Blackburn Rovers star David Bentley is reported to have passed his medical with Tottenham Hotspur and will be unveiled at a press conference tomorrow morning...
The winger has been ready to leave Ewood Park for a number of months as he seeks a new challenge at a higher level, and despite first Mark Hughes and then Paul Ince's best attempts to keep the 23-year-old at the club, he is now on the brink of being formally presented as a Spurs player.Bentley, a youth product of the Lilywhites' bitter city rivals Arsenal, rose to prominence with the Rovers, who he is eager to leave as soon as possible in order to join his new side on tour for the Jubileum Tournament in Feyenoord, Netherlands.Aston Villa's single approach for the player was rebuffed earlier in the month, and Spurs themselves waited before lodging their first bid just two weeks ago, and despite facing rejection from Blackburn's defiant chairman, John Williams, a bid in the region of £18 million is said to have forced the Rovers' hand.It is now being reported that a deal has been agreed between the clubs and the player and that a press conference scheduled for tomorrow at 10am BST will be to unveil the player.Arsenal are likely to pocket as much as £7 million from the sale, with Spurs unlikely to stop their spending now, having let go of Robbie Keane, Pascal Chimbonda, Paul Robinson and others already, with Younes Kaboul, Dimitar Berbatov and more likely to follow.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Keane has finally completed a £20.3million move from
Robbie Keane has denied claims that he 'let down' Tottenham after being unveiled as a new signing at Liverpool, the club he always supported.The Republic of Ireland international striker has completed a £20.3million move from White Hart Lane to Anfield, having been a Red all his life.
Keane, whose move has been heavily criticised by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, will now make his debut on Wednesday in a friendly away to Villarreal.
Keane, 28, said: "I do not think I let Spurs down. I had six fantastic seasons there and gave them everything. Since day one.
"I always give everything, and that will never change. The Spurs fans were always magnificent to me and I will always have a place in my heart for them.
"But this is a new chapter in my life and one that I am looking forward to. I had six great years at Spurs and thank them for that.
"There are players leaving Spurs, but there are also good players coming in. I can only focus on Robbie Keane and what is good for me."
Keane will now wear the number seven shirt at Liverpool made famous by legends like Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.
Keane said: "To wear that shirt is an honour, and something I truly understand. If I can have half as much success in it as Keegan and Dalglish did, I will be a happy man."
He added: "I've been waiting for this day since I was a kid. Everyone knows I am a massive Liverpool fan, so to be sitting here today in a Liverpool tracksuit is a dream come true.
"I always wanted to be a footballer as a kid, but also to play for Liverpool.
"Maybe you never feel it is going to happen. I could have come here as a teenager, but chose Wolves because I felt there would be more chance of immediate first team football, and that proved to be the case.
"Now I am enjoying every minute and I can't wait to pull on that red shirt.
"This is a massive club and want to do everything I can to make them even more successful.
"The reasons I left Spurs are that I am a huge Liverpool fan and the chance to play for them may never come around again.
"This opportunity is something I couldn't let go. I am at an age now when I believe I am at my peak, and aim to kick on.
"This is a great opportunity now for me, the whole package that Liverpool has to offer really inspires me.
"I am just grateful to be here. I love the club and this is the one dream I had still achieve."
Keane, whose move has been heavily criticised by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, will now make his debut on Wednesday in a friendly away to Villarreal.
Keane, 28, said: "I do not think I let Spurs down. I had six fantastic seasons there and gave them everything. Since day one.
"I always give everything, and that will never change. The Spurs fans were always magnificent to me and I will always have a place in my heart for them.
"But this is a new chapter in my life and one that I am looking forward to. I had six great years at Spurs and thank them for that.
"There are players leaving Spurs, but there are also good players coming in. I can only focus on Robbie Keane and what is good for me."
Keane will now wear the number seven shirt at Liverpool made famous by legends like Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.
Keane said: "To wear that shirt is an honour, and something I truly understand. If I can have half as much success in it as Keegan and Dalglish did, I will be a happy man."
He added: "I've been waiting for this day since I was a kid. Everyone knows I am a massive Liverpool fan, so to be sitting here today in a Liverpool tracksuit is a dream come true.
"I always wanted to be a footballer as a kid, but also to play for Liverpool.
"Maybe you never feel it is going to happen. I could have come here as a teenager, but chose Wolves because I felt there would be more chance of immediate first team football, and that proved to be the case.
"Now I am enjoying every minute and I can't wait to pull on that red shirt.
"This is a massive club and want to do everything I can to make them even more successful.
"The reasons I left Spurs are that I am a huge Liverpool fan and the chance to play for them may never come around again.
"This opportunity is something I couldn't let go. I am at an age now when I believe I am at my peak, and aim to kick on.
"This is a great opportunity now for me, the whole package that Liverpool has to offer really inspires me.
"I am just grateful to be here. I love the club and this is the one dream I had still achieve."
Barcelona €22m bid for David Trezeguet
Barcelona travel to Italy today ahead of their friendly with Fiorentina, and reports in the peninsula suggest that they will use this visit to present Juventus with a €22m bid for David Trezeguet.The Blaugrana are well known to be in the market for a top class centre forward, and Trezeguet has been heavily linked with a move to the club all summer, with new coach Josep Guardiola even reported to have made an unsuccessful inquiry several weeks ago.Although Juve have always stated that Trezeguet is not for sale, the Frenchman’s importance to the club does not seem to be as crucial as it perhaps once was. The 30-year-old has not been at his best in pre-season, and has been overshadowed so far by Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta, who have scored five goals between them in the last two friendly matches against Brondby and Borussia Dortmund.Barcelona today travel to Italy ahead of tomorrow’s friendly match with Fiorentina, which will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of the famous Italian football figure Artemio Franchi, for whom the Viola’s stadium is named after.While in Italy, there are strong reports that Barca officials will present Juve with a €22m offer for Trezeguet. The striker is ready to consider a transfer, which would see him hook up with good friend Thierry Henry, while Juve may consider €22m as a lot of money for a player who will turn 31 in October.Another possible option for Barca is the inclusion of Samuel Eto’o in a swap deal, an exchange that may interest Juve boss Claudio Ranieri.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Mutu Is Not For Sale-Fiorentina
The Romanian international has been linked to the Giallorossi ever since La Viola signed Alberto Gilardino from Milan.
The transfer saga has taken several twists and turns and it has been a case of hit and miss for both clubs but it seems as if Roma still have a chance of scoring their Mutu goal according to Pasqualin.
“The situation can still change but it’s likely that the Della Valle will hold firm,” Pasqualin told Tuttomercatoweb.
“I thought things were different and I may have made a mistake but nothing is yet concrete.
“We have to wait and see what happens now.
“I didn’t expect the Viola to make such a U-turn as Corvino was certain the player could leave.”
It seemed as if Mutu was on the verge of signing for Roma when Pantaleo Corvino revealed he was ready to listen to Roma’s offer only for the Artemio Franchi based club to go back on their words and eat some humble pie.
Serie A football agent, Claudio Pasqualin, still believes Adrian Mutu has every chance of joining Roma despite Fiorentina insisting the striker is not for sale.
The transfer saga has taken several twists and turns and it has been a case of hit and miss for both clubs but it seems as if Roma still have a chance of scoring their Mutu goal according to Pasqualin.
“The situation can still change but it’s likely that the Della Valle will hold firm,” Pasqualin told Tuttomercatoweb.
“I thought things were different and I may have made a mistake but nothing is yet concrete.
“We have to wait and see what happens now.
“I didn’t expect the Viola to make such a U-turn as Corvino was certain the player could leave.”
It seemed as if Mutu was on the verge of signing for Roma when Pantaleo Corvino revealed he was ready to listen to Roma’s offer only for the Artemio Franchi based club to go back on their words and eat some humble pie.
Serie A football agent, Claudio Pasqualin, still believes Adrian Mutu has every chance of joining Roma despite Fiorentina insisting the striker is not for sale.
Wenger to reinforce it midfield
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is looking to bolster his side’s midfield, but doesn’t as yet have a specific target in mind.With the exits of both Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva, Wenger has admitted that he is looking to reinforce it the midfield area with one perhaps two players.
“We will need one more body in there” he said when questioned about his midfield after the friendly against Szombatheyli.
“At the moment we do not have Alex Song who is going to the Olympic games, Abou Diaby was not here tonight and nor was Fabregas.
“If we find a reasonable target then we will do it. But there is no special name on the list. We have some time. We have until August 31. We left 11 players back in Austria for this game. They will play in Stuttgart on July 30.”
Before that, on Monday, Arsenal travel to Ritzing to play a Burgenland XI.
“We will need one more body in there” he said when questioned about his midfield after the friendly against Szombatheyli.
“At the moment we do not have Alex Song who is going to the Olympic games, Abou Diaby was not here tonight and nor was Fabregas.
“If we find a reasonable target then we will do it. But there is no special name on the list. We have some time. We have until August 31. We left 11 players back in Austria for this game. They will play in Stuttgart on July 30.”
Before that, on Monday, Arsenal travel to Ritzing to play a Burgenland XI.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Ronaldinho Landed In Milan
As one player left Barcelona on Wednesday, another arrived.
Ronaldinho, the Brazilian midfielder, flew to Milan to undergo a medical to confirm his transfer from Barcelona to AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Alexander Hleb, a Belarussian midfielder, flew to Barcelona for his medical tests before being presented to the public.
The 27-year-old Hleb scored 10 goals for Arsenal after joining from Stuttgart in 2005. Spanish media reported that Barcelona has agreed to pay Arsenal €15 million, or $25.9 million, with a further €3 million dependent on results.
Ronaldinho agreed to a contract that would last until 2011 after the two teams finished three months of haggling late on Tuesday
"Ronaldinho is ours," Milan's president and the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, told Italy's Sky TV.
Barcelona said Milan had agreed to pay an initial €21 million. The English club Manchester City reportedly bid €32 million for the Brazilian. Milan will pay Barcelona another €4 million later if it clinches a place in the 2009-10 Champions League.
"The player ended up playing where he wanted to. Ronaldinho wants to be part of Milan," Txiki Begiristain, the Barcelona sporting director, said.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Milan will pay Ronaldinho €6.5 million per season.
"I am sorry for the wait but the facts show that I have always wanted Milan," Ronaldinho told Gazzetta dello Sport. "This is not the moment to talk about Barcelona because I want to enjoy this new chapter of my life. I will only say that at Milan I promise commitment, not only on my technique."
Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win a Champions League title and was also named FIFA World Player of the Year while at the club, but the relationship soured last season. The club and the player were arguing right to the end. Barcelona had told Ronaldinho, who is 28, that it would not allow him to play for Brazil at the Olympics.
Milan has blocked a compatriot, Kaká, from playing in China but media reports Wednesday said that part of Ronaldinho's deal was that he would be allowed to go to the Olympics.
Ronaldinho scored 91 goals in 200 appearances in his five seasons at the Camp Nou, and helped lead Barcelona to consecutive Spanish league titles in 2005 and 2006 and the Champions League trophy in 2006.
He was under contract with Barcelona through 2010 but was coming off one of his worst seasons with nine goals in 26 overall appearances.
Assorted injuries - ranging from a foot problem to thigh injury to knee tendinitis - accompanied by concerns over his social habits contributed to Ronaldinho playing the fewest games since first moving to Europe to play for French side Paris Saint-Germain in 2001.
Since its 2-1 victory over Arsenal in Paris in the 2006 European Champions League final, Barcelona's dip in form has paralleled that of its biggest star, who continued with his late-night partying despite consecutive trophy-less seasons and drew continued criticism for being visibly overweight.
Milan is coming off a disappointing season in which it finished fifth in Serie A and was eliminated by Arsenal in the second round of the Champions League. Milan will play in the UEFA Cup this season.
Vicente del Bosque, the former Real Madrid coach, has been hired to become the national coach of Spain, the team Luís Aragonés led to the European Championship title last month.
He agreed to a two-year contract that will take him to the 2010 World Cup.
Del Bosque and his staff were expected to be presented Thursday. Del Bosque has hinted that he would not change the style of play that led Spain to its first major trophy in 44 years last month.
Del Bosque is the country's 50th national coach. His first game is Aug. 20 with an exhibition at Denmark, the team's first match since its Euro 2008 triumph.
The 69-year-old Aragonés stepped down this month to lead the Turkish club Fenerbahce the next two seasons. Aragonés lost only four games during his 54 games. His 38 victories left him at the top of Spain's coaching list.
Ronaldinho, the Brazilian midfielder, flew to Milan to undergo a medical to confirm his transfer from Barcelona to AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Alexander Hleb, a Belarussian midfielder, flew to Barcelona for his medical tests before being presented to the public.
The 27-year-old Hleb scored 10 goals for Arsenal after joining from Stuttgart in 2005. Spanish media reported that Barcelona has agreed to pay Arsenal €15 million, or $25.9 million, with a further €3 million dependent on results.
Ronaldinho agreed to a contract that would last until 2011 after the two teams finished three months of haggling late on Tuesday
"Ronaldinho is ours," Milan's president and the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, told Italy's Sky TV.
Barcelona said Milan had agreed to pay an initial €21 million. The English club Manchester City reportedly bid €32 million for the Brazilian. Milan will pay Barcelona another €4 million later if it clinches a place in the 2009-10 Champions League.
"The player ended up playing where he wanted to. Ronaldinho wants to be part of Milan," Txiki Begiristain, the Barcelona sporting director, said.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Milan will pay Ronaldinho €6.5 million per season.
"I am sorry for the wait but the facts show that I have always wanted Milan," Ronaldinho told Gazzetta dello Sport. "This is not the moment to talk about Barcelona because I want to enjoy this new chapter of my life. I will only say that at Milan I promise commitment, not only on my technique."
Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win a Champions League title and was also named FIFA World Player of the Year while at the club, but the relationship soured last season. The club and the player were arguing right to the end. Barcelona had told Ronaldinho, who is 28, that it would not allow him to play for Brazil at the Olympics.
Milan has blocked a compatriot, Kaká, from playing in China but media reports Wednesday said that part of Ronaldinho's deal was that he would be allowed to go to the Olympics.
Ronaldinho scored 91 goals in 200 appearances in his five seasons at the Camp Nou, and helped lead Barcelona to consecutive Spanish league titles in 2005 and 2006 and the Champions League trophy in 2006.
He was under contract with Barcelona through 2010 but was coming off one of his worst seasons with nine goals in 26 overall appearances.
Assorted injuries - ranging from a foot problem to thigh injury to knee tendinitis - accompanied by concerns over his social habits contributed to Ronaldinho playing the fewest games since first moving to Europe to play for French side Paris Saint-Germain in 2001.
Since its 2-1 victory over Arsenal in Paris in the 2006 European Champions League final, Barcelona's dip in form has paralleled that of its biggest star, who continued with his late-night partying despite consecutive trophy-less seasons and drew continued criticism for being visibly overweight.
Milan is coming off a disappointing season in which it finished fifth in Serie A and was eliminated by Arsenal in the second round of the Champions League. Milan will play in the UEFA Cup this season.
Vicente del Bosque, the former Real Madrid coach, has been hired to become the national coach of Spain, the team Luís Aragonés led to the European Championship title last month.
He agreed to a two-year contract that will take him to the 2010 World Cup.
Del Bosque and his staff were expected to be presented Thursday. Del Bosque has hinted that he would not change the style of play that led Spain to its first major trophy in 44 years last month.
Del Bosque is the country's 50th national coach. His first game is Aug. 20 with an exhibition at Denmark, the team's first match since its Euro 2008 triumph.
The 69-year-old Aragonés stepped down this month to lead the Turkish club Fenerbahce the next two seasons. Aragonés lost only four games during his 54 games. His 38 victories left him at the top of Spain's coaching list.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Transfer: Man United and Liverpool Going Out Of Bound
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy on Friday described the conduct of Manchester United and Liverpool as "disgraceful" in their respective pursuits of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.
A furious Levy claimed his Premier League rivals have been "systematically been working to prise the players away from us".
United boss Ferguson confirmed earlier on Friday that United, who have been infuriated by Real Madrid's public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, have made a bid for Berbatov and that he eventually expects the deal to go through.
Spurs have also been angered by the comments of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who went public last week by revealing Republic of Ireland captain Keane as a target for the Reds.
Levy issued the following lengthy statement on his club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players.
"It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.
"This comes after a series of events, dating back to last summer, which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League rules.
"As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Manchester United.
"Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie recently and we made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.
"The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player.
"Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of Premier League rules of conduct.
"Our subsequent position has been severely compromised by both clubs making their intentions widely known and indeed making contact with the players and their agents, without the club's permission."
Benitez and Spurs have clashed before, in March 2006, when the Liverpool boss claimed Spurs were "desperate" to sell Jermain Defoe and take Djibril Cisse.
Later on Friday, United responded to Tottenham's claims.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of the allegation and will cooperate with the Premier League as necessary."
A furious Levy claimed his Premier League rivals have been "systematically been working to prise the players away from us".
United boss Ferguson confirmed earlier on Friday that United, who have been infuriated by Real Madrid's public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, have made a bid for Berbatov and that he eventually expects the deal to go through.
Spurs have also been angered by the comments of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who went public last week by revealing Republic of Ireland captain Keane as a target for the Reds.
Levy issued the following lengthy statement on his club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players.
"It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.
"This comes after a series of events, dating back to last summer, which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League rules.
"As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Manchester United.
"Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie recently and we made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.
"The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player.
"Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of Premier League rules of conduct.
"Our subsequent position has been severely compromised by both clubs making their intentions widely known and indeed making contact with the players and their agents, without the club's permission."
Benitez and Spurs have clashed before, in March 2006, when the Liverpool boss claimed Spurs were "desperate" to sell Jermain Defoe and take Djibril Cisse.
Later on Friday, United responded to Tottenham's claims.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of the allegation and will cooperate with the Premier League as necessary."
Arsene Wenger take a more low key approach
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is concerned about spending big money on star signings in case it blocks the development of his young Gunners.
While Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have once again splashed the cash in the close season transfer market, Wenger has opted to take a more low key approach.
The Frenchman has shunned high-profile transfers despite having a substantial transfer warchest, signing two emerging youngsters in France playmaker Samir Nasri and Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey so far this pre-season.
Wenger has been considering a move for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, who is valued at £18 million, but he doesn't want to stop the progress of his own youngsters like Abou Diaby and Denilson.
"Of course I am in a position where I can spend the money," Wenger told ArsenalTV. "But every time we have done such a great job with the young players that you are concerned 'do we kill a young player or not by bringing another player in?'
"It is a very sensitive subject which is not specially linked with money.
"There is a lot of talk in the press, but we have always managed at this club by balancing the budget.
"We should not be criticised for that and should be respected for that."
While Wenger is keeping his powder dry in the transfer market, he is bullish about Arsenal's chances of winning silverware for the first time in four seasons.
The Gunners led United by five points before surrendering the lead in the Premier League title race last season and crashed out of the Champions League against Liverpool despite dominating for long periods.
Those near-misses have convinced Wenger that his side are close to the top again and he wants domestic success ahead of Champions League glory.
"It is important you fight for the championship and to win it. All the other trophies are more of a consolation than anything else," Wenger said.
"We were very close, we were in the race and next year we want to show we can win it.
"I will try to achieve my best to develop the players, to fight in every game. I am more motivated than ever to achieve that.
"The team is performing well, but the target of a top-level sportsman is to always improve and I believe we can be more clinical, we can score more with the chances we create."
While Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have once again splashed the cash in the close season transfer market, Wenger has opted to take a more low key approach.
The Frenchman has shunned high-profile transfers despite having a substantial transfer warchest, signing two emerging youngsters in France playmaker Samir Nasri and Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey so far this pre-season.
Wenger has been considering a move for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, who is valued at £18 million, but he doesn't want to stop the progress of his own youngsters like Abou Diaby and Denilson.
"Of course I am in a position where I can spend the money," Wenger told ArsenalTV. "But every time we have done such a great job with the young players that you are concerned 'do we kill a young player or not by bringing another player in?'
"It is a very sensitive subject which is not specially linked with money.
"There is a lot of talk in the press, but we have always managed at this club by balancing the budget.
"We should not be criticised for that and should be respected for that."
While Wenger is keeping his powder dry in the transfer market, he is bullish about Arsenal's chances of winning silverware for the first time in four seasons.
The Gunners led United by five points before surrendering the lead in the Premier League title race last season and crashed out of the Champions League against Liverpool despite dominating for long periods.
Those near-misses have convinced Wenger that his side are close to the top again and he wants domestic success ahead of Champions League glory.
"It is important you fight for the championship and to win it. All the other trophies are more of a consolation than anything else," Wenger said.
"We were very close, we were in the race and next year we want to show we can win it.
"I will try to achieve my best to develop the players, to fight in every game. I am more motivated than ever to achieve that.
"The team is performing well, but the target of a top-level sportsman is to always improve and I believe we can be more clinical, we can score more with the chances we create."
Portsmouth Placed High Tranfer Fee On Kranjcar
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has rejected a Monaco bid of £12 million for Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar. Kranjcar, 23, is one of Europe's most promising playmakers and had a key role in Portsmouth's FA Cup success last season, as well as helping Croatia reach the quarterfinals of Euro 2008.
Redknapp has no intention of selling one of his prize assets as he prepares to lead Portsmouth into the Uefa Cup for the first time and was scathing about Monaco's interest.
"Monaco have come in for Niko and offered around £12 million for him," he told The News. "We wouldn't sell him and he didn't want to go anyway so that was the end of that one.
"No disrespect, but why would he want to go there anyway? They get 6 000 people watching them.
"You go there on a weekend and it's a unique experience, people aren't interested in the football. They all go out on the Saturday night and get dressed up for dinner, not to watch football."
Redknapp has no intention of selling one of his prize assets as he prepares to lead Portsmouth into the Uefa Cup for the first time and was scathing about Monaco's interest.
"Monaco have come in for Niko and offered around £12 million for him," he told The News. "We wouldn't sell him and he didn't want to go anyway so that was the end of that one.
"No disrespect, but why would he want to go there anyway? They get 6 000 people watching them.
"You go there on a weekend and it's a unique experience, people aren't interested in the football. They all go out on the Saturday night and get dressed up for dinner, not to watch football."
Olympic Games:Marseille Hold On To Taye Taiwo
Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo is fighting a battle with officials of his French club Olympic Marseille in a bid to secure his release for next month's Olympic Games.
A Marseille statement on Thursday made it clear that the defender, along with Cameroon’s Modeste Mbami, would not be allowed to join up with their international teammates for the Games.
But the defender told KickOffNigeria.com that he is determined to fight the decision all the way.
"I spoke to my club officials yesterday and made it clear to them that I want to go for the Olympics. This is a very important competition for me and for my country, and all the fans back home want to see this team do well.
"We had a long talk at training yesterday and I hope they can see things my way."
Taiwo becomes the fourth player, after Ike Uche, Vincent Enyeama and Chinedu Obasi, whose participation is under threat following their clubs' reluctance to release them for the quadrennial Games.
Taiwo also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to NFA chairman Sani Lulu Abdullahi, who rang him up in the wake of the burglary incident at his home.
"I was surprised to get a call from the NFA chairman. In fact, I was shocked. I didn’t know I was considered that important. He called me to sympathise with me about the burglary at my house and I want to say thank you to him. It means a lot to me."
A Marseille statement on Thursday made it clear that the defender, along with Cameroon’s Modeste Mbami, would not be allowed to join up with their international teammates for the Games.
But the defender told KickOffNigeria.com that he is determined to fight the decision all the way.
"I spoke to my club officials yesterday and made it clear to them that I want to go for the Olympics. This is a very important competition for me and for my country, and all the fans back home want to see this team do well.
"We had a long talk at training yesterday and I hope they can see things my way."
Taiwo becomes the fourth player, after Ike Uche, Vincent Enyeama and Chinedu Obasi, whose participation is under threat following their clubs' reluctance to release them for the quadrennial Games.
Taiwo also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to NFA chairman Sani Lulu Abdullahi, who rang him up in the wake of the burglary incident at his home.
"I was surprised to get a call from the NFA chairman. In fact, I was shocked. I didn’t know I was considered that important. He called me to sympathise with me about the burglary at my house and I want to say thank you to him. It means a lot to me."
Friday, July 18, 2008
Manchester United Sure Of Having Berbatov
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is confident Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov will sign from Tottenham Hotspur before the start of next season.
"We have made Tottenham an offer on Berbatov and we have good expectations that this deal will go through," Ferguson was quoted in The Sun on Friday.
"Berbatov has been impressive for a long time and he would be a great addition to our attack."
Tottenham appear resigned to losing the 27-year-old who has been a huge success since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 but would want a fee of around £25 million.
"I think time will work for us more than against us," Ferguson said. "We will not stress this situation. We are hoping to have a constructive conversation with Tottenham in the near future."
Tottenham manager Juande Ramos said on Thursday that some senior players would be allowed to leave the club as they build for the future.
"We have made Tottenham an offer on Berbatov and we have good expectations that this deal will go through," Ferguson was quoted in The Sun on Friday.
"Berbatov has been impressive for a long time and he would be a great addition to our attack."
Tottenham appear resigned to losing the 27-year-old who has been a huge success since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 but would want a fee of around £25 million.
"I think time will work for us more than against us," Ferguson said. "We will not stress this situation. We are hoping to have a constructive conversation with Tottenham in the near future."
Tottenham manager Juande Ramos said on Thursday that some senior players would be allowed to leave the club as they build for the future.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ronaldo&Arshavin:From Grass To Grace
There should be no prouder place in the sporting world this summer than Spain. Its national soccer team reigns over Europe with a style that flows as only the Latin game can. Rafael Nadal wins Wimbledon with the force of a bull and the manners of a gent.
Who would not want to play in Spain? What gifted athlete would resist, all other things being equal, the opportunity to perform in a land that seems to have recaptured not just the trick of winning, but the habits that went with it many years ago? It might be fleeting, because that is the nature of sport. Yet the presence at Wimbledon of Manola Santana, the last Spaniard to win the crown there 42 years ago, was more significant than that of the prince and princess of the Asturias, or of the king and queen in Vienna's Prater Stadium when the soccer team won there last month.
For sport, in the Spanish soul, is a form of royalty.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrei Arshavin, two of the most coveted soccer players of the moment, appear to be hoping that their next career move takes them to Spain.
Ronaldo left a hospital Tuesday morning after surgery on an ankle that has troubled him even in his finest season. A sportsman laid low through injury, with time on his mind, is a vulnerable person, especially when Real Madrid is his suitor and when his own mentor at Manchester United, the assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, is about to go home to manage the Portuguese national side.Ronaldo is 23, at the top of his game and with a club at the pinnacle of Europe. But Madrid, closer to his roots and, he says, a club whose grandeur forged his boyhood dreams, might never come knocking on his door as it clearly is doing now.
Arshavin, the Russian playmaker, is four years older - and four years is a long time in the prime years of an athlete, physically and mentally.
The team that Arshavin says he grew up longing to play for is Barcelona. And Barca just happens to be reconstructing its squad - fervently looking for a new creator after becoming disillusioned with the Brazilian partygoer Ronaldinho, and looking toward St. Petersburg, where Arshavin has grown, man and boy, with both the Zenit side that won the UEFA Cup and the Russian team that attracted praise at Euro 2008.
Indeed, although it was twice eclipsed by the Spanish feast of football in June, Russia completely confounded the Netherlands - and Arshavin was the pivotal player, through his innate ability to suddenly switch the play and both beguile the opposition and finish it off.
Soccer, of course, is not simply a sport that can put grown-up boys in touch with their childhood dreams. It is business, ruthless and selfish and completely fickle in its loyalties.
Andrei Arshavin might be sincere in his desire to wear the claret and blue of Barcelona, but his club Zenit, bankrolled by Gazprom, one of the world's most powerful energy companies, will not let him go cheaply. Nor will Arshavin's agent let his man go for sentiment's sake to a lower bidder.
The agent, Dennis Lachter, is briefing newspapers on the deal. Zenit, he says, will not accept a cent less than €30 million, and his player is looking for €4 million per year, net of taxes. The transfer would thus pan out at €52 million, or over $80 million, over a three-to-four-year contract.
And there are deals within deals. Barcelona has made an offer, but not one that Zenit will accept - and meantime, Barca is negotiating to hire Alexander Hleb from the London club Arsenal. It would also like to sign Arsenal's striker Emmanuel Adebayor, but so would AC Milan.
The summer transfer market is only now gathering pace. Lachter is in the position of many a middleman, wanting to push his client to the highest bidder, yet dependent on Zenit's president, Alexander Dyukov, to make the call on which buyer meets his terms before the agent can start earning his percentage on the wages.
"Its not about money," insists Lachter. "It's about the team and professional ambition." Something tells us we have heard those lines before, and that many a star from Hollywood to the Bernabéu or the Camp Nou has been persuaded to take the money route ahead of these childhood wishes.
Consider, again, Cristiano Ronaldo. At 7, he's a boy turning heads in Madeira. At 12, he leaves home to become a recruit of the Alcochete, the soccer kindergarten of Sporting Club in Lisbon. The head coach there is Carlos Queiroz, the very same Queiroz who formed the Golden Generation of Portuguese youth, and who is about to defect from Manchester United to regain control of Portugal's national team.At the start of the Euro, when Ronaldo's head was in the clouds because of Madrid's constantly reported overtures, Queiroz, who was fired after an unhappy year as Real's coach, was counseling the player to stay true to his United contract. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari, then the Portuguese national coach but about to accept an offer he could not refuse to move to Chelsea, told Ronaldo that offers from Real Madrid come once in a lifetime. He should take it.
A cynic might say that Scolari, with one foot outside his own camp, should not have been stoking disloyalty to his star player. Another cynic might argue that Queiroz, with Portugal rather than Manchester his future, was not the best preacher to a United player.
Not surprisingly, we did not see Ronaldo in all his peacock finery at the Euro. He tried, I am sure, to play for his country as imperiously well as he had done for his club. But his ankle was sore, and his head, maybe even his heart, was divided.
If any of us had the casting vote on the most decisive, as well as most eye- catching, individual in soccer today, it would be Ronaldo.
If I were Alex Ferguson, the United coach, or his American paymasters, I would sell Ronaldo. The contradiction might appear glaring, but so is the situation in which Ronaldo, unlikely to surpass his 42 goals for United last season, toys with the European champion club.
Real Madrid, as usual, shamelessly exploits the Spanish media. Its president, Ramon Calderon, makes Ferguson's blood boil with his comments.
Madrid talks constantly of a transfer that would make United between €80 million and €100 million and make Ronaldo the highest-paid player on earth. "We cannot be blamed if nearly every player wants to come to Real Madrid," says Calderon, a lawyer. "If I were Manchester United, I'd be happy and proud to be able to negotiate such a transfer for one of my players. Everything would be a lot easier if United realized that they could pull off the transfer of the century." Ronaldo begins his recuperation knowing he will miss the start of the English season in August, but could just make the Spanish kick off.
Who would not want to play in Spain? What gifted athlete would resist, all other things being equal, the opportunity to perform in a land that seems to have recaptured not just the trick of winning, but the habits that went with it many years ago? It might be fleeting, because that is the nature of sport. Yet the presence at Wimbledon of Manola Santana, the last Spaniard to win the crown there 42 years ago, was more significant than that of the prince and princess of the Asturias, or of the king and queen in Vienna's Prater Stadium when the soccer team won there last month.
For sport, in the Spanish soul, is a form of royalty.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrei Arshavin, two of the most coveted soccer players of the moment, appear to be hoping that their next career move takes them to Spain.
Ronaldo left a hospital Tuesday morning after surgery on an ankle that has troubled him even in his finest season. A sportsman laid low through injury, with time on his mind, is a vulnerable person, especially when Real Madrid is his suitor and when his own mentor at Manchester United, the assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, is about to go home to manage the Portuguese national side.Ronaldo is 23, at the top of his game and with a club at the pinnacle of Europe. But Madrid, closer to his roots and, he says, a club whose grandeur forged his boyhood dreams, might never come knocking on his door as it clearly is doing now.
Arshavin, the Russian playmaker, is four years older - and four years is a long time in the prime years of an athlete, physically and mentally.
The team that Arshavin says he grew up longing to play for is Barcelona. And Barca just happens to be reconstructing its squad - fervently looking for a new creator after becoming disillusioned with the Brazilian partygoer Ronaldinho, and looking toward St. Petersburg, where Arshavin has grown, man and boy, with both the Zenit side that won the UEFA Cup and the Russian team that attracted praise at Euro 2008.
Indeed, although it was twice eclipsed by the Spanish feast of football in June, Russia completely confounded the Netherlands - and Arshavin was the pivotal player, through his innate ability to suddenly switch the play and both beguile the opposition and finish it off.
Soccer, of course, is not simply a sport that can put grown-up boys in touch with their childhood dreams. It is business, ruthless and selfish and completely fickle in its loyalties.
Andrei Arshavin might be sincere in his desire to wear the claret and blue of Barcelona, but his club Zenit, bankrolled by Gazprom, one of the world's most powerful energy companies, will not let him go cheaply. Nor will Arshavin's agent let his man go for sentiment's sake to a lower bidder.
The agent, Dennis Lachter, is briefing newspapers on the deal. Zenit, he says, will not accept a cent less than €30 million, and his player is looking for €4 million per year, net of taxes. The transfer would thus pan out at €52 million, or over $80 million, over a three-to-four-year contract.
And there are deals within deals. Barcelona has made an offer, but not one that Zenit will accept - and meantime, Barca is negotiating to hire Alexander Hleb from the London club Arsenal. It would also like to sign Arsenal's striker Emmanuel Adebayor, but so would AC Milan.
The summer transfer market is only now gathering pace. Lachter is in the position of many a middleman, wanting to push his client to the highest bidder, yet dependent on Zenit's president, Alexander Dyukov, to make the call on which buyer meets his terms before the agent can start earning his percentage on the wages.
"Its not about money," insists Lachter. "It's about the team and professional ambition." Something tells us we have heard those lines before, and that many a star from Hollywood to the Bernabéu or the Camp Nou has been persuaded to take the money route ahead of these childhood wishes.
Consider, again, Cristiano Ronaldo. At 7, he's a boy turning heads in Madeira. At 12, he leaves home to become a recruit of the Alcochete, the soccer kindergarten of Sporting Club in Lisbon. The head coach there is Carlos Queiroz, the very same Queiroz who formed the Golden Generation of Portuguese youth, and who is about to defect from Manchester United to regain control of Portugal's national team.At the start of the Euro, when Ronaldo's head was in the clouds because of Madrid's constantly reported overtures, Queiroz, who was fired after an unhappy year as Real's coach, was counseling the player to stay true to his United contract. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari, then the Portuguese national coach but about to accept an offer he could not refuse to move to Chelsea, told Ronaldo that offers from Real Madrid come once in a lifetime. He should take it.
A cynic might say that Scolari, with one foot outside his own camp, should not have been stoking disloyalty to his star player. Another cynic might argue that Queiroz, with Portugal rather than Manchester his future, was not the best preacher to a United player.
Not surprisingly, we did not see Ronaldo in all his peacock finery at the Euro. He tried, I am sure, to play for his country as imperiously well as he had done for his club. But his ankle was sore, and his head, maybe even his heart, was divided.
If any of us had the casting vote on the most decisive, as well as most eye- catching, individual in soccer today, it would be Ronaldo.
If I were Alex Ferguson, the United coach, or his American paymasters, I would sell Ronaldo. The contradiction might appear glaring, but so is the situation in which Ronaldo, unlikely to surpass his 42 goals for United last season, toys with the European champion club.
Real Madrid, as usual, shamelessly exploits the Spanish media. Its president, Ramon Calderon, makes Ferguson's blood boil with his comments.
Madrid talks constantly of a transfer that would make United between €80 million and €100 million and make Ronaldo the highest-paid player on earth. "We cannot be blamed if nearly every player wants to come to Real Madrid," says Calderon, a lawyer. "If I were Manchester United, I'd be happy and proud to be able to negotiate such a transfer for one of my players. Everything would be a lot easier if United realized that they could pull off the transfer of the century." Ronaldo begins his recuperation knowing he will miss the start of the English season in August, but could just make the Spanish kick off.
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