Aston Villa new-boy Moustapha Salifou says he is settling in well at the club and is hoping to show Martin O’Neill what he can do. After all, he has been compared to Zinedine Zidane by Arsenal’s Emannuel Adebayor, it will be an honour for him to live up to expectations with tattoo pictures.
Salifou had experienced work permit problems but after being given the all clear to join Villa, is now hoping to shine.
“I have arrived a little into the season and I need time to catch up,” Salifou told the club’s website. “But I cannot wait to integrate myself into the group so I can help us progress as soon as possible.
“There’s a lot of quality here at Villa. The players have accepted me into the club and that has been important to me. It’s not easy coming from another country, but the welcome I have had from everyone at the club has been wonderful.
He repeats this mantra again.
“I am at peace with myself. I have tried several times to meet Zidane to put all that behind us, but he has refused. That’s his problem,” Materazzi said in an interview with Germany’s Sport Bild magazine published on Wednesday
I don’t think its Zidane’s problem, Materazzi. Especially not after the stunt you’ve pulled.
If he’s “at peace with himself”, then why feel the need to still mention it even though most of the world have already forgotten about it (except Zidane fans, of course!)?
Italy defender Marco Materazzi claims Zinedine Zidane refuses to even acknowledge him over 12 months after that infamous head-butt in the World Cup final.
The Internazionale centre-back has tried to make contact with the French idol, but has been snubbed in his attempts to clear the air.
“I wanted to meet with Zidane, but he has turned down my invite,” Materazzi told Germany’s Sport Bild magazine.
“I am at peace with myself and have no problems clearing up the facts with him. I am being seen as the aggressor and I, like Zidane, have been punished by FIFA.”
First it was Diego Maradona, now it seems Lionel Messi has moved on to emulating Zinedine Zidane in a recent game. So who now he will emulate next? Pele, Best or Mickey Walsh? Questions that behooves an answer!
The 20-year-old plucked the ball out of the air after a cross had ballooned off a defender and cracked a sensational volley past keeper Michael Rensing and inside the far post for a breathtaking winner.
OK, he took the shot from the right side of the area and not the left and it wasn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as Zidane’s timeless effort against Leverkusen, but it was still something special.
Last season he produced a carbon copy of Maradona’s legendary solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup when he danced his way past half the Getafe team in the King’s Cup. He then followed that with a replica of the “hand of god” goal in the derby against city rivals Espanyol.
France coach Raymond Domenech had confirmed on Thursday he faced a hearing by UEFA over controversial comments about refereeing he made in a newspaper interview last week. Well, if he is guilty then he should face the music.
In an interview with French daily Le Parisien, Domenech had accused Italy of bribing the referee of an Under-21 international between France and Italy during the qualification campaign for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. UEFA president Michel Platini said Domenech should provide evidence to back up his allegations or face sanctions.
“UEFA have asked for an inquiry,” Domenech told a news conference on Thursday. “I’ll go there willingly.”
Domenech declined to say when the hearing would take place.
Continue reading ‘Domenech faces UEFA hearing over controversial remarks’
Old team-mates pitted against each other? French footballing superstar Zinedine Zidane is reported to be in talks to join Sydney FC for the team’s friendly match against David Beckham’s LA Galaxy on November 27th.
The Daily Telegraph claims retired World Cup-winner Zidane is in negotiations with Sydney for a one-game-only starring role in the November clash.
Such a guest appearance would pit the player — known to fans as Zizou — head-to-head with his former Real Madrid teammate Beckham, who recently signed with the Los Angeles side.
Beckham made his long-awaited debut with Galaxy on Thursday, after a persistent ankle injury left him sidelined for weeks.
Hard to believe? Well, believe it. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho once turned down Roman Abramovich’s offer to buy him the world’s top four players, including Zinedine Zidane.
The startling revelation is made in a new book written by Mourinho’s close friend Luis Lourenco, with the full endorsement of the Chelsea boss, says the News of the World.
It recalls an amazing early conversation between the owner and manager and offers a stunning insight into a relationship that grew more and more strained.
Abramovich said: “Now that I’m here I’m going to buy Ronaldinho. Would you like that?”
Mourinho replied with one word: “No.”
The startled Blues owner then said: “I’ll buy you Zinedine Zidane.”
Once again the answer was a simple “No”.