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Tuesday Kickoff: Real Madrid and PSG name new managers; Cavani nears Chelsea move; and more

CarloAncelottiPSGPresser1 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Carlo Ancelotti is trading one European capital for another.

Real Madrid have officially announced their appointment of Ancelotti the next manager of the club, taking the reigns of a side that won just three trophies in the last three years under Jose Mourinho. Ancelotti signed a three-year contract with Madrid.

The Italian manager is a highly decorated figure both as a player and manager, winning a total of four Champions League titles in his career, the most recent in 2007 with AC Milan. Madrid midfielder Kaka was part of that team, and Ancelotti will be expected to end the Spanish club’s 11 year drought without a Champions League trophy.

While Ancelotti moves to Madrid, former French National Team boss Laurent Blanc has been officially announced as Ancelotti’s replacement at Paris Saint-Germain. Blanc signed a two-year contract with the club, who won their first league title in 18 years under Ancelotti last season.

Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:

REPORT: CHELSEA AGREE TRANSFER FEE FOR CAVANI

Highly-wanted forward Edinson Cavani could be trading in the sky blues of Napoli for a darker shade of blue with Chelsea.

According to reports out of Italy, Chelsea have agreed a transfer fee with Napoli over the Uruguayan front-man worth approximately $76 million, that would see Cavani move to the Blues of London this summer. Manchester City and Real Madrid are also after Cavani, though it looks like Chelsea will beat all three to get the Napoli striker’s signature.

According to recent reports, Cavani’s release clause of nearly $83 million in his Napoli contract will expire on August 10, which is why teams are bidding below, to try and get Napoli to bite at the largest one they can get. Manchester United is also rumored to be trying to make a late bid to bring the Uruguayan to Old Trafford.

Last season, Cavani lit up Serie A with 29 goals in 34 games, leading the club to a second place finish. If he does move to Chelsea, he will be swapping places with new Napoli boss Rafa Benitez.

FIFA BACKS BRAZIL FOR NEXT YEAR’S WORLD CUP

Despite ongoing anti-government protests that have turned violent in numerous cities around Brazil, FIFA is going ahead with their plan to stage the 2014 World Cup in one of soccer’s most famous countries.

Though the play on the field has been good, reports of riot police launching tear gas and rubber bullets at peaceful protesters have stolen the headlines, but FIFA’s General Secretary Jerome Valcke isn’t worried about the security of the games next year.

“We are definitely not under (siege), there is security,” Valcke said to the Associated Press. “I think there’s a need to express all the good jobs we are doing. We are doing plenty of good things. And again, it’s never enough, but I am not ashamed about what we are doing.

“There is no Plan B and, by the way, I have never received any official offer from any other countries around the world to stage the World Cup in 2014,” Valcke said.

According to reports in South America, the Brazilian government is estimating that upwards of $13 billion dollars will be spent on stadiums and improving infrastructure ahead of the World Cup next summer.

QUICK KICKS

Chelsea have completed the signing of Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen, the midfielder signing a five-year contract. (REPORT)

AC Milan midfielder Ricardo Montolivo has been named club captain for the upcoming season. (REPORT)

AS Monaco have announced a friendly match at the Stade Louis II on August 3 against Tottenham. (REPORT)

Former Croatia player and manager of the national team is close to signing a deal to take over as manager of Besiktas in the Turkish Super League. (REPORT)

Malaga owner Abdullah Al-Thani wrote on his Twitter account that no one would wear Isco’s number 22 again, effectively retiring the 21-year-old’s number as he heads out to either Real Madrid or Manchester City. (REPORT)

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What do you make of these reports? Do you see Ancelotti successfully winning the Champions League this season? Can Blanc continue Ancelotti’s success at PSG? Do you believe FIFA is right to not have a plan B?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. You’re gonna retire the jersey of a guy so young he has 1 senior cap and only played at your team 3 years, and after he signed a three year extension in January only to flee the next summer?

    Or maybe this is like giving him stock because I understand the buyout is like $48 million dollars (30 million pounds). That would be 48 million solutions to Malaga’s money issues.

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  2. The Daily Mail is a POS – don’t trust anything out of there. Sky and the Times UK are the only two I (sorta) trust

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  3. Plan B = USA. I’d feel bad because that would mean the protests in Brazil had probably increased dramatically but I’d probably forget about that while I was watching the World Cup here.

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  4. “There is no Plan B and, by the way, I have never received any official offer from any other countries around the world to stage the World Cup in 2014,” Valcke said

    Riggghhhhttttttt.

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    • There is no official plan B.

      I have received no official new bids for the 2014 WC, and bidding closed years ago anyway.

      Doesn’t mean there won’t be new plans and bids if there is unrest.

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  5. Cavani and Torres should just trade jerseys, with some cash spread around to paper over the cracks.

    Torres and Benitez go together like Peaches and Herb at this point. No sense making Torres steam on a bench in England when he can be “Reunited” with the Spanish waiter in Italy: it feels so good.

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    • I’ll be interested how Torres plays out over the summer, whether he’s retained or not. I think they had depth problems last year, particularly at forward, so I’m not sure he’s immediately cashiered. But I’d be interested if Lukaku is brought back , what The Special One thinks of Ba, etc. I definitely think that even with the form uptick Torres is not safe because Benitez is gone, and I think when you look at what say RvP is doing, Torres’ efforts still don’t amount to much relatively speaking. At his price he needs to be a 30 goal guy too, or he needs to be sold and replace with someone who will be.

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      • Cavani, and Schurrle signings are both now official. So Chelsea surely sell someone. I can’t see them keeping all of Cavani, Schurrle, Ba, Torres, and Lukaku.

      • Someones moving and its not Lukaku unless its on loan to a squad in Europe, Swans would be interesting.

        Whats the record for the most expensive frontline in history. Ba was 7 million pounds, Torres 50 million pounds, Cavani 57 million pounds, Lukaku was 17 million pounds if memory serves. 131 million pounds amazing if they dont sell or move anyone I wonder hoe much per million theyll be paying for goals.

  6. If the construction problems continue and the violence continues, FIFA will certainly wish it had access Tom”Plan B,” much like a teenage girl in a pharmacy the morning after.

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