..::Football III::..

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Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City: Remy to the rescue after Adam stunner & Costa injury

A second-half Loic Remy goal gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over a battling Stoke City side on Saturday, despite a phenomenal strike from Potters midfielder Charlie Adam.

Adam embarrassed Thibaut Courtois with an astonishing strike from almost 65 yards to equalise just before half-time, Eden Hazard's strike from the penalty spot having deservedly put Chelsea in front.

Jose Mourinho left Diego Costa on the bench, stating ahead of the game that it would be a "gamble" to play the striker due to his hamstring problems, and that risk back-fired when he was injured again just 11 minutes after coming on at half-time.

Remy had replaced Costa in the starting line-up and, just as he did at Hull City last time out, the France striker scored the winner following a mistake from the otherwise outstanding Asmir Begovic as Chelsea continued their march towards regaining the title.

Remy wasted no time in making his presence felt, as he almost put Chelsea in front with a deflected strike that was destined for the top corner until Begovic somehow scrambled across to make an impressive reflex save just two minutes in.

Oscar failed to hit the target with a poor finish following a slick passing move, but Stoke's resistance was ended when Hazard put Chelsea in front six minutes before half-time.

The recalled Philipp Wollscheid rashly dived in on Cesc Fabregas after being beaten by the Spain midfielder and Hazard sent Begovic the wrong way after referee Jonathan Moss had pointed to the spot.

It was difficult to see how Stoke would get back into the game, but Adam took matters into his own hands with a sensational equaliser a minute before the break.

The midfielder looked up before trying his luck with an astonishing left-footed strike from inside his own half and, although Courtois got a hand on the ball after desperately scrambling back from the edge of his penalty area, he was unable to keep the goal of the season contender out.

Costa replaced Oscar at half-time and normal service was resumed, as Hazard's drive forced Begovic to make another fine save and the Stoke keeper again reacted brilliantly to keep out a free-kick from Willian that appeared to flick off Glenn Whelan's head.

Spain striker Costa lasted only 11 minutes before pulling up and limping away, with Didier Drogba coming on to replace him. Chelsea's frustration subsequently mounted, but Begovic undid his good work by gifting the home side a second goal.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international rolled the ball out carelessly after 62 minutes and Willian pounced to play in Hazard, who surged into the penalty area before unselfishly laying the ball off to Remy, who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.

Chelsea's joy was almost short-lived, as Steven N'Zonzi clipped the outside of the post soon after Remy had struck, while Begovic made a fine double save to deny Juan Cuadrado at the other end as the leaders secured another three points.

 

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The Spanish legend and former captain of Barcelona, Carles Puyol was spotted in Sri Lanka with his wife Vanessa Lorenzo lately. Enjoying their holiday, Puyol posted a video of the couple at a whale watching tour.

Carles and Lorenzo were also spotted enjoying a safari at the Udawalawe National Park. Being a nature lover, his recent posts reveal that the couple had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka.

 

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Cordoba 0-2 Atletico Madrid: Saul and Griezmann move visitors into third

Antoine Griezmann and Saul both scored as Atletico Madrid moved into third place with a polished 2-0 victory away to Cordoba.

Griezmann got the visitors off to a fine start with a well-taken finish after five minutes and his tireless work rate proved a nuisance throughout.

Saul extended their lead before the break with a neat header and, while Cordoba improved in the second half, the away side rarely looked troubled.

Bebe's long-range effort struck the crossbar in the 77th minute, but Atletico ultimately cruised to all three points and kept the pressure on Valencia, who dropped to fourth ahead of their game on Sunday.Saul urged his Atletico team-mates not to take struggling Cordoba lightly in the build-up and the champions began full of purpose.

It took them just five minutes to break the deadlock as Griezmann seized on Bruno Zuculini's tame pass, ran at the nervous Jose Crespo and rifled into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards.Despite taking an early lead, Atletico were by no means entirely dominant, allowing Cordoba plenty of time on the ball.

The visitors were the only side who looked like scoring, though, and they next went close in the 23rd minute when Jose Maria Gimenez headed just over from Koke's corner.

Atletico did eventually double their advantage six minutes before the break, as Saul arrived late in the penalty area and met Gimenez's flick-on with a brilliant header that gave Cordoba goalkeeper Juan Carlos no chance.

Jose Antonio Romero introduced on-loan Valencia attacker Fede Cartabia at the interval and the Argentine made a difference, as the hosts became more fluid in the final third.

Romero's half-time tweaking also brought more from Nabil Ghilas who, after twisting and turning in the penalty area, was denied a goal by a crucial Gimenez block in the 54th minute.Simeone opted to afford Griezmann a rest for the final 20 minutes after running himself into the ground and that change seemingly encouraged Cordoba.

The hosts went desperately close to clawing one back with 13 minutes left, as Bebe's powerful drive from 35 yard smashed against the crossbar.

Cordoba enjoyed some late pressure to excite the home support, as Jan Oblak saved well from Crespo, but it ultimately proved to be too little too late.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Bayern Munich: Lewandowski scores on Signal Iduna Park return


Robert Lewandowski proved the scourge of former club Borussia Dortmund with the only goal in Bayern Munich's 1-0 Bundesliga victory.

The Poland international left Signal Iduna Park to join the reigning champions at the end of last season, and it was his 36th-minute header that separated the two sides on Saturday.

Lewandowski had failed to make much of an impact when he returned to Dortmund with Bayern in the DFL-Supercup back in August - a game that his former employers won 2-0.

But he showed his customary predatory instincts to convert the rebound and give Bayern a measure of revenge after Roman Weidenfeller had saved Thomas Muller's initial effort.Lewandowski refused to celebrate his match-winner as a mark of respect to his old team.

That goal was his second in as many league games against Dortmund this season, after his equaliser in the 2-1 win in November, as he provided a victory that maintains Bayern's 10-point lead over Wolfsburg at the Bundesliga summit.

Pep Guardiola's side were buoyed by Philipp Lahm's first start since November following an ankle injury, and he played 69 minutes before being replaced by Thiago Alcantara, himself making his first appearance for almost a year after a serious knee problem.

Defeat leaves Dortmund 10th in the table, five points adrift of a Europa League place, while for Bayern it was a welcome return to winning ways after the 2-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach prior to the international break.

The opening exchanges were high in intensity, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both cautioned in the first 20 minutes as the tackles flew in.

Muller, recalled to the Bayern side as one of four changes from the loss to Gladbach, had the only notable chance in that period but his lofted effort drifted wide of the target.

The Germany attacker then played a big part in the winner, as Bayern edged in front nine minutes before the interval.

Lewandowski played a pass into Muller, whose shot was parried by Weidenfeller before Lewandowski beat Marcel Schmelzer to the ball and headed into the unguarded net.Dortmund improved after the break and ought to have been level on the hour mark.

Marco Reus was the beneficiary of a fortunate ricochet as the ball ran kindly into his path, but with just Manuel Neuer to beat, he showed a lack of composure and fired wildly into the side netting.

Two minutes from the end, Dortmund troubled Neuer for the first time when Reus hit a free kick from 25 yards, but the Germany goalkeeper produced a superb one-handed save low to his right to preserve his clean sheet and ensure Lewandowski his place in the headlines.

 

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LEW ma goal 1ka score karala​

 

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Inzaghi: Milan mastered Palermo

Filippo Inzaghi hailed Milan's "masterful" performance after they earned a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Palermo to keep their faint hopes of a top-five finish alive.

Alessio Cerci gave the Rossoneri a first half lead but Paulo Dybala's second half penalty made it 1-1, before Jeremy Menez scored a brilliant late winner to snatch all three points.After Napoli's defeat to Roma earlier on Saturday, Milan closed the gap between themselves and Rafael Benitez's side in fifth to just six points.

"Since [playing Fiorentina in] Florence [a 2-1 defeat] we have started to play the football we know," he said. "In Palermo few teams have won, we played very well.

"We conceded a goal when we were tired, but then we reacted. We were the team in the ascendancy and this is the most important thing, continuing to build good scoring chances. "I am very satisfied. The victories boost morale and bring awareness.

"In the second half we were masters of the field, and we have suffered little. We have proven to be a united group.

"I'm happy for these two consecutive wins and so is the president."Meanwhile, Palermo boss Giuseppe Iachini rued his side's missed chances.

"We had a great game with a lot of scoring chances and few risks," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Unfortunately we were naive, especially on the second goal we conceded."

 

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Rodgers: Top four difficult for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers admits it will be “very difficult” for Liverpool to secure a top-four place following their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.

Goals from Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud sealed victory for Arsene Wenger’s side, who move into second.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are now eight points behind fourth-placed Manchester United following their win over Aston Villa.

“It will be very, very difficult now. It was game we needed to take something from. Obviously, a disappointing scoreline for us,” the Liverpool manager told BT Sport.

“Right from the kick-off I think we were too negative. We like to go forward with it but we put ourselves under a little bit of pressure.

“In the first 10 minutes they had a decent control of the game, as you’d expect sometimes when you come away from home, but after that first 10 minutes, one we started to get a rhythm and find our passes we were the better team and we created the better chances.

“We were looking to go into half time, 0-0 or in front but then we defend very, very poorly for all the goals. The first one, obviously when you concede the first one away from home it can be difficult. So we end up at 36 minutes conceding the first goal, it’s very, very difficult up to half-time and we concede two more.”

Prior to the fixture, the focus had intensified on Raheem Sterling’s decision to postpone contract talks until the summer but Rodgers insists it did not distract the 20-year-old.

“I thought Raheem was outstanding today, the kid done great,” said Rodgers.

“We were just poor defensively. As you see from our record we hadn’t conceded in our last six away from home. It’s just a disappointing day when you concede goals like that you’ll always be up against it.”

 

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Zanetti: Inter want world-class Yaya Toure

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti says the club will do everything in their power to lure Yaya Toure to San Siro next season.

The Ivory Coast international has been frequently linked with a move to the club, which would seem him reunited with former Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini.

Earlier this week Inter's general director Marco Fassone said the player was too expensive for the club, but Zanetti remains hopeful of striking deal for the 31-year-old.“He’s a world-class player,” Zanetti told Sky Sport Italia.

“We are talking about a great champion who Mancini knows well.“We must respect certain parameters, but we will do everything possible to make him happy within those parameters.”

Inter have endured a miserable season and are in serious danger of missing out on European football next season after their winless run stretched to five games on Saturday.Supporters showed their frustrations as the club slumped to a 1-1 draw at home to rock-bottom Parma on Saturday.

Fredy Guarin scored the opener, before Andi Lila equalised just before half-time and salvaged a point for the visitors.

After the game, Guarin said: “The fans are right. We have to take the criticism on board and get on with our jobs so that we can come through this bad spell.
"We must recognise that we're having a tough time of things and that we're responsible for it.“[Getting into Europe is] a target for us but first and foremost we have to concentrate on playing as a team and winning every game.”

Inter sit ninth in Serie A, nine points adrift of fifth-placed Napoli who occupy Italy’s final Europa League place.

 

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Arsenal have no room for Sterling, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down talk of a move for Liverpool contract rebel Raheem Sterling after saying he has "plenty of offensive players".

The winger said he was "flattered" to be mentioned as a target for the Gunners but the north Londoners did not need him as they beat Brendan Rodgers's men 4-1 at home on Saturday.

Wenger felt the display was close to perfect and pointed to the intensity and pace of his side as the key to their victory.

"We have been linked [to Sterling only] by the media," Wenger told reporters after the victory. "At the moment we are not in the transfer period.

"We have plenty of offensive players. We had [Theo] Walcott, [Tomas] Rosicky and [Danny] Welbeck on the bench today.

"There is no perfection in any game but we started with great intensity and created chances. Liverpool were also dangerous and had a chance too.

"We had the killer instinct and took advantage of our dominance in the first half. We played at good pace and had some great combinations in the final third. In the end, 4-1 is very convincing in a very important game."

While Saturday's win puts Arsenal in a strong position to secure Champions League qualification by dealing a blow to one of their main rivals for the top four, Wenger accepts that turning their good form into a full-blown title tilt is still unrealistic.

He conceded: "It's not enough [to win the title]. Mathematically, we are looking at the top four.

"We need us to be perfect and Chelsea not to be perfect. Let's focus on what we can master and that's our own performances.

"We missed important players at the start of the season when we dropped too many points. I think we have the quality to fight for the championship but we won one game in six in the Premier League, with big players injured for a few months and players coming back from the World Cup."

 

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Ancelotti: Bale has got his confidence back

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that the international break has helped Gareth Bale get his confidence back.

Bale has been targeted by both the Spanish press and the Santiago Bernabeu boo boys on account of his inconsistent form this season and he came in for some particularly heavy criticism after a lacklustre showing in the Blancos' last Liga outing, a disappointing 2-1 loss at leaders Barcelona on March 22.

However, the Wales winger was at his brilliant best in his country's Euro 2016 qualifier in Israel last weekend, netting twice in a 3-0 win. Consequently, Ancelotti fully expects Bale to play a key part in Sunday's must-win Liga meeting with Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The international break has helped him gain confidence," the Italian coach told reporters on Saturday. "Plus, the last two games he has played at home, [against Levante and Schalke], Bale has played well."

While rumours persist about Bale's future in the Spanish capital, with the former Tottenham star being linked with a return to the Premier League this summer, there has only been one piece of transfer news confirmed by Madrid this week: the acquisition of right-back Danilo.

The Brazilian will join from Porto at the end of the season for a fee of €31.5 million and Ancelotti believes the defender will prove a shrewd signing, dismissing the suggestion that news of his imminent arrival will unsettle either Dani Carvajal or Alvaro Arbeloa.

"Danilo is a great full-back," the former Chelsea boss added. "He is for next year obviously, but in every team there is competition and this helps you to improve.
"Carvajal and Arbeloa understand that in the best teams, there is always competition for places and both are focused on the current season."

 

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Lyon will beat PSG to Ligue 1 title – Aulas

Jean-Michel Aulas is convinced that Lyon will dethrone Paris Saint-Germain as French champions this season.

OL were surprise leaders for much of the season after turning back to their youth ranks in an attempt to compete with big-spending PSG and their charge towards their first league championship since 2008 has been spearheaded attacking duo Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir.

Despite having picked up just one point from their last two league outings, surrendering their lead at the top of the table to Laurent Blanc’s side, Aulas believes Lyon will mark their final season at the Stade de Gerland with a shock title triumph.“I strongly believe in the sense of history,” the club president told L’Equipe.

“And therefore, I see us completing the last full season at the Stade Gerland with a title. I believe it. For me, it is inevitable.”

Lyon are scheduled to move into the 58,000-seat Stade des Lumieres in January 2016.Last month’s surprise defeat to Nice, their first reverse at home all season, left OL one point behind PSG ahead of this weekend’s clash with Guingamp.

On Sunday, though, PSG travel to third-placed Marseille and Aulas thus feels that the title is there for the taking for Lyon.

"I think we can win the title in the game eight games remaining,” he added.
“Marseille and PSG, two of our direct competitors, fight against one another on Sunday. We have our chance.”

 

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Marquinhos: Dani the champion would lift PSG

Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos says Dani Alves would benefit the French champions if he were to join the club in the summer.

The Barcelona right-back is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to the French capital as negotiations over a contract extension at Camp Nou continue to stall - despite a transfer embargo that would leave the Blaugrana unable to replace him until January 2016.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told L’Equipe this week that PSG were no longer interested in Dani Alves, Marquinhos believes his fellow Brazilian would be a terrific signing for the French titleholders.

“He’s a champion with Barcelona and Brazil. He has already proved himself and does not need to do any more. He is a player with great experience,” Marquinhos told Sport.“I don’t know if reports of his move to PSG are true or not, but I think a player like him can always help.”

PSG are said to be interested in bringing in a right-sided defender as Netherlands international Gregory van der Wiel unable to agree a contract extension after largely underwhelming since his 2012 move from Ajax.

Following the summer arrival of David Luiz, Marquinhos has pushed out to the right this season and says he is happy to do a job there for coach Laurent Blanc, but adds that he remains a centre-back by trade.

"I prefer to play in the centre and the coach knows that,” the former Roma man stated.

“But I am available to play wherever. The important thing is to be on the field and have the chance to show my quality."

 

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Mancini: Inter want quality players like Dybala

Roberto Mancini has hinted that Inter have entered the race to sign in-demand Palermo striker Paulo Dybala.The Argentine has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Juventus in recent weeks, after scoring 12 goals in 27 Serie A appearances this term.

Now, having previously spoken of the need to bolster his Inter squad at the end of the season, Mancini has expressed his interest in Dybala's potential."Dybala is a quality player, he's young and I think he'll become a top-class forward," the Nerazzurri coach told reporters on Friday.

"Inter are a big club and naturally we're looking for quality players so we can start winning again."However, Mancini dismissed reports that Inter are close to agreeing a deal with Manchester City for star midfielder Yaya Toure.

The Ivory Coast international was a part of Mancini's 2011-12 Premier League-winning side at the Etihad and has been heavily linked with a reunion with his former boss at San Siro this summer. "There are no talks about Toure," the former Italy international stated.

"I've always said he's a Manchester City player but we'd be delighted if we could sign him for Inter."

Inter, who turned to Mancini after parting company with Walter Mazzarri in November, are without a win in their last four league outings and face an uphill battle to gain a European spot this season.

They sit 10th ahead of Saturday's visit of basement boys Parma, 10 points behind fifth-place Napoli and Italy's final Europa League slot, but Mancini is remaining upbeat."We have to do our best over our last 10 matches. It's not easy to take over mid-season but you can only get results with time and through hard work," the Inter boss added.

"We have to be patient but I really believe we'll take Inter back to the top. Obviously we still have to improve but we've become a team and we take the game to our opponents. "We've all got something to prove between now and the end of the season and it's important to get results in the last stage of the campaign.

"If we play like we did [in a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria prior to the international break], we'll definitely win a lot of matches. Our aim is to qualify for Europe and we still have a chance of doing so."

 

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Dybala Inter nam join wena 1kak naha keeyatawath​

 

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I would sell Sterling, says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho says that he would sell Raheem Sterling if he were in Brendan Rodgers' shoes.

Liverpool continue to insist the 20-year-old is not for sale at any price after Sterling rejected the club's offer of a new £100,000-a-week (€136,000) deal.

Chelsea boss Mourinho has offered his own opinion on the matter, stating that he would sell the player if he was faced with the same situation.

"I don't like players that don't want to play for me and my club. My opinion is every player has a price," he told reporters.

"It doesn't matter which player. If you ask me, for example, do I want Eden Hazard to leave Chelsea? No.

"If he wants to leave and doesn't want to work with me, doesn't want to play for Chelsea, does he have a price? I think he has.

"But I also understand the philosophy of managers and clubs who want to keep the players at any price. My philosophy is not better than that, it's just mine."

Rodgers has confirmed that Sterling will be in the team to face Arsenal on Saturday despite the events of this week, which saw the player conduct an unauthorised interview explaining his reasons for not signing the new deal.

"He will play," the Liverpool boss said. "If it was a different player I would maybe have something to think about.

"But with this kid, since he has come in, trained and worked with me, he has been phenomenal and I expect him to go there and perform at a high level.

"I think he is a strong character. He's a young boy, still learning, on and off the field, but I don't think there was anything derogatory to Liverpool. I know he loves the club and I expect him to perform at a high level."

 

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Monaco worse than Dortmund but Juve must watch out - Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri thinks Juventus ' Champions League quarter-final opponents Monaco are a worse team than Borussia Dortmund, who they defeated in the previous round, but warned against complacency.

The coach has overseen a rampant season so far in Turin, with the club still fighting on three fronts with two months to go in 2014-15 and the Serie A crown looking all-but secure.

Juve have disappointed in Europe in recent campaigns but will be hoping to turn over a new leaf by conquering French underdogs Monaco in the last eight this month.

"I saw a bit of Monaco’s draw with Saint-Etienne yesterday," Allegri told reporters. "They might not have as much quality as Borussia Dortmund, but they are difficult to play against and the fact they’re underdogs will give them something extra.

"I told my players it doesn't matter if you're more talented in a Champions League quarter-final; you have to be better on the night.

"I brought my concepts to the squad and tried to improve those things that could be improved after winning the Scudetto for three years in a row. This team should be aware it’s one of the best in Europe, but we mustn’t get comfortable."

Juventus battled to a 2-0 triumph over Empoli on Saturday and Allegri was pleased to see his team record yet another cleansheet - especially having not trained with his players for the best part of a fortnight.

"We allowed Empoli practically nothing in the first half, but after the break we tried to control the situation and did allow some risks to sneak in," the coach added.

"It’s not easy to win four in a row with cleansheets. Many of the players only returned from international duty on Thursday, so they really do deserve complimenting.

"Empoli are a very organised side and played well, so we had to play between the lines and the only way to open them up was to keep moving their defenders from one side to the other.

"I’d say it’s a great victory against a team in good shape who were unbeaten in eight games."

Carlos Tevez opened the scoring at the Juventus Stadium with an indirect free kick before Roberto Pereyra doubled the lead deep into second-half stoppage-time.

 

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Simeone: Atletico must stay ruthless to win anything

Diego Simeone praised Atletico Madrid's ruthless efficiency as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday.

Atletico's hopes of retaining their title look slim, but they did their best to put pressure on Barcelona and Real Madrid courtesy of goals from Antoine Griezmann and Saul.

The defending champions had three points effectively secured after 40 minutes, much to the delight of Simeone, who has not given up hope of overtaking city rivals Real in second.

"The best thing of our team was how it took the field, how it interpreted the game and then controlled it," said the Argentine head coach. "That allowed us to handle the match in a calm fashion.

"We need the group to understand that we are going to need everyone and they have to be ready. "It doesn't matter if it's for 10, 20 or 60 minutes.

"What matters is playing well when we need them because I believe that everyone in the squad is important."

Atletico could find themselves five points adrift of second-placed Real again on Sunday should Carlo Ancelotti's side beat Granada, while Liga leaders Barca travel to Celta Vigo.

Valencia, meanwhile, could leapfrog Simeone's side into third with a victory at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

 

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Ronaldo: I'd pay my own money to buy Messi

Brazil legend Ronaldo claims he would splash his own cash to bring Lionel Messi from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Messi has lit up La Liga for over decade and, since the turn of the calendar year, has been in fantastic form for Luis Enrique's side as the Catalans have returned to the summit in the Spanish championship.

Ronaldo, who played for Barcelona and Real Madrid in his prime, recently became part-owner of second-tier US side Fort Lauderdale and revealed his ambition to lure Messi away from Camp Nou using his own money.

"I'd pay out of my own pocket to sign Messi," he told reporters at an event to launch the North American Soccer League (NASL) season, which the FL Strikers will take part in.

Messi is not the only global superstar on Ronaldo's wishlist, with the World Cup-winner also hoping his new club can someday convince his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo that the Florida club are worth leaving Real Madrid for.

"The sky is the limit for Strikers. This club will become great," he added. "Why not Messi? Why not Cristiano Ronaldo? In a few years' time we will be able to make it happen.

"Nothing is impossible. The US is the second-fastest growing country in the world in terms of football, after China. A lot of famous players will want to come and play in South Florida because of the quality of life. Who wouldn't want to live here?"

 

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Klopp: Bayern deserved to beat Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp felt Bayern Munich deserved their 1-0 victory over his side on Saturday.Klopp watched on as former Dortmund man Robert Lewandowski marked his first league return to Signal Iduna Park with the only goal in a tight contest.

Lewandowski nodded in a rebound after Thomas Muller's shot was saved by Roman Weidenfeller and, despite enjoying the majority of possession after the interval, Dortmund failed to force an equaliser.

Defeat capped a miserable day for Dortmund, after their team bus was attacked prior to the game, though thankfully no players were on the parked vehicle at the time.

"The first 10 minutes were completely fine," Klopp told Sky. "After that it was not so good, we had too few chances. "Bayern sat deep and played very physically robust, we could not get our way. In the last third we lacked punch.

"The second half was okay because we had our opportunities but, overall, it was not enough against Bayern. We lacked focus. "In many small moments Bayern were better, so they deserved to win."

Mats Hummels rued Marco Reus' miss on the hour, when the forward fired wide with just Manuel Neuer to beat, while the goalkeeper also produced a superb save two minutes from time to keep out the Germany attacker's set piece.

"The effectiveness has made ​​all the difference," Hummels said. "Bayern were not the better team, I can only remember two chances. We had not much more, but a bit more. "It is unfortunate we've lost. Unfortunately you do not get 15 chances against Bayern.

"We had a huge opportunity when Marco ran alone on Neuer. And with the free kick save at the end, Neuer showed he's world class."

 

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Yaya Toure set for crunch Manchester City talks

Yaya Toure is set for crunch talks over his Manchester City future, Goal can reveal.

Toure's advisers have pencilled in plans to speak to City CEO Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, with question marks surrounding his future.

Toure, who has two years remaining on his current contract, is keen to stay at the Etihad Stadium and would be open to signing a new deal, with a view to taking up an ambassadorial role in the future.

But at 32-years-old and with a basic wage of £200,000-a-week before bonuses, the midfielder is realistic regarding the prospect of an extension.

Inter remain the club most interested in signing Toure, with former City boss Roberto Mancini publicly declaring his admiration for the Ivory Coast international a number of times since moving to San Siro earlier this season.

Toure is understood to be open to a move to Inter and is willing to drop his wage demands to around £150,000-a-week.

Both City and Toure's camp are hopeful of an amicable parting of the ways should the midfielder leave the club this summer.

Toure voiced his disappointment with City officials last summer after they failed to acknowledge his birthday and he was denied time off to be by the bedside of his brother, Ibrahim, who died of cancer in 2014.

The club is mindful of the incident and does not want to tarnish the reputation of a player who has helped them to win two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup since moving to the Etihad in 2010.

Toure has featured 31 times in all competitions for City this season, scoring nine goals, and was a part of the Ivory Coast side that won the Africa Cup of Nations during the winter.