Madrid: Goalkeeper Victor Valdes will play out the last season of his contract with Barcelona, president Sandro Rosell said on Thursday. The Spain international, who has just arrived in Brazil with the world and European champions for the Confederations Cup, has rejected the chance to renew his deal with the La Liga champions beyond 2014. The 31-year-old has said he would like to experience different leagues and cultures after almost...
08:20 AM, Jun 14, 2013
Nigeria's soccer team went on strike on Thursday, refusing to leave their hotel in Namibia and missing a flight to Brazil where they are supposed to compete in the Confederations Cup, which gets underway at the weekend. "They are declining to leave," Namibia Football Association general secretary Barry Rukoro told Reuters. "They were supposed to go at 11 a.m. this morning but they say they are owed money by their...
11:48 PM, Jun 13, 2013
New Delhi: Having got the government clearance, AIFF president Praful Patel on Thursday expressed confidence that India would win the right to host the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 despite facing strong competition from the other three bidding countries. "This is an extremely positive development for Indian football and I am confident India will be able to make a formidable and successful bid with the backing of the Union...
10:43 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo took to twitter rubbishing rumours that the 28-year-old forward was renewing his contract with Real Madrid. The Portuguese star has been heavily linked with a move away from La Liga with his contract with los Blancos expiring only in 2015. "All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false," he said via his official Twitter account. Ronaldo, who has long been reported to be...
08:35 PM, Jun 13, 2013
London: Chelsea have reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany forward Andre Schurrle from the Bundesliga club. Chelsea said in a statement on their website Thursday that Schurrle must now complete personal terms and pass a medical. The 22-year-old forward, who has been a long-time target of Chelsea, is set to become Jose Mourinho's first signing since the Portuguese coach returned to the Premier League club for a...
08:28 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Gremio and Brazil midfielder Fernando has secured a five-year contract for 9.3million with FC Shakhtar Donetsk, said the official website of the Ukranian champions on Thursday. The 21-year-old will join fellow Brazilians Alex Texeira, Taison, Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano at his new club. Following the departure of another Brazilian international, the central midfielder Fernandinho, to Manchester City last week the club was on the lookout for replacement. Mircea Lucescu's...
07:36 PM, Jun 13, 2013
After his high-profile move from Arsenal in 2011 to Barcelona, Spanish international Cesc Fabregas has often found himself warming the benches and in these two years he has been in and out of the playing XI of the Catalan club prompting rumours of a possible transfer. But on Thursday, Fabregas categorically denied any move from Barcelona and expressed the speculations as 'absurd' and stressed on his future with the club...
06:22 PM, Jun 13, 2013
London: West Ham are hoping to get former Hammers man Demba Ba and Manchester United's Wilfred Zaha on loan for the next season along with Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku to partner centre forward Carroll. As per reports in Daily Mail, West Ham have identified Belgian international Lukaku as their No 1 target and will be looking to partner him with Andy Carroll who has agreed to 17 million deal with...
05:58 PM, Jun 13, 2013
London: French champions Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to outbid Real Madrid in the 85million battle to sign Tottenham star Gareth Bale, says the Daily Mail. The daily reported on Thursday that PSG are pursuing Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas in hopes that he will help convince Bale to follow him to Paris. Since 2011, when they were taken over by Qatar Sport Investments, PSG have spent more than 200m on transfer...
05:28 PM, Jun 13, 2013
IBNLive sports gives you the latest done deals from English Premier League transfer window all under one roof. Manchester City In: Jesus Navas (Sevilla, 14.9m), Fernandinho (Shakthar Donetsk, 22m) Out: Wayne Bridge (Reading, free), Filippo Mancini (Released), Ryan McGivern (Hibernian, free), Roque Santa Cruz (Released), Kolo Toure (Liverpool, free) Manchester United In: Guillermo Varela (Penarol, undisc.) Out: Reece Brown, John Cofie, Michele Fornasier, Luke Giverin, Luke Hendrie, Luke McCullough, Gyliano...
04:27 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Madrid: Spanish giants Real Madrid will compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for the Napoli forward Edinson Cavani after the Spanish club held talks with the Uruguayan's representatives on Wednesday. Reports in Spain suggest Real had been due to speak with Cavani's agent late last month only for the discussions to be postponed while Jose Mourinho negotiated his departure. Cavani has earlier expressed his desire to play for Mourinho but...
03:37 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg believes his former club can last the distance in the English Premier League title fight next season. The 36-year-old, who last month was announced as Arsenal's ambassador to promote the club on an international stage, backed Arsene Wenger's team to challenge the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. The Gunners ended a poor campaign on a high this season, finishing strongly to secure fourth...
02:15 PM, Jun 13, 2013
New Delhi: The government on Thursday gave the go-ahead to India's ambitious bid to host the U-17 Football World Cup in 2017, thus boosting the country's chances of organising the tournament that is already being backed by FIFA Vice President Jerome Valcke. "The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to the proposal for submitting guarantees sought by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from the Government of India for...
02:09 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Rome: Fiorentina have confirmed having completed a deal with Malaga regarding the transfer of winger Joaquin Sanchez. "ACF Fiorentina and Malaga CF announce they have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez," read the statement released by Fiorentina Wednesday, reports Xinhua. The 31-year-old Spanish international flew to Florence Wednesday to have a medical and final talks over his contract. Joaquin made 45 appearances for Malaga this...
01:42 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Rome: Roma football club announced they have officially appointed ex-Lille manager Rudi Garcia as their new coach. "We are very excited and confident that Rudi Garcia is the right coach for AS Roma. He is a proven winner with a great football mind who, we believe, fits in perfectly with our vision for the future," said club president James Pallotta on Wednesday, reports Xinhua. Roma club CEO Italo Zanzi added:...
01:42 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Barcelona: Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than four million euros. The World Player of the Year and his father Jorge allegedly filed fraudulent tax returns for the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, according to a spokesman for the prosecutor's office for tax crimes in Catalonia. His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to...
01:20 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Rio de Janeiro: Defender Giorgio Chiellini has denied claims that Italy has been afflicted by arrogance as they prepare for their Confederations Cup debut against Mexico on Sunday. Veteran Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had accused his teammates of having an "ounce of superficiality and arrogance" during the match against Caribbean minnows Haiti, reports Xinhua. Buffon made the suggestion following Italy's shock 2-2 friendly draw with Haiti in Rio de Janeiro...
01:01 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Pele has warned Brazil not to underestimate Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup in Brasilia slated for Saturday. Despite backing Brazil as one of the tournament favourites, Pele believes the clash at Mane Garrincha stadium could be among the host nation's most difficult, reports Xinhua. And he warned Luiz Felipe Scolari's team that their emphatic 3-0 victory over France last Sunday would mean little during the event...
12:14 PM, Jun 13, 2013
Cesc Fabregas has dismissed rumors of leaving Barcelona and said that he is delighted to be playing with the Spanish club. The 26-year Spanish mid-fielder joined Barcelona in 2011 after an eight-year stay at Arsenal. Him leaving Barca has raised speculation of his return to England, but this time with Manchester United. However, Fabregas has expressed that he loves playing for the Catalans and is "delighted" to be playing with...
11:08 AM, Jun 13, 2013
