Liverpool target Luis Muriel as Suarez replacement

Liverpool are considering a move for Udinese striker Luis Muriel as a replacement for Luis Suarez if their star man leaves Anfield this summer.
 Suarez has encouraged a €47 million transfer to Real Madrid by admitting he would find it hard to turn down the Spanish giants as he seeks Champions League football next season.

The Uruguayan has also privately refused to commit himself to Liverpool despite two meetings with the club in recent weeks and the Reds are believed to be ready to sell the 26-year-old to an overseas club.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers would be allowed to re-invest the transfer fee in full - on top of his €23m summer budget - and is lining up potential replacements for a player who scored 30 goals in all competitions last term.

Liverpool are closing in on a €7 deal for Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas but their move for the 25-year-old is unrelated to Suarez’s future as Rodgers looks to bolster his attacking options.

Aspas, who has bagged 12 goals for the relegation-threatened Liga outfit, had also attracted interest from Valencia and Swansea ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, Reds officials moved for the Spaniard after being alerted to Celta’s reduced asking price for the striker, with around €2.3m being knocked off their original valuation of €9.3m as a result of the club’s precarious league position.

Meanwhile Muriel has been identified as a potential target to replace Suarez following his impressive displays for Udinese, where he scored 11 league goals in 22 Serie A appearances during a season disrupted by injury.

The Colombian, 22, would cost in excess of €17.5m but Liverpool believe he has the potential to increase in value, while his style of play and eye for goal are similar to Suarez.

Muriel would be interested in a move to Anfield despite saying last week that he does not feel ready for a big-money move away for Udinese.

"I want to grow and improve as a player,” Muriel told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I want to stay in Udine for another couple of years. I have learnt so much here from boss Francesco Guidolin who helped me during my moments of difficulty."

Perez: Madrid would not sell Ronaldo for €1 billion

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has declared that the club would not be willing to sell Cristiano Ronaldo for any amount of money this summer.

The Blancos attacker has scored 34 times with one game to go in the Liga season and was crucial in seeing the side reach the Champions League semi-final stage for the third conseutive campaign, finishing as the tournament's top scorer.

Having expressed his unhappiness earlier in the season and with compatriot Jose Mourinho leaving the club, Ronaldo has been linked with a summer departure from Santiago Bernabeu, but Perez is adamant that even an offer as large as €1 billion would not convince the Spanish club to sell their prized asset.

"I will do everything in my power to renew his contract," he told Cadena Cope. "He has two years left on his contract, he is the best player in the world and we would like to give a boost to the team by keeping him as a leader and an emblem.

"I would not sell him for €1bn. We are not a selling club. He is a winner and he wants to win titles and Real Madrid are the right club for it.

"When he said he was sad, he talked to me and I told him I would do everything possible for him to be happy."

Real Madrid have secured second spot in La Liga and will play their final game of the season - and Jose Mourinho's last as head coach - against Osasuna on Saturday.

The club president said of the outgoing Portuguese: "I give him a B+ for his time at Madrid - we have been a bit annoyed by some results. As time goes by, though, we realise that the work of Mourinho has been very positive."

"People are what they are. He lives all with so much passion and so much demand that sometimes things happen [regarding fallouts with players]."

'Heynckes is 99 per cent going to Madrid'

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has revealed that current Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes is "99 per cent" certain to return to Real Madrid this summer.

Jose Mourinho will take charge of his last game on Saturday for the Blancos, against Osasuna, while the Bavarians boss will attempt to achieve an unprecedented German treble in the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on the same day.

With Mourinho en route to Chelsea and Pep Guardiola stepping into Heynckes' shoes at the Allianz Arena, Tymoshchuk has suggested that Heynckes will return to the Santiago Bernabeu in the coming weeks rather than consider retirement.

"There is a 99 per cent chance that Heynckes will train Real Madrid," he said to Russia 2.

Heynckes spent a single season at Madrid and lifted the Champions League with the Spanish side, but he was fired after failing to perform domestically as the club finished fourth in the table.

Tymoshchuk confirmed that he would be leaving the Allianz Arena this summer but refused to reveal his destination, while insisting that Arjen Robben - who scored the Champions League-winning goal in the final - is set to stay at Bayern.

"Robben told me he's certain to stay in Bayern," the Ukrainian added. "And I'm leaving. I can't say where until Monday. Not [Borussia] Dortmund for sure!"

Up front with Messi, in the Ronaldinho role - where will Neymar fit in at Barcelona?

He is the talk of the town. The football season has not even ended yet here in Spain, but fans of Barcelona are already salivating at the prospect of seeing new signing Neymar link up with Lionel Messi and their brilliant midfield next season.

Neymar announced at the weekend that he will be joining the Catalan club after next month's Confederations Cup, in a deal worth around €60 million in total.

Nobody is quite sure, however, where the Brazilian will feature for Tito Vilanova's team. So here, Goal takes a look at four options for Barca in 2013-14 as they seek to successfully integrate the 21-year-old forward into their star-studded line-up.
Despite Neymar's arrival, Barcelona continue to search for a new striker this summer as David Villa prepares to leave the Catalan club.

Barca are keen to bring in a goalscorer who can make an impact similar to the one made by Henrik Larsson in the Frank Rijkaard era, when the veteran Swede was happy to sit on the bench and wait for his chances as a substitute.

Should such a player be brought in, this would provide Vilanova with another tactical variation as Neymar and Messi could both operate off the frontman, as the two in a 4-3-2-1 system similar to Barca's current 4-3-3, making devastating runs from deep and also creating for their new team-mate further forward. And as Barca boast attacking full-backs in Dani Alves and Jordi Alba, losing width is unlikely to be too much of a concern in this system.
At Santos, Neymar usually operated in a deep forward position starting from the left flank. At Barcelona, this seems the most logical space for the Brazilian. With Villa set to be sold this summer, Neymar looks likely to be the first-choice forward on the left, from where he can cut inside and interchange positions with Lionel Messi as well as the team's right-sided attacker, be it Pedro or Alexis Sanchez.

The role is not dissimilar to the one occupied by Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, but at Barca will evoke memories of Ronaldinho, who lit up the left flank between 2003 and 2007. Like his compatriot, Neymar enjoys running at opposition defences and shooting from distance, and a starting spot on the left will allow him to cut inside onto his stronger right foot, just as he has been doing to such devastating effect at Santos over the last few years.
Under Pep Guardiola, and at times with Vilanova this term, Barca have operated with four forwards in the side and this is something the Catalans can do with Neymar in their team - in a 3-3-4 system.

With three defenders (perhaps Adriano, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique) and three midfielders (Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta), Dani Alves could be utilised as a right-sided forward (as he has been in a number of games under both Pep and Tito, probably as he is able to switch to a defensive role if needed), with Cristian Tello on the left, leaving Messi as the 'false nine' and Neymar slightly deeper in the role of playmaker.

The Brazilian occasionally stepped into this role at Santos and looked comfortable in the creative position. With a quick brain, an excellent final ball and the ability to build attacks from deep, this is another alternative for Vilanova in a four-man forward line which would terrify most opposition defences.

Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo not realistic transfer targets for Monaco, says general director

Monaco general director Filips Dhondt has admitted that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldoare not realistic transfer targets for the ambitious French side at this point and has stressed that the Ligue 2 champions will not buy an entire new team this summer.

The Stade Louis II side have already secured the services of Ricardo Carvalho, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez so far, while they are expected to announce the capture of Radamel Falcao shortly, and Dhondt has made it clear that their spending spree is nearing its end.

"Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not very realistic options. I don't think they are for sale," he told Het Nieuwsblad.

"Monaco are a strong brand, though, just like Paris [Saint-Germain]. The [tax-free] region is a plus for us and players will take that into consideration when making a decision.

"We will not be signing an entire team as we already have a strong core. We might sign four, five, or perhaps six players, but only players we really need. We could some reinforcements in defence. Don't believe everything you read in L'Equipe, though."

The Monaco director then went on to discuss his side's ambitions and made it clear that owner Dmitry Rybolovlev understands that it will take time before they can challenge for the Champions League title.

"We are full of ambition. We want to be a major player in Ligue 1 and make it into Europe right away.

"The owner realises that winning the Champions League will take time. We want to surprise the world, but we all know that this is a long-term project."

Monaco return to Ligue 1 next season after spending two years in the French second tier.

Cruyff advises Vilanova to step down as Barcelona coach

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has advised Tito Vilanova to step down as head coach and focus on his personal health instead.

The 44-year-old had a tumour removed in 2011, but suffered a relapse in December last year and consequently missed several months of the 2012-13 campaign as he was undergoing treatment.

Vilanova returned to the Barcelona bench in April, but Cruyff feels it would be in his best interest if he were to put his coaching ambitions on hold for now.

"In his condition it’s not very advisable to continue as a coach. I had a heart operation myself... can you be in charge of Barca if you aren’t 100 per cent?" the former Camp Nou coach told Catalunya Radio.

"I’d tell Tito to look after himself. He’s not as strong and experienced as Pep Guardiola. He has a massive problem in the form of his illness and his health comes first."

Cruyff then went on to reflect on Jose Mourinho's spell in charge of Real Madrid and the Dutchman was not impressed with the flamboyant coach's contribution.

"With the behaviour he showed nothing could be done really. If you start a fight with your best player, that’s not right. I think he went too far. 

"He’s not guilty just right now, but has been for two or three years. He’s not done Madrid any favours."

Mourinho will leave Madrid this summer after three years in charge of the Santiago Bernabeu side.

Ribery: I would turn down Real Madrid

Franck Ribery has stressed that he is happy with life at Bayern Munich and added that he is not interested in a move to Real Madrid.

The France international was close to joining the Santiago Bernabeu side in the past and Madrid president Florentino Perez's announcement that Zinedine Zidane will be in charge of their transfers from this summer fuelled speculation that they could make another move for Ribery ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

However, Ribery has insisted that Zidane can save himself the time of getting in touch with the 30-year-old as he has no intention to leave his current club.

"If Zidane were to contact me, I would tell him that I'm feeling very good at Bayern and I think that he'd understand me," the winger told RMC.

"I almost joined Madrid in the past, but it did not happen and I am very pleased that I stayed at Bayern in the end."

Ribery has a contract with Bayern until June 2015, but he is believed to be close to inking a two-year extension to his current deal.

Is not a fake

Many people have complained that this picture was fake. We have received a video footage that proves the authenticity of this picture.

"I would like Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best-paid player in the world"

Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid's president, spoke to 'Cadena Ser' about the new 'Los Blancos' era, after the announced departure of the Portuguese coach José Mourinho.

"The players only had good words about Mourinho", he assured. "They told me that he was the best".

"We don't know who will be the new coach. We will talk about that during the next week", explained Pérez. "But we want Zinedine Zidane to be the leader of the project", he added.

Pérez also talked about Iker Casillas: "To me, Iker Casillas is the best goalkeeper in the world, but the club can't interfere in the coach's decissions".

When asked about Ronaldo's renewal, the 'Los Blancos' president stated: "I would like Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best-paid player in the world. We're going to do everything at our hand to make him happy".

Sergio Aguero insists he was never interested in Real Madrid

Manchester City's Argentine striker spoke to Goal about his future at City, Neymar pairing with Lionel Messi at Barcelona and his interest in playing for New York City FC

NEW YORK -- Manchester City star forward Sergio Aguero insists that he is happy with life in Manchester and expects the Citizens to rebound from a disappointing season.

A year after beating out Manchester United for the top spot in the Premier League, City finished second behind its rival and failed to pick up a single trophy in 2012-13. However, Aguero believes the club is headed in the right direction.

"I'm happy to be part of a club that is growing so fast," Aguero told Goal. "I'm very happy to be at Manchester, it's been two years now but hopefully we are going to do bigger things in the next few years."

Rumored to be upset at how City's season finished, Aguero was linked to Real Madrid during this summer transfer window before putting that speculation to rest by signing a one-year extension with the Blues. A former player for Aletico Madrid, Real's biggest rival, Aguero was adamant that he never had interest in joining Los Blancos.

"No, those were just rumors," Aguero said. "I'm committed to Manchester City, it's a great club."

After setting the Premier League on fire with 23 league goals and leading City to its first title in 44 years in his debut season, Aguero was one of the many players who saw their performances dip last season. City also had a disappointing run in the Champions League, finishing fourth in its group, and lost in the FA Cup to Wigan - a team that was relegated shortly after. It was speculated that head coach Roberto Mancini had lost his team and as a result he was fired after the FA Cup upset.

Aguero explained that there wasn't one particular reason why City disappointed last year and he believes that it was always going to be difficult to live up to the previous season.

"You can't win the title every year but we finished second, made the FA Cup final," Aguero said. "Hopefully next year we can titles again."

Manuel Pellegrini is expected to take over the helm at the Etihad Stadium but at this stage of the year, Aguero only wants to focus on the team's end-of-the season break.

"There's various rumors about it [Pellegrini] but we are going on holiday now," Aguero stated. "When we get back, whoever is the manager, we will be behind him and the club."

After Manchester City revealed its intention to launch Major League Soccer's 20th club, New York City FC, with the New York Yankees, City's players - including Aguero - attended various promotional events throughout New York's five boroughs. Aguero played basketball at the world famous Rucker Park on Wednesday and on Saturday morning, surprised a few children at a pickup soccer game.

Aguero is impressed by soccer's growth in the United States and admits that he would like to play for NYC FC at some point.

"Ah, you never know. At the moment, I'm at City but hopefully one day I would be able to [play for NYCFC]," Aguero revealed. "For now, I'm at Manchester City and that's all I can think of.

"Soccer is slowly growing in the USA, you are seeing it [MLS] more in South America and in Europe. As it continues to slowly improve, it will grow and become an exciting sport for Americans to follow."

Free Kicks:

Aguero wouldn't go much into Neymar's blockbuster move to join his Argentinan national teammate Lionel Messi at Barcelona. However, after being prodded a few times, the 24-year-old admitted that he is looking forward to watching both players in tandem on the pitch.

"When top players join other top players, it is always exciting," Aguero said. "We will see how it works out."

YouTube Users Turning Clicks Into Cash

By Angela Barnes and Philippa Hall, Sky News

Not long ago, a Top 10 hit on iTunes wouldn't have been possible without the backing of a major record company, but social media has changed the rules.

Lanzarote-based Irish singer-songwriter Rory Gallagher is one of many musicians to embrace this change. He made it to number one in the charts after one of his songs was leaked online.
Jimmy's Winning Matches became an overnight viral sensation on YouTube, clocking up 20,000 views in its first week.
Capitalising on YouTube's monetising option, Rory opted into adverts to earn money along the way.
However, Rory said he didn't turn as many clicks into coins as he would have liked.
The singer said he lost out on revenue after he uploaded his song to iTunes via a small online company without realising they also claimed half of the YouTube earnings.
He also explained how he could have earned more if he'd become a YouTube partner.
Howard Davies-Carr isn't a household name but you will probably know his two sons from the famous Charlie Bit My Finger - Again! video.
It's the sixth most-watched clip on the site and Howard has explained to Sky News how becoming a YouTube partner and sharing in the advertising revenues with the site made him £250,000.
His video led to a smartphone app and T-shirts. It even saw him star in various ads in other countries - which made another £250,000.
Before 2012 you had to apply to become a YouTube partner, but now all you need to do is link your YouTube account with an AdSense profile and monetise one of your videos.
The more popular your video and channel, the better the ad revenues.
A YouTube spokesperson told Sky News: "The amount people earn varies depending on the type of advertising format (banner ads, skippable ads, etc) as well as the number of views and the particular advertising.
"We don't break out specific numbers, but we have over a million channel partners earning money - and thousands are making six figures."
It may sound simple, but you need original content and dedication.
Howard said he used to spend a few hours a day responding to comments and interview requests to further build a profile.
Charlie Bit My Finger - Again! is used a lot without Howard's consent, but he doesn't police the media.
Companies exist for authors, songwriters and performers to collect their revenue, but if you haven't got someone working for you, there are other ways to monitor online content, media lawyer Eitan Jankelewitz told Sky News.
He said: "There are software packages available to search the internet for video or audio material and it will report that back to you, and then you can approach the publishers of your material to take it down or perhaps agree a licence fee with them."
YouTube also provides a service which enables new videos to be compared with a database of existing ones, in order to see if the new clips are copies of those already in the database.
"If a new video is matched to an existing video and considered to be a copy, the owner of the existing video can block the upload of the new video," Eitan explained.
"This gives the owners of copyrighted videos the option to work proactively in defending their rights."
The lesson? Provided you've come up with a good idea, a champagne lifestyle may just be a few clicks away.

Cameron To Crack Down On Preachers Of Hate

 

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron is to attempt to launch a crackdown on the preachers of hate blamed by the Government for the extremism that led to the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

The Prime Minister’s fightback will come with the launch of a taskforce to tackle all forms of radicalisation that can lead to violent extremism and terrorism.

The group will include the most senior members of the Cabinet, including Nick Clegg, George Osborne, Theresa May, Eric Pickles and Chris Grayling, as well the Muslim Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi.

 In tackling extremism, the task force will aim to produce initiatives on:

:: Disrupting extremist activity

:: Challenging poisonous narratives

:: Trends in radicalisation

:: Tackling radicalisation in institutions (mosques, madrassas, schools, colleges, universities and prisons)

:: Supporting faith and community leadership to build strong, integrated and united communities

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Pickles, the Communities Secretary said: "Our answer to the extremists and preachers of hate is to speak out, to show them for what they are.

Pope Tells Mobsters To Repent And Follow God

 

Pope Francis has spoken out against Mafia organisations exploiting and enslaving people, and called on gangsters to turn to God.

The Pontiff was speaking a day after a courageous priest murdered by the Sicilian Mafia was beatified.
"My thoughts are with the suffering of women, men and also children who are exploited by the many Mafias who make them slaves, through prostitution, through many social pressures," the Pontiff told the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square.
"They cannot do this, they cannot make our brothers slaves, we must pray to the Lord to make these mafiosi convert to God."
Francis paid tribute to Pino Puglisi, the reverend murdered by the Mafia, calling him a martyr and an "exemplary priest" dedicated to serving and educating young people.
Father Puglisi worked in one of Palermo's poorest and roughest neighbourhoods, trying to give hope and options to young people who were often recruited by the mob.
He was gunned down by the Mafia in 1993.
Father Puglisi was beatified at a mass in Palermo on Saturday with tens of thousands in attendance. Beatification is the last formal step before possible sainthood.
he Pontiff’s remarks recalled an impassioned plea by the late Pope John Paul II. During a visit to Sicily 20 years ago, he called on mafiosi to "repent, because one day you will face the judgment of God".

Oklahoma Tornado: Young Survivors Begin To Heal

 

By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent, in Moore

Children from two schools destroyed by the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma have been reunited with their classmates and teachers as other schools welcomed them with special events.

Large banners at the entrance to Wayland Bonds Elementary welcomed pupils from Briarwood - which was all but flattened by Monday's ferocious twister.
On what would have been the last day of term, the event was a chance for the students and teachers to come together, reflect on the tragedy and say goodbye to the school year.
Many schools across Moore have been closed since the devastating tornado.
Recognising how traumatic the storm had been for the children, Principal Michelle McNear asked the media to keep their distance as the youngsters arrived, many clinging to family members.
But Sky News was allowed to take a look inside ahead of time at the classrooms decorated with balloons and colourful displays welcoming the visitors.
Teachers from Briarwood were there to greet their students and reunite them with rucksacks and possessions found in the debris of the school.
A drive is now on in Moore to raise money to buy more than a thousand new backpacks and toys for children from Briarwood and from Plaza Towers Elementary, where seven pupils lost their lives.
Children emerged from the event clutching balloons, and one mother told Sky News it was important to do something for the kids and let them know things will get back to normal.
But along with the emotional challenges ahead will be the bureaucratic headache for the authorities trying to find classrooms before summer ends for the nearly 1,000 pupils whose schools were destroyed.
Children have been offered counselling to deal with the memories of what happened, but teachers who battled to protect their pupils may also need help.
The test for this battered area in the weeks and months ahead will be about much more than simply rebuilding.

Oklahoma Tornado: Obama Visits Affected Areas

 

President Barack Obama has seen for himself the devastation caused by last Monday's tornado that killed 24 people and damaged about 12,000 homes.

He had a first-hand look at the recovery efforts from the monstrous storm that hit areas including Moore and Oklahoma City and completely destroyed 1,200 properties.
The president offered moral and monetary support to people still reeling from lost lives and shattered neighbourhoods.
He told survivors that the rebuilding job will be enormous and "we're going to be with you all the way".
The US leader met affected families and thanked emergency services in Moore, a town of 41,000 residents about 10 miles from Oklahoma City.
Standing with the state's governor, Mary Fallin, and other officials amid the devastation, Mr Obama said: "A picture's worth a thousand words."
He told residents: "It is going to take a long time for the Moore community to rebuild."
But he added: "Moore is going to come back stronger. We are going to be with you every step of the way", adding the town had already been printing new street signs.
He also appealed for the American people to donate to the Red Cross to help tornado victims.
Among the dead were 10 children, including seven students at Plaza Towers Elementary School and two sisters pulled by the strong winds out of their mother's grasp.
An infant died along with his mother trying to ride out the storm in a convenience store.
Mr Obama's first stop was the demolished site of the school, where the tornado turned the one-storey building into a heap of bricks, broken concrete and twisted metal.
He walked along Eagle Drive, with the demolished school on his left, and on his right, homes reduced as far as the eye could see to piles of rubble.
Vehicles were turned upside down and toys and children's books were strewn with furniture and ripped out wall insulation.
"I know this is tough," he told one school official.
He met the Lewis family, who lost their home behind the school, telling them the important thing is they survived and could replace their things.
"What a mess," he told their son Zack, a third grader at the shattered school.
Zack's father, Scott, ran into the school just before the storm hit and ran with his terrified son back to their home's storm shelter.

Barcelona beware: Neymar is a player set up for a monumental fall

As Goal exclusively revealed in April, the 21-year-old has completed his move to Camp Nou, but whether he is the player the Spanish champions require remains questionable

COMMENT
By Paul Macdonald

It is official: Neymar is a Barcelona player.

BARCA'S NEW SAMBA STAR

The saga to end all sagas has reached its conclusion, and despite an attempt from Real Madrid to usurp their rivals, Camp Nou will next season feature both Lionel Messi and this floppy-haired 21-year-old in an undeniably tantalising teaming of talent.

As the 2012-13 season draws to a close, Barca, despite their fourth La Liga title in five years, are a subdued organisation. The clinical, methodical dismantling at the hands of Bayern, coupled with their own insipid capitulation, once again raised the question of Messidependecia. Without him this immortal team appear fallible. Without their god-like genius, they are ponderous. Susceptible. Beatable. Paris Saint-Germain almost seized upon it. Bayern relentlessly exploited it.

Messi IS Barca, some believe. Pedro, Villa, Tello, Alexis - they aren't offering enough, say others. Now, the  cockatoo in the room becomes apparent; Neymar can provide that which is lacking when Messi is unable to deliver.

Barcelona's agent in South America, Andre Cury, is a fully paid-up member of the Neymar appreciation society.

"Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of over-dependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos and over-dependence on Messi at Barcelona as we would then have another player at his level."

Madrid offers Karanka chance to stay on

Florentino Pérez is going to respect Karanka's contract. Real Madrid's assistant manager has three seasons left on his contract and he'll be offered the chance to stay on.
Last year he renewed his contract till 2016 and Real Madrid's president will hold a meeting with him to find out what he intends to do. Mourinho doesn't plan on taking him to Chelsea.

"We're not going to sell you"

It has been a difficult season for Pepe. The defender was punished by José Mourinho after the former's comments in support of Iker Casillas, which was for the Portuguese manager an act of betrayal. Pepe has not played in Real Madrid's last five games – including the Copa del Rey final – casting the centre-back's future into doubt.
Pepe has been told by the club's directors that they are counting on him for the coming season and he will not be sold. "We're not going to sell you. You are a unique centre-back", the defender was told.
Pepe has been strongly supported by his teammates. He recently had dinner with Cristiano Ronaldo, where the pair both assessed their future at the club. It seems both want to stay, as they feel at home and know they have the chance to win the most sought after titles. Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos have also helped the Portuguese player through a difficult time. Their words of support have encouraged him to deal with the punishment handed out to him by Mourinho. It was a time for unity within the squad, and Pepe very much appreciated it.
Mourinho dealt well with the questions thrown at him on the issue at his last press conference. The Portuguese boss said that Pepe's exclusion was down to Raphael Varane: "It's a matter of frustration". The coach's comments suggested that the club would look to sell the central defender. The departure of Ricardo Carvalho reinforces the idea of Real keeping hold of Pepe. Varane has progressed well and is a player for the future, but he still has a long way to go and will not play in every game. It seems there is a place for Pepe, after all.

Zidane: "After Messi and Cristiano, Bale has impressed me the most"

Zidane has made it clear while talking to 'The Guardian' that Real is interested in Bale: "I´ve been watching Spurs a lot this season, and after Messi and Cristiano, I´d say that Bale is the most impressive."
The Frenchman, Florentino' s man to trust, is clearly in love with the Welshman: "I particularly like his reliability. He doesn't just play well for one or two matches, but always does, and regularly scores very important goals."
Asked if Real Madrid might be looking to sign the Welsh player, Zizou gave a rather enigmatic answer: "All talented players may end up at Real Madrid."

Real's holy Bale

There is a connection between Zidane and Bale. The Frenchman is the person who is trying the most to convince the Real Madrid president of the need to sign the Welsh player. Zidane had been entrusted with the job of following Bale's performances throughout the season.
As a result of his studies, the club is now studying the pros and cons of completing the transfer of the player who has been voted the best footballer in England - the third-highest scorer in the Premier League with 21 goals. Bale is Zidane's first choice, as was Varane two years ago.
But the road to sealing the player's signature is beset with obstacles to get round, and that won't be easy.
Tottenham Hotspur FC is well aware of Real Madrid's interest in this player. His name came up during the conversations that took place with Real Madrid when signing Luka Modric.
The Tottenham chairman was quite open about it. "The day we put Bale on the market, you will have first call". Daniel Levy's words and the good relationship Real Madrid has with Tottenham make it necessary for Real Madrid to express interest with the greatest respect for a club which is prepared to listen to an offer.
Tottenham's plans are for Gareth Bale to continue for one more year, despite the disappointment of the club not reaching fourth place in the league and thus not qualifying for the Champions League. To counteract this disappointment, the club is putting together a new contract whereby Bale's earnings would go up from €5½ million gross a year to €7½ million.

Valdano: Signing Neymar would be a huge coup for Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano feels that it would be a huge coup for the Santiago Bernabeu side if they were to lure Santos star Neymar to the Spanish capital.

The Brazil international appeared to be destined to join Barcelona this summer, only for his club to turn down a second formal offer from the Catalans earlier this week talks continue.

Madrid are believed to be closely monitoring the 21-year-old's situation and Valdano would love to see Neymar make the move to the Bernabeu.

"It would be a huge coup if Real Madrid manage to sign Neymar," Valdano was quoted as saying by Marca.

"Not just because he's a great player, but also because they'd then take him right from under Barcelona's nose.

"I like Neymar a lot. Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it's a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch."

Neymar has a contract with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.

Doping is everywhere, says Xavi

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has claimed that doping is "very present" in sport and but is certain football doesn not have a problem with drugs cheats.

Controversial doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was recently handed a 12-month suspended sentence after blood bags were found in his offices and although he claimed to have clients within football, their names were kept private.

And while Xavi has stressed that he is not aware of any doping within the game, he feels that the authorities must be tough on the issue.

"It's a shame but the issue of doping is very present, not in football, but in sports in general," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"For me, total prevention or any control is good. People have to be healthy and it's good to have this type of control.

"In football, I'm sure it doesn't happen. I've never experienced it in 15 years of being a professional and I've never seen it either at Barca or in the Spain national team in any form.

"We must be very tough on it."

Xavi went on to stress that his side would not change in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure as Real Madrid boss.

Xavi: "We're losing one of world football's big coaches"

Xavi Hernández assured that Real Madrid will continue to win titles despite José Mourinho's departure, and admitted that the Portuguese manager has always given the Barça squad an "extra motivation".

"We'll see what happens without Mourinho, but I'm convinced that Real will keep winning titles with or without Mourinho," said the Barcelona mastermind.

Barça's assistant captain stressed that the 'Azulgranas' need to try to forget about what Real Madrid is doing and focus on competing in order for the team to keep winning titles.

"We've carried on winning titles with Mourinho. In the three years he's been here, he's nicked a title or two, but we've carried on winning. That has to remain our objective," he stressed.

Xavi also believes that the Portuguese manager's personality has always been a motivation for Barcelona: "He's a controversial manager. He's always provided an extra motivation. I don't know whether we'll miss him or not." However, he did acknowledge that the Portuguese manager's exit represents a significant loss for the Spanish league, because "we're losing one of world football's big coaches".

Simeone: "If Falcao decides to make a move, I'll be happy: if he stays, I'll be happy too"

At the press conference following Atlético Madrid's 0-2 win in Singapore, Diego Pablo Simeone was grilled about the future of Radamel Falcao.

Above all, the media were keen to know if the Colombian striker has already come to an agreement with Monaco for next season: "I don't know anything official yet. I have known him since he was a child and I wish him all the best. If he feels that he needs to make a move, I'll be happy for him. If he stays with us, I'll be happy too", Simeone told reporters.

Courtois, or rather, the future of the Belgian goalkeeper, also cropped up: "We are working on keeping him for another year", he commented.

Husain Abdullah Biogpraphy

Husain Ibn Muhammed Abdullah (born July 27, 1985) is an American footballsafety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was offered a contract by the Minnesota Vikings and was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Washington State. He is the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals' safety Hamza Abdullah.

Date of birth: July 27, 1985 (age 27)

Place of birth: Los Angeles, California

Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 204 lb (93 kg)

Messi, Ronaldo & the top 10 all-time Champions League goalscorers

After another thrilling season of continental football, we are finally closing in on the campaign's showpiece event - the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.

This year's competition has again produced some memorable moments as the continent's biggest and best clubs battle to be crowned European champions for 2013.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were again prominent as their sides made it to the semi-finals and battled with Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller to win the Golden Boot award. 

But where do they currently rank against the best goalscorers in the history of the European Cup and Champions League?

Here, in a star-studded list, Goal provide the lowdown of the top 10 all-time scorers in the tournament, with only goals from the group stages onwards being counted - no qualifying rounds.  


Alessandro Del Piero is one of the four players profiled in our top 10 who scored all his Champions League goals for only one club.

The former Juventus icon netted 42 times for the current Italian champions in Europe’s elite club competition during his lengthy career at the top, winning the Golden Boot award twice.

He helped them to win the trophy in 1996, playing the full game in the eventual triumph over Ajax on penalties and also participated in three other finals for Juve, although they all ended in defeat. 

Despite being a prolific goalscorer in the competition, he only scored once in his four appearances in the Champions League final, against Borussia Dortmund in 1997.

A two-time winner of the Champions League, Filippo Inzaghi certainly made his mark in the competition over 13 years with Juventus and, most significantly, AC Milan.

Strangely, Inzaghi is one of just two players in our list who never won the Champions League Golden Boot during his career, so making his way into the overall top 10 serves to highlight his consistency in front of goal on an annual basis.

The striker's most significant contributions saw him net a double and win the man-of-the-match award as Milan defeated Liverpool in the 2007 final in Athens, avenging their infamous Istanbul defeat in the final of two years before, a game which he had missed out on.

Ameizing Stadion In U.S.A

Juventus confirm Higuain and Jovetic interest

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed the club's interest in luring bothGonzalo Higuain and Stevan Jovetic to Turin this summer.

Reports emanating from Italy suggests the Bianconeri will dispatch representatives to the Spanish capital on Wednesday in an attempt to thrash out a deal for Real Madrid striker Higuain after agreeing terms in principal with the Argentine earlier this month, while Fiorentina's failure to secure Champions League qualification this season has thrown Jovetic's future at the club into further doubt.

Speaking to Rai Sports, Marotta insisted the Old Lady were weighing up their options before making a move but could not disguise his affection for the duo.

"Jovetic and Higuain are both great strikers," he said. "We want to improve the playing staff available to [Antonio] Conte in the summer so we are exploring various options at the moment."

Juventus, who recorded back-to-back Serie A titles this season, have long been linked with moves for Europe's top striking talent - including the likes of Carlos Tevez and Luis Suarez - as they look to bolster their forward line ahead of the coming campaign.

Messi: Neymar move would be wonderful

Lionel Messi believes Neymar would make a "wonderful addition" to the Barcelona squad should he opt to move to Camp Nou.

Speculation has intensified in recent weeks over where the Santos star will be plying his trade next season, with Barcelona currently attempting to negotiate a deal despite the player's insistence he will remain in Brazil until 2014.

However, should such a move materialise, Messi feels the starlet would add a different dimension to Barca's attacking threat.

"I do not know if he will end up at the club or not. However, it is true that he is a player who would bring a very different dimension to the team," he told Qatar Alkass. "Of course he would be a wonderful addition."

The Argentina international then looked ahead to next year's World Cup in Brazil and insists he wants to taste glory at the tournament irrespective of what it could mean for his reputation in the history of the game.

"All I care about is winning the World Cup," he said. "I won't be thinking about whether it will mean I am the best player ever or not."

The 25-year-old also praised former coaches Frank Rijkaard and Bayern Munich-bound Pep Guardiola, a man who Messi believes will be a huge hit and Bayern and wherever he chooses to go in future.

"He [Rijkaard] was the one who believed in me when I was 17," the Argentina skipper added. "It was one of the most important times of my life working under him, and Pep told me I was the best player he has ever coached.

"He will succeed at Bayern. He will succeed anywhere he goes because his understanding and reading of the game is like nobody else's."

Thierry Henry Biography

Thierry Daniel Henry (French pronunciation: ​[tjɛʁi ɑ̃ʁi]; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne (a suburb of Paris) where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and signed instantly, making his professional debut in 1994. Good form led to an international call-up in 1998, after which he signed for the Serie A defending champions Juventus. He had a disappointing season playing on the wing, before joining Arsenal for £11 million in 1999.

Ribery best midfielder, Gotze best youngster - Bundesliga awards for 2012-13

The curtain was drawn on another Bundesliga season on Saturday and it has certainly been one to remember. Bayern Munich ended Borussia Dortmund's two-year stranglehold on the title with a marvellous campaign, breaking a host of records on the way.

Schalke started the season brightly but soon imploded, replacing coach Huub Stevens with a rookie in Jens Keller but rallied to gain Champions League qualification, while two of the newly-promoted teams. Greuther Furth and Fortuna Dusseldorf went straight back down to the second tier, but Eintracht Frankfurt staged a credible charge for a European place, eventually finishing sixth.

But what of the other winners and losers? Who have been the best players and coaches in the league season? And what of the worst? Goal hands out the individual awards at the end of another absorbing nine months of football.


Just one year ago, Rene Adler's career was in tatters. After a series of injuries saw him lose his place in the Germany setup and the Bayer Leverkusen team, he was out of contract. However, a free transfer to Hamburg gave him the chance to rebuild and he has taken it with aplomb. Having stayed fit, he turned in performances of such a high calibre that he won his place back in Joachim Low's squad and has even been linked with a move to Arsenal.


While Dante's rise to prominence has been something of a shock, Franck Ribery's brilliant form has been exactly what Bundesliga fans have come to expect of the Frenchman. Having maintained his fitness at long last, the 30-year-old has turned in a string of brilliant displays, terrorising defence after defence. His stats of 10 goals and 14 assists in league games may sound meagre but the sheer number of chances he has created for team-mates with such consistency sees him scoop the prize over all others.

Napoli president confirms Cavani-Dzeko negotiations, reacts to Benitez talk

The club president has admitted that there has been contact with the Premier League side over both strikers and also responded to reports linking them with Rafa Benitez

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the Serie A side are in negotiations with Manchester City over Edin Dzeko and Edinson Cavani.

The Premier League giants are keen to lure Cavani away from his current club, but have yet to table a concrete offer for the Uruguay international.

Napoli, on the other hand, see Dzeko as a good alternative to Cavani in case the latter leaves this summer and De Laurentiis decided to contact City when he visited London on Monday to open talks over both strikers.

"I was in London to prepare for the European release of the movie on Steve Jobs. And then I told [sporting director Riccardo] Bigon to get in touch with Manchester City to open talks about Dzeko and see what their plans are with Cavani," the Napoli president told reporters.

"There's a lot of talk, but less action when it comes to actually spending money. Unlike me, others seem to be taking a lot of time to use their bank account."

De Laurentiis then went on to discuss the possibility of appointing Rafa Benitez as their new head coach following Walter Mazzarri's announcement that he will leave the club.

"I did not go to London for Benitez, but for my film commitments. 

"I have heard a lot of names in the past six months as I knew Mazzarri would leave. The new coach will definitely be someone of Napoli's standard. 

"I will have to make a decision on who will accompany me at this club in the years to come."

The Italian press claims that Benitez is in pole position for the Napoli job, while Roberto Di Matteo has also been linked with the Stadio San Paolo side.