Leicester City won't renew the contract with Ricardo

The club has announced that they won't renew Ricardo's contract when it expires on 30 June 2011.

It is not known yet where Ricardo is going to play next.

Ricardo signed up the contract with Leicester City

The club has confirmed that Ricardo joined it until the end of the season.

Ricardo left Betis in early January by mutual consent and found a new club on a free transfer. He was training with Leicester since the last week and apparently his performance was impressive enough to earn him a fifth-months deal.

Leicester City plays in Football League Championship and currently is on 10th position in the table.

"I am delighted that we've been able to secure Ricardo on a permanent contract. He has impressed during his time at the club and brings extra competition to our goalkeeping department,” said Sven Goran-Eriksson, Leicester's coach.

“Ricardo is an excellent shot-stopper with agility and he plays with great confidence. He has played at the highest level and will be a great addition to our squad. Plus, he owes me after 2004 and 2006, so I'm sure he will be keen to do well for us." (quoted from PortuGOAL.net).

Ricardo in Leicester City?

Last years were not good for Ricardo. His club Betis Sevilla was relegated to Segunda Division after 2008/2009 season and he himself lost the place in the frist squad. He was not even given a squad number ahead of this season.

But finally there is a hope for a change. Ricardo was released by Betis in this month and is without a club for the time being. It is said that he was invited to train with Leicester City club by Sven Goran-Eriksson. The Swedish coach knows Ricardo two well. He managed the English team when they lost against Portugal in penalty shoot-out on Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. In both those cases it was Ricardo who stopped England, sucessufully defending penalties.

Although a contract has been not signed yet Maisfutebol claims that Ricardo intends to make the move to the club.

Will Ricardo join Leicester and fullfill his dreams to play in England? I wish him all the best.

"Whoever comes, he better know that he'll be my second goalkeeper", says Frey

Monica08 found an interesting article at http://www.tuttosport.com/ page about Sebastian Frey and his attitude to his club plans to sign a new goalkeeper. He is seems to be almost offended by the fact the Fiorentina hired Boruc. Below is her translation of this news.

According to Tuttosport.it July 21 2010.

Frey has been the indisputable #1 goalkeeper at Fiorentina since 2005. So why in the world did Fiorentina on June 12 2010 bother to go look for other top goalkeepers abroad??

In short, once Frey knew that Fiorentina was looking for another top goalkeeper he "complained" to the media. Fiorentina didn't like it and fined him! Fiorentina did it to provide Frey with more challenges and motivation (stimuli in Italian) but apparently Frey took Boruc' signing personally.

Frey's quote:
12 June - "My future, I still see it at Firenze. I am doing very well here. I have 3 more years left in my contract. Even if my [Fiorentina] sporting director is looking for other goalkeepers, I will stay here. I think I showed what I'm worth all these years and my love for the shirt. I don't understand how can one search for another goalkeeper when one has Frey as the #1goalkeeper [titolare]. The money will have to be spent in another manner. All these rumors have surprised me. In any case, whoever [new goalkeeper signing] comes, he better know that he'll be my second [goalkeeper] because I still have lots of willingness to play. I am convinced that I'm still important for my club [Fiorentina].

Meanwhile today the new Fiorentina manager was presented and he said "There is still time to decide. They are two great goalkeepers, it will be up to them.". Source: http://www.tuttosport.com.



Boruc of Frey? Who is going to win this competition?

Daniel Fernandes signed a contract with Panathinaikos

Daniel Fernandes went on a one-year loan to Greek League Champion Panathinaikos F.C.

His impressive performance in the second half of the previous season in Iraklis brought the attenction of several clubs, including Olympiacos and Braga.

It is reported that Portuguese club was interested in bringing the Portuguese goalkeeper as a replacement for Eduardo, who signed the contract with Genoa. However, Fernandes was already in advanced negotations with Panathinaikos.

Playing in Greek league is nothing new for Daniel. Save for a half of season spent in Iraklis, he played for six years for PAOK.

Candian-born Portuguese goalkeeper will have to compete for the place in the goal with Alexandros Tzorvas, no. 1 of the Greek team at the World Cup.

Artur Boruc signed a two-year contract with Fiorentina

Polish goalkeeper, Artur Boruc, signed a two-year contract with Fiorentina. He had already passed the medical tests and took part in the first training session.

In Celtic Glasow Artur was an unquestionable no. 1. Now he will have to compete for the place in the goal with Sebastian Frey. He probably won't be in the starting 11.

Boruc, known of his sharp-temper, had his ups and downs lately. He was crticized for bad performance in the qualifiers for World Cup 2010 and lost his place in the national team.

However, I will not forget when he was saving national team from the ashaming defeats. Match against Germany at World Cup 2010, when kept clean sheet till 90'. In 91' Germany managed to score. Numerous amazing one-on-one saves in the match with Austria at Euro 2008. It had to come to a penalty to defeat him. He was really good. Hope is going to come back to the national team.

Another Polish goalkeeper, Łukasz Załuska, stayed in Celitc at the first-choice goalkeeper.

Eduardo signed a four-year contract with Genoa

The same story again. It was said big clubs are following Eduardo. So many names were given. Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. And how it ends?

At Thursday morning he signed the contract with Genoa.

Can't help the though that in a way he did the same what Ricardo did back in 2007. Perhaps they have the same agent...

Of course Genoa is a better club than Betis, but still... Not so sure if it was the best he could choose. Eduardo is going to be in starting 11, no doubt about this, but Genoa, which finished the season 2009/2010 on 9th place, did not qualify to European League. Therefore Eduardo is going to play only in Serie A. Will it be enough to secure his place between the sticks as Portuguese no. 1?

The Italian club paid €4.5m for Eduardo's transfer. He replaced departed Marco Amelia.

Eduardo transfer news

After the impressive performance on the World Cup Eduardo's transfer this summer is almost certain. Big European clubs, including Manchester United and Bayern Munich, are tracking the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Portuguese sources report that Braga set £10 million price for Eduardo's transfer.

Quim signed three year contract with Braga

Portuguese goalkeeper Quim has signed a contract with Sporting Clube de Braga on a free transfer until June 2013.

Quim's career started in Braga in 1994. He played in the club for 10 years before transferring to Benfica. His contract was due to expire this summer. Águias chose not to extend it.

He earned 144 caps during his 6 years of career in Benfica. In 2009/2010 the club won the Portuguese League with 76 points and also Taça da Liga second time in the row. Braga finished second with 71 points.

A constant deputy for Ricardo during Scolariada times, he spent years waiting till finally he become no. 1 in Selecção's goal when Carlos Queiroz became the coach. However, he lost his spot in 2008 and Eduardo became the no. 1. He was not called-up for the World Cup squad.

Moments of glory? Taça da Liga 2008/2009 finale Sporting Lisboa - Benfica. After 1-1 draw eventually it came to the penalty shoot-out. Quim defended three and became man of the match.

Good luck in Braga, Quim.