Atletico Madrid’s new striker Jackson Martinez believes he is in “excellent shape” to pick up where he left off with former club Porto, starting with Saturday’s opening La Liga game at home to promoted Las Palmas.
Colombia international Martinez, top scorer in Portugal’s top flight in each of his three seasons with Porto, has already opened his Atletico account, scoring a fine header in Saturday’s 3-0 friendly win over Real Betis.
“I am in excellent shape to begin this new stage in my career and La Liga,” Martinez said in an interview with As.
“There is a healthy competition between the team-mates and in the end it will be the coach who decides who plays.”
Shelvey pushing for England return
Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is satisfied with his early-season form and hopes he can impress England manager Roy Hodgson enough to earn a recall.
The 23-year-old, who made his only England appearance back in 2012, has helped Swansea to four points in two Premier League games.
“That’s everyone’s dream to play for their country – and it’s obviously my dream as well,” Shelvey, who joined Swansea in the summer of 2013, was quoted as saying by the BBC.
“Hopefully I can keep on putting in performances like that for (England manager) Roy Hodgson to let me into his squad.”
Arsenal loss was unlucky – Wickham
Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham has put Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal down to bad luck and said the Eagles deserved at least a point from their first home game of the season.
Damien Delaney’s own goal sealed the win for the Gunners, after Joel Ward cancelled out Olivier Giroud’s opener.
“It’s a frustrating result,” the 22-year-old said.
“We started the second half well, but they got a lucky goal and now we have to pick ourselves up.
“It was lucky because it could have gone anywhere and unfortunately for us it’s gone in our top corner.”
Yanga-Mbiwa returns to France with Lyon
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa believes he is returning to France as a more complete player after completing his move from Serie A side Roma to Lyon.
The defender was presented as a Lyon player yesterday, returning to Ligue 1 two years after leaving Montpellier for Newcastle.
“I did not expect to come to Lyon, I thought it was only a rumour,” the 26-year-old said.
“But the president and the coach have convinced me and I’m glad to be part of the Lyon project and I will give 100 per cent to help the team.”
De Bruyne not leaving Wolfsburg
Kevin De Bruyne appears to have ended talk of a move to the Premier League after saying he will spend the season with Wolfsburg.
Manchester City have been the reported frontrunners to sign the 24-year-old Belgian midfielder, formerly of Chelsea.
Ten goals and 21 assists in 2014/15 saw De Bruyne crowned as the Bundesliga’s best player and talk of a move to the Etihad duly started.
But speaking at an award ceremony hosted by Bild newspaper last night, De Bruyne said: “I stay this season with Wolfsburg.”
De Bruyne’s words came on the same day his manager Dieter Hecking said he expected a “difficult” few days ahead.
Vasco appoint third coach of the year
Vasco da Gama appointed their third manager of the year on Sunday when Jorginho was named to replace Celso Roth a day after the club lost 1-0 at home to Coritiba.
Jorginho, who was assistant to Dunga at the national side between 2006 and 2010, took over from Roth, who lasted less than two months at the helm of the Rio de Janeiro club.
Vasco’s defeat left them rooted to the bottom of the table with 13 points.
The Vasco fans protested the result but there was more unrest at Sao Paulo where fans attacked players’ cars after they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season, a 3-0 home loss to Goias.
Poch relaxed about striker shortage
Mauricio Pochettino insists he is not frustrated with Tottenham’s lack of options up front and revealed it was Roberto Soldado’s decision to leave the club.
Spurs had no recognised strikers on the bench for Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Stoke.
“It was a club decision (to sell Soldado). A club wanted the player and the player wanted to leave,” Pochettino said.
“We knew he wanted to leave and we found the best solution for the club and for him.”
Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing West Brom’s Saido Berahino.
“When will the club sign a striker? Maybe next week, or the next – we need one or two players more,” Pochettino said after the draw with the Potters.