Friday's B*ll*x
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:43 amCarlos Tevez on Barcelona radar as Catalan giants want Manchester City striker to partner countryman Lionel Messi
Barcelona are mulling a January move for Carlos Tevez and hope the lure of playing alongside Lionel Messi could tempt the Manchester City man to the Nou Camp.
The Catalans fear there is no chance City will part with their captain, but have been alerted by the dressing room bust-up at the weekend between Tevez and his boss Roberto Mancini.
Eastlands boss Mancini insists there is no problem with Tevez and insists the clash on the way to a 2-1 win against Newcastle was a positive for the club.
Barca's technical secretary Andoni Zubizarreta has been tasked with identifying attacking targets for January amid fears that the once free-scoring side are a little short up front.
The Catalans have drawn their last two games and have scored fewer goals than the likes of Malaga and Getafe in the Spanish league so far this season.
While Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was a target in the summer, his name appears to be off the agenda now that Messi has been reinvented as a central striker.
Barca want a versatile forward who can play anywhere along the forward three, according to Catalan newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.
Assuming a deal for Tevez proves impossible, the prime candidate would be Ajax's Luis Suarez.
The 23-year-old Uruguay forward has previously interested Chelsea and Tottenham and it seems only a matter of time before he leaves Holland.
Also mentioned as candidates Shakhtar's impressive Brazilian Willian, 22, and Lille's 23-year-old Ivory Coast international Gervinho.
Tevez, meanwhile, says that if he does move, it won't be for a return to his boyhood idols Boca Juniors.
The 26-year-old said recently that he was growing tired of life in Europe and he has previous indicated a swansong at Boca was likely.
But despite problems in his private life, Tevez told Argentine radio: 'If I return to play in Argentina it is going to be worse, with even more pressure.
'The only reason I would return is if my daughter or father requested it of me. If it was up to me, I would not play.
'One gets tired of fighting all the time, and they want some peace. It is draining me more every time.'
Tevez is on international duty with Argentina in Tokyo ahead of Friday's friendly against Japan, but he has been given extra time off by City to visit family in South America before returning to the club next week.
Despite talking of quitting international football after the disappointment of the World Cup, he now has an eye on playing in the Copa America at the end of the season, which many European clubs will hope to persuade their players to miss.
'It would be very difficult to leave (the national team),' he admitted. 'I have a very tough year ahead at City, but I hope to be physically well for the Copa America. I spent a wonderful month with the group in South Africa.'
His idol Diego Maradona has since been removed as Argentina boss and replaced by Sergio Batista, who Tevez believes is doing a great job.
But of Maradona, he said: 'He knows that I love him and will always respect him. Equally I know that he has an important appreciation for me, I have always defended him and I have lived through difficult moments with him.'
But Tevez has said that he would return to his native Argentina if his daughters ever wanted him to.
talkSPORT http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/ ... ghter-asks
Spanish report: Manchester City sign former Barcelona youngster Guy Assulin
Manchester City have reportedly signed former Barcelona starlet Guy Assulin .
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Nou Camp but only made appearances for the first team this in pre-season friendlies and the Copa del Rey. He moved to Barcelona at the age of 12, and proved his abilities during the 2007/2008 season with Barcelona B, when he scored nine goals in 24 appearances.
However, with little prospect of first-team football this year, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola let Assulin leave this summer. Manchester City gave him a one-month trial at Eastlands and have now decided to sign Assulin, according to Spanish daily Sport.
Assulin is the youngest ever Israeli international (he made his debut for the national side at 16) and is certainly one for the future for Roberto Mancini. Sport points out that Assulin is expected to play for Manchester City ’s reserve team for now.
WAG OF THE DAY
http://img134.imagevenue.com/img.php?lo ... 1062lo.jpg
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea and Arsenal could be interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is thought to be unsettled at the club. Footylatest.com
Edwin van der Sar's hint that he may quit playing at the end of the season has led Manchester United to step up their search for a new goalkeeper. Norwegian club Aalesunds number one Anders Lindegaard and CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev are two potential targets. Daily Star
And Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has left the door open to a move to Manchester United after describing reports that he had already agreed a move to Bayern Munich as "humbug". Daily Mail
Liverpool's prospective new owner New England Sports Ventures will seek face-to-face talks with midfielder Steven Gerrard, striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina as soon as it complete its purchase. Daily Mirror
New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is weighing up an £8m bid for Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar in the upcoming January transfer window, though Monaco could rival the Frenchman for the player's signature. Footylatest.com
Turkish side Galatasaray have made the first move to sign Aston Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker on a free transfer. The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season. Daily Star
Aston Villa striker John Carew has indicated that he may leave the club when his contract expires next summer. Daily Mail
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson could be in competition with former club Fulham as he considers a bid for Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling. talkSPORT
Tottenham have been linked with a move for £5m-rated defender Daniele Bonera from AC Milan as manager Harry Redknapp looks to ease his defensive injury crisis. talkSPORT
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda wants to end his playing days in Brazil. The France international wants to end his European club career at Stamford Bridge, but would like to finish his playing days at Vasco da Gama or Flamengo. Daily Mirror
Blackpool striker Jason Euell is being tracked by Hull and two other Championship sides. Daily Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
England defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he is unsure if he will regain his place in Fabio Capello's side, never mind the team captaincy. Daily Mirror
The Football Association has so far failed to get in touch with highly rated youngster Eric Dier. The 16-year-old centre-back, who is already playing for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon's under-19 side, is qualified to represent England but could apply for dual nationality when he turns 18. Daily Mail
Wales caretaker manager Brian Flynn says that the prospect of managing the side against England is motivating him to succeed former boss John Toshack. Wales host England in a Euro 2012 qualifier in March next year before a return leg at Wembley in September. Daily Mirror
Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar believes that England's superiority means they have already won Euro 2012 qualifying Group G and that the other sides are merely playing for second place. the Sun
Paul Dalglish believes that father Kenny, who offered to return to Liverpool's managerial hot-seat before the appointment of Roy Hodgson, could still do a job at Anfield. talkSPORT
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp says that Liverpool's players cannot use the ongoing boardroom unrest at the club as an excuse for failure on the pitch. Daily Mirror
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton says that the club's prospective new owners will not follow the same path as their equivalents at big spending Manchester City and will instead adopt a "rational" approach to achieving success at Anfield. Daily Star
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn fears that West Ham could put his club out of business if they move in to the Olympic Stadium after 2012. The venue is close to Orient's Brisbane Road ground and Hearn is concerned they could attract supporters away from the League Two club. talkSPORT
Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb says that moving to St Andrews from Barcelona this summer was a backwards step and has criticised the team's long-ball style. Daily Star
Manchester United striker Michael Owen, who has represented England at World Cups and has played for Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid, has revealed he suffered from nerves before a recent Carling Cup tie with Scunthorpe. However, he scored twice in a 5-2 win at Glanford Park. Daily Mirror
Barcelona are mulling a January move for Carlos Tevez and hope the lure of playing alongside Lionel Messi could tempt the Manchester City man to the Nou Camp.
The Catalans fear there is no chance City will part with their captain, but have been alerted by the dressing room bust-up at the weekend between Tevez and his boss Roberto Mancini.
Eastlands boss Mancini insists there is no problem with Tevez and insists the clash on the way to a 2-1 win against Newcastle was a positive for the club.
Barca's technical secretary Andoni Zubizarreta has been tasked with identifying attacking targets for January amid fears that the once free-scoring side are a little short up front.
The Catalans have drawn their last two games and have scored fewer goals than the likes of Malaga and Getafe in the Spanish league so far this season.
While Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was a target in the summer, his name appears to be off the agenda now that Messi has been reinvented as a central striker.
Barca want a versatile forward who can play anywhere along the forward three, according to Catalan newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.
Assuming a deal for Tevez proves impossible, the prime candidate would be Ajax's Luis Suarez.
The 23-year-old Uruguay forward has previously interested Chelsea and Tottenham and it seems only a matter of time before he leaves Holland.
Also mentioned as candidates Shakhtar's impressive Brazilian Willian, 22, and Lille's 23-year-old Ivory Coast international Gervinho.
Tevez, meanwhile, says that if he does move, it won't be for a return to his boyhood idols Boca Juniors.
The 26-year-old said recently that he was growing tired of life in Europe and he has previous indicated a swansong at Boca was likely.
But despite problems in his private life, Tevez told Argentine radio: 'If I return to play in Argentina it is going to be worse, with even more pressure.
'The only reason I would return is if my daughter or father requested it of me. If it was up to me, I would not play.
'One gets tired of fighting all the time, and they want some peace. It is draining me more every time.'
Tevez is on international duty with Argentina in Tokyo ahead of Friday's friendly against Japan, but he has been given extra time off by City to visit family in South America before returning to the club next week.
Despite talking of quitting international football after the disappointment of the World Cup, he now has an eye on playing in the Copa America at the end of the season, which many European clubs will hope to persuade their players to miss.
'It would be very difficult to leave (the national team),' he admitted. 'I have a very tough year ahead at City, but I hope to be physically well for the Copa America. I spent a wonderful month with the group in South Africa.'
His idol Diego Maradona has since been removed as Argentina boss and replaced by Sergio Batista, who Tevez believes is doing a great job.
But of Maradona, he said: 'He knows that I love him and will always respect him. Equally I know that he has an important appreciation for me, I have always defended him and I have lived through difficult moments with him.'
But Tevez has said that he would return to his native Argentina if his daughters ever wanted him to.
talkSPORT http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/ ... ghter-asks
Spanish report: Manchester City sign former Barcelona youngster Guy Assulin
Manchester City have reportedly signed former Barcelona starlet Guy Assulin .
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Nou Camp but only made appearances for the first team this in pre-season friendlies and the Copa del Rey. He moved to Barcelona at the age of 12, and proved his abilities during the 2007/2008 season with Barcelona B, when he scored nine goals in 24 appearances.
However, with little prospect of first-team football this year, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola let Assulin leave this summer. Manchester City gave him a one-month trial at Eastlands and have now decided to sign Assulin, according to Spanish daily Sport.
Assulin is the youngest ever Israeli international (he made his debut for the national side at 16) and is certainly one for the future for Roberto Mancini. Sport points out that Assulin is expected to play for Manchester City ’s reserve team for now.
WAG OF THE DAY
http://img134.imagevenue.com/img.php?lo ... 1062lo.jpg
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea and Arsenal could be interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is thought to be unsettled at the club. Footylatest.com
Edwin van der Sar's hint that he may quit playing at the end of the season has led Manchester United to step up their search for a new goalkeeper. Norwegian club Aalesunds number one Anders Lindegaard and CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev are two potential targets. Daily Star
And Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has left the door open to a move to Manchester United after describing reports that he had already agreed a move to Bayern Munich as "humbug". Daily Mail
Liverpool's prospective new owner New England Sports Ventures will seek face-to-face talks with midfielder Steven Gerrard, striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina as soon as it complete its purchase. Daily Mirror
New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is weighing up an £8m bid for Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar in the upcoming January transfer window, though Monaco could rival the Frenchman for the player's signature. Footylatest.com
Turkish side Galatasaray have made the first move to sign Aston Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker on a free transfer. The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season. Daily Star
Aston Villa striker John Carew has indicated that he may leave the club when his contract expires next summer. Daily Mail
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson could be in competition with former club Fulham as he considers a bid for Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling. talkSPORT
Tottenham have been linked with a move for £5m-rated defender Daniele Bonera from AC Milan as manager Harry Redknapp looks to ease his defensive injury crisis. talkSPORT
Chelsea winger Florent Malouda wants to end his playing days in Brazil. The France international wants to end his European club career at Stamford Bridge, but would like to finish his playing days at Vasco da Gama or Flamengo. Daily Mirror
Blackpool striker Jason Euell is being tracked by Hull and two other Championship sides. Daily Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
England defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he is unsure if he will regain his place in Fabio Capello's side, never mind the team captaincy. Daily Mirror
The Football Association has so far failed to get in touch with highly rated youngster Eric Dier. The 16-year-old centre-back, who is already playing for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon's under-19 side, is qualified to represent England but could apply for dual nationality when he turns 18. Daily Mail
Wales caretaker manager Brian Flynn says that the prospect of managing the side against England is motivating him to succeed former boss John Toshack. Wales host England in a Euro 2012 qualifier in March next year before a return leg at Wembley in September. Daily Mirror
Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar believes that England's superiority means they have already won Euro 2012 qualifying Group G and that the other sides are merely playing for second place. the Sun
Paul Dalglish believes that father Kenny, who offered to return to Liverpool's managerial hot-seat before the appointment of Roy Hodgson, could still do a job at Anfield. talkSPORT
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp says that Liverpool's players cannot use the ongoing boardroom unrest at the club as an excuse for failure on the pitch. Daily Mirror
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton says that the club's prospective new owners will not follow the same path as their equivalents at big spending Manchester City and will instead adopt a "rational" approach to achieving success at Anfield. Daily Star
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn fears that West Ham could put his club out of business if they move in to the Olympic Stadium after 2012. The venue is close to Orient's Brisbane Road ground and Hearn is concerned they could attract supporters away from the League Two club. talkSPORT
Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb says that moving to St Andrews from Barcelona this summer was a backwards step and has criticised the team's long-ball style. Daily Star
Manchester United striker Michael Owen, who has represented England at World Cups and has played for Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid, has revealed he suffered from nerves before a recent Carling Cup tie with Scunthorpe. However, he scored twice in a 5-2 win at Glanford Park. Daily Mirror