Claudio Maldonado coming to Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce is finaly getting Claudio Maldonado a Chilian soccer player.
He is due to arrive in Istanbul late tonight.

Hi real name is Claudio Andrés del Tránsito Maldonado Rivera, but he is known as Claudio Maldonado.

Born on January 3, 1980 in Curicó, Chile) is a Chilean football player who is captain of the national side. He is a similar type of player to the likes of Ivan Campo, Mahamadou Diarra and Claude Makelele. Maldonado poseeses a great big engine, top passing and tremendous battling qualities and is thought of by many as one of the best players in South America in his position creating an iron shield infront of the defence. He rarely goes forward, his goal tally is less than ten, although 3 of the goals were a hat-trick against Manchester United in a friendly in 2007, but what he lacks in scoring Maldonado makes up for in tenacity and an ability to break down the opposition with great efffectiveness.

He spent three seasons with São Paulo FC making 35 appearances with the team.

For the 2006 season, Maldonado was reunited with former Cruzeiro's coach Luxemburgo at Santos Futebol Clube for a fee of $4.5 million. However at the end of the Brazilian season was scheduled to have ankle surgery which caused him to be miss up to two months. After recuperating Maldonado continued playing for Santos reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 Copa Libertadores. Currently Santos has completed the 2007 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in second place and are eligible to compete in the upcoming Copa Libertadores 2008.
Maldonado has appeared in 39 games with the adult squad and has netted one goal. For 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, Maldonado was a regular with the first team and has since gained the captaincy of the national team. As of recent Maldonando has been called up to serve on the Chilean national team that is managed by Marcelo Bielsa.

TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION INCREASES FOREIGN-PLAYER QUOTA TO 6+2

TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION INCREASES FOREIGN-PLAYER QUOTA TO 6+2 Turkish Football Federation Executive Board increased foreign-player quota to 6+2 for clubs at Turkcell Super League.

Galatasaray sign Barusso from Roma

Galatasaray have all but completed the signing of Roma midfielder Ahmed Barusso, the Turkish club’s Vice President Adnan Polat has confirmed.


The 23-year-old only signed for the Giallorossi last summer from Serie B side Rimini, however he has barely had a look-in under Coach Luciano Spalletti.

Roma currently possess some of the best centre-midfielders in Europe in the form of Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta, and it was inevitable that Barusso was going to struggle to make his mark.

The Ghanaian is currently on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, but he will fly to Istanbul at the end of the tournament to begin his career in the Turkish League.

"In principle, we have agreed on everything with Roma and with the player,” Polat told Galatasaray TV.

“I can't say it is 100 % before we sign the contract but he will arrive in Turkey after the tournament."

Andreas Isaksson joining Galatasaray...

Manchester City expect Andreas Isaksson to join Galatasaray before the close of the transfer window on Thursday night.


The Turkish giants have made a bid for the Sweden international who has been told he can leave Eastlands by manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

Joe Hart’s success in assuming the role of being City’s number one, despite his tender years, has left Isaksson with little choice but to seek alternative employment.

The 26-year-old revealed on Sunday he was keen to move to the Turkish Superlig and Eriksson’s long-standing right-hand man, Tord Grip, has confirmed the keeper will most likely have his wish granted.

“I don’t see any reason why the deal should not be completed this week,” Grip told Expressen.

Isaksson has made just 18 Premier League appearances in the 18 months he has spent at Eastlands as the start to his City career was severely hampered by a string of injuries that prevented him from making his debut until December 2006.

Ankaraspor start to win with Antonio De Nigris!..........

Mexican player Antonio De Nigris is the good luck charm for Ankaraspor!..

Ever since he transferred from Gaziantepspor to Ankaraspor, Ankaraspor won their games.



Antonio De Nigris first played against Vestel Manisaspor and they won that match 1-0.Antonio De Nigris was a big factor in this match.


This past weekend, Ankaraspor won the away match in Konya ,against Konyaspor.

In this match, Antonio De Nigris, scored his first goal under Ankaraspor uniform. Ankarspor won the match 3-1. The basement team of Turkcell Super League, Ankaraspor started the second half of the season , with a bang.

after this weekend, they moved up from 17th place to 15th place.
Lucky charm from Mexico,Antonio De Nigris, gave a shot in arm for Ankaraspor....

TURKEY FORTIS CUP QUARTER FINAL MATCHES

Turkish Fortis Cup Quarter Finals matches decided....

Fenerbahce and Galatasaray will play early final match in the Fortis Cup.

There will be two matches one at home and one away...and the winner will move on to next- round in the Fortis Cup.

First matches will be played on February 1,2 and 3rd.

Fenerbahce - Galatasaray
Caykur Rizespor - Besiktas
Adana Demirspor - Genclerbirligi
Genclerbirligi Oftasspor - Kayserispor

FENERBAHCE BLOW SIVASSPOR AWAY AND GALATASARAY GETS ON TOP AGAIN.....

Galatasaray have moved one point clear at the top of the Turkish Turkcell Super League thanks to a 4-0 rout of Ankaragucu and Fenerbahce, beating Sivaspor In Sivas.
Hakan Sukur got the ball rolling for the visitors after 36 minutes with Arda Turan and Umit Karan then scoring in the space of two minutes to give the Istanbul club a 3-0 lead at the interval.
Serkan Calik rounded off the scoring two minutes from time to move Galatasaray to the summit ahead of Fenerbahce, who were just as impressive in their 4-1 win over former league leaders Sivasspor.
Alex and Semih Senturk found the target in the first half, and although Musa Aydin pulled a goal back for the hosts, a brace from Mateja Kezman secured the win which allows Fenerbahce to leap-frog their opponents into second place.

Kayserispor sit a distant fifth after strikes from Alioum Saidou and Gokhan Unal earned them a 2-0 success at basement boys Kasimpasa. Manisaspor held off a late fightback to beat Denizlispor 3-2 and Ankaraspor were convincing 3-1 winners at Konyaspor.There were two matches that postponed to Monday in the league.
Bursaspor v Genclerbirlgi and Caykur Rizespor v Trabzonspor.

BESIKTAS MOVE ON!

Besiktas moved level two points with Turkcell Super League leaders Galaysaray thanks to a 3-1 defeat of Gaziantepspor on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead through Cristian Zurita but Edouard Cisse levelled for Besiktas before the break.

Second-half strikes from Mert Nobre and Ricardinho settled the contest and moved the hosts on to 43 points alongside Sivasspor, whose game in hand is at home to Fenerbahce on Monday .

Sunday's other game saw Genclerbirligi OFTAS edge out Istanbul Buyuksehir BSK 3-2.BSK went 2-0 up inside 13 minutes with Kerim Zengin and Ilyas Kahraman on target.

But the hosts stormed back to win it with Sandro's double added to by a Bulent Kocabey effort.