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Gago would reportedly cost the Spanish club €20 million
(US$26.3 million) and would arrive during January's transfer window, according to news reports Tuesday.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon hopes to complete Gago's transfer
before the club's general assembly on Sunday, sports daily Marca said.
Calderon is said to believe the Argentine's arrival would
help him resist calls for new elections from members annoyed by the disallowing of postal votes in the July poll.
But Gago's agent, Marcelo Lombilla, said he was in no hurry
to meet Madrid officials.
"I have just arrived in Madrid and now I'm off to La Coruna
to sort out a matter involving (defender Fabricio) Coloccini. There'll be time to talk about other subjects in forthcoming
days," Lombilla told news agency Efe.
The 20-year-old Gago has been compared with former Argentina
midfielder Fernando Redondo, who won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000 with Madrid.
Madrid recently signed 18-year-old left back Marcelo from
Fluminense, and is said to be aiming to sign another teenager, River Plate striker Gonzalo Higuain
Jenna and Barbara Bush revel at Bombonera
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Jenna and Barbara Bush
reveled in Argentina's favorite pastime Sunday, taking in a soccer victory by the Boca Juniors at their raucous, jam-packed
stadium.
Spotted as they sat in the official team skybox at famous
"La Bombonera" stadium, the twin daughters of U.S. President George W. Bush didn't respond to the television cameras that
showed them sporadically during the South American powerhouse's 4-1 win over Colon.
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| Jenna (R) and Barbara Bush wear Boca Juniors'
jerseys while attending a match at the Bombonera in Buenos Aires. (Fernando Gens,Telam / Associated Press) |
But the twins did don blue-and-yellow Boca jerseys as they watched thousands
of fans - including former Boca star Diego Maradona in a VIP box on the opposite side of the stadium - raucously celebrate
the victory.
Boca has racked up more international team trophies than any club in
the world and needs only one more victory here to claim its third first-division championship in a row - a feat unmatched
by any Argentine club.
A week ago, one of the twin's had her purse stolen in Buenos Aires. Local
media reports said the twins have been dining at Buenos Aires eateries and taking in the sights.
On Sunday, the Bush twins were kept far from fans and journalists in
the box-shaped stadium.
Maradona, who was honored before the match with a statue, is a fierce
critic of U.S. policy in the region and joined a leftist protest movement last November - led by Venezuelan socialist Hugo
Chavez - that opposed the U.S. president's appearance at the fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina
| Boca won decisively |
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At the Bombonera Boca beat Colón by 3 to 1. Its goals were scored by
Cardozo, Marino and Palacio. Giovanni Hernández had tied the game provisionally for the team from Santa Fe.
Boca took off in clear command of the game. Cardozo and Dátolo were the
most dangerous players for the rival goal, and these were the men who shared the merit for Boca’s first goal. Dátolo
set up the play on the left and Neri converted from the middle.
Before the first half expired Daniel Díaz brought down Rubén Ramírez
in Boca’s area. Baldassi didn’t hesitate and ordered a penalty kick. . Giovanni Hernández equalized. .
At the start of the second half La Volpe’s team looked decided
to obtain the second goal. Marino received the ball within Colón’s area, turned and shot a leftfooter. 2-1.
Even though the game seemed almost defined Boca wanted more. Thus came
the goals of Rodrigo Palacio, who in both remaining goals sent in two respective crossed shots from left to right.
Boca is ever nearer of the triple championship. It needs only three of
the six points at play to win the Apertura tournament. |
| "We don’t feel we are the champions
yet” |
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Goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla has gradually
succeeded in conquering the affection of the fans and the confidence of his teammates, as well as that of coach Ricardo La
Volpe.
However, the Paraguayan feels that the fact he has gained a solid foothold in Boca’s goal doesn’t
give him leeway to relax.
"I feel the same way as when I arrived at Boca, with the intention to work and to try to
conquer a berth in Boca’s goal. The competition is tough, there are other good goalkeepers and at Boca one always has
to be well prepared for Sunday.
This is the way to earn the confidence of everyone each day. I think I do enjoy the
confidence of my teammates, and this is what matters most. I don’t feel that I can take the berth of the goalkeeper
for granted”, were Bobadilla’s candid words about his feelings.
When it came to talk about the fans the
goalie said: “they do have a lot of confidence in me. When I play at the Bombonera I feel supported and I hope to give
my best to retribute all this confidence”.
Boca is only a step away from being a triple champion, although everybody
agrees that to attain this goal each remaing game has to be thought of as if it were a final.
"We don’t
feel we are champions as yet. All the remaining games will be finals of a triple championship. If we want to win the title
all the outstanding matches will be like that. And on Sunday against Colón it will be a tougher final than the last one”
Bobadilla concluded.- |
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