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Negredo to sign for Sevilla

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo has ended weeks of speculation about his future and agreed to join Primera Liga rivals Sevilla, Spanish sporting dailies said Thursday.

The 23-year-old was last month linked with Tottenham and then more recently with Hull City and Zenit St Petersburg and finally with newly promoted Spanish side Zaragoza.

The Marca newspaper said Sevilla, which qualified for this season’s European Champions League by finishing third behind Barcelona and Real, will pay 15 million euros (21 million dollars) for the player, who is set to sign a four-year contract later Thursday.

It said the club will have an option to buy back the striker for 18 million euros in the first year and 21 million in the second.

Another paper, AS, put the transfer fee at 14 million euros with a buy-back option of 17 million over the two seasons.

Spanish media said earlier this week that Hull was ready to meet Real’s terms of an 18-million-euro transfer fee plus a two-year buy-back clause worth 25 million euros.

But Negredo wanted to remain in Spain, and Real was ready to let him.

He was then on the point of moving to Zaragoza before Sevilla made a final effort to sign him, Marca said.

Negredo scored 19 goals in Spain’s Primera Liga last season, when he played for Almeria. Real then exercised a buy-back option on him during the close season.

Real president Florentino Perez has splashed out over 250 million euros on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema since he returned to the club in June in a bid to make the nine-times European champions a formidable force again.

But he is now seeking to offload a number of players to recoup some of the massive outlay.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

Platini stands by Ronaldo transfer criticism

UEFA president Michel Platini on Wednesday stood by his view that the record 94 million euros which Real Madrid paid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo was “indecent” during a visit to the Spanish giants’ stadium.

“The amount seems indecent to me,” he told a news conference at the Santiago Bernabeu ahead of Real’s Champions League clash against AC Milan.

“But that does not bother me in the case that the club has the money to do it. And there is no problem with Real Madrid because they have the money to do it,” added Platini who was sitting beside Real president Florentino Perez.

The two men went out of their way to show that there was no bad blood between Real, which spent 250 million euros on new signings in the pre-season, and UEFA, which is seeking to curb splurges by clubs.

“Ties between UEFA and Real Madrid, and between the president of UEFA and the president of Real Madrid, are, and will always be, excellent,” said Perez.

Real was heavily criticized for the amount it paid to sign Ronaldo from Manchester United as well as the 65 million euros it dished out to sign Brazil’s Kaka from AC Milan.

At the time Platini called the transfers “a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay” while Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano said Real’s spending splurge runs the risk of pushing football clubs towards bankrupcy by inflating transfer fees.

Perez, who brought stars Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane to Real during his first term as the club’s president between 2000 and 2006, said Wednesday that the club has a record budget of 422 million euros in the 2009-10 season.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

No fear of losing for Japan in World Cup build-up

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan’s coach Takeshi Okada insists that losing to stronger countries is a good thing if it helps steel the Blue Samurai in the run-up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Okada has fixed friendlies against the Netherlands, Ghana, Scotland and Togo in September and October to build up his squad toward his ambitious World Cup target of a semi-final spot.

Of the four countries, only 71st-placed Togo are ranked below Japan, 40th in the FIFA standings. However, the West Africans, who count Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor among their number, are still a formidable force.

“We fight to win but we never avoid fighting strong sides for fear of losing,” Okada told reporters after announcing the international schedule on Wednesday. “If we lose, we lose.”

Japan, former Asian champions, will play world number-three the Netherlands in Enschede on September 5 and 35th-ranked Ghana in Utrecht, on September 9.

“I want my players to feel in their bones the strength of first-ranking teams that have the potential to reach the last four,” Okada said.

“It is a good thing if problems are exposed.”

Like Japan, the Netherlands have already qualified for South Africa 2010 while Ghana lead Africa’s qualifying Group D with three straight wins.

After the Dutch tour, Japan will host Scotland in Yokohama on October 10 and Togo in Oita on October 14, according to the Football Association.

They are also hoping to allocate a FIFA international match day on November 14 for a friendly against a powerhouse such as England or the United States.

“I wish to raise the level of our team by one step through these matches,” said Okada, who piloted Japan to a winless World Cup finals debut at France 1998 and assumed the job again in late 2007 to take over from ailing Bosnian Ivica Osim.

“We must improve the accuracy and speed of our kicking, outrun our opponents and outdo them in one-on-one battles for the ball,” he said.

He has vowed that Japan, who excel in organisation but lack physical strength, can reach the semi-final stage in South Africa, as South Korea did in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by the two Asian rivals.

The goal has been widely criticised as unrealistic, with Japan’s best World Cup performance being a last-16 spot in 2002.

Okada’s squad showed weaknesses in their offensive tactics last month in qualifying for South Africa, when they went down 2-1 away to the bigger Australia in their final qualifier and in a 1-1 draw with unfancied Qatar at home.

Australia finished top of Asian Group A with 20 points against Japan’s 15 after both countries had secured their places in South Africa.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Okada sticks to Japan´s World Cup semi-final goal

Japan’s World Cup squad left for a training camp in the Swiss Alps Wednesday with coach Takeshi Okada insisting he is still eyeing a semi-final berth in South Africa despite recent poor form.

Okada came under fire for asking Japan Football Association president Motoaki Inukai if he should quit in the wake of Monday’s 2-0 home defeat to Asian rivals South Korea.

But Japanese media reported that the coach told his squad Tuesday that his offer was only “half serious” and he pledged to “fight together to the end.”

“I didn’t expect it to be taken so seriously. I should be more careful about what I say,” Okada said later, adding that the FA chief had backed him.

Before boarding a chartered flight with his squad at Narita airport early Wednesday, Okada said he would not flinch from his aim of reaching the last four, which has been widely ridiculed.

The defeat at the hands of South Korea was the latest poor result for the Blue Samurai, who also crashed to a 3-0 defeat against a second-string Serbia at home in April.

“We want to demonstrate what we have as Japanese. There’s no use in changing our goal. We will aim for a last-four spot,” Okada told reporters. “We want to raise our condition first of all and regain our offensive rhythm.”

Okada guided Japan to a winless World Cup finals debut at France 1998 in his first stint as national coach.

French coach Philippe Troussier took the Samurai to the last 16 in the 2002 edition co-hosted by Japan and South Korea and four years later they failed to make it out of the group stage.

Grouped with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark in South Africa, Okada’s squad will train in the ski resort of Saas-Fee and have warm-up matches against England on Sunday and Ivory Coast on June 4. T0KYO (AFP)

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Record crowd welcomes Ronaldo to Real Madrid

MADRID (AFP) – A capacity crowd of close to 80,000 people welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid on Monday, setting a new record for turnout at the presentation of a footballer, club officials said.

“I am very happy to be here,” the 24-year-old Portuguese winger told cheering fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital after completing his much-desired move to the club from Manchester United.

“For me it is the realization of a childhood dream, which was to play for Real Madrid. I never expected the the stadium would be full just to see me. It is impressive,” he added.

The previous record for attendance at the unveiling of a footballer was set in July 1984 when Argentina’s Diego Maradona was presented at Naples after he joined the Italian side from FC Barcelona before 75,000 people.

But while fans had to pay to see Maradona don the Naples jersey for the first time, entry to Ronaldo’s presentation in Madrid was free.

Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA world player of the year, was wearing the Number 9 jersey once sported by club legend Alfredo di Stefano.

The Argentine striker, Real’s honorary president, was present at the unveiling as was Portuguese legend and former Real player Eusebio.

The number 9 jersey was recently vacated by Argentine striker Javier Saviola who joined Portuguese side Benfica last month.

Real acquired the player from Manchester last month on a six-year deal worth 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world.

Ronaldo, who spent six successful years at Manchester, arrived in Madrid on Monday on a private flight from his native Portugal where he was on holiday, sparking a media frenzy with dozens of photographers trailing his every move.

The head of Real’s medical services, Carlos Diez, said Ronaldo was “in perfect condition and looking forward to the beginning of the season” after the player underwent medical tests.

Fans, many equipped with food and drinks to ease a lengthy wait, starting gathering at the stadium in a Madrid business district hours before the official presentation, which lasted about 30 minutes, got underway at 9 pm (1900 GMT).

Real set up a large television screen outside the stadium for fans who were not able to enter the stadium to watch the ceremony.

Ronaldo will team up with Kaka, the 2007 FIFA world player, who signed with Real from AC Milan for 65 million euros from AC Milan in early June.

Kaka was officially unveiled on June 30 at the Bernabeu stadium before 55,000 fans, according to club figures.

The Brazilian was the first big name who construction magnate Florentino Perez signed since he returned in June for a second stint as president of Real.

Perez, who brought Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane to Real during his first term as the club’s president between 2000 and 2006, is seeking to rebuild a squad which trailed arch rivals Barcelona last season by reviving his policy of signing football superstars.

Among Real’s other signings is French striker Karim Benzema from Lyon and defender Raul Albiol, who joined from Spanish side Valencia.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Real´s ´Galactico´ president signs Pellegrini, Zidane

MADRID (AFP) – Florentino Perez, the inspiration behind the Real Madrid ‘Galacticos’, launched his second term as president on Monday by bringing in Chile’s Manuel Pellegrini as the club’s new coach and France legend Zinedine Zidane as a top advisor.

The club also announced former Argentine striker and coach Jorge Valdano as its new director general.

“Real Madrid C.F. and Manuel Pellegrini have reached a deal for the Chilean to become the first team head coach,” Real said in a statement.

It said he would be officially presented at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday.

He replaces Juande Ramos, who began a six-month contract in mid-December in place of Germany’s Bernd Schuster.

Pellegrini, 55, a qualified civil engineer, joined Villareal in 2004 from River Plate of Argentina and was under contract with the club until 2010.

In his first season there, Villareal qualified for the Champions League by finishing third in La Liga. Last season, they were second behind champions Real Madrid.

In a speech on taking office Monday, the 62-year-old Perez vowed to build “the best club of the 21st century.

“We will devote all our effort to building a spectacular team with great players who are role models on and off the pitch. A club where ethics are indestructible and where solidarity will be a basic cornerstone of behaviour,” he said.

The construction magnate is retaking the reins of Real, Spain’s historically most successful team and the world’s richest football club by revenues, for the next four years after standing unopposed in elections for president.

Real had been led on an interim basis by Vicente Boluda after Ramon Calderon stepped down in January following allegations that he rigged voting at the club’s last annual general assembly in December.

Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname “Los Galacticos”, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Zidane’s transfer from Juventus in 2000 cost Real a world record 75 million euros.

The former France captain now becomes “adviser to the president” at Real.

Perez had promised to give both Zidane and Valdano senior positions at Real if his comeback bid was successful. Valdano had acted as Real’s sports director during his last term in office.

He has not mentioned any names regarding top signings but Spanish media speculate that Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool’s Spanish star Xabi Alonso and AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka are all in his sights for next season.

“We must recover the dreams, stability and lost time,” said Perez. “The road ahead will be difficult, but we have the passion and necessary ideas to overcome the great challenges of this complicated time.”

Perez had quit Real in 2006 after the club went a third straight season without a trophy, its worst run in more than half a century, but he has remained popular with supporters.

This season, the club’s arch-rivals Barcelona won a unique treble of league, Spanish Cup and Champions League trophies under debutante coach Pep Guardiola.

Real finished second in La Liga and exited the first knockout stage of the Champions League for the fifth straight season.

It ended the season on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to lowly Osasuna.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Benitez unsure if Mourinho is fit for Real job

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has contributed to the long running war of words between him and Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho.

The Spanish manager said he was unsure if the former Chelsea gaffer is the right man to take over at Real Madrid.

Benitez also backed Real’s current coach Manuel Pellegrini, declaring that the Chilean has behaved impeccably in the wake of speculation about him being replaced at the helm.

“Pellegrini has done a great job and has to be given great respect because he is still coach of Real Madrid. He has shown exemplary behaviour, because it is not pleasant to hear talk about who’s going to replace you,” AS quoted Benitez as saying.

“I know Mourinho is crazy about coaching Real Madrid. I do not know if Mourinho is the right person to train to Madrid.”

Benitez also refused to confirm or deny that he would, one day, be interested in returning to the Bernabeu to coach the first team.

“I’m from Madrid, I’m at home in this city have been linked to the club and it is a great club, but I cannot say anything more,” he added.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com