Monday, June 26, 2017

Paulinho: `I am proud that a club like Barcelona is interested in me.`

The midfielder of Guangzhou Evergrande Paulinho revealed he has an offer from Barcelona. In recent days, the Spanish media has identified the Brazilian as a backup of Marco Verratti who seems fixed in Paris Saint-Germain.
`Yes, there were contacts between Barcelona and my agents. There is a quote, it is true. We are negotiating.`, said the footballer, who next month will be at the age of 29 years.
`I am in a wonderful period of my life - both in a personal and a professional plan. When you are in such a situation, it is difficult to decide.`, he shared in front of Globoesporte. Paulinho feels happy in China and he plays there on a regular basis. In a possible move to Barcelona, he risks staying on the bench and losing the confidence of the Brazilian coach in the season before the World Cup.`
`There are many factors that you should think through before you make a decision. First of all, I think about all the great moments that I am experiencing in China. My wife and I like the city people. On the other hand, I feel very proud that a club analyzed by contact with soccer stats like Barcelona wants me.`, said the former Spurs player.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Real gave up on De Gea

Real Madrid was close to a transfer of De Gea in the summer of 2015, and the deal included also the goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Manchester United and Real Madrid failed to finalize the deal because of the closing of the transfer period.
Last season, Navas was harshly criticized because of some of his appearances and once again there were rumors that the Whites will try to get David De Gea.
`Before two years there was a disaster with a late fax. They (United) have sent it two minutes later and that was it. Last year we got off on the wrong foot, and at the moment we have two incredible goalies. Now we have no agreement with Manchester United.`, said Perez in front of the press.
At the end of the last campaign, the form of Keylor Navas got better. Now the main transfer goals of Real Madrid are the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan and the striker Kylian Mbappe from Monaco.
The future of the strikers Cristiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez at Real Madrid remains questionable.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Henderson: `The ranking in top four shows our development!`

The Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson feels that Liverpool is on the right path after the end of the last season the team managed to qualify for a participation in the Champions League in the coming campaign. The team finished one point ahead of Arsenal and took the last place in the top four for which Henderson spoke to the club`s official website:
`We all were feeling like we were in the heaven after we had finished in the top four. Now we need to make the playoffs and to get into the Champions League groups. `
`Of course, we wanted to win something, but we have to go step by step because that is a major achievement. Since I have been playing here, we were once in the Champions League. That is a step in the right direction and will help us to develop as a team.`
`We are improving in all aspects of the game. We are getting better in practice. We listen to the coach, how we can improve as a team and as individuals. Everyone understood that and this season everybody worked very hard. Finally, we have achieved a deserved success with the ranking in top four.`

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Matthaus: `Kroos is not among the greatest footballers, because he has not been a captain of a team!`

The world champion with Germany and winner of the Golden Ball for 1990 Lothar Matthaus explained why the midfielder of the German team and Real Madrid, Toni Kroos is not yet among the top German players.
Interestingly, in the poll of the newspaper `Bild` Kroos got 58% support in the referendum whether he is the greatest German footballer. The consultation was attended by over 50 000 people.
`In the present, he is certainly part of the best and most successful players. And that sent him and in the circle of the big ones. But whether Kroos is in front of Netzer and behind Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller? Or this ranking is backward? It is hard to say it.`, Matthaus commented.
`I would be careful if I have to compare with these players. Because the largest in our history were captains of the clubs and the national team. The captaincy is a sign of leadership mentality. Tony is still quite young. I am sure that he will win more titles.`, added the former coach of Bulgaria.
As it is known, Kroos on Saturday became the first German footballer, who won the Champions League three times. He did it for the first time with Bayern in 2013 and twice with Real Madrid in the last two seasons.