Boateng targets Champions League glory with Bayern

The defender is confident in the strength of the German champions and says he could stay at the club until he retires

Jerome Boateng said that he believes Bayern Munich can win the Champions League this season and has admitted he could remain at the club for the remainder of his career.

The centre-back has been a key player for the Bundesliga side since his arrival from Manchester City in 2011.

The Germany international has won three league titles and the Champions League with the Bavarians and insisted he has no intention of leaving any time soon as he targets further European glory.

“I feel very comfortable here and I think that I have developed well at Bayern,” he told Sport1. “You never know what will happen in football, but I can absolutely imagine that I could retire here.

“I can identify with the club and I am delighted that I can play here.

“We have the potential to win the Champions League and in the other competitions. But other teams can do it too and it is always a very close fight.”

Bayern claimed another league title last term, with Wolfsburg coming well adrift in second, but Boateng is expecting a tough battle for the Bundesliga this term.

“I think Borussia Dortmund will be strong again. Gladbach and Leverkusen also have very good teams,” he warned.

Boateng recently signed with hip-hop artist Jay Z’s company Roc Nation Sport and is happy with the new relationship.

“He is a successful person, a great person. That was something special to meet him for me. 

“He is very down to earth, very relaxed, very personable and absolutely a great guy.

“We are not in touch every day or every week, but if I have something I want to say, I can always go to him.”

Real Madrid unlikely to sell Benzema to Arsenal, says Kaka

The Gunners are willing to spend up to £40m on the France international but the Brazilian insists his former club will not allow one of the world’s best strikers to leave

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Kaka believes Real Madrid are unlikely to sell Karim Benzema to Arsenal this summer.

Goal understands that the Gunners have not given up hope of signing the France international and are willing to wait until the closing stages of the transfer window before making a move.

But Kaka, who spent four seasons at Madrid, believes his former club will not allow one of the world’s top forwards to leave.

“I think Benzema is one of the best forwards at this moment so I don’t think Real Madrid will give him away so easily,” the 33-year-old told talkSPORT.

“But Karim Benzema is a very good player and if he can have the opportunity to go to Arsenal then Arsenal will take a very, very good player.”

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Cancer sufferer Ariosa wins legal battle with Olimpia

The Uruguayan player won his legal battle with the Paraguayan side after they suspended him while he was suffering from the illness

Sebastian Ariosa has emerged victorious from a legal battle with former employers Club Olimpia after the Paraguayan outfit suspended him while he was suffering from cancer.

The Uruguayan joined Olimpia in 2011 and was contracted until 2015, but was diagnosed with the disease in 2013.

Olimpia subsequently suspended his contract until he was fit to return, leading to lengthy legal proceedings which culminated in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finding in the player’s favour on Tuesday, as confirmed in a statement by FIFPro, the world players’ union.

Ariosa has now fully recovered from the illness, and is back in his homeland playing for Defensor Sporting.

“FIFPro is pleased to announce a major legal victory has been awarded to Uruguayan footballer, Sebastian Ariosa,” a statement read. 

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found Paraguayan outfit, Club Olimpia, breached almost all of its obligations toward Ariosa, including a blatant attempt to exploit the player’s incapacity to work after he was diagnosed with cancer.

“Such is the significance of this case, CAS awarded ‘moral damage’ to Ariosa, which is extremely rare. It stems from Club Olimpia’s appalling behaviour to suspend the player at a time when he was suffering greatly, fighting for his life and dealing with the effects of chemotherapy.”

CAS has ordered Olimpia to pay Ariosa his overdue salary including interest as well as a 13th month for every year accrued over the term of his contract. However, even though he terminated his deal with ‘just cause’, they are also to compensate him with the residual value of the time left on his contract and the bonuses relating to the club’s participation in the Copa Libertadores.

Ariosa is also due moral damages and compensation due to the club’s lack of ‘sportive ethics’.

Official: Valbuena completes €5 million Lyon move

The France international says the prospect of playing in Europe’s top competition led him to quit Dinamo Moscow after just one year

Mathieu Valbuena says the lure of playing Champions League football and making France’s squad for Euro 2016 were the key reasons for his move to Lyon.

The diminutive winger moves to the Stade de Gerland on a three-year-deal for a €5 million fee from Dinamo Moscow, bringing an end to his 12-month stay in Russia.

Valbuena is now setting his sights on winning major honours with the Ligue 1 side, as well as representing his country on home soil at the European Championship next year.

“I like the project here at Lyon, I don’t regret my first year at Dinamo,” he said.

“It is true that it was a football aim, with Lyon offering Champions League football, that made an impact on my decision. I am super happy to join them. In a career it is important to win titles. I will bring my experience with humility.

“I hope that we will spend some great times as a team here, I come here with a lot of personal aims. This was the most concrete offer. Lyon have a very good team, with great young talents, which played a role.

“I played in the Champions League with Marseille, Lyon can offer that to me now too. Also, Euro 2016 is very important for me. The French national team, that’s my motivation.”

Valbuena previously spent eight years with Marseille, with whom he won the Ligue 1 title and three Coupe de la Ligue crowns.

The 30-year-old does not believe joining one of their main domestic rivals will cause an issue, though.

“We know very well that there is rivalry between Marseille and Lyon. That’s football,” he added. 

“What I had at Marseille was extraordinary. Nobody can take that away from me. I have always been a professional. I have never hurt anyone. I know that in football things change. I have no regrets joining Lyon, the opposite.

“This was also a family choice. I didn’t hesitate. It is true that I played for Marseille for eight years. Just because I played for Marseille doesn’t mean I can’t play elsewhere.”

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Shaqiri thrilled to complete Stoke move

The Switzerland international says he cannot wait to get started in English football after putting pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Britannia Stadium


Xherdan Shaqiri insists he is excited at the prospect of playing in the Premier League after securing a long-awaited move to Stoke City.

Stoke paid Inter a club-record £12million for Shaqiri, who has agreed terms on a five-year deal at the Britannia Stadium.

Back in July, Stoke manager Mark Hughes suggested that a move for the 23-year-old looked dead in the water, but the Welshman confirmed talks had been revived after Shaqiri was spotted in the stands as Liverpool defeated the Potters 1-0 on Sunday.

And as he was unveiled at the Britannia Stadium, the Switzerland international says he is delighted to finally put pen to paper.

“I am very happy, and incredibly excited that this transfer to Stoke City has finally happened,” he told the club’s official website.

“Over the past three days I have met great people at the club and witnessed the wonderful atmosphere at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday [against Liverpool]. That experience was overwhelming.

“My special thanks go to the manager, Mark Hughes, chief executive Tony Scholes and [technical director] Mark Cartwright for their work in helping to make this deal happen over the past few months.

“I sincerely appreciate it so much, and will give my utmost to pay them and the supporters back on the pitch over the coming months and years.

“I can’t wait to meet my new team-mates and make my debut for the club. It feels great to finally be a Potter!”

Shaqiri could make his Stoke debut against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.