Diego Maradona, ousted Argentinian manager has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter tirade. According to Maradona the two bosses conspired to cause his downfall.
“Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me,” said an emotional Maradona, whose colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.
“Grondona, in the dressing room after we had been knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa, told me in front of witnesses and the players that he was very happy with my work and that he wanted me to carry on.
“On our return to Argentina, things started to take on a bizarre twist and on Monday I met with Grondona.
“After five minutes, he told me that he wanted me to continue, but that seven of my technical staff could not stay. When he told me this, he was saying that he didn’t want me to carry on in the job.
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It’s been 16 years since Real Madrid gave a 17-year old Raul a chance and he will always be loyal to the club for this, he says after saying his farewells to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Real captain was a key part of one of the club’s most successful sides ever, winning three Champions League trophies and 16 titles in total, but was only a bit-part player last season and has decided to end his career elsewhere.
“It’s a hard day for me,” he said at a press conference. “I feel like a footballer still and I will keep on playing, but I will always be loyal to Real Madrid. I have tried to give everything in my time here.”
Raul is expected to sign for Bundesliga club Schalke and the striker says the time is right for a new challenge.
“A new period starts today,” he said. “I have been happy at Real Madrid and I will always be willing to help the club in whatever it needs.”
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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba underwent surgery to his groin which will sideline him for 3 weeks. He will most probably miss the Community Shield clash with Manchester United and their Premier League opener.
The Ivory Coast international, who was troubled by the groin problem during Chelsea’s Premier League and FA Cup double-winning campaign last season, successfully had “minimal invasive surgery” on Friday, the club said on their website (www.chelseafc.com) Saturday.
The 32-year-old is expected to return to full training in three weeks meaning he will miss the Aug. 8 Wembley clash with United and possibly the beginning of their league title defence at home to West Bromwich Albion on Aug. 14.
Source: sport24.co.za
European and Itallian champions Inter Milan and Rafael Benitez are after the signature of Bafana star and current Everton player Steven Pienaar.
Pienaar, who left the country two days ago after an extended holiday following the World Cup has been under the radar of new Inter coach Rafael Benitez, who is believed to instructed Inter president Massimo Moratti to contact the Blues with a view to signing Pienaar.
Pienaar had an impressive run last season where he was also voted Everton’s player of the season. That performance got the attention of a number of major clubs including Liverpool. The player has yet to reach an agreement on a new deal at Goodison and David Moyes is keen to avoid the type of ongoing saga that saw Jolean Lescott leave the club in acrimonious circumstances last season.
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