FOOTBALL: Anthony Martial admits he was frightened prior to his big money Manchester United move.

The 20-year-old made the surprise switch from Monaco to Old Trafford last summer in a deal that could end up costing United £61.5 million.
“At the start I was scared because I had heard a lot about the intensity of the English game,” Martial told RTL.
“But I realised during the matches that I was able to keep up, and I was really very happy about that because as a youngster I struggled to finish games, at the age of 17 they said I needed to work on my endurance.”

Asked if he was more afraid of the intensity of the tackles made in English football, Martial replied: “No the intensity, the tackles you need to know how to avoid them and not injure yourself. 

source: goal

FOOTBALL: KLOPP TO SIGN GOTZE

Liverpool are increasingly confident of landing Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze and Cologne's Jonas Hector this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
Gotze worked with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and is thought to be unhappy at a lack of playing time at the Allianz Arena, while left-back Hector is available for around £12 million.

SOURCE: GOAL

FOOTBALL: LUKAKU TO COST MORE THAN £50M(RUMOURS)

Chelsea, Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid have all been credited with interest in his services but it is understood that Everton, backed by billionaire Farhad Moshiri, want huge money if they fail to convince him to stay put.
In a deal not less than  £50M, Lukaku would be sold...

FOOTBALL: Ibrahimovic: I could retire in the summer

The 34-year-old Swede has been subject to a great deal of transfer speculation with his time in France apparently winding down, with clubs all over the world interested in the free agent. However, the veteran attacker, who is on course of his best ever scoring season, has produced a curve ball by suggesting he could hang up his boots.
“Anything could happen next summer... maybe I’ll just retire,” he told TV4. “Nobody’s thought of that possibility. I would prefer to go out at the top.”

“When all the cards are on the table, I’ll see which direction I want to take,” he said. 

SOURCE: GOAL

FOOTBALL STAR CRISTIANO RONALDO WANTS HIS SON TO BE LIKE HIM(A TOP STAR)

Cristiano Jr. is probably not thinking about his career for the time being, as he is just five years old. 
"I want my son to be a player. I am a footballer and I want him to be one too," the Real Madrid star told the Chinese channel Zhejiang Satellite TV, which has been filming Ronaldo as part of a reality show based around the player. 

"I think he has something of an athlete about him, he has athletic characteristics. Obviously he is very young, a baby, he's only five but he loves football, that is a big plus."

"I have 30 balls at home, he is always with the ball and he loves it. But I will not force him to be a player because it comes naturally, it has to be his choice," he said. 
"He will be whatever he wants to be, I am not going to push him at all.

source: goal

FOOTBALL: Messi: I like the Premier League & watch all the big games

Lionel Messi has revealed he is a big fan of the Premier League, but downplayed a possible move despite admitting that he may not remain at Barcelona for the entirety of his career.
The Argentina skipper has long been linked with a switch to England, with Manchester City known admirers of a player who enjoyed tremendous success under incoming boss Pep Guardiola.
Messi has always maintained that he wishes to remain at Camp Nou, though he has now conceded that circumstances could alter and he may be forced to “change his mind”.

“I like English football and I like Italian football. I follow the big games,” he explained in an interview with Egyptian TV station MBC.
“But as I've already said, my intention is to stay for many years at Barça and retire here.
“I hope things work out like that and I don't have to change my mind. In football you never know, and things can change from one day to the next.”

SOURCE: GOAL

WIERDOS: Schoolgirl missing for two years escapes after captor forgets to lock door

The 15-year-old disappeared in March 2014. Police said she left a note in the mailbox of 

the family home in Saitama north of Tokyo reading: ‘Please do not try to look for me.’

Her parents believed she was taken against her will but two years passed with no clue 

about her fate.

That changed yesterday when she suddenly called home from a payphone at a Tokyo train 

station, said a Saitama police spokesman.

Hours after the girl came under police protection, her alleged abductor, covered in blood, 

was found on a street in Shizuoka prefecture west of Tokyo, the spokesman said.

He told police he had tried to commit suicide by slashing his neck with a knife, local reports 

said.

The girl, whose name has not been released, told police she was kidnapped by the man 

who had stopped her on the street on her way home from school, according to public 

broadcaster NHK and other media.

He enticed her into his car by saying her parents were divorcing, and forced her to write the 

note to them.

The 23-year-old man, identified as Kabu Terauchi, graduated from Chiba University east of 

Tokyo this month, having apparently attended school for two years while holding the girl in 

his apartment, the reports said.

SOURCE: METRO UK

SPORT BRAWL: Fight breaks out at rugby league game as players clash with fans

Rugby players fight their fans...

Salford apologised for the behaviour of a section of their support after ugly scenes marred 

the end of their win at Huddersfield.

The Red Devils recorded a 26-24 victory over the Giants, but come the final whistle some 

of Salford’s players were seen in the away end of the ground.

It happened as the Salford players went over to applaud their fans.

Now the Manchester club has vowed to find the troublemakers. In a tweet shortly after the 

game ended the club has vowed they will be ‘dealt with’.

The fracas happened as the Salford players went over their fans in the John Smith’s stand.

It’s unclear exactly what sparked the violence, which is unusual at rugby league games. But 

it’s thought a child and possibly players’ family members were being crushed in the melee 

and some of the players intervened to stop it.

No supporters are thought to have been injured.

The injured steward was treated by St John Ambulance personnel at the scene.

source: metro uk

FOOTBALL: MANCHESTER UNITED FC: Depay, Jones, Rojo, Morgan...all likely to be axed

United will listen to offers for their £25million flop after just a year at the club.

Other stars that can go include Morgan Schneiderlin just a season after he arrived from Southampton.

And even defenders Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo face uncertain futures as United look to rebuild after a poor campaign.

Boss Louis van Gaal’s position as boss is also under threat, with Jose Mourinho waiting in the wings to take over.

Reserve keeper Sergio Romero is also on his way, with River Plate confirming their interest.

SOURCE: THE SUN

FOOTBALL: Messi is more intelligent than C. Ronaldo - Xavi insinuates

Ex- Barca skipper Xavi claims his former team-mate is the better player as while Ronaldo can match anybody physically, the Argie’s football brain sets him apart.

He said: “Ronaldo is a goalscorer, and Messi is also a goalscorer.

“However, Messi is a much better team player than Ronaldo. I think Messi is the best footballer in the world.

“In football, there are two important elements — fitness and intelligence.

“Ronaldo is very fit but Messi has both the fitness as well as the intelligence, so simply put, he is better.”

source: the sun