Football transfer news

Reading’s new signing, midfielder Daniel Carrico, admitted that he did not know about the club before hearing of their interest and deciding to put pen to paper on a contract with them.

The 24-year-old joined the Royals in a £600,000 (€725,000) deal, leaving behind Sporting in sunny Portugal to play in the Premier League, following in the footsteps of fellow-Portuguese stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

Carrico told reporters of his pleasure now he has signed for the club:

“When I knew Reading were interested in me, I looked on the internet about the town and the club.

“I had to see where Reading was and the first thing I noticed was that it’s close to London and Heathrow, which made me feel good.

“Now, I’m beginning to know the area and I like the atmosphere.

“One month ago, my agent told me of ­Reading’s interest and I wanted to move as soon as possible because I wanted to play in the Premier League.”

Carrico will be the first Portuguese player to wear a Reading shirt, and has vowed to show why the Reading bosses were right to sign him up.

“I can’t promise anything except that I will work hard to help this club stay in the Premier League.

“In Portugal, we have more possession, whereas here the football is more direct.

“I have to adapt and I can do that. I feel fit and good, so I feel I can play.”

Galatasaray have announced that they have reached an agreement with Inter over the transfer of Wesley Sneijder, but have stressed that they have yet to conclude a deal with the Netherlands international.

Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti already revealed earlier this week that the Serie A side had accepted the Istanbul side’s offer, and a number of reports from Turkey on Saturday claimed that the transfer was a done deal.

However, Gala have insisted that they are yet to agree terms with the 28-year-old, but said that talks are continuing.

“The transfer of Wesley Sneijder has been agreed between Inter and the club and negotiations are ongoing with the player,” a statement on the club’s official website read.

“This has been brought to the attention to the public.”

Sneijder is desperate to leave Inter in the January transfer window after he was frozen out at the Giuseppe Meazza side over a contract dispute.

The midfielder’s agent said on Friday that Sneijder will consider incoming offers in the next few weeks before making a final decision on his future.

Galatasaray have announced on their official website that they have reached an agreement with Inter over the transfer of Wesley Sneijder, but have stressed that they have yet to conclude a deal with the Netherlands international.

“Notice on the transfer of Wesley Sneijder: everything is agreed between the club and Inter and negotiations with the player are ongoing,” a club statement reads.

More to follow…

Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Bruno Hubner has insisted that his side have no intention of selling Sebastian Rode amid reports that Bayern Munich are interested in signing the midfielder.

Matthias Sammer supposedly sees the 22-year-old as a valuable addition to the Roten squad, but his current club are determined to hold on to the Germany Under-21 international until the end of his contract.

“It is nothing new that a number of big clubs are interested in signing him,” Hubner was quoted as saying by Bild.

“There’s a lot of speculation at the moment following his good performances in the first half of the season.

“However, we have made the decision that Rode is not for sale at any price and will remain at Frankfurt until the end of his contract.”

The 22-year-old midfielder’s current deal at the Commerzbank Arena lasts until June 2014.

Manchester United target Fernando Muslera reveals it is his “childhood dream” to play in the Premier League, and the Galatasaray goalkeeper is open to a move to an English side playing in the Champions League.

The 26-year old impressed during his team’s 1-0 defeat to the Red Devils in the Champions League earlier this season, making a number of vital saves including a penalty stop from Nani.

And with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly interested in the Uruguay international as doubts remain over both David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard, Muslera admits he is looking for a “step forward” in his career.

“The Premier League is my childhood dream,” he told Haberturk. “I always want to move forward in football. I started off with Wanderers, then Nacional, then Lazio and then, a step forward, Galatasaray.

“[It’s] because i’ve always wanted to play for a club that participates in the Champions League.”

Galatasaray sit top of the Turkish Super Lig by three points, but Muslera believes a transfer to a top English club is what the majority of players around the globe aim for – and he is certainly open to a deal.

“It’s probably any footballer’s dream to play in England, not just mine. I have a contract with Galatasaray but if an offer comes through and it benefits the club, then why not?”

Galatasaray vice-president Ali Durust stated after the defeat to United that the club “never want to sell” Muslera, who was voted sixth-best goalkeeper in the world in 2011 by ‪the International Federation of Football History & Statistics‬.

De Gea is currently Ferguson’s first-chice goalkeeper, but the No.1 jersey has been traded numerous times this season, with neither him nor Lindegaard making a convincing case to be considered an indisputable pick.