..::Football II::..

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Dortmund can close gap on Bayern, claims Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang believes Borussia Dortmund will be in a much better position to challenge for the Bundesliga title in the upcoming season.

Dortmund have made three big-name signings including Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang.

And the forward, who joined his new club for €15 million from Saint-Etienne in July, says Jurgen Klopp’s men can rebound after finishing 25 points adrift of champions Bayern Munich last year.

"In my opinion, the differences are minimal between the sides, but we play very different football," Aubameyang said in an interview with Sport Bild.

"Bayern’s team is full of big names and high quality individuals, at BVB we also have players of high quality, and are a team in the truest sense.”

The Gabon international has been in impressive form during the Schwarzgelben’s pre-season and is delighted to be now playing for a side he has long admired.

He added: "Because of BVB’s dynamic, aggressive, extremely passionate playing style, I often watched them on television in the years before I joined. I actually fell in love with them as a teenager."

Aubameyang made his name in Ligue 1 with St Etienne, scoring 41 goals in 96 appearances.

 

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Milan told to stump up €35m for Paletta

The Argentine has been linked with the Rossoneri but Parma will only consider huge offers for the player while Juventus target Jonathan Biabiany is not for sale
AC Milan must pay €35 million for Gabriel Paletta while Juventus have been issued a hands-off warning for Jonathan Biabiany, says Parma CEO Pietro Leonardi.

The Rossoneri have been credited with having an interest in the former Boca Juniors defender and the Crociati executive says it will take a huge fee to tempt his club into a sale.

“Whoever wants to sign Paletta has to pay €35m. There are no negotiations about that,” he told reporters.

When asked about other potential deals to bring in players, Leonardi insisted he had already got his man.

He added: "We are not in any other negotiations, we only wanted [Antonio] Cassano."

Leonardi is also determined to hold on to winger Biabiany, with speculation continuing to link the former France Under-21 international with Juventus.

He said: “Parma are not in the habit of selling its best players. And Biabiany is one of Parma's best players."

On Wednesday, the Gialloblu unveiled their latest recruit Brazilian defender Felipe from Fiorentina on a four-year deal.

 

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Benzema not going to AC Milan, insists agent

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will remain at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, insists his agent.

Benzema has been linked with a move to AC Milan recently amid rumours of his discontent at los Blancos but his agent Karim Djaziri has refuted the claims.

“Benzema is staying with Madrid,” Karim Djaziri told Tuttomercatoweb.com.

“There is nothing with Milan and I have nothing further to say.”

Djaziri has been vocal in recent months about the former Lyon man's future.

The 25-year-old is expected to be one of the main attacking options for Madrid this season with speculation continuing to mount over Gonzalo Higuain's future at the club.

Benzema, whose contract runs out in June 2015, has scored 89 goals in 183 appearances while also contributing 50 assists for the Liga runners up.

 

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Robinho extends Milan deal

The Brazilian had been linked with a move away from the club this summer but has put pen to paper on a new three-year contract at San Siro AC Milan have announced that Robinho has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2016.

The Brazilian attacker first moved to the club from Manchester City back in 2010, but his current contract was set to expire in 2014.

However, he has now put pen to paper on a new three-year contract.

"AC Milan announce that Robinho has extended his contract to June 30, 2014," ran a statement on the club's official website.

The 29-year-old had been heavily linked with a return to boyhood club Santos this summer, but the Sao Paulo giants proved unable to finance the move.

 

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Morata eyes Madrid stay

The 20-year-old has insisted that both the club and coach Carlo Ancelotti want to keep him and that he has received no offers Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has moved to distance himself from speculation that he could leave the club this summer.

The young forward made inroads into the Blancos first team last term, having come through the ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu.However, recent speculation has linked him with a move to Liverpool, but Morata insists that he only wants to play for the capital club."I'm training well and want to stay in Madrid," Morata said.

"The club and coach want me to stay. I do not have to turn down any offers because I have not received any. I just want to play here."It is important to receive minutes and to score goals, and the more minutes you get, the more chances you will score."

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain stand between Morata and a regular first-team spot and while the 20-year-old believes the Argentine could leave, he is certain the Portuguese will stay put."Higuain? It is up to the club, but I see him with the same enthusiasm as always," he added.

"Cristiano? I do not imagine that he will leave. He is the best in the world and has to be on the best team in the world. I am a fan of his."

 

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Liverpool's Lucas feels '50-60 per cent better'

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is delighted with his pre-season progress and claims to be feeling around 50 per cent fitter than he did last campaign.

After missing the majority of 2011-12 with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the Brazilian picked up a thigh problem at the beginning of last campaign that ruled him out for three months and claims he is only now returning to full fitness.

"I'm feeling 50-60% better than I was last season," he told the club’s official website.

"The last six months I played were really important for me. I needed to get games and sessions, and this season now I'm feeling strong and feeling that I'm in the shape I was before the injury.

"Now I've got to improve the fitness and build confidence, but I'm really happy with the way pre-season has started."

The 26-year-old was voted the Reds’ Player of the Season after his previous injury-free campaign in 2011, but has made just 38 Premier League appearances in the two years since then.

 

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Tevez scores in Juventus debut


Carlos Tevez has enjoyed a goalscoring start to life at Juventus - scoring and starring in the side's 7-0 demolition of Rappresentativa Val D'Aosta.

The opening Bianconeri pre-season friendly of the summer, in Saint Vincent, saw the Argentine open is tally in a non-competitive clash in the first half.

The other goals in the clash came from fellow Juve strikers Alessandro Matri and Mirko Vucinic - two apiece - with single goals each for Marco Motta and young debutant Federico Mattiello.

Check out the former Manchester City and Manchester United forward's finishing in the video above and let us know in the comment section below whether you think Tevez can continue scoring when Serie A gets under way in August.

 

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Neymar to wear No.11 at Barcelona

Neymar has been given the No.11 shirt to wear in his debut Barcelona season.

The forward could potentially have taken the No.7 following David Villa's move to Atletico Madrid for €5 million but the Brazilian is set to line up for the Catalans in Thiago Alcantara's old number following the midfielder's €20m transfer to Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

The club was announced in an unorthodox fashion - via the loud speakers in the official team store at Camp Nou.

Neymar wore the No.10 shirt during the Confederations Cup with Brazil, but has previously worn the No.11 with the Selecao.

He also adorned a No.11 jersey at Santos en route to scoring over 100 league goals for the Brasileirao side.

 

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Cech would welcome Rooney arrival at Chelsea

Petr Cech believes Wayne Rooney would be a great addition to the Chelsea squad.Jose Mourinho confirmed the club made a bid for the Manchester United striker on Wednesday, adding that the England international is his only transfer target ahead of the new campaign.

Cech has faced Rooney on 19 occasions during his Chelsea career and limited the striker to just nine goals, but knows the threat he poses and would enjoy seeing him lining up on the same team.

"Wayne Rooney is a great player but, at the moment, he's a Manchester United player," he told reporters. "We'll see what's going to happen. He's a great player. Let's see."You always want to have the biggest and strongest squad so you can challenge for titles."

Chelsea's initial bid was rejected by the Red Devils, but Cech remains confident that Mourinho will establish a strong squad regardless of whether Rooney joins or not. "That's why you have a manager and sporting director to take care of that, and all you (as a player) have to do is the work on the pitch," the Czech Republic international added.

"We already have a few more players in and a great squad. If the manager doesn't think we have enough he will try to get players in. It is only his decision."In football things are changing every day with every squad. As time goes on, every team can make some changes. Anything can happen."

 

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Benteke back in training amid Tottenham interest

Christian Benteke has returned to pre-season training with Aston Villa as he continues to push for a transfer away from the club.

The 22-year-old submitted a written transfer request last week and Villa are locked in talks with Tottenham over a deal for the Belgian striker.

Villa still want over €25 million for Benteke, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, while Spurs are reluctant to reach an agreement worth more than €23.2m for a player who has spent just one season in England.

Benteke has his heart set on a switch to Spurs and would triple his €23,000-a-week salary if he completes a move to White Hart Lane.

But he returned to training at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday amid the threat of a two-week fine by Villa boss Paul Lambert, who allowed his star man to miss last week’s trip to Germany.

Liverpool have also made an enquiry for Benteke while Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho retains an interest in the forward, who went on strike last summer to force through his €9m transfer from Genk.

Benteke is understood to have first indicated his preference to move to Spurs several months ago, with the north London club stepping up their interest after losing out to Atletico Madrid in the race to land David Villa.

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas wants his squad for the new season in place early as he looks to mount a challenge for a top-four finish.

Brazil international midfielder Paulinho has arrived from Corinthians in a €20m deal while the club are also looking for a left-back and a versatile winger.

 

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PSG close in on €35m Marquinhos

Roma defender Marquinhos is close to agreeing a €35 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

The two clubs are in advanced negotiations over the structure of the deal, which is expected to be finalised by the end of the week.

It is believed that Marquinhos has already agreed terms with the French big-hitters and will soon put the finishing touches to the move, with the centre-back's brother claiming on Thursday that a deal had been agreed upon.

"We were awake all night trying to reach an agreement," Luan Aoas told Lancenet. "But finally we succeeded."Barcelona had a €20m bid for the Brazilian teenager rejected by Roma this summer, but they look set to have been overwhelmed by PSG’s financial muscle as the French club eye Marquinhos partnering up with compatriot Thiago Silva in defence.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising centre-backs in world football following an excellent debut campaign in Serie A after moving from Corinthians 12 months ago.

Barca made an offer for Marquinhos as they stepped up plans to reinforce their back four this summer, with PSG star Silva and Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny also on the club’s radar.

Roberto Calenda, a representative of Marquinhos, was quoted this week as saying the youngster has had "offers from PSG, Manchester United and Barcelona".

Roma have decided to cash in on the centre-back in order to reinforce other areas of their squad, with Kevin Strootman, Mehdi Benatia and Maicon joining from PSV, Udinese and Manchester City respectively this week. The Giallorossi have also made an €8m bid for Arsenal forward Gervinho.

PSG are now confident of following up the estimated €63 million signing of Edinson Cavani with Marquinhos, with the likelihood that the deal will be complete within 48 hours.

 

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€35m?

 

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Pellegrini leaves Manchester City tour for family reasons

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has temporarily left the club’s pre-season tour to return to Chile for family reasons.

The Premier League runners-up confirmed on their Twitter account that the Chilean would not take charge of Thursday's friendly against AmaZulu in South Africa due to his sudden departure that morning.

Brian Kidd took charge of the team in his absence, following his similar stand-in role after Roberto Mancini's firing at the end of last season.

Pellegrini is hoped to reunite with the squad in Hong Kong on the next leg of their pre-season campaign.

Despite his unavailability, the club have pressed ahead with their transfer plans, with Fiorentina confirming on Thursday that they have agreed to sell Stevan Jovetic to City.

 

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Rodgers: Liverpool will put up a top four fight

Brendan Rodgers is confident Liverpool can fight for a top four spot in the Premier League this season.

The 40-year-old has been busy early on in the transfer window, signing Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, while Steven Gerrard has extended his contract.

The Reds boss is happy with what he has seen so far during pre-season and is confident of a successful upcoming season for the Merseyside club.

"The Champions League is a competition we're fighting to get in,” Rodgers told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta.

"The great name of Liverpool as a club and the history of the club dictate that we should be in that competition. There's no other measure for us.

"The challenge is very, very difficult because of the competitors now in England. We have to continue to fight - and I believe we can put up a great fight this year.

"It was very difficult for us last season with a new infrastructure and a new way of working and playing, but I believe this season we can put up a great fight. Let's hope we can get back to where the club belongs."

Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League last season, but Rodgers admits stability and building a foundation was the key for the club to push on this term.

He added: "I've looked at how we've started our pre-season and that start base and foundation is already in place.

"Last year at the club, it was really about putting together the infrastructure of the club again, looking to rebuild and put lots of facets in place that will really help us going forward. From what I have seen this summer so far, even in pre-season, I really believe there is a real stability there.

"In England, it has shown over the years that the teams that have went on and done well have had that stability. I'm very sure we can really challenge this year and the stability is important for that."

"We really want to have a greater fight for the Champions League spots right from the very first whistle.

"That's our prime aim and we would like to do well in the cup competitions. Our squad was a little bit thin last year, but this year we're going into those [cup competitions] as well as the league and look to make the steps we want to make.

"The four new players have settled in really well and all looked very, very good in their first two weeks of training. I'm really happy with them."

 

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Amazulu 2-1 Manchester City: Late penalty hands Pellegrini second defeat

Carlington Nyadombo's last-gasp penalty condemned Manchester City to their second consecutive defeat of pre-season after a lacklustre display in Durban against Amazulu.

Nyadombo calmy slotted in from 12 yards after Abdul Razak had hauled down Marc van Heerden to give the hosts a famous victory on the 95th birthday of national hero Nelson Mandela.

James Milner had fired City level on 26 minutes after Bongani Ndulula had given the South Africans a shock lead seven minutes earlier but the Premier League giants looked well below-par throughout.

Good news for the Premier League runners-up came at half-time with Fiorentina's announcement that the two clubs have agreed the transfer of Stevan Jovetic but City are still winless in pre-season.

New manager Manuel Pellegrini missed the match as he travelled back to Chile for family reasons, leaving assistant boss Brian Kidd in charge of team affairs.

City made four changes to the side who lost to Supersport United on Monday, with Matija Nastasic, Yaya Toure, Milner and Scott Sinclair all earning their first starts.

In an opening high on energy but low on quality, Samir Nasri was the first to threaten, curling a free kick over the Amazulu wall from 25 yards and forcing Tapuwa Kapini into a good save.

Aleksandar Kolarov was causing the South Africans problems with his forward runs and, on 15 minutes, Kapini had to venture out and claim the ball from him.

But, four minutes later, the Serb made a horrendous and costly mistake, playing a back-pass straight into the path of Ndulula, who gleefully rounded Joe Hart and tapped home.

Stung by the setback, City pushed forwards and, despite a lack of any real invention, found themselves back on terms in the 26th minute.

Sinclair's hanging cross found Toure unmarked in the area and, despite the Ivorian mistiming his jump, the ball fell to Milner at the back post and the England international smashed in first time.

The visitors appeared to be growing in confidence and, moments later, Fernandinho fired just over when given too much space some 25 yards out.

Nasri then spurned a glorious chance to give City the lead, shooting low against Kapini after Dzeko had dummied the ball to him, and the two sides went in level at the break.

City made three changes at half-time, introducing Pablo Zabaleta, Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell, but the new faces failed to inject any real urgency into their play.

Amazulu substitute goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe was forced into action on 53 minutes, however, saving low from Rodwell after Dzeko had found the Englishman on the edge of the area.

On the hour Kolarov surged forward again, getting to the byeline and finding Dzeko low at the near post, but the Bosnian's effort was beaten away by Mathibe.

Moments later, Dzeko turned provider, flashing a dangerous ball across the box which narrowly evaded Fernandinho and Sinclair with the help of the Amazulu goalkeeper.

In the main, however, City looked devoid of intensity and imagination, allowing their energetic but limited opponents to successfully disrupt their passing rhythm.

Clear chances were few and far between but Sinclair should have done better than to drag his shot wide when cleverly slipped through by substitute Alex Nimely 10 minutes from time.

And Sinclair curled wide again before City, inexplicably, snatched defeat from the jaws of a draw late on. Razak brought down Van Heerden, and Nyadombo easily beat replacement goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

 

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Fiorentina to sell Jovetic to City

Manchester City are closing in on their second signing of the week after Fiorentina announced they had agreed terms for the sale of Stevan Jovetic.

Just 24 hours after Sevilla confirmed that Alvaro Negredo had, subject to a medical, decided to join City, Jovetic also looks set to move to the Etihad this summer.With Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli having left the deposed Premier League champions this year, City were in desperate need of reinforcements.

Although Jovetic is not a striker he is effective in behind the forward line and likes to break from deep, hence his goalscoring record of 35 goals in five seasons at Fiorentina. He scored 13 goals last season and 14 the campaign before. The Viola missed out on the Champions League on the final day of the season last term, and Jovetic has decided to move on to play at the highest level.A statement published on Fiorentina's official Twitter account, @ACF_Fiorentina, read: "An agreement has been reached with Manchester City Football Club for the permanent sale of the player Stevan Jovetic."

The Montenegro international had missed the entire 2010-11 season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in pre-season training but has proved he has recovered fully from that injury. He made his Montenegro debut in 2007 and brought up his 10th goal for the nation in a friendly game against Latvia last August.

City have already added Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk and winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla to new manager Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

 

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Jovetic awama City attaking godak strong

 

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Rodgers firm on Suarez value

Brendan Rodgers said it will take something "drastic" for Luis Suarez to leave Liverpool and expects the wantaway striker to stay at Anfield.Suarez has made it clear he wants to move on, claiming he has been persecuted by the British media and suggesting Real Madrid is his preferred destination.

But while Rodgers warned the 30-goal forward that he is not bigger than the club, he has vowed to keep the 26-year-old.And he has warned would-be buyers that Liverpool value Suarez at much more than £30 million, the offer they received from Arsenal and the only bid that has been tabled so far."Luis Suarez is a wonderful player and he is still very much a Liverpool player,” Rodgers said in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Liverpool are on their pre-season tour."No matter who the player is, nobody is bigger than Liverpool Football Club.

"Luis is a very important member of this squad and I am looking forward to working with him again this season after he had such a fantastic season."There has been lots of speculation about Luis moving to another club but, as I said, he is very much a Liverpool player."We had an offer that was nowhere near what we value him at. He's one of the top strikers in the world.

"Of course he wants to work and play at the top level. But unless something drastic happens, he will be staying here."Suarez’s current deal does not expire until 2016 and Rodgers has charged the former Ajax forward with propelling Liverpool, who finished seventh last season, into the top four.

He added: “He has got three years left on his contract. We are looking forward to him helping us get into the Champions League spots."That's a competition we are fighting to get into. The great name and history of Liverpool dictates it should be in that competition.

"It is difficult these days with the finance some clubs have but I believe that we will put up a great fight this season. Let's hope we can get back to where we belong."

 

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Paris St Germain warn Barcelona of Lionel Messi bid if they keep pursuing Thiago Silva

Paris St Germain's president will attempt to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona for €250million if the Catalans choose to meet Thiago Silva's buy-out clause this summer, according to reports in France.

PSG president Sheikh Nasser Al-Khelaifi is unhappy that Barca are continuously being linked with PSG's Brazilian defender and has vowed to play them at their own game.

"If Barca pay the buy-out clause of Thiago Silva then I will meet Messi's buy-out clause," he is quoted as telling ActuSports.fr.Since the end of last term speculation has been rife that Barcelona will make a concrete bid for the PSG star, but the Ligue 1 champions have insisted he will not leave.

Earlier this week, Camp Nou supremo Sandro Rosell attempted to up the ante as he publicly declared that Barca want Thiago Silva and that has not impressed the player's current club.

Now it appears that PSG are ready to use the financial backing of their Qatari owners to meet Messi's buy-out clause and offer him an enormous contract to see if they can persuade the Argentine to leave Spain.

 

[kmc madushan]