Football transfer news

Adriano Galliani has stressed that AC Milan have no intention to let go of Stephan El Shaarawy amid reports that the attacker has caught the attention of Manchester City.

The 20-year-old has been in sublime form in the opening weeks of the 2012-13 campaign, netting eight goals in 11 Serie A appearances, and has supposedly attracted the interest of the Premier League champions.

Nevertheless, a transfer is not an option as the Rossoneri are determined to hold on to the promising youngster.

“El Shaarawy to Manchester City? Enough with the speculation! He has a contract for five more years until 2017, and will soon sign an extension until 2018,” Galliani told reporters.

The Milan CEO then spoke of his admiration for Mario Balotelli, but added that his respect for the Italy international does not necessarily mean the striker will end up at the club at some point.

“I have a profound love for Balotelli, but love doesn’s always end well …”

Galliano also had his say on this weekend’s refereeing controversies in Juventus’s 3-1 Serie A loss against Inter, and hinted that Paolo Tagliavento deliberately favoured the Bianconeri.

“Tagliavento was in charge of Milan versus Juventus last year and Juventus against Inter two days ago. I won’t say anything more …

“I will never forget about [Sulley] Muntari’s goal last season.”

Tagliavento attracted scrutiny in February 2012 after failing to spot that the Ghanaian’s header had crossed the line before Gianluigi Buffon collected the ball in a 1-1 draw at San Siro.

Santos attacker Neymar has once more repeated that a move to Europe is not an option for him at the moment as he is eager to stay at his current club at least until the end of his contract.

The Brazil international has been consistently linked with both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but has joked that the only way he will play with Lionel Messi in the near future is if he leaves Camp Nou for the Sao Paulo outfit.

“For now, I will only play alongside Messi if he opts to join Santos,” the tricky attacker was quoted as saying by El Mundo.

“It’s possible for Santos to sign him. All we have to do is sell half of the city!”

The 20-year-old then went on to stress that he has not been in touch with neither Barca nor Madrid and that his only focus is his current club.

“I don’t know anything about Barcelona. One day I’m linked with a move there, and another day I’m supposedly on my way to Madrid. I have a contract with Santos until 2014, though, and that’s all I know.”

Neymar also took the time to praise both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that he would like to follow in the former’s footsteps.

“I would like to play with both Messi and Ronaldo. Messi’s career is an example to follow for me. There are no words to describe his game. I just want him to keep on doing what he does with the ball.”

Neymar netted a hat-trick on Saturday, helping Santos to a 4-0 away win over Cruzeiro.

Sao Paulo star Lucas Moura has admitted that he is unsure as to whether his decision to join Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window will prove to be the right one.

The Ligue 1 giants reached an agreement over the summer with the Brazil international’s current club to bring the player to Parc Des Princes halfway through the European season, but the 20-year-old is not without doubts about his imminent transfer to Paris.

“Thiago [Silva] has told me a lot about the club and its facilities, and it will be nice to have him as my team-mate. However, I have to admit that I do have a bit of fear about how things will pan out. I don’t know how it will go,” the attacking midfielder said to Canal Football Club. 

“I am not thinking about money, but I am more concerned with whether my next destination will be the right one. PSG’s ambition and the presence of the other Brazilians convinced me [to sign for Paris Saint-Germain].

“I am following PSG from a distance. I am mainly focusing on the end of the season with Sao Paulo for now.”

Paris Saint-Germain lost their unbeaten status in Ligue 1 at the weekend as they were beaten 2-1 Saint-Etienne, but remain league leaders.

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has confirmed the club could make Ibrahim Afellay’s loan move from Barcelona permanent at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old has struggled with form and fitness during his time at Camp Nou, and made a temporary switch to the Veltins Arena on transfer deadline day in August.

He has since scored four goals in all competitions, and Heldt is delighted with his performances for his side so far.

“Will we keep him after the season? If his performanes remain as good, then there is a good chance,” he told Bild.

After Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim, Schalke sit in second place in the Bundesliga, seven points behind table-toppers Bayern Munich.

Yohan Cabaye has suggested that Joe Cole should return to Lille as the Englishman has so far failed to earn a regular starting berth back Liverpool despite a successful season-long loan at the Ligue 1 club.

The midfielder has made only two starts under Brendan Rodgers’ new-look team, including a midweek run out against Swansea in the Capital One Cup, when the Welsh side defeated the Reds 3-1 at Anfield.
And Cabaye believes that a return to France would be in the best interests of all parties involved.

Ahead of Liverpool’s home game against Newcastle on Sunday, the Magpies’ midfielder told The Mirror: “It’s difficult for him [Cole] because he’s not playing so much.

“He did well for Lille and maybe it would be a good choice to go back. He is not playing a lot with Liverpool, so if he wants more games, he can play more there.

“They like him at Lille – the club, the ­manager and the fans. I heard manager Rudi Garcia was keen to take him back.”

Cole made 38 appearances whilst on loan to the French club, in contrast to his fringe status back at Liverpool.