De Rossi given incredible welcome ahead of Boca move

Ajax head coach Frank de Boer thinks Tito Vilanova made the right choice in stepping down from his post at Barcelona.

It was announced on Friday that Vilanova would relinquish his role in order to continue his treatment for cancer.

The Spaniard, 44, underwent an operation to have a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011 and required further surgery in December 2012.

He returned to guide Barcelona to the Liga title last season but the Catalan club will begin the 2013-14 campaign with a new man at the helm.

De Boer, who played at Camp Nou between 1999-2003, insisted that the health of Vilanova is the most important thing.

Yes of course it is very sad for him, because he is a very good coach, De Boer said.

But with is illness he couldn t perform…

The Bundesliga s biggest transfer story during the close-season was the one which didn t happen the much talked-about future of Bayern Munich s Franck Ribery.

Ultimately neither Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United were prepared to meet the ever-rising price tag set by the Bavarian club where the French international is contracted until 2011.

The German giants, overtaken last season by Wolfsburg at the top of the league, invested a club record 30 million euros to obtain German international striker Mario Gomez from Stuttgart a stunning price for a player who completely misfired at Euro 2008.

Veteran Brazilian central defender Lucio left for Italy with champions Inter Milan reported to have paid 18 million euros for the 31-year-old.

Meanwhile, his …

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is focusing on a bid for European football but concedes it will be a difficult challenge.

The St James Park outfit achieved a fifth-place finish in the 2011-12 season, but failed to match that achievement last term after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

But Pardew feels that with the addition of loan-signing Loic Remy, as well as January recruits Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran, give Newcastle a stronger squad than the one that achieved European qualification.

When you look at the teams now and the money that s being spent, it s going to be difficult replicating that fifth-place finish, Pardew told The Northern Echo.

But our ambition must be to try to do that.

Demba (Ba) went to Ch…

Borussia M gladbach are hot on the trail of Eintracht Frankfurt defender Carlos Zambrano, .

Die Fohlen aim to rejuvenate their ageing back line, with Roel Brouwers, Martin Stranzl and Filip Daems all nearing the final stage of their careers.

And Borussia appear ready to make a move on Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Carlos Zambrano, who will be out of contract in the summer.

The Peruvian defender has so far rejected offers from his current employers and it appears he has set his sights on leaving at the end of the season.

Several other clubs are interested in his services, but the latest reports suggest Borussia M gladbach lead the chase at the moment.

Carlos Zambrano, 25, has spent his entire professional career in Germany, having joined Schalke…

Mesut Ozil has claimed his relationship with Arsenal head coach Unai Emery is really good despite struggling to maintain form and a starting berth last season.

Ozil became the club s highest-paid player in 2018 after signing a three-year contract extension, but has battled with injury and inconsistency, starting only 20 of the Gunners 38 Premier League games last term.

But despite continued speculation surrounding his future at the Emirates, the German believes he can play a part in Emery s plans this season and insists he gets on well with the Spaniard.

I have had a lot of coaches in my career so of course every coach is different and wants something different from you as a player, but of course I had a few injuries before the season started last season so I ha…

A late goal from Antonio Valencia earned Manchester United a 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday to leave the English champions on the verge of clinching their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Ecuador winger s close range strike made it three wins out of three for Sir Alex Ferguson s side in their group and also made a little bit of history by securing United s first European victory over Russian opponents.

They also equalled Dutch great s Ajax s Champions League record of 14 successive away matches unbeaten.

United had returned to the Luzhniki Stadium, scene of their 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea, with depleted resources.

Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were the most conspicuous absentees but Patrice Evra, D…

Stephan El Shaarawy and Lorenzo Pellegrini scored in extra time as Roma battled into the Europa League last four after a 4-1 win over Feyenoord secured a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Leonardo Spinazzola s second-half goal on Thursday cancelled out Mats Wieffer s first-leg winner, only for Igor Paixao s header to put Feyenoord on the brink of the semi-finals with 10 minutes remaining.

Yet Paulo Dybala levelled the tie in the 89th minute with a sharp turn and finish to set the stage for an extra-time period Roma dominated to set up a two-legged meeting with Bayer Leverkusen in the semis.

El Shaarawy prodded Tammy Abraham s low cross past Justin Bijlow to edge the Giallorossi ahead, before Pellegrini – who hit the post when the game was still goalless – lashed home a …

Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey scored second-half goals as Arsenal opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Marseille.

Arsene Wenger s men earned a win in their last visit to the Stade Velodrome back in 2011, and they replicated they feat on Wednesday, Walcott finding the net with a close-range volley before Ramsey wrapped things up with a fine individual effort after the break.

Jordan Ayew grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spot for the hosts, but Arsenal held on to claim all three points.

Elie Baup made just one change to the Marseille side that drew 1-1 with Toulouse on Saturday, Andre Ayew replacing Florian Thauvin on the left-hand side of midfield.

Arsenal s only alteration came in defence, with manager Arsene Wenger who has se…

Sky Sport Italia has learned that Genoa are considering a move for Atletico Nacional defender Stefan Medina.

The club chiefs have been disappointed by the poor start of the season, and they believe the back line needs to be reinforced at the earliest opportunity.

Signing a new centre-back is, therefore, a priority for the Rossoblu and they seem to have made the Colombian defender their number one target for the winter transfer window.

Genoa were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the player during the summer transfer window, but they are ready to reignite their interest.

Stefan Medina has spent his entire career up to date at Atletico Nacional, making 79 league appearances, scoring 3 goals and winning the 2011 Apertura title in the process.

T…

Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann concedes he is not yet at the same level as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 25-year-old is among the favourites for this year s Ballon d Or after sustaining exceptional form for club and country.

Griezmann scored 32 goals last season as Atletico finished third in LaLiga and reached the Champions League final, before he claimed the Golden Boot at Euro 2016 as he fired in six goals to take France all the way to the final.

But the former Real Sociedad forward, who has struck six times in as many league games this term, believes he must win more trophies if he is to be considered on the same level as the Barcelona and Real Madrid forwards.

I think I still have more to do to be their equal, starting with winning…