..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Ferdinand close to agreeing Man United contract extension

The 34-year-old's advisers have confirmed talks between the player and the club over a new contract are progressing as planned, with a deal hoping to be reached later this week.Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is close to agreeing an extension to his current deal after playing an integral part in the club's 20th league title.

The former England international's contract expires this summer but the club is reportedly keen on keeping the 34-year-old at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand made 34 appearances in all competitions this season, and was named in the PFA's Team of the Year. His representatives say that negotiations are progressing well.

Ferdinand's representatives told Sky Sports: "Talks regarding Rio's new contract are moving along nicely and hopefully we will have some news soon."

The former West Ham and Leeds defender is expected to agree a one-year deal to extend his Old Trafford career beyond 11 seasons.

The Red Devils' defender scored the winner in Sir Alex Ferguson's last home game against Swansea, his first effort for over five years.

Ferdinand arrived at Manchester United from Leeds for a transfer fee of 30 million pounds following the 2002 World Cup, a world record figure for a defender at the time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Raul: Barcelona tried to sign me twice


The Spain legend turned down the opportunity to make the move to the Blaugrana and Juventus, while stressing that Jose Mourinho did not play a role in his decision to leave.Real Madrid icon Raul has revealed he had the opportunity to join Barcelona on two occasions, but opted against a move to the Catalans as he did not want to join Madrid's arch rival.

The experienced attacker spent nearly his entire career at the Santiago Bernabeu side after signing for the club from Atletico and he has stressed that a move to the Camp Nou side was never a serious option for him due to his strong ties with Madrid.

"Barcelona twice showed an interest in signing me. I could never play for Barca, though, because I am a real Madridista," Raul told World Soccer. "Madrid is my city. I was born and raised in Madrid. My brother, my sister, my friends, my family, they all live in Madrid."

The former Spain international then went on to stress that Barca was not the only team that tried to lure him away, as Juventus attempted to sign him more than once, too.

"Juventus made me a very interesting offer three times, but I didn't see myself living in Turin," he said.

Raul eventually left Madrid for Schalke in the summer of 2010 after Jose Mourinho's arrival at the club, but he has stressed that the Portuguese coach did not play a role in his exit.

"My decision to leave had nothing to do with Mourinho. I had already decided that I wanted a new challenge before his arrival," the striker went on.

The 35-year-old made over 700 official appearances for Real Madrid between 1994 and 2010.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Napoli president confirms Cavani-Dzeko negotiations, reacts to Benitez talk

The club president has admitted that there has been contact with the Premier League side over both strikers and also responded to reports linking the club with Rafa Benitez.Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the Serie A side is in negotiations with Manchester City over Edin Dzeko and Edinson Cavani.

The Premier League giant is keen to lure Cavani away from his current club, but has yet to table a concrete offer for the Uruguay international.

Napoli, on the other hand, sees Dzeko as a good alternative to Cavani in case the latter leaves this summer and De Laurentiis decided to contact City when he visited London on Monday to open talks over both strikers.

"I was in London to prepare for the European release of the movie on Steve Jobs. And then I told [sporting director Riccardo] Bigon to get in touch with Manchester City to open talks about Dzeko and see what their plans are with Cavani," the Napoli president told reporters.

"There's a lot of talk, but less action when it comes to actually spending money. Unlike me, others seem to be taking a lot of time to use their bank account."

De Laurentiis then went on to discuss the possibility of appointing Rafa Benitez as the club's new head coach following Walter Mazzarri's announcement that he will leave.

"I did not go to London for Benitez, but for my film commitments," he said. "I have heard a lot of names in the past six months as I knew Mazzarri would leave. The new coach will definitely be someone of Napoli's standard.

"I will have to make a decision on who will accompany me at this club in the years to come."

The Italian press claims that Benitez is in pole position for the Napoli job, while Roberto Di Matteo has also been linked with the Stadio San Paolo side.

 

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Cavani aniwa CITY join wei

 

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Carrick: Manchester United will keep 'Fergie Time' alive under Moyes


The Red Devils midfielder is convinced his side will continue to show the will to win that typified Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford.Michael Carrick believes Manchester United will continue its tradition of winning games in 'Fergie Time' despite the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Everton boss David Moyes held his first team meeting as United manager on Monday at Carrington, and Carrick believes Sir Alex's legacy of winning games late on will live on under the former Toffees manager.

"If Sir Alex left a legacy I think it’s the mentality of winning and never giving up," he told reporters. "You have seen that for many years here, the desire and enthusiasm to never give in. That is engrained in the players and hopefully we can carry that on."

The former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder admitted he was gutted to hear Ferguson announce his retirement and thought United would end his final game in charge with another late winner in the 5-5 draw against West Brom.

"I was just waiting for a last-minute winner from Giggsy or Scholesy," he added. "On a normal day we probably would have finished it off because we had it won twice at 3-0 and 5-2. We let it slip but, credit to West Brom, they kept going.

"We were disappointed because we wanted to win the game for the manager and for Scholesy. We wanted their last memory to be a win but, in the grand scheme of things, it probably doesn’t mean too much. At least it was exciting for everyone who watched the game."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Jack Wilshere: I dream of captaining England


The 21-year-old says that even though some players are no longer bothered about international football, his ultimate ambition is to wear the armband for both club and country.Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere one day hopes to he can reach the pinnacle of his career by becoming England captain.

The 21-year-old has been ruled out of the Three Lions' upcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil with an ankle injury but is already planning a comeback into Roy Hodgson's side.

Once fit, he hopes to succeed Steven Gerrard as England skipper, insisting it would be the ultimate honor if he ever gets the opportunity.

"I want to captain Arsenal and I want to captain England. That definitely appeals to me," he told reporters. "It’s my ultimate dream. People say players are no longer bothered about wearing the England shirt, but for me it’s the pinnacle of my job because club rivalries go out of the window and the entire nation comes together behind you. It’s the best feeling.

"England have a fantastic captain in Steven Gerrard and I assume Wayne Rooney is the next in line. We’ve got a lot of big characters — but if I was ever offered the chance to captain England it’d be the ultimate honor."

Wilshere's international career has so far been held back by injuries, forcing the Arsenal midfielder to continually miss out on Hodgson's squads, but he remains positive that he will be involved with the national team again soon.

"I’m having an operation this week to deal with the irritating scar tissue caused by the screws, but it’s a minor process and I’ll only be rested up for a fortnight," he continued. "I’ve played two friendlies since Roy Hodgson took over and the whole mood has changed in the camp.

"No disrespect to Fabio Capello because he gave me my first cap and I liked him, but it just changes everything when an Englishman takes charge. The style is different, the tactics, the whole atmosphere. I think it’s changed for the better. We still have a lot of work to do to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals, but we’re still in control of our own fate."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United will be fighting for trophies under Moyes, says Van Persie


After helping the club to its 20th league title, the Dutchman maintains the managerial transition will not have an impact in its pursuit of silverware next season
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie insists the club will still be hunting for trophies under new boss David Moyes.

After 26 years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson has called time on his career at United and will be succeeded by Moyes this summer.

After helping the club to its 20th league title, Van Persie believes the managerial transition will not have an impact in its pursuit of silverware next term.

"Everybody wants to work for each other and share the success," Van Persie told MUTV.

"I'm 100 percent sure we will play for trophies every year and, hopefully, win a few every year. That's our standard for this team.

"This is a great team and, hopefully, we can go for even more trophies. I'm sure we can. Of course, we get a new manager next year and everybody is looking forward to that.

"It's a new challenge for everyone. We'll have a nice break now and then we go again."

Van Persie also paid tribute to Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of the season, and the 29-year-old striker maintains the midfielder, along with Ryan Giggs, have become role models at the club.

"I would love to emulate them," Van Persie said. "I would love to play on as long as possible.

"Watching Scholesy and Giggsy and the way they look after their bodies - they are true examples for young and old, and that's what I want as well."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United earns record 60.8 million pounds in TV revenue


Third-placed Chelsea received 54.9 million, less than both Arsenal and Tottenham, as fewer of its games were televised.Manchester United received 60.8 million pounds in television revenue from the Premier League for the 2012-13 season.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side, which clinched its 20th league crown this term, earned the highest broadcast payment of any title-winning club in Premier League history.

Manchester City finished runner-up to United and earned 58.1 million pounds in television revenue, while third-placed Chelsea received 54.9 million, less than Arsenal (57.1) and Tottenham (55.8) because fewer of its games were televised.

QPR received the lowest amount of all 20 Premier League sides, as the relegated side's earning totalled 39.7 million.

As from next season, a new three-year broadcasting rights deal will see the Premier League winner receive a figure close to 100 million, while the club who finishes bottom will earn more than United did this season.

 

[Banks PLK]

Napoli president confirms Cavani-Dzeko negotiations, reacts to Benitez talk

The club president has admitted that there has been contact with the Premier League side over both strikers and also responded to reports linking the club with Rafa Benitez.Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the Serie A side is in negotiations with Manchester City over Edin Dzeko and Edinson Cavani.

The Premier League giant is keen to lure Cavani away from his current club, but has yet to table a concrete offer for the Uruguay international.

Napoli, on the other hand, sees Dzeko as a good alternative to Cavani in case the latter leaves this summer and De Laurentiis decided to contact City when he visited London on Monday to open talks over both strikers.

"I was in London to prepare for the European release of the movie on Steve Jobs. And then I told [sporting director Riccardo] Bigon to get in touch with Manchester City to open talks about Dzeko and see what their plans are with Cavani," the Napoli president told reporters.

"There's a lot of talk, but less action when it comes to actually spending money. Unlike me, others seem to be taking a lot of time to use their bank account."

De Laurentiis then went on to discuss the possibility of appointing Rafa Benitez as the club's new head coach following Walter Mazzarri's announcement that he will leave.

"I did not go to London for Benitez, but for my film commitments," he said. "I have heard a lot of names in the past six months as I knew Mazzarri would leave. The new coach will definitely be someone of Napoli's standard.

"I will have to make a decision on who will accompany me at this club in the years to come."

The Italian press claims that Benitez is in pole position for the Napoli job, while Roberto Di Matteo has also been linked with the Stadio San Paolo side.

Dream Come true !!! But feel bad for dzeko

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Radamel Falcao is happy at Atletico Madrid despite speculation over a move


Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao insists he is happy to stay at the club despite speculation over a summer move.

Falcao has been linked with a switch to Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as Monaco, but the former Porto favourite believes he will only move if the Spanish Cup winners decide to cash in on his services.The 27-year-old Colombia international is under contract with Atletico until 2016.

"I haven't thought about a move too much," Falcao told Sky Sports News. "The reality is that I have three years left on my contract with Atletico."It's true that last season during the summer there was a lot of speculation with clubs being named as a possible destination, but the truth is that I've not thought about it.

"Of course, it depends on what the financial needs of my club are and what sort of efforts Atletico make to keep me."I've been trying not to think too much about the rumours of clubs being linked with me."Instead, I've been focusing on my objectives as a player and as a team member of Atletico Madrid."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dream Come true !!! But feel bad for dzeko

Dzeko pattahabai tikak withara out of form neda hitiye,ath season 1ke anthima tika hodata play kala

 

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Dream Come true !!! But feel bad for dzeko

sirawata dzekoth patta player

Cavani aniwa CITY join wei

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid want Bale now


REAL MADRID are ready to blow Tottenham out of the water in a bid to sign Gareth Bale this summer. The Welsh wonder has been offered a new deal to stay at Spurs worth around £150,000 a week.It also contains a clause allowing him to leave next summer for £50m. But that does not matter to Madrid president Florentino Perez, who wants Bale NOW.

He will offer him even more money to join the Spanish giants. There is a five-year deal on the table for Bale, which guarantees to match whatever wages he would earn at White Hart Lane.But it also includes a lucrative image rights deal which would earn him even more millions.

However, Real insist they will not pay more than £43m, way below Tottenham’s valuation of the double Player of the Year.Madrid have offered Spurs four players as potential makeweights in the deal – Pepe, Marcello, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria.

The only player Tottenham are interested in is striker Higuain and he does not want to leave the Bernabeu for a club which is not playing in the Champions League.That has not put off Real, who still remember how Spurs chairman Daniel Levy insisted he would not sell Luka Modric to them, but eventually caved in.

 

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Jack Wilshere: I dream of captaining England

 

[Banks PLK]

Cavani aniwa CITY join wei

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City target Manuel Pellegrini confirms exit from Malaga

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed he will leave Malaga at the end of the season. The Chilean head coach had been heavily tipped to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Mancini at Manchester City this summer and has now stated he will not be in charge of the Champions League quarter-finalists next season."My coaching staff and I are separating from Malaga but our union with this city will be eternal," Pellegrini told the Spanish newspaper Marca. "I'm going for sporting reasons."

The 59-year-old's exit from La Rosaleda has been largely expected for weeks although the club themselves have yet to confirm his departure.His name was being connected with City before Mancini's departure on 13 May, although Pellegrini denied that a deal had already been done following the goalless draw with Sevilla on 12 May.

"I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City, I haven't signed any agreement with anybody," Pellegrini said on his club's website at the time."I've been fortunate enough, and very proud, that every year the big clubs have shown an interest in me. I have an agreement with Malaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other club.

"I hope in the coming weeks that things will become a little clearer about what is going to be the future here at this club."That time appears to have come with Pellegrini confirming at a function today that he will leave Malaga after two-and-a-half years in charge.

Earlier Samir Nasri said he would welcome Pellegrini at City. Nasri said: "I think that [Manuel Pellegrini] is a great manager. He proved himself at Villarreal and Real Madrid as well even if he didn't win the title but he finished with 96 points. And with Malaga as well. All his teams play attractive football."And I think that is what people want to see. You pay [for your] ticket to go to football to see something great and he is the kind of manager who can do it so we will see what can happen in the summer."

 

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No decision yet on Sagna future, says agent

The 30-year-old France international, who has a year left on his contract, has yet to be offered a new deal amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain.Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna has yet to make a decision over his future, according to the player's agent.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juan Mata: Jose Mourinho is one of the best

With speculation surrounding Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea, Juan Mata praised the outgoing Real Madrid boss while taking a wait-and-see approach on his pending hire.ST. LOUIS -- If Jose Mourinho is to return to Chelsea as manager, Juan Mata will be welcoming him with open arms.

Mata held high praise for the outgoing Real Madrid manager, who is widely speculated to replace interim manager Rafa Benitez on the Chelsea bench. Although Mata and his teammates are taking a wait-and-see approach before making any major declarations, it appears as though a second Mourinho stint at Stamford Bridge would be a favorable hire with the two-time reigning Chelsea Player of the Year.

"Jose is one of the best," Mata said at a press conference prior to the first of two Chelsea friendlies with Manchester City in the United States. "He's won everything in every country he was: in Portugal, in Italy, in Chelsea in London and in Spain. I think we don't know really what's going to happen, but if he comes, he's welcome, because he's one of the best. Chelsea always want to be a top squad, a top side, and I think if he comes, we're all going to be happy to have him."

As for why Mourinho's stint with Real Madrid ended so poorly -- with a trophy-less season amid deteriorating squad relations -- Mata could not put his finger on it.

"I don't know. You have to be there to understand everything," Mata said. "What I know is that Madrid is a massive club with a lot of pressure behind them, and I think it shouldn't be easy. All I can say is that if he comes, we're going to try and do our best with him, or with whoever, to win the [Premier League] title."

Mata and Chelsea will play Manchester City at Busch Stadium, the home of Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals, in front of a sold-out crowd Thursday night before trekking to New York for a rematch at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Higuain convinced he will join Juventus

The Argentine is on the verge of completing his transfer to the Turin side and will earn an estimated 6 million euros per year following the move.

Gonzalo Higuain is convinced that he will leave Real Madrid to join Juventus this summer, according to Goal's sources.The striker, 25, is edging closer to a Santiago Bernabeu exit having agreed a yearly wage of around 6 million euros with the Serie A giant, which stormed the Scudetto for the second consecutive campaign.

Juve sporting director Giueseppe Marotta has already confirmed that the Bianconeri are chasing the Argentine and now the only missing piece in the transfer, after days of negotiation, is a transfer fee with the Blancos.Madrid want 25m euros. Though Antonio Conte's side has only gone as high of 20m euros as of Wednesday, an agreement is expected to be met in the next few days.

Higuain has made 188 appearances for the Madrid side, scoring 120 goals in the process.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hart urges Manchester City to move on ahead of Pellegrini arrival


The England international, who was singled out for criticism by Roberto Mancini last term, believes the club only needs "little tweaks" in order to challenge for titles
NEW YORK -- Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has urged the club to move forward ahead of Manuel Pellegrini's arrival at the Etihad Stadium.

Pellegrini is expected to replace Roberto Mancini, who was dismissed as City's manager a year to the day after guiding the club to its first Premier League title in 44 years.

City's slow progress in Europe was a major factor behind Mancini's firing, with the club failing to emerge from the Champions League group stage for the second consecutive season.

Malaga confirmed on Wednesday evening that Pellegrini will leave the Spanish club at the end of the season, while the 59-year-old is City's first-choice replacement for Mancini.

"It's tough to talk about possibilities obviously," Hart told Goal. "We had successful times under Roberto but the club's made the decision to move forward and we need to react as players. Whoever comes in, we'll give them everything we've got."

Hart was among those in City's squad last season who were publicly criticized for his performances by Mancini but the England international is adamant that the club is not in need of wholesale changes.

"We need to improve on next year and that's an exciting challenge," said Hart. "There's nothing massive, just little tweaks here and there. Finishing the job - we didn't win enough games - we won possession, dominated games, but didn't win them. That's what we need to improve on."

Hart added that "there's a lot of work to be done behind the scenes" as City looks to recover from last season's disappointing run, which saw the club finish second in the league behind rival Manchester United.

"That's why we've got such great people in charge - strong characters, strong businessmen - hopefully they're going to make the right decisions and we're going to react as players, which I'm sure we will, and we need move forward," Hart said.

"Everything's in the past now, that's the beauty of football - it's constantly changing - and we have another chance next year."