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Guardiola Turns Down Italy Manager Job

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Pep Guardiola has turned down the chance to coach the Italian national side.

Earlier this week, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago said talks had been held with Guardiola, who left Manchester City this summer after 10 years, and that “exceptions” could be made for his salary.

 

On Thursday, FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini said Italy first approached their former player Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently in charge of Brazil.

Ancelotti has agreed to stay in post and now Guardiola has informed the FIGC he intends to continue with his plan to take a break from the game, which will allow him to rest, spend more time with his family and travel.

In addition to a huge salary, the FIGC is understood to have effectively told Guardiola he could shape the job as he saw fit, as they tried to tempt one of the most successful coaches in the game to take charge of a side that has failed to qualify for three World Cups in a row.

However, after taking some time to consider the situation, he has said no.

It means former Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo, currently head coach of Dubai-based United FC, is the frontrunner to be tasked with navigating Italy through a Nations League group that includes France, Belgium and Turkey in the autumn and then try to qualify for Euro 2028.

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Transfer: Man Utd Name 6 Clubs Rashford Can’t Join

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Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has blocked Marcus Rashford from joining any direct Premier League rival.

 

According to the UK Mirror, the Red Devils are determined to avoid a scenario where Rashford shines at a domestic competitor.

The 28-year-old is back at Carrington for pre-season training following a loan spell at Barcelona, but his long-term future at Old Trafford remains uncertain.

Ratcliffe wants to remove Rashford from United’s wage bill, but he won’t sanction a move to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City or Liverpool

The restrictions extend to loan inquiries, as Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have been rebuffed.

There is fear among United senior officials that Rashford could prove instrumental in helping a rival secure a Champions League spot, a scenario that would be viewed as ’embarrassing’ by the club’s top brass.

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Super Falcons Vow To Secure World Cup Spot Despite WAFCON Exit

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Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu and star striker Asisat Oshoala have promised a determined effort to secure a World Cup berth through the playoffs after a painful exit from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

 

Nigeria got eliminated from the WAFCON after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

The loss carried significant consequences, ending their quest for a record 11th continental title and denying them an automatic qualification spot for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The Super Falcons now face a more challenging path to the global tournament, beginning with a crucial continental playoff match against South Africa on Thursday.

Coach Madugu acknowledged the team’s disappointment but assured fans that the players are focused on redemption.

He referenced the national heartbreak following the men’s team, the Super Eagles, failing to qualify for their World Cup and stressed the team’s desire to avoid a similar outcome.

“We have a second chance, and we will give it our all,” Madugu told ESPN. “We do not want to disappoint and go the same way as the men. We’ll do our best to make sure we go through the playoffs.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo Marries Girl Friend Of 9 Yrs

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Cristiano Ronaldo has officially married his longtime partner Georgina Rodríguez, bringing nine years of their relationship to a new chapter with an intimate ceremony in Portugal.

 

The Al Nassr superstar and Rodríguez tied the knot on August 11, 2026, exactly one year after announcing their engagement.

Ronaldo and Rodríguez were married in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, with their five children present for the occasion.

The couple announced the news simultaneously on their Instagram accounts, sharing a photograph of their hands displaying matching gold wedding bands alongside the caption “C❤️G.”

A representative for Ronaldo confirmed the marriage, saying: “Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez were married today in a civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, and are now officially husband and wife.”

The intimate nature of the ceremony contrasted sharply with the intense speculation that had surrounded the couple’s wedding plans in recent weeks.

Reports had previously suggested that Ronaldo and Rodríguez could marry at Funchal Cathedral in Madeira, prompting more than 2,000 fans to reportedly gather outside the church.

However, the crowd had been misled by the rumours and accidentally turned up for the wedding of a local couple, Nicole and Fabio. The couple had also been forced to deal with a fake wedding invitation circulating online as speculation about their big day continued to grow.

How Ronaldo met Georgina Rodríguez
Ronaldo and Rodríguez first met in 2016 when the Argentine-Spanish model was working at a Gucci store in Madrid.

Rodríguez later revealed in her Netflix documentary Soy Georgina that their first meeting happened unexpectedly after she was asked to assist a VIP customer.

She had originally been preparing to leave work earlier that day but was asked to stay behind.

“I was finally able to leave the shop to go home three hours later than I should have and as I was getting ready to leave Cristiano came in with his eldest son and some friends,” she recalled.

What began with an unexpected meeting at a Madrid fashion store eventually developed into one of football’s most high-profile relationships.

Nine years later, Ronaldo and Rodríguez have officially become husband and wife, celebrating the milestone privately with the people closest to them.

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