..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Portugal risk Madrid row over plans to pick Ronaldo for Olympics

Portugal are risking a club versus country row with Real Madrid after revealing Cristiano Ronaldo is under consideration to fill one of their three over-23 slots at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Should the 30-year-old still be at the Santiago Bernabeu heading into the 2016-17 campaign, Madrid are likely to heavily object to his participation in Rio de Janeiro, with the event scheduled to run from August 5-21. That would mean it would cut heavily into Madrid's pre-season programme and, potentially, a lucrative overseas tour.Barring injury, Ronaldo is also certain to be involved in the Euro 2016 finals, assuming the Selecao qualify.

Portugal Football Association (FPF) president Fernando Gomes said planning for Rio 2016 is still in the early stages but admitted Ronaldo could feature at the Games.

"It's a possibility," Gomes told Globo Esporte when asked about Ronaldo being involved in the Olympics."We can take three players aged over 23. Ronaldo is one of our current options but we have not thought too much about it yet."

Sixteen teams will compete for the gold medal in the men's football event in Rio, with the three other European entrants confirmed as Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Ronaldo has enjoyed a glittering career at club level but silverware on the international scene has eluded him, with a runners-up medal at Euro 2004 the closest he's come to winning a trophy with his country.

Portugal booked their spot in next summer's Olympics due to the Under-21 side reaching the last four of June's European Championship finals and, on Tuesday, they could win the tournament with a victory over Sweden.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Uefa approves changes to FFP rules

Uefa has updated its Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules in a bid to make clubs more attractive to new investors and improve competition.

FFP was introduced as a way of preventing clubs from spending beyond their means and curbing huge losses, with fines imposed on those found in breach and some clubs receiving bans from Uefa competitions.

Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter are among those to have been sanctioned under FFP rules, but Uefa president Michel Platini stated last month that the regulations were set to be eased.

Following the opening day of its Executive Committee meeting in Prague, Uefa has now confirmed the changes, which will come into force on July 1 and allow clubs that have gone through a business restructuring or takeover more scope for investment."The new regulations are an expansion and a strengthening of financial fair play. The overall objectives of financial fair play remain the same," said Platini.

"We are just evolving from a period of austerity to one where we can offer more opportunities for sustainable growth and development."

A press release outlining the changes read: "The updated financial fair play (FFP) regulations will now address situations where clubs have undergone a recent business restructuring or takeover and occasions where clubs wish to invest sustainably within the spirit and essence of FFP.

"Under these circumstances club monitoring will increase and broaden in scope through the application of rigorous conditions.

"Furthermore, the new amendments will take into account disadvantages faced by clubs due to sudden economic shocks or severe market structural deficiencies within its operating region."European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the new rules will help strengthen clubs in the long term, while ensuring the "principle" of FFP remains intact.

"The financial fair play rules are a very important tool for clubs to control their economic situation," he said."The new version of the rules is perfectly in line with the Financial Fair Play principles, develops the system further and strengthens those principles.

"Therefore, ECA calls on clubs to keep on supporting the financial fair play system and to work within the framework of the new financial fair play rules."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter confirm Miranda move

Inter have confirmed the imminent signing of Atletico Madrid defender Miranda by posting a photo of him mid-medical on Tuesday.

The Brazil international, 30, is joining the San Siro club in a €15 million deal that ends his four-year spell at the Vicente Calderon.

Inter tweeted a photo of Miranda with two thumbs up ahead of him putting pen to paper on what is expected to be a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri.

Miranda joins Geoffrey Kondogbia as the latest high-profile summer signing for Roberto Mancini's men, who finished eighth in Serie A in 2014-15.
Davide Santon and Xherdan Shaqiri's loans from Newcastle United and Bayern Munich respectively were also officially turned into permanent deals.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter lath hoda signs set 1kak karagannawa​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Dzeko doesn't want to leave Manchester City,' insists agent

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has no intention of leaving despite links to Roma, insists his agent.

Giallorossi midfielder Miralem Pjanic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina international team-mate of Dzeko, claimed on Monday that the forward "would run" to the Stadio Olimpico, even if it required a pay cut.

However, Irfan Redzepagic, who represents the ex-Wolfsburg star, is adamant that there has been no contact from the Italian club and that his client wants to stay at the Etihad.

"I was frankly surprised by Pjanic's comments, unless he knows something that I don't," the agent told Rete Sport.

"I have had no contact with Roma, nor am I aware of any talks between the two clubs.

"It's not a financial issue; [Dzeko] simply doesn't want to leave the Citizens."

The 29-year-old played only 22 Premier League games for City last season, his lowest number over a full campaign for the club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Jackson Martinez: Atletico will make me better

Jackson Martinez thinks that signing for Atletico Madrid would make him a better player, despite talks between the Spanish club and Porto remaining at an impasse.
The Colombian forward was on the brink of signing for AC Milan before Atleti expressed their interest, leading to the 28-year-old to change his mind about a move to San Siro in favour of a switch to the Vicente Calderon.

However, the proposed transfer has been complicated by the Rojiblancos reportedly wanting to pay his €35 million buyout clause in instalments, causing Martinez's agent to accuse the club of being disrespectful.

Martinez has continued his public flirtation with Diego Simeone's men and hopes to continue to score important goals if he moves to the Spanish capital."I hope to triumph at Atletico," he told Marca. "I will arrive with all of the motivation I can muster to give everything I can.

"I'll be going to a great team with a great coach. I hope to show I have the productivity I have shown at Porto. Ambition wins titles and Atletico will help me become a better player."

Atletico finished third in La Liga last season, having beaten Barcelona and Real Madrid to the title in 2014 against all expectations.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City target De Bruyne 'will stay at Wolfsburg'

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs insists that the club have no plans to sell Kevin De Bruyne this summer.

Goal understands that the Belgium international is wanted by Manchester City, while the attacker confirmed earlier in June that the Premier League side have made "informal contact" with his agent.

However, Wolfsburg remain adamant that they have no intention of allowing De Bruyne to leave and Allofs has revealed that the club will look to extend the 24-year-old's contract with a significant pay increase.

"Kevin has a contract until 2019, hence the message is already sent. He will stay with us," he told Sport1.

"Nevertheless, we said: 'We look at his contract again'. The aim is also to take into account Kevin's extraordinary development.

"We try to have our best players on the best salaries so we will make a proposal and I think we will very quickly reach an agreement here."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bacca signing not enough to save AC Milan - Roque Junior

AC Milan must not rest on their laurels and assume signing Carlos Bacca will solve their problems, according to former defender Roque Junior.

The Sevilla striker is imminently expected to complete his move from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to San Siro, with the 28-year-old branding the move “a reality” this week - despite the two clubs yet to have agreed upon a fee.

Roque Junior - who was on the Rossoneri books for four years from 2000 until 2004 - thinks Bacca is a solid acquisition, but says Sinisa Mihajlovic must not relent in the transfer market if his team are to be one of Serie A's best teams again.

"Milan are still able to charm players to join them and the purchase of Bacca is a good one," the ex- Brazil international told La Gazetta dello Sport. "But more players are needed.

"The economic crisis affected how Milan could purchase players, plus the inexperience of coaches Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi didn't help. I think Mihajlovic is the right choice, though."What matters is the players in your team. Juventus are still way ahead of the game but Inter are also making transfer moves."

Andrea Bertolacci completed his €20 million move to Milan from Roma on Monday as the Rossoneri aim to put 2014-15's abysmal 10th-placed finish in Serie A behind them.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Abdennour wants Premier League or Spain move, insists agent

Aymen Abdennour is keen on a move to the Premier League or La Liga but will not be joining West Ham, according to the Monaco centre-back's agent.

Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with the 25-year-old, while the player's representative, Abdelkader Jilani, has claimed that Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter have declared their interest.

"Abdennour wants to play in the Premier League or La Liga, not in Italy," Jilani told Calciomercato.

"The path leading to West Ham is closed."

Abdennour first joined Monaco on loan from Toulouse in January 2014 before making permanent the move that summer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Di Maria is the most talented player at Manchester United, says Rojo

Marcos Rojo believes Angel Di Maria remains the “most talented player” at Manchester United despite his frustrating first season at Old Trafford.

The Argentina star was signed for a Premier League record £59.7 million from Real Madrid last summer and impressed in his first appearances in a United shirt.

A wonderful chipped effort in the 5-3 defeat to Leicester City in October marked a high point in his early-season form but he has since struggled for consistency, and spent the final weeks of the season on the bench.

Rojo, who is likely to start alongside Di Maria when Argentina take on Paraguay in the Copa America semi-finals, remains confident his class will eventually shine through.

“For me, the player with the most talent at Manchester United is Angel,” Rojo told Goal. “There are great players at the club, but Angel for me is one of the best in the team and in the world.

“It has been a difficult year for him. He had some problems adapting, but that’s normal. Any player coming to a new country and a new league has to adapt to the differences and that’s what happens. But I’m sure he will do really well in the months ahead.”

It promises to be another summer of transition at United, with the club having already completed the signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay from PSV.

There are also likely to be several players heading through the exit door – one of whom could be current No.1 goalkeeper David De Gea.

The 24-year-old was named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2014-15 but is yet to extend a contract that expires next summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

“If David is not the best goalkeeper in the world today, then he is very close,” Rojo admitted. “He has adapted really well to the Premier League this past year.

“He is at an incredible level – I see him day, in, day out and he is an outstanding goalkeeper. As I say, if he is not the best in the world today, he is very close. I am very happy he is being recognised because he is a great goalkeeper.

“Ever since I came to the club he has treated me as a brother. I’m very happy for his present moment and whatever lies ahead for him, I wish him the best.”

Despite injuries limiting him to 22 league games, Rojo enjoyed a positive first season at United, operating at both centre-back and left-back for Louis van Gaal.

The defender, 25, says he has adapted well to life in Manchester and joked that the manager, whose end-of-season awards speech went viral, was not always as stern as he can seem on the touchline.

“The manager is good fun sometimes,” Rojo said. “[The awards night] was a moment we enjoyed together with the team. They are different moments where you can enjoy yourself away from a football pitch or a training session. It’s important to enjoy those moments as well.

“I feel very good. I’m very happy, the club is incredible and the people I have met here are fantastic. My wife and my daughter have helped me a lot. They are always by my side and everything has been easy.

“The language is a little difficult but I am keen to learn. I take classes all week because I like it, I’m interested and I would love to learn it quickly to be able to communicate with my team-mates and with the fans. That will help me in my adaptation as well.”

Rojo will have little time to rest over the summer months due to his inclusion in Argentina’s Copa America squad.

The Albiceleste were beaten by Germany in last year’s World Cup final but will have another chance to win a major tournament if they can defeat Paraguay in Tuesday’s last-four clash.

“The Copa America is a very demanding tournament,” Rojo added. “There are great teams, players with so much quality who play for some of the best clubs in the world. That’s what makes it so attractive. It’s a very fast and attractive football – and that’s what makes the Copa interesting.

“I have the best sensations for the Copa América and high hopes as well. We want to go as far as we can and, if possible – and this is the desire of all Argentines – winning the title would be something very special to mark an era after reaching the final of the World Cup last year.

“Now we have a chance for some revenge in this Copa. We want to play a great Copa and to achieve our objective which is the most important thing for us and for Argentine football.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan terminate Muntari's contract

AC Milan have confirmed Sulley Muntari's contract at the club has been terminated.

The Ghanaian midfielder, 30, has spent the last three seasons on the Rossoneri's books after swapping San Siro colours in 2012 when his contract with Inter expired.

Muntari fell out of favour under Filippo Inzaghi last season, appearing for Milan only six times in 2015, and new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has deemed him surplus to requirements ahead of 2015-16.

"Sulley Muntari and AC Milan announce that they have mutually resolved to terminate the sporting contract that bound them,” the Italian club stated on Tuesday.

“AC Milan would like to thank Muntari for the commitment, devotion and professionalism he demonstrated when wearing the Milan shirt.“We wish him every success for the rest of his playing career.”

Muntari has spent most of his career playing in Serie A – he spent six years at
Udinese and four seasons as an Inter player, with a single campaign at Portsmouth in between.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Turan has not met with Man United but decision is imminent, says agent

Arda Turan's agent has denied that his client has undergone a medical with Manchester United, but says he will make a decision on his future in the next four days as he prepares to leave Atletico Madrid.

After four years at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, the Turkey international has decided to seek a new challenge away from the 2014 Spanish champions, with representative Ahmed Bulut confirming on Monday that his transfer request had been accepted.

Many of Europe's elite - including United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona - have been linked with Arda but Bulut refuses to specify, though he is confident that his client's destination will be the right one.

"The new team will be known on Friday," he told NTV Spor. "Barcelona is a great team, as are PSG and Manchester United.

"When we were planning Arda's next career move, we considered that he had won everything at Atletico Madrid in four years so we seek the best for him and came to the conclusion that the right decision was to leave Atletico.

"Arda Turan will not make a statement until he has signed the new contract but, in the next four days, we will decide which team he will play for.

"Arda has not met with Manchester United or passed a medical. When you find out his new team on Friday you'll agree we made the right choice."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arda Turan EPL aiGodak durata Chelsea join wenna puluwan​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Schneiderlin a good signing for Man United - Ferdinand

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes the club are making a smart move in their attempt to sign Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton.

United are closing in on a deal for the France international, with Arsenal having cooled their interest in the 25-year-old defensive midfielder to leave the path clear for Louis van Gaal's side.

And when discussing the transfer, Ferdinand told his No.5 website: "He's a player who's going to add something to Manchester United.

"A bit of steel, can pass the ball, can play the ball through the lines of midfield and get the ball from back to front.

"He's a good player and a good addition to the squad, especially if someone like Michael Carrick, who's so influential for Man United, gets injured. This guy can step in and help buffer that. He's a very good player."

Ferdinand also addressed rumours linking Sergio Ramos with a move to Old Trafford, stating that he feels he will remain at Real Madrid.

"Sergio Ramos to Manchester City? He was going to Man United the other day, now he's going to Man City...! The agent's flying, he's doing well. He's putting him with two of the biggest clubs in terms of financial power," he said.

"I still can't see it. I think he'll stay at Madrid, where he'll play alongside Raphael Varane or Pepe next season. Unless they've got another Varane coming through, I can't see them letting him go.

"It's a lot of money to spend on a guy who's 29 with no resale value but why's he going to go to Manchester City before United? It doesn't make sense to me, I don't understand it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid set to re-sign Lucas Vazquez from Espanyol

Espanyol president Joan Collet has revealed that his club and Real Madrid have reached an agreement which will see Lucas Vazquez return to Santiago Bernabeu.

The winger came through the Real Madrid youth system after joining them at the age of 16 and became a regular for the B team, but he was sent to Espanyol last season.

The 23-year-old scored three and set up a further six goals in 33 La Liga appearances in 2014-15 and the Catalan club moved to activate their option to purchase his contract outright, although Madrid held an option to buy him back either this summer or next year.

The two sides are negotiating a fee, believed to be about €1 million, which will see the player return to the capital this summer, although Espanyol will hold on to 25 per cent of his rights.

"We are negotiating with Real Madrid," Collet said at a press conference."We have reached an agreement and will keep 25% of his rights. When the deal is final we will tell you.

"We received communication from Real Madrid two or three weeks ago and told them that we were going to activate the option to buy, but Madrid made an offer. We were told that they want him for their first team.

"We value the economic aspect and think the amounts are good for the club considering that we could also have lost him next year because of the buy back option."Collet acknowledged that losing Lucas will be a blow to Espanyol, but insisted they will look to replace him over the summer.

"The coach is naturally upset but we have talked to the sporting director who is looking at the options,” he said.

Real Madrid youngster Burgui has been linked with a move to Espanyol, but Collet stressed those talks were separate and there were "no players involved" in the negotiations for Lucas.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona can be football's NASA, Apple & Facebook - Bartomeu

Josep Maria Bartomeu says he wants to see Barcelona become the most dominant force in world football and a symbol for the sport.

The Catalan side are one of the game's elite sides, with their position at the top of the game boosted further by last season's treble - their second in six years.

Bartomeu, who succeeded Sandro Rosell as the club's president and is hoping to be returned in the election on July 18, says his vision is to see Barca become the Apple, NASA and Facebook of football.

“By 2021, we want Barca to be to football what Apple is to computers, NASA for space exploration or Facebook for social media,” he said at a campaign speech."The Barca of the 21st century is based on the social model, sporting, athletics and the new facilities we want to build in the Espai Barca project.

“We have a management model to strengthen our leadership in the world, to continue leading it in 2021 and to be a unique brand in the world. The aim is that in 2021, the world will associate Barca with football.

"We want to create a base to support the athletes and coaches and to strengthen the promotion of women’s sport, we want to be a leader in that too.

"Our third sporting point will be the creation of the observatory and university of FC Barcelona, built in the Espai Barca, a training centre in the environment of football and sport.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Conte will remain Italy coach - Tavecchio

Antonio Conte will remain in charge of Italy despite reports that he has been indicted in a match fixing investigation, Italian FA (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio insists.

The head coach has previously been banned for four months for his part in a scandal during his time at Siena, as he failed to report the alleged fixing of two games.

The latest reports have resulted in speculation over his future at the helm of the national team, but Tavecchio insists the former Juventus boss will not leave before his contract expires in 2016.“I spoke with him this morning and there is nothing new,” Tavecchio told reporters.

“Conte will stay and see out his contract. We have certain guarantees for people in this country and they apply to Conte too - an indictment is not a conviction.”

The 71-year-old also talked about the scandal which has engulfed Catania, with several officials being arrested on alleged match fixing charges.

Tavecchio continued: “We have already started, but we have to drive the money changers from the temple. This is the most important thing in the mind of the FIGC.
“I will try to do everything that I can to speed up court proceedings, in respect of the start of next season.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Cech: I almost joined Arsenal when I was a teenager

Petr Cech has revealed he could have become an Arsenal player more than a decade ago had work permit restrictions not scuppered a switch to the Premier League.

The Czech Republic international completed a move to Emirates Stadium from rivals Chelsea on Monday after falling becoming second choice for Jose Mourinho behind Thibaut Courtois.

However, Cech could have been first choice at Arsenal much sooner had their original move for him in 2002 gone through, with the goalkeeper instead leaving Sparta Prague for Rennes, before arriving at Chelsea for what became a memorable 11-year stint.

"There was a chance before I went to France to join Rennes for me to sign for Arsenal, but I was only 18 or 19 and, at that time, Czech Republic were not in the European Union," he told the club's official website.

"You needed a work permit and the conditions were that you had to play 75 per cent of the first-team games for the national team, which, at the time, was impossible for me to get. In the end I went to France because I couldn't get a work permit.

"Back then, a few teams were interested in me but Arsenal was one of the main ones. I was so excited because of the Premier League and big clubs coming in for me but unfortunately it was not the time for me to come to England.

"My time was later with Chelsea, and I'm obviously grateful for that, but you never know where you'll end up. Here we are and I hope that I can replicate here everything that I have managed to achieve in the past decade.

"If I could have got my work permit, maybe my story would have been a completely different story but here we are 10 or more years later, and now we can write the story again."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ramos staying at Madrid, says mother

The mother of Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has denied speculation her son wants to join Manchester United.

There were widespread reports on Monday that the defender had informed Madrid of his desire to move to Old Trafford, with United said to have made a bid for the 29-year-old.

Ramos's discontent at the Bernabeu is believed to stem from president Florentino Perez's failure to deliver on his promise to reward him with a new and improved contract.

But, in a fresh twist to the saga, the Spain international's mother has revealed his intention remains to stay at Madrid.Paqui Ramos told Antena 3: "Of course, his first choice is to stay at Madrid. Manchester United? I don't think so, he wants to stay in Spain."

At the start of the month, Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo claimed he had been offered Ramos by his agent as an 'electoral trump card'.

His representative later denied Majo's comments.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ramos staying at Madrid, says mother

Amma 1kak kiyanawa,Putha thawa 1kak kiyanawa​