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☆ Four goals for Egypt's Salah but shock setback for Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

CAPE TOWN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Mohamed Salah scored four times and took his goal tally for Egypt past 50 as they began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an expected victory over tiny Djibouti while Nigeria were held to a shock home draw by Lesotho on Thursday. Nigeria, without injured Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, were held to a 1-1 draw at a rainy Uyo by the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho, who are 113 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Burundi also won in Group F, edging the Gambia 3-2 in their match played in Tanzania because of Burundi’s lack of a suitable stadium. The first two rounds of African qualifiers are played from Wednesday to next Tuesday, and will resume next June. Editing by xxOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi, Jose Peserio, Jonathan Muiomo, Riyad, Djamel Belmadi, Denis Bouanga, Kevin Denkey Organizations: Egypt, Lesotho, Qatar, Napoli, FIFA, Africa, Nations, football, Kenya, Major League Soccer, Belgian, U.S, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Djibouti, Nigeria, Cairo, Egypt, Lesotho, London, Kelechi, Mozambique, Botswana, Algeria, Somalia, Algiers, Gabon, Franceville, Burundi, Gambia, Tanzania, Sudan, Togo, Benghazi, Libya, Canada, Mexico

☆ The Premier League is missing key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and N'Golo Kanté. They've left for the Saudi Pro League.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Will Gendron | Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The English Premier League kicked off this month without key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and N'Golo Kanté. They have opted to join the Saudi Pro League instead, which has been poaching the world's best players. They've joined the dozens of players flocking to the Saudi Pro League in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pro League clubs are also targeting high-profile managers in their push to develop the sport in the country. "Something new is obviously happening" in regards to the Saudi Pro League, Richard Masters, the CEO of the Premier League, told the BBC last month.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, N'Golo Kanté, Jordan Henderson, Riyad, Rúben Neves, They've, Neymar, Getty, Michael Reaves, Rumblings, Ronaldo, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, phenom, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, Steven Gerrard, Shaun Botterill, doesn't, Nuno Espírito Santo, LIV, Richard Masters Organizations: English Premier League, Saudi Pro League, Premier League, Eastern, BBC, Investment Fund, Guardian, Saudi, Al, He'll, Chelsea, France, ESPN, Forbes, Paris Saint Germain, Boeing, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Scottish, Rangers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Saudi Public Investment Fund Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Hilal, Paris, Brazil, Barcelona, Real Madrid, France

☆ Factbox: Saudi transfers this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Saudi clubs have spent over 750 million euros ($813.45 million)in the close season signing players with the new Saudi Pro League season having kicked off on Aug. 11. Following are the main clubs' recent large purchases:Al-Ittihad (manager: Nuno Espirito Santo since 2022)N'Golo Kante from Chelsea. (40 million pounds)Al-Ahli (manager: Matthias Jaissle since 2023)Edouard Mendy from Chelsea. (40 million euros)Otavio from Porto. (40 million euros)Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Persons: Nuno Espirito, N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Matthias Jaissle, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Mahrez, Allan Saint, Franck Kessie, Roger Ibanez, Merih Demiral, Luis Castro, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles, Seko, Sadio Mane, Jorge Jesus, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, Malcom, Yassine Bounou, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Steven Gerrard, Moussa Dembele, Jack Hendry, Jordan Henderson, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond, Toby Davis Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Nuno Espirito Santo, Manchester City, AS Roma, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Manchester United, RC Lens, Bayern Munich, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Paris St Germain, Fulham, Olympique Lyonnais, Club Brugge, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Ittihad, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Celtic, Liverpool, Al, Ahli, Manchester, Newcastle, Barcelona, Porto, Hilal, Lazio, Paris, Sevilla, Gdynia

☆ Neymar credits Ronaldo for Saudi Pro League transformation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 16 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo is responsible for transforming the Saudi Pro League, according to Brazil forward Neymar who is looking forward to facing the Portuguese international when he starts playing for Al-Hilal. Today you see the league grow more and more," Neymar said in his first interview after the transfer on Wednesday. The Saudi Pro League has since invested over 600 million euros to lure a host of top players and coaches from European clubs. And it is a given when you face Ronaldo, Benzema, (Roberto) Firmino, that the excitement is even greater," Neymar said. Al-Hilal host Al-Feiha in the next round of the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Ronaldo, Ballon, Nassr, Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson, Riyad, Benzema, Roberto, Firmino, Hilal, Jorge Jesus, Ruben Neves, Serbia's Sergei Milinkovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Malcom, –, Al, Tommy Lund, Ed Osmond Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Portuguese, Al, Paris St Germain, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Hilal, Riyadh, Real Madrid, Manchester, Portuguese, Savic, Senegal, Gdansk

☆ Neymar joins Saudi club Al-Hilal from PSG in two-year deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts. "I love winning and scoring goals, and I plan to continue doing that in Saudi Arabia and with Al-Hilal." He scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for the Paris club and won numerous trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles. Neymar won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 but had to settle for a runners-up medal in the 2020 final, which PSG lost to Bayern Munich. SAUDI TRANSFERSThe most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for number of league and Asian Champions League titles with 18 and four respectively.

Persons: Al Hilal's, Neymar, Fahd bin Saad Al, Al, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Germain, We've, Pele, Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Angelica Medina, Aadi Nair, Anita Kobylinska, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Al, Saudi Pro League, REUTERS Acquire, Saudi, Paris St Germain, Champions League, L'Equipe, Saudi Professional League, PSG, Paris, Ligue, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint, Confederations, SAUDI, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Qatar, French, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions, France, Argentine, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Al Hilal, Paris, France, Hilal, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Al, Barcelona, Asia, Riyadh, Ittihad, Ahli, Portugal, Real

☆ Neymar set for Saudi's Al Hilal after PSG agree deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Saudi state media report deal is doneTwo year deal would net Neymar $175 millionBrazilian joined PSG in 2017 for record 222 million eurosAug 14 (Reuters) - Brazil forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported on Monday. Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt. Al Hilal had tried to sign PSG's France international Kylian Mbappe, who was reinstated into the Paris club's first team on Sunday. Strengthening the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club, as the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced in June an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs involving league champions Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr last season soon after the World Cup in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet, while Al Ittihad signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

Persons: Al Hilal, Neymar, Jorge Jesus, Al Fayha, Luis Enrique's, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Alan Baldwin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Angelica Medina, Toby Chopra, Pritha Sarkar, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PSG, Saudi Arabia, Pro League, Al, Paris St, Ligue, Qatar Sports Investments, French, L'Equipe, Reuters, King Fahd, Barcelona, Lorient, Spanish, France, Kylian, Paris club's, Saudi, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid, Champions, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Brazil, Paris St Germain, Paris, Riyadh, Portuguese, Spanish, Barcelona, Al, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Al Ahli, Real, London, Bengaluru, Mexico City

☆ Saudi soccer league lures Brazilian star Neymar as it seeks to attract 'exceptional players only'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia also recruited soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's expected to bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Sports analysts are doubtful that Saudi Arabia will see its ambitions to have a top soccer league realized, even with all the money it can offer to top-tier players. Charles Laberge | LIV Golf | Getty ImagesOther criticism comes from an attitude among many that a Saudi league could never be a serious arena for athletes. Emenalo, himself a former defender for Nigeria's national soccer team and former technical director at English club team Chelsea, called the criticisms "outrageous."

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr, Jean Catuffe, Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kalidou, Lyon's Moussa Dembele, Michael Emenalo, Saudi Arabia's, Al, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, LIV, shockwaves, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Charles Laberge, LIV Golf, Emenalo, it's, Khalid Al, Falih, that's Organizations: PSG, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow, Paris Saint Germain, Celtic Park, Getty, Getty Images, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, Brazil national, L'Equipe, Manchester, Saudi Pro League, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football, Anadolu Agency, France national, Sports, American PGA Tour, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Nigeria's, soccer team, Chelsea, Saudi League, Guardian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund Locations: Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Barcelona, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Europe, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City

☆ Saudi league set to kick off after raiding Europe's top clubs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Shady Amir | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Soccer Football - Opening of 2023-2024 Saudi Pro League - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - August 7, 2023 General view of the trophy at the opening of the Saudi Pro League Saudi Pro League Media Office/Handout via REUTERS/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - When the new Saudi Pro League season kicks off on Friday it will herald a new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom which has spent close to half a billion dollars luring top players and coaches from traditional European powerhouses. Al-Ahli, in particular, are one of the few clubs that have benefited from the Saudi Public Investment Fund's (PIF) project to invest in and privatise clubs, which also include reigning champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Saudi clubs spent nearly 450 million euros in the close season signing players, most from elite teams in Europe as the PIF created a blueprint for what football fans can expect in transfer windows to come. The league turned heads when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr last season soon after the World Cup in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet. The Portugal forward's move paved the way for more household names to sign up for a Saudi league that has increased its size from 16 teams to 18.

Persons: Hazm, Al, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ronaldo's, Nuno Espirito, Karim Benzema, N'Golo, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles, Mane, Luis Castro, Hilal, Jorge Jesus, Ruben Neves, Serbia's Sergei Milinkovic, Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Malcom, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Ettifaq, Gerrard, Henderson's, Shady Amir, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Pro League Saudi Pro League Media, REUTERS, Saudi Public Investment, Al, Champions, Saudi, Nuno Espirito Santo, Croatia, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barcelona, Liverpool, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Al, Ahli, Ittihad, Hilal, Saudi, Europe, Portugal, Ballon, Senegal, Portuguese, Riyadh, England

CNN —With some of the world’s leading soccer players being tempted by the money on offer from Saudi Arabian soccer clubs, the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) new Director of Football, Michael Emenalo, says the Gulf state is “disrupting the industry, but we are disrupting to enhance. We’re adding value to the industry.”The Saudi Pro League consists of 18 clubs, four of which are 75% owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – one of the world’s top 10 sovereign wealth funds. Cristiano Ronaldo, N’golo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez and current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema are just a few of players who have joined a variety of SPL clubs over the last few months. That’s true, but there is also a sensible, logical, thoughtful process to making the league better,” said the SPL’s new Director of Football. The new 2023/24 Saudi Pro League season begins on Friday, August 11, with Al-Ahli hosting Al-Hazm.

Persons: Michael Emenalo, Cristiano Ronaldo, N’golo, Riyad Mahrez, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, Emenalo, Germain, Mbappé, Al Hilal’s, coy, ” Emenalo, Darren Lewis, “, that’s, he’s, Jurgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad, ”, ” Michael Emenalo, Henderson, – it’s Organizations: CNN, Saudi Pro League’s, Football, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Al Hilal, Paris Saint, PSG, SPL, Liverpool, Saudi FA, Al Locations: Saudi Arabian, Gulf, France, Paris, Al Hilal, Saudi, Al, Liverpool, Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Mahrez, Ahli

☆ DAZN to stream Saudi Pro League matches in six countries including UK, Germany
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File PhotoAug 9 (Reuters) - DAZN has secured the rights to stream Saudi Pro League matches for a two-year period in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Canada, the sports video service said on Wednesday. As part of the deal, DAZN will stream three Saudi league matches per week. Since the capture of Portugal forward Ronaldo, the Saudi league has grown in stature by signing top players from Europe, including Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema who left Real Madrid to join champions Al-Ittihad. "The RSL (Roshn Saudi League) is rapidly developing into an international phenomenon, attracting some incredible talent that will only improve an already strong and vibrant competition," Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said in a statement. The new season kicks off on Friday with Al-Ahli -- who have signed Champions League winners like Riyad Mahrez, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino -- taking on Al-Hazm.

Persons: Kim Kyung, DAZN, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Ronaldo, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Shay Segev, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi Pro League, Saudi, Al, Bayern Munich, Real, DAZN, RSL, League, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, Europe, Real Madrid, Ittihad, Saudi League, Ahli, Bengaluru

Soccer Football - Opening of 2023-2024 Saudi Pro League - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - August 7, 2023 General view of the trophy at the opening of the Saudi Pro League Saudi Pro League Media Office/Handout via REUTERSAug 8 (Reuters) - The vast sums invested to entice some of the world's top players to Saudi Arabia this season is no one-off, but part of a long-term strategy to make the Saudi Pro League one of the best in the world, its chief operating officer has said. Soccer website Transfermarkt ranks the Saudi League as the fifth-biggest spender in the current transfer window, ahead of Spain's LaLiga. "One of the very first objectives that the Saudi Pro League was set was to improve the product. "We had to improve quality and in order to improve quality, you have to bring in the best. "What you're seeing is simply the Saudi Pro League doing what other leagues needed to do ... We have joined these ranks, and we're doing whatever it takes to improve quality on the pitch."

Persons: Carlo Nohra, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, spender, Nohra, We've, we've, Al Ahmar, Shady Amir, Simon Jennings, Christian Organizations: Soccer, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Pro League Saudi Pro League Media, REUTERS, Reuters, Saudi, Liverpool, Manchester City, Al, Saudi League, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid, Manchester, Spain's, Saudi

☆ Relentless Man City seek record four titles in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

However, such is the nature of the Premier League that City will certainly not have everything their own way. Juergen Klopp's side's failure to qualify for the Champions League would have stung, especially with Manchester United finishing eight points above them. Newcastle United, who finished fourth last term, will be determined to prove it was no flash in the pan, although they will need to juggle the demands of battling for a top-four finish with the Champions League this time. The additions of winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City and Sandro Tonali from Milan will certainly help. Postecoglou is the first Australian to manage in the Premier League and faces a big challenge at the north London club who endured a toxic 2022-23 campaign under Antonio Conte.

Persons: Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, Pep Guardiola, Guardiola, pacesetters, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic, Declan Rice, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Juergen, Erik ten Hag, Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, Ange Postecoglou, Antonio Conte, Harry Kane, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, Manchester, Victory, Champions League, FA, Premier League, Manchester United's, League, Inter Milan, pacesetters Arsenal, City, Arsenal, Etihad, LIVERPOOL Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Luton Town's, Luton, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Manchester City, Abu Dhabi, Spanish, Istanbul, Barcelona, Al, Ahli, Saudi Arabia, City, Milan, Postecoglou, London, Fulham

☆ Saudi soccer dominance could still take 'decades' despite reported $332 million Mbappé bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Aurelien Meunier - PSG/PSG via Getty ImagesSaudi Arabian soccer club Al-Hilal reportedly tabled a world record 300 million euro ($331.9 million) bid for Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé, a further signal of the kingdom's efforts to shake up the sport's global order. Al-Ahli snapped up Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, and have just agreed a £30 million ($38.54 million) deal to bring in forward Riyad Mahrez from reigning English Premier League and European champions Manchester City. A medium-term threat Soccer isn't the first sport to be rocked by a sudden wave of Saudi investment. This is more like a couple of decades before I think we could see some significant impact." Cristiano Ronaldo stands prior to the Saudi Pro League week 28 soccer match between Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab at Alawwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 23, 2023.

Persons: Kylian, Paris Saint, Germain, Le, Aurelien Meunier, Hilal, Mbappé, Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles, Ronaldo, Ballon, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Mahrez, Anmar Al, Khalid Alhaj, Al, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, LIV, Michael Goldberg, DBRS Morningstar, Goldberg, Jude Bellingham, Mohammed Saad Organizations: Paris Saint, Campus PSG, PSG, Getty Images, Al, French, country's Public Investment Fund, Real, English Premier League, Newcastle United, Saudi, — Al, Saudi Pro League, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, King Abdullah Sports City, Premier League's Wolverhampton Wanderers, Senegalese, Lazio, UEFA, Champions League, England's Premier League, Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italian Serie, isn't, DBRS, CNBC, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Alawwal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: POISSY, France, Paris, Le Havre, Getty Images Saudi Arabian, Qatar, Real Madrid, Spanish, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Ahli, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Italian, Barcelona, Liverpool, Shabab, Riyadh

☆ Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's side lays claim to being Premier League's greatest ever team
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When all is said and done, it is looking increasingly likely that this iteration of Manchester City will go down as the greatest team in Premier League history. A 'Premier League Champions' banner is revealed outside Manchester City's stadium on Saturday. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesIndeed, defender Rúben Dias recently called Guardiola the “main piece” of this City team. Back in February, the Premier League accused Manchester City of more than 100 breaches of the league’s finance rules and referred the club to an independent commission. The Premier League told CNN it had no comment to make on the issue, while Rosen said he wasn’t taking press inquiries.

☆ Gundogan brace takes Manchester City four points clear at top of Premier League
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Leeds United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 6, 2023 Leeds United's Joel Robles in action as Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan misses from the penalty spot REUTERS/Molly DarlingtonMANCHESTER, England, May 6 (Reuters) - Hard-charging Manchester City went four points clear of Arsenal at the top the Premier League on Saturday, beating Leeds United 2-1 with a pair of near-identical goals from Ilkay Gundogan, stretching their winning league run to 10 games. Mahrez teed up Gundogan again eight minutes later in a carbon copy of his first goal. Allardyce admitted it looked bound to be a blowout at halftime, but Leeds "changed in terms of pushing up the pitch." Despite numerous scoring chances, and with the Etihad Stadium crowd cheering him on, Haaland was unable to extend the Premier League single-season record of 35 goals he set earlier in the week. Treble-chasing Manchester City, who play Real Madrid on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, are unbeaten in 20 games through all competitions.

☆ Haaland breaks Premier League record as Man City reclaim top spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

West Ham remain in trouble in 15th place, four points above the relegation zone. West Ham, hampered by the absence of midfielders Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, defended valiantly with the colossal Angelo Ogbonna heading away cross after cross. West Ham still looked capable of adding a twist to the title script until Grealish released Haaland for his milestone moment. Foden then put the icing on his side's ninth successive league win with the 1,000th goal in Guardiola's City reign. As well as five league games left, City are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup final.

☆ Soccer Mahrez hopes hat-trick will keep him at forefront of Guardiola's plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 23 - Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez is hoping that his historic hat-trick against Sheffield United in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final will keep him in coach Pep Guardiola's starting line-up in future games. "When you get an opportunity you have to prove to the coach that you deserve to play." Mahrez, 32, did not feature in either of City's Champions League quarter-final games against Bayern Munich, when Guardiola's team won 4-1 on aggregate. City, who are chasing a hat-trick of titles this season, will face either arch-rivals Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup final on June 3. Editing by Ahmed Mostafa, Osama Khairy and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mahrez hat-trick sends Man City into FA Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Sheffield United's Wes Foderingham looks dejected after Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffLONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Manchester City snapped their losing streak in FA Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 stroll over second-tier Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday. Championship promotion hopefuls United began brightly and frustrated City for most of the first half but Mahrez fired City ahead from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. It was the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since Alex Dawson for Manchester United against Fulham in 1958. City have not conceded a goal and scored 17 in reaching their 12th FA Cup final in which they could face Manchester United in what would be the showpiece's first Manchester clash. "It is an honour to be in the FA Cup final on 3 June.

☆ Manchester City cruises into FA Cup final with 3-0 victory over Sheffield United
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Manchester City’s treble hopes remain alive after defeating Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup semifinal, thanks to a hattrick from Riyad Mahrez. Still, City is one of the best teams in Europe while Sheffield United is fighting for promotion in England’s second tier – the Championship – but it was not an entirely one-sided game. And then five minutes later, he had a hattrick – the first in an FA Cup semifinal since 1958 – latching onto Jack Grealish’s cross and making no mistake with the finish. “It feels very good (to score a hat-trick),” Mahrez told ITV afterwards. It’s a good team achievement and we took the game seriously.”City will face either Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup final on June 3.

☆ An elite soccer player criticized Elon Musk as 'some crazy dude' after Twitter took away his blue checkmark
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter removed the blue checkmarks on Thursday for all users who didn't subscribe to Twitter Blue. That included several of the English Premier League's elite soccer players, who hit back at Elon Musk. Elite soccer players from England's Premier League took aim at Elon Musk after their blue checkmarks were taken away on Thursday. Twitter Blue led to several trolls impersonating high-profile accounts, while those who've paid for the blue checkmark have been mocked. Meanwhile, Gary Lineker — a former England soccer player who now hosts the BBC's "Match of the Day" — said he had subscribed to Twitter Blue.

☆ No Haaland, no problem as Man City thrash Liverpool 4-1 to keep up title chase
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, April 1 (Reuters) - Manchester City showed they can win without goal machine Erling Haaland as they put four past Liverpool at the Etihad on Saturday to keep their chase of Premier League leaders Arsenal very much alive. Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish were all on target for Pep Guardiola's side in a goal-packed return to Premier League action after the international break. "We had a chat between ourselves and with the manager (at halftime) and he said we have to stay in the game," Grealish said. "The first minute to 93 ... really really good, the way we played." Looking ahead though, the England winger insisted that the fate of the Premier League this season is still in Arsenal's hands.

☆ Defiant Man City see off Villa to close gap on Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League's charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday. Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend's loss at Tottenham Hotspur. Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa player Jack Grealish. Champions City have 48 points from 22 games to Arsenal's 51 from 21 and can go top if they win at Arsenal on Wednesday. "It was a bad result, but we have to learn and use it in the next matches."

☆ Kane's record-breaking goal seals Tottenham win over Man City
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 5, 2023 Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scores their first goal past Manchester City's Ederson and becomes Tottenham Hotspur's all time top goalscorer REUTERS/David KleinLONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Manchester City's bid to chop Arsenal's Premier League lead to two points was scuppered as Harry Kane's record-breaking goal earned Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win over the champions on Sunday. Kane's 15th-minute effort punished some sloppy City passing and made him the north London club's all-time top goalscorer with 267, taking him past former great Jimmy Greaves whose record had stood since 1970. Tottenham then withstood a late City siege with some tenacious defending to clinch a third win in four league games over Pep Guardiola's side. Tottenham, whose manager Antonio Conte was absent after having surgery to remove his gallbladder, are fifth on 39 points from 22 games, one behind Newcastle United. "Sooner or later it is going to change, but it is strange we haven't scored one goal," Guardiola said of City's troubles with Tottenham.

☆ Man City close gap at the top with thrilling comeback win over Spurs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Manchester City got back to winning ways in thrilling style after coming from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Thursday, a victory that moved the champions to within five points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. Looking to avoid a third successive defeat in all competitions, City were sluggish from the off and went into the break two goals behind after Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal netted in quick succession at the end of the opening period. Three goals in 12 second-half minutes, however, quickly turned the match on its head, as strikes from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, the Norwegian's first in four appearances in all competitions, and Riyad Mahrez put City in front. With the visitors chasing an equaliser down the other end, Mahrez added a late fourth to keep City well in the title race, five behind Arsenal having played one game more than the Gunners, while Spurs stay fifth, five points off the top four. Reporting by Peter Hall, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Man City crush Chelsea in FA Cup, Stevenage stun Villa
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Richard Martin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Elsewhere, League Two (fourth tier) side Stevenage pulled off the shock of the weekend by winning 2-1 at Premier League Aston Villa, scoring two goals in the final few minutes. City will play at home in the fourth round against either Premier League leaders Arsenal or League One side Oxford United, who meet on Monday. Potter said City were the last team he could wish to face during the team's difficult run of form. Walsall beat Stockport County 2-1, Stoke City won 3-0 at Hartlepool, Blackburn Rovers beat Norwich City 1-0 and Derby County beat Barnsley 3-0 to also make it to the fourth round. Bristol City and Swansea City will meet again in a replay after drawing 1-1.

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