Paris Saint-Germain winger Ezequiel Lavezzi is set to join Hebei China Fortune this month, according to French sports daily L’Equipe, but not before his side have locked horns with Chelsea in the Champions League.
The Argentina international, whose present deal with PSG is set to expire in the summer, was heavily linked with a move away from the club during the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Chelsea showing an interest in him.
However, it has been claimed that Hebei China Fortune trumped the European heavyweights in snapping up the former Napoli man on a two-year deal with net annual salary of between €13m and €15m.
Lavezzi, who is said to have agreed terms with the Chinese outfit, is set to join the club after PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with Chelsea next Tuesday
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes China could reshape the map of world football.
He warned: “China looks to have the financial power to move the whole league of Europe to China, and we’re long enough in this job to know that is just a consequence of economical power, and they have that.”
The Football Association of Malaysia have held discussions about sending a team to play in the Australian A-League next year, former Socceroos striker Dave Mitchell has said.
Mitchell said he had proposed the idea to the FAM after being given the authority to do so by an unnamed A-League consortium and was awaiting their verdict.
“While they agreed it would be difficult for FAM to send a team to the A-League because of the duration and also to assemble the national team fulltime, they said there are other ways to go round the problem,” Mitchell told the MalayMail.
“Without doubt the possibility of playing in the A-League will help uplift Malaysian football and also give it a new dimension to football in the country.”
Both the FAM and Football Federation Australia, the governing body for soccer in Australia, were unavailable on Saturday to comment on the report.
Mitchell, who played and managed in Malaysia before retiring, said he was also under instruction from the consortium to discuss the idea with clubs in Thailand and also Indonesia.
Indonesia are currently serving a FIFA ban for government interference.
The Scottish-born striker also suggested a Malaysian consortium could buy an A-League club for AUD $6 million, fill the team with local players and base themselves in Kuala Lumpur.
He dismissed concerns about travel times and said the benefits of joining the 10-team Australian league were many fold for the Malaysians, who ended a four-year agreement last year to have a youth side compete in the Singapore league.
“In fact, it’s faster to travel to Malaysia than some parts of Australia,” the former Chelsea, Feyenoord and Sydney Olympic player said.
“Cost-wise it will not be an issue as a substantial subsidy is given to participating teams besides travel also taken care of by the Football Federation of Australia.
“The Malaysian team travelling to Australia can play two matches in a trip.
“Besides the benefit of the development of the game it will be a tourism boost for both countries as supporters will travel with the team. Crowds at the stadium is also expected to be at a maximum.”
I guess this would be good for the A-League but then again, what would it mean for the Wellington Phoenix? Probably one of the best ran clubs in the A-League and they might be pushed out for a Malaysian team or even a 3rd Sydney team or 2nd Brisbane side.
I would hope the A-League expands in Auckland, Canberra, Wollongong, Geelong, North Queensland, Darwin, Townsville/Gold Coast, and maybe another Perth/Brisbane side before going to Malaysia or adding another Sydney or Melbourne side.
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Paris Saint-Germain winger Ezequiel Lavezzi is set to join Hebei China Fortune this month, according to French sports daily L’Equipe, but not before his side have locked horns with Chelsea in the Champions League.
The Argentina international, whose present deal with PSG is set to expire in the summer, was heavily linked with a move away from the club during the January transfer window, with Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Chelsea showing an interest in him.
However, it has been claimed that Hebei China Fortune trumped the European heavyweights in snapping up the former Napoli man on a two-year deal with net annual salary of between €13m and €15m.
Lavezzi, who is said to have agreed terms with the Chinese outfit, is set to join the club after PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with Chelsea next Tuesday
Read more: http://www.insidefutbol.com/2016/02/11/paris-saint-germain-star-ezequiel-lavezzi-set-for-big-money-china-move-after-chelsea-clash/269692/#ixzz3zuq7Pire
https://www.facebook.com/Arsenal/videos/10153674990417713/
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes China could reshape the map of world football.
He warned: “China looks to have the financial power to move the whole league of Europe to China, and we’re long enough in this job to know that is just a consequence of economical power, and they have that.”
Seattle Sounders' Obafemi Martins a Chinese Super League target : ESPN
Malaysian FA in talks over potential 2017 A-League entry
The Football Association of Malaysia have held discussions about sending a team to play in the Australian A-League next year, former Socceroos striker Dave Mitchell has said.
Mitchell said he had proposed the idea to the FAM after being given the authority to do so by an unnamed A-League consortium and was awaiting their verdict.
“While they agreed it would be difficult for FAM to send a team to the A-League because of the duration and also to assemble the national team fulltime, they said there are other ways to go round the problem,” Mitchell told the MalayMail.
“Without doubt the possibility of playing in the A-League will help uplift Malaysian football and also give it a new dimension to football in the country.”
Why does Australia's NPL have a Malaysian team?
Both the FAM and Football Federation Australia, the governing body for soccer in Australia, were unavailable on Saturday to comment on the report.
Mitchell, who played and managed in Malaysia before retiring, said he was also under instruction from the consortium to discuss the idea with clubs in Thailand and also Indonesia.
Indonesia are currently serving a FIFA ban for government interference.
The Scottish-born striker also suggested a Malaysian consortium could buy an A-League club for AUD $6 million, fill the team with local players and base themselves in Kuala Lumpur.
He dismissed concerns about travel times and said the benefits of joining the 10-team Australian league were many fold for the Malaysians, who ended a four-year agreement last year to have a youth side compete in the Singapore league.
“In fact, it’s faster to travel to Malaysia than some parts of Australia,” the former Chelsea, Feyenoord and Sydney Olympic player said.
“Cost-wise it will not be an issue as a substantial subsidy is given to participating teams besides travel also taken care of by the Football Federation of Australia.
“The Malaysian team travelling to Australia can play two matches in a trip.
“Besides the benefit of the development of the game it will be a tourism boost for both countries as supporters will travel with the team. Crowds at the stadium is also expected to be at a maximum.”
I would hope the A-League expands in Auckland, Canberra, Wollongong, Geelong, North Queensland, Darwin, Townsville/Gold Coast, and maybe another Perth/Brisbane side before going to Malaysia or adding another Sydney or Melbourne side.