..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Contento injury blow for Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich defender Diego Contento will miss Saturday's clash with Augsburg through injury.

The 23-year-old has featured on only nine occasions in the Bundesliga this season but had been expected to start at the SGL Arena, given coach Pep Guardiola is likely to rotate his squad this weekend with Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester United in mind.

However, Contento is now set for a spell on the sidelines, though Bayern did not specify how long the Munich native will be out of action for."Pep Guardiola will be without Diego Contento for Augsburg due to a ligament injury in his left ankle - get well soon," Bayern posted on their official Twitter account.

Contento has risen through the ranks at Bayern, but has largely played second fiddle to the likes of captain Philipp Lahm and regular left-back David Alaba.

 

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'Things have changed' for Evra at Manchester United - agent hints at exit

Patrice Evra’s agent has cast fresh doubts over the Frenchman’s Manchester United future after he revealed “things have changed” for the veteran full-back.

The former Monaco defender's contract is due to expire in the summer and Goal understands that Inter have made him a transfer target, with team-mate Nemanja Vidic already bound for San Siro.

Federico Pastorello, Evra's representative, hints that Italy would be an attractive destination should his client decide to leave United, who have struggled this season under David Moyes.

"Patrice has to decide what to do with his future," Pastorello told Tele Radio Stereo.

"He is very close to United but lately things have changed a little.

"Could he come back to Italy? Patrice has always highly regarded Serie A and so, if he were to leave England, it could be a possibility but, at the moment, it is still too early to talk about next season."

Evra has made 39 appearances in all competitions for United this season, his eighth full campaign since signing from Monaco in January 2006.

 

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AC Milan midfielder Essien ruled out for at least two games

AC Milan midfielder Michael Essien has suffered an injury to his right thigh and will be out of action for at least 10 days.

The Ghana international came on for Sulley Muntari at half-time in the Rossoneri's comprehensive 3-0 victory over Chievo on Saturday. However, Essien - who moved to San Siro from Premier League outfit Chelsea in January - is now unlikely to feature against Genoa on Monday or in the clash with Catania on April 13, as the Serie A side assess the full extent of the damage.

"AC Milan wishes to communicate that Michael Essien has picked up an injury to his right thigh," a statement on the club's official website read."The player will undergo further tests in 10 days' time."

Essien has made six league appearances for Milan, who have endured a tough campaign and currently sit 11th in the table with just seven games remaining.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benteke ruled out of World Cup

Christian Benteke will undergo surgery on an Achilles injury which ends his season and rules him out of this summer's World Cup, Aston Villa have confirmed.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury during training and a scan on Thursday confirmed the extent of the damage, which the club say will sideline him for "a minimum of six months".

"It's a terrible blow both for Christian and for the club," boss Paul Lambert told the club's official website.

"He will miss the rest of the season, obviously, and also the World Cup. But he'll work hard because that's what he does and he'll come back for us stronger than ever next season."

Benteke was a revelation in his first season in England, scoring 28 goals in 50 appearances for Villa and Belgium to help his club preserve their Premier League status and his country reach Brazil.

At the end of his first year the Belgian submitted a transfer request amid interest from Tottenham, before changing his mind and signing a new contract which keeps him at Villa until the summer of 2017.

His second season has been more problematic, yielding just 11 goals in 29 games, but Benteke was still set to battle Everton loanee Romelu Lukaku for a starting spot up front for Belgium this summer.

The injury is also a significant blow for Lambert as he bids to keep Villa in the top flight, though his side lie 12th in the table, eight points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff with a game in hand.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Get Well Soon Benteke!

 

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Young: Manchester United must keep up momentum against Newcastle

Ashley Young is hoping Manchester United can maintain their momentum against Newcastle on Saturday.

David Moyes' men travel to St James' Park this weekend having pulled off an impressive 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

And, with the return leg in Germany taking place on Wednesday, Young is keen to take that form into the Premier League."We've got to keep the momentum going," he told MUTV. "We want to take three points from the weekend into the second leg against Bayern and then see how things go.

"I can't wait to go there [to Munich], we've given ourselves a massive chance."We're in with a great shout and, as long as we add to the performance we gave at Old Trafford, hopefully we can go through. It was a great team performance.

"I think everyone would have taken that result before the game. We're a little bit disappointed with the way they got their goal, but a draw still sets us up nicely for the second leg."

United have endured a difficult season on the domestic front and sit seventh in the Premier League.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ibrahimovic ruled out for four weeks

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out of action for four weeks, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi has announced.

The forward pulled up in the 68th minute of his side's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Chelsea on Wednesday and was forced to be substituted, with test later confirming a hamstring problem.

PSG have now revealed the Sweden international will miss the second leg against the Blues as he will likely be sidelined for a month, with scans expected to confirm the severity of the injury tomorrow.

"It's an MRI [scan] at this time," Nasser Al Khelaifi told RMC. "We will have the result within half an hour, an hour.

"But he will need at least four weeks of rest. He won't play the next game against Chelsea."

As well as missing Tuesday's return leg at Stamford Bridge, the 32-year-old will also be unavailable for the Coupe de la Ligue final against Olympique Lyonnais on April 19.

Lucas Moura, who replaced Ibrahimovic against Chelsea, has been given a vote of confidence by Al Khelaifi, who has backed the Brazilian to step up in the Swede's absence.

"I think Zlatan is very important for the team, but Lucas is ready," he said.

Al Khelaifi went on to stress that Edinson Cavani will not leave the club this summer, despite the player hinting at a possible exit admid reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

He added: "Cavani is very important for us, he is very professional, very generous on the field, he gives everything. I appreciate that.

"If he wants to change position, it is not his decision, it is that of the coach and he understands. He is a star of PSG. And of course he will stay with us next season."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Get Well Soon Ibra!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea keeper Courtois close to Atletico Madrid loan renewal

Thibaut Courtois is on the brink of agreeing to stay at Atletico Madrid for another season on loan.

Chelsea are close to finalising a deal with the Spanish club for the Belgian goalkeeper to play at the Vicente Calderon for a fourth consecutive campaign.

Goal has learned that a meeting regarding Courtois' future took place earlier this week and the groundwork of a deal is now in place for him to extend his spell with Atletico.

Courtois is believed to be unwilling to link up permanently with his parent club for an entire campaign if he cannot be assured of first-team football.

Chelsea have been unable to provide that undertaking due to the continued fine form of established No.1 Petr Cech, who is still only 31 and contracted to the Europa League champions until 2016.

Courtois, 21, has not played a single match for the Blues since signing from Genk in the summer of 2011.

He is about to complete a third season-long loan at Atletico, where he has established himself as one of the highest-rated keepers in the game.

Speaking after Atletico held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash on Tuesday, Gerardo Martino admitted that Courtois looked like “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, while Diego Simeone said the youngster’s career is on a continual upward curve.

"He has improved a lot in the two and half years that he has been with us," Atleti head coach Simeone said. "He needs to keep getting better but it is clear that he is destined for big things."

Speaking on Tuesday night to Spanish radio show El Larguero, Courtois said that he would soon publicly reveal his plans.

"Next week I will announce my decision," the Belgium international explained. "I am not going to say if I will stay or not. What I will say is that next week I will announce my decision."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Alonso 'fully behind' Pepe in Busquets row

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso says the squad are fully behind Pepe amid the defender's ongoing feud with Sergio Busquets.

Busquets appeared to step on Pepe's head during the Clasico encounter on March 23, although the Barcelona man has since insisted he "didn't touch" the Portugal international.

Pepe brandished Busquets "a liar" on Wednesday following his comments and Alonso has voiced his support for his Blancos team-mate.

"Pepe expressed his sentiments and we are behind him fully," Alonso told a press conference.

"If it had been the other way round, it would have been talked about a lot more. He is a key player for us."

Alonso played 90 minutes in Madrid's 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg, and the Spain international admits he would savour a "special kind of glamour" should they end their long wait for a 10th European crown.

"We're pleased with the result. There's still 90 minutes to go. We're happy but not relaxed.

"They [La Liga and Champions League] are both difficult competitions, it's hard to chose. The Champions League has a special kind of glamour, and it's a few years since we won it. It's not a question of choosing, but fighting."

Despite losing ground in the league title race to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, Alonso was encouraged by Real's improvements on last year and revealed his excitement at the season's finale as they prepare to face Real Sociedad on Saturday.

The 32-year-old added: "We're going better in the league, but it's not a question of comparing, we have six exciting weeks with important games, we have some important players out too. Now it's the business end.

"Anoeta is always a tough place to go, people get right behind their side. It will be an intense game, we have to win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham open talks with Lukaku - agent

Romelu Lukaku's agent has admitted to holding talks with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ahead of a potential summer move to White Hart Lane.

The Belgium centre forward has enjoyed another productive loan spell this season where his 13 goals in all competitions have helped Everton in their quest for Champions League qualification.

Despite heavily criticising his strikers in the wake of their 3-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, Jose Mourinho is yet to decide on whether Lukaku's long-term future lies at Chelsea, prompting the 20-year-old's agent to hold talks with interested parties.

"I'm looking for a club for Romelu and, yes, I've talked to Daniel Levy once but that doesn't mean Romelu will definitely join Spurs. That's not a talking point at this moment," Lukaku's agent, Christophe Henrotay, told Het Nieuwsblad.

"There aren't 20 teams that can afford to buy Romelu. He won't go from Everton to, let's say, Swansea. There's also a difference between Everton that plays against relegation and an Everton that fights for European football."

Lukaku also spent last season on loan, netting 17 times for West Brom, meaning that he has scored 29 times in 59 Premier League appearances despite never registering a goal for his parent club.

Spurs, meanwhile, are in the market for a forward with just two senior strikers listed on their books, while the form of Roberto Soldado - a €31 million signing last summer - has been a major concern.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea la Lukaku wa loan karana 1kanam aparadeHodata play karanawaneKalin WBA wala dan Everton wala.

Time for play Chelsea now!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Besiktas eyeing move for Manchester City outcast Lescott

Out-of-favour Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott remains a target for Besiktas, according to the Turkish club's director of football, Onder Ozen.

Lescott's contract expires at the end of the season and the England international appears unlikely to be offered a new deal by manager Manuel Pellegrini, having been limited to just 10 Premier League starts for City during the 2013-14 campaign.

Fellow Brits Les Ferdinand, Rob McDonald and Alan Walsh all spent time playing for Besiktas in the late 1980s and early 1990s and Lescott could become the latest in that line to sign for the Turkish giants.

"Lescott is still on our transfer wishlist," Ozen is quoted by The Sun as saying.

"Everything will become clear at the end of the season, players will be leaving and arriving, but I don't want to disclose too much information yet."

Lescott has made 160 appearances for City since joining the club in a big-money move from Everton in 2009. He has gone on to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea & Liverpool chasing £20m-rated Lallana

Adam Lallana has been targeted by a quartet of Champions League-calibre clubs ahead of the summer window, Goal understands.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are all closely monitoring the England international amid growing doubts about his Southampton future.

Lallana is contracted to the Saints until 2018 after signing a new deal last year but those close to him believe that the next window could be the right time to move to one of England's marquee clubs.

Southampton are believed to be prepared to cash in on some of their prize assets, who include not only Lallana but Luke Shaw, Jay Rodriguez and Morgan Schneiderlin.

New Southampton director Hans Hofstetter admitted last week that the restructured board had “inherited a difficult situation financially” as it emerged in the club’s latest set of annual accounts that there was an outstanding transfer debt of £27million.

Lallana, who joined the Saints as a 12-year-old and graduated from their famed academy, is rated in the £20m-plus bracket by the club and his value could rocket on the back of an impressive showing at this summer’s World Cup.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has had an outstanding season for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, in which he has started 31 of their 32 Premier League matches and scored nine goals.

Lallana won his first England cap last November and has performed so well in each of his three international appearances that, coupled with his club form, he is regarded as a virtual certainty to make Roy Hodgson’s 23-man World Cup squad.

Pochettino spoke in glowing terms of his club captain in the wake of Southampton’s 4-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, describing him as a “special and unique player” who “has the skills of an [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi or [Cesc] Fabregas”.

The future of Lallana and his team-mates could be tied to that of Pochettino, who is yet to extend a contract that expires at the end of next season.

With the Argentine expected to be on Tottenham’s managerial target list should Tim Sherwood be sacked this summer, there is a possibility that Lallana might favour a move to Spurs.

However, Chelsea, Liverpool and United would all be in a position to offer the midfielder a bigger salary and the greater prospect of challenging for trophies than the north Londoners.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Torres has no future at Chelsea'

Fernando Torres has no future at Chelsea, according to the club's former assistant manager and midfielder Ray Wilkins.

The Spain striker has fallen some way short of the level of consistency that made him so revered at Liverpool since his January 2011 move from Merseyside to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho criticised Torres' work rate following Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.

And Wilkins believes that the 30-year-old – who has scored 43 goals in 164 appearances for the London club – is on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge."Torres has no future at Chelsea," Wilkins told talkSPORT. "I think he has seen his time out there.

"He moved from a Liverpool side where he was so successful as an individual to Chelsea, where the style of play is so different."He needs the space in behind people in which to run. He needs to make those runs though. He needs to make the players find him.

"Sometimes it is down to the individual. He needs to try and make something happen."

 

[unicornx]

'Torres has no future at Chelsea'

Fernando Torres has no future at Chelsea, according to the club's former assistant manager and midfielder Ray Wilkins.

The Spain striker has fallen some way short of the level of consistency that made him so revered at Liverpool since his January 2011 move from Merseyside to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho criticised Torres' work rate following Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.

And Wilkins believes that the 30-year-old – who has scored 43 goals in 164 appearances for the London club – is on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge."Torres has no future at Chelsea," Wilkins told talkSPORT. "I think he has seen his time out there.

"He moved from a Liverpool side where he was so successful as an individual to Chelsea, where the style of play is so different."He needs the space in behind people in which to run. He needs to make those runs though. He needs to make the players find him.

"Sometimes it is down to the individual. He needs to try and make something happen."

Mounan maha gonek

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kaka: I want to make another 300 appearances for AC Milan

Kaka has expressed his delighted at having made 300 appearances for AC Milan - claiming that he'd like to make another 300.

The Brazil international recently expressed an interest in plying his trade in the United States and club CEO Adriano Galliani subsequently admitted that although the 31-year-old is under contract until 2015, he is allowed to leave this summer because the Rossoneri cannot qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, on Friday, Galliani presented Kaka with a medal to commemorate his 300th appearance for the club, against Chievo last weekend, and spoke of his desire to see the attacking midfielder remain at San Siro.

"To have reached this milestone is something truly extraordinary," the vice-president is quoted as saying by Milan's official website.

"The hope of the club and all of us is that we will still be here to celebrate appearance number 400, 500 - and beyond.

"Ricardo is truly in the hearts of the Milan fans. You can still give so much to this jersey. Few others have played games of the quality that you have produced here in Milan.

"My compliments on behalf of the club and president [Silvio] Berlusconi."

When Kaka was offered the opportunity to say a few words, he revealed that he too hopes to play for Milan for many years to come.

"I'm very happy with these 300 games in this jersey," he enthused.

"The sentiments expressed in the speech made by Galliani are reciprocated because the feelings that I have for this club, for this shirt, for former and current team-mates are true and from the heart.

"I hope to be able to make just as many more appearances. Thank you."

 

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Reina: Being linked with Barcelona is great

Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted that is flattered that he is still being linked with Barcelona.

The Spain international is currently on loan to the Partenopei from Liverpool but Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has stated that there is little chance of the 31-year-old returning to Anfield this summer.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to sign Reina on a permanent deal at the end of the season but the man himself has hinted that he is still keen on the prospect of returning to Camp Nou, where he began his career.

"It pleases me that they're speaking of me as a possible Barcelona goalkeeper, but now it's difficult to speak about what will happen," Reina told Onda Cero.

"I'm happy at Napoli. We're facing the end of the season trying to reach second place, even if now it will be difficult. But we will not let up.

"Obviously, there's also the final of the Coppa Italia, which we have so much desire to win."

Napoli are currently third in Serie A, nine points behind second-placed Roma, while Rafa Benitez's men will face Fiorentina in the final of the Coppa Italia in May.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Monchengladbach: Ter Stegen will leave this summer

Borussia Monchengbladbach have confirmed that Marc-Andre ter Stegen will leave the club this summer - even if the goalkeeper is blocked from joining Barcelona.

The Germany international has agreed to move to Camp Nou at the end of the season but the deal has been thrown into jeopardy by Fifa's decision to ban the Blaugrana from signing any players for the next two transfer windows in relation to alleged irregularities in the movement of players under the age of 18.

That shock development has thrown up the possibility of Ter Stegen remaining at Gladbach for the final year of his contract with the club but director of sport Max Eberl says the 21-year-old will still depart, pointing out that they have already signed a replacement in the form of Basel's Yann Sommer.

"I think you can see from how relaxed we are sitting here that our situation has not changed," Eberl told reporters on Friday.

"Marc will leave us in the summer and we will then have Sommer as our new goalkeeper.

"I cannot envisage any scenario that could arise that would mean he would be staying with us."

Ter Stegen, for his part, has also stated that he fully intends to leave Monc

 

[Wolverine GTR]

I will never stop taking risks, vows Verratti

Marco Verratti says he will never stop taking risks on the pitch, declaring that if he is prevented from doing so, he will just go home.

The Italy international played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain's 3-1 victory over Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, though he was criticised in some quarters for taking on opposition players inside his own half.

However, Verratti says that while he still has much to learn, he will never change his adventurous approach to the game.

"If you take the pleasure of risk away from me, I'd be better off going home," the 21-year-old playmaker is quoted as saying in La Repubblica.

"Sometimes [PSG coach] Laurent Blanc he calls me to task and, against Chelsea, on Wednesday, I lost some the balls that I shouldn't have.

"But it was a tough opponent, who have a great coach like [Jose] Mourinho.

"All lessons are useful."

Verratti, who joined PSG from hometown club Pescara in 2012, is considered by many pundits as the natural heir to Italy icon Andrea Pirlo.