Na serious gbege dey for golf world as Greg Norman, wey dem dey call The Shark, still dey vex for Nick Faldo after 30 years. The whole mata start for 1996 Masters tournament wey Norman lead by six strokes but Faldo come win am by five strokes. Even after all these years, Norman still dey talk say the hug wey Faldo give am for that day na just for show.
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Norman yarn say, “We never had any sort of relationship. We were chalk and cheese. He was a loner.” The Australian pro dey sore because Faldo talk say LIV Golf wey Norman dey run as CEO na meaningless and nobody dey watch am. Faldo even attack Norman direct, talk say e don spoil im name by supporting league wey Saudi Arabia dey sponsor.
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For im side, Norman talk say e no get respect for person wey dey give opinion when dem no know both sides of story. “Nick said some things about me during my time at LIV, some really nasty things… Come on, we have a history, he could have called me and asked for the other side of the story and I’d have gladly given it,” Norman complain.
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Even some retired pros and fans dey support Norman. Mark Lye, one retired pro, talk say e go go war for Norman but no go cross street for Faldo. Fans join for social media to talk say Norman better pass Faldo. But Augusta National Golf Club don show say dem no dey happy with Norman association with LIV Golf.
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Chairman Fred Ridley talk say dem no invite Norman for Masters this year because dem no wan cause commotion over PGA Tour and LIV Golf rivalry. Na third year straight wey Norman no get invitation. For 2024, Norman buy im own ticket go watch, and fans wey dey there welcome am well. But for this year, Norman talk say e no go dey there at all.
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“Well, I won’t be there, that’s for sure; I never received the normal invitation from the Masters,” Norman tell The Sunday Morning Herald. E talk say e go dey outside country, likely for meeting for im golf course design company. But e go still dey check scores and follow the tournament.
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For another news, Vinicius Junior don talk clear say e wan stay for Real Madrid “for a long time.” The Brazilian forward wey join Madrid since 2018 call the club “the club of my dreams.” Im contract dey run until 2027, but extension talks don dey since January 2025 without agreement.
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Vinicius Jr talk say e get president Florentino Pérez trust. “We’re very calm because I have the president’s trust. At the right moment, we’ll take care of the renewal because this is the club of my dreams, and we’ll continue together for many years,” e talk on Monday ahead of Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
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The 25-year-old player yarn about im tough time under former manager Xabi Alonso. E talk say e no connect well with Alonso methods, and things reach worst when Alonso substitute am during El Clásico match for October. Vinicius Jr talk say e dey angry that time and even talk say e dey leave the team.
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But things don change since Alonso leave for January. Under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, Vinicius Jr don score back-to-back braces against Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. E talk say e get wonderful connection with Arbeloa now. “I went a long time without scoring goals. That happened when I wasn’t in the right mindset, and I was very young. But I’ve learned. The best players always bounce back,” e add.
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For money matter, Vinicius Jr dey collect about €18 million net per year. Reports talk say e don reject offer wey go increase am to €20 million after taxes. Saudi Pro League interest don cool down, but Madrid dey ready to refuse any sale unless dem pay im €1 billion clause.
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Time dey press Florentino Pérez and the board, but Vinicius Jr latest comments show say renewal fit happen soon. The player wey win The Best FIFA award for 2024 still dey key player for Madrid as dem dey fight for trophies this season.
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