Stubborn: You should've stayed away! Meulensteen reveals he warned Ferguson against Old Trafford appearances

Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen has revealed that he told Sir Alex Ferguson not to go and watch Manchester United at Old Trafford this season.
The former United boss has hardly missed a game since David Moyes took charge, even travelling to a number of away fixtures to watch the champions in action.
But Meulensteen, who worked as a coach under Ferguson, believes the Scot should have stayed away from the club for at least 12 months.
The Dutchman told The Sun on Sunday: 'I remember saying after he retired "you should stay away for a year and see how it goes... leave it alone". But he wasn't able to do that.'
With United out of both domestic cup competitions and currently seventh in the Premier League, some have suggested that Ferguson's his presence at games has put Moyes under even more pressure to succeed.
But Meulensteen understands why Ferguson has found it difficult to cut ties with the club he managed for 26 years.
He said: 'It's not surprising because if that is what you have been doing all your life, it becomes very hard to say goodbye to it.'
There will be another familiar face at Old Trafford on Tuesday when former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer bring his relegation-threatened Cardiff side to Manchester.

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Diversifying: Football Legend Ronaldinho Gaucho Releases Music Video with Rapper Friend (Pictures)

One of the greatest footballers of a great generation, Brazil star Ronaldinho is now lending his talents to music.
The former Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker, now with Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, has released a song entitled 'Vai na fe' ('Go in Faith').
Having penned the tune with rapper and friend Edcity, the 33-year-old wasn't afraid to give it some welly when it was his turn to get behind the mic.
The video shows the pair in the studio and features clips of Ronaldinho in action for his country before children show off their Samba skills and crowds gather to dance on the streets.
Ronaldinho, who has represented Brazil on 97 occasions, makes no secret of his love of music and has been pictured with other bands and singers in the past.
As the host nation, Brazil will be hoping for a sixth World Cup victory this summer and locals are sure to take inspiration from the song which includes the line, 'Faith you can not lose, you have to believe and achieve victory.'

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Mata pays tribute to Chelsea fans in heartfelt open letter

New Manchester United signing Juan Mata has penned a moving and classy farewell letter to the fans of former club Chelseaafter bidding farewell to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Read it in full below...
Hi everyone,
As you can imagine this is a very important day in my life, and with these lines I would like to express the memories and emotions that come to me as I write.
This letter is written from my heart, and first of all I would like to say that I will never forget all the affection given to me by the Chelsea fans. From the very first day until the last.
With your support and affection I have grown up as a player and I have had an amazing time both on and off the pitch. I will always feel the gratitude towards you. Always. No words are enough to give back all the things I have received.
There has been plenty of good moments: the FA Cup, my first trophy as a Blue; the immense happiness of winning titles for the first time in the club's history, such as that magical Champions League night in Munich and the Europa League.
On the other hand, I have experienced some complicated situations from a personal point of view, mainly during the last six months. Every message I got through the social media, every nice word you have said to me on the street, and of course, your support in the stadium, has made me feel incredibly proud of the Chelsea fans; you deserve a team like the one you've got, with so many fantastic players.
I won't forget the faith you put in me when I was given the player of the year award the last two seasons. I feel really proud and I will never forget those nights.
Thank you so much for the way you have treated me, you have been unbelievable. I hope you understand that after going through a complicated and, for me, new situation in the last few months, I believe this is the best choice in order to carry on with my football career and to keep enjoying this sport.
Before last summer, my intention was to stay here for a long time; as long as the club wanted me to, and to keep winning trophies for Chelsea FC. This is how happy I was in the club and in the city. However, as you all know, things changed after the preseason. From feeling like an important player, I started to experience some difficult situations and I felt unable to help the team to the extent that I wanted and was used to. Obviously, I fully respect the circumstances.
Football is a team sport and it's not easy to play regularly in such a good squad. In sports you may win or lose, but the most important thing is to give everything. I hope you know and feel that I have always done so. In every game, in every training session, without exception. I have always tried my best for the club.
I would like to emphasise the affection, admiration and respect that I've had for my former team mates since the first day. I want to thank the captains for their help and understanding at all times. They made me feel comfortable when I arrived and they have supported me throughout the difficult times this season.
I thank all my former team mates for these two and a half years and I wish them the best, personally and professionally, for the future. Of course I have been closer to some of them, but the most important thing is that my years in Chelsea have left me with great friends. Friends forever, football rivalries aside.
I also want to highlight the day-to-day job of every member of the Chelsea staff: medical team, kit men, staff at Cobham and Stamford Bridge, media and marketing department, Chelsea TV team… All of them are very important in making this club a great one. Thank you for your treatment and your efforts to make the life of the players easier.
Furthermore, thanks to every manager I have had the pleasure to work with during my time here. They have all been a big help for my progression as a player. I have always respected their decisions, whatever they were; they made me more mature and a stronger person. You learn from everything, and certain situations make you think about other team mates who are coping with similar situations more regularly.
Thank you Andre for giving me the opportunity to join Chelsea FC. Without your support, none of this would have happened. To Robbie and Rafa, for their unlimited trust in me. And to Jose, for making me a stronger player, because in difficult moments, I have learnt to remain positive and to keep working hard.
Lastly, I want to thank the Club, and in particular its owner, Roman Abramovich, for trusting me and making an important investment when signing me. Also for their understanding regarding my situation over the last months. I'm very glad to have been part of the squad that made his and our dream come true: winning the Champions League on that unforgettable night in Munich. Additionally, my years in Chelsea have been profitable for the club, which I'm very pleased about.
I want to make clear that the stage that now comes to an end has been extremely important for me, personally and professionally. Although many of you, like myself, never thought this moment would come, this is football and a new chapter is about to begin.
I would have liked to say good bye to all of you in the stadium, or in a press conference, but it has not been possible. I'm sure I will be able to do it in the future, because that is what you deserve.
Evidently, today is a day of mixed feelings, remembering the past and looking forward to the future and what it has to bring. I look forward to being happy and to enjoy what I like the most: play football.

I will never forget my time in Chelsea and the affection I take with me, I will keep forever.

I wish you the best. A big hug to all of you.

THANK YOU so much,
Juan

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Madrid offered 105m euros for Neymar

Real Madrid were prepared to part with 105 million euros for the signing of Neymar, according to a document published by Barcelona-based sports dailies Sport and Mundo Deportivo.
The document, which bears the club's letterhead and several annotations by hand, says Real Madrid were ready to pay 60 million euros in four 15-million-euro instalments (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) to NR Sports, the company managed by Neymar's father. In addition, Madrid were willing to pay 25 of the 40 million in compensation due to Barcelona in the event that the Brazilian signed for another club. The player's father demanded the full 40 from Los Blancos.
Madrid were also offering a further 20 million euros, of which 10 would go to Santos and 10 to DIS, the company which owned a share of the footballer's rights. The total cost of the deal therefore came to 105 million euros.
Real Madrid proposed to pay Neymar10 million a year after tax if he signed for six seasons and 12 if he put pen to paper on an eight-year deal, with the 21-year-old also receiving bonuses for winning La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Meanwhile, Madrid were to hold 30% of the former Santos man's image rights, the player keeping the remaining 70%.
Both Sport and Mundo Deportivo also published a PowerPoint allegedly created by Real Madrid. In the presentation, the capital club outlined its offer of afull-time family assistant, a residence in La Moraleja, a Spanish teacher for the whole family, schooling for his sister Rafaella, an expert in marketing and special assistance from Zinedine Zidane. Madrid also guaranteed Neymar that he would be readily welcomed by theleading figures in the dressing room.

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What Happened Between Prophet Ajanaku –Tope Alabi Finally Speaks Out

Gospel Singer, Tope Alabi in an interview with Punch talks about her husband and her alleged affair with the late Prophet Ajanaku.

The name Tope Alabi has been so synonymous with gospel music even when some of your contemporaries have veered off to another genre or even stopped music entirely, what has been the staying power all this while?

I see God in whatever I do. Even if God doesn't answer you now, it doesn't mean you should stop working for Him. If He has called you, that means you are so important to Him. I am working for Him and I am just privileged to work for Him. I don't want anything to distract me from working for Him. It is not as if I am doing gospel for the money, I sing because I want people to hear the good news.

Your husband has been supportive; he is even your manager

He is no longer my manager. I have a new manager. He is the marketer now. He is my boyfriend and the father of my children. He is the small boy in the house that must eat first even if no other person has eaten.

But most men don't want their wives to be in the spotlight, how come he supports you like this?

I just thank God for his life. You can imagine, when we go for programmes, I would be given a seat in the front row while my husband would be given a seat at the back. Imagine! I would always tell him to come and sit in front so I can go to the back but he would never agree. He would ask me if he was Tope Alabi. God has been guiding us. How would I have managed without a husband like this?

Where did you meet him?

I met him in the studio. He was a studio rat. He worked anywhere in the studio. He never went out of the studio. He was such a tiny man when we met. But see him now, I have packaged him. He has also packaged me as well. I am more beautiful now. We met 19 years ago. We got married five years after.

A story that generated some kind of controversy is the issue you had with the late Pastor Ajanaku, did you ever make up before he died?

On that issue, I would rather say no comment. When God is working in your life, anything can happen along the line. The Israelites faced turbulence and eventually got out of it. We need people who are spirit-filled to just fold their arms and watch what God will do.

Some people say you are happy he is no more…

God doesn't like anybody who rejoices over a friend or enemy's death. I cannot be an enemy of what God created. I can only be an enemy of God's enemy. If you don't like God, certainly, I will not like you. But I still say no comment on that issue.

Does it mean you will not tell us what really caused the problem between you two?

No comment. I just want people to say what they want to say. You are free. Your heart is not in my heart. People can speculate. People can feel whatever they want to feel.

But we learnt he anointed another singer as his spiritual child and it got you so upset…

I wasn't there. I don't know. So if I wasn't there, how would I now 'put mouth' in something I don't know about? I can't say what I don't know.

But did you feel bad that they said he had replaced you, even if you weren't there, you must have heard it?

I cannot feel bad. I didn't feel bad. I can bring somebody today and I decide to bring that person up. Anybody is free to do whatever he/she feels like doing.

It was learnt you also stopped attending his church…

Actually, I was never a member of his church but people don't know this. I am just a woman who loves to help ministries. I go to the church and I give money, not small money. I can work for six months and I take my tithe to him just to bless his ministry. I do that in other ministries. I can minister in churches without collecting money.

I know what I have passed through. I know where I am coming from. I want to bless God and thank Him.

The first day I ministered in his church, he gave me money but I didn't collect it. I never collected money from him in my life, but I have donated millions to his church and so many other churches. I have so many people living in my house that I don't even know their parents; and I just help them. I pay their fees. My husband helps the widows, we donate to orphanages.
We just want to help.

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DIVORCE: My Husband Likes Spending His Money On Ladies, Husband Says 'I Love Keeping Friends'

A four-year-old marriage between Ketim and Muftau Idris has been dissolved by an Ilorin Area Court in Kwara State over the husband's alleged waywardness.
Thirty-two-year-old Ketim, a resident of Ganmo Area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, had earlier prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Idris for being wayward and irresponsible.
The wife accused her husband of enjoying being in the company of ladies on their street while he abandoned her at home, not minding the embarrassement it brought to the family.
"My husband loves hanging out and spending his earnings on ladies while he abandons me at home,"she said.
According to her, their marriage was contracted in 2010 and was yet to produce any child.
"My lord, I want an end to this marriage because I can no longer put up with a man who doesn't care for my existence,"she said.
Idris, however, did not object to the prayer of his wife, saying she was free to go.
"My wife is always complaining and doesn't want to see anybody with me, which is not possible because I love keeping friends,"he said.
He prayed the court to grant the prayer of his wife without any claim.
The judge, Mr Yusuf Abdulkareem, dissolved the marriage and issued a certificate of divorce to the petitioner.

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DONE DEAL: Mata arrives at Carrington for medical as United put finishing touches on record £37m move for Chelsea midfielder

Juan Mata arrived by helicopter at Manchester United's Carrington training ground on Saturday afternoon to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms on his £37million move from Chelsea.
The Spanish midfielder was greeted by manager David Moyes and the deal is expected to be completed in time for Mata to make his debut in Tuesday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Cardiff at Old Trafford.
Once the final details of the switch are agreed, Moyes will break the club's transfer record-which previously stood at £30.75million paid for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008-for the 25-year-old
Dutch striker Robin Van Persie was one of the first players to welcome Mata to United, posting on his Twitter account: 'Welcome Juan Mata. See you all Tuesday.'
Photographers arrived outside United's training base early on Saturday morning in anticipation of Mata's arrival.
Veteran defender Rio Ferdinand joked about the media presence on his Twitter account, posting: 'Who they here for??? Cameras at the Carrington entrance....gave them my best smile!! #Baggyeyes!'
Mata's signing will give Moyes' side a huge boost for the second half of the season and the club confirmed the deal on their Twitter account on Friday night: 'Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Chelsea Football Club for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club-record fee.

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New Barca chief Bartomeu set to make Messi the highest paid player in the world

Lionel Messi is to become the world's highest paid player if Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu gets his way.
The Argentine, who has just passed 400 games for the club, has seen his position as their highest earner rivalled by Neymar.
The ongoing saga around the Brazilian's full transfer fee and how much he earns overall will not have gone unnoticed by Messi.
Bartomeu said: 'Messi's renewal has nothing to do with this. He is the best player in the world and in the near future we will be in touch with his agent, Jorge Messi, to make his son the highest paid player in the world.'
It is thought Cristiano Ronaldo earns close to £16.5million-a-year and Messi would want at least the same amount.
As well as the four-time Ballon d'Or winner, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Alexis Sanchez and Gerard Pique are all to start negotiating new deals in the coming months.

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Falcao's World Cup dream still alive as Colombian given 50/50 chance of making tournament after successful surgery

Stricken Radamel Falcao has a chance of being fit for the World Cup after undergoing successful knee surgery.
Falcao was on the wrong end of a heavy challenge during Monaco's French Cup clash with Chasselay, with centre half Soner Ertek landing awkwardly on the Colombian's leg in the penalty area.
The striker's World Cup hopes looked bleak as he was carried off the pitch in agony, having opened the scoring in the 29th minute.
But the operation on his injury was a success and Falcao's dream of turning out for Colombia in Brazil next summer might yet become reality.
The Portuguese doctor who performed the operation on Saturday said 'there's a possibility of him going' to the tournament in June.

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WELCOME TO MANCHESTER: New Teammates welcome Record signing Juan Mata to Utd

WELCOME TO MANCHESTER
Juan Mata's new team-mates were quick to welcome to the Spaniard to Manchester United.
Here are the pick of their tweets:
Rio Ferdinand:'Welcome to my amigo @juanmata10 ! Hoping you enjoy ya time here and help continue the success at this club #mufc'
Robin van Persie:'Welcome Juan Mata. See you all Tuesday.'
David De Gea:'Welcome to my brother @juanmata10 just one thing....Not the best clothes!!

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Armed Robbers Invade Lagos Church, Forget Gun After Robbing

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, has arrested six members of a robbery gang that allegedly attacked a church, Christ Authority and Power Evangelical Ministry, in the Ijanikin area of the state.

Two double-barreled locally-made pistols, 50 live cartridges, military camouflage and 10 mobile phones were recovered from the suspects. identified as Adewale Osaja, 21; Bala Yahaya, 28; Hassan Ado, 19; Armed Boladale, 20; Abiodun Olarewaju, 27, and Abbey Edward, 45.

According to report, the robbers had stolen the church's offering and also robbed members of the congregation of their Ipads, phones, jewellery and other valuables. The robbery was successful but one of the robbers, Ado had forgotten his gun in the church and went back to retrieve it the next day and that's when he was arrested by residents of the area.

According to Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, Ado was arrested and transferred to SARS after which he named other members of his gang. After his confession, the other members of the gang were nabbed.

The suspects, most of whom confessed to be members of the Eiye Confraternity, said they took to robbery recently.

One of the supects, Olanrewaju, who claimed to be a member of the Odua People's Congress, said he supplied the gang with ammunition, but maintained that he never followed them on any robbery operation.

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Doctors Fear Michael Schumacher Might Be In 'Permanent Vegetative State'

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has been in an artificially induced coma at the University Hospital in Grenoble since he fell and hit his head while skiing in French Alps on Sunday Dec. 29th.
Doctors say patients with such injuries are placed in artificially induced coma to help the brain heal but such measures normally last only a maximum of two weeks.
Schumacher has been in his coma for nearly a month and doctors fear he could remain in a 'permanent vegetative state' even if he wakes from his coma. This means that if doctors do bring him out of his artificially induced coma he would be unable to speak, move or feed himself. Too sad!!
The more he stays in the medically induced coma, the more hope dwindle for a full recovery.
Jean-Marc Orgogozo, Professor of Neurology at the University of Bordeaux,said: 'Every day, every week in a coma the chances decline that the situation is improving. A persistent vegetative state is one in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness.

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