Barcelona captures Nelson Semedo from Benfica

By

According to Marca, Nelson Semedo has signed a deal to join Barcelona this Thursday afternoon, with the right-back to move from Benfica to the tune of 30 million euros, plus a potential 5m euros in add-ons.

Marca reported that a group of Blaugrana directors - led by Jordi Bordas, Robert Fernandez and Raul Sanllehi - travelled to Lisbon on Thursday to finalise the deal, one which ticks off one of the club's transfer market priorities, that of signing a right-back.

Given this price tag, Semedo will become the second most-expensive defender in Barcelona's history, following Dani Alves and the 36m euros - 30m plus 6m euros in variables - that Sevilla received for his move to the Camp Nou.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Angry Messi tells Barca to Drop Andre Gomes

By
Image
Gomes has endured a difficult first season at Barcelona since signing from Valencia in the summer. But despite his erratic displays, manager Luis Enrique continues to persist with him. His selection is said to be causing frictions in the dressing room with Messi particularly annoyed. And Spanish outlet DiarioGol claim the Argentina international has demanded Gomes be dropped with immediate effect. Messi and fellow forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez are said to be appalled at Enrique's faith in Gomes. They believe their failure to hit top form is down to the 23-year-old lacklustre displays in the middle of the park. The midfielder's inclusion has come at a price with Ivan Rakitic forced to settle for a place on the bench. And Rakitic is now being Linked with a move to Real Madrid having grown tired of life out in the cold. 
Read more

Man Utd beats St Etienne to progress in Europa League

By
Manchester United secured Europa League progress at a cost, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan limping off shortly after opening the scoring against St Etienne to put his EFL Cup final hopes in jeopardy. Jose Mourinho named a surprisingly-strong line-up considering they arrived in France boasting a 3-0 lead for the last-32 return leg – a bold decision that backfired somewhat. In-form Mkhitaryan limped off after 25 minutes in St Etienne holding the back of his right leg, having already set United on course for a 1-0 second-leg win on a night when Eric Bailly was sent off for quick-fire bookings.
Read more

Miroslav Klose to be special guest at world cup draw

By
Image
His name is synonymous with the World Cup so it is only fitting that former Germany striker Miroslav Klose will bring out the trophy as the draw is made for Russia 2018. Now retired, the upcoming tournament will be the first that the former Lazio man has missed since 2002, with his record of 16 World Cup goals intact. "For very obvious reasons, the World Cup holds very special memories for me," Klose told FIFA.com. "I feel very honoured to somehow still be a part of the World Cup, even after my retirement, and particularly to present to Russia and to the world this trophy that we fought so hard to win in Brazil in 2014." A total of eight draw assistants are to be drafted in by FIFA for the December 1 ceremony, with the first such confirmed to be 91-year-old Russian football legend Nikita Simonyan. click here for more
Read more

Dutch FA to speak to Vitesse about racist chanting

By
Image
The Dutch football association KNVB is to look into reports that Vitesse fans made monkey noises directed at Ajax keeper Andre Onana during their match last weekend. The investigation followed a video on YouTube in which the sounds can be heard clearly behind the Ajax goal, where hardened Vitesse fans were sitting. The part of the video with the noise has now been removed but the KNVB has the original recording, website Nu.nl said. ‘Racism has no place in the stadium and must be tackled,’ the KNVB said on Twitter on Tuesday. ‘The KNVB has approached Vitesse to take steps.’ Nu.nl said the KNVB will decide on the basis of the clubs and the referees reports whether to start a formal investigation. A spokesman for the Arnhem club told the Telegraaf that ‘unfortunately’ a small group of people had ‘audibly misbehaved’. ‘There is no room for this sort of behaviour in our stadium. We will try and identify the perpetrators via the video,...
Read more

Abramovich move to settle rift between Conte and David Luiz

By
Image
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is investigating whether there is a growing problem between manager Antonio Conte and the players. The Russian billionaire is increasing his involvement in the day-to-day running of the club following the resignation of technical director Michael Emenalo on Monday. According to Sportsmail, Abramovich visited Chelsea’s Cobham HQ last week, and has already made enquiries over the relationship between Conte and his squad. Having fallen out with Diego Costa last season before selling him in the summer, question marks are being raised over Conte’s relationship with David Luiz. The Brazilian was axed from the squad that beat Manchester United on Sunday. Despite Conte’s insistence that the decision was tactical, it is understood the axe came after Luiz questioned the Italian in training last week. But while Abramovich is not questioning Conte’s handling of the Luiz situation, the latest stand-off has raised concerns of a rift between the manager and...
Read more

Angry Messi tells Barca to Drop Andre Gomes

By
Gomes has endured a difficult first season at Barcelona since signing from Valencia in the summer. But despite his erratic displays, manager Luis Enrique continues to persist with him. His selection is said to be causing frictions in the dressing room with Messi particularly annoyed. And Spanish outlet DiarioGol claim the Argentina international has demanded Gomes be dropped with immediate effect. Messi and fellow forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez are said to be appalled at Enrique's faith in Gomes. They believe their failure to hit top form is down to the 23-year-old lacklustre displays in the middle of the park. The midfielder's inclusion has come at a price with Ivan Rakitic forced to settle for a place on the bench. And Rakitic is now being Linked with a move to Real Madrid having grown tired of life out in the cold. 
Read more

Real Madrid are the first team to win the UCL trophy back to back after a 4-1 win over Juventus

By
Image
He did what he always does. And Real Madrid did what they have done so often since this rather magnificent trophy was first awarded in 1956. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 32, is still demanding centre stage. He won an FA Cup final at this stadium in 2004 as a callow youth against Millwall. It was his first ever trophy. On Saturday night he secured his 20th. The opposition was somewhat more glamorous here, the prize more treasured but the performance remained the same. He did what he does, which is to lead from the front and ensure that, if silverware is at stake, he is the man left holding it at the end. But Real Madrid are the team who appropriated the old European Cup at its outset. Now they are dominating the modern era. This was their 12th trophy of all time. But never before in the modern era of the Champions League has the trophy been defended. It has now. Three wins in four years begins to look like a team of the calibre of Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool, AC Milan. Don't mention it on L...
Read more

Chelsea ready to pay £100m for Mauro Icardi to partner Alvaro Morata

By
Image
CHELSEA are looking to add fire power to their attacking force in order to compete with Premier League high flyers. To do this the Italian hopes to bring Inter Milan's captain Mauro Icar d i  to partner their striker Alvaro Morata The striker would cost Chelsea in the region of £100million, which would make him the most expensive Premier League player. Conte has been tasked with retaining his title, a mission which is looking far less likely as the games go on. It is unquestionable whether or not Icardi would add quality to the Chelsea squad, the issue for the champions is catching up with the unprecedented pace set by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side. The London club face a number of challenges if they wish to bring the young forward in however. Icardi would prefer a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid , a club searching for a young striker to replace Karim Benzema. And Inter are unwilling to let go of their star man mid-season.
Read more

Legendary Andrea Pirlo retires from football

By
Image
Yankee Stadium was the final stage for Andrea Pirlo. Indisputably one of the greatest ever and most well-loved players in the world, he finished his career as a leader by example in MLS where had played since joining New York City FC in 2015. It ended with elimination as New York beat Columbus Crew 2-0 but it wasn’t enough to overturn the 4-1 deficit from the first leg. With the match running down, New York Coach Patrick Vieira brought Pirlo on in the 90th minute to a standing ovation.  There was applause and chanting in the Big Apple from the fans who always applauded him whenever he went to take a corner as the club now turns a corner following the departure of one of its greatest stars. Pirlo won everything, representing the biggest clubs in Italian football. With Milan, he established himself on the international stage and reached the greatest heights before reinventing himself at Juventus for a new successful spell. With Italy, he made history lifting the World Cup in...
Read more