Tag Futebol

Former Real Madrid superstar Christian Karembeu believes that Atletico Madrid striker Falcao should wait until the summer before moving to the Premier League.

Karembeu expects Falcao to be a star in England in the future, as the likes of Sergio Aguero and Fernando Torres has been in recent years, but hopes that he doesn’t dive in to a winter move.

“He is incredible.

“For me he is one of the best strikers. Players from Atlético have come to the Premier League and done well in the past with both Aguero and Torres being good examples.

“Falcao has all the talent and skill needed to be a great player in the Premier League.

“I think it would be better for him to wait until the summer because then he can have a full pre-season and get to know his new team mates.

“Coming is January is more difficult and will also require a player to use his mental strength to help him settle in.”

Karembeu has claimed that Falcao should head to Manchester rather than settle for Chelsea as his next club.

“Manchester United because they create a lot of chances and he would score a lot of goals there.

“He is so talented that he would score goals at any club though.”

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Christian Karembeu was speaking to promote the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world’s largest online gaming tournament. For more information and to take part visit www.fifa.com/fiwc

Football fans tend to keep a close eye on their club’s players whenever a major tournament rolls around.

Southampton do not have a huge amount of members competing at the World Cup in Russia, but one of theirs was in action on Sunday.

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Jan Bednerak, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, was named as part of a back three for Poland in their must-win Group H clash against Colombia.

It was a disappointing night for the Southampton player as he was seemingly required to be a ball-playing defender, which does not fit in with his traditional attributes.

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Overall, it was a match to forget for the nation as they were dumped out of the tournament in a 3-0 defeat.

Bednerak joined the Saints from Poznan in 2017 and last season made eight appearances in all competitions for the first team.

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The 22-year-old featured five times in the Premier League and even scored a goal, but he is yet to cement a regular spot in the first XI.

It remains to be seen whether he will get more chances under manager Mark Hughes, but the fans have been having their say on his international outing for Poland.

According to an interview with Spanish radio station Radio MARCA, Everton forward Sandro Ramirez says he wants to stay with Sevilla next season having joined them on loan until the end of the campaign in January, and Toffees fans have been quick to have their say on the news.

The 22-year-old only moved to Goodison Park last summer from Malaga, but he endured a nightmare first-half of the season after struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League, and he only made 15 appearances in all competitions under Ronald Koeman, David Unsworth and then Sam Allardyce, scoring once.

The attacker told Radio MARCA: “I’ve been here for two weeks and I want to continue next season at Sevilla. I’m really where I want to be.”

Everton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on Sandro’s comments, and while one said “hate Sam”, another said “good for him”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Former Liverpool midfielder Terry McDermott believes that his old club should cash in on Luis Suarez if he wants to leave.

The Reds striker is currently embroiled in yet another scandal after receiving a massive four month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.

Prior to the event the 27-year-old was being linked with a move to Barcelona, and speculation has only increased since his misdemeanour.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

The Spaniards are rumoured to be willing to pay big for the hit-man, yet many fans on Merseyside do not want to see ‘El Pistolero’ – who netted 31 Premier League goals last season – leave.

McDermott says that if Suarez wants to stay the club should stick by him, but that if he wants to go he has to be sold:

“Nobody wants to see Luis Suarez leave Liverpool, least of all me.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.

“Liverpool are by far a better team when he is in it and anyone who argues otherwise is kidding themselves.

“Me? I would ask him outright: ‘Do you want to play for Liverpool?’ If the answer is yes, then you help him and try to rehabilitate him.

“But if the answer is no, then I would say let him go. I know that won’t be a popular thing to say to a lot of Liverpool supporters but the club is far bigger than any one player.

“We have all seen the stories that have come out in the last few days.

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“They are very similar to the ones we saw last year when he was trying to get a move.

“It’s just my opinion but I would put the ball back into his court. ‘Do you want to stay or not? If not, then try and get the right deal for the club and move on.”

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Everton manager David Moyes has expressed his delight in midfielder Leon Osman’s call up to the England squad to face Sweden next week.

The 31-year-old midfielder has been a consistent performer for the Toffees over the years and many believed it was only a matter of time before he was given international recognition.

And it is no surprise that England manager Roy Hodgson finally named Osman in his 23-man squad, along with his Everton team mates Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka, for the trip to Stockholm next Wednesday.

Speaking to Everton’s official website, Moyes said: “That news went down with the players and staff as good as anyone that has gone before.

“It was pleasure to tell everyone that Ossie had been called up for England. His form this season has been such that he really deserves this.”

The Toffees boss also believes that Osman will thrive at international level and his qualities are suited to the way England play.

“His consistency  during my time here has been exceptional,” he continued.

“He will take the ball and want to help England play. His football intelligence is as good as anyone I have ever worked with. He understands what you want him to do and he always gets on with it to the best of his ability.

“I felt at times he might miss out but his form and Everton’s form have helped him.”

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Since making his debut in 2002, Osman has made 314 appearances in all competitions for Everton, scoring 45 goals.

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Reported Arsenal target Emil Forsberg struggled to make much of an impact for Sweden in their 1-0 win against South Korea in their opening 2018 World Cup group game on Monday, and Gunners fans don’t want their club to sign the 26-year-old attacker.

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Swedish media outlet Expressen reported last month that the north London outfit were keen to bring the £47m-rated winger to the Emirates Stadium, even though he endured a difficult 2017/18 campaign with RB Leipzig where he scored five goals and provided a further four assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Forsberg did little to help his cause to gain a move to the Premier League with his performance against a poor South Korea side, as he struggled to bring much of a threat in the final third to suggest that he couldn’t challenge the likes of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in north London.

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Arsenal supporters, who want their club to sign a 22-year-old centre-back following a brilliant World Cup display, were quick to have their say on his latest display via social media, and while one said “it would be like having two Ozil’s”, another said “I would rather pay £70m and try and get Anthony Martial”.

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Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Leeds United appointed former Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom as their new manager this week after Thomas Christiansen was sacked following the 4-1 defeat against Cardiff City at Elland Road last weekend.

The 40-year-old was a surprise choice in many ways considering he had only ever managed the Yorkshire club, had signed a new contract with the Tykes on February 2 and was in the middle of a run of just one win in 14 Championship matches.

Heckingbottom is the latest boss to be tasked with trying to get the Whites back to the Premier League for the first time since they were relegated in 2004, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead them to a play-off position this season.

Whatever happens, the manager will have plenty of work to do in the summer transfer window and he may consider looking back at his former club to see if they have any players that he feels could do a job for him and the team next term.

Here are three Barnsley players Heckingbottom could target to try and bring to Leeds in the summer…

Liam Lindsay

Barnsley only signed the 6ft 4in centre-back from Partick Thistle last summer, but he has already established himself as one of the Tykes’ best and key players.

According to WhoScored.com, the 22-year-old has won 125 of the 182 aerial duels he has faced in 26 Championship appearances this season, while he has won 39 of the 46 tackles he has attempted and made an impressive 165 clearances.

With Matthew Pennington only on loan and captain Liam Cooper needing to improve his discipline on the pitch, Heckingbottom may well be looking for a new centre-back in the summer and the highly-rated Lindsay could be the one that he targets.

Brad Potts

Like Lindsay, Potts only joined Barnsley in the summer from Blackpool following a number of impressive performances for the Tangerines, and he is starting to replicate those displays for the Yorkshire outfit.

The 6ft 2in midfielder has already shown that he is something of an all-rounder in the middle of the park, and as well as scoring two goals in 23 Championship appearances, he has also shown his creative side by making 25 key passes.

The 23-year-old is also useful from a defensive point of view too though, and he has also won 15 tackles and made 12 interceptions and 25 clearances.

If Heckingbottom is looking for extra quality in the middle of the park alongside the likes of Adam Forshaw, Ronaldo Vieira and Eunan O’Kane next season, he could turn to the highly-rated Potts.

Tom Bradshaw

If Leeds fail to go up this season and Heckingbottom is looking to bring a new striker to Elland Road in the summer, he could do a lot worse than take a look at Bradshaw.

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The Wales international has impressed for Barnsley since making the step up from League One in the summer of 2016, and he has nine goals in 34 appearances for the Tykes this season.

The 25-year-old showed during his time with Walsall that he can score any type of goal and is willing to put in the work for his team, and he could prove to be a useful addition to the Leeds frontline next term.

Would you want any of these, Leeds fans? Let us know below.

Arsene Wenger looks determined to extract as much as he can from Bacary Sagna before the full-back departs Arsenal this summer. The veteran defender deputised at centre-back this past Sunday for the trip to Norwich, replacing Per Mertesacker, and will without doubt play in his favoured position at right-back in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Arsenal have gotten the very best out of Sagna, who arrived from Auxerre in 2007 and instantly became a hit at the Emirates. The club have seen his best years, with the French international twice being named in the Premier League Team of the Season. That Arsenal have looked so comfortable in that position is testament to the quality of Sagna and his professionalism through extremely trying times over the past few seasons.

But there should be no grudges about the 31-year-old wanting to move on. In fact, had Arsenal laid out a more serious and respectable contract offer last summer, the likelihood is Sagna would still be playing his football at the Emirates next season. Reportedly, the club only offered a two-year extension and fell short of Sagna’s wage demands. The club’s lack of foresight on the matter goes to show that Wenger still hasn’t come to fully appreciate the contribution of experienced figures in his squad. Versatile veterans can make all the difference in title races.

Sagna’s camp may be riling the Arsenal support now that the league season is over, with the player expressing pubic uncertainty over his future and congratulating Samir Nasri on his title victory with Manchester City this weekend, though seemingly failing to mask his own disappointment at never lifting the Premier League trophy during his time in England. History looks set to repeat itself, with Sagna a target for City, and it’s more than understandable why Arsenal supporters are up in arms about the potential switch.

The thing is, there is no harm in Sagna moving on to a Premier League rival. The fans have shown no compromise in their loyalty to the player, but Arsenal as a club certainly have. The right-back knows his value, even at this stage of his career, and considering the years of excellence he’s shown to the north London side, why shouldn’t he get what he wants if another club is willing to offer it? It’s not to say Arsenal weren’t capable of matching Sagna’s demands, nor is it anyone else’s fault that he’s set to be tempted elsewhere.

Arsenal will lose Sagna’s experience as well as his ability along the back four. But both of those attributes can be bought. Arsenal aren’t struggling financially going into this summer’s transfer period. They need two right-backs, as Carl Jenkinson is both not good enough and set to go on loan. And though there is a distinct shortage of high-end full-backs across the continent who are available, it isn’t an impossible task to buy and replace effectively.

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Sagna has given seven fantastic years to Arsenal, and while there have been lows during his stay, the loyalty he has shown throughout warrants a peaceful sending off. The FA Cup would be a fitting end to his time at the Emirates, and while there is disappointment to his departure, don’t begrudge a player who was apparently willing to stay but couldn’t sway the notorious inflexibility of Arsenal and Wenger.

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Wigan recorded the surprise result of the day beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane to win their second Premier League game on the spin.

The Latics followed up last weeks success against at home to West Ham with a morale boosting victory in North London that will serve as a huge reality check to Andre Villas-Boas.

Spurs have now lost their last two games at home and dropped out of the top four after Watson’s second half goal consigned them to defeat on a frustrating afternoon.

Robert Martinez’s men have endured a mixed record in North London registering a registering a 1-0 win in 2010 but suffering a 9-1 drubbing in 2009.

From the off Wigan looked self-assured and at ease against their opponents, who are chasing a return to the Champions League season, and Brad Friedel was by far the busier of both keepers.

Shaun Maloney and Arouna Kone tested the American stopper early on before Watson passed up a great opportunity to break the deadlock, firing over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Spurs finally stepped into gear but Jan Vertonghen’s dipping volley represented their best chance of the first half as they managed to subdue the visitors until the break.

But 10 minutes into the second half Roberto Martinez’s men deservedly took the lead as Watson hammered the ball home from close range after Friedel had brilliantly clawed Maloney’s whipped corner from underneath the crossbar.

Emmanuel Adebayor was thrown on by Villas-Boas to replace Jermain Defoe t but failed to muster anything close to the equaliser a discontented home crowd craved.

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Gareth Bale came close to restoring parity but Ali Al-Habsi was equal to his fierce strike but Maynor Figueroa smashed a long range effort just wide of Friedel’s post at the other end as Wigan held on to a monumental win.

Newcastle fans have been debating a move for Garry Rodrigues, after reports from Turkey claimed the Magpies will have to spend €20m (about £18m) to land the Dutchman.

After failing in a bid to sign him last summer, Newcastle look set to reignite their interest in Galatasaray’s Rodrigues this summer, but is he worth the price tag?

According to Turkish outlet Aksam, Newcastle have once again stepped up their pursuit of the pacey winger, but will have to pay the €20m price tag to get a deal done.

The Magpies had a bid for the 27 year-old rejected last summer, reportedly in the region of £6m, but his price has now gone up even more after a wonderful season.

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Rodrigues had the best season of his career so far with Galatasaray, grabbing nine goals and ten assists in 33 league appearances.

Rafael Benitez is desperate for some more attacking flair to help create for a potentially big signing up front, and Rodrigues has the tools to play on either flank.

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Fans have been voting if they think they should pay the asking price, and it’s a pretty even split, with 56 per cent backing a move for the Dutchman.

You can find the full poll results down below…