Soccer Star Headlines

Boro sign Fiorillo. Goalkeeping Italian sensation Vincenzo Fiorillo has stunned many pundits by signing for struggling Premiership side Middlesbrough. Yakubu has joined Sampdoria as part of the player exchange but Fiorillo, tipped by many to be a leading goalkeeper in coming years, is a surprise signing by under pressure Tony Wood.

Schwenk Stunner. Middlesbrough stunned Newcastle with two late Schwenk goals to win 3-1 away to their fellow bottom half team. Still with only 4 points you would be a brave person to bet on Middlesbrough turning around their survival push following this result.

Blue Manchester. Manchester United fans may be taking the week off sick after they watched their side lose at home to fierce rivals Manchester City 2-1 this week. A thrilling first half in which City came from behind wasn't matched by the dull second half but the result alters the league standings taking City above United in the table to 2nd place. Despite the change in standings, both teams sit a long way behind favourites Chelsea still.


La Gazzetta Headlines

False Start Inter. New manager Gareth Gardner watched his side lose 2-0 to Genoa following his unveiling in front of the home fans. The sorry Milan side sit 9th are now a shocking 16 points behind fierce rivals AC Milan. An early Vaz Te goal and a late Flamini goal on the counter did the damage.

Rome's Discontent. Unhappy fans began to vent their frustration following Roma's shock 3-2 defeat to lowly Reggina this week. Reggina, a team with no Serie A pedigree, beat Roma, the team expected to run away with the Serie B title this season. In a week where some fans have begun to question the appointment of Iain Kochanowksi to see the side safely back to the big stage again, it will come as a blow that top striker Dos Santos has returned to Juventus after his loan spell and van der Vaart moved to Reggina on a permanent deal.

Rini's Rising Star. Brescia battled Fiorentina in a pulsating 4-3 match this week but despite the win for high flying Fiorentina the headlines have gone to teenage Brescia midfielder Marco Martina Rini. Rini playing in his 14th match for Brescia this season in his debut year of professional football scored an amazing hat-trick which could put him high up on many managers want lists in the coming weeks.


Marca Headlines

Return of the Kun. Spanish fans are pleased with the return of favourite Sergio Aguero this week as he signed for Real Mallorca on loan for the remainder of the season. Rumoured to be part of a deal taking Dean Ashton the opposite way, speculation is rife manager Mark Galeozzi will try to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Rollercoaster Valladolid. Fans of Real Valladolid watched in amazement as new superstar Carlos Tevez guided the small Spanish side to victory over giants and league leaders Barcelona last week. This week they came crashing back to Earth with a draw to Real Mallorca. Results against all three big Spanish teams this season has lead to some pundits tipping Simon Jenkins to lead a surprise push on the top 4, while this weeks result will leave many doubting it.

Title Teeterers. Barcelona top the table in a season where Sevilla look unpredictable and Real Madrid have had a dire first half of the season. With the manager under pressure to deliver silverware this season it seems the only one of the giant clubs in Spain to be having a good season wants to join the confusion. Last week they fell to mid table Real Valladolid and this week drew 1-1 with lowly Celta Vigo. Fans criticised an 'over confident' team selection for the shock result.

Hell Bent on Goals. Darren Bent sealed a shock move taking him to Atletico Madrid this week. The England striker has been the star goal getter for European heavyweights Chelsea for the last few years. As part of the swap deal ex-Arsenal striker Obafemi Martins has moved back to England to join the Champions following settling issues in Spain.

Petty laughs at Roma manages comments about van der Vaart

"I do find it amusing I must admit, Vaart is still young and very talented, Rakic is unproven and will take a while to adapt. I spoke to Vaart about his ex managers comments and he said he is happy to get from there and play under someone who respects him"

Defense new focus for Bilbao boss as midfielder set to sign

Bilbao suffered another heavy defeat to capital club Athletico Madrid to maintain their 100% record of losses in La Liga this term. Manager Mark Rollings has stressed his focus is not on results this season and fans have responded with attendances up by around 7000 on last season. The young. Inexperienced Bilbao outift showed glimpses of attacking flair but their defense was dismantled by their opponents.

Rollings identified the problems in his defensive strategies and hinted he could be in the market for a new centre half.

"We are working within the tighest of budgets, as we have been since i arrived. There was very little collateral at the clubs disposal and we have tried to slowly change that. The emergence of Suseata at right wing means we had some flexibility and as such I can announce that Inaki Zarandona will be leaving for an exciting Racing Santander team with Marcin Sidelarz joing us. Marcin is a talented central midfielder and will help Moschella and Piatti in that area. I have one eye on our defense and i know it needs strengthening. As always though with no money, and little flexibility will have to be patient and perhaps even wait for the somone to come up from the youth ranks.

With a raft of mid season investments set to be announced by chairmen across the continent Rollings was asked whether he expected his board to help him financially.

"Its no use expecting anything. I know the chairman here very well now and he has always done everything in his power to work towards our joint goals. I dont know if he has plans for future investment and we would treat any such input as a bonus. In my opinion around £4million would allow us to bring in the defender we require but if we have to play the waiting game we will. I have never worked in such an understanding environment and we are all pulling in the same direction."

Investments

Chairmen around Europe took the opportunity of the mid season point to invest in clubs to help achieve or better pre season targets. The most significant of these in England was a £10 million investment by Wigan chairman hoping to attract a new manager, followed by Portsmouth backing their manager with an extra £5 million, despite claims the manager is on the edge of being sacked.

In Spain, Atletico Madrid's owner invested £5 million to help continue the high profile purchases after Darren Bent joined this week. Similar fees were invested by relegation fighting Celta Vigo who are close to achieving a shock survival this season, Real Valladolid who have been tipped as outsiders for La Liga top 3, and fire fighting Villarreal who are sat in the relegation zone.

At the other end of the scale, Jose Nido the chairman of Sevilla has continued to benefit from the clubs fantastic financial position by removing a further £40 million. Jose Nido has now taken a staggering £80 million out of his club. Levante were the only other big spenders investing £10 million to try to get them back into the top flight.

Other owners have chosen to invest small amounts with the main aim to help aid running costs during the remainder of the season. Many Italian owners have made a statement by refusing to invest anything at all, choosing to go with home grown youth players for the future.