SPORTS UPDATE WITH EMMAH ATAI: Louis van Gaal will bring in the right players to turn around Manchester Uniteds fortunes, according to the clubs former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. United endured a dismal transfer window before last season with David Moyes snubbed by several of his high-profile targets and landing only £27.5 million midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who flopped in his first season at Old Trafford.Van Gaal’s targets include; Luke Shaw, Mats Hummels, Arjen Robben , Cesc Fábregas, and toni kroos among others. New Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says the prospect of managing the best player in the world in Lionel Messi was a key factor in taking the job. Enrique, 44, signed a two-year deal to replace Gerardo Martino at the Spanish runners-up. Enrique, who played for the club between 1996 and 2004, intends to build a new Barca that can excite. Argentina forward Messi, who has just signed a new contract, scored 41 goals in 44 matches for Barcelona last season, but failed to find his best form after a two-month injury lay-off midway through the campaign. Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to play for Real Madrid in Saturdays Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. Defender Pepe and striker Karim Benzema remain doubts for the final in Lisbon. Benzema suffered an abductor injury in Reals 3-1 win over Espanyol at the weekend, whilst Pepe has been out of action since suffering a calf strain two weeks ago. WORLD CUP: The World Cup kicks off 21 days from today, hosted by five-times winners Brazil. As a nation, Brazils knack of winning the tournament is well renowned and many supporters will have them as firm favourites to win a sixth trophy. Brazil are the only team to have appeared in every World Cup finals tournament. They won their first tournament in 1958, with a young Pele scoring two in the final. Cameroon have cancelled a World Cup warm-up international against Guatemala next month, the countrys football federation said without giving any reasons. Cameroon were due to play a send-off game in front of their own fans in Yaounde against the central American side on 7 June before departing for the tournament in Brazil. The squad began a training camp in Austria uesterday and play warm-up matches against Macedonia and Paraguay in Kufstein on 26 and 29 May. They also have a match against Germany in Moenchengladbach on 1 June. Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete has condemned racist chants directed at Mario Balotelli as unacceptable behaviour. The AC Milan forward was the target of racist abuse from a group of men outside Italys training headquarters in Coverciano, Florence today. Local police intervened to allow Italys training session to continue. It is not the first time Balotelli, who joined AC Milan from Manchester City for £19m in 2013, has been the victim of racism since his return to Italy.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 16:47:30 +0000