Lukaku training with Anderlecht ahead of Chelsea return Romelu Lukaku is often a bit of a hot topic among Chelsea fans. The Belgian has limitless raw talent and has managed to produce in two separate Premier League loans, but the straightforward nature of many comments that hes made has rubbed many fans the wrong way. Hopefully his actions this preseason will win many of those fans back, and it looks as if hes working hard to make his preseason a successful one. Shakhtar move games from Donetsk ________________________________________ Shakhtar Donetsk will shift their headquarters to Kiev and play their Champions League and domestic games in the western city of Lviv to escape from Ukraines strife-torn east, CEO Sergei Palkin confirmed. Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk also announced on Wednesday that Uefa had ordered the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Danish side FC Copenhagen to be played in Kiev. Ukrainian champions Shakhtar were forced to move from Donetsk, a major industrial city in the East which has become a stronghold of pro-Russian separatists who are fighting Loew to stay on as Germany coach ________________________________________ Germany coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday that he never considered leaving his post after winning the World Cup title and insisted he would see out his contract which runs until Euro 2016. I didnt think of stopping for one second, said Loew, 54, in an interview published on the German Football Federation (DFB) website. Tevez warned Juve off Mancini There are sensational reports in Italy this afternoon suggesting that Carlos Tevez told Juventus directors not to appoint Roberto Mancini.Following Antonio Conte’s departure last week, the former Galatasaray boss was one of the leading contenders to take over the Bianconeri. However, Corriere della Sera have claimed today that the Argentine striker openly warned the leaders at the club that he would force a move should they appoint Mancini. Report: Conte not going to PSG A leading French newspaper has denied reports in Italy that Antonio Conte is set to replace Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain. Corriere dello Spot revealed earlier today that the former Juventus boss was on the verge of being appointed by the French champions. The Ligue 1 winners have ‘a lack of trust’ in Blanc, the paper suggested, but L’Equipe have moved quickly to deny those assertions. Inzaghi wants flexible Milan The San Siro outfit are in the USA for matches against Olympiacos, Manchester City and Liverpool with the club reportedly set to use three different formations. Inzaghi will use 4-3-3 as a template to work around, but 4-4-2 is also likely to be used, with Mario Balotelli and Giampaolo Pazzini partnering each other up front. In that formation, Stephan El Shaarawy or Jeremy Menez will play on one wing, with Andrea Poli on the other. The new boss will also use 4-2-3-1, with El Shaarawy, Menez and Balotelli supporting Pazzini. Barcelona sign £15.8m defender Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia Barcelona have signed Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu on a four-year deal for a fee of £15.8m. Mathieu, 30, has won two caps for France and can play at left-back or centre-back. He will replace former captain Carles Puyol, who has retired from playing after 15 years at the club. A Barcelona statement said: The cost of the transfer of Mathieu is 20m euros and the buyout clause will be 50m euros. Coleman misses Everton tour Everton full-back Seamus Coleman will miss the clubs pre-season tour of Thailand with a hamstring problem.The 25-year-old was withdrawn in Tuesdays 2-2 friendly draw with Tranmere and will remain on Merseyside as a precaution. Proper treatment will remove any chance of aggravating that feeling that he had, says Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who conceded the extent of the injury is not yet clear. Shaw feels no Evra burden Luke Shaw has been speaking about the prospect of replacing Patrice Evra at Manchester United. Evra, who called into the United team hotel in Los Angeles at the start of their pre-season tour of the United States on Tuesday, has joined Juventus after spending eight-and-a-half years at Old Trafford. I dont feel any pressure to come in for Evra, said Shaw, who joined United from Southampton. He has been great for the club for the last 10 years and I hope I can carry that on. Manchester United: Louis Van Gaal criticises US tour schedule New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has criticised the clubs pre-season tour schedule in America. United play Los Angeles Galaxy in Pasadena on Wednesday, before games in Denver, Washington and Detroit. Dutchman Van Gaal, 62, blamed commercial activities for the amount of travel. You have to travel distances, you have to fly a lot, you also have jetlag - that is not very positive for a good preparation, he said. Patrick Vieira backed by Manuel Pellegrini over decision to take Manchester City Under 21 side off after midfielder Seko Fofana allegedly racially abused during pre-season match in Croatia Pellegrini: Manchester City squad is not yet complete Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that Manchester City will add to their squad before the close of the transfer window as they continue to prepare for the 2014-15 season. City have already acquired Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna from Malaga, Porto and Arsenal respectively but are interested in a big-money move for Fernandos former club-mate Eliaquim Mangala, as they seek to strengthen their defence. Garcia: Benatia & Ljajic staying at Roma The Giallorossi boss has responded to transfer speculation surrounding the duo by insisting they will remain in the Italian capital in the forthcoming season Roma coach Rudi Garcia has insisted that the club will cling on to star centre-back Mehdi Benatia and young attacker Adem Ljajic this summer. The capital club were involved in the championship race for the majority of the campaign - despite selling Erik Lamela, Pablo Osvaldo and Marquinhos last summer - and ended up finishing runners up to Juventus. However, their success means Ljajic and Benatia have been tipped to make big money moves elsewhere, but the former Lille boss has assured fans that the duo will be plying their trade for Roma once again in the forthcoming season Bayern are favourites Felix Magath discusses the season opener between Bayern and Wolfsburg. Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Modric, bound for Los Angeles Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric have left Wednesday bound for Los Angeles to join the U.S. tour being undertaken by Real Madrid. After his arrival, will join Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday will be the last in the World Cup in Brazil to join the tour. Suarez treated like a murderer Liverpool forward Iago Aspas says former team-mate Luis Suarez has been treated like a murderer following his bite on Italys Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. Aspas, who has moved on loan to Spanish side Sevilla, will face Suarez in La Liga next season following the Uruguayans move to Barcelona. There are murderers who pay less, Aspas tells a Spanish radio station. Not to let him be presented [by Barcelona], to train or to enter the stadium is too much. Wesley Sneijder JAMES MAY SUBSTITUTE IN MONACO French media say the Monaco is thinking Galatasaray Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, as a replacement to last signing of Real Madrid, James Rodriguez. Atlético Madrid in talks with PSG over Javier Pastore The 25-year-old Argentine has failed to win over PSG coach Laurent Blanc and would fill the hole left by Diego Ribas, who has moved to Fenerbahce. Javier Pastore is the man identified by Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone to bolster the Spanish champions’ options in attacking midfield. The Rojiblancos have been working on the Paris Saint-Germain man’s signing for several weeks, and are keen to fill the hole left by the departure of Diego Ribas. Liga giants leaving Premier League rivals in the dustm jiwhyte If you want a snapshot indicator of the relative standing of the Premier League and La Liga, take a look at this summer’s main playing imports. Between them Barcelona and Real Madrid have signed the two biggest stars of the World Cup, plus the bloke who would have been a star had he managed to control the urge to indulge in a mid-match Italian. James Rodriguez joins Toni Kroos and Luis Suarez as the new boys in the Spanish league, a collection of talent as elevated as there is in the game. What a trio those three represent, as stellar a threesome as could currently be assembled. And all of them heading to Spain. Martinez agent on Milan and Roma Jackson Martinez’s agent confirms “Milan like him and Roma had thought about a buy, but I haven’t had talks lately.” The Colombian striker is currently at Porto and had also been linked with Napoli last season.“I haven’t had talks with Milan lately over Martinez,” agent Peppino Tirri told CalcioNews24. “He is a player who CEO Adriano Galliani really likes, as he confessed publicly. Roma had also thought about a buy. Andy Carroll: West Ham striker to sit out rest of pre-season tour West Ham striker Andy Carroll will sit out the clubs pre-season tour of New Zealand after suffering a sore ankle. Carroll missed Wednesdays 2-1 defeat by Wellington Phoenix and will not be considered for the match against Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday. Dmytro Chygrynskiy the last central defender signed by Barça After the failure of 25-million-euro flop Chygrynksiy, it has taken Barcelona five years and the retirement of Carles Puyol to sign a centre-back. It has taken five years for Barcelona to opt to strengthen their central defence again. On this occasion, the centre-back who will have to make the grade is Jeremy Mathieu. The Frenchman comes to the Camp Nou after a lengthy spell at Valencia, where he arrived in summer 2009 – which is also when Dmytro Chygrynskiy moved to Barça. Samuel set for Basel Ex-Inter defender Walter Samuel is expected to join Swiss club Basel tomorrow morning. The 36-year-old is a free agent after his contract with the Nerazzurri was allowed to expire. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Basel convinced him with their project for the season. Samuel had been in advanced negotiations with Sampdoria, but was unsure about facing Inter as an opponent. Abou Diaby says ‘knee is perfect’ after making long-awaited Arsenal The jokes and gags about Abou Diaby’s injury-prone body are well documented, but the Frenchman clearly lives by the motto ‘Fall Seven Times Get Up Eight’. After missing the whole of last season through injury (he came on in the final game against Norwich), Diaby made his proper return against Boreham Wood last Saturday, playing from the start and looking in great shape, considering his long lay off. Arsenal legend Campbell has no regrets FORMER ENGLAND international Sol Campbell has said that his move from Arsenal from north London rivals Tottenham in 2001 was the “making of him.” Campbell was speaking at the House of Commons as he gave the Rainbow Lecture 2014 last week. The highly rated central defender, who also played for Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, during an illustrious career which also saw him earn 73 England caps, said: “My move from Tottenham Hotspur to arch-rivals Arsenal, it would be the making of me and almost my downfall - thats how close it came for me at one stage in my career. Fabregas: Time was right to join Blues New Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas says that the time was right for him to leave Barcelona and head back to the Premier League. Fabregas, 27, joined the Stamford Bridge side for 30 million pounds before the World Cup began after Arsenal rejected the chance to take up an option on their former captain. However, the Spain midfielder believes that, after due consideration, he has made the right choice for his career. Arsenal will consider selling Santi Cazorla Arsenal will demand at least £15 million from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid for midfielder Santi Cazorla, who could return to Spain this summer. Atletico head coach Diego Simeone is a keen admirer of the technically-gifted 29-year-old - and believes Arsene Wenger could be talked into selling him Santos cannot afford Robinho The forward is widely expected to join MLS club Orlando, but spend the next six months at a Brazilian side on loan first. Cruzeiro pulled out of the race today, while Santos seem to have very little chance of success either. “He is an idol round here and we contacted his agent, but it’s a difficult operation due to his wages,” Santos President Odilio Rodrigues told Globoesporte. “These are very high figures for Brazilian football. Orlando? They haven’t completed the move yet, so Robinho is still a Milan player.”
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:30:38 +0000
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