Costa Named Premier League Player of the Month for August

Diego Costa has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for August after scoring four goals in three wins for Chelsea. 

The Spanish striker has captured the individual prize at the first time of asking, as reported by the Blues' official Twitter account:

Congratulations to Diego Costa who has won the Barclays Player of the Month award! http://t.co/ngcWdiHvbR #CFC pic.twitter.com/GUpCsYpnmt
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) September 12, 2014

Costa was excited to receive the prize, per Chelsea's website:

I’m very happy to win this award. It is important to begin well at a new club and I’m pleased with both my start to the season and also the team’s, which is the most important thing.

‘I hope to continue scoring goals to help out the team and keep making our fantastic supporters happy. I thank my team-mates as they have helped me win this award.

Sky Sports summarised Costa's form during the opening month of his competitive Chelsea career:

And the winner of the Player of the Month award is.. Diego Costa. Congratulations. Not a bad start to life in the PL. pic.twitter.com/o0BZy1UKey
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) September 12, 2014

The new signing's physical presence and goalscoring instinct makes him a natural star in England's top division. Costa opened his competitive Chelsea account with a smart finish against Burnley on the opening day, following this with a vital goal against Leicester. Despite struggling with an injury niggle prior to the Everton game, he netted a brace to see off Roberto Martinez's Toffees in a hot-tempered 6-3 win.

Goodison Park brought out the both sides of Costa's game. He is a passionate player, someone whose frustration can spill over with petty fouls or arguments, as highlighted during his personal battle with Seamus Coleman. Costa has never been afraid to throw his weight into challenges and has already received two bookings this campaign, per WhoScored.com.

 

Jose Mourinho won't be frustrated by his player's hotheadedness, though, as Costa offers everything Chelsea were missing up front last season. His pace, power, and willingness to trot back has already improved the Stamford Bridge side's effectiveness all over the pitch. The former Atletico Madrid man has even added defensive steel from corners and when Chelsea are under pressure, solidifying an already excellent defence.

Costa has scored first in each of his appearances this campaign. He remains doubtful for the early season top of the table clash with Swansea, per BBC Sport, but he is yet to be ruled out by Mourinho, noted by David Kent of the Daily Mail.

Swans boss Garry Monk took the Premier League Manager of the Month award for August after leading his side to three straight wins, reported by Sky Sports. The Welsh team have conceded just one goal this campaign—scored by Wayne Rooney during the victory over Manchester United—and remain two strikes off Chelsea's table-topping position on goal difference.

Monk toppled Mourinho for the monthly award, while Costa got the better of Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson and Nathan Dyer, as well as Aston Villa forward Andreas Weimann. The August winner also ousted Chelsea colleague Cesc Fabregas for the plaudits, noted by Elliot Bretland of the Daily Mail.

Both Costa and Fabregas have already shown themselves to be key players for Chelsea since arriving in the summer. The former has the potential to notch 30 Premier League goals, while Fabregas' creativity on the ball is already paying dividends for the west London side. Chelsea have a hectic schedule to look forward to, meaning the fitness and form of both players is pivotal to their hopes of silverware.

Costa will look to keep on scoring against Swansea, even if he battles through the pain barrier to do so.

Source: Bleacher Report

Arsenal: Welbeck's Thierry Henry Comparison Way off the Mark

Liam Brady has taken to hailing the arrival of Danny Welbeck as potentially the second coming of Thierry Henry, a bold statement to make in north London, to say the least.

Speaking to BT Sport (h/t Metro), the ex-Gunner praised Arsene Wenger's work in bringing the Manchester United forward to the Emirates Stadium, saying:

I’m delighted he’s signed for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger’s track record with young players is strong. Look at Henry – when he came to Arsenal he was rough around the edges and was playing on the wing, likeWelbeck. It took Henry time but Wenger polished him into a fine finisher and he can do the same with Welbeck.

The likening is understandable to the extent that both players came to Arsenal with the voids there to be filled up front, as well as being of a similar age.

Welbeck turns 24 in November, and while it's certainly outlandish to claim a player can't be taught new tricks past such a stage, it's safer to say United's way of thinking is somewhat engrained in his play as things stand.

Henry was just 21 upon arrival, and the philosophies taught to him during his development at Monaco—some of which coincided with Wenger's management of the club—will have been closer to what is taught at Arsenal now.

As Brady stated, Welbeck will require time to adapt to this change, The Times' Oliver Kay agreed that his circumstances and Henry's fall some way apart:

Not saying Welbeck is the new Thierry Henry. He really isn't. But he has raw materials, should improve at Arsenal if played through middle
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) September 1, 2014

Brady also considered the fact that both attackers played on the wing prior to their Arsenal arrivals is a reason to draw comparison, when in actual fact it may be a cause for further differentiation between the two.

In Henry's case, the former Monaco and Juventus forward started out on the flanks, a fast and closely controlled dribbling asset whose eye for goal grew as his career moved on.

For Welbeck, it's been a tale to the contrary. He's always sought his place up front, the position he thrived in as a United youngster, but competition at Old Trafford meant he was forced out wide, his goal tally declining as a result.

Henry's talent with a ball at his feet meant that his killer touch in front of goal was all that needed sprinkling on top of his game to make for a near-perfect blend, whereas Welbeck's lack in certain physical traits is an inhibitor.

Now, that isn't to say Welbeck won't turn out to be a fine scoring resource under Wenger; with Olivier Giroud out of the picture until new year, his place as the spearhead of attack could lead to prolific form.

After all, in the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott, he has behind him an incredible array of creative stars who promise to lay on mounds of opportunities. Henry didn't always have that army of ammunition.

WhoScored.com (h/t ESPN FC) detailed Welbeck's attacking figures coming into the Gunners' setup:

Danny Welbeck can prove himself the finished article at @Arsenal, say the @WhoScored stats. http://t.co/MqQwFMfTMo pic.twitter.com/OJsiHUMph9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 11, 2014

For the England international, his work will be much more focused upon providing the finished article, rounding off the work of others as opposed to creating that work, which accounted for a lot of what Henry was so great at.

In his own right, Welbeck has shown an ability to track back, run from deep and engineer chances on the counter, but he isn't—and many would claim never will be—of the Henry standard in this regard.

Those in north London would undoubtedly welcome another influence as significant as that of Henry's stature, but the sheer physical evidence suggests Welbeck won't be that.

Still, at just 23 years of age, the most essential portions of his career are still to come, enough time to prove many a critic wrong and fulfil the potential so long placed upon his name.

Source: Bleacher Report

Premier League Showdown: Arsenal vs. Manchester City

Manchester City's loss to Stoke City, coming as it did between their convincing win over Liverpool and the international break, can easily be written off as the predictable outcome of a "trap game."

Add to those elements that Arsenal were the next side on the Premier League slate after Stoke City, and the temptation to look past Mark Hughes' charges may well have been irresistible.

Here's the problem, though. If you succumb to that line of thinking, then this match with Arsenal at the Emirates is yet another trap game.

Three days after the Arsenal match, City go to Germany to take on Bayern Munich in their first match in Group E of Champions League pool play. And after that, City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad in league play.

Goalkeeper

There may come a time in the not-so-distant future where Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini gives Willy Caballero the starting goalkeeping spot at Manchester City.

It should not be now, though.

Hart's weak effort to stop Mame Biram Diouf's strike did not cost Manchester City a result against Stoke City. But it certainly did not help their effort much.

Until Hart makes an inexcusable error, though, his job is probably safe. Pellegrini would surely prefer that Hart play well for an extended period of time rather than start the goalkeeper carousel in September.

Defenders

  

Manchester City are almost certain to start Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta against Arsenal. Kompany is the captain (often City's sine qua non) and Zabaleta is the defender City boss Manuel Pellegrini trusts most to make the overlapping runs that can devastate opposing defenses.

Central Midfielders

There are potential mysteries and positional battles all over the pitch at Manchester City. Except here. Yaya Toure and Fernando will man the central midfield unless injury interferes. 

Fernando "was substituted during the weekend defeat by Stoke with a groin injury and has been treated at Carrington ever since. The Blues have given no bulletin on his condition, but MEN Sport understands that there is not a great deal of concern about the injury," wrote Stuart Brennan for the Manchester Evening News last week.

You could make an argument that Fernandinho's pace as opposed to Fernando's physical presence would be the better fit against the speedy midfielders Arsenal will deploy.

Wingers

David Silva will surely start against Arsenal, and Samir Nasri is also a very likely choice.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini likes to bring Jesus Navas on for Nasri when he can, and he has been known to put James Milner on for Silva if City have a lead late. Neither Navas nor Milner are much pleased with their secondary roles but for now this is the order of things at City.

With Stevan Jovetic likely out against Arsenal, City manager Manuel Pellegrini has a difficult decision to make.

Pellegrini wants to play with two strikers whenever he can. But Alvaro Negredo is gone (and he is still injured, anyway) and Jovetic probably cannot go. That leaves Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, whose strike partnership over the years has vacillated between being grudging and being uneasy.

Source: Bleacher Report

Manchester United are reportedly to pay Ronaldo over £300,000-a-week

Manchester United are reportedly ready to pay Cristiano Ronaldo over £300,000-a-week if he agrees to return to the club from Real Madrid in January.

United have been alerted to the possibility of re-signing Ronaldo with his agent Jorge Mendes keen to move him out of Madrid, after a row with their board.

And despite rival interest from Chelsea, it’s claimed that Louis van Gaal is desperate to win the race for the Portuguese superstar – and is ready to offer huge wages.

Ronaldo currently earns £290,000-a-week at Madrid but United have made it clear they’ll beat that easily by going beyond the £300,000 mark to bring him back to Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old has twice previously hinted that he’d like to return to United one day.

Source: Metro UK

Arsenal to sign Barcelona duo Munir El Haddadi and Sergi Samper

Arsenal are already working on a double deal to sign Barcelona duo Munir El Haddadi and Sergi Samper in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have been following the talented pair closely in the last few months and now Sport newspaper says Arsene Wenger is plotting a move in the new year.

Forward Munir, who made his debut for Spain in the last few days, is believed to be the top target, with Arsenal ready to meet his release clause, while the club hope to follow that deal up by grabbing young pass-master Sergi Samper, too.

Samper also has a release clause but Arsenal are apparently confident of getting him for a lesser amount, with the only thing remaining being to convince the players to quit the Nou Camp and move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have a rich history of raiding Barca to sign top talents, and if moves can be agreed, they would follow the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida, Jon Toral, Hector Bellerin and Julio Pleguezuelo in trading the Blaugrana for the Gunners.

Source: Metro UK

Valdano:You can't compare Guardiola with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

The Special Ones: Guardiola is the superior of the two according to Valdano Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been subjected to a scathing attack by a Real Madrid legend.

Jorge Valdano, sacked as Sporting Director after a power struggle with the Special One while both were at the Bernabeu, said the Blues' chief is an "ego" who has never said anything "about about football worth remembering."

Valdano won the World Cup with Argentina and coached Real Madrid to the Spanish League title in 1995 as well as having two spells at the club as an administrator.

He writes in his new book The 11 Powers of a League: "He's a figure who is perfectly suited to these bombastic, shallow times.

"I couldn't understand him because he is in the antithesis of my sensitivity. Intelligence and ego are enemies. And when they collide, the ego wins."

But, comparing Mourinho with his great rival Pep Guardiola, Valdano said: "If Guardiola is Mozart, that makes Mourinho [Italian composer Antonio] Salieri. He would have been a great musician if Mozart had never existed."

And he continued: "I've never heard him say a single thing about football worth remembering, whether in public or in private".

In an interview to promote the book, Valdano said: "He had one of the best squads in the history of Real Madrid.

"He always remained just outside the door of the Champions League. That was the big challenge which he did not manage to succeed at."

Mourinho, who lifted the Champions League trophy at Porto and Inter Milan, only ever reached the semi-finals of the competition with Real while Guardiola, now aat Bayern Munich, delivered the Champions League twice in three years for Barcelona.

Valdano was sacked in May 2011 after clashing with Mourinho and his coaching staff, and the move increased Mourinho's power base at the club at the time.

Source: Mirror UK

Ronaldo's agent working on £55m transfer back to Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a dramatic return to Manchester United with his agent Jorge Mendes said to be already working on the deal.

Ronaldo has made no secret his interest in returning to Old Trafford one day, and suggestions in the last few days say a sensational move is now the cards for January.

According to reports, the forward’s agent Mendes is angry at Madrid blasting Angel Di Maria following his switch to United, and is now ready to take Ronaldo away.

It’s claimed that he is already working hard on a package to take the player back to United, with a £55million fee being mentioned.

Jorge Mendes is ready to take Ronny away from Madrid 

The Red Devils have vowed to continue making big money buys, and they would definitely not reject the opportunity to re-sign the Portuguese ace.

It would be a complicated transfer, but Mendes has huge influence and would love the opportunity to have Ronaldo playing alongside his other clients Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Marcos Rojo.

Source: Metro UK

Can Wilshere make it in the Arsenal Team?

Monday night's victory for England produced an air of optimism around the national side, with Roy Hodgson declaring himself delighted and satisfied, as per Dominic Fifield of The Guardian, and the toughest game of the campaign safely negotiated.

Hodgson's deployment of a midfield diamond proved successful for the man at the attacking point of it, with Raheem Sterling a threat throughout, and the two men either side detailed to do most of the grunt work, Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph, both also performed well.

However, at the base of the four, Jack Wilshere had a more uneven game. The Arsenal man was asked to sit in front of the defence and start attacks from there in the 'Pirlo' role, but while it's unfair to compare anyone with the great Italian, it's fair to say that Wilshere didn't reach anywhere his level.

While he showed a few moments of quality, Wilshere was a curiously peripheral figure for a man supposed to be at the heart of things, barely creating any chances and not influencing the game in the manner that Hodgson might have expected him to.

That said, one cannot perhaps judge him too harshly, given that this was an unfamiliar position. Wilshere told the Press Association after the game (via The Guardian):

It is the first time I’ve ever played there for club or country. I look at the game and there are some negatives, obviously.

I looked at the players who play that regularly in midweek, Pirlo,Mascherano, Gerrard – the best players in the world who play that position perfectly.

I will look at them over the next few months and look at this game. I’ll take negatives, there were some positives as well, and I will get better in that position.

The encouraging thing about Wilshere's words from England's perspective is that he is clearly willing to learn, and he should be, too, because he could carve out a niche for himself in the role.

I wrote on Bleacher Report in August that Wilshere faces something of a struggle to establish himself in the Arsenal team this season, largely because he lacked a definable role. At that point, he had made a couple of appearances in an advanced No. 10 role, but since then, the return to fitness of Mesut Ozil has edged him out of that position. Equally, if Sterling continues his current level of form, then it is not likely Wilshere will get a chance there for England. per Nick Miller, 

Therefore, it seems logical that Wilshere should try to establish himself as a deep-lying midfielder, as that is the position that both his club and country lack a convincing option.

In theory, he has the tools to perform it well. When on form he has an excellent touch, can recycle possession at speed and can be tough in the tackle; indeed, he has occasionally been too tough, his temper being one of the factors that has slightly hampered his development thus far.

Wilshere is not the typical English holding midfielder, which conventional wisdom states is a spoiler, a tackler, a water carrier who can win the ball and give it to someone else to do something creative with. However, abroad his type of player is more typically a deeper man, the most obvious example being Pirlo, but the likes of Xabi Alonso and Marco Veratti also fill this role, and perhaps if Wilshere had been born Italian or Spanish, then he would have played there much earlier in his career.

However, there is still time for him to learn a new trade. Wilshere's debut performance in the "Pirlo role" may have been so-so, but he could still develop into a version of the great man, even if he may never hit his heights.

Source: Bleacher Report

Real Madrid: Robin Van Persie Move Makes Little Sense for Blancos

Real Madrid are reportedly targeting Manchester United striker Robin van Persie in a January swoop but a transfer deal for the Dutch international would make little sense for Los Blancos.

As reported by the Daily Express' Ben Jefferson, FIFA agent Francois Gallardo believes Real will add Van Persie to their strike force, just months after bringing in the Red Devils' Javier Hernandez on loan.

The arrival of Radamel Falcao has supposedly made Van Persie surplus to requirements for United, which could lead to the Dutchman being available for a reduced transfer fee.

Gallardo is known for his absurd claims—for instance, as reported by 101greatgoals.com, he told Spanish TV show El Chiringuito Lionel Messi would leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain during the summer of 2014.

And as shared by Sport Witness' Tom Coast, he was also convinced Real Madrid would go after new Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck:

François Gallardo has announced on La Sexta that #RMCF will target #MUFC’s Danny Welbeck to replace Alvaro Morata.
— Tom Coast (@thcoast) July 11, 2014

Gallardo has been right with plenty of his outrageous claims in the past, but more often than not, he just tries to stir the pot and ends up being dead wrong.

Van Persie has given no indication whatsoever he sees the arrival of Falcao as a threat to his playing time. If anything, he sounded excited about the prospect of playing with the likes of Falcao, via Jefferson:

 I can't wait to go and train and play with the world class players we have signed.

That feeling, that we are going to perform well, has only got stronger after the buying of players over the last weeks.

I find it very exciting, the arrival of all those new players.

For me personally, it's brilliant to go and play with some of the best players in the world. It's great that I can go and train and play with them every day.

The Dutch international moved to the Premier League in 2004, signing for Arsenal, and when it became clear he would leave the Gunners in 2012, it was speculated he turned down a move to Juventus for the simple reason that his family had gotten used to living in England.

Veteran players don't just uproot their entire family after a decade of playing in the same country. Van Persie's children speak English and go to English schools. Add the connection with compatriot Louis van Gaal, and he simply has very little reason to leave United.

Real Madrid arguably have even less reason to pursue a transfer. Van Persie is a sensational poacher, but in Carlo Ancelotti's system, he would lose much of his effectiveness.

Karim Benzema is a perfect fit for Los Blancos because of his work rate and ability to hold onto the ball and find passing lanes for advancing players. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and a host of other midfielders take care of the scoring—Benzema makes sure they find themselves in position to do so.

That's not Van Persie's game. He doesn't have Benzema's physicality or his athletic ability, and he's not as skilled when playing with his back to the goal. He's a pure finisher with the vision to always be in the right place at the right time.

It's conceivable Madrid would want to add a player like that, as a bench option to bring on when the team is in need of a goal. But Hernandez already fills that role, and if Ancelotti wanted more, he could go for a cheaper and much younger option than Van Persie.

The United man is 31 years old and nearing the end of his physical peak. There's no upside to a transfer, no value beyond perhaps a strong option off the bench for one or two seasons.

Would Van Persie give up his life in Manchester to become a bench player in Madrid? Not a chance. And would Los Blancos spend a reported £20 million (per Jefferson) on an aging striker who doesn't fit their system? Florentino Perez likes his stars, but there's a line even he wouldn't cross.

Gallardo once again managed to make headlines with this latest suggestion, but it's no more than that. Unless Perez has got something up his sleeve, don't expect Van Persie to move to the Spanish capital in January.

Source: Bleacher Report

Arsenal brags one of the 'Quickest Front Three' in the world football

Arsenal signed two lightning forwards this summer and could now line-up with one of the quickest front three’s in football.

Danny Welbeck joined the Gunners for £16million on deadline day and Alexis Sanchez arrived earlier in the summer for £35million. With such an investment in the attack, Gunners fans will expect to see more goals. What they will certainly see is more pace. With a potential attacking trio of Theo Walcott, Sanchez and Welbeck, Arsenal could field an extremely quick frontline.

Walcott’s pace is so vital to Arsenal’s game. He has been one of the most productive Arsenal players, in terms of goals and assists over the last few seasons. He offers an outlet to the clubs wealth of midfield talent. But when Walcott has been injured, the Gunners attack has often been predictable and slow, lacking a killer instinct. Adding more pace to the attack can only be a positive addition.

It’s not just pace that the front three of Sanchez, Welbeck and Walcott can offer. Between them they are capable of plenty of goals and assists.

They are all entering the prime of their careers and if they click, could form a front three that will spearhead the club for the next few years. Sanchez and Welbeck are also known for their phenomenal work-rate. Pressuring from the front with pace is an extremely dangerous tactic, a tactic Arsenal will now be capable of implementing this season.

Such a quick front three will also bring the best out of Arsenal’s record signing. Mesut Ozil was good last season, but not at his world class best. Once Walcott got injured, the Gunners often lined up with Olivier Giroud as the striker and Wilshere and Santi Cazorla on the wings.

There was no players running into space and creating avenues for Ozil to exploit with his pinpoint passing. No pace in the side. With Walcott returning to fitness, Sanchez arriving and Welbeck set to lead the line, Ozil will be drooling.

The prospect of all three players ahead of him making positive runs opens up so much more of Ozil’s game that we didn’t see last season.

Source: Metro UK

Arsenal have all the cards to WIN the Premier League

The window is closed, the football is underway and Arsenal have all the cards they can play until January securely tucked in to their pocket.

So. How are those cards looking?

Goalkeeper

In Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina, Arsenal have arguably one of the best number one and two pairings in the league. Looking good.

Defence

Shouldn’t there be a few more players back there? If you’ve found yourself asking that question, then you are not alone.

Arsenal have only six senior defenders until the next transfer window, and one of those is a 19-year-old who will be expected to cover for just about everyone should the inevitable happen and the rest of the defence gets crocked at the same time. Why didn’t Arsenal buy defenders? If you know the answer to that, then you could quite literally make a fortune.

While the players they have are more than good enough, the lack of numbers makes this the most vulnerable part of the whole squad.

Midfield

Defensive midielders be damned, give Arsene Wenger an attacking midfielder and watch him go all giddy. Mikel Arteta isn’t as bad as he’s made out to be by some and Mathieu Flamini isn’t as good. The need in this area of the pitch is not as dire as it is in defence. When it comes to the rest of the midfield, well, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, that just gets me excited in all the ways.

Attack

Is it as strong as it could be? No. Would it be better if merely kicking a ball hadn’t made Olivier Giroud’s foot fall off? Absolutely.

While Danny Welbeck may not have been the signing many were hoping for, I fancy that he will surprise many people this season and after his brace for England on Monday night many of his doubters were starting to come round to the idea of him. And let’s not forget Alexis Sanchez. He’s not too shabby either. There’s also the small matter of Theo Walcott to come in to the side.

Bench

Arsenal have enough in their squad to have very good options for pretty much every position provided everyone stays fit. If injuries bite the way they did last season then they are going to struggle, especially in defence.

Verdict

The squad is another year older, more experienced and know what it feels like to play in two cup finals and win them. If the team can avoid injuries then they should have more than enough to push on from last season. That’s a mighty big ‘if’, however, and the lack of action in the transfer market to bring in defensive cover means that the time between now and January is crucial for so many reasons.

Source: Metro UK

Manchester United: The BEST ‘cost-per-trophy’ ratio in the Premier League

Manchester United and Arsenal have edged big-spending rivals Chelsea and Manchester City to the best ‘cost-per-trophy’ ratio in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have hauled an epic 18 titles back through the doors of Old Trafford since the summer of 2003, and having spent £588m in that time up until now, that averages at just £32.7m per trophy.

Previously thrifty Arsenal are the next in line, with their six gongs costing £57.8m each, while London rivals Chelsea follow closely behind having bagged their 13 trophies at a average price of £67.2m.

Thrifty: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool are next up, spending £100.7m on each of their six honours, and moneybags Man City have shelled out a whopping £144.8m to land their each of their five pieces of coveted silverware.

However, lagging miles behind are poor Tottenham, whose solitary league cup success has cost Daniel Levy an eye-watering £472m.

Of course, the stats don’t reflect wages, fees recouped or value of the trophies claimed, but it’s still interesting reading nevertheless.

If one thing’s for sure, it’s that this game ain’t cheap!

Source: Metro UK

Manchester United: Did Radamel Falcao lie about his age...?

Debate over Radamel Falcao's age has once again been raised as a hot topic after the allegation was made that Manchester United only signed the striker to a one-year loan because he's 30 years of age—not 28.

The Sun (h/t ESPN FC) claims to have uncovered paperwork from Falcao's youth, stating that he was born on February 10, 1984, which would make him two years older than has been reported throughout his professional career.

However, a Manchester United spokesperson has been quoted by the Daily Mail's Chris Wheeler, saying the club are satisfied with all documentation provided prior to his loan deal: "We were aware of the rumours but it was never an issue for us."

Similar accusations surfaced just over a year ago when a Colombian media outlet, per ESPN, raised concerns that Falcao was indeed two years older than he claimed.

However, the forward's family came forth with a birth certificate verifying Falcao's age, per ESPN, seemingly putting the story to bed once and for all.

Those same accusations appear to have followed Falcao to Old Trafford, however, The Sun alleging that as the reason United didn't want to agree a deal with longer terms.

The Monaco man is still recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last December, ruling him out of the 2014 World Cup, which was a cause for concern among his suitors this summer.

As Wheeler reports, Falcao passed a thorough medical with United before agreeing to a season-long switch, and the player insists he's back to full fitness.

After playing 13 minutes of a friendly against Brazil last Friday, he's quoted as saying to reporters:

"Physically, I feel spectacular...As I get into game shape, I believe I’ll show I’m still at the top level."

Falcao is waiting to make his Red Devils debut after completing the move to England, speaking to The Observer (h/t official Manchester United website) of his excitement to prove himself:

I am very happy. I hope to give my team the best and help to bring a lot of goals and victories.  I now leave in a very good condition to join my club and I hope to be available next week. I go to Manchester with lots of hopes to try to win a place in the team and then come back to play for Colombia. It's better to not overthink and let things happen normally instead.

New arrival @Falcao is eagerly anticipating the prospect of making his #mufc debut against QPR on 14 September. More: http://t.co/M0TXJ5VYOK
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 8, 2014

The English giants can pay for their loanee's permanent signature next summer, bringing the total value of the deal up to £52 million, including the £6 million paid for this season's loyalties.

The club will find out with time whether such an enormous investment is justified, with no real need to worry about his long-term potential just yet.

Source: Bleacher Report

Loic Remy: 'I was to be a Liverpool player'

Chelsea striker Loic Remy says he still doesn't understand why his transfer to Liverpool collapsed during the summer.

The 27-year-old was set to move to Anfield for £8million before the Reds pulled out of the deal suggesting he had failed his medical.

Remy had failed previous medicals due to problems with his heart and knee but he was surprised by the announcement. 

'I did not understand myself. A problem during the medical examination? I do not know. They put it, that must be it,' he told the Daily Star. 

The Frenchman returned to QPR and appeared in the Premier League before making a move to Chelsea in the final week of the transfer window, where he will now play as back-up to Diego Costa who injured his hamstring on international duty.

Source: Daily Mail UK