Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Moyes keen to grab Fabregas after failed Thiago pursuit

After spending much of the summer chasing unsettled Barcelona starlet Thiago only to be trumped by Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's sudden charm offensive, Manchester United need a transfer rethink.

A midfield playmaker remains a priority and Cesc Fabregas, Thiago's former team-mate at Camp Nou and another long-term United target, has risen to the top of the wanted list.

Barcelona are currently considering a £25.9 million bid from the Red Devils and, while it is unlikely to be accepted, it surely signals just the start of David Moyes' formal pursuit of the disillusioned Catalan.

There are, however, numerous obstacles to a deal. The Spanish champions are unlikely to simply jettison a player they fought so hard to prise from Arsenal, while the Gunners enjoy first option on any move.

Tito Vilanova revealed on Tuesday that Fabregas is happy at the Camp Nou, leaving United facing another difficult - and possibly fruitless - battle in the transfer market. 

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. 

Ribery stacks up the silverware in bid for Ballon d'Or

Can anyone stop Lionel Messi from steamrolling his way to a fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or title? Well a certain French winger thinks he can...

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery made his announcement in no uncertain terms on Saturday, insisting that it is he who should be crowned the best player in the world.

"I think I've done everything to be the world's best player," he told the Bundesliga's official website.

"I've played a very, very good season. It's either now or never for winning this prize. I can't play any better than this."

So with the titles stacked up, including a Champions League and Bundesliga title, as well as a DFB-Pokal triumph, is the Ballon d'Or within Ribery's grasp?

Mourinho rides in to rescue Rooney

Despite David Moyes' best efforts to end all Wayne Rooney transfer speculation, talk of the Manchester United striker's potential summer exit continues.

Moyes insists Rooney is not for sale, but that has not stopped Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho declaring his admiration for the former Everton forward.

"Rooney is a player I like very much but I can say no more than that," he said. "Being fast and direct, I like that, but he's a Manchester United player."

Mourinho's comments prompted a response from Old Trafford boss Moyes, who is adamant the Premier League champions will reject advances from potential suitors.

"Unless I was speaking double Dutch, I said Wayne Rooney is not for sale," Moyes said.

"People are entitled to talk about players. I think I have really covered all the things on Wayne. Manchester United is about a team, not one individual." 

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Pep picks United's pocket to steal a march on Thiago

Barcelona youngster Thiago is currently one of Europe’s hottest properties with a number of top clubs seemingly intent on snapping up the Spaniard.

While Manchester United had looked favourites to capture his signature, the 22-year-old now looks destined for European champions Bayern Munich.

Pep Guardiola, who worked with the youngster at Camp Nou, seems determined to land his man telling a press conference: "Thiago is the only player I want, that's what I told them. It'll be him or no one". 

No regrets for Falcao after moving to Monaco

Radamel Falcao has insisted he is making the right move by joining Monaco, despite criticism from some quarters.

The prolific striker scored 52 league goals in his last two seasons with Atletico Madrid, leading to interest from a number of top clubs.

Chelsea were hoping to lure the Colombian to the Premier League after meeting his €60 million buy-out clause but instead Falcao decided that a move to Monaco was a far more attractive prospect.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Mourinho parks his Chelsea bus on the scrapheap

Jose Mourinho has returned to Chelsea and vowed to bring sexy football back to Stamford Bridge.

The former Inter and Real Madrid coach has often been criticised throughout his career for perceived negative tactics and 'parking the bus’.

However, Mourinho has told Blues fans that he wants to make them happy and that his team will "play with style". 

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareeem to everyone everywhere from the tasmeemME.com team in collaboration with Omar Momani 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Mkhitaryan and Villa snub Premier League

Activity in the summer transfer window is starting to hot up with two of Europe’s most wanted men announcing they are on the move.

Barcelona striker David Villa is heading for Atletico Madrid after the two clubs agreed a deal for the Spain international.

The transfer is likely to disappoint many, but particularly Tottenham fans who were hoping to see the striker in Premier League action at White Hart Lane.

Over at Liverpool there is also bad news after Borussia Dortmund confirmed Henrikh Mkhitaryan has completed a move from Shakhtar Donetsk, preferring the Champions League runners-up to Brendan Rodgers' side. 

Goal 50: Class of 2012-13

The countdown to the Goal 50 has begun and the debate is raging over which star performers from the season should be included in this year's list of football's most talented
School is out for much of the football world but the class of 2012-13 can still look forward to the annual prize-giving ceremony that is the Goal 50.

Our brilliant artist Omar Momani has drawn up his vision of the high achievers in contention for the list - which will be announced on July 29.

Bayern Munich trio Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller are sitting in the front row accompanied by Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Behind are La Liga legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo next to Robert Lewandowski, scorer of four goals for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in last season's Champions League semi-final.

The Premier League may be flagging behind Germany and Spain, but Gareth Bale has stood out. The Tottenham totem sits with enigmatic Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli, who has lit up Serie A since joining AC Milan in January.

Assou-Ekotto reads up on latest Tottenham arrival

Known for having absolutely no interest in football, Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto may get into a spot of bother when he arrives at pre-season training.

The 29-year-old has admitted he does not know the first thing about Tottenham's latest signing Paulinho, who has arrived at White Hart Lane from Corinthians.

“I don’t know what he looks like,” Assou-Ekotto told Goal. “I don’t know him, I don’t follow this kind of news.

“It’s like two or three years ago, Rafael van der Vaart was there in training one day. I said hello to him but I didn’t know he was Rafael van der Vaart." 

Monday, July 8, 2013

Moyes tight-lipped on Rooney future

David Moyes hosted his first press conference as Manchester United manager on Friday and spent the most part batting away questions on Wayne Rooney's future.

And while he was at pains to point out that the England striker is not for sale, he refused to be drawn on whether he has categorically stated his desire to stay at Old Trafford. 

Inter & AC Milan aghast at Raiola's merger proposal

The summer transfer window is prone to wild speculation but this week has also seen one of the most ludicrous proposals in football.

Mino Raiola, the agent who represents Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among others, believes that AC Milan and Inter should merge in order to become a dominant force in Europe.

“The situation Italian football finds itself in is difficult,” he told Gazzetta.it.

“Milan and Inter, instead of competing against one and other, they should join forces.

“Lazio and Roma could have one strong club, rather than only two weak ones.” 

Isco in the doghouse over pet Messi

Real Madrid officially announced the arrival of Isco on Wednesday but the 21-year-old may get a few scornful glances from his new team-mates if he ever brings his dog to training.

It had been revealed that the midfielder's dog is named after Lionel Messi and the Spain Under-21 star insists it will remain that way - despite signing for Real Madrid.

"I also had another dog called Figo. It's just an anecdote," Isco said.

"I'm not going to change my dog's name from Messi now because if I did, he would ignore me." 

Gotze considers Messi an idol

Amid reports suggesting Pep Guardiola will deploy Mario Gotze as a 'false No.9' at Bayern Munich, the Germany international says he keen to aspire towards the playing heights of Barcelona's maestro.

"Lionel Messi is a role model for everyone, including me," Gotze said.

"I don't see the transfer amount as extra pressure. It's something to be proud of having just turned 21.

"Looking back, it wasn't easy when the news broke that I was leaving Dortmund, but that's behind me now. The important thing is to develop myself and I wanted to do that at Bayern." 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

First day nerves for new boy Moyes

As players and managers report back from their summer break for the gruelling pre-season regime, David Moyes embarks on one of the trickiest jobs in football - succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

For Moyes, the daunting prospect of arriving at Carrington was cushioned by the announcement of his backroom staff as Steve Round follows the Scot from Everton to become the assistant manager at United, while Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden have also joined from Goodison Park. 

Ruthless Brazil sink Spain

Brazil claimed the Confederations Cup on Sunday with an emphatic victory over world and European champions Spain.

Vicente del Bosque's side were fancied by many to win the competition, which served as something of a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

But the tournament hosts raced out of the blocks and led through a Fred goal after just two minutes.

Neymar added a second just before half time, before Fred completed the scoring shortly after the interval. 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Brazil & Spain set to serve up a Confederations Cup treat

The climax to the Confederations Cup takes place on Sunday night as Brazil host World and double European champions Spain in the Maracana in front of an expectant crowd.

Neymar has lit up the tournament so far, while Fernando Torres has banged in crucial tournament goals again for Vicente Del Bosque's side.

It all adds to an enticing final match that should provide a lovely taster for next summer and the fervour with which the tournament has been received by the Brazilian public will have whet the appetite of football fans around the globe ahead of World Cup 2014. 
this is for the fans in http://vk.com/momani

Outcast Arshavin dreams of better days

Andrey Arshavin has revealed how difficult he found life at Arsenal in his final season at the club.

The Russian sealed a free transfer back to Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday after spending a lot of time on the Gunners bench in 2012-13.

Having taken the league by storm upon his arrival in 2009, the 32-year-old will no doubt have spent most of his time dreaming of his former glories. 

Spain penalty prowess too much for Italy

Spain booked their place in the Confederations Cup final on Thursday with a penalty shoot-out victory over Italy.

Cesare Prandelli's side battled the world and European champions for 120 minutes but neither side could break the deadlock.

But Spain's superstars proved to be as accurate from the spot as they are with their passes, as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Juan Mata and Sergio Busquets all netted.

Italy matched their opposition for quality every step of the way, until Leonardo Bonucci fired over the bar, leaving Jesus Navas to calmly slot past Gianluigi Buffon to book a final clash with Brazil on Sunday. 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

مقابلة جول مع المدرب الاماراتي مهدي علي


قام الزميل ميشيل نصر الله باجراء مقابلة مع مدرب المنتخب الاماراتي مهدي علي, و اللذي فاز مؤخرا ببطولة كأس الخليج.
و قمت من ناحيتي بتصميم رسم كاريكاتوري للكابتن مهدي ليرفق المقابلة
.

Drawing cartoon process

1. Sketching 
2. Inking
3. Coloring