A scout from an unnamed NFL team called Beckham last fall and offered him a chance to try out for the team as a kicker. The former England captain declined the invitation, according to the Mirror.

“A couple of scouts felt that David has the potential to become a kicker in the NFL team, and one actually put a call into him for a trial,” a source told the Mirror.

“It is no secret that David is one of the best in the business when it comes to accuracy and length in his passing. And he has stood on the greatest stages to perform magnificent feats with his feet.

“Major league [NFL] kickers can send the ball 40 yards straight — David has shown for the last 15 years he can do that week in week out.

“It was obvious too that if Becks took up the offer then any NFL franchise would be interested as his international appeal would generate billions in PR and commercial opportunities.

“The offer came in and he politely said that it wasn’t right for him. Perhaps in the next few months he could change his mind.”

At the time, Beckham was mapping out the final stages of his illustrious soccer career. He left the L.A. Galaxy in December and joined French club Paris Saint-German in February. His three-month swansong in European soccer saw him win a Ligue 1 (French first division) title, participate in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League and bid the game a tearful goodbye in his final appearance as a professional player.

Beckham scored 65 free-kick goals in his career, but that ability wouldn’t necessarily translate to gridiron success. He honed his world-famous technique over the years using soccer balls. How quickly he would adapt to a new ball, target, sport and surroundings is unknown. While NFL teams would love the international exposure and marketing opportunities Beckham’s presence would create, their primary business is winning football games.

Beckham will remain a busy man in his post-playing days. He serves as a global ambassador for China’s Super League (where he created some doubt over his kicking ability). He is in talks to buy a Major League Soccer expansion team, which would play in Miami, and Tom Cruise wants him to consider starring in action movies.

If those activities don’t quench Beckham’s thirst for life then, by all means, he should look into American football. He also should remember Ray Finkle, whose story showed us the dark side of life as an NFL kicker.

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On Thursday, the soccer superstar told nearly 19,000,000 Twitter followers that he has not signed a new contract with Real Madrid.

All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false.

—
Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 13, 2013

Ronaldo’s message flies in the face of recent reports which say he is set to extend his stay in the Spanish capital. His current deal runs until 2015, and club president Florentino Perez promised to make the Portuguese forward the highest-paid player in the world if he signs a contract extension.

Ronaldo shocked Real Madrid (and the soccer world) last summer when he said he was “sad” at the club and reportedly told Perez that he wanted a transfer. Real Madrid refused to sell him, but that didn’t stop potential suitors from stepping forward. Manchester United, PSG and AS Monaco are believed to be willing to spend up to £85 million ($133.4 million) to sign him this summer. If Ronaldo rejects Real Madrid‘s contract offer, the club would have little choice but to sell him, since his transfer value will decrease as 2015 approaches.

Ronaldo recently put his $7 million villa up for sale, suggesting he is ready to end a Real Madrid career that has seen him score 201 goals in 199 games over the last four seasons.

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Fabregas has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks, but he only intends to stay at Barcelona as long as the club wants him there, according to Sky Sports.

“I have not opened my mouth once,” Fabregas reportedly told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. ”It has taken a lot for me to get where I am and I am not thinking about throwing it all away for nothing.

“If they [Barcelona] said that they didn’t want me that would be another thing, what I really want is to triumph at Barca, that has been my dream since I was small.”

Fabregas has been a Barcelona regular since returning to the Camp Nou in 2011, but he hasn’t established himself as an automatic starter. He often watches big games from the substitutes’ bench, and his failure to win over manager Tito Vilanova (and many Barcelona fans) has fueled speculation that he’s ready to return to the Premier League. However, the 26-year-old insists he will stay with his boyhood club.

“The important thing in life is to accept the good and also bad moments when they happen,” he added. “If they [the crowd] whistle me I have to accept it. I am the first person that knew it would be the biggest challenge of my life [to play at Barcelona]. I only want to play. Barca is my home, I have always dreamed of triumphing here.

“Up until now everything has gone well. The important thing is to work and work so that you enjoy it more than you don’t.”

Fabregas spent eight seasons with Arsenal, and the Gunners have the first option to buy him back should he decide to leave Barcelona. That hasn’t discouraged both Manchester clubs from monitoring the situation, as they consider bidding around £40 million ($62.6 million) for the midfielder.

Publicly, Barcelona says it wants to keep Fabregas, but that may not be the case behind closed doors. In April, a source close to the club told the Star (newspaper) that it would consider selling him in order to raise funds for defensive reinforcements. Meanwhile, Fabregas says he wants to stay, but his infant daughter, who was born in April, lives with her mother Daniella Semaan in London. Fabregas is believed to be keen on raising the child as a family in England. Playing in Spain for Barcelona would make that difficult.

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On Wednesday, Arsenal made a transfer bid for Marouane Fellaini. The £22 million ($34.2 million) offer leaves the Belgian midfielder free to negotiate personal terms with Arsenal, and Everton is powerless to stop him, according to Goal.com.

“The Gunners have activated the release clause in the Everton midfielder’s contract and are confident of wrapping up a deal for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks,” the report says.

“Goal understands that Arsenal made the club-record bid on Wednesday, the same day that Roberto Martinez was appointed the new Everton manager.”

Fellaini has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers in recent seasons. The 25-year-old combines size, strength, speed, skill and versatility to influence games from the midfield. He joined Everton from Belgium’s Standard Liege in 2008 for a club-record £15 million ($22.8 million). His value has steadily increased over the last five seasons, and so has the level of interest from other clubs.

Fellaini’s contract expires in 2016, but there’s little chance he will stay at Goodison Park until then. In September, he not only went public about his desire to compete in the UEFA Champions League, but also revealed that his contract contained a release clause. Many tipped him to switch clubs during the January transfer window, but the expected bids did not materialize.

The Gunners are reportedly ready to spend as much as £70 million ($109 million) on new players this summer. Fellaini is among Arsenal’s transfer targets, which are thought to include a goalkeeper, central defender and at least one striker.

A host of other teams remain interested in Fellaini’s services. Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City were believed to be leading the race to his signature, but Arsenal appears to have made the first concrete move. It would come as no surprise if the trio of clubs — the top three finishers in the 2012-13 Premier League — also lodge bids which trigger the release clause. Fellaini would then have his choice of clubs from which to choose, and he would most likely base his decision on sporting and financial factors.

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He failed to reach many Real Madrid stars with that approach, and it seems Cristiano Ronaldo was one of them, according to Football Espana.

Mourinho recently spoke about an issue he had with Ronaldo, saying the Portuguese superstar had trouble accepting criticism.

“Cristiano Ronaldo may think he knows everything and that a coach cannot help him progress,” Mourinho reportedly told Spanish television Punto Pelota.

“We have had a very basic problem with him — I criticized him at a tactical level and at that time he did not take it very well. He did not accept my words.

“He has played three fantastic seasons for me, I do not know if they are the best of his career, but we have found for him a fantastic tactical situation to express his full potential and to express that in goals.”

Ronaldo played under Mourinho from 2010-13, taking his goal-scoring prowess to new heights and becoming a Real Madrid legend in the process. The Portuguese pair helped the club win three major trophies — the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) in 2011, La Liga (Spain’s first division) in 2012 and the Spanish Super Cup later that year.

Mourinho’s ill-fated third season at Real Madrid saw him fall out with a number of senior players, including Pepe, Mezut Ozil, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas. Rumors of a problem with Ronaldo were never confirmed, but reports of divisions within the dressing room were rife. These tensions caused results to suffer and Mourinho’s reign at the Bernabeu to come to an infamous and premature end.

Ronaldo’s status as one of the game’s leading lights makes Mourinho’s latest revelations unsurprising. Most superstars have big egos and don’t take kindly to criticism — especially if it is delivered in a particular way.

However, Mourinho’s latest words cast doubt on a potential reunion with Ronaldo at Chelsea. The 50-year-old will be presented as Chelsea’s manager on Monday, and it was thought he would try to buy an unhappy Ronaldo from Real Madrid as one of his first orders of business. Comments like these will only grind the gears of the transfer rumor mill. It’s doubtful that Mourinho would try to work his magic on a player who was resistant to his spell in the past.

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On Monday, the Arsenal midfielder posted a photo of his young son, Archie Wilshire, wearing a full FC Barcelona uniform. Transfer rumor junkies naturally took this as a sign that the elder Wilshire is thinking about leaving Arsenal for the Spanish club.

Wilshire joined the Arsenal academy as a nine-year-old. He shot through the club’s youth ranks and made his first-team debut in 2008. The 21-year-old is now a cornerstone of the current Arsenal team, and it won’t be long before he dons the captain’s armband.

His status as a leading Arsenal player naturally makes him the subject of interest from Europe’s richest clubs. He was linked with Bayern Munich and Barcelona at times last season, but Arsenal has made it clear that he is not for sale. The new contract he signed in December runs until 2018, so Bayern and Barcelona have a better shot at signing young Archie, 1, than “Jack the Dad.”

Archie Wilshire appears in Barcelona gear below.

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Photo via Twitter/@JackWilshire
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@JackWilshire

We’re not sure if the soccer superstar is moving to the east side of Madrid, Manchester or elsewhere, but he’s definitely moving after he put his house up for sale.

Ronaldo’s Spanish villa has been listed on the website of Madrid-based property agency Promora. The 27-year-old hopes to fetch a cool €5.4 million ($7.1 million) for the villa, which is located in the suburban Madrid.

His home sits on over an acre of land. It includes a seven-bedroom mansion, two swimming pools and an “enormous garden.”

While it’s possible that Ronaldo is merely looking for a better home with a better garden in the greater-Madrid area, it’s more likely that he is planning on leaving the Spanish capital altogether.

Ronaldo asked to leave Real Madrid last August, but club President Florentino Perez refused to sell him. Ronaldo then reportedly rejected the chance to sign a new contract in December. He is set to resume contract negotiations in the coming weeks. His current deal expires in 2015, and Real Madrid could sell him this summer if he does not pen an extension.

Any club in the world would love to have Ronaldo, but only a select few have a realistic chance of signing him this summer. Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG have all been linked with the Portuguese forward in recent months, and they are among the few clubs in world soccer that can pay the hefty transfer fee Real Madrid would demand and salary Ronaldo would want.

See Ronaldo’s Spanish villa below.

Photo via Twitter/@TweetChelseaFC

Photo via Twitter/@JonnyBo_Ross

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Real Madrid is prepared to spend £60 million ($90.7 million) to bring English soccer’s premier player to the Bernabeu by mid-June, the Star reports.

“Real Madrid are confident they will win the battle for Gareth Bale -– and have set a June 15 deadline for the deal to be done with Tottenham,” the report says.

“The Spanish giants raised the stakes by increasing their offer for the double Player of the Year to £60 million.”

Bale was disappointed with Tottenham’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League, but he gave no indication that he wanted to leave in search of UEFA Champions League soccer. Tottenham reportedly offered the free-scoring winger a new contract, but he didn’t sign it before going on vacation.

The Spanish club can offer Bale a salary which dwarfs anything he can earn in North London. His current deal expires in 2016, but Real Madrid wants him as its marquee summer 2013 signing. On Wednesday, the BBC reports Bale’s agent fanned the rumor flames by telling a Spanish television show that his client would consider joining Real Madrid.

“If somebody like Mr. Perez [Real Madrid president Florentino Perez] was interested in Gareth Bale it would be a great honor and we would listen,” Jonathan Barnett reportedly said.

Real Madrid’s interest in Bale dates back to at least last summer. After signing Luca Modric from Tottenham last August, Real Madrid formed a commercial partnership with the Premier League club. Many thought the link-up would give Real Madrid the first option on Tottenham’s stars, but that was never confirmed.

Nevertheless, the Spanish club is stepping up its charm offensive. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and director Zinedine Zidane have spoken glowingly of Bale in the last week, and Spanish media outlets (with close ties to Real Madrid) are focusing on the Bale pursuit.  Bale finished first in a poll of Madrid fans who were asked which player they most wanted the club to sign this summer.

Real Madrid is used to getting the players it wants, and it often uses these tactics to get its way. It might be acting quickly to beat the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and PSG to Bale’s signature, as the trio are also thought to be interested in signing Bale this summer.

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He is the latest addition to a star-filled roster that already includes four-time FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

The decision came a day after Neymar’s Brazilian club, Santos, said it had accepted offers from Barcelona and Spanish rival Real Madrid, and that it was up to him to pick where he wanted to play.

The 21-year-old striker made the announcement on Twitter and other social media sites.

“I wouldn’t be able to wait until Monday. My friends and my family already know of my decision,” he wrote. ”On Monday I will sign a contract with Barcelona.”

Barcelona confirmed the deal on its own Twitter account.

“FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Santos for Neymar,” the club said. “The Brazilian player will join FC Barcelona for the next five seasons.”

Messi was quoted as saying earlier this week that Neymar would be “a wonderful signing” for Barcelona.

Neymar didn’t give any details on the offer he and Santos accepted from Barcelona. The club only said the agreement was for five seasons.

Neymar will play his last match with Santos on Sunday in the team’s first match in this year’s Brazilian league.

“I want to thank Santos fans for these nine incredible years. My feelings for the club and the fans will never change,” he said. “I made it sure that I play (this last match) so I can have the opportunity to once again enter the field wearing the team’s jersey and to hear the fans chant my name.”

Neymar led Santos to its greatest run since Pele stopped playing for the club in the 1970s, helping the team win the 2010 Brazilian Cup, the 2011 Copa Libertadores and three straight Sao Paulo state championships. He is the club’s leading scorer in the post-Pele era with 138 goals in 229 matches.

He’s also considered the national team’s key player in the upcoming Confederations Cup and World Cup, which Brazil hosts next year.

Neymar will join Barcelona after the Confederations Cup, as the transfer window in Europe opens in July.

The signing ends years of speculation about which team would be the first to persuade the Brazilian sensation to make the move to Europe. Neymar has never hidden his desire to one day play for Barcelona, but this week Real Madrid also became a front-runner to sign him.

Santos vice president Odilio Rodrigues said Friday that both offers were “similar,” but hinted that Neymar already had a “gentleman’s agreement” with Barcelona.

Neymar learned the details of the offers late Friday and said he would look at both carefully before deciding. He said he was “very proud” the Spanish powerhouses were interested in him, calling it “one of the happiest moments” of his life.

Brazilian media reported that Real Madrid was willing to pay Santos 35 million euros for Neymar, 7 million euros more than Barcelona. Real Madrid also reportedly offered a bigger salary. Spanish media said the total Barcelona would spend on Neymar could reach about 50 million euros.

Santos officially rejected a 35 million-euro offer for Neymar from Chelsea in 2010 and he eventually re-signed with the club until the 2014 World Cup, with a buyout clause of 65 million euros.

Santos was trying to sell Neymar as quickly as possible because in six months the player would be allowed to sign a pre-contract with any other club and the Brazilian team would not get anything in return.

Neymar is an idol on the field and a celebrity off it in Brazil. He appears in dozens of television commercials and his image is plastered on billboards across the country, making him by far the best paid athlete in Brazil. This week, he topped the list of most marketable athletes in the world in a report published by SportsPro magazine, finishing ahead of Messi and golfer Rory McIlroy.

But he is also criticized by some in Europe for his dives and alleged attempts to fake injuries. Pele has repeatedly said that Neymar has the potential to be the best player in the world, even better than Messi, but he is one of the critics who recently said Neymar should try to stop diving so much.

Neymar is also criticized for disappointing performances at decisive moments when he plays for Brazil. His recent lackluster performances with the national team even attracted loud jeers from home fans.

The 2012-13 English Player of the Year is set to sign a new contract with Tottenham, which should keep him at White Hart Lane for at least one more season, the London Evening Standard reports.

“Standard Sport understands the Wales international, who scored his 31st goal of the season in the 1-0 win over Sunderland yesterday, has committed his future to the club with a £130,000-a-week deal and will remain at White Hart Lane next season,” the report says.

“An announcement is expected to be made by the club shortly, which will provide Tottenham fans with a huge lift after losing their bid to beat Arsenal to a place in the top four.”

Bale, 23, signed a new contract after the 2011-12 season, but this latest one rewards him for yet another fine campaign. He led Spurs to a fifth-place finish in the league and the quarterfinal of the UEFA League. His fine form, especially in the second half of the season, saw him sweep the player of the year awards and add polish to an already glistening reputation.

Tottenham operates under tight salary constraints, but it is prepared to break it in order to give Bale a raise. A host of top clubs are reportedly interested in signing him, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and PSG in hot pursuit. Tottenham has no interest in selling the 23-year-old, as it hopes to build a team around him that is capable of challenging for domestic and European titles.

Tottenham has sold many of its star players in recent years, but it seems to be holding firm on Bale. Exactly how long it can keep him in North London remains to be seen. The report adds that Bale’s contract contains a clause which would allow him to leave in the summer of 2014 if an interested team offers over  £50 million ($76.1 million) for him.

Next summer is a long way off, and Bale will be a transfer target this summer. His new contract protects his value and strengthens his ties with Tottenham. It also makes it more difficult for another team to tempt him to force a transfer for the sake of more money. He already got it from a place he loves and is loved in return.

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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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The Manchester United manager is considering retiring after this season, and he could make an announcement as early as this week, the Telegraph reports.

Ferguson, 71, has been United’s manager since 1986. The Red Devils clinched the 2012-13 Premier League title last month — their 13th under the legendary United boss.

It was thought that Ferguson would remain in charge for at least another season (perhaps grooming David Moyes to become his successor), but rumors saying he would step down immediately have gathered steam this week.

United’s press office has not commented on the reports. The club is partially listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and rules require it to promptly disclose information about changes to its management.

“With United now forced to adhere to the strict rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange in terms of the release of significant information relating to the running of the club following last August’s partial flotation, any change of management would fall within those requirements,” the Telegraph reports.

“As of Tuesday night, no statement over Ferguson’s future had been issued by United.

“However, with sources close to the players confirming that the squad’s golf day had been overshadowed by suggestions that the Scot would be making an announcement ahead of Sunday’s clash with Swansea at Old Trafford, any ongoing uncertainty is unlikely to be allowed to continue to the point where it would affect the confidence of investors and, in turn, United’s New York share price.”

Ferguson has been bullish about United’s future prospects in recent weeks. In his program notes ahead of last Sunday’s game against Chelsea, Ferguson said he looked forward to leading United into a new era of dominance.

“We will get better and if we apply ourselves in our normal fashion, I see our 20th league title as nothing but the start of another decade of success,” Ferguson wrote.

“Whether I will be here to oversee another decade of success remains to be seen, but I certainly don’t have any plans at the moment to walk away from what I believe will be something special and worth being around to see.”

The has often said his health would be a deciding factor in deciding when to retire. He will reportedly have an operation on his hip during the offseason, and some expect the procedure to keep him off the sidelines until September (next season starts in mid-August).

Few would have foreseen Ferguson walking away after winning the title in such emphatic fashion, but that appears to be a possibility.

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In recent days, British oddskmakers have drastically lowered the odds of Moyes becoming United’s next manager, the Mail reports.

Moyes has served as Everton’s manager with great distinction over the last 11 years, but his contract expires this summer and he has yet sign a new deal. He says he will decide his future after the current campaign, but it is thought that he is considering leaving the club in search of greener pastures.

United would offer Moyes the chance to manage a leading club but not right away. The Mail report says Moyes would join United this summer and serve as Ferguson’s assistant for one season while he learns the ins and outs of the club. Moyes would then replace Ferguson on the Old Trafford bench, when the legendary United manager retires after the 2013-14 season.

The Mirror reports Moyes’ rumored move to United have prompted British oddsmakers to slash the odds of him taking over for Ferguson. He started the season as the favorite with 6-1 odds, but those have been lowered to 1-2. The Mirror concludes with the most important piece of information regarding the Moyes to United rumor.

“Punters be warned though: If they really knew you wouldn’t be able to bet on it.”

That about says it all.

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Wenger is reportedly a leading contender to replace Carlo Ancelotti as PSG’s manager. He could leave the Arsenal bench for PSG’s as early as this summer, according to the Telegraph.

“PSG’s most senior figures have been telling members of their circle that Wenger has been persuaded to leave north London after 17 years in charge of Arsenal.

“Their least optimistic scenario is that he will move to Paris in the summer of 2014 when his current deal at Arsenal expires. But PSG’s owners have sounded adamant in recent days that they can tempt him to cross the channel 12 months early.

“[French newspaper] Le Parisien has reported that Wenger will meet PSG owners next week,” the report says.

Wenger and Arsenal are synonymous with one another, with the Frenchman having lead the club since 1996. The Gunners have won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups under his guidance, making him one of world’s soccer’s most respected and influential managers. But Arsenal has not won a trophy in eight seasons, and some fans are calling for a new manager to end the barren run.

But Wenger and Arsenal are coming to a crossroads. His contract expires after next season, and there have been conflicting reports as to whether or not Arsenal has already offered him a new deal. If the club wants him to continue past 2014, he certainly has yet to agree to do so.

Managers are often loathe to lead a team into a new season with only one year remaining on their contract, as a “lame duck” status can undermine them in the dressing room in difficult moments. This summer is shaping up to be a “moment of truth” for Wenger and Arsenal, but Wenger says he will remain at Arsenal for at least another season regardless of his contract situation.

“First of all I don’t know too much about what’s been said about me,” he said. “Then I’m concentrating on the next game and the next season. At the end of my contract I’ll see what I can do. I’ve always respected my contracts. I can’t see at my age why that should change.”

PSG has become a leading destination for Europe’s top players, coaches and executives since the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) took over the club in May 2011 and began pouring money into it. PSG has spent over £170 million ($264 million) on new players, transforming itself from a club which targets domestic honors to one that aims for European and global titles.

Ancelotti has led the charge in the French capital since December 2011, when he replaced Antoine Kombouare. The Italian steered PSG to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 in his first six months at the club. PSG’s on-field fortunes improved this season, as it is reached the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League and is closing in on its first Ligue 1 title since 1994.

Domestic glory may not be enough to keep Ancelotti and PSG from parting ways after this season,” the Telegraph reports.

“Ancelotti is understood to have told PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi last week that he would not be staying in Paris.”

PSG is reportedly eyeing Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, but the Portuguese tactician is believed to be nearing a return to Chelsea FC. Meanwhile, Ancelotti has been tipped to replace Mourinho at Real Madrid.

PSG has a long-term goal of instilling more of a French identity (or public face) into the club, and Wenger is arguably the most respected French coach in the world. If the Arsenal manager decides it is time to leave North London for PSG, he would find himself at the center of one of the most exciting and ambitious projects world soccer has to offer.

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Less than two years later, a combination of personal and professional circumstances could see him leave his hometown for North London once again.

Barcelona would be willing to sell Fabregas for the right price this summer to raise funds for a rebuilding project, and Arsenal is the most likely destination, according to the Star.

“He does not want to quit his boyhood club — but has fired the exit rumours by trying to buy a £5.4 million ($8.4 million ) flat in London,” the report says.

“Fabregas’ girlfriend Daniella Semaan gave birth to the couple’s daughter Lia earlier this month and the pair are looking into bringing her up in England.

“He is under contract until June 2016 but has his World Cup place with the Spain team to worry about and could be tempted by the prospect of regular football in the Premier League.”

Fabregas was schooled in the Barcelona system before controversially signing with Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003. He spent eight seasons with the Gunners, rising from teenage prospect to club captain. His longstanding desire to return to Spain — particularly to play with Barcelona’s stars and for its former head coach Pep Guardiola – was the driving force behind his £30 million ($46.5 million) switch from Arsenal to Barca in August 2011.

But Fabregas, 25, hasn’t had the same impact at Barcelona that he had at Arsenal. He is not an automatic starter, as the presences of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi push him to the substitute’s bench or into unfamiliar positions — particularly in the biggest games. Tito Vilanova replaced Guardiola before the 2012-13 campaign, and Fabregas struggled to adapt to the new head coach’s tactical demands at the start of the season. He gradually worked his way into form, but his first two seasons at Barcelona have made him the subject of criticism from fans and the media.

Fabregas said he wants to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career in February. Barcelona could have other ideas. The soon-to-be La Liga champion reportedly wants to sign either Mats Hummels or Vincent Kompany, as it looks to strengthen its creaky defense this summer. Both would command over £25 million ($38.7 million) in the transfer market, while Brazilian star Neymar could also join the club this summer for a fee that could exceed £50 million ($75.6 million). Selling a squad player (even one as talented and committed as Fabregas) to facilitate a key signing seems like a reasonable option.

Fabregas remains a devoted Arsenal fan. He reportedly watches his former team play every week. In January, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he could see Fabregas returning in four or five years. The star report accelerates that timetable, but Arsenal will likely look to add a world-class player to its ranks this summer and it should have the funds to do so. Arsenal reportedly has first rights of refusal in the event Barcelona puts Fabregas on the transfer market, which could suit both clubs and the player himself.

The final and most important consideration is Fabregas’ relationship with Semaan and the birth of their infant daughter. If the parents want to raise Lia (and do it together) in England, it only makes sense that Fabregas would consider returning to the Premier League in the near future.

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For years, they have come here for preseason training, which includes playing exhibition games in packed stadiums. They will do so again this summer, but there will be a competitive aspect to those games.

Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan will be among the eight top clubs that will compete in a new preseason tournament. The competition, called the International Champions Cup, will also include the L.A. Galaxy, Reuters reports.

The ICC’s first game will take place in Europe on July 27. The knockout competition will then migrate to the U.S. for seven days of games at venues across the country. The final games — for seventh place, fifth place, third place and the championship — will take place at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on August 6-7, according to the Miami Herald.

RSE Ventures is organizing the tournament. The Miami-based company will offer “significant” prize money and a trophy to the winner.

“What is different is that this is a real tournament,” Relevant Sports (the soccer arm of RSE Ventures) CEO Charlie Stillitano told Reuters. “Obviously in the past we have had friendly matches and some have been very successful.

“We are trying to bring a bit of that [UEFA] Champions League magic to preseason. We know it is not the Champions League but managers have told us they can’t go through preseason playing games that mean nothing.”

FOX Soccer Channel will reportedly broadcast the ICC, and fans in 150 countries will be able to watch it.

But the privilege of watching the world’s top players play meaningful games in person belongs to fans in one country – the United States.

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Michel Moulin served as an advisor to PSG in 2008, and he now owns and operates French media outlet Le Sport 10. On Sunday, he told a French television station that Manchester United will definitely sell Rooney to PSG this summer, the Mirror reports.

“I announce to you from trusted sources: Rooney to PSG is done,” Moulin said on Sunday. “He will be at PSG next season.”

Rooney’s future has been the subject of widespread speculation in recent weeks, after he was dropped from the starting lineup ahead of United’s UEFA Champions League game against Real Madrid in March.

Those reports suggest that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ongoing concerns about Rooney’s fitness. He and other club officials could be of the opinion that the 27-year-old’s best years are behind him and now is the time to move him out of the club.

Rooney’s contract reportedly pays him around £250,000-a-week. It expires in 2015, and this summer should see him either agree to an extension (in which he will reportedly face a pay cut) or move to another club.

Rumors of PSG’s interest in Rooney date back to last May, when the French club reportedly budgeted around £120 million ($184.7 million) to fund a potential move for the English star. AS Monaco is also reportedly ready to present Rooney a lucrative, tax-free option should he leave United this summer. If Moulin’s claims are correct, Rooney will be plying his trade in France’s capital city rather than in the principality in the south.

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Manchester City has reportedly already spoken to Gotze’s agents about a possible summer transfer, and it is willing pay Borussia Dortmund his £34 million ($52.4 million) buyout fee in order to sign him ahead of next season, according to the Mirror.

Meanwhile, Arsenal has a longstanding interest in the German playmaker. The Gunners could be ready to meet that fee as part of an expected summer spending spree.

“Goetze’s performances against City in the group stages of the [UEFA] Champions League have attracted the attention of sporting director Txiki Begiristain who is understood to have met with the player’s representatives,” the report says.

“[Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger has been a long-term admirer of player in his search to replace Cesc Fabregas as the creative force in his team.”

Goetze, 20, has cemented his reputation in Germany as a top player who is only going to improve. The attacking midfielder has won two Bundesliga titles and one German Cup since breaking into Dortmund’s first team in 2010. He has also played 21 times for Germany’s national team, scoring four goals.

Dortmund hopes to keep him for the duration of his career, but that might not be possible. City, Arsenal and even Manchester United lead the contingent of English clubs that are thought to be interested in signing him. Leading clubs in Spain and Italy and France are likely monitoring his situation as well. Gotze even told FIFA.com that he wants to test himself in another country at some point in the future.

“I’m keeping my options open,” he said. “Clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are attractive, and playing in another top league would shape me and help me develop as a player. But I’m not thinking that far ahead at the moment. I’m happy in Germany and am delighted with the way things are going. Anything else is still a long way off. “

Gotze’s contract runs until 2016, so there’s little chance any interested club can buy him at a discount before 2014 at the earliest. Gotze himself would have to push for a transfer in order to convince Dortmund to sell him for anything less than his full buyout fee, and he has previously pledged to stay until at least 2014.

An expert sales pitch from Begiristain or Wenger could accelerate that timetable, but it’s more likely that Dortmund’s progress will do more to determine Gotze’s near-term future than anything. This season saw Bayern Munich reign supreme domestically, but Dortmund could win the Champions League. A Champions League winner’s medal just might convince Gotze that now is the time to leave his boyhood club.

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Photo via Facebook/Mario Gotze 

United is reportedly close to signing Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid. The Colombian striker is ready to leave the Spanish club this summer, and United has already made a down payment on his transfer to Old Trafford, according to Marca.

“Manchester United has every chance of being the team that Radamel Falcao joins for next season,” the report says. “Despite speculation in recent months linking him with Chelsea and even with Real Madrid, the fact is that the Old Trafford club is the best place to sign the Colombian forward. Sources close to both parties suggest that a down payment may have already been made as a guarantee for a future transfer.”

Falcao has established himself as one of the world’s premier strikers in recent years, showing lethal finishing ability and a knack for rising to the biggest of occasions. His scoring prowess helped Atletico Madrid win the UEFA Europa League and Super Cup in 2012. His 22 La Liga (Spain’s first division) goals this season have put the club in position to achieve its highest finish since 1996.

The 27-year-old has been the subject of widespread transfer speculation in recent months. Chelsea and Manchester City are two of the clubs which are reportedly prepared to pay his buyout clause of £51 million ($78 million) to land him this summer. Rumors of a secret agreement sending Falcao to Real Madrid arose in late 2012, but Atletico Madrid denied its existence. Marca reports that United will not pay the full value Falcao’s buyout clause, but any transfer fee for the marksman will be significant.

If Falcao moves to the Premier League club, he would join a corps of strikers which currently includes Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Wayne Rooney. United is also expected to bid for Borussia Dortmund’s Polish star Robert Lewandowski during the summer transfer window, while Rooney and Hernandez have been linked with moves away from the club. It could be a summer of change for United and its stash of world-class forwards — especially if Falcao arrives.

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