Sports
Liverpool: Mac Allister Sad Over Contract Situation As Battle For CL Begin9
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is sad that there is no attempt yet to discuss the extension of his contract which expires in 2028, even as the player was named among the players that will begin Liverpool fight for the Champions League on Wednesday.
Speaking at the media chat preparatory to the Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid, the Argentinian player said he was sure the season will go well with his team.
“I am very confident about this season.
“We have a lot of quality, we have a very good coach that brought his ideas.
“I think we improved a lot since the beginning of the season, we have the desire to win trophies. We have experience, we have trophies, we have everything to be successful, but we need to be all together.
“You can have the best players, best ideas, but if we are not on the same page, it’s impossible to achieve things.
The player is however not happy about his contract situation.
“I received the news that the club was not in a position to renew my contract, which of course makes me very sad.
“I think everyone can see I give my 100% for this club, every single day in training, I have good games, bad games. I always give my best.
“I see Dominik and Rayan renewing their contracts, which makes me happy. Same time it makes me sad I didn’t get mine.
“There is still time, I will give my 100% until my last day. We will see what happens.
“There was options to leave this summer. Right now I’m in the right club.”
He said he does not have to prove anything to Liverpool but needs to show he is capable of staying at the level required to play at the club.
Mac Allister added that he “loves” Liverpool – the club and city – and loves playing at Anfield.
He also said that he had not yet spoken to new manager Andoni Iraola about his contract situation.
Speaking on whether the club told him why they would not renew his contract at this time:
“Not really, I did not have any direct conversations. They were with my agent.
“I don’t want to say things they never said, but they said they were not in the position to renew me.”
On how close he came to leaving Liverpool in the summer:
“There was a chance, like everybody knows.
The midfielder spoke at length about the challenge Atletico Madrid will pose Liverpool, and how the side has been influenced by its Argentine manager, Diego Simeone, and players from his homeland.
He also discussed the injury problems that plagued him last season, which started during the previous campaign, when Liverpool won the Premier League under Arne Slot.
“It’s going to be a really difficult game, like it was last season.
“It’s not only Giuliano, Diego, there is a lot of Argentinian players, so I’m happy that we can face each other.
On the start of the season and his lack of pre-season following the World Cup:
“I think every player is going through the same thing. It’s good. I love playing football, I love being here.
“The start of the season, we look at the result and they are not the best, at Liverpool you have to win every game.
“I still see improvement, positive things that we have to keep doing and tomorrow is an important game.”
He added that he will see what happens in the future after giving more details about the discussions his agent had with Liverpool over the summer.
He reiterated that he feels sad about the way those contract discussions turned out.
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said that he had not spoken with Alexis Mac Allister about his contract, backing up what the player said in his news conference.
But said he hopes he can help Mac Allister develop as a player and, “if all goes well, everything will be resolved”.
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said the main thing was that the player wanted to stay at the club and fight for his place.
He added that there was still plenty of time to discuss a contract extension before his deal runs out in 2028.
Sports
Troops Discover, Detonate IED In Borno
Troops of the Nigerian Army have discovered and safely detonated a pressure-plate Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
Makama reported that the incident occurred at about 3:50 pm on September 28, when troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade, Gwoza, discovered the device approximately 400 metres off a road near their location.
The device was identified as a pressure-plate IED and was subsequently handled by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.
According to the report, the EOD team successfully rendered the device safe before detonating it in situ.
The report concluded that the successful disposal of the device prevented a potential threat to troops and other road users in the area.
Sports
Guardiola Reacts To Manchester City Guilty Verdict
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has broken his silence following the club’s guilty verdict, releasing a resolute statement of solidarity despite his previous insistence that he would walk away if ownership had lied to him regarding financial irregularities.
Guardiola addressed the situation on September 30, releasing a 54-word statement across his official social media platforms.
The comments mark his first public remarks regarding the investigation since the Premier League officially confirmed on September 29 that an independent commission had found the club guilty of 114 financial charges.
The official league announcement followed initial reports that had first broken via The Athletic and Reuters four days earlier, on September 25.
“I want every single Man City fan to know I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola stated. “I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
The timing of Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad Stadium provides a complex backdrop to his current stance.
The manager abruptly resigned from his post in May 2026, concluding a decade-long tenure (2016–2026) that yielded six Premier League titles, alongside the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League.
He was subsequently replaced by former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, whom Guardiola referenced in his statement.
During the earlier stages of the Premier League’s investigation, Guardiola famously declared that he would immediately resign if he discovered the club’s hierarchy had lied to him regarding their financial operations.
Following the formal guilty verdict, rival supporters weaponised his May departure, theorising that the manager resigned precisely because he received advance knowledge of the impending legal outcome.
Despite that narrative and the proven financial breaches during his tenure, Guardiola has publicly backed the institution.
Manchester City now face the sentencing phase of the tribunal process. The independent commission wields absolute disciplinary authority to determine the club’s punishment. The sweeping regulations permit the panel to impose unparalleled sporting sanctions.
These potential consequences range from severe financial penalties and significant points deductions to the retroactive stripping of historical titles or permanent expulsion from the English top flight.
The club has formally indicated its intention to appeal the verdict, describing itself as “disappointed and surprised” by the commission’s opinion and maintaining there is “irrefutable evidence” supporting its position.
Sports
Ronaldo Abandons National Team Camp After Tension With Manager
Cristiano Ronaldo has officially confirmed his departure from the Portuguese national team camp, releasing a statement that promises to eventually reveal the underlying truth behind his sudden exit.
The announcement directly followed a press conference in which national team manager Jorge Jesus dismissed rumours of a rift between the pair.
According to his official release, the 41-year-old forward ultimately finalised his decision after a subsequent meeting with Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença.
“After the press conference of the national team, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team camp,” Ronaldo stated.
Refusing to elaborate immediately on the specific internal dynamics, he added: “In time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave the national team, to which I always devoted myself.”
“Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates good luck, without exception,” he concluded.
The tension originated during Portugal’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Norway on September 27.
Jesus opted to leave Ronaldo as an unused substitute at the Ullevaal Stadion. The omission sparked widespread reports of severe friction, which Jesus subsequently attempted to play down during his latest media address by claiming there was never a problem in the first place.
Following his departure from the camp, Ronaldo is now unavailable for Portugal’s upcoming Nations League fixture against Denmark.
This is not the first time Ronaldo’s role as a starter has generated significant managerial friction.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, former head coach Fernando Santos notably benched the captain for the knockout stages.
Ronaldo was left out of the starting lineup for both the 6-1 Round of 16 victory over Switzerland and the subsequent 1-0 Quarter-Final elimination against Morocco, a decision that created similar unrest within the national setup at the time.
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