Muller hat-trick as Bayern give Pep first win

(CNN) -- Thomas Muller scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich secured their first victory in a competitive match under new manager Pep Guardiola Monday.

Their 5-0 win over SW Rehden in the German Cup was to be expected against opposition from Germany's fifth tier, but the holders avoided the pitfalls that have befallen other top Bundesliga sides in the early rounds of this competition.

It also followed a 4-2 defeat to arch rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Germany Super Cup last weekend in Guardiola's first competitive match in charge.

Muller's goals -- including a penalty -- helped the European champions to a comfortable win, with Brendan Shaqiri and Dutch star Arjen Robben also on target as they went into Saturday's second round draw.

Guardiola's men open their Bundesliga title defense against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Allianz Arena Friday.

Read: Dortmund claim German Super Cup

Moenchengladbach fell victim to a first round cup defeat Sunday as they were beaten on penalties by Darmstadt.

Werder Bremen also exited to third division opposition in Sarrebruck Saturday.

Guardiola put out a strong Bayern side for their cup match, but rested Franck Ribery and captain Philipp Lahm while new signing from his former club Thiago Alcantara also had to be content with a place on the bench.

Schalke also went through earlier with a win over FC Noettingen 2-0.

Meanwhile, France striker Loic Remy has moved to English Premier League side Newcastle on a season-long loan deal from Queens Park Rangers.

Remy had been expected to leave after QPR were relegated from England's top flight last season as he looks to secure his place in the French international side ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

He was one of QPR manager Harry Redknapp's key signings in last season's winter transfer window, but despite impressing was unable to prevent them from avoiding the drop.

Remy is the first major signing of the latest transfer window for Newcastle.

Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Spain striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia for a club record 26 million( $40 million).

Via: Muller hat-trick as Bayern give Pep first win

Dempsey returns home to play MLS

(CNN) -- Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that striker Clint Dempsey is returning to the U.S. to play Major League Soccer (MLS).

"We have reached agreement with Major League Soccer for the transfer of Clint Dempsey ... We wish Clint every success for the future." read a brief statement on the Spurs website published Saturday.

The 30-year-old scored 12 goals in 43 appearances for the North London club following his 6 million ($9 million) move from Fulham in August 2012.

Read: The transfer window explained

Dempsey, who played for MLS team New England Revolution from 2004-2006 before joining Fulham in 2007, is believed to be on the brink of signing for the Seattle Sounders.

Dempsey's departure from White Hart Lane follows the recent signing of Spanish international Roberto Soldado.

Spurs forked out a club record 26 million ($40 million) for the 28-year-old striker who scored 59 times in 101 appearances for Valencia during a three-year spell.

Read: New York Cosmos reawakened

In other transfer news, Spurs star winger Gareth Bale did not travel with Spurs to Monaco for a pre-season friendly against the Ligue 1 side on Saturday.

The Welsh international's absence from the trip has increased speculation that talks about a possible move to Real Madrid are advancing.

Blog: The Real Deal: Is Bale worth $120 million?

Bale, who scored 21 league goals last season, is keen on a move to the Bernabeu. Latest reports suggest that Los Blancos are prepared to pay upwards of $120 million to secure the 24-year-old's services.

Via: Dempsey returns home to play MLS

Why we love the transfer window

(CNN) -- The sun is shining, barbecues are out, beaches are packed and the commute to work is slightly less crowded than normal. It can mean only one thing: football's summer transfer window is upon us. Most managers hate it, fans are powerless to resist hourly updates on it; sports journalists worldwide are consumed by it. With a further month of fevered speculation, rumor, counter-rumor and downright subterfuge to come before it closes, CNN tries to work out what it all means.

Will he, won't he?

Every summer needs a transfer saga. Recent tradition tends to place an Arsenal player at the center of a heart-wrenching drama, with dastardly suitors attempting to steal him away from Arsene Wenger's bosom.

Usually, after a summer of emotionally charged hearsay, these players stick around to give the Arsenal boss one more chance to deliver the satisfaction they crave.

Read: "Real Madrid must keep Cristiano Ronaldo"

But eventually, as with Patrick Vieira (Juventus), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), and Robin Van Persie (Manchester United), the lure of new pastures proves too strong, and the bond is broken.

This year, in a dramatic break from tradition, it is Arsenal's turn to play the villain in the love triangle, and covet the prized assets of other clubs. Gonzalo Higuain proved to be nothing but a flirt, eventually finding Napoli more enticing than North London.

While many label him a bad boy, Arsenal now seem only to have eyes for Luis Suarez. Faint heart, as they say, never won fair maid; but only time will tell whether Arsenal's seduction technique and slightly eccentric offers of 40 million, plus one pound, will be enough to tempt the controversial Uruguayan.

Read: "Heart failure" caused death of Christian Benitez

But none of these great romances can hold a candle to events on the other side of North London. For weeks Tottenham Hotspur have been clinging desperately to Gareth Bale, begging him to remember the good times and promising that a top four finish in the Premier League can make him happy again.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been suggestively whispering that, while he looks great in white, he'd look even more fabulous in the white of the Castilian giants.

Read: One Direction star signs professional deal

Certainly the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale on their respective wings is more than enough to get most Madrilenos salivating, but until this week it seemed that Spurs would keep their man.

Now, however, things have changed; the latest reports indicate the Londoners' passion for Bale has cooled sufficiently for them to admit defeat. As with many a high-profile divorce, however, the scale of the pay-off should at least help to wipe away their tears.

Vive la revolution!

Time was when the mere suggestion Chelsea or Manchester City were interested in a player pretty much put an end to transfer speculation; indeed, when Edinson Cavani indicated he was ready to leave Napoli behind him, England seemed his inevitable destination.

To the surprise of many, however, the towering striker opted to join the newly minted French champions, Paris Saint Germain, instead. The Premier League may still believe itself to be the world's best, but this summer's evidence shows that its spending power may be diminishing.

What's more, the traditional big three European leagues -- England, Spain and Italy -- can no longer have it all their own way. For a start the Bundesliga has already demonstrated its strength on and off the pitch, with trophies and multi-million dollar transfer fees alike.

France's Ligue 1, however, is making a surprise bid to join the giants. The resurgence of Monaco, and their favorable tax rules for foreigners, has added a new string to the French elite's increasingly impressive bow.

Alongside their Qatari-backed Parisian rivals, Monaco are simply outbidding the big spenders, leaving the likes of Chelsea -- who they also beat to the signature of Falcao -- scratching their heads. Suddenly, French football seems a lot more interesting, and Jose Mourinho's billionaire-backed Blues a little less potent.

Austerity is for normal people

All over Europe, austerity is biting hard. Unemployment, particularly among the young, is at eye-watering levels, and belts are being tightened accordingly.

In England, where former Premier League perennials Coventry City have become the latest club to hit skid row, fans have also been protesting at high ticket prices. All the signs should point to a more sensible age of spending in the game.

Of course, we're talking about football here though -- a world where almost nothing makes any sense whatsoever. So while Spanish unemployment lines grow, talk of Real Madrid paying a record-obliterating $120 million for a player many argue they don't really need seems absolutely genuine.

In fact, according to a FIFA report, transfer spending over the first six months of 2013 sharply increased, while the list of multi-million dollar deals in this summer's window grows almost daily. It remains to be seen whether spending in 2013 will set new records, but don't bet against it.

Are you ITK?

Everyone likes a bit of juicy gossip, and starved of the usual stuff to talk about, football fans in summer are particularly susceptible to a little tittle-tattle.

The inexorable rise of Twitter has spawned a wave of people claiming to be "ITK" ("in the know") -- particularly supposed agents. The most notorious of these fakes unmasked himself last year, but only after his (completely fabricated) rumors had found their way into the mainstream media.

One hapless fan even bought a shirt with the name of an apparently done-deal transfer emblazoned on it.

These days it is often hard to tell whether the rumor you have picked up on social media is anything more than a mischievous hoax, but fake agents are not just found on Twitter.

A more insidious breed is also playing a highly damaging role in some young footballers' careers. The problem is particularly acute in Africa, where an international scouting camp has been set up to help young players find genuine agents and avoid being exploited by chancers.

Even experienced players can be hoodwinked, as Glasgow Rangers striker Francisco Sandanza discovered to his cost earlier this year. The Spaniard was sacked after details of an overly candid phone call with a man purporting to be an agent were made public, to the anger of his employers. Buyer beware.

Footballers have feelings too

Wayne Rooney is "angry" and "confused". Gareth Bale is "horrified" and "distraught". Meanwhile Arsene Wenger apparently experiences every defeat "like a death", so who knows how the Frenchman is coping as Arsenal keep missing out on their transfer targets.

Footballers and their agents, managers and chairmen have been reaching for their thesauruses in an attempt to convey the sheer emotional turmoil that the transfer window brings.

There are safety issues for the general public too: back in 2006 Ashley Cole almost "crashed his car in disgust" when he heard Arsenal were only prepared to offer him 55,000 a week, rather than the 60,000 he had his heart set upon.

Top footballers are fragile creatures. During this unsettling period, as they are forced to endure exotic beach holidays and wonder just how much money might be on the table, one really has to feel for them.

Still, with just a matter of weeks to go until the Window closes, calm will soon be restored - at least until it reopens on January 1st, and the whole astonishing business gets underway once again.

Via: Why we love the transfer window

Cosmos: Reawakened in the city that never sleeps

(CNN) -- Once upon a time there was a galaxy of stars which burned bright in the "Big Apple", a trio of world champions who played football from another planet and sparked a U.S. love affair with the beautiful game.

The star-spangled North American Soccer League (NASL) and the New York Cosmos, for a brief time, helped football take off on the other side of the Atlantic.

Pele, widely regarded as the finest footballer of all time, his fellow Brazilian Carlos Alberto and German great Franz Beckenbauer formed the formidable spine of the New York Cosmos -- the most-celebrated team in U.S. soccer history.

Read: Is Gareth Bale worth $120 million?

"Before joining the Cosmos I was playing for Flamengo in Brazil," Carlos Alberto, who left Flamengo to join the Cosmos in 1977, told CNN. "We'd read in the newspaper everyday how successful football was in New York.

"Every game they broke records for people at the game, 75,000, 77,000, 78,000... I thought, I can't miss out on this!"

A crowd of 73,064 watched on at Giants Stadium as the Cosmos beat the Seattle Sounders in August 1978 to win a second consecutive Soccer Bowl, the NASL's championship match.

Read: "Real Madrid must keep Ronaldo"

But by 1984, the team built around Pele, Carlos Alberto and Beckenbauer, along with the NASL, had sunk into a blackhole of obscurity.

"The Cosmos means a lot to me," reflected Carlos Alberto, who played 100 times for the club in two separate spells. "I had great moments during the six years I was in New York. We contributed a lot to bringing football, soccer to the States.

"I loved New York. My dream today is to see the new New York Cosmos come back and be a great success."

Read: Five reasons why we love the transfer window

His dream could be about to come true.

After nearly three decades in the dark, the fabled name of the Cosmos is staging a reawakening in the city that never sleeps.

This week Pele stood alongside the Cosmos' latest Brazil-born star Marcos Senna to turn the top of the Empire State Building green and announce the club's return to competitive action.

Read: One Direction star pens professional contract

An August 3 fixture against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a relaunched NASL will be the Cosmos' first league fixture since September 15, 1984.

The latest incarnation of the NASL is an eight-team competition, which is unrelated to the U.S.'s current leading football competition Major League Soccer (MLS).

"I think the potential is enormous," the Cosmos' COO Erik Stover told CNN. "Everybody remembers the Cosmos and everybody has a story about it. We certainly have the potential to do that again."

The club was refounded in 2010 and a host of former stars have aligned to boost the returning team's profile.

The Cosmos are once again competing in the NASL, which has been up and running as an eight-team league since 2011.

The league has the enviable task of matching MLS, which was established as part of the U.S.'s successful bid to host the 1994 World Cup and has housed star names like David Beckham and Thierry Henry.

Stover knows more than most about creating a New York soccer success stories.

For three years the Pennsylvanian worked at the city's biggest Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise the New York Red Bulls, helping the club move into the purpose-built, 25,000-seater Red Bull Arena.

He plans to repeat the trick for the Cosmos with plans already in place for a $400m stadium complex in Belmont Park area.

Stover also played a part in bringing Thierry Henry, a world and European champion with France, to the States from Barcelona in 2010.

While the Cosmos' history is littered with stellar names, the modern-day team are starting from humble beginnings -- namely the Matchroom Stadium in London.

It is home to third-tier English club Leyton Orient and the venue for a key exhibition match for coach Giovanni Savarese's newly-built team.

The Cosmos lost 2-1.

"We're very careful to say this is not 1977, this is not 77,000 at Giants Stadium, we don't have Pele and Beckenbauer," Stover replies when asked about the task he faces in trying to live up to the Cosmos' stellar past.

"We have a good squad and we play good soccer and we will grow from there. It needs to be built up, we can't start at that level overnight."

But the Cosmos have been able to recruit one player whose caliber is undeniable.

Senna enjoyed a successful career in Europe with Spanish club Villarreal, helping the team reach the 2006 Champions League semifinals.

The midfielder also represented his adopted homeland at international level and he was a key member of the Spain team which won Euro 2008 and kick started La Roja's recent period of dominance.

The Cosmos' legacy is built on the recruitment of players like Senna and Pele, but Stover has more realistic goals this time around.

"Marcos is obviously a great player and a recognizable star," he explains. "I think that's the type of player we're looking for.

"We also know that we have to have a sustainable model. We can't over spend, we can't bring in 11 superstars right now, that's not going to do anybody any good. We like our roster now and we like who we are, every team is always evolving."

Carlos Mendes is one of Senna's new teammates and a genuine New Yorker.

The defender boasts a respectable pedigree within U.S. soccer and is a veteran of six years with the Red Bulls.

Despite the weight of history on his new team's shoulders, Mendes is relishing the chance to represent a club with such an illustrious name.

"It's an honor," insists the 32-year-old.

"We can never duplicate that. You're never going to match that team, some of the best players in the world.

"Hopefully we can play attractive soccer, something the fans can be proud of and we can bring some championships back to New York. That's our main focus starting August 3."

Mendes is part of a team which has been brought together in little over two months by the Cosmos' hierarchy, with coach Savarese at the heart of the effort.

The Venezuelan was a journeyman striker in the MLS, best known for a prolific two-year spell with the New York/New Jersey Metrostars between 1996 and 1998.

He has a team at his disposal which boasts a European champion, but also contains players looking for a second chance at a football career.

"We are very satisfied with what we're building right now, with the players and the family we're creating at the New York Cosmos," says the former Venezuela international.

"I'm having fun. I think this is a great job, with a great organization with a great name. We don't have time to think about pressure, we just have to keep working and make sure we build a new future."

What the future holds for the Cosmos is uncertain. Could the club one day join the Red Bulls in the MLS?

"It's possible," answers Stover. "We don't know. There are no discussions right now. There's no animosity between the groups.

"We just do things one way and MLS does them differently. You never know how things will grow and change over time."

After 30 years in the doldrums, the New York Cosmos are happy enough just being back on the field.

Via: Cosmos: Reawakened in the city that never sleeps

One Direction star signs professional deal

(CNN) -- One Direction have already conquered the music world -- now one of the fab five is set to take the football world by storm.

Louis Tomlinson has signed a deal with English second division club Doncaster Rovers in one of the most bizarre deals for some time.

Tomlinson, who stars alongside Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Pain, is part of biggest and most successful boy band on the planet.

One Direction have broken record after record during their rise from losing in Britain's X-Factor competition in 2010 to becoming as big as the Beatles stateside.

Read: One Direction launch a line of makeup and nail polish

Managed by music mogul Simon Cowell, One Direction have had 61 album and single number one's world wide with their last album "Take Me Home" reaching top spot in 37 different countries.

They are the only UK band to have had their first two albums reach No.1 in the U.S. and have over 18.5 million Facebook fans and 71 million combined followers on Twitter.

Tomlinson, 21 was born in Doncaster and has signed a deal which means he could feature for the team at any point this season.

He hopes his appearance for Rovers will help raise money for local charity Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.

"This has always been a childhood dream for me," he told the club's official website.

"I feel very honored to have been asked to sign for Rovers and being able to help both the club and the amazing charity Bluebell Wood is what it's all about."

While Tomlinson is used to having thousands upon thousands of screaming "Directioners" cheering at him on stage, he'll be performing in far more modest surroundings at the 15,000 seater Keepmoat Stadium.

As a child, Tomlinson used to attend games both as a fan and as a ball boy but his heavy work schedule means he will face a real challenge to be available for a cameo appearance.

He will miss Doncaster's first game of the season against Blackpool on Saturday with One Direction set to perform in Las Vegas before the group move onto California.

Read: One Direction --like a young Rolling Stones?

Tomlinson will then be touring Australia and New Zealand in September and October with the band appearing in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne before moving onto Christchurch and Auckland.

But that has not deterred Rovers, with the club fully aware of Tomlinson's ability to lure in new fans.

"Louis has always been passionate about football and wanted to realize a dream of signing to his home town club where he once worked on match days," said a statement on the club's official website.

"After discussions between Louis, Paul Dickov and media manager Steve Uttley, it was decided that the club could sign him and issue him with a squad number for the 2013/2014 season.

"As part of the signing it is hoped that Louis will be able to appear in Rovers colors at some point this season in aid of Bluebell Wood and train with the lads.

"Chairman John Ryan and the manager Paul Dickov have given Louis the number 28 shirt for this season to help him raise money for Bluebell Wood."

Via: One Direction star signs professional deal

Ozil: 'I hope Ronaldo stays'

(CNN) -- Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently been linked with a move back to Manchester United -- but Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil insists his club must hold onto the player if it is to challenge at the very top.

Ronaldo, who left United for Real in a world record $130 million deal in 2009, has been the subject of much speculation in recent months.

The 28-year-old has scored 199 goals in 201 appearances for Real and club president Florentino Perez recently stated that he expected Ronaldo to finish his career in the Spanish capital.

Read: Can Real Madrid reign in Spain?

But the speculation refuses to disappear -- leaving Ozil hoping his Portuguese teammate stays put.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is very important to the team, just look at all the goals he has scored in the past few seasons," he told CNN.

"He's a great person off the field. I hope he can stay here for a long time because he can help us win important titles."

Read: Should Ronaldo return to Man United?

The loss of Ronaldo would be a huge blow to a Real side hoping to snatch the league title back from Barcelona and win its first Champions League crown since 2002.

Real has lost out at the semifinal stage in each of the past three seasons with Borussia Dortmund the last team to put paid to the Spanish club's dream of a 10th triumph in the competition.

Read: Ancelotti moves to Real Madrid

"We have come very close to winning the Champions League in the past few years and that leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth," Ozil revealed.

"What we hope is that we can go further this season. I believe we are good enough to make the final.

"Real is the biggest club in the world and I feel privileged to have the opportunity play here.

"It's like a dream. It's true there's a great deal of pressure to win every game and every title but I actually enjoy that.

"I feel comfortable playing under pressure and thrive in those situations."

Real has been busy in the transfer market ahead of the new season as it looks to challenge both at home and abroad.

It has already spent $35 million on talented playmaker Isco and $52 million on defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi.

The club are also reportedly interested in signing Tottenham's Gareth Bale, despite Spurs' determination to hang onto the player.

Bale's pace and power lit up the English Premier League last season with the Welshman scoring 21 goals in 33 top-flight appearances.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed Friday that the club is currently trying to negotiate a new contract with the player.

But Real are unlikely to be deterred with Bale exactly the type of player new coach Carlo Ancelotti could utilize as he attempts to increase the tempo of Real's play.

"Ancelotti has his own football philosophy," added Ozil of the man Perez chose to succeed Jose Mourinho.

"He wants us to play quicker than before. His system is different to what we're used to but that's why friendly games are important.

"We can get used to a new way of playing. We have quick attacking players so I believe we are equipped to adopt his system successfully."

Ozil will be hoping to guarantee his own place in Ancelotti's side and the 24-year-old has been taking advice from former Real legend Zinedine Zidane.

"Zidane was one of my idols when I was growing up so it was great to have a chance to meet him at Real Madrid," Ozil added.

"He has given me some advice but I'll keep that to myself.

"I really appreciate the support he has given me and what he has said to me since I have been here."

Via: Ozil: 'I hope Ronaldo stays'

Death of Benitez leaves family, fans reeling

(CNN) -- Family members of Christian "Chucho" Benitez are still awaiting medical and autopsy reports to find out what killed the soccer star, his father said.

"We are hoping the documents tell us what happened," Ermen Benitez told CNN en Espaol on Tuesday.

They are also awaiting documents from the Qatari government so that his son's remains can be transported from Doha to Quito, Ecuador, he said.

Jose Chamorro, the player's agent, told an Ecuadorian television station that Benitez, 27, had suffered a heart attack and died Monday in a Qatari hospital where he was taken after complaining of abdominal pains.

Ermen Benitez said his son never had any cardiac problems, and before he jointed Qatar's El Jaish club, he had a clean bill of health.

"When a football player is signed, they always do tests," he said. "And he passed."

Asked about a report that Benitez's wife had claimed the soccer star did not receive immediate medical attention at the hospital, Ermen Benitez said he didn't want to speculate until he had the medical report.

With many unanswered questions, one thing is clear: his family and fans are devastated.

Prayers and condolences pouring in from around the world have helped, said his father -- who is himself a former soccer star and remains the top league scorer in Ecuadorian football history.

"It fills me with a bit of calmness," he said, "but I am never going to see him again. Now the joy I had when I watched him playing is over."

Having played at the 2006 World Cup as a youngster, Benitez had developed into an important component of an Ecuadorian side bidding to reach next year's finals in Brazil.

His 24 international goals make him the third-highest scorer overall for Ecuador's national team.

In a statement on its website, El Jaish described Benitez's death as "a great loss for the team" and said the Ecuadorian player had "high morals."

The Ecuadorian Football Association said on its website that Benitez's remains were expected to arrive in Ecuador by Thursday morning.

Benitez made his name at El Nacional, a club where his father played with great success throughout the 1980s.

After leaving the Quito side, who posted a tribute on their website to Christian on Monday, the South American plied his trade with such success for Mexico's Santos Laguna that he alerted the interest of the English Premier League.

Joining Birmingham City on loan in 2009, the Ecuadorian made his debut at Manchester United and scored his first goal at Liverpool.

Despite a bright start, his impact faded over the season, prompting Birmingham manager Alex McLeish to return Benitez to Santos Laguna in 2010.

After leading the scoring charts, he joined rivals America in 2011 and helped the club win this year's Clausura title -- finishing as top scorer along the way.

He died on Monday, one day after playing his first game for new side El Jaish.

People we've lost in 2013

CNN en Espaol's Luis Bucci and CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Karen Smith contributed to this report.

Via: Death of Benitez leaves family, fans reeling