Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti asks Florentino Perez to sign Cristiano Ronaldo’s 24-year-old Portugal teammate: Reports

By: Bright Williams

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly asked club president Florentino Perez to sign Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal teammate Vitinha. The 24-year-old midfielder has been one of the most exciting players in his position, dazzling with Paris Saint-Germain and being a shining light in Euro 2024.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal didn't reach the heights they were expected to get to at Euro 2024, losing out to France in the quarter-final. Yet, Vitinha was one of the notable players who looked insistent on making a difference during his four appearances.Last season, the versatile midfielder was a remarkable presence for PSG, playing 46 games in all competitions, while scoring nine goals and providing five assists. He is capable of playing across the midfield, as well as influencing the game from the flanks if necessary.

His quality has not been ignored by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, and according to El Nacional, the Italian coach wants him on the Los Blancos squad. Club legend Toni Kroos made the decision to retire from the game, which has left a spot open to be filled in the midfield.While players like Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham are capable of filling in the gap, Ancelotti sees Vitinha as a better option. However, it is expected to be a costly venture of above €50 million, as the Parisians have no particular intentions of selling him this summer. It is believed that Vitinha, who has played with Cristiano Ronaldo, has already shown some interest in joining Real Madrid.

Real Madrid legend urges Croatia midfielder to retire

Real Madrid legend Predrag Mijatovic has urged midfielder Luka Modric to retire and end his time at the Santiago Bernabeu on a high. The 38-year-old Croatian midfielder has seen teammates like Toni Kroos and Casemiro leave the club, with the German retiring from the sport. Cristiano Ronaldo also left in 2018.However, Modric has opted to sign up for another year at the Bernabeu. This has not sat well with Mijatovic, who said on Cadena SER (via Forbes):

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"Luka had an offer from Saudi Arabia and he rejected it, this summer he has also had offers for a lot of money but he has decided to stay. He has already made up his mind that he is no longer an undisputed starter, he realised that last season and he already knows that he is not a starter.

"He's going to be 39 years old and I think he's close to retiring from Real Madrid, I don't know if he'll make it to the World Cup, you never know and with Luka even less, but I think it's time to retire, and if it can be at Madrid even better."

Luka Modric will most likely complete this season as his last at the Santiago Bernabeu. This is especially if he struggles to find any playing time among the younger options at the club.

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Construction begins at Midoil refinery

By: Dare Olawin

Mhidoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited has finally performed the turning of sod ceremony, marking the commencement of construction activities in Lagos.

The turning of the sod took place at Shekungba, Ikosi/Ejinrin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State recently.

The Executive Chairman of Midoil, Mrs Elizabeth-Omolara Akintonde, led dignitaries to the large expanse of land spanning various communities at Ikosi/Ejinrin Local Council Development Area.

Akintonde assured leaders and members of the communities that the refinery would transform their areas by bringing immediate development, creating both direct and indirect jobs.

She commended the village heads for refusing to be misled by some individuals who tried to bribe them to renege on their agreements.

Akintonde, whose 74th birthday coincided with the turning of the sod, stated that the Midoil refinery would boost Nigeria’s energy landscape with a refining capacity of 100,000 barrels per day.

“All these bushes you see today, in the next couple of months, you will see them no more,” Akintonde stated, assuring the people of her determination to see the project to reality.

One of the Directors of Midoil and Chairman of Serenecity Staff Housing Estate, Hajia Amina Abdullahi, expressed joy that the project had finally commenced after over a decade delay.

“We have faith in God that we will witness the inauguration of the refinery. We know this is a big project that will go through many processes, but with the turning of the sod today, we have taken the right step,” she stated.

A founding member of the proposed refinery, retired Justice Olusola Hunponu-Wusu, opined that the country needed more refineries to boost its refining capacity and stop fuel importation.

Hunponu-Wusu advised the country to ramp up its current low oil production, expressing confidence that feedstock would not be a setback when the Midoil refinery finally comes on board.

While performing the turning of the sod, the Bishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, Ifedola Okupevi, prayed for the completion of the project at the right time.

The Real Africa News recalls that the Chairman of Midoil, on March 17, 2024, signed agreements with the representatives of Shekungba, Arogbo and Ererufu, presenting cheques to the host communities.

She explained that a large expanse of land was acquired from the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, stating that the land allocation letter was received from the Lagos State Government on April 24, 2014.

“Subsequently, on January 24, 2017, we got the licenses to establish the refinery from then Department of Petroleum Resources,” she remarked.

Akintonde said: “It has taken Midoil 10 years to secure interested investors that are willing to invest in Nigeria and our project. But to the glory of God Almighty, we now have three consortiums of investors willing to invest $5bn with us.

 “The sourcing of the required funding from overseas has been the major reason for the delay.”

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Tinubu’s Lagos traditional stooges plot Oro festival for August 1 to counter protest

Mr Akosile advised the protesters and Oro adherents not to stand in each other’s way to prevent breakdown of law and order. 

There appears to be plans to counter the #EndBadGovt protest in Lagos State as traditional worshippers are set to hold Oro Festival across the state.

This was disclosed in a notice to residents and visitors which went viral on social media on Wednesday.

The notice read, “Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from 1st of August to August 15. This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”

Suspiciously, the timeframe of the Oro ritual coincides with the #EndBadGovt, but the state government has however denied having a hand in the cultural event.

Speaking to Peoples Real Africa News on Wednesday, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, however noted that, like the youths intended to exercise their right to protest, traditional worshippers also have the right to perform their activities.

Mr Akosile however advised the protesters and Oro adherents not to stand in each other’s way to prevent breakdown of law and order. 

He said, “I saw it just like every other person did. Did you see any signatory to this statement? The answer is no! If it’s not endorsed, then it’s a nullity. However, traditional religious worshippers have the right to carry out their worship at any time. Whether it coincides with the dates of the protests or not. I’m not sure it removes anything from the fact that they have their right to carry out their traditional worship.

“You want to protest, I want to do my worship, it’s my right. It is now right versus right. As long as your own right does not disturb my own right, there won’t be crisis, let everybody be doing their thing.’’

Mr Akosile however noted that if the protest turned violent, security agencies would be on hand to ensure that it didn’t turn bloody.

Recall that ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state, Oro Festival was also declared with residents witnessing pots of rituals placed on several junctions and in front of some houses across the state.

Three days to the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola, was reported to have declared a three-day “Oro rites,” claiming the festival was an annual event.

It was however believed that the scheduling of the ritual event was to prevent voters opposed to the ruling party from voting freely for candidates of their choice. 

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Navy uncovers illegal bunkering site in private residence

An official said the property's owner has been arrested.

By Agency Report

The Nigeria Navy has apprehended two suspected oil thieves operating an illegal bunkering site concealed in their private residence in Rivers, an official has said.

The Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Desmond Igbo, said this on Wednesday, when he took reporters to the site in the Okwuzi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers on Wednesday.

Mr Igbo, a commodore, said that during a raid on the building, the naval operatives discovered 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel stored in the compound.

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“The operation was conducted based on credible intelligence, leading us to a private compound used solely for illegal refining of petroleum products.

“About 200,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, bagged in sacks, are suspected to be a product of crude oil siphoned from pipelines in the area,” he said.

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Mr Igbo described the operation as timely, adding that the product was already packaged for sale.

“We arrested the owner of the property and one of his workers, while efforts are ongoing to arrest others involved in the criminal act.

“Recall that a few weeks ago, the Nigerian Navy relaunched phase three of Operation Delta Sanity aimed at curbing crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and related illicit activities in the Niger Delta.

“The stealing of crude oil is bad for the economy, and so, NNS Pathfinder is determined to apprehend those undermining the nation’s economy, whether on land or water,” Mr Igbo said.

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He further said the suspects would be handed over to the prosecuting agencies.

According to him, the illegal bunkering site has been sealed while investigation has commenced.

Mr Igbo said that the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanual Ogalla, has charged naval forces to enhance surveillance around the oil installations to meet the target.

“Therefore, youths are cautioned to avoid being used as tools for sabotaging the nation’s economy through oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and other illegal activities,” he said.

(NAN)

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