(GSM) Gregory van der Wiel s outstanding performances this season have drawed Manchester City s attention. City scouts have been tracking the Ajax right back during matches of both his club and the Netherlands national team.
There has been no official contact between Ajax and Manchester City, Van der Wiel s agent Hakim Slimani told Dutch magazine Voetbal International. But I can t deny that his performances are being followed closely by Manchester City.
Van der Wiel extended his contract with Ajax in January 2009. His deal with the Amsterdam side expires in June 2013. That s the reason why a transfer to another club isn t on his mind, Slimani added. He only made his breakthrough in the Eredivisie last year.
His goal for this year is to become a key player f…
Jackson Martinez has vowed to stay at Atletico Madrid for as long as he is wanted, after an inauspicious start to his career at Vicente Calderon.
The Colombia striker moved to the 2013-14 Liga champions in the off-season, following a prolific spell for Porto which saw him net 67 goals in 90 Primeira Liga appearances.
However, Martinez has struggled in the early months of his time at Atletico, scoring just three times in 15 games across all competitions.
Martinez s form has led some to suggest he could look for a move away at the end of the season, but he is determined to prove himself.
That [whether he will leave] is a question you need to ask the coach, Martinez told La Sexta.
I try and work hard in every game. I m trying to adapt bit by bit b…
Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben is confident Pep Guardiola will succeed at Manchester City and believes you can already see the Spaniard s handwriting at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola left Bayern for City after the 2015-16 campaign and made an impressive start to life at the Premier League side.
Several high-profile defeats then led to criticism of the 46-year-old, but Robben does not expect his former boss to fail in Manchester.
I am not worried about Pep at all, Robben told The Independent.
I know his philosophy. I know the way he thinks about football and I also know the Premier League, as I have played there for three years, so I know, with all the teams that are in it, it is very, very difficult.
Every game is a new battle but what I c…
Luke Shaw had no grievances about being dropped by Manchester United in August, even agreeing that Erik ten Hag needed to change something.
Shaw started United s first two Premier League games of the season, defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and then Brentford.
The 4-0 loss to Brentford meant United finished a day bottom of the Premier League table for the first time in 30 years – 1992 was also the last time United had begun a league season with back-to-back defeats.
Shaw and Harry Maguire were the ones to pay the heaviest price. Neither has started any of the four league games since, all of which United won, while the left-back has not played a single minute in those games.
Despite a lack of action, both players featured for England during their two …
What the papers say
Manchester United have emerged as a “shock contender” to sign ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane, the Daily Mail says. The 31-year-old forward only joined Bayern Munich last summer in a £27.4million deal but after a troubled debut season which saw Mane involved in a post-match altercation with Leroy Sane, the Bundesliga club are looking to offload the winger.
The Evening Standard says the Red Devils are also among the clubs to have sent scouts to watch Gent striker Gift Orban. It adds that Chelsea, Tottenham and Fulham are also keen on the 20-year-old.
Gossip surrounding United’s summer transfer plans is also featured in the Daily Mirror, with it reporting that both Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 28, and Napoli’s defender Kim Min-jae, 26, are …
Emmanuel Eboue has claimed that Juventus were one of three Serie A clubs he turned down in order to join Galatasaray.
The Ivory Coast defender opted to join the Turkish giants in 2011 after falling out of favour at Premier League side Arsenal.
Eboue claims to have rejected advances from Fiorentina, Roma and Juventus when he moved to Istanbul and the full-back has no doubt he made the right decision.
The 30-year-old told TRT Spor: When I left Arsenal in 2011 many teams were after me.
Fiorentina, Roma and Juventus were all interested in signing me, but I chose to join Galatasaray.
I m delighted with my choice back then because I ve been received so well here.
Eboue has made 13 apperances in the Super Lig this season for Roberto Mancini s si…
Football Federation of Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has demanded compensation from FIFA for Australia s failed bid for the 2022 World Cup.
Lowy s petition has been prompted by the increasing possibility that FIFA will switch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the northern hemisphere summer to the winter months, and the FFA chairman wants the world governing body to delay its decision on adjusting the timing.
Qatar was awarded the 2022 event in controversial circumstances in December 2010, with Australia s bid scuppered when they received just one vote at the first stage of the ballot.
FIFA has recently indicated it would seek to move the event from its traditional date of the northern hemisphere summer to the northern hemisphere winter, a date which would clash wi…
Verdict: Benfica to advance yes
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PAOK, are only 90 minutes away from reaching the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. Even though they have everything working on their favour since they will decide the tie at home, they shouldn t take anything for granted. Benfica are a tough opponent with a lot of international experience, and are more than capable of winning here. Kick-off is scheduled at 20:00 hrs (BST) at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Many thought Benfica were overwhelming favourites heading into this tie due to their international experience. However, PAOK are headed into this tie with a precious away-goal advantage following the 1-1 draw in the first leg. The Greek outfit, who finished in second place behind AEK A…
Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui has backed Karim Benzema to challenge for the Pichichi prize this season following his explosive start to 2018-19.
Benzema took his tally to four goals in three LaLiga games with a double in Saturday s 4-1 win over Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 30-year-old, who only scored five times in the league in the whole of last season, appears to be flourishing in front of goal following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.
And Lopetegui sees no reason why the former Lyon man cannot aim for 30 goals or more and mount a challenge to finish as the division s top goalscorer.
Why not? Lopetegui said when asked about Benzema s chances. Why shouldn t he finish with 30 or 40 goals?
The most important thin…
Xavi was outraged as his Barcelona side saw a goal disallowed and an injury-time penalty not given in their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter.
After Hakan Calhanoglu put the Nerazzurri in front in first-half stoppage time at San Siro, Barcelona thought they had levelled when Pedri turned home from close range in the 66th minute.
However, the goal was disallowed after replays showed Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana had tipped Ousmane Dembele s cross onto Ansu Fati s arm before Pedri tapped in.
Inter were again fortunate late on, when VAR initiated a penalty check after the ball appeared to strike Denzel Dumfries arm in the box. Much to Barcelona s anger, a spot-kick was not awarded.
The hosts held on to claim three points, making Xavi the first Barca coach …