After signing the agreement with city officials, Atletico President Enrique Cerezo announced that Atletico Madrid will be leaving the Vicente Calderon within the next three years to play at La Peineta.
Liverpool head coach Rafa Benitez is not happy with Spain over the usage and training methods that has led to Fernando Torres being injured for the third time while away with the National Team.
After injury his hamstring early last month while on International duty with Spain during a World Cup Qualifier in Belgium, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez today announced the Fernando Torres will be available for Matchday 4, Tuesday’s Champions League return leg at Anfield against his old team, Atletico Madrid.
“Fortunately, Fernando is ready to play,” said Benitez. “I don’t know if he will start, but he will definitely be on the bench, barring anything unexpected.”
image via Yimg
UEFA ruled on Friday that Atletico Madrid will be forced to play their next UEFA Champions League match November 26th against PSV in an empty Vicente Calderon Stadium after investigating claims of fan racism and violence during the October 1st match against Ligue1 side Marseille.
Mexican born head coach Javier Aguirre was also banned for the next two Champions League matches at Liverpool and home against PSV after UEFA’s disciplinarians found him accused of insulting a Marseille player, while the second match ban that was to be played behind doors will be deferred for two years as of now.
And while Atletico has said that they will challenge the verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, they were also ordered to pay a 130 Thousand Euro fine.
“UEFA policy is clear - zero tolerance of violence, racism or discrimination,” Platini said in a letter to delegates who represent UEFA at Champions League matches.
“It is vital that your post-match reports … demonstrate no leniency whatsoever in the face of violent, racist or discriminatory behavior on the part of players, club officials, technical staff or fans.
image via Portugoal
Messi’s goal is nasty…. straight nasty, but then again so was the Eto’o finish.
Remember Mateja Kezman?
Yup, the Mateja Kezman that The Special One signed from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for 5.3 Million Pound after the young Serbian forward dropped 126 goals in 172 matches.
After failing to cement his place in the Chelsea side and only starting 14 times (although he appeared in 37 total games, scoring 7 goals), Kezman was sold to the other Madrid, Atletico Madrid for just a tad higher than what Chelsea had paid.
Once again Kezman featured for just one season (appearing in just 33 matches, scoring 10 times) before being sold to Turkish giants Fenerbache for $9.75 Million, scoring 26 times in 56 appearances in two seasons.
Now Kezman is off once again, this time to Ligue1 side PSG after the French club paid 4 Million Euro (and the 1 Million Euro the 29 year old had to pay himself to get out of his Fenerbache contract) for the very talented player known for being hotheaded.
With a once very promising Serbian National Team career at his feet with 49 appearances and 17 goals, Kezman has not been recalled since his sending off against Argentina in the 2006 World Cup.
image via Photos4
I’m going to ask the question that we’ve all been wondering about. What the hell happened to Jose Antonio Reyes?
Anybody?
Remember the guy that was killing it so bad with La Liga side Sevilla that The Voyeur dropped 10.5 Million Pound back in 2004? The guy dropped 16 goals in 69 matches with Arsenal and then forced his way out to get back to Spain with Real Madrid, even if it was on LOAN for Julio “The Beast” Baptista.
You can see the exact same tendencies then as Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres has now.
Peep the same celebration.
With all the talk surrounding fellow Argentine and current Atletico Madrid forward Sergio “Kun” Aguero heading to Manchester United, Atletico head coach Javier Aguirre has revealed his interest in one of the best / most underrated players on the face of this planet, Juan Roman Riquelme.
After getting royally shafted during his last stop in Spain with Villareal and Chilean head coach Manuel Pellrgrini, Riquelme has been killing it with his Boca Juniors, winning the 2007 Copa Libertadores (and the MVP of the tournament) on loan before making the move final in January of this year.
Since the transfer window has opened, Atletico has been making some impressive moves ahead of their 2008/09 Champions League campaign. So why not try and sign a true playmaker that already has the International pedigree, can create passes, space and opportunities that very few have the ability to do?
