Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester City that he could never think of joining them.
Asked if he would have joined City, the 24-year-old winger scoffed: “Never!”
“City have a lot of good players and might be a problem for United, Arsenal and Chelsea. But that doesn”t interest me. I am only interested in playing for Real Madrid [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Madrid’
Man City’s Hughes tells Man U’s Fergie not to lecture about spending
July 16th, 2009 |
No Comments
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has hit back at Alex Ferguson for claiming Manchester City have inflated transfer prices.
The Eastlands boss insisted that his 26.5 million pound capture of Carlos Tevez was a bargain.
Sparky says if any fee was inflated this summer it was the world-record 80 million pounds United received from Real Madrid [...]
Robert M. Grossman: Things Jewish
July 15th, 2009 |
No Comments
Matt and I recently returned to Morocco after a long interlude.
Minerals on Mars influence the measuring of its temperature
July 15th, 2009 |
No Comments
In a new study, scientists from the CSIC-INTA Astrobiology Centre in Madrid have confirmed that the type of mineralogical composition on the surface of Mars influences the measuring of its temperature.
The study will be used to interpret the data from the soil temperature sensor of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) vehicle, whose launch [...]
Beckham hints at dramatic return to Premier League
July 14th, 2009 |
No Comments
England star midfielder David Beckham has opened the door for a dramatic return to the Premier League.
Becks, 34, has admitted he would come back to England if it boosted his chances of getting into Fabio Capello’s 2010 World Cup squad.
“I would definitely consider it. Never say never. When I left United, I said [...]
‘Mistake kills flu baby’ in Spain
July 13th, 2009 |
No Comments
A baby born prematurely to the first woman in Spain to die of swine flu has also died after a glaring medical error, a hospital director has said.
The baby boy was born by Caesarean section on 29 June just hours before his mother, Dalila Mimouni, died.
Doctors said the baby, Rayan, did not have swine flu and he seemed to be doing well despite being premature.
But he has now died after an elementary feeding error by a member of staff, said the hospital’s managing director.
Antonio Barba told a news conference that on Sunday night the child was fed intravenously instead of through a gastric tube.
The mistake was detected about an hour later, and doctors battled through the night to try to save the child by cleaning his blood.
But Rayan died just after midday on Monday, said Mr Barba, managing director of the Gregorio Maranon hospital in Madrid.
Mr Barba said the error was "very grave negligence and there is no excuse for it.
"The hospital assumes all responsibility, both human and financial, although we know there is no making up for something like this," he said.
Mr Barba said the nurse who made the error was working on the unit for the first time and her supervisor was temporarily absent.
Legal action
Dalila Mimouni, Rayan’s 20-year-old Moroccan mother, died of respiratory illness caused by swine flu on 30 June.
She died just hours after Rayan was delivered by emergency Caesarean section two months before his due date.
The case had gripped the Spanish media.
Mimouni’s bereaved husband had already announced his intention to take legal action against two hospitals, including Gregorio Maranon, after his wife’s complaints of feeling unwell were repeatedly dismissed before she was finally diagnosed, reports El Pais newspaper.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Owen handed United No 7 shirt
July 13th, 2009 |
No Comments
• Ferguson gives new striker Ronaldo’s shirt number
• Owen will line up alongside Rooney and Berbatov
Sir Alex Ferguson has handed Michael Owen the prized Manchester United No7 shirt. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United striker will take over Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.
The United youngsters Daniel Welbeck and Federico Macheda 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,” said Ferguson.
The United manager confirmed he made a bid for Karim Benzema, only to be rebuffed by the Lyon forward, who instead became part of Real Madrid’s extraordinary spending spree.
With a world record £80m 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. He has already recruited Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan in addition to Owen.
“There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic,” Ferguson 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 €42m [£36.3m] but I think we took a sensible view.”
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Ferguson rules out more signings
July 13th, 2009 |
No Comments
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he will not make any further signings during the summer.
United have brought in Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Bordeaux’s Gabriel Obertan to replace departed forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
Ferguson revealed he had bid for Karim Benzema, who joined Real Madrid, but insisted he had no further targets.
"It is the end of our business," he said. "Stories about who we are supposed to be getting – forget it."
United pocketed £80m from Ronaldo’s world record transfer to Real Madrid and the Old Trafford club had been expected to spend a sizeable proportion of the funds on new players.
Among those to be linked with a move to the Premier League champions are Brazilian forward Douglas Costa, French playmaker Franck Ribery, and Spain striker David Villa.
But Ferguson feels the market is now over-inflated and he does not want to pay over the odds for players.
Real Madrid, for example, have spent in excess of £170m this summer in capturing Kaka from AC Milan, Benzema from Lyon and Ronaldo.
606: DEBATE"We can now forget about signing fantasy players and focus on our squad for the season"
Dean_Machine89
And Ferguson added: "There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic. 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 42m euros but I think we took a sensible view."
Instead, Valencia has arrived from Wigan, 20-year-old winger Obertan has been recruited and Owen was signed on a free transfer after his contract with Newcastle expired.
And the England striker has been handed the number seven shirt – the shirt vacated by Ronaldo.
Owen will add extra experience to an attack that still boasts plenty of established talent in Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, plus youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda.
"There is no question that Michael will score a lot of goals for us"
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson hinted that Welbeck and Macheda, who scored vital goals at the end of last season, will be given opportunities to play their part.
"They are both young players – but young players with ability always get a chance here," added Ferguson.
Owen, meanwhile, has vowed to recapture his best form and show he will be an important part of the United team.
"I am hungry to do well and if this challenge doesn’t create a hunger and put a spring in your step and a smile on your face then nothing will," he said.
"I honestly believe I can still do well in a top team like Manchester United."
Ferguson praised the desire of Owen to prove his critics wrong and is confident the 28-year-old can rediscover the scoring touch that made him one of Europe’s most feared strikers.
"His experience is vital and with Michael you will see the experience he will give us in the penalty box," commented Ferguson.
"There is no question that he will score a lot of goals for us and he has been great for years and years.
"You always have to be aware of him in the last third."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
City set to pull out of Eto’o bid
July 10th, 2009 |
No Comments
• Deadline set for close of play tonight
• Club more optimistic about John Terry
Manchester City’s difficulties in trying to capture the marquee signings they crave have brought them to the point of abandoning their pursuit of Samuel Eto’o. The club have set a deadline of close of business tonight to get a definitive answer from the Barcelona striker. Otherwise they plan to withdraw their £25.5m bid.
Unless there is a late change of heart on the part of the Cameroonian, Eto’o's name will be added to a lengthening list of superstars who have rejected City’s “project” despite being offered huge sums in wages. Franck Ribéry and David Villa have turned the club down this summer and in January, City aborted an attempt to sign Kaka from Milan for £93m.
Mark Hughes, City’s manager, had spoken of the need for “patience” over Eto’o but the player’s prevarication – he led City to believe he was keen before appearing to change his mind and then declining to give a clear answer – was beginning to affect City’s rebuilding plans. Eto’o wanted perhaps as much as 50% of the transfer fee as a signing-on fee, on the basis that he could leave Barcelona on a free next year. An already complex issue has been held up by his wrangling with Barcelona and City have decided they cannot devote any more time to it, even though Eto’o has also turned down a contract in Spain.
Garry Cook, City’s chief executive, said: “Samuel Eto’o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed. We now feel the time is right to pursue other avenues and we have a clear and strategic transfer plan, which we continue to follow.”
Cook was also referring to City’s belief that they might have better luck in their attempt to sign John Terry from Chelsea. Terry took part in a training session at Cobham and though Chelsea insist they are relaxed on the issue, City are encouraged by what they hear from the middle men they have employed to sound out Terry and his advisers.
City have signed Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry but Cook is desperate to bring in another established superstar.
“People have come to realise that you don’t go from 0-100mph in no time at all, and expect everything to fit into place,” he said. “We are talking about players of the very highest calibre on the global football stage. You can’t have everybody. The market has been relatively slow. People have been talking about lots of things going on, but the only people doing much are Real Madrid and City – wonderful company to keep, I might add.
“We have always said we will keep our workings internal, and don’t openly discuss any of that information. It’s a good strategy and maintains our dignity, because at the end of the day we will be playing with the very best clubs in the world and we want to behave like one of the best clubs in the world.”
Chelsea would like the issue resolved by the time they travel to the US for a four-game tour next Thursday.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Real summer of spending ahead
June 27th, 2009 |
No Comments
Buoyed by the unwavering ambition of Florentino Perez, it took Real Madrid just 48 hours to complete two of the biggest transfers in football history this month. Their newly elected president has always been one for vulgar displays of wealth, but the stunning signings of Kaka and Cristiano
The Rise And Rise Of Robinho
November 12th, 2007 |
No Comments
After two seasons at Real, Brazil striker is finally showing he is
capable of great things
MADRID – He signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2005 amid much
fanfare, with the likes of Pele himself hailing the youngster as Brazil’s
next great thing.
The last couple of seasons have been a steep learning curve for Robinho as
he only displayed occasional glimpses of his form and some Real fans began
to question the wisdom of the signing.
But after another five-star performance for the Spanish champions on
Sunday (yesterday morning, Singapore time), the 23-year-old is finally
beginning to realise his enormous potential.
The Brazilian international put on a mesmerising display, including two
goals, as Real downed Real Mallorca 4-3 to stay top of La Liga.
The youngster has already chalked up a double in one previous league clash
this season and Real coach Bernd Schuster acknowledged: “Robinho is in
great form at the moment and he has maintained a very high level for
several matches now. That is what we expect of him.
“At Real Madrid we need players such as Robinho, Raul, Ruud (van
Nistelrooy) and (Wesley) Sneijder to create problems for the opposition.”
Dutch international van Nistelrooy scored the 73rd minute winner for Real
in a see-saw game that underlined Real’s attacking prowess and their
defensive frailties.
Real’s nearest challengers are Villarreal, just a point adrift after their
sensational 3-2 win over 10-man Sevilla.
Sevilla had beaten Real last weekend and Mallorca looked set to follow in
their footsteps.
Robinho had headed the hosts ahead on 12 minutes but Fernando Varela
equalised two minutes later.
The Brazilian then grabbed his fourth goal of the season on 16 minutes,
dispatching with aplomb after a pass from Raul.
But Real were at sixes and sevens in defence and Varela matched Robinho by
scoring his second of the match with a ferocious 36th minute equaliser.
Guiza then put Mallorca ahead, but Real had too much for the islanders,
with Raul and van Nistelrooy gobbling up chances set up by Robinho to send
the locals into a frenzy.
Said the youngster, after the game: “When I see Ronaldinho once we all
join up for the Brazil games, I’m going to remind him it is Real Madrid
that are leaders.
“I’m very happy with the way I’m playing.
“I’m here to make my dreams come true – to win trophies with Real Madrid.
“We are in great form and I am very happy with the victory because the
three points were very important. We are gradually doing things better and
it means we can be even better.” – Agencies