Diego, Wolfsburg Outcast and Former Juventus Player: What Happened?

Rewind two seasons. Italian giants Juventus had just completed a €24.5 million deal for Weder Bremen's Brazilian star Diego, he was set, ready to link up with a host of players and take Juve back to the top of Europe.

He arrived at Juventus full of passion, quickly became popular with the fans (and still is to some extent today) he made his debut in the Serie A against Chievo and grabbed an assist in his first game, going on to score a double against Roma not long after.

It all seemed to be going well for Diego, the Brazilian trio of Amauri, Melo and himself were working well together, Juventus were sitting top of the table in Italy (undefeated).

A loss to Napoli triggered a bad slump in form for the Bianconeri and just months later they were down 4-1 in a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

Out of the Champions League, sitting poorly on the table and having a host of players out saw Diego pushed to a central forward role for Juventus. Although he scored a few more goals for Juventus, they would not qualify for the Champions League for 2010/2011.

Diego's last game for Juve proved to be a 3-0 loss against Milan. Although Juventus had one of their worst seasons in the history of the club, Diego didn't fully disappoint. Fans agreed he needed a season to settle in at Juve and didn't do too badly in comparison to the performances of some of the other signings (Felipe Melo most noticeably).


After spending big in the 2010 transfer season again, Juventus surprisingly decided to part ways with the Brazilian central attacking midfielder, selling him to German side Wolfsburg in a move that would see him return to the league that made him one of Europe's most feared attackers.

The fee of €15.5 million was a record for Wolfsburg, but proved to be a €9 million loss for Juventus. Much was made in the media of Juventus' treatment of Diego, many questioned whether Juventus really understood the potential of the player they had at hand, especially because it was only his first season in the Serie A.

Nevertheless he returned to Germany with Wolfsburg. His first game in the German outfit saw him score a debut goal, even though Wolfsburg went on to lose 4-3.

He continued to shine in a below-average Wolfsburg side, who had come to the conclusion that they were fighting to stay in the Bundesliga, rather than contest the title as they so brilliantly did the year before.
On the Feb. 5, 2011, Diego won a penalty in a league match, that ultimately proved to decide the future of Steve McClaren. Instead of allowing the designated penalty taker (Patrick Helmes) to step up and attempt to convert, Diego subsequently hit the crossbar and Wolfsburg went on to lose the match by a single goal.


He was fined and dropped for his actions, and from here Diego never really got another look into the squad. A combination of not following team orders off the field and not being given any playing time have seen him dropped to the fringes of the squad, in essence looking for a new club.

So where to now for this talented player? A stay at Wolfsburg isn't on the cards, but a return to Brazil? Perhaps. Many clubs have tried to lure him away from Wolfsburg, including Malaga and a couple of Premier League sides (Aston Villa and Liverpool); whether it will eventuate into anything will be determined in the coming weeks.

One thing is for certain though, Diego's great talent will go to waste if he cannot secure a transfer to a club that needs him equally as much as he needs them.

Manuel Neuer, will he still be at Schalke next season?

Manuel Neuer (25) is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In fact many claim he is the second best, after Casillas. He is currently the captain of the German club FC Shalke 04, where he has been playing for almost 20 years! Over the last year there has been many rumours regarding a transfer for the German international. Manchester United and Bayern Munich are assumed to be his next employer, unless he wants to stay with Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.

Neuer has been playing for Shalke for many, many years going up the clubs youth ranks. In 2009 he won the UEFA European under- 21 football championship with the Germany national under-21 football team. But he’s real breakthrough did not com until the summer of 2010, during the world cup. He played every match for Germany in South Africa, except the bronze finale (due to illness).

Both Bayern Munich and Manchester United will be looking for a new goalkeeper this summer. Bayern and United are clubs with many resources. If they want, it should be possible for at least one of the clubs to seal a deal with Schalke and Neuer himself. At the moment it seems likely that he is on his way to the Allianz Arena to play for Bayern Munich.

So far Neuer has denied all rumours, however he has declared hat he has made a decision on his future. So one can only speculate.

I for one look forward to the summer transfer window.

Aksel Petter Spence

Video - Highlights from Borussia Monchengladbach vs FC Cologne

Much loved Borussia Monchengladbach recorded a historic victory against midtable Cologne in a highscoring affair. The game finished 5-1 with Borussia completely dominating from start to end. A quick succession of goals saw Borussia with a 3-0 lead before half time. Juan Arango bagged the opener after a powerful shot, this was quickly followed by a clinical finish by Reus who used his pace to get behind the defence. But the pick of the bunch was certainly Reus' second which saw him volley the ball in from over 20m away, to leave Rensing helpless!

Early on in the second half it looked as if Cologne were going to replicate their form from last week and complete an astounding comeback. Things were looking good early as Novakovic tapped in to further add to his tally at the top of the German top scorers list. However a penalty in the mid second half and a debut goal for Nordtveit saw Borussia run away with a 5-1 lead and record a derby victory.

Check out the highlights below!

Van Gaal done with Bayern Munich after the current season

Bayern’s board directors and Louis Van Gaal (coach) have decided to terminate the contract, originally set to June 2012, one year earlier. According to the FCB board, it is because of different opinions regarding strategic directions of the club and the lack of achievements. The 59 year old Dutchman was a rather popular man in Munich this time last year, when the Bavarians won the double and reached the final of the Champions League.

However this season Bayern Munich has disappointed, and are now 16 points behind the leaders Dortmund. So the question is who will be the coach of the most successful club in German history after Van Gaal leaves.

The players have reacted differently to the situation. Especially Arjen Robben is unsatisfied with the decision. It is said Robben has requested a transfer to AC Milan, one of the reasons being the departure of his fellow Dutchman Van Gaal. 

No one can know for sure if it was a good decision.  Perhaps will Bayern have a great run in the Champions League this season as well. If so, the Bayern board will probably regret their actions.

By Aksel Petter Spence

Robbery is back!

After several months of waiting the great duo of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben also called Robbery are back on the pitch together. Bayern Munich have had big problems with injuries this season. Players like: Miroslav Klose, Daniel Van Buyten, Toni Kroos, Holger Badstuber, Diego Contento, Breno, Mark Van Bommel, Ivica Olic and last but not least Ribery and Robben.

Their replacments has been good but not good enough too compare with the magic Robbery delivers in matches. 

The duo has  now played a few games together after recovering from their long lasting injuries. One can already see the effect of the two wingers. 

Ribery has delivered some crucial crosses while Robben has scored some vital goals, in fact Robben scored four goals in his first four games in the starting line up, this season. There is no doubt Robbery are extremely important to Bayern Munich. Perhaps will they even lead the Bavarian side to a second place in the Bundesliga and secure a spot in next years Champions league.

By Aksel Petter Spence

Worrying times at Wolfsburg

After already sacking manager Steve McClaren with immediate effect (7 February 2011) Wolfsburg are looking to rebuild, and new manager Pierre Littbarski has taken the reins. He is now laying down the law and is set to suspend Alexander Madlung and Thomas Kahlenberg due to a lack of focus. The Brazilian playmaker Diego has felt the wielding axe during a week where he was suspended for wrongly taking and missing a crucial penalty.

Wolfsburg have slumped level on points with Kaiserslautern third-from-bottom in the Bundesliga table. The duo Madlung and midfielder Kahlenberg have attracted unwanted attention from there manager regarding commitment to the cause. "I have told them and the whole squad we're in a situation where we need players that are 100 per cent committed to the task and their club," he told
"They need to be focussed, they need to work hard. I actually did not get the feeling these two players are committed to us."

Dzeko to Manchester City, yet another striker at Eastlands

Edin Dzeko has passed a medical at Manchester City and will most likely debut at the club against Wolves in the League next week.
After much hype regarding his transfe the Bosnian finally joined Eastlands, although according to a number of text messages sent before the transfer was confimed, he would've preferred to join Juventus.


The cost to make the move possible is much less than what was originally wanted by Wolfsburg. The 40 million euro price tag was lowered greatly and City ended up paying 27.4 million pounds to have the services of the hitman.

Whether City needed anymore strikers was another question. With the likes of Baotelli, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor and Jo not even getting regular starts, as well as Mancini's preferance of a packed mifield, Dzeko will have to prove his worth very quickly to get a regular birth upfront.

Dzeko is understood to have penned a 5 year contract, which also include bonuses relating to Champions League qualification and final league placing.

City have edged out the likes of Bayern Munich and Juventus to get the final signature.

Transfers, Transfers, Transfers - Tevez, Dzeko and Cassano look to be on the move

The January transfer window is fast approaching and many big names look to be on the move, we have a look at some of the big names and some of their possible destinations.


Carlos Tevez: The Argentinian has expressed his want to play elsewhere, but City will not let up. Big name clubs from around the World have expressed their desire to have "Carlitos" play in their colours. Real Madrid lead the charge as they face injury woes up front as well as the possibility of letting their French striker Benzema leave after a recent spell of poor form, in truth Karim has failed to impress in Madrid.

Tevez has also been linked with an unlikely move to Inter who are looking to re-invent their squad under Leonardo. Although Tevez has stated that he was not interested in such a move. Considering the Argentine threatened to retire, it would n't be a surprise if he ended up playing in his home country or in the various South American leagues.

Edin Dzeko: Wolfsburg have held onto the Bosnian hitman for a number of seasons now, rejecting a number of high profile bids. The striker has been prolific yet again in the Bundesliga scoring nine goals thus far. Although with Liverpool recently entering the racfe to sign the Bosnian Wolfsburg may be tempted to sell. a 40 million dollar price tag has certainly turned away many clubs, but Juventus and Bayern Munich still stay in the hunt. Premier League interest from Manchester United is also a factor and the Red Devils may swoop and take the striker to Old Trafford.

Antonio Cassano: Rumours already exist about Cassano and where his playing future lies. The Italian international left from Sampdoria and became a free agent when he had a falling out with the club. Milan's apparant signing of the Striker came with Massimo Moratti of Inter saying that Inter too have made an offer for the frontman. One thing is for certain Cassano will continue to apply his trade in Italy. Juventus is also a possible destination for Cassano. A reuniting with former manager and club sporting director would definitely be welcome by a player who can easily loose his temper and upset team chemistry.

Three big names look set to move on this January window. We will also look at the three best signings at the halfway point of the season soon.

Player of the First Half of the Season - Nominees

This season a few suprise names have thrust themselves onto the world stage. Each of the Five major leagues around the world (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) have been influenced by the skill and consistency of one or another player. It's time to vote for your player of the half season. The nominees are (three from each league):

English Premier League:

Samir Nasri (Arsenal) - The Arsenal attacking midfielder has been prolific infront of goal. This season he has knotched up 17 goals this season in all competitions. The Frenchman has certainly proved his worth at the Emirates.


Gareth Bale (Tottenham) - Tottenham have certainly established themselves towards the top of the league, winger Gareth Bale has been instrumental in leading his team to victory on a number of occasions, his pace and shooting ability has made him one of the most feared wingers in Europe.

Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) - United sit pretty at the top of the table with two matches in hand. They remain one of the hardest teams in the EPL to beat with no losses in the league this year. Their defence has been second to none and rock solid centre back Vidic has been instrumental in securing cleansheets and sometimes scoring goals.


Spanish Premiera Division

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - What more can be said about the Portugese hitman. CR9 has been key in many of Real's victories, scoring his way to the top of the goal scorers list in La Liga. Ronaldo will be looking to lead Mourinho's men to a title.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - The Barcelona man has been in phenomenal form of recent orchestrating their 5-0 win against Madrid as well as scoring a total of 17 goals in the league equalling Ronaldo's total at the top. Barcelona sit in first place in La Liga.

Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal) - The Italian striker goes largely unnoticed amongst the big strikers at Barcelona and Real Madrid, but Rossi has been prolific for Villarreal scoring 9 goals domestically and five in the Europa League. With Villarreal pushing for a Champions League spot Rossi will have to continue to show his good form.

Italian Serie A

Milos Krasic (Juventus) - With Juventus looking for a revival in 2010 they spent up big in the transfer season, bringing Serbian winger Milos Krasic to Juventus. The Serbian delivered scoring a number of goals and providing a number of assists to put Juventus into second place just behind Ac Milan. His hattrick against.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Ac Milan) - The big money load deal was labelled as a "waste" at the start of the year. However Ibra's season has been far from that, guiding Milan to the top of the League, whilst also scoring nine goals in the process.

Edison Cavani (Napoli) - What a year it's been for the young Uruguayan. Coming to Napoli on load the striker has certainly made an impact, reaching a tally of ten for the year to put him equal top scorer in the Italian Serie A. He has also been effective in the Europa League scoring seven times in eight appearances.

German Bundesliga

Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund) - Sahin has been crucial in Dortmunds German campaign thus far. He distributes the football precisely. He wins back possession as well as moves forward in attack always ensuring he is open for a pass. Sahin has been the playmaker behind six goals as well as scoring four himself. He has proved that he will be a key player in the Turkish national team.

Manuel Neuer (Schalke) - The Schalke shot stopper has been the shining light in a Schalke team that has played far beyond their expectations this year. The German number one has certainly caught the eye of bigger clubs this year through his excellent saves.

Theofanis Gekas (Frankfurt) - The Bundesliga top scorer has established himself as a top class striker with 14 goals in the campaign thus far. The greek international has been the reason behind Frankfurt's good performances this season.

Ligue 1


Yohan Gourcuff (Lyon) - The Frenchman's move to Lyon was much publicised for the reason he left from rivals Borduex. Although Gourcuff has replicated the form that made him one of the most feared playmakers in Europe helping Lyon to move within one point of leaders Lille.

Nene (PSG) - The PSG man boasts the title of top scorer in Ligue one. He has been the difference for his team in many of the big matches during the season including bagging the winners against Valenciennes. He also gained an assist in the winning goal to help his team overcome Marseille.


Benoit Tremoulinas (Bordeaux) - The defender made his name in Europe this year. The left back who is still yet to apply his trade for the national team. He is crucial in going forward providing an added threat with every attack.

Comment with your choice of player, the winning player will be revealed soon along with an indepth article on his impact on his team throughout the first half of the year.