Football transfer news

Didier Drogba faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the new season after undergoing groin surgery. The Ivory Coast striker, 32, netted 29 goals last season, despite being troubled by the problem. Drogba is set to be sidelined for three weeks, making him a major doubt for the Community Shield against Manchester United on August 8 and the Premier League opener at home to West Brom.

“We will do all we can to help Didier recover soon enough, so he could be ready for season openers, but we cannot be 100% sure, that he will be fit”, said Chelsea’s doctor.

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Wolfsburg has announced that their two best players, Bosnian internationals, Dzeko and Misimovic will not be sold this summer. Although both of them have more than just a few offers, Wolfsburg doesnt want to sell them.

“We have decided to end the recurring speculation: both Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic will be staying at Wolfsburg, no matter what offers come in for them.”

“We did not want this speculation to become endless as we move closer to the start of the season. It made no sense to continue going around in circles. Now everybody can concentrate on the new season.

“Furthermore, both players have clear contracts which don’t leave any room for misinterpretation. There was not a single offer for either of them anyway so this discussion was only virtual.”

“I am convinced that our decision will have no effect on the performances of Edin and ‘Zwetschge’,” said the club’s managing director Dieter Hoeness, according to PA..

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Unexpected words came from David Villa. Eventhough Inter eliminated Barcelona in semi finals of Champions League, the new Barcelona player said: “Barcelona and Inter have different styles, I prefer the Catalans. Barca is much stronger than Inter, i am sure, that if Barca and Inter would play 10 finals, Barca would win 9 of them. ”

Spain’s most efficient player in this years World Cup is already trying to get in touch with the fans, and for now, he is doing good job.

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“My work here is done. I have made history with this club. I will find motivations in another big club. Playing against Barcelona in Spain? That would be a big challenge,” he told the Rai Sport after the game.

“I have been very happy at Inter, but not in the world of Italian football because I don’t like all the comments from presidents, coaches and papers. But, I will always like Inter,” he added.

“I want to thank Italian football because I have become a better coach for it. Now it’s time for me to take a day or two to think about a new challenge in another country.

“I have given everything for this team and I feel free to make a decision on my future. I want to become the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs. Only Real Madrid are interested in me but I have not signed any contract yet.”

Asked whether he would be joining Real Madrid he told Sat.1: “Yes.”

Captain Javier Zanetti: “I am really sad that Mourinho has decided to leave, but this is his choice. We must respect his decision, and unfortunately we are saying goodbye to a great coach and a great man.”

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Barcelona superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be set for a £46 million switch to Manchester United, Chelsea or Manchester City after David Villa’s arrival at the Nou Camp.

The Catalan giants have agreed a £34.2 million deal with Valencia to bring the lethal centre forward to the club. Sport has reported this has pushed Ibrahimovic towards the Premier League as Barcelona look to balance the books.

United have been linked all summer with a move for a top-line centre forward to support Wayne Rooney. City’s billions and the presence of Ibrahimovic’s ex-Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini makes them a possible destination, while Chelsea are in the market for a “marquee signing”.

Ibrahimovic has struggled to win over the fans at the Nou Camp since his £60 million move last summer. Despite grabbing 21 goals in all competitions, he could be forced out after just one campaign. (Source)

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David Villa will be Barcelona’s player from next season, according to Spanish press.

As reported by Marca, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has declared that David Villa’s signing for Barcelona is a matter of hours away. “The negotiations have begun with Valencia. We are in the process and I would say that things are beginning to wrap up. There are just a few details left”.

However, Laporta refused to give a more concrete timetable for Villa’s transfer. “We will see. We have the basic elements of the agreement in place and are talking to find a solution. We have not become fixated on a date but we hope to be done before the World Cup.

Laporta went on to remark on Cesc Fabregas’ interest in playing for Barcelona. “If the technical secretary believes we should sign him then we should make a push”.

Laporta further went on to comment on Thierry Henry’s transfer to the United States. “It is something we are working on. He is at a stage in his career that it is interesting for him to leave for the United States”. (Source)

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Last reports are:

- Edin Dzeko on way to Manchester City, where Roberto Mancini is ready to offer €40m to Wolfsburg, which is accepted by Germain club. Tevez and Bellamy on transfer list.
- Benzema on his way to United, price 20m pounds.

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The Europa League quarter-final draw has been completed in Nyon, with Valencia against Atletico Madrid the undoubted tie of the round.

Elsewhere, there is an England-versus-Germany clash as Fulham and Wolfsburg take on each other, Hamburg tackle Standard Liege and Benfica will fight against Liverpool.

The path to the final in Hamburg was all mapped out, with the draw also made for the two semi-finals.

The winners of Hamburg and Liege will play the winners of Fulham and Wolfsburg in semi-final 1, while semi-final 2 will feature the winners of Valencia and Atletico Madrid versus the winners of Benfica and Liverpool.

The draw was also made to determine who the ‘home’ team in the final at Hamburg would be, and that honour was granted to the winners of semi-final 2.

Europa League Quarterfinal Draw

Fulham	Wolfsburg
Hamburg	Standard Liege
Valencia	Atletico Madrid
Benfica	Liverpool

The first leg of each tie will be played on April 1st, while the second will be played on April 8th.

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In the quarter-finals FC Barcelona face Arsenal FC, Olympique Lyonnais play FC Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Bayern München take on Manchester United FC and FC Internazionale Milano meet PFC CSKA Moskva.

FC Barcelona will continue their defence of the UEFA Champions League title with a quarter-final against the side they beat to win the competition in 2006, Arsenal FC.

For the first time since 1998/99 six nations were represented in the draw, made by UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino and the ambassador for the Madrid final, Emilio Butragueño. While Barcelona meet Arsenal over two legs on 30/31 March and 6/7 April, Olympique Lyonnais play French rivals FC Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Bayern München take on Manchester United FC in a replay of the 1999 Camp Nou final and FC Internazionale Milano meet PFC CSKA Moskva.

In the semi-finals, Barcelona or Arsenal will take on Inter or CSKA while the remaining French representatives face Bayern or United. The final will be played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the first in its new Saturday slot of 22 May, part of a week-long festival that will also encompass the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Getafe two days earlier.

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Prime Minister League club Manchester town center plans the next large transfer coup: According to a report the Englishmen plan the obligation of the Italian national goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. 35 million a euro-offer is to be sent toward Juventus Turin.

That the millions with Manchester town center no role play is meanwhile probably admits become, now plans the Prime Minister League club a large transfer coup. Of Italy national goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is to be obligated and be changed in the summer on the island.

Million-content for Buffon

As it is to be read sport in a report of the Gazzetta dello, Manchester town center offers approximately 35 million euros for Buffon.

The conclusion man of series a-club Juventus Turin is besides scarcely ten million euro content per season to take, that would be a doubling compared with his pay cheque of Juve. The Italian sport daily paper continues to report that Juventus will examine the offer. (translator)

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