The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has reported the death of Joe Lartey, a veteran Ghanaian football pundit and sports writer.

He passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the age of 96.

Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as “Over to You,” was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG’s founding president.

Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961.

He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana’s sports community.

He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.

In appreciation of his achievements in sports journalism, Lartey received the coveted “A Life in Sport” award from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) during the AIPS Sport Media Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022.

Lartey’s impact stretched well beyond Ghana, with numerous Ghanaian football analysts praising him for moulding their careers.

Fans and colleagues alike will remember him warmly for his pioneering work in sports broadcasting.

Barcelona coach Xavi will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in June 2025, having changed his mind about this being his final season.

The 44-year-old stated in January that he will stand down as manager this summer.

However, with president Joan Laporta desperate for him to stay, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder has made a U-turn.

Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23.

However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season.

Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to PSG in the quarterfinals.

Xavi, who won 25 honours during his brilliant playing career at Barcelona, said he felt “liberated” with the revelation that he would leave the position at the conclusion of the season.

When he announced his departure following the defeat to Villarreal, he felt he was not being safeguarded by the club and there was no clear direction.

However, the team’s fortunes have improved since Xavi felt comfortable taking a more casual attitude.

They went ten games undefeated in the league before falling 3-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday.

On Wednesday, there was a meeting at Laporta’s residence, and the club’s desire for him to stay was clear.

If Xavi is unable to strengthen the squad before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Barcelona will attempt to persuade one of the high-profile managers out of contract, including Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane is “one step away” from taking over as head coach of Champions League semifinalist Bayern Munich.

According to anonymous sources “familiar with the talks” between Bayern and Zidane, negotiations are “practically done” to the point that the Frenchman has already requested additional additions.

Zidane has been out of a job since he left Madrid as manager for the second time, in 2021.

He just returned to the Bernabeu in some form, playing a legends match against Porto last month, and explained his departure from the Spanish capital, paving the door for current manager Carlo Ancelotti to take over.

In recent weeks, Zidane has been extensively connected with a return to management, with Bayern Munich being mentioned as a possible next destination.

The Bavarians and Thomas Tuchel have already agreed to split ways on June 30, and Xabi Alonso, a prospective replacement, was removed from the table when the Spaniard renewed his contract with Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

During a tremendously spectacular campaign in which his club went undefeated, Bayern and Real Madrid icon Alonso won Bayer’s first German championship, ending Bayern’s 11-year supremacy.

In 2024/2025, it appears that Zidane will be the guy in charge of restoring Bayern to their domestic league dominance.

This is because, according to Mundo Deportivo, Zidane is only “one step away” from manning their bench, a formal signing away.

The former Ballon d’Or winner and Julian Nagelsmann were in a two-horse race for the Allianz position, but Nagelsmann renewed his contract with the German national team until after the 2026 World Cup, ending the contest sooner than planned.

MD talked with unnamed people “familiar with the talks” between Bayern and Zidane, and while nothing has been inked, they are “practically done”.

Zidane has allegedly requested reinforcements throughout a team in need of a facelift, with a particular emphasis on defence.

This is one area where Zidane may lose Alphonso Davies, a well-known Madrid target, this summer.

The Canadian’s contract does not expire until 2025, so he might stay for at least one season before moving to the Spanish capital on a free transfer.