..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Marotta warns Barcelona over Pogba-Raiola talks

The only way Barcelona will be able to sign Paul Pogba is if they negotiate with Juventus and not his agent Mino Raiola, according to the club's director Giuseppe Marotta.

The Champions League winners have been public in their pursuit of the midfielder and made a bid of €80 million in June, only to see it turned down by the Serie A champions.

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta then claimed his close ties with Raiola will allow him to seal a deal if he is elected, with Pogba's representative confirming his client would have "a big chance" of moving to Camp Nou in that eventuality on Thursday.

However, Marotta has responded by reminding both parties that a deal will only be struck if the Catalans negotiate directly with the club."Those who want to sign Pogba must negotiate with Juventus and not with Raiola, who is only his agent,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

“We have been negotiating with Barcelona for months, from one club to another, in a serious and transparent manner. This is the right way for two teams that have so much history and importance in the world of football to act.

“The situation is clear between Juventus and Barcelona since the meeting we had in Milan with their director Albert Soler and my friend Ariedo Braida.“Barcelona made a serious and concrete offer, but we responded the same way and rejected it.”

 

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Brisbane Roar 1-2 Liverpool: Milner grabs first Reds goal in friendly win

James Milner scored his first Liverpool goal as Brendan Rodgers’ side overcame an early scare to beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 on Friday.

Liverpool were comfortable in sweeping aside a Thailand All-Stars XI on Tuesday, but faced much stiffer opposition at the Suncorp Stadium.

The A-League outfit hit the front shortly after 17 minutes through Dimitri Petratos, but the visitors levelled 11 minutes later when Adam Lallana - who also netted against the Thailand XI - showed good footwork in the box before curling a right-footed effort into the far corner.

Liverpool continued to create chances thereafter and their pressure eventually told 15 minutes from time when Milner's effort looped over goalkeeper Jamie Young and into the net.

Rodgers selected a front two of Danny Ings and Divock Origi to start the game, but, amid reports the club has tabled a £32.5 million bid for Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, neither man was able to make much of an impact.

Instead it was left to Ings' fellow close-season signing Milner to provide the telling touch, as Liverpool made it two wins from two in their build-up to the new Premier League campaign.

After a low-key opening to proceedings, the home side took the lead with a well-taken goal.

Brandon Borello did superbly to find his way out of a tight corner close to the byline and pulled the ball back for Petratos, who stepped away from Martin Skrtel and stroked an assured finish into the bottom-left corner.

Ings, a new arrival from Burnley, almost pulled his side level eight minutes later.

Receiving the ball with his back to goal, the striker spun and hit a firm low shot which Young kept out with a strong one-handed stop.

The visitors did not have to wait long for an equaliser, however, as Lallana showed quick feet to get away from his marker before sending a fine effort in off the right-hand upright.

Liverpool almost forged ahead in the 44th minute, but Luke Brattan was perfectly placed on the line to block Mamadou Sakho's goalbound header.

Young produced a superb stop to deny captain Jordan Henderson from close range shortly after the hour, before Brisbane substitute Devante Clut went close with a curling effort from 25 yards.

Just when it seemed Young would keep Liverpool out until the final whistle, he was left wrong-footed as former Manchester City midfielder Milner's shot crept over him after a deflection.

The Reds will now face Adelaide United on Monday, before taking on a Malaysia XI on Friday.

 

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I can't choose between Ronaldo and Bale - Benitez

Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez says trying to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale is like making a child pick their favourite parent.

The relationship between the pair was the subject of considerable scrutiny last season, with some supporters criticising Bale for failing to pass to his superstar team-mate when through on goal.

Speaking at a press conference before his team's International Champions Cup match against Roma on Saturday, Benitez was asked by Goal if the 26-year-old could soon become the more prominent member of the Madrid attack.

"You can ask my daughter if she prefers my wife or me. The father or the mother. It's not easy," he said.

"Ronaldo, Bale, all of them – they are so good. For me it's not a problem. James (Rodriguez), Isco, (Karim) Benzema, Ronaldo or Bale, we have an option with all of them.

"Ronaldo is a key player for us, Gareth will be a key player for us. But the same will be Benzema, James, Isco, (Toni) Kroos, (Luka) Modric. We have a fantastic team. We have to keep improving the squad, keep working hard with the players that we have."

Benitez, a former Real Madrid 'B' player and coach, has won La Liga with Valencia and lifted the Champions League at Liverpool, but now faces undeniably the biggest challenge of his career.

The 55-year-old knows he will face intense scrutiny at the Bernabeu, but believes his inside knowledge of the club will enable him to succeed where others have failed.
"If you analyse what I have to do every day, it's more or less the same," he said.

"It's a football team and you have to train, to coach, prepare the training sessions and (for) the game. So it's more or less the same.

"Obviously you have more media, more people around watching you. For me it doesn't change too much. I have to concentrate on my job and try to do my best in the things that I know. Coaching the team and trying to have a winning mentality.

"(I do) have an advantage. I know the city, I know the fans, I know the club. So that is an advantage."

 

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Guardiola: Ribery ruled out for Bundesliga start

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola revealed winger Franck Ribery will miss the club's opening Bundesliga clash through injury.

The 32-year-old endured an injury-hit end to last season as Bayern crashed out of the Champions League and DFB-Pokal semi-finals, though club director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently confirmed he was on the road to recovery.However, Guardiola has now confirmed the Frenchman will be unavailable for the club's Bundesliga bow against Hamburg on August 14.

"He won't be ready for the first game of the season, but it's getting better, I'm optimistic," the coach told reporters ahead of Saturday's clash with Valencia in Beijing.The Bavarians are in China where they will play a run of three friendly games - including games with Inter and Guangzhou Evergrande - in nine days.

Bayern are also hoping to complete the signing of Arturo Vidal from Juventus in the coming days, after agreeing a €40 million fee with the Turin side.

 

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Firmino: Liverpool wanted me for over a year

Roberto Firmino has revealed that Liverpool had been attempting to secure his signature for “over a year” before he decided to join the Reds.

The Brazil international sealed a move to Anfield earlier this month for a fee that could rise to €40 million and has now revealed his reasons for securing a move away from Hoffenheim.

"I decided for Liverpool because they wanted me for over a year,” he told Bild. “There was a certain sympathy from the beginning and I had a good feeling from the start.

"I come to the best league in the world. I can grow there. Physically, it will be a new challenge due to the big number of games to be played with the five competitions.

"I am looking forward [to seeing] the fans at Anfield. I am already having goosebumps if I think of them singing 'You'll never walk alone'.”

Firmino also insists that he will not be weighed down by his fee, and says he is looking forward to linking up with fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho at Anfield.

"I don’t see my fee as burden. Rather as an appreciation and a compliment,” he added.

"It is an advantage that Coutinho is there. He is my compatriot and knows me and can make my familiarisation easier. And aside from that, we get on well."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Martinez: No Everton bid for Evans

Roberto Martinez says there is no truth in reports linking Everton with Manchester United defender Jonny Evans.

It was suggested on Thursday that the Toffees were poised to sign the Northern Ireland international for a fee of £8 million, but the coach insists no deal is in place.

"No, it's not true," he told reporters. "I always said that I am not going to be commenting on any of the names that are being shared around but I can tell you there is nothing true about that subject."

Martinez was also keen to quash speculation linking Everton midfielder James McCarthy with a summer exit, though Goal understands that Manchester City have identified the 24-year-old as a potential acquisition after missing out on Fabian Delph, while Tottenham remain interested.

"James McCarthy is a story that we keep hearing and I can only guess where that's coming from but from our point of view he is a phenomenal asset," Martinez added.

"We spent a lot of money on him and we are going to build a team around him. He has a long-term contract with Everton and there is not a single issue. He enjoys his football, is an example to the group and there is no story.

"For every Evertonian's piece of mind, James McCarthy is at Everton, his future is here and there is no story to comment on."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mona team 1ken hari kamak naha Evans wa gannawanam loku deyak​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger refuses to rule out Benzema signing


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out signing Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.

Goal reported on July 14 that the north Londoners were prepared to bid their time until the end of the summer transfer window over a potential deal for the France international.

And Gunners boss Wenger, who was speaking to reporters in Singapore ahead of Arsenal's Asia Trophy final fixture against Everton on Saturday, is not ruling anything out.
He said: "I don't know where that comes from but it's not happening at the moment, no.

"We don't rule it out doing any more business nor do we guarantee we sign someone. I'm happy with the squad we have.

"If I find an exceptional player to strengthen, I will do it. It depends what's on the market. It's not easy, there are a lot of teams out there in Europe competing for the same player."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Official: Arsenal's Sanogo joins Ajax on loan

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has joined Ajax on a season-long loan deal.

The France Under-21s international spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace but will now spend the entire 2015-16 campaign at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Sanogo has struggled for opportunities since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2013 and is likely to fall further down the pecking order, with Arsene Wenger admitting that Chuba Akpom will be given first-team opportunities this season.

"He needs to play," Wenger told the club's official website of Sanogo's exit.

"He came to us injured and it took us a while to get him to the top level. He's ready to play now and I'm sure he can be a good signing for Ajax.

"He has an opportunity to play in the Champions League with Ajax, which is good experience. We have a good relationship with them and hopefully he can have a great season."

Sanogo will be battling it out with Poland international Arek Milik for the No.9 position at Ajax.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico in talks to re-sign Chelsea's Filipe Luis

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed that the club are in talks with Chelsea to re-sign full-back Filipe Luis.

The Brazil international only moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico last summer but has struggled for first-team opportunities, appearing only 11 times in the starting XI in the Premier League.

And though Cerezo says that bringing Filipe Luis back to the club would be a boost, a deal will only be done if it makes financial sense.

"There are negotiations in place but I don't know how fruitful they will be," he told COPE. "Filipe Luis is a magnificent player. We would be delighted if he comes back and I think that, in the end, we will find a solution.

"As always, the financial aspect takes precedence over the sentimental aspect but I believe a deal can be reached."

Filipe Luis was a regular as Diego Simeone's side won the Primera Division title and reached the Champions League final in 2013-14 before moving to London, where he has two years remaining on his current contract with the English champions.

 

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Luiz Adriano: Playing with Ibrahimovic at Milan would be amazing

AC Milan summer signing Luiz Adriano is massively excited by the prospect of playing alongside Carlos Bacca and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at San Siro, despite the latter looking an unlikely prospect.

Luiz Adriano and Bacca were brought in as head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic looks to revamp a team which finished a lowly 10th in Serie A last season under Filippo Inzaghi.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi also wants to bring Paris Saint-Germain striker Ibrahimovic - who spent two seasons wearing a Rossoneri shirt before his departure for France in 2012 - back to the club this summer.

Despite having no European football to offer the Swede and being less financially secure than the cash-rich Ligue 1 champions, Luiz Adriano suggested it would be great to line up with Ibrahimovic and Bacca in 2015-16.

"It would be nice to play alongside two great player such as Bacca and Ibra," the Brazilian attacker, who joins from Shakhtar Donetsk, told gathered media upon his arrival in Italy.

The 28-year-old also explained that he had chosen to join Milan for an estimated €8 million over other clubs due to their history – both in terms of trophy-winning and fielding Brazilians."I chose Milan because of the history it has and what it has achieved in a footballing sense

"There is also a great tradition of Brazilian players and I'm happy to be here.
"I'm fine, I've worked with a personal trainer in Brazil to get in shape. There was interest from a number of clubs, but I decided on Milan."

 

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Guardiola: I'm bald so I don't have hair like Boateng!


Pep Guardiola has jokingly blamed his baldness on wanting to avoid having hair like Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng.The Bavarians' coach addressed reporters in jovial fashion on Friday alongside Boateng, who has styled his hair to have a low-level mohawk."I lost my hair so I did not have the temptation to have Boateng's hairstyle!"

Guardiola said with a knowing glance at the Germany international, who looked jolted out of his press conference daydream at the comment.

"That's why I decide, 'okay, lose the hair, now the problem is done'."Afterwards the former Barcelona head coach gave a cheeky grin to Boateng as questions continued to pour in from journalists.

Bayern are in the midst of a pre-season tour of China, where they will play against Valencia, Inter and Guangzhou Evergrande before returning to Germany for August 1's DFL-Supercup against Wolfsburg.

 

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Official: Bellerin signs long-term Arsenal deal

Arsenal have confirmed that full-back Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an impressive season for the Gunners last time out making 28 appearances and scoring twice, against Aston Villa and Liverpool.

The Spaniard also picked up his first piece of silverware with Arsenal, starting in the FA Cup final as Arsene Wenger's side retained their trophy with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley.

Bellerin has previously admitted he came close to leaving on loan before injury to Mathieu Debuchy gave him the opportunity to prove his worth at the Emirates.

The full-back joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2011, progressing through the club's academy and spending a short spell on loan at Watford during 2013-14 before being promoted to the first team.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Totti: It's a shame iconic Casillas is gone

Roma star Francesco Totti has said that it is "a shame" to see an "icon" like Iker Casillas leave Real Madrid.The 34-year-old goalkeeper brought an end to a 25-year period at the Santiago Bernabeu last week when he departed to join Porto.

Casillas announced his departure at an emotional press conference, sitting alone as he delivered a statement to the press - a move that has seen Madrid heavily criticised by fans and pundits.

Ahead of Roma's friendly against Los Blancos in Melbourne, Totti, who has spent his entire career with the Italian side, hailed Casillas as a "great man" as he mourned the World Cup winner's departure.

"It's a shame that Casillas is gone," he told reporters. "We know each other well. He is a great man and a great person. Iker is an icon and a monument of the club."
The 38-year-old then turned his attention to Saturday's match between the two sides.

"Against Madrid there are no friendlies," he added. "The games are always prestigious. It will be a nice and positive experience."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Delph to join Manchester City after second U-turn

Fabian Delph has performed a second spectacular U-turn in the space of the week and will now sign for Manchester City, Goal can confirm.

The Aston Villa captain was due to undergo a medical at City on July 11 ahead of an £8 million move but had a last-minute change of heart.

Delph subsequently issued a statement in which he appeared to commit his future to the club, saying: I'm not leaving. I'm staying at the football club and I can't wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club."

But the 25-year-old is understood to have changed his mind yet again, having been given assurances that his England chances would not be affected by a potential lack of playing time at City, and will now sign a four-year, £100,000-a-week deal.

Delph's influence helped Villa to pull clear of relegation last season and reach the FA Cup final, in which they were beaten by Arsenal.

Manager Tim Sherwood paid tribute to his loyalty after he turned down City but the midfielder now looks set to join Raheem Sterling in linking up with Manuel Pellegrini's side this summer.

 

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Real Madrid agree Casilla deal with Espanyol

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla on a five-year contract, both clubs have confirmed.

The Spain international - a Blancos youth product - left the Santiago Bernabeu side in 2008, but the departure of Iker Casillas to Porto triggered a pursuit from his former club to bring him back this summer as a replacement.

Following Espanyol's announcement that a deal had been reached with Madrid, the Blancos revealed the length of Casilla's contract based on the assumption no fitness problems are found in his upcoming medical.

"Real Madrid and Espanyol have agreed to the transfer of Kiko Casilla, subject to a necessary medical examination," Madrid stated. "The player will be tied to the club for the next five seasons.

At a press conference on Friday, Casilla paid tribute to Casillas' 25 years on Madrid's books but believes he can now seize the opportunity to become Rafa Benitez's No.1.

"The opportunity to sign for Real Madrid comes only once and I was determined to take it," he told reporters. "Iker's time at Madrid is at an end and I wish him the best, but now it's my turn. I think he's the best Madrid goalkeeper ever, though.

"Espanyol gave me the opportunity to become a professional player and I am grateful to the club for letting me leave. They'll remain a close club to me and I hope to come back someday in the future."

The undisclosed offer from Madrid could spell the end of their efforts to sign Manchester United shot-stopper David de Gea, with Costa Rica star Keylor Navas providing competition to Casilla in 2015-16.

Casilla's contract would have allowed him to join Rafa Benitez's squad for €10 million, but it is widely believed that the Barcelona-based club have parted ways with the 28-year-old for a fee nearer €6m after rejecting a €4m offer earlier in July.

Casilla had featured 126 times for Espanyol in his seven years at the Estadi Cornella El Prat.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Casilla gannawa kiyanne Real Madrid lage De Gea ge interest 1ka nathi wei​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Casillas out & Cassila in​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: I want at least two more players

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted he wants to improve "at least" two positions as the club's summer spending looks set to continue.

The Red Devils have already signed four new players, including Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and now more could follow.

Goal understands that Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Ramos are the club's primary central defensive targets, while United sent a representative to Paris on Tuesday to discuss a potential player exchange deal as Angel Di Maria moves closer to a switch to PSG.

When asked if he was expecting further arrivals, Van Gaal told MUTV: "I hope so. No, we are not finished yet, I think.

"It is what I have said already in many press conferences. We need a balance in the selection and I think we still need to improve at least two positions and we shall do that when it is possible.

"But we shall only buy when the player can give a contribution to our level. And, of course, that is in the eyes of our staff, but I have to have confidence that he can cope with the rhythm of the Premier League."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: I want at least two more players

Matanam hithena hatiyata playersla 3denak one2 World Class CB's & 1 World Class Attacker

Chicharito ta chance 1ka dunnoth hodai next season 1ke sell karanne nathuwa.Eyata puluwan wei Falcao ge gap 1ka fill karanna.Bari welawath sell kaloth nam Strikerslath 2nnek ganna wenawa.​