..::Football III::..

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Juventus confirm Osvaldo interest

Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed his club's interest in signing Southampton striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
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Italy international Osvaldo moved to the Premier League from Roma in the close-season, but is currently suspended by Southampton after a training-ground altercation - reportedly with defender Jose Fonte.Osvaldo has subsequently been linked with a return to Serie A, where he scored 28 goals in 57 games for the capital club before his €18 million exit.

Although Marotta confirmed an interest in the Argentine-born forward, he conceded Juve will have to sell players before bringing in fresh faces.One player linked with a departure is Mirko Vucinic, who Juve had originally hoped to use as a makeweight in a deal to sign Inter's midfielder Fredy Guarin.

The Montenegro striker is also a reported target of Arsenal and Marotta confirmed that he will be allowed to leave if he desires."We like Osvaldo and other clubs like him too," Marotta told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He is an excellent player, but before buying anyone we need to sell.
"Vucinic? He will leave only if he asks to go."Marotta was also confident that Juve coach Antonio Conte will soon renew his deal in Turin.

The 44-year-old has led Juventus to two consecutive Serie A titles, as well as the league summit this season, where they are currently six points clear of Roma.He added: "Antonio Conte will soon renew his contract, there will be no problems with Andrea Agnelli.

"He can become our Alex Ferguson, even if in Italy a coach isn't quite a manager in the same way."

 

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Atletico 'not worried' by semi-final clash with Real Madrid, says Raul Garcia

Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia says his side are "not worried" by their Copa del Rey semi-final meeting with Real Madrid.

Garcia scored his side's equaliser in the quarter-final second-leg with Athletic Bilbao before Diego Costa sealed a 3-1 aggregate win with a late strike on Wednesday.

Atleti will now face their bitter city rivals in a repeat of last season's final, and Garcia has stressed his side are fired up to retain their trophy.

"At half-time we talked about being a team of men and stand up, as we have always done when things are bad. We did that," he was quoted as saying by AS after the match.

"The first 30 minutes from the team was good and we had our chances, but the game changed with their goal. Am I happy with mine? It was business as usual - the important thing is that the team needed it.

"We know games against Madrid are special, but we want to play a good tie and reach the final. We've had a difficult January but we've responded. We're not worried. We want to be in the final, of course."

Atletico had Thibaut Courtois to thank for pulling off a series of impressive saves to prevent his side from going 2-0 behind on the night, and Garcia hinted he would be thrilled to see the on-loan Chelsea man extend his stay at Diego Simeone's side.

"He's staying until the end of the season. We know he is one of the best keepers in the world right now, but when the season finishes, we'll see," he added.

 

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Neymar: Santos gave me permission to talk to Barcelona

Neymar has released a document claiming to prove that Santos gave him permission to talk to Barcelona or any other club about a transfer.

The 21-year-old's move from Brazil to Europe last summer has gone under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with a Spanish high court investigation into the transfer triggering the resignation of Sandro Rosell as Camp Nou president.

Barca attempted to mend the situation by publishing the exact details of the deal they made to bring Neymar to the club, with the total amount paid pre-wages for the player amounting to €86.2 million.

But the saga has continued to rumble on, with Neymar's father confirming on Tuesday that he was paid €10 million in 2011 to ensure the Selecao star did not leave Brazil for any other team.

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro claimed on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of any pre-transfer agreement, but Neymar released what the player claims is document proving the Peixe gave him the green light to leave.

€86.2 million man | The forward waves to Barca fans not long after signing a bumper deal at Camp Nou
The statement, released on the Barca forward's Twitter and official website, read: "[Santos] expressly agree that we inform and empower the player Neymar to start straight away any dealings with any entities in sport - national or international - to finalise a possible transfer, provided that this only occurs before 2014."

Dated November 8 2011, the document is signed by Ribeiro, suggesting that the Brazilian club fully recognised Neymar's opportunity to speak with other potential suitors.

It is also stamped by both Santos and Barcelona, and was signed the day before Neymar penned a new contract at the club which would have run until after the World Cup in Brazil.

While Neymar did not wait until 2014 to move away as the contract states, the player's father claimed on Tuesday that Santos agreed it was in the best interest of the club and the player to move in 2013 instead of in a World Cup year.

Neymar Sr - whose company, run by himself and Neymar's mother, made €40m from his son's transfer - also suggested he could have made €120m had Neymar waited until 2014 to quit his boyhood club.

 

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Manchester City face wait over Aguero's hamstring injury

Manchester City will face a wait to find out the extent of Sergio Aguero's hamstring injury.

After giving his side the lead against Tottenham in the 15th minute, Aguero pulled up clutching his hamstring on the stroke of half-time and was replaced by Stevan Jovetic.

Aguero is now a severe doubt for City's Premier League crunch clash with Chelsea next Monday, along with the first leg of their Champions league last 16 clash with Barcelona.

"We will see tomorrow [Thursday] with the doctor. It’s a hamstring injury," Pellegrini confirmed after the 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane.

"We try not to depend on just one player. Sergio has just come back from another injury and we did well without him.

"We hope we can have him back as soon as possible in the team."

Since returning to the City side from a calf injury which had sidelined him since December 14, Aguero has scored seven goals in five matches.

Better news for Manuel Pellegrini is that both Jovetic and Edin Dzeko both found the net against Spurs, while Alvaro Negredo is nearing full fitness after a shoulder injury.

Aguero has made 25 appearances for City in all competitions this season, scoring 26 goals.

 

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Get well soon Aguero!

 

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Fiorentina line up Giaccherini swoop

Fiorentina are considering a move for Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini.

The 28-year-old has struggled to fully adapt to life in English football and would be keen on a return to his homeland despite having only made the switch to the Black Cats from Juventus last summer.

As exclusively revealed back in October, Walter Mazzarri's Inter had been interested in a deal to take the Italy international to San Siro, but Giaccherini's wages of around €49,000-a-week proved a stumbling block.

Fiorentina have now emerged as the favourites to land Giaccherini although a January deal, to add to the loan signings of Antonio Rosati, Alessandro Matri and Manchester United midfielder Anderson, looks highly unlikely.

Gus Poyet is reluctant to do business during the winter window and part with a player whom he believes can make a significant contribution in the club's battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Giaccherini has thus far appeared in 17 league games for the bottom-of-the-table Black Cats, although a summer move to Vincenzo Montella's Fiorentina would be an attractive option for the player, with the Italian club on course to finish the season in the Champions League spots.

Reports had linked the Azzurri star with a return to Juventus, but, speaking in December, Giaccherini's agent denied that the midfielder was looking to leave and claimed that there had been no contact with the Serie A champions.

 

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Manchester City target Celta sensation Santi Mina

Manchester City are in talks with Celta over Spain Under-19 forward Santi Mina.

Mina made his Primera Division debut aged 17 and has racked up 16 appearances in La Liga so far this season, scoring on his first outing of the campaign against Athletic Bilbao in September.

The 18-year-old's current contract runs until 2018 and, while his parents would prefer for him to continue his development at Balaidos for another couple of years, City are keen to tie up a deal as soon as possible.

The Premier League side recently committed around €1.2 million to lure Under-17s World Cup Golden Ball winner Kelechi Iheanacho to the Etihad Stadium and are understood to have offered a similar package to Celta and the player to push the move through.

City have brought a number of exciting youth prospects to the club in the past year, with Norwegian goalkeeper Kjetil Haug, Real Madrid's Jose Pozo, Swede Zacharias Faour and Malaga's Brahim Abdelkader all having joined the club.

Goal has previously reported on the extent of City's youth development overhaul, with director of football Txiki Begiristain hard at work to recruit the best young talents ahead of the opening of the state-of-the-art Etihad Campus.

The impressive training facility will officially open its door in August and will house the youth set-up alongside their Platt Lane complex in Fallowfield.

 

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Official: Newcastle complete De Jong capture

Newcastle United have completed the loan signing of Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old made the switch to the Bundesliga club in July 2012, after scoring 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie appearances for Twente the previous campaign.But De Jong has been unable to replicate that form in Germany's top flight and all 13 of his appearances in the Bundesliga this season have come from the substitutes' bench.

Newcastle are now giving the forward the chance to resurrect his career in the Premier League and he is relishing the prospect of playing for the Magpies.
“Newcastle is a great club and I have a good feeling about it,” De Jong said.

“I am very impressed with the stadium and training ground and have been made to feel very welcome by everyone I have met.

“It has been a tough season for me so far but I am here to play games. I want to be important for the team and successful with goals and assists.

“I am really looking forward to playing for Newcastle.”He will wear the No.18 shirt and is eligible to make his debut in the Tyne-Wear derby against rivals Sunderland on Saturday.The Magpies announced the deal for De Jong shortly after Yohan Cabaye was officially announced as a Paris Saint-Germain player.

Pardew could further bolster his ranks before the close of the transfer window on Friday, with Newcastle rumoured to be interested in a deal for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier and Montpelllier's Remy Cabella.

 

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Cabaye joins Paris Saint-Germain from Newcastle

Yohan Cabaye has joined Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in a €24 million deal from Newcastle.

The midfielder has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the capital club and will wear the No.4 shirt.

"I was won over by the ambitious project at Paris Saint Germain and I can't wait to join this exceptional squad and help the team reach its objectives in France and in Europe," he told PSG's official website.

Meanwhile, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi also revealed his delight at being able to bring the France international to PSG.

"Wanted by a number of prestigious clubs, the new Parisian midfielder has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain," he said.

"The transfer of Yohan Cabaye is further proof of the club's ability to attract the best French and overseas players.

"We are especially delighted to welcome him to the Paris Saint-Germain family to help in its upcoming challenges in the second half of the season."

Cabaye joined Newcastle from Lille for €5.2m in 2011, scoring 17 Premier League goals in 79 appearances - including a superb double against West Ham in what will now be his last ever appearances for the club.

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck for Cabaye & De Jong!

 

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Nani open to Inter loan move

Inter are on the brink of signing Manchester United winger Nani on a loan deal until the end of the season after the winger accepted an offer from the Serie A club.

The move includes the option to make the switch permanent at the end of the season and will go ahead providing the Premier League champions give the move the green light.

A Nerazzurri insider has revealed the Red Devils are set to reply to the bid this afternoon, after which Inter president Erick Thohir is expected to rubber stamp the transfer.

Interhead coach Walter Mazzarri is looking to bolster his attack, with the club struggling for goals this season, and the former Napoli boss sees the 27-year-old as a useful addition to his squad.

The Portugal international has found it difficult to get regular first-team action at United, starting only five Premier League games under new manager David Moyes.

Nani signed a new contract with the reigning Premier League champions until June 2018 last summer, but United are ready to offload the winger as he is deemed surplus to requirements, although they would prefer a straight transfer over a temporary deal.

Nani had previously caught the attention of Juventus, but the Turin giants eventually pulled out of the race to secure his services as they were unwilling to match the player’s salary demands. Nani is currently on €96,000-a-week at United.

Meanwhile, Inter have also stepped up their interest in Lazio midfielder Hernanes as club president Erick Thohir aims to further reinvigorate the Nerazzurri.

Thohir sees the Brazilian midfielder as one of the new leaders of Inter, with experienced players such as Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel set to leave at the end of the season, and he is keen to lure Hernanes to the Giuseppe Meazza this winter.

Inter are willing to pay €13 million for the 28-year-old, while also including young defender Ibrahima Mbaye in the deal, who is valued at €5m.

Hernanes could sign a three-and-a-half year deal at Inter worth €2.4m in his first season, eventually rising to €3.2m in his final season.

 

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Arsenal target late midfielder swoop after Ramsey & Wilshere blows

Arsenal are targeting a central midfield signing in the final days of the window after being rocked by Aaron Ramsey’s injury blow.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for a midfield operator who can protect the defence and link with the team’s attacking players.

The Frenchman played down the severity of Ramsey’s new thigh injury in the immediate aftermath of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday but Goal understands the Welshman will be out for up to another six weeks.

There are also growing doubts about Jack Wilshere’s recovery from his latest ankle problem after he saw a specialist in London on Tuesday. The England international has been ruled out of Arsenal’s league match against Crystal Palace on Sunday and is also now rated doubtful for the crunch clash against Liverpool six days later.

With Mathieu Flamini expected to receive a four-match ban for the two-footed lunge that earned him a red card against Southampton and Mikel Arteta feeling regular pain his calves, there is a growing midfield crisis at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger’s targets could include Paris Saint-Germain’s Blaise Matuidi and Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, who has been closely tracked by the Gunners’ scouting team over the last 18 months.

Arsenal are hoping to sign two new players before the window shuts on Friday night. As revealed by Goal, a club delegation is in Germany to negotiate deals for Schalke sensation Julian Draxler and Frankfurt right-back Sebastian Jung.

The Gunners are still hopeful of brokering a deal for Draxler this week, while they are laying the groundwork for a Jung deal this summer should contract rebel Bacary Sagna not sign a new agreement.

There is likely to be some frenzied activity at the Emirates in the coming days as Wenger attempts to maintain his team’s title challenge.

Ramsey’s injury is an especially severe blow to Arsenal's hopes of winning the title and progressing beyond the last-16 stage of the Champions League. They face Bayern Munich in the first leg on February 19 at the end of a demanding 11-day run of fixtures in which they play Manchester United and Liverpool twice.

The 23-year-old broke down during a training drill on Monday when he aggravated a tendon under his thigh muscle. He was immediately sent for a scan, which revealed on Tuesday that he is expected to be sidelined for between four and six weeks.

Wenger later confirmed the bad news, although he refused to give a timeline on the player's return. "Ramsey is out for longer than we expected," Wenger said after the Southampton match. "He had a little setback in training, it's the same muscle. I hope it's not for too long but certainly not [available] for Sunday's game."

Ramsey had already been out since suffering a grade two thigh strain in Arsenal’s Boxing Day win over West Ham.

He had been Arsenal’s outstanding contributor in the first half of the season, scoring 13 goals in 26 Premier League and Champions League matches.

 

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Valdes to leave Barcelona regardless of Rosell exit

Victor Valdes will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, ending speculation that he might stay at the club following the departure of club president Sandro Rosell last week.

The shot-stopper's allegedly troubled relationship with Rosell was believed to have played a big role in his decision to say farewell to the Blaugrana this summer, and the Liga champions were hopeful Valdes would stay now Josep Bartomeu has replaced the 49-year-old at the helm.

However, Rosell's exit does not have any influence on the goalkeeper's plans for the future as he remains keen to try his luck elsewhere come June when his contract expires.

The keeper has always maintained that the immense pressure at the Catalans and his desire to play abroad were the main reasons for his decision to leave the club rather than his supposedly poor relationship with Rosell.

The 32-year-old has yet to announce where he will continue his career - with Monaco reportedly sitting in pole position to secure the signature of Valdes - but a prolonged stay at the Camp Nou is out of the question for the Spain international.

Aside from Monaco, Valdes has also been linked with a host of Premier League sides in the past few months.

Valdes has been a key figure at Barcelona this season, keeping 10 clean sheets in 17 La Liga appearances so far to help the Blaugrana to the top of the table.

Barcelona have yet to sign a replacement for Valdes, but are widely believed to bring in Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen as their new No.1.

 

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Vucinic set for Juventus exit

Mirko Vucinic will train away from Juventus' squad this week ahead of an anticipated exit from the club, according to his agent.

The Montenegro international has made only six starts for the Italian champions this season, with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente preferred as attacking options by coach Antonio Conte. Former Roma striker Vucinic has been linked with a move to Arsenal, rejected a move to Zenit St Petersburg, while a swap deal between Juve and Inter involving Fredy Guarin collapsed.

However, Vucinic's representative Alessandro Lucci confirmed an exit is looking likely. "Vucinic spoke with Conte and they have agreed he will train apart in these last days of the transfer market because he is involved in some possible negotiations," Lucci told Sky Sport Italia.

"But I want to say that Mirko has never asked to be sold."Vucinic moved to Juventus Stadium in 2011 and scored 10 goals in all competitions during his first season with the club.

His tally in the last campaign came to 14 as he helped Juve win back-to-back titles.

 

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Montolivo: A new era has begun for AC Milan

Riccardo Montolivo feels the appointment of Clarence Seedorf as AC Milan's new head coach earlier this month signals the start of a new era for the San Siro side.

Seedorf replaced Massimiliano Allegri as the man in charge of the Rossoneri following their 4-3 defeat against Sassuolo on January 12.

Since then Milan have climbed to ninth in the table after collecting six points from Seedorf's opening two games, and Montolivo has hailed the Dutchman's impact since his arrival.

"With Seedorf in charge a new era has begun. Let’s hope it all goes well," Montolivo told reporters.

"I think the squad is competitive, the impact Clarence has had has been excellent and we want to climb the table."

Montolivo admits it has been difficult in Serie A this season, with the club struggling in mid-table.

However, having sealed progression from Group H in the Champions League, Montolivo is looking to continue the positive start under Seedorf with a good performance against high-flying Atletico Madrid.

"We’ve had a few problems in the league, while in the Champions League we’ve done really well," he continued.

"We’ve now got to face Atletico Madrid in the last-16 of the competition and we want to do well."

 

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Huntelaar open to Premier League move

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has admitted that he would be open to a move to the Premier League if the opportunity arose in the future.

The Netherlands international, 30, has played across a range of leagues in Europe, enjoying spells in the Eredivisie, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga.And Huntelaar has acknowledged that a move to England could prove to be an interesting option if he were to leave Schalke at some point.

"I still have a one-and-a-half-year contract with Schalke. I think six months before my current deal expires a decision will be made about my future," he told Bild.
"Of course, I think about England every now and then. But only Schalke and the second half of the season count for me at this point."Sunday's 3-0 victory over Hamburg saw Jens Keller's men climb to fifth in the Bundesliga.

And Huntelaar says playing alongside attacking talents such as Max Meyer, Julian Draxler and Kevin-Prince Boateng has whetted his appetite to extend his career further.

"When you play in a team where only one or two people want to score goals, that's way too easy to defend. You have to have goals even from midfield. As a striker, you need goalscoring people next to you," he continued.

"I want to play to 40. I want to play another 10 years of football. I feel young and fit."

 

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Manchester City launch late €46m bid for Mangala

Manchester City have launched a stunning last-ditch £38 million [€46m] bid to sign Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala.

The France international has long been a target of City, with their interest dating as far back as Roberto Mancini’s reign as manager.

Current boss Manuel Pellegrini first scouted the 22-year-old last summer and even failed with a late €36m enquiry on the back of Mangala’s breakthrough season of 2012-13, when he made 36 appearances and kept 25 clean sheets in all competitions.

However, Pellegrini has continued to keep tabs on the defender’s progress, sending scouts to watch him alongside team-mate Nicolas Otamendi in Porto’s 2-0 defeat against Benfica earlier this month.

And the Chilean has given the green light to City launching an ambitious big-money move for the player this week after being given encouragement that Porto could be willing to sell.

Much, though, could hang on Otamendi’s future, with Porto thought to be more keen to allow the €24m-rated Argentine to depart before Mangala, for whom the Portuguese giants hope to encourage a bidding war in the summer with Chelsea and Manchester United having also shown interest.

Still, City are hopeful a €46m offer – though short of Porto’s €55m asking price – could force through a move that would provide a huge fillip to Manchester City as they prepare for a tough second half of the season.

Pellegrini’s men currently sit second in the Premier League table, two points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and a point above Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea – and the manager is convinced that strengthening his defence could be key as they look to regain the title.

 

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PSG president warns Manchester City: Go for Matuidi & we'll target your stars

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has fired a warning to Manchester City over their pursuit of midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

Goal reported on Tuesday that the Premier League club were preparing a late, cut-price bid for the France international, who is out of contract this summer and has demanded at least a doubling of his current €48,000-a-week wages to stay in France.

Al-Khelaifi is in no mood to do business, however, and has warned City that he will target their star players should they make a move for Matuidi.

Asked if he feared an approach from Manuel Pellegrini's side, he commented: "No. Because they know that if they touch one of our players, we will come into conflict with them. And we will also contact their players.

"We respect all clubs. But if a club try to recruit one of our players, they will have to accept the consequences. And what I say is not only for Manchester City, who, from what I know, have not contacted Matuidi."

Al-Khelaifi had earlier played down PSG's interest in Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, while he insisted that the club would never be in a position to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona.

 

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Manchester City reveal annual loss of €63 million

Manchester City have released their annual report for 2012-13, revealing that they have almost halved their losses to €63 million, while recording an annual turnover of €328m.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have also announced the club have paid off all remaining loans and are currently operating with no financial debt for the first time.

Uefa regulations on Financial Fair Play dictate that clubs must aggregate losses to €45m or under across 2011-12 and 2012-13 - a figure that City far exceed at €181m - but the details of the Premier League side's significant reduction on the previous year's loss of €119m may satisfy the administration's alternative that teams show a concerted effort to cut losses.

The ability to deduct costs from spending on youth infrastructure as well as wages paid to players signed before 2010, should clubs have reduced losses between the two specified seasons, should bring City under the threshold.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in an official statement on the report, insists that the club's recent success has "generated significant commercial opportunities for the organisation and underpinned a strong momentum for the years ahead."

Ferran Soriano, the club's chief executive, is also optimistic about the club's current financial health, adding: "Growing revenues and controlled expenses are bringing the club to break even in the immediate future and profitability thereafter."

City are enjoying a successful season on the pitch this season, currently sitting two points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table with a game in hand.

Pellegrini's men have also qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history and are safely through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

 

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Copa Del Rey 2014.01.30 Fixture

Copa Del Rey 2014.01.30 Fixture

Racing Santander Vs Real Sociedad​