CHELSEA TRANSFER: MOURINHO & RONALDO MOVE STAMFORD BRIDGE?

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo returning to England, the transfer take place at the end of the season. 

According to sources close to the self-anointed Special One, Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho is once again the chosen one. He is the man Roman Abramovich wants to succeed interim manager Rafa Benitez and a deal, say those sources, is as good as done.

This is not something anyone can confirm. Not when Jose Mourinho remains the manager of Real Madrid, and the Spaniards remain in the hunt for the Champions League championship this season. But Jose Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to England and the pouting Portuguese coach rarely speaks without an agenda. 

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Triumphant Super Eagles arrive home to heroes welcome(PHOTOS)

Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrived back home here on Tuesday, after winning the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in nearly two decades and were welcomed by adoring crowds ahead of meeting the president.

 Hundreds welcomed the team back at the airport in the capital of Abuja before an ceremony later in the afternoon at the National Stadium. 

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AFCON: Many countries woo Keshi for endorsement.

FOLLOWING Stephen Keshi’s insistence that he might not be Super Eagles coach after Sunday’s final of the African Cup of Nations, many countries have swooped on him asking for his signature to take over their national teams.

A highly authoritative source informed that some agents havebeen bordering the former skipper of the national team to talk him into considering their clients if indeed he refuses to goahead with his contract with theNigeria Football Federation.

Though the identities of the countries were not revealed, the source however said that Keshi has refused to commit himself as he reportedly told them he was still on contract with the NFF.

The rush for Keshi’s signature is not unconnected with his statement that he was not sure if he would remain Eagles coach after CAN 2013 since he is a professional coach and would go for the highest bidder.

He made this statement since according to him the Nigerian people seem not to appreciate what he is doing with the team.

But that had changed since his team woke up from their slumber and performed excellently against bookmaker’s choice, Cote d’Ivoire. Nigerians inSouth Africa have been singing Keshi’s praise and his Eagles to high heavens.

The Nigeria Football Federation which had supported Keshi financially and morally are yet to react to Keshi’s threat of jumping the ship.

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Nigerian Government To Induct Super Eagles Members Into "Hall Of Fame"

The Federal Government will make the present set of Super Eagles players the first inductees into the National Sports Hall of Fame.

Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, disclosed this on Thursday night while addressing players and officials of the team.  The Hall of Fame was recently approved by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Minister, who spoke to the team at their Garden Court Hotel abode in Milpark, South Africa, also said that the government has mapped out a heroic welcome for the team next Monday.  He was accompanied to the event by the National Football Federation (NFF) President, Aminu Maigari and other important figures in Nigeria sports administration.

He described the pride of the government at the exploits of the team so far at the African Cup of Nations and urged them to complete the job by winning the trophy.

“Victory is not everything but victory is the only thing”, he declared, echoing American football coach Vince Lombardi as he challenged them to go all out for victory in the final against the Stallions of Burkina Faso in Soweto on Sunday.

Maigari, on his part, thanked the government at the highest levels for the huge support the team has been receiving so far, saying that all obligations to the team has been met, thanks to express approval by the government at all spheres.

The NFF President revealed that he has already received words from President Jonathan of another tele-conference with the team before the final, as the last one had highly motivated the players and the President feels they need his tonic to excel in Sunday’s grand finale.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi, spoke in a similar vein, noting that the team has come too far in the competition to let its guard down.

Skipper Joseph Yobo thanked the Minister for being there for his team, and assured that the team has resolved to unite and conquer the Nations Cup trophy for Nigeria.  

“We will not let Mr. President who has been so supportive down and we cannot let our families and the people of Nigeria down,” he said.  “We are certain that the trophy will be won fair and square on Sunday.”

speaking today, midfield star, John Mikel Obi, declared that the strength of the Nigerian team is the togetherness and unity that have been missing in the squad in the past.

“We are together, united and playing for each other and that has accounted for where we are today. All credit must go to the coach who took a gamble on a very young squad, because I’m just 25 years old but am looking like the oldest in the team. This team will not only win the trophy on Sunday for the Nigerian people but will win many more trophies for a long time to come”.

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Bring on Fergie and United! Ronaldo warms-up for Euro clash with 33 minute hat-trick for

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo fired a warning to his former Manchester United team-mates by scoring his 21st hat-trick in Saturday's 4-1 demolition of Sevilla. 

After a defensive blunder let Karim Benzema open for Madrid 18 minutes in, Ronaldo unleashed an unstoppable strike to double the advantage in the 26th minute. 

 The former United star then went on to find the back of the net twice more in the 49th and 56th minute before being withdrawn just after the hour mark. 

Ronaldo did his best to make amends for his own goal that cost Madrid a loss at Granada in the last round with his 22nd, 23rd and 24th goals in the league this season. Only Barcelona's Lionel Messi, with 34, has scored more. 

 Madrid stayed in third place. It trails Barcelona by 13 points before the leader hosts Getafe on Sunday. With Madrid's Spanish league title defense all but mathematically impossible, a large share of its silverware hopes this season now rest on its round-of-16 Champions League tie with United starting in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.

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If Platini can't beat racism, then he should quit so someone else can...

Edgar Davids returns with his second Footballers' Football Column with strident views on racism in football. Barnet's player-manager calls for UEFA chief Michel Platini to leave his post if he continues to fail to rid the game of abuse. With 11 major trophies to his name and more than 20 years in professional football, 'The Pitbull' has plenty to say and he's worth listening to

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David Beckham unveiled as Paris St Germain player

The 37-year-old has signed a five-month deal with the French team which will take him to the end of the current season. He said during the unveiling that he will be donating his entire 150 thousand pounds a week salary from his new contract with Paris St Germain to a children's charity in Paris.

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