March 2016 - Soccer Wiretap

Farhad Moshiri To Give Everton Major Boost In Transfer Funds

Feb 29, 2016 6:22 PM

Farhad Moshiri sold 15 percent of Arsenal on Friday and confirmed a deal for 49.9 percent of Everton on Saturday.

Roberto Martinez figures to have significantly more money available to him use on the transfer market.

The club’s wage cap will be demolished this summer and the first impact will be to convince Ross Barkley, John Stones and Romelu Lukaku to remain the team’s core on long-term contracts. 

A resolution to Everton’s stadium saga is also on Moshiri’s agenda for the summer. 

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Everton, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Gerard Pique Has Too Much Love For United To Join City

Mar 1, 2016 6:06 PM

Gerard Pique says he has too much love still for Manchester United to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Pique moved to United in 2004 from La Masia and was unable to become a regular for Alex Ferguson and returned to Barcelona in 2008.

Pique has since become one of the world's best center backs.

"My love for Manchester United is too great for me to sign for City, even though Pep is a great coach.

"I'm very happy in Barcelona. United are my second club, but my future is at Barca. I'm very proud to play at Barcelona. I think it's the best club in the world.

"I would like to try a different league when I've got a few years to go before retiring. I don't know if it will be Colombia -- I'd like that for [wife] Shakira, but nobody can predict the future."

Arindam Rej/ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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US Soccer Releases New Logo For First Time In 20 Years (Picture)

Mar 1, 2016 6:06 PM

The United States Soccer Federation has released a new logo for the first time in more than 20 years.

The logo was designed in conjunction with Nike.

The switch has been in the works for more than two years.

ESPN

Tags: United States

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Cristiano: We Would Be First If Real Madrid Were All At My Level

Feb 29, 2016 1:23 PM

Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at home and are now nine points behind Barcelona.

"It annoys me that they say that Cristiano has dropped his level, and that is why Madrid have dropped their level," he said. "If they were all at my level we would be first. You always ask me these crappy questions -- it seems that here in Spain, I am in the s---.

"The numbers do not lie, statistics never trick you, it is easy."

Ronaldo has played every minute in La Liga so far this season.

"I don't know if it is for bad preparation at the start of the season, but we are having many injuries and that is hurting us," he said. "I don't want to knock anyone, no teammate, but when the best are missing... I like to play with Bale, Benzema...

"I don't want to say that Jese, Lucas [Vazquez] or [Mateo] Kovacic are not good players, they are very good, but... to win a competition you need to have your best players.

"Our best players are injured, unfortunately, it's a fact, the reality. Bale is injured, Pepe. Karim is not at 100 percent, Marcelo is injured. I believe that is the principal problem this year."

Ben Snowball/Eurosport

Tags: Real Madrid, Misc Rumor

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Louis Van Gaal: Jose Mourinho To United 'An Absolute Scandal'

Feb 27, 2016 12:59 PM

Louis van Gaal feels no need to speak to Jose Mourinho about his connection to the Manchester United job.

"[Mourinho] has said things a number of times with a lot of words," Van Gaal told TV channel RTL7.

"But he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous.

"No, I don't want United to do something either. I don't even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created.

"We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things.

"I think what is happening is an absolute scandal."

PA Sport

Tags: Manchester United

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Report: Neymar Agrees To New Deal With Barcelona Through 2021

Feb 29, 2016 1:27 PM

Neymar has agreed upon a five-year extension with Barcelona to make him the club's second highest paid player behind Lionel Messi, according to a report from ESPN Brasil.

The deal was reportedly signed in December when Barcelona was in Japan for the Club World Cup but an announcement has been delayed as Neymar continues to have lingering tax cases.

Neymar's previous deal was set to expire in 2018.

Neymar has been linked to a transfer to Manchester United.

ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Tim Howard To Join Colorado From Everton

Feb 29, 2016 1:23 PM

Tim Howard is on the verge of completing a move from Everton to the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.

Colorado's interest in Howard first surfaced in January, shortly after it acquired the top spot in the MLS allocation order, which gave the team first crack at a set list of U.S. internationals and former MLS players who might be interested in coming to the league.

After initially saying Howard could leave on a free transfer, Everton then asked for a fee that was eventually agreed upon somewhere between $600,000 and $750,000.

Howard also initially asked for a four-year deal worth $5 million annually but his agreed upon salary will be approximately $2 million.

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Tags: Colorado Rapids, Everton, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Serge Aurier Suspended By PSG Until March 20th

Feb 26, 2016 1:39 PM

Serge Aurier has been suspended until March 20th for his comments about Laurent Blanc.

Aurier had conducted a question and answer session on Periscope – effectively being interviewed by his friend Mamadou Doucouré, a former reserve player at Lens and Atlético Madrid, late on Saturday night – in which he appeared to describe Blanc as a “faggot”.

Aurier also suggested Blanc has favored Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Aurier, a regular in the team this season, has apologized publicly for his comments. 

FourFourTwo

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, Suspension

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Gianni Infantino Voted As FIFA President

Feb 27, 2016 12:50 PM

Gianni Infantino has become the ninth elected president of FIFA.

Infantino received 115 votes in the second round ahead of 88 for Sheikh Salman.

Infantino replaces Sepp Blatter as president.

Infantino is a multi-lingual lawyer who has long been with UEFA.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: World Cup

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Antonio Conte Moving Closer To Deal With Chelsea

Feb 26, 2016 11:43 AM

Antonio Conte is moving closer to an agreement on Chelsea to become their next manager.

Conte is interested in succeeding Guus Hiddink in the summer and hopes to be offered a contract in the next 10 days.

Thursday’s meeting was described as “very positive”, according to a source close to the negotiations. Conte’s representatives, as well as Chelsea, are now mulling over the finer details of what could be a three‑year deal.

Conte would earn £6.3 million a season before tax at Chelsea.

Conte will manage Italy in Euro 2016.

Fabrizio Romano, Marcus Christenson/The Guardian

Tags: Chelsea, Misc Rumor

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Out Seven Weeks With Knee Injury
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sustained the injury in a tackle by Javier Mascherano.

Paul Doyle/The Guardian

Liverpool, United Tie Headline Europa League 16 Draw
The round of 16 draw of the Europa League took place on Friday with Liverpool versus Manchester United among the more notable ties.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Cristiano Ronaldo Continues To Say He Wants To Remain With Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to insist he's happy at Real Madrid and doesn't want to leave in the summer.

Joe Wright/Goal.com

Barcelona Extends Unicef Sponsorship Until 2020
Barcelona have extended their sponsorship with Unicef until 2020 and their annual donation will increase to €2 million.

Goal.com

DeAndre Yedlin Doesn't Regret Leaving Spurs For Loan At Sunderland
Sunderland is in the midst of a relegation battle while Spurs are fighting for the title.

Dan Kilpatrick/ESPN

Juventus Afraid Real Madrid Will Buy Back Alvaro Morata
Juventus bought Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid for €22 million in 2014, in a deal which included a clause allowing them to repurchase him for €35 million this coming summer.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Jose Mourinho Prefers To Return In Summer
Jose Mourinho said he was satisfied to wait for the "right project."

The Guardian

Chelsea, Antonio Conte To Hold More Talks
Chelsea are prepared to offer a salary of £6.3 million per season to Antonio Conte.

Fabrizio Romano, Marcus Christenson/The Guardian

Sergio Busquets Interested In Extension With Barcelona
Sergio Busquets is signed through the 18-19 season and has been linked to Manchester City.

FourFourTwo

Paul Pogba Agrees Upon 10-Year, $44M Adidas Deal
Paul Pogba was one of soccer's best young players who was without a shoe deal.

Riley Jones/Complex

Cristiano Ronaldo Interested In Acting In Retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo has interest in becoming an actor when his playing career ends.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Report: Chelsea Has Agreement With Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte played in 296 matches for Juventus during his playing career and was manager of the club from 2011 until 2014 before taking the job for Italy.

Andy Edwards/Pro Soccer Talk

Sven-Goran Eriksson: China Can Win World Cup Within 10 Years
Xi Jinping is pushing for China to become a soccer powerhorse.

Tom Phillips/The Guardian

David De Gea Escapes Serious Knee Injury
David De Gea had been withdrawn from his team's 2-1 defeat in the first leg of that Europa League contest after feeling the problem during the warm-up to the game.

Arindam Rej/ESPN

Mikel: Guus Hiddink Has Changed Atmosphere Of Chelsea
The improved form of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are examples of Guus Hiddink's influence.

Alan Smith/The Guardian

Bayern Acknowledges Vulnerability On Set Pieces
Jerome Boateng has been out for several weeks with a groin injury.

RealGM Staff Report

Michael Carrick Considering United Exit
Michael Carrick is 34 and joined United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006.

ESPN

Arturo Vidal Happy With Choice Of Bayern Over United
Arturo Vidal believes he made the right choice turning down Manchester United to sign with Bayern Munich.

ESPN

Lazio Deny Having €60M Deal With United To Sell Felipe Anderson
United reportedly attempted to sign Felipe Anderson in January having also failed with a bid of £37.6 million last summer.

Alan Smith/The Guardian

Copa America Groups Announced
The United States will play Colombia in their first match of the group stage at Levi's Stadium on June 3rd.

RealGM Staff Report