Real Madrid has extended Jesé
Rodríguez's contract for a further four
seasons :
Real Madrid have confirmed that promising youngster Jese Rodriguez has signed a new contract with the Santiago Bernabeu side until the summer of 2017.
The Spain Under-20 star's previous deal was due to expire in 2014 and the attacker recently hinted at a potential transfer elsewhere in order to bolster his chances of first-team football.
However, Jese has now ended all speculation about his future by inking a four-year extension with Madrid worth over €1 million a year.
"Real Madrid announce that Jese has extended his contract, by which he will remain with the club for the next four seasons," a statement on the club's official website reads.
The versatile attacker is seen as one of the biggest talents to have come through the ranks of the Madrid youth academy in recent years and made his official first team debut in December 2011.
Jese impressed with Real Madrid Castilla in the Segunda Division in 2012-13, netting 22 goals to beat club legend Emilio Butragueno’s record for goals scored in one season with the youth side.
He was also one of Spain's brightest stars at the U20 World Cup, bagging five goals in five appearances. After his outstanding performance with Castilla and his role in the Under-20 World Cup, the Real Madrid youngster has been rewarded for his achievements by 'Los Blancos'.This puts an end to all of the recent rumours regarding the future of the jewel of 'La Fábrica' and means Jesé will reinforce the Real Madrid first team's front line. Ancelotti will have another attacking option at his disposal and will have to figure out how to dole out the game time between Cristiano, Isco, Özil, Jesé, Di María, Benzema and company.
Arsenal Agree £21m Deal to Sign Bernard,
Brazilian to Join In January :
Arsenal have reportedly agreed terms on a £21m deal to sign highly rated Brazilian Bernard after representatives of the North London club held talks with Atletico Mineiro to sew up a deal.Gunners have met the Belo Horizonte based side’s valuation of 20 year old attacker Bernard and that as part of a deal the pint sized youngster will be loaned back to Atletico Mineiro until January, when he will then join the Arsenal squad.Arsenal representatives were in attendance last night as Atletico Mineiro battled back from two goals down to beat Paraguayan side Club Olimpia in a penalty shoot-out to win a dramatic 2013 Copa Libertadores Final, which in turn sees Bernard’s side qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in December. A delayed move to Arsenal hands the 20 year old a chance to play a part in those finals, taking place in Morocco before moving to the Premier League side in January.Bernard is believed to have agreed personal terms with Arsenal earlier this month and though the deal would represent a club record transfer fee for the Emirates Stadium side it’s thought that a significant portion of the £21m outlay is dependent on appearances accumulated by the talented Brazilian international.Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that Gonzalo Higuain and PepeReina are both close to joining the club after passing medicals :
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina are both close to joining the club after passing medicals.
Higuain, 25, has long been linked with a move to Arsenal but the Serie A outfit have beaten the Gunners to his signature after the Real Madrid striker successfully completed a medical prior to a reported €35 million move.
The Partenopei are also set to complete what is believed to be a season-long loan deal for 30-year-old Liverpool goalkeeper Reina, following the Reds' signing of Simon Mignolet, with De Laurentiis revealing that both transfers could be completed by Monday.
He wrote on his official Twitter page: "Higuain and Reina passed medicals and will join group very soon.
"Monday night we will make a big party at San Paolo. You will know new players and more.
"You will discover the new jerseys and listen to the new hymn, a remake of 'O Surdato 'nnamurato' and watch the new Napoli cheerleaders.
"We can say we have worked a lot but we will not stop here."
De Laurentiis recently revealed that coach Rafa Benitez has €124 million to spend following the €64m sale of striker Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spaniard has already been busy in the summer transfer window after completing deals for Dries Mertens, Raul Albiol and Jose Callejon, as he bids to make a flying start to life at Napoli having joined the club in June.
Rafa Benitez is confident that Gonzalo
Higuain will become an instant hit at Napoli
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis announced on Wednesday that the 25-year-old has already passed a medical and the Partenopei are expected to complete a deal imminently.Benitez is thrilled to have the Argentine at Stadio San Paolo ahead of the coming campaign and has backed him to slot into the side seamlessly following the departure of Edinson Cavani."We needed a player like Higuain. We were looking for a quality player, for someone playing at the highest level," he told Corriere dello Sport.
"We have signed a player who comes from Real Madrid and who has scored a hatful of goals. He will adapt very well to our system - an attacking system.
"We are all working together to ensure the players we want arrive. We have to sign players who will do well for Napoli for the next three or four years."
Napoli have already signed Jose Callejon, Raul Albiol, Dries Mertens and Rafael, while they are also on the verge of securing the services of Pepe Reina on loan, and Benitez believes the club have taken a giant step forward following their summer spending.
"Players who come from clubs like Real Madrid, PSV and Liverpool can only do us good. We had a great squad already, but we can move forward. For Napoli these signings represent a quantum leap."
Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro have won their
maiden Copa Libertadores title after defeating
Paraguayan side Olimpia 4-3 on penalties :
Leonardo Silva was the hero for Mineiro as he headed home the late equaliser that ensured the tie finished at 2-2 after two legs, and the 34-year-old defender then slotted home his side's fourth and final spot kick of the shootout before Olimpia's Matias Gimenez hit the bar, handing the Brazilians victory.Mineiro started Wednesday's second leg two goals down, and after a goalless first-half, the tie appeared to be heading in Olimpia's favour.However, Jo started Mineiro's comeback in the 46th minute at the Estadio Governador Magalhaes Pinto when he took advantage of a botched clearance and struck the ball on the turn past visiting goalkeeper Martin Silva.
The home side kept pushing for an equaliser but as the half wore on, Olimpia looked set to collect their fourth Libertadores title until Julio Cesar Manzur was sent off in the 85th minute. That decision gave Mineiro the momentum and, just two minutes later, the hosts drew level when Silva leapt highest to head Bernard's cross into the top corner of Olimpia's net.
The Brazilians dominated extra-time, with one header hitting the bar before Olimpia defender Herminio Miranda cleared a shot off the line with a well-timed interception.
But Cuca's side would not be denied in the shootout, with goalkeeper Victor saving Miranda's opening spot-kick before Alecsandro, Guilherme, Jo and Silva all converted. Gimenez then rattled the bar for the Paraguyans, sending the home support into raptures.The victory ensured Mineiro's star playmaker Ronaldinho joined an elite group of players to have lifted both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores' trophies: former AC Milan trio Dida, Cafu and Roque Junior all secured the double, along with Inter defender Walter Samuel and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez.
Messi: "I've never met Martino" :
Leo Messi does not want to be linked with the signing of new coach Gerardo Martino. "I don't have anything to do with it, or anything to explain. It's for the president and the club to decide. At the time I said that I thought he was a good coach, but I don't have anything to explain.""I don't know him personally, I've never met him, neither him nor Luis Enrique who was the other candidate being talked about. I think it's a good appointment because he will bring something extra, and he's shown what he's capable of both at Newell's and in the Paraguayan national team. I hope he'll be good for us", he added.Messi said that he did not see Pep Guardiola in Munich and commented on the situation within the team: "We're starting again after what happened with Tito, we have to be prepared for a tough year".ANCELOTTI TO CONSIDER USING KAKA AS A
SECOND STRIKER.
Reports in spain are claiming that ancelotti wants to use Kaka as a SS..
Liverpool End Interest in Ajax Playmaker Christian Eriksen :
Liverpool have decided to end their long-running interest in highly rated Ajax midfield player Christian Eriksen, according to reports in the Daily Mail.The Merseyside giants have been keeping close tabs on the exciting Denmark international for over a year now, with a view to possibly bringing the playmaker to Anfield this summer.The Reds were believed to be in a straighttwo-way fight with Uefa Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund for the 21-year-old’s signature and with Eriksen’s current contract at the Amsterdam ArenA set to run out on June 30 2014, the player was expected to be available for as little as£15 million this summer.However, Liverpool head coach Brendan Rodgers has now opted to withdraw the Reds’ interest in the Dane so as to concentrate on other more important areas in the team that need strengthening, with Liverpool already well stocked with creative attacking midfield players at Anfield in the form of Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and now new signing Luis Alberto.
Official Announcement:
Real Madrid announce that Denis Cheryshev
has renewed his contract and will be a first
team player for the next four seasons.