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Maxi Lopez, who is he? The prospective new owner of Birmingham City has joined forces with local businessman Paul Richardson

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Former Argentine forward Maxi Lopez is reportedly on the verge of purchasing Championship club Birmingham City after an impressive career that spanned four countries and saw him make over 450 senior club appearances.

Lopez, along with Blues fan and businessman Paul Richardson, is the leader of a consortium that is set to announce the acquisition of the Midlands-based football club after ex-Watford chairman Laurence Bassini missed his exclusivity deadline to make a deal work.

After six consecutive seasons of finishing 17th or lower in England’s second tier under current chairman Wenqing Zhao, Birmingham fans will rightly welcome a new owner as they dream of a return to the Premier League.

Nonetheless, with little known about Lopez’s role in the takeover, St. Andrews is currently surrounded by both intrigue and concern.

This article looks at Maxi Lopez’s football career, what he’s done since then, and where the money for the Birmingham takeover will come from.

Maxi Lopez’s professional career has taken him from River Plate and Catania to Barcelona and Milan.

Lopez, like many other footballers from the same region, was born in Buenos Aires and rose through the ranks of storied club River Plate in his early career.

Lopez made his senior debut for the club at the age of 17 in 2001 and went on to make 70 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 16 goals.

Because of his talent at such a young age, European giants Barcelona came calling, and Lopez moved to Spain in January 2005 for €6.2 million (£5.3 million). His career with the Catalan club did not go as planned, and despite scoring four minutes into his debut against Chelsea in the Champions League, he only made 19 appearances for the club before signing a permanent deal with FC Moscow in 2007.

After spells with Gremio, Catania, Milan, and Sampdoria, among others, Lopez announced his retirement from football in 2021. Lopez ended up making 418 club appearances in his career, scoring 110 goals and representing Argentina at the youth level over 30 times.

Why are Maxi Lopez and Mauro Icardi feuding?

Lopez is well-known for his spat with former teammate Mauro Icardi, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain, as well as his appearances in high-profile leagues such as Serie A and La Liga.

This is due to Lopez’s former wife Wanda Nara, with whom he was married for five years and has three children, marrying Icardi.

Lopez and Icardi became close friends after playing together at the Italian club Sampdoria. According to reports, Lopez would invite Icardi on vacation with his family and even opened his home to the striker when he first moved to Europe from Argentina.

Lopez refused to shake Icardi’s hand during a match between Sampdoria and Inter Milan in 2014, prompting the press to dub the game the “Wanda derby.”

Since then, Icardi and Nara have been married for eight years.

What did Maxi Lopez do after his football career, and where did he get the money for this Birmingham City takeover?

In reality, little is known about Lopez’s life since his retirement from football in 2021.

He is said to have a keen interest in business and is a partner in a company called Maxco Capital with compatriot Christian Codoma – Codoma is also part of the consortium to buy Birmingham.

Lopez also made a good living as a player thanks to his big moves and contracts, and he has a social media following of over two million followers.

However, it is likely that the majority of the funds required to fuel this takeover of Birmingham City will be provided by fellow business partner Paul Richardson.

Richardson reportedly made his fortune as a shareholder and former chairman of fitness apparel company Gymshark, and he now owns a fashion company.

What is the next step in the Birmingham City takeover?

Lopez and Richardson announced on July 19 that they have been granted their own exclusivity period in order to complete a deal to purchase Birmingham.

It is unknown when that period will end, but Richardson has confirmed that the two have already exchanged contracts regarding the proposed takeover.

This morning, Richardson told the media that he and Lopez hope to complete a deal for the Midlands club “within the next three weeks.”

“We exchanged contracts on Saturday after many months,” Richardson told Sky Sports. We paid our deposit on Monday, and we’re here today to begin our research into how the club operates – our due diligence.”

“We’ll then wait for EFL approval, which could take a couple, three weeks at most, and then we’ll go to completion,” he continues.

“It’s a happy day for us and all the Blues fans,” Lopez continued. It’s our cash. I had been working on this for almost a year. I believe it is a massive undertaking. This team has far too much potential.”

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Nathan Ake Wiki: Net Worth, Clubs, Salary, Earnings, and Family

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Nathan Ake Wiki: Net Worth, Clubs, Salary, Earnings, and Family

Nathan Ake is a professional soccer player who currently plays as a center-back for Manchester City and the Netherlands national team. He began his career at Chelsea, where he made his professional debut in 2012 and spent several seasons playing for the club’s youth and reserve teams. Ake was loaned out to several other clubs, including Reading, Watford, and Bournemouth, before joining Bournemouth on a permanent basis in 2017. In 2020, he returned to Manchester City, where he has become a key player in the team’s defense. Ake is known for his versatility and ability to play as a center-back or left-back and is considered one of the best young defenders in the English Premier League.

Nathan Benjamin Ake was born in The Hague, Netherlands, on February 18, 1995. The defender joined Manchester City in 2020 and, in just two seasons, captured two Premier League championships. During the FIFA World Cup 2022, he was a regular starter for the Oranje. Nathan Ake is a graduate of the Chelsea and Feyenoord development systems. He debuted for Chelsea as a senior in 2012. Before moving to Bournemouth in 2017, he did, however, spend the majority of his time on loans.

Over time, the Dutchman grew into a capable defender who could play both left and center back. Nathan Ake signed a 5-year contract and joined Manchester City in August 2020. With the English giants, he won two league championships in two seasons (2020–21 and 2021–22). A crucial defender for Pep Guardiola’s team has been Nathan Ake. As of 14 games in the 2022–23 Premier League, he had started 7 games. He scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the EFL Carabao Cup 2022–23 to eliminate them and go to the round of eight. Nathan Ake additionally assisted Manchester City in getting to the 2020–21 Champions League final, where they fell to Chelsea 1-0.

2017 saw Nathan Ake make his senior debut for the Netherlands. He participated in every game for the Oranje during the FIFA World Cup 2022, which was coached by Louis van Gaal. In the 3-man backline, Ake was an important defender. After an extra-time draw of 2-2, the Netherlands was eliminated by eventual champion Argentina in the quarterfinals.

Nathan Ake’s earnings, salary, and net worth

Nathan Ake, a defender for Manchester City, has an $11 million net worth. Ake makes £4,680,000 as a player for Manchester City per year. His weekly salary is £90,000. Therefore, it is not surprising that his projected net worth is a comfortable $10 million USD. Nathan Ake joins the elite group of footballers with the highest incomes thanks to this remarkable amount of money. The average professional football player makes an astonishing sum per year, estimated to be approximately 2.3 million USD in pay and bonuses, with a market worth of roughly $30 million USD. The young defender has worked hard to advance and is now among the highest-paid players in the Netherlands.

Nathan Ake uses his earnings to support his young wife, Evita Maria Acaire Barta de Ake, and other responsibilities. Spanish-born artist Maria, who owns her own modeling business and is good friends with the Dutch footballer, was raised in Spain. They were married in the early summer of 2018 and had known one another since before Ake became a professional. Many of the football player’s buddies were shocked by this because he was only 22 at the time.

Nathan Ake still has a long way to go before being regarded as an international star, despite the fact that a sizable percentage of his income comes from his endorsements. It will be intriguing to watch how his wealth grows as a professional football player. His performance for his club and country could greatly increase his financial situation. With the World Cup in full gear, Ake will undoubtedly get a lot of exposure in the upcoming months, boosting his notoriety and wealth even more.

Contract and Transfer

In August 2020, Nathan Ake moved to Manchester City from Bournemouth and signed a 5-year deal. At the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, on June 30, 2025, his current contract will be up. Each season, Ake will receive a salary of £4.68 million.

Ake’s Salary per Season:

SeasonTeamSalary/Season
2024-25Man City£4.68 million
2023-24Man City£4.68 million
2022-23Man City£4.68 million
2021-22Man City£4.68 million
2020-21Man City£4.68 million
2019-20Bournemouth £2.08 million
2018-19Bournemouth £2.08 million

Nathan Ake’s wife and family

The lovely Kaylee Ramman is Ake’s wife. Kaylee and Nathan, long-term lovers, share. In 2011, they began dating, and by 2020, they were engaged. In 2022, the couple exchanged vows. Moise Ake, Nathan Ake’s father, is Ivorian, and Ineke Telder, his mother, is Dutch.

Quick Facts

Full NameNathan Benjamin Ake
Current ClubManchester City  
PositionDefender   
Shirt No.6
Date of Birth18 February 1995
Age 27
Height 180 cm (5′ 11″)
BirthplaceThe Hague, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Net Worth$11 million
Weekly Salary£90,000
OutfitterNike
Relationship StatusMarried  
Spouse   Kaylee Ramman
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Chelsea are said to be competing with Manchester United and Liverpool for the signature of forward Nico Williams

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Chelsea are said to be competing with Manchester United and Liverpool for the signature of forward Nico Williams

Chelsea are said to be competing with Manchester United and Liverpool for the signature of forward Nico Williams

It has been reported that Manchester United and Liverpool will face competition from Chelsea in their pursuit of the services of Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams. Atlético Bilbao’s 20-year-old forward has started 14 of the team’s 15 competitive games this season, during which he has contributed four goals and four assists. His talents for both club and nation have piqued the curiosity of a number of the biggest clubs in Europe, and he has already made an appearance off the bench in both of Spain’s opening two World Cup group games.

A recent rumor suggested that Manchester United and Liverpool were mulling over a move, and it is thought that Juventus are also evaluating the possibility of making a trade. Football London says that Chelsea will likely enter the competition to sign the young player, whose current contract is about to end in 18 months.

According to the report, Chelsea has been impressed by the Spain international and may be persuaded to make an approach during the transfer window that will open in January. It is reported that Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in signing Williams, and any club that is interested in signing Williams has the option of triggering his €50 million (£43 million) release clause.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for two matches and fined £50,000 by the Football Association

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for two matches and fined £50,000 by the Football Association

The Football Association punished Cristiano Ronaldo for his behavior after Manchester United’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Everton with a two-game suspension and a £50,000 fine. The 37-year-old participated in the entire 90 minutes of the game at Goodison Park, which Anthony Gordon’s goal in the first half decided. At the conclusion of the game, as he was making his way down the tunnel, Ronaldo was shoved in the direction of a fan’s cellphone, which he dropped on the ground. After the incident, the Portugal international apologized on social media and agreed to a warning from the police. However, the FA has now punished him after an investigation.

“It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.” “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient, and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game,” he wrote on Instagram after the incident.

“I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship.”

If Ronaldo ever plays in the Premier League again, he will be required to pay a £50,000 fine and serve a two-game suspension. The forward’s contract with Manchester United was terminated on Monday, according to a club announcement. This was done after the club learned of the forward’s incendiary TalkTV interview with Piers Morgan.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for two matches, fined £50,000, and warned as to his future conduct for a breach of FA Rule E3,” read a statement from the FA.

“The forward admitted that his conduct after the final whistle of the Premier League game between Manchester United FC and Everton FC on Saturday, April 9, 2022, was improper.”

“An independent Regulatory Commission found that his conduct was both improper and violent during a subsequent hearing and imposed these sanctions.”

The attacker, who is presently with the Portugal team at the 2022 World Cup, has recently been linked to Newcastle United. The former Sporting Lisbon youth can join a new club with the intention of playing in January, and Chelsea is another English team rumored to be mulling a move for Ronaldo. In 16 games for Manchester United this season, Ronaldo has only scored three goals, with his lone Premier League strike coming last month against Everton.

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