Like a prodigal son or a scorned dog with its tail between its legs having been sent outside, Football Circus has returned! Whether you've been itching for weird football stories, dying to know what's going on in Italian football or pondering what the Magic 8 Ball will predict next, you can rest easy, we're back!
Footballer in Lying for his own Benefit Shocker
Monaco's summer signing Radamel Falcao was at the centre of an age-related controversy this week when a document from his primary school was leaked to the media, showing that he is in fact 29 years old and not 27, as per the records that are held by FIFA for the player.
Spanish station Noticias Uno reported the news that Falcao's date of birth is February 10th 1984 and not February 10th 1986.
A record from Falcao's primary school Colegio San Pedro Claver de Bucaramanga that was obtained by Noticias Uno would appear to verify this.
Falcao's father however has since gone on record to deny the allegations, claiming that the date on the school record is incorrect and his is 27 and not 29.
If the claims by the station prove to be true, Monaco will not be too pleased given they have just splashed out£50 million for the player. Falcao may have a few questions to answer when he returns for pre-season training.
Pre-Season of Goodwill as Teams give back to the Fans
Quite a number of stories have been doing the rounds this summer that have warmed even the cold, cold hearts of us at football circus. For it would appear that the oft portrayed money-grabbing, adultery-loving, debauchery-partaking image of footballers may not be 100% accurate.
We begin at Feyenoord in Holland, where a terminally ill fan Marck Rooie, affectionately known as 'Red Marck', was brought onto the pitch for the team's first training session of pre-season last month. Marck had been a regular at Feyenoord matches since the 1970's and given his situation, some friends reached out to the club in the hope he could be given a fitting send off. Feyenoord duly obliged and Marck watched on as fans unravelled a huge banner depicting the man himself, set off fireworks and sang 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Marck was then greeted by the players and presented with a jersey. Sadly, Marck lost his fight for life three days later. His family and friends will have at least taken solace in the fact that he was given such a huge send off by the team he loved.
But the summer of fan-loving didn't stop there. No sireebob. Last week media outlets worldwide reported a tale of a young Arsenal fan in Vietnam (where the side were touring), who ran after the team bus for an astonishing five miles to catch a glimpse of his heroes. The fan ran into a lamp post and trees on his journey but recovered and kept on running. The players on board the coach were so impressed with his feat that they broke into a chant of 'Sign him up!' and urged staff to let him onboard the coach. Once the fan was inside, surprisingly still standing after his valiant efforts, the team posed for photos with him and signed his jersey.
Last and not least, Glasgow Celtic showed their caring side when they let nine year old Jay Beatty join them on the team bus last week, a day prior to their Champion's League qualifier with Cliftonville last week. Jay sat with favourite player Georgios Samaras, sang along with the team and was presented with his own pair of boots. He was trained with the team the following day and led them onto the pitch in front of the Belfast crowd.
Manchester United Players in (not their first) Embarrassing Advert
In October 2012, Manchester United announced 'Kagome' as their soft drink partner in Japan. This summer saw United appear in Japan for the first time since the deal was agreed. If the United players thought they would escape their tour of Japan without promoting Kagome, they had another thing coming.
Robin Van Persie, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs were rounded up to join Japanese native Shinji Kagawa in a television advert for the soft drink company. The players, donning the new United kit, are shown slurping down some Kagome tomato juice. Van Perise, Carrick and Giggs meakly attempt some Japanese before a far more comfortable Kagawa rounds up the ad.
It's not the first time United stars done onscreen advertising for one of their commercial partners. The video below shows supreme acting skills from Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra in an advert for Casillero del Diablo.
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Sassuolo Defender to Return from Tumour Scare
Francesco Acerbi, defender for newly promoted Serie A side Sassuolo has had a quite turbulent year. To coincide with the joy of his side winning promotion from Serie B, the 25 year old now had to undergo emergency surgery for a testicular tumour following a routine medical.
Sassuolo is awaiting results of further tests but is confident of a swift return to action.
Said the defender in an interview with Mediaset: “I am here to be with the team. It was a bolt from the blue, but it is behind me now and I am happy that I’ll be on the field in a few weeks.
“I go forward with a smile. When certain things happen you go back over everything in your mind. You go through the past and the present, thinking what you really want in life.
“I want to be a protagonist again in my career, the way I was two years ago. I will give 100 per cent on the pitch to prove my worth.”
Magic 8 Ball Transfer Oracle
This one will be a controversial move if it materialises. Let's see what the 8 Ball has to say.
Luis Suarez to Arsenal
(As reported here http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/23/arsenal-luis-suarez-liverpool-transfer and here http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/arsenal-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-sign-luis-suarez-1.1472850)
Magic 8 Ball Says...
'YES'.
Football Recommendation
Another season is nigh upon us and football lovers, nerds and gambling addicts alike will be twitching with excitement that Fantasy Football teams can again be created.
Non Football Recommendation
- Charlie's Beach, Berlin
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