Rafael Nadal announces his retirement from professional tennis.
Tennis legend, Rafael Nadal, 38, has announced his Retirement from professional tennis at the end of this year. With a career spanning over two decades, Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including an unparalleled 14 French Open championships. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years, leading to this difficult decision. Nadal will play his final matches for Spain in the Davis Cup from November 19-21 in Malaga, reflecting on his first major joy in the competition back in 2004. He expressed gratitude for his successful career, saying, “I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience.” His record includes 112 victories at Roland Garros and a remarkable 30 Grand Slam finals, solidifying his legacy alongside other modern greats like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from professional tennis 🎾🚨 pic.twitter.com/AeDqa5pII0
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) October 10, 2024
Free agent, Mario Balotelli set to make a surprise return to the Serie A.
Former Liverpool and Manchester City striker, Mario Balotelli may soon return to Serie A after a proposed move to Brazil fell through. The 34-year-old striker, who has been without a club since leaving Turkey’s Adana Demirspor in July, received numerous offers from various countries, including Australia and Qatar. His agreement to join Brazilian side Corinthians collapsed in July, and an opportunity in the Indian Super League was also rejected. Now, Genoa’s head coach, Alberto Gilardino, has reached out to Balotelli to discuss a potential deal. Torino is also interested in signing the former Manchester City and AC Milan player, especially after losing Duván Zapata to injury. Balotelli is weighing his options as negotiations for a possible free transfer continue, indicating a likely return to Italy’s top flight soon.
🚨🔵🔴 Mario Balotelli wants to return to Serie A… and Genoa manager Alberto Gilardino called him this morning.
Talks ongoing with Balotelli who’s now available as free agent, ready to return in Italy after approaches from abroad.
Genoa are on it, as Repubblica reported. pic.twitter.com/PD1dWRDyA6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 9, 2024
Ex-PL defender, George Baldock found dead inside his swimming pool.
Former Sheffield United defender, George Baldock has died at the age of 31, as announced by the Greek Super League. His body was discovered in a swimming pool at his home in Glyfada, Athens, after his wife in England was unable to contact him for several hours. Police attempted CPR but were unable to revive him. Reports indicate he may have been in the water for several hours before being found. Baldock, who had Greek ancestry and represented Greece 12 times, joined Panathinaikos in May after Sheffield United’s relegation. He previously played at MK Dons alongside his brother, Sam Baldock, an academy coach at Brighton. Many players and former clubs have expressed their condolences to his family.
Terrible, tragic news as George Baldock has sadly passed away aged 31.
Baldock was playing for Panathinaikos in Greece after several years in England.
Rest in peace, George 💔🕊️ pic.twitter.com/AcleGwFpAF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 9, 2024
FA pushing for a lifetime ban for West Ham star, Lucas Paquetá.
The English Football Association (FA) is seeking a lifetime ban for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá, following allegations of betting rule breaches and spot-fixing. The FA claims he intentionally received yellow cards in matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth during the 2023-24 season, and has accused him of obstructing the investigation. Two additional charges have been filed for failing to cooperate, particularly after he reportedly disposed of a mobile phone seized during the inquiry, which contained critical data. Despite these serious allegations, Paquetá, who has denied all wrongdoing, is eligible to play throughout the 2024-25 season. However, his form has dipped significantly since the charges emerged, although he remains an important player for West Ham, scoring two goals in nine matches.
🚨 The English FA are calling for a lifetime ban for Lucas Paqueta. ⛔️
Investigators had seized his phone, but after recovering it, Paqueta threw it away.
The FA, who wanted the device for further searches, now accuse the player of obstructing the investigation.
(Source:… pic.twitter.com/Gq9UuQqxMd
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 9, 2024
Noussair Mazraoui set to be sidelined for 2 months due to cardiac arrhythmia.
Manchester United is facing their worst start to a Premier League season, amassing just eight points from seven games. Their struggles have been compounded by injuries, including £52 million signing Leny Yoro, who was hurt in the pre-season. Now, summer signing Mazraoui is set to miss two months due to cardiac arrhythmia, according to Journalist Nicolo Schira. This condition, characterized by irregular heartbeats, was not flagged during his medical despite his previous health issues. Mazraoui, previously diagnosed with inflammation of heart tissue after contracting COVID-19 while at Bayern Munich, missed Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final against Portugal due to health concerns. Heart-related issues have become increasingly common in football, affecting players like Christian Eriksen and Sergio Agüero.
🚨 BREAKING! Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui will be sidelined for TWO MONTHS due to a cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis. 😳🫀 pic.twitter.com/2bWbnwFuiq
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 10, 2024