NPFL can produce next Messi — La Liga official

NPFL can produce next Messi — La Liga official

Javier del Rio, Head of La LigaNigeria Office, on Wednesday in Abuja said the Spanish league organisers have been working closely with the League Management Company.

Del Rio told the News Agency of Nigeria the close relationship with the Nigeria Professional Football League organisers was aimed at establishing a proper youth structure for Nigerian clubs.

He said this was crucial to developing the league and producing world-class footballers for Nigeria.

“The NPFL is capable of producing the next Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta (graduates of the FC Barcelona academy) or those better than they are if a proper youth system is established with the NPFL clubs,” Del Rio said.

He said there was the need for grassroots development for the Nigerian league to grow.


“Nigeria has a lot of talents, but the problem has been how to discover them early, harness and mould them into world-class stars,” the La Liga official said.

He said La Liga, in conjunction with LMC, was trying to replicate the Spanish La Liga model in the NPFL to develop the league and make it more attractive.

“Since our partnership came into being in 2016, several workshops have taken place which have helped set up a proper roadmap  for the league.

Battle for the premier league golden boot

The three forwards are on same numbers of goals

19 goals in  appearances with a total of  mins played.   assist and  penalties scored.

Sergio Agüero: (Manchester city)  19 goals in 29 appearances with a total of 2130 mins played.  8 assist and 2 penalties scored.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: (Arsenal) 
19 goals in 33  appearances with a total of  2461 mins played. 5 assist and 3 penalties scored.

Mohamed Salah: (Liverpool)  19 goals in  35 appearances with a total of  3003 mins played. 7 assist and 3 penalties scored.

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Chelsea brief history

Founded: 1905 
Country: England 
City: London

Known as: The Blues

Home grounds

Stamford Bridge

Main Trophies 

First Division/Premier League: 6
FA Cup: 7
Football League Cup: 4
European Cup/Champions League: 1
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2
UEFA Europe League: 1

Chelsea was founded in 1905 by Gus Mears, an English businessman who had earlier bought the Stamford Bridge athletics stadium with the plan of transforming it into a football ground. 

Russian billionaire becomes the club's new owner

In 2003, Chelsea's landscape changed forever when the club was sold to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich . The new owner immediately led Chelsea to an era of financial stability, paying off the majority of the club's debts and spending a then-unprecedented amount of money on star signings.