By ADAM TROXTELL
One of early summer’s intriguing transfer sagas is coming to a conclusion.
Reports out of England suggest that Manchester City have agreed a transfer fee for Liverpool attacker Raheem Sterling. The reported fee of around $76 million would be a record for an English player.
Man City already had one bid for Sterling rejected this summer, with Liverpool reportedly holding out for around $77.5 million. The young attacker, who has been criticized for the perceived way he has treated the club, did not travel with Liverpool on a preseason tour to Thailand, Malaysia and Australia over the weekend.
The Telegraph reports that the initial fee agreed is closer to $68.3 million, with about $7 million in add-ons. After having the first bid rejected, Man City was reportedly open to negotiating closer to Liverpool’s valuation of the player.
Here are some more news and notes for your Sunday afternoon:
TEARY-EYED CASILLAS BIDS GOODBYE TO REAL
After 25 years, Iker Casillas is walking through the Real Madrid exit door.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who played in 725 games for Los Blancos, signed a two-year deal with FC Porto. He gave a goodbye speech in front of reporters on Sunday and was unable to hold back some tears.
“After 25 years defending the emblem of the biggest club in the world, this is one of the hardest days of my life,” Casillas said. “This club has not only taught me to be a sportsman but also taught me human values. I will do all I can not to let them (Porto) down and I will try to win as many titles as possible with them. Thank you, FC Porto, for trusting me.”
The 34 year-old joined Real Madrid aged just nine and made his debut in 1999. Since then he has been a mainstay in the Real goal and was consistently considered one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He is the current captain of the Spanish National Team.
Lately, he faced criticism from fans for what they considered below-par performances and mistakes. Real Madrid’s continued interest in Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was another sign that Casillas might be on the way out.
SCHWEINSTEIGER CLOSE TO MAN UNITED MOVE
Another classic club figure is also on the move, as Bastian Schweinsteiger’s transfer to Manchester United nears completion.
Schweinsteiger, captain of world champions Germany, bid farewell to Bayern Munich and its fans as he prepares to join the English giants. He has been with the Bayern organization since 2001.
“This decision was very hard to make because you and FCB have, are and will always be an extremely important part of my life,” Schweinsteiger said in a statement and video posted to Twitter. “Nevertheless, I would again like to gain experience at a new club. My destination is Manchester United. I hope you understand my decision.”
The midfielder is expected to complete a medical on Sunday ahead of officially signing with Man United.
RONALDINHO OPTS TO JOIN FLUMINENSE
Brazilian star Ronaldinho has opted to move back to his home country.
Fluminense announced on Saturday that they had officially signed the quick-footed midfielder after his contract with Mexican side Queretaro ended. It’s the second time Ronaldinho has returned to Brazil following his years in Europe, as he joined Flamengo in 2011 and later played for Atletico Mineiro.
The former PSG and Barcelona playmaker had joined Queretaro since last September but ended his contract with the club this summer.
He had been widely reported to join Turkish team Antalyaspor, but instead decided to go back to Rio de Janeiro.
FENERBAHCE CLOSE TO SIGNING ROBIN VAN PERSIE
Dutch striker Robin Van Persie is close to joining Turkish side Fenerbahce.
A photo of the Manchester United front man was posted on the club’s official Twitter account with him wearing a Fenerbahce scarf next to a plane. The photo includes the caption “Robin Van Persie is on his way to Istanbul!”
A deal will reportedly be reached within the next 24 hours.
Van Persie scored 58 goals in 105 appearances over a three-year stint with Manchester United. Injuries hampered his play last season, though he still recorded 10 goals in 27 games.
STOKE SIGN GLEN JOHNSON FOR FREE
Former Liverpool and England right back Glen Johnson has been signed by Stoke City.
Johnson had been reported to join Stoke after his Liverpool contract expired this summer. Manager Mark Hughes expressed his happiness at the signing to Stoke’s official website.
“He’s a talented defender who also chips in with goals — as we discovered last season when he scored the winner against us at Anfield — and having spoken to him I know how much he’s looking forward to being a Stoke player,” Hughes said.
Johnson spend six seasons with Liverpool after completing a transfer from Portsmouth. He has made 54 appearances for the England National Team.
Johnson is Stoke’s sixth signing of the summer.
RvP in Turkey? His wages are massive 240 K pounds a week. I believe his wages when signing with United back in 2012 was 200 K. Incredible that a Turkish club could pay that.
Whats the legacy of RVP at United versus his legacy at Arsenal? He scored more goals as he got older than when he was younger
I am shocked he is the top scorer in dutch history
If we had to compare Howard to Casillas how would he rank?
Is Casillas 1 of the best keepers of all time? Surely in the top 3 of the 21st century
I have a hard time putting him as the best of all time. Granted he was a good keeper in his prime (better than Howard at his prime), but his fall is/was so precipitous.
My Top 5:
Lev Yashin
Peter Schmeichel
Dino Zoff
Peter Shilton
Iker Casillas/Oliver Kahn
* Iker had the luck of playing for the best national midfield in 20 years and STACKED club teams.
Honorable Mention
Iker Casillas/Oliver Kahn
Gianluigi Buffon
Michel Preud’homme
Harald Schumacher
Gordon Banks
Sterling will be a flop like Milner. All the talented English players chase the money and it ruins their career. Just ignorant peons
Gone are the days of Gerrard and Lampard. England is now on the level of Slovenia
Why did Casillas leave? Why not retire?
Or come to MLS? What was great about Porto? His wages must be cut by 80% in Portugal
Are you serious? He’s 34! He is supposed to be in his peak for goalie. They play at a high level until 38/39/40. He has 5 years in him. No MLS should sign him because MLS doesn’t play goal keepers high salaries (no make 7 figures) and he will get 7 figures at Porto. If there is one position that MLS does not lack quality, it is goalkeeping. He is too shaky in my opinion. His confidence is shot and he is filled with too much self-doubt.
Finally, “What was great about Porto?” They are one of the historically great clubs in Portugal. Portugal is a beautiful place to live (I have been there). He still gets to play Champions league for the foreseeable future. They are always in the running for the Primeira Liga title. In the past 12 years, they have (1) won the Champions League title, and (2) won UEFA League/Europa League TWICE (last in ’11). This season alone, they finished 2nd in Portugal and got to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He gets to live in Portugal and still play at a pretty high level. The real issue is why would Portugal want a GK with the “yips”.
We have a strong group.
I’m captivated by the 3rd place teams. Who is going who is not going on
Qualifying 2016 Copa is on the lilin
( As of today USA, Mex, Costa Rica, Jamaica are in the Cops America 2016 version)
Mexico just tied 10-man Guatemala 0-0
Good job, Chapines!
To be fair: they got CONCACAFd hard twice. The ref easily could have given two penalties for handling within the penalty area. Do I have any sympathy for them? No. No, I do not.
Now TandT can just play for a draw and win the group. Should make things interesting.
TNT look like Honduras, Panama and Haiti, tough, physical, athletic with a couple of dangerous,speedy, counterattackers.
Then you have to US who are trying to play a little football.
And then there is Mexico who look like CONCACAF’s version of Arsenal on a bad day.
There are a number of dangerous teams out there.
This is shaping up to be a fascinating tournament..
So what you’re saying is TNT is dynamite?
BOOM
At the end Mexico ran out of luck and ideas.
I wonder if the so-called US “fans” on SBI can appreciate what a nice job the USMNT did getting 6 points vs. “tougher” opposition than Cuba and Guatemala.
+1. This tournament is shaping up as… well.. a CONCACAF Gold Cup. The eternal theme of this competition has always been “no easy buckets” and this edition may be the best example yet through two rounds.
For whatever reason SBI has not shown much interest in matches not featuring the US, which is a shame because what is happening in Groups B & C is quite compelling. While the US has certainly been underwhelming in its two wins, the bigger lesson is that this tournament will be a dogfight for all involved. The supposed “showdown” matches amongst the US, Mexico, and Costa Rica may occur much earlier than expected, and it may be that the Caribbean teams (notably Jamaica and T&T) are much better competition than many had imagined.
I love this tournament, and this is why.
It would be very interesting to see TNT beat Mexico
Then Mexico might have to play Costa Rica in the next stage if Costa Rica stay in the runner up position in their Group.
That record fee is going to put sterling under huge pressure. He’s going to wilt just like he did for club and country after the interview he made, without Liverpool’s permission, was published.
This Sterling transfer gives me Shaun Wright-Phillips to Chelsea flashbacks. Their on the field styles are similar and with their petite sizes and overblown prices I can’t help but see similarities.
I was thinking the same thing: SWP or Joe Cole.
In my opinion Sterling is better than SWP but not as good as Joe Cole at his peak. In other words, he’s worth nowhere near 49m GBP – more like half that. But English players are hugely overvalued in the EPL.
Sort of buried the lede, but wow, I guess this is maybe the end for Geoff playing right back at Stoke??
Stoke brought in Bardsley last season and Geoff spent a lot of time in midfield.
Now they’ve got Johnson. So unless are going to be moving Johnson to center back,it seems Geoff is either staying in midfield or moving to center back.
Geoff just did sign a new three year deal so it will be interesting to see where he plays.
if u say he is not worth £49m to be received liverpool,what about the £200000 city want to pay him? If u get involved in wortless and shamefllul deal like city are doing,then u pay the price
I read this three times and it still did not make sense. I thought it was going one way with the first sentence then the other way with the second sentence. What are you trying to say?
I think he’s saying that the transfer fee is ridiculously high but the salary they want to pay is even worse and if you make deals like that they will come back to haunt you? As Sterling isn’t worth it and won’t play to the value of his deal? Maybe?
I’m sure Sterling will be a good player but in no way do I believe he’s worth that kind of money, and at Man City there’s always the chance the he’ll be riding the pine with the roster they have available.
Sterling may end up being a nice player, but he is not worth GBP 49 million. That is the price for a special player, and he is not a special player. Radamel Falcao was GBP 51 million in 2013 before his knee injury and he was in the conversation for the best 9 in European football. Mesut Özil was less (43 million) when he went to Arsenal the same year. I mean that is more than Alexis Sanchez. The EPL really does love to overvalue British players.
u aint lying
I appreciate that a young homegrown player has inflated value byt 50 million GBP is so so silly… He might not even start often for Citeh….
I really wish teams would put their foot down and say enough is enough…
Lebron James in my opinion is not worth 75 million bucks… let alone a winger that likely does not even make the top 50 footballers in Europe list…