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Costa, the club’s top scorer this season, was recently left out of the Chelsea squad with a back strain amid British media speculation of a row with backroom staff and a possible transfer to Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian. The 28-year-old Costa, however, silenced doubters after the Spain international scored on his return in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Hull City. “With toughness, he (Conte) took him out of the squad, which was an understandable situation, if it was the back or not it doesn’t matter,” German Ballack, who spent four years at Chelsea, told British media....

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi together have been the most successful winners of Ballon d’Or, and those two stalwarts are once again in the race this year. Another top contender is the Real Madrid star and the FIFA best player of the year award winner, Luka Modric. While the ardent fans of Mohamed Salah would like him to win Ballon d’Or 2018, it is highly unlikely the Liverpool star will get to the podium....

The 2007 Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year thinks that it’s time the honor is bestowed upon a defender and according to him Liverpool’s formidable center-back Virgil van Dijk is the only defender worthy of the golden trophy at the moment. In case you didn’t know… Until last year, when Real Madrid star Luka Modric was voted as the winner at the ceremonious gala, Kaka remained the last player to have lifted the trophy, considered to be the biggest individual decoration in football....

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed on Thursday that Balotelli has been hit with a two-match suspension. Balotelli was given the ban after the LFP ruled he dived in a match against Caen, leading to Ismael Diomande being sent off. Nice forward Balotelli is out of contract at the club, having spent two seasons rebuilding his reputation in Ligue 1. The Italy international has scored 33 goals for Nice over the past two Ligue 1 campaigns, while adding seven strikes in the Europa League for the club....

The art piece is a six-foot-tall 1:1 scale replica of a Gundam head and is made from around 3000 runners, which are the plastic frames that house the various parts found in Gunpla Kits. Most runners are discarded once a kit is put together, but the project aimed to find a better, more creative use for them. RELATED: Japan’s Gundam Cafes Set To Close By Early 2022 The Gunpla Recycling Project is a joint venture between Bandai Namco Holdings, Bandai Spirits, Bandai Amusement, and Bandai Logipal, and launched in April 2021 with the goal of reducing waste by allowing Gundam fans the opportunity to recycle the leftover plastics in their kits....

Obama’s involvement in the 2020 presidential election increased after it became evident that his former vice president, Joe Biden, would be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. In April, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential campaign leaving Biden as the last Democratic candidate standing. Obama officially endorsed Biden for the presidency in April. In August, Obama announced his first endorsements for U.S. down-ballot elections. Obama said on Friday that the second selection of Democratic candidates he chose to endorse “will work to get the virus under control, rebuild the economy and the middle class, and protect Americans’ health care and preexisting conditions protections....

Barak was down–but not out. His resignation after 17 tumultuous months in office, in fact, was more about hanging on than stepping aside. By resigning, Barak exploited a loophole in Israeli law that allows only sitting members of Parliament to compete in a new election. That may prevent Barak’s most potent rival, former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from mounting a challenge to unseat him. But it also means that the upcoming vote–to be held after 60 days–promises to be an uncommonly emotional and brutal contest, fought against a backdrop of wrenching violence and excruciatingly painful decisions about achieving peace....

Koeman has emerged as a possible option for Barca should Ernesto Valverde leave, with the Dutchman’s Netherlands contract containing a clause that would allow him to depart for Camp Nou following Euro 2020. The 56-year-old spent six years at Barca as a player before later having a spell as Louis van Gaal’s assistant from 1998 to 2000. Koeman, however, is focused on his job with the Netherlands ahead of next year’s European Championship....

With teams now looking at the winter transfer window just as intently as the summer one, a lot of big deals are expected to go over the line in January. With some of the biggest clubs in Europe still struggling to find their feet in the new season, expect some high-profile moves to happen. Without further ado, let’s dive right in and take a look at the top transfer stories that made headlines on the 1st of December, 2018....

It has been suggested that the Wales international is approaching a career crossroads, with a Spanish adventure set to be brought to a close after five years. At 28 years of age, Bale still has plenty of top-level football in him and is being linked with leading sides in England, Italy and Germany. He is giving little away when it comes to the summer transfer window, but has said he would welcome the opportunity to grace the CSL at some stage....

Former Germany skipper Michael Ballack appears to be heading for the Bayer Leverkusen exit, after the midfielder revealed that will leave the Bay Arena this summer. The 35-year old returned to club for his second spell – following the three years he spent at the club between 1999 and 2002 – last year, establishing himself as an essential part of the side after his move from Chelsea. While it was expected the midfielder would extend his stay at the club for another season before possibly hanging up his boots, Ballack has now revealed he will definitely leave the club when his contract expires in the summer....

Still smarting from their first ever defeat by the hosts, Australia packed their line-up with three specialist spinners but yet again face the daunting prospect of batting fourth at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The tourists replaced batsman Usman Khawaja and injured paceman Josh Hazlewood with batting all-rounder Hilton Cartwright and Steve O’Keefe, who joins fellow left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the slow bowling department....

The latest survey from Morning Consult found significant public support existed for a variety of police reform measures, including the required use of body cameras and improved de-escalation training. It also found that a little more than three quarters of U.S. voters (76 percent) would back mental health experts being hired to assist police officers in their work. Asked whether they would back a ban on police using chokeholds, such as the nine-minute knee to the neck used on George Floyd, a little under three quarters of all voters (73 percent) said they would support a ban....

Although they have won only one game in seven so far, they still have slim hopes of sneaking into the playoffs, which would need them to win all their remaining games for a start. However, they come across a formidable Barbados Tridents side, boasting of T20 superstars in Sandeep Lamichhane and JP Duminy as they themselves eye a win to sustain their challenge for a playoff place. At one of the more iconic grounds in the West Indian islands, both teams should give in their best with two valuable points on offer....

Obama made his comments while speaking alongside former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder during a live-streamed event for All on the Line, a campaign to fight gerrymandering and restore fairness in U.S. democracy. In the nearly hour-long event, Obama referenced comments tweeted on Wednesday by Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee who wrote that “democracy isn’t the objective” of America’s political system. Lee also wrote that Democracy can thwart “liberty, peace, and prospefity,” misspelling the word “prosperity....

After a quarter of an hour had passed, Luis Suarez made the net bulge after Lionel Messi slipped in a perfectly-weighted through-ball. However, the linesman raised his flag to rule out the goal. However, the Uruguayan eventually made the net bulge in the 29th minute when he finished off Messi’s exquisite pass. Four minutes later, the Argentine got himself on the score-sheet with a superb left-footed finish from the left edge of the box....

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman is looking to sign a center-back this summer as he seeks a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique. Manchester United, on the other hand, are desperate to sign a top-quality defender to partner Harry Maguire next season. This could result in a bidding war for the services of Jules Kounde. The player’s current contract with Sevilla runs until 2024, and he has a release clause of €75 million....

Bale, whose relationship with head coach Zinedine Zidane has long appeared strained, saw a July move to Jiangsu Suning collapse, while mooted transfers to other European giants never materialised. But on the eve of the season, Zidane insisted he would use the winger while he remained in his squad and duly named him in the line-up for Saturday’s meeting at Balaidos. With Eden Hazard ruled out by a late muscle injury, Bale and Vinicius Junior will support Karim Benzema in attack as Madrid attempt to capitalise on Barcelona’s surprise loss to Athletic Bilbao on Friday....