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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
NATION SPORT
Platini’s hope for FIFA presidency fizzles U
Ronaldo: I miss playing with Rooney
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RISTIANO Ronaldo says he misses playing alongside former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo moved to United as an 18-year-old from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, while Rooney left Everton for Old Trafford a year later. The pair went on to win three Premier League titles, the Champions League and one FA Cup together, before the Portugal captain joined Real Madrid in 2009. Ronaldo admits it's a shame he
no longer shares the same dressing room as the man he refers to as "pitbull" and hopes they're reunited in the future. "I miss playing with Rooney. Maybe we can play again together some day," he said. "He was the kid of England. Everybody loved him. He was so powerful I was calling him pitbull. The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and strength and he never stops. "He's a fantastic team player and he scores! He's a fantastic boy and he helped me a lot when he came to join us in Manchester."
Napoli refutes Higuain comments about Ronaldo
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APOLI have released a statement denying striker Gonzalo Higuain made controversial comments about former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Quotes emerged on Sunday
of Higuain reportedly branding three-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo "over-rated" and egotistical in an apparent interview with Spanish magazine Don Balon. However, Napoli have now insisted that the Argentina international never made such comments about the Portugal international. "Napoli and Higuain categorically deny ever he has been granted an interview with 'Don Balon'," the statement read. "Therefore the sentences attributed to Higuain are considered false and without any foundation." Higuain, who played alongside Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu before moving to Napoli in 2013, made headlines when he was quoted as saying: "He [Ronaldo] has a lot of ego. "If you don't say he's the best, he's not your friend. Cristiano thinks he's the best but he's over-rated. "I've shared a dressing room with Messi and one is nothing like the other." Higuain scored in Napoli's 2-1 victory over struggling Serie A champions Juventus on Saturday.
EFA president Michel Platini has played down payments he received from FIFA for consultancy work that led to him being questioned by authorities. The former France star was employed by the world's governing body between 19982002, but only received two million Swiss Francs from the organisation in 2011, leading to many questioning the length of the delay. But Platini - who plans to run to take over from Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in February - has denied he is guilty of any wrongdoing in a letter sent to UEFA Member Associations on Monday. "I wish to clarify that for the period 1998 to 2002 I was employed by FIFA to work on a wide range of matters relating to football," it read. "It was a full-time job and my functions were known by all. The remuneration was agreed at the time and after initial payments were made, the final outstanding amount of two million Swiss Francs was paid in February of 2011. "This income has all been
fully declared by me to the authorities, in accordance with Swiss law. "I was interviewed by the Swiss authorities about this matter last Friday, not as a
person accused of any wrongdoing, but simply in my capacity as a person providing information. "Furthermore, I have, today, written to the Ethics
Committee of FIFA to request that I may come forward and provide whatever additional information may be needed in order to clear this matter up.
CL: Silva, Kompany, Hart to return against Monchengladbach M
ANCHESTER City are confident of a triple injury boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday, with David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart all in line for a return to action. City lost their European opener against Juventus a fortnight ago and travel to
Germany needing to pick up all three points if they are to keep in touch with the Italians and Sevilla, who sit joint top of Group D. Silva has missed the club's last three matches with a calf problem but is set to return for the game at Borussia Park having trained over the
weekend. There could also be good news for Kompany and Hart, who both sat out Saturday's heavy defeat at Tottenham in the Premier League. Kompany, who was forced out of the 2-1 defeat to Juventus with a calf in-
jury, had initially been named on the bench at White Hart Lane but was forced to pull out altogether. Manager Manuel Pellegrini said his captain was still struggling with his calf and that he would be assessed in the earlier part of the week, but Goal understands the club are now hopeful he will return to the starting line-up.
Kane: I've shut up doubters
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OTTENHAM striker Harry Kane said he "shut up a few people" after returning to the scoresheet against Manchester City over the weekend. Kane ended his 748-minute goal drought with a strike just past the hour mark as Tottenham stunned City 4-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The England international had failed to score in Tottenham's eight competitive games this season prior to the weekend, having announced himself with 31 goals in all competitions last term. Now the 22-year-old, who remained upbeat throughout his dry spell, feels he may have silenced the critics who had suggested he was a one-season wonder. "Maybe I shut up a few people who have been talking over the last few weeks," Kane said. "Only seven games and a few people said 'one-season wonder'. People can judge me at the end of the season and we will go from there. I have to stay focused but it is great to score. "When you score like last season it becomes a drug, and when someone takes it away from you, you want to get it back. You want to score again and it was a good feeling to score again.