Nani

Turkish side Fenerbahce are keen on getting former Manchester United winger Luis Nani, according to reports.

The Portugal international and Euro 2016 winner moved to the club following his exit from Old Trafford back in 2015 but he stayed for just a season before leaving.

The player was a fan favourite during his time in Turkey. The club wants to re-sign him but this time on a loan deal. The player moved to Spanish club Valencia for £7 million after leaving Turkey but he could return back to the club to help them with their continental aspirations. Continue reading →

Romelu Lukaku’s move to Old Trafford was one that was not expected to be completed the way it was done.

The 24-year old was a Chelsea reject so he moved to Everton. At Goodison Park he blossomed. When the Premier League champions were reported to be set to sign him again and sell Diego Costa, it was what everyone believed.

However, Manchester United stole the deal to land the player. Ironically, it is Jose Mourinho who sold the player while he was at Stamford Bridge. Last summer Mourinho broke the football record when he lured Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford. The Portuguese sanctioned the deal costing £89 million paid to Juventus.

That deal brought back English football to the peak of transfer market deals – a tag Spanish football were holding firmly. Since when Newcastle paid £15 million for Alan Shearer in 1996, the English sides have not help the world record for transfer fees. It was Spain and Italy that were spending that much. The advert of Chinese and Arabian money tilted the deals as well but their presence was scattered across Europe. Continue reading →

According to reports from Portugal, Manchester United is setting its eyes on Gelson Martins, Sporting Lisbon winger.

Gelson who hails from Portugal, broke through the ranks of Sporting and at the age of 19, and made his debut for the team just like Luis Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo had done.

Ever since then, he has remained a regular for the team. In the last two seasons, he has made a total of 87 appearances as well as scoring 14 goals. Gelson who plays on both flanks, features as a winger.

O Jogo, a Portuguese media outlet believes that Manchester United coach will be rivaling Liverpool as they both push on to get the young man sign for them this summer.

Apart from his position on the flanks, the 22-year old can also feature as a full back. This thus would be a very good option for Mourinho, as he has continued to place emphasis on the need to secure a winger. Continue reading →

Valencia winger Luis Nani claims that he is only thinking about a return to first-team football, with the game against Sevilla just around the corner.

The player has been on the sidelines for the last few weeks. A muscular problem has kept him out of action, but it appears that Nani is back in training and is on the verge of a return to first-team action. It is likely that Nani may be returning to the squad for the game against Sevilla this weekend. However, manager Voro is likely to give some more time in order to start the game.

Voro will also feel that the team does not need any changes right now, especially after having managed three consecutive wins. They have lifted Valencia closer to the top half of the table. Since the arrival of Voro, there has been a concentrated effort in order to get more results at the Mestalla. The club have managed five win in the last six league matches at home, while also staying undefeated in the process. Continue reading →

Luis Nani said that he is disappointed with the way things turned out under David Moyes.

He was hoping to have a great career with Manchester United and instead find himself spending more time on the bench than on the pitch.

Nani said that he could not understand the manager at that time. Indeed with the appointment of David Moyes at the head of Manchester United he was given a five-year contract with the club, but things changed just after. He could not get into the team and only managed to start seven games during the season.

He said that he was discouraged at this time as he feels he was playing well and that he was fit enough to be in the first team. He added that things did not change against Louis Van Gaal either. He said that when the Dutch manager took control of the club, he told him that he will have to fight for his place and that he will not be his first-choice winger. Continue reading →

Chris Kamara is known as one of the most charismatic characters on Soccer Saturday. From his popular ‘Unbelievable Jeff!’ quote to his match reports, the former Portsmouth midfielder has earned a reputation for saying some of the most funny and bizarre updates from games.

Here’s a look at our five favourite moments from Chris Kamara on Soccer Saturday over the years:

“It’s pretty even… Sunderland are on top”
In the Tyne-Wear derby on 1 February 2014, Chris Kamara gave an early report from St James’ Park.

It was 0-0 at the time but Sunderland were on top, although Kammy had initially claimed it was an even game:

“It’s pretty even… well it’s not pretty even because Sunderland are slightly on top.”

Shortly afterwards the visitors took the lead through a Fabio Borini penalty before goals from Adam Johnson and Jack Colback saw Sunderland route their rivals 3-0.

“I must have missed that. Is it a red card?”
Everyone’s favourite Chris Kamara moment came from Fratton Park on 3 April 2010. The game was 0-0 at the hour mark which must have sent Sky Sports’ reporter asleep as Chris Kamara managed to miss the dismissal of Portsmouth defender Anthony vanden Borre for a second yellow card.

The conversation between he and Jeff Stelling was hilarious:

Jeff: Off to Fratton Park where there’s been a red card but for who Chris Kamara?”

Chris: “I don’t know Jeff, has there? I must have missed that. Is it a red card?

Jeff: “Chris, have you not been watching? I haven’t. I don’t know where that’s come from Chris. I have no idea what has happened there, what’s happened Chris?

Chris: “I don’t know Jeff. I don’t know; the rain must have got in my eyes Jeff.”

Jeff: “Chris, Chris, let me tell you. According to our sources, Anthony vanden Borre has been sent off for a second bookable offence. Get your fingers out and count up the number of Portsmouth players that are on the field.”

Chris: “No you’re right I saw him go off but I thought they were bringing a sub on Jeff. Still nil nil ha ha ha”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8gKmQ6Hrro

“Don’t really know what’s happening”
Trying to talk to the studio on 18 August 2007 from Craven Cottage whilst visitors Middlesbrough lead 2-1 at Fulham, the Cottagers appear to have equalised before Chris then thinks the goal has been disallowed, and ultimately doesn’t know what is going on:

“Papa Bouba Diop the man mountain himself is playing as a striker and he’s got Healy one side of him and Diamante’s coming out the other side of him, it’s Papa Bouba Diop with the header! It’s a goal. It’s a goal Jeff….is it David Healy; he’s running away? Andrew D’Urso playing on, sorry my monitor’s down again I’m looking over my shoulder, I don’t really know the assistant, has he give it? Oh the assistant has he give it, I don’t think so Jeff. No the referee hasn’t give it either…don’t really know what’s happening Jeff ha ha.

The goal wasn’t given and Middlesbrough held on for a 2-1 win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fz_Ts5TgGU

“I can’t tell you the teams but Wigan are unchanged”
Speaking prior to their third game of the 2007-08 Premier League season, Chris Kamara had team news from the West Ham and Wigan camps before they were set to clash at Upton Park later that day.

The reporter was not meant to give the team news but did anyway…

“I had a chat with both managers and obviously I can’t tell you the teams but Wigan are unchanged and Lucas Neill plays for West Ham.”

Whilst Wigan Athletic are currently plying their football in the Championship, West Ham are in the top flight. However, Slavan Bilic’s side have made a very slow start to the 2016-17 season and their Premier League odds for relegation have come crashing down since the start of the season as they head into the Christmas period narrowly above the drop zone.

“Spurs are fighting like beavers”
Tottenham were defending for their lives in September 2007 when they had a 1-0 lead in the North London derby at White Hart Lane. However, Chris Kamara described their defensive work as something else:

Chris: “Their football Arsenal is on another level but Spurs are fighting like beavers defending for their lives, It’s a terrific game, still one-nil”

Jeff Stelling: “Did I hear that correctly? Fighting like beavers? Not tigers or lions but beavers, those ferocious little devils”

Chris: “The game as a spectacle is magnificent. Spurs working like beavers but the football from Arsenal Jeff, well it’s out of this world it’s sensational, their carving them up as easy as…..well, as easy as anything Jeff”

Those little beavers proved to be no much for Arsenal who went on to win the derby 3-1…

Written by Barrie Smith, sports betting at Paddy Power