Nemanja Vidic: United can win Champions League

Nemanja Vidic believes Manchester United can put two years of disappointment in Europe behind them and win the Champions League....

United reached the final three times in four seasons between 2008 and 2011 but were knocked out in the group stages in 2011-12 and were beaten by Real Madrid in the last 16 in March.
But captain Vidic, who was a Champions League winner in 2008, is confident David Moyes’ team can go all the way.
He told Sport Magazine: “We think we can go to the later stages and with a bit of luck, yeah, we can win the tournament.
"I’ve been here eight years; I’ve played three finals, one semi-final, two quarter-finals -- and that means that sure, United is always in the last stages of the Champions League. Hopefully we can do that again this year. With luck against Madrid last year, maybe we would have been in the quarter-finals -- and who knows what would have happened then."
Defending champions Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid start as greater favourites than United.
But Vidic takes heart from Chelsea’s triumph in 2012 and the unpredictability of the competition.
He added: “You know two years ago, Chelsea won -- did you believe Chelsea were going to win that title? Barcelona won everything the last three years, but last year Bayern Munich came. It’s not something where you can say that someone will win the title."
United start their Champions League campaign at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

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Real Madrid deny Mesut Ozil leak

Real Madrid have denied a claim by Mesut Ozil’s father that Florentino Perez leaked negative stories about his son's off-pitch behaviour to quell criticism in Spain of the decision to sell the German to Arsenal for €50 million....

A story in Spanish newspaper ABC last week claimed that Blancos president Perez had told senior Madrid socios [members] that Ozil had been allowed to leave as the club had got fed up with the player’s unprofessional off-the-pitch behaviour.
Mustapha Ozil reacted angrily to these claims, threatening to sue Madrid and Perez for blackening his son's name. The Primera Division giants have now quickly moved to distance themselves from the original story.
That ABC report contained no direct quotes from anyone at Madrid, but said Perez would tell a behind-closed-doors meeting that while Ozil had strictly followed his Islamic faith when he arrived at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, he then began socialising and womanising so much that his performances had suffered.
The paper also claimed that Ozil senior, who handles his son’s affairs, had leaked stories of interest from other clubs after Madrid turned down his demand for an €8.5 million salary.
He angrily denied all such suggestions in Bild on Thursday and claimed he would go to court to defend his and his son’s good names.
"Just because someone earns a lot of money does not make them automatically a man of honour,” Ozil senior said. “And [Florentino] Perez is no man of honour. Mesut is made the scapegoat now. And I am the greedy father, who only waits for the big money. A put-up job, a bad business. We will defend ourselves legally."
Madrid quickly reacted to this by issuing a statement to the German paper denying that Perez had anything to do with the ABC story.
"It is thoroughly denied that president Florentino Perez or any other member of the football club has anything to do with the information about the player Ozil that was published in a Spanish newspaper," the statement said. "The Spanish newspaper, in which the information was published, denies any kind of connection of the aforementioned with the publishing of the story. A press release by the newspaper confirmed that no-one from the club made any contact with the paper nor made any statement regarding this issue. Real Madrid deeply regrets that those statements, which have nothing to do with the football club, evoked the dad’s reactions, which are at odds with the truth and are totally out of place. Real Madrid renews its thanks to Mesut Ozil and wishes him well for the future."
Many in Madrid had seen the original ABC story as an attempt by Madrid and Perez to protect themselves from a growing backlash from fans and pundits against the decision to sell Ozil, while signing Gareth Bale at double the German’s price. It was also pointed out that no hints of bad behaviour had appeared when the playmaker had been a regular in the team over the last three campaigns.
Ozil senior also appears to hold this view.
“If Mesut leads such a dissipated life, as they always say, then I wonder: Why did he always play?,” he said. “They want to talk Mesut down, because the fans and some team-mates are angry about his sale.”
ABC have also denied that Perez was a source for its original report, which a clarification published online said came from "diverse sources" none of which was Perez.
"From ABC we state that the president of Real Madrid made no interview or statement about this matter," the clarification said. "We are sorry if the information published has lead to erroneous interpretations."

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Karim Benzema benching 'a lesson'

Being dropped for France's World Cup qualifier will have been "a good lesson" for Karim Benzema, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has claimed....



Having extended his 15-month goal-scoring drought at international level with an ineffectual display in last Friday's 0-0 draw in Georgia, Benzema did not start Tuesday's Group I encounter in Belarus, the first time since November 2009 the Real Madrid forward had not been on the pitch at kick-off when available for Les Bleus.
The 25-year-old watched on as Didier Deschamps' side twice came from behind to triumph 4-2 in Gomel and clinch at least a place in the play-offs. Le Graet, 71, told RMC the painful experience may spur on Benzema to reproduce his club form for his country.
"I think it's a good lesson for him. I'm not a specialist in football, but I love it, and I love the player a lot. He's a massive player for me. That said, he's stuck a little with the French team whereas at Real Madrid, he plays regularly and scores goals in the league and the Champions League," said the FFF boss, who has no doubt Benzema is wholly committed to the French cause.
"He loves it, otherwise he wouldn't come and would invent injuries. He's a lovely bloke. A game on the bench won't do him any harm. He saw his friends play well and win without him."
Having played alongside Olivier Giroud in Tbilisi in a 4-4-2, Benzema missed out in favour of the Arsenal striker as Deschamps reverted to his preferred 4-2-3-1 in Belarus. However Guy Stephan, Deschamps' assistant, told RMC that Benzema need not fear too much for his international future if he can rediscover his form.
"Karim Benzema is a talented player, he said. "He's not been effective nor lucky in recent games. He didn't play but it doesn't mean he won't come back. Didier Deschamps will continue to follow him at Real Madrid. We're all obliged to get results. The players are also obliged to put in performances. When they don't, Didier has to make a choice."

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Ronaldo a doubt for Villarreal clash

Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s friendly against Brazil in Boston on Tuesday and is also a doubt for Real Madrid’s La Liga game at Villarreal on Saturday...


Ronaldo played at less than 100 percent fitness in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast -- but still scored a hat-trick to turn a 2-1 deficit into the 4-2 win that keeps Paulo Bento’s side two points ahead of Russia in Group F.


Portugal team doctor Henrique Jones said after that game that captain Ronaldo had made a huge effort to play and would need time off to recover.


"He had a week of intense treatment, he made an enormous sacrifice and now he needs to rest," Jones, quoted on the official FIFA website, said.


AS reported on Monday that Ronaldo was already back in Madrid and had begun recovery work. While Real are yet to release any official injury bulletin, the paper said the problem was tendonitis in a thigh muscle injury which the player had been managing for a few weeks.
Portugal’s friendly with Brazil takes place at the home of NFL franchise the New England Patriots before Madrid face Villarreal at El Madrigal in a game that could see €100 million signing Gareth Bale make his debut.

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Fabregas backs Ozil to shine

Cesc Fabregas has predicted that Mesut Ozil is likely to thrive in the room he will likely be allowed to play in by Premier League defences....



Ozil has rarely been out of the headlines since completing a transfer deadline day move to Arsenal for £42.4 million from Real Madrid, with the player himself saying that he felt Madrid had not shown enough confidence in him, Blancos fans voicing their dismay at the departure of one of their team’s best attacking players, and some sources close to the Bernabeu club claiming that the German international’s professionalism had dipped.
Barcelona playmaker Fabregas -- who knows the Premier League well from his own seven seasons playing in the competition for Arsenal -- added his voice to the throng by telling Al Primer Toque that he had no doubts Ozil would be a success.
"I believe Arsenal will be a perfect fit for him,” Fabregas said. “He will enjoy himself a lot in the Premier League. It is a league with lots of spaces, and he is a player that will kill you if you give him space.
"We already saw that at Real Madrid, he plays a brilliant final pass. I believe he will enjoy himself a lot in England."

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Frank Lampard to win 100th cap

England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Frank Lampard will win his 100th cap in the vital World Cup qualifier away to Ukraine on Tuesday.

Lampard, 35, will join Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole and England captain Steven Gerrard among the centurions appearing in Kiev.
“Lampard will play tomorrow night,” Hodgson said. “That's quite a first. I'm happy to have been part of that. All things being equal Frank will play and start the game tomorrow and win his 100th cap
“I don't think there will be many players who will play for England for two or three years let alone 14 years. Fourteen years is a long time to be representing your country. We don't have that many international matches so I think people who want to play 100 games for their country have to play for a team that wins major international tournaments and play for a very long time.”
Hodgson said he will make only one change from the team that beat Moldova 4-0 on Friday night, with Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck suspended as a result of the caution he received at Wembley.
"There will only be one change to the team and that's the person who will replace Danny Welbeck,” he said. “I'll leave you to guess that."
Hodgson also condemned the violence that saw England fans attacked by Ukraine fans said to be carrying knives.
“We deplore that, everyone deplores that and I'm certain people in Kiev deplore that,” Hodgson said. “I don't know the circumstances. It's unfortunate these things can happen when football fans get together. I'm sad it's occurred and I only hope our fans are not going to be put off and the fans aren't so badly injured they can't attend the game.”
Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko, meanwhile, has described Tuesday's game as the most important of his 34 years in management.
England currently lead Group H on goal difference, with a match in hand on second-placed Montenegro, but Ukraine -- a point behind England having also played seven games -- can seize control with a home victory.
Asked whether the match was the most important of his career, the 64-year-old former Dynamo Kiev and Metalist Kharkiv boss replied: “Not only of mine. We don't want to make you [the Ukrainian people] angry.”
Fomenko gave little away in the press conference and offered little when quizzed on his opponents. When questioned about the absence of Wayne Rooney, he said Hodgson was better placed to answer. Asked what he knew of Rickie Lambert, who will start in Rooney’s stead, he replied: “It's a secret.”
He was no more forthcoming on his own team. When asked about his own selection plans, his response was only: “We will see.”
Fomenko, who was named Ukraine boss in December last year, said he expects "150%" from his players.

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Rosell: Real Madrid Still Want To Sign Neymar At All Cost

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed that Real Madrid were trying to hijack his club’s signing of Neymar even as the player was putting pen to paper for the Catalans.....

Madrid had long been involved in a battle for Neymar’s signature, but Blancos president Florentino Perez said the club abandoned their pursuit because "for us it would have cost more than €150 million".
However, Rosell insists Barca’s rivals continued their pursuit until the bitter end and also claims that the Brazil star had even privately passed a medical for Madrid prior to signing on the dotted line at Camp Nou.
"When we reached a pre-agreement with Neymar’s father, the player had already passed a medical with Real Madrid," Rosell told TV3’s ‘Hat-trick’ programme. "We joked that we could save ourselves the money of doing the tests ourselves. When we were already signing the contract, Madrid was sending emails to Santos.”
The complex deal which was agreed between Barcelona, Santos and Neymar’s father -- who is also his agent -- continues to be the subject of controversy in Brazil, where various other stakeholders have complained that they are not receiving their fair share of the €57 million total fee.
Rosell said Barca were not involved in talks over which parties were owed how much from the deal.
"The investment fund which is claiming money from [Neymar’s] transfer is talking with Santos and the player’s father," he said. “We are staying out of it."
The Camp Nou chief said that reports last week that Barca had not paid Eric Abidal when the French defender had been ill were mistaken.
"Barcelona has paid Abidal everything he was supposed to earn," Rosell said. "Although the doctors said he would not return to play, we extended his contract and he received everything. The contract was suspended due to an agreement with the medical insurers. He himself has recognised that his words were not interpreted well."

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Top 10 Richest Premier League Players 2013

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney is the richest player in the Baclays Premier League with a fortune estimated at 51 million pounds ($79.01 million)....


Players values are based on identifiable wealth including landed property,assets,shares in publicly quoted companies and endorsement deals.

The Top 10:
1. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 51 million pounds
2. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) 42 million
3. Michael Owen (Stoke City) 38 million
4. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) 34 million
5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 34 million 6. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 33 million
7. Fernando Torres (Chelsea) 26 million
8. John Terry (Chelsea) 24 million
9. Joe Cole (West Ham United) 21 million
10. Petr Cech (Chelsea) 20 million

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Muller: Madrid should not have sold Ozil

Thomas Muller has become the latest high-profile player to express his astonishment at Real Madrid's decision to allow Mesut Ozil to join Arsenal.

Los Blancos pocketed €50 million from the sale of the 24-year-old playmaker, whom they signed from Werder Bremen for a reported €15m in 2010....

However, even some of Madrid's players have questioned the wisdom of allowing Ozil to leave after a summer of dramatic change in the Spanish capital, and now Muller has weighed in, admitting that he cannot understand why the Liga giants opted to offload a player who was as loved by his team-mates as he was by the fans.

"I knew that Mesut was feeling very comfortable at Madrid," the Germany international said of his team-mate in an interview with Bild. "But, in football, things can happen quickly.

"Real threw everything overboard [this summer] - new coach [Carlo Ancelotti], new stars [Isco, Gareth Bale]. I wouldn't have sold Mesut.

"However, I had the feeling that he is looking forward to a new chapter in his career at Arsenal."

Meanwhile, Muller says that he has no desire to leave his current club, Bayern Munich, admitting that he is enjoying playing under new boss Pep Guardiola as much as he does Germany coach Joachim Low.

"He has a lot of fun with his work," the 23-year-old enthused. "His goal is to positively influence the outcome of a football match.

"He makes great speeches and on the sidelines; he is similarly emotional as Jogi Low."

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Guti: I hate to say it but Messi is the better than C.Ronaldo

Real Madrid legend Guti feels Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and believes the Argentina international is more decisive than Cristiano Ronaldo when it matters most....


The 26-year-old has won four consecutive Ballons d'Or and Guti has stressed that the prolific attacker always delivers the goods when his team needs him.

"I can only repeat what I have already said before and that is that Messi is the best in the world at the moment. It pains me to admit it, but it's the simple truth," Guti told Punto Pelota.

"I am not saying that Messi is on another level than Cristiano, though. But he's more decisive at certain moments when the team really needs him. He can salvage a game by himself.

"They are arguably the two best players in the world, but when it comes to my personal preference I must admit that I like Messi more."

Messi has netted over 200 goals for Barcelona in La Liga since breaking into the first team in 2004-05.

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David Luiz rejects Barcelona bid

Chelsea defender David Luiz has claimed he chose to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer despite an official approach from Barcelona....

The Brazilian international was at the centre of a series of rumours about his future during the transfer window, but insists that he is content at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho.
Speaking to Brazilian newspaper Gazeta Esportiva, Luiz said: "There was an official offer [from Barcelona], but I decided to stay at Chelsea.
"I am happy to play for a big club and be in the national team to represent my country."
Barcelona reportedly made a bid of £21.5 million for Luiz in August, which amounted to only half of the price tag Chelsea wanted for the 26-year-old.
Barca had also targeted Luiz's regular defensive partner for Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva, and Liverpool's Daniel Agger, but were unable to bring in a big signing to strengthen them at the back.
Club captain Carles Puyol's imminent return to fitness has been described as "our summer signing" by Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta.

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Platini: France need more from Ribery

Michel Platini has told L'Equipe that Franck Ribery needs to reproduce his sizzling Bayern Munich form with the France national side if he wants to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or....

Platini, 58, became the first player to win the European Ballon d'Or in three successive years, coming out on top in the poll between 1983 and 1985 during his time at Juventus.
The former France international's club displays were embellished by those in the colours of his country, with whom he won the 1984 European Championship.
And having seen Ribery excel in Bayern's Super Cup triumph over Chelsea last week having picked up the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, the UEFA president now wants his compatriot to prove equally as devastating for Les Bleus.
"I saw Franck play his best game in Prague. He had determination, will, desire, physical strength. Now, he needs to play just as well for France. To win the Ballon d'Or, he needs to play just as well with Les Bleus.
“Like all Frenchmen, I hear that he produces exceptional displays with his club -- I don't see every Bayern game -- but I'm waiting for him to do the same with the national team. He has yet to impress me in that regard, far from it. And the dimension of a player is forged with his national side. But I would like Franck to win the Ballon d'Or because he's had a very big year."

The stats back up Platini's argument with Ribery scoring twice as many goals per game in the Bundesliga as in international football. However, the former Marseille midfielder has looked significantly more threatening for France in the past year, and will hope to boost his nation's chances of going to Brazil next summer by contributing to victories in Georgia and Belarus as Didier Deschamps' men face tricky back-to-back World Cup qualifying trips.
While questions are being raised in the media over the divergence in Ribery's club and country form, his influence in the France squad remains intact. Having overcome off-the-pitch problems linked to his alleged involvement with an underage prostitiute, which undoubtedly contributed to his dip in form between 2009 and 2011, the Boulogne-sur-Mer-born player now serves as a role model for team-mates who have also found themselves persona non grata with the French football public.
"He's always supported me through the tough times," Samir Nasri, who was ostracised from international football for more than a year following his violent verbal altercations with the press at Euro 2012, told Le Parisien.
"We're very close. We've spoken a lot. He went through the same rejection. He went from being everyone's darling to a leper. He turned things round thanks to his performances. I want to do the same thing as him."

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Lionel Messi dismisses injury fears

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has said he is fully fit and that the injury he suffered against Atletico Madrid recently was not related to the left thigh issue that severely hampered him towards the end of last season....

Messi was substituted at half-time in the Spanish Supercopa first leg at Atletico on August 21, and subsequently missed Barca’s 1-0 victory at Malaga in La Liga four days later.
This raised fears that he had not fully recovered from the injury first suffered when scoring at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg in early April, but the Argentine told TV channel CN23 -- in comments reported by El Mundo Deportivo -- that the two issues were not connected.
“It was a bang, nothing more,” Messi said. “There was some swelling, but no tear. The club did not hide anything. The injury last season was difficult, but I am fine now.”
The problems focused attention on Messi's recovery programme, with AS pointing out last week that, of his previous 26 games, he had only completed two. It was also pointed out that his summer had involved travelling 90,000 kilometres in 40 days, as he took part in friendlies for club and country, plus a number of events and games organised by his own charitable foundation.
Messi has acknowledged that he had perhaps returned too soon to action last term but said he had rested sufficiently during his summer break.
“I played half-injured, and suffered a relapse, so it was not easy to recover,” he said. “[But] I had time to get well on holidays, and I am good now, looking forward to continuing like this.”
Messi also said he is excited about his partnership with summer signing Neymar.
“He arrived very quickly and has settled in very well in the dressing-room,” he said. “Neymar is a good kid and very humble, and now we need to get to know each other well on the pitch.”
The Argentina captain was also asked about his country’s upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifier in Paraguay on September 11.
"It will be a difficult match,” Messi said. “I hope that things keep going well for us as they have been going, we are on a good path.”
Argentina are currently top of the South American qualifying group, with 26 points from 13 games.

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Valencia made late Juan Mata bid

Valencia made a late attempt to get Juan Mata back to the club on loan before the summer transfer window shut, according to local paper Superdeporte....

The paper claims that Valencia president Amadeo Salvo talked to Mata’s father and agent Juan senior on Monday afternoon about the possibility of the Spain international returning to Mestalla, but as they received a negative response Salvo did not then make contact with Chelsea.
Mata senior was reportedly in Valencia on Monday, after returning to Spain having been at Friday night’s European Super Cup in Prague, where his son was an unused substitute for the third time in Chelsea's four competitive games so far this season.
The elder Mata was also reportedly at the Emirates Stadium last week to watch Arsenal’s Champions League play-off second leg against Fenerbahce, which led to reports the Gunners were interested in signing the playmaker.
Superdeporte claim that Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain came closest to signing Mata on Monday, and that the player could be on the move in January should his situation not improve.
Mata played at Valencia from 2007 to 2011, having joined as a teenager from Real Madrid’s youth set-up. He then joined Chelsea for £26 million and was named the club’s player of the year in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

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Fulham sign Jose Mourinho's son

Jose Mourinho’s 14-year-old son has joined Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Fulham, according to Marca.

Teenage goalkeeper Jose Mario had played for the Real Madrid Canillas team during his father’s tenure at the Bernabeu and has followed Mourinho Snr back to west London....

But father and son will not be linking up at Chelsea after Jose Mario reportedly opted to join the youth set-up at local rivals Fulham following a successful month-long trial.
Jose Mario’s grandfather Jose Manuel Mourinho Felix was also a goalkeeper and won one cap for Portugal, playing for Vitoria Setubal and Beleneses, who Blues boss Jose also represented during his brief and unremarkable playing career.
Should Jose Mario eventually make the move to Chelsea, he would be the latest in a long line of sons to turn out for their dad’s teams, with the likes of Paul Dalglish and Darren Ferguson playing for their managerial fathers in the Premier League era.
Hull City boss Steve Bruce currently has son Alex in his squad, with the defender playing 32 games last season as the Tigers were promoted from the Championship.

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Robin van Persie happy under Moyes

Robin van Persie has refuted reports he has not been impressed by David Moyes as he insisted he is enjoying playing for the new Manchester United manager....



The Dutchman enjoyed a close rapport with Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him from Arsenal last summer,
 and there were suggestions he felt Moyes' coaching left something to be desire.


But Van Persie, who is currently preparing for the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifier against Estonia on Friday, is adamant that is not the case.


He told De Telegraaf: "It's great working with the new manager David Moyes. He has his own style and methods and I like this.
"I'm happy with the style of Moyes. He does his own training sessions, he's close with the players and, with his staff, prepares us very well for the next opponent. That keeps us in shape. Luckily, winning the title last year gave us hunger for more."
Van Persie earned Moyes the first trophy of his United career when he scored both goals in the Community Shield win against Wigan and scored another brace in his maiden league victory at Swansea.
But he cut a frustrated figure in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Liverpool and the Daily Star quoted an unnamed friend of the striker saying: “Robin isn’t happy. He really misses Fergie, who he loved playing under.”

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Wayne Rooney releases image of injury

Wayne Rooney has released an image of the head injury he sustained in training to dispel doubts over his commitment to the English national team....

Rooney missed Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday as a result of the wound, with manager David Moyes saying he expected the striker to be out for “a few weeks” and that he thought he had “no chance” of representing his country in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.
The forward then used his official Facebook page to release an image of the injury -- sustained in an accidental collision with Phil Jones -- to illustrate the extent of the problem.
He wrote: “Some people seem to be questioning my commitment to the England squad and the fact I had to pull out of the 2 games. There's nothing I would like more than to be helping the lads in the qualifiers. I'm sure people will see from these images the reason why I won't be able to play.”
England have a number of injury absentees for the games against Moldova on Friday and Ukraine on Tuesday but Theo Walcott is confident the country's youngsters will be prosper.

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Benzema Can't Go To A Club Like Arsenal - Benzema's Agent Claims

The striker's agent dismissed suggestions of a move away from the Bernabeu, with the Gunners believed to be interested in the forward as well as Angel Di Maria & Mesut Ozil...
Karim Benzema's agent Karim Djaziri has again insisted that the striker will not leave Real Madrid to join Arsenal, and says he wants to stay the Santiago Bernabeu.

The France international's representative had previously insisted he was not interested in leaving Los Blancos, after Goal had revealed the Gunners' interest in the forward and in winger Angel Di Maria.
"Nothing has changed," Djaziri told BBC Sport. "Karim isn't joining Arsenal or anybody else. He's staying at Real Madrid.

"In any case, he's joined up with the France team today, and I doubt they'd even allow him to leave to discuss a move."

Arsenal are in advanced talks over a £40 million move for Mesut Ozil, with Carlo Ancelotti's side looking to raise money through player sales following the acquisition of Gareth Bale.

And the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain manager had on Saturday hinted at problems with Benzema's attitude.

"Today one thing was very clear. Benzema was whistled a bit, while Di Maria was applauded by whole stadium," Ancelotti told reporters.

"The fans look closely at the players. It's a very clear sign for everyone that hard work is applauded."

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Liverpool sign Moses from Chelsea on Season-long Loan

The 22-year-old has secured a move to Anfield after falling down the pecking order at Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side, becoming Brendan Rodgers' eighth signing of the summer...
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Chelsea forward Victor Moses on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old passed a medical at Anfield on Monday and becomes the club's eighth signing of a busy summer of transfer activity for Brendan Rodgers' men.

The Nigeria international joins Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori in joining Liverpool on deadline day, although Fabio Borini is close to leaving Merseyside for a loan move to Sunderland.

"First and foremost, I'm delighted to have made the loan from Chelsea to a big club like Liverpool," he told the club's official website.

"The most important thing is for me to be professional about it and I'm here to do a job for the club.

"The target is to get into the top four and for the club to compete in the Champions League - and I'm delighted to be here.

"The manager has done very well and the formation and players here will help me and I just want to gel in, get to know the players and play with them.

"There are a lot of quality players here - they're winning games and creating chances. It's a massive thing for me to be here."

Moses moved to Stamford Bridge from Wigan last summer, making 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals.

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Manchester United & Everton agree £24m Fellaini fee

The clubs are in advanced talks over a deal for the Belgian midfielder, who will complete a deadline-day move to Old Trafford once Everton sign James McCarthy from Wigan...

Manchester United have agreed a £24 million fee with Everton for midfielder Marouane Fellaini, Goal understands.

The clubs have a verbal understanding and are now thrashing out the minor details of the deal, including payment structures, while Everton are not willing to complete the transfer until they have signed James McCarthy from Wigan as the Belgian's replacement.

As of Monday morning, no transfer request had been submitted by Fellaini.

However, both clubs fully expect Fellaini to join United before the transfer window closes at 11pm, but Leighton Baines' future is looking more uncertain.

Everton value the England left-back at £20m and are continuing to rebuff United's advances, despite the player privately expressing his desire to leave Goodison Park.

Roberto Martinez, the Merseysiders' manager, has been preparing for Fellaini's departure this summer but he is desperate to keep hold of Baines as the 28-year-old is considered vital to the team's style of play.

United manager David Moyes has been equally desperate to strengthen his midfield this summer and turned to 25-year-old Fellaini after missing out on Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas.

The Old Trafford club are also looking to complete a deadline-day deal for Athletic Bilbao playmaker Ander Herrera but will have to pay the £31m buyout clause in his contract.

Everton, meanwhile, are already looking to reinvest the money from Fellaini's departure with a £12.5m move for McCarthy while Martinez is also lining up a deal for Manchester City duo Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.

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VIDEO: German Player Gets High, Touches Female Referee’s BO0BS During A Match

It was during the match between Hertha Berlin and Aachen Germany, female referee Bibiana Steinhaus was  touched in her breast by a player.....

Peter Niemeter, Hertha defender, was returning from a play of his team in attack, when he made a gesture with his right arm that ended in the referee’s breast.  

The referee immediately touched her chest and looked at Niemeter, who apologized to her raising his hand. The audience started to shout, the woman smiled and blushed.
watch video here

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“I Rather Sell Peanuts Than to Play for Chelsea”- The Shocking Quote of Samuel Eto’o About His New Team.

Samuel Eto'o was not really a fan of Chelsea in 2005. At that time, the Cameroonian star evolved in Barcelona and had to face Chelsea in the knockout stages of the Champions League....


Winning 2-1 in the first leg, the Blaugrana moved to Stamford Bridge to challenge the team coached by Jose Mourinho. Samuel Eto'O Completes Chelsea Switch. Samuel Eto'O Completes Chelsea Switch. Questioned before the game, Eto'o did not mince words: "I'd rather sell peanuts in my village of birth, rather than playing in a club as pathetic as Chelsea".

The continuation is a nightmarish for Barcelona. The Spanish club bowed 4-2 in England and is eliminated from the competition. 8 years later, Eto'o whose transfer was formalised Thursday will wear the colors of Chelsea. Source: Africa Top Sports.

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Kaka Returns To AC Milan On A Free Transfer

According to reports in Italy, Brazilian forward Kaka, has signed a two-year contract with AC Milan, the club from which he moved to Real Madrid....


The 31-year-old last week admitted he wanted to leave the Santiago Bernabeu after four years, and Rossoneri chief Galliani has moved quickly to bring the Ballon d'Or winner back to Serie A.

 Kaka, who cost £56million in 2009, will be allowed to leave on a free by the Spanish giants. I want to leave," he said earlier this week. "I think now is the right moment for me and for the club for me to leave amicably. I have spoken to Carlo Ancelotti and with the club, they all know.

 "Things are difficult for me now in the team, and the club knows what I want. It's my obligation to work and keep training, but my father is already working to see if something comes up.

"I think it's the best thing for me and the club. We can only hope for a solution before this next Monday. My intention is to keep playing in Europe."

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“I’m Looking Forward To The Next Exciting Chapter In My Life” – Bale Delighted About Madrid Move

Bale 3Gareth Bale has described his world-record move to Real Madrid as a "dream come true" and thanked Tottenham for the role they played in his development....


The 24-year-old will undergo a medical at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday, before he is unveiled to fans and media at about 12pm. "I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye. We've had some special times together over the years and I've loved every minute of it," he said in a statement published on Spurs official website.

"I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.

"I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.

 "I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have.

"Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure that this season will be a successful one for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid."

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Real Madrid Planning Deadline Bid For Suarez

The feeling in Spain, is that Real Madrid are set to submit an offer for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and try to seal a deal, before the 11pm deadline on Monday....


 Luis Suarez was present at Anfield today, to watch his team-mates defeat Manchester United 1-0, as he continues to serve his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Earlier this summer, the Uruguayan tried to force through a move to Arsenal, after the Gunners saw two offers for the 26-year-old rejected, but ended up returning to Liverpool first-team training, after apologising to his Liverpool team-mates, for trying to force a move to Arsenal this summer.

Real Madrid earlier this evening confirmed the capture of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur and might be willing to let Karim Benzema leave.

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ARSENAL SIGNS BIG: Ozil Undergoes Arsenal Medical After Agreeing Personal Terms

The Gunners have agreed a club-record £40 million fee for the Germany international and will complete the deal when formalities are completed...

Mesut Ozil is undergoing an Arsenal medical in Germany after agreeing personal terms with the club, Goal can reveal.

The Germany international will become the Gunners' club-record signing when the formalities of the £40 million deal are completed later on Monday.

Goal understands Ozil has been given the green light by Arsenal to take his medical tests in Germany, as he is with the national team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers this weekend.
Sources have said that Arsenal's record-breaking transfer has now been agreed following detailed negotiations with the player's representatives over the terms of the contract.

Goal exclusively revealed on Sunday that the London club were in advanced talks with Real to capture Ozil for £40m and that the deal hinged upon convincing the player to move to north London.

The breakthrough in talks late on Monday morning means Ozil will now join Arsenal in a deal that more than doubles their previous record transfer outlay.

As revealed by Goal, goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has already had a medical, which he passed on Monday morning, and has agreed the terms of a season-long loan from Palermo. Arsenal are also working on a loan deal for Chelsea striker Demba Ba and are still in the running to capture Angel Di Maria, also from Real, for £25.8m.
Wenger turned his attention to Real Madrid's battery of elite attackers after it became increasingly clear that Gareth Bale was set for a world-record £86m move to Spain.

The Gunners tabled a £25.6m bid for Di Maria last week and are still waiting to hear from Real if it has been accepted. The Argentine winger has begun the season in impressive form and is reluctant to cut his ties with the Bernabeu.

However, Ozil was left on the bench for Real's 3-1 win on Sunday after being substituted during the 1-0 win at Granada six days previously, which he reacted to by storming down the tunnel and onto the team bus.

Asked about overlooking Ozil in favour of Di Maria on Sunday, Ancelotti said: "It's to be expected that he's not happy. I don't like players who are happy to be on the bench. It was a football decision to play Di Maria, who is playing well and with great intensity".

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Real Madrid Sign Gareth Bale For 100 million Euros

Los Blancos have finally announced the arrival of the Wales international, who has usurped new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the game's most expensive player...

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a record-breaking €100 million.

The Wales international succeeds new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the game's most expensive player after penning a six-year contract with the Liga giants.

“I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity," Bale told Tottenham's official website.

“I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.

“I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have.

“Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure that this season will be a successful one for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid.

Bale, who will be officially unveiled as a Madrid player at a press conference at 13:00CET on Monday, first came to prominence as a 16-year-old with Southampton before joining Tottenham in 2007.

The then full-back initially struggled at White Hart Lane but he flourished after being converted into a winger, winning the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2010-11.

Bale collected the same prize last year, after scoring 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions.

His fantastic form was not enough to earn Spurs a place in the Champions League but the 24-year-old will now feature in the competition this season after finally completing his drawn-out move to Madrid.

Indeed, the deal had been expected to be completed last week but Spurs refused to sanction the transfer until replacements had been signed.

However, after signing Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen, the English outfit belatedly gave Bale's move the green light.

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