Top Football Players: August 2011

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Pizarro's 29 goals over two seasons for Werder Bremen made the rising star of Peruvian football more coveted by managers of major European clubs. After the Fußball-Bundesliga 2000-01, Werder announced that it would not prevent Pizarro from moving to a bigger club, and the conflict to secure the Peruvian forward's services intensified. The media indicated that Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona of Spain, F.C. Internazionale Milano of Italy, and Werder's Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund were in the running to sign Pizarro. The most speculated transfer in Peruvian football monopolized the interest of the national press. After seeming destined for Spain, Pizarro ended weeks of speculation by signing for FC Bayern Munich on 7 June 2001.

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro

Claudio Pizarro

Owen Hargreaves 2009

Owen Hargreaves England

The Champions League celebrations may have passed an exhausted Owen Hargreaves by in Moscow.

But the midfielder last night revealed the parallels between Fabio Capello and Sir Alex Ferguson that he is convinced will finally bring the winning mentality into the England set-up.

Less than a week after locking horns and battling each other to a Luzhniki Stadium standstill, the Manchester United and Chelsea players are now joined in a common cause.

Hargreaves insisted friendships forged on previous England duties could not be forgotten - even in the crucible of the Champions League Final.

And he revealed his faith that Capello will bring the same international success he has enjoyed at club level.

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves England

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves Wallpaper

Owen Hargreaves

London - Manchester United confirmed Tuesday that midfielder Owen Hargreaves will miss the rest of the season.

Hargreaves had surgery on his right knee following discussions with the noted surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado.

He will have further surgery on his left knee in a fortnight in an effort to end the tendinitis problem that has plagued him for almost two years.

Owen Hargreaves

Alberto Paloschi Milan

Chievo have completed the signing of Milan forward Alberto Paloschi.

The youngster has joined the Flying Donkeys on loan for the coming season with the option to purchase 50 per cent of his rights at the end of it.

“Paloschi was our first choice,” Chievo sporting director Giovanni Sartori told MilanNews.it.

“We have been chasing him for some time and we are extremely satisfied that we were able to get him.

“Is Paloschi happy? I think and I hope so. After all, he agreed to the operation.”

Paloschi was on loan at Genoa for the latter half of the 2010/2011 campaign and managed two goals in 12 matches for the Grifone.