..::Football III::..

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Costa should escape FA ban for stamp - Gary Neville

Diego Costa should not face a three-match ban for an alleged stamp on Liverpool defender Emre Can because it is impossible to prove the Chelsea striker's actions were intentional, according to Gary Neville.

Costa is contesting a Football Association charge of violent conduct in relation to the incident in Tuesday's League Cup semi-final second leg and stands to miss three matches if found guilty, starting with Saturday's Premier League crunch clash with Manchester City.

After the game an angry Jose Mourinho insisted his striker's actions were "absolutely accidental", and Neville believes the FA's independent panel will be unable to find any evidence of malice.

Costa has scored 17 goals in 19 Premier League games this season since moving to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid in a €40 million deal last summer.

 

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Rodgers: Liverpool won't sign anyone in January

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Liverpool are unlikely to make any new signings in January but insists contract talks with star man Raheem Sterling are progressing well.

Liverpool splashed out over €120 million on eight players in the summer in a bid to rebuild their squad in the wake of Luis Suarez's €88m switch to Barcelona.

And while Rodgers admits he would like to bring more new faces to Anfield in the winter window, he believes he will most likely have to make do with what he has until the end of the season.

"If we get a positive result on Saturday [against West Ham] that'll put us in a great position [to challenge for the Premier League's top four]," the Liverpool boss told reporters.

"Every manager will always want more signings... I would want to be able to do one or two things.

"But I always said the likelihood was we wouldn't sign anyone in January and it looks like that is going to be the case."

But Rodgers was significantly more upbeat on the future of Sterling, who is currently in talks with Liverpool over a new long-term contract that will reportedly make him one of the highest earners at Anfield.

"It's all in hand with his representatives," the northern Irishman added. "He's happy and sees his long-term future here. He's a real sponge for learning."

 

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'Neymar will have problems for his whole career'


Neymar's style of play will cause him problems for the entirety of his career, according to Atletico Madrid midfielder Cani.

Neymar scored twice in an ill-tempered affair at the Vicente Calderon as Barcelona won 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Atletico captain Gabi branded the Brazilian "irritating" after the match, claiming the 22-year-old attempts to wind up his opponents throughout games.

And Cani has now fired a warning to the former Santos star, telling reporters on Wednesday: "He'll have problems for his whole career. Neymar has a style of play. One day he'll have a problem as he did today, but if he likes it...

"That's the way he plays."

Cani also says Gabi remains at a loss to explain why he was issued a red card following his appeals for a penalty against Jordi Alba.

"Gabi says he only said it was a penalty and a red card, that he didn't say anything else and was sent off," said the 33-year-old.

Cani made his first appearance for the Spanish champions against Barca following his loan switch from Villarreal and admits he has mixed feelings following the game.

"It was a bit bittersweet," he added. "I would have liked to win and reach the next round, but you can't choose that. I had to try to go out there and do the best I could."

 

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Chelsea contest Diego Costa violent conduct charge

Chelsea will contest the Football Association's charge of violent conduct against Diego Costa for an alleged stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can.

The Football Association independent panel will reach a decision on Friday and if found guilty, Costa will face an immediate three-match ban with no right of appeal - meaning he would miss the Blues' vital Premier League clash against Manchester City on Saturday evening.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted after the match that any contact Costa made with Can was purely accidental but his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers disagreed.

"[Costa] has this edge to him," the Northern Irishman, who felt the 26-year-old should have also been punished for another alleged stamp on Martin Skrtel, told reporters. "With Emre Can, that was poor, I felt."

Rodgers added: "He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty.

"Again, the one with Martin Skrtel, there's no need to do it. That's the sad thing. He's a top-class player and he's clever enough that the officials don't see it."

 

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Mathieu confirms Messi-Luis Enrique training-ground row

Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu has revealed that Lionel Messi and head coach Luis Enrique did have a training-ground argument earlier this month.

The prolific attacker has endured a difficult relationship with his coach ever since the latter's return to Camp Nou ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, but both have so far refused to discuss the matter publicly, with club president Josep Bartomeu repeatedly insisting there is no problem between the two.

However, Mathieu has revealed than an incident took place shortly after Messi had returned from his Christmas break, after which Luis Enrique benched the Argentine, for the 1-0 loss versus Real Sociedad.

"It happened when we got back from our holidays. Suddenly, Leo lost his temper after a foul that was not given in training," Mathieu told RMC. "Things got tense and they exchanged some angry words.

"Luis Enrique then approached him in the dressing room afterwards to talk to him and that was the end of it."

Nevertheless, Mathieu was quick to stress that there has been no fallout and added that such incidents happen at every club.

"These kinds of things happen everywhere, but it's made out to be a major thing because we are Barcelona," the centre-half stated. "Things get blown out of proportion and that's the problem."

Irrespective of the ongoing speculation about his future at Barcelona, Messi has been a key figure for the Camp Nou side in 2014-15, scoring 31 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions.

 

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Ribery injury blow for Bayern Munich

Pep Guardiola has received some disappointing news from the treatment table in the build-up to Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg on Friday evening as he will have to make do without the services of Franck Ribery due to injury.

The former France international picked up a knock in training on Wednesday and will consequently be out of action for an estimated two weeks.

"Ribery tore a muscle in the back of his right thigh and will definitely miss three matches: Friday’s clash with the team lying second in the table, the home meeting with Schalke the following Tuesday and the trip to Stuttgart four days later," a statement on the club's official website reads.

"The 31-year-old Frenchman will be unable to train for the next few days but should be fit enough to go jogging from next Wednesday.

"If all goes according to plan, Ribery should be able to resume the squad programme at the start of the week after next."

Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Rafinha has also been ruled out of Friday's encounter with Wolfsburg after he sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his left ankle, which will also sideline him for around a fortnight.

Bayern currently sit atop of the Bundesliga table, holding an 11-point lead over second-placed Wolfsburg.

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo's gesture was arrogant and ugly, claims Cordoba coach Djukic

Miroslav Djukic has hit out at Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of the attacker's behaviour in Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Cordoba at the weekend.

The Portugal international made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he kicked out at Edimar before then raising his hand to the Cordoba defender's face, and the Ballon d'Or holder was consequently shown a straight red card.

The 29-year-old then further angered the home fans by pointing at the Club World Cup winners badge on his jersey and Djukic has less than impressed with the forward's antics.

"Ronaldo's behaviour was an act of desperation," the Cordoba coach was quoted as saying by Marca.

"His gesture with the Club World Cup badge was ugly and arrogant.

"A player of Ronaldo's stature should not behave like that. This is not how the best players in the world should behave, and he and Lionel Messi are the best.

"Ronaldo was not feeling comfortable, everything seemed to be going wrong for him, that's where his desperation came from."

Ronaldo has since been handed a two-match ban for his red card, meaning he will miss Madrid's upcoming Liga clashes with Real Sociedad and Sevilla.

 

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‘It could be better’ - Mangala on his first season at Manchester City

Eliaquim Mangala admits his first season at Manchester City “could be better” but maintains he is still adapting to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old joined the Premier League champions in a £32 million (€43m) deal from Porto last August but has struggled to secure a regular role in the starting XI as Manuel Pellegrini continues to rotate his personnel in central defence.

When asked how he believes his first season in England has gone, Mangala told the Manchester Evening News: “I’m OK, fine. It could be better, it could be worse. It’s my first season in the Premier League and you have to adapt to a new style of playing.

“I’m lucky enough to be living my passion, and I want to improve above anything else. My transfer fee doesn’t particularly bother me.”

Mangala is confident he can improve under Pellegrini’s guidance and with City’s wealth of talent as they continue to fight for the Premier League title.

“I think that every coach brings you something different,” said the France international.

“Pellegrini’s very strong in terms of playing a four-man defence - quite a lot of our training is based on this defensive plan, a four-man defence.

“When you play games against big teams in the Champions League, great strikers, training alongside quality players then I can only improve.”

 

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Pogba will leave Juventus, says Raiola

Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has reiterated that the Frenchman is destined to leave Juventus amid interest from clubs such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

The France international, 21, recently signed a new deal with the Serie A champions until June 2019, but his representative has stressed that the much-coveted midfielder is unlikely to honour the agreement.

"His contract renewal was an easy decision. Not signing a new deal would have created a problem for Juventus and a weakness for Paul," Raiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I want the club that buys him to believe in him and be willing to pay for him. If Paul leaves Juventus, it is for the absolute top. If it does not happen this year, it will be next year.

"Paul is at the same level economically as the other big stars and has a similar reputation, so he could stay for another year.

"But Paul is the only major star who is available at the end of the season. If you cannot take Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you can only go for Paul.

"If someone wants him, the market situation could see him go for more than €100 million."

Raiola then went on to explain why Pogba picked Juventus over AC Milan when his contract with Manchester United expired in 2012, while also revealing that Inter opted against signing his client at the time.

"[Former Bianconeri boss] Antonio Conte deserves the credit for Paul's development. He needs someone who tells him to do his thing and give him some space.

"Do you know why I told him to sign for Juventus? Milan wanted to sign him together with Genoa and then send him there on loan. Inter then said they did not want to create a row with [ex-Manchester United boss] Alex Ferguson.

"With Juventus the deal was quite simple. They signed him, gave him the wages of a first-team player and did not send him out on loan."

 

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Ribery: I will end my top level career at Bayern

Franck Ribery has made it clear that he wants to end his top level career at Bayern Munich, but could be open to a move to Dubai or MLS before hanging up his boots for good.

The 31-year-old - who had a contract with the German champions until June 2017 - has developed into a key player at the Allianz Arena since arriving from Olympique de Marseille in 2007, making close to 300 official appearances in all competitions for the Bavarians.

"There will not be another club after Bayern," Ribery was quoted as saying by TZ. "I don't want to go to another club in the future.

"Perhaps I might go for a completely different experience and play in the USA or Dubai for one season.

"But I will never play for another club than Bayern again in Europe. I have too much respect for the club and for everything they have done for me."

Ribery then went on to lavish praise on Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, whose future is the subject of much debate, with the Catalan being linked with a return to Barcelona when his contract expires next year.

"He is without a doubt the best coach I have ever had," the French attacker added. "I have never met a trainer who knows so much about the game. The level of detail he can go into ...

"I have a great relationship with him. It's great that he joined Bayern. He already won a lot at Barcelona and took his qualities with him to Bayern. We learned a lot in his first season here.

"Things are going even better now we fully understand him. He is a great coach who tries new things all the time.

"I think he will stay at Bayern until after 2016, but the final decision is up to him."

Ribery is expected to miss Bayern's restart of the Bundesliga against Wolfsburg on Friday due to injury.

 

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Gabriel Paulista: I joined Arsenal to win the biggest titles

New Arsenal signing Gabriel Paulista has outlined his intention to win trophies with the Gunners after finalising his transfer from Villarreal.

The 24-year-old completed an €15 million move to the Emirates earlier this week, with Joel Campbell heading the other way on loan, and became the Gunners’ second signing of the January transfer window in the process, following the arrival of Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw.

Arsenal remain on course to defend the FA Cup after Sunday's fourth round win at Brighton and face Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League, and the Brazilian centre-half is determined to ensure the club do not finish the season empty-handed.

“I know that we have great players of a high standard, players who are real stars, because if they were not stars they wouldn’t be here,” he told the club’s official website.

“Arsenal is a very big team and it must always be competing for the biggest titles in the world. I have to repeat it - Arsenal must fight for all the most important titles around.”

Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premier League – 13 points behind league leaders Chelsea – and face a fifth round FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough.

 

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Gabriel Paulista to wear No.5 shirt at Arsenal

Gabriel Paulista will wear the No.5 shirt at Arsenal, the club have announced.

The centre-back completed his move to the Emirates from Villarreal earlier this week and will follow in the footsteps of such defensive luminaries as Thomas Vermaelen, Martin Keown and Steve Bould by donning the number for the club.

Gabriel has already outlined his intention to compete for trophies in north London, and Arsene Wenger has praised his new signing.

The Frenchman concedes that the club were forced into the market due to injuries, but believes the Brazilian has the required attributes to adapt quickly to the rigours of the Premier League.

"He has good pace, he's good in the challenge and he's tall - so he can adapt to English football," Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "Maybe it will take some time to adapt completely, but overall it's very good to have him.

"He's very ambitious, focused and serious. That's important at a club like ours - you need to have a complete focus on your job. He has that.

"I like the players who come from nowhere and show they can adapt. From Brazil, he has [then] adapted to Spain. That means he has already made it and adapted in another country. That's another important quality.

"We needed another centre-back because we have lost Debuchy. Monreal can play centre back and we are a bit short there if something happens, especially with the Achilles [problem] of Koscielny since the start of the season."

 

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Destro leaves Roma for AC Milan

AC Milan have announced that Roma attacker Mattia Destro has accepted their offer to join the club on loan until the end of the season, with a view to permanent transfer.

The Rossoneri were desperate to add some fresh blood to their attack following their disappointing performances in the first half of the season and CEO Adriano Galliani already revealed on Wednesday that Destro was considering moving to San Siro.

The 23-year-old has now decided to join Filippo Inzaghi's side, resulting in a return to Milan for a player who started his career in the Inter youth academy and also wore the jerseys of Genoa and Siena before joining Roma in July 2012.

The striker had since scored 24 goals in 57 Serie A appearances for the Stadio Olimpico side, but he was mainly warming the bench this term and has therefore been allowed to move on.

Destro will have to battle it out with attackers such as Jeremy Menez and Giampaolo Pazzini for the No.9 position at Milan.

 

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Chelsea agree deal to sign Cuadrado

Chelsea have agreed to sign Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina with Mohamed Salah moving in the opposite direction on an 18-month loan deal, Goal can confirm.

The Premier League leaders will pay €33 million for the Colombia international, who starred at the 2014 World Cup and had attracted strong interest from Manchester United last summer.Chelsea had previously been told that the player would not be allowed to move for less than his €35m release clause but were able to reach a compromise by including Salah as part of the deal.

The Egypt international, who joined the Blues last January from Basel, already had a similar agreement in place with Roma but Chelsea called a halt to that move once they learned of Fiorentina's interest in the player.

Despite Chelsea's confidence that a deal for Cuadrado could be struck, the Premier League leaders had sounded out alternative targets - including Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko - after seeing bids for the Colombian and Shakhtar Donetsk star Douglas Costa in a bid to keep their options open.

But an agreement has now been reached, with Salah, who has been unable to usurp Willian on the right flank and made just eight appearances in all competitions this season, heading to Florence.

Fellow out-of-favour winger Andre Schurrle has also been heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge exit in January, though manager Jose Mourinho insists the German remains a part of his plans.

 

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When does the January transfer window close?

Once again, it's that time of the year when football works itself up into a transfer frenzy as clubs bid to bolster their ranks or offload dead wood.

However, European sides have little time left to do business and we've got all the dates and times (in CET) you need to new in relation to the continent's numerous transfer windows.

Real Madrid have been busy in the January, after the high-profile purchases of Norwegian teenager sensation Martin Odegaard and Brazil Under-21 star Lucas Silva, but only have until midnight on January 30 to make any further additions, when La Liga ceases trading.

In Italy, Inter have also enjoyed a productive window in acquiring Xherdan Shaqiri, Lukas Podolski and Marcelo Brozovic on loan, and Roberto Mancini still has time to bring in more new faces, with the Serie A window not shutting until 23:00 on February 2.

Elsewhere, Premier League sides, who have long grown accustomed to a late flurry of transfer activity on deadline day, and Ligue 1's finest both have until midnight on the same day to conclude their business.

Germany's deadline day is also February 2 but the Bundesliga's window slams shut at 18:00.

The likes of Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon will be casting a nervous eye at the clock as they bid to keep hold of their prized assets, with Portugal's window drawing its curtains for the winter at on February 4 at 18:00.

Switzerland's finest have even more time, with the window staying open until midnight on February 16.

Teams in eastern European and Scandinavia have a little longer to conduct any remaining business, however, with Russia (midnight on February 27), Norway, Sweden ( both midnight on March 31) and Finland (18:00 on May 6), adhering to different restrictions.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Clock is ticking...........thawa 4 days thiyenne Winter Transfer window 1ka close wennabut ko Manchester United signs?​

 

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Destro: We must prove AC Milan are a great team

Mattia Destro says he is delighted to be given the opportunity to play for AC Milan and says the team wants to prove that it is a great one.

The striker is on the verge of formally completing his move to Milan from Roma on an initial loan deal until the end of the season but with an option for a permanent transfer.

And the forward says he cannot wait to start playing and help the team improve on their poor opening half of the campaign, starting on Sunday against Parma.

"I'm very happy to be here and to be part of this group," he told Milan News.
"I have already spoken to Filippo Inzaghi, there is a strong drive to do well and to prove that Milan is a great team, starting from this Sunday.

"I can't wait to get on to the pitch and play. As for my role, the coach will decide. I have a great desire to impress."This is a great opportunity for me, I can't wait to play and get to know everyone."

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani is happy to see an "enthusiastic" forward join the club, adding that the 23-year-old will be the last signing the club make in the January transfer window."I'm happy. Enthusiasm is important, but I hope that it can be turned into positive results," he said.

"Giampaolo Pazzini will stay. As for Pablo Armero, we have an agreement with Genoa, but for now the player does not accept the destination. Luca Antonelli is not part of the deal.

"Our incoming market is closed. M'Baye Niang is a Milan player on loan to Genoa until the end of the season and I wish him the best. Ezequiel Munoz is not coming."

 

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Eto'o: Sampdoria can achieve Champions League dream

Samuel Eto'o has spoken of his desire to help Sampdoria qualify for the Champions League after being presented to the media on Thursday. The former Cameroon international has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Serie A club, bringing an end to his short stay at Everton.

Since taking over last year, owner Massimo Ferrero has regularly spoken of his desire to see Samp gain a place in the Champions League and Eto'o feels it is an achievable target.

"I've shown that by working hard and following my dream you can do anything," the 33-year-old, whose new side sit fifth in the league, said.

"I became one of the top players in the world. So the president has every right to dream and to achieve his dream."Eto'o was cagey when asked about the apparent decline of the Italian top flight, however and said he would rather concentrate on Sampdoria's progress rather than the wider situation in Italian football.

"Several years ago I was asked the same question when I arrived at Inter," he added. "It was a period when a lot of big players were leaving Italy."Back then we had Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andriy Shevchenko. Now, a lot of them have moved on but football is all about what happens on the pitch.

"I proved that by winning everything with Inter. I hope to keep Sampdoria winning, I don't want to hear talk of a crisis."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Ronaldinho doesn't like running'

Ronaldinho has been put on a special training programme at Queretaro because he "does not like running".

The 34-year-old former Brazil star joined the Mexican side on a two-year deal in September and has scored three goals in the nine league games he has played so far this season.

But one of the club's fitness coaches, Roberto Bassagaisteguy, has revealed the ex-Barcelona attacker needs a catered training programme to suit his requirements.

"He does not do physical exercise - I cannot make him run because he doesn't like it," the coach told ESPN.

"He works in the gym with me, lifts weights and works with a group of special players. He does work on his speed, sprints and jumps, but there are things he doesn't like.

"Working in another way, they can still achieve the same physical condition. Ask the coach of Barcelona if he forces Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta or Xavi to run. Training has changed, as has football."

Bassagaisteguy says Ronaldinho cannot leave his house because he is constantly surrounded by fans when he walks the streets in Mexico.

"He is confined to his home, surrounded by family, friends and visitors there," he said.

"He cannot go to a restaurant. It is impossible to do so in Queretaro, as he would be overwhelmed by people. He just stays at home."

 

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Signing Cassano would be a dream, say Bari

Bari president Gianluca Paparesta admits it would be a "dream" if he could engineer the signing of former star Antonio Cassano.

The 32-year-old attacker, who is currently a free agent after leaving Parma on Monday, began his career with the Serie B club before going on to represent Roma, Real Madrid, Sampdoria, AC Milan and Inter.

Fourteen years on from Cassano’s original departure in 2001, Paparesta – a former top-flight referee - says he is hopeful of securing a famous return for the controversial star."Cassano is a dream for the club and a club must have dreams," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"When I started refereeing I dreamt of doing it in Serie A and luckily I made it. One year ago I wanted to purchase Bari and it was a dream. Then it became reality."Cassano knows that, as far as we are concerned, he would be welcome at Bari and be loved by the tifosi."

Cassano had scored five Serie A goals from 18 starts for Parma this season before his departure.