World Football Gossip Roundup: Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, Oscar De Marcos

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Is Jose Mourinho leaving Real Madrid?

That's the big story for this Monday edition of the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup. Reports in Spain say Mou might be on his way out, but how much can we trust them?

Meanwhile, a European football legend has been sacked in Mexico and a German executive has criticized the English game. Read on for all the details.

Reports: Jose Mourinho to Leave Real Madrid at End of Season

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Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, according to Spanish reports (Press Association via The Guardian).

Mourinho, 49, is reportedly being held responsible for Real's disappointing start to the La Liga season. Real trail leaders Barcelona by 11 points.

Spanish paper Marca cites incidents with first-team defender Sergio Ramos and reserve coach Alberto Toril as problems that concern club president Florentino Pérez.

Mourinho also made himself available to fans 40 minutes before this weekend's win over local rivals Atletico Madrid. The move apparently upset Pérez.

Mourinho joined Real Madrid in 2010. He won the league last season and the Spanish Cup in 2011.

According to The Telegraph, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Mourinho could manage United when Ferguson leaves the club.

Chivas Fire Johan Cruyff

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Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara have fired Johan Cruyff from his advisory role with the team (Press Association via The Independent).

The club, commonly known as Chivas, hired Cruyff as an adviser earlier this year. Chivas exited the Mexican league playoffs in the first round.

Cruyff, 65, formerly managed Barcelona and Ajax. As a player, he led the Netherlands to the 1974 World Cup final.

German Executive: English Football Losing Its Soul

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Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says visiting Manchester City showed him that English football has lost its soul, according to The Guardian.

Watzke cites foreign ownership of clubs like City and Chelsea. Members own Bundesliga clubs under the "50 percent plus one" rule.

Watzke said:

I am a little bit romantic, and that is not romantic. In England people seem not to be interested in this—at Liverpool they are fine for the club to belong to an American. But the German is romantic: when there is a club, he wants to have the feeling it is my club, not the club of Qatar or Abu Dhabi.

Arsenal Target Frank Lampard?

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Arsenal have made veteran Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard a January transfer target, according to the Daily Mirror.

Lampard, 34, is in the final year of his contract with Chelsea. He has not been a regular for the Blues this season.

The potential move would be part of a reported new transfer philosophy for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who usually recruits younger players.

Manchester United Interested in Oscar De Marcos?

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Manchester United are chasing Athletic Bilbao midfielder Oscar De Marcos, according to the Daily Mirror.

United reportedly chased De Marcos in the summer, but balked at his price tag, which was thought to be £25 million at the time.

Meanwhile, Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross is set to reject Manchester United and sign a new six-year contract, according to The Telegraph.

 

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