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Pogba Returns to Juventus After Leaving Manchester United

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Ten years after Paul Pogba left Manchester United to sign with Italian side Juventus on a free transfer, history repeated itself on Monday for the France midfielder.

He bid farewell to the English Premier League (EPL) and returned to the Serie A club.

Pogba, who left Manchester United when his contract expired last month, has signed a four-year contract with Juventus.

It will tie the 29-year-old down with the Turin club until June 2026.

“Juventus Football Club announces that it has signed a contract of employment with the player Paul Pogba…

“Juventus and the player have signed a contract of employment until June 30 of 2026,” the club said in a statement.

Pogba was signed by Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89 million pounds (106.32 million dollars).

But the four-times Serie A champion won only two trophies with the Premier League club —- the League Cup and the Europa League —- in his first season.

Having come through the Manchester United youth system, Pogba made a handful of senior appearances before opting not to extend his contract, joining Juventus in 2012.

It was a move which had irked then manager Alex Ferguson.

Pogba became a regular in the Juventus side during his four-year spell with the Serie A club.

He even earned a call-up to the France national team before Manchester United decided to spend a record sum to bring their former player back to Old Trafford.

His arrival was meant to signal a new era at Manchester United —- a club that was struggling to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, let alone be considered title contenders.

But he was unable to replicate his consistency in Serie A when he arrived in England.

A fallout with Jose Mourinho led to Pogba being stripped of the vice-captaincy.

Although the Frenchman had a brief resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his overall contributions were limited by injuries or a lack of support on the pitch.

Pogba had rarely grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

The fans’ patience eventually wore thin as many wondered how Pogba was able to play a leading role in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 but struggle at Manchester United.

In spite of a promising start last season, when he had five assists in his first two games, he made only 16 league starts.

And, the club failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League once again.

With his contract winding down, his refusal to sign an extension also made him a lightning rod for much of the criticism Manchester United’s squad endured.

This was because it was their worst campaign in Premier League history with respect to points scored.

His soured relationship with the fans came to a head when they booed him off the pitch after his withdrawal in a game against Norwich City in April.

To worsen the situation, the Frenchman appeared to cup his ears in the direction of the Manchester United supporters.

Three days later, Pogba’s career at Manchester United ended in a whimper at Anfield.

That was when he lasted only nine minutes before an injury forced Ralf Rangnick to hook him off as Liverpool went on to win 4-0.

Pogba was meant to find redemption in that game, having been sent off in a humiliating 5-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford.

Rangnick admitted at the time that he may not play again in the season.

He never did.(Reuters/NAN)

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SPORTS

Tottenham Interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze

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Tottenham FC are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the club after 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.

Thus Eze has scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The 27-year-old made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.

Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated that Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.

There is no confirmation whether Tottenham will look to progress with deals for both Brazil winger Savinho and Eze.

Arsenal also have an interest in Eze but are currently looking at trying to move players on, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira set to leave.

However, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham’s active interest in Eze results in Arsenal accelerating a move for the England international.

Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in a deal worth £19.5m in 2020 and has scored 40 goals in 168 appearances.

His contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

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Liverpool Stepping up bid to Sign Palace’s Guehi

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Liverpool are stepping up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England center-back Marc Guehi.

Palace captain Guehi has a year left on his contract, but Chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week he could be sold this summer to avoid him moving on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

Sources have said that Liverpool have held initial talks with a view to signing the 25-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts.

Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.

Guehi was the subject of bids worth up to £65m from Newcastle last year.

The FA Cup winners are believed to want £40m for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.

The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.

They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have said the Swede remains determined to move to Anfield.

Signing Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending above £400m.

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Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

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The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.

7 and Aug.
10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.

“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.

Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.

He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.

Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.

“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.

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