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Palmeiras sign Benfica midfielder Felipe Menezes

Palmeiras have officially announced the signing of Benfica´s 24-year old midfielder Felipe Menezes.

He had recently been loaned from Benfica to Série B club Sport Recife and has also played for other Brazilian clubs such as Goiás, Paulista and Botafogo.

The midfielder signed a three-year contract with Palmeiras, he is the club´s third signing following Alan Kardec and Mendieta.

Felipe Menezes is eager to succeed at his new club, he told Palmeiras´ official site: "I have the best possible expectations regarding wearing Palmeiras´ shirt.

We have many goals this year, I want to contribute, to help the team, I am having a wonderful opportunity at a big club and I want to take it."

He added: "But the main objective is to get promoted to Série A, but Palmeiras, as a big club, have to always fight for titles, any titles."

Fluminense´s Thiago Neves agrees move to Al-Hilal - report

Fluminense´s midfielder Thiago Neves has agreed to return to Saudi club Al-Hilal, according to reports in Brazilian press.

Lancenet reports that the midfielder needed a few days to decide about moving back to the Saudi league, but finally agreed to move after having a meeting with Al-Hilal representatives.

The length of the contract was reportedly one of the issues that delayed his final decision, as Thiago Neves did not want a long contract.

Thiago Neves is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia next week to undergo the medical and sign a two-year contract.

The transfer fee is estimated in 6 million Euros, but Fluminense will receive only 20% of the value as the club sponsor´s Unimed own most of his rights.

He has struggled to impress since he returned to Fluminense last year, and also missed many games due to injuries.

Bernard not joining Tottenham, claims agent

Tottenham’s hopes of capturing Atlético Mineiro midfielder Bernard appear to be over after his agent ruled out the move.

The Brazil international´s agent says that Porto is now the most likely destination for his 20-year-old client.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed in June that his side were monitoring the 20-year-old but suggested that "nothing will happen", while negotiations with Borussia Dortmund have also broken down and reported interest from Shakhtar Donetsk has not materialized.

Adriano Spadoto, the player’s agent, told O Tempo: "The negotiations with Dortmund and Tottenham have cooled due to Bernard´s high asking price and he won´t go to any of these clubs.

"There is nothing from Shakhtar; they have made no offer."

Porto are now in pole position to land the Brazilian´s signature, thanks in part to connections between BMG bank and both the Portuguese giants and Atletico Mineiro, reports Goal.com.

He added: "The agreement [with BMG] is a factor, so Porto are the most likely destination for Bernard.

"I believe that Bernard will leave Atletico Mineiro after the Copa Libertadores and the official announcement will be made by [Mineiro president] Alexandre Kalil."

Bernard who has been capped five times by Brazil, was a part of his country´s Confederations Cup-winning squad this summer.

His Brazil teammate Paulinho has confirmed his move to the London club but the chance for Bernard to join him seems unlikely.

Ronaldinho: Domestic break will benefit Atlético Mineiro

Atlético Mineiro forward Ronaldinho says the domestic break for the Confederations Cup has intensified his desire to win the Copa Libertadores.

The former Ballon D’or winner believes his side can benefit from the break at club-level to go on to win South America’s biggest club football competition this season, reports Goal.com.

The club travel to Argentina on Wednesday to face Newell’s Old Boys in the first leg of their semi-final clash in the continent’s most prestigious club competition.

However, Atlético, who are vying for their first ever Copa Libertadores title, have not played a competitive fixture since June 12 due to the country´s hosting of the Confederations Cup, but the former Barcelona attacker says the interval has provided the team with an added hunger to reach the final.

Ronaldinho told the club´s official channel: "We´ve been missing the ball.

"The break has come at a good time. We will all come back keener to play and reach the final, but the game on Wednesday will be like another final. It will be the hardest game we have played."

The second leg is scheduled to be played on July 11, with either Olimpia of Paraguay or Colombian outfit Independiente Sante Fe awaiting the winners of the tie in the final of the competition.

Romário could run for governor of Rio de Janeiro in 2014

Former Brazilian national team player Romário is giving consideration to running for governor of Rio de Janeiro in 2014.

Romário is currently a member of Brazil´s national Congress, he is a federal deputy representing the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party).

He posted on his twitter account about his future plans: "I am immensely thankful to the population of Rio de Janeiro, who suggested my name as an option for the government of Rio de Janeiro in 2014.

I am sure those are the people that have been paying close attention to my work at the Chamber of Deputies, considering the 8% who would vote for me according to Datafolha, and as a sign of respect for those people, I promise to make a better evaluation although I had previously said I would not run for governor."

Romário is an outspoken politician and a big critic of FIFA and Brazil´s preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

Un doblete de ´Diente´ López cita a Uruguay con España en cuartos


http://www.youtube.com/w…YgkkeR2Jols

López abrió el marcador en el minuto 65 para los charrúas, pero Olarenwaju Kayode devolvió la igualdad con un gol en el 69, hasta que de nuevo el atacante estrella de los uruguayos, de penal en el 84, sentenció.

Fue el máximo goleador del campeonato Sudamericano de principios de año con seis dianas y ahora suma ya cuatro en este Mundial Sub-20, a una de los colíderes de la tabla de máximos anotadores, el portugués Bruma y el español Jesé Rodríguez, que llevan cinco.

Uruguay, que no avanzaba a cuartos de final desde la edición en la que finalizó en cuarta posición en Nigeria-1999, consiguió además su primera victoria frente a una selección africana en dieciséis años.

En la primera parte, los uruguayos comenzaron con sustos por medio de Nicolás López (4) y Federico Gino Acevedo (17), aunque sin excesivo peligro, mientras que la primera seria de Nigeria la tuvo su capitán Abdul Ajagun, con un disparo con intención que detuvo el arquero Guillermo De Amores.

En el 28 estuvo a punto de funcionar ya una de las conexiones que más frutos han dado a la Celeste en este Mundial, la de López y Arrascaeta, pero el balón del primero no pudo ser conectado por el segundo.

La mejor ocasión de la primera mitad la tuvo en el 38 Aminu Umar, rematando un balón en el segundo palo y obligando a De Amores a una gran intervención, que salvó a los muchachos de Juan Verzeri.

En el 42, una jugada cambió el guión del partido, cuando una fuerte entrada de Abdullahi Sahi sobre Diego Laxalt provocó la roja del jugador africano.

Laxalt (51) estuvo a punto de hacer subir el primero, pero su compañero Guillermo Varela estaba en posición de fuera de juego. Verzeri dio entrada a otro atacante, Diego Rolán, para aprovechar la situación de los nigerianos.

El gol uruguayo llegó en el 65, cuando un centro de De Arrascaeta, acompañado de un fallo del arquero nigeriano, dejó el balón muerto para Nicolás López, que no perdonó.

Pero Nigeria quiso plantar batalla y empató instantes después, con un fuerte disparo desde la frontal del área de Olarenwaju Kayode (69), que ponía un meritorio 1-1 para las ´Super Águilas´ en el marcador.

Un nuevo error del portero nigeriano, Chukwunenye Okani, provocó un penal que ´Nico´ López (84) transformó en el gol del 2-1 definitivo, conduciendo a los suyos hasta el duelo de cuartos contra España, que había superado por el mismo resultado y en el mismo estadio a México, poco antes.

Mundial Sub-20: Colombia - Corea del Sur; Chile - Croacia duelos por el pase a cuartos

Los campeones de Sudamérica están en Turquía ante una oportunidad de oro de llegar a su primera final de este torneo y conseguir allí el primer título mundial Sub-20 de su historia, por lo que no quieren fallar en esta etapa del camino ante un rival que ha mostrado hasta ahora una cierta irregularidad.

En la primera fase, el campeón asiático Sub-19 cayó ante Nigeria (1-0) en el tercer encuentro.

Esta última derrota le hizo caer hasta el tercer puesto, lo que le deparó este cruce ante Colombia, la vencedora del grupo C, que ha ido al revés, de menos a más, en el arranque del Mundial en el país otomano.

"Ellos son un equipo rápido, que se maneja bien al ataque y que juega con mucha intensidad, con lo que tendremos que tener precaución. Apuestan mucho por la disciplina y el orden, muy estructurados y lineales", avisó el seleccionador Carlos Alberto Restrepo.

Un dato a tener en cuenta por los delanteros colombianos: en los tres anteriores partidos, los surcoreanos han recibido un gol en los diez primeros minutos del encuentro.

Colombia ha hecho de su solidez defensiva uno de los pilares de su éxito y es junto a Uruguay el equipo menos goleado en lo que va de Mundial, con sólo un tanto recibido por su arquero Cristian Bonilla.

El partido tendrá ahora lugar en el Hüseyin Avni Aker de Trebisonda, un recinto que los colombianos conocen porque fue el escenario de su debut en Turquía-2013, en el empate ante los australianos, antes de jugar luego en Rize y Gaziantep.

El ganador de este cruce tendrá como adversario en cuartos de final al vencedor del Irak-Paraguay, que se disputa a la misma hora y el mismo día en Antalya, en el sur del país.

Chile se mide a Croacia en un equilibrado cruce

Chile, herido en su orgullo tras la última derrota en la primera fase del Mundial Sub-20 de Turquía, se enfrenta este miércoles en Bursa (15h00 GMT) a Croacia, en un duelo de octavos de final teóricamente equilibrado, entre dos equipos que ya han dado muestras de talento.

Por lo visto ahora ahora en Turquía, los europeos parecen con más opciones por su mayor regularidad, que les permitió ganar el grupo F, con dos victorias (Uruguay 1-0 y Nueva Zelanda 2-1) y un empate (1-1 con Uzbekistán), pero en ninguno de los partidos llegó a estar cómodo por completo.

Tampoco fue una primera fase de paseo para Chile, que fue de más a menos, empezando con remontada en el debut para ganar 2-1 a Egipto, sufriendo luego para empatar 1-1 con Inglaterra y finalmente cayendo 2-1 ante Irak, el equipo que fue gracias a eso el campeón del grupo E.

"Tienen jugadores que mezclan lo físico con buena técnica. Es un equipo que sabe bien a qué juega y que tiene un sistema que le permite un buen volumen ofensivo", analizó el seleccionador Salas, que destacó que el equipo está muy mentalizado de la importancia de este partido.

Enfrente estará una Croacia que sí llega con la confianza al 100%, después de su buena primera fase, y donde ha destacado hasta el momento Ante Rebic, autor de dos tantos y decisivo para el triunfo ante los uruguayos, el otro equipo sudamericano con el que se han enfrentado hasta ahora.

El partido tendrá lugar en el estadio Atatürk de Bursa, donde los chilenos todavía no han jugado en este Mundial, mientras que Croacia disputó allí sus tres encuentros de la primera fase.

El ganador de este cruce se enfrentará en los cuartos de final con el vencedor del Portugal-Ghana, que se disputa el mismo día y a la misma hora en Kayseri.

Olimpia edge toward final spot

http://www.youtube.com/w…MO6MG2VL7dY

Paraguayan side Olimpia put themselves on the brink of the Copa Libertadores final with a 2-0 win over Santa Fe of Colombia in the first leg of their last-four clash.

Herminio Miranda netted the opener in the 65th minute with a penalty and Juan-Carlos Ferreyra doubled the lead 10 minutes from time, while both sides played the second half with 10 men after Brazilian referee Heber Lopes sent off Olimpia striker Juan-Manuel Salgueiro and former Colombia midfielder Gerardo Bedoya for a clash in first-half stoppage time.

Olimpia coach Ever Hugo Almeida felt his side would miss the attacking power of Salgueiro so brought on Ferreyra at half-time.

However, the crucial substitution by Almeida was bringing Alejandro Silva on for Ricardo Mazacotte, as Silva´s running and accuracy gave Olimpia more power from the first minute of the second half, pushing the Paraguayan giants forward to clinch the advantage ahead of the second leg in Bogota next week.

Silva came off the bench alongside Salgueiro and was very dangerous in the opening minutes of the second period, with a 55th-minute strike from outside the box saved by Santa Fe keeper Camilo Vargas.

Julio Manzur had a good opportunity but his header, after a Silva free-kick, went narrowly wide of the right post in the 61st minute.

The crucial moment came three minutes later when Silva was brought down by Vargas in the box and Miranda opened the scoring from the spot.

Olimpia went for a second, backed by 32,000 supporters at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco, and Santa Fe were shellshocked.

With 10 minutes to go, Eduardo Aranda started a counter-attack, passing the ball to Silva, who assisted Ferreyra. The striker had a simple finish to make it 2-0.

Ferreyra, who was not fully fit, was replaced soon after by Enzo Prono, who could have made it 3-0 in the 86th minute, but Vargas saved his shot with his foot, then stopped a Matias Gimenez attempt in stoppage time to keep his side in the tie.

Silva told Fox Sports: "The 2-0 scoreline is very, very important, but we must not be excessively confident. We have to play in Colombia yet, but we have a little advantage.

"It was not an easy game at all. Santa Fe had the ball a long time and marking them was difficult."

Ferreyra added on his physical problems: "I had a tear during a league game and tonight I felt some pain. I think I will be fine for the return match.

"What matters is that my goal helped us win. We are very happy but we have not achieved anything yet."

The other semi-final sees Newell´s Old Boys of Argentina meet Brazil´s Atletico Mineiro.

Who is Sunderland target Gino Peruzzi?

Sunderland are closing on the €4 million signing of Argentine right-back Gino Peruzzi according to reports in Argentina.

With the transfer seemingly nearing completion, The Elastico takes a look at the hype surrounding the youngster and finds out what makes Peruzzi tick.

Signing for Sunderland

Peruzzi has been identified as a target by Sunderland’s new scouting setup, led by director of football Roberto de Fanti, as manager Paolo di Canio looks set to overhaul the squad on Wearside.

With a focus on Argentine and Italian players, Peruzzi is just one of many players shortlisted by the Black Cats and it looks as though that a bid has been made for the promising 21-year-old.

Sunderland and Velez Sarsfield are yet to confirm the transfer but with the recent increase in reports, it seems that the deal will be completed soon.

What can Peruzzi offer?

The Argentine is a highly-rated prospect in his homeland, having already made his debut for the Argentine national team under Alejandro Sabella and is earmarked as a long-term candidate for the right-back position.

Peruzzi shot to fame in South America for his superb marking job on Santos’ Neymar in the 2012 Copa Libertadores quarter-final, despite Velez losing to their Brazilian rivals on penalties.

However, he was recently tormented by Ecuador’s Jefferson Montero during a 2014 World Cup qualifying game which ended in a 1-1 draw, fortunately for Sabella’s side. The experience suggests that the defender still has some lessons to learn in his position.

Quick across the ground and a good reader of the game, Peruzzi has the qualities required to be an excellent full-back—hence the growing expectation in his homeland. He is, though, a fine player going forward, having also played on the right of midfield and at wing-back.

With 44 appearances for Velez and a debut for Argentina under his belt, Peruzzi is aiming for inclusion in Sabella’s squad for the 2014 World Cup and hopes a move to the Premier League with Sunderland will help him to achieve that goal.

Sunderland look to be recruiting a promising and capable defender, with reports that former Newcastle United star, and current Velez general manager Christian Bassedas, has helped Peruzzi decide that his future lies on Wearside.

Fluminense to face Vasco at Maracanã on July 21

The derby between Fluminense and Vasco will be the first game between clubs at the refurbished Maracanã.

The famous stadium has, however, hosted a few Brazilian national team and Confederations Cup games in June, including Brazil´s 3-0 win against Spain last Sunday.

Fluminense will face Vasco at the Maracanã on July 21, for the 8th round of the Brazilian national top division.

The last time the stadium hosted a game between clubs was in September 2010, when Flamengo drew 0-0 with Santos.

Odebrecht, IMX and AEG have recently been awarded a concession to operate the Maracanã for 35 years, as long as they can ensure at least two of Rio de Janeiro´s big clubs play at the stadium in a regular basis.

Botafogo are expected to reach an agreement with the stadium operators soon, while the negotiations with Flamengo have not advanced yet.