Search This Blog

Real Madrid and Tottenham target Diego Forlan says he never came close to leaving Atletico Madrid

"I have renewed my contract, but despite my deal here there are always rumours," the Uruguay international told the Spanish Sport newspaper.

Tottenham were reportedly in talks with Atletico over a £9 million bid for the striker, but baulked at the player's £80,000-a-week wage demands, while Atletico are said to have rejected a bid for Real Madrid, who then turned their attention to Emmanuel Adebayor.

"In this case, what is certain is that Real Madrid on Monday called [Atletico chief executive] Gil Marín, and [Atletico's general manager] Miguel Angel Gil rejected the offer they made," said Forlan.

"I have a contract [until 2013], I'm fine, very comfortable, I have my house here and leaving never crossed my mind," said the 31-year-old.

"I'd love to fulfill my contract, like I always said. Obviously, you don't know how things will turn out, this is football, after all, and there are twists and turns. But my idea was always to fulfill my contract."

"I'm fine here. I will not talk about my future, because as always, whatever I will say will be misunderstood. You try to be as honest as possible, but anyone who knows me knows how I feel. I have a contract with Atletico Madrid , I want out of this situation, and I hope we qualify for the Champions League, " he added.

"I am very calm. My commitment has always been the same, it has not changed. I've had bad times,but that does not mean that my commitment has waned."

Exclusive: Tottenham Hold Talks Over €10.4m Move For Diego Forlan As Robbie Keane Heads To West Ham

Tottenham approached Atletico Madrid on Wednesday over a move for Diego Forlan as a deal was finally agreed for Robbie Keane to join West Ham until at least the end of the season.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is desperate to bolster his strikeforce before the transfer window closes and chairman Daniel Levy is considering a €10.4 (£9) million bid for Uruguayan star Forlan after making contact with Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish club have now suggested they would be prepared to sell the former Manchester United striker due to financial problems, having put Spurs off with a prohibitive pricetag as recently as last Friday.

But Forlan's wage demands – believed to be around £80,000-a-week – could scupper the deal and insiders at White Hart Lane are doubtful over whether an agreement will be reached.

The Londoners also have reservations as, at 31, Forlan would have very little sell-on value if he was to leave the club during the course of his contract, one of the club's key criteria when recruiting new signings.

Forlan, who won the Golden Ball for the best player at last summer's World Cup, would add a much-needed killer touch in front of goal for a club whose strikers have scored just five Premier League goals between them this season.
Redknapp watched Forlan play last Thursday against Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey quarter-final and admitted he was interested in the player but that his wage demands would be a problem.

“Diego Forlan has been mentioned but we are not going to get near their wages,” said Redknapp.

“The chairman would not be paying £100,000 or more a week to players that is for sure.

“Forlan's an interesting player. I didn't speak to anyone about him, I just went and watched the game really.”

Tottenham have considered moves for a number of strikers this month, including Luis Suarez and Luis Fabiano, but have been waiting to offload Keane before bringing in a replacement.

The Republic of Ireland captain has said his goodbyes at the Spurs training ground and is set to complete a loan move to West Ham with a view to a £6m permanent switch at the end of the season.

The Hammers will meet the full cost of Keane's £65,000 weekly wage and will be contractually obliged to sign the striker on a permanent deal if they avoid relegation.

But Tottenham are relieved to have finally agreed a deal with their London rivals. The 30-year-old refused to even talk to Birmingham earlier this month when a £6m bid was accepted as he was holding out for a move to Upton Park.

Keane has started just two league games this season and was recently warned by Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni recently warned he must be playing regularly to be considered for the international side.


Liverpool Rejected Transfer Request Submitted By Fernando Torres

Liverpool have rejected a transfer request submitted by Fernando Torres after the club declined a bid from Chelsea for the striker.

Chelsea had a £35 million offer turned down for the Spanish international on Thursday, after which, Liverpool reiterated they have no intention of selling the forward.

But Goal.com UK exclusively revealed Torres would welcome a move to London after becoming disillusioned with Liverpool's lack of ambition and on the back of having a transfer request publicly turned down, it appears the striker is keen to push for a switch before the January transfer window closes on Monday.

A statement on Liverpool's official website said: "Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool.

"Fernando is under long-term contract and the Club expect him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement."

Reports have suggested Chelsea are willing to increase their offer but Liverpool will be wanting a substantial profit from the 26-year-old, who was purchased for £20 million in 2007 from Atletico Madrid.

Torres's record at Liverpool has been strong - 65 goals in 102 Premier League games but season's have been blighted by injuries and recently, a dip in form which has led to subsequent questions regarding his attitude.

But the arrival of Kenny Dalglish appeared to reignite Torres, but the Liverpool manager now has the role of persuading Torres to stay at Anfield.

Chelsea Set To Offer €46.6m Plus Daniel Sturridge For Liverpool Striker Fernando Torres - Report

Chelsea are preparing to increase their offer for Fernando Torres in order to secure the striker’s arrival before the transfer window closes on Monday, according to reports.

After having a bid of £35 million turned down on Thursday, The Times claim Chelsea are now set to offer €46.6m (£40) million plus striker Daniel Sturridge, who was the subject of a loan enquiry by Liverpool in December.

Goal.com UK exclusively revealed on Friday afternoon Fernando Torres has decided to leave Liverpool by the start of next season amid claims that he is concerned with the club’s lack of ambition, and the Spaniard is considering making his switch in January.

Chelsea are yet to spend this January and after failing to agree with Benfica over the acquisition of centre-back David Luiz on Friday, time is running out to improve the squad before the close of the Jauary transfer window at 11pm on Monday.

Liverpool continue to remain firm over Torres, however, with the imminent arrival of Luis Suarez from Ajax for £23 million, their outlay could be immediately recouped should the Spanish striker move to London.

Torres also has a £50 million release clause written into his contract and should he make the switch to Chelsea this month, he would be available to compete in the remainder of their Champions League campaign.

South Korea Coach Cho Kwang-Rae Confirms Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung Has Retired From International Football

Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park has retired from international duty with South Korea, it has been announced by his national coach Cho Kwang-Rae.

The 29-year-old won his 100th cap for his country this week in the Asian Cup semi-final, a game his team lost on penalties. Kwang-Rae did not feature him in his squad for the third-place play-off match against Uzbekistan, which South Korea won 3-2, because hi manager did not want him to get injured.

Former Tottenham defender Lee Young-Pyo had already announced his decision to retire from international duty and bows out with Park after a solid competition from the Asian team.

Kwang-Rae praised both players for their comminttment to the team:

Kwang-Rae praised both players for their comminttment to the team: "I would like to say something about Park Ji-Sung and Lee Young-Pyo," said Cho. "From today they are going to be retired from their national football careers. I want to say they did a remarkable job for Korean football and I want to say I have loved working with them.

"It would be better if I could keep both of them in the national team but they have done an excellent job in international football and I'm sure the Korean fans would like to congratulate them for all their hard work," he added.

Park had refused to confirm his retirment directly after the game and said he would wait till Monday to reveal his decision: "I'm going to say when I back to Korea. I will have a press conference and will talk then," he said, adding that he felt the Korean team showed great promise. "At the moment the young players are very talented and skilful, their technique is great," he said.

"They just need some experience and I think this tournament has been very important for them in terms of that," he added. "I think some of the players can go to Europe and gain experience there, then they will be even stronger than now."


Ajax Confirm €26.5m Deal Agreed With Liverpool For Striker Luis Suarez

Ajax have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of striker Luis Suarez for a fee of €26.5 milllion (£23 million).

The Reds have acted swiftly after the manager of the Eredivisie outfit, Frank de Boer, suggested that he wanted any potential deal for the 24-year-old to be concluded on Saturday.

The Uruguayan striker heads to Anfield as uncertainty surrounds the future of Fernando Torres, with Goal.com UK exclusively revealing that the former Atletico Madrid star wants to leave the club by the start of next season with Chelsea heavily linked.

Suarez himself declared on Friday that he was desperate for the Reds to reach an agreement with Ajax to allow him to grasp a "beautiful chance" to join a "big club in Europe".

The ex-Groningen man has won 38 caps for his country and was one of the stand-out performers at the 2010 World Cup as Uruguay finished in fourth place in South Africa.

Atletico Madrid Keeper David De Gea: We Are A Top Four Team

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea believes that the current squad of players at the Vicente Calderon are of sufficient quality to be competing for a top four spot in La Liga.

Los Colchoneros lie a massive 10 points behind Valencia, who currently occupt fourth position in the table and have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey and Europa League.

Speaking to the media yesterday ahead of Sunday’s encounter with Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish capital, the 20-year-old said he feels that despite recent results not going their way, the team is good enough to challenge for Champions League qualification.

He remarked: “There are many points still to be won. Last year we were in a similar situation, and we have a sufficient squad to get us into the top four, and we will try.

“Miguel Angel Gil Marin [CEO of Atletico Madrid] met with us on Tuesday, to give us the motivation that we need, and to tell us that the team is capable of performing better. We will make every effort to prove him right, and we can get up there.”

Of the Athletic Bilbao match, he continued: “It will be important to win because we are in a difficult situation and the victory would help to return Atletico to where it must be.

“I hope that the public has been with us all season, supporting and fighting with us. They always support and encourage us.”

EXCLUSIVE: Juventus Told To Scrap Plans For Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano won't win Juventus the Scudetto, according to former striker Michele Padovano, who advises the club to scrap plans for either player.

Juventus' transfer task force have been looking at contingency plans to deal with the extreme flood of injuries affecting their frontline. Those plans included Forlan and Fabiano, while Giampaolo Pazzini was on the horizon, but he has been snapped up by Inter.

Padovano has told Goal.com there is no quick fix way, and said Juve cannot buy the Scudetto by investing in big players.

"The market is not yet over, and I expect the Bianconeri to sign someone else," Padovano told Goal.com Italia.

"However, the January market has never impressed me. And I don't think Juventus should tie themselves up with players like Luis Fabiano or Diego Forlan - they are not players who will make them win the Scudetto.

"I think Juventus need to stick with the youngsters and build from there."

The Bianconeri's Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Roma has led to dubious thoughts of their readiness to challenge for major honours. Padovano agrees.

"The fans need to have patience because alot of time will pass before Juventus will win something," he added.

"I think Milan are the favourites for the Scudetto."

Padovano played for Juventus between 1995 and 1997, winning the 1996 Champions League in Rome.

Manchester United Shortlist Maarten Stekelenburg, Manuel Neuer And David De Gea As Replacements For Edwin Van Der Sar - Report

Manchester United have reportedly filtered through their targets and have come down to three goalkeepers who could potentially fill the gap left by Edwin van der Sar.

The Dutch shot-stopper confirmed on Thursday that he will hang up his gloves at the end of the season after months of speculation suggesting this could be his final season.

Van der Sar also maintained that the Red Devils are on the hunt for his replacement, with Goal.com UK having previously revealed exclusively that Tomasz Kuszczak has been told that he can leave Old Trafford.

Now The Guardian claims that the list of targets has been narrowed down to Atletico Madrid prodigy David De Gea, Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax and Schalke's Manuel Neuer.

And The Mirror has reported that United are willing to make a move for 20-year-old De Gea, who is the youngest of the three aforementioned shot-stoppers.

Barcelona have also been linked with a move for De Gea


The Copa Del Rey Final Will Be Between Real Madrid And Barcelona - Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is in no doubt that the Copa del Rey final will be between los Blancos and Barcelona, after his side took a 1-0 advantage from the first leg against Sevilla yesterday evening.

A superb finish from Karim Benzema, who has now scored the decisive goal in the last two games for Jose Mourinho's men, has given Madrid a cushion to work with. However, Ronaldo believes Sevilla will have no chance at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"In the Copa del Rey final will be the best two teams in the country. Although I must say this is not going to be about revenge. As for the game against Sevilla, we could have scored more than just one goal, but it's still a good result," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Marca.

Despite what Ronaldo says, Real Madrid will certainly still remember their 5-0 humbling at the hands of Barcelona in El Clasico in late November.

Barcelona also cruised to a 5-0 first leg victory in their semi-final against Almeria last night, all but stamping their name on the showpiece decider.

Tottenham hold talks over £9m move for Diego Forlan as Robbie Keane heads to West Ham

Tottenham have approached Atletico Madrid over a move for Diego Forlan as a deal was finally agreed for Robbie Keane to join West Ham until at least the end of the season.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is desperate to bolster his strikeforce before the transfer window closes and chairman Daniel Levy is considering a £9 million bid for Uruguayan star Forlan after making contact with Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish club have now suggested they would be prepared to sell the former Manchester United striker due to financial problems, having put Spurs off with a prohibitive pricetag as recently as last Friday.

But Forlan's wage demands – believed to be around £80,000-a-week – could scupper the deal and insiders at White Hart Lane are doubtful over whether an agreement will be reached.
The Londoners also have reservations as, at 31, Forlan would have very little sell-on value if he was to leave the club during the course of his contract, one of the club's key criteria when recruiting new signings.

Forlan, who won the Golden Ball for the best player at last summer's World Cup, would add a much-needed killer touch in front of goal for a club whose strikers have scored just five Premier League goals between them this season.

Redknapp watched Forlan play last Thursday against Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey quarter-final and admitted he was interested in the player but that his wage demands would be a problem.

“Diego Forlan has been mentioned but we are not going to get near their wages,” said Redknapp.

“The chairman would not be paying £100,000 or more a week to players that is for sure.

“Forlan's an interesting player. I didn't speak to anyone about him, I just went and watched the game really.”

Tottenham have considered moves for a number of strikers this month, including Luis Suarez and Luis Fabiano, but have been waiting to offload Keane before bringing in a replacement.

The Republic of Ireland captain has said his goodbyes at the Spurs training ground and is set to complete a loan move to West Ham with a view to a £6m permanent switch at the end of the season.
The Hammers will meet the full cost of Keane's £65,000 weekly wage and will be contractually obliged to sign the striker on a permanent deal if they avoid relegation.

But Tottenham are relieved to have finally agreed a deal with their London rivals. The 30-year-old refused to even talk to Birmingham earlier this month when a £6m bid was accepted as he was holding out for a move to Upton Park.

Keane has started just two league games this season and was recently warned by Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni that he must be playing regularly to be considered for the international side.

Atletico Madrid CEO Reveals Club Turned Down Mega Offers From Real Madrid And Chelsea For Sergio Aguero

Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has revealed that Real Madrid and Chelsea both offered big-money for striker Sergio Aguero but both were turned away at the door.

Gil Marin says that Madrid came in with a €45 million offer for the Argentina international striker while Chelsea made a bid of €60m for Aguero and defender Diego Godin.

"Yesterday I received an offer of €45 million from Real Madrid for Aguero and I said no," Gil Marin told Spanish daily AS.

"This week, Chelsea offered us €60 million for 'Kun' and Godin and our answer was the same.

"I will not negotiate with Real Madrid or any other club for Aguero now or in the summer."

Chelsea Deny Making €60m Bid For Atletico Madrid Duo Sergio Aguero And Diego Godin
Chelsea have denied making a €60 (£52) million joint-bid for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero and defender Diego Godin.

Miguel Angel Gil, the Spanish club's CEO, claimed the Premier League champions had made the huge offer for the pair.

But the English club claim to have made no such enquiry for the highly-rated duo, describing the story as 'wild.'

"We never comment on transfer speculation, no matter how wild it is," a club sokesperson commented to Press Association Sport.

Aguero has been linked with most of Europe's heavyweights over the last two years, but has repeatedly stated his loyalty to the club.

Godin on the other hand, is less well known to those outside Spain, but recently performed admirably at the heart of Uruguay's defence at the most recent World Cup, and has been at Atletico for little over half a year since his move from Villarreal.

Gil, who is no newcomer to a little controversy, also claimed recently that Atletico's city rivals Real Madrid offered for the Argentinian international, mentioning that the club were willing to part ways with £39m.

Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero to make summer switch to rivals Real Madrid

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid will swoop for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero in the summer.

Real have been chasing a replacement for injured Argentine Gonzalo Higuain in the Janaury transfer window, but AS has suggested they will be waiting until June to capture another Argentine international for €35 million (£29.9m).

Aguero recently signed an extension to his current deal at Atleti and claimed the contract represented more than just an agreement but a commitment to the club.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has obviously become concerned with a forward line dependant on the work and goals of Cristiano Ronaldo in the absence of Higuain, that being despite a winning strike from Karim Benzema against Mallorca, with youngster Morata relatively untried at the top level.

Aguero missed out on the return leg in the Copa del Rey derby last week, Real Madrid just edging the game 1-0 thanks to a Ronaldo goal.

Atletico will be concerned that both their top forwards, Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero, could be heading for the exit door, as they look to propel themselves from Europa League winners to Champions League contenders.

Forlan has been attracting a host of clubs across Europe, with Juventus seemingly top of the list for the Uruguayan, but rumours have circulated that he also has been linked with a temporary switch to Real Madrid as cover.

WWE Hall of Fame: A Die Hard Fan's Tribute to HBK Shawn Michaels

More than 27 years ago, a starry-eyed boy, an excellent athlete, enrolled himself in the wrestling school of Jose Lothario. He was chasing a dream that very few dare to envision. A few days ago the boyhood dream came true, as the boy—The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels was given his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

For two decades Shawn Michaels appeared on our television sets and became the integral part of our life for all those good moments. From the brash boy toy to the rechristened serene soul, we witnessed the journey filled with emotions.

When he climbed the ladder and performed the elbow drop, we saw that with awestruck wide eyes. When he performed the Moon-Assault, we missed one heartbeat and waited for the story to unfold. When he spoke, we listened; we smiled. His every action resonated with a part of us.

Ever wondered what made him so special? Was it his evergreen charisma? Was it his starry-eyed look that chased a dream of everlasting glory every time he stepped into the ring? Was it his passion that never diminished or was it his terrific wrestling skills that enamoured us? Or was it the simple fact that it is HBK we are talking about, whom we could never cease to love?

There are so many questions, but the fact remains that every moment HBK weaved magic, and we remain spellbound even today as I write this.

For years, HBK delivered performances mortals can only dream about. Matches of the year were his routine. He was no doubt the best in the business, but he transcended his own aura and brought out the best of his opponents. When he faced the outstanding performers like Bret Hart, Jericho or the Undertaker they did not delivered matches, They created a memory for us that we will keep close to our hearts till our last day.

HBK was a great heel and a great face. There are many who fall under this category, but something separated HBK from others at every juncture. That something was emotion. HBK told a story in his every match. He brought out every realm of a wrestling fan's heart. Those dropped jaws, a smile, a nod of disbelief and an unshed tear was something we only had for Shawn Michaels.

I will never forget the way he clutched his world title when he won it for the first time. My heart sunk when he was eliminated from the Royal Rumble last year. I, by the way, was not the only one who reacted to his every feat in such a manner. There were millions of us across the globe who loved him.

He is a legend, but he had his flaws too. In his tryst with Destiny, he tried everything to downplay her and to choose his own fashion. His backstage reputation could not have been worse for years. He made a lot of enemies. He did everything in his capacity to drive Vince McMahon insane. I need not even touch the topic of Bret Hart or Kliq, as we all know what had transpired. His antics with DX just added the last touch to make him one of the most controversial superstar in the history of pro-wrestling.

We often like to blame Vince McMahon. But here we have to thank him. For all Shawn’s faults, Vince never abandoned him. He did his best to ensure that Shawn does well. We as fans, often see what is there to see. There are a lot of things, we would never be able to know or understand. Superstar’s life on the road is one of them. Anyway, back to HBK.
A career-threatening injury forced him to take a break for four years. That break and a bliss of marriage led him to the new light. There we had a rechristened Shawn Michaels. His second coming in personal life coincided with his return to the ring, and boy we were in for a treat that lasted for eight mesmerizing years.

In 2009 and 2010, Shawn tried his hands on something that has gone on to become the most elusive achievement in the WWE. He aimed to break the Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak. First time he came closer than anybody would ever come. The match regarded by many as the greatest in Wrestlemania history was hardly a consolation for HBK.

Come next Wrestlemania, he challenged the streak again. This time Taker raised the stakes as he asked for Shawn’s career in return. Again those two greatest legends delivered a spectacle, as only they can do. Again Shawn fell short and millions of heart sank. A legend of HBK’s stature deserved to retire against the legend of equal magnitude. HBK retired in a way that others would be jealous of.

Shawn Michaels had indeed left the building. However, he took along with him the flare that lit up the arena every time he performed. He took along a piece of our emotions and our hearts with him.

The WWE Hall of Fame had two frames reserved right at the top of the wall. HBK belonged to one of them. WWE made the decision that had to be taken. It is an acknowledgement of HBK and our love for him.

AND In the end, I have two words for Shawn Michaels...“Miss you”...!

Inter plan moves for Alexis Sanchez, Luis Fabiano and Diego Forlan - report

Inter are reportedly ready to engage in a week of transfer hunting as Marco Branca redesigns plans to bolster the squad.

Udinese ace Alexis Sanchez is still the priority target, but his club have already underlined his unavailability.

But La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Branca is eager to re-open dialogue with Udinese and bring the move into fruition by the end of the transfer market.

Between €28 million (£23.7m) and €30m (£25.4m) is required to land the 22-year-old Chilean international, with reports suggesting Udinese have already rejected €18m (£15.2m) plus Jonathan Biabiany.

However, Branca will have to offload a selection of players, with Sulley Muntari attracting interest from the Premier League and Nelson Rivas also destined to leave.

Any funds raised through player sales will be provisioned towards a move for Sanchez, but that is likely to happen in June, as suggested by coach Francesco Guidolin.
"The player deserves a great team, but almost certainly he will remain with us until June," he told La Repubblica on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Luis Fabiano of Sevilla and Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan are targets for Inter, while Juventus are also believed to be interested in the La Liga duo.

Tuttosport claims Brescia's Andrea Caracciolo, German striker Miroslav Klose and Parma's Valeri Bojinov are also Inter targets.

Bret Hart Says He’d Induct Shawn Michaels Into WWE’s HOF

 WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart was a guest on Sunday night’s Live Audio Wrestling radio show on Sirius XM. Among the topics discussed was the announcement that Shawn Michaels will be joining him in the Hall of Fame during WrestleMania weekend in April. Hart says despite the long standing issues he and Shawn had in the past, they buried the hatchet last year when he returned to WWE television on January 4th and remain friends to this day. When asked whether he would induct Shawn into the Hall of Fame, Bret responded:

“I wouldn’t have any problem inducting Shawn. The truth is Shawn was a great wrestler and I had a lot of great matches with him. I’m proud of some of the great memories I had with Shawn and I would be happy to induct him into the Hall of Fame if they asked me to,” Hart told John Pollock of the Fight Network for an interview on Sunday’s Live Audio Wrestling show.

Regarding his future with WWE and whether he’d be open to working this year’s WrestleMania and future storylines, Bret said:

“I’m not expecting to be involved in WrestleMania, but at the same time, I could get a call tomorrow to ask me to play some sort of part. I would be happy to be involved with WrestleMania or something that comes up the next few months.”

The Hitman also spoke about concussions in wrestling, saying that the lingering effects of concussions suffered during his career are more of an issue for him today than the career-ending stroke he suffered several years ago.

Football Update: Transfer News- Uruguayan Diego Forlan to play for Juventus

 Juventus have met with Diego Forlan’s agent, Daniel Fabian Bolotnicoff and are advancing in a deal to get the player to play for the Old Lady.

The dialogue between Juve officials and Bolotnicoff took place at the Juventus headquarters and are said to be making good progress with the transfer of Forlan. The main discussion revolved around Forlan’s demand of 4.5 million Euros per annum and the Old Lady’s director, Giuseppe Marotta seems to be ready to entertain the requirement.

Diego Forlan is a Uruguayan footballer who currently plays for the Spanish club Atletico Madrid. The former tennis player in his youth started off his career as a professional footballer at Independiente. But his skills didn’t go unnoticed and soon he was a part of the elites in the Premier League, Manchester United, at a transfer fee of 6.9 million Pounds.

The striker played the most crucial role in many wins for the Red Devils. He scored goals when the team needed him the most, giving many crucial wins to his club. He was known to be the one player to destroy the defensive lines with his unmatched ability to drive the ball and produce a powerful finish.

Forlan’s reputation caught a lot of attention and clubs all across Europe were in a race to buy the forward. In 2004, he joined Villarreal CF, a Spanish club and in just 106 appearances, scored 54 goals for his team at a rate of just about more than one goal per match.

His current club, Atletico Madrid, agreed on a fee of a staggering 21 million Euros and added the striker to the squad in 2007. The striker has kept the clubs expectations intact by putting up the same goal scoring form for the side scoring 73 goals in just 119 matches. He is considered to be the most valuable asset at the Red and Whites for being the key player in almost all of the victories to the team.

The striker bought Madrid another victory in 2010/11 season winning European Super Cup by beating Champions League winners Inter Milan. Although the season has gone a bit slow for Forlan, but still he has managed to find the net most of the time.

Forlan’s move to the Italian club Juventus means that the Old Lady will have departures in its current team. Marco Storari, Amauri and Mohamed Sissoko are the current players that will exit Juve and the transfer money would be helpful in the deal with Diego Forlan.

Zinedine Zidane: Arsenal’s Samir Nasri Is The Future Of France

World Cup hero Zinedine Zidane has endorsed Samir Nasri as the man to lead France to the next level over the course of the decade.

Nasri, who, like Zidane, hails from Marseille, has excited critics in France with his superb displays for Premier League club Arsenal, and ‘Zizou’ believes that the 23-year-old has the ability to transfer those performances into the framework of Laurent Blanc’s improving side.

“I truly think that Samir has a big career ahead of him. For me, he represents the future of the France team, our greatest hope for the future,” the former playmaker, who famously scored a brace in the 1998 World Cup final, told the media.

Meanwhile, Reuters report that Zidane is in the process of suing comedian Christophe Aleveque and Sportmag for remarks made over the 38-year-old’s endorsement of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup finals.

“Mister Zinedine Zidane considers that these remarks are harmful to his honour, his dignity, his integrity, his reputation as a man and a public person as well as that of his family,” lawyer Alberto Brusso indicated.


Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho: I Have Not Been Hired To Beat Barcelona But To Win Trophies

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho claims that the wider objective is to win trophies, not beating Barcelona and maintains that is the reason behind his appointment at the Bernabeu.

Asked whether there were circumstances influencing his mindset over staying next season, he told the press, "There must be happiness among the fans, players, coaches and the board.

"We are working to be happy and with the view that I will fulfill my contract.

"I want to be the coach, that is all. [Barcelona?] I was hired to win games, get points and win the title. I was not hired to beat anyone."

Mourinho was eager to remind Karim Benzema he needs to get his nose on the grindstone after Kaka suggested the Frenchman need to apply more effort in his work.

"Kaka said what we are all thinking. We all hope for more from him [Benzema]."


SOFIA ZAMOLO DEBUTA COMO CONDUCTORA

 La modelo y ex participante de Bailando por un Sueño, recibió una propuesta para estar al frente de la pantalla de El Trece, en reemplazo de Zaira Nara.
Zámolo, estará al frente de La cocina del show, junto a Mariano Iúdica, en la segunda temporada del ciclo.
En su debut, el programa hará una completa cobertura previa de la primera gala de Soñando por Bailar, con un móvil desde la isla del Tigre, donde está ubicada la escuela del reality, que seguirá las alternativas de los chicos en su traslado hasta el canal, antes de la primera gala.
El ciclo mantendrá su característico y divertido perfil, con la cobertura de las novedades que se presentan en la temporada veraniega desde sus principales centros turísticos, por supuesto acompañado por distintas recetas de cocina.


Quique Sanchez Flores Praises Atletico Madrid's Positive Attitude Despite Loss To Real Madrid

 Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores was pleased with his side's positive attitude toward their Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg match against rivals Real Madrid.

Los Merengues had a two-goal lead coming into the return leg, but Los Colchoneros never gave up and had a strong crowd supporting them throughout the match.

"Our mentality approaching this match was very positive," the coach told Marca post-match. "We pushed hard and tried to play football against a team that made things hard for us.

"We have to thank the fans who dreamed all week that we could won, and this has contributed to the match being played at a high level. We had the attitude, intensity and presence to do well.

"I thought this match was better than the one at the Bernabeu.

"I have full confidence in the group. The team is smart, it works well daily and prepares for each match with a lot of intensity. In recent years, it has been more successful than a failure.

"Now, it hopes to be one of the best teams when May comes around," he concluded.

Juventus in talks with Forlan

 Juventus are in talks with Diego Forlan's agent in negotiations over a deal to sign the Atletico Madrid striker.

The Turin club are a keen admirer of the Uruguayan international and view him as an ideal signing to boost their title hopes this season.

On the other hand, the 31-year-old is believed to be getting disillusioned with life at Atletico and is seeking a fresh challenge.

He could well get his wish as according to Italian daily Tuttosport, his agent Da­niel Fabian Bolotnicoff was spotted at Juve's headquarters in Turin to discuss a possible deal.

The report also claimed that Juve's general director Giuseppe Marotta is willing to meet the player's demand of a three-year contract worth €4.5 million per annum.

However, Atletico is believed to be asking for around €14 million for their hitman - an figure Juve could find it hard to match in January.

They would have to raise funds though, with Amauri, Mohamed Sissoko and Marco Storari all been linked with a move out of the club.

First 21 names confirmed for the 40 man Rumble

WWE.com has confirmed the following names for the 40 man Royal Rumble so far:


* John Morrison


















* CM Punk


















* Cody Rhodes


















 * Daniel Bryan


















* Darren Young


















* David Hart Smith
 















* David Otunga



















* Husky Harris



















* John Cena



















* Mark Henry


















 * Michael McGillicutty


















* Primo














* R-Truth


















* Rey Mysterio



















* Sheamus


















 * Ted DiBiase


















 * Tyson Kidd


















* William Regal


















* Yoshi Tatsu


















* Zack Ryder



Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid, Manchester United & Barcelona Are Favourites For The Champions League; Mario Balotelli Should Keep Quiet

 Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes his side can lift the Champions League at Wembley in May, but warned Manchester United and Barcelona are hot contenders. The Portuguese has also taken a bash at Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.

"For me the favourites are Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Inter? I know Leonardo well, he is a spectacular person, but I don't think Inter will get to the final."

Ronaldo, who fine-tuned his football as a youngster in the Premier League, was asked what he thought of Manchester City's Mario Balotelli, who has never been shy of controversy.

"Balotelli? He is a great player but he must talk less and think about playing more. In England you learn if you listen," he said.

"In the Premier League, if you know how to listen and want to learn, you can become a great player. I hope he does it.

"But today he puts too many other things in front of his profession and that isn't alright."

Shawn Michaels Has Something For You


Lionel Messi On Winning The Ballon d'Or, Answering His Critics Plus He Reveals His Favourite Ever Goal

Goal.com was granted an exclusive interview with Lionel Messi in Barcelona at an adidas function after the genius received his second FIFA Ballon d’Or award. Our Spanish chief editor Sergio Aguilera spoke at length with the world’s best player and they began by tackling the criticism Messi has been receiving in some quarters.
Question: You’ve been criticised in some parts for getting the Ballon d’Or again and this has created some controversy. Do you think your recent performances like the hat-trick against Real Betis have redeemed your reputation with the critics?
Messi: No, I don’t have to redeem myself to anyone. I did what I've always done which is to try to continue playing well in matches and help my team as much as possible.

Question: Do you think some people and some sections of the media have been particularly unfair to you?

Messi: The truth is that I don’t care what the media say. What matters to me is what my team-mates say and those people who are with me. I just have to thank them for their support.

Question: To all those who have always supported you, as was the case with Goal.com, what would you say now?

Messi: I appreciate their support and I want to share with them the Ballon d’Or award. It’s good to know that there are people who help and support me in any way.

Question: What was your reaction when you were presented with the Ballon d’Or in front of the Barca fans at Camp Nou?

Messi: It was a beautiful moment. I was pleased to enjoy it with Xavi and Andres together along with the whole group. I think the public understood the message that the Ballon d’Or was a prize for everybody.
Question: Has this Barcelona team got a limit?

Messi: I hope we keep playing like we have been for a long time and that we can win many titles. We have a wonderful opportunity [to achieve this] and I look forward to enjoying more success for as long as possible.

Question: What needs to happen for Barcelona to maintain this level of domination?

Messi: I believe we must continue to maintain this mentality and we have to keep wanting to play in the same way. We’ve been working like this for a long time and hopefully we can keep the momentum going much longer.

Question: Do you fear that something might happen that could alter the winning streak within in the team? Is this a fear that is ever discussed inside the dressing room?

Messi: We are so confident and working so well that we think only in a positive manner. We are aware that this streak can end at any time but we would rather not think about it.
Question: The Champions League returns next month, so how do you see the match against Arsenal going? Who do you think are Barcelona’s main rivals to become European champions?

Messi: The next round is very difficult for us because we play against a team like Arsenal who are very difficult rivals with very good players. However, we expect to qualify for the next round.

If we do that then we'll see then who the rivals are and who are the dangerous teams. But in any case we have a complicated round ahead of us.

Question: How do you see the immediate future of your national team? What needs to happen for Argentina to be successful again ahead of the next Copa America?

Messi: We are doing well and have a wonderful opportunity. It’s a chance to defend our country and present to everyone the Copa America which which would bring joy to the nation.

Question: As we are Goal.com we always like to end our interviews with this question - What is the most memorable goal you've ever scored?

Messi: Out of all of goals in my career the one I scored with the head in the final (below) of the Champions League [against Manchester United in 2009]. I think that one was a very important goal for me and for Barcelona and the truth is I have very sweet memories of that goal.

Question: And the most memorable goal in history for you?

Messi: (Hesitates) Erm, the truth is that right now I can’t think of one.

Diego Forlan on his way out of Atletico Madrid?

 Atletico de Madrid never seem to find an end to their unrest. The manager is, as usual, being questioned (it happens almost regardless of who he is) and the poor finances of the club seem to dominate most decisions. Indeed, a club that sells one of their best players mid season only goes to prove that business is being placed before football. That may not be a bad thing – but is very unusual for Spain!

Diego Forlan is also under the spotlight, both Atletico Madrid and Diego Forlan himself have declared that if a decent offer comes in, he will go.

Rumoured interest in having Diego Forlan has come from Milan, Wolfsburg and ultimately, White Hart Lane and Tottenham Hotspur. Certainly, it would seem that Harry Rednapp has always been a fan of Diego and Spur’s very successful run in the Champion’s League, and the fact Diego would be able to play in the next rounds, must be very tempting for Harry. Add to that, that, Spurs has just off-loaded Robbie Keane to Birmingham City and that may be just enough to persuade Wise Harry to dig deep into his budget.

Wrestlemania XXVII The Ultimate Dream Card - John Cena vs The Undertaker

There would not be a more fitting main event for Wrestlemania 27 than this! The match the world has wanted to see happen.

Ever since 2003, Cena and Undertaker have rarely crossed paths, save for a few times in 2006, 2007, and 2009. As Cena tries to fight the Nexus, the Undertaker returns and aids Cena in his fight against Nexus for revenge.

Suddenly, the Raw GM announces that at Wrestlemania 27, it will be Undertaker vs John Cena at Wrestlemania 27, with Taker's 18-0 undefeated Streak on the line!

Throughout the weeks, and awesome build-up would be done to hype the match, with Cena and Taker fighting Nexus, but suddenly attacking each other after it's done. The two would trade blows with one another, both verbally and physically as Cena fights off Taker's mind games.

At Wrestlemania 27, the match will not disappoint as we see Attitude Adjustments, Chokeslams, Last Rides, STFs, Hell's Gates, broken announce tables, crash and burns, and Tombstone Piledrivers, neither seemingly able to beat other.

But even as a big Cena fan, even the Champ cannot best the Deadman, with Undertaker delivering a final Tombstone Piledriver for the win, extending his Streak to 19-0.

Wrestlemania XXVII The Ultimate Dream Card - Triple H vs Sheamus Hell in a Cell

 The match that has been nearly one year in the making has been a very anticipated one. Sheamus took the Game out back at Extreme Rules of April last year, and has not been back since. But during the Rumble Match, the Game makes his triumphant return, eliminating a shocked Sheamus as well as himself in the process.

The King of Kings tries to destroy at Sheamus at every turn, only for the Celtic Warrior to escape at every time. Stephanie comes out and announces that it will be him and Triple H inside Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania 27!

Sheamus snaps and Brogue Kicks Stephanie, earning even more wrath from Triple H. Sheamus then attacks a visiting HBK, destroying him with several Brogue Kicks, raising this beyond personal.

Blood or not, this match will be a very brutal one inside the Cell, but despite the wrath of Sheamus, the Game will hit him with the sledgehammer and deliver a damn-fine Pedigree, getting his well-deserved revenge.

Popular Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

My Blog List

Blog Archive

Followers

My Ping in TotalPing.com