Arsenal keep Usmanov at arm’s length by rejecting proposal for rights issue July 8, 2009 ARSENAL’S second largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov last night responded frostily after the Premier League club rejected his proposal of a rights issue. Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said yesterday that the board had discussed the fund-raising exercise but concluded it would not greatly improve their financial position. Usmanov, who owns a 25 per cent stake [...]
United swoop for France U21 star Obertan July 8, 2009 FRANCE Under-21 winger Gabriel Obertan has vowed to seize his chance after completing a surprise move to Premier League champions Manchester United. Obertan, 20, yesterday sealed his switch from French title winners Bordeaux by signing a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2013. United have not disclosed the fee, with reports in [...]
ESPN launching new channel July 7, 2009 ESPN said yesterday that it plans to launch a new channel in August to show its 46 Barclaycard Premier League soccer matches and other international sports programming. The channel, which will be available in standard and high definition, will also carry a range of US sports. Pay-TV firm BSkyB , which owns the rights to [...]
SUMMER SALES FOOTBALL UPDATE July 6, 2009 Ronaldo draws record crowdA WORLD record crowd packed Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium for the unveiling of winger Cristiano Ronaldo last night. The Portugal star, who joined in an £80m deal from Manchester United earlier this month, was greeted by 80,000 fans – more than attended Diego Maradona’s arrival at Napoli. Ronaldo said: “I have [...]
Spurs boss Harry in shock swoop to lure retired Figo July 5, 2009 TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp has made an audacious swoop to lure veteran midfielder Luis Figo out of retirement to serve his twilight years at White Hart Lane. The 36-year-old decided to hang up his boots at the end of last season after helping Inter Milan to the Serie A title. But Spurs boss Redknapp has [...]
PREMIER TAX EXPERT STILL IN THE LEAGUE July 1, 2009 IT WAS au revoir (but not goodbye) last night at a leaving party at City restaurant Manicomio for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ John Whiting, the popular tax adviser who’s often been dubbed “Britain’s most quoted accountant”. Whiting – who’s known as “Mr T” on his regular stints on the BBC 2 Working Lunch sofa – has already started [...]
Beating the Aussies again would be even more satisfying than in 2005 July 1, 2009 BACK in 2005, Andrew Flintoff was at the absolute peak of his powers. Named Man-of-the-Series in that unforgettable Ashes victory over Australia on home soil, it wasn’t long before the powerful Lancashire all-rounder was being recognised as the leading player in the world by top cricketing almanac, Wisden. Now, four years on, Flintoff is still [...]
United land 16m Valencia now Benzema’s on the radar June 30, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED last night clinched the signing of Antonio Valencia – and then set their sights on completing a £51m double raid to add Karim Benzema. Ecuador winger Valencia made the switch from Wigan after putting pen-to-paper on a four-year deal believed to be worth around £16m. Now, with £80m at his disposal following the [...]
World record wages entice Eto’o to City June 28, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY are on the brink of signing striker Samuel Eto’o in a blockbusting £25m deal after Barcelona admitted being unable to compete with the Premier League club’s gargantuan spending power. City are willing to make Eto’o, 28, the highest paid player on the planet in order to pull off the grandest in a series [...]
Rebel trio got me sacked, says Scolari June 28, 2009 FORMER Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has accused senior Blues trio Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech of getting him sacked.Scolari, a World Cup winner with Brazil, was axed in February just seven months into a lucrative three-year deal at Stamford Bridge. The 60-year-old, now coaching in Uzbekistan, says striker Drogba, midfielder Ballack and [...]