Real Madrid Boss Jose Mourinho Promises Not To Buy Chelsea Striker Didier Drogba

Former Chelsea manager will raid the Stamford Bridge playing squad.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says he will not try to entice Chelsea striker Didier Drogba away from Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho insists he would not try to take Drogba away from Chelsea.

“I do not want Drogba, Real Madrid do not need to go for him,” said Mourinho.

“Everyone knows the relationship I have with Drogba.

“But everybody also knows the relationship that I have with [Chelsea owner] owner Roman) Abramovich and Chelsea.

“Therefore if it were true that Chelsea wants to sell him I would be one of the first to know because we have got a very direct, friendly relationship and they have told me nothing.”

“So I think that Didier is going to stay where he has to stay, where he has made history.”

Despite a bout of malaria that severely affected his form, and Fernando Torres finally breaking his duck, Didier Drogba has clearly been the best Chelsea striker this season.

However, if Torres continues to gradually take his place in the team, perhaps he will consider moving on.

Then, perhaps, Mourinho will be waiting.

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Arsenal Ready to Make Record Breaking Move for £22.5m Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema

Emirates boss hopes to lure Bernabeu star to North London.

Arsenal are ready to make a significant bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema this summer as Arsene Wenger looks to improve his side’s striking options. The French international has long been a target of the North London club and the Gunners boss will hope that the lure of regular first team football may tempt the former Lyon striker.

The 23 year old Bernabeu star is very much a back up player and though he initially failed to make the most of his run in the first team, that came as a result of long term injury to Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, a run of good form has led to the Real Madrid man netting 22 goals this season.

However Jose Mourinho has made it abundantly clear that he will be looking to refresh his attacking options with a move to sign another striker which will in turn leave Benzema once again warming the bench and could lead to the powerful forward looking to leave the Spanish giants.

Arsenal have had to rely heavily on Robin Van Persie for firepower over the past couple of seasons and injury concerns plague the Dutch international who has missed more games than he has started during his seven years at the club. New signing Marouane Chamakh started the season brightly but has looked well off the pace since Christmas and back up alternatives Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are tipped to leave the club at the end of the season.

Whilst Arsene Wenger is known for being something of a spendthrift after six seasons without tangible success or silverware, the Frenchman is ready to make big name moves to help appease the star players he has at the club who are looking for a statement of intent in the form of established star signings this summer.

Real Madrid be looking for at least €25m (£22.5m) for Benzema and whilst that would represent a trasnfer record fee for Arsenal it is still some way below the €41m paid to Lyon for the young striker just under two years ago and a seemingly fair fee for a player of his age and potential.

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Chelsea And Manchester City Boosted By Wonderkid Striker Agent’s Words

Romelu Lukaku could yet move to Stamford Bridge or Eastlands.

Anderlecht’s young striking sensation Romelu Lukaku is headed for the Premier League, says one of the Continent’s best-known football agents.

The Belgium international is wanted by a whole host of top European clubs after shining in both the Belgium Jupiter League, as well as in the Champions League, with the 17 year old being likened to Chelsea’s Ivory Coast international front man Didier Drogba by many experts in the game.

And, it is the Premier League champions who are believed to be the player’s most likely next port of call after he leaves Anderlecht, most probably this summer, and super-agent Fabrizio Ferrari feels that the forward would be a great success in the English top flight.

“Juventus are interested in Lukaku but Anderlecht say they will sell him in the summer to a club in the Premier League, at his request, because he believes his characteristics are most suited to the Premier League,” Ferrari told Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

SOURCE: Sportingo

Romelu Lukaku has been linked with practically every major European football club, but the hysteria surrounding the Belgium international wonderkid has subsided somewhat since the January transfer window.

A loss of form and a series of niggly injuries have halted his progress somewhat, but for a 17 year-old that has to be expected.

The trouble for Lukaku is that he has been thrust into the limelight from such an early age – even having his own reality TV series – that he has not been able to grow gradually into a great player like his peers.

The likes of Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal, and even Wayne Rooney at Everton have had their appearances managed so expectation does not shoot through the roof.

Rooney was almost a regular for England before he was for Everton, with David Moyes doing his best to shield him even though he was ready.

Lukaku though was the top goalscorer in the entire Belgian Pro League at the age of 16, making it near impossible for his manager to leave him out.

He looks on course to beat his tally this season (though he is 4th in the top scorers at present).

There is no reason he cannot be the great player he is projected to become at a top club, and with Anderlecht believed to have lowered their asking price from £30m, perhaps Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich or his Manchester City counterpart Sheikh Mansour will renew their interest.

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Manchester United Striker Dimitar Berbatov to Make Sensational £8m Tottenham Return?

Old Trafford striker on his way back to White Hart Lane?

Dimitar Berbatov could make a sensational return to Tottenham in a cut-price deal this summer.

The Bulgarian striker will have just one year left on his Manchester United contract at the end of the season – and talks over a new deal have so far stalled.

That has alerted Spurs, who sold Berbatov to United three years ago for £30 million.

United face the threat of losing the hit-man on a free transfer if they allow his contract to run down and expire in June 2012.

And with Berbatov now 30, it ­appears United will not offer him more than a one-year extension.

If United and the player cannot reach agreement, they can take the option to sell him rather than lose him on a free.

Spurs would not want to pay more than £8m for the striker – and that would represent a smart move by chairman Daniel Levy. Spurs orginally bought Berbatov for £10.9m from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006. He played 102 games for Spurs, scoring 46 goals, before his move to Old Trafford in 2008.

SOURCE: Daily Mirror

Talk of a return to North London for Dimitar Berbatov is growing and if the Man United striker continues to bench warm then it would appear that the chances of the Bulgarian leaving Old Trafford will significantly increase as clearly a 30 year old goalscorer in the form of his life does not want to be out of the first team picture for too long.

Clearly Sir Alex Ferguson is thinking about the long term and given the great form that Mexican youngster Javier Hernandez has shown this season it is clearly a plan that appears to be working. The Man United boss believes that as a strike pairing Chicharito and Wayne Rooney offer his side best option and whilst clearly that may confuse some given that Berbatov is the Premier League’s top scorer, the Scot is sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and in the semi-finals of the Champions League so clearly he knows what he is doing.

Harry Redknapp has not been happy with the goals return from his current quartet of Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane although oddly enough these strikers seem to have less trouble in Champions League duty, and a move for added fire-power appears very high up on the White Hart Lane boss’s wish-list.

Would Man United allow Berbatov to leave for such a small fee though? Even with a year left on his contract, he is worth far more, surely?

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Arsenal Striker To Make Decision On Future At End Of The Season

Emirates star is only concentrating on overhauling Old Trafford club.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will make a decision on his future in North London at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old is frustrated over a lack of first-team opportunities with 11 of his 14 appearances in the Premier League coming from the bench.

The Denmark international has constantly bemoaned the fact he should be a regular in the Gunners line up but his claims have gone unanswered.

But he will leave any decision until the summer as he is fully concentrated on overhauling Manchester United’s seven point lead at the top of the table.

Arsenal have six games remaining and travel to neighbours Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

Bendtner understands why he has not had more starts this season but believes he deserves more chances.

“It is incredibly frustrating not being seen as a first-team player, but there is not much I can do about it,” Bendtner told Ekstra Bladet.

“I have proven that I am good enough to play from the start at Arsenal.

“[Robin] van Persie is ahead of me at the moment and there is nothing to say about that because he has scored 16 goals since New Year.”

“After this season I will decide on my future, but not before.”

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Bolton And Newcastle United To Scrap Over Birmingham City Striker

St Andrew’s star could be on his way to the Reebok Stadium or St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers are fighting for the signature of Birmingham City striker James Mcfadden.

The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has attracted interest from a string of clubs in England and Scotland.

He has struggled with injuries this season, which has restricted his appearances to just eight games in the whole campaign.

The Scotland international is set to make his return from a cruciate knee injury he picked up in September.

Newcastle sources suggest they are very keen on bringing McFadden to St James’ Park but any deal rests on whether they sign Bolton hit-man Johan Elmander.

The Swedish international is also a free-agent this summer, and was the subject of interest from Magpie boss Alan Pardew in January.

Trotters manager Owen Coyle has been a long-term admirer of McFadden and wants his fellow Scot to replace the Swede.

Coyle does not want to lose Elmander but knows he cannot do anything to stop him leaving as he cannot offer European football.

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Manchester United May Accept £22m Bayern Munich Offer for Striker Dimitar Berbatov

Old Trafford side may opt to sell Bulgarian international.

Manchester United are reportedly considering selling top scorer Dimitar Berbatov to Bayern Munich this summer. The Bulgarian international has found himself warming the bench in recent weeks and has not appeared particularly happy about sitting out on the action given his prolific goals return and reports are filtering through that the Allianz Arena side are readying an offer of €25m (£22m) for the former Tottenham striker.

Berbatov enjoyed a successful time in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, netting 91 goals for the club before moving to White Hart Lane in the summer of 2006 and now incoming Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes wants to bring the 30 year old to spearhead the Bavarian side’s attack. There is growing speculation that current top scorer at Bayern Munich, Mario Gomez, may well be heading to Italy where there is interest from both Napoli and Lazio.

Given that Sir Alex Ferguson has a successful strike pairing in Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez the Old Trafford boss may well be ready to listen to offers for Berbatov, but only if the cultured front man asks to leave the club. Perhaps crucially the player is in talks to secure a new three year deal but as yet no deal has been completed and come the summer the Man United man will have just a year left on his current contract.

Ferguson knows he will struggle to keep all three of his main striking options happy and given Javier Hernandez is just 22 and already a prolific marksman having netted 17 goals this season already. The Man United boss may feel that he could more easily deal with back up strikers who are young and up and coming and may feel the time is right to give youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda a chance to become part of the club’s first team squad.

Michael Owen, United’s other attacking option, is unlikely to receive a new contract when his current deal comes to an end this summer.

Some may feel that a fee of £22m may be a little inflated given Berbatov’s age but it’s worth noting that the Man United striker is having the best season of his career and may well be tempted by the offer of a new challenge in familiar surroundings back in Germany.

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Real Madrid to Offer £15m for Chelsea Striker Didier Drogba

Bernabeu boss to be reunited with his former Stamford Bridge star.

Real Madrid are preparing to offer £15million for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in a bid to keep Jose Mourinho as manager.
The Spanish club have been wracked in turmoil behind the scenes this season with Mourinho jostling for more power from president Florentino Perez and general director Jorge Valdano.
The ‘Special One’ has made it clear he is willing to walk away at the end of the season unless he gets his way and Perez is ready to hand him the control he craves.
Drogba has been long coveted by Mourinho and Perez sees the potential signing as a sop to the coach he believes can topple fierce rivals Barcelona from the summit of world football.

Despite his advancing years, Drogba will give Real the cutting edge and power they have sorely missed this season.
They have leaned heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals return following Gonzalo Higuain’s back injury and Karim Benzema is only just starting to show the potential they invested in. Although Emmanuel Adebayor has been a moderate success, he is more likely to return to Manchester City in the summer.
A £15m fee for the 33-year-old Drogba would suit all parties. The Chelsea idol’s status as number one striker is under threat from Fernando Torres’s arrival and he knows owner Roman Abramovich is determined to lower the age of the club’s squad as he looks to prolong the club’s success.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

This is indeed a deal that could suit all parties and one that does appear to have semblance of truth about it. Chelsea would surely deem £15m a very fair price for a player of 33 years of age and it would helpfully avoid issues of dressing room harmony that would surely ensue if next season saw one of Ancelotti’s main strikers sitting out large chunks of the season the bench.

Jose Mourinho has made it clear he needs another striker and Emmanuel Adebayor doesn’t look the part and although Karim Benzema has shown good form of late, having another effective option to call upon would be very handy, especially when battling on multiple fronts.

The Stamford Bridge side will hope that Fernando Torres will get into gear sooner rather than later and Nicolas Anelka is the current top scorer at the club and may work better alongside the Spaniard than Drogba.

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Newcastle United to Make Shock Move to Sign £7m Manchester City Striker

Eastlands man set for St James’ Park return?

Newcastle United are reportedly considering a move to re-sign former striker Craig Bellamy this summer. Alan Pardew is open to the idea of bringing the Welsh international back to St James’ Park and will make a move for the 31 year old at the end of the season.

Currently on loan at Cardiff City Bellamy has had a terrific season with the Bluebirds and has helped them to remain in or around the promotion picture all season and Pardew is interested in purchasing the attacker in order to boost the Magpies attacking options.

Roberto Mancini is said to be more than willing to offload Bellamy who had a solid season at Eastlands last term but then found his starting options compromised by the signing of Mario Balotelli and the further addition of Edin Dzeko would appear to effectively end Bellamy’s Man City career.

Man City are said to be looking to secure a fee in the region of £7m for the much travelled striker who arrived at the City of Manchester stadium for a fee of £14m in January 2009. That is a fee that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley may well be willing to pay because even though Bellamy is clearly at the latter stages of his career he still clearly has a lot to offer.

Currently Alan Pardew has to make do with the rather limited attacking abilities of a current strike force that includes the likes of Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi and Shefki Kuqi as well as up and coming youngster Nile Ranger.

Though his previous spell with Newcastle United ended somewhat acrimoniously, and resulted in abusive text messages being sent to Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy had a very successful stint at Newcastle United netting 43 goals in 119 starts.

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Arsenal Striker Passed Fit To Play Against Blackburn

Emirates hero will lead the line in crucial match against Ewood Park club.

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie has shaken off a knee injury and is fit to play against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.

The 27-year-old picked up the knock playing for Holland in the 5-3 victory over Hungary.

He scored his country’s first goal but came off before half-time and was considered a doubt for this weekend’s Premier League action.

But he, along with Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Theo Walcott (ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (ankle), Alex Song (knee) and Abou Diaby (groin) are all fit to return.

The only bad news for manager Arsene Wenger is that Aaron Ramsey (groin) and Denilson (toe) will sit out the game at the Emirates.

“He’s (van Persie) alright. He will be in the squad,” Wenger said.

“It was a kick on his knee, but he had a test this morning and felt alright. If he has no reaction overnight he should be OK.

“I am an optimist so always I hoped it would not be too severe. That was the case – for once we had good news.

“We all [hold our breath] because it’s the final part of the season and losing a player now is basically losing them for the rest of the season.

“We are in the final sprint for the championship so we want all our players available.

“We have available again Diaby, Fabregas, Song, Walcott. They are all back in the squad,” added Wenger.

“Out is still Denilson and the long-term injuries like Djourou, Fabianski and Vermaelen of course.”

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Anelka happy with Chelsea striker rotation

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka says he accepts Carlo Ancelotti's policy of rotating his strikers since the arrival of Fernando Torres, admitting it is that sort of tough decision that means he will not become a manager.

Anelka, 32, said he has the experience to understand the need to take his turn on the bench while also speaking of his enjoyment of retirement from France duties and the extra time with his family that the international windows now afford him.

"I have been playing football for 16 years now," Anelka told Chelsea's website. "Sometimes to rest, even to watch your team-mates from the bench, is not too bad. It is part of the game and you try to be fresh when you come on the pitch. This is a big club and we have big players, so it's like this.

"We do our best on the pitch anyway and we know now we have a different tactic with two up front. We are four - [Didier] Drogba, Torres, [Salomon] Kalou and me, so we can swap and we know that, even if we have a good game, we may not play in the next game. It is frustrating when you are 20 years old; when you are 32, not any more."

Anelka admitted he sympathised with Ancelotti's need to keep all his players happy and that the difficult choices confronting a manager means he will consider a different career path after retiring.

"When you're a manager it is even more difficult than playing because you have to keep everybody happy and make choices. I know I won't be a manager, I don't want to do it, never. You have to make everybody else happy also and if you are 20, you don't understand this rotation but, if you are 32, I won't say you have nothing to prove but you have the experience to understand."

Anelka has been resting over the last week while most of Chelsea's squad have been on international duty. The 32-year-old retired from international football last summer after his role in the mutiny against former France head coach Raymond Domenech saw him receive an 18-match ban. The ban is due to come to an end just before next summer's Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and the Ukraine but Anelka insists he will not end his exile.

"I don't miss it, I am glad to be out of it (international football),'' Anelka added. "Of course it can help to not play, you play less games so it is perfect to be off and to think about something else for one or two weeks then come back fresh to the club. You get some family life, go to Paris, wherever you want with your family, it is perfect, but I used to be like this when I played for City and in the beginning at Bolton, so I know this situation and I like it. I really don't think about the national team or playing games.''

Anelka called on his team-mates to prove that they are good enough to win the Champions League by beating Manchester United in their upcoming showdown. Chelsea edged one step closer to May's Wembley final by beating FC Copenhagen in the last 16. Their reward for victory over the Danish minnows was a tough tie against Premier League title rivals United.

Anelka admits the draw could not have been much harder for Chelsea, but concedes that they must beat the best sides on the continent to become European champions for the first time in their history.

"We know them (United) but I don't think it's a good draw because they are a good team and difficult to beat with a lot of quality players,'' Anelka said. "But, if you want to win the Champions League you have to beat good teams."

Chelsea overcame United in a controversial clash at Stamford Bridge last month, and Anelka believes fans can expect a similar type of game in Wednesday's first match and the return leg six days later.

"These two games with Manchester United will feel like Premier League games, we have already played them in so many games so these will be the same, and we will just have to see what happens," said the former Manchester City and Arsenal man, who lifted the trophy with Real Madrid 11 years ago.

But first, Chelsea head to Stoke on Saturday hoping to maintain their chances of lifting the title. Yossi Benayoun could play his first game for the Blues in six months after making his comeback from an Achilles injury in Israel's win over Georgia on Tuesday.

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Tottenham Consider Move for Unhinged Manchester City Striker Mario Balotelli

White Hart Lane boss wants Eastlands youngster.

Real Madrid are watching Mario Balotelli’s situation at Manchester City. AC Milan remain favourites for the ex-Inter striker, who is expected to be dumped by City in the summer. However, his former coach at Inter, Jose Mourinho, is also watching developments, according to Milan sources. Tottenham are also being linked with the Italy international, though those close to Balotelli say if he is to leave City, it will be to return home to Milan.

SOURCE: Tribalfootball

Is Harry Redknapp’s love of playing the transfer game really likely to stretch as far as to make a move for troubled Italian Mario Balotelli? Tottenham’s current quartet of strikers have struggled badly to find the back of the net in Premier League action this term. Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe have netted just 11 Premier League goals between them this term and as a result the White Hart Lane boss is reportedly frantically searching for new additions.

Recent comments from Roberto Mancini suggest that he too has ran out of patience with the 20 year old former Inter Milan man and interest from Real Madrid would be surprising as Jose Mourinho would surely no better than most just what a disturbing influence Balotelli can be in the dressing room.

Even a move to AC Milan would make little sense given the myriad of striking options available to San Siro boss Massimiliano Allegri.

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Manchester City Plan Ambitious £26m Barcelona Striker Swap

Eastlands boss wants Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the Nou Camp and will give them star name in return.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has lost patience with striker Mario Balotelli and will axe him from Eastlands this summer unless there is a dramatic ­improvement in his behaviour.

And the ruthless Italian coach has made Zlatan Ibrahimovic his No.1 target as he gets set to go on another multi-million pound spending spree.

Mancini is a huge fan of ­Ibrahimovic’s and reckons he would be a huge hit in the Premier League.

The Swedish international is on a season-long loan at Milan from Barcelona and has scored 14 goals in 26 games for the Serie A giants.

Milan chiefs have an option to buy Ibrahimovic in a £26m deal, but Mancini is convinced he can outbid Milan and lure the former Juventus and Inter Milan star to City on a deal worth around £200,000 a week.

The 29-year-old has hinted he would be interested in a switch to English football and believes big-spending City could be on the verge of being a major force.

But a potential move to Manchester will all depend on what Mancini decides to do with Balotelli and City securing a top-four finish this season.

Source: Daily Star

Sorry to break the news to our friends at the Daily Star but they got this rumour slightly wrong.

Roberto Mancini will atempt to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Eastlands this summer, but Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola does not want Mario Balotelli.

Guardiola hates having tempestuous characters in his dressing room who could upset the balance of his squad.

When he first took over at the Nou Camp he got rid of the big-name ‘charlies’ such as Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho.

Guardiola does not want another one in Balotelli.

But the Barca boss would take another City striker – Carlos Tevez.

Tevez handed in a transfer request earlier in the season (before withdrawing it) amid problems in his private life.

He wants his family to join him in Europe but the mother of his children will not move to a country so unlike Argentina.

Rumours keep circulating that Tevez will quit Manchester this summer and hopes a move to Spain will entice his family over.

Mancini will be unhappy to lose his captain but will be satisfied if he gets Ibrahimovic in return.

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Manchester United Striker Tempted By £10m Bayern Munich Move?

Old Trafford hotshot wanted by Bavarian giants.

Bayern Munich are ready to pounce on Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov if his contract talks with Manchester United continue to stall, according to reports in Germany.
The 30-year-old’s current deal at Old Trafford expires in 2012 but he has yet to sign a new deal over a reported wage dispute.
German giants Bayern are reportedly preparing a £10m summer bid for the Premier League’s current top scorer – £20m less than United paid for Berbatov three years ago.
The former Tottenham ace has fallen down the pecking order under Sir Alex Ferguson despite his 20 goals this season, with Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney preferred up front.
The forward had to make do with a place on the bench again on Saturday against Bolton, but came on to score the only goal of the game to give United a vital three points.

SOURCE: talkSPORT

Dimitar Berbatov may well be tempted by a move back to Germany where he did so well with Bayer Levekusen before moving to Tottenham in 2006. It seems that being the top scorer in the Premier League doesn’t guarantee a place in the starting eleven at Old Trafford and given the Bulgarian has just turned 30, it could be that Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney in the longer term.

Whilst in the Bundesliga between 2001 and 2006 the talented striker netted 91 goals in 201 games and was considered one of the best foreign imports of the time but a move to Bayern Munich may not be as easy to secure as one would imagine, not least with Louis Van Gaal set to leave in the summer, who knows if his successor would want the Man United man.

Also the Bavarian club has a fair few attacking options of their own with the likes of Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller, Ivica Olic and Miroslav Klose as the current quartet on show at the Allianz Arena.

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