Sports

Hazard wants to be a ‘Galactico’ at Real

Published

7 years ago

June 15, 2019

Eric

Eden Hazard said on Thursday he wants to become a ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid and believes he is joining the club at the perfect moment in his career.

Hazard was unveiled in front of around 50,000 fans at the Santiagio Bernabeu after the Belgian’s long-awaited move from Chelsea was confirmed last week.

“I’m not a galactico, not yet, but I hope I will be one day,” Hazard said in a press conference afterwards.

“Despite everything I’ve done in the past, it will be like starting again from zero. I’m not a galactico, I’m Eden Hazard, just a very good player.” Madrid will pay Chelsea an initial 100 million euros for Hazard, with another 45 million due in potential add-ons for the 28-year-old, who has signed a five-year contract with his new club.

Hazard admitted Madrid made a move for him after the World Cup last year but insisted this was the right time to leave Chelsea.

“I don’t think it is too late, I am 28 years old, the best moment for a player,” Hazard said.

“I have had various phases of my career, at Lille and Chelsea, and now I felt the time was right to join the best club in the world.” Madrid struggled without Cristiano Ronaldo last season and Hazard will be tasked with helping to fill the void.

Despite the arrivals of Eder Militao, Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy this summer, he is the first statement signing since Zinedine Zidane was reappointed in March.

“When you play for a team like Real Madrid there is not one single star, the team is the star,” Hazard said.

“I have been at Chelsea for seven years, but now I am the new guy in the team and I will try to contribute as much as possible.”

Asked if he wanted to become the best player in the world at Real Madrid, Hazard said: “I will try but first I will try to be in the best team in the world.

“It is a different level. I had a lot of success with Chelsea and I want to win a lot with Madrid as well.”

Hazard admitted Zidane was also a key factor in his decision.

“Everyone knows Zidane was my idol growing up,” he said. “That he is the coach has been an important factor but not the only one. I already wanted to play here.

“I was a kid playing football in the garden with my brothers when I began to be a Real Madrid fan.

“Then I went to France, then to England, but being a Real Madrid player, wearing this shirt, it is an honour. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

The shirt Hazard wore in front of the fans came without a number and he admitted he had told Mateo Kovacic at Chelsea to ask his fellow Croatian, Luka Modric, about the number 10.

“I have been able to talk to Modric through Kovacic and I was joking when I asked him to lend me the number 10,” Hazard said.

“He said no, so I’ll have to find another number.”

Sports

Benfica Tackle Real Madrid Again in Champions League R16 Playoffs (Full List)

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Eric

The draw for the Champions League last 16 and knockout play-offs has been completed.

One of the most interesting fixtures, will see Benfica play Real Madrid.

The two teams clashed on the last day of the league phase with Jose Mourinho’s men winning 4-2 in Portugal.

That result saw Benfica sneak into the play-offs and denied Madrid an automatic spot.

Clubs have been paired together based on where they finished at the end of the league phase to form seeded and unseeded pairs.

The teams that finished ninth to 16th were in the seeded pairs, while 17th to 24th were in unseeded pairs.

PLAY-OFF DRAWS:

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Galatasaray vs Juventus

Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid

Monaco vs PSG

Qarabag vs Newcastle

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Bodo/Glimt vs Inter

Knockout play-off round: February 17-18, February 24-25

Sports

Super Eagles Defeat Egypt, Bags Bronze Medal As AFCON 2025 Grounds to a Halt

Published

3 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

Eric

The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 third-place playoff on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali proved the hero of the night with two crucial saves during the shootout, including one from Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.

Ademola Lookman then calmly converted the decisive penalty to secure the bronze medal —Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish in AFCON history.

The match itself was a tight, physical affair, high on running but low on clear chances.

Nigeria thought they had taken the lead just before halftime when Paul Onuachu turned in an effort from Akor Adams, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review.

With neither side able to break the deadlock in a cagey second half, the game ended 0-0, sending the contest directly to penalties.

Despite Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missing Nigeria’s first kick, Nwabali’s immediate saved from Egypt’s first two attempts shifted the momentum.

Nigeria’s subsequent takers were flawless, allowing Lookman to seal the victory and preserve Nigeria’s perfect record in AFCON third-place matches.

Senegal on Sunday, defeated host Morocco by a lone goal after a pulsating, tension and crisis-ridden game, to emerge 2025 AFCON Champions.

Sports

CAF Acknowledges Akor Adams’ Goal Tribute to DR Congo Superfan

Published

1 month ago

January 11, 2026

Eric

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has publicly acknowledged Super Eagles striker Akor Adams following his goal celebration in Nigeria’s 2-0 quarter-final win over Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Adams scored Nigeria’s second goal against the Desert Foxes, making amends for earlier missed chances and helping the Super Eagles secure a place in the semifinals.

However, it was his celebration, rather than the finish itself, that drew widespread attention across the continent.

Tribute to DR Congo superfan

After finding the net, the Sevilla forward marked the moment with a gesture inspired by DR Congo superfan Mboladinga ‘Lumumba’.

The Congolese supporter has become a familiar figure at the tournament for standing throughout all DR Congo matches as a tribute to the legacy of former prime minister Patrice Lumumba.

Adams’ celebration mirrored Mboladinga’s stance, a move widely interpreted as a sign of respect and solidarity beyond national lines. The moment resonated with fans and officials alike, quickly gaining traction on social media.

CAF Reaction and fan response

CAF highlighted the gesture on its official X account, sharing an image of Adams’ celebration alongside a brief but pointed message. “Standing still. Akor.,” the continental body wrote.

The post prompted a wave of reactions from football fans across Africa. A user identified as @MrChirenga commented, “Love the fact that Africans are becoming more and more united fam … Love from Zimbabwe.”

Another fan, @abuagoody, praised Adams’ qualities, writing, “Such an impressive player. The last players that played like him for Nigeria are John Utaka, Brown Ideye and Uche.”

Others focused on Adams’ technical ability, with @MouxCaa adding, “Akor Adams is a type of player you see touching the ball and you automatically know it’s a professional footballer.”