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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Injury claims were 'greatly exaggerated', insists Bale

Gareth Bale has described stories about a chronic back injury as "greatly exaggerated" after returning for Real Madrid against Malaga. Bale came on as a second-half substitute and won the penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to seal a 2-0 win for the hosts at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Reports in the Spanish media this month had claimed Bale was suffering from a major back problem - rumours which were promptly dismissed by the club - and the Wales international has now stressed he has no concerns over his long-term fitness. "It's been greatly exaggerated about my injury," the 24-year-old was quoted as saying by AS.

"I'm over the injury I suffered. I had a small thigh issue and as a result I've not had a lot of playing time. I missed preseason and could not run or train without discomfort. "The truth is that it was not important. Everything is exaggerated enough. I'm already playing again.

"Winning was very important for us today and I think we played well throughout the match. "We deserved the win and now I'm looking forward to facing the next two games." Madrid still sit third in La Liga after their win with 22 points from nine games, but have closed the gap from Barcelona at the top to just three points ahead of next week's Clasico at Camp Nou.

The Sweeper: Manchester City monitoring Pogba latest

Mino Raiola is chasing a bumper deal for the Frenchman, while Rio Ferdinand could be set for a switch to Manchester United's rivals - of sorts - and Harry Redknapp is gagged. Manchester City are keeping serious tabs on former Manchester United starlet Paul Pogba at Juventus.

The Frenchman's agent, Mino Raiola, is pushing the Italians for a significant new deal to reflect his growing stature at the club, with only two years left on his present package worth £900,000-a-year. Sources close to the Italian club have indicated that they are confident of tying Pogba down, with the promise of making him the club's central midfield fulcrum for the long-term future. Andrea Pirlo, those close to the club say, is set to be released at the end of the season.

However, City are keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old's situation, with the youngster's hero, Patrick Vieira, having scouted him heavily when he was at Old Trafford. Pogba had cold feet about making a direct switch to City at the time due to his time spent in the red half of the City.

City remain close to Raiola following their dealings with the agent during Mario Balotelli's City career, and are keen to be at the front of the queue should his negotiations with the Turin outfit break down.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

These Eaglets are unstoppable' - Akofe

One of the four players dropped from the U17 team on the eve of the world cadet championship has tipped his colleagues to rule the world in UAE Olumide Akofe has predicted that the Golden Eaglets will do well at the Fifa U-17 World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

The defensive midfielder, who did not make the final cut after the Eaglets training tour in the United Arab Emirates, believes no team can stop the free-scoring Nigerians. “I know my colleagues will beat Mexico silly and go ahead to win the title. The team is very strong and mentally fit for this challenge. I don’t see any country posing a threat to our ambition because after we failed to win the Africa Cadet championship, the coaches were not happy with us and I think this is a better platform for the Eaglets to show their class,” Akofe told Lamented

Commenting on his inability to make the coach Garba Manu’s final team, the Team 360 FC of Lagos prodigy confessed he has no ill-feelings because the country’s prestige was at stake. He also thanked the coaching crew for giving him a chance to show his abilities.

“I feel very happy being given the chance to prove my worth and I must confess it has been a great learning experience for me which will help me move on in my football career. I want to thank my coaches for allowing me to embark on the training tour and I can only wish them the best of luck,” concluded Akofe who plans on moving to Europe.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Super Eagles to confront Italy in London two days after second leg against Ethiopia

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Italian FA have agreed on a friendly match between both countries to take place in London. With the 2014 World Cup within reach, the Nigeria Football Federation has agreed for the Super Eagles to play the Azzurri of Italy in London on November 18.

The African champions will take on Ethiopia in the second leg of the African World Cup qualifying tie in Calabar on November 16, and will fly straight to London for the Monday confrontation with the Italians.

Italy will play Germany at San Siro in Milan on November 15 as the FIGC confirmed the dates for the international friendlies which will take place during the World Cup play-offs.

Both teams' first and only meeting to date was at the 1994 World Cup in USA with the Italians handing a 2-1 defeat to the Super Eagles in the second round of the competition, after the Nigerians led for close to 88 minutes.

Mourinho warns Barcelona over Courtois

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Barcelona they would be wasting their time in pursuing a move for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgium international arrived at Stamford Bridge from Racing Genk in 2011 but is now in his third season on loan at Atletico Madrid, during which time he has blossomed into one of the best keepers in Europe.

And with Victor Valdes set to depart Camp Nou at the end of the season, the Blaugrana are on the hunt for a replacement between the posts, but Mourinho has no interest in sanctioning the exit of a player he holds in high regard. He told reporters: "We have the best goalkeeper in the world (Petr Cech) and the best young goalkeeper in the world. It's a very good problem. Our goal is safe and financially we are also very safe - the value in the market is the value of the best.

"In this moment I don't think about it. It doesn't worry me because our situation is fantastic and everything is under our control. We control the situation, not Barcelona, Atletico or another team interested in our goalkeepers. We control the situation so that's fine." The 21-year-old has become a key part of Atleti's rise under Diego Simeone and has lifted the Copa del Rey, Europa League and the Uefa Super Cup with the capital club.

Courtois has played in all eight of his side's Liga games so far this season as the Vicente Calderon club have kept pace with Barcelona at the top of the division with 24 points in an unbeaten start to the season.

Emmanuel Emenike now realizing huge potential in the colours of Nigeria

The Fenerbahce striker is enjoying a purple patch with the Super Eagles and seems to be realizing his dreams and a striker with 10 goals in 17 Nigeria matches, Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike has shown with that he is ready to take on the goal scoring responsibilities for the national team.

He is steadily proving to all and sundry that he is very capable of leading the line for the national team and people are starting to dream again after the Super Eagles team of 1994 that was headlined by the goal scoring phenomenon, Rashidi Yekini.

The last striker to have made such an impact on the national team was the late Yekini, who scored 37 in 58 matches – an average of 0.64 goals per game. This compares favourably with Emenike’s, which stands at 0.58; though it must be said that at the early part of his Eagles career, Yekini’s average was closer to 0.4, a number which Emenike's stats currently dwarfs.

A team realizes that they have a potent striker when they find that player who contrives to almost always score the most important goals for the team – either the opening goal against a particularly stubborn team, or drags his team back into contention with an equalizing goal. It is much better when he scores the winner in a tight contest.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Valencia confirm Rami to join Milan

The defender, who fell out of favour with los Che in recent weeks, has made the move to San Siro for at least the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign

Valencia centre-back Adil Rami will sign for AC Milan in January on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season, the Liga club have confirmed

The France international had become out of favour at Mestalla after a public fall-out that involved him criticising coach Miroslav Djukic and he will not play again for the Spanish side this season. Los Che endured a poor start to the season - with four consecutive defeats - and Rami lashed out on Spanish radio, to which the club responded by removing him from the first team.

Valencia then suspended the 27-year-old without pay for a week for his actions as the wheels kicked into motion for his departure to San Siro, and he is already training with the Rossoneri but cannot play for the first team until January. Rami joined Valencia from Lille in 2011 having spent roughly five years at the Ligue 1 club and he has 26 caps for les Bleus since his 2010 debut.

Arsenal hope to have Ozil & Ramsey back for Norwich clash

Arsenal are increasingly hopeful that Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey will overcome injury scares to face Norwich City this weekend, recent report revel that Ozil and Ramsey both picked up injuries on international duty on Tuesday but initial assessments by the club's medical staff on Wednesday showed there was no long-term damage. The key duo will undergo further scrutiny on Thursday at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters, when a decision will be made on their availability for Saturday's home match against Norwich City. Ozil returned to London with a bruised knee and a minor hamstring injury after hobbling off with eight minutes remaining of Germany's 5-3 win over Sweden on Tuesday.

Ramsey also reported back from Wales' 1-1 draw at Belgium with the same thigh injury that affected him at the end of September. Arsene Wenger's injury headache could also be soothed by the possible return of Theo Walcott this weekend.

The England international, who underwent surgery on an abdominal injury last month, is expected to re-join full training on Thursday. But if the Norwich fixture comes too early for Walcott, them he is likely to be in contention for the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday. As revealed by Goal, Wenger will have Santi Cazorla available for the first time since the north London derby on September 1.

The influential Spaniard has been training all week after recovering from sprained ankle ligaments.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Neymar pays homage to Messi

The Brazilian has lauded his new team-mate's genius both on the pitch and off it and has thanked the club for the support he received upon moving to Spain Barcelona forward Neymar says that playing alongside Lionel Messi is the realisation of a personal dream.

The Brazil star made a big-money move to Camp Nou over the summer from hometown club Santos, scoring two goals in seven Liga games since his arrival. And he is thoroughly enjoying life in Spain and has been struck by his new team-mate's ability on the pitch and personality off it.

"It's the realisation of a dream and a source of inexplicable pride," he is quoted as saying by AS. "And Messi is a spectacular player, a genius. Off the pitch he is like that. Hopefully I can help him a lot on the pitch and it's an honour to play alongside him."

The 21-year-old also revealed that the club had made every effort to help him settle down when he first made the move to Spain. He added: "Thankfully, I was well received by the club, the players, the coaching staff. I feel at home already. I also had the support of Dani Alves, who helps in and out of the club."