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Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Mario Balotelli was the only Italian player to leave the Azzurri’s hotel despite riots in Salvador, one of the Brazilian cities hosting the Confederations Cup where the striker is known for his support of charity organisations.
La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday quoted coach Cesare Prandelli as saying that Italy had no intention of leaving the tournament despite alerts from authorities as police try to curb widespread protests over funds spent to organise next year’s World Cup.
“Balotelli had a special permit because he looks like one of (the residents),” the coach said, “and because of the things he did here, where he has already been twice.
“It is important that he realises how lucky he is and that he helps other people.”
Balotelli tweeted during his visit: “I look like a person from Bahia,” as he was greeted by people while walking in the capital of the Brazilian state.
“Everything is quiet and there is nothing to fear,” Balotelli said. “I only fear the journalists,” he joked as he teased reporters who struggled to keep his pace.
The 22-year-old first visited Mata Escura, a favela in Salvador, in 2007, when he began supporting the local charity Acopamec and Italy’s Agata Smeralda with the long-distance adoption of five children.
Balotelli, who was born in Italy to Ghana immigrant parents, was adopted when he was 3 by a family in Concesio, near the northern town of Brescia.
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| A heavily pregnant cooleen joined Wayne Rooney on the pitch after Manchester United's last home match |
The Italy international, who was seen raising his finger to his lips in a bid to silence the visiting fans, says next time he may be forced to take more drastic action.
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They may be rivals on the pitch but
it appears there is no bad blood between La Liga superstars Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi off it.
Ronaldo’s girlfriend Irina Shayak was given the opportunity to cut up a Barcelona shirt with the diminutive Argentinian's name on the back after being cornered by a Greek TV host.
However, the Russian model, considered to be one of the most beautiful women alive, refused to accept the offer, preferring to keep the peace between the two footballing icons.
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Ronaldo and Messi are
currently battling it out to be crowned Champions League top scorer this
season - both Real Madrid and Barcelona are through to the semi-finals
so they have at least two more matches to add to their hauls.
Messi currently has eight goals, while Real's talismanic forward sits top of the charts with 11 goals.
The 28-year-old Portugal international has been consistently outdone by his Barcelona counterpart Messi when it comes to being recognised as the world's greatest - Ronaldo has finished runner-up three times to the Argentine in the Ballon d'Or.
Messi has won two La Liga titles to Ronaldo's one since the two have playing in the same league and Barcelona look odds on to be the kings of Spain once again this season.
However, Real look strong in Europe and the possibility of a El Clasico Champions League final would see the two clash once again.
Meanwhile, Paris St Germain
director of football Leonardo insists the club have not made an offer
for Ronaldo but said he could not rule out big buys this summer.
The capital club are closing in on their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and put together an impressive Champions League run, exiting the competition unbeaten after being knocked out by Barcelona on the away goals rule at the quarter-final stage.
That success has come on the back of major investment from the club's Qatari owners, and further spending is expected this summer ahead of another assault on Europe's premier club competition.
PSG have a star-studded team
with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Motta
and Brazilian Lucas Moura all plying their trade at the Parc des
Princes. They also have former Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC
Milan midfielder David Beckham in their ranks.
Signing Real Madrid star Ronaldo would be a major statement of intent but Leonardo played down the chances of a deal.
'On Ronaldo, there has never been an offer,' he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
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Ronaldo’s girlfriend Irina Shayak was given the opportunity to cut up a Barcelona shirt with the diminutive Argentinian's name on the back after being cornered by a Greek TV host.
However, the Russian model, considered to be one of the most beautiful women alive, refused to accept the offer, preferring to keep the peace between the two footballing icons.
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Decision to make: Ronaldo's girlfriend Irina Shayk is shown the Barcelona shirt has the name Lionel Messi on the back
No thanks: Irina Shayk refuses to cut up a Lionel Messi Barcelona shirt and reaches for the host's microphone instead
Bemused: Irina Shayk looks on as a Greek TV host cuts up a Lionel Messi Barcelona shirt in front of her
Real deal: Model Irina Shayk is dating Ronaldo
Messi currently has eight goals, while Real's talismanic forward sits top of the charts with 11 goals.
The 28-year-old Portugal international has been consistently outdone by his Barcelona counterpart Messi when it comes to being recognised as the world's greatest - Ronaldo has finished runner-up three times to the Argentine in the Ballon d'Or.
Messi has won two La Liga titles to Ronaldo's one since the two have playing in the same league and Barcelona look odds on to be the kings of Spain once again this season.
However, Real look strong in Europe and the possibility of a El Clasico Champions League final would see the two clash once again.
Catalan king: Barcelona's Lionel Messi
The capital club are closing in on their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and put together an impressive Champions League run, exiting the competition unbeaten after being knocked out by Barcelona on the away goals rule at the quarter-final stage.
That success has come on the back of major investment from the club's Qatari owners, and further spending is expected this summer ahead of another assault on Europe's premier club competition.
Euro star: Real's Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Galatasaray in the Champions League quarter-final
Signing Real Madrid star Ronaldo would be a major statement of intent but Leonardo played down the chances of a deal.
'On Ronaldo, there has never been an offer,' he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
The footballer left the engine running to melt ice on his grey Chevrolet Captiva Estate while it was parked on his driveway and nipped back inside his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.
Messi crowned the Footballer of the year for a record fourth consecutive time but had this to say about his 2nd runner-up Andre Iniesta.
Messi junior named Thiago
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has become a father for the first time after girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo gave birth to a baby boy whom they named Thiago.
