Euro money chiefs to probe Man City August 16, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY have been warned their controversial £400m sponsorship deal with Etihad is to be scrutinised by European chiefs Uefa. Eyebrows were raised when Abu Dhabi-owned City announced the lucrative deal, which covers shirt branding and stadium naming rights, with the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier last month. Critics believe it is above market value [...]
I was seduced by Daley Thompson August 16, 2011 IN HINDSIGHT, it’s fair to say I lacked some of the key tools for the job when I signed up to do a triathlon on behalf of City A.M. and sports charity Laureus. I didn’t own a bike and hadn’t for more than a decade. I’d never swum more than a handful of lengths in [...]
‘Bitter and angry’ Nasri fires parting shot at fans as he nears £22m move August 16, 2011 ARSENAL star Samir Nasri has revealed his “anger and bitterness” at his treatment by fans and admitted he is on the brink of completing a £22m move to Manchester City. Nasri, who on Monday used Twitter to criticise “disrespectful” supporters for singing derisory chants about him at Newcastle at the weekend, yesterday used his Facebook [...]
Dyer hands QPR fitness boost August 16, 2011 FOOTBALL: QPR insist injury-plagued Kieron Dyer will train again in “days rather than weeks”. Dyer, 32, lasted just five minutes of his debut against Bolton onn Saturday.
O’Brien’s son targets milestone August 16, 2011 RACING: Top trainer Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph is being tipped to land his first Group One winner today when he rides Await The Dawn in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. But he faces competition from two Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned horses in Midday and Twice Over.
No8 Jones to captain Wales August 16, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Wales have handed the captain’s armband to No8 Ryan Jones for this weekend’s final World Cup warm-up match against Argentina. Regular skipper Matthew Rees is out of the tournament with a neck problem while current stand-in Sam Warburton is being rested against the Pumas.
Carlos who? Aguero is new City idol August 15, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY 4 vs SWANSEA CITY AS FAR as debuts go, Sergio Aguero’s will take some beating. A goal eight minutes after coming on, an assist to make victory safe three minutes later, and by the final whistle Manchester City’s £38m summer signing had crowned an electrifying 31-minute cameo with a thunderbolt second strike. Suddenly [...]
Mancini hails debut hero Aguero as Man City hammer Swansea August 15, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini hailed striker Sergio Aguero after the £38m summer signing crowned a spectacular debut with two goals in a 4-0 rout of top-flight newcomers Swansea. Edin Dzeko netted first but Aguero opened the floodgates and set up David Silva for the third before capping a dazzling half-hour cameo with a thunderous [...]
Fabregas: Wenger still right man for Gunners August 15, 2011 AN EMOTIONAL Cesc Fabregas hailed Arsene Wenger as “the best person I have met in football” and urged Arsenal to keep faith with their under-fire manager after completing his £35m move to Barcelona. The former Gunners captain, who yesterday ended a three-year saga by signing a five-year contract at Barca, revealed he broke down when [...]
Chelsea star Mikel makes appeal for information about ‘kidnapped’ father August 15, 2011 CHELSEA midfielder John Obi Mikel last night made an impassioned plea for the safe return of his father, who has been missing from his Nigerian home in a case of suspected kidnapping since Friday. Mikel (right), who chose to play in Sunday’s Premier League opener against Stoke despite learning of his father Michael’s disappearance the [...]