Barry uncertain over Man City future

The England international is entering the final year of his contract and, with no talks yet held regarding a new deal, the 32-year-old admits he could leave next season Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry admits he is uncertain about his future at the club.The England international is entering the final year of his contract, having been brought to the club from Aston Villa by Mark Hughes four years ago.But with a year to go on his current...

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Ogbonna will become a star, says Barzagli

The Italy international has nothing but praise for his new Juventus team-mate and is confident that he has a bright future ahead of him Andrea Barzagli believes Angelo Ogbonna has what it takes to become a key player at Juventus and feels the Serie A champions made the right decision to sign the centre-back.Ogbonna joined Juve from Torino in a deal worth up to €15 million and Barzagli has little doubt the 25-year-old is destined to become...

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Pellegrini: Nastasic injury won't force Manchester City to spend

The extent of the 20-year-old Serbian's problem has yet to be fully discovered after he was stretchered off in Saturday's Asia Trophy victory against Sunderland in Hong Kong Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists the club will not be forced back into the transfer market by injury to centre-back Matija Nastasic.The Serbian was stretchered off the pitch during Saturday's Asia Trophy final in Hong Kong which saw the Chilean pick up...

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Betting Special: Could Preston be the dark horses in this season's League One title race?

The Lilywhites are in safe hands under the command of Simon Grayson, and Al Hain-Cole thinks the former Leeds boss could well win his fourth promotion from the division With the League One season set to kick off this Friday, fans have just a few days left of excited anticipation before the real hard work begins for their teams.Wolverhampton Wanderers will be demanding an instant return to the Championship after suffering the embarrassment...

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Gareth Bale latest: Levy stands firm but Welshman wants out as Tottenham-Real Madrid battle reaches tipping point

The flying Welshman has his heart set on a move to the Spanish capital this summer, but Daniel Levy is determined not to yield to pressure to sell his star manTottenham insist there has been no official bid. Chairman Daniel Levy is adamant that he will not sell. And yet Gareth Bale, meanwhile, has told the club that he is desperate to complete a summer transfer to Real Madrid.The Spanish giants' concerted, potentially record-breaking pursuit...

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Robben: Bayern have no reason to panic

The Dutchman feels his side's 4-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday was due to simple errors which can easliy be corrected Arjen Robben feels Bayern Munich have no reason to panic after their somewhat surprising 4-2 German Supercup loss against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.The reigning Bundesliga champions failed to win their first trophy under new coach Pep Guardiola as Jurgen Klopp's side put in a clinical display against Bayern's...

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Halmstad - Syrianksa Betting Preview: Hosts can heap more misery on struggling Syrianska

Ozcan Melkemichel's men are rooted to the bottom of the Allsvenskan and Willie Duncan expects them to endure more misery against Jens Gustafsson's fellow strugglers There is a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash in the Allsvenskan when second-bottom Halmstad play host to basement boys Syrianska at Orjans Vall on Monday evening.Jens Gustafsson’s side come into this clash four points ahead of Monday’s opponents and the hosts will be looking...

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Moyes confident Manchester United will make signings

The former Everton manager has so far been unsuccessful in bringing Barcelona midfielders Thiago and Cesc Fabregas to Old Trafford, but remains confident David Moyes insists his plans for the transfer window are on track despite failing to so far make a major signing at Manchester United. The Red Devils have had multiple bids for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas turned down, and had previously lost out to Bayern Munich in their attempts to sign his...

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Betting Special: Why backing the Robins for the League Two title is worth investing in

After falling at the playoff hurdle in the last two seasons, Hugh Wilson believes the Robins are good value this season for the League Two title After being relegated from League One in the 2008-09 season, Cheltenham Town struggled in the bottom tier of the football league for two years. Mark Yates’s men were on the verge of going out of the football league all together in 09-10, finishing in 22nd in League Two, one place above the relegation...

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Goal 50 entrant Sato: J-League is on the rise

The striker has been named alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in our selection and spoke of his pride upon hearing of the results Japan striker Hisato Sato has credited the development of the J-League for his inclusion in the Goal 50 after placing 47th in our yearly round-up of the world's top footballers.After finishing the 2012 season with 22 goals, the J-League’s Most Valuable Player award and Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s...

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Arsenal target Sunday Mba keen on transfer after inclusion in Goal 50

The Nigeria midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season following his match-winning Afcon contributions and is hoping his rise to prominence will bring about a move Sunday Mba is hopeful that his selection in this year's Goal 50 will boost his profile as he looks to secure a move to European football. The Nigeria midfielder was linked with a transfer to Arsenal following his superb displays at the Africa Cup of Nations, but a contract wrangle...

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Reina: Liverpool forced me out

The Spaniard revealed the Reds hierarchy accepted Napoli's loan offer without consulting him, and insists he was willing to extend his contract if Barcelona made no offer Pepe Reina has claimed that he was forced out of Liverpool after agreeing to join Napoli on a season-long loan. With Brendan Rodgers electing to make new signing Simon Mignolet his first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the coming campaign, the Spaniard signed a temporary deal...

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FC Krasnodar - Amkar Perm Betting Preview: Expect poor defending to spell plenty of goals

The hosts have been leaking goals in their recent Premier League matches, and Al Hain-Cole expects both attacks to flourish when another accomodating defence visits FC Krasnodar will be hoping to record their first win of the Russian Premier League season when they welcome Amkar Perm to the Kuban Stadium on Monday.Slavoljub Muslin’s men have only lost one of the last seven meetings between these sides, and are 8/13 (1.62) favourites with bet365...

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Mazzarri shrugs off Conte comparisons

The former Napoli boss has dismissed suggestions that Inter are in a similar position to that of Juventus in 2011 following a dismal campaign last season Walter Mazzarri has stressed that his situation at Inter cannot be compared to that of Antonio Conte upon his arrival at Juventus in 2011.Conte joined the current Serie A champions on the back of a disappointing 2010-11 campaign, only to guide them to back-to-back league titles in the next...

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Martino one of the best, says Maxi Rodriguez

The Newell's Old Boys winger has insisted that his former coach is just the right man for the Barca job and is confident he will succeed Maxi Rodriguez feels new Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino is one of the best around in the profession and has little doubt that the 50-year-old will succeed at the Spanish champions.The former Liverpool winger worked with Martino at Newell's Old Boys and he has nothing but fond memories of his compatriot during...

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Kitchee - Manchester United Betting Preview: Back the Red Devils to win by four goals

Phil Kitromilides believes United will finally get into their stride on Monday and will secure a comfortable win over the side from Hong Kong Somewhat unexpectedly Manchester United have produced a series of rather stuttering results pre-season, with the Red Devils' record of one win, two defeats and a draw made all the more suprising given the calibre of opposition faced. Next up for David Moyes' side is a game against Hong Kong side Kitchee...

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Hummels: Dortmund showed Bayern are beatable

The centre-back has voiced his delight with last weekend's DFL Supercup win and believes his side can challenge for top honours this term Mats Hummels feels Borussia Dortmund's 4-2 German Supercup win over Bayern Munich at the weekend showed that the reigning Bundesliga champions are not unbeatable.Bayern are the sky-high favourites to retain their league title this term after strengthening their squad with the likes of Mario Gotze and Thiago ...

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Lionel Messi wins Goal 50

The Barcelona forward says he is "very excited" after topping our annual list of the world's most outstanding players for the third time Lionel Messi has won the Goal 50 award for the world’s best footballer after another record-breaking season.The Argentinian forward claims the title for the third time in recognition of an incredible campaign during which he beat Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year.The...

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Wes Brown warns Manchester United stars about Hong Kong pitch

The surface at the stadium has been criticised by managers Andre Villas-Boas and Paolo Di Canio for causing injury, and now the champions' former stopper has warned of the dangers Sunderland defender Wes Brown has warned Manchester United that their players risk suffering injury at the Hong Kong Stadium. The former United defender played on the pitch twice at the Barclays Asia Trophy, first in a 3-1 win against Tottnham and then in a 1-0 defeat...

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Raul wants Draxler to join Real Madrid

The Blancos icon has nothing but praise for the Germany international and hopes to see his former team-mate make the move to the Santiago Bernabeu side in future Raul is confident that Julian Draxler has a bright future ahead of him and thinks the Schalke star will be ready to join the likes of Real Madrid within two years.The 19-year-old had been linked with clubs such as Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester City in the past few months,...

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Suarez still 'very much part of the group' at Liverpool, insists Rodgers

The Reds manager insists the striker remains key to the club's preparations going into the new Premier League season, despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future Brendan Rodgers insists Luis Suarez remains “very much a part of the group” at Liverpool despite the striker’s desire to leave the club.The Uruguay international is understood to be preparing to submit a transfer request to force through an exit from Anfield with Arsenal...

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Buffon: Signing Tevez was a statement of intent

The Italy international feels the Serie A champions have taken a "genuine step forward" with the Argentine's acquisition as they look to mount a Champions League challenge Gianluigi Buffon feels Juventus have issued a statement of intent to the rest of Europe by signing Carlos Tevez this summer.Tevez joined the Serie A champions from Manchester City earlier this summer, and the experienced goalkeeper feels the 29-year-old's decision to move...

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CSKA president: Milan can't treat us like losers over Honda

The Russians are unhappy with the money that the Rossoneri are offering to bring forward the attacking midfielder's arrival at San Siro CSKA Moscow president Yevgeny Giner has warned AC Milan to stop treating his club "like losers" over their attempts to sign Keisuke Honda.The Rossoneri have agreed a deal with the Japan international that will see the attacking midfielder arrive at San Siro in January, after his contract with his current...

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Pre-season goals a big boost, admits Defoe

The England international believes his strikes for Spurs in their 6-0 demolition of South China bode well ahead of the coming campaign Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe believes his pre-season goals can help him get off to a good start in this season's Premier League.The England international bagged a hat-trick in the 6-0 demolition of South China on Saturday, after only coming off the bench in the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays Asia...

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Santana: Hard leaving Dortmund for Schalke

The Brazilian has admitted that the intense rivalry between the two Ruhr outfits forced him to give plenty of thought to the prospect of a transfer to Gelsenkirchen Felipe Santana has admitted that leaving Borussia Dortmund for Schalke this summer was "a hard decision" but the defender insists that he is "prepared" for any abuse he might receive from either set of supporters.The two Ruhr clubs have a fierce rivalry and the Brazilian knows...

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Zoff: Gomez the signing of the summer

The former Italy boss is a big admirer of the Germany international, even if he does not feel that the striker will be able to lead the Viola past the Bianconeri Dino Zoff believes that Fiorentina have pulled off the biggest transfer coup of the summer in signing Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich.The Viola have paid a reported €16 million for a player who scored 75 times in 115 Bundesliga appearances for the Bavarians. Consequently, Zoff feels...

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Pellegrini will bring out the best in Manchester City, says Navas

The 27-year-old signing from Sevilla linked up with his new team-mates for the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong, and believes his new manager's 'clear vision' will be crucial Manchester City new signing Jesus Navas is backing Manuel Pellegrini to get the best out of both him and his colleagues in the Premier League next season.The 27-year-old winger, one of a spate of summer arrivals at the Etihad, joined up with last season's runners-up for their...

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Sammer: Bayern not worried about other clubs

The former Germany international insists that die Roten are paying little heed to what others are demanding of the treble winners this season Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has made light of the weight of expectancy upon the shoulders of Pep Guardiola, claiming that neither the club nor the coach care what anybody else thinks about them.Die Roten romped to a sensational treble last season but there are those that now expect...

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Sahin: Dortmund laid down marker against Bayern

Die Schwarzgelben finished second best to die Roten last season but they made a real statement of intent in defeating their rivals at the weekend Nuri Sahin believes that Borussia Dortmund have laid down an early marker for this season's Bundesliga with their stunning 4-2 win over reigning champions Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup on Saturday.Die Schwarzgelben were beaten by the Bavarians in the final of the Champions League May, after...

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Martino didn't even tell wife about Barcelona approach

The Blaugrana trainer has explained that he was first contacted by the Catalans through the president of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes New Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has revealed that he did not even tell his wife when club president Sandro Rosell first sounded him out about taking over at Camp Nou.The former Newell's Old Boys boss was a surprise choice to succeed Tito Vilanova and the 50-year-old has admitted that the Blaugrana's offer also...

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Messi: I didn't appoint Martino

The Argentina star has denied influencing the appointment of the former Newell's Old Boys boss as Tito Vilanova's replacement Lionel Messi has rubbished suggestions he was behind Barcelona's decision to hire Gerardo Martino as the club's new coach.The 44-year-old was confirmed as Tito Vilanova's replacement - who stepped down to continue his recovery from a cancer relapse - on Tuesday, after a successful stint in charge of Messi's childhood...

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