Mandzukic: I'm leaving Bayern

The striker says despite his best efforts he simply cannot get the best out of himself in the club's new playing style and will now depart for pastures new

Mario Mandzukic has confirmed he will leave Bayern Munich as a result of his failure to adapt to Pep Guardiola's tactics.

Mandzukic has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, after his future with the Bundesliga giants came under scrutiny following the signing of Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Croatia international - a regular former boss Jupp Heynckes - was in and out of the side last season and ended the campaign by being dropped for the DFB Pokal final victory over Dortmund. 

The 28-year-old striker has now confirmed he is leaving Bayern, and pointed to Guardiola's possession-based style as the primary factor behind that decision.

Mandzukic also revealed he had a meeting with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in early May, telling the Bayern chief he wanted a move.

"At Bayern it was fantastic. It's a fantastic club. Indeed, until recently I didn't even think about leaving, and especially that it would happen now," he told Sportske novosti.

"Let's be honest, the style Guardiola wants at Bayern doesn't suit me.

"In the first leg against Real in Madrid (in the Champions League), I definitely understood, no matter how much I try, I can't get the best out of myself with this style.

"When it's like that, I don't feel good and it's best for everyone that we part.

"Thanks to the club who offered a contract extension, thanks to Guardiola, who is a great coach, and I wish everyone all the best for the future.

"Bayern and their fans will always be the most beautiful and most emotional story of my career. The time has come for new challenges."

Mandzukic refused to say where his next challenge would be as he prepares to represent Croatia at the World Cup.

He is suspended for Thursday's tournament opener against Brazil, but is sure to face Cameroon and Mexico in Group A.

Agent dismisses Arda Turan to Barcelona reports

The Turkey international's representative has played down reports the Camp Nou club have contacted him about a move for his client this summer

Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan is not close to switching to La Liga rivals Barcelona this summer and is “happy” with at the Vicente Calderon.

The Turkey international has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital this summer with several clubs said to be interested in the 27-year-old’s services.
Recent reports stated that Barcelona were willing to pay Arda's €24m buyout clause despite the midfielder only signing a new contract in September last year, which will keep him at the club until 2017.
However, the player's agent Ahmet Bulut has stressed that his player is happy at Spanish champions Atletico and does not want a move away from the Madrid-based club.
"What has been published and has been put in my mouth is false. Barça have not contacted me about Arda and the player is happy at Atletico," Bulut was quoted as saying in Mundo Deportivo.
The rumours surfaced after Bulut was spotted in Barcelona, but the agent explained he was there to negotiate with a German side over a move for one of his players currently in Serie A.

Clarke banks on full-strength squad for Africa

PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY: Australian captain Michael Clarke said on Wednesday that he expects to have a full-strength squad, apart from David Warner, for the upcoming tri-series with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Australia are due to play four one-dayers in Harare in August and September, two against each African nation, as well as a potential final.

Clarke said the tour was a crucial step in the team’s preparations for next year’s World Cup and he wants as strong a team as possible alongside him.

“It’s an important series,” he told reporters. “Any one-day game leading up to the World Cup is crucial to us as a team.

“The more success we can have leading into that tournament the better, so hopefully (it’s) a full-strength team that’s ready to play against two very good teams in tough conditions.”

One player who will not be on tour is opener Warner, who has pulled out citing a draining playing schedule and the upcoming birth of his first child.

Australia get their tour underway against Zimbabwe on August 25 before meeting South Africa two days later, who will continue to be led in the limited-overs format by AB de Villiers.

Clarke said it was too early to tell what kind of a leader Amla would be but he expects him to be a success.

“I was surprised, but Amla is obviously a wonderful player,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the challenges I’ve had against him and I think he’ll do a fantastic job for South Africa.”

Meanwhile, he also said their upcoming series against Pakistan in October-November will be a big test for them. Clarke, who is focused on Australia’s forthcoming series, said, “Our goal is to continue our form in the Test arena and prove we are capable of staying at the top. Our upcoming series against Pakistan (October-November) and India (November- January) will be big tests for us.

Defending champions Spain pledge clean bill of health

Spain will look to defend their World Cup title with doubts raised on player’s fitness and physical preparedness after a hard season with clubs. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON: Spain’s players said that they will be fit for the defence of their World Cup crown in Brazil, despite the rigours of a long club season.

Right back Juanfran sprained his right ankle in the Champions League final that Atletico Madrid lost to Real Madrid on May 24, but he vowed he would be ‘100%’ healthy and ready for Brazil.

“I don’t have any problem, and I am 100% with the team,” the Atletico Madrid defender told a press conference in Washington, where Spain will train prior to a Saturday friendly against El Salvador.

The 29-year-old said he was limping in the wake of the painful injury, but insisted he was now recovered and had told Del Bosque, “When you need me, I’ll be there and I’ll do my best.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Santiago Cazorla doesn’t think Spain will be any less ready than their opponents.

“The season has been tough for everyone. I don’t think we are any more or less tired than the other teams,” said Cazorla, adding that Spain’s squad is ‘physically better every day’.

Brazil stroll against Panama

World Cup hosts Brazil strolled to a 4-0 win over Panama in their penultimate warm-up Tuesday, with goals from Neymar, Daniel Alves, Hulk and Willian securing the win which barely satisfied their coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“I am still concerned. We are getting better — but we know we have a fair way to go,” said Scolari.

“The run out was worthwhile but we must up our rhythm and be a lot better for the Croatia game.”

Meanwhile, Greece and Nigeria battled to a scoreless draw on Tuesday in an international friendly match that served as a warm-up for both teams before the World Cup.

Every World Cup player to have drug test

Fifa is on an ambitious mission to make sure that for the first time every player who takes part in the World Cup has a drug test and carries a ‘biological passport’.

Players can expect a tap on the shoulder right from the first matches of the World Cup which starts June 12.

“We can test anybody, anytime, anywhere, any amount of times,” said Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s chief medical officer in a recent interview.

On the safe side: K-P government planning to use IPVs to help eradicate polio

IPV is administered via injection and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), all countries currently only using OPV should add at least one dose of IPV to their immunisation programmes. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has planned to administer inactivated polio vaccines (IPV), along with the oral polio vaccine (OPV) it already uses, for effective protection against poliovirus in the province.

IPV is administered via injection and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), all countries currently only using OPV should add at least one dose of IPV to their immunisation programmes. The WHO also recommends an OPV dose at birth, followed by the primary series of three OPV doses and at least 1 IPV dose.

“The IPVs will become part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI),” EPI Deputy Director Dr Janbaz Afridi told The Express Tribune on Wednesday. Though the plan has been approved, it is undecided at the moment as to when it will be put into effect. He explained that under the programme, children under two years of age will be administered the injections in areas where polio drops have already been administered.

The programme to administer the IPV would initially be launched in Peshawar with the help of the WHO and Unicef, who are helping the province in its vaccination campaigns.

Dr Afridi added the IPV injections have already arrived but are yet to be put into use as the decision to kick-start the vaccine is yet to be taken.

This is a major change in the K-P government’s strategy to eradicate the virus with nine of 68 polio cases this year having emerged from the province.

Even though water samples recently taken from Peshawar were reported clear of the poliovirus, the provincial capital is still considered a place where the virus still exists, with four cases being discovered this year.

The Chief Minster’s (CM) Polio Monitoring Cell Focal Person Imtiaz Ali Shah told The Express Tribune that the injectable vaccines are used all over the world.

He said the polio advisory board has decided to use them in Peshawar along with regular polio drops for children up to two years of age, adding a high-level meeting chaired by the CM will finalise the contours of the programme.

“The drops will be given to children who have already been administered polio drops and are protected from the virus,” said Shah

Aisam to address House of Commons

Aisamul Haq Qureshi. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Before starting his campaign at Wimbledon this month, Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi is preparing to receive the biggest accolade of his off-court career.

He will be addressing the British and UK-based Pakistani dignitaries at the House of Commons in Westminster for two hours on June 10.

His agenda will be to promote peace through tennis for his ‘Stop War, Start Tennis’ foundation, in which he will be emphasising on bridging cultural gap through sports in the international community.

The country’s only tennis athlete to play at the ATP circuit was invited by Speaker John Bercow, who praised Aisam for his role as an ambassador for youth and sportspeople all over the world.

“This is the biggest off-court accolade for me,” Aisam told The Express Tribune. “It’s an honour as a Pakistani to speak for my foundation at the House of Commons and get a chance to talk about our work.

“The speaker of the house proposed that I should address the dignitaries, and I’m extremely grateful for that. My focus will be to promote Pakistan’s soft image.”

The Lahore-based player admitted that he was anxious to put his best foot forward at the important occasion.

“My friends and family will be there and I’m a little nervous. I want to make sure that my speech makes an impact.”

Aisam has been involved with the United Nations, Pakistan Red Crescent Society and has also received the 2002 and 2010 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Awards by the ATP Tour Inc.

Aisam also engages in the distribution of sport-specific equipment among amputees and disabled tennis players, and plans to donate wheelchairs to Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Cambodia.

Seeking redemption at Wimbledon

Aisam said that his second-round exit at the French Open men’s doubles was unexpected for him, but he wants to make up for the loss in Wimbledon.

“I was also unable to play the mixed doubles because of a knee-injury, but now it’s healing.

“I want to make up for the French Open defeat as well. Wimbledon is also special because grass is my favourite surface.

Diego Costa passes Chelsea medical

The Stamford Bridge club are poised to finalise the €43 million [£35m] signing of the Atletico Madrid striker, after agreeing the terms of the deal

By Wayne Veysey

Diego Costa has completed a medical at Chelsea and is now on the verge of completing a €43 million [£35m] move from Atletico Madrid.

Goal revealed early last month that a deal worth £75m, including transfer fee and salary, was finalised at a meeting in London less than 24 hours after Costa's penalty helped Atletico Madrid to eliminate the Blues from the Champions League.

	CHELSEA LATEST
25/1	Diego Costa is 25/1 with Paddy Power to be top scorer at the World Cup

The Brazil-born striker, who is a member of the Spain squad preparing for the World Cup, has long been identified by Mourinho as the player to provide a more regular supply of goals than Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba were able to contribute last season.

Chelsea will pay around €43m for the striker, although a significant portion of the transfer fee includes agents' fees.

The move will also more than triple the wages of Costa, who is believed to earn around £50,000 a week at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Chelsea will hand the 25-year-old a five-year contract worth £150,000 a week.

As reported by Goal in April, it had long been the plan of the west Londoners to confirm the deal before the World Cup, where he is expected to lead the line for Spain if he can recover from the hamstring injury that restricted him to just a short run-out in Atletico’s recent Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

Representatives of the Londoners have held a series of meetings with Costa's camp in recent months and the set of talks around the two clubs' Champions League second-leg showdown closed the deal.

Costa emerged as Chelsea's top centre-forward target following an outstanding campaign for Atletico, who won La Liga as well as finishing Champions League runners-up.

The 25-year-old scored 36 times in 50 matches for his club in the recently completed domestic season and his 27-goal league haul was third only to Cristiano Ronaldo (31) and Lionel Messi (28).

Chelsea were keen to trigger the Brazil-born forward's release clause in January, when he was also being closely monitored by rivals Arsenal, but the player did not want to leave in mid-season.

Mourinho has made no attempt to hide his desire to recruit a blue chip centre forward amid doubts over the futures of Torres, Eto'o and Ba. At least two of the trio are expected to leave in the summer, while Romelu Lukaku will hold talks with Chelsea chiefs this summer following a season-long loan at Everton.

Chelsea have been active in the transfer market following the completion of the domestic season.

The Londoners have agreed a deal with Paris Saint-Germain to sell David Luiz for an initial €49m [£40m] although the French champions have yet to officially confirm the Brazilian’s arrival.

Mourinho is also looking for a new left-back and a new central midfielder following the departures of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard. Chelsea’s top midfield target is Juventus’ Paul Pogba and they are also monitoring the situation of Cesc Fabregas.