David Beckham is set to snub a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain, and looks set to renew his deal with LA Galaxy.
The ex-England international’s deal with the MLS side has expired, and Beckham has been linked with a transfer back to Europe in the January transfer window.
With the big-spending Ligue 1 side the frontrunners for Beckham’s signature, reports in France had previously stipulated that a deal to bring the veteran to the Parc des Princes was all but done.
However, sporting director Leonardo has stated that Beckham will not be moving to the French capital.
“It’s over,” Leonardo told L’Equipe.
“It’s a shame. But the welfare of his family in Los Angeles, the wish not to change everything in his life, weighed heavily.”
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi also confirmed that a deal was close, but would now not happen.
“We didn’t reach an agreement – he’s a great player, I met him and it’s bad luck we didn’t reach an agreement.
“We weren’t far, but there are family issues and I think that was the reason. It was very difficult to move the family,” he concluded.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Barcelona are appealing UEFA’s proposal to ban playmaker Andres Iniesta from the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid.Iniesta is under investigation for picking up a yellow card in the quarter-final first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk, which ruled him out for the return clash in the Ukraine and also wiped his record for the semi-finals.
UEFA have issued a report alleging the Spanish midfielder collected the booking on purpose, and should the European body suspend the 26-year-old, he will miss the first semi-final leg against Madrid at the Bernabeu.
“FC Barcelona have this evening submitted an appeal to UEFA against the proposed imposition of an additional game suspension for Andres Iniesta following the yellow card he picked up against Shaktar at the Nou Camp on April 6th,” a statement on the club’s site read.
“FC Barcelona believe that the arguments outlined in their appeal, based on the good faith of the player and the disproportionate nature of the proposed sanction will be sufficient to rebut these allegations.”
Sir Alex Ferguson accused his Manchester United players of throwing away points following Sunday's dramatic 2-2 draw with Fulham.
United were denied a victory at Craven Cottage after Brede Hangeland headed home a last-minute equaliser in a thrilling stalemate.
Paul Scholes had fired the visitors ahead with a shot from distance on 12 minutes but Simon Davies hauled Fulham level 15 minutes into the second half.
Hangeland's 84th minute own goal looked to have handed the Red Devils the points but the momentum turned on Nani's missed penalty three minutes later as the giant Norway defender headed home a late corner to earn his side are share of the spoils.
"When you get the opportunity to seal the game with that penalty you should be taking it," Ferguson told MUTV.
"It was a missed opportunity and it galvanised them, got the crowd up and they scored the equaliser in the end.
"When we got that second goal I thought 'we've escaped here'.
"But to miss a penalty kick to make it 3-1, you're throwing two points away there I'm afraid.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"You don't want to be dropping silly points and we dropped silly points here. We can't escape that.
"There was an opportunity to go 3-1 ahead with three minutes left and we didn't take it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Liverpool coasted into the 4th round of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 5-1 victory against Oldham Athletic. It was Steven Gerrard’s first start of the season and his presence reinvigorated a Liverpool side still reeling from last week’s defeat against City.
At FFC this week it’s there has been plenty of Liverpool blogs that include an open letter to Torres; transfer necessity for Dalglish, while Bellamy fast becoming Kenny’s most valuable signing.
We also look at other Liverpool articles from around the Web:
Caption Competition: Have Liverpool or Newcastle had the last laugh?
Liverpool’s top TEN ‘most famous’ fans
An Open Letter to Fernando Torres
The transfer necessity for Kenny Dalglish
Dalglish’s worst bit of transfer business to date?
Are Villas-Boas and Dalglish really doing enough?
Transfer dealings at Liverpool FC?
Liverpool’s most important signing of the season?
A £24m gamble worth taking by Kenny Dalglish?
Jelavic keen on Premier League amid Liverpool’s interest
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
[divider]
Have the Reds wasted £100million? – Live4Liverpool
All Spanish Speakers Are Racist – Tomkins Times
The Stats Behind Shooting & Creativity for Liverpool FC – Anfield Index
Could Luis Suarez’s suspension be a blessing in disguise? – This is Anfield
€15M Price Tag Represents Huge Value: Top Flight Premiership Old Hand On The Move – Transfer Tavern
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Click on Wayne Bridge’s current lady below to unveil our WAG XI of the season
Luigi Delneri has played down talk of a Champions League place, insisting Juventus are focusing on their Serie A clash with Fiorentina.The Turin club are six points from Lazio in fourth on the league table, but have hit form in the run home to the end of the season.
Victory over Fiorentina would be Juventus’ fourth league win in succession, and Delneri stated that extending his side’s positive run was his main focus – not a Champions League spot.
“All the games have hidden dangers, so it will be a complicated and difficult match with Fiorentina,” he said.
“It’s going to be an important game and our recent wins have allowed us to remain in the hunt for an objective right to the end.”
“If you don’t set targets week by week, then you won’t achieve them. I don’t believe you can think long-term, so focusing only on Fiorentina must be our plan right now.”
Juventus are missing defender Giorgio Chiellini, midfielder Momo Sissoko and strike duo Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella, though Gianluigi Buffon is back after illness and should replace Marco Storari in goal.
“I understand Marco Storari wanted to make his mark during Buffon’s absence and has worked hard in training,” Delneri said.
As the curtains are finally drawn on the long running Cesc Fabregas saga this summer, it appears that one man has emerged with at least some credit.
Pep Guardiola has remained relatively unobtrusive this summer whilst his players and president have persistently tested Arsenal’s resolve and the latest admission that the North London side were right to keep hold of their star man is quite frankly a breath of fresh air.
Guardiola said: “I understand Arsenal and I understand Wenger, I wouldn’t have let him leave either,” which contrasts greatly with the immense pressure his squad trying to exert over a stubborn Arsene Wenger. Perhaps if the Nou Camp boss had a spoke sooner, the mind-numbing transfer saga would have long since run its course.
However, any credit that is lavished upon the Spaniard for this latest twist must be paralleled with that of Arsene Wenger who took a stance which he felt best for his football club and did not move an inch in the face of blatant provocation.
Fabregas himself admitted that he has only remained at Arsenal because the Frenchman “forced” him to do so, but it is with this understanding that I only feel further compelled to feel admiration for the Arsenal chief as it is too often that player power conquests the clubs desire to keep him.
The fact he signed a five-year deal not so long ago acts in accordance with Arsenal’s right to retain his services and it could be argued that Fabregas himself denied himself the move by putting pen to paper on such a long deal which is vindicated even more by Guardiola’s agreement.
There is no doubt that the admission of another top coach that “he would have done same” makes the unremitting chase for Fabregas and the forcing of a Barcelona shirt over his head during Spain’s World Cup celebration seem all the more irrational and only intensifies the lack of respect shown to Arsenal from some of the players and hierarchy at the Nou Camp.
For now, the resilience of Arsenal has prevailed and Guardiola’s latest comments contribute to re-building a reputation that has been slightly tarnished by their seemingly desperate attempts to capture the Gunners skipper.
Wenger concluded that “It is important for football that players do not move away. That nobody can just come in and say ‘we want him and you go.”
Fabregas will undoubtedly be watched with interest next year as he tries to acclimatize himself to the fact his “dream” move will not realised for at least another season and the Arsenal fans will hope his heart is now set on winning their first trophy in years as opposed to a move to the Spanish capital.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
*
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has stated that despite AC Milan claiming to have agreed the terms of a loan deal with Carlos Tevez, the Premier League club will not accept the deal, as they want to sell him.
The Argentina international has not played for City in months after refusing to come off the bench against Bayern Munich in September, and then going AWOL and returning to his homeland without the permission of the club.
The current Premier League leaders are paying the South American attacker’s huge wages despite the fact that he is playing no role at the club, and are keen to show him the door come January, recuperating money from his sale.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated yesterday that they were keen on a temporary deal initially, but this does not seem to interest the Etihad Stadium outfit.
“I don’t know exactly what is happening with Carlos, but we want to sell him,” the Italian coach stated to The Daily Mail.
“Nothing has happened yet, but it may do in the next few days. But they can’t take him on loan,” he clarified.
The news will come as a boost for Corinthians and Boca Juniors, who both are set to launch January bids for Tevez.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Blues are top of the Premier League form table and on the path to secure a top 4 place come the end of the season with an outside chance of catching Arsenal in 2nd or even United at the top if either of the teams are to slip up.
Despite super signing Fernando Torres not scoring a single goal since his arrival, Chelsea have been performing incredibly well since their form at mid-way through the season. They’ve won their last 3 games back-to-back with other new signing David Luiz already making a name for himself since his arrival with 2 goals.
Stoke on the other hand seem safe in 10th position and safe for Premier League football next season. Tony Pulis’ men have a semi-final at Wembley in the FA Cup to look forward to but the manager will be looking to turn over a poor record against Chelsea as the Potters have not picked up a single point against them in their last five attempts.
City have a good home record and will make it tough for the visit of the side from south west London, but Chelsea being in such good form of late will use their class to make the difference in this game depending on the formation that Carlo Ancelotti uses.
Prediction: Stoke City 0-1 Chelsea
Watch Jason Cundy & Scott Minto on Scoreboard and see their pre-match predictions
[ffcvideo file=’gw31_sto_v_che’]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
French teenager Francis Coquelin has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal who have confirmed that the 19-year-old will spend the 2010-11 campaign on loan with Lorient.
The midfielder made three first-team appearances for the Gunners last season when he was a regular in the reserve side.
Coquelin told Arsenal's official website:"I feel really happy to sign a new contract. I've had two great years already and now I will carry on and hopefully it will continue going well.
"Arsenal is the right club for me because Arsene Wenger trusts young players and we can learn quickly at a high level. That's why I went there in the first place.
"The first six months were quite hard for me because of the language but now I have learned English, now I have my house, my friends in England, and I feel comfortable.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"They have given me a new contract so obviously they are counting on me and I am really pleased with that. I will give that back by working hard."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United is not a place you associate with slavery but this week Tomasz Kuszczak accused Sir Alex Ferguson of just that. Having realised his foolish ways the stopper has tried to deny reports that he said that but it is unlikely to have helped his chances of getting a game.
At FFC this week there’s been plenty of talk about the mindlessness of the keeper, the coincidence of last weekend’s celebratory fixture and why Paul Pogba should think twice before jumping ship.
We also have a selection of the best United blogs from across the web.
Caption Competition: Oooh…suits you Rio!
Too good to be on the periphery at Old Trafford
United starlet should accept the grass isn’t always greener
The contrasting fortunes of Fergie and Terry
The more I read, the more I like Michael Owen
Aysal confirms interest in Manchester United ace
“Manchester United is a dream club for me”
United outburst makes you question Tomasz’s ambitions
Best of WEB
Forget Midfield, This Is The Real Priority For United In January- Red Flag Flying High
How to lose fans and alienate your manager – United Rant
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Greatest Masterstroke As A Manager – The United Religion
VIDEO: BBC’s tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson – The Busby Way
Phil Jones – a man for all positions – SEA
£6M Is For Nothing & Sir Alex Knows It: Barca Youth Star Old Trafford Bound? – Transfer Tavern
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[divider]
Click on Miss Yespica below to see her in all her glory