THE INTENSIFIED REPORT

Super Eagles and Villarreal of Spain forward, Samuel Chukwueze, has been nominated for the La Liga Player of the Month award for April. The Nigeria international will compete with Barcelona captain Lionel Messi, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, and Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa for the individual accolade. Other contestants are Sevilla’s Fernando, Real Betis’ Claudio Bravo and Fernando Pacheco of Deportivo Alaves. Chukwueze was terrific for the Yellow Submarine during the month in question, scoring three goals in five Spanish elite division matches, while the 33-year-old Argentine superstar found the net on four occasions from the same number of outings. He has scored four goals in 27 league appearances for the Yellow Submarine this term.

Atletico Madrid announced the signing of Barcelona forward Luis Suarez late on Wednesday, confirming the Uruguayan striker is set to continue playing in La Liga rather than joining Juventus in Italy. Barcelona said that Atletico had agreed to pay six million euros for Suarez, who left his last training session in tears on Wednesday having been told over the summer that he was no longer required by new coach Ronald Koeman. Since joining Barca from Liverpool in 2014, Suarez has won a host of trophies, including the 2015 Champions League and four Liga titles. He leaves as the club's third highest scorer with 198 goals behind Cesar Rodriguez (232) and Lionel Messi (634). The move to Barcelona's La Liga rivals follows a failed attempt to join Juventus. Juve coach Andrea Pirlo disclosed last week a deal was unlikely because of delays in the Uruguayan's bid to get an Italian passport. On Tuesday, prosecutors in Perugia said they suspected Suarez of cheating to pass his

Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, is set for a massive pay rise at Barcelona following a collective agreement on pay and conditions that guarantees a minimum salary of 16,000 euros for women footballers, signed by Spain’s top women’s division. The agreement comes after a strike by players in November that saw Primera Division fixtures postponed. The new agreement also secures benefits for the players that include paid holiday and maternity leave.