Marseille fans raise 1.5m euros for Drogba
July 15, 2008
MARSEILLE, France (AFP) - Marseille fans have raised almost 1.5 million euros in a bold bid to lure prodigal striker Didier Drogba back to the Mediterranean, according to the website handling donations on Monday.
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Kewell misses Olympics to sign with Galatasaray
July 5, 2008
SYDNEY (AFP) - Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell has passed up the opportunity to play for Australia at the Beijing Olympics to pursue a club career with Turkey’s Galatasaray.
The Australian international has signed a three-year deal with the Turkish giants after five injury-plagued seasons at Anfield.
Galatasaray official Haldun Ustunel said they had reached agreement on all contract issues and Kewell was expected to arrive in Istanbul late on Friday.
"As a result of long-standing efforts, we have come to the point of recruiting a very important player to Galatasaray," Ustunel told the club’s website.
"We have agreed on all issues. He shares our excitement," said Ustunel, describing Kewell as "a great power".
The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia’s three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.
Socceroos Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North are the three over-age players in the 18-man Australian under-23 squad for next month’s Games.
"It’s not easy for him as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics," said Olympics coach Graham Arnold, who played and was an assistant coach at two previous Games.
During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when he was sent off.
Home-based defender North and Sheffield United wing-back Carney played in Australia’s World Cup qualifiers last month, while Melbourne Victory striker Thompson is recovering from a knee injury.
Arnold overlooked the claims of promising former Adelaide United strike pair, Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns, who have signed for overseas clubs.
"They are only 20 and were pretty much in between Olympic age groups and that made it pretty difficult for them," Arnold said.
North, an Athens Olympian, said: "It is a real honour to be picked to go to Beijing.
"I can’t wait to start training with them and get over there. I really hope to go in and lead by example for the younger players."
After finishing seventh in Athens, North wants to see Australia achieve more this time round, although they are grouped with defending Olympic champions Argentina, Ivory Coast and Serbia.
"I feel like I have been given another chance and I want to go all the way this time," North said.
Arnold said the three over-age players would bring international experience to the under-23 team in Beijing.
"The three over-age players will bring both attacking flair and strong defence to the team," he said.
The Australian squad contains seven overseas-based players, while defender Mark Milligan and striker James Troisi are currently uncontracted to overseas clubs.
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Chelsea FC to battle Jose Mourinho for Samuel Eto’o
June 9, 2008
Sensational transfer news are out and it has been reported that English giants Chelsea FC will battle it out face to face with old boss Jose Mourinho for Barcelona’s want away striker Samuel Eto’o.
It is believed that Chelsea are set to move for the Cameroon star after agreeing to sell Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba to AC Milan for £18million but they face stiff competition from Mourinho and Inter Milan, who have also made Eto’o a top priority.
It has been revealed that Chelsea will make a £22m bid for the 27-year-old striker and offer him a £110,000 a week deal.
It is also believed that as part of the agreement to sell them Drogba, Blues want San Siro outfit AC to end any interest in Eto’o and has made it clear to the Italian giants that Andriy Shevchenko is not for sale.
Along with Eto’o, who has already drawn interest from Tottenham Hotspurs, Chelsea will also try to sign Valencia front man David Villa.
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Roman Abramovich ready to finance Chelsea’s spending spree
May 28, 2008
Staggering news is out from Stamford Bridge and it has been reported that Chelsea will give their new manager £80million to spend in the transfer market to buy new players.
It is believed that that is the transfer chest Blues owner Roman Abramovich has agreed after being left embarrassed the club were trophy-less for the first time in four years.
A Chelsea source revealed that ex-coach Avram Grant won nothing and therefore was fired. It was also said that Roman is not prepared to settle for second best.
It was also added that any candidate for the manager post at Chelsea will be made aware of what’s expected but at the same time significant funds will be made available.
It has been reported that Chelsea wants Valencia and Spanish International striker David Villa, Barcelona wonderkid Giovanni Dos Santos and could swap Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba for Inter Milan top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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Drogba will only play for AC Milan
May 14, 2008
Sensational transfer news are out and it has been reported that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has confessed that he wants a move to Italian club AC Milan.
It is believed that the Champions League final against Manchester United looks like being Drogba’s last game for Chelsea after it was reported that he admitted in his new autobiography meeting Milan legend Paolo Maldini and officials at the start of last term before daring them to buy him.
Drogba went on to say that it is all footballers dream of playing for AC Milan. He also added that he explained to Paolo Maldini that Milan is a club that he would love to join.
The Ivory Coast striker also revealed that he flew to Milan in a private jet in order to meet with Milan officials.
It is believed that upon arrival at Milan, Drogba met Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, who allegedly asked him when will he play for AC Milan. It is believed that Drogba replied that it is up to them as they only have to get the cash ready and meet with Chelsea.
It was reported that Galliani called Chelsea FC to make an offer the very next day.
Drogba has so far played a total of 110 games for Chelsea FC and scored 50 goals along the way.
BIO
Full name: Didier Yves Drogba Tebily
Date of birth: March 11, 1978
Place of birth: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position: Striker
Current club: Chelsea
Number: 11
Previous Clubs
1998–2002: Le Mans
2002–2003: En Avant Guingamp
2003–2004: Olympique Marseille
2004– Chelsea
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