We are worth hefty price tag: Kaka
July 12, 2009
Brazilian midfielder Kaka has said he believes he and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo are worth the huge transfer fees which Spanish giants Real Madrid dished out for them last month.
“If Real Madrid have decided to pay so much money for us it is because we are worth it, isn’t it? Because we have shown it with our football in recent years,” he said in an interview published on Sunday in sports daily Marca.
“We are in a sport which pays these kinds of figures and within this sphere it could be that we are worth this investment,” the 27-year-old added.
Real signed Kaka from AC Milan for 65 million euros and paid a record fee of around 94 million euros to sign Ronaldo from Manchester United.
“In the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the most expensive player, he has shown that he’s number one and that he’s worth this money,” said Kaka.
Ronaldo, 24, has also said the astronomical sum paid by Real for him was worth it in recent press appearances and interviews in Spain.
But the hefty amounts paid for the two most recent winners of the FIFA World Player of the Year award have sparked controversy, with UEFA president Michel Platini calling the transfers “a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay”.
Business consultancy Weber Shandwick Sport has estimated that Real’s capture of Kaka alone could be worth 100 million dollars a season in additional revenues to the club in extra jersey sales, sponsorship revenues and match ticket sales.
Ronaldo will add a further 75 million dollars per season to Real’s turnover, according to the consultancy.
Real will face Deportivo de la Coruna at home on the weekend of August 29-30 in their first Spanish league match of the upcoming season.
MADRID (AFP)
Related posts
United´s Owen still getting paid by Newcastle
July 12, 2009
Manchester United new signing Michael Owen is still being paid 50,000 pounds a week by his former club Newcastle even though he left the squad at St James park a week ago, north-east England newspaper Sunday Sun reported on Sunday.
The 29-year-old ex-England, Real Madrid and Liverpool star accepted a massive drop in salary when he agreed Alex Ferguson’s offer to move to Old Trafford. But contractual details mean his wages are being made up to their original level by the Magpies until the end of this month.
Several players who have left since Newcastle were relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season are owed hundreds of thousands of pounds due under terms of generous contracts, the newspaper added.
Australian striker Mark Viduka who quit last month and whose name has been linked with Fulham is owed a golden farewell payment of more than 300,000 pounds.
Brazilian defender Cacapa is also continuing to draw a weekly paycheck from St James Park even though he left at the end of the season and seems set to return to French football with a possible offer from Montpellier.
NEWCASTLE (AFP)
Related posts
Dublin pub owner is possible Newcastle buyer
July 12, 2009
Dublin publican Charlie Chawke has emerged as being the man behind a new syndicate interested in buying troubled Championship club Newcastle, the Irishman said in a radio interview on Sunday.
Chawke is working with colleagues to put together a group with the financial means to buy Newcastle, up for sale by owner Mike Ashley following relegation from the Premiership.
The Dubliner previously had an interest in Sunderland with the Drumaville syndicate, however he is no longer involved at the Stadium of Light after American Ellis Short completed his buy-out in May.
Several consortia have matched owner Mike Ashley’s 100million pounds asking price for the Magpies, with groups from Malaysia and America understood to be leading the way.
However, no deal has yet been done, and Chawke – who in 2003 lost a leg in a hold-up in one of his pubs – views the prospect of buying the St James’ Park outfit as “a very viable option.”
Fellow publican Louis Fitzgerald, another member of the Drumaville Consortium, is also in favour of the deal. Speaking on Irish broadcaster RTE, he said: “We’re putting a syndicate hopefully together to do just that (bid for Newcastle).
“We had a great time in Sunderland. We have to look at options other than Sunderland and Newcastle would fit very nicely into our portfolio.”
Asked how many people he was looking to have in the syndicate, Chawke said: “We’re thinking about possibly the same as we had in Sunderland, about eight people maybe, depending on what money we can get.”
He added: “It’s a great club, it houses 52,000 people. It’s a great city, Newcastle.
“It’s a bit like Dublin – vibrant, full of fun… all the best things in life are there. It makes perfect sense if I could just swing it.”
DUBLIN (AFP)
Related posts
Mexico’s Aguirre handed three-match suspension
July 12, 2009
NEW YORK – Mexico manager Javier Aguirre will be suspended three matches for his actions during Thursday night’s Gold Cup Group C match against Panama, the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee ruled Saturday.
In addition, the Mexican Football Federation will be fined $25,000 for the conduct of its bench personnel, who engaged in “serious irresponsible behavior” against Panamanian midfielder Ricardo Phillips and others that precipitated an unruly reaction from the partisan crowd at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
Aguirre’s suspension will commence with Mexico’s final group game Sunday against Guadeloupe and make him eligible to return for the final July 26 at Giants Stadium in suburban New York. If eliminated before the semifinals, any remaining games would be served in World Cup qualifying.
Aguirre initiated a fracas at midfield of the 1-1 draw in the 80th minute when he left the technical area surrounding the Mexican bench to stop a loose ball that Phillips had been dribbling. Referee Joel Aguilar whistled the play dead when Phillips had let the ball exit the field of play but continued to play the ball as if it were live.
The Mexican coach extended his leg to block the ball, but instead made contact with Phillips, who fell, regained his feet and shoved Aguirre. That prompted Mexican bench personnel to respond by pushing Phillips and a fracas ensued, with debris showering the field from the crowd. The match was interrupted for approximately 12 minutes until order could be restored.
After reviewing video and several reports from numerous officials on site, including the match commissioner, referee, assistant referees and others, the disciplinary committee determined that while Aguirre was not attempting to injure Phillips, he did leave his designated area to engage in activities that resulted in contact and instigated the incident.
“The committee acknowledged that Mr. Aguirre is well known to them as a responsible person and it was their belief that this was an aberration rather than any aspect of his normal behavior,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer wrote in his letter to Mexican Football Federation General Secretary Decio de Maria informing him of the decision.
The disciplinary committee chaired by David Sabir, the general secretary of the Bermuda Football Association, also included Central American Football Union (UNCAF) President Rafael Tinoco of Guatemala and Tony James of Jamaica, the immediate past chairman of the panel.
Tinoco and James were called by Blazer to replace standing members Hector Gonzales of Mexico and Mike Edwards of the United States, who were excluded to remove any appearance of a conflict of interest.
The committee took special note of the “exemplary behavior of Mexican goalkeeper Memo Ochoa in attempting to get the spectators to allow the game to restart and in helping lead Ricardo Phillips…to a safe exit from the playing field.”
Go to Source
Related posts
Late strike gives USA 2-2 draw with Haiti
July 12, 2009
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Stuart Holden scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to earn the United States a 2-2 draw with Haiti and send it to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as the winner of Group B.
Holden’s equalizer extended the Americans’ unbeaten streak against home against CONCACAF opponents to 56 after Haiti jeopardized the string by scoring twice in the first four minutes of the second half. The result maintained the Americans’ unbeaten record in Gold Cup group play (23-2-0) and ensured a date with the third-placed team from Group A or C in the next round.
“When you begin the tournament, the goal is to win your group and advance,” United States head coach Bob Bradley said. “The first thing that we said after the game is that we’ve accomplished that goal.”
Davy Arnaud opened the scoring for the United States, which started four players making their international debut, after six minutes. Holden split the Haitian defense with and incisive pass. Arnaud rushed onto the feed and tucked his left-footed effort to the side of onrushing goalkeeper Jean Dominique Zephirin.
“We scored an early goal, but it came so early that we hadn’t found a rhythm in the game yet,” Bradley said. “After that, we were still trying to find that rhythm. They were able to make some plays and cause some trouble.”
Holden nearly doubled the lead after 25 minutes when he was given time and space to fire from 30 yards. The long-distance drive rattled the underside of the crossbar, but did not bounce over the line.
Haiti threatened several times in the first half. Fabrice Noel cut inside and challenged U.S. goalkeeper Luis Robles, one of the debutantes, with a high drive. Robles parried it over his own head and had to rush back to push the effort away from his own goal line.
Moments after Jimmy Conrad put a header over the bar from a Holden corner kick, Robles made up for his earlier error by denying Sirin Vaniel from close range to ensure the U.S. would enter the halftime break with the advantage.
The lead didn’t last as Haiti scored twice within the first four minutes of the second half to seize control.
“We understood what I said (about what we had studied of the U.S.) at halftime and played a very spectacular second half, in my consideration,” Haiti coach Jairo Rios said.
Leonel Saint Preaux outmuscled U.S. left back Jay Heaps on the right wing before sending his cross to the far post. Robles was unable to get a touch and Virin nodded home at the far post to bring Haiti level.
Robles and Heaps were at the center of Haiti’s second goal four minutes later. Heaps cleared a pass along the end line into the center of the park as Robles rushed out tardily to do the same. Chery collected the clearance and lashed home spectacularly into the upper left corner from 25 yards.
Suddenly faced with the peril of not going through at the top of its group, the United States started to press in search of the equalizer. U.S. coach Bob Bradley inserted Charlie Davies, Kyle Beckerman and Brian Ching to spur the offense.
Holden headed a Colin Clark cross wide, while substitute Charlie Davies scuffed a chance under heavy pressure from Pierre Richard Bruny.
It looked like the U.S. would have to wait for the result in the nightcap between Honduras and Grenada to find out its final spot in the group until Holden scored in stoppage time to grab a point.
“It really hurts because it was one minute before the end of the match,” Rios said.
By Kyle McCarthy
Related posts
Honduras advances to quarters with 4-0 win
July 12, 2009
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – Honduras scored two goals in each half, advancing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Grenada Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
With six points, Honduras finished second in Group B and joins the United States for the quarterfinals in Philadelphia, while Grenada, the smallest country to ever qualify for the Gold Cup, ended with three losses, no goals and being outscored 10-0 in its tournament debut.
Honduras will face Canada in the first of the quarterfinal doubleheader while the United States will play the nightcap against either Jamaica or the third-place team from Group C. Haiti also advanced from Group B and will face the winner of Group C in Dallas on July 19.
Los Catrachos wasted little time as Grenada was again victimized by a defensive gaffe. Allan Lalin played Walter Martinez behind the Spice Boyz defense and goalkeeper Andray Baptiste was late to the ball. He slid and missed at the top of the 18-yard box, as Martinez spun and tapped the ball into the open net to give Honduras a 1-0 lead 71 seconds into the game.
In the 10th minute, Roger Espinoza played a short corner to Lalin, curled to the edge of the 18-yard box but fired just wide of the target.
Espinoza wouldn’t have to wait long to score his second international goal, though, as his open header in the 25th minute doubled Honduras’ lead. Baptiste saved Martinez’s cross, but the ball popped high. Lalin headed across the goal to Espinoza and the Kansas City Wizards midfielder nodded the ball into the net.
In just his second international appearance, Delroy Facey nearly struck for his first goal in the 35th minute, but the Notts County forward bounced a shot from distance off the near post after beating Doris Escobar with the shot.
In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Grenada captain Anthony Modeste missed the net following a corner on a near post attempt for the final chance of the first half.
Martinez set up his second goal of the game in the 56th minute, sending in a cross just outside the six-yard box where Melvin Valladares pounced in and bounced a header inside the far post to give Los Catrachos a three-goal lead.
A Lalin header forced Baptiste into a diving save in the 62nd minute and four minutes later, Michael Mark knocked down Mariano Acevedo, forcing referee Marco Rodriguez to point to the spot.
Carlos Costly’s penalty kick was saved, but he tapped in the rebound to give Honduras a 4-0 lead in the 67th minute.
Martinez nearly added a fifth goal on a brilliant solo effort, putting the ball through a Spice Boyz defender’s legs, but Baptiste made the save in the 78th minute.
Three minutes later Grenada nearly struck for its first goal of the tournament, but Marcus Julien’s attempt was saved by a diving Escobar.
In the 86th minute, Luis Lopez blasted a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that glanced off the crossbar
By Dylan Butler
Related posts
Two-faced Mourinho forced me out: Johnson
July 12, 2009
England defender Glen Johnson claimed Sunday that a breakdown in trust with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lead to his departure from the Premier League club.
Johnson, who this week completed a 17 million pound move from Portsmouth to Liverpool, accused Mourinho of breaking promises when they were both at Stamford Bridge.
And Johnson said he knew he could not continue with the club when he did not feature against Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I remember the lowest point was when Chelsea were set to play Barcelona in the Champions League,” said Johnson, who later moved to Portsmouth for 4 million pounds.
“We had a couple of Premier League games to play before we played Barca, and Mourinho picked me for one of those games and told me in front of five witnesses that if I played well I would keep the shirt.
“I immediately told my agent that it didn’t matter how well I played I would be dropped – because Mourinho wouldn’t want me anywhere near the team for the Barcelona game.
“Sure enough, I was voted man of the match – and I was dropped from the squad.”
Johnson has still not figured out why he did not figure in the plans of the Portuguese coach who is now with Inter Milan.
“You would have to ask Jose Mourinho what his reasons were, but I know it was because he didn’t want to see me play well again and be forced to pick me for the Barcelona game.
“That was the day I knew I had to leave Chelsea. Managers have to stick to their word. You have to be able to trust them.”
LONDON (AFP)
Related posts
Celtic chief says Boruc not for sale
July 12, 2009
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell insisted Sunday that goalkeeper Artur Boruc is not for sale.
The Polish goalkeeper’s future has been in doubt since the arrival of countryman Lukasz Zaluska at Parkhead.
But Lawwell warned: “Artur Boruc is not for sale. He’s the best goalkeeper in Europe and, despite speculation to the contrary, we are holding on to him.
“There have been no offers for him and we don’t want any.
“Tony (Mowbray) has had a close look at him and has been really impressed. He is perfectly happy to have him as our number one for the new season.”
New manager Tony Mowbray has been impressed by Boruc in pre-season but has nevertheless paved the way for Mark Brown to find a new club.
He told the Scottish Sunday Express: “We have a lot of keepers now and if the right chance comes along for Mark Brown then I would not stand in his way but Artur is staying.”
GLASGOW (AFP)
Related posts
Ibrahimovic claims Chelsea interest
July 12, 2009
Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed Sunday that Premier League giants Chelsea are set to make a 60 million pounds (97 million dollars) move for him.
The Swedish international said: “I am fully aware that Chelsea want to sign me and, of course, it is very flattering. They are one of the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.”
He told the News of the World: “Money is not the most important thing. I will base my decision on what’s good for me, what suits me.
“It is about asking: will I still be able to be special in the league that I am going to, to the team that I am going to?
“Are my qualities right for the Premier League or not?”
Ibrahimovic, 27, has spent the past five years with the Serie A side who won the Italian league title this season, and has netted more than 150 league goals to date as well as 20 for his country.
LONDON (AFP)
Related posts
Robinson completes Bolton loan move
July 12, 2009
Bolton confirmed Sunday they have completed the signing of West Brom defender Paul Robinson on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer.
The 30-year-old left-back had signed a new two-year deal with the Baggies last year but after their relegation from the Premier League felt it was time to make a move to remain in the top flight.
“I am delighted that we’ve managed to get him in,” said Bolton manager Gary Megson, who previously worked with Robinson at The Hawthorns.
“He’s got a great deal of Premier League experience and is the type of player Wanderers supporters will like.
“He has a wholehearted approach to the game, is desperate to win and will be good in the dressing room.
“I signed Robbo for West Brom from Watford a good few years ago and I know him really well. He’ll bring some competition down the left.”
Robinson played 35 league matches in the Baggies’ unsuccessful fight against relegation last season.
He is Megson’s second signing of the summer after Sean Davis completed his free transfer from Portsmouth on July 1.
BOLTON (AFP)
Related posts
Calendar
Related Sites
- AFP
- e-soccertips
- Free Themes All - Blogger, Wordpress, Joomla themes
- soccerway
- WAGS
- WAGS Blog
Categories
- 1 League
- A PFG
- A-League
- African
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Brasil
- Bundesliga
- CAF Champions League
- Club Friendlies
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Cup
- English Championship
- English Premier League
- Eredivisie
- European Championships
- FA Cup
- FIFA
- Franch
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Jupiler League
- LA Liga
- LigaBwin
- Ligue 1
- MLS
- netherlands
- Olympics
- Olympics Women
- Photo
- portugal
- premier league
- Primera Division
- Rusia Premier League
- scotland
- Scottish Premier League
- Serie A
- Super Copa
- Super League
- Sweden
- Turkcell Süper Lig
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Cup
- Umaglesi Liga
- Uncategorized
- United States
- Video
- Vietnam
- Wag Watch
- WAGS
- WC Qualifying Asia
- WC Qualifying Concacaf
- WC Qualifying Europe
- WC Qualifying South-Africa
- WC Qualifying South-America
- World Cup
