Spanish Div 2 ref does his best Scarface impression…
A former Segunda Division referee has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of masterminding a national-scale drugs trafficking operation. Eduardo Perez Izquierdo was recently arrested with eight other suspects after police uncovered a massive cocaine haul in Madrid.
Some of the sources close to the investigation are assuring that the referee’s role in this was to coordinate the movements of all the operations undertaken by the gang in exchange for a commission.
Fran Merida’s laser-guided finish in the Carling Cup against Liverpool last week propelled him into public eye alongside Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, as part of Arsenal’s jealousy-inducing line up of future stars.
However, things aren’t all good in the hood. The 19-year-old Spaniard is out of contract at the end of season and doesn’t look particularly fussed about tying up a deal any time soon. Even worse, he’s jonesing for a move to Atletico Madrid - which wouldn’t be so bad if 1) Atleti weren’t 18th in La Liga (one win from nine); and 2) he wasn’t born in Barcelona.
Leonid Slutsky’s (no laughing at the back) side took a surprise lead through Alan’s 25th minute strike, but were soon pegged back by a typically poached goal from Michael Owen. After going 3-1 down to a pair of all-too-easy goals from Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutski, United staged a late rally - 84th minute late - with a Paul Scholes header and Antonio Valencia’s deflected equaliser.
Atletico Madrid 2/ Chelsea 2
Chelsea started the match ready to hammer an Atletico Madrid side, laughably shambolic on and off the pitch, who had nothing to play for. However, Atleti put in an admirable first-half performance, before Kun Aguero came on and smashed a 66th minute volley which stuck a massive middle finger up at any idea of a Blues rout.
Didier Drogba grabbed a late brace, but Aguero popped up again in injury time (with a free-kick that’ll add a few €m to his price tag in January) to grab a point.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero to Chelsea
Chelsea have been searching all summer for what they call a “marquee name” and now The Daily Mail expect them to bring three in at once by spending £100 million on Pirlo, Ribery and Aguero.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The Blues have been linked with Pirlo ever since Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment and that looks a reasonable possibility but Bayern Munich have said Ribery is no longer available and Aguero is supposedly happy to stay in Spain.
Joe Cole to Spurs
Obviously the arrival of two more midfielders would damage Cole’s chances of
Our Spanish friends at AS have been speculating over the future of Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Agüero throughout the closed season, and they seem convinced he will end up in Manchester.
The Argentinean - whose lovemaking with Diego Maradona’s daughter has been so successful that she has borne his first son - was supposedly the subject of a €46m bid earlier this summer. The offer hit a stumbling block, however, when it was revealed that ‘Kun’ has a €60m buy-out clause written into his contract.
AS believe Alex Ferguson would like to offer Atletico Madrid €40m and Nani to satisfy the contractual stipulation. The Spaniards, however, would much prefer to have Dimitar Berbatov and €20m.