Football Club

ARSENAL are monitoring France Under-21 international striker Emmanuel Riviere to see if he is capable of following in the footsteps of childhood idol Thierry Henry.

Riviere is one of the most highly-rated young players in France after saving St Etienne from relegation with eight goals in just 19 starts last season.

The 20-year-old forward, who was born on the Caribbean island of Martinique, homeland of Henry’s mother, has one year left on his contract and is desperate to join the Gunners.

“Arsenal would really be the jewel in the crown for me,” said Riviere. “They play a fast-moving, attacking style of football, and they’re always shooting on goal.

“It’s fantastic.

“I respect Thierry Henry for who he is, he has always inspired me.”

Arsenal face competition from Lyon, Marseille and Juventus for the £5million-rated youngster.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren is delighted that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come out of international retirement ahead of Wednesday’s friendly with Scotland.

“It’s tough to say he had an up-and-down season,” said Hamren about the enigmatic Spanish-based striker.

“Because, in my opinion, he had a good season in his first year at Barcelona.

“He is looking forward to coming back to the Swedish team and I’m sure we will have a lot of energy and quality when he is back.”

Ibrahimovic retired from international football following Sweden’s failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup but is back to boost their chances of qualifying for Euro 2012.

Lars Lagerback also resigned as coach following that disappointment and Hamren took over in November, initially while still coaching Rosenborg before later deciding to concentrate on the national side.

“For me, it has to come from the player’s heart,” said Sweden’s new coach when asked about the 28-year-old striker’s commitment.

“As a coach, I can help, of course. But, if it’s not coming from themselves, you can be the best player in the world, but if you’re not motivated it’s not going to be good for the team.

“He has taken the decision to play for Sweden and wants to do his best for Sweden and we are all really happy.”

Ibrahimovic, who is expected to start against Scotland, has refused to rule out a move to English football one day – but insists he has no intention of quitting Barcelona any time soon.

He joined the Catalan giants last summer from Inter Milan in what was the second most expensive transfer in football history.

He has since been linked with both Manchester City and Chelsea and, although flattered by the speculation, the striker claims he is happy at the Nou Camp despite mixed reviews of his first season there.

“The whole summer, it has been a new club every day,” said Ibrahimovic.

“I’m very happy there is an interest in me, but I have four years more with Barcelona and I will not leave Barcelona because I am very happy there and I play with the best team in the world.

“I’m very happy to stay there. But, if clubs are interested in me, I take it as a compliment. It means I’m doing a good job.

“To play in England one day – absolutely. I feel I can give much more and I can still develop.

“You never know what happens in football, in 24 hours a lot of things can change.”

Real Madrid star Kaka is set to be out of action for up to four months after undergoing knee surgery in Belgium.

A post-World Cup medical revealed a problem with the Brazilian’s left knee and the midfielder had to leave Real’s pre-season camp in Los Angeles.

The Spanish club said earlier that the 28-year-old midfielder had suspected meniscus damage.

“It went well – the typical recovery period is three to four months,” said an assistant to surgeon Marc Martens.

A half-hour arthroscopic operation was carried out by Martens on Thursday morning.

The second most expensive footballer in history – behind team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo – joined Real last June in a £56m transfer from Italian team AC Milan.

But his first season in La Liga was plagued by a groin injury, which restricted him to 22 appearances as Real finished second behind champions Barcelona.

However, new manager Jose Mourinho is confident his team will not miss Kaka too badly.

Spaniards Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon, Argentine Angel di Maria and German Sami Khedira are among the new faces at the Bernabeu this season.

“If we have to lose him for a while, it won’t be a drama – we have other players,” the Portuguese said after Madrid’s 3-2 win over Mexican side America on Wednesday.

“But we want him to be at 100% so he is happy. He is a player who is much loved by his team-mates – he is one of the best players in the world.”

Manager Neil Lennon refused to write off Celtic, despite the Champions League first-leg loss to Braga.

“Some people may think the tie is over; we don’t,” he declared in the aftermath of Wednesday’s miserable 3-0 defeat.

“We’ve got a good record at home, we’ve been in this position before and we’ll just have to go and be at our very best next week.”

Aiden McGeady was omitted from the Celtic squad, with Lennon insisting the winger was injured.

It had been suggested, by Lennon, that the Republic of Ireland international was keen on a move away from Celtic Park.

And the 24-year-old has not featured in any of Celtic’s pre-season games because of a thigh strain.

However, he travelled to Portugal with the rest of the squad and Lennon had said he would play.

On McGeady’s absence, Lennon denied knowledge of any developments on a possible move and added: “He was complaining of a chronic back injury last night.

“Having spoken to the medical team, with the lack of training and the lack of game time he’s had, I thought it best not to risk him.

“Hopefully, we’ll have him for the second leg.”

Celtic trailed to an Osorio Alan penalty at the interval, with Uwa Echiejile and Nascimento Matheus grabbing second half goals for the home side.

Lennon was critical of referee Serge Gumienny and his assistants for giving the penalty when a cross hit the arm of Ki Sung-Yeung.

“His arms and his hands are down by his side; it’s ball to hand,” said the manager.

“He [Gumienny] made some strange decisions. He booked Charlie Mulgrew after less than 10 minutes for time-wasting. That was just incredible.

“He didn’t book any of the Braga players until maybe the final five minutes.

“So I’m not pleased with the referee’s performance at all.”

The goals after the break came from a corner and a free-kick, which left Lennon exasperated.

“We lost the game to three set-pieces, which was very disappointing,” he continued.

“I thought we were comfortable in the game. At times, we could have passed the ball better.

“Some of our better ball players didn’t take care of the ball as well as they should have done at times.”

Defending his decision to deploy Georgios Samaras as a lone striker, resulting in no shots on target for the visitors, Lennon said: “Our goalkeeper had one save to make in the 92, 93 minutes.

“We set up to be defensive and try to not give too much away.”

Although Lennon indicated McGeady still had a future at Parkhead, the same cannot be said for right-back Andreas Hinkel, who was also not in the squad – because he was not registered.

“He’s got a year left on his contract and we can’t afford to let that run down,” explained Lennon.

“We brought in Cha [Du-Ri], so he will be predominantly the first choice right-back.”

Stuttgart say their German international midfielder Sami Khedira is poised to join Real Madrid.

A statement from the German team said the clubs had agreed a transfer and his move would go ahead once the 23-year-old had undergone a medical.

Stuttgart managing director Fredi Bobic said they were reluctant to let him go “but we can understand Sami’s wish to further his career at Real.

“We wish him great success with his new challenge in Madrid.”

When the deal goes through, Khedira will become new Real boss Jose Mourinho’s second major signing, following the arrival of winger Angel di Maria from Benfica.

Two club stalwarts, Raul and Guti, have left Madrid this week as they begin rebuilding the team for the Mourinho era.

Khedira, who also had been linked with a move to Chelsea, has won 12 caps, having only made his debut for Germany less than a year ago.

But he was thrust into the spotlight at the World Cup because of the injury which ruled captain Michael Ballack out of the tournament.

He teamed up well with Bastian Schweinsteiger as a young Germany side finished in a surprise place, and he rounded off a impressive tournament display with his first goal for his country in the third place play-off win over Uruguay.

Lee Grant is relishing the competition between himself and Brian Jensen to start the season as number one goalkeeper at Burnley.

The Clarets completed the signing of Grant for an undisclosed fee from Sheffield Wednesday.

Grant : “It can only end up being great for the club. I doubt very much the situation will come between our friendship.

“But it will though certainly liven things up between the pair of us.”

The two were briefly team-mates in 2005 when Grant had a six week loan spell at Turf Moor under Steve Cotterill.

Grant said: “I’m sure Brian will be relishing having me here, and we can really push each other and maybe learn off each other.”

Something is going to give, however. The 27-year-old Grant has started 136 consecutive games for the Owls, missing only one match since joining Sheffield Wednesday from Derby in July 2007. Jensen has not missed a match for Burnley since the opening day of the 2008-09 season.

Grant said: “We’ve spoken on the phone and it’s been very light hearted, though I’m sure that will turn a bit more serious this week as the competition hots up. But we are good friends and I’m sure it won’t affect that.”

Former Spain striker Raul has announced his departure from Real Madrid after 18 years and claimed he could now make a move to England’s Premier League.

The 33-year-old was expected to join German side Schalke on a two-year deal but Raul denied a deal had been done.

“I have had very deep discussions with Schalke but there are other teams that are also interested. My future lies in Germany or England,” he said.

Raul scored 323 goals in 741 games for Real, and 44 goals in 102 Spain games.

That scoring record helped him become a legend at the Bernabeu club, which he joined in 1992 – making his first-team debut against Real Zaragoza in October 1994 at the age of 17.

If he opts against a move to the Bundesliga with Schalke, Tottenham and Newcastle have been mooted as possible options for the veteran forward, while Liverpool and Manchester United have also been mentioned as potential destinations for the Madrid idol.

“In a few days I will know whether I’ll be going to the Bundesliga [or to England],” he told a press conference, also attended by president Florentino Perez and director general Jorge Valdano.

Raul helped Real seal three Champions League triumphs and six Spanish league titles in his time at Real and he revealed: “This is a very tough and difficult day.

“Football has been my life and Real Madrid my home. Together we have lived unique moments.

“I feel like a footballer still and I will keep on playing but I will always be loyal to Real Madrid. I have tried to give everything in my time here.

“A new period starts today. I have been happy at Real Madrid and I will always be willing to help the club in whatever it needs.”

Real president Florentino Perez also paid tribute to the departing idol and stated: “We will never forget Raul.

“There are many men who form part of the legend of Real Madrid but few that are chosen to embody the club – Raul is one of those.”

Midfielder Guti, 33, who spent a total of 25 years with Real having come through their youth system, announced he was joining Turkish club Beskitas on Sunday.

Motherwell

Motherwell have avoided what manager Craig Brown feared would be a nightmare trip to face Norwegian side Aalesunds in Europa League qualifying.

Craig Brown, whose side defeated Breidablik in Iceland on Thursday, had feared they would face a two-day trek for next week’s first leg.

They would have flown from Aberdeen on Monday then faced an internal flight.

But a 60-seat charter plane will now leave Glasgow on Wednesday and return immediately after Thursday’s game.

Brown had expressed initial concerns about how to reach the island sea port city of Alesund, 147 miles north east of Bergen.

The manager, speaking to BBC Scotland immediately after the 1-0 second qualifying round win in Iceland, thought they would face “a marathon trip” that would mean they were away from Scotland for four or five days.

However, the club have now found an easier way to reach by Wednesday the home of Aalesunds, who qualified for the Europa League by winning last season’s Norwegian Cup.

Having finished 13th in Norway’s top flight last season, Aalesunds lie fifth this term after 17 games of their present season but lost their last game, following up a 0-0 draw at home to Molde with a 1-0 defeat away to Start.

Brown is keen to have their opponents watched in their next match, on Saturday, at home to second-top Valerenga.

“Somebody, probably myself, will have to go in advance to watch them play,” he said.

“So it’s far from ideal, but we are pleased that the second leg is in Motherwell and we hope to have a good result to take there.”

Jamie Murphy’s first-half strike at the Kopavogsvollur Stadium ensured a single-goal victory in Iceland and a 2-0 win on aggregate.

And the goalscorer, who equalled Stevie Kirk’s record of five goals for Motherwell in European competition, was unconcerned about any long journey to Norway.

“It’s not the worst problem,” he said. “I’ve been with the Scotland Under-21s and we have been travelling for three or four days and getting four flights to go 100 miles, it seemed.

“So it will be no different and I’m sure we will be ready.”

Murphy was pleased to have equalled the record set up by midfielder Kirk, who had a nine-year spell with the Fir Park club from 1986.

“I am very proud,” he said. “When I started playing for Motherwell, it wasn’t something I thought I would get.

“So it is a great honour to be alongside someone like Stevie Kirk, who is such a nice guy as well.

“I will speak to him when I get back, but hopefully I can score again in the next round.”