Suarez's wife tells him to behave

Luis Suarez's wife has advised the Liverpool striker to improve his behaviour on the pitch in a bid to reflect his character off it.

Suarez is currently serving a 10-match suspension for biting Branislav Ivanovic - and by the end of that term he will have been banned for 20 games since joining Liverpool, without being sent off.



Suarez told Liverpool's official magazine that his wife, Sofia, has told him to behave while playing.

He said: "My wife has made observations like, "You were arguing with the referee and the defenders too much; you didn't really seem up for it; you might as well have not been on the pitch".

"I go away, think about it and realise she was right.

"She said people must go away and think that is what I am like off the pitch, even though I'm usually relaxed and easy-going.

"Having a wife that closely watches the game is good. She knows me better than anyone else and I want her observations to help me play better and be a happier person."

Suarez's wife had previously advised him to shape up in an interview with The Sunday Times - published on the morning of his encounter with Ivanovic.

"She's my biggest critic, she always comes to watch me," he said then.

"She asks what I'm doing, why am I arguing with the referee. 'All you've done today is turn up to shout at people, why don't you concentrate on playing football?'

"If I don't, they [Sofia and his daughter, Delfina] won't come and watch me anymore. These are things my wife has picked up on and so has everyone else, so it has made me think."

Vela claims return to Arsenal could happen

Carlos Vela admits that he could return to Arsenal despite leaving the Gunners for Real Sociedad in 2012.



The Mexican's permanent move to the Basque club followed a year-long loan spell where he notched 12 goals in 35 appearances.



This season he has added a further 13 goals in La Liga, in stark contrast to a meagre return of three Premier League goals in a six-year stay at Arsenal that was punctuated by loans at Salamanca, Osasuna and West Brom as well as Sociedad.



Vela's form has prompted speculation over a clause in his contract that would allow Arsenal to buy the 24-year-old back.



But while claiming that a move would be possible, Vela is determined to help Socieded, currently fourth in La Liga, into next season's UEFA Champions League.



"Going back to Arsenal? It could happen at any moment, but I don't want to think about it," he told L'Equipe.



"My life is at Real Sociedad, and it is with that shirt that I want to play in the Champions League next season."


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Gerrard eye Derby win for Carra

Steven Gerrard wants Liverpool to send Jamie Carragher into retirement with one last derby victory on his CV.



Carragher comes up against the club he supported as a boy this Sunday in the final derby of his 16-year Anfield career.



The 35-year-old will swap Melwood for the Sky Sports studios next season after signing up as a pundit, and Gerrard is desperate to send his long-time friend and team-mate off in style.





The Liverpool captain said: "I think being local lads we feel the passion in the city.



"Jamie will be playing at the weekend, he will be one of the first on the teamsheet and has been brilliant since he came back into the team.



"We're hoping to get a nice derby victory for Carra to remember because you will always remember your last derby.



"I'm going to miss him more than anyone. I'm close to Jamie on and off the pitch. It's an emotional time him packing it in but he is going on to Sky and I'm sure he'll do a fantastic job."


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Zidane: Bale fee not an issue

Real Madrid ambassador Zinedine Zidane claims Europe's top clubs would be prepared to spend big on Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale.

The Welsh forward, who recently landed a PFA awards double by being named Player and Young Player of the Year, continues to be heavily linked with a summer move away from White Hart Lane.

Spurs are understandably reluctant to part with their most prized asset, with Bale having helped to fire them into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

They would demand a sizeable fee if a deal were to be done, but Zidane does not see that being an issue for the sides reported to be leading the hunt for Bale's signature.

The former World Player of the Year said: "After the season he has just had - and still being so young, of course - Gareth Bale is going to be one of the most expensive players in the world if he decides to move.

"Tottenham could demand £40m, £50m, maybe even £60m for him. It is a lot of money, but there are maybe three or four teams in the world that can pay that sort of transfer fee, and it won't put them off.

"A player like Bale can be the difference between a big club winning the league or the Champions League.

"They would be getting the best player in Europe this season - and he is at an age where he can still play at the top for another 10 years."


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Shakhtar firm over Fernandinho

Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu insists that if Manchester City want star midfielder Fernandinho, then they will have to pay his release clause.



Fernandinho has long been linked with a move to England and both Tottenham and Chelsea have failed with bids in the last 12 months.



Now Roberto Mancini's City are heading the chase and are said to be closing on a £30million deal - but Lucescu has rubbished claims a move is imminent.



"If City want to [sign Fernandinho], the clause is €50 million [£42.3 million]," Lucescu told PRO TV.



The Romanian also insisted that Shakhtar are indeed a bigger club than City.



He said: "If our players receive offers from teams higher than Shakhtar, we do everything possible to help them.



"Currently, I think Manchester City are not at our level."



Fernandinho, who joined the club from Atletico Paranaense in 2005, has three years left on his current deal.


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Damiao deal talks held

Internacional president Giovanni Luigi claims Tottenham Hotspur have re-opened transfer talks regarding Leandro Damiao.

Spurs came close to bringing the Brazil international on board in January, but failed with a deadline day approach.

Officials at White Hart Lane have continued to monitor Damiao since that point, with reports suggesting that they would return to the negotiating table at some stage.

Luigi says further discussions have been held, ahead of the summer window, and he has hinted that the 23-year-old forward will be plying his trade in the Premier League next season - rather than in his homeland or in Serie A.

He told Tutto Mercato: "If a club want a player, they must talk to the president of the club at which that particular player plays, and not just deal with the agent - that is not correct behaviour.

"Recently we talked with Tottenham, Leandro is very likely to play games in England in the coming year. On the other hand, we can exclude Napoli."


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Tito defends Messi call

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova insisted he was right to play Lionel Messi at the weekend after the Argentine sat out the 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

The World Player of the Year has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but he was passed fit to feature in Barca's 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

However, Messi watched from the bench as Bayern cruised into the Champions League final with a 7-0 aggregate victory, and Vilanova admitted the Argentine was left out because he feared he would aggravate the injury.

"Leo played in Bilbao on Saturday because he felt better," said Vilanova. "He imprinted a change on the team but at the end of the game he felt some strange sensations.

"He trained this week, but he didn't feel right. He is an explosive player and there was a risk he could tear his hamstring, so he couldn't help the team in these conditions."

Vilanova also denied suggestions that his team were becoming too reliant on Messi, insisting Barca had performed well without their record-breaking talisman.

"All these years when we have played without Leo we have won games by small margins, but this year in the league we have won games 5-0 and 3-0 without him on the pitch," he added.

"When you have a player that is so good, it is normal that you notice it. If Bayern had been without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben they would not be at this level."

Vilanova also dismissed speculation of widespread changes to the Barcelona squad at the end of the season, and blamed the crushing defeat on a lengthy injury list.

"All squads are reinforced every season. I said the other day that we didn't need to change much, but rather recuperate the players we do have," he said.



"Bayern have arrived at this point with all their players and we have many out. Despite the great squad that we have you cannot win all the titles either. You can't win everything and the first leg has weighed heavily on this game."


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