Football

Chelsea has responded firmly to Diego Costa claims of maltreatment, demanding the striker return to training and get himself fit for first-team selection. The Premier League champions have been forced to respond after Costa gave an interview from his home in Brazil where he claimed that Chelsea had treated him “like a criminal” over his desire to leave the club this summer.

Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez has reiterated his resolve to leave the club following their inability to qualify for the Champion's League. The Chilean made this known in a chat with reporters in his native Chile during a Charity match in home town of Tocopilla. According to Marca, the player said "I want to play in the Champions (League). But the decision isn't up to me. I need to wait on Arsenal."

Chelsea have fined their embattled striker two weeks' wages for failing to return for preseason training with the club. Skysports reports that the fine is believed to be in the region of £300,000. The striker who is currently in his hometown, Brazil granted Daily Mail interview yesterday where he accused the club of treating him as a criminal and attempting to force him to China against his wish.

The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) on Tuesday released a three-man final shortlist for the 2016/2017 UEFA player of the year award. The list which was made public by the football governing body via its Twitter handle @UEFA has Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the nominees.

In-Form Ighalo Hits Goal No.11,

Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo continued his impressive goal scoring form for Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai on Sunday with a goal in his club’s 1-1 home draw against Yabian Funde at his club’s Development Area Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday came in from the bench to score a sublime goal as Real Madrid walloped Barcelona 3-1 in the first of the Supercopa de Espana at Camp Nou. Celebrating his goal, the reigning FIFA world best player mimicked Messi by holding up his shirt, displaying his Jersey name and number to the admiration of his teeming fans.