..::Football II::..

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Wenger: Arshavin could still have Arsenal future

Arsenal's mercurial winger Andrey Arshavin will hold talks with Arsene Wenger to decide if he has any future at the north London club.

The 31 year-old forward spent the second half of last season on-loan at former club Zenit St Petersburg, having been heavily criticized by a section of Gunners supporters.

Additionallly, the Russia captain had been expected to leave the club this summer, to create funds for further arrivals after the signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Nevertheless, Wenger has not ruled out keeping Arshavin, a 15m pound signing in Jan. 2009, at the club, despite him not being included on the club's tour of the Far East.

"Arshavin, it depends. We have to sit together and have talks. He could still have a future at the club," said
Wenger in the Daily Mail.

However, other bit-part players have been deemed surplus to requirements, most notably French defender Sebastien Squillaci and South Korean forward Chu-Young Park, both of whom have failed to impress since arriving from Sevilla and Monaco respectively, while the Danish international striker Nicklas Bendtner, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, is also available for transfer.

 

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Manchester United aims to raise $330 million on New York Stock Exchange

Manchester United has released the final details of its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange which they hope will raise up to $330 million.

The Red Devils announced in documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission their intention to float shares earlier this month in a bid to pay down the significant debt loaded onto the club as a product of the Glazer family's takeover in 2005.

The Americans bought the club for 790 million pounds but, due to the loans used in order to make the purchase, are currently attempting to fight 423 million pounds worth of interest repayments.

The club isreleasing 16,666,667 shares in total, with 8,333,333 of those being ordinary Class A shares priced between $16.00 and $20.00.

However, the Glazers intend to hold on to the remaining 8,333,334 Class B shares which ensure they retain 10 times as many voting rights on the club's board as those who hold Class A shares.

 

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£70m van Persie: Massive new bid could end summer's biggest transfer saga

Juventus are set to launch a stunning SEVENTY million pound attempt to lure Robin van Persie to Italy.Giuseppe Marotta, the Serie A champions' general manager, has held further talks with van Persie’s representatives and made it clear they will top any offer made by rivals Manchester United.

Van Persie will also be offered a five-year deal worth £190,000 a week AFTER tax.And Juve have told his agents that they will make a £20m offer to Arsenal for his services.

 

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Tim Cahill makes Red Bulls debut against Tottenham

HARRISON, N.J. -- The minute Tim Cahill walked out on to the field at Red Bull Arena, the reality of his move to Major League Soccer hit him.

"As a footballer, you appreciate the stadium, the fans, and you look and you realize this is New York City, this is the New York Red Bulls," said Cahill. "This is a new chapter in my life and I wanted to take it in and enjoy it."

Cahill had a strong performance in his 45 minute debut for the New York Red Bulls. The attacking midfielder received a nice through ball from Dax McCarthy and drew a foul in the penalty box, which Kenny Cooper converted in the eighth minute.

Cahill lined up primarily in the central midfield, in front of two holding midfielders in Teemu Taino and Dax McCarthy. The Australian was allowed to play freely, often advancing with the forwards. Cahill expects that he will be more comfortable with the team when he finally starts practicing with the squad on Wednesday.

Despite surrendering two goals in the second half in a 2-1 loss, Cahill likes what he has seen from the Red Bulls so far. Once the team gels, the 32-year-old believes the team has plenty to work with as it is in the second half of the MLS season.

"It was a really solid performance and that's what we need to look at and that's what we need to build on," Cahill said.

Although Brad Friedel didn't play in Tottenham's victory, the 41-year-old is impressed with the Red Bulls' acquisition Cahill.

"He's going to have build his fitness, but New York has signed a very good player in Tim Cahill. I know he's not very tall in stature but he's really quick and powerful in the air," Friedel said. "He play in three or four positions as well."

Friedel believes that Cahill will leave a strong impression in the locker room, saying that the Australian international is an ideal role model for some of the team's younger players.

"On top of that, he's a really nice person so he's going to fit in with all of the players," said Cahill. "He'll be one of those guys who will be able to help the American players. He's a really good guy."

With the addition of a third Designated Player, the pressure is on New York to at least reach the MLS Cup final. Friedel claims that any team in New York and Los Angeles has heightened expectations.

"I think whenever you build a team with stars like you have in New York and in LA as well, you're expected to win," he explained. "So I think the pressure is always going to be on New York city and LA."

He added, "From growing up here and what I remember, if you don't do well in New York, the fans let you know about it."

 

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New York Red Bulls 1-2 Tottenham: Classy Bale and Sigurdsson ensure Spurs round off US tour with victory

Tottenham rounded off its pre-season tour of the US with victory on Wednesday evening, after two moments of class from Gareth Bale and Gylfi Sigurdsson saw off New York Red Bulls 2-1.

Kenny Cooper had given the MLS side an early lead from the penalty spot, and while Spurs initially struggled to find their rhythm in the opening 45 minutes, the north Londoners soon kicked into gear in the second half as they secured a comfortable win ahead of their return to British shores.

Tim Cahill was handed his debut at Red Bull Arena following his switch from Everton to the MLS last week. The Australian midfielder made an immediate impact, finding himself through on goal after latching onto a ball in behind Jan Vertonghen which in turn forced the Belgian center back to foul him in the box.

Cahill stepped aside to allow Kenny Cooper to take the penalty, and the striker duly converted from spot to give Red Bulls a 1-0 lead after eight minutes.

Spurs soon rallied, with Bale testing Bill Gaudette from 25 yards with a well-struck free-kick before Tom Huddlestone drive from distance stung the goalkeeper’s hands. The Welshman rose well to meet the resulting corner but was unable to guide his header on target.

Early in the second half, Bale found space down the left-hand flank to whip in a cross which worked its way to Aaron Lennon on the edge of the box, and the wideman drew an acrobatic save from Gaudette with a powerful effort that looked destined for the back of the net.

Yet the shot-stopper was unable to hold out for much longer, with two moments of class turning the game on its head in the space of five minutes.

First, the ever-impressive Bale rose above his marker on a corner kick to guide a header into the top left-hand corner and pull Spurs level on the hour mark, before Sigurdsson burst into life to give the away side the lead.

Having jinked superbly in between the Red Bulls defense, the Icelandic international coolly dispatched the ball past Gaudette in a manner reminiscent of Thierry Henry, who was watching on from the bench.

A third goal was not to follow, despite Michael Dawson clattering the bar from the six-yards and a late flurry of chances for substitute Andros Townsend, but the positives will certainly outweigh the negatives for Villas-Boas as Tottenham prepares to return to London.

 

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Ranocchia keen to see out Inter contract

Andrea Ranocchia insists he is determined to make the most of his spell at Inter, as he intends to fulfill his contract with the club.

The 24-year-old's place in the Nerazzurri squad had been put into doubt after he failed to impress in his first complete season at the Giuseppe Meazza, fresh from leaving Genoa in a 12.5 million euro transfer in January 2011.

However, he seems to have earned a place in coach Andrea Stramaccioni's first-team plans following Lucio's exit last month, and the Italy international is eager to prove his worth and put a disappointing campaign behind him.

"[2011-12] was a difficult season but at the same time important for my growth as a player," he told Mediaset Premium.

"Now I feel ready to approach a new season. I may have had a bad year, but I am happy to have overcome it and learned from my mistakes.

"The newspapers have written a lot about me, but like I have said in the past, I have a contract with Inter until 2015 and I want to respect it.

"I am at one of the best clubs in Europe, I cannot ask for more."

 

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Pepe: Only Kaka knows where his future lies

Real Madrid defender Pepe has conceded that he is in the dark about the future of teammate Kaka.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move away from Madrid, having struggled for fitness and form since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009 in a 68 million euro deal.

AC Milan has publicly admitted that it is keen to re-sign Kaka, who played at San Siro between 2003 and 2009, but it has so far failed to reach an agreement with the Blancos, who are reportedly uninterested in loaning out the player.

Questioned about Kaka's situation, Pepe told reporters: "He is a great teammate and I am happy to share the dressing room, but he is the one to know what his future looks like.

"Today, he is with us and we have to cherish him."

The Portugal international was also asked about his opinion on Benfica midfielder Axel Witsel, who was on Monday linked with a 40 million euro transfer to Madrid after impressing in his first season at the Estadio da Luz.

"He has done very good things," Pepe said.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Julio Cesar denies comments over Inter future

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar has intimated that the quotes attributed to him in which he said he was on his way out of the club were fabricated.

The Brazil international has been continuously linked with a move away from Inter since the Nerazzurri signed Samir Handanovic from Udinese in an 11 million euro deal earlier in the month.

Earlier on Tuesday, Julio Cesar had been quoted as saying that his time at Inter had come to an end, but the 32-year-old has now denied making such remarks.

"I would like to say that I have not made any comments about my future," he told Sky Sport Italia. "I would also like to deny the quotes that appeared on a Facebook page that does not belong to me.

"If I have to tell anything to the fans, I will do it in person."

The 64-cap Brazilian, who signed for Inter in 2005, was last week omitted from the side's squad for the Europa League qualifiers against Hajduk Split.

Meanwhile, Julio Cesar's agent confirmed there is a number of clubs interested in his client, but underlined that a transfer is not close at hand.

"Some clubs have contacted us, but I told them to talk to Inter and negotiate with them," Josias Cardoso told Radio Brasil.

"There is nothing certain yet."

 

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Henry: Arsenal can cope if Van Persie leaves

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry hopes Robin van Persie stays at the club but believes the Gunners are more than capable of coping if the forward departs.

Van Persie, 28, has been heavily linked with a move away after revealing a desire to leave the club earlier in the summer, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Serie A giant Juventus all interested in a move for the Dutchman.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger remains hopeful of holding on to his star striker but Henry is unsure whether the player will remain at the club.

"We hope he stays and that's the way it is," the Frenchman told Sky Sports News.

"I don't know exactly what is happening but as an Arsenal fan I want him to stay.

"He is still an Arsenal player and the boss has to deal with it. I just want Arsenal to do well. Robin will do what he will do and we'll see.

"When I left, everybody cried, but then the year after they went on a run of being eight points ahead. Everyone comes and goes."

Van Persie has less than a year remaining on his existing contract with the Gunners and has insisted he does not intend to extend his deal beyond the end of the current season.

 

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Everton completes Pienaar signing

Everton has completed the signing of Steven Pienaar from Tottenham on a four-year contract.

Pienaar moved to Everton in July 2007 on loan from Bundesliga giant Borussia Dortmund before signing on a permanent basis the following year.

He moved to Spurs in Jan. 2011 but failed to establish himself under Harry Redknapp and subsequently rejoined the Toffees.

"I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton," he told evertontv.

"There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done."

Everton boss David Moyes had revealed earlier in the summer that his main target for the summer was to complete a deal for Pienaar.

The Toffees kick off their Premier League campaign with a tricky home fixture against last season’s runner-up Manchester United.

 

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Real Madrid signs Borja Garcia from Cordoba

Cordoba has confirmed the sale of midfielder Borja Garcia to Real Madrid for a reported 1.5 million euros.

The Segunda Division outfit made the announcement on Tuesday and it is believed that the Rayo Vallecano youth team product has agreed a four-year contract with Los Blancos.

"At 14:30 hours today, Cordoba CF and Real Madrid reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Borja Garcia," a statement on the Andalusian outfit's official website read.

"Therefore, Borja, who arrived at the beginning of last season, is officially a player of the Madrid club. Cordoba CF wishes him well in his new venture."

The 21-year-old Garcia will continue to ply his trade in the Segunda Division, with Real Madrid Castilla, but could see some game time for Jose Mourinho's senior squad next term.

 

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De Bruyne: I want to leave Chelsea

Chelsea youngster Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he wants to leave the club on a temporary basis to gain regular first-team action, with a loan move to Werder Bremen imminent.

According to sources in Belgium and Germany the 21-year-old could be presented to the media on Wednesday before taking part in his first training session for his new side later in the week.

"Coach [Roberto] Di Matteo understands my situation," De Bruyne told Bild. "I want to leave Chelsea and Werder is a good team."

The Belgium international signed for Chelsea for a fee in the region of 7 million pounds in January from Genk but remained on loan with his old club for the remainder of the season.

He recently made two pre-season appearances for the Blues, featuring against Seattle Sounders and Paris Saint-Germain.

Two weeks ago, De Bruyne told Goal.com that he was interested in a loan move.

"For me, I say it's important to play," De Bruyne told Goal.com. "If it's not at Chelsea, I will go to another club to play."

The current Champions League holder has been busy reshaping its squad so far this summer - bringing in Marko Marin, Eden and Thorgan Hazard and Oscar, while releasing Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.

 

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AC Milan loans Taiwo to Dynamo Kiev

AC Milan has announced that defender Taye Taiwo has joined Dynamo Kiev on loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.

The Nigeria international joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer from Marseille last summer but failed to settle at San Siro and spent the second half of the season at QPR.

Taiwo has previously expressed a desire to join Benfica, while he was heavily linked with Galatasaray in recent days.

However, he has now been farmed out to Kiev, who have the option to buy the player outright at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.According to Sky Sport Italia, the Ukrainian outfit have agreed to pay Milan 500,000 euros to take the left-back on loan until next summer, but will hand over another 2 million euros in installments over the following two years should they decided to make the move permanent.Taiwo, who has made just four Serie A appearances last term, was linked with Real Madrid before signing for Milan.

 

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Lugano: Suarez boos are a sign of respect

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano insisted he has no problem with the rough treatment handed out to Luis Suarez from the stands during London 2012, stating that the jeers show that the Liverpool striker is feared and respected for his goalscoring talent.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender was not selected as one of the Celeste's over-age players for the Olympics, but he has been accompanying the team and was among the crowd which saw the South American's fall 2-0 to Senegal on Sunday.

Suarez has been singled out in Uruguay's opening two games by fans, but his captain believes that the boos and catcalls have no effect on the prolific striker or the rest of the side.

"When you get whistled at like that it is because you are respected, I don't know maybe even feared; the same happened to Maradona's Argentina. If the fans applaud you like they do for the Arabs or the Senegalese it is because they think you are inferior, so it will be a great game [against Team GB] and I hope it goes our way," the veteran explained to Ovacion on Tuesday.

"[The Suarez abuse] is a sign of respect and a little bit of fear. When these people take that attitude it is because they clearly see you as a rival and deep down there is a lot of respect."

Uruguay has to beat the hosts on Wednesday to qualify from Group A and keep its hope of a third Olympic title alive. Lugano told his compatriots that just a little extra effort was needed to upset Team GB and book a place in the quarterfinals.

"First of all I want to send a message of strength and optimism, but nothing special because they do not need anything. Just a little more good luck against Great Britain to achieve another great success for our football, which would be brilliant."

Lugano has made a total of 68 appearances for his nation, and captained the Celeste to the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup as well as victory in last year's Copa America.

 

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Mascherano pens Barcelona extension until 2016

Barcelona has announced that Javier Mascherano has officially signed a new contract with the club until 2016.

The versatile Argentine midfielder, who can also play at center back, has developed into a key player at the Catalan club since completing a 22 million euro transfer from Liverpool.

He has now added two years to his previous deal, which expired in 2014, to put an end to all speculation surrounding his long-term future at Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, Barca has also revealed that Mascherano's release clause is now set at 100m euros.

The 28-year-old has made 97 appearances for the Blaugrana, although he has yet to break his duck in front of goal.

 

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Thiago Silva: Serie A remains a big league

Thiago Silva has insisted that Serie A remains an important competition, despite the departure of star players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and himself.

The former AC Milan pair have moved to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and will be joined in the French capital by ex-Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, but Silva is adamant that Italian football is still worthy of a place at the top table.

"Serie A is not a poor league all of a sudden. Italian football remains a very successful product, which has inspired people all over the world," Thiago Silva was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

The defender then admitted that Milan has indeed lost many key figures this summer, but he is confident that head coach Massimiliano Allegri can navigate the storm.

"It is true that Milan have lost some quality. They have also lost leading figures such as [Clarence] Seedorf, [Filippo] Inzaghi, and [Gennaro] Gattuso," Silva told the Italian news outlet. "Milan will have to rebuild the team. It will not be easy, but Allegri is an intelligent coach who will find solutions."

The 27-year-old also looked back at his summer transfer to PSG, and once more stressed that he did not want to leave San Siro.

"I had made it very clear that I wanted to stay until the end of my contract, but I knew that Milan had financial difficulties. It would therefore have been difficult to stay. I would still be at Milan if it weren't for their financial problems," he told the newspaper.

"I am not a mercenary. Milan was my home. They made a good deal, though. They signed me for 10 million euros and sold me for 42 million euros."

Silva is currently playing at the Olympics with Brazil, which will meet New Zealand on Wednesday in its last game of the group stage.

 

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Real Madrid will not allow Kaka to leave on loan

Real Madrid has no intention of allowing Kaka to join AC Milan on a one-year loan deal and are holding out for a permanent transfer, Marca reports.

The Serie A giants are desperate to lure the Brazil international back to San Siro this summer, and have already held talks with the player's agent to discuss a potential move.

However, the Rossoneri's dire financial situation complicates matters, and the club is hoping to sign Kaka on loan without paying a fee, while requesting that Madrid continue to pay 50 percent of the midfielder's wages.

Los Blancos have no interest in such a deal, though, and will only let go of the Brazilian on a permanent basis.

Talks between both clubs will continue in the upcoming days, and the Liga champions will insist that Milan table a serious offer soon in order to take negotiations to the next level.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Brad Friedel: Major League Soccer is not an option at this point of my career

The evergreen former United States international is entering his 21st preseason as a professional soccer player and admits that he is unsure about his future after the upcoming season.

"How much more do I got? Let's get through this [season] first," the 41-year-old said. "I have a year left on my contract and at my age, it really does go year to year."

"We'll see how things progress and at that point, I'll make a decision on my future," he added. "If I couldn't do it anymore at the highest level, then I wouldn't want to play. I wouldn't sign a contract."

If there is one thing that Friedel is certain about, it's that he will only continue to play if Premier League teams are interested. The goalkeeper hinted to Goal.com that he wouldn't consider a move to play in Major League Soccer.

"It's getting harder and harder to consider [MLS] because of my age," Friedel told Goal.com. "I've been really fortunate to have these opportunities in the Premier League with big clubs. It's always superseded any negotiations that I've started with MLS.

"I think MLS is a great place compared to what it was and it's a tremendous asset to the country. It's going to keep on getting bigger and bigger but being a part of it as a player, time's against it. Let's put it that way."

 

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Pato pledges future to Milan

AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato insists he is happy to stay at the San Siro after being handed the No. 9 shirt previously sported by Filippo Inzaghi.
Pato, 22, is expected to become the focal point of Massimiliano Allegri's attack next season following Inzaghi's retirement and the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris St Germain.

The Brazil international, who is currently on Olympics duty at the London Games, managed just seven Serie A starts last season after being plagued with injuries throughout the campaign and was linked with a move to PSG in January.

However, Pato does not expect to follow former Rossoneri team-mates Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva in moving to the Parc des Princes and has pledged to stay at the San Siro. "I am very happy with the Rossoneri," Pato said. "I hope that the Number 9 left to me by Inzaghi can bring me luck, as I want to score many goals. Nobody knows the future, but I can only say that I am very happy at Milan."

 

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Wenger hits out at reckless spending

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger fears big spending from clubs such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain this summer will cause football to suffer.
Wenger is reportedly on the verge of signing Santi Cazorla from Malaga for £16 million, which would take the Gunners' summer spending to £39 million. However, with Europe's "mega-rich" clubs spending more than double that amount during harsh economic times, Wenger insists clubs must begin to act responsibly.

"We consider ourselves in a privileged position because we have a massive income," Wenger told the Sun. "But overall we are not mega-rich because we do not [have] unlimited resources.


"A club can buy players like PSG has done or Manchester City or Chelsea, with unlimited resources, but overall football suffers. Look at the activity on the transfer market since the start of the summer."PSG are ambitious and they have resources and that's it. We talk always about the same things. I don't think anything is new in that domain.

"Europe at the moment is like the Titanic but we live in football like nothing matters. More than ever we have to run our club in a strict way because it looks like everybody suffers in Europe."I would be surprised if football is not touched by it at some stage. If you look at debt in football across Europe at the moment it is quite massive and we have to be responsible.

"We have to be ambitious but also make sure we are not getting in trouble financially. It is difficult for us because the wages in some other clubs are very high. But of course our players quite rightly compare themselves to the players of the other clubs."

Despite their investment over the summer, Wenger does not feel Chelsea's recent achievements will change the game in England. Wenger also believes the Blues' Champions League triumph last season demonstrates how competitive the Premier League is."I don't see what it could change. Maybe it will wake up the appetite of [Roman] Abramovich again. I'm proud when any Premier League club wins the Champions League.

"It shows how competitive the Premier League is because Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League and that is the real quality of a team. More than the Champions League it is about where you finish in the league. That just shows how good the Premier League is," said Wenger.