Gattuso buys his team iPhone 16

Rino Gattuso’s Hajduk Split has roared back to prominence in Croatian football with a memorable week capped by a crucial victory.  The former Milan and Napoli coach  faced a challenging period, including the resignation of sporting director Nikola Kalinic, but responded emphatically on the eve of the most anticipated match – the clash against arch-rivals Dinamo Zagreb. Hajduk secured a 1-0 away victory, thanks to a goal from former Inter Milan player Marko Livaja, propelling them to the top of the Croatian league table. After six rounds, Gattuso’s team remains undefeated with an impressive record of four wins and two draws. This success comes despite initial skepticism and criticism following their elimination from the Conference League preliminaries and the unpopular decision to “cut” local hero Ivan Perisic. Gattuso and his players have silenced their critics, and the 2006 World Cup winner decided to make a grand gesture after the final whistle.  In addition to dedicating the victory to Nikola Kalinic, Gattuso surprised his players and staff by gifting each of them a brand new iPhone 16. This personal investment of approximately 40,000 euros serves not only as a reward but also as a means to further strengthen the bond within the group.

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Serie A: Lookman fires Alatanta past Fiorentina 

Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman netted the winner in Atalanta 3-2 win over Fiorentina in a Serie A tie on Sunday.  The red-hot midfielder had grabbed an assist in the 21st minute before putting icing on the cake for the Europa League winners before half time.  In a post match interview, the Nigerian insisted he is ‘enjoying’ his football with Atalanta after a tumultuous summer. Lookman made his first Serie A appearance of the season after pulling out due to transfer interest from big clubs, but now that he is back in the fold, he made an immediate difference with an assist and a goal for Atalanta. “Happy to be back in front of our fans and play football here. Enjoying it, we’ve got a strong squad this season and happy to play, so we go on,” Lookman told DAZN when asked about his rather turbulent summer. Atalanta will be up against Premier League contenders Arsenal in the Champions League on Thursday, a very special game for Lookman, who was born in London. “We’re very pleased to be in the Champions League this season. We deserved that and have to demonstrate it. We want to show the same drive and mentality that we had today to come back from behind.”

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Osimhen makes winning debut for Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen got off to a winning start for Galatasaray as they smashed past visiting Rizespor 5-0 in the Turkish Super Lig. The Napoli striker on loan to ‘Gala’ was even widely credited with the second goal, but repeated TV replays showed he did not have a touch to the free kick in the 26th minute. Otherwise, he enjoyed a decent debut. He saw his header in the 15th minute off a cross by Dries Mertens miss target narrowly. In the 42nd minute, the striker failed to get a good connection to the ball inside the box. He was then denied his debut goal in the 77th minute by the Rizespor goalkeeper. Osimhen played the entire duration. Fellow Nigeria stars Ibrahim Olawoyin and David Akintola featured for the visiting team.

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Ola Aina makes history with Forests over Liverpool 

Nigerian defender Ola Aina starred for 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest win over Liverpool on Saturday.  His compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi was on the bench for the entire duration of the tie. Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season after a second-half stunner from Callum Hudson-Odoi earned Forest their first victory at Anfield in 55 years. Arne Slot’s side were yet to concede a league goal this term, before the introduction of Hudson-Odoi from the Forest bench, with Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding the unlikely 1-0 win. The substitute scored the winner in the 72nd minute after Liverpool’s retreating backline offered him the time and space to measure a shot from 20 yards. He obliged, bending a perfectly precise strike beyond Alisson at full stretch into the far corner. Ryan Yates was a workhorse in the Nottingham Forest midfield Liverpool, with lofty ambitions in Slot’s first season in charge, created plenty but lacked any cutting edge as every final pass or attempted finish failed to hit the mark. Their 14 shots at goal – five on target – were a sign of the home side’s obvious dominance, but unlike the opening three weeks of the campaign where they scored seven times, they were unable to convert such superiority into goals.

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Bundesliga: Boniface fires brace in Leverkusen win 

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface netted a brace in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 drubbing of Hoffenheim on Saturday.  The Nigerian forward returned to Bundesliga action after failing to score during the international break.  Before the break, the Boniface had reclaimed his starting shirt in the team, and he started for them against Hoffenheim alongside compatriot Nathan Tella. Die Werkself were the favourites to claim the win, and they enforced their authority early on. They created the better chances from the start, and it took them just 17 minutes to get the opener.  Boniface was the creator, as he sent a nice pass to Martin Terrier, who converted calmly to make it 1-0.

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Victor Moses resumes training at Luton Town 

Former Super Eagles midfielder Victor Moses has resumed training with his new club, Luton Town FC.  The 33-year-old posted pictures of his training at the new club on Friday. Moses said: “I’m looking forward to it. “I had a few offers from Europe, but I said to my agent that I set my mind on staying over here, and here we are. I’m very pleased and honoured to be at this club and I just can’t wait to get going. “I spoke to Rob before I came, I spoke to the directors and they told me the plan and the history of the club, and I just want to be part of the success. “I want to come here and enjoy my football, work hard for the club and for the team, and get back to where we belong in the Premier League.”

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Maradona medical team’s trial postponed until 2025

An Argentine court on Thursday delayed to March 2025 the long-awaited criminal trial of seven of the eight medical professionals accused of negligence in the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona. The trial was set to start next month, after a previous postponement in May, but is now on track to begin on March 11 next year, according to a ruling seen by AFP. Maradona died in November 2020 at age 60 while recovering from brain surgery for a blood clot, after decades of battling cocaine and alcohol addictions.  He was found dead in bed two weeks after going under the knife, in a rented house in an exclusive Buenos Aires neighborhood where he was brought after being discharged from hospital.  He was found to have died of a heart attack.  In 2023, an Argentine appeals court said that neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and six others, including nurses, would stand trial in the matter, rejecting an appeal. One of the nurses, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has asked to be tried by jury separately, and her trial will proceed as planned on October 2. Prosecutors have accused the eight medical professionals of providing “reckless” and “deficient” home treatment to Maradona. A panel of 20 medical experts convened by Argentina’s public prosecutor concluded in 2021 that Maradona “would have had a better chance of survival” with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility. They risk prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years. 

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Joshua, Tyson Fury, Usyk battle for British Boxing Award

Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Okeksandr Usyk have been shortlisted for the British Boxing Awards next month. The awards ceremony will host some of the biggest names in British boxing and the celebrity world on November 8 in London as it celebrates the achievements in the sport. It is the first time that all levels of British boxing, from the grassroots gym volunteers to the international superstars, will be recognised at one flagship event. Former Team GB and professional boxing star Nicola Adams has been named as the host for the event, with some breakthrough stars also bidding to win some of the awards on offer. Now, the shortlist has been revealed for the awards up for grabs, with the categories sweeping through multiple levels of the sport. In some of the top awards, Joshua and Fury are among those shortlised to win Male British Boxer of the Year, as well as the likes of Jack Catterall, Callum Smith and Lawrence Okolie. Also in the running for the award are Chris Billam-Smith, Liam Smith, Joshua Buatsi, Nick Ball and Chris Eubank Jnr. In the Women’s Award, Katie Taylor is the lead name, with the likes of Natasha Jones, Savannah Marshall and Chantelle Cameron also hopeful. The other names on the list include Caroline Dubois, Ellie Scotney and Sandy Ryan. Usyk comes into the conversation in the International Boxing Champion of the Year category, with Joshua, Fury and Deontay Wilder also shortlisted. Canelo Alvarez, Billam-Smith and Imane Khelif are also on the list.   There are plenty more commendations up for grabs in the Grassroots Boxing Hero, Out of the Ring Award, Best Brand of the Year, Inspirational Role Model and a Lifetime Achievement Award categories. Michael Buffer and Lennox Lewis are both shortlisted in the British Boxing Broadcaster or Journalist category, while Lewis is again mentioned, alongside the likes of Amir Khan and David Haye in the Insprational Role Model shortlist. Khan and Frank Bruno are shortlisted for the Out of the Ring Award for their work with their foundations, and Misfits make the Business of the Year shortlist alongside the likes of Queensberry and Matchroom – Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn are also sortlisted for the Promoter of the Year Awards. ‘This is an incredible shortlist,’ host Adams said following the announcement. ‘The British Boxing Awards is shining a light on the people and organisations contributing to the phenomenal growth of the sport. Boxing champions, both in and out of the ring, will be recognised. ‘This is a major first for the sport in the UK and I am incredibly excited to be hosting this event. It is going to be a special night. Good luck to all of the nominees.’

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