Villa unveiled as Falcao replacement at Atletico… and fans invade pitch to mob striker at Vicente Calderon

Tottenham target David Villa was unveiled at Atletico Madrid on Monday and was promptly mobbed by supporters as he was paraded on the pitch at the Vicente Calderon.

As Villa, 31, performed the customary kick-ups and waved to supporters, fans began to rush onto the field to greet their newest player.

The former Barcelona and Valencia striker kept a smile on his face as fans were dragged off him by the stadium’s security team.

Mobbed: Fans invade the pitch in Madrid as David Villa is unveiled as their newest signing

Come here, you! Villa is smiling as he walks off the pitch amid a group of fans

Villa admitted he had his heart set on a move to the Premier League until ‘the best team in world’ showed their hand.

He completed a cut-price 2.1million euro move from Barcelona on Monday afternoon. The fee paid to the Spanish champions will rise to 5.1m euros if Villa sees out the entirety of a three-year deal.

The Spain striker started less than half of Barca’s league games last season to put a host of European clubs on high alert, with Tottenham among the Premier League clubs closely linked with a move for the former Valencia forward.

But when Atletico approached him in early July, he knew his future lay with the capital club.

He told reporters: ‘We had a move to the Premier in mind but then Atleti appeared and within three days all my personal terms had been agreed.

‘From a career point of view, they weren’t lacking anything. They finished third and will play in the Champions League. They beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey.

‘Starting from today, the best club in the world for me is Atletico Madrid.’

Villa’s challenge will be replacing the goal threat that disappeared to Monaco when Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao made a surprise switch to the principilaty last month.

Falcao hit 28 league goals in the 2012-13 season and 52 in just two years with Atleti, but Villa hopes his own goal record will stand up to scrutiny in southern Madrid.

The Asturian has scored 282 career goals for Sporting Gijon, Real Zaragoza, Valencia and Barcelona, with his 91-cap adventure with Spain yielding 56 goals to date.

Talent: Villa was paraded on the pitch in his full kit and had a kickabout in the process

Icon: Some supporters even carried a cardboard cutout onto the pitch

‘I have to talk to the coach (Diego Simeone) about playing in a number nine role, where Falcao played,’ Villa added.

‘But I am simply at his disposal and will play wherever he wants. (Falcao) was loved here but hopefully I can make sure his absence isn’t felt.’

Briefly touching on his reasons for leaving Barcelona after three successful seasons, he added: ‘I left Barca because I wasn’t playing, not because the World Cup was on the horizon.

‘I love this game and I wanted to play it.’

Grappled: A member of the stadium’s security team tackles one supporter to the ground

Larking about: Villa looks amused as the security guards clamour to take one supporter off the field

Popular choice: Atletico fans packed out the Vicente Calderon Stadium to see their new signing

All smiles: Villa (centre) looks proud as he stands with his Atletico shirt

Related articles

• Villa set for switch to Atletico (bbc.co.uk)
• David Villa transfer: Atletico Madrid win race to sign Barcelona striker (thesun.co.uk)
• Luis hails Villa signing (soccerway.com)
• Official: FC Barcelona Sell David Villa To Atletico Madrid (barcablaugranes.com)
• David Villa Transfer: Atletico Madrid, Barcelona Agree To Deal For Spanish Striker (huffingtonpost.com)
• Atletico Madrid: Why David Villa is Falcao’s Ideal Replacement (bleacherreport.com)
• We Paid Lowest Possible Price for David Villa – Atletico Madrid President On Capture of Striker from Barcelona (insidefutbol.com)
• David Villa Transfer To Atletico Madrid 2013: Can Striker Replace Radamel Falcao’s Production? (latinospost.com)
• Villa yearned for PL switch (skysports.com)
• Sorry Tottenham, my Premier League switch was off once Atletico Madrid came calling, says David Villa (metro.co.uk)

Cesc Fabregas subject of €30m bid from Manchester United

United’s offer is being considered but is understood to be below the Spanish club’s valuation of the player.

While Fabregas is not pushing for a move, it is believed he is open to a return to England.

The 26-year-old will be guided by whether Barcelona are prepared to accept an offer for him.

Fabregas came through the Spanish club’s La Masia academy before Arsenal signed him as a 16-year-old in 2003.

He developed as one of the London club’s key players under manager Arsene Wenger before becoming Arsenal captain in November 2008.

The Spain international spent eight years with the Gunners, playing 303 games and scoring 57 goals.

However, he returned to the Nou Camp when he signed a five-year deal with Barcelona in a £25.4m move in August 2011.

He has since helped the Catalan club win the Copa del Rey in 2011-12 and La Liga in 2012-13.

Fabregas has played 96 times in two seasons with Barcelona, including 60 league games, but has rarely featured in his preferred midfield role, with Xavi, 33, and Andres Iniesta, 29, ahead of him.

Fabregas has made 83 appearances for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship twice.

Related articles

• Manchester United make 30m euros bid for Fabregas (manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
• United make €30m bid for Fabregas (iol.co.za)
• Manchester United offer £26million for Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas (dailyrecord.co.uk)
• Manchester United make €30m move for former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas (talksport.co.uk)
• Manchester United lodge £26m bid with Barcelona for Cesc Fabregas after missing out on Thiago Alcantara (metro.co.uk)
• Fabregas Considering His Future As Arsenal Prepare To Activate £25m Buy-Back Clause (football-talk.co.uk)
• Cesc Fabregas transfer: Manchester United in shock £26million bid (thesun.co.uk)
• Manchester United to make $53 million offer for Cesc Fabregas (prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com)
• United Step Up Fabregas Pursuit But Arsenal In Pole Position Due To £25m Clause (football-talk.co.uk)
• Manchester United bid for Fabregas (timesofmalta.com)

Ashes 2013: England select same squad for Test

Captain Alastair Cook’s side won the opening contest of the Ashes series at Trent Bridge by 14 runs in what was a thrilling finish on Sunday.

Paceman Steven Finn struggled for form in Nottingham but Lord’s is his home ground and that may work in his favour.

The Ashes: England v Australia

July

10-14 1st Test, Trent Bridge – England win by 14 runs

18-22 2nd Test, Lord’s

August

1-5 3rd Test, Old Trafford

9-13 4th Test, Chester-le-Street

21-25 5th Test, The Oval

If Finn is dropped, Tim Bresnan or Graham Onions could replace him.

“It was a fantastic start to the Test series with both sides showing a huge amount of skill and determination,” said England selector Geoff Miller.

“I would like to congratulate England on showing a great deal of composure to win by 14 runs. I have no doubt that the rest of the series will be equally compelling.

“We have selected the same squad for the Lord’s Test as this continues to provide options for Alastair Cook and [coach] Andy Flower.”

Whether Cook decides to utilise his options in regards to 24-year-old Finn remains to be seen.

The Middlesex bowler took two wickets at Trent Bridge in 25 overs, which came at a cost of 117 runs.

He was brought to the attack during the final day as Australia closed in on their target of 311 but conceded 24 runs in two overs.

“The Middlesex man is a bowler short on confidence and Australia know it,” said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew in his column.

“In the manner of a pride of lions picking off an old wildebeest from the back of the pack, Australia attacked Finn because they could see he was struggling.

“I cannot see Finn retaining his place at Lord’s, which is a shame because it is his home ground and he actually bowls quite well there.

“The best thing for him to do now is to go back to his county, take some wickets and get his confidence back.”

England squad: Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Matt Prior (Sussex, wk), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Graham Onions (Durham).

Transfer news: Bayern Munich confirm the signing of Thiago Alcantara

Bayern Munich have confirmed a deal to sign Spain international Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona.

A fee of £21.6million has been agreed between the two clubs for the services of the 22-year-old midfielder and he will sign a four-year deal once a medical has been completed.

Thiago had reportedly been a target for Manchester United but has elected to team up with former Barca coach Pep Guardiola at the current champions of Europe.

Guardiola had made the acquisition one of his priorities this summer as he looks to build ahead of his debut season in charge of the Bavarian giants.

The transfer agreement also includes a commitment to hold a friendly game between the two clubs at some point by 2017.

A short statement from Barcelona read: “FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich have reached an agreement over the transfer of the player Thiago Alcantara to the German club for a total of 25 million (euros).

“This agreement also includes holding a friendly match between the two teams, which will be played in the next four years.”

‘Tevez is a true warrior’ – Lippi

Iconic ex-Juventus coach Marcello Lippi has branded Carlos Tevez a “true warrior” and suggested that the Scudetto is already in the reigning champions’ hands before a ball has been kicked.

The Argentine striker joined Antonio Conte’s side for an estimated €12 million earlier this month from Manchester City on a three-year deal and was given the No.10 shirt ahead of the new Serie A season.

Lippi, who took the Bianconeri to five league titles during his two spells at the Turin-based club, is convinced that the ex-Manchester United attacker will be a huge success in Italy.

“Tevez is a true warrior and, in my opinion, a great signing,” the current Guangzhou Evergrande boss told La Stampa. “He’s technically very good and has great character and will to fight.”

The World Cup-winning trainer also expressed his opinion that Juve are the runaway favourites to claim glory in Serie A this season and praised Conte for the way he has adapted his ability to lead from playing into coaching.

“Juventus will win Serie A,” he added. “I think the title is already theirs.

“Conte, as a captain, was a real leader, and he has clearly maintained that as a coach. I always knew he would become a good coach.”

Despite putting faith in Conte and Co.’s chances in Italy, the former Italy head coach believes that Real Madrid – under new trainer Carlo Ancelotti – will win the Champions League.

Lippi added: “In Europe, I see the favourites as Real Madrid. I think Ancelotti is the right person for that team.”

Morning Paper Talk Follow the rumour mill with the latest transfer rumours, gossip and speculation from the newspapers.

Morning Paper Talk Follow the rumour mill with the latest transfer rumours, gossip and speculation from the newspapers..

Morning Paper Talk Follow the rumour mill with the latest transfer rumours, gossip and speculation from the newspapers.

• New Manchester United boss David Moyes has warned Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger off making moves for Wayne Rooney.
• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is in talks over a new deal at the Emirates.
• Jose Mourinho says he is even better than before after returning to Chelsea.
• Hull are lining up a move for Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner as Steve Bruce looks to be reunited with the Danish international.
• Southampton striker Billy Sharp is a target for Middlesbrough.
• Doncaster are closing in on a loan swoop for Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given.
• Wigan have agreed a fee to sign Bristol City winger Albert Adomah.
• • New Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is ready to launch a cut-price swoop for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
  • David Moyes has hit back at Jose Mourinho’s public courting of Wayne Rooney by insisting the striker is not for sale.
  • Arsene Wenger is ready to usher in a new era of success and big spending by committing his future to Arsenal.
  • Norwich are lining up a shock £6million move for Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella.
  • Joe Kinnear wants to get Darren Bent signed when he returns to work at Newcastle on Monday.
  • Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is trying to beat off interest from Tottenham to sign Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira on a season-long loan.
  • Michael Laudrup is saying adios to the Spanish market as far as Swansea are concerned.
  • • Arsene Wenger has pledged his long-term future to Arsenal after revealing he has started talks over a new contract.
    • Jose Mourinho tried his latest trick yesterday to lure the unsettled Wayne Rooney to Chelsea.
    • Brendan Rodgers is in daily contact with Luis Suarez in a bid to keep the unsettled striker at Liverpool.
    • Tottenham will lodge a £20million bid for Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke next week.-
    • • Jose Mourinho has cranked up the pressure on David Moyes by admitting: I’d love to have Wayne Rooney at Chelsea.
      • Arsene Wenger has hinted he is ready to make another offer for Luis Suarez.
      • Arsenal face a stumbling block in signing striker Gonzalo Higuain.
      • Newcastle have stepped up their interest in Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.
      • Nicklas Bendtner is being lined-up for a move to Premier League new-boys Hull and a reunion with Tigers boss Steve Bruce.
      • Paolo Di Canio wants £4million defender Bastian Oczipka to join his foreign revolution at Sunderland.
      • New dad Tom Ince has snubbed a move to Cardiff following the birth of his first child.
      • • Shahid Khan last night became the new Fulham owner as he completed a £150million takeover of the Premier League club.
        • Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is closing in on a £25million deal for Alvaro Negredo.
        • Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says he is in touch with Luis Suarez on a daily basis and remains confident of keeping the striker.
        • • Arsene Wenger has revealed that he has already held positive contract talks with Arsenal and confirmed his long-term desire to stay at the club rather than move to Paris St Germain.
          • Tottenham Hotspur are set to table an opening bid of £20 million for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke next week.
          • Mohamed Al Fayed has brought his colourful 16-year association with Fulham to an end after sanctioning the sale of the Premier League club to the United States-based billionaire Shahid Khan.

Premier League: Wilfried Zaha will be part of Manchester United squad

Manchester United boss David Moyes says Wilfried Zaha will get a chance to shine at Old Trafford this season after impressing on his pre-season debut in Thailand.

Zaha played the second half of United’s 1-0 defeat by the Singha All Stars in Bangkok, a result Moyes was not too bothered about given the relative lack of experience on display.

There had been speculation that the 20-year-old would return to Crystal Palace on loan this season, but Moyes gave a large hint that would not be the case.

“Wilfried did well,” said Moyes. “He gave us a little bit of something different.

“We have brought him here to give him a chance. It is the first time I have worked with him and had a chance to see him up close.

“He will certainly be part of the squad and we will see where we can fit him in as often as we can.”

Zaha came closest to getting United level when he curled a shot against the post but in the end they could find no response to Teeratep Winothai’s 50th-minute goal.

“It wasn’t a brilliant result but this wasn’t one we desperately needed to win,” added Moyes. “It is one we need to get prepared to win games from.

“(Adnan Januzaj) was a plus for us. He played well. It is always good when you give a young player a chance and he shows up. He did that tonight.

“The more he plays like that, the more opportunities he is likely to get.”

SPL: Celtic boss Neil Lennon concedes striker Gary Hooper is set to leave.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has conceded Gary Hooper may have played his last game for the club.

Norwich and Queens Park Rangers are both battling to sign the striker who has turned down a new deal to stay at Parkhead.

Hooper is entering the final year of his contract and Celtic are resigned to selling him rather than risk letting him see out his deal.

The 25-year-old has failed to feature in Celtic’s last two pre-season friendlies with a groin problem and he is unlikely to play in next week’s UEFA Champions League qualifier at Cliftonville.

Lennon admits it will be difficult to keep Hooper with Norwich and QPR expected to come back with new bids for the former Scunthorpe man.

“It will be difficult to convince Gary to stay,” said Lennon. “He has not featured much in pre-season and the games start in earnest for us on Wednesday night.

“So he’d have a bit of catching up to do and I don’t know where his mind is at the minute.

“Has he played his last game for Celtic? Never say never but it’s looking more and more that way.”

Lennon is hoping to bolster his squad after losing Victor Wanyama to Southampton, feeling he needs three players if they are to qualify for the Champions League.

“I haven’t spoken to Peter Lawwell yet about bringing someone in but we need two or three players if we’re going to get back into the Champions League,” added Lennon.

Premier League: Leroy Fer becomes Norwich City’s sixth summer signing

https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Premier+League:+Leroy+Fer+becomes+Norwich+City%27s+sixth+summer+signing&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

Norwich City have confirmed the signing of Dutch international midfielder Leroy Fer from FC Twente on a four-year deal.

The 23-year-old, who is Chris Hughton’s sixth summer signing, scored 21 goals in 71 appearances for FC Twente after starting his career with Feyenoord.

Fer, who has two full caps, captained Holland at Under-17 and Under-19 levels and he was a key part of their European Under-21 Championship team which made it to the semi-finals earlier this summer, scoring twice during the group stages.

He joins Javier Garrido, Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, Nathan Redmond, Martin Olsson and Carlo Nash in boosting Hughton’s options for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.

“We are really pleased to have acquired the signature of a player with the qualities that Leroy has.”
Chris Hughton

Hughton said: “We are really pleased to have acquired the signature of a player with the qualities that Leroy has.

“He’s a very versatile Dutch international and at 23 he has that pleasing balance of having acquired experience playing over 100 games in the Dutch League – but still having plenty of time ahead of him to continue his development as a player here with us at Norwich City.”