Heitinga: Hard Work Will Pay Off

John Heitinga believes that all the hard work Atlético de Madrid are doing during their trip to Mexico will pay dividends in the Champions League qualifiers next month.



The Dutch defender is revelling in his first few weeks with Los Colchoneros and despite not having tasted victory yet he is pleased with the way pre-season is going.

Against Tigres in Atleti's third game against Mexican opposition Heitinga scored, but he it was the performance of the team and the improvement of fitness levels he was more concerned with.

"I am very pleased to have scored my first goal for Atlético. But I know that my job is not to score goals. I know very well that I am a defender and that is my first responsibility," he told AS.

"It is still clear that we are not at our top level yet and we have more work to do to improve that. I think in our first official game though the work we have done in Mexico at altitude will show.

"This club has spent 12 seasons without being in the Champions League and that is a long time away. Now we have to win the qualifier and make it through. Right now, that is our main objective.

Coach Javier Aguirre will be able to choose where to play Heitinga after he revealed that his favourite position is not at full-back, but in the middle.

"I like to play in the centre of defence the most, more than playing at full-back or in midfield," he continued.

Despite there being almost five weeks until the start of the new season, Heitinga is excited about the prospect of playing in la Primera for the first time.

"I am anxious to start. I really want to know what it is like to play in the Spanish league. I am also really looking forward to making my league debut at home in the Calderón," he added.

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Rijkaard Recommends Oleguer To Ajax

Frank Rijkaard has been instrumental in Oleguer's imminent transfer from Barcelona to Ajax after he recommended the player to coach Marco van Basten.



The former Blaugrana trainer was asked about the Catalan defender following initial contact and sang his praises to the incoming coach of the Amsterdam giants.

Barcelona have told Oleguer that once again his chances of a regular first team place will be limited under Pep Guardiola and he is keen on a move to Ajax.

During his five years at Camp Nou, Rijkaard did not always field the 28-year-old in his starting line-up, but always viewed him as an essential squad player.

When calls were made each summer for the fringe players to be reduced at the club, the coach insisted that Oleguer was not included in the list and retained his services.

Now he has highlighted the Sabadell-born defender's ability to play in the centre of defence and at right-back to Van Basten, who is looking to bolster his Ajax squad.

Talks between the Dutch club and Barcelona are advanced, but Oleguer has still asked to go to Scotland with the rest of Guardiola's squad in case a deal is not finalised.

Last term, Oleguer spent several week on the sidelines after injuring his hand, while off the pitch he continues to court controversy with some of his political views.

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Barça Ready With €25m For Drogba

Barcelona will have to pay €25m if they are to prise Didier Drogba away from Chelsea after the striker made it clear that he wanted to leave the Premier League club, according to reports.



The Blaugrana are preparing to step up their pursuit of the Ivory Coast forward and are believed to now know the price that they will have to pay to land him, Sport state.

Chelsea have been reluctant to sell, but Drogba is keen to try one last new challenge in his career and sees a stint at Barcelona as the perfect move.

While Luis Felipe Scolari has said publicly that he wants the player to stay, it is believed that if a suitable replacement can be found then he will agree to the transfer.

Drogba has wanted to move away from Stamford Bridge since José Mourinho's departure last season and has already agreed that he woujld sign a three-year deal at Camp Nou.

Money is not an issue because the London outfit would be able to top what is on offer at Barcelona and it is simply a question of ambition at this stage in his career.

After turning 30, Drogba wants to taste life in either the Spanish or Italian leagues and Pep Guardiola's interest has swayed him towards a move to la Primera.

Barça's interest could well see Mourinho move to make a bid for his former goalscorer, but he is still keen on prising Frank Lampard away and knows that talks over another Blues player could jeopardise that.

Now Drogba is believed to want to wrap up a deal quickly in order to avoid the saga becoming tiresome and will use his absence from Chelsea's tour of the Far East to leave the club.

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Madrid Have Asked About Kaká - Galliani

Real Madrid have reignitd their interest in signing Kaká and have asked AC Milan about his availability which could indicate that the quest for Cristiano Ronaldo is stumbling.



Los Merengues made contact with the Rossoneri amid reports that Chelsea are preparing a mega offer for the Brazilian star and want to ensur that they do not miss out.

Milan's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, confirmed that the Spanish giants had made enquiries, but then reiterated that the player would not be going anywhere this summer.

"I was on Abramovich's boat," he said. "I wanted to talk about Shevchenko and he wanted to talk about Kaká, but in the end nothing happened.

"On the other hand, I can say that Madrid have again asked about Kaká."

Ramón Calderón has already seen his popularity sorely tested over the Milan star after promising to sign both him and Cesc Fàbregas during his race for the Madrid presidency.

Arjen Robben was the club's third choice and while he arrived, fans have not forgotten the club's supremo's failure to keep his promise on the more cherished stars.

The Madrid chief is currently under pressure after spending the summer making assurances that Ronaldo would be joining from Manchester United, only for the tide appearing to be turning against him.

Chelsea's interest in Kaká appears to be going nowhere with Milan dismissing reports that they had received a mega offer or were ready to accept one.

"We will never sell him," Galliani added. Even if we received an offer of €300m from Chelsea. The only way we would ever consider letting him go is if it was his desire."

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I am a striker, insists Podolski

Lukas Podolski is eager to fight for a place in Bayern Munich's frontline, despite starring for Germany as a left winger in EURO 2008.



The 23-year-old struggled for a regular spot in the Bayern roster last season, thanks to the presence of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose upfront.

However, Poldi was arguably Germany's best performer in Austria and Switzerland, where Joachim Loew rediscovered him in the left-wing position.

Podolski, who was poised to leave Allianz Arena this summer, was strongly linked with former club FC Koln, but has now declared his readiness to fight for a place in Jurgen Klinsmann's setup.

"I'll be there for the season opener against Hamburger SV on August 15," he said in an interview with Bundesliga.de.

"I sat on the bench most of the time and that's why I was thinking things over; it's logical.

"But I recently had a good talk with Jurgen Klinsmann and I'm looking forward to the coming season and totally concentrating on it.

"No coach in the world can guarantee a player a regular spot on the team. Everyone has to battle for his position

"I'm a flexible player who can play a variety of positions, but I am first and foremost a striker and I'll fight for my place in the attack."

Bayern will miss key winger Franck Ribery for the start of the season, an issue that could force Klinsmann to use Podolski in a wider position.

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Real pull Robinho out of Olympics

Real Madrid winger Robinho will miss next month's Olympic game in Beijing after sustaining a groin injury in training.



Real, who were reluctant to allow the 24-year-old represent Brazil this summer, has requested the Brazilian Football Federation to release Robinho.

"Real have sent a fax to the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation) explaining Robinho's injury and asking that he be left out of the Olympic squad," a statement on the club's site read.

"On the advice of the medical staff, the club has decided that the best thing for the player would be to go to the pre-season training camp with the rest of the squad where he can follow a rehabilitation program under the supervision of the club doctors."

Chelsea target Robinho, who said earlier that he is happy at Santiago Bernabeu, expressed his disappointment after being forced to miss the Olympics.

"Unfortunately I won't be able to go to the Olympics with Brazil, but that is Real Madrid's decision and I respect it," he said

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Essien pledges future with Chelsea

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has penned a new contract extension with Chelsea, tying him with the London club until 2013.




"I am really pleased to have extended my contract with Chelsea," said Essien, who was bought by Chelsea for a hefty ₤24M from Lyon.

"I am very happy here, we have a great team and fantastic fans who have always made me welcome. With the addition of the new manager, I am feeling very positive about the season ahead."

Essien is the second player to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge this week after goalkeeper Petr Cech, whilst the Blues have loaded off Claude Makelele and Khalid Boulahrouz.

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