MALDANADO IN ISTANBUL FOR FENERBAHCE

Chile defensive midfielder Claudio Maldonado signed with Fenerbahce on Tuesday on a 1 1/2-year contract.

Details of the 28-year-old player's contract were not released.

Fenerbahce was reportedly seeking a strong midfield player with defensive skills after Stephen Appiah, who transferred from Juventus in 2005, was seriously injured and could be out of action for the remainder of the season.


Signing Maldonado, a 39-time international, might make up for Appiah's absence as Fenerbahce looks toward the second round of the Champions League, where it faces Sevilla.

Fenerbahce signed Roberto Carlos last June, another high-profile player that moved to the Turkish team in recent years after France striker Nicolas Anelka and Serbia forward Mateja Kezman.

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