Manchester United sent scouts to watch FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala in action at the weekend, according to reports. . The Daily Mail claims David Moyes – who was on his own scouting mission in Italy – sent a party to watch the one-cap French international defender in action yesterday against Benfica. . Whilst Mangala was on the end of a 2-0 defeat, he was being watched by a number of clubs, with Premier League rivals Manchester City also interested and also in attendance. . Reports in December claimed Manchester United would have to pay £40million to bring the player…
Author: David F.
Jose Mourinho committed his long-term future to Chelsea on Monday, insisting he did not want to be a manager anywhere else. . The 50-year-old Portuguese, who started his second spell in charge of the London club ahead of the current season, said he’d only leave Stamford Bridge if sacked by the Blues. . “I’m not here thinking about my next move because I don’t want to have a next move,” Mourinho told Monday’s London Evening Standard newspaper. . “I will have a next move if and when Chelsea decides it’s time for that. . “I’m here to stay. I belong…
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri expects to be out for around eight weeks after suffering a serious knee injury in Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United. . The 26-year-old was carried off the pitch on a stretcher following a tackle by Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa towards the end of the match at St James’ Park. . “Thank you everyone for your kind words and overwhelming support, I suppose it’s kind of good news that I will be out around eight weeks,” the French international said on his official Twitter account on Monday. . Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini…
Goals from Elmutasem Abushnaf and Abdel Salam Omar gave Libya a perfect start as they beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Bloemfontein in their African Nations Championship Group C encounter on Monday. . Ethiopia made their Chan debut after an exciting showing in South Africa just a year ago at the Africa Nations Cup. Libya, meanwhile, returned to the competition for the second time since the inaugural 2009 tournament in Ivory Coast where they failed to make it out of the group stage. . It was Libya who took an early lead when Elmutasem Abushnaf ran into the danger area before unleashing…
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was spared disciplinary action by the Football Association on Monday following his expletive-laden touchline rant during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Premier League leaders Manchester City. . However, the governing body said Magpies boss Pardew had been “reminded of his responsibilities”. Pardew, angered by a decision to rule out a Newcastle ‘goal’ by Cheick Tiote for offside, let fly at St James’ Park with a stream of invective directed at City’s Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini. . But the FA decided against any disciplinary action, a spokesman saying: “We have been in contact with Alan Pardew and…
Ex Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has been named 2013 FIFA Coach of the year, pipping fellow retiree Sir Alex Ferguson to win the prestigious award. . Heynckes, 68, who retired after the 2012-13 season was concluded, brought the Bayern team together after their devastating 2012 Champions’ League final loss against Chelsea into a near perfect side, dislodging Barcelona from their throne in the process. . Bayern only lost once in the entire Bundesliga campaign, winning twenty-nine of their thirty-four matches, finishing with 91 points. That average of 2.67 points per game means that the Bavarian side would have finished…
Manchester United are clear favourites to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera – with the bookmakers anyway. . SkyBet have the Premier League champions as 2/1 favourites to sign the Spaniard before February 1. . Title rivals Chelsea are next at 25/1, Tottenham at 28/1, with Arsenal and Real Madrid tied at 33/1. Barcelona are currently priced at 40/1 and Atletico Madrid at 50/1. . 24-year-old playmaker Herrera joined Bilbao from Real Zaragoza back in 2011 and has become a mainstay of Ernesto Valverde’s side at San Mames. . His consistent form for the Basque outfit saw him linked with…
It all got a much for Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after he was named the 2013 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night. . The Portugal captain picked up the ‘best player in the world’ award for the second time in his career in Zurich – his previous win came back in 2008 when he was at Manchester United. . He enjoyed an incredible 2013, scoring more than 60 goals over the course of the calendar year for club and country. . He’s also enjoyed a revival of sorts in the popularity stakes as well, as the previously petulant playboy…
Premier League title chasers Liverpool could be set to strengthen their attacking options during the January transfer window. . According to The Metro, the Reds are targeting a move for PSV Eindhoven captain Georginio Wijnaldum and are ready to offer a deal worth £9 million before the end of the month. . 23-year-old Wijnaldum has been at Philips Stadion for almost three years, having moved from Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord during the summer of 2011. . The attacking midfielder, who has also earned three senior international caps for his native Netherlands, had been in fine form for Phillip Cocu’s side this…
Manchester United and Arsenal have been dealt a blow by Real Madrid assistant manage Paul Clement today, after he revealed in an interview with talkSPORT that no players would be leaving the club. . United and Arsenal have been linked with Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Morata respectively, but Clement has moved to confirm rumours that Carlo Ancelotti is unwilling to do business this month. . When asked whether or not the Madrid duo would be allowed to depart the Bernabeu in any capacity this transfer window, Clement responded by suggesting that due to Los Blancos’ thin squad, moves that would…
Barcelona star Marc Bartra is expected to sign a new deal at the Nou Camp despite taking a break from contract talks, according to Sport. . The centre-back has entered the final six months of his deal and is now free to discuss a pre-contract with overseas clubs. . Both Tottenham and Liverpool have been accredited with a strong interest in the player with both clubs ready to offer Bartra a way out of Catalonia. . The Premier League rivals were boosted by news that contract talks had been put on hold but seem to have lost out with the…
Fulham are plotting a surprise move for Manchester United winger Nani, according to the Metro. . The Portuguese winger has been linked with a loan switch to former side Sporting Lisbon over the last couple of days, however it now appears that Fulham are also interested in signing the 27-year-old Manchester United star. . Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen would be willing to take the Manchester United outcast to Craven Cottage if David Moyes did make Nani available for transfer. . Meulensteen worked with Nani for a number of years during his time at the club so knows all about…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the Ballon d’Or award for 2013, beating rivals Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to football’s top individual prize. . The Real Madrid star enjoyed a career-best 2013, scoring 66 goals and providing 15 assists in 56 games across the course of the calendar year. . The 28-year-old’s prodigious output had been bettered by Barca superstar Lionel Messi in the previous four match-ups between the pairing, but the Madrid star was a cut above in 2013. . He single-handedly dragged Portugal to the World Cup, and was the main man yet again for Real Madrid. .…
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers sent his chief scout Barry Hunter to Milton Keynes to watch highly-rated teenager Dele Alli in action at the weekend. . According to the Daily Mail, the Anfield club have stepped up their interest in the 17-year-old after Rodgers personally watched him last week. . That means Hunter’s trip is Liverpool’s second to Stadium:MK in less than a week, suggesting Rodgers’ interest in the teenager is real. . Hunter was in attendance as Alli scored in the Dons’ 3-2 win over Shrewsbury Town at the weekend. . Rodgers had watched Alli impress in the FA Cup…
Arsenal will be looking to make it fifteen years unbeaten at Villa Park as they search for a victory which would put them back on top of the Premier League. . It was in December 1998 that Dion Dublin snatched a late winner for Villa to secure a 3-2 win, and the home side will hope for a similar conclusion at full- time on Monday evening which would put them eight points clear of the bottom-three. . A win for Paul Lambert’s side would be their first double over Arsenal since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93. Belgian striker…
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is the odds-on favourite to win the Fifa Ballon d’Or on Monday. . The Portugal captain, 28, is named on a three-man shortlist for the prize, along with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich. . The trio were chosen from a 23-man long list, with the world player of the year to be crowned at a ceremony in Zurich. . Winners of seven other awards, plus the Fifpro World XI team of the year, will also be announced. Nadine Angerer (Germany), Marta (Brazil) and Abby Wambach (USA) are in the running for…
Barcelona said Andres Iniesta’s left-knee injury picked up during Saturday’s scoreless draw at Atletico Madrid is not serious. . The Spanish champions said the speed of Iniesta’s recovery “will determine his availability for upcoming games.” . Iniesta was tackled in the 22nd minute of the match at Vicente Calderon Stadium. He was replaced at halftime by Lionel Messi. . Barcelona visit Getafe on Thursday in the Copa del Rey after winning the first leg of their round-of-16 tie 4-0. They then visit Levante on Sunday in the Spanish league.
Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s Uganda Cranes team started with a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in a Group B tie of the on-going CAF African Nation Championship (CHAN) at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday. . Youngster Junior Yunus Sentamu scored a goal in each half to silence the Burkina Faso team. He netted early in the 15th minute after a defensive lapse gave him room to round the goalkeeper and slot in an empty net. . The SC Vipers striker was on target again in the 72nd minute after finishing off a well taken cross by substitute…
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri suffered a “serious” knee injury after being scythed down by Newcastle United defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa late in their 2-0 win at St James’ Park on Sunday. . “It should have been a red card for the tackle by Yanga-Mbiwa on Samir Nasri,” City manager Pellegrini told reporters. “A direct red card – we didn’t have any extra help from the referee today. . “Nasri has a serious injury with his knee – it was directly a red card. Maybe it’s medial ligaments. We’ll see tomorrow what happens with him.” . The 26-year-old French international, who…
Real Madrid closed to within three points of La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid when a Pepe header secured a laboured 1-0 win at mid-table Espanyol on Sunday. . Barca and Atletico drew 0-0 in Saturday’s top-of-the- table clash at the Calderon and Real took full advantage to end the first half of the season on 47 points from 19 matches, with the leaders on 50 and Barca top on goal difference. . It was hardly a vintage performance from Real at Espanyol’s Cornella-El Prat stadium in Barcelona, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema…