Sergio Ramos sees red for Real again

 

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has been making the headlines lately, but for all the wrong reasons it seems. Following on from accusations of a bust-up with coach Jose Mourinho in the aftermath of the defeat to Barcelona in last week's Copa del Rey last-eight clash, he became a new record holder on Wednesday night - his dismissal for a raised arm on Sergio Busquets was his 13th red card for Los Blancos, beating one-time Madrid stalwart Fernando Hierro's previous high of 12. Unwanted or not, it's still a prize fit for a bull, right?

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Wenger changes send Van Persie packing

 

Robin van Persie was forced to take to Facebook on Tuesday to dispel rumours of a rift between himself and Arsene Wenger after the Dutchman was visibly flabbergasted on Sunday when his boss replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Arsenal's best player on the day - with Andrey Arshavin, whose feeble defending cost his side the game. Could the 28-year-old be at the end of his tether in north London?

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Simply the Best (Del Piero)

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Bastian Schweinsteiger

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Maradona takes aim at his old rival Pele

 

The bitter feud between Diego Maradona and Pele only continues to escalate, and judging by the Argentine's latest comments, which include branding his arch rival a mere puppet to the Fifa family, before accusing him of being absent from civilisation for the past 20 years, it seems a reconciliation will never see the light of day.

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Super Mario keeps Man City riding high

 

'Super' Mario Balotelli emerged from the bench against Tottenham Hotspur and soon left his mark on the game: winning and scoring a 95th-minute penalty. 

However, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was left fuming as he was adamant the Italian should have been sent off for a stamp on Scott Parker's head moments earlier.

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Boateng whipped out of shape

 

The girlfriend of AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, Melissa Satta, has claimed that the couple's frisky sex life - where she "likes to take control" - is the real reason behind the player's recent injury troubles, after the Rossoneri ruled the 24-year-old out for four weeks with a 'muscular problem'.

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Wikipedia I love you

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Can money make Drogba's world go round?

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PSG drawn towards Paolo Maldini

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Abramovich adds another pawn to his chessboard

 

There seems no stopping Andre Villas-Boas and his rebuilding plans at Chelsea, as the arrival of Gary Cahill is likely to be the first of many through the revolving door.

However, the manager's policy of squad rotation and the disposal of several experienced heads from the team has made for an uncertain state of affairs - almost as much so as David Luiz's defending.

The ruthless style exhibited by the 34-year-old gaffer sees the Brazilian stopper likely to become the sacrificial lamb, while Frank Lampard remains in the cold despite his recent goalscoring form.

But chairman Roman Abramovich has come up with a solution - treat the game as a chess board!

Enter Ashley Cole as the queen, John Terry as the king and an unhappy Lampard as a ... rook? Told you it was confusing - and that's not even taking into account the conundrum involving Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres. 
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Pepe's madness hits Mourinho where it hurts

 

Pepe was the villain for Jose Mourinho as his play-acting and perseverance in his attempts to injure Lionel Messi only hampered Real Madrid's chances of retaining the Copa del Rey, as they went down 2-1 to Barcelona in the quarter-final first leg.

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AC Milan bring back the wrong Merkel

 

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi will recognise the name of his side's latest signing, but will be relieved it is Alexander Merkel and not Angela coming to bail him and his team out.

The former Italian prime minister had economic problems in his political career, which were addressed and aided by the German chancellor.

On this occasion, however, a 19-year-old playmaker has been drafted back to the Giuseppe Meazza on a loan deal to help with a crisis on the pitch.

Merkel will act as much-needed midfield cover for injured pair Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Aquilani, and may find himself featuring for the Scudetto holders regularly as Kevin Prince-Boateng has also picked up a knock.

Unlucky Angela, there's always the summer transfer window ...

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Evergreen Javier Zanetti's secret to beating AC Milan

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Guardiola's jar of players bordering on empty

 

There must be another attacker in there somewhere... somewhere... 

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola might have scooped up the Coach of the Year award at the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich last week, but the Catalan trainer has little reason for optimism at the moment.

After previous injuries to Ibrahim Afellay and David Villa, the Blaugrana also lost Pedro and Andreu Fontas due to various physical problems last week.

Additionally, Brazilian full-back Maxwell left the club for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week, while Seydou Keita has been included in Mali's 2012 Afcon squad.

This has left Guardiola with selection problems ahead of Sunday's away game against Betis and the 40-year-old has to dig deep to find 11 players... 

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Di Stefano leads Cristiano Ronaldo boo brigade

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Barbara sticks with Pato & boots Tevez

 

It seemed like the transfer saga that would never end. 

Will Carlos Tevez finally get his wish and swap Manchester City for AC Milan? Will Paris Saint-Germain get their trophy-signing and bring Alexandre Pato to Parc des Princes?

It appeared salvation had finally arrived on Thursday. 

Reports emerged that PSG had agreed a fee for Pato and the Italian champions had already lined up a ready-made replacement in the form of Tevez.

But then it all fell apart. Pato announced that he had no intention of leaving his 'home' in Milan, and any move Massimiliano Allegri would make for Tevez had stalled.

The powers that be stepped in. Barbara Berlusconi, AC Milan board member and the daughter of Italy's mercurial politician, put the kibosh on any deal, unwilling to lose her boyfriend to Tevez, a less aesthetically pleasing alternative.

I guess we have her to blame for an inevitable 18 further days of speculation ... 
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A Tweet

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The Samba star Redknapp wants

 

Never 'eard of 'im, never 'eard of 'im, don't know him, Samba? We'll 'av 'im

With Tottenham's search for a defender well-documented, it seems Harry Redknapp has met his match in the most ironic of circumstances.

Fresh from his insightful analysis of Santos and Brazil midfielder Ganso, where he claimed to have never heard of the young star, his knowledge of Samba footballers seems to have redeemed itself.

However, it is the signature of Blackburn and Congo defender Christopher Samba that has now stirred his imagination. The burly stopper has long been linked with moves away from Ewood Park after forging a hugely successful career so far in the Premier League.

But despite there being no question of his ability in bolstering the Lilywhite's rearguard, or his name, he maybe doesn't have the guile or flair of his fellow contemporaries as such ...  
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Milanese tug-of-war

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Balotelli and the Mirror

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A Messi vision of the future for Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo

        On Monday evening, Barcelona star Lionel Messi once again stole the show as he was voted the best player in the world for the third year in succession during the annual Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich.

The Argentina international thus followed in the footsteps of former France star Michel Platini to become only the second player in history to win the award three years in a row.

Two of the main personalities of the football world who weren't present at the ceremony at the Kongresshaus were Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, nominated for the Coach of the Year and Player of the Year awards respectively.

The duo opted not to attend as they prepare for Tuesday's Copa del Rey away match against Malaga, and was possibly watching the event unfold on television.

Neither of the two won in their respective categories, but perhaps they will have better luck in the next few years ...

 

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Maxi Lopez story with AC Milan

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