La Liga

Queiroz to call on Ron

2009-11-07T21:44:00.003-08:00

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz is set to spark a club-versus-country row by calling up Cristiano Ronaldo for the World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Queiroz is desperate for the World Player of the Year to feature at some point as the Portuguese prepare for the first leg in Lisbon on 14th November and the return meeting scheduled for Zenica four days later. Under Fifa guidelines

Portugal suffer Ronaldo blow

2009-11-07T21:44:00.001-08:00

Portugal have suffered a big blow after Real Madrid confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo needs two more weeks of treatment on his injured ankle. This means the star forward is set to miss Portugal's World Cup play-off ties against Bosnia on 14th November in Lisbon and four days later in Zenica. Real confirmed his continuing lay-off on their website on Thursday after Niek van Dijk, the doctor in

Aguero - We can beat Real

2009-11-07T21:43:00.001-08:00

Sergio Aguero believes Atletico Madrid are more than capable of beating their local rivals in the Madrid derby on Saturday. Atletico face big spenders Real this weekend having held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week. They have, however, been struggling on the domestic front and have picked up just seven points in nine league games so far this term. Despite

Martinez admits Tamudo interest

2009-11-06T12:09:00.003-08:00

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed his interest in signing Spanish ace Raul Tamudo. The 32-year-old is currently in dispute with his club Espanyol. Indeed, the Barcelona outfit could tear up his contract and free him. Whilst Tamudo would not be able to move until January - Martinez, who first looked at the player in the summer, is ready to make a move for the Spanish international. "

Ruud uncertain on future

2009-11-06T12:09:00.001-08:00

Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy is keeping his options open as his contract runs down. The former Manchester United forward is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season and it remains to be seen whether he will be offered a new deal, or if he will move elsewhere. Tottenham Hotspur came close to signing the Dutch international for just Ј1million last summer, but manager

Blues not thinking of Aguero

2009-11-06T12:08:00.001-08:00

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists he is not thinking of buying Sergio Aguero as he makes plans to shackle the Atletico Madrid star in the UEFA Champions League. The Blues have been persistently linked with a big-money move for the Argentine forward since the summer. With Chelsea hopeful their current Fifa transfer embargo will be suspended following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration

Martinez in Tamudo hint

2009-11-05T15:17:00.003-08:00

Wigan Athletic are stepping up their quest to sign Raul Tamudo in the January transfer window as the striker's relationship with Espanyol reached a new low this week. Latics' boss Roberto Martinez is keen to take his fellow Catalan to the Premier League outfit as he needs a replacement after seeing Marlon King sacked by the club. Tamudo has lost his status as an Espanyol idol after it was

Merida tempted by Atletico

2009-11-05T15:17:00.001-08:00

Fran Merida's agent has hinted that it would be difficult for the Arsenal starlet to turn down a move to Atletico Madrid. The teenage midfielder has been hailed as an exciting prospect for some time and produced another example of his talent with a fine goal in the Carling Cup victory over Liverpool last week. Merida revealed after the match that he was in talks over a new deal at Emirates

Aguero - Blues interest nice

2009-11-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero has admitted he is flattered to be linked with a move to Chelsea. The Blues are understood to be long-term admirers of the 21-year-old and Aguero could have only enhanced his appeal with two stunning goals in their midweek UEFA Champions League clash. Aguero is one of the most sought-after players in Europe following his goalscoring exploits at Atletico over

Cruyff to coach Catalunya

2009-11-05T15:15:00.003-08:00

Johan Cruyff has returned to coaching after reaching an agreement to take charge of the Catalunya team with the local football federation. The Dutch legend is still revered in Barcelona and was approached to become the trainer of the side that play unofficial friendly encounters every year. After lengthy negotiations, Cruyff agreed to the deal with the Catalan Football Federation and returns

Gerrard rues Alonso exit

2009-11-05T15:15:00.001-08:00

Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool miss Xabi Alonso and that he was left devastated when his midfield partner joined Real Madrid. The pair were instrumental in Liverpool's success last season as Rafa Benitez's side proved credible challengers to Manchester United in the Premier League title race. Reds captain Gerrard, who is currently injured and misses Wednesday night's crunch UEFA Champions

Primera Liga round-up

2009-11-05T15:14:00.003-08:00

Barcelona saw two points slip through their grasp in dramatic fashion on Saturday. Elsewhere, Real Madrid returned to winning ways and are now just a point adrift of their Catalan rivals at the top of the table. Barcelona appeared destined to take maximum points from their trip to Osasuna, but were ultimately forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. Pep Guardiola's side struggled for long periods at

Real still waiting on Ron

2009-11-05T15:14:00.001-08:00

Further tests on Cristiano Ronaldo's ankle injury have shown no sign of improvement. That means Real Madrid must continue to cope without the services of their record-breaking summer acquisition. World Player of the Year Ronaldo first picked up the problem during a UEFA Champions League meeting with Marseille in September. He then aggravated the knock when turning out for Portugal in a

La Liga round-up

2009-11-05T15:13:00.001-08:00

Valencia moved into fourth spot in La Liga after a 1-0 win over bottom of the table Malaga. The only goal of the game arrived as David Navarro stuck for Los Che. Real Mallorca's good run continued with a hard fought 1-0 win over Racing Santander. Cameroon star Pierre Webo grabbed the only goal of the game after 18 minutes which keeps the Islanders in fifth. Deportivo La Coruna missed the

Mancini not talking to duo

2009-11-03T15:28:00.001-08:00

Former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has denied he has spoken to either Real Madrid or Liverpool. Both teams are enduring difficult spells, with speculation mounting over Manuel Pellegrini and Rafa Benitez's future. Mancini, who is free to join another club after terminating his Inter deal, has denied speaking with either club. The 44-year-old is ready to get into management and has

Copa del Rey round-up

2009-11-03T15:27:00.003-08:00

Villarreal were held to a draw, Racing Santander were shocked and Real Valladolid secured a slender win in their first-leg matches in the fourth round of the Copa del Rey. Ernesto Valverde's struggling Villarreal side's miserable season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man third-tier side Puertollano. Valverde's team, who sit in La Liga relegation zone with only six points from

Marquez close to new deal

2009-11-03T15:27:00.001-08:00

Rafael Marquez has revealed that he is close to signing a new contract with European champions Barcelona. The Mexican centre-half has held positive talks with the Catalan giants and expects the paperwork to be finalised shortly. Reports had suggested that a stalemate had been reached in regards to the length of a proposed deal, but Marquez insists he is ready to commit his future to Pep

Primera Liga round-up

2009-11-03T15:26:00.003-08:00

Clerc eyes Lyon exit

2009-11-03T15:26:00.001-08:00

France international full-back Francois Clerc will be leaving Lyon next summer when his contract expires, his agent has stated. He looks set to shun an offer to renew his contract at Lyon and is considering offers from Italy, Spain and France. "We don't want to renew his deal with Lyon. It's a choice done to find more space in another club," Frederic Guerra told Calciomercato . "In this

Atletico confirm Merida interest

2009-11-02T15:17:00.001-08:00

Primera Liga outfit Atletico Madrid have confirmed they are interested in signing Arsenal's attacking midfielder Fran Merida. The 19-year-old, who scored a cracker in The Gunners' midweek Carling Cup win over Liverpool, is out of contract next summer. The former Barcelona youth player has made just three substitute Premier League appearances during his time at Arsenal, but his talent has not

Atletico make Sporting enquiry

2009-11-02T15:16:00.003-08:00

Atletico Madrid have enquired about Sporting defender Daniel Carrico, according to reports in Spain. The 21-year-old, who is also interesting Manchester City, is wanted by Atletico for the start of next season. The Portugal Under-21 ace has been winning rave reviews with his displays and is contracted to Sporting until 2013. Carrico has a €20million (Ј17.9m) release clause in his contract,

Ron - Real not a one-man team

2009-11-02T15:16:00.001-08:00

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is not the only man who can turn around his club's wobbling form. The world's most expensive player has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury and in that time his team-mates have lost on three occasions and won only once. Pressure on the shoulders of boss Manuel Pellegrini also increased on Tuesday as Real were humiliated 4-0 by

Mancini in Real link

2009-11-02T15:15:00.005-08:00

Roberto Mancini's agent is unaware of rumours linking the Italian with the Real Madrid post amid reports a deal has been agreed to finally annul his contract with Inter Milan. Inter parted with Mancini in 2008 in order to bring in Jose Mourinho as coach, but the former Sampdoria and Lazio striker was still contracted to the club until 2012. However, reports in Italy suggest a deal has been

Kone wants first-team football

2009-11-02T15:15:00.003-08:00

Sevilla striker Arouna Kone has expressed his wish to play first-team football after being linked with Birmingham City and Paris St Germain. Kone has struggled to make an impact in Spanish football since joining Sevilla in 2007 from PSV Eindhoven and he spent much of last season on the sidelines through injury. He has been unable to reclaim his place in the Sevilla side since returning to

Primera Liga round-up

2009-11-02T15:15:00.001-08:00