It is only because of the FinCEN files, a huge leak of confidential information, that the world knows a sliver more about the predilection Roman Abramovich apparently had for buying economic rights in players at clubs other than his own. This nugget has been sifted from more than 2,000 suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed with the US government’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network that would have remained unknown but for the reporting on the leak by the BBC and other media organisations.
Yet as these episodes always do, by providing a one-off glimpse into vast secretive dealings, this leak also delivers a jolting reminder of how much remains unknown about the multibillion-pound business of human football talent.
Leaks show Chelsea…
Sean Dyche is ready for Everton to put last season s challenges behind them by making a positive start to the Premier League against Brighton on Saturday.
Everton had to contend with two points deductions last season, but an impressive run of results at the end of the campaign ensured they comfortably avoided relegation.
While they did not make the best start to pre-season, going winless in their first three games, they finished on a positive note, with a win against Preston North End and a draw with Roma.
Though they will be without key players for their opener, including Jarrad Branthwaite, Dyche is optimistic about what the season will bring.
You get the sense that, after last season s challenges and the positive end, I think there is more calmness an…
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be at Paris Saint-Germain and have Pep Guardiola as their coach by next year, says Fabrice Pancrate.
Messi has told Barcelona he wants out but was reportedly turned down in his request for a meeting with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu to discuss a transfer.
PSG sporting director Leonardo is said to have contacted the 33-year-old s father, Jorge, to inquire about his situation, though Manchester City – managed by former Barca boss Guardiola – are rumoured to be the favourites to sign the six-time Ballon d Or winner.
However, Pancrate, who played for PSG between 2004 and 2009, believes the Ligue 1 champions have a masterplan in place which involves not only Messi, but Guardiola and Juventus star Ronaldo too.
…
(GSM) AC Milan announced on Monday that goalkeeper Christian Abbiati signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Rossoneri through the summer of 2013, according to the team s official Web site.
The two-year extension keeps Abbiati, 33, at the San Siro through what might be the end of his professional football career.
Abbiati would be just shy of his 36th birthday by the time his new deal expires, and his current deal was set to expire at the end of the 2010-11 season.
The goalkeeper has been on the books at Milan since 1998, but he has had loan spells at Juventus, Torino and Atlético Madrid in the last five years.
There had been speculation as to Abbiati s future after Milan signed Marco Amelia on loan from Genoa for the upcoming Serie A cam…
Tomorrow Sunday, 2 September 2012 marks the end of Matchweek 3 in the 2012-13 English Premier League season, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Southampton scheduled to take the pitch.
Due to the international break, Matchweek 4 will not start until Saturday, 15 September, so be sure to tune into tomorrow s matchday action.
Now then, let s take a look at the betting odds for Sunday s Premier League fixtures.
Premier League Betting Odds | Sunday, 2 September 2012
Liverpool () v Arsenal (); Draw ()
Newcastle United () v Aston Villa (); Draw ()
Southampton () v Manchester United (); Draw ()
Premier League Preview | Liverpool v Arsenal
Brendan Rodgers Liverpool are set t…
Market: Argentina win
Odds: 13/10 @
In what is a heavyweight showdown this weekend, Uruguay will welcome Argentina to the Estadio Campeón del Siglo late on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Uruguay might have managed to sign off September s international break with a much-needed boost, La Celeste have once again shown a host of issues. Despite still hanging onto their spot in fifth-place, Head Coach Óscar Tabárez saw his side endure a nightmare run of form last month. Including getting hit with a 3-0 drumming when they faced off against Friday s guests, the Sky Blues were also last seen suffering a 4-1 loss at the hands of Brazil on October 15tth. Managing to muster just a single point from any of their last three qualifying matchups, Uruguay find …
Remi Garde was announced as Aston Villa’s new manager on this day in 2015.
The former Lyon boss signed a contract until 2019 – but he lasted only 23 games and oversaw just three wins.
Villa were bottom of the league having lost their previous six games and had sacked Tim Sherwood in October.
Garde, Villa’s fifth manager in five years, said: “It is an unbelievable honour to be the manager of such an illustrious football club.
“I’ve had extremely positive meetings with both the owner, Randy Lerner, and chief executive Tom Fox. They have ambitious plans for the club and I’m excited that they have turned to me to help them realise them.
“Obviously we have a difficult task in front of us but I’m looking forward to the challenge with t…
Big things were expected for the Washington Football Team this season but so far, they’ve failed to live up to their expectations. That’s in contrast to the Green Bay Packers, who started off the season with a humiliating loss but have now won five games in a row to lead the NFC North.
Can the Football Team get back on track, or will the Packers continue their march to the playoffs? Get ready for the big game by reading our NFL picks and predictions for Washington vs. the Packers.
…
The Bears and Browns meet in Cleveland with their final games of the preseason. Both teams have done well so far in the preseason, with the Bears going 2-0 and the Browns at .500.
For this game, you need to read our NFL picks and predictions for the Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns, with kickoff on August 27.
…
The Baltimore Ravens begin their preseason by hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night.
Both teams are Super Bowl contenders and with heated competition at several positions, this should be an intriguing tune-up game. Although most teams don’t care too much about wins and losses at this time of the year, the Ravens have dominated the preseason during the John Harbaugh era.
Oddsmakers expect that success to continue with NFL odds installing the Ravens as 4.5-point home favorites. Here are our best free NFL preseason picks and predictions for Eagles vs. Ravens on Saturday, August 12.
Eagles vs Ravens odds
Eagles vs Ravens predictions
Since John Harbaugh took over as the Baltimore Ravens bench boss …