Category: Transfer news

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has announced that the club have broken off negotiations with Real Madrid over a move for Kaka.

The Brazilian confirmed last week that he would be willing to take a pay-cut to move back to San Siro, having left the Rossoneri for the Spanish capital in 2009.

Galliani soon confirmed that the club had entered talks with the Spanish champions over a move for the player, but has now said that financial problems have put paid to the deal.

“The negotiations for Kaka have broken down,” he told reporters. “It’s not possible to complete the deal because of fiscal reasons.

“The deal broke down about an hour ago. We had agreed on everything else.”

Milan also made a move to re-sign the Brazilian during the summer transfer window, but were unable to seal the deal back then too.

The 30-year-old has found form and first-team opportunities hard to come by at the Santiago Bernabeu, and has only made seven Liga appearances this season, scoring in none of them.

Kaka’s first spell at San Siro was between 2003 and 2009. During his time there, he won one Scudetto and on Champions League.

Fenerbahce have confirmed to the Turkish stock exchange that they have begun negotiations with Montpellier over a move for Younes Belhanda.

The 22-year-old playmaker has long been linked with a move away from the French champions after playing a key role in their title triumph last season.

He has been closely linked with a switch to north London duo Tottenham and Arsenal, but the Istanbul giants are eager to bring him on board as they look to make a push into the Champions League places in the Super Lig.

Fener vice-president Abdullah Kigili revealed last week that they had an agreement in place with the player, and they have now announced that they are looking to tie up the deal by starting discussion with his current employers.

“We have begun talks with Montpellier and Younes Belhanda over a move for the player,” the statement read.

Belhanda is currently with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. He came through the ranks at Stade de la Mosson, and has been a fixture in their first team since making his debut in 2009.

After dragging his heels over a move for so long, you’d forgive fans of Galatasaray for not jumping for joy when Wesley Sneijder finally arrived in Istanbul – but, as the picture below shows, he was given something of a warm reception nonetheless!

The midfielder was mobbed by fans and photographers as he arrived in the city, and was here afforded a brief moment of relief to acknowledge those who had turned out to greet him…

Theo Walcott admits it was hard for him to stay focused during negotiations to extend his contract with Arsenal.

Last week the 23-year-old agreed a new three-and-a-half year deal with the Gunners, ending another long-running contact saga and months of speculation linking him with moves to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Walcott has impressed this season, top-scoring for Arsenal with 15 goals in 27 appearances, but has conceded that the drawn-out talks over his future affected his concentration on the pitch.

“I am very pleased,” he told the club’s official website on the subject of his new deal.

“For the last three games [before the Chelsea match] it was sort of done but it was on my mind and had been for a long time because it was so close.

“I always wanted to stay and I am happy that myself and the club have come to an agreement.

“There has been much speculation and I am very pleased that my future is sorted. But it is all about the present now.”

Walcott scored Arsenal’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat away to Chelsea on Sunday, just 48 hours after the club confirmed that he would be staying.

The Gunners face another London rival in the form of West Ham at home on Wednesday evening, and Walcott believes it is a game they desperately need to win if they are to remain in the hunt for a top-four place.

“We have a tough game at home against West Ham, so we need to be ready,” he continued.

“It is a massive game. We have home support and we need to start clocking up points there.

“There are a lot of teams that have got stronger this year, so we need to step on the gas. We don’t want to be playing catch-up.

“We want to get points on the board.”

Wesley Sneijder has revealed his happiness with his impending transfer from Inter to Galatasaray.

The Netherlands international agreed terms with the Turkish champions on Sunday and arrived in Istanbul on Monday. He was greeted by scores of the club’s fans and says he was flattered to be given such a reception.

“It was truly an amazing welcome from the fans. I sincerely thank Galatasaray fans for this welcome,” the 28-year-old told reporters.

“I’m happy to be here and proud as well. I’ve just met Fatih Terim, we had a small conversation in Italian. I want to learn Turkish as soon as possible,” he added.

Meanwhile, Terim has hailed the acquisition of Sneijder, voicing his hope that the Dutchman’s experience would prove beneficial to the team.

“[Sneijder is a] really important player with an impressive career. I hope as well that he will adapt with rest of the team fast and contribute to our success.

“I knew him before and I know how he plays football. Tomorrow he is going to go through training for the first time with the team. It’s not easy to play for Inter and Real Madrid. I wish him all the best.”

Galatasaray are currently top of the Super Lig with a two-point lead over city-rivals Besiktas.