World Football Gossip Roundup: Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, David Beckham

It's the penalty shootout that keeps on giving.

Spain defeated Portugal in a Euro 2012 semifinal shootout Wednesday night in Donetsk, Ukraine, and on Thursday the world is still chattering about it.

Was Cristiano Ronaldo holding out for glory or just doing what his coach told him? What's this about Cesc Fabregas having a premonition? And was he talking to the ball?

All will be answered inside today's B/R World Football Gossip Roundup, which also features updates on David Beckham's Olympic dreams, Luka Modric's transfer dreams and Mario Balotelli's chances of playing professionally in his home country.

Ronaldo Takes the 5th

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal crashed out of Euro 2012 on Wednesday, losing a penalty shootout 4-2 to Spain.

Ronaldo, the team's captain, did not take a spot kick. He would have gone fifth, but the shootout ended before he got his chance.

According to The Guardian, Ronaldo says his coach told him to go fifth:

"

It was just a question of me speaking with the coach. He said to me, "Do you want to take the fifth one?" and I said "yes." Sometimes I take the first, the second or the third. I agreed to take the fifth.

"

Cesc Had a Feeling

Spain's Cesc Fabregas converted the decisive penalty, hitting his shot in off the post at Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio's right.

Afterwards, Cesc told reporters he "had a premonition" about the shootout.

From the Daily Telegraph:

"

When I stepped up to take the penalty I said to the ball that we had to make history and it shouldn’t let me down. They told me initially to take the second one but I said, "No, give me the fifth as I had this premonition."

"

Becks Out

David Beckham will not represent Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Beckham, 37, was not part of manager Stuart Pearce's final 18-man squad. According to Associated Press sources, Britain's three overage players (that is, above the age of 23) will be Ryan Giggs (38), Craig Bellamy (32) and Micah Richards (24).

Modric: I Want to Leave Spurs

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has confirmed he wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports out of Spain cited by ESPNSoccernet.

Spanish paper Marca quoted Modric as saying, "I'm going to play in the Champions League, I want to win that competition. I'm not going to be able to achieve my dream here."

The Sun reckons Modric will cost about £30 million, and the Daily Mail reports that Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin could be part of a swap deal.

Jordi Alba to Barcelona

Barcelona and Valencia have agreed to a €14 million transfer fee for full-back/midfielder Jordi Alba, according to Barcelona's official website.

The article indicates that Alba, 23, will travel to Barcelona next week for a medical and then will sign a five-year contract.

Mario Mandzukic to Bayern

Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg have reached an agreement for the potential transfer of Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic, according to Bayern's official website.

Mandzukic will visit Munich for "the obligatory medical" and then will sign a four-year contract.

Mandzukic, 26, scored three goals for Croatia at Euro 2012. He scored 20 goals in 56 Bundesliga appearances for VfL Wolfsburg.

Agent: Balotelli Not Going Back to Italy

Finally, the agent of Italian forward Mario Balotelli has reportedly said that Balotelli will not return to Italy until the financial state of the game improves there.

Goal.com cites Sportmediaset in quoting agent Mino Raiola: "Mario Balotelli cannot return to Italy, because of the economic situation of Italian football. The top players are not coming to Italy right now."

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