March 2016 - Soccer Wiretap

Vincent Del Bosque Steps Down As Manager Of Spain

Jul 1, 2016 5:05 PM

Vincent del Bosque will step down as manager of Spain after they were eliminated in the round of 16 of Euro 2016.

Del Bosque managed Spain to titles in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros.

"Without a doubt, I have no intention to remain as coach, but you have to be discreet. No matter what the result of the Euros, I had no doubt about what my future would be," he told Spanish public radio RNE.

"I will continue until July 31. And the president, when he thinks it's opportune, will make it happen. They haven't asked me for substitutes. I will do what the federation tells me. There are many qualified people."

Former Granada coach Joaquin Caparros, former Spain under-21 boss Julen Lopetegui and ex-La Roja coach Jose Antonio Camacho have all been tipped to succeed him.

ESPN

Tags: Spain, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Barcelona Expects To Soon Finalize Five-Year Deal With Neymar

Jun 30, 2016 12:30 PM

Barcelona expects to sign Neymar to a new five year deal within the next few days.

Both Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked to a transfer for Neymar, who has two seasons remaining on his deal with Barcelona.

“Neymar is not going to go from Barça, he is not going to leave,” Josep Maria Bartomeu said.

“Therefore, I do not know if [it will be] tomorrow or the day afterwards but Neymar is going to continue for five seasons. It’s normal that other clubs are interested in him.

“I will make this clear – Neymar has never told us that he wants to leave. The club’s lawyers and Neymar’s lawyers will be finalising the renewal and I hope that it will be closed in the next few days.”

The Guardian

Tags: Barcelona, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Announces One-Year Deal With Manchester United

Jul 1, 2016 5:05 PM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed he will sign with Manchester United on a one-year deal.

Ibrahimovic will earn £220,000 per week with United.

He announced on Instagram: “Time to let the world know. My next destination is @manchesterunited #iamcoming.”

Ibrahimovic worked with Jose Mourinho during the 08-09 season with Inter.

The Guardian

Tags: Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Southampton Hires Claude Puel As Manager

Jul 1, 2016 5:05 PM

Southampton has replaced Ronald Koeman with Claude Puel as manager on a three-year deal.

Six seasons with Lille followed after he had led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2000, while Puel also enjoyed a spell at Lyon in 2008 before four years in charge of Nice.

“Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist,” said Southampton’s executive director of football, Les Reed. “We have not only got the best man but the right coaching team to support him.

“In order to ensure we appointed a manager who would meet our needs as a club, feedback from the dressing room, as well as taking account of our culture, vision and values was critical in drawing up our criteria for the appointment.”

Press Association

Tags: Southampton, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Barcelona Agrees To £24.6M Deal With Lyon For Samuel Umtiti

Jun 29, 2016 11:26 AM

Barcelona has agreed to sign Samuel Umtiti from Lyon for £24.6 million.

Barcelona had tracked the central defender for an extended period after they were unable to get a deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos.

Umtiti is just 22 and is also participating for France in Euro 2016.

Barcelona may lose Javier Mascherano this summer.

The Guardian

Tags: Barcelona, Lyon, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Chelsea Steal Michy Batshuayi Away From Palace With €40M Transfer

Jun 30, 2016 12:01 PM

Chelsea has stolen Michy Batshuayi away from Crystal Palace with a €40 million bid to Marseille.

Marseille had earlier accepted a €38 million bid from Palace for Batshuayi, but he had reservations about the move to Selhurst Park.

Batshuayi will become Antonio Conte’s first signing for Chelsea. Batshuayi scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season and will become the most expensive sale in Marseille’s history, eclipsing the fee they raised when selling Didier Drogba to Chelsea in 2004.

Batshuayi's arrival will effectively rule out the possibility of signing Romelu Lukaku. 

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

Tags: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Marseille, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Jorge Sampaoli Hired By Sevilla, Promises To Play Attacking Soccer

Jun 28, 2016 1:36 PM

Sevilla has hired Jorge Sampaoli as manager on a two-year deal.

Sampaoli replaces Unai Emery as manager, who left Sevilla to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Sampaoli had previously been manager of Chile.

“Sevilla are counting on the best coach of America in 2015, who begins his first adventure in Europe,” Sevilla said of the man who led his country to their first Copa América triumph last year.

Sampaoli has promised the fans he will play attacking football, saying: “[It is] such an important club, which has won so many things, is a big responsibility, but also very exciting.

“Undoubtedly I am a person who is tremendously passionate about attacking. They will see me as a coach who will never attempt to cede the spotlight. And for that we need a lot of spirit spread to the group of players so we try to make this team respected throughout Europe, as it is now.

“I hope I can fulfil the expectations that the fans have of the team and me.”

Reuters

Tags: Sevilla, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Unai Emery Named Manager Of Paris Saint-Germain

Jun 28, 2016 1:34 PM

Unai Emery has been named manager of Paris Saint-Germain, replacing Laurent Blanc.

Emery left Sevilla two weeks ago after winning his third straight Europa League title.

Emery had been under contract with Sevilla until June of 2017.

The Guardian

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Marseille To Sell Michy Batshuayi To Crystal Palace For €38M

Jun 29, 2016 11:19 AM

Crystal Palace has agreed upon a €38 million transfer with Marseille for striker Michy Batshuayi.

Batshuayi is currently playing for Belgium in the Euros.

West Ham and Juventus each submitted bid for Batshuayi.

Batshuayi scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Tags: Crystal Palace, Marseille, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Henrikh Mkhitaryan On Verge Of £30M Transfer From Dortmund To United

Jun 28, 2016 1:31 PM

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is on the verge of signing with Manchester United after they improved their offer to Borussia Dortmund to £30 million.

“The situation is now different,” Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said. “Manchester have made a much improved offer. In situations like this there are always a lot of different things to consider and in the end at one point we have to make a decision.

“And as we are back in training on Monday we will decide at the weekend. I have contacted the relevant people and we will weigh things up at the weekend. And then the board will make the decision, definitely at the weekend.”

Mkhitaryan has been one of the best attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

Marcus Christenson, Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Tags: Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Roy Hodgson Steps Down As Manager Of England
Roy Hodgson was the highest-paid manager of the tournament at £3.5 million per season.

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

Iceland, Italy Win Final Spots In Euro Quarterfinals
Spain, England, Croatia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Hungary were eliminated in the Round of 16.

RealGM Staff Report

United Continue To Pursue Paul Pogba Transfer Despite £100M Fee
United let Paul Pogba leave the club for Juventus in 2012 under Alex Ferguson.

Miguel Delaney/ESPN

PSG Fires Laurent Blanc As Manager
Unai Emery of Sevilla is expected to become manager of PSG.

The Guardian

Schalke Buys Breel Embolo From Basel For €25M
Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal also showed interest in signing Breel Embolo.

AP

Lionel Messi Announces He'll Retire From Argentina
Lionel Messi was asked if he would wear the Argentina shirt again despite still being just 29.

ESPN

Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Finalize Deal With United Next Week
United are prepared to offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic a one-year contract worth £220,000-a-week.

Fabrizio Romano, Marcus Christenson/The Guardian

United Progress On £30M Transfer With Dortmund For Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Dortmund have publicly said that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not for sale, they have now admitted that the player is ready to move on.

Fabrizio Romano, Marcus Christenson/The Guardian

Pep Guardiola Reassures Raheem Sterling Of Big Future With City
Pep Guardiola has contacted Raheem Sterling to assure him during his battle of confidence.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Liverpool Close To £30M Transfer With Southampton For Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane scored 11 times in the Premier League last season.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

EPL Not Ready To Speculate On Effects Of 'Brexit'
The UK public voted on Thursday in favor of quitting the EU, which means players from other countries within the Union may not have an automatic right to play in England.

ESPN

Alvaro Morata Leads Euros In xG+xA Per 90
Alvaro Morata has nearly 1.2 xG+xA/90 followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Haris Seferovic and Marcelo Brozovic.

Michael Caley/SBNation

Antoine Griezmann Signs Extension With Atleti Through 2021
Antoine Griezmann signed from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014 after Diego Costa left for Chelsea.

ESPN

Jamie Vardy Rejects Arsenal Transfer, Will Stay With Leicester City
Jamie Vardy has rejected a move to Arsenal and will sign a new and improved four-year deal with Leicester City.

Stuart James/The Guardian

Ezequiel Lavezzi Will Undergo Surgery On Fractured Elbow
Ezequiel Lavezzi came off in the second half when he landed awkwardly and tumbled over an advertising board.

Goal.com

Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Retire From International Soccer
Zlatan Ibrahimovic won't participate in the Olympics for Sweden.

Reuters

West Ham Preparing £15M Bid To Juventus For Simone Zaza
Juventus are holding out for €30 million for Simone Zaza.

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

Mesut Ozil Recommending EPL To German Teammates
Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013.

Mattias Karen/ESPN

City Close To Transfer For Nolito
Nolito scored 12 goals in La Liga last season and has been a regular for Spain in Euro 2016.

Daniel Taylor, Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Laurent Blanc Out As PSG Manager, Unai Emery Expected To Replace Him
Unai Emery, who stepped down as manager of Sevilla last week, is expected to replace Laurent Blanc.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian