'Next Zidane', Sofiane Feghouli, Going Nowhere In January
Tuesday, 30 December 08, 01:56 PM
Despite having a vast catalogue of top European sides chasing his signature, the man dubbed the next Zinedine Zidane, Sofaine Feghouli, appears destined to stay loyal to Grenoble until the end of the season.
Comparisons with the great Zinedine Zidane may be a little premature for 18 year-old attacking midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, however, the Grenoble player already has a lengthy list of clubs
chasing him that even the great Zizou would be proud of.
The majority of Europe’s elite sides are represented in the hunt for the French U-21 international, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Barcelona amongst a clutch of clubs chasing the
highly regarded young talent.
It seems that these teams will have to wait until the summer before a bidding war begins for the Paris-born star as he revealed to 10Sport that he is not prepared to leave the south-east
of France before the summer.
“I want to finish the season with Grenoble and do my best to help the club continue in Ligue 1,” he explained. “Personally, I’d like to stay in France. That is my priority. I don’t want to go
abroad to be regarded as a player well down the order and rarely play. I need game time and I will leave my advisor to handle these things. For the moment, nothing is concrete.”
The news that Feghouli is receptive to a move to one of Ligue 1’s bigger sides is sure to alert the likes of Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique de Marseille and even hometown club Paris
Saint-Germain, all of whom would surely like an additional player of Feghouli’s quality amongst their ranks.
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Ángel And Klaas For Madrid?
Sunday, 30 November 08, 01:54 PM
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Tevez Will Join Madrid - Marca
Sunday, 30 November 08, 01:44 PM
Manchester United's Argentine striker Carlos Tevez will be playing for Real Madrid next season - according to Los Blancos' media mouthpiece, Marca.
"Tevez said 'yes' to Madrid...for next season," trumpeted Spanish sports daily Marca.
According to the newspaper - known for publishing stories that advance whatever agenda Real Madrid are interested in pursuing at any given time - a deal between Los Merengues and the Argentine
international has already been signed.
It is certainly true that Real Madrid are desperate to bring in reinforcements for their depleted attack, with Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy - another ex-Manchester United star - ruled out
for at least six months with a right knee injury suffered in the Champions League defeat by Juventus in October.
It has also been speculated - though denied by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson - that the Red Devils would be willing to offload Tevez rather than bite the bullet of buying his expensive contract
from the MSI agency that 'owns' him, especially as Ferguson seems to have settled on Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, when both are fit, as his regular starting strike force.
However, that does not necessarily mean that Marca have put the two situations together and come up with the right answer.
Madrid are currently fourth in La Liga, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
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Real Madrid All set to sign Arshavin
Saturday, 22 November 08, 03:58 PM
Arshavin is the most likely player to sign for real madrid this summer transfer window.He has declared his decision of moving to a big club as soon as possible.Crespo is also an another candidate but this reamins unlikely ,especially considering Nerazurri coach Jose Mourinho's unwillingness to let hin go.
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11 Reasons Why You Should Never Write Off Madrid
Saturday, 01 November 08, 03:14 PM
1) Little change in the challenge
Is the challenge really that much stronger than last season? Villarreal have made some shrewd purchases, but still arguably lack the world-beating class to make an improvement on last year's highly impressive points tally. Sevilla signed well following the loss of key players, but are still very much the same Sevilla - leaking three goals against a Sporting Gijon side that Madrid obliterated 7-1, when they were already five up. Atletico Madrid threatened to kick on another level but, like Sevilla, have the same fundamental failings of a soft-centre that make Real Madrid 2008 look like Italy 2006. So 'the challenge' is realistically only about two teams: Valencia appointed the perfect coach in Unai Emery, who has done well to somewhat steady the sinking ship, but this is currently a side being carried by one or two players and a side who have not yet faced top quality opposition in the league. Their hardest fixture was a visit to Almeria, in which they scraped a draw. Let's not forget, this Valencia is a side Madrid ripped through with just nine men in the Supercopa.
And Barcelona? ...
2) Still Barcelona
Pep Guardiola can be compared very directly in many aspects with Unai for all the good he has done with the Blaugrana, but ultimately, they still lack an alternative up front when a team camps in their own area with more conviction than recent opponents. Samuel Eto'o's red-hot form will come to mean very little, as he has proven - through no fault of his own, as such - to be quite limited in such circumstances. If and unfortunately maybe even when Lionel Messi gets his customary injury per season, they will still have a gaping hole on the right that can only be filled by the raging runs of Dani Alves, but at a cost of defensive solidity - not unlike Madrid's much publicised use of Sergio Ramos in recent months.
3) Title defence with the same defence
Talk will never stop of Madrid's defence. Even during their best streaks last season, it was being cited as a weak point. This is the exact same set of defenders that held the best record in La Liga last season. A repeat may be unlikely, and the constant changes brought about by minor injuries has done little to help. Yes, Madrid's defence is a weak point, but erratic though Pepe may be, Carles Puyol isn't far off, and the less said about Carlos 'the Crippler' Marchena, the better.
4) Strength in depth
This may come to be the key point and will only tell over time. In defence, perhaps the options beyond the first choice lot leave a little to be desired, as they exhibit an embarrassing lack of cohesion every time they take to the pitch. There may also be a shortage in quality genuine options up front, but the vast array of versatile talent in midfield could prove to make all the difference. The wing slots are somewhat bear at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart supplement attack to devastating effect and Mahamadou Diarra, Ruben de la Red and Fernando Gago are similarly effective sitting deeper. All this without mentioning vice-captain Guti who, though inconsistent, still proved last season he can be the most decisive player on the pitch almost every other game. Madrid have shown they can cope without any of their star players - even Jerzy Dudek hasn't looked too bad when deputising for Iker Casillas - and that is a distinctive edge they have on their competitors.
5) Unrest? What's new?
Like the defence, talk of unrest is a stereotypical necessity when it comes to criticising los Blancos and again, it is hardly a trait exclusive to the champions. Talk of a Milan side that could barely afford Ronaldinho in the summer now making a move for Ramos is far more improbable than any of Marca's musings from over the summer, yet few are even batting an eyelid - on the contrary, they're going along with it and almost encouraging more unrest at the Bernabeu. Year-old rumours of Bernd Schuster and Pedja Mijatovic being at each other's throats didn't prevent a title win last season and there is little reason why that would be the case this time around.
6) They are due in the Champions League
Though there is far from a guarantee that this year would, for any reason, be 'Madrid's year', it suffices to say that being unable to reach the final in four years does not suddenly become a tragedy. No major team has consistently won or come close to winning one of the major club trophies throughout its history and los Merengues' hiatus from the high end of the Champions League doesn't make it unwinnable this time around. There is little to read into from the Turin loss; if they had played poorly and won there would be doubts, as it is they dominated and lost so there are still doubts - and all are legitimate - but the Champions League has only been won by a team that went undefeated twice: Barcelona in 2006 and Manchester United this summer gone by.
7) Raul down, but never out
The captain has failed to relive his fast start to last season and there are again doubts over his ability to continue at the highest level. He has, to his credit, come to accept that he will be gradually phased out of the team starting now. That aside, claiming he cannot lead the team up front defies all logic and events over the past two seasons. Many of his best performances - last season in particular - have been when Ruud van Nistelrooy has been injured, thus giving el Siete all the freedom he wants in the area. Though Ruud and Raul make a great pairing, it is often for Ruud's benefit in way of goals and subsequent plaudits. Raul is only ever seems to get the best out of his game when Ruud is not in the team, which almost suggests that they could be rotated, but for the fact the Dutchman has not been as prolific without Raul. A conundrum it certainly is, but Raul has a habit of pulling through when all the chips are down, as he did in single-handedly scraping Schuster's men a point against Espanyol and avoiding a humiliating home defeat.
8) The best starters
They may be third in the table, but there is little reason to deny that Madrid have in fact had the best start to the season, all factors considered. It is certainly better than Valencia's, for the champions have simply had tougher fixtures so far, and while Barcelona's loss came to Numancia and their draw against a Racing Santander side that have failed to recreate last season's heroics under the brilliant Marcelino, Madrid lost to a notoriously stubborn Deportivo La Coruna who they have been unable to beat at the Riazor in almost two decades and drew with Espanyol, who at the time were one of the form teams in the league, though they have since slipped down to mid-table. True, Barcelona have begun winning in more style, but ...
9) Fortune? What fortune?
There is little fortunate about a last-minute penalty that was legitimate or a last-minute counterattack goal away from home when put against the ill-fortune of some shocking calls from referees and their assistants in those very same games. But for several incorrect calls against the champions (not to suggest it's a conspiracy as Mijatovic may have you believe) many of these games almost certainly would have been over a lot earlier. The fact Real managed to turn the games around and go on to win them shows something that Barcelona in particular have lacked in recent times; when little things go against them, it tends to cost them the game. While high-scoring affairs against Numancia and Athletic Bilbao showed that Schuster's side can still get a little careless, the results still came. Despite enduring pressure against the likes or Racing and in particular Zenit St Petersburg, the devastating play that gave them the advantage and eventual wins in those games cannot be understated. They were just a class apart when it counted.
10) No Ronaldo, no problem ... for now
Without mincing words, Cristiano Ronaldo would have been a great signing for Real Madrid. He would have filled the gap on the right hand side and eased Sergio Ramos' concerns and he would have acted as another forward option in the process, lessening the need for Raul to start as much as he is and weighing in with a heavy goal return. He offers everything they need. That being said, this lopsided Madrid outfit won the title last season despite their tactical imperfections and, like the defensive situation, little has changed to reason that it may cost them this time. Robinho has gone, but it must be remembered that both he and Arjen Robben were very rarely fully fit at the same time last season, and Gonzalo Higuain, though not a winger as many have been led to believe, is only getting better. There are enough makeshift solutions to last the champions at the very least until January, but it is clear that something needs to be done - not to repair any psychological devastation suffered by those who were so looking forward to Ronaldo's arrival, but simply to fill the gap left in the team by another Manchester United number 7, David Beckham, who has not since been replaced with a player of genuine, match-winning class since he left for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2006.
11) ... because big-game specialists love being written off
Madrid could well end the season without a trophy and it is almost certain to be a tighter affair than last season, but the White House is likely to receive at least one piece of silverware this summer on the basis that not that much has changed from last season, other than the fact that instead of being top of the league at this stage, they are third and just a point off the leaders. It is cosmetic and little more; everything on the pitch looks much the same and thus a shot in the dark that they will go trophyless seems at best an act of desparation that is more likely to drive them onto success than see them crumble as their rivals have in the past. The period around the Christmas break could prove pivotal, when on December 14 they meet Barcelona, then the following week face Valencia and, first game after the winter break, go toe-to-toe with Villarreal. Last season they did the double over two of the three and the freak loss to Valencia came when many believed it had become impossible for Madrid not to win the league. Good omens? Only time will tell...
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10 Reasons Why Madrid Will Win Nothing
Saturday, 01 November 08, 01:25 AM
Let's just start by saying that Real Madrid are still the team to beat in La Liga this season.
They were Champions in 2006/07 as Beckham said bon voyage and they held their nerve on the last game of Capello’s tenure.
They were Champions last season convincingly as Barcelona toiled towards the end of the Rijkaard era.
They have set the benchmark; it is up to the rest to dethrone Los Merengues.
But things just don’t appear to be running smoothly at the Bernabeu currently. The well-oiled cogs that aided the romp to the title in 2007/08 have shown signs of losing motion. The derby
victory over Atletico and the heavy 7-1 victory over Sporting Gijon merely paper over the cracks that the defeat to Juventus, draw at home to Espanyol and loss at the Riazor threatened to
expose. Real Madrid will be trophy-less at the end of the 2008/09 campaign, and these are the reasons why.
1) The Challenge is stronger.
Despite the unequivocal fact that Madrid were the strongest side in Liga last season, Villarreal aside, there was no consistent challenger to knock them from their stride. Barcelona were all
over the place from Christmas time until the end of the season, Valencia were clueless under Koeman, and Sevilla couldn’t cope with the exertions of their first foray into the Champions League.
This season, however, it is all change; Sevilla only have UEFA cup football and have managed to survive a midfield reshuffle with their rhythm remaining intact. Expectations at Valencia were
low due to the debacle of last season, but they have made the best start to a campaign in their history, and with David Villa firing on all cylinders, they will have a major say on the
destination of the title. Then we have Villarreal who were worthy second last season, and but for a dreadful start could have fared better. They have started this season as they ended the last
– winning matches. The form of these sides has created a log jam of sides jostling at the top of the table. Madrid glanced down from the top for almost the entire season last year –
to look up and see good sides performing well has a psychological effect on the way a side approaches a match.
And let’s not forget Barcelona.
2) Barcelona are back.
After the lack of discipline that was all too apparent eventually caused the Blaugrana to implode last season, many were unsure that the appointment of an inexperienced coach such as Pep
Guardiola was the correct option. They needn't have worried. After a shaky start, Barcelona are positively flying, clinically tearing through teams with brutal efficiency. Messi is in the form
of his short career. Xavi and Iniesta are establishing themselves as two of the greatest players in the world. And Samuel Eto'o, thought to be on his way out of the Nou Camp in the summer, is
top scorer in the league and looking unplayable again. After demolishing everyone in their wake, how can Madrid even begin to cope with that attacking quartet?
3) The defence is suspect
Especially with a back four as unreliable as this. Yes, they have arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, and they have a World Player of the Year centre-half in Cannavaro, but the whole is
not represented by the sum of its parts. Heinze has had a dreadful start to the season, out of position constantly and looks to be out of his depth. Pepe is an accident waiting to happen almost
every week - unpredictability is not a positive characteristic for a defender to employ yet this guy has 'mistake' stamped all over his erratic performances. Perhaps most worrying is the
stroppy antics of Sergio Ramos. On a par with any defender in the world, but appears unhappy and undervalued by Schuster.
4) The midfield offer little protection
Not all the blame can lie with the defence for Madrids record of two clean sheets in 15 games. The midfield, as flair-filled and flamboyant as it is, concentrate too heavily on the positive and
ignore their defensive duties. They can still outscore the majority of sides in La Liga, but against quality attackers such as Sevilla or Barcelona, Pepe and Cannavaro will be brutally exposed.
Schuster knows this, but Diarra can't screen them on his own - he needs the others to muck in and chase back.
5) Unrest in the dugout and behind the scenes
Madrid have always had a penchant for firing managers - 19 manager changes in 21 seasons tell its own story, and rumour has it Schuster is on a sticky wicket with the top brass, particularly
Predrag Mijatovic. The Ronaldo saga also left a bad taste in the mouth, and left Madrid, a club who always get the man they are after, without the man they were after. Alex Ferguson had the
cheek to admit as much - and got labelled 'old' by Calderon. The Chairman really should show some manners. A war of words with Fergie is the last thing he needs.
6) Their Champions League record is poor
Yes,we all know the club's history in the European cup, but their last victory was in 2002 and they have done precious little of note since. Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern, and Roma have defeated
them in the first knockout round in the last four seasons, an unacceptable run for a club with such heritage. With that record behind them, and their dissapointing loss in Turin to Juventus
this season, it looks unlikely they will get anywhere near the Stadio Olympico in Rome for this years final. There are simply better teams in Europe at the moment.
7) Raul is past his best
The Spaniard has shown flickers of his greatness this season, but his legs have gone. He can be completely anonymous for long spells of the match and simply can't play as a lone striker any
longer with the way that Madrid's formation is set up. He can still be an excellent impact player from the bench, but cannot be seen as a replacement to Van Nistelrooy should the Dutchman be
unavailable. Higuain is emerging, but can't be the focal point of the team just yet, and Saviola may as well not be there at all, such is his lack of first team action. If - and it is a big if
- Van Nistelrooy suffers a lack of form, the legendary forward is not up to the task of spearheading the attacking play.
8) Coach, we need wingers!
Robben is the only true wide midfielder at the club, and 'The Glass Man', as he is dubbed, is incapable of staying fit for an extended period. Higuain has performed a decent job deployed on the
wings, but he recently spoke of his desire to play a more central role. Sneijder and Van Der Vaart drive from central midfield, while Guti, Diarra and Ruben De La Red all prefer to sit in the
middle of the park. This at times makes Madrid an extremely narrow opponent, relying heavily on their full backs to get forward. There is no Roberto Carlos in this team though to be able to
assist in both defence and attack.
9) They have been fortunate so far to have the points they do.
A 96th minute penalty in the Vicente Calderon.
A last-minute Van Nistelrooy goal against Betis, while playing with ten men.
Espanyol missing sitters in the 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu.
Marcelo not being red carded, and Llorente smashing the post in the dying seconds against Athletic Bilbao.
Madrid have rode their luck slightly. Is it the mark of champions, or will the rub of the green run out on Schuster?
10) Cristiano Ronaldo stayed in Manchester.
David Villa stayed at Valencia, Santi Cazorla stayed at Villarreal, and with the exception of Van der Vaart, no-one wanted to come to the Bernabeu in the summer. A lack of fresh faces can breed
lethargy, with no new talent to perk up the battle for a first team slot. Madrid need a galactico.
I prepare myself for a backlash from the Madrid faithful. Your comments, please.
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Pick Your World XI
Saturday, 01 November 08, 01:04 AM
The official world XI has been announced by FIFPro and the best team has split fans, pundits, journalists and professionals across the globe. Goal.com reporters from Europe, America, Asia, and Africa got together and voted for their favoured eleven from the nominations provided by FIFPro. Who would have made your dream team?
From the nominations provided by FIFPro, who would have been in your World XI?
Nominees (teams played for last season)
Goalkeepers:
Artur Boruc [Poland/ Celtic]; Gianluigi Buffon [Italy/ Juventus]; Iker Casillas [Spain/ Real Madrid]; Petr Cech [Czech Republic/ Chelsea], Edwin van der Sar [Holland/ Manchester United].
Defenders:
Daniel Alves [Brazil/ Sevilla]; José Bosingwa [Portugal/ FC Porto]; Fabio Cannavaro [Italy/ Real Madrid]; Ricardo Carvalho [Portugal/ Chelsea]; Gaël Clichy [France, Arsenal]; Ashley Cole
[England/ Chelsea]; Patrice Evra [France/ Manchester United]; Rio Ferdinand [England/ Manchester United]; Philipp Lahm [Germany/ Bayern Munich]; Ferreira Lucio [Brazil/Bayern Munich]; Paolo
Maldini [Italy/ AC Milan]; Alessandro Nesta [Italy/ AC Milan]; Pepe [Portugal/ Real Madrid]; Carles Puyol [Spain/ Barcelona]; Sergio Ramos [Spain/ Real Madrid]; John Terry [England/ Chelsea];
Nemanja Vidic [Serbia/ Manchester United]; Gianluca Zambrotta [Italy/ Barcelona]; Javier Zanetti [Argentina/ Inter]; Yuri Zhirkov [Russia/ CSKA Moscow].
Midfielders:
Deco [Portugal/ Barcelona]; Michael Ballack [Germany/ Chelsea]; Michael Essien [Ghana/ Chelsea]; Gennaro Gattuso [Italy/ AC Milan]; Cesc Fabregas [Spain/ Arsenal]; Steven Gerrard [England/
Liverpool; Andrès Iniesta [Spain/ Barcelona]; Kaká [Brazil/ AC Milan]; Frank Lampard [England/ Chelsea]; Javier Mascherano [Argentina/ Liverpool]; Andrea Pirlo [Italy/ AC Milan]; Franck Ribery
[France/ Bayern Munich]; Marcos Senna [Spain/ Villareal]; Wesley Sneijder [Holland/ Real Madrid]; Xavi [Spain/ Barcelona].
Forwards:
Andrei Arshavin [Russia/ Zenit St Petersburg]; Dimitar Berbatov [Bulgaria/ Tottenham Hotspur]; Didier Drogba [Ivory Coast/ Chelsea]; Samuel Eto'o [Cameroon/ Barcelona]; Thierry Henry [France/
Barcelona]; Zlatan Ibrahimovic [Sweden/ Inter]; Lionel Messi [Argentina/ Barcelona]; Ruud van Nistelrooy [Holland/ Real Madrid]; Ronaldinho [Brazil/ Barcelona]; Cristiano Ronaldo [Portugal/
Manchester United]; Wayne Rooney [England/ Manchester United]; Carlos Tévez [Argentina/ Manchester United]; Luca Toni [Italy/ Bayern Munich]; Fernando Torres [Spain/ Liverpool]; David Villa
[Spain/ Valencia].
Here is the official World XI according to FIFPro:
Ramos - Ferdinand - Terry - Puyol
Xavi- Gerrard - Kaka
Messi - Torres - Ronaldo
A selection of Goal.com's international journalists got together and voted for their own World XI. The weighting from our international office was as follows:
Casillas - 61 per cent of the vote
Ramos - 61%
Ferdinand - 50%
Terry - 45%
Evra - 45%
Xavi - 61%
Gerrard - 45%
Ronaldo - 78%
Ribery - 39%
Messi - 67%
Torres - 45%
Casillas
Ramos - Ferdinand - Terry - Evra
Xavi - Gerrard
Ronaldo - Ribery - Messi
Torres
Buffon - 17%
Vidic - 33%
Carvalho - 28%
Senna - 33%
Fabregas - 39%
Iniesta - 28%
Ibrahimovic - 39%
Interestingly, the dominant division in Goal.com's world XI was the Premier League.
Premier League: 54%
La Liga: 37%
Bundesliga: 9%
The dominant nationality though was Spanish.
Spanish: 37%
English: 27%
French: 18%
Portuguese: 9%
Argentinian: 9%
We at Goal.com want to know who would have made your World XI! Scribble down your dream team below and hit enter... is it any different to the FIFPro or Goal.com's favoured selection? Do you think either teams made a serious error in omitting Ibrahimovic, Fabregas, or Vidic? Let us know...
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Madrid Should Sign Benzema - Nadal
Thursday, 30 October 08, 12:47 AM
Rafael Nadal has revealed that he would like to see Real Madrid try to sign Karim Benzema to boost their attacking capabilities in the next few seasons.
The tennis superstar was asked which French player he would most like to see play for his beloved Merengues in an interview with L'Equipe and admitted that there was more than one name he would consider. BUt after considering a list of players that would slot into the majority of the continent's best club sides, Nadal picked out Benzema as the player that could add the most to Madrid. "If I was to choose to sign one French player out of, say, Benzema, Ribery or Gourcuff then I would, without doubt, sign Benzema," he told the French newspaper. "I like Ribery a lot, he is a great player, but I know less about Gourcuff." Nadal admitted that he was also a fan of Samir Nasri, who chose to join Arsenal in the summer after several clubs showed an interest in signing him. "Another player who is very good is Nasri, who is young and looks like he will become better and better. I like him a lot too," the tennis ace added.
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Fifa World Player Nominees Revealed
Thursday, 30 October 08, 12:47 AM
Fifa have today revealed the nominations for their World Player of the Year award.
3 players are in the running for the accolade, which is voted for by international captains and managers, with the award winner revealed on January 12 at a ceremony in Zurich.
All of the players listed are currently playing their football in Europe, with the English Premier League heading the nominations with 10 representatives.
Spain’s La Liga has 8 players nominated, while there are just 3 listed from Italy’s Serie A.
Germany’s Bundesliga and the Russian top-flight complete the nominations with one player each.
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently won the FifPro player of the year award, is the current favourite to win the accolade.
However, he can expect heavy pressure from the likes of Iker Casillas, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi and Kaka, who won last year’s award.
Full list of nominees for the Fifa World Player of the Year award:
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, Togo), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain), Deco (Chelsea, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan, Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), David Villa (Valencia, Spain) and Xavi (Barcelona, Spain).
Brazilian players have dominated the history of the award with 8 winners since its inception in 1991. Barcelona have been the most successful club, having had 6 winners playing for them when picking up the trophy.
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Sergio Ramos Future In Doubt
Thursday, 30 October 08, 12:47 AM
Following his outburst at the weekend, Sergio Ramos’ long term future at Real Madrid could be in jeopardy as the club reconsiders his status within the squad.
The rightback stirred up a controversy at the weekend when he revealed during an interview that he is currently unhappy with his football at Real Madrid due to coach Bernd Schuster’s playing system.
Although the player and the coach have ironed out their differences and made their peace, it appears that the Los Blancos hierarchy are not quite done with the issue.
According to Radio Marca, the first action that the club have taken is to suspend all on-going negotiations to offer Sergio Ramos a life contract at the Bernabéu. The Madrid board had promised the player the same type of deal offered to the likes of Casillas, Guti and Raúl and an agreement was supposed to be signed immediately after the close of the summer transfer market back in August.
The arrangement, however, failed to materialize and talks resumed between the two parties but it looks as though the deal could be off completely now following events at the weekend.
It is also believed that Madrid have removed the ‘indispensable’ tag from the player’s squad status. The club were vehemently adamant in the past that Ramos is not for sale at any price but they are now reportedly willing to sit down and listen to offers. And they are even ready to start taking bids as early as the winter transfer window.
Finally, the 22 year old defender’s agent and brother, René Ramos held an emergency meeting with the club board on Tuesday and it is alleged that one of the key topics of discussion is the player’s possible departure to Serie A giants, AC Milan.Like this blog? Help spread the word:
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Head aching rumors and breath taking transfers...
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