Arsenal have been rocked by an injury to star striker Robin van Persie which could see the
Dutchman ruled out of action for around two months.
Van Persie was stretchered off during Holland's goalless friendly draw in Italy on Saturday
night.
He damaged his ankle in a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini in the early stages of the clash.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 30 October @ 02:27 PM EST
Barca Captain Carles Puyol has officially put pen to paper and signed his new contract with the
club, until 2013. Puyol's as happy as could be, and thanked everyone for having the confidence to
keep him. As if it could be any other way!
Meanwhile, Puyol's fellow centerback Rafael Marquez is very close to signing his own brand new deal
with the club.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 24 October @ 08:53 AM EST
- Friday night = party night, and last night we actually had something to celebrate: Puyol has
agreed to a contract renewal,
finally! Formalities and official signings and whatnot will
take place in the coming days, but the important thing is they've made the deal, El Capitan is
onboard till 2013 and, hopefully, he'll be here till he retires.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 16 October @ 04:10 AM EST
Fergie releases his inner stalker Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be embarrassed after a private
letter he sent to Standard Liege's Steven Defour via his club was leaked. The Manchester United
boss had clearly decided to roll out the Ruud Van Nistelrooy Method, whereby he cuddles up to
injured players to put himself in the [.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 12 October @ 03:44 AM EST
Citeh want to collect all the Toure brothers? The Sunday Mirror reckons Barcelona are willing to
let Yaya and his arguably more talented brother Carlos move to Manchester City to link up with big
bro Kolo. Spotted on 101GG
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 08 October @ 04:43 AM EST
Please, please let it come true Ever since we heard that Manchester United were in the hunt for a
youngster with the excellent name Paul Pogba we have had this thought in the back of our minds. Now
that United have the go ahead to sign him we have really got our fingers crossed... please let
[...]
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 24 September @ 04:31 AM EST
Putting an end to the rumours Harry Redknapp has managed to spin a paid column out of felt the need
to set the record straight over rumours that he was about to bring Sol Campbell back to White Hart
Lane. The Tottenham boss used his column in The Sun to reassure Spurs fans that he had [...]
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 23 September @ 05:44 AM EST
Is Judas returning to, erm, Jesus? Have stranger things happened? This time I am unsure. Former
England centre half Sol Campbell caused more than a few headlines earlier this season when he
agreed to join Sven Goran Eriksson's mega-rich Notts County. But after just one rather
disappointing appearance in the 2-1 defeat at Morecambe, Campbell could [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 19 September @ 01:43 AM EST
Is it just us, or does the club seem to offer Leo Messi a new and improved contract every year? His
salary and buy-out clause continue to climb, keeping him satisfied and far from the groping fingers
of other clubs (ahem, Man City); and now his extension is going up too.
.
Leo just penned a new deal that keeps him on the club for a whole seven years more, until 2016 to
be precise.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 18 September @ 06:07 AM EST
So say Manchester City Manchester City have drawn a line under their spending spree and will now
invest in youth development, according to executive chairman Garry Cook. The club has spent nearly
£200m on new players since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United group. But Cook has warned that
City will not continue to spend at [.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 18 September @ 03:57 AM EST
Blues find their first way of circumnavigating the rules Chelsea have beaten their transfer ban to
sign Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac, according to the player's current club. A deal has been
struck which will see the 17-year-old remain with Inter Zapresic until 2011 with Chelsea paying his
wages. Delac will reportedly travel to the UK whenever possible [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 08 September @ 08:25 AM EST
- Looks like there wasn't much truth in past reports that the world's favorite manager, Pep
Guardiola, had closed a contract renewal with Barca; now word is that the club are desperately
trying to secure his services for another year. Reportedly, Pep has been told to name his price and
all his terms, basically the club have placed a blank contract in his hands.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 07 September @ 03:57 AM EST
When WAGs stop spending their partner's cash and start earning it Richard Dunne begins life at
Aston Villa £2 million wealthier than he might have after his wife demanded a pay-off from
Manchester City. Helen Dunne decided to play hardball with football's latest moneybags when it
became clear that he would be sold following Joleon Lescott's [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 06 September @ 01:43 PM EST
- The summer transfer window was supposed to have closed a few days ago, yet the rumours persist,
with an avalanche of new reports crashing down on us, all claiming the same thing: A Robinho-Henry
swap is on the cards for Barca and Man City.
Apparently, Pep is still hankering for a winger after failed attempts to sign Riera or Mata, and
Robinho would be a fitting choice; while Man City owners are really keen on having Henry join their
team.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 04 September @ 03:01 AM EST
Big fine for a little man With every man and his dog moping on about Chelsea's transfer ban, OTP is
taking it upon itself to stick up for Gael Kakuta in all this. The 18-year-old's move to Stamford
Bridge from Lens is what has caused this tapping-up storm, and FIFA has come down hard on the [...]
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 02 September @ 03:06 AM EST
... go into hiding Bayern Munich defender Christian Lell came up with an ingenious plan to avoid a
move to Stoke City. The 25-year-old went into hiding until the transfer window was safely shut and
his proposed move to the Potteries scuppered. Tony Pulis was keen to meet Bayern's £3 million
asking price, but the player himself [.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 01 September @ 04:25 AM EST
Spot the flop To paraphrase the old Eric Morecambe gag, The Sun is using all the right images but
not necessarily in the right order. Someone got East European Transfer Flop 1.0 and East European
Transfer Flop 2.0 in a bit of a muddle. Thanks to OTP reader Ang Jinhao for the spot.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 01 September @ 04:15 AM EST
We're feeling sad about Henrique. He was signed, loaned out for a year, then brought back home as a
promising addition to the team; but after a couple of preseason performances it was decided he
still needs to develop more. And out he goes on another loan, this time to Spanish side Racing
Santander. Well, at least he stays in Spain, and will get more used to Liga football.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 31 August @ 01:16 PM EST
Dmytro Chygrynskiy is officially of Barca! He started out by taking the physical this morning
(pictures here), then stopped by the squad's training to say hello to the players, joining them in
the dressing room and on the pitch. Afterwards he continued on to the club's offices with his
brother and agent, Victor, to sign his contract until 2014.
Click to continue reading...
The Offside 30 August @ 12:12 PM EST
A fair bit of activity flying around as deadline day appoaches for the big European Clubs. There's
usually a couple of big surprising moves on the last day, and while I wouldn't expect anything
quite like last season's deadline day, I suspect a few people will be changing clubs at the last
minute. One man [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 30 August @ 07:55 AM EST
New signing Dmytro Chygrynskiy is in Barcelona, having arrived earlier today along with his agent,
brother, and club officials. We're imagining how the team's defense line is going to look when
Dmytro (it's easier to use his first name) and Puyol are fielded together - caveman and caveman
combine! They will make one hell of a centerback duo; this is one thing we are really looking
forward to.
Click to continue reading...
The Offside 29 August @ 10:49 AM EST
So Shevchenko has finally ended his Chelsea nightmare and rejoined Dynamo Kiev. Once the most
feared striker in the world, he never really made an impact at Chelsea, which is a shame because it
has tainted his once fearsome reputation, and he seemed to deal with the whole situation with some
dignity.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 29 August @ 05:12 AM EST
This signing is... relieving, to say the least. Barca have been haggling over the player with his
club, Shakhtar, for longer than we are able to keep track of; so were just glad it's finally over
and his signature is secured, for a reported twenty-five million euros.
Even though he hasn't officially joined yet, the team got a taste of him first-hand as he played
his farewell match against with Shakhtar against Barcelona in last nights UEFA Supercup - we don't
wonder that he found it very strange.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 25 August @ 03:07 AM EST
How do you spell that, son? Everton have completed the signing of Russia midfielder Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov from Lokomotiv Moscow for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old has returned home to
complete a visa application ahead a five-year deal at Goodison Park. It is not yet clear whether
the transfer is intended to propel the Toffees to Manchester City's [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 19 August @ 03:54 AM EST
- Meet Victor Sanchez: the 21 year old defender-or-midfielder-we're not-quite-clear-on-that, who
got his share of call-ups from Barca B-team to senior squad last season, before being made an
official first-teamer.
Only, a couple months after signing the bright new contract, the club decides to sell him.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 17 August @ 04:07 AM EST
by Joleon Lescott David Beckham were red-carded in LA Confidential's defeat too Seattle Sounders on
Saturday. The Ex-EnGl&nd capTain was 5ent-of in the £££££££££££ 17th minute...
Argghhhh!!!!!!! It's no use. I can't do it anymore. I Used too bee a fantastic football blogger
butt last week I herd that (£££££££££££) a national newspaper wanted to sign [.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 14 August @ 04:45 AM EST
Red top thinks England star joined Reds Contrary to what you might read on Facebook, according to
The Sun Gareth Barry doesn't love money. He loves Champions League football, making Spanish friends
and stepping into Xabi Alonso's boots. Thanks to OTP reader Benny Smyth for spotting this.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 13 August @ 04:17 AM EST
Because £18 million is reasonable for someone with a long-term injury problem, but £22 million...
Manchester City are effectively offering Everton £4 million for a glimpse at Joleon Lescott's
medical records. The Citizens have offered £18 million for the defender but will not improve their
bid without checking they are not paying for a new physio [.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 12 August @ 12:43 PM EST
Word has been going round for the past couple of days that Barca are preparing a bid for Cesc
Fabregas; they've given up on the now far away prospect of signing Mascherano, and have decided to
go for Cesc instead.
Reportedly, Barcelona have contacted Cesc's club, Arsenal, to ask about the player's transfer fee.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 05 August @ 11:20 AM EST
Man who secured dream move or man on deathbed? It is hardly a big secret that Xabi Alonso was
desperate to join Real Madrid, but it seems his big move turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax.
The ex-Liverpool midfielder could not even muster the trademark cheesy grin favoured by soon-to-be
galacticos during the [.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 05 August @ 04:36 AM EST
Farewell, Xabi Alonso, you self-confessed snail Good work in the transfer window by Rafa Benitez,
if you believe Xabi Alonso. According to this interview he gave on the Liverpool squad last season,
the Reds have managed to offload their worst trainer and their slowest player so far this summer.
Click to continue reading...
Off the Post 03 August @ 05:05 AM EST
Don't Chamakh me angry! Arsenal transfer target Marouane Chamakh has launched a tirade against
current club Bordeaux in a bid to force through his transfer. The 25-year-old followed in the
footsteps of Darren Bent when he publicly announced his anger at the slow progress of his proposed
transfer. He said: "I am angry, I am disgusted and [.
Click to continue reading...
Striker turns the air blue with Tweets outlining his preferred destination Tottenham have launched
a probe into newspaper reports that Darren Bent launched a Twitter rant against chairman Daniel
Levy. The Sun reported that Bent expressed his frustration at his drawn out transfer saga via the
social networking site on an account that has since been [.
Click to continue reading...
As a father of two young children, I've been through many road-trips plagued by one question
repeated over and over again 'are we there yet?'. It is one of the most irritating experiences in
life; one that will drive you to think evil thoughts about your prescious offspring.
This summer, however, I have to say that I've come to appreciate their position a bit better.
Click to continue reading...
Barcelista 30 July @ 01:23 PM EST
Lionel Messi is flashing his thighs during LA training - we like. But now to the point: Following
the team's U.S. tour, Barca plan to offer Messi a new-and-improved contract. The reason for the
contract renewal is mainly Ibrahimovic, since he was signed with a higher salary and buy-out cluse
than Leo.
Click to continue reading...
