March 2014 - Soccer Wiretap

Inter Milan Target Diego Simeone For 15-16 Season

May 31, 2014 9:37 PM

Inter Milan has targeted Diego Simeone with the hope that he can become their manager ahead of the 15-16 season.

Simeone's current deal with Atlético Madrid runs through 16-17.

Walter Mazzarri's deal with Inter expires after the current season.

Simeone manned the Italians’ midfield between 1997-99, making 84 appearances and scoring 15 goals in the Inter shirt.

Tom Conn/Inside Spanish Football

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Internazionale, Misc Rumor

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Barça Set To Sell Fabregas For £30M

May 31, 2014 9:30 PM

Barcelona is prepared to sell Cesc Fabregas this summer on a £30 million transfer.

Fabregas rejoined Barça from Arsenal in 2011 on a £35 million deal. The Gunners have a buy-back option for Fabregas.

Fabregas would prefer a return to the Premier League and Manchester United expressed interest in him back in January.

David Ornstein/BBC

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

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Qatar Made $5M In Secret Payments For Support Of World Cup Bid

May 31, 2014 9:27 PM

The Sunday Times has obtained secret documents that it alleges are proof that Qatari football official Mohamed Bin Hammam made payments totaling $5 million to football officials in return for their support for the Qatar bid.

According to emails obtained by the Sunday Times and seen by the BBC, it is now clear that Bin Hammam, 65, was lobbying on his country's behalf at least a year before the decision.

The documents also show how Bin Hammam was making payments direct to football officials in Africa to allegedly buy their support for Qatar in the contest.

David Bond/BBC

Tags: World Cup

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Report: Frank Lampard Leaves Chelsea For New York City FC

May 31, 2014 2:52 PM

Frank Lampard has left Chelsea to join New York City FC, according to the Mirror.

Lampard will go to NYCFC on a free transfer.

Lampard was at Manchester City's Carrington complex on Saturday to complete the move.

Lampard is understood to be have agreed to a basic wage significantly less than the £150,000-a-week that he picked up at Chelsea, but could be offset by bonuses.

Lampard played 13 seasons for Chelsea. 

David Villa also will join NYCFC as a designated player, along with Lampard.

Darren Lewis/Mirror

Tags: Chelsea, New York City FC, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Liverpool Firm On £25M Offer To Southampton For Adam Lallana

May 31, 2014 2:39 PM

Liverpool and Southampton continue to negotiate a transfer deal for Adam Lallana.

Liverpool reportedly has a £25 million 'take it or leave it' offer for Lallana.

Liverpool initially valued Lallana at £20 million but Southampton, who have to pass a 25% sell-on fee to their captain’s former club Bournemouth, are holding out for £30 million.

Lallana's preference is to join Liverpool, but Tottenham is also interested.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Liverpool, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Diego Costa Makes Spain's World Cup Roster

Jun 1, 2014 3:25 PM

Diego Costa has been included on Spain's 23-man roster for the World Cup.

Costa has been dealing with a hamstring injury, which was worsened in last week's Champions League Final.

David Villa and Fernando Torres were also included.

Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo were among the final cuts for Vicente del Bosque.

Juanfran made the roster despite fitness concerns, while Dani Carvajal and Alberto Moreno will stay home.

Jesus Navas is another high-profile player who won't be going to Brazil due to injury issues.

Final 23-man Spain squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David de Gea (Manchester United)

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid).

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Koke Resurreccion (Atletico Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Juan Mata (Manchester United), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)

Forwards: Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).

ESPN

Tags: Spain, Atletico Madrid, Injury, World Cup

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Wenger Promises Active Offseason For Arsenal

May 30, 2014 8:35 PM

Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal to have an active offseason in the transfer market.

"Yes," said Wenger when asked if Arsenal will have a busy summer. "What I can promise is that we work very hard on a market that is very, very congested with many people who have a lot of money.

"But we have a big advantage, players want to join us and if we find the right quality I'm sure we can strengthen the team."

Alex Young/Goal.com

Tags: Arsenal, IQ, Misc Rumor

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UCL Final Drew 3.1M Viewers In United States

May 30, 2014 5:35 PM

The UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid drew 1.9 million viewers on Fox in the United States.

An additional 1.2 million viewers watched the match, won by Real by a final of 4-1 in extra time, on Fox Deportes.

John Ourand/Sports Business Journal

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League

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Atleti Leading For Ivan Rakitic

May 30, 2014 2:55 PM

Atlético Madrid has increased its pursuit of Ivan Rakitic of Sevilla and are believed to be in the lead. 

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool have also been interested in a move for the 26-year-old Croatian midfielder.

Real has reportedly given up pursuing Rakitic due to Atleti's offer and their inability to guarantee a starting spot in their XI.

Tom Conn/Inside Spanish Football

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Wenger Officially Signs Three-Year Deal With Arsenal

May 30, 2014 12:07 PM

Arsene Wenger has officially signed his three-year deal to remain as manager of Arsenal through 2017.

"We are entering an exciting period. We have a strong squad, financial stability and huge support," he said.

"The club has always shown faith in me and I'm very grateful for that.

"We have gone through fantastic periods and also periods where we have had to stick together. Every time when that togetherness was tested I got the right response.

"I think I have shown some loyalty as well towards this club and hopefully we can make some more history. I am sure we can."

Arsenal won the FA Cup, their first trophy since 2005.

David Ornstein/BBC

Tags: Arsenal, Misc Rumor

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Puyol Joins Barcelona Front Office
Carles Puyol will be joining Barcelona's technical staff to work under current sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Xavi Has Several Offer Should Barça Want To Part Ways
Gerard López was also certain that Xavi continuing in Barcelona would depend on the player himself.

Jen Evelyn/Inside Spanish Football

Luke Shaw's Only Transfer Bid Coming From United
Manchester United has had a £27 million offer for Luke Shaw for several weeks.

Kevin Palmer/ESPN

Liverpool Close To Deal For Rickie Lambert
Brendan Rodgers wanted to further strengthen his attack and Rickie Lambert emerged as a surprise target.

John Cross/Adam Lallana

United Considering Triggering Koke's $80M Release Clause From Atleti
Koke has been with Atleti since the eight of eight.

Ameen Rabbani/Inside Spanish Football

Barcelona Has Most Players In Guardian's Top 100 Players In WC History
Barcelona had 17 past and present players in The Guardian's top-100 players in the history of the World Cup.

The Guardian

Ciro Immobile To Borussia Dortmund On $26.5M Transfer
Ciro Immobile will go to Borussia Dortmund on a $26.5 million transfer from Torino.

Sky Sports

Liverpool Wants To Avoid Acquiring Players On Loan
Brendan Rodgers wants to avoid bringing players on loan this summer to Liverpool.

Harry West/Goal.com

Liverpool Make $25M Bid For Left Back Alberto Moreno
Alberto Moreno has also received interest from Napoli, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Joe Prince-Wright/ProSoccerTalk

Spain Unsure If Diego Costa Will Be Healthy For World Cup
Diego Costa may be unable to play in the World Cup with his injured hamstring.

Dejan Kalinic/Goal.com

Report: David Villa Close To Three-Year Deal With NYCFC
David Villa is close to a three-year deal with New York City FC, according to a report from Spain.

Cope.es

Barcelona Won't Sell Alexis Sanchez During Summer Window
Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus have been rumored to be keen on Alexis Sanchez.

Sky Sports

Malcolm Glazer Passes Away At 85
Malcolm Glazer has passed away at the age of 85.

RealGM Staff Report

USMNT Players Left Off ESPN's #WorldCupRank
Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard are widely considered the three best players on the USMNT.

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Zlatan: Rival Clubs Afraid, Jealous Of PSG's Growth
Zlatan Ibrahimović said that rival clubs are putting pressure on UEFA to use Financial Fair Play to hold Paris Saint-Germain back.

Ian Holyman/ESPN

Diego Costa Headlines Sid Lowe's La Liga XI
Diego Costa was Sid Lowe's player of the year for the 13-14 La Liga season, while Diego Simeone was manager of the year.

Sid Lowe/The Guardian

Rafael van der Vaart Ruled Out Of World Cup With Calf Injury
The 31-year-old Hamburg midfielder, who has 109 international caps and appeared at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, was in contention to make Louis van Gaal’s 23-man squad.

The Guardian

Ángel Correa Joins Atleti On Five-Year Deal
Ángel Correa is from the same town in Argentina as Lionel Messi.

The Guardian

Mix Diskerud 'Borrowing' Donovan's No. 10
Mix Diskerud wore No. 10 for the United States against Azerbaijan, the former number of Landon Donovan.

ESPN

Giroud, Arsenal In Extension Discussions
Olivier Giroud and Arsenal are in contract extension talks though the club has been linked to a move for another striker.

Midi Libre