Inter make Arnautovic swoop
August 7, 2009
Serie A champions Internazionale Milano FC have completed the signing of Eredivisie FC Twente’s forward Marko Arnautovic on a season long loan.
The 20-year-old Austrian had long been linked with a move to the San Siro but a foot injury he picked up in the KNVB Beker Cup final in May appeared to have scuppered the deal.
However, the Serie A champions confirmed the 20-year-old will be part of Jose Mourinho’s squad next season.
A brief statement on www.inter.it, read: “FC Internazionale announce they have deposited this morning the necessary documents for the transfer of the Austrian attacker Marko Arnautovic from Twente to the Nerazzurri.
“The two clubs agreed that it will be a loan deal with the option to buy.”
Arnautovic started his career with Floridsdorfer AC, before being scouted by Twente, who bought the 6 ft 3.5 in forward.
The Austrian international was a revelation for the Eredivisie outfit, last season, as he struck 12 times in 28 appearances to help Twente to second place in the Dutch League.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: attacker, Dutch, dutch league, Eredivisie, fc twente, foot injury, Jose, jose mourinho, knvb, knvb beker, loan deal, milano, morning, necessary documents, rajput, revelation, San, san siro, squad, swoop, transferRelated posts
Raul doesn´t want “artificial” call-up for gala match
February 18, 2009
MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid veteran striker Raul does not want to be called up for a November friendly against Argentina to mark the Spanish Federation’s centenary as he perceives it would comprise an "artificial" homage to him, AS sports daily said Tuesday.
Raul did not make the squad for last summer’s Euro 2008 triumph and has not featured for the "Furia roja" for the past two seasons despite a return to form at club level which last week saw him become his club’s all-time top scorer with 309 league goals.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was seeking to call him up for the centenary at Real’s Bernabeu stadium in recognition of his exploits – he is also Spain’s all-time top scorer with 44 goal – but AS indicated the 31-year-old player was not keen if it meant a one-off "artificial homage".
Vicente del Bosque has not called Raul back in to the squad for World Cup qualifiers this season despite his good form and despite the fact that the coach enjoyed great success with Raul in Madrid with two Champions League amd two domestic titles between 1999 and 2003.
"He (Raul) does not want to beg, he does not want homages. He just wants to be called up on merit," the player’s agent Gines Carvajal said.
Written by: AFP
Tags: AFP, Argentina, bernabeu, bernabeu stadium, Champions, champions league, domestic titles, Euro, euro 2008, exploits, fact, football, football federation, Furia, gines carvajal, homage, LA Liga, league goals, MADRID, raul, real madrid, recognition, RFEF, Spain, spanish federation, spanish football, squad, summer, top scorer, two seasons, veteran striker, vicente del bosque, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Strachan fears misery of Old Firm defeat
February 14, 2009
GLASGOW (AFP) – Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admits he isn’t looking forward to Sunday’s crucial Old Firm derby against Rangers because losing will be so painful.
Strachan’s team are only two points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League table after Rangers came back from a seven-point deficit in recent weeks.
A Rangers win at Parkhead this weekend would lift Walter Smith’s side above Celtic into first place.
That is a disturbing prospect for Strachan, who has already suffered the misery of Rangers winning 4-2 on Celtic’s home turf back in August.
"It’s a huge game. You look forward to it; there’s no doubt about that but you dread, you just dread, getting beaten," Strachan said.
The Premier League champions got revenge for that Rangers defeat with a 1-0 win at Ibrox in December and, however much he hates the thought of losing, Strachan is convinced that the destination of the title won’t be decided on Sunday because the teams are capable of dropping points against lesser opposition.
"I think it’s been proved in the last couple of (Old Firm) games that it doesn’t determine where trophies go," he said.
"The two teams are making mistakes elsewhere. But we will not think about that on Sunday; we will just think about winning the game and seeing where that takes us.
"Rangers have picked up more points than us recently, while we have not done enough to keep seven points ahead. So we only have ourselves to blame on that count.
"We do feel we have enough in our squad, that we should have done better but we didn’t. We can’t play the games again so we got on with it."
Strachan called for some humour to be injected into the traditionally tense fixture by the two sets of fans, who often fill the stadium with sectarian chants.
"In Old Firm games, the excitement is great, the atmosphere is great and the build-up is fantastic," he said. "Hopefully, there is a sense of humour as well between the two sets of fans.
"It’s good when they use their humour rather than, sometimes, bile.
"It’s good between the two dugouts. There is a bit of sanity in the respect that you get between both managers and the coaches.
"I’ve never had any problems with them and they’ve never had any problems with us. But it would be nice to see a good sense of humour in the chants."
Strachan’s mood changed when asked about keeper Artur Boruc, whose training-ground spat with midfielder Aiden McGeady a fortnight ago still rumbles on.
"That’s finished, we move on," he said: "You have to deal with bits and bobs throughout the season and I’m all right with it – it’s just the rest of the world that is mad!"
Written by: AFP
Tags: AFP, Artur Boruc, build-up, celtic, chants, count, derby, dread, excitement, fixture, Glasgow, gordon strachan, home turf, Ibrox, keeper, league champions, misery, no doubt, Old, place, point deficit, prospect, rangers, revenge, rivals, sanity, Scottish, Scottish Premier League, scottish premier league table, sense of humour, seven points, squad, trophies, walter smith, weekend, winning the gameRelated posts
Dinamo Moscow sign Romanian Ropotan
February 14, 2009
Russian side Dinamo Moscow have strengthened their squad for the upcoming season, with the arrival of Romanian midfielder Adrian Ropotan.
The 22-year-old makes a move from Dinamo Bucharest, where he made his debut in 2004. Since then, he played 45 games for the Romanian side.
Ropotan costs Dinamo Moscow a reported amount of three million Euros, and should remain in the Russian capital until 2012.
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Tags: Adrian Ropotan, amount, arrival, bucharest, debut, Dinamo, dinamo bucharest, dinamo moscow, Euros, games, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, Ligue 1, midfielder, Moscow, move, Romanian, roorda, Rusia Premier League, russian capital, russian side, season, sign, squadRelated posts
Torres admits Man Utd now in pole position
January 13, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Fernando Torres has admitted that Manchester United’s demolition of Chelsea at the weekend has put them in pole position to claim a third consecutive Premier League title.
But the Liverpool striker remains confident that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side can be knocked off their perch and has billed the meeting between the two clubs at Old Trafford on March 14 as a potential title decider.
A 3-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday means United will displace Liverpool at the top of the table for the first time this season if they beat Wigan on Wednesday evening then take all three points from their trip to Bolton on Saturday.
"United are the champions right now, they are the favourites," Torres told reporters at FIFA’s World Player of the Year award in Zurich on Monday evening.
"They have shown in the last few years that they’re a very strong side. Look at the great players they have, and they have played two matches fewer, so they could catch up and even go top."
The win over a weary-looking Chelsea has seen bookmakers and pundits install United as odds-on favourites to retain their title in the belief that Ferguson’s side has come through the toughest part of the season.
The successful trip to Japan for the World Club championship did not result in any dropped points on the squad’s return to domestic action and United have already played all their away matches against other members of England’s current Champions League quartet.
"We all know what Manchester United are about," Torres added. "They are champions of England, Europe, the world.
"We do respect them as a team. They have class, they have classy players, we are struggling to keep up with them and stay ahead of them. So, they have quality. But we have options and know the chances we have. I think United have their chances as do Liverpool and Chelsea.
"We have to fight until the end and see what happens. Old Trafford is waiting and hopefully we can make it on an equal footing and try to benefit from a place not always advantageous to us."
Liverpool’s determination to wrest the Premier League trophy away from their great rivals was underlined last week by their manager, Rafael Benitez, ferocious verbal onslaught on Ferguson.
One of Benitez’s key claims — that United had been unsettled by the re-emergence of Liverpool as serious title contenders — was undermined somewhat by his side’s lacklustre display in Saturday’s goalless draw at Stoke.
Torres, who did not start that match, admitted Liverpool could not afford too many more slip-ups.
"The league is extremely important for Liverpool and the people of the city — it’s been 19 years (since the last title) , so is possibly more important than the Champions League. We would certainly like to give back this title."
Benitez meanwhile has predicted that it will take fewer points to win the title than has been the case in the last five seasons because the top flight has become more competitive.
"You can clearly see that there is not much of a points difference between a lot of teams," Benitez said. "That means everyone can beat everyone.
"It could be that it takes fewer points to win the title because you can lose games you expect to win."
United won last season’s title with 87 points and Chelsea amassed a remarkable 95 points in 2004-05, Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge.
Having played 19 matches (exactly half their total fixtures) so far this season, United have claim 41 points so Ferguson’s side will have to improve significantly in the run-in if they are to approach last season’s haul and disprove Benitez’s theory.
Written by: AFP
Tags: AFP, bookmakers, champions league, CHELSEA, England, English Premier League, equal footing, Europe, Fernando Torres, FIFA, Japan, Jose, Liverpool, london, Manchester, Old, old trafford, pole position, premier league, pundits, quartet, quot, rafael benitez, sir alex ferguson, squad, striker, strong side, Trafford, wednesday evening, Wigan, world club championship, year, ZURICHRelated posts
Tottenham´s King fears relegation
January 12, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King has told his team-mates they "will go down" from the Premier League unless there is a marked improvement in the north London club’s performances.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp accused some of his players of lacking the character for a relegation scrap after Sunday’s 1-0 stoppage-time loss away to Wigan left his side rooted in the bottom three.
Tottenham enjoyed a revival when Redknapp arrived at White Hart Lane from Premier League rivals Portsmouth in October.
But although their knockout form has held up – the League Cup holders are on course for the final after a 4-1 semi-final first leg win over Burnley – it has been a different story in the Premier League
"We have to improve, otherwise we will go down. It is simple," centre-half King told Monday’s London Evening Standard.
"We need people to stand up and fight for each other, and be counted as men and as players.
"That has not been happening enough, which is why we find ourselves in this position."
King added: "We are not playing well away from home, but when that happens, you have to work hard and maintain your focus.
"We are conceding late goals because of a lack of concentration. We are switching off, and that sums us up at the moment."
Redknapp, who left 15 million pounds pre-season Spurs signing David Bentley on the bench against Wigan said the expensively assembled squad he’s inherted from Juande Ramos had to start proving their worth, regardless of anything he did during the January transfer window.
"The club have paid a lot of money for these players because they are supposed to be quality players but they need to show that on the pitch.
"We have some players in there who need to do a lot better than they are at the moment," Redknapp said.
Asked about bringing in new recruits, Redknapp added: "I haven’t got anyone in mind.
"It is pretty quiet really. Where do you find good players this time of year? It is hard."
Written by: AFP
Tags: captain Ledley, David Bentley, different story, English Premier League, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, Hotspur, juande ramos, knockout, lack of concentration, league rivals, ledley king, london, london evening standard, manager, new recruits, north London, north london club, Portsmouth, premier league, quality players, Ramos, spurs, squad, stoppage time, time loss, time of year, tottenham, tottenham hotspur, white hart lane, winRelated posts
Domenech resolved to see France in Africa 08
January 7, 2009
PARIS (AFP) – France coach Raymond Domenech has only one New Year’s resolution – being spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing his team for two "decisive" World Cup qualifiers this spring.After three of 10 qualifying matches in their Europe zone group 7 France sit third on four points, five adrift of leaders Serbia and second placed Lithuania, both of whom have played four matches.France resume qualifying against Lithuania, in Kaunas, on March 28 before hosting the former Soviet Republic at the Stade de France four days later on April 1.Domenech, who survived a vote of confidence a few months back after a dreadful Euro 2008 campaign where they went out in the first round and then a series of disappointing performances since then, wished his squad a traditional New Year’s ‘good health’ but said he would be much happier if they all avoided injury mishaps for the double header in a few months time."French football has only one wish this year, and that’s for us to be qualified for the World Cup in South Africa come October," Domenech said in a video posted on the French federation’s website Tuesday."I wish all my players good health, and that this year I will be spoiled for choice."There are two decisive matches against Lithuania in March. If we get past that obstacle, it will be a significant step forward. "That’s all we’ll be doing in February, preparing the players for these two games. We have to accept the players will be involved in league games, the Champions League, Cup ties and so on."But we must be ready. This is where the World Cup begins."France’s first match of 2009 is a friendly against Argentina on February 11 in Marseille.
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Tags: Africa, Argentina, champions league cup, cup ties, double header, euro 2008, Europe, europe zone, four points, France, france coach, french federation, french football, good health, kaunas, League, league games, Ligue 1, Lithuania, Marseille, match, mishaps, PARIS, quot, raymond domenech, South Africa, soviet republic, squad, Stade, stade de france, Tuesday, vote of confidence, World Cup, world cup qualifiers, zone groupRelated posts
Middlesbrough´s Downing hands in transfer request
January 6, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Middlesbrough’s England winger Stewart Downing took a step closer to joing Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur by handing in a transfer request on Monday.Downing’s move came just hours after Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson insisted the 24-year-old would not be leaving the north-east club during January’s transfer window.Although he signed a new five-year contract with Middlesbrough in February last year, Downing has grown increasingly frustrated with what he regards as his home town club’s lack of ambition.Downing’s father, Stewart senior, told Middlesbrough’s Evening Gazette on Monday: "Stewart’s been frustrated since the summer, really."When he signed his new contract he was assured that there would be significant investment in the squad."He feels that the club haven’t matched those expectations. He’s also frustrated that the team is once again struggling in the Premier League."Obviously as a Middlesbrough lad, he’s thought long and hard about the decision to hand in a transfer request, and he also hopes the fans will understand his reasons for doing so."Boro are understood to want 15 million pounds (16.5 million euros) for Downing with Spurs opening their bidding at only 11 million pounds.Tottenham’s initial offer was branded "derisory" by Boro chief executive Keith Lamb, who also told the News of the World on Sunday that Spurs were guilty of hypocrisy when it came to prising players away from their clubs."Who on earth do they think they are? They bleated away when Dimitar Berbatov left for Manchester United in the summer – but they sold at top dollar."Then they want to snatch other players for derisory offers and try to unsettle players. That is what has happened here. Their offer is a joke."Why would we sell our best players to our nearest rivals? Stewart is going nowhere," said Lamb.
Written by:
Tags: 5 million, AFP, ambition, Club, England, English Premier League, evening gazette, hypocrisy, keith lamb, league rivals, london, Manchester, manchester united, middlesbrough, new contract, news of the world, premier league, quot, spurs, squad, steve gibson, Stewart, stewart downing, summer, top dollar, transfer request, wingerRelated posts
Clough in frame for Derby role
January 5, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Nigel Clough could become the new manager of Derby County – the club his father Brian transformed into the champions of England more than 35 years ago – in just a "matter of days".
Adam Pearson, Derbys chairman of football, told reporters in a conference call on Monday: "Nigel is one of the names in the frame… weve spoken to his chairman and everything seems positive."
Derby, now just above the relegation zone in the second-tier Championship, are presently without a full-time manager after Paul Jewell resigned last week following an unsuccessful 13-month spell in charge which saw the club relegated from the lucrative Premier League.
But the clubs American owners are determined to take the Midlands side back to the top-flight.
And Derby fans will have a fresh taste of the big-time when their side plays English, European and world champions Manchester United at Pride Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final.
Since retiring as a player Nigel Clough, a former England midfielder, has built a reputation as a manager in non-league football with Derbys near neighbours Burton Albion, where he has been in charge for over a decade.
"There is obviously a connection with his father but, more importantly he ticks the boxes on a number of other attributes," Pearson said of Clough.
"We are looking for a manager who can develop, coach and build the confidence of what we believe to be a good squad of players. Nigel has that manner, he is firm and fair, considerate and intelligent and confident.
"Is it a done deal? No, its not," Pearson stressed. "There are other young, upcoming managers also in the frame who have similar attributes. We are looking for that type of manager.
"We havent had a formal discussion with Nigel but the appointment of a permanent manager is literally days away.
"Nigel is very much in the frame. Ive known him a very long time and he has the right attributes and the right skills. Weve spoken to his chairman about the possibility and everything seems positive.
"But there are also one or two others, which we are keeping under wraps, who we are also having close discussions with. But it would be foolhardy not to admit my interest in Nigel."
Clough, 42, grew up in Derby when his father was Countys manager.
Brian Clough turned a team languishing in the old Second Division when he became Derby manager in 1967 into First Division champions at the end of the 1971/72 season.
However, in 1973, he resigned following a power struggle with Derby chairman Sam Longson.
Written by: AFP
Tags: Adam Pearson, appointment, attributes, big time, Brian, brian clough, burton albion, Club, coach, Conference, conference call, derby county, derby fans, derbys, Division, England, English, havent, league football, london, Manchester, manchester united, manner, midfielder, Midlands, MLS, neighbours, Nigel, nigel clough, Paul Jewell, pearson, player, premier league, pride park, relegation, relegation zone, Sam, squad, time manager, top flight, United, world championsRelated posts
Man United stay on course for quadruple
January 5, 2009
SOUTHAMPTON, England (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson may have said it was "not realistic" for Manchester United to win a unique European and domestic quadruple but he still believes his squad can compete on four fronts.
United opened their FA Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Championship strugglers Southampton at St Mary’s here Sunday.
Goals from youngsters Danny Welbeck and Darron (attn eds: correct) Gibson either side of a controversial Nani penalty maintained Ferguson’s proud record of having never lost a third round tie in his 22-year reign at Old Trafford.
United, well placed in their quest for a third successive Premier League title, are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League and face Derby in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
No team have ever won all four trophies in the same season but Ferguson said: "I think we have a good enough squad to compete in every competition, as long as we do not pick up any injuries. That is the most important thing.
"Cup football is a knockout situation so you never know what is going to happen," the 67-year-old Scot added.
"We have some good young players at the club and these games are an opportunity for them to get some experience under their belts.
"Players like Welbeck and Gibson have shown today they have the confidence and the right temperament."
United’s next FA Cup opponents are Tottenham, whose manager Harry Redknapp was in charge of Portsmouth when the holders defeated Ferguson’s men in a quarter-final at Old Trafford last season.
"It’s a mouth-watering game. Matches between us are always very competitive and we beat them at the same stage last season.
"Their manager Harry Redknapp was in charge at Portsmouth when they knocked us out in the quarter-finals so hopefully we can get our own back."
Ferguson was able to rest star winger Cristiano Ronaldo while England striker Wayne Rooney was left on the bench until the final 27 minutes.
Teenager Welbeck was not even born when Ferguson lifted the first of his five FA Cups in 1990 but the 18-year-old showed he has ability beyond his years by opening the scoring in the 20th minute.
John O’Shea headed against the underside of the crossbar from Ryan Giggs’s corner and Welbeck was quickest to react and nod the rebound into an empty net.
Southampton’s hopes of an upset were all but ended eight minutes before half-time when striker Matt Paterson was shown a straight red card for a wreckless two-foot lunge on Nemanja Vidic.
Nani doubled United’s lead from the penalty spot three minutes into the second half after referee Mike Riley harshly adjudged David McGoldrick to have handled the Portugal international’s free-kick.
Victory was secured nine minutes from time when substitute Gibson applied the finish to Rooney’s pinpoint cross to register his first United goal.
Ferguson singled out Welbeck for praise, saying: "Danny did fine. We know about his temperament, he has got quality and is learning all the time."
Southampton, who upset the odds to beat United in the 1976 FA Cup final, are now second from bottom in the second-tier Championship.
They were always likely to struggle against a United team, which also featured Edwin van der Sar, Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson and Gary Neville.
Saints manager Jan Poortvliet said his side had been on the wrong end of several bad decisions by Riley.
"Their first goal was offside, in my opinion, it was not a sending-off and it was not a penalty," the Dutchman insisted.
Written by:
Tags: AFP, charge, Club, competition, confidence, cristiano ronaldo, cup campaign, cup football, Danny Welbeck, darron, David McGoldrick, FA Cup, game, Gibson, Harry Redknapp, Jan Poortvliet, John O'Shea, knockout, manchester united, Matt Paterson, Michael Carrick, Mike Riley, mouth watering, nani, Neville, old trafford, opportunity, penalty, premier league, proud record, quarter finals, quest, reign, Riley, ronaldo, round, ryan giggs, Scot, sir alex ferguson, Southampton, southampton england, squad, St Mary, striker, temperament, tottenham, wayne rooney, Wednesday, welbeck, wingerRelated posts
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