Soccer News, Rumours, Results and Analysis

Soccer News and Rumours

Wednesday 3 July 2013

RONALDO: I MISS MANCHESTER UNITED

Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of leaving Real Madrid despite admitting he misses Manchester United.
The 28-year-old has two years to run on his deal at Madrid, who paid a world record £80million fee to prise him away from United in 2009.

Ronaldo hinted he might yet like to return to Old Trafford before his career ends, but denied suggestions a switch could come any time soon.
"Yes I really miss English football," he said during a promotional event in Singapore.
"For me it was one of the best years in my career when I was there at Manchester United. Everyone knows that.
"It is the club that is still in my heart. I really miss (the club).
"But now my life is in Spain. I'm enjoying playing there too. Part of my life is there. The future we never know.
"I'm really, really happy in the Spanish league at the moment."

GORETZKA: I SNUBBED DORTMUND FOR SCHALKE

German wonderkid Leon Goretzka has revealed he could have joined Borussia Dortmund, but preferred a move to Schalke.

The Gelsenkirchen side have announced the 18-year-old midfielder has signed a five-year deal with his new club and is keen to follow in the footsteps of Julian Draxler.
Goretzka: I snubbed Dortmund for Schalke
"Borussia Dortmund also wanted to sign me, but Schalke were the more appealing option," Goretzka said at a press conference.

"I decided to join Schalke after talking to Horst Heldt and Jens Keller. This is the club where I want to spend the next few years.

"They are growing something nice at Schalke and they do some great work with young players. That's one of the reasons why I picked Schalke.

"Julian Draxler's development has been impressive."

Goretzka came through the ranks of the Bochum youth academy and has been capped at Under-19 level for Germany.

ISCO HANDED BACKHAM SHIRT

Isco has claimed Real Madrid represents the pinnacle of any professional player's career after completing his move to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who will wear the No.23 jersey, the same number David Beckham wore when he joined Madrid 10 years ago, says he chose the shirt because it was his brother's birthday.

Isco had infamously stated four years ago that he had little love for Madrid, whom he labelled as "arrogant", but at Wednesday's unveiling, he had nothing but praise for los Blancos.
Isco handed Beckham's shirt
"First of all, I want to thank the efforts of the president [Florentino Perez], my family, and love of all the fans," the former Malaga man told reporters.

"For a player there is nothing greater than being at Real Madrid; it is the ultimate. I hope to enjoy it a lot here, and delight everyone, winning many titles for Real Madrid.

"It is curious to be presented with the same number and on the same day that Beckham was. I had several shirts available, but I chose the '23 'because it is the day of my brother's birthday."

Perez, for his part, was keen to give Isco a warm welcome to the Bernabeu, admitting Madrid were delighted they had beaten off stiff competition from Manchester City for one of the most highly rated young players in Europe.

"Isco had offers from other clubs, but he has chosen to play for Real Madrid," the Blancos supremo said.

"Isco is joining a club that doesn't know the word impossible. This is your stadium and your home. Welcome to Real Madrid."

Isco came through the youth team ranks at Valencia before becoming a star during his two-year stay at Malaga.

SWANSEA CHAIRMAN: TOM INCE IS OVER PRICED

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins admits to having been left 'staggered' by Blackpool's demands for Tom Ince.
The Swans had joined arch-rivals Cardiff City in the hunt for Ince's signature.
Tom Ince: Swansea put off by Blackpool's valuation
That interest has now been confirmed, but it appears unlikely that Ince will be heading to the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea are prepared to spend big if required, but will not be paying over the odds for any of their summer targets.
That would appear to rule Ince out of the equation, with Blackpool having set their asking price at £8million.
"The prices that have been quoted for Tom Ince are staggering," Jenkins told talkSPORT.
"Our manager has been keen on him for a while, ever since he played for Blackpool against us.
"There's no doubt he's going to get a move this summer, but I'm not sure where he'll end up going."

FRANKFURT CLOSE IN ON ARSENAL STRIKER

The agent of Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has admitted that his client is closing on a move to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bendtner has been deemed surplus to requirements at Emirates Stadium and spent the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Serie A champions Juventus.
Nicklas Bendtner: Deemed surplus to requirements by Arsenal
Injuries prevented him from making the desired impact in Italy and no permanent deal has been discussed.
There are, however, plenty of other clubs willing to offer the Denmark international a route out of north London.
Frankfurt are keen on taking him to Germany, and a transfer is in the process of being thrashed out.
Bendtner's representative, Tom Brookes, told Ekstra Bladet: "I can't say too much but I hope to have everything sorted out by the end of the week.
"I was in Frankfurt last Sunday."

REAL BETIS WANT ARSENAL STRIKER

Real Betis are waiting to hear if Arsenal striker Joel Campbell can return to the club on loan.
The Costa Rican, who joined the Gunners in 2011, spent last season at the Primera Liga outfit, scoring twice in 28 league appearances.
Joel Campbell: Still wanted by Real Betis
After helping the Andalusian side to an impressive seventh-place finish, the 21-year-old's agent Joaquim Batica has previously confirmed the club want to extend his loan.
But Real Betis sporting director Vlada Stosic admits they are unsure whether he will return.
Stosic told Radio Sevilla: "We want the player to continue for one more season with us, but we have heard no news from the Gunners."

SWANSEA AGREE FEE FOR LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER

Swansea are close to clinching the signing of Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey after agreeing a £6m fee for the 21-year-old.
Shelvey is now set to discuss personal terms with the Welsh club and undergo a medical.
Jonjo Shelvey: Liverpool midfielder set for Swansea move
The England international - he has won one cap as a substitute in the 5-0 win over San Marino at Wembley last October - had also attracted the interest of Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace, but their bid was reportedly £1m less than Swansea's.
Shelvey started his career with Charlton before moving to Liverpool for £1.7m in May 2010.
He has since made 69 appearances for the Reds and scored seven goals but has now been deemed surplus to requirements by boss Brendan Rodgers.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has spoken of the need to increase the quota of homegrown players at the Liberty Stadium and Shelvey fits the bill.
"We have got to make sure that the make-up of our squad is right," said Jenkins.
"And obviously part of that is making sure that we have so many British players in there. We have got to do that - there is no choice because they are the rules."

CECH: ROONEY COULD SIGN FOR CHELSEA

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech admits he would be delighted if the west London club signed Wayne Rooney from Manchester United this summer.

The 27-year-old's future at Old Trafford is currently uncertain after former boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the striker had asked to leave the Premier League champions in the closing stages of last season.
Cech: I could see Rooney in a Chelsea shirt


Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have been credited with an interest in Rooney but Cech is hoping the England international moves to Stamford Bridge should he opt for a change of scenery - but only if Jose Mourinho wants him.

"I could see him in a Chelsea shirt," the Czech Republic international told Sky Sports. "Players can change shirts and obviously he had a fantastic career with Manchester United and sometimes players need new challenges. "Sometimes the consequences are the way that you are looking for the new challenge and change of the shirt.
"So if that happened, obviously he is a fantastic player and he will be welcome to our squad but now we are only in the moment of speculation about it so we will see what this week will bring.

"He's a great player and you always want to see great players in your team."

Chelsea have also been heavily linked with Napoli's in-demand forward Edinson Cavani, although Cech admits he wouldn't try to influence Mourinho into signing the Uruguay star or any other player.
"I could see anybody in a Chelsea shirt, it depends if Jose Mourinho wants to see those players in the Chelsea shirt," he added.
"So I believe that he has his own ideas about the team, he knows exactly what he wants in the team. And as I said, now the transfer window opens and we will see what will be the movement in our squad in reality."

PSG AND MONACO TARGET WANTS NEWCASTLE STAY

Mathieu Debuchy insists he is staying at Newcastle despite speculation linking him with a move back to France this summer.
The France international was one of five January arrivals on Tyneside, making 14 appearances as United secured their Premier League survival.
Mathieu Debuchy: Happy with life on Tyneside
Paris St Germain and Monaco have been credited with an interest but the full-back insists he is happy with life in Newcastle, despite some initial problems.
"I don't know about the rumours saying I have been contacted by Paris or Monaco," he told The Chronicle.
"I feel good in Newcastle. I want to stay in England. I love the Premier League.
"For me, the Premier League was a big discovery. Everything is much harder than it is in France.
"The game is faster and the teams are better, even the small teams. I also had to learn a new language as I did not speak English.
"It was complicated, but right now it is better. I love England, even if it is different."

FIORENTINA SET TO SIGN MILAN MIDFIELDER

Massimo Ambrosini's agent has claimed that his client will imminently sign a one-year contract with Fiorentina.

The 35-year-old is a free agent following his release by AC Milan and is set to continue his illustrious career at the Artemio Franchi.

“We’re in the final stretch, I do not know what day exactly, but during the week we should close the deal,” Ambrosini's representative, Moreno Roggi, told Violanews.com.
Ambrosini set to sign one-year contract with Fiorentina
“It does not take much to convince a player to come to Fiorentina, a large city with a team that has a great project and pay on time.

“Even so, he is taking less money than it is believed or written. He will sign for a year.”

Roggi also stated that while Ambrosini is a two-time Champions League winner, he will arrive in Florence without any airs or graces.

“He will enter the dressing room on tiptoe and will be ready to also sit on the bench when it is needed," the agent revealed.

“He is a boy of great humanity and a great fighter; if you are not such a man then you do not have a career like he has.

Ambrosini, who has been capped 35 times by the Azzurri, joined Milan from Cesena in 1995.