SPORTS
Neymar Extends PSG Deal Until 2025
Brazil forward Neymar has committed his future to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) by extending his contract until 2025.
Neymar joined the Ligue 1 champions from FC Barcelona on a five-year deal at a world record cost of 222 million euros (270 million dollars) in August 2017.
He had been linked with a return to Barca, but the 29-year-old has now firmly committed to PSG, who announced his new deal on Saturday.
The former Santos star’s new terms, according to media reports in Paris, will see him earn 30 million euros per season in the French capital.
Neymar said: “I’m very happy, very happy to be extending my contract with Paris until 2025.
“The truth is that I’m very happy to be staying here for four more years, to be a part of the club’s project, to try and win titles, to try and achieve our biggest dream which is the Champions League.”
Neymar appeared eager to rejoin FC Barcelona in July 2019, when his future in Paris looked in serious doubt.
In recent weeks, he was even linked again with a switch to Camp Nou.
On signing up for the next four years, he suggested there was regret on his part at making life difficult for PSG chiefs in the past.
“I have changed a lot. I have learned a lot,” Neymar said, quoted on the club’s official website.
“Things have happened that should not have happened. We had fights, a few sad times, but overall the evolution has been very positive.
“I am happy, I am proud to be part of the history of Paris Saint-Germain. I think I have improved as a person, as a human being, and as a player too.
“So, I am very happy to be extending my contract, to be part of the history of Paris and I hope to put many more trophies on the shelf for Paris Saint-Germain.
“Of course, my goal when I came to Paris Saint-Germain was to help get Paris Saint-Germain to the top, among the very best, and we are getting close.
“We are gaining more and more experience to help us negotiate these types of games, to know how to play in the Champions League.
“And Paris is on the right track, we are getting closer and closer to the taste of winning the Champions League. I’m sure we can do it.”
Defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League this season means hopes of lifting that trophy remain unfulfilled.
However, Neymar believes Mauricio Pochettino is a man who can deliver such success, describing him as “a great coach who will certainly help us even more” while also praising his Parc des Princes team-mates.
“These things make you believe in the project even more,” Neymar said.(dpa/NAN)
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, currently arm-wrestling Arsenal for the Premier League title, will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, August 1, spearheaded by their Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
The match will kick off the “Hong Kong Football Festival” at the city’s futuristic 50,000-seat Kai Tak stadium.
The gleaming arena opened a year ago, featuring a roof that can be closed and air-conditioning to combat the fierce summer heat and humidity in Hong Kong.
Chelsea will play Juventus on Wednesday August 5 to round off the mini-tournament.
Lagos State will host the second edition of the National School Volleyball Championships from April 21 to April 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, said in a statement on Monday that schools from across the country had converged for the four-day tournament.
She said the competition meant for secondary schools is organised by the NSSF in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), with support from the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).
Joseph said the annual tournament aims to develop volleyball in the school system and identify outstanding athletes who will represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) events.
She expressed delight at the growing interest among schools nationwide and urged participants to be worthy ambassadors of their institutions.
“In Nigeria, we are blessed with an abundance of talent in the school system.
“Volleyball, being one of the popular sports in schools, has ignited healthy rivalry among students.
“Sports stimulates learning, so we are building a total child through events like this,” she said.
Joseph added that standout athletes from the Lagos championship would be shortlisted to compete at the ISF World School Volleyball Championship in China.
She described the event as a unique opportunity for young players to showcase their skills before global scouts.
“Teams from Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ogun, Taraba, Bauchi and other states are competing for honours, with NVBF technical officials on ground to scout for talent.”
The maiden edition of the National School Volleyball Championships was held in Abuja, where host teams won both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Outstanding players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna states later represented Nigeria at the 2025 ISF World School Volleyball Championships in China.
The World School Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be held from July 1 to July 10 in China.
Guinea will face Nigeria’s Flamingos in the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Guineans defeated Niger Republic 3-0 in the second leg of their qualifying fixture in Conakry on Saturday.
They won the contest 8-2 on aggregate, following their 5-2 triumph in the first leg last week.
The winner of the Flamingos versus Guinea clash will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos set up camp in Abuja for the clash with their fellow West Africans last week.
Newly appointed head coach, Akeem Busari invited 36 players to camp for the team’s preparation.
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