having made his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace, bagged a stunning brace against Sunderland last month.
Van Persie himself was tipped for stardom when he signed for Arsenal back in 2004 after coming through the ranks at Feyenoord, but says his young Manchester United team-mate has the most potential of any young player he’s seen.

"Over the years I've seen so many young players, and I can honestly say that of all the young players I've seen he is right up there in the top one or two,” he told Manchester United's official website.
"When I go back 10 years to when I was quite young, I see similar attributes.
"He’s confident in a good way. He’s not too bothered with the whole occasion or the pressure of the games."
"I was very confident as well and I see some stuff in him and the choices he makes that I made when I was younger as well. But he’s not the new van Persie, he’s the new Adnan.
"He’s a great player and I’m a great fan of his. I thought earlier in pre-season that he has something special.
"He will give Manchester United a great bunch of goals and great games. He’s a special player.”
Manchester United resume their quest to defend their Premier League crown after the international break next weekend with a trip to Cardiff City.
They will be without key midfielder Michael Carrick, who has been ruled out for up to six weeks with an Achilles injury.

Chelsea Eyes Another Colombian, Jackson Martinez

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance at the King Baudouin Stadium on Wednesday night to watch Radamel Falcao in action for Colombia against Belgium, but the striker was not the only potential acquisition in the cross-hairs of the Portuguese.
Falcao scored in the 2-0 victory for Colombia, and said after the encounter that he hoped to have impressed Mourinho, although the Daily Star reports that it was not just the Monaco hitman watched by the Blues coach.
Jackson Martinez, compatriot of Falcao and star at his former club Porto, was also being watched with interest by Mourinho, and the former came on as a substitute for the latter after 71 minutes played in Brussels.

The 27-year-old is one of a number of strikers under consideration by Chelsea as the January transfer window approaches, and a £35 million bid could reportedly be in the offing come the New Year.
Martinez has been in prolific form since joining Porto from Chiapas in the summer of 2012, with the player having found the net 43 times in 53 appearances for the Portuguese champions.
A free-scoring centre-forward of Martinez's quality would appear to be just what Chelsea desire, with Samuel Eto'o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba not able to provide the club with the firepower needed.