Tag Archives: opportunities

Mario Balotelli scores twice for Manchester City Under 21s

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A day in the life of Mario… handed run-out for City's kids team, turns up laughing and joking, scores two goals, snubs hat-trick by rejecting TWO penalties and is then chauffeur-driven home!

By
Alex Horlock

PUBLISHED:

16:36 GMT, 7 January 2013

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UPDATED:

17:14 GMT, 7 January 2013

Mario Balotelli was back in the goals for Manchester City in a surprise performance for the champions' Under 21 outfit – but he turned down the chance to score a hat-trick from the spot, twice.

The controversial striker returned to action for the senior squad on Saturday, when he replaced Edin Dzeko in the 71st minute in City's 3-0 FA Cup win over Watford.

The striker has been out of favour over the past month following a lacklustre showing in City's defeat to bitter rivals in the Manchester derby on December 9.

No 9: Mario Balotelli wore the iconic striker's number instead of 45, which he wears at senior level

No 9: Mario Balotelli wore the iconic striker's number instead of 45, which he wears at senior level

Anybody there Balotelli scored twice in front of a modest crowd at Platt Lane

Anybody there Balotelli scored twice in front of a modest crowd at Platt Lane

A dismal four weeks for the Italian came
to a head when he and manager Roberto Mancini wrestled with one another
in training, and, as revealed in Sportsmail, the City boss is prepared to sell his protege after finally losing patience with him.

But Mancini may have to think twice after a dazzling performance this afternoon.

After coolly jogging on to the pitch, sharing a joke with some of the fans at Platt Lane, the 22-year-old fired City into a 1-0 lead after half-time, having pounced on a defensive error.

With Balotelli leading the line, City
cruised past their opposition, and were soon 3-0 up after a second
goal from the striker.

The Italy international was then twice
handed golden opportunities to bag a hat-trick after his coolly despatched brace.

Future stars: The Italian lined up next to Manchester City's youngsters

Future stars: The Italian lined up next to Manchester City's youngsters

Face in the crowd: Marcos Lopes, who scored City's third on Saturday, watched the match

Face in the crowd: Marcos Lopes, who scored City's third on Saturday, watched the match

Looking on: Oldham manager Paul Dickov was at Platt Lane watching two of his former clubs in action

Looking on: Oldham manager Paul Dickov was at Platt Lane watching two of his former clubs in action

City were awarded two penalties at 3-0 up, and Balotelli allowed his younger team-mates to try their hand from the spot.

Despite his perfect record from 12 yards out, having never missed a competitive penalty for club or country,
Balotelli first handed the reins to a young trialist, who missed the mark.

After City were awarded a second penalty, Balotelli allowed young Denis Suarez to have a pop.

The 19-year-old Spaniard stepped up
and killed the game off at 4-0 in front of a modest crowd including the
likes of Paul Dickov, Patrick Vieira and sporting director Txiki
Begiristain.

The selfless Balotelli was then chauffeur-driven from the ground.

Mancini will take solace from the fact that the former Inter Milan attacker is back to scoring ways.

The Italian coach has watched his
compatriot endure a miserable campaign so far, with Balotelli only
managing to score once in the Premier League this season.

With Sergio Aguero injured, Balotelli will be hoping play some part in City's trip to the Emirates this weekend in their bid to topple Arsenal.

However, Mancini stated that Balotelli's career at City was 'finished' after the corresponding fixture last season. The striker picked up two yellow cards and was dismissed as the visitors were beaten 1-0 by a Mikel Arteta strike.

Impressed: City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain was also at the match

Impressed: City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain was also at the match

Job done: The goalscorer left City in style as he climbed into a chauffeur-driven car

Job done: The goalscorer left City in style as he climbed into a chauffeur-driven car

Peering out: Balotelli will be hoping to be included in City's trip to Arsenal this weekend

Peering out: Balotelli will be hoping to be included in City's trip to Arsenal this weekend

Arsene Wenger plans 10m bid for Bayern Munich player Luiz Gustavo

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Wenger targets Bayern outcast Gustavo in 10m January raid

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UPDATED:

11:59 GMT, 9 December 2012

Brazilian Luiz Gustavo could be on his way to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger added him to his January transfer shortlist.

The 25-year-old defensive midfielder has fallen out of favour at Bayern Munich this season, having joined the Bavarian club from Hoffenheim for 12m in January 2011.

Out of favour: Brazilian Luiz Gustavo (left) has seen his first team opportunities limited at Bayern Munich and could be heading to Arsenal in January

Out of favour: Brazilian Luiz Gustavo (left) has seen his first team opportunities limited at Bayern Munich and could be heading to Arsenal in January

With Bayern flying high at the top of the Bundesliga table, Gustavo's chances in Jupp Heynckes' team have been limited and he is keen to move as soon as possible, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Wenger, meanwhile, knows he must strengthen an Arsenal side sixth in the table.

I want him! Wenger has reportedly put Gustavo on his January shopping list

I want him! Wenger has reportedly put Gustavo on his January shopping list

The Frenchman believes he can secure Gustavo for a fee of around 10m.

Wenger has also earmarked Abou Diaby for a more prominent midfield role when the France international returns from injury.

Paul Robinson to reunite with Sam Allardyce at Upton Park

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Keeper Robinson set to reunite with Allardyce at Upton Park

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UPDATED:

23:07 GMT, 1 December 2012

Former England goalkeeper Paul
Robinson is set for a reunion with Sam Allardyce by returning to the
Premier League with West Ham in January.

Hammers boss Allardyce, who worked
with Robinson when he was manager at Blackburn Rovers, is set to beat
off competition from Fulham to land 33-year-old Robinson who will be
allowed to leave Ewood Park once Rovers tie up a 500,000 deal for
Tottenham's Brad Friedel.

Robinson, England's first-choice
goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup goalkeeper in Germany, will provide
competition at Upton Park for Jussi Jaaskelainen, 37, who has shown
recent signs of fallability.

Bad times: Paul Robinson after relegation was confirmed for Blackburn

Bad times: Paul Robinson after relegation was confirmed for Blackburn

Robinson has been waiting for a chance to return to the Premier League after being relegated with Rovers last season.

Fulham are seeking a replacement for veteran Mark Schwarzer but Allardyce is firmly in pole position having worked well with Robinson in the past.

Tottenham knocked back a request from Blackburn to sign Friedel on loan last week but the veteran American is likely to push for a move in January as his first-team opportunities at White Hart Lane get harder following the arrival of French No1 Hugo Lloris.

Blackburn will give 41-year-old Friedel a coaching role at the club in addition to regular first-team football until their England under-20 international Jake Kean is ready to take the step up.

Robinson has been at the top of English football for nearly 15 years after coming to prominence at Leeds United where he faced Barcelona in the Champions League as a tenager.

Looking for cover: West Ham boss Sam Allardyce

Looking for cover: West Ham boss Sam Allardyce

He went on to play for Spurs and Blackburn and won 41 England caps, keeping David James out of the side when Sven Goran Eriksson was manager.

Two other international goalkeepers could also be on the move next month. Norway No1 Rune Jarstein, who could be in goal for his country at the next World Cup in Brazil, is close to securing a deal with Steve Bruce to join Hull City.

And Aston Villa's Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given is on a list of players that manager Paul Lambert is willing to sell to reduce the wage bill at Villa Park.

Given retired from international football after Euro 2012 to concentrate on his club football but has since been replaced in the Villa team by Brad Guzan.

Lambert is looking to rebuild Villa and will also listen to offers for Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Darren Bent and Charles N'Zogbia.

Paul Pogba dropped by Juventus

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Ex-United youngster Pogba dropped from Juventus squad for turning up late to training

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UPDATED:

08:17 GMT, 10 November 2012

Paul Pogba has been dropped from the Juventus squad ahead of tonight's Serie A clash with Pescara after twice turning up late for training.

The former Manchester United midfielder has been a regular for the Italian side and featured in their 4-0 thrashing of Nordsjaelland in the Champions League on Wednesday.

But the 19-year-old has paid the price for his poor timekeeping and will remain in Turin while his team-mates bid to maintain top spot in the league.

Late: Paul Pogba has been dropped by Juventus for poor timekeeping

Late: Paul Pogba has been dropped by Juventus for poor timekeeping

Pogba signed for Juventus after a protracted battle with Sir Alex Ferguson who claimed the youngster was being
disrespectful by leaving United in the dark over a new contract before
he quit in favour of a 20,000-a-week four-year deal with the 'Old Lady'.

However, the French teenager insists he simply left in search of more first-team opportunities in Turin.

‘I don’t know why he said that,’ claimed Pogba. ‘A 19-year-old player who said no to Ferguson – maybe he took it badly

‘There
are things about which we failed to agree. I don’t regret anything. But
you have to be part of it to understand my decision.

Hitting the headlines: Pogba has impressed since joining the Italian side

Hitting the headlines: Pogba has impressed since joining the Italian side

‘It’s
a feeling I had with the coach. He trusted me but he didn’t play me,
saying I was too young. He said “your time will come” but it didn’t.

‘I’m impatient. Now I want to become one of the best players in the world

He made just seven senior appearances
for United after joining from Le Havre in 2009 but was regarded as one
of the best emerging talents at Old Trafford.

Pogba recently scored the second goal in a 2-0 win over title rivals Napoli and was named man of the match against Bologna.

He was on the bench last weekend when Juve's 49-match unbeaten run was brought to an end by Inter Milan.

Caroline Wozniacki beats Samantha Stosur

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Wozniacki battles to 20th career title with hard-fought win over Stosur in Moscow

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UPDATED:

14:57 GMT, 21 October 2012

Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki defeated top seed Sam Stosur to claim the Kremlin Cup title in a tough three-set match lasting two and a quarter hours in Moscow.

Both women had come through testing three-set battles on Saturday and entered the final with the Australian slightly holding the upper hand in past meetings, having won three of five.

However, it was the Dane who prevailed, winning 6-2 4-6 7-5 to add to the title she won in Seoul last month.

Happy days: Caroline Wozniacki celebrates beating Samantha Stosur

Happy days: Caroline Wozniacki celebrates beating Samantha Stosur

Stosur has not won a title since she was crowned US Open champion more than a year ago and was inconsistent, her four aces accompanied by seven double faults.

Neither did she have any success with her second serve making her reliant on her first and only six of 15 break points were converted.

In contrast Wozniacki was consistent if not spectacular with greater success on her serve as well as taking greater advantage of her break point opportunities.

On her way: Wozniacki won her 20th title in Moscow

On her way: Wozniacki won her 20th title in Moscow

Wozniacki said on Twitter: 'Won in Moscow today! 20th tournament title:) #excited.'

Boyfriend and world No 1 golfer Rory McIlroy Tweeted: '20th WTA title for @CaroWozniacki!!!! So happy and proud of her!!!'

The outcome of the men's final between Thomaz Bellucci and Andreas Seppi was similarly unpredictable before the latter finally prevailed 3-6 7-6 (7/3) 6-3.

The Italian second seed had lost only four games in his semi-final victory against Malek Jaziri while Bellucci, seeded four, had come through a tough three-set encounter with Ivo Karlovic.

Sealed with a kiss: Andreas Seppi won the men's event in Moscow

Sealed with a kiss: Andreas Seppi won the men's event in Moscow

The fact he had expended far less energy was always going to favour Seppi and so it proved as he came through in two hours and 12 minutes.

Bellucci served 13 aces, 11 more than Seppi and achieved far more success all-round on his serve.

While the Brazilian took far more advantage of his break point opportunities – converting all three – it was Seppi's all-round game that led to victory.

Patrick Vieira told Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United

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Vieira told me to leave Man United, reveals Juventus midfielder Pogba

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UPDATED:

10:31 GMT, 21 October 2012

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that the club's old foe Patrick Vieira played a key role in him leaving for Juventus in the summer.

Pogba, 19, opted to leave Old Trafford because of a lack of first-team opportunities and he netted his first Juve goal against Napoli on Saturday.

Jumping ship: Pogba opted to leave Old Trafford in the summer

Jumping ship: Pogba opted to leave Old Trafford in the summer

Speaking after the game the Frenchman revealed that Vieira – Manchester City's football development executive – advised him to move to the Turin club that he represented in the 2005-06 season.

'There were other teams interested in me over the summer, but I wanted to sign for Juventus,' Pogba told Sky Sport Italia. 'Many French champions have played here. I spoke to Vieira and he advised me to come to Juventus.'

Pogba also spoke of his delight at scoring his first goal for Juve. 'I’m really happy and proud of my first goal in the black and white stripes. In those moments you don’t think about anything. You try to shoot and that’s all,' he added.

Anne Keothavong beaten by Roberta Vinci in Luxembourg Open

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Down and out: Keothavong beaten in straight sets by Vinci at Luxembourg Open

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UPDATED:

14:43 GMT, 18 October 2012

British No 3 Anne Keothavong suffered a second-round hammering at the hands of top seed Roberta Vinci in the Luxembourg Open.

Keothavong had beaten Kiki Bertens 6-2 6-2 in the first round but had no answer today as Vinci's second break of the match helped her win a close first set 6-4.

The Italian took both of her break-point opportunities in the second as she clinically wrapped up a 6-4 6-1 win in just over an hour and set up a clash with either Venus Williams or ninth seed Mona Barthel.

Beaten: Anne Keothavong lost to Roberta Vinci

Beaten: Anne Keothavong lost to Roberta Vinci

Federico Macheda wants to leave Manchester United in January

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Fed-up Macheda wants to quit Old Trafford when transfer window re-opens

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UPDATED:

10:56 GMT, 17 October 2012

Federico Macheda will look to quit Manchester United in the New Year with the striker increasingly unsettled with his lack of first-team opportunities.

The Italy Under 21 international finds himself behind Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

He spent the end of last season on loan at QPR but managed only six appearances for Mark Hughes' side, while he had a spell in his homeland with Sampdoria in 2011.

Let me go: Federico Macheda wants to leave Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens in January

Let me go: Federico Macheda wants to leave Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens in January

Macheda's last outing for United came on Boxing Day last year as a substitute in the 5-0 Barclays Premier League win over Wigan.

But having spent this term stuck in the reserves, the 21-year-old's agent Giovanni Bia has revealed he wants to leave in January when the transfer window re-opens.

'How can he be decisive for the team if he never plays' Bia told ItaSportPress.

'Manchester United have some phenomenal players in attack, so it is truly difficult for Federico to find space. It’s not true what they write in the English papers that he’s going through a bad spell.

'He wants to play and if he cannot do so by January then we’ll try to find an alternative solution. I will talk to Sir Alex Ferguson over the next few days.

'Federico was requested by German and Spanish teams over the summer, but the English club preferred to keep hold of him.

'I hope they understand the situation and let him leave in January, because it makes no sense to keep a 21-year-old on the bench.'

Macheda was tipped to have a bright future under Sir Alex Ferguson at United when he spectacularly burst on the scene in April 2009, coming off the bench on his debut to seal an important winner against Aston Villa.

Criticising Sir Alex Ferguson is just far too costly, says Spurs boss AVB

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Criticising Fergie for influencing refs is just far too costly, says Spurs boss AVB

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UPDATED:

22:19 GMT, 28 September 2012

Andre Villas-Boas claims he will run
the risk of another FA fine if he is honest about Sir Alex Ferguson's
influence over referees.

The Tottenham chief, who was fined
12,000 last season after claiming Chris Foy was 'very poor', takes his
team to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Foy will again be in charge.

Expensive lesson: Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas

Expensive lesson: Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas

Villas-Boas said: 'It would be
brilliant to be able to talk about this, but I paid a very high fine
last season and I don't want to do it again.

'In this country, it is impossible to respond to it, but I would never stop myself expressing an opinion at Old Trafford.'

The Spurs chief will again rely on Jermain Defoe for his side's firepower against United.

Villas-Boas added: 'He's looking extremely happy and he's been creating so much. He's been immense.

'He is getting continuous opportunities. Maybe he didn't get them in the past.

'When he had an uninterrupted sequence of games last season, he scored a lot of goals.

'At the moment we are extremely happy with what he is doing and I'm sure it has an impact on how he feels about himself in this team.'

Jamie Murray and Andre Sa crash out of Thailand Open

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Murray and Sa crash out of Thailand Open after last-eight defeat

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UPDATED:

11:33 GMT, 27 September 2012

Jamie Murray and Andre Sa were eliminated at the quarter-final stage in the men's doubles at the Thailand Open on Thursday.

The Scot and his Brazilian partner were beaten 6-4, 7-5 by Lu Yen-Hsun of Chinese Taipei and Thailand's Danai Udomchoke.

The match lasted one hour and 33 minutes, with Murray and Sa winning just three of 13 break point opportunities which came their way.

Exit: Murray and his partner Sa have fallen at the quarter-final stage

Exit: Murray and his partner Sa have fallen at the quarter-final stage