Snak

Boca tilbyder Racing den offensive midtbanespiller Cristian Chávez, muligvis et match made in heaven da Racing Club sandsynligvis sælger Luis Fariña og Ricardo Centurion til Porto ...

"Pochi" Chávez fue ofrecido a Racing

BUENOS AIRES -- El mediocampista de Boca Juniors Cristian "Pochi" Chávez fue ofrecido a Racing Club de Avellaneda para jugar allí el Torneo Final 2013.

Chávez perdió la titularidad en el último semestre de Boca por bajo rendimiento y Racing está a la búsqueda de un jugador creativo, ya que se pueden dar en los próximos días las ventas a Portugal de los juveniles Luis Fariña y Ricardo Centurión.

Este último está afectado al seleccionado argentino sub-20 para jugar el Sudamericano de la categoría en Mendoza y San Juan el mes próximo.

Según trascendió, el entrenador Luis Zubeldía daría el visto bueno, aunque la transferencia dependería de la vuelta o no de Juan Román Riquelme a Boca.

Racing no realizó contrataciones para el próximo campeonato y viene de rechazar una oferta que le hizo Lanús por el delantero José Sand.

Paulo Da Silva - paraguayansk forsvarspiller tildagligt i mexicanske Pachuca - er potentiel fortærkning i Boca...

Un delantero abriría la posiblidad

ARGENTINA -- El representante de Paulo Da Silva, defensa central de Pachuca, abrió de nuevo la posibilidad de que el sudamericano pueda jugar en Boca Juniors.

Oscar Sosa, en entrevista con la prensa argentina, declaró que el paraguayo desea jugar en el equipo "Xeneize", sin embargo, la directiva de los "Tuzos" puso como intransferible a su jugador la semana pasada.

"¿Quién no quiere jugar en Boca? Paulo quiere jugar acá, pero depende de los dirigentes de Pachuca... Necesitan goles y quizás, si Boca ofrece un delantero, se hace el pase", insistió Sosa a radio La Red.

Diferentes medios argentinos especulan con el nombre del Lucas Viatri como moneda de cambio, el delantero cuenta con 25 años y está cerca de llegar a los 30 goles, además, la salida de Rolando Schiavi del fondo y el interés de Carlos Bianchi por reforzar esa parte incrementan el posible arreglo.

San Lorenzo ligger i forhandlinger med den tidligere Velez og nuværende Corinthians spiller - " El Burrito" Martínez...man har desuden solgt anfører Nicolás Bianchi Arce til Pescara.

San Lorenzo: Tinelli quiere a Martínez

BUENOS AIRES -- San Lorenzo avanzó en las negociaciones por el delantero Juan Manuel Martínez ante el Corinthians con una propuesta que rondaría los 3 millones de dólares.

De esta forma, San Lorenzo habría sacado luz a Independiente y Boca en la gestión por el delantero del campeón mundial de clubes, que cada vez tiene menos lugar en el equipo, sobre todo ahora ante la contratación de Alexandre Pato, del Milan.

A las gestiones que iniciaron Boca e Independiente, San Lorenzo avanzó en las últimas horas de la mano del empresario y vice primero del club, Marcelo Tinelli, quien se halla de vacaciones en Punta del Este y habría alcanzado acuerdos con el club paulista.

Asimismo, restaría el acuerdo con el futbolista, representado por su padre, Carlos.

El secretario del club, Marcelo Vázquez, dijo desconocer los montos que se ofrecieron a Corinthians, aunque reconoció el interés sobre Martínez, aunque insistió que la prioridad es contratar al defensor Fabricio Coloccini. "Todos y yo particularmente tenemos la expectativa" de que Coloccini pueda volver a jugar en San Lorenzo, sostuvo Vázquez por radio La Red.

Asimismo, admitió que una de las pautas que dio el entrenador Juan Antonio Pizzi es que los refuerzos estén en condiciones de ser titulares desde el primer momento para afrontar la lucha por "los promedios y pelear el campeonato" y en ese punto Martínez cumple con los requisitos.

og man ønsker at forbedre Buffas kontrakt....

Lammens mejora contrato de Buffarini

BUENOS AIRES -- El titular de San Lorenzo, Matías Lammens, adelantó que el club va a mejorar la paga del actual contrato con el volante Julio Buffarini aunque denotó cierto malestar por el reclamo público del futbolista.

Lammens ratificó que la prioridad en cuanto a refuerzos es un central, que Fabricio Coloccini es el que quiere el club pero sólo el jugador podría facilitar su salida del Newcastle.

"Nos vamos a sentar con él (por Buffarini). Creemos que tiene un buen contrato, por supuesto que vamos a reconocer su esfuerzo. Tenemos que ser responsables y cuidar la economía del club. Vamos a mejorar el contrato sin descuidar la economía del club", sostuvo Lammens por radio La Red.

El jugador se había quejado de que tenía un contrato similar a la de la B Nacional.

Lammens retrucó: "Cuando llegó en abril de este año, se le firmó un contrato con una mejora sustancial comparado con el que tenía en Ferro".

También apuntó tácitamente contra el reclamo al afirmar que "cuando un jugador tiene un buen contrato y no anda bien, nadie viene al club a devolver dinero".

Lammens estuvo el martes en Caballito presentando el "cuervomóvil", el micro con merchandising de San Lorenzo y en el que busca alistar a más socios, para llegar a 40 mil a fin de año.

Confirmó que de parte de San Lorenzo ya firmó los papeles por la trasferencia del zaguero Nicolás Bianchi Arce a Pescara y espera el pedido de Italia para enviar el transfer.

Ante ello confirmó que la prioridad es un central para reemplazar al defensor que emigra y espera que Coloccini haga fuerza para lograr volver.

"Está difícil. Lo único que lo puede destrabar son las ganas que tiene de venir. Es un enfermo de San Lorenzo y tiene ganas de venir y vestir esta camiseta", dijo el directivo.

Admitió que busca a Juan Manuel Iturbe, el chileno Eduardo Vargas, Juan Manuel Martínez, a quien quieren también Boca e Independiente.

Sobre Iturbe no solo dijo que Porto lo cedería a préstamo sino que también quiere poder tener acceso a alguna "opción para comparar parte del pase",.

No obstante, dijo que si River le asegura que tiene avanzadas las tratativas le dejará al club de Núñez la vía libre para la negociación.

Si bien admitió Lammens que interesa Vargas, reconoció que está "muy difícil porque los italianos (del Napoli) pagaron 11 millones de dólares hace seis meses".

Universidad Católica skriver med den uruguayanske veteran angriber Carlos Bueno....

U Católica fichó a Bueno

SANTIAGO DE CHILE -- La Universidad Católica anunció que ha fichado al delantero uruguayo Carlos Bueno, jugador hasta ahora del Querétaro mexicano y que es el primer refuerzo que incorpora la UC para la temporada 2013.

El equipo chileno, cuyo entrenador es el también uruguayo Martín Lasarte, anunció el fichaje de Bueno en su página web, señalando que llegó a un acuerdo con el ariete "para reforzar la delantera con sus goles e ímpetu en la cancha".

El propio delantero, que en la temporada 2010 jugó con la Universidad de Chile, había adelantado este miércoles que estaba "muy cerca" de llegar a la UC, tras no recibir "una llamada del Independiente" argentino, que también había mostrado interés por sus servicios.

Nacido en la ciudad de Artigas, Bueno debutó como profesional en el Peñarol de su país, donde fue campeón en 1999 y en 2003, con casi un centenar de goles anotados para ese equipo.

En la temporada 2009-2010 jugó en España, donde fue dirigido por Martín Lasarte en la campaña que llevó de regreso a la Real Sociedad a la primera división.

Según el club, Bueno llegará al club por seis meses y será presentado esta misma semana, tras realizarse los exámenes de rigor en estos casos.

og så lidt Retro....

Retro: FAS wins ’79 Champions´ Cup

The Tigers become third Salvadoran side to capture Confederation crown
Club Deportivo Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos (FAS) became the third team from El Salvador to capture the CONCACAF Champion´s Cup after defeating CRKSV Jong Colombia of the Netherlands Antilles (now Curacao) in the 1979 home-and-away series final.

The first-leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Willemstad on December 22, but host FAS won the return match, 7-1, in San Salvador seven days later.

Founded in 1947, FAS was led by Salvadoran legend Jorge Gonzalez. "El Mágico" (The Wizard) scored twice in the second-leg before a reported crowd of 50,000 at the Estadio Cuscatlan, which was the most spectators in a Champions´ Cup Final since 1962.

"That day, Jorge (Gonzalez) stole the show," former FAS forward Cesar Acevedo told El Gráfico of El Salvador. "That team had a lot of quality on the field and to win that championship was a great satisfaction."

Gonzalez, who later led El Salvador to its second FIFA World Cup appearance in Spain 1982, sparked the FAS offense at the ´79 finale that also featured a pair of goals each from forwards Roberto Raul Casadei and David Arnoldo Cabrera. Midfielder Alfredo Erazo closed the scoring for the Tigers as they joined the elite Champions´ Cup winners club alongside fellow Cuscatleco squads Alianza FC (1967) and CD Águila (1976).

Under the direction of head coach Jose Eugenio Castro, FAS qualified for the 1979 Champions´ Cup after claiming its second consecutive (seventh overall) league title by topping the 1978-1979 regular season standings with 38 points (17-2-4 record) and then going unbeaten in a four-team round-robin championship playoff by defeating Alianza, CD Atlético Marte and CD Santiagueño.

The Tigers began the CONCACAF tournament earning three consecutive forfeit victories against CSD Comunicaciones of Guatemala, Honduras´ CD Marathon and CS Cartagines of Costa Rica, following the withdrawal of the respective teams from the event. FAS, then went on to eliminate Mexico´s Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (also known as Tigres UANL) in the semifinals series, 1-0, to reach its first-ever Confederation final.

Jong Colombia progressed to the 1979 event by capturing its eighth Netherlands Antilles league crown a year earlier. It was making its sixth appearance in the CONCACAF tournament, reaching its second-ever final (lost to Alizana in 1967).

The Boca Sami Orguyan experienced a different journey in the competition as compared to the Tigers, eliminating Santos Football Club of Jamaica (first round), Suriname´s SV Leo Victor (second round), Defence Force of Trinidad & Tobago (third round) and then Suriname´s SV Robinhood (semifinals).

"I consider that this title as something historic for FAS," commented FAS goalkeeper Nicolás Chávez to El Gráfico in regard to overcoming Jong Colombia. "I remember we were crowned at the Estadio Cuscatlán and it was an unforgettable night for the team. It was spectacular to live through it as it also allowed us to play against Club Olímpia of Paraguay."

And indeed it did as just 48 days from winning the Confederation title that FAS faced the South American Copa Libertadores champion for the Interamerican Cup.

In the opening leg, Casadei scored twice and Amado Abraham added another for FAS, which came back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to earn a 3-3 draw against Olímpia in the first-leg at the Estadio Cuscatlan on February 16, 1980.

One month later (March 16), the second leg did not go as planned for the Tigers as they lost 5-0 to the host at Asunción´s Estadio de los Defensores del Chaco.


1979 CD FAS Roster

Goalkeepers: Nicolás Chávez, Mauricio Humberto Castillo, José Luis Munguía

Defenders: Amado Abraham, Guillermo Rodríguez Bou, Gonzalo Henríquez, Orsy Medrano, Hector Alcide Piccioni, Carlos Humberto Recinos, Pedro Silva

Midfielders: Manuel Jobino Álvarez, Martín Belloso, Alfredo Erazo, Luis Padilla, Rodolfo Veldez

Forwards: Cesar Acevedo, Mario Aristondo, David Arnoldo Cabrera, Roberto Raul Casadei, Jorge González, Jorge Torres

TD: Jose Eugenio CASTRO


1979 Champions´ Cup Final
First Leg
22.12: Willemstad, CURACAO; Stadion Willemstad
CRKSV JONG COLOMBIA (CUW) - CD FAS (SLV) 1:1 (0:0)
Frank VICTORIA 70´ - David Arnoldo CABRERA 72´

Second Leg
29.12: San Salvador, EL SALVADOR; Estadio Cuscatlan (A: 50000)
CD FAS (SLV) - CRKSV JONG COLOMBIA (CUW) 7:1 (2:0)
Roberto Raul CASADEI 12´, 43´; Jorge GONZALEZ 56´, 81´; David Arnoldo CABRERA 64´, 87´; Alfredo ERAZO 63´ - Edwin BERNARDINA 90´

Endnu en sejr for fodbolden....?

Barcelona want 11 year old Brazilian Cassiano Bouzon

Young Brazilian, Cassiano Bouzon, could sign for Barcelona after impressing the Catalan club during a 20 day stint in Europe.

Bouzon underwent a successful trial with Barcelona feeder club, Cornella, and is now back in Brazil whilst his family consider his future.

The player cannot sign for Barcelona until he is 16. But his family have said that if they accept the club’s offer, they will move to Europe to accompany their son.

Barcelona have a long track record of spotting young talent and signed Lionel Messi from Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys when he was just 14 years old.

Big Lang Theory: Five young Brazilians to look out for in the January transfer window

For one month every year, a sizeable chunk of the world rejoices as presents rain down courtesy of benevolent bearded benefactors. Yes, the January transfer window is just around the corner, promising another flurry of joy, pain and barely believable men with two mobile phones clogging up Sky Sports News with rumours about Peter Crouch being spotted in a chip shop in Norfolk. It is both a fever dream and a waking nightmare for football fans.

If you´re lucky, your chairman might avoid the pitfalls of the market (Marlon King, Nigel Quashie, etc) and bring in some South American talent to spice things up in 2013. For your consideration, here are five young Brazilians who could be appearing on Premier League wish lists this year. (I´ve left out Neymar, because (a) you already know about him and (b) there´s more chance of hell freezing over than him moving to England in January. Sorry, Man City.)


1. Bernard (Atlético Mineiro)

While Ronaldinho Gaúcho hogged much of the limelight during Atlético´s unexpected Campeonato Brasileiro title challenge, the real star of the show was his diminutive attacking sidekick. Bernard, who turned 20 midway through the season, captured the imagination of the Galo fans with a series of exuberant displays. An energetic, fleet-footed presence, the youngster enjoyed great success drifting infield from the left flank, chipping in with 11 goals and creating countless others (including this heart-stopping double-chapeu assist against Grêmio). Ronaldinho himself says that Bernard has "lots in common" with a young Lionel Messi. He´s not wrong. Bernard is certainly one to... er... watch.

Would suit: Liverpool, Arsenal.


2. Paulinho (Corinthians)

Slightly older than some of the other names on this list at 24, Paulinho is the real deal. The midfielder has been Corinthians´ standout player for a couple of seasons now, and was influential as the Timão won both the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup this year. While nominally a volante (defensive midfielder), his real strength lies in his ability to make surging runs into the box. That Bryan Robson-esque knack, coupled with his stellar aerial ability, has seen him plunder plenty of goals - both for Corinthians and for Brazil, for whom he appears to have nailed down a starting spot. Internazionale have been pursuing him for a while, but it will take a big money bid to prize him away from the São Paulo giants.

Would suit: Chelsea, Manchester United.


3. Bruno Mendes (Botafogo)

A rangy, awkward-looking youth, Bruno Mendes looks like he should be in college rather than playing top-flight football. (Not an unreasonable claim, considering he´s just turned 18.) But when Bruno plays, things happen. Earlier in the year he helped Guarani to second place in the São Paulo state championship - their best performance in 24 years - before catching the eye of Botafogo boss Oswaldo de Oliveira in a cup game. He swapped Campinas for Rio de Janeiro and didn´t look back, bagging six goals in just six Série A starts for O Glorioso. Blessed with killer instincts in front of goal, he´ll only get better as he fills out.

Would suit: Liverpool, Spurs.


4. Wellington Nem (Fluminense)

Voted ´revelation´ of the year in 2011 after leading modest Figueirense to 7th in Série A, Wellington Nem continued his ascent back at parent club Fluminense this year. One half of a pleasingly chalk-and-cheese partnership with the ruthless Fred, Nem bewitched defenders with his zippy, effervescent dribbles as the Tricolor waltzed to a second title in three years. His form saw him ushered into the Brazil set-up by now-departed boss Mano Menezes, and it is likely to be only a matter of time before he crosses the Atlantic.

Would suit: Arsenal, Man City.


5. Souza (Náutico)

Unfancied before the start of the Série A season, Recife outfit Náutico confounded the doubters to finish in a respectable mid-table position. Combative midfielder Souza deserves plenty of the credit for that achievement. A player whose career appeared to be on the wane after a spell at Palmeiras petered out, the 24-year-old resurfaced in style, setting an example for his team-mates with a series of all-action displays. His dead ball delivery was particularly noteworthy, allowing him to score seven goals - his best ever tally as a professional. If he keeps improving, he could be a shrewd signing for a number of sides.

Would suit: Everton, Newcastle.

Brazilian football new year´s resolutions

Alternative title: funny things that have happened in Brazilian football in the last 12 months that I have callously grouped together in one of those not-entirely-coherent end-of-year lists.

Still, everybody else is doing it, so why can´t I?* Happy new year!

I will... train more often

Adriano upon signing for Corinthians last year: "My aim is to return to the national team. I´m sure it´s possible. I´ve come here to win."

March 2012: Corinthians terminate Adriano´s contract after revealing that the striker skipped 67 (67!) training sessions in a year.

I will... pay for items at the club shop

"You´re not paying my brother," exclaimed Assis, sibling and agent of a certain Ronaldinho, as he pushed a trolley full of merchandise towards the exit of the Flamengo club shop. "So I´m not paying either."

An hour and a half later, after frantic discussions with Fla´s director of finance Michel Levy, Assis left the store with 25 free shirts - the number to which Levy was entitled through his role at the club. Brilliantly, this didn´t quite satisfy the 41-year-old Assis, who grabbed - and proceeded to pay for - two towels emblazoned with his brother´s image before storming out.

I will... trust my players

Convinced that Ronaldinho is violating club policy by sneaking women into the club´s pre-season training camp, Flamengo coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo takes matters into his own hands, trawling through CCTV footage at the Londrina hotel his the players are staying. "Sherlock Luxa", as he is later dubbed by GloboEsporte, finds what he was looking for and demands that Ronaldinho is sacked.

Two weeks later: Flamengo dismiss Luxemburgo.

I will... consider the long-term effects of my actions

17 October: Palmeiras fan Adailton Alves quits his job as a janitor to lend his support as his club fights relegation. "My wife isn´t happy but it´s better to be addicted to Palmeiras than to drugs or alcohol. It was so sad when Palmeiras were relegated in 2002. I hope it turns out differently this time."

18 November: Palmeiras relegated. Adailton unemployed.

I will... be more modest

Vanderlei Luxemburgo to an unnamed Flamengo player: "You´re a shit. You´re poor. I own three aeroplanes."

I will... not cast the first stone

Palmeiras midfielder Daniel Carvalho, criticised for being out of shape since his return to Brazil: "When I arrived at CSKA Moscow they gave me steroids to bulk me up."

Roman Babaev, CSKA Moscow director of football: "It´s nonsense. He likes eating."

I will... abide by the laws of the game

A modest state championship game between Guarany-SE and Sergipe hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in April. With Sergipe leading 1-0 in the dying stages, Guarany goalkeeper Acássio went forward for a corner, ending up marooned as Sergipe broke away seconds later. Midfielder Diego Lima charged into the Guarany half, guided a shot past the last defender, and waited for the net to ripple.

But it didn´t ripple. Rather, a rogue ballboy nipped onto the pitch and volleyed the ball clear. An unseemly brawl and internet stardom ensued, but the ballboy was unrepentant when interviewed: "I don´t regret it because we [Guarany] were robbed by the referee. He disallowed a clear goal earlier in the match."

I will... dress up more often

Neymar. And again.

I will... keep my thoughts to myself

In a Rio nightclub in the early hours of the morning, Adriano stumbles onto the stage and grabs a microphone. "I want to tell everyone here that I love Flamengo. I know this will be all over the internet tomorrow. I´m from the slums and you can´t take that away from me!"

Flamengo president Patrícia Amorim: "He makes it hard for us."

I will... be more respectful to women

Corinthians striker Elton on his sexual prowess: "You have to be deadly - both on and off the pitch. I really go for it. By my count, I´ve slept with over 500 women."

I will... take more care with my work

Palmeiras hired an artist to sculpt a bust of legendary goalkeeper Marcos, who retired this year. Let´s just say the result wasn´t quite satisfactory...

I will... put my fingers in my ears and hold my breath

Caldense player Leandrão missed his side´s state championship opener with a bad case of... hiccups.

I will... not covet another man´s (child´s) possessions

CBF official José Maria Marin was caught pocketing a medal at a youth football tournament. The real joke? He´s now the CBF president.

I will... suppress my vampire instincts

Irritated by the attentions of Boca Juniors player Matías Caruzzo in the Copa Libertadores final, Corinthians forward Emerson Sheik went all Mike Tyson, taking a big old bite of the defender´s hand.

"He started spitting at me, then he ran his hand over my ass two or three times," Emerson later told Placar magazine. "What was I supposed to do, punch him? In any other game I would have. When we fell on the floor and he pushed my face, the sweat made his fingers slip into my mouth. That was bad luck for him."

(Emerson, by the way, has a pet monkey. Make of that what you will.)

Report: Suazo set to become highest paid player in Mexico

Chilean striker Humberto Suazo is set to become the highest paid player in Mexican soccer as he has agreed to a $3 million-a-year deal with two-time CONCACAF Champions League defending champion Monterrey.

Monterrey executive president Luis Miguel Salvador told El Mercurio in Chile that both sides needed to sign the contract to make the deal official.

Suazo has played an important role for Monterrey, which won back-to-back CCL crowns and will try for a third consecutive championship when the quarterfinals begin in March. Los Rayados are top seeded among the eight final sides.

Suazo said the contract was “a very good agreement. Both parties are satisfied.”

Behind Suazo in Mexican salaries are Christian Benitez (America), who reportedly earns $2.7 million, Oswaldo Sanchez (Santos Laguna) and Lucas Lobos (Tigres), who make $2.2 million each.

The highest paid Chilean player is left winger Mark Gonzalez, who earns $8.5 million annually with CSKA Moscow (Russia).