..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich sign Hooper from Celtic

Norwich have completed the signing of Gary Hooper from Celtic for an undisclosed fee.

The English striker has agreed a three-year deal with the Canaries, which the club will have the option to extend to a fourth year.

Hooper scored 31 goals in all competitions last season as Neil Lennon's side secured the Scottish Premier League title and advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

"There's been a lot of speculation going back to January and I'm pleased to have finally put pen to paper and joined Norwich," the forward told the club's official website.

"I can't wait to get down to work, to get training with the lads and working with the coaching staff. I knew Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood from my youth days at Spurs so it will be great to be back working with them in the Premier League.

"I have scored goals at every level I have played at and the challenge of playing in the Premier League is really exciting to me."

Hooper will have played in every division of English football from the Premier League to the sixth-tier Conference South when he makes his top-flight debut for the Norfolk club.

He began his career with Tottenham before working his way to a £2.4 million move to Glasgow through spells with Grays, Southend and Scunthorpe.

 

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Phil Neville: Moyes has been preparing for Manchester United job all his life

First-team coach Phil Neville believes Manchester United manager David Moyes has been preparing to manage “the best” his whole life.

Neville joined the former Everton boss at Old Trafford after deciding to retire from playing at the end of last season.

The 36-year-old played under Moyes for eight years at Goodison Park, where he was given the captain's armband by the former Preston boss, and believes the Scot has what it takes to be a success.

“David has been preparing for this job all his life and whether it be at Preston or Everton he has, at the back of his mind, always been thinking that one day he wanted to manage the best,” Neville told The Sun

“He has the drive and the determination and already he has the respect of the players.”

Dutch fitness specialist Raymond Verheijen recently criticised Moyes’s training methods, referring to him as a "dinosaur" after Robin Van Persie sustained an injury, but Neville disagrees.

“That is his strength — out on the training field when he is coaching the team," Neville continued.

“As a young coach, you can learn a massive amount from his sessions. The players have said that the structure and the way each session has a theme has challenged them.

“David is very hands-on and likes to do a lot of the coaching.

“It is not just about stamping his own style, but it is continuing the style we have got and that United demand while adding his own touches to it as well.”

 

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'I can't promise I will sign a defender' - Martino

Newly-appointed Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino insists he has not yet decided whether or not the club should sign a defender this summer.

The Blaugrana are reportedly keen on strengthening their back-four during the off-season in a bid to add steel to their defence, with Paris Saint-Germain stalwart Thiago Silva among those heavily linked with a move to Catalunya.

However, having yet to take charge of his first training session with his new club, Martino believes it would be premature to commit to signing a centre-half.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, he said: "I have only spoken to [Carles] Puyol this morning, but haven't even had a training session with the players yet so it's much too early to draw any conclusions about the needs of the team."

Meanwhile, Neymar's arrival at Camp Nou this summer has prompted questions over how the Brazil international will fit in the team alongside Lionel Messi, but Martino was unequivocal in his assertion that the Argentine would not be handed a new role to accomodate the Selecao star.

The 50-year-old added: "Messi has played in different positions in the last few years and has played as a central striker and exploded as a goalscorer which he didn't look like being in previous years.

"But in a very quick answer, I would say he will continue to play in the same position."

Meanwhile, Martino went on to deny Messi had any involvement in his move to Camp Nou, after Messi had publicly backed the appointment of his compatriot.

"Messi said something. He said: 'We are from Rosario and Newell's and we don't know each other'... That's true," he stated, before sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta added: "Messi didn't have anything to do with our choice of Martino."

Finally, the former Newell's boss had his say on the rivalry with Real Madrid - and stressed it was incomparable to those in his homeland.

"Beating Real Madrid is hugely important but cannot be compared [to rivalries in Argentina]...," he said.

 

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Barcelona tell Manchester United: Fabregas not for sale at any price

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has declared that Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas is not for sale at any price.

The Red Devils have already had two bids for the Spain midfielder rejected by the Catalan club but are willing to up their offer to €41 million in order to bring him to Old Trafford.

Bartomeu insists, however, that the Liga champions are not interested in cashing in on Fabregas and will ignore any approaches made by the Premier League club.

"United's interest for Cesc Fabregas is obvious, he's a great player but it does not bother us," Bartomeu told reporters. "It does not matter what they offer us, we are not selling him."

He added: "If there was a higher offer, would we accept it? No. We're proud that a club like that wants one of our players."

New Barca coach Gerardo Martino, meanwhile, expressed his own desire to make the former Arsenal playmaker part of his plans for the coming season.

Martino accepted that United's interest may be considered by those in charge of running the club on a financial level, but hoped their advances would be resisted.

"I won't get involved in the economic interests of the club, but [if it's up to me] we will have him [Cesc] here," the Argentine boss said.

 

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Pellegrini hints at more City signings

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has refused to rule out the possibility of further signings this summer.

City have spent close to €116 million recruiting Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic as they bid to win the Premier League title back from rivals Manchester United.

Despite the huge outlay, Pellegrini has hinted that his side's summer spending spree has not finished yet.

“The club has spent money in important places,” Pellegrini told reporters.

“We have the players that we need here, but we will see what happens in July and August.”

The former Malaga coach is not worried about managing in the Premier League for the first time but believes getting off to a winning start is vital.

“It’s important to make a quick start and to win the first league game because if you lose ground it is difficult to recover,” he said.

“The English Premier League is a different league than what I have worked with before, but I am not concerned about that.

“Of course it is always good to have more time, but I hope the team will be prepared.”

 

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Martino: I will bring my own style & ideas to Barca

Gerardo Martino has insisted that he will be looking to instil his own football philosophy and ideas at Barcelona following his appointment as the club's new head coach.

The 50-year-old was named this week as the successor to Tito Vilanova, who was forced to step down due to health issues, and he's determined to let Barca play attacking and attractive football.

"I want to find a style the players are comfortable with and also add my own personal touches, to introduce a few ideas of my own and make the team more complete," Martino stated at a press conference.

"My Paraguay team was nothing like the team we had at Newell's Old Boys [in terms of playing style]. I try to adapt to the qualities of the teams I am coaching and that is something I will look to do at Barcelona.

"There are excellent footballers here, if we can return to the great ideas that Barcelona has had [in recent years], we will have a very competitive team.

"The pressing that has been such a feature of this team is something I want us to get back. I want Barcelona to be a team that is comfortable in attack and that plays high up the pitch."

The Argentine then went on to express his gratitude to Barca for giving him the chance to prove himself in Europe.

"I'm very happy, very grateful for the attention and the confidence [placed in me] at this club, with such great tradition and history.

"Even if you are extremely ambitious, it is hard to imagine being at a club like this. A year ago, I wouldn't have imagined it but now I am here and I am very grateful for that."

Martino also had words of encouragement for Vilanova and wished his predecessor all the best as he continues his fight against cancer.

"Sadly, we know that I have arrived here due to an unfortunate situation, so I would like to take the opportunity to send a big hug to Tito.

"We have spoken and he [Tito] welcomed me, wished me luck. I am grateful to him. I want to send him a lot of strength. I don't know him personally but we know what he is going through and we wish him all the best."

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Martino!​

 

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Sevilla slam PSG over Gameiro deal

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain, claiming his club were "mistreated" in the transfer of Kevin Gameiro.

The former Lorient star signed a five-year deal with Sevilla on Thursday after protracted talks between both sides, and Del Nido was not amused with the Ligue 1 champions' attitude during negotiations.

"We were mistreated by PSG and that's an understatement," Del Nido said at a press conference.

"We had agreed that we would pay €3 million right now, then €2.5m next year and €2m in 2015. But then in the end they all of a sudden demanded we paid the entire sum right away.

"And this is just one example of many more events. Each problem was followed by the next problem. This must be the worst transfer talks I have ever been involved in. Fortunately, the player really pushed hard."

PSG, meanwhile, have stressed they did not do anything out of the ordinary during talks over Gameiro's transfer.

"Paris Saint-Germain are committed to respecting the rules of courtesy and professionalism during transfer talks. When it comes to the transfer of a player, it's legitimate to ask for a bank guarantee from the buying club," a statement on the club's official website reads.

"If difficulties arise, we will look for an alternative payment method. This is what happened in the case of Kevin Gameiro's transfer. PSG have done everything to facilitate this transfer and allow Sevilla to complete the deal quickly."

 

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Bernard will be sold if €25m bid arrives, says Atletico Mineiro director Maluf

Bernard will be sold if a €25m bid arrives, says Atletico Mineiro director Eduardo Maluf.

The 20-year-old, who has already been capped five times for the Brazil national side, has been attracting the interest of a host of European clubs this summer, with Arsenal strongly linked with a move and the attacking midfielder has claimed to have offers on the table from Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk as well as Premier League clubs.

The youngster's agent hinted that the Copa Libertadores final triumph over Olimpia on Wednesday was to be his final performance for the club and Maluf admits that a sufficiently large offer would see Bernard depart.

"The president [Alexandre Kalil] has already made very clear, if an offer of €25 million [£22m] arrives, he is going to sell and we will buy another player," Maluf told Radio Globo.

"If this offer did not appear, Bernard will stay at Atletico. He is young and can leave at the end of the year."

Tottenham had previously been in the running for Bernard's signature but his repesentative revealed on July 2 that Andre Villas-Boas's men had been priced out of the chase.

 

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Villas-Boas reveals talks 'ongoing' with Bale over new Tottenham contract


Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that the club are in "ongoing talks" with Gareth Bale over a new contract.

Spurs, who are furious at Real Madrid over the Spanish side's "dirty tricks" aimed at snatching the winger this summer, have been given the green light by owner Joe Lewis to offer their talisman a €174,000-per-week deal.

Speaking in Hong Kong ahead of the Asia Trophy third place play-off, he told reporters: "There was contact between the club and his agent last year and there is ongoing contact between the club and his agent.

"We renewed his contract at the beginning of last season, if you remember, and it's something that is being dealt with by the chairman and the agent.

"Talks are ongoing but that doesn't mean there is an agreement. At the moment we're confident that the player is under contract at Tottenham, as was done last year."

Bale was named double Player of the Year by the PFA for his 21-goal exploits in 2013-14, with club legend David Ginola telling Goal that the former Southampton star should enjoy being the main man at White Hart Lane for a while longer.

 

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Villas-Boas reveals talks 'ongoing' with Bale over new Tottenham contract


Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that the club are in "ongoing talks" with Gareth Bale over a new contract.

Spurs, who are furious at Real Madrid over the Spanish side's "dirty tricks" aimed at snatching the winger this summer, have been given the green light by owner Joe Lewis to offer their talisman a €174,000-per-week deal.

Speaking in Hong Kong ahead of the Asia Trophy third place play-off, he told reporters: "There was contact between the club and his agent last year and there is ongoing contact between the club and his agent.

"We renewed his contract at the beginning of last season, if you remember, and it's something that is being dealt with by the chairman and the agent.

"Talks are ongoing but that doesn't mean there is an agreement. At the moment we're confident that the player is under contract at Tottenham, as was done last year."

Bale was named double Player of the Year by the PFA for his 21-goal exploits in 2013-14, with club legend David Ginola telling Goal that the former Southampton star should enjoy being the main man at White Hart Lane for a while longer.

 

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Ayre: Liverpool have rejected two offers from Arsenal for Suarez

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has confirmed that the club have rejected two separate offers from Arsenal for striker Luis Suarez.

As exclusively revealed by Goal, the Uruguayan is preparing to submit an official transfer request to force through a move after the Gunners' latest £42 million bid.

Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok, Ayre declared: "It's never been our intention to sell Luis. We've received two separate offers from Arsenal and rejected both."

The Reds chief also indicated that Suarez would play for the Reds in their friendly against the Thailand national team if he is fit, with the club carrying on as normal.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has warned the forward against joining Arsenal, arguing that such a transfer would not "add up" as he feels that his charge would be better off under his watch.

Suarez set up the second goal for Liverpool as they beat Melbourne Victory 2-0 on Wednesday, his first game since joining up for pre-season training.

 

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Urawa Red Diamonds 1-2 Arsenal: Podolski and Akpom strike in narrow pre-season win

Arsenal's dominant run on their tour of Asia was narrowly concluded with an enjoyable 2-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds.

Lukas Podolski capped off a delightful team move to score just after half-time before the hosts struck back with Yuki Abe from a corner but a terrible defensive mix-up allowed Chuba Akpom to sneak a slightly undeserved win.

There was good news for Arsenal fans as Jack Wilshere started for the first time on the Gunners' tour, with Serge Gnabry and Ignasi Miquel also part of a strong but youthful XI.

The England midfielder nearly cost his side a goal early on, however, when a weak attempt to tackle Tsukasa Umesaki allowed the midfielder to fire just wide, setting the tone for an energetic game.

Arsenal replied dangerously, Theo Walcott breaking quickly down the right and dribbling through several players before placing his shot onto the far post.

Urawa roared back, Lukasz Fabianski doing just enough to intercept Tomoya Ugajin's low cross before Per Mertesacker intervened to prevent Marcio Richardes from tapping in the rebound.

On 27 minutes, Walcott had a real chance as he burst onto a pass down the right but, when the angle was ripe for a calm finish, he instead blasted well over. Moments later, Olivier Giroud improvised when he spotted keeper Norihiro Yamagishi off his line and chipped from the far corner of the penalty area but saw it drop inches past the post.

The Gunners kept coming with real intent, Oxlade-Chamberlain volleying a finely struck long-ranger off the crossbar on 35 minutes.

After falling under the cosh for most of the half, Urawa closed it on a fine note, Ubojin bending a wicked shot towards the top corner, but Fabianski saved excellently to ensure the scores were level at the break.

It did not last long, however. A magnificent Arsenal move just after half-time brought the breakthrough, as Aaron Ramsey's magnificent pass found Walcott in the box. Cool and aware, the forward held off defenders to play in substitute Podolski, who hammered home.

Walcott was denied shortly afterwards when he chased down a long pass and looked set to round Yamagishi to finish but the keeper snatched it from his feet.

Urawa were not diminished, Richardes forcing Fabianski into a sprawling save from a free kick, before the hosts broke through themselves. Failing to deal with a resulting corner, Arsenal allowed a flick-on to reach Abe, who finished powerfully to equalise.

With Arsenal having lost momentum and starting to make more changes, the game slowed but Podolski might have had a second when he shot waywardly in the 76th minute, having been supplied by Ramsey.

Laurent Koscielny was called upon to prevent a late winner for Urawa, recovering just in time to intercept after a dangerous counter, before the hosts showed the value of good defending by letting themselves down at the other end.

Yamagishi came out too eagerly to claim a hopeful long pass but his centre-back's unhelpful header back to him could only be deflected right into the path of Akpom, who finished gratefully.

 

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Cerezo Osaka 2-2 Manchester United: Zaha nets first goal in friendly draw

Wilfried Zaha bagged his first goal for Manchester United although David Moyes' side could only draw 2-2 with J-League outfit Cerezo Osaka.

The summer signing from Crystal Palace struck in the dying moments of the game to rescue a draw for the visitors, with Shinji Kagawa having earlier equalised immediately after missing from the penalty spot.

Michael Carrick remained sidelined due to a groin injury, while Robin van Persie was fit to start after being taken off with a thigh strain during the 3-2 defeat to Yokohama F Marinos.

And the Dutchman should have put United ahead inside the first minute of play when he was sent clean through after a mistake from the Cerezo centre-backs, but the striker fired straight at the goalkeeper’s feet from 12 yards out.

Van Persie was outsmarted by the goalkeeper again ten minutes later when he picked up a neat pass from Kagawa and attempted to chip the onrushing Kim Jin-Hyeon, but the Osaka shot-stopper stood tall and managed to keep the ball out.

It was his opposite number, Anders Lindegaard, who saw the most action though, as he tipped a 20-yard effort from Jumpei Kusukami around the post, before getting down to hold onto a deflected Tomonobu Yokoyama header from the resulting corner.

However, Lindegaard was unable to prevent Osaka from taking the lead in the 40th minute after a costly error from Chris Smalling.

The England international was caught in possession on the edge of the United box and the ball fell to Kenyu Sugimoto, who turned his man and left the keeper wrong-footed with a dragged shot.

United should have grabbed an immediate equaliser when Danny Welbeck saw his powerful effort ricochet back off the post and Van Persie, rather than score himself, pulled the ball back for an unmarked Kagawa, but the hometown hero managed to scuff the ball high over the crossbar from close range.

Kagawa was given the chance to redeem himself from the penalty spot shortly after the restart, when Ashley Young went down easily in the box, but his tame spot-kick was tipped away by the goalkeeper.

But just as it seemed it would not be Kagawa’s day, he managed to net an equaliser from the resulting corner in the 54th minute. Ryan Giggs fed a low cross to the near post and the midfielder squeezed the ball through Jin-Hyeon's legs from an acute angle, much to the relief and delight of every supporter inside the stadium.

Kagawa left the pitch to a standing ovation moments later and his replacement, Zaha, almost made an immediate impact for United.

The former Crystal Palace man tricked his way past two defenders inside the box and fired a low effort a few inches wide of the post.

However, it was young striker Takumi Minamino who looked to have won it, as the 18-year-old restored Cerezo’s lead in the 63rd minute with a magnificent strike into the top left-hand corner from 22 yards, which left Lindegaard dumbfounded.

United managed to rescue a draw in the final minute of play, though, when Zaha tapped home from close range after some good work from Adnan Januzaj and an unselfish pass from Anderson.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Zaha ge 1st Manchester United goal 1kaCongratulations Zaha

But Manchester United performance nam madiThawa Podden mekath iwarai​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rio delighted with Manchester United pre-season workout

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says he lost an astonishing 4 kilograms in the Premier League champions' 2-2 draw against Cerezo Osaka on Friday.

The Red Devils needed an injury-time equaliser from substitute Wilfried Zaha against the J-League outfit in order to prevent a third defeat of the their pre-season tour of Asia.

But Ferdinand was grateful for the extensive workout, claiming it was amongst the hardest conditions he has played in, and believes United will be fitter as a result.

“I think the fitness is getting better,” the 34-year-old told reporters. “Today’s conditions were possibly the hardest I’ve played in physically – I lost 3-4 kilos in fluids so that tells you how hard the conditions are.

“I said to the lads before I’ve never, ever, ever had an easy game in Japan. When we play against these teams they’re always good, they always play well.

“Tactically they're very good, all very comfortable on the ball, so I think it’s really good for us to come here because we get tested and because the Japanese guys are in the middle of the season, they’re all fit, [whereas] we’re still searching to be fit so it makes it hard for us.

“But it’s perfect conditions for us to become fitter.”

Ferdinand also praised local hero Shinji Kagawa, who made 125 appearances for Cerezo Osaka before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2010, and believes he can have a big impact at Old Trafford this season.

“It’s like David Beckham coming so he’s a hero here and rightly so,” Ferdinand continued.

“He’s got a big part to play, a big role to play.

“You see today with a great goal. He missed a penalty – too much pressure, maybe – but no, he’s a fantastic player, we love having him here and I think this season we’ll see a big improvement from last season.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona prepare €29m bid for Chelsea's David Luiz

Barcelona have stepped up their defender search by preparing a €29 million move for Chelsea's David Luiz, Goal understands.

The Catalan giants are readying a bid for the Brazilian after making him their primary centre-back target.

It is believed that Barca have enquired about Luiz’s availability and have been given encouragement that Chelsea could be willing to sell the 26-year-old.

The Spanish champions, who have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign the Brazil international in the past, are putting together a lucrative package to entice the Brazilian to Camp Nou and informal discussions have already started with his representatives.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is unconvinced about Luiz’s defensive abilities and is ready to cash in on the defender and sign a new centre-half, with Doria, an 18-year-old Brazilian who plays for Botafogo, among those on his target list.

Barca want to reinforce their back four by signing a left-sided centre-back to provide competition to Carles Puyol, 35, after releasing Eric Abidal.
The Spanish club targeted Thiago Silva and Arsenal pair Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen earlier in the summer, and also offered €20m to Roma for Marquinhos before being trumped to his signature by Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca have now turned their attention to landing Luiz, who has developed into a fans’ favourite at Stamford Bridge since moving from Benfica in January 2011.

The player was a regular first choice under Rafael Benitez last season and was frequently picked ahead of club captain John Terry.

However, new boss Mourinho has misgivings about Luiz’s defensive aptitude and wants to use the money from selling him to buy a replacement.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

David Luiz Patta playerhabai Chelsea sell karaida kiyana 1ka sure naha

 

[Wolverine GTR]

yep keep calm and believe in David Moyes .. Rooney chelsea hari arsenal hari yai....wage. barcelonath kiyanna be.. John Terry inna nisa kiyannth be..

David Moyes gana loku wishwasayak thiyala thiyenne.......balamu

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ada nuulen beerune...Torreswa mata godak matak una RVP gahapu hati dakkama...RVP neme tawa podden RIP MU

attha broPre-Season unath performance nam anthimai

Common Manchester United