Topa News

Monday, 6 November 2017

Pepe criticises unenthusiastic Real Madrid fans

Portugal international Pepe, 34, said Real Madrid supporters do not compare to fans from Turkish champions Besiktas.

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe described the LaLiga club's fans as unenthusiastic, rubbishing the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu compared to his new home in Turkey.

Besiktas veteran Pepe enjoyed a trophy-laden career in the Spanish capital, helping Madrid to three LaLiga titles, as many Champions League crows and two Club World Cup medals among more.

Now playing for Turkish giants Besiktas, the 34-year-old said Madrid supporters – who have booed Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema this season – do not compare to fans from the Istanbul-based club.

"Perhaps Real Madrid fans won't like me saying this but they say Real Madrid fans transmit enthusiasm but I don't think they do. That's not the reality," Portugal international Pepe told beIN Sports.

"The Besiktas fans are very passionate. When you go out onto the pitch the noise coming from the stands always hits you."

Pepe added: "The atmosphere at Besiktas is very different to at Real Madrid. In Turkey people really love sport, they only think about football.

"After games, we can hear the noise of the supporters until the early hours of the morning."
Besiktas are third in the Turkish Super Lig, five points behind leaders Galatasaray, while they are top of their Champions League group.

Spanish and European champions Madrid, meanwhile, are eight points adrift of LaLiga pacesetters Barcelona.

Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/pepe-criticises-unenthusiastic-real-madrid-fans#KZGDwdd6S94MK2HG.99

Arsenal transfer rumour round-up – Navas, De Jong, Ozkeyup, Rafinha, Upamecano

With the international break coming up, you can expect an uptake in transfer speculation, but we prefer to bunch our rumours together when the likelihood of such moves remain far away.

Keylor Navas is claimed to feel unappreciated at the Bernabeu, and has become unsettled because of it. Real Madrid are continually linked with bringing in a top goalkeeper to replace him, leaving Liverpool and Arsenal to keep tabs on proceedings.

Another La Liga giants players are believed to be on Arsenal’s radar, with Rafinha supposedly being eyed for a move. The midfielder has failed to make the cut at the Nou Camp since making his debut back in 2011, and at 24 years-old should be keen on finding regular football in order to resurrect his career.

Oguzhan Ozyakup us another player who we have been linked with previously, but he was actually sold by our club back in 2012 to Besiktas, and the player just so happened to change his international allegiance to Turkey from Holland in the same summer. The midfielder has since cemented his place in his international side is tipped for a move to a bigger side in Europe, with Arsenal claimed to be eyeinga £10 Million bid.

Another midfielder tipped for a move to North London this January is Frank de Jong. The young midfielder is supposedly set to be the subject of a £5 Million bid, with preliminary talks claimed to have been held already.

Another young star who is tipped to move to a bigger club in the near future is Dayot Upamecano, who has earned his place as one of the world’s most coveted young defenders. All the big clubs are keeping tabs on his progress with RB Leipzig, and the 19 year-old is currently tied down a contract with a £89 Million release clause. Barcelona are believed to be leading the chase for his signature, but a move may boil down to who is willing to make the big jump and pay the huge fee.

Can you see any truth in any of the above rumours? Which target would improve our squad most?

Lionel Messi throws support behind Barcelona teammate, doesn’t want €100m superstar to join

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez and Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann have a problem in common. However, Lionel Messi is reportedly backing the former when it comes to who he wants to play alongside.

Both players have been prolific in recent seasons, but they’re having their troubles this year as neither has been able to find their goalscoring touch.

Suarez has just three goals in 14 appearances in all competitions, while Griezmann has three in 13, and so they’ve both uncharacteristically been struggling to find the back of the net.

That has led to speculation over their respective futures with the Frenchman linked with a move to the Nou Camp, but as reported by Don Balon and re-reported by The Express, Messi doesn’t want Griezmann coming in to replace Suarez.

It’s added that the Atleti superstar would cost €100m, as per his release clause in his contract with the club, but Messi is said to be standing by Suarez and wants him to continue to be a prominent figure for Barcelona.

Part of that could be down to the fact that Suarez ultimately is a close friend off the pitch, as evidenced with their previous social media activity which shows that they enjoy each other’s company away from football, while the Uruguayan attended Messi’s wedding in Argentina this past summer, as noted by The Mirror.

Further, while he may not be scoring regularly so far this season, Suarez is playing a key role in helping Messi flourish, and that’s seen him score 16 goals in 17 games and help lead Barca to the top of the La Liga table and their Champions League group.

As a result, there seems to be a strong case in favour of why Messi would want to keep Suarez as the focal point of the Barcelona attack, but again, the question has to be raised over whether or not the Argentine wizard really does hold that much power at the Catalan giants to dictate transfer plans to the hierarchy.

Read More: http://www.caughtoffside.com/2017/11/07/lionel-messi-throws-support-behind-barcelona-teammate-doesnt-want-e100m-superstar/

Man City and Spurs have most valuable squads in Europe. Neymar and Kane top player values

November 7 – Manchester City and Spurs have the most valuable squads in Europe, according to research by the CIES Football Observatory. Barca come third in the ranking with Chelsea in fourth spot. All of their squads are valued at over €1 billion.

After these four Manchester United rank fifth, followed by Real Madrid. Bayern Munich are the top ranked German team at 13th with a squad transfer value of €634 million. Just over half that of Man City.

Six Premier League teams rank in the top 10 and 18 in the top 20, showing the power of the Premier League to acquire the top talent.

The ranking lists the highest transfer value player in each squad with PSG (rtanked 8th) having the highest value transfer payer in Neymar at €218 million. Tottenham’s Harry Kane at €186 million is the second most valuable player by transfer value in Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s highest transfer value player at €96 million, while Luis Suarez in Barcelona’s most valuable at €134 million.

Kevin de Bruyne at €144.5 million is Man City’s highest transfer value player, though CIES says there are three other City squad members worth more than €100 million: Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

The transfer values are estimated on the basis of an algorithm exclusively developed by the CIES Football Observatory research team. See the full list at http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2017/202/en/

Barcelona star Messi wants Tottenham duo, Real Madrid eying Mourinho return

Barcelona star Lionel Messi would love the club to sign Tottenham duo Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.

Alli bagged a brace with Eriksen also getting on the scoresheet in Spurs’ 3-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid last night.

And Spanish website Don Balon claims Messi was impressed by the performances of the Tottenham duo.

It is said he feels both players would be welcome at the Nou Camp, particularly given the club’s ageing midfield.

Andres Iniesta is past his best, while Sergio Busquets turns 30 in July - and Messi thinks Spurs’ young duo could help Barcelona win silverware galore.

Sunday, 5 November 2017

Barcelona star Messi expects Real Madrid transfer, Ronaldo to Juventus claim

REAL MADRID, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid news is coming thick and fast. Express Sport brings you all the latest from La Liga.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi reportedly expects Real Madrid to sign Neymar.

Neymar only left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in August after the Ligue 1 giants activated his £200million buyout clause.

But Spanish website Diario Gol say Messi feels it is only a matter of time before he moves to the Bernabeu.

It is said Messi is aware the player’s father has a good relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

And, consequently, the Argentina international expects Neymar to sign as a replacement for the ageing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid 3-0 Las Palmas: Marco Asensio scores superb goal

Marco Asensio scored a stunning goal to help Real Madrid return to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Las Palmas on Sunday.

Casemiro headed in the opener in the 41st minute for Real, who had lost their last two games against Girona and Tottenham.

Asensio made it 2-0 shortly after half-time when he rifled in a first-time effort from 30 yards, and Isco rounded off the scoring in the 74th minute.

Read More: http://www.skysports.com/football/r-madrid-vs-las-palmas/382658