Man City eye Real’s Gago – report

January 25, 2010

Manchester City have made an offer for Real Madrid’s Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago, who is desperate to leave the club after spending too much time on the bench, a Spanish newspaper said Monday.

Gago “will try until the end to convince Madrid to let him leave, and for that he is meeting on Monday with (sporting director) Jorge Valdando to discuss his future,” the daily Marca said.

“The best offer is from Manchester City, which is ready to pay 15 million euros.”

But it said Real appear reluctant to let him go.

Gago, 23, joined Real Madrid in January 2007 from Boca Juniors to replace another Argentinian, Fernando Redondo.

But he has spent much of this season on the bench, and is keen for more first-team play ahead of the World Cup in South Africa in June.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: AFP, Argentina, bench, boca juniors, fernando gago, fernando redondo, Jorge Valdando, MADRID, man city, manchester city, marca, midfielder, South Africa, team play, World Cup

Basile parts ways with Boca Juniors

January 23, 2010

Boca Juniors manager Alfio Basile has announced his immediate departure from the Buenos Aires outfit following a humiliating 3-1 defeat by arch rivals River Plate on Thursday.

At a press conference called on Saturday, Boca president Jorge Amor Ameal confirmed that Basile is no longer coach of the team.

Amor added that Abel Alvez and Carlos Borzi were appointed as caretakers while the board looks for a new manager, and added that “Carlos Bianchi as manager is a constant wish”.

Basile, nicknamed ‘Coco’, has an impressive palmares that includes stints at some of Argentina’s most important club sides, as well as the national team. In 2009, the now 66-year-old returned to Boca but the club failed to impress with a 14th and 11th position in the year’s respective tournaments.

Tags: abel, Abel Alvez, alfio basile, ameal, arch rivals, Argentina, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, caretakers, carlos bianchi, Carlos Borzi, coach, coco, Jorge Amor, palmares, river plate, stints

Olympiakos sign Datolo on loan from Napoli

January 18, 2010

Jesus Datolo will finish the season on loan at Olympiakos Pireaus. The Argentine international has failed to make an impact at Napoli this season.

Datolo will stay at the Karaiskakis Stadium till the end of the season, following which Olympiakos have an option to make the transfer permanent by paying Napoli a fee of €4.5 million.

Napoli signed Datolo from Boca Juniors for a fee of €6 million. The 25-year-old winger penned a five year deal at the San Paolo. So far he only managed to net one goal in 22 Serie A games.

Datolo will look to secure a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad at Olympiakos. He made a stormy debut for Diego Maradona’s side last year by scoring in Argentina’s friendly against Russia (3-2 win).

Tags: 5 million, 6 million, Argentina, Argentine, boca juniors, debut, diego maradona, games, Jesus, Karaiskakis Stadium, napoli, olympiakos pireaus, one goal, Paolo, russia, San, san paolo, winger, world cup squad

FIFA Club World Cup: Estudiantes-Barcelona preview

December 19, 2009

FIFA Club World Cup 2009 will conclude on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, when Catalonia giants Barcelona face Argentina’s Estudiantes.

The kings of Europe will play Copa Libertadores champions in the tournament finale, as has been the case in the last four years.

With Europe running out as winners in the previous meetings, Estudiantes will be looking to reverse the trend as they bid to become the fourth South American side and the first Argentinians to win the FIFA Club World Cup.

And no one knows better the size of task at hand for the El Pincha than Juan Sebastian Veron, who was a member of the Boca Juniors side that went down 4-2 to AC Milan at Japan 2007.

However, Veron is not the only one as Barcelona have also tasted defeat in the final of the competition, having played second fiddle to Internacional three years ago.

Even the presence of the likes Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto’o in their ranks could not help the Spanish giants to avoid a defeat.

The urge to claim the only trophy missing from the cabinet, is greater and the Blaugrana goal scoring machine will be ready to go all guns blazing

After an impressive display against Atlante in the semi-final the Catalans now have their eyes fixed firmly on an unprecedented sixth trophy.

Tags: ac milan, Argentina, argentinians, atlante, Barcelona, boca juniors, catalans, catalonia, club world cup, deco, Europe, fifa club world cup, finale, giants, guns, impressive display, Japan, juan sebastian veron, Milan, ronaldinho, samuel eto, samuel eto o, second fiddle, sheikh zayed stadium, South American, trophy, urge, zayed stadium

Top two lose in Argentina

December 14, 2009

Both leaders Banfield and second-placed Newell’s Old Boys crashed to defeats in Sunday’s Argentinian Primera Division action.

Banfield always faced a tough task in an away match with Boca Juniors, who despite their poor recent form managed to deliver a solid performance in this game.

It was former Villarreal player Martin Palermo to inspire Boca’s 2-0 victory, with a penalty goal in the seventh minute followed by a second goal near the hour mark.

Newell’s failed to take advantage and conquer the top spot, losing 0-2 to San Lorenzo themselves.

Both goals in this match were scored by Fabian Bordagaray, who first found the target in the 11th minute and did so again in the 67th.

Tags: advantage, Argentina, argentinian primera division, banfield, boca juniors, fabian, Fabian Bordagaray, game, Juniors, martin palermo, match, newell, old boys, penalty goal, performance, San, san lorenzo, target, victory

Gago ‘wants out of Real Madrid’

December 4, 2009

Argentine international defender Fernando Gago wants to leave Real Madrid because he has been little used this season but the Spanish giants do not want to let him go, sports daily Marca reported Friday.

The 23-year-old, who joined Real at the end of 2006 from Argentine side Boca Juniors, needs more time on the pitch to be be considered for Argentina’s 2010 World Cup squad and has asked his agent to negotiate his move to another club in the winter transfer window, it said.

But Real is counting on the player to make up for the absence of its midfielder and Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra who is scheduled to play for his national team during the 2010 African Cup of Nations between January 10-31.

Gago started for Real during all but two of the club’s 26 Spanish league matches in the 2008-09 season but his time on the pitch has been sharply reduced since Chile’s Manuel Pellegrini took over as coach in July 2009.

Italy’s AC Milan and Fiorentina have reportedly shown interest in signing the midfielder, who joined Real for 21 million euros (31.7 million dollars).

Argentina’s national coach Diego Maradona has described Gago as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and said that “he should never be left off an Argentina squad list”.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, african cup of nations, Argentina, Argentine, argentine side, boca juniors, Chile, diego maradona, fernando gago, fiorentina, giants, Italy, MADRID, mahamadou diarra, mali, manuel pellegrini, marca, midfielder, midfielders, Milan, million dollars, national coach, pitch, real madrid, spanish league, world cup squad

Argentinian classic ends undecided

October 26, 2009

The Argentinian classic between River Plate and Boca Juniors ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that helps neither side at this point.

At only a few spots from the relegation zone, most of the pressure was on River to deliver a good performance in this match. Boca on the other hand, needed a win to limit the gap with the top of the Argentinian Primera Division.

River Plate were first to find the net at their own Estadio Monumental, with Marcelo Gallardo beating Boca keeper Abbondanzieri after 39 minutes.

Both teams had a player sent off in the first minutes of the second half. River’s Cristian Villagra conceded a second yellow card in minute 46, and Julio Caceres of Boca followed with a direct red card four minutes later.

Three minutes after the hour mark, it was former Villarreal player Martin Palermo to level the score for Boca.

The draw leaves Boca in tenth place at five points from joint leaders Estudiantes, Banfield and Newell’s Old Boys, while River Plate are in 16th place with just seven points from ten games.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: abbondanzieri, argentinian primera division, banfield, boca juniors, cristian, Cristian Villagra, Estadio, Estudiantes, first minutes, five points, four minutes, gallardo, julio caceres, marcelo, martin palermo, newell, old boys, pressure, relegation zone, river plate, roorda, seven points, three minutes, villagra, yellow card

Argentina: San Lorenzo stay on top as Estudiantes lose

October 19, 2009

Estudiantes left the Argentinian league lead to San Lorenzo as result of a 2-1 defeat at Newell’s Old Boys. Boca Juniors earned a 2-1 win over Tigre.

Joaquin Boghossian scored the opening goal for Newell’s after 28 minutes against Estudiantes, for whom a win would have left them in first position.

Leandro Benitez equalized in the 30th minute but Rolando Schiavi made it 2-1 in minute 77.

Estudiantes are now stuck in fifth place behind San Lorenzo, Colon, Argentinos and Velez Sarsfield.

Boca Juniors beat Tigre 2-1 with two goals from Osvaldo Gaitan, one in the 50th minute and one in the 59th. Carlos Luna scored one back in minute 78.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, boca juniors, boghossian, carlos luna, colon, first position, Joaquin Boghossian, newell, old boys, osvaldo, Rolando Schiavi, San, san lorenzo, schiavi, stay on top, velez sarsfield

Argentina to go all out for glory – Palermo

October 13, 2009

Diego Maradona’s two-time world champions Argentina will go all out for glory and seek to stun their hosts Uruguay on the counter attack to ensure a berth in next summer’s World Cup finals, striker Martin Palermo said Tuesday.

Under Diego Maradona’s stewardship Argentina have endured a wobbly campaign in the extreme, suffering six defeats in 17 games.

Failure to win in Montevideo will mean either a playoff against an opponent from Central America – or potentially total elimination.

Uruguay are a point behind them while Ecuador, two points adrift, could also still bag the final automatic qualifying place, which Argentina currently occupy, with a win in Chile.

But Palermo says the albiceleste will strain every last sinew to ensure they get the three points they need.

“We have to think simply of ensuring we win, not turning on the style. We have to give it our all and give Argentines the happiness of getting to the World Cup,” said Palermo, whose last-gasp goal saw off Peru on Saturday.

“I am dreaming of us going through – no matter if I start on the bench,” added the Boca Juniors forward.

Cesar Luis Menotti, the coach of the 1978 side which lifted the trophy on home soil, said he believed that “we could see an historic match – it’s going to be a thriller.”

Maradona, who has run the rule over more than 70 players since taking over a year ago from Alfio Basile, will try to stun the Uruguayans on the counter attack with the 4-4-2 formation which served him well in last year’s friendly win over France although it misfired in the qualifying loss in Ecuador.

Goal scoring responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, who at club level are bitter rivals with Barcelona and Real Madrid but who must now determine if the Argentines are to reach South Africa or else miss out for the first time since 1970.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez meanwhile promised that “we will go for the win while totally respecting our opponents”, in a match highlighting a rivalry spanning 108 years.

“Our expectations are solely for the win. That is all that counts,” noted Tabarez.

BUENOS AIRES (AFP)

Tags: albiceleste, Argentina, Barcelona, basile, berth, bitter rivals, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, Cesar Luis Menotti, Chile, diego maradona, Ecuador, France, gasp goal, gonzalo higuain, last gasp, lionel messi, MADRID, martin palermo, menotti, Montevideo, Oscar Tabarez, Real, real madrid, rivalry, sinew, time world champions, uruguay, uruguayans, world cup finals

Martin Palermo heads towards the record books

October 6, 2009

Is Martin Palermo’s amazing winner for Boca Juniors on Sunday, a header from nearly 40 metres that bounced just once on the line of the six-yard box on its way into the net, worthy of an entry into the Guinness Book of records?

This is a question Argentines have been asking, while TV sports chat shows have been running footage of other remarkable goals and moments in the career of the 35-year-old striker.

Palermo himself barely knew what had happened on Sunday. His expression as he celebrated his feat said it all. First a quick run, taking his shirt off and waving it over his head. Then a stance with feet and arms out wide in front of the hardcore fans at the Bombonera, soaking up the adulation but also with a wry grin as if to ask “How did I manage that?”

Velez Sarsfield goalkeeper German Montoya came out of his box to kick the ball clear. It went at head height towards the centre circle. Palermo, standing just outside the circle 38.90 metres from goal headed it right back and it sailed, veering towards the right, into the net. Another 10 metres and it would have hit the post or gone just wide.

“It always happens to me. When I look for similar stories of other players there aren’t any. Things happen to me that I can’t explain,” Palermo told TyC Sports cable TV.

Diego Maradona is probably going to give Palermo, who scored twice with two orthodox headers in a friendly 2-0 win against a weak Ghana team last Wednesday, a start in Argentina’s critical World Cup qualifier against Peru at the Monumental on Saturday.

It is another remarkable moment in the career of a striker who won seven caps in 1999, one of which came in a match against Colombia in which he missed three penalties, and then did not put on an Argentina shirt for 10 years.

Last month, he made his international comeback as a substitute in Argentina’s 1-0 defeat by Paraguay that has left Maradona’s team teetering on the edge of World Cup oblivion. Argentina’s only real chance of that match fell to him in stoppage time but he was just short of getting to Rolando Schiavi’s header across the face of goal.

A younger Palermo would probably have reached it and turned it in for an equaliser. Maradona hopes he can score against the Peruvians and Palermo said his wonder header on Sunday has been a confidence booster.

“Mentally, it’s a great boost for what’s coming with the national team,” said Palermo, who, if he plays, will win his 10th cap.

“Obviously it’s not the same to arrive (at the match) in good form as getting there in (the middle of) a bad run,” added Palermo, whose Boca side had lost their previous four matches before Sunday’s 3-2 victory over league title holders Velez.

PHOTO: Argentina’s Martin Palermo celebrates after scoring against Ghana during their friendly in Cordoba September 30, 2009. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

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