Blues linked with Mata bid

Chelsea are reported to have made a bid in the region of £27 million for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata. Andre Villas-Boas is known to be keen to add to his midfield, both to increase numbers and to inject creativity after the team struggled to provide record signing Fernando Torres with sufficient service after his move from Liverpool in January. Luka Modric is still said to be on the club's radar - though Villas-Boas told a press conference on Thursday that the continuation of the pursuit will be the "club's decision" - but widespread reports in England and Spain suggest that, for now, attention has turned to 23-year-old Mata. Marca reported...

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Nasri to leave with 'bitterness and anger

Arsenal's battle to keep hold of wantaway midfielder Samir Nasri appears destined to reach a messy conclusion, with the Frenchman saying he will "certainly leave very soon" with "bitterness and anger in my heart". Nasri has been pursued by Manchester City throughout the current transfer window, and with contract extension talks at Arsenal long since stalling, the 24-year-old appears set to leave the Emirates on less than amicable terms. Arsene Wenger had hoped the club could hold on to Nasri, but recently admitted the Gunners were not in a strong position to retain his services. Nasri, posting on what the club understands to be his personal...

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Andrew Carroll

Profile: Squad No: 39 Position: Forward Age: 21 Birth Date: Jan 6, 1989 Birth Place: Gateshead Height: 6' 3'' (1.91m) Weight: 79 kg One of England's brightest young talents, Carroll made a name for himself in the 2010-11 season when, despite a number of off-pitch incidents, he elevated himself among the top strikers in the Premier League. First appearing as a late substitute for Newcastle at the age of just 17 years and 300 days, Carroll became the youngest ever player to represent the club in Europe, in a match against Palermo in November 2006. After being awarded the 'Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy' in 2007, for being the brightest rising star...

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Luis Suarez

Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz (born 24 January 1987 in Salto) is a Uruguayan footballer who currently plays as a striker for AFC Ajax, where he is the club's captain. Since 2007, Suárez has also played for the Uruguayan national team. Having grown up in Salto alongside six siblings, with a single mother, he was a troublesome teenager, being involved with partying at a young age before his mentor gave him an ultimatum, which forced Suárez to choose a life in football. In 2005, he began professional career at Montevideo side Nacional. On 5 August 2010, Suárez became a father, with his wife bearing a baby daughter named Delfina in Barcelona. His older...

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Rafael Van der Vaart

Full Name    Rafael Van der Vaart Birth Date    February 11, 1983 Birth Place    Heemskerk Height        1.78m Weight        74 kg Age        27 Position    Midfielder Squad No    11 Once one of the most highly-rated players in Dutch football, Van der Vaart suffered from a poor spell at Real Madrid, but has always been viewed as a gem in his homeland. A product of Ajax's famous youth academy, Van der Vaart made his debut for the Amsterdam club in the 1999-2000 season, aged 17, in...

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Santa Cruz Expects Tevez Stay

Roque Santa Cruz believes Carlos Tevez will "stick it out" at Manchester City despite his desire to return to Argentina. Tevez, who signed a five-year contract with City in 2009, has spoken repeatedly of his dissatisfaction with life as a footballer in recent times due to the fact his daughters live in his homeland. Santa Cruz, though, expects Tevez, 26, to see out his deal at Eastlands before returning home. "His heart is with his family," Santa Cruz told the Cadena Ser radio station. "He wants to be with his people and they are in Argentina. His brothers and also his daughters are there. "When one feels that his homeland is calling he may...

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Robin Van Persie

Full Name    Robin Van Persie Birth Date    August 6, 1983 Birth Place    Rotterdam, Netherlands Height        1.83m Weight        72.4 kg Age        27 Position    Forward Squad No    11 Little was known about Robin van Persie when he finally came on Arsene Wenger's radar in 2004. A young forward with Feyenoord, Van Persie had only been playing in the Eredivisie club's first team for a couple of seasons. Van Persie soon showed Arsenal fans why Wenger rated him so highly and he is...

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Rafael Da Silva

Full Name    Rafael Da Silva Birth Date    July 9, 1990 Birth Place    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Height        1.72m Age        20 Position    Defender Squad No    21 Rafael signed for Manchester United along with his twin brother Fabio in January 2008 and has established himself as a regular in the first-team set-up at Old Trafford, with many tipping him as the long-term successor to Gary Neville. The Brazilian - who got his first call-up to the national side in July 2010 - is a right-back also able to play as...

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