Mario Balotelli arrives to Liverpool training in £240,000 Ferrari imported from Italy

• Mario Balotelli arrived to Liverpool training in his imported Ferrari F12 Berlinetta on Thursday
• The £240,000 motor is a favourite of the Italy forward
• He once drove a camouflaged Bentley around Manchester 
• Balotelli scored his first goal for Liverpool in their 2-1 Champions League win against Ludogorets on Tuesday night
• Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the 24-year-old will start at West Ham

Mario Balotelli drove to Liverpool training on Thursday in his £240,000 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta that has been shipped over from Italy.

The 24-year-old has now been reunited with his beloved supercar, which was seen arriving at Liverpool's Melwood training base as Balotelli and his team-mates prepare for Saturday's Premier League trip to West Ham.

The Italy forward joined Brendan Rodgers side in a £16million switch from AC Milan in August and he will have been buoyed by the fact his luxurious vehicle has finally made the same move.

Balotelli arrived at Liverpool's Melwood base in his Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

The Liverpool forward will no doubt be delighted to be reunited with his supercar

The Italian car is Balotelli's favourite motor and he was frequently spotted with it in Italy

Balotelli (left) was pictured outside his Ferrari F12 Berlinetta whilst in Milan

Take a look at Mario Balotelli's luxury car collection

 

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Facts 

Price: £240,000

Brake horsepower: 730

0-62mph: 3.1 seconds

0-124mph: 8.5seconds

Top speed: 211mph 

Balotelli's love of cars is legendary and many of his infamous scrapes and japes have involved one of his motors.

The Italy star's most famous vehicle was probably the camouflage £160,000 Bentley GP in which he was spotted in Manchester. His white Maserati was also ticketed in the city centre.

Earlier this year, his former fiancee - according to some reports - Fanny Neguesha posted a video on Instagram showcasing Balotelli's love of fast cars.

She also put up a picture of some car keys, including those to the Ferrari, a Lamborghini and an Audi.

Balotelli is motoring on the pitch after opening his account with a goal against Ludogorets in Liverpool's 2-1 Champions League win on Tuesday.

His boss Rodgers confirmed that maverick forward will retain his place for the trip to Upton Park. 

Balotelli (right) scored his first Liverpool goal in their 2-1 Champions League group win against Ludogorets

Balotelli (left) celebrates scoring for Liverpool as they took a 1-0 lead against Ludogorets

Balotelli (centre) was seen outside San Carlo restaurant in Manchester on Thursday for a spot of lunch

Balotelli made sure his outfit matched as he walked through Manchester in predominately black and red attire

Balotelli (left) looked in a relaxed mood after Liverpool training on Thursday ahead of his meal in Manchester

However, the Liverpool manager added that if Balotelli is to replace Luis Suarez he must show the same drive as the Uruguayan.

‘Mario is a boy who has really looked into the history of the club,’ said Rodgers. ‘He understands the great strikers of the past. We’ve spoken about Suarez and his time here but if you’re clever you’ll remember he’s still young and still learning the game and he still has this hunger to do well.

‘He’ll get fitter and the idea is to persist with him. He’s a good reference for us and he’s improving with each time he trains and plays. It was a brilliant finish and that was exactly what we needed at that time – that bit of genuine Champions League class and he showed that.'  

Balotelli in his £160,000 camouflage Bentley GT in Manchester while he was a City player

A white Maserati belonging to Balotelli gets a ticket in Manchester city centre in 2012

An Audi R8 written off by Balotelli in Manchester in 2010

Rodgers did, however, praise Balotelli's engine after his opening three matches for Liverpool. 

‘You saw his work rate. He’s put his body on the line and he needs to do more of that but I think that will come as he gets fitter. But he’s well in tune with the history of the club. I think you can see what he’s trying to put in for the team. That’s going to be very important.

‘The crowd demand that as the players who’ve been here in the past in that position have been non-stop and he’s becoming attuned to that. He’s aware of the demands and it’s going to take time but if he continues to score goals and work hard, he will be fine as he has got the quality.’

Fanny Neguesha posted this picture of Balotelli's car keys to his Audi (left), Ferrari (centre) and Lamborghini

Mourinho mahu Hazard kekal di Stamford Bridge

HAZARD tiba di Chelsea selepas dibeli dengan harga RM166 juta dari Lille dan kini menjadi nadi penting jentera serangan The Blues.

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LONDON - Jose Mourinho menjangkakan Eden Hazard akan menandatangani kontrak jangka panjang bersama Chelsea selepas mengumumkan pemain tengah Belgium itu kini sedang berunding mengenai lanjutan perjanjian.

Pemain berusia 23 tahun yang dibeli dari Lille menerusi yuran perpindahan bernilai £32 juta (RM166 juta), menjadi salah seorang nadi penting The Blues.

Hazard masih memiliki baki tiga tahun kontrak semasanya tetapi Mourinho percaya Chelsea mahu mengekalkan khidmatnya lebih lama sebagai usaha untuk menjauhkan minat daripada kelab-kelab lain.

"Kami memiliki harapan besar yang mana dia bakal menjadi pemain yang lebih hebat pada masa akan datang," ujar Mourinho.

"Dia seorang pemain yang kami mahu kekalkan. Ia benar bahawa Chelsea sedang berunding mengenai perjanjian baharu bersama Hazard.

"Namun, saya fikir tidak akan menjadi satu persoalan yang mana saya percaya (Hazard) akan menandatangani kontrak baharu.

"Dia mahu memberikan khidmat kepada kami dan kami mengharapkan khidmatnya untuk Chelsea demi masa depan pasukan ini." - AFP

Bilangan Billionair bertambah....

Real Madrid 5-1 Basle

• Marek Suchy own goal puts Real Madrid ahead after 14 minutes
• Gareth Bale makes it 2-0 from delightful Luka Modric pass
• Cristiano Ronaldo adds the third from Bale cross after half an hour 
• James Rodriguez scores fourth after Karim Benzema has a shot parried
• Derlis Gonzalez pulls one back for Basle with excellent run and shot 
• Karim Benzema scores Real Madrid's fifth goal with an emphatic finish in the second half

Real Madrid moved straight to the top of Group B with a win over woeful Basle and Cristiano Ronaldo moved to within three goals of Raul’s all-time Champions League scoring record.

This was not Real Madrid rediscovering the swagger that saw them brush aside Bayern Munich in last season’s semi-final and beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the final but they still had far too much for last season’s Swiss Champions.

They took the lead as early as the 14th minute when right-back Nacho made his first run into the Basle area and played the ball to James whose clever backheel allowed the full-back to continue his run and shoot at Tomas Vaclik in the Basle goal. Via the chest of defender Marek Suchy the ball went past the keeper at his near post.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale celebrate after Real Madrid score twice in as many minutes to take a three-goal lead at the Bernabeu

Cristiano Ronaldo takes an early run at tow Basle defenders as Real Madrid started the stronger side

Welsh star Gareth Bale was closely marked in the opening stages but Basle were unable to cope with Real Madrid's plethora of attacking talent

Nacho celebrates with James Rodriguez after his cross was deflected into the net by Basle's Marek Suchy to put Real Madrid ahead

MATCH FACTS 

Real Madrid: Casillas, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Nacho, Kroos, Rodriguez, Bale, Modric, Ronaldo, Benzema. 

Subs: Navas, Varane, Fabio Coentrao, Hernandez, Arbeloa, Isco, Illarramendi.

Goals:  Suchy OG 14, Bale 30, Ronaldo 31, Rodriguez 36, Benzema 79

Basle: Vaclik, Samuel, Schar, Suchy, Safari, Zuffi, Frei, El-Nenny, Xhaka, Streller, Gonzalez.

Subs: Vailati, Delgado, Gashi, Kakitani, Aliji, Embolo, Calla.

Goal: Gonzalez 37 

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Madrid were on top without being particularly convincing in those opening stages. Toni Kroos is learning on the job in Xabi Alonso’s defensive midfield position and he was guilty of giving the ball away twice in the first half in dangerous areas. 

Against a better team the slips would have cost Real dearly but Basle were weak in attack and leaky at the back.

Their defence – marshaled by 36-year-old Walter Samuel who played briefly and unremarkably for Real Madrid ten years ago – looked vulnerable to every attack and soon Real had a second goal.

Gareth Bale ran on to Luka Modric’s pass and scored past Vaclik. A minute later he turned provider as Cristiano Ronaldo moved to 68 Champions League goals – just three behind Raul’s all-time competition record.  

The goal flurry had been preceded by Karim Benzema running through in an offside position and missing his chance before a forgiving flag was raised – cue whistles and boos from supporters who were also vocal in their criticism of Iker Casillas.

Benzema could have silenced the boos with a goal but instead shot straight at the keeper when played in by Ronaldo and looked on as James tapped in the rebound for goal number four.

Casillas was being jeered and cheered in equal measure every time he took a goal-kick but the whistles intensified when he failed to keep out Derlis Gonzalez’ shot out just before half-time as Basle narrowed the margin. The 20-year-old Paraguayan could then have made it 4-2 but sent his volley over the bar.

Gareth Bale lifts the ball high over Basle goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik before rounding him to score Real Madrid's second goal of the night

Gareth Bale tucks the ball into the empty net having lifted it over the Basle goalkeeper after being put through on goal by a magnificent Luka Modric pass

World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo taps home into an empty net after being picked out by his Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale to make it 3-0

Cristiano Ronaldo wheels away towards Gareth Bale after converting the Welshman's cross to make it three after half an hour

Watching Liverpool scouts would have noted defensive lapses at both ends with a bizarre overhead kick towards his own penalty area from Modric sending Marco Strellar through. 

Ramos clattered into him and had the Basle forward gone down Ramos, as the last man, would have walked but Strellar stayed on his fit to miss the chance.

Walter Samuel’s night ended ten minutes into the second half when he was taken off and Sergio Ramos was also withdrawn with Raphael Varane coming on. 

The Frenchman’s first contribution was to head a Basle through ball on to Gonzalez who should have made it 4-2. Casillas spread himself and palmed the chance away to wild applause from those in the stadium who had earlier done their best to drown out the whistles directed at him. 

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate together after their attacking brilliance had ripped the Swiss side's defence apart

James Rodriguez slides home the fourth goal for Real Madrid after Tomas Vaclik had parried a shot from striker Karim Benzema

Basle's defence was unable to cope with the pace and quality of the Real Madrid forwards as the champions romped into a four goal lead inside 36 minutes

It was then time for Benzema to exact some revenge on his critics rifling in the fifth off the underside of the cross bar before being substituted by Ancelotti – still whistled by some home supporters despite the strike.

The 5-1 scoreline slightly flattered Madrid and Fabian Schar could have narrowed the margin when his shot came back off of Casillas’ left-hand post. Bale missed a chance to get his second when a shot from close range was palmed away by Vaclik. 

But Real had done enough to win the game, top group B and restore some the confidence that has recently been shredded by the sale of Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso and two defeats in three in the league.

The Real Madrid players walk back after scoring their fourth goal, their third in a seven-minute period of play that flattened the visitors Basle

Iker Casillas makes a rare save as Basle were over-run by Real Madrid's attacking quality. The Real Madrid keeper was given no chance with Derlis Gonzalez's goal

Basle captain Marco Streller holds his head in disappointment on what was a frustrating night for the Basle forwards who spent most of the night defending

Karim Benzema enjoys the acclaim of the Benabeu after rounding off his performance with a goal, Real Madrid's fifth of a very comfortable victory

Yayasan Gates sumbang AS$50 juta untuk wabak Ebola

LONDON: Yayasan Bill & Melinda Gates berikrar untuk menyumbang AS$50 juta (RM160 juta) bagi membantu langkah kecemasan berhubung wabak Ebola di Afrika Barat, yang sudah meragut hampir 2,300 nyawa.

Yayasan dermawan Amerika Syarikat itu akan mengeluarkan dana dengan segera kepada agensi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) dan pertubuhan antarabangsa lain bagi membantu mereka membeli bekalan dan meningkatkan tindakan kecemasan di negara terbabit.

Ia akan juga bekerjasama dengan rakan mereka di sektor awam dan swasta bagi mempercepatkan pengeluaran ubat, vaksin dan diagnostik yang berkesan untuk merawat pesakit Ebola dan mengelakkan virus itu daripada merebak.

"Kami sedang bekerja dengan rakan kami untuk mengenal pasti cara paling berkesan untuk membantu menyelamatkan nyawa sekarang dan menghentikan penularan penyakit yang membawa maut ini," kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif yayasan berkenaan Sue Desmond-Hellmann.

Data terbaru daripada Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) menunjukkan penularan wabak Ebola, yang bermula Mac lalu, sudah menjangkiti hampir 4,300 orang setakat ini, dan mengorbankan lebih daripada separuh.

Virus terbabit menular di tiga negara - Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone - dan juga kini sudah merebak ke negara jiran di Nigeria dan Senegal. - REUTERS

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Thibaut Courtois signs new five-year deal at Chelsea

• Thibaut Courtois has agreed a new five-year contract at Chelsea
• The 22-year-old revealed last week he was set to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge when he returned from international duty with Belgium
• Courtois has now established himself as Blues' No1 ahead of Petr Cech

Petr Cech's chances of squeezing out Thibaut Courtois suffered another blow on Thursday night when the new Chelsea No 1 signed a five-year contract.

Chelsea have moved swiftly in negotiations with Belgium goalkeeper Courtois after he returned to Stamford Bridge following three years on loan with Atletico Madrid. His new contract, worth about £100,000 a week, confirms that his long-term future is at Chelsea working with Jose Mourinho.

Courtois started the season ahead of Cech and there appears no way back into the team for the popular keeper. Cech was given permission to leave on transfer deadline day but he opted to stay at Chelsea. 

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jose Mourinho discuss Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois' rivalry 

Thibaut Courtois has pledged his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new five-year deal with the club

Thibaut Courtois in action for Chelsea earlier this season against Leicester at Stamford Bridge

The Czech keeper, 32, has won three Premier League titles and the Champions League with Chelsea but Mourinho is looking to the long-term future.

Courtois, 22, played in Atletico Madrid’s La Liga-winning team last season and was in the side who lost to rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

He signed his new deal after returning from the international break and will face Swansea at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Courtois said: ‘I’m very happy with this deal, it’s nice to have signed this new contract for five years. My future was already sorted but it’s nice to know that I am going to be here for another five years. Now I can just concentrate on playing games.’

Courtois has conceded four goals in his opening three games since replacing Cech in goal, including three in the remarkable 6-3 win at Everton on August 30.

Blow: Petr cech has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following the return of Courtois

Thibaut Courtois celebrates an Atletico Madrid goal at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League semi-final last season

 

Apple lancar dua versi iPhone skrin besar

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple hari ini melancarkan dua versi terbaharu iPhone dengan menampilkan saiz skrin besar iaitu 4.7 inci dan 5.5 inci.
Ketika melancarkan iPhone 6 dan iPhone 6 Plus itu, Ketua Eksekutif Apple, Tim Cook berkata, hari ini syarikat itu melancarkan "kemajuan terbesar dalam sejarah iPhone".
Sementara itu, Naib Presiden Kanan Apple, Phil Schiller ketika pelancaran itu di Cupertino, California berkata, iPhone terbaharu berkenaan adalah "amat menakjubkan" dengan paparan yang ditingkatkan dengan kaca polarisasi.

Usaha terbaharu Apple itu apabila memperkenalkan model skrin empat inci iPhone adalah sebagai memenuhi permintaan pengguna yang kini beralih kepada telefon pintar dengan skrin lebih besar untuk menonton video dan melayari Internet.
Selain itu, Apple turut melancarkan jam pintar yang ditunggu-tunggu sebelum ini sekali gus menonjolkan ciri-ciri sebuah iPhone kepada skrin lebih kecil.
Dikenali sebagai Apple Watch, gajet berkenaan melambangkan percubaan untuk menjadi pencetus trend teknologi bagi era gajet berasaskan komputer yang boleh dipakai dan meningkatkan jualan bersama-sama produk lain. - AFP

Naib Presiden Kanan Apple, Phil Schiller berucap memperkenalkan iPhone 6 (kiri) and the iPhone 6 Plus di Cupertino, California, pagi ini. - Foto REUTERS