Ancelotti expects Anelka to stay

January 26, 2010

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists Nicolas Anelka is 100 percent committed to the Blues despite reports that talks over a new contract for the France striker have broken down.

Anelka has 18 months left on his current deal and Chelsea have been unable to tie him to a new contract during several months of negotiations.

The 30-year-old has proved his value to Ancelotti’s team this season with 11 goals, including five in his last four appearances, and his fine form has ensured Didier Drogba has hardly been missed during his time at the African Nations Cup.

Reports on Tuesday that there was only a small chance of a positive contract resolution raised the unwanted possibility of Chelsea having to sell Anelka in the close-season or risk losing him on a free transfer in a year.

But Ancelotti is adamant the former Real Madrid and Arsenal star wants to remain at the west London club and he expects a compromise to be reached.

Asked if he believed Anelka wanted to stay, Ancelotti said: “Yes. The same for Nicolas. He’s happy to work with me and I’m very happy to work with him. That’s a wedding, no? We don’t want to break up!

“I think that they are speaking with his agent and they will try to find the right solution for both the club and for him.

“I’m confident he’ll sign. Anelka is a top player and this club needs to have a lot of top players. There will be a resolution.”

After dropping to third place in the Premier League while on FA Cup duty at the weekend, Ancelotti’s side have a chance to regain top spot with a win over Birmingham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday if Arsenal fail to defeat Aston Villa the same day.

Ancelotti knows in-form Birmingham will pose a tough test for his team after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 matches over the weekend.

But Chelsea have won 10 of their 11 home league games this season – scoring seven times in their last home match against Sunderland – and Ancelotti expects his players to rise to the challenge of ending Birmingham’s impressive streak.

“It’s not good (to be third). I think it is important to win on Wednesday because we need three more points. But it’ll be very difficult because everyone knows Birmingham’s quality,” he said.

“They haven’t lost for 15 games and are having an unbelievable season. They have done fantastically well.

“So it’s important for us to have a very good performance. The same as we did against Sunderland, we hope, because we play a very compact team.

“It’s important to move the ball quickly against them because they are able to stay compact for 90 minutes. If we do our best, I think we can win.”

Ancelotti expects United and Arsenal to push his side all the way in a title race shaping up to be a tense three-team scramble for the finish line.

“I think we have to keep in control of both teams. Both teams have enough quality to stay in the top until the end of the season,” he said.

“It’ll be a sprint to the final game. I think all three teams will be in it until the end.”

The Blues, who have two games in hand on current leaders United, will be bolstered by the return to training of Drogba and Salomon Kalou on Wednesday after Ivory Coast were knocked out of the African Nations Cup.

Neither will feature against Birmingham but the pair should be available for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.

“Drogba is an important player for us but we’ve played very well without him,” added Ancelotti.

“It’s important that he comes back here because we have a lot of games in this period and we need to have a lot of players able to play.”

However Juliano Belletti won’t be available for up to a month after a scan revealed the Brazilian defender suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s FA Cup win at Preston.

COBHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, arsenal, Birmingham, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, compromise, contract resolution, didier drogba, England, France, home match, impr, Ivory Coast, league games, london club, MADRID, negotiations, new contract, Nicolas, premier league, Preston, real madrid, right solution, Salomon Kalou, seven times, stamford bridge, Sunderland, west london

Marquez close to Barca extension

November 16, 2009

Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez claims his protracted contract negotiations are close to reaching a conclusion.

The Mexican centre-back has been in talks with the Catalan giants for some time, without actually signing any paperwork and it is believed that the length of the terms on offer initially proved to be a sticking point for both parties.

It appears a compromise has been reached, though, as Marquez is ready to commit his future to the reigning European champions.

“The renewal is very close,” he told AS.

“It is a matter of finding the time to do so. This is where I’m making my life now and I feel very comfortable, I do not want to change. I have found happiness and contentment.”

Marquez, who has won just about every domestic honour during his time at Camp Nou, has also set his sights on becoming Barcelona’s most celebrated foreign star of all-time, surpassing Philip Cocu’s total of 292 appearances for the club.

“I do not want to have nothing to show for all my years here,” he added, with 227 outings already under his belt.

“We have already achieved important things and I will remember them fondly, and it is a source of satisfaction for me.

“I would like to stay here much longer. I’m waiting for things to happen and hopefully I can reach Cocu’s total of games.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Barcelona, camp nou, compromise, conclusion, contentment, defender rafael marquez, european champions, games, happiness, honour, important things, philip cocu

Milan won´t up offer for Becks: Gaalliani

February 22, 2009

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted that his club won’t increase their reported offer of three million dollars to Los Angeles Galaxy to permanently sign on-loan midfielder David Beckham.

Galaxy chief Tim Leiweke had described the offer for the 33-year-old former England captain as ridiculous but Galliani is playing hard-ball.

Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport on Saturday, he said there would be no compromise.

"Milan have made an offer that is fair for what is essentially an eight-month loan deal because, as Leiweke said himself, David can leave for nothing on November 30," said Galliani.

"I don’t want to cause any problems, quite the contrary, I want to thank Galaxy for loaning us Beckham these last months."

However, the reported three million dollars on the table will not be increased, despite Galaxy apparently holding out for a figure nearer 12 million dollars.

"Absolutely not. I have a lot of experience with regards the price of players," added Galliani when asked if Milan would increase their bid.

"And from a point of view regarding the European parameters, there’s no sense in spending any more.

"In the States they look at the commercial aspect. But in Europe transfers are done for technical reasons.

"I’m already at the limit of the budget at my disposal."

Gazzetta claims that the budget mentioned by Galliani includes not only the transfer fee but also the conditions of Beckham’s contract offer until June 2010.

Galliani’s comments will not be well received in Los Angeles after Leiweke told Gazzetta just 24 hours earlier that he was determined not to let Beckham go on the cheap.

"Two weeks ago Milan made a ridiculous offer that took me just a few seconds to reject," he said of the reported three million dollar bid.

"With this figure Galaxy wouldn’t even be able to cover the loss in revenue from shirt sales.

"They (Milan) don’t understand that behind this affair there are fans who are threatening to give up their season tickets, there’s TV that needs to schedule which matches they will screen, sponsors who want compensation and other teams that have the right to know if Galaxy will play in their stadium with or without Beckham.

"And don’t forget that under normal circumstances our transfer window is closed. If David doesn’t come back, who are we going to replace him with?

"If Milan are so determined to buy him, why are they dragging this out for so long?

"If they think they’ll get him on the cheap that way, they’re wrong."

Gazzetta, however, speculates on a possible solution to the impasse that would see Beckham stay on at Milan until the end of the season before returning to Galaxy in June.

He would then see out the rest of the season with Galaxy before returning to Milan until June 2010.

Beckham’s current loan deal at Milan is due to run out on March 9 while the Major League Soccer season kicks-off on March 22.

If Beckham was to follow Gazzetta’s proposal, he would be available for Galaxy’s June 6 clash with Toronto, having missed 11 MLS games from a 30-match regular season.

Depending on Galaxy’s league finish and qualifying for the play-offs, he would either be available to return to Milan in October or November.

Written by: AFP

Tags: ac milan, adriano galliani, AFP, budget, commercial aspect, compromise, contrary, David, David Beckham, England, england captain, Europe, gazzetta dello sport, loan deal, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, midfielder david beckham, Milan, parameters, point of view, ROME, Serie A, tim leiweke, Toronto, vice president

LA Galaxy turn down 10 million dollar offer for Beckham – report

February 8, 2009

LOS ANGELES, California (AFP) – Los Angeles Galaxy have turned down a ten million dollar offer from AC Milan for David Beckham, currently on loan to the Serie A outfit, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday.

"We just received an offer. It was rejected," said Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, which owns the Galaxy.

Leiweke, the man instrumental in bringing the England veteran to Los Angeles from Real Madrid in 2007, did not mention a figure but the LA Times said it was believed to be at least ten million dollars.

Beckham has stated he wishes to prolong his loan-stay in Milan beyond March 9, when he should return Stateside in time for the new MLS season.

"We need to end the distractions, the circus and the zoo. If David ultimately is an asset for this team, we want him back," Leiweke said.

"If David ultimately has a hunger and a desire to come help us make the impact on the pitch that we wanted to make with him but haven’t done yet, then he’s an important member of this team and our intention is to bring him back.

"Clearly, if David’s in a position where he wants to finish the season in Milan, and Milan in turn compensates the Galaxy so that we can suffer no damages to our fans or to our team, then we’ll take a look at it," he added, alluding to a potential compromise.

Beckham, hoping to retain his place in the England set-up with an eye on the 2010 World Cup, has been in fine form for the Italians, netting twice in his opening five games and helping the side to second place in the table.

But Leiweke said Milan and Beckham had to be aware they need to play squarely by the rules.

"We have made it very clear to them that we expect David back here March 9. They agree and understand we own the contract. They understand the only way we do this is if, when this is all said and done, the Galaxy benefits.

"If the Galaxy comes out better without David than with David, then we’ll take a look at it," he insisted.

"We understand his infatuation with playing on the world’s most popular club team right now, and we understand his trying to mentally get around the idea of coming back to play with a team that didn’t make the playoffs in MLS last year."

"That said, David and us actually are talking. He has never forced our hand on anything. This is not a legal conversation and has never been a legal conversation. He does not have lawyers looking at the contract."

"David has made it very clear that if our decision is to bring him back here, he will return. Period.

"Last time I checked, we’re the ones that have the contract. So the decision as to where David’s going to play this year is as much ours as anyone’s.

"If David comes back, it will be because there were decisions made by all involved and he’ll accept that. I don’t think he’ll be as disgruntled as the media makes it out to be."

Written by: AFP

Tags: ac milan, aeg, AFP, angeles california, chief executive, compromise, David Beckham, five games, hunger, infatuation, italians, la times, los angeles galaxy, los angeles times, million dollars, MLS, mls season, real madrid, Serie A, tim leiweke, World Cup

Beckham’s At War Again!

January 27, 2009

Victoria Beckham flew home to America all alone and dressed in black after David told her he hopes to get a permanent transfer to Milan.

Victoria is said to be adamant that she will not uproot their sons from their home in America to move to another non-English speaking country.

Becks however, seem won over by his move and got off to a fantastic start whilst on loan to AC Milan from his US club LA Galaxy.

David Beckham is said to be due to return to Los Angeles on March 9th but has said that he is uncertain about his return.

This is another strain on the marriage of Posh and Becks with Victoria only offering a compromise of moving back to London to be closer to Italy but she has no intention of setting up a home there. David Beckham however wants his family to be together and all in the same city.

This must be difficult for Victoria who will no doubt be thinking about the stress of up rooting again and moving the boys away from their friends and schools. I’m sure she will miss her fabulous lifestyle in LA too and all that glorious sunshine! She has after all cracked into a smile once or twice since living there.

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