Arsenal Player In Spain Euro 2016 Squad

 

Hector Bellerin started his career in the youth system at Barcelona before joining Arsenal in 2011

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has been included in Spain’s squad for the defence of their title at Euro 2016.

The right-back has been promoted from the stand-by list after Dani Carvajal suffered a thigh injury in Real Madrid’s Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.

Bellerin, 21, won his first full cap in a warm-up win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday night.

Spain have named 19 players with the last four to be named later on Tuesday.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and Manchester City’s David Silva are both in Vicente del Bosque’s squad.

Dani Carvajal has made five appearances for Spain since making his debut in 2014

Carvajal, 24, will miss the tournament in France after being substituted early in the second half of Real’s penalty shoot-out win over Atletico in Milan.

“I had to leave and I knew there and then that I would probably miss Euro 2016,” Carvajal told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

Spain, who won the tournament in 2008 and 2012, are in Group D at Euro 2016 alongside the Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia.

Arsenal Player In Spain Euro 2016 Squad

Wakaso Scores on Return from Injury

Spain based Ghanaian midfielder Mubarack Wakasu made a scoring return for Las Palmas after a lengthy spell on the treatment room.

The crocked midfielder opened his Liga account with the rejuvenated Palmas as they spanked Espanyol 4-0 on his return to first team action.

Wakasu, who has missed the last 9 matches for Palmas, came on as a 65th replacement for Lemos Mauricio but only needed 10 minutes to add to the goal feast.

The much travelled Ghanaian midfielder connected a delicious pass from William Jose to register his personal first in the league and his side’s fourth of the night.

Initial strikes from Nabil El Zhar Jonathan Viera and Pedro Bigas ended the clash as a contest before Wakasu completed the demolition exercise.

Wakaso Scores on Return from Injury

Neymar"s Barcelona Contract Leaked

Neymar’s Barcelona contract has been revealed by notorious website Football Leaks, including a host of performance-related bonuses and an eye-watering buy-out clause.

 

Any club wishing to purchase the Brazilian can pay €190million to buy him out of his current contract at the Nou Camp, which expires in June 2018.

His move from Santos in the summer of 2013 also saw Neymar pocket a €8.5million signing-on fee.

Neymar Jr. in action for FC Barcelona

The document reveals no pre-contract agreement existed between the parties.

Despite what might appear to be a relatively modest gross pay of €5million per year compared to some other contracts that have come to the fore, Neymar makes up for it in performance-related bonuses.

The document shows he earns an extra €1,062,000 for featuring in 60 per cent of matches, in which he must be play at least 45 minutes.

He will also earn an additional €100,000 per season for being included in the requisite number of playing squads, regardless of whether he emerges from the bench.

Neymar wheels away celebrating scoring a goal for Barcelona

If the 24-year-old wins the Ballon d’Or during his time at Barca he will land an extra €425,000, while he will pockets €637,000 for a La Liga title win and €850,000 if the Catalans win the Champions League.

Bonuses also exist for combinations of major trophies, with last season’s treble earning Neymar €1,700,000.

Qualification for the Champions League alone pockets him €637,000, while reaching the knockout stages earns him an additional €425,000.

Neymar"s Barcelona Contract Leaked

Christian Atsu Returns To Full Training With Malaga

Ghana midfielder Christian Atsu has returned to full scale training with his side Malaga, after missing the Black Stars second leg qualifiers with Mozambique, last week.

The injury prone wing wizard returned to his La Rosaleda based club, after complaining of discomfort on his thigh, but has since started full scale training with his club team mates.

The 24 year old on loan to Chelsea has enjoyed mixed fortunes since his arrival in Spain during the winter break but a return to fitness will boost his chances of pocketing some precious playing time when the international break ends.

The talented forward was spotted happily undertaking routine shake up with Javi Gracia’s men at the La Rosaleda training annex after his return from the Black Stars camp.

The 2015 AFCON Most Valuable Player has seen his promising career take a nosedive since trading the Estadio Dragao in Portugal for the deafening Stand Ford Bridge in England.

The one time FC Porto fan’s favourite has since been shipped out on loan to Vittese Arnheim, Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Malaga since arriving in London in the summer of 2013.

Christian Atsu Returns To Full Training With Malaga

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico In Numbers

Sportscrusader.com previews the world’s most watched football match from the most booked player to the number of goals scored by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

We take a look at some of the key stats ahead of the Camp Nou meeting on Saturday.

0 – Clasicos Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has presided over compared with three for his Barca counterpart Luis Enrique – a 3-1 defeat at the Bernabeu and a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp last season and also the 4-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu this season under ex-manager Rafa Benitez.

19 – The number of cards the fixture’s most booked player, former Real and Spain defender Fernando Hierro, collected in official Clasicos (18 yellow and one red). Real’s current centre back Sergio Ramos has 15 yellow cards and two red.

21 – The number of goals scored by Barca’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi in his 30 Clasicos, a record for the fixture. Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has netted 15 in 23 Clasicos for Real.
29 – The combined total of Clasico appearances made by Luis Enrique for Real (1991-96) and Barca (1996-2004).

31 – The number of Clasico appearances made by Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta, the most among active players from either side and one more than Ramos and Messi.

79 – The number of Clasicos former Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas (37) and former Barca midfielder Xavi (42) played between them. Saturday’s match will not feature either for the first time in a decade and a half.

230 – The number of official Clasicos played since the pair’s first encounter in the last four of the Spanish Cup in 1902, which Barca won 3-1.

389 – The number of goals Real have scored in official Clasicos, 15 more than Barca.

500 million – The number of soccer fans around the world who will watch the Clasico, according to an estimate by the professional soccer league (La Liga).

719 million – The market value in euros ($765 million) of Real Madrid’s squad while Barca’s is worth 658 million euros.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: El Clasico In Numbers

Lionel Messi A "New" Award For The First Time

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi for the first time he has won the award as Spain’s La Liga player of the month for January.

 

The award has been in existence since the beginning of the 2013-14 primera division season, but the five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner had not won it until now. Barcelona’s star man finally won the award at the 23rd time of asking after scoring six goals in as many league games in January.

 

La Liga explained on its official website how Messi ‘further demonstrated his quality’ via ‘his great form in the first month of the year’.

They added that ‘this accolade, which is awarded by the competition’s main sponsor, and voted for by writers, recognises Messi’s outstanding displays and his goal-scoring prowess, which make him one of the most feared strikers in the division’.

 

The 28-year-old scored a hat-trick against Granada as well as scoring in victories over Athletic Bilbao, Malaga and Atletico Madrid to take his total of league goals for the season to 12.

Lionel Messi A "New" Award For The First Time

Twitter Shows No Mercy: Twitter Tears Into Rafa Benitez

Twitter Have No Mercy On ‘Jobless Rafa Benitez’

Rafa Benitez’s reign as Real Madrid coach finished on Monday night after just seven months.

 

Club president Florentino Perez announced the decision a day after a 2-2 draw at Valencia left them third in the table, two points behind rivals Barcelona, and four behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

The draw game at Mestalla proved to be the final straw in a crisis that started with an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat by bitter rivals Barcelona in November.

 

 

 

 

Twitter Shows No Mercy: Twitter Tears Into Rafa Benitez