Tag: 227

Khedira on verge of Juventus move – Marotta

The Bianconeri club chief has revealed the Real Madrid man should be leaving Spain imminently and stressed they do not want to sell Paul Pogba


Juventus managing director Giuseppe Marotta has claimed Sami Khedira is on the verge of being announced as the club’s first major signing of the summer.

The Real Madrid midfielder, 28, has only featured for his current club once since January and is certain to depart the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window.

Khedira has been linked with a string of sides, including Arsenal and Manchester United, but Marotta has revealed the Germany international is extremely close to putting pen to paper on a contract with the Scudetto holders.

“We are very close to signing Khedira,” he told Sky Sport. “The official confirmation will only happen when he has signed the contract.

“We moved quickly in the transfer market to get him. This is a winning team and we are taking the right opportunities to better it further.”

Marotta also insisted Juve have no intention of cashing in on Paul Pogba before the start of 2015-16, despite Paris Saint-Germain having had an offer of €80 million accepted for the French midfielder.

“Pogba is a player who has grown up in such a short amount of time,” the club chief added. “Juve are used to winning and to continue doing so we need to keep hold of players like him.”

Juventus ended their victorious Serie A campaign with a 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona on Saturday and will now prepare for a Champions League final against Barcelona next weekend.

Casillas holding out for €14m pay-off as De Gea waits in the wings

SPECIAL REPORT: The club captain won’t ask to leave the club in a bid to ensure he receives a sizeable loyalty bonus


By Alberto Piñero in Madrid

Iker Casillas and Real Madrid look set for a summer stand-off as he refuses to request a move in a bid to ensure he receives a €14 million pay-off.

The club captain claims he would like to stay at the club where he has spent his entire career, despite receiving boos and jeers from the Madrid fans on a number of occasions this season.

However, if he does leave the Santiago Bernabeu of his own accord, he would miss out on a €14m loyalty bonus.

As a result it is thought he may be playing a game of cat and mouse with Madrid to ensure he is handed that sum as a reward for spending 17 years at the club.

Likewise, if the club confirm he is for sale, they will have to pay Casillas the €14m settlement, so it appears neither side are prepared to move first in what looks like a complicated series of negotiations.

However, Madrid want to sign Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, while current second-choice Keylor Navas has claimed he will “fight to the death” for his future at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Casillas has even admitted he hopes Madrid sign De Gea this summer, welcoming the competition from his younger Spain team-mate, despite the fact the 24-year-old would likely replace him as first choice keeper.

For his part, De Gea has remained silent amid talk of a summer switch from Old Trafford, but the former Atletico Madrid man wants a move to the Bernabeu and is waiting for the two clubs to begin negotiations over a possible transfer.

And like last summer, when Diego Lopez claimed he would stay and fight for his place at the club, current second-choice shot-stopper Keylor Navas is not giving up on his Madrid future either.

The Costa Rican goalkeeper said earlier this week that he would “fight to the death” for his Madrid future, but is almost certain to make way if De Gea arrives and Casillas decides to stay for another season.

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Berlusconi: I want Ancelotti & Ibrahimovic back with AC Milan

The club supremo says supporters have encouraged him to persuade the sacked Real Madrid coach to take over at San Siro

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi says he is determined to convince Carlo Ancelotti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to the club this summer.

The Rossoneri have been vocal in their desire to bring former boss Ancelotti back to San Siro following his sacking by Real Madrid.

And Berlusconi claims he has the backing of the supporters as he attempts to appoint the three-time Champions League winner in Filippo Inzaghi’s place.

“I hope Carletto comes back to us, we are willing to invest in him. I hope there is a good chance he’ll be the next coach of Milan,” he told Sport Mediaset.

“Galliani and I are not the only ones who want him to come back. All Milan fans I’ve spoken to want him back.”

Ancelotti himself says he intends to take a year out of the game in order to have surgery on a small issue in his back.

Berlusconi, however, hopes the operation will not scupper his plans and admits he is not currently contemplating any other candidate.

“He needs a small operation and he’ll make a decision afterwards, which also takes into account his family,” he said.

“I don’t want to think of another possibility if it isn’t Ancelotti. If he doesn’t come then we’ll look at other options.”

Berlusconi also admitted he is determined to bring Ibrahimovic back to the club from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’m fixated on his return, although it’s a very difficult thing to make happen, and it will take patience,” he added.

“But he’s magnificent on the pitch.”

Schalke contact Belgium boss Wilmots

The 46-year-old admits he could cancel his deal with the national team at any time as the Bundesliga side search for Roberto Di Matteo’s replacement

Marc Wilmots is in contact with Schalke to replace Roberto Di Matteo and admits he can leave his role with Belgium when he likes.

The 46-year-old coach has been heavily linked with Schalke since Di Matteo quit last week, with Wilmots having twice represented the Bundesliga club during his playing career.

The former attacking midfielder scored 38 goals in 178 appearances in all competitions for Schalke, playing there from 1996-2000 and 2001-2003, and confirmed on Friday that he is interested in coaching the Gelsenkirchen-based club.

“I am in contact with Schalke and never said that I would stay until 2018 with the national team,” he told reporters at Belgium’s training camp, which is being held in the lead-up to a friendly against France and a Euro 2016 qualifier versus Wales.

“I can activate my exit clause at any time.”

Signing with Schalke would give Wilmots a second shot at coaching the club, after he was made interim boss at the end of the 2002-03 season following Frank Neubarth’s unsuccessful stint in charge.

Wilmots has coached his country’s national team since 2012, while his only permanent club coaching role was with Sint-Truiden in 2004-05.

Arteta hints at Arsenal contract extension despite limited influence

The Gunners midfielder has made just 12 senior appearances for the club in 2014-15 but says there will be an announcement on his future after the FA Cup final


Mikel Arteta insists that he intends to remain at Arsenal despite the emergence of Francis Coquelin and his limited game-time at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta, the Gunners’ captain heading into Saturday’s FA Cup final against Aston Villa, has made just 12 senior appearances for the club in 2014-15, with injuries limiting his influence on the team.

The Spaniard last appeared for Arsenal in the Premier League in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on November 22 and says that he has enjoyed having an “input from outside” despite his troubles.

And the 33-year-old has hinted that he is set to sign a contract extension after this weekend’s clash with Aston Villa.

“I will discuss my future after the final, it’s been a strange season for me since November, with my injury,” he told reporters at the club’s London Colney training headquarters.

“I had some really tough times. But I have learned a lot. My aim is to be on the pitch as much as I can.

“I would love to stay. The indication is we are both very clear on what we want and we will announce something after the final.”

Coquelin has enjoyed a stunning rise since he returned from his loan spell at Charlton Athletic in December, with Arteta full of praise for his young team-mate.

“I think it was probably the nicest surprise of the season because he had to go on loan and I don’t think he was really happy to do that,” he added.

“But he put a really good impact to it, the way he adapted to the game and the way he gave something to the team that we were missing. He was great, he’s given balance, he has competed as well as anybody else in the team, and he’s been really consistent. He will be here for a good few years.

“I’ve always liked Francis and I like him a lot now.”

Aaron Ramsey has previously outlined his desire to see Arsenal win the Premier League title next season and Arteta echoed the Welshman’s sentiments, though he says that investment this summer is necessary as the club “missed something” in 2014-15.

“We want to push and win the Premier League, that’s for sure, and it’s up to the manager and board to decide what’s the missing ingredient,” he said.

“There’s something we missed, whether it’s that we didn’t have the full squad ready for the biggest part of the season, with a lot of players out, whether we were missing that final bit of quality to win it or deepness in the squad, I don’t know what it is, it’s up to them to analyse that.

“Everybody’s up for it and I’m sure they are as well.”