Lionel Messi is expecting surprise Liverpool FC transfer to happen – report

Lionel Messi is expecting to see Javier Mascherano secure a sensational return to Liverpool FC, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish outlet Diario Gol, as quoted by the Daily Express, is reporting that Messi thinks that the Argentina international is set for a return to Anfield to link up with the club he left back in 2011.

Mascherano’s current contract at Barcelona is set to expire at the end of the season and it looks as if his time at Camp Nou is coming to an end.

PSG and the MLS have both been touted as possible destinations for the defender in recent weeks, and Barcelona are thought to have found a long-term successor for Mascherano in the form of Colombian Yerry Mina.

The same report claims that Messi believes Mascherano has already made up his mind to leave Barcelona next summer, with Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain all believed to be in the running for his signature on a free transfer.

Read More: https://www.thesportreview.com/2017/11/liverpool-fc-transfer-news-messi-mascherano/

Stones has as much composure as any defender in Europe, says Southgate

Gareth Southgate compared John Stones to Jerome Boateng and Gerard Pique - and the England manager believes the in-form defender can get even better.
After a topsy-turvy first season at Manchester City, the 23-year-old Stones has become a key component of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side, forming a solid partnership with Nicolas Otamendi at the heart of the defence.
Southgate is also likely to lean on Stones for England's World Cup campaign in Russia next year and, having previously worked together at under-21 level, the national team boss is delighted with the player's progression.
A defender in his playing days, Southgate offered Bayern Munich's Boateng and Barcelona's Pique - considered two of the best in the position in Europe - as prime examples of ball-playing centre-backs who blossomed despite shaky moments in their early years.

"I’ve always said to him people will talk to you about just kicking the ball out,” Southgate told reporters.

Read More: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/stones-has-much-composure-any-defender-europe-says-southgate

Should Arsenal aim to land all three unwanted Barcelona stars?

Barcelona are claimed to be looking to offload Arda Turan, Thomas Vermaelen and Aleix Vidal, but which players would improve the Arsenal squad.

The Gunners are strongly linked with a move to bring the Turkish international to North London with a view to replacing Mesut Ozil, who is expected to leave the club by the summer. The German is out of contract at the end of the season, and currently appears to be keen on an exit.

Turna has previously admitted that he thought he would join Arsenal, before making his dream switch to Barcelona, but the dream has turned into more of a nightmare and looks set to be forced out the club.

Vermaelen has also endured a tough time at the Nou Camp since leaving Arsenal previously, with an injury soon after arriving in Spain ruling him out for a large period, and he has failed to break into their first-team plans since his return to fitness.

Our defence has struggled so far this season, and even came under strong scrutiny this week by former right-back Lee Dixon, and Vermaelen was a top defender for our club previously, and would likely be welcomed back.

Vidal also represents a position in which we are lacking options,with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having been sold on Deadline Day without being replaced. Hector Bellerin remains our sole senior option for the right wing-back role, and his form has seemingly stuttered on without any rival for a starting spot.

Which of the three would add most to our squad? Does replacing Ozil remain a more important task than bettering our current squad weaknesses?

Read More: http://www.justarsenal.com/should-arsenal-aim-to-land-all-three-unwanted-barcelona-stars/81817

Croatia need Modric back to his best for playoff against Greece

ZURICH: Croatia need Luka Modric to get back to his best. And fast.

The country’s top player, who was targeted by critics after Real Madrid recently lost consecutive matches to Girona and Tottenham Hotspur, will be well-rested when Croatia attempts to secure a World Cup spot in the playoffs against Greece.

The 32-year-old Modric did not play with Real last weekend in La Liga, getting some important time off ahead of Thursday’s first leg at the Zagreb Maksimir Stadium following his less-than-stellar performances.

“This is no real issue,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “Luka has never let down the national team.”

Real were in turmoil following the back-to-back losses, with Modric playing in both games. But he stayed on the bench throughout the team’s 3-0 win against Las Palmas on Sunday.

Despite his diminutive stature, Modric has been an indisputable starter in Real’s midfield and is known for his reading of the game and good close control.

“Losing when playing for Real Madrid is harder than with any other team,” Modric said. “Football can be like this. These things happen. Last season we went through spells like this and we always came back to be the Real Madrid that everyone knows.”

Real coach Zinedine Zidane has often rotated Modric out of the lineup before international games, knowing that Croatia is heavily dependent on the midfielder and that he rarely gets a break while with the national team.

And it shouldn’t be any different now, with a World Cup spot on the line for the Croats. The decisive return game will be on Sunday in Piraeus.

Read More: https://www.dawn.com/news/1369396/croatia-need-modric-back-to-his-best-for-playoff-against-greece

Lionel Messi desperate for Argentina to avoid Spain at World Cup

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi says the worst possible draw for his Argentina side at next year’s World Cup would be Spain in the first round.

“The worst that could happen to us would be to draw Spain at the group stages,” Messi told TyC Sports Wednesday from Moscow where Argentina play Russia in a friendly on Saturday.

“I would prefer to avoid them, they’d be tough opponents.”

In the interview with the Argentinian television station, Messi named Brazil, Germany and France alongside Spain as favourites to take the World Cup crown in Russia.

“I think that at the moment, they’re the strongest teams who give the best impressions, those who are playing best, with the best individuals.”

Messi also broached Argentina’s last-gasp qualification for the World Cup finals, which the Barcelona star sealed with a hat-trick in a rare 3-1 away victory over Ecuador.

“I always believed we’d get there, but I thought we would have tied up qualification before the Ecuador game,” said Messi, reiterating that he would like to end his career in his Argentinian birthplace of Rosario.

“I would love to play for Newell’s Old Boys, in the stadium where I’ve seen so many matches,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming years, how I’m going to feel. I live from day to day, I’m not focused on the future.”

Read More: http://www.thestatesman.com/sports/lionel-messi-desperate-argentina-avoid-spain-world-cup-1502525135.html

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi admits he still dreams of playing for Newell’s Old Boys

LIONEL Messi says he still harbours hopes of one day playing for boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys but admits he “does not know where I’m going to be” in the future.

Speculation around the Argentina captain’s future at Barcelona remains as Messi can start talking with other clubs in January with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau said the club would offer Messi a lifetime contract last month after he agreed a four-year deal in July, but the 30-year-old still has not officially signed the contract.

Messi left Newell’s for the Nou Camp when he was 13 but has now revealed that he would like to return to hometown Rosario before his career ends.

“The desire is always playing for Newell’s, it is what I dreamed as a kid,” Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports.

“When I went to the club I imagined playing in the Primera Division, but I do not know what’s going to happen in a few years.

“I cannot say I’m going back because I do not know where I’m going to be.”

Read More: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/la-liga/barcelonas-lionel-messi-admits-he-still-dreams-of-playing-for-newells-old-boys/news-story/660eaa39e083a1a9b0aa62efd1c15648

Benzema, Ronaldo - The Fallen

As Real Madrid fans are wont to do when things go less than swimmingly, they have spent the last few weeks/months decrying the performances of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Both, and arguably our only two real attackers since Gareth Bale has been out so much with injury, so far this season, have not delivered the goals and assists that we've come to expect, and so desperately need.

Poor Benzema - not only hasn't he been scoring goals, but his fail-safe 'link-up-play' uniqueness has even faded to oblivion doing nothing to salvage his attempt to counter Gary Lineker's comments.

And Ronaldo, quite literally the most prolific goal-scorer in history, while slow-to-warm-up most seasons, is in one heck a goal-scoring drought as we get closer to the mid-point of the season.

Couple all this with Real Madrid's less than stellar patch the last month, and well, fans and pundits alike are touting the end of the Zidane era already, and calling for the sale of these two “dinosaurs.”

But just how much of this is a Chicken Little scenario?

The Sky Isn't Falling as Fast as We Think
So Big Benz only has one goal this season in 480 mins… Not so shabby compared to last year's 3rd highest La Liga scorer, Luis Suarez.

Read More: https://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/11/8/16621702/benzema-ronaldo-the-fallen