The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Martino “knows nothing” of Barca bid for Luiz Posted: 07 Aug 2013 08:58 AM PDT Barcelona's new boss Gerard Martino today said he was unaware of a bid for Chelsea and Brazil defender David Luiz, despite swirling rumours in the British press. Speaking to reporters in Bangkok after watching his side canter to a 1-7 victory over a young Thai team, he said he had no knowledge of a rumoured bid worth around US$54 million (RM175.74 million) for the towering defender, who can also play in a holding midfield role. "We are here in Thailand, there is nothing we know about this," he said in a terse reply to a question on the potential for recruiting the Chelsea man. Barcelona are known to be in the market for a ball playing central defender as back up to their ageing and increasingly injury-prone captain Carles Puyol. Martino turned to the untested Franck Bagnack to partner stalwart Gerard Pique at the heart of the defence against Thailand today. The Cameroonian youngster, recommended to Barca by his compatriot and former Nou Camp hero Samuel Eto'o, gave away a penalty after getting caught flat-footed once in an otherwise solid if unremarkable 45 minutes against the Thais. Martino may be keen on bringing in a more physical and experienced defender to add steal to a defence that was demolished by the strength and pace of Bayern Munich in last year's Champions League semi-final. Luiz, who after a shakey start for the London club, has become a dominant – if occasionally eccentric – presence in the Chelsea defence, could fit the bill by bringing both power and a strong passing range to the pitch. – AFP, August 7, 2013. |
| Arsenal’s Suarez bid ‘on standby’ : Wenger Posted: 07 Aug 2013 08:37 AM PDT Arsenal have seen two offers for Suarez rejected by Liverpool, the latter a bid of US$62 million (RM201.92 million) that the London club hoped would trigger a release clause in the Uruguay international's contract. However, in an interview published in British newspapers today, Suarez said Liverpool had broken promises made to him by refusing to let him join another club. The 26-year-old says he cannot afford to spend another season without playing in the Champions League, but Arsenal are running out of time to include him in their squad for a play-off tie later this month, as squad lists must be registered with European governing body UEFA by August 12. Reports in the British media claim Suarez is considering taking legal action against Liverpool in order to force through a move away from the club, but Wenger says he is powerless to intervene. "At the moment the situation is on standby. I heard that (Suarez is considering legal action), but this is sometimes linked with things that you don't know as a potential buyer," Wenger told Al Jazeera Sport. "That is the story between Suarez and Liverpool and I don't know what has been said, what has been promised and what has been written, and that is only Suarez and Liverpool that can decide that. "It is nothing to do with us. We have been told that the player wants to leave Liverpool and that is why we have acted. I really don't know what will be decided by Liverpool." Speaking to newspapers The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, Suarez said he had been given assurances he would be allowed to leave the five-time European champions during the current close season. – AFP, August 7, 2013. |
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