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Júlio César ´one step away´ from joining Napoli - reports

A number of different Italian press sources claim that Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Júlio César is very close to joining Napoli.

According to the cover of Corriere dello Sport, the Brazil international is just "one step away" from joining Napoli.

Napoli have already reached an agreement with Queens Park Rangers to sign the goalkeeper, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, although they state that personal terms have not been agreed yet.

It will most likely be a loan deal with an option to buy, according to Mediaset, but Júlio César will need to reduce his wages to move to the Italian club.

He has previously been linked to Roma and Arsenal, but a move to the Gunners is looking unlikely to happen at this point, although he has stated before that he would like to remain in London.

The former Flamengo player has been experiencing a revival in the national team, having been named the best goalkeeper in the Confederations Cup. A move to a Champions League club would help him remain with the Seleção.

Grêmio loanee Leandro wants to stay at Palmeiras

Palmeiras striker Leandro hopes to stay at the club, rather than returning to Grêmio when the loan deal is over.

The loan deal ends in December, and while Palmeiras have the option to buy him, his future still remains unclear.

Leandro told Sportv: "I want to stay at Palmeiras, I want to celebrate the club´s 100th anniversary next year.

"Palmeiras have not expressed their position yet, but there is still time for them to do so."

The striker prefers to let his agent handle his career, he added: "I want to just play football, my agent Gilmar Veloz and the board handle those things related to the contract."

Leandro gained international attention in April, when he scored Brazil´s fourth goal in a friendly game against Bolivia.

He still hopes to be called up for the World Cup, he said: "It´s a dream I have since I was a child. Thank God I had two opportunities [to play for Brazil], played one of the games and scored a goal.

"I´ll keep working, I know there will be more chances, even if only few ones. I will keep doing my best to seek a chance in the World Cup.

Suarez ´wants UCL football´

Liverpool have been told Luis Suarez wants to play in the Champions League following talks held with his agent, but the Uruguay striker says he is planning to return to pre-season training as normal until a potential move comes to fruition.

Suarez’s representative, Pere Guardiola, arrived on Merseyside on Monday to discuss the Uruguay international’s future with manager Brendan Rodgers and managing director Ian Ayre, sources have told ESPN.

It is understood that the meeting was amicable, and had been planned before news of Arsenal’s bid broke on Monday.

Guardiola did not submit a transfer request on behalf of Suarez, although the agent said the forward still has reservations about staying at Anfield and would like to consider playing elsewhere.

Suarez confirmed as much in an interview with Uruguayan radio station Sport890, saying: “My agent is in charge, he knows what I want. I am resting and relaxed. I am due back on July 21.

“It is good to know that I am still valued by teams like Arsenal. Friends call me up to ask if I am moving to Chelsea. ‘Ha ha,’ I said.

“Now there are two or three options and the club knows. There are no offers [other than Arsenal] yet but Liverpool know exactly what is going on and what I want. A phone call could change everything.”

It is believed that Guardiola will now attempt to find a buyer for his client, before notifying Liverpool of any interest, but the striker will not yet demand a move.

The meeting between Guardiola and the Reds was the first formal communication the club have had with either Suarez or his representative since the 26-year-old first aired his frustrations at being a Liverpool player.

Liverpool insist that Suarez is not for sale - a position they have maintained since the former Ajax player announced at a press conference in his native Uruguay in May that he wanted to leave.

Suarez has a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to any club who put in a £40 million bid, but no offers in that range have been received. Even if one did come in, Liverpool would not automatically be compelled to sell at that price, and it is understood they would attempt to hold out for a larger fee - somewhere in the region of £50 million.

The 26-year-old has publicly courted a move to Real Madrid, stating that it “would be difficult to say no” if they came in for him - although they have not made a bid.

He subsequently claimed that he had to leave Liverpool because he was being victimised by the British media and the Football Association.

Suarez is currently on a break in South America following his exertions at the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

He is scheduled to report for pre-season training on July 22, although it has not yet been decided what part, if any, he will play in Liverpool’s tour of the Far East and Australia.

Suarez still has six games to serve of a ten-match domestic ban, imposed by the FA after he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League game at Anfield on April 21. That suspension, though, does not apply to friendlies.

Vélez inició sin Ferreyra

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de Vélez Sarsfield, fresco ganador de la Superfinal de Mendoza, volvió el martes al trabajo sin la presencia del delantero Facundo Chucky Ferreyra, próximo a emigrar a Ucrania. Ferrerya invirtió la mañana en definir la transferencia al Shakhtar Donetsk en unos 7 millones de euros (9 millones de dólares) de los cuales el 50 por ciento irán para Vélez y otro tanto para Banfield.
Vélez necesita el dinero para organizar el nuevo semestre y reforzar el plantel.

Aún está congelada la negociación del lateral Gino Peruzzi al Sunderland de Inglaterra, por disconformidad del futbolista con el contrato. El plantel inicio la pretemporada en la Villa Olímpica, de Parque Leloir.

En la noche del lunes, Emiliano Papa definió la renovación del contrato por dos años más, en tanto que el volante Franco Razzotti tiene chances de ser cedido a préstamo a Independiente, un destino que le agrada al futbolista, según reconoció públicamente.

Vélez fue el último de los equipos en retomar el trabajo ya que jugó y ganó la Superfinal a Newell´s el 29 de junio en Mendoza Su rival, Newell´s, en cambio no tuvo vacaciones al tener que afrontar las semifinales de la Copa Libertadores.

Gimnasia (LP): quieren a I. Borghello

BUENOS AIRES -- Asegurar la continuidad de Franco Niell y sumar como refuerzo en ataque a Iván Borghello es el objetivo de los directivos de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata con miras al Torneo Inicial, que marcará el regreso del "Lobo" a la Primera División.

La dirigencia de Gimnasia logró renovar los vínculos de Facundo Oreja, Juan Carlos Blengio, Omar Pouso y Facundo Pereyra, tal como lo solicitó el entrenador Pedro Troglio, y sumó al plantel al defensor Gastón Díaz y al mediocampista Juan Pablo Rodríguez.

Pese a que parecía muy difícil, los dirigentes confían en solucionar las diferencias económicas para que Niell continúe en el club, mientras que esperan una resolución positiva en la negociación con Borghello.

"Mantener la base es muy importante, le agregamos dos jugadores más (Rodríguez y Díaz) y esperando por lo de Franco Niell e Iván Borghello que están por caer. Sé que tengo un grupo que me representó muy bien en el campeonato anterior", señaló Troglio.

Confiado en las posibilidades del equipo en Primera, Troglio sostuvo que el objetivo "es hacer una muy buena campaña. Es lógico que quedarse en Primera es siempre muy bueno, pero no sería lo ideal. La mentalidad tiene que ir mucho más arriba".

Y luego se ilusionó: "Hoy está todo bien, ahora hay que ir por algo más porque toda la imagen que tenés se va abajo. No nos gusta, pero es parte de lo que tenemos que aceptar. Nuestra profesión es así".

Colón: Menotti, cerca de ser Manager

SANTA FE -- César Luis Menotti, el ex DT campeón mundial con el seleccionado argentino en 1978, llegó a Santa Fe para interiorizarse sobre la propuesta de convertirse en el nuevo manager de Colón. Ya tuvo una experiencia frustrada en Independiente.

El "Flaco", de 74 años, arribó a la ciudad pasado el mediodía y por la tarde visitó el predio del club, mientras se entrenaba el plantel profesional dirigido por Rubén Forestello.

El entrenador se entrevistó con varios dirigentes y por la noche tenía previsto compartir una cena con el presidente Germán Lerche y otros miembros de la Comisión Directiva.

Menotti estuvo acompañado en todo momento por Rubén Rossi, a quien dirigió en el seleccionado juvenil que se consagró campeón mundial en Japón en 1979.

Pedro Eusebio, secretario de prensa de la entidad "sabalera", informó ante una consulta de Télam que Menotti recorrió las instalaciones del club, y el predio y el hotel de campo, ambos ubicados a la vera de la autopista Brigadier López.

"No vino a cerrar el vínculo hoy, él hace 20 días que está conversando con Germán (Lerche) y se siguen definiendo aspectos de su futura tarea. Quizás esta noche se aborden temas económicos", añadió el dirigente.

O. Ferreyra: "Esto es una revancha"

BUENOS AIRES -- El lateral volante Osmar Ferreyra confesó que vive su regreso a River como "una revancha" que le "da el fútbol" luego de haber sufrido el descenso a la B Nacional con Independiente, y dijo sentir una "felicidad enorme" por su vuelta al club de Núñez.

"El que me conoce sabe lo que siento por esta camiseta y que estaba deseando volver al club. Me merecía otra oportunidad porque me fui con apenas quince partidos", dijo "El Malevo", quien tras su debut en Primera División fue rápidamente vendido a CSKA de Moscú.

Ferreyra se convirtió en el primer refuerzo de River y hoy realizó su primer entrenamiento con el plantel en el predio que el club tiene en Ezeiza.

Tras confesar que siente "un orgullo y una felicidad enorme por regresar al club", comentó que "estaba ansioso" y que se le "hizo un poco larga la espera" pues "quería estar desde el primer día de entrenamientos".

"Ramón es un entrenador que me conoce. Vengo a dar lo mejor de mí", señaló Ferreyra, quien fue dirigido por el técnico riojano en sus pasos por San Lorenzo e Independiente.

En conferencia de prensa, el zurdo afirmó que "el fútbol da revancha y después de haber tenido un mal momento y de haber sufrido tanto" con el descenso de categoría de Independiente, hoy tiene "una alegría inmensa". "El fútbol da revancha y quiero aprovecharla. Las expectativas son las de siempre: luchar arriba. River es la institución más grande de la Argentina y lo que corresponde es pelear por lo que nos toque jugar", sostuvo.

River acordó por Carbonero

BUENOS AIRES -- River llegó a "un acuerdo" con el grupo empresario que tiene la mitad del pase del mediocampista Carlos Carbonero y al mediocampista colombiano sólo le falta firmar el contrato para convertirse en el segundo refuerzo después de la llegada de Osmar Ferreyra.
Así lo afirmó el representante de Carbonero, Efraín Pachón, quien confirmó que el club de Núñez le "hizo una oferta formal a Cruz Azul" por el delantero colombiano Teófilo Gutiérrez.

Según Pachón, Teo Gutiérez le dijo que "su sueño de niño es jugar en River".
"Por Carbonero es mínimo lo que falta. Ya hay un acuerdo entre River y el jugador. La situación es mucho más viable, prácticamente es un hecho. Hemos llegado a un acuerdo entre River, el grupo inversor y nosotros", expresó Pachón en diálogo con un canal deportivo.

Minnows Martinique kick off Gold Cup 2013 by stunning Canada


http://www.youtube.com/w…RHScS2oXmYo

Martinique took three colossal points in their quest to reach the knockout phase of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup by overcoming, and outplaying, Canada on Sunday evening. Fabrice Reuperné scored a sensational last-gasp winner.

There was plenty of hype surrounding the fixture as it was the first of the tournament, being held in the US. Canada, with a very youthful squad, were tipped to comfortably beat Les Matinino but things never transpired the way they had envisaged.

Martinique have only ever reached the quarter-final stage of the Gold Cup once, and that was in 2002, ironically against Canada. It went to penalties and The Canucks reigned victorious. This time, though, it was the islanders that came out on top.

Straight from the start, it was Martinique who were doing all the pressing, running and harrying. They asserted themselves on the game and overwhelmed Canada. The attacking trio of Kevin Parsemain (captain), Frederic Piquionne and Yoann Arquin proved a very effective one as their movement was clever.

Parsemain, especially, was a constant threat. He has been performing consistently high for the national team for a while now and was the stand-out figure in the Caribbean Cup last year. He ran the show with his low centre of gravity and quick feet, at one point having a clear penalty shout turned down by the referee.

Manager Patrick Cavelan’s men had a series of golden opportunities in the first-half. The best of the bunch fell to central midfielder Steve Gustan – making his debut along with five others – who couldn’t convert from Arquin’s low cross.

At half-time the momentum was firmly with Martinique. You felt a goal was coming. Kevin Olimpa had very little to do inbetween the sticks whereas Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan was regularly kept on his toes.

Martinique continued to be first to every ball and looked far the more hungry for the win. But, with each passing minute and no decisive goal, it seemed destined to end a draw. Until, that is, in the dying embers Reuperné, a substitute, found some space outside the box and struck the sweetest of strikes into the top right corner of the net.

An emphatic finish to deservedly hand the three points to Martinique. It was truly nothing more than what they warranted after such a bold, fearless performance. As expected, Reuperné and his teammates went to celebrate in delirious fashion whilst their Canadian counterparts sunk to their knees in absolute disbelief. They didn’t turn up and underestimated the opposition.

It was a brilliant team effort but there were a few notable performances that stood out: debutant and Sporting de Gijon defender Grégory Arnolin was composed and untroubled at the back (minus one second of panic when he nearly scored an own goal but Olimpa came to the rescue). 33-year-old Olivier Thomert, also making his first appearance in Blue & White stripes, looked to have a strong left foot and impressive engine. Daniel Herelle kept things tight in midfield, Piquionne worked hard and another debutant Gustan put himself about.

But the brightest spark had to be Parsemain. Surely it is only so long before he leaves his homeland with club RC Rivière-Pilote and finds a higher level side abroad. He definitely has the ability and confidence. Canada’s midfield struggled to keep tabs on him, as he drifted wide and then came infield. Cavelan appears to have gave him a free role, and it looks to be suiting him down to the ground.

It was interesting to see some reactions on social media after the match. A large majority of Canadian supporters were quick to point at Martinique’s status (not a FIFA recognised nation) and allegedly how poor they are but saw past the point: Canada were unable to play because the Caribbean side nullified them not just physically but tactically. Martinique were huge underdogs here but the win kick starts what should be an exciting tournament.

Martinique must now build on that fantastic start. Next up they face Panama – who beat Mexico in their opener and could be dark horses for the competition – on Thursday. Three days later, they will conclude against Mexico. Another two draws should do the job of securing progression to the knockout round. But it will be a mammoth task.

There are sure to have been a few amongst the one million inhabitants of the French department nursing celebratory hangovers after Sunday’s victory, but with two very important fixtures imminent the team must dust themselves down, gather their energy and focus to ensure this win turns out to be more than just three points.

Uruguay, as so often, defends the tradition of South America

South America, the continent that dominates the U-20 World Cup having eleven titles in the previous eighteen tournaments, can this year only rely on one team, Uruguay, to lift the trophy on Saturday in Turkey after Chile lost on Sunday in the quarterfinals.

The previous eliminations of continental champion Colombia and runner-up Paraguay in the round of 16, had left the CONMEBOL zone in the hands of the teams that had finished third (Uruguay) and fourth (Chile) in the last Sudamericano in Argentina and now Uruguay is the only team left standing.

However Uruguay comes with high expectations after eliminating in the quarterfinals the favorites Spain in a thrilling duel in Bursa which was decided by a goal from Felipe Avenatti in extra time (103rd minute, 1-0).

It us an atypical World Cup for South America as this is the first time that neither Brazil nor Argentina qualified for the tournament. Together they have won eleven titles (five for Brazil, six for Argentina).

If Uruguay had lost to Spain then there would have been no South American presence in the semifinals for just the second time in the tournament´s history. The last and only time that this occurred was in Australia in 1981.

Since then there has always been at least one South American team in the semifinals and in the past eleven previous U-20 World Cups, starting from Portugal in 1991, only once (Nigeria, 1999, with Spain and Japan) was there no CONMEBOL team in the final. One more added responsibility for Uruguay.

Uruguay has some experience. The U-20 team was in the final in Malaysia-1997, where they lost to Jose Pekerman´s Argentina 2 - 1.

It was the only time a South American team that was not Argentina or Brazil had managed to get to the final game of this tournament. John Verzeri´s young troops are faced with a golden opportunity to make history in this tournament in Turkey, settling this historical debt.

Their opponent in the semifinals will be Iraq, a team that few thought had a chance before the World Cup but has become the revelation of the tournament. They won their group and then beat Paraguay in the second round (1-0 after injury time) and in the quarters beat South Korea on penalties (5-4 after 3-3).

The Paraguayans were not their only South American victims in this tournament, as they also beat Chile 2-1 in the third round of the group stage, depriving Mario Salas´s team of taking the lead of the group which went to the ´Lions of Mesopotamia´.

Uruguay will already be guaranteed to be in the tournament until it ends because even if they lose in the semifinals they will play on Saturday in the third place match. But everyone on the Uruguayan team is thinking of the final and the coveted world title.