UEFA announced the 55 players nominated for the team of the year 2010

The official site of the European football association announced the 55 players nominated, five for each position, for the ideal team of the year.
The Spanish football players dominate this list, being not less than nine players nominated: Casillas, De Gea, Ramos, Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Villa.
The fans will vote on the official site of UEFA and will have to choose also the coach of the year between Vicente Del Bosque, Quique Sanchez Flores, Jose Mourinho, Louis Van Gaal and Bert van Marwijk.

The nominees list:

KEEPER: Casillas (Real Madrid), De Gea (Atletico de Madrid), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Eduardo (Genoa) and Stekelenburg (Ajax). 
CENTRAL DEFENDERS: Puyol and Pique (Barcelona), Lucio and Samuel (Inter Milan), David Luiz (Benfica), Bonucci (Juventus), Hangeland (Fulham), Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diawara (Olympique Marseille) and Douglas (Twente).
RIGHT DEFENDER: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Maicon (Inter Milan), Lahm (Bayern Munich), Van der Wiel (Ajax) and Ivanovic (Chelsea).
LEFT DEFENDER: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Coentrao (Benfica), Van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Riise (AS Roma) and Bastos (Olympique Lyon).
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Xavi (Barcelona), Khedira (Real Madrid), Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Van Bommel and Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
RIGHT MIDFIELDER: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Robben (Bayern Munich), Zanetti (Inter Milan), Kuyt (Liverpool) and Adam Johnson (Manchester City).
LEFT MIDFIELDER: Iniesta (Barcelona), Malouda (Chelsea), Cassano (Sampdoria), Di Maria (Real Madrid) and Bale (Tottenham).
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Sneijder (Inter Milan), Ozil (Real Madrid), Honda (TSKA Moscow) and Muller (Bayern Munich).
FORDWARD: David Villa and Messi (Barcelona), Eto’o and Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Higuain (Real Madrid), Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Tevez (Manchester City), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Drogba (Chelsea) and Lukaku (Anderlecht).
COACH: Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Quique Sanchez Flores (Atletico Madrid), Bert van Marwijk (Holland), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid) ?i Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich).

Paolo Maldini: "There is no point in asking who deserves the Golden Ball – Messi is the best"

Paolo Maldini, the former Italian defender, said that Lionel Messi is his favorite to win the Golden Ball in this season.

Retired a year and a half ago after 15 years in which he played 902 matches in the shirt of AC Milan, the Italian defender believes that the Argentine striker deserves to receive this year the trophy awarded by the French Magazine "France Football".

"When I see Lionel Messi playing, I think he should win every year. I have no doubt. He is an unbelievable player" said Maldini in an interview for the French newspaper L’Equipe.

Messi and Ronaldo are rivals also in fashion

The sporting rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the number one in the world has moved into fashion. It came here after the Argentine became the image of the famous fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, after renouncing at a contract with the A-Style, another Italian fashion house: "I am delighted that this collaboration is possible. I always had a preference for D & G style" said the FC Barcelona striker. The financial benefits of the agreement will be fully donated for the Leo Messi Foundation, "Elegy Creer" created in 2007 to support the children and adolescents with problems.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Armani, where he replaced the English  midfielder, David Beckham. The Portuguese promotes especially jeans and underwear, designed by the famous Italian designer, a direct competitor to Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

The competition is not only between Messi and Ronaldo but also between Dolce Gabbana, who is a sponsor of AC Milan from 2004 and Giorgio Armani who is a supporter of the rival Inter Milano.

Forlan: "The time I spent in England was great, I would come back anytime"

The Uruguayan striker of Atletico Madrid, Diego Forlan, that played for Manchester United, told the Spanish press that he would like to return to England, nut only "under certain conditions".

"The time I spent in England was wonderful. I felt good there and if I had the opportunity to come back, I would think, but only if certain conditions are met. If I will get a good offer, I will study it and then I will see, "said Forlan for the Marca newspaper.

The 31 years old player added that for now he has not received any offer: "If you receive an offer, you can decide to stay or to leave. When I came to Europe I gived up the house that I had and leaved everything behind" said Forlan, who was declared the best player at the World Cup this year.

Inter wants Marko Marin

Rafa Benitez wants reinforcements for the winter mercato. The Inter Milan coach agreed with the president Massimo Moratti on the young midfielder from Werder Bremen: Marko Marin, who has 21 years and is born in Germany. Inter is monitoring the German midfielder for two years and Werder has admitted that it could sell him.

"He has the qualities needed to play in the Bundesliga and the national team. I don’t see why he could not play in Italy in the future" said the coach Thomas Schaaf. Benitez is trying to hide the Milan club’s intentions, saying "Marin has the qualities and may play over several posts. But we got Sneijder, which I prefer".