An Australian television personality fell victim to a classic teleprompter prank Wednesday. It was something straight out of the hit movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

The real-life television host was reading a script off of the teleprompter as highlights of Chelsea’s victory over Benfica in the Europa League final were broadcast. Everything was going according to plan until she reached the end of her prepared remarks: “The Blues defeating Portuguese side Benfica in Amsterdam …”

It was there that a colleague added a little treat to the end of her script, and the host couldn’t help but read all the way to the end.

See the hilarious prank in the video below.

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The Chelsea captain missed his team’s UEFA Europa League final against Benfica with an ankle injury, but you’d never know it based on the trophy presentation and victory lap. Terry participated in the postgame celebrations wearing his full Chelsea uniform.

The sight wouldn’t be so strange had Terry not spent the entire game wearing a slick suit complete with a matching tie and vest. But Branislav Ivanovic scored the winning goal late in stoppage time, and Terry ran off to change. He emerged minutes later wearing Chelsea’s jersey, shorts and socks.

Frank Lampard captained Chelsea in Terry’s absence, but he shared the honor of lifting the Europa League trophy with the injured Terry.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard missed the final because of a hamstring injury. He wore a suit during the game and kept it on for the postgame revelry.

Terry became the butt of many Internet jokes last year when he traded his suit for a uniform at the UEFA Champions League final. Once again, but changed into his full uniform to hold the European Cup aloft with Lampard. The only difference was that he missed last year’s Champions League final due to suspension.

Terry holds the Europa Leauge trophy in full Chelsea gear below.

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The veteran midfielder is set to extend his Chelsea career into its 13th year. The Blues will offer him a new contract this week which he will happily sign, according to the Mail.

“And it also appears that — almost by weight of public demand — the west London club will award one of football’s nice guys with a further 12-month contract extension,” the report says.

Lampard’s good news comes just days after he broke the club’s all-time goal-scoring record. He scored twice on Saturday — his 202nd and 203rd goals in Chelsea colors — to pass Bobby Tambling‘s longstanding mark.

For much of the season, it looked like Chelsea would decline the chance to keep Lampard and let him leave as a free agent this summer. His existing contract expires in June and the L.A. Galaxy were leading the chase for Lampard, having offered him a lucrative contact to come to Major League Soccer.

Lampard considered the offer, but he always preferred to keep his family in England and finish his career at Stamford Bridge.

“I’d love to carry on as long as I feel I can do and I feel I’m fit,” Lampard told Sky Sports on Saturday. “I’d love to do that, for another three or four years. I’d love to emulate those boys.

“Ryan Giggs [has] got an aura around him. All the players at the club look up to him. He’s the mark.”

At the beginning of 2013, Chelsea was determined to move on from the era of the “Old Guard” (a group of influential veterans including Lampard, captain John Terry and Ashley Cole), but public pressure and the expected return of Jose Mourinho have made the Blues slow their revolution, according to the Star.

“Manager-in-waiting Jose Mourinho has persuaded owner Roman Abramovich to reward the club’s record scorer with a new contract, similar to the one fellow England star Ashley Cole signed earlier in the season.

“Chelsea had hoped to announce his deal prior to Wednesday’s [UEFA] Europa Cup Final against Benfica.

“But it is understood Lampard’s agent, Steve Kutner, was yesterday [Sunday] still trying to net the best possible terms.”

Lampard became a Chelsea and Premier League legend by marrying his talent with a fierce determination and commitment to professionalism. Those qualities helped him score double figures in the Premier League for ten straight seasons. His coaches, teammates and fans never lost sight of that legacy and they have seemingly made sure that Chelsea directors don’t either.

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Photo via Facebook/Chelsea Football Club

The English soccer star is determined to leave Manchester United this summer, having told outgoing manager Sir Alex Ferguson in late April that he is looking for a fresh start, according to the Telegraph.

Ferguson’s response to Rooney was that United would not sell him, and on Wednesday, a United spokesperson said “Wayne Rooney is not for sale.”

Rooney reportedly did not submit a formal transfer request, but he could do so in the coming weeks or months if he chooses to.

Bayern Munich, AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain are closely monitoring Rooney’s situation with an eye on launching a transfer bid for him, but they face competition from one of United’s domestic rivals.

“It is understood that Rooney, 27, has no desire to move away from the Premier League and that Chelsea is his most likely destination,” the Telegraph reports.

Interested clubs are expected to bid around £25 million ($38.9 million) to £30 million ($46.7) for the United forward. Chelsea has already made contact with Rooney’s agent and Blues’ owner Roman Abramovich has personally sanctioned a £30 million transfer, according to the Mirror.

Rooney’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months, as his status on the team has diminished this season. Ferguson has made Robin van Persie the focal point of the United attack, and he now uses Rooney as a support striker or attacking midfielder instead of playing him closer to the opponents’ goal as in prior campaigns.

Rooney’s role was made clear in early March when Ferguson left him out of the starting lineup in a crucial UEFA Champions League game against Real Madrid. Reports claiming Ferguson had become frustrated with Rooney’s ongoing fitness issues and was ready to sell him dominated the headlines in the days following United’s Champions League exit.

Rooney’s contract expires in 2015, but it is common for players to either sign extensions or face transfers as they approach the final year of their existing deals. He is United’s highest-paid player, reportedly earning £250,000 a week. United officials are thought to be hesitant to continue making such a financial commitment to a player whose best days might be in the past.

Rooney and Ferguson clashed in October 2010 when the star forward requested a transfer, saying United lacked ambition. Ferguson convinced Rooney to sign a new contract five days later. The two were again at odds in December 2011 when Rooney broke curfew and Ferguson benched him in United’s next game.

But Ferguson will retire at the end of May. David Moyes will succeed the legendary United manager, and one of his first tasks as manager will be to address Rooney’s situation. It’s an interesting bit of symmetry, as it was Everton manager Moyes who sold Rooney to United in  2004 for £27 ($40.7 million).

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His 86th-minute effort deflected off United midfielder Phil Jones and nestled into the goal. It was ruled an own-goal for Jones, but the glory went to Mata and Chelsea.

The moment reflected Mata’s fully grown stature — both at Chelsea and in the Premier League. Just when it looked like the tepid meeting between two giants of the English game would cruise to a goalless end,  the Spanish playmaker stepped up and decided the contest’s outcome. Less than two years after joining from Valencia, Mata has become the Blues’ most important and influential attacking player and made him self an essential component of the club’s success.

Mata’s progression from expensive import to PFA Player of the Year award finalist is largely due to personal qualities which he successfully applied to his professional life. The 25-year-old enjoys traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures and he knows the importance of adapting to those new surroundings, especially over the long term. The love of exploration helped convince Mata that Chelsea was the right place to develop as a player and a person in the summer of 2011 when he completed a £23.5 million ($36.5 million) transfer.

“When you change country, the language, the city, change your league, change even your style of football — and it’s not the same in England as in Spain — then you are a little but, err, scared in the beginning,” Mata told the Telegraph. “It’s different and you don’t know if you are going to be able to change yourself to adapt. I changed a lot, changed the lot! But I think that sometimes during your career you have to decide to change things to improve. For me, it was a good time to do it.”

Mata married his ability to explore, adapt and integrate with a fierce hunger to improve as a player and win games. This mix guided him to his comfort zone at Chelsea during a turbulent 2011-12 season. He was billed as an exciting winger when he came to first came to Chelsea, and it was club officials — not the request of incoming manager Andre Villas-Boas — who drove the pursuit of his transfer.

When Mata he joined the club,  the responsibility for Chelsea’s goal output fell firmly at the feet of club legends Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, while Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Flourent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were expected to contribute to the tally. Mata the winger was expected to work his way into the rotation gradually, but Mata the man had other ideas. He scored on his Premier League debut and cemented a place in the starting lineup shortly thereafter.

Chelsea fired Villas-Boas in March 2012, replacing him with Roberto di Matteo. Mata flourished under the new manager who moved him from a wide position to a central one with great effect. With Mata scheming behind a lone striker, Chelsea won the FA Cup and Champions League in that magical spring.

Mata was Chelsea’s most-used outfield player last season, making 58 appearances in his maiden voyage in the English game. He earned the trust of teammates and fans in that successful first season, and Chelsea waved goodbye to Drogba and Kalou (and permanently relegated Malouda to the reserves) last summer.

The new season brought new troubles to Chelsea. The Blues started slowly, and di Matteo was fired in November. Rafa Benitez took over, and Mata continued to progress under yet another manager. Benitez deploys Mata in the middle, but he often shifts him to the left or right as game situations dictate. Mata has license to roam, prod and devastate the opposition. He feels at home in this position, as Manchester United learned (not for the first time this season).

“I like to play ‘between the lines [between opponents' midfield and defense],’ it is where I feel most comfortable,” Mata said. “Even when I was playing in the wide areas I didn’t consider myself a pure winger like [Arjen] Robben or [Damien] Duff when they were here.”

Early success earned Mata the trust of his manager(s), teammates and fans. That trust brought him not only plaudits, but also responsibility as Chelsea’s chief architect of goals. Mata bears the burden with an exciting grace, and he responded with 19 goals and 33 assists in 60 appearances this season. His consistent output, durability and dependability have prompted some to compare him to another Chelsea legend, Gianfranco Zola.

Sky Sports reports Benitez recently noted the similarities between Mata and  Zola.

“Game intelligence. That is the key,” Benitez said. ”He’s very clever, he finds space and his quality is very good. He has the vision. He can score goals, he can pass. That is game intelligence. That’s the reason why these players are more expensive. It’s more difficult to find them.

“Gianfranco Zola was this type of player, not too big but game intelligence to get into the box.”

Mata’s international career should follow an arc similar to that of his club career. He has played 23 games for Spain since 2009. His resume includes FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship titles, although he was a squad player on those all-conquering teams. Spain is approaching a transitional moment, and it will increasingly look to Mata for leadership and goals as the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa give way to a new generation of Spanish heroes.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s victory over United put it in good position to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. The club is expected to add another superstar to its attacking corps this summer, with names like Hulk, Radamel Falcao and Neymar linked with expensive transfers. Like Mata in summer 2011, whoever comes to Stamford Bridge will have to adapt to culture, style of play and the stars that already reside in West London. The traveling man Mata will certainly be there to offer some useful tips — even before he sets up that first goal.

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In Friday’s Championship (England’s second division) matchup between Leicester City and Watford, 18-year-old Chelsea FC up-and-comer Nathaniel Chalobah — currently on loan with Watford — delivered an unstoppable blast to the upper-left corner of the Leicester net, past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The goal came in the 43rd minute with Watford leading 1-0, as Chalobah fielded the ball from 35 yards out. But before the announcer could spit out the end of his previous sentence, Chalobah had already demolished the ball, sending it in for Watford’s second goal of the game.

“Wow. That’s the only adjective I’ve got for that, wow. That should not be allowed,” the bewildered commentator can be heard saying. “That is an unbelievable strike of a football, and it has silenced the entire stadium.”

Chalobah’s rocket turned out to be the game’s decisive goal, ensuring Watford would hold on to its crucial third place spot in the Championship standings and keep alive its hopes of promotion to the Premier League.

“I’m sure really there are a lot of Leicester fans that would love on a different day to applaud this — because that’s all you can do, just stand up and applaud it — because it comes out of nothing,” the announcer added. ”He’s got no right to strike the ball like that.”

Check out Chalobah’s amazing long-distance bomb in the video below.

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Thumbnail image via Twitter/@AdamLeventhal 

Recently Adidas kicked off a bold advertising campaign for next year’s Chelsea home uniforms by issuing a challenge to diehard fans to buy the new jersey — without seeing what it looks like.

The campaign’s tagline aims to justify this brashness: “It’s [Chelsea] Blue. What else matters?”

That was all Jamie Bosher needed to hear.

To reward him for his blind devotion, Adidas sent Mata and a camera crew to Bosher’s workplace where the Spanish midfielder was able to talk his way past the front desk — he didn’t have an appointment — and deliver the new jersey and pose for pictures. After that, Bosher slipped his new uniform on over his striped button-down, and showed off his moves to Mata outside in the company parking lot.

Not a bad day at the office.

Watch Bosher’s awesome workday surprise in the video below.

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Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@PremierLatina

Real Madrid has overtaken United to become the world’s most valuable soccer club. American financial magazine Forbes released the newest version of its annual list which ranks the most valuable clubs, and Real tops it for the first time.

“Real Madrid, which posted revenue of $650 million during the 2011-12 season, is worth $3.3 billion [£2.15 billion], more than any team in the world,” Forbes reports. “Los Merengues generated operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and player trading) of $134 million, more than any soccer team and second only to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys ($227 million) among all sports teams.”

United had topped the list every year since rankings began in 2004. Forbes estimates that the Premier League club is $3.17 billion (£2.07 billion).

Third on the list is FC Barcelona, which is worth around $2.6 billion (£1.7 billion). Forbes says the value of the Spanish club doubled in the past year because it was able to turn its on-field success into lucrative new sponsorship deals.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich round out the top five.

The remaining teams in the top ten come from England and Italy. Chelsea (ranked seventh), Manchester City (ninth) and Liverpool FC (10th) represent the Premier League, while AC Milan (sixth) and Juventus (eighth)  lead the way in Italy’s Serie A.

Forbes says the values of top soccer clubs are steadily increasing.

“According to this year’s soccer valuations, the top 20 teams are worth an average of $968 million (£634 million), an increase of 26 percent over last year.”

Real Madrid, United and Barcelona are the three most valuable teams in the world – in any sport. The New York Yankees ($2.3 billion) and Dallas Cowboys ($2.1 billion) trail the three soccer giants on that list.

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In the 40th minute of Monday’s FA Cup semifinal matchup between powerhouses Chelsea and Manchester United, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez corralled a ball just past the midfield, ran toward the Chelsea goal and unleashed a low bouncing shot in Cech’s direction.

Though the ball never got more than three feet off the ground, Cech’s hesitant first reaction forced him to make a difficult corrective maneuver to stop the shot.

What resulted was a remarkable sideways bicycle-kick save that was equal parts impressive as it was unnecessary. If Cech had simply stood in place, he could’ve made the save without much worry.

Twenty minutes later, Cech reassured the Chelsea faithful of his Jedi-caliber focus after denying Chicharito a second time with a miraculous one-handed save that protected Chelsea’s 1-0 lead.

These are the kinds of saves that add those subtle streaks of gray to the remaining hairs on Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez‘s temporarily employed head.

Chelsea would go on to win the game and eliminate United from the FA Cup.

Check out the first of Cech’s two crazy saves in the video below.

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Photo via Twitter/@Chelsea_Gt

Should he take the Chelsea manager’s job at the end of the season, Mourinho will attempt to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to West London, according to the Express.

“[Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich believes Mourinho has unfinished business at Chelsea and is prepared to welcome him back — with the cheque book open,” the report says.

“Once back in London he [Mourinho] will do his best to lure former Manchester United star Ronaldo away from Spain.

“Mourinho knows that the 28-year-old isn’t content at Real and will test the water with a £60 million ($91 million) offer.”

Mourinho is reportedly closing in on a sensational return to Stamford Bridge, nearly six years after he was fired from the same position. While most Chelsea fans would be delighted to welcome their former leader back to the club, the prospect of Ronaldo accompanying him would surely send them into a state of delirium.

Ronaldo is enjoying another stellar season, despite his reported desire to leave Real Madrid. Manchester United is thought to be preparing a blockbuster transfer offer with hopes of bringing the superstar forward back to Old Trafford, but Mourinho’s personal touch (and Abramovich’s wealth) could convince him to choose Chelsea instead. Mourinho and Ronaldo share the same agent, Jorge Mendes, which could also tip the scale in Chelsea’s favor.

Chelsea is transitioning from the era of the “Old Guard,” which rose to prominence during Mourinho’s first (and to this date, only) stint as manager. If the Portuguese tactician returns with Ronaldo in tow, the next era at Stamford Bridge could be even more “Special” than the one that is coming to a close.

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The self-proclaimed “Special One” has tentatively agreed to become Chelsea’s manager starting next season. A formal deal hinges on where Chelsea finishes in the Premier League and the makeup of the senior management team, according to the Star.

“The 50-year-old has not agreed to go back to Stamford Bridge yet, because he does not want to be disrespectful to Real Madrid,” the report says.

“He also is not keen on taking charge at Stamford Bridge if the Blues do not qualify for the Champions League.

“Mourinho is also believed to have a list of demands that include getting rid of chief executive Ron Gourlay and technical director Michael Emenalo.

“He has a list of transfer targets, which he will want assurances over.”

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has reached the conclusion that Mourinho is the best person to unite the club and lead it into the future. Abramovich reportedly offered Mourinho a three-year contract, which the Portuguese tactician agreed to but did not sign. If the report is correct, it would signal a dramatic change of course (and perhaps an admission of failure) on the part of the hands-on Russian billionaire.

Mourinho managed the Blues from 2004-07, winning four major trophies and a world of admiration. But his tenure at Stamford Bridge came to a stunning end in September 2007 when he was fired after losing a power-struggle with Abramovich. Mourinho has successfully managed Inter Milan (2008-10) and Real Madrid (2010-present) since then. Mourinho and Abramovich have reportedly mended their rift, and the two communicate on a regular basis.

Many expect Mourinho to leave Real Madrid at the end of this season. Paris Saint-Germain reportedly wants to bring him to France, but Chelsea could have the inside track. Mourinho recently bought a house in West London, and his 16-year-old daughter has enrolled in a school nearby.

Should Mourinho return to Chelsea, he would replace Rafa Benitez. The current Chelsea manager is unpopular with the fans and is expected to leave the club when his interim contract expires in the summer. Abramovich apparently believes Mourinho is the man to correct the mistakes of the past and bring that special sizzle back to Chelsea.

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The Blues are determined to beat their Premier League rivals to Fellaini’s signature. They hope a £25 million ($38 million) transfer offer and a long-term contract will lure the Belgian midfielder from Everton to West London, according to the Star.

“The Londoners had hoped to sign him during the last transfer window but a deal couldn’t be thrashed out by all the parties involved,” the report claims.

“Fellaini’s form has dipped since he was subjected to the transfer speculation and Everton might just now feel the time is right to sell.

“Chelsea are believed to be ready to offer a five-year deal with wages of £4.5 ($6.9 million).”

Fellaini has been a driving force behind Everton’s success in recent seasons. His physical presence and all-action displays have made him one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders.

Those same qualities have also turned the 25-year-old into one of the league’s most sought-after players. His contract reportedly contains a buyout clause of around £22 million ($33.5 million), which puts him within reach of the league’s richest clubs. Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are expected to bid for the Everton star’s services. Leading clubs from continental Europe could join the race in the coming weeks.

Everton bought Fellaini from Belgium’s Standard Liege in 2008. He more than justified the club-record £15 million ($22.8 million) transfer fee over the course of the last five seasons. But last fall, he said he revealed his desire to play for one of Europe’s top clubs and compete for the game’s most prestigious trophies. Those comments, combined with reports of the buyout clause, launched widespread speculation about his future, which has continued throughout the current season.

Barring a late surge, Everton will finish outside of the top four and fail to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. It’s likely that Fellaini will listen to offers from clubs playing in Europe’s elite competition and call time on his Everton career. It’s tough to tell where he prefers to play. He recently moved from Liverpool to Manchester, but that was only because the Merseyside women wouldn’t leave him alone. Chelsea hopes he hasn’t settled into his new digs and will consider moving again — this time to posh West London.

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The Santos star’s recent statements suggest that he is thinking of making the jump to a top European club. He could even leave his homeland as soon as this summer.

The 21-year-old is widely regarded as the best player not playing in Europe, and many expect that he will command a transfer fee in excess of £50 million ($75.6 million). Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City are among the leading clubs interested in signing him. Bayern Munich is reportedly ready to pay a world-record fee for a player many expect to challenge the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the title of “world’s greatest player.”

Neymar’s contract situation could determine his immediate future. Santos pays him handsomely (he is reportedly the seventh-highest paid player in the world), and his multiple endorsement deals allow him and his family to live comfortably in familiar surroundings. His current contract expires in 2014. Santos has offered him an extension, but he has not signed it. He says he will make up his mind about his future at the end the season (Brazil’s season ends in December), according to Football Espana.

“I will decide what to do soon,” he recently told reporters. “I will sit down with my family and with Santos.”

Sky Sports reports he also spoke about his ambition to play with the world’s best players at one of Europe’s top clubs.

“I dream of playing Europe, for a big club like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea,” he reportedly told Esporte Espetacular. ”Who wouldn’t dream about playing alongside [Lionel] Messi, Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta? They’re all great players.

“[But] there’s no point in speculating when I’ll leave Santos. I’ll leave when I want to. I don’t know where I would fit in if I joined Barca but I know my place is at Santos right now.”

Since money is not Neymar’s chief concern, it’s more likely that the pull of a professional challenge will ultimately draw him to Europe. That itch could bring his departure date forward and make him reject Santos’ offer. If he does, Santos will consider transfer bids  – starting as soon as this summer — rather than watch the value of its prized asset steadily diminish as the calendar approaches 2014.

If Europe’s top clubs offer the reported amounts, Santos will more than likely accept and encourage  Neymar to take his talents across the Atlantic for all the world to see. If he signs a contract extension, expect him to continue lighting Brazilian and South American defenses for the foreseeable future.

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Shepherd is only four years old, but his soccer skills have at least three Premier League teams vying for his services. West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea are helping to develop the talent of the kid locals are calling “Mini [Lionel] Messi.” The Premier League trio hope that he might join one of their youth academies on a full-time basis, according to the Mail.

Shepherd is from Grays, England (20 miles east of London), but reports of his exploits have already hit the capital city. He practices twice each week with West Ham’s U-6 academy team, once a week with Arsenal and spent part of last summer with Chelsea’s Summer School.

His father, Pat Shepherd, says young Archie eats, sleeps and breathes the game.

“He has played club football since he was three but even when he was a baby he didn’t want toys, he just wanted a football,” the elder Shepherd said. “He doesn’t stop playing and he doesn’t care if kids are bigger than him — he shows no fear.

“There are a lot of clubs monitoring him and just waiting for him to get a bit older really. He is a normal height for a four-year-old but his natural skills and footwork are way above average for his age.

“He is just football obsessed – I don’t know where he gets it from.”

There is no way to tell how far Shepherd will go in the game. For now, he’ll join Charlie Jackson and other prodigies who we allow to just be kids and enjoy the game for what it is — a game.

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Photo via Twitter/shannonmctague

Bayern Munich has joined Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City among the ranks of those interested in signing Neymar. The German giant is preparing a transfer offer that, if successful, would make the Brazilian star the most expensive player in history, according to Metro.

“But it looks as though the Blues [Chelsea FC] are set to miss out on bringing him to London, with runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich preparing a gargantuan bid of £86 million [$129.7 million] for the Santos star, according to Spanish source Sport,” Metro claims.

Neymar has emerged as one of world soccer’s brightest stars in recent years, shining for Santos and the Brazilian national team. In 2011, he led Santos to glory in the Copa Libertadores (South America’s continental championship for clubs) in 2011. He also captured the South American Footballer of the Year award in 2011 and 2012. Leading clubs have courted him for some time, but his desire to stay in his homeland (where he earns a hefty salary) is stronger than any interest he has in “proving himself” in one of Europe’s top leagues.

Neymar’s contract with Santos expires after the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He has repeatedly said that he intends to remain with the Brazilian club until 2014, despite a flood of rumors linking him to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and other clubs. Last week, Santos offered him a contract extension, signalling its wish to keep hold of the young star for the long-term.

Neymar could sign a new deal with Santos, but that wouldn’t prevent him from moving to a European club this summer. It was thought the bidding would start around £50 million ($75.6 million), but the reported price Bayern is willing to pay could end a bidding war before it has a chance to begin in earnest. The figure would also pass the record £80 million Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.

Bayern is cruising to the Bundesliga (German first division) title, has one foot in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal and is already a world leader in the business of soccer. With former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola set to become its head coach next season, excitement was already high in Bavaria. Adding Neymar to an already star-studded squad could cause the jubilation to boil over.

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The Spanish coach also appeared to criticize the decision by club management to announce him as “interim manager” until the end of the 2012-13 season when he replaced the fired Roberto di Matteo in November.

“I will leave at the end of the season. They don’t need to waste time with me,” said Benitez, referring to the fans after a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup’s fifth round, during which he was again jeered by a section of Chelsea supporters. “The group of fans are not making any favors for the team. They are singing and wasting time preparing banners.”

Benitez said some fans have had an “agenda” against him ever since he joined the club, mainly due to him having managed Liverpool earlier in his career.

“They should concentrate on supporting the team. At the end, they are not making any favors to the club, to the rest of the fans and the players,” he said. “They put pressure on the players and don’t create a good atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. They have to realize they are making a big mistake. … it would be much better to have a good atmosphere.”

Angel di Maria

Real Madrid is shopping the Argentine winger around Europe because it intends to sell him in the summer as part of a squad reconstruction project, according to the Mirror.

“The former Benfica and Rosario Central wideman was one of Europe’s most coveted talents while with the Lisbon club, but with likely upheaval at the Bernabeu this summer — including the possible departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho — he may join the queue for the exit door,” the report says.

“The deal that took Di Maria to Madrid was worth up to £30 million [$45.9 million] including incentives, and Madrid President Florentino Perez would be hoping to receive a fee near that amount for a regular in the Argentina team and a player contracted until 2018.

“The player’s representative is renown ‘superagent’ Jorge Mendes, who has strong links to both Chelsea and the Old Trafford club.”

Di Maria joined Real Madrid from Benfica in the summer of 2010, and the Spanish club rewarded him for his promising start to life at the Bernabeau with a new contract early last August. But discord with Mourinho and Ronaldo thrust the club into turmoil at the end of that month, and Real Madrid has yet to fully recover. Like the team itself, Di Maria has struggled to build on last season’s success.

In December, Perez reportedly made the decision to fire Mourinho this summer. This week, the club president reportedly decided to sell Ronaldo after the 2012-13 season. The prospect of signing Di Maria will certainly interest a few of Europe’s top clubs, so it’s likely that the 25-year-old will follow the aforementioned duo out the exit door.

It’s unknown how much interest di Maria has in leaving Real Madrid. After he signed his contract, he spoke of wanting to stay at the club for many years, but Mourinho’s impending exit could cause him to rethink his future. The Portuguese manager is one of his biggest supporters at the club, and his departure could consign di Maria to life on the fringes of the first team. Recent history has also showed that if Real Madrid wants to sell a player and he does not want to leave, it will pressure that player into changing his mind and moving to a new club.

Rumors have linked Di Maria with PSG, Manchester United and Inter Milan in recent months. The Mirror cites Mendes’ connections with Chelsea as reason to believe the Premier League club will join the race to sign the Argentina international.

Real Madrid reportedly intends to launch transfer bids for Gareth Bale, David Silva, Isco among other players. Selling Ronaldo and di Maria in the summer should raise enough money to fund the club’s wildest transfer dreams.

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Photo via Facebook/Angel di Maria

The Chelsea manager told a Spanish radio station that he relishes the idea of managing Real Madrid or Spain’s national team, but he stopped short of publicly lobbying for either job out of respect for their current managers, Football Espana reports.

Benitez returned to the sidelines in November when he replaced Roberto di Matteo as Chelsea’s interim manager. A vocal segment of the fan base refuses to accept his presence at Stamford Bridge, and the team’s results and performances reportedly have not convinced Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich that Benitez is the right man to lead the club into the future.

Benitez admits that he hasn’t had an easy time in West London. He says Chelsea’s hectic schedule has prevented him from having as great an impact on the club as he would have otherwise had, but he takes positives from the team’s attacking displays.

“They are a team in transition and it is not easy getting the right results,” Benitez reportedly told Radio Nacional de Espana. ”The difficult is in trying to get your ideas across but with the drawback of only having so much time in which to do it, because we play two or three games a week.

“A simple fact: we are the team that has played the most games in Europe. But, the team has performed well in many games. We have over 100 goals scored.”

The 52-year-old has spent the better part of the last decade away from Spain, but he remains highly regarded in his homeland. His teams have won domestic, European and world championships during his managerial career, which puts him in consideration for some of the biggest jobs in the country.

Benitez came through the Real Madrid system as a player and began his coaching career at his boyhood club. He says his love for Real Madrid endures to this day, but he was careful not to link himself to the manager’s job even though current boss Jose Mourinho will reportedly part ways with the club after the season.

“As a coach, you always have your sweetheart, he said. I have a link with the fans, I have been treated well there,” he said. “And I came to Madrid when I was 13 and I am of Madrid, but I do not want to get into speculation because my words are always interpreted.

It’s hard to tell where Benitez’s immediate future lies, but he has a long-term ambition to manage Spain’s national team. He hopes success in the challenges to come will make him a prime candidate to guide his country at the international level one day.

“I see La Seleccion [Spain] as a career option, although a little later on. Now I want to work every day,” he said. “The day that [current manager] Vicente del Bosque, who is doing a sensational job, says he will go, then yes. And maybe after a couple more coaches have been in the job. Maybe then I would like to be the coach.

“But, it has to be earned. For that, you have to keep doing things right among the footballing elite.”

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Three top officials from FC Barcelona met in New York City this week to discuss the club’s transfer strategy, and the outcome saw Luiz rise to the top of Barca’s list of targets for upcoming summer transfer window, according to the Mail.

“Barca coach Tito Vilanova, who is currently on sick leave, met with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, technical secretary Albert Valentín and football co-ordinator Narcis Julia in the United States,” the report says.

“Vilanova is keen to strengthen his defense  despite club captain Carles Puyol only recent signing a new deal at the Nou Camp and 25-year-old Luiz is seen as a long-term replacement, despite the Brazil center half struggling for consistency at Stamford Bridge this season.”

Luiz has endured much criticism since he moved to Chelsea in January 2011. The Blues paid Portugal’s Benfica £21.3 million ($33 million) for the Brazilian defender, but he struggled to adapt to the pace and rigors of the English game at the outset.

However, his fortunes improved along with Chelsea’s in the latter part of the 2011-12 season and he ended the campaign with FA Cup and UEFA Champions League winners’ medals. His good form carried into the current season despite playing in a midfield role at times under new Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez. Luiz has done a good job in front of the defense, but his future for club and country (he is a first-choice defender for Brazil’s national team) lies at the back.

Barcelona has soared for much of the season. The Spanish club is in contention to win league, cup and European honors. But defense remains a point of concern. Puyol and Gerard Pique are the only two specialist center backs in the first team. Alex Song, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets have filled in at times this season, but the three have spent most of their careers as midfielders.

It’s unknown how Chelsea will react to an approach for Luiz. The Premier League club would most likely want to recoup the value of its investment. Adding Luiz would show that Barcelona is serious about improving its defense. After all, it’s been three-and-a-half years since Barca signed a specialist central defender — Dmytro Chygrynskiy. The Ukrainian defender only lasted on season at the Camp Nou, and they’ve made do (quite well) ever since.

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FIFA provisionally approved his transfer from Shanghai Shenhua to Galatasaray on Wednesday, granting the Ivorian striker a licence to play for the Turkish club, according to Sky Sports.

“The Single Judge of FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee has authorised Turkish FF to provisionally register Didier Drogba,” Sky Sports reports a statement on FIFA Media’s Twitter page read.

“The Drogba decision is without prejudice and pending outcome of decision as to the substance of the contractual dispute with former club.”

There was some doubt about Drogba’s Galatasaray transfer since Shanghai Shenhua claimed the former Chelsea star was still under contract and that it never authorized his Turkey move. Drogba’s representatives say the Chinese club missed salary payments, which would allow him to join a new club on a free transfer. It appears that FIFA is siding with Drogba – at least in the immediate term.

It was only in July that Drogba made the shock move to Shanghai. At the time, he said that he wanted to strengthen ties between the people of Africa and China, but the symbolism couldn’t withstand the lack of substance. He only played 11 Chinese Super League games (scoring eight goals), but Shanghai struggled and finished ninth in the 16-team CSL.

A boardroom dispute thrust the club into turmoil and some players went unpaid. Drogba never publicly indicated that he was not receiving his £250,000 ($395,000) per-week salary, but he was apparently affected along with the rest of the squad.

FIFA’s announcement officially brings the 34-year-old’s Chinese adventure to an end. He completed his physical exam Monday, and his new career in Turkey should begin in the coming days or weeks.

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