SOCCER BRIEFS
Europe ‘not happy’with Fifa UEFA president Michel Platini says Europe is “not happy” with the Fifa executive committee’s decision to postpone reforms limiting the age and terms of senior officials. Speaking after a Uefa meeting in Mauritius, Platini said “perhaps there is some politics in Fifa” surrounding the delay to changes that could limit the 77year-old Fifa President Sepp Blatter standing for another term beyond 2015. Fifa’s annual congress opened yesterday, but the debate over age and term limits has been put back until at least 2014 by the executive committee.
Once you’re Marca’s coverboy … SPANISH paper Marca have long had a close relationship with Real Madrid. The club often use the newspaper to pursue transfer targets. And once on the front cover, there’s only one place players usually end up. Just ask Kaka, Modric and Ronaldo. Who was on the cover yesterday? Gareth Bale. Real have made the £65 millionrated Tottenham player their top summer transfer target
Difficult to say no to Real – Suarez LIVERPOOL striker Luis Suarez has hinted that he would consider a move away from the Merseyside club to Real Madrid, if the Spanish giants were be keen to take him. Suarez received a 10-match domestic ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last month and suggested the pressure from the British media was one reason why he would consider a move. Suarez has admitted he is “tired” of life in England and is eager to move abroad. He added that he had already informed his manager, Brendan Rodgers, of his feelings.
Pellegrini on his way to City? MANUEL Pellegrini has told a Spanish television network that he has a verbal agreement with Manchester City to become the Premier League club’s next manager. “Even though until we have signed nothing is done, City has shown a lot of interest in me becoming its next coach,” Pellegrini told Canal Sur. “My agent has spoken a lot with them. The deal is not done, but there shouldn’t be a problem. I have a verbal agreement with them and I hope that it is honoured.” The 59-year-old Chilean coach announced last week he was leaving Spanish club Malaga despite having two seasons left on his contract. He has since been linked to a move to City to replace the fired Roberto Mancini.
Hughes takes over at Stoke MARK Hughes took over as Stoke City manager on a three-year contract yesterday, saying he wanted to prove critics wrong and restore his reputation after being fired by Queens Park Rangers last year. He replaces fellow Welshman Tony Pulis who left the Premier League club by mutual consent last week after seven years in charge. “I’m really grateful … they’ve looked maybe beyond my last position and taken my career as a manager as a whole,” Hughes said “Mistakes were made (at QPR) and certainly I made mistakes which I will learn from.” Hughes was sacked by QPR in November, departing after a miserable start to the season with the west Londoners, at that point the only club in England’s four professional divisions not to have recorded a win.