Manchester City released departure of veteran stars

Manchester City's departure of veteran stars

Manchester City have released veteran duo Martin Demichelis and Richard Wright after their contracts came to an end.

Argentina international Demichelis was brought to the club in 2013 by Manuel Pellegrini, who he had played under at former club Malaga.

In his first season at the Etihad Stadium, he helped City to win the Premier League and the League Cup, making 35 appearances in all competitions.

However, subsequent campaigns were less fruitful, with just one further trophy in two years, and Demichelis found first-team action hard to come by due to the signings of Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala.

Wright, meanwhile, has now announced his retirement, having never made an appearance for City in a four-year spell.

The 38-year-old collected two England caps earlier in his career, and had spells with Ipswich Town, Arsenal and Everton.

SOURCE:http://www.goal.com/

Giggs to leave Manchester united:Rumor

Giggs to leave Manchester united

Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for the club, had one more year on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho is expected to give that role to Rui Faria.

The Old Trafford club had hoped Giggs could be persuaded to stay on in a different role but the 42-year-old Welshman appears to have decided to move on.SOURCE:http://www.football.co.uk/

COSTA to sign Atletico Madrid?

Atletico Madrid talk £35 million for Diego Costa transfer

Atletico Madrid have opened talks about a £35million deal to re-sign Diego Costa.

The Spanish club are desperate to buy back their former striker who has enjoyed a chequered career at Chelsea since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2014.

Costa, 27, has made no secret he wants to return to Atletico and they are keen to make it happen.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone wants Costa and Chelsea are ready to sell after closing in on Marseille’s £33million striker Michy Batshuayi, 22.

Spain international Costa has scored 36 goals in 78 appearances during his two years at Chelsea.

SOURCE:http://www.mirror.co.uk/

Neymar sign five year contract with Barcelona

                                                     A new five year contract

Neymar has signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until 2021.

The Brazil international's release clause is set at €200 million but will increase to €222m next season and then move up to €250m for the remainder of his deal.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed at a press conference on Thursday that an agreement was close before the 24-year-old confirmed his intention to stay later in the day.

Neymar, who is set to join the Brazil national team for the Olympic Games next month, has been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain but has now signed a three-year contract extension.

A formal presentation of Neymar's new deal will take place on July 15 ahead of the player's Olympic commitments.

Neymar has scored 85 goals in 141 games since joining Barcelona in 2013, winning eight trophies - including La Liga twice and the Champions League once.

                                                     SOURCE:http://www.goal.com/

"I hope he listens to me" Pele on Messi

The Barcelona forward quit playing for Argentina after missing in a penalty shoot-out against Chile in last month's Copa America final defeat.

It was the fourth time Messi had lost in a major final while playing for his country after two previous Copa America losses and defeat to Germany in the World Cup in 2014.

However Pele, who won the World Cup three times with Brazil, says good players miss penalties and hopes the 29-year-old will change his mind.

"In the last 10 years, no doubt he was the best player. What happened to him happens in football. Only the one who kicks the penalty can miss the penalty," Pele said.

"He got very upset but maybe wait a little bit and he'll forget because this has happened with a lot of good players. A lot of good players have missed penalty kicks. The last 15 years, for me, he was one of the best players in the world and this is more important."

Asked if he thinks Messi will change his mind, Pele added: "I hope he listens to me.

SOURCE:http://www.skysports.com/

Everything is going away from Spain

Vicente del Bosque has confirmed he will not continue as Spain coach following their last-16 exit from Euro 2016.

The reigning European champions were beaten by Italy on Monday to end their chances of winning a third consecutive continental title.

Del Bosque also guided La Roja to victory at the 2010 World Cup having taken over following Luis Aragones' winning Euro 2008 campaign.

 "Without a doubt, I have no intention to remain as coach, but you have to be discreet," Del Bosque told radio station RNE. 

"No matter what the result of the Euros, I had no doubt about what my future would be."

A report by Spanish newspaper Marca claimed former Sevilla and Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros is set to succeed Del Bosque.

"I would be excited to manage the national team, any Spanish coach would be honoured to take this job," Caparros said. 

"But I hope Vicente stays, he is the best coach possible."

SOURCE:http://www.goal.com/

A report by Spanish newspaper Marca claimed former Sevilla and Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros is set to succeed Del Bosque.

"I would be excited to manage the national team, any Spanish coach would be honoured to take this job," Caparros said. 

"But I hope Vicente stays, he is the best coach possible."

What RONALDO said on Messi retirement

RONALDO on Messi retirement

World Cup winner and Brazil legend Ronaldo feels "abandoned" by Lionel Messi and hopes he reneges on his retirement from international football.

The Barcelona forward, 29, lost his third major final with Argentina in as many years last Sunday when Chile won the Copa America Centenario final on penalties.

Messi, having missed a spot kick in the shootout, stunned the world in the aftermath by revealing he would never again play for Argentina, triggering a slew of people - including Diego Maradona and the country's own president - publicly pleading with him to reconsider.

Ronaldo, who himself lost World Cup and Copa America finals before going on to win both, sympathises with Messi but, like most self-respecting football fans, is praying for a change of heart.

"It is an extremely personal choice for Messi and we have to respect," Ronaldo told China's official Xinhua news agency.

"We all feel abandoned by Messi and hope he can change his decision."

With World Cup 2018 qualification already under way and Argentina far from comfortable in the South American standings, there are fears that a team shorn of Messi could fail to qualify for the finals in Russia.

Messi retreated to Rosario, Argentina after the painful defeat to Chile on US soil and is now holidaying with his family as he rebuilds mentally and physically for a new season at Camp Nou.

In stark contrast, Messi's arch-rival at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, experienced spot kick euphoria on Thursday as he converted Portugal's first effort in their Euro 2016 quarter-final penalty shootout win over Poland.

SOURCE:http://www.goal.com/