BARCA SIGN FIRST OFFICIAL COLUMBIAN PLAYER
Barcelona have confirmed the signature of Columbia international Yerry Mina, 23, from Brazilian side Palmeiras for €11.8 million. The deal was earlier reported to be completed after the World Cup, just before the new season begun. However, the Catalan side opted to get the deal over the line now.
With Javier Mascherano set to move to the Chinese Super League (CSL), Mina would be an addition to the defensive players in the current setup. Hebei China Fortune were able to convince Barcelona to allow the player move to their club for around €5.77 million – which is the cap for any loss-making football club in the CSL based on foreign player restrictions by the Chinese Football Association.
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FALCAO ON COLOMBIA’S CHANCES
Radamel Falcao believes that Colombia can have a great performance at the next World Cup in Russia. The team is currently second in the South American qualifying table and will likely make it to the next World Cup. The striker who plays in Ligue 1 in France with Monaco said that the team had improved a lot during the past year or so.
He believes that the team can have a good performance in Russia next year and that the players are ready for it. He said that they have a good group of players that play in the biggest team in Europe and this has allowed them to get invaluable experience of top-level football.
Colombia´s FIFA World Cup Qualification run has been splendid
Jose Pekerman has been at the helm of the Colombian national side since 2012 and it seems like he will be able to guide them once again through another FIFA World Cup after having already done it in 2014.
During the 2014 edition of the FIFA World Cup, Colombia was able to reach the quarter-finals after overcoming Uruguay in the Round of 16 but ultimately being knocked out by Brazil.
Reaching the quarter-finals is a remarkable feat as they had not been able to even qualify in the 3 previous editions of the tournament.
From the looks of it, Pekerman is going to repeat the task of qualifying as Colombia is pitted in the 2nd spot of the CONMEBOL group after winning 7 matches, losing 4 and drawing 3.
These results has allowed Colombia to stay behind Brazil with 24 points and after 14 matches, they are above the rest of the national sides which is a remarkable feat considering that they have collected more points than other highly-rated national teams such as: Uruguay, Argentina and Uruguay. Read more
JAMES RODRIGUEZ: FROM MEDELLIN TO MUNICH
James Rodriguez is set to see explosive career growth at the Allianz Arena after joining German champs Bayern Munich.
His father played the game in Columbia so the 2014 World Cup star has it ingrained in his genes. The star was influenced by his mother to avoid top sides like IndependienteEnvigado and Atletico Nacional but rather play for Envigado where he developed into a prodigy.
Rodriguez has always aimed at the No. 10 jersey of the Columbian national team and it is a dream that he is living. He has always adored Columbian soccer legend Carlos Valderrama. The talented player has quickly grown from helping Envigadomake the top flight in 2009 to deciding to help Bayern in the quest for a Champions League trophy in 2017.
Carlo Ancelotti is under pressure to deliver the primary mandate of his employment. As Porto launched Rodriguez from South America to Europe, Bayern could be that Launchpad for the midfielder to the gates of European football, after his redundancy at the Santiago Bernabeu. Read more
COLOMBIA U17s FACE TOUGH TEST
Colombia have been drawn alongside India, Ghana and the United States in Group A of the Under-17 World Cup, billed for October.
The Colombian youngsters face Ghana in the opening fixture on October 6 in the Indian capital city before lining up against the hosts India three days later. The Columbia – US fixture is slated for October 12th. Read more
Jose Pekerman feels James Rodriguez Performance better last Season
Jose Pekerman reckons that James Rodriguez could have done with a bit more support from Zinedine Zidane last season.
Zidane chose not to put Rodriguez even in the reserves for the European Cup final which Madrid clinched to remain the continental champions.
Obviously Rodriguez with his form running into that massive contest was not expected to be in the starting XI, but, considering his stature as a player especially internationally, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind of him being there in the match-day squad of the Blancos and possibly getting a few minutes late in the game too.
But he was excluded altogether and wasn’t even on the bench and it wasn’t the first time in the season that Zidane didn’t show trust on the Colombian. Right through the season, the striker played lesser no. of minutes than everyone thought he would.
Pekerman, however, didn’t blame Zidane for ill-treating the player. Read more
