Barcelona star Lionel Messi sent a signed jersey to his friend and former teammate Ronaldinho. The pair were teammates at Barcelona between 2004 and 2008 and Messi took over as Barcelona N0. 10 after Ronaldinho left. Messi took to his Instagram photo of himself signing a Barcelona strip and he also revealed that he is sending it to the former Camp Nou favourite. The Argentinian sent Ronaldinho the signed club shirt as a surprise to show his admiration. Barca TV who travelled to Miami to speak to Ronaldinho on the 10th anniversary of the 3-0 victory over Real Madrid at…
Author: David F.
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has reportedly agreed a move back to Real Madrid just two seasons after leaving the La Liga giants. The 23-year-old left Real Madrid in 2014 to join Juventus in a deal worth €22 million. Real Madrid are however keen to resign the striker by activating a buy-back clause inserted in his contract at Juventus. According to AS, Morata has verbally agreed a five year contract with Real Madrid. All that is left for Real Madrid to resign the Spain international is to agree a price with Serie A giants, Juventus. Morata won the league and cup…
Chelsea players still showed their good heart by visiting sick children at a London hospital. Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Ramires and a slew of other Chelsea players on Wednesday, December 16 visited the sick young patients at Westminster Hospital. The players came bearing gifts including autographed photos, and posed for pictures with kids who could not be home for Christmas. “The visit is something we do every year and it’s brilliant to see the smiles on the faces of the children when we arrive, especially with it being so close to Christmas,’ Chelsea defender Gary Cahill told chelseafc.com.…
Father of Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has come out to rubbish claims that the forward faked an injury in their 2-1 loss at Leicester City on Monday, December, 14. Hazard went down after a challenge from Jamie Vardy and asked to be substituted in the 31st minute. A Belgian newspaper on Wednesday asked the forward of faking the injury to spite Mourinho. Hazard’s father Thierry has however denied the report claiming that his son was really hurt from Vardy’s challenge. “These are stories that are invented when things go bad,” Thierry told Het Nieuwsblad. “Do you really think Eden would…
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez says no-one thinks they are better than anyone else in the locker room, because everyone knows Lionel Messi is the best. Suarez and Neymar have been the two best for Barca so far this season, with Messi missing several weeks through injury. The duo of Suarez and Neymar have scored a combined 35 goals between them in all competitions, but the Uruguayan said everyone at Barca is in agreement that Messi is the best player at the club. “In the locker room no one thinks they are better than anyone because everyone assumes Messi is the…
Javier Mascherano believes Barcelona’s attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are the best forward line he has seen. Once again the South American trident have been in fantastic form this season for the treble winners, scoring 46 goals between them in all competitions. Mascherano has praised the synergy between the three players on the pitch as Barca continue to impress, but also paid tribute to their chemistry off it. “It’s the best [trio] I have seen,” he told the club’s official website. “To say we will see nothing like it again, you never know. “The most surprising…
PSV defender Joshua Brenet hopes to have the opportunity to face Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the Champions League. Phillip Cocu’s side booked their spot in the last 16 on Tuesday as a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow saw them leapfrog Manchester United, who lost 3-2 away at Wolfsburg. Reigning champions Barca have already confirmed their place at the top of their pool ahead of Wednesday’s Group E finale against Bayer Leverkusen, making them potential opponents for the Dutch side in the knockout stages. While 21-year-old Brenet will be happy with any draw, he would love…
Brendan Rodgers would likely still be manager of Liverpool had Luis Suarez not been sold to Barcelona, according to former Uruguay international Gus Poyet. Liverpool finished just two points behind champions Manchester City in 2013-14, with Suarez scoring 31 goals en route to winning the Premier League and PFA player of the year awards. Suarez subsequently left Anfield to join Barcelona and lifted the treble with the Catalans in 2014-15, while Liverpool have since replaced Rogders with Jurgen Klopp following disappointing results in the past year. Poyet has hailed his compatriot for making “football history” alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar…
Lionel Messi believes Barcelona team-mate Neymar has developed into a “more complete” player since their meeting in the Club World Cup final in 2011. The Brazilian was regarded as an unproven teenager when his Santos team took on Pep Guardiola’s Barca four years ago, losing 4-0. However, Neymar has since established himself as one of the world’s top players following his move to Camp Nou, recognised by his inclusion – alongside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – on the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or. And four-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has been impressed by his team-mate’s progress. “A lot…
Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson thinks the club will keep hold of Jamie Vardy this month and finish in the top four of the Premier League. Leicester have been this season’s surprise package, transforming themselves under the guidance of Pearson’s successor Claudio Ranieri from relegation battlers to title challengers. Vardy has been instrumental in the Foxes’ rise, with his 15 goals making him the division’s joint-leading scorer alongside Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. The 28-year-old’s exploits in front of goal have inevitably led to speculation surrounding his future, with Chelsea and Real Madrid reported to be interested in signing him. But…
Make no bones about it: Manchester City were far from good in their 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday. When the Hornets scored midway through the second half to take the lead, there were few visiting fans who were expecting to come away from Vicarage Road with three points, yet two moments of brilliance ensured just that. Yaya Toure — who had been underwhelming up to that point — fired in a shot at the near post from a corner, and 2½ minutes later the visitors were in front thanks to a sublime header from Sergio Aguero. The Argentine had…
Arsenal edged to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates on Saturday thanks to a scrappy goal from Laurent Koscielny. After a busy festive period, the Gunners looked somewhat insipid for most of the game, but were able to grab a goal to snatch a vital three points. Steve McClaren’s men will be left ruing a couple of crucial misses, particularly two one-on-one chances either side of halftime. For their part, Arsenal will once again be grateful to Petr Cech, who made several vital saves to help Arsene Wenger’s team to their clean sheet. Arsenal have begun 2016…
Theo Walcott says Arsenal “know what we need to do” to end their long Premier League title drought. Arsene Wenger’s Gunners haven’t lifted the trophy since 2004 but find themselves two points clear atop the table through 20 fixtures. Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle was not Arsenal’s most impressive victory of the season, but Walcott said in the past his side would have dropped points in games like that. “The three points are crucial at this moment in time, especially when teams slip up as well,” he told Arsenal’s website. “We’ve had a blip at times but it’s important that…
Former Netherlands star Ruud Gullit has blamed Memphis Depay’s struggles in his first season at Manchester United on the 21-year-old’s extravagant lifestyle. Depay turned heads last week by arriving at training in a luxury Rolls Royce convertible, just days after his back-pass blunder cost Manchester United in a 2-0 defeat to Stoke. And former Chelsea manager Gullit said the young winger needs to focus on his game. “Memphis should concentrate fully on football,” he wrote in De Telegraaf. “It would be a shame if someone like Memphis is going to be wasted because of all this side stuff. “He has…
Guus Hiddink is backing Eden Hazard to re-discover his best form in 2016, insisting that the Belgian is “very determined” to emerge from his prolonged slump. Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year award as Chelsea surged to the Premier League title last season, but has failed to score in 25 club appearances this term with the Blues languishing in 16th in the table halfway through the domestic campaign. Chelsea’s nightmare run cost Jose Mourinho his job and Hazard was accused by some supporters of lacking commitment after he publicly clashed with the Portuguese in his final weeks, leaving…
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he is not planning to go into coaching once his playing career comes to an end. Ronaldo, 30, gave an interview to El Mundo in which he spoke about what is lying in store for him when he finally hangs up his boots. The Portugal captain said he will likely retire within five to 10 years, but that he has no desire to become a coach when that day comes around. “There is another life afterwards,” he said. “I think it will be difficult for me at first, but if you ask me now…
Manuel Pellegrini sent a warning out to the Premier League that Manchester City are ready to hit top gear in the title race after ending their away-day misery at Watford. Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero earned a 2-1 comeback win on Saturday as Manchester City won on the road for the first time since September 12. Despite their travel sickness, Pellegrini’s side remain just three points off leaders Arsenal. And the Manchester City manager said: “We are returning to our form by recovering important players and once they are 100 per cent fit the team will improve every game. “We…
Atletico Madrid moved two points clear of Barca at the top of the table, having played a game more, thanks to substitute Thomas Partey’s late winner to edge past Levante 1-0. Real Madrid now trail Atletico by five points ahead of their trip to Valencia on Sunday. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork for Barcelona either side of halftime, but Espanyol’s physical approach was rewarded with a first point against Barca in eight matches. “The result in general was fair based on what both teams created, although I thought we had a lot of chances,” said Barca boss…
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has demanded more from his side in the second half of the season despite looking down on Spanish football’s perennial powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid. Thomas Partey’s late winner in a 1-0 victory over Levante on Saturday moved Los Rojiblancos two points clear of European champions Barcelona at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more. Real meanwhile trail their city rivals by five points ahead of their trip to Valencia on Sunday. Atletico’s success so far this season has been built on a rock solid defence that has conceded just eight…
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed he will “live like a king” once his playing career comes to an end, but has ruled out a move into coaching when he hangs up his boots. Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer is in action on Sunday as Los Blancos look to move level with eternal rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race at Valencia. However, in a wide-ranging interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he admitted football doesn’t always captivate his interest. “I have a top life, but I think I am going to enjoy it more when…