Wednesday, December 18, 2013

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

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Storylines aplenty after Champions League draw

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was completed on Monday, with some intriguing fixtures emerging to create a number of story-lines.

Didier Drogba will get his return to Chelsea and what is sure to be an emotional reunion with Jose Mourinho, after the Blues were drawn with Turkish side Galatasaray.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping to draw upon all his knowledge of La Liga for the clashes with Barcelona, while Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were arguably handed the toughest tie of them all after they were paired with holders Bayern Munich.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013 09:45

VIVA ZAPATA!

Cristián Eduardo Zapata Valencia is a Colombian professional footballer. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club Milan as a defender, usually as a centre back. Wikipedia

Lethal Suarez sinks Spurs

Luis Suarez was the star once again for Liverpool as the Reds destroyed Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The Uruguay international scored twice as Brendan Rodgers' men thrashed Spurs 5-0 to close to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Suarez, named captain for the day in the Steven Gerrard's absence, was the star of the show and the controversial striker has now scored 17 goals in 11 appearances this season, to prove he is one of the league's deadliest strikers.
Monday, 16 December 2013 13:14

Nightmare Before Christmas! Moyes loses Van Persie to injury


The festive season is upon us, but Manchester United boss David Moyes is hardly likely to be full of cheer as Christmas approaches.

The Scot confirmed that Robin van Persie will be out of action for a month after picking up a thigh strain whilst taking a corner against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Dutchman had only recently returned to training after struggling with toe and groin problems, and could now miss games against Aston Villa, Stoke, West Ham, Hull, Norwich, Tottenham and Swansea.

The injury leaves Moyes with selection issues in attack, with Wayne Rooney proving to be the club's only other consistent goal threat so far this season.
Saturday, 14 December 2013 08:30

Monday, December 16, 2013

Manchester City part the red sea to thrash Arsenal

OK, maybe it wasn't as much a sea as a gentle stream, but the Arsenal defence were breached time and time again by Manuel Pellegrini's vibrant charges on Saturday lunchtime.

The Gunners contributed to their own downfall on a couple of occasions, twice presenting Fernandinho with the ball to allow the Brazilian to score his first of two goals and set up a last-minute penalty.

Yaya Toure stroked the spot-kick home to add to goals from Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva and that Fernandinho double to send City three points behind Arsenal in the table with a swashbuckling display. Who can stop them?
Sunday, 15 December 2013 10:00

Friday, December 13, 2013

Rosell warns rivals off Messi

Lionel Messi may be out of action with injury, but the Barcelona star is never far from the news.

The Argentina star - one of three players in the running for the Ballon d'Or alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery - is said to have asked for improved contract terms following the arrival of Neymar, despite having a deal which runs to 2018.

And while Sandro Rosell confirmed there are currently no plans to open new talks with Messi, the club president also indicated that the 26-year-old will not be leaving while he is in charge.

"While I am president, I think it would be extremely difficult for Messi to leave the club, if not impossible," Rosell said.
Friday, 13 December 2013 12:30

Higuain in tears as Napoli miss out on last 16

Napoli agonisingly missed out on a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Despite beating Arsenal 2-0 with goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon, the Italian side were eliminated after Borussia Dortmund defeated Marseille, meaning the Bundesliga outfit progressed top of Group F, with the Gunners finishing second by virtue of a superior goal difference.

And it was all too much for goal scorer Higuain, who could not hide is disappointment after the game.

"Not going through is incredible," he said. "It is an injustice, really.

"Going out with 12 points – winning four games in such an immensely difficult group with two sides as strong as Arsenal and Dortmund - when you see teams going through with only one or two wins, with six or seven points, it's disappointing.

"It cannot be anything else but bad luck because to win four games out of six and be eliminated is not something that happens often."
Thursday, December 12, 2013 12:00