Cesc Fabregas will meet with new Barcelona coach Gerardo Martinoin the next 48 hours as he seeks assurances over his future at Camp Nou.
The Manchester United target wants to clarify his position with Martino ahead of publicly announcing his intentions this summer, with Barcelona having already rejected two approaches from the Premier League champion for the 26-year-old.
Martino insisted on Friday that the Catalans would also dismiss any further approaches from United for the midfielder, with Goal having revealed last week that the club was preparing an improved bid of 41 million euros for the former Arsenal star.
Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has also previously ruled out and chance of the club selling the Spain international, insisting: "Whatever offer United make, however big, we will say no. Cesc Fabregas will stay a Barcelona player."
However, Fabregas is keen to meet with his new manager to ensure he remains key to the club's plans next term, and United are understood to be losing heart in their pursuit of the midfielder.
After Thiago Alcantara opted to join Bayern Munich ahead of United earlier in July, Fabregas has emerged as David Moyes' priority signing this summer.
The United boss admitted on Sunday that he was unsure whether his side will continue its efforts to sign Fabregas but insisted he will add to his squad before the close of the transfer window.
"I couldn't tell you if there will be another bid," Moyes said. "Obviously we'll take stock and make a decision on what we do next but we have a good squad already. You can't forget about the quality that's already here.
"Undoubtedly we hope to add to it and I'm quite confident we'll do that... certainly before the window shuts."
Monday, 29 July 2013
Mourinho expects Drogba to return to Stamford Bridge
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he expects Didier Drogba to return to Stamford Bridge at some point in the future.
The Ivorian spent eight years with the Blues winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League with the west Londoners before moving to Shanghai Shenhua in 2012.
Drogba has since moved again, to Turkish side Galatasaray, butMourinho would not be surprised to see him return to the Blues.
"He is a player and he is a winner and he enjoys his game and I almost had a heart attack because of him," Mourinho told theTelegraph.
"Let him enjoy a good couple of years of football but, after that, he is loved in this club by everyone and that’s very, very normal. I think one day he will have a Chelsea future."
The 35-year-old has been linked with a coaching role at Stamford Bridge and when asked if this was a possibility, Mourinho replied: "It's more a global question than a specific question to the manager.
"I am nobody, I am just the manager. Is he a very important player in Chelsea’s history? Yes. Will Didier be always in the memory of Chelsea fans, Chelsea board, Chelsea owner, Chelsea fellow players, Chelsea kids growing up? Yes. Is it normal that Didier will be in the future connected with Chelsea again, I think yes. How? I don’t know."
The Ivorian spent eight years with the Blues winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League with the west Londoners before moving to Shanghai Shenhua in 2012.
Drogba has since moved again, to Turkish side Galatasaray, butMourinho would not be surprised to see him return to the Blues.
"He is a player and he is a winner and he enjoys his game and I almost had a heart attack because of him," Mourinho told theTelegraph.
"Let him enjoy a good couple of years of football but, after that, he is loved in this club by everyone and that’s very, very normal. I think one day he will have a Chelsea future."
The 35-year-old has been linked with a coaching role at Stamford Bridge and when asked if this was a possibility, Mourinho replied: "It's more a global question than a specific question to the manager.
"I am nobody, I am just the manager. Is he a very important player in Chelsea’s history? Yes. Will Didier be always in the memory of Chelsea fans, Chelsea board, Chelsea owner, Chelsea fellow players, Chelsea kids growing up? Yes. Is it normal that Didier will be in the future connected with Chelsea again, I think yes. How? I don’t know."
Soccer-Czech championship results and standings
July 29 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Czech championship matches on Monday
Monday, July 29
Brno 5 Bohemians 1905 1
Sunday, July 28
Slovan Liberec 2 Slavia Prague 1
Sparta Prague 2 Jablonec 1
Saturday, July 27
Slovacko 2 Vysocina Jihlava 1
Banik Ostrava 2 Mlada Boleslav 1
FK Dukla Praha 4 Sigma Olomouc 0
Friday, July 26
1. SC Znojmo 0 Teplice 0
Marila Pribram 2 Viktoria Plzen 4
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Viktoria Plzen 2 2 0 0 9 2 6
-------------------------
2 Sparta Prague 2 2 0 0 6 2 6
3 Slovan Liberec 2 2 0 0 4 2 6
4 FK Dukla Praha 2 1 1 0 5 1 4
4 Brno 2 1 1 0 5 1 4
-------------------------
6 Banik Ostrava 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
6 Teplice 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
8 Slovacko 2 1 0 1 4 4 3
9 1. SC Znojmo 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
10 Mlada Boleslav 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
10 Slavia Prague 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
12 Jablonec 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
13 Marila Pribram 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
14 Vysocina Jihlava 2 0 0 2 2 6 0
-------------------------
15 Sigma Olomouc 2 0 0 2 1 6 0
16 Bohemians 1905 2 0 0 2 1 10 0
1: Champions League preliminary round
2-5: Europa League
15-16: Relegation
Moyes impressed with young Man Utd trio
Manchester United manager David Moyes has praised youngstersAdnan Januzaj, Jesse Lingard and Wilfried Zaha after the Red Devils’ 5-2 friendly win over Kitchee.
Forward Lingard scored his fourth goal of the preseason tour in the win, with Januzaj also on target alongside Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Fabio in Hong Kong.
Speaking after the game Moyes admitted he had learned a lot about many of his new players and revealed what the tour had meant to him.
"A couple of the young lads, Adnan and Jesse Lingard, who I didn't know as much about, did well and Wilfried Zaha, who has just joined, he has shown what he is capable of in the games he has played," he told reporters.
"I think they will go away from the trip feeling they have contributed to it. I am taking away the great experience of my first trip with Manchester United in general and what the football club means around the world."
The victory means Manchester United has won three of five games of its Far East tour and Moyes added that he has been pleased with the efforts of his players.
"I have also had a chance to get to know the players and try to settle into my new environment and for the players to get to know me as well," he added. "They have been working with a great manager for a long time a lot of them, so it is going to take time. But I have really enjoyed working with them. They have been incredibly professional.
Forward Lingard scored his fourth goal of the preseason tour in the win, with Januzaj also on target alongside Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Fabio in Hong Kong.
Speaking after the game Moyes admitted he had learned a lot about many of his new players and revealed what the tour had meant to him.
"A couple of the young lads, Adnan and Jesse Lingard, who I didn't know as much about, did well and Wilfried Zaha, who has just joined, he has shown what he is capable of in the games he has played," he told reporters.
"I think they will go away from the trip feeling they have contributed to it. I am taking away the great experience of my first trip with Manchester United in general and what the football club means around the world."
The victory means Manchester United has won three of five games of its Far East tour and Moyes added that he has been pleased with the efforts of his players.
"I have also had a chance to get to know the players and try to settle into my new environment and for the players to get to know me as well," he added. "They have been working with a great manager for a long time a lot of them, so it is going to take time. But I have really enjoyed working with them. They have been incredibly professional.
Soccer-Danish championship results and standings
July 29 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Danish championship matches on Monday
Monday, July 29
Esbjerg 1 AaB Aalborg 2
Sunday, July 28
Midtjylland 1 FC Copenhagen 0
Randers 1 OB Odense 1
SonderjyskE 1 Brondby 0
Saturday, July 27
FC Vestsjaelland 0 AGF Aarhus 2
Friday, July 26
Nordsjaelland 1 Viborg 1
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Midtjylland 2 2 0 0 3 0 6
-------------------------
2 AaB Aalborg 2 2 0 0 4 2 6
-------------------------
3 SonderjyskE 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
4 Esbjerg 2 1 0 1 5 2 3
-------------------------
5 AGF Aarhus 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
-------------------------
6 Randers 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
6 Viborg 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
8 OB Odense 2 0 2 0 2 2 2
9 Brondby 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
10 FC Vestsjaelland 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
-------------------------
11 Nordsjaelland 2 0 1 1 1 5 1
12 FC Copenhagen 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
1: Champions League / EC I
2: Champions League preliminary round
3-4: Europa League
5: Europa League depending on domestic cup
11-12: Relegation
Soccer-Norwegian championship results and standings
July 29 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Norwegian championship matches on Monday
Monday, July 29
Valerenga Oslo 5 Sarpsborg 08 3
Sunday, July 28
Odd Grenland 3 Tromso 1
Brann Bergen 1 Rosenborg Trondheim 4
Sogndal 1 FK Haugesund 1
Stromsgodset IF 6 Honefoss BK 1
Viking Stavanger 3 IK Start 0
Saturday, July 27
Aalesund 2 Sandnes Ulf 3
Lillestrom 2 Molde 0
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Rosenborg Trondheim 17 11 4 2 32 15 37
-------------------------
2 Stromsgodset IF 17 11 2 4 37 15 35
3 Viking Stavanger 17 8 5 4 22 16 29
-------------------------
4 Aalesund 17 8 4 5 34 25 28
-------------------------
5 Brann Bergen 17 8 2 7 28 26 26
6 Valerenga Oslo 17 7 3 7 26 28 24
7 FK Haugesund 17 7 3 7 21 24 24
8 Sogndal 17 5 8 4 24 26 23
9 Odd Grenland 17 6 3 8 21 19 21
10 Lillestrom 17 6 3 8 21 25 21
11 Tromso 17 5 5 7 26 25 20
12 Sandnes Ulf 17 5 4 8 19 29 19
13 Molde 17 4 6 7 25 26 18
-------------------------
14 Sarpsborg 08 17 4 5 8 22 35 17
-------------------------
15 Honefoss BK 17 3 7 7 19 29 16
16 IK Start 17 3 6 8 22 36 15
1: Champions League preliminary round
2-3: Europa League
4: Europa League depending on domestic cup
14: Relegation play-off
15-16: Relegation
Soccer-Swedish championship results and standings
July 29 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from theSwedish championship matches on Monday
Monday, July 29
Halmstad 1 Syrianska FC 1
Sunday, July 28
Gefle 2 Malmo 0
IFK Gothenburg 2 Helsingborg 4
Saturday, July 27
Atvidabergs FF 1 Elfsborg Boras 1
Kalmar 2 Brommapojkarna 2
Osters IF 1 Mjallby AIF 1
Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Helsingborg 17 11 4 2 39 13 37
-------------------------
2 Malmo 17 9 5 3 31 20 32
3 AIK Stockholm 17 9 5 3 29 18 32
-------------------------
4 IFK Gothenburg 17 8 5 4 25 18 29
-------------------------
5 Elfsborg Boras 17 7 7 3 30 16 28
6 Kalmar 17 7 7 3 21 14 28
7 Atvidabergs FF 17 8 3 6 22 18 27
8 Mjallby AIF 17 7 4 6 29 24 25
9 IFK Norrkoping 16 6 4 6 24 25 22
10 Haecken 17 6 2 9 21 26 20
11 Gefle 17 3 8 6 19 26 17
12 Djurgarden 16 4 4 8 12 27 16
13 Halmstad 17 2 8 7 15 25 14
-------------------------
14 OEsters IF 17 3 5 9 14 25 14
-------------------------
15 Brommapojkarna 17 3 5 9 18 36 14
16 Syrianska FC 17 2 4 11 14 32 10
1: Champions League preliminary round
2-3: Europa League
4: Europa League depending on domestic cup
14: Relegation play-off
15-16: Relegation
Lionel Messi wins Goal 50
Lionel Messi has won the Goal 50 award for the world’s best footballer after another record-breaking season.
The 26-year old scored 91 goals in 2012 and increased his total as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer to 313 goals in all competitions by the end of the season.
Messi struck in his 19th consecutive La Liga game in March 2013, becoming the first footballer in history to score in consecutive matches against every team in a major professional league.
After receiving the trophy from Goal's Barcelona correspondent Pilar Suarez at the club's training ground, Messi said: "I'm very excited about this. As players, we work the entire year to win honors for the team, we don't look for the individual awards, but when they come it's an incentive and gives us strength to continue on the same path."
The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the most credible and respected awards in sport because it is chosen by the world’s biggest soccer website.
Voting takes place at the end of domestic and international seasons for the majority of countries.
More than 500 Goal journalists from around the world vote to select their top 50 players, giving a truly global view.
Messi heads this year's list in front of second-placed Franck Ribery, who helped European champion Bayern Munich win the Treble. Last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo is third.
Commenting on the results, Graham Shaw, Editorial Director, said: “Messi had a spectacular season and it is incredible to think he has achieved so much by the age of 26. His award this year takes him past Cristiano Ronaldo to a record three Goal 50 titles and recognizes the individual brilliance of a player who is rightly recognized by some as the greatest of all-time.”
The 26-year old scored 91 goals in 2012 and increased his total as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer to 313 goals in all competitions by the end of the season.
Messi struck in his 19th consecutive La Liga game in March 2013, becoming the first footballer in history to score in consecutive matches against every team in a major professional league.
After receiving the trophy from Goal's Barcelona correspondent Pilar Suarez at the club's training ground, Messi said: "I'm very excited about this. As players, we work the entire year to win honors for the team, we don't look for the individual awards, but when they come it's an incentive and gives us strength to continue on the same path."
The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the most credible and respected awards in sport because it is chosen by the world’s biggest soccer website.
Voting takes place at the end of domestic and international seasons for the majority of countries.
More than 500 Goal journalists from around the world vote to select their top 50 players, giving a truly global view.
Messi heads this year's list in front of second-placed Franck Ribery, who helped European champion Bayern Munich win the Treble. Last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo is third.
Commenting on the results, Graham Shaw, Editorial Director, said: “Messi had a spectacular season and it is incredible to think he has achieved so much by the age of 26. His award this year takes him past Cristiano Ronaldo to a record three Goal 50 titles and recognizes the individual brilliance of a player who is rightly recognized by some as the greatest of all-time.”
| GOAL 50 Messi's hat trick of honors | |
| 2008 | CRISTIANO RONALDO |
| 2009 | LIONEL MESSI |
| 2010 | WESLEY SNEIJDER |
| 2011 | LIONEL MESSI |
| 2012 | CRISTIANO RONALDO |
| 2013 | LIONEL MESSI |
Broncos lose Dan Koppen for season to knee injury
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Broncos center Dan Koppen is out for the season after tearing his left ACL on Sunday in 9-on-7 drills, less than six weeks after rejoining Denver following J.D. Walton's setback in his comeback from ankle surgery.
Koppen, an 11-year veteran who played his first nine seasons with the Patriots, was caught in a pile early in the workout and was carted off the field and taken for an MRI, which revealed the season-ending injury.
Manny Ramirez, who took most of the snaps at center during Denver's offseason practices, stepped in for Koppen, whose teams have gone 108-28 in games he has started. Later in the day, the Broncos signed free-agent center Steve Vallos, pending a physical. Vallos is a six-year veteran who has played in Seattle, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Jacksonville with nine career starts.
''I always cringe,'' a somber-sounding coach John Fox said after practice. ''You never like to see players get injured, particularly severely injured. But you understand when you do this long enough, whether you're a player or a coach, that this happens. You know, you get them back ready. And you've got some guys that have worked hard off of injuries last year and it will be no different this year.''
Koppen's injury is the latest setback to Peyton Manning's patched-up pocket of protection.
Left guard Zane Beadles was the only starting lineman to come out of last season unscathed.
All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady has been limited at training camp since signing a $57.5 million contract earlier this month as he recovers from right shoulder surgery. Tackle Orlando Franklin (toe, shoulder) and guard Chris Kuper (ankle) are also coming off surgeries. Franklin has been back at practice but Kuper hasn't.
With Kuper needing another operation this offseason, the Broncos signed right guard Louis Vasquez in free agency.
Ramirez started 11 games at right guard last season.
''We need that flexibility,'' Fox said. ''When you pick your offensive line, not just for the season, but for game day, you have to pick them from the standpoint of having some flexibility. You've got to have a swing guard/center, you've got to have a swing tackle/guard, for the games.''
Defensive lineman Derek Wolfe also sprained an ankle and didn't return to Saturday's practice, which was the second straight workout in full pads for the Broncos.
''That's the Catch-22 any coach goes through any time of year,'' Fox said. ''You're getting ready for the season and you need to get into pads because you've got to get in shape and yet you're still trying to make sure you've got enough guys to battle with.'
Ravens say TE Pitta out for year, sign Shiancoe
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta is lost for the season after undergoing hip surgery, a major blow to the team's bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Pitta was hurt Saturday, the third day of training camp, when he collided with safety James Ihedigbo in the back of the end zone while going for a pass from Joe Flacco.
He was operated on Saturday night.
''Dennis out for the year,'' coach John Harbaugh said Sunday. ''It's the type of thing that he's not going to be able to come back from this year. There's enough damage in there.''
Harbaugh said Baltimore won't know the full extent of Pitta's injury until getting the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. But this much is certain: Pitta won't be part of the team's effort to win back-to-back titles.
Pitta was one of the centerpieces of the Ravens' offense during their run to a Super Bowl championship last season, and he was expected to take on an even bigger role this season after Baltimore traded top wide receiver Anquan Boldin during the spring.
The 28-year old Pitta, a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2010, had 61 catches last year, second on the team behind only Boldin. His seven touchdowns ranked second among receivers behind Torrey Smith.
Pitta also had 14 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in Baltimore's four playoff games, including four catches for 26 yards in the Ravens' 34-31 Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Visanthe Shiancoe, a 33-year-old free agent, played in only four games last season with New England. But he played in all 16 games in each of the previous nine seasons - the first four with the New York Giants and the next five with Minnesota.
He has 243 career catches for 2,677 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Shiancoe joined the team for practice Sunday and work Boldin's old number, 81.
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