FC Barcelona: 6 Barcelona Players Who'll Be Affected by Neymar's Arrival

Though Neymar is now officially a member of Barcelona, everyone is still waiting to see what impact he will have on the club. But it is no secret that his arrival will already be affecting some players at the Catalan club.

Such a high-profile purchase easily has an effect on everyone, but there are some who will benefit from his arrival while others will be hindered.

This article will discuss the six players most affected by Neymar’s voyage to Barcelona, both on and off the field.

Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Offseason Rumours After Adding Neymar

Having sealed Neymar early, Barcelona are now linked with a series of new names as they look to rebuild ahead of next season.

The transfer saga regarding the young Brazilian may have been as long and drawn out as a George R.R Martin series, but the Blaugrana have indeed done themselves a favour in securing him early in the offseason.

Sandro Rosell and the Barca technical staff now have plenty of time to address other issues within the squad.

Let's take a look at some of the latest players rumoured to be following in Neymar's footsteps.

We welcome you with open arms, Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Dearest Henrikh,

Reports have begun to circulate that you are linked with a move to Liverpool. As each day turns into night, the coverage on your transfer has grown stronger. People close to Shakthar say your arrival at Anfield is imminent. I hope they are right. I hope that every newspaper that has linked you to Liverpool proves accurate. You see – we don’t really boast a good track record with players linked with us. A prime example was last year when Tottenham hijacked our moves for Clint Dempsey and Gussi Sigurdsson, who if had joined Liverpool, we would have possibly finished in the top 4. With you, it could be different. At least I hope so faithfully. There are rumors linking you elsewhere which simultaneously propel my sanguinity towards pleading you to join the Reds.

Spain are spectacular but have defects: Scolari

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Rio de Janeiro: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he has identified weaknesses in the Spanish team ahead of Sunday's Confederations Cup final at the Maracana Stadium here.

Brazil will be aiming for a record fourth Confederations Cup title while Spain is bidding for their first, and the only major trophy to elude Vicente del Bosque's team, reports Xinhua.

"Spain are spectacular but they have some defects like all teams and we have to exploit them. We are very motivated. We respect the opposition but we have to back our own ability to win," Scolari said Saturday.

Del Bosque praised Brazil's squad, which he said had no obvious weakness.

"They have great players, not just Neymar. They have two offensive fullbacks (Marcelo and Dani Alves). They have Hulk and Neymar, who are difficult to mark on the wings. Their central defenders and centrebacks are strong. Oscar is a different player with real quality and they have Fred, a forward who knows how to score and who their players look for," the Spain coach said.

Neymar nominated for Golden Ball

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Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's Neymar has been included on a six-man shortlist for the FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball award.

He will vie with Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Paulinho (Brazil) and Sergio Ramos (Spain) for the tournament's most valuable player award, reports Xinhua.

The players were named Saturday by FIFA's technical study group who will announce the winner after Sunday's final between hosts Brazil and Spain at Rio's Maracana Stadium.

Brazil have dominated the award in the past with four of the six previous winners. Neymar and Paulinho have the chance to join countrymen Kaka (2009), Adriano (2005), Ronaldinho (1999) and Denilson (1997).

Blatter glosses over protests, says FIFA "stronger"

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Rio de Janeiro: FIFA president Sepp Blatter glossed over the nationwide protests which have formed the backdrop to the Confederations Cup in Brazil, saying football had played a "positive part" for the country.

Blatter was confident next year's World Cup, also in Brazil, would be a success and his spokesman Walter De Gregorio cited a poll which said 71 percent of the population still wanted the country to host the 2014 tournament.

"FIFA has come out of this stronger," Blatter told a news conference at the Maracana. "Football has played a positive part here and given emotion. When we say football connects people, it connected people in the stadium, perhaps unfortunately it connected people in the street.

"I can understand this social unrest, absolutely, but on the other hand, football brings at this time to the whole continent these emotions and hope."

Brazil has been hit by a wave of protests as it hosts the eight-team Confederations Cup, a dry-run for the World Cup which will be staged in 12 cities.

Neymar says Spain are favourites

AP

Rio de Janeiro: Neymar has insisted that Spain are favourites to defeat Brazil in Sunday's Confederations Cup final at the Maracana stadium.

But the 21-year-old vowed Brazil would not fall into the trap of only defending against the reigning World and European Champions.

"The Spain team is the best in the world. They are the favourites," Neymar was quoted as saying by Xinhua Friday. "But we have to play our own game respecting them, but also without letting them take control. We can't be afraid to take risks.

"Sunday is going to be a historic day. The whole world is going to be watching. Everybody, even the players, wanted this match."

Neymar is among the favourites to win the player of the tournament award, having scored three goals and set up several others.

He admitted he could barely wait for Sunday's match to begin.

"When the match between Spain and Italy (on Thursday) finished, I said to Thiago Silva that I wished the final could be played tomorrow. The wait is difficult."

When asked about his thoughts on Spain's team, Neymar replied: "We have a lot of respect for them and admiration. But we have a lot of confidence in one another. I admire Spain's players but I also admire our players. I remember watching Fred score lots of goals when I was younger."

Bayern, Ribery agree on contract extension

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Berlin: Frenchman Franck Ribery put pen to paper on a new contract with Bayern Munich until 2017, the German football giant announced.

The German treble winner and midfielder Ribery closed the deal this Friday between training sessions. The 30-year-old French international already announced after the end of the last Bundesliga campaign that he planned to stay with the Bavarians.

"I am very delighted. I have always said that I feel at home in Bayern. I have a good feeling for my family and me, and I hope it continues like last year," Ribery told the club's official homepage.

The Frenchmen joined the Bavarians in 2007 from Marseille to score 53 goals in 156 appearances. Since his arrival at Bayern, Ribery became quickly a key player of the team owing to his excellent dribble skills and his ball control.

We are as good as Spain, says Italy coach

AP

Fortaleza (Brazil): Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said his team had proved they were on par with Spain after a 6-7 penalty shootout loss to the World Champions here.

The Confederations Cup semifinal defeat Thursday came almost a year after Spain routed the Azzurri 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final, reports Xinhua.

"It is clear that there is no longer a gap between the teams. I am proud of my players. Today we showed Italy's soul. We haven't always been able to play this way and it's important now that we maintain this form. We will leave the tournament knowing that we can have great results in the future," Prandelli said.

Italy will Sunday play off for third place against Uruguay in Salvador. Prandelli criticised the tournament's fixturing saying his team would not have enough time to recover.

"I think the schedule needs to be revised. I don't even know if we are going to train before the match against Uruguay. We have a day less to prepare and then a long trip ahead," Prandelli said.

Brazil, Spain look to serve up a final feast

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Rio de Janeiro: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already declared this year's Confederations Cup, hors d'oeuvre for the World Cup in 12 months time, the best ever.

Yet he and 200 million Brazilians, 47 million Spaniards and countless fans across the globe hope the best is yet to come as holders Brazil and world champions Spain prepare to take the final curtain Sunday in Rio.

Brazil starlet Neymar says he can already taste the atmosphere of an historic occasion as the Selecao aim for a third straight crown, and a fourth overall.

A Spanish victory, by contrast, would make them the first side to win four straight international tournaments after sandwiching their 2010 World Cup success with European glory in 2008 and 2012.

With Spain the dominant power of recent years and Brazil the most successful nation in the game's history, it is small wonder their stars cannot wait to joust at the renovated Maracana stadium, scene of Brazil's legendary 1970 World Cup win.

Nerveless Navas sends Spain into Confederations Cup final

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Fortaleza: Jesus Navas settled a nail-biting penalty shoot-out 7-6 for Spain as the world and European champions edged Italy on a sultry evening in Fortaleza on Thursday to set up a Confederations Cup final meeting with Brazil.

After the semifinal finished goalless following extra time, Leonardo Bonucci proved the fall guy for the Italians, blazing the 13th kick of the shoot-out over the bar before Manchester City new boy Navas calmly tucked his penalty home.

Spain will now seek to complete the set of senior international titles, having also won Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992, but hosts Brazil were spared a 120-minute semifinal and will have had 24 extra hours to recover.

Italy were left to curse their luck after initially shackling Spain in the first half, and coach Cesare Prandelli must now galvanise minds and bodies for Sunday's meeting with Uruguay in the third-place play-off.

He will nonetheless draw solace from the way his side matched Spain, having seen Italy crushed 4-0 when the sides last met in last year's one-sided Euro 2012 final in Kiev.

Isco signing confirmed by Real Madrid

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Madrid: Spanish international Isco has joined Real Madrid from Malaga on a five-year deal, the capital club confirmed on Thursday, bringing to an end weeks of hard-fought competition between Europe's top clubs.

"Real Madrid and Malaga have reached an agreement for the transfer of Francisco Roman Alarcon Isco, who will be tied to the club for the next five seasons," said a statement on Madrid's website.

The midfielder, who will reportedly cost around 30 million euros ($39 million, £25.5 million), is set to be presented on July 3 at the Santiago Bernabeu after undergoing a medical.

Isco becomes Madrid's first major signing of the close season and the Spanish giants have fought off strong competition from Manchester City to secure the 21-year-old starlet.

City's appointment of Isco's former coach at Malaga, Manuel Pellegrini, as their new manager had appeared to have given the English side the upper hand in negotiations.

However, Madrid's desperation to seal the player's signature increased after his sterling performances at the under-21 European Championships this month, where he guided Spain to a second consecutive title.

"Dribbling skills, imagination and speed are some of the qualities that define this midfielder, who was awarded the Golden Boy prize in 2012 (for the best young player in Europe), is a recent champion of the U-21 European Championships with Spain and at just 21 has already made his debut for the senior Spanish side," the Real said.

Isco is also the first signing in Carlo Ancelotti's reign as coach and the Italian hailed the youngster's ability when he was formally presented on Wednesday.

"I can only speak about his quality. He is very good, the Spanish under-21 team has great players and he is the one with the most talent. Isco could play in any team."

A product of Valencia's youth system, Isco moved to Malaga just two years ago for six million euros as the Andalusians invested heavily after being taken over by Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani.

It was this season though in which he rose to prominence after the sale of fellow playmaker Santi Cazorla to Arsenal.

The Spaniard shone as Malaga progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals in their first ever appearance in the competition.

Only two late controversial goals from Borussia Dortmund prevented the Andalusians from reaching the last four.

Malaga's on-going financial problems made another transfer at the end of the campaign inevitable, though.

Isco has chosen to continue his career in Spain despite the intense competition for places at the Bernabeu, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric and Kaka all vying for places in the creative midfield roles.

Neymar hits back at Lugano

AP

Belo Horizonte: Neymar has hit back at claims of Uruguay captain Diego Lugano that he is "talented at winning free-kicks".

Speaking after Brazil's 2-1 victory over Uruguay in Wednesday's Confederations Cup semi-final at the Mineirao Stadium, Neymar moved to avoid a verbal confrontation with the centre-back, reports Xinhua.

"He has the right to say what he wants, it won't affect me. I don't pay any attention to it. What is important is that I help my team to win," the 21-year-old Barcelona striker said.

After the match, Lugano stood by the accusations he made Tuesday. When asked about a statement from Brazil's football confederation (CBF) condemning Lugano's comments, the Paris Saint-Germain defender expressed bemusement.

"Do you think I care about what the CBF or the media say? It doesn't interest me. I say what I think without worrying about the reaction of others."

Neymar failed to score for the first time in the tournament Wednesday but played a role in both of Brazil's goals. Fred's opener came after a Neymar shot was blocked by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera while he provided the assist for Paulinho's late winner with a precise corner-kick.

Neymar said Brazil's squad would keep a keen eye Thursday's other semi-final between Spain and Italy in Fortaleza. But he declined to nominate a preferred rival for Sunday's final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

"You can't choose who you play against. They are both difficult sides. We are going to be watching the match on a screen and try to be as prepared as possible," Neymar said.

I've cried, I've suffered: Casillas

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Fortaleza: Spain's World Cup winning captain Iker Casillas has revealed he was brought to tears by the indifferent attitude of former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.

The 32-year-old says he is a new man after making his first competitive appearance since January in Spain's 2-1 defeat of Uruguay in the Confederations Cup last week, reports Xinhua.

"I've cried," Casillas admitted in an interview with Fifa.com. "I've suffered, I've been unwell, I've had sleepless nights."

Despite having recovered from a hand injury in March, Casillas was overlooked by Mourinho for the remainder of the season in favour of Diego Lopez.

He admitted he would have considered leaving Real Madrid had Mourinho not left to Chelsea.

"I'm a Madridista right down to my soul and, above all else, what matters to me is the club," he said.

"I would love to retire at Real Madrid, but I will not create problems if a coach does not want me."

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has rotated his goalkeepers during the Confederations Cup group phase, with Casillas, Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina all playing a game each.

But Casillas is expected to be chosen for Spain's semi-final against Italy here Thursday.

"I have regained my happiness," he said. "It was not easy but I'm another Iker Casillas now.

"After five months, it takes some time until everything comes back to you, but, luckily, I have had a great deal of help of my teammates and coach (Del Bosque) and that's important when you have to start over again."

Ancelotti to fight 'tooth and nail' to keep Ronaldo away from Man U

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London: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that he will fight ''tooth and nail'' to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at the club and to prevent Manchester United from sweeping in to buy the player.

There has been heavy speculation regarding Ronaldo's future ever since it was revealed the winger was pining for a return to Old Trafford last December.
According to The Sun, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager expressed his excitement on the prospect of working with Ronaldo and put him in the same league alongside greats like Zidane and Ronaldinho. He also said that Ronaldo is central in his plans for winning a 10th Champions League for his club.

The Italian manager said Ronaldo was a fantastic player and it was a dream to work with him. Although Real president Florentino Perez had earlier announced that Ronaldo would sign a new deal, news about the Portugal star meeting United's top management to make a switch has recently come to the front.

When asked about former manager Jose Mourinho, Ancelotti said that his style was totally different from his predecessor and cannot be compared with each other. Stating that he wants to have a good relationship with the players, the Italian said that he does not think that Madrid needs a pacifier.

Brazil beat Uruguay 2-1 to enter Confederations Cup final

AP

Belo Horizonte: A towering Paulinho header saw Brazil edge out Uruguay 2-1 on Wednesday in an ill-tempered Confederations Cup semifinal in Belo Horizonte to set up a final with either world champions Spain or Italy.

Fred scored from close range two minutes from half-time to calm home nerves for the five-time world champions and Confederations title holders after Diego Forlan had first missed a penalty for Uruguay.

But Edinson Cavani pulled a poachers strike out of the bag three minutes after the restart and thereafter the Samba stars were rocking before Paulinho rose high to plant a firm close-range header past Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal to cement a barely deserved victory.

Matches between the South American neighbours have long been tense affairs - not least since the Uruguayans shocked the Brazilians in the 1950 World Cup final in Rio to deny their hosts a first title.

Tevez given Del Piero's shirt as he joins Juve

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Carlos Tevez sealed his move to Juventus on Wednesday after four controversy-filled years at Manchester City and was handed the unenviable task of trying to emulate club hero Alessandro Del Piero.

Italian champions Juve announced his arrival with a picture of the Argentine striker holding up Del Piero's old number 10 jersey alongside club president Andrea Agnelli.

A statement said he had reached a deal to sign a three-year-contract. There was no word on the transfer fee but media reports have put it at 12 million euros.

"The Argentine is used to winning. He has done so wherever he has been," Juve's website (www.juventus.com) added.

Del Piero spent almost 20 years at Juve, helping them win the 1996 Champions League and sticking by the club when they spent one season in Serie B in 2006/07 after being demoted for match-fixing.

He left for Australia's Sydney FC last year having broken almost every Juve record in the book. Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio also famously wore Juve's number 10 shirt.

Bayern fans out in force for Guardiola debut

AP

Munich: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola made a high-profile return to football on Wednesday when he led out his players at the start of pre-season training in front of an estimated 10,000-crowd at the Allianz Arena.

The former Barcelona coach, who signed a three-year contract at Bayern this year after taking a break following his departure from Barcelona in 2012, emerged from the dugout to loud cheers from thousands of Bayern fans.

"I love to attack," Guardiola had told reporters on Monday and he ordered the grass to be cut short and watered before training so the pitch was quick.

Spectators, gripped by what German media have called 'Pep-mania', paid five euros each with the money going to help for the victims of the recent German floods.

Guardiola, wearing shorts on a chilly day, was missing several players including Brazilians Dante and Luiz Gustavo and Spaniard Javi Martinez who are all on Confederations Cup duty.

Dutchman Arjen Robben and Croat Mario Mandzukic have also not returned and new signing Mario Goetze, who joined from rivals Borussia Dortmund, is recovering from a muscle injury.

Expectations are high for the 42-year-old Spaniard, who won 14 of 19 possible titles in his four seasons at the Spanish club.

Bayern last season became the first German team to win a treble of titles, including the domestic double and the Champions League, under Jupp Heynckes.

Lugano accuses Neymar of diving ahead of semi-final

AP

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Brazil and Barcelona striker Neymar was a diver and the referee should take particular attention to his antics when the five times world champions face Uruguay in the Confederation Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, Uruguay captain Diego Lugano said.

The striker has a reputation in his homeland for diving and he went down easily to win a free kick, which he curled perfectly into the top corner in Saturday's match against Italy.

"Neymar can feign a foul and so we must be watchful that nobody is fooled by his ability," Lugano told reporters on Tuesday. "Neymar is very lightweight, he can drop to the ground and fool the referee and rivals.

"Brazil is a team that has abandoned the beautiful game, they hit hard and they are very tough physically.

"I have played here and it is perhaps the toughest football in Latin America and it is a tactical system they apply."

Wednesday's match at the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte match is one of South America's fiercest rivalries.

Spain ready to send Italy crashing to defeat again

AP

Fortaleza, Brazil: Italy will hold no surprises for Spain when they meet in the Confederations Cup semi-finals on Thursday, defender Sergio Ramos said in assessing their first meeting since the Spaniards dished out a 4-0 hammering to win Euro 2012.

The odds look heavily in Spain's favour again. Unbeaten in their last 25 matches, Spain have only lost to Italy once in eight meetings since the 1994 World Cup finals, while Italy have also lost Mario Balotelli, their main attacking threat in this tournament.

He has returned home with a thigh injury, but Ramos said Spain still expected a tough test at the Estadio Castelnao on Thursday.

"We are playing for the final of a very important trophy with the dream of appearing in a great stadium like the Maracana," Ramos, a member of the team that crushed Italy a year ago in Kiev to retain the European title, told reporters at a briefing in a beachside hotel on Tuesday.

"We don't expect any surprises, We know them perfectly well and we know that they will make it very difficult for us. They have the experience, a very competitive spirit and they always show it even if their results against us recently have not been that good.

Pep Guardiola gets down to business at Bayern Munich

AP

Berlin: Pep Guardiola charmed the world's media as he took charge at Bayern Munich, but the new head coach has got straight down to business in his bid to maintain the European champion's treble-winning success ahead of Wednesday's first training session.

Such is the hype around his arrival that Bayern are expecting up to 25,000 fans for each of Guardiola's first two training sessions at Munich's Allianz Arena on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Guardiola has pledged to maintain Bayern's success after the Bavarians won last season's Champions League title, lifted the German Cup and broke or equalled 25 Bundesliga records on the way to the German league title under predecessor Jupp Heynckes.

Having only arrived in Germany on Sunday, the 42-year-old Guardiola launched a charm offensive in front of more than 250 reporters at midday on Monday, then toured the club's training complex before a series of meetings on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old won over the assembled media with Germany's biggest daily Bild insisting "Pep is already German champion" in a nod to his impressive grasp of the language.

"Guardiola makes people dream," enthused Spain's El Mundo Deportivo, while France's L'Equipe labelled him "the Seducer" as the ex-Barcelona boss, who won 14 titles in four years at the Nou Camp, brings a touch of glamour to the Bundesliga.

Ancelotti takes reins at Real Madrid

AP

Madrid: Real Madrid have appointed Italian Carlo Ancelotti as their new coach on a three-year contract, the Spanish club said on Tuesday.

The former Paris St Germain manager will be presented on Wednesday and will replace Jose Mourinho who left at the end of last season to join Chelsea.

"Familiar with the pressures of managing the great teams of the continent (Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea and PSG) the Italian is a guarantee to direct an exciting project," Real said on their website.

Ancelotti, 54, has been linked with the post since Mourinho's departure and had asked to leave PSG but the deal was reportedly held up until the French champions found a replacement.

PSG announced they had agreed a two-year deal with former France coach Laurent Blanc at the same time as Real made public their agreement with Ancelotti.

Spanish media have reported that Real will pay PSG around four million euros in compensation for the year's contract he still had left with the French club.

Real president Florentino Perez's choice of Ancelotti is seen as a move for a less confrontational and more consensual figure than the divisive Mourinho.

The Portuguese led the club to a King's Cup and La Liga title in his three years at the helm, but his final season was characterised by dressing-room splits and public disputes with players.

One of the accolades for the incoming coach was from former Milan player Paulo Maldini.

Balotelli sent home from Confederations Cup

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Rio de Janeiro: Italy forward Mario Balotelli has been sent back home after he was ruled out of the rest of the Confederations Cup with a thigh injury.

The 22-year-old took the flight back home after it was revealed that he would not get fit even if Itlay make the final slated for Sunday, reports Xinhua.

Balotelli strained his left quadriceps during Italy's 4-2 defeat to Brazil in Salvador Saturday.

Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci had already stated Balotelli would miss Thursday's semifinal against Spain in Fortaleza.

"The player cannot recover between now and the final on Sunday. We prefer not to take any risks," Castellacci said.

Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli will now look to Alberto Gilardino, Sebastian Giovinco or Stephan El Shaarawy to replace the AC Milan star.

"Without Mario, we need to work even more at a collective level," Prandelli said.

"We'll have players with different characteristics, but the aim is to make the team even more compact."

Playmaker Andrea Pirlo is in doubt for the match against the world champions after missing the Brazil clash with a calf injury.

Brazil beware Uruguayan firepower as final looms

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Brazil may have waltzed through their group to reach the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup but they are only too aware of the party pooping abilities of rivals Uruguay.

It was the Uruguayans who delivered Brazilian football its arguably greatest ever blow in winning the 1950 final in Rio's famed Maracana stadium, the revamped version of which will host Sunday's final where either world champions Spain or Italy await.

That 'Maracanazo' loss sent shockwaves around Brazil and they only made up for the reverse eight years later when, with a teenaged Pele in the team, they finally lifted the trophy for the first time in Sweden.

More recently, Uruguay have also shown they can mix it with their more powerful neighbours, the nation of barely 3.5 million lifting the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, where Brazil lost in the quarter-finals to Paraguay.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar yesterday warned the host nation they must beware if they are not to suffer an ambush in Belo Horizonte, a venue which earned its own place in World Cup folklore in the 1950 event by hosting a United States win over England.

Balotelli out of Confederations Cup semifinal

AP

Brazil: Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Italy's Confederations Cup semifinal against Spain here Thursday with a thigh injury.

The 22-year-old AC Milan striker strained his left quadriceps during Italy's 2-4 loss to Brazil in Salvador Saturday. A scan of the injury Sunday confirmed he would not be fit in time for the duel with the World Champions at the Castelao Stadium. Italy's physician Enrico Castellacci said Balotelli could also be in doubt for next Sunday's final, should the Azzurri progress, reports Xinhua.

"It's an injury that we have to be careful with but we are going to evaluate him on a daily basis," Castellacci said Sunday night.

Italy have already lost Ignazio Abate for the rest of the tournament with a dislocated shoulder while Andrea Pirlo (calf) and Riccardo Montolivo (concussion) will be assessed before the clash with Spain.

Personal records not important, winning is: Torres

AP

Fortaleza: Spain striker Fernando Torres insists that personal accolades are not on his mind after he moved within a goal of becoming the most prolific scorer in Confederations Cup history.

Despite netting four goals in Spain's 10-0 whitewash of Tahiti last Thursday, Torres started on the bench in La Roja's 3-0 victory over Nigeria at the Castelao Stadium Sunday, reports Xinhua.

But he replaced Roberto Soldado on the hour and struck two minutes later with a spearing header after a precise Pedro cross.

"Obviously it would be nice to have the record but it's not an objective that I have set out to achieve. The goal is to be champions. Over the past few years we have been very successful but we still haven't won this competition. There is no shortage of motivation for us and we think we are on the right track," the 29-year-old Chelsea forward said.

Two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho and former Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco are currently the highest Confederations Cup goal scorers with nine goals. Torres has eight with his five from this edition coming after the three he scored in South Africa in 2009.

Messi and his father charged with tax fraud

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Madrid: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, star player for Spanish soccer club Barcelona, and his father Jorge have been charged with tax fraud by a Spanish judge, media reports said on Thursday.

The judge accused the Argentine World Player of the Year and his father of defrauding the Spanish tax office of more than 4 million euros over a three year period from 2007 to 2009, El Pais newspaper reported.

The Barcelona court could not immediately confirm the reports.

The Barcelona player and his father will have to appear in court on September 17, El Pais reported.

Stampede at Beckham China event hurts seven

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Shanghai: Seven people were hurt in a stampede Thursday as hundreds of fans rushed to see football superstar David Beckham at an event in China's commercial hub Shanghai, police and local media said.

Beckham, who was visiting Shanghai in his role as ambassador to the troubled Chinese Super League (CSL), expressed hope that the injured would recover quickly after the event had to be called off.

The stampede occurred when hundreds of students and spectators tried to rush onto the grounds of the football pitch at Tongji University in northeastern Shanghai, the Xinmin Evening News said.

"Nearly 1,000 spectators charged to open the gate at the same time, causing a stampede," the newspaper said on its microblog.

Police said seven people were injured including three police officers and two university security guards, all of whom suffered cuts and bruises.

Two students, including a Japanese exchange student, also sustained minor injuries, police said in a statement.

"I was standing in the second row to take a picture of Beckham and then people started to push against each other," a woman said in a video posted by Xinmin Evening News.

Bhaichung upset with SFA attitude

AP

Gangtok: Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Thursday said he was upset with the attitude of the Sikkim Football Association (SFA) as it had ‘ignored’ the demands of the clubs of the state.

Bhutia, CEO of United Sikkim Football Club, said the recently formed Football Club Association of Sikkim (FCAS) had sent its demands twice to the SFA but got a reply which only told the clubs to comply with 13-point criteria.

“The criterion was such that even Asian Football Confederation did not apply them to foreign teams to take part in tournaments organised by them,” he told a press conference.

“This is just telling us indirectly that we are not welcome to contribute for the benefit of football at the grassroots level,” Bhaichung, an executive member of the FCAS, said.

Neymar sends Brazil into Confederations Cup semis

AP

Brazil superstar Neymar scored one goal and set up the other to give hosts Brazil a 2-0 win over Mexico in their Group A game and all but assure them of a place in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in Fortaleza on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old took his tally to 13 goals in his last 15 games for his country with a superb left-footed volley early in the first-half, and then produced a brilliant shimmy between two Mexican defenders in second-half stoppage time to set up Jo for the second goal.

While Brazil - who had lost six of their last seven meetings with the Mexicans - are all but in the semis, Mexico's hopes hang by a thread after two defeats as Japan, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, must beat Euro 2012 finalists Italy later on Wednesday to give them any hope of reaching the last four.

For Brazil it was a much cheerier occasion than the last time they played in Fortaleza in 2002 as their celebrations at winning the World Cup in South Korea and Japan fell flat as Mexico beat them 1-0.

Neymar confirmed Brazil's early dominance with a stunning left-footed volley in the ninth minute after Mexico defender Francisco Rodriguez's header fell to him.

Italy edge spirited Japan to seal final-four spot

AP

Second-half substitute Sebastian Giovinco scored a dramatic 86th-minute winner on Wednesday as Italy defeated Japan 4-3 in a pulsating Confederations Cup Group A match.

The result secured Italy and Brazil a place in the semifinals while eliminating Japan and Mexico from the tournament, considered a warmup event for next year's World Cup.

CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa gave Japan a dream start before Italy wrested the lead via Daniele De Rossi, Mario Balotelli and an own goal from Atsuto Uchida.

Shinji Okazaki drew the Asian champions level before De Rossi's goal against the run of play broke Japan's spirit.

Honda had opened the scoring at Arena Pernambuco when he converted a 21st-minute penalty after Gianluigi Buffon brought down Okazaki in the area.

Kagawa doubled the lead when he held off two defenders with his back to goal before turning and, in the same motion, firing a spectacular volley past Buffon.

But just when Japan looked set to take control, Italy regained their composure.

Roma midfielder De Rossi reduced the deficit just before halftime, arrowing a header past Eiji Kawashima following an Andrea Pirlo corner kick.

Schalke defender Uchida gifted the Azzurri their second goal when he deflected an Emanuele Giaccherini cross into his own net just after the interval.

Balotelli then gave Italy the lead from the penalty spot after Argentinian referee Diego Abal ruled that captain Makoto Hasebe had handled the ball in the area.

But Japan rallied again as Okazaki nodded in a Yasuhito Endo free-kick in the 69th minute.

Honda's dangerous shot after a jinking run was then palmed away by Buffon before Okazaki and Kagawa were denied by the woodwork.

It was just the break Italy needed.

Cesare Prandelli's team regained the lead four minutes from time when De Rossi's perfectly weighted pass released Claudio Marchisio, whose precise cross from the right gave Giovinco an easy tap-in.

Hulk determined to win over Brazil fans

AP

Fortaleza (Brazil): Brazil forward Hulk insists he is unaffected by jeers from the stands and has vowed to win over the hearts and minds of Brazilian supporters during the Confederations Cup.

The Zenit St. Petersburg star was booed during Brazil's friendlies against England and France earlier this month as fans called for him to be replaced by Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas, reports Xinhua.

But the 26-year-old saw a shift in the public's attitude during Brazil's 3-0 victory over Japan in the opening Confederations Cup match in Brasilia on Saturday.

Arrasate appointed new Sociedad coach

Jagoba Arrasate has been appointed as Real Sociedad’s new coach following the departure of Philippe Montanier to Rennes, club president Jokin Aperribay confirmed on Friday.

Arrasate becomes Sociedad’s youngest ever head coach at just 35 years old and doesn’t have any full managerial experience, although he was part of Montanier’s technical team this past season.

And Aperribay highlighted the need for continuity after a fine season which saw Sociedad qualify for the Champions League for the first time in a decade.

“Jagoba Arrasate will be the next coach, he is the suitable candidate to continue the strategic line of the past few years,” he told a press conference.

Aperribay denied rumours that former France manager Laurent Blanc had been in contention for the job and said the only other person they had contacted about the post had been Gerardo Martino who is currently in charge of Newell’s Old Boys.

Football: Bayern v Barca friendly a sell-out in Munich

Bayern Munich’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona at the Allianz Arena on July 24 is a sell-out the German treble-winners said Friday.

It will be a quick reunion for new Bayern coach Pep Guardiola with his former employers just a year after leaving the Catalan giants.

Guardiola, who joins a side fresh from winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, will take his first training session in Bavaria on June 26.

Bayern humiliated Barca 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals earlier this season.

Guardiola won the treble in his first of four seasons as Barca boss in 2009

Aston Villa sign Bulgaria’s Tonev

Aston Villa signed Bulgaria winger Aleksandar Tonev from Polish club Lech Poznan on Friday.

Tonev agreed terms with the Premier League side after passing a medical and he will officially complete his switch to Villa Park once the final paperwork is filed next week.

It has been reported that Villa will pay around £2.5 million ($3.8 million, 2.9 million euros) for the 23-year-old.

“I am really happy to be part of Aston Villa and I am really proud to be able to pull the shirt on,” Tonev said.

“Aston Villa is a big club and the manager and club have a belief in young players and in the team ethic.

“Football is not about the individuals. It’s a team sport and all successful teams play well together.

“I want to show everybody what I can really do. I have played in front of big crowds before but the atmosphere here in England is unique.

“I can’t wait to start and to meet my team-mates and the manager. When I heard about Aston Villa, I thought about playing in the Premier League for such a big club. I wasn’t thinking about anything else.”

Swansea chairman dismisses rift with Laudrup over budget

Swansea chairman Hue Jenkins has dismissed reports of alleged rows with Michael Laudrup over transfer funds by insisting that Laudrup will have a significant amount of money at his disposal and is happy with the agreed transfer deals.

“It’s disappointing that I have to respond to the speculation of unrest at the club after the fantastic season we have had,” said Jenkins.

Laudrup who is on a mission to strengthen his squad was assured by the board, in March, that if and when he signed a new contract, he would be given money to spend.

Laudrup who lead the Swansea squad to victory in the Capital One Cup in his first season said that he needed to spend “couple of hundred million pounds” on new recruits to move them up the Premier League ladder.

Recently it was confirmed that Jose Canas is set to join Swansea. Canas, 26, will sign a pre-contract agreement that will see him move from Real Betis on a free transfer deal, on 1 July.

Jenkins, on the other hand, has insisted that they will stick to their original financial budget that has seen them through their rise from a barely existent football club to one of the top ten in the Premier League