Paper Talk: Mancini, Villa, Balotelli

Source:AFP

Column inches are bursting with football talk during a hectic couple of weeks. Paper Talk: Weekend Wash-Up returns full of the best yarns and videos doing the rounds over the weekend.

Two departures from Manchester, two very different styles. 

While Fergie is lapping up the love at Old Trafford, it's a very different story down at Etihad Stadium, where Roberto Mancini will be sacked any moment after a "disastrous" Premier League defence. 

The Italian, whose team are eight points worse than they were this time last year, was reportedly always destined for the chop regardless of the FA Cup final result - which only added insult to injury. 

After the embarrassing Champions League performance, limp title defence, Mario Balotelli debacle, and rampant rumours of player and staff unrest, the decision looks a fait accompli. 

How about this support from Pablo Zabaleta: "We’ve got two games left and we will see the chairman and sports director and all the people who have to think about this. If they make some changes, it’s because – I don’t know. We need to let them deal with this." 

Mancini blew up after the FA Cup, bemoaning why the club had not supported him by issuing a statement about his future. 

Well, it seems it wasn't even worth a PR spin because the club wasn't behind him at all. 

Much like United, City seem to have their replacement lined up. But, just like Mancini did to Mark Hughes, a deal for Manuel Pellegrini has reportedly been stitched up for some time. 

Why is this manager the undisputed choice to re-build City? 

The British press is split in two camps. One looks at the guy sacked by Real Madrid to make way for Jose Mourinho, failing to win the league and exiting the UCL at the hands of Lyon, despite fielding an expensively-assembled squad in 2009.

Others point to the fact his 96 points at Santiago Bernabeu was the highest accrued by the club until Mourinho arrived, as well as his feats with Villareal and currently at Malaga. 

His Villarreal and Malaga sides are the two most recent teams to make the UCL's quarter-finals on debut, and Villarreal are the last side to split the Barcelona-Madrid duopoly at the top of La Liga.

It appears inevitable the Chilean will depart Malaga - a club backed by Qatari investors, who have been banned by UEFA for having outstanding payments owed (although they will appeal in the off-season) from their European competitions next season.

He is known for a high tempo style, a preference for technique and a faith in youth.  

Players have spoken highly of him, particularly in his role placating the playing group during a difficult time at Malaga. 

He’ll have a fair bit of mending to do when he arrives in Manchester. 

Fergie? Well, he's a lot happier than Roberto ... 

MONACO TO TRUMP CHELSEA, PSG

Chelsea target Radamel Falcao could become the first prized signature of ambitious Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.

The Sunday Times reports the Colombian striker has agreed a £50million deal to join from Atletico Madrid. 

The striker will be paid £8.2m a year after tax, according to the report, but the club trying to trump Paris Saint Germain as the French big spenders.

VILLA TO SPURS TALK RE-IGNITES

Age and price are deterring Arsenal and Liverpool, but Tottenham want to see if they can negotiate a good deal for Barcelona's David Villa. 

"Spanish giants are now ready to allow him to leave in search of first-team football that could help him secure a place in Spain's squad for the World Cup finals next year," the Daily Mirror reported last week. 

Barcelona are demanding £13m for the 31-year-old, but the paper reports Spurs aiming to lure the Spaniard for £8m.

Spurs are also in the mix for Aston Villa gun Christian Benteke, according to the Sunday Mirror. 

MANCHESTER UNITED MERRY-GO-ROUND

Lewandowski: David Moyes won't have a dream pairing up front next year, with the Daily Mail reporting that "Bayern had hijacked United’s ambitious plan to pair Lewandowski with Robin Van Persie but were facing stern resistance from Dortmund". The rivals can have the in-demand Poland international if they agree to the "25million euros asking price by next Wednesday". 

Rooney: Fergie says he should stay, but admits the England star wants away. Jose Mourinho is reportedly waiting to swoop once he gets appointed Chelsea boss, but the advice from Gary Neville is to calm down:

"He (Rooney) is an emotional lad and he needs to consider what he’s done," Neville said on Sky Sports. 

"He’s 27 and there’s nowhere to go. I’ve seen players join Real Madrid and they want to come back. He loves football, the players will look after him. He’s been vacant on the pitch recently and he’s not been himself.

"He’s sat up there in that box watching the game, but he needs to surround himself with friends and family.

"This is a good kid. He’s not rash, just emotional. These players have massive egos. When they don’t play against Real Madrid in the Champions League they get down, but they have to deal with adversity.

"There is an international break coming and that will be an important time for him to enjoy his football again."

Rooney replacement: Karim Benzema is a priority for Moyes, said the Sun on Sunday, with a £30million bid to be fuelled by Rooney's sale. 

'I WANT TO PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE' 

Well, there goes Marouane Fellaini ... 

"Every player wants to play in the Champions League. That is the big competition," Fellaini said.

"I hope I can do it with Everton. I’m happy here. I’ve been at the club for five years. I’m happy because I know everybody.

"For my future, I want to play in England. The Premier League is the best league. Here there are five, six, seven, eight teams, all of whom think they are good enough to play in the Champions League and want that.

"There isn’t another country in Europe where you get that."

RAFA WANTS TO STAY ... IN ENGLAND

A Chelsea departure looks inevitable, but Rafa Benitez is throwing his CV around reminding everyone he can that he is available, willing and able. 

"The Premier League is a fantastic league," he told the People. "My family are still in Liverpool and it would be easy to stay.

"I would go to Italy or France or Spain but this is my No 1 choice."

He added: "I can say that a lot of fans are telling me I am doing a good job. You can't convince everyone but I'm sure a lot will be pleased with the job I have done. It has been a success, 100 per cent. 

"I came here and did a professional job from day one."

As for Thursday morning (EST)'s Europa League final, reports over the weekend indicated the Spaniard is set to make the big call and leave out club legends John Terry and Frank Lampard.

The Daily Mirror reports that "Benitez, who has marginalised the two Stamford Bridge legends, is now preparing for the biggest call of all by omitting the pair from the team to face Benfica in Amsterdam next Wednesday night." 

Lampard broke Bobby Tambling's club record with a brace against Aston Villa on the weekend. 

DISGRACE

AC Milan's Serie A game against Roma had to be temporarily suspended because of racist abuse hurled at Mario Balotelli and other black players by Roma fans. 

Referee Gianluca Rocchi halted the game, with the stadium announcer required to call on Roma supporters to stop monkey chants to avoid having the game postponed. 

ANOTHER MEDAL FOR BECKS

While his former club was saying farewell his former mentor, David Beckham was off becoming the first Englishman to win a league medal in a fourth country. 

After wins with United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, Beckham's cameo in Paris Saint Germain's first title in 19 years saw him create his own slice of history. 

The club celebrated as if they won the league - however, their title cannot be confirmed until a league disciplinary panel meets to consider a points deduction for sporting director Leonardo confronting a referee last weekend. His contract runs out at the end of the season but the club are keen to keep him.

PSG want to keep Becks next season. 

GOING BERSERK

Nothing better than a classic bit of commentary. 

Imagine calling Sunday night's ridiculous Championship semi-final between Watford and Leicester. 

How the hell do you keep your composure on air? 

Well, looks like you don't have to! And it only adds to the crazy, crazy 90 seconds of football. 

"It was a very soft penalty at the end of a game like that, and in the last two months I have felt so many times we should have had penalties ourselves," said manager Gianfranco Zola. 

"But ‘Manu’ did the rest, and as soon as I saw the ball travelling to our strikers I thought of the film of Brentford conceding against Doncaster. 

"I didn’t know what I was doing, I felt the ground slip from under me and I’ve probably pulled something, but it’s OK, I can’t feel it now,” smiled the Italian, a little sheepishly. "That’s the passion, that’s why we love this game."

FAREWELL, OWEN!

Fergie and Scholes get a trophy, Michael Owen gets ...

Egged. 

ANOTHER TROPHY FOR BARCELONA

Lionel Messi was injured again, but Barcelona got to celebrate sealing their fourth La Liga in five seasons, in Tito Vilanova's debut campaign in charge. 

"It has been a good season. The shame has been that we couldn't compete better in the Champions League," he told a press conference on Sunday.

"Next season it will be even more difficult because to be in the semi-finals seven years running is very complicated, but the evaluation of the season is good because in the league we have had a great season.

"In the Champions League we were not fortunate and the referees haven't helped us a lot."

 

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Paper Talk: Messi, Cavani, Goetze

Paper Talk ... the best yarns and videos doing the rounds. Source: AP / AFP

We're reaching the business end of the football season across Europe. Here's the pick of it in Paper Talk: Weekend Wash-up.

MESSI TREATS PLAYERS LIKE CONES

For a moment, let's forget the questions about Barcelona's decline, La Liga languishing and Germany conquering Spain. 

Lionel Messi, in La Liga, just scored in his 21st consecutive league match.  

The little maestro surfaced from the bench to orchestrate Barcelona's 4-2 comback win over Real Betis. His free-kick and the fourth goal, to die for.

Before Messi's magic, there was a little sweat for the league leaders after Real Madrid's 4-3 win at home to Real Valladolid the day before delayed their title-winning celebrations. 

And for a minute, the spotlight was away from Jose and back on Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Two thunderous headers took him to 199 Real Madrid goals. 

Staggering. 

Ronaldo scored 40 goals in 2010; Messi beat him back on 50 last year and looks like passing that again. 

"Against Messi, you can't do anything," said the Betis coach, Pepe Mel.

"At San Mames he ran through opposing players like they were cones. And here, the first ball he touches he puts it right inside the corner of the goalframe. It was like it had been scripted. It was suddenly a big party and went down from there."

HERE'S WHY WE'VE GOT A BAD RECORD

David Moyes has noticed all the talk about Everton's record in the derby and was left fuming as a rare opportunity slipped past. 

"It was a legitimate goal. The goalkeeper runs into Victor Anichebe and it is a goal," he said of the 56th-minute header by Sylvain Distin, ruled out for an foul by Victor Anichebe on Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

"It is not a foul. It is disappointing because it is not easy here.

"You people (the media) are quick to remind me I've not won at Anfield but if you don't get any decisions at Anfield it makes it very difficult to win and that (not getting decisions) is quite a regular occurrence when you come here.

"If you score a good goal you need to get something going for you."

AWKWARD! 

Such a shame Borussia Dortmund fans' ride to the UEFA Champions League final is tinged by the prospect of their team being torn apart - by their opponents, no less. 

Tensions boiled over on the sidelines as the two finalists faced eachother in the Bundesliga, while some fans made their feelings towards Mario Gotze very clear. 

Bayern stunned Dortmund by triggering Gotze's £32million release fee clause. 

TITLE NO.31, UM, I MEAN, 29

Juventus celebrated their relentless Serie A title defence on Monday morning (EST), but have opened old wounds with flagrantly parading posters and signs celebrating their '31st' Scudetto.

"How many scudettos have Juventus won? It seems to me to be 31," defender Andrea Barzagli told RAI television.

Of course, Juve were stripped of two crowns in 2005 and 2006 in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. They are not counted in Italy's official records, but the club continues to include them. 

TITLE NO.32, AND COUNTING

Historic ... Frank de Boer hoists the trophy. Source: AFP

There's no doubts over in Holland, however, where Ajax have sealed their 32nd Eredivise title.

Their coach Frank de Boer, linked with Manchester City earlier this year, is the first person to win the league title three consecutive times with Ajax as a player nd then repeat the feat as a manager.

WHILE WE'RE COUNTING

Galatasaray sealed theirrecord 19th Turkish league title by beating Sivasspor 4-2 in Istanbul.

The win is another notch in the belt for Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder.

Some fans paid tribute to banned manager Fatih Terim, who said he 'will lead this team from the moon' after copping nine games for criticising a referee in April, by wearing space suits to the game. 

HERE'S YOUR MAN, ROBERTO

We've heard it all before; Robin van Persie's been the difference as poor old Roberto Mancini couldn't muster goals from his £200million squad. 

The 0-0 draw with Swansea allowed Mancini to re-visit his argument. 

"In the first half, we missed three incredible chances — one (Samir) Nasri, two (David) Silva. In the second half, there were another three.

"This is our season, exactly. In 90 minutes. But in the end, it is one point. It is not good but it is enough." 

Where to now? 

"We can’t know which player can score 25 goals next year. If you know this, you are a magician. But I think we have good players, we were unlucky this year probably. It was an unlucky season. Now it is important that we win the FA Cup and after we have time to buy to improve our team."

Well, here's the man that's been heavily linked as City's saviour, banging in a hat-trick for Napoli in Serie A.  

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS

Joey Barton, a man as erudite as he is combustible, holding a clipboard ...

Paolo Di Canio and Jose Mourinho will look tame.

"To be a top manager you need brains and balls. I have both in abundance.

"Football is a simple game complicated by fools and people stealing livings.

"Yes, for those of you asking I will almost certainly manage when I stop playing. Reckon I’ve got about 8/9 years left at the top!"

RUMOURS

Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has laid his cards on the table.

"I believe my chances of making the World Cup squad will improve if I join City.

"My exposure would be better, because Brazil is biased towards the Ukrainian league.

"What we do here is not recognised in my country. Playing in a division, at a club that is considered among the best in the world would help me get back in the Brazilian national team.

"There are a lot of people in England with good football knowledge. Those complement my skills, and motivate me to want to play in the Premier League."

The Sun reports that the 28-year-old hopes his club will accept £20m, despite his £42.5 release clause. 

Bye, bye Emmanuel Adebayor. The Daily Mail reports that Tottenham are willing to listen to offers as they try and off-load their £100,000-a-week striker. 

The Sunday Mirror claim that Liverpool are interested in David Villa as the striker remains 'unhappy with bit-part role". 

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Paper Talk: Special One edition

Paper Talk ... the best yarns and videos doing the rounds. Source: Javier Soriano / AFP

Right, there's so much to talk about this week so let's get straight into it.

Jose Mourinho. The Special One. Wants to be loved. Chelsea. Will you love me, again? 

It’s the yarn that managed to overshadow Borussia Dortmund’s magnificent win, in a way only Mourinho can. 

The loss wasn't about Madrid missing their 10th UCL crown. It was Mourinho missing his third, as the manager bemoaned the pervading hatred for him in the Spanish capital. 

While Iker Casillas's passion for the club shone through, Mourinho’s focus was elsewhere.

"For those that criticise him, and their numbers and intensity grows, this was another reflection of his ego," the Guardian’s Sid Lowe wrote of the press-conference.  

Gutted ... Iker Casillas. Source: AFP

Was he being cocky, or was he being desperate?

The Sun's Rob Beasley writes: "in the past (confrontation and conflict) it has always involved opponents and the media. At Madrid it has been a civil war within the club. The tight, unwavering team spirit he forged at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan has never been repeated at Madrid."

Either way, it seems Jose just wants to go 'home', to Chelsea, the club he unceremoniously split with in 2007, costing Roman Abramovich £18m. 

It's a big about-face from the owner. What do the players actually think?

"Everyone who loves Chelsea hopes Mourinho will return," Branislav Ivanovic told Vecernje Novosti.

"As players we don't have any confirmed information that he would return. But we would all like it to happen because he is one of the best coaches in the world.

"He is immensely respected by all for what he has done for the club.

"With him we can be stronger as a club. It would add another dimension to Chelsea, and it would be sure to help us become one of the main contenders for the title."

The Daily Mail reports that it will cost the London club as much as £12million to secure him from the Bernabeu, where he is contracted until 2016, and may have to pay his wages for a season.

But according to the Daily Mirror, money is no object. 

"Jose Mourinho crashed out of the Champions League last night, but will be given an incredible £100m transfer kitty to rebuild Chelsea if he makes the move back to the Blues this summer."

"Luckily, though, he's going to get some toys from Roman Abramovich, who's planning to give Mourinho a £100m WARCHEST," The Guardian adds. "With it, he will sign Everton's Marouane Fellaini, Porto's João Moutinho, Real Madrid's Angel di María, Bayer Leverkusen's André Schürrle, Atlético Madrid's Radamel Falcao and Partizan Belgrade's Lazar Markovic. Plus he might give Frank Lampard a new contract …"

You can’t escape Jose-mania. It’s everywhere. 

 "Jose is a drug, a heady, divisive compound of thrills and danger," the Daily Mail's Rick Sharma writes. "Are we ready for that again? Is English football prepared for what will follow?"

Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez – remember him, Chelsea’s manager – is trying to steer Chelsea into the Europa League final on Friday ... 

MERRY-GO-ROUND

With Pep Guardiola going to Bayern Munich, could Jupp Heynckes be Bernabeu bound? The popular nominee so far is Carlo Ancelotti, and Paris Saint Germain had reportedly been testing Arsene Wenger’s resolve to try lure him to Paris as a replacement. 

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City's director of football, has met the agent of Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, about the prospects of the job at Etihad Stadium.

LESSONS LEARNED

A bit late? 

Is Fergie interested in any more Arsenal players after RVP's success? 

"I don’t know but he will not sign them from us," Arsene Wenger declared. 

Good decision. Now enjoy the video at the top of the page.

IN OTHER NEWS …

Mourinho's former star midfielder Deco, 35, has failed a drug test playing for Brazilian champions Fluminense, testing positive for banned diuretic furosemide. His lawyers blame "contaminated vitamins".

RODGERS WANTS ‘DEPTH AND QUALITY’ 

Seventh isn’t good enough for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers will hope for another successful transfer plunge after luring Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in January. 

Swansea City’s Ashley Williams, as a replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher, Reading defender Alex Pearce, and Ajax forward Christian Eriksen have been linked with Anfield. 

WHAT? 

Huseyin Akoglu, in Turkey's second division, becomes the new Scorpion king. Invoking memories of Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita, he fired a stunner against Polatli Bugsasspor.

But the video below, not so good. 

We'll end with a good'n from the AFC Cup

LE PROBLEM? WHAT LE PROBLEM? 

No French mutiny in Newcastle, re-assure Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote.

"Every player is together. We are totally focussed on Saturday's game at West Ham and the two games after that. We have a strong bond and we want the best for our club, our manager and our wonderful fans," said Cisse.

"We are not happy about recent results. Nobody is happy when they lose, but this has only made us stronger as a group and we will come through this together. There is no divide in the team."

Tiote added: "We want to let the fans know that all of the players are committed and we are in this together.

"We will fight to get out of this problem and we know our fans will help us to do that. They are incredible."

The provocative article about dressing room unrest has prompted Newcastle to ban The Daily Telegraph until they apologise.  

CAN'T HANDLE IT

Borussia Dortmund hung on for dear life in the Champions League, but chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke couldn't hang on for the ride. 

Insert pun about ****ing yourself, here. 

"It seems like we only can do it with drama.

"For the first time in my life I had to give up due to heart problems.

"I went to the toilet for the last minutes, locked myself in, covered my ears and looked at my watch.

"I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head."

This Bayern fan, below, had no such problems. He managed to jag a celebration with his heroes before security intervened! 

TIRED TEVEZ 

Manchester City or Boca Juniors?

"If it was down to me then I would return tomorrow because I will love Boca until I die," he told Argentinian TV station Canal 9.

"Maybe I will return to Boca when I am 33. It’s very difficult for any Argentinian club to pay Manchester City my market value.

"If Milan have offered €20million (£17m) to Manchester City when I was in a worse moment of form then what would they pay now?"

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

The Daily Mail reports that Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour of Abu Dhabi is on the cusp of a $100million deal to start a new Major League Soccer team in New York.

They hope to have the deal complete for City's clash with Chelsea in New York at the end of May. 

AND WE THOUGHT NRL/AFL PLAYERS HAD TIME ON THEIR HANDS ...

Didn't expect this from classy Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo. 

"After the wheel, the best invention is the PlayStation. 

"Me and Nesta was a classico of our time at Milanello. We’d get in early, have breakfast at 9 then close ourselves off in our room to challenge each other, train, have lunch and then it was back in our room again until 4 in the afternoon.

"Our battles were pure adrenaline. I chose Barcelona, Sandrino did too. Barca against Barca.

"The first player I’d take was Samuel Eto’o, the fastest out of everyone, though I often lost. I’d throw the joystick, demand a rematch and lose again, but I couldn’t use the excuse that the coach of his team was better than mine; Pep Guardiola for him, Pep Guardiola for me."

Pirlo also revealed this week how close he came to joining Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid at various stages in his career – until Silvio Berlusconi intervened!

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Paper Talk: the Suarez edition

Paper Talk ... Patrice Evra enjoys the last laugh over Luis Suarez. Source: AFP / FOX SPORTS

We're going off early with this week's Paper Talk.

You could call it the grand final edition, some light-hearted fun after two Championships in three days, courtesy of Central Coast Mariners and Manchester United. 

But it’s more like the good, bad and ugly edition, courtesy of Luis Suarez. 

If this is a wrap of the papers, it has to be dominated by the Liverpool talisman, who has polarised opinion since munching on Branislav Ivanovic on Monday. 

The Cannibal of Ajax returned, taking the meaning of feeding off scraps in the box to a whole new level … 

Plenty want the 26-year-old banished from Anfield, with many proclaiming the higher moral standards and proud history of the club demands such action. 

Despite Liverpool’s swift public response – a vast improvement on last year’s PR debacle involving Patrice Evra and Kenny Dalglish’s reaction – and determination not to undermine the club’s storied values and ethics, Suarez will remain at the club.

He was always going to. 

Gary Neville gives a players’ perspective: "As I have had team-mates who have done wrong and as I have done wrong myself in the past, do I throw you overboard? I would think they have let their team-mates and their football club down and created pressure.

"But I would never for one minute think, 'throw the man overboard'. The idea Suarez can never play for Liverpool again or the idea he should be thrown out of the country, for me, is nonsense and an overreaction.

"He has made a big mistake. He knows that. He has got to try and win people back. He has got to get better. When you make mistakes, you have got to get better."

How can Brendan Rodgers afford to let go of a player capable of scoring 30 or more goals per season, at a price, arguably, lowered by his current ‘damaged goods’ status? 

They can’t. 

Former Liverpool and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel summed it up: "(Liverpool’s owners are) businessmen and won't want to just get rid of a £22m investment. They will try to work with him."

So, as the Guardian's Andy Hunter writes, "the prized asset continues to come before reputation in football".

But as we've seen time and time in Australian sport, where players like Todd Carney, and even now, possibly Josh Dugan, re-emerge in the NRL after being cut by their club for misdemeanours, the player inevitably re-emerges in another shirt to haunt their former employer. 

So Liverpool keep their asset, he'll continue to score goals and remain the focal point of Brendan Rodgers' side. 

But ... 

"We’ll all meet again in our trenches again some time in the future, dissecting some bizarre incident, arguing whether the levels of denunciation are appropriate," writes The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe.

"What’s that you say? There may not be a next time?

"Suarez’s career history suggests there will always be a next time." 

EVRA’S LAST LAUGH

Check out the video at the top of the page; as Patrice Evra enjoys his lap of honour at Old Trafford, a spare arm was thrown for him to enjoy, right on cue. 

HE ONLY BIT HIM! 

Is biting as bad as it gets or are one of these choices the worst?

Say what? 

That’s been a bit of coffee-shop talk since Ivanovic’s arm proved too delectable to ignore. 

He didn’t lunge in dangerously like Wigan’s Callum McManaman recently, or even Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero on David Luiz recently. 

No one was hurt. 

But here’s the thing – it might not be a ‘football’ crime, per se. But it’s a life crime. 

Over to the best summary I’ve heard of the matter: "if a dog had done that, he'd be put down," Barry Glendenning mused on The Guardian’s podcast. 

When you put it that way ... 

LUIS, YOU SHOULD’VE TRIED THIS

Maybe the Uruguayan is just misunderstood? 

Look, maybe he was trying to imitate Nice defender Renato Civelli in the above video, who puckered up and tried to land a big sloppy one on Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Ligue 1 in France on the weekend. 

For the record, Paris Saint Germain won 3-0.

And big Zlatan looked about as best pleased as Ivanovic, who still hasn’t accepted Suarez’s apology. 

WORST ACTS? 

I think we’ve found one. 

Talk about seeing red … it shouldn’t be flowing from the referee’s scone! 

Check out this clip from Indonesia. 

All we'll say is Raya Persiwa's Pieter Rumaropen will be joining Suarez on detention for a very long time.

BENFICA

To some football from around the world and my word, this is some football. 

Benfica beat Sporting Lisbon 2-0 on the weekend – but this 75th minute strike from Rodrigo Lima is as good as you’ll see, rating on the brilliant individual and team-goal radar. 

IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HIM, HE'S DELIGHTED

Credit to Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson. 

It's the red half of Manchester being the noisy ones today, with Fergie happily gloating about his Premier League triumph. 

"Remember what this feels like," he told them at the end of last term, according to The Guardian, "and make sure they never get the chance to laugh at Manchester United again." 

Fergie was doing the laughing today, responding to Roberto Mancini's jibe that there was nothing between the teams. 

"I read his quote and he is right in one respect. In the games between us there was nothing in it but in the other games it has been different.

"We are a far better team than Manchester City at beating other teams. He doesn’t recognise we have been better in the other games."

While Roberto Mancini was busy planning his wardrobe for 2012-2013, Fergie was furiously plotting revenge. 

And that, Ryan Giggs says, is the secret to his success.

"That's the key to the manager's success," said Giggs. "The way he evolves and the way he is always looking forward and shows with the amount of young players we have in the team.

"These are exciting players and players who are going to be here for a very long time. They'll hopefully carry on that tradition of competing for trophies."

So no sooner does Robin van Persie make all Arsenal fans sink in their seat, with all United fans and neutrals watching his, volley over and over again, reports linking Fergie with another high profile attacking weapon escalate. 

This time, it's Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski. 

The Daily Telegraph reports: "Dortmund informed Lewandowski of a United bid last summer and, although the Champions League semi-finalists rejected the offer, the 24-year-old made it clear to the club that he wanted the transfer to be sanctioned."

For a fleeting moment, we were wondering what was going on at FIFA HQ on Monday. Were we finally getting some answers, at the same as some interesting reports began surfacing about more mis-used FFA money. 

The @SeppBlatter and the @FifaWorldCup accounts proclaimed: 

"FIFA executives held a meeting regarding the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in £Qatar.

"It was decided that the president Sepp Blatter is to step down due to corruption charges."

"Blatter" replied: "So what if I took money from Qatari prince? I am the family's bread earner."

Syrian Electronic Army claimed responsibility. 

View the original article here

Paper Talk: Bale, Drogba, Di Canio

Paper Talk ... the best yarns and videos doing the rounds. Source:AP

It's that time of the week, where we bring you the best football yarns and videos doing the rounds.

Normally, we try to dig out a peach of a goal from somewhere across the globe to get into the swing of things.

This week, we've gone the other way. This is the Beckham of worst free-kicks. And the Pirlo of worst set-plays. 

Whatever you do after you watch our first video, don't pull out that routine at your local training this week!

Okay, onwards and upwards from here ... we hope. 

THE LATEST MANCINI-OUT REPORT

An interesting name has been thrown into the Manchester City mix - former Dutch international Frank De Boer.

The Ajax coach is aiming to win his third-straight Eredivise crown with the club and caught the attention of City's owners when they finished above the English champions in their UEFA Champions League group. 

He told Dutch paper De Telegraaf: "Personally, I have not heard anything from Manchester. If you read something, of course it flatters your ego."

Club technical director Marc Overmars blames De Boer's manager for the hype. 

"We are more busy with giving new deals to (assistant coach) Dennis Bergkamp and (academy coach) Wim Jonk before we are going to sit down with Frank de Boer about a new contract.

"We have informed his agent about this. He knows where our priorities are. 

"But it is obvious that his agent is promoting another avenue."

De Boer's club has continued to succeed despite having to sell the likes of Luis Suarez, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen and Gregory van der Wiel to bigger clubs in recent seasons. 

Eyes will be on Holland over the next two months – and De Boer will be front and centre – because the Eredevise is one of the few top European leagues where the title race is not wrapped up. 

PSV Eindhoven (57), Vitesse (57) and Feyenoord (56) chase the lead leaders, who are on 60 points.

Compare that to England (Manchester United), Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Bayern Munich) and to a lesser extent France (Paris Saint Germain), and Italy (Juventus) where the titles are all but won. 

Hmmm, so the videos aren't improving, just yet. 

DROGBA OPEN TO CHELSEA RETURN

Momentum is building to suggest Jose Mourinho will be back at Stamford Bridge next season, and the man who was a cornerstone of the Special One's best days at Chelsea has backed him to return.

In an interview before Galatasaray's UEFA Champions League tie at Real Madrid, Didier Drogba, now in Turkey after a stint in China, also left the door open for a return to the club.  

"I think for the club it is the best solution to bring Jose back," he said. "The fans want him back. He loves Chelsea. Because you want to rebuild a team and to give them the strength we had a few years ago, he could be the right person. He is a winner and is close to the players. He went to Inter and is at Real Madrid but (he) is still talking about Chelsea, so he loves this club.

"I don't think he has got over Chelsea and they haven't got over him. When he came he brought success; we won league titles back-to-back with some great football and the only thing he didn't win was the Champions League. Maybe that is one of the reasons why he might want to come back. It is unfinished business."

Drogba, who was pivotal in Roberto Di Matteo's UCL-winning run last year, led the line for Gala at the Bernabeu on Thursday morning (EDT). The Ivory Coast striker didn't look at the same freakish level we grew accustomed to over the years, but he didn't rule out a return to London for one last hurrah. 

"Let me finish at Galatasaray first and then we will talk about that," Drogba said. "It would be nice, not just coaching but to help the club. For this club I gave everything and of course they gave it back to me. I feel at home when I go to London. When I go to Chelsea's training ground I feel like I can walk around with my eyes closed and know where I am going."

ALL HAIL BALE

It's becoming contagious to praise the Welsh star, who became Europe's most prolific scorer of goals outside the box with his amazing strike for Tottenham over the Easter weekend. 

Zinedine Zidane, now director of football at former club Real Madrid, said earlier this week: 

"There are always players who are a cut above, take Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid for example. 

"The problem is this year the player who has impressed me most is not actually playing in the Champions League.

"He is playing in "the other cup" (Europa League), and that is (Gareth) Bale."

Is Zizou warming Bale up ahead of a summer move?

"You can't compare him, he is unique, he makes things look easy, his pace is frightening.

"His acceleration is unbelievable because of his ability to go through the gears in very little space.

"Plus, he is very good technically which is also important, we must not forget that he plays football well.

"He’s really impressed me. I’ve seen him two or three times live, including recently at Lyon, which wasn’t necessarily his best game, but where every time he got the ball he can surprise you."

LET THE UGLINESS END

Paper Talk has dug up some pretty nasty tackles in recent weeks. But this is right up there. 

Esteben Cambiasso is known for more graceful acts than attempting to impersonate Roy Keane. Makes Callum McManaman's tackle look gentle. 

Enough of the worst of the web. Here's one for the goalkeeping brigade - the stoppage time winner by the No.1 up for the corner, courtesy of St Pauli's Philipp Tschauner, in the German second division. 

A WEIRD WEEK

Joey Barton v Thiago Silva

Francisco Sandaza v Rangers v mobile phone

BEST OF THE RUMOUR MILL

Arsenal: The Sunday Mirror has good news for Arsenal fans. Arsene Wenger is finally ready to splash the cash and end the trophy drought - and the Bundesliga is in his sights. Borussia Dortmund pair Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski are his top picks, along with Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender in a £70m effort. But the highly-rated Lewandowski is also in Sir Alex Ferguson's sights, as well as German giants Bayern Munich.

Yaya Toure: Chelsea are about to enter the race for the 29-year-old midfielder who demanded action from Manchester City in recent weeks, The Daily Express report. 

Andy Carroll: the striker is starting to find form at West Ham United, and Liverpool want him to return from his loan stint - so long as he is prepared to cop not being a regular starter, the Daily Mail says. 

Michael Vorm: The Sunday Telegraph reports that Liverpool are keeping an eye on Swansea City's keeper - who Rodgers signed when at the club - as they prepare to listen to offers for Pepe Reina. 

Pepe Reina: Oh who to believe ... Sky Sports contradicts that claim, quoting Brendan Rodgers, who insists their relationship is strong. "I am counting on him for next season, yes."

Swansea to splash the cash: onwards and upwards for the Capital One Cup winners, revelling in the top half of the EPL under Michael Laudrup. His assistant, Alan Curtis, told The Daily Mirror: "It's important to buy players, irrespective of where you finish.

"We will have to satisfy the players terms-wise but I would say we'll sign quite a few. We could sign up to six players in the summer if we can."

David James: Remember him! The former England No.1 is still going around and is set to join Icelandic club IBV. He left League One side Bournemouth by mutual consent last month. 

THE UNIQUE ONE

Don't mix sport and politics. Isn't that what they say? 

But Sunderland will do anything to stay in the EPL and they've turned to Paolo Di Canio as their saviour. The Italian has tried to distance himself from previous claims he is a "fascist" - but it's turned heads in England and Italy, where he was a star at Lazio.

The Corriere della Sera paper in Italy wrote: "Sunderland needs to save itself but a good book about Mussolini and the race laws of the fascist regime would be a good thing to give to its new manager.  

"Maybe they could ask him to study it. It would be the best way … to start."

But after the protestations of David Miliband, the vice-chairman and non-executive director who resigned because of the appointment, Di Canio can't escape the headlines. And the analogies and analysis have certainly left sport behind. 

"If Di Canio were a policeman, magistrate, teacher or politician, I would be worried about his ideas. But he's a manager. So shush," wrote one journalist, Domenico Naso, on Twitter.

Tommaso Labate, a journalist and blogger, wrote: "Not wanting someone to be able to do their normal job because of their crazy political views seems to be in itself fascist."

Please, let's get back to the theatrics of football. 

Over to Paolo, he of the shove the ref variety, and also the king of sportsmanship by catching a ball in goal-scoring range when opponent is down. 

"Many, many people said (Mourinho) was arrogant. José has a very high belief in himself but that is all and perhaps I am similar. I believe in my knowledge and myself. I am confident I can deliver the best job for this club."

There's plenty more where these came from ... 

View the original article here

Paper Talk: Suarez, Jose, Mancini

Growing rap sheet ... Suarez could miss Uruguay's crunch games. Source: Victor R. Caivano / AP

Welcome to Paper Talk - your wrap of the best yarns and videos doing the rounds.

Paper Talk begins this week in Santiago, where the cameras didn’t miss football’s famous antagonist Luis Suarez losing his cool during Uruguay’s 2-0 loss to Chile in a World Cup qualifier. 

Suarez couldn't help himself, and was caught on camera trying to land a punch on Gonzalo Jara.

The referee missed the incident, but retrospective action over the clash could take place, leaving the Liverpool striker in doubt for his country's remaining qualifiers.

Suarez doesn't exactly need another example to add to his rap sheet. But while we're on topic, how about this vision that emerged last weekend from a joint session between Liverpool's men and women.

Yeah, it's a cheap shot by Paper Talk. But we weren't the ones lunging late into a female during a game of keep ball! Fortunately, it all ended in laughs at the club's Melwood training ground. 

URUGUAY, IRAN, AUSTRALIA ...

Don't mention those three countries in the same sentence, pleeeasse! 

But Suarez could be missing from a Uruguay outfit now sixth in South American World Cup qualification, outside the top-four automatic spots. 

The fifth-placed team faces a showdown against an Asian opponent.

Now, despite all the doom and gloom in the wash-up to the Socceroos' draw with Oman, automatic qualification should still be in Australia's hands with two home wins in June. 

But, a slip-up, and a third spot in the group, could see Holger Osieck's side in an initial play-off against - gulp - Iran.

Iran for the right to play Uruguay? Our football lives flashing befor our lives? 

Please, let's get the job done in June!

BOYS, THIS IS HOW YOU PASS

Argentina are in super touch in South America, with the likes of Fernando Gago, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain complementing Lionel Messi's work - despite struggling in the Bolivian altitude. 

Back in Europe, and Messi's Spanish Barcelona teammates will return to Camp Nou relieved after silencing the sceptics with a 1-0 win over France in qualifying. 

The world champions were precariously placed going into the match - a loss would have had them five points behind the group leaders. 

But, as ever, Vincente del Bosque's side rose to the moment. 

How about this extraordinary stat, courtesy of The Guardian. In the 11 knockout games Spain have played since the Euro 2008 quarter-final against Italy (including this week's game as a 'knock-out' clash, for argument's sake), they have won all 11, without conceding a single goal in over 1000 minutes. 

Now, France are the team in a quandary, with a potential World Cup play-off against England looming should results not change. 

"Nobody wants to be in the play-offs but the fact is that in the World Cup qualifiers, only one team qualifies (automatically from the group)," said England manager Roy Hodgson. "And, in the play-offs, it's going to be a good team because in every group there are at least two good teams."

In the absence of Barclays Premier League action, England's media have spent the week comparing notes with Australia's press, examining the malaise of their national team.

Steven Gerrard even admitted they switched off and stopped playing in their 1-1 draw with Montenegro. 

But we digress. If you want fluent passing football, enjoy this clip courtesy of Barcelona's ladies side. Boys, this is how you do it! 

HIGH FOOT FEVER

What's with the high-foot fever at the moment?

Nani started it a few weeks back and there have been sightings all around the globe.

Shane Smeltz copped a dose - which went unpunished - in a World Cup qualifier on the weekend, but I'm confident we've found the best.

Hats off to Ukraine's Taras Stepanenko for his hamstring flexibility - but a straight red was the least the referee could dish out to him for smashing Moldovan defender Vitalie Bordian in the scone. 

Not much more to be said; check it out. 

YES WAY, JOSE

Jose Mourinho has told Sky Sports he loves London, he will return to the Premier League and, most intriguingly, he will not rule out a return to Chelsea.

The former Chelsea manager was spotted sneaking into Stamford Bridge to sample the friendly between Brazil and Russia. 

"I cannot deny that, despite this weather, I love it here, and as I said I have a house and I have big emotional connections with Chelsea and one day I think naturally I will have to be back to English football, or to Chelsea or to another club.

"Of course, Chelsea means to me differently than other clubs. Chelsea is in my heart as Inter is for example.

"One day I have to be back but again it is normal that I am in London. The same way I walk in my home city in Portugal, people see that as normal and this is normal, the same thing is normal when I am in London."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8599146/Real-Madrid-coach-Jose-Mourinho-won-t-rule-out-a-return-to-Chelsea

MORE MONEY TO TEMPT MANCINI - BUT NOT IN MANCHESTER

The Daily Mirror reports that French club Monaco are trying to tempt Roberto Mancini to gamble on a move to Ligue 1. 

He has reportedly been offered a £170m transfer fund by Russian billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, the 97th richest man in the world, according to Forbes, who wants to offer a three-year deal worth £22m in wages.

Rybololev wants to pitch Monaco, on the cusp of promotion from Ligue 2 under Claudio Ranieri, in a duel with Paris Saint Germain in the money-bag stakes. 

MADRID CAN FINALLY GET THEIR MAN 

 

Sergio Aguero isn't happy in Manchester, according to reports in England, and Real Madrid are ready to rescue him. 

They couldn't land the striker they have coveted for years because he played for local rivals Atletico, who wouldn't dare sell their star to their neighbours. 

So a move to Manchester is the break in the chain they were waiting for, and £45million - and potentially Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain - is being readied to make the deal happen. 

TOURE DENIAL - 'FOR THE MOMENT'

This looks, um, re-assuring for City fans. For the moment. 

Yaya Toure: "I am not heading for PSG. I have not given any agreement with any club. I am a City player for the moment."

UNITED CLEAR OUT

The Guardian also reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is getting ready to clear the decks.

"Manchester United are having a £60m summer clearout and Anderson, Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernández and Nani have to go!" 

Players out, who comes in? I wonder ...

ONE FOR THE HAPPY HACKERS 

It wouldn't be Paper Talk without a miss or two to make us all feel a little better about ourselves ...

BUT WATCH THIS ...

And I bet you won't be feeling as good. Back to the practice pitch!

MARIO'S MOMENT

"When you are dealing with a talent like this, you just need patience," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told reporters on Wednesday.

"The moment eventually comes when the talent has to take on his share of the responsibility and stand on his own feet. This is the right moment for Balotelli.

"I have to compliment him on his relaxed approach, his belief and his quality."

VILLA NEED TO KEEP BENTEKE

The Daily Mail reports that Tottenham are among the clubs chasing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, while Borussia Dortmund have their eye on Andreas Weimann, who has impressed in recent weeks as well.  

Paul Lambert is desperate not to lose his marksman, but with Inter Milan and Manchester City also circling around the Belgian, the relegation battlers will hope the striker can keep focused over a crucial few months at Villa Park.

TERRY TO FOLLOW DIDIER? 

John Terry's best days at Chelsea are behind him, and maybe he's taken note of Didier Drogba's move to Turkey with Galatasaray.

The Daily Mail has linked the Chelsea skipper with a move to Fenerbahce, saying: "the Turkish side are eager to compete with rivals Galatasaray for big-name signings and have earmarked the 32-year-old as a potential recruit. 

"Terry still has a year left on contract and will wait until the summer before making any decision on whether to leave Stamford Bridge."

View the original article here

Paper Talk: Alonso, Cavani, Qatari fiction

Paper talk ... the best yarns and videos doing the rounds in football. Source:AAP

Welcome to Paper Talk - your wrap of the best yarns and videos doing the rounds.

This week, we kick off in Colombia, as Deportes Quindio midfielder Hernando Patino submits his nomination for long-range volley of the year against Alianza Petrolera.

In Italy, it looks like Alessandro Del Piero's old mate, Francesco Totti, is still working his magic at Roma in Serie A.

Check out The King of Rome’s exquisite back heel, above, in a 2-0 win over Parma, in which he also scored. Roma are seventh in this year’s league.

We promised the best yarns and videos from around the world. Let's go to Barcelona - if the videos of the Colombian beauty and Totti trickery weren't enough for you, here's a combination of it all, courtesy of Barcelona's youth sides.

RIO EXIT, RIO DOUBTS

Rio de Janeiro is the target, but Rio Ferdinand’s withdrawal from the England squad has sent the media in the old dart into a frenzy as Roy Hodgson’s side tries to consolidate their path to Brazil with a crisis in defence. 

England are now left with Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling, Steven Caulker and Steven Taylor as their central defensive options for games against San Marino and Montenegro, but Hodgson’s botched attempt to recall Ferdinand has been criticised as a big failure at a decisive stage of qualifying. 

Ferdinand wants to be involved in the road to Rio, but there’s one giant impediment in his way: Sir Alex Ferguson. 

"Because he hasn't been playing international football when the international breaks have come along we have detailed all the things he has to do: when he trains, when his treatments come along. Therefore it is a disruption to his normal preparation," Ferguson said last week. 

And with a Premier League match at the Stadium of Light and an FA Cup replay at Stamford Bridge after the international break, Ferguson expects his defender fit, recuperated and available for those fixtures - not fitting an extra two internationals in.

Hodgson treated Ferdinand’s call-up like any other player – by notifying him by text message. The problem is, without any discussion with the defender beforehand, he left himself vulnerable to Ferdinand – publicly – not accepting his selection.  

The Guardian reports that Ferguson will support Ferdinand’s bid to be involved in England’s post-season fixtures. But in the meantime, at a crucial stage, Sir Alex has flexed his sizeable muscle once again. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown, Nemanja Vidic … 

"Above all this looks like Ferdinand taking a pragmatic decision to prolong his Manchester United career at the expense of an uncertain future with England, without closing the door on a return at some point," The Guardian's Owen Gibson wrote.

Defensive instability, relying on veterans … sound familiar, Socceroos fans?

With eyes on Brazil, Sepp Blatter has assured us once again that they will be ready. But Mark Schwarzer, Joe Hart and co, look out! A bit of gardening has gone array while everyone’s been building stadiums …  

REMEMBERING MICHAEL OWEN: A TALENT WHO 'PEAKED AT 18-20' 

Despite petering away in recent years, becoming a bit-part player at Manchester United and Stoke City, Owen's retirement was met with glowing tributes for a player whose injuries wrecked a career that reached extraordinary heights at a young age. 

The Mirror's Martin Lipton: "Even so, we should remember the player he was. The man who terrorised the best, who scared Germany, Argentina and Brazil witless. The finest of his generation. Michael Owen."

Sky Sports' Adam Bates: "Explosive at his best, he deserves to be remembered as what he is - the only British footballer in the last 30 years to have a legitimate case for having once been the best on the planet. Rarely will this country see a player hit such heights again."

The Independent's James Lawton: "In the end there were just too many tearing injuries, slowing him down and taking away that first searing certainty, but Michael Owen was right to be proud when he announced that he would retire at the end of the season."

Former England boss Glen Hoddle: "He is in the top four of our greatest-ever finishers, along with Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. Some might say he is at the top of that list."

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier: "He scored practically one goal every two games for the national team and the same for Liverpool. As a manager, I was blessed to have him in my team."

But The Sun's Steven Howard says: "he still leaves the stage with conflicting feelings from the supporters of the clubs for whom he played. Newcastle fans never took to him. Manchester United supporters are still scratching their heads as to why Alex Ferguson ever signed him. As for Stoke fans... Even followers of Liverpool, for whom Owen was the leading scorer from 1997 to 2004, were left perplexed."

WE'VE GOT A JOB FOR RAFA!

Blackburn Rovers' bosses are proving you don't have to have the 'interim' tag to be an interim manager.

They've just parted with the fourth manager since taking over in 2010 and their next target is the world's most famous interim manager himself - Rafa Benitez. 

The Mirror reports that Venky Group have pinpointed the Chelsea boss as their No.1 target should he leave Stamford Bridge as expected in the English summer. 

Other names linked are: Tottenham's Tim Sherwood, Steve McClaren and Sven Goran Eriksson.

TIME FOR A QUALITY RANT

Peter Odemwingie added a bit of drama and intrigue to Deadline Day, driving to QPR to have a medical without permission from his own club. He's back for the next episode of get me our of WBA!

"Keeping me on the bench now is worse than what they did on the 31st," he wrote on Twitter. 

"New advisers told me to say it’s all my fault cos its better for me.

"If they like they shouldn’t even give me 10 mins to play. Threatening to ruin my career? Career I closed already last summer? No harm to me.

"Want to treat me like an average player. The abuse and praise I get is it average? So get some extra from me too."

WINTER WORLD CUPS, FICTITIOUS LEAGUES

So it looks like the World Cup in 2022 will be held in winter after all.

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards told Sky Sports News: "I think they will play (the World Cup) at a time that is proper for football but they will have to speak to the leagues in Europe. They will have to agree proper times when we can start and finish. At the moment it has a tremendous amount of implications for Europe. For us, at this minute, the answer is 'no'.

"But, if we take a proper view, we have to find a way to have a winter spell where we don't play and I think common sense will prevail. We've got FIFA now saying that medical people are saying that they can't play in Qatar in the summer because of the heat, which is probably right. I think over the next few years, things will change and they will come to a compromise."

Murky. Just like the Qatari-based Dream Football League story that broke last week in The Times, which was a fraud. 

The Qatari Football Association said they had "no involvement in any such initiative" and had "heard nothing to suggest such a concept is genuine".

Indeed, it appears journalist Oliver Kay was misled by a source, prompting The Times' football editor Tony Evans to concede: "Over the three days that followed the publication of the story, it appeared increasingly clear that Kay and the paper had been duped. And that the checks from the office in London had not been stringent enough in the rush to publication."

DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES

What's the strangest thing you've ever done to show your commitment to your footy team?

Bet you haven't gone as far as these Galatasaray fans, who were caught trying to dig their way into Schalke's Veltins-Arena to watch their team train before their UEFA Champions League clash last week. 

The frozen ground didn't help their cause as they burrowed with bare hands. Clever.

GUSHING AT STAMFORD BRIDGE  

Lampard hails Hazard, Terry lauds Lampard. All’s merry at the Bridge? 

Terry told Chelsea TV: "You talk about the (Gianfranco) Zolas and the best players to have played at the club, but for me he (Lampard) is the best.

"We all love him, we'll all be pushing for him to reach the record.'

Terry puts Lampard on Ryan Giggs's pedestal: :You can only single out two players to play consistently well and to score goals over the course of the last 10-15 years and that is him and Ryan Giggs.

"It's incredible, to see the number of goals he's scored at such a high level as well - Champions League goals, Premier League goals - and the hunger."

Meanwhile, after Lampard compared Hazard to Zola,  The Daily Mail's Rick Sharma wrote: "Eden Hazard can be the next superstar. The next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

"But not in the same way that plenty of youngsters are slapped with these tags before they sign their first professional deal or pick up their first pair of hi-viz name-embroidered boots.

"It's a different matter entirely because Hazard is halfway there already. And maybe more than that."

BEST OF THE RUMOUR MILL:

YAYA TOURE: After six months of protracted contract negotiations, Manchester City's highest wage earner has demanded a new contract by the weekend or he'll leave. 

His manager told The Sun: "If he signs a contract in the next three or four days, OK. If not, we will not wait any longer and will start negotiations with different clubs.

"Today is Tuesday, so it means by Saturday. We will say ‘Thank you. OK, Yaya will leave in May.’

"I do not feel he will stay at City. This is not about money. He wants to leave because of many reasons.

"He is one of the best players at Manchester City but does not feel the respect of the staff. Only Roberto Mancini respects Yaya."

ASMIR BEGOVIC: The Daily Telegraph reports that Stoke City will invite bids over £15m for their in-demand goalkeeper, who is keen to progress. But will Manchester United, who broke the British transfer record to snare David De Gea from Atletico Madrid, do so again just to provide competition to the Spaniard? Arsenal and Chelsea are also looming in the race for the 25-year-old. 

DAVID VILLA: The Daily Mail hints that Arsenal target David Villa has been offered a new contract. Plenty of English clubs are reportedly interested in the striker, who becomes a free agent in 14 months. 

XABI ALONSO: The Express claim that the Real Madrid midfielder will "run down his contract at Madrid until next summer", placing former club Liverpool on high alert for the player, who would be available on a Bosman transfer. 

ROMELU LUKAKU: Caught Offside suggest that the giant striker could re-unite with Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham - the coach that brought him to England. He is currently on loan at West Brom from Chelsea. 

SCOTT SINCLAIR: After just 12 appearances for City, the former Swansea player is being linked with Aston Villa. 

EDINSON CAVANI: Sky Sports says Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has put a £60million price tag on Manchester City target Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguayan striker has been in fine form this season, scoring 27 goals for the Serie A side, reportedly making him among City's top targets for the summer.

But De Laurentiis insists the 26-year-old will not be leaving Napoli unless the club receives a huge bid for the player.

"We included a very high buy-out clause in his contract as we want him to stay," said De Laurentiis, quoted in The Sun.

"But if some nutter is willing to pay £60m, which would mean a net fee of £54m for Napoli, we are ready to listen to the offer.

"Let it be clear that the final decision lies with Edinson. He knows he's respected here and that the people love him."

FOR THE HAPPY HACKERS OUT THERE

Here are two to make you content with your lot on the pitch ... 

One from Mexico, in a league match played on Saturday night between Tigres and Guadalajara, and the second is from Clarence Seedorf in Brazil for Botafogo.

View the original article here

Paper Talk: Modric, Rooney, Reds spree

Paper Talk ... the best football yarns and videos doing the rounds. Source:AAP

Welcome to Paper Talk - a wrap of the best yarns and videos doing the rounds.

Last week it was third division Turkey that entertained us, now the weird and wacky world of football takes us to Africa, the Middle East as well as Europe this week. From wandering weasels to taking the crossbar challenge a little too literally, it's all here, intertwined with a wrap of what's got people talking over their beers and coffees across the continent. 

ROOOONEY

This time last week we were speculating whether Wayne Rooney was on his way out of Old Trafford after his Champions League omission. Plenty of people thought it was scuttlebutt and cheap speculation.

Even Fergie came out to declare: "he will be here next year, you have my word on that. There are no issues at all with the player. He’ll  be involved on Sunday (against  Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final), no doubt about that". 

That’s that then. 

Um ….   

Fergie's declaration was music to the ears of the English press this week, who dusted up the archives to remind us we can't always trust the Old Trafford boss.

When asked if he would sell David Beckham after leaving him out of a UCL tie in 2003, Fergie pronounced: "It is totally out of the question. There is no way we would sell him, or any of our best players."

He was gone in July.

What about in the case of Ruud van Nistelrooy, after he was left out of the 2006 Carling Cup final? 

"He’s a member of our squad, no question. He’s on a long contract and we’re very happy with that situation. He has been patient and he’s never complained."

Gone in the summer.

Sky Sports' Jeff Stelling mused: "If Rooney is on his way out of Old Trafford,  there will be plenty of takers. Don't believe for a minute that Manchester City aren't interested. They may say that, but they would, wouldn't they?

"They were interested before, in 2010, when it looked as though Rooney was on his way out and I've no doubt they're interested again. Why wouldn't they be?"

For those of you already tired of the Rooney rumanating, skip to the next sub-head!

The Daily Star has Monaco readying to prepare an audacious bid for the Englishman, while The Daily Mirror thinks an unsettled Zlatan Ibrahimovic will depart Paris Saint Germain, disillusioned with life in the French capital, opening the doors for David Beckham's boys to swoop.

If Ibra is looking for another destination, he’ll be happy to hear that Juventus director Pavel Nedved claims the club would be interested in signing him and Edinson Cavani. 

NANI, EAT YOUR HEART OUT

If his was a high foot, what the hell is this? 

SPEAKING OF BECKHAM ...

The scorer of the goal in this dusty vision from South Africa might just have something to say about Becks remaining the prince of the long-range speculator! Enjoy! 

BEST OF THE RUMOUR MILL:

Modric: 27-year-old Luka Modric broke Manchester United's hearts last week, but The Daily Mail reports he still yearns for a move that fell through two years ago.

When Paul Scholes initially retired, Sir Alex Ferguson made Tottenham's Modric his No.1 target. 

Nothing eventuated, and Modric left White Hart Lane for Real in a £33million deal.

But with the likes of Giggs and Scholes now closer to retirement than ever before, Modric has returned to the radar as he looks for regular time on the pitch - which he isn't getting at Madrid. 

Torres: Anzhi Makhachkala have failed to try and persuade Fernando Torres to leave Chelsea for Russia in the summer, The Daily Mail reports. 

Valdes: The agent of Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has denied reports linking the Spanish international with a move to Brazilian side Sao Paulo. He has also been linked with Arsenal - Sky Sports. 

Neymar: Neymar has revealed that Santos have offered him a new contract in a bid to ward off interest in him from Europe. "Santos have now offered us a deal for him to renew his contract, but we will have to wait and talk to them," Neymar's father and agent explained at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Brazil.

NOT A SPECIAL RUN FOR THE SPECIAL ONE

The world was in raptures over last week's Old Trafford showdown. Not so Jose. 

"Yes it was a good week with three good wins but I’ve had bigger, better wins," he told The Sun. 

"The best run of all was winning the three matches to claim the three titles with Inter Milan.

"First we won the Italian Cup beating Roma in the final.

"Then we went to Siena where we won to become Italian champions. Finally we had the Champions League final in Madrid and we won it with a victory over Bayern Munich.

"Now that is what I call a special run."

WHILE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGERS …

Ole Gunner Solskjaer, making his name in management with back-to-back premierships with Molde in Norway, harbours dreams of replacing Sir Alex. But he thinks one of his old mates might beat him to it. 

"Giggsy is going to play another year (but) I'd say he's got his eyes and ears open more to what the manager is doing," Solskjaer told Reuters. "He's looking at that job for himself, Giggsy. He's got top potential."

 "I've said it before that my dream is to manage Man United - that's tongue in cheek really, because it's a massive job, it's the biggest job in the world," Solskjaer said.

"But you have to dream big - if you don't dream big you won't make it, so let's just wait and see what happens." 

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME

They won't be using this as the promo for the 24-team Dream Football League that they are trying to set up in the Middle East by pinching the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and AC Milan away from the UEFA Champions League. 

LIVERPOOL SET FOR SUMMER SPENDING SPREE 

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the club could bring in"three or four quality players" in the summer.

The Reds have been linked with several targets from across Europe, including Swansea centre-back Ashley Williams, PSG forward Jeremy Menez and Feyenoord defender Stefan de Vrij.

The manager says he is hoping to make some new acquisitions, particularly with veteran defender Jamie Carragher set to retire in the summer.

He told the club's official website: "There is a natural rebuilding with the likes of Carra going.

"I am happy with the squad and if I can then put another three or four quality players to it, then great. But it is quality we are after, not quantity."

Rodgers is pleased by the impact Phillipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are having at the club since arriving in January.

The manager added: "We see Coutinho and Sturridge's quality.

"There were some key positions we needed support in but I didn't want to waste the club's money. I like to know what we are bringing in."

- Sky Sports

REMEMBER DJIMI TRAORE? 

The former Liverpool defender? Scorer of infamous FA Cup own goal in 2005? Bet you don't remember him doing this. Ridiculous.

GOOD ONE, RAFA

It's been a funny old couple of weeks for Rafa Benitez at Chelsea. The Londoners must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit if they are to overcome Steaua and reach the last eight of the Europa League - and if they do, they'll face six games in 15 days.

Before any excuses are made, Rafa has apportioned the blame - to himself! Great smokescreen. 

"I can do nothing about that. I just concentrate on my job and try to do my best, preparing the team for every competition," he said.

"Maybe someone else will blame me. Some people always say that it's my fault, that everything is my fault!

"You are clever enough to realise that I was joking. If something is wrong they want to blame me. But I have to manage this, too.

"You have to analyse every single thing and you will decide what to do and still someone will criticise you. If you lose a game, it's 'oh, he picked the wrong player' or whatever.

"It's quite difficult, but each team is different and it depends on the players that you have, the positions and the congestion.

"I will try to lead by example, so I will concentrate on the next game. That is what I have to do, to make sure we compete in every single competition. The first one is on Thursday."

DIDIER'S LAST LAUGH

There will be plenty of fall-out as England fields no teams in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. 

The Daily Mirror quipped on Twitter: "Arsenal will be holding an open bus parade to show off their restored pride on Tuesday lunchtime, officials have confirmed".

And what about Didier Drogba. Unwanted by Chelsea after playing a starring role in reaching the crown last year. Now Drogba is in the last eight with Turkish club Galatasaray, while Chelsea cling onto a spot in the Europa League.

BALE REPORT, WEEK 3

Real Madrid are toying with the idea of using Gonzalo Higuain as trade bait in their bid to snare Gareth Bale.

According to The Metro, the La Liga club are preparing a player plus cash bid for the Welsh winger.

TEVEZ TROUBLE

AAP reports that Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has been charged by police with driving with his licence suspended and without insurance.

The Argentina international, who was arrested last week, was formally charged on Wednesday and will appear at a magistrates court on April 3.

The maximum penalty for driving while disqualified in England is six months in prison. Tevez was banned from driving for six months on January 16 after failing to respond to letters by police in relation to incidents where his car was caught speeding.

However, he was stopped by police while driving on a road near his home last Thursday. Tevez scored a hat trick for City in a 5-0 win over Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, taking his season's tally in all competitions to 15.

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Paper Talk: Hiddink, Ronaldo, volley vid

Wonderful world of football ... Paper Talk scours the globe. Source: AP / AFP

It's that time of the week where we scour the globe for the best football yarns and videos doing the rounds.

Paper Talk could probably rest on its laurels each week and rely on Alessandro Del Piero or Cristiano Ronaldo providing us our goal fix. But, we’re bigger and better than that. 

You want volleys? From outside the box? At an acute angle?

Then it’s off to the Turkish third division for Altay's Korhan Ozturk thriller against Anadolu Selcukluspor, in the video at the top of the page. 

FERGUSON, RONALDO, MOURINHO, ROONEY ....

As you'd expect of a game dubbed one "the world will stop for", the fall-out from Real Madrid's win over Manchester United is dominating football talk this week.

One of the interesting things raised once the hysteria of Nani's send-off died down was Sir Alex Ferguson's failure to react to Nani's send-off.

Fergie's match tactics have been widely praised, as United look unthreatened against Madrid until the red-card. But it's overshadowed some very measured criticism starting to appear.

After the send-off,  Mourinho sent Karim Benzema, who he was ready to bring on, back to the bench and summoned Luka Modric immediately in a bid to start to dominate the midfield. Ferguson waited until the 73rd minute to bring Rooney on as his first change.

Where Nani, Welbeck and Giggs had worked energetically to congest the midfield, did Ferguson err in not bringing another body on to re-clog the space? 

Celebration ... Real Madrid. Source: Twitter

Meanwhile, sometimes you just can't win.

Jose struts around "calmly" - but he doesn't "do a good modest". 

Ronaldo shows "humility" by not celebrating, yet it brings more attention on him.

Oh, the things we worry about. 

"This really annoys me," Jamie Redknapp wrote after the game. "Why don’t players celebrate goals? It’s rubbish. People say it’s a sign of respect to a former team, but I think it’s nonsense."

Consider this funny post-script doing the rounds after the game: "is Danny Welbeck, United's version of Dirk Kuyt?"

So if Rooney isn't good enough to fill that hole as a workhorse, does that make Rooney a poor man's Kuyt? 

IN ROMAN'S WORLD ... 

It wouldn't be a round-up of rumours without spotlight on Stamford Bridge. 

First up, it's on the coaching front. 

Anything to read into Guus Hiddink's comments earlier this week?

"They have gone through a lot of changes. I'm the only man who wasn't sacked," he said.

"I said to Dutch television that I might stop at the end of the season, but we have other options to go on with (Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia). 

"And regarding other clubs, I'm 66 now and will be 67 in autumn. As long as I feel energetic and I'm not becoming an old, bitter, sour man, then I can go on. But I cannot predict where I am next season."

On the playing front, the club has tried to distance itself from rumours that they have started talks with Frank Lampard over a new contract; Bild in Germany claim moves are being made to sign Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez as a replacement for misfiring Spaniard Fernando Torres, while club chief executive Ron Gourley told a press conference in Bangkok that the club will continue to strengthen on the pitch. 

"We will continue to strength the team and I am expecting the introduction of two or three new players and hopefully they will be in place in time to be part of the team in Thailand."

RACE FOR BALE

Forget the battle for supremacy in north London. The real reason Tottenham Hotspur need to push on and secure a UEFA Champions League berth is to secure Gareth Bale. 

The Daily Mail reports that should they qualify, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to offer him a five-year deal worth roughly £40m - an increase on his current £75,000 a week deal that keeps him at White Hart Lane until 2016. 

Meanwhile, Metro reports that Aaron Lennon is a surprise target for Inter Milan, prepared to jump in with an £8million offer. 

STAT OF THE WEEK

Arsenal can't catch Spurs with this record: 13 points from 13 games against top-half sides this season. That sees them below Stoke City and Norwich city in ninth place for results against teams in the top half. 

No wonder Oliver Giroud looks a little lost: Arsenal's 20 crosses from open play against Tottenham only found a teammate ... once. 

 

RUMOURS

Daily Express: Liverpool have identified Inter Milan's Antonio Cassano as a possible replacement for Luis Suarez if here were to leave Anfield in the summer.

The Guardian: Arsène Wenger wants to sign Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams for next term - he's had enough of partnership of Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker.

TalkSPORT: Napoli join Liverpool to snare out-of-favour Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez.

Meanwhile, a drink-driving incident and just nine appearances on loan for Juventus could see Nicklas Bendtner shafted straight back to Arsenal.

He has been fined £97,000 and had his driving licence banned for three years after admitting to the offence.

But will the punishment end there, or will he return to Arsenal - where his career was in limbo? 

SOUTH AMERICA'S BIGGEST NAMES 

Daniel Alves says Neymar has already sealed a post-World Cup deal with Barcelona, and club president Sandro Rossell says they are keeping a close eye on him. 

But what does Neymar think of all this? 

"Daniel Alves is a good friend but if I say that (Lionel) Messi is coming to Santos, would you believe me?" Neymar said this week. 

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have all been heavily linked, but Neymar said on Brazilian television: "I have the dream of one day playing in Europe. Each player has his own time. Some go there when they're young, some wait a little more.

"My time is not here yet. When I realise that the right moment has arrived, I'll go to Europe.

"I don't have a preference for any specific club. I like them all. I have idols in all of those teams. Picking one (between Real Madrid and Barcelona), I don't have to. They are both great clubs. Bayern are a great club as well."

One person happy about that is Brazil coach big Phil Scolari. 

"Neymar should have gone to Barca two years ago, but now it is better that he stays at Santos," Scolari said.

"How would he adapt? Would he be by himself? Would he start games? Would he play in this star-studded Barcelona team?

"For the World Cup of 2014 and for Brazil, it is preferable that he does not go right now."

No excuse needed to re-heat the best of the flashy superstar. 

There's plenty from the big names over in South America this week.

Diego dreams of a Messi reunion - at Barcelona! Hmmm ... not sure the Argentina audition was quite the segue to the La Liga giants. 

Looks like the diplomatic Messi agrees.

"Working with him when he was Argentina coach was good even though we didn’t achieve what we wanted to. But it would be pretty difficult for him to manage Barcelona. But I guess you never know."

Back in Brazil and "fat" Ronaldo isn't best pleased with the adjective used by Sir Alex Ferguson to differentiate him for "fit" Ronaldo ahead of Real Madrid's first game at Old Trafford since the fat one starred in 2003. 

"He did not see me after One Measure (a weight-loss reality TV show)," Ronaldo said.

"I have nothing to add on my old physical appearance. I regret how disrespectful he was when he referred to me, it was not something that befits a 'Sir'.

"I’m proud of what I achieved in football; I was the best in the world."

For those us not in touch with our Brazilian reality tv, I can see why Fergie's tongue slipped, though! 

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