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Fletcher swayed by Fergie’s words of wisdom

Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher has said he considered leaving Manchester United before a few timely words from coach Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to stay.

Fletcher’s soul-searching followed being left out of the 2008 Champions League final triumph over Chelsea and his failure to hold down a regular place in the Old Trafford Premier League starting lineup.

Several clubs were interested in him notably Birmingham, whose manager Alex McLeish knew Fletcher well from being manager of the Scottish national side and it just needed the player to take the initiative.

But Ferguson was determined to ensure that did not happen.

And how right that observation proved to be given Fletcher is now firmly established as one of the most effective midfielders in the Premier League.

“I was still having doubts because I was in a fairly strong position with only a year left to run on my contract,” Fletcher recalled in an interview for the official League Cup final programme.

“If there was a time to leave it would have been a good opportunity.

“But the manager came to me. The contract talk was put to one side and our discussion was mainly about playing time.

“He said there had been offers but he didn’t want me to go.

“I listened to what he had to say and just decided I did have a future at the club. Fortunately it turned out that way.”

It was the fear of leaving a club he had been with since school without showing his true abilities that eventually proved decisive for the Dalkeith-born star.

“Deep down I just wanted to show what I was capable of,” he said.

“It was never a case of going on to the pitch worried but maybe it wasn’t coming across on the pitch.

“I would have hated to leave having not shown people what I could do.

“That would have been a genuine disappointment, something I would have looked back on and regretted.

“That is what drove me on and what I want to keep maintaining now because I want to be here for the rest of my career and leave some sort of mark on the club.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, alex mcleish, born star, champions league, CHELSEA, club manchester, darren fletcher, doubts, England, Manchester, old trafford, playing time, premier league, sir alex ferguson, skipper, starting lineup, true abilities

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Adebayor lacked respect over celebration: Henry

Thierry Henry believes his former Arsenal teammate Emmanuel Adebayor was out of order with his celebrations in front of the Arsenal fans last week after scoring for his new club Manchester City.

The Togo striker ran the length of the Eastlands pitch to celebrate in front of the Gunners supporters after scoring in City’s 4-2 Premier League win.

It sparked a furious reactions from the fans of his former club, and Arsenal legend Henry, now with Barcelona, took Adebayor to task over his actions.

The French striker told the Sunday Mirror: “The fans at Arsenal were great. They were and always will be my family.

“I never saw them behave badly so to react like they did at the weekend shows just how angry and upset they were.

“No matter what Adebayor’s emotions were, he could have earned himself a lot of respect by not celebrating the goal.

“That would have shown real class and that to be honest is what most players choose to do when they score against their old clubs.

“I don’t really understand why he didn’t do that.”

Henry added: “Arsene (Wenger) puts a lot of investment in you when he sees talent and I don’t think it would hurt for Adebayor to show him, the club and the fans a little respect.”

Adebayor has been charged with improper conduct for his controversial goal celebrations.

He has also been hit with a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct following a stamp on Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s head in the game.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsenal fans, club manchester, controversial goal, emmanuel adebayor, goal celebrations, gunners, improper conduct, little respect, manchester city, match, premier league, robin van persie, striker, sunday mirror, teammate, thierry henry, violent conduct, Wenger

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Transfer poker begins for Bremen´s Oezil

Having caught the eye for the national team after scoring in last weekend’s 2-0 win over South Africa, the transfer poker around Germany’s latest star Mesut Oezil from Werder Bremen has already begun.

The 20-year-old is contracted to Bremen until June 2011, but his performance and debut goal on his first start for the national team has raised his profile considerably with the midfielder set to face Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

“Mesut’s contract still runs for two years and at present there is no need to extend his contract,” his advisor Reza Fazeli told German tabloid Bild ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier in Hanover.

Already Spanish giants Valencia and Premier League club Manchester City have expressed an interest in signing him, but Bremen’s director of sport Klaus Allofs said the Bundesliga side are in no rush.

“We are in no hurry. Nothing has really changed for us,” said Allofs.

But Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who steered Bayern Munich to the league and cup double in 2008, says he can imagine Oezil replacing Real Madrid-target Franck Ribery in Munich.

Speculation over whether Ribery will stay with Bayern or leave for Madrid next season is rarely off the backpages here and Oezil would suit Bayern’s style if they need a replacement, says Hitzfeld.

“He could also do very well at Bayern,” he said.

“He is a great player, who injects some pace into counter-attacks.

“He reminds me of Memut Scholl and is the type of player who fits Bayern’s system.”

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: backpages, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, BremenÂ, club manchester, franck ribery, Germany, giants, Hanover, klaus allofs, MADRID, manchester city, midfielder, Munich, ottmar hitzfeld, premier league, real madrid, s system, scholl, South Africa, speculation, Switzerland, target, Valencia, werder bremen, world cup qualifier

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Ferguson did not try to keep me, claims Tevez

Manchester City’s new signing Carlos Tevez denied on Tuesday that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson did his best to keep him at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old Argentinian international striker has signed for United’s city rivals in a 25.5million pounds five-year contract after his two-year deal at United ran out at the end of last season.

As United headed towards their 18th league title at the end of last term, speculation about whether United would extend Tevez’s contract grew ever more debated before Ferguson decided not to keep the Argentinian.

However, Ferguson suggested on Monday that he had in fact wanted to retain Tevez’s services and said that he had tried to contact him in January regarding his future – only to be ignored by his player.

Those claims were comprehensively refuted by Tevez at his unveiling at the City of Manchester Stadium on Tuesday as he insisted that Ferguson had never once been in touch.

“The fact I didn’t stay at United was not about the fans it was because David Gill (chief executive) and Ferguson did not do enough to keep me there,” Tevez said.

“I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time.

“The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina.

“It doesn’t seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club.”

Manchester City have not won English football’s top- flight title since 1968 – in stark contrast to United’s seemingly endless run of trophies over the last 15 years – but Tevez insists he is not concerned about the past and will use City’s lack of silverware as a major motivation.

“The ambition I have here is to help Manchester City recover the status that the club once had as one of the best clubs in England,” Tevez added.

“I am here to try and win titles and trophies – that is my main ambition.”

City manager Mark Hughes has the biggest available funds of any boss in the Premier League and the club continues to be linked with Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea captain John Terry.

Officials from City and Arsenal have been locked in discussions for the last 24 hours regarding Adebayor’s future and a deal is looking increasingly more likely.

Although the same cannot be said of Terry as Hughes admitted that it will be difficult to draw the England captain away from Stamford Bridge, despite offering weekly wages in excess of 250,000 pounds a week.

“There have been discussions between us and Arsenal (regarding Adebayor) but it is my usual response to players we haven’t signed – it is not the right time or place to be discussing that,” Hughes added.

“There’s been contact and there is a deal to be done possibly but it’s not been concluded as we speak here.

“I also have fantastic respect for John Terry ever since I saw him when I was at Chelsea as a player myself.

“I think any manager would covet a player like John Terry but at this moment in time he is a Chelsea player and we have to respect that.”

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: ambition, Argentina, arsenal, best clubs, captain John Terry, CHELSEA, CITY, city of manchester, city of manchester stadium, club manchester, David Gill, emmanuel adebayor, England, english football, English Premier League, john terry, Manchester, manchester city, Manchester Stadium, manchester united, Mark Hughes, premier league, Roma, silverware, Sir Alex, sir alex ferguson, stark contrast, striker, term speculation, text messages, top flight

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Saturday’s Transfer Rumors

‘After pulling the plug on a deal to bring Samuel Eto’o to the club, Manchester City are also set to miss out on Carlos Tevez, who is in no rush to finalise his future with Chelsea reportedly also interested in the Argentine striker.’ – Daily Star

‘Alternatively, City will tie up a deal for Tevez before jetting out on their pre-season tour of South Africa on Wednesday.’ – The Sun

‘City will sign Tevez and are also set to increase the stakes in their pursuit of Chelsea defender and captain John Terry with a third bid worth £40m.’ – Daily Express

‘City captain Richard Dunne is determined not to leave Eastlands and is prepared to see out another season despite Stoke and Sunderland have each having £4m offers for the centre-back accepted.’ – Daily Express

‘Manchester United have targeted Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and are willing to offer £30m plus Portuguese winger Nani to land the Argentine.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has laughed off rumours linking the club with a move for French international midfielder Franck Ribery.’ – The Sun

‘However, Benitez is interested in Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole – the subject of a failed £5m bid from Sunderland on Friday – as a possible replacement for Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, who have been linked with moves away from Anfield.’ – Independent

‘Arsenal can rest easy this summer after Russian forward Andrey Arshavin denied any interest in a move to Champions League holders Barcelona, and big-spending Real Madrid insisted they are not pursuing midfielder Cesc Fabregas.’ – Daily Express

‘Tottenham are set to make a last-ditch attempt to hijack Everton’s plans to sign Sheffield United’s England Under-21 right-back Kyle Naughton.’ – The Sun

‘Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to be part of any deal that sees forward Darren Bent join the Black Cats.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Everton have launched a £12m bid for Standard Liege captain Stephen Defour, formerly the midfield partner of Toffees’ record signing Marouane Fellaini at the Belgian club.’ – The Sun

‘Fulham are closing in on an £11m deal for Portsmouth and England striker Peter Crouch after agreeing to sell forward Bobby Zamora to Hull.’ – Daily Mail

‘Sunderland are also chasing Crouch but may have to raise their bid to £15m in order to land the striker after having an £11m offer rejected by Pompey.’ – The Times

‘Former Liverpool and Middlesbrough midfielder Boudewijn Zenden – currently with Marseille – claims Fulham want to bring him back to England to add experience to their forthcoming European campaign.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Sunderland have won the £6m fight to sign Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell, who was also a target for Hull, West Ham and Newcastle.’ – The Sun

‘Stoke are reeling after being snubbed by Rennes midfielder Stephane M’Bia, who has agreed to join Marseille in a £10m deal instead.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has given the green light to Aston Villa’s £18m double swoop for Boro’s attacking duo Stewart Downing and Tuncay.’ – The Sun

‘Arsenal’s French defender Mikael Silvestre is a target for French champions Bordeaux.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Bolton want to sign Real Betis midfielder Achille Emana but are struggling to meet the £11m asking price.’ – The Sun

‘Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is set to join the the chase for Aston Villa centre-back Zat Knight, who is also wanted by Bolton.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Burnley manager Owen Coyle is ready to clinch a £600,000 deal for Hamilton’s Scottish Under-21 defender Brian Easton, who has expressed an interest in a move to the Premier League.’ – Daily Mirror

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: aguero, Bent, black cats, Bordeaux, Brian Easton, Campbell, captain John Terry, captain richard, captain Richard Dunne, captain stephen, captain Stephen Defour, carlos tevez, cesc fabregas, CHELSEA, CITY, club manchester, daily express, daily mirror, Eastlands, England, English Premier League, french international, fulham, gareth southgate, Hamilton, Harry Redknapp, HULL, Javier, Javier Mascherano, Jones, LA Liga, last ditch attempt, Lee Cattermole, Ligue 1, Liverpool, MADRID, manchester city, Marseille, mick mccarthy, middlesbrough, Mikael Silvestre, nani, NEWCASTLE, Owen Coyle, peter crouch, Portsmouth, rafa benitez, Rennes, richard dunne, samuel eto, samuel eto o, Scottish Premier League, Sergio, Sheffield, sheffield united, South Africa, standard liege, stewart downing, Stoke, Sunderland, west ham, xabi alonso

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City give up on Eto´o

English Premier League club Manchester City have given up on a potential move for Barcelona’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o.

Barcelona had last week appeared to accept Eto’o was on his way to Eastlands, but a contractual hitch emerged between the forward, who scored in the Champions League final win over Manchester United.

City said they have now called off any move for the 28-year-old, who is set to see out the final year of his Barcelona contract.

“Samuel Eto’o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed,” City chief executive Garry Cook told club website www.mcfc.co.uk.

“We now feel the time is right to pursue other avenues. We have a clear strategic transfer plan, which we continue to follow.”

Last month Barcelona said they had received a “stratospheric” offer for Eto’o, believed to be from City, but the Catalan club’s chairman Joan Laporta said he wanted the star to stay put.

Spanish media have indicated wage demands of some ten million euros a year were frightening off top clubs.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: avenues, Barcelona, cameroon, catalan, chairman, champions league, city chief, club manchester, Eastlands, England, English Premier League, footballer, Garry Cook, joan laporta, LA Liga, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, manchester united, mcfc, samuel eto, samuel eto o, spanish media, striker, top clubs, website www

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Sturridge targets Chelsea Champions League dream

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea’s new teenage striker Daniel Sturridge targeted the Champions League on Thursday, but neatly sidestepped the thorny question of John Terry possibly heading for his former club Manchester City.

The 19-year-old left City to link-up with Carlo Ancelotti’s new-look Chelsea but his first day at training was overshadowed by the future of club skipper Terry.

City have already had a 30million-pound bid for the veteran defender rejected.

“My main motivation was to play in the Champions League,” said Sturridge, explaining his switch to Stamford Bridge.

“I am very ambitious and want to push myself to the highest level and play with the best in the world. I believe I can achieve big things at Chelsea.

“I am very young and I will be very patient because there are world-class players here. I am not going to get too upset if I am not playing because I know it is a long season and a lot of games.

“I want to win as many trophies as I can. I am not saying Man City have not got ambitions for the Champions League or for any competition but the main thing for me was to come to Chelsea to better me as a player.

“I will become a man here. The likes of John Terry will push me on to become a better player.”

But Sturridge refused to be drawn into the debate over Terry’s future.

“That’s a matter for John and Chelsea to deal with. I am just looking to make an impact at the club,” he said.

Tags: ambitions, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, Chelsea Champions, CITY, club manchester, english championship league, John, john terry, league dream, london, lot of games, man city, manchester city, motivation, skipper, stamford bridge, striker, targets, Terry, thorny question, trophies

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Ze Roberto keen on Hamburg move

Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto is in advanced talks to join Hamburg from German rival Bayern Munich, according to an interview published Wednesday.

Ze Roberto, who will turn 35 on Monday, recently turned down Bayern’s offer of a one-year extension to a contract which expired on June 30. He is now a free agent.

“Hamburg is offering me two years with an option on a third,” he was quoted as telling the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper.

The club may also use him as a scout in South America after that, he added.

The player said that “the negotiations are very far advanced.”

Dismissing speculation of a move to Premier League club Manchester City, he said: “I don’t want to live in England.”

“Hamburg would be “perfect for me and my family,” he added.

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, Bundesliga, club manchester, England, free agent, german rival, Hamburg, hamburger morgenpost, keen, manchester city, midfielder, negotiations, premier league, Roberto, scout, South America, speculation, ze roberto

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“Stratospheric” offer for Eto´o

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) – Barcelona have received a “stratospheric” offer for their Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o but they want him to stay, club chairman Joan Laporta said Sunday.

“He has a stratospheric offer which would make him the world’s best-paid player,” Laporta told Spanish radio in comments published on the club’s website.

However, Laporta has said all along he wants to keep the forward while sports daily AS reported last week that there was a dearth of offers for the star, who bagged 30 goals in La Liga last season and also hit the opener in the 2-0 Champions League final win over Manchester United.

“I think Eto’o would like to stay and I would like him to,” Laporta stressed.

Eto’o’s current contract only runs for another year and AS indicated wage demands of some ten million euros a year were frightening off top clubs, although big-spending English Premier League club Manchester City, French side Lyon and Italy’s Inter Milan are all said to be interested.

City’s initial interest has waned with the club landing Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn.

Spanish media have tipped Valencia’s David Villa, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan and Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic as possible replacements for Eto’o if he should leave.

Laporta admitted keen interest in Bayern Munich’s French star Franck Ribery and added Barca were set to complete the signing of Brazilian striker Keirrison from Sao Paolo side Palmeiras.

Tags: atletico madrid, Barcelona, barcelona spain, Bayern, bayern munich, cameroon, CITY, club chairman, club manchester, DAVID VILLA, diego forlan, English Premier League, franck ribery, french side, french star, initial interest, inter milan, Italy, joan laporta, LA Liga, MADRID, Manchester, manchester city, Milan, Munich, s david, samuel eto, samuel eto o, santa cruz, Spain, spanish media, spanish radio, top clubs, Valencia, wage demands, zlatan ibrahimovic

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Eto´o could stay at Barca ´amid dearth of offers´

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) – Barcelona’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is set to stay with the Catalan club amid a dearth of offers for the star, sports daily AS reported on Thursday.

“They have received no offers,” reported the paper, a comment which would be music to the ears of Barca chairman Joan Laporta, who wants the 28-year-old to stay for the rest of his career.

AS added that wage demands of some ten million euros a year were frightening top clubs off Eto’o.

Last week Laporta said that “we’re trying to find a way in which he can stay” after talks between the player’s agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, and Barca?s director of football Txiki Begiristain.

Eto’o bagged 30 goals in La Liga last season and also hit the opener in the Champions League final win over Manchester United but his current contract only runs for another year.

That has sparked interest from big-spending English Premier League club Manchester City, French side Lyon and Italy’s Inter Milan.

City’s initial interest has waned with the club landing Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn.

Spanish media have tipped Valencia’s David Villa, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan and Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic as possible replacements for Eto’o if he should leave.

Tags: atletico madrid, Barcelona, barcelona spain, cameroon, CITY, club manchester, DAVID VILLA, dearth, diego forlan, director of football, English Premier League, french side, initial interest, inter milan, Italy, joan laporta, LA Liga, Lyon, MADRID, Manchester, manchester city, Maria Mesalles, Milan, milan city, s david, samuel eto, samuel eto o, santa cruz, Spain, spanish media, star sports, top clubs, txiki, Valencia, wage demands, zlatan ibrahimovic

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