Snak

Samir: The ´fat kid´ who became a success at Flamengo

He was released by Fluminense for being too short and overweight, but 17-year-old centre-back Samir has fought back with rivals Flamengo to make the latest Brazil Under-20 squad.
Having been released by Fluminense, Samir underwent tests with local side Audax-RJ, where he was successful and was eventually spotted by giants Flamengo, who took him on loan.

After impressive showings for the Rubro-Negro, the club decided to purchase 60% of his economic rights.

Samir, now 1.88m tall, then went on to stand out at the prestigious Taça Belo Horizonte earlier this year, where Flamengo were defeated on penalties in the final by Grêmio. Samir was voted Player of the Tournament.

Now a member of the club´s Under-20 side in the Copa do Brasil, Samir hopes to succeed with both club and country:

"I´m very happy to be selected. I´ve trained a lot and worked hard in games to earn my place. I have arrived at the Seleção and I don´t want to give it up," he told Globo Esporte.

"I think the Taça BH was important. It was a great showcase and opened doors for me. I was champion of a few competitions [at Fluminense] but time passed. I had problems with weight and couldn´t lose it. I was short and tubby. I was released. I was sad and had no confidence.

"I could take tests at Audax or Vasco. I preferred Audax as they were closer to home. I started playing and opportunities emerged. I won my spot and Flamengo gained interest.

"I need to think that [I can become professional] and to imagine good things. We all want to arrive at senior level. We must take these opportunities and the Copa do Brasil is a good opportunity."

Ronaldinho escapes car accident unharmed

Atlético Mineiro´s Ronaldinho Gaúcho has escaped unharmed from a traffic collision involving three vehicles whilst driving to training.

The Brazilian was driving to Atlético´s training ground for practice when the accident occurred, with one of the drivers taken to hospital by emergency services.

A truck was also involved in the colliision but its passengers were all unharmed in the accident.

Ronaldinho´s teammate Jô was passing by the scene and ensured the former Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker made it to training on time.

The former Seleção star is still expected to play in Atlético Mineiro´s upcoming Brasileirão fixture against Coritiba on Sunday.

Corinthians president Mario Gobbi rules out selling Paulinho

Corinthians midfielder Paulinho has been heavily linked with a move to Europe this year, with keen interest shown from both Inter Milan and Chelsea. However, Corinthians president Mario Gobbi has ruled out selling the player, at least until the end of the 2013 Copa Libertadores.

In a radio interview Gobbi said: "We renewed his contract and it was big for Paulinho, who is playing good football and is followed in the market. There is no intention to sell Paulinho. This is out of the question. We go through to July and we agreed a contract for him to stay here, not to sell him."

As with many players in South America, Paulinho is not fully owned by the club. However, with the board aware of the interest from big European clubs, they moved to secure 50% of the players rights during the contract negotiations. Audax-SP hold the other 50% of the player, who extended his contract to 2015.

This will not deter interest in the star though, and Corinthians fully expect further bids if the player impresses in the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan in December. The 24-year-old is slowly establishing himself in Mano Menezes Brazil team ready for the 2014 World Cup and will only see his value rise if he continues in this form.

Gobbi was keen to stress that Corinthians want to keep all their players, and are looking to add to the squad.

"We do not want to get rid of any player. Rather, we want to bring you the players in Tite ask for," he added.

Really ?

Zinho: Adriano absent from Flamengo training

Flamengo director of football Zinho has confirmed that striker Adriano will be away from training until next Tuesday, when the team regroup after this Saturday´s fixture with Figueirense.

Adriano, 30, did not attend training this Thursday and Friday, with Zinho refusing to comment on the reasons behind the striker´s absence. However, it is believed that the two parties will convene deeper discussions on Tuesday.

In Adriano´s short-term contract with the Rubro-Negro he was permitted three absences from training before termination of his contract would become an option. The striker has now well exceeded this figure and, thus far, escaped with fines.

The forward is yet to make his debut appearance since his return to his former club earlier this summer, having struggled to recover from achilles tendon surgery.

He has, however, been back in physical training for several weeks, even participating in a training match with the reserve side, but is considered some way away from a first-team start.

PSG winger Nenê keen on return to Brazil

PSG´s winger Nenê has revealed he would welcome a return home to Brazil after reports of uncertainty surrounding his contract renewal.

Nenê, 31, who recently resumed training after a facial injury, told UOL: "I want to be closer to my children. Football in Brazil has evolved. It has the right condidtions to make players better."

The winger is a well travelled man, playing for his ninth club in 14 years: "You say I´m a wandering soul, but I only consider what is best for my career and my life."

His place in PSG´s first team is under threat from new signing and fellow Brazilian Lucas Moura when he arrives from São Paulo in a €40m deal, but the Brazilian only had praise for his compatriot:

"Lucas is an explosive player. He is very fast, he is great technically and, unlike a lot, he knows how to score. The most important thing for him is that he must be cool. It will make his adaptation easier."

Nenê´s contract is due to end in 2013 and there is increasing speculation as to whether PSG will offer a new contract

No new contract for São Paulo´s Rogério Ceni

São Paulo´s Rogério Ceni has played down speculation that he has been offered a contract extension.

Ceni, 39, told reporters after the club´s win over Universidad de Chile: "I have not seen any contract yet. I told Juvenal Juvencio that I wanted to continue and I´ll sign the contract when it arrives."

The veteran goalkeeper insisted that money is no object: "Money is no problem, it has nothing to do with it. I´m focused on the possibility of winning the Copa Sudamericana. We´ll see when the contract is on the table, we´ll sit down together and make the final decision."

There has been speculation over the possiblity of an extended contract after the keeper revealed that he was open to keep playing for the club.

As of yet there is no agreement between the club and the player for next season, despite rumours hinting that a deal has already been struck between the two parties.

Botafogo head coach Oswaldo de Oliveira cant deny the importance of Seedorf

Despite only joining this earlier this year, Clarence Seedorf has become an integral part of the current Botafogo side, with manager Oswaldo de Oliveira telling Lancenet on Friday that the player is "essential".

And Oswaldo revealed that Seedorf, despite currntly being out with an injured right thigh, will travel with the team on Saturday to prepare for Sunday´s match against Palmeiras.

He said: "Seedorf is essential, one can not deny that. It is his interest to go tomorrow (Saturday) to get us there and tie the game time. It is his interest being together at this important time.

"The team loses a lot[without him[, especially in experience. What Seedorf does is important, he evaluates each moment of the game, beginning, middle and end. Giving instructions."

However, the coach is confident they can come out of Sunday´s tie with the 3 points.

"With this lineup the team has won, and played better than recently. Even without Seedorf, we can make a good match."

Grêmio set to sell naming rights to new stadium to Chinese bank
By Christopher Atkins 2012-11-01 14:15:04
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Grêmio are in the process of negotiating a ground-breaking new deal to sell the naming rights to their new stadium to Chinese bank ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China).

The largest bank in China, and one of the largest worldwide, ICBC are set to confirm a deal with the Porto Alegre side that would net Grêmio R$34 million a year (€13 million).

The proposed deal was confirmed by Grêmio president Eduardo Antonini, who informed media outlets that the negotiations were close to completion, with ICBC representatives having arrived earlier this week to put pen to paper.

The Arena do Grêmio or Grêmio Arena, as the 60,000 seater stadium is known, is due to open on December 8 and features a conference centre, hotels, a shopping mall and housing within the stunning new complex.

The only precedent for such a deal in Brazil comes from Atlético Paranaense, who briefly renamed the Arena de Baixada as the Kyocera Arena between 2005 and 2008.

The deal promises to greatly strengthen Grêmio´s financial position, with revenues from the impressive new stadium - to be funded by the sales of real estate - already set to give the Tricolor a massive boost in the coming seasons.

Dette er kæmpe nyheder for Grêmio. Der har været flere rygter omkring finansering omkring det nye stadium. Eftersom Grêmio ikke fik "stats-værtsskab" repræstationen for Rio Grande do Sul, så har Grêmio måtte finansere stadiumet selv.
Grêmio har haft præsident valg og den tidligere Paulo Odone blev kastet for porten og Fabio Koff er ny mand bag sædet.
Der gik rygter op til præsidentvalget, om at Odone ville have de Brasilianske sócios finansering af stadiumet specifikt gik det ud på at forhøje priserne på billetterne til både fans og sócios.
Holder lige et øje med hvad som sker.

Fedt !!!!!

Godt at se vi får noget ud af de handelsaftaler med kineserne ! Kan vi få dem til finansiere Serie A og selv fuldende udbyggelsen/renovationen af den fysiske infrastruktur (Stadions etc)har vi over overhalet premier league og la liga indenfor en overskuelig fremtid. Vi har jo fanbasen allerede - en klub som Flamengo har en fanbase på størrelse med indbyggertallet i Danmark, Norge, Sverige og Holland lagt sammen alene i Brasilien...plus minus en million...

Men lad os nu se ....potentialet er der ihvertfald....:-)

Boca klar til Clasico mod San lorenzo.


Boca: Pelota parada y equipo definido

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de Boca cerró su preparación para el clásico de mañana ante San Lorenzo con un entrenamiento a puertas cerradas, en el complejo Pedro Pompilio, en el cual el trabajo estuvo enfocado al ejercicio de acciones de balón detenido.

En cuanto a la formación, puede darse por confirmada la que el entrenador Julio César Falcioni había dispuesto el jueves, es decir: Agustín Orion; Emiliano Albín, Rolando Schiavi, Guillermo Burdisso, Clemente Rodríguez; Guillermo Fernández, Cristian Erbes, Walter Erviti; Leandro Paredes; Lautaro Acosta y Santiago Silva.

Los otros nueve futbolistas concentrados desde la medianoche en el Hotel Boca son Oscar Ustari, Matías Caruzzo, Lisandro Magallán, Diego Rivero, Nicolás Colazo, Cristian Chávez, Orlando Gaona Lugo, Lucas Viatri y Nicolás Blandi.

Schiavi, quien durante la semana había acusado una molestia en el isquiotibial derecho por la que trabajó diferenciado el martes y no completó el reducido del miércoles ni la práctica del jueves, se encuentra bien y jugará.

Boca presentará cuatro cambios respecto de la fecha anterior ante River: Erbes por Leandro Somoza (suspendido), Fernández por Chávez (táctico), Paredes por Juan Sánchez Miño (lesionado) y Acosta por Viatri (táctico), con el regreso al esquema 4-3-1-2 en lugar del 4-4-2.

Acosta jugó todo el segundo tiempo en el 2 a 2 frente a River, y Paredes los últimos doce minutos, en tanto que Fernández no estuvo ni entre los suplentes después de haber sido titular ante Estudiantes de La Plata, y Erbes jugará su segundo encuentro por el torneo Inicial (el anterior, frente a Unión, el 25 de agosto).