Category Archives: News

‘I’m happy at Sevilla’ – Moreno quashes Liverpool talk

The Spanish left-back says he has taken no notice of speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League and has no great desire to leave “the club of his life”


Alberto Moreno has reiterated his commitment to Sevilla as a move to Liverpool becomes increasingly unlikely.

The Spain international, who capped a Europa League-winning campaign with a place in Vicente del Bosque’s World Cup squad, was made a priority signing by Brendan Rodgers this summer.

But the Anfield outfit have struggled to agree a fee with the Liga side, and los Rojiblancos sporting director Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo has since revealed that a deal is all but dead.

And now Moreno has distanced himself from a transfer away from Sevilla, insisting he is happy to remain at the club and looking forward to reporting back to training at the start of July.

“I never said that I wanted to leave the team,” the 21-year-old told ABC de Sevilla.

“I am happy here, Sevilla is the club of my life. There are many rumours but I only know that on July 7 I report back for training again.

“I am enjoying my holidays. We had a hard year and if I spent the summer thinking about these things [transfer speculation] then I can’t rest.

“I am calm and my father and my agent will take care of my future.”

Moreno made 29 league appearances for Sevilla and scored three times last season, locking down a place in the Spain squad, and featured on 12 occasions en route to Europa League glory.

‘Suarez needs to get proper help’

Former Liverpool forward Neil Mellor believes the Anfield club would only consider bids in excess of €100 million if they are to sell the now banned Uruguay star


EXCLUSIVE
By Russell Stoddart

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has called for Luis Suarez to seek professional help after Fifa announced he would receive a four-month global ban from football for biting Giorgio Chiellini.

The 27-year-old has arrived back in Montevideo after leaving Uruguay’s team hotel although the South American nation’s Football Association chairman Wilmar Valdez has already confirmed they will appeal the sanction, that included a nine-match international ban.

And Mellor has urged Suarez to consider psychological help after his latest indiscretion and feels that Liverpool have been treated harshly as they face up to the prospect of not having Suarez available until November.

He told Goal: “This is unprecedented from Fifa and Liverpool are unfortunate victims of this. We all expected a ban, but I hoped it would remain just for international duty.

“If this had been in the Confederations Cup last summer then it might have done, but it was the biggest stage and Fifa knew they had to make a big statement.

“Liverpool have to accept the verdict because it could have been a lot worse. Suarez now has to get proper help. Psychologists are playing an increasingly important role in the modern game and they need to help him to get to the bottom of his problem. This has happened three times now and there seems no end to it.”

The likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Suarez this summer but Mellor believes that the Merseysiders would only consider bids in excess of €100 million.

He added: “The only reason why a club would keep him after this is because he is a world class player. He was the best player in the Premier League last season.

“If it had been any other player, he probably would be shown the door. The big question for Brendan Rodgers now is does he cut his losses and say ‘enough is enough’. The club is being dragged down because of the antics of one high-profile player and that cannot be allowed to continue.

“Liverpool would only consider bids of £80m (€100m) plus for Suarez and while they would have been reluctant to let him go before this latest incident, perhaps they might think it would be a good bit of business.

“They have to weigh up the brilliance of the player who won every individual accolade last season versus the madness of the player who bites his opponents.”

‘Who did Suarez kill?’ – Maradona slams ban on Uruguay star

The Argentina icon criticised the decision to suspend the Liverpool striker from all footballing activities for four months for his bite on Giorgio Chiellini

Diego Maradona has slammed Fifa for its decision to ban Luis Suarez for four months after he was found guilty of biting Giorgio Chiellini.

The Uruguay and Liverpool striker was given a nine-game suspension and banned from all football-related activity for four months for his third biting offence in almost four years.

And Maradona, who wore a t-shirt with a message of support for Suarez which read ‘Luis we are with you’, has criticised world football’s governing body, claiming they are treating him as though he committed a far more heinous crime.

“This decision is a disgrace,” he said on TV show De Zurda. “I can’t understand this. Who did Suarez kill to get this kind of ban. Why don’t [Fifa] handcuff him and send him to Guantanamo [Bay]?

“A player works hard the whole year to be able to play at the World Cup, and Luis scored 29 goals [sic] and they kick him out of the World Cup like this. It’s unbelievable.

“Remember [Zinedine] Zidane and what he did in that [2006] World Cup final? Fifa then gave him the Golden Ball,” he added, before laughing. 

The show then broadcast a discussion between Maradona and Uruguay defender Diego Lugano, who insisted the ban was harsh.

“They treat him like a criminal,” the captain said. “Escorted by the police [out of the Uruguay camp]. He did nothing. How wouldn’t I defend him at that press conference?

“He’s such a great guy. This ban is very harsh. It hits him at the very top of his level. At the best moment in his career.”