Friday's B*l**x
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 7:16 amMANCINI EYES UP FOUR MANCHESTER CITY SIGNINGS
BRAZILIAN star Maicon will be one of four signings Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will complete before the transfer window closes today.
City have agreed a £3m fee with Inter Milan for right wing-back Maicon, 31, after Micah Richards was ruled out for a further month with an ankle injury.
The champions expect no work permit problems to enable them to complete the £12m transfer of 19-year-old Serbian defender Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina, with Stefan Savic, who joined City for £6m only last summer, going the other way.
Winger Scott Sinclair had a medical yesterday after City finally thrashed out a deal with Swansea.
They will pay £6.2m up front but add-ons, based on appearances and success, could see the fee rise to over £8m.
City’s fourth signing is former Ipswich and Everton keeper Richard Wright on a free. He will provide back-up for No.1 Joe Hart and his deputy Carlos Pantilimon.
It means after moaning about City’s lack of transfer activity, Mancini will have signed five players for around £35m this summer, Jack Rodwell having signed from Everton for £15m earlier this month.
AC Milan want midfi elder Nigel De Jong but City will only let him go if they land Javi Garcia from Benfica.
Manchester City target Maicon and Javi Garcia on deadline day
Manchester City are aiming to complete the signing of Inter Milan defender Maicon and Benfica's Javi Garcia before the transfer deadline.
Brazil's Maicon, 31, is available for around £5m and boss Roberto Mancini wants him as cover for Pablo Zabaleta.
The £24m-rated Garcia has become a possible new target after Mancini's main midfield target, Daniele de Rossi, decided to stay at Roma.
Fiorentina defender Matija Nastasic is also set to sign for City on Friday.
The Serbian teenager will cost the Premier League champions around £12m, with Stefan Savic going in the opposite direction. Swansea's Scott Sinclair should also confirm a £6.2m deal with City on Friday.
City have already signed Everton's Jack Rodwell for £12m but decided against pursuing deals for Robin van Persie, who went to Manchester United for £24m, and Eden Hazard, bought by Chelsea for £32m.
Javi Martinez was another player of great interest to Mancini but he has moved to Bayern Munich from Athletic Bilbao in a £30m-plus transfer.
Meanwhile, City midfielder man Nigel de Jong, a Netherlands international, is also being linked with a move to AC Milan.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43391&start=350
Nigel de Jong: Happy to join Milan
Nigel de Jong has expressed his delight at joining AC Milan after the Dutch international midfielder arrived in Italy.
Milan will confirm the signing of the Manchester City midfielder on Friday after he arrived at the San Siro late on Thursday.
The player has already finalised his deal with the club, and City have sanctioned the move after coming to agreement with Milan.
"I'm happy, AC Milan is a great club and they are a new important chance for me in my life," he told Sky Sports Italia.
"Everyone knows AC Milan's history. Everyone wants to play for AC Milan as a child.
"With this team we can compete both in Italy and in Europe, we have so many good players."
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani told Italian TV 7 Gold of his delight: "We think De Jong is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
"We believe we are making a good last market week with Niang, Bojan and De Jong. We thank president Silvio Berlusconi, who again has built a competitive AC Milan to win the Scudetto.
"(AC Milan coach, Massimiliano) Allegri has to worry now because our goal is no longer the third place, but the first. Among the players arrived in Italy from abroad, De Jong is the best."
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43861
Patrick Vieira knows Manchester City face a tough task in the Champions League
Patrick Vieira admits Manchester City face the toughest of tasks after being drawn in a daunting Champions League group.
Roberto Mancini's men will take on Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, the champions of Spain, Holland and Germany respectively.
Vieira said: "You can't get much worse than that, it's a really tough, a really difficult group, the hardest group of all of them. But when you look at the football the prospect is really exciting. The players will be excited to play Real Madrid - the first time Manchester City will ever have played Real - and the fans will love it to play them and Dortmund and Ajax."
Chelsea, the defending European champions, will have their work cut out in Group E along with Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine, Serie A winners Juventus and Danish champions Nordsjaelland, but should progress.
Manchester United and Arsenal have more seemingly straightforward tasks. The Gunners are in Group B with Schalke, Olympiacos and Montpellier, while United will take on Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in Group H.
There are a couple of glamour ties in prospect for Celtic in Group G as they face Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.
For Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, it is a chance for his side to make amends for the "stupid errors" they committed in Europe last season, but he warned there will be a hostile environment in Turkey when facing Galatasaray.
"We have the experience of playing against Galatasaray in the past and we will always remember the 'Welcome to Hell' banners," Ferguson told his club's website. "So it's always a difficult type of match.
"We have drawn Portuguese clubs a number of times over the past few years - the likes of Benfica, Sporting [Lisbon] and Porto - so we have the experience of playing in Portugal on many occasions. Braga are one of the improving teams in that country.
"We've never played Cluj before but, after the experience of last year, we don't want to make any stupid errors this time. We will play our strongest team to make sure we get through."
Etihad tie-up kicks off a new era for Manchester City women
Their men are the champions of England – and now Manchester City are hoping to dominate the world of women's football.
Blues bosses have snapped up a ladies team born in the shadows of Maine Road and want to propel them to glory.
They have struck a 'formal partnership' with Manchester City Ladies FC which is aimed at thrusting the side to the top of the women's game.
The M.E.N. understands that the team may play matches at a new 7,000 capacity ground planned for the club's new training complex across the road from the Etihad stadium.
The ladies will ply their trade in the Women's National Division this season after winning promotion last year.
Another elevation would see them achieve top flight status – and be in a position to emulate Sergio Aguero and co.
The ladies will have access to coaches from City's Academy and officials say they will benefit from the 'commercial, marketing and operational capabilities' of the club.
Senior Blues officials say the move has followed a 'systematic rebuilding of all aspects of the football club' which has been carried out over the last four years.
They added that they had recognised the need to 'formalise the relationship for the benefit of the women and girls' game.
Don Dransfield, City's head of strategy, said: “Manchester City Football Club has always been committed to sharing its football resources and coaching capabilities across a wide range of ages and abilities.
“The women’s game is continuing to grow at a pace with 28 million girls and women playing football worldwide, making it the most popular female participating team sport.
“We are pleased to be able to give our support to MCLFC as they look to build on their hard work and commitment of the past few years.”
Niki Taylor, from Manchester City Ladies Football Club hailed the dawn of a new era.
She said: “MCLFC have a long standing relationship with Manchester City and today’s formalised partnership announcement represents a new era for us. We are delighted with this development and enthused by the potential to further expand and progress our football at all levels.”
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson: Roberto Mancini never spoke to me when I was at Manchester City
Adam Johnson’s had become so disillusioned with Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini he said the best bit of advice the Italian ever gave was telling him he could leave the club.
Johnson does not regret signing for City instead of Sunderland in January 2010, fulfilling his boyhood dream of winning both the FA Cup and the Premier League during his time in Manchester.
But the England international’s relationship with Mancini deteriorated so badly they rarely spoke and when they did, he claims, all the Italian did was criticise.
Johnson, who signed for Sunderland for £10m last week, suspects it will always be a risk for young English players like Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair to move to the world’s richest club as Mancini will always be tempted to spend huge amounts on foreign imports.
“Looking back, I think anyone in my position would have signed for City at the time,” said Johnson, who made it clear he wanted to quit City when he was left out of the England squad for the European Championships.
“I won the FA Cup and the Premier League and that is what I dreamt of as a kid, but it was difficult. There were games when I deserved to be playing the next week, but obviously there is a lot of money being spent on world class foreign players.
“Relatively speaking I wasn’t a massive signing, but there were other things. I think it was always going to be difficult for me to get a run in the team, no matter how I did.
“There was me and a few other players who would still be in that same boat now. He [Mancini] didn’t really give reasons, we didn’t really speak.
“The last time we spoke was before the Southampton game. We had a chat, he understood I wanted to play football and he said if we can get a good solution we’ll let you go. That’s probably the best bit of advice he gave me.”
Johnson’s bitterness towards Mancini bubbles barely below the surface, but he did respect the Italian at first, particularly the high standards he demanded, which will stand him in “good stead” at Sunderland.
But the former Middlesbrough prospect gives the impression he needs a manager who has faith in him, something he has got at Sunderland under Martin O’Neill.
“As soon as I spoke to Martin he made me feel wanted,” added Johnson. “He gave me confidence, he’s a manager I can have a good relationship with.
“It’s always nice to be praised as well as criticised. You can only take so much criticism and no praise as a player, it doesn’t matter who you are.
“The other night, when I made my debut, it felt as if I’d had the chains taken off me. I was playing again and the manager has already given me that confidence and the freedom. Hopefully that’ll continue.
“City are always buying whoever and spending whatever, so there’s always going to be someone coming in to take your place. I owed it myself to move on and get games and try and show everyone what I can do again.”
Key to Johnson’s thinking is a desire to establish himself in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the World Cup in 2014 and he was named in the squad for the first round of qualifiers on Thursday.
“The England manager has said he wants players who are playing regularly and missing out on the World Cup and the Euros while at City hurt,” he said.
“As a player, when you know you’ll play one game and then be could be out for the next one, or you’ve been out for five, but are expected to come in and perform it’s tough.
“The England manager has said he wants his players to be playing regularly and hopefully I can do that here. This is a good move for me, a fresh start.” Telegraph
TRANNY WARNS CITY
CRISTIANO Ronaldo last night warned Manchester City they faced a real ordeal in the Champions League Group of Death.
Roberto Mancini’s side were drawn with Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, Dutch giants Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen – in a group containing four domestic champions.
And City’s director of football Patrick Vieira admitted his team would need the luck of Champions League victors Chelsea to get out of the group.
Ronaldo warned Mancini that Jose Mourinho’s men did not fear any of the Premier League bigspenders.
“It is the most difficult group and the most competitive,” the former Manchester United star said.
“But we are ready. We are champions of Spain and we are ready to compete with anybody.”
City flopped last season in their debut in the competition, failing to get out of the group.
Vieira said: “When you look at the way Chelsea went to the end, you need to go through the year with the luck of having your best players without injury.
“It’s not easy. It is the most difficult group because we are playing the Spanish, Dutch and the German champions. But when you play Champions League, you want to face this kind of team.
“I’m sure the players are really excited to go to the Bernabeu, to go to the fantastic stadium of Dortmund and face a big club like Ajax. Wherever Jose has been, he has been successful.
“The Premier League does not hold any secrets for Jose. He follows it 100 per cent.
“It will be exciting, a good match, between Jose and Mancini.
“Roberto will want to win the Champions League because he never won it as a player or manager.
For the club it would be fantastic but it is a really long way to go.”
Asked about Mourinho’s claim City striker Mario Balotelli was unmanageable, Vieira added: “Mario is Mario and Jose is Jose.
“Facing Madrid, Dortmund and Ajax, Mario will want to play, perform and score goals.”
Emilio Butragueno, Real’s director of institutional relations, said:
“We haven’t had much luck but our opponents will be saying the same.”
Daily Express in headline irrelevant to what was said shocker ...
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
OTHER GOSSIP
Wenger insists Arsenal never pushed Walcott hard over new contract
Arsene Wenger denies Arsenal adopted a hard-line stance during contract negotiations with Theo Walcott.
It was initially reported that the Gunners told Walcott to sign the new £75,000 per week deal on the table or leave before the transfer deadline.
Now, however, Arsenal will run the risk of the 23-year-old leaving on a free next summer by hoping to reach an agreement over the coming months.
'There was never a hard-line approach with Theo, it was always a soft-line approach, but with respect to our wage structure,' said Wenger.
'If we don't respect our wage structure, we will go nowhere. We always wanted him to stay, and we still want it now.'
Walcott is thought to be holding out for wages of £100,000 per week, with the impasse alerting the attention of Liverpool and Manchester City.
But now it is all but certain that he will remain at Emirates Stadium - at least until January.
Wenger insists the England winger has remained professional throughout the negotiations.
'Theo is focused in training and what happens at the end of the season, happens as the end of the season,' he said.
'He's been fantastic, showing 100% commitment. He loves the club, so maybe we can find an agreement.
'I'm confident Theo will sign. He's 23, is English, lives 10 minutes from here, so hopefully we can reach an agreement.
'But at the moment it's difficult to predict what we will do.
'I don't know what will happen in January, I'm worried more about Sunday's game with Liverpool.
'Theo's developing very well. He's intelligent and is a good finisher.
'Yes it would be a frustration if he left, but we're not there yet.'
Arsenal are planning a shock move for Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien. Arsene Wenger wants the 29-year-old on loan after he fell down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are preparing to loan out striker Daniel Sturridge, 22, if they can complete the signing of Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schurrle. The 20-year-old is likely to cost the European champions £20m. Daily Mirror
Tottenham and England defender Michael Dawson, 28, could still leave White Hart Lane, despite an injury to Younes Kaboul likely to keep him out until Christmas. talkShyte
Liverpool outcast Charlie Adam may have to choose between a trio of clubs on deadline day - with Stoke trying to beat Everton and Fulham to his signature. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are ready to send striker Marouane Chamakh, 28, out on loan, with Malaga or Besiktas likely destinations. The Metro
Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun could be set for a deadline-day return to former club West Ham. Daily Express
Aston Villa are aiming to pull off a double swoop for Genk striker Christian Benteke and Charlton midfielder Dale Stephens. Daily Mirror
Stephane Mbia has revealed he is heading for QPR — after snubbing an 11th-hour bid from Fenerbahce. The Sun
Everton want to sign Blackburn midfielder Steven N'Zonzi after the 23-year-old fell out with Rovers boss Steve Kean. Daily Mirror
West Brom will launch a £3million beat-the-deadline bid for Blackburn defender Martin Olsson. The Sun
Sunderland see Danny Rose as the ideal replacement for Kieran Richardson and hope to sign Tottenham's left-sided player on loan. Daily Mirror
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, 24, has been offered to Stoke City in a loan deal but several other clubs are also in contact with his representatives. Stoke Sentinel
Or the Arsenal striker is on his way to Juventus after he accepted a move to the Serie A champions. The Metro
Birmingham have offered Nikola Zigic a free transfer and a big pay-off in a bid to ship him off to Real Mallorca. Daily Mirror
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is set to be named in United's Champions League squad, despite not playing a competitive game since November. Daily Mail
Dimitar Berbatov, 31, took a "massive" pay-cut to push through his transfer to Fulham. Daily Mirror
New West Ham loanee Andy Carroll made a dramatic helicopter dash to complete the move - just as he did when joining Liverpool 18 months ago. Daily Mail
Celtic star Mohamed Bangura was given a fond - and unusual - farewell by the Scottish club before he departed on loan to AIK. The Metro
MORE BOLLOX LATER
BRAZILIAN star Maicon will be one of four signings Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will complete before the transfer window closes today.
City have agreed a £3m fee with Inter Milan for right wing-back Maicon, 31, after Micah Richards was ruled out for a further month with an ankle injury.
The champions expect no work permit problems to enable them to complete the £12m transfer of 19-year-old Serbian defender Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina, with Stefan Savic, who joined City for £6m only last summer, going the other way.
Winger Scott Sinclair had a medical yesterday after City finally thrashed out a deal with Swansea.
They will pay £6.2m up front but add-ons, based on appearances and success, could see the fee rise to over £8m.
City’s fourth signing is former Ipswich and Everton keeper Richard Wright on a free. He will provide back-up for No.1 Joe Hart and his deputy Carlos Pantilimon.
It means after moaning about City’s lack of transfer activity, Mancini will have signed five players for around £35m this summer, Jack Rodwell having signed from Everton for £15m earlier this month.
AC Milan want midfi elder Nigel De Jong but City will only let him go if they land Javi Garcia from Benfica.
Manchester City target Maicon and Javi Garcia on deadline day
Manchester City are aiming to complete the signing of Inter Milan defender Maicon and Benfica's Javi Garcia before the transfer deadline.
Brazil's Maicon, 31, is available for around £5m and boss Roberto Mancini wants him as cover for Pablo Zabaleta.
The £24m-rated Garcia has become a possible new target after Mancini's main midfield target, Daniele de Rossi, decided to stay at Roma.
Fiorentina defender Matija Nastasic is also set to sign for City on Friday.
The Serbian teenager will cost the Premier League champions around £12m, with Stefan Savic going in the opposite direction. Swansea's Scott Sinclair should also confirm a £6.2m deal with City on Friday.
City have already signed Everton's Jack Rodwell for £12m but decided against pursuing deals for Robin van Persie, who went to Manchester United for £24m, and Eden Hazard, bought by Chelsea for £32m.
Javi Martinez was another player of great interest to Mancini but he has moved to Bayern Munich from Athletic Bilbao in a £30m-plus transfer.
Meanwhile, City midfielder man Nigel de Jong, a Netherlands international, is also being linked with a move to AC Milan.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43391&start=350
Nigel de Jong: Happy to join Milan
Nigel de Jong has expressed his delight at joining AC Milan after the Dutch international midfielder arrived in Italy.
Milan will confirm the signing of the Manchester City midfielder on Friday after he arrived at the San Siro late on Thursday.
The player has already finalised his deal with the club, and City have sanctioned the move after coming to agreement with Milan.
"I'm happy, AC Milan is a great club and they are a new important chance for me in my life," he told Sky Sports Italia.
"Everyone knows AC Milan's history. Everyone wants to play for AC Milan as a child.
"With this team we can compete both in Italy and in Europe, we have so many good players."
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani told Italian TV 7 Gold of his delight: "We think De Jong is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
"We believe we are making a good last market week with Niang, Bojan and De Jong. We thank president Silvio Berlusconi, who again has built a competitive AC Milan to win the Scudetto.
"(AC Milan coach, Massimiliano) Allegri has to worry now because our goal is no longer the third place, but the first. Among the players arrived in Italy from abroad, De Jong is the best."
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43861
Patrick Vieira knows Manchester City face a tough task in the Champions League
Patrick Vieira admits Manchester City face the toughest of tasks after being drawn in a daunting Champions League group.
Roberto Mancini's men will take on Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, the champions of Spain, Holland and Germany respectively.
Vieira said: "You can't get much worse than that, it's a really tough, a really difficult group, the hardest group of all of them. But when you look at the football the prospect is really exciting. The players will be excited to play Real Madrid - the first time Manchester City will ever have played Real - and the fans will love it to play them and Dortmund and Ajax."
Chelsea, the defending European champions, will have their work cut out in Group E along with Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine, Serie A winners Juventus and Danish champions Nordsjaelland, but should progress.
Manchester United and Arsenal have more seemingly straightforward tasks. The Gunners are in Group B with Schalke, Olympiacos and Montpellier, while United will take on Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in Group H.
There are a couple of glamour ties in prospect for Celtic in Group G as they face Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.
For Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, it is a chance for his side to make amends for the "stupid errors" they committed in Europe last season, but he warned there will be a hostile environment in Turkey when facing Galatasaray.
"We have the experience of playing against Galatasaray in the past and we will always remember the 'Welcome to Hell' banners," Ferguson told his club's website. "So it's always a difficult type of match.
"We have drawn Portuguese clubs a number of times over the past few years - the likes of Benfica, Sporting [Lisbon] and Porto - so we have the experience of playing in Portugal on many occasions. Braga are one of the improving teams in that country.
"We've never played Cluj before but, after the experience of last year, we don't want to make any stupid errors this time. We will play our strongest team to make sure we get through."
Etihad tie-up kicks off a new era for Manchester City women
Their men are the champions of England – and now Manchester City are hoping to dominate the world of women's football.
Blues bosses have snapped up a ladies team born in the shadows of Maine Road and want to propel them to glory.
They have struck a 'formal partnership' with Manchester City Ladies FC which is aimed at thrusting the side to the top of the women's game.
The M.E.N. understands that the team may play matches at a new 7,000 capacity ground planned for the club's new training complex across the road from the Etihad stadium.
The ladies will ply their trade in the Women's National Division this season after winning promotion last year.
Another elevation would see them achieve top flight status – and be in a position to emulate Sergio Aguero and co.
The ladies will have access to coaches from City's Academy and officials say they will benefit from the 'commercial, marketing and operational capabilities' of the club.
Senior Blues officials say the move has followed a 'systematic rebuilding of all aspects of the football club' which has been carried out over the last four years.
They added that they had recognised the need to 'formalise the relationship for the benefit of the women and girls' game.
Don Dransfield, City's head of strategy, said: “Manchester City Football Club has always been committed to sharing its football resources and coaching capabilities across a wide range of ages and abilities.
“The women’s game is continuing to grow at a pace with 28 million girls and women playing football worldwide, making it the most popular female participating team sport.
“We are pleased to be able to give our support to MCLFC as they look to build on their hard work and commitment of the past few years.”
Niki Taylor, from Manchester City Ladies Football Club hailed the dawn of a new era.
She said: “MCLFC have a long standing relationship with Manchester City and today’s formalised partnership announcement represents a new era for us. We are delighted with this development and enthused by the potential to further expand and progress our football at all levels.”
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson: Roberto Mancini never spoke to me when I was at Manchester City
Adam Johnson’s had become so disillusioned with Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini he said the best bit of advice the Italian ever gave was telling him he could leave the club.
Johnson does not regret signing for City instead of Sunderland in January 2010, fulfilling his boyhood dream of winning both the FA Cup and the Premier League during his time in Manchester.
But the England international’s relationship with Mancini deteriorated so badly they rarely spoke and when they did, he claims, all the Italian did was criticise.
Johnson, who signed for Sunderland for £10m last week, suspects it will always be a risk for young English players like Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair to move to the world’s richest club as Mancini will always be tempted to spend huge amounts on foreign imports.
“Looking back, I think anyone in my position would have signed for City at the time,” said Johnson, who made it clear he wanted to quit City when he was left out of the England squad for the European Championships.
“I won the FA Cup and the Premier League and that is what I dreamt of as a kid, but it was difficult. There were games when I deserved to be playing the next week, but obviously there is a lot of money being spent on world class foreign players.
“Relatively speaking I wasn’t a massive signing, but there were other things. I think it was always going to be difficult for me to get a run in the team, no matter how I did.
“There was me and a few other players who would still be in that same boat now. He [Mancini] didn’t really give reasons, we didn’t really speak.
“The last time we spoke was before the Southampton game. We had a chat, he understood I wanted to play football and he said if we can get a good solution we’ll let you go. That’s probably the best bit of advice he gave me.”
Johnson’s bitterness towards Mancini bubbles barely below the surface, but he did respect the Italian at first, particularly the high standards he demanded, which will stand him in “good stead” at Sunderland.
But the former Middlesbrough prospect gives the impression he needs a manager who has faith in him, something he has got at Sunderland under Martin O’Neill.
“As soon as I spoke to Martin he made me feel wanted,” added Johnson. “He gave me confidence, he’s a manager I can have a good relationship with.
“It’s always nice to be praised as well as criticised. You can only take so much criticism and no praise as a player, it doesn’t matter who you are.
“The other night, when I made my debut, it felt as if I’d had the chains taken off me. I was playing again and the manager has already given me that confidence and the freedom. Hopefully that’ll continue.
“City are always buying whoever and spending whatever, so there’s always going to be someone coming in to take your place. I owed it myself to move on and get games and try and show everyone what I can do again.”
Key to Johnson’s thinking is a desire to establish himself in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the World Cup in 2014 and he was named in the squad for the first round of qualifiers on Thursday.
“The England manager has said he wants players who are playing regularly and missing out on the World Cup and the Euros while at City hurt,” he said.
“As a player, when you know you’ll play one game and then be could be out for the next one, or you’ve been out for five, but are expected to come in and perform it’s tough.
“The England manager has said he wants his players to be playing regularly and hopefully I can do that here. This is a good move for me, a fresh start.” Telegraph
TRANNY WARNS CITY
CRISTIANO Ronaldo last night warned Manchester City they faced a real ordeal in the Champions League Group of Death.
Roberto Mancini’s side were drawn with Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, Dutch giants Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen – in a group containing four domestic champions.
And City’s director of football Patrick Vieira admitted his team would need the luck of Champions League victors Chelsea to get out of the group.
Ronaldo warned Mancini that Jose Mourinho’s men did not fear any of the Premier League bigspenders.
“It is the most difficult group and the most competitive,” the former Manchester United star said.
“But we are ready. We are champions of Spain and we are ready to compete with anybody.”
City flopped last season in their debut in the competition, failing to get out of the group.
Vieira said: “When you look at the way Chelsea went to the end, you need to go through the year with the luck of having your best players without injury.
“It’s not easy. It is the most difficult group because we are playing the Spanish, Dutch and the German champions. But when you play Champions League, you want to face this kind of team.
“I’m sure the players are really excited to go to the Bernabeu, to go to the fantastic stadium of Dortmund and face a big club like Ajax. Wherever Jose has been, he has been successful.
“The Premier League does not hold any secrets for Jose. He follows it 100 per cent.
“It will be exciting, a good match, between Jose and Mancini.
“Roberto will want to win the Champions League because he never won it as a player or manager.
For the club it would be fantastic but it is a really long way to go.”
Asked about Mourinho’s claim City striker Mario Balotelli was unmanageable, Vieira added: “Mario is Mario and Jose is Jose.
“Facing Madrid, Dortmund and Ajax, Mario will want to play, perform and score goals.”
Emilio Butragueno, Real’s director of institutional relations, said:
“We haven’t had much luck but our opponents will be saying the same.”
Daily Express in headline irrelevant to what was said shocker ...
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER GOSSIP
Wenger insists Arsenal never pushed Walcott hard over new contract
Arsene Wenger denies Arsenal adopted a hard-line stance during contract negotiations with Theo Walcott.
It was initially reported that the Gunners told Walcott to sign the new £75,000 per week deal on the table or leave before the transfer deadline.
Now, however, Arsenal will run the risk of the 23-year-old leaving on a free next summer by hoping to reach an agreement over the coming months.
'There was never a hard-line approach with Theo, it was always a soft-line approach, but with respect to our wage structure,' said Wenger.
'If we don't respect our wage structure, we will go nowhere. We always wanted him to stay, and we still want it now.'
Walcott is thought to be holding out for wages of £100,000 per week, with the impasse alerting the attention of Liverpool and Manchester City.
But now it is all but certain that he will remain at Emirates Stadium - at least until January.
Wenger insists the England winger has remained professional throughout the negotiations.
'Theo is focused in training and what happens at the end of the season, happens as the end of the season,' he said.
'He's been fantastic, showing 100% commitment. He loves the club, so maybe we can find an agreement.
'I'm confident Theo will sign. He's 23, is English, lives 10 minutes from here, so hopefully we can reach an agreement.
'But at the moment it's difficult to predict what we will do.
'I don't know what will happen in January, I'm worried more about Sunday's game with Liverpool.
'Theo's developing very well. He's intelligent and is a good finisher.
'Yes it would be a frustration if he left, but we're not there yet.'
Arsenal are planning a shock move for Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien. Arsene Wenger wants the 29-year-old on loan after he fell down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are preparing to loan out striker Daniel Sturridge, 22, if they can complete the signing of Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schurrle. The 20-year-old is likely to cost the European champions £20m. Daily Mirror
Tottenham and England defender Michael Dawson, 28, could still leave White Hart Lane, despite an injury to Younes Kaboul likely to keep him out until Christmas. talkShyte
Liverpool outcast Charlie Adam may have to choose between a trio of clubs on deadline day - with Stoke trying to beat Everton and Fulham to his signature. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are ready to send striker Marouane Chamakh, 28, out on loan, with Malaga or Besiktas likely destinations. The Metro
Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun could be set for a deadline-day return to former club West Ham. Daily Express
Aston Villa are aiming to pull off a double swoop for Genk striker Christian Benteke and Charlton midfielder Dale Stephens. Daily Mirror
Stephane Mbia has revealed he is heading for QPR — after snubbing an 11th-hour bid from Fenerbahce. The Sun
Everton want to sign Blackburn midfielder Steven N'Zonzi after the 23-year-old fell out with Rovers boss Steve Kean. Daily Mirror
West Brom will launch a £3million beat-the-deadline bid for Blackburn defender Martin Olsson. The Sun
Sunderland see Danny Rose as the ideal replacement for Kieran Richardson and hope to sign Tottenham's left-sided player on loan. Daily Mirror
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, 24, has been offered to Stoke City in a loan deal but several other clubs are also in contact with his representatives. Stoke Sentinel
Or the Arsenal striker is on his way to Juventus after he accepted a move to the Serie A champions. The Metro
Birmingham have offered Nikola Zigic a free transfer and a big pay-off in a bid to ship him off to Real Mallorca. Daily Mirror
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is set to be named in United's Champions League squad, despite not playing a competitive game since November. Daily Mail
Dimitar Berbatov, 31, took a "massive" pay-cut to push through his transfer to Fulham. Daily Mirror
New West Ham loanee Andy Carroll made a dramatic helicopter dash to complete the move - just as he did when joining Liverpool 18 months ago. Daily Mail
Celtic star Mohamed Bangura was given a fond - and unusual - farewell by the Scottish club before he departed on loan to AIK. The Metro
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