We can fight against Madrid and Barcelona
Fighting talk from Roberto Soldado in press conference

 Official Press Release - Transfer
Valencia CF reach agreement with Sampdoria for loan of Stankevicius

 Dealbert ready to fight for place
Defender relishing competition for defensive spot

 Pablo: "I don't feel like second-choice"
Midfielder applauds Joaquin's Malaga masterclass but targets Racing return

 Official Press Release - Transfer
Valencia CF reach agreement with Sampdoria for loan of Stankevicius

 Emery highlights Stankevicius versatility
Coach also sees big roles for Topal and Albelda in 2010/11

 Emery's Analysis
Valencia manager reviews opening game win against Malaga

 Jornada 1 Post Game Notes: Joaquin rises to the challenge
Winger stars in Malaga win -one of his best performances in a VCF shirt.

 Winning start in Malaga (1-3)
First goal for Aduriz and second half brace for Joaquin starts VCF's season in style.

 VCF get Man Utd, Rangers and Bursaspor in Champions League
Unai Emery analyses Group C rivals after Thursday's draw in Monaco

 Atletico Madrid tracking Silva struggles at Man City

Atletico Madrid are monitoring David Silva's situation at Manchester City.

The former Valencia star has struggled in the opening weeks of the Premier League season and City boss Roberto Mancini admits the Spaniard needs time to adjust to the hurly-burly of English football.

Cadena Ser says Atletico are keeping tabs on the situation and are ready to register their interest with City about bringing Silva back to Spain next summer - if not sooner.

Click here for the best Manchester City coverage on the 'net. All your City news and gossip in one spot.

 PSV star Afellay opens door to Spanish Liga move

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay admits he fancies a move to Spain.

Afellay is inside the final year of his current PSV deal and is eyeing a switch to the Spanish Liga.

"In addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid, Valencia is a wonderful club. Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, I could still go on ...," said the Holland playmaker.

"The football in Spain attracts me, it's a great competition. They really play football. The boys from Oranje have told me many positive stories about the country."

 Everton not right type of club for Dutch winger Afellay

PSV Eindhoven winger Ibrahim Afellay has revealed that Everton made a move to sign him this summer, but he didn't like 'the feel' of the club, reports the Daily Mirror.

The 24 year old has been linked in the past with Arsenal and Liverpool, but it was the Toffees who tried to lure the player to Merseyside during this transfer window.

"There were several clubs that tried to sign me this summer. Hamburg and Everton wanted me, but there has to be a good feeling with a club, and that was not the case, so I decided to stay at PSV," said Afellay.

"I've been told on more than one occasion that I'm aiming too high, but I don't care about that.

"I'd prefer to move to Spain. The Primera Division is a great league and Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are all good teams.

"My colleagues in the Netherlands national side have told me about Spain and I'd be happy to play there."

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 Boateng back for Man City this weekend

Manchester City defender Jerome Boateng is ready for first team return.

The News of the World says Boateng is expected to face Blackburn on Saturday after finally recovering from a tendon injury in his left knee.

The Germany international will provide competition for Micah Richards at right-back, but can also play centre-half.

He has been restricted to just one appearance for City in a pre-season friendly against Valencia.

Click here for the best Manchester City coverage on the 'net. All your City news and gossip in one spot.

 Tino Costa insists Valencia can compete with Barcelona, Real Madrid

New Valencia midfielder Tino Costa insists they can challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona for the title.

Costa arrived in the summer from France.

The Argentine said: "No doubt it will be very difficult. Barcelona are on a level all on their own. I've seen Real Madrid play and I don't fear them. I think Real Madrid, we can play as equals, we can match them. If you say we will finish fourth or fifth, it's not worth the effort.

"We have to be the most ambitious ever. Then whatever will be, will be, but even when we play against Barca we must go out to win or steal points."

 Man Utd leave Hargreaves, Bebe off Champions League list

Owen Hargreaves and Beb? have been left out of Manchester United's Champions League squad.

Hargreaves has been left out on grounds of fitness; a decision that indicates Ferguson does not anticipate the injury-troubled midfielder will recover from his long-standing knee problems in the next few months. United's final group match is against Valencia on 7 December.

Beb? is a more complex case, having signed from Vit?ria Guimar?es on 11 August for £7.4m without Ferguson ever having seen him play. United's manager had relied on recommendations before arranging a deal for the 20-year-old, but it has since become apparent to the club's coaching staff that the Portuguese is a long way from challenging for the first team and will need more work on the training ground than had been previously anticipated.

Click here for the best Manchester United coverage on the 'net. All your United news and gossip in one spot.

 Valencia ready to sign Man City striker Santa Cruz in January

Valencia are ready to sign Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The two clubs enjoy a good relationship thanks to David Silva's move to Eastlands early in the summer.

Santa Cruz came close to signing with Fulham on deadline day, but could move to Spain in January should Valencia coach Unai Emery decide he needs a new striker.

Need your Manchester City news fix? Click here for all City news and transfer rumours.

 Maduro determined to improve at Valencia

Valencia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro is determined to have his best ever season in Spain.

Maduro has struggled to find consistency since his arrival from Ajax.

But he says: "I have a lot of confidence because my last match me was very good [for Netherlands] even though it was not the first choice squad. I played in midfield and knew I had nothing to lose, I focused on having a good game, as the minutes passed , I was gaining confidence so I could show my real level.

"In the Netherlands I was more settled in midfield, I can also play as central defender and for me that is no problem. Honestly, there comes a time when you do not care what position you play, because the important thing is to be on the pitch.

"I will fight no more in practice to stop being an impact player, this season we will have the Champions League, which is a tougher competition and will be important for us all to perform I'm in a great shape because I want to start well. I feel good, and although I did not play in Malaga, the [pre-season friendly] match against Fiorentina helped me a lot to prove I can play more for Valencia."

 Valencia coach Emery offers Fernandes olive branch

Valencia coach Unai Emery says Manuel Fernandes remains in his plans.

Fernandes missed out on moves to Tottenham and Malaga this week.

But Emery said: “The player expressed his intention to leave because he believes it will be good for his growth, and he thinks he will not play as regularly as before because of the new signings.

“In response to his request we made an effort to conclude a deal that was best for all parties, but in the end he decided to stay. He is involved and we welcome him with open arms, now that he has decided to stay.”

 EPL squads 2010/11: Man Utd

Manchester United squad 2010/11

tribalfootball rating: 7.68

Goalkeeping strength: 7

Edwin van der Sar
Tomasz Kuszczak
Ben Amos

Defensive strength: 7.25

Wes Brown
Jonathan Evans
Patrice Evra
Rio Ferdinand
Gary Neville
John O'Shea
Nemanja Vidic

Midfield strength: 8.5

Darren Fletcher
Darron Gibson
Ryan Giggs
Nani
Owen Hargreaves
Anderson
Park Ji-Sung
Paul Scholes
Antonio Valencia
Michael Carrick

Forward strength: 8

Dimitar Berbatov
Javier Hernandez
Michael Owen
Wayne Rooney

Key U21 players

Federico Macheda
Gabriel Obertan
Chris Smalling
Bebe
Rafael
Fabio

Need your Manchester United news fix? Click here for all United news and transfer rumours.

 Brighton move swiftly for released Dundee Utd striker

Brighton have clinched the signing of Spanish striker Fran Sandaza.

The 25-year-old arrives at the Withdean as a free agent following his release by Dundee United on transfer deadline day.

Seagulls boss Gus Poyet has been monitoring the former Valencia frontman for two years and was delighted with the deal.

"I knew about Fran two years ago when Roberto di Matteo was trying to take him from Valencia to MK Dons," said Poyet.

"Instead he went to Dundee United and made his name in Scotland with an impressive first season in the SPL, in which he scored against both Rangers and Celtic.

"He had a hernia problem last season which restricted him and we had to first make sure he had recovered. We also had to wait as he had options elsewhere, but I am happy everything has worked out and I am looking forward to him scoring goals for Brighton."

 Tottenham attempted deal for Valencia midfielder Fernandes

Tottenham attempted to broker a loan deal for Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes yesterday.

Las Provincias says Fernandes was keen on the move as he is not in Valencia coach Una Emery's plans this season.

A loan move was mooted, but nothing could be agreed in time for England's 6pm transfer deadline.

Need your Tottenham news fix? Click here for all Spurs news and transfer rumours.

 TRANSFER WINDOW: Birmingham

Arrivals:
Alex Hleb (loan from Barcelona)
Ben Foster (£6m from Manchester United)
Nikola Zigic (£6m from Valencia)
Enric Valles (free from NAC Breda)
Matt Derbyshire (loan from Olympiakos)
Martin Jiranek (undisclosed from Spartak Moscow)
Jean Beausejour (undisclosed from Club America)

Departures:
Marcus Bent (loan to Wolves)
Artur Krysiak (free to Exeter)
Cristian Benitez (loan return to Santos Laguna)
Gary McSheffrey (free to Coventry)
Lee Carsley (released, now at Coventry City)
Franck Queudrue (released, now at Panionios)
Gregory Vignal (released, currently unattached)
Jake Jervis (loan to Notts County)
Robin Shroot (loan to Cheltenham)
Luke Hubbins (loan to Notts County)

Need your Birmingham City news fix? Click here for all Blues news and transfer rumours.

 TRANSFER WINDOW: Man City

Arrivals:
Mario Balotelli (£24m from Inter)
Yaya Toure (£25m from Barcelona)
David Silva (£24m from Valencia)
James Milner (undisclosed from Aston Villa)
Jerome Boateng (£10m from Hamburg)
Alexandar Kolarov (£16m from Lazio)
Alex Henshall (undisc. from Swindon)

Departures:
Robinho (£12m to AC Milan)
Craig Bellamy (loan to Cardiff)
Martin Petrov (free to Bolton)
Valeri Bojinov (£4.25m to Parma)
Sylvinho (released, currently unattached)
Benjani Mwaruwari (released, now at Blackburn Rovers)
Paul Marshall (free to Walsall)
Robert Mak (undisclosed to Nurnberg)
David Ball (loan to Swindon)
Gunnar Nielsen (loan to Tranmere)
Javier Garrido (£2.5m to Lazio)
Andrew Tutte (loan to Rochdale)
Nedum Onouha (loan to Sunderland)
Stephen Ireland (undisclosed to Aston Villa)
Vladimir Weiss (loan to Rangers)
Adam Clayton (nominal to Leeds)

Need your Manchester City news fix? Click here for all City news and transfer rumours.

 Valencia swoop for Sampdoria defender Stankevicius

Valencia have captured Sampdoria wing-back Marius Stankevicius.

Stankevicius spent last season on-loan at Sevilla and will complete his move to Valencia today.

Valencia moved for Stankevicius after losing Alexis and Carlos Marchena in the summer.

 

Valencia CF (also known as Club de Futbol, Valencia C.F. or Valencia or Los Che) is a professional Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. Valencia CF play in La Liga and is one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in Spain. Valencia's home matches are held at the Estadio Mestalla stadium since 1923; the club has plans to the bigger Nou Mestalla stadium in 2011. Valencia CF has won many titles and trophies including Copa del Rey trophies, La Liga titles, UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cups and more.

The football seasons between 1999 and 2004 were the most successful seasons in Valencia CF's history. During these seasons Valencia won one UEFA Cup, 2 La Liga titles, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Cup.

In the summer of 2004 Valencia's coach Rafa Ben?tez decided to leave the club and the team had trouble to keep its ranking; several months later, Valencia was ranked at the 7th place and knocked out of the Champions League group phase. The 2004/05 season ended with Valencia outside of the UEFA Cup spots.

In the following season with Quique S?nchez Flores as the new manager, Valencia CF finished at the 3rd place and gained its placement in the Champions League.

During the 2006/07 season Valencia experienced various difficulties, many of the team's key players were injured and there were also many arguments between the club's management and the new Sporting Director Amedeo Carboni. Valencia finished the season in the 4th place and was eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-finals stage. Eventually, the club's Sporting Director was replaced and the club's future looked brighter.

In the following 2007/08 season, Valencia CF's manager was replaced but the club's performance got worst rather than the expected improvement. Valencia dropped to the 15th place; just 2 points from the relegation zone. The new manager was dismissed and Voro was hired as the new manager and Valencia avoided the relegation zone and finished the season at the 10th place. By the end of that season, Valencia's manager was replaced and the 2008/09 season looked promising.

Valencia CF began the 2008/09 season with great performance, won 4 out of the first 5 matches and easily reached the top of the La Liga table. Unfortunately for Valencia, in the rest of the season the club was not as successful as it was in the beginning of the season. Valencia players were not paid for weeks and reports regarding massive debts of the club emerged. Valencia was knocked out of the UEFA Cup and hardly gained only 5 points in La Liga before it was announced that the club has secured a loan to cover the players expenses until the end of that year.

Following the announcing of the loan Valencia won six of the next eight games and finished at the 6th position of the table.