Saturday 25 August 2012

Liverpool beat Arsenal to sign Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin on a season long loan


The Reds offered to pay a larger proportion of the 23-year-old's £115,000 a week wages, swinging the deal in their favour.

 Sahin, who has 31 caps for Turkey, will undergo a medical ahead of the match against Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is now considering a number of other targets.

 Sahin had been expected to join Arsenal, having privately expressed a preference for the north London club.But the deal stalled when Real and Arsenal could not agree a £14m option to buy the player at the end of the loan.

 Liverpool and Real then agreed a deal, with Sahin's agent meeting Liverpool officials earlier in the week to agree terms.

 Real boss Jose Mourinho had given the go ahead for Sahin to move to the Premier League after the playmaker struggled to make an impression at the Bernabeu since a move from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund last summer.

 Sahin signed a six-year deal with the La Liga outfit but made just 11 appearances for them last season as they won the Spanish league title.

Hail Cezar : Azpilicueta eager to help Chelsea to more trophies


Chelsea's latest signing Cesar Azpilicueta has expressed his desire to help the Blues bring in further silverware this season.

 The Spaniard, who featured for his country at the London 2012 Olympics ths summer, completed a £6 million move from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille on Friday.

 And he has already set his sights on helping the Stamford Bridge side build on their FA Cup and Champions League successes of last term.

 "I am very happy to play for Chelsea. I want to play my part to the club's project and help them grow.

 I'm eager to help the team bring home trophies," Azpilcueta told reporters "The Premier League is a difficult competition, but I want to adapt to it quickly. I hope to integrate myself into the group and play as soon as possible.

 When later asked whether Spanish duo Oriol Romeu and Juan Mata had influenced his decision to join the west London club, he responded: "I was guided"

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Emmanuel Adebayor completes £5m move to Tottenham


Emmanuel Adebayor has completed a £5m move to Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City.

 The Togo striker impressed during a loan spell with Spurs last season, scoring 17 Premier League goals. Adebayor will be among the top-earners at White Hart Lane, but City will subsidise the 28-year-old's wage, having paid him £175,000 per week.

 The former Arsenal man revealed the news on Twitter: "Tottenham here I come! I'm hungry for goals. Get ready."

 Adebayor had two years to run on his City contract, having been sent out on loan for most of the previous two seasons to Real Madrid and then Spurs.

 "I am pleased to be signing for Spurs on a permanent basis after finally agreeing my departure with Manchester City," Adebayor added.

 "It may have taken longer than expected but I am delighted to be back at Tottenham Hotspur.

 I really enjoyed my time here last season and I am hoping we can achieve great things together again." It is understood Spurs refused to break their strict wage structure to accommodate Adebayor.

 But with the player refusing to accept a big pay-cut, the Premier League champions were forced to accept having to continue to pay the player the difference between his new wage of around £80,000 and his earnings at City in order to complete the deal.

 The development completes a protracted saga, which has dragged on throughout the summer after a disagreement over Adebayor's right to a loyalty bonus pay-off from City.

Official: Inter and AC Milan finalise Cassano-Pazzini swap deal


AC Milan have confirmed on their official website that they have completed the signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Inter, while Antonio Cassano moves in the opposite direction as part of the deal.

 Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has praised Antonio Cassano and feels the flamboyant attacker could make the difference for his team.

 "Cassano is the sort of signing that can make a difference, but you don't go out of your way to look for that difference," Moratti told reporters.

 "You try to do things that can be useful for the club. We believe he can be useful to our cause and so does the coach. "It's an interesting deal. We think it's a good one because he's an entertaining player, an interesting player. We won't have to keep him in check.

 He has the personality to do that by himself. "We've already made signings this season - so early that they've been forgotten. But we've made quite a few changes to the team." “Our forwards have scored lots of goals so far and so he’d be helping them to score even more."

 Cassano underwent a medical at Inter on Tuesday before putting pen to paper.

Nigeria 1-1 Brazil: Falconets scrape a draw with Brazil


The Falconets earlier today in Saitama drew their second game 1-1 with Brazil in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

 Francisca Ordega scored Nigeria’s goal late in the first half while the Brazilians equalised though Giovanna Oliveira in the second half to hold on for their second point in the group.

 The Brazilians had the better of the match and were also better in the second half but the Nigerians held on to take their points haul to four in the group ahead of their last match against the Italians on Saturday.

 The Falconets play was characterised by a lot of misplaced passing and the transition between the defence and midfield was almost non-existent and a lot of kudos has to be given to the Gloria Ofoegbu-led defence that they held on to take the draw.

 Nigeria went ahead in first half stoppage against the run of play when Ordega’s wonderful shot beat the Brazilian goalkeeper all ends up. And it seemed that the goal unshackled the players as they had two more attempts to score before the half ended.

 In the 45th minute, Desire Oparanozie chased down a defender on the left flank, won the ball and her audacious attempt from almost the corner flag just crept over the cross bar.

 A minute later, Esther Sunday took the ball in midfield and drove at the Brazilians who backed off. Sunday turned and shot but it went marginally wide off the right post.

 The Brazilians would have been glad when the referee blew off the first half. The second half started like the first with the Brazilians pushing for an equaliser as a loss would almost have consigned them to leaving the tournament in the first stage.

 They could not create clear cut chances though as the Falconets held firm at the back. But the pendulum finally swung their way when Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte injured her ankle and had to be substituted by Chioma Nwankwo and immediately the Brazilians smelt blood as they camped in Nigeria’s half.

 The Falconets’ resistance finally broke in the 90th minute when a free kick from the right was flicked past Nwankwo by Oliviera to get a deserved equaliser. In five minutes of added time, the Brazilians pushed forward for a winner but could not go ahead. The Falconets also tried to push for a winner but Oparanozie’s free kick went wide.

 The Falconets now need at least a point from their last game against Italy to progress though coach Edwin Okon has work to do on getting his players to possess the ball well and not invite pressure by continuously misplacing passes.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Inter closing in on Man city star


Nigel de Jong is one step closer to leaving Manchester City for Inter as Roberto Mancini has given the Netherlands international the green light to move on.

 The Nerazzurri already secured the services of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna earlier this summer to add some steel to their midfield, but Andrea Stramaccioni is not impressed with the Belgian.

 The Inter coach has therefore demanded the arrival of another holding midfielder, and the 2010 Champions League winners see De Jong as the perfect addition to their squad.

 De Jong joined City from Hamburg in January 2009 and quickly became an important first-team member at the Premier League side.

 However, he is no longer a certain starter under Mancini, and the Citizens are ready to cash in on the 27-year-old.

 The Dutchman's contract with the Premier League champions is due to expire in the summer of 2013, and an offer in the region of €9 million could be enough to lure him away from City.

 Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder recently stated that De Jong would be a great signing for the Serie A giants, and the attacking midfielder has already been in touch with his compatriot to convince him that a move to Italy would be the right step.

 The Nerazzurri face stiff competition in the race for De Jong's services, though, as AC Milan are closely monitoring his situation as well.

 Even though Inter remain confident of getting their man, they have lined up Napoli's Walter Gargano as a possible alternative for De Jong, in case they miss out on the combative midfielder.

Monday 20 August 2012

Man City close to €30m Jovetic swoop


The Premier League champions made a move for the Montenegro forward after missing out on Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United after a long pursuit.

 City have indicated to the Serie A club that they are willing to meet their €30 million (£23.6m) valuation of the 22-year-old forward.

 Sources have us that negotiations between the clubs are progressing well and City are increasingly confident of capturing Jovetic before the end of the window.

 The Premier League champions made their move at the end of last week after being beaten to the signature of Robin van Persie by rivals Manchester United.

 But manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear to the City hierarchy that the club require another forward, even though they already have Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dezko, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and John Guidetti on their books.

 Jovetic, who joined Fiorentina from Partizan in 2008, was the subject of strong interest from Juventus earlier this summer but the Serie A champions were unwilling to pay more than €20m (£15.7m) for the player, who prefers to operate in the No.10 role behind the main striker.

 The Montenegrin has told Fiorentina that he wants to leave the club following a summer in which a considerable turnover of players has led him to doubt their prospects this season.

 New manager Vincenzo Montella has recruited a trio of playmakers in former Liverpool man Alberto Aquilani, Matias Fernandez from Sporting Lisbon and Borja Valero from Villarreal. "Jovetic is not happy with the situation at Fiorentina," a source told Goal.com.

 "He is the star of the team but wants to be part of a team of stars." Dzeko is expected to be the City first-teamer who makes way for Jovetic, with Juventus and Milan among the clubs closely monitoring his situation.

 City are also confident that they will sell Adebayor to Tottenham for €6m (£4m) by the end of the window and are in negotiations to offload Santa Cruz as well.

Fellaini stuns Man Utd


Robin van Persie's much-anticipated debut for Manchester United failed to prevent Everton delivering an early reality check in their bid to regain the Premier League title.

 While defending champions and near-neighbours City achieved a come-from-behind win against Southampton yesterday the Red Devils were second best for most of the night at Goodison Park.

 The thorn in their side was midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who was a constant threat and deservedly capped an impressive performance with the only goal early in the second half.

 Van Persie, a £24million acquisition from Arsenal, was brought in to provide the additional firepower needed to challenge City but in a late substitute appearance he did not register a shot on target.

 His team-mates had not done much better in the previous 70 minutes , however, as the Toffees dominated.

 It was the first time United had failed to win their opening fixture since 2008 but it was a first victory in five seasons for the Toffees, perennial slow starters.

 For once, though, they began the campaign where they had left off as after losing eight of their first 14 league games last season they went on a nine-match unbeaten run up to its conclusion.

 One of those was a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in which Fellaini played a key part, scoring in one of his more dominant performances, to help swing the title race in City's favour.

 Sir Alex Ferguson should have learned from that but he was hamstrung by the fact United started the match with just two recognised defenders: Nemanja Vidic, who had not played since December because of knee injury, and Patrice Evra, whose future has been a matter for debate all summer.

 Winger Antonio Valencia was deployed at right-back while midfielder Michael Carrick was positioned alongside Vidic in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand.

 That was a telling factor in David De Gea being the busiest - and most impressive - player in the first half.

 However, he was run a close second by Fellaini, playing just behind striker Nikica Jelavic, who was the dominant force in United's penalty area.

 The Belgium international had already headed over Leighton Baines' corner before he collected a throw-in and turned into the penalty area, holding off Carrick, to hit the post from the narrowest of angles.

 He was also the creator as his aerial power and strength on the ball saw him chest one back for Steven Pienaar to slice wide and then knock down a cross which Leon Osman did superbly well to hit on the turn only for De Gea to bat away the shot.

 The United goalkeeper, who arrived last season from Atletico Madrid and quickly earned a reputation for being suspect under pressure which he took a while to shake off, was on top form throughout.

 He denied Jelavic, tipped over a long-range Pienaar header and flung himself to his left to save the South Africa midfielder's low shot before preventing Baines' deflected free-kick sneaking into the top corner.

 But it was not all one-way traffic as United had chances of their own, though not as good or as numerous as their hosts.

 Danny Welbeck, the player with most to lose from Van Persie's arrival, had one shot blocked by Phil Jagielka and hooked another wide under pressure from the centre-back.

 Former Evertonian Wayne Rooney was quiet by his standards, hitting two shots too close to Tim Howard and seeing a late first-half header punched clear. Fellaini's ravaging of the United defence continued after the interval as his header across goal was smashed against the crossbar by Leon Osman with De Gea, for once, beaten.

 And the big Belgian was finally rewarded for his outstanding display with a goal in the 57th minute when former Red Devil Darron Gibson swung over a corner and he left Carrick sprawling on the turf to power home a header.

 The presence of one of United's other summer signings Shinji Kagawa in the starting line-up had prompted a slight tweak in formation to accommodate the advanced role favoured by the attacking midfielder.

 He had plenty of good touches around the penalty area, the best of which in the second half teed up Welbeck who was denied by Jagielka's perfectly-judged tackle. The Everton defender's timing was even better when he cleared Tom Cleverley's shot off the line before, in the 68th minute, Van Persie was finally sent on.

 Rooney moved out to the left to allow the Dutchman to slot in up front but it was Kagawa who was next to threaten, forcing Howard to race off his line to block his run and shot.

 Everton had won only twice at home against United in 17 years but this result proved, if they can maintain a half-decent start, they are destined for bigger things this season.



(Image) Alex Song Arrives at Barcelona to Complete Deal to Sign for Nou Camp Giants

Song to barca a done deal


Rennes Confirm Yann M’Vila Is In Talks to Sign for Tottenham and Not Arsenal


Ligue 1 outfit Rennes have confirmed that midfielder Yann M’Vila is closing in on a move to Tottenham – despite interest from Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal.

 Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has long admired M’Vila and was understood to be close to signing the 22-year-old in June.

 But the youngster’s poor disciplinary record – highligted when he clashed with French teammates at Euro 2012 – was thought to have put Wenger off a deal.

 Alex Song’s imminent departure for Barcelona has led to speculation that Wenger is set to return with a fresh bid for M’Vila but Rennes have confirmed they are in advanced negotiations with Tottenham.

 “Yes, we are dealing with Tottenham, the offer is still a bit low, but we are confident,” a spokesperson for the French club told Italian website Calciomercato. It is understood that the clubs are still someway apart in their valuation of the combative midfielder, with Rennes holding out £17m.

 The news comes just days after Spurs head-coach Andre Villas-Boas ruled out a move for M’Vila, telling reporters: “[M'Vila] is an interesting player but I don’t think he will join Tottenham.

 “The player is a player of defensive characteristics. We had initial interest in M’Vila but we have moved on from that one and are now looking for a more creative player.”

La Liga wrap: Barca on song as Real stumble


Tito Vilanova's Barcelona fired a warning shot to champions Real Madrid with an emphatic 5-1 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

 Talismanic forward Lionel Messi kicked off a scintillating start to the Vilanova era at Camp Nou with a brace inside 20 minutes after Carlos Puyol had opened the scoring.

 The win saw Barcelona immediately seize the initiative at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw with Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.

 Puyol headed Barca in front on four minutes and Messi scored a pair of clinical poacher's goals minutes after Chory Castro had restored parity for Sociedad.

 Pedro added the fourth just before half-time and the perfect start was complete when striker David Villa scored the fifth on his return to the side from a broken leg.

 Vilanova was not the only debutant for Barca, as Jordi Alba, the 14 million euro signing from Valencia, was handed a start at left-back. Earlier, Real Madrid were less than convincing as they began the defence of their crown.

 Gonzalo Higuain, who was preferred to strike partner Karim Benzema, justified Jose Mourinho's selection, scoring 10 minutes in after exquisitely controlling Angel Di Maria's clipped ball. Real were then guilty of sitting back, with Jonas equalising for Valencia with a header three minutes before the break.

 The home side were unable to regain their advantage in a tepid second half and were forced to settle for a point in front of a disgruntled crowd. Real Betis squandered a three-goal lead before going on to seal an enthralling 5-3 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.

 The visitors strolled to a 3-0 lead thanks to calm finishes from Jorge Molina, Ruben Castro and Benat Extebarria but were called into action again when Oscar de Marcos and a double from Mikel San Jose in the second half levelled the scores for Bilbao.

 Substitutes Jose Canas and Pozuelo combined to make it 4-3 as Pozuelo slotted home, and with Bilbao's defence ripped open, Molina sealed the win with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper. Atletico Madrid picked up a point at Levante in a 1-1 draw thanks to Arda Turan's stunning strike from distance.

 El Zhar had given Levante a fifth-minute lead from the edge of the area but points were shared following Turan's 22nd-minute effort, despite Atletico dominating possession for much of the match.

Van Persie compatriot on verge of Manchester United move


Vitesse left-back Alexander Buttner has revealed he is on the verge of signing for Manchester United in a £3.9 million deal.

 The 23-year-old, who was close to joining Southampton earlier this summer before a move fell through, has been identified by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the man to compete with Patrice Evra on the left flank at Old Trafford.

 United have also been targeting Leighton Baines this summer, however Everton’s reported £17m valuation of the England international has seemingly prevented Sir Alex from landing the left-back.

 But Buttner, who was in Netherland's preliminary Euro 2012 squad and has also been monitored by QPR and Fulham this summer, has conceded a move to Old Trafford is now close. "This is really a dream come true," he told Dutch TV station Omroep Gelderland.

 “It was all arranged very quickly and of course I am very delighted. Happily everything is coming to an end."

 United are currently short of left-back cover after Fabio joined QPR on a season-long loan deal, and are on the verge of a defensive injury crisis following the news that Rio Ferdinand could be set for a two-month spell on the sidelines after breaking down during training. Buttner came through the youth team ranks at Vitesse after joining from Ajax in 2005.

Sunday 19 August 2012

Arsenal close to signing Song's replacement


Arsenal are close to completing the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.

 The 23-year-old, who has also been targeted by Liverpool this summer, is set to join on a season-long basis with a view to a permanent move.

 His arrival should be confirmed early next week as Arsenal look to replace Alex Song, who is on the verge of a £15m transfer to Barcelona.

 Turkey international Sahin made 11 appearances for Real last season. He joined the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year contract in May 2011 but has struggled to establish himself at the Bernabeu.

 Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who worked under Real coach Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, was hopeful of pushing through a deal for Sahin last week.

 Real Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has also attempted to persuade Sahin to move to Anfield.

 But Sahin is set to join Arsenal, who started the season with a goalless draw against Sunderland on Saturday.

Real Madrid 1-1 Valencia: Below-par Blancos held at home in La liga Opener


Real Madrid were less than convincing as they begun the defence of their La Liga crown with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.

 Things began promisingly for the reigning champions as Gonzalo Higuain, who was picked ahead of Karim Benzema, put them ahead after just 10 minutes.

 But they soon became guilty of sitting back and failing to make their ball retention count and shortly before the break Jonas resotred parity.

 Los Blancos were unable to regain their advantage in the second half and thus had to settle for a point in front of disgruntled and frustrated home supporters.

 Madrid signalled their intent to score an early goal with an intense start that saw both Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo take shots from long-range.

 Neither managed to work Diego Alves but it did not take much longer for Los Blancos to find the net. Di Maria clipped the ball up to Higuain, who had sprung the offside trap, and the striker controlled the ball exquisitely.

 Yet after seeing his initial and follow-up efforts saved by the keeper the third time proved a charm as he rifled a volley into the back of the net with just 10 minutes on the clock.

 Following the goal Jose Mourinho's men played a far more patient game but despite controlling possession, opportunities to find the net were sparse as Valencia sat deep.

 With 25 minutes played Xabi Alonso narrowly missed the target with a powerful attempt from wide on the left that lacked the whip to bend in at the far post.

 But patience soon turned to complacency for the hosts and Los Che capitalised by netting an equaliser three minutes before the break. Iker Casillas failed to clear Tino Costa's fantastic delivery and Jonas duly headed the ball into the vacated goal.

 The keeper did however succeed in injuring Pepe who was subsequently withdrawn at half time.

 Madrid began the second half as they did the first and after eight second-half minutes they missed a great chance to regain the lead. Mesut Ozil fed Di Maria but the winger failed to hit the target from a central position inside the box. The game became absurdly stale with neither side offering much in the attacking department.

 Mourinho was the first coach to change things around as he replaced Lass with Karim Benzema on the hour mark. It seemed to galvanise his side and six minutes later they almost scored their second of the night.

 A great centre from Di Maria found Alves out of position but Higuain's header rattled the bar before being cleared away.

 The effect soon dissipated though as Los Blancos lacked urgency to find a winner and it was not until the 82nd minute that they tested Alves. An extremely quiet Ronaldo drilled a cross into the area but Benzema's ferocious strike was parried away by the Valencia stopper.

 Mourinho's men were unable to find the net again as the two sides shared the spoils on the opening weekend of La Liga. They will need to be far more clinical when they face Barcelona in the Super Cup in midweek.

Hazard not getting carried away after impressive Premier League debut for Chelsea


Chelsea's £32 million attacker, Eden Hazard, is refusing to get carried away following a dream debut for the Blues in their first Premier League match of the season, a 2-0 win at Wigan on Sunday.

 The former Lille man laid on Branislav Ivanovic’s opening goal at the DW stadium, and then won a penalty which was converted by Frank Lampard.

 He was substituted midway through the second half for fellow new signing Oscar and, despite impressing both Lampard and his manager, Roberto Di Matteo, the 21-year-old says that he still has parts of his game to improve on.

 "There are still things to perfect," he told reporters . "In the second half, I lost important balls. At the start of the match, it was very good. "That's what's demanded of me: being decisive.

 It's very good and I hope it continues like that." Hazard will be looking to continue his impressive start to his Chelsea career when the Blues visit newly-promoted Reading in midweek.

Manchester City 3-2 Southampton: Dzeko & Nasri earn champions thrilling comeback victory


Manchester City began their Premier League title defence in much the same way as they had claimed the championship months earlier by coming from behind to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

 The excellent Carlos Tevez gave City a first half lead, although Roberto Mancini had been dealt an early blow when Sergio Aguero left the game on a stretcher with a knee injury.



 Southampton had been largely confined to their own half before they stunned the hosts by racing into a 2-1 lead in the second half courtesy of goals from substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis.

 But Edin Dzeko quickly grabbed an equaliser and Samir Nasri, the architect of much of City's best play, completed the comeback with 10 minutes to play.

 Mancini handed new signing Jack Rodwell his City debut in central midfield, where he partnered Yaya Toure in the absence of the injured Gareth Barry, while Joe Hart was passed fit to start in goal.

 Seventeen-year-old midfielder James Ward-Prowse made his first ever league appearance in midfield for the Saints, with last season's Championship top scorer Lambert left on the bench as Guly do Prado started in attack. Having written his name into the history books at the end of last season, Aguero started the new campaign with a moment that he will hope will not last so long in his memory.

 The Argentine forward appeared to twist his knee under the sliding challenge of right-back Nathaniel Clyne – who cleanly won the ball – and, after one attempt to get back to his feet, left the Etihad Stadium on a stretcher.

 Almost unnoticed amidst the worries of Aguero, Southampton had settled into the game nicely, with Ward-Prowse rushing forward with confidence from central midfield and Joleon Lescott under scrutiny for a tackle on Rodriguez in the City box.

 Soon after Dzeko had replaced Aguero, Nasri flicked David Silva's pass into the path of Tevez, who spun past centre-back Jos Hooiveld into the box and was tripped by the Dutch defender's outstretched leg, leaving Howard Webb no choice but to point to the spot.

 With Aguero withdrawn and other regular takers Mario Balotelli and James Milner on the bench, Silva had the chance to send City in front but his penalty was poorly struck and Kelvin Davis saved to his left.

 Southampton found breaks forward more difficult to come by as the half wore on but defended resolutely, keeping Dzeko away from crosses aimed by full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy.

 Southampton were five minutes away from reaching the break with the deadlock intact when Nasri, allowed too much time and space in the visitors' half, picked out Tevez with a chipped pass that the Argentine scurried on to – just staying in line with Jose Fonte – and rifled past Kelvin Davis at the near post. Southampton did make it to the break trailing by only a goal but the game was almost put to bed shortly after the restart. 

Nasri, perhaps only second to Tevez in influence exerted in the first half, fought off Clyne on the left-hand side before directing a low cross into the path of Dzeko, but the Bosnian failed to get proper contact on the ball from point blank range.

 Adkins had seen enough, calling Lambert to the touchline in one of two moves that would turn the game on its head, but the striker was still waiting to replace Rodriguez when Silva passed up another golden opportunity.

 Tevez sped down the right and forced Kelvin Davis to parry his powerful cross before the Spaniard volleyed on to the crossbar after Nasri had controlled the rebound. It took Lambert less time to find his range and make his mark on the top flight.

 Guiding a Southampton attack forward, the 30-year-old superbly steered home a precise shot from the edge of the box after Lescott had blocked his attempted through ball back into his path.

 The Saints' second-half possession had hovered around the 20 per cent mark and from that point it seemed that preserving their point at all costs would be the order of the day but, once again, Adkins found a way to inspire his team from the bench.

 Steven Davis was brought into the fray this time and when Rodwell's poor pass sparked a counter-attack, the former Rangers midfielder took advantage of Adam Lallana's lay-off to find the bottom corner with another fine finish.

 The story, with City trailing 2-1, seemed a familiar one and it was to take a familiar next step. This time, it did not take as long for the man who gave the fans inside the Etihad Stadium back in May a shred of hope to find an equaliser.

 Vincent Kompany returned Nasri's corner to the penalty area with a low shot and after Toure had scrapped for the ball it fell for Dzeko to slam home.

 Substitute Balotelli failed to convert a sublime low cross from Nasri as City searched for another dramatic third goal before Dzeko glanced a header narrowly wide.

 Once Dzeko had equalised, a winner seemed almost inevitable and City found it with 10 minutes still to play. Clichy's cross from the left was poorly dealt with by his opposite number Danny Fox, with Nasri making no mistake after the defender had headed the ball directly into his path.

 Fonte had one chance to grab a point as Southampton pressed for a late leveller but City held out to register their first points of the new campaign.

Friday 17 August 2012

Barcelona are ready for Real Madrid


Barcelona wing-back Adriano is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Spanish Supercopa tie against Real Madrid, and has stressed that the Catalans are ready for the start of the 2012-13 campaign.

 The Brazilian defender wants to start the new season on a high, and believes the team is in good condition ahead of the opening weekend of La Liga and the new term's curtain raiser.

 "It is always appetising to play against Madrid and we hope to start off the season on the right footing by winning the Supercopa," Adriano stated at a press conference.

 "The team is in condition to play, despite the fact that some of the players did not have as much rest as others, the players who joined the team later on are in good condition.

 "Our objective is to maintain the level of play in order to stay at the top [of the league]. We can improve on what we did last year."

 Barcelona kick off their Liga campaign at home against Real Sociedad on Sunday, before taking on Madrid at Camp Nou on Thursday in the first leg of the Supecopa.

Chelsea target Hulk keen on Premier League switch


Porto forward Hulk admits that he is keen on a move to either the Premier League or La Liga, citing them as the biggest leagues in the world.

 The 26-year-old, who has scored an impressive 52 goals in 96 league appearances for the Portuguese giants, has been linked with a number of club this summer including Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

 After representing Brazil at the Olympic Games, the forward has turned his attention back to domestic football and has listed England as one of his preferred destinations. "I have left a door open for being transferred to another league," Hulk told reporters.

 "I have preference for playing in the Premier League or the Spanish Liga, because they are the two leagues that are the most seen all over the world.

 "I didn't talk too much with my agent about the chance of being transferred, because I have been on duty with the Brazilian national team at the Olympics.

 "This could be the time for me to move. I would feel comfortable with moving clubs and the English league is one that appeals to me."

 With a release clause of £78 million [€100m], it would appear that only the biggest clubs stand a chance of securing highly rated Brazilian, and the striker admitted that discussions will take place with his agent at the beginning of next week.

 "I am going to talk about my future from Monday," he stated. "My future is in the hands of God."

Wenger: Song could leave


 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Alex Song could be the next player to leave the club, with Barcelona set to seal a move for him.

 Wenger was unusually open about the possibility of further exits from the Emirates Stadium after Robin van Persie moved closer to completing a £24 million transfer to Manchester United.

 Pressed on the subject ahead of Saturday's season opener, Wenger replied: "Both could happen, but my focus is on the Sunderland game.

 This decision (on Song) is not made." Asked if the Gunners had received a bid, he replied: "No. I cannot tell you more." Wenger suggested he would be open to a sale, given the number of players at his disposal.

 "Midfield is a different area because we have nine or ten midfielders of top-class quality," he said. "Just today we have six or seven midfielders available, plus Wilshere and Frimpong who are coming back.

 Diaby is available again, Arteta, Cazorla, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain now plays central midfield - this is an area we have much more freedom to make decisions." El Mundo Deportivo believes Arsenal are holding out for €25 million for Song, but Barcelona are only willing to offer €20 million.

 Even so, Adriano this week became the latest Barca player to speak positively about the prospect of his arrival. "He is a very good player," Adriano said. "In our matches against them you could see he is a footballer with a lot of quality.

 He would be welcome here and well received." Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin has been linked as a replacement for Song, and the Arsenal boss said he was considering his options.

 "He [Sahin] is one of the players we are following," Wenger said. "Anyway, I am happy with my midfield options whatever happens with Song.

 In fact, I feel we are better prepared this season than we have been for some time. We have so many options and even though we are all disappointed to lose Van Persie, the squad we have is strong in every department."

 Meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen was appointed as the new Arsenal captain with Mikel Arteta handed the vice-captaincy. "It is Vermaelen and Arteta," Wenger said.

 "Vermaelen was vice-captain, so it is a quick decision. I think we have many potential captains in the squad, but at the moment it will be like that."

Liverpool complete Oussama Assaidi signing


Liverpool have completed the signing of Oussama Assaidi from Dutch side SC Heerenveen.

 Assaidi, 24, joins for around £3 million and passed a medical at Melwood before signing a long-term deal with the club.

 He scored 10 times in the Dutch League last season and Rodgers thinks he will become a crowd pleaser at Anfield.

 "We're delighted with the signing, he's a young player who has done very well, in particular in the last couple of seasons, in Holland," he said.

 "He fits our style perfectly, he's an exciting player who is very good in one versus one situations and I think he's a player that will excite the crowd.

 "We're not expecting too much too early, he needs time to adapt but we're delighted he's chosen to come here over a number of other clubs.

 As I said, I'll look forward to helping his development and I hope he'll become a very good part of this club."

 Assaidi, a Morocco international, has scored 20 goals in 68 appearances for Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie. He becomes Brendan Rodgers' third signing following the arrivals of Fabio Borini and Joe Allen and will take the No. 11 shirt last worn by Maxi Rodriguez .

 He said Rodgers helped persuade him join Liverpool instead of Fulham and Ajax. He told the club website: "I'm very happy to play for this big club.

 The first time I spoke to the coach I had a good feeling. I had offers from other big clubs but I've been waiting for this moment. "The coach gave me a good feeling.

 It will be a dream to play with these big players and I hope training will help me to be a good player here. When I watch Liverpool it's always a good atmosphere, the fans are fantastic and I'm happy to be here."

Azpilicueta set to seal €10m Chelsea move


Cesar Azpilicueta is poised to complete a €10 million (£7.9m) move to Chelsea early next week.

 The Marseille defender’s representatives were in London on Friday to discuss personal terms and put the finishing touches on his switch to Stamford Bridge.

 Sources have it that Azpilicueta will play for Marseille in their Ligue 1 home fixture against Sochaux on Sunday before joining Chelsea early next week.

 The two clubs have finally reached agreement on the fee to bring an end to a summer-long pursuit.

 Chelsea released Jose Bosingwa earlier in the summer and have spent most of the window pursuing Azpilicueta as a replacement.

 The former Spain Under-21 international, who represented his country in their disastrous Olympics campaign, is expected to slot straight into Roberto Di Matteo's team at right-back, where his main competition comes from veteran Paulo Ferreira and the versatile Branislav Ivanovic.

 A product of Osasuna's youth system, he made his La Liga debut aged 17 and was a first-team regular at 18 before moving to the Stade Velodrom in 2010.

 A knee injury kept him on the sidelines for six months in his first season at Marseille in but he went on to fully establish himself in the team last season.

Van Persie: The little boy inside me screamed 'Manchester United!'


The 29 year-old Dutch striker completed his move to Old Trafford and spoke glowingly about the club's history and the opportunity to play for the side.

 At his press conference unveiling, it was revealed that Van Persie would be taking the No.20 shirt for the coming campaign, after Fabio vacated it after he moved to QPR on a season-long loan deal this summer.

 The Dutch international and current PFA Player of the Year was keen to explain his reasoning behind the controversial switch, insisting that there was no ill will between Arsenal and himself, but that he simply couldn't turn the chance down.

 "From my side and Arsenal's side, there is no hard feeling. No one is angry with me and I'm not angry with them," Van Persie told reporters.

 "Arsenal are part of my life. They've been great to me. We didn't agree on the future - that's life. "When I have to make tough decisions in my life I listen to the little boy inside me. That little boy was screaming 'Manchester United'" "Manchester United breathes football.

 This club is the perfect match for me." After seeing the club pipped to the title last term by local rivals Manchester City, Van Persie indicated that he was keen to rise to the challenge of playing for the club alongside players that he's admired from afar for years.

 "For me it's a big challenge to do it together with the players here. Every single one is very helpful. It's like a family club. "This is the biggest challenge for me In my football life.

 ""Wayne Rooney is a world class player. Scholes & Giggs are world class and have proved it for 20 years. They had a big impact. "This is a big challenge for me, which I'm looking forward to.

 I am proud to be here & look forward to achieving big things."

Monday 13 August 2012

Fabregas admits to Barca struggles


Cesc Fabregas concedes that he struggled to adapt at Barcelona last season under Pep Guardiola's system.

 The Spain international left Arsenal for Camp Nou last year but had a tough time living up to high expectations. Fabregas believes the lack of freedom in the 41-year-old Guardiola's formation hindered him.

 "Under Guardiola I never really got to grips with the system," the 25-year-old told Marca. "I had been playing another style of football and to take on board so much so quickly was difficult, because everyone else had already got it down.

 "Playing in central midfield was hard for me because I need more mobility and I am not quick off the mark in the first few metres.

 "I am not asking for anything, but that is my way of playing. It is true that I am a bit anarchic, but that is my style.

 Some people commented that I lacked something last season, including Guardiola. "It was my fault really because I tried to be what I am not; I am not Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, or Thiago (Alcantara).

 I am me and I need mobility, to participate more." Fabregas netted nine goals in 28 Liga appearances last season.

 
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