..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Oscar deal done

Oscar deal done

Chelsea have agreed a £25million deal in principle to sign Brazil international Oscar.

The European champions have been chasing the Internacional star for several months, while Tottenham also wanted the 20-year-old.Chelsea were said to have failed in a previous £20m bid for Oscar, but are now understood to have succeeded with an improved offer.

A transfer could now be finalised, despite the playmaker's agent having previously claimed a move to Stamford Bridge was looking increasingly uncertain.Oscar is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom on Tuesday with the Brazilian Olympic team.

The youngster, capped six times for his country, is regarded as one of the best young talents in Brazil.

 

[rcccc]

Oscar deal done

Chelsea have agreed a £25million deal in principle to sign Brazil international Oscar.

The European champions have been chasing the Internacional star for several months, while Tottenham also wanted the 20-year-old.Chelsea were said to have failed in a previous £20m bid for Oscar, but are now understood to have succeeded with an improved offer.

A transfer could now be finalised, despite the playmaker's agent having previously claimed a move to Stamford Bridge was looking increasingly uncertain.Oscar is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom on Tuesday with the Brazilian Olympic team.

The youngster, capped six times for his country, is regarded as one of the best young talents in Brazil.

 

[charitha chandi]

Oscar deal done

Chelsea have agreed a £25million deal in principle to sign Brazil international Oscar.

The European champions have been chasing the Internacional star for several months, while Tottenham also wanted the 20-year-old.Chelsea were said to have failed in a previous £20m bid for Oscar, but are now understood to have succeeded with an improved offer.

A transfer could now be finalised, despite the playmaker's agent having previously claimed a move to Stamford Bridge was looking increasingly uncertain.Oscar is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom on Tuesday with the Brazilian Olympic team.

The youngster, capped six times for his country, is regarded as one of the best young talents in Brazil.

 

[zome]

Aguero'ගෙ අළුත් Hair Cut එක

මූත් දැන් Tevez වගේමයි.......

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea boosted by 64m euro Champions League winnings



Chelsea has received a huge cash reward for its Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in May, picking up 64 million euros in prize money.

The Blues' penalty shootout victory at the Allianz Arena saw them unsurprisingly take home the biggest payout of the clubs which took part.

Losing finalist Bayern earned 42m euros from the 760m euro prize fund shared among 32 participating teams.

Despite being eliminated at the group stage of the competition, Manchester United was England's second highest earner, receiving a sum of 35m euros.

Manchester City, which was also knocked out early on, took around 27m euros for its efforts.

Arsenal, which went deeper in the competition, only to be eliminated by AC Milan over two legs, took 28m euros into the Emirates Stadium coffers.

English clubs are rewarded for valuable broadcasting deals, which are factored into the UEFA payout calculations. The administrative body paid clubs 7m euros for taking part, plus results-based bonuses.

It has also been revealed that Champions League revenue will rise around 20 percent over the next three seasons.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool prepares Dempsey bid as it looks to offload Carroll permanently

Liverpool is preparing a bid for Clint Dempsey as it steps up plans to sell Andy Carroll on a permanent deal.

Goal.com understands that the American has rejected a new contract offer from Fulham and has told the Londoners that he wants to leave for a Champions League-caliber club.

Liverpool has pursued Dempsey for 12 months and now steps up its interest in a player whom Brendan Rodgers has privately made clear that he wants to bring to Merseyside.

Fulham values the USA international at around 9 million pounds but a combination of his age, 29, and his contract situation - he has just entered the final year of his current deal – means that the London club may have to settle for a fee of around 5 million pounds.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cole: I prayed Liverpool would appoint Rodgers

Joe Cole has backed Brendan Rodgers to succeed Liverpool, after admitting that he had "prayed" for the Northern Irishman to be appointed.

"I know him from my Chelsea days when he was there and I can't see anything other than positive things," he told the club's official website.

"When I was hearing about Liverpool looking at certain managers, I was praying it was going to be Brendan - not just because he's not an unknown for me and I know his philosophy on football, but I think for the club the owners have made the right choice. He has just impressed everyone so much since he's been here."

Cole spent last season on loan at French club Lille after falling out of favor under Kenny Dalglish but made a significant impression in Ligue 1, scoring four times in 31 appearances.
The 30-year-old now looks set to stay at Anfield this term under Rodgers, and had nothing but praise for the new Reds boss.

"It's been a breath of fresh air. A new manager always brings a lift, but the gaffer has come in and really impressed everyone," said Cole."You talk to anyone - any of the players to the ground staff to the guys on the door - everyone is really impressed with him.

"The manager has made it clear, it's not just the players it's everyone in and around the club. For us to get the results we want, we've all got to come together."

The London-born midfielder also expressed his certainty that Rodgers would succeed on Merseyside, hailing his footballing philosophy.

"What you get from him is honesty, he's made that perfectly clear, and you're going to know where you stand," he added.

"I think a lot of clubs are steering towards that in English football now. He's going to be a success at Liverpool and if we all stick together and pull round, we can do some great things at this club."

Cole also insisted that the 39-year-old's possession-based football will benefit both the club and the English game, having played in a similar manner in France last season.

"That style is what I was brought up with at West Ham and Chelsea. At West Ham, we didn't have the top, top players, but we always tried to play," he continued.

"At Chelsea, we always tried to get the ball down and play and move it. For me, that is football. I love the style of play. At Lille, we played like that as well - getting the ball down and moving.

"I think sometimes in English football, people automatically think you need to be aggressive - but look at Spain. No-one works harder than Spain. They pass and move the ball quickly, and sometimes physically it's harder to do that because you're constantly on the move and you're fighting and have to be dogged."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal to tell Van Persie that he cannot leave club this summer

Arsenal will tell Robin van Persie this week that he will not be granted his wish to leave the club this summer, Goal.com has learned.

The Dutch striker is ready to reiterate his stance that he wants to quit Arsenal before the current transfer window closes in contract discussions that will take place with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

But Gunners officials have decided to gamble on losing Van Persie for nothing next year by holding him to his current deal, which expires in 11 months.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Robben targets three titles with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has set his sights on winning three competitions in the 2012-13 season.

The Bavarian giant lost the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal titles to rivals Borussia Dortmund, while it was beaten by Chelsea in the Champions League final on penalties.

As Bayern prepares for the new season, Robben stated that he has regained full fitness following his holiday and underlined that the club are as ambitious as ever.

"We all thought of ways to be as fit as possible for the start of the season," he told Welt.de. "I think that is good.

"I had a nice holiday of four weeks. It was important. I noticed that I recovered completely. I am fresh and ready for the new season.

"I am of the opinion that you play to win if you are in three competitions. That must be the mentality for us all. At Bayern, you play to win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gattuso 'shocked' at AC Milan clear out

Former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has admitted that the club may struggle in the new season after selling some of their most important players.

The 34-year-old, currently on the books of Swiss side Sion, did not have his contract renewed at the end of 2011-12.

With Milan's financial problems well documented, the Italian giant has now been forced to sell Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic expected to follow the Brazilian defender shortly.

"Without Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta, Milan's defense no longer has any reference points," Gattuso told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Ibrahimovic alone wins you at least 10 matches per season. If I were Massimiliano Allegri, I would have trouble sleeping.

"Milan cannot play in the Champions League just to participate and to watch such a revolution in the squad after so many years is a true shock."

Gattuso then urged president Silvio Berlusconi to explain in detail the club's strategy to the fans.

"You cannot criticize Berlusconi after what he has done in the last 26 years, but he has to be clear and tell fans how things are," he added. "He must say if sacrifices will be made for two or three years and then there will be a return to spending.

"If people are losing their jobs, then there is no need to spend money on a football club. Even Inter are tightening their belt. Juventus are the only club who are spending and they recently built a new stadium."

The former Italy international then called on Milan to emulate the Serie A champion and heaped praise on Bianconeri coach Antonio Conte.

"The slogan for this season must be to fight and to imitate last season's Juve, which was built on two champions: Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon," Gattuso noted. "All the others threw up from working hard. We see that Conte has a sickness for football.

"When we played against Juve, everyone spoke of Edgar Davids, but Conte would grind out the kilometers and would never give up. He was like a cat attacking your chestnuts, as they say where I come from."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Carlos Vela joins Real Sociedad from Arsenal

Carlos Vela has signed a permanent deal with La Liga side Real Sociedad, leaving Arsenal after seven years at the club.

The Mexican striker was on loan with the Spanish team last season, making 35 appearances, and chipping in with 12 goals and seven assists, finishing as top scorer for the side.

Vela has previously played on loan at Salamanca, Osasuna and West Brom as he failed to nail down a place in the Arsenal first team since joining the club in 2005.

Vela is expected to put the finishing touches to the deal on Tuesday, though Sociedad has already announced the agreement with Arsenal, with an official presentation set to take place on Thursday.

Vela has represented Mexico at every youth level, playing at the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, and was a part of the senior side for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Higuain eager for Modric to complete Real Madrid move

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain is hoping his side can complete the signing of Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric as quickly as possible ahead of the new season.

Modric has been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG, but appears to be closing in on a switch to the current La Liga champions.

Higuain, 24, has revealed he has been impressed by Modric’s displays both at Spurs and Croatia and believes his arrival would boost the team.

Speaking at a press conference, Higuain said: "I saw Modric at the European Championship and also at Tottenham.

"He's a player that likes the club and us. Hopefully he'll sign as quickly as possible for the good of the team."

Higuain then replied to Sandro Rosell after the Barcelona president described last season's Primera Division as very strange, casting doubts over the legitimacy of Los Blancos' triumph.

"One-hundred points, 121 goals, winning at Camp Nou, yes, it was a strange league, though for us it was simply spectacular," he said.

Goal.com exclusively revealed Real Madrid hope to complete a move for Modric imminently for a fee in the region of 35 million pounds.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lewandowski still hoping to play in the Premier League

Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has stated that he still hopes to play in the Premier League some day after weeks of speculation linking him with a move to the English top flight.

Clubs such as Manchester United have been named in connection with the striker following his impressive form in the Bundesliga and at Euro 2012, and the 23-year-old has revealed that he is keen to move away from Germany at some point in the future.

"This [the Premier League] is a league in which I would like to play and I hope to manage that at some point," he told Polish television station TVP.

Dortmund still hopes, however, that Lewandowski will extend his contract beyond its expiry in 2014 after he bagged 30 goals in all competitions during the 2011-12 season.

"The reality is Borussia Dortmund - and that's a dream too," Michael Zorc, the club's sports manager, told reporters.

"Basically there's nothing wrong with someone dreaming of the Premier League. We're dealing with it professionally. We remain in constructive talks."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'He is full of talent' - New Lille signing Kalou impresses Garcia

Rudi Garcia has described new signing Salomon Kalou as "full of talent" after the former Chelsea forward made his debut for Lille in a pre-season friendly over the weekend.

The Cote d'Ivoire international played the second half as Les Dogues drew 0-0 with Portuguese giants Benfica, and the French side's coach admits to being impressed with what he saw in Metz on Sunday, but now wants the 26-year-old to begin building up match fitness.

"We have seen that Kalou is a guy full of talent," Garcia said to France Football. "He'll have to get fitter, but it's a good start in the team for him."

Kalou was released by Chelsea at the end of the season after making just 12 league appearances for the Blues in 2011-12, but going the other way was Eden Hazard, who joined the west London club despite a third-place finish for LOSC last season.

Llle may also have to begin its 2012-13 Ligue 1 without Mathieu Debuchy. The wantaway France full back has been heavily linked with moves to Newcastle United and Inter.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gattuso: Nesta and I left AC Milan because Allegri no longer wanted us

Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that he and Alessandro Nesta decided to leave AC Milan this summer because head coach Massimiliano Allegri "no longer needed" the duo.

"The reason why Nesta and I left is because we got the feeling that we were no longer needed by Allegri," Gattuso stated to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"When someone like the coach makes it clear to you that he prefers you as a coach or as a helping hand in the dressing room, the time has come to leave.

The holding midfielder exited the Serie A giants for Sion after a 13-year spell with the Rossoneri, while Nesta joined Montreal Impact after 10 years at the San Siro side.

"I don't hold any grudges, though. I'm proud of my time at the club. They wanted to hold on to me, but it's difficult when those in command of the changing room think different," Gattuso stated.

"There's no controversy. I have a good relationship with Max [Allegri]. It's just that I still feel like a player."

Gattuso made his official Sion debut at the weekend in a win over Grasshoppers, and was shown a yellow card before leaving the pitch with a minor muscular problem.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lavezzi: I really enjoyed my first game for Paris Saint-Germain

Ezequiel Lavezzi is eager to turn out for Paris Saint-Germain again after making his first appearance for the club in a friendly against CSKA Moscow.

The former Napoli forward made his bow for his new side in a 2-2 draw with the Russian outfit and expressed his delight to have put on the PSG jersey for the first time in a match.

"I really enjoyed playing my first game with my new teammates," Lavezzi wrote on his own official website.

"Even if preseason is hard and difficult and it has hardly started, I'm super motivated and I cannot wait to play again. The adventure continues."

Lavezzi has joined fellow Argentina international Javier Pastore at the Parc des Princes, while another South American star Thiago Silva completed his move to the Parisians last week as the club continues its high-profile summer spending.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rennes president: We have not received any offers for M'Vila

Rennes president Frederic de Saint-Sernin has insisted that the Ligue 1 side has not received any offers for Yann M'Vila.

The France international is continually being linked with a move away from Rennes, and clubs such as Arsenal and Inter are believed to be interested in signing the holding midfielder.

The 22-year-old was one of the most sought-after players before Euro 2012, and his club supremo has assured that he is not attempting to deny the player a transfer to a bigger club.

"We have an agreement with him that allows him to leave this summer, but we have not yet received any concrete offers for him," Saint-Sernin was quoted as saying by RMC. "Several clubs have inquired about him, but there are no formal offers. He is still a Rennes player. Several big foreign clubs are interested, but we are not blocking anything as there are no offers yet."

M'Vila has a contract with Rennes until the summer of 2015, and an offer in the region of 20 million euros could be needed to lure him away from his current club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Robben: Bayern even more motivated than before

Arjen Robben has stressed that Bayern Munich will be motivated to make amends for its "disappointing" 2011-12 campaign.

The Bavarians were beaten to the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles by Borussia Dortmund last term, while also losing in the Champions League final to Chelsea on penalties in their own backyard.

The Dutchman conceded that he and his teammates failed to achieve their targets, but assured that they are now only thinking about the new campaign.

"Last season was really disappointing," Robben was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "We simply didn't pick up the trophies we wanted. It's all behind me now, though. You can't go back and you can't change anything.

"I'm delighted we start again from scratch as usual. We may even be more motivated than before. Last week, I noticed that I am fully recovered. I'm fresh and I'm looking forward to the new season."

Bayern starts the 2012-13 Bundesliga campaign with an away match against Greuther Furth on Aug. 25.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi will reach his peak this season, claims Argentine physio

Argentine physio Fernando Signorini believes that Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi will be at the peak of his game over the next few years.

Signorini worked with Diego Maradona ahead of the 1986 World Cup, and was also part of the Argentina staff when the Napoli legend was in charge of the national team from 2008 until 2010.

Despite Messi having already amassed numerous titles, records and accolades including three successive Ballon d'Or honours, Signorini feels that the 25-year-old has not even entered his best phase yet.

"Leo will reach his peak this year, starting this season. Regardless of everything that he has already achieved, he will now start to write history. His best is yet to come," Signorini was quoted as saying by Sport.

"Up till now, everything he has done was the result of his intuition and his desire to play. However, from now on the element of preparation will come into the equation as well. His choices will no longer be just based on his instincts, but also on his knowledge and experience.

"He will enter a new stage of his game. It's impossible to say where his limits lie. It's a mystery what he can achieve. Players like him are very rare."

Messi netted 73 goals in all competitions for Barcelona in 2011-12, including a record-breaking 50 in La Liga to claim the Pichichi trophy.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cassano keen to leave AC Milan for Genoa

Antonio Cassano is attempting to push through an exit from AC Milan in order to secure a move to Genoa, Goal.com has learned.

The 30-year-old previously played for arch-rival Sampdoria between 2007 until 2011 after a disappointing spell at Real Madrid, and he is eager to return to the city where he rediscovered his joy in playing football.

A return to the Blucerchiati is all but impossible after he left the club in chaotic fashion in January 2011 after a feud with club president Ricardo Garrone, but a move to Genoa is a realistic option for Cassano, as his wife is desperate to return to the area.

Grifone supremo Enrico Preziosi is keen to add a high-profile name to his squad after the departure of Rodrigo Palacio to Inter earlier this summer, and he sees Cassano as the perfect replacement.

Genoa and Milan have enjoyed a fine relationship on the transfer market in recent years, and the former Roma star could be the next in line to renew their links.

The Rossoneri are willing to let go of Cassano due to his high wages and ongoing physical problems, and the possible inclusion of Mattia Destro, who is co-owned by Genoa, could further sweeten the deal for the San Siro side.