General Football News Thread

[TAREK®]

now that the leagues are over, and UEFA still have 1 match I will keep this thread for the latest football update (transfers, comments, players interviews.....)

[TAREK®]

Valencia's star striker David Villa has dropped a major hint that he will leave the club if they fail to secure a Champions League spot.

The 27-year-old Spain international has been linked with a host of top clubs across Europe, with Los Che still suffering financial problems that could enforce the sales of the likes of Villa and midfielder David Silva.

However, Villa's latest statement is likely to mean an end to interest from Manchester City, leaving the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid as the favourites to seal a deal.

Villa told AS: "Next year I will be in the Champions League.

"There are many rumours, but I ignore them. I will decide what is best for my future.

"But Valencia fans should not be upset that other clubs want their players. They should be proud."

[TAREK®]

Lionel Messi turns down Manchester City offer



Manager Mark Hughes has grown increasingly exasperated with his club's transfer aspirations being discussed in public forums and has suggested that people are claiming to act on behalf of the club when they are not in a genuine position to do so.
However, Madrid based newspaper Marca claims that representatives from City, who have been propelled in to the position of being able to pay the highest prices for both transfer fees and wages since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, offered to buy out the striker's contract for 150 million euros and pay him 10 million euros per season over four years.
Related ArticlesMessi: United should sign TevezMijatovic leaves post at Real MadridUnited deny Tevez echoesRonaldo set to stay at UnitedUnited warning to ticketless fansWhy Tevez is leaving UnitedThe paper claims Messi, 21, who has always insisted he wants to stay at Barca, immediately rejected the offer.
The report comes a week after it was claimed that Raul, the Real Madrid striker, had been the subject of an enormous bid from City, one which he also turned down out of hand.
Another Spanish sports newspaper, AS, ran a separate story claiming that City are also interested in two Atletico Madrid strikers – Argentina's Sergio Aguero and Uruguay's Diego Forlan – as well as Valencia's Spanish international David Villa.
City's takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group last year left them as one of the world's wealthiest clubs – a point they proved with the British record £32 million capture of Brazilian international Robinho in September.
However, vast wealth has not proved enough to overcome all barriers to signing the players they want, with Milan willing to sell Kaka for what would have been a world transfer record before the player snubbed the riches on offer to remain with the Serie A side during the January transfer window.

[TAREK®]

Manchester City have moved quickly to deny reports in Spain suggesting Barcelona's Argentina international Lionel Messi had rejected the chance to move to Eastlands.

A brief statement from the Premier League club read: "While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Manchester City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach to Mr Messi or his representatives."

The 21-year-old is one of football's hottest properties having scored 70 goals in 111 starts and 30 substitute appearances for Barca.

He has also played an integral role in the club's run to this season's Champions League Final.

City continue to be linked with a hoist of players even though the club's owners insist they will not be spending heavily this summer having already bought Robinho, Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Nigel de Jong and Shay Given in the last nine months.

[TAREK®]

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes this season has been his best due to his maturity as a player.

Lampard, 30, has scored 19 goals for the Blues - 12 of which have come in the Premier League - and the England midfielder was described as "exceptional" by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the weekend.

"This has been my best season. I feel that, maybe from experience, I'm a bit more aware of things," he told Chelsea Magazine.

"My assists this year have been higher and I've been more aware of how and when to put people in.

"For me it's not hard to keep driven because I want to succeed in football. I'm driven to stay at the top for a long time and to get even better.

"Complacency for me is not a problem. Some people might find it hard to avoid, but I don't.

"You can learn with age. It's why a lot of players who think about the game experience better years during their 30s because they're wanting to improve all the time."

Meanwhile, Lampard has set his sights on ending a personally successful season with silverware via victory over Everton in the FA Cup Final.

He added: "I don't feel any pressure from the outside to do well in the FA Cup. I feel we have an inner pride to try to do well in it.

"It's a great competition and how it feels to win it is evident. Everyone knows that and we have had great success in it."

[TAREK®]

UEFA confirms charges against Chelsea


UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea FC, Didier Drogba and José Bosingwa in relation to incidents following the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
Statements requested
The club are charged with the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters, while Drogba and Bosingwa are accused of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments. The club and the individuals concerned have been requested to file a statement by Friday 29 May. The UEFA Control & Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on 17 June.


================================================== =======

WTF this went too far

[Neoxter]

no 3ade, this is what they should do to keep this sport clean, sometimes the club is charged for the acts of its fans not just their players, like what happened to juve. They played a game with empty stadium due to the racist abusement by their fans toward inter's player Ballotelli.

[TAREK®]

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has closed the door on a summer switch to Chelsea by insisting that he is 100 per cent sure of staying at the San Siro.

The 50-year-old Italian had been touted as the hot favourite to take charge at Stamford Bridge for next season, with Guus Hiddink heading back to his full-time job as Russia national team boss.

However, Ancelotti now says that he is committed to seeing out the final year of his contract with the Rossoneri.

He told the Italian press: "I am Milan coach until June 30, 2010. I know how things are, I don't see things cloudy, I see everything very clearly.

"If you had to ask me to express in a percentage, I would say that it's 100 per cent certain that I will still be at Milan next year.

"But a proper response on my future could be postponed by a matter of days or several years.

"I have never talked to Chelsea. I did it last year, this year no. I know everyone wants to know the end of the tale, but for me things are very clear, as they are for the club.

"At the moment I don't have anything open with Chelsea, we still have the end of the season and if we have to find a solution we will.

"Today only the contract I have matters, but I am open to anything.

"It's obvious that I would say yes if you ask me if I would like to coach Chelsea."

[H@SSàN]

Bayern 2 Stuttgart 1
1-0 Boulahrouz (o.g. 16)
2-0 Van Bommel (60)
2-1 Gomez (63)

Mission accomplished as Bayern seal second

The championship shield has gone to Wolfsburg this season, but Bayern and caretaker coach Jupp Heynckes have achieved their revised target of second place and a berth in the Champions League group phase next term thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart, who finish third in the Bundesliga.

[TAREK®]

Ronaldo: I'm definitely staying


Cristiano Ronaldo has reiterated his commitment to Manchester United after claiming his heart is at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, 24, was expected to be linked with a fresh move to Real Madrid this summer, but the Portugal winger has attempted to head off renewed speculation by pledging his future to the Red Devils.

His admission comes just days after Real took the unusual step of denying a fresh round of reports which claimed they had already agreed a deal to sign Ronaldo in the summer.

"Manchester United is my home. My heart is here. This is where I want to play," Ronaldo told the News of the World.

"The boss believes in this team and so do I. Ever since I joined United he has been like a second father to me.

"This is my home now. I think even when I say my heart is here people are going to speak up and make things up. But this is where I want to play.

"We are part of an era that can go down in history for the way we are playing and for the trophies we are winning.

"The boss believes in this team and so do I. And this is where I want to be. Manchester United is now my house."

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has hailed the professional and personal influence of United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on his career.

"He is two different people and they have both helped me become who I am today," he added.

"Firstly he is probably the most knowledgeable football coach in the world. I learn from him every day.

"No matter how good I become, I know he is a man who will always be able to teach me that little bit more.

"I don't get tired of learning from him because I know every bit of advice he gives me will make me a better player.

"The second person he is, is a father to me. Ever since I joined Manchester United, he has been like a second father to me.

"I don't just respect him, I have the affection for him a child has for his father.

"When he gives me advice that is non-football, I listen because it will make me a better person."



================================================== ====================================

yo2borneh rabbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak