Bond backtracks over Modric comments

Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Kevin Bond has backtracked over comments that Luka Modric could leave if the club’s valuation of the player is met. Chelsea have seen offers of £22 million and £27 million turned down by Tottenham, who are determined to retain Modric’s services following his fine form last season. But Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay confirmed on Sunday the club are considering making a third bid for the 25-year-old Croatia international. On Monday, Bond told talkSPORT : “Transfers are part and parcel of the game but you don’t want to lose your best players and he certainly is one of our best players. We desperately don’t want to lose him but everyone has a price. “If somebody came along and the money turns your head and he did go – although the chairman is adamant he doesn’t want to sell him – then we’d have to get on with it. Harry would have to deal elsewhere in market.” However, Bond later issued a statement maintaining that his intentions had been misrepresented: “For the purpose of clarification and in case my comments this morning inadvertently misled anyone, the Club’s position on Luka Modric is quite clear – we have no intention of selling him.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Lukaku not interested in loan deal

Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku has no desire to go out on loan if he joined Chelsea this summer. Lukaku, 18, has been tipped to sign for Chelsea during the current transfer window, with recent reports suggesting the Blues lodged a bid in the region of £18 million for his signature. Chelsea captured Lukaku’s Belgian compatriot Thibaut Courtois from Genk last month and subsequently loaned the goalkeeper out to Atletico Madrid. But a similar agreement would not interest Lukaku. He told Belgian TV station VTM : “When I do leave, it will not be to be loaned out as Thibaut Courtois has been. I want to go to a club where I can develop further. “It’s not that I just want to be transferred to Chelsea. At the moment, I am patient. I remain at Anderlecht and I am not thinking of a transfer.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Puyol refuses to set return date

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol insists he is feeling better every day as he battles for fitness but has refused to set a date for his return to action. With the start of the La Liga season fast approaching, Puyol is recovering swiftly from the knee operation he had in July but hasn’t yet returned to training with the rest of the squad. And he insists he is not setting any targets, despite Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup clash with arch rivals Real Madrid set for August 14th, and their opening league game at Malaga coming a week later. Puyol told the club’s website: ”I’m feeling better every day, but the recovery is slow. Everything is going little by little. As Doctor Cuga (who operated on him) put it, I’m not in charge here, it’s the knee that is. ”I’ve got no problems with my knee any more. I don’t know how long I’ll be before I’m back, but I want it to be as soon as possible, when I am fully 100%. “Everybody who knows me will understand that I am really keen to get back. I’ve been a long time with this injury – six and a half months.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Gasperini unfazed by Sneijder reports

Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini is unfazed by the ongoing speculation surrounding Wesley Sneijder’s future. Sneijder is a Manchester United target but it is suggested the Premier League champions are unwilling to match the Dutchman’s purported wage demands of around £200,000-a-week. On Sunday, though, former Real Madrid playmaker Sneijder failed to completely rule out a move away from Inter this summer. However, Gasperini is unconcerned by the reports. He told the club’s official website: “The transfer market closes on August 31 and we have all been trained to live with these rumours for the duration of the season. “I’m not worried or annoyed by these rumours and neither are the players. They are Inter players, they play their hearts out for Inter in any situation and they showed that today. “People talk a lot about the transfer market but at the end of the day everything is just like it was at the start. “Have Manchester United put in a bid for Sneijder? I don’t know and I don’t care, but it’s not unusual for great players to be in greater demand. “Inter’s great players are, as are those from other clubs, but if you are sure that the player has received an offer, I’ll remind you that Sneijder is under contract to Inter, so if there is a bid it should be made to Inter. “I’ll say it again: all too often rumours are spread for months and then, when it’s all over everything is exactly as it used to be.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Balotelli ‘unhappy in Manchester’

Mario Balotelli has revealed he does not enjoy living in Manchester and says he misses his friends and family in Italy. Balotelli’s comments show similarities with Manchester City team-mate Carlos Tevez’s declaration this summer that he wants to leave the club to be nearer his children. Italy international Balotelli only joined City from Inter Milan last summer, for around £24 million, but his admission that he has struggled to settle in the North West of England is sure to spark conjecture over his future. “I’m not happy at Manchester – I don’t like the city,” he told Sky Sport Italia . “I’m happy with the coach and within the team, but you can’t have everything in life. “I don’t miss Milan. I miss Brescia, my home. I miss my family and my friends, but I think this experience in England will help me grow as an individual. I don’t know if I will stay until the end of my contract. I’m here for now and then we’ll see.” Balotelli also hinted that he would consider joining Inter rivals AC Milan in the future, adding: “They are a great team. We could talk about it one day.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

FC Dallas 1-0 Chivas USA

Sneijder believes move could happen

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has refused to close the door on a summer move to Manchester United, despite recent claims from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that a deal was “dead”. Sneijder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for much of the summer, with the two clubs believed to have been in advanced negotiations for a number of weeks before relations cooled in recent times – with Sneijder’s contract details believed to be a sticking point. Nevertheless, despite United’s assertion that the Dutchman would not be moving to the Premier League this summer, the 27-year-old seems to believe that a blockbuster move in the next month is still very much a possibility. “What will happen? We will see,” Sneijder said on Sunday, after Inter were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in the final of the Dublin Super Cup. “There is always a chance that something will happen, but we will see. “There is always speculation. I’ve said before, I’ve played for almost 10 years at the highest level and every year there is speculation.” Sneijder confirmed that he would be happy to remain with the Nerazzurri , but seemed to suggest that there is still a possibility he will move on before the transfer window closed. “As you can see, I’m still here,” he added. “I’m always happy. I’m a happy guy. I’m just happy to train every day with my colleagues and to train every day and to play my game for the fans. “I’ve played in many competitions. I started in Holland, then played in Spain and now the Italian league, and I’m still here. “We will see what happens but I’m happy here.” However, Sneijder suddenly went coy when asked directly about Manchester United’s interest – smiling knowingly before calling an end to the interview. On Saturday, Ferguson reiterated that the club are looking to improve their central midfield options – as he gave youngster Tom Cleverley a chance to impress in the friendly victory over Barcelona. “It’s an area we have to find a solution for,” Ferguson noted. “That is why we played Tom Cleverley today. Physically he is not the strongest but he is wiry and has a great idea of the game. “He is a good footballer and was our best player today. His discipline was terrific. He is a quick passer of the ball. He has good eyes. “It was a big night for him. He is a big, strong possibility for us to start the season.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Valencia in for Real’s Canales

Valencia president Manuel Llorente has hinted the club will soon strike a deal with Real Madrid for the services of young forward Sergio Canales. Canales, 21, has struggled for first-team action at the Bernabeu since arriving from Racing Santander a year ago, and Llorente revealed he expects to bring the starlet to his club this summer. “It’s an issue we are actively working on, and when news develops we will announce it,” he said. Llorente also believes Arsenal and Tottenham target Juan Mata will stay at the Mestalla next season as the Premier League clubs continue their pursuit of the Spain international. Mata has been on the radar of Arsene Wenger since the Under-21 European Championships, but Valencia have continually stated their desire to hold onto the winger. “Mata is currently in Lisbon on pre-season duty and he is still our player. I think he will remain here, as we have not received anything,” he said. “Those who want to stay in Valencia will do so and those who want to come here will come.” Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Corinthians slip up

Campeonato Brasileiro leaders Corinthians suffered just their second defeat of the season as they slipped to a 3-2 loss at Avai , who claimed their second win of the campaign. Corinthians took the lead on the half-hour mark through Emerson’s effort, but William levelled three minutes after the restart and a double from Rafael Coelho put the hosts in control. Jorge Henrique pulled one back in the last minute but it was not enough. It was also a bad day for Sao Paulo , who slipped to third yesterday thanks to Flamengo ‘s win and could not go back into second today as they slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Vasco da Gama . Eder Luis opened the scoring seven minutes after the break and Felipe made the points safe in stoppage time. Fluminense strolled to a 4-0 win over 10-man Ceara . Flu were 1-0 up through Fred when Heleno was dismissed on the stroke of half-time, and the hosts added to their tally through Souza, Rafael Sobis and Rafael Moura. Marcos Aurelio scored twice as Coritiba won 3-1 at America MG . Bill scored the other for the visitors, while Kempes pulled one back briefly to make it 2-1. Struggling Santos lost again, slipping to a 3-2 defeat at Atletico Paranaense . They were 2-0 down inside 10 minutes through Cleber Santana and Manoel before Neymar pulled one back. Borges evened things up just after the hour mark but Marcinho handed his side the points with a goal in stoppage time. Reinaldo, Avine and Jones scored for Bahia in a 3-1 win over Figueirense , for whom Wellington netted, while Internacional and Atletico Goianiense drew 0-0. Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

America MG 1-3 Coritiba

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