Olando World of Entertainment

  TWO Premier League teams are hot on the heels of Brazilian superstar Hulk. That’s according to the 26-year-old hitman’s agent, despite the player only joining Zenit St Petersburg last summer in a mega-money deal. Tottenham have been strongly linked with a move while representative Teodoro Fonseca denied big-spending Monaco have contacted him over a switch. Fonseca told a Portuguese newspaper: “There are two great teams of the Premier League to have made their interest known. “It is normal that such news (Tottenham’s interest) would arise because it was with Andre Villas-Boas and Porto where Hulk had his best time. “The future of Hulk is with Zenit but I have never made such statements about Monaco, I have not spoken to anyone from France.”

  BARCELONA have landed £20million Brazil star Neymar on a five-year deal. The striker is heading to Europe after Santos finally agreed to sell South American football’s hottest property. Writing on Instagram, Neymar said: "I’m here with friends and family and they have helped me to write a few things. "I’m not going to hold out until Monday. My family and friends already know my decision. “On Monday I will sign a contract with Barcelona.” Barca top brass went to Sao Paolo for high level talks with the Brazilian club’s transfer dealmakers. And they convinced Santos to part with their prized asset, who could have left for NOTHING in July. Neymar wanted time to consider another offer from Barca's bitter rivals Real Madrid but opted for a move to the Nou Camp. He added: “I want to thank the fans of Santos for these incredible nine years. My feeling for the club and the fans will never change. It is eternal! “Only a club like S

DAVID MOYES is weighing up a £15million bid for Barcelona midfielder Thiago. The new Manchester United boss sees the Spanish international, 22, as a possible replacement for the retired Paul Scholes. Thiago has two years to go on his £30,000-a-week Barca deal but is keen to quit after falling out of favour. A Catalan insider said: “He’s not happy because of his lack of playing time and wants to go to a club where he’ll get regular first-team football. “Boss Tito Vilanova is not a big fan and has marginalised Thiago this season, preferring to play Cesc Fabregas or Alex Song ahead of him. “That frustrates Thiago because he knows he is good enough to probably get into any other team in the world.” Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the player.

FIVE clubs are willing to pay £80million for Gareth Bale. The Spurs star’s agent says Bale would be “honoured” to play for Real Madrid, who are desperate to sign the Welshman. Yet Spurs are aware that Real, PSG, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea would all be willing to pay £80m for the player immediately — if he becomes available. Real president Florentino Perez has Bale as his No1 target. Perez last night told Spanish radio: "Bale was born to play in Madrid." But the North London club is in no rush to sell and the Player of the Season insists he is happy at the club. This means it could take a world-record £100m offer to get Bale out of Tottenham. Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett said: “If Florentino is interested in Gareth Bale it would be an honour and we would listen — but his contract is with Tottenham. “We aren’t free to speak to anyone. The player has three years left on his contract.” SunSport understands hi

  MANUEL PELLEGRINI has made a “verbal agreement” to become Manchester City boss. The Chilean has been the red-hot favourite to succeed Roberto Mancini since the Italian was sacked earlier this month. Pellegrini paved the way to take the Etihad job announcing his depature from Malaga last week. And the 59-year-old has tonight claimed to have struck a deal with City. He said: “I have a verbal agreement with them and I hope it is carried out. “As of today, I don’t have a signed contract. “It is true that Manchester City have shown a lot of interest that I become their coach and I have had conversations with them. “Until things have been signed, you cannot say everything is completely done. “I am proud that clubs from Italy, England, France and Russia are interested in me. “Manchester City is a great project.” Pellegrini is expected to move for Malaga star Isco when he takes the reigns at the dethroned Premier League champions. And he

  JOSE MOURINHO is Chelsea’s new boss — and that’s official! The Special One sealed a spectacular £40million four-year deal on Tuesday night. A senior Blues source revealed: “It’s official — Jose is a Chelsea man again! Everyone is delighted he’s coming back — the club, the players and the fans “We are already looking forward to next season — we are sure it’s going to be very exciting.” The Sun exclusively told you on May 3 that Real Madrid chief Mourinho was heading back to the Bridge. And we can now reveal Mourinho finally put pen to paper during a two-day trip to London this week. His cover story was attending the Crystal Palace-Watford play-off final at Wembley on Monday and visiting friends in the capital. But the real purpose of the visit was to seal an emotional return to his beloved Blues along with right-hand man Rui Faria. Now it is expected he will be unveiled next week in a blaze of publicity by the Europa League champions.

  African champions Nigeria embark on Friday on a hectic schedule with a friendly against fellow Confederations Cup qualifiers Mexico in Texan city Houston. The injury-ravaged Super Eagles will play six matches within 24 days on three continents, and a further two if they reach the knockout stage of the World Cup dress-rehearsal. Chelsea midfielder Victor Moses, a revelation when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in  Soweto last February, is among those sidelined. Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike, joint leading 2013 Cup of Nations scorer with Mubarak Wakaso of Ghana, also misses out through injury. Scotland-based midfield enforcer Gabriel Reuben and Turkey-based midfielder-cum-striker Kalu Uche are other stars coach Stephen Keshi could not call up. Keshi prepared to tackle Mexico with a training camp in Germany for foreign-based professionals and Nigerian Premier League stars. Among the home-based footballers was Sunday Mba, the then Warri Wo

  Nigerian midfielder, Joel Obi has begun rehabilitation at Italian club, Inter Milan. Obi endured an injury-hit 2012/13 season that saw him make just one Serie A and one Uefa Europa League appearance for the Nerazzurri last term. His injury woes also forced him to miss Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign where the Super Eagles emerged champions. However, things appear to have brightened up considerably for the 22-year-old as he continued intense recovery programmes at the club’s training ground, Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti on Wednesday. The Inter Milan official website reported that Obi and five other players were involved in different training programmes on Wednesday as they recover from their respective injuries under the guidance of the medical staff. Club captain, Javier Zanetti underwent physiotherapy while Gaby Mudingayi followed a programme of running exercises and Luca Castellazzi did some technical work

  Luis Suárez has encouraged Real Madrid's hopes of luring him away from Liverpool this summer by admitting he would find it hard to resist an approach from the Spanish institution. Real are one of the few clubs with the means to activate a release clause in the Uruguayan's contract, believed to be in excess of £40m. Liverpool have repeatedly stated that their leading goalscorer is not for sale, a stance reiterated by Brendan Rodgers only last week, but they fear  Suárez may request a move in search of Champions League football. Those concerns deepened on Wednesday when Suárez gave the clearest signal yet that he is prepared to leave Anfield following another turbulent season in English football. The 26-year-old scored 30 goals for Liverpool last season but collected a 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic, a suspension that will apply to the first six games of next season and which has left him considering his future in England. In an interview w

  Champions Barcelona have the chance finish with a record-equalling 100 points in La Liga's final round of matches, but the main drama will be in the fight to avoid the three relegation berths on Saturday. Barca coach Tito Vilanova has already secured a league crown in his first season at the helm, but can ensure a special place in the history books with a win at home to Malaga that would see them match Real Madrid's record points haul from last season. Standing in his way is Manuel Pellegrini, who has already announced he is leaving Qatari-owned Malaga and on Wednesday said he had a verbal agreement to join Manchester City. Runners up Real will also be bidding farewell to their boss Jose Mourinho, widely tipped to be making a return to Chelsea, when they host Osasuna at the Bernabeu in a game with nothing riding on it. The rest of La Liga's matches all kick-off at 1900 with one place into the Champions League play-offs and three into

The Naija football federation (NFF) wey na dem dey control all de football matta for Naija don tok say na Thursday be de day wey dem go do de draws for de 2013 FA cup and na for de National Stadium dem go do am for Abuja. Na de NFF Director of competition, Mohammed Sanusi na him kon yarn plenty amebo people like we for supersport.com dat na 63 clubs go dey involve for dis year FA cup for Naija. Walahi, Yobe State no register any club for dis ogbonge competition for Naija, while Ranchers Bees of Kaduna fit crash kommot if dem no pay de N200, 000 gbese wey dem dey owe before Thursday morning. “The oga dem wey dey control Ranchers Bees don dey fall dia hands as dem never pay dia fine wey we nack dem for late registration since last year and we don kumma tell dem dat tomorrow morning (Thursday) na hin be de last day for dem,”. Sanusi tok. Na all de 20 clubs wey dey campaign for de Naija Professional Football League (NPFL) plus de 22 clubs wey dey for

A high ranking customs officer allegedly aided the importations of weapons for Boko Haram. Soldiers have arrested a serving senior official of the Nigeria Customs Service in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for allegedly assisting Boko Haram insurgents to import arms into the country, both security and non-military sources revealed to PREMIUM TIMES. The officer, who is a native of one of the states in the volatile Northeast Nigeria, found himself in trouble when soldiers intercepted a vehicle cleared to enter the country through a border post under his command. Some military sources who confirmed the incident to reporters in Maiduguri said the Customs officer was exposed when the driver of the truck carrying the illegal arms mentioned his name ‘as the Oga that allowed him to enter the country with the arms’. The sources said the customs officer was also linked with several arms importation, an act that probably made him very rich, to buy his numerous landed property and

Nigeria Super Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie and his wife Sarah celebrated their one year wedding anniversary Over the weekend. As will all now that Osaze Odemwingie is very active on twitter in recent months now,He used his twitter account page to share is happiness to the eternal world and his fans. “Our 1year anniversary today. It’s been a beautiful year! Thank God for His grace.” “Thanks for the congratulations and good wishes. We are wishing you the same. Lets enjoy the summer. Sorry 4those in SA, its our turn now.” On Sunday May 26th ,2013, Osaze and Sarah’ wedding turned one. The couple got married on the 26th of May 2012 after 2 years of courtship. The marriage is blessed with a son, Noah.

  Martinez has been given permission to leave Wigan this summer and is due to discuss the possibility of succeeding David Moyes at Goodison Park. Sky Bet make him an odds-on favourite for the post, but Everton chairman Kenwright insists the Spaniard's name is just one on a list of candidates drawn up with the help of the club's supporters. He said: "I will meet Roberto in the next 48 hours and he's on the list, as I've always said. No more than on the list. "I said we'd be making a list, and Evertonians have been great as I indicated I thought they would be. "They've certainly bombarded me with their thoughts and they're not a million miles away from mine. "You always get the odd one that thinks he's got the only idea, and there are a few plumbers and electricians who think they can manage Everton, but in the main Evertonians and myself are sort of on the same page.

  The "caxirola", Brazil's percussion answer to South Africa's plastic vuvuzela horn, will be banned at next month's Confederations Cup for security reasons, organisers said on Monday. "Fans will not be allowed in stadiums with musical instruments and that includes the caxirola," said Medeiros Hilario, the official on the Cup's Organising Committee who is in charge of security. "We will apply this measure during friendly games, then during the Confederations Cup," which will be held in Brazil from June 15-30, he added. The ban will become effective from Sunday when Brazil and England clash in a friendly match at Rio's iconic Maracana stadium. The decision followed an April 28 incident during which irate fans hurled dozens of caxirolas on the pitch during a match between Bahia and Vitoria. The caxirola, named the official instrument of the 2014 World Cup which Brazil will also host, was unveiled by

  Former Nigeria head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has lamented the failure of the nation to snap up Bayer Leverkusen winger, Sidney Sam, from under the noses of Germany. Eguavoen said Sam would have been a good addition to the current Nigerian men's national team, who are African champions. He also revealed that during his time as Super Eagles head coach, an attempt was made to lure Sam to play for Nigeria without success. "He's a decent footballer and quick on the ball and off it. But I don't know why he has refused to play for Nigeria. When I was coach of the (Nigeria) team we tried to get Sidney Sam. Also during the time of Samson (Siasia) as coach, the move to get him continued but nothing happened. "So it is may be he doesn't just love Nigeria or he prefers Germany since he knows little or nothing about us here as he has lived all of his life in Germany. But I feel he would have had a better chance with Nigeria," said Egu

  Former World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso is reportedly in talks to become the coach of Italian Seriside Palermo. Gattuso has agreed to a two-year deal with the Sicilian club but it won't be made official until he terminates his contract with Swiss club FC Sion, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Wednesday. Gattuso was promoted to player-coach of Sion in February and under his guidance the team has dropped out of the Europa League spots. Sion is sixth in the 10-team top division entering this week's final round. The 35-year-old Gattuso, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, has one year remaining on his playing contract. He joined Sion a year ago after 13 seasons with AC Milan. Palermo were just relegated and for now Giuseppe Sannino remains their manager. Neither Palermo nor Sion would confirm the report. "I know that Gennaro is on the list. But I also know that he's not the only one," Sion president Christian Constantin

  Former England captain David Beckham will visit Miami this week as he steps up his interest in owning a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Beckham, who played for L.A. Galaxy in the MLS, has an option to create a new franchise in the North American league. While the exact location is still to be decided, he will be in the Florida city to explore possibilities, according to former Miami mayor Manny Diaz. "Yes, he is coming. My understanding is that it's very exploratory at this stage," said Diaz, who took part in the last time a Miami-based MLS team was under discussion in 2009. Then, Spanish giants Barcelona, together with Miami-based Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure, tried to start a team but the project was called off due to "adverse market conditions". A supporters group, calling itself MLS Miami Bid, told Reuters that Claure would be one of those meeting Beckham and that the pair planed to watch Miami Heat's NBA playoff ga

  Fifa's executive committee led by 77-year-old president Sepp Blatter has dropped a proposal to impose age limits and restricted terms of office from a reform package due to be discussed at its Congress on Friday. The decision to defer for a year the debate on limiting mandates for senior officials was agreed by the committee after its meeting on the Indian Ocean island on Tuesday. It comes a day after Blatter, who could stand for re-election in two years' time aged 79 under present rules, said the proposed age limits could be considered a form of discrimination. Blatter was opposed to the idea put forward by Fifa's Independent Governance Committee (IGC) which has prepared the reforms to be decided this week. A Fifa statement read: "As no consensus has been reached among the member associations and their confederations on the agenda items "term of office" and "age limit", a more thorough analysis is required.

  Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season. Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else. After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health. "The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first

Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, has appeared on Marca TV to express his willingness to listen to an offer from Real Madrid for his client. Barnett, the chairman of the Stellar Group that represents Bale, said there had been no discussions as yet regarding a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur for the Wales international and he added that in his view, Bale was "worth more than Neymar … he's a better player than him." The Brazil forward has just completed a high-profile transfer from Santos to Barcelona. Barnett spoke on the Futboleros show late on Tuesday night and although he said that Bale had three years to run on his Tottenham contract, it felt worrying for the London club that he should discuss the forward's future on a TV station with close links to Real. The Spanish club have long coveted Bale and the 23-year-old himself has always considered Real as the dream move if he were to leave Tottenham, who he joined fro

  Zinedine Zidane will be Real Madrid's new sporting director, the club president Florentino Perez has said in a lengthy interview with radio station Cadena SER. Perez said he did not know who the next coach would be after Jose Mourinho - whose contract has been terminated "by mutual agreement" - but he was clear about Zidane being the new sporting director. "We did not know who will be the coach. Until next week we will not talk about that subject.  What we do know is that Zidane will be the leader of the new sporting project," he said. Zidane, 40, played for Real between 2001 and 2006, then returned to the club two years ago as a special adviser to Perez, only to get on badly with Mourinho. Perez declined to talk about the two leading candidates for the coaching post, Carlo Ancelotti of French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Jupp Heynckes of European and German champions Bayern Munich. However, when asked about Juer

  Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2017, City said on Saturday. The 24-year-old Argentina international scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances last season, and netted the winning goal against Queens Park Rangers that secured them the 2011-12 title. "I'm very happy at City and I feel very appreciated," he told the club's website (www.mcfc.co.uk) recently. "It's been barely two years since I've arrived and sometimes I feel like I've been here for all my life." British media speculation had linked Aguero with a move to La Liga side Real Madrid, but he has become the latest City player after Gael Clichy, Yaya Toure and David Silva to extend his contract

  Jupp Heynckes joined the exclusive club of three to have managed two different clubs to Champions League success with Bayern Munich's 2-1 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, then denied the German champions had forced him out to make way for Pep Guardiola. "I made my mind up this time last year," after the defeat by Chelsea, the Bayern coach said. "It was my decision. I told the club this would be my last season, and I am just pleased that it has been such an outstanding success." Bayern's season could get even better next week, when only Stuttgart in the German Cup final stand between Heynckes's players and the country's first treble, and it is possible Guardiola will struggle to match that level of achievement. "We have accomplished something that has never happened before," the 68-year-old said. "We won the title by 25 points and I don't think any team has played such a con

  Inter Milan have reportedly fired coach Andrea Stramaccioni after a highly disappointing ninth-place finish in Serie A. The Gazzetta dello Sport and the ANSA news agency say Stramaccioni was informed of the decision, although Inter has not announced the move yet. Walter Mazzarri, who stepped down as Napoli manager last weekend, was already being tapped as the likely replacement. Having never coached in Serie A before, Stramaccioni was hired in March last year to replace the fired Claudio Ranieri. He led Inter to a sixth-place finish last season but this campaign has been marred by a series of injuries, including serious setbacks for key players Diego Milito and Javier Zanetti, the club's 39-year-old captain. Stramaccioni's contract was due to expire in 2015.

  Manchester United centre back Rio Ferdinand signed a one-year contract on Thursday to stay with the Premier League champions for a 12th season. The 34-year-old would have been out of contract this summer after helping his club to a 20th league title but will now be part of new manager David Moyes's set-up following the retirement of Alex Ferguson. "I am delighted to have signed a new contract," Ferdinand said in a statement. "Who wouldn't want to play in this fantastic team in front of 75 000 fans each week, it has been an incredible journey and I am glad it will continue. I can now fully concentrate on my club career, which has worked well for me over the past few years." Former England defender Ferdinand retired from international soccer last week. Ferdinand has made 432 United appearances since his debut in 2002 and Moyes, who starts his new job on July 1, is pleased he is staying on. "It is clear for everyo