Roman Abramovich to buy stake in Real Mallorca

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Roman Abramovich is currently in negotiations to obtain a 55% controlling share in Spanish Segunda Division team Real Mallorca. This is according to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

After a successful fight with relegation during the past season, the club will play in the second division in Spain again in 2015. Real Mallorca has bounced between the first and second divisions for virtually all of its existence.

After 2010’s bankruptcy proceedings the Balearic team has had a tough time both on and off the field, but they managed to retain a spot in La Liga until they were finally relegated to the second division at the end of the 2012/13 season.

This year they completed the season just outside the drop zone, barely managing to avoid a free fall into Spain’s lower football levels.

If the reports can be trusted, Abramovich’s cash injection might help to solve the team’s financial woes and drive them back into the first league, where his team connections might also prove to be beneficial to Chelsea FC. The club might create a relationship between Mallorca and London that is not much different from that existing between Dutch team Vitesse Arnhem or Cobham and Chelsea.

Should that happen, Chelsea would have a great system for developing young players who can either not secure a UK work visa or who are simply not yet ready for English football for a variety of reasons.

Torres & Azpilicueta keen on Fabregas joining Chelsea

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Fabregas

Image Credit: Natursports / Shutterstock.com

Chelsea duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Fernando Torres have called on their club to sign up Spanish teammate Cesc Fabregas for the coming summer season.

At this stage it seems very likely that Fabregas will leave Barcelona this season with the Spanish giants being prepared to consider offers for the talented midfielder.

Jose Mourinho has already confirmed that he would be interested in bringing the former Arsenal player back to the folds of the Premier League, and Azpilicueta and Torres are of the opinion that the midfielder would be an ideal addition for Chelsea.

In an interview with Movistar, Torres said that Fabregas is the type of player that Chelsea needed at the moment. He added: “Great players are always great signings. We know him well, he was one of the best players in the Premier League while playing for Arsenal and is a player who brings a lot to the team.”

Torres added that Fabregas is the kind of player that creates goals and has great ball control. “If he is made to feel important, like a leader, he has already proved at Arsenal that he can lead a team.”

Azpilicueta has no problem admitting that he’d love to see Fabregas join the Chelsea team. He describes Fabregas as ‘a special player’.

He added, however, that right now nothing was official and that Fabregas was a Barca player.

He went on to say that few squads have this type of player, a central midfielder who has an excellent vision of the game and who gets forward exceptionally well. His statistics also speak for themselves.

Diego Costa completes medical exam for €39.4m move to Chelsea

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Diego Costa

Image Credit: Natursports / Shutterstock.com

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has recently completed a medical examination as part of a potential transfer deal with Chelsea FC. If the deal is successful, the 25-year old is expected to cost the football club around €39.4 million.

The tough centre-forward scored 8 Champions League goals and 27 league goals for Atletico last season. The club of walked away as the winners in the La Liga contest and they reached the finals of the Champions League in Lisbon, where they lost to Real Madrid 1-4.

Costa is famous for scoring from the penalty spot during the semi-final of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge when Atletico beat Chelsea 3-1.

He began his European career with Sporting Braga, a Portuguese club and joined Atletico seven years ago.

After loan spells with Albacete and Celta Vigo and a stint at Real Valladolid, he went back to Atletico four years ago, spending another loan period at Rayo Vallecano during the first part of 2012.

Whilst originally born in Brazil, the time he played in Spain made it possible for him to qualify for a Spanish passport and in spite of playing for Brazil twice in March last year, he eventually decided to remain committed to the Spanish team.

He is currently training with the Spanish team in the U.S. in preparation for the World Cup.

Chelsea Players at the 2014 World Cup

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With well over two months until Chelsea get back to Premier League action, the majority of the squad will be spending their summer in Brazil, taking part in the biggest football competition in the world. No fewer than 17 of Chelsea’s current squad are making the trip to the World Cup, including a few who are set to depart the club this summer.

Here is the full list of Chelsea players who are looking to make their mark on this summer’s tournament, a list which spans eight countries and three continents.

Brazil – Luiz, RAmires, Oscar, Willian

Hosts Brazil have no fewer than four Chelsea players in their squad, and they all have a good chance of appearing in the tournament opener against Croatia on the 12th of June. PSG-bound defender David Luiz is joined by midfielders Ramires, Oscar and Willian. In total, that’s around £119million worth of talent by today’s prices. The latter three could well be returning to Stamford Bridge with another medal, as Brazil are many people’s favourites to lift the trophy for a record sixth time.

Cameroon – Eto’o

Brazil are joined in Group A by Cameroon, so Chelsea’s four Brazilians will face off against Samuel Eto’o on the 23rd of June. Eto’o only signed on a one year deal last summer, and is widely expected to move on during the close season. With Croatia and Mexico joining them in Group A, the Africans face a tough task to make it out of the group but Eto’o has one last chance to show what he can do on the biggest stage of them all.

Spain – Azpilicueta, Torres

Spain have called up Cesar Azpilicueta and Fernando Torres for the defence of their World Cup trophy. This is Azpilicueta’s second international tournament for Spain, following last summer’s Confederations Cup. Torres makes the final 23 man squad ahead of Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, after finishing as top scorer at his last two international tournaments. They are joined by Brazilian-born Diego Costa, who is set to join the Blues from Atletico Madrid this summer.

England – Cahill, Lampard

Despite John Terry and Ashley Cole retiring from international football, Chelsea still have two players in the England squad for the World Cup. Gary Cahill will be there, and he’s likely to start at the heart of the defence. Frank Lampard, who is set to leave the club this summer, has been named vice captain for the tournament and should have a key roll in helping to protect a lead and close games out late on… assuming England get themselves into such a favourable position.

Nigeria – Moses, Mikel, Omeruo

African Champions Nigeria boast three Chelsea players in their squad. Victor Moses, who spent last season on loan at Liverpool, John Obi Mikel and Kenneth Omeruo, who finished the season on loan at Middlesbrough, are all included. Nigeria are due to face Lionel Messi and Argentina, but with Iran and Bosnia making up their group they have a great chance of making it to the knockout stages of the tournament.

Germany – Schurrle

Andre Schurrle is Chelsea’s only representative in the Germany squad, who are the third favourites to lift the trophy. Schurrle made the European Championships in 2012, making two appearances. He has forced his way in to the Germany team as a more regular starter since then, but with their abundance of talent he faces a fight to start in their first game of the tournament against Portugal on the 16th of June.

Ghana – Atsu

Christian Atsu joins former Chelsea man Michael Essien in Ghana’s World Cup squad, with the Black Stars set to face Schurrle’s Germany in Group G. Atsu joined from Porto last summer, and spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem. Ghana face the USA in their group opener, which is a rematch of their last 16 clash from South Africa four years ago. With Germany and Portugal in their group, Ghana look unlikely to make the knock-out stages for the third consecutive occasion, but this is football so you just never know.

Belgium – Hazard, Lukaku, Courtois

Tournament dark horses Belgium have three Chelsea players in their squad, although two of them spent last season on loan. Eden Hazard is joined by Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois in the squad, but Hazard’s younger brother Thorgan missed out despite being named in the 30 man squad. This is their first World Cup appearance since 2002, but their young, talented squad means they are the fifth favourites for the trophy, according to the bookies.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard decides to leave the Blues

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Frank Lampard

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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, has issued a statement saying he plans to leave the Blues after spending 13 wonderful years at Stamford Bridge.

The 35-year old England International player is Chelsea FC’s all-time top scorer with no less than 211 goals. His contract expires this month.

Since joining Chelsea from West Ham 13 years ago, Lampard has contributed to 11 major trophy wins by the Club. They included the Champions League two years ago and three Premier League titles.

Lampard said: “This club has become part of my life.”

While it’s quite possible he will retire, the offers he has received from 16 other clubs could simply prove to be too attractive.

At the moment Lampard is in Miami with the England squad preparing for this year’s World Cup; reportedly he won’t make any final decision about his future until the tournament is over.

After signing a contract for £11 million, Lampard has played 648 games for Chelsea, the third highest in history after the 795 of Ron Harris and the 729 by Peter Bonetti.

During the time he has played for the West London club the team has won two League Cups, four FA cups and the esteemed Europa League.

Lampard was also appointed as Chelsea’s Player of the year on three different occasions. He concluded: “When I arrived at this fantastic club 13 years ago, I would never have believed that I would be fortunate enough to play so many games and enjoy sharing in so much success.”