Zlatan Christ

Marco Verratti has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic once branded himself Jesus before a match against Lyon.

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Champions League last-16 draw delivers intriguing ties

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Barca trio break Ibra's back

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Bayern, Chelsea, City...? Top clubs make beeline for Reus

Marco Reus is the hottest property in Europe after Bayern Munich revealed his €25m (£18m) release clause, set to come into action next summer and there threatens to be an almighty scramble for his signature.

But with every elite side on the planet keen on Reus, it's inevitable that someone will get stung...

Friday, 31 October 2014 13:38

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PSG out to stop Messi and Neymar in Champions League clash

PSG coach Laurent Blanc has called on his side to be “aggressive” if they are to beat Barcelona when the two sides clash in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The French champions have started the season slowly and will also be without talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Parc des Princes.

Barcelona, who knocked PSG out of the competition in the quarter-finals two seasons ago,  thrashed Granada 6-0 last time out and will again look to Lionel Messi and Neymar for the goals in Paris.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 12:31

Mourinho: Chelsea won't miss you David Luiz

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at David Luiz, who he sold to Paris Saint-Germain this summer for £40 million.

The Blues boss felt the need to remind the Brazilian that Gary Cahill and John Terry were his first-choice centre-backs and that the 27-year-old only played in midfield because Nemanja Matic was cup-tied for the Champions League.

So with Luiz cast off to France, here's Mourinho having a celebratory drink with his team.

Monday, August 4, 2014 10:31

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Yaya flirts with spurned PSG boss Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain had a curious Monday, with target Eden Hazard playing down a return to France while, simultaneously, another Premier League superstar opened the door to a move.

Chelsea attacker Hazard, singled out as a player of interest to PSG by manager Laurent Blanc, all but dismissed speculation that he could move to Paris, saying he takes no notice of transfer gossip.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, though, was less dismissive and openly welcome a move to the Ligue 1 champions.

"How can you not be interested in a club like that?" the Ivorian mused to France Football. "It'd be an honour to be part of such a club one day... if I can be of use."

So while PSG may have been spurned by Hazard, they can at least take solace from Toure's revelation that he would love to move to the Parc des Princes.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 11:00

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Hazard's wife hotfoots it to Paris

Eden Hazard's Chelsea is a subject for much debate after his revelations to Interieur Sport on Saturday.

The Belgian sensation, who had previously appeared to pour cold water on a move away from Stamford Bridge, insisted that it could be his wife that decides if he leaves for Paris Saint-Germain.

He said: "If my wife tells me to go to Paris then I'll have to take this into consideration. The Parc des Princes is a real stadium and a special place where I've known my first sensations as a player."

Sunday, 6 April 2014 10:45

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Lavezzi profits from Ibrahimovic distraction

All the talk in the build-up to Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain revolved around one man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Could the striker upset one-time mentor Jose Mourinho? Could the Blues find a way to stop the talismanic frontman? Would he ever play in England?

Such was the Stamford Bridge outfit's preoccupation with the Sweden international, they appeared to forget that there were 10 other players on the field at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

It took just three minutes for Ezequiel Lavezzi, completely unmarked inside the penalty box, to unleash a ferocious shot that flew into the back of the net to remind Chelsea that PSG are far from the one-man team they had been mistaken for.

Ibrahimovic's night was cut short by a hamstring injury that will rule him out of the return leg, though Lavezzi's screamer, coupled with a late goal from Javier Pastore that added gloss to the victory, prove that les Parisiens will be no pushovers even in the Swede's absence.

Thursday, 3 April 2014 10:39

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No way Jose! Ibrahimovic rules out PL move

Chelsea travel to the French capital to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, a match that sees Blues boss Jose Mourinho take on former charge Zlatan Ibrahimovic, though he appears unlikely to ever coach the enigmatic Swede again.

Despite the Portuguese's praise for Ibrahimovic and attempts to lure him to the Premier League, the PSG frontman has categorically ruled out a move to England.

"It's impossible to get me to England [now]," said the 32-year-old. "If you ask the people behind this [PSG] project I do not think they would let me go."

So however much Mourinho may like Ibrahimovic at Stamford Bridge, and however much of a "pity" it is if he doesn't move to the Premier League, the Sweden international looks dead set to shun a transfer to England and will remain the main man in Paris.

Wednesday, 2 April 2014 11:46

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Ibrahimovic settles in for goal highlight reel

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored so many extraordinary goals that he is unable to recall all of them.

As a result, the Paris Saint-Germain striker has already made plans for how to spend his retirement years - watching clips of his acrobatic efforts.

"I'm spoiled to have scored so many exceptional goals," he said. "There are a few I will see on the internet when I retire and I'll tell myself they're amazing. I'll ask myself how even I could have achieved such feats.

"In a match, it happens like that. I don't train for these, they are instinctive actions, like my goal against Bastia when I scored with the backheel. I have to try things to have a chance against opponents.

"This is what makes the difference between a small and a large team. Crazy things can come out of nowhere. This is what is good about football, it's completely unpredictable."

Saturday, 29 March 2014 12:00

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Champions League back with a bang as Barcelona leave old foes fuming

Barcelona's 2-0 win against Manchester City left Manuel Pellegrini in a rage and Jose Mourinho eating humble pie.

The City boss was furious at the Swedish referee who awarded Barca a penalty and sent off Martin Demichelis. Pellegrini let fly in his post-match press conference, saying the ref was not up to the job of officiating a Champions League clash.

And it was a bitter result for Mourinho, who had earlier called out "the worst Barca side in many, many years". Cesc Fabregas issued a stinging rebuttal at full-time, saying Barca's detrctors should "shut up for a few days".

All the while, Paris Saint-Germain were marching towards the quarter-finals with a 4-0 away win against Bayer Leverkusen, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoreing twice, one of which an absolute rocket.

The Champions League is definitely back in full swing!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014 12:00

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Love is in the air for Ibrahimovic & Klopp

The strong bond between Jurgen Klopp and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues as the Dortmund boss claims he adores the striker's "antics".

The Paris Saint-Germain forward had previously joked to Klopp at the Ballon d'Or ceremony that he would join the German club for free, although the Dortmund coach concedes, in reality, such a transfer is unlikely to happen.

"I like it, I love his antics, he is an extraordinary player. However, there is no option of recruiting a player of that level," Klopp told DPA.

"He told me that I should let everyone at Dortmund know that he enjoys watching us play football.

"There were years in which he probably did not even know there was a football club in Dortmund. Now he knows and likes us - that says it all."

Friday, 17 January 2014 12:00

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Ancelotti wages war to keep Casillas

He may no longer be the undisputed No.1 goalkeeper at Real Madrid, but Carlo Ancelotti is determined to keep Iker Casillas.

The Spain international lost his place in the starting XI under previous boss Jose Mourinho during the 2012-13 season to Diego Lopez.

Lopez continues to be a regular fixture in the starting XI under Ancelotti, but the Italian is adamant that he does not want Casillas to leave.

"It was not an easy decision, I have two goalkeepers of high quality, the best two in the world," the Italian trainer told RNE.

"I started with Diego as my No.1, but then did not consider that Casillas would not play. Rotating goalkeepers is not the most desirable thing, it is not easy, but they have understood.

"I'll fight the same way I did for Xabi. This team have key players representing the club and I will wage war for Casillas to finish his career here, in Madrid."

Ancelotti has also suggested Casillas could be in the starting lineup to face Espanyol on Sunday as Lopez is struggling with a stomach bug.

Saturday, 11 January 2014 12:45

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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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Ballon d'Or rivals tend to injured Messi

Barcelona may have been left reeling by the news that Lionel Messi could be out of action for eight weeks with a hamstring tear.

But with the announcement of the winner of the Ballon d'Or just around the corner, the injury may be considered something of a blessing for some of the game's biggest stars.

Messi - who won last year's award - is likely to be included in the three-man shortlist for the accolade to be announced in December.

However, the extended absence of the Argentina international could allow the likes of Franck Ribery, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to steal a march on the Barcelona superstar.

Tuesday, 12 November 2013 11:15

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Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic & Ribery leave trail of destruction

Wednesday marked another string of scintillating displays in the Champions League, the best of which came from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden international notched four of Paris Saint-Germain's five goals in a comfortable win over Anderlecht, one of which, a 30-yard thunderbolt, will be a frontrunner for the best strike in the competition this season.

Elsewhere, Franck Ribery netted twice in Bayern Munich's 5-0 rout against Viktoria Plzen, while Cristiano Ronaldo's double fired Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over Juventus.

Thursday, October 24, 2013 12:00

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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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