Fabiano rules out City switch in favour of Milan
July 13, 2009
After Kaka, Samuel Eto’o and Ricardo Carvalho, Luis Fabiano has become the latest player to reject Manchester City’s advances by claiming he only wants to join AC Milan.
The Brazil striker, who top scored at last month’s Confederations Cup, is currently in negotiations to join the Italian giants from Sevilla.
But despite the lure of the millions of pounds on offer from Manchester City’s billionaire owners, the forward has his heart set on a switch to the rossonero, according to his agent Jose Fuentes.
“It’s true that Manchester City have made an offer but I am 100 percent behind a move to Milan and the player is also 100 percent behind a move to Milan,” he told Italian website calciomercato.it.
“Right now there is no news, everything’s blocked. Officially I don’t know if there’s a meeting planned between Milan and Sevilla in the next few days but I believe Milan will get in touch with Sevilla again this week to make a new offer.
“I want to think positively and hence Luis Fabiano going to Milan is the only thing I want to think about at the moment.”
City, who have been linked with almost every available player on the market, have had a frustrating summer in their bid to recruit the kind of top quality player needed to help their push for a top four finish in the Premier League next season.
While Kaka chose Real Madrid and Eto’o seems more interested in a switch to their cross town rivals United, City have also come up against stiff resistance in their bid for Chelsea captain John Terry.
Despite constant speculation Carlos Tevez is also yet to put pen to paper and now Luis Fabiano has become the latest player to snub the Citizens.
ROME (AFP)
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Tevez seeking Man Utd exit since January: Ferguson
July 13, 2009
Striker Carlos Tevez had been scheming to leave Manchester United since the beginning of the year, Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday.
The 25-year-old Argentina star is expected to be signed up by arch-rivals Manchester City for a rumoured 25 million pound (35 million euros) fee, assuming he passes a medical when he returns from holiday on Tuesday, according to reports in British media. City are to fly to South Africa later this week for a pre-season tour.
Ferguson claims Tevez’ behaviour signalled that his loyalty could not be counted on: “I half expected Carlos Tevez would be going a long time back,” said the United boss.
“I think he maybe did a deal around January because I spoke to him and gave him an offer on the night we played Inter Milan and he never came back to me,
“I phoned him on holiday and he never got back to me and I texted him twice and he never got back to me then either, so obviously he had made his mind up a long time ago,
“He was a good player and did well for us. But he obviously assessed the situation and wanted to go somewhere else.”
The move across town to Eastlands will disappoint Red Devils fans with whom the Argentine has been a favourite over the past two years.
The ex-West Ham, Corinthians and Boca Juniors star has made it clear he is frustrated by the lack of playing time provided with last season by Sir Alex.
Fans hoped some of the cash received at Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo could be used to ensure Tevez remained at United. However, the South American, resisting appeals to stay from chief executive David Gill, has been mulling over the invitation from cash-rich City as well as from Chelsea.
MANCHESTER, England (AFP)
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Too big to go down, too small for the Champions League
July 13, 2009
Champions League qualifying has begun so the new football season in Europe is well and truly underway.
But while Mogren of Montenegro celebrate their victory over Hibernians of Malta in the first qualifying round last week, spare a thought for those famous European sides who are unlikely to grace the competition even in a qualifying tie, let alone the group stage.
I live in London and there’s at least one good example right here. With Martin Jol at the helm, Tottenham Hotspur missed out on fourth spot in the Premier League (and a Champions League qualifying place) in the 2005/06 season by virtue of a defeat by local rivals West Ham United on the final day of the season.
Fans will always blame that on a virus that floored several first team players, but that’s another story…
They finished fifth again the following season but weren’t ever really in with a chance of coming fourth and since then they have reverted to their normal role of mid-table underachievers.
The future promises more of the same: too big to go down, too small to mix it with the big boys in the top four.
Tottenham’s billionaire owner Joe Lewis has the money — £2.5 billion according to Four Four two magazine’s latest annual Rich List (which puts him fourth behind the owners of Manchester City, Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea in British football) — but not the inclination to lavish hundreds of millions on transfers every season to bring in the world’s top players.
The club once snatched former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne from under the nose of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United but it is inconceivable that a player of his class would choose White Hart Lane over Old Trafford today.
Without big-name signings Tottenham are unlikely to ever break into the top four. Finishing sixth to 10th seems their best hope.
There are a lot of other clubs in the same boat, too — not just in the Premier League but around Europe. Sampdoria and Athletic Bilbao are examples in Italy and Spain.
Playing in the Champions League itself probably still feels a long way away for Mogren, but for Tottenham and the like it’s even further.
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The strange case of Zlatan Ibrahimovic
July 13, 2009
Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the ultimate soccer enigma.
He scores goals for fun when playing Bologna, Chievo and Palermo but often goes missing against AC Milan, Manchester United or Liverpool (which is why he is never in the running for the top awards despite the incredulity of Inter fans).
The tall-yet-skilful attacker has been racking up Serie A titles but the Champions League seems a distant prospect and with all due respect to Sweden, he is not likely to win any honours in international football.
If you want someone to outrageously chip the keeper, Ibra is your man, but don’t expect him to always score that tap-in.
Judging how much these sorts of players (Antonio Cassano? Dimitar Berbatov?) are worth is very tricky, especially after he admitted at the end of last season that he fancied a new challenge.
Inter president Massimo Moratti slapped a 70 million euro price on his head which scared off Barcelona and Real Madrid. If Kaka cost 67, can Ibra really be worth more?
Without a bid forthcoming, the forward returned to pre-season training with Inter last week saying he was “happy”. Moratti then said the player was off the market.
Now English newspapers say Manchester United and Chelsea have come sniffing. Chelsea’s reported offer would be 50 million plus Deco and Ricardo Carvalho, two players Inter coach Jose Mourinho wants.
A move is suddenly back on the table but like everything with Ibrahimovic, any transfer is bound to be complicated, especially as he has just jetted off on a U.S. tour with Inter.
What’s your bet on where Ibra will end up? I reckon he’ll still be at the San Siro come September…
PHOTO: Inter Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring against Lazio in their Italian Serie A soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan, May 2, 2009. REUTERS/Stefan Rellandini
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Hartson battles cancer
July 13, 2009
Former Wales, Arsenal and Celtic striker John Hartson has been diagnosed with cancer, it was revealed on Monday.
The 34-year-old attended Swansea’s Singleton Hospital on Friday “displaying symptoms consistent with testicular cancer” and further tests have revealed the disease has spread to his brain.
Dr Gianfilippo Bertelli, consultant medical oncologist at ABM University NHS Trust in Swansea, said: “We are awaiting the results of further tests to establish a full picture of Mr Hartson’s diagnosis.
“We will be commencing a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as soon as possible and foresee many months of treatment.
“Mr Hartson will continue under the care of the specialist consultant oncologists as we aim for a positive outcome from this treatment.”
The statement, issued through the hospital, also carried words of support from his family and friends.
“All the family, and John’s friends, are doing all we can to support him and praying that he will make a full recovery,” the statement said.
“John is getting excellent care from the oncologists at the hospital as he begins his treatment.
“John is a family man and we appreciate all the messages of support we have already received.”
Celtic were quick to offer their support to their former player.
Hartson was signed by Martin O’Neill in 2001 and was a popular figure with fans during the five years he spent at Parkhead.
During that time, he scored 89 league goals for Celtic and was voted Player of the Year by both his fellow professionals and the Scottish Football Writers Association.
A Celtic spokesperson told the club’s official website: “John Hartson is a man whom Celtic Football Club has immense respect and affection for.
“He has served the club, and the game of football in general, with distinction over many years.
“Clearly, everyone at the club fully supports John and his family at this extremely difficult time.
“It is very difficult for us to understand what John is going through at the moment, but we will offer any support we can to a great Celtic player.”
Hartson was capped 51 times for Wales. He went from Glasgow to West Bromwich Albion and retired last year.
GLASGOW (AFP)
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Ferguson´s United to shun “sky high” transfers
July 13, 2009
Alex Ferguson claims that Manchester United’s transfer business has finished for the summer, insisting that the market has “caught fire”.
Ferguson had been tipped to use all of the 80 million pounds (90 million euso) that United received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
But so far, his business has been limited to the capture of Michael Owen on a free transfer and the purchases of Wigan’s Antonio Valencia and Bordeaux’s Gabriel Obertan for a total of less than 20 million pounds.
Ferguson claims there will be no further signings at Old Trafford to bolster the Premier League champions before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
United were interested in signing French striker Karim Benzema but Ferguson was not prepared to match the 35 million Lyon eventually received from Real Madrid.
As well as Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery, Ferguson has also been linked with a move for 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa.
Ferguson said: “I think that’s concluded our business. We’re in the middle of a difficult summer for football and there’s very little value.
“The numbers that are being tossed about are amazing. Everybody in Europe and England, their valuations have just shot sky high and I don’t think any of the transfers you say are realistic.
Ferguson maintains that he only moved for Owen once it became clear he would not be able to push a deal through for Benzema.
“We tried to get Benzema (…) but as far as we were concerned it was beyond the value that we thought, and if other clubs buy that it’s their business but we have to put a value on it that is fair and good value.
“Maybe Lyon thought we under-valued him but they’ve got 42 million euros for him and they’ve done well. It tells you we’re sensible,” added Ferguson.
MANCHESTER, England (AFP)
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Ballack reckons Blues will reach Premier League peak
July 13, 2009
Chelsea’s Michael Ballack believes English champions Manchester United, weakened by the inter-season departure of goal-scoring stars, will cede the title to the Blues next season, according to a newspaper interview published Monday.
The arrival of new manager Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge has prompted hopes by fans Chelsea can win their first domestic championship since 2006.
The German playmaker believes the club head into the campaign equipped to give them a head start over United, who have lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez this summer.
“It is our target every year to win the league and we are confident about winning the title,” said Ballack, quoted in the London Evening Standard following his appearance at a Chelsea charity event, Right to Play.
“I think we had a good season last year, but United have played at a really high level the last few years.
“They made it really difficult for us to win the League in 2007 and 2008, but we were really close behind and last season we also finished behind Liverpool, who had a strong season.
“There are a few moments which decide every championship but we are confident it will be different next time. We have a very experienced squad.”
Chelsea are expected to further strengthen their squad before the traditional curtain-raiser of the FA Community Shield against United at Wembley on August 9.
The Blues head out to the United States on a four-match tour later this week, by which time they hope the future of skipper John Terry, currently subject of interest from cash-rich Manchester City, will be resolved.
LONDON (AFP)
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Newcastle “dying a slow death”
July 13, 2009
Newcastle are “dying a slow, painful death” as owner Mike Ashley tries to sell the club, goalkeeper Steve Harper claimed on Monday.
Several potential buyers have announced interest following the Magpies’ relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season but there is no sign a deal is close.
The impasse has left Alan Shearer uncertain about whether he will be re-appointed manager, and players in the dark about tactics for the new campaign.
Harper told local newspaper The Journal: “It’s an awful situation which we cannot do anything about as players. The sooner it is resolved, the better for everyone because we can start again.
“Everybody – fans, players, staff – wants it resolved so we can rebuild this football club because we are in an awful state at the moment.
“We want it to be done and dusted so we know where we are and where we are going because at this moment, the football club is dying a slow, painful death.
“We have to soldier on, but the sooner the better for everyone concerned – and most importantly for Newcastle United.”
Charlie Chawke, one of the members of the Drumaville consortium which took over at Sunderland three years ago, revealed Sunday that he was trying to put together another group to take over at Newcastle.
However, it is understood that consortia from Malaysia and America remain the favourites.
Harper says it is vital to end the uncertainty: “At the moment, the club is not rebuilding – it is in a state of limbo and it is no good for anyone.
“We just want to get this club going back in the right direction and the situation is very, very frustrating for all of us.”
NEWCASTLE (AFP)
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Toe injury sidelines Kompany
July 13, 2009
Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany is set to undergo foot surgery which will see him miss the start of the Premier League season, the club confirmed on Monday.
The Belgium international returned early from their training week in Bavaria because of a nagging toe injury which also hampered him in the second half of last season following his arrival from Hamburg.
And Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes it is important the 23-year-old rectifies the problem as soon as possible.
“The likelihood is that he will need a procedure. If he has to have an operation Vincent will miss the start of the season,” Hughes told the club’s website.
“We sent him to a consultant surgeon at the end of last season and he recommended injecting the toe and giving him six weeks’ complete rest,” said the City boss.
“But he was suffering the same amount of pain again in training in Germany.
“He’s been back to see the surgeon now. We hoped the rest would cure it but it’s a bit more complex than that. It’s important that we address it now and make sure Vince is fit for the rest of the season.”
Kompany still managed to make 34 appearances in his debut season and Hughes added: “We nursed him through to the point where he had to concede that he just couldn’t carry on.
“He had numerous needles into the joint but he stuck with it bravely. He did really well for the team.”
MANCHESTER (AFP)
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Ferguson signals end of United’s transfer signings
July 13, 2009
Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who handed Michael Owen the prized Manchester United number seven shirt, has declared that there will be no new signings for this summer.
It was anticipated Ferguson would make further signings in addition to Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, who joined last week from Bordeaux.
But, faced with a market over-inflated by Real Madrid and Manchester City, Ferguson has decided his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have left.
He said: “It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who were are supposed to be getting – forget it.”
It means Owen will take over Ronaldo’s shirt and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, plus youngsters Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda, who will both be given a chance to prove they are worthy of the accolades that have been bestowed on them.
“They are both young players – but young players with ability always get a chance here.”
Ferguson confirmed he made a bid for Karim Benzema, only to be rebuffed by the Lyon man, who instead became part of Real Madrid’s extraordinary spending spree.
With a world record £80million burning a hole in his pocket following the sale of Ronaldo, United had the funds to compete.
But Ferguson refuses to be drawn into a bidding war for any player beyond the level he thinks is acceptable.
“There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic,” he said.
“It is very difficult to get value now.”
“In a way we benefited through the sale of Cristiano, although that figure was non-negotiable.”
“But I feel we have a good squad, which meant there was no need for knee-jerk reactions.”
“We asked about Benzema and we had a value for him. Lyon have done well because they got 42million Euros but I think we took a sensible view.”
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