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Weekly Football News 19 12 11
Weekly Soccer News, December 19, 2011
Neymar: Barca taught us a football lesson
Santos' teenage striker Neymar has vowed to lap up the "footballing lesson" that Spanish superstars Barcelona dished out in the one-sided Club World Cup final over the weekend.
Lionel Messi struck either side of half-time and was joined on the scoresheet by midfielders Xavi and Cesc Fabregas as the European champions ran riot in front of a sell-out crowd at the Yokohama International Stadium.
"What Barcelona did today was amazing," said the 19-year-old afterwards. "They were far, far the better team and we learned how to play football today.
"I've grown up watching this side play and learning from them, but you take in so much more out on the pitch.
"I'm going to look on this game as a lesson, that's for sure."
The 4-0 victory confirmed Barcelona's second Club World Cup title in three years.
Tevez wants to come to Milan: Galliani
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed that wantaway Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez wants to join the Italian side.
But Galliani has reiterated Milan's reluctance to part with any cash before the end of the current European season at the earliest.
Galliani told Radio 1 Rai: "We're not going to take him outright: we're offering a free loan with the right to buy in June. The player wants to come to us and not PSG and we hope City accept the offer."
Milan have confirmed that further talks with Tevez's representatives about a permanent deal for the Argentina attacker will continue on Thursday.
The European transfer window opens on January 1.
Blackburn owners "concerned" over Rovers freefall
Embattled Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean had conceded that the club's Indian owners Venky's are beginning to worry about the possibilities of the one-time English Premier League dropping out of the top flight.
Rovers and Kean have endured a torrid 12 months, but the team's fortunes have failed to see any sort of turnaround of late with Blackburn taking just four points from a possible 15 following games against Wigan, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea and West Brom as well as being knocked out of the League Cup by Championship side Cardiff City.
"They are obviously concerned, like we all are," Kean said of Venky's. "But I have full backing from the owners and full backing in the transfer window.
"You have to face up to the responsibility. It doesn't keep me awake at night but it is a difficult situation. I won't turn my back on it, though."
Despite the Scot's insistence that will not walk away, national newspaper reports in England on Monday speculated that former Blackburn and national team striker Alan Shearer would be targeted as Kean's replacement.
Rovers face bottom of the Premier League table Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night at Ewood Park.
Mutti in for second spell
Palermo have wasted little time in announcing that Bortolo Mutti will return as their new manager following the dismissal of Devis Mangia.
Mangia was sacked after less than four months in charge even though the Sicilians remain in 10th place in the Serie A table and the fact that the outgoing coach only signed a two-year contract extension last month.
Mutti spent one season in charge of Palermo a decade ago and also has coaching stints at Atalanta, Napoli and, most recently, Bari to his name, although he couldn't prevent the latter slipping into Serie B last season.
Mangia, who was only promoted from youth team boss at the start of the season, failed to guide Palermo to a single away win.
Compiled by Marc Fox
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