The Belgium international, 24, eventually joined Manchester United for an initial £75m last summer.

Farhad Moshiri told a shareholders’ meeting the player received the message “on a pilgrimage to Africa” having been set to sign a new deal at Everton.

“He had a voodoo and got the message he needs to go to Chelsea,” said Moshiri.

Premier League champions Chelsea had bid for Lukaku, but he opted instead to join Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.

Last March Lukaku’s agent, Mino Raiola, had claimed a new deal to remain at Everton was “99.9% done”.

“We offered him a better deal than Chelsea and his agent came to Finch Farm to sign the contract,” Moshiri told Everton’s annual general meeting.

“Robert [Elstone, chief executive] was there, everything was in place, there were a few reporters outside,” he added.

Moshiri said Lukaku then “called his mother” before the player revealed he had received the message telling him to join Chelsea.

Iranian billionaire Moshiri, who has put £150m of his own money into the Merseyside club to clear debts, said the Toffees offered the striker an “unbelievable” amount of money to stay.

“The issue with Romelu was not financial. As long as I am major shareholder, financial issues are irrelevant,” he said.

“I wasted two summers to keep him. First summer with his agent, him and his family we managed to keep him. Last summer we offered him a better deal than Chelsea – whatever they offered we matched but he just didn’t want to stay.

“If I tell you what we offered him you wouldn’t believe it, but they offered him a better deal.”

Lukaku spent time on holiday in Los Angeles last summer with his friend, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, and Moshiri says it proved impossible to convince him to stay at Everton.

“I got close to Rom, I like the boy, he’s a good boy, and I used all my charm to keep him and I flatly failed,” he added.

“The issue was his brain had gone. He was in LA and he wouldn’t come back.”

Moshiri was similarly unsuccessful in trying to keep Ross Barkley, who joined Chelsea last week after backing out of a £35m deal to move to the London side on transfer deadline day in August.

“I didn’t spent as much time to keep Ross as I did Rom,” added Moshiri.

The meeting also heard more on the club’s plans for a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which are progressing – but so are costs. Chairman Bill Kenwright said the development, which the club hope to be playing in by 2022, would cost £500m.

“Half a billion is the estimate. Half a billion is what we are dealing with,” he said.

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Source: BBC

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The 24-year-old has played every minute of his club’s Premier League campaign so far because of the injury problems of fellow striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Lukaku started the season with 11 goals in 10 games, but has only scored four times in his last 19 outings.

“The boy is tired. He is physically a monster but not a machine and he is feeling it,” Mourinho said.

“The guy is fantastic for me. But no, I cannot rest him.”

Lukaku has been involved in errors in his own penalty area in recent weeks that have led to goals for Manchester City and Burnley.

But the United manager refused to criticise the Belgian, suggesting the mistakes may be down to fatigue.

“Is that a consequence of a player that really needs a little rest, or is it just a consequence of the moment?” he asked.

“The other day, I said [he had played] 19 matches in the Premier League; now I say 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes.

“I think for a striker, any player, that’s absolutely incredible. But if you are a central defender, a holding midfield player, where you can control your energy, positional play, you can resist, survive.”

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Source: BBC

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A David Silva double and goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a 4-0 win at bottom club Swansea, as Pep Guardiola’s side extended their record-breaking winning streak.

Manchester United recovered from Sunday’s derby defeat by their title rivals with a 1-0 success over Bournemouth, Romelu Lukaku scoring only his second goal in his last 10 league games.

Sam Allardyce continued his undefeated start as Everton manager with Wayne Rooney’s tap-in enough to beat Newcastle, who sit a point above the relegation zone.

And Leicester boss Claude Puel enjoyed a happy return to his former club Southampton as his side recorded a fourth successive league win with a resounding 4-1 victory at St Mary’s.

Tottenham beat Brighton 2-0 to move up to fourth, with Liverpool a point behind after being held 0-0 at Anfield by West Brom.

West Ham remain in the relegation zone – level on points with 17th-placed Albion – despite a goalless draw against Arsenal, who are seventh.

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Source: BBC

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The Belgian, 24, who signed from Everton for £75m, got the winner seven minutes before half-time to add to Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s equaliser after United had fallen behind on 20 minutes.

United then lost Juan Mata to injury and Antonio Valencia to a red card.

“[Lukaku’s goal] is nice for him but not important for me,” said Mourinho.

“I told him I love what he does. He assists, he moves. He holds the ball well. I like everything he does.”

Mata limped off following a heavy challenge from Sebastian Saucedo but is expected to be out of action for a week at most.

Valencia was then sent off for a tackle on Saucedo, referee Allen Chapman speaking to Mourinho before belatedly dismissing the Ecuadorian.

“The delay was because the referee asked me to change the players and I didn’t because I don’t agree with the card,” added the Old Trafford boss.

“Saucedo was really aggressive with what happened to Mata and some other actions where he was a bit dangerous. It’s pre-season so no problem – it’s a good experience.”

United face Manchester City in Houston on Friday morning UK time (02:30 BST).

Analysis

BBC Sport’s Simon Stone in Utah

You know when you don’t want to do something but you have to?

As soon as Valencia thundered through the back of Saucedo, referee Allen Chapman knew he had to act.

Chapman – whose previous claim to fame was being the first video assistant referee to make an actual decision during a United States Soccer League game in 2016 – first looked warily at Jose Mourinho. Then, after making sure the injured player was being taken care of, he walked over to the United manager.

Please take Valencia off, requested Chapman, aware dismissing a United player in a friendly would create a stir.

No, came Mourinho’s reply. So, almost apologetically, Chapman walked to Valencia, went to his back pocket and sent the Ecuador player off.

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Source: BBC

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The 24-year-old has joined United from Everton on a five-year contract for an initial £75m, with the deal believed to include £15m in add-ons.

Striker Lukaku said he and Pogba, who moved to Old Trafford from Juventus last year, are “always together”.

Speaking to MUTV, the Belgium international added that he had “the hunger to win trophies”.

Pogba, who has referred to himself as ‘Agent P’, last week posted pictures on social media of him and Lukaku together.

Lukaku said: “He is one of my best friends, and he is my neighbour as well. We are always together on a daily basis so he would explain to me how things were going.

“When he signed for United, to have witnessed that, it really triggered something in my brain and I knew that if one day I had the chance to sign then I would not say no.”

Lukaku scored 25 Premier League goals for Everton last season, but in March said he did not “want to stay at the same level”.

Speaking on Monday, he said: “You just know and realise how big the club is, and the hunger it has to win trophies.

“I would like to say, at the end of my career, that I played for a team that has always challenged for trophies and this is what the club has always done.

To be here now is a blessing and I will not take this opportunity for granted.”

United boss Jose Mourinho was manager of Chelsea when they sold Lukaku to Everton for £28m in July 2014.

The striker spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Goodison before signing a five-year deal that summer.

Chelsea matched United’s offer to sign him from Everton, but Lukaku has been reunited with Mourinho.

“I am really looking forward to it, that is the most exciting part,” he said. “We have a really good relationship and I always dreamed to play under him since I was 10.

“To have the opportunity at 24 to work under him and to be part of his plans for challenges for trophies is exciting.

“I think he is a manager to help us to win trophies and I can’t wait to start working under him again.”

Lukaku has linked up with United on their pre-season tour of the United States, and trained with his new team-mates on Monday.

His move to the Red Devils means he will play alongside midfielder Marouane Fellaini for club and country.

Lukaku said: “He spoke to me two days ago and sent me a message saying: ‘Now you will discover how big and how great the club is.’ I said to him: ‘I have already realised it a little!’

“To have a guy who plays with me in the national team and one of my best friends in life in my team is great to get to know the players.”

Lukaku in stats

• With two goals against Hull City in March, Lukaku became the first Everton player since Gary Lineker in 1985-86 to score 20 league goals in a season.
• Lukaku is also only the fourth player to score more than 80 goals in the Premier League before turning 24 (after Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Rooney).
• He has scored more goals than any other Everton player in Premier League history (68).
• Lukaku is one of only three players to have scored more than 10 goals in each of the past five Premier League seasons (alongside Olivier Giroud and Sergio Aguero).

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Source: BBC

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Sky Sports reported that United will pay £75m up-front plus £15m of add-ons and Wayne Rooney will move to Goodison Park in the opposite direction.

United have declared they have got their man, despite Sky sources claiming a late intervention from Chelsea on Friday night in which they indicated to Everton they will match United’s offer.

The feeling at Stamford Bridge was that Lukaku’s agent, Mino Raiola, wants him to go to United while the player himself preferred a move to Chelsea.

Sources in London indicated the decision was down to Lukaku choosing between suiting his agent’s agenda or a sporting one to satisfy his long-held desire to return to Chelsea, who originally signed him from Anderlecht for £18m in August 2011.

But Lukaku is already in Los Angeles, where he has been training with prospective United team-mate Paul Pogba, and is expected to undergo a United medical ahead of their pre-season US tour.

Blues boss Antonio Conte is understood to have become frustrated at the prospect of missing out Lukaku, who had been his main target for a new striker this summer.

Sources in London believe Lukaku’s agent Mino Raiola wants him to join United

Conte is understood to want to sell Diego Costa, with Atletico Madrid interested in taking the player back to Spain, and he appears to have missed out on his chosen replacement to a potential Premier League title rival.

All the while, Alvaro Morata remains at Real Madrid, having seen United have a number of offers for him rejected earlier this summer and aware that Chelsea have also been interested in his services.

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Source: Sky Sports

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Romelu Lukaku put Everton ahead, heading home from close range for his seventh Premier League goal against the Hammers.

Everton improved as the match progressed and Ross Barkley, under scrutiny this season for some inconsistent performances, capped a fine display with a half-volley that secured the points for the hosts.

West Ham, who had been unbeaten in October, had chances and were the better side in the first half but were left to rue Angelo Ogbonna’s miss, which could have given the visitors the lead.

Despite their recent revival – the Hammers were aiming for a third consecutive league victory – Slaven Bilic’s men remain just three points above the relegation places as they continue to pay the price for four straight losses at the start of the season.

Before the game, Everton manager Ronald Koeman said his offensive players had to improve and provide greater support to top scorer Lukaku.

The Dutchman knows his team’s weakness, but there were signs in this match that £25m summer signing Yannick Bolasie and Barkley especially can become the consistent threats he craves.

The Toffees’ attackers made little impression in the first half and the hosts had just one shot on target – a rasping, deflected Barkley effort which was fabulously saved by Adrian.

But Everton were more adventurous after the break, with Lukaku, Bolasie and Barkley the bright lights as they put West Ham on the back foot.

Winger Bolasie, criticised this season for not making an impact since his move from Crystal Palace, was key to the opener.

Adrian could only push Seamus Coleman’s low drive a few yards away from goal and it was the DR Congo international who reacted quickest to scoop the ball across for Lukaku, who headed home unchallenged from close range.

Barkley, who has been dropped this season and substituted, became a greater influence in the second half and it was the midfielder who started and finished Everton’s second, winning the ball in midfield before setting Lukaku free on the right. The striker then picked out the supporting Barkley, who made a difficult finish look easy.

Hammers lack ruthlessness

West Ham began with the confidence of a team who have collected seven points from their past three league games and progressed to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

In the first half, Dimitri Payet was the game’s creative force and the France winger was supported by the lively Manuel Lanzini, with Michail Antonio adding muscle up front.

Payet was involved in the moves that led to six of West Ham’s seven shots in the opening 45 minutes and Ogbonna squandered a wonderful opportunity to put his team ahead after being put through by the 29-year-old.

In terms of statistics, there was not much to separate the teams – Everton had 49.1% of possession, West Ham made just 12 passes more than their rivals.

But Bilic’s men were lacklustre after the break and failed to make the most of the opportunities they did create.

Antonio failed to capitalise on a series of mistakes by Ashley Williams, while Joel Robles saved a Mark Noble effort that was heading into the top corner and a brilliant tackle by Bryan Oviedo was enough to put off Andre Ayew in front of goal.

What next?
Everton, sixth in the league, will play Chelsea in the league on 5 November, while West Ham host fellow strugglers Stoke on the same day.

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The two teams had met earlier in Casablanca last Saturday and played out a 1-1 draw but the Stars were victorious this time around.

The team took the lead in the 13th minute through captain Asamoah Gyan when he tapped home a cross from Jordan Ayew from close range.

But the away side came back into the match when defender Diarra Mohame Lamine scored in the 34th minute. He stroked home his shot after an initial free kick took a deflection and landed in his path to send both sides into the break tied at 1-1.

After the break, Ghana started well and in the 55th minute, the Black Stars were handed a penalty after a shot went off the hand of a Guinean defender.

Midfielder Andre Ayew scored from the spot to put Ghana into the lead. The goal spurred the Guineans into action and they created chances including a 80th minute volley that went just past the goal post with Adams stuck to his spot.

Ghana held on and got a third goal on the break. Defender Baba Rahman run the ball towards the Guinean goal and set up substitute Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu who placed the ball beyond Guinean goalkeeper Naby Yattara.

The win gives Ghana 8 points; a two-point lead over Togo who beat Uganda 1-0 in Lome while Uganda and Guinea are tied on 4 points each.

Teams:

Ghana starting lineup:

Stephen Adams, Harrison Afful, Baba Abdul Rahman, Awal Mohammed, Jonathan Mensah, Rabiu Mohammed, Solomon Asante, Kwadwo Asamoah, Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew.

Guinea starting lineup:

Naby Yattara, Issiaga Sylla, Diarra Mohame Lamine, Fodé Camara, Abdoulaye Cissé, Boubacar Fofana, Naby Keita, Ibrahima Conté, Ibrahima Traoré, Camara Abdoul Razagui, Idrissa Sylla

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Castro, born Theophilus Tagoe and his lady friend Janet Bandu disappeared after holidaying at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bANi7Dec38xCS5Kxm0Ed2BQQdvsm6XYI”]While some people believe that Castro is dead, his father, John Eshun, believes otherwise.

According to him, Castro is just missing but not dead, and may have been kidnapped either physically or spiritually.

“My son is not dead but has disappeared.”

“This is the first time I am speaking to the public on this issue and I am speaking with deep emotions. I have never stood anywhere to say that my son is dead,” he indicated, in an interview on Takoradi-based Sky Power FM.

According to him, after visiting Ada, his conclusion was that his “son had only disappeared” but not dead.

John Eshun explained further that Castro was wearing a life jacket and as a mariner himself, he knew that a life jacket, even if it had expired, would make his son’s lifeless body float.

He has also described as baseless, outrageous and senseless, the assertion by lawyer Maurice Ampaw, that the family of Castro has been bribed to keep mute on his disappearance.

VIDEO: Castro rocks Decemba 2 Rememba 2013

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By: Kojo Akoto Boateng/citifmonline.com

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