Saturday, August 11, 2018
Monday, June 2, 2014
Injured stars who''ll miss the World Cup Brasil 2014
A host of big names will miss the World Cup after succumbing to injury in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo suffered a broken leg following a clash during his side's 0-0 friendly draw with Republic of Ireland and could require surgery, meaning he will not make the finals in Brazil.
On the same day, Mexico's Luis Montes also suffered a fractured leg shortly after scoring for his side in a 3-1 win over Ecuador, dealing a blow to Miguel Herrera's plans for the tournament.
Croatia's Niko Kranjcar paid the price for his exertions in QPR's Championship play-off final victory over Derby as he picked up a hamstring injury which will leave him on the treatment table for much of the summer.
Netherlands have been hit the hardest of all the teams in Brazil, with Rafael van der Vaart ruled out with a calf injury and joining Paris Saint-Germain right-back Gregory van der Wiel and Roma's Kevin Strootman (both knee) on the sidelines.
Victor Valdes tore his anterior cruciate ligament in what proved to be his last game for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in March and Spain will also be without Thiago Alcantara after the Bayern Munich man underwent surgery on a knee ligament problem.
England have already been robbed of the services of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. The fleet-footed wideman ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during an FA Cup clash with Tottenham in January, and will not be on the plane to South America.
Two other players who had high hopes of being named in Roy Hodgson's squad, Tottenham pair Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend, will spend the summer recovering from pelvic and ankle injuries respectively.
France have been spared injuries to their main men, but back-up goalkeeper Steve Mandanda suffered a crack in his first cervical verterbra (neck) during Marseille's clash with Guingamp, which rules him out.
Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo suffered a broken leg following a clash during his side's 0-0 friendly draw with Republic of Ireland and could require surgery, meaning he will not make the finals in Brazil.
On the same day, Mexico's Luis Montes also suffered a fractured leg shortly after scoring for his side in a 3-1 win over Ecuador, dealing a blow to Miguel Herrera's plans for the tournament.
Croatia's Niko Kranjcar paid the price for his exertions in QPR's Championship play-off final victory over Derby as he picked up a hamstring injury which will leave him on the treatment table for much of the summer.
Netherlands have been hit the hardest of all the teams in Brazil, with Rafael van der Vaart ruled out with a calf injury and joining Paris Saint-Germain right-back Gregory van der Wiel and Roma's Kevin Strootman (both knee) on the sidelines.
Victor Valdes tore his anterior cruciate ligament in what proved to be his last game for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in March and Spain will also be without Thiago Alcantara after the Bayern Munich man underwent surgery on a knee ligament problem.
England have already been robbed of the services of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. The fleet-footed wideman ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during an FA Cup clash with Tottenham in January, and will not be on the plane to South America.
Two other players who had high hopes of being named in Roy Hodgson's squad, Tottenham pair Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend, will spend the summer recovering from pelvic and ankle injuries respectively.
France have been spared injuries to their main men, but back-up goalkeeper Steve Mandanda suffered a crack in his first cervical verterbra (neck) during Marseille's clash with Guingamp, which rules him out.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Puyol retires to take up new role at Barcelona
The side's former captain has hung up his boots and will work alongside sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta from next September
Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has retired from the game and will take up a new role at Camp Nou next season, the Catalan club announced on Friday.
Puyol played 593 official first-team games for Barca between 1998 and this year, but had already announced his decision to leave the club this summer following several seasons blighted by knee problems.
The former Spain defender, who is 36, had been considering a move to a smaller side to extend his playing days, but has instead opted to take up a new post at Barca alongside sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.
"I want to say thank you to FC Barcelona for everything they have given me and also for this new opportunity," Puyol said in a statement on the club's official website.
"I have always played football and I tried to do that as well as possible. I will do the same here," he added. "I need some time to rest and some more treatment on my knee, but I'm really excited by this new chapter."
Puyol will work with Zubizarreta, who is hoping to sign several players for the Catalan club this summer, including a replacement for the popular defender.
"Puyol joins us in the football area and we will try to take advantage and learn from all his experience," Zubizarreta explained. "He'll be an assistant on the sporting side and he'll work with me in all of the club's projects - both internal and external.
"He'll be close to all of the teams, it's a unique opportunity. For a couple of years we have been talking about what is best for him and I'm sure he'll soon see what it is that he likes doing the most."
Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has retired from the game and will take up a new role at Camp Nou next season, the Catalan club announced on Friday.
Puyol played 593 official first-team games for Barca between 1998 and this year, but had already announced his decision to leave the club this summer following several seasons blighted by knee problems.
The former Spain defender, who is 36, had been considering a move to a smaller side to extend his playing days, but has instead opted to take up a new post at Barca alongside sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.
"I want to say thank you to FC Barcelona for everything they have given me and also for this new opportunity," Puyol said in a statement on the club's official website.
"I have always played football and I tried to do that as well as possible. I will do the same here," he added. "I need some time to rest and some more treatment on my knee, but I'm really excited by this new chapter."
Puyol will work with Zubizarreta, who is hoping to sign several players for the Catalan club this summer, including a replacement for the popular defender.
"Puyol joins us in the football area and we will try to take advantage and learn from all his experience," Zubizarreta explained. "He'll be an assistant on the sporting side and he'll work with me in all of the club's projects - both internal and external.
"He'll be close to all of the teams, it's a unique opportunity. For a couple of years we have been talking about what is best for him and I'm sure he'll soon see what it is that he likes doing the most."
Sneijder has not received offer from Manchester United says agent
Galatasaray star Wesley Sneijder has not received an offer from Manchester United according to his agent Guido Albers.
"Sneijder is always being linked by the press with clubs around Europe, it makes for good viewing figures," Albers said.
"However, we have not received any offers from Manchester United, AC Milan or Monaco, we have not held talks with these clubs.
"Sneijder is fully focused on the World Cup, clubs may be interested after the tournament but for now he wants to stay.
"Sneijder and his partner are happy in İstanbul and with the way Galatasaray has treated them.
"Sneijder will play Champions League football next season and earned his place in the national team on the back of his performances for Galatasaray."
United have been closely linked with Sneijder over the past few seasons and made an offer for the Netherlands international last summer according to Galatasaray Sportive Coordinator Bülent Tulun.
The 29-year-old play-maker has been included in Louis Van Gaal's Dutch squad which plays its first game in the 2014 FIFA World Cup on the 13th June against Spain.
Sneijder joined Galatasaray from Inter Milan in January 2013 and has 17 goals and nine assists in all competitions this season.
"Sneijder is always being linked by the press with clubs around Europe, it makes for good viewing figures," Albers said.
"However, we have not received any offers from Manchester United, AC Milan or Monaco, we have not held talks with these clubs.
"Sneijder is fully focused on the World Cup, clubs may be interested after the tournament but for now he wants to stay.
"Sneijder and his partner are happy in İstanbul and with the way Galatasaray has treated them.
"Sneijder will play Champions League football next season and earned his place in the national team on the back of his performances for Galatasaray."
United have been closely linked with Sneijder over the past few seasons and made an offer for the Netherlands international last summer according to Galatasaray Sportive Coordinator Bülent Tulun.
The 29-year-old play-maker has been included in Louis Van Gaal's Dutch squad which plays its first game in the 2014 FIFA World Cup on the 13th June against Spain.
Sneijder joined Galatasaray from Inter Milan in January 2013 and has 17 goals and nine assists in all competitions this season.
The rise and rise of Atletico Madrid
Barcelona and Real Madrid have been the teams to beat in La Liga for many years, but now Atletico Madrid are becoming the new force in Spain.
The Spanish top flight has been a two-horse race between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the past 10 years, with the last team to challenge them being Rafael Benitez’s Valencia back in 2004. During this period, finishing third was deemed as a massive achievement, but this season Atletico Madrid managed to achieve the impossible.
Atletico have gone from being the forgotten club to the next big thing. After Gregorio Manzano was sacked in December 2011, fan favourite Diego Simeone was introduced as manager. Under his reign, Atletico were reformed both tactically and mentally, and with very few signings he was able to transform the team completely.
Rickie Lambert: Liverpool close to signing Southampton striker
Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal for Southampton and England striker Rickie Lambert for a fee of around £4m plus add-ons.
The Reds are hopeful Lambert will be able to complete a medical on Saturday before flying out to Miami with the England squad on Sunday.
The Liverpool-born forward is intent on leaving St Mary's this summer.
Southampton rejected a similar bid from West Ham in January but are set to cash in on the 32-year-old.Southampton have turned down Liverpool's initial offer for Lambert, but talks are continuing and if Saints receive a bid they deem acceptable they will not stand in his way.
There has been interest in Lambert from other Premier League clubs, but it is understood he is currently only considering Liverpool.
Lambert spent five years as a youth player at Anfield before being released as a 15-year-old and he still supports the Reds.
He scored 14 goals in 39 games this season and has 117 in 235 appearances sincejoining Southampton from Bristol Rovers in 2009.
Liverpool remain in talks with Southampton over deals for both England midfielder Adam Lallana, 26, and Croatia defender Dejan Lovren, 24.
The Anfield club have also made an enquiry for Sevilla full back Alberto Moreno, 21, and told the Spanish side they are willing to pay as much as £16m for the player.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has left to take over at Tottenham, and the Saints have already turned down offers this summer for Lallana and left-back Luke Shaw, from Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
The south coast club, who finished eighth in the Premier League, are under no financial pressure to sell and are determined not to be pressurised into sanctioning deals by suitors keen to make signings before the World Cup.
Real Madrid turn away from Luis Suarez and towards Man City superstar
Aguero scored 28 goals in 34 games this season, despite numerous injuries. Now the European Champions are set to drop interest in Luis Suarez of Liverpool, and instead focus on the Argentine hit man.
Madrid have long been linked with a move for Aguero, as they are with many of Europe’s top players. Aguero used to play for City rivals Atletico Madrid however, so there was never any prospect of him moving directly between the two when there was so much interest at the time in England.
Real were said to view the Manchester City move as a means to sign Sergio Aguero, and it appears that they have been waiting until the time is right, and apparently that time will come after the World Cup.
Speculation has also suggested the same thing about Radamel Falcao. Falcao was also contracted to Atletico before making a 60 million Euro move to Monaco. Many believe that Falcao’s year in the Principality is merely designed to allow him to move to Real Madrid this summer, however a serious knee injury has undermined this.
Madrid will not rest on their laurels after winning the Champions League. They appear to have identified Karim Benzema at centre forward as the weakest area of the team, and their summer transfer activity will likely centre on signing a new striker. It has been suggested that to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool would take a world record bid. Falcao has 28 and has just suffered a knee injury, making any mega money bid a huge risk.
So that could leave Aguero top of Mardrid’s shortlist of summer galactico, but with movement not thought to be forthcoming until after the World Cup, there is plenty of time for another to usurp Aguero at the top of the list.
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