Transfer News

Gervinho staying at Arsenal.

The Ivory Coast international has been linked with Turkish side Fenerbache as well as his former club Lille in France.
But Gervinho said: "I have a contract until 2015 with Arsenal and I intend to honour it.
"There is always speculation in the papers, but I am looking forward to a good holiday and to come back to Arsenal.
"I want to win my place in the starting line-up week in, week out."
Gervinho has struggled since joining Arsenal in 2011 and is thought to be valued at 12m Euros.

Ibrahimovic set to stay at PSG.

Ibrahimovic has scored 30 goals in 34 appearances for the Parisian club since his move from AC Milan last year.
But Raiola insists he will not be returning to Italy any time soon.
Raiola said: "He will remain at PSG, I can rule out a return to Italy. I hear that he would cut his wage, but he has never spoken about it."
Brazilian forward Robinho is another player on Raiola's books and he says that it is the former Manchester City player's wish to stay with AC Milan despite being linked with a return to Santos.
Raiola added: "Robinho stays at AC Milan, this is his desire. I don't care about what Santos want, and I know that AC Milan want to keep him. It's easier that he extends his contract rather than leaving Milan."
Robinho played for Santos on loan during his spell at Manchester City in 2010.

 

Transfer News

McGeady may be on the move.

The 27-year-old winger played for the Republic of Ireland in their 1-1 friendly draw with England at Wembley on Wednesday night as speculation mounted over his future.
McGeady has been repeatedly linked with a move back from eastern Europe since sealing his £9.5million switch from Celtic in August 2010, with several Premier League clubs having been credited with an interest in him.
The Glasgow-born midfielder insists he is happy in Moscow despite admitting some time ago he was unlikely to sign a contract extension, but he is aware the rumour mill will swing into action once again over the coming weeks.

Silva staying at PSG.

The Brazil international completed a big-money move to France last summer, swapping life in Serie A with AC Milan for that in Ligue 1.
He helped PSG to land a first domestic title in 19 years during his debut season with the club, justifying the hefty transfer fee the club shelled out for his services.
It has, however, been suggested that his stay at Parc des Princes could last just 12 months, with the likes of Barcelona having been admirers of his talents for some time.
Silva's representative has, however, been quick to play down the rumours, with the 28-year-old committed to PSG for the foreseeable future.

Transfer News

Liverpool leading Atsu chase.

Sky Sports revealed earlier this week an unnamed Premier League club had tabled a bid for Atsu and it is understood that Liverpool are the team in question.
Talks are thought to be continuing between the Reds and Porto as Brendan Rodgers' side look to win the race for the Ghana international.
However, Liverpool could face competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Arsenal for the highly-rated attacker.
Everton are thought be interested in Atsu especially if current Porto boss Vitor Pereira replaces David Moyes at Goodison Park, while Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the African's situation.
Atsu has found himself out of favour at Porto in recent months after refusing to sign a new deal at Estadio do Dragao.

Aguero signs new City contract.

 

The Argentina international striker, who has scored 47 goals from just 69 starts for City, has put pen to paper on a fresh deal which extends his existing contract with the club for a further year.
Club record signing Aguero joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and scored the last-gasp winning goal against QPR that sealed the 2011/12 Premier League title.
He told the club's official website: "I'm very happy at City and I feel very appreciated. It's been barely two years since I've arrived and sometimes I feel like I've been here for all my life.

Transfer News

Lewandowski "In Bayern Talks".

Asked on Monday on Poland's TVN24 whether the Borussia Dortmund striker Lewandowski is moving to Munich, agent Cezary Kucharski replied: "Yes. Robert will join Bayern this summer.
"There is no point in pretending that he will not move to Bayern. Robert wants to leave and that is what will happen.
"It is a matter of time. It could be a done deal within a week or within two to three weeks. We are waiting for a signal from the club. We are working on this deal.

"Robert needs a new challenge. He needs other people around him, a new coach and new motivation. For us it is clear, but we have not signed anything."

The 24-year-old striker said nothing about his plans after Dortmund's 2-1 defeat to Bayern in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Falcao set for Monaco move!

The Colombia striker has long been linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid with Manchester United and Chelsea mooted as possible destinations.
However, it appears that Monaco have jumped to the head of the queue with the newly-promoted team having already recruited highly-rated Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a combined fee of around £60million.
President Dmitry Rybolovlev is highly ambitious, evidenced by his capture of the Porto pair, who are former team-mates of Falcao who has scored 32 goals in 36 appearances this season.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has already said he will not bear any grudge if the 27-year-old leaves, and Sunday night's Primera Division match against Real Mallorca at the Vicente Calderon is looking increasingly likely to be his last home game for the Rojiblancos.

Transfer News

Neymar Opts for Barcelona.

Brazilian striker Neymar has confirmed he will be joining Barcelona next season and will sign his contract on Monday.

The 21-year-old has chosen Barca over their Spanish rivals Real Madrid, after Santos finally allowed their star forward to leave the club.
Many felt that Santos would not permit Neymar to quit South America until after next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.
But he will now join the recently-crowned La Liga champions on a five-year deal at the conclusion of next month's Confederations Cup.
Neymar said: "On Monday I'm signing a contract with Barcelona.
"My family and friends already know about my decision. I want to thank Santos' fans for these nine incredible years. My feelings for the club and the fans will never change."
Santos stressed on Friday they had agreed to transfer Neymar, allowing him to decide between two offers.
The newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo put the latest offer from Barcelona at around $36m.
A Barcelona statement read: "FC Barcelona and Santos have agreed to terms for Neymar da Silva Santos Junior.
"The Brazilian forward will don the Blaugrana strip for the next five seasons. The 21-year old is one of the most promising footballers on the planet."
And Neymar added: "I want to thank the fans of Santos for these incredible nine years. My feeling for the club and the fans will never change. It is eternal!

Scottish Cup Final

Here is the result of the Scottish Cup Final between Celtic FC and Hibernian:

Celtic FC 3-0 Hibernian.

Gary Hooper scored twice as Celtic clinched their 36th Scottish Cup and with it a domestic double.

Anthony Stokes created both of Hooper's first-half goals as Neil Lennon's side effectively ended the game as a contest before the break.
Hibernian failed to threaten a comeback and Joe Ledley's late strike dispelled any lingering doubts over the outcome.
It means the Edinburgh side's long wait for Scottish Cup success continues after a second successive final defeat.

Ledley scored the third goal to end hopes of a Hibs fightback

In fact, they had made the brighter start to the match and might have been in front but for a fantastic Fraser Forster save from Eoin Doyle's header.
That, though, was to prove a high point for Pat Fenlon's men as a moment of lax defending shortly afterwards handed Celtic the initiative.
Alan Maybury's weak clearance allowed Stokes possession on the left and he used it to fire a cross beyond the back post.
Goalkeeper Ben Williams could not reach it and, with Paul Hanlon and Ryan McGivern ball-watching, Hooper gleefully side-footed in from a narrow angle.
With their side having allowed the Scottish Premier League champions to score so early, the Hibs fans may have been fearing the worst, but the Edinburgh team did not buckle, with Tom Taiwo snapping into tackles and spraying passes to good effect in midfield.
Nonetheless, Celtic were able to carve out the better opportunities and Williams did well to block from Ledley after the Welshman had been picked out by a delicious Kris Commons pass.
Hibs showed they had failed to learn any lessons from the opening goal by conceding a very similar second - Stokes crossing from deeper this time and Hooper again finding room between Hanlon and McGivern to head back across the wrong-footed Williams for his 31st goal of the season.
Celtic, in the shape of Scott Brown and the front trio of Hooper, Stokes and Commons, had all of the game's top performers, with Hibs's talisman Leigh Griffiths unable to make any impact on the match.

Uefa Champions League Final

Last night on the 25th of May 2013 Europe's biggest football prize was won in an epic battle between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Wembley Stadium in London, England:

Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund.

Arjen Robben's late winner exorcised the demons that have haunted him and Bayern Munich in the Champions League as they won a pulsating all-Bundesliga encounter against Borussia Dortmund.

The tournament's recent history has offered little other than unrelenting misery for Robben and Bayern - but the agony is over after a colourful, enthralling final that confirmed Germany as the new power base of European domestic football.
Bayern had lost two finals in three years, including defeat on penalties to Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena 12 months ago, but on this occasion they cast off the tag of losers to claim the crown for the fifth time.
Only Real Madrid (nine) and AC Milan (seven) have won this tournament more times and the taste of victory was even sweeter for 29-year-old Robben and veteran Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who steps aside to hand over to Pep Guardiola at the end of this season.

Heynckes will have the chance to bow out with a Treble; Bayern have already won their league and face VfB Stuttgart in the German Cup final next Saturday.

Robben was reduced to tears at the final whistle after playing in Bayern's losing finals against Inter Milan and Chelsea, when he missed an extra-time penalty, and also losing semi-finals to Liverpool in 2005 and 2007 during his Stamford Bridge career.
And for 68-year-old elder statesman Heynckes, this was the perfect parting gift and proof of his enduring powers. He has provided a hard act for Guardiola to follow, even with his outstanding track record of success at Barcelona, which included two Champions League triumphs.
Robben, however, was the central figure as he set up Mario Mandzukic's first for Bayern on the hour but Dortmund, under the guidance of charismatic coach Jurgen Klopp, quickly equalised through Ilkay Gundogan's penalty after Dante fouled Marco Reus.
And Robben finally had his revenge on a competition that has been so cruel to him in the past, showing great composure to taken Frank Ribery's flick in his stride in the 89th minute and beat Dortmund's outstanding keeper Roman Weidenfeller.