..::Football III::..

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Sturridge due back in England before weekend

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Daniel Sturridge is set to return to England in the next 24 hours as he nears a Liverpool comeback.

The striker has not played a Premier League match since August due to a thigh and calf injuries, twice suffering setbacks in a bid to return to full fitness.

Sturridge, who has one goal in three league appearances this term, subsequently travelled to Boston to continue his rehabilitation.

Manager Brendan Rodgers stated at the end of December that the England international would soon return to Merseyside and Sturridge is now due back by Friday at the latest.

"Daniel Sturridge is in the final stages of his recovery," Rodgers said. "He will be back in the country in the next 24 hours.

"Daniel is a top-class player, he has wonderful qualities. He will make any team better. I'm hoping he can stay fit and make a charge for us."

Rodgers also stated that there was no update on a contract extension for Raheem Sterling, who continues to be linked with Real Madrid and Manchester City, while also cooling rumours that Liverpool are interested in signing James Milner from City.

"There's no update on Raheem's contract," he added. "That's something between the club and his representatives."

On Milner, he explained: "James is a wonderful player but players get linked with the club consistently."

 

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Arsenal 'in talks' with Legia Warsaw starlet Bielik

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Legia Warsaw midfielder Krystian Bielik, according to the player’s agent.

The Gunners have reportedly had a €2 million bid for the 17-year-old rejected, while the player was invited to the club’s training ground over the Christmas period.

“We are speaking and hopefully we will find a solution,” Bielik’s agent, Cezary Kucharski, told The Guardian on Thursday.

Bielik, who broke through into Legia’s first team at the start of the season and has made six appearances for the Polish club, admits he is keen to join Arsene Wenger’s side.

"I hope that the two clubs come together and I go to London to fulfil my dreams,” Bielik told legia.sport.pl.

"He [Wenger] knows that I have the skills, am determined to win and he wants to sign me as soon as possible to start working with me."

 

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Pardew: Crystal Palace challenge a good fit

Alan Pardew admits his Selhurst Park return is primarily motivated by the challenge of keeping Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

The former Palace midfielder was brought in from Newcastle United earlier this month, following Neil Warnock's sacking in late December.

Pardew has already overseen a 4-0 victory over non-League Dover Athletic in the FA Cup and will take charge of his first league game at the helm against Tottenham on Saturday.

Despite Newcastle and third-bottom Palace being separated by eight positions and 10 points in the table, Pardew believes a new challenge was right and dismissed any notion that St James' Park chairman Mike Ashley was set to sell the club.

"I've not heard that, it's just rumours. It was simple equation really. Crystal Palace wanted me and met my clause, Newcastle told me and I had a choice whether to stay or go," he explained.

"I decided this new challenge would be a good one for me. I think I'm a good fit for them.

"I understand the football community having concerns over why that happened, for me it was the right time and it's the right time for Newcastle.

"I think four years under that type of monetary situation when they're trying to push, it's difficult. I've left a good club, with a good base of young players. Some fantastic professionals, who I'll miss, we've pulled above our weight at times.

"I had tremendous support and I want to thank all Geordies for their support. You can't help but grow as a manager there. It would have been easier to stay at Newcastle and finish in the top 10 but I chose this challenge."

Pardew's immediate task will not be helped by the absences of Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie, who are on international duty at the Asian Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations respectively.

The Palace boss feels signings in January are necessary for the club to pull clear of the drop zone.

"I can't say anything about the financial side of the game because it's unfair on any club we're talking to," he said when pressed on an apparent interest in Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

"The board are keen to try bring in a player or two. We have to wait and see. It's very complicated in the Premier League to secure a player, especially a striker.

"We're going to need some funding because we need new players, [chairman Steve Parrish] gave me assurances he would do his very best to do that."

 

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Dunga: I had to battle stern reputation

Brazil coach Dunga says he was well aware of the reputation he brought with him agreeing to return to the national team last year.

The 51-year-old spent four largely successful years with the Selecao between 2006 and 2010, marching confidently through qualification and claiming the 2007 Copa America title, but his spell ending in World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.

That defeat saw him leave the role amid criticism of what local commentators labelled an overly pragmatic approach and a prickly personality.

“I understood that it would be very difficult. It was complicated to recover after what happened at the World Cup,” he told the press in Porto Alegre.

“The players had to meet us and see that I am not as bad as they may have thought.”

Dunga has led Brazil to six consecutive victories since his return, including a famous 2-0 victory over rivals Argentina in the Superclasico de las Americas in October last year.

He will face his first competitive test since his return when Brazil arrive in Chile for the Copa America in June.

Brazil continue their preparations for the tournament when the Brasil Global Tour resumes in March with a friendly against France in Paris.

 

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Vlaar ruled out for up to six weeks

Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar could miss up to six weeks of action with a knee injury, the club has confirmed.

The centre-back limped out of Villa's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on New Year's Day and missed last Sunday's 1-0 FA Cup victory over Blackpool.

Vlaar, who twice underwent knee surgery at previous club Feyenoord, subsequently went for a scan on the issue and he is set for a spell on the sidelines.

"Ron Vlaar expected to be out for four to six weeks with a knee injury," read a post from Villa's official Twitter account.

Manager Paul Lambert also took questions on Thursday about Villa's plans in the transfer market.

The Scot insists the club have received no offers for Vlaar or midfielder Fabian Delph, who have both been linked with exits during the January transfer window.

Lambert did hint at interest in Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair, but would not be drawn on whether Villa would make a move for his services.

"He's a good player, I remember him at Swansea, but I'm conscious he's at another club," said Lambert.

"There will be new players in this month and none now going out."

 

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Laporta: I'm ready to stand in Barcelona elections

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has announced he is "ready and willing" to stand in this year's elections, though he held back from publicly declaring he will certainly contest incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Goal exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Laporta, who won 12 titles during his previous seven-year tenure, wants the position back and would plan on bringing Pep Guardiola on board as the club's sporting director.

The ex-Camp Nou chief would also hire Catalunya legend Johan Cruyff in an advisory role and ensure that the head coach is a former player from Guardiola's trophy-laden spell in charge of the Liga giants.

Laporta had already dropped a cryptic hint on social media about contending for the Barca chief position with reports of disharmony leaking into the media from within Camp Nou.

Following Bartomeu's confirmation that Barca will hold elections a year early, Laporta has made his most obvious comment yet that he wants the club's presidency back in his hands.

"I am ready, I want to stand for election, but I am yet to decide if I will," the lawyer and political figure was quoted as saying in a statement outside his law firm.

Laporta suggested on Wednesday that he does not want to distract from Barca recovering their form after losing their first game of 2014 1-0 at Real Sociedad, which led to the press learning how Luis Enrique and Lionel Messi's relationship has eroded completely.

"Regarding the elections, I'll announce my candidacy when the time is right; I always want to maintain stability at the club," he wrote on his official Twitter account.

"At the moment, everybody must get behind Luis Enrique's team more than ever for the good of Barca."

Barcelona will hope to turn attention back to football with a Copa del Rey victory over Elche in Thursday's last 16 first leg at Camp Nou.

 

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Del Piero: Ronaldo is the future but Neuer will win Ballon d'Or

Alessandro Del Piero believes that Cristiano Ronaldo represents the future of football, but has backed World Cup winner Manuel Neuer for the Fifa Ballon d'Or on Monday.

The Real Madrid forward has won the accolade twice, and is the holder after ending Lionel Messi's streak of four consecutive triumphs, but Neuer starred as Germany romped to World Cup success last year and was brilliant for Bayern Munich in 2014.

Although he heavily praised Ronaldo for being a 21st century footballer and Messi for being such an incredible playmaker, the Juventus and Italy legend has tentatively stated that Neuer will go home with the gong on January 12.

"The three Ballon d'Or finalists are the best of the bunch, no question," Del Piero told Fifa.com. "Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal stats are truly impressive. A lot has been said about the concept of ‘the modern player’, well this guy is not just modern but also of the future.

"Messi, for his part, is the real deal when it comes to No10s. I remember during the World Cup in Brazil seeing countless kids wearing his jersey – even Brazilian youngsters wearing the shirt of an Argentine! He represents a type of football that transcends borders.

"As for Manuel Neuer, he’s given us a new way of interpreting the role of a goalkeeper: not only is he very good with his feet, he also brings more mobility to his team. On top of that, he’s obviously a superb shot-stopper and Germany’s world title owed a lot to him.

"I’ll chance a prediction and say the winner will be Neuer. He was integral to Germany’s great World Cup and to a wonderful season for Bayern in the Bundesliga.

"The situation is a bit like we had in 2006, when Gigi Buffon narrowly missed out on winning the Ballon d’Or to team-mate and fellow world champion Fabio Cannavaro."

 

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Official: Burnley sign Michael Keane from Manchester United

Burnley have completed the permanent signing of Michael Keane from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

A deal was agreed on Wednesday for the 21-year-old centre-back, who initially moved to Turf Moor on loan until January during September's transfer deadline day.

Keane has impressed during his time with Sean Dyche's men, making 10 Premier League appearances, eight of which were starts, and the England Under-21s international has now penned a three-and-a-half year deal at the Lancashire club.

"Michael is a good young player," said manager Dyche of his first foray into this season's January transfer market.

"We see a lot of development in him as he's on a good pathway at the moment and we're delighted that he has decided to join us."

Having started his career at United, Keane struggled to break into the first team at Old Trafford and made just five senior appearances for the club.

Subsequently, he has enjoyed loan spells with Leicester City, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers before his move to Burnley.

After initially acting as backup, Keane grasped his chance when veteran defender Michael Duff sustained an injury in November.

 

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Inter and Bayern agree deal for Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join Inter, the club have confirmed, after they reached an agreement with Bayern Munich on Thursday.

The Nerazzurri have agreed to sign the Switzerland international on loan until the end of the season for €2 million, and will then be obliged to pay €12m at the end of the season to make the deal permanent.

An extra payment will be made if Inter qualify for the 2015-16 Champions League.

Inter announced the transfer is almost complete on their television channel, claiming the highly-rated 23-year-old attacker just needs to put pen-to-paper on the verbally agreed contract to seal the deal.

"There is total agreement between Inter and Bayern Munich for the arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri," the Nerazzurri tweeted. "We're only missing the signatures."

Shaqiri, who was given permission to skip training with Bayern on Thursday, has given his blessing to a four-year contract with the 2010 European champions on a salary of €2.75m a season.

The two clubs have been negotiating a transfer over recent days, and Nerazzurri directors Marco Fassone, Piero Ausilio and Michael Bolingbroke flew to Munich to finalise the deal with Bayern counterparts Matthias Sammer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Shaqiri had originally been the top January transfer target of Juventus but the Italian champions pulled out of the deal in order to focus their efforts on Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder. Liverpool and Stoke City had also been linked with the World Cup star.

The 23-year-old joined Bayern from Basel in 2012 and has scored 17 goals in 81 games for the Bavarians - winning two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League among a host of honours.

However, he has found regular playing time hard to come by due to the presence of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

 

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Shaqiri pattaBayern walin yana 1ka hodai mokada Bayern wala hidden wela thiyenne Shaqiri ge skills.​

 

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Rodriguez signs Wolfsburg renewal

Ricardo Rodriguez has signed a new contract with Wolfsburg that will keep him at the Bundesliga outfit until June 2019.

The Switzerland international's previous deal at the Volkswagen Arena had been due to expire in 2016 and a number of clubs had been linked with the 22-year-old, including Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

However, Rodriguez has now ended speculation about his future by committing himself to Dieter Hecking's men.

"I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to extend my stay here," Rodriguez commented on his new deal.

"I have been here for three years and have made a lot of friends since. We have a great team and it didn't take long to reach an agreement."

Rodriguez has developed into a key player at Wolfsburg since joining from Swiss Super League side Zurich in January 2012, scoring eight goals and creating 16 more in 87 Bundesliga appearances.

Wolfsburg are second in the Bundesliga table at the moment, trailing leaders and defending champions Bayern Munich by 11 points - a gap they can cut with victory over the Bavarians in their first game after the mid-season break on January 30.

 

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I can't rule out a loan back to Liverpool, says Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard refuses to rule out returning to the club on loan from LA Galaxy, though his next club are adamant that they will be his top priority.

The Reds legend has agreed a deal to join the Californian club at the end of his contract in the summer but Frank Lampard's success on loan at Manchester City this season has prompted suggestions that Gerrard could be back at Anfield sooner than expected.

Galaxy president Chris Klein, however, stressed to BBC Radio 5 Live that "Gerrard's focus will be LA Galaxy", adding that the midfielder is due to make his debut for the Major League Soccer side against San Jose Earthquakes on July 17.

"Signing Steven ranks right up there [with the David Beckham deal in 2007] and we're very excited about it," Klein enthused. "The attention it has created has been incredible. He's a worldwide name and people are very excited."

Gerrard remarked to the Liverpool Echo: "I've not even thought about the possibility of a loan. I've not had that conversation with anyone.

"I can't rule it out but I can't confirm it would happen either.

"The way the season works in MLS, there's a break around winter time. What I can say is that I'd love to be able to come back and train with the lads to keep my fitness levels up.

"Whether that could lead to playing for the club again, I don't know. That wouldn't be my decision. You'd have to ask others that question."

 

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Isco: Real Madrid will turn things around at the Bernabeu

Isco remains optimistic about Real Madrid's chances of reaching the Copa del Rey quarter-finals at the expense of Atletico Madrid.

Goals from Raul Garcia and Jose Gimenez helped Atletico to an important home win on Wednesday which puts them in the driving seat to reach the last eight and send the holders crashing out.

Isco, however, is confident his side can turn the tie around with the backing of the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The result makes it an uphill climb but it will be a different game at the Bernabeu," Isco was quoted as saying on the official Madrid website.

"There are 90 minutes left to play and we will try to turn the result around in the second leg with the help of our supporters. We can do it.

"Atletico rely on dead ball situations and they punished us that way again. We have to try and be focused in the return leg."

The attacking midfielder then went on to dismiss suggestions Madrid are in a mini-crisis after two consecutive defeats in 2015.

"It is worth remembering that before the run of 22 straight wins we also suffered two defeats in a row," he added.

"The team is in good form and we have to keep working."

 

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Di Maria hails 'incomparable' Rooney at Manchester United

Angel Di Maria has praised Wayne Rooney's commitment at Manchester United, hailing the striker as "incomparable".

The 29-year-old, made captain this season, has impressed under Louis van Gaal in a withdrawn role behind one or two forwards, with eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Di Maria - a British-record €75 million summer arrival - has been impressed by Rooney's work rate, admitting that he has been most surprised by the England skipper.

"Rooney is an impressive player," Di Maria told Radio America. "He plays 90 minutes in every game. He is always committed, giving everything in every match.

"He has this quality, mentality and this hunger to play every game that is incomparable. He has surprised me the most, with his hunger and how he commits to every game. He is a player that deserves to be here."

After moving on from Real Madrid in the summer, Di Maria is revelling in the affection offered by the vast United support.

"Thank God I have the opportunity to be at big clubs," he enthused. "Things are going better for me, I got better. Being in big clubs makes you get used to these things. It makes you proud to be succeeding, that they want you so much. It fills me with pride when they sing my name or 'Argentine, Argentine'."

Next up for Di Maria and United is Sunday's visit of Southampton to Old Trafford.

 

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Best medicine for Barca is winning - Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique stressed that the best medicine to the faltering Barcelona form is winning matches, following Thursday's thumping 5-0 victory over Elche.

Neymar scored twice, while Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and a Lionel Messi penalty sealed a resounding first-leg victory to all-but-seal a place in the quarter-finals of the competition ahead of next week's return leg.

With Josep Maria Bartomeu calling club elections later this year amid mounting controversies and rumours off the pitch, Barca have endured a tumultuous week.

However, the head coach played down the turmoil which has been reported at Camp Nou and believes triumphs like Thursday's will help to patch any wounds which have arisen from recent dilemmas.

" I think calling elections after the season is a great gesture from the president, it's a very good decision," Luis Enrique told reporters. "I hope we can provide some calm so we can face the second half of the season in the best conditions.

"I don't know if I'm very naive or if I don't listen much to the press, but I only see faith in the players; good attitude and good behaviour.

"I love that my players get cheered, that's what players need, especially in not so good moments.

"I'm very motivated, I'm confident we are going to get better, I try to transmit that to my players. The best medicine is to win and we are working to get the best results.

"I talk often with the players, I talk in the training sessions, I won't talk about with whom I speak one minute more or less, I won't feed controversies.

With Barca failing to capitalise on Real Madrid's defeat to Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, when they fell to defeat at the hands of Real Sociedad, sections of the club's support registered their disappointment versus Eibar on Thursday.

Luis Enrique's name was cheered by large swathes of the Camp Nou crowd, but a sizeable number could also be heard whistling, suggesting not everybody is behind the former Roma and Celta coach.

"The main thing is that the fans support the players," he responded when quizzed on their reaction, before deflecting on to the team's performance.

"The team played very well. We were intense and fast on the attack. We didn't give any chances to our opponents and the attitude of the players was great.

"The fans can surely be happy with the attitude of the players. We played well but we know we can improve even further as well."

 

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Neymar salutes Barcelona attack

Neymar saluted Barcelona's star-studded attack after he, along with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, put Elche to the sword in a 5-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou.

Barca went into the first-leg of their last-16 tie under scrutiny on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday, but responded in a manner that would have delighted and relieved coach Luis Enrique in equal measure.

Neymar opened the scoring with a close-range finish at the end of a slick passing move on 34 minutes, before Suarez doubled their lead five minutes later.

A Lionel Messi penalty put the Catalans out of sight at 3-0, before Jordi Alba added a fourth on 55 minutes. The Brazilian rounded off the scoring and hailed the firepower at the club's disposal.

He said: "We're all very happy to have scored [the forwards]. We played well and hopefully we can produce the same again in our next game."

The second leg is set to be played on January 15, but Barcelona's path to the quarter-finals is all but confirmed, barring an unlikely collapse next week.

 

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Germany still top of Fifa rankings

Germany remain top of the of the first published Fifa rankings for 2015, despite their struggles since winning the World Cup in the summer.

Joachim Low's side beat Argentina in the final in July but were beaten 2-0 by Poland and drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in October amid a faltering start to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign.

But he 2014 World Cup winners still lead the way ahead of beaten finalists Argentina, with Colombia, Belgium and Netherlands rounding off the top five.
The top 45 places have not changed, however, though there has been some movement inside the top 50 courtesy of Zambia's four-place fall.

The African nation were beaten 1-0 by South Africa in a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly earlier this month and have now dropped to number 50.That has benefited Slovenia, Northern Ireland, Turkey and Mali, who have all moved up one spot.

Only 16 friendlies have been played since the December instalment of the rankings, however, with the AFCON and Asian Cup set to kick-off this month, more changes are to be expected in February.

 

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9.Spain​

 

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Official: Manchester United sign Valdes on 18-month deal

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Victor Valdes on an 18-month contract with an option for a further year.

Goal reported on Wednesday that United were set to sign Valdes, who has been training at Carrington since the end of October as he stepped up his recovery from a serious knee injury.

The former Barcelona man becomes United's first acquisition of the January transfer window and will serve as back-up to David de Gea, who has 18 months left to run on his current deal at Old Trafford.

"It is a real honour to sign for Manchester United," Valdes told MUTV. "I would like to thank Louis van Gaal and the club for allowing me to do my rehabilitation and to train with the team at the Aon Training Complex.

"From my short time here I can already see this is a very special club. I worked with Louis van Gaal during my time at FC Barcelona and to have the opportunity to work with him here at Manchester United is a dream come true."

Boss Louis van Gaal added: "I am delighted Victor has signed for the club. Victor is a very experienced goalkeeper and his record speaks for itself.

"I have said on many occasions that Manchester United will always be interested in the best players. Victor has remained very professional throughout his rehabilitation from injury and has been very impressive during his training sessions with the first team over the past weeks.

"He joins the club as the number two goalkeeper and is a great addition to the first team."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Valdes!

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