Month: April 2020

The Belgian midfielder has admitted to struggling without football amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has disrupted the 2019-20 season

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne says he will add an extra two years to his playing career after the coronavirus lockdown, having found it difficult to adjust to life at home.

De Bruyne was enjoying his best season yet in a City shirt before the season was suspended indefinitely due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The 28-year-old has contributed eight goals and 16 assists to City’s Premier League cause, and picked up an eighth major trophy with the club in the form of the Carabao Cup in February.

He has also played a key role as Pep Guardiola’s men have advanced to the Champions League knockout stages and FA Cup quarter-finals, most notably starring in a stunning last-16 first-leg win over Real Madrid.

De Bruyne is now widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders in Europe, and has even backed himself to challenge for the 2020 Ballon d’Or.

However, the Belgium international is being forced to practice self-discipline in the confines of his Manchester home at the moment, in accordance with the government measures which have been put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The City talisman has admitted to missing football deeply in quarantine while addressing his followers in a video on Instagram Live.

“I told my wife I’m going to play a little longer,” De Bruyne began.

“After this lockdown, I cannot stay at home. I told her I’m going to take two years more.

“It’s time to play football again. I miss it and it’s difficult. But we are not important, football is not important. People love football, but you need to stay safe.”

De Bruyne went on to deliver an update on his family’s health, adding: “I’ve been at home now for two weeks.

“At the beginning, my family and my kids were a little bit sick so that was a little bit worrying but they are alright now.

“It took eight or nine days, we don’t know, but now they are better, luckily, as you never know what is going to happen.”

The Premier League has been scheduled to resume on April 30, with UEFA eager to ensure that the club football season reaches its natural conclusion after postponing Euro 2020 by a year.

The England striker has hinted at a possible Spurs departure but the Red Devils should approach any potential move with caution

On paper, Harry Kane to Manchester United is a match made in heaven and a potential transfer that would make sense for both parties.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to reinvigorate his forward line when the transfer window opens again – whenever that might be – and the England captain is exactly the type of striker who could boost United’s attack.

Kane hinted at the weekend he might not be at Spurs forever and with United being long-term admirers, and after a striker in the next transfer window, it’s added fuel to an already burning fire.

When asked about his future on Instagram, Kane said: “I get asked this question a lot, it’s one of them things, I couldn’t say yes, I couldn’t say no.

“I love Spurs, I’ll always love Spurs, but it’s one of them things I’ve always said if I don’t feel like we’re progressing as a team or going in the right direction, I’m not someone to stay there just for the sake of it.

“I’m an ambitious player. I want to become a top, top player, so it all depends on what happens as a team and how we progress as a team.

“So, it’s not a definite I’m going to stay there forever but it’s not a no either.”

It has been known for some weeks that Kane would prefer a move to Old Trafford instead of staying at Spurs while they undergo an extensive rebuild under new boss and ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

But what seemed like a a hint towards a come-and-get-me plea from Kane was soon shot down by the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in a statement on Tuesday.

“When I read or hear stories about player transfers this summer like nothing has happened, people need to wake up to the enormity of what is happening around us,” Levy said.

And he is right.

In the grand scheme of everything that is going on in the world right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the transfer window is not important. But clubs are still continuing to plan, and whether the window opens in three months, six or even nine, United have a strategy. They know if they’re going to prise Kane away from Spurs it’s going to take more than a huge cheque.

Levy is a shrewd negotiator and it’s put people off dealing with Tottenham in the past. Sir Alex Ferguson recalled United’s dealings with him in 2008 when they signed Dimitar Berbatov claiming the Spurs chairman ‘nailed United to the flagpole’ with his pressurised negotiating.

“That whole experience was more painful than my hip replacement,” Ferguson wrote in his book Leading.

Not a ringing endorsement and it put United off dealing with Levy again. In 2011, when the club were in need of midfield reinforcements, they decided against making a move for Luka Modric, despite the player wanting the transfer, because of the thought of having to do business with Levy again.

David Gill, United’s former chief executive, has long since left and the understanding is that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has no issue with dealing with Levy. But United’s negotiation skills have been criticised in recent years with suggestions they have dragged their feet over targets and ultimately ended up missing out.

United’s negotiating to land Kane would have to be remarkable. Spurs don’t want to let their leading Premier League goalscorer leave and, regardless of whether he hints at a potential future exit, Levy is not going to let him go easily, especially not to a close rival.

Levy’s most recent comments suggest he is in no mind to start discussing contracts at this current stage.

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Kane’s contract runs until 2024 so not only would it take a phenomenal fee but some first-class negotiating to secure the England captain and that’s something United have been lacking in recent times. United finally got Bruno Fernandes over the line in January , after disagreements with Sporting C.P. saw the deal drag on, and lessons from that would need to be taken going into any potential talks with Tottenham.

Moreover, the 20-time English champions came into the season having failed to replace Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez up front and frantically completed a deadline-day loan move for Odion Ighalo at the end of January having missed out on Erling Haaland.

At 26, Kane is over the target age of 23 it is believed club sources view as being the ideal age for incoming transfers, but the forward does tick the box of ‘X-Factor’ that the club are also after.

As Ferguson warned others, dealing with Levy comes with side effects. Woodward isn’t afraid of Levy, Mauricio Pochettino was a serious contender for the manager’s job before Solskjaer was given it on a permanent basis, but it won’t be easy and the United hierarchy need to weigh up whether Kane is worth it or if there are more attainable options out there. 

The Manchester City forward is wanted back at his boyhood club, though a return anytime soon is unlikely

Independiente head coach Lucas Pusineri hopes Manchester City star Sergio Aguero one day returns to the club.

Aguero came through the youth ranks at Independiente before joining Atletico Madrid in 2006 and moving to City five years later.

His former Independiente team-mate, Pusineri, is now in charge of the Argentine club and wants Aguero – and AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia – to return.

“With Sergio Aguero and Lucas Biglia I have a beautiful relationship,” he told InfiernoRojo on Tuesday.

“We were partners and I have a lot of respect for the trajectories they have taken with Argentina and in Europe as well.”

Pusineri added: “Of course it would be nice to have them tomorrow. In the future, it is hopeful to count on them.”

Aguero has said previously he wants to return to Independiente, although his contract at City runs until 2021.

“I always try [to get back to Argentina]. I know what the fans [of Independiente] want, but I have a contract with City, and I try to focus on these two years I’ve got left,” Aguero said. 

“Then I’ll see what I’ll do but of course, the Rojo [Independiente] is my priority.” 

Aguero scored 23 goals in 30 games before this season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Argentina international has impressed under Guardiola in recent years with City club legend Francis Lee recently declaring he has become a complete striker at the Etihad. 

“Sergio is simply remarkable,” the ex-City frontman told the club’s official website. “When Pep Guardiola first came to the club, he was an out and out goalscorer but now he is an out and out player who scores goals.

“Sergio has got everything. He is a very good finisher, he is so clinical, he is the right size and build for a striker and he has got pace. I thought he was possibly a bit on the wane when Pep arrived but the manager shook him up and he has got him playing like a world-class striker he is.

“And if you look at the way he scores his goals they are not all simple. He can also score exceptional goals and he’s an amazing talent. Would I have liked to play alongside Sergio? No, as he would have got all my goals!

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“Seriously, I would have absolutely relished playing with him. I found that if I was playing with great players it was made very easy for me as it was with amazing players like Colin [Bell], Neil [Young] and Mike [Summerbee]. Sergio is something special too.”

The Senegalese was also a journalist and agent, and represented players such as Didier Drogba and Samir Nasri

Former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died at age 68 due to complications from Covid-19.

Diouf had been hospitalised in his native Senegal and was placed under respiratory assistance on Saturday after his illness became serious. 

The Senegal native’s relatives had hoped to transport him to France to receive further medical attention but he passed away before he was able to leave Dakar.

Marseille confirmed Diouf’s passing with a statement posted on Twitter.

“Olympique de Marseille learned with great sadness of the death of Pape Diouf,” the statement read.

“Pope will remain forever in the hearts of Marseillais as one of the great craftsmen of the history of the club.

“Our condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Diouf served as president of Ligue 1 club Marseille between 2005 and 2009, before he was succeeded by Jean-Claude Dassier.

During his time in charge, Marseille were a consistent presence near the top of the Ligue 1 table, though they never clinched a league title. Their highest finish during Diouf’s presidency was second and their lowest was fifth. 

Prior to his time in charge of the Ligue 1 side Diouf worked as a journalist, covering the exploits of Marseille’s football team among other sports.

Eventually Diouf went into player representation, becoming an agent and further solidifying his relationship with Marseille. 

Diouf represented some major names in the football world as an agent, including Joseph-Antoine Bell, Marcel Desailly, Basile Boli, William Gallas, Samir Nasri and Didier Drogba.

His relationship with Marseille grew as players he represented, like Desailly, Gallas, Nasri and Drogba all played for the Ligue 1 side. 

That eventually led to Diouf being named Marseille’s president in January 2005, as the Senegalese took over for Christophe Bouchet.

Diouf’s death is the latest blow to a football world that has been turned upside down as the coronavirus crisis spreads across the globe. 

With Euro 2020 and the Olympics postponed by a year, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted last week that the current football season could be ruled void.

“If we don’t succeed in restarting, the season will probably be lost,” Ceferin told La Repubblica.

“There is a plan A, B and C. The three options are to start again in mid-May, in June or at the end of June.

“There is also the possibility of starting again at the beginning of the next [season], starting the following one later. We will see the best solution for leagues and clubs.”

Though the summer is now open for leagues to play on, the trajectory of the virus is still unknown and it may not be plausible for leagues across Europe to finish their seasons.

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CALGARY ― TC Energy Corp. gave the go ahead for construction of its US$8-billion Keystone XL Pipeline project on Tuesday, with a helping hand from the Alberta government.

The company said Alberta has agreed to invest approximately US$1.1 billion as equity in the project, which substantially covers planned construction costs through the end of 2020.

The remaining US$6.9 billion is expected to be funded through a combination of a US$4.2-billion project level credit facility to be fully guaranteed by the Alberta government and a US$2.7-billion investment by TC Energy.

Watch: The oil price collapse could signal a huge deflationary shock to the economy. Story continues below.

 

The announcement came as Canadian oilsands product sold for record low prices below US$5 per barrel at the start of this week.

In a research note this week, investment bank Goldman Sachs said the oil businesses at highest risk from the oil price collapse are those that have the hardest time getting oil to market, particularly Canadian oilsands and some shale oil operations in Texas.

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The 1,947-kilometre Keystone XL pipeline project will be able to carry 830,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb. where it will connect with TC Energy’s existing facilities.

The company formerly known as TransCanada says with pre-construction activities underway, the pipeline is expected to enter service in 2023.

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Once the project is complete and in service, TC Energy expects to acquire the Alberta government’s equity investment under agreed terms and conditions and refinance the US$4.2-billion credit facility in the debt capital markets.

“Strong commercial and financial support positions us to prudently build and fund the project, along with our existing $30 billion secured capital program, in a manner that is consistent with maintaining our strong financial position and credit metrics,″ TC Energy chief executive Russ Girling said in a statement.

The project was first proposed more than a decade ago but has faced numerous hurdles and had been rejected by the Obama administration.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump has worked to revive the project and been a strong backer of the pipeline.

“We appreciate the ongoing backing of landowners, customers, Indigenous groups and numerous partners in the U.S. and Canada who helped us secure project support and key regulatory approvals,″ Girling said.

“In addition, we thank U.S. President Donald Trump and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney as well as many government officials across North America for their advocacy without which, individually and collectively, this project could not have advanced.”

Oil prices going negative

Because of a lack of storage space, producers will be willing to sell at negative prices to have buyers take oil off their hands, Goldman Sachs said. Some oil producers in the U.S. have already reportedly paid buyers to take oil.

“Paradoxically, this will ultimately create an inflationary oil supply shock of historic proportions because so much oil production will be forced to be shut in,” Goldman Sachs wrote.

Refiners across the world, meanwhile, have been forced to halt operations because of steep falls in demand that have sent traders and analysts scrambling to cut their forecasts.

“If pipelines get clogged up as refineries shut down, inventories cannot build, reducing the cushion and creating a very quick risk reversal towards oil shortages,” Goldman said in a note.

This would in turn push prices above the Wall Street bank’s $55 a barrel target for 2021, it said.

― The Canadian Press, with a file from HuffPost Canada and Reuters

Millions of masks and thousands of ventilators have been ordered by the federal government to shore up the national stockpile of supplies needed to treat and fight COVID-19.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday the equipment will be added to the Canadian store of essential medical goods in the coming days.

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It includes 60 million N95 masks, a specific piece of protection for health care officials, expected to be delivered this week.

Anand says there are 1,570 ventilators also on order, and the government is seeking out 4,000 more.

Toronto-based company making 500 ventilators

Thornhill Medical, a Toronto-based company, says it’s making 500 of them, and expects to deliver them in early April.

Anand says there are also a million more COVID-19 test kits on the way.

The purchases of supplies in those key three areas is a follow-up on an announcement by the federal government on March 20 that it had signed up three companies to help provide critical goods.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the government has signed letters of intent with five other companies to also produce equipment.

Overall, the government has spoken to 3,000 different firms, he said.

But how much gear the country will need is up to Canadians themselves, Trudeau said.

Watch: Trudeau says he will stay in self-isolation

 

“We will need more masks, ventilators and testing kits, but how many more we need depends entirely on you,” Trudeau said.

“If you stay home and follow public health recommendations, you can slow the spread.”

Ventilators are considered crucial as COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and in severe cases can make impossible for people to breathe on their own.

Thornhill Medical said it has teamed up with manufacturing company Linamar to make them.

“We are honoured to provide our Canadian-made ventilator system to support Canadians and our health-care system in its efforts to fight COVID-19,” said Lesley Gouldie, the company’s CEO, in a statement.

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The government is also allocating $2 billion for the purchase of protective personal equipment.

“Extraordinary measures are required in these extraordinary times. To limit the spread of COVID-19, protect critical infrastructure and ensure Canada has the supplies required, our government is leaving no stone unturned,” Anand said Tuesday.

“This is all hands on deck.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2020.