Monthly Archives: June 2013

Andreas Cornelius breaks Zlatan record

Andreas Cornelius, 20, has made a record-breaking ascent the last season. Having established himself in Danish FC Copenhagen’s first team the striker scored a total of 18 goals, won the top scorer and established himself as a starting player in the Danish national team.

Premier league newcomer Cardiff has now been reported to buy FC Copenhagen’s star striker Andreas Cornelius for 86 million Swedish kronor. This is a new transfer record in the Northern Europe. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sold for 80 million Swedish kronor when he left Malmo FF to Ajax in 2001. The transfer sum was then a record for football transitions from Scandinavia.

By Joshua Pearson (Flickr: Canada vs. Denmark) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

And the record held up until now, when the 20-year-old Danish national team striker Andreas Cornelius was bought by Cardiff for more than 86 million Swedish kronor, reports the Danish Radio and refers to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. The transition should have become clear during Thursday and Andreas Cornelius will according to Danish media reports earn 1.6 million Euro in Cardiff.

Andreas Cornelius turned 20 in March and he also scored a goal against the Czech Republic with his first-ever national team goal. Niklas Bendtner is suspended from all national team games for six months after driving drunk. With the obvious starting player away Danish coach Morten Olsen had to think outside the box and in the World Cup qualifier away against the Czech Republic Andreas Cornelius, 20, was given the chance.

When the FC Copenhagen talent – Andreas Cornelius has scored 16 goals this season – received the ball at the Czech penalty box he impressed immediately. Cornelius slipped past a defender and fired a missile into the first corner.

Laurent Blanc comments on Zlatan

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Laurent Blanc, 47, has been presented as coach of Paris Saint-Germain. He began his time at the club by paying tribute to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 31.
– Zlatan is important for PSG. He has shown that he is a fantastic player and a pro, he says.

There has been a lot of rumors revolving around Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. Earlier this week it was announced that Laurent Blanc is Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new boss.
– I’m very proud to be here. We are facing a very exciting challenge, says Blanc and continues:
– We have high ambitions so I expect a lot from all the players. Although we won the league and reached the quarterfinals in the Champions League last year, the goal is to do better this year, he says.

Laurent Blanc

When asked if there will be any additional players joining Paris Saint-Germain this year Blanc answered:
– I understand that you do not have patience but it is too early to talk about transfers. But the season is long enough and it will happen things like players leaving and arriving.

As a player, the former defender has a long list of qualifications, including the World Cup and European Championship gold medals and games in clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United.
– Laurent was a fantastic player and has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world. I am confident that he will succeed here, says PSG’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who also promised:
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva will stay at the club until their contract expires.

It seems that the latest possible problems between Mino Railo and Jean-Pierre Bernes has not really affected the relationship between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Laurent Blanc.

As a coach Blanc had a success during three seasons in Bordeux (2007-2010), which gave him the job as French coach (2010-2012). Laurent Blanc takes over PSG on 1 July and his contract extends over two years.

Potential problems between Zlatan and Blanc

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Laurent Blanc celebrated the biggest star in Paris SG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But beneath the surface there is a conflict that can genuinely disturbe the relationship between the new coach and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Blanc’s agent, Jean-Pierre Bernes, has sued Mino Raiola for 7.8 million Euro. When Laurent Blanc yesterday afternoon officially was unveiled as Paris SG’s new coach at a press conference in Paris, he was quick to pay tribute to the team’s Swedish superstar.
– Ibrahimovic has revealed that he is professional in every way. I want him to show the way with his attitude, taking with him the others at a high level – our goal will be high, said Blanc.

zlatan career

Many wonder how Blanc, fired as French coach after Euro 2012, which was far from PSG’s first choice to handle a star like Zlatan. There is also a view that not as many are aware of and are likely to obscure the relationship between Blanc and Ibrahimovic.

Zlatan’s agent and close friend, Mino Raiola, for a time tried to find a new club for PSG player Blaise Matuidi and the midfielder is now be close to a move to Manchester City. Matuidi is not Raiolas players but under contract with the controversial French star agent Jean-Pierre Bernes. Bernes’s is close friend and agent of Laurent Blanc.

Matuidi has through a letter trying to get out of the contract with Bernes. The French agent recently responded by suing Raiola and Matuidi in French court through his lawyer Carlo Brusa:
– We oppose the legality of the termination of the agreement. The letter is rubbish. He (Raiola) has violated all the rules by offering the player to the big clubs in Europe, including England, to get him to leave PSG, said Brusa to Le Parisien.

Raiola has commented on Radio Monte Carlo:
– Matuidi has a contract with an agent in France. That’s all I need to know.
– It is a shame that Ancelotti leaves but that’s what happens. Zlatan stays in PSG. Laurent Blanc is a big name that will be respected.

Blanc explained yesterday what he expects of PSG players and also signaled how he wants to show his authority:
– In the locker room it is French that apply.

Remains to be seen how Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who does not speak French, will obey it.

Laurent Blanc confirmed as new PSG coach

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Carlo Ancelotti has been on his way to leave Paris Saint-Germain and the last week all the rumors has been about the most likely possible replacements which is Laurent Blanc, 47. Today PSG confirms that the French coach and former star player, takes over as coach of the French capital club.

“PSG’s mission for Laurent Blanc is to continue the already started hike to the top of Europe,” the club writes on its website.

PSG enter a two-year contract with Laurent Blanc, who comes from the job as coach of the French national team – a job he left after Euro 2012.

zlatan Ibrahimovic

“Paris Saint-Germain is pleased to announce that Laurent Blanc arrives as new coach over the next two years. He will train the team when training resumes on July 1st,” PSG states on their website.

With Laurent Blanc PSG gets a coach who has experience in Ligue 1 as both player and coach. Between 2007 and 2010 he trained Bourdeaux. First season he received the price for this year’s coach after a second place and the second season at the club, he won the league.

As a player Blanc won the World Championship gold in 1998 and European Championships in 2000. He played for Marseille, Montpellier, Barcelona, Manchester United and Milan at club level.

Carlo Ancelotti, who trained PSG over the past one and a half seasons was presented at the same time as the new coach of Real Madrid. Under Ancelotti PSG ended the past season with winning the league in France and in the Champions League they went out in the quarter-finals against Barcelona after a close encounter.

Mino Raiola says Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stay

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Laurent Blanc, 47, is expected to be presented as new PSG coach. Then Mino Raiola comes with a promise.
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stay at PSG, says the agent.

There have been rumors about if Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stay or not in Paris Saint-Germain. There is interest from Napoli, but perhaps most importantly from Juventus. The Swedish superstar has had a strong bond with coach Carlo Ancelotti – who is leaving for Real Madrid – and as recently as May, came reports that he has set an ultimatum to PSG
– If Ancelotti disappears there is no chance that “Ibra” remains, said a source then.

Zlatan Ibrahimovics PSG jersey

But Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola continues to stand up for himself. There will be no move to Serie A – at least not this summer.
– I repeat: Ibrahimovic will stay at PSG. Laurent Blanc is a big name and he will be respected, he says to prestigious L’Equipe as a result of the coaching change.
Ibrahimovic – who marched home top scorer in Ligue 1 with his 30 goals – has a contract until 2015. And PSG fans get reassurance even in terms of the star Thiago Silva, who is said to be “number one priority” for Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova.

Silva’s agent Paulo Tonietto have spoken to JDD:
– He thrives in Paris and is going to stay. Laurent Blanc is a good choice for a coach. He has led the French national team, then he can not be bad. He is on the same level as the other names mentioned (Capello, Hiddink, Rijkaard, Villas-Boas). All are fantastic coaches, said Tonietto.
He also assures that they have not been in contact with Barcelona about a possible move. Thiago Silva has a contract with PSG until 2017.

Zlatan will earn over 1000 million Swedish kronor

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If Zlatan Ibrahimovic meets his three-year contract with PSG, he will have played in over 1000 million Swedish kronor (~$125 million) just in salary during his pro career.

When Sweden’s best paid athlete of the week took holiday after thundered into 2-0 in World Cup qualifier match against the Faroe Islands Zlatan is expecting living the good life with cars, boats and luxury accommodation. Biggest concern will be to choose how he, his partner Helena Seger and the children will divide their time between summer houses and luxury apartments in Stockholm, New York, Milan, Paris and Miami.

It has been twelve years since Zlatan Ibrahimovic was bought from Malmo FF by the Dutch top team Ajax. In the eleven years up to 2012, he changed teams five times, Ajax-Juventus-Inter-Barcelona-Milan. In total he will have earned 687 million Swedish kronor in salary alone during this time, according to the sport business. Most of the payment he received in the final years of Inter and during his years in Barcelona, where his annual salary was around 120 million Swedish kronor.

zlatan career information

Last summer Zlatan wrote a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). During the past year, he has helped PSG win the French league title. And he has signed for a salary of 113 million.

If all calculations are correct, this means that Zlatan Ibrahimovic (whose first name means “gold” in South Slavic) earned nearly 800 million Swedish kronor just in salary payments during his twelve year-long pro career. Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s sponsorship contract, which according to Forbes magazine valued at SEK 16 million in just the last twelve months, are not included in the sum. Neither his proceeds from the book “I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘which sold over 700,000 copies in Sweden and was exported to another 18 countries.

But Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s career is not over yet. If Zlatan finishes his three-year contract with PSG, he can look forward to the same salary (113 million Swedish kronor) for two more years. This means that Ibrahimovic’s total payroll passes 1000 million Swedish kronor mark in early 2015.

Laurent Blanc to coach Zlatan and PSG

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PSG got rejected by Fabio Capello. Now they are instead mostly focusing on that Laurent Blanc will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new coach. The French national team legend and former coach is in advanced stage of negotiations with the club, writes both Le Parisien and L’Equipe.

Earlier this week, it seemed to be almost ready. Several French and Italian media stated that Fabio Capello, 67, would take over Paris Saint-Germain – but that deal now seems rejected by Fabio Capello as we wrote yesterday.

The Italian, with a long and digested credit, turned down PSG and will remain as coach of Russia.
Let’s see, instead, a former French national coach out to take over the club. According to both Le Parisien, L’Equipe, among others, Laurent Blanc is in advanced stage of negotiations with PSG.

The 47-year-old – with close to 100 games as a player in the CV – led Bordeaux to the Ligue 1 title in 2009, but has not committed to any assignment since he was fired from the French national team after the Euro fiasco last year.

zlatan career

Names as Frank Rijkaard, Andre Villas-Boas, Michael Laudrup, Guus Hiddink, Roberto Mancini and Rafa Benitez have said no to the offer from PSG – but now it appears as Laurent Blanc is close signing with the Paris club.

Paris Saint Germain’s current coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is in agreement with Real Madrid and will be leaving for the Spanish giant when Paris SG made it clear with his replacement. Is this the final say in who will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s new coach or will we see even more rumors in the near weeks?

Fabio Capello turns down PSG

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There will be no reunion for Fabio Capello and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Fabio Capello turns down PSG – Paris Saint Germain’s bid.
– I’m staying in Russia, says Capello to Russian Sovetskij Sports

Capello’s son and agent Pierfilippo told Football Italia that no negotiations are underway with Paris Saint-Germain about his dad. The meeting with PSG’s sporting director was instead regarding some players.

According to international media, negotiations have begun, but it has fallen on that Paris Saint-Germain just wanted to hire the Italian for a year and then solicit Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger.

Fabio Capello is the coach of Russia and the Russian Federation pointed out in a press release that Capello will fulfill his contract which runs out next year.

Zlatan voted best player in PSG

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PSG fans love Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Now we have it in black and white after they voted for the Swede as player of the year in the club. There was a poll on the club’s website about this years best player and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was voted the year’s best player during the season. He got 25 percent of the votes and won before Matuidi and Pastore. And it is not so surprising. Ibra scored 30 goals and won the top scorer and played obviously a big role in PSG’s first league gold in 19 years.

zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan finished off a productive 2012 with a hat-trick against Valenciennes and stopped after the first half of the season on 18 goals and titled as autumn champions. And 2013 gave us more of the same. He finished 11 goals before the second placed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Saint-Etienne. It was a fantastic season from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Fabio Capello to coach PSG

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets a new coach. And most likely it becomes an old acquaintance, according to French and Italian media. Fabio Capello is taking over Paris Saint-Germain.

Carlo Ancelotti has already announced his intention to leave PSG for Real Madrid. Since then it has been rumored that names like Roberto Mancini, Andre Villas-Boas and Leonardo to take over the club.

Sky Italia and French L’Equipe writes during Tuesday night about an impending deal. According to Sky Italia, Fabio Capello and his son, who is also his agent, have landed in Paris on Tuesday evening.

zlatan the striker

Even a month ago it was reported about a possible appointment and the beginning of June Fabio Capello commented about it:
– I have not had any contact with PSG, but you should never say never in life. But for now, this is really such that I work in Russia, he told Sovietskiy Sports.

The Italian is since autumn 2012 coach of Russia, and is meant to guide the team over the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. PSG must therefore solve Capello from the contract – it is stated cost € 3 million – to get him to Paris.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had Fabio Capello during his time in Juventus 2004-2006. The two had their fights on several occasions. In recent years however, Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressed his deep respect for Fabio Capello.

Among other things, Zlatan told how Capello lectured on Marco van Basten closed technique for him. Zlatan wrote nearly an entire chapter in his autobiography “I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘to Fabio Capello:
“I like men with power and attitude and Capello believed in me.
‘You have nothing to prove, I know who you are and what you can, he said one of the first few days, and it gave me peace of mind.’ ”

What do you think about the Fabio Capello rumors. Do you want him to coach Zlatan and PSG or do you prefer some other coach?