..::Football III::..

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Draxler: I lost sleep over Madrid & Man City offers

Julian Draxler has admitted that snubbing interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City in favour of staying at Schalke caused him sleepless nights.

The Germany international reportedly received offers worth up to €60 million over a five-year period earlier this summer, but Draxler eventually opted to stay at his current club as he felt the time was not right to move abroad yet.

"I had sleepless nights about it. I was on holiday in Egypt with my girlfriend and sat alone on the balcony thinking about what to do," Draxler told Bild when questioned about Madrid and City's offers.

"It was not an easy decision. You never know whether you will ever get such an offer again. In the end, I followed my heart and decided to remain at Schalke."

The 19-year-old then went on to discuss a potential transfer to Borussia Dortmund and again stressed that he would never leave Schalke for their arch-rivals.

"Unless they brainwash me, I will never join Dortmund."

Draxler has a contract with Schalke until June 2018, but has a €45.5 million release clause.

 

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Mourinho: Madrid can thank me for final!

Jose Mourinho has joked that Real Madrid have him to thank for their International Champions Cup final billing with Chelsea on Wednesday.

A 2-0 win against AC Milan on Sunday saw the Blues book a place in the International Champions Cup final against los Blancos, a side he coached from 2010 until the start of June.

The Portuguese tactician was quick to humorously play up the link he has between the two footballing giants and suggest that Carlo Ancelotti's side would not be in the USA without him.

"You know Real Madrid are playing this competition and doing this pre-season here because I organised it for them," Mourinho told reporters with a laugh.

"Because I am professional I did it even knowing that I would not be doing the pre-season with them."

But Mourinho was quick to downplay any similarities between his previous reign at Chelsea and the one is he just beginning.

"My first team at Chelsea [from 2004 to 2007] was a team with a high age range and with players that were in the best moment of their careers," he said.

"It was ready to attack immediately in every competition and thinking about more the present and less about the future.

"This [current] team is a very young team and if we take [Mark] Schwarzer out who is 40 years old, our average age is very low.

"We have lots of kids aged 20 to 23; people who are going to get better year after year."

 

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Barcelona confirm Neymar has anaemia

Barcelona star Neymar has anaemia but it is not a concern for the club, according to the Catalans' sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.

The Brazilian, who joined the Liga champions from Santos for €57 million this summer, was diagnosed with a low red blood cell count - which can cause excessive levels of tiredness in players - following routine blood tests.

But Zubizarreta has insisted the 21-year-old's condition, which comes a month after the attacker had his tonsils removed, is something the club will manage and is not overly serious.

"We would have liked him to have been in perfect condition, but not many players arrive perfect for the pre-season," Zubizarreta said."We'll help make sure he's in the right condition. It's not a concern."There are quite a few days left before the league starts, although it is unlikely that he'll be 100 per cent adapted [to Barcelona's style] by then.

"But we can clearly see that he's quickly getting a grasp of our type of football."
Although the club are unfazed by the starlet's health, his father has revealed he is anxious over reports that his son has lost seven kilogrammes in weight since the beginning of July.

"Neymar has significantly low iron levels in his blood," Neymar da Silva Santos told TV Globo.

"The physical tiredness he has had is not normal and is quite worrying.

"As he has almost no fat to lose, losing that muscle mass is troubling."Neymar made his Barcelona debut in a 2-2 friendly draw against Lechia Gdansk on Tuesday before appearing off the bench in an 8-0 win over Santos on Friday.
Barcelona begin the defence of their Spanish top flight title with a home fixture against Levante on August 18.

 

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Liverpool target Costa 'happy' in Spain

Liverpool's hopes of signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa have suffered a significant blow, with the 24-year-old insisting he will not be leaving Spain if the club ask him to stay.
Reports last week suggested Liverpool had launched a £21.8 million for the Brazil international in what would be one of Brendan Rodgers' final signings of the transfer window.

But Costa, who recently returned to Madrid following Atletico's pre-season tour of South America, insists he is happy at the Vicente Calderon and has not heard of any plans from Liverpool to lure him away."I'm well here, I'm happy here," he is quoted as saying by AS. "As I've been in Argentina and Uruguay I've not heard anything about this.

"I'm happy here, if the club want me to be here, I'm going to be here. I think that the coach (Diego Simeone) counts on all of us, not just me. He knows how important it is to maintain the squad, the fans know it as well."

 

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United still hopeful of Fabregas deal

Manchester United remain confident that a deal to sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona can still be struck – despite a 24-hour period which saw both Barca and the player’s former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rule out the possibility of a deal.



First, Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said United had accepted the Catalan side's stance that the Spain international midfielder was not for sale.

Then Wenger, asked about the possibility that Fabregas, 26, could move to Old Trafford, said: "What I know is Fabregas will stay one more year at least in Barcelona.


"That's the information I have. If that changes, I don't know. But that's what I have been told."United, however, have continued to receive encouragement from the Fabregas camp. While it is understood that he would ultimately prefer to stay at the Camp Nou, he wants to do so with a higher status in the team.


And sources close to the negotiations said that, if that was not the case, he would be prepared to move to Old Trafford.So far, despite the appointment of Gerardo Martino as new Barcelona coach, no such assurances have been forthcoming, while Fabregas has yet to comment on or quash the ongoing speculation.


Martino's comments after the 8-0 win over Santos in the Joan Gamper trophy - when Fabregas started on the bench alongside Neymar - hinted at a slight change in Barca's attitude. He said he hoped Fabregas would stay, but added that "the player also has to decide".


United are hoping to take advantage of this by stepping up their interest in what are complicated negotiations on all sides.

 

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Fab..Fab.......Fab........Fab..........Fab............Fab...............Fab..................Fab

meka iwarayak wena chase 1kak newei

 

[rcccc]

Arteta hopeful of new Arsenal arrivals

 

[unicornx]

Fab..Fab.......Fab........Fab..........Fab............Fab...............Fab..................Fab

meka iwarayak wena chase 1kak newei

MOYES at the moment

 

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Rooney makes clear he wants out

Wayne Rooney has told David Moyes he wants to leave Manchester United, arguing he does not see any future for himself at Old Trafford.

Although United turned down a second approach for Rooney on Sunday it seems increasingly unlikely he will play for United again. He failed to travel with the United squad to Sweden for tonight's pre-season friendly against Stockholm with the reason being given he suffered a shoulder injury in a behind-closed-doors match on Saturday.

Rooney and Moyes met over the weekend and again on Monday and reports indicate he made clear he felt the time was right for him to move on. His main problem at the end of last season was his failing relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and although Moyes is now in charge, Ferguson's continuing presence at the club is believed to be behind Rooney's decision.While he has yet to submit a formal transfer request, that could be the next step and he is also said to be angry that Chelsea's bid was not put to him before the club rejected it.

The will-he, won't-he saga is reportedly causing unrest among his team-mates who are increasingly feeling that it is undermining their pre-season preparations.The Mirror said senior players - and it named Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra - were making clear their unhappiness with the situation.

"Sources… have explained there is an increasing antagonism towards the England striker, with senior players "unhappy" at his stance, which they see as a blatant attempt to strengthen his own position without any regard for the unsettling effect it is having on the team."

 

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Mona wenna yanawada kiyala matanam terenne nahaAhen Fab mehen Roo

 

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MOYES at the moment

anemanda machan

 

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Inter will be competitive next season, insists Zanetti

Javier Zanetti is confident Inter can be competitive next season as they look to re-establish themselves at the top end of Serie A.

Inter laboured to a ninth-placed league finish in a trophyless campaign in 2012-13, leading to coach Andrea Stramaccioni's dismissal, but 39-year-old Zanetti believes the club is back on track to return to the summit of Italian football despite their poor form in pre-season.

"I expect to see a competitive Inter. From a certain point of view it will be an advantage to have a full week to work from one match to the next. We have an obligation to return to the top, and Inter are a team battling for important objectives," he told Inter Channel.

“The pre-season is going well and we have good reason to believe we’ll do well once the season starts."

The Nerazzurri face uncertainty in the immediate future as Erick Thorir attempts to complete a takeover of the club, and Zanetti - who has represented the club for 18 years - is unfazed by the prospect of a change in leadership.

"President [Massimo] Moratti will do what’s good for the club, as he always does."

Inter lost 2-0 and 4-0 to Chelsea and Valencia respectively in the Guiness International Champions Cup in the past week.

 

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Luiz to miss Chelsea’s pre-season game against Real Madrid

David Luiz has been ruled out of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Spanish giants Real Madrid through injury.

Luiz sat out Chelsea’s 2-0 win over AC Milan on Monday and will also miss the game against last season’s La Liga runners-ups in a match which will see Jose Mourinho take on his former club.

The club confirmed via their official Twitter account that the centre-back is still carrying a hamstrong problem which ruled him out of the clash with Serie A side.

The ex-Benfica defender has been heavily linked with a summer move away from Stamford Bridge, as arcelona prepared to bid €29 million to try to bring him to Spain.

However, Mourinho has stated the Brazil international will not be leaving the club although he conceded he hopes to help Luiz to improve his game defensively.

Chelsea take on Real Madrid on August 8 at 02:00 GMT in the final of the International Champions Cup at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

 

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Diego Costa rules out €24 million Atleti exit

Diego Costa has rubbished reports he is set to leave Atletico Madrid and join Liverpool in a €24 million deal.

The Brazilian has been the subject of considerable interest from the Premier League side, though Atleti have so far refused to be drawn into negotiations having already sold Radamel Falcao to Monaco earlier this summer.

And Costa insists he remains confident of playing a key role next season after scoring 20 goals in 44 appearances last term and cited his happiness in the Spanish capital.

He told AS: "I'm happy here, if the club want me to be here, I'm going to be here. I think that the coach (Diego Simeone) counts on all of us, not just me. He knows how important it is to maintain the squad, the fans know it as well."

The club's sporting director Jose Luis Caminero was also quick to echo the sentiments of the striker by issuing a hands-off warning to Liverpool and any other interested parties.

“Yes, he's going to continue,” Caminero told AS when asked if Costa would remain with the Liga side.

“Diego Costa is a very important player for Atletico, we value him very highly and we are convinced that this year he is going to score a lot of goals with Atletico. He is an idol for the fans.”

Costa then added he had read little about the ongoing transfer speculation as he is focused on preparing for the new season on Atleti's tour of South America.

"As I've been in Argentina and Uruguay I've not heard anything about this," he added.

The 24-year-old's current deal runs until June 2016, while he will face competition from new signings David Villa and Leo Baptistao for a starting spot upfront next season.

 

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Happy Birthday RVP!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RVP!​

 

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Full Time

AIK 1 Vs 1 Manchester United

AIK Goal(s)

R Quasion 49'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

A Henriquez 68'​

 

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Pre-Season tour 1ka iwara una widiyanam hodaiath aparade dinanna thibba match 1kaNani mul tike elata play kala but injured wechcha 1ka gana thamai dukaAnyway get well soon Nani

Henriquez gana hopes thiganna puluwan wei wage& anthima tike Bebe th hodata play kala​

 

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AIK 1-1 Manchester United: Henriquez strikes to salvage draw

Manchester United ended their 2013 pre-season tour with a frustrating and injury-laden 1-1 draw against Swedish side AIK in Stockholm.

An eventful first half led to chances at either end, with both goalkeepers pulling off a string of impressive saves to keep the scoreline at 0-0 going into the interval.

AIK went ahead just four minutes after the break thanks to a world-class long-range shot from Robin Quaison.

But the Swedish side's dominance was to be short-lived, as Angelo Henriquez volleyed in from close range to score the all-important equaliser for United after 68 minutes.

David Moyes was able to welcome back Nemanja Vidic and Nani from injury, and made eight changes to the side which beat Kitchee 5-2 last week, with Michael Carrick, Anderson and Wilfried Zaha the only players retained from that lineup.

Despite being in the middle of their domestic season, AIK manager Andreas Alm named a strong starting XI, and also included Ghanaian youngster Ebenezer Ofori, who made his debut appearance for the club at right-back.

A lively and fast-paced start to the game led to opportunities for both sides in the opening minutes, with Zaha narrowly firing wide after linking up well with Nani on the wing, and Nabil Bahoui seeing his shot from the edge of the penalty area narrowly miss Anders Lindegaards' left post.

Debutant Ofori was given the tough task of marking a strong and determined Nani, and the Portuguese winger was a constant thorn in the teenager's side, as was Robin van Persie, who forced AIK goalkeeper Kyriakos Stamatopoulos into action several times as United's dominance grew.

However, AIK almost went 1-0 up after 25 minutes when Kennedy Igboananike broke through the United defence and found himself one on one with Lindegaard, but the Dane stood his ground and pulled off an impressive save to keep the scores level.

Nani was forced off five minutes later due to injury, and with his substitution went United's attacking dominance for the rest of the half, as AIK applied further pressure on a shaky defence that looked uncomfortable having to deal with such an in-form attacking force.

AIK started the stronger of the two sides after the break and it only took them four minutes to finally break the deadlock, when Quaison combined quickly with Igboananike on the edge of the area and turned Vidic with ease, before firing a simply unstoppable shot past substitute goalkeeper Ben Amos.

Shortly after, United were hit with another injury concern when Jonny Evans was forced off the pitch due to what looked like a problem with his ankle, and, despite their best efforts, the visitors' front line seemed to be lacking ideas as they searched for an equaliser.

However, United were back on level terms after 68 minutes when Henriquez volleyed a Zaha cross in from close range, and the goal changed the balance of the game completely, with United looking in full control from then on against a tiring and unbalanced AIK side.

Moyes' side pushed hard for a winning goal in the remaining 22 minutes but the hosts held firm in defence and denied the visitors a victory in their final game on foreign soil before their Community Shield clash with Wigan on Sunday.

 

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Juventus 1-1 Inter (8-9 on penalties): Carrizo the hero in extra penalties

It took a nervy penalty shootout after finishing 90 minutes at 1-1, but Inter finished seventh in the Guinness International Champions with a victory over Juventus at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

Inter opened the scoring in the 29th, when Gianluigi Buffon spilled Rodrigo Palacio's shot and Ricky Alvarez capitalized on the uncharacteristic error.

Juventus equalised just before half-time, however. Juan Jesus' amateurish trip of Mirko Vucinic was whistled for a penalty, and Arturo Vidal dispatched the spot-kick with ease to level the scores.

As the game finished even, it went to a penalty shootout to decide the contest.

Openers Sebastian Giovinco and Fredy Guarin saw their efforts saved, before a long streak of conversions from Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Ranocchia, Fernando Llorente, Alvarez, Andrea Pirlo, Mauro Icardi (with a panenka), Vidal, Ishak Belfodil, Angelo Ogbonna, Parick Olsen, Martin Caceres, Marco Andreolli, Giorgio Chiellini, Alvaro Pereira, Paolo De Cegile and Jonathan that only ended when substitute Nerazzurri goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo finally made his second stop, on Mauricio Isla. Carrizo then stepped up to take a penalty of his own, and beat Marco Storari to salvage seventh place for Inter.

Juventus' loss means they finish dead last in the eight-team Guinness International Champions Cup.

 

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Ronaldo 'certain' to renew contract, says Ancelotti

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti claims it is "certain" that Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a new contract at the club this summer.

The 28-year-old, whose current deal expires in 2015, has seen his future shrouded in doubt in recent weeks as speculation of a potential return to Manchester United began to surface.

It emerged on Tuesday that the club are preparing to announce the Portugal sensation's new deal after they have finalised negotiations for Tottenham star Gareth Bale, and Ancelotti has voiced his own confidence that Ronaldo will stay at Santiago Bernabeu.

"I am confident Cristiano will renew," he told a press conference. "I think he is comfortable here and I don't think it will be a problem.

"I don't know about a date because that is an issue between the player and the club, but one thing is certain: Cristiano will renew his contract."

The 54-year-old declined to discuss any potential deal for Bale, however, insisting he did not wish to disrespect opposite number Andre Villas-Boas.

"I would rather not speak about it [Bale's transfer] because it would be disrespectful to Andre Villas-Boas," said Ancelotti.

"I do not want to talk about the player. The team is strong, young and I am very happy with the current squad."

The former Chelsea boss will go head-to-head with his old club in the final of the Guinness International Champions Cup on Wednesday, and the Italian admits it will be a "special" occasion.

He added: "It will be a special game. It is normal because I spent two years at Chelsea and had a very good relationship with everyone, and that is special.

"It is a pre-season game, but they are a strong opponent so it will be a good test for us."