Good morning folks. As we transition away from the mid-week international schedule to the weekend’s juicy club schedule (which includes MLS starting tomorrow), here are a few news tidbits to get your day going.
Ronaldinho’s Barca exit not assured
Ronaldinho’s agent and brother, Roberto Assis, tried to downplay growing rumors that the Brazilian star is ready to leave Barcelona this summer. Ronaldinho has once again fallen out of favor with the Spanish giants and reports are surfacing linking him to a move out of Spain, with Chelsea one popular destination.
Will Barcelona really sell him? Considering the emergence of Bojan, and the transfer revenue Barcelona would receive from selling Ronaldinho and Giovanni Dos Santos, Barca could have its pick of players in the summer transfer market this summer. It should also be noted that Barcelona still boasts the central midfield trio of Deco, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Cahill out for the season
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. Cahill suffered the injury in Everton’s 1-1 draw vs. West Ham last weekend. The news, which will put a dent in Everton’s quest to secure a Champions League place, is a miserable blow for Everton just two days before it’s showdown vs. Liverpool.
Gillet calls out Hicks, Liverpool fans yawn
From the ‘Bad Timing’ department comes word that Liverpool co-owner George Gillet has revealed that his relationship with fellow co-owner Tom Hicks is a disaster. Gillet used the term ‘unworkable’ but disaster is more appropriate. Hicks blocked Gillet from selling his half of the club to oil-rich DIC, leaving the fabled club in uncomfortable limbo.
So why is it bad timing? Well, there’s this little thing called the Merseyside Derby this weekend. Liverpool is facing arch-rival Everton in a match that could determine which team goes to next year’s Champions League. That’s a wee bit more important than this billionaire’s spat.
Quick Kicks
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna will be sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury. …Lukas Podolski is tired of being on the bench at Bayern Munich and is ready to leave. …