#10 Diego

[Vargas_4]

Saw him miss the penalty that would have allowed Bremen to go into extra time vs Dortmund.

That has to suck.

[Vargas_4]

Brazilian star Diego has spoken of his complete satisfaction with life at Werder Bremen. However, he admits a move 'can happen' in the future...

Undeniably the star man at the Weserstadion, diminutive Brazilian talent Diego is gearing up for the second half of Werder Bremen's season, one he hopes will end in Bundesliga triumph.

Having spent Christmas back home in Brazil and recuperated and worked on a recurring injury problem, Werder's No10 stressed how glad he was to be getting back into football again.

At Home In Germany

"Brazil will always be my home... but it was no problem for me to come back to Bremen," said Diego in an interview with Kicker magazine. "I've settled in well here and feel at home, I really feel great."

Personal Honours

The midfielder has been inundated with awards and accolades since moving to Germany, the latest being voted the Bundesliga's best outfield player and best foreigner by his fellow professionals.

"I feel honoured by every recognition," Diego explained. "I word hard for them and it's really pleasing to be voted the best. But I also need to be grateful to the whole Bremen team and Thomas Schaaf - it wouldn't have been possible without them."

Title Challengers

And Diego recognises that Werder now have enough quality in depth to seriously challenge favourites Bayern Munich for the league title this season. After appearing to run away with proceedings at the start of the season, the Bavarians have been pegged back and go into the second half of the campaign ahead of the Green-and-Whites only on goal difference.

"Why can't we win it?" questioned Diego. "Of course we want to be champions. But I also rate Hamburg very highly and Stuttgart and Schalke could get themselves back into contention. The Bundesliga is a very even league."

Real, Juve and Bremen

With a talent as great as his, it is inevitable that Diego is constantly linked with big money moves overseas. Juventus and Real Madrid were among those names mentioned in recent months, but Diego believes Bremen offers him the greatest opportunities to play his style of football without being hampered or pressured to excess.

"It could be possible," he commented when asked if he could have so much personal success on the pitch playing for another team.

"But here in Bremen everything runs smoothly; the tactical side, my role... everything fits together. I've only read about Juventus," he added of the speculation linking him to Serie A.

"There's nothing more to add. The club would deal with anything that happened."

Asked if he'd actually prefer a switch to Real Madrid in order to link up with good friend and former Santos teammate Robinho, Diego revealed that he hadn't really given the subject any thought. "I'd never made any plans to join Real because there was never any concrete interest," he explained.

"People keep asking me questions about my future but I'm absolutely content at Werder. I have a contract until 2011 and I'm only focusing on my club.

"Anyway, I play and train with Robinho for the national side so I'm already fulfilling that ambition."

German Action

Diego came on as a substitute in last night's DFB Pokal game at Borussia Dortmund, but having scored one penalty he then missed another as Bremen were eliminated from the competition 2-1. Bremen resume their Bundesliga campaign on Sunday against VfL Bochum.

[Vargas_4]

Werder Bremen star Diego is Juventus’ number one transfer target for the summer, according to Controcampo.

The Bianconeri have been heavily criticised both for their disastrous transfer policy last summer, and for their lack of creativity in the middle-of-the-park.

For this reason sports director Alessio Secco and the Juve hierarchy have decided that they will splash out on a creative, world class midfielder in the summer.

The Old Lady are prepared to throw approximately €27m at Werder Bremen for Diego in order to make this happen.

Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri is said to be a huge admirer of the Brazilian playmaker and sees similarities between him and ex-Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola.

The Tinkerman is prepared to change his formation in order to fit Diego into his team, and Juve will offer the 22-year-old a salary of €2.6m a season.

Real Madrid are believed to have pulled out of the race to sign the star, thus leaving Juve as the only team in the running to sign him.

Diego shot to fame in Brazil as a 17-year-old when he formed a devastating partnership at Santos with current Real Madrid star Robinho. The duo led the team to the Brazilian Championship in 2002.

[Podolski]

I haven't heard anything about us pulling out..
how reliable is this

[Vargas_4]

^ I dunno. Maybe the folks from the Italian forum can comment on it.

[azzurri]

Ranieri is a fan of Diego apparently, and the other week Secco said they like players who keep a low profile, which is an indirect jab at VDV.

If Madrid want him, we dont stand a chance. If were willing to pay 27 mil, Madrid will double that.

[Podolski]

.. yep :P but i hope we don't (double it) and i don't think we will. maybe if we can get the 30 mil back from robben.. unlikely, but i'd rather have diego than him.

[Trim]

Werder Bremen have taken out a big insurance policy on Brazilian star Diego.

The midfielder is, according to statistics, the most fouled player in the Bundesliga.

Over 113 fouls have been committed against Diego and so Werder have taken action.

"We have done it because we are a limited company owned by shareholders and Diego is part of that," said Werder's chief executive Manfred Muller

"But it isn't cheap: The yearly subscription amounts to 98,000 euros (£73,000)."

Sky Sports | Football | Bundesliga | News | Werder take out Diego deal

[Vargas_4]

Werder star Diego is hoping to gain revenge on Bayern as the Bundesliga gets ready for Super Sunday

Alongside Dortmund versus Schalke, for fans the biggest game in German football, comes a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday as Werder Bremen travel to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Bremen are desperate for victory over their Bavarian rivals having surprisingly lost 2-1 at home to VfL Bochum last weekend and thereby allowing the Munchner to open up a three point gap.

Another loss at the Allianz Arena would see the difference jump to six. One man determined not to let that happen is the Green-and-Whites' Brazilian superstar Diego.

The No10 was superb in midweek for his country in their friendly win in Ireland and hopes his good international form will spur him on in the Bundesliga.

"These games for Brazil are important for me and make me even stronger," Diego told Bild. "We have high hopes for Sunday. We want to get a result and I hope we can win!"

The attacking midfielder was allowed a day of recuperation yesterday by his club to make sure he arrives in Munich on Sunday in the best of shape.

[Trim]

Werder Bremen star Diego has declared that he wants to sign for Juventus, and believes that a transfer could take place in the summer.

The Bianconeri have made the purchase of a top-class creative midfielder their number one priority at the end of the season, and Diego certainly fits the bill.

The 22-year-old has been in sparkling form this campaign, and is currently the joint top scorer in the Bundesliga along with Bayern Munich’s Luca Toni.

“Juventus want me and I am proud to have that interest,” Diego told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The reports saying that Inter were interested were made up, but Juve is something that we are working on.”

Diego has warned Juventus though that he will not risk falling out with his current employers, but nevertheless is confident that the transfer will go through.

“The Bianconeri directors should know that I am happy at Bremen and that I won’t declare war on the club,” he stressed.

“I would treat the club properly as I have grown up there and I have a contract until 2012.

“Juve must talk directly to Werder and if the two sides can come to an arrangement then there will be no obstacle. I am very interested in moving to Turin and we wouldn’t have difficulty working out personal terms.”

Finally Diego expressed his admiration for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

“Juventus are a very popular club in Brazil and they have Gigi Buffon, who is the best goalkeeper in the world. I just hope that they can get into the Champions League because all players want to play in Europe,” the ex-Santos star concluded.

A possible problem however in finding an agreement could be over a transfer fee. Bremen are said to be demanding 26m Euros, but Juve sporting director Alessio Secco is only willing to pay 16m Euros.

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Diego: I Want To Sign For Juve

[Trim]

Werder Bremen playmaker Diego has denied reports in Italian tabloids linking him with a move to Serie A club Juventus Turin.

Diego reacted after reports in the "Gazzetta dello Sport" quoted him saying he would be interested in a move to Juventus.

"Completely fabricated"

"This sentence is completely fabricated and there are other quotes that are not correct. I owe Werder Bremen a lot and would never say such a thing", Diego insisted.

"The journalist asked me about a supposed Juventus offer when I was about to enter the team coach during our national team stay in Dublin. I told him that I had heard about it and that it's great to attract the interest of such a club. But I also told him that I feel fine in Bremen, concentrate on Werder only and have a contract until 2011, which I intend to see out", the playmaker added.

[Podolski]

good, I still really want him at madrid

[Podolski]

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9...oc1570ezk1.jpg

perfect partnership

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Podolski

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9...oc1570ezk1.jpg

perfect partnership

True. He could possibly join Robinho next summer.

Any possibility is open, he could basically end up at any big club.

[Vargas_4]

Werder Bremen have told Juventus in no uncertain terms that they have no chance of signing star player Diego.

The Bianconeri have made the purchase of a top-class creative midfielder their summer priority, and quotes attributed to Diego in the Italian press last week stated that the player would relish a move to Turin.

However the Brazilian yesterday denied ever making such statements.

“It’s a total invention,” he blasted.

“I only told the journalists that it was wonderful to be appreciated by such a club, but I’m fine at Werder Bremen and I want to fully concentrate on my current team, with whom I have a contract until 2011 which I want to respect."

Werder Bremen have now added to Diego’s rhetoric, with the club’s sporting director and former star Klaus Allofs saying that the player is not moving anywhere.

“I will just say what Diego has repeated on TV and that is that he wants to stay with us,” ex-Germany international Allofs told the Corriere dello Sport.

“Even if Juventus were to offer more than €25m, we wouldn’t be ready to do business.”

Diego is the top scorer in the Bundesliga with 11 goals, and was on target again at the weekend during Werder’s excellent 1-1 draw away at league-leaders Bayern Munich.