football !!

Borussia Dortmund have given up any remaining hope of persuading Robert Lewandowski to sign a new contract at the club.

Lewandowski's current deal at Dortmund does not expire until June 2014, but his agent revealed earlier this week that the Poland international has already decided on his next destination.

The 24-year-old has been linked with potential moves to Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Juventus.

"Robert Lewandowski is not going to sign a new contract. We will have to see if he is going to be on the move in the summer," Borussia Dortmund director Michael Zorc told German Sky.

"His contract runs until 2014. There are two options. Either he goes in June or he stays for another year."

Lewandowski has bagged 44 goals in 87 appearances for the German club, helping them to two consecutive Bundesliga titles since his transfer from Lech Poznan in 2010.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson dismissed Roberto Mancini's claim Manchester United are "lucky" to have a 12-point lead in the Premier League.

Mancini made the observation last weekend as he assessed the state of a title race that subsequently saw victories for both United and Manchester City that maintained the status quo with 11 games remaining.

The City manager's argument is that United, whilst deserving of their top-of-the-table status, were not so superior to his own side they were worthy of such an imposing advantage that surely will be impossible to claw back.

It was an observation Ferguson countered immediately.

"We're dead lucky," said the Scot, with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"We have only been doing it for 25 years. It is a terrible habit.

"Maybe he (Mancini) is lucky they are only 12 points behind."

It was Ferguson in one of his jocular moods, although it did not lead to words of sympathy for old adversary Rafael Benitez over his plight at Chelsea, which the Scot preferred to stay out of.

"I am not getting into that," he said.

 

Great match coming up!

Cristiano Ronaldo says it would be 'spectacular' to score at Old Trafford and is confident of a good reception from Manchester United fans.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo returns to United on Tuesday night for the first time since he left for Real in 2009 after six hugely successful years with the Premier League club.

He was on target in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie when his header in the Santiago Bernabeu earned Real a 1-1 draw.

The return meeting is an eagerly anticipated encounter and Ronaldo is hoping he can again score against his former club.

"It would be a beautiful sensation," said Ronaldo. "If I score against them, it would be spectacular.

"I can't say how I'd celebrate - it would be something spontaneous - but I'd love to be in that situation."

The Portugal international looks back fondly on his time with Sir Alex Ferguson's side and he is expecting a positive reaction from United supporters.

He added: "I'm sure they will receive me well.

"After the years I spent there and the friendships I have, I'm sure it's one of the places where they'll applaud me most. It was a beautiful time."

 

Montpellier chairman Louis Nicollin says that he would be open to talks with Diego Maradona about becoming the next manager of the French side.

Current boss Rene Girard's contract is due to expire in June and reports suggest he will depart the club after leading them to the Ligue 1 title last season.

Maradona is currently out of work and Nicollin admitted that he would welcome a meeting with the 52-year old.

"I know for weeks that Maradona is thinking to coach in Europe and maybe with us. If he wants to come and talk with us, we would welcome him with pleasure; we are in contact with his representatives. I am very keen to meet him," the chairman told L'Equipe.

 

Spain vs Finland 1-1

The great goal for Finland by Pukki!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k1n7TZ3zco

 

On-loan Marseille midfielder Joey Barton looks set to escape punishment over comments he made about Paris St Germain defender Thiago Silva on Twitter.

Barton provoked a storm when he used the social networking site to brand Silva an "overweight ladyboy" earlier this month.

However, the French Football Federation's ethics council has determined that no ruling could be made in the case because of translation issues.

Laurent Davenas, the committee's president, says "we would need to make sure everyone agrees, both on the accusation and on the defendant's side, on an objective translation in order to make a decision on (Barton's) statements."

 

Bayern Munich 4- Barcelona 0

Dortmund 4- Real Madrid 1

I guess the results say it all....

 

Roberto Mancini has been sacked by Manchester City a year to the day since delivering the Premier League title.
City failed to publicly back their manager over the weekend as the build-up to Saturday's FA Cup final was overshadowed by reports linking Malaga's Manuel Pellegrini with the job.
City were beaten by Wigan at Wembley, and that disappointment alongside an unconvincing Premier League title defence and a second successive failure get beyond the Champions League group stage, means Mancini's time in Manchester is up after three-and-a-half years.
A club statement read: "It is with regret that Manchester City Football Club announces that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his duties as manager.

 

Spanish champions Barcelona have agreed the signing of Brazil striker Neymar from Santos.

The 21-year-old will sign a five-year contract, the club said, with the player confirming he will sign his contract on Monday.

A Barcelona statement read: "FC Barcelona and Santos have agreed to terms for Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. The Brazilian forward will don the Blaugrana strip for the next five seasons. The 21-year old is one of the most promising footballers on the planet."

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Arjen Robben's late goal fired Bayern Munich to UEFA Champions League glory with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in a compelling final at Wembley.

After the match, Bayern Munich hero Robben admitted winning the UEFA Champions League buried his previous demons.


He told Sky Sports: "There are so many emotions, especially where we came from last year and such a disappointment. The last four years, Bayern have been in the final three times. It needed to happen but you still have to do it.

"It is a special feeling. You cannot describe it. Everything is going through your mind. It is hard to say but you do not want to be a loser."

And Dortmund defender Hummels admitted Bayern deserved to be crowned champions of Europe after their dramatic victory at Wembley.

He told Sky Sports: ""The game was really close, but it was kind of deserved for Bayern because they were the better team in the second half, but for us it is very hard and disappointing.

"They get the cup, we don't. It is one of the hardest games we can lose."

 

Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that has he turned down an approach from Paris Saint Germain to join Manchester City.

The Chilean revealed on Wednesday to Spanish radio that he had agreed a deal to take charge at the Etihad Stadium.

But the outgoing Malaga boss did have other options with the French giants also keen on his services.

"PSG is a very important institution - one of the most important in Europe - and they put themselves in contact [with me] but the priority was to work with [Manchester City]," he said on Canal Sur.

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Former Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez has been appointed as the new coach of Napoli, where he will replace Walter Mazzarri.

The Spaniard, who left Stamford Bridge following his six-month spell as interim manager, will take charge at the Stadio San Paolo this summer.

"I am very happy and very satisfied for having committed to a great club with an illustrious heritage like Napoli," Benitez said on his official website.

 

Life is like aaaaa borx of Cherries...

 

Rumours linking Cesc Fabregas with a move back to England are wide of the mark, according to Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
The former Arsenal midfielder is a reported target for Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as the Gunners, but if he does leave Barcelona it is not likely to be for at least another 12 months.
United were rumoured to have opened talks with Barcelona over a deal for the 26-year-old, who was only a fringe member of their squad last season and could be further marginalised by the arrival of the exciting Neymar.
But Balague told Sky Sports News of Fabregas: "He is surprised by the rumours that are so strong in England.
"The club has definitely told me this evening that they have got no intention whatsoever of selling him.
"His buyout clause, in case anybody is interested, is €200million (£171m), which is a little bit expensive. In any case it is a deterrent for people to come and try to poach him away.

 

Manchester City have completed the signing of Brazil international Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial fee of around £30million.
The 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Fernandinho, who will wear the No 25 shirt for City, told the club's official website: "This is a change, a challenge and a chance that I have been waiting a long time for. Playing in the Premier League for City is like a dream.
"My ambition here is to win all the titles, the team here is strong, and so is the greatness of the club and the supporters. Professionally this is a spectacular thing.
"Playing for a huge club in a huge league makes me so happy. I hope I will be able to repay City for what they have done for me.

 

AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy has brushed off links with Manchester City by insisting he wants to stay at the San Siro.
Reports in Italy had claimed that City were lining up a £30million bid for the 20-year-old international.
However, El Shaarawy insists that he cannot see himself leaving Milan this summer - even though he is 'flattered' at City's reported interest.
"I don't think I will leave Milan," he told La Repubblica
"If City really wants me, it flatters me. But I want to stay here at AC Milan.
"I always felt total confidence from all: the club, coach [Massimiliano] Allegri and team-mates.
"It's also thanks to them that I am in the Italian national team."

 

Jose Mourinho has cast fresh doubt over the future of Fernando Torres by admitting that more could have been expected of him so far at Chelsea.
The Spanish striker earned a £50million switch from Liverpool in January 2011 but at Stamford Bridge he has struggled to replicate the form from his earlier career.
Torres has been linked with a move away from the club this summer but has made it clear that he remains committed to seeing out his contract and wants to impress Mourinho.
But the Portuguese boss says his record at Chelsea is only mediocre and is convinced that owner Roman Abramovich will let him rule on whether the player stays.



Mourinho insists that Abramovich has never interfered in his managerial business and did not force him to buy Andriy Shevchenko during his first spell at the club.
"Torres so far is so-so," said Mourinho. "Somebody could expect more because of his potential, because of what he did before. But not so bad as people sometimes try to say.
"There is a balance. Normally, the tendency is to say it was a big mistake. It was a big mistake because it didn't work.

 

Alan Shearer believes the appointment of Joe Kinnear as Newcastle's director of football has turned the club into a laughing stock.
Kinnear has wasted little time in making his presence felt with a series of free-ranging interviews which have hardly enhanced his reputation as he struggled to pronounce the names of some of his players, as well as managing director Derek Llambias.
Llambias subsequently resigned after learning that the 66-year-old Irishman would assume some of his duties under a surprise shake-up of the club's football activities instigated by sportswear tycoon Ashley.
Former Newcastle striker Shearer wrote in today's Sun: "Where do we start? What I do know is that right now people are laughing at the football club I support. And that sickens me.
"I promised myself years ago never to be surprised by what happens in football - particularly when it comes to Newcastle.
"But this situation really is stretching it a bit.
"While other clubs are all plotting and planning for next season, Newcastle have a manager who has just been totally undermined.
"Alan Pardew has said he will carry on but I am sure it will be a difficult situation."
He added: "As for that announcement, what are the players to think when he can't even get their names right? It's all a PR disaster."

 

Schalke president Clemens Tonnies says he would not stand in the way of Julian Draxler were a big club to come in with an acceptable bid for him.

The 19-year-old Germany midfielder recently penned a new five-year contract with his home-town club, yet that has not brought an end to speculation about his future.

Chelsea are among the clubs linked with a move for the youngest ever player to make 100 appearances for Schalke.

And Tonnies admits even his club's biggest asset has a price.

"Of course we want to keep hold of him, Julian is an important figure in Schalke," he told the Express newspaper.

"But if we want to be fair with him, then maybe we have got to consider letting him move abroad sooner or later.

 

Liverpool have turned down a £30m bid from Arsenal for striker Luis Suarez.

Suarez has been at the centre of transfer speculation since saying in May that it would be a "good moment for a change", and admitted it would be "difficult to say no" to Real Madrid.

The Spanish side had been expected to lead the pursuit of the 26-year-old Uruguayan.

Liverpool refused to comment on reports of Arsenal's move and have previously insisted Suarez is not for sale.

 

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request and has not travelled on the club's pre-season tour to Germany.

 

Bayern Munich have confirmed a deal to sign Spain international Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona.
A fee of £21.6million has been agreed between the two clubs for the services of the 22-year-old midfielder and he will sign a four-year deal once a medical has been completed.
Thiago had reportedly been a target for Manchester United but has elected to team up with former Barca coach Pep Guardiola at the current champions of Europe.
Guardiola had made the acquisition one of his priorities this summer as he looks to build ahead of his debut season in charge of the Bavarian giants.
The transfer agreement also includes a commitment to hold a friendly game between the two clubs at some point by 2017.
A short statement from Barcelona read: "FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich have reached an agreement over the transfer of the player Thiago Alcantara to the German club for a total of 25 million (euros).
"This agreement also includes holding a friendly match between the two teams, which will be played in the next four years."

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Seems like Bayern is pushing for another treble there...