J-League’s Yokohama to approach Nakamura

February 17, 2010

The head of J-League side Yokohama Marinos said Wednesday he would approach the club’s former midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, now playing for Espanyol, about a possible transfer, local reports said.

The 31-year-old freekick specialist played for Yokohama from 1997 before moving to Italian side Reggina in 2002. He enjoyed success with Celtic, winning three league titles in four seasons, before moving to Spain.

But the star international has struggled to earn playing time at the Spanish club since transferring last year.

“I believe we will meet somewhere this week,” club president Akira Kaetsu told reporters. “All kinds of things are possible. We will not know anything until we meet,” he said.

Yokohama made a transfer offer for Nakamura last year but were outbid by Espanyol.

TOKYO (AFP)

Tags: Akira Kaetsu, club president, Espanyol, four seasons, freekick, italian side, league titles, midfielder, moving to spain, Nakamura, playing time, reggina, Spain, spanish club, star international, tokyo, YOKOHAMA, yokohama marinos

Barcelona won´t bow to big-spending Real

July 25, 2009

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has warned big-spending Real Madrid that his side won’t give up their reign as European and Spanish champions without a fight.

After playing second fiddle to Barcelona last season, Real have spent over 180 million pounds to sign stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema during the close-season.

The Bernabeu club’s spree has led many pundits to predict they will take Barcelona’s Spanish title and replace them as Champions League winners as well.

But Guardiola sees no reason why Barcelona can’t retain both trophies because his squad still has the same skill and spirit that inspired their treble triumph last season.

“We are going to try (to win everything),” Guardiola said after his side’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the Wembley Cup.

“We know Madrid paid a lot of money to get marvellous players but we are willing to attack and I am convinced we have the spirit to play good football and get something at the end of the season.”

Guardiola admitted talks to sign Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan are still on-going but he expects a positive conclusion to the negotiations soon.

The transfer moved closer to completion when Ibrahimovic agreed personal terms on Friday and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is set to move to the San Siro as part of the deal.

“Eto’o has made his decision but they are still making the negotiations. In the next few days we will know exactly what happens,” Guardiola said.

Another player who could be leaving the Nou Camp is Eidur Gudjohnsen, one of the few experienced Barcelona players to feature against Tottenham.

The former Chelsea forward has been a bit-part player since moving to Spain and is keen to find regular first-team action.

“I have spoken with Eidur. We are looking for the best situation for him,” Guardiola said. “He wants to play. We will see in the next weeks.”

Guardiola rested Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi and Andres Iniesta against Spurs, but he expects Argentina forward Messi to play 45 minutes in Sunday’s second Wembley Cup match against African champions Al Ahly.

France forward Henry is likely to miss out again as a precaution, giving Guardiola the chance to once again play the gifted youngsters who shone against Spurs.

Bojan Krkic opened the scoring in the first half before Tottenham’s teenage midfielder Jake Livermore headed a late equaliser.

“There are three, four or five players who are at a top level already,” Guardiola said.

“They are young and playing for Barcelona is not easy. But for me it is a good test to play against Tottenham, one of the best teams in England.

“It is a long season and you never know what will happen with injuries so it is great for me to know they can play a part.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: al ahly, Andres Iniesta, Argentina, Barcelona, bit part, cameroon, CHELSEA, cristiano ronaldo, England, France, gudjohnsen, Henry, inter milan, Jake Livermore, Karim Benzema, league winners, lionel messi, london, MADRID, Milan, moving to spain, nou camp, pep guardiola, personal terms, playing second fiddle, real madrid, ronaldo, samuel eto, samuel eto o, San, san siro, Spain, spanish champions, spanish title, Sweden, thierry henry, treble triumph, wembley cup, Zlatan

Japan striker Okubo rejoins Kobe from Wolfsburg

June 16, 2009

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan striker Yoshito Okubo has rejoined J-League club Vissel Kobe from Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg, where he spent the past sixth months without much playing time.

Vissel Kobe said Tuesday that 27-year-old Okubo would start training with the team the following day ahead of their next J-League match at the weekend.

Okubo, who spent a disappointing 18 months with Spain’s Real Mallorca until July 2006 in his first European stint, joined the German side last January on a contract through June 2011.

But he has been limited to nine Bundesliga appearances and scored no goal for Wolfsburg.

“I have come back, hoping to restore my intuition for playing matches,” he said, adding that he felt out of form when he recently played for Japan before they qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Okubo has scored 64 goals in 149 J-League matches since his debut with Cerezo Osaka in 2001 and five goals in 35 international matches for Japan.

After moving to Spain in January 2005, he scored scored only five goals in 39 La Liga appearances.

He returned to Osaka and then moved to Kobe in early 2007.

Okubo said he would try to help Kobe, perennial J-League strugglers, find their way into title contention and, eventually, the AFC Champions League. The club finished 10th in the J-League last year.

“I will give my all as I strongly hope to play in the ACL and win the title with this club.”