Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand claims old rival Vincent Kompany has a long way to go before he can be classed as the best defender on the planet. The ex-England international, who left Old Trafford earlier in the summer following 12 trophy-laden years at the club, believes the Manchester City skipper still trails Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva. The towering Brazil centre-half is, according to Ferdinand, the leading player of his kind in world football, despite the likes of Belgium talisman Kompany and Borussia Dortmund hardman Mats Hummels receiving rave reviews from observers. Ferdinand took part in a question…
Author: Staff Writer
Football Express News understands that Luis Suarez has penned an open letter to the players, coaches and fans of Liverpool, prompting his departure to La Liga giants Barcelona. June was a month of ups and downs for Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker scored a superb brace against England in the group stage of the World Cup, but followed it up by a controversial bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. The aftermath has seen the Uruguayan striker banned from footballing activity for four months, but that has not stopped Barcelona from cementing their interest in signing the striker. And, with a…
Juventus are reportedly ready to ramp up their efforts to land Manchester United winger Nani. Italian source La Stampa claims the Serie A champions will this week intensify the pursuit of the Portugal international and are likely to make contact with the Red Devils in the coming days with a view to opening a dialogue. The report reveals the Turin giants are already closing in on Nani’s team-mate, Patrice Evra, and are close to securing the services of Real Madrid hitman Alvaro Morata. Now head coach Antonio Conte has asked his employers to bring in forward Juan Iturbe from Hellas…
Peter Swallow (@ccfooty) takes a look at Louis van Gaal and how his character makes him the perfect choice for Manchester United. A story of legend proven by the men who witnessed it, the story takes us to Bavaria’s Bayern Munich, and to the enigmatic and unconventional Louis van Gaal. The narrator for this sensational tale is Luca Toni. The Italian striker explains how Van Gaal “wanted to make clear to us that he can drop any player, it was all the same to him, because as he said, he had the balls. He demonstrated this literally (by dropping his…
Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole could complete his move to Serie A outfit Roma as early as this afternoon, according to fresh reports in the Italian media. The ex-England international, who is a free agent after leaving Stamford Bridge at the start of the month, has jetted out for talks with the Giallorossi and has been accompanied by his legal representatives. A meeting has been scheduled to take place later on this morning and the 33-year-old could put pen to paper on a lucrative two or three-year deal in the subsequent hours, reports Il Corriere della Sera. His proposed switch…
Football Express News understands that Alexis Sanchez will jet in to London on Monday morning to hold discussions over a move from Barcelona to Arsenal. The Chilean winger has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners since the start of the summer, despite having a superb season for La Liga giants Barcelona, which saw him finish only second to Lionel Messi in terms of goals and assists. An impressive World Cup campaign for his country saw the former Udinese man further linked with a move to the Premier League, with the like of Manchester City, Manchester United and…
Contribution by @cfcasa Brazil v Colombia. Yet again another thrilling World Cup match but this time surrounded by controversy. Star player of the Brazilian national team Neymar has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a broken vertebra because Colombia’s Juan Camilo Zuniga made a slightly harsh tackle on the young striker. That challenge has been branded evil and violent by Brazil legend Ronaldo. Am I missing something here? Throughout that game, the Brazilians didn’t give a second thought when they were kicking absolute lumps out of Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez. The players shouldn’t be to…
Holland goalkeeper Tim Krul has been branded “disgraceful” by ex-Germany star Dietmar Hamann for his penalty shoot-out antics in last night’s World Cup win over Costa Rica. Newcastle United shot-stopper Krul came on as a last-gasp substitute at the end of extra-time as the goalless encounter was about to head into the dreaded battle from 12 yards. He replaced Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen in what proved to be a winning move by head coach Louis van Gaal, but the 25-year-old’s two saves were overshadowed, in the eyes of some, by his deliberate attempt to put off his opponents as they stepped…
Southampton stalwart Matt Le Tissier has blasted Saints defender Dejan Lovren over reports that he wants to leave the club because their star players are being sold. A source close to Liverpool told Football Express News that the Reds retain a strong interest in the towering centre-half and hope to make him the third south coast acquisition of the summer. Boss Brendan Rodgers and the club’s directors have already successfully worked together to lure striker Rickie Lambert and midfield man Adam Lallana to Merseyside from St Mary’s. Lovren, who caught the eye with a string of impressive displays in the…
Manchester United are lining up a big-money bid for Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng, Football Express News understands. A source close to Old Trafford told FEN the Red Devils’ manager-in-waiting, Louis van Gaal, has asked directors to pursue the Germany international, formerly of rivals City. Veteran van Gaal officially takes over when his Holland side’s World Cup campaign comes to an end. Their involvement has been extended courtesy of last night’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Costa Rica in the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw. Boateng, who endured an injury-hit spell at City during the 2010-11 campaign before returning to…