عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Napoli to Sign African Players Only if They Sign AFCON Waiver, Owner Says

Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
TT
TT

Napoli to Sign African Players Only if They Sign AFCON Waiver, Owner Says

Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)
Napoli’s forward Lorenzo Insigne (2-L) reacts next to Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis (C) ahead his last home match with Napoli before the Italian Serie A match SSC Napoli vs Genoa CFC at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 15 May 2022. (EPA)

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Tuesday he would not sign African players any longer unless they agreed to not take part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly - now at Premier League side Chelsea - and Cameroon midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa missed several Napoli games while on international duty at this year's AFCON, which took place between January and February.

"Or they sign a waiver giving up their right to participate to the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments or between AFCON and the championships in South America ... I never have them (Napoli players) available," he said in a Wall Street Italia talk show.

He criticized the fact that clubs were agreeing to more and more games, suggesting a European tournament with the top clubs from the strongest five countries instead of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

"The world of football cannot self manage because we do the puppet show for others ... if we could play 100 games, it would be a happy ending for everyone and we (clubs) like cretins agree to that."

The Italian film producer also said he did not support the breakaway European Super League which folded less than 48 hours after it was announced last year as it was an elite club.

"You cannot create a super club of privileged members who invite others (to the league). You need to democratically keep the door open for everyone," he said.

He added he was tired of offers from investment funds for the club, adding that he was offered 900 million euros around four to five years ago by American investors.

"You (bidders) did not understand a thing (about me). I am a pure entrepreneur who enjoys doing business ... let me play," he said.

"I want to be the 12th player on the pitch. Actually the 12th player is the fan, I can be the 13th or even the 14th, as 14 is my favorite number."

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Fernandez Uncertain over Chelsea Future after Champions League Exit

Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
TT
TT

Fernandez Uncertain over Chelsea Future after Champions League Exit

Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez gives a thumb up at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge, west London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

Enzo Fernandez has suggested he could leave Chelsea at the end of the current season after the London club were knocked out of the Champions League.

Leroy Rosenior's side were beaten 3-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as the French giants completed an aggregate 8-3 thrashing of the Blues over the two legs of their last-16 tie.

With world club champions Chelsea currently sixth in the Premier League, they may yet fail to qualify for a place among European football's elite next term, AFP reported.

Argentina's Fernandez captained the Blues against PSG on Tuesday in the absence of the injured Reece James.

But the 25-year-old midfielder did little to end speculation he could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, telling ESPN: "I don't know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There's the World Cup and then we'll see."

Fernandez, reflecting on Chelsea's latest loss to PSG, who put the tie to bed with two goals in the first 15 minutes at Stamford Bridge, added: "I think we failed to control the game. In the first leg, we lost focus in the final 15 minutes and conceded three goals, and here it happened at the very start.

"At this level, you can't concede two goals so quickly because of small details.

Ultimately, over the two legs, PSG were the better side and deserve to go through. Since I arrived at Chelsea we have already passed through similar situations and we were able to turn them around.

"Now, our focus must be on winning the FA Cup and achieving our goal of qualifying for next season's Champions League."

Eight-time FA Cup-winners Chelsea face third-tier Port Vale in the quarter-finals on April 4.

Sports

Celtic Keeper Schmeichel Fears Shoulder Injury Could End His Career

18 February 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Celtic's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in action during the UEFA Champions League layoff second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Celtic Glasgow at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
18 February 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Celtic's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in action during the UEFA Champions League layoff second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Celtic Glasgow at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
TT
TT

Celtic Keeper Schmeichel Fears Shoulder Injury Could End His Career

18 February 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Celtic's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in action during the UEFA Champions League layoff second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Celtic Glasgow at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
18 February 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Celtic's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in action during the UEFA Champions League layoff second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Celtic Glasgow at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)

Kasper Schmeichel has revealed a major shoulder injury could end his career.

The Celtic goalkeeper has been playing through the pain since hurting his left shoulder while appearing for Denmark last year and aggravated the injury against Stuttgart last month.

He has missed the last five matches for Scottish champions Celtic and received a "devastating" diagnosis from a specialist on Monday.

Schmeichel, speaking to CBS Sports Golazo Network, said: "I'm going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder.

"It's a bit of a body blow. I've torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum -- everything's kind of gone. It's looking like 10-12 months of rehab."

The 39-year-old added: "You don't really know how to react to this. I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I've been a footballer since the day I was born. That kind of thought is devastating. It's very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment."

Schmeichel is the son of goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, a key figure in several of the successful Manchester United teams managed by Alex Ferguson.

Kasper Schmeichel was between the posts when Leicester caused one of the all-time great upsets in English football by winning the English Premier League in 2016 and was the Foxes' keeper when they lifted the FA Cup five years later.

He later played for Nice and Anderlecht before joining Glasgow giants Celtic ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Schmeichel's initial operation is set to take place on Friday and he is determined to salvage his career despite what promises to be a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

"My mind is like, 'OK, I'm going to give it absolutely everything I can to see if I can get back'," he said.

"It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could get back from an injury like this. I'm going to fight, I'm going to try everything I can."

Sports

Champions League: Barcelona, Liverpool Have Work to Do as Bayern Looks to Set Up Madrid Quarterfinal

Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north-west England on March 17, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, last 16 second leg football match against Galatasaray. (AFP)
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north-west England on March 17, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, last 16 second leg football match against Galatasaray. (AFP)
TT
TT

Champions League: Barcelona, Liverpool Have Work to Do as Bayern Looks to Set Up Madrid Quarterfinal

Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north-west England on March 17, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, last 16 second leg football match against Galatasaray. (AFP)
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north-west England on March 17, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, last 16 second leg football match against Galatasaray. (AFP)

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will look to complete a trio of Spanish successes over English rivals in the Champions League 's round of 16 on Wednesday.

A day after Real Madrid ousted Manchester City, Barcelona takes on Newcastle at Camp Nou with the score at 1-1 from last week's first leg after Lamine Yamal's stoppage-time penalty. Barca has won all seven of its home matches in 2026, scoring at least three goals in each.

Atletico is in a better position — 5-2 up on Tottenham — though facing an away match in the second leg.

English hopes may rest with Liverpool, which hosts Galatasaray at Anfield needing to overturn a 1-0 loss from the first match in Istanbul. There is growing pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot heading into the game.

England had a record six teams in the round of 16 but only Arsenal has so far qualified, with Chelsea joining Man City in getting eliminated on Tuesday.

In Wednesday's other match, Bayern Munich is expected to finish off Atalanta after a 6-1 rout in Italy last week. That would set up a blockbuster quarterfinal matchup with Madrid, the 15-time champion.