#10 Diego

[MiRo^KloSe]

i think he will stay next season
bremen will not let him go ...

[Vargas_4]

Werder Bremen midfielder Thorsten Frings has admitted that the team have perhaps relied a little too heavily upon Brazilian Diego this season.

Werder playmaker Diego has certainly been in the headlines this season, what with top performances, sending offs, and the constant transfer speculation regarding him.

The Green and Whites have gone through their own ups and downs this season but now look to come through and look set to clinch one of the three Champions League qualification spots this season.

International midfielder Thorsten Frings however has stressed in an interview with ‘Bild’ that any criticism of Diego is unfair. It had been intimated that Werder’s poor form after Christmas was linked to a run of poor form from Diego himself.

“He relies heavily upon his fitness, but he missed the entire winter preparation. Perhaps we as players relied a little too much on Diego” Frings admitted.

The transfer speculation is not however having a negative impact upon the team says the German international midfielder.

“We don’t talk about it. Diego has explained often enough that he wants to stay. The only thing that is clear is that if a player wants to go, then he should.”

Frings also believes that in time, the Brazilian will be able to contribute even more to the team and even take on a leadership role.

“He is still young, and perhaps in the future he will be more vociferous. But he has to decide for himself whether he wants to contribute more in that area. Diego is very important and we need him.

“With Johann Micoud, we played good direct football and at the start everybody thought Diego would change our style.

“But a new player has to adapt, and Diego has done that well” he added.

***

Goal.com - Werder Bremen - Frings: We Rely Too Much On Diego

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Diego: I’m Staying At Bremen

Werder Bremen star Diego is sure to have disappointed a host of suitors after declaring that he has no intention of leaving the club.

The Brazilian is one of the hottest properties in Europe currently, with a host of top clubs interested in signing him.

Inter, Real Madrid and Juventus were believed to have been the favourites, even if the Bianconeri have cooled their interest just recently.

However it seems that Diego wants to stay in Germany for at least another season.

“I've played my best years since joining Werder, getting back into the national team,” said the former Santos star.

“I feel really good here and I don't see why I should leave.

“I still have three years on my contract. Perhaps I'll stay until the end and I want to be here for at least another season.”

Diego has had an excellent season in the German Bundesliga, and is his side’s top-scorer with 13 goals.

The 23-year-old is also a regular in the Brazil national team, and has won 34 caps, scoring six goals.

Goal.com - Werder Bremen - Diego: I'm Staying At Bremen

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O'Neill Considers Diego Move

Aston Villa coach Martin O'Neill is said to be eyeing Werder Bremen ace Diego...

Goal.com - Aston Villa - O'Neill Considers Diego Move

[Dragoen]

As if he would join Aston Villa. Maybe he prefers Uefa Cup over Champions League

Don't get me wrong. I like Aston Villa one of my favourite PL clubs but Diego is a bit over their level.

[MiRo^KloSe]

Diego To Aston Vilaaaaaa hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
im getting laughing

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Wenger Eyes Diego Deal - Report

Arsenal are reportedly preparing to swoop for Werder Bremen playmaker Diego, should Alexander Hleb eventually leave the Emirates this summer…

Hleb was one of the Gunners’ most important players this season, forming a creative pairing with Cesc Fabregas that had them sitting top of the table for much of the season.

But the Belarus international has been strongly linked with a switch to Inter Milan, and recently his agent confirmed the 27-year-old was seeking a move abroad due to his displeasure with life in London.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be under immense pressure to replace the former Stuttgart man should he leave, and the Bundesliga may be the first port of call in the search for his replacement.

According to the Daily Mail, the Frenchman has targeted Diego to fill the void on the flanks, in a type of move very similar to the one that brought Hleb to North London.

The 23-year-old has risen to fame playing in the hole between the midfielders and the strikers, much as Hleb did during his time in Germany, but Wenger would no doubt seek to install him on either wing.

The Brazil international has been linked with a host of clubs across Europe, including Juventus, Real Madrid and Liverpool, but Bremen are keen to keep hold of him, meaning the Gunners may have to splash out an uncharacteristically large sum for the ex-Porto man.

Goal.com - Arsenal - Wenger Eyes Diego Deal - Report

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Diego Confirms Commitment To Werder

Werder Bremen midfielder Diego has once again confirmed his commitment to the Bundesliga runners up despite yet more speculation linking him with a move away from the Weser Stadion.

“I am not thinking about leaving Werder. I am very happy here in Bremen and am treated very well here. That is important for a player” the Brazilian told the ZDF sports programme “aktuellen Sportstudio”.

The midfield maestro confirmed that other clubs had been in contact with him, although he denied that Barcelona had been in touch over bringing him to the Nou Camp as a direct replacement for Portuguese playmaker Deco.

“I have never spoken to Barcelona” the 23 year old admitted.

Diego was the player that replaced Deco at Porto when the former joined the Catalan giants in the summer of 2004.

Reports this week claimed that Arsenal were lining up a bid for the Werder midfield genius to counteract the potential loss of Alexander Hleb to Italy.

But if Diego’s rebuttals are to be believed, Bundesliga fans will be enjoying his silky skills and sublime goals again next season.

Goal.com - Werder Bremen - Diego Confirms Commitment To Werder

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Werder Deny Diego Olympic Dream

Werder Bremen have blocked Brazilian playmaker Diego from participating in this summer’s Olympic games.

The Werder midfielder becomes the latest big name to be told to forget about the Beijing Olympics after Mark van Bommel, Lucio and Martin Demichelis were barred from representing their countries in the summer games by Bayern Munich. "

With due respect, this is the Olympic Games and for a footballer, the World Cup is the largest competition where they can measure themselves with the best" Bremen manager Klaus Allofs told the Weser Kurier newspaper.

"He belongs to the 'A' team and, in my eyes, that is not a team for the Olympics."

The Olympic football tournament would see Diego miss the first two rounds of the Bundesliga season and deny him a proper summer break.

Bremen will not face any sanctions through their actions as Diego is an over-age player. "We will work on having him available to us," added Allofs.

"We know that by not releasing him, we are not at risk of any sanctions."

Goal.com - Werder Bremen - Werder Deny Diego Olympic Dream

[Vargas_4]

I expected him to leave this summer.

I guess Real Madrid's interest has gone low considering they won La Liga and their midfield being pretty solid. Sure Diego can add. But it's not as if they're dying to get him.

Can't picture him at Arsenal either. Juventus has also gone quiet a bit.

Interesting.

[__-SNAKE-__]

He will probably end up at Chelsea or Barca.

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Juve Or Inter Ideal For Me - Diego

Werder Bremen midfielder Diego has revealed his penchant for Juventus but he also admits hat he wouldn’t mind moving to Inter as he looks to swap the Bundesliga for Serie A.

The Brazilian midfield dynamo has been on the Bianconeri’s radar for quite sometime as the Old Lady looks to bolster her squad ahead of the new season.

Juventus have been distracted from Diego after they followed Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso. However, with Alonso’s move up in the air, Diego has reminded Juve that he is still keen to switch to Turin.

“Juventus and Inter spoke to my club about me but nothing happened and there was no talk about money,” Diego told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

“I really like Juventus because they are a great team, with a rich tradition and millions of fans.

“Inter would also be ideal because they are a very strong group with world class players full of determination.

“As for my future, we will see what happens. At the moment I am a Werder Bremen player and everything is going well for me there.”

Juventus are desperately seeking a midfielder and Diego maybe the alternative should Alonso fail to arrive in Turin.

Inter are following Frank Lampard and Ricardo Quaresma and so it doesn’t seem likely that Diego will move to San Siro.

Goal.com - Juventus - Juve Or Inter Ideal For Me - Diego

[D-Kin]

I'd prefer Diego over Alonso, but I'd imagine he'd cost a fair bit more unfortunately.