Just hours after denying that a deal had been agreed with Real Madrid for Karim Benzema, Olympique Lyon have confirmed that a deal has in fact been done.
Swiftly afterwards, Real Madrid added that the deal was indeed set to take place following a medical, and that Benzema wil sign on for six years at the Casa Blanca.
A statement on the offiical Lyon website announces that the striker will cost Madrid €35 million initially and that with performance related bonuses the deal could rise to €41 million.
The message also explains the situation with Benzema and that he asked the president if he could move to Madrid sooner than expected. Read more…
Sao Paolo are sarcastic on Milan’s chances of signing Miranda and Hernanes. “Everyone knows they’re broke.”
The Rossoneri have been linked with both Brazilian talents, but the rumoured offer of £20m for the pair is seen as insulting.
“Let’s wait a minute,” joked technical director Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes on Globoesporte.
“I need to find out how much a crate of bananas is worth, as that is how much they want to give us for both players.
“We know that Milan ended the season in the red and not even the £60m from Kaka’s sale to Real Madrid was enough to balance the books.” Read more…
Not content with completing the signing of Kaka for a cool £59m, Real Madrid have turned their attention to Valencia striker David Villa. Returning president Florentino Perez has signalled his intention to keep spending by admitting he has enquired about Villa.
David Villa
The Spain hitman further enhanced his reputation by scoring a smartly taken hat-trick for his country against Azerbaijan on Tuesday as the European champions prepare for the Confederations Cup in South Africa.
No agreement has yet been reached between Real and Valencia and Perez added a note of caution to Spanish reports that Villa would be moving to Madrid for a fee of 37 million euros. “I have spoken to (new Valencia president) Manuel Llorente and we need time to see what the actual situation is at Valencia and what they are going to do,” Perez told Telemadrid. Read more…
Legendary Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta believes Kaka decided to join Real Madrid for the good of the Rossoneri.
The Spanish giants formally announced the signature of Kaka early this morning for a figure in the region of £60m.
“It’s a painful decision but Milan will find a great substitute. Kaka did not want to go away,” Costacurta told Sky Italia.
“He is an intelligent lad and he accepted his fate for the good of Milan, finding motivation in a new adventure.
“The choice to sell Kaka inserts itself into a phase of transition for Milan that will carry the Rossoneri to other great successes,” Costacurta concluded.
Milan are certainly in a state of flux at the moment, having watched Carlo Ancelotti leave for Chelsea, Paolo Maldini retire and Kaka leave.
Portugal needed an injury-time goal from defender Bruno Alves to beat Albania 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday and keep alive their hopes of reaching next year’s tournament in South Africa.
Portugal are third in Group One with nine points, behind leaders Denmark on 16 and Hungary with 13 and their last-gasp win in Albania must be followed by victories in their three remaining matches for them to top the standings.The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.Portugal had taken the lead with a Hugo Almeida header in the 27th minute after Jose Bosingwa surged forward to supply the cross. Albania equalised just two minutes later when striker Bogdani beat Bruno Alves in the air to head in Skela’s cross.Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz replaced ineffective midfielder Luis Boa Morte with Simao Sabrosa at halftime and Portugal created more chances in the second half.But poor finishing meant they had to wait until the 93rd minute for Bruno Alves to grab the priceless winner.
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he was surprised that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez refused to congratulate him on his latest title triumph.
The duo’s feud continued when the Spaniard decided to congratulate Manchester United as a club while openly snubbing Ferguson after the Red Devils claimed their third straight Premier League crown last weekend.
The Scot has refused to get drawn into another war of words with the former Valencia boss though, with his side just four days away from the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.
The Liverpool boss is said to still be angered by the belief that Ferguson has special privileges as a manager; thoughts he famously aired during a press conference in January.
“I was surprised,” Ferguson said.
“But really, it was a great season for us and I am not worried about anyone else.” Read more…
Milan veteran Paolo Maldini has backed Kaka to take over from him as Rossoneri captain as he prepares for his emotional swansong.
Maldini is finally ready to hang up his boots at the age of 40 and this weekend sees his final home game against Roma.
“I am feeling some strong emotions at the moment,” Maldini told the Milan Channel.
“I see this final game as a celebration of the past 25 years and I will have my friends and family around me.
“I hope I have the strength to play well and win as that would be the best way to celebrate with the people who wish me well.
“There is a time when a player must take on more responsibility and I feel that my departure has brought about that time for Kaka. I think he will be here for a long.
“He has aspired to being captain and I think he has the right personality to do it.”
As Paolo Maldini prepares to retire, Alessandro Del Piero gives him the ultimate compliment. “He is greater than Franco Baresi.”
The Milan legend will hang up his boots at the end of the season and Sunday’s game with Roma will be his last at San Siro.
Tributes to his career are pouring in and Juventus star Del Piero joined the chorus by phoning in as Maldini was interviewed on Milan Channel.
“You are the number one! There are great players and there are world class players. Then there are those who manage to go beyond that term. Paolo is the perfect example.”
Del Piero pushed the boat out with the ultimate compliment for a player in the Rossoneri jersey.
“Maldini is the symbol of Milan and has done even more than Baresi and all the other greats who preceded him.
“He has reached incredible heights in his career and at the same time managed to become a unique presence in his team, in Italian football and on the international stage.”
The last ever UEFA Cup has gone to Shakhtar Donetsk, as Werder Bremen badly missed the banned Diego in a 2-1 Final defeat.
The tournament will change name and format from next season to become the Europa League, so this Final is Istanbul was particularly historic. It’s also to be noted neither of the two clubs had ever won it before and Shakhtar become the first Ukrainian side to lift the trophy.
Werder Bremen eliminated Milan and Udinese on their way to the Final, but were missing suspended star Diego, who is on the verge of completing a transfer to Juventus.
Shakhtar Donetsk had a very strong start as Luiz Adriano drilled wide from a promising position, but he made up for it by scoring the opener. It was a classic counter-attack that sent Luiz Adriano through the middle and he delicately chipped the on-rushing Tim Wiese. Read more…
