ENGLISH PREMIER BEST 11 PFA AWARDS | 2 SPANIARDS ON LIST

The "Professional Footballers Association" (PFA) of the English Premier League announced their “Best XI Team” for season 2014 – 2015. Congratulations to the two Spanish International players who have be named & included: David De Gea (Manchester United) & Diego Costa (Chelsea FC). See the full list of players in the diagram below:

It is a great honour for them both, especially Costa in his first season in English Football, & indirectly for Spanish Football.

The rumours mount that Manchester United goalie De Gea could move to Real Madrid next season. Manchester United has reportedly offered the Spanish goalie to renew his contract with a huge 14M€ + deal that has not been taken up as yet. This is fuelling all sorts of speculation.

Stay tuned!

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CHELSEA FC MAKES OFFICIAL DIEGO COSTA SIGNING

Its the worst keep secret in Football. After months of rumour & speculation English Premier League Club Chelsea FC has communicated officially via its Website that they have paid the 38M€ contract release clause for Atletico de Madrid & Spanish International forward Diego Costa.

The Spanish-Brazilian player has had a fabulous season 2013-2014 scoring 27 goals in 34 Liga games. That figure jumps up to 36 goals if we add the European competition. The player is only 25 years of age is in his prime & has made a big leap over to English Football.

Diego Costa joins ex team-mates Tiago & more than likely Goalkeeper Courtois, along with recently signed ex-FC Barcelona player Cesc Fabregas. The exodus of Atletico de Madrid to Chelsea FC may yet be over as defender Luis Felipe is also "desired" by Chelsea FC & may well attempt to get the Brazilian over as well.

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LAKAKU AN OPTION FOR ATLETICO DE MADRID

Everyone accepts that Atletico de Madrid & Spanish International forward Diego Costa will be heading over to London next season to play at Chelsea FC. The news last week broke out from the UK & was picked up locally that the English Club had tied up Costa. Even the man himself - Diego Costa - said in an interview yesterday from Brazil that perhaps it is correct he will end up at Chelsea FC when journalists asked about his future. 

We take it as a certainty & so does Atletico de Madrid which is busy working to find a replacement. Names have already began to fly around; Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo & even Luis Suarez, but the name sounding loudly is LUKAKU.

The 21 year old Belgium International belongs to Chelsea FC & has been on loan to West Bromwich & Everton this season. The youngster wishes "stability" & the English Press today publish that Lukaku could enter into the final negotiations between Chelsea FC & Atletico de Madrid for Diego Costa. The English Club desires a buy (signing) & puts a price around the 30M€ but the option of being loaned out is not discarded & could be the final option that suits both Clubs.

It is worth reminding that rumours are rip around this period & will continue rising in coming months. The "Lakaku option" is speculation until Clubs make it official & for now it is just talk. Stay tuned!

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CHELSEA FC SEALS DIEGO COSTA OF ATLETICO DE MADRID

According to the Spanish Sports press this afternoon, English Premier League Club Chelsea FC is on the verge of  paying the 40M€ contract release clause that liberates Atletico de Madrid & Spanish International forward Diego Costa. That is, barring last moment contractual issues, Diego Costa will be signed by Chelsea FC for the next season. This has been a badly kept secret as even the visiting Chelsea FC fans in Madrid during the Champions League semi-final sang to the player ..."...see you next season at Chelsea". The possibility of Costa going to Chelsea FC was doing the "rumour mill" for the last past months. In fact British Press ( like the BBC & The Guardian) announce that the player has already undergone the medical exams.

The English Club signs the Spanish Liga season sensation with 27 Liga goals that has been fundamental for Atletico de Madrid winning the Spanish League title & taking the Club to the final of the UEFA Champions League. His "explosion" onto the Spanish & World Soccer scene has been such that Spanish Selector Vicente Del Bosque has called the player up to the National Team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil where Costa is expected to be the Spanish Football Teams goal-man.

The players representative, Jorge Mendes, is the same for Chelsea FC Coach Jose Mourinho, as is Atletico de Madrid left back Felipe Luis which is expected will join Chelsea FC as well for next season. Local observers are anticipating that Chelsea FC will pay the contract release clause of Felipe Luis - around 25M€ - in the next hours. Both will join fellow Atletico team-mates Tiago,  who has agreed to come free of a transfer fee over to the London Club, & goalkeeper Courtois who will end his "on-loan" stint at the Spanish Club after Mourinho called the player back.

To end, it will be wise to at least wait for a formal announcement from Clubs, before taking everything as a certainty...Stay tuned!

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CHELSEA FC HAS ATLETICO DE MADRID DIEGO COSTA TIED UP ?

It was a murmur earlier this year, but the rumour is now "heavy-duty" speculation. English Premier League Club Chelsea FC is said to have Atletico de Madrid star forward Diego Costa tied up for next season. The word around town is that Chelsea Coach José Mourinho has the OK from the player & Chelsea is prepared to pay the contract release clause of 60M€.

Chelsea Coach Mourinho is not too happy with his current forwards. He has gone out publicly to say so which has lead to some dressing room discomfort. The first choice forward for next season was Radamel Falcao but his knee injury has lead to doubts & Diego Costa has become the priority. 

Obviously this has "upset" the Atletico de Madrid Directives which have been side-lined from the negotiations which have occurred directly between Chelsea FC & the players representative, the ever present Jorge Mendes. If there is truth in any of this I am sure that current goalkeeper Courtois, currently on-loan from Chelsea FC will be included in the operation. The idea of including Fernando Torres is also not being discarded as this could lower the 60M€ payment that Chelsea would have to make.

Both Clubs will be seeing each other twice in coming weeks during their semi-finals of Champions League & no doubt there will be conversations studying this issue & many others for next season.

Staytuned!

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DEL BOSQUE ANNOUNCES SPANISH TEAM LIST FOR THE ITALY FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL

Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente de Bosque handed in this midday his list of players for the upcoming Friendly International match against Italy on the 5th of March in Madrid. This list this basically the last before the definite list that will make up the Spanish Team for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. On May the 13th Del Bosque will announce a pre-World Cup list of 30 players with the definite & final list of 23 players to be given on the 23rd of May. Thus, this list announced today has great significance as it leads one to believe that the Spanish Selector is profiling his World Cup squad around those players announced today.

The big novelty, but not surprise, is the inclusion of Atletico de Madrid Spanish-Brazilian player Diego Costa who is having a "blinder" of a season with more the 20 Liga goals so far. The inclusion has stirred controversy as some believe the player has chosen Spain over Brazil because the latter has not given Costa options of representing them. However, as Selector Del Bosque pointed out Costa has qualities that can better Spain, especially upfront in the goal area & can add "new options" to the team. Del Bosque has decided to be practical over allowing perhaps "nationalistic sentiments" enter in his calculation. 

Aother inclusions are Thiago from Bayern Munich & Azpilicueta of Chelsea FC. But this list resonates more due to the names not on the list. Regulars like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Alvaro Arbeloa, Monreal, Fernando Llorente, Roberto Soldado & Alberto Moreno. A warning signal to some that they must lift their form if they wish to travel to Brazil.

Full list of players:
Goalkeepers: Victor Valdés (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) & Reina (Napoles).

Defenders: Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), & Albiol (Nápoles).

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Bayern), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico de Madrid), Thiago (Bayern), Cazorla (Arsenal) ( Pedro (Barcelona), Jesus Navas (Manchester City), Cesc (Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City) & Iniesta (Barcelona).

Forwards: Negredo (Manchester City) & Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid).

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SPANISH FOOTBALL CURRENT LEADING GOALSCORER - GOALKEEPER AFTER ROUND 17

While Spanish Football & La Liga takes its Christmas Break thought it would a good moment to update the leading Spanish Liga Goalscorer ( El Pichichi ) & Goalkeeper ( El Zamora ) after Round 17. In both cases we have Atletico de Madrid players leading the classifications which reflects perfectly how the Club is performing in Liga this season which is currently sharing top spot of the Liga ladder along with FC Barcelona.

Atletico de Madrid player Diego Costa currently leads the table as the top Spanish Football - Liga goalscorer with 19 goals, one more than the second placed Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid. Top 5 table below.

LEADING GOALSCORER ( El Pichichi )
Current standings after Round 17 of Spanish Liga

Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid) 19 goals
Cristiano (Real Madrid CF) 18
Griezmann (Real Sociedad) 11
Javi Guerra (Valladolid) 11
Pedro (FC Barcelona) 10

Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper Courtois leads the "Best Goalkeeper" in Spanish Liga . The goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea FC has been on the front pages of Spanish Sports papers theses days speculating about his future. It seems FC Barcelona has entered the picture & maybe negotiating with Chelsea FC for a transfer next season to substitute leaving Victor Valdes. However, Atletico de Madrid is also in the race & maybe making a counteroffer to retain the young goalie. The final decision will be made by Chelsea which is the "owner" of the player.

LEADING GOALKEEPER ( El Zamora )
Current standings after Round 17 of Spanish Liga

Name Coefficient Goals Games

Courtois (Atletico de Madrid) 0,65 11 17
Asenjo (Villarreal) 1,06 18 17
Diego López (R. Madrid) 1,24 21 17
Caballero (Malaga) 1,29 22 17
Roberto (Granada) 1,29 22 17

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SPANISH FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM | LIST OF 23 PLAYERS FOR UPCOMING FRIENDLY INTERNATIONALS

Spanish Football National Team Coach & Selector Vicente Del Bosque handed in this afternoon his list of 23 players called up for the upcoming Friendly Internationals against Equatorial Guinea (16th of Nov.) & South Africa ( 19th of Nov.).

The main novelty was the call up of Atletico de Madrid Brazilian-Spanish forward Diego Costa. The player has played two Internationals for Brazil, but having not been official games Costa still has the option to choose Nation. He has considered that Brazil has not shown real interest & has expressed his desires to represent Spain. The National Coach Del Bosque has called up Costa for his extraordinary form with 13 goals to date which makes him one of the most in-form forwards in World Football. The other novelties are the recall of Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso who has overcome injury & is back playing at Club level, Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez & Atletico de Madrid forward David Villa. Fc Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez takes a break so as to rest. 

Full list of 23 players:

Goalkeepers: Victor Valdes (Barcelona) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) & Reina (Napoles)

Defenders: Juanfran (Atlético), Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Albiol (Nápoles), Íñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla) &  Monreal (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern), Cazorla (Arsenal), Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atlético), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Chelsea) & Jesús Navas (Manchester City).

Forwards: David Villa (Atletico), Negredo (Manchester City), Diego Costa (Atletico) & Pedro (Barcelona).

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SPANISH FOOTBALL | LIGA | DIEGO COSTA CURRENT LEADING GOALSCORER

After 8 Rounds of the Spanish Football League - La Liga - though it would be interesting to take a look how the "Top Goalscorer" for season 2013 - 2014 is currently looking.

Atletico de Madrid forward Diego Costa is currently leading the goalscorer tally with 10 goals. The player who has "wandered" through Clubs like Valladolid, Rayo Vallecano etc began taking off last season under Coach Simeone & is now knocking at the doors of the Spanish Football Team. The second & third places are with "old" well knowns Lionel Messi currently recovering from injury & Cristiano Ronaldo who is picking up pace as the season goes on.

We can well suppose that Messi & Ronaldo will overtake & increase drastically their numbers in the coming months, but for now Diego Costa is enjoying the limelight & being rewarded for his extraordinary form. The Spanish-Brazilian player is a vital piece of the Atletico de Madrid squad & has taken onto his shoulders the responsibility of driving his team in Liga & Champions League so far. 

Here are the Spanish Football - Liga - Top goalscorers after Round 8:

1.Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid ) 10 goals
2.Messi ( FC Barcelona) 8 
3.Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)  7
4.Rodri (Almeria) 5
5.Pedro (FC Barcelona) 5

I will periodically be updating this list to keep you updated.

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THE DIEGO COSTA - LUIS SUAREZ - CAZORLA TRANSFER OPERATION THEORY

This next piece is very interesting & worth a post. Very speculative & will need to be seen, but not impossible. According to Spanish Sports newspapers - "Sport" & "El Confidencial" a 3 band transfer move could be brewing between Atletico de Madrid Diego Costa, Liverpool FC Luis Suarez & Arsenal FC player Santi Cazorla.

Here is the theory:

• A 25M€ move by Atletico de Madrid player Diego Costa to Liverpool FC
• With the fresh 25M€, Atletico de Madrid would bid for Arsenal player Santi Cazorla
• Arsenal with the 25M€ would return to make a better offer for Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez

The only unknown here is Diego Costa of Atletico de Madrid which beforehand wants to stay at Atletico. However, 25M€ is very tempting for the Club & the player would receive a salary 4 times greater than he wins now at Atletico de Madrid. The Spanish Club needs a "creative midfielder" as it is a "strategic position" for the Club & sacrificing Costa for Cazorla could occur even though the Club has officially announced that they count with Diego Costa,

Interesting speculation & days ahead. Stay tuned!

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LIVERPOOL FC MAKES 24M€ BID FOR ATLETICO DE MADRID DIEGO COSTA

The 24 year old Brazilian-Spaniard midfielder Diego Costa has blossomed at Atletico de Madrid under Coach Simeone. So much so that he was called up last season for Brazil & now has caught the eye of English Club Liverpool FC. News out of England comment that the English Club has made a 24M€ bid for Costa & Atletico de Madrid has it on their table. Atletico de Madrid however deny that they have the offer & have said that Costa is not for sale.

Although the Brazilian-Spaniard is a controversial player for his "hard manner" of interpreting his Football, the midfielder is called on this season to be more of a protagonist. Atletico will be part of the Champions League campaign & Diego Costa has become a vital component upfront for the team. He is expected to be part of an expected exciting forward line-up that includes Spanish International David Villa & new signing Baptistao, another upcoming bright star.

Said all this however, Atletico de Madrid has an ongoing long-term financial obligation with the Spanish Tax office which "forces" the Club to come up with resources every year. The 24M€ figure is a tasty temptation & a shot in the arm for the Club in its continual balance sheet juggling. Anything thing is possible in Football & this is a "rumour" to keep an eye on in the next days & weeks. Stay tuned!

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