By Chris Wright

Excuse us while Pies go all 'Veruca Salt' for a while, but here are ten of the rumoured transfers that have been doing the rounds for the last few weeks that we demand to see materialise during the coming summer...

1. Alessandro Del Piero Juventus to Arsenal/Tottenham: Done and dusted at Juventus after 19 years of unwavering idolisation, Del Piero has probably already received his fair share of tempting offers to go and wind-down to retirement in an affluent footballing backwater somewhere in exchange for £500,000 a week though the man himself has openly flirted with the idea of one last hurrah in Europe.

Feel free to cross Raul off the last of potential summer MLS arrivals.

The Spanish striker signed a one-year deal with Al Sadd in Qatar, signalling the next move in his legendary career. Raul, who turns 35 next month, played two seasons with German club Schalke, with his final match with the team coming at PPL Park in a friendly against the Philadelphia Union last week.

There's a bevy of beautiful 'ballers across multiple domestic leagues who desperately need medical assistance.

We've already written our recommended rehab prescriptions, and now all we ask is for some expert(s) in the field who can responsibly oversee their care and return them to fighting fit form.

Welcome to the fifty-second annual WCR Top 25 rankings. For years, we have been describing how this list is compiled. In brief, the rankings are based on (a) the domestic results for each club's most recent completed season (either 2011 or 2010-11) and (b) performances in the continental championship tournaments through the use of bonus points.

Villa-Villa-Villa, Villa Maravilla! Road to recovery begins for Spain's kid is a post from: Just Football

David Villa is not the most controversial of footballers. If you're the type of fan that likes his players a little rough around the edges, or the type for whom players only register when they do something out of the ordinary the Barcelona striker may rarely even register.

FC Barcelona World Champions (Photo: Getty Images)

Another scintillating performance by Leo Messi saw Barcelona dismantle Brazil's Santos 4-0 to claim the FIFA Club World Cup Championship.

Barca enter the record books as the only club to ever win the tournament twice, giving Pep Guardiola his 13th trophy since taking over at the helm in 2008.

This is our final "weekly" ranking of the year here on World Club Rankings. In place of next week's edition, we will be presenting the Annual Top 25 Clubs in the World for 2011. Make sure to vote on the left for which club you think should be selected as the Number One Club of 2011.

Barca duly wrapped up the 2011 Club World Cup in Yokohama on Sunday with a one-sided 4-0 win over South American champions Santos in front of a full house of 68,166 fans.
The team from Sao Paulo in Brazil had looked likely to provide stiffer opposition than they eventually offered after their impressive 3-1 win over J-League champions Kashiwa Reysol in the semi-final on Wednesday at Toyota Stadium.

It may not have been the most difficult challenge that FC Barcelona would have to face in their quest to become FIFA Club World Cup winners. That, however, did not dampen the celebrations as the Spanish and European champions strolled their way past a poor Santos FC team courtesy of a 4-0 victory.

It may not have been the most difficult challenge that FC Barcelona would have to face in their quest to become FIFA Club World Cup winners. That, however, did not dampen the celebrations as the Spanish and European champions strolled their way past a poor Santos FC team courtesy of a 4-0 victory.

On Sunday morning if you happen to be in Western Europe the champions of world club football will be crowned, as the final of the 2011 Club World Cup is played at the International Stadium in Yokohama between Barcelona, the current champions of Europe, and Santos of Brazil, the current champions of South America.

Villa lost for season during Club World Cup victory of Al-Saad (Photo: AP Photo)

When is a victory considered a loss?

Barcelona's 4-0 demolition of Qatar's Al-Sadd Sports Club advanced Barcelona to the Club World Cup Championship against Santos, but the victory came at one hell of a price.

Barcelona will be without striker David Villa for at least 6 moinths after the striker broke his leg in Barcelona's 4-0 rout over Al-Sadd in the World Club Cup semi-finals today. There was no dirt in the tackle which seen Villa unleash a shot under pressure from a defender before both took a tumble and Villa immediately signalled to the bench he was injured, eventually being stretchered off with his side leading 1-0 thanks to a major blooper from the opposing keeper let in adriano for his first of two goals.

Two nearly naked footballers in one day? Our beakers runneth over! Thanks Stefan Nikolic of Steaua Bucharest. Image: REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel.

We realise we made a huge deal about not covering the Europa League last season. But obviously, recent events from in the Champions League have forced our hand and we thought we should show willing before the big boys come.

Barcelona eased pass Qatari side Al Sadd and into the World Club Cup final but the 4-0 win was marred by a serious injury to striker David Villa. Pep Guardiola's men booked their place in Sunday's Club World Cup final against Brazilian outfit Santos thanks to an easy 4-0 win over Al Sadd. Goals by [.

European champions FC Barcelona will meet Copa Libertadoes winners Santos FC in Sunday's final of the FIFA World Club Cup after powering past Qatar's Al-Sadd 4-0 on Thursday in the semi final round of the competition. Adriano put Barca up 2-0 by halftime while Seydou Keita and Maxwell completed the rout in the 64th and [.

It is a tournament that receives much criticism given its awkward timing and relative unimportance, but I guess the World Club Championship has lost a whole heap more supporters following Barcelona's game with Al-Sadd.
Not that is was anything to do with Barca's Qatari opponents, who worked diligently to try and contain the European Champions.

Barcelona have set up a dream FIFA Club World Cup final against Santos by defeating Al-Sadd 4-0 today. The Barca victory though was dampered by the broken leg to striker David Villa, that will keep the Barca striker out of action for around six months.

The Villa's injury aside, this was more like a training exercise for Barcelona as Al-Sadd is not in the same class.

Barcelona have set up a dream FIFA Club World Cup final against Santos by defeating Al-Sadd 4-0 today. The Barca victory though was dampered by the broken leg to striker David Villa, that will keep the Barca striker out of action for around six months.

The Villa's injury aside, this was more like a training exercise for Barcelona as Al-Sadd is not in the same class.

David Villa fractured his left tibia shortly before half-time in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final against Al Sadd in Yokohama, Japan today.

Villa, who had been linked with a move to away from the Nou Camp in January, was carried off on a stretcher after appearing to land awkwardly 39 minutes into a game Barcelona were winning 1-0.

Villa removed from pitch following leg injury (Photo: AP Photo)

Horrible news out of Japan this morning where FC Barcelona defeated Al-Sadd 0-4 in the Club World Cup semi-final and will move on to play Santos in the final.

In the 36th minute of the first half David Villa was injured running down a through ball and when he tried to control the pass twisted is left leg and fell to the ground.

By FRANCO PANIZO

A day after Pep Guardiola said he had no plans of selling him, David Villa was lost to injury.

Villa will be sidelined for approximately the next six months after fracturing his tibia in Barcelona's 4-0 Club World Cup win over Al Sadd on Thursday.

Barcelona eases past Saudi Arabian club Al Sadd as Adriano scores a brace in the first half taking advantage of some shoddy defending. Seydou Keita and Maxwell rounded off the tally in the second half.

Barca's entry into the finals was not without a price as David Villa broke his leg and could face up to six months off the field making him a serious doubt for the Euro campaign.

By Chris Wright

Barcelona have just whupped Al Sadd 4-0 in the second Club World Cup semi-final in Yokohama (Adriano, Adriano, Keita and Maxwell if you're interested we'll try and track down some highlights later), but the Japanese jolly has been soured somewhat by a nasty injury to David Villa, who split his tibia in twain five minutes before half-time.

Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 Highlights 2011 Video Club World Cup Goals Adriano Keita is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 Highlights 2011 Video Club World Cup Goals Adriano Keita is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Al Sadd vs Barcelona 2011 ( Barca vs Al Sadd video below) Final score and result:- Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 ( Adriano*2, Keita, Maxwell) Nissan Stadium, Yokohama- Club World [.

Al-Sadd state of affairs The Club World Cup receives criticism from some quarters for being nothing more than a publicity exercise, allowing FIFA to show off some of its clubs in a money-spinning tournament for the Asian market. Barcelona have today paid the price for taking the competition seriously and fielding a strong side, when [.

A contendere al Santos il Mondiale per Club 2011, in una finale che si annuncia emozionante, e che vedr la supersfida tra Neymar e Messi, sar il Barcellona di Guardiola, vittorioso con un perentorio 4 a 0 con l'Al Sadd, Campione d'Asia in carica nella seconda semifinale che si è disputata questa mattina.

15.12.2011 - Con goles de Adriano (´24 y ´30), Keita (´68) y Maxwell (´78), Barcelona venció (4-0) a Al Sadd (Qatar) en Yokohama para clasificarse finalista del Mundial de Clubes 2011 (enfrentará a Santos).
Un Barcelona alternativo que ganó (literalmente) caminando se sostuvo en los pies de Puyol, Iniesta y Messi para que Guardiola (DT) pruebe jugadores poco habituales.

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Spanish striker David Villa is likely to be out for a lengthy spell ( see Villa leg injury video below) on the sidelines after breaking his leg in [.

Kashiwa Reysol's FIFA Club World Cup dream ended today at the hands of South American champions Santos FC. Neymar was amongst the goals for the Brazilians as they claimed a 3-1 win against the J-League champions whilst earlier in the day North and Central American champions Monterrey CF won the 5th/6th place play-off, getting the better of African champions Espérance Tunis by the odd goal in five.

Neymar showed why Europe's best all want to sign him as he inspired Santos to a 3-1 victory over Japan's Kashiwa Reysol in a Club World Cup semi-final in Toyota.

The Libertadores Cup holders are expected to face European champions Barcelona in this weekend's final, barring the unthinkable in Barca's semi-final against Qatar's Al Sadd on Thursday.

Like the Kickette HQ pets, Poldi loves a rub between the ears as a reward for good work. But is he prone to stealing food and peeing on the rug too? Image: AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ.

The games featured in this results posts are as randomly selected and disorganised as the contents of an average Kickette staffer's desk draw.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed Spanish media reports linking David Villa with a move away from the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.

Sports newspaper Marca claimed oin Wednesday that the striker is ready to move on from Barca just 19 months into the four-year deal agreed following his 40million euro transfer from Valencia.

Houston Dynamo fans have been waiting since the club's inaugural 2006 season for a soccer-specific stadium they could call their own, and, come May, that dream will be realized.

According to the Houston Chronicle, that stadium will be named BBVA Compass Stadium at an official ceremony slated for Wednesday afternoon.

David Villa will not be sold to Chelsea says Barcelona's Pep Guardiola

• Coach says report linking striker with transfer is 'a lie' • Liverpool and Aston Villa also linked with January bids The Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed Spanish media reports linking David Villa with a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

STARTERS
The Bundesliga will go on its winter break one more round of games this weekend.
dN
France Football magazine has named Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema the French Player of the Year.
DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS
du Nord at the Controls - all new music mix for Tue Dec 13, 2011
TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
The USA U23/Olympic team training camp.

The opening acts at the FIFA Club World Cup were pretty entertaining. Now Lionel Messi and Neymar are ready for center stage and perhaps a final duel that would pit South America's preeminent attacking talents against each other.

The first few games at the tournament have provided some great theater, with host Kashiwa Reysol stealing the show with two victories, including a penalty-kick triumph over CONCACAF champion Monterrey.

STARTERS
Tigres is the winner of the Mexican Apertura Championship. Huge win! Congrats to them.
dN
Sporting Kansas City has agreed to release Omar Bravo so he can return to Mexico and play for Cruz Azul in the upcoming Clausura.
-I have no idea what this really means.

An exciting pair of matches in the 2011 Club World Cup took place on Sunday at Toyota Stadium, just outside Nagoya.
In the early kick off, Al Sadd from Qatar defeated Esperance Sportive De Tunis 2-1 in a fractious match which saw a shoe thrown on to the pitch and a solitary fan run on to the field as Al Sadd wasted time at the end to hold on to a hard fought win over the African champions.

11.12.2011 - Por Cuartos de Final y con goles de Khalfan AL KHALFAN (33') y Abdulla KONI (49'), Al Sadd (Qatar) venció (2-1) a Sperance Esportive (Túnez) (Ousama DARRAGI, 60') y pasó a semifinales del Mundial de Clubes (2011) para enfrentar a Barcelona (15.