Monthly Archives: July 2011

Serie A sustained by corruption?

on July 26, 2011 None comments

A new scandal regarding bets continues to hold the front page in the Italia. Two clubs in Serie A are involved in faked games under bets mafia.

Two clubs in Serie A, Atalanta Bergamo and Verona Chievo, three from Serie B, 11 in the third league and 26 other people will be sued for involvement in cases of rigged matches.

Federal prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has taken this decision on Monday, based on evidence gathered by the Prosecutor of Cremona. Among the 26 people who will be judged in this case are former Italian international striker Giuseppe Signori and the current Atalanta Bergamo striker, Cristiano Doni. If he will be found guilty, Doni risk a suspension of three years and Atalanta Bergamo could be relegated in an inferior division.

In early June, the ex- Italian striker, Giuseppe Signori and 15 other people were arrested by Italian police, being under investigation in the “Calcioscommette” case.

Among those arrested were included former players from Serie A, players in activity from Serie B and C, and leaders of clubs in lower divisions. The investigation is led by police in Cremona, in collaboration with units in Rome, Naples and Turin. Employees of sportsbooks are also considered suspects: the total inquiry is around 30 people.

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Fabregas at Barca, finally!?

on July 25, 2011 None comments

Could it really be true? The rumors say that after a lot of long and hard negotiations, the Fabregas at Barcelona soap opera is almost to the end.

Arsenal is ready to let Fabregas to go to Barcelona but they want in return to receive 36 million euros, which is just last offer of Catalans, plus Thiago Alcantara!

The only thing is that the transfer will be up only with the condition that Alcantara will be part of this understanding. The media from UK reported that Barca’s vice president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, was in London to negotiate the transfer and put an end to all this theatre.

Arsenal is evaluating Fabregas around 45 million but are they are willing to accept a smaller amount as long as the Catalans offer includes Alcantara in the package.

The ball is now in Barcelona’s courtyard now and Guardiola must decide if he’ll let go of the international Spanish U21 which he said is part of his plans for the next season.

But after all, will this transfer do any good for Fabregas? Can Barcelona, and better said, Guardiola shape more from this diamond? Keep close!

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Schalke is starting right!

on July 24, 2011 None comments

Schalke 04 defeated great rivals, Borussia Dortmund, after the penalty shoots with 4-3, and won their first Supercup of Germany. At the end of 90 minutes of play, the result was 0-0. Although no goal was scored, the game held in Gelsenkirchen was a very spectacular one, with Borussia holding the lead in most of the time.

How the German Supercup regulation does not provide any extensions in case of a draw at the end of 90 minutes, they went right to the execution of penalty shoot where the goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann came out in front for Schalke, transferred this summer from Eintracht Frankfurt to replace Neuer, who went to Bayern.

The 23 year old goalkeeper has defended the executions of Groskreutz and Perisic, while Holtby, Edu, and Jurado Howedes managed to score for Schlake, Gelsenkirchen team obtaining the victory with 4-3 and gathering their first trophy of the 2011 – 2012 season in Germany.

“This victory is a great satisfaction for me. I tried to give everything to fill the gap left by the departure of Neuer” said Ralf Fahrmann.

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New top team in Primera Division?

on July 24, 2011 None comments

During last seasons, the Primera Division supremacy was played between Real Madrid and Barcelona, the title was decided each time between the two groups. Besides the two giants, Valencia, Villareal and Sevilla served as strong followers for the Spanish giants. This year, another team will join in leading Primera Division.

It’s about Apono’s team, Malaga, the Primera team who made the most resounding purchases in this summer break. The big names are Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Joris Mathijsen, Jeremy Toulalan and Joaquin, players which will attack the Champions League places next year.

“We know that we are in the foreground team at this time. Who would have thought Malaga, Barcelona and Real Madrid will be the benchmarks of the Spanish football?” said Apono.

“Is almost impossible to win the championship, but accession to the Champions League is a realistic goal. We just have to win every game in hand”.

Malaga has just extended Manuel Pellegrini’s contract, the coach of the band, until 2015. The only thing remaining is to see if they really can perform as they say they will. But the good side is we will find out after the first 2-3 games.

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AS Roma went fishing

on July 22, 2011 None comments

On the final run to the start of the championship, AS Roma makes an interesting move, after some negotiations with Barcelona.

Spanish striker Bojan Krkic has been given from FC Barcelona to AS Roma in exchange of the “small amount” of 12 million euros, but with a clause in the contract between the clubs that Catalans can redeem the player with 13 million at the end of season 2012 / 2013.

“I am very sad, I hoped I will have here a chance to play, but I have not. Guardiola was not right with me, but I am not able to judge him. They remained queries things between us, but if so he thought. … Anyway, he’s the best coach for Barcelona. I hope to play in Rome, because I love football, I want to show it on the ground, how much I love it. Barcelona will remain in my heart all of my life!” Bojan said at a press conference in tears.

Bojan Krkic, 20, with Serbian father and Catalan mother, debuted in the Primera Division in October 2007, at age 17 became the youngest player in the history of FC Barcelona who scores a goal in the league.

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