AC Milan coach Massimo Allegri has no desire to bring former England international David Beckham back to the San Siro for a third time.
The 35-year-old LA Galaxy midfielder has enjoyed two spells with the Rossoneri in the last two seasons but injured his Achilles tendon in March and was forced to miss this summer's World Cup finals.
Asked if Beckham would be returning to AC Milan this season, Allegri said:"I do not think so.
"He is now recovering from a very bad injury and at that age I think it is very difficult to come back."
Beckham has said he hopes to return to fitness in September – two months ahead of schedule.
Earlier in the week he was linked with a switch to West Ham United but those rumours were swiftly denied.
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AC Milan are currently involved in the Emirates Cup and drew 1-1 with Arsenal on Saturday.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
One of Liverpool’s most improved players this season has been Lucas Leiva. The defensive midfielder has been the focus of much of the Liverpool fans’ frustration in recent seasons, but his revival under Kenny Dalglish has been impressive. When the Premier League returns from the international break, Lucas will once again take up his position in front of the Liverpool back-four to fend off the advances of Frank Lampard.
Lampard so far this season has continued to prove why he is one of England’s elite players. Scoring six goals so far this season and starting every game, he has been impressive in his inclusion as one of the bright spots in Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea side. A player certainly in the twilight of his career has helped his side sustain a decent challenge on the Premier League title behind Manchester City and Manchester United.
Going into this important tie against rivals Liverpool, Lampard will certainly be one of the focal points of Chelsea’s attack and hopes of earning all 3pts.
Can Lucas continue his impressive form and stop one of the Premier League’s in-form players, or will Chelsea continue their resurgence following the disappointing defeat to London-rivals Arsenal a few weeks ago?
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Patrice Evra is eager to slot back into the France team with a clean slate following his return to the national fold.Evra was installed as captain of Les Bleus just prior to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but his reputation back home took a beating when the squad went on strike after Nicolas Anelka was evicted for insulting then coach Raymond Domenech.
As the captain, the Manchester United left-back shouldered much of the responsibility and accepted a five-match suspension.
The 29-year-old, who has now served the ban, insists he wants his reunion with the national team, now under 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc’s tutelage, to be a seamless one.
“I want to turn the page. I want to be a solution and not a problem for this new generation,” Evra said.
“I worked like a madman in my club to maintain my level and to get the chance to be called up.”
“It’s with great pride that I find myself back in the French team, which I missed enormously. The people who know the real Patrice Evra knew I would never give up, that I would fight to come back.”
He admitted his standing among sceptics, such as French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno, will remain tainted by his perceived role in the strikes in South Africa.
“When some people see Patrice Evra, they think of the World Cup. I am trying to turn the page, (but) I think I will live with this scar,” he said.
Evra, who is expected to take his place at left-back in Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Luxembourg after Eric Abidal underwent surgery to remove a liver tumour, insisted he was a competent leader in South Africa.
“Despite all that happened, I was proud to be captain. I put my heart into it. I was at peace with myself. I was the first player to say sorry after the match against South Africa, (and) to ask the players to give up their bonuses,” he said.
“When you are captain, you have a bit more responsibility. At the end of the World Cup, I said to all of (the players), ‘Go and take it easy on holiday because if someone has to have their head chopped off it will be me’.”
“Some people said I was a ringleader, which was totally false. It was as a captain and not as a ringleader, that I took this (punishment).’
France coach Blanc held clear-the-air talks with Evra, and said he will be keeping a close eye on the player’s behaviour.
The former Bordeaux boss said scoring an early goal against ‘defensive’ Luxembourg was imperative for the team.
“In the first leg, we didn’t manage to do that,” Blanc said. “We didn’t play really well, especially on the offensive side.”
England boss Fabio Capello has demanded that his Capello Index should be removed from the internet.
The Italian is furious that his player ratings website, which scored players on their performances in this summer's World Cup, appeared online on Saturday.
Capello announced before the tournament started that he was launching the index only to have second thoughts after scorn was poured on the idea.
"The index was published without Mr Capello's knowledge and his representatives have taken immediate steps to have the material taken down," read an FA statement.
The Index uses a statistical system devised by Capello to award players a score out of 100.
Not a single England international appeared in the top 45 players at the tournament, with captain Steven Gerrard being the highest-ranked player at 65th.
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Goalkeeper Robert Green had the lowest score – 51.67 – after his gaffe led to the USA equalising in England's first group game in South Africa.
Uruguay's Diego Forlan topped the ratings while Germany's Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller were second and third respectively.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Ever been playing in the local park when you fire in an outrageous goal from miles out, only to ruin it with one of those ludicrously embarrassing celebrations? Well don’t worry; the top players do it too. Iconic celebrations are all part of the game, from Shearer’s salute to Crouchy’s robot and a well worked out routine after scoring a goal is always necessary. Otherwise you end up as boring as Michael Owen…Anyway here are 10 of the best:
1. Craig Bellamy – A man whose career has never been short on controversy, indeed Bellamy himself acknowledged this after an incident during his unsuccessful stint at Liverpool back in 2007. During a training camp in Portugal, Craig allegedly brandished a golf club at team-mate John Arne Riise after a disagreement, an action that earned him the nickname ‘the Nutter with the Putter.’ Both players seemed to put it behind them though, whilst Bellamy showed his sense of humour by celebrating his equalizer in a Champions League match against Barcelona with a well-aimed golf swing.
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2. Stuart Pearce – England are often accused of a lack of pride and passion when pulling on the Three Lions shirt, but here is a man who cannot be doubted on that front. The current England Assistant, u21 Coach and incumbent Great Britain manager’s name is embedded on one of those famous English lists, those to miss a penalty in a major tournament. The whole world felt for Stuart as he missed in the shootout against Germany back in the World Cup Semi Final of 1990. So when England and Spain were locked together in penalties at the Euro 96 tournament , not many expected Pearcey to step up to the plate. But step up he did, rifling his penalty into the bottom right corner, prompting an iconic image in English football. Displaying a face more contorted than the Elephant Man’s, his fist pump signalled a triumphant end to his and England’s penalty woes. Until the next round against the Germans.
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3. Robbie Fowler – Liverpool/Everton derbies are always dramatic affairs, so when Robbie popped up with a goal in 1999, he thought he’d take a light-hearted approach to the whole affair. Except his actions didn’t go down too well. Responding to false allegations from Everton fans over drug abuse, Fowler decided to crouch down and snort the white line of the penalty area, insinuating cocaine use. Needless to say, the powers-that-be were not impressed, handing him a 4 match ban and a £60,000 fine. At least manager Gerard Houllier saw the funny side; suggesting it was a Cameroonian grass-eating celebration picked up from team-mate Rigobert Song.
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4. Paul Gascoigne – Ah Gazza. England’s number one prankster. Of course he had to feature in a list of humorous celebrations. Back to Euro 96 again and Gazza scored England’s most memorable goal in a glorious Wembley win over Scotland. What followed after was one of the most memorable celebrations. After tabloid headlines over a drinking session that involved players strapped to a ‘dentist’s chair’ while vodka was poured down their throats, Gazza then rammed such criticisms back down the journos own throats. Lying down on the pitch, he opened wide as teammates squirted their water bottles into his mouth.
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5. Roger Milla – The Cameroon striker has an incredible story, given he made his professional debut in 1974! However he came to prominence as a 38-year-old in the 1990 World Cup, scoring 4 goals in the process as Cameroon became the first African side to reach the Quarter Final. However, his celebration of these goals ensured legendary status and led to a Coca Cola commercial in 2010. Dancing round the corner flag now became known as the ‘Milla Wiggle’ and incredibly he returned four years later to become the World Cup’s oldest goal scorer. Strictly Come Dancing should take notes.
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6. Temuri Ketsbaia – The feisty Georgian joined Newcastle United in 1997 and became a popular figure with fans despite his less-than-impressive goal scoring record of 8 goals in 78 games. Maybe he was forgiven on account of what he did when he did score a goal! After one strike against Bolton, Temuri whipped off his shirt and went all Eric Cantona on the advertising hoardings. Attacking specifically the McDonald’s and Adidas boards, perhaps he just doesn’t agree with multi-national corporations, after all, Georgia used to be Communist controlled. Or maybe he’s just mental.
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7. Julius Aghahowa – The Premiership has seen many flippers, from Lua Lua’s spiralling efforts to Robbie Keane’s pathetic gun slinging, but the best of the lot had to be the Nigerian Aghahowa. Unfortunately during his spell at Wigan between 2007/08, he failed to score once, but previous gymnastics for Shakhtar Donetsk caught the world’s eye. Indeed, there are rumours he can flip further than a Rory Delap throw in. It’s just a pity he didn’t teach this skill to striking partner at the time, Emile Heskey.
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8. Bernardo Corradi – The Italian striker spent an extremely forgettable two years at Manchester City, back in the days when Arab money couldn’t buy you a team. His only notable offering was a bizarre celebration involving more corner flag antics with Joey Barton following a goal against Fulham. Whilst Barton knelt down, Corradi proceeded to knight him with the flag. Arise Sir Joey.
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9. Stjarnan FC – A team in the Icelandic Premiership who specialize in team celebrations, with routines including ‘the fishing rod,’ ‘the Rambo shooting spree’ and a ‘human bicycle.’ If they spent the time used on practicing such displays on their game play, then Barcelona should watch out. Still, I’m sure some of the X-Factor dancers could learn something from such superb choreography.
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10. Cristiano Lucarelli – Back in 2007, Lucarelli, a striker from Livorno whipped off his shirt in traditional celebratory fashion after scoring a goal. What happened next certainly wasn’t traditional. Dropping his shirt on the floor, he proceeded to climb on top of it and perform a simulated sex act. One can only assume him and his girlfriend were having problems in the bedroom at the time. Otherwise he has some interesting sexual habits.
There are some footballers you know that you can just light the touch paper with and then watch them fly off the handle. It would be ill advised, for example, to terrier-like snap at the heels of Joey Barton, should you not wish to feel his next challenge the next time the ball is in your vicinity. Personally, I would never consider excluding the goalkeepers from a 5-a-side training game when Roy Keane was in my international squad, should I want to avoid several bust ups that resulted in his acrimonious departure from the World Cup. It’s probably not a good idea, also, to be a fan of the opposing team standing near the tunnel, if Eric Cantona has just been sent off.
Step forward Mario Balotelli. The City player that opposition fans love to hate, Balotelli is the one player that, when he starts for City, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get: an anonymous 90 minutes, a hot-headed substitution, a red card for a silly kick-out, two yellow cards for dissent, a brilliant hat-trick, moments of pure genius with the ball at his feet… Any of those things (and more) could happen and little of it would be a surprise.
His first City appearance yielded his first City goal: away in Romania to FC Timisoara, he scored the only goal of the game and set City on their way to the group stage of the Europa League, before quite seriously injuring his knee. It hasn’t helped him that that injury ruled him out for large spells of this season and, despite a scoring record of ten goals in eighteen games, City still haven’t seen the Italian’s best form. And, clearly, if ten goals in eighteen appearances isn’t his best form, a lot of blues won’t be able to wait to see it.
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If there is one player in City’s team, though, that would be entitled to have something of a chip on his shoulder, it’s Mario Balotelli. As a small child, he had serious intestinal problems that required a series of life-saving operations to fix. His parents, both Ghanaian immigrants living in Italy, asked the country’s social services for help because of cramped living space. Balotelli was then fostered and, as he grew up into the life of a professional footballer, his biological parents asked for their son back – a move that Balotelli himself disagreed with, describing them as ‘glory hunters’ and believing they only wanted him back because of his success.
And Mario’s problems didn’t end there. Despite a desire to represent Italy, he was denied the chance to join the Under 15s and Under 17s squads because of bureaucratic issues: to the country in which he lived and the country he was from, he wasn’t an Italian citizen. Yet, his wish to play for Italy couldn’t have been stronger, a point he re-iterated when turning down an international call-up from Ghana.
Then throw into the mix a career in Italy shrouded by racism: in only his second senior cap for Italy in November 2010, he was subjected to abuse by a section of his own fans. These fans also held aloft a banner reading “No to a multi-ethnic national team”. And it’s not just while he was representing the national team; while he was with Inter Milan, sections of the Juventus support targetted him and taunted Balotelli with vile racial abuse.
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When City travelled to Turin to play Juventus, Balotelli was reportedly relieved that he didn’t have to make the trip; a decision made by Roberto Mancini, very aware of the problems Balotelli had faced there in the past, and a decision taken on that basis that City had already qualified.
Yet it is this boy who has ten goals in eighteen appearances, this boy who has had injury problems throughout his first season in England, this boy who has suffered racist abuse for most of his life, this boy who was denied the chance to represent his country because of a daft law, this boy who has had a turbulent upbringing… He is the one who is petulant and troubled. It’s easy to forget that he is just a kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
So he doesn’t smile, who gives a damn? His reasoning, on his arrival at City, was simple: scoring is as normal to him as any other everyday activity is to everyone else and one wouldn’t smile because they were cooking dinner or driving to work. And who cares if he looks glum if his scoring record stays as good as it is?
The problem is, Balotelli’s reputation precedes him. He’s the petulant child that shows dissent when things don’t go his way. Several times already this season, he has been shown yellow cards for his reaction to decisions; reactions that are no different than those of the likes of Rooney or Terry or Gerrard. Yet you can count on one hand collectively the number of yellow cards those players receive for that reaction over the course of a season.
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And yet, this week, we have seen a brand new Mario Balotelli. This is a Mario Balotelli that acted as the peacemaker in a ‘disagreement’ between Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne and City’s Yaya Touré in the FA Cup fifth round tie. The man normally associated with causing trouble was the one man who was preventing it from happening.
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His goal in that game, too, was something I was surprised hasn’t garnered more attention. The ITV commentators were totally underwhelmed, but it was one of the best goals you’ll see this season. A first time, side-footed, placed, half-volley, from a ball that was on its upward motion after bouncing from over his shoulder was greeted as if it were a tap-in.
And that off the back of Roberto Mancini’s open criticism of the forward after the 1-1 draw with Fulham. Balotelli scored another corker that match, too, but, as Mancini pointed out, he didn’t do much else. Normally, I would feel very uneasy with a manager openly criticising his players, but Mancini has got form (Adam Johnson, Joe Hart, Carlos Tevez) and it has worked. And if there’s anyone who knows how to get the best out of Mario Balotelli, then it’s the man in the Eastlands dugout.
For the moment, Mario’s in the middle of what he needs: a quiet few games, with a few goals and without controversy. He doesn’t need to grow up, as so many pundits have commented; in fact he’s probably the one player in City’s squad that has grown up quicker than anybody else, given what he has dealt with in the past.
Perhaps it’s time everybody else got off his back and just let him do his job.
Acclaimed journalist Martin Samuel believes that if Steven Gerrard chooses to leave Liverpool this summer then it shouldn’t be held against him.
Samuel has said: “Three years. That was the time frame Martin Broughton, chairman of Liverpool, was said to have given in a candid moment as how long it would take to turn the club around. “
“In the circumstances, could anyone then blame Steven Gerrard for taking his leave of Anfield now? He has not got three years to live in hope. Neither have the club, really. Even thinking optimistically about revival, by the time this recovery is realised, Gerrard, like Bryan Robson at Manchester United, may be too old to truly play much part. It would almost be cruel to make him stay, particularly if his destination was Real Madrid, not another English club.” [From the Mail Online]
The comments have to be agreed with as Steven Gerrard is now 30-years-old and coming towards the end of his career. If he wants to go on and win more trophies he will have a better chance of doing so by moving clubs. Liverpool have limited funds for next season and will not be playing in the Champions League and Gerrard is a world class player who needs to be playing at the highest level. It would do a prestigious tournament like the Champions League a disservice not to have a player the calibre of Steven Gerrard playing in it next year.
Unfortunately due to Liverpool’s shortcomings last season it has really put them a step back as they will not be getting the finances the Champions League brings and not only are the missing out on Europe’s elite competition. But they will find it very tough to compete with other sides for fourth place next season and were Gerrard to stay he would be putting Liverpool’s chances of qualification down to ‘ifs and buts’
Samuel goes on to say: “Without Gerrard, no miracle of Istanbul and not even the FA Cup final victory over West Ham United in 2006. And if Liverpool supporters can find it in their hearts to think well of Rafael Benitez for those highlights, surely they will not begrudge Gerrard, too?”
Gerrard has clearly done a lot for Liverpool throughout his career and if anything Liverpool owe Steven Gerrard the chance to leave. He has always given them 110 per cent and has been loyal when he has previously had chances to leave. Infamously he turned down Chelsea in 2005 for what would surely have been much higher wages and would have given Gerrard the opportunity to win more things in his career. Gerrard could comfortably walk into any side in the world as is his magnitude and at times for Liverpool he has looked out of this world .
Samuel also adds: “Gerrard cannot be left marooned, the last world-class player at a club[assuming Mascherano, Torres and Reina leave] where the concept of success is seemingly downscaled each season. The promise of a coaching job in the famed Liverpool boot room is not enough. If the future is as troubled as Broughton believes, Gerrard and Liverpool are no longer in equal partnership. For a player of his ability, the England captain in World Cup year, he is settling if he remains.”
There is so much more that Gerrard can still go on to achieve and although Liverpool have done a lot for him it is surely time for him to finally move on.
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Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has claimed that Manchester City are interested in making a move for him, as he is out of contract in the summer.
The France international defender has yet to renew his current deal with the European champions, and has left the door open for a move away from the Catalan giants.
The big spending Premier League club are not the only interested party according to the left-back, who has eyed two more years at the top level.
“There are some clubs interested, like Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Manchester City,” the 32-year-old told RMC Sport.
“At the moment there are no concrete offers. I can’t say any more. I have so much respect for Barca but if I don’t reach an agreement, the door is open.
“I believe I have the legs to go on for two more years. I have an international objective. We have qualified for Euro 2012, which is good, but I am also looking at the 2014 World Cup,” he concluded.
Abidal recovered from a liver tumour last year to feature in the tail-end of Barcelona’s victorious Champions League and La Liga campaigns, but is no longer guaranteed an automatic starting berth in Pep Guardiola’s team.
A move by City would seem unlikely however, as they currently have both Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in Abidal’s position.
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France players acted like ‘foolhardy brats’ during the 2010 World Cup, according to then-manager Raymond Domenech.
Les Bleus crashed out of the tournament at the group stage after failing to win a game.
And the dismal campaign was marred by in-fighting, with Nicolas Anelka sent home and the rest of the squad going on strike.
Domenech – since replaced by Laurent Blanc – has not before spoken publicly about events in South Africa.
But he has broken his silence in an interview with L’Express magazine, due to be published on Wednesday.
“Looking back, I see them above all as a bunch of irresponsible, foolhardy brats,” said Domenech.
Turning to the strike itself, which followed Anelka’s return to France, Domenech added: “They knew perfectly well what they were doing.”
“They even closed the bus curtains to hide from the cameras.”
He also described the actions of the squad as a ‘masquerade’ and said that the 1998 World Cup winners had been turned into a ‘laughingstock’.
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Domenech accepted some of the blame, admitting that his selections, and team talks, had not been good enough.
However, he insisted: “I’m not the moron that’s been described.”
Stricken England captain Rio Ferdinand has spoken of the devastation at the knee injury which has ruled him out of the World Cup finals in South Africa.
The 31-year-old defender damaged his knee ligaments after an accidental collision with Emile Heskey and, after undergoing scans, the prognosis suggests he will be out of action for around six weeks.
His agent, Pini Zahavi, has revealed the Manchester United man's disappointment but he believes he will bounce back and lead the Three Lions in Brazil 2014.
Speaking to reporters, Zahavi said:"Rio said: 'I think somebody cursed me.' That is honestly how he feels.
"Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him. This injury is nothing to do with the ones he had before.
"It is completely different and it is very bad luck. Rio was feeling sharp and was ready for the World Cup.
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"He has waited so long for this tournament and to try and help England win it. He had prepared himself so well. But he is a very strong man and he will be back.
"I'm sure he will be leading England in four years time at the next World Cup."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email