Friday, 31 July 2015

Official: Real Madrid sign Spain Under-19 Jesus Vallejo

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Real Madrid have signed defensive rising star Jesus Vallejo from Real Zaragoza, the latter club confirmed on Friday.

The centre-back captained the Spain's Under-19s as they triumphed in this summer's European Championship, boosting his reputation and increasing talk he would join a top club.

Zaragoza have reportedly been paid €5 million for Vallejo by the Blancos, who will loan the 18-year-old back to the second-tier Spanish side for 2015-16.

Vallejo will link up with Rafa Benitez's squad in 12 months' time, allowing Zaragoza to benefit from his quality while offering up first-team football he would not receive at Real Madrid.

In addition to purchasing the highly-rated defender from the cash-strapped club, Madrid have also acquired young Zaragoza goalkeeper Dario Ramos for an additional €1m.

Vallejo was named in the best XI in the Segunda Division in 2014-15 and is alleged to have been on Madrid's radar for 12 months, with concrete interest increasing at the start of July.

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I want a couple of trophies this season- Shaw

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Luke Shaw believes Manchester United can win "a couple" of trophies this season, having embarked on a major recruitment drive this summer.

The left-back, who joined the club from Southampton in 2014, endured a mixed debut campaign, making 16 Premier League appearances as the club recorded a fourth-placed finish.

And Shaw believes Louis van Gaal’s men are capable of improving their league position and challenging for major honours this time around, having recruited Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero this summer.

"As a team, we do talk about challenging for honours, but not too much because it is the start of the season," he told the club’s official website.

"But with the signings that we have made and the signings that could still be coming in, I think the squad is going to be very strong and positive, and I think we can win a couple of trophies this season."

Chris Smalling has echoed Shaw’s sentiments, meanwhile, and believes that the club’s new additions will help inspire the Red Devils to success this term.

"I feel the fans can expect to see a team that shows a lot more consistency and, especially with our additions, I think we will see a big goal threat in a successful season. Everyone is very confident of building on last season," he added.
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I've no Atletico trophy envy- Torres

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Fernando Torres insists there is no trophy envy with his Atletico Madrid team-mates, with whom he wants to win more silverware this season.

The striker returned to his boyhood club in January, with Diego Simeone's side having conquered La Liga, won the Copa del Rey and triumphed in the Europa League in recent seasons.

Atletico relinquished their Liga crown to Barcelona last season, in addition to quarter-final exits in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, but Torres has his sights set on winning titles in 2015-16 with the club he skippered in his youth.

"If you have envy it is bad," Torres - who unlike many of his Atletico colleagues has a Champions League winner medal - told reporters on Friday.

"I admire Raul Garcia, Gabi and Koke as I did with Kiko, Milinko Pantic and Jose Luis Caminero and the double team of 1995-96.

"My team-mates have marked the path for this club. This is the real Atletico and I can only admire them. Of course I want to win titles here, it is what I have always wanted and I will fight for it.

"I want to give back to the fans for all they have given me and if you includes titles, so much the better. My team-mates know how to do it from within and we just have to follow that."

Torres will compete with Jackson Martinez up front this term, with Simeone having also brought in the likes of Luciano Vietto and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.

"Competition has always been hard and that's what makes you win titles," Torres added. "This will have to be an ambitious season so we can improve what happened last year.

"It is difficult to play just half of the year, as I did last season. We all want to play but in the end the coach will decide."

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Porto move helping me get over Madrid- Casillas

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ker Casillas has revealed how joining Porto on a free transfer is helping him get over his messy break-up with Real Madrid.

The veteran goalkeeper is second in the all-time appearance holder record list for the Blancos, but he left the Santiago Bernabeu this summer on bad terms having been considered expendable by new coach Rafa Benitez.

Casillas, 34, explained that the presence of Julen Lopetegui as Porto head coach played a huge role in his decision to join the Portuguese side, ending his 25-year stay at Real Madrid.

"I felt a lot of trust and fondness towards Julen Lopetegui," he told Dragoes, Porto's official club magazine. "I had several offers but none were as attractive as Porto.

"In addition, I wanted to leave Spain. Signing for Porto was a way for me to let go of Real Madrid, put them in the past, and play for an overseas club that I felt a connection with.

"Here I can continue to develop whilst playing for a very big club. A team like Porto deserve to be winning titles every season. Winning domestic silverware is the priority."

Porto finished second last season under Lopetegui, behind Benfica, having reached the last eight of the Champions League where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.

Casillas is expected to be the undisputed No.1 in the coming campaign for Porto, whose president has had to fend off criticism from Jose Mourinho regarding who is paying the Spain international's large salary.

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Transfer Talk: Baba wants 'dream' Chelsea move

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Baba Rahman is hopeful Augsburg accept Chelsea's £17.5 million (€25m) offer, according to his agent, as it would be his dream move.

The left-back has been linked with a Premier League move for months and rumours that the Blues were interested in signing him this summer increased in intensity following Filipe Luis' return to Atletico Madrid.

Despite Augsburg chief Jonas Hoffman claiming that the Bundesliga club do not need the money that selling Baba would bring, reports surfaced on Friday that he had been subject to a bid from the Premier League champions.

The Ghanaian defender's agent, Sascha Empacher, confirmed the deal existed and is lobbying for Baba being given the opportunity to sign a deal with Jose Mourinho's men.

"Chelsea made an attractive offer," he told Kicker, denying any contract with Chelsea had been agreed upon. "It is Baba's dream to play for a top club. He would like to take this opportunity.”

Baba would provide competition at left-back with Cesar Azpilicueta, who started the majority of matches for Chelsea in 2014-15.

In his first campaign at Augsburg, Baba featured in all but three games (when he was absent for the Africa Cup of Nations) for the German side.

German news agency SID are reporting that Philipp Max has been lined up as Baba's €4m replacement.

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Jovetic Joins Inter on Loan

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Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic has joined Inter on a year-and-a-half loan deal with an obligation to buy outright.

Goal reported that the 25-year-old has joined for a loan fee of £2.1 million with Inter legally obligated to buy the forward for £8.5m in 18 months' time, having claimed the striker has signed a four-year deal.

City will receive a further £2m if Roberto Mancini's side qualify for the Champions League.

"We are pleased to announce the arrival of Jovetic. This is another important player for our team, a dynamic player that will add even more value to our attack," said President Erick Thohir.

"Mancini will get the best out of him. Welcome Stevan and Forza Inter."

Jovetic joined City from Fiorentina in 2013 for £22m but has struggled to secure a regular first-team role under Manuel Pellegrini, making just 28 Premier League appearances in his two seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

The Montenegro international was also dropped from City's Champions League squad in February in order to accommodate January arrival Wilfried Bony.

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360 Official: Liverpool Ex Lambert Completes Move to WestBrom


West Brom have completed the signing of Rickie Lambert from Liverpool on a two-year deal.

The striker only moved to Anfield from Southampton last summer, his boyhood club, but struggled with limited first-team exposure and scored just two Premier League goals.

Lambert tasted Premier League football for the first time with Southampton in 2012-13, scoring 13 times and earning a call-up to the senior England squad, before an improved return of 15 goals the following campaign.

The 33-year-old underwent a medical earlier on Friday and has now completed a £3 million move.



"Rickie is a good, strong, solid player who is a great character, good in the dressing room and good on the pitch," manager Tony Pulis told the club's official website. "We are very pleased to have him on board.

"He's a player of great pedigree and we look forward to integrating him into our squad."
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360 Official: Aston Villa sign Veretout


Aston Villa have confirmed they have signed French midfielder Jordan Veretout on a five-year deal from Nantes for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old turned down a more lucrative offer from Leicester City to become Tim Sherwood's eighth summer signing

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COMMUNITY SHIELD: Mourinho confirms Costa & Cahill fit to face Arsenal

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that both Diego Costa and Gary Cahill are fit to face Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley.

 The striker was a doubt after being withdrawn after an hour of Chelsea’s friendly win over Barcelona in Washington on Wednesday after feeling a twinge in his hamstring.

 Cahill, meanwhile, was also replaced after a clash of heads while scoring a late equaliser as the game finished 2-2 with Chelsea prevailing 4-2 on penalties.

 However, Mourinho has now confirmed that both men are fit to face the Gunners and that he has no injury concerns ahead of the start of the new season.

 "All good,” he told reporters."'There are no concerns, no protections [for Costa]. We have three top strikers. I'm not worried. No problem."

 The Chelsea boss also offered his view on the news that Premier League fixtures would not be adjusted to help teams in the Champions League.

 "My reaction is that here we have four teams in the Champions League and we will not make a big noise of it," he added.

 "But one day when England has only three teams in the Champions League people will wake up."
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