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Wednesday Kickoff: Ibrahimovic linked with move to Juventus; Suarez accepts FA charge; and more

ZlatanIbrahimovicPSGBarcelona (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

After just one season at Paris Saint-Germain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be ditching his digs in Paris for a move back to Italy.

Italian publication La Gazetta Dello Sport is reporting that Juventus have offered Ibrahimovic a four-year contract to return to Turin this summer and end his career in Italy. Ibrahimovic played with Juventus from 2004-2006, leaving for Inter Milan after Juventus were relegated due to a major match-fixing scandal.

The 31-year-old Sweden international has been reportedly been offered €28 million over the course of the four year deal, with €24 million of that coming in the first two years of the contract. In a separate report from Italian publication La Repubblica, Ibrahimovic was quoted saying that it is an honor to be linked with Juventus, though he stressed that he was still a PSG player.

Since moving to PSG last summer, Ibrahimovic has risen to the top of the scoring charts in Ligue 1, scoring 27 goals in 28 league matches. In all competitions for club and country the six-foot-four-inch forward has hit 37 goals since last August.

Here are some more stories to get your Wednesday started:

SUAREZ ACCEPTS FA VIOLENT CONDUCT CHARGE

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez accepted the FA’s charge of violent conduct on Tuesday, after his bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during Sunday’s 2-2 draw.

By choosing not to appeal, Suarez will be banned for at least three matches, which is the normal punishment for a charge of violent conduct, though the Uruguayan forward will find out on Wednesday if the ban will be increased, and if there will be a fine attached with it as well. A three-man commission will meet to discuss the case, and their decision is expected to be released by Wednesday evening.

In a statement issued by the FA on Tuesday, Suarez said that while he accepted the charge, he disputed any suspension past three matches, and will likely appeal. Liverpool have just four games remaining this season, away to Newcastle and Fulham, and home against Everton and Queens Park Rangers.

FERDINAND TO SIGN ONE-YEAR EXTENSION

Manchester United may be losing Paul Scholes again to retirement at the end of the season, but according to reports out of England, at least one of their old guard will remain in the squad for another season.

Rio Ferdinand, 34, is expected to sign a new one-year-contract before the season ends in mid-May with the club he has plied his trade since 2002. The England international defender just won his sixth Premier League title with United after their 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday clinched the top spot in the standings.

Ferdinand has made 31 appearances for the Red Devils this season in all competitions, though he has been slowed down this season due to back issues.

RONALDINHO TO CAPTAIN BRAZIL AGAINST CHILE

In a move that could have ramifications for the upcoming Confederations Cup, Brazilian National Team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has appointed former Barcelona man Ronaldinho as his captain for a friendly match on Wednesday against Chile.

The 33-year-old midfielder has been a revelation since moving to Atletico Mineiro in 2012, winning last season’s top player award in Brazil’s domestic league. With his selection as captain, it’s likely that Real Madrid midfielder Kaka won’t have a place in the squad for the Confederations Cup this June. The squad selected for the friendly is entirely of domestic-based players, as the match falls outside of the approved FIFA dates.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Cristian Cuevas, a Chelsea signing, could make his first appearance for Chile at the senior level during Wednesday’s match.

QUICK KICKS

Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has lost his red card appeal, meaning he won’t be available until the final match of the season against Newcastle. (REPORT)

At the end of the season, Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium Parc des Princes will undergo renovations in preparation for EURO 2016. (REPORT)

Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa had his appeal against one-match ban for yellow card accumulation accepted, leaving him open for selection in his club’s match against Real Madrid on Saturday. (REPORT)

Paraguayan FIFA Executive Committee member Nicolas Leoz has resigned, effective immediately, just ahead of the release of an investigation into corruption within the world soccer body. (REPORT)

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What do you make of these reports? Do you see Ibrahimovic moving to Juventus? What do you think of Suarez’s acceptance of the charges? Do you believe Ferdinand should have looked at his options abroad?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I wonder if Ronaldinho will come to MLS after World Cup 2014, given that China, Mexico, Middle East, Russia will try to get him. If I was MLS I would make him sign a pre contract with MLS, if he would like to play in MLS, given that by 2014 Orlando or Cosmos might be in. Another thing, what players will MLS go after world cup 2014, will big markets finally get true DPs with gas in the tank or will MLS teams get bench warmers. There is Casillas, Ronaldinho, Drogba, Sneijder, Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Fabregas, Tevez, Forlan and even a bunch of Mexican and south american talent willing to come for the right price and family security and education for their kids. By the way, if Vergara sells Chivas MX and Chivas USA, will MLS make Carlos Slim rename the team or relocate but at the same time, Carlos Slim can cherry pick what he wants with his money and even move his team to El Paso TX……….just saying 🙂 we have a huge piece land that will go for sell in 2015 close to downtown and to our univeristy Utep.

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    • “family security and education for their kids”

      This is probably the most-overstated reason that Americans think foreign players will want to come to the US to play soccer. These guys live in upscale neighbourhoods with plenty of security. Also with mass shootings and bombings in the US, I don’t think it’s assured that foreigner players will automatically think safety and security when they think of the US.

      Reply
  2. I’m not surprised Suarez accepted the charge. He just wanted the “taste” of champions league football that he wont get at Liverpool.

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  3. was Defoe banned for biting Mascherano a few years ago? What about Rooney and his constant flopping? I remember him stepping on a guys nuts and only getting a Red Card. John Terry, arguably greatest douche in history, only missed a few matches for hurling a slur at an opposing player among other things.

    There needs to be a gold standard. All players need to assign themselves to it. Sure ban him for 3-5 games and let it be done. do they really need to investigate this for 2 weeks or 5 months? Just decide and be done

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  4. Suarez says he’ll appeal anything over 3 games? He should count himself lucky to receive anything under 8. Biting is right there with spitting on someone, it’s the worst of the worst a player can do and to have it being done at the highest level of play is despicable. Liverpool should trade him immediately to.

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  5. Kevin Davies to Toronto. This looks like Nelsen’s first blunder. Hasn’t he witnessed the inability of over the hill players from Championship-level sides to have an impact in MLS? Davies is 36.

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  6. Dig seeing Ronaldihno back at the top of his game. I know I wasn’t the only one that saw insanity when he and a few other older guys were dropped from the Brazilian national team. We were vindicated when they couldn’t compete with anyone of matter.

    Reply

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