"Tevez: � Pippo! If both of us marry, a kid with my work rate and your goal rate would be born who would go onto become one of the finest strikers in the world. What do you think?

Pippo: But what if the reverse happens you fool?"� �

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � An excerpt from the book "As gay as it gets"� � � � � � � � �

�

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � A LETTER TO CASTROL

Dear officer concerned,

� I can understand that this entire manufacturing of lubricants is a boring business.

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.Arsenal Transfered In: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £11m), Damian Martinez (Club Athletico Independiente, £1.3m), Jamie Edge (Cheltenham, undisc) Transfered Out: Abu Ogogo (Dag & Red, free), Amaury Bischoff (Academica de Coimbra, free), Emmanuel Adebayor (Man C, £25m), Kolo Toure (Man C, £14m), Jay Simpson (QPR, loan), James Dunne (Exeter, free), Rui Fonte (Lisbon, free), Rene Steer (Oldham, free), [. Click to continue reading...

Working as a freelance journalist has its perks but one of the drawbacks is having free time when the rest of the world is out there earning a crust. This time must be filled somehow and today I found myself perusing the BBC website checking the scores from the early kick offs in the Europa League qualifiers.

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Bastian asks: Did we really just get beaten by Mainz? Yes, Bastian, you did. If UEFA advertised the Women's Euros as "women trying to take the shirts off other women", people would probably go. Grafite & Obafemi are a budding bromance. Marco Materrazzi and his tattoos have absolutely no idea what's going on. Click to continue reading...

The German Bundesliga wrapped its week three of matches with three on Sunday. These included Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, VfL Bochum v Hertha Berlin, and VfL Wolfsburg v Hamburg SV. Here's a recap of all the matches along with video highlights.

Hamburg SV beats VfL Wolfsburg 4-2 Video Highlights

Hamburg won at Wolfsburg to remain undefeated and move into second place in the league table.

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Misfiring Blues man return to the Bundesliga where he literally is a goal machine!

Over 700 Ashes tickets still available Click Here to Buy!

Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro has rejoined Werder Bremen after spending last season on loan at the German club.

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UPDATE: According to Chelsea's official website, Chelsea have permanently sold striker Claudio Pizarro to Werder Bremen.

August 12th, 2009 According to James Riach at Sky Sports News, Werder Bremen are hopeful in signing Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro.

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Let's start of with a laugher:

• Landon Donovan to Mexico and Club America?
  
• Nothing to Chelsea link, say Mexes.
  
• Vidic dreaming about Barcelona.
  
• Milan's transfer market it closed?
  
• Claudio Pizarro and Werder Bremen.
  
• Roma move ruled out in favor of Brazil for Cicinho.

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�

Arsenal's tough UEFA Champions League playoff series vs. Celtic could get a whole lot tougher.

The Gunners have injury concerns surrounding star Cesc Fabregas, Brazilian midfielder Denilson and defender Bacary Sagna ahead of Tuesday's first-leg clash with Celtic at Parkhead.

Arsenal is fresh from its 6-1 mauling of Everton in its EPL opener, but the promising start could quickly become nightmarish if the club stumble in Champions League play.

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�

Arsenal's tough UEFA Champions League playoff series vs. Celtic could get a whole lot tougher.

The Gunners have injury concerns surrounding star Cesc Fabregas, Brazilian midfielder Denilson and defender Bacary Sagna ahead of Tuesday's first-leg clash with Celtic at Parkhead.

Arsenal is fresh from its 6-1 mauling of Everton in its EPL opener, but the promising start could quickly become nightmarish if the club stumble in Champions League play.

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Werder Bremen have come out stating that they are willing to give Claudio Pizarro a ticket to end his Chelsea nightmare. The Bundesliga side is hopeful of getting the 30-year old striker back for this season due to his promising return of 28 goals in all competitions last term. Klaus Allofs, Bremen's sporting director, claims that [. Click to continue reading...

According to James Riach at Sky Sports News, Werder Bremen are hopeful in signing Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro. Manager Thomas Schaaf told Bild,

"I hope we get Pizarro ... Basically, we are considering where we can strengthen our team and what players can help us with their quality in the long term.

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UPDATE: According to Adam Scime at Goal.com, Corriere dello Sport is reporting that AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo is not for sale. AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said,

"Andrea Pirlo is off the market. He will stay with us and finish his career in Milan .

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Hello Diary!

Things just seem to keep getting better for yours truly.

Since the wonderful tour that nobody kicked me off of in the United States of America, I have caught the return flight home by a whisker, this time in Mr. Malouda's giant purse, and have found myself back in my adopted home of London, England.

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UPDATE: According to Martin Lipton at the Daily Mirror, Chelsea are set to increase their offer for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. It is reported that they will now offer Claudio Pizarro + £10million.

August 1st, 2009 According to ESPN Soccernet, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani admitted that he wants more from Chelsea for midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

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via Reuters

• Marcos Senna is happy that fellow Brazilian, Nilmar, has arrived at Villarreal. "He is one of the best strikers in Brazil. When I heard that he was coming, I was very happy." By the way, you know you want Nilmar's FIFA paper bag in the photo above!

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Two sides apparently agree deal

The Rumour

AC Milan accept Chelsea swap terms for Pirlo

AC Milan want Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro as part of the deal for Andrea Pirlo.

The Mail on Sunday says Pirlo, Italy's World Cup-winning midfielder, is set to rejoin Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea in the next few days.

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According to ESPN Soccernet, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani admitted that he wants more from Chelsea for midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Chelsea reportedly offered $11.3million + striker Claudio Pizarro. However Galliani told Sky Italia,

"At this price Pirlo is not for sale,"

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Didier Drogba (on Inter Milan, Ancelotti, Transfer Market), Peter Cech (on Ancelotti and John Terry), the exceptionally soft-spoken Michael Essien (on John Terry), Florent Malouda (on Manchester United, John Terry, Lakers Hat, Ancelotti, diamond formation, Mourinho), Claudio Pizarro (on World Football Challenge and US Soccer in English y Espanol), Andrey Shevchenko (on his future with Chelsea), Ivan Cordoba (en Espanol), and Ancelotti (in Italinao)
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It's safe to say that Darren Bent is leaving Tottenham, but for who? It looked like Sunderland was a go for Bent, but until all of the i's have been dotted and all of the t's crossed, nothing is definite.

Along with late bids for Bent, this morning's roundup is packed chock full of Portsmouth tidbits, and we've also got the latest on Chelsea's pursuit of AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo, Hull's pursuit of new striker(s), and much more.

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UPDATE: According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have offered Claudio Pizarro as well as Michael Mancienne on a season-long loan in exchange for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

July 13th, 2009 According to Salvatore Landolina at Goal.

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Neanche il tempo di iniziare la prima stagione nella Serie A di Calcio in panchina che Leonardo gi� viene stuzzicato dal suo capo aziendale. Ma il brasiliano non rimane in silenzio ed è un botta e risposta davvero simpatico e stuzzicante. Partiamo dalla considerazione che ha prodotto poi la reazione del giovane mister sudamericano. Click to continue reading...

Ancelotti very keen on brining former player to west London.

The Rumour

AC Milan are interested in Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne.

Corriere dell Sera says Milan chiefs have expressed interest in the England U21 international during talks over the future of Andrea Pirlo.

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Ancelotti preme per avere il suo pupillo a Londra. Il presidente del Chelsea, di una delle squadre di calcio più importanti della Premier League, Roman Abramovich è pronto ad accontentarlo, ma di mezzo ci sta il Milan. Sar� disposta la societ� rossonera a privarsi di Andrea Pirlo, del suo prezioso regista, con il quale ha vinto praticamente tutto? Click to continue reading...

According to this man, all signs are pointing up for the growth of US Soccer.
After the World Football Challenge match of Chelsea vs Inter Milan, Claudio Pizarro told me that the players are developing and that it would be interesting in the next few years. To hear him talk about this and the World Football Challenge in his own words, check out the video below:
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From left to right: Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker, Claudio Pizarro, Tim Wiese, Torsten Frings et al celebrate their DFB-Pokal victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (1-0).

Photo: Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images

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Werder Bremen faces Shakhtar Donestsk in the UEFA Cup Final at tha Sukru Saracoglue Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Shakhtar advanced to the final after defeating Dynamo Kyiv 3-2 on aggregate. The Ukrainian club is looking to win the UEFA Cup for the first time and will finish 2nd in the domestic Premier League.

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Germany's Werder Bremen will face Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in the last UEFA Cup final in Istanbul,Turkey.
Werder Bremen will hope to make up for a disappointing league campaign by beating Shakhtar Donetsk to capture the UEFA Cup on Wednesday and then use that success as a springboard to also capture the German Cup. Click to continue reading...

Shakhtar Donetsk v. Werder Bremen
Stadium: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey
Competition: UEFA Cup Final
Date: 20 May 2009
Kickoff: 18:45 GMT, 14:45 EST

Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen will fight for the right to lift the UEFA Cup! Soccerlens will be bringing you the action live!

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�

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

After an intense pair of second-legs in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup, Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen booked their places in the� tournament's final with a pair of thrilling victories on Thursday.

Shakhtar Donetsk squeaked out a 2-1� victory over compatriots Dynamo Kiev, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

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�

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Alcohol and prostitutes.

That is what Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro was accused of sneaking into a hotel while on national team duty, charges� that led to a suspension from Peruvian� the national team in 2007. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Friday that there was not enough evidence to support those charges, and thus lifted his suspension.

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by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

This week's� soccer spotlight may be focused on the UEFA Champions League� action today, but� Thursday boasts some� quality matches as the UEFA Cup also kicks off its quarterfinal round.

After an eventful fourth round of UEFA Cup action, Thursday's� first-leg match-ups look to be no different.

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0 - The number in Frankfurt's win column (still, and I'll keep on mentioning this until Frankfurt take note and do something about it) 5 - Difference in points between 1st (Hamburg) and 11th (Bayern). 6 - Number of goalscorers Hamburg and Werder Bremen have in the top 12 (ie, those who have scored at least 4 [. Click to continue reading...

The love-story between Mourinho and Inter has hit its first hurdle. Losing the Milan derby was already a big no-no moment this week-end, but Wednesday's home draw to Werder Bremen really did not sit well with some Nerazzurri supporters, who did not hide their discontent in the San Siro stands. And with good reason. Click to continue reading...

Werder were let down by their play in the final third tonight, but managed a point at the San Siro against the Italian giants. Inter were in charge at the start of the game and made their advantage count as they scored in the 13′ when Maicon was allowed free access to the 18 and slotted [...] Click to continue reading...