Italian Serie A side Lazio has finalized the signing of Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru on a season-long loan from Turkish club Hatayspor.

The deal includes an option for Lazio to make the transfer permanent next summer, with an initial payment of €2 million to Hatayspor and an additional €4 million required for the permanent transfer.

Recall that Dele-Bashiru, 23 years old, moved to Hatayspor from Sheffield Wednesday last summer and contributed six assists in 39 appearances across all competitions during his tenure in Turkey.

In an official statement, Lazio confirmed, “SS Lazio announces that it has acquired temporarily with an obligation to buy the rights to the sporting performances of the footballer Oluwafisayo Faruq Dele-Bashiru from Atakaş Hatayspor FK.”

Meanwhile, Nigerian forward Musiliu Odekunle has transferred from Nigerian lower-league club FC Ebedei to Danish Superliga outfit FC Midtjylland.

READ MORE: Ilechukwu Hails GTI’s Strategic Impact On NPFL

The 18-year-old will initially join FC Midtjylland’s youth setup to further develop his skills with aspirations to progress to the senior team in the future.

Upon joining FC Midtjylland, Odekunle expressed his ambitions, stating, “I am eager to grow as a player and enhance my skills. My objective is to continually improve as a footballer. I am excited about developing in the excellent environment at FC Midtjylland.”

Enugu Rangers gaffer, Fidelis Ilechukwu has commended the strategic impact of GTI Group’s initiative towards the restructuring of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

This commendation comes on the heels of the successful completion of the 2023/2024 season.

The highly respected and fast-rising soccer tactician revealed this while speaking to GTI Head of Media Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, at New Jos Stadium shortly after their Match Day 38 tie in which his team defeated Gombe United 2-1 in the final match of the NPFL 2023/2024 season. Following the victory, the Flying Antelopes amassed a total of 70 points and were crowned as NPFL champions.

READ ALSO: NPFL Stages AGM In Lagos From July 15-16

The soccer battle was graced by an appreciative capacity crowd of fans at the venue that had the governors of Enugu, Peter Mbah and that of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang in attendance.

Ilechukwu who was full of praise for GTI said the efforts of the financial investment firm and its emergence in Nigeria’s football ecosystem is already yielding the desired results.

“The strategic impact of GTI on the NPFL in the past two seasons they came on board is commendable and top notch. In the just concluded 2023/2024 NPFL season for example, GTI did creditably well because having our games streamed and beamed live globally is a great initiative by the company,” he said.

However, having been officially crowned champions of the 2023/2024 NPFL season, Rangers received a whooping sum of one hundred-and-fifty-million-naira (N150m) prize money from the NPFL which might have elicited Ilechukwu to take the stance.

He further confirmed that all hands are on deck beginning from the coaching crew to the entire management of the team to ensure they have a successful outing at next season’s CAF Champions League in which Rangers will be flying the flag of the country at the continental level.

“We have started preparations and looking out on how to get more quality players into the team to fortify our squad as we build up for our continental engagements next season.

“It is very important we fortify our present squad because we know what it entails to play and challenge for trophies at the continental level. Frankly, we are preparing very well regarding this and we are optimistic that we are going to do well and make Nigeria proud at the continent,” Ilechukwu concluded.

Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been suspended for two games by UEFA, ruling him out of the Euro 2024 quarter-final against the Netherlands.

The suspension, announced on Friday, follows Demiral’s celebration during Turkey’s 2-1 win over Austria in the last-16 match on Tuesday.

After scoring his second goal, Demiral made a gesture associated with the Turkish right-wing extremist group, Grey Wolves.

READ ALSO: https://biztellers.com.ng/euro-2024-quarter-finals-fixtures-unveiled-full-list/

UEFA cited Demiral’s actions as a violation of “the basic rules of decent conduct,” adding that he used the sports event for “manifestations of a non-sporting nature” and brought “the sport of football into disrepute.”

The suspension means Demiral will also miss a potential semi-final match against either England or Switzerland, should Turkey defeat the Netherlands on Saturday.

The incident has ignited a diplomatic row between Turkey and Euro 2024 host nation Germany.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to attend the quarter-final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

In response to Demiral’s salute, Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser declared that “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums.”

Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over politicians’ reactions to Demiral’s celebration.

Although President Erdogan has not directly addressed the issue, several ministers and the spokesperson for his ruling AKP party have criticized Faeser’s remarks.