The 18-year-old Estevao has quickly made his mark since joining Chelsea in July, netting nine goals for both club and country. With Yamal only slightly younger, the pair have become frequent topics of discussion among fans and pundits alike.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Maresca dismissed the notion that Estevao should emulate the Spanish prodigy, emphasizing that the Brazilian is already performing at a level that speaks for itself.

“Estevao is already playing at a high level; he is part of Brazil’s starting eleven,” Maresca said. “Of course, he is very young and has room to improve, but we are extremely pleased with his progress. It’s exciting for football fans to watch players like Estevao, Yamal, and Pedri—the beauty of the game.”

Maresca stressed that the winger’s development should focus on personal growth rather than external comparisons.

“He will undoubtedly become an important player for this club,” he added. “He needs to focus on being better than himself each day, work hard, and keep improving, rather than worrying about being better than others.”

On the injury front, Maresca provided an update on Cole Palmer, who has been sidelined with a toe injury. The manager confirmed that while Palmer is showing signs of progress, he is unlikely to feature against Barcelona or Arsenal.

“Cole is wearing a protective boot,” Maresca noted. “He is back on the pitch and touching the ball, which is encouraging, but we don’t yet know when he will fully return.”

Chelsea currently shares seven points with Barcelona in the Champions League group stage after four games. Maresca, known for his possession-oriented approach, also reflected on the influence of Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side that dominated Europe from 2008 to 2012.

“I decided to become a manager because of Pep’s Barcelona years ago,” Maresca said. “Teams can adopt their own style, but I have always chosen mine and will continue to play football in the way I believe in.”

Manchester City star Phil Foden has taken legal steps after malicious online rumours about his children went viral, sparking concern among fans and outrage from his family.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Nivo News, the England midfielder became a victim of false social media claims alleging that one of his children had died while another was diagnosed with cancer. The fabricated posts, featuring AI-generated images of Foden and his partner, Rebecca Cooke, appearing distraught, spread rapidly across platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Sources disclosed that Foden’s management team has enlisted a top legal firm to identify the individuals behind the hoax and demand the removal of the defamatory content from all online spaces.

One widely shared post falsely claimed that Foden’s six-year-old son, Ronnie, had passed away, while another alleged that his four-year-old daughter, True, was suffering from cancer. These fabricated stories, shared by fake fan accounts posing as Manchester City supporters, caused Foden’s name to trend online as sympathetic fans unknowingly sent condolence messages.

Reacting to the incident, Cooke, who shares three children with Foden, took to Instagram to denounce the disturbing fabrications, calling them “sickening.”

“We are aware of the pages and accounts spreading these lies. They are completely false and very disturbing,” she wrote. “I don’t understand how people can make up such stories about anyone, especially about children. It’s truly disgusting.”

She also assured followers that the family was in good health and urged the public to report any accounts promoting the falsehoods. “Thank God we are all fine, and thank you for your concern,” she added.

Nigeria Police Force has recovered two luxury vehicles stolen from the Netherlands and shipped illegally into the country, officials said Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Police said the cars — a 2020 Toyota C-HR and a 2019 Toyota RAV4 — were traced to locations in Lagos and Akwa Ibom states. The vehicles were stolen from Amsterdam and the Midden-Nederland region before being transported through Belgium’s Port of Antwerp and arriving at the Apapa Port in Lagos late last year.

The operation was coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force’s National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL in Abuja, working closely with its Dutch counterpart in The Hague. After weeks of tracking and intelligence exchange, the two cars were located and seized during separate operations in southern Nigeria.

Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said the recovery was the result of a joint investigation with international partners. “The successful recovery and repatriation of the vehicles reflect the Force’s firm commitment to global law enforcement cooperation and to ensuring that criminal networks involved in cross-border vehicle theft and smuggling are denied the proceeds of their crimes,” Hundeyin said in a statement.

Following the recovery, the police filed for civil forfeiture at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court granted a final order in favor of the Dutch government through the vehicles’ insurance company, authorizing the legal return of the property.

On Sunday, representatives of the insurance company and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria officially received the two vehicles at the INTERPOL NCB office in Abuja.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the officers involved for their professionalism and effective collaboration with global partners. “This achievement underscores the importance of intelligence-led policing and the value of international cooperation in fighting transnational crimes,” he said.

Vehicle theft and smuggling remain major challenges for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Experts say criminal syndicates often use complex routes — involving multiple countries and shipping channels — to conceal the origins of stolen vehicles. Nigeria, with its active maritime trade routes, has been identified as one of several African destinations for such illicit imports.

Authorities said the case demonstrates how close coordination between national and international agencies can lead to successful recovery and restitution. The NPF added that it will continue to strengthen monitoring systems at ports and improve vehicle registration checks to prevent similar incidents.

Legal analysts also noted that the case highlights the growing effectiveness of mutual assistance between Nigeria and European nations in handling cross-border property crimes. By securing a court-ordered forfeiture before repatriation, officials ensured transparency and compliance with international standards.

For the victims in the Netherlands, the return of the vehicles marks the conclusion of a months-long recovery process. It also sends a warning to criminal groups that the long arm of international law enforcement is closing in on global car theft networks.

The Nigeria Police said it remains committed to deepening cooperation with INTERPOL member countries and other law enforcement agencies worldwide to tackle crimes that cross borders. Officials added that similar joint operations are underway to track additional stolen assets potentially smuggled into the country.

The successful recovery of the two vehicles, police say, is not only a victory for the victims but also a demonstration of Nigeria’s growing capacity to engage in complex international policing operations.