Tag: Manchester

Claudio Bravo reckons Barcelona as better in Reputation

Claudio Bravo reckons Manchester City might not be any bit behind Barcelona funds-wise, but, if the reputation is the basis of the comparison, then the latter would come first for sure.


Bravo was quoted as, “If you talk about the funds, I would say both are pretty even, but, if you talk about the status around the world, Barcelona is ahead there to be fair and that’s why scrutiny is also more at Barcelona.”

On his life at Etihad, the Shot-stopper said, “Changing your job location and changing it from one country to another is a challenge. You can’t just hang your kit bag onto your shoulders and take the plane to the new location. You are going to have to take your family there; you might struggle with the language and not only the language, but, many other things which you find yourself coping with from time to time.” Continue reading Claudio Bravo reckons Barcelona as better in Reputation

Juventus decision to sign Gonzalo Higuain is a huge gamble

For a fee of €90 million, Juventus signed Gonzalo Higuain as the Argentine attacker made a move from Napoli to the Italian outfit in a transfer that has shaken the world of football as the transfer fee is incredibly high for a player that is reaching the 29 year old mark.


When it comes to signing new players, the traditional option that clubs like to go with is to add performers who are fairly young. If a club signs a young player it basically secures the services of that youngster for a long period of time as that performer will probably be performing for the next few years of his career with the club.

Juventus on the other hand splashed out €90 million in a player who exploded in the previous season of the Italian League as he scored 36 goals in 35 appearances, which was way more than any other player of the top tier League.

Even though Gonzalo Higuain spent more than 6 seasons as a player of Real Madrid, he never managed to lift the UEFA Champions League which is widely considered as the most prestigious and difficult piece of silverware to acquire but this is exactly what Juventus is hoping that Higuain can help to accomplish.
Continue reading Juventus decision to sign Gonzalo Higuain is a huge gamble

Crystal Palace have been boosted by the return of James McArthur

Crystal Palace have been boosted by the return of James McArthur much earlier than expected.

The Scotland international has not played for the club since suffering a tear to his ankle ligaments at the start of February. Since he is one of the important players for Palace, this was seen as a major blow to the club’s hopes of avoiding a relegation battle throughout the 2015-16 campaign. It was initially thought that the player will miss the rest of the season. However, he has made remarkable progress from the injury and could now be back in the first-team reckoning before the FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

Palace have a great opportunity to do something special in the FA Cup this season. The tie between Watford gives both teams enough opportunities to think about a place in the final. Winner of this game will be playing against either Everton or the winner between the Manchester United vs West Ham replay. Without the competitive nature of McArthur in the midfield, Palace have been slowly slipping down the table. They have not won a league match in 2016 and this form sees them just one place above the relegation zone. They have an even smaller buffer of seven points from Sunderland in the 18th place. Continue reading Crystal Palace have been boosted by the return of James McArthur

Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard

Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard of getting promotion without fail in the upcoming campaign.

The team could only finish ninth under the management of Dave Robertson, who was appointed as the caretaker manager after the Darren Ferguson. Rather than go for a new name, the club has decided to offer Robertson the opportunity to show his qualities as a manager. Since taking over as the full-time boss, he has brought in the likes of Jack Collison and Joe Gormley into the squad. These players are expected to fine-tune some of the areas where Peterborough United struggled last season.

The club started its pre-season friendly matches with a 3-2 win over Hamlet while the team also have friendly matches against the likes of West Ham and Ipswich Town between now and the start of the season. The opening game for Peterborough United will be against Rochdale. Last season, both teams finished level on points with each other and it could be a similar scenario at the end of this season as well. Captain Michael Smith says that it is no longer sufficient that the team just get promotion into the Championship for the first time since 2013, but they also need to play a beautiful brand of football. Continue reading Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard

Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale

Amidst a lot of transfer rumours surrounding Alvaro Morata, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale at a reported € 30 million.

The striker scored goals in the two Champions League semifinals and also went on to score the consolation for the Italian outfit in the final against Barcelona. This was an impressive performance from the Spaniard, who moved to Juventus just two months ago for around € 20 million from Real Madrid. After helping Juventus beat his former club, speculation has grown that Madrid would exercise their right of buying him back for € 30 million that was inserted in the sale agreement.

If the Spanish club do not get him, Allegri believes that Morata is worth around € 80 million in the market today. The 22-year-old scored 15 goals in 41 appearances for Juventus across all competitions. More importantly, he had the presence that helped Juventus build their football around him. The club managed to win yet another league title while also completing the Coppa Italia title. They could have become the first Italian team since Inter Milan in 2010 to have won the treble. Still, it was an excellent campaign for Juventus and Allegri says that this has increased the worth of Morata. Continue reading Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale

daniel de rossi

The summer transfer window is on the horizon and this is a period of time that allows players to make a switch to another club. Rumors always start floating around as the contracts of certain players reach their end.

As.Roma’s Daniele de Rossi is one of the players who recently has been linked with a move outside of the Italian League, Serie A. At the age of 31, the Italian midfielder is reaching the last few stages of his career and retiring is an option that players start considering at this age.

Daniele de Rossi is now being rumored to be thinking about making a move to the American League, the Major League Soccer at the end of the season. Toronto FC and Orlando City are the MLS clubs that have displayed most interest in signing the central midfielder.

New York City FC is another club in the MLS that might be the destination of Daniele de Rossi if he ever does decide to spend the last few years of his playing career in America. The current contract of the Italian midfielder with As.Roma lasts until 2016 but it could end sooner depending if whether or not the player is planning on making a move overseas when this season reaches it’s end in a few months.

Antonio di Natale is another veteran attacker in Serie A who is being linked with a move to the MLS but these rumors are very hard to believe as both Daniele de Rossi and Antonio di Natale are icons for their respective clubs.

Antonio di Natale is 37 years old but he continues scoring goals for his club on a consistent basis and he was named as the top goal-scorer of Serie A for 2 successive season in 2010 and 2011. It really comes as no surprise to know that he is captain of Udinese and that does not seem like it’s going to change anytime soon. Continue reading daniel de rossi