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MONDAY 15 |
Torres slams big-money transfers
Liverpool FC star Fernando Torres has hit out at Spanish
clubs for splashing big money on foreign players - such as
Cristiano Ronaldo - but not doing the same for home-grown
stars.
If Real Madrid complete the £80million (94 million euros)
signing of Manchester United winger Ronaldo then it means
the nine-time European champions will have paid the four
biggest transfer fees of all time, having also spent huge
amounts on Zinedine Zidane, Kaka and Luis Figo.
Madrid’s rivals Barcelona have also broken the transfer
record twice in signing Johan Cruyff (1973) and Diego
Maradona (1982), while recently-relegated Primera Division
outfit Real Betis set a new work mark when they paid
£21.5million (25.5 million euros at today’s prices) for
Denilson
in 1998.
All of those signings have been for foreign players, and
although players such as Joaquin and Sergio Ramos have moved
between Spanish clubs for relatively large amounts, they are
more the exception than the rule.
It could be a different story this summer with Euro
2008-winning trio David Villa, David Silva and Xabi Alonso
all being linked with big-money moves to either Madrid or
Barcelona, but their fees are unlikely to come close to
those paid for Ronaldo or Kaka.
Torres, who was a £20million (23.5 million euros) signing
when he moved from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool in 2007,
said: "In Spain we still don’t value the players that we
have. We have the best national team in the world and a lot
of money would be spent on our players, but Spanish clubs
don’t do it. They would only do it for foreign players."
Regarding Ronaldo’s fee, the Spain hitman added: "Madrid
have broken the market with the signing of Cristiano
Ronaldo, but the player is worth what is paid for him at
that time."
(Liverpool Daily Post)
Barnes named new Rovers boss
John Barnes has been named the new manager of League One
side Tranmere Rovers.
The Kop legend had previously been in charge of the Jamaican
national team.
He is joined at Prenton Park by another former Red Jason
McAteer who becomes Assistant Manager.
Barnes made 407 appearances for the Reds and scored 108
goals during a glittering spell at Anfield.
He also had a spell in charge of Celtic in 1999-2000.
(LFC Official Website)
Torres targets title for Reds fans
Striker Fernando Torres insists his desire to end
Liverpool's 19-year title drought is a huge motivating force
for him and his team-mates.
The Spain international, who scored an 11-minute hat-trick
against New Zealand in the Confederations Cup on Sunday,
signed an improved contract at the end of last month after a
stunning first two seasons on Merseyside.
That did not stop speculation at the weekend that Manchester
United were preparing a shock bid for the 25-year-old, who
has scored 50 goals in 84 matches for the Reds.
However, after running United so close in the Premier League
title race, Torres said he was determined to bring the
championship back to Anfield next season and had no
intention of moving to find success.
"They say foreign players don't care as much as the
home-grown, but we are very much aware that Liverpool
haven't won the Premier League for
19 years and understand the supporters are desperate for us
to put that right," he said.
"The rivalry with Manchester United is intense and the roof
will come off at Anfield if we beat them to next year's
title.
"Obviously the Champions League means a lot to Liverpool,
but the English title is the one everyone wants in our
dressing room."
Torres added on the club's website: "Liverpool Football Club
is a phenomenon, with millions of fans who totally identify
with everything the club stands for.
"They are at one with the players and that's why we get the
backing at Anfield. This club has it all: the history, the
prestige, the fans, the organisation.
"It's a big responsibility to give the fans here the success
they desire, but the challenge is always exhilarating and
this is why I was delighted to sign a new contract.
"Now we need to win the big trophies and we can trust Rafa
Benitez to keep the momentum going for us.
"He is a great manager and has helped me improve so much in
my time at Liverpool."
(TEAMtalk)
Torres hits treble
Fernando Torres scored three times for Spain last night.
Torres hit an eleven minute hat-trick as Spain hammered New
Zealand 5-0 in their opening Confederations Cup match. He
also had an assist to his name, setting up David Villa for
the fifth.
Torres was subsituted after 69 minutes with his job well and
truly done. Xabi Alonso and Albert Riera played the full 90
while Alvaro Arbeloa entered the fray as a 53rd minute
subsitute. Pepe Reina was an unused sub.
(LFC Online) |
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SUNDAY 14 |
Reds warn suitors off midfield duo
Liverpool have issued a statement stressing their
determination to keep midfielders Xabi Alonso and Javier
Mascherano at Anfield.
Alonso has been linked with Real Madrid, who have not hidden
their admiration for the Spain midfielder, and Argentinian
Mascherano is reported to be a target of Barcelona.
Madrid's young strikers Alvaro Negredo and Alberto Bueno
have been suggested as makeweights in any possible deal for
Alonso.
However Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez considers his
midfield pair to be integral to the club's plans for next
season, recently stating that Barcelona "could not afford"
Mascherano and that Alonso was
"not for sale".
The club on Sunday backed Benitez by indicating any
approaches for the pair will be firmly rejected.
In a statement on their official website, Liverpool said:
"Despite repeated media speculation on the futures of Xabi
Alonso and Javier Mascherano, Liverpool has received no
official approach or offer from any club regarding the
players.
"Neither is for sale and furthermore Liverpool has no
interest in the long list of Spanish based players being
linked with a move to Anfield as part of any deal."
(TEAMtalk)
Dossena not agitating
for Liverpool departure
Liverpool fullback Andrea Dossena insists he's not agitating
for
a return to Italy.
“I will always have a special eye out for Italy and it's
always pleasing to be wanted by a club like Juventus,” he
told Sky Italia television.
“Liverpool are a great club and I am happy to be playing
here. I am having a good experience in England.
“But if there was to be a deal between my agent, Juve and
Liverpool, then I would certainly consider the proposal.”
(tribalfootball.com) |
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SATURDAY 13 |
Pompey receive big bid for Johnson
Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie has told Sky Sports
News that a sizeable offer has been tabled for the full-back
and that a deal could be concluded imminently.
The England international has enjoyed the best season of his
career to date in starring for Portsmouth and in the process
has established himself as Fabio Capello's first choice at
right-back.
Former club Chelsea, who Johnson left to join Portsmouth,
have been credited with making a bid, as have Manchester
City and Liverpool, who in some reports are thought to be
the front-runners for his signature.
Storrie admits he will not block the player from joining a
club that will enable him to play in the UEFA Champions
League next season.
He told Sky Sports News: "Glen has had a fantastic season
for us and I think he is the best right-back in the country
at the moment.
"I've know Glen a long while, from my West Ham days. When I
re-signed him (at Portsmouth) we talked things over.
"He said, 'If one of the big four come in with Champions
League football, would you stand in my way?'
"I told him I couldn't do that. Providing the deal is right
for Portsmouth and Glen then we will look to try and do
something in the right way.
(TEAMtalk)
Toulon disappointment for Ngog
There was disappointment for David Ngog and France after
they lost 1-0 to Chile in the final of the Toulon U20
international tournament
on Friday night.
The Reds number 24 went close on two occasions when he saw a
header saved and drove an effort just over the bar.
Ngog was lively and also produced some great touches.
Despite being France's most dangerous player the Reds
striker was strangely substituted on the hour mark.
It was a move that was to have the opposite effect as the
French lost their edge in attack and a Martinez goal eight
minutes from time saw Chile earn their triumph.
France also lost by the same 1-0 scoreline to Chile in an
earlier
group game.
(LFC Official Website)
Eto'o for Masch?
Samuel Eto'o has been offered to Liverpool by Barcelona in a
swap deal as the European champions step up their bid to
land Javier Mascherano.
Eto'o, 28, is one of the most sought-after strikers in
Europe after failing to agree a new deal at the Nou Camp.
Barca believe offering him to Liverpool for unsettled
Mascherano could help to smooth a deal.
(Daily Mirror)
Thor Zakariassen
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