Archive for July, 2008

Javi says he is returning to Real Madrid as a better player

Javi Garcia said Thursday that he is returning to Spanish champions Real Madrid after one season at Osasuna as a much improved player.

“I stay put in my position, as opposed to running around as much as I did when I…

Valencia want to keep Spanish stars Villa and Silva

Valencia vice-president Fernando Gomez said Thursday that the financially troubled Spanish club would do everything it can to keep their star players David Villa and David Silva.

“That is our priority. We have officially communicated to their representatives that this is…

Pepe finds inspiration in Armstrong cancer battle book

Real Madrid's Portuguese defender Pepe said Thursday that he has been inspired by reading seven-time tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's best-selling book on his struggles with cancer.

“My wife gave me Lance Armstrong's biography, which tells what he went through…

Polish league to start on August 8th

The Polish FA and Ekstraklasa clubs agreed to extend the league to 18 teams.

The Polish Football Association (PZPN) and league governing body Ekstraklasa S.A. reached an agreement to extend the top league by two teams in connection with earlier decisions…

Platini appeals for backing for Euro 2012

UEFA President Michel Platini has appealed to the international community to support Poland and Ukraine in the organising of Euro 2012.

Fears have abounded that the former communist country would be unable to stage such an event.

According to reports emanating out…

Arshavin could join Tottenham Hotspur soon

Zenit St Petersburg have told Tottenham Hotspur to make a bid of at least ₤20 million for their star Russian forward Andrei Arshavin.

However the asking price may be a bit too steep but despite that talks are still progressing and…

Barton charged by FA over Man City clash

Controversial footballer Joey Barton was charged Thursday by the Football Association (FA) with violent conduct.

The charge relates to an assault by the Newcastle United midfielder on his then Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo at City's Carrington training ground on May…

Cameroon´s Meyong to Braga

Top flight Portuguese outfit Sporting Braga on Thursday said they had signed Cameroon international striker Albert Meyong Ze from Spain’s Levante on a two-year contract.

“Meyong has signed a contract to the end of the 2009/2010 season,” Braga announced on their…

Real sell Soldado to Getafe

Striker Roberto Soldado has left Real Madrid for top flight Madrid suburbs side Getafe, who unveiled him officially on Thursday.

Soldado, 22, has signed a four-year deal with Getafe paying out four million euros for his services.

Soldado failed to break through…

We´ll be ready for CL preliminaries, says Prandelli

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli was upbeat despite watching his side out-played by Barcelona in a 3-1 friendly defeat.

Fiorentina, who finished fourth in Serie A last season, begin this campaign in two weeks with the final preliminary round of the Champions…

Capello backs Ronaldinho-Milan partnership

England coach Fabio Capello said the acquisition of Ronaldinho has made AC Milan favourites for the Serie A title.

Milan have not been champions of their country since 2004 and last season they finished a dismal fifth – missing out on…

“Tottenham Hotspur in talks with Pavlyuchenko”

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Russian forward Roman Pavlyuchenko, and reportedly are in talks with the player.

BBC Sports reveals today that the Spartak Moscow forward and the English sides haven’t come to an agreement yet, but plan to…

Discussion Thursday: Clubs versus Olympics

It has been going on for weeks and despite the Olympics starting next week, the story doesn’t seem to be over yet as clubs continue to try and find ways to keep their players from going to China.

The most famous…

Spurs unveil Bentley

Tottenham on Thursday unveiled new signing David Bentley, who has cost an initial 15 million pounds (22 million euros) from Blackburn.

Spurs announced the move late Wednesday and confirmed the news in a statement to the London Stock Exchange after he…

Ronaldinho says Brazil will blend youth and experience

Ronaldinho said on Thursday that Brazil will blend youth and experience as the 'auriverde' bid for a first Olympic football gold.

“There are many young players who have a lot of experience and I think that will make the difference for…

Ronaldo still dreaming of Real

Manchester United's Portuguese striker Ronaldo is still dreaming of Real Madrid, despite his club's total opposition to his leaving, Spanish sports daily AS reported on Thursday.

Ronaldo's agent Victor Mendes has, according to AS, been in contact with Real to pass…

Boghossian to assist France coach Domenech

Former international midfielder Alain Boghossian is to assist France coach Raymond Domenech, a source close to the French camp told AFP on Thursday, confirming a report in French daily Le Parisien.

The French Football Federation would only officially tell AFP that…

Gunners spike Lehmann´s Stuttgart debut

German veteran keeper Jens Lehmann conceded three second half goals as former club Arsenal beat his new side Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly late Wednesday.

Lehmann, 38, saw goals from fringe Gunners players Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere, plus another from…

Zenit try to lure Valbuena from Marseille

Russia's reigning champions Zenit St Petersburg have made French top flight side Marseille an 18-million-euro offer for their midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, local press reported Thursday.

Reports also said that Zenit, this season's UEFA Cup winners, have offered Valbuena, who is supposed…

Conflicting Barry reports

The Gareth Barry soap opera took a new twist on Wednesday. According the club’s official site, Aston Villa have ended negotiations with Liverpool over the potential transfer of the player.

An announcement on the Aston Villa official site read:

This evening, Aston…

PSG eyeing Man Utd duo

Paris Saint-Germain, the team who earlier this month concluded a deal for former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele have reportedly expressed an interest in Manchester United French duo, Louis Saha and Mikel Silvestre.

According to the report, however both players are set…

Blackburn and Portsmouth to battle for £5 million Liverpool winger

Paul Ince has lost David Bentley to Tottenham yesterday while Harry Redknapp has finally realized that his chances of signing Chelsea winger Shaun-Wright Phillips are very slim. Now the two of them have turned their sights to another target, Liverpool’s…

Arshavin agrees personal terms with Tottenham

The interest that Andrei Arshavin attracted from Arsenal and Barcelona earlier this summer now seems a distant memory. Now, the Russian playmaker is close to sealing a move to English side Tottenham, according to Setanta Sports.

The player’s agent, speaking in…

‘One more player’ – Wenger

Arsene Wenger has made three additions to his squad this summer and he has announced that he will look to bring buy more player before closing his chequebook. Speaking after his side’s friendly with Stuttgart, Wenger also said that he…

Torres and Keane pairing excites Liverpool manager

Rafael Benitez believes he has already seen signs that his new strike force of Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres will gel ahead of the start of Liverpool's coming campaign.

Keane made his Liverpool debut following his 20 million pound (40 million…

Tottenham mean business. Can Ramos deliver or will Spurs flatter to deceive?

What chance do you think Tottenham Hotspur have of breaking into the top four of the Premier League during this coming season? In the past I would have said, “Absolutely none,” but under the current regime, I’m not sure.

It seems that the…

Barca´s Messi heads to China after FIFA ruling

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will head to China early Thursday to join the Argentina squad for the Olympics which get underway next week, the Spanish club said.

The 21-year-old will fly from Italy, where he took part in a 3-1 friendly…

Keane makes Liverpool debut in friendly draw

Robbie Keane made his Liverpool debut in a 0-0 friendly draw at Villarreal on Wednesday night following a 20 million-pound (40 million-dollar) transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

The forward's future had been in the balance since the end of last season with…

Champions League: Anderlecht and Rapid Wien in trouble

RSC Anderlecht and Rapid Wien both lost their first-leg matches in the second preliminary round of the Champions League, while Glasgow Rangers failed to score against Kaunas.

BATE stun Anderlecht

Anderlecht hosted BATE Borisov in Brussels and thought to be heading for…

Rangers left with tricky trip after Kaunas draw

Rangers face a nervy return leg in Lithuania after a goalless draw against FBK Kaunas at Ibrox here Wednesday in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The only positive for the Scottish side was the lack of an away…