FOOTBALL UPDATE

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October 12, 2009 02:07AMT

Real Madrid’s sporting director, Miguel Pardeza, has stated in a
recent interview that the club made the correct decision in off-loading
Dutchmen, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, and that Los Blancos have
a better chance despite the departure of those individuals.

As part of Florentino Perez’s revolution this summer, Sneijder was
sold to Serie A side Inter, while Robben made the switch to the
Bundesliga to join German giants Bayern Munich.

In an interview with publication Marca, Pardeza commented that both
players had different reasons for leaving the Bernabeu during the
close season.

"In the case of [Arjen] Robben, he wanted to go, and he came to us
requesting a move," he said, before adding, "with Wesley Sneijder,
Inter simply made us an offer that he could not refuse."

Turkey’s coach resigns

Fatih Terim, coach of Turkey’s team, will step down as manager after
his team’s 2-0 defeat away to Belgium on Saturday and their failure
to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

The Turkish Soccer Federation said in a statement on Sunday that they
had accepted his resignation. Terim will preside over Turkey’s one
remaining World Cup Group Five qualifying match on Wednesday against
Armenia, who also failed to qualify.

Barca eyeing Robinho

Barcelona are looking to add to their squad in the January transfer
window, sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, was quoted as saying
on Sunday.

The European champions may need reinforcements as they will lose
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure during January’s African Cup of
Nations and will also be without Seydou Keita should Mali qualify
for the three-week long tournament in Angola.

"There are options for us to strengthen (the squad) yes," Begiristain
said in an interview with Sport newspaper.

Asked whether Barca would make an offer for Manchester City’s Brazilian
forward, Robinho, Begiristain said: "He is a very interesting
footballer and could play (for us) in th lub was still interested
Franck Ribery and Cesc Fabregas.

Buffon needs knee surgery

Gianluigi Buffon needs knee surgery in the coming months, the Italy
and Juventus goalkeeper said on Sunday.

"My knee is wrecked. I need an operation. I’ll carry on as long as
I can," Buffon told reporters as Italy arrived back in the country
following their 2-2 draw in Ireland on Saturday which secured their
place at next year’s World Cup.

Santana’s future more uncertain

The future tenure of South African coach, Joel Santana, was plunged
into further uncertainty at the weekend as the World Cup hosts lost
again and his own players spoke of their frustration at the spiral
of continuing defeat.

A 1-0 defeat by Norway in Oslo on Saturday in their latest preparatory
match means South Africa have now lost seven of their last eight
internationals and show little sign of becoming anything but a minor
sideshow at next year’s finals.