Belgian wing wizard drops Arsenal hint; Barcelona target signs new deal

Belgian wing wizard drops Arsenal hint

Lille winger Eden Hazard reveals he is prepared to shun interest from Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool in order to join Arsenal.

The 19-year-old Belgian has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe following two impressive seasons at Lille and he now reveals that he rejected an offer from Chelsea last summer.

“I could have gone last June, but I was not ready to make that big leap,” Hazard said.

“Recently the press have been writing about interest from Liverpool, and it is nice to hear your name being mentioned everywhere, especially with the best teams in the world.”

The tricky winger admits he would like to join Wenger’s Arsenal.

“If I do leave at the end of the season, I don’t want to go somewhere where I will be on the bench. I am young, not 20 until next month, and it will be difficult to break through in a team like Real, where Ronaldo and Kaka will be my competitors.

“But there are teams like Arsenal, where youngsters can grow more easily into the first team and make their mark.

“I will not leave for another French club, because, with more or less 100 first division matches under my belt for Lille, I don’t think I have to prove my qualities for a team in the same league.”

Anyone who’s ever watched Hazard in action will tell you the Belgian is the hottest thing to come out of Belgium since Enzo Scifo, so Arsenal fans should be over themselves with joy after the youngster declared interest in joining their beloved club.

[Source: Daily Mail]

Barcelona target signs new deal

Palermo midfielder has signed a new deal with the club amidst speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

Pastore was widely tipped to leave Renzo Barbera in January after he repeatedly spoke of his dream move to Barcelona, but it seems he has had a change of heart.

The Argentine signed a contract extension to his current deal that should keep him at the club until 2015, with the €70 million clause also inserted in the contract.

“I have extended my contract with Palermo to 2015,” Pastore said.

“I am very happy, I wanted to stay here and the signature I put is the confirmation of my desire to stay.”

The player has thus ended speculation linking him with a move to Camp Nou, although Barcelona still look the most likely destination for him, when he decides to leave Palermo.

[Source: Il Corriere dello Sport]

Atletico Madrid closing in on Rakitic

Atletico Madrid is close to signing Schalke’s Ivan Rakitic as a replacement for Besiktas-bound Simao Sabrosa.

Los Colchoneros were given permission to speak to the Croatian midfielder and they have offered him a three-year deal worth €1.8 million per season.

Rakitic’s contract expires at the end of the season, but Schalke still have the last word in his transfer and could yet make him a counteroffer.

The Croatia international is no longer considered an indispensable member of the side and he is thought to be keen on a move away from the club, meaning he is likely to accept Atletico’s offer.

The La Liga outfit are short of options in midfield after they allowed Simao Sabrosa to join Besiktas and they see Rakitic as the perfect replacement for the Portuguese international.

Rakitic has so far showed a lot of potential but he is yet to make that step from a talented youngster to a key player in the side and Atletico chiefs certainly hope that will happen at Vicente Calderon.

[Source: AS]

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