Van de Beek should join Bayern or Dortmund

Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart believes Donny van de Beek should consider a move to Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund this summer. The Ajax midfielder has been constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past year but so far, no deal has materialised with the Madrid giants assessing their options.

This has led to suggestions that van de Beek could join a different European outfit and Van der Vaart believes his compatriot would be better served doing so. Speaking to ESPN, he said that Real Madrid would present a difficult challenge for the midfielder and a move to either Bayern or Dortmund instead could help him develop into a better player. Continue reading

LENS JOINS BABEL IN TURKEY

Jeremain Lens has exited Championship side Sunderland for Besiktas to play alongside Ryan Babel. It was widely reported that the player would exit soon but the club has now confirmed that the winger has left the club. Before the Black Cats acknowledged the sale, the Turkish side had posted a video online that showed the player and another addition Alvaro Negredo.

Lens was also pictured on the club’s social media links on Twitter and Instagram hinting that the deal had been completed – before Sunderland later confirmed the sale. The player in questioned had even retweeted the online picture of him posted by the Super Lig side and added a message that a Besiktas player Ryan Babel sent to him. It was later that Sunderland announced that the deal had been completed.

Lens netted four times in the preseason to confuse fans over his next move as reports were rife that he was certainly leaving during the summer. The Dutch international played a key role in the team since he joined in Dick Advocaat’s tenure. The former manger managed the player at PSV Eindhoven and even at the international stage before bringing him to England.

Lens played at Fenerbahce last term on a season-long loan, where he piqued Besiktas’ interest. The player stated his interest in continuing in the league with Fenerbahce but the deal did not happen so the rivals made the move. Whilst Fenerbahce are the title favourites – click here for the latest odds – Galatasaray and Besiktas have both strengthened and will put up a fierce challenge.

At Besiktas, there is opportunity to feature in the Champions League and reunite with former players at the various clubs he has played for. Sunderland managers Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and now Simon Grayson did not have the player in their plans else they might have sought to retain him. He was somewhat underwhelming during the time he spent at the club.

Meanwhile, French club Nice have secured the signing of midfielder Wesley Sneijder following his release from Turkish giants Galatasaray. The Netherlands international has signed a one-year contract with the Ligue 1 outfit after he decided to buy himself out of his Galatasaray contract for €4.5m. The Turkish League will be sad to see him go.

Sneijder, who is the Netherlands’ most-capped player in history, bagged five goals and 17 assists for the Istanbul outfit last season. MLS expansion franchise Los Angeles and Sampdoria were both keen on pursuing his services earlier last week, but he opted to join the French league instead where he will hold a fresh challenge with Nice.

“It’s now official. OGC Nice’s 2017-18 squad now has a third UEFA Champions League winner in it. After Dante and Mario Balotelli, former European champion Wesley Sneijder will also wear the red-and-black shirt this season after passing a medical on Monday. He also knows which shirt he’ll be wearing this season. Mika Le Bihan respectfully agreed to ‘give up’ the number 10 he had been wearing it to present it to the new arrival in the dressing room,” a statement on the club’s website said.

Sneijder’s addition is likely to have a direct influence of Ivorian midfielder Jean Seri, who has been strongly linked with a summer exit from Allianz Riviera. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur are all said to be in the hunt for his services, and he could be cashed in in order to recruit a couple more players to the ranks.

The French outfit have done extremely well in their domestic league over the past few seasons, and they will have the chance to qualify for the Champions League proper, should they beat Napoli across two-legs in the playoff round. Despite his trailing age, Sneijder continues to be an influential player for the Holland national team for whom he has managed 131 caps to date.

BESIKTAS SET FOR INCREDIBLE TITLE PARADE ON THE SEA

Turkish champions Besiktas are set for a fairy tale title parade on an open boat after they cruised to their 15th league title. The team is set for their final game of the season on Saturday but the celebrations are in earnest after they were confirmed winners.

The Super Lig Champs are taking the victory parade a notch higher as they sail up the River Bosphorus instead of the conventional open top bus ride. Fans followed them in hundreds of boats – a sight that is truly remarkable to behold. Continue reading

Babel never wanted to join Al-Ain

On July of 2015, Ryan Babel joined the Arabian Gulf League club Al-Ain as he made his move from Kasimpasa over to Al-Ain but his time spent at the club based in United Arab Emirates has been extremely disappointing just how his career has been ever since he left Liverpool back in 2011.

Babel has a contract with Al-Ain which extends until 2017 but it was confirmed earlier in January that the Dutch player never really wanted to join the club.

“I think Babel will go back to Turkey to play with Fenerbahce. And Emmanuel, we have one team from China interested and Fenerbahce want to take him back. I think he’ll go back to them and Babel might as well.’’

“This is normal in football. Sometimes big name and big players come and don’t do anything here. This can happen in any team. Sometimes you bring one big name and he doesn’t want to play that’s my opinion on Babel and Emenike, I think they didn’t want to play here.’’

Those were the words released by a board member of Al-Ain, Mohammed Obeid as he revealed that Ryan Babel along with Emmanuel Emenike never really performed at the potential that was initially expected.

Mohammed Obeid stated that neither Ryan Babel nor Emmanuel Emenike did have any true interest in performing with the rest of the team.

Ever since Ryan Babel left Liverpool on January of 2011, Babel has gone on to join a number of different clubs and his career has been going through a downhill path as Babel went from being a young player with a bright future that struggled trying to live up to the expectations and having disciplinary issues with many of the clubs that he joined.

HERTHA BERLIN SIGN BEERENS

German outfit Hertha Berlin has confirmed the signing of Dutch international Roy Beerens. The winger was formerly with Reading Football Club but agreed to the three year deal after agreeing personal terms with the club.

The 28-year old signed the deal but the fee was not disclosed. The Royals claim they got the services of the player ahead of others despite the competition for the signature of the player.

Manager of the club Jaap Stam spoke highly of the player. He said: “Roy has a lot of qualities. He is a winger that can play on either the left or the right, and technically he is very strong. He has pace, he can score goals and create chances for others. I think he is going to be a player the fans will enjoy watching.”

German outfit Hertha Berlin has confirmed the signing of Dutch international Roy Beerens. The winger was formerly with Reading Football Club but agreed to the three year deal after agreeing personal terms with the club.

The 28-year old signed the deal but the fee was not disclosed. The Royals claim they got the services of the player ahead of others despite the competition for the signature of the player.

Manager of the club Jaap Stam spoke highly of the player. He said: “Roy has a lot of qualities. He is a winger that can play on either the left or the right, and technically he is very strong. He has pace, he can score goals and create chances for others. I think he is going to be a player the fans will enjoy watching.”

The coach also added other qualities that made him sign the player. He said the club’s transfer policies focuses on players that can use possession to their advantage and can create things from such possession. He said the club begun talks with the agent of the player immediately there was an opportunity to sign him.

Roy Beerens began his career at PSV Eindhoven where he played in the Eredivisie in his formation years. Eventually, he moved to NEC Nijmegen on loan in 2007 before becoming an established player at Heerenveen. He played international games when he was at the club with his debut at the 2008 Olympics for Holland.

He was a regular for the Under 21 side and has made two appearances for the senior Dutch side. At the tournament in Beijing, he played along players like former Liverpool player Ryan Babel, Jonathan De Guzman, Roy Makaay. At the tournament, they bowed to Argentina. He joined Hertha Berlin in 2014 from Holland and has gone on to score four goals in 26 starts.

Ryan Babel defends Gerrard

Ryan Babel has come to Steven Gerrard’s rescue. The Liverpool captain has been accused by El-Hadji Diouf of hating black people.

Steven Gerrard stated in his autobiography that El-Hadji Diouf was the signing he liked least at Anfield and El-Hadji Diouf had seized the opportunity to criticize the former Liverpool captain.

El-Hadji Diouf told the press that Steven Gerrard also did not like Mario Balotelli, and this is why he was treated as such at Anfield. He said that he told the Italian striker that Liverpool is a racist club and that they do not welcome black players.

Ryan Babel has come to Steven Gerrard’s rescue. The Liverpool captain has been accused by El-Hadji Diouf of hating black people.

Steven Gerrard stated in his autobiography that El-Hadji Diouf was the signing he liked least at Anfield and El-Hadji Diouf had seized the opportunity to criticize the former Liverpool captain.

El-Hadji Diouf told the press that Steven Gerrard also did not like Mario Balotelli, and this is why he was treated as such at Anfield. He said that he told the Italian striker that Liverpool is a racist club and that they do not welcome black players.

Diouf went on to say that he had warned all black players not to play for the Anfield side except if they are a British player.

Liverpool were shocked by the allegations made by their former player and said that they are looking at legal advice.

However, Ryan Babel was faster to defend the club from these accusations and told his facebook page that Steven Gerrard is not a racist.

A Liverpool fan asked Ryan Babel his opinion on the comments made by El-Hadji Diouf and the former Liverpool winger said that he had not seen this from Steven Gerrard. For Ryan Babel, this is an unfair accusation, and El-Hadji Diouf is wrong to be speaking this way about the former Liverpool captain.

Ryan Babel said that it was Steven Gerrard that has helped him to adapt to life in the Premier League and that he has never seen him behave in a racist way. The former Liverpool winger believes that Steven Gerrard is a professional and that he will never behave in such a way.

Whilst Babel has given Gerrard his backing, another group offering him support is the English FA, who are believed to have approached the former Liverpool captain and offered him a role in the national team.

Whilst you probably have more of a chance of winning at the casino than England have of making the Semi Finals of the World Cup, Gerrard and the rest of the ‘Golden Generation’, including David Beckham and Gary Neville, want to make England great once more.

Gerrard is currently playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS, but it is being rumoured that he might make a return to England as a coach, though this would not be for the immediate future as the player still needs to complete his coaching training.

It is believed that Steven Gerrard might return to his former club Liverpool and take charge of a youth team, before stepping up to a role with the national side. This would allow him to acquire experience before taking charge – it’s all part of the learning process.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that Steven Gerrard, and a few other former England players, will have a say in the appointment of the new England manager. The FA is keen to make the best possible choice for the England team and is believed to be consulting former players so as to get their input.

Steven Gerrard has been one of the most successful players in the England national team where he has made 114 appearances and scored 21 goals.

BABEL – THE FORGOTTEN FOOTBALLER

Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel was a very promising kid when he plied his trade in Ajax before moving to England to play under Rafa Benitez in Liverpool.

The then 21-year old Dutch raw talent agreed to move for a transfer fee in the region to 11.5 million Pounds.

Former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel was a very promising kid when he plied his trade in Ajax before moving to England to play under Rafa Benitez in Liverpool.

The then 21-year old Dutch raw talent agreed to move for a transfer fee in the region to 11.5 million Pounds.

In the summer of 2007, he signed a five year contract with the Merseysiders and was handed the number 19 jersey famously owned by Spanish player Fernando Morientes. The player, only 21 then already had over 100 appearancess for Ajax helping them lift the Eredivisie 2003/2004 and also the KNVB cup. He also has two of the Johan Cruyff Shield medal.

He made his senior international debut on March 26th 2005 against Romania where he came on as a substitute for Arjen Robben, Babel went on to score their second goal in the 2-0 thumping. He was also added in the Dutch squad for FIFA World Cup 2006 by then manager Marco Van Basten at the age of 19.

He was heavily linked as the next best thing and nicknamed the ‘next Thierry Henry’. He was selected to make the 2010 FIFA World Cup but did not appear in any of the matches. He kept on with decent play at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez terrorizing the opponents with his great dribbling and ball control skills. He scored a lot of crucial goals for The Reds, mostly in the UEFA Champions League.

His career was marred by consecutive controversies when he had a rift with the manager. He posted on Twitter that he has been dropped for a game and the club took disciplinary actions and fined him. He angered fans the more when he reportedly travelled to London with an intention to move to West Ham or Spurs. His game time became more limited and he took to social media more.

He was also reported to have played online games whilst watching the team from the subs bench, though in fairness at least they were football-themed games, and they do look uite exciting!

He was the first professional player who was charged and fined by the FA for improper conduct made on social media. He eventually moved to TSG Hoffenheim in 2010 before returning to his boyhood club. Two years later. He currently is in the UAE Gulf league where nothing is practically heard of him.

Babel might move to Real Salt Lake

The MLS is renowned for being a league for retired players to enjoy themselves while demonstrating their playing skills.

The latest player that could be making the move to MLS is Ryan Babel. In fact, Babel is not the type of player that traditionally makes it to the MLS. He is still only 29 years old, but he has so far struggled to get his career going after leaving Liverpool.

The player has recently tweeted Salt Lake City without giving any additional information. This has sparked a lot of rumors about the player moving to the MLS.

The MLS is renowned for being a league for retired players to enjoy themselves while demonstrating their playing skills.

The latest player that could be making the move to MLS is Ryan Babel. In fact, Babel is not the type of player that traditionally makes it to the MLS. He is still only 29 years old, but he has so far struggled to get his career going after leaving Liverpool.

The player has recently tweeted Salt Lake City without giving any additional information. This has sparked a lot of rumors about the player moving to the MLS.

That said, he is alway tweeting things such as where to watch horse racing online (on betting company StanJames website), and his views on popular music.

Babel who last played in Turkey and the Arab Emirates will want to end his career in style, and playing in the MLS might be just the opportunity he needs.

At some moment in his career, he was tipped as going to be a world-class player, but his career stalled when he was at Liverpool. Babel recently blamed Rafael Benitez for being the one responsible for his unsuccessful career but in fairness, it would be more to a lack of talent and of belief from the Dutch player.

Another former star player that just came to the MLS is Julio Baptista. The former Arsenal player is renowned in the Premier League for having scored four goals past Liverpool in a game where the Gunners won 6-3. The Brazilian player will be teaming up with fellow Brazilian Kaka for Orlando City.

We will have to wait to see whether Ryan Babel will make the move to MLS. For the time being, we only have a tweet that is giving rise to all sorts of rumors. The MLS will definitely benefit from having a player of Ryan Babel’s quality especially when you know that he still have a few seasons at the top level left in him.

BABEL SWAP DEAL

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is continuing to monitor the form of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez in regards to a January move.

The Ajax star has been in superb form in Holland with reports from the Dutch press suggesting a swap deal with Liverpool, involving Ryan Babel and £5m will see the creative star move to Anfield.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is continuing to monitor the form of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez in regards to a January move.

The Ajax star has been in superb form in Holland with reports from the Dutch press suggesting a swap deal with Liverpool, involving Ryan Babel and £5m will see the creative star move to Anfield.

Suarez has been playing in Holland for the past three and a bit seasons and has consistently scored goals whether playing on the flanks or just behind the main striker. Last season was his best tally so far after scoring 22 goals in 31 league appearances (30 starts).

Will he get a start for Liverpool? Let us know your thoughts.

SUPPORT BABEL & HOLLAND

Play your part in the Fans World Cup! All you need to do is Like your chosen team, and help them win their group by having the most fans!

To support Holland you need to like Holland Fans and then check for updates on the Holland Fans website.

Play your part in the Fans World Cup! All you need to do is Like your chosen team, and help them win their group by having the most fans!

To support Holland you need to like Holland Fans and then check for updates on the Holland Fans website.