Sevilla's Brazil striker Luis Fabiano is adamant that he will remain in Spain this summer, despite continuing talk of interest in him from Italy and England.
The 29-year-old South American has been heavily linked with AC Milan again this summer, but Fabiano insists that he is solely focused on his current club.
He told AS:"My future is with Sevilla. I have never thought about leaving this year. I have had some offers, but I never considered leaving Sevilla.
"In reality, no-one ever looked for me and I have forgotten about Milan.
"From my point of view, they didn't come in seriously for me. They promised a lot of things, but they didn't fulfil those promises. It's a great club, but that's in the past.
"Therefore I am staying with Sevilla. I have won plenty here and this is a fundamental moment in my career.
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"A (contract) renewal? There is no rush. I have an excellent relationship with my club and I am sure we will reach an agreement."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Maybe I’m biased but I can’t help thinking that England might have employed the wrong veteran Italian coach when they appointed Fabio Capello. It may be because when I was a 21-year-old kid, who had been sold against his will to AC Milan, Giovanni Trapattoni was the kindest of team-mates and a true friend. It may also be that Capello reminds me so much of the square-jawed, mean-hearted Milan manager Nereo Rocco, whom I loathed during my brief spell in Serie A. But it is mainly down to the outstanding job Trapattoni has done in leading the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2012. And in a month when I was made to feel very old by reading that it was me who had scored England’s 1,000th goal – and that our national team had scored another 1,000 goals since – it was certainly heartening to hear that Trapattoni, who is a year older than me, is in talks over a new deal.
Trap will be 73 by the Euro finals and he will be 75 when the next World Cup comes around, yet he’s desperate to lead the Irish to Brazil. Good on him because it shows that if you are mentally and physically healthy, it does not matter how old you are. Trapattoni is one of only two managers to have won league titles in four countries. He also won the European Cup as a player with Milan, the year after I left, and as a manager with Juventus. From having known him as a player, I’m pretty certain Trap will be the sort of man-manager who is warm and decent with his men – which, for me, is the key quality of any international boss.
At Milan, Trap and Gianni Rivera were the two players who took me under their wing, as they both spoke more English than the rest. During my frequent training-ground rows with Rocco, I can always remember Trapattoni saying: ‘Yimmy, Yimmy, don’t say nothing, Yimmy’. It was good advice – but I usually ignored it, answering back and causing another blazing row with the boss. Trap was a typical Italian player, a ball-winning midfielder who would grab his opponents by the throat or the testicles – yet he was also a visionary passer of the ball.
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It does not surprise me that many Irish fans and commentators have complained that his teams have been too cautious or negative – not that they’ll be moaning any more, of course. That great Milan team was not exactly free-flowing and cavalier. When it comes to football, Italians have always tended to be safety-first. It just seems that they are a little more liberal when it comes to spending euros! But in many respects, Trapattoni reminds me of another former team-mate of mine, Jack Charlton, who transformed Irish football thanks to the strength of his personality.
On a player-by-player basis, Trapattoni’s Ireland should be well beaten when they meet Capello’s England – either in a post-season friendly or in the group stages in Poland and Ukraine. But from what I saw against Sweden the other night – and from knowing how well Ireland always seem to do against the English – I think there’s every chance they could get a result against us. Not least because of Trap’s vast experience and know-how.
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The funniest thing for me about watching the Sweden match on ITV was Adrian Chiles introducing a clip of me scoring England’s 1,000th goal in a 5-1 win over Wales at Wembley in 1960. I’m absolutely convinced that nobody ever told me at the time, nor at any moment since, that I’d achieved that landmark. I wasn’t aware that I had scored the 1,000th goal until they started writing about who would score the 2,000th in Tuesday’s newspapers. Nobody was that botheredabout stats back then – but now football is a vast ocean of facts and figures. Perhaps they’ll present me with a plaque to mark my achievement. Gareth Barry has now been given the 2,000th goal, which is just as well because Swedish defender Daniel Majstorovic sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted any recognition for the milestone goal.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini pointed the finger at Mario Balotelli after his side were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday.The Italian striker was sent off after just 36 minutes of the second-leg clash with Dynamo Kiev, and although City scored three minutes later through Aleksandar Kolarov, they were unable to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg.Balotelli was given his marching orders for raising his studs and raking his boot down the body of Goran Popov after losing the ball, leading to his straight red card.Asked if he hopes Balotelli would be frustrated by his red card, Mancini said: “I hope (so). Because I think with 11 players we would have won this game and got to the quarter-finals.””The problem for Mario is that he thinks he could be a fantastic player. But when he does something stupid like that, it is difficult for me, difficult for him and difficult for the team.”Mancini was still pleased with the performance, labeling it as ‘fantastic’ given the numerical disadvantage, before voicing his frustration with the Russian side’s time-wasting tactics. “I’m disappointed with the result because we deserved to score another goal, minimum. We played a fantastic game with 10 players,” he said.”Every time they dived and every time the referee saw it. But that is what happens. That is it.”But Dynamo manager Yuri Semin refuted Mancini’s claims that his side dived and insisted the match was a physical contest.”It is part of football,” Semin said.”There were some quite serious clashes. It was a tough game out there. That is why the referee gave quite a few yellow cards.”The result means City’s trophy drought, which recently ticked over to 35 years, could continue with the club’s focus now solely placed on the FA Cup where they meet rivals Manchester United in the semi-finals.
Javier Hernandez or the ‘Little Pea’ has had football fans talking of late, particularly in the red half of Manchester. The excitement that now surrounds his move to Manchester United has largely silenced those who called for a big name signing whilst questioning the club’s financial ability to do so. Signed from Mexican side, Chivas de Guadalajara in a deal thought to be around £7 million, United insist their pre-emptive actions secured a relative bargain that is rarely acquired in today’s bloated transfer market. The player’s style has earned him comparisons with club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for his predatory goal-scoring instincts, quick movement and confidence in front of goal. Could the ‘Little Pea’ soon be Manchester United’s next ‘Baby-faced Assassin?’
Javier Hernandez came off the bench in United’s pre-season friendly against the MLS All-Stars on Thursday to score a sumptuous goal. He used his intelligence and sharp movement to exploit the space between the opposition defenders, controlling Fletcher’s through ball and promptly lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper. The attacker assimilated to the pace of the game without hesitation, giving a lively performance in which he tested the opposition keeper prior to his debut goal and won a free-kick which Darron Gibson expertly converted.
If pre-season form cannot be considered a reliable appraisal of a player’s potential, fans only have to cast their minds back to his performances for Mexico at this year’s World Cup. He excelled on the biggest stage of all, heaping more misery on the French squad by putting his side ahead against Les Bleus in their group stage encounter in Polokwane. In this game he came on as a substitute and rapidly repaid the faith of his manager by peeling of the last defender precisely at the right moment and rounded Hugo Lloris to score. In Mexico’s second round defeat to Argentina it was down to Hernandez to provide some form of consolation for his team. Finding space in the box he was able to turn Martin Demichelis and unleash a bullet shot with his left foot into the top corner. In these matches he displayed his numerous attributes, including the ability to find space, utilise his pace to unsettle defences, time a forward run and finish coolly with precision.
These enviable skills have drawn comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This hero of the Stretford End was hitherto unknown before joining United but briskly announced his arrival with a goal on his debut against Blackburn. He was habitually used as an impact substitute during his years at Old Trafford and displayed a special knack of scoring late goals. Scoring these goals in important games became his forte as he had the ability to sniff out the slightest chance which he would invariably convert with a deadeye finish. The Norwegian was not always the perennial super-sub but he often had to use his versatility to secure a starting place. Adept at playing on the wing, Solskjaer displayed his talents not only as a goal-scorer but also as a provider. His highlights reel will forever show the four goals he scored in twelve minutes against Nottingham Forest and his instinctive injury time finish to hand United victory against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League Final.
Hernandez’s traits invite comparison with the Norwegian who achieved so much at the club. Namely, the ability to make an impact, evade defenders, use pace and finish clinically. The confidence of the manager and expectation of the fans is there but the player may not simply walk into the starting line-up. United have various attacking options and Hernandez may have to demonstrate his flexibility before finding his own role in the club’s attack. Should he need any tips whilst reading the game from the bench ahead of making an impact he could do worse than consult the club’s reserve team manager, Solskjaer , for advice.
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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Andrei Arshavin has admitted that he is has not been happy with the level of performances that he has put in for Arsenal since joining the Premier League club, calling his personal displays average.
The Russia international has shown some glimpses of brilliance since moving to North London from Zenit St Petersburg in a club record £15 million deal back in January 2009, with the four goals he scored at Anfield in an epic 4-4 draw in April 2009 still in the memory.
Despite this, the attacker has not lived up to his considerable ability, and finds himself a bit part player at the Emirates, no longer guaranteed a place in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI.
As his inconsistency continues, the Eastern European admits that he needs to improve.
“Speaking honestly, I think my performances for Arsenal have been average,” Arshavin is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
“I’ve done some good things, but I don’t assess my game on goals or assists. I look at the whole picture. Normally when I’m on the pitch I take control of a game but I haven’t really done that here. I’m an extra tool in the team rather than the main one, so it’s been difficult,” he admitted.
Arshavin’s current deal runs out in the summer of 2013, and his future in England hangs in the balance as he looks to be in the best possible form going into Russia’s Euro 2012 campaign next summer.
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Bayer Leverkusen reduced Borussia Dortmund’s lead on top of the Bundesliga to nine points after a 1-0 away win over Mainz on Sunday.Renato Augusto’s goal eight minutes from the end was enough to hand all three points to Leverkusen, and cut Dortmund’s lead to single figures with eight games still to play.Dortmund suffered a 1-0 loss at Hoffenheim on Saturday.Mainz dropped to fifth with the loss and are now in a dogfight with Nuremberg for the last remaining Europa League berth.Elsewhere on Sunday, Stuttgart hauled themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow battlers St Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion.St Pauli took the lead after 19 minutes thanks to a goal from midfielder Fabian Bolle but Stuttgart hit back five minutes later through Zdravko Kuzmanovic.Sven Schipplock scored the winner with two minutes remaining to lift Stuttgart from 17th place to 13th on goal difference, while St Pauli slipped into the drop zone.
Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has tipped Kevin Nolan to fire his side to Premier League survival next season, following their Championship title-winning showing last term.
Nolan joined the St James' Park outfit from Bolton Wanderers in January 2009 and, although he couldn't help the Magpies keep their top-flight status, he played a major role in helping them return at the first attempt and Hughton is backing him to impress this time around
Speaking to Newcastle Chronicle, Hughton said:"He's a big player for us.
"He was a big part of what we achieved last season. All the players are the same – there's a genuine excitement to be back in the Premier League.
"We'll need him to be a big player again. It was unfair on Kevin the last time round.
"He came from Bolton and he'd just had a small ankle operation. He wasn't able to play at the level he's capable of playing at.
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"It was hard for Kevin, but last season we saw, regarding fitness and goals, what he can do."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract at Old Trafford that will keep him at the Premier League champions until 2016.
The Mexico international had a scintillating first season in England last term, and has become an important player for United since moving from Guadalajara in July 2010.
A new deal has been in the offing over the last couple of months, as interest from Real Madrid circulates, and the Premier League holders have confirmed that the contract has been signed.
Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the Central American, comparing him to a United hitman of the recent past.
“The last player I remember making an impact as big and as quickly as Javier is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he reminds me of Ole a lot,” the Scottish coach told the club’s official website.
“His talent for creating space in the box and his finishing ability mark him out as a natural goalscorer. Off the pitch, he is a pleasure to manage. He works very hard and is a popular member of the squad,” he concluded.
Hernandez could not hide his delight at signing the new deal, and is hoping 2011-12 will be a successful campaign for The Red Devils.
“I never expected my first year to go so well and I’m delighted to commit my future to United.
“To win a title and appear in a Champions League final was fantastic. I’m looking forward to helping my team-mates as we bid to win more trophies for this great club,” the Mexican stated.
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Hernandez started on the bench in the 6-1 loss to Manchester City on Sunday, but will be in contention for a starting berth in the club’s next fixture against Everton at Goodison Park.
I think we can pretty much agree that the race for the 2010/11 Premier League title is now between two teams: Manchester United and Arsenal. The Gunners were given a real boost earlier this week as London neighbours Chelsea did them a favour by turning over Man United at Stamford Bridge. Arsene Wenger’s men can now capitalise on this by securing three points at home to Sunderland, and with the Red Devils facing a tricky trip to Liverpool tomorrow, at the end of the weekend Arsenal could be within striking distance. Taking the run-ins into account, who do you think is in pole position for the title?
Arsenal arguably have the easier run-in. They have a tricky two game period in the middle of April as they face Liverpool at The Emirates Stadium and then travel to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham, but other than that there is only really one fixture that stands out. Manchester United face some tough games in the upcoming months. In addition to taking on the Reds this weekend, they still have to play Chelsea at home, and the Blues will have taken plenty of confidence from their victory this week.
It is quite possible that the destination of the Premier League title in 2011 will come down to one game. On Sunday 1st May the two rivals go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will be happy that they’ll have home advantage, but depending on how results go, Man United may only need a draw from that game. However, that could be the time that the Gunners overtake the Red Devils in the race for the title, and there is no better time to do it than in the home straight!
While Manchester United and Arsenal are embroiled in their race for the title, you have the opportunity to take part in your own racing experience. We’re giving you the opportunity to win a raceday experience, and all you have to do is answer the poll below…
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According to reports Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner is set to push through a move to Manchester City in a £25 million deal, despite interest from Premier League champions Chelsea. Would Milner be making a mistake by forcing a move to Eastlands?
The Daily Mail and The Sun have reported that Milner has been quick to make up his mind since England crashed out of the World Cup against Germany in South Africa and is set to sign an £80,000-a-week deal with Roberto Mancini’s side.
A Citizens source said:
“It’s not signed and sealed yet but we are confident it’s a done deal. Things are now moving fast and we are hoping to wrap everything up by next week.” (Daily Mail)
I think a deal between Villa and City for the player would be a deal which would be bad for both parties.
Milner has made his name at the Villa Park club mostly impressing in a central midfield role alongside Stiliyan Petrov, which earned him a place in Fabio Capello’s 23-man squad for the World Cup.
It is hard to see where Milner will fit into a Manchester City midfield which includes Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and many believe Yaya Toure will be an imminent arrival. Does Manchester City need Milner, or should they opt for someone a little more creative (as that is the area they are struggling with most in my opinion)?
From the 24-year-old midfielders point of view a big move to the Sky Blues doesn’t mean instant success either. Perhaps he should look at former Villa skipper Barry, who left for bigger and better things but only managed to finish just the three points above his former club last season…still outside of the Champions League places.
As for the claret and blues’ point of view, former player Paul Merson believes they should only be considering a “stupid” offer for the PFA Young Player of the Year as Villa will need their best players if they have any ambitions to break the big four.
Merson said:
“If they sell Milner I think they can write the top four off. It would be a miracle to get in the top four the season after you sell one of your best players.
“It’s worrying. I’d have said give us £50million if you want him, otherwise he’s staying. It’s stupid money but that’s the way it’s got to be.”
Perhaps the former Arsenal man is exaggerating slightly, but Villa need to maximise the profit out of the transfer to remain competitive and should really be looking to include a player like Stephen Ireland in the deal.
Ireland has his problems but is a talented player who can thrive under the right manager and looks set to leave Eastlands after he was so publicly criticised by his manager Mancini. If Villa could pull out a player + cash deal then they could be onto one of the bargains of the summer.
As for Milner, I think the best place for him to progress but hope he will continue to improve should he go to Manchester City much like Adam Johnson, who could count himself a little unlucky not to feature in Capello’s World Cup squad after a great season with both Middlesbrough and City.
Do the Manchester City fans think that Milner is worth the money and is what the club needs?
How do the Aston Villa fans feel about any potential deal, how much do you think the player is worth?
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Click on image below to see the PORTUGUESE babes at the World Cup