SLIDING TACKLE
“They remain the team everyone needs to beat. They have the vast experience and success behind them. You can’t buy that. Like Barcelona, they seem to get better every season. They are hungry for more success. I expect United to carry the greatest threat to our defence of the European crown.” 42
Monday, August 15, 2011
FC Barcelona Superstar, Lionel Messi rating English club, Manchester United as biggest Champions League threat.
Chelsea in £40m bid for Neymar Afetrmath of clash with Gervinho C HELSEA owner Roman Abramovich is ready to meet Santos' buyout clause for Neymar. The Daily Star Sunday says he is ready to stun Real Madrid by giving Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas £40million to spend on Brazilian wonderkid Neymar. Spanish giants Madrid were favourites to land the Samba starlet but have stalled on forking out the huge fee, which would trigger a release clause in the teen’s contract with Santos. Chelsea assistant-boss Roberto Di Matteo watched Neymar score for Brazil against Germany last week and praised the youngster in a report to Villas-Boas. A source at the club said: “Roberto was suitably impressed by what he saw. The kid’s a real talent.
•Barton in burglary scare
J
•Barton in bust-up with Gervinho in Saturday's EPL clash with Arsenal
“Real Madrid were serious about signing him but, for one reason or deal
another, that deal broke down. “Money talks and with a
£40million offer on the table, Neymar could be a Chelsea player soon.”
We’re still the best without Sneijder— Ferguson
M
ANCHESTER United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson insists he won’t be signing Wesley Sneijder before the transfer window closes after being priced out of a deal for the Holland and Inter Milan star, saying the Reds remains
the best. Sir Alex Ferguson made Wesley Sneijder his No.1 choice to replace the retired Paul Scholes, but Manchester United are now understood to have dropped their interest in the midfield playmaker.
Benzema finishes pre-season as Europe top scorer
R
EAL Madrid striker Karim Benzema goes into the new campaign as the top scorer in Europe's preseason. Benzema has scored eight goals to leave him clear at the top of the charts. The Frenchman's eight goals in seven games has him the top goal scorer among the players of Champions League teams.
The striker started the summer with two goals against Los Angeles Galaxy in the US. He then followed with two more goals in Europe when Real Madrid took on Hertha Berlin and Leicester City respectively. In China, he scored two braces against Guanghzou Evergrande and Tianjin Teda.
Inter Milan were demanding around £40m for Sneijder, while the player wanted wages of £220,000 a week. It remains to be seen if a deal can be resurrected later this month. But Fergie is adamant Sneijder will not be joining the champions. And he insists the new talent coming through the ranks at Old Trafford has persuaded him to keep his cheque book under lock and key. United begin the defence of their Premier League title with a trip to West Brom tomorrow and Fergie is relishing the chance to see his new-look side in competitive action. He is expected to hand league debuts to new signings David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young,
OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...
Woeful Woods in shock USPGA exit TIGER WOODS played like a weekend hacker as he crashed out of the USPGA. The 14-time Major winner finished on a humiliating 10over par for two rounds after shooting 73. And his efforts on the 11th hole last night would have had 20-handicappers sniggering. He went from fairway bunker to greenside trap then splashed out, quite literally, into a lake on the other side of the green. Woods did quite well to make a double bogey six. And he racked up another double at the par-four 12th when he carved his drive into
the trees, hacked out sideways, then blasted a three wood back into the forest. Woods, who missed the cut for only the third time in 56 Majors, still claimed: "It's a
disappointment but it's a giant leap forward that I've been able to play for two straight weeks and I'm feeling healthy." Open champion Darren Clarke admitted he was "shattered" as he crashed out on 14 over par.
•Steve Williams (l) and Tiger Woods
while the emergence of Tom Cleverley in midfield has convinced Fergie that United’s long-term future looks brighter than ever. Fergie will be without Javier Hernandez, who is still recovering from concussion, while Patrice Evra is doubtful with a sore knee. But the United boss still has options galore at his disposal and is confident of another successful campaign. “When you take that roll call of players, I’m certainly not looking to add to that,” said Ferguson. “I’ve been saying that for weeks but you have all been writing differently. I’m going to buy this one or that one. But we’ve said nothing, we’re just carrying on with our business. You can forget anyone you like, I’m happy with the young players I’ve got.
Messi: Man Utd our biggest Champions League threat
B
A R C E L O N A superstar Lionel Messi rates Manchester United as their biggest Champions League threat. Messi also believes United are favourites for the Premier League. “They remain the team everyone needs to beat. They have the vast experience and success behind them,” Messi told the Sunday Mirror. “You can’t buy that. Like Barcelona, they seem to get better every season. They are hungry for more success. “I expect United to carry the greatest threat to our defence of the European crown.”
OEY Barton's eventful weekend did not end with a slap from Arsenal debutant Gervinho. The 28-year-old Newcastle midfielder found himself cast in the dual role of victim and villain in quick succession on the pitch, and then at the centre of a debate over his conduct during his side's 0-0 opening day draw with the Gunners. However, the drama was to continue overnight when he was roused from his postmatch slumber by an intruder trying to break into a neighbour's house. He tweeted: '5.26am was awoken by a banging sound, burglar attempting to break in to neighbour's house. Needless to say, he was disturbed and apprehended. 'He was so subtle, he attempted to put a massive log through the window in broad daylight. Police have him now 4th break in of the night £scum. 'What with the burglar and Arsenal game, it's been an incident-packed 24hrs.' Earlier, Barton had been involved in a number of rows on Twitter with journalists including Arsenal fan Piers Morgan. He also had an exchange with Jack Wilshere over the sending-off of Gervinho. Barton has rarely been far from controversy for too long during his career to date, and is currently at loggerheads with the Magpies' hierarchy after criticising their summer recruitment policy in the wake of being told he will not be offered a new contract. He was only included in Alan Pardew's starting lineup on Saturday after
persuading his manager that he was fully focused on the game, and his response was typically committed. Barton was involved in the incident which saw Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby dismissed in the corresponding fixture last season, prompting a memorable collapse which saw the visitors surrender a 40 half-time lead. This time around, it was he who was initially in the firing line when Alex Song appeared to stamp on him f o l l o w i n g a n uncompromising challenge. However, if he was blameless on that occasion, it was his reaction to the game's major incident which sparked a untidy melee 15 minutes from time. Barton angrily confronted Gervinho, once a target for Newcastle, in the belief that he had dived in an attempt to win a penalty as he tried to skip past Cheick Tiote inside the penalty area. He hauled the Ivorian to his feet and as Steven Taylor and a series of other players arrived on the scene, the £10.5million man slapped the midfielder's face. Barton fell to the ground - he later admitted with a little too much ease - and referee Peter Walton produced a red card for Gervinho and a yellow for the Newcastle midfielder. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger insisted both men should have suffered the same fate and revealed his player had assured him he had not dived, but he conceded that the striker, like some of his teammates in the recent past, might have over-reacted.
Drogba confirms new contract talks
D
IDIER Drogba has with Chelsea. confirmed he's in Chelsea have offered the new contract talks Ivory-Coast striker a one- year extension with 12 months remaining on his current deal. But Drogba wants a further two years. There had been growing doubts over the 33-year-old’s future following the arrival of Fernando Torres. Drogba said: “I said a few •Drogba years ago that I will be here until the end of my contract. “But I would like to finish my career here. We are continuing talks. “Everybody knows what I feel about Chelsea and what I want.” Asked if the situation is close to being resolved Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas said: “He knows our offer and he has made a counter offer. We are now waiting on things.”