Enke: I Want To Be Germany’s Number One

Hannover goalkeeper Robert Enke has revealed that he wants to become the number one keeper for the national team despite the challenge from youngsters Manuel Neuer and Rene Adler.



The future of current German international keeper Jens Lehmann remains unclear, but should the new Stuttgart keeper decide to call it a day on his international career to concentrate on his club, then Enke is keen to step into the breach.

The 30 year old Hannover custodian was one of the two back-up keepers at Euro 2008 alongside Rene Adler but is keen on becoming the undisputed number one should Lehmann retire from the international scene.

"At the end of the day, consistently good performances should make the difference and that makes me optimistic" Enke told Kicker magazine.

"I am confident and do not feel I am just a short-term solution. My best years lie ahead of me."

Despite rather disappointing spells abroad with Barcelona and Benfica, Enke has impressed since his transfer to Bundesliga side Hannover in 2004.

He is now hoping that Bundestrainer Joachim Löw plumps for experience between the posts rather than the two highly promising young goalkeeping talents in Schalke’s Manuel Neuer or Leverkusen’s Rene Adler.

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Messi Included In Final Argentina Squad

Contrary to Barcelona's wishes, young starlet Lionel Messi has been included as one of Argentina's 15 under-23 players required for the Olympic Games in Beijing...Contrary to Barcelona's wishes, young starlet Lionel Messi has been included as one of Argentina's 15 under-23 players required for the Olympic Games in Beijing...



Argentina have opted to take a host of Europe-based stars to the Olympiad, with a strong-looking squad set to depart for the Far East.

One problem is that only three players over the age of 23 are allowed in the squad, and with the likes of Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze and Nicolas Burdisso being refused permission to travel by their clubs, a tough choice awaited the country's Olympic squad coach, Sergio Batista.

In the end Liverpool's Javier Mascherano and Juan Román Riquelme are joined by Anderlecht stopper Nico Pareja.

As well as Mascherano, Riquelme, and Messi, other big names include Kun Agüero of Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid's Fernando Gago, and the rising star of Ezequiel Lavezzi at Napoli.

The full list, as provided by the AFA, is as follows:

Porteros: Oscar Ustari (Getafe), Sergio Romero (AZ).

Defensas: Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Luciano Monzón (Boca Juniors), Federico Fazio (Sevilla), Nicolás Pareja (Anderlecht).

Medios: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), José Sosa (Bayern München), Ever Banega (Valencia), Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors).

Delanteros: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid), Angel Di María (Benfica), Lautaro Acosta (Sevilla), Diego Buonanotte (River Plate).

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Inter Release Squad Numbers

Inter Milan have announced their squad numbers for the 2008/09 season, and new signing Amantino Mancini has been handed the No.33 shirt.



On the same day that Clarence Seedorf won his battle with Ronaldinho for the mythical No.10 jersey at AC Milan, across the other side of the fashion capital squad numbers were also being announced.

The Inter No.10 goes to Adriano, following his return from exile in Brazil. There are few major talking points. Luis Figo keeps his favoured No.7, while new signing Amantino Mancini is handed the No.33.

Teenage wonderkid Mario Balotelli is also issued a high number, 45. Francesco Toldo keeps the No.1 despite being second choice goalkeeper behind Julio Cesar.

Squad Numbers

Goalkeepers: 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Orlandoni, 1 Toldo

Defenders: 16 Burdisso, 26 Chivu, 2 Cordoba, 13 Maicon, 23 Materazzi, 6 Maxwell, 37 Mei, 24 Rivas, 25 Samuel, 39 Santon, 4 Zanetti

Midfielders: 36 Bolzoni, 19 Cambiasso, 15 Dacourt, 7 Figo, 11 Jimenez, 33 Mancini, 30 Pele', 5 Stankovic, 14 Vieira

Attackers: 10 Adriano, 45 Balotelli, 38 Biabiany, 18 Crespo, 9 Cruz, 8 Ibrahimovic, 29 Suazo

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Official: Bologna Sign Mudingayi

Newly promoted Serie A outfit Bologna have officially completed the signing of Lazio midfielder Gaby Mudingayi.



Bologna have been quite prominent in the summer transfer market so far, capturing the likes of Corinthians hardman Coelho, and Sampdoria duo Cristian Zenoni and Sergio Volpi.

The Emilia-Romagna outfit have now followed this up with the capture of Lazio midfielder Mudingayi.

It was already revealed a few days ago that the 26-year-old would be joining on a four-year contract for around €6m. The transfer has now been officially confirmed.

“Of course I am sad to leave the Biancocelesti but at the same time I am happy to be going to Bologna,” the midfielder said on Friday.

Mudingayi has been at Lazio since 2005 when he arrived from Torino. He started his career at K.A.A Gent, and has won seven caps for the Belgian national team.

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Klinsmann Confirms Podolski Stance

Bayern Munich trainer Jürgen Klinsmann has once again moved to repeat his stance that striker Lukas Podolski is not for sale and is very much part of his plans for the coming season.


The 23 year old German international has been continuously linked with a move away from the Bavarian club with his former club Cologne reportedly ready to pounce should Bayern be ready to sell.

However, new Bayern trainer Klinsmann has reiterated his stance that Podolski isn’t for sale and that he is very much in the running for the forthcoming Bundesliga season.

“The sale of Podolski does not come in any way into the question. We need at least three top strikers - and Lukas is one of the three” Klinsmann said Klinsmann.

“He has a duty to challenge the other two (Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni), to provide them with competition. Lukas will get his games” he added.

Klinsmann had earlier vowed to help Podolski make the step up to the next level in career and become the world-class striker he has so often threatened to become.

“I told him what I told him before the European Championships: that he has a lot of talent, that he has already shown a lot in his young years, but also that he still has some more steps to take in order to become better.

“I would like to and will help him with that.”

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Cannavaro To Leave Madrid For Napoli?

The agent of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has confirmed that his client will probably leave Real Madrid when his contract runs out at the end of next season, with his dream destination being his hometown club Napoli.



Cannavaro joined Real Madrid from Juventus following the Calciopoli crisis in 2006, signing a three year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Although his form with Madrid has been mixed at times, Cannavaro has still helped lead the giants to two successive La Liga titles.

The defender, who will turn 35 in September, sees his contract in the Spanish capital expire next year, and it is highly likely he will then return to Italy, possibly with his beloved hometown club Napoli, who he represented from 1992 to 1995.

"The current situation is that Fabio Cannavaro is about to begin his last season with the shirt of Real Madrid,” Gaetano Fedele told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“We will see what happens during the season, and whether or not there is the possibility to renew his contract.

“However, his dream has always been to return to wear the jersey of Napoli. So ..."

A move to the San Paolo would see Cannavaro link up with his younger brother Paolo, who currently stars for the Partenopei.

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Rafinha Faces Schalke Wrath

Schalke full back Rafinha faces the wrath of the Bundesliga club after failing to turn up for training in order to defy the club and join up with the Brazilian squad in Paris as they prepare to fly to China for the Olympics.




Rafinha was called up by Brazilian trainer Carlos Dunga, but the Gelsenkirchen club refused to release their player as the tournament does not fall within the jurisdiction of Fifa and as such there appears no barrier to them refusing to release him.

The dispute as to the Olympics seems to be gathering pace with a number of high profile players being denied the opportunity to take part in the Beijing Olympic tournament.

Earlier Fifa announced that the release of players under the age of 23 was mandatory, but on Monday German FA General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach revealed that Fifa had assured him that Bundesliga clubs didn’t have to release their stars.

Schalke defender Rafinha however seems to have taken matters into his own hands by defying his club in order to accept the Olympic call-up.

The Königsblauen had been due to go to Austria for a pre-season training camp, but the 22 year old Brazilian has reportedly headed to Paris to meet up with the Olympic squad.

"Rafinha is not here, but what should I do? I cannot lead him around in handcuffs" Schalke manager Andreas Müller told the Bild after it became clear that Rafinha was not going to show up for the club’s departure for Austria.

In a statement that appeared later on the club’s official website, Müller said he "would study what options are open to us with the DFL (German Football League)."

The DFL on Sunday claimed they would try and suspend any player who defiantly left his club to appear in Beijing, insisting there is "no requirement to release players" for the Olympics.

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