May 9, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Braxton Ashcraft threw seven innings of one-run ball, batterymate Joey Bart matched his career high with four hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates used a 20-hit assault to roll past the host San Francisco Giants 13-3 on Saturday night.
Nick Gonzales also collected four hits and Brandon Lowe had four RBIs for the Pirates, who won for the sixth time in their last eight games.
Giants starter Landen Roupp (5-3) matched zeroes with Ashcraft for four innings before Bart led off the fifth with an infield single on the right-hander’s 94th pitch, prompting San Francisco manager Tony Vitello to go to his bullpen.
After a single and steal by Oneil Cruz, the Pirates went ahead 1-0 on Lowe’s sacrifice fly and then 2-0 on an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds.
Bryce Eldridge launched his first career home run to get the Giants on the board in the last of the inning, before Pittsburgh seized control with a two-run sixth and blew the game open with a six-run seventh.
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Konnor Griffin and Bart had RBI singles in the sixth, before Lowe lashed the big hit of the seventh — a two-run triple.
Bart made it a four-hit day when his leadoff single off Christian Koss, normally an infielder, triggered a three-run ninth.
Ashcraft (2-2) limited the Giants to six hits in his seven innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
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Bart, who played his first four seasons with the Giants, matched the four hits he’d recorded twice last year for the Pirates. He had three hits five times as a Giant.
The catcher scored three times and drove in two runs.
Cruz also scored three times and had three hits, while Lowe and Spencer Horwitz scored twice apiece. Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn had two hits each in the season-best 20-hit attack.
Heliot Ramos had a pair of singles for the Giants, who won the series opener 5-2 on Friday night. San Francisco has lost nine of its last 11 games.
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The Giants completed the game’s scoring with two in the last of the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Drew Gilbert and an RBI single by Eric Haase.
Apr 22, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) chases with the ball during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Guardians go into their game on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Minnesota Twins with possibly the best defensive catching duo in baseball.
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That’s because the Guardians acquired two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants on Saturday for left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and Cleveland’s Competitive Balance Round A pick (29th overall) in the 2026 draft.
He will pair with Austin Hedges after Bo Naylor was sent to Triple-A Columbus after the trade. Utility man David Fry also can catch.
“I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve,” said Bailey, who has played his pro baseball career in the San Francisco organization, which selected him in the first round (13th overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft. “I’m ready to get going and see what’s under the tree.”
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But Bailey, who turns 27 on May 29, also knows it will take a while to get comfortable.
“Just trying to get a feel for everybody. I’ve got no chance of getting everybody’s name right,” he added.
According to Fangraphs.com, Bailey’s Defensive Runs Above Average of 102.4 is the best in MLB since 2020.
“This is one of the best, if not the best defensive catcher in baseball,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “… I got eight, nine texts from people in the Giants organization raving about him, not wanting him to leave.”
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Bailey has struggled at the plate, hitting .146 (12-for-82) with a home run and five RBIs, a .213 on-base percentage and .396 OPS in 30 games with the Giants this season.
“Everybody’s going to see right away, what he’s capable of,” said Hedges, who has a DEF of 82.4 since 2021. “… He’s going to help us so much. He inspires me all of the time when I watch him.”
Bailey is expected to be in uniform and ready to play Sunday in the rubber game of the series after the Twins’ 2-1 win in 11 innings on Saturday night.
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“I’m ready to get out there,” Bailey said. “I’ve been waiting to play with Hedges my whole career. To be able to work with him and learn from him. I’m super pumped.”
Gavin Williams (5-2, 3.28 ERA) is Cleveland’s scheduled starter Sunday.
Williams’ last start was a 5-3 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday in which he took the loss, giving up five runs and eight hits in six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
In seven appearances, all starts, against the Twins, Williams is 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA. His last start facing Minnesota came at home last Aug. 1, when he did not get a decision despite six innings of four-hit shutout ball. He walked two and struck out eight.
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The Twins placed starting pitcher Taj Bradley (4-1, 2.87) on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, retroactive to Tuesday, with pec muscle inflammation.
Bradley had originally been scheduled to start Sunday, so Minnesota’s starter is slated to be opener Andrew Morris. The right-handed reliever is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA, five walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings in his rookie season.
Right-hander Travis Adams was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.
Benn suffered a first professional defeat when he came up short against fierce rival Chris Eubank Jr in the middleweight division, but he was able to even the scores in their rematch, before announcing a return to welterweight – which he believes to be his natural division.
After ditching Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn, ‘The Destroyer’ then made the decision to debut with his new promotional firm Zuffa Boxing in a 150lb catchweight affair against Regis Prograis, seen as a pit stop on his way back down to 147lbs.
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However, despite Prograis entering the bout carrying injuries, Benn was unable to halt the New Orleans operator and instead settled for a victory on the scorecards, which drew criticism from some fans.
Speaking with Casino.org, boxing legend Tyson labelled Benn as ‘contending material’, when discussing his favourite fighters in the sport today.
“You got so many good fighters, name any division, David Benavidez. You got Tank [Gervonta Davis], you got Shakur Stevenson, you got Keyshawn Davis, he’s a great fighter. There’s so many great fighters on the up.
“Even this young guy trying to show something, Conor Benn. People say he’s a bum, but he’s contending material believe it or not. I know he talks a lot of smack, gets some people nervous, but he’s contending material. He’s not afraid to show his face.”
Minnesota Vikings owners Leonard Wilf and Mark Wilf react before an NFL International Series matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On Oct. 2, 2022, the Vikings ownership group participated in another overseas showcase as Minnesota continued expanding its presence during the league’s international push in London. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
We call them the Nopedy Nopes, and we reveal a new batch each weekend at VikingsTerritory — takes and happenings from the Minnesota Vikings orbit that did work out, are too far-fetched for believability, or were flat-out wrong.
Three rumors. Three verdicts. One more offseason reality check.
This week tackles two false theories and one WR theory that won’t come to fruition.
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Noise Patrol Tackles the Latest Vikings Rumor Cycle
Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf stands on the field during Jared Allen’s Ring of Fame induction ceremony before a home game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 30, 2022. Wilf has overseen one of the franchise’s most successful ownership eras, helping guide the organization through consistent playoff contention and major stadium development. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings didn’t spend much in free agency, so they will probably be sold by ownership.
Pioneer Press‘ Charley Walter unloaded the idea last weekend, claiming, “It’s beginning to look as if Vikings ownership now could be mirroring Twins ownership, which has sought to sell its team. Figuring they were championship worthy, the Vikings a year ago spent more money on player payroll in the offseason ($350 million) than any of the NFL’s other 31 teams.”
“This offseason, the Vikings have spent just $226 million, second lowest in the league. It appears Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf have decided on a significant payroll slash this year. The Vikings won’t admit it, but this sure looks like a rebuilding year. This is the 21st year the Wilfs have owned the Vikings. Until this year, they have made a commendable attempt at winning the Lombardi Trophy.”
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On the pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2026, it is unclear why Walters believes the Vikings have said “no thanks.” Minnesota featured a Top 3 defense last year and signed Kyler Murray two months ago.
Walters continued, “Meanwhile, the Twins’ Pohlad ownership isn’t unlike what Red McCombs did with the Vikings in 2005 before selling to the Wilfs. McCombs, who bought the Vikings for $246 million in 1998, cut player and coaching staff payroll to a bare minimum and waited until he got his price ($600 million) from the Wilfs.”
“If the Wilfs, who curiously still haven’t named a permanent general manager since firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last January, were to sell the Vikings today, they could get between $8 billion and $9 billion.”
The Verdict: Teams that spend big in free agency — like the Vikings from 2022 to 2024 — are forced to reset because the money runs out. Suggesting a sale of the team is on the way can be construed as the grandaddy of all “nopey nopes.” Credible Vikings sources have since smacked down the reporting. The franchise is not for sale.
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The Nopedy Nope: Stefon Diggs is a WR option for Minnesota.
Days after the 2026 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker analyzed Diggs’s employment options in 2026, and the Vikings got the nod.
Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs walks off the field after a road game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 22, 2024. Diggs returned to Minneapolis years after his memorable tenure with the Vikings, remaining one of the NFL’s most productive receivers and a central figure in Houston’s evolving offensive attack. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
He wrote, “The Kansas City Chiefs are in a much different spot organizationally. They’re aiming to contend despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL. Like the Raiders, the Chiefs didn’t take a receiver until Day 3. Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen went in the fifth round, so signing Diggs to a short-term contract makes sense for Kansas City.”
“Would one of Diggs’ old teams consider a reunion? Jordan Addison has yet to make a true breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s depth really falls off once you get past him and Justin Jefferson as well. The Vikings have one quarterback on a one-year contract (Kyler Murray) and another who may be heading into a make-or-break season (J.J. McCarthy). Bringing Diggs back to Minneapolis has some merit.”
Fast forward a week, and Minnesota added Jauan Jennings, not Diggs.
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The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Diggs to Minnesota. The choice was Jennings instead.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings have one of the league’s worst quarterback rooms entering 2026.
Naming the Vikings’ quarterback situation the NFL’s eight-worst, CBS Sports‘Garrett Podell wrote, “One would think the Minnesota Vikings’ signing of two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray would keep them off this list, but that’s not the case. Murray earned his Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021. That’s a lifetime ago in NFL years. From 2022 to 2025, Murray missed 30 of his possible 68 games.”
“In the five games Murray played for the Cardinals in 2025, he averaged a career low 227.0 total yards per game. Recent first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was the worst quarterback in the NFL in 2025, which sparked the signing of Murray. McCarthy’s performance was simply incredible considering the offensive ecosystem under 2024 Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell.”
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray wears a WVB memorial bow tie patch honoring late owner William V. Bidwill during pregame warmups before a home matchup in Glendale, Arizona, on Oct. 13, 2019. Murray entered the NFL with enormous expectations after becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft following his standout collegiate career at Oklahoma. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic, Arizona Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC.
He added, “Despite an electrifying supporting cast, McCarthy ranked dead last in the league in completion percentage (57.6%), touchdown-to-interception ratio (11-12), and passer rating (72.6). Murray could rediscover his early career form with Minnesota.”
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Murray as the league’s eighth-worst signal-caller. That doesn’t make sense.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Daniel Dubois secured the WBO heavyweight title with an 11th-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley but is set to lose a large chunk of his winnings
Daniel Dubois is poised to forfeit an estimated sum exceeding £600,000 from his victory over Fabio Wardley on Saturday evening. The heavyweight force secured the WBO title with an 11th-round TKO at Manchester’s Co-Op Live – his third world championship overall, having previously held the WBA (Regular) and IBF straps.
It is understood that Dubois also pocketed around £1.3million for the contest, although ‘Triple D’ won’t receive that complete figure. In the UK, anyone earning above £125,140 per year is subject to the additional tax rate of 45 per cent.
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This means that £585,000 of Dubois’ purse will go directly to HMRC. Additionally, the 28-year-old will be liable for two per cent National Insurance, a further £26,000 – theoretically taking his total deductions to an eye-watering £611k.
Should the fight purse estimates prove correct, the British champion will be left with £689,000 to pocket. However, he will also likely pass on a portion of this to his corner, trainers and gym as is traditional in the sport.
Speaking after his triumph over Wardley – which will be remembered as one of the finest bouts of the year – Dubois said: “It was a war. We come through the sticky moments. It was a war. Thank you, Fabio, for that. Thank you.”
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When pressed on what the future holds, with both the WBO’s mandatory challenger Moses Itauma and a potential third clash against unbeaten Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk looming large, Dubois said: “I want to grow from this fight, improve and come back even better and go on a reign as champion again.”
Meanwhile, promoter Frank Warren was left almost speechless following the action-packed headline bout. He said: “It was amazing. These two guys show such heart – both of them.
“Great heart, chins, it was an amazing fight. It was just absorbing, it had everything. Exciting. Best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on.”
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While a rematch clause is included in the fight contract, Warren revealed little about Dubois’s next move in the ring. A lucrative Usyk trilogy could prove tempting for the fighter, having suffered two defeats to the ‘Cat’ in recent times.
The pair first met for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles in August 2023, with Usyk finishing his long-time rival in the ninth round. Dubois then embarked on a three-fight winning run against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua – claiming the IBF title that Usyk had vacated to face Tyson Fury in a rematch.
Yet when the two squared off once more last July at Wembley, the result was much the same. The Briton was floored by a fifth-round knockout at the hands of Usyk, leaving him back at square one in his pursuit of world championship glory.
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Although Dubois will be keen to settle the score with the 39-year-old, he faces the prospect of being stripped of his WBO title if he neglects to defend it against Itauma. The 21-year-old has climbed the ranks remarkably quickly, amassing an outstanding record of 14-0 in just three years.
Currently holding both the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles, Itauma now finds himself on the cusp of a shot at world championship glory.
Handling Beadman with greater patience throughout the Gold Coast Guineas yielded strong returns for those involved, setting up possibilities in the headline sprint at Brisbane’s winter carnival.
The three-year-old, fresh off capturing the Fireball Quality (1100m) initially, had failed to place in Sydney across his next pair of efforts, resulting in revised riding plans for the weekend’s Group 3 showdown.
“The last couple of starts he drew bad gates and going forward backfired. He has been over-racing,” trainer Peter Snowden said.
“Today, he was really good. He built into it, and he was strong late. You keep riding him those sort of races we’ll get better results.
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“He’s a beautiful horse to deal with. He’s got a great nature, he’s got a great temperament and hopefully he can be a good horse.”
Beadman produced a memorable performance at last year’s matching card, securing the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) by more than eight lengths.
Revisiting the site of that dominant display on Saturday, he narrowed the winning distance this time around, but still confirmed his standing as a contender for Queensland carnival riches.
“Discussions were made to run him next week in the (Doomben) 10,000. It’s on the table, but ultimately, a race like the Stradbroke is where you want to be,” Snowden said.
“We can go to the three-year-old race two weeks into that, or we back him up next week. We’ll see how the horse pulls up and make a call in a couple of days’ time.”
James McDonald, Beadman’s victorious pilot, wishes to steer clear of the 10,000 clash given his mount on Napoleonic for trainer Tom Charlton.
“I’ve got a ride in the Doomben 10,000 so I don’t want him running there,” McDonald said.
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“First time we’ve ridden him a bit conservatively, and he responded really well.”
Beadman, the $2.60 market elect, prevailed by one length against filly Nepo Baby ($5), with Motorsports ($14) rallying from the tail to claim third, heads apart.
Manchester City kept the Premier League title race alive with a 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. League leaders Arsenal will look to re-establish their five-point lead by beating West Ham on Sunday, with another three league fixtures to come.
Paris Saint-Germain can all but seal the Ligue 1 title by beating Brest at home, in one of eight matches taking place at the same time on Sunday evening. Marseille will look to stay in the race for Europe before the final matchday by bringing three points back from Le Havre.
Real Madrid will look to delay Barcelona‘s La Liga title win when the two arch rivals face off on Sunday. The Catalans, who are 11 points clear at the top, will be hosting the Clásico at their Camp Nou home for the first time in three years following renovation works on the stadium.
In cycling, Guillermo Thomas Silva became the first-ever Uruguayan rider to win a Grand Tour stage by coming out on top in a crowded sprint finish on the second day of this year’s men’s Giro d’Italia.
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The final stage of the women’s Vuelta a España saw home favourite Paula Blasi triumph on the Asturian summit of L’Angliru to claim the first Grand Tour title of her career.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Despite a strange three-day break between games, it wasn’t the National Hockey League that delayed this playoff series. It was the Minnesota Wild.
It took until Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche, here Saturday night, for the Wild to find their own game and prove they can compete against the National Hockey League’s best team.
Everything that went wrong for the Wild when they spotted the Avalanche a two-game head start in Denver went right for them in a 5-1 win in Minnesota that was the team’s first second-round playoff victory in the State of Hockey since 2013.
Kirill Kaprizov had one goal and three points, matched by teammate Brock Faber, and Quinn Hughes contributed a goal and an assist as Minnesota’s best players far outplayed Colorado stars.
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Wild special teams, pulverized since the playoffs began, produced a pair of goals while Minnesota scored another at four-on-four. And the goaltending concern was suddenly shoved down to Colorado’s end of the ice as Avalanche starter Scott Wedgewood was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots, while Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt returned from a contentious one-game rest and stopped 35 of 36.
It was the Avalanche’s first loss since April 11, ending a nine-game winning streak that included the Stanley Cup favourites’ first six playoff games.
It is now “Game On!” in the series.
Unaccustomed to speaking to the media after losses, Colorado coach Jared Bednar had lots stored up after the Avalanche surrendered goals 93 seconds apart late in the first period and weren’t really in the game after that.
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The series is suddenly close, but Saturday’s contest was not.
“There was a level they hit that we didn’t get to,” Bednar told reporters. “I saw it in flashes, I saw it in some guys but not with others. If you’re going to win a hockey game against a really good team in the playoffs, it’s got to be everyone — and everyone all the time. It’s not, you know, here and there from certain guys. It has to be everybody.”
Bednar said his players didn’t match the Wild’s determination and compete level.
How can the Avalanche have more of those things in Game 4?
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“I don’t coach that,” he said. “I mean… it’s not something we’re coaching. It’s something that now we felt (from the Wild), OK? We saw where the level of that game went to with their team, and now we have to respond and answer in kind. What do I do, walk in and say, ‘We’ve got to be more determined and compete harder?’ They’re going to see the video, and the video doesn’t lie, right? It’s something that comes from within. It’s not my job to sort of coach that out of them. I’ll do what I have to do when we enter the next game as far as deployment. But, like, we’ve got to look within a little bit here.”
Bednar made sure to get his team’s attention, just in case the Wild hadn’t succeeded.
“I thought we came out with desperation,” Faber said. “I think, you know, there’s no excuses for the way we played (Games 1 and 2). It was a quick turnaround after an emotional series in Dallas (in Round 1). We needed to move on quicker, and I think we didn’t bring our best in Colorado. But tonight was a lot better. Tonight was the way we play.”
On special teams, the Wild had been outscored by seven goals through eight playoff games, half of them wins. They’ve been largely dominant at five-on-five.
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But in Game 3, they scored twice on the power play and once at four-on-four to chase Wedgewood in the first 25 minutes.
And when the Colorado power play, three-for-seven through the series’ first two games, finally cut into a 0-3 deficit during a goalmouth pileup at 13:11 of the middle period, Minnesota got a lucky bounce to restore its three-goal lead during a delayed penalty just 20 seconds later.
The most surprising shift from Game 2 to Game 3 was in the goal creases, as Wedgewood was yanked while Wallstedt responded impressively to sitting out on Tuesday when Minnesota backup Filip Gustavsson was leaky in a 5-2 loss.
“It was fun just to play hockey again,” Wallstedt said. “It felt like we, as a team, played really good and got the result we wanted.”
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Did he feel more pressure coming back with his team down 0-2 in the series?
“No, I think they’re the ones with pressure,” Wallstedt argued. “We know what we can do in our home rink. We’ve played great hockey here. I think they know if they give up one (goal), we’re coming for the next one. And I think we showed that today: we were not happy with 2-0. We wanted to go out and play better today. And now it’s a 2-1 series and we’re right back in it.”
With lots of open ice and stationary Avalanche players, Kaprizov made it 1-0 at four-on-four at 15:11 of the opening period, catching both Brock Nelson and Brett Kulak flat-footed as he sped to the net with the puck, waited for Wedgewood to commit and scored on a forehand.
“Four on four is a little different,” Nelson said. “Obviously, we got pushed back a bit (in our zone) and I was just a little slow picking up a little bit of the space to cut through.”
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Hughes doubled the lead at 16:44 on Minnesota’s first power play. Seeing Wedgewood had lost his stick, Hughes moved to his right with the puck across the top of the slot and then fired back to his left past the goalie’s stickless side.
The Wild power play made it 3-0 at 4:23 of the second when Mats Zuccarello’s shot-pass deflected up off defenceman Cale Makar before getting touched by Ryan Hartman as it was tumbling short-side past Wedgewood.
And after Nathan MacKinnon scored for Colorado into an unguarded net at 13:11 after Minnesota penalty-killer Daemon Hunt took out both Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and his own goalie, the Wild got another bounce to make it 4-1.
Vladimir Tarasenko’s shot from left wing on a three-on-two was saved by Colorado reliever Mackenzie Blackwood, only to have the puck bounce back into the net off Faber.
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It was the only goal Blackwood surrendered in 13 shots. Matt Boldy finished the scoring into an empty net.
Whether serious or just trying to be motivational, Bednar said he’ll have a decision to make about his goalie for Game 4. After a breakthrough regular season, Wedgewood has started all seven playoff games for the Avalanche.
“Well, it’s not going to be a confidence problem,” Bednar said of his team’s response. “You’re looking at two teams very evenly matched (so) you knew we were going to be in a series, right? You knew this was going to be the toughest one yet that we’ve played in the playoffs because of the team we’re playing, the venue, having a 2-0 series lead (and) their season is… somewhat on the line tonight. And they responded. So now we’re in a 2-1 series, and it’s going to be up to us to respond the next game. It’s really that simple. I mean, if your confidence is wavering after one loss in the playoffs, then your focus isn’t in the right place.
“It’s kind of like, you know, are you going to be the hammer or you going to be the nail?”
Former Super Eagles winger Victor Moses has finally explained why he decided to retire from international football at the age of 27.
Moses shocked many football fans in 2018 when he announced his retirement from the Nigerian national team despite still playing at a high level in Europe.
The former Super Eagles star was an important member of the squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He also represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.
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Speaking during an interview with Pulse Sports Editor-in-Chief Joba Ogunwale at the Famous CFC Watch Party in Lagos, Moses said he stepped away to allow younger players to shine.
“You know what, Nigeria had a lot of talent, and there were a lot of players in the Super Eagles squad during the time I left. I thought it was essential for other players to have their moment,” Moses said.
The former Chelsea player explained that his decision was not because he stopped loving the national team.
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“I love playing for Nigeria, I really enjoyed it. I won the AFCON in 2013 and represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups,” he stated.
“I’ve had great moments, made great friends in the Super Eagles. It’s not about leaving Nigeria, it’s more about the moments I experienced, and I really enjoyed my time.”
Moses scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for Nigeria before ending his international career.
At club level, he played for teams including Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace, but he became widely known during his time at Chelsea under coach Antonio Conte.
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He played a major role as Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018.
As Liverpool prepare for a rebuild this summer, the Merseyside club are paying particular attention to AS Monaco. As well as taking an interest in France international Maghnes Akliouche (24), they may also table a bid for midfielder Lamine Camara (22) this summer, as per a report from L’Équipe.
Since joining Monaco from FC Metz two years ago, the Senegal international has excelled at Monaco and was one of the key players for Senegal at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Like Akliouche, Camara is one of the players that will be allowed to leave the club in the event that the Principality club’s valuation is met this summer.
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There is interest from Liverpool, L’Équipe understands, whilst Newcastle United, a more long-term admirer, remain in the race as the summer transfer window approaches. He features particularly highly on the Tyneside club’s shortlist. The midfielder’s contract at Monaco runs until 2029.
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