Goalkeeper Gylmar, an ever present in the legendary Brazil teams that won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, has died in Sao Paulo, aged 83.
The former Santos and Corinthians keeper suffered a heart attack last weekend and never recovered. He had been in poor health for several years following a stroke.
Broadcaster and journalist Juca Kfouri called him “simply the greatest of all time”.
Gylmar played for Brazil on 104 occasions and was on the losing side just 16 times.
Bologna for me says Diamanti
Bologna started the season on the wrong footing after a 0-3 upset to Napoli on Sunday but Alessandro Diamanti has no doubts that his future is at the Stadio Dall’Ara.
Yesterday, the Italy midfielder revealed that he will be signing a long-term contract with Bologna to quell speculation saying he will be moving before the September 2 transfer deadline.
“The deal has almost been finalised. I will tie myself to Bologna for a long time,” he was quoted as saying.
“There are teams with other objectives but when you lead Bologna to safety it feels like winning the Champions League.”
Garcia hailed
Manager Diego Simeone picked out Raul Garcia for praise after he scored two in Atletico Madrid’s 5-0 drubbing of Rayo Vallecano.
The midfielder was unplayable as Simeone’s side won their second league game from as many attempts, as they continue to show they can perform without Radamel Falcao.
The Colombian’s goals will be missed, but Simeone is pleased to see others filling the void.
“It makes me happy that Raul had such a good performance and scored two goals,” he said.
“We need people to interpret that we are a group first and then we will be a team. Having Raul on the field allows us to play a better passing game.”
Giroud happy to face competition
Olivier Giroud would welcome the competition from another striker if Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recruits a front man before the transfer window closes.
Wenger has been seeking to boost his attacking options, though he believes Arsenal’s pursuit of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez is over while Karim Benzema’s agent claims the France international will stay with Real Madrid.
Giroud, who has scored three goals in three games this season, said: “I feel really confident. I feel good in the game and I do the job on the pitch. No doubts, no more questions.
“If there is a new striker coming, it’s a good thing for the squad, and I try to give it up for the team, help the team to win. Nothing more.”
Axe falls on Stuttgart coach
Stuttgart sacked coach Bruno Labbadia yesterday and replaced him with youth coach Thomas Schneider, a day after the team slumped to a third loss in as many league matches this season to sit one place off the bottom without a point.
Bundesliga coaching newcomer Schneider, a former Stuttgart player who managed the club’s Under-17 team, signed a two-year deal.
Labbadia, who saw his team lose 2-1 to Augsburg on Sunday, becomes the first coaching casualty of the season after only three matchdays.
The 47-year-old had rescued Stuttgart from relegation in 2011 and steered them to the Europa League the next season.
Martino satisfied
Manager Gerardo Martino was thankful that his Barcelona side were able to share the goals around after they got the better of Malaga 1-0.
With Lionel Messi out injured, questions were asked of whether or not Barca were capable of scoring without the world’s best player. And although they only got one – Adriano’s special strike doing the damage – Martino was pleased with what he saw in terms of goals
“I place a lot of value on having different goal scorers on the team,” he said.
“We started off strong but our performance dropped as the game went on. We controlled up until the 25th minute of the second half, but from that point on we lost possession.”
Hammers deals done – Sullivan
West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan says there will be no additional signings in the current transfer window unless players leave Upton Park.
Sullivan stressed that the Hammers are working hard to strengthen the squad but explained their hands are tied by the new Premier League financial regulations.
“We are working tirelessly on identifying new targets to add to what has been a very good window for West Ham United thus far,” Sullivan said.
“However, the new rules state that if a team exceeds the new wage limit they could be hit with a points deduction.
“As we are now close to that limit, any new signings at West Ham are dependent on other players leaving the club.”