Jegsports

It has been revealed today that Spanish League clubs have reduced their debt to the tax authorities by 8.2 per cent in the past year. The Tax Agency [AEAT] confirmed in January 2012 that clubs owed €752m in unpaid taxes, a number that by November had dropped to €700m. Following on from that, the AEAT have today revealed that professional clubs from the top division down in Spain now owe €690.4m in tax, marking an 8.2 per cent decrease in 12 months. A majority €535.8m of that debt is owed to the Hacienda [tax office] by the 20 clubs currently in the Primera Division, whilst La Segunda and lower Leagues account for the remaining €154.6m.

Ricardo Kaka is enthusiastic for his return to the Brazil squad and admits that ‘things are getting better’ for him at Real Madrid. The attacker has endured an indifferent season at the Santiago Bernabeu, finding himself close to leaving in the last two transfer windows and struggling to come off the bench under Jose Mourinho. However, a recent run in the first team has earned him a recall to the Brazil squad, now under the stewardship of Luiz Felipe Scolari. “I have not yet spoken with Scolari, it will be a nice reunion to be back at work with him,” commented the 30-year-old to reporters in Brazil today. “I do not know for how long, but I do hope to be called up for the World Cup and whenever else is possible. “I feel that things are getting better for me, especially at my club. I am playing more often in Madrid. I’m getting the recognition from the fans and that is giving me extra motivation. “Now I hope to take this opportunity with Brazil.” Kaka is the oldest outfield player ...

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has blanked questions over his future plans. At an awards ceremony, Ronaldo was asked about his future, but refused to answer, instead greeting the question witn an awkward silence. Instead, he spoke of his hopes for Real, who stand second in the Primera Division - although 13 points behind leaders Barcelona - with a Copa del Rey final against city rivals Atletico and Champions League last-eight clash with Galatasaray looming. He said: "Much remains. We are in the cup final and we have taken a major step in the Champions League. "The league is difficult but we must fight to the end. "Things personally with me are going well but what I want is to win a major trophy with Madrid."

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness denies they're set to sell several of their top players. Former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld suggested that Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos may not feature in a side which will be coached by Pep Guardiola. Robben has been linked with Manchester City, while Muller is a target for Manchester United and Kroos is interesting Liverpool and Arsenal. "I really can't say how Ottmar Hitzfeld can have such thoughts," said Hoeness to the TZ newspaper.

Aston Villa fullback Alan Hutton is delighted with his loan switch to Real Mallorca. He was so far out the picture under Paul Lambert that he was ordered to train with the youth team. He recalled to the Scottish Sun: “To go from doing nothing at Villa, feeling as if I was wasting away, then be playing Real Madrid the next minute, it definitely makes it that bit more special. “I had a few conversations with the manager at Villa but he never really went into any depth about his reasons. “I realised things were going badly when I didn’t go on the pre-season and it went in stages after that. “Then I was training with the first team. Then training with the kids. Eventually, you think to yourself ‘What am I doing here? I’m getting nothing out of this’.”

Getafe midfielder Medhi Lacen is unaware of interest from Swansea City. Swans boss Michael Laudrup is keen on the defensive midfielder. "I have a contract here until 2015, so let's wait until the end of the season to see what will happen," said the 28-year- old. "I know Michael Laudrup, he was an excellent player, a top midfield player in the World Cup, a typical No.10 and he is also a great coach. "I know nothing of Swansea's interest in me, but I will look into it seriously if there is an interest in England. "I love the English league and would love to play there one day."

West Ham United are waiting for encouragement from Manchester United over interest in Anders Lindegaard. Sporten says West Ham have lodged an interest in signing Lindegaard at the end of the season, should United look to sell the reliable keeper. The Dane is considering his options with David De Gea now firmly established as United's No1.

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson admits their lack of consistency has been frustrating. Jenkinson feels Arsenal need to focus on delivering consistent performances from their own remaining nine matches, following the win at Swansea, rather than worry about the shortcomings of others. Speaking to Arsenal Player, Jenkinson said: "We just need to concentrate on ourselves. Other teams are going to drop points. "We want to win every game and we are capable of doing that. "Our form hasn't been bad. It can be better of course. From now it's just about now until the end of the season. That's going to be what makes or breaks us, so it's almost like a little season in itself. "We just need to get on a good run and keep it going. If we do that, we'll end up where we need to be".

Barcelona are ready to make a €25m move for Roma defender Marquinhos, according to reports this afternoon. Sources believe that the Blaugrana will try to sign the 18-year-old in the summer, after being impressed on a number of occasions this season. The Brazilian has been a revelation for the Giallorossi this term, playing in 21 League games.

Jordi Roura has claimed that his Barcelona side will face a 'difficult' challenge when they play Rayo Vallecano tomorrow. The Blaugrana host Paco Jemez's side at Camp Nou on Sunday, looking for the three points that will further extend their lead at the top of the table. And the assistant has admitted that it will be a tough test without the injured Carles Puyol. “It is a difficult game,” he told a Press conference. “For us this is very important. If we win it brings us closer to our goal. “When a player of Carles' level is out, it’s always hard. But my players will take the field with maximum effort.” The 45-year-old also reflected on his time as Barca boss, after Tito Vilanova was confirmed as return from New York on March 25. “If that's the case, it would be a huge joy. Not at the fact I'll stop being coach but because it's Tito's return. “That would be an extraordinary joy.”

Former Napoli midfielder Alain Boghossian says Laurent Blanc is keen on the job. Blanc has been linked with Andrea Stramaccioni's job this week. “Blanc would certainly be delighted to sit on the Nerazzurri bench,” Boghossian, who assisted Blanc with the French national side, told TMW. “It’s a nice place with an important club – there is everything that you need to do well. Basically, you never turn down the Inter bench.”

Nuri Sahin has blasted Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers for his ill-fated spell at Anfield. The Turkish midfielder never really really showed his talent with the Reds, but still said he enjoyed the chance to play for such a historic club. "I did not fail at Liverpool," Sahin said. "Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a '10'. But I do not play behind the forwards. I spoke with him and asked him why I was playing there. It is not my real position. "The boss could not answer me... Still, I am not sorry about it. To play in the red jersey and be in Anfield is something marvellous. Maybe if I had not gone there I would not have been able to return to Borussia Dortmund. For that, I am happy. But I have left Brendan Rodgers, thanks be to God." Sahin is still technically a Madrid player - although on loan at the Signal Iduna until 2014 - and he has not allowed himself to lose contact with manager Jose Mourinho while back in Dortmund: "We speak often on t...

Nicklas Bendtner could make a big-money move to Russia this summer. Out-of-favour Arsenal striker Bendtner is a target for Anzhi Makhachkala and Zenit St Petersburg, according to his agent. It is also understood that German clubs Hamburg and Stuttgart are monitoring developments after the Denmark international’s season-long loan from the Gunners to Italian giants Juventus turned into a disaster. Agent Tom Brooks told Russian ­ newspaper Izvestia: “We’ve had contact several times with Russian teams. “Interest has also been shown by English and Italian clubs and Nicklas would like to play regularly in the Champions League. “A large number of talented players have gone to Russia in recent years. If a solid proposal arrives, we will consider it.” Bendtner, 25, was busted for drink-driving and has also been injured, but Arsenal are not taking him back before his loan deal in Italy ends. They want to sell him this summer with his contract expiring the following year – most probably in a...

Chelsea look set to give in-form Romelu Lukaku the chance to claim a first-team spot next season. The Belgium international struggled at Stamford Bridge last season, but has hit 13 goals in a successful loan spell at West Brom this term. Lukaku, still only 19, would like to stay at the Hawthorns, but Albion admit they are resigned to him returning to the Blues. Boss Steve Clarke said: “He is Chelsea’s player. He belongs to Chelsea and he will go back there in the summer. “I have never thought it would be possible Chelsea would let him come back next season. He came on a season-long loan and we’re grateful we got him.”

Friday, March 15 2013 Spain - La Liga Deportivo La Coruña v Celta de Vigo France - Ligue 1 Olympique Marseille v Ajaccio Germany - Bundesliga 1 Wolfsburg v Fortuna Düsseldorf Netherlands - Eredivisie PEC Zwolle v Roda JC Portugal - Liga bwin Gil Vicente v Sporting Braga Czech Republic - Gambrinus Liga České Budějovice v Zbrojovka Brno Sigma Olomouc v Baník Ostrava Russia - Premier League Rostov v Volga Turkey - Turkcell Süper Lig Bursaspor v Trabzonspor Eskişehirspor v Elazığspor Ukraine - Premier League Metalurh Zaporizhya v Karpaty Premier League fixtures Saturday, March 16 2013 Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers Everton v Manchester City Manchester United v Reading Southampton v Liverpool Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion Swansea City v Arsenal Sunday, March 17 2013 Chelsea v West Ham United Sunderland v Norwich City Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United Saturday, March 16 2013 Spain - La Liga Getafe v Athletic Club Real Madrid v Mallorc...

A field invasion by a sharp-toothed, weasel-like creature has created havoc at a soccer match in Switzerland. The furry creature, a marten, dashed onto the field a few minutes into the top division match between Thun and FC Zurich on Sunday and evaded efforts by players and match officials to catch it. Play briefly resumed when the animal ran into the stands, but the marten reappeared shortly afterward. Zurich defender Loris Benito dived and grabbed the marten — receiving a bitten finger for his troubles as he tried to carry it off the field. His team's goalkeeper, Davide Da Costa, then managed to put an end to the creature's caper and bundle it off the field. Zurich won the match 4-0.

1) Karim Benzema: €13m (Real Madrid): Often the leading figure in the French national team attack (rightly or wrongly) Karim Benzema owes his wealth to a string of sponsorship contracts, including personal ones with EA, Adidas, Hyundai and Buzz Mobile. 3) Franck Ribery: €11.5m (Bayern Munich): Ribery has accumulated his vast wealth over a relatively long period of time, and has dropped 2 places off the top spot from last year’s rankings. He is the highest paid foreigner in the Bundesliga and his sponsors including the likes of Nike. 4) Nicolas Anelka: €11m (Juventus): A man who has shot up 12 places in L’Equipe’s sports rich list this year, mainly down to the lucrative contract he secured during his time with Shanghai Shenhua (€933,000 a month). His wealth has reportedly increased by a massive €5.9m this year. 6) Samir Nasri: €10.5m (Manchester City): He remains in the position he inhabited last year in these rankings, despite a €3.2m increase in his wealth on last year. He has been ca...

Jonjo Shelvey could be on his way out of Anfield – with Stoke plotting a swoop in the summer. The ex-Charlton prospect has recently been frozen out of the first-team by Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and sources say he will be allowed to leave for £7million. Potters manager Tony Pulis sent a two-man delegation to check on Shelvey in a reserve match last week. Pulis sees the 21-year-old midfielder as an ideal ­ replacement for another former Anfield star, Charlie Adam, who looks set to leave the Britannia which would create a vacancy in the squad and on the payroll that Shelvey could fill. Liverpool are struggling to qualify for Europe which could trigger a move for long-serving keeper Pepe Reina, with Sunderland No.1 Simon Mignolet on Rodgers’ radar. He is convinced that Spanish international Reina, who has been below par this season, will quit Anfield this summer and wants the Black Cats’ Belgian keeper as his replacement. Mignolet, 24, had to pledge his future to Sunderland last we...

A world record takeover bid for Arsenal appears to be doomed. Reports claimed Arsenal will be the subject of a £1.5billion bid from a Middle East consortium within weeks. The investors are prepared to offer American owner Stan Kroenke £20,000 a share and also want to buy Alisher Usmanov’s stake. But, although he was unavailable for comment, it is understood Kroenke is not looking to sell up and remains fully committed to Arsenal. Sources close to Usmanov also insisted he is in it for the long-term as Arsenal’s second largest shareholder and is not interested in cash incentives. The wealthy American - reckoned to be worth £4 billion by the Forbes rich list - has told the club on several occasions that he is at Arsenal “ for the long haul”. And his history in dealing with sports franchises shows that he has never been keen to sell any of them that include Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Rapids of the MLS and Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. He has said the in the past that he does not ...