Sylvester Stallone- 66 years old and still ripped!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sëmundja e detyron Albanon e “Apartamentin 2XL” të braktis skenën
Të gjithë mund ta kenë vënë re mungesën e aktorit Albano Bogdo në show-n “Apartamenti 2XL”, që transmetohet çdo të diel në ekranin e “Vizion Plus”. Këto ditë shumë fansa të tij kanë shkruajtur në rrjetet sociale, madje shumë prej tyre të shqetësuar kanë komentuar në faqen e “Apartamentit 2XL” duke hedhur dhe dyshime se Albano është larguar përfundimisht nga ky show.
Dhe pas tre javëve vet Albano u është përgjigjur atyre përmes këtij statusi: “Atëherë, nuk kam ikur dhe nuk do të iki kurrë nga “2XL” (shyqyr Zotit as nuk më kanë hequr, hahaha). Thjesht kam pasur disa probleme të vogla shëndetësore, që tani po largohen…
Disa media rozë kanë konfirmuar se aktori është stabilizuar me shëndetin dhe se shumë shpjet do të kthehet me batutat e tij në ekran
"After three years, It was the right time to end this relationship"
Florentino Pérez called a press conference at the Santiago Bernabéu and announced that José Mourinho will step down as Real Madrid coach at the end of the season. Even though the Portuguese manager had a contract until 2016, the club’s board of directors has reached an agreement with him to leave the club after three years in charge.
"It isn’t nice to reach a solution like this, but it is also true that after three years, both of us have agreed that it was the right time to end this relationship and we want to thank him, firstly, for the job he’s done", the Real Madrid president said.
"We haven’t reached an agreement or signed a pre-contract with another coach. That’s the task at hand and our job for the next few days. PSG told us they didn't want to let Ancelotti go", Florentino Pérez responded to the question whether he already knew the name of the manager set to replace José Mourinho in the Real Madrid dugout.
"We want the new coach to be someone who can help us continue improving. In footballing terms, we’re playing to a high standard that we should never have lost, but had lost during the six previous seasons", the president said.
Florentino in figures: 10 years, €860 million spent, 10 trophies
An examination of the record of Florentino Pérez, who is celebrating a decade at the helm of the most decorated club in football history, shows that he has invested almost €860 million in the transfer market to win just ten trophies over the last ten years.
In other words, each piece of silverware has cost an average of €86 million, a crazy amount considering the nature of the haul achieved: just one Champions League, three 'La Liga' titles, one Spanish Cup, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Super Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.
Florentino has employed almost as many coaches as he has won trophies. Eight managers have been and gone during the current Real Madrid president's two mandates. Pérez took up the position in summer 2000 and his most successful period to date came under the man already installed in the 'Los Blancos' hotseat, Vicente Del Bosque.
Pérez has never been shy to get out the chequebook, stumping up close to €120 million on new signings in his first summer, including pulling off a major coup by persuading Luis Figo to swap Barcelona for Madrid.
Zidane, the Brazilian Ronaldo and Beckham were to follow in the next three years, the latter in the summer of 2004, when Carlos Queiroz was drafted in to replace Del Bosque. Though the Portuguese led Real to the Spanish Super Cup, this was the last glory Florentino was to taste until Mourinho broke the drought by winning the 'Copa del Rey' in April 2011.
Some €400 million was spent during this barren spell, which takes in the last two years of Pérez's first stint as president and the first campaign after his triumphant return to the club in 2009, when Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso were all brought in.
Napoli president confirms Cavani-Dzeko negotiations, reacts to Benitez talk
The club president has admitted that there has been contact with the Premier League side over both strikers and also responded to reports linking them with Rafa Benitez
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the Serie A side are in negotiations with Manchester City over Edin Dzeko and Edinson Cavani.The Premier League giants are keen to lure Cavani away from his current club, but have yet to table a concrete offer for the Uruguay international.
Napoli, on the other hand, see Dzeko as a good alternative to Cavani in case the latter leaves this summer and De Laurentiis decided to contact City when he visited London on Monday to open talks over both strikers.
"I was in London to prepare for the European release of the movie on Steve Jobs. And then I told [sporting director Riccardo] Bigon to get in touch with Manchester City to open talks about Dzeko and see what their plans are with Cavani," the Napoli president told reporters.
"There's a lot of talk, but less action when it comes to actually spending money. Unlike me, others seem to be taking a lot of time to use their bank account."
De Laurentiis then went on to discuss the possibility of appointing Rafa Benitez as their new head coach following Walter Mazzarri's announcement that he will leave the club.
"I did not go to London for Benitez, but for my film commitments.
"I have heard a lot of names in the past six months as I knew Mazzarri would leave. The new coach will definitely be someone of Napoli's standard.
"I will have to make a decision on who will accompany me at this club in the years to come."
The Italian press claims that Benitez is in pole position for the Napoli job, while Roberto Di Matteo has also been linked with the Stadio San Paolo side.
Ribery best midfielder, Gotze best youngster - Bundesliga awards for 2012-13
The curtain was drawn on another Bundesliga season on Saturday and it has certainly been one to remember. Bayern Munich ended Borussia Dortmund's two-year stranglehold on the title with a marvellous campaign, breaking a host of records on the way.
Schalke started the season brightly but soon imploded, replacing coach Huub Stevens with a rookie in Jens Keller but rallied to gain Champions League qualification, while two of the newly-promoted teams. Greuther Furth and Fortuna Dusseldorf went straight back down to the second tier, but Eintracht Frankfurt staged a credible charge for a European place, eventually finishing sixth.
But what of the other winners and losers? Who have been the best players and coaches in the league season? And what of the worst? Goal hands out the individual awards at the end of another absorbing nine months of football.
Just one year ago, Rene Adler's career was in tatters. After a series of injuries saw him lose his place in the Germany setup and the Bayer Leverkusen team, he was out of contract. However, a free transfer to Hamburg gave him the chance to rebuild and he has taken it with aplomb. Having stayed fit, he turned in performances of such a high calibre that he won his place back in Joachim Low's squad and has even been linked with a move to Arsenal.
While Dante's rise to prominence has been something of a shock, Franck Ribery's brilliant form has been exactly what Bundesliga fans have come to expect of the Frenchman. Having maintained his fitness at long last, the 30-year-old has turned in a string of brilliant displays, terrorising defence after defence. His stats of 10 goals and 14 assists in league games may sound meagre but the sheer number of chances he has created for team-mates with such consistency sees him scoop the prize over all others.
Schalke started the season brightly but soon imploded, replacing coach Huub Stevens with a rookie in Jens Keller but rallied to gain Champions League qualification, while two of the newly-promoted teams. Greuther Furth and Fortuna Dusseldorf went straight back down to the second tier, but Eintracht Frankfurt staged a credible charge for a European place, eventually finishing sixth.
But what of the other winners and losers? Who have been the best players and coaches in the league season? And what of the worst? Goal hands out the individual awards at the end of another absorbing nine months of football.
Just one year ago, Rene Adler's career was in tatters. After a series of injuries saw him lose his place in the Germany setup and the Bayer Leverkusen team, he was out of contract. However, a free transfer to Hamburg gave him the chance to rebuild and he has taken it with aplomb. Having stayed fit, he turned in performances of such a high calibre that he won his place back in Joachim Low's squad and has even been linked with a move to Arsenal.
While Dante's rise to prominence has been something of a shock, Franck Ribery's brilliant form has been exactly what Bundesliga fans have come to expect of the Frenchman. Having maintained his fitness at long last, the 30-year-old has turned in a string of brilliant displays, terrorising defence after defence. His stats of 10 goals and 14 assists in league games may sound meagre but the sheer number of chances he has created for team-mates with such consistency sees him scoop the prize over all others.
Thierry Henry Biography
Thierry Daniel Henry (French pronunciation: [tjɛʁi ɑ̃ʁi]; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne (a suburb of Paris) where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and signed instantly, making his professional debut in 1994. Good form led to an international call-up in 1998, after which he signed for the Serie A defending champions Juventus. He had a disappointing season playing on the wing, before joining Arsenal for £11 million in 1999.
Messi: Neymar move would be wonderful
Speculation has intensified in recent weeks over where the Santos star will be plying his trade next season, with Barcelona currently attempting to negotiate a deal despite the player's insistence he will remain in Brazil until 2014.
However, should such a move materialise, Messi feels the starlet would add a different dimension to Barca's attacking threat.
"I do not know if he will end up at the club or not. However, it is true that he is a player who would bring a very different dimension to the team," he told Qatar Alkass. "Of course he would be a wonderful addition."
The Argentina international then looked ahead to next year's World Cup in Brazil and insists he wants to taste glory at the tournament irrespective of what it could mean for his reputation in the history of the game.
"All I care about is winning the World Cup," he said. "I won't be thinking about whether it will mean I am the best player ever or not."
The 25-year-old also praised former coaches Frank Rijkaard and Bayern Munich-bound Pep Guardiola, a man who Messi believes will be a huge hit and Bayern and wherever he chooses to go in future.
"He [Rijkaard] was the one who believed in me when I was 17," the Argentina skipper added. "It was one of the most important times of my life working under him, and Pep told me I was the best player he has ever coached.
"He will succeed at Bayern. He will succeed anywhere he goes because his understanding and reading of the game is like nobody else's."
Juventus confirm Higuain and Jovetic interest
Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed the club's interest in luring bothGonzalo Higuain and Stevan Jovetic to Turin this summer.
Reports emanating from Italy suggests the Bianconeri will dispatch representatives to the Spanish capital on Wednesday in an attempt to thrash out a deal for Real Madrid striker Higuain after agreeing terms in principal with the Argentine earlier this month, while Fiorentina's failure to secure Champions League qualification this season has thrown Jovetic's future at the club into further doubt.
Speaking to Rai Sports, Marotta insisted the Old Lady were weighing up their options before making a move but could not disguise his affection for the duo.
"Jovetic and Higuain are both great strikers," he said. "We want to improve the playing staff available to [Antonio] Conte in the summer so we are exploring various options at the moment."
Juventus, who recorded back-to-back Serie A titles this season, have long been linked with moves for Europe's top striking talent - including the likes of Carlos Tevez and Luis Suarez - as they look to bolster their forward line ahead of the coming campaign.
Messi, Ronaldo & the top 10 all-time Champions League goalscorers
After another thrilling season of continental football, we are finally closing in on the campaign's showpiece event - the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.
This year's competition has again produced some memorable moments as the continent's biggest and best clubs battle to be crowned European champions for 2013.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were again prominent as their sides made it to the semi-finals and battled with Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller to win the Golden Boot award.
But where do they currently rank against the best goalscorers in the history of the European Cup and Champions League?
Here, in a star-studded list, Goal provide the lowdown of the top 10 all-time scorers in the tournament, with only goals from the group stages onwards being counted - no qualifying rounds.
Alessandro Del Piero is one of the four players profiled in our top 10 who scored all his Champions League goals for only one club.
The former Juventus icon netted 42 times for the current Italian champions in Europe’s elite club competition during his lengthy career at the top, winning the Golden Boot award twice.
He helped them to win the trophy in 1996, playing the full game in the eventual triumph over Ajax on penalties and also participated in three other finals for Juve, although they all ended in defeat.
Despite being a prolific goalscorer in the competition, he only scored once in his four appearances in the Champions League final, against Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
This year's competition has again produced some memorable moments as the continent's biggest and best clubs battle to be crowned European champions for 2013.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were again prominent as their sides made it to the semi-finals and battled with Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller to win the Golden Boot award.
But where do they currently rank against the best goalscorers in the history of the European Cup and Champions League?
Here, in a star-studded list, Goal provide the lowdown of the top 10 all-time scorers in the tournament, with only goals from the group stages onwards being counted - no qualifying rounds.
Alessandro Del Piero is one of the four players profiled in our top 10 who scored all his Champions League goals for only one club.
The former Juventus icon netted 42 times for the current Italian champions in Europe’s elite club competition during his lengthy career at the top, winning the Golden Boot award twice.
He helped them to win the trophy in 1996, playing the full game in the eventual triumph over Ajax on penalties and also participated in three other finals for Juve, although they all ended in defeat.
Despite being a prolific goalscorer in the competition, he only scored once in his four appearances in the Champions League final, against Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
A two-time winner of the Champions League, Filippo Inzaghi certainly made his mark in the competition over 13 years with Juventus and, most significantly, AC Milan.
Strangely, Inzaghi is one of just two players in our list who never won the Champions League Golden Boot during his career, so making his way into the overall top 10 serves to highlight his consistency in front of goal on an annual basis.
The striker's most significant contributions saw him net a double and win the man-of-the-match award as Milan defeated Liverpool in the 2007 final in Athens, avenging their infamous Istanbul defeat in the final of two years before, a game which he had missed out on.
Strangely, Inzaghi is one of just two players in our list who never won the Champions League Golden Boot during his career, so making his way into the overall top 10 serves to highlight his consistency in front of goal on an annual basis.
The striker's most significant contributions saw him net a double and win the man-of-the-match award as Milan defeated Liverpool in the 2007 final in Athens, avenging their infamous Istanbul defeat in the final of two years before, a game which he had missed out on.
Zidane: "After Messi and Cristiano, Bale has impressed me the most"
Zidane has made it clear while talking to 'The Guardian' that Real is interested in Bale: "I´ve been watching Spurs a lot this season, and after Messi and Cristiano, I´d say that Bale is the most impressive."
The Frenchman, Florentino' s man to trust, is clearly in love with the Welshman: "I particularly like his reliability. He doesn't just play well for one or two matches, but always does, and regularly scores very important goals."
Asked if Real Madrid might be looking to sign the Welsh player, Zizou gave a rather enigmatic answer: "All talented players may end up at Real Madrid."
Husain Abdullah Biogpraphy
Husain Ibn Muhammed Abdullah (born July 27, 1985) is an American footballsafety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was offered a contract by the Minnesota Vikings and was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Washington State. He is the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals' safety Hamza Abdullah.
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| Date of birth: July 27, 1985 | |||
| Place of birth: Los Angeles, California | |||
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Simeone: "If Falcao decides to make a move, I'll be happy: if he stays, I'll be happy too"
At the press conference following Atlético Madrid's 0-2 win in Singapore, Diego Pablo Simeone was grilled about the future of Radamel Falcao.
Above all, the media were keen to know if the Colombian striker has already come to an agreement with Monaco for next season: "I don't know anything official yet. I have known him since he was a child and I wish him all the best. If he feels that he needs to make a move, I'll be happy for him. If he stays with us, I'll be happy too", Simeone told reporters.
Courtois, or rather, the future of the Belgian goalkeeper, also cropped up: "We are working on keeping him for another year", he commented.
Xavi: "We're losing one of world football's big coaches"
Xavi Hernández assured that Real Madrid will continue to win titles despite José Mourinho's departure, and admitted that the Portuguese manager has always given the Barça squad an "extra motivation".
"We'll see what happens without Mourinho, but I'm convinced that Real will keep winning titles with or without Mourinho," said the Barcelona mastermind.
Barça's assistant captain stressed that the 'Azulgranas' need to try to forget about what Real Madrid is doing and focus on competing in order for the team to keep winning titles.
"We've carried on winning titles with Mourinho. In the three years he's been here, he's nicked a title or two, but we've carried on winning. That has to remain our objective," he stressed.
Xavi also believes that the Portuguese manager's personality has always been a motivation for Barcelona: "He's a controversial manager. He's always provided an extra motivation. I don't know whether we'll miss him or not." However, he did acknowledge that the Portuguese manager's exit represents a significant loss for the Spanish league, because "we're losing one of world football's big coaches".
Gary Neville: Rooney exit would be a big mistake
The former Manchester United defender believes his old teammate should stay at Old Trafford following Sir Alex Ferguson's admission that the 27-year-old asked to leave the club.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has warned Wayne Rooney it would be a big mistake to leave the Premier League champion.Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the 27-year-old, who was left out of the squad for the Red Devils' final home game of the season, wants to leave the club, and cited the former Everton striker's frequent substitutions as the reason.
But Neville believes the striker should take a break from the club over the summer after a frustrating period before reassessing his position.
“Believe me, I've seen football players go to Real Madrid, and other great clubs in Europe, and they always want to come back to this football club,” said Neville. “I would hope that Wayne Rooney settles down over the summer - Sir Alex Ferguson says he's not leaving this football club - that he gets his head down, brings himself back.
“He just needs to get away, come away with England over the next couple of weeks, play for England, have a summer off, and hopefully he'll get his head back to being a Manchester United player because there's nowhere else to go from here."
Neville is a a former teammate who now coaches Rooney for England
“I played with Wayne Rooney, I know Wayne Rooney and I'm a coach of Wayne Rooney," Neville said. "He needs to consider that. If he sees what's going on in this football club today [United lifting the Premier League trophy], he's an emotional lad.
“You can see in the last few months he's not been quite himself. When you see Wayne Rooney on the football pitch, challenging every single challenge, fighting for every refereeing decision, you can see he's not quite been himself.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, however, if he's seen what's happened today, the reception before today - he's sat up in that box, he's 27 years of age: this football club - there's nowhere to go from here.”
Doping is everywhere, says Xavi
Controversial doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was recently handed a 12-month suspended sentence after blood bags were found in his offices and although he claimed to have clients within football, their names were kept private.
And while Xavi has stressed that he is not aware of any doping within the game, he feels that the authorities must be tough on the issue.
"It's a shame but the issue of doping is very present, not in football, but in sports in general," he is quoted as saying by AS.
"For me, total prevention or any control is good. People have to be healthy and it's good to have this type of control.
"In football, I'm sure it doesn't happen. I've never experienced it in 15 years of being a professional and I've never seen it either at Barca or in the Spain national team in any form.
"We must be very tough on it."
Xavi went on to stress that his side would not change in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure as Real Madrid boss.
Valdano: Signing Neymar would be a huge coup for Real Madrid
Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano feels that it would be a huge coup for the Santiago Bernabeu side if they were to lure Santos star Neymar to the Spanish capital.
The Brazil international appeared to be destined to join Barcelona this summer, only for his club to turn down a second formal offer from the Catalans earlier this week talks continue.
Madrid are believed to be closely monitoring the 21-year-old's situation and Valdano would love to see Neymar make the move to the Bernabeu.
"It would be a huge coup if Real Madrid manage to sign Neymar," Valdano was quoted as saying by Marca.
"Not just because he's a great player, but also because they'd then take him right from under Barcelona's nose.
"I like Neymar a lot. Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it's a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch."
Neymar has a contract with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.
Real's holy Bale
There is a connection between Zidane and Bale. The Frenchman is the person who is trying the most to convince the Real Madrid president of the need to sign the Welsh player. Zidane had been entrusted with the job of following Bale's performances throughout the season.As a result of his studies, the club is now studying the pros and cons of completing the transfer of the player who has been voted the best footballer in England - the third-highest scorer in the Premier League with 21 goals. Bale is Zidane's first choice, as was Varane two years ago.
But the road to sealing the player's signature is beset with obstacles to get round, and that won't be easy.
Tottenham Hotspur FC is well aware of Real Madrid's interest in this player. His name came up during the conversations that took place with Real Madrid when signing Luka Modric.
The Tottenham chairman was quite open about it. "The day we put Bale on the market, you will have first call". Daniel Levy's words and the good relationship Real Madrid has with Tottenham make it necessary for Real Madrid to express interest with the greatest respect for a club which is prepared to listen to an offer.
Tottenham's plans are for Gareth Bale to continue for one more year, despite the disappointment of the club not reaching fourth place in the league and thus not qualifying for the Champions League. To counteract this disappointment, the club is putting together a new contract whereby Bale's earnings would go up from €5½ million gross a year to €7½ million.
Cameron To Crack Down On Preachers Of Hate
Cameron To Crack Down On Preachers Of Hate
David Cameron is to attempt to launch a crackdown on the preachers of hate blamed by the Government for the extremism that led to the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.
The Prime Minister’s fightback will come with the launch of a taskforce to tackle all forms of radicalisation that can lead to violent extremism and terrorism.The group will include the most senior members of the Cabinet, including Nick Clegg, George Osborne, Theresa May, Eric Pickles and Chris Grayling, as well the Muslim Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi.
In tackling extremism, the task force will aim to produce initiatives on:
:: Disrupting extremist activity
:: Challenging poisonous narratives
:: Trends in radicalisation
:: Tackling radicalisation in institutions (mosques, madrassas, schools, colleges, universities and prisons)
:: Supporting faith and community leadership to build strong, integrated and united communities
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Pickles, the Communities Secretary said: "Our answer to the extremists and preachers of hate is to speak out, to show them for what they are.
"We're not going to sell you"
It has been a difficult season for Pepe. The defender was punished by José Mourinho after the former's comments in support of Iker Casillas, which was for the Portuguese manager an act of betrayal. Pepe has not played in Real Madrid's last five games – including the Copa del Rey final – casting the centre-back's future into doubt.
Pepe has been told by the club's directors that they are counting on him for the coming season and he will not be sold. "We're not going to sell you. You are a unique centre-back", the defender was told.
Pepe has been strongly supported by his teammates. He recently had dinner with Cristiano Ronaldo, where the pair both assessed their future at the club. It seems both want to stay, as they feel at home and know they have the chance to win the most sought after titles. Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos have also helped the Portuguese player through a difficult time. Their words of support have encouraged him to deal with the punishment handed out to him by Mourinho. It was a time for unity within the squad, and Pepe very much appreciated it.
Mourinho dealt well with the questions thrown at him on the issue at his last press conference. The Portuguese boss said that Pepe's exclusion was down to Raphael Varane: "It's a matter of frustration". The coach's comments suggested that the club would look to sell the central defender. The departure of Ricardo Carvalho reinforces the idea of Real keeping hold of Pepe. Varane has progressed well and is a player for the future, but he still has a long way to go and will not play in every game. It seems there is a place for Pepe, after all.
Pepe has been told by the club's directors that they are counting on him for the coming season and he will not be sold. "We're not going to sell you. You are a unique centre-back", the defender was told.
Pepe has been strongly supported by his teammates. He recently had dinner with Cristiano Ronaldo, where the pair both assessed their future at the club. It seems both want to stay, as they feel at home and know they have the chance to win the most sought after titles. Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos have also helped the Portuguese player through a difficult time. Their words of support have encouraged him to deal with the punishment handed out to him by Mourinho. It was a time for unity within the squad, and Pepe very much appreciated it.
Mourinho dealt well with the questions thrown at him on the issue at his last press conference. The Portuguese boss said that Pepe's exclusion was down to Raphael Varane: "It's a matter of frustration". The coach's comments suggested that the club would look to sell the central defender. The departure of Ricardo Carvalho reinforces the idea of Real keeping hold of Pepe. Varane has progressed well and is a player for the future, but he still has a long way to go and will not play in every game. It seems there is a place for Pepe, after all.
Stramaccioni dismisses need for Inter overhaul
The manager believes that once he gets back all of his injured players, the Nerazzurri will only need to bring in a few top signings to challenge for trophies again.
Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni insists that the struggling Serie A giant does not need a complete overhaul and that not many "top-quality signings" are required this summer as many people believe.The Nerazzurri have endured a disastrous campaign by their own lofty standards, with their early hopes of a title challenge having been derailed by a torrid injury crisis and a stunning dip in form that has left them ninth in the table ahead of their Genoa showdown with just two games to go.
Stramaccioni freely admits that Inter needs to strengthen during the offseason, but he is adamant that the makings of a good squad already exists at the San Siro.
"Yes, we do need to make some top-quality signings, but, in terms of numbers, fewer than you might imagine," Stramaccioni told the his club's official website. "Inter have a good base here: it can be improved but it's already good. Inter came out of the January window with an exceptional player and that's Mateo Kovacic. Finding a player that good at just 19 is extraordinary."
Stramaccioni also rejected the notion that he has contributed to Inter's struggles this year by failing to implement a clearly defined strategy and style of play, arguing that the unavailability of so many players through injury has hindered him greatly in that regard.
"That's the criticism which hurts the most on a personal level because I made my way up to Serie A always playing the same system, setting my teams up in a very precise way," Stramaccioni said. "If a coach is successful for 12 years using a particular formation and then changes it's because he believes he can get more out of what's available to him by doing so.
"Next year we'll have a very clear tactical system. I'm sorry about the criticism, but Inter always comes first.
"This is my first full season in Serie A and it's the first time I've experienced an injury crisis like this. There's certainly a huge dollop of bad luck involved but no one wants to hide everything behind that.
"We've looked at what we can do better and we're keeping our analysis in house, but a situation like the one we find ourselves in at the moment can't not affect things. We're playing with a totally different squad."
Madrid offers Karanka chance to stay on
Florentino Pérez is going to respect Karanka's contract. Real Madrid's assistant manager has three seasons left on his contract and he'll be offered the chance to stay on.
Last year he renewed his contract till 2016 and Real Madrid's president will hold a meeting with him to find out what he intends to do. Mourinho doesn't plan on taking him to Chelsea.
Last year he renewed his contract till 2016 and Real Madrid's president will hold a meeting with him to find out what he intends to do. Mourinho doesn't plan on taking him to Chelsea.
Barcelona beware: Neymar is a player set up for a monumental fall
As Goal exclusively revealed in April, the 21-year-old has completed his move to Camp Nou, but whether he is the player the Spanish champions require remains questionable
COMMENTBy Paul Macdonald
It is official: Neymar is a Barcelona player.
| BARCA'S NEW SAMBA STAR | |||
As the 2012-13 season draws to a close, Barca, despite their fourth La Liga title in five years, are a subdued organisation. The clinical, methodical dismantling at the hands of Bayern, coupled with their own insipid capitulation, once again raised the question of Messidependecia. Without him this immortal team appear fallible. Without their god-like genius, they are ponderous. Susceptible. Beatable. Paris Saint-Germain almost seized upon it. Bayern relentlessly exploited it.
Messi IS Barca, some believe. Pedro, Villa, Tello, Alexis - they aren't offering enough, say others. Now, the cockatoo in the room becomes apparent; Neymar can provide that which is lacking when Messi is unable to deliver.
Barcelona's agent in South America, Andre Cury, is a fully paid-up member of the Neymar appreciation society.
"Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of over-dependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos and over-dependence on Messi at Barcelona as we would then have another player at his level
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema was born in Lyon, France on 19 December 1987 to a working class family originally from northern Algeria; roots that defined his mature yet simple character. The early days of his life as a footballer began at the age of 9 with Olympique Lyonnais, a club he had never left until signing for Real Madrid. He was one of the youth system’s most outstanding players and scored 38 goals in one season with the Under-16 side followed by the UEFA European Under-17 title with France in 2004. He debuted with Lyon’s first team on 15 January 2005 against Metz. Although he did not score, he did provide an assist to Bryan Bergougnoux, who scored the winning goal. Despite the fact that Benzema had been crowned champion of Europe, club staff didn’t want to rush the player’s development and only played him in six matches that season. He did however go on to score 12 goals in 14 matches with France’s Under-18 side.
Valdano: Signing Neymar would be a huge coup for Real Madrid
Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano feels that it would be a huge coup for the Santiago Bernabeu side if they were to lure Santos star Neymar to the Spanish capital.
The Brazil international appeared to be destined to join Barcelona this summer, only for his club to turn down a second formal offer from the Catalans earlier this week talks continue.
Madrid are believed to be closely monitoring the 21-year-old's situation and Valdano would love to see Neymar make the move to the Bernabeu.
"It would be a huge coup if Real Madrid manage to sign Neymar," Valdano was quoted as saying by Marca.
"Not just because he's a great player, but also because they'd then take him right from under Barcelona's nose.
"I like Neymar a lot. Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it's a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch."
Neymar has a contract with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.
The Brazil international appeared to be destined to join Barcelona this summer, only for his club to turn down a second formal offer from the Catalans earlier this week talks continue.
Madrid are believed to be closely monitoring the 21-year-old's situation and Valdano would love to see Neymar make the move to the Bernabeu.
"It would be a huge coup if Real Madrid manage to sign Neymar," Valdano was quoted as saying by Marca.
"Not just because he's a great player, but also because they'd then take him right from under Barcelona's nose.
"I like Neymar a lot. Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it's a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch."
Neymar has a contract with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.
Oklahoma Tornado: Obama Visits Affected Areas
President Barack Obama has seen for himself the devastation caused by last Monday's tornado that killed 24 people and damaged about 12,000 homes.
He had a first-hand look at the recovery efforts from the monstrous storm that hit areas including Moore and Oklahoma City and completely destroyed 1,200 properties.The president offered moral and monetary support to people still reeling from lost lives and shattered neighbourhoods.
He told survivors that the rebuilding job will be enormous and "we're going to be with you all the way".
The US leader met affected families and thanked emergency services in Moore, a town of 41,000 residents about 10 miles from Oklahoma City.
Standing with the state's governor, Mary Fallin, and other officials amid the devastation, Mr Obama said: "A picture's worth a thousand words."
He told residents: "It is going to take a long time for the Moore community to rebuild."
But he added: "Moore is going to come back stronger. We are going to be with you every step of the way", adding the town had already been printing new street signs.
He also appealed for the American people to donate to the Red Cross to help tornado victims.
Among the dead were 10 children, including seven students at Plaza Towers Elementary School and two sisters pulled by the strong winds out of their mother's grasp.
An infant died along with his mother trying to ride out the storm in a convenience store.
Mr Obama's first stop was the demolished site of the school, where the tornado turned the one-storey building into a heap of bricks, broken concrete and twisted metal.
He walked along Eagle Drive, with the demolished school on his left, and on his right, homes reduced as far as the eye could see to piles of rubble.
Vehicles were turned upside down and toys and children's books were strewn with furniture and ripped out wall insulation.
"I know this is tough," he told one school official.
He met the Lewis family, who lost their home behind the school, telling them the important thing is they survived and could replace their things.
"What a mess," he told their son Zack, a third grader at the shattered school.
Zack's father, Scott, ran into the school just before the storm hit and ran with his terrified son back to their home's storm shelter.
Oklahoma Tornado: Young Survivors Begin To Heal
Children from two schools destroyed by the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma have been reunited with their classmates and teachers as other schools welcomed them with special events.
Large banners at the entrance to Wayland Bonds Elementary welcomed pupils from Briarwood - which was all but flattened by Monday's ferocious twister.On what would have been the last day of term, the event was a chance for the students and teachers to come together, reflect on the tragedy and say goodbye to the school year.
Many schools across Moore have been closed since the devastating tornado.
Recognising how traumatic the storm had been for the children, Principal Michelle McNear asked the media to keep their distance as the youngsters arrived, many clinging to family members.
But Sky News was allowed to take a look inside ahead of time at the classrooms decorated with balloons and colourful displays welcoming the visitors.
Teachers from Briarwood were there to greet their students and reunite them with rucksacks and possessions found in the debris of the school.
A drive is now on in Moore to raise money to buy more than a thousand new backpacks and toys for children from Briarwood and from Plaza Towers Elementary, where seven pupils lost their lives.
Children emerged from the event clutching balloons, and one mother told Sky News it was important to do something for the kids and let them know things will get back to normal.
But along with the emotional challenges ahead will be the bureaucratic headache for the authorities trying to find classrooms before summer ends for the nearly 1,000 pupils whose schools were destroyed.
Children have been offered counselling to deal with the memories of what happened, but teachers who battled to protect their pupils may also need help.
The test for this battered area in the weeks and months ahead will be about much more than simply rebuilding.
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