Ronaldo tops star-studded Goal Rich List

Cristiano Ronaldo has pipped Lionel Messi to the top spot of the 2014 Goal Rich List.

The Real Madrid star is the hottest property in football and boasts an estimated wealth of €148 million [£122m] - just €2m [£1.5m] more than his Barcelona rival.

The list, topped by the now-retired David Beckham in 2013, features the likes of Wayne Rooney, Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Click here to see the full Goal Rich List top 10.

Monday, 10 March 2014 12:30

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Footballers enjoy the boom after €1.2bn bonanza

This week at Goal we've been running through the 10 biggest transfer deals of the year, and giving you the inside track on how each was completed.

After massive transfer fees, bumpers wages, taxes and agent fees are totted up the sums are truly staggering: Gareth Bale's move will cost Real Madrid €198.8m!

With so much money flying around, no wonder the players have been enjoying themselves!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 07:00

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Rooney & Ronaldo lead Champions League scoring spree

It was raining goals on Tuesday night as the Champions League returned to action with a bang, and European football's biggest names were all on song.

Real Madrid were rampant in Turkey, scoring six in a comprehensive victory over Galatasaray as Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat-trick.

While at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2.

United's rivals Manchester City were also among the goals, as Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero led Manuel Pellegrini's side to a 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen.

And the reigning champions Bayern Munich scored three of their own, cruising past CSKA Moscow at the Allianz Arena, with big-spending Paris Saint-Germain putting four past Olympiakos.

With the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund still to play, there could be plenty more to come on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:30

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Ibra: Arrogant? I love my team-mates!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a whole lot of love to share - and he's certainly not arrogant, if you believe the man himself.

In an interview with the BBC, the PSG striker insisted he has a "big heart" and that the happiness of his team-mates, the fans and everyone else, even Pep Guardiola*, is all that matters to him.

"I read all the time that people think I'm arrogant," he said.

"They say I am cocky, a bad character. I had that from a young age but, when they meet me, they say: 'That image doesn't fit you.'

"Where I come from, you never judge a person until you meet them. I would never do that.

"Wherever I have played, I have won but I only feel satisfied if my team-mates, the fans, everyone is happy. I have a big heart."



*Possibly not Pep Guardiola

Thursday, September 12, 2013 12:00

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Cavani signs on despite PSG exodus

 

Edinson Cavani officially sealed his transfer from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, speaking of how he wants to win the Champions League in the French capital.

But will that be a realistic opportunity next season? Despite having run Barcelona close last time out, things will be tougher following the exits of Carlo Ancelotti and Leonardo, who helped attract several targets from South America and Serie A.

Speaking of which, the futures of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain up in the air, so has Cavani made the right choice?! 

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Ibrahimovic rejects Paris romance with Cavani

 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s love affair with PSG is set to come to an end, due to the arrival of Edinson Cavani, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Cavani is expected to complete a mega-money move to the French capital imminently, a transfer that has not gone down well with the Sweden international.

De Laurentiis claims Ibrahimovic will say au revoir to Paris as he “will not play with Cavani” and has been promised a transfer by the French champions. 
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De Laurentiis warns Cavani over leaving Napoli 'cradle'

 

Edinson Cavani is a transfer target for some of Europe's biggest clubs this summer, but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not convinced the striker should leave the club.

Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City all want the Uruguay international, though none of the interested parties are yet to activate his £53.7 million release clause.

And De Laurentiis has warned the 26-year-old against leaving Napoli for a club where he may not take centre stage.

"Napoli is a true cradle for Cavani, allowing his inner child to express himself and fulfill his potential," De Laurentiis said at a press conference.

"He knows that he is the star of the show here at Napoli and you never know whether this will also be the case at Real Madrid or anywhere else.

"We have already seen how [Diego] Forlan and [Luis] Suarez have outshone him for Uruguay and how this has affected his goalscoring record.

"I have little doubt that he will take all of this into consideration before making a decision. He will make a decision on his future and we will follow his direction." 

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Another target bites the dust as Man City snap up Fernandinho

 

In a stark contrast to last summer, Manchester City are stepping up their efforts to get their business done in good time before the new campaign gets underway.

The Premier League runners-up announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday, and the club are close to confirming the arrival of Jesus Navas from Sevilla.

Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, Malaga's Isco and Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara remain City's summer targets, while the club are still to confirm the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager. 
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Wenger baulks at lofty Cavani price tag

 

Arsene Wenger has faced heavy criticism over his reluctance to spend money on new signings at Arsenal, and even his compliment towards Napoli forward Edinson Cavani was laced with his own financial conscience.

"Cavani is a player that I like," Wenger confessed in Thursday's press conference before quickly adding: "What is for sure is that he costs a lot of money."

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that a bid of €55 million [£46m] for the striker has previously been rejected - will Wenger try his luck? Er... don't bank on it.

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Funny Wikipedia Cavani biography

 

That night I was planning to draw Napoli's Cavani, so I decided as always to reread about the player, and usually I read biography thru Wikipedia (the most viewed web site to me); I attend Wiki to recheck player's number and so.

Then I found this, go check the picture above, but don't worry Wikipedia just fixed the errors.

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Shock Juventus defeat blows Serie A title race wide open

 

Robinho's penalty on Sunday evening secured a 1-0 victory for AC Milan over reigning champions Juventus to blow the Serie A title race wide open.

The Bianconeri still lead by four points ahead of second-placed Fiorentina, but both Inter and Napoli have a game in hand and could begin to make life difficult for Antonio Conte's side.

Earlier this month, Juve saw their 49-game unbeaten streak in Serie A end after a 3-1 defeat at home to Inter. Is November the start of a shift in power among Italy's elite?
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Manchester City go fishing

 

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Manchester City have started planning their next big-money moves, with some of the world's best players being linked with a switch to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Robin van Persie reportedly being targets for the English club, an audacious plan to lure Cristiano Ronaldo to Eastlands is rumoured to be in place.

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Chelsea come back from the dead

 

Since taking over at Chelsea on an interim basis, Roberto Di Matteo has lead the Blues to a three-match winning streak, including a miraculous comeback victory against Napoli in the Champions League to make the quarter-finals of Europe's premier club competition.
The Italian coach's faith in the club's old guard seems to be paying dividends, as goalscorers Didier Drogba, skipper John Terry and Frank Lampard all showed they are not dead yet on Wednesday night, whilst Napoli star trio Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik appeared to let the occasion get to their heads.

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AVB's facing the chop

 

Andre Villas-Boas is walking the proverbial tightrope after goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani condemned his error-prone Chelsea side to a damaging defeat at Napoli that leaves their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance. The former Porto coach, whose tactics and team selection in Naples have come under intense criticism, now looks to have exactly 90 minutes of the return leg at Stamford Bridge to salvage his "project" and avoid getting the sack from notoriously impatient owner Roman Abramovich.

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Cavani beats Manchester City

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El Matador Cavani (Napoli 3-1 Milan)

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