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The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Jose Mourinho pays tribute as former Porto captain Jorge Costa dies aged 53
Former Porto captain Jorge Costa died on Tuesday at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club's training centre, the Portuguese side said. The former defender, who was in his second season as Porto's Director of Professional Football, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. 'Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest,' the club said in a statement. 'He left his mark on generations of fans and became a symbol of Portismo.' Over his career, Costa played 530 games in all competitions, making 383 appearances for Porto and earning 50 caps for Portugal's national team. The centre-back helped the national side make the semi-finals of Euro 2000 and scored two goals for Portugal. The Portuguese Football Federation said: 'The Portuguese Football Federation deeply regrets the death of Jorge Costa. Footballer, coach, manager, and current director of professional football at FC Porto, Jorge Costa was one of the most remarkable players of a generation fundamental to the establishment of Portuguese football.' As captain, he led Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004 under manager Jose Mourinho. The defender was one of six players to win five consecutive Portuguese league championships with Porto, alongside Aloisio, Drulovic, Paulinho Santos, Rui Barros and Folha. He earned the nickname 'Bicho', translating to 'animal', from teammate Fernando Couto during their partnership in central defence. Mourinho posted a picture of the pair on Instagram, writing, 'I know what you would say now if you could, 'mister stop crying, tomorrow you have a match and your boys need you ready and strong'. I promise you Bicho, I am going to do it. RIP, because your legacy stay[s] with us.' UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin also paid tribute, saying: 'It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of Jorge Costa. 'A legend of Portuguese football, Jorge was more than a football player – he was a leader and a true warrior who inspired generations. He embodied grit, resilience and loyalty. His unforgettable moment lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2004 remains a legendary tribute to his unwavering dedication and spirit. 'On behalf of UEFA and the European football family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, team-mates, and all who are grieving his loss.' The Portuguese prime minister, Luis Montenegro, released a statement expressing his condolences and described Costa as 'an example of dedication and commitment to the teams he was part of and to our national team'. Costa returned to Porto in April 2024 as director under new president Andre Villas-Boas. 'Jorge Costa's legacy will always remain alive in the memory of all Porto fans. You will never be forgotten, Captain,' the club added.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Raheem Sterling 'eyed by THREE Premier League clubs' after exiled Chelsea star was handed brutal snubbing as Enzo Maresca moves on
Raheem Sterling is believed to have caught the interest of three Premier League sides, with the forward all but guaranteed to make the move away from Chelsea after being frozen out by head coach Enzo Maresca. The former Manchester City star joined the Blues in the summer of 2022 after inking a £47.5million deal to move to the capital. But Sterling has struggled for form in recent seasons, finding himself on the periphery of the plans of both Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca, with the player spending last season on loan with crosstown rivals Arsenal. Despite his pursuit of a fresh start, the winger found it equally challenging to break in to Mikel Arteta 's side, scoring just one goal in his 27 appearances. Sterling is believed to have been informed by Maresca that he will not feature for the Club World Cup winners this term, and does not even have a profile or photo in the first-team section of the website. However, the 30-year-old is not without transfer options, with outlets reporting that a number of division rivals could yet battle to secure his services. Chelsea's next-door neighbours Fulham are thought to be keeping an eye on the player, along with south London side Crystal Palace, as per talkSPORT. Sterling could also see a reunion with a former Chelsea manager, with Graham Potter's West Ham believed to be rounding out the group of clubs interested in the ex-Liverpool man. The player is thought to be keen to stay in London, where he has relocated with his young family, which could make signing for any of his three potential suitors an option. Mail Sport reported last month that Sterling had been offered up to Serie A champions Napoli, but those wishes would suggest Premier League offers will be considered more seriously by the star. But Sterling's sky-high wages are believed to represent a stumbling block in the face of a move away from Stamford Bridge, with the England international reportedly earning a staggering £325,000 per week. Sterling is one of nine players that Maresca has banished from the first team, including Ben Chilwell, Alfie Gilchrist, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Renato Veiga and David Datro Fofana. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is on the cusp of following in the footsteps of outgoing players such as Joao Felix, Armando Broja, and Lesley Ugochukwu and inking a move away, with the former Leicester star departing for Everton after just one season in west London. But Chelsea will look to secure even more player exits before the transfer window closes at the end of the month after drafting in a raft of new recruits. The Blues have signed a number of big-name forwards including Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Joao Pedro, pushing Sterling's name further out of the frame.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Douglas Luiz 'in talks over Premier League return' after nightmare year with Juventus following his £42m transfer from Aston Villa last summer
Nottingham Forest are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to a report. The former Aston Villa star is expected to be sold by the Serie A giants this summer after disappointing maiden campaign in Turin. Luiz, who has been capped 18 times by Brazil, started just three league matches following his £42.4 million transfer last summer. According to Football Italia, the 27-year-old is attracting interest from Forest, who are set for talks with his representatives this week to hash out a deal. The outlet claim that the Premier League side 'have the priority' in the race for the midfielder despite interest from another side in the English top flight as well as a Saudi Pro League side. Forest are reportedly keen to agree an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy in the region of £26m (€30m). Last month, reports claimed that Luiz failed to report for the first day of Juventus' training camp. A decision that is expected to see him punished by the Turin side. In April, he hit back at criticism he has faced after a nightmare first year. On an Instagram post, a fan replied to Luiz and questioned him on whether he had moved to Italy to post on Instagram or to play. 'I didn't come here just to post photos,' Luiz fired back. 'No one else did that, and I want things to be different. I came here with a purpose. I listened to my heart when I arrived and decided to sign. 'Now I want you to answer me: why hasn't a signing like mine played two consecutive games with this shirt? 'You can say what you want to the press later: 'Oh, Douglas is not fit.' Am I not fit? I did all the pre-season and played every game. I had just had one of the best seasons of my career, one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.' Luiz did go onto reflect on his injury issues in the lengthy reply, before he reaffirmed his commitment to Juventus. It has been a stormy year off the field for Luiz, who reportedly split from his footballer girlfriend Alisha Lehmann in May over different visions for their futures. They first began dating in 2021 before they broke up a year later and rekindled at the start of 2024. Since then, the couple had enjoyed a close relationship and both sealed a move to Italian giants Juventus during the summer window last year. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lehmann and Luiz split some time ago and the pair are seen having different futures with Juventus, with the former expected to stay while the latter may leave. Luiz only played once during Juventus' Club World Cup campaign, which lasted four games, and that was as a second-half substitute in their first match against Emirati side Al Ain - when the Italians were already 4-0 up.
