Opinion: Until the "Mata" is addressed

By Amos Joseph

You will agree that the romance between Chelsea FC and Manchester United over Spain international, Juan mata is one of the most trending transfer stories in this January window.

Obviously, the 25years old midfielder isn't enjoying playing time at the bridge and you would not blame him if he indeed wants to make a move at this time. Having to contend with the likes of Hazard, Oscar and most recent of them Willian who all have been impressive and firing from all cylinders. 

Mata did not hesitate on his decision to take his leave from the London club when the offer came from Manchester United despite being the club's last Most valuable Player in the last two seasons. According to reports, Jose Mourinho in an interview said "when the offer came, we asked if he wanted to go and he said, Yes".

There is a common parlance which says "no one likes to play second fiddle". It is quite agreeable because everyone wants to be the most preferred - first choice as some would put it.

Juan Mata is indeed a talent, a creative midfielder who can bring on the sparks any day anytime. This however underlines the reason why he's been sought after at the trouble city of Manchester, Old Trafford to be precise. 

Manchester United therefore desperately paid paid a record fee of £40m surpassing the Dimitar Berbatov deal worth about £30.7m in 2008. 

The arrival of the Midfielder is expected to be a major boost to the current David Moyes' United squad struggling to win games in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie who are both sidelined due to injury. More so, Mata's arrival will help in the middle of the park and ease off the singular effort of Januzaj who has been going solo on many occasions. This could be an answer to United's woeful performance this season just as Mesut Ozil is to table toppers Arsenal.

The matter for Mata is pursuit of happiness and he seems to see the Old Trafford as the Jerusalem where he can find his peace once again. One cannot ignore the fact that the young man wants to play a major role in Spain's quest during the World Cup in Brazil in months to come and he obviously cannot do that coming from the bench for his club as he has only started a few games for chelsea this season. 

As reported in the last 48hours, Juan Mata has been allowed to undergo a medical at United and he's expected to be unveiled officially this weekend. Meanwhile he might make his debut for united when they play host toCardiff City on Tuesday in the English Premier League. 

Hopefully Mata will settle the matter at United with Mata himself settled. 

Ronaldo beats Messi, Ribery to win Ballon d'or

Real Madrid and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the FIFA Player of the year 2013. He beat other contenders Frank Ribery and Lionel Messi to pick the Ballon d'or award.

 At the glamorous award ceremony held in Zurich, Pele who has earlier won the  FIFA Ballon d'Or Prix d'Honneur (Player of the 20th Century) announced the award, as Ronaldo broke into tears while receiving. 

 "First of all I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team. Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved." Says Ronaldo.


Other Categories of award:

WOMEN'S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NADINE ANGERER
COACH OF THE YEAR FOR MEN'S FOOTBALL: JUPP HEYNCKES
COACH OF THE YEAR FOR WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: SILVIA NEID

STATS: 184 national team coaches, 184 national team captains and 173 media representatives voted for the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo secured the title with 1,365 points, ahead of Lionel Messi with 1,205 points and Franck Ribéry with 1,127 points.

Ballon d'or 2013: No EPL Player in FIFPro World XI

 

Foward
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE / Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (ARG / Barcelona)

Midfielders
Andres Iniesta (ESP / Barcelona)
Xavi (ESP / Barcelona)
Franck Ribery (FRA / Bayern Munich)

Defenders
Philipp Lahm (GER / Bayern Munich)
Sergio Ramos (ESP / Real Madrid)
Thiago Silva (BRA / Paris Saint-Germain)
Dani Alves (BRA / Barcelona)

Goal Keeper
Manuel Neuer (GER / Bayern Munich)


Coach
Jupp Heynckes( Former Bayern Munich Coach).

Mikel Obi and his Russian girl friend (PHOTOS)

Her name is Olga Diyachenko from Russia and according to 'gists', Mikel and his girl friend are seriously dating plus they live together in the UK. If you're still dreaming of dating the Nigeria and Chelsea international, may be not now or never.

EPL: Suarez and Pellegrini bag December awards

Liverpool's Luis Surez has been announced as Player of the Month  of December while Manchester City Manager, Manuel Pellegrini won in the manager category.

Suarez in the month scored a total of 10 goals (record in a calendar month), while the coach on the other hand guided his City side to a seven-match unbeaten run, winning six and pulling a 1-1 draw against Southampton.

Well deserved.

Glo CAF Awards 2013: Full list of winners

African Footballer of the year

Winner: Yaya Toure

John Mikel Obi

Didier Drogba

African Footballer of the year based in Africa
Winner: Mohammed AbouTreika

Sunday Mba
Ahmed Fathy
 

National Team of the Year
Burkina Faso
Ethiopia
Nigeria

Winner: Nigeria

Youth National team of the Year
Nigeria Under-17

Winner: Golden Eaglets of Nigeria

Club of the Year
Al Ahly
CS Sfaxien
Orlando Pirates

Winner:  Al Ahly

Fair Play Award
Nigerian Supporters

Coach of the Year
Manu Garba
Stephen Keshi
Paul Put

Winner: Stephen Keshi

Most Promising Talent
Ebenezer Assifuah
Saleh Gomaa
Kelechi Iheanacho

Winner: Kelechi Iheanacho

Referee Award
Alioum Neant
Haimoudi Djamel
Papa Bakary Gassama

Winner: Haimoudi Djamel

CAF Legends
Bruno Metsu
Jose Mehdi Faria

CAF Eleven

Keshi  is Coach:  Enyeama, Fathy, Benatia, Constant: Mikel, Aboutreika, Toure, Pitroipa: Aubameyang, Emenike, Gyan

OPINION: Sunday Mba joins Bastia. Good News?

This news come as a soothing relief to football fans who have been waiting to see Sunday Mba move to a European club for greener pastures and see rub shoulders with top international stars.  

According to reports, the Nigeria African Cup of Nations revelation Mba, has finally completed a move to CA Bastia. It could be recalled that he agreed to join the French side earlier in September 2013 but the move was called off by his club Warrri Wolves last minute due to unpalatable contract terms.

For many who watched the African Cup of Nations, you will agree that the player in question is a top class player owing to his performance especially in the finals against Burkina Faso where he became the hero. 

Shortly after the tourney, clubs from all around Europe came calling for his signature but some reasons he did not make any move and having to perch with his Nigerian club, Warri Wolves after a tussle with Rangers International to ascertain his legitimate employer. 

Now that Mba has moved to Europe, the question is not whether Mba would have playing time but whether he made the right moved. Is Bastia the right club for a player who wants to keep his place in the Super Eagles or sustain him in the ''limelight'' and keep him the minds of football fans around the world and Nigerians?

CA Bastia is a French Ligue 2 club currently sitting on 20^th position with 9 points from 18 matches. 

On the other hand, having sealed a move to France, the 25 year old will not be a part of the squad that will prosecute the CHAN tournament in South Africa. The CHAN tournament is a competition for African based players only. 

How Nigerians and the world at large would have loved to see Mba on display at the tourney come 11^th January when the Eagles will begin their campaign against Mali then Mozambique before playing host South Africa in group A. 

‘‘Fairwell’’ Sunday Mba.