United agree to let Ronaldo join Real in 80m switch June 11, 2009 ONE of the longest-running transfer sagas of recent years edged close to conclusion yesterday when Manchester United accepted a world record-shattering £80m bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo. United said they gave Real permission to discuss personal terms with Ronaldo, 24, after the Fifa World Player of the Year informed the Old Trafford hierarchy [...]
Sir Alex is a transfer master June 11, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED are undoubtedly losing one of their greatest players of all time in Cristiano Ronaldo, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson rarely gets his big transfer decisions wrong. Ferguson demands total commitment from his players and it is easy to understand if he has decided that this is the right time to sell Ronaldo. The [...]
Chelsea deny lodging late bid to hijack Villa’s Madrid move June 11, 2009 CHELSEA last night dismissed speculation they tried to poach David Villa from under the noses of Real Madrid. The Valencia striker is set to become the latest member of the Bernabeu ‘galacticos’, joining £140m duo Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. But reports in Spain suggested Chelsea had crept in with an 11th hour offer to tempt [...]
SUMMER SALES June 11, 2009 Barry: I was honest with VillaMANCHESTER CITY’S Gareth Barry has rejected suggestions he betrayed Aston Villa, insisting he told them he would leave if they failed to reach the Champions League. Barry’s £12m move to City, who finished four places below Villa in the Premier League, raised eyebrows but the England midfielder insists he has [...]
Fearless Lions maul Sharks to fire stern Test warning June 10, 2009 NATAL SHARKS (3) vs. BRITISH LIONS (39) JUBILANT captain Paul O’Connell hailed his British Lions side for their best performance of the tour so far as they ran in a comfortable five-try victory over a stubborn Sharks side. The tourists led only 7-3 after a watertight opening half but turned on the style in the [...]
Nadal will beat injury in time for Wimbledon, says Henman June 10, 2009 FORMER British No1 Tim Henman expects defending champion Rafael Nadal to win his battle against knee injury in time for Wimbledon. Nadal has just 11 days to recover from tendonitis in both kneecaps before he is due to begin his campaign at SW19. The problem forced him to pull out of this week’s Aegon Championships [...]
Smith declares an end to his feud with Pietersen June 10, 2009 SOUTH AFRICA captain Graeme Smith insists his rift with England batsman Kevin Pietersen is a thing of the past as the two nations prepare to lock horns in the World Twenty20. Opener Smith has publicly criticised Pietersen in the past, prompting the England ace to brand him an “absolute muppet” in his autobiography. Now, however, [...]
Robshaw debut against Pumas June 10, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw is set to make his England debut after being named in the starting XV for Saturday’s Test against Argentina. Robshaw replaces James Haskell, who drops to the bench, while veteran Leicester prop Julian White comes in for Newcastle’s David Wilson. ENGLAND: D Armitage; M Cueto, D Hipkiss, T May, [...]
Bath trio drugs probe extended June 10, 2009 RUGBY UNION: The Rugby Football Union has extended its investigation into drug allegations made against England flanker Michael Lipman and two former Bath team-mates. A probe was launched after Bath accused Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins of failing to take drug tests. The trio, who strongly deny the claims, terminated their contracts last week [...]
Murray beats Seppi at Queen’s June 10, 2009 TENNIS: British No1 Andy Murray began his grass-court season in style yesterday with a straight-sets victory at the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club. Murray, who had a first-round bye, beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of the traditional Wimbledon warm-up tournament.