Moura makes grand entrance in Doha
Posted by Jonathan Johnson
John Berry/Getty ImagesThe addition of Lucas Moura is yet another signal of PSG's desire to conquer Europe.
No sooner had the New Year arrived when Paris Saint-Germain were already unveiling their long-awaited new signing Lucas Moura in Doha, Qatar. A sign of modern day football perhaps, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower, Thiago Silva had place Concorde and now Moura had the Doha Museum of Islamic Art. Moura's claims though were enough to rival even Ibrahimovic's self-confidence.
- PSG not planning further signings
"All Brazilian players have the dream to become the best player and I am no different," claimed Lucas Moura. "I will fight to achieve this ambition and to become number one!"
"I'm glad to know that the coach is counting on me," he continued at the ceremony. "Football is my life and I will do everything to achieve our goals and make the fans happy. This is a great challenge that awaits me here."
The Brazilian's arrival has been coming since the capital club made the announcement back in August that they had broken their own club record transfer fee (previously held by Javier Pastore) to land the 20-year old from Sao Paulo for 45 million euros. The move snatched Moura from under the noses of Manchester United, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson irate. However, it was more likely jealousy given the lavish amounts of money that Europe's new powerhouse are able to throw at tremendous talents such as the attacking midfielder.
Less known though is the deep attachment that many Brazilians have forged with PSG over the years, and it appears that the club's long association with some of the finest Samba stars in the past is what won Moura over. That and the astronomic offer put on the table by Leonardo and Qatar Sports investments to ensure that they got their man.
"Big names like Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are my idols," claimed Moura. "Brazilian players have made a huge impact on the history of this club and I hope to do the same. I talked a lot with Rai, he advised me to concentrate on my football and to quickly learn French."
PSG's new arrival will sport the number 29 shirt until the end of the season and coach Carlo Ancelotti will get his first chance to field the new star in Wednesday’s prestigious friendly with Lekhwiya while the side are currently on a mid-season break in Doha. The significance of the signing has not been lost on the club in the time it has taken him to arrive from Sao Paulo. Moura has been widely regarded as one of world football's hottest properties for a number of years now; his presence at the club has the potential to take PSG to another level if he can fulfill his considerable promise.
When Nasser Al-Khelaifi arrived in Paris in the summer of 2011, he boldly claimed that he wanted the club to find the "next Lionel Messi". In Moura they may just have found the man capable of running closest to the Argentine for the title of world football's greatest talent, and not least because the Brazilian has already compared his style of play to that of the Barcelona maestro. Al-Khelaifi was delighted when PSG captured the 20-year-old's signature and praised the club's ambition for luring the Brazilian.
"I want to thank Leonardo, Jean-Claude Blanc and the entire leadership of the club because it was not easy to sign Lucas Moura," he said. "Paris Saint-Germain will build a European club among the best in Europe and the World."
Then, in a barb no doubt aimed towards Ferguson and United, he followed up with this:
"Lucas Moura is one of the best players in the world. It is normal to spend these sums of money like the biggest clubs elsewhere. Jealousy is normal, but I hope that the club's supporters are satisfied with the investment."
There is no doubt that Moura's arrival is cause for celebration, but make no mistake, this is Al-Khelaifi's moment. This is the player QSI have been waiting for since they took over the club and now that they have him, this will be the signing that matters most. Moura is the one who can really quantify the progress that the French giants have made since the initial euphoria surrounding the arrival of Pastore.
The Brazilian is prodigiously talented and skillful, not to mention fast, and his success on the pitch will likely depend on how quickly he settles down. Pastore's arrival was expected to be the key moment of the new era at PSG, instead it only served to usher in a host of other talented players. But more so than Ibrahimovic and Silva, Moura will be the player whose fortunes define the success, or failure, of QSI's ambitious project.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/parissaint-germain/id/515?cc=4716
Exactly.
Liverpool Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old becomes our first signing of the January transfer window after penning a long-term contract at Melwood today.
Afterwards he told Liverpoolfc.com of his joy at sealing the deal.
"I am humbled and happy to be here," said Sturridge.
"Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I've not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on.
"I've signed to be here for as long as possible. It's a humongous club - for me, one of the biggest in the world - and to have the fans and world-class players we have here is amazing."
Sturridge began his professional career at Manchester City, where he finished top-scorer as City lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2008.
In 2009 he signed for Chelsea where he established himself as one of the best young forwards in the country, firing 24 times during his stay at Stamford Bridge.
His form at Chelsea led to full international recognition at the age of just 22.
Having scored 21 goals in 34 appearances for England at youth level, Fabio Capello handed him a senior bow in a friendly against Sweden in November 2011.
He has collected three more caps since and last summer scored twice for Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
A month. Why fucking bother.
Liverpool Football Club have confirmed Joe Cole has joined West Ham United on a free transfer.
The midfielder leaves Anfield after a two-and-a-half-year spell with the Reds following his transfer from Chelsea in July 2010.
Cole made a total of 42 appearances for Liverpool, scoring five goals - the last of which came against his new employers during a 3-2 win over the Hammers at Upton Park in December.
Everybody at LFC would like to wish Joe all the best for the future.
Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of France right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Lille for an undisclosed fee.
Debuchy, 27, had spent the entirety of his professional career with Lille, winning the Ligue 1 title in 2011, but it became clear in the summer that he was eager to move to Newcastle.
With the move finally completed, Debuchy, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, has told the official Newcastle website he is relishing the chance to play in the Premier League.
Ba Ba Blue shirt: Demba Ba 'happy and proud' after sealing Chelsea switch
The Senegal star has signed on a three-and-a-half year contract from Newcastle
Chelsea have announced the signing of Demba Ba from Newcastle.
The Senegal striker completed his move this morning and has joined the Blues on a three-and-a-half year contract after the club triggered the £7m release clause in his Magpies contract.
The former West Ham forward will wear the No 29 shirt and is available for selection for tomorrow's FA Cup match at Southampton, and the Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea.
The 27-year-old said: "It feels good to be here, I'm very happy and very proud.
"It was important for me, and for Newcastle, to get my future sorted and now we can move on. Now they have the whole month to buy someone and for me as well, the sooner the better.
"Now I am here I just need to get settled in.
"When the club who won the Champions League wants you, the decision is very easy. This club is massive and that's something that helped the decision a lot. It was not a hard one."
Ba is joint-third in the Premier League scorers table this season with 13 goals so far.
The transfer puts the seal on a stunning rise from the lower reaches of French football to the European champions.
