Investors from the Gulf region are interested in making a bid for a stake in German second tier side 1860 Munich, currently trying to stave off bankruptcy.
According to Munich-based dailies, investors are set to inject an “immediate 10 to 12 million euros,” with a Munich bank acting as intermediary. If the move comes to fruition it would represent the first time that Arab investors have taken a stake in a German side.
1860 Munich won the Bundesliga title in 1966 but were relegated in 2004 and have spent decades in the shadow of neighbours Bayern Munich.
Ajax bosses quit in Cruyff tussle
Members of the Ajax board of directors have stepped down after a battle of wits with a working group led by former star Johan Cruyff.
“With this decision, the members of the board wish to assume their responsibilities in order to help haul the club out of the mire,” the former European champions said.
Ajax tasked Cruyff with laying the groundwork to restore the club to its former glories – the Amsterdam side has not won the Dutch title in seven seasons. The four-times European champions currently stand third in the domestic table.
In his advisory capacity Cruyff has spoken out against the way the club is run and wants to see some officials fired.
Veteran Pires ponders prospects
Robert Pires is weighing up whether to retire or to play abroad when his contract with Aston Villa expires this summer. The former Arsenal midfielder signed a six-month contract before Christmas and has made only a handful of appearances for the midlands club.
Pires is 37 and will weight up all his options at the end of May.
He said: “I’m still playing in the Premier League so I get noticed.
“I’m prepared to retire in May if that’s what it comes to. But I am also ready to go wherever an interesting proposition comes along. I’ve even had an offer from Australia. But it’s a case of one thing at a time and I’ll look at that at the end of the season.”
Vela treatment angers Hodgson
Roy Hodgson has hit out at Mexico’s treatment of West Brom striker Carlos Vela during the past two weeks.
Hodgson is upset Vela had to undertake a 12,000-mile round trip to play in two friendly internationals and did not play a major role in either game.
The on-loan Arsenal player may not arrive back in England until this morning and Hodgson is concerned about what physical condition Vela will be in.
“I think it is disastrous to have players go away for friendly matches for the length of time it takes to go to Mexico,” Hodgson said.
“I’m not confident Carlos will be in the right condition. I can’t see anything positive about him being away for such a long period of time but I can’t stop him going.”
Benzema doubt for Spurs clash
Karim Benzema is an injury doubt for Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Tottenham at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, according to reports in Spain.
The 23-year-old was substituted in the 75th minute of France’s goalless friendly draw with Croatia on Tuesday night after suffering a knock to his thigh.
Les Bleus coach Laurent Blanc said after the game: “He felt a little pinch in his thigh.”
Benzema, who appears likely to miss this weekend’s La Liga clash with Sporting Gijon, has scored eight goals in his last five games for Real Madrid.
Aquilani open to Liverpool return
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is willing to return to Liverpool at the end of the season if Juventus do not want to sign him on a per-manent deal. The 26-year-old is on loan with Juve, having failed to impress in his first season at Anfield after joining from Roma.
Aquilani said: “The future? I’m at Juve, but I don’t know what will happen.
“I’m on loan and if I’m not retained I’d go back to Liverpool in the best league in the world. We’ll see.”
Aquilani has also been linked with a move back to Roma, who are on the verge of being bought out by Thomas Di Benedetto, a partner of the company which owns Liverpool.
300,000 fans want Dortmund tickets
More than 300,000 fans of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund have requested tickets for their team’s final home game of the season with the Ruhr valley club set to lift the German league title.
Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt at their 80,000-seater Signal Iduna Park stadium on May 14 and the club have so far received 301,752 requests for tickets, in addition to their 50,000 season-ticket holders.
With 8,000 tickets available for Frankfurt fans, only 21,000 tickets are actually up for grabs with a ballot set to be held after the applications deadline on April 10.
Dortmund’s Bundesliga home match with Hanover this Saturday is already sold out, as is the game with Freiburg in Dortmund on April 17.
Only a handful of tickets will be on offer for the home game against Nuremberg on April 30.