Manchester United’s Ibrahimovic plays like he’s only 28 – Herrera

Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks like he is “only 28 or 29” in training, according to his Manchester United teammate Ander Herrera.
Ibrahimovic celebrated his 35th birthday on Monday and, despite being in the latter part of his career, he has already scored six goals for United this season.
That has included four goals in the Premier League, one in the Europa League and one in the Community Shield.
Midfielder Herrera, 27, told reporters: “If you saw a game and you didn’t know Zlatan’s age, you could think he was only 28 or 29 and that is good for us.
“He’s an example for every one of us. I am not young, not old, I’m in the middle and he is an

Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker upbeat over injury recovery

Per Mertesacker has vowed to be “important” for Arsenal again after suffering a severe knee injury in a friendly in July.
Mertesacker, 32, suffered the injury against Lens in late July. He has been sidelined ever since and is working on his comeback at a rehab clinic in Donaustauf, Germany.
“I know that I need to allow myself time,” the Arsenal club captain told German football magazine kicker. “The more time I allow my knee, the longer I’ll be able to play football.”
Mertesacker said he was making good progress and hoped to return to training in November, adding: “I can increase the workload already and I am no longer in pain.”
“I believe that I can reach a level again on which I am important for the team. I have the feeling that this is not the end.”

Eagles stars fed up with NFF antics – journo

Super Eagles stars have said they are tired of the antics of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as they have not been paid bonuses for the past three matches and now have to buy their tickets to fly down for matches.
The matches in question are last month’s AFCON qualifier against Tanzania as well as the friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in May.
According to assistant sports editor of New Telegraph Tobi Emmanuel disclosed on a television

Busquets accepts responsibility for Celta Vigo defeat

Sergio Busquets took his share of the blame for Barcelona’s stunning 4-3 defeat to Celta Vigo and pledged to work harder to get the La Liga champions back on track.
Luis Enrique’s side headed into the match at Balaidos aiming to go top after Real Madrid drew once again against Eibar on Sunday.
But the loss leaves them fourth, with Atletico Madrid’s victory over Valencia earlier on Sunday meaning Diego Simeone’s men lead the way from their city rivals, with Sevilla in third.
“Clearly I am one of those responsible for this defeat,” said Busquets, as quoted by AS, after being selected in an unfamiliar midfield three with Arda Turan and Andre Gomes.
“I have not done one of my best matches and when you are in an important area in the field, an

Mikel hits Eagles camp, Iwobi, Iheanacho, 13 others also

Skipper Mikel Obi is the latest player to join the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia.
Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye disclosed the Chelsea midfielder will be part of this morning’s training at the Abuja National Stadium.
Morning training starts 10pm local time.

Nice’s Mario Balotelli spoke to Jurgen Klopp ‘just once’ at Liverpool

Mario Balotelli has said he told Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp he will not be seeing him again at the end of their one and only conversation on Merseyside.
Balotelli has picked up his form since moving to Nice from Liverpool this summer, after failing to make an impact at Anfield following a £16 million transfer from AC Milan in 2014.
“Klopp doesn’t know me,” Balotelli, who returned to Liverpool in the summer after a loan spell at Milan, told Sky Sport Italia. “I was with him at Liverpool for one month and a half and I spoke with him just once. He told me that I could stay, but that I wasn’t first choice.
“He said he felt it was better if I went to play somewhere else to play well and then go back because he wanted me as a player. I said arrivederci and told him he would never see me again.
“Liverpool and AC Milan just weren’t right for me. I never made any mistakes in terms of my behaviour, there were just injuries and God decides them, I have no control. I was in two places where I wasn’t happy and this was the problem.”

Rigobert Song to be airlifted to European hospital after stroke

Former Cameroon captain Rigobert Song is to be airlifted to Europe for medical reasons as he remains in a coma after suffering a stroke, according to reports.
Song, 40, collapsed on Sunday at his home in Yaounde and was immediately transported to hospital in the Cameroon capital.
According to L’Equipe, the former Liverpool and West Ham defender is expected to be airlifted to Geneva on Tuesday.
However, reports in Song’s native country claim the former centre-back, who won 137 caps for the Indomitable Lions, will be taken to the renowned Salpetriere hospital in Paris.

Fidelis Ilechukwu quits as MFM FC coach

MFM FC coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has resigned his post after 10 years at the Lagos club.
He will be the second coach to quit after the end of the Nigeria premier league season on Sunday after Mohammed Babaganaru also resigned as Kano Pillars handler.

Xavi Hernandez backs Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo to win Ballon d’Or

Xavi Hernandez has extended an olive branch to Cristiano Ronaldo by saying the Real Madrid star “has the numbers” to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The former Barcelona midfielder unintentionally started a war of words with Ronaldo in September when he said that Ronaldo cannot be compared to his former teammate Lionel Messi. Ronaldo retorted by bragging about the fact he’s won the Ballon d’Or on three occasions and mocking Xavi’s decision to move to Qatari side Al-Sadd for the final years of his professional career.
However, Xavi has not risen to the Portuguese international’s comments, instead backing him as the primary candidate to be crowned as football’s best player for a fourth time.
“Cristiano has the numbers to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, having won the Champions League and the Euros [with Real Madrid and Portugal],” he said at the ASPIRE4SPORT Congress & Exhibition in Amsterdam.
“But I also think that it’ll be very competitive, because Messi will be there, of course.”

Deschamps not worried over Pogba form

France head coach Didier Deschamps has no concerns over Paul Pogba’s form despite the world’s most expensive player making an underwhelming start to his second spell at Manchester United.
The Premier League club shattered the global transfer record by agreeing a deal worth an initial £89m with Juventus for Pogba but he has so far failed to find his best form at Old Trafford, where he progressed through the youth ranks before joining the Italian champions in 2012.
The 23-year-old missed a pair of gilt-edged opportunities and hit the crossbar during stoppage time in United’s frustrating 1-1 Premier League draw against Stoke City on Sunday and is struggling to enjoy a consistent influence over games.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants 48-team World Cup tournament

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed expanding the World Cup finals to a 48-team tournament – a larger number than his election promise.
The Italian suggested 16 of those teams would be eliminated after one knockout match – before the group stages.
The rest of the tournament would be the same as it is now, with 32 teams competing in group stages followed by knockout rounds.
One of his election promises was to expand the finals to 40 teams.
Infantino said a decision would be taken by the governing body’s council in January.
“These are ideas to find the best solution, we will debate them this month and we will decide

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger backed for England job by Marc Overmars

Former Arsenal winger Marc Overmars has backed Arsene Wenger to take the England managerial post following the departure of Sam Allardyce.
England are without a permanent boss after Allardyce’s stint came to an end just 67 days into the job. The nation’s under-21 coach Gareth Southgate has been tasked with leading the Three Lions in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland.
“I think that he [Wenger] would be an excellent choice for the English,” Overmars said at the ASPIRE4SPORT event, in quotes reported by the Daily Express.