The Grab: 06.06

Roberto Carlos will cash in on his final paycheck, on his way to Turkish giants Fenerbahce. In leaving Madrid for Istanbul, the former "best attacking fullback in football" will join compatriot and former World Player of the Year Zico, currently manager of the champions. At 34, Carlos has won both the European Cup and La Liga title three times with Madrid and the World Cup with Brazil. Alas, say adieu to Thunderthighs as you're most likely to see him during the early group stages of next year's Champions League before Fenerbahce get knocked out. [Goal.com]

Is Sevilla's chance to lift the La Liga title over, despite two games remaining? Two points off leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona, Sevilla are still in it for the title, without Valencia nipping at their heels. While destiny is certainly in the hands of the Madristas, losing their two biggest players deals quite a blow to Juande Ramos' squad. Fredi Kanoute is set to miss the season's last game against a resurgent Villareal on June 17, the day after he will run out for Mali against Sierra Leone in the African Cup of Nations. Right back Dani Alves will also miss this game as he has been called up to the Brazil squad for the Copa America. I know the African Cup of Nations means quite a bit to footy fans as well as the African continent in general. I also know there are those out there that actually do care about the Copa America, despite some teams only fielding domestically-based sides. But really, who pays these guys' wages? If I'm a Sevilla fan, I'm pretty steamed about that, considering Sevilla looked the team to beat most of the year and may just end up throwing their chances out the window at the end of the campaign. [Reuters]

Everybody's favorite seemingly-senile racist uncle Luis "you're better than that black sh*t" Aragones will be stepping down from his post with Spain after the Euro 2008 campaign. Known more for his controversial comments to Jose Antonio Reyes than his ability to achieve results with arguably one of the better sides in the world, perhaps whoever's next in line can lift the curse of mediocrity that seems to fall upon Spain at major events. Perhaps the Kanoute/Alves absences will spur Juande Ramos to abandon Saturdays and take up the helm of Spain? Then again, Aragones promised to quit last year, and he's still there, so who knows what to believe. [Daily Star]

Whoa, hey . . . somebody out there really does want Frank Lampard. The question I have, however, is if Juventus is giving nearly $140M to Claudio Ranieri to play with, are we to believe that Didier Deschamps left because his transfer kitty wasn't large enough? [Soccer 365]

Seemingly nobody (in the top four and at Soho Square) wants Eminem clone Alan Smith, at least not at Old Trafford. After coming back from a horrific injury last year, the 26-year old ex-Leeds man has stuck with it, refusing to believe his future with the Red Devils is over, so much as to refuse a loan deal during the year to a Championship side. Now, it appears his departure is imminent. [Premiership Latest]

-bl