Mancini confirms Robinho loan talks

January 26, 2010

Manchester City are in negotiations about loaning record signing Robinho to one of two Brazilian clubs, Santos or Sao Paulo, City manager Roberto Mancini confirmed on Tuesday.

Mancini also revealed that the Brazilian, signed from Real Madrid in 2008 for a British transfer record of 32.5 million pounds, is in his squad for Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

“It is possible that something could happen,” Mancini said.

“This kind of thing does happen. I know in Italy there were instances when clubs paid a lot of money for a fantastic player but afterwards he needed to play at another club.

“Negotiations are happening but for now he is part of my squad.”

Robinho has only sporadically produced anything like his best form for City and appears to have grown disillusioned with life in the north of England.

A return to his homeland could offer Robinho the opportunity to ensure he secures a place in

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: brazilian clubs, clash, England, instances, Italy, MADRID, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, manchester united, money, negotiations, old trafford, real madrid, roberto mancini, Robinho, Santos, sao paulo

Wolfsburg targets Brazilian defenders

January 26, 2010

VfL Wolsburg are on the hunt for two Brazilian defenders, a day after the dismissal of head coach Armin Veh.

Wolfsburg is close to sealing the deal on Rever. The reigning German champions will pay approximately €5 million for the Gremio centre back.

Wolfsburg moved for Rever after they failed to sign Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Miranda (Sao Paulo) and Douglas (Twente).

However, Die Wolfe face stiff competition from Lazio in the race for the defender’s signature. The Italians are supposedly ready to make a move for Rever as well.

Wolfsburg also hopes to land Schalke’s Rafinha, in a bid to further bolster their struggling defence (they already conceded 38 goals this league campaign).

The Brazilian right back wants to leave Schalke, but has a price tag that scares many interested clubs.

“It’s not likely that he will join us,” said Wolfsburg’s technical director Dieter Hoeness. “We’re not willing to pay ten to fourteen million for him.”

Meanwhile, German media report that former Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster is the main candidate to succeed Armin Veh at the Volkswagen Arena. Other names that are mentioned are former VfB Stuttgart coach Lucien Favre and Huub Stevens, the Dutch tactician who’s currently in charge of Salzburg.

Tags: Armin Veh, Bernd Schuster, dieter, Dieter Hoeness, Douglas, face stiff competition, german champions, german media, head coach armin, huub stevens, italians, kjaer, lazio, league campaign, MADRID, Palermo, price tag, rafinha, real madrid, Salzburg, sao paulo, Simon Kjaer, stuttgart, tactician, technical director, Wolfsburg

Mexican champ Monterrey advances to Libertadores

January 15, 2010

Mexican Apertura champion Monterrey defeated America 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to claim the 2010 InterLiga title and a place in the start of next month’s Copa Libertadores.

Wednesday night’s victory before a capacity crowd of 27,000 at The Home Depot Center put Monterrey, which in December qualified for the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League, in Group 2 of the Libertadores along with Sao Paulo of Brazil, Nacional of Paraguay and Once Caldas of Colombia. It begins play Feb. 10 against Sao Paulo.

Monterrey finished second in its InterLiga group behind Puebla, earning the match against America, which it beat in the quarterfinals of the Apertura Liguilla.

Estudiantes Tecos also advanced to the Libertadores, rallying to beat Puebla 3-2 earlier in the night and securing a place in the preliminary round. It will face Juan Aurich of Peru in a two-leg series for a berth in the main draw.

Both join fellow Mexican clubs Morelia, San Luis and CD Guadalajara in the Libertadores. Morelia had the best regular-season record in the Mexican league of any team not already playing in the CONCACAF Champions League. San Luis and CD Guadalajara were given a special invitation following their withdrawal from last year’s tournament due to influenza fears.

CARSON, California

Concacaf

Tags: America, berth, brazil, California, capacity crowd, CARSON, carson california, champ, colombia, concacaf, concacaf champions league, copa libertadores, Guadalajara, home depot, home depot center, influenza, interliga, invitation, Juan, juan aurich, mexican apertura, Monterrey, paraguay, peru, Puebla, quarterfinals, San, sao paulo, tecos, wednesday night

Luis Fabiano drops transfer hint

December 21, 2009

Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano has hinted at a possible move away from Spain. However, any transfer will have to take place after this summer’s World Cup as a January move is “risky” before the Finals.

The Brazilian ace was chased by AC Milan at the start of the season. But Sevilla’s asking price was deemed too high by Milan’s board who settled for Klass Jan Huntelaar.

Meanwhile Premier League duo Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with a New Year move for the 29-year-old. United have struggled to get the goals in while Chelsea are reportedly keen to fill the void that will be left by Didier Drogba come the African Cup of Nations.

But Fabiano believes that a Winter swap of clubs would be too risky. Thus, he will not be moving away from the Spanish team before next summer’s prestigious international tournament.

Fabiano is aware of the great interest in his services. He has spoken out about the issue, conceding that he is a big fan of Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and United’s style of play.

“A January move would be too risky,” he is quoted by Daily Star Sunday

“You’d have to deal with changes too close to the World Cup and there’s little time to recover from any setbacks.

“If a club approaches Sevilla then, they will make their lives as hard as they can, just like they did with AC Milan.

“But after the World Cup it’s a different story.

“I see United as a team with a very interesting style of play, of passing, of crossing. I think it would be easy to fit in.

“Then there’s the Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, whom I really admire, and Sir Alex Ferguson, too.”

Fabiano, Sevilla’s number 10, is almost certainly going to fly to South Africa with the Brazilian national team. He has played with Ponte Preta, Rennes, Sao Paulo and Porto before joining Sevilla in 2005.

Tags: ac milan, african cup of nations, asking price, brazilian national team, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, daily star, didier, different story, Jan Huntelaar, little time, luis fabiano, Manchester, manchester united, Milan, PORTO, premier league, preta, Rennes, s board, sao paulo, season, setbacks, SEVILLA, sir alex ferguson, South Africa, Spain, spanish team

Quick Report: Barcelona win Club World Cup

December 19, 2009

FC Barcelona have won the FIFA Club World Cup for their first time in history following a 2-1 victory over Argentinian side Estudiantes. Extra time was needed to decide the match.

Estudiantes, who had beaten Korean outfit Pohang Steelers in the semi finals, surprised Barcelona with an opening goal from Mauro Boselli in the 37th minute.

In the second half, Barcelona began a frantic hunt for the equaliser and were rewarded in the 89th minute when Pedro chipped keeper Albil for 1-1.

Estudiantes looked exhausted at this point and it was no surprise that Barcelona dominated in extra time.

The winning goal came after 110 minutes, when a right-winged cross was chested home by World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

Barcelona lost both of their previous intercontinental finals. In 2006, Internacional of Porto Alegre lifted the trophy and Sao Paulo were the better side in the 1992 Toyota Cup.

Tags: Barcelona, boselli, equaliser, extra time, fifa club world cup, frantic hunt, lionel messi, match, mauro boselli, messi barcelona, Pedro, porto alegre, sao paulo, second half, semi finals, steelers, time in history, toyota cup, trophy, victory, world player of the year

Leaving Turkey, Roberto Carlos eyes Real return

December 15, 2009

Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, who is leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce for Sao Paulo’s Corinthians, said he hopes instead to return to Real Madrid to replace the injured Pepe.

“I am negotiating my December departure from Fenerbahce,” he told Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Tuesday.

Reports from Turkey last week said Carlos, whose contract with Fenerbahce ends on December 20, had agreed a two-year deal with Corinthians.

Corinthians “are interested in me and we have a verbal agreement, but if Real calls me I will go immediately.”

The 36-year-old arrived at the Turkish club in 2007 after 11 years with Real, which is now seeking a replacement for Pepe, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

“My life in football and the club of my heart is Real,” Marca quoted Carlos as saying. “It would be a dream to return home to the Bernabeu and help this club win titles.”

Earlier, Fenerbahce said on their website that the defender had met with club chairman Aziz Yildirim to agree his departure while Hurriyet and Sabah newspapers reported that there would be a small ceremony for Roberto Carlos following Thursday’s Europa League match at home to Sheriff of Moldova.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: 11 years, AFP, bernabeu, brazil, club chairman, corinthians, fenerbahce, giants, hurriyet, knee injury, MADRID, marca, match, moldova, pepe, real madrid, roberto carlos, Sabah, sao paulo, spanish sports, Turkey, turkish club, verbal agreement

Flamengo win Brazilian Serie A

December 7, 2009

Flamengo have won the 2009 Brazilian championship in dramatic fashion as the Rio de Janeiro needed to come back from behind to beat Gremio 2-1 and defend their top spot on the final day of the season.

Gremio initially appeared to ruin Flamengo’s party at Roberson put the away side in the lead on 21 minutes.

But David equalised eight minutes later and Ronaldo Angelim’s goal for 2-1 in the 69th minute was enough for Flamengo to clinch the trophy.

It is Flamengo’s fifth national title, and their first since last winning the championship in 1992.

Internacional and Sao Paulo, who both needed Flamengo to drop points, won their home games over Santo Andre and Sport Recife respectively. Internacional closed their season with a 4-1 win, while Sao Paulo did so with a 4-0 result.

Tags: brazilian championship, dramatic fashion, fifth national title, flamengo, gremio, home games, Recife, rio de janeiro, ronaldo, Ronaldo Angelim, santo andre, sao paulo, sport recife, trophy

Everything still possible in Brazil

November 23, 2009

The Brazilian championship is everything but decided as Sao Paulo crashed to a 3-2 defeat at Botafogo on Sunday.

Jobson put Botafogo in the lead after 14 minutes but goals from Washington (45th) and Jorge Wagner (55th) turned things around in Sao Paulo’s favor.

But Botafogo had the final say, as it was Jobson to complete his hat-trick with goals in the 59th and 59th minute.

The hosts finished the game with only eight active players, as Juninho, Jobson and Rodrigo Dantas were all sent off in the final phase. Sao Paul’s Richarlyson had already been red-carded earlier on.

Flamengo could have jumped to the top of the league with just two rounds to go, but instead remain at one point from the leaders after a goalless draw with Goias.

International did win their match at Atletico Mineiro, thanks to a 15th-minute goal from Giuliano. As such, the gap between Internacional and Sao Paulo is now only three points.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Botafogo, brazil, dantas, final phase, gap, giuliano, goias, hat trick, hosts, jobson, jonathan, juninho, match, minute goal, richarlyson, rodrigo, sao paulo, Wagner

Brazil: Ronaldo goals hold Palmeiras

November 2, 2009

Palmeiras dropped two valuable points in Sunday’s match with Corinthians, as Ronaldo scored twice to hold the Brazilian Serie A leaders to a 2-2 draw.

Following Sao Paulo’s 1-0 win over Gremio Barueri on Saturday, Palmeiras needed a win to stay ahead of their principal rivals.

But Corinthians caused Palmeiras some serious trouble with Ronaldo opening the score after 39 minutes. Danilo leveled nine minutes after the break, but Ronaldo restored the away side’s lead on 64 minutes.

Mauricio had the final say, finding the target for 2-2 with seven minutes to go.

Palmeiras now have to share their lead with Sao Paulo, but do have a slightly better goal record.

Atletico Mineiro remain in third place thanks to a 2-3 win at Goias. Ricardinho, Eder Luis and Diego Tardelli scored for Mineiro, Julio Cesar and Leandro Euzebio did so for the hosts.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: brazil, brazilian serie, danilo, diego tardelli, hosts, julio cesar, Luis, match, mauricio, palmeiras, place thanks, ricardinho, rivals, ronaldo, roorda, sao paulo, score, serious trouble, target

Rogerio Ceni steals the spotlight as Sao Paulo beat Santos

October 26, 2009

Sao Paulo remain alive in the Brazilian championship, thanks to a hard-fought 3-4 victory at Santos on Sunday.

The Sao Paulo derby started well for Santos, who went ahead through Andre in the 5th minute. Hernanes leveled six minutes later, but Rodrigo Souto restored Santos’ lead in minute 25.

Washington (38th) and Jorge Wagner (59) then turned things around for Sao Paulo, but the hosts then set the score to 3-3 with an equaliser from Robson, six minutes after the hour.

The winning goal came from Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni in the 68th minute. The keeper went from hero to villain when given a red card nine minutes later, but substitute goalie Denis made sure that Santos wouldn’t score another goal.

Palmeiras lead the Brazilian Serie A with nine games to go, and have one point more than Atletico Mineiro. Internacional and Sao Paulo follow at another point.

Jonathan Roorda