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Wolverine GTR

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    :cool:Casillas to become a father for first time

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    The Spain international and his partner Sara Carbonero have revealed they are set to become parents, with the reporter believed to be 13 weeks pregnant
    Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is set to become a father for the first time, he has confirmed.

    The 32-year-old and his partner Sara Carbonero, who is a journalist for Tele 5, revealed the news on Saturday on their way back from the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Casillas, who fell out of favour at Madrid last season, played in the final, in which Spain lost 3-0 to the hosts. Miss Carbonero, meanwhile, was out in Brazil on media duties covering the tournament.

    "We are very happy," Casillas told reporters at Barajas Airport, Madrid.

    The couple met back in February 2010 and it is reported that Casillas' girlfriend is 13 weeks pregnant.

    The pair will now go on holiday to an unknown destination.
     

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    Aubameyang fits Dortmund's style, insists Zorc

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    The BVB director has little doubt that the Gabon international will become an instant hit at his new club following his summer move Michael Zorc says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will give Borussia Dortmund more options in attack and believes his style of play fits the Bundesliga giants perfectly.


    The 24-year-old completed his move from Saint-Etienne to BVB on Thursday, signing a five-year deal with his new club, and Dortmund's sporting director is confident that Aubameyang will succeed in Germany.

    "Pierre-Emerick will give us a lot of options in attack and can operate in different positions. He can play on both wings, even up front. He´s made fantastic progress in the last two years, racked up a lot of goals and assists in the French league and for Gabon's national team. We are looking forward to him," Zorc told the official BVB website.

    "Our game is based on counter pressing and winning the ball early. And here it´s crucial to get the ball down the pitch within a few seconds and get a shot on goal against an unorganised defence.

    "To be a threat in front of goal is an important, but not the only criteria for an attacking player. He's fast, tall and strong. He will give us more options and flexibility in attack."

    Aubameyang netted 19 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances for ASSE last term.
     

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    Alexis Sanchez: Last season was not good enough

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    The Chile international has mixed feelings about the 2012-13 campaign, and is eager to show the best of himself next season Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez has admitted that he was not satisfied with his performances last term and is determined to improve in the 2013-14 campaign.


    The Chile international, who joined the club in July 2011, netted eight goals in 29 Primera Division appearances in 2012-13, yet he feels that he should have done better over the course of the campaign.

    "I have mixed feelings about last season. I wanted to do more for the team, but was unable to really contribute something until the end of the season," the 24-year-old was quoted as saying by Sport.

    "I scored a number of goals in the final games of the season, though, and I'm pleased with that.

    "My ambition for next season is to win trophies and to become an important player for the team, although that won't be easy. A great player has joined us with Neymar and I am not the only one who wants to play."

    Sanchez faces competition from the likes of Lionel Messi, David Villa, Pedro, Cristian Tello and Gerard Deulofeu for a starting berth.
     

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    No-nonsense Moyes gives a taste of things to come at Manchester United

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    The question of Wayne Rooney's future provided the only searching test for Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, but it was batted away with impressive calm and assurance If you wanted glitz and glamour, you should have gone to see Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.


    If you were keen on a bit of madness and chaos the unveiling of Paolo Di Canio was your best destination.

    If elegant Latin charm and a touch of sartorial elegance is your thing, then best wait to next Wednesday when Manuel Pellegrini is unveiled at Manchester City.

    Real Madrid may now introduce new signings like Hollywood opens movies, but Manchester United do things the old-fashioned way.

    No spotlights searching the sky, no embarrassing clubs anthems and certainly no cheerleaders. New manager David Moyes simply walked into the room and asked where to sit.

    And that is just how he would have wanted it. The Scot is no flash harry. There was no chance he would declare himself as the 'Special One' as Mourinho famously did on his first coming at Chelsea.

    Moyes was turning up to perform one of his many new tasks since taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson and was doing it in that perfunctory way of his.

    You can't imagine him spending the previous evening in front of his mirror trying out a few lines.

    In fact, while the rest of the world has spent the past couple of months waiting to hear him speak as United boss for the first time, to the Scot this event was probably one of many events he viewed with equal importance during his day.

    And, in the main, it was plain sailing. The first mention of Wayne Rooney was the only moment when the heat was turned up in Moyes first outing as Reds boss.

    Had those talks gone well? Was Rooney staying? As Moyes geared up for his big moment, the room went silent.

    How was he going to handle this? Would he deliver one of those fearful glares designed to intimidate the hack to retract the question?

    Would he wait for his press officer to throw a protective shield around him by claiming the club was making "no comment"?

    No. Moyes took his chance to show he had picked up a trick or two from his predecessor when it comes to the old mind games. "Rooney is not sale," he insisted.

    But what the new Reds chief refused to tell us was whether his star man wanted to go. In doing so, he has cleverly put the ball into Rooney's court. Now Rooney has to go public if he wants to leave.

    That is going to play far better to the Old Trafford galleries than seeing Rooney head off and then claim he was pushed out of the door.

    Once that tricky passage was navigated, the rest was easy for Moyes.

    A chance to thank Sir Alex here, a bit of tour team news there and a standard issue non-committal answer to an enquiry of Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford.

    And that was it. Moyes must have feared much worse. The press had been kind to him, repaying the goodwill he earned as a decent interviewee during his days at Everton.

    He can now jet off overseas with his new team, feeling pleased with his performance. No dramas here. A steady hand on the tiller, just what the club's owners would have wanted.

    His unveiling will not go down in the annals of time as a key moment in his management reign.

    But it's first mission accomplished for Moyes. He must hope all of the challenges that await him are as easily handled as this.
     

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    Zamparini: Cavani has agreed PSG deal

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    Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims Serie A rivals Napoli have struck a deal with Paris Saint-Germain over star striker Edinson Cavani.

    Cavani has been linked with a number of Europe’s biggest clubs recently, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, but in an interview with Radio Radio, Zamparini has revealed the terms of a transfer with PSG."I have texted [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis to congratulate him on doing even better than I did [while dealing with PSG].

    "He has outdone the €43 million (£37 million) that we got for Javier Pastore when we sold him to PSG," Zamparini told Radio Radio."De Laurentiis had to make this deal. He did well to say that he wanted a transfer fee like this.

    "Cavani is a unique player. He couldn't stay at Napoli because he has to think about his career and PSG are offering him €8 million (£6.9 million) per year."
    The comments follow a report in Le Parisien stating the transfer could be officially announced on Tuesday.Cavani played alongside Pastore at Palermo before moving to Napoli in 2010 in a deal reportedly worth €17 million.
     

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    Villarreal sign Pantic from Red Star

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    The Yellow Submarine are preparing for life in Spain's top flight next season and have acquired the Serbian starlet to bolster their defence Villarreal are continuing to strengthen for the step up to La Liga next season having secured defender Aleksandar Pantic from Red Star Belgrade for an undisclosed fee.


    The 21-year-old has agreed a three-year contract with the Yellow Submarine following a 12-month stint at Red Star.Pantic, who has been capped at Under-21 level for Serbia, began his career with FK Rad, making his full debut for the Serbian Superliga outfit in May 2011 at the age of 19.


    Prantic joined Red Star last season and made 13 appearances under Robert Prosinecki in the 2012-13 campaign as they finished second in the Serbian top flight.Villarreal have also recruited Slovenian defender Bojan Jokic from Chievo and midfielder Tomas Pina from Mallorca.
     

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    Juanfran eager for Falcao replacement

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    The Atletico Madrid defender is hoping his side can find the right player to fill the hole left by their former star man Atletico Madrid full-back Juanfran says he is confident the club can find a replacement for Radamel Falcao, given the talents they have been linked with.


    The Colombia international hit 28 goals in La Liga last term before leaving Los Colchoneros for newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco.

    Juanfran admitted they have lost something with the departure of Falcao, but was optimistic about the effect a replacement could have on the team with a number of names having been targeted already."We need someone with that extra quality that Falcao gave us," the 28-year-old told reporters. "It is clear that the names being mentioned will do that.

    "[Alvaro] Negredo, [Roberto] Soldado [and David] Villa are all great strikers. Hopefully we'll have a great season.

    "The economy in Spain is difficult for teams other than Real Madrid and Barcelona. But we are convinced that things will work out well for us. I'm sure we're going to have a great season."
     

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    Ronaldo among Golden Foot nominees

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    The Real Madrid star has been has been named as one of 10 contenders for the prize, which aims to reward the best player in the world over the age of 28
    Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been announced as one of 10 nominees for the 2013 Golden Foot award.

    The Portugal international would be the first player from his country to win the prize, which was first given out in 2003, and aims to reward the best player in the world over the age of 28.Team-mate Iker Casillas and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta have also been nominated.

    Past winners of the award, which takes into account the whole of a footballer's career as well as current form, include Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti, and last year's winner, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.Players can only win the prize once, which has been presented at a ceremony in Monaco every year since its inception.

    The 2013 trophy will be given out by Prince Albert II of Monaco in September, with the winner leaving a cast of their footprints in Monte Carlo's 'Champions Promenade.'

    Nominees are chosen by a panel of representatives of Golden Foot's media partners, with a public vote then taking place online.

    Alongside Ronaldo, Casillas and Iniesta are: Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), David Trezeguet (River Plate) and David Beckham (Paris Saint-Germain prior to retirement).
     

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    Kroos raring to go under Guardiola


    The Bayern Munich star's season was curtailed by injury in April but says he is enjoying being back at training with a new coach at the helm ahead of the new campaign


    Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos says he is raring to go under new coach Pep Guardiola as he returns to full fitness following a knee operation.Kroos suffered an adductor injury against Juventus in last season's Champions League quarter-final first leg in April which left him sidelined for the rest of the campaign.


    But now back to full fitness and a new coach at the helm, Kroos says he is enjoying the fresh approach the former Barcelona boss has brought to the club.
    "Training with Guardiola is good," Kroos told reporters. "He's always talking to each player, trying to give them a vision of the style of football he wants to play.


    "I think that with him, every player will have a different task and will have to adapt their game to what he wants. He just has his own style - his own plan.
    "He wants to communicate that to each player individually. For some positions, that works better in a one-on-one situation. It's better to do that than talk in front of the whole team."Bayern go into next season as the first German side to win the treble and kick off their Bundesliga campaign against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 9.
     

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    Guarin focused on Inter

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    The Colombia international says he is concentrating on his career at the Nerazzurri, after rumours circulated that he might be sold to make way for summer signings Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin says he is focused on playing football with his current side.


    The highly-rated 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Nerazzurri in order to free up funds for summer signings.

    The star's representative revealed last week his client had no wish to leave the Giuseppe Meazza side, amidst reported interest from Manchester United, Tottenham and Anzhi Makhachkala."I thank my family and my friends for having been with me for this unforgettable holiday," the Colombia international wrote on Twitter.

    "I hug them one by one because I love them. Now my goal is Inter," he added.

    Guarin moved to Inter from Porto in the 2012 January transfer window, having started his career with Colombian outfit Envigado.
     

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    AC Milan warned they must pay a fair price for Honda

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    The Russian club are willing to sell the Japan attacker due to his contract running down but only for an offer they consider to be realistic
    CSKA Moscow have told AC Milan they are willing to sell Keisuke Honda this summer - but only if they receive a fair price.General director Roman Babaev has clarified the club's position over the Japan star, who has long been a target of the Rossoneri.He told Sport Express: "The ball is in Milan's court now. Our position is clear - we are ready to let him go if we receive a reasonable offer."


    Honda will be out of contract in December, meaning he is already free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with other clubs, but reports in Italy claim Milan are keen on a cut-price deal to push through a transfer this summer.Babaev admits such a scenario is a possibility, but does not want his club to be taken advantage of in the market."The situation has not changed. Honda could be speaking to another club at the moment because the rules allow it," he continued.


    "We are pleased that Milan are interested but we also have to be realistic. Yes, his expiring contract affects his market value but there is a limit as to how low we can go."We are not worried if he ends up leaving the club on a free transfer. It is a difficult decision to make - part ways with Honda now or keep him until his contract expires."We are interested to see how this progresses."
     

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    Mignolet relishing fight for his place at Liverpool

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    The Merseyside club's latest signing insists that he is not new to competing for his spot and believes his €13 million fee does not guarantee he will start next season.Brendan Rodgers' latest €13 million signing has dismissed claims that his transfer fee means he will be next season's starting goalkeeper and insists that he is relishing the competition with Pepe Reina and Brad Jones.


    The Belgium international said: "That’s always what has happened when there’s competition, I’ve had competition in Sunderland and in Belgium with the national team.

    "It’s not only Pepe - there’s a lot of good goalies at Liverpool, like Brad Jones for example - and it’s not only the position of the goalie where there is competition. It’s every single position on the field.

    "There are only 11 players who can play and it is something that is normal with being a football player. You have to deal with that. Competition can only make you as an individual better and let you perform better, it can only be a positive thing.”

    Mignolet also revealed that he has had discussions with the coaching staff regarding the clubs ambitions for next season.

    He added: “From the talks I had with the manager and the goalkeeping coach I felt they were very ambitious and the club wants to get forward,”“The signings they’d already done before July showed they really wanted to get going. They want to push on again in the Premier League. It was obvious that they are an ambitious club and a big club.

    “I know how big a club this is but I think I’m only going to feel it once the games get going. The first few training sessions went okay. I’m very happy to be here and train.”
     

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    'Hernanes is not for sale'

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    The midfielder will remain at Lazio for the forthcoming season, according to sporting director Igli Tare, who is happy with the current Biancocelesti squad
    Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has insisted that star midfielder Hernanes is not for sale this summer.

    The Brazilian was one of the Biancocelesti's top performers last season in the Europa League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia, in which the side beat rivals Roma in the final.

    With Paris Saint-Germain reported to be interested in the 28-year-old, Tare has revealed that the player is keen to remain at the Stadio Olimpico and says he is happy with the current squad that the capital-based club have assembled.

    "Hernanes is not for sale," the Lazio chief told Il Messaggero. "As far as we are concerned, he has never been on the market."He wants to stay and we want him to remain to continue winning. Football is unpredictable, as everyone knows, but he will stay with us.

    "We are very satisfied with the squad that we’ve put together. We are competitive in defence and attack, while I think we have one of the best midfields in Serie A. Now we also have players with experience like [Lucas] Biglia."Let’s just say we are happy with our current squad, then if a transfer opportunity comes along we will take it."

    Along with ex-Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia, Lazio have also brought on board Felipe Anderson from Santos since the summer transfer window opened.
     

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    'Ancelotti is the best man for Madrid'

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    Gianluca Vialli, who used to play alongside the new Bernabeu boss, says the Italian's reign will be markedly and beneficially different from Jose Mourinho's Gianluca Vialli has insisted that Carlo Ancelotti is "the best coach" Real Madrid could have replaced Jose Mourinho with.The Italian, who coached Paris Saint-Germain to Ligue 1 victory last season, was unveiled as the Liga side's new manager on June 26 following the departure of Mourinho to Chelsea.



    Following a campaign with only the Super Cup to show as silverware, Vialli believes that his compatriot is the right man to bring trophies to the Santiago Bernabeu."He is definitely a great coach, has plenty of experience, knows how to manage groups, individuals and motivate players," he told AS.



    "He's the best coach Madrid could have brought in, for the reasons I explained earlier. This teams needs to play well and win, and he is a technician prepared to do both."The 48-year-old, who played alongside Ancelotti at international level, also insisted that he is a hugely different trainer to Mourinho.



    "Yes, he is another type of person," Vialli added. "That era [under Mourinho] is in the past, but now this is a new era and Ancelotti will forget all that. I think Carlo will give satisfaction to the Bernabeu."Ancelotti will be hoping to improve on a second-place Liga finish behind Barcelona, a semi-final loss in the Champions League to Borussia Dortmund and a Copa del Rey final defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid.
     

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    Paulinho craves success at Tottenham

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    The €20 million signing has spoken of the struggles he faced on previous ventures into European football in Lithuania and Poland Tottenham new boy Paulinho has revealed his determination to succeed after suffering setbacks earlier in his career.


    The Brazil international completed a move from Corinthians to the north London outfit on Saturday having had previous spells in Europe, playing for Vilnius in Lithuania at the age of 17 before moving to Polish side LKS Lodz.

    The midfielder took up the decision to return to his home country in order to fulfil his ambitions of playing for his national side and succeeded, with his performances leading to his €20 million move to White Hart Lane.

    "After all I had been through, all those bad moments, bad things, I carried on. I knew about my potential," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.

    "I knew what I could do. Nevermind where you are, you have to fight until the end. It's important you never give up.

    "I went back to Brazil and started from scratch. I had the self-confidence to take that step back and then managed to take two steps forward."The midfielder has shot to fame in the last 12 months, most recently scoring twice in Brazil's successful Confederations Cup campaign including a late winner against Uruguay to send the nation into the final.

    Paulinho added: "It’s rewarding. I never thought I would be in a place like this, among these great players. It’s an award the group helped me win.

    "Now I am at Spurs and I am very happy."
     

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    Klopp: Lewandowski will play for Bayern next season

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    The coach admits the striker is likely to leave next summer and revealed Mario Gotze's transfer was more upsetting in the last campaign than the Champions League final Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes Robert Lewandowski will definitely join rivals Bayern Munich next season.


    The Schwarzgelben have denied the Poland international, whose contract runs out in 2014, a move away from Signal Iduna Park this summer, with the Bavarians having led the chase to sign the striker.

    Klopp has accepted that it will be impossible to keep the 24-year-old from Bayern's clutches beyond the current season but is keen to make the relationship between forward and club work in the coming 12 months.

    "I think it is a known fact that Robert is going to play for Bayern after the upcoming season," he told Welt am Sonntag. "Now the only question is how to shape the time until then."That is our concern and it is our commitment to our fans and members to ensure that we will have a more competitive team in the upcoming season.

    "Up to a certain point we were with Robert's desire for change and were ready to talk. But nothing happened so we had to eventually say: '[A sale] now no longer works for us.'

    "And now we want to prove that, with a quality player like Robert, we can be successful in the coming year. Our results in the coming season is what we're all about. I know that Robert and I see it the same way."

    The BVB coach also revealed that Mario Gotze's €37 million move to the Allianz Arena, which was agreed in April, was more upsetting than the club's eventual Champions League defeat to Bayern in the final.

    "That was the bigger disappointment in the moment [than the Wembley loss]," Klopp added. "Mario was, until mid-April, a key part of our planning. And suddenly we were confronted with the reality that he wasn't.

    "That was pretty tough. Basically, it is normal if a football club want to sign a player from another team. We do, too. But it was the timing of the notification of the transfer, the day before our important semi-final against Real Madrid, which was something disreputable. But, otherwise, there was little in the last season that was painful."

    Despite Bayern's tendency to outspend Dortmund, Klopp is happy with how his side operate and favourably compared his side to English folk legend Robin Hood against the reigning German, DFB-Pokal and European champions.

    "It will be infinitely hard [to win the Bundesliga this season]," he continued. "Bayern were quite possibly the best team in the world last season."But they did not beat us yet in the league on both occasions. And maybe we can also use the fact that we have not won anything in the last season, pulling against a certain power and greed.

    "We have a bow and arrow. And if we aim accurately, we can hit them. Only the Bavarians have - I feel - a bazooka. The probability that they will hit us is so much larger. Nevertheless, Robin Hood is said to be very successful!"
     
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