Tottenham’s efforts to sign Brazilian Striker Leandro Damiao could be foiled by Serie A giants Inter Milan according to talkSPORT.
Spurs were in talks with the player’s club Internacional during the summer but they failed to agree the reported £15m fee with officials. Damiao subsequently signed a new five year deal with the Brazilian club.
However, Spurs believe this was merely a ploy to drive up the price of any eventual deal for the player. Leandro Damiao was in London earlier this month as he bagged his first international goal for Brazil against Ghana in a friendly at Craven Cottage.
Now Inter have sounded out their interest in the Brazilian as they prepare to back new manager Claudio Ranieri in the January Transfer Window. Directors are thought to be very keen in bringing the 22-year-old to the San Siro.
In order to bring the forward to White Hart Lane, Harry Redknapp could be forced to sell Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. Moscow rivals Lokomotiv and Spartak are said to be interested.
Redknapp is a long term admirer of Damiao. He’ll be hoping the club’s good relationship with Internacional following the transfer of Sandro last year will stand them in good stead.
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Still the lure of Inter Milan might prove too much for the Brazilian in the end.
There has been a lot of talk about loyalty in the modern game over the past week or so since the goings on in the January transfer window. Whether it was Fernando Torres’ departure to Chelsea or Andy Carroll’s arrival from Newcastle, the question of whether there will be anymore “one club” players has been raised this week. On his move to Chelsea, Torres remarked that romance in football was dead and that it has been replaced by the obsession of winning trophies. Loyalty has been effectively replaced by “Glory-hunters” in the modern game.
Of course, this is not necessarily a new phenomenon. For decades players have moved clubs to teams they feel they can have more success with. In recent years at Liverpool, players such as Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and others arrived at the club in the hope they would replicate the great Liverpool teams of the past by winning Premier League titles and Champions League trophies. While Torres has moved to pastures new to find trophies sharpish, Pepe Reina has apparently stated today that he is impatient for success at the Reds.
Players moving clubs in search of trophies is pretty much part and parcel of the modern game in most player’s eyes. However, what Torres and others, do not take into consideration when they move clubs in search of glory, are the fans. Like many before him, on his arrival and during his stay on Merseyside, Torres preached loyalty to the club and stated that he would never play for another English club. He was stating what he believed at the time but when asked about this statement after his move to Chelsea he said:
“I said that at that moment, I didn’t think I would play for another club – because at that moment Liverpool were giving me what they promised … but not now.”
For him, circumstances had changed and therefore his future at Liverpool was also in question. From his point of view, it was a purely selfish calculation in which his own career objectives took priority over the feelings of the fans who had grown to love him as an idol. If he had stated on his arrival at Anfield that he had come to Liverpool to “win trophies or he would look to move on in search for winners medals,” then fans would not have grown so attached to him, and become so angry at his departure.
A player such as Torres would never have said such a thing though as it comes across as purely selfish. He would be perceived as player, playing for himself, rather than working and fighting for the team. How would that go down with his new team-mates and the fans? To ingratiate yourself to the club it is best to speak in the most reverential terms about both the club and the supporters. He may even mean many of the sentiments but at the end of the day, his priority is to be in a successful team. Personal glory looks to have sway in his mind above all else.
The same may go for Pepe Reina. People believe him to be an honorary Scouser as John Aldridge said in his column for the Liverpool Echo this week, but it’s again apparent that the desire for trophies and success are first and foremost in his mind. Hopefullly with Kenny Dalglish turning the club’s fortunes around, it will persuade the Spanish goalkeeper to stay, but what maybe now in question is whether he is staying purely for his love of the club or because there is a greater chance of winning medals. Certainly a player should not be criticised for wanting to win things. After all, players have short careers and they want to make the best out of them, but it is a shame that loyalty to clubs doesn’t stretch far these days.
Read more of David’s articles at the excellent Live4Liverpool
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Football, and in particularly the Premier League, often suffer from more than a touch of amnesia from time to time. When a striker such as Robin van Persie notches up 30 league goals in a season, the legacy of such a feat will remain for quite some time. But as Arsenal are rumored to be seeking anything from £20-£30million for a player in the last year of his contract, it would appear his recent achievements have erased elements of his past from the memories of his suitors.
The term watershed season probably doesn’t do Robin van Persie’s 2011-12 effort enough justice. His 30 league goals in 38 league games saw him emerge as one of Europe’s best strikers, if not the best out-and-out marksman. Arsenal fans may well be wryly smiling at those who have been saddled with surprise at the Dutchman’s efforts last season.
But even after Van Persie hit an incredible run of form on the back end of the 2010-11 season, surely even they didn’t expect the season that came.
Robin van Persie has always been an outrageously gifted technical footballer and his ability was never in any doubt during his career. Although the holy grail of the striking classes, and indeed the trait that has always evaded Van Persie, is that of consistency. Last season saw the final piece of puzzle put into place; the effect was nothing short of spectacular.
And it isn’t any surprise why he is craved by just about every top club on the continent. It’s hard to pick out any genuine flaws in his striking game- his movement’s truly world class; he can score headers as aptly as he can bury scorching volleys and his finishing is as good as any in the game. He bestows a superb and consistent set-piece delivery and Arsenal have benefitted as much from his link up play as they have from his goal scoring exploits; he bagged 13 assists in the Barclays Premier League last season.
Although after reading a passage like that, there feels as if there are some uneasy blanks to fill in. If Robin van Persie beholds a level of talent as exquisite as what’s just been described, then how come he is rapidly approaching his 29th birthday with only an FA Cup winner’s medal to show for it? One can ridicule the fortunes of Arsenal as much as they want in recent years, although the answer owes as much to Van Persie himself as it does to the underachievement of the club he plays for.
There was one statistic that seemed to stand out more prominently than anything else on the Van Persie résumé from last season- and it wasn’t his goal tally, either. The Dutchman featured in all 38 of Arsenal’s Premier League games last season. It was the first term that he’d ever broken the 30 game barrier in terms of appearances. Before last season, Van Persie averaged about 22 league appearances a season for the Gunners during seven years in England. That is a statistic that simply isn’t good enough.
And this is where it feels like you reach something of a crossroads in the evaluation of Robin van Persie. No one is claiming he has some intrinsic desire to spend time on the treatment table. But the facts are as clear to see as his superb goal scoring exploits of the last 18 months. Perhaps it is unwise and also a little macabre to take a punt on injury misfortune hitting any footballer. But if last season was the first he has completed over 30 games, what is more likely to be the one off- his 100% record last season or the previous seven in which he failed to appear more than 28 times in the red of Arsenal?
It’s this point that seems to have more than a bit of the sticking factor about it. Arsenal have stuck by Van Persie through thick and thin- some may argue that he more than paid his club back by carrying them on his back for large portions of last season. But last season has been a long time coming for Van Persie and it feels as though the weight of Arsenal’s commitment still weighs heavier on the scales than one blockbuster RVP season last term.
Yet it is within a protracted transfer that the real truth may hit home- for all parties involved. The contractual situation of Robin van Persie seems to be echoing an uncomfortable pattern for Arsenal and the club cannot allow it to go on any longer at the Emirates. But as the near on £24million that the club gained for Samir Nasri shows, the stigma of players entering the final year of their contract doesn’t necessarily denote the sort of apocalyptic slash in transfer fee that many predict.
But Nasri was 24 when he moved away from the Emirates last summer. There were no lingering concerns over the Frenchman’s ability to go the distance in the season and even if there was, he is of an adequate age in which such a reputation can be consigned to history. Robin van Persie has only played more than 28 league games once in his entire professional career- that was last season. He is turning 29 in a fortnight’s time and will have little to no resale value. This will be his last major contract.
Such a question may well be rendered academic if the petromillions of Manchester City come calling. But even if such a fee has been grossly exaggerated, can you justify spending near on £30million on Robin van Persie? As football enters an era of Financial Fair Play, splashing out a massive transfer fee and gargantuan wages on Robin van Persie offers a substantial risk. The efforts of last season have somewhat masked what feels to be a legitimate question mark over the Dutchman.
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Scoring goals has never been the problem. The problem is you can’t score goals if you don’t’ regularly play, as blindingly obvious as that may sound. But it’s not the long-term injury that has been Van Persie’s problem. It is the six-week or the eight-week stints out with persistent ankle or knee knocks. The subsequent time taken to regain form and fitness can be painstaking. It seems absurd to critique a man who has scored 132 in all competitions for Arsenal. But such is the talent of the man, it should be (or should have been) so much more.
Some very difficult answers are set to be answered very soon indeed for Arsenal, Van Persie and his potential suitors. But the brutal reality must be that however much Wenger craves for his star striker, the chances are he may go for far less- however right or wrong that may seem.
Can Arsenal really command such a colossal transfer fee for Robin van Persie? Are his goals last season enough to make you forget about his previous fitness worries? Arsenal fan or City supporter, tell me how you view it- follow @samuel_antrobus on Twitter and bat us your views
Owen Hargreaves has revealed his happiness at signing for Manchester City, and is looking to reignite his career at Eastlands after a torrid time at rivals United.
Roberto Mancini’s outfit captured the former England international on a free transfer on deadline day, and he is looking forward rather than back at an injury plagued time at Old Trafford.
“It’s difficult for people from the outside looking in. You would think ‘ there’s something gone wrong there, the guy’s made out of glass’. But anybody who knows me and knows the way I play, I take it very seriously and very professional,” he told City TV.
“So obviously I don’t think everybody had all the facts and a lot of things (injuries) happened that basically I wish wouldn’t of and it’s just a huge learning curve for myself and I would have never have anticipated I would ever find myself in that position.
“So I’m just happy that that chapter is behind me and I’m looking forward to just playing football and having fun, having a good time, joining in with the lads and competing again,” he continued.
Hargreaves has spent a long summer training to show his fitness to potential suitors, and feels the hard work has paid off.
“I basically spent all summer just training, proving to myself that I can work hard, that I can train and sustain the load that is demanded of a professional football player. I hadn’t made my mind up this summer, I just wanted to train hard and then see how it felt and I didn’t use an agent.
“It just kind of happened – I think in life you can’t chase things, you’ve just got to let things happen and that’s what it was and, you know, I’m looking forward to the future,” he concluded.
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Despite the signing, The Daily Mail indicate that Hargreaves will not be included in City’s European squad of 25, which is set to be named on Friday.
Santos made it three wins from as many games in Brazil’s Campeonato Paulista with a 4-2 away victory at Gremio Prudente on Sunday.
Former Manchester City and Galatasaray midfielder Elano scored a first-half brace for Santos before Keirrison and Maikon Leite netted early in the second half to give their side a 4-0 lead.
Gremio’s Romulo pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, while Bruno Riberio added further respectability to the scoreline with his 82nd-minute goal.
Americana also maintained its winning record courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Botafogo SP at Estadio Decio Vitta.
After a scoreless first half, Charles found an opener for the home side before Rafael Chorao doubled Americana’s lead in the 72nd minute.
Botafogo’s Rodrigo Pontes reduced the visitors’ deficit in the 84th minute, but the minnows could not find an equaliser in the dying stages.
Ituano’s Jefferson helped his side open their Paulista account with a 1-0 victory over winless Sao Caetano, scoring the decisive goal in the eighth minute.
Paulista got off to a dream start at home to Sao Bernardo by scoring in the first minute via Barboza, but were held to a 1-1 draw when Nena equalised in the 43rd minute for the visitors.
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Palmeiras’ Patrick was the hero for his side in their trip to Oeste’s Estadio dos Amaros, scoring the only goal of the game in the 86th minute.
Corinthians and Noroeste played out a 1-1 draw at Estadio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho.
As the new Premier League season dawns upon us, so does with it the stream of newly designed kits.
For some supporters, the release of a new kit is a time of salvation, as a new, shiny American sports brand wheels out a classy design. For others, the notion of spending £40 plus on recycled polyester is simply far too much to bear.
But it is when a team like Fulham release a number as truly hideous and God-awful as their latest away kit, that fans from all clubs come together and rejoice at their misfortune. Knowing that however bad things get next season, they know they’ll never have to go to the terraces looking like an 80’s roadside mechanic.
Although every team has a dark closet full of football kit horrors. Those who have adorned the likes of Pony, Airness and Ribero over the years will have sore wounds opened up by events at Craven Cottage. So whilst we’re here, we may as well appreciate ten of the worst efforts in Premier League history.
Click on Wigan’s illumination to unveil the top 10
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Have I missed a horror show out or are you dismayed your favourite shirt has made the final cut? Get on Twitter and tell me, follow @samuel_antrobus
Sporting Lisbon have dismissed reports they are on the verge of signing Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, while DJ Campbell appears on the move.The Liga Sagres club were reportedly on the verge of signing the Denmark international after he was allegedly pictured in Portugal.
But director of football Carlos Freitas denied the rumours while unveiling teenager Atila Turan on Friday.
“I have no justification for such news. Bendtner is a player who is as close to Sporting as (Gonzalo) Higuain or (Didier) Drogba are,” Freitas said.
“Those are players who are at the same distance from Sporting. The reports of a move for Bendtner are a fictitious production.”
Bendtner is thought to be seeking a move away from the Emirates Stadium as he continues to fall down the pecking order at the English Premier League club.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are reportedly poised to break their transfer record with a move for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata.
The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Spanish club and Arsene Wenger’s team are viewed as a potential destination for the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner, with an offer in the region of 20 million euros.
The Mirror claimed that the Gunners have come to an agreement with Valencia over the potential sale of Mata, while The Sun reported that the player himself has told friends that he is set to join the north London club.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Queens Park Rangers have had a bid for Blackpool striker DJ Campbell accepted, with the player to undergo a medical in London.
The forward only joined the Tangerines permanently last term after enjoying a successful loan spell and continued his good form during the club’s first Premier League season, scoring 13 goals in 31 matches in the top flight.
The 29-year-old is set to move to the newly promoted club for an undisclosed fee, and only needs to agree to personal terms with QPR for the deal to go through.
“Blackpool Football Club can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Queen Park Rangers for the transfer of striker DJ Campbell,” Blackpool said on their official website.
“The 29-year-old has now been given permission to discuss personal terms with Neil Warnock’s side and undergo a medical.”
QPR have already secured the signings of Kieron Dyer, Jay Bothroyd and Danny Gabbidon so far this summer, but all three deals were on free transfers.
In other news in England, Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of Burnley duo Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears on three-year deals.
Right-back Mears and winger Eagles rejoin manager Owen Coyle, who signed them for Burnley during his time in charge there.
In the Serie A, Genoa have completed the signing of French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey from Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee, with the shot-stopper signing a five-year deal.
In Germany, Bundesliga outfit Schalke have confirmed the capture of former Stuttgart striker Ciprian Marica.
Returning to Spain, the agent of Villarreal attacker Giuseppe Rossi has announced the player will remain with the La Liga outfit – much to the disappointment of potential suitor Juventus.
Rossi had looked on the way out as Villarreal looked to ease their financial problems, but the sale of Santi Cazorla to Malaga has eased the burden and should allow Rossi to remain at El Madrigal.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has backed his former club to win this season’s English Premier League title.The club’s record goal scorer also ruled out a return to the Emirates Stadium on loan and told Arsenal’s current captain, Cesc Fabregas, to forget about the critics.
Henry was speaking at the Football Writers’ Association dinner where he received a Tribute Award, and believes Arsenal can lift this year’s Premier League title – something they have not done since 2003/04.
“I do think they can do it with the style of football that they play,” Henry said.
“I don’t think it’s the only time they’ve had the chance to grab the title. It will be a great thing for the club if they can bring back some silverware, especially for the fans.”
The French international has been training with Arsenal lately but dismissed reports he was about to join them on loan from his current club New York Red Bulls, who he plays for in USA’s Major League Soccer.
“I enjoyed my time here but I’m over there now and I’m happy to be over there,” he said.
“I started to train with them, I had two months off and I’m a bit off the pace right now, and you know how Arsenal play sometimes.”
“I trained with the squad before the game that they played the other day against Ipswich and it’s quick, pretty quick, so no that’s not the plan (to join Arsenal on loan).”
Henry also offered advice and support to Fabregas, who had critics when Arsenal went through a bad patch earlier in the season.
“People are always going to have a go at Cesc, rightly so or not. He’s an amazing player, he won the World Cup, he won the European Championship, he’s the talisman of the club, he’s the club captain,” he said.
“The only thing I will tell him is to not listen, I’ve been through that and there’s nothing you can do about it and that’s the way the game is.”
“If Arsenal go on and win the title they will say he had an amazing season, and nobody will remember what happened at the beginning of the season.”
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Two of Henry’s clubs will face off in the Round of 16 in the Champions League when Arsenal take on current La Liga champions Barcelona and the striker rates the London side’s chances.
“I think (they are) probably the two best teams in terms of football, in the way the game should be played. I think for the neutral it’s going to be an amazing game,” he said.
“For me I don’t know, I’m an Arsenal fan and I have a lot of friends also at Barcelona so it’s going to be a tricky one, but as I said its going to be a very difficult game, but if a team can beat Barcelona then it’s Arsenal.”
Denmark produced the first surprise result of Euro 2012 after Michael Krohn-Dehli’s first half goal proved enough to see off Group B favourites Holland in Kharkiv.
The Bronby midfielder’s struck mid-way through the first half against the run of play to hand Moten Olsen’s side a dream start in what has been dubbed ‘the group of death’. It proved to be a frustrating evening for the Dutch as they monopolised possession but lacked a ruthless edge in the final third failing to convert any of the 28 attempts despite their attacking lineup boasting glittering array of talent. Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben were the main culprits passing up a host of gilt edged chances to salvage a point for Bert van Marwijk’s men and they face an uphill struggle to make it to the knockout phase with games against Germany and Portugal to come.
In fact the Dutch should have been home and dry before Krohn-Dehli decisive and should have taken the lead with just seven minutes on the clock as they flew out of the traps. Robben caused mayhem in the early stages and drove past Lars Jacobsen on the left and teed up Van Persie to tamely shoot wide from 12-yards. The Bayern Munich winger then passed up a golden opportunity to give Oranje the lead after being played in by Van Persie but his decision to cross instead of shoot proved to be the wrong one as Daniel Agger did superbly to inadvertently deflect the ball into the goalkeeper Stephane Andersen’s arms.
They were made to pay for their profligacy as the Danes snatched the lead in the 25th minute courtesy of Krohn-Dehli after he pounced on a loose ball and tore past Johnny Heitinga into the penalty before smashing the ball through Maarten Steklenberg’s legs. Holland came within inches of an equaliser ten minutes before half time after Anderson’s careless pass found Robben but could saw his effort strike the post. The Dutch continued to press and Van Persie will be cursing his touch after he mis-controlled Wesley Sneijder’s pass after drifting into space in penalty area.
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It was a similar story for the Arsenal striker after the break as Sneijder picked him out only this time he lost his footing on the slick surface. The orange onslaught continued with Anderson at full stretch to palm away Mark Van Bommel’s rasping long-range strike before diving at the feet of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the substitute tried to flick the ball over the onrushing keeper after being found by Sneijder with a exquisite pass with the outside of his boot only. A late penalty appeal also fell on deaf ears as Jacobsen appeared to handle in the area as Denmark held on to record a famous victory and give themselves a massive confidence boost ahead of their next two games.
Paolo Guerrero struck a hat-trick to help Peru claim third place in the Copa America with a 4-1 win over 10-man Venezuela on Saturday.Guerrero’s second-half treble, coming after Willian Chiroque opened the scoring in the first half, proved enough to overcome Venezuela, who were a man down following Tomas Rincon’s 58th-minute dismissal at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.
Peru had their first genuine sight on goal 25 minutes in, when a quick one-two on the edge of the area released Chiroque behind the defence, but his effort from a tight angle was parried by Renny Vega.
A few minutes later, Venezuela had a chance when Miku turned into space inside the penalty area, but Raul Fernandez did well to tip his shot wide.
Despite Venezuela growing in confidence as the first-half neared its end, it was Peru who opened the scoring with a blistering counter-attack.
With three minutes to go before the break, Chiroque picked up the ball inside his own half and broke with pace against the back-pedalling Venezuelan defence.
He found Guerrero on the right flank, continued his run into the box, and stroked the return pass home from two yards.
Venezuela’s task was made that much harder after they were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute, when Rincon slid in with two feet on Carlos Lobaton.
The tackle may not have been as harsh as Lobaton made out, but referee Wilmar Roldan showed Rincon a straight red, his second dismissal of the tournament.
Things went from bad to worse for Venezuela, as Peru doubled their advantage on 65 minutes.
With gaps appearing following Rincon’s sending off, Guerrero advanced through the midfield and played Chiroque through on the right.
This time he turned provider, laying the ball back to strike partner Guerrero, who had time to control the pass and smash it into the roof of the net.
Venezuela did at least manage to return fire, with substitute Juan Arango finishing clinically on 78 minutes after Yohandry Orozco’s through ball.
But it proved to be nothing more than a consolation, with Guerrero sealing the win for Peru as the clock moved into injury time.
The Hamburg striker showed great skill to evade his marker at the top of the box, and finished with aplomb past the helpless Vega.
Two minutes later, with virtually the last kick of the game, Guerrero completed his hat-trick with a simple finish.
For Peru, the win secures their best finish in the Copa since 1983, when they also came in third.
And while Venezuela must settle for fourth, it was still their best return in 15 appearances at the tournament dating back to 1967.