Zanetti: There are short circuits between Messi & Riquelme

Argentina Captain Javier Zanetti spoke on Radio Latina and said the following:

"There are short circuits that exist between Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquleme but it is something that should not be given so much importance because it is a good group."

"These are all things that are always going to exist. Someone like me who has had so many years in football learned to not give it that much importance."

"In a group of 25 to 30 persons it is difficult that everyone will be in agreement, the most important thing is the respect for each other because everyone has their own way of being."

I find it really interesting that the oldest veterans on the team Zanetti and Veron have admitted publicly that there are differences between Messi and Riquelme but younger players like Messi, Mascherano and Riquelme have denied everything and said that the rift between Messi and Riquelme was invented by the media in Argentina.

This inner fighting on the national team has been exposed and it's up to Basile, I think, more than the players involved, to find a resolution to it. The sooner, the better. It's troubling to think that the national team would carry this current turmoil into the next World Cup.

Benfica looking to sign Aimar

Benfica is interested in signing Pablo Aimar and has initiated contacts with Real Zaragoza.

Will Portugal be Aimar's next destination?

marca.com

El Benfica espera cerrar en las próximas horas el fichaje de los jugadores del Recreativo de Huelva Carlos Martis y Sinama Pongolle, mientras pregunta al Zaragoza las condiciones para contratar al argentino Pablo Aimar.

El técnico del Benfica, Quique Sánchez Flores, dijo que confía en que el Benfica "haga todo lo posible" para fichar al centrocampista portugués. "Carlos Martis ha hecho una gran temporada en España y vamos a ver si conseguimos traerlo", dijo el técnico en declaraciones publicadas por el diario 'O Jogo. Sánchez Flores destacó la polivalencia de Martins, ya que "puede funcionar como 10, pero también jugar en la banda derecha".

Cuestionado por el delantero francés, el entrenador madrileño dijo que es "muy rápido" y tiene una gran capacidad de desmarque y de crear ocasiones de gol. "Tengo la esperanza de que los dos puedan venir al Benfica", aseguró Quique Sánchez Flores sobre una operación que podría rondar los 10 millones de euros.

Messi Interview

In today's La Nacion an interview with Lionel Messi

"Those are all lies. They're absurdities that do not deserve a response. I would like to know from where all that came from and what is being sought."

"But I'm not interested in talking about it because it was all invented."

Q - Was the team satisfied with the draw against Brasil?

M - The entire game we were very superior to Brasil, they created one or two scoring chances and the rest was all us. We proved that we can compete against a big team. We could have won the game if I had scored in one of the plays where I was in front of the goal.

Q - What do you think of the arguments that have been made that the team can not defeat Brasil without its stars?

M - When we lose, we don't talk about the Brazilian A team or Brazilian B team. I think we always take the initiative and playing as visitors. We had the clearest scoring chances but we did not have luck in front of the goal. The team was able to control Brasil and create goal scoring opportunities. We weren't able to score but we played well.

Q - The last 3 games the team earned 2 points. How do you see the team going forward?

M - I see it well. With alot of faith in our game. We have great players. Even though some look at the 2 points we earned in these last few games, we are doing well and are close to the first place team. As more games are played we are going to be more secure in how the team functions. I don't think we'll have any problems but anyway that'll be shown in each game. The WC Qualifiers are not easy but we feel calm.

Q - You made your official debut in the 2006 WC Qualifiers, when Argentina was already qualified. Now it is different. Do you feel more pressure?

M - I don't think about the issue of pressure. What I'm experiencing now is without a doubt totally different. When the team was already qualified it played with more calm. Whereas now I'm playing from the start and I hope that I can be in all the WC Qualifiers and be important to Argentina.

Q - In Barcelona and in Argentina you've been in locker rooms with well known players. Are there similarities?

M - No, because with Barcelona I'm there alot more of the time. The only similarity is that in Barcelona there are good individual talents and on the national team too. In every place where I am I try to enjoy the comradarie. And I enjoy every callup alot.

Valencia looking to sign Diego Milito

Valencia has initiated negotiations with Milito's lawyer and his agent for a possible transfer.

as.com

El Valencia pide a Milito que no firme por nadie

Sánchez habló con su agente, a la espera de qué sucede con Villa

P. Morata | 19/06/2008

"Villa es intransferible", asegura el Valencia día sí y día también. Pero por si a caso, la secretaría técnica tiene un plan B. Juan Sánchez ha contactado en los últimos días con Adrián Faija, abogado de Diego Milito y socio de su agente, Fernando Hidalgo. Según pudo conocer AS, Sánchez se interesó por la posibilidad de que el delantero del Zaragoza no se comprometa con ningún equipo hasta una determinada fecha. Y se le dijo, desde el entorno del futbolista, que era una propuesta razonable. Esta semana, el secretario técnico ché debe concretar con los agentes cuál es la fecha tope hasta la que solicitaría al goleador zaragocista que esperase al Valencia. Juan Sánchez no quiere vender al asturiano pero tiene muy claro que, en caso de que el futbolista prefiera salir y llegue una oferta irrechazable, necesita tener como sustituto un "número uno".

Y ese jugador indiscutible es el argentino, muy por encima de Dani Güiza. Sus cifras realizadoras son, simplemente, demoledoras. En tres temporadas en el equipo aragonés ha marcado 53 goles en la liga española, los mismos que Eto?o, por ejemplo. Sólo el propio Villa, con 58 goles ha marcado más que él en el último trienio en la liga de los ases.

A favor del Valencia juega que Diego Milito no quiere salir de España y que estaría encantado de enrolarse en las filas valencianistas. De hecho, es el propio futbolista quien abandera la idea de esperar una oferta ché antes que emigrar al fútbol italiano, donde se encuentran la mayor parte de sus pretendientes. El último en sumarse, tras un primer intento del Nápoles, es la Juventus, que cerca de desprenderse de David Trezeguet se ha fijado en él. Fernando Hidalgo tiene previsto desplazarse a Turín para reunirse con los directivos de la vecchia signora. Falta saber si lo hará con intención de cerrar la operación o sólo a escuchar, tal y como le ha pedido el Valencia.

El máximo accionista del Valencia, Juan Soler, ya se interesó en su día, personalmente, por la contratación de Diego Milito. Fue en la primavera de 2006, tras completar una primera temporada imperial en el Zaragoza, en la que consiguió 15 goles. A Soler le gustaba la idea de juntar en Valencia a Milito y a Ewerthon, en aquel entonces muy cotizado jugador de banda derecha. Finalmente, el Valencia fichó a Fernando Morientes.