tirsdag 18. mai 2010

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas Flies Back To London But Is Closer Than Ever To Barcelona Switch

*Further developments expected in next 48 hours
*No showdown talks expected as Wenger is overseas
*Spanish ace does not want 'convincing' of summer strengthening



Cesc Fabregas is preparing to fly back to London today ahead of a critical 48 hours of soul-searching about whether to make the switch from Arsenal to Barcelona, everydayworldinterest has learned.

The midfielder has told friends that he will mull over his future when he returns to England from Spain and could even make a decision in the next two days.

Barcelona today claimed that Fabregas wanted to move, suggesting that Arsenal were resisting talks. Commenting on the club's moves for Valencia's David Villa and Fabregas, Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste said: "Negotiations are progressing well, especially in the case of Villa.

"The situation with Cesc is different, because even if you have the will of the player, it's important to talk to the club and if you can, find an agreement. But what makes it easier is that both players want to come to Barca."

If the ash cloud that has caused flight restrictions across the UK does not force him into a rethink of his travel plans, Fabregas will return for treatment on the crack in his fibula that forced him to miss the last five weeks of Arsenal’s season.

Yet it is understood that there are no immediate plans for Fabregas to hold showdown talks with manager Arsene Wenger, who is currently overseas.

Instead, the Spaniard will begin some agonising as he weighs up his loyalty to Arsenal and Wenger, who provided him with the platform to build a glittering career, and his desire to return to his boyhood club Barcelona and win the trophies that he fears could be beyond the Gunners’ reach.

Arsenal remain confident that Fabregas, who is contracted to the club until 2014, will give assurances that he will remain at Emirates Stadium for one more season.

Yet there is a growing acceptance in north London that the 23-year-old is ‘wavering’ in his commitment to the club where he made his debut at 16.


Pique & Fabregas up and down to the left

The midfielder confirmed last week that he wants to play for Barcelona, who won a second consecutive League title at the weekend, “at some stage”.

He insists he wants the situation resolved before the World Cup finals begin, although Nou Camp sources say a deal is unlikely to be completed until after the Barcelona presidential elections on 13 June.

Fabregas, who was named in Spain’s initial 30-man squad for the World Cup last week, is due to meet up with the his national colleagues on Monday week.

Arsenal accept that the player and his camp are not attempting to force the club into handing over an improved contract.

Fabregas’ indecision is not about money. As revealed last month, in the 2008-09 season Arsenal handed Fabregas a £3 million ‘golden handcuffs’ payment and upped his wages by nearly 50 per cent to £110,000-a-week to keep him at the club.

The player, who said in a recent interview that he has just had his best-ever season, believes he is approaching the half-way point of his career and wants to spend his peak years with a team that has a realistic chance of winning major silverware.

Wenger’s failure to commit himself to an extended contract beyond the end of his current deal, which finishes next summer, is also believed to be a factor in Fabregas’ uncertainty.

It comes amid reports today that the Barcelona board have given the green-light to an official move for Fabregas. Manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly also prepared to offer Yaya Toure in part-exchange for the coveted playmaker.

Real Madrid Target Jose Mourinho Will Dodge Financial Exit Penalty If He Wins Champions League With Inter

Reports suggest a Champions League winning clause will mean Mourinho avoids a financial penalty if he joins Los Blancos...



Jose Mourinho will be able to join Real Madrid without paying Inter a penalty if he wins the Champions League, according to Tuttosport.

Jose Mourinho has played down speculation that he was on his way to joining the Spanish club, though he has hinted at his penchant for them.

And a clause in his current Inter deal will allow him to join Los Blancos without paying the Nerazzurri a reported €7 million compensation penalty for leaving.

When Mourinho signed his new deal last year, club president Massimo Moratti had inserted a €7m release clause, but there was also a free exit clause if he won the Champions League.

Thus Bayern Munich stand in his way this Saturday. On Sunday Mourinho had said: "After the Madrid final I will need 2-3 days to think about myself."

On Monday Inter president Moratti said he would be "surprised if Mourinho stayed", suggesting he is expecting a departure.

The 'Special One' is attracted by the lure of Real Madrid. Florentino Perez has fostered a culture of spending at the club, with Spanish press claiming he is prepared to break the bank for Mourinho.


torsdag 6. mai 2010

Theo Walcott: Arsenal Can't Use Youth As An Excuse Any More

Time for Gunners to toughen up...



Arsenal winger Theo Walcott insists that it is time for the Gunners to stop using the excuse of youth as the reason for not winning any trophies.

Arsene Wenger's side sustained a reasonable Premier League title challenge for most of the season but fell short once again in the end, and exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Barcelona.

With no success in either domestic cup competition, it means that the 'trophy drought' at the Emirates was extended by another season, and Walcott feels that the time has come for the club's youngsters to come of age.

"We can't use the experience as an excuse now, with the experiences we've had as a side," the England winger told Sky Sports News.

"We need to go that one step further.

"It's been quite hard at times. We had a lot of inuries to big players and it's been very frustrating.

"Myself as well, I've had a lot of injuries this season.

"People say if we'd had Robin [van Persie] we'd have had a bit more of a chance and I'm pretty sure if we'd had him we would have had more of a chance."

Despite the injuries, Walcott has been impressed with the way in which some players have stepped in to the side and acquitted themselves well.

"Nicklas Bendtner's done fantastically well. He's scored goals and that's what you'll be judged on," the winger added.

"We had a lot of defensive problems as well, but the likes of Sol [Campbell] came in and did a great job.

"So it's one of those things where we need to hopefully try and look after ourselves a bit better and there's a different side when you're off the pitch and we have to look after ourselves and not suffer so many injuries."

Aussie Model Rips Kim Kardashian's Ass

Australian supermodel Sophie Turner is trying desperately to take the booty crown from Kim Kardashian -- and Monday night, Sophie even engaged in some serious backside trash talk.



As she flexed her gifted glutes outside a nightclub in Hollywood, Sophie took a shot at her competition saying, "At least mine's real."

For the record -- Kim has always claimed that her butt is 100% authentic.

Butt we gotta ask ...

onsdag 5. mai 2010

Real Madrid Sign Benfica Star Angel Di Maria - Report

By Michael Jakobsen
May 5, 2010 09:31 AM

The Merengues seem to have won the race for the gifted youngster...



According to news daily Ole, Real Madrid have completed the signing of SL Benfica winger Angel di Maria.

The 22-year-old midfielder has been courted by some of Europe's biggest clubs after an impressive season at the Estadio da Luz in which he has been Benfica's main provider in the league with 11 assists.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also believed to be tracking Di Maria, but reports in Argentina claim Real Madrid have landed their man for €34,5 million, a transfer fee record in Portugal.

Rumours concerning Di Maria's exit from Benfica have intensified after the Portuguese club signed Nicolas Gaitan from Boca Juniors on Monday.

Di Maria, who has been included in Argentina boss Diego Maradona's list for the World Cup in South Africa, joined Benfica from Rosario Central in 2007 for €8 million.

tirsdag 4. mai 2010

Chelsea Ready To Bid €80 Million For Milan Stars Alexandre Pato & Thiago Silva - Report

Italian reports claim Ancelotti is ready to sign his former stars...



Milan are bracing themselves for a mega €80 million bid from Chelsea for Brazilian duo Alexandre Pato and Thiago Silva, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

Carlo Ancelotti, who brought both men to Milan, wants them in his ranks at Stamford Bridge for next season, and he has asked club chief Roman Abramovich to supply the financial allowances for the move.

The offer would consist of a €60m bid for Pato, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, and €20m for Thiago Silva.

Although both men are seen as vital components of the Milan squad, patron Silvio Berlusconi would not be afraid to dismantle the key pieces and sell in an attempt to clear club debts and make a healthy profit.

Fininvest, the Milan holding company, have already warned the club that there will be no major spending in the summer, and that financial books needed to be balanced.

There is also speculation surrounding Ronaldinho's future. He is not keen on taking a pay cut over a new deal, leading to reports he too could head to the Premier League, where admirers are not in short supply.

EXCLUSIVE: Rafael Benitez Wants To Stay At Liverpool But Seeks Transfer Pledge - Agent

Spaniard set for crunch talks this week with chairman



Rafael Benitez wants to continue as Liverpool's manager - but only if he is given some guarantees over how much he can spend on new players this summer, his agent confirmed today.

Manuel Garcia Quilon, Benitez's agent, confirmed that the Spaniard will sit down with the Reds' new chairman Martin Broughton this week to discuss his future at Anfield. And the promise of financial investment will be pivotal to whether or not he stays.

“He [Benitez] has a meeting with the chairman this week, and from what I can say Rafael Benitez wants to continue at Liverpool,” Quilon told Goal.com UK.

“Benitez needs to know what the plans are for the future. For the investment into players at the club. That is going to be important.”

Benitez has been strongly linked with a summer switch to Juventus in recent months, with some outlets even going so far as to claim that last week Quilon had travelled to meet with the Italian club's new chairman, Andrea Agnelli, and agree a four-year deal worth £16 million a year.

But the agent denies such reports, and insists that his client's future remains at Anfield.

“I have not made any agreement with Juventus," Quilon stated.

“He has four years left of his contract [with Liverpool]. If there is going to be any change then that is something you had better ask him directly.”

With Liverpool currently put up for sale by their unpopular American owners, it seems the outcome of the meeting between Benitez and Broughton — who has been brought in specifically to find a buyer — will prove very influential in deciding whether the manager stays or goes.

"It [the meeting] is to talk about the future," Benitez told reporters this week.

"Everyone is asking about my future but the future of the club is more important. Still I do not know what is going on in the club. I don't know if we will have any investors so there are a lot of questions - not just, for me, one question.



"For me the club has to answer a lot of questions.

"It is very clear: we have to wait and see what is going on. The future is maybe tomorrow or maybe one week; at this moment it is something we don't know."

The meeting comes amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of some of Liverpool's most valuable players, including star striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard.

Torres is wanted by Manchester City, who would be prepared to offer Liverpool up to £70 million for the 26-year-old forward.

Should he finally decide to quit Liverpool, Gerrard will attract interest from some of Europe's top clubs including Inter Milan and Real Madrid, whilst Javier Mascherano has long been coveted by Barcelona.

Should Liverpool allow any of these players to go, Benitez will seek a guarantee that he can invest all the proceeds on rebuilding his squad.

mandag 3. mai 2010

Manchester United Analysis: Top 5 Moments The Premier League Title Slipped From Red Devils' Grasp

The key reasons why title No.19 isn't heading to Old Trafford this time

Now Manchester United's Premier League title race looks run, the post-mortem can begin.

Bar a miracle next weekend, the club look set to play second fiddle to Chelsea in the end of season standings as they sit one point behind with a single game to play. History will have to wait as a record-breaking 19th domestic crown seems at least one year away.

In a campaign that featured seven league defeats, there are more reasons why United's trophy collection isn't set to grow than why not. Goal.com UK counted down the top five key moments when the league trophy slipped from the Red Devils' grasp...

BURNLEY BLUNDER


Penalty hero | Jensen stood tall to stop Red Devils

With one swing of Robbie Blake's boot, a new-found fallibility in Manchester United was put on display for all to see.

In just the second game of the season, Burnley's 1-0 victory at Turf Moor sent an inviting message to the rest of the league. Without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, the champions looked like chumps.

Freebie Michael Owen looked as valuable as his 'transfer fee', while Michael Carrick's penalty miss was crucial. The loss was the first to a newly-promoted side since 2005 and undermined the bedrock of the previous title bids when the lesser lights have been swatted aside with impunity.

DEFENSIVE INJURY DISASTER


Last man standing | Evra alone couldn't stop Fulham

An unprecedented winter injury crisis at the back for United robbed the team of the foundation of a successful title bid.

While at the same time a year ago the club went a record breaking 14 league fixtures without conceding, Sir Alex Ferguson struggled to fill his team sheet in December. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, the Da Silva twins, John O'Shea and Jonny Evans all sat on the treatment table at different points.

The damage caused by the injuries has been overstated to a degree as makeshift centre-backs Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher filled in with surprising aplomb. The 3-0 thrashing by Fulham, however, proved a bridge too far and robbed United of some vital points.

WRONG SIDE OF THE REFEREE


Terry time | Stopper took advantage of oversight

For a club that gets more than its fair share of refereeing favours, both clashes with Chelsea left a bad taste in the mouth.

In defeat at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, the man in the middle felt Sir Alex Ferguson's wrath. The loss in London featured a John Terry goal that came from an incorrectly called foul and Didier Drogba in an offside position, while the Ivorian netted in Manchester when the linesman's flag should have gone up again.

While Federico Macheda's strike looked to come off his hand in the Theatre of Dreams, a swing in the decision makers views could have seen United celebrate a fourth consecutive league trophy.

ANKLE PAIN, CHELSEA'S GAIN


Rooney woe | Injury in Munich deflated United

From the moment Wayne Rooney's luck with injuries deserted him, United looked second best in the title race with Chelsea.

The England international's injury time withdrawal against Bayern Munich saw him consigned to the sidelines as the league reached its crescendo. An April to forget followed as Dimitar Berbatov failed to fill in during the defeat to Chelsea and draw against Blackburn Rovers.

Rooney has borne the weight of United's title bid, with his 26 league goals more than doubling the Bulgarian's contribution. A better return on the £30.75 million handed to Tottenham Hotspur would have made next Sunday more comfortable.

SUMMER SALES, NOT SIGNINGS


Inspiration | Ronaldo and Tevez have been missed

United have dominated the transfer window in the past, but last summer was an exception to the rule.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez's exits left the club two superstars short and with no ready-made replacements in hand. Antonio Valencia has shone, though Michael Owen's injury woe and Gabriel Obertan's inexperience has dampened their contribution.

When Wayne Rooney didn't fire, the support cast has been found wanting. Five of the seven league defeats saw United scoreless and the fans frustrated as no-one looked capable of picking up the slack.

Andrey Arshavin: I Will Leave Arsenal For Barcelona In The Summer

Russian once more pours fuel on the fires of speculation...



Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin has claimed that he is set to sensationally depart the Emirates in the summer and join Barcelona.

The Russian recently claimed that it would be the pinnacle of any player's career to feature for the Catalan giants, prompting his manager Arsene Wenger to express disappointment that the player seemed to want to move.

And Arshavin also claims that Gael Clichy will be joining him in swapping London for Catalonia.

"I am going to Barcelona in the summer," said the Russian, according to The People.
"I have always dreamed about going to Spain and playing for the best team in the world.

''They were unsure about me when I was playing in Russia but I have shown them that I'm the real deal and I know they are ready to talk to me.

"I want to play for the top team and be trying to win every competition, I don't think you can rate one better than the other, it is all about winning. I want to play for them and that is never going to change.

"I know Gael Clichy would love to play out there as well, and he would work well in their team."

Arshavin is also unfazed by the competition for places he would face at Camp Nou.

"It would be tough trying to compete with Xavi and Iniesta but that is the competition I want, I don't want to walk into a team," he added.

lørdag 1. mai 2010

Mr. & Mrs. Mariah Carey Renew Their Vows

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated their second anniversary at their Beverly Hills home last night -- and EWI has the cool pics from inside the ceremony.





Cannon had said the couple planned to renew their vows -- and that's exactly what it looked like they did. Mariah was wearing a white dress and veil, Nick in a white suit.

Two years -- hard to believe Nick has been working for married to Mariah for that long. Where does the time go?



Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated their second anniversary at their Beverly Hills home last night -- and EWI has the cool pics from inside the ceremony.