..::Football III::..

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Atletico Madrid close in on €25 million Griezmann

Atletico Madrid are closing in on the €25 million signing of wantaway Real Sociedad star Antoine Griezmann.

Goal understands that negotiations to bring the 23-year-old to the Vicente Calderon began over a month ago but that the two Liga clubs are close to finalising a deal and confirmation could be imminent.

Although Griezmann's release clause is €30m, Real Sociedad are aware they are unlikely to get such an offer from any interested parties and are instead hoping to convince Atletico to part with €25m.

Atletico's desire to sign the France international, who impressed in his appearances at the World Cup, had largely gone under the radar but they look set to have beaten reported suitors Arsenal, Tottenham and Monaco to his signature.

Griezmann has been with Real Sociedad since 2005, when he arrived at youth level, and has a contract at the Anoeta until 2016, however he has ambitions to play at a club with whom he can consistently play Champions League football.

Atletico appealed to the forward as they showed under Diego Simeone last season - when they won La Liga and were runners up in the Champions League - that they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the country and Europe.

Griezmann would follow striker Mario Mandzukic, signed from Bayern Munich earlier this month, as the latest high profile summer signing from the Rojiblancos, while Manchester United man Javier Hernandez also remains a possible target.

 

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Real Madrid move round the corner - Navas

Levante goalkeeper Keylor Navas has hinted that a move to Real Madrid is just "around the corner" and predicts it will be sorted within a week.

The 27-year-old had an impressive 2013-14 Liga campaign then was one of the standout players in the World Cup in Brazil, where he helped Costa Rica to reach the quarter-finals which his performances between the posts.

A move to Real Madrid has been heavily rumoured since the end of the World Cup, despite nothing official being announced, and Navas revealed that his future will be solidified in the coming seven days.

"I would love to say something's sorted right now, but it's something I don't know for sure yet," he said in a chat with Movistar.

"It's around the corner, we hope that next week it will all be sorted, so that my family and I can calm down a little, and to be able to tell everyone where our new home will be.

"There will be time enough to tell everyone what my new situation is going to be."

Navas' expected arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu is expected to usurp Diego Lopez as the No.1 shot-stopper under Carlo Ancelotti and Iker Casillas' future at the club is also under question.

The Levante goalkeeper would be the third major signing of the summer for the reigning European champions, who have also signed Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich and James Rodriguez from Monaco in July.

 

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Navas awaoth Casillas transfer wei mata hithenne​

 

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Argentina fined by Fifa for Falkland Islands banner

Argentina's football association has been fined €24,700 for holding up a politically charged banner demanding the return of Falkland Islands to them before in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Britain has ruled the archipelago since 1833 but Argentina has always stressed its claim to what they call the Malvinas and invaded them in 1982 before surrendering, but the issue is once again a political hot topic in the South American nation.

Ahead of kick-off in June 7's clash with Slovenia, Alejandro Sabella's men posed on the pitch for cameras with a banner reading 'las Malvinas son Argentinas' which translates as 'the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina'.

Fifa was far from impressed with the politicising of the eventual World Cup 2014 finalists, who lost 1-0 to Germany on July 13 after extra-time, and has sanctioned the county's FA for orchestrating the stunt.

"The Fifa Disciplinary Committee has imposed a fine of €24,700 and issued a reprimand against the Argentina football association following an incident that occurred at the friendly match between Argentina and Slovenia played on 7 June in La Plata, Argentina, when members of the Argentinian national team held up a banner stating 'las Malvinas son Argentinas'," a statement on the world football governing body's website read.

"The Argentine FA was deemed to be in breach of art. 60 of the Fifa Stadium Safety and Security Regulations ('Political action') and art. 52 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code ('Team misconduct').

"The terms of the decision were notified to the Argentinian FA today."

 

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Ajax striker Sigthorsson's agent denies QPR talks

The agent of Ajax striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson has denied holding recent talks with QPR manager Harry Redknapp over a move to the Premier League club.

Redknapp told reporters on Wednesday that the west London club had agreed a fee with the Dutch side for the forward but explained that meetings with the player and his representatives had been unproductive.

But Andri Sigthorsson, the 24-year-old’s brother and agent, says the two parties have not spoken about a move for over a month.

“The news about the ongoing negotiations is absolutely untrue,” Andri told Ajax Showtime.

“The last conversation we had with coach Harry Redknapp was five weeks ago. At the moment were are not talking, so I don't know where the news comes from.”

Redknapp had claimed to hold out hope of adding Sigthorsson to his squad despite the slow progress of discussions regarding the player's personal demands.

“It seems to be dragging on a bit,” he said. “We agreed a fee with Ajax and it’s now about getting a deal with the boy and it’s been difficult. We met with his agent – his brother – and we couldn’t get a deal. It still could happen.”

Sigthorsson, who scored 10 goals in the Eredivisie last season, would reportedly cost QPR around €6.5 million.

 

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Chelsea youngster Van Aanholt set for Sunderland move

Sunderland will complete a deal to sign Chelsea youngster Patrick van Aanholt this weekend.

The Black Cats are in need of cover at left-back and have been trying to broker a deal with Fiorentina for Marcos Alonso, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light.

But they have now focused their attentions on Van Aanholt, who impressed as part of Chelsea's loan contingent at Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem last season.

The 23-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge as a teenager in 2007 but has failed to establish himself in the first-team squad, and has spent time on loan at five different clubs in as many years.

This summer saw Ashley Cole depart after nine seasons at Chelsea but Jose Mourinho immediately moved to sign Filipe Luis as his replacement, further limiting Van Aanholt's chances of securing a starting spot.

Former Blues star and Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is also believed to be keen to bring Kurt Zouma and Patrick Bamford to the Stadium of Light on loan, after both produced eye-catching pre-season performances.

Poyet has already signed goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from Manchester City, midfielder Jordi Gomez from Wigan Athletic and defender Billy Jones from West Brom this summer.

 

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Official: Juventus sign Pereyra on loan

Juventus have completed a loan move for Udinese winger Roberto Pereyra with an option to sign him next summer for €14 million.

The 23-year-old underwent a medical with the Scudetto holders earlier this week and the confirmation was merely a formality for the Argentine, who has impressed in Serie A since joining Udinese three years ago from River Plate.

Massimiliano Allegri's men could extend his year-long stay in Turin by an additional five seasons should they want to but it will set them back at least another €14m, with the possibility that he will cost €17m overall by 2020.

"Juventus can today announce that Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra has completed a move to the club after terms were agreed with Udinese on a one-season loan deal for a fee of €1.5 million," the club confirmed on Friday.

"The agreement includes the option for Juventus to make the deal permanent at the end of the 2014/15 campaign for a price of €14m, to be paid over the course of three years.

"This fee could be increased by €1.5m should Pereyra achieve certain predefined sporting targets by 30 June 2020."

Pererya is the latest high profile player to be brought on board since Antonio Conte's resignation last week, following in the footsteps of veteran left-back Patrice Evra from Manchester United and young striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.

The uncapped Argentine will be hoping to help the Bianconeri secure a fourth straight Scudetto in 2014-15, albeit with a different coach from the previous three following Allegri's arrival in place of the departed Conte.

 

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Official: Ranieri named as new Greece coach

Claudio Ranieri has been hired as the new coach of the Greece national team, the country's football association (HFF) confirmed on Friday.

The 62-year-old had signed a two-year deal to take charge of the team and succeeds Fernando Santos, who stepped down after guiding Greece to the last 16 of this summer's World Cup, where they were eliminated on penalties to Costa Rica.

Ranieri guided newly promoted Ligue 1 club Monaco to second place last season but was ruthlessly dismissed and, as such, was on the lookout for a new position and had been heavily linked with the Greece job for weeks."Claudio Ranieri signed a two-year contract with Greece and is the new coach of the national team," a statement from the HFF read on its website.

"The Italian coach, who has experience with many major European clubs, is expected to lead our group to new successes at EURO 2016."The tenure will be the former Chelsea, Valencia and Juventus boss' first spell in charge of an international team during a managerial career that has spanned 28 years.

Ranieri will be expected to get Greece off to a good start in the team’s first Euro 2016 qualifying fixture against Romania at the Karaiskaki Stadium on September 7.

Greece, who famously won the tournament as major underdogs 10 years ago, will also have to face Hungary, Finland, Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands in Group F.

 

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Real Madrid will be active until deadline day - Perez

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that the club could be active in the transfer window all the way until deadline day.

The Champions League holders have already confirmed the arrivals of World Cup stars Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez from Bayern Munich and Monaco respectively, while a transfer for Levante and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas is expected to be confirmed soon.

With the Spanish transfer window set to run until September 1, Madrid have just over five weeks to make further additions and Perez has suggested that the club would not be afraid to wait until late in the window to do transfer dealings.

"Until the last day you can always do something, whether it's buying and selling," the club chief told reporters at a Spanish football association (RFEF) assembly.

"It’s important that this season develops normally and calmly for us. As always, like everyone, we started with great enthusiasm last year.

"We all want to strengthen and improve. Then the competition will unfold. You can add people until the end of August and some can go out as well. It’s no different to any summer. I can’t say anything else, honestly."

Real Madrid kick off their competitive 2014-15 season with the Supercopa de Espana against Atletico Madrid (the home leg is on August 19 and the away leg on August 22) before playing their first Liga game at home to Cordoba the following weekend.

 

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Real Madrid la thawa kattiya gani wageFalcao th Real Madrid target 1kak​

 

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James: I want to win trophies at Real Madrid

New Real Madrid recruit James Rodriguez has revealed that he “dreamt” of signing for the club his whole life and says that he is now anxious to start winning trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Colombia star joined Los Blancos from Monaco for €80 million earlier this week and is planning a lengthy and successful stay in the Spanish capital.

“I always wanted this and I hope to be happy here for many years,” James told Real Madrid TV.

“I like challenges and to win, and I'm at a great club to achieve many titles."

When asked what he would bring to the team, the attacking midfielder said: “Goals, passes and play. I am only one [person] but I want to help."

James added: “I'm anxious. I want August 1 to come to start training and be better every day.”

The former Porto forward – who claimed the Golden Boot at World Cup 2014 – won the Portuguese league three years in a row before last season joining Monaco, where he netted nine league goals in 34 games.

His coach at Porto, Andre Villas-Boas, admitted that he always thought James would go onto achieve great things - but not at such a young age.

“We made the transfer with the clear intention of gradually developing the player and not with the expectation that he would explode so soon,” Villas-Boas told Marca.

He added: “I think he has all the conditions to adapt to the demands of Real Madrid and the pressure of a club.”

 

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Van Gaal tells Depay: Wait for Manchester United

Memphis Depay will consider snubbing interest from Premier League clubs this summer after being advised to stay at PSV for one more season by Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal.

United and Tottenham are both tracking the 20-year-old winger, who impressed under Van Gaal at the World Cup as he scored two goals in Netherlands' run to the semi-finals in Brazil.

PSV have tried to ward off interest in Depay by setting an €22.5 million asking price for the player and they are keen to keep him at the club.

Spurs have shown the strongest interest as new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to improve his attacking options and Depay is keen to test himself in the Premier League.

But Van Gaal is a huge admirer of Depay, having worked with him at close quarters with Oranje and selected him for the World Cup squad.

The new United boss has told Depay in a private conversation that his career would be best served by remaining at PSV for another season before seeking a transfer.

United are unlikely to pursue a deal for Depay this summer but will continue to monitor his situation with a view to a potential deal next year.

Real Madrid have also been linked with the Dutchman, who scored 12 goals in 32 league appearances for PSV last season.

 

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Depay patta​

 

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Iniesta: I won't speak about Suarez suspension

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has refused to speak about Luis Suarez’s ban for biting, calling the topic a “thorny issue”.

The Uruguay international was handed a nine-match international ban and a four-month suspension from “any football-related activities” by Fifa in June for sinking his teeth into Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup group stage match in Brazil but still managed to seal a transfer from Liverpool to Catalunya earlier this month.

After having an initial appeal against the length of the ban rejected by Fifa, Suarez is now taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Consequently, Iniesta remains reluctant to be drawn on the issue.

"The punishment of Luis Suarez is a thorny issue," the Spain international mused.

“I don’t know if I can speak of the case or not so I will refrain from giving my opinions as it may damage something.

“We hope that everything will be resolved quickly and that the ban will be as little as possible.”

Suarez was the top scorer in the Premier League with Liverpool last season, after netting an impressive 31 goals in 33 matches, and Iniesta believes the €80 million man will prove a fine signing for the Blaugrana.

He said: "Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world. For the midfielders, to have a player with those characteristics is fundamental.”

 

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Blanc: PSG stars will move on from World Cup woe

Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has revealed that his players are over their World Cup disappointment and looking forward to the new Ligue 1 season.

A dozen members of the PSG squad travelled to Brazil to take part in football’s biggest tournament this summer – although none of them were able to win the competition with their respective national sides.

However, former France coach Blanc has admitted that despite many of his players enduring a difficult and frustrating few weeks in South America, his squad have re-focused their efforts on the upcoming domestic season."I think PSG's players have put things in perspective. I have talked to them," Blanc said.

"They are obviously disappointed, which is something logical. But life goes on. You have to move on. You have to move on because a World Cup is every four years.
"Even though you don't play a World Cup every year, there is a need to move on. They failed in the competition; they didn't play the way they wanted to. It's over.”
He added: "Every player goes back to their clubs with some new personal and collective objectives in mind. Life goes on."

Four of Blanc’s PSG players – David Luiz, Maxwell, Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta – featured in the Brazil squad that received a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of eventual winners Germany in the last four.

Blanc admitted that the Selecao’s aim of winning their sixth World Cup trophy on home soil may have contributed to their downfall but backed the quartet to move on from their nightmare finish to the tournament.

"They were clearly disappointed. There was a huge pressure on the Brazilians, particularly because they were playing at home. The expectations in the country were huge," Blanc said.

"They were out not only sooner than expected but they also lost against a great team. The disappointment was as great as the expectation of the whole country.
"The expectations might have been too big. They are in the same situation [as the Italians]. They failed to fulfil their objective which was winning the World Cup.
"But moving on is important. In life, you don't always achieve your goals. When these goals are not achieved, we try to set up new ones."

PSG will kick off the 2014-15 Ligue 1 campaign league when they travel to Reims on August 8.

 

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Benitez: Napoli not interested in Real Madrid's Diego Lopez

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has refuted stories linking the Italian club with Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

The shot-stopper had been heavily linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu outfit this summer following reports that Los Blancos had met the €10 million release fee for Levante goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Lopez’s agent, Manolo Garcia-Quilon, assured reporters recently that his client did not want to leave Spain this summer and that he had not received any enquiries for the 32-year-old from Napoli.Benitez has now confirmed that the Serie A side are not interested in recruiting the Madrid goalkeeper.

"We have been linked with many names, but, a very high percentage are not real," Benitez told Marca.

"I heard: ‘Napoli will sign Diego Lopez, they have an agreement.’ In no time have we have raised [an enquiry]."Benitez also spoke of Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who spent last season on loan at the club.

Despite the player admitting that his future at Anfield was by no means assured, Benitez refused to reveal if he would attempt to sign his former player this summer.
“In principle, we do not speak of the transfer market because it would be disrespectful to our players," the former Reds boss mused.

“This time, lots of things have changed, but, today the goalkeepers that we have are of the highest of standards and we have the maximum confidence in them.”

 

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Chelsea keeper Cech: I don't want to be on the bench

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is determined to hold off Thibaut Courtois and avoid dropping out of the team.

The 32-year-old has been the Blues' No.1 keeper since arriving from Rennes in 2004 but his position at the club is in doubt following the Belgian's return from three seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has previously claimed that he will not sell either keeper, regardless of the pair's happiness at the club, and the Czech star is keen to secure his immediate future.

"I don't want to be on the bench," he told reporters after featuring in the 1-1 pre-season draw with Wolfsberger in Austria on Wednesday. "This is why I am trying to do everything to be in the team.

"I don't want to talk about ifs and buts. Let's see how I am going and what happens.

"You know I always give my best and obviously that is all I can do. I will do my best and do everything I can do to be as ready as possible for when the season starts.

"Obviously Jose Mourinho will make his choice and decide how his team is going to look for the first game, second game, third game, whatever game.

"It is up to us players to show we are ready to play and make him pick us. I am not any different. I am doing everything I can to make him pick me."

 

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Wenger: Ozil, Mertesacker & Podolski to miss start of season

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects World Cup winners Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski to miss the start of the new Premier League season.

The Germany internationals all played key roles as Joachim Low’s side triumphed in Brazil, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final on July 13.

The Gunners open their Premier League campaign on August 16 against Crystal Palace but Wenger does not envisage the trio being available for selection.

"I have given them a good break because I have experience of players who have been in the World Cup final. You need a rest," the Frenchman told reporters.

"Will they be ready? Mertesacker prepares well - but for the first game ... I don't think they will be ready for August 16.

"A post-World Cup year is always very difficult and short; the World Cup final was July 13 and the start of the Premier League is August 16. From Fifa we are obliged to give four weeks' holiday to the players so I don't know how all that works together. It looks impossible to me.

"A post-World Cup year is always very difficult for every big club because the players have been away."

Wenger is hopeful that the Gunners, currently in the United States on their pre-season tour, can add more silverware next season after having their long trophy drought by claiming FA Cup glory last campaign.

"We always have high expectations but we haven't always fulfilled them," he conceded. "We are very ambitious and last season we went 128 days at the top of the Premier League but were left frustrated because we couldn't win it.

"Overall, we were very consistent, we won the FA Cup and we want to win more next season but the level of competition is very high and it's very difficult to predict how much better other teams will be.

"We just have to ensure we have good preparation and hopefully we will have a good chance to win the title."

 

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Maradona: Messi played better for me than Sabella

Former Argentina boss Diego Maradona has claimed that Lionel Messi played “five times better” for him than current national team coach Alejandro Sabella.

Sabella guided the Albiceleste to their first World Cup final in 24 years earlier this month, where they lost 1-0 to Germany.

However, Maradona, who coached Argentina between 2008 and 2010, has now criticised Sabella for not getting the most out of his players - and Messi in particular.

Speaking ahead of a friendly match at Rio Tercero, the 53-year-old stated: "With me, Messi played five times better than with Sabella. Don’t tell me that now he sacrifices himself for the team.”

With Sabella’s future remaining uncertain, Maradona suggested that Cesar Luis Menotti should take over, though he doubted whether the Argentina Football Association (AFA) would entrust him with the role.

“I don't like Sabella [for the job],” Maradona said. “There’s someone forgotten: Menotti, who is not working because he fights against the mafia [the AFA].”