Manchester United target Dortmund star Kagawa

Manchester United are lining up a summer bid for Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa amid reports that the German club are losing hope of keeping the attacking midfielder.

Shiinji Kagawa

Dortmund president Dr Reinhold Rauball has admitted that he fears that Kagawa will not sign a contract extension while United have indicated that they are ready to offer the 23-year-old a three-year deal worth £95,000-a-week, according to Goal.com. I understands that Sir Alex Ferguson has a long-standing interest in the Japan international, who is valued at around £12 million as his existing contract expires next summer.





United are in the hunt for a creative midfielder and have added Kagawa - who has been in stunning form this season and scored 16 goals - to the likes of Luka Modric and Eden Hazard on their list of potential targets. The Premier League leaders are also attracted to the commercial benefits of signing Kagawa in light of the club’s huge fanbase in the Far East and the financial success of Ji-Sung Park’s time at the club.





Kagawa, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, is believed to have been offered £2.4m-a-year to extend his contract until 2016, doubling his existing salary. However, he could earn four times his current wages at Old Trafford.

Dortmund hope to extend Kagawa's stay, but have a ready replacement with Marco Reus joining the club from Borussia Monchengladbach in July. Kagawa moved to Dortmund from Cerezo Osaka in 2010 and scored against Gladbach last week as Jurgen Klopp’s side secured a second successive Bundesliga title.

Guardiola to leave Barcelona ?

Pep Guardiola is set to part company with Barcelona at the end of the season, according to reports on Thursday evening.

Guardiola's future has been the subject of conjecture following a disappointing week for Barcelona, during which their 2-1 defeat in El Clasico propelled Real Madrid toward the Liga title. Barca then followed that result with a 3-2 aggregate loss to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals, meaning their remaining focus is now on the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25.



Pep Guardiola

Guardiola has been on a rolling contract at the Camp Nou since taking over from Frank Rijkaard in 2008, and, with the 2011-12 season drawing to a close, speculation has ignited over whether he will commit to fresh terms.

The latest reports suggest the 41-year-old will not extend his stay with the Spanish club, amid suggestions he is keen to take a year out from football, such is the intensity of leading Barcelona. A press conference is scheduled for Friday when Guardiola is expected to confirm the news, which will likely be followed by a string of reports proposing potential replacements for the hugely successful coach, with Athletic's Marcelo Bielsa mooted as a contender.

Guardiola has won three successive La Liga titles since being handed the reins, while he lifted the Champions League trophy in 2009 and 2011, subsequently winning the FIFA Club World Cup on two occasions also.

The penalty killers

On 1 February this year, the big story in footballing circles was how Lionel Messi, on the cusp of becoming Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, missed a penalty against Valencia that could have given the current FIFA Club World Cup champions a first-leg victory in their Copa del Rey semi-final. However, when you have another look at the other main protagonist of that incident, you might feel the headlines were a touch one-sided. 

 With his save against the normally-unerring Messi, Diego Alves, the first Brazilian to keep goal in the Spanish top flight, made it an incredible 11 stops from the 17 spot-kicks he has faced since arriving in Spain in 2007. And nor was La Pulga his first high-profile victim, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Llorente and Frederic Kanoute all failing to beat him from 12 yards. Following in the footsteps Claudio Taffarel, another Brazilian who earned a reputation as penalty-stopper, the 26-year-old Alves is on course to set new records in this regard. 

Diego Alves: Valencia No.1

Asked recently about the secret of his success, the Valencia No1 put it thus: “Penalties are a psychological battle. The keeper must be relaxed and get inside the head of the opponent. I study videos of penalty-takers and analyse where they prefer to place them and how they incline their bodies. The final few steps before they strike the ball are key.” 

 Of course, Alves is just the latest in a long line of penalty-saving specialists. Leaving aside those whose fame stemmed from a single-game’s heroics, like the Romanian Helmuth Dukadam, who saved all four of Barcelona’s spot-kicks in the final of the 1986 European Cup against Steaua Bucharest, there have been plenty of other custodians who have demonstrated this skill right throughout their careers. 

Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin, the legendary USSR No.1, saved more than 150 penalties based on intuition alone, making him the game’s best ever goalkeeper in many eyes. The German Rudi Kargus, for his part, holds the Bundesliga record with 23 stops from 70 attempts, while Zambia’s Kennedy Mweene showed his aptitude in this area only last week, helping the Chipolopolo prevail in a shoot-out against Côte d'Ivoire to win the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. 

 Another category would be those who have excelled in this skill through a combination of natural talent and outside help. One example is Sergio Goycochea, who told FIFA.com that the secret to stopping spot-kicks is having “powerful legs, a lot of intuition and bit of luck”. For all that, El Vasco had a ritual he liked to follow before every shoot-out – one that saw him discreetly urinating in the middle of the park while encircled by his team-mates.

 Former Germany No1 Jens Lehmann is another with a well-earned reputation for saving penalties, not least those of Argentinian players. In 2006, just a few months after denying Villarreal’s Juan Roman Riquelme in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League with Arsenal, he kept out efforts from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso in the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. It was during that shoot-out that Lehmann famously consulted notes on a piece of paper, sparking a controversy that continues to this day. 

 And while Riquelme said it was just a blank piece of paper intended to distract the Argentinian kickers, the goalkeeper proved otherwise by allowing it to be seen in several museum exhibits. “The truth is that it didn’t help a great deal,” the hero of the hour has admitted. “For the Ayala penalty, the note indicated I should dive to my right but, at the last minute, I decided to go to the other side and stopped it. It was pure intuition. German goalkeepers are always expected to save penalties.” 

 A penalty and a title The Spaniard Iker Casillas first showed his aptitude in this respect while representing Spain’s youth teams, so it was no surprise when he played in key role in La Roja’s Round-of-16 shoot-out win over Republic of Ireland at Korea/Japan 2002. At UEFA EURO 2008 he was at it again, this time shattering the dreams of Italy. Even Spain’s crowning glory at South Africa 2010 might never have come to pass were it not for a Casillas penalty save. 

Iker Casillas

In their quarter-final tie against Paraguay, San Iker stopped a Oscar Cardozo spot-kick that could have changed the course of the game – and the tournament. As fate would have it, the key to keeping the Paraguayan at bay was none other than Pepe Reina. The Spain reserve keeper told journalists afterwards that “Cardozo had hit one to that side against me for Benfica, so I mentioned it to Iker before the game. That said, the credit was all his.” For the captain Casillas, however, it was down to “intuition, good luck and the help of a team-mate.” 

Dutchman Michel Vorm. The former Utrecht man, now with Premier League outfit Swansea City, has his own technique, and one that has earned him the nickname, the Penalty Killer. “It seems to me that when faced with a spot-kick, many keepers don’t do enough to try to stop them. If their opponent scores, they think ‘Ah well, it was a penalty; there wasn’t much I could do’. However, I feel obliged to save them. You need to have a slice of luck, but this attitude can tip the balance in your favour.”

Nicolas Gaitan: Why Man Utd boss Ferguson sees him as Scholes successor

A full international before 20, he's a reserved character, supremely gifted and admired by Sir Alex Ferguson.

No, I'm not talking about Phil Jones or his Manchester United teammate Chris Smalling, but Nicolas Gaitan, the exciting Benfica winger, whose not only won public praise from Sir Alex, but also younger brother Martin, United's chief scout.

Nicolas Gaitan

Gaitan's agent, Jose Iribarren, has already acknowledged the interest of bigger clubs since the start of the season: "I know there are big clubs watching Gaitán, but so far no one has contacted me to express interest in an official way."

While Ferguson pulled back on Wesley Sneijder, the Inter Milan playmaker, over concerns he would block the progress of midfield-types like Paul Pogba and Ryan Tunnicliffe, it can be argued Gaitan offers something different to what United's FA Youth Cup winners possess.

Gaitan: The new Devil

A left-sided winger blessed with pace and dynamic individual skill, Gaitan was signed 18 months ago by Benfica as a direct replacement for Angel di Maria, following his sale to Real Madrid. While some inside the club questioned shelling out €8.4 million for the then Boca Juniors prospect, they took assurance from the famed Argentine talent spotter, Ramón Maddoni, that this kid was the real deal.

Fernando Redondo, Carlos Tevez, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin, Fernando Gago, Emilio Insúa, the list runs long of Argentine players first uncovered by the canny eye of Maddoni.

Of Gaitan, he's as enthusiastic as he was when first seeing Manchester City striker Tevez and Boca legend Riquelme.

"Within two to three years, Nico will be worth €40 million," Maddoni defiantly says. "He has all the ability to bring as much joy to Benfica fans as Di Maria did.

"He's at the same level as Di Maria. He has a great change of pace and is very intelligent."

It was Maddoni who first spotted Gaitan for Boca when just eight years of age playing futsal for Jose Paz, just outside the capital, Buenos Aries.

While frail, Gaitan displayed plenty of talent as Maddoni explained, "We just worked on the fundamentals. He had the ability, the speed, the aggression. We just worked to improve this further."

Even before breaking into the Boca first team, the club's massive support were already well aware of Gaitan, with the young teen being dubbed 'El Canhoto Maravilha' - 'The Lefty Wonder'.

For all the excitement Gaitan brings to fans, his reserved nature is almost legendary in Argentina. The midfielder is known for his love of an afternoon kip and his humility has charmed the usually ruthless local media corp.

While at Boca, his agent offered to buy Gaitan a car. But the midfielder knocked it back, insisting he was happier travelling to and from the training ground on the train with his teammates.

"I was with my friends," he says, "and if I'm happy with how things are, why change?"

Even the reaction to his first call-up to the senior Argentina squad suggests Gaitan isn't likely to allow the game's riches to go to his head.

"Diego (Maradona) often calls me to see how I am," recalls Gaitan, who is close to the Boca and Argentine icon. "I thought he was just seeing how I was.

"But then he told me I'd been selected. I couldn't believe it. I don't think anyone did when it was made public. But psychologically, it was a very important step for me."

At Boca, as Maddoni conceded, there were doubts about him physically and Gaitan almost quit after spending a season training with the first team, but without actually getting a call.

But others recognised his talent and at 18, Almeria came in for him with a €750,000 offer for a four-year option. But both Boca and Gaitan turned it down.

"Maddoni always told me to stay with Boca, because he trusted that I would play. He gave the example of Gago (of Real Madrid), who played in the juniors for some time and later left as a star," says Gaitan.

Less than two years after that Almeria offer, Gaitan was being sold to Benfica for €8.4 million and is now on the wanted lists of Europe's biggest clubs, including United.

View also: Manchester United agree fee for Gaitan

As Iribarren warns, Gaitan's profile is fast growing across Europe, with Inter Milan scouts among those keeping United's reps company at the Estádio da Luz this season.

Benfica's board are pleased with themselves, having just secured Gaitan's signature to a new five-year contract. But many observers believe the move is just in preparation of a sale in 2012, with his new deal including a £40 million buyout clause.

Ferguson: Have been watching Gaitan whole season

Indeed, despite the new contract, the midfielder remains on Ferguson's radar, with intermediaries making it known that the Scot sees Gaitan as a more affordable alternative to Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder. While predominantly a winger, Ferguson's spies are convinced the youngster can be used centrally.

Quiet, humble and tipped for greatness, all Gaitan is missing is the ginger hair and you can see why Ferguson has been so determined in his pursuit of the young lad from San Martin.

Manchester United agree a deal to sign Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan for £20m plus Fabio and Federico Macheda

Manchester United have struck terms with Benfica for winger Nicolas Gaitan.

Gaitan: Set to join Manchester United

It was reported United have agreed a deal (believed to be £20million) to sign the Benfica midfielder Gaitán with both Fabio da Silva and Federico Macheda moving to the Portuguese club as part of the terms.

The details of the deal are likely to see Fabio going only on a season’s long loan while Macheda’s transfer could be a permanent one, with Manchester United then reducing some of the costs of acquiring the highly-rated Gaitán.

Man Utd agree cash-plus-players deal for €45M Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan

Manchester United are on the brink of agreement with Benfica for star winger Nicolas Gaitan.

Nicolas Gaitan

The deal is reported will be worth €45 MILLION and include two players going in the opposite direction. Terms have been settled between the two clubs, with United agreeing to pay €25 million cash with the remaining €20 million in value to come from two players.

Kiko Macheda, Davide Petrucci and Bebe, currently on-loan at Besiktas, have all been mentioned as makeweights.

Negotiations have been handled by Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes, who is close to both clubs. Gaitan will move to Old Trafford on a five-year deal. 

Wonder why Fergie  need so many winger....

The Top 10 tubby footballers

It's hard to resist the lamb chops, chocolates, and hot cross buns during Easter, and even harder to shed the kilos once the festive period is over and the bunny costume is tucked away for another year.

But seeing elite sportsmen such as footballers struggling with their own weight problems makes us feel a little better, especially when you consider that some of the chubbiest players in the world are also some of the best.

1. John Barnes

John Barnes during Tranmere games

Barnes admitted that he was a fast-food junkie even during his playing days. He claims that his favourite chocolate snack is Topics and said once during an interview in 2004: "I try to keep away from them. It's not good for my figure." You just have to wonder if Mars paid him in chocolate bars when he agreed to rap for them in a television advert for the England national team.

2. Adriano

Adriano

Once feared for his ferocious left foot, the only thing that clubs - his own clubs - fear now is his weight. The 30-year-old started putting on the pounds in the late 2000's at Inter and despite various attempts to fight the bulge, he never could return to the slimline Adriano. After a flopped European comeback with Roma and recently being dumped by Corinthians for his continuous fitness and discipline problems, it looks like a potential return to his childhood club Flamengo will be the last chance for him to resurrect his career.

3.Diego Maradona

Maradona

Talk about a huge personality. Maradona's weight may have really ballooned towards the tail-end of his playing career due to his battle with drugs and alcohol, but he has always been known for his stocky, podgy figure. But that was what made Maradona so great, and his cuddly, bunny-like chubbiness made us love him even more. It makes his feat of out-jumping Peter Shilton at the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England all the more remarkable.

4. Jan Molby

Jan Molby

Here's a man who loves his Danish pastry. Molby was never much of a runner or a chaser on the field, and understandably so. The former Liverpool midfielder had his ups and downs with his weight as a player, but after arriving at Anfield the scales only tipped towards one direction. Having to look at the word 'Candy' on his shirt all day must not have helped. And they say subliminal advertising doesn't work!

5. Ferenc Puskas

Puskas

By the time Puskas joined Real Madrid in 1958, not only was he already 31 years of age, but he also had a beer belly hanging out of his shirt. The then Madrid coach Luis Carniglia asked his president Santiago Bernabeu what he was supposed to do with the overweight Hungarian, and the supremo replied: "That's your job. You're here to make him look pretty!" Puskas' gut kept getting bigger, but so did his goal haul.

6. Neville Southall

Neville Southall

Keepers are often told to make themselves big to cover off the angles of their goal. But it appears that a lot of shot-stoppers have taken this advice a little too literally. And Southall was certainly one of them. The Welshman is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and well known for his reflexes, despite his heavy-set frame. It's amazing to think how much faster he could have moved if he were skinnier. 

7. Ailton

Ailton

Nicknamed 'Kugelblitz' after the German tank from World War II, Ailton, unlike Adriano, never let his weight get in the way of his goal-scoring exploits. He made a name for himself with German side Werder Bremen, netting 88 times in 169 league games and also had a spell with Schalke where he became only the fourth foreign player to score over 100 goals in the Bundesliga. Somewhat surprisingly, his stint with Hamburger was less successful.

8. Jeroen Verhoeven

Verhoeven

There have been many overweight goalkeepers throughout the history of the game. There was Southall, the ingeniously nicknamed William 'Fatty' Foulke, Jose Luis Chilavert, Kevin Pressman, Lilcho Arsov and Verhoeven. The Ajax shot-stopper has been quite sensitive about his weight issues too: "It’s useless to try and fight prejudiced people. People act like I drive to McDonald’s straight from the training pitch every day, but I never go there. I train seven days per week and always do my utmost." One thing's for sure: the bigger the goalkeeper, the smaller the goal.

9. Neil Ruddock

Neil Ruddock

Maradona may have floated like a butterfly, Puskas stung like a bee, but big is not always beautiful. The larger-than-life 'Razor' Ruddock was a no-nonsense defender on the pitch and his football was anything but pretty. Once taunted by Eric Cantona for his burgeoning belly, in one game he was caught on camera having to hold on to the opposition goal post to catch his breath when he ran up the field for a set-piece. He was reportedly sacked by Swindon Town when he could no longer fit into his shorts.

10. Ronaldo

The legendary Ronaldo

They don't come any bigger than Ronaldo. Never one to shy away from good food and an all-night party, the Brazilian started blowing up at Real Madrid. But it was during his tenure at Milan when he sustained a long-term injury that his weight issues really shocked fans, especially when images of his belly hanging out while holidaying on a yacht leaked onto the internet. Ronaldo retired in 2011 after huffing and puffing in a brief cameo during his farewell match.

Ronaldo on a yacht