Valdes to hand Van Gaal keeper selection puzzle January 7, 2015 MANCHESTER UNITED were last night set to sign former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes after offering the Spaniard an 18-month contract at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old has been training with the 20-time English champions since October in a bid to overcome the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in March. Valdes, who has won six La [...]
Boxing legend Ali back home January 7, 2015 THREE-TIME world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali has been released from hospital after being admitted last month with a severe urinary tract infection. Ali, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 after quitting boxing, was hospitalised on 20 December with what was initially thought to be a mild case of pneumonia but yesterday returned home. [...]
Trott issues timely reminder of former glories January 7, 2015 IT may only have been a low-key warm-up clash for England’s second string, but Jonathan Trott’s half-century against Gauteng Invitation XI yesterday could prove an important step on course to international rehabilitation. The 33-year-old England Lions skipper scored an unbeaten 79 from 127 balls during his side’s second innings and his first international match since [...]
Hamilton and Co snaps give race fans inside track January 7, 2015 THEY are known for hurtling around tracks at breakneck speed but it looks like the superstar drivers of Formula One also know how to capture a good still life. World champion Lewis Hamilton and rivals Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen are among the big names of F1 to have taken candid photographs reflecting [...]
Murray lifts Aussie Open hopes as Britain slip to Hopman Cup loss January 7, 2015 FORMER Wimbledon champion Andy Murray’s preparations for the Australian Open were boosted by a singles-match victory yesterday before Great Britain slipped to defeat against Poland at the Hopman Cup. The 27-year-old beat Jerzy Janowicz 6-2, 6-4 in Perth to level the clash after partner Heather Watson was brushed aside 6-3, 6-1 by world No5 Agnieszka [...]
FA Cup: Big Sam irked by Hammers’ late collapse January 6, 2015 EVERTON 1 WEST HAM UNITED 1 WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce blamed a lack of composure in both penalty boxes for allowing Everton to snatch a replay from the jaws of FA Cup elimination during last night’s third-round clash at Goodison Park. The Hammers had not beaten Everton in 14 matches dating back to 2007 [...]
Prince seeks new power generation at Fifa January 6, 2015 THE MAN credited with giving women’s football the hijab has emerged as the leading challenger to the reign of the man who notoriously said female players should wear tighter shorts. Prince Ali of Jordan, the head of the West Asian football and a Fifa vice-president, yesterday declared his intention to stand against the world governing [...]
Zarate to prove doubters wrong during QPR loan January 6, 2015 NEW Queens Park Rangers striker Mauro Zarate has vowed to show his true worth after completing a loan move until the end of the season from Premier League rivals West Ham yesterday. Zarate’s temporary move to Loftus Road follows a disappointing start to life at the Hammers, with the 27-year-old Argentine scoring just twice in [...]
The cost of signing Messi and why it may be too high even for Chelsea January 6, 2015 FOUR-TIME world footballer of the year Lionel Messi raised the pulses of Chelsea fans – as well as eyebrows throughout the game – this week when he seemed to hint at a blockbusting switch to west London. Fittingly for this social media age, his apparent interest in ditching the Blaugrana for the Blues emerged on [...]
Imminent six-game absence no deterrent as Man City prepare to spend £30m on Swansea star Bony January 6, 2015 MANCHESTER City were last night close to signing Swansea striker Wilfried Bony for more than £30m – even though the Ivory Coast star could miss their next six games due to international duty. Premier League champions City have moved for Bony, who has scored 34 goals in 70 appearances since a £12m move from Holland’s [...]