Nigeria Premier Football League champions Rangers International have picked the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta as their temporary home ground and will begin their title defence at the venue against Katsina United on Sunday.

The decision is understood to be due to ongoing renovations at the club’s stadium in Enugu, while the move will also give the Flying Antelopes an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the turf ahead of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round clash against Benin Republic’s AS Sobemap in September.

Rangers and Shooting Stars have selected the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as their home venue for their respective CAF inter-club competition fixtures.

Rangers had earlier reached an agreement with Remo Stars to use the club’s stadium in Ikenne for their CAF Champions League preliminary-round campaign. However, following further consultations with the technical crew led by head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, the Enugu club opted for the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.

The Flying Antelopes secured their ninth NPFL title in May after defeating Ikorodu City 2-1 in Lagos on the final day of the 2025/26 season.

Their continental campaign is scheduled to begin with the preliminary rounds in September, with the clubs needing to negotiate the qualifying stages before reaching the group phase.

Atletico Madrid have issued a blistering public statement categorically ruling out any possibility of selling Julián Álvarez to Barcelona before the September 1 transfer window deadline.

The fiery declaration from the club arrives in direct response to comments made earlier on Wednesday, August 26, by Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Laporta publicly detailed the Catalan club’s burning desire to sign the Argentine forward, confirming that a €100 million offer remains on the table.

The Barcelona president implied the Blaugrana have no intention of increasing their valuation and will leave the bid untouched until the window officially closes.

However, Atletico rejected that narration of events, releasing a furious response that accused Barcelona of foul play and manipulation.

“The player is being victimised, but the only victim of the Julián case is us,” the official Atletico statement read.

The Madrid club insisted that the prolonged transfer saga has severely damaged their institution ahead of a crucial domestic campaign.

Atletico made it explicitly clear that no amount of money will convince them to sell a player who famously captured the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina to a rival club.

“They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barça,” the club declared. “This situation is not about money; it’s about dignity. There is 0% chance of selling it to Barça.”

The Atletico hierarchy further accused external forces of orchestrating a deliberate media agenda to unsettle the 26-year-old striker.

“There’s a campaign with many lies and half-truths. The only one who pays for this is Atlético,” the statement concluded.

The off-field drama has already begun to severely impact Álvarez’s standing among the passionate Metropolitano faithful.

The forward received a hostile reception from his own supporters when he came off the bench during Sunday’s 2-2 La Liga draw against Villarreal.

The situation reached a new boiling point on Wednesday morning after the Argentine conspicuously missed a scheduled first-team training session.
As the transfer deadline approaches, Atletico’s refusal to negotiate leaves both Álvarez and Barcelona stranded in the transfer market.

Aston Villa are close to an agreement to sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £65m.

There is a broad agreement between the clubs over the terms of a move for the 25-year-old, with Chelsea set to achieve their asking price with an initial sum of £47.5m with £17.5m in add-ons.

And if the Senegal international agrees personal terms and completes the switch to Villa his arrival is likely to trigger England international Ollie Watkins’ move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

The deal remains subject to personal terms being agreed, but negotiations are at an advanced stage, with Jackson expected to reunite with Unai Emery having played under the Villa boss at Spanish club Villarreal.

Jackson would become the latest player in Villa’s summer rebuild following the arrivals of record buy Johan Manzambi, midfielder Joao Gomes, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and defender Matteo Ruggeri.

However, there has also been significant movement out of the club and Watkins leaving would mean they had sold five of the starting XI who won the Europa League in May.

Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have already left with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expected to depart too.

In signing Jackson, Villa would be getting a forward who joined Chelsea from Villarreal for £35m in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances.

His most recent appearance for the Blues came against Fluminense in the Club World Cup in 2025, while he also won the Europa Conference League with the club.

He spent last season on loan to Bayern Munich, scoring 11 times in 34 games and helping Bayern win the Bundesliga.

Chelsea banked a £14.3m loan fee from the move, though an obligation to buy for £56.2m was not triggered after Jackson failed to make 40 appearances of 45 minutes or more.