International football club

Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal wonders whether the Argentine international can replace the 'Flying Dutchman' at the Bernabeu.....
By Subhankar Mondal
Jul 16, 2010 11:00:00 AM
If football coaches and managers could be categorised into scientists and artists, then Jose Mourinho would certainly be part of the former clan. The Real Madrid trainer is of course an artist in his own unique way, but his carefully plotted, well-measured, methodical approach dipped in realism isn't exactly what you would associate with a maverick.

With Mourinho in charge of a club, you know that the club's moves are well-calculated and premeditated, even though they could - and at times do - go wrong. Mourinho is a realist for whom the end comes before the means; to torture an already battered and somewhat nonsensical cliche, 'he knows what he is doing'. Which is why Angel Di Maria's signing shouldn't be seen as somewhat of a kick-and-rush buy.

If Mourinho weren't there in the coaching throne (or thorn) of Real Madrid, you could have said that Los Blancos 'didn't know what they were doing' by buying a 22-year-old for €25 million; that the Di Maria signing was an attempt to stop other European heavyweights from buying a potential future world class winger.

You could have also pointed out that Madrid were going too far in splashing that much cash for a player who didn't have a great World Cup and that this was yet another instance of the world's most famous club 'inflating the transfer market'.

But the mere presence of Mourinho vindicates Di Maria's signing from all those accusations, like Tom Cruise's cast in an action movie absolves it of its flaws.
Whether or not Real Madrid did actually miss Wesley Sneijer and Arjen Robben last season is a matter of debate, but what Robben's departure implied was that Madrid were left with just one traditional and world-class winger in their squad - Cristiano Ronaldo. Gonzalo Higuain can, of course, feature on the wide-right but he is better off as a forward.

Robben's departure was important in the fiscal aspects but it also rendered the Spanish giants helpless when it came to 'natural width'. Marcelo can, did and does play with efficiency on the flanks, but he is a left back-turned-left winger - he is good but not great.

Three of the names linked to Real Madrid this summer are wingers - Fabio Coentrao, Angel Di Maria and Pedro Leon. Mourinho has dismissed the signing of the Portuguese as he finds him similar to Marcelo, while Leon has already put pen to paper himself for Los Blancos. Go back to the summer of 2004 and you will find that a certain 20-year-old Arjen Robben was signed by Chelsea.

That same summer, Mourinho joined the Blues as their manager. In the subsequent three seasons, the Londoners won the Premier League two years in a row, the FA Cup once and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League twice.
No, Di Maria is not exactly the Argentine version of Robben but the coincidences are too stark to be, well, mere coincidences. And Di Maria is genuinely a good player. Goal.com's Portuguese football expert Luis Mira chose the 22-year-old as Benfica's 'Player of the Season' in 2009-10, explaining how he reclaimed his starting berth and impressed both in the Portuguese league and in Europe.

Di Maria is a winger and not an 'inverted' one either. His left foot is his favoured foot and he plays on the left flank. He can and does push from a more inside-left channel to the left wing, implying that he can potentially play more centrally. In Benfica's very attack-minded 4-1-3-2 formation, Di Maria flourished and provided assist after assist in the league.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Mourinho will play with two wingers at Real Madrid: he could switch to a diamond formation in which the role of wingers is severely mitigated, or as he did at Inter, play with no 'natural wingers' at all (although at the Nerazzurri he didn't have old-fashioned wingers). Yet Robben's departure last summer and Di Maria's arrival this time around with Mourinho in charge strikes a resonance that is hard to ignore.

Di Maria didn't have a great World Cup but none of the Argentina players actually did. At 22 Di Maria is not the finished article, but neither was Robben in 2004.
http://www.goal.com

One defender & one midfielder targetted...
By Paul Madden
Jul 17, 2010 5:40:00 AM
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the club are looking to sign Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira.

The 23-year-old midfielder was one of the stars of the World Cup as Germany finished third, falling at the semi-final hurdle to eventual champions Spain. Now he has been identified as a key target for Mourinho, who says he wishes to sign one midfielder and one defender to add to the current squad. It has been suggested that Khedira's buyout clause sits at a mere €10 million, which certainly wouldn't stretch Madrid's purse.

"We're not going to be kings of the [transfer] market. I'll bet on the usual philosophy of Madrid, signing players with projection, with more room for learning. We signed [Angel] Di Maria, who it's true that he was expensive [€30 million], but he has great potential, and we go for [Sami] Khedira, with a huge room for improvement. It is a market direction that I love," the Special One is quoted as saying by AS.

"We need a defender and a midfielder, but with balance and without dramatics. There is a great base from last season and that will give competition to the group. It is complicated, because when Madrid is interested in a player prices soar so astronomically."

Madrid have also captured Pedro Leon from Getafe, which suggests that if Khedira signs, a defender will be the final signing of the summer for los Merengues.
http://www.goal.com

Five rules for the Special One's charges...
By Paul Madden
Jul 17, 2010 7:27:00 AM
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has apparently laid down the law at his first training session with his new team declaring that if anyone arrives late for the team bus, he will leave without them.

"I will wait for nobody. If someone arrives late for the team bus, they will be left behind, even if we have to play with a man less," the Special One is quoted as saying by Marca.

The Portuguese trainer has highlighted five golden rules which his squad must adhere to while he remains in charge. They are as follows:

1. Anyone who arrives late for training will not train with the team and must instead train alone. Training sessions begin at 0930 CET.
2. Punctuality is obviously a key for Mou, as his second rule stipulates that the team bus will always leave on time and those who arrive late will not travel to games.
3. Training sessions will last 90 minutes but will be intense workouts with little emphasis on physical work without the ball.
4. Injured players must arrive at the Valdebebas training base one hour before training to be assessed by medical staff. The doctors will then inform the coach if they are able to train.
5. The use of mobile phones and listening to music is permitted on the team bus but the mobiles must be silent, while listening equipment must not be sufficiently loud to interfere with others.
Mourinho certainly seems intent on enforcing discipline on Madrid's current band of Galacticos ahead of his first season at the helm.
http://www.goal.com

The 'Special One' has already identified four candidates...
By Subhankar Mondal
Jul 18, 2010 3:00:00 PM


* Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is seeking a world class central defender for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign, according to latest reports.
Spanish sports daily Marca reports that the Portuguese wants to bolster the defence as he looks to launch a raid on the Spanish Primera Liga title and the Champions League. With wingers Angel di Maria and Pedro Leon already signed and midfielder Sami Khedira being chased, los Blancos are now directing their intentions towards signing a centre-back.
It's been reported that the former Chelsea and Inter coach has identified these four centre-backs: David Luiz (Benfica), Thiago Silva (Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Bruno Alves (Porto). Vidic has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu for quite some time and Luiz and Alves play in the Portuguese league.
However, this does not mean that Madrid have forgone their initial plan to sign Brazilian international right-back Maicon from Inter. Madrid reportedly still have interest in the player, but they cannot proceed at the moment because Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti is not willing to let his prized asset leave at a low price.
http://www.goal.com

By James Orr

Monday, 19 July 2010
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has said the club do not need Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, after being linked with the Spanish striker in a reported £50m deal earlier in the week. "I don't think we need other strikers," he said. "Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka come back in the next few days, and we also have Daniel Sturridge."

The Italian also rubbished rumours Ashley Cole is leaving Chelsea to link up with former manager Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. "He will be an important player for us next season, " Ancelotti said of Cole, who has reportedly been considering a move to Spain in recent weeks, with Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas even saying he was "confident" the left-back would be moving to the Bernabeu.

"I don't need to speak with him [Cole] and he doesn't need to speak to me," Ancelotti said. "He's a Chelsea player and had a fantastic season last season."

Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is close to agreeing a move to White Hart Lane, according to Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. "We have every chance of getting him," Redknapp said of the 31-year-old Croatian.

With Tottenham's maiden Champions League campaign fast approaching, Redknapp admitted he would still like to add a couple of new players to his squad. "We're still looking for one or two and we'll have to see what comes up," he said.

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has denied the club are in pole position to sign free agent Joe Cole, but did confirm his interest in the midfielder after it was reported the club is prepared to offer the midfielder £90,000 per week. "I know we've been connected with him, and it's good to know we're connected with players of that quality," Hodgson said. "I haven't had any discussions with him, but I had a brief chat a while back."

Hodgson could soon be reunited with Fulham left-back Paul Konchesky after confirming Emiliano Insua had left the club for Fiorentina: "We wish him [Insua] well for the rest of his career and thank him for his time spent at Liverpool."

Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs last night revealed his willingness to listen to offers for talented play-maker Mesut Özil after being unable to agree a new contract with the 21-year-old German international.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been keeping an eye on Özil. "We will now have to listen to offers if that is what Mesut and his advisors want," Aloffs said.

Everton

The Toffees' target, Landon Donovan, has said he is happy to play for Los Angleles Galaxy for the time being. "Right now, I want to be in America," he said. "But if there's something serious to look at, then I will look at it."

Schalke

The manager Felix Magath remains hopeful striker Raul will join his side from Real Madrid. "By playing in the Champions League, it makes it easier to imagine Raul joining us," he said. "It's a great opportunity for us that we must seize."

Celtic

The Bhoys have signed Mexican right-back Efrain Juarez, 22, from UNAM Pumas. "I saw him playing against England at Wembley before the World Cup and just kept an eye on him," manager Neil Lennon said. "His style will suit us."

Ipswich Town

The club have announced the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Conor Hourihane on a one-year contract from Sunderland. The Republic of Ireland under-19 international joins after turning down a new deal with the Black Cats.

Napoli

The Tottenham and Manchester City target, Uruguay forward Edison Cavani, has joined Napoli from Palermo. The 23-year-old, who impressed during the World Cup, is one of the first big moves in Serie A since the transfer window opened.

Southampton

Danny Butterfield has joined the Saints on a one-year-deal from Crystal Palace. The 30-year-old full-back has made over 250 appearances for Palace since 2002, and scored a memorable hat-trick last season in the 3-1 victory over Wolves.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfer-talk-chelsea-cool-on-torres-as-cole-seems-set-for-anfield-2029804.html