Moyes confirms Huntelaar interest

January 25, 2010

Everton manager David Moyes has confirmed his interest in AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as he attempts to bring the out-of-favor Dutch hitman to Goodison Park.

The 26-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at the San Siro and is in search of regular football ahead of the World Cup this summer.

The former Ajax front-man had only joined Milan in the summer after a brief and frustrating spell with Real Madrid.

And now it seems he could be on the move again with a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation in Italy.

And Moyes, who recently ended Jo’s loan spell from Manchester City, has confirmed he is keen to improve Everton’s goalscoring record.

“I don’t talk about players at other clubs, but if Huntelaar was available I would be interested, certainly,” the Scot admitted.

“I think we are lacking firepower at this present time. We’re creating plenty of chances but we’re not finishing games off like I think we should be.”

Huntelaar’s agent Arnold Oosterveer confirmed over the weekend there was interest from England, with Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham also mooted to be suitors.

He said: “Klaas-Jan wants to have playing time. He wants to go to the World Cup and wants to be involved.”

Tags: ac milan, Ajax, Arnold Oosterveer, David Moyes, England, firepower, front man, Goodison Park, hitman, Italy, klaas jan, Liverpool, MADRID, manchester city, Milan, pecking order, playing time, present time, real madrid, San, san siro, Scot, striker, tottenham, west ham, World Cup

Van Nistelrooy in talks with Spurs

January 19, 2010

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy on a free transfer.

Van Nistelrooy is thought to have flown to London to discuss terms and undergo a medical. It is expected that a deal for the Dutch striker will be announced today.

The 33-year-old hitman knows he needs playing time in order to make a bid to be in Holland’s World Cup squad. He hopes to revive his chances to play at the World Cup by leaving Real Madrid.

Van Nistelrooy hasn’t been on Real coach Manuel Pellegrini’s mind this season and only appeared in one La Liga match this season and has been troubled by many injuries.

He recently turned down an offer from Galatasaray because he doesn’t want to play in Turkey.

Tags: coach, galatasaray, hasn, hitman, Holland, london, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, playing time, real madrid, ruud van nistelrooy, spurs, striker, tottenham hotspur, Turkey, Van Nistelrooy, world cup squad

Huntelaar set to leave Milan

January 19, 2010

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar hopes to leave AC Milan during January’s transfer window. The Dutch striker was told several times that the club wants to keep him at Milan and he got playing time against Genoa and Juventus.

But that’s not enough for Huntelaar: the former Real Madrid forward has told his agent to look for another club.

“They told me this month that they insisted on keeping me at Milan and that they have much confidence in me,” Huntelaar told Dutch paper De Telegraaf.

“Since then I moved up in the pecking order from third striker to second striker. I also got more match action but it’s still not enough for me. I simply want more.”

Now, it seems like Milan is also convinced that an exit from the San Siro is the best solution for both.

“It looks like the club only wants to sell me but I prefer a move on loan because I still want to succeed at Milan,” said Huntelaar who has rejected a move to Shakhtar Donetsk, because he doesn’t want to play in Ukrain.

Huntelaar also excluded a return to Ajax. “I already spoke German and English and my Spanish and Italian is also pretty good. I prefer a move to one of the big four leagues,” added ‘The Hunter’ who said that there have already been six clubs that contacted his agent about a possible move.

Huntelaar joined Milan from Real Madrid this summer for €15 million. He failed to make an impact for the Rossoneri and has been warming the bench most of the time. Milan boss Leonardo prefers Marco Borriello at the striker position.

Tags: Ajax, bench, best solution, Borriello, de telegraaf, donetsk, dutch paper, genoa, juventus, klaas jan huntelaar, leonardo, MADRID, Marco Borriello, match, Milan, pecking order, playing time, real madrid, rossoneri, San, several times, striker

Dassier issues Mancini ultimatum

January 16, 2010

Olympique Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier claims that if Mancini does not sign by Sunday the deal, concerning a switch to Stade Velodomre, is off.

The French giants have been pursuing the versatile Brazil international for the past fortnight and agreed a deal in principle with Internazionale on Wednesday night to sign him until the end of the season.

Mancini has yet to put pen to paper on a deal at the Stade Velodrome, with Manchester City and AC Milan also said to be interested in the 29-year-old, and Dassier has now laid down an ultimatum.

“It shouldn’t be too long now,” he told L’Equipe.

“We sent off the last documents asked for by his agent yesterday at midday.

“We have decided to wait for his response until Sunday. After, it will be too late.”

Mancini joined Inter from Roma in 2008 but is desperate for playing time after making just six league appearances all season.

Tags: AC, ac milan, brazil, fortnight, giants, internazionale, jean claude dassier, Jean-Claude, l equipe, league appearances, manchester city, Marseille, midday, olympique marseille, pen to paper, playing time, principle, Roma, stade velodrome, ultimatum, wednesday night

Flamini: ‘Inter on top because they are lucky’

January 15, 2010

Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini has hit out at rivals Internazionale by saying that their success is born from the seed of luck.

“Inter are catchable,” said the former Arsenal player. “But they have been really lucky, or we would have decreased the gap by now.”

Inter are eight points ahead of rival Milan, who do have a game in hand.

“We have to stay focused ahead of the derby, which is just around the corner.”

Flamini’s lack of regular playing time has seen him linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he hopes to stay at the San Siro and convince coach Leonardo.

“I am waiting for Leonardo to make his decisions. I am always ready for the team, but the decisions whether I play are with him,” he concluded.

Tags: arsenal, arsenal player, coach, decisions, game, gap, Hotspur, Inter, internazionale, leonardo, Mathieu Flamini, midfielder, Milan, playing, playing time, rivals, San, san siro

Hamstring injury rules out Higuain

January 12, 2010

Real Madrid will be without Gonzalo Higuain for the next three weeks. The Argentine striker suffers from a hamstring injury.

Real’s top scorer played the full 90 minutes on Sunday against Mallorca but tests have revealed he has sustained a left foot injury that will sideline him around three weeks.

Higuain’s injury comes as a big blow to Madrid, with the youngster having scored 11 goals in his last 10 matches. It should see more playing time given to Karim Benzema, who admitted on Monday to feeling somewhat frustrated with his current role as substitute at the Spanish giants.

Real, who will also be without injured playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, are two points behind leaders Barcelona at the top of the league.

Tags: Argentine, Barcelona, foot injury, giants, Gonzalo, Karim Benzema, left foot, MADRID, Mallorca, playing time, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, Real, real madrid, sideline, striker, top scorer, Vaart, van der vaart

Vieira claims Manchester City move

January 7, 2010

Patrick Vieira is on the brink of moving to Manchester City. The Internazionale midfielder is set to sign a contract with the Citizens on Thursday or Friday.

Vieira wants to boost his chances for a World Cup spot at City, where he hopes to receive more playing time than he got at Inter.

“I spent three wonderful years at Inter, but I want to play at the World Cup and it’s not possible if I stay here,” Vieira told Infosport.

“At Inter, I am not the first choice of (coach) Jose Mourinho. I accept it.

“But, this year, the important thing for me is to go to Manchester to show that I am the same level as when I played at Inter with Mancini.”

Mourinho had previously said he expected Vieira to leave, praising his professionalism but admitting that the 33-year-old Senegal-born was not in his plans.

Tags: brink, citizens, CITY, city move, coach, first choice, Jose, Manchester, manchester city, mancini, midfielder, patrick vieira, playing time, professionalism, Senegal, spent three, world cup spot

Nakamura keen on Espanyol stay

December 24, 2009

Shunsuke Nakamura may have been one of the biggest disappointments in Primera Division, but the Japan international is not ready to call it quits.

The 31-year-old, who rejected a return to Japan to realise his dream of playing in Spain in the summer, has stated that he will fight to cement a regular first-team place at Espanyol.

The former Celtic star was left out the squad that took on Almeria in last weekend’s league fixture, prompting the Japanese press to question his future at Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

However, Nakamura is not eyeing a move next month and is determined to fight his way back into the team.

“I need to find a solution which will help me play more games,” the midfielder told Nikkan Sports.

“At the moment, I’m not too happy about things. I just need to keep on trying. It’s all about trial and error.”

With the 2010 World Cup just over six months away, it is suggested his place in the Japan national team is under serious threat.

Despite his lack of playing time at Espanyol, Nakamura has received the full backing of Japan boss Takeshi Okada and only an injury will rule him out of the tournament.

Tags: almeria, biggest disappointments, boss, cornella, Cornella-El, dream, el prat, Espanyol, Estadi, Japan, japan international, japan national team, japanese press, keen, league fixture, midfielder, nikkan sports, okada, playing time, shunsuke nakamura, six months, Spain, takeshi, Takeshi Okada, trial and error, World Cup

Nakamura ponders future on Espanyol bench

December 22, 2009

Japan’s midfield dynamo Shunsuke Nakamura, struggling to earn playing time at Espanyol, says he plans some soul-searching after missing two straight La Liga matches, Japanese media reported Tuesday.

Espanyol beat Almeria 2-0 at home on Sunday when manager Mauricio Pochettino used three midfield substitutes, but not the 31-year-old Japanese dead-ball specialist who joined the Barcelona outfit from Celtic in June.

“It feels great to win,” Nakamura told Japanese media after Espanyol ended a five-game losing streak. But he added: “After seeing the substitutions … I feel compelled to think about many things.”

He did not elaborate but Japanese sports dailies took his comment as a hint of his readiness to ponder his future with Espanyol ahead of next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The left-footer has yet to score a goal in 10 La Liga matches, and has not made the starting line-up since playing in the 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on November 29.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who counts on Nakamura for his distribution and scoring ability, has expressed full confidence in him.

Okada said last week that Nakamura’s decision to move to Spain ahead of the World Cup had reflected a “challenging spirit” and would have a positive effect on his career.

“In this sense, I believe he will definitely remain an essential player for Japan’s national team although he has limited chances to play in matches at present,” the coach said.

But Frenchman Philippe Troussier, who led Japan to an unprecedented last-16 spot in the 2002 World Cup on home turf, said this month that Okada should not take Nakamura for granted as a midfield lynchpin but stimulate competition for starting places.

Okada has set his sights on a semi-final spot in South Africa, a target seen by most pundits as unrealistic.

TOKYO (AFP)

Tags: atletico madrid, Barcelona, dailies, dynamo, frenchman philippe troussier, game losing streak, home turf, japan coach, japanese media, japanese sports, lynchpin, MADRID, Mauricio Pochettino, midfield, Nakamura, okada, Philippe Troussier, playing time, South Africa, Spain, starting line, takeshi, Takeshi Okada, target, tokyo, world cup finals

Guti misses ‘El Clasico’

November 25, 2009

Real Madrid will have to do without Guti for their upcoming competition clash with Barcelona. The attacking midfielder hasn’t received any playing time in recent games, and he will also miss the highly rated fixture with Barca. The 33-year-old has been suffering from a thigh injury for quite a while now and on Wednesday, Real’s medical team told him he won’t be able to play in Sunday’s ‘El Clasico’.

Initially, it looked like Guti suffered from a minor injury but further research confirmed a tear in his thigh muscle. Real’s doctors couldn’t predict how long his injury will keep Guti sidelined. He has not featured in the famous white shirt since October 27 when Real suffered an embarrasing defeat against third division side Alcorcon (4-0).

The game between Barcelona and Real Madrid, next Sunday at Camp Nou, will decide who will go on top in La Liga. Real enters the first Clasico of the season with a one-point advantage over their Catalan rivals.

Paul Haring