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Napoli Gets New Boss

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Rudi Garcia said on Thursday he was “as motivated as ever” after the Frenchman was named coach of runaway Italian champions Napoli.

Ex-Roma boss Garcia, 59, takes over from Luciano Spalletti who left his position after guiding the southern club to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

Garcia was sacked by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in April with the Saudi Arabian side second in the table just months after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined in a deal worth tens of millions of dollars.

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“What a pleasure to take on the Napoli project. What a pleasure to return to Italy,” Garcia said on Twitter.

I am as motivated and as ambitious as I have ever been,” he added.

READ ALSO: FIFA Honours Napoli Hero Osimhen With Special Ball, Jersey

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Earlier, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed Garcia’s arrival before the club announced the news on social media.

“I have the pleasure of announcing that, after having met and spent time with him during the last 10 days, Mr. Rudi Garcia will be the new coach of Napoli,” De Laurentiis said on Twitter.

“A sincere welcome to him and a big good luck!” he added.

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Fluent Italian speaker Garcia won the French double with Lille in 2011, before guiding Roma to Champions League qualification in 2014 and 2015.

READ ALSO: How Osimhen’s Strike Ended Napoli 33-year Wait For Serie A Title

He has also coached Marseille and Lyon in his homeland.

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Italian media had reported that former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique was the favourite to replace Spalletti and ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier was also linked with the job.

Napoli keen on keeping Osimhen
De Laurentiis had said he had a shortlist of 40 names to succeed the colourful Spalletti.

Garcia will have big boots to fill by following 64-year-old Spalletti, the oldest coach to win the Scudetto and the man who led Napoli to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time.

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The Italian has departed Naples for a return to his Tuscan vineyard on gardening leave with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli having also vacated his position.

 

One of Garcia’s main tasks will be trying to keep the title-winning outfit together as they repeated Diego Maradona’s feats in 1990.

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READ ALSO: Inter Milan vs Napoli: Osimhen Recognized As Most Impressive Striker In Serie A

Napoli repeated Diego Maradona’s feats in 1990 by winning the league. One of Garcia’s main tasks will be trying to keep the title-winning squad together.

South Korea’s Kim Min-Jae, whose superb season at centre-back quickly made fans forget Kalidou Koulibaly, has a 50 million euro ($54 million) release clause and Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing his signature.

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Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is also a target after netting 30 goals in all competitions including the strike at Udinese which sealed the Scudetto with five matches left in the league campaign.

Osimhen has admitted he is interested in playing in the Premier League.

However, Garcia can count on working with Georgia wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his contract runs to 2027.
AFP

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EPL: Mikel Obi Reveals Why Chelsea Failed To Beat Arsenal in 1-1 Draw

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Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has claimed Chelsea failed to defeat Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, because of an early red card to Moises Caicedo.

The two London rivals played out a pulsating 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute following a VAR check.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Why Arsenal Could Win The Title This Season – Guardiola

But it was Chelsea who took the lead after the break, thanks to Trevor Chalobah’s header.

But the Gunners equalized through Mikel Merino.

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So far this season, Chelsea have received seven red cards in 20 games across all competitions this season.

READ ALSO:EPL: Alan Smith Names Only Two Clubs To Compete For Title

That’s four red cards this season; it’s not good enough. I’ve spoken about it; the manager needs to talk with the players, because it’s costing us games as well,” Mikel Obi said on his podcast.

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“If you look at that game, if we finished with eleven men, I think we could’ve won. Maybe not easily, but comfortably, we could’ve secured a win.”

 

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EPL: Slot Reveals When Salah Will Leave For AFCON

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Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has revealed that Mohamed Salah was “not happy” to be dropped for their 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.

Salah was named on the bench at the London Stadium for the Premier League fixture.

Slot took the bold decision, as he looked to arrest a poor run of form, that saw the Reds lose nine of 12 matches.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Berbatov Names Team That Can ‘Surprise’ Arsenal In Title Race

Salah was not summoned from the bench for the entire 90 minutes, as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sealed victory.

It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us,” Slot said.

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“I say that mildly as he’s been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future. He wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting but he wasn’t the only one.”

READ ALSO:EPL: Man Utd Suffer Fresh Injury Blow Ahead Of Everton Clash

Salah could yet return to the starting line-up as Liverpool host Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

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The 33-year-old will remain available for the next four matches, before he leaves to join Egypt’s squad for the African Cup of Nations.

“It’s 15 December,” Slot confirmed.

But always in these situations there is the player and the national team involved and there are always talks about what is best for all three of us.”

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Davido Reacts As Gov Adeleke Dumps PDP

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Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted to the shock resignation of his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The singer kept it short but loaded, posting “Jeje… ” widely interpreted as a subtle message of calmness, quiet movement, or strategic withdrawal as the political storm around the governor intensifies.

Governor Adeleke’s resignation, though only discovered on Monday night was actually tendered on 4 November 2025, ahead of the party’s national convention in Ibadan. His aide, Olawale Rasheed, leaked the letter online, confirming the governor had walked away from the troubled party weeks ago.

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READ ALSO:Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

In the letter addressed to his Ward 2 chairman in Ede North, Adeleke cited the unresolved crisis at the PDP national level as the reason for quitting. He appreciated the party for backing his rise as senator and later governor.

The revelation has thrown today’s scheduled Osun 2026 governorship primary into confusion. While the state chapter announced a postponement due to factional firestorms, the National Working Committee insists the primary must hold — even though Adeleke remains the only aspirant who bought the form.

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There is growing speculation that the governor is now eyeing a second term under the Accord Party, which several of his aides are rumoured to have already infiltrated and taken over in Osun.
His earlier attempt to defect to the APC reportedly hit a brick wall, with party leaders rejecting his move.

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