Frozen out at Chelsea, Lyon open door for Malouda return

 

After being frozen out of the first-team and forced to train with the reserves, life looks bleak for Florent Malouda at Chelsea.

But the 32-year-old's former club Lyon have come to the rescue after their president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed the midfielder would be welcome back with open arms.

"Our door is always open to former players," Aulas said. "Malouda has been in contact with our coaching team very recently."
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Blatter salutes 'general' Ronaldo & hails 'magician' Messi

 

Fifa president Sepp Blatter believes both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are "living legends" in the world of football.

The 76-year-old feels the two players are different on the pitch but thinks they possess rare quality, and he believes the Real Madrid man dominates the game while the Barcelona star lights up matches with moments of pure magic.

"Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Both! They are different but both fantastic for football," Blatter was quoted as saying by Marca.

"Cristiano wants to be the general on the pitch, lay down the law and scream here I stand. Messi, on the other hand, is like a conjurer, a magician. They are both living legends of football." 

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Europe's finest begin long road to Brazil

 

The first round of qualifying fixtures for World Cup 2014 kick off this weekend and it's a chance for many of us to see the star names which made Euro 2012 such a memorable tournament.

With Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas leading the way, the Real Madrid captain will be hoping that Vicente Del Bosque's side will be able to become the first team to retain the trophy since Italy did so back in 1938.

Roy Hodgson's England side will be hoping to make an impact on the latter stages in Brazil, as well a few of the other familiar faces such as Italy, Portugal and Germany...
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Liverpool miss out as Juve's favourite son heads down under

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero confirmed his move to Sydney FC on Wednesday, penning a two-year deal.

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However, the 37-year-old claimed that Liverpool showed a late interest in signing him ahead of his switch to the Australia A-League outfit.

"They were one of the clubs, amongst the non-Italian sides [interested], and I was surprised to be contacted by them," he said his first Sydney FC unveiling.

But Brendan Rodgers' supposed approach was, evidently, in vain and could only watch on as The Old Lady handed her favourite son to Australian football.
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Messi avoids Ronaldo shaped elephant in the room

 

After Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his unhappiness at a "professional issue" at Real Madrid, La Liga rival Lionel Messi was quizzed on the situation at a press conference.

Some quarters have suggested that the former Manchester United man is upset because he did not win the Uefa award for the best player in Europe, with Messi's team-mate Andres Iniesta instead collecting the trophy, while others think he is jealous of the Argentine.

However, the Barcelona star refused to comment on the Portuguese's comments, instead stating: "There's no reason to ask me about what he says and vice-versa. It's nothing to do with me."

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Real Madrid bemused by Ronaldo tantrum

 

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has put the football world on alert by admitting he is upset with a "professional issue" at the club.

The Portuguese scored his 149th and 150th goals for Los Blancos in their weekend win over Granda, but refused to celebrate either strike, before revealing his reasons afterwards.

Ronaldo insisted his unhappiness has nothing to do with Andres Iniesta winning Uefa's best player award ahead of him, but who realy knows what's on Ronny's mind?
 

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Rodgers in two minds over possible owen return

 

After Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers was left red-faced over the lack of striker options at Anfield.

The Liverpool boss conceded he wouldn't have let Andy Carroll leave on loan had he of known that no replacement would enter his squad. While on Monday, the club's principal owner, John W. Henry, released an open letter which claimed he would not pay over the odds for players.

With Michael Owen still without a club after being released by Manchester United in the summer, Rodgers may be left with no alternative now the transfer window has slammed shut.

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TEVEZ GOES FROM SINNER TO SAINT

 

Carlos Tevez's strike during Manchester City's 3-1 win over QPR on Saturday completed a remarkable comeback for the Argentine striker.

Just 11 months ago the 28-year-old began a season long spat with Roberto Mancini, refusing to come off the bench during a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich before exiling himself to his native Argentina.

However, the former Manchester United man came back into the squad towards the end of last year's title winning campaign and now appears to have walked the long road to redemption with the club's fans.
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Rodgers the deadline day loser as transfers pass Liverpool by

 

As Premier League clubs frantically tried to tie up deals for players on Friday, Liverpool were caught on their heels as rival clubs stole the march on their summer transfer targets.

Liverpool's unwillingness to meet Fulham's valuation for Clint Dempsey resulted in the forward ending up with a move to Tottenham.

Another of the Reds' reported targets, Gaston Ramirez, was also involved in the deadline day furore as he made a switch to Southampton.

Brendan Rodgers' is now faced with the prospect of keeping Luis Suarez in bubble wrap and away from sharp objects until January as the Liverpool boss faces the first half of the campaign with reduced numbers in attack.
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Mancini & Mourinho to do battle in Group of Death

 

Manchester City will face Real Madrid in this season's Champions League "Group of Death" that also contains the champions from Holland and Germany.

Roberto Mancini's men were drawn in Group D alongside Jose Mourinho's La Liga winners in Monaco yesterday, along with Eredivisie champions Ajax and Bundesliga holders Borussia Dortmund.

City will be cursing their luck, especially after being drawn in the least enviable group in last season's tournament, playing Napoli, Villarreal and eventual runners-up Bayern Munich before finishing third.

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