Barcelona "will set up" its first African academy in Lagos. Pan Vilanova Vila-Abadal, director of business and a member of Barcelona's management board, said that Barcelona "decided to set up its academy in Lagos due to the impressive population of the state, and the opportunity to share the philosophy of the team with the state" (GOAL, 2/23). ... Chelsea has stepped up its pursuit of Antonio Conte "amid growing confidence that the Italy coach could be persuaded to sign a contract" before this summer's European Championship finals. Conte, 46, is understood "to be happy to negotiate with Chelsea," having emerged as the front-runner among several contenders to fill the post that has been occupied by Guus Hiddink on an interim basis since José Mourinho’s departure in December. Reports in Italy claimed that a deal between Chelsea and Conte had been agreed to and was "awaiting ratification by Roman Abramovich (LONDON TIMES, 2/24). ... Sunderland allowed Adam Johnson "to return to the team despite knowing he privately admitted kissing and grooming an underage schoolgirl." Jurors were told that
Johnson, 28, "publicly denied for more than a year that he had kissed or groomed the 15-year-old fan."
However, on Wednesday the jury heard that Johnson admitted at a meeting with Sunderland CEO Margaret Byrne on May 4, 2015 that "he had kissed the girl and swapped messages with her" (London GUARDIAN, 2/24).
