BY DAN KARELL
Pep Guardiola has been rumored to have his eyes on a number of forwards to bring in for Bayern Munich next year, but according to Sky Sports Italia, a move for Borussia Dortmund target man Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich is as good as done.
The 24-year-old Polish international has been rumored for a move to English giants Manchester United, though nothing has ever materialized in him leaving German soil. Lewandowski’s contract with Dortmund is over in 2014, and after declining a contract extension, the German club may be willing to sell Lewandowski in the summer.
Lewandowski has been one of the best talents in Germany the last three years, and currently has 13 goals and four assists in 19 games in the Bundesliga.
Here are some other stories to get your Tuesday started:
RONALDO LOOKING FORWARD TO UNITED TIE
There are still eight days before Manchester United meet Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, but Madrid midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo has fanned the flames ahead of the tie.
Giving the media plenty of food for thought, the Portuguese maestro has stated that his side are better than Manchester United, heaping more pressure on the same side that lost to Granada last Saturday. Ronaldo spent six seasons at Manchester United, who are currently top of the table in England, before moving to Real Madrid in July 2010.
Real Madrid hosts the first leg of the tie on Wednesday, February 13, and will travel to Old Trafford on March 5.
RIQUELME CLOSER TO BOCA RETURN
Last month, Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme emphatically stated that if he wasn’t returning to Boca Juniors, his boyhood club and favorite team, he would not be playing for anybody.
But after Boca’s recent defeats to arch-rival River Plate in the Superclasico de Verano, Riquelme has reportedly changed his mind, and is now willing to return to Boca, to play for his former manager Carlos Bianchi.
The former Barcelona and Villarreal player hasn’t played a competitive match since July 4, 2012, when Boca Juniors lost to Sao Paulo in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, 3-1 on aggregate.
GAZZA HEADS TO AMERICA FOR HELP
Following a plea from Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne’s agent Terry Baker on Sunday that the former England international needed serious help with his alcohol addiction, two of the footballer’s friends have helped put him in a rehabilitation center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ronnie Irani, a former Cricketer for England and Chris Evans, a broadcaster, teamed up to put Gascoigne on a plane to the United States, to hopefully help his alcohol problems once and for all. Recently, the former Tottenham and Lazio man had checked himself out of a detox center in England, paid for by the English FA.
Gascoigne, 45, earned 57 caps for the England national team between 1988 and 1998. He played for nine clubs in a 19 year career.
QUICK KICKS
Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini is an injury doubt for Everton’s trip to Manchester United. (REPORT)
Serie A cellar dwellers Palermo have sacked their second manager this season, after a 2-1 loss to Atalanta on Sunday. (REPORT)
European-based Carlo Costly and Jorge Claros have arrived in Honduras, and will train with the team in advance of Wednesday’s match against the United Stages. (REPORT)
League Championship club Nottingham Forest and has mutually terminated the contract of manager Alex McLeish after just 40 days in charge. (REPORT)
FC Nurnberg midfielder Almog Cohen is set for a six-month loan to his former club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, in Israel. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Lewandowski ending up at Bayern? Do you believe Ronaldo is correct that Real Madrid is better than Man United? Do you think Riquelme can still contribute for Boca?
Share your thoughts below.
Polish and German media are reporting that these Lewandowski to Bayern reports are coming out of Italy, of all places. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Stay at Dortmund , Robert. Just as good of a club as Bayern, plus the chemistry with Kuba and Piszczek. If you have to move, go to Arsenal or Tottenham.
Rehab for Gazza?? Clearly, this is just a lame cover for the guy joining the Red Bulls camp when the team comes to Phoenix for the Desert Diamond Cup.
I know you’re joking but the DDC is in Tucson not Phoenix
I stand corrected.
I don’t think there is a snowball’s chance in heck that Lewandoski would move to FC Bayern. If he moves this summer, which is likely with Dortmund pocketing a very big transfer fee, he probably will end up in England.
I agree. I have heard he wants to leave because it’s his dream to play in England. Why leave BVB for Bayern?
Hahahaha McCleish. Looking for a new job after 6weeks at Forest. Should have played Bradley, he would have kept AV away from relegation zone and still have his job
yeah like playing Bradley at that time would have made such a difference that he would single handedly started winning them games… you are a clueless USA player fanboy homer
If I were Lewandowski Id head to a Juventus or AC Milan or Valencia. BM is the biggest German club but BD isnt that far off.
Juventus, Milan or Valencia aren’t even in the same league as Bayern. Plus, Seria A is on its knees financially and performance wise. why would he head there!?
Juve and Milan are in the same league as BM. They may not be as wealthy currently but on the field either of them could win their fair share against BM. Your statement was a bit of hyperbole….
have you watched bayern play over the past few years? have you watched ac milan recently? i would say juve can argue they are in the same league as bayern, but if you look at the quality in each squad bayern has one of the most talented teams in the world and certainly has more talent and depth than juve.
Good luck GAZZA!!!!!
I can still remember when we (DC) were heavily linked with him. As a fan of the EPL and Gazza, it would have been a dream signing to me. Eventually we got Stoichkov and found out that just because a player was once good, doesn’t mean he’ll always be good. Still, Gazza at DC is one of those great “what ifs”.
He needs a lot of help. It’s sad to see someone with such supreme talent, drink it all away. Unfortunately, that story is far too common in sports these days.
That Stoichkov statement came off wrong. Although I remember him being at times frustrating, he still performed well for us. He certainly does not fit in the same group as Matthäus.