Misc Rumor - Soccer Wiretap

Joachim Low Signs Extension With Germany Through 2020

Nov 1, 2016 9:40 AM

Joachim Low has signed a new contract which will keep him in the role with the German national team until after Euro 2020.

The German Football Association (DFB) announced on Monday that the 56-year-old had agreed an early two-year extension to his contract, meaning he will be in charge of the national team for the next two major championships. Low succeeded Jürgen Klinsmann as Germany boss in 2006 and led them to World Cup glory in 2014.

Germany lost in the semifinals of Euro 2016 to France.

“I have always stressed that I could not imagine a better coach for our national team than Jogi Löw,” said DFB president Reinhard Grindel. “He has defined this team over the years with his passion and his expert ability, bringing them on and leading them to the World Cup title."

Press Association

Tags: Germany, Misc Rumor

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Agent: Pep Guardiola Has Vendetta Against Yaya Toure

Oct 30, 2016 8:02 PM

Dimitri Seluk has claimed Pep Guardiola has a personal vendetta against him and Yaya Toure.

Guardiola has made clear Toure has no future with Manchester City.

In quotes reported by the Mirror, Seluk says he has tried contacting Guardiola and City director of football Txiki Begiristain in an attempt to resolve their differences without success.

"When Yaya was left out of the Champions League squad, I called Pep," Seluk said. "I wanted to ask him his reasons, but he didn't call me back. I also tried to call Txiki -- but he didn't call me back either. So I don't think the club can criticise me for doing an interview in the newspaper when they wouldn't even talk to me.

"Pep talks about respect. But to get respect you have to show it. Before City played at the Nou Camp, I called Pep again. I wanted to ask him if we could meet for talks while he was in Barcelona.

"I also called Txiki. But nothing came back. I sent them texts also, but again there was nothing back. I have the phone records to prove this.

"I was not making contact to apologise -- but neither Pep nor Txiki knew this. Why should I apologise when I am guilty of nothing but telling the truth?

"My idea was to talk man-to-man, to find out how we can move things forward for the best interests of Manchester City and Yaya.

"All I got was silence. So it must be clear to everyone that Pep isn't looking for an apology.

"It is about him turning [owner] Sheikh Mansour and the City fans against a player who loves the club.

"Pep is allowing his ego to make decisions that aren't in the best interests of Manchester City.

"I know what his problem is. When Pep forced Yaya out of Barcelona I criticised him. This is his revenge. And it is personal, not professional.

"I asked City in the summer if they wanted Yaya to leave and was told that he was part of the plan.

"It is now clear that wasn't the truth. I think the plan was to humiliate Yaya -- and all the other players who have made history for Manchester City in the last six years.

"Yaya isn't the only one. [Joe] Hart and [Samir] Nasri have also paid because they are big personalities.

"Pep doesn't want to work with men. He wants to work with players who are very young because he can control them like children.

"Pep smiles at you. He makes you believe he is your best friend -- and then he betrays you."

ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Misc Rumor

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Gareth Bale Signs Six-Year Extension With Real Madrid

Nov 1, 2016 9:40 AM

Gareth Bale has agreed upon a new six-year deal with Real Madrid through 2022. Bale will earn £150 million ($183 million) over the next six years in salaries and bonuses.

Bale, 27, joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a fee of approximately €100 million.

Real Madrid has also signed Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to new extensions.

Bale's deal will contain a €500 million release clause.

ESPN

Tags: Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Jack Wilshere Unsure If He Has Future With Arsenal

Oct 29, 2016 9:54 AM

Jack Wilshere is unsure if he has a future with Arsenal now that he's on a season-long loan with Bournemouth.

Wilshere is trying to re-establish himself following a lengthy list of injuries.

Wilshere is under contract with Arsenal until 2018, has featured for the club just five times since May 2015.

"I haven't really thought about my future beyond getting a season under my belt and just trying to improve as a player," Wilshere said.

"I genuinely don't know if I am going to end up at Arsenal or somewhere else.

"If you'd asked me two months ago if I was going to finish my career at Arsenal then I would have said, 'Yeah, of course.'

"Two months ago I wouldn't have seen myself being here, but here I am. And I'm enjoying it."

ESPN

Tags: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Ronald Koeman Would Welcome Back Wayne Rooney To Everton

Oct 29, 2016 10:35 AM

Wayne Rooney would be welcomed back to Everton by Ronald Koeman should he have interest.

With Rooney being dropped to Manchester United's bench, there has been talk about him leaving the club.

Rooney left Everton for United in 2004.

“I do not know how his situation is and I need to respect that situation. That’s not my problem. But even when we get one time the possibility that Rooney is an option for Everton, I’m very pleased.”

When then asked if he was surprised by some of the criticism Rooney has had, Koeman added: “That is part of football. He is enough of an experienced person in football that he knows what can happen and everybody gets periods of critics.

“It is part of football and of the business and you need to stay calm. That is the best thing you can do.”

The Guardian

Tags: Everton, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Henrikh Mkhitaryan Will Continue To Fight For Spot In United XI

Oct 28, 2016 9:09 AM

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will continue to fight for his spot in Manchester United's lineup despite not featuring for his new club in six weeks.

Mkhitaryan last played on Sept. 10th against Manchester City.

Mkhitaryan suffered a minor thigh injury during the September international break.

"It doesn't matter if they buy me for, I don't know, £38 million or £40m, I am not guaranteed to play the games," Mkhitaryan said.

"So I am trying to do my best during the training to earn this place to play and then we will see, because I don't think I will play every game, depending on the tactical situation, depending on the opponent. But I will do everything to try and help the team."

ESPN

Tags: Manchester United, Misc Rumor

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PSG Planning To Pursue Antoine Griezmann

Oct 27, 2016 11:40 AM

Paris Saint-Germain are planning to pursue Antoine Griezmann during summer of 2017, according to Sport.

PSG pursued Neymar last summer but he instead chose to sign an extension with Barcelona.

Griezmann has a €100 million release clause as part of his new deal with Atletico Madrid.

PSG's sporting director Patrick Kluivert views Griezmann as someone capable of replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic both on and off the pitch.

Jack Rathborn/ESPN

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Saul Wants To Stay At Atleti As Long As Simeone Remains

Oct 27, 2016 11:30 AM

Saul Niguez has dismissed speculation about a potential move from Atletico Madrid to Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho reportedly wants to sign the 21-year-old Saul next summer.

"As long as (Diego) Simeone stays here, I'll be here," said Saul. 

Simeone handed Saul, a youth product of Atletico, his first-team debut at the age of 17 in March 2012 and the player made his first La Liga appearance 13 months later.

"When a coach shows you such trust and gives you so much confidence, it's key," Saul said. "When you play one or two games where you are not at your best but he still plays you, in the end you die for him because you feel you owe it to him.

"The calmness that he transmits to me makes me be who I am today on the pitch.

"It took me a long time to gain his confidence but now that I have it, I'm going to continue to work for him, giving my all."

Adriana Garcia/ESPN

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Marseille Hires Andoni Zubizarreta As Sporting Director

Oct 27, 2016 10:42 AM

Andoni Zubizarreta has been hired by Marseille as their sporting director on a three-year contract

Zubizarreta was fired by Barcelona in early 2015.

Zubizarreta will be given a budget of around €200 million ahead of next season.

Frank McCourt is overhauling the club as he assumes ownership.

“The goal is to win the league,” he told L’Eqiupe. “My number one goal is to win Ligue 1, the second is to win the title more often that we don’t and the third is to win the Champions League. We have to manage to do that in that order.”

As.com

Tags: Marseille, Misc Rumor

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Real Madrid Attempted To Hire Pep Guardiola Before Zidane

Oct 28, 2016 9:10 AM

Real Madrid made contact with Pep Guardiola in the run up to firing Rafa Benitez last season. Guardiola was reportedly their choice before Zinedine Zidane.

The negotiations didn't go anywhere and Real Madrid hired Zidane.

Guardiola soon thereafter agreed to join Manchester City for the 16-17 season.

“Real Madrid contacted Josep María Orobitg, Pep’s agent, to try and strike a deal,” Guardiola biographer Marti Perarnau told national radio station Cadena SER in a programme broadcast locally in Catalonia. “But from the start Pep dismissed it. I was there.”

As.com

Tags: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor

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Jose Mourinho Calls Hotel Life In Manchester 'A Disaster'
Jose Mourinho appears reluctant to establish roots in Manchester as his family remains in London.

Mark Dobson/The Guardian

Paul Pogba's Agent Paid $29.5M As Part Of United Transfer
Paul Pogba returned to United for a world-record €105 million initial fee on Aug. 8 after several weeks of negotiations, with sources saying Mino Raiola's fee had been the final sticking point in the

ESPN

Pep Guardiola Wants Sergio Aguero To Remain With City
Sergio Aguero has scored 11 goals so far this season but was surprisingly left on the bench for City's Champions League match against Barcelona.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Dortmund Believes Real Madrid Tracking Thomas Tuchel
Dortmund would like to extend Thomas Tuchel's contract.

As.com

Steven Gerrard Posts Farewell Message To LA Galaxy
In May, during a Q&A with Galaxy fans, Steven Gerrard admitted he wished to return to Liverpool "sooner rather than later."

The Guardian

Yannick Carrasco Extends Atleti Deal Through 2022
Yannick Carrasco's salary has been increased while his release clause jumped from €40 million to €100 million.

As.com

Lucas Vazquez Signs Extension Through 2022 With Real Madrid
Lucas Vazquez returned to Real Madrid a year ago after a loan at Espanyol.

As.com

Marseille Hire Rudi Garcia As Manager
Marseille have started the Ligue 1 campaign slowly and currently find themselves in 12th place after nine matches.

Ian Holyman/ESPN

Ozil Waiting On Wenger's Future To Be Determined Before Extension
Mesut Ozil is reportedly waiting on assurances over the future of Arsene Wenger before committing to Arsenal long-term with an extension.

Chris Wheatley/Goal.com

Luis Suarez Hopes To Retire With Barcelona
Luis Suarez joined Barcelona in 2014 from Liverpool and has since scored 93 goals in 108 appearances.

Samuel Marsden/ESPN

United Planning To Pursue Antoine Griezmann In Summer
Manchester United are prepared to break the world transfer record again next summer in pursuit of Antoine Griezmann.

The Mirror

Chelsea Interested In Alessio Romagnoli, Pepe
Chelsea has been linked with another £49 million offer to AC Milan for Alessio Romagnoli.

Jack Rathborn/ESPN

Robin Van Persie Believes Ferguson's Retirement Led To United Exit
Robin Van Persie struggled under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Press Association

Zinedine Zidane Pushing For Real Madrid To Hire Sporting Director
Florentino Perez is currently seen as the de facto sporting director of Real Madrid.

As.com

Luka Modric Signs Extension With Real Madrid Through 2020
Luka Modric recently turned 31 years old.

As.com

Mesut Ozil Seeking Substantial Raise In Extension Talks With Arsenal
Mesut Ozil earns a reported basic wage of £140,000 per week.

David Hytner/The Guardian

Dortmund Rules Out Bringing Back Henrikh Mkhitaryan In Future
Nuri Sahin, Shinji Kagawa and Mario Gotze have returned to Dortmund in recent years.

Stephan Uersfeld/ESPN

Neymar To Finally Sign Barcelona Extension
Neymar's new net salary will be €16 million per season, below the totals earned annually by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Samuel Mardsen/ESPN

Gareth Bale Seeks Equal Compensation As Cristiano Ronaldo
Gareth Bale is currently earning €580,000 per week before tax compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's €830,000 per week.

As.com

Alex Ferguson Pushed Cristiano Ronaldo To Join Barca Instead Of Madrid
When Cristiano Ronaldo insisted on leaving Manchester United for Spain, Alex Ferguson tried to get Barcelona involved in the bidding process to compete with Real Madrid.

Guillem Balague/AS.com