Football News: Suarez Not Going Back To Barca In Jan, Leeds Need Signings And 8 More Stories
Image from: zimbio.com
1. Neymar gets Samba Gold
Barcelona forward Neymar Jr has picked up his second consecutive Samba Gold award, which is give annually to the best Brazilian player playing in European football. Neymar was a clear winner with 37.87%, almost three times as many as the runner up, Bayern Munich's Douglas Costa, who received 13% of the vote. Felipe Melo of Galatasaray was third with 9.37%, but that was in large part due to an organised fan vote by the Turkish club's fans. The award is based on a combination of votes from a panel of former players and journalists added to fan votes.
2. Villareal rule out Suarez returning to Barca
The Yellow Submarines have ruled out the sale of Denis Suarez to former club Barcelona in the January transfer window. Suarez joined Villareal in the summer, but Barca have since confirmed they have a buyback clause on the 21 year old, who has been impressive so far this season. Suarez has been key to Villareal, adding 3 goals and 5 assists in his 13 La Liga appearances. Fernando Roig, the club president, has revealed that the buyback clause does not come into effect until the summer. "There is an option for the summer, at the end of the season, but not until then," he said. He also confirmed that they are looking to move to bring back Denis Cheryshev from Real Madrid, after a successful loan spell for the Russian last season.
3. Spanish football federation overturn yellow card for Adan
On Wednesday, Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 win over Real Betis, helped in no small part by the award of one of the most laughable penalty awards you will ever see, which led to their first goal. Well, other than for the two ridiculous penalties given to Real Madrid on the same day! As goalkeeper Antonio Adan punches a cross from Ivan Rakitic clear, his momentum saw him collide with Lionel Messi afterwards. As has been made clear in the statement released by the Spanish federation, it was actually Messi who ran into the keeper and gaining a penalty. While the admittance of a mistake is welcome, it does not help Betis now.
4. RB Leipzig dismiss Forsberg rumours
With rumours rife regarding their forward Emil Forsberg, German second tier club Red Bull Leipzig have moved to end speculation linking the Swede with the likes of Liverpool. The club's CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff, has issued a hands off warning to any clubs interested in him. Mintzlaff has said, on the club's official Twitter feed, "Everyone can rest assured that we are not interested in any enquiries for Emil Forsberg. He is not for sale."
5. Leeds player asks owner for signings in January
Leeds United captain Sol Bamba has called on the club's owner, Massimo Cellino, to buy players in the January transfer window. "A few additions in January would now help," Bamba told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "To compete, you need a good squad. At the minute, if I am honest, we are a bit short. So, if we can add one or two in the transfer window then we could end up right in the mix. Belief has been a big factor in how we have been playing. Football is all about confidence. Six unbeaten helps us in that respect and we need to keep it going. We said in the dressing room after Derby that to make it a valuable point, we have to now beat MK Dons. We must get the three points."
6. Wenger reveals secret to Ozil's continued success
Arsenal have been having a season to remember, in big part due to the sensational form of German playmaker Mesut Ozil. The 27 year old has been in breathtaking form, with assists being racked up at a phenomenal rate, 16 so far this season. With injuries racking the Gooners, manager Arsene Wenger has been unable to rest him during the season so far, at least unable to rest him from the team, as he revealed recently. "I gave Mesut a one-week holiday during the international break," he said. "At the moment he doesn't practice a lot, we rest him a lot between the games. He is a guy who, once the basic fitness is there between the games, he wants to play. There are types of players, sometimes the most technical players, it looks like it demands less energy for them to play - it is just natural for them. You also look at the impact Ozil can have on other players. The Premier League is very tight and if you go into the decisive game and [rest Ozil or other key players], the other players think subconsciously 'Why?', and even the player himself." Makes a change to see a manager take a sensible approach to resting players, they should easily be able to maintain fitness playing matches during a busy period. It makes perfect sense to let them take a break from training to recharge.
7. Ipswich make their first January move
Championship side Ipswich Town have made their first signing of the January transfer window by swooping for League One side Barnsley's young midfielder Paul Digby. The 20 year old, who has only made 25 appearances in his career for Barnsley so far, has made the step back up to the Championship on loan for the remainder of the season. Digby is an U19 and U20 England international but struggled to hold down a place this season, with just 3 appearances for Barnsley since their relegation from the Championship last season.
8. Despite topping La Liga Simeone looking for more from Atletico
A 1-0 win over Levante saw Atletico Madrid go two points clear of Barcelona at the top of Primera Liga at the weekend, though Barca do have a game in hand, despite this, boss Diego Simeone is not happy with his team's performances. Their success has been built on clean sheets, this the 11th of the season so far, but Simeone is looking for more from the attack than he saw against bottom of the league Levante. "We have one game to go until the end of the first half of the season, but leading the league will not distract us from the improvements we need," said Simeone. "I think we can play better, have more speed in our game, be more decisive, consistent, make better choices in the final third and score more goals. That is what concerns me." So far big money summer signings Luciano Vietto and Jackson Martinez have failed to deliver the goals Simeone desires.
9. Former Wigan, PSG and Ivory Coast defender found dead at just 34 years old
Steve Gohouri has been found dead in the river Rhine, he was just 34 years old. The former Wigan Athletic defender had been reported missing last month. He went missing after leaving current club, TSV Steinbach's, Christmas party to join his family in Paris. He did not show up in the French capital and was reported missing. Gohouri was well travelled, numbering Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Young Boys and Maccabi Tel Aviv amongst his former clubs.
10. Bilic challenges Andy Carroll to stay fit
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has showered praise on striker Andy Carroll, following his second goal in the East Londoners' 2-0 win over Liverpool and challenged him to work hard and stay fit. "I thought he was brilliant," said Bilic. "Not just because of his goal but his performance; defending, holding the ball up, pressing their defenders, everything. Liverpool is always a 'target' team, especially now with Jurgen Klopp as their manager, and to create chances and keep a clean sheet is a great way to start the new year for West Ham. Now he looks fit to me. We have been talking a lot about him: Andy this, Andy that, Andy England, but now he is fit and it is all down to him now. Is he going to look after himself, work hard, train, rest, to maintain his position or to even make it better? And then, and only then, he will become a great asset for us, and it is up to him. I expect him to stick to what he was like recently, he would be very, very stupid to do otherwise." That was just Carroll's third goal of the season, after he struggled for fitness and form during the early part of the season. The Hammers have gone up into 6th place in the table, and they will need Carroll to put in more performances if they are to achieve the European football they crave ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.
Written by Tris Burke January 03 2016 04:25:36