History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

DIARRA WILL BE A REAL SUCCESS: LAUREN

Lassana Diarra will be a great success at Real Madrid and will prove to be as good a player as Claude Makelele for the Spanish giants, according to his Portsmouth team-mate Lauren.

The French international midfielder is due to seal his move from Fratton Park on Thursday following an accepted bid of £20m and a medical.

And Lauren said of the 23-year–old former Chelsea and Arsenal player: “I like Lassana a lot as a footballer and, not just because he is a team-mate of mine at Portsmouth.

“He is a player of proven quality, very professional, young and he is high-grade player. I am convinced that he can succeed at Real Madrid.

“He seems to have the characteristics on the field of Makelele, and perhaps more. He has a brilliant long pass and can assist the forwards in attack.

“Since the rumors linking him with Real Madrid he has been very happy. He has told us is determined to take the leap to the Spanish league. I think that he can succeed there."

SOURCE: SPANISH RADIO CADENA SER

Labels: Lassana Diarra, Lauren, Portsmouth, Real Madrid

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:16 pm | Permalink | Comments

CITY OFFER £130M FOR CASILLAS

Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners are planning to use their petro billions in January’s transfer market and will offer Real Madrid a record-smashing 150m Euros (£128m) to activate Iker Casillas’s buy-out clause, Spanish sources report.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who captained Spain to Euro 2008 glory – their first success in 44 years – looks set to double his money in the Premier League as City have offered 13m Euros (£11m) per year, his agent, Luis Garcia Abad, claims.

But 88-cap Casillas will have to decide whether he wants to stay at his home town club, which he joined aged 10, or move to Manchester. In February he signed a contract extension that tied him to the club until 2017.

City have not yet offered Madrid the money directly, as they want to see what Casillas’s reaction is - if they activate the buy-out clause, the club will have no choice in the transfer – it is down to the ‘keeper alone.

City had been previously chasing Italian international goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, but the Juventus stopper indicated he had no plans to leave Turin.

Source: Cadena SER radio

Labels: Iker Casillas, Manchester City, Premier League, Real Madrid

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:18 am | Permalink | Comments

RONALDO: I WILL SIGN FOR MADRID NEXT WEEK

Cristiano Ronaldo has been quoted in Spain claiming he will finalise a move to Real Madrid next week.

Ronaldo, 23, is currently sidelined following an ankle operation, but is reportedly on his way for showdown talks with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson next Tuesday.

"It will be fixed next week," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in the Spanish newspaper AS.

Ronaldo, the report claimed, added: "I will go to Manchester and I will say that my only desire is to play at Real Madrid and that the decision is non-negotiable."

Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, was also reported to have been in contact with Real Madrid this week to reiterate his client's aspirations to join the Spanish giants and determination to leave United.

And there is good news for whoever he plays for, as his rehabilitation is going well enough that he is expected to be fully fit by September.

Ronaldo is continuing with his strict recovery plan, which includes morning and afternoon sessions, with his physiotherapist, Antonio Gaspar.

Labels: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Premier League, Real Madrid

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:27 pm | Permalink | Comments

GB TRIATHLETE CLARKE QUALIFIES FOR BEIJING

Will Clarke is one of the latest young Brits to have qualified for August's Olympic Games in Beijing - and the star triathlete can't wait to go for gold.

Cambridgeshire-born Clarke - the British No2 behind Tim Don, who will be competing in his third Games - is the current Under-23 World and European Champion, and has a habit of somersaulting to victory.

"The somersaulting is something that the crowds enjoy," grins the 23-year-old who flew to Austen, Texas, last week to begin climate training for China. Next week he competes in the Des Moines World Cup in Iowa, where the winner will take home $250,000.

Clarke ensured his qualification for Beijing last month after coming sixth in a weather-affected race in Madrid in which less than half the field completed.

"The heavens opened when we were running after the swimming and cycling and people began to drop out," Clarke continues. "Only 30 out of 65 starters finished and the temperature had dropped to only seven degrees.

"But I managed to finish and my family were all really relieved and it's a great feeling to know that I will be an Olympian. It's lucky I qualified as my parents booked their flights before it was confirmed I was going.

"The Olympics is the biggest prize you can get in sport. It will be a fantastic experience and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping to get some words of advice from Tim.

"But of the 55 guys who race, 52 go away disappointed that they haven't won a medal. So I will go there and give it my best shot and try to get as close to a medal as possible.

"Whatever happens, I will go out there and enjoy it. The experience will be great so I can learn what you need to do - then I can get a medal in London 2012, hopefully."

Clarke, Don (30) and Alistair Brownlee (20) make up the British triathlete trio heading to Beijing. But first they will be put through their paces in the heat of Texas.

Clarke says: "There is a lot of banter between all of us British lads. But there are times when we have to give each other our own space.

"Out in Austen it will be 38 degrees every day - we will be out there training in that heat and then we go to Des Moines. It'll be perfect practice for Beijing.

"A lot of my main competitors will be also be at Iowa. It's a big money race too - $250,000 for the winner.

"The Kiwis won gold and silver in the last Olympics and they're still strong this year and the Aussies are always strong. It's going to be really tough Games; there are probably about 15 guys that can win it."

And Clarke, whose girlfriend Claire will be out in Beijing staying with the blond star, has an interesting take on ensuring his energy levels remain high.

He added: "Never have sex for three days before a race - that is my rule. It makes a big difference if you do. You will wash it all down the pan if you have some fun the night before."

Labels: Beijing Olympics, Real Madrid, Triathlon, Will Clarke

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:50 am | Permalink | Comments

The Guardian Unilimited, sports report:
Jose Antonio Reyes doesn't want to return to the Premiership. Click HERE to view.

Labels: Arsenal, football, Jose Antonio Reyes, Premiership, Real Madrid

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:18 pm | Permalink | Comments