Arch MILINTEL: 07/09/13

Atletico Madrid signs David Villa from Barcelona

Striker David Villa was likely to see his playing time diminish at Barcelona after the signing of Neymar.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

MADRID (AP) -- Atletico Madrid has reached a deal with Barcelona to sign Spain striker David Villa, boosting its attacking options after losing leading scorer Radamel Falcao.

Barcelona said on its website Monday that the deal is worth up to 5.1 million euros, with 2.1 million euros due this season.

Villa has scored 48 goals for Barcelona in 119 games since joining the Spanish giants in 2010, but was likely to see his playing time diminish with the arrival of Brazil star Neymar.

Falcao helped Atletico win the Copa del Rey and finish third in the Spanish league last season - clinching a spot in the Champions League - before being lured away by big-spending Monaco, and coach Diego Simeone had complained that club hasn't done enough in the transfer market to replace him.

Premier League club Tottenham had reportedly also been trying to sign Villa.

Brazil police detain man for beheading soccer referee

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Police in rural Brazil have detained one man and were seeking two others in the slaying of a soccer referee who was killed, dismembered and decapitated by spectators after he stabbed a player to death mid-match, a police official said Monday.

Officer Valter Costa, who was heading the investigation into the June 30 slayings, said police have detained Luis Moraes Souza, 27, who is suspected of pummeling the referee over the head and smashing a bottle of cachaca sugarcane rum onto his face. Souza's brother, Francisco, is among the two still being sought, Costa said.

The slayings began after the 20-year-old referee, Otavio Jordao da Silva, expelled player Josemir Santos Abreu, 31, from an amateur match in the small town of Centro do Meio, in the northern state of Maranhao. Angered by the expulsion, Abreu threw Silva to the ground. As he rose, Silva pulled a knife and stabbed Abreu in the chest, Costa said, and the player died on the way to the hospital.

Players and spectators then rushed Silva, tying him up by his arms and legs while Souza hit him over the head with a spike and then broke the bottle on his face. One of the suspects being sought, a man nicknamed "Pirolo,'' then took the knife that had been used to stab Abreu and stabbed the referee in the neck, said Costa. It was not immediately clear why Silva had been carrying the knife in the first place.

Souza's brother Francisco then used a sickle to cutting off Silva's arms, legs and head, which he placed on a spike in the middle of the field, Costa said. He added that Francisco may have been on drugs at the time.

Costa said violence was unusual in Centro de Meio, a remote rural community with little crime. He said those involved in the slayings were all from neighboring towns.

While violent clashes between rival fans is common in Brazil, the brutality of the killing in Centro de Meio sent shockwaves through Brazil, which last month played host to the Confederations Cup and is gearing up to host next year's World Cup soccer tournament.

Bren misses Hen party

Published: 32 minutes ago

LIVERPOOL have missed out on key target Henrikh Mkhitaryan after he signed for Borussia Dortmund.

Brendan Rodgers had earmarked the Armenian ace as his big-money transfer this summer.

But the Reds boss has been dealt a blow as Champions League finalists Dortmund have swooped to snap up the 24-year-old from Shakhtar Donetsk for £25million.

The German giants have been rebuilding over the close season following the departure of whizkid Mario Gotze to rivals Bayern Munich.

Mkhitaryan becomes their third signing in recent weeks following the arrivals of Greek defender Soktratis Papastathopoulos and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said: “We are delighted that we got a fantastic new signing for the attacking midfield role in Henrikh Mkhitarayan.”

Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke added: “It was not an easy transfer, but we really wanted to have Henrikh — and now we have him!”

Despite the setback, Rodgers has been busy in the transfer market this summer.

The Northern Irishman has splashed the cash on La Liga pair Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, while goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has come in from Sunderland.

Rodgers has also landed defender Kolo Toure on a free transfer and sold striker Andy Carroll to West Ham from £16m.

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Atletico Madrid signs David Villa from Barcelona

Brazil police detain man for beheading soccer referee

Bren misses Hen party

LIVERPOOL have missed out on key target Henrikh Mkhitaryan after he signed for Borussia Dortmund.