Author: Opalim Lifted

Champions League holders Real Madrid will have rematches of the final from its past three Champions League title wins, against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, in its eight-game schedule in the new-look format of European football’s signature event. Real Madrid has added France superstar Kylian Mbappe to its stellar team since beating Dortmund in last season’s final. It also beat Liverpool in the 2022 and 2018 finals among its record 15 European titles. Real Madrid will host Dortmund and travel to Liverpool, though the match dates won’t be confirmed until Saturday. Manchester City also gets a Champions League final reunion, hosting…

Liverpool have signed Juventus winger Federico Chiesa for £10m, with a further £2.5m in add-ons based primarily on team performance. Chiesa, 26, joins on a four-year deal and is Arne Slot’s first signing to arrive at the club. The forward was a star of the Italy squad that beat England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. “I’m so happy to be a Liverpool player. When Richard Hughes called me and he said, ‘do you want to join Liverpool?’ – and the coach called me, I said yes immediately because I know the history of this club, I…

Nigerian-born UFC star, Israel Adesanya, has revealed what led to his decision to become a professional fighter. Adesanya urged aspiring athletes not to follow his footsteps but to create their own path and draw inspiration from him and other celebrated athletes. Fielding questions when he attended a Celestial Church of Christ service in Lagos, the Last Stylebender said he started fighting as a way of looking out for himself. The fighter, who was decked in Celestial garment in a video, said he decided to become a professional fighter when he realised he was good at fighting. He also highlighted the…

England defender Kieran Trippier has announced his retirement from international football. The 33-year-old was capped 54 times with his only goal coming against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat in Moscow. The Newcastle right-back, who made his debut in 2017 under former manager Gareth Southgate, captained England three times. “I never thought as a young lad from Bury that I would play for my country let alone achieve 54 caps,” Trippier posted on social media. “It’s been one of the biggest honours of my life to represent my country at four major tournaments. England defender Kieran Trippier to…

The Canadian government has terminated its policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada. In a statement, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) disclosed that the termination takes effect immediately. However, the application period ended before it expired on February 28, 2025. Chronicle NG reports that “bad actors” mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization, according to IRCC, which prompted the end of policy and to preserve the integrity of the immigration system. “IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic-related…

The Federal Government has unmasked the identity of Amaka Patience Sunnberger as the woman behind threatening comments against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin ethnics. This was disclosed on Wednesday by the chairman, of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa. “This is the picture of the lady behind the voice. Amaka Patience Sunnberger. She had sworn to hurt Yoruba and Benin persons in her workplace through poisonous substances, claiming her comments were in response to the “hate” against the Igbo. She stated, “Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison for all una…

Southampton have agreed a fee with Arsenal to sign England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in a deal worth up to £25m. Ramsdale, 26, is expected to make the move before Friday’s transfer deadline, with Saints paying £18m upfront with the potential of £7m in add-ons. Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after Southampton’s 5-3 Carabao Cup second round win at Cardiff, Saints boss Russell Martin said: “If it happens it’s very, very exciting. “But we’ll have to wait and see. I’m sure we’ll talk about it at some point if and when it happens.” Wolverhampton Wanderers had been in talks with Arsenal…

The streets of a town in eastern Spain were awash in red on Wednesday as revellers flung overripe tomatoes at each other in a high-spirited battle royale during the traditional Tomatina festival. Some 22,000 participants wearing white clothes bespattered with tomato pulp engaged in the frenzy that grips Bunol – located 40 km (25 miles) to the west of Valencia – every year in the last week of August. Seven trucks distributed 150 tons of ripe pear tomatoes to eager roisterers, many of them visiting from abroad. Non-residents pay a fee of 15 euros ($16.70), while Bunol locals enjoy it…

Brentford have signed 18-year-old Brazilian winger Gustavo Nunes from Gremio for a fee in excess of £10m. Nunes has signed a six-year contract and the club has an option to extend the deal by two years. “We have fought with other clubs [to sign him],” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank. “He needs time to settle, but this is a very exciting signing. He is direct and he can create.” Brentford are 13th in the Premier League after two games and entertain Southampton on Saturday (15:00 BST). Man City sign Nunes from Wolves for £53m They have already signed Brazilian striker…

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa. The Reds have agreed a fee of £10m for the Italy international, with a further £2.5m in add-ons based primarily on team performance. Chiesa, 26, is on his way to Liverpool for a medical and if all goes to plan he would become Arne Slot’s first signing to arrive at the club. Speaking to Italian network Sportitalia, external outside an airport on Wednesday, Chiesa said he was “ready for this new adventure”. The forward was a star of his country’s Euro 2021-winning squad that beat England 2-1 in the…