'Fabregas must decide future' - Martino

The midfielder scored twice in his side's 8-0 win over Santos on Friday and his coach has pleaded
with him to remain at Camp Nou
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino says Cesc Fabregas must decide his own future, amid speculation he could join
Manchester United .
The 26-year-old has attracted intense and public transfer interest from the Red Devils, who are believed to have
fielded a final €40 million offer for the midfielder.
Having watched Fabregas score twice from the bench in Barca's 8-0 drubbing of Santos on Friday, Martino
admitted he wants the ex-Arsenal captain to stay at Camp Nou but says the Spain international will have the final say.
"I'm not thinking about Barca without Cesc," he told reporters. "I've talked to him, I've explained my ideas. He's
one of the best in the squad, but there's also a part that he has to decide.
"If it depends on me, he'll stay, and I believe he will, so I haven't thought about who I'd sign to replace him yet."
Martino had announced to Camp Nou from the pitch before the match that he was hoping to help the side to
numerous successes this season having taken over from Tito Vilanova in July.
"I just wanted to say that it is with enormous happiness that I am here with the team," the Argentine added. "I
want to pass on my pride of being a part of this club and I hope this year will see championship-level
achievements for the club."
Fabregas avoided talk of speculation when writing on his Twitter after the match, but shared his delight at the
dominating victory over Neymar's former club.
He wrote: "I'm pleased with this good start and to win the [pre-season] Gamper trophy is always special for us!"

Benitez: Higuain will face Arsenal

The Napoli coach has confirmed that the Argentine is set to debut against the Gunners, having joined from Real Madrid in July.
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has confirmed that "top-class" Gonzalo Higuain is set to make his debut against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Argentina international joined the Serie A runners-up from Real Madrid as a replacement for Edinson Cavani
in July, with the Gunners failing in their attempts to sign the Argentine attacker.
Now he is set to feature against the north London club in Napoli's opening fixture of the Emirates Cup and Benitez
expressed his delight at landing the striker.
"I don't know how long [he will play] but I think that he has to play because he is training well, he is fine, but we'll have to manage it at the time," the Spaniard said.
"He's a great player and it was an easy decision for me [to sign him], I told the chairman that I liked the player, so the technical director and the chairman, they were quick and after we signed the player [I was] really pleased
because he is a top class player."
Benitez also said he was surprised to be able to land Pepe Reina in a loan deal from Liverpool but was thrilled to acquire his services.
"Obviously, I know the situation and I was surprised, because we were trying to sign Julio Cesar," the Stadio San Paolo boss continued.
"It was a surprise for us when Pepe Reina was available, so for us it's a big boost, really important because he's a great player."

Murder charges dropped against Indiana woman who ate poison while pregnant

Indiana
prosecutors dropped murder and
attempted feticide charges on Friday
against an Indianapolis woman who
tried to commit suicide by eating rat
poison near the end of her
pregnancy.
Bei Bei Shuai, 36, was charged in
March 2011 with knowingly killing a
viable fetus, prosecutors said.
Shuai walked out of Marion County
Superior Court in Indianapolis a free
woman on Friday after pleading guilty
to a misdemeanor charge of criminal
recklessness for the death of her
daughter, Angel. She had been
released from prison on bond in May
2012. Under the plea agreement, she
did not have to serve more jail time.
"I have to say thank you to everyone
who supported me before because
without them, I'm not going to be
able to continue to today," Shuai told
reporters in footage posted on the
Indianapolis Star website.
Shuai consumed rat poison while 33
weeks' pregnant in December 2010,
prosecutors said. She was taken to a
hospital where she admitted to
attempting to kill herself after her
boyfriend left her, according to a
police statement.
Shuai's baby girl, Angel Shuai, was
born alive, but died a few days after
being taken off life support.
Shuai is from China and has no family
members in the United States,
according to her lawyer, Linda Pence.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry
said his office had always been willing
to resolve the case for lesser charges.
Earlier proposed deals had been
rejected by the defense.
Curry said decisions by the trial judge
about what could and could not be
entered into evidence at the trial
played a role in the negotiations.

Burna Boy Shows Off His Sexy Abs At Glo Slide N Bounce Tour In Calabar

If Burnaboy weren’t a musician he
could pass as a body fitness instructor. He posted this on Instagram yesterday!

Laila Ali Calls ‘North West’ a Stupid Name!

I don’t like crazy names. I think it
doesn’t make any sense. And you
have to think about the child as
they get older and what they have
to deal with. A lot of people do
things because it’s a fad and they
want to get some attention but
this is your child.
If it’s crazy but cool and nice and it
makes sense, that’s one thing, but
North and South and Leaf and
Water Drop? Come on now, I don’t
care who you are that’s just stupid,
period.

Fetus Dolls Given to Kids By Anti- Abortion Group at North Dakota State Fair

There's making a point, and
there's being creepy. It appears
as if one North Dakota anti-
abortion group is skewing a bit
on the creepy side with their
latest move.
Some people go to the State Fair
to sample various fried goodies
and perhaps ride the Ferris
Wheel. The Minot Right to Life
group however? They went to
hand out little squishy fetus dolls
to children.
Even fellow pro-lifers are giving
this the Scooby-Doo "wth" look.
Rob Port, editor of conservative
blog Say Anything, noticed his 5
year old daughter with the toy
and wasn't too pleased.
He later commented on his blog,
"Whatever group is out there
trying to promote the pro-life
message by handing out squish
alien babies, stop. You're doing
more harm than good."
While that statement pretty much
sums it up, the best line from
Mr. Port was this - "stop being a
bunch of weirdos."

Ryan Braun Dropped by Nike Over Steroid Use

Disgraced Milwaukee Brewers left
fielder and admitted steroid user
Ryan Braun has just been dropped by
his biggest sponsor ... Nike.A rep for
Nike confirmed the athletic company
no longer has a relationship with
Braun, who has been suspended for
the rest of the 2013 season over his
admitted steroid use. The Nike rep
wouldn't comment any further. It's
unclear how much Braun's Nike deal
was worth exactly, but safe bet ... it's
a lot.Nike's just the latest company to
drop Braun over PED allegations -- a
list that includes Muscle Milk, and
Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip
convenience stores.

Kurt Angle Popped for DWI ... Again

TNA superstar Kurt Angle has been
arrested for DWI again, TMZ has
learned -- his 4th alcohol-related
arrest in 6 years.According to law
enforcement, Angle was busted
Thursday night in Wise County, Texas
following a live taping of "Impact" for
Spike TV. Details surrounding the
arrest are unclear.Angle has a long
history with alcohol-related arrests.In
2007, he was arrested for DUI in
Pennsylvania. He was then arrested
twice in 2011 -- once for being drunk
behind the wheel of his parked car,
and once for DWI.Angle pled guilty to
being drunk while parked, but he got
off on the other charges.We reached
out to Angle's reps for comment. So
far, no word back.

Besiktas make Ronaldinho bid

Nur Cebi has announced his desire to sign the former Barcelona star this summer, after coach
Slaven Bilic admitted he would "love" to have the player in his ranks
Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi has confirmed the club have made an offer for Atletico Mineiro playmaker
Ronaldinho.
The former Barcelona forward, who has less than six months remaining on his current deal, has enjoyed a new
lease of life in recent months, prompting speculation a return to Europe could be possible for the 33-year-old.
And the Turkish side's president has revealed he has taken the first step towards making such a move happen.
Cebi told reporters: "We have submitted a bid to Atletico Mineiro and now we are waiting for an answer."
On Thursday, Besiktas coach Slaven Bilic expressed his ambition to lure the former Selecao international to the
club.
Ronaldinho, who joined Cuca's men from Flamengo last summer, played a major role in the Brazilian outfit's first
ever Copa Libertadores title win last month.
Besiktas want Ronaldinho, confirms Bilic
Ronaldinho: Everyone said I was finished
Ronaldinho reborn as Atletico misfits eye Libertadores history
Messi reveals Ronaldinho debt
Besiktas make Ronaldinho move
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RELATED

Jennifer Aniston WILL BE Pregnant at 45 Next Year, Tabloid Alleges

Is Jennifer Aniston pregnant?
No. Not a chance.
But hey, why let that stop you if
you're In Touch and you want a
break from Kim Kardasian or
Kate Middleton coverage?
Exactly. Just go with it people.
The celebrity gossip magazine
claims that after YEARS of failed
relationships, her baby dreams
will FINALLY be realized ... next
year. Maybe.
According to this obviously
reliable source, Jen has begun
IVF treatments, and if all goes as
planned, she’ll be pregnant by
her 45th birthday February 11.
IF she's not already. IN TOUCH
WILL NOT RULE THAT OUT!
"She’s ready,” says an insider
close to Jen and fiancee Justin
Theroux, adding that she will be
“an amazing mom.” We have no
doubt she will ... but come on.
How many years will it take
before this story stops being
recycled? Between this and her
lack of weddings, we're almost
hitting Jen tabloid fatigue.
She even said this week that she
has no date set with Theroux,
though she already feels
married. Are kids in the future
for them? Maybe. Or not.

Justin Bieber Lil Twist on Chopping Block After Battery Allegation

Justin Bieber's manager Scooter
Braun is sick and tired of Lil Twist
bringing Bieber down -- in fact, he
wants Bieber to sever ties with the
rapper entirely once and for all ... but
Bieber is STILL fighting to keep him
around.As we reported, Twist has
been accused of battering some girl at
Bieber's Calabasas mansion Thursday
morning -- but it's only the latest
example of Twist's reckless
behavior ... a list that includes
smoking pot, driving like a lunatic,
and getting a DUI.Bieber has refused
to turn his back on Twist once already
-- but Scooter has had enough, telling
Bieber the battery allegations are the
last straw.We're told Scooter is
putting his foot down, insisting Twist
is nothing but a parasite sucking
Bieber dry -- and the singer needs to
drop him like a hot potato stat ...
before he does any more
damage.But stupidly, Bieber is still
sticking by his buddy -- in fact, we're
told he and Scooter had a blowout
fight on Thursday when Scooter said
Twist had to go.Which means Twist's
days are numbered -- because in a
fight between Scooter and Twist,
Bieber will almost certainly side with
his trusted manager. He'd be dumb
not to. Then again, dumb has kinda
been Bieber's M.O. recently.