Arsenal club captain Thomas Vermaelen has hinted he may seek a move away from the Emirates Stadium if first-team opportunities remain hard to come by.
The Belgian has been kept out of the starting XI this season by Per Mertesacker and Laurent Kos-cielny, who have flourished at the heart of the Gunners’ defence.
“I’ll have to think about that when it’s necessary. January is still a few months ahead. Of course, never playing will not be the ideal situation for me to go to the World Cup, that’s for sure,” he said.
“Things can happen in a split second and change my situation. In that case, we will speak differently in January.”
De Bruyne calm over Chelsea future
Kevin de Bruyne is refusing to panic about his peripheral role at Chelsea after falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho.
The Belgium forward was not selected for the Champions League trip to Steaua Bucharest or for the following fixture at Norwich after failing to impress the Portuguese in a League Cup match at Swindon and in training.
“I really don’t worry. Mourinho is the boss, he chooses who plays,” De Bryune said.
“He tells me when I do something bad, but frankly I haven’t heard such negative comments.
“My chance will come.”
Iniesta relaxed over contract talks
Andres Iniesta has reiterated that he is not concerned about the ongoing negotiations over a new contract with Barcelona and is confident both parties are edging closer to an agreement.
Barca have already tied many of their star players to long-term deals but have yet to secure Iniesta, whose current contract is due to expire in 2015.
“It’s not something that today or in two months time I’m concerned about. When it has to happen, it will happen.
“The club wants me to be there and I want to be there,” he said.
“I’m sure that things are getting closer all the time.”
Ferguson touted for Australia job
Former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has been urged to come out of retirement and manage Australia in next year’s World Cup by ex-Red Devils goalkeeper Mark Bosnich.
The Socceroos are currently without a manager after German coach Holger Osieck was sacked on Saturday.
“We’ve been throwing around a lot of names but there’s one person that I haven’t heard mentioned – Alex Ferguson,” Bosnich told Triple M radio station.
“Sir Alex hasn’t been put about, but we need someone of that ilk.
“He would command a top whack, but in life, and especially in sport, you get what you pay for.
“If you want the best, you’re going to have to pay for the best.”
Real could bid for Falcao – Perez
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has hinted the world’s richest club by income could buy Monaco’s striker Radamel Falcao next year.
Perez ruled out a bid for Falcao in the next transfer window in January but suggested Real could table one in summer.
Falcao, 27, left Real’s city rivals Atletico to join Monaco at the end of last season for a fee media reported was around €60m.
“He (Falcao) won’t come in January but in June, who knows?” Perez said.
“Nothing is impossible and there is a lot of time between now and then. Falcao is a great player and I am aware that he wants to play for (Real) Madrid.”
Ethiopia try to lure Arsenal youngster
Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zela-lem would be welcomed with open arms if he chooses to play for his parent’s country, Ethiopia, according to the country’s foreign minister and national coach.
Zelalem, 16, is eligible to play for Germany and the United States as well as Ethiopia.
“Hi Gedion. Good to hear from you. We hope you will play for Ethiopia soon,” Minister Adha-nom Tedros tweeted the teenager.
Tedros’s post was a response to a tweet from Zelalem saying “Still proud” after the ‘Walyas’, named after an Ethiopian antelope, lost 2-1 to Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw said he would not contact Zelalem but added: “If he decides to play for Ethiopia and asks us, then things will be easy.”
Metsu dies at 59
Bruno Metsu, whose Senegal side were sensations of the 2002 World Cup, has died at the age of 59.
Metsu died at home in Dunkirk on Monday night, his former clubs Lille and Nice confirmed.
Instantly recognisable at the height of his career by his long mane of hair and sharp suits, Metsu led Senegal to the World Cup quarter-finals at the tournament in Japan and South Korea.
The team nicknamed the Lions of Teranga began the tournament by beating Metsu’s native France, who were defending the trophy, in the opening game, and also defeated Sweden before falling to Turkey in the last eight.
After his feat with Senegal, Metsu spent the rest of his coaching career in the Middle East.